A call to Christendom in an earnest expostulation with her to prepare for the great and notable day of the Lord, that is at the door / by William Penn. Penn, William, 1644-1718. 1694 Approx. 58 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 24 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2007-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A54114 Wing P1261 ESTC R31759 12253104 ocm 12253104 57182 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A54114) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 57182) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1510:15) A call to Christendom in an earnest expostulation with her to prepare for the great and notable day of the Lord, that is at the door / by William Penn. Penn, William, 1644-1718. 46 p. Printed and sold by T. Sowle ..., London : 1694. Dated on p. 46: Amsterdam, the 20th of the 8th month, 1677. Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Society of Friends. Second Advent. 2005-07 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-01 SPi Global Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2006-04 Judith Siefring Sampled and proofread 2006-04 Judith Siefring Text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-09 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A CALL TO Christendom , In an Earnest Expostulation with Her to prepare for the Great and Notable DAY of the LORD That is at the Door . By William Penn. LONDON , Printed and Sold by T. Sowle , near the Meeting-house in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street , and at the Crooked-Billet in Holywell-lane near Shoreditch . 1694. A CALL TO Christendom . AWake , O Christendom ! Awake , and come to Judgment , for the Great and Notable Day of the Lord is drawing apace upon thee ; prepare to meet him , thou and thy Children , for the Hour of his Judgement hasteneth upon you , as Travail on a Woman with Child , in which all your Works shall be tried , and that by Fire , For the Day of the Lord shall burn as an Oven , and all the proud , and all that do wickedly , shall be as stubble . Yea , by fire and by sword will the Lord God Almighty plead with all flesh ; with all fleshly Worshippers and Workers , who live after the flesh , to fulfil the lusts thereof : And with the Spirit of Judgment , and the Spirit of Burning , that is , with Spiritual Judgment and Burning will he visit all Ranks and Regions upon the Earth : Yea , his holy Terrors shall take hold of the Rebellious , and Anguish and Distress shall fill the Souls of the Guilty . The Faces of Nations shall gather paleness , and their Knees smite together , because of the Anger of God , that is kindling against them , and his fierce Wrath , that is revealing from Heaven against all the ungodly ; but more especially against the Children of the Mystery of Iniquity : 'T is in this day , that the Kindreds of the Earth shall mourn with a great Lamentation . O Christendom ! Thou hast long sate as a Queen , that should never know sorrow ; Great have been thy Pretences , and large thy Profession of God , Christ , Spirit and Scriptures ; come , let me Expostulate with thee and thy Children in the fear and presence of him , that shall bring every word and work to Judgment . God is pure , and the pure in heart only see him : Now , are you pure ? Do you see him ? God is a Spirit , and none can worship him aright , but such as come to his Spirit , and obey it : Do you so ? Christ is the Gift of God ; have you received him into your Hearts ? Does he rule there ? Then have you Eternal Life abiding in you : If not , you are not true Christians . The Spirit of Truth leadeth into all Truth , and the Children of God are born of it , and led by it . But are you led into all the holy ways of Truth , born of this Eternal Spirit ? Then you follow not the Spirit of this World , nor do your own wills , but the Will of God. You profess the holy Scriptures ; but what do you witness and experience ? What Interest have you in them ? Can you set to your Seal they are true , by the work of the same Spirit in you , that gave them forth in the holy Antients ? What 's David's Roarings and Praises to thee , that livest in the Lust of this World ? What 's Paul's and Peter's Experiences to thee , that walkest after the Flesh ? O you , that are called Christians , giv● ear a little unto me , for I am prest in Sp●rit to write to you : Read with patienc● and consider my words ; for behold , what I have to say unto you , concerneth your Eternal Good. GOD hath so loved the World , that he hath sent his only Begotten Son into the World , that those that believe in him , should have Eternal Life . And this Son is Christ Jesus , the true Light , that lighteth every one coming into the World ; and they that abide not in him the Light , dwell in Darkness , in Sin , and are under the Region and Shadow of Death : Yea dead in Sin , and see not their own states , neither perceive the sad Conditions of their own Souls . They are blind to the things of God's Kingdom , and unsensible of true and spiritual Life and Motion , what it is , to live to God : And in that state are alienated from God , without true Judgment and living Knowledge ; and under the Curse . For in Jesus Christ , the Light of the World , are hid all the Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge , Redemption and Glory ; they are hid from the wordly Christian , from all that are captivated by the Spirit and Lusts of the World : And whoever would see them , ( for therein consist the things , that belong to their Eternal Peace ) must come to Christ Jesus , the true Light in their Consciences , bring their Deeds to him , love him and obey him ; whom God hath ordained a Light to lighten the Gentiles , and for his Salvation to the ends of the Earth . Light and Salvation are joined together ; and none can come to Salvation , but as they come first to the Light , and submit to the manifestation of it , which leadeth to Salvation . For the Nations of them that are saved , shall walk in the Light of the Lamb , Christ Jesus . Light and Sanctification are also joined together : If we walk in the Light , as God is in the Light , the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son shall cleanse us from all sin . And Light and Life Eternal are joined together : For in the Word ( that was with God in the beginning , and was God , by whom all things were made , that were made ) was life , and that life the light of men . And this is the Testimony of Jesus , I am the light of the world ; he that followeth me , shall not abide in darkness , but have the light of life : Yea , it is Eternal Life to believe in him , in Christ the Light , to receive , embrace , and to follow him . And this is that true Light ( saith the same beloved Disciple ) that lighteth every man , that cometh into the world . Now this Light shineth in Darkness , in the Children of Darkness , in their dark Hearts , in their black Souls , and defiled Consciences ; but in this Darkness they comprehend it not . Neither can man know the Nature and Benefit of it , whilst he rebelleth against it ; for the Virtue and Excellency of it is shut up and hid from the Children of Disobedience . To as many as received him of old , gave he power to become the Children of God ; and they that did his Will , knew his Doctrine to be of God , and of Power and Efficacy to their Salvation . But this is the great Condemnation of the World at this day , that though God hath sent his Son a Light into the Hearts of all Men and Women , to manifest and reprove their evil deeds , and to save them ; yet they love Darkness , they love the Lusts and Imaginations of their vain Hearts better , than this holy Light , that is given unto them for Salvation : They chuse Barrabas rather , than Jesus . Yea , they have set up other Lights , than Christ Jesus , God's great Light ; and other Prophets , than Christ , God's great Prophet ; and other Priests than Jesus , the High-Priest of the New Covenant : But they are dark Lights , false Prophets and blind Priests . All that came before me , saith Christ , are Thieves and Robbers : And all that Pray , Preach , Sing , Worship , &c. and not by the Light and Spirit of Jesus , they go before Christ , before Christ cometh , before he prepareth their Hearts , and toucheth their Lips with a Coal from his Heavenly Altar ; and perform Worship in their own Will , Time and Power , and stay not for his Leadings , And therefore all such rob Christ of his Office , who is the Leader of the true Christians ; their Heavenly High-Priest , to anoint them , and offer up their Sacrifice to God for them ; and Prophet , to let them see and know by his Light in their Hearts , what they ought to do , according to the New and Everlasting Covenant ; I will write my Law in their hearts , and put my Spirit in their inward parts , and they shall be all taught of me , saith the Lord. Now this is the Question to the whole World called Christian : Do you see with this Divine Light ? Have you searcht your Hearts with it ? And are you anointed by this High-Priest with his holy Vnction , that leadeth into all Truth ? Doth this Heavenly Prophet give you Vision , and reveal the Father to you ? Is he your Eye , your Head , your Wisdom ? Do you live , move , and have your life and being in him , in Praying , Preaching and Singing , yea , in your whole Conversation ? Are you renewed into this Life and Image ? And have you heard his Voice , and seen his Shape ? Are you Witnesses of his holy Rebukes , his pure Judgments , the Shame and Death of his Cross ? Is he the Fountain of your Knowledge ? The Author of your Faith ? O consider ! Are you of those , that have spoke with Jesus ? That have been taught in the School of his holy Cross ? Students in his Heavenly Academy ? O have you drunk of his Cup , and been baptized with his Baptism ? Tell me in the Fear of the Lord God , you that call your selves Christians , doth he go before you , and lead you , as a Master teacheth his Disciples , and a Captain leadeth his Souldiers ? And do you follow him in all the weighty things of this Life ? And doth he order your Minds , and rule your Affections ? If not , you are Thieves and Robbers ; for you rob Christ of his Office. For God hath appointed him to be the Leader and Ruler of all People ; yea , 't is God's Decree ; and those that he leadeth not in their Thoughts , Words and Works , shall never come to God : for all must come to God by him , that is , by his Light and Spirit ruling in their Hearts , which sanctifieth , regenerateth and converteth the Soul to God. And the Cause of the Confusion and Contention , that is about Religion in Europe at this day , is , That Men have deserted this true Light and holy Spirit , and so are degenerated from the life and power of pure and unspotted Religion , and have attempted to comprehend Christ's Doctrines without Christ's Light , and to know the Things of God without the Spirit of God. And being thus miserably erred by wicked Works from the one Spirit of Truth , they have wandred into the fallible Conceits and Opinions of Men. And in this State one Party hath contended against another : From Words they have fallen to Blows , and the strongest hath opprest the weakest . And not knowing what Spirit they were of , have called light darkness , and darkness light ; putting the Sheep's-skin upon the Wolf , and the Wolf's-skin upon the poor Sheep of Christ , endeavouring by carnal Weapons to enforce their Opinions , and to extort Conformity by worldly Laws and Punishments to their Perswasions . All this is out of the Light , Life and Doctrine of Christ Jesus , and in the Spirit of Darkness , Confusion , Strife and Blood-shed , which is the Devil . All which Babel must and shall come down by the Light , Power and Spirit of Jesus now rising in the World ; and Hell , Death , and the Grave shall not be able to hinder it . For the set time , the appointed time of the Father is come , and the Judgment is begun . O ye , that are called Roman-Catholicks , tell me , are you truly Catholick , that is , of an Vniversal Spirit ? Then you will not persecute , but love all , and be tender to all . Are you truly Roman , and Successors of that Antient , Apostolical Church ? Then you walk not after the Flesh , but after the Spirit , yea , the Spirit of Christ dwelleth in you , and you are led by the Spirit of God , and can call him Father in Truth and Righteousness , and the Word of God in the Heart is your Teacher , and not the Traditions of Men ; for so the Romans of old time were instructed . O consider , if you are true Successors , you must follow them in the same Nature , Spirit and Life ; for in that only standeth the Christian Succession , to wit , in Christ : And every Branch , Person or Church , that abideth not in this great Vine , is rejected for the Fire . Therefore deceive not your selves , as the Jews of old did , with crying , The Temple of the Lord , The Temple of the Lord ; and saying , We have Abraham to our Father , and to us belong the Fathers , Covenants , Law , Priesthood , and Chair of Moses : For as the Apostle said of old , so say I to you ; His servants you are , whom you obey ; and he that worketh Wickedness , is of the Devil . So that Christ's Successors are they , that take up his Cross , follow him , and that abide in his holy Doctrine , that keep his Commandments , and themselves unspotted from the World. And those that follow the Lust of the Eye , the Lust of the Flesh , and Pride of Life , are not of Christ , nor of the Father , but of the World ; Subjects to the Prince of the Power of the Air , and Successors of Sodom , Gomorrah , Egypt , Tyro , Sidon , and persecuting Jerusalem ; and not of the harmless , self-denying , holy , Suffering Spouse of Christ Jesus , that is ruled in all things by her Husband , her Head , her Lord. O search and try with the Light of Jesus , if you are not degenerated from Primitive Simplicity and Purity ? For great are the Abominations of all Sects , that flow like a Deluge throughout your Countries ! Repent , and Turn to the Ancient Apostolical Spirit and Life , that you may enter into the Rest of God. O you , that call your selves Evangelicks , or Gospellers , are you Evangelical ? Are you saved from the Lusts and Pleasures , and dead Worships of the World by the mighty Power of God , which is the Gospel , and led by an Evangelical Spirit ? If not , you are not yet Redeemed , you are not yet under Grace , which is the Gospel-state : For you are not taught by it , but rebel against it ; how then are you true Gospellers , Men of Gospel-liberty , Men of Deliverance and Redemption ; to whom Immortality is brought to light , ( as it is to all , that truly know and receive the Blessed Gospel ) that are yet Subjects and Servants to Sin ? How can you sing the Song of the Lamb , that are not delivered by the Lamb ; but by your vain Conversations Crucifie the Lamb , and do despite to the Spirit of Grace , and that every day ? The true Gospellers are those , that receive the Angel's Message , who is the great Preacher of the Everlasting Gospel , viz. Fear God , Give glory to his Name , for the hour of his Judgment is come ; and no more worship the Beast . Do you fear God in Truth , and in Sincerity ? Then are you fearful of offending the Lord , and tender of God's Glory ; then are your Hearts kept clean , then are you wise to Salvation ; and so you can glorifie God indeed : otherwise your Prayers and Praises are not Evangelical in God's sight . But tell me , O ye Gospellers , is the Hour of his Judgment come to you ? Is it begun at your Houses yet ? How do you feel it ? Hath it broke your Hearts ? Hath it contristed your Spirits ? Have ye known the Godly Sorrow ? The Chastisements of the Lord , and Rebukes of the Almighty ? Hath his pure Eternal Word divided yet betwixt your Souls and Spirit , the Joynts and Marrow ? Have you ever been weary and heavy laden with Sin ; Hath it been a Burden to you ? Did you ever cry out in the Agony of your Spirits yet , Men and brethren , what shall we do to be saved ? O! who shall deliver us from the Body of sin here , and the wrath to come ! ( the Travel of the holy Antients ; ) if not , you are yet strangers to Christ and his Kingdom : And if you die in that state , where he is gone , you shall never come . For Sion , God's City , must be redeemed through Judgments , and her Converts through Righteousness : Yea the House of God cannot escape it ; wherefore , said one of old , If Judgment begin at the House of God , where shall the ungodly and sinner appear ? O Wo to them , that live without the Judgments of the Lord ! Wo to them , that cast his Reproofs behind their Backs , and live in earthly Pleasures , fatting up themselves in their Lusts and Pleasures , as for the day of Slaughter , and treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath . O the Antient Saints lived not thus ; they worked out their Salvation with fear and trembling ; yea , they gave all diligence , to make their Calling and Election sure : Which way do you work out yours ? Habakkuk , that holy Prophet , his lips quivered , and his belly trembled , that his Soul might rest in the day of trouble : Is this your state ? Or , are you not rather Worshippers of the Beast at this day , Lovers of the worldly , sensual , voluptuous Life , walking in the lusts of the Eye , the lusts of the Flesh , and pride of Life ; like Rebellious Israel of old , forgetting God days without number ? But this know , that All that forget God , shall be turned into Hell. Oh! what is become of the Fatherly Visitation made to your Progenitors ; those good beginnings sow'd in Persecutions and Martyrdoms ? Have you answered the Loving-kindness of God therein ? Have you advanc'd in the Way of Righteousness ? Are you become an holy Nation , and a peculiar People to God , Zealous of good Works ? But have you not betaken your selves to the Wisdom and Learning of this World to make Ministers , and deserted the Spirit of the Lord , and fled to the Power and Policy of this World to defend and protect you , and not to the Name of the Lord , which hath always been the strong Tower of the Righteous ? Nay , are you not divided one against another , and turned Persecutors for Religion your selves , denying that Liberty to others , you took for your selves ? Ah! Where is the Royal Law of Doing as you would be done unto ! Thus have you decayed and degenerated into a Worldly Clergy , and a Carnal People , holding and maintaining Reformed Words , in an unreformed Spirit . Yea , are not the same evils , Pride , Passion , Malice , Wars , Bloodshed Persecution , Deceit , fleshly Lusts , Wantonness , vain Pleasures and Sports , yea , all manner of Worldly-mindedness to be found in you , that were in the Persecutors of your Fore-fathers , and against which your most serious and best Ancestors faithfully testified ? So that the difference now is about Words and Sentences , and not about the Life , Nature and Spirit of pure and undefiled Religion ; and Men are to be known now by their Denominations and Subscriptions to certain Human Creeds , Man-made Faiths and Forms , and not by the Spirit and Image of Christ Jesus , by the nature of the true Sheep , and by that holy Vnction , that was the Bond of the heavenly Fellowship of the Saints of Old. And you , that are called Reformed , with the rest of the Subdivided Sects , what better are you for your Names ? Are ye Regenerated yet ? Are you Reformed from the Lusts of the Eye , the Lusts of the Flesh , and the Pride of Life ; from the Devil and all his Works ? Are you born of the incorruptible Seed , that liveth and abideth for ever ? And are you come out of the corruptible things , and doth Christ lead you ? Is the Government of your Souls upon his Shoulders ? Tell me , is it the New Birth , that which is born of God through many Tribulations , the New Man Created in Christ Jesus , that calleth God Father in your Prayers , and that maketh mention of him in your Preachings ? Or is it the first Birth of the earth , earthly , the old Man , the corrupt and unregenerated Nature , that which is born of the Flesh , that is to say , of the Seed of the Evil One , the Father of all the fleshly Lusts , Inventions , Imaginations and Traditions of Men , that taketh pleasure in the vain and wicked Sports and Pleasures of this Apostate World , that forget God , and turn his Grace into Wantonness ; reproaching , nick-naming and persecuting the Children of Regeneration with scornful Names and cruel Punishments , calling God Father as the Jews did ; and Crucifying Christ afresh by a vain Conversation at the same time . O you Degenerated Christians of all sorts , yea , all the several Sects in Christendom , that have deserted your first Love , and degenerated from the Life and Power of Primitive Godliness ; with the Light of Christ Jesus in your Hearts examine your selves . God hath lighted your Candle , search and try your selves ; see , how it standeth with you as to your Eternal Condition , before you go hence , and be no more in this World. Consider , are you in the true Faith of Christ , or no ? For without true Faith none can please God ; and without pleasing him no Man can be saved . The Devils believe , yea , and tremble too ; that is more than Thousands , called Christians , do ; and so far they are short of the very Devils . Have you Faith ? Let 's try it in the Name of God. What is it for Faith ? Doth it overcome the World ? Doth it live , and depend upon God ? Can it forsake Country and Kindred ? Turn out Ishmael ? Offer up Isaac ? Live a Pilgrim , a Stranger in the World ? Doth it work by that love , which can forsake all for Christ's Names sake ? Doth it fight against the Devil ? Resist his fiery Darts ? Overcome his Assaults and Temptations ? And finally , purifie , the Soul to God's , use ? Is this your Faith , O you carnal , outside-Christians ? No such matter ; for you live in the flesh , fulfilling the Lusts thereof ; and your care is , what you shall eat , drink , and put on , and how you should get the Mammon , Friendship and Glory of this World. Examine your selves , and prepare , for the Day of the Lord hasteneth upon you . And have a care , lest you partake 〈◊〉 of the Plagues , that God hath prepared for Babylon ; she that calleth her self the Lamb's Bride , and is an Harlot , committing Fornication throughout all Nations and Sects , that is , those that by a lying Spirit have had their Hearts seduced from God and his holy Fear , yet in Words profess'd to be his People ; who call themselves Jews , but are not ; Christians , and are not , but of the Synagogue of Satan ; being Strangers to the Circumcision in Spirit , and the Baptism that is with Fire , and with the Holy Ghost : With Fire , to consume the fleshly Nature ; and with the Holy Ghost , to beget the heavenly Nature in Man. O the Downfal of this great City , and the Desolation of this false Church through all the Sects in Christendom is come and coming ! yea , in one day shall it be accomplisht , even in the day of the Appearance of Christ , who is the Second Adam , the Lord from Heaven , who by the Brightness of his Coming , and by the Breath of his Mouth in the Hearts of Nations , shall reveal , and destroy this great Antichrist , this Man of Sin , in Man , that sitteth in the Place of God , yea , exalted above all that is called God , requiring Conformity to all his Inventions and Injunctions upon pain of Life , Liberty and Estate : Nor are any suffered to Buy or Sell in this great City , but such as will receive his Mark. Wo to you all in the Name of the Lord , that call God your Father , and are not Born of him ; that name his Name , and hate to be Reformed : That call Jesus Lord , and not by the Holy Ghost ; who take his pure Name into your Mouths , and depart not from Iniquity . I say to you on God's behalf , as God said to the Jews of old ; your Prayers , your Sacrifices , and your solemn Assemblies , &c. in an unconverted state are Abomination to the Lord. No matter for your Names , your Pretences , your Creeds , if you live without God in the World , that is , without his holy Awe in your Hearts , without a Divine Sense of his Presence in your Souls , and know not that Godly Sorrow , that worketh unfeigned Repentance , the only way to Eternal Life . Your Worship God loatheth : A Dog's neck , Swines-blood , yea , to Bless an Idol , or kill a Man , is altogether as acceptable with the Lord. O! God is wroth with the feigned Worships as well as common Ungodliness of the World : Come to Christ's Spirit , be led of it , and do not your own Wills , but the Will of Christ Jesus ; and then you shall know the true Worship , For the true Ministry and Worship of God stand not in the Will , Wisdom , or Appointment of Men , nor can they be performed by unregenerated Men ; but in the leadings of his Eternal Spirit , by whom all the faithful offer up themselves , an acceptable Sacrifice to God , not to live unto themselves , but to him that hath purchased them . 'T is true , Christ Jesus died for the ungodly , but not that they should continue ungodly , but take up his daily Cross , and follow him . Christ ( saith Peter ) hath offered up himself once for all , leaving us an Example , that we should follow his steps : as he was in this World , so we should be , saith John , not conformable to the Rudiments ; Fashions and Customs of this World , that pass away ; but transformed and renew'd in our minds by the Grace , that he hath given us : which Grace bringeth Salvation to all that obey it , teaching such to deny all ungodliness , and worldly lusts , and to live soberly , righteously and godlikely in this present evil World : Because without Holiness , none shall ever see the Lord : That is God's Decree . Wherefore be you not deceived , O you Formal and Titular Christians ; God will not be mocked : Such as you sow , such shall you reap at the Hand of the Lord ; Yea , for every idle word shall you give an Accompt in the Day of Judgment . Think not with your selves , you have Christ to your Saviour , and you are reconciled to God , through Christ , and that God looketh not upon you , as you are in your selves , but as in Christ ; whilst you walk not after the Spirit , but after the Flesh : for the Wages of Sin is Death ; but the Gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord : To whom ? Not to them , that despise his Light in their Hearts , that grieve his Spirit , and by a worldly Conversation go on to Crucifie him ; and who follow not Jesus in the way of Tribulation and Regeneration . God is of purer Eyes , than to behold Iniquity ; and he looketh upon Men and Women to be , what they really are , and not what they imagine themselves to be : Behold he cometh , and his Reward is with him ; and he will reward all according to their Works . Sinners , while such , can no more come into Christ , than into God ; for God is in Christ , and Christ is in God : Christ is holy , harmless , pure and undefiled , and separate from Sinners . And if ever you would have God look upon you to be in Christ , you must come into Christ : And you can never come into Christ , the new and heavenly Man , that is undefiled and separated from Sinners , till you come out of Sin , and the Author of it , the Devil , the old Man of Sin , and leave your wicked Deeds of darkness . Therefore be ye separate from every evil Way : Christ , the Immaculate Lamb of God , came not only to save Men from Wrath , but from Sin , which is the cause of Wrath. Behold the Lamb of God , saith John , which taketh away the sin of the World : Not their Sin , that will not believe in him ; but the Sins of those that are weary and heavy laden , that wait , hunger , thirst , and cry for his Salvation ; whom God hath given for a light to lighten the Gentiles , and for his Salvation to the ends of the Earth . O you that are called by his Sacred Name , Repent , Repent ! Prepare , Prepare to meet the Lord , who is coming in the way of his Judgments to visit the Inhabitants of the Earth ; and put away the evil of your doings , and turn to him , that he may receive you . But Wo in the Name of the Lord , to all that Rebel against the Light of Christ Jesus , who serve another Master , and follow another Captain , and obey the Prince of the Power of the Air , who reigneth in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience . Yea , Wo unto all , who are covered with a Covering , and not of my Spirit ; that take counsel , and not of me , saith the Lord : Who gather sticks , and kindle a Fire of their own , and compass themselves about in the Sparks , which they have kindled ; for this shall they have at my Hand , They shall lye down in Sorrow . Wo from God to all the Will-worshippers , who Worship , but not in the Spirit and in the Truth ; their Worship is not available . He that Worships God aright , is turned to the Spirit , and is taught and led by the Spirit . And such as have received the Spirit of Christ , are not led by their own Spirits , nor by the Spirit of this World , nor according to the Inventions and Traditions of Men : Neither do they Conform themselves to the Customs and Fashions of this World , nor will they bow to the Glory of this World , or the God of it . But having seen him , whom they have pierced with their vain Conversation in Times past , they mourn , and are in great bitterness , because they have done despite to his holy Spirit of Grace , that strove so long with them for their Redemption . And being called by his Spiritual Call in their Hearts , to come out of Babylon , the great City of Will-worship , Confusion and Darkness , that is in the Earth , do chearfully resign up all to follow him in the narrow Way of Self-denial , as his holy Disciples did of Old. And such have learned by good Experience , that Without Christ they can do nothing : Though in these days scarcely any thing is done with him , or by him . For he is resisted in his Spiritual Appearance in the Consciences of those , that make a Profession of him with their Mouths ; and therefore he doth not many mighty Works in them : Yea , he is smitten , spit upon , Crown'd with Thorns , Pierc'd and Crucified of all false Christians , through their Rebellion and Wickedness . O Wo from the Great and Just God , that made Heaven and Earth , upon all People , that work Iniquity , and forget God! Wo to you Kings and Princes , that have Crucified the Lord of Life and Glory ; yea , you have Crucified him in your selves , and helpt to Crucifie him in others : He lyeth slain at this day in your Streets . For you have not Ruled for God , as you ought to have done ; but for your selves , to please your own Lusts : and have not sought the Glory of the Lord , nor the Prosperity of his Work in the Earth , so much as the Greatness of your own Names , and to enlarge your worldly Dominions , often Oppressing the Poor , and Persecuting Consciencious Dissenters ; but suffering almost all manner of Vice and Vanity to go unpunisht . How doth the Lust of the Eye , the Lust of the Flesh , and the Pride of Life reign in your Territories ? Are not your Courts the very Schools of Vanity , and Nurseries of worldly Lusts and Pleasures , which War against the Soul , and lead to Eternal Destruction ? O! you have much to answer for before the great God at the Day of his Terrible Tribunal , who have Power in your Hands , to chase away Wickedness , and to reform the World. It is written , A King upon his Throne of Judgment scattereth all evil with his Eye : O! that the Kings and Princes of the World knew this Throne of true Judgment ! That they had this Godlike Majesty , that they would purge their Lands of Evil-Doers , that they and their People might escape the Wrath and Vengeance of God , that is ready to be poured forth upon them ! And Wo to you Nobles of the Earth , that spend your Estates in Pleasures , and your Days in Vanity ; that , like those of old , Drink Wine in Bowles , and stretch your selves upon Couches of Ivory : That invent Musical Instruments for your Mirth , but remember not the Afflictions of Joseph , neither consider of your latter End. What Pride , Lust and Excess lye at your Door ! What Spoil and Waste do you make in the World ! You live , as if you should never die , caring only , what you should eat , what you should drink , and what you should put on ; how you should trim , perfume and beautifie your poor Mortal selves , and at which Plays and Sports you should divert and spend away that troublesome and melancholy , thing , called Time , ( as you esteem it ) instead of Redeeming the Time , because the days are evil , and preparing for the Eternal Judgment . Is this the way to Glory ? Did Jesus give you this Example ? O! He is Crucified by these things ! This is far from the true Nobility and Christian Honour , that cometh from above . Wo to you Judges of the Earth , who pervert Judgment for a Reward , that Oppress the Poor , and despise the Cause of the Needy , who regard the Mighty and the Rich in Judgment , and delay Justice for the Fear or Favour of Man. That subject the Laws to your Wills , and Righteous Rules to your Passions and Interest . Repent , and be just , for God the Just God , the great Judge of Heaven and Earth shall Judge you all according to your Works : And dreadful shall that Day of his Reckoning and Tribunal be to all the Workers of Iniquity ! But especially to Vnjust and Corrupt Judges . And Wo to you Lawyers , that refuse no Cause for Money ; but will plead even against Law , Truth and Justice for Advantage , teaching your Tongues to Advocate for a Lye , and your Mouths for Gain , to plead the Cause of Vnrighteousness ; raising unreasonable Wealth unto your selves by the Folly , Ignorance and Contention of the People . O the Equivocation , Deceit , Falshood and Iniquity , that is in your Profession , in which , you let your Consciences out to hire at every Summons for all sorts of Causes : Insomuch , that 't is the Money , and not the Cause , that prevaileth . And the worst Cause most commonly is most desired , because the Client , doubtful of his Success , is usually the most Liberal to you : This also is for Judgment . And Wo to you Merchants and Traders , that have not the Lord's Fear before your Eyes ; whose God is Gold and Gain , that neither Buy nor Sell with regard to his just Principle in your Consciences , that use vain and deceitful Words , and that are not come to the just Measure , and the righteous Ballance ; but use Frauds for Advantage : That neither Eye the Lord's Providence by Sea , nor his care by Land ; but Day and Night cast about , how to raise to your selves a great Name and Estate , to exalt your Nests , and rank your Families among the Rich , and the Noble of the Earth ! The Lord will also plead with you ! Repent , and Fear before God. Wo to you Farmers and Countrymen , that reward the Lord evil for good , who giveth , you Increase of all things in their proper Seasons , yet you discern not his Hand , you regard not his Care ; you live without God in the World : Yet no Life is fuller of the Lord's Providence , who preserveth and prospereth your Flocks , who increaseth your Wine , your Corn , and your Grass ; instead of remembring his Goodness with Reverence , and in your Harvests praising him with Fear , you Sacrifice to your Lusts , and rejoice only in your Fulness ; making Merry at your Harvests without the Fear of God , or looking to him , that giveth you to Increase . Repent , and Fear before the God of the whole Earth . But above all others , Wo to you Scribes , Pharisees and Hypocrites , you Priests and Pastors , who have taken a Charge , that God never gave you ; who run , and he never sent you ; who say , Thus saith the Lord , and he never spoke to you , or by you . That steal the Words of the Prophets and Apostles , and with them , make Merchandize to the People , not knowing the pure Word of God in your Hearts , to be as an Hammer , a Fire , a Sword , to destroy Sin , and to purge , redeem , and reconcile you to God ; but boast in other Mens Lines , and speak things made ready to your hands : That Teach for Hire , and Divine for Money ; who seek Honour of Men , and love the uppermost places of Feasts . Who speak Peace to the Wicked , and sow Pillows under their Elbows for Reward : Pleasers of Men more , than Pleasers of God. Wo to you in the Name of the Lord , that counterfeit his Commission , and deceive the People , requiring their Money for that which is not Bread , and their Labour for that which doth not profit : At your Doors lyeth the Blood of Souls , in which you have traded . O you Physicians of no Value , whom have you Cured ? Where is the Seal of your Ministry ? Is it not an abominable Cheat , that you take Money to Cure , yet cannot Cure ; that have no Medicine to Cure ; and at last maintain , that the Disease is incurable ? You are they , that will neither enter into the Kingdom your selves , nor suffer others . For when-ever we have seen your Delusions , and deserted your Assemblies , presently a Pacquet of Letters must be sent to Damascus : The Magistrate must be called upon to be Goaler and Hangman for the Priest . What Wars , Changes and Persecutions ever befel the World , since you had a Being , in which you have not been at Head or Tail ? O your Practices shall more and more come to light : And the day hasteneth , that your very Name and Calling ( as now held ) shall be had in Abhorrence by the Nations . O you numerous Off-spring of the great , false Prophet , that hath been a Lyar from the beginning ; hereby is it known , that God hath never sent you , that you have not profited the People ; they are God's Words by the Prophet Jeremy . Weep and howl , for the day of your great Calamity hasteneth upon you ! Your Father and Mother are come into remembrance before the Lord , the Hour of their Judgment is at the Door . God will fill you the Cup of his Fury , you shall drink it at his Hand . O! I cannot but cry aloud to you all of all Ranks and Qualities , from the highest to the lowest , that walk not after the Spirit , but after the Flesh , daily fulfilling the Lusts thereof ; That you would Repent , and be saved . O how hath Christ's Religion been Prophaned , and his Holy Name Blasphemed by the lewd Life of profest Christians ! The very Heathens are scandal'd , and the Nations round about have you in scorn and derision . Arise , O God , for thy Name 's sake ! O what Tremendous Oaths and Lyes ! what Revenge and Murders , with Drunkenness and Gluttony ! What Pride and Luxury ! What Chamberings and Wantonness ! What Fornications , Rapes , and Adulteries ! What Masks and Revels ! What lustful Ornaments , and enchanting Attires ! What proud Customs , and vain Complements ! What Sports and Pleasures ! What Plays and Romances ! What Intregues and Pastimes ! Again , What Falsness and Treachery ! What Avarice and Oppression ! What Flattery and Hypocrisie ▪ What Malice and Slander ! What Contention and Law-suits ! What Wars and Blood-shed ! What Plunders , Fires and Desolations ! And 't is not only committed by Christians in general one against another , but by Christians of the same Faith , Sect and Church one against another ; praying to the same God to destroy one another ; and singing Psalms to God , when they have wickedly destroyed one another . O the Rapes , Fires , Murders and Rivers of Blood , that lye at the Doors of profest Christians ! If this be Godly , what 's Devilish ? If this be Christian , what 's Paganism ? What 's Anti-christian ? But to make God a Party to their Wickedness : O Prophanation ! O Blasphemy ! What need is there of any other demonstration , that Christendom is foully Apostatized from the Doctrine and Example of Christ Jesus and his true Followers , who saith , If ye love me , keep my Commandments : by this you shall be known to be my Disciples , if you love one another . Whosoever doth not love his Brother , is of the Devil , and whosever hateth his Brother , is a Murtherer ; and ye know , that no Murderer hath Eternal Life abiding in him . And it is not to be supposed , that they kill one another in Love : For Murther is not the effect of Love and brotherly Kindness ; but of Malice , Envy and Revenge . O Christendom ! how art thou and thy Children degenerated from God , and fallen from the Doctrine of Christ , whose holy Name thou professest ! Thou art become a City full of Uncleanness , committing Whoredom under every Green Tree ; following other Lovers , than Jesus , whose Spouse thou professest to be . O thou Rebellious City , thou Cage of unclean Birds , thou and thy Children have filled the Earth with a stink of your Abominations ! O how expert have you been in these Impieties ! How Ingenious to work , Wickedness , and how fruitful in your Inventions to gratifie the Lust of the Eye , the Lust of the Flesh , and the Pride of Life ! O how hath the Heathen-Nature , as an evil Leaven prevailed , and leavened the great Body of Christians at this day , as if the End of Christ's Coming into the World , had been to furnish us with a New Profession , but not to give us a New Nature ; to learn Men to Talk , and not to Live ; to cry Hosanna , but in works to Crucifie him . What did the Heathens , that Christians have not done ? Yea , the same Lusts , Vanities , and Impieties , that reigned among them , are to be found improv'd among Christians . So that 't is Paganism made free of the Christian Profession , or Heathenism Christian'd : And not to conform to the Heathen in the Christian , is not to be a Christian , but an Heathen . O the Ignorance as well as Wickkedness of the present Christian World ! Verily , the Christian Life is opprest under this Mass of Darkness and Impiety , found in the Conversations of Apostate-Christians , even as Christ was grieved and burdened with the Darkness and Obstinacy of the Apostate-Jews . And as the Hard-heartedness of the false Jews Crucified him outwardly , so hath the Hard-heartedness of the false Christians Crucified him inwardly : Which hath fulfilled , what is Recorded in the Apocalypse , viz. That the Lord was Crucified in Sodom and Egypt spiritually so called : For the false Christians are the spiritual Sodom and Egypt , who love and live in Sodom ' s Sins , and Egypt ' s Lusts and Pleasures . Yea , they are of the Race of them , that stoned the Prophets , and Crucified the Lord of Glory : Of the same Nature and Spirit . O the Blood of Jesus lyeth at their Doors shed , spilt , and trod under foot of them ; and will one day cry for Eternal Vengeance against them , if they Repent not with unfeigned Sorrow , and turn to the Lord with their whole Hearts : Certainly , Wo , Anguish and Tribulation shall be their Portion for ever ! That which they have grieved , shall grieve them ; and that which they have bruised and resisted , shall reject and torment them : yea , it shall be a never-dying Worm , and an endless Pain to them . O Wo to the Worker of Iniquity in that day ! Wo to the Slothful Servant ! Wo to the Mocker and Scoffer ! Wo to the Drunkard and Vnclean Person ! Wo to them that spend their Days Vanity , and their Life in Earthly Pleasures ! Wo to the proud Pharisee , and disdainful Scribe ! Wo to the fearful and unbelieving ! Wo to Idolaters and Lyars ! Yea , and Wo from God to all the Cruel Persecutors of the Innocent Lambs and Sheep of Jesus , for their pure Conscience to him ! For they shall have their part in the Lake , that burneth with Fire and Brimstones , which is the Second Death . O that you might escape this great Damnation ! And I testifie to you in the Word of the Lord , that God giveth unto you all a Day of Visitation , in which you may escape the Wrath to come . For this end God hath sent his Son a Light into your Hearts ; 't is He , which manifesteth all your Thoughts , Words and Deeds unto you ; 't is he , which checks and reproveth you ; yea , 't is he , which expostulateth and striveth with you ; 't is he , that knocketh at your Doors , and awakeneth you to Judgment : Who condemneth every unfruitful Thought , Word and Work in you . Repent , I exhort you , Turn to him , hear his Voice , and harden not your Hearts ; but while it is to day , and the light shineth , and the Spirit striveth , O humble your selves , bear his Judgments , love his Reproofs . And though his Word be as a Fire in your Hearts , and though you are even scorched within you , because of the Heat thereof ; yet bear the Indignation of the Lord , in that you have sinned against him . Wait , Watch and Walk in the Light of the Lord Jesus , that in his Blood you may feel Remission of Sins , and Sanctification unto Life Eternal : That you may no more walk after the Flesh , to fulfil the Lusts thereof , but in the Spirit of Holiness ; that you may be Sealed unto the Day of Redemption . O the Peace , the Joy , the Pleasure , and the undeclarable Comfort , that is daily met with in the holy and righteous Way of the Lord ! O this riseth powerfully in my Soul , that his Form hath no Comeliness in it , that will please Flesh ; his Way and Worship is most remote from it . Flesh and Blood have no share in his Worship ; the Will and Runnings of Man have no part in his Way . 'T is neither at the Mountain , where one sort runneth ; nor at Jerusalem , whither another sort goeth● ; but in Spirit , within the Vale , hid from Flesh and Blood : Yea , there it is , that his Worship is known and performed . Any Form is more pleasant , than this : His Visage is more Marr'd , than any Man's . All Will-worship , all Human Invention findeth Acceptance , where he cannot find a place to lay his Head on . O this is a bitter Cup to the Creature ; few will drink it ! They are hard to be perswaded to Sit still , and patiently to Wait for the Salvation of God , to let him Work all their Works in them and for them . They know not , what it is , to have the Mouth in the Dust , to have all Flesh silent before the Lord , that the Voice of God may be heard ; that he may prepare them , and that the Will of God may be brought forth in them . O this Mystery of Iniquity , how hath it wrought , and how doth it yet Work ! It claimeth a right to the Living Child ; but she hath no Right to it : She is the Womb of Death , and can bring forth no Living Fruit to God. All Nations have drunk her Cup : But the Hour of her Judgment is come . She is seen , disvailed , and condemned by the Living Spirit of God , that is felt , and received , and obeyed by a Remnant , who are gathered from the Mouths of Idol-Shepherds , and all the Errings and Strayings of false Prophets , that have no Vision ; and are come to the Lord , to know his Law in their hearts , and Fear , and Spirit to be in their inward parts , and are taught and led by him . And these follow the Lamb , and are his Host this day , that fight under his Banner with his holy Testimony against the Whore , false Prophet and Beast : And behold , they shall prevail . For greater is he , that is in them , than he that is in the World. O this is a great Mystery , but a greater Truth ; Moses , the Servant , is externally more Comely , than he : Yea , the Prophets were as pleasant Singers , and as delightful Instruments of Musick ; their Visions , Sights , and glorious Prophecies of the last Days , and New-Covenant-times were , ( says one of them of old ) as a pleasant Song : But the Son , the Substance , when he came , no Beauty , no Excellency , no Comeliness . What 's the matter ? The Way is Narrow for Flesh and Blood ; there is a Cross must be taken up , a bitter Cup drunk , and a Baptism , yea , of Blood gone through . Man must die to his own Will , Affections , Imaginations , and Carnal Conceptions ; he must wait and watch , yea , continually : His own Religion and Righteousness is as odious , as his Sin and Iniquity , yea , in a sense more dangerous . 'T is no Outside , will do ; not that which pleaseth the busie , active Will and Mind of the Creature ; that gratifieth the External Senses , that have prevailed against the Soul : O no , 't is an hidden Life , an hidden Temple , an hidden Worship , and that in God's time ; yea , an hidden Manna , an hidden Supper , not discernable by the vain Sects in this World. Of this Tabernacle is Jesus Builder , of this Covenant and Worship is he Author , of this Altar is he Priest : To this did he gather his of old , and to this is he gathering the Nations . And the Bride saith , Come ; and the Spirit saith , Come ; and he saith , Come : And blessed are they that Come , and See , how good he is . But Such , who like Sodom of Old , go on to grieve the Spirit of the Lord , to rebel against his Light , and vex God's just Lot , that liveth in the midst of them , persisting in their Lusts and Abominations , God's Angel shall smite them with blindness : The day of their Visitation shall pass away , and the forbearance of God shall be at an end , and Fire from Heaven shall devour them . Which with my Soul I fervently and tenderly desire you may all escape , whom God hath taught to hate your Sin , deny your Glory , and separate from all your false Worships by his own Light , Spirit and Truth , and to follow his Dear Son in the Way of Regeneration , whose Love to me hath taught me to Love all Mankind , and to seek their Salvation . Amsterdam , the 20 th . of the 8 th . Month , 1677. William Penn. The END .