let any man or woman be so mistaken as to think that we in scorne called Quakers are any of that number which cries loe here and loe there for I doe not bid any man goe forth from that which is manifest of God in him to any place or outward forme or image or invention of man or command without or any thing done in private neither indeed do I somuch as bid them come forth from the light of Christ in them to follow my writings and take that to be their rule guid or Leader but that by my writings words example and sufferings they might be informed even by this without them of that which God hath freely given into them by that to be guided and that to be to them a Rule of life and by it to be led into all truth for its the spirit received within which leads into all truth even into the truth it selfe of which I declare and so people being come to be guided by that which is of God in them this will abide with them for ever and that in them may be with them when they have neither my writings words nor person without them as at that present by them therefore I say unto all as Christ did go not forth And to this very end were the scriptures written that men might come to receive and attain to the knowledge of the Son of God and his mighty power manifest in them to destroy sin and reconcile unto God and to be led by him as a shepherd who sheweth unto his all things plainly of the Father and so to be taught of the Lord and come to be guided by him and need not any man teach them A short discovery of that in man which is not to be his guide nor Rule ANd now seeing man is gone so far forth from the life of God that was first breathed into him and that by his rebellion against the light and transgression of the command of that power whereof man was made by his degeneration from the holy life of that breathing spirit which at the first in him gave an eternal life unto the soul and that by the continuall receiving in following of that which at first led man forth from the life of God which was breathed into him and that by mans continuall grieving of that spirit which giveth life and being to all things living and also by reason of the multiplyings and increasing oâ— that mistery of iniquity in fallen man which hath ever since the fall ruled over and guided him in that which is contrary to the upright innocent life of God whereby man is become brutish in his knowledge Jer 10. 14. and the minds wholly darkned and the understanding shut up in the womb of obscurity from receiving that which comes from God and is freely tendred unto man to Rule lead guid and direct man in the way of uprightnesse and in the plaine simplicity and foolâ—shnesse of God into which the wisdome of the World can never enter And seeing that by reason of these things there are many things which have gotten enterance into the heart minde of man so that man being in the many things cannot but all offend and seeing those many things in men doth draw forth their minds whereby they are exercised in many and various things proceeding from the power of darknesse whereby even the simplicity in many have been betrayed and deceived sometimes by following of that which in them hath appeared as an Angel of light the which some receiving and becoming subject unto it in them hath wrought in all manner of deceiveablenesse and lying wonders the fruits whereof hath been even brought forth in open view not onely in former ages but also in this your daies even in this nation among them called Ranters and divers others that might be named and such who once professed the living truth but abode not in it who also have gone forth from the meek thing in which Gods wisdome and feare is placed to follow the evill motions of the Prince of the ayr who worketh in the vain ayry light minds And that none may believe a Lye and so follâ—w something in them which moves in the darke minde and take that to be the ture guid or rule and that none may be deceived through a mistake of what I have here intended neither yet through ignorance by reason of the want of the true knowledge of that which is of God in man which in him is perfect and there is placed not onely to be his Rule guid and leader in the way of life but also with it to rule and have dominion over all other creatures of God and to rule and order them to the glory and praise of him who at first made man honourable in dominion over all these things by that which was the breath of the God of life in him Therefore first let all people take heed of following their owne spirits for their owne spirits are also in them the which I doe not bid them follow for they were false prophets who followed their own spirits and had seen nothing Ezek 13. 3. and these that followed their own spirits though they spoke never so great and many words and as in the name of the Lord as some doe at this day by whom the living truth of God doth suffer yet against such as these did and doe the prophets declare who were and truly are guided by the eternall spirit of truth which was and is in them and guideth them in faithfulnesse to testifie against those who say thus saith the Lord and the Lord had not spoken unto them but they had seen a false vision Secondly I doe not bid any man follow the thoughts of his own heart for there is a heart which is hard even hardned in sin the workes of darknesse and receives not the light neither yet loves it which is the old heart that remaineth in all them in whom the old man is yet alive and not put off and the thoughts of that heart is vaine and out of the abundance of that heart the mouth speaketh folly and the lips uttereth perversnes and all manner of fruits of disobedience is brought forth and that is the heart which yet remaineth in all them who have not received the spirit of of God to become his sons and obey his Will Jer. 23. 16 17. Thirdly I doe not bid any man follow his own imaginations though they also arise from within him for I have found by experience that the imaginations of the thoughts of the hearts of the Sons of men are evill continually Gen. 6. 5. and much most desperate wickednesse blasphemy heresie and the like have been brought forth by many in these Nations who have followed their own imaginations speaking great swelling words pretending great ayry things which indeed are without substance which that transsforming prince of the ayre hath suggested into their darke minds who then follow their owne devices
to arise But I with the rest do witnesse he is risen through the earth and his feet stands upon it and is become the first fruites of them that slept and is ascended up on high and hath dominion over all and is crowned with glory and honour eternally in the heavens and hath given gifts unto men and from him the gift of eternall life is come And this is my beloved O ye daughters of Jerusalem and this is my Friend and Redeemer O ye sons of men even he who hath redeemed my soul from Hell brought me back from the power of the Grave this is the prophet of whom Moses did write should come and is come and and there is not another then he that is risen up in the midst which is Christ the light of the world in the heart this is he that hath done wondrous works for in anâ— by me and many more who are thereby made living with â—â—es unto his Name whose Name is a strong Tower and a rock of defence he is a sure dwelling-place he is the rest of the soule and the joy of the living And since he hath put the sword of his spirit into my hand and his word of life into my mouth the wicked thereby hath been cut down like the grasse and the mighty have been trampled upon as the dust in the streets the tall Gedars have been as the Brambles and the strong Oaks have been rooted up the Prophet became a fool the Pastors became brutish and the spirituall man was mad but the seed hath been refreshed and the weake nursed up the tender plant preserved and the hungry fed And for his name sake will I not keep silence untill my testimony be finished and untill Jerusalem be made a praise over all the Earth and her righteousnesse break forth as the morning and her comlinesse as the brightnesse of the Son and till I see the destruction of her enemies and her Adversaries overturned for ever for powerfull is our King who is come to raign Oh! Who can with-hold the pen from writing and the tongue from declaring When the Lyon hath roared who will not hear When the Lord hath spoken who can but prophesie How can I but declare his wondrous works and proclaime his Name where ever I come and confesse him before men though I should suffer much more imprisoning dungeon and whipping then I have done Surely his name I will declare in the world who is the light and give my testimony of him that saves from sin whose Name is called Jesus the light of the world which is the elect precious and corner but stumbling stone even to both the houses of Israel but it is he that is come to rule the Nations with his Iron rod and dash his enemies in pieces like a potters vessell and judge the Earth in righteousnesse and the people with his living truth and now the sinner shall not stand in judgement nor the wicked in the congregation of the righteous for he utters his voice like thunder against the wicked and is dreadfull against the double-minded he condemns the unjust with an utter over-throw and pulls downe the unrighteous from their seats Oh! Who of the wicked can stand when he Thunders from heaven and pierceth through the secret parts of the heart And though I doe speak an allegory yet I doe not speak contrary to the scriptures but according thereunto from the spirit of truth and though I speak of the operation of Christ in his members yet I doe not deney the works which were wrought by him in his own person and though I preach Christ within the hope of glory yet I doe not preach an other and though Paul travelled in birth again untill Christ was formed in the Galathians yet he did not desire an other Christ should be formed in them And though Paul said God had revealed his Son in him yet it was not an other Son and though I say the Son of God is come and hath given me an understanding yet it is not another Son but the same that ever was who worketh all our works in us And though I preach him the maker an end of sin yet I doe not preach another but they who preach a Christ that doth not make an end of sin nor save them who preach him from their sins do preach another Christ seeing the true Christ maketh an end of sin And though I say the prophet is come who is mighty in word and worke and raised up in the midst or in the heart yet it is not another but the same whose wonders appeared outwardly whilst he was in the forme of a servant upon the earth And though I preach him to the world the light of the World yet it 's not an other but the same who said I am come a light into the world and I am the light of the world Ioh. 8. 12. and so he being come a light into the world he is to be preached as he is the Light that all men through him might believe and mens minds turned from darknesse to him who is the light in the darknesse and it is most right and proper to preach him the light who is now come and is the end of the Law to all them that believe in the Light and the end of the Prophets who preached him that is the light under various Names or Terms as King Pâ—iest Prophet a â—on a Child the Mighty God and Daviâ— calls him Lord and he is called a Saviour a Redemer a Mediatour c who being come saith I am the light and so it 's right and sound Doctrine to preach him as he is The light of the World and lightneth every man that cometh into the World which is the true light and we that preach this doe not preach another but him who said I am the light By me who refused the glory treasure and prefermen of the world and did choose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God and though I profited much in that Religion where the carnall Ordinances are yet that profiting came to be accounted as drosse and dung that he might be received who makes an end of sin who being now come his love constraineth me his Name to publish who is the true Prophet whose Name is called Jesus who hath and doth save from sin for whose name-sake I have often been brought before Rulers haled and beat out of the Synagogues numbred among the transgressors tryed at an Assizes as an offender yet there denyed the liberty of a murtherer being six times imprisoned twice stript naked and whipt with Rods and since put into Bridewell once put into and kept long in a dungeon for praying often abused in prison sometimes near death in tryals often in perills often in losse of goods in dayly reproaches And in that which hath been greater then all these things and yet have I been preserved unto this day by the power of him who is the light
The true and everlasting RULE From GOD discovered AND That which proveth all things published from the spirit of truth to the which Rule the Scriptures also beareth testimony that all the simple and honest-hearted may see what Rule they are to walk by to come to perfect peace and rest with God for evermore With an addition to the former wherein is also shewed what that is in man which is not to be his Guid nor Rule Also a Testimony of the true Prophet who was to come and is come and there was not another his work witnessed and truth declared from a feeling sence and experience according to Scripture Wherein is also shewed that the Prophets of God and Ministers of Christ did preach the light and so those who preach the Light now do therein preach the same doctrine as the Prophets Christ and his Apostles did With an Invitation from the Spirit of Christ The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee of thy Brethren like unto me unto him shall ye hearken Deut. 18. 15. By a servant of the Lord a sufferer for his truth in the house of correction at Winchester in Hampshire called Humphrey Smith LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1658. The true and everlasting RVLE received from God discovered c. that all the simple and honest-hearted may see what Rule they are to walk by to come to perfect peace and rest with God for evermore THE Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life man became a living soul So man was formed of that which was earthly and into that which was earthly that which was living was breathed and that which is living comes from God which is to keep and lead men unto God but man going from that which is living into that which is earthly is thereby led from God and being led from that which is living he is also pleading for another thing then that which is the life to be his Rule and Guide and so comes not to be guided by that which is manifest of God in him Gen. 2. 7. Rom. 1. 19. Now the letter without is not living but the breath of life within is the which living breath man not knowing goeth forth from it to be guided by the letter which killeth 2 Cor. 3. 6. But the holy men of God who walked with God and were obedient to his will and spake forth and writ scriptures from that which was holy in them and were perfect in their generation they were such who came to be guided by that which was living in them and from that men in the dayes of old called upon the Name of the Lord Gen. 6. 28. and they had not a scripture without them to guide them thereunto And Enoch walked with God and so he walked with that which is living and not with that which is earthly neither had he a Scripture without him to be his Rule and so he walking with him who is the life came to be translated that he should not see death Gen. 5. 24 Heb. 11. 5. And Noah who was perfect in his generation found grace in the sight of the Lord consider this he found that by which man comes to be saved for by grace man is saved which grace to all men hath appeared and so Noah found that which bringeth salvation which is the Grace of God in the heart thereby hee came to do Gods will and not by any thing that was earthly nor from a scripture without Geâ— 6 8 â— Eph. 2. 5. 8. Col. 3. 15 16. And Noah who found that by which man is saved him God blessed and his Seed and said the fear of you and the dread of you shal be upon every beast of the field and they were to multiply and bring forth abundantly from the living that was within the earth for by that comes the increase of God and with them God established his Covenant so Gods Covenant came to be established with him who found that in the heart by which man is saved Gen. 9. 1 2. 7 8 9. And the Lord who is the one spirit was Abrahams Leader from his Kindred and Fathers house and so Abraham heard that which was living obeyed that which was spiritual who had not a scripture to be his Rule and unto him the Lord appeared and blessed and in the time of grievous Famines he and his Seed was fed Gen. 1â— 1 2. and 7 1 9 1â— and he that is led by the spirit comes thereby to receive feedings when the Famine comes upon them who are led by another thing and Abraham who followed the Lord was called the Friend of God and he through believing became the Father of many Nations and he saw the day of Christ the light and obeyed the Word which liveth and abideth for ever 1 Peâ— 1. 23. and being led by that which is living from his Fathers House and out of his Countrey so by that which is living was he preserved and him God loved and to him afterward the Word of the Lord did come saying Fear not Abraham I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward And Abraham answered the Lord and the seed which God blessed came forth of his Loins who was led by the spirit Gen. 15. 1. Heb. 11. 8 9. And on the contrary Nimrod who began to be a mighty one in the earth he went hunting before the Lord who is the one spirit and now there is that first which is earthly and much earthly wisdom whereby man goeth hunting before the spirit comes the which should not be but man should stand stil and not hunt and see the salvation of God and so receive the spirit to lead or go before him and not to run or hunt before the spirit but let it lead man as it is written As many as are led by the spirit of God are the Sons of God â—om 8. 14. but Nimrod hunted before God who is a spirit he was one of the seed of Ham who was the Father of â—anaâ—r whom Noah cursed And the beginning of this mâ—ghty hunters Kingdom was Babel where the Lord whom he hunted before followed after and confounded the language of all the that belonged to this mighty Hunter who was a mighty one in the earth and out of this land of Babel went forth them that built many cities afterwards there was a people whose gods were according to the number of their cities and so see what followeth when man is not led by the spirit of God as Noah was and so preserved but hunts mightily before him being mighty in that which is earthly first he is mighty in the earth then a mighty Hunter then builds a mighty Tower whereby he that is earthly would climb up to heaven this a figure then God confounded the Language and afterwards those that were in
5. 21. and try the spirit and that which proveth all things and tries the spirits comes from the God of the spirits of all flesh and from the word of his power by which all things were made which Word in the heart is as fire which proves tries and refineth things and is quick and powerfull dividing asunder soul and spirit and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart and man feeling that and coming to be guided by that which searches the heart and tryes the reins with that may he try all things and so the Rule which man may try all things by is to be known within for there is one thing in man which will try the many things from the which one thing within the false spirits are gone forth into the world and those spirits of the World and all the world by its wisdome and that spirit which is without knowes not God nor the measure of his spirit within and so those are the false spirits that are gone forth which are to be tryed by that which is not gone forth but abides within and discerns the heart and those that are gone forth from being guided by that within as the holy men were they are like unto Angels who kept not their first estate for man at first was and Holy men were guided by that within which is the word which word is truth and he that abode not in truth which is in the inward parts was a Devil and a murtherer who is called the God of the world that blindeth the mindes and worketh in all the children of disobedience and so the Devils works are in his children and they are talking of the Works of God without them but they that are led by the word of truth that sanctifyeth cleanseth and maketh free by it they come to know the works of the devil destroyed which was in them 1 Iohn chap 3. ver 8 and so he that destroyeth the works of the Devill and maketh an end of sin and bringeth in everlasting righteousnesse is known in all them that are not reprobates and so when sin is made an end of everlasting righteousnesse is brought in and so it 's within and not without and so he being received within who brings that in which is everlasting to that man he is within the hope of glory and shewes plainly of the Father and saith Without me yee can doe nothing it 's not said without scripture ye can doe nothing and they that are without him who teaches all things are without God in the world all they are without him that are not in him nor he in them but he that hath the son hath the Father also and he that hath the Father and the Son abiding in him needs not to goe out from that to be taught or led by any other thing or rule without him as it is written of him that overcometh that he shall no more goe out and upon him that goeth not out the new Name comes to be written and he comes to be a pillar in the Temple of God who goeth not out Rev. 3. 12. and the Name which is better then of Sons and Daughters even the everlasting Name that shall never be cut off is given to them within the house and within the walls even to such as take hold of the Covenant Esa 59. 4. 5 and the Sanstuary is set in the midst of them for evermore Ezek. 37. 26 27 28. and in the midst of them will the Lord spread forth his hands as one that swimmeth Isa 25. 11. and though Ephrain compassed the Lord about with lies and the house of Israel with deceit yet saith the Lord unto Ephraim I am God and not man the holy one in the midst of thee Hos 11. v. 9. 12. And so Ephraim compassed him about with lies who was in the midst and he that was in the midst was holy though compassed about with lies and the just Lord was in the midst oâ— the filthy polluted and opressing City Zeph â—3 1 2 3 4 5. Consider this all you polluted ones that oppresse the just in the midst of you for the just Lord in the midst will arise as a Lyon out of a Thicket and a young Lyon out of the forrest he shall roar like a Lyon and utter his voice like a man of War Isa 42. 13. 14 15. and then shall his enemies be scattered Psa 68 1 and he will sweep away the refuge of lies therefore the daughter of Zion and the daughter of Jerusalem and Israel shall be glad for unto them it is said The Lord is in the midst of thee thou shalt not see evill any more In that day shall it he said to Jerusalem Feare thou not and to Zion Let not thy hands be slack the Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty he will save Zeph. 3. 14 15 16 17. and he that is mighty to save is known in the midst and so he that justifieth is near Esa 50. 8. even he who hath said I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever and my holy Name shall the house of Israel no more defile Ezek. 34. 7. For the Lord hath chosen Zion he hath desired it for his habitation this is my rest for ever here will I dwell for I have desired it I will abundantly blesse her provision I will satisfy her poor with bread I will also cloath her Priests not the Priests of England with Salvation and her Saints shall shoute a loud for joy there will I make the horne of David to bud I have ordained a Lamp for mine annointed his emâ—mies will I clothe with shame but upon himselfe shall his crown florish Psal 1â—2 13 14 15 16 17 18. And every man that hath his hope in him purifieth himselfe even as he is pure 1 Ioh. 3. 3. A short discovery of that in Man Which is not to be his guid nor Rule NOw Christ Jesus being come who sheweth plainly of the the father and came out from him who is the God of Order he saith no man knoweth the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son reveals him Maâ— 11. 27. and no man cometh to the Father but by him it s not said no man cometh to the Father but by the Scriptures nor none knows the Father but they to whom the scriptures reveale him and many have the Scriptures but know not God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who doth not say come unto the Scriptures but saith search the scriptures and come unto me and he is meek and low in the heart even the light within which came from him who said I am the light come unto me and that his should not goe out from him within when wars dasolation and destructions cometh therefore saith he to them in patience possesse ye your soules and patience is in man and the soule is within and he foreseeing the many deceivers and anti-christs that
and the onely Son of God to whom be eternall glory from his own seed in his servant who is one of the least among many brethren being a prisoner at Winchester for the truth of Christ by the will of men unto whom I am known by the Name of Humphry Smith An Invitation from the Spirit of Christ COME unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden come unto me and find rest I even I am he who comforteth Sion I am he who preacheth liberty to the captives Oh come unto me stay not I am the way the truth and the life I am he and there is none other I came out from the Father into the world that it might be reconciled up unto God through me I am the good shepherd that am now come to gather the outcasts of Israel and to bring home unto God the lost sheep that the dispersed of Judah might now return and the seed of Abraham may be brought in to me in whom the redemption is even plentious redemption for all that will hear and turne in hither Oh all ye scattered of the flock my voice is to you that have not found rest to your soules now hearken diligently to heare my voice and feel my words of life for now the time is come that the seed that hath long lain in the death shall heare my voice and they that heare shall live and rise out of the death and I will give them life Oh! come unto me my own my beloved before the foundation of the world come and stay not I have long waited for you my locks are wet with the drops of the night and you have even wearied me with waiting for you long have I knocked at the door of your hearts calling to repentance and no man regarded nor the slothfull would not arise that I might come in and take up my abode with and in my own and refresh them with waters of life but now am I come who am the bridegroom and the bishop of the soul with my alluring termes Come Oh my friends â— hearken my beloved let me not be denyed open the door of thy hard heart and let me not stand waiting any longer behold I have honour for all them that follow me crowns of life for all wil receive me come unto me my lambs I have prepared my supper I have made in this Mountain a feast of wines of the Lees of fat things full of marrow all things are now ready Come in unto me I am the bread of life I am the hidden Manna I come to save mens lives Come all ye that are weary with the burthen of your sins I am the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world I come to take away the sins of the world I am the root of Jesse and the off-spring of David I am he that opens and none can shut and shuts and no man opens I have power to forgive sins on earth Come cease from the evill of your doings learn of me to do well then we will reason together though thy sins have been as scarlet they shall then be as white as Snow for I come to finish transgression and make an end of sin and bring in the everlasting righteousnesse of God Therefore hear oh ye scatered of the flock that are yet in the miery clay covered over with the thick clouds of your sins oh remain not in filth nor continue no longer with the flesh-pots in the house of bondage for I am come to condemn sin in the flesh destroy the works of the Devill that you may find redemption in me and be washed from your filthinesse and cleansed from your sin Wherefore hear all ye that are far from righteousness behold I have gifts for the rebellious my hand is streched forth oh ye simple ones come unto me and learn pure wisdom ye fools be of an understanding heart O why will ye dye oh ye house of Israel have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should dye turn you turn you now I do cal oh ye hard-harted where fore do you hide your selves from me dig deep to hide your councels from me why do you run alwais astray Oh what shall I do unto you that I have not don yet do you stil go on in the evil of your wais when wil you once return Oh Jerus I wilt thou not be made clean When shal it once be Oh! I have seen your abominations am wearied with your fins yet you have not regarded oh now it is high time to consider thy ways return from the evill of thy doings lest thou be shut out for ever And all ye my dear ones that have long waited for me behold I come quickly and my reward is with me saith Christ the Son of God and I will open to you the hidden Treasures of my father and make known his will to you and I will remove off the burden and circumcise your hearts behold I come saith Christ and I will open the prison-door raise the prisoner out of the pit and bring deliverance to the captive and refresh the plant of my Fathers planting and nourish the tender grape which the subtilty hath hurt and I will bind up the broken and restore unto the mourners the years of joy and comfort and I will be unto you a sure foundation and a present help in time of need and I will bring back the scattered and they shall now return and fear the Lord God of their Fathers in my mountain of holiness and they shall walk in the way of peace and in the pathes of righteousness where the unclean shall not passe over nor the wild beasts of the field shall not come but the ransomed of my Father saith Christ the Son of God Therefore hear all ye my brethren and consider all yee my friends for I am come who am the sure foundation the corner-stone the Light the true light of the world and the life of man and the everlasting covenant of the father and power of God and the wisdome of the Father by me Kings reigne and the princes of Israel shall now rule in equity for behold I am come even he that you have long waited for and there is not another come learn of me I am meek I am lowly I am the light low in the heart I am the living Minister saith Christ the Son of the Fathers love and the light of the World I change not but remain a Priest for ever a living Minister a Minister of life within the vail ministring life unto the spirit in prison H S. The two striving within THat which went forth from the life of God professed the name of God to cover it selfe with that without the life the which profession through the secret subtilty did more and more increase which led further off from the sense of the feeling of the life of God and when it s stirred to judge that which