And in the time of such governors hath the Lambe borne testimony in much patience meekenesse and long suffering bearing all the venom and envie that the Serpent could cast out upon him where he was manifest in the creature for a witnesse against all such rulers that his long suffering might lead them to repentance and leave them without excuse in the day of his wrath and against such is he finishing his testimony at this day And a blinder generation never was in any age who have run from all tendernesse so far into that wisdom that many are grown wholly past feeling imprisoning whipping and torturing their brethren for such things as never any age of persecution can paralell And it must needs be so for as every generation of that seed growes more subtill so to the things of Christ more blind and deafe So that its rare to find one who hath an eare to heare oppression but not one whose heart is perfect to deny the worlds favour to beare witnesse against the ground of oppression so the just man perisheth and none layes it to heart nor can any lay it to heart whose hearts are filled with selfish passion and selfe will for none can rule for God whose heart is not ruled by God but when the Lord rules in the heart then the just raignes and the cause of the just is heard and he that rules for the just rules for God and with God over the unjust first in himself then in all the world otherwise though an unjust Judge may heare the cause of the poore in some case or time yet it is not for God nor from obedience to the Spirit of Judgment which is of God the heart being filled with self ends So that he that is a selfe lover or proud or covetous or respects gifts or rewards cannot rule for God nor he that respects persons cannot rule for God nor with God who is no respecter of persons but only hath respect to such as walk in obedience to that just principle of himself nor such as seeke for honour from men cannot rule for God for such are out of the faith of Christ and in the unreasonable nature seeking the praise of men and so cannot have the praise of God for the friendship of the world is enmity with God and he that seeks the one loses the other And such as are out of the feare of God cannot rule for God for such are subject to be drawne with feare or favour of men from the just principle of God out of which none can rule for God And herein is the cleare difference betwixt Heathens and Christians The one exercise Justice and Judgment and righteousnesse which is of God and in his will whereby they rule over all unrighteousnesse of men of corrupt minds and principles whatsoever and stand in the authority of God a terror to the evill doer The other execise Lordship over mens persons in their own wills which they set up in their selfish principle in carnall pollicy who lay the sword upon the just as on the unjust if he bow not to their wills which who stands in the will of God may not do and so they that abide in the feare of God do ever suffer by such as are out of his feare And though these be set in their places by the permission or appointment of God yet not knowing him who ordereth all things to order them though they are restrained from evill or made to do his will yet have they no reward nor share in it not doing it in obedience to God nor from a principle of equity not knowing Christ guiding and leading them therein they are no Christians what-ever they may call themselves And to such as these who mind not that of God to governe withall hath God sent his servants to testifie to their faces of their departure from the just principle and so cannot please God with his government yet did they never plot against them nor murmur which if they did heare they rejoyced to see them established as a blessing to the place and people which the people of God ever seeke to God for but if they heare not then they are made to mourne that God should be grieved and his Creature lost especially in such a place by which God may be so dishonoured and a Nation or Towne plagued from the Lord for his sake who hath the sword of God in his hand and suffers sin but punishes the innocent both which the Lord will revenge and seldom but the place where it is done tastes thereof which such as rule with God and for him prevent yea by such the peace hath beene lengthned after the Judgment hath beene pronounced So when the righteous raignes God is honoured and good men rejoyce but when wickednesse gets up in the King then the Lord is dishonoured and the glory departs Concerning Obedience SPiritual and living obedience is not that of mans way and will wherein men and women in the firstbirth and wisdom therein read the Scriptures and there find what the Saints performed in the Spirit and power of the Lord Jesus and from that set themselves on work to do the like and so make an imitation instead of obedience and set up selfe works instead of Christs works and obey selfe righteousnesse instead of Gods righteousnesse and so cover themselves with filthy Raggs instead of ever lasting righteousnesse But all who will know true obedience must first know a measure of Gods Spirit in the light of Jesus and therein moveing and drawing towards Christ Jesus wherein the faith is which laies hold on Gods righteousnesse which is in Christ Jesus and by the moving of this Spirit in the light the truth is seene and the obedience that is one in Christ Jesus the second Adam And as the Creature is joyned in the light to that Spirit of Christ and in believing there is the life of Jesus made manifest quickning the body unto that one obedience which is contrary to the will of man and the mind being kept spirituall in the measure the seed is raised and the new is borne of that Spirit to which seed the promise and power is wherein the creature is joyned heire with Christ Jesus who is Gods righteousnesse and so in the faith is the glad tydings of good things preached to the soule and by the power of the Gospel preached to the creature the righteousnesse of God is revealed from faith to faith and the just lives in that faith and Christ is manifest for obedience to the faith and all that are in this faith are in the one obedience which is in Christ Jesus which he learned of the Father for us that in that obedience many may be made righteous and all that learnes Christ learnes his obedience which was not what he see or heard from men but what he saw and heard of the Father not in his own time or will but in the Fathers nor in his own strength could
that are baptised with it are baptised into his death buried with him unto the world its wayes and worships loves and freindships and to all that in them is which would conforme or bow thereto and through this death is the seed of God raised up out of the grave quickned by the same Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead And all that are Baptised with this Spirit and the old Man dead and buried they are raised a spiritual seed unto God holy and zealous of good works being begotten againe of another nature from above which is but one and all as they are baptized herein grow into one in God the Father and the Son Jesus Christ and so the Saints were all baptised by one Spirit into one body out of that nature in which all differences are Sects and opinions and so come to put on Christ which is but one for as many as are baptised unto Christ have put on Christ and his mind and affection and such know a further prize then contentions about Elements of the world or washings without neither do they stand laying againe such foundations as stands in times and seasons and customs and persons as all the world is contending about who are in the many Baptismes and many fashions some contending for sprinkling Infants â—ome for dipping them some for sprinkling them over againe and some for dipping them over againe when they are growne to such a confusion in outward words and many other outward Ceremonies they keepe themselves disputing and jangling about from the letter in an imitation of Johas Ministry calling it the Baptisme of Christ but out of the Spirit and power of Christ or John either yea so farre from the power as not come to the forme of either And this effect this hath taken in all who are gone out into the world in these imitations and imaginations that so many Baptismes so many Religions and Sects and every Sect Master and his followers set themselves against all other in the way they have conceived to be right and to that way must all bow or else no agreement though never so neare in other things nay so zealous they are for their Likenesse that if any come not into it though the Spirit of God be in them and they themselves confesse it yet he must not speake in that creature in their Churches without bowing to their formes of water which are all different one from another though the Spirit of God be but one and cannot be limitted to any visible forme or rudiment And thus the form is set above the power and not the true form neither but as men have conceived from the letter by the Counsels of their own braine some in the Popish Councels some since but none from the Mouth of the Lord and therefore they are scattered in their imaginations and baptismes But who are baptised with the baptisme of the Spirit are baptized into one body But all that are without who are the nearest are in the error not knowing the Scripture nor power of God herein For all who have not their law guide and rule in Spirit are in that generation who have erred and lost the Saints guide and such are scattered with what they from the letter imagine into divisions And this was that which Paul saw getting in amongst the Churches in 1 Cor. 14. 17. his time setting up sects and the persons by whom they were baptised puft up for them and against the other Apostles some of Paul some of Peter c. Which Paul seeing thanks God he had baptized no more of them and plainly saies Christ sent him not to baptize but to Which clearly shows it was not laid on the Apostles as of necessity but as they found it of service or disservice preach the Gospel though he could use it untill he saw them make an Idoll of it thereby to make devisions and parties and to puffe up one above another as it is now used at this day yea farre more for it is now made the key to let in and shut out of that they call a Church yea further some say none can be saved without it but all that have it are belâ—evers and shall be saved and so set it in the place of Christ But others are more moderate who finding it practised in the Letter they say it is an ordinance and they who practise it not deny an ordinance of Christ To such I say all that is in the letter is not ordained there to be taken up by all that read it for the Saints had their call to their particular Ministrations in Spirit and not in Letter for else they had not witnessed differences of administrations but the same Lord But by the Spirit they were led from carnall administrations and through them not sticking in the Letter What letter had Paul to deny Circumcision which the letter said should be as a signe for ever Or by what letter did he deny Baptisme Did he deny an Ordinance of Christ in either of these divers more rudiments which were commands in the letter which he preached practise in Spirit putting an end to the shadow of things to come and leading to the body as is plaine Col. 2. Further I say if it were so that all that was done in the letter was to be taken up then the forme thereof must not be changed if the letter be the rule But not any that I know at this day that are in the forme as the Saints did it for none practised this but who was called out to teach all Nations So you that have your certaine dwelling places and live in your worldly estates and fashions are out of this Call Neither did they take such into the outward washing who had beene there before but baptised such into the name of Christ Jesus with the Spirit that they might receive the holy Ghost But if you say they had it not in right forme and manner nor by persons rightly called and qualified c I say Nor can they have that from you who are not called out of the world but live in its friendship professions fashions and customs in which the Saints never lived after they were called to teach and baptize So you do but add another false forme to that they had before but still out of the power nor any change of faith or qualification onely in that thing of Water over againe differing in some circumstances as you have conceived from the letter but still with the rest of professions in Covetousnesse Pride and Contention vaine words and heathenish customes and manners of the Nations in which you live you that can live in Suites and revenge you that sweare at mens wills and so deny the commands of Christ and his Apostles whosaies Above all things sweare not at all you that can uphold the high places of Popery which yet remaine in the land and such a worship therein as Christ never commanded with tythes and
they come to receive in their hearts onely such come into the good work and will of God For without the Word was nothing made nor without it can any be redeemed For it is the Word of the Lord heard and received that quickens the Dead and raises to Life that which is dead in the trespasses and sins and the Spiritual man being quickned the power of the Word brings forth in him the work of Gods righteousnesse which was from everlasting which in the measure thereof confirms the Creature unto God in righteousnesse who lost the Image in unrighteousnesse and so is the Creature renewed in the Spirit of the mind and inward parts to receive wisdom and power in the hidden man how to escape the evil and resist it and to bring to light what God begets in the heart and so the new Creature is seen created in Christ Jesus unto good works to walk therein as was fore-ordained And as the Believer is found diligent in the light waiting and in the Spirit obedient to this work in this work he comes still more to learn Gods Power and Teaching and Christs obedience and Gods wisdome and care over him in leading into the sufferings and tribulations tryals and temptations and the Faith and Fellowship with Christ therein in which if the creature stand not a hair can fall but he is sure to come out more pure then gold and so in all this work he grows in the knowledge of Christ and his Sonship toward the measure and stature and fulnesse of the perfect man into the likenesse of God And thus the Saints were made conformable to God by his mighty working whereby he wrought powerfully in them after his good pleasure contrary to their fleshly pleasures And what is thus wrought is good because it comes from the Fountain of all good and this is not a new work but the everlasting good work of God manifest to the Creature and through the Creature to the World by which God is glorified who is the Father and Author and Finisher thereof in every one that believes And this is no self-work nor can it be wrought in any but where self is denyed and a Crosse to self taken up so boasting is excluded the Creature having nothing but what he hath received neither by his own Will nor Deed but by believing in the Light and in obedience of Faith And with this Faith and Work are all the world judged who are in their own works and all that are without works whose Faith is dead and to every good work reprobate And whose works are their own their prayers are abomination where the Works come not from this one everlasting Work and Workings For though there be many Works as to the Creatures obedience and measures yet they all compleat but this one work of the Creatures Redemption and Gods praise therein the beginning and end of all And of this work of God is all the world ignorant who are preaching pressing and acting their good works as they call them but all their works do not manifest a Power that brings them out of sinne and the worlds Conformity and service thereof in his ways and worship but every good work of God in his Saints who become obedient to his working as they subject to bring forth the good work and will of God every work begets the Creature nearer to God and into his likenesse and nature and this is the reward of good works to every one who are exercised therein that thereby they are wrought out of the worlds likenesse and conformity and so out of their friendship till all manner of evil they suffer for the name of God that is in them and the nature of his works which is abomination to the Worlds works and the world to them And so their name being cast out as evil among men they are received into the love of the Father of the Work for which they are hated of the world and so the reproach of the world becomes great riches to all who love God and are obedient to his work which none who stands in their own wills can inherit And so self-works and Gods works are manifest in the light The one is that which men see or hear or imagine and so set themselves to imitate the same in their own Wills and Ways which they have conceived in their fallen wisdome and earthly minds not in Spirit new born but in the old letter or tradition from men But Gods works are those which are from everlasting before the Will of Man or the Worlds Customs and therefore must conform to neither but every one who into this Work will come must deny the world and their own Wills and all that is in them must bow and conform to the motion of the Spirit and to its Workings which is seen to such as in the Light dwels and in its way and time must bring forth the fruits of the Spirit in due season not the works of the flesh nor to the flesh but the working of the Spirit to God in the sight of God and the praise of such is not of the world who bring not forth to the World but of God who bring forth to God and the World praises it own Concerning Election and Reprobation THis is that which is Sealed from all the world nor can any know it nor receive it who is in the reprobate state though many be disputing about it in the dark which none know but the children of light So as one who have obtained favour to have this mystery revealed I shall according to permission write a few words as is received in Jesus yet can be received by no mans wisdom nor any who are born after the flesh but who knows what it is to walk in the Spirit shall witness me herein And I deny all of that Spirit who would foolishly Charge God to have concluded the condemnation of some persons before they come into the world and though they seek after God yet they cannot be sayed because God hath purposed the contrary And on the contrary some are concluded to salvation though they live and dye in their sins And this is the Spirit of the world which knowes not the secrets of God revealed in Spirit and therefore judges from the letter from the figures and shadows but knows not the uprightness that lyes in the mystery but being without so he imagins But none knows the purpose of God but who comes to the beginning for in the beginning was the Election and reprobation established by an eternal decree unalterable in the two seeds that after the flesh and that after the Spirit and he that can Judge of these two he knows the two vessels ordained to honour and dishonour and as every one is found in these so is Gods purpose touching them Now in the fall all are in the dishonour and so children of wrath under the curse and â—heirs thereof and so without God or the promise
and so not having the in-dwelling of God no vessels of honour but reprobate concerning God Now Christ Jesus is the election and the elect seed in whom the election is obtained and in whom alone it is established and in the midst of all the dishonour his light is tendered to lead out of the dishonour the curse and the fall and whatsoever he be that will believe in his light without respect of person he leads out of the world And to the cleansing and purging the body soul and mind till the vessell be changed from the oldnesse of the will and affections and lusts of the flesh till the newness of the Spirit be witnessed and so the creature in heart and minde is brought out of the flesh wherein the dishonour lodges and which is prepared for dishonour and is brought to live in the Spirit where the lusts of the flesh is not fulfilled so the vessel of honour is witnessed prepared for the masters use Who while he lived in the flesh was prepared for dishonour and fitted for destruction Not knowing the master nor his use though God with much long suffering endure such vessels that he may at his pleasure shew his wrath thereon who will not own the merey shewed in his Son And for this purpose had he long endured Pharaoh suffered his oppression till he was fit to shew his power upon him who had long been setting himself above the seed of God As also he did the Amorites till their iniquities were full and so doth many at this day who proceed to one wickedness after another till they fill up their measure that he may make known his wrath upon them that will not own his seed And so shall it be with all who owne not the light of Christ and whose day of visitation is past such hath a measure of sin to fill up in the other seed which they shall not passe And for this purpose is that seed raised up and prepared that he may shew his power upon him who doth not retain the knowledge of God that they all might be damned who take pleasure in unrighteousnesse serving the creature more then the Creator whose hearts are filled with all lasciviousnesse and fleshly lusts and these are the vessels of dishonour But if any man purge himself from these he shall be a vessel unto honour Sanctified and meet for the masters use and prepared unto every good work which they who live in these things are to the good work reprobate to God and to the faith of God And so here is the Election and reprobation they that are the after the Spirit and they that are after the flesh and they thar are after the flesh are not the seed but they that are after the spirit are accounted for the seed and these have obtained but the rest are hardned And so there is no unrighteousness with God but the unrighteousnesse is with men who reject the Counsel of the Lord against themselves and chuse to abide in that which God hath cursed and wherein all must be hardned to their own destruction notwithstanding all their indevours and labours prayers and teares that are in this nature it s not accepted this being the seed which God hath put the emnity in against his own seed it cannot be well pleasing to him For in this he hath placed his displeasure but in the other mercy wherein he is well pleased for his mercies sake So it is not of him that wills nor of him that runs but of him that hath shewed mercy and this mercy hath he set above all his works so he that stayes in the world cannot obtain it but the light which leads out of the world leads up to it and whosoever comes unto him he will in no wise cast off but who comes not to him are cast off already because they will not come to the light of life So read your condemnation you vain babblers who spend your time with disputing about Election with your reprobate mindes When ye find that the light of Christ condemns you for your lusts and earthly delights and the Spirit of God moves in you against your evil deeds but you will not be obedient thereto but you still harden your hearts against the light that is the reprobate state and that is the Spirit of God that strives in thee against it which would not thou should dye in it then let that of God in thy conscience judge if thy destruction be not of thy self whose way is reprobate from God and let that of God in thy own conscience which reproves thee for thy wickednesse be a witnesse against thee that God delights not in thy destruction but rather that thou should repent and so hath given thee his light to reprove thee and lead thee to repentance shewing that he hath not concluded thy condemnation before thou wast born And let the same light which checks thee for thy sin and lets thee see in thy heart that the righteous God hath appointed a day wherein all shall receive after their doings be a witnesse against thy vain thoughts that God hath not concluded to quit thee in thy wickednesse nor do thy selfish imaginations make thy sins any lesse in Gods accompt And so the righteous Judge of all the earth will proceed to do righteousnesse And therefore to make way for the same hath he placed his pure light in the heart of every one that will minde it which will clearly shew you all whether you be in the elect seed or in the seed of evil doers and this light is that which being believed and followed doth reveal the Election and Reprobation and without it none knows who is Elected or Reprobated nor can judge thereof but if the light be minded it will reprove the Reprobate and his way which is contrary to God in his own heart for his own works but whose work is wrought in God with the light is justified Concerning the New Birth THere is the Old Man and a New Man which is known in the light and their several Births and their several Natures and Kindreds according to that whereof they are born That which is born of the Earth is earthly fleshly carnal and corrupt and this is the state of the Old Man and all that are in that state are fallen from God and his Covenant and are in the Curse and wholly blind in heart as touching the mysteries of God yet in the sensual wisdome of the flesh make profession of God and his Gospel but being heart-blind neither knows God nor his Power but is alienated from the life of God and led Captive in the dark at his Will who is the Prince of Darknesse and what ever he doth is cursed in this state And in this state did Cain sacrifice but could not be accepted for he was out of the state of well-doing or well-being yet would have been accepted And in this state Esau sought the blessing and wept for it
offerings and all the rest of Popish inventions whereby Christ is denyed comne in the flesh the everlasting Preist and somthing set up instead of his way like unto the Jewish Preisthood which is not it neither but an imagined thing from men of corrupt minds c You who can do these things and much more of that Nature rather then you will suffer the losse of all things you are farre unlike those you would imitate or those they baptised And were baptisme in your manner as great a crosse to you now as it was in the time of the persecuting Jews or as these other weightier things are now we should find few to contend for it as for the other things For did you know the right ends of that ministration of water you would know that it was a forerunner of Christs Kingdom and a witnesse to all men that the Jews Ceremonies and Heathenish prayers and worships wherein they was growne into divisions was to have an end and the spirituall ministration and baptisme was to be set up in the downfall of Carnall Ordinances and Elements of all which they were to repent for the Kingdom of God was at hand even within all that would beleive it who did deny all the Jews worships circumcisions and ordinances without in the letter and preached them and practised them in Spirit but your baptisms which comes not to an end of tythes and offerings and Jewish Ceremonies and Gentiles also that baptisme we deny for herein was the crosse of Christ and the Power of God manifest for they suffered for this all the envy that Jews and professors could do unto them who upheld the same in the letter but denied the power and Spirit which could they but have bowed to their ceremonies outward the crosse of Christ had ceased and then the power of Christ had ceased also and the same is now seene of you at this day and the same crosse For could but those whom Christ hath called out now bow to your severall forms of baptismes and worships of you that be zealous for them and bow to mens wills and worship the persons of such as are zealous for their Pride and wilfulnesse we should not suffer by you but the offence of the crosse would cease as it is ceased to all who preach Baptismes Carnall Ordinances respect of persons conformity to mens wills and the worlds customes and manners who preach up pride swearing and imperfection and sin for terme of life c. I say to you who can conforme to the wayes of men and please them the Crosse of Christ is ceased and so the power also and therefore are you ever preaching against the worlds wayes and wickednesse but never able to lead out of them like those who minded earthly things who were enemies to the Crosse of Christ ever learning and teaching but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth that makes free to those the Crosse and sufferings is ceased and they and the Powers of the Earth are one against such as take up the Crosse to follow Christ in the way of the Spirit and such being without in the letter are become spiritually blind and so cannot see that the appearance of Christ was ever crosse to all who was got into the rudiments pleading for out-sides but had lost the power wherein this generation exceeds having lost both power and forme also And to you I say of all sorts of baptismes as the Apostle said of circumcision We are the baptisme who worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh though we might have confidence in the outward washing being that we have had it from such as gathered it from the letter and yours is no more But this we have learned that it is not baptisme which is outward in the flesh but that is Baptism which is in the Spirit and not in the letter whose praise is not of men but of God whereby we are baptised by one Spirit into one body and as many as are baptised into Christ are baptised into his death and have put him on and are become new creatures and this is that which availeth to save us not the washing the flesh but the answer of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus And this baptisme we witnesse that whosoever is therewith baptised shall be saved but for other baptismes which men are contending about from the letter we see the end thereof and what they bring forth But if any should come in the power and Spirit of Johns baptism or if any had a Call from God thereto such we judge not nor gainsay but that any hath power from the letter to take up and impose it upon others yea though it was the true form that I deny or that they who are not sent to baptize that the leaving the outward water and going on to the Spiritual Baptism is a sleighting or contemning of an Ordinance of God that I deny also for this might as well have been charged against Paul who denyed it in his time and preached Baptisme in Spirit in its stead the same thing for which we are accused to deny an Ordinance of Christ whom he hath not sent to dip or sprinkle in water but to preach the Gospel of Light and Life and the Spiritual Baptism of Christ Jesus to the bringing all that receive our testimony into one body by one Spirit not making divisions about carnal things for to us the day is come and the shadows fly away And your Baptisme we judge and the end of it which hath not led you out of Tythes and Offerings Swearing Suing and Contention out of the Worlds Worships Manners and respects of Persons and to suffer the losse of all to witnesse Christ That Baptisme we see to be out of the Faith of Christ Jesus and not worth contending about for he that is in the world without it is as good as he that is in the world with it if not much better for that Baptisme which preaches not repentance to all the ways of faln-man and manners there set up is none of Johns and that which walks in the flesh is none of Christs So with the Light of Christ if you it mind you will see your selves out of the true Baptism both as to Matter Manner and the End who are crying up Ordinances in the World which leads not out of the world and when the world comes to Judgment that Baptism will not save you from the worlds portion But this I say to those who would knew the truth herein as we have received we do not despise any Ordinance of God which he hath called any of his people to in any Generation nor dare we take a Tradition upon us which God hath not required at our hands lest we keep people in that which God is departed out of and it be said to us who hath required it at your hands But God hath
the mover thereof and worker also and the creature only servant therein in the same power And this is not a self taken on performance from the Letter but is in the eternall counsell and strength of God commanded moved and performed in Gods will and time contrary to the will of the flesh whereby the will of all flesh is subdued even all that is come in since the beginning till all be seen in the light to be good and the work of God and so his works praise him from a good understanding of the spirit and power of the Living God And with the living word is the living soul witnessed and the life of Christ made manifest in the mortal body and the creature comes to have fellowship in the life and is transformed thereinto and united in one and this is the word of reconciliation which unites God and the Creature in Spirit which who ever knows needs not go forth for wisdom counsell or strength against all the powers of darkness nor wiles of the enemy but by diligent taking heed to the word which is nigh in the heart from thence finds the issues of life spiritual strength and power against the spiritual wickedness which all who run out for help lye under become servants of Concerning Worship THe worship of the true and living God stands out of mans will and knowledge wisdom or prudence as in the naturall for God is a Spirit and in Spirit he is worshipped not with mens hands nor with bodily exercise further then by the eternall Spirit the body is exercised nor doth it stand in meats and drinks nor divers washings nor carnall ordinances taken on by tradition nor imitation of others but as every Creature is moved by the Spirit of the living God who is that Spirit who will be served with his own alone not with any thing in man which is come in since the fall so the imaginations thinkings and conceavings are shut out all mans ways mans times and formes nationall customes mans decency and orders by men devised and added are all shut out and condemned with that Spirit in which God alone is worshipped and his people taught his worship and the manner of it and the times are in his hand whose the worship is So that before any can rightly worship God they must waite to know his Spirit that leads to know him and his worship and the matter and manner for all who do the same thing as to the outward performance do not worship God because they worship not in Spirit and power of God himselfe So that all who would so worship him as to be accepted you must know the light and in it waite to know what God calls for at your hands for it is not what men appoint you to do or not to do that will acquit you before the Lord for this know that God made man for himselfe and for his service and the living God is not as the dumbe Idolls that people should imagine a way to serve him as may best sute with the fashion and custome of a Nation or people but he that made man hath given him a life from himself to improve in his service and a light hath he given wherewith to see the moving of this Spirit of life which ever moves after the will of God because it is of him and so where it is awakned it ever draws the Creature towards God the mind and will and affections and love of God is in it and who walks in the light sees this But the Creature running before this or without this there comes all the dead works and worships And the ground of all this ariseth out of darkness and disobedience for when the Creature hath beene out in the world and unrighteous wayes thereof doing that which is evill then that in the heart condemns for the evill and neglect of good then the same mind runs to act a worship to get peace when both the evill and the worship is in one nature and so the prayer becomes abomination as the others was for he that regards the iniquity God will not heare his prayers nor accept his worships that 's Cains sacrifice and Esaus prayers but either must your worship be performed in one that never sinned or it cannot be accepted with the pure God So that the way to be well pleasing to the Father is to waite in the light till you see somthing of the Spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus moving in you and then to that joyne in its power to worship and that being of God he cannot forget himselfe and that is done in the name of Christ which is done in his light and power and wisdom and strength and what ever is done in his name is not denyed of the Father and so far as any are in him so far sons and so far accepted in him without whom you can doe nothing nor be respected nor did ever any worship in this nature but they found acceptance and the knowledge thereof and you who know not this to lead and guide you in your worships are worshiping you know not what nor with what and though you say that God works all your works in you and that it is his work and worship you are about yet when it comes upon tryall he will not own it for his which the worker of iniquity hath wrought For the evil worker hath not onely his hand in the deceitfull works of the unrighteous Mammom but in the deceitfull works of Worship too For did he not deceive in worship to hide his wickednesse with pretence of godlinesse and long prayers he could not keepe people in any peace in his wicked wayes so they who joyne to him herein receive the greater damnation for the false worshippers were alwayes greatest enemies to Christ and so to their own souls and woe to him that hides his sin thus So all who desire to worship in truth you must know the truth even the Spirit of truth to lead into all truth which Spirit of truth takes of Christ and testifies of his life and power in the Creature worshiping who believes in the light and such know they are in him and he in them who is true in whom they worship the Father of the truth and so God is served with his own and no further then this is known can any worship God in Spirit which the light doth manifest So you having received a light from Christ in that waite till therein you find the Spirits leading acting and ordering and here the least in the light is in Gods service when on him you are waiting in Spirit and such as abide in the light waiting upon God in the light are kept from serving the Prince of darknesse and having your loynes gire and your light burning you are always ready to know the voyce and answer it with obedience and then you serve God and not men when you have a command from the living God not
taken on by tradition from men for in vaine do all worship whose feare and service towards God is taught by the precepts of men for all the Children of the Lord are taught of the Lord And they are the Sons of God who are led by the Spirit of God and such harken to the Lord and know his voyce and what they see and heare that they doe and doe not offer the sacrifice of fools But do not you ofter the sacrifice of fooles who have been worshiping all your time and yet have his worship to learne and are but still asking If this be the right worship and have it yet to dispute if not confident in a false way which is much worse and such are you who are fighting and contending for such a manner of worship as Christ never ordained nor his own ever practised as you may see if you compare your nationall worship with the Saints practice which is changed in every particular and that by men and councels under pretence of decency or conformity or somthing that stands in mens will which God never commanded But you may long worship here and call it Gods worship ere he own it by answering you yet was Nebuchad nezzer never more zealous for his Image then you are for this if you had but his power yea them who have found the everlasting way of Christ and an answer from God in it such would you force to bow to your imaginations where you know not God nor his presence with you therein nor can you euer find God in that way which is not his own nor is that his own which generations of men and councels have altered and added to and changed from time to time as may most sute their customes and Countryes so that each Nation hath its different manner of worship but all out of the counsel of God agreed on by Councels of men And all you who are gone out in any thing from Christ the true paterne and example you are gone into the imaginations of men and so are become servants of men and not of God herein For God is pure and so is his way and worship and without his command cannot be changed in the least jot but by him is denyed and is become will-worship and not Gods worship For it is not the name that makes it Gods worship for all pretend to worship God but it is the nature of it which must be in Spirit and will of God contrary to the will of all men and their wisdome wherein men in all ages have performed the idolatrous worship and set up likenesses instead of true worship though being heart-blind did not know it but ever looked upon all to be out of the way but themselves And this is your work who at this day set up an imitation from the letter of what other men have done but have not received your command and power in Spirit from the Lord and to you it will be said Who hath required these things at your hands for all the Saints have their commands in Spirit but yours is in letter and so of another Ministration for the litterall Ministration is don away in the spirituall and all that knows the command in Spirit knows it is life eternall and gives life to fulfill the command and so the worship is spiritual and the heart and the mind and soul is united in it and so being in one there is no idolatry nor likenesses but in one is the command and power life and will and way and worship but all you who have taken on the Saints practice to performe the like but not called commanded and furnished in Spirit you want power and life and so even in the time of your worship your hearts are going out after carnall things and there is the spirituall idolatry for what ever your minds are in that is your God you worship and the pure God ownes no such for its truth in the inward parts he seeks for wherein none of you can worship who knowes not the living word in your hearts to keepe them up to God in your worship and that worship which is not in the will of God is the worshipping of Devills Concerning Error Heresie c. IT is not Error to forsake the opinions of any man whatsoever nor to with draw from the Church of Rome as they call it nor from any who have reformed some things since the time of popery but yet are not come to the true foundation of the Apostles though they call themselves Nationall Churches or Gathered Churches whatsoever But the Error is to erre from the Spirit of God and its teachings and that Church which by its teaching alone is gathered into God out of all the wayes worships sects and opinions of the world Convocations and Councels that are not in God And the Church so gathered into God is the pillar and ground of truth where the Spirit alone is teacher and all that are gone out from this church and Teaching are in the Error where all the Sects and Opinions and false wayes and worships are and their teachers who have erred from the Spirit of Christ and the Saints teacher and theâ—r practice and are gone after their pride covetuouâ—ness and filthy lucre here lyes the Worlds Teachers thoâ—gh they do not know from whence thâ—y are Erred because they never yet came in the right way nay who never yet came so far as Balaam who had the word of the Lord from his ownmouth knew it yet hâ—s heart erred after gifts and honour So these preâ—ch against Balaam but cannot see themselves in the same Error ever since they were promoted to honour and gifts and Maisterships and great Livings by the pope who received his power from the Beast and gave of it to all his Adherents to cause all that dwell on the earth to worship them but such whose names are written in the book of life who have suffered to this day and do suffer because they cannot bow to that power nor worship it nor according to its likness and under pretence of Herefie and Eerror do these alwayes suffer by such who are Erred and with the Spirit of Error do Judge which Spirit hath shed all the innocent blood since Abel to this day though the Error was ever in the persecuter So that there is no Error but who goes from the spirit of Christ and his teachings and all who are gone from that are into Error what ever they pretend And that which leads from that Spirit is the mother of Confusion and vain Janglings and Contention disputeing about the things of God but are gone out into the world where all the deceived ones are AntiChrists and seducing Spirits which deceives the nations with inchantments and witcheries which none can see till to the light of Christ and his Spirit they return which only leads out of all Errors as it is beleived and followed For no Spirit can lead out of Errors but
Therefore faith Jam. 4. 4. God let love be without dissimulation abhor that which is evill cleave to Rom. 12. 9. that which is good and that love is it which covers sinne which condemns sin unto death and covers it with righteousnesse Otherwise saith the Scriptures he that covereth sinne shal not prosper And saith James Prov. 28. 13. Jam. 5. 20. He which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a Prov. 29. 5. soul and shall hide a multitude of sinnes And saith Solomon Open rebuke is better thâ—â—â—â—â—â—t love such wounds are precious to them that know what love is but he that spares mens wickednesse hates Gods righteousnesse And so with the Light is seen Gods love and the Devils love and each loves his own works and so do their Children in whom they raign For who ever loves the one hates the other and he that serves the one hates the other and so the Servant pleads for his Master whom he loves Concerning Judgment TRue Judgment as it is known to men is a gift from the Spirit of God set in the heart of every one who dwells in the Light of Christ which Judgmennt passeth upon all that 's in the Creature contrary to the life of God and so as it is received springs up with Light and Salvation to the redeeming of the heart from all uncleannesse condemning all which is contrary to purity that God may be seen in his dwelling place with his righteousnesse and so he is said to redeem Zion with Judgment and her Isa 1. 27 Converts with Righteousnesse and to purge away the filth of the Daughter of Zion with the Spirit of Judgment and the Spirit of burning And if there be a dwelling in the Light this Judgment ceases not till the Isa 4. 4. Throne of Christ be established in the heart in peace for this is his Judgment and is upon all that stands up against his Kingdom and this Isa 9. 7. is the cause why the enemies of righteousnesse love it not but have turned it into gall and wormwood which the righteous delights in and loves who are redeemed and saved therewith and knows it to be the the Promise first to be received For saith the Lord I will make Judgment Isa 51. 4 to rest for a light of the people which being received his righteousnesse is neer to be revealed Therefore his Judgment must passe before upon all that 's Unrighteous and none can have his righteousnesse but who receives his Judgment Hos 6. 5. Therefore saith the Lord I have hewed them by the Prophets I have slain them by the words of my mouth and my Judgments are as a Light that Dan. 7. 2 goeth forth And for this end is Judgment given to the Saints of the most High And saith the Lord righteous men shall judge them after the manner of Adulteresses and after the manner of women that shed blood because they are Adulteresses and blood is in their hands thus will I cause loudness to cease out of the Laud. Therefore is Ezekiel so often commanded to judge them and cause them to know their abominations And Jeremy was full of the fury of the Lord and he was weary with hold 〈◊〉 in And Micah was full of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of Judgment to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sinne And so in all Ier. 6. 11. Ages he placed his Judgments in his servants who were to judge the Heathen and such as knew not God therewith and so many as did believe Mic. 3. 8. it and receive it did repent and found mercy and the rest were hardened And this judgment is eternal and shall stand in Heaven as it is passed upon earth And this was committed to the Apostles as a Doctrine and Heb. 6. 2. whom they bound were bound and who by it they loosed were loosed therefore did all the Saints love judgment for it is the ministration of Christ ministred out upon all that 's against Christ and that which is against Christ is against the Soul so this judgment must begin at the 1 Pet. 4. 17 house of God but where the Devil keeps the house he rejects it and saith Solomon the ungodly scorneth Judgment and evill men understand it not So saith he there i that 's destroyed for want of Judgment and Prov. 19. 28. he that hath not Judgment is blind and sees not that his Enemy raigns which must raign till Judgment be brought into victory and set in the Prov. 28. earth but when Judgment is laid to the Line and Righteousnesse to the Prov. 13. 25. Plummet then the Covenant with Hell and Death must be disanulled so all that are in this Covenant loves not that which breaks it Isa 28. 17 18. And this is your Case who hates reproof who when you are told of your evil hearts where sinne lives and your cursed crooked natures you say Who made thee a Judge And many say You could like what we say but that we judge people so you are they that hate Judgment and would not have the Ministry of Christ to go on for who hath the Spirit of Christ hath the Spirit of Judgment and who serves that Spirit must sâ—ffer it to speak and judge in them and all that oppose it shall be condemned by it Therefore saith David the tongue of the Righteous talketh judgment the Law of God is in his heart his steps shall not slide but the wicked Psal 137. 30 31 32. seekech to slay him So for uttering the Judgments of God against the Wicked have the just ever suffered and for the same do you now hate them and condemn them and you are in the same nature and covenant that your Fore-fathers was in who shed the innocent bloud and you would have joyned with them had you lived with them what ever your deceipt may say to the contrary And you are found in the same Opposition to the utmost power you have against the Spirit of Judgment now as they was then and the cause is the same now as it was then both they and you living in that which is for Judgment Fire and Condemnation therefore you cannot receive their Testimony who have that evil judged and condemned which you love and live in and for this cause Cain slew his Brother and so do all his generation and with that which you hate shall you be condemned and shall not be able to stand in judgment which is the Saints delight in which they are united to God as he hath said I â—os 2. 19. will betroth ye unto me for ever in righteousness and in judgment which righteousnes and Judgment must condemn the wicked So who hath Christ hath him in Judgment and righteousness and loves him his Judgment and righteousness but who is married unto the world cannot love that which is his Condemnation for so doing Concerning
shewed us a more excellent way The Light is come and therein have we found Christ Jesus the Guide of his people and the Leader of Ages even the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth even into all that God requires the obedience to which is better then Sacrifice And to direct people to this Spirit are we sent that Christ may be all in all who gives power in the Creature to perform in what he leads into that thereby all that believe in the light may learn him who begets the Will and the deed also who is the Author and Finisher of their Faith who look to him alone and to his light that all may see their righteousnesse to be of him alone And by this which we have received of him in Spirit do we all see you who read what the Saints have done by Call from God and from that sets your selves to do the like to be in the Imitation and self-righteousnesse and Will-worship both in this and all other things into which you are not led by the Lord and by a Call from him For this I say that the Father hath given his Son for a Leader and Guide to all Ages and into and out of all Forms at his Will and in his way and time in every Generation And therefore it is that all who know his Will herein cannot endure that any visible thing should be set up to limit his leading in Spirit or his people from following in Spirit So no form we deny into which Christ leads in Spirit but all forms we deny that are used by Men to keep people from following the Spirit for those onely are the Children of God Rom. 8. 14. who are led by the Spirit of God to whom they who are led by the 2 Cor. 4. 6. Letter were ever enemies for it is the Spiritual Ministration that gives the knowledge of God and his Glory and Power and not the literall for he that is born after the flesh hath his way in the visibles but he that is born after the Spirit hath his food the world knows not of and therefore becomes his enemy And in that state you are who takes the shadow to oppose the body which should lead to the body which is the end of the shadow And takes the Letter to oppose the Spirit which Coâ— 2. 16 17 20. is given to declare the sufficiency of the Spirits teaching alone and so pervert the Scriptures out of their place and end which are set to testifie of Christ the Life and End to set them in the place of Christ and Joh. 5. 38 39 40. think to have life in them And this is the errour of the Wicked who are gone into the world sensual not having the Spirit And in this state wherein the Spirit leads not both Scriptures and Ordinances and all other the gifts of God are abused wrested out of their places and made unprofitable And therefore you that take up from the Letter cannot bring forth their fruits who were spiritually called into their several Ministrations therefore your Ordinances are left to you desolate you and they in the world together out of which God is leading his people in Spirit to get himself a Name in such a way as is foolishnesse to your wisdome yet the hidden wisdome of God to the Children of Light who have believed therein And you that use great swelling words crying We deny an Ordinance of God To you I say To neglect that which is altered from what God ordained both in Call Manner and End is no neglecting an Ordinance of God 1. God never called any to baptize but first he called them out of the world and their habitations there to follow Christ as into the Wildernesse which were Prophets and Apostles called immediatly 2. They did not baptize Believers over again with water who had had it because they had it not before in their fashion but they went to disciple Unbelievers Neither did they lay it upon all as of absolute necessity but as they saw it useful and could for bear in case it was idolized 3. Their End was to gather all into One out of all the Shaddows and Ceremonies and Fashions of the World to follow Christ alone as he walked bearing his Crosse daily suffering the spoyling of their goods joyfully and their lives unto death rather than to conform to any but him alone for whose sake they were hated of all men which end how your Baptisms answers let your Pride and Pleasures and Conformity to the world in their Fashions Manners and Worships and upholding thereof your Suits and Contentions about carnal things your Rents and Divisions about outward Forms of Baptisms and Worships and upholding that in others which you know is false by Tythes and Offerings whereby Christ is denyed and the Popish Inventions holden up with much such like I say That these things judge you before all men and the light in your Conscience answers thereto untill the Lord appear to judge your unfaithfulnesse herein Concerning the Lords Supper THis is the thing that all the Worlds Professors are contending about and indeed is of great use and profit to the weak Believers who have not yet seen the Lord for bringing them all into one body and bloud mind and heart and soul and spirit But since the Mystery of Iniquity began to work the Worlds Teachers and Professors having lost their in-dwelling in the body of Christ are run out into the Imaginations and are so far from the life of this as that they have lost the Form and the first Institution as as it was by Christ first performed and appointed and therefore are so far from being thereby made one in the blood of Christ that they are shedding one anothers blood about the Form which they are all out of and have lost and the power also For this was done and instituted by Matth. 26. 26. Christ as they sate at meat and did eat and so often as they did eat and drink thereof they were to do it in remembrance of him shewing his Mar. 14. 22 death till he came 1 Cor. 11. 26. And this was that the Apostles received of the Lord and was so practised in the purity of the Church before they ran into confusion which did continue stedfastly in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship breaking bread and prayer daily breaking bread from house to house did eat their meat with gladnesse and singleness of heart in the fear and favour of God And this was to be done at all Seasons when they eat and Act. 2. 41. to the end drank in their eating and drinking they were to do it to the Lord and therein to have Communion with his Body and his Blood and for that 1 Cor. 10. end were to keep themselves pure from all pollution yea when they 15. to the end were to eat with Gentiles they were to partake of the Table of the Lord as
in bondage Concerning Justification Sanctification and Mortification THe wisdom of men in the Fall finding these several words in Scripture hath in their imaginations run them into divisions and separated that which is in one and cannot be devided in the possession for it is one that worketh all these where he is present according to the measure received And this is the just one who by faith lives in the Creature and the Creature in him and so becomes the justifier and sanctifier of all that believe and the mortifier of that nature which is out of the faith and one of these is not alone without the rest For that which sanctifies that mortifies and the same justifies and all that know what it is to have these in the life knows this I know there are a people who have a desire to Heaven more then to holynesse and they lest they should spoyle their Carnal delights have in their brain-imag'nation conceipted a Justification without santification or mortification wresting those Scriptures which condemns the works of the law and therewith they would exclude the righteousnesse of faith also And because the Scripture saith God justifies the ungodly through faith therefore they conclude themselves justified in their ungodlinesse by a fancy which they call faith but are without faith in Christ For that faith which laies not hold upon Gods righteousnesse is not the faith of Christ but a dead thing for so far as any hath the faith of Christ so far it reveals Gods righteousnesse without the law from faith to faith by which righteousnesse of God the just lives and the unjust dies and so justified as they are sanctified and mortified and no further even as the righteousnesse of God without the law is manifest being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets even the righteousnesse of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that beleive without respect of persons No righteousnesse no faith in Christ but where Gods righteousnesse is unto all and upon all there the belief is witnessed and the faith is shewed by the works which cannot be shewed without the works for that faith that hath not works is dead being alone as the body without the Spirit so is your faith without workes and so is your justification without holinesse and mortification of life And you will find in the end that he that justifies the wicked in you is the same that condemneth the just and they are both abomination to the Lord And this is your state who plead for sin and live in pleasure and wantonly on the earth you slay the just and holy one and save the unjust alive and so know not him that is just who justifies mortifies sanctifies and redeemes who of God is made so to us that in all things we are and have we may glory in him And although the Scriptures mention these three yet not to devide them so as to make people believe they may have one and not all but as to shew the severall effects of that one work of mans redemption all wrought by one thing in the creature For the blood of Christ it washes away the filth and so puts off the old man and mortifies the deeds of that body and so sanctifies and justifies The Spirit it mortifies and sanctifies and justifies now though the Saints named both these it was not to devide them but being one they might declare it by either for none could have the one without the other and all that have them are thereby mortified sanctified and justified yet none of these without the creature being works of faith and not of selfe for by the law of faith is selfe-sanctification self-mortification and self-justification excluded though they who had received the Spirit were called to all these by faith in his blood yet it is the work of God wrought by Christ in the believer and in the light are they called to behold the work of God herein and joyne to it in the faith and obedience thereto being the work of God which he will work in all that beleive in the light that they may receive his Son in whom the promise is and the power to mortification sanctification and justification as by faith he is received from the dead who was delivered for our offences and raised againe for our justification but such who would share in his Justification but not have fellowship in his sufferings and obedience are such as are justified in conceipt but sin raignes and the unjust lives and acts in them and this is selfe that justifies selfe but is not just before God the just being dead in trespasses and sins but God justifies the living and not the dead Therefore the Saints suffered the losse of all things counting them as doung that they might know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death These through death came to the power and fellowship of his resurrection whereby they are justified being raised with him to newnesse of life by faith receiving the gift of Gods righteousnesse and becoming servants thereto and thereby became free from sin and this is true justification where there is no condemnation where the deeds of the flesh are mortified and the creature walks no more after the flesh but after the Spirit for the condemnation is to him that walks after the flesh but he Gal. 5. 16. that walks in the Spirit is justified for he that walks in the Spirit shal not Rom. 8 3 4 fulfill the lusts of the flesh and there is mortification to that nature that breaks the law and the just is seen who fulfils the law in such as walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit So not the hearers of the law are just Rom. 2 13. before God but the doers of the law shall be justified In the first mans state the law is broken and there mortification and sanctification is denyed and there the man would be justified from the guilt of sin but not from the love and power of sin but would have his carnall delights in the world and Heaven also but this is vaine hope and will perish But in the second mans state the law is fulfilled through mortification sanctification Justification of the Spirit And no man can be justified where the just lives not for that by which the just lives is that by which the creature is justified Concerning the Law IN this thing are many people confounded yea all who know not the ministration of the Spirit for such going into the Scriptures and finding the ministration of the Letter and the ministration of the Spirit and themselves being under neither of these but in Notion as they have received it in their imaginations and not from the Mouth of the Lord some say they are under the Law and that it continues still others say but some part of it which is Morall others say nay but it
him who maketh his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flame of fire whose Flesh is the Life of Men and his Light is as a Law that goeth forth whereby man is led to his food and the sons of men sees out of darknesse and this is he who cannot be limitted nor his person restrained in one place who filleth Heaven and Earth with his presence and appeareth at his pleasure to his own though the wise of the world knows him not and therefore limit him above the stars who dwelleth in the bodies of his Saints but as for the Reprobates they know him not so who have put the good day farre from them and hate reproof that they may spend their days in folly and feed themselves with the wind and fill their hearts with carnal delights When the hearts of the Children of Light are established with grace yet these will be disputing about the body of Christ but the body of sinne rules in them whereby they are darkened and become Heart-blind past Ephe. 4. 18 19. feeling the measure of God whose hearts are over-charged with surfeiting and cares of the world and their minds corrupted with Earthly things To such I say Cease your imaginations as to find out what Christ is in that state for he alone reveals himself in Spirit to such as wait in the Light and love that which is pure to such his appearance is as the Sun whose Rising is not by the Will of Man but for his appearing all the World must wait to be refreshed with the Beams of his Glory and to all who are yet in the night shall he appear if you look towards the place of his Rising which is not Lo here Lo there but within you in your Luke 17. 21. hearts and all who are come to the sure Word of Prophesie as to a Light that shines in a dark place to which you do well to take heed til the day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts you shall see the Sun arise where the day-starr appeares in your hearts if in the light you wait that shines in the darknesse and you shall feel the vertue and life of him and receive thereof to live in the same with him and you shall see him as he is and know him to be the Sun of Righteousnesse whose arising is with healing in his wings and whose breaking forth is upon all his enemies which over the seed hath raigned whose spirituall weapons are mighty through God to the palling down strongs holds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of himself and having in readinesse to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled And thus the Saints know the Son with his Light his power and dominion over all things in Heaven and in Earth who rules in righteousnesse in the hearts of his people trampling down Satan under their feet which Son of God Hypocrites call Lord Lord but the Devill they serves and obey and though such have got the words of Lord and Christ and Jesus yet they know not his light his power his kingdom and dominion over sin and the Devill in them to set them free therefrom by his Light and life Nor his blood to wash them from their pollutions and to present them without spot or wrinkle or any such thing And so you have made the name of Christ a reproach among the Nations who call him a redeemer but lives in your sins So as such as professe not the syllables of Christ and Jesus even from a principle of God within them many of them become your Judges as to moderation faithfullnesse and honesty Nay it is manifest amongst you that the name of Jesus which gives the Saints victory over sin you know not Who have it in words and therewith make a cover for your sin your pride Lust and excesse What covetousnesse and all manner of unrighteousnesse is covered over which a profession of the Name of Christ which redeems from those things all that knows him For none knowes Jesus further then they know a Saviour from sin And not a cover for sin and live in it for the promise of the Father is He shall save his people from their sins And the Children of the promise knowes this to be so without a cover or meaning to live in sin And none knowes Christ but who knowes the anointing and such need no man to teach them but as the Anointing teacheth them all things that is true if they abide therein and there is noe lye in it But who sayes they know Christ and are redeemed and commits sin not keeping his commands is a lyer And so abides not in the truth and anointing And so is of the Devil and not of Christ for he that abides in Christ sins not For the Name of Jesus Christ is power over all sin as it is known and the creature baptized into it by faith So all that know Christ know the seed the promise the word of Life the covenant the Heritage the righteousnesse the Kingdom the power the glory which is not of this world and the Father of all which you that commits sin have not seen Neither can any say that Jesus is Lord but by the Spirit so you whose knowledge is without Another Lord ruleth within Concerning the Ministry of Christ THe Ministers of Christ are ever Called out of the World and contrary to the world contrary to their own wills and the wills of all flesh for such have the Word who are begotten of the word and such are begotten contrary to the will of man and through such came the Scriptures which came not by the will of man but by the Spirit and so are of no private interpretation nor are his ministers of any private Call but of himself who hath all creatures in his hand to chuse whom he will to go on his message nor would he ever send by whom the Kings of the earth did chuse nor the powers thereof but such as they called and set up without his Immediate call was ever the great enemies to such as he sent and this is evident in all the Scriptures and in all histories since that when ever the mystery of iniquity had spread over and darknesse had passed over his seed and his people had broken his covenant and lost his word then he in love to his people sent out some Immediately who had his word in them to bear witnesse to the Lord against all their blackslidings and self wayes and formall worships and to such the worlds ministers or rather masters was ever enemies and sought to stirr up the powers of men against them to devour them alwayes under the name of Blasphemers and hereticks destroyers of worship and peace-breakers and enemies to authority when they are but sent of God to testifie against their false worships and to break the peace of the
blind zeal and enviy cannot receive it Concerning Free Will. THere is no Will free for God but that which is free from sinne which Will Man lost in the Fall when he let in the Will of the Devil and entred into it wherein Man became in bondage And all that man in that state knows of the free Will is that which moves in him against the Will of the flesh and of the Devil which is seen in the Light of Christ And this is the Will of God whereby he willeth not the death of the sinner And this Will of God is manifest according to the Spirit which is free always moving contrary to the Will of the flesh which is in bondage to the Devil And this Will that is free onely those who abide in the light do feel the moving of it present in the Spirit And as the Spiritual man is quickned by the Word of God and that man born which is not of the flesh nor of the will of it so is that Will seen again in man which is free wherein the Creature is made free from the Will of the flesh which is bondage So the Spiritual man hath the Spiritual Will which is free and that is from above And the Carnal man which is from below his Will keeps in bondage who is contrary to God in all things So the first born hath not the Free-Will for who is born after the flesh thereof is kept in bondage but who is begotten again of the Word from above is free born when he is born who is born of the Spirit for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty but where the Spirit of the World is there is bondage for as is the Man so is his Will So with the light of Christ which shows you the thoughts of the heart if you it diligently mind you may see the two motions of the two Wills each contrary to other the one after the flesh the other after the spirit So whether of these Wills thou art servant to that thou may be said to have and to the other thou art an enemy for no man hath Free-Will further then he is joyned to it though he that is in his own Will may feel the Will of God contrary to him and that Will he is in yet can he not come to it untill he own that which leads him to take up the Cross to his first Will and in the Cross to his own Will is he born who hath the Will of God wherein God worketh to Will and to do of his good pleasure in the Male and in the Female even the plant of God who hath the will of God the mind of God the heart of God as in measure he is formed it the Creature So man hath not free will further then he is free-bor from above of the Seed that sinneth not and the growth in that Seed is mans freedom but while this lies under the Earthly Will and Self thereby it is denied though the Free-will may often move in the Creature to Holiness and be felt in the light of Christ as a Tender of healing yea and would lead to holiness healing were it minded obeyed for that will which is of God onely leads to God by which Will we are sanctified and saved but you that stand in the Will of the flesh resists and so you will not come to me that you may have life for the Will of God which is life is free and freely tendered in Christ Jesus to every Creature and in the light which reproves the evil deeds it is seen but they that resist free grace resist free will for that 's free grace which shews a man his sin and reproves for it which would lead to God and to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts and so to live godlily righteously and soberly in this evill world And that 's free Will which wills not that thou should commit sin which Will is that thou should not die So mans destruction is of himself and self-will by which he resists the Will of God but Salvation is of the Will of God which is free and in the measure of God is this freedom found and enjoyed so that in Christ I have free will but in the flesh is bondage therefore the flesh must be denied by all that will own freedom in will or deed for none hath free Will but who in the light of Christ hath learned to deny their own Wills and such knows that in the first man is neither will nor deed that is free from sin nor for God and his Work or Worship for God hath concluded the whole man under sin that the gift of grace might appear to be free that all might glory in the Lord and the whole treasure be found in him to whom every tongue shall confess when the glory of man shall come to an end to his praise who is blessed for evermore FINIS