A Visitation in Love To those of the People called BAPTISTS, with whom the Lords Spirit yet ceaseth not to strive, that have not slain the Witness, by making War, and contending against the Light, who although they may think themselves Rich, and increased with much goods, yet are found to be Wretched and Miserable, Poor, and Blind, and Naked.  
With Council from the Lord, that they without delay (before a farther day of Misery and Calamity overtake them) come away from all blind Leaders, and unprofitable Teachers (who keep them always learning, but never bring them to the knowledge of the Truth) unto the spirit of the living God, the everlasting Teacher of his People, that so they may cease from all their own works and labours, and stand still, and wait to know and feel the Lords work wrought in them, by the Arm of God's Salvation, Christ Jesus the Light of the world, the only way to the Father.  
That they may no longer feed on words, and seek after that food that perisheth, But that they may all come to feed on the Word of Life, on that Bread which came down from God out of Heaven; That they may know the fountain of Life set open in themselves, that out of their bellies may flow forth rivers of living Waters, to the refreshment of their immortal Souls, and the Heritage of God.  
By one who travels in Spirit for their Souls good, and by the everlasting Light of the Son of God is come to see and know, that though John's Ministration once committed to him in its time was Excellent and Glorious, and he the greatest born of a woman, yet a greater than John is come; and that the least in the Kingdom is greater than John, J. A.  
LONDON, Printed for Robert Wilson at the Black-spread-Eagle and Windmill in martin's le Grand, 1660.   

IN LOVE.  
A Visitation to those of the People called Baptists, with whom the Lords Spirit yet ceaseth not to strive, that have not slain the Witness by making War, and Contending against the Light, etc.  
Truly Friends,  
HAving wandered in times passed from Mountain to Hill to find pasture and refreshment for my soul which is immortal, and will not be satisfied but with that Food which Perisheth not, when it was the earnest desire of my very heart to be delivered from the bondage of corruption, and to be brought into the Liberty of the Sons of God, (for which the whole Creation groans) daily panting and breathing after the waters of life, that in the living Truth of God I might be set free to serve the living God: And in this, though my desires were pure, yet I labouring for the accomplishment thereof in my own strength and way in all my performances and duties (as I judged) in imitation of what others hath done and performed in days of old, and months passed in the Power of God's Spirit: But I being not in, and guided by the same spirit, all my labour was in vain, it being not in the Lord, though in never so like imitation from the Letter of Scriptures, wherein I strove long to overcome, but in vain is salvation expected from the Hills, or from the Mountains, but from him who is mighty to save, the Arm of God's Salvation, the Word of God which is nigh in the heart and in the mouth, In him alone I found everlasting strength, which giveth Victory and Dominion over sin and corruption, which lodgeth in the heart of every man by nature, wherein he is a child of wrath: Out of which estate, I verily believe, it is the desire of many souls amongst you to know God's Salvation and Redemption, and that you might yet at length, after a cloudy and dark day which hath been over you, come forth to the new and living way, to the glorious Light of the Gospel, which is the Power of God unto Salvation, that you henceforth might serve him no longer in the oldness of the Letter, but in the newness of the Spirit, which is only accepted by the Lord, In whom my soul hath often traveled, and seriously weighed your condition of Bondage, under such Elements as must pass away, and be consumed with the Spirit of burning, which must pass upon all flesh that shall be saved.  
Verily, touching you, I have had often thoughts of heart, who sometime were a people, that in a measure, and in some things did run well; but who hath bewitched you (I may say) that begun in the Spirit, that now ye should think to be made perfect in the flesh, in which ye will certainly end, unless you come in every particular to be witnesses in yourselves of the new Birth, in the new and living way, Christ i● you the hope of Glory? And all your Ordinances, as you call them, and performances, shall not cover you, nor stand you in stead in the day of the Lord, when nothing but the covering of the Lords Spirit shall hid you from the wrath of the Lamb; Truly Friends, my bowels yearn towards you, knowing that there is a right Seed in some of you that groans to come forth out of the prison, from under the bonds of the cruel Oppressor, the enemy of your immortal souls, Oh! that you would yet at length learn to be wise unto Salvation, and no longer lay out your money for that which is no bread, but that you might all come to him, who is the way, the truth, and the life, Christ Jesus, the light of the world, through the Cross to the Crown, from things that fade and perish even with the use thereof, unto that which is everlasting, and never shall fade away.  
Verily I have felt, and born the burden of your Apostasy, which hath grieved the good Spirit of our God, that on the 14th day of the tenth month, 1659. in the time of the late revolutions, as I was passing on my way towards London, this was the Lord's complaint touching you, in these words, They have betrayed me into the hands of Sinners, when you had a day, time and opportunity put in your hands to do service for the Lord, but you like fools had not hearts to make use of it; And I know that you are not in the way that shall prosper, neither are your Sacrifices or services accepted by the Lord, you being gone back from that pure principle that sometime called you to repentance, and to come out of the world; and are gone after your own inventions, and Imaginations from the Letter, which killeth, and come not to the Spirit which giveth life: You cannot choose but confess, that, that savour that sometimes you might be sensible to be in your services, is gone from you, and what meaneth your stay any longer in that place or thing where God is not to be found? And of this be assured, the more you strive in your vain minds to build up that which God pluck down and disownes, the farther you go from the way of rest and peace, and unless you repent, and return, you shall lie down in sorrow; yea, the highest and tallest Cedar amongst you shall know that the Lord God is confounding the wisdom of the wise, and all the likenesses and Images set up, or practised by men in their inventions, and fallen wisdom is but abomination in the sight of the Lord, though in your services you could speak even with the Tongue of men and Angels, yet you being not in the right Spirit, you find not acceptance with God, but are barren and unfruitful unto God in all that you do; And if you stand still, me thinks you cannot choose but see from whence ye are fallen, how low, weak and carnal all your performances are, imagining to yourselves a life in things that are dead, and will not come to him who hath the words of eternal life, who was before Abraham, was to that word which was in the beginning, Christ Jesus the Light of the world, the same yesterday, to day, and for ever; He that was dead is a live, and behold he liveth for evermore, unto whom you must all come for Salvation, as he is come a Light into the world, there being Salvation in no other name under Heaven, and this is the mighty Power of God unto Salvation; and whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have Eternal Life: And unless ye come unto the Light, and follow it, you shall for ever abide in darkness; and though it seem never so small and contemptible a thing in your eyes (but as a grain of mustard seed) by reason of your high profession, which sometimes hath had esteem amongst men; yet unto it you must all bow and yield obedience, if ever you expect Salvation to your immortal Souls, there being not another way but this which will bring you down, and teach you to become fools, and deny your selves, and to take up the daily Cross to the carnal mind, that by it, which is the power of God, you may witness a death unto sin, even in the root and ground from whence all the works of darkness do proceed.  
This Light is the mavellous Light which will show you all things that you have done, and will lead you in the path of life. And truly Friends, to me it is a thing to be Lamented, that you, a professing people, that have seemed so zealous for the way of the Lord, as that you should now be so blind as to hate the Light, and not to come to it, to try the power and strength thereof, what it will do for you at length, after all your own Labours, from which you must cease, and in the silence of all flesh (which is a hard work) wait to hear the voice of the true Shepherd, which will teach you to do the will of God. Surely this I conclude, that if you come not to the Light, it is because your deeds are evil; for it makes all things manifest, even the hidden things of the heart, & brings the sinner to judgement, through which Zions redemption is to be known; what think ye friends, that its dangerous to come to that Principle of God, which teacheth to deny ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and to walk righteously, soberly, and godly, in this present evil world? which is the grace of God, that bringeth salvation, which hath appeared unto all men, that light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into world, that Spirit which convinceth the world of sin, and leadeth us into all truth, is he that we testify of, and persuade all men every where to take heed unto, and follow. And are you afraid of him, and do you look for another, because his Visage is marred more than any? and do you fly the cross, because of the shame? onelse what is it, that makes you stand at such a distance from the way of life? know ye not that the Kingdom is for the poor and hungry, and that the fat and strong are for judgement, and the rich are sent empty away? Truly friends, if that pure principle of God that sometimes breathed in you after God's righteousness, be so choked and stifled in you, through the deceitfulness of sin, and the cares of this life, with things that are carnal, which feeds not the birth immortal, that it ceaseth to strive and stir in you, your case is lamentable, you are but clouds without water, carried about of winds, trees whose fruit withe●eth; yea without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots, the end whereof is for the fire of God's wrath in the day of the revelation of his righteous judgements upon the workers of iniquity, in which you are found without the Spirit of life and power, under the deepest cover of Antichrist, wherein the mystery of iniquity lodgeth in those days of his reign in the hearts of the children of disobedience, even in the highest likenesses of words, and conformity to the letter, that he is even transformed into an Angel of Light to deceive many, who comes not to the light of life and power of God, which discovers and destroys his Kingdom, root and branch.  
What aileth you? is blindness happened unto you, that you cannot see where you are? and that it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorah in the day of judgement than for these that are called Jews, but are not, that have a name that they live, but are dead in sins and trespasses; see you not, how through your deceit, hypocrisy, and unfaithfulness to God's witness in you, you have brought up your enemies on top of you, that misery threatens your persons, & barrenness & leanness is entered into your very souls? so that fear, the pit, and the snare, daily attends you, that you are become weak and unstable as water, that element that you have so much builded upon, and are become a shame unto Religion by your abominable Apostasy from the ways of truth, and the paths of righteousness, unto which you have sometimes had a Call, and a Day to make it manifest, but you would not come down to the foolishness of the Cross of Christ, that so in him ye might have been more than conquerors over all your enemies, within and without; but have chosen your own ways, and set up the abomination which maketh desolate, and standeth in the place where it ought not, and have made that which should be the Temple of the living God, a Cage of unclean Birds; the enemy having found the house as it were swept and garnished, is returned again with seven worse Spirits than himself, opposing the living truth of our God, and that under a profession of God, and of Christ, of the Scriptures, of Ordinances, of the Words of the Prophets and Apostles, yet hating, envying, reproaching, and persecuting them that live the life of the Prophets and Apostles, that in sincerity and godly simplicity serve the Lord God in the measure of his eternal Spirit, which to you may seem a low thing that can pray when you will, and preach when you will, that have made such a great show in the flesh, in that wisdom which comprehends not the things of God whereby ye have gained (it may be) praise of men, the which you would fain keep up above the Cross of Christ. But down you must bring all your glory and excellency under the feet of the Lamb, if ever you expect to be crowned with him in glory everlasting in that Kingdom, which is not of this world, that consists not in meats and drinks, not in words, but in power, in Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the holy Ghost, unto which the Light will show you the only way, which shineth in the darkness which is in the heart of man, & gives us the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. What think you of your Arguments, Disputations, and literal knowledge of the way of truth, and the way of life? what sins doth it give you victory over? and what stands it you instead in the day of trial? is not all the excellency and glory thereof but a barren empty thing that refresheth not, nor comforteth your immortal souls, which only with that bread of life which came down out of heaven are satisfied? Try yourselves; have you that Life in you, which is to be felt and handled in the presence of the Lord? or else it is but a thing in notion that you feed upon, which starves your souls? I know you cannot but be sensible that you have lost that in yourselves which sometime in a measure, gave you the sense and savour of the things of God in the days of your infancy, when the Lord was plucking down the lostinesse of man, before you went about to set up a building after your own inventions and imaginations which will come to nothing. It being not upon the Rock of Ages, the foundation of many Generations, as moved and directed thereunto by his eternal Spirit: And now I believe, as you deal faithfully, and honestly with your own hearts, you cannot but see and confess, that by all your hard labour, study, and performances of duties (as you may call them) from the letter of Scriptures, and use of your ordinances, you cannot again recover that which you have lost of the savour of life, but grow dead, yea wax worse and worse, though it may be more frequent in your ordinances than ever; you cry, but God hears you not, neither doth he regard the work of your hands which are abominable in his sight, your sacrifices being not offered up in Abel's nature, from the new birth, find not acceptance with God; but are wholly adulterated from the present teachings of his Spirit, as if the Scriptures were given forth to stop his mouth for ever; so that you have lost your judgements and understanding in the things of God, and know not the voice of the true Shepherd from a Hireling, a Wolf that comes to you in sheep's clothing; and shall never come again to find that which you have lost, nor to the knowledge of God and of Christ, whom to know is eternalllife; but as you come out of all your own ways, wills, and worships unto the everlasting Light of the Son of God in yourselves, which will show you the way to the Father, and let you see how far wide you are of the strait and narrow way that leadeth unto the Kingdom of God, unto that pure principle of God that will show you all that ever ye have done must you be reduced, which will bring you to the beginning of God's Creation, that the state of a little child you may come to know, waiting in the filence of flesh to hear the Father's voice, which will lead you to do his will in every particular, that no longer, your own wills, but the will of God, may be done in earth as it is in heaven, that righteousness and truth may be made manifest in your mortal bodies, which is Christ in us, the hope of glory, who is come to do the will of the Father in us: And this is he that we have waited for, and we know him to be our Saviour, because he saveth us from our sins, and not because he told the woman of Samaria all that ever she had done, do we believe; but because his wonderful works done in us declare him to be the Son of God, whose manifestation is to destroy the work of the Devil in the Creature, and so set him free in Soul, Body and Spirit to serve the Lord God of the Spirits of all flesh.  
Come down from self-conceitedness, and all the Mountains that you have set up, and account it not much to be ashamed of all your hope, which is but dead, and to account all as dung and dross that you may yet at length win Christ, whose love is better than wine, and though the world hates and scorns him, yet he is the fairest of ten thousands, and unto his Light in you must ye be turned from the darkness, if ever you expect to see his appearance, and behold his glory to the comfort of your souls, who is now appearing the second time without sin unto salvation? what will it profit you to talk of his Reign and come not to the Kingdom wherein his power, and glory is revealed, that in the heart where Satan's seat hath been, you may witness all his and your soul's enemies subdued and destroyed, that you may know the Kingdoms come whereof Christ Jesus is the King, and Lawgiver, unto whom the Father hath given all Power and Authority in heaven and earth, unto whom all principalities and powers must how: Stand no longer about needle's questions, but come to know Gods work wrought in yourselves, that the heir of life may be brought forth, that your souls may inherit substance, that you may eat his flesh and drink his blood, and be guided by his Spirit, who is the Son of God for ever, that your souls may be satisfied that this is the man Christ Jesus, whom ye have waited for, and that you may see his salvation, and say that this is he, and that you look not for another, of whose Power, Kingdom and glory there shall be no end.  
And now friends, to you that yet retain some integrity, and have longing desires after the way of God's salvation, it's the Lords Council that you delay not but come away from all your blind guides and leaders which cause you to err, and wait upon the Lord to know the teachings of his pure Spirit, which will bring you to the endless Fountain of life, and to feed on that bread which will nourish your souls up unto everlasting life, and dwell no longer in the tents of the wicked, though never so fairly covered, lest your Talents be also taken from you, and given to others: And believe it, it is far better to suffer persecution with the people of the Lord for righteousness sake, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin in this world for a season, which will end in sorrow; and do not reject the light, and make war against God's witness, as some have done, and perished in their gainsaying, lest you be also cut off from the Land of the living, and the day of your visitation pass over your heads; But come to the light that you may see to work out your salvation with fear and trembling while it is called to day, for the night cometh wherein none can work. Therefore prise your time, for the Lord will cut short the work in Righteousness for the Elects sake, and be ye separate, and come out from amongst the unfruitful workers of darkness, that you may learn to walk in the way to ever lasting life, in which it is the very desire of my soul to meet you, even in the way of God's salvation, which is but one, through the Baptism of one Spirit into one Body, whereof Christ is the head; and strive no longer about words and forms, but come to him, who is the word of life, that you may be brought from under Satan's power into the power of God, and in him live, dwell, and abide for ever, that you may no more go down again into Sodom and Egypt to feed on the fleshpots thereof, which will but make lean your souls, and fatten you for the day of slaughter which is hastening upon the wicked. And let not the fair and feigned words of some (that even make merchandise of your souls) any longer deceive you with the enticing words of man's wisdom to keep you in bondage, but come to the Light in your own particulars, that you may feel the Life, without which you are dead, and all your services are but abomination in the sight of the Lord, who is the living God, and the dead praise him not: Seek no longer for the living amongst the dead; but to the Light, to the Law written in the heart, to the Testimony of Jesus, the Spirit of prophecy, that you may witness the true anointing in yourselves, which will teach you all things, that you may not be foolish Virgins without oil in your Lamps, and so shut out of God's Kingdom, in which state the highest professors of the letter are, that witness not the Life and Power in themselves. Therefore redeem the time because the days are evil, and cleave no longer to lying vanities, and forsake your own mercies, but repent, and return to the Lord God, withal your hearts, withal your minds, and withal your souls, that you may live for ever in the Lamb's Light of life, in which the Nations of them that are saved shall walk.  
And sit down and consider whereunto have your teachers brought you in so many years, but even into trouble and dissatisfaction, not knowing whether to go for rest to your precious souls, which are even languishing under death's power, and shall not find refreshment but in the presence of the Lord, unto which the Light only will bring you. See you not how dead and dull your teachers are become, striving to keep you in that which profits you not, but starves your souls? and how nigh they are come to be one with the hirelings, who form weapons from the Scriptures to fight against the Lord of life, pleading against perfection in this life, because they cannot attain thereunto in their way; laying hold on the sins of others, that they themselves may continue sinners: Crying out the word of the Lord, and the Lord saith, when the Lord hath not sent them, nor spoken by them, they knowing not his voice, neither have they seen his shape at any time, who is full of grace and truth; but feed people with imaginations in worshipping a God a far off ignorantly, when indeed our God is (not only a God a far off, but) nigh at hand, and that which may be known of him, is manifest in man. But here is the transgression from the beginning, that man is not content with his Lot, and gift that God hath given him, but through lust covets after, and eats of the forbidden fruit, which brings death upon his soul, and misery and disorder upon the Creation, and from thence comes wars and fightings, rents and divisions, even because men abide not in the measure of God's Spirit, given to every man to profit withal, but run out in their vain minds to follow their own hearts lusts, and so strengthen the hands of the wicked against the just; And many are ashamed through the Cross to return, by which the enmity comes to be destroyed, but go on until their hearts are hardened unto destruction; that they themselves standing not in that wherein God makes people free to serve and worship him, but having lost the way, and their wisdoms confounded, they strive also to keep others with themselves still in bondage, and even envy others in whom the power and Spirit of the Lord God is made manifest, which cometh not in their way, nor by observations, but worketh in us freely both to will, and to do, according to the good pleasure of our Heavenly Father, which is contrary to the will and wisdom of the flesh, which pleaseth not God; And let not the Spirit of bondage so prevail in you any longer, to envy the Spirit of prophecy in God's people, but come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty enemy of your Souls, and give up all the materials of your own buildings unto the fire of the Lord, that your work may be tried, that your hearts may be purified, and that you may be saved, so as by fire, for the Spirit of Judgement and burning must pass upon you, before ever your bodies become the Temples of the holy Spirit, and you become vessels of honour, fit for the Master's use.  
I say again, and lay it upon you, that you expect not Salvation from the Hills, nor from the Moutains, But wait in the Light, for the coming of the Holy One in God's own-way, and the Resurrection of the Just out of the grave, where he lies buried in Sodom and Egypt spiritually (so called) under your lusts and corruptions which war against your Souls, that you may know him, the word nigh in the heart, and in the mouth, who is ready to help, and mighty to save; and that you may come to feel the Seed of God's Kingdom in your own hearts, working out the seed of corruption, and all that worketh abomination, and whatsoever loveth and maketh a lie, which is for the lake of fire, into which the Beast and false prophet is to be taken and cast a live; That you may know the children of the Kingdom begotten of the seed of the bondwoman cast out, that the right Heir and Seed may take his Possession, and Inherit the Kingdom, whose right it is to reign in the kingdoms of men; and blessed are they that are become joint heirs with him of that Inheritance which is everlasting, and never shall fade away. And thus Friends, as from the Lord, well knowing that you are not, as you stand in the way of God's Salvation, have I written in the uprightness of my heart, and in tender love to your souls, and to that pure seed which yet breathes in some of you after the living God, that you may yet at length be turned from darkness to the Light, that so you may be brought from under Satan's power into the power of God, that you may no longer lie under that Yoke and spirit of Bondage, which by your leaders is begotten amongst you, and laid upon your Consciences to keep you from the Covenant of Light and Life, but that you might come forth in the freedom of the Lords Spirit, out of the house of Bondage, into the liberty of the Sons of God, in newness of spirit, to worship and serve him all the days of your life.  
It's a strange doctrine, that you must believe as your Teachers believe, and do what they do, as infallible; whilst they themselves know not, but deny the immediate or present teachings of Gods infallible Spirit amongst them, and come not to feel and know in yourselves the true Teachers the living Hope, and the true Faith of God's Elect which purifieth the heart, which God requires, even truth in the inwards parts; what are your Teachers more than others of the world, that you should be so in bondage to them, as to fear their threats of death and destruction, or the like of that (whilst they themselves are under the power thereof) to whomsoever shall separate from them, and turn from their pernicious ways? That many poor souls that have entered themselves in Covenant, as it were with death, under their beggarly and unprofitable Rudiments, are afraid of their big-swelling words and excommunications to come our from amongst them, and because of the Flood that proceeds out of the Dragon's mouth against the woman that travels to bring forth the man Child that shall Rule the Nations, you come not up to the war of the Lamb: Though you may see and believe in your Consciences that there is a more excellent and living way known and set before you, and are not satisfied with that food which perisheth, but groan in your spirits for the bread of life: And were it not for fear of persecution which follows the righteous Seed, and the shame of the Cross on the one hand, and the fear of your Teachers on the other hand, would you not come out from amongst them? Deal faithfully with your own souls, and God's witness in you, and confess the truth to God's Glory, and come away out of all that's dead and carnal, unto the living truth of our God.  
For truly Friends, this I verily believe, as God's witness comes again to be raised in you, in whom he is not yet slain, (as some have done by warring against him) that there will not be a time of disputing and halting left you, but you must either come away to follow the Lamb, the Light of the world, or take your portion in that lake that burns with fire and brimstone, where you shall know that worm that never dies, & that fire that never shall be quenched; and there shall not be peace again (saith my God) to the wicked, but torment day and night, distraction, horror and confusion, shall be their portion that comes not out of Babylon at Gods Call, which hath reached unto you: therefore hasten to come away, and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goes, that with him you may reign in glory on Mount Zion, for ever and ever. And whether you hear, or forbear; whether ye believe, or not; this again I truly say and testify, that in bowels of tender love to your precious souls and the seed of God, in discharge of my Conscience towards God and you, that I may stand clear of your blood, have I written; knowing that the day of the Lord hastens, wherein he will render to every man according to his deeds done in the body, whether they be good or evil, when many shall cry and call to the Rocks and to the Mountains to fall upon them and cover them; But in that day none of your Cover, but the Covering of the Lords Spirit shall hid you from the wrath of the Lamb. And you shall certainly know, that I speak the truth in Christ Jesus, and lie not.  
Bridgwater the 10th of the 5th month, 1660. John Anderdon