A TESTIMONY TO THE Power of God, Being Greater than the Power of Satan: Contrary to all those, who hold No Perfection here, No Freedom from Sin on this side of the Grave. Which Doleful Doctrine is here Testified against.  
By a Witness of the Power of God, against the Power of Satan, Richard Baker.  
When a strong Man armed keepeth his Palace, his Goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his Armour, wherein he trusted, and divideth the Spoils,  Luke 11.21, 22. 
I am the Almighty God: Walk before me, and be thou perfect,  Gen. 17.1. 
Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the World,  1 John 4.4. 
London, Printed and Sold by T. Sowle, in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street, and at the Bible in Leaden-Hall-Street, 1699.   

TO THE READER.  
THE Author of this little Book having been one, with whom I had an intimate Acquaintance, and strict Friendship, for many Years: And he having, upon his dying Bed, committed the Copy to my Perusal and Care: I hold myself the more concerned to give the World this short Account of both Him and It.  

I. Of Him.  
As He at first received the Truth in the Love of it: So he testified his Love to it, in a threefold way.  
1. By a circumspect Walking in it. He was careful so to order his Conversation, that he might not only not bring any Scandal upon the Profession he made of Truth; but might show himself a Pattern of good Works. And therein he was Exemplary.  
2. By a cheerful Suffering for it. He never flinched in any Trial, nor balked his Testimony to the Truth, for fear of Suffering for it, either in Person, or Estate. But a Prison, for the Truth's sake was pleasant to him; and he took joyfully the spoiling of his Goods. Which showed, He knew in himself, that he had in Heaven a better, and an enduring, Substance.  
3. By an hearty Zeal for the Prosperity and Propagation of it. A vigilant Watchman he was, in his Station, against every thing, of what kind soever, which he saw would hurt the Truth, or bring any (the least) Reproach upon it. A sharp Reprover of Evil: As well as an Incourager of the Good. An earnest Contend, not only for the true Faith (by which the Heart is purified, and Victory over the World obtained) but for the good Order and holy Discipline, which Christ hath established in his Church, rejected and opposed by too many Modern Libertines.  
In the Work of the Ministry, which the Lord had called him to, he was diligent and fervent; earnestly Labouring, by a quick and lively Testimony, to bring those he ministered to, into an inward Exercise of Spirit towards God, that therein they might come to be more and more acquainted with, and subject to that divine Power, of which, in the following Sheets, he treats.   

II. Of It.  
As for the Book itself, it treats of one of the highest, and most noble Themes, The Power of God: Which (from the Author's Experience of the effectual Working thereof) it exalts above the Power of Satan.   

The Drift of it is.  
1. To lay open the many Wiles, and crafty Devices of the Enemy, whereby he lies in wait to destroy.  
2. To set forth the Goodness and Power of God, in discovering, and breaking the Snares of that Wicked One, and delivering the Soul therefrom.  
3. To invite and persuade Men to forsake and abandon the Service of Satan, and enter indeed into the Service of God.  
4. To inform and direct Men, how they may get from under the Power of Satan; and how they may come to be guided and governed by the Power of God, and be kept thereby, through Faith, unto Salvation.  
How well the Undertaking is performed, thou wilt be best able to judge, when thou shalt have read, and weighed the whole, with a sober and impartial Mind. And that I may not anticipate thy Judgement, by a Commendation of the Work, I shall only say, It is written in a plain familiar Style, not decked with Flowers of Rhetoric, nor set off with Ornaments of Humane Learning; which it needed not: Being more comely to the Eye of the serious Mind, and pleasing to the spiritual Ear, in the native Beauty and unaffected Simplicity of Truth.  
By the Date, it appears to have been written many Years ago: Which may raise Inquiry, Why it was not published sooner, or in the Author's life-time. Of this I have no other Account to give, but that which he himself gave me, when he imparted the Copy to me, a few days before his Death, viz. That he had read of many, in former days, and observed some, in his own time, who had made fair progress in the Way of Truth, and had said, done and suffered much on behalf of it; who yet had not held out to the end: But, through a too great Security, or Self-confidence, and for want of a continual Subjection to the Power of God (in and by which alone Strength and Preservation is to be found) have, by the violent Assaults, or subtle Insinuations, and mysterious Workings, of the Enemy, been drawn back again under the Power of Satan, to the Invalidating (at least, in the Eye of the World) the Testimonies such had before given to the Sufficiency of the Power of God. And that ' He, having by others Miscarriages learned to beware, had, from a Godly Jealousy over himself, suspended the Publication, of the following Sheets, until he could with greater Confidence, and more full Assurance, say, with the holy Apostle (when the time of his departure was at hand, 2 Tim. 4.6.) I have fought a good Fight, I have finished my Course, I have kept the Faith, etc.  
How far this Consideration will justify his depriving the World so long of the Benefit of so serviceable a Treatise, I will not undertake to determine. But certainly, it is an Indication of uncommon Modesty, and rare Humility of Mind; a sufficient Proof, that the Author did not seek Applause to himself.  
It is now published in Love to Mankind: God grant that It may be Instrumentally Serviceable, to the turning many from the Darkness, wherein Satan's Power works, to the divine Light, in which the Power of God is felt, and Deliverance thereby, from Satan's Power, witnessed: That God may be glorified, his holy Name honoured, his divine Power exalted, his blessed Truth promoted and spread, and Mankind benefitted thereby, and blest therein for ever! Which, Reader, is the earnest desire of him, who heartily wishes thy Eternal Welfare.  
Tho. Ellwood.    

Marry Baker's TESTIMONY Concerning her Husband.  
WE read in the holy Scriptures, that when Jesus went into the Temple of God, and cast out the Buyers and Sellers (the many things that had taken up the room there) and healed the Blind and the Lame, that came to him, the little Children, crying in the Temple, said, Hosanna to the Son of David. At which the Chief Priests and Scribes were sore displeased, and said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? To whom he answered, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings thou hast perfected praise, Mat. 21.  
The same Power, which so affected the Hearts of those Little Ones, to make them cry Hosanna, did affect the Author of this little Book, when he was but a Little One, in a Spiritual Sense, newly delivered out of the Power of Darkness, and brought into subjection to the Power of God. The feeling of the cleansing Operation whereof in his Heart, constrained him to bear his Testimony to it, as in this little Treatise may be seen. Which is now published, that Generations yet unborn may be invited thereby to bow to the same Power, and to admire the Excellency and Greatness of it, which he did Experience in the Morning of his Day, when it was writ.  
And as the Sun of Righteousness did arise higher and higher in his Heart, by the Light, and comfortable Warmth of the same was he guided, and strengthened to go on, in the Spiritual Journey, from one step to another, till his Mouth was opened, by the same Power, to bear Witness of it, in the Assemblies of the Lord's People, and to call and invite Others to retire inward, that they also might come to Experience the Work of this divine Power in their own Hearts: And that such as were come thereunto might watch and wait for the stirring and arising of this mighty Power, in its further Strength and Glory, which is able to overcome all other Powers, both within and without.  
In his Testimony he was Zealous, because his Heart was zealously affected therewith. And when any, who professed to know the Work of this heavenly Power, turned from, and acted against it, his Concern was great for such; labouring to bring them to a sense of their Evil, if by any means they might be recovered: Which, to many, proved effectual.  
His Service in the Church of Christ (especially amongst the Meetings, both Monthly and Quarterly, to which more particularly he belonged) hath a living Remembrance in the Hearts of many Members thereof: And the sense of his absence hath deeply affected the Spirits of some of them.  
His Love was to all the Sons and Daughters of Men: But especially to the Flock and Family of God, the Witnesses of this Power of Jesus, their Saviour; amongst whom his Heart was open, and his Life went freely forth. In their Converse was his delight, and he would often say, The Friendships and Converse of the World was a great Hurt to Friends, and drew their Minds too much out: Which thing he kept clear of. And tho' he had Dealings and Concerns in the World, as well as others, yet was always watchful against the Spirit of the World, which leads from God.  
In the latter part of this good Man's days, it was my Lot to come into so near a Relation to him, as to be his Wife; who was a very kind, tender and open-hearted Husband to me: By which means I had the Opportunity to have a Relation of the Course of his Life. And he hath ofttimes expressed, how the same Power, which (in the following Sheets) he exalted at the beginning, had carried him through all Exercises, which were not a few. When he had Goods taken from him, for his Testimony to the Truth, he has said, that the inward Joy he felt, in that he was counted worthy to Suffer for the Truth he professed, was beyond what he could speak. And having been a Prisoner, with other Friends, for the Truth's sake, about the space of Two Years, he took delight to speak of that time, often mentioning, how mightily the Lord was with them, and how good a time it was. He would say many times, If People did but know the Pleasure of Godliness, they would not live in the Earth as they did. But (said he) nothing but God's Spirit can mortify the Flesh. And oft would he mention that place, Rom. 8.13. If ye live after the Flesh, ye shall die: But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the Body, ye shall live. And he would say, He had felt the mortifying Work of it, beyond what he could have thought; and that over that, wherein his greatest Besetment was, he had obtained a perfect Conquest. For which he offered the Thanksgiving and Praise to God's Everlasting Power, who not only begins the Work of Redemption, but is able to carry it on, and finish it, to the perfecting of his own Praise, which he accepts out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings, Little Ones; which incourages me thus to appear, in the publishing of this little Book, that it may go forth for the Encouragement of all the Weary, and such as are heavy-laden with the Burden of their Iniquity, that they may come to find rest to their Souls, as this faithful Witness did. Who, when he lay on his dying Bed, was kept quick and living in his Spiritual Senses, and had a suitable Word to every one's State that came to him; and would often clap his Hand on his Breast, and say, All is well here. The day before he departed, many Friends visiting him, he spoke sensibly to all, and, in great Expression of Love, took his leave of them. And taking his leave of a Child, who wept, he said, Do not Cry: I am well; my Peace is made with the Lord. If thou Cry, Cry that Iniquity may be brought down, and Righteousness brought up. The Power and Strength of God is with me. I am going the Way of all Flesh. I am going before; and others must follow after.  
So he laid down his Life in the feeling of that Power, which at the beginning of his day he bore Witness to. Which I here mention for the comfort of those, who are kept by it, through Faith, unto Salvation; and for the Inviting Others to come, to feel the Work of the same: Which I felt to be my Stay and Strength, in the parting with so near and dear a Relation.  
And as the Children in the Temple cried Hosanna, so the Multitude of the Disciples also did Rejoice (when Jesus came riding on the Ass' Colt, bringing that into Subjection which before had been at Liberty) saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord: Peace in Heaven, and Glory in the Highest, Luke 19.38. For which some of the Pharisees would have had him rebuke his Disciples, ver. 39 To whom he answered, If these should hold their Peace, the Stones would immediately Cry out. ver. 40. Which causes me thus to cast in my Mite, to the Praise of him that lives for ever: Who told his Followers, Because I live, ye shall live also, John 14.19. Who is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginner and Finisher of the Work of Faith, by his own Power, which this his faithful Servant was a Witness of. Concerning whom I was pressed in Spirit to write this short Testimony, without which I could not be clear in the sight of the Lord.  
Marry Baker. The 31 saint of the 10 th' Month, 1697.   

THE Power of God Known to be Greater than the Power of Satan, etc.  
IT hath been the Design, and still is, of the Enemy of Man's Salvation, to make Men believe they are serving God, whilst they are actually serving the Devil. And he hath so far prevailed with many, that they call Evil, Good, and Good, Evil; and put Light for Darkness, and Darkness for Light. And being thus blinded by the God of this World, he hath raised and fitted them to stand up as Advocates for his Power: And so bold and confident have some of them been in their Master's Service, that they have in Effect said, Who is able to make War with him, and overcome him? As if his Power were the greater, and his Dominion over all. Now seeing he hath so far prevailed upon many at this Day, as to make them plead, There is No Perfection here; No Freedom from Sin on this side of the Grave: And seeing many of his Servants and Ministers do stand up so boldly, on behalf of their God; I was moved with an Holy Zeal from the Lord, to stand up on behalf of my God. And I do here proclaim, that Greater is my God, the God of Truth, than the God of the World: And his Power is more able to redeem out of Sin, and to preserve from Sin, than the enemy's Power is to keep in Sin, or to lead into Sin. And because I have had Experience, in my Measure, of the working and operation of both Powers in me, I do here give my Testimony, that The Power of God is the greatest. And, Reader, for thy further Satisfaction, I have freedom to set forth, in some measure, the working of the Enemy in me, until he was cast out.  
While I was a Child, I had often secret desires raised in me after the Lord: But not knowing from whence they came, nor yielding obedience to that which raised them, they soon decayed and died. Then the Enemy sought to get room and entertainment in me: And the Enemy tempted and ensnared me, with the Pleasure of some Evil, which the Witness of God in me, made manifest unto me, and reproved in me for it, but by yielding to the Enemy, the Witness was quenched, but I joining with the Enemy in the Temptation, and continuing in the Evil, disregarded the Witness, and caused it to withdraw at that time. But soon after it did arise again, and condemned me for the Sin I was guilty of, and began to take away that Peace and Delight which I formerly had therein, and told me, There is no Peace to the Wicked. Then being troubled in Mind, that I had offended the Lord, the Enemy stepped in to give me a false ease, and perverting the Scriptures, he said, God is merciful to a Sinner, at what time soever he reputes; And If we confessor Sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us: But he never brought in the following Words, [And to cleanse from all Unrighteousness] and so he led me into a large Form of Words, which I then called Prayer: and I could make large Confessions in Words, and so got again into a false Rest and Peace, and committed Sin with delight. But many times, after the committing of it, the Light of Christ in me did so reprove and condemn me, that I have inflicted Punishment upon my Body, for the Sin of my Soul. Then would I seek to heal myself with that which I called my Prayers, and with making many large Confessions without forsaking. But while I was in this State, this was brought to my remembrance, viz. That I had read of a King of France, who used, when he had sworn an Oath, to Kiss his Crucifix; and then Swore again, and Kiss it again. And my Condition was represented to me to be no better than his (which I concluded was had enough: For I was convinced Swearing was bad, and had always a detestation of it.) This broke my Peace exceedingly, so that I could not go on with that Delight I had done before.  
But the Enemy had still something at hand, to uphold his Kingdom in me, and he brought these carnal Reasonings into my Mind, that most People, who knew me, looked upon me to be a Sober Man; and that this was but a small Sin, and was no scandal to me, nor was it any occasion or Encouragement to others to Sin: for it was known to none but myself. And that I must not expect to live without Sin: For, said he, We do not read in the Scriptures, of any that ever did. Thus he added more Weight to that Burden, which my poor Soul was weary of before; and all my seemingly Religious performances could not ease my wounded Conscience, being closely pursued by the Witness of God in me. But not having a true Knowledge of that which did reprove me, and so not turning at the Reproof, I did daily yield to the Enemy's Temptations, and was led Captive by him at his will. And so customary and habitual it was become to me, that I then thought, I could as well have lived without Meat or Drink, as without yielding thereunto. So with Pleasure and Delight I went on longer in the Devil's Service, though not without Secret Reproving in me. But having heard some of the World's Priests say, such Condemnations proceeded from the Devil, I was still further ensnared. But now I know them to be Liars that have said so; and I testify, there is something of God in all Men, which, at one time or other, doth reprove and condemn them for their Sins, in order to recover them out of them. For the Lord hath not left himself without a Witness in all Men, that thereby they might believe, and by believing might come to obtain the Salvation of their Immortal Souls; which my Soul desired after. And tho' the Enemy had said, that none of the Holy Men, who writ the holy Scriptures, were free from Sin: Yet the Witness of God said, Walk in the Spirit, and thou shalt not fulfil the Lust of the Flesh, Gal. 5.16.  
Then did the Enemy bring more Scriptures, to hold me still under his Power, and by perverting those Scriptures, he raised up his seeming-religious Props in me, thereby to support his Kingdom, as he doth in many at this day, who make a great Profession in Words, and talk much of God, as I then could do; but did not know him, any more than they do now. For the natural Man understands not the things of God: It is truly so, tho' Men please themselves with their own vain thoughts.  
First, He suggested to my Mind, That the Just Man Sins seven times a day; which I then took to be Scripture: But since I came to read the Scriptures, in that Spirit by which they were written, I find it is not Scripture, but a mis-representing of that Scripture (Prov. 24.16.) which saith, A Just Man falleth seven times, and riseth up again, but the Wicked shall fall into Mischief. Which falling of a Just Man, some of the better sort, even of the Priests themselves, have interpreted to be, not a falling into Sin, but a falling into Affliction.  
Secondly, He perverted that Scripture, 1 John 1.8. If we say that we have no Sin, we deceive ourselves, and the Truth is not in us  
Thirdly, He urged that the Apostle Paul said, When he would do Good, Evil was present with him, and how to perform that which was Good, he found not.  
Fourthly, He alleged that All Men have their Failings, and the best of Men their Infirmities, as may be read in the Scriptures; instancing David, and others. The Perversions of these Scriptures, I may well call Satan's Props, for he propped up his Kingdom in me a great while by them, and so begat me into the World's belief. That there is No Perfection here, no Freedom from Sin to be expected on this side the Grave: And then I began to make merry over the Witness of God in myself. But the Lord did not leave me there, but in tender compassion visited me, and his holy Witness began to arise again in me and to strike at those Props which the Enemy had set up in me. And this holy Witness said, that unless I was regenerated and born again, I could not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Then I began to see, there was nothing but Purity and Holiness could stand before the Lord: For all things are naked and bare before him. And then I cried out for a Deliverer, one that could redeem me from that which was too great a Burden for me to bear; as one once said, A wounded Spirit who can bear? Prov. 18.14. But I could then see no way of Deliverance; but being exceedingly troubled, I went from Mountain to Hill, from hearing this sort of People, to the other: But among them all, there was none did speak Peace to my weary Soul; nor could, unless I could have had Peace in my Sins, which I could not. For all of them cried out, No Freedom from Sin on this side of the Grave. But I felt a necessity for it, else I could not enjoy Peace with the Lord; which made me still cry out for a Deliverer.  
In this great distress, being turned with my Face Sionward, and enquiring the way thither, I was at length (through the abundant Goodness of the Lord, who led me) inclined to go to a Meeting of the People called Quakers, where I did hear a Servant of the Lord declare, that That which reproveth and condemneth a Man, in himself, for Sin, and will not let him go on in Sin without reproof, is the Light of Christ, who is the Light of the World, which enlighteneth every Man that cometh into the World, that all Men through him might believe, and so come to be saved from Sin. And that this Light, which doth convince of Sin, Obedience being yielded to it, will redeem out of Sin, and preserve and keep from Sin. And I having a Witness for God in me, it did testify to the Truth of what was declared; and I was then by it convinced, that That was the Way of God, and Those were the People of God.  
But I thought I saw a Lion in the Way, and that there was a great Cross to be taken up: Yet I found, if I could be delivered from that, which was so great a Burden to me, I could be contented to undergo a great deal. From that time forward, I still kept to the Meetings of the People of the Lord, who are at this time distinguished by the Name Quakers, as the People of the Lord were in Ages past called Christians. Which Name is now given to Drunkards and Swearers, and all manner of profane Persons, and by the Sons of Belial one to another; so that the Name Christian, is become a reproach amongst them that are called Heathens, through the Blasphemy of those, that have covered themselves with the Name Christian, but do not live the Christian Life.  
Now keeping to the Meetings of the Lord's People, I did there hear many Declarations, testifying to the Power of the Lord, what it had wrought for his Servants in this Age, and likewise what he do for all those who are faithful and obedient, in this day of his Power; Yet still Sin remained in me, and that was my great Weight and Burden.  
But now, knowing where Strength and Power was, a Secret Hope war raised up in me, and a Belief, that All things are possible with the Lord. So I committed myself and Cause to the Lord, having had Experience, that my own Strength was altogether in-sufficient: For, when the Judgements of the Lord have been upon me, I have often made large Promises in my own will, that I would resist the Enemy when he came; but I could never prevail by my own strength, or any thing set up in my own will, while that was standing.  
But now, having listed myself under an another Commander, my old Master was enraged, and comes with his usual Boldness and Confidence, to demand Entrance; and being denied, he makes use of his former Weapons, but was disappointed, and driven back by the Power of the Lord; Glory be unto his holy Name for ever.  
For I keeping (or rather, being kept) to that, which did make it manifest to me to be Sin, it furnished me with this Weapon against him, viz. Walk in the Spirit, and thou shalt not fulfil the Lust of the Flesh. And so the Enemy was chased away, by the Spirit of the Lord, who had lifted up a Standard, in me, against him. And he being thus put to flight, there did arise Joy unutterable in my Soul, feeling the work of the Lord begun in me. And so continuing faithful and obedient to the Lord, he hath, by his mighty Power, redeemed me from that, which once I did believe I could never be redeemed from. Praises, Praises be given unto the Omnipotent God, who reigns for ever. For that which formerly was so pleasant and delightful to me, and was as my Meat and Drink, is now become hateful and abominable in my thoughts; Glory be to the Lord for ever, whose Mercy is over all his works, and is not to be forgotten by those that have tasted of it.  
Yet the Enemy would not leave me so; but going up and down, like a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may devour, he comes and presents his Temptations again, though the main Pillar of his Kingdom was broken down in me. So now he goes another way to work, and sets before me the difficulty and straitness of the Way I was to walk in: For my nearest and dearest Relations would be great Enemies to me, and would slight and contemn me, whereas before, I was well beloved and esteemed by, and amongst, them, and they were ready and willing to do me what kindness they could. And if I would now turn fool at last, and disoblige my Friends, and so leave my Wife and Children to the Mercy of the World, who would pity me! For he that takes not care for his Family, is worse than an Infidel. And (said the Enemy) if thou wert of any other Religion, but a Quaker, thy Relations would be contented; but that is the most contemptible Religion in the World, and laden with Reproaches. O see the Deceit of the wicked Enemy, and avoid it, as I did, by keeping to the Measure of the Grace of God in myself. And as my mind was turned inward, to consider and see what the Lord had done for me, this sprang up in me, as a Defence against the Enemy, If I have not done those mighty works for thee, which no other could do, believe me not, else believe me for my works sake. Then did the Enemy vanish at the Brightness of the coming of the Lord, who hath preserved me out of the Mouth of the Lion, and out of the Paw of the Bear, and out of the hand of that uncircumcised Philistine, that once had encompassed me about; Praises be given unto the Lord for ever.  
O Friend! Let me beseech thee, let not the Enemy of thy Soul deceive thee, under what pretence soever, though he should gild his Bait, and cover his Temptations over with never so many Scripture-words; But keep thou to that true Light in thee, which makes all things manifest. And by taking heed to that pure Witness of God in thee, thou wilt come to see Satan's Devices, which they of Old, who were led by the Spirit of God, were not ignorant of; as such now are not.  
And now I have this Testimony to bear for the Lord, with many Thousands more, That Perfection, or Freedom from Sin, is to be obtained on this side the Grave, through Faith in Christ Jesus. And I do Testify and Declare, That in this Life is the time of working out our Salvation: For, where the Tree falls, there it shall lie; and in what State Death leaves a Man, in that State Judgement will find him: For, in the Grave there is no Repentance. Now true Repentance, through a godly Sorrow, is a Change from Sin and Iniquity, to serve the Living God in the New Life, or in the Newness of Life: Not in the Oldness of the Letter, which too many are found in at this day; but in the Newness of the Spirit: For, it is the Spirit that giveth Life; the Flesh profiteth nothing, John 6.63.  
Reader, If thou are a stranger to Truth, and to the right Way of the Lord, and hast been led Captive by the Enemy at his Will (as I was, while ignorant of the Light of the Lord in me) and art now come to a sense of the Burden and Weight of thy Sins, and hast a desire to be Redeemed from them: To thee, and for thy sake chiefly, are these Lines written, that thou mayst here see the Mysterious Working of the Prince of Darkness, and take Warning in time, whilst the Spirit of the Lord strives with thee: For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with Man. But be not discouraged at the Greatness or Number of thy Sins: For all Power in Heaven and in Earth is given to Christ Jesus. Only Faith in him, and Faithfulness and Obedience to what he makes manifest is thee, is re-required of thee. And if thou hast Mountains of Sin, thou shalt see them, in the Faith, to vanish away: For it is The Willing and the Obedient shall eat the good of the Land.  
And if thou are one that has known, in any measure, the Work of the Lord carried on in thy Heart, I have this further to say, for thy Encouragement, from my own Experience, That thou hast to do with a Tender-hearted Father, who gently leads those that are but young in the Truth, and his Lambs he will carry in his Arms, and will lead thee no faster than thou art able to follow. But be sure, whatever he maketh manifest to thee to be Evil, Give up to the Lord in Faithfulness and Obedience, and the Lord will give thee Power over it. For the End, wherefore the Lord doth manifest Sin to be Sin, is, that he may Redeem out of it. And as thou are faithful in the small thing, thou wilt be made Ruler over more. And as thou standest in that Faith, which is the Gift of God, thou wilt find nothing too hard or difficult for thee; but thou wilt be able to say (as the Servants of God did in Days past, and do now in this Age) All things are possible with him, with whom we have to do. And thou wilt feel the same Power to work, and beget the same Faith in thee, as it did in them: For without Faith it is impossible to please God, whatever Men may pretend to in words. There are many Pretenders in our day, to the Worship and Service of God, as there were in Ages past: But what avail their Pretences, or Performances, while they are fain to confess, their Worship ends in Imperfection, and that their best Duties are Sin; or they Sin in performing their best Duties; Sin in Praying, Sin in Preaching, Sin mixed with their most holy Duties. That it is so with them I do not deny: But my Heart is grieved at their Captivity, Bondage and Misery, because they believe it never can be otherwise: And, indeed it never will be otherwise with them, so long as they content themselves, with large Confessions of their Sins, and come not to forsake them. Would they content themselves, that the time past is sufficient that they have wrought the Will of the Gentiles, there would be some ground to hope, that they were as willing to forsake their Sins, as to confess them; and so might come to have Faith in the Gift of God, with whom all things are possible; which thing many have formally in words acknowledged, who in works have denied it. But I testify, If they, who make such large Confessions of their Sins, do not come to that Gift of God in them, which can enable them to forsake their Sins, their Condition is no better than his, who knew his Master's Will, and did it not; who was to be beaten with many Stripes. For the Lord hath made manifest his Unerring Way, and he is daily calling and inviting the Sons and Daughters of Men to walk therein, and to be reconciled unto him, that they may know their Sin blotted out. For the Lord hath no delight in the Death of a Sinner (of which I am an Instance and a Witness) but is willing that all should Repent, Return, and come to the Knowledge of his Truth and be saved. For he hath not Ordained Men to Reprobation, so that they cannot be saved: Neither hath he so absolutely Elected a certain Number of Persons to Salvation, that what Evil soever they do, they cannot miss of Salvation, as many do falsely believe. Which dangerous Doctrines have, on the one hand, thrown many down to the Bottomless Pit of Despair: And on the other hand, raised too many up into a Presumptuous Security. Reader, my desire is, that thou wouldst come to the Witness of God in thyself, that thou mayst see and learn the Mystery of these things. For the Grace of God, which hath so manifestly appeared in this our day, hath brought mighty things to pass, which many will not believe, though it hath been often declared. It hath wrought the same Works now, as it did in the Apostles days, in teaching to deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts; and also to live Soberly, Righteously and Godly in this present World, Tit. 2.12. And there be many Witnesses, that have been raised from the Dead (or out of the Spiritual Death) who do declare of it; who were once dead in Trespasses and Sins: But the Goodness of the Lord hath led them to Repentance, and raised them to Life. Now the Reason why many will not believe, is, because they love their Evil Deeds: Therefore they hate the Light, and will not bring their Deeds to it, lest by it they should be Reproved. For this is the Condemnation, That Light is come into the World, and Men love Darkness rather than Light; and such have ignorantly called the Light, Darkness: But they that love the Light, and know what it is, they do bring their Deeds to it, that they may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God, John 3.19, 20, 21. For the Light makes all things manifest; yea, the hidden things of Esau are made manifest by the Light. My Advice and Counsel to thee is, in the Fear of the Lord, Bring thy Deeds to the Light, if ever thou intendest, or desirest, to be Everlastingly Happy. Let not the Enemy of thy Soul deceive thee any longer: For it is better to Suffer Affliction with the People of God, than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin, which are but for a season; though they be never so much applauded by the Sons and Daughters of Men. Such as Men sow, they must reap: They that sow to the Flesh, must of the Flesh reap Corruption; and they that sow to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting, Gal. 6.7, 8.  
Consider well those words, ye Proud and Haughty Ones, and be no longer joined to the Spirit of this World: For the Lord God hath a Controversy against it. And he hath determined the Downfall of the Man of Sin; which many have witnessed already fulfilled in themselves: And the Lord is now fitting and preparing them for himself. For it is not the Devil's right to rule in Man: But it is the Lord's right alone to rule there, and he will have no Sharers with him in his Government.  
Let none put the Day of the Lord afar off; for this is the Day of the Lord: And unless thou knowest him to rule in thee now, who alone can destroy the Devil and his Works, thy believing he shall rule hereafter (if Satan continues to rule in thee here) will stand thee in little stead; for that Belief will not purify thy Heart, and it is only the pure in Heart that can see God, Mat. 5.8. Heb. 12.14. For Christ Jesus was made manifest for this very End, that he might destroy the Works of the Devil, 1 John 3.8. And although the Men of this World have set themselves in Opposition against this Truth of the Lord, and have pleaded for the Continuance of Sin, and therein for the Devil's Power; yet we know in whom we have believed, and in the Light of the Lord they are seen, and their Fruits have made manifest whose Servants they are: For his Servants they are to whom they obey, whether of Sin unto Death, or of Obedience unto Righteousness, Rom. 6.16. And tho' many of them have promised (or others have promised for them) to forsake the Devil and all his Works, and to keep God's Holy Will and Commandments all the days of their lives; yet they are ready to cry out Blasphemy, when they are told, Whosoever is born of God doth not commit Sin, tho' they are the plain words of Scripture, 1 John 3.9. So Zealous are they for their Master's interest.  
Reader, if thou art one, who hath been taught for Doctrine men's Precepts, as too many now are, let me persuade thee to come to the Witness of God in thee, and try which is the best Teacher. For that Inward Teacher teacheth safe and sure, neither can it be removed into a Corner: And if thou turn'st to the right hand, or to the left, thou shalt hear a Word behind thee (from this Inward Teacher) saying, This is the Way, walk in it, Isa. 30.21. This is the plain Man's Path, wherein (though a Fool in the World's esteem) he shall not err, Isa. 35.8. What tho' the Lord leads his People in a way, contrary to the Wisdom of the World, which makes them the Scorn and Derision of the World! Be not discouraged; for how can it be otherwise, it being the same way which the holy Men of God walked in, in Ages past? But our Rejoicing is this, The Testimony of a good Conscience: And we do know (as God's faithful Servants did of old) The Reproaches for Christ are greater Riches than any there are in Egypt's Land; which is a Place of Darkness. But we have known the Lord to Redeem us out of that Bondage and deep Captivity; and now we can sing Praises and Thanksgivings unto our God, who is over all, both in Heaven and in Earth, blessed for ever and for evermore.  
Friendly Reader, I have here, out of Love and Good Will to thee, and to all Mankind, declared unto thee the Goodness of the Lord unto my poor Soul, that thou mayst be encouraged to walk in the Light of the Lord, which he hath made manifest in this our day: For it concerns thee most to know the Lord's Work in thy day, that thou mayst have a sense of the Operation of the Power of God on thy Heart, before thou goest hence. O let not the Enemy of thy Soul prevail with thee, to plead for the continuance of Sin term of Life. Did Men but know how they do thereby advance the Kingdom of the Enemy of their Souls, they never more would open their Mouths on Sins behalf, unless they are like those of old, who said, We have made a Covenant with Death, and with Hell are we at an Agreement, Isa. 28.15. For they who deny Perfection, or Freedom from Sin, deny the very End and Purpose for which Christ came, and was manifested in the Flesh, which was, to destroy the Works of the Devil, 1 John 3.8. which all, who profess Christianity, do agree, is Sin. And his Name was therefore called Jesus, because He should save his People from their Sins, Mat. 1.21. Not In their Sins; mark that, thou Unbelieving Professor. Why should this be thought Impossible, seeing All things are possible with God, Mat. 19.26? It was the Command of the Lord to Abraham, Walk before me, and be thou perfect, Gen. 17.1. And to encourage him thereunto, he brings it in with these words [I am the Almighty God.] The holy Apostle said, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the Lusts of the Flesh, Gal. 5.16. And I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me, Phil. 4.13. And As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God, Rom. 8.14. Such cannot plead for Sin, because they have Fellowship one with another in the Light, and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth them from all Sin, 1 John 1.7. From whence then dost thou think the Impossibilities do arise? (for some have ignorantly said, It is Impostble ever to be Perfect, or Free from Sin, on this side the Grave) If thou canst not tell (as some Tender-hearted Ones could not) I will tell thee, It is from the Man of Sin, who rules in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience: From him proceeds these Thoughts of Impossibilities, and not from the Lord.  
And now, let the Witness of God in thee judge between the Precious and the Vile; between those who serve the Lord, and them who serve him not. For a Separation there must be; the Lord will no longer be mocked with an Hypocritical Pretence of Zeal for him, while the Devil hath the Heart. They that pretend the Scripture is their only Rule, why will they not come to it, and walk according to it, that we might see their Fruits to be agreeable thereunto? They have made use of the Scriptures to plead for Sin term of Life, and have raked up the Failings of the holy Men of God recorded in them, thereby encouraging others to Sin, which never was the End they were written for: But they were given that Men might come to be Perfect, throughly furnished unto all good Works, 2 Tim. 3.17. And it was the Labour of the Apostles, to present every Man Perfect in Christ Jesus, Col. 1.28. The Holy Scriptures were not written for Men to make a Trade of, as in Buying and Selling the Words of the Holy Men of God, who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and as the Spirit gave them Utterance: No, but that Men might come to the same Word in themselves, which they testify of. And if thou, Reader, comest to that, thou wilt come to know the Word of God, which lives and abides for ever: And then the Scriptures will be indeed precious to thee, as thou comest to see the fulfilling of them in thyself; and so thou wilt have Unity with that Spirit which gave them forth: And the right End for which they were written thou wilt see; which they are ignorant of, who go from the true Light, the Holy Witness in themselves. The want of keeping to that, makes them run into so many Heads and Heaps of Confusion as they are; one calling This the Way, another saying That is the Way: So that Mankind is out of Order, by refusing to be led by the Spirit of Christ Jesus, which would bring all things into Order again. And was it not so in the Apostles days? Did not Demetrius, and the Multitude, make an Uproar, though the most part knew not wherefore they came together? But they all agreed to cry up, Great is Diana of the Ephesians! For by this Craft (said Demetrius) we have our Wealth. And is it not the same in effect now, tho' they have got more Plausible Words to cover themselves withal, that they might not be discovered. Do not both Priests and People cry out now, Great is the Devil's Power! Great is the Strength of Sin! So great, that it is Impossible to be set free from Sin on this side the Grave? And hath not the World admired the Whore, because she hath had a golden Cup in her hand, by which she hath deceived, and doth deceive the Nations? O that Men would be so wise for themselves, as to come to that which would open an Eye in them to see the Enemy of their Souls, and would help them to work against him, before the Night comes, wherein none can work! For it is the Light that makes things manifest, and by that Light thou mayst see the Mystery of Iniquity still working, under the pretence of Zeal for the Worship and Ordinances of God (as Men call them) but they will not come to Christ, whom God hath Ordained to be a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and the Glory of his People Israel, Luke 2.32. But as Backsliding Israel made to themselves a Golden Calf in old time: So these will needs have something that may appear glorious to their fleshly Eye, which many in their Imaginations have made and set up, and so are worshipping the Works of their own Inventions, as they of old did the Works of their own Hands. For whatsoever Man forms, and sets up between Christ and his Soul, is an Idol, and must be broken down, before Redemption can be truly witnessed. But are there not many now a-days, who persuade themselves they are Redeemed by Christ from their Sins, whilst they live in their Sins? O! what an unheard of Redemption was this in the Apostles days! He said, When ye were the Servants of Sin, ye were free from Righteousness, Rom. 6.20. And, What Fruit (said he) had ye then in those things, whereof ye are now ashamed, ver. 21? That was not the Redemption which Christ Jesus came to purchase for his People: But to purify to himself a peculiar People, zealous of good Works; and to redeem them from all Iniquity, Tit. 2.14. That they might serve him in Holiness and Righteousness, all the days of their lives, Luke 1.75. This was the End or Effect of the Redeeming Power of the Lord in Ages past. And I give my Testimony for God, it is the same now in this Age, and works the same Effect, even to redeem from all Sin. Let the Enemy, and his Instruments, be never so much enraged at us, for bearing Testimony to the Truth, we matter not; for we are Witnesses for God against them all, and have boldness, in the Strength of the Lord, to Publish to the World the Greatness of the Power of our God, and of his Christ, who hath determined, that Sin and Iniquity shall have an end, and Everlasting Righteousness shall be brought in, Dan. 9.24. Which is believed, and waited for, by the Upright in Heart, who have turned their Faces Zion-ward. And we know▪ the Lord hath many more, whom he will gather, from off the barren Mountains, into the same Faith with us, to declare of his Noble Acts, in this his mighty Day, wherein he is shaking, not only the Earth, but the Heavens also, that That only, which cannot be shaken, may remain (Heb. 12.26, 27.) which will stand in stead, when time shall be no more.  
And friendly Reader, If thou desirest to die the Death of the Righteous, and to have thy latter End to be like his (which most Men do) thou must live the Life of the Righteous: For there is not another way that is certain. What, though Men have cut out Ways to themselves, and have made large and pleasant Paths to walk in; and say, Come, walk in our Way, or be of our Society; for it is the Way of the Lord. Before thou venturest into it, ask them this Question, Have you found out a Way to overcome Sin? If they answer, No; that cannot be expected on this side the Grave: Then I testify, It is not the Way of the Lord; neither art thou to walk in it. But thou art to walk in the Light of the Lamb, which all the Nations of them that are saved, shall walk in, Rev. 21.24. Light is sown for the Righteous, and Gladness for the Upright in Heart, Psalm 97.11. And the Lord will keep him in perfect Peace, whose Mind is stayed upon him. Which words are often spoken by the Hireling Priests; but the thing can never be experimentally Witnessed by thee, till thou comest to give up thyself wholly to be led by the Lord: Which if thou do, then will the Lord take delight in thee, to do thee good, and hard things shall be made easy to thee. And as thou abidest in the Faith, thou wilt see over all the Ways of the World, and the Foundations whereon they stand, and thou wilt see cause for ever to Praise the Lord, for that he hath redeemed thee out of those Paths that lead to the Chambers of Death, and hath built thee upon the sure Foundation, which cannot be shaken, the Rock of Ages, and of many Generations, Jesus Christ, the chief Cornerstone.  
Had I the Tongue of Men and Angels, I could not demonstrate unto thee, in words, the Peace and Happiness that is enjoyed in walking in the Way of the Lord: For in his Presence there is fullness of Joy, and at his right hand are Pleasures for evermore, Isa. 16.11. O, Come away, come away, for the Lord's sake, and thy poor Soul's sake; and partake not with the Wicked in their Sins, lest thou receive of their Plagues, Rev. 18.4. Let not a little momentary Pleasures beguile thee into Eternal Misery. The Lord having redeemed me out of the hands of my Soul's Enemy, I am moved with the Bowels of Pity and Compassion, to beseech thee to come and be reconciled to the Lord: For I testify, he is more willing to receive thee, than thou art to come: Why then wilt thou not come, that thou mayst be Everlastingly Happy? For the Door of Mercy is set open, so that all that will come, may come freely, without Money, or without Price, Isa. 55.1. Therefore why will ye die, O ye foolish People and unwise? Seeing the Way is open, and the Path so plain, that the Wayfaring Man (though a Fool) cannot err therein, Isa. 35.8.  
What could the Lord have done more for Man, than he hath done, having sent his Only Begotten Son a Light into the World, that the World through him might believe, and so be saved, John 3? For the Light shines in Darkness, though the Darkness doth not comprehend it, John 1.5. It was that Light that gave Paul, and Others, the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 4.6. And it is the same Light that brings to the Knowledge of God now, and not Another; though the Enemy hath taught Men to give many bad Names to it, that Men might not believe in it. But they who do believe in it, know it to be the true Light, which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World, John 1.9. And that In him was Life, and the Life was the Light of Men, ver. 4. And that the Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all Sin, 1 John 1.7. That he might present his Church, a glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, Eph. 5.27. Which of all those called Churches in the World, whether Public or Private, is the Spotless Church? Are there not Spots of Pride, Envy, Malice, Dissimulation, etc. upon them? Bow therefore ye tall Cedars, and ye sturdy Oaks, who have lifted up yourselves in your vain Imaginations, above the low, meek and gentle Witness of the Lord in you: And know, that for all this God will bring you to Judgement, tho' ye have covered yourselves with a Profession, in drawing nigh to the Lord with your Mouths and with your Lips (as some of old did, Isa. 29.13.) when your Hearts have been after your other Lovers, and have made a Profession of God in Words, when in Works ye have denied him. Do ye think Words will stand you instead at the Day of Judgement? Though ye could say, We have Prayed in thy Name, and Preached in thy Name, and in thy Name have done many wonderful things: Yet hear your Sentence (if ye continue to work Iniquity) Depart from me, ye Workers of Iniquity, Mat. 7.23. What we, (may some perhaps say, we) who have driven a Trade with the Scriptures, and have form to ourselves a Way of Worship, and Religious Exercises, and have spent much time in the performance thereof: Ah! But what will ye answer, when it shall be asked of you (as it was of some of old, Isa. 1.12.) Who hath required this at your hands? It is this the Lord requires of thee, O Man, To do Justly, and to love Mercy, and to walk Humbly with thy God, Micah 6.8. And if thou answer his requirings therein, then shall thy Peace be as a River, Isa. 48.18. And thou shalt know the flow of that River, the Streams whereof make glad the City of our God, Psalm 46.4. Now it is my desire, that thou shouldst be a Fellow-Citizen with us: For in the Father's House are many Mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you, said Christ to his Disciples, John 14.2. But, said he, I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, ye may be also, verse 3.  
O that Men would be so wise, as to come to the serious Consideration of these things, before the Day of their Visitation be over! For whoever thou art, this know for certain, Thou hast a Talon given thee by the Lord, and so art left for ever without Excuse. Therefore see that thou makest good use of it, and that thou improvest it to the Lord's use, and to the Good of thy Immortal Soul. Then wilt thou answer the End for which the Lord created thee, and wilt bring unto the Lord the Glory due unto him. Which that thou may'st, is the desire of him, who is, Reader,  
Thy Friend in the Truth of God. R. B. Written the 13th Day of the 1st Month, 1670.  
THE END