Truth held Forth AND MAINTAINED According to the Testimony of the holy Prophets, Christ and his Apostles recorded in the holy Scriptures.  
With some Account of the Judgements of the Lord lately inflicted upon New-England by Witch craft.  
To which is added, Something concerning the Fall of Adam his state in the Fall, and way of Restoration to God again, with many other weighty things, necessary 〈◊〉 People to weigh and consider.  
Written in true Love to the Souls of my Neighbours, all Men, which includeth that Love to them, 〈…〉 by Thomas Maule.  
Printed in the Year 16●●   

〈◊〉 PREFACE  
Friendly Reader:  
AMong the many Writers in this Age, who profess themselves Gospel Ministers, great i● the number of false Prophets, and word● teachers, whose Doctrines, Principles & Practices are inconsistent with the Doctrines Principles, and Practices of the holy Prophets and Apostles in days past, who brought, glad tidings of Peace to ●he souls of many People, who were turned from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan to the Pow-God, Acts 26.18. even so, ingmeasure, is it with true Gospel Ministers in this day, who turn People's minds to the inward manifastation of the gift of God's Spirit, which ministers Life to them that hear and obey, unto them its life indeed; for the gift of God is Life eternal; and as every true faithful Minister of Christ, hath received the gift of God freely, they minister freely from he same, as good St●wards of the manifold Grace of God, d●ing unto all men, at they would have all m●n do unto them, not striving for Mastership, but are gentle unto all men, and apt in teach, patiented in 〈◊〉, instructing those that oppose themselves. 2 Tim. 〈◊〉 24, 25. that 〈◊〉 by the Church may be edified; for the true Ministers of Christ are Servents to Christ, and not Masters own, 〈…〉, as many Anti-christian Teachers are, 〈…〉 H●●itage, 〈…〉 Persons in admiration for advantage; but the true Ministers of Christ are men of sorrow, desol●ed, and rejected o● mend as he was, they are not made minister's by the mill of 〈◊〉, but by the will of God, and blameless, as the Stewards of God, not self willed, nor soon angry, nor given to Wine, nor strikers, ●or are they greedy of filthy Lucre, but lovers of Hospitality, and sober, Just, holy, temperate, holding fast the faithful Word, as they have been taught, that they may be able by sound Doctrine, both to exhort, and convince the gainsayers; for there are many unruly and vain Talkers and Deceivers, even as those in days past, whose mouths must be stopped, for they subvert whole Houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy Lucre sake; and as in that day, they had a Prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are always Liars, evil Beasts, flow bellies Tit. 1.7.8, 9, 10, 11, 12. even so as by Luther, and others, who have left their Testimonies agreeable with what is found incorded in the Scriptures of Truth, which give a true account of the Doctrine, Principles and Prectices of the many Teachers in this age, who will not preach 〈…〉 Mony. This witness is true, wherefore rebake th●● sharply, that they may be found in the Truth, for they profess they know God, but in Works they deny him, Tit. 〈…〉. By which, is it not manifest that the love of Money (which is the root of all evil) is in them that will not prench without Money? what better are they, the● the 〈…〉 and false Prophets we read of, Jer. 14.14. Do they 〈◊〉 bare rule by their means in all Nations, where 〈◊〉 see● for their gain each from his Quarter? Isa. ●. 〈…〉. Do they 〈◊〉 preach for hire, and divine for Money M●●. 3.11. And do they not preach peace so long as men keep paying, but when any come to see their deceit, and cannot put into their mouths, than they preach open war 〈…〉 And have not the false Prophets, Anti-christian 〈◊〉 and hired Priests, destroyed ●he lives of many thousands of People for their obedience to the faith, which work, by consent of the Magistr●●●, hath had its day in New-England, when they put to ●ath four of the People called Quakers at Boston, (concerning the which an Account will hereafter follow) which was by the Priests accomplished, by the consent of the then Rulers; for without the consent of Power, the Priests could not Persecute, which they wait to do as Troops of Robbers wait for a man, so have the company of Priests murdered in the may by consent, Hos. 6.9. So that by their fruits men may know them, Luke 6.13. Mat. 7.13, 16. for they are tried which say they are Apostles, and are not, and they are found to be Liars, Rev. 2.2. Come from among them▪ and do not partake of their sins, that ye may be free from their Plagues, which the Lord is bringing upon the Whore and the false Prophets & Teachers, which 〈◊〉 wrought Iniquity against the Lord and his chosen People.  
From my dwelling House at Salem in New-England, 1st. 3d. Mon. 1690. Thomas Maule.  
Humane Learning I have not,  
God doth to me afford,  
His Teaching by his Spirit good,  
To understand his Word.  
T. M.   

The Heads or Contents of the ensuing TREATISE.  

Chap. 1. COncerning the 〈◊〉 of God's quickening Spirit by Jesus Christ, pag. 1.  
Chap. 2. Concerning Christ, the true Seed and Everlasting Covenant of God to his People, p. 10.  
Chap. 3. Concerning the Man Christ Jesus, which was conceived of the holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, and suffered Death for the Redemption of all men, p. 16.  
Chap. 4. Concerning the holy Scriptures, p. 2●.  
Chap. 5. Concerning Faith, Hope and Obedience, which by the Power of God, through Jesus Christ, worketh Salvation to them that truly believe. Also, something concerning Silence. p. 30.  
Chap. 6. Concerning Perfection, and that Warfair which the faithful are to pass through, before they come to witness f●ll and free Redemption from sin, p. 47.  
Chap. 7. Concerning the Worship of God in Spirit, p. 5●.  
Chap. 8. Concerning true Prayer, by which the faithful find acceptance with God, by faith in the Son of his Love. p. 6●.  
Chap. 9 Concerning the Lord's Supper, which People call the Sacrament, p. 65.  
Chap. 10. Concerning Baptism, and sprinkling Infants, which many hold most necessary to Salvation, p. 70.  
Chap. 11. Concerning the true Sabbath, p. 76.  
Chap. 12. Concerning Election and Reprobation, p. 79.  
Chap. 13. Concerning the 〈…〉tion, through Faith in Chr● 〈…〉 p. 87.  
Chap. 14. Concerning the 〈…〉 p. 93.  
Chap. 15. Concerning the Ministers of Christ, and the Ministers of Anti-christ Also, of humane Learning, and the use of it, and how it came in practice among the Reformed Churches in this latter Age. And concerning Gospel Maintenance, & in what manner, and to whom it belongeth, p. 99  
Chap. 16. Concerning divine Inspiration and Revelation, p. 109.  
Chap. 17. Concerning the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of Anti-christ, p. 114.  
Chap. 18. Concerning the true Language, and proper Nature of Speech, and the true Names of the Days and Months, etc. p. 118.  
Chap. 19 Concerning Prophesying, and women's speaking in ●e Church, p. 124.  
Chap. 20. Concerning Powers, p. 127.  
Chap. 21. Concerning Outhes and S●earing, p. 1ST.  
Chap. 22. Concerning Wars and Fightings, p. 136.  
Chap. 23. Concerning Conscience, p. 144.  
Chap. 24. Concerning the free Love of God, p. 146.  
Chap. 25. Concerning the Church of Christ, etc. p. 154.  
Chap. 26. Concerning the state of all men, and of God's Judgements, and also of his calling the Jews, etc. p. 164.  
Chap. 27. Concerning being born and brought forth of the Immortal Seed of God's Kingdom, p. 169.  
Chap. 28. A Letter to the Committee in Salem, p. 175.  
Chap. 28. Concerning covering & uncovering the head, p. 178.  
Chap. 29. Concerning the great Judgements of God upon the Inhabitants of New-England by W●●h-craft, p. 179.  
Chap. 30. Concerning the Lord's Harvest, p. 210.  
Chap. 31. 〈…〉 Gods Judgements upon diver● of the 〈…〉 Priests and Rulers in New-England, 〈◊〉. p. 212.   

The Contents of the second Part.  
Chap. 1. COncerning the two wonderful Trees in the Gard●n of Eden ●viz. the Tree Knowledge of good and evil, and the Tree of L●●e unknown ever since man was driven out of Paradise, until admitted to return again, p. 220.  
Chap. 2. Concerning the Tree of Life, what it is, and why Adam was shut out forbidden and withheld from it, and not suffered to eat thereof. p. 227.  
Chap. 3. Concerning the T●ee of Knowledge of good and evil planted in the heart of Adam, p. 228.  
Chap. 5. Concerning the Sin of Covetousness. p. ●35.  
Chap. 6. Concerning that Life, and nature of it, which God requireth of all men, p. 2●●.  
Chap. 7. Concerning Judgement begun at the House of God, and in his House to judge down every appearance of evil, p. 258.    

Friendly Reader;  
ALthough the following Treatise has been very long detained in the Press, yet hope thou shalt find the impression pretty clear of Errors, as to the main, except the mis-numbring of 〈◊〉 or three Chapters, and one material error in 〈…〉 23. after Rule of Life, read for Christ is the Way, the Truth and 〈…〉, which pray amend.   


CHAPTER I. Concerning the Light of God's quickening Spirit by Jesus Christ.  
THe Light of Christ is the Power of God, by which the Righteous have been preserved in all Ages, from Abel to Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses, in whose day the Lord wrought wonderful great Deliverances, by the Power of his Light, figured in the 〈◊〉 by Day, and in the Pillar of Fire by Night, by which was Israel's Deliverances from their Enemies, which perished in the midst of Darkness, Exod. 13.21. Now Israel in that day were commanded To remain still in their Minds, and not to walk after their own Lust ●nd Evil ways; in which state of ●●●dience to the Li●h● they came to witness great Deliverances; but when Israel, through their Disobedience, fe●● back in their Minds, from the Light and Power of God's Spirit, having their Minds turned by the Power of the Enemy, to look back after the Flesh Pots of Egypt, them remained Death, by which they slighted the Lords Mercy, despising his Gift inwardly, as they despised the 〈◊〉 outwardly, and saving, That their Souls 〈…〉 ●read, Numb. 21.6. for which cause of Disobedience, the Lord sent fiery Serpents, whereof the People became wounded and many died in that state; then the Lord in reader Mercy towards the penitent preserved a number, that had not sinned unto Death, whose Redemption was wrought through the Power of God, by lifting up the bra●en ●●●pent in the bewildered state, that whosoever, in 〈◊〉 to the Light of God's Power, come to be●●●● the 〈◊〉 serpent, received 〈◊〉; which was a true 〈◊〉 God's 〈◊〉 full●led in this Gospel Day 〈…〉 Christ, 〈…〉 divine Light is to be listed up above all other things in the heart of man, even as they were to look to him by Faith, a● he was to be outwardly lifted up on the 〈…〉 their sins, die and rise again; for as Moses ●●●ted up the 〈◊〉 Serpeat in the Wilderness, even so mast the S●● of 〈◊〉 be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him should not pe●●●, but have ●terna● Life, John 3.14, 15. And this is that L●g●t which hath been the Path of the Just in all Ag●●, by which the holy men of God were enlightened to see the Glory of God to come, in sending his Son Jesus Christ to be a Light to the whole world, that as many as believed in him might be saved; for they that believe in Christ believe in the Light, as he is Light, which redeems the Soul and keeps it alive unto God; by which the Soul comes to be redeemed from the Stings of the old serpent, the Power of the Devil, whose Power the Light makes manifest, and by Obedience to the Light the Soul receives p●●er from God, which sets up the Light above all other Lope in the heart of man which must be overcome by the Power of God's Spirit, which is Light and Lise, before the Soul 〈◊〉 receive any assurance of God in Christ; for he that loveth any thing more than Christ is not found worthy to receive him, Mat. to. 27, 38, 39 for where the heart is set in the love of a●● thing, more than to love the Light, the Soul of that man remains in the broad way, where the venomous Serpent's ●e which draw the heart and mind from the Love of God in●o a state of sinning against the Gi●● of his div●●e Light, which is the Gift of his Spirit, purchased by the death and Resurrender of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ which some know no mo●● of than to call the gift of God's divine Light in the heart's o● 〈…〉, A Stinking Vapour from Hell, and The Relics of 〈…〉 which they have said, are the Checks of a Natura●● 〈…〉, which words have proceeded from the Mouths of 〈◊〉 Priest, in New England, which are no less than 〈…〉 Words, by them, in whom no go●d seed can take 〈…〉 for their Dischedience is against the Light, for which the light is their Condemnation, John 3.19, 20. for the 〈…〉 Christ is the Power of God, by which the Righte● is have been preserved in all age's, which the faithful 〈◊〉, to the saving of their Souls, in this day; for the light of Christ is the Gift of God, and the Gift of God by 〈◊〉, Christ is ●ernal Life to them that believe; for it is the Seed of the Kingdom sown in the hearts of the faithful, who witness their Life in Christ the hope of Glory in whom is the su●●●hing of things past, wherein the faithful Servants of God ●●ed and died in the holy Faith of God's Promises, 〈◊〉 Christ should 〈◊〉 me in the fullness of time, for a Light 〈◊〉 the whole World● according to the Prophecy of Is●●●●, 〈◊〉 58 8. Then shall thy Light break forth as the M●r●ing, and thine Health shall spring forth speedly, and thy Righteousness shall go before; the Glory of the Lord shall be thy Reward. Which ●●th manifest, that the Prophet foresaw Christ to come, the Covenant or Light, and Promise of God to the G●●●ike, of which Steek we are, who have received a measure of God's Spirit, which is of the divine Light and Nature of Christ, the true S●ed of his Kingdom, which by measure hath been sown in the Hearts of all the Sons and Daughters of Ad●●, To open their blind Eyes, to bring out the Prisoner out of the Prison House, I●a. 42.6, 7. which is that which the Prophet declared of Christ, the Foundation of Life, in whose Light the faithful see Light. Psal. 36, 9 Here David saw God in Christ, who was to 〈◊〉, and in that day was a Rule to light D●vid in his 〈◊〉 go and Incoming, by which he received the heavenly ●●ehes or God's Love, to the saving ●f his Soul, which is the Portion of all the faithful, who receive Christ in the love of his Light, which is no less than Life Eternal to all them that believe in his Name; for his Name is Light, and this Light hath been preached to every Creature under the Heavens, Col. 1.23. which is that Light which John was sent to preach, Christ the true Light, that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World, John 1.9. and this Light opened their Understandings to know the Scriptures, Luke 24 15, to 29. for Obedience to the Light of Christ brings into the Knowledge of 〈◊〉 by which there comes to be a right understanding of what i● contained in the holy Scriptures; for by the Spirit of God in Christ were the holy men of God enlightened, and gave forth the holy Scriptures, as they were moved by the holy Ghost.  
Now mind, That of this Light hath every man received a ●●●sure in his heart, it being the Seed of the Kingdom, and ●●●●geth forth Fruit in good Ground, Mat. 13.4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 〈◊〉 not in all other Grounds, which signify dark unclean stoney and hard Hearts, in which the Seed hath been sown, but only thrives and brings forth Fruit acceptable to God in the good Ground, that is, the honest faithful Heart, which yields Obedience unto that which the gist of God's divine Light requires, it being the Lords Talon, Mat. 25. wherein we find Christ did declare, concerning the Work of his Kingdont, by the Parable of the ten Virgins, and slothful Servant, both having received the Seed of the Kingdom, the Lords Talon, which is a Gift of his divine Light & Spirit of Truth, which had they been faithful thereunto, Salvation had not been wanting; for when men receive of the Lords heavenly Gift of divine Light, be it more or less, yet through faithful Obedience it is sufficient for their Salvation; for whether more or less, yet the Lord requires his own with profit, and where much is given, much also is required; but he that is not faithful in that which is little, shall never be made Ruler of that which is greater, but that which he ha●h po●●mpr●●ved shall be taken away, and given to him that hath improved the Gift of God for the Hon●nur of his holy Name●● and comfort of man's own Soul, Mat. 25 28, 29. which is ma●●er of great concern, for all to be w●le, an diligent in the Work of the Lord; for the diligent gain Heaven's. Riches when the slothful are sent emp●y away, which will be the Portion of all the 〈◊〉 that are found living in a careless state, spending their time in that which brings dishonour to the Name of the Lord, and sorrow to the Soul o●h●m that so liveth; for the Light of the Wicked shall b● put out and the Sparks of his Fire shall not sh●ne, and the Light shall be Darbness in his Tabernacle, and h●● Candle shall be put out with him Job 18.5, 6. but in the faithful shall the Light shine, which begets the heart and mind into good Works, that glorify God their Father which is in Heaven.  
Now the Light of God's Spirit in the Son of his Love, the Lord Jesus Christ, is that Light ●hich the Lords People, called Quakers, profess to be the Rule of their Life whose Life is the light of men, John 1.4. and this light hath been a Rule to the faithful in all Ages, Psal. 27 1. The Lord is my Light and Salvation, and he shall bring forth thy Right●oushes●●● the light, and thy Judgements as the noon day. In this the Righteous rejoice, and give Thanks at the remembrance of his Holiness. Here Light is sown for the Righteous, and Gladness for the Upright in Heart, Psal. 97.11, 12. And again, he speaketh of Christ to be the Light, For with thee is the Fountain of Life, in th●●ight shall we see Light, Psal. 36.9. O send out thy Light and 〈◊〉 Truth; let them bring me unto thy holy Hill, and thy Tabernacle, Psal 43.3. And the Spirit in the Bropher saith, Arise, shine, for thy Light is come, and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee, Isa. 60.1. And the Gentile shall come to thy Light, and the Kings to the Brightness of thy R●sing, verse 3. And many more instances from the holy Prophet's Writings may be produced to that effect; but these are sufficient to prove Christ the Everlasting Foundation of L●fe and Light, in whom the faithful of God in all Ages have built their Faith, in the Light of God in Christ, which gave them ●ull assurance in the same Faith, That God in his due time would enlarge his Covenant of Light to all Nat●ons, by sending h●● Son Jesus Christ, who hath appeared in the likeness of sinful flesh to take away sin in the fl●sh by performing the Will of God the Father, to fuller Death in a Body of F●●sh, for the Redemption of all men; and this is Jesus which shall save his People from their sins, Mat. 1.21. By which it is evident, That the Work o● God by Jesus Christ, is to save People from their sins. Then what is the state of such man who profess themselves to be the Ministers of Christ, and teach People of an imperfect state, never to be free from sin in this Life? (concerning which at presen●● shall omit, leaving it in order for another Head, in which God willing) I shall clear by sufficient Testimony of holy Sempture Proof, and at present proceed in Vindication of the Light against the Lies, by which evil minded men reproach the People of God, and dishonour his holy Truth, in which the saithful live (each according to his measure of Light and 〈◊〉 Spirit of Grace, Light & Life by Je●ds Christ, which leadeth them to acknowledge God the Father, Word and Spirit, Christ the Word, Life and Light, and the holy Ghost, which 〈◊〉 the Soirit of God the Father 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ the Son, and Lord of Life and Light, which was conceived by the holy Ghost and brought forth by the Virgin Mary, betrayed by Judis, suffered under Pontius Pilate, risen again the third day, aseen led into Heaven, where now he sits in all Righteousness and Holiness with God the Father, in full Power, Majesty and Dominion, being God over all, and in all for evermore, whom the World hath in great dispute, and many Controversies have risen, to the destroying of many Thousands of People's lives, when that it is plain, That Christ came not to destroy men● lives, but to save and make alive, leaving this Example. That Wheat and Tares should grow together until the Harvest lest in gathering the Tares, they root up also the Wheat with them. Mat. 13 28 29 30. from which saving Christ proceeds to another Parable, comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to a grain of Mustardseed, being accounted the least of all Grain Seeds, which being grown up, it becometh the greatest among Herbs, and becometh a Tree that the B●rds of th● Air come to lodge in the Branches thereof, Mat. 13.31, 32. and in the 33 ver●. Christ likens the Kingdom unto leven hid in three measures of Mea● until the whole was leavened. These things were spoke in Parables, that the Saying of the Prophet might be fulfiled, in the ●ttering things which have been kept secret from the Foundation of the World, which now is manifest by the Light, through the Death and Resurrection of Christ Jesus, and also left upon Record in the holy Scriptures of Truth, that in the light of the Lord God, People may learn, and come to understand, that People's perishing is not altogether for want of Knowledge, but for want of Obedience to that measure of Light which they have received; for he that is faithful in that which is little, is made Ruler over more; for as the Grain of Mustard Seed hath the Light been ●own in the hearts of many, which have received as one Talon, and in others who have received more; so that where much is given, much is required; and where more or less, if it light on good ground, it becomes the greatest among Herbs in the Lord's Garden, and bringeth forth Fruit abundantly, to the Praise and Honour of God's holy Name; also, the little Leaven had in three measures of Meal, implies the whole man, till the whole becomes leavened into a new lump of the heavenly Nature of God's Kingdom in Christ Jesus, which as men come into a true Christian state of Obedience to the Gift of God's divine Light, & quickening Word or his Spirit, which hath been handed ●orth through the Death and Resurrection of the Lord of Life and Light, they (through Obedience) may come to witness Eternal Life by Jesus Christ. Which things, one would think, are sufficient to encourage all to yield their Obedience to the g●●t of Gods divine Light; for there is not a Thought of the Heart, nor an In●ent of the Mind, but the Light makes it manifest, which to obey is 〈◊〉, and to disobey is Death; for to be carnally minded is Death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace; Rom. ●. 6. For while men ●emain in obedience to the Light, they are spiritually minded, in which state they are servants to Righteousness, but while men are in Disobedience to the Light, it is accounted before the ●ord as Rebellion, which is as the 〈◊〉 Witchcraft; for it is the Willing and Obedient that shall 〈◊〉 the good Land; which 〈◊〉 only extends to the Christ of 〈…〉 to the L●ght, who walk in the right as 〈…〉 ●●dallght and ●n Christ the 〈◊〉 and Light, hav● they Feth●●sh p●one with another, and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleans●● 〈…〉 from their sins, 1 John 1 7 for Christ is the Light 〈◊〉 the ●oeld and he that followeth Christ shall not walk in Dark●● 〈…〉 have the Light of Life, Joh. 8.12. Now 〈◊〉 this 〈…〉, it 〈◊〉 the Disobedient, whose Eyes are bl●nde● 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Gor. 4.4. Awake, thou that sleepest in sin, and Christ will give thee Light; for all things that are reprovable in the he●●t of man, are reproved by the Light, for whatsoever doth make manifest is Light, Ephe. 5.13, 1●. by which it is manifest that man's condemnation is of himself, in that he will not be faithful to the Gift of God's divine Light, because his deeds are evil; for every man that doth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, lest his Deeds should be reprovea, Joh. 3.19, 20. but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light, that his ●e●ds may be manifest that they are wrought in God, cap. 3.21. for God in Christ is the Fountain and Well spring of all Life and Light, in whom the faithful of God shall for evermore remain, in the holy City of heavenly Jerusalem, where there is no need of Sun, Moon nor Stars to shine in it, for the Glory of God righteth it, and Christ the Lamb of God, is the Light thereof, and the Nation of them that have been Obedient to the Light of God's Gift, by Jesus Christ shall be saved, and shall walk in the Light of it, Rev. 21.23, 24. So the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God of all Life and Light, and the Way, the Truth, and the Life of Light, which all men in measure have received, that they may yield their Obedience to the Requirings of it, that by it their Understandings may come to be more & more enlarged towards the Lord of Life and Light that by him, through the Power of his Spirit of Grace, they may come throughly to see and perceive, to hear and understand the things of God, treasured up in ●hrist for all them that love the appearance of his ●ight in their own hearts, which is the gift of his Spirit of ●race, which in measure all men have received, and it preaches Life and Salvation to all that are found in faithful obedience to it, but it preaches Condemnation, Woe and Misery to all that live in a known Life of Disobedience to it; which state of so living, is no less than to crucify the Lord of Life afresh, and to trample under foot all that ever Christ hath done and suffered for the Redemption of the Soul of that Man or Woman which is found in a known state of Disobedience to the Gift of God's Spirit of Truth, which is that Gift of his divine Light, which will not lose it, honour, either by the Salvation or Condemnation of all Mankind, even as their Obedience or Disobedience hath been in this Life, accordingly will be their Reward in the Life to come, which is matter for all to consider, before the Spirit of God hath lest striving, and the Day of God's Grace be over with them that perish through a Life of known Disobedience to the Gift of God's divine Light, which came by Jesus Christ, who is the Author and Finisher of his own Work, in them that believe.   

Concerning Christ, the true Seed and everlasting Covenant of God to his People.  
THis is the Christ which the holy men of God in their Day and eneration prophesied to come, and to finish Sin, and to put an end to Transgression in all tha● truly believe in his Name, which according to Gods appointed time, the Word was made Fesh and dwelled among the Son & Daughters of Men, and they beheld his Glory, the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth, Joh. 1.14. and this is Christ unto whom all things, of the Father, are delivered, both in ●eaven and Earth, and no man knows him but the Father, neither knoweth an● man the Father, save the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him, Mat. 11.27. By which it is evident that all Revelation is not ceased. Come unto me, all ye that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, vers 28. Here Christ hath promised Rest unto all that will come unto him; But how shall they come unto him? by Faith in Obedience to that measure of his divine Light of his Spirit of Grace, which he hath placed in their Hearts, it being the Lords Talon given to Man, for this end, that he should improve it to the Honour and Glory of God, and Salvation of his own Immortal Soul, by Jesus Christ, the Evidence of whose Spirit giveth Life to the Soul of that Man, whose cleart, Mind and Spirit is faithful to his Gift; for the Scriptures rest●le, That Christ affordeth unto all them that by true Faith come unto him; Search the Scriptures, for in them ●e think to have Eternal Life, and they are they that testify of me, and ye will not come to me, that you may have Life, Job. 5.39, 40. Here it is evident from Christ's own words, That to search the holy Scriptures without the true saving knowledge of God in Christ, and of his Spirit, which moved in the holy Men of God and gave them Utterance to declare his Will and Mind, according as contained in the holy Scripture, without which, in some measure, Men cannot profit or benefit (towards Salvation by Jesus Christ) by their reading the holy Scriptures; for they that will not come to the inward Evidence of God's Gift of his Spirit and Grace, they have not the Love of God in them, Joh. 5.42. For Jesus Christ, the Promise of God, and Seed of the Kingdom, him hath God given to be an Everlasting Covenant of Grace, Light and Life, to them that fear and tremble at the Power of his Word, and steadfastly remain in the belief of his holy Name, which is no less than to give up in their whole desire of Heart and Mind to serve him, the Lord of Life, in Truth and Righteousness, with uprightness of Heart, Mind, Soul and Spirit; for unto him it doth belong, and unto such belongeth the Promise of God, by the suffering of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, which doth extend Salvation to their Souls; for God in tender Love & Mercy towards all men, falling short of his Glory by the fall of the first Adam, doth tender the Son of his Love, the Lord Jesus, by the call of his good Spirit of Grace, Life and Light, which remains not in the oldness of the Letter, but in the newness of the Spirit; which hath no relation to the saving of that Soul which remains in sin term of Life; & having received the inward Evidence of the Spirit, which condemns for every thought, word and action which is not agreeable with the Spirit of Truth, of which every man hath received a measure in his own heart, to justify or condemn, even as his Works appear before the Lord, so shall be his Reward, if of Faith and Obedience, than Life and Peace will follow; but if it be of Sin and Unbelief, than Death, Hell and Destruction will be the Portion of him or her which dies in such a state; for the Wages of Sin is Death, but the Gift of God is Eternal Life; so they that die in sin are free from Righteousness, having no part, let nor share in the Promise of God and Hope of Jesus Christ; for their Hope shall be cut as the Spider's Web, which shall perish for evermore; for Christ came not to save People in their sin, but to save and redeem from sin and Transgression; His Name shall be called Jesus, for he shall save his People from their Sins, Mat. 1.21. for they that die in their sins cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven, as Christ said, If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins, and where I go ye cannot come, which relates to a state of Perfection in this Life, upon which Head I shall (God willing) treat more at large in a distinct Chapter, by which the Understandings of them that desire after Truth, may receive the benefit of my small measure relating to the same; for man living in sin becomes destitute of any benefit by Christ for the Salvation of his Soul; for he that commits sin, it is of the Devil, and he knows not God the Father; but he that is faithful to the Gift of God in his heart, learns to fear the Lord, and to work his Righteousness which is the fullfilling of what God requires, in obedience to the Son of his Love, the Lord Jesus Christ, who spiritually moves in the hearts of all whose day of Visitation is not over; for Christ ruleth over all, and will in no way fall short of his Honour, either by the Salvation of the one, or Condemnation of the other; for Christ by the measure of his Spirit, is in all, except Reprobates 〈◊〉 and therefore it is matter of great concern for People to examine their own hearts, whether, by true Faith, Christ abides in them; for the Body of Man (where Christ, by the gift of his divine Light and Spirit, liveth) is the Temple of the holy Ghost, and if any Man defile the Temple of God, him will God destroy; Then he that is not in obedience to the gift of God which he hath received, is a Pollutor of the Temple, and is without true Faith in Christ; Prove your own selves, know you not, that if Christ be not in you, you are Reprobates? 2 Cor. 13.5. Now they whose Minds are wrought towards the Lord, their Affections are set on heavenly things above, to seek God in Christ; and in them, Christ by the measure of his divine Light, Grace and Spirit, liveth, Gal. 2.20. Now Christ being in his People, the Body is dead, because of Sin, but the Spirit is Life, because of Righteousness, Rom 8.10. for there is neither Greek nor Jew, Circumcision, Barbarian, Sithian, Bond nor Free, but Christ is all; and in all, and many more Scripture Prooffs might be produced to the same effect, That Christ lives and moves by the Gift of his divine Light, and Spirit of Grace and Truth, in the hearts of his People, and that their Bodies are the Temple of God, for Christ, by the gift of his Spirit, Life and Light to dwell in, which if People, both Young and Old, would forsake their Vanity, and apply their Minds to seek the Lord, in his own way of Truth and Righteousness, according to the Gift of his divine Light, and quickening Word of his Spirit, as by Record, for their help in learning the holy Scriptures, in which they have the Doctrine, Principles and Practice of the holy Men of God for their Example, to follow them, even as they have been Followers of Christ; then they would come into that state in which they would witness the Power of God by Jesus Christ, to crucify every unruly Affection, which doth lust after sin and evil, and leads the Mind from serving God, into the excess of spending the Creation, to perform their hearts Lusts, by which they dishonour the Name of the Lord, and increase Trouble and Sorrow, to the destroying of their Souls, which is the end of them that remain in an unrighteous Life; for whatsoever People may say, in respect that their Tongues are their own, an● that their Thoughts are free to think what they please, and that there is a time to be Merry, and to Sing and Dance, and Recreate themselves, with much more of the like Expressions, yet for all these things there is a time wherein all men must appear before the Lord of Life, to render a just Account of every Thought, Intent and Action, of all the Deeds done in the Body, in which Day it shall go well with the Righteous, but the Ungodly and Profane shall be turned into Hell, with him unto whom their Obedience hath been; for all that have forgot to retain God in all their Thoughts, so living and dying, God will also forget Mercy towards them; for his Regard is only to his own Seed, (and to Men as they are joined to it) which hath been sown in all sorts of Ground, which is, in the heart of every Man and Woman, for them to yield their whole Obedience thereunto; for whatsoever ye do, whether ye eat, or whether ye drink, let all be done to the Praise and Honour of God, who gives Life, Health and Strength for that end; for whatsoever is in People's talk more than of Yea and Nay, it is for Condemnation, which is great matter of weight for People well to consider, what will become of their Souls, who live in the daily Practice of Words & Actions, wherein the Lord never savingly appears, but as he doth permit their Souls Enemy to rule their Thoughts, Intents, Words and Actions, so of his free Love, in Mercy to their Souls, the Lord doth manifest to them the evil of their way, which is by the gift of his divine Light in their own hearts, and by his Spirit in the Instruments of his Truth, which have been sent, and are yet sending to warn the Wicked to turn from their unrighteous Ways, which if they would but give up their minds to come under the Cross of Christ, which is that Cross for them to bear, which remains in Opposition to their corrupted Desires, than they would become able, by the Power of God in Christ, to witness his Yoke to be easy, and his Burden to be light; for what he hath said unto one, be hath a so said unto all, that is, Watch and Pray, lest ye eater into Temptation; for he that remains faithful in his Watch, by the Light of the Lord perceiveth the Devil's Temptation in his first Allurement, which by true Prayer, in faithfulness to his Watch, the Power of God in him doth appear, to the resisting of his Souls Enemy, and causeth him to slay, so that in them, in whom the Mind is stable in seeking after the Lord, for the Knowledge of his Truth, in Jesus Christ, their Understanding will open more and more towards him, by which the reading of the holy Scriptures will also be of great benefit to the Understanding, which will also refresh the inward Man; so that as all are diligently to mind the Gift of God's Grace which they have received, as a Seed of the Kingdom, through which by Obedience, it will grow and bring forth Fruit acceptable to God, who requites his own with increase for the Honour of his Same, and profit of People's Souls, that by Obedience to his holy Seed, they may remain in Covenant with God, and be made Partakers of his Kingdom, in and through the Son of his Love, the Lord Jesus Christ.   

Further, concerning the Man Christ, which was conceived by the holy Ghost born and brought forth of the Virgin Mary, and suffered Death for the Redemption of all men, and as many shall be saved as believe in his Name.  
GOd so loved the World, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting Life, John 3.16. Which doth manifest, that God sent his only Son, born of a Woman, to suffer Death in a Body of Flesh, for the Redemption of People's Souls, in which Body of Flesh did remain the Fullness of the Spirit, towards the Salvation of all men's Souls, yet they only shall be saved which believe in his Name; for his Name is called Jesus, because he was sent of God to save his People from their sins, Mat. 1.21. Luke 1.31. which is according to the Prophet Isaiah, cap. 7.14, 15. A bruised Reed shall he not brea●, nor smoking Flax shall he ●ot quench, till he send forth Judgement unto Victory; and in his Name shall the Gentiles trust, Mat. 12.15. to v. 21. He came to his own and 〈…〉 received him not, but as many as received him, to them he ga●e Power to become the Sons of God, which were born not of Blood, nor of the will of Flesh, nor of the will of Man, but of God, Joh. 1 11, 12, 13. Which doth manifest, that where men only believe in the outward Righteousness of the Man Christ, who as he was in the Body of Flesh, was God and Man, without the believing in the Gift of his Spirit, which i● the inward Word of Life, and leads the heart and mind of every sincere Christian into a sanctified state of true Obedience to the Gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit of Grace, without which they cannot come to live in that true Faith which justifies the Souls of the Righteous in the sight of God the Father, in which state of true Obedience the evidence of his Spirit doth bear witness with their Spirit, That the Declaration of his Truth recorded in the holy Scriptures, hath proceeded from the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, who in that Body of Flesh was both God and Man according as it is written for People's learning That the Word was made Flesh, and dwelled on Earth among the Sons and Daughters of Men, and many that believed his Name, believed his Glory, as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth, Joh. 1.14. They outwardly believed as Man with a visible Eye, but as to his invisible Glory of Holiness, they believed him the Lord of Life, as he was God and Man, with an invisible Eve, which by the Gist of his Spirit enlightened them to know him to be the Lord of Life, whom to know by true Faith, is Life Eternal, which was made known unto them by the gift of God's ●race, through the effectual Working of the holy Ghost, by which they came to understand the Will and Mind of God the Father, in the Death and Resurrection of his Son, the Lord Jesus, which was expedient that he should departed, that 〈…〉 forter might come, Joh 15.26. which Promise was fulfilled by the voilding up that Body of Flesh, which was born of a Woman, and betrayed by Judas, condemned by Pilate, delive 〈◊〉 unto 〈…〉 set him at naught, and crucified the Lord of Life upon their Cross without the Gates of Jerusalem, which Body was buried, and risen again the third Day, being the first Day of the Week, which Christians attend for the Worship of God, having the holy Apostles for an Example, to follow them, as they were Followers of Christ, who met together on the first day of the Week to worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth, which is in the Power of his Spirit, by the effectual working of his Gift, through his Death and Resurrection, which appeared unto the Saints, who received of his Fullness, Grace for Grace, which made them able Ministers of the New Covenant of Life & Light in Christ Jesus, which then ascended into Heaven with God the Father, and with him is in a glorified Body, which Flesh and Blood cannot reveal, being glorified with that Glory which he had with the Father before the World began, which is the Christ that the holy men prophesied should come for a Light to the Gentiles, and for Salvation to the ends of the Earth, Isa 49.6. Acts 13.47. who accordingly is come, and hath done the will of God the Father, in that Body, as aforesaid, and by him, through his Death; Resurrection & Ascension, have all the Sons and Daughters of Men received a Gift of his heavenly divine Light, as a Talon & Talents for them to work out their Salvation with fear and trembling at his Work which is able to make● thorough separation betwixt the precious and the vile, that is, between the beget of his own divine Life, and that Seed which brings forth the Life of the Stranger, which is the Devil and Enemy of man's Soul, whom the faithful will not follow, but are willing to submit under the Cross of Christ, whose Yoke is easy and his burden light, not desiring the Death of any one Sinner, but that all might turn at his Reproofs, and live the Life of the Son of God, who hath suffered Death, been buried, and is risen again, and ascended into the Heavens, where he maketh Intercession with God the Father for the Redemption and Salvation of all them that are willing, by true Faith, to receive the tenders of his free Grace, which by the Gift of the divine Light of his Spirit of Truth is largely manifested unto the Sons and Daughters of men; for his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit in his People, that is Christ in them the Hope of Glory, by which not any will be left without excuse in the great Day of his Coming to take Vengeance on all the Ungodly of them which have not improved their Talents to the Honour of his Name, and profit of their Immortal Souls, in which Day with the Righteous it shall gowell, but with the Wicked, who have slighted the Day of the Lords Visitation, through their idle, careless, lose and vain living in Disobedience to that which the Lord by the gift of his divine Light and Word of his Spirit requires of them, for which cause sorrow and anguish shall overtake them in that Day, in which they shall forever be shut out from having any lot, part or share among the faithful in the Kingdom of Heaven, through the Death and Resurrection of the Son of God, who laid down his Life for the Sins of the whole World, but as many shall be saved as truly believe in his Name; for as by one Man's Disobedience many were made Sinners, so by the Obedience of the Man Christ Jesus, many shall be made Righteous. Rom. 5.19 for Christ is the end of the Law for Righteousness, to every one that believeth so that not any 〈…〉 to say, wh● shall descend to bring up Christ again from the 〈…〉 who shall ascend to bring down Christ from Heaven, for the 〈◊〉 nigh, even in the Mouth, and in the Heart, that is the Word of Faith. Rom. 10 〈…〉 by which Word of Faith we 〈◊〉, that Christ wh●●● outwardly descend, 〈…〉 ascended, and by 〈◊〉 Power of, divine Light & quickening word of his Spir●● he is the Author & Finisher of every good Work of Faith in the hearts of his People; for he is the Word of Life unto the 〈◊〉 by true Faith believe in him as he outwardly suffered, and in the gist of his Spirit, which is the inward Word of 〈…〉 them t● whom Christ giveth the Shield of Faith, and Hope, the H●● not of their Salvation, by which Word Sim●n Peter came to know the Lord of Life to be the Christ, the Son of the living God, which Flesh & Blood did not reveal, Mat. 16 14, 15 16. but was revealed by God, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose mere B●d●y Presence did not give Peter the knowledge of the Church buils on that that Rock whose Foundation was so sure, that ●he Gates of Hell could never prevail against ●●s Members, which by the most sare Word of Prophecy are engrafted in the Man Christ, in whom the fullness of the Godhead dwelleth for evermore; for he is the wellbeloved of the Fathers own begetting, and hath done the Work of God in that Body of Flesh which suffered on the Cross without the City Gates of Jerusalem, and was buried, and risen again the third Day, and appeared to the Saints, and gave Gifts unto them, and ascended into Heaven, of which things the Father, Word and Spirit beareth witness, and these three are one God, and that no man speaking by the spirit of God, calleth Jesus accursed, and that no man can say, That Jesus is the Lord but by the holy Ghost; and as there is but One God, One Lord Jesus Christ, One Father, One Son, and One holy Ghost, One Word, and One Spirit, all which are One God, who hath given Diversittes of Gifts, but the same Spirit, and Differences of Advanistrations, but the same Lord, and Diversities of Operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all, for a manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal, 1 Cor. 12.3, 4 5, 6, 7. for as the Body is one, and hath many Members, and all the Members of that one Body, being many, are one Body, so also is Christ; for by one Spirit are all the faithful baptised into one Body whether they be Jews or Gentiles, Bond or Free, they have been made to drink into one Spirit; for the Body is not one Member but many, and are engrafted by the Power of God's Spirit, the most sure Word of Prophecy, into the stock, which is Christ, the true Vine, with which every true Branch that is a Member of his Body, doth of his divine Nature partake, by which it doth bud, spring and bring forth Fruit abundantly, to the Praise and Honour of God's holy Name, but every Branch that bringeth not forth Fruit unto God, by true Faith in Christ, the Father taketh away; for it's by Disobedience the Lord cuts it off, and appoints it its Portion in Hell, which is the Portion of all them that let the Day of God's Grace and Visitation of his Spirit to pass over; but every Branch that beareth Fruit in Christ the true Vine, the Father purgeth it of its first nature, the old heaven of Degeneration, and by the Power of his Word, Grace and Spirit, leavens the heart, mind and spirit into the new lump and nature of his heavenly Kingdom in Christ Jesus, the Author and Finisher of his own Work in them that truly believe, which by Faith in Christ, bring forth Fruits of Righteousness and Holiness, which are the Works of true Faith, without which, Faith is even dead as the Body is without the Spirit, for by the Gift of God's good Spirit of Grace, is the Faith of every true Believer wrought into a lively hope, in which stands an assurance of that Crown of Righteousness which 〈…〉 store for all true Believers that fear the Lord and keep his Commandments, such are they that live in the true fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of Wisdom, and leads the Mind out of visible delights, and to follow Christ with an easy Yoke and light burden to do his Will, which is that straight and even narrow Way which leadeth unto the Kingdom, in which no unclean thing can enter, neither is there any cleansing but what is here on Earth; for as Death leaves, so Judgement finds, and there is no Repentance in the Grave.  
Which things, in the true Love of God to People's Souls, I do exhort them to weigh and consider, that they may turn in their minds from all vain Delights, and obey the Voice of the Son of God in their own hearts, that by the Gift of his Spirit they may come to be turned from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of their Souls Enemy, to serve the Lord in true Holiness of heart, mind and spirit; for there is no other Name given under Heaven for men to be saved, but as they come to believe in Christ as he did outwardly suffer, and also believe in the Gift o● his Spirit and inward Word of Life unto all them that are in true Obedience to the gift of his divine Light, which hath been the Path of the Just in all Ages, and yet appears in the heart of every man and Woman, with whom the Day of God's Grace is not over; for his Love remains steadfast to all that which is of his own Nature, which is of a contrary Nature to that permitted Power unto which too many yield their obedience, by which the desire of their Minds is drawn from obedience to the gift of God's divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit; in which state they serve the the Lust of the Flesh, the Lust of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, and as men void of all spiritual sense and reason, as to the things of God, their Thoughts, Words and Actions are here and there in the love of those things, which Work the Lords Soul abhors, and such appear as Trees without Fruit, as to God; for their Fruit is of a strange Plant and unregenerate Vine, for which cause the Spirit of the Lord in his Servants is the same as it was in his Servants of Old, who are called of God to bear their faithful Testimony against all Unrighteousness of men, who as evil corrupt Trees bring forth evil corrupt Fruit, for which cause evil minded men are at Enmity with the Lord and his People, whose Fruit is of his own Spirit, which is Love, Joy, Peace, Long-suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is no Law, for they live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit with Christ, whom now, as in days past, the wise bvilders set at naught, wherefore he hath said, The things of the Kingdom are hid from the wise and prudent of this World, and revealed unto Babes, even so hath it pleased God; for the wise and prudent of this World pretend to build upon him at whom they stumble, and is become the Head of the Corner, and will so remain, to the breaking down all that which is contrary to his holy & blessed Truth; so that no building shall stand but that which is built by the Power of his own Spirit in them, whom the Wisdom of this World doth despise, even as the Wise did despise in that Day, when they set their Learning in H●brew, Greek and Latin over the Head of Jesus, Joh. 19 20 even so is it with the Wise of this World in this Day, whose Learning is set above the gift of God, which came by Jesus Christ, whose People, begot by him in the true Faith and Oneness of Spirit, do well know that there is No other Name under Heaven given among men, whereby to be saved, but by that Name Jesus of Nazareth, that Christ by which is the Righteousness of his People; for he unto them is made of God Wisdom. Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption, and that in this World, as well as in the World to come, and not simply so accounted, as some judge, and then made unto us of God Wisdom Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption hereafter in the World to come, but realty made to us here, and that perfectly too, so far as he is perfectly hoped in, (1 Pet. 1.13.) for Salvation, that is, Salvation from God by Christ, through the Faith of his outward Sufferings and by obedience to the gift of his Spirit in the heart, which is the inward Word o● Life to them that hear and obey, by which they may be turned from Darkness to Light, and from the Four of Satan to the Power of God, by which they may witnes●●he Evidence of God's spirit, That they have the Pardon of sin, and forgiveness of that which is past, being washed with the Blood of Sprinkling, which cleanseth the Heart, and purgeth the Conscience from dead Works, to serve the living God in uprightness of Soul, Body and Mind; and without witnessing of this Work perfected, through Faith in Jesus Christ, the Soul can never be clean to enter his Rest with him in the Kingdom of Heaven which was prepared before the Foundation of the Earth was laid, for a People that should serve the Lord in uprightness of Soul. Mind and Spirit, being throughly cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ whose Death, Resurrection and Ascension will not avail any Man or Woman whose Mind remains in the love of any one thing more than to love him and serve him with uprightness of Heart & Mind; for to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace, and whereby every Man and Woman may know how it stands between God & their own Souls, which is good for all to mind, and make their Peace with the Lord while he hath given them space and time for that end, that their Souls may not faint in the great Day of his Coming to call every Man and Woman to an account for their Deeds done in the Body.   

CHAP. IU. Concerning the Scriptures, which are the Writings of the holy Men of God wherein is contained, that Jesus Christ is the Everlasting Word of God, by whom is the Salvation of all Men that are saved by his Power, which leads them to believe in his Name.  
THe Holy Scriptures, (contained in the Old and New Testament) signify Writings in which Write are contained the Words of God, as they were received by the living Word of God, as may be read in the Prophet's Write, The Word of the Lord came unto them, this was not the Letter of the Scripture that came unto them, but it was the living Word of God, which in Scripture is most properly and frequently called The Word of God; In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God; the same was in the beginning with God, all things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made, that was made, Joh 1.1, 2 3 And the Word was made Flesh and dwelled among us, and we beheld his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of Grace and Truth. Now consider what grounds People have to call the Scripture the only Word of God, without any Distinction, but by way of Information to the understanding of a●●unbyassed Minds, that my design in the following Li●● a is not to deprive the holy Scriptures of that honour due unto them, but that Truth and Righteousness may take place; for the holy Scriptures, in their place, are highly to be esteemed, with that Honour due unto them; for which end 〈◊〉 labour is, that by others they may not be dissplaced, by to understand a true distinction between the written & declarative Word of God, and the Word of his Spirit of Grace, Life and Light by Jesus Christ, whom to know is Life indeed; for they that come unto him, it must be through Faith, in obedience to the gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit, which opens the dark Understanding, and quickens the Mind, and works Grace in the Heart, and sanctifies the inward Man of him that yields Obedience to the Word of his Spirit, without which there can be no true understanding of Gods saving Truth by Jesus Christ, whom to know is Life Everlasting; concerning which things the written Word is large in its Declaration, concerning what God requires of the Sons and Daughters of Men, who, for Power to perform what they find to be their Duty, as by holy Record, they are to come unto Christ, the Author and Finisher of his own Work in them that believe; for the holy Scriptures of Truth were given forth by the Spirit of Truth, and living Word of Truth, which was the Word of God in His Servants of old; which Word, according to measure, remains the same to this Day in every sincere true Believer, whose whole desire is to give up in obedience to the manifestation of God's good Spirit of Grace, by which they come to a thorough understanding of what they find of his Will and Mind, recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth, without which Obedience the Letter kills, but by Obedience the Spirit makes alive; for the holy Scriptures are full in relating of what hath been past, and of what is to come; but as to the time when and manner how, the Lord in his own due time, by the Word of his Spirit doth reveal it to his Servants and Messengers of his Truth in this Day, even as it hath pleased him in days past; for as then in that day, the same is it with many in this day, who the Scriptures, yet it is said of them, That they had not the Wor● abiding in them, for whom God had ●ent, which was Christ the Word, him they believed not, Joh. 5.3, ● which by the written Word is evident, that the gift of God's Spirit of Grace, Life & Light by Jesus Christ, is the saving Word of God to every Soul that by him is saved; for what saith it? the Word is nigh thee, in thy Mouth, and in thy Heart, that is the Word of Faith, James 1.21. Rom. 10 7, 8 and this Word is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, Ephes. 6.17. it sanctifies the heart of the faithful by the Word of God and Prayer, 1 Tim. 4.5. for the faithful are them that are poor, and of a contrite Spirit, which tremble at the Word of the Lord Isa. 56.2, 5. Hear ye the Word of the Lord, ye that that Tremble at his Word. And again I have written unto you, Fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning; I have written unto you, Young Men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and you have overcome the wicked One, John 1.14. Now let all People mind by which they may come to a right understanding of the Scriptures, which were not from the beginning, neither do they of themselves, and without the inward Word, give Power to overcome the wicked One; for the Word of God was before Scripture, & promises Life eternal to all that are willing to receive the Word, which is the Promise of God in Christ before the World began, Ti. 2.3. And this Word hath been a Rule of Life to the faithful of God in all Ages, showing unto Man the Thoughts of his Heart, and intents of his Mind and Obedience to the Word is an acceptable Sacrifice to the Lord and God hath promised o● overcome sin in the faithful by the Power of his Word, which is as a two edged Sword to cut up and beat down all that is contrary to his heavenly divine Life in the heart of every faithful Man and Woman, that is come to yield their Obedience according 〈◊〉 that knowledge which they have received of God in Christ, whom to know is Life Eternal, in which Life they have the true saving knowledge of God, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, which is One God, and One Lord Lord Jesus Christ, & One holy Spirit, God in all, and through all, and over all, the Alpha and O●aega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, blessed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have right to the Tree of Life, Rev. 22.13, 14. which (as aforesaid) is that which the Lord by the assisting Power of his Spirit hath made known to me concerning his Word of Life and Light, by which the holy men of God were assisted in giving forth a Declaration of his holy Truth, which they received by his holy Spirit, which is the living Word of all Truth, and will remain the same when the Letter of the Scripture shall end and be no more; for the Word of the Lord shall endure forever. And what is left recorded in the written Word of God, is for this end, that People may learn in the Light of the Lord, to perform that which by the Gift of his Spirit of divine Light & Grace he requires of them to do, the Declaration of which is recorded in the holy Scriptures of Truth, which are profitable for Doctrine, etc. 2 Tim. 3.16 which no man can learn but as he remains faithful to the gift of God, which he hath received for that end, that by so doing he may come to grow more and more in Grace, to the Honour of God, and everlasting Welfare of his immortal Soul, which will never witness Salvation, but by true Faith in Christ Jesus, the most sure Word of Prophecy whereunto they will do well to take heed, as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the day dawn, and the Day star arise in their hearts, without which there is no Salvation.   

CHAP. VI Concerning Faith, Hope and Obedience, which by the Power of God, through ●esus Christ, worketh Salvation to the Souls of them that truly believe in the gift of his Grace. Also something concerning Silence.  
JEsus Christ in all things became obedient to the Will of God the Father, for the Redemption of all Mankind, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but should receive Life Everlasting, which is the Promise of God by Jesus Christ, unto all the faithful, willing and obedient, that is, in all things for the Salvation of their Souls, by Faith in Jesus Christ; for Man, by Obedience to the Gift of God, which is a measure of divine Light by Jesus Christ, by whom the Soul comes to be reconciled unto God; for the Lord in 〈◊〉 ●ay requires no less than perfect Obedience of all Men; 〈…〉 all men have received of his Gift of his Spirit of divine Light by Jesus Christ, so he will not have any left without Excuse in the Day of his Coming to take Vengeance on all the , which call not upon the Name of the Lord. for Christ is made manifest according to the Commandment of the Everlasting God, made known to all Nations for the Obedience of their Faith, Rom 16.6. and for that end did the Apostle write, that he might know the proof of them whether they were obedient in all things; 2 Cor. 2 9 for this is the Day of God's Visitation, wherein if ye will hear his Voice, harden not your hearts against the Light of his Spirit of Grace; for unto whom ye yield your Minds Servants to obey, his Servants you are, to whom you obey, whether of Sin unto Death, or Obedience unto Righteousness, Rom. 6.16. Now the Gift of God's divine Light by Jesus Christ, makes manifest to all men, all the thoughts of his Heart and intents of his Mind; for the Righteousness of Faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thy heart who shall ascend into Heaven, that is, to bring Christ down from above? or who shall descend into the deep, that is, to bring up Christ again from the Dead? but what saith it? the Word is nigh thee, even in thy Mouth & in thy Heart, that is the Word of Faith, Rom. 10.6.7, 8 By which it is evident, that where men perish, it is not altogether for want of Knowledge, but for want of Obedience to the Gift of God, which he hath placed in the hearts of all the Sons and Daughters of Men, which by obedience would give them Power over their lustful Desires, which by Nature lodgeth in the hearts of sinful Men and Women, whose Minds, for want of Obedience are drawn by the Enemy's Power, to join with the Temptations of the Devil, but if they yielded Obedience to the gift of God's Spirit, they would witness strength to withstand the Enemy, and cause him to flee; for the weapon of every true Believers War-fare, are not carnal, but spiritual, and mighty, through God, to the pul●ing down strong Holds, casting down every high thing that exalteth its self against the Knowledge of God, and bringeth into Captivity every Thought, to the Obedience of Christ having in readiness to revenge all Disobedience, when their Obedience is fulfiled, 2 Cor. 10.1, 5, 6. and in this do the faithful come to witness the inward Affections of Christ more & more abundant towards them, whilst he remembereth their Obedience, how with fear and trembling they receive him, 2 Cor. 7.15 Which things are plain and by Obedience easy to be understood, that they who come to receive the benefit of Chri●● by the Power of God's Spirit, in and through him, it is by true Faith in Obedience to his Word, at which they fear and tremble, it being sharper than any two-edged Sword, dividing between the Precious and the Vile; which is an Engagement between the Power of God and the Power of the Souls Enemy, who hath seated himself in the Temple of God, as if he were God; which Enemy is the strong Man that hath taken Possession in the hearts of the Sons & Daughters of Men, (whose Minds are alienated from God, by reason of Sin and Transgression) who keepeth the House, until a stronger than the Devil doth dispossess him of his Power, unto which Power through the Lust of Peoples unregenerated Hearts, they are most inclined to serve, which hath been and yet is the state of many Thousands of Men and Women, who are deceived by the Devil, which is for want of Obedience to the gift of God, Power, which by true Faith and Obedience, would dispossess the Devil of his Power, and bring the inward Man into the true saving Knowledge of his sanctified Work of Grace in their own Hearts, which things they are ignorant of, who remain in a blind zeal for God, but not according to the true saving Knowledge of him in Jesus Christ, Rom 10.2. by which their Faith remains in a dead Hope that shall perish; for true Faith works the whole inward Man of Heart, Mind, Soul and Spirit into the true Love of God, and Hope of Salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ, whose Spirit gives Evidence of an assurance in those things that by true Faith are hoped for; so that Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the Evidence of things not seen, Heb. 11.1, 2. for by Faith the holy Men of God obtained a good Report; for we see and understand, through Faith in God, that the Worlds were framed by Christ, the Word of God; so that things that were seen were not made of things which do appear, Heb. 1.3. By when it is manifest, that Christ is the Word by whom all things were made long before the Scriptures were given for 〈◊〉: for the Law came by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ, in whom remaineth the ●ope of h●s People for the ●arvation of their Souls; and from this Word (Christ) the Servant of God received Grace & Apostleship, for their Obedience to the Faith, among all th● Nations for his Name, Rom. 1.5. and as many as received this Word, in o●e ●rence to the Faith, being grafted in him, in whom there is not my thing availeth the Soul of Man, but by that Faith which worketh by the Love of God, Gal. 5 6. Now seeing that t●●e Faith worketh by the Love of God, in and through Christ, what Faith is that in them which leads to destroy the Lives and Estates of People, for their Obedience to God, who worketh by Love in the hearts of his People, for this end, that they might believe in the Word of Faith, which sanctifies the Soul of every true Believer, that by Faith in Jesus Christ, through Grace, they are saved; for true Faith works by Love, through Obedience to the Word of Faith, which is Christ in his People, the Hope of their Glory by whom his People are begot into a lively Hope, that maketh not ashamed? but that Faith which leads People to believe that they do good service for God, by destroying the Lives and Estate of their peaceable Neighbours, for their different Judgement concerning spiritual things, is it not the Faith of Devils, and Hope of ●pocrites whose Obedience is to the Prince of Darkness, the Enemy of Man's Happiness, and all such are in a dangerous st●●? for God worketh by love, and Christ came not to destroy men's Lives, but to save them; and such men being many, that pretend to work ●o God, whose Truth is contrary to their Doctrine, Principle and Practice, as doth at large appear by their preaching and writing such things (as in Deut. 13. Numb. 25. also in Ezra, and divers other places in the Law) which were only to continue the Lords time of fullfilling the Righteousness thereof, whose R●gateousness in this Gospel ●ay will not be received by the many Teachers in this Age, who preach and teach to advance their own profit in way of their Trade; for in the time of the Law the false Worshipper, with all h●● Substance, was held accursed before the Lord, and for that end both were to be destroyed; and therefore in this Age, the Anti-christian Teachers do account, that such who are not of their Faith, and as one with ●hem in Doctrine, Principle and Practice, that ●he●, as false Worshippers, are to be destroyed. But Christ is come, by whose Coming the Righteousness of the Law is fulfiled, in that he came not to destroy m●ns Lives, but to save and make alive, by calling Stanners to Repentance, and to return, by Faith in Obedience, to serve him the living God with uprightness of Heart, Mind and Spirit, doing unto all Men, even as they themselves would be done unto, which is the Law and Prophets; out of which state men are not in the true Faith, but are ignorant of God's Righteousness, which is in the New Covenant of Life, Light and Grace, which came by Jesus Christ, contrary to whose Righteousness they establish their own Righteousness, and not submit themselves to the Righteousness which is of God, Rom. 10.13. wherefore their Faith remains dead, and their Hope vain; for Faith is the gift of God's Word, which is Christ the true and living Priest, who by the gift of his Spirit of divine Life & Light, preaches Light, Life and Grace, by which the Souls of ●he faithful are saved; and of this nature cometh Faith, ●y hearing the Word of God, Rom. 10.17. which doth manifest, that Faith comes not by that Word, which is not from the Spirit of God; in such faithless men, who for ●●cre of Gain, make use of other men's lines made ready to their hands, that is, of such who bargain with People to preach unto them for their Money, who if they perceive a greater benefit to present in another place, they account it sufficient Encouragement to leave the lesser, and to hold the greater; but such their Doctrine Principle and Practice is inconsistent with Gods holy Truth, which doth live in the hearts of them that are faithful unto what of God by Jesus Christ, is made manifest unto them; for unto them doth the Promises of God belong, by whose Spirit of Grace is his Righteousness revealed from Faith to Faith, as it is written, The J●st shall live by Faith, Rom. 1.17 Then what doth it profit any man to say, that he hath Faith, when that by works of Righteousness he doth not ma●●est the ●●me; for Faith without Works is dead, even as the Body is dead without the Spirit; such may believe that there is one God, they do well, the Devils also believe the same, and fear and tremble; but they fear and tremble because of God's Wrath in Judgement, even so it is with the Rebellious, who by their vain Life of Disobedience fall short of true Faith they also fear and tremble, but not in love to God, but for fear of Terment to com●; such are they whose Faith is without Works, whose Faith is as dead as the Body is dead without the Spirit. 〈◊〉 2 17, 18, 19 20. Then seeing, that without that Faith wh●● is by the gift of God's Grace, that sanct●fies every true Believers Work of Obedience, by which it is imputed to him for Righteousness, without which ●t is impossible to p●ease God, who will hold all men guilty of Dist bed●ence ●ha● remain in sin; for sin makes a continual separation 〈…〉 God and ●he Soul, whereby they that continue in a state of sin●●ng against the gift of God's Grace, they by so doing, fall short in the true Hope of Salvation; for by true Faith in Obedience to the gift of God's Spirit, the Mind is wrought into a still frame of Spirit, being made able, through the Power of God's Gift to wait for the Hope of Righteousness by Faith, Gal. 5 5. By which it is manifest, that waiting in Silence of M●●●, the inward Affections come to be drawn from having any desire in that part, which through the Temptation of the Souls enemy is natural to lust after evil; for the Body is the Temple of the holy Ghost, and all thoughts and intents of the heart and mind, that appear contrary to the moving of his own Spirit, they are Thiefs and Robbers, that proceed from the Souls Enemy, which strive to prevent and hinder the prosperity of God's Gift of divine Light, which is of the Seed of the Kingdom of God, which Seed in measure hath been sown in all sorts of ground, which is the heart in all men, Mat. 13.3, 4, 5 6, 7, 8 for the Temple of God is the Body of Man, in which Christ is to rule, for the Salvation of all them that by Faith in obedience to the gift of his Grace, Life and Light, receive him. Know ye not that ye are the Temples of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the Temple of God, him will God destroy, for the Temple of God is holy, which Temple ye are, 1 Cor. 3.16, 1●. ●t is a worthy subject for every Man and Woman to consider well with themselves, by making a diligent search with the ●ight of the Lord in their own hearts, how it stands between God and their Souls, which must either live forever, or eternally perish with the Devil; and all they that by obedience to him in this Life, have sinned out the Day of God's Grace, and of his ●ich Macies by Christ Jesus, which hath been tendered unto them, for the Salvation of their Immortal Souls. So to all with whom the Spirit of God doth strive, that they may bend in the strength of their Minds to ●ir upon him in a retired state out of all their owRn●●nnings from Hill to Mountain, in which state they are out of that Silence which the Lord hath commanded, That the whole Earth, which is all flesh, should keep silence before him, Hab. 2 20. And again, the Spirit of the Lord, by the Mouth of his holy Prephet, saith The Lord who is raised out of his holy Habitation commandeth all flesh to keep Silence before him, Zech. 2.13. By which it appears to all that hear, see and understand, That Silence is that which God hath commanded to all Men and Mankind, who are to wait upon him in the Silence of Mind, that they may see and perceive, hear and understand the Lords Will and Mind in hole things which belong to the Peace and  of their Immorcal Souls, in which state of true faithful Obedience, the inward Man of Heart Mind & Spirit, will be made capable of receiving that benefit which the Lord will improve by his faithful Instruments, and that not only for the benefit of his own good, but for the benefit and good of others, that so the Name of the holy One may b● honoured thereby. The Lord in his rich Mercy is good unto all them that wait for him in S●●ence, Lam. 3.25 28. And in this state did David wait on God, from whom cometh the Salvation of the faithful, who truly wait i● Silence on the Lord, Psal. 37.7 69.1. Now 〈◊〉 the salvation of People's Souls cannot be without Obedience to the Faith of God in Christ, of whose Spirit●●● men, in measure, have received, which is the Call of God by the Son of his Love, the Lord Jesus Christ, who was obedient to the Fathers Will in ●ll things, for the Redemption of men's Souls, which without true Faith and Obedience, according to the Requirings of his good Spirit of Grace, there is no Salvation by him; then, if no Salvation by him, to them that remain in Disobedience to the gift of Grace, they are to perish for evermore; for as in the outward, among the Disobedient and Rebellious, which pretend themselves Subjects to some Earthly King he knowing them so to be, will not protect them with that care and safety from the danger of an outward Enemy, as he will protect them whom he well knows, that the● are faithful Subjects, which in true obedience serve him; such Subjects will remain in silence to hear what their King doth relate, as tending to the preservation of their outward Man; then how much more, suppose ye, will the great King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, keep and preserve them that observe his Commands, to remain in silence before him, the Lord of Life, to hear what he will speak by the Voice of his Spirit, for the preservation of their Souls, which keep silence before him; Unto me Men gave ear, and waited, and kept Silence at my Counsel, Job 29.30. Now they that are not in the Faith of these things, they are in a Faith of their own Righteousness, seeking the Lord where he is not to be found, crying, Lo here, and Lo there, in this and the other Form, wandering in their Minds from place to place, from one high Hill to the other barren Mountain, which bringeth forth barren Fruit by Hebrem Greek and Latin, of which are few that are not in Paul's first state, in which all his unsanctified Learning would not give him the true saving Knowledge of God by Jesus Christ; for in that unregenerated state, Man's Will and Time is not accepted with God, but Gods Will is to be Man's Time, in that which Man offers unto the Lord, otherwise, Who required these things at your hands? departed from me, ye that work Iniquity, against me and my People, for I know you not; and forasmuch as you have not received them, you have also denied me; therefore the Lord will utterly destroy the Wicked, by bringing their Works to nought; but he will preserve the Righteous, which shall shine as Stars in the Firmament of H●●ven, as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad Tidings of good Things, Rom. 10.14, 15. Now where are the good things that the Hireling Teachers bring? as to spiritual, I could never find any thing by or from them, that did proceed from the divine Nature of God, by his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, but as to other men's Lines made ready to their hands, that for Money men may buy once or twice a week, of which things I shall only touch in this Chapter, leaving the substance for another place, where, through the assisting strength of God's Power, I shall prove, to the satisfaction of them whose Minds are in faithfulness before the Lord, who cannot b●● see, hea● and understand, that forced Maintenance for Preaching, is not according to the Rule of God, nor practised by any of his holy Prophets in days past, neither is the manner and method in Preaching, nor their Order in that they call their Church Government or Gospel Order in their Church, with divers others of their Principles and Practices, which they account belongs to their Calling, are so inconsistent with Gods holy Truth, as is sufficiently manifested by his own Spirit, and by his holy Prophets and Apostles lest on holy Record, as doth appear by the Declaration of the holy Scriptures, and the Spirit of God by which they were given fo●th; and my Charity is to write and speak of them that which I am fully persuaded is the Truth of God i● my heart, That they either hold the Truth of God i● Unrighteousness, or that they are ignorant of his saving Knowledge by the Son of his Love, the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, they know little or nothing as they ought to do, of Gods ●●ving Power, and spiritual appearance of Christ in their own he●●ts, but are blind Leaders of the blind, till (without true Repentance and Reformation) they shall fall together, which according to Christ's own words, all they that continue in a state of unfaithfulness, in D●obedience to the gi●t of his Word, of his good Spirit of ●race, which is given by measure to heal and make alive, they shall ●ade and whither away as fruitless Branches, which when their day is over, they shall be cut off and cast into the Fire, where the Worm dies not, nor the Fire of Go●s Wrath goeth out; for Christ came not in any measure of that nature which hath appeared in the false Teachers of this Age; for he came not too dost oy men's Lives and Estates, but his coming was for this end, To save that which he had made alive, by calling Sinners to Repentance, which by Obedience, through Faith, found Mercy, and entered into that Hope, by which the Righteous have been preserved in all Ages, Heb. 11.2. to 40. for it is the Just that live by Faith, ●ab. 2.4. and therein is the Righteousness of ●od revealed from Faith to Faith, as it is written, The Just shall live by Faith, Rom. 1.17. which proves, That the Righteous, by Faith in Christ, are the Just that live by Faith, having yielded their Obedience to the gift of God's Grace, which gave them the Hope of Christ, through his Death, and rising again to Life, by whose Spirit of Grace, Life and Light, they come to receive an assurance b● Faith, of that blessed Hope in Christ, for the Salvation of their Immortal Souls; for through Faith, by Grace are the Righteous saved, for it is the gift of God, Ephes. 2 8. and the gift of God is Life Eternal unto them that are not found clothed with any thing of their own Righteousness, but altogether clothed with that Righteousness which is by Faith in Christ, which is the Righteousness of God, Ephes 3.9. which 〈◊〉 works b● love, and is that Faith which ●or●s into th●V●ity of the one Spirit, and of the Knowledge of the Son of God, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, Ephes. 4.13. in which state the Righteous 〈…〉 ●●●tified b● Faith, and have peace with God through the Lord Jesus ●hrist, Rom 5 1. and by him have the ●aith 〈◊〉 access by Faith, into the Grace wherein they stand, and rejoice in the Hope of the Glory of God and not only so, but they glory in Tribulation also, knowing that Tribulation works Patience, and Patience works Experience, and Experience works Hope, and Hope maketh not ashamed, because the Love of God is sh●d abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghost, which is given unto them, Rom. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Which things are by the Spirit of God in his faithful Servants & Messengers of Truth, left upon holy Record, that People may learn to keep low in their Minds, from the love of all Vanity, and things of a perishing nature, that so they may come to give wholly up in their Minds to retain God in their Thoughts, by which, through Faith and Obedience, they may not fall short in the Hope of God's heavenly Riches, which are treasured up in Jesus Christ, for all them that by Faith and Obedience live up to his Spirit of Grace, Life and Light, whereby the faithful have been made partakers of Gods durable Riches which is that Crown of Righteousness laid up in store for all them that by true Faith live in Obedience to the appearance of Christ in their Hearts; such, so living and so dying, shall in no way fall short in the true Hope of Jesus Christ.   

Concerning Perfection, and that Warfare which the faithful are to pass through, before they come to witness free and full Redemption from Sin in this Life, according as will appear by what follows.  
GOD is perfect, just and holy in all his Works and gifts towards all the Sons and Daughters of Men; for every good and perfect gift cometh from the Fathêr of all Grace, Life and Light, with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of Turning, Jam. 1.17. but in Man, the heart above all things is deceitful and desperately Wicked; who can know it, save the Lord, that made Man in his own Image, after his own Likeness made he him, and gave him Dominion over the things of the Earth, Jer. 17. ●. Gen. 1 26. commanding him, that he should not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, for in that day wherein he did eat thereof, he should surely die, gen. 2.17. Which Command, through Disobedience, Man broke, by which he brought the Sons and Daughters of Men into a state of Lust which through the Temptations of the Enemy to his own feed in the Heart, draws the natural Mind to lust after that evil which bringeth sin, and sin bringeth Death ove● the Soul; for the Wages of sin is Death, but the gift o● God ●s eternal L●●e, unto them who do not remain in that first sta●e of Degeneration, sinning against the gift of God; for as the Children of men sel● short of the glory of God, through the I all of the first Man Earthly, so the Children from Adam, 〈◊〉 Faith and Obedience to the gift of ●od, shall be saved, through the Death and Resurrection of the Lord of Life, the second Adam ●om Heaven, spiritual, who requires perfect Obedience of all men, to his holy. Commands, that their Souls, through Faith in him may be saved; for only they are saved which perfectly believe in him, that he is able and willing to give them Power that are willing to keep his Commands; ●or which end of Man's Salvation, he hath commanded People to be ●●●●ect, even as God is Perfect, Mat. 5.48 which Command by Jesus Christ, seems too strait for many to receive into their Belief of ever attaining such a state in this Life, that they either distrust in the Power of God ●y Jesus Christ, or otherwise they are not willing to part with all their sins to gain Christ; for Sin makes a partition Wall between God and man's Soul, that it cannot come to receive the incomes of Gods divine Love by Jesus Christ; for all Sin is of Unrighteousness, and all Unrighteousness is of the Devil, which is the Father of all Sin, whose work of Darkness hath no relation to the Kingdom of Heaven, neither can any enter Gods holy place before they are free from Sin; but he that serves the Lord, and keeps all the Commandments of God, doth witness a perfect state in this Life, Mat. 19.20, 21. & 5.48 and the holy Scripture is full and clear, that such as feared God and wrought Righteousness, were perfect Men; for Noah, which walked with God was a perfect Man; and God commanded Abraham to be perfect, Gen. 17.1. Also, Job was a perfect M●n, being upright, and one that fea●ed God and eschewed evil, Job 1.1. & cap. ●. 2, 3. in which Trial of Job's Faith, he said● That God would not cast away a perfect Man, J●b 8.20. which manifests, that such have been perfect men in this Life, otherways the Spirit of the Lord would not have suffered an account of the same to have been recorded in the 〈◊〉 Scriptures of Truth. Also, David was a man after Gods own heart (except in the matter of Vriah, of which he repent) which could not have been, had not David been a perfect Man; for he that is not perfect in the Work of the Lord, to keep his Commands, he is not a Man after the Nature of Christ, who perfectly performed the Work of God, for the Redemption of Men, in whom the work of God is to be perfected by Jesus Christ, who came to redeem from sin, and will redeem the Souls of them that faithfully believe in his redeeming Power, by which they shall be freed from sin in this Life, till sin can find no place to lodge in the hearts of them that are saved; and this hath been the state of Noah, Abraham Job and David, with many others of the Lords Servants, who did not distrust in the Power of the Almighty, but believed in God by which they became Men after Gods own heart; and for any to believe, that David, or any other of the Lords Servants, could be Men after Gods own heart, and yet could not be free from all sin, which is the work of the Devil, to me it seems the Anti-christian Faith, which is of the Devils begetting, to persuade People, that G●d is not willing to give Power to them that truly believe in him, to perform what he requires of his People that is, to keep all his Commandments, according as he hath commanded; that thereby they may fulfil his Command. To be perfect as ●od is perfect and holy as he is holy, that is, to be free from sin, which is to be free from consenting to join with the Devils Temptations; for God's Holiness i● Perfection extends beyond what M●n in this Life can comprehend; but they that die from sin, to live in 〈◊〉, a●● made free from sin in this Life, otherwise according to Christ's own words, where he is gone, they can never come. Then it is sufficient in the Wildom of God, to be perfect, just and holy, according as the Lord requires, in this Life, and in the Life to come to see him, and to be with him in Glory, and to be, in measure, of his Glory, even like unto him; and as it pleased the holy God, in his own Wisdom, to let the Enemy, by Temptation, to prevail against David, and Peter, with others of his Servants in days past, by which their Testimonies for Gods holy Truth came to bear the more force, by the Power of God, through which, by true Repentance, they came to be renewed to a heavenly Life again; by which Fall they thoroughly came to see and behold, that there was not any 〈◊〉 ●ower, save the Power of God, that was able to preserve and save from the Power of the Devil; for tho' the Wildom of God, many times doth suffer the righteous to all, yet the cause is imputed unto themselves, through the neglect of their Watch against the Temptations of their Souls Enemy; but by Repentance, through Faitly in God, they by his Grace come to be restored again, which is sufficient warning, that their Watch should never be neglected more; so that though the Righteous fall yet by their faithing it doth not in the least measure weaken the Truth of God's Cause in the work of Perfection; for they which fall rise again, and by Repentance, through Faith in Christ, by him they are restored, as his faithful Servants and Children, to God again, which state of Falling once or twice in the whole time of a Man or Woman's Life, some make an c●●sion or matter for the Devil to work against the Trum of God, as doth evidently appear by them that sin daily in Thought, Word and Deed against God, ●hos Commaniton●nts, they say, no Man in this Life, can keep, according to what God requires of them to do; By which they unjustly charge the Lord, as did that unfaithful Servant, which hide his Lord's Talon in the Earth, and charged his Lord of being a hard Master, ●at. 25 2●. etc. even so is it with them in this day, who do not improve the Gift of God, but live in the daily breach of God's Commandments, in which state they plead for sin all the days of their Life, in which they remain in the Fall, which is as much differing from the Life of the Righteous, as Heaven diff●rs from Hell; for the Righteous live not in the Fall; for God is their strength and Power, he maketh their ways perfect, Psal. 18.32. By which it is manifest, that if People would but give up in their Minds with this godly Resolution, to follow the Dictates and Motions of God's Gift, which is the Light of his own Spirit by Jesus Christ, and by measure is bestowed on the Sons and Daughters of men to profit withal, that they would come to witness God's Power by Jesus Christ, to be sufficient for their preservation against all the Temptations of their Souls Enemy; but while People remain in their Lo here and Lo there, running in their Minds from one high Hill to ●he other Barren Mountain, where the chiefest of their Food is by a Confession from their Shepherd's Mouth, That their best Performances are Sin, and that they draw in Sin as an Ox draweth in Water; which in so doing, they do well to acknowledge the Truth of their state, which by their continuance therein, it doth further enlarge Gods just Judgements against a People which live in sin against the Lord of Life, whose gift of Grace they ought to improve to the profit of their Lord's Talon, which h● hath bestowed upon them, for the honour of his own Name, and everlasting welfare of their Immortal Souls, which must either live by true Faith and Obedience to God, or eternally perish, through their Disobedience to his heavenly Gift of the divine Light of his Spirit; for as they live in sin; they continue Servants unto him whom they obey, and his Children they are whose Works they do; and they that plead for a Body of sin all their days, they uphold the Devil's Kingdom, in which state they oppress the Seed of God, and quench the gift of the Spirit of God, by which they hinder themselves of the heavenly divine incomes of God's Love, which refreshes the Heart and quickens the Spirit of the faithful, by which their Souls, through Faith in Christ, are made alive to God, whose people preach, pray and sing in his Time, to the honour of his holy Name, and edification of one another; but the Prayers of the Wicked are an Abomination to the Lord; for the Lord doth abhor the Prayers of him that prayeth in his own Time and in his own Will; for the Spirit of Prayer leads the faithful to pray in the Lords own due time, by which the Sour● comes to be refreshed, by the effectual working of God's spiritual Appearance, which doth assist the in ward Man in the holy Work of Prayer unto God, without which assisting Power of God's spiritual Appearance, which doth assist the inward Man in the holy Work of Prayer unto God, without which assisting Power of God's spiritual Appearance Prayer is of no effect to the Soul of Man, who in their own Time go round in their own Wills, in their preaching, praying and singing, even like to a Horse in the Mill, and a Door on the Hinges, and still remaining where they were; yet such men in the like Confession will in the same place of their Worship, presume to call the quakers Light a stinking Vapour from, Hell  
Now, we know, that with God there dwelleth no imperfect thing but with the Devil dwelleth all Unrighteousness, and with him remaineth all they that live and die in thei● sins; for all them that remain in sin in this Life, they are never free from the Devil's Power, which if it were not for the restraing Power of God, the Devil by them that serve him) would soon destroy the whole Heritage of God, which as yet remain the Body on this side the Grave; for the Devil finneth from the beginning, and his Work is to lay waste God's Heritage, and to destroy all that which is good. Now so this purpose was the Son of God made manifest, that he ●●ght destroy the Works of the Devil, 1 Joh. 3. ●. For whosoever committeth sin, transgresseth the Law; for sin is the Transgression of God's holy Law, and ye know he was made manifest to take away our si●, and in him is no sin, 1 Joh. 3.5. Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not, whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, neither knoweth him, 1 Joh. 3.6. Let no man deceive you, he that doth Righteousness is righteous, 1 Joh. 3.7. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his S●●d remaineth in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God, 1 Joh. 3.9▪ Now in this the Children of God are manifest, and the Children of the Devil; whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God, neither he that hateth his Brother, vers 10. Now, we know, that whosoever is born of God, sinneth not, but he that is begotten of God, keepeth himself, and that Wicked One toucheth him not, 1 Joh. 5.18. And this Declaration of God's Truth, hath proceeded from the Spirit of God, and is agreeable with Chri●s own words, John 8.21 Thy that dye in their sins, where Christ is gone, they can never come; for as Death leav●s, so Judgement finds, and there is no Repentance in the Grave. And in John 1●. 23. from Christ's own words, jan them, and there în me, that they ma● be made perfect in one, and that the World may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, ●s thou hast loved me.  
By which we may see, that which God hath commanded, he is in no way short in his Power towards the willing and obedient, but unto them, who through Disobedience to the Gift of God's Spirit, which came by Jesus Christ, they remain in sin, whose Reward will be with that unprofitable Servant which hide his Lord's Talon, by which he lost his portion of God's heavenly Riches, which the faithful are made partakers of in this Life, and in the Life to come; so that where there is any thing of faithfulness wanting to the gift of God's Spirit of divine Grace, Life and Light, it hinders from a perfect state, even as with him whom Christ brought to the Touchstone, If thou wilt be perfect go and sell that which thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven, Mat. 19.20, 21. By which it is manifest, that men through Obedience to what the Lord requires of them to do, may by him be made perfect, according to his own Command, in this Life, Mat. 5.48. for Christ's words are to be believed before the words of all men that have ever taught the Doctrine of Imperfection; for Christ's words are very plain, and by the Spirit of God easy to be understood, in his saying, Be ye therefore Perfect, as your heavenly Father ●s Perfect; also, That the Disciple is not above his Master, b●t every one that is perfect shall be as his Master, Luke 6.40. Which also implies, that some there were that were perfect, otherwise it would not have been said, Every one that is perfect; and for this end Christ gave Gifts, for the perfecting of the Saints, Ephes. 4.12. For the gift of God is for the perfecting of his Saints, for which the Lords Servants prayed, That they might present every man perfect in Christ ●esus, preaching and ●arning every man, and teaching e●●●● man in all Wisdom, that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, 1 Col 1.28.  
But unto such who Reply, That he that saith he hath no sin, deceiveth himself, and the Truth is not in him, 1 Joh. 1.8. and vers 10. If we say, we have not sinned, we make him a L●ar, and the Truth is not in us. By which it is evident, That all men in their first state have sinned, and that there is something of that Nature, so long as the Warfare against sin remaineth; but at the end of the Warfare against sin, sin in the Warfare is overcome, and no longer remains in the Man of God, which is according to the Spirit of God, as by the Apostles writing concerning that state in which men were in the Warfare, I writ unto you, little Children, because your sins are forgiven you for his Name sake; I writ unto you Fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning; I writ unto you, Young Men, because ye have overcome the Wicked One; I writ unto you, little Children, because ye have known the Father; I have written unto you Fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning: I have written unto you, Young Men, because ye are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and you have Overcome the Wicked One, 1 John 2.12, 13, 14. So that in the Warfare, the Church's growth, was in their several states of pressing forward to Perfection; in which state of their Warfare, they came to grow from a Child's state, to the state of a strong man in Christ Jesus. So that in their Spiritual Travail against Sin, they still come more and more to the increase of God's holy Truth by their knowledge of his will and mind, through Jesus Christ, by whose Power they received daily Strength for their Preservation in his holy Truth, by which they come to grow from one degree of Grace unto another, till at length in the Lords due time they become perfect Men in Christ Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of his good Work in the hearts of his People; for when they have overcome the wicked One, they have also overcome sin, and the same is a perfect Man, 1 John 2.13, 14. And this is agreeable with the Apostle Paul's writing concerning the same state, which he did experience in his Warfare, including all under sin in the first state; for as Men are found to partake of Adam's Disobedience, so also are they found Transgressor's of God's holy Command, in which they have sinned, and all that remain in that state, remain in sin, being Servants to sin, which frees them from the Righteousness of Christ, whose faithful Servants war not with carnal Weapons, but with spiritual Weapons, which through him are mighty, to the pulling down of strong Holds and Wickedness in high Places. Now lest the Apostle should be exalted above measure, through the abundance of Revelations, there was given unto him a Thorn in the Flesh, the Messenger of Satan to buffet, lest he should be exalted above measure. And whereas he said, O wretehed Man that I am! who shall deliver me from this Body of Sin and Death, Rom. 7.24. All which doth not incinde him to be a Transgressor of God's holy Law, as every man that remains in sin is, which cannot in truth and righteousness say, as the holy Apostle did, I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord; so then with the Mind I myself serve the Law of God, but with the Flesh the Law of sin, verse. 25. Now by the Law of Sin, the ignorant do conclude, the holy Apostle was not free from sin in this Life, which he clears in Rom 8.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. There a therefore no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the Flesh, but after the Spirit; for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the L●● of Sin and Death; for what the Law could not do, in that it was weak, through the Flesh, God sending his own Son in the Likeness of sinful Flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh, that the Righten●sness of the Law might be full●illed in them who walk not after Flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that be after the Flesh, do mind the things of the flesh, but they that be after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit; for to be carnally minded is Death, but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace, because the carnal mind is at Enmity against God; for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be; so than they that are in the Flesh cannot please God, Rom. 8.1, 2 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. By which it is manifest, that the holy Apostle did not all his days continue in a Body of sin, but in his Warfare was pressing forward towards the Mark of the Calling of God in Christ Jesus, Phil. 3.14. forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Phil. 3.13. That the Man of God might be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good Works, 2 Tim. 4.17. in which state of pressing forward to Perfection, Patience hath her perfect work, that they might be perfect, wanting nothing, James 1 17. Which state the holy Scriptures bear Record, Paul in the end of his Warfare did attain, which is a state free from sin in this Life according as by the Spirit of God he himself testified, That he had aught a good fight, wherein he had finished his Course, and ●ept the Faith, or whom there was laid up a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord the righteous ●udge would give him at the last Day, and not to him only, but to all them that love his appearing, 2 Tim. 4.7, 8. And these things were done before his Departure from the Body, as appears by his Epistle to Titus, and to Philemon, and also to the Hebrews; so that the Lords People well know, by the Spirit of God agreeing with the holy Scriptures, as also by their daily progress in the Way of the Lord, all agreeing with the gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit, that by true Faith and Obedience thereunto, they shall receive a daily supply of his Power, which will give sufficient strength against the Devil, and all his Temptations; by which he that hath set his hand to the Blow, and doth not look back, shall come to witness a thorough cleansing from sin in this Life, which they that witness not in this Life, shall not witness a cleansing in the Kigndom of Heaven; for no imperfect thing can enter the Kingdom of Heaven, neither is there any Repenting in the Grave, for as Death leaves, so Judgement finds.   

Concerning the true Worship of God in Spirit.  
EVen at this day, as in days past, among the People of the World there are many Ways of Worship▪ but with the People of the Lord, his way of Worship is but one, in which they worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth; for God is a Spirit, and they which are true Worshippers of him, they worship in the Spirit and in the Truth. Then how can any be true Worshippers of God which abide not in his Truth; for Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and they that are not in ●hrist, are out of his Truth, and so not in the true Worship of God; so as they are not in Christ the● are not in the 〈◊〉, but out of that spiritual Life in which the true Worship of God remaineth. Now this we know, that all men are in the worship of some one thing or another, all pretending that their Worship is the right and true way of Worship. Then seeing that all are Worshippers, How is the true Worshipper known from the false? Even as the Tree is known by its Fruit, so are Worshippers known one from the other; for the good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit, but the evil Tree bringeth forth corrupt Fruit; for men do not expect to gather Grapes of Thorns, nor Figs of Thistles, neither can any man be a true Worshipper of God in Spirit, that doth not bring forth Fruits of the Spirit, which are Love, Joy, Peace, Long-Suffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is no Law, Gal. 5.22, 23. for they live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit with Christ, such are the true Worshippers of God in Spirit and Truth; but such Worshippers that draw in sin as an Ox draweth in Water, their best Performances in Worship, are sin, unto which the Lord hath no regard; for we know that God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a true Worshipper of God, and he doth his will, him he heareth, John ●. 31. Now to think that God will accept any man's Work wherein sin remaineth, that man deceiveth himself; for all Works wherein sin remaineth, it is not of the Spirit of God, but of the Devil; for he is a sinner from the beginning, and the Truth abideth not in him; for in the time of the Law, the People's Offerings before the ●ord were to be perfect, without blemish Leu. 22.21. and their weight and measure were to be perfect before the God or their Salvation, Deut. 25.15. Which did signify spiritual Obedience to ●hrist, the Lamb of God, without blemish, spot or wrinkle, who requires in this Gospel Day, under the Light of his ●ovenant of Grace, Light and Life, unto which not any thing of man's imperfect Gift, and Offerings can find place, to enter into Covenant with the Lord of Life for the Salvation of their immortal Souls; for as God hath perfected his work of Grace in Jesus Christ, for the Salvation of People's Souls, so most their work be also perfect, by the Power of God, in and through Christ, for the Salvation of them that are saved, in and through him the Lord of Life, of whose Spirit there is a gift given to the Sons and Daughters of men, which is for this end, that through perfect Obedience thereunto, they may work out their Salvation by true Faith in Jesus Christ, who is Author and Finisher of his own Work in the hearts of them that in him believe; for he is given a Light to the Gentiles, and a Rule of Life for all to walk by. So here is no occasion of stumbling, as the heart and mind attends its Rule, which Rule directs the heart and mind in to the true and living Way, which leads to the Kingdom of Heaven, where they that worship out of the Spirit and Truth can never come; for though they may not profess to worship a false God, as many do, yet they profess a worship of the true God in a false way, by which their worship is a false Worship, which the ●ord will destroy; for contrary to the mind and will of God they have set ●p a false Worship, teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men, Mat. 15.9. For the hour cometh, and now is, ●hen the true Worshipper shall worship the Father in Spirit ●●d in ruth, for the Father seeketh such to worship him, ●ob. 4.23. By which its man●est, That all words in De●arations, Preaching and Praying, with all whatsoever ●se that men pretend to the Worship of God, being not ●ad thereunto by the Power of God, it is no more before 〈◊〉 Lord, than he that cuts off a Dog's Neck or ●fforeth S●ines ●lood. Isa. 66. ●. For the ●ord is o● 〈◊〉 pure Eyes ●an to behold Iniquity, or to regard Iniquity; for be will not have regard to that Worship in which Obedience is not yielded to the gift of his own Spirit of Truth, which calls for Silence in the heart and mind of all such People whose Worship is not in the Spirit and in Truth; for the fleshly part must be subdued, and the natural Thoughts of the heart, and the intents of the natural Mind must be subdued by the Power of God, unto which Obedience is to be yielded, that every wandering Thought may be brought into subjection by the Power of God, than the Lord will have regard unto the Soul of him that so worshippeth; for such Worshippers are they of the Circumcision, which worship in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, having no Confidence in the Flesh, Phillip 3 3. Now this is the main Reason why People do not pront, but in their Worship, as themselves confess, go round in their Duties, even like a Horse in the Mill, and a Door on the Hinges, still remaining where they were, because they offer to God with a false weight and measure, which is of their own Imperfection, in a belief that they shall never be free from Sin in this Life, whereby their Debt is in larged, and causeth them to fall short of a true Hope by Jesus Christ, who will not accept that imperfect Offering, which would not profit in the Time of the Law; for this is the Day of God's Grace by Jesus Christ, in which if any man will hear, let him not harden his heart, through a false Belief, begotten by the denial, that in this day of so large a Dispensation of Light by Jesus Christ, that God will receive the imperfectness of Man's own Work, which indeed is that which the ●ords Soul abhors; for the Devil, and Enemy of Man's Peace, hath seated himself in the heart and mind of Man, and exalted himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he as God fitteth in the Temple of God, showing himself that he is God, Thes. 2.4. and unto him the natural Mind inclineth to serve, by which the Soul remaineth in Sin and Transgression against God, whose Gift of divine Light is vailed from the Understanding, which also becomes Dark, in which state they walk in the light of their own ways, which leads in the Paths of Death; which fulfils Christ's saying, If the Eye be evil, the whole Body shall be full of Darkness, then how great is that Darkness, Mat. 6.23. which Darkness drowns the Understanding of the inward Man, that it cannot come to perceive the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ Jesus, which is the Power of God to Salvation, in them that believe in the Light of it, which if it be hid, it is only to the Disobedient, who yield their Obedience to their hearts Lusts, which lusteth after Sin and Evil, being also desirous to know God, without Obedience to the gift of his Spirit of Grace, in which state the Devil hath the ruling part in the heart, which lusteth after some outward Work, in pretence of worshipping God, only for the outward Name of Christian amongst Men, such Worshippers the Lords Soul doth abhor; for Man's natural Will is Enmity with God, and in that state man's Time in Worship is not that Time which the Lord doth accept; but the Lord's Time, in which he doth accept Man's Offering, is, when by the Power of his own Spirit, the heart is moved to worship him, the only true God, in the only true way of his Worship, which is, in the Spirit and Truth. So all are commanded to keep silence before the Lord, and to hear him for the profit of their own Souls, before they can speak or declare any one thing for the spiritual Edification of another; for he that nameth the Name of the Lord, is first to departed from Iniquity, and to wait for the Teachings of Gods holy Spirit, which hath commanded Silence to all Flesh before hîm, Hab. 2.20. Ezek. 2.13. also Psal. 3.25, 28 Let all the Earth keep Silence before the Lord: I patiently waited on the Lord: Truly my Soul waiteth on God, from him cometh my Salvation. So that God requireth a free and willing Mind, to be free from all Incumberments, and love of visible things, which are below the true Wisdom of God, which unto the wise-learned in the things of this World, is counted foolishness, to see the Lords Children sit together in Silence, waiting on God, to hear the Voice of his inward Call, by the gift of his Spirit of divine Grace, Life and Light, in which is the true Worship of God in Spirit and Truth. So here is to be no giving way to any straggling Thought of the Heart, nor Intent of the Mind; for all that is of Self, is (by the Power of God) to be brought into Subjection to his holy Will, which is the true worshipping of God in Spirit and Truth; for all Thoughts and Intents which proceed not from the Power of God's Spirit, they are Thiefs and Robbers, which keep lurking, through the Devil's Power, to deceive the Soul of that benefit, which if they were obedient to the command of the Lord, they might receive; for as the true Worshippers in all Ages have been sound in the silent waiting, their strength hath been renewed; for they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with Wings, as Eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and th●y shall walk, and not be faint, Isa ●0. 31. for they come to witness the Renewing of God's Grace from day to day, and from time to time, which increases their Faith in the hope of God's heavenly Riches in Jesus Christ, whose Spirit of Grace gives Utterance to preach, pray add sing in the Spirit of Holiness, to the praise and honour of God, and to the edification and comfort of one another, which is the true worshipping of God in the Spirit and Truth. And in this Worship have all been in, whose Minds have been turned from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God, through which their Souls were made alive in Jesus Christ, without whose Spirit of Grace, all preaching, praying and singing avails not the Soul in the sight of God; for whatever men practice, as to the worshipping of God, if it do not proceed from the drawings of Life by his own Spirit, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, it is no more but what is by and from their own Works of Righteousness, which will not justify in the sight of God, to save from his Wrath to come, in which Day it will be said, Who required these things of you? Therefore it is expedient for People which are in their several ways of Worship, to be deeply concerned about these things, and to make a diligent search with the Light of the Lord in their own hearts, which through Obedience they may soon find how it stands between God and their Immortal Souls, which must come to witness the Lords spiritual appearance in their Worship, which if other ways it is not the true worshipping of God in the Spirit and Truth, but is a false Worship, which differs not from the Worship of them that worship a false God; all which are built without the Spirit of God, stand upon sandy Foundation, which the Lord in his own due time will overthrow; for no Worship shall remain, but that which is in the Spirit and Truth; for that is the true worship of God, and the Father seeks such to worship him; for they are the true Worshippers, and their building remains upon the Rock of Ages and Foundation of many Generations, on which the holy men of God in days past built their Faith in him, who gave them an assurance in the Hope of their Salvation, who in their day were perfect Obedient Children to the gift of God's divine Light, and quickening Word of his Spirit, which made them able Ministers, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit, by which they were lead and guided in a holy fear to perform the Work of God, according as they were moved thereunto by the Power of his own Spirit, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, the gift of whose Light, and move of whose Spirit in his People, is that which is as much derided and evil spoken of among Professors in this Day, as his holy Servants of Truth were by that professing People, the Rebellious Jews, in days past, who had a zeal for God, but not according to true Knowledge, even as it is with many who profess to worship the true God, but worship in a false way in this Day; but blessed are they whose Works are governed by the Spirit of God, in and through Jesus Christ, such are they that worship God in the Spirit and Truth; for, as I have said, and that by experience, that God is Worshipped by his own, and not by or from any thing of man's own natural Will, but all are to wait the Lords Time, that his Will in all things may be done to the honour and praise of his own holy Name, and the overlasting comfort of them that continue in the well doing, unto them belongs a Reward, which is that heavenly Portion of God's Riches in Christ Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of his own Work, in them that love him, and keep his Commandments. Concerning which things it is good for People to consider, while Time is, before Time be no more; for every Man and Woman have a Soul, which must either live with the Lord of Life, or eternally perish, which will be the state of all them who at the Lords coming shall by him be found to have been Worshippers of false Gods, or that have been false Worshippers of him who is the true and living God, whom all men are commanded to worship in the true and living way, which is in the Spirit and Truth, which is the desire of my Soul, that all may do, that so they may come to witness true Peace with God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God of all, and over all, blessed be his holy Name for evermore, for in him is the Riches of God, which belongs to them that worship him in the Spirit and Truth.   

CHAP. VIII. Concerning true Prayer, by which the faithful find Acceptance with God, by Faith in the Son of his Love, the Lord Jesus Christ.  
TRue Prayer is an Ordinance of God, and a Duty which God requires of Man, to be performed by the Power of his own gift, which came by Jesus Christ, who hath commanded all men to watch and pray, in a believing frame of Spirit, which is that that God requires of all men, and all men that are in perfect Obedience to God, they watch and pray by the assisting Power of God's Spirit, by which they are made able to resist the Devil in the hour of Temptation, but they who are in Unbelief of God's Power by Jesus Christ, That they shall never be made free from sin in this Life, they cannot pray by the Spirit of God, because of their Unbelief; for all sin is of Unrighteousness, and all Unrighteousness is of the Devil, and the P●●●●s of them that continue in sin, are an Abomination in the sight of God, for the Eyes of the Lord are more purer than to behold Sin, or regard Iniquity; for the Thoughts of the Wicked are an Abomination to the Lord, but the words of the Poor are pleasant words, Pro. 15.26. By which it is plain, that by People's living in Sin, is the cause of their Prayers not being accepted with the Lord, because the Ways of the Wicked are an Abomination before him, but he loveth him that followeth after Righteousness, Prov. 15.9. for sin being loved and entertained, makes a separation between God and man's Soul, in which state man is incapable of receiving the incomes of Gods divine Love by Jesus Christ, by whose Spirit of Life, the hearts of them which hunger and thirst after Righteousness, come to be enlightened, through which they come to receive his Will in what they should pray for unto him; for Man in his own Will cannot know when or what to pray for, ●s he ought to do, for thou, O Lord! hast revealed unto thy Servant, therefore hath thy Servant found in his heart to pray this Prayer unto thee, 2 Sam. 7.27. By which it is evident, that true spiritual Prayer proceedeth from the Power of God's Spirit, by which the Righteous come to enjoy the benefit of that which they pray for; but the Unrighteous pray for the deliverance from sin, which living in a state of Unbelief, that God will never in this Life wholly free them from Sin, which Unbelief stops the current of Life, and hinders the Work of God by Christ, whose Work by. Faith in him is to destroy Sin, and put an end to Transgression, that is in them which believe in the gift of his Grace, by which men are saved; for its the Gift of God, which comes by Jesus Christ, and through Faith in him, is Life Everlasting, that is to them, who through Faith have their whole dependence on him, but where men remain in a state of daily sinning against the manifestation of his spirit, which all have received, to profit with all, it keeps them short of God's Grace by Jesus Christ; for the Prayers of the Wicked are sin, because they remain in sin, which causeth their prayers to be sin in the sight of God, for the Prayers of the wicked are an Abomination before the Lord, and the Sacrifice of the wicked are an Abomination to him, but the Prayers of the Upright is his delight, Psal. 119.7. Prov. 15.2. so it is the Prayers of the Upright in heart, which the Lord accepts and delights in, for unto them is the promise of God by Christ, who renews the Faith of his People, by the power of his spirit, which begets the inward man into a lively hope of that assurance, which by true Faith the soul receives, by true Prayer unto the Lord, through which Prayer by Grace, every Dispensation of God's gifts come to be sanctified, through the Power of his own spirit; for every Dispensation is from God, and only sanctified to the Righteous, which receive of the Lords free benefits, and rich Mercies of his Love, in the outward Dispensation, which through Prayer and Thanksgiveing, are sanctified to them which live in Uprightness of heart and mind towards God, which the Unrighteous also pretend, but it is with unclean Hearts, for which cause the Lord will not accept their Prayers, for the Lord only dwells with the pure in heart, whose minds are wrought into a true and living sense of God's heavenly riches in Jesus Christ, which is the inheritance of his faithful People, which pray unto him, by the power of his own spirit which doth condemn the Prayers of all unrighteous men, who pray in their own time, and in their own wills.  
But some may then query, Whether the Unrighteous are not commanded to pray? Ans. The hearts of the righteous desire the return of the Wicked, that they may forsake the evil of their way, and serve the Lord in Truth and Righteousness, and that the Wicked are to pray, which will not discharge any part of their Disobedience to God, until they come to forsake their Unrighteous way of sinning against the gift of his Grace, and divine Light of his Spirit, which remains their Condemnation for sin, Joh. 3.19, 20, 21. By which it is evident, that the Prayer of a wicked man availeth not before the Lord, that is, while he remaineth in the known Life of Sin, which he prays against, but let the wicked forsake their way, and the Unrighteous Man his Thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and unto our God, for he will abundantly pardon, Isa. 55 7. So that where men live in known sins against God, and in a belief of its being impossible to be free from sin in this Life, the Prayer of such doth not proceed from the Spirit of God, who hath Commanded his People, not to touch, taste nor handle with any unclean thing, but to follow the leadings of Gods holy Spirit, as the Apostles have done for Example, and to mark them which walk otherways. So every man and every woman is to seek God for themselves; for he hath promised to be found of them that seek, him in uprightness of heart; and I do not read that any of the Lords servants in days past, were ever lead by the spirit of God, to pray either privately among People in unbelief of ever attaining that which this Apostles prayed for, which is, that they might present every man perfect in Christ Jesus; then where in remains the profit of any true Beleivers Prayer in public, though in his own family, (which through their unbelief in the power of God, that they shall never be free from sin in this Life, by which they are not as yet of the true Household of Faith) at times and seasons as the spirit of God moves in the heart of every such master of family, he doth pray, for the return of them, and all other People, which remain in the same state of Unbelief, which until they repent and forsake, their prayers will not be accepted of God.   

CHAP. IX. Concerning the Lord's Supper, which People call the Sacrament.  
AS to the word Sacrament, I find it not contained in the holy Scriptures of Truth; but as to the Lords Supper, according to Christ's OWN words, Luke 22.1.20. when he took Bread, and gave Thanks, and broke it, and gave it to his Disciples, saying, This is my Body, which is given you; This do in Remembrance of me; likewise also, the up after Supper, saying, This is the New Testament in my Blood, which is shed for you. The foregoing words some have Wrested, by which they have gathered in their Comprehension somewhat of a Meritorious Work, which they hold most necessary to Salvation; ●rom which grounds, they have set up a Form, each for themselves, according to the Apprehension of the natural Mind, being altogêther destitute of experience of the Power of the Blood of Christ, the end of whose Death was not to destroy men's Lives and Estates about his Body and Blood; for his Coming was to heal the Sick, to bind up the Broken, and to make alive; but where the Nature of Christ is wanting, they are not come to the true saving Knowledge of God, by the Body and Blood of Christ, through whose Death and Resurrection, there is no hope of Salvation to them that by his Blood are not cleansed from all sin in this Life; for where sin remains, it Rules the Heart, and darkens the Understanding, by which the Power of God is not received, which gives the true knowledge of the Nature of the body and Blood of Jesus Christ, which proves their Form dead, and they to remain in a dead Form, having a zeal for God, without his saving Knowledge by Jesus Christ, about whose Body and Blood, many thousands of People's Lives have been destroyed, which makes manifest, that such are not in the true form of Godliness, for neither Christ nor his Apostles have enjoined any to particular time or place, but in remembrance of his Death, as is further manifested by the Apostles saying, 1 Cor. 11.24, 25, 26, 27. That Christ took the Cup when he had supped, saying, This is the New-Testament in my Blood, this do ye, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. So that here is no command, either to Particular time or Place, but as often as ye eat of this Bread, and drink of this Cup, ye do show forth the Lord Death, till he come; which according to that spiritual Light of Understanding, which God hath given me, my Faith in Christ, is to believe, that the daily ●ood which every true Believer doth receive, by Prayer and , that it is to be received in the remembrance of his Death, till he come, as well as when Believers eat together more solemnly, remembering his Death with Prayer and , whose coming will be, to reward the Wicked and Ungodly, among whom are they that have a form of Godliness, without the true saving Knowledge of God, by the Body and Blood of Christ, whose coming also will be to receive the Souls of them whom, he hath promised to drink of the Vine, new in the Kingdom of God; and as to any command by Christ, or example by his holy Apostles, I find not, for any hired Teachers, to set up a form, for People to eat Bre●d, and drink Wine once a month, or more or less, even as they and their followers can agree about the same; for the Apostles were never hired to set up any ●orm without the Power of God, neither without the Power of God, did they ever maintain any Form; for they did continue with one accord breaking Bread from House to House, and did eat their bread with gladness and singleness o● heart. Acts 2.46. Which doth and will continue among sincere Christians and true Believers until the last coming of Christ; which doth manifest the blind Zeal, which People have of their own Righteousness, who have not the true form of Godliness according to the practice of the holy Apostles, for which end I may improve the Prophets saying, Wherefore do ye spend your Money for that which is not Bread, and your Labour for that which satisfieth not? Isa. 55.2. Which indeed is so as doth appear by People's Lo here, and Lo there, in their differing Forms, which are destitute of the Power of God, who is the Bread of Life, which is tendered by his free Grace, in and through the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ, who standeth at the Door and knocketh, if any man will hear his Voice and open the Door, he will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he shall sup with the Lord of life, R●v 8.10. which if any refuse this the Lords Supper, he refuses his own Salvation by Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, which if any man eat, and drink of this cup he shall neither hunger, nor thirst, but shall live forever.  
And as to the outward Dispensations, which the Lord bestoweth upon the Children of men, among whom they that do not render a due acknowledgement by the spirit of Prayer and  for the Lords Mercies in his gifts bestowed upon them, for the Comfort of the Body, it doth but further add to their Condemnation; for whether ye eat, or whether ye drink, let all be done to the Honour of God, who hath not called man to live by Bread alone, but by the Power of his Word, Mat. 4.4. Luke. 4.4. for the Power of his Word is in Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, that a man may eat thereof, and not die; for all outward Bread and Wine is of a perishing Nature, but the Bread of Life and Wine of the Kingdom endureth forever; for Christ hath said, that he is the Bread of Life, or Living Bread that cometh down from Heaven, which if any man eat of this Bread, he shall live forever; that Bread that he giveth is his Flesh, which he hath given for the Life of the World, John. 9.50, 51. for in this is the Power of God made manifest unto the soul of every true Believer, which have their whole Dependence on God by true Faith in the Son of his Love, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is become the Mediator of the New Covenant, which speaketh better things then that of Abel, Heb. 12. 2●, for Christ is come, and spiritually he lives in his People, whose hearts and minds he hath redeemed out of all dead Forms, by which they witness him to be the Lord of Life, unto whom they yield the strength of their minds to serve him the living God, with uprightness of Soul, Mind and Spirit, by which their inward Life doth not remain in ea●ing Bread and drinking Wine, which is not of itself material for the Salvation of any man, Soul that so do; for it comes short of Gods Promise by Jesus Christ, and supping with him at his Table, which affords Bread without, Money, and Wine without Price, which if People had true Faith to believe these things, their dead Form would soon end, for Christ is the Bread of Life, and he that cometh to him shall never hunger, and he that believeth in him shall never thirst, which is large in a general way to all men, which they that refuse, are left out, from having any lot, part or share with the Guests of the Bride Chamber, where the Lamb of God hath his abode, and remains with them, where they by true Faith feed on his spiritual Food, which is that spiritual Bread and spiritual Wine, which is without Money and Price, and giveth Life unto the World of them which by true Faith receive him, Joh. 6.32, 33. in which state of true Faith, every sincere Believer receiveth of his Dispensation, which by Prayer and  is sanctified unto them, so as every true Christian doth worthily in all his eating and drinking, eat and drink in the holy Faith and Fear, remembering the Lord's Death, with Prayer and Thanksgiving▪ So is it to be acknowledged, that the primitive Christians did eat and drink together, solemnly assembled, and were to wait one for another, that they might eat and drink together, when solemnly assembled, remembering the Lord's death, with prayer and , in token of their being Members together of one Body, whereof Christ is the Head, to signify their Love, Unity and Fellowship one with another, and the which is worthily practised by sincere and faithful Christians at this day, and is to continue to the last coming of Christ, when he shall come without us, to Judge the quick and the dead, as well as his more abundant inward coming in spirit, to them, who have not yet witnessed it, and many as yet are not come into the true Faith of these things, which according to my measure of Faith in God by Jesus Christ, do I faithfully believe, by which thorough Faith I do receive of God's outward Dispensation for the preservation of outward Life, and in measure of his heavenly divine Riches, by Faith in Christ, which unto me is the Bread and Water of Life, for the preservation of my soul, and not to me only, but unto all them that by true Faith witness their feeding with the Lord of Life at his his heavenly Table, where all the faithful of God witness the eating of the Lords Supper.   

CHAP. X. Concerning Baptism, and Sprinkling Infants, which People hold most necessary to Salvation.  
SPrinkling of Infants, it being set up without any prescribed command, or Example commanded by Christ, or his holy Apostles, although many Teachers in this Age have wrested the holy Scriptures, thinking thereby to make their own invention to be accounted the Ordinances of God. Now the main Reasons that many teachers have rendered, they have grounded from Christ's word, Mat. 22.19. which doth not prove baptising of infant's to be commanded by Christ, Go ye therefore and teach all Nations beptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the holy Ghost. Now the command of Christ was to his Disciples, that they should go and teach, which proves that teaching was commanded before baptising or dipping, as the word may be rendered; by which all may understand that they could not be discipled which were untaught; for this we know, that Infants are uncapable of being taught which proves, that they are not capable of being Disciples. And in Mark 10.14, 15, 16. where they bring Christ's saying, Suffer little Children to come unto me, forbidden them not, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven; which saying is explained in the following Verse, that whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little Child he shall not enter therein, can never reach by Visible Water, which cleanseth not the inside of these wise Hebrew, Greek and Latin learned Builders, who ground their unsound Foundation of Sprinkling Infants, in the room of Circumcision, which according to the holy Scriptures of Truth, one Type did never type out another, but every Type typified the substance, for Circumcision was a Type or Figure, and cutting off the foreskin was a Figure of the Circumcision and cutting off the Foreskin of the heart, Now baptism with water was a Type or Figure, as in Peter 3.21. which tiped out the spiritual Washing or regeneration, which is, baptising of Infants come in the room of Circumcision; then how do they agree in a parrellel, seeing that the Males were only circumcised, then why are the Famales now baptised, if Baptism come in the room of Circumcision, which as to their form in batpizing, they differ one from the other even as in other things, which they account to be the Ordinances of Christ, but are found to be the Ordinances of men, set up and maintained by the Power of men, who in their several Forms differ each from the other; for some sprinkle, others dip, and some dip over again; others plunge, others sprinkle with mixed Water, and to my knowledge some have had their Children sprinkled with warm water in cold weather, for which form, some of their Priests have said to me, that they have allowance for their differing Forms under this Dispensation, that is, to dip or sprinkle, according to the nature of the Climate where they live; but to prove their assertion by Scripture they cannot do, which without scripture Proof, they are willing to say something for what they hold, but in what form soever any by their Priests are baptised, there is no effect of their work doth appear, but like Priest like People, all pleading for A Body of Sin, while they remain in this Life; which doth manifest, that visible Water is of no effect, notwithstanding these hired Builders, bring Christ's words to Nicodemus, John 3.5. that except a man be born again of Water and Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. From which words some do infer, that Infant Baptism is of absolute Necessity to Salvation. Now Christ did then speak of that heavenly Water which did regenerate and make new; for through the Power of that Water the Heart came to be made clean, according to the Prophets Saying, Then will I sprinkle clean Water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your Filthiness, Ezek. 36.25 By which it is manifest, that visible Water cleanseth not the inside, which is to be cleansed through the washing of Regeneration; for it is not the washing away of the filth of the Flesh, but the answer of a good Conscience towards God, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Pet. 3 21. Now John's Baptism was to decrease, and the Baptism of Christ to increase; for Christ was before John, whose Baptism made way for the Baptism of Christ to take place; for this Testimony John did bear of himself, That he should decrease, and that Christ should increase; for John's baptising was to Repentance, but he that cometh after me shall baptise you with the holy Ghost, Mat. 3.11. Then if John's Water Baptism was to decrease, which was to Repentance, where is the benefit of Water-Baptism in this day, to any who have repent? And to them which have not repent, their Life of remaining in a Body of Sin all their days doth manifest no benefit in Water-Baptism, towards the Salvation of any man that is baptised with visible Water, in what Form soever▪ for as Water Baptism was a ●ipe or Figure, P●t. 3.21. so all Types and Figures made way for the Spirit of H●iness, in which they are all fulfilled, through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, whose Baptism is that of the holy Ghost, which except People receive they can never witness the heart cleansed from dead Works; for John baptised with Water, but ye shall be baptised with the holy Ghost, having the promise's to receive Power, Acts 1 52 which doth manifest that People cannot receive full power against sin before they have received the Baptism of Christ, which is that of the holy Ghost and Fire, which burns up and purifies the heart of the inward man, by which the thoughts of his own corrupted desire, are brought into subjection to the Power of God, by Jesus Christ, which cleanseth the inward man of Heart, Mind and Spirit, through which he comes to serve the Lord with Uprightness of his whole Desire, in which state he becomes 〈◊〉 through Witness for God's holy Truth, that there is but one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, Ephes. 4 5. into which Baptism all the Righteous o● God are baptised; for so many as were baptised into Christ, were baptised into his Death, therefore they are b●r●ed with him by Baptism, into he Glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in Newness of Life, Rom 3.4. Now wh●t People have gathered in their Comprehension concerning the Apostles words, 〈◊〉 Cor. 14. it avails no for their pro●●●, in the least measure of strength, to prove Water Baptism an Ordinance of God in this day; for if so, then is Circumcision because the same Apostle in that day both circumcised and baptised, which was for this end, that he might gain some to Christ, and not that it should continue in practice among Believers for time to come, Then how are they true Beleivers with whom the practice of Water Baptism doth yet remain? for the very same Apostle laid that practice aside in his day, saying, that least any should say that he baptised in his own Name, he then thanked God, that he had not baptised (as he knew of) any more, save Crispus and Gaius, and the Household of Stephanus; plainly concluding that Christ sent him not to baptise, but to preach the Gospel, 1 Cor. 1.16.17. Now the Apostles saying, that he thanked God, that had not baptised any other, is sufficient proof, that Water Baptism is not that which God doth expect in this day, if other ways the holy Apostle would never have said, he than ed God, that he had baptised no other as he knew of; which is sufficient, that the Almighty God doth neither except nor accept sprinkling or dipping with visible Water in this day; for Jesus Christ hath fulfilled all Tips and Figures, which were but shadows of better things to come, and are come to them which by true Faith in him, and he in them; by which there is no need to lay the Foundation of things past, for Christ crucified and risen again, as the Mystery o● his Death and Resurrection outwardly is inwardly revealed, is the Substance and Foundation of his People's Faith, which gives them an assurance in the hope of his heavenly Riches, which they that are not dead with Christ from the Rudiments, cannot partake of, for they are yet living with their affections uncrucifid, as to the Rudiments of the World, being yet subject to Ordinances, of divers forms, in their will Worship, which the righteous have overcome, so that they cannot again be brought into bondage, to touch, taste nor handle those things, wherein their uncrucified Affections once did remain, well knowing they are all to perish with the using after the Commandment of men; which things indeed, have a show of will Worship and Humility, and neglecting of the Body, not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh, Col. 2.20, 21, 22, 23. Now the faithful of God are risen with Christ, in which state they are ●●●king those things which are above, where Christ si●●eth on the right hand of God; so that their Affections are set on things above, and not on things on the Earth, Col. 3.1.2. and they are a blessed People, which are come to witness that state, in which they seek the Lord, and his righteousness, which is the right use of means that God hath appointed, for the honour of his holy Name, and the salvation of them, who in the true use of means lay hold on God, through faith in the son of his love, the Lord Jesus Christ, by whose Power the Faithful are baptised into the one spirit by the holy Ghost, which is the true Baptism of Christ, by whom they that are not baptised through the Water of Regeneration, they y●t remain with their Affections uncrucified, in which state the Lord hath no regard to their daily Offerings. And yet, if any, for a furtherance of the Gospel should find freedom in the Will of the Lord to condescend to the weakness of some, to baptise into Water, we should not forbid it; but the bare form and Im●●ation taken up in the mere Will of men without any inward motion, or call of God, or inward approbation we utterly disown.   

CHAP. XI. Concerning the true Sabbath, which signifies Rest, to them who abide in Christ, who is the everlasting Sabbath.  
MAny are the Talkers of the Sabbath, and of the first days Rest, but few are they that come so far in the Work of God, by Faith in Jesus Christ, as to witness their first days Work in him, who is the true and everlasting Sabbath, in whom the faithful have their resting place, they are them which are come to witness the end of their Labour, which have their rest in Christ, the true Sabbath. Now where People in their differing forms of Will Worship rest from their outward Labour one day in seven, calling that the Sabbath Day, thinking thereby that the Lord of Sabbath will accept their will Worship, with their rest from outward Labour, for his sabbath, they deceive themselves, and the Lord of Sabbath will reward them according to their own Works, by which they pre●end to serve him; for the Lord only looks at them who in in uprightness of heart labour against sin, that by so doing they witness the effect of their Labour, through the Power of God, by Faith in Christ against sin; for they that labour not six days against sin, shall never witness the seventh Day Holy to the Lord of Sabbath, which proves such Talkers of the Sabbath to be no keepers of any Time Holy to the Lord of Sabbath; and as to many such Talkers about the Sabbath Day, on which they are more unholy in their Minds, as to the Lord of Sabbath, than on any other of the six days, in which People's Minds are exercised on things of Bodily concern, which being freed from outward Bodily Labour on the first day, which they call the Sabbath, their minds are more in the exercise of those things, which are of no profit to the Soul, neither of so much profit to the Body, as their outward Labour is on the other six days of the Week; which things are manifested by their Fruits, as appears both in words and actions upon the first day, which they pretend a Sabbath to the Lord, in which state they are Sabbath Breakers, and not Sabbath keepers; for all Time is to be kept holy unto the Lord of Sabbath; which if any observe a Day, let him keep it holy unto the Lord, and not to judge another man's Liberty in matters of Faith concerning the keeping or not keeping of a Day; for one man may be prepared, as from the Lord, to keep a Fast unto him, when another man may not be called of God to d● the same; for every man is to seek God for himself; for the Lord hath promised, To be found of them that seek unto him with a perfect Heart, and with a willing Mind; for the Lord searcheth all Hearts, and understands all the Imaginations of the Thoughts, which if they seek him, he will be found of them; but if they forsake him he will cast them off forever, 1 Chron. 28.9. 1 Sam. 16.7. Psal. 7.8, 9 and 139.2, 3, 4. Jer. 17.10. Now in what men pretend to God, if in uprightness of heart they do not retain him in all their Thoughts, their Work is of no effect for the profit of their Soul, but further adds towards their Condemnation, which is matter of weight for People to consider, how th●y spend their precious Time, which God hath given them in this Life, to make their Peace with him, through Faith in obedience to the gift of his Grace, which came by Jesus Christ, the Lord of Life, and Everlasting Sabbath of his People's Rest, which for People to talk of, without a true believing in his outward Sufferings and in the inward Word of his Life, their Souls shall never find rest in the Lord of Sabbath, who was buried, and risen again the third day, which is the first Day of the Week, which in honour to that great ●ork of Redemption by the Son of God and Lord of Sabbath, is worthily regarded and attended for the Worship of God in the Spirit and in the Truth, having the holy Apostles for Example, to follow them, as they were Followers of Christ and to mark them which walk otherways; then sure we are to mark them whose Dress appears more like for Stage-Play than for the true Worship of God on the first Day of the Week; for where the heart is, there is the Treasures also; and out of the heart proceedeth all evil Communications, which abundantly appears among People, who rather exceed upon the Day of their Worship, than at other times, when their Minds are exercised in things of Bodily Labour, which by their Fruits they are to be judged, that they live void of the true fear of God, or regard to their Immortal Souls, and so are as a People without God in the World, who have no true saving Knowledge of God by J●sus Christ; they will talk of God and Christ, and of the Sabbath, without any spiritual sense of his saving Grace by Jesus Christ, the Lord of Sabbath, who is the everlasting sabbath of his People's Rest, where the Righteous cease from their own Works, as God did from his, Heb. 4.9, 10.   

CHAP. XII. Concerning Election and Reprobation, agreeing with the Holy Scriptures.  
THis is that which many hold, That God from all Eternity hath unchangeably ordained whatsoever comes to pass; and That God hath decreed one part of the Angels, with Men, Women and their Infants, for everlasting Damnation. Which Doctrine is mostly held by the Presbyterians, as by their Confession of Faith, cap. 3. which Doctrine I have often considered in the spirit of Meekness, and according to my measure of God's holy Truth by Jesus Christ, do I declare as followeth, That to know God by Jesus Christ, is Life eternal, and for that end was the Son of God made manifest, that all might come unto God through Faith in Jesus Christ, and through Grace, by him be saved; for God made Man in his own Image, and gave him a being in the Garden of Paradise, from which state he soon fell, which Fall was through Disobedience by eating of the forbidden ●ruit, which hath brought Darkness over the Children of Men, which are in a state of Bondage to that Seed of the Enemies sowing in their first Parents, which more or less comes by Nature in the Children of Men, in whom that Seed lusteth, which is a doing of that in Obedience to the Temptations of the Souls Enemy, which God hath strictly commanded should not be done. And for that end, that the Children after Adam should know the Will and Mind of their Maker, God in all Ages gave unto the Sons and Daughters of Men a gift of his own Spirit of divine Light, by which they might see the right way of the Lord, and walk therein which is according to his holy Promise, as in Gen. 3.15. And I will put Enmity between thy Seed and her Seed, it shall bruise thy Head, and thou shalt bruise his H●el; in which two Seeds i● chief contained Election and Reprobation; former Seed should bruise the Head of the Serpent, and break his Power, that is, through perfect bedience to Christ, the Seed of the Woman, and to his Grace, which is that gift of divine ●ight that makes manifest all the hidden things of Darkness; so that let the Devil appear in what likeness so●ver he will, yet as Men and Women stand faithful to the manifestation of God's gift, the Enemy's Power comes to be●broken. So that the Promise of God in the Seed remains only to the faithful; for the Promise of God was not to Seeds, as of many, but as of One and to thy Seed, which is Christ, Gal. 3.16. for the Covenant that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the Law which was four hundred and thirty Years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the Promise of none effect; for the Law was added because of Transgression, till the Seed should come, to whom the Promise was made; but the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the Promîse by Faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to them that believe, Gal 3.17, 18, 19, 20. Now all not believing in Christ the true Seed, doth not include, that God ordained them to perish, because the Promise of God in the Seed is tendered in Gods own time and way to all the Children of Men, otherwise all that perish would not be left without excuse, concerning which the Spirit of God hath left it plain to be understood, that the Seed of the Kingdom hath been sown in all sorts of Ground; and the Reason is rendered by the Spirit of God, why it did not bring forth fruit in all sorts of Ground, which is, because Obedience hath not been yielded to the Command of God; for if God had absolutely decreed men's Damnation, his Decree being unrevokable, there would be no need for men to strive for Salvation, for who could resist such an absolute Decree? But blessed be the Name of God, and Father of Jesus Christ, whose faithful People well know, that he is a just God which hath not ordained the Souls of any to perish before they were born, but for their Sins and final Impenitence, through Disobedience to the ●ift of his Grace, which is of the Seed of the Kingdom, and hath been sown throughout all Ages, in all sorts of ground of what Nature soever, and hath been the same in this day among all the Children of Men, and if any perish, it is of themselves, for Light is come into the World, and man's Condemnation is of himself, because he loves Darkness rather than Light, Joh. 3.1. the Reason is, because he hates the Light, which repreves his evil Deeds; in which stare the Seed is appressed, and kept as in Bondage, by which it can take no ro●t in the hard rebellious heart and barren sandy ground, where Rocks, Thorns and Thistles grow, and Serpents have their abiding place, which destroy and cause the Life of the Seed to departed, which i● the state of disobedient and rebellious men, whose Damnation neither slumbereth nor sleepeth, but is of themselves; by which they cannot charge the just and holy One of ordaining them to perish. By which it is manifest that man's Dimnation is of himself, and tha● is by yielding his mind to serve in Unrighteousness, when occasions sin that destroys the soul. ●y which at appears, that they unjustly charge ●od of decreeing men ●o perish which for the begetting of a further belief of unfound Doctrine, they have wrested the Apostles words, Rom. 9.11, 12, 13 where is is said, The Children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God, according to Election might stand, not of Works, but of him that calleth, it was said unto her, the elder shall serve the younger, as it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Also, in another place, where it is said, That Esau sought the blessing with Tears, but could not obtain it; All which makes not the least proof that the soul of Esau did perish; for they themselves allow, that if the Parents are Believers, their Children are holy: Then finding that the Parents of Esau were holy Believers, why should any judge of God to be such a severe Master, as to decree the soul of a Child born of holy Parents, to perish, without having done any evil in its own Body▪ And as to Esau ●s being hated, the Lord never hated the soul of any man, as to decree its Damnation before he was born, but for its sins and final Impenitency; for hatred is taken in a twofold sense; for Jacob loved Rachel, and hated Leah: And Christ said, He that hateth not Father and Mother, Wife and Children, he cannot be my Disciple, Luke 14.26. Now if God had hated Esau with such Hatred as to decree his soul for Damnation, before he was born, or had done either good or evil, than Isaac by Faith would not have blessed Esau; for Isaac did by Faith bless Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. And as to Repentance, which Esau could not find, it was relating to the first blessing, which he could not recover, being before given to Jacob the younger, of whom it is said, Esau the elder should serve. Which no more implies that Esau did perish, than David the younger Brother, whom God chose before all the rest of his elder Brethren, who were to serve David their younger Brother, whom God saw good to place on the outward Throne, in the outward Kingdom of Israel, that the outward Government might 〈◊〉 in the Line of David, in which line of David's stock, the elder did serve the ●ounger; for so did the Wisdom of God order the outward Government of Israel in Church and State, in which the elder did serve the younger. And in Jacob's Line, the stock of Esau served the younger, until the ●●ling of the Gentiles, which then did reach the stock of Esau, and all Nadons that should be found to call on his Name, that they may possess the Remnant of Edom, and all the Heathen which are called by any Name, saith the Lord, ●mos 9.12 by which it is manifest, that the Church of God remains scattered a●n●ng all Nations, among whom they that 〈◊〉. God and work his Righteousness, the same shall be saved, through Faith in Christ Jesus; for the gift of God's Grace b● Jesus Christ is large in his love to all Nations, which b● his promise in calling the Gentiles, it frees the yoke of servitude from the stock of Esau's Posterity, which is no less privilege than to be made partakers of Gods Promise in the Government of his Grace by Jesus Christ, which the stock of Jacob have refused, for which cause they have lost their Interest, through their Self-Righteousness in the first Covenant of Works; for which cause of refusing the rich Mercy of God's Grace by Jesus Christ, they are given up in Unbelief concerning the great Work of Redemption by the Son of God whom they wickedly slew without the City Gates, for which cause the Lord hath given them the Spirit of Slumber, Eyes that they should not see, and Ears that they should not hear unto this day. And Dauîd said Let their Table be a Snare, and a Trap, and a stumbling Block, and a Recompense unto them; let their Eyes be dirkenêd that they may not see, and bow down their back always; Then have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbidden, but rather through their Fall Salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy; for if the fall of them be the Riches of the World, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles, how much more their fuliness? For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the World, what shall the receiving of them be, but Life from the Dead? for if the first Fruit be holy, the Lump is also Holy; and if the Root be Holy, so are the Branches; for if through Unbelief they were broken off, than it is by true Faith that there is an entrance into the Covenant of Grace, which extends to the stock of Esau, Ishmael, and all the Nations of the World; for the Lord hath said, That he will call them his People which were not his People, and her his beloved which was not his beloved, Rom. 9.25 Hos. 2.23. 1 Pet. 2 10. Hos. 1.10.  
Therefore let not any be ignorant, to establish their own Righteousness, but submit to that Righteousness which is of God, by Faith in Jesus Christ, who doth not delight himself in the death of any sinner, but had rather all might turn and live. By which it is evident that God hath not decreed the Destruction of any man's soul, before he hath sinned out the day of God's Visitation, whose spirit shall not always strive with man whose Condemnation is of himself, through the unbelief of his own hard heart, and the decree of God respecteth him only as such, which was the state of Pharaoh, of whom it is said, The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh, that be might be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; So not only Pharaoh, but his People also had rebelled against the Word of the Lord by his Servants and Messengers of his Truth, for which cause the Lord gave them up (through unbelief) to haron●● of heart, by which it is said, The Lord hardened Pharaohs heart, for this end, to give honour to his own holy name, through the overthrow of so great a King as Pharaoh in the Earth then was, who hardened his own heart, through the unbelief which he had to the Word of the Lord, who permitted the Devil to draw Tharaoh from Obedience to the Command of the Lord, through which his heart came to be hardened, to the Glory of God and honour of his name; for all the Devils work is by permission, and is to the honour of God in the Condemnation of them, which through Disobedience yield their minds in obedience to the Devil's Power, by which their hearts come to be hardened against God's holy Truth; so that God hardeneth not any man's heart, whose Condemnation is of himself, in that he will not yield his Obedience to the gift of God, who desires not, that any should perish, but that all might do his Commandments and live; for which end all men have ever had the way of good and evil set before them; which proves, that man do not perish through a decree of Gods making, before they have done either good or evil, hat they shall perish; for though the Decree or Purpose of God gins not in time, yet it respecteth Man, having had a time and day of Visitation, and living in Sin, until it be expired; for the holy Scriptures are very full, that God is clear of all men's Blood which perish; for he hath tendered Life to all the Children of men; by which, through Faith in Obedince to the Gift of his Grace, they may not fall short of the true Hope which is by Jesus Christ, who will not withhold from any man of his Grace, whom he finds in the well doing; for he that doth well shall be accepted, but he that doth not well, sin ●veth at the door, and unto him shall be his desire, and he shall rule over him; which proves sin is the cause of man's perishing; for the spirit of 〈…〉 and whosoever wîll let him come, and ta'en the Water of Life freely, Rev. 22 7. So that for my part, ac 〈…〉 that small measure of Light which God hath 〈…〉, Concerning the knowledge of his Truth as it 〈◊〉 he Son of his Love, the Lord Jesus, through Faith 〈◊〉, do I believe, with many thousands o● the Lords ●●●thfull People, that God who in his ind●ite Wisdom knows all things long before the ●o●ld began, and whatever comes to pass, that it is by his Power of commission or permission; but tha● he hath unchangeably ordained whatsoever cames to pass, seems to me, a charging of God with all the unrighteous Actions, and wicked W●●ks, that ever unrighteous and wicked men have done, or ever shall do for time to come, and to hold that God from all etern●●ty hath ordained men, women, and their infants for everlasting perdition, without respect to their final impeaitency, is that which they can never prove, by or from any things that is left on holy Record by the Spirit of God in the holy Scriptures of Truth; for he that fears God, and works his righteousness through Faith in Christ, the same shall be accepted, as a faithful Child of God, and true Servant of Jesus Christ, whom the Father hath made manifest by the gift of his divine Light, which through Obedience thereunto, no man need walk in Darkness, but have the Light of Life, which gives the knowledge of God in Jesus Christ, whom to know is Life Everlasting.   

CHAP. XIII. Concerning the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation, through Faith in Christ, to the Souls of them that by him are saved.  
THe Law was given by Moses, but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ, John 1. vers. 17. Now the Love of God is largely manifested through the gift of his Grace, which came by Jesus Christ, before whom no man's works shall stand, which are not sanctified by Grace, neither can any man's works be sanctified by Grace, further than he comes into Obedience to the gift of God's Spirit of Grace, which is that gift of divine Light which God hath bestowed to the Children of men, through the Death & Resurrection of his Son, the Lord of Life, in whom the fullness of Grace, remaineth, and it is by the Grace of God's Power, in and through him, which sanctifieth the soul of every true Believer in him, by whom th●i saith is imputed to them for Righteousness, by which they are justified before God in the sight of Jesus Christ, whose Kingdom hath been prepared before the Foundation of the World, for the righteous to enter, for their works have been in obedience to the gift of God's Grace; for as there is but one God and one Lord Jesus Christ, and one Spirit, so there i● but one saving Grace in the Ground, Seed and Root or Being and Nature, for the race of God is one, and manifold, according as we read in the holy Scriptures, of the manifold Grace of God, and manifold Wisdom of God, even as the Spirit of God is one, but diversity of Gifts, and there are Diversities of Operations, but one God, and diversity of Administrations, but one Lord; and the Scriptures do declare of the Spirit of Fear, and Bondage, and of Adoption; also the S●●●●ture distinguisheth between the Servants and Sons in the H●●se of God; ●or every son is a servant of God, but every Servant is not a son, born of the Free Woman. And of this mystery Ishmael and Isaac were Figures; men may be Servants and Sons by the Bond Woman, by obedience ●o the first Ministration of the Spirit, or Light within, as it teacheth common Duties, Piety, Temperance & Justice without revealing the Mystery of Christ crucified and raised again, or working the Faith of it but none are the Sons of God, by the Free Woman, or Children of the New Covenant, but they who have the Mystery of Christ crucified and raised again Outwardly, revealed in them, and have a living Faith in it, by which they witness a conformity to Christ, in his Life, Death and Resurrection, and by that Power that raised him from the dead. The sufficiency of God's Grace within, is not to be understood in opposition, either to the Faith of Christ, as he was outwardly Crucified for us, and risen again, and is ascended into Heaven, there making Intercession for us, nor in opposition to the great benefit and help of the holy Scriptures, or sincere preaching of faithful men▪ or any other help, but in unity with all these; and it ought to be acknowledged, that though God hath not left the Heathens, where Christ, is not outwardly Preached, altogether destiture but hath given them a dispensation of Light, that is real and divine, and is of great service to them, who improve it, to prepare and call them to receive the Faith of Christ, when Preached to them, yet faithful Christians are under another Dispensation of Light and Grace, as far exceeding that of the mere Heathens, however honest or conscientious, as Gold excelleth Brass, or the Light of the Sun excelleth that of the Moon, but both proceeding from one God, one Christ, and one spirit, and the sufficiency of Grace that any man doth receive, or that any man hath, is only with respect to the present time and state, but not for all times to come; for the best of Saints are to depend, and Pray to God, to receive more and more Grace from him, who is the God of all Grace, and Father of Mercies, and Father of Lights, which lighteth his Sons and Daughters, by the gift of his Grace, and good Spirit of Life, which giveth unto them the Light of Life, to walk in the strait and even way, which he hath laid out by the Son of his Love, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is one with God the Father in all his holy Works of Grace, Life and Light, by which he is Working among the Sons and Daughters of men, among whom is also the spirit of Iniquity working, in and through the many Teachers which would make the Grace of God to be 〈◊〉 and differing in kind of being and nature, when it is evident, that though the 〈◊〉 diversities of gifts, yet they all proceed from the one Spirit of the one God and one Lord Jesus Christ, whose Grace is but one, which restrains and saves from sin; for he is the only begotten of the F●●●h● full of Grace and Truth, and of his fullness every true Believer in him receives 〈…〉 for Grace, John 1.14, 16. and by his Grace they received Apostleship, for Obedience to the Faith among all Nations for his Name, Rom. 1.5. that in Ages to come they might show forth the exceeding Riches of his Grace in his kindness towards them, through Jesus Christ, Ephes. 2.7. and this is the Grace which is of God, and is sufficient for the Salvation of them ●hat truly believe, 2 Cor. 12.9. So that it is not an outward are Profession of what God hath wrought by Jesus Christ for the Salvation of others, but that every man and woman live their Life, in true Obedience to the gift of God's Grace, that by Faith in Christ they may witness the same Life, through faith, by which men are saved; for the Grace of God bringeth Salvation only to them tha● believe in the the gift of his ●race (without which no man can be sa●ed) fo● it is by Grace that men are saved and no● o● an 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 of themselves, but by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ, Ephes. 2 8. Then seeing it is by G●ace that men are ●aved, and not of themselves, let every man and woman turn in the strength of the Mind to the teaching of God's gift of Grace, which teacheth to deny all Ungodliness, and to live a righteous, sober and godly Life in this present Wo●●, that nothing may appear but what is good, to the use of edifying, that it may minister Grace to the Hearers, Eph. 4.29. for where there is Obedience to the g●● of God's Grace, ●●e more of Christ dwelleth richly in all Wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms, and Hymns, and spiritual S●ngs, singing with Grace in their Hearts, Col. 3.16, 17. which ●s contrary to the practice of m●●y thousands, who profess much in the outward of God and Christ in this day, whereby they gain of one another the outward Name of Christians but inwardly in the Anti-christian Practice, as their outward fruits manifest; for where Faith is without Works, it is 〈◊〉 dead Faith, and in such Grace works no effect towards 〈◊〉 peace with God in Christ, by whom the Righteous are 〈◊〉 conciled to God through Faith, by Grace in him▪ 〈◊〉 requires perfect Obedience to the gift of his Grace, which teaches his people to pray preach and sing with Grace 〈◊〉 their hearts, to the praise and honour of his holy Name and edification of one another, which they that yield 〈◊〉 their Obedience to the Spirit of Grace, cannot do, for which cause of their unclean Fruits, their Condemnation doth follow, in which state they witness no true peace through Faith, by Grace, in Jesus Christ, whose Sons and Daughters, begotten through Grace in him, they continue in the Way of the Lords own ●aying out, having their words seasoned as with S●●●, and Grace abounding in their hearts, through which, by grace, they become able Witnesses for the Lord of Life, that by him, through grace, they are made able to perform his Will, in what of them he requires by his good spirit of Grace, Col. 3 17 in which state the Love of God by Jesus Christ, is his People's everlasting Consolation and good Hope, through Grace, 2 Thes. 2. 1● Not by Works of Righteousness which they have done, but according to his Grace, by the washing of Regeneration, and the renewing of the holy Ghost, Tit. 3 5 Which is sufficient encourage ne● to come with holdness unto th● Throne of his Grace by which they obtain Mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need, Heb. 4.16. For the Grace of God hath appeared unto all men, teaching them that they should deny Ungodliness and Wouldly L●st, and to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present World, T●●. 2.11, 12. By which we see and know, that all men have received of his Grace, sufficient for the present time and state; for as the Grace of God, which bringeth Salvation, hath in measure appeared unto all men, so all men that have neglected the day of God's Visitation, they shall be left without any excuse in that Day of the Lords calling all to an account for the Deeds done in the Body, when it shall go well with the Righteous, but sorrow and trouble will reach the Wicked on every side for the Lord will not hold them guiltless which take his Name in vain. Then will the Wicked, which have derided at the move of Gods good Spirit of Grace in his People, come to know a Day of Trouble, when the Lord shall laugh at their Distress, for unto them Damnation slumbereth nor sleepeth not, but will overtake all the Ungodly as a Thie● in the Night of their Darkness, but it shall go well with the Righteous, which ask in Faith, without doubting, unto them is Salvation through Grace by Jesus Christ, who came to save his People from their sins, for which end he was made a littl● lower than the ●ngels for the suffering of Death, and crowned with Glory and Honour, that he might by the Grace of God taste Death for every man H●●. 2 9 that whosoever believeth in him 〈…〉, but have Life eternal; for the Promise 〈…〉 ●ent to then 〈◊〉 at believe in the gift of 〈…〉 of his Will and Mind, by Faith, thr●● Grace, in Jesus Christ, by whom the Souls of them tha● believe in him, are justified in the sight of God; for he that sanctifies, and they who are sanctified are all of one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren, Heb. 2 11. for b● the Grace of God are they of him, who unto them of God is made Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption, 1 〈◊〉. 1.30. by which People may see, that the main cause why People perish, is through Disobedience to the gift of God's Grace, which by Jesus Christ they have received, and it bringeth the Tenders of Salvation to every man in some measure or degree which as improved, leads unto perfect Salvation, through Faith in Christ Jesus, which they that refuse do unjustly charge God, that is is for want of Grace, by which they perish, when that it is not for want of Grace tendered unto them, but for want of their Obedience to the gift of God's Grace, which is sufficient for the Salvation of them that are faithful thereunto, so as the Righteous, through Faith and Obedience grow from grace to grace, until they become perfect in Christ Jesus; so the Unrighteous, through unfaithfulness, by Disobedience, sin away the Grace of God more and more, until the Day of God's Grace with them be over, and his Spirit with them hath left striving; which all aught to consider, while they have time to Repent, for there is no repenting in the grave.   

CHAP. XIV. Concerning the Resurrection.  
MAny are the People that are concerned to know how the dead are raised, and with what Bodies they appear ●or 〈◊〉 what Bodies they do come forth? Then seeing their minds are to concerned, to know with what Bodies they shall appear, doth manifest that they are not come to the knowledge of Gods saving Power, through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which to know gives an assurance of Salvation, in which state m●n may know h●w the dead are raised, and with what Bodies they shall appear; for it is certain that there shall be a Resurrection of the dead, b●th of the Just and Unjust; for all shall appear before the Lord, the righteous Judge of Heaven and Earth, before whom the heavenly spirited, and the earthly spirited shall appear, to give an account of all their Deeds done in the Body of this Life, which then will be time sufficient for the unrighteous to know with what Bodies they shall appear, in the mean time the Apostles words are very suitable unto all such whose state of Disobedience is far from the saving knowledge of God, by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and though not simply fools, yet through 〈…〉 Disobedience and Unbelief, 〈…〉 as the 〈…〉 be 〈…〉 the husband man, ●o 〈…〉 of the R●●rrection, Thou soul, that which thou so rest, is not q●●e 〈…〉 it die; and 〈◊〉 which thou so rest thou so well no● that 〈◊〉, that shall be bath restrain, it ●ay chance of Wheat 〈…〉 other Grain and withal co●●ledes, that God 〈…〉 as it pleaseth him, and to every Seed his own Body, 1 Cor. 15.35, 36, 37, 38. by which the unrighteous may know with what Bodies they shall come forth; for he that so with to the Flesh, shall of the Flesh reap Corruption, but he that soaketh to the Spirit, shall of the spirit reap Lif● Everlasting, Gal, 6.5 for the time is at hand, that he that is , let him be  still, and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still, and he that is Righteous, let him be Righteous ●●ll, and he that is Holy let him be Holy sti●●, f●r behold the Lord will quickly come, and his Reward will 〈◊〉 with him, to give every man according as his works shall be Rev 22.11, 12. which doth manifest that according as men have sown so shall they reap, for every seed shall have his own Body, whether of Works of Faith and Obedience to Salvation, or Works of Unbelief and Disobedience to Damnation. Then seeing these things are plain, as by holy Record, which agrees with the inward Word of God's Spirit, and the gift of his divine Light, which came by Jesus Christ, and through Faith, in Obedience to him, through whom Salvation comes, which work is most necessary for People to be concerned in; for as the Soul is the most Noble part of Man, so ought every man principally to be concerned about his Soul, and the well air thereof, yet because the Body is a part of the Man and that Christ is the Saviour doth of Soul and Body of every sincere Believer in him, therefore every Man may and aught to be concerned about the whole Man, both ●oul and Body, and the Faith and Hope of the Resurrection of the Body; & as the spirit of God worketh that Faith and ●ope in us, it is of great use to sanctify us, and prepare us for the Resurrection to come; for Paul doth not call them Fools simply for enquiring concerning the manner of the Resurrection, but for their Ignorance and Unbelief, that some did not believe the Resurrection, which they that do not believe it, they remain in gross Ignorance and Unbelief, and such are directed to the Husbandman, to learn the manner of the Resurrection, by using the Example of the ●orn. And it is a great Error for any to hold, That the Saints now living in the mortal Body, have attained the Resurrection of the Body, or that they attain it immediately after Death; for it is most evident from the holy Scriptures, that the Resurrection of the Dead is reserved to the last coming of Christ to judge the quick and the dead, and the d●●d in Christ shall rise first; so where there is the true knowledge to God in Christ, of the Souls well-being, it m●●t necessarily follow, that the spiritual Understanding w● be the more capable to know in what state the Body w●●app●a●, which shall never enter God's Kingdom with natural Flesh, ●lood a●d Bones; for though it be sown a natural Body it is raised a spiritual Body as it is written The first-day ●●a● a living Soul, the last ●●dam was mad a quickening Spirit; so that which was first was not spiritual but natural, and afterwards that which is spiritual. S● then it must be 〈…〉 minded only that have the true knowledge of these things; for the natural minded man is a fool, a● to the true Knowledge of God, because he remains in Disobedience to the gift of his Grace, but is bewitched that he should not obey the Truth made manifest by Jesus Christ, Gal. 3.1. through which unfaithfulness the mind of his Understanding is Darkness, as to the things of God, which chief concern his Soul; and such live without God in the World, not knowing that there is a God by his saving Grace, according as by their Works is manifest, which includes them to be one with the fool, which saith in his heart, there is no God, neither indeed is there any Salvation of God to the rebellious Children of Disobedience, who pretend they know God, but in Works deny him. Therefore it is most necessary for all such to bend in their Minds, and by true Repentance seek the Lord whi●e he is to be found, for he is only found of them that truly seek him in true Humility of Spirit, and not o● them that remain in a state of serving the Lust of their corrupted Desires, and yet remain talking about the fashion of the Body, and in what likeness they shall appear, before they witness any thing for the Souls wellfair, as they ●●ght to do; for Christ is rîsen, otherwise all preaching is in vain, and Faith also is in vain; or if the dea● rise not, th●n is not Christ raised, and if Christ 〈…〉 raised, Faith is in vain, and all men are yet in their sins: Bu● the Lord hath given a true knowledge of himself to the Righteous, who witness Christ to be raised from the dead, and is become the first Fruits of them that slept, and by true Faith they witness his Resurrection, by what they feel of his heavenly divine Nature, that he is raised from the dead; for since by Man came Death, by Man came also the Resurrection of the Dead; for as in Adam all dye, even so in Christ shall all be made alive, 1 Cor. 15.21, 22. So, as People come to witness a dying state from sin, they shall also witness a living ●ate to God, through whose Spirit of Grace they shall partake of his heavenly Riches, through Faith in Jesus Christ; but as to these spiritual things there is no profit by them to any, who come not into Obedience to the gift of God's Grace, which comes by Jesus Christ, whom no man knoweth but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him, Mat. 11. 2●. Joh. 6.44. Then as the Scriptures are left for men's learning, no man can learn to know God aright, without the gift of his Grace, and divine Light of his Spirit by Jesus Christ; for the Letter k●●eth, but the Spirit giveth Life, 2 Cor. 3.6. for as the Spirit of God is the Ministration of Condemnation to the Disobedient, so also do they read their Condemnation in the Scriptures of Truth; but to the faithful, who live in Obedience to the Spirit of Truth, to them the Spirit of God by Jesus Christ, is the Ministration of Life and Salvation, and through Faith in Christ Jesus, the Scriptures do minister the knowledge of Life; for through Faith in Christ they are able to make wise to Salvation. Then, whatever men may gather in the outward Comprehension from the holy Scriptures, concerning the great Work of God, by the Death and Resurrection of his Son, the Lord of Life, which will not profit them that remain in a state of daily sinning against the gift of his divine Light, which is their Condemnation for evil Deeds, Joh 3.19, 20, 21. in which state they remain dead as to God, having no benefit by the Resurrection in the Life to come; ●or God is not a God of that which is d●ad, but a God of the Living, Mat. 22 23 So that God is a ●od of the living, who have been buried with the first Man in sin, but through the Resurrection of the second Man, the Lord from Heaven, have they received the earnest of Life Everlasting, 1 Cor. 15.48, 49, 50. having obtained the Promise of God, through the Resurrection o● Jesus Christ, which the 〈…〉 the benefit 〈◊〉 Christ conc●ied and 〈…〉, ●he is ●hat which People ought to witness, through the in ●ard Word of his traching which teaches the true knowledge of God, according as is recorded in the holy 〈…〉, That ●●s s●hcient to Salvation to know God and Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lord, which was made of the S●ed of David, accord●n● to the 〈◊〉, and 〈…〉 to be the S●● of God with 〈◊〉, according to the Spirit of Ho●●ness, by the Resurrection of th● death Rom 1 4. which the Righteous witness, through 〈◊〉 the Law of sin, by the Body of Christ, that they should b● 〈◊〉 to another, even to him who is rasea● from the dead that they should bring forth fruit unto God R●m. ●. 4 for they 〈◊〉 have been planted together in the likeness of his Death, 〈…〉 also in the likeness of his Resurrection Rom. 6.5 So that the chiefest desire of true Believe●●, is to know the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Power of his Resurrection, and the fellowship of his Sufferings, being made conformable unto his Death, Phil. 3 10. for they that shall be accounted worthy to obtain the Kingdom of God, and the Resurrection from the Dead, neither marry nor give in Marriage, neither can they die any more, for they are equal unto Angels, and are the Children of the Resurrection, Luke 20.34, 35, 36. but they whose hearts and minds are joined to the perishing things of this ●ife, they are not married to Christ, and so have no hope to be the Children of the Resurrection, but only Children of the World, which love gain, delights and pleasures, in which there is no profit for a man to gain, and lose his soul; for he that loveth any thing more than Christ, is not worthy of the rich benefits which the faithful receive through his Death & Resurrection. Therefore it concerns all that they may so live as to die from sin, and be m●me, alive with Christ, that they may be partakers of his heavenly Riches in the Kingdom of God, where Flesh and Blood cannot inherit, 1 Cor. 15.50.   

CHAP. XV. Concerning the Ministers of Christ, and the Ministers of Antichrist. Also, of Humane Learning, and the Vs●●f it, and how it came in practice among them called the Reformed Churches of this latter Age. And concerning Gospel-Maintenance, and in what manner, and to whom it belongeth.  
JEsus Christ, the Son of God, and Everlasting Covenant of Grace, Life and Light, he is Minister of all Truth and Righteousness, which hath appeared for Salvation of men, for which end in days past, he chose unto himself Twelve Disciples, which were men that believed in him, and not being brought up in that manner as the many Teachers are in this day, who serve a time in Schools of Learning, by which they gather outward knowledge in H●brew, Greek and Latin Phrases, also Arts in other things, which the holy men of God did never practise; for the twelve Disciples of Christ's choosing, were not fitted after any such manner to preach the Gospel; for they were illiterate, and Tradesmen, etc. and lived not by hire for preaching, but laboured with their hands for their outward subsistence, such were they whom the Lord did call to preach the Gospel, which did minister the glad Tidings of Peace and Salvation unto the Nations, among whom the Word of God was divided 〈◊〉, and every one their portion, according to their 〈◊〉; for they had not their Wisdom from below, is the many Teachers now have, notwithstanding, the Lands Servants wanted not Wisdom from above, when gave them utterance of words, whereby they were enabled ●o divide the Word aright, in declaring and dem●ustra●ing the Will and Mind of God, at which time some of the learned Jews and wife Rabbis opposed them setting them at naught, others resisted them, notwithstanding they did not 〈◊〉 to be approved in that Wisdom that Man toucheth, which is never able to prepare and sit for 〈…〉 work and service of the Gospel, as is further manifested by the saying of him who was brought up in great outward Learning at the feet of Gamaltel, Acts 22. in which state he was not capable, by all his outward Learning to know Christ, whom he persecuted in his Servants and Messengers of his Truth, thinking that he did good service for God, when he was destroying his People, even as hath been in many places, many of the learned Hebrew, Greek and Latin Men have destroyed the Lives and Estates of many People, because they could not conform to their Antichristian Faith, which the Devil would have had set up in the Disciples of Christ, who came not to destroy men's lives, but to save and make alive; which work is of a contrary Nature to that Wisdom which is from below; for the true Wisdom of God openeth the Understanding in the things of God, which the learned, by all their outward wisdom can never do; for they remain in the Wisdom of Darkness, as to the things of God's Kingdom, which Paul in all his outward Learning was a stranger unto, but by that Wisdom which is from above he came to receive that spiritual sight which gave him the true saving knowledge of God by Jesus Christ, whose Minister he became, being then a Witners unto all men of both what he had seen and heard, Act. 22.13, 14, 15. Which doth manifest, that his 〈◊〉 to the work of the ●o●pel, was of God; which Work he attended, according to the Dispensation which he had received, for the opening of blind Eyes in others, by which they were turned from Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Stran to the Power of God, and received Forgiveness of sins, and an Inheritance among them 〈◊〉 are fa●ctified, Acts 26.18. in which state he did not 〈◊〉 to speak any thing which Christ had not wrought in him; yea, he so strove to preach the Gospel, not where h●st was named, lest that he should build upon another man's Foundation, Rom 1● 18.20. which is as much differing from the call and practice of many called Gospel Ministers in this day, as the East differs from the West, being contrary one against the other, and at that distance by which they can never join one to the other, even so contrary are they in their own Wisdom, to the Doctrine, Principle and Practise of the holy Apostles, who were called of God by the Power of his own Spirit, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, which made them able Ministers not of the Letter, but of the Spirit, which gave forth the Letter that kills them that are not in Obedience to the gift of the Spirit, for the Letter kills, but the Spirit makes alive, 2 Cor. 3.6. for the Apostles were not made Ministers by the Will of Man, neither were they upheld by the Power of Man, but were made Ministers according the gift of God's Grace, given unto them by the effectual working of his Power, Ephes. 3.7. neither did they build again the things which they had once destroyed; for in so doing they become Transgressor's, Gal. 2.18. Now the hited Teachers of this Age preach against Sin, which on the other hand they build up, by laying a rotten Foundation, That People can never be free from sin in this Life which is inconsistent with Gods holy Truth by Jesus Christ, who came to destroy sin, and put an end to Transgression, that is, in them which believe, as the Apostles have done for example; for they were so far from hire, that they had, as it were, nothing, and yet, through contentment with the Lords providing, were made possessors of all things, approving themselves as the Ministers of Christ, in much patience in Distress, by Pureness, by Knowledge, by Long-suffering by Kindness, by the holy Ghost, by the Word of Truth, by the Power of God, by the Armour of Righteousness on the right hand and on the left; by Honour and Dishonour, by evil Report and good Report; as Deceivers, yet true, as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich, as having nothing, yet possessing all things, 2 Cor. 6.4, to 11. which was the state of the true Ministers of Christ in that day, and is, in measure, the same with many in this day. Which doth manifest the wide difference between the Ministers of Christ, and the Ministers of Anti-christ, the one being in a state of Darkness, through that wisdom which will neither enter, nor suffer others to enter; and the other in a state of Light, through the gift of that Wisdom which is of God by Jesus Christ, which is willing to give entrance, through Faith in him, to his Rest, which the wise of this World, by all their outward Learning can never find; for as the true Ministers of Christ give no offence, so the Ministers of Anti christ offend in all things towards God and his People; and he that offends Christ's little ones, better were it for him that a Mill stone were hanged about his Neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea, Mat. 18.6, 7. for the People of the Lord are even to him as the Apple of his Eye, and blessed are they that are not offended in him, for they shall receive a double Reward of God's heavenly R●ches in Jesus Christ; but Woe is unto them that have taken upon them the name of his Ministers, and are not found in ●he 〈…〉 of his Life, by whose Spirit of Grace his Servants were made able Minister's of his Truth, according to the Disp●niation given th●●, for others to fulfil the Word of God, Col. 1.25. which is evident they did not preach 〈…〉, but J●us Christ the Lord, and themselves the People's Servant's 〈◊〉 Jesus sake, 2 Cor. 4.5. neither had any man's Person in admiration for advantage sake of outward gain, neither was their preaching with 〈◊〉 words of man's wisdom, but in the demonstration o● the Spir●●, and of Power, that People's Faith might not stand in the Wisdom o● Man, but in the Power of God, 1 Cor 2.4, 〈◊〉 that so they might continue in the Faith, grounded and steadfast, and not be moved away from the Hope o● the Gospel, which they ●ave heard, and which was preached to every Creature ●hat is under the Heavens, whereof the Apostles were made the Ministers of Christ, Col 1.23.  
Now it is evident, that they who pretend to be Gospel Ministers, and are not in Doctrine, Principle and Pratice, as aforesaid related of Christ's Ministers, they are ●●e World's Teachers, set up and upheld by the World, ●nd so no true Gospel maintenance belongeth unto them; ●r their mouths are to be stopped, because they subvert ●hole Houses, teaching things they ought not, for filthy ●ucre take; therefore their mouths are to be 〈◊〉, ●hom God hath not sent to tread out his Corn; for 〈◊〉 God taketh care for Oxen, so he taketh the greater care 〈◊〉 the Ministers of his Truth, that as they blow in have, they also thresh in hope, and are made partakers of their hope, 1 Cor. 9, 9, 10. in which state the Household of Faith do good unto all men, and more in a special manner to them of whom they partake of their spiritual things; So in the one Faith, do the People of God minister to each other, without any Compulsion by or from the Power of man, Rom. 15.27. 1 Cor. 9 11. So they that wa●t a● the Altar are made to partake with the Altar, 1. Cor. 9 13. Even so hath the Lord ordained, that they which prea●●h the Gospel should live of the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9.14. So the true Ministers of Christ do not use any outward Power, lest that they should hinder the Gospel of Christ, 1 Cor 9.2. which Example is left for all to follow, even as the true Gospel Ministers have followed Christ, and also to mark them that walk otherways, 1 Cor. 11 1. Phil. 3.17. Then whom should we mark, but them who have taken upon them the Name of Gospel Ministers, and by their Doctrine Principle & Practice, are not found of the Nature of Christ, and his true Gospel Ministers, which teach People the way to God's Kingdom, without Money by the year for preaching; for the Love of God in Christ, by whom his Servants and Messengers of Truth are constrained to preach the Gospel, for whose sake they preach the Gospel without Charge; even so was it with the Apostles in their Day, who used no Compulsion, neither did he write that any such thing should be done unto them, for it were better for him to die, than that any man should make his glorving void; for though he did preach the Gospel, he had nothing to glory of for a Necess●●y was laid upon him, yea Woe was unto him i● he did not preach the Gospel. What the● was his Reward, that when he did preach the Gospel, that he might make the Gospel of Christ without charge, that he might not abuse his Power in the Gospel, 1 Cor. 9.15, 16, 18. for though he was free from all men, yet he made himself a Servant unto all men, that he might gain the more, 1 Cor. 9.19. which doth condemn the Doctrine, Principle and Practice of them which have the name of Gospel Ministers, but not the nature of Gospel Ministers in this our day, in which some have said, That would to God they could but practise all what their Ministers preach and teach to them; the reason is, because the great God of Heaven and Earth, by whose Power they are restrained, other ways they would do even as their forefather's have done, who have persecuted many of the Lords People to Death, and not only among Papists, but among them called Protestants also; but the Lord hath in all Ages permitted the Power of that Spirit for a trial of us People's Faith, who did never esteem of human Learning as needful for Man's Salvation, but of late (among other things) it hath crept in among the Churches, as by the following Account from Christian Authors.  
Gaudeutius damn mor. sec. Justinian saith, We do not read that ever the Ancients did openly in Schools, read or teach Philosophy, since they did rather abhor it. And faith another good Author, I would fain see a man that could show, that Christians either before or in the time of Justinian, did openly teach Philosophy. And Hadrian Saricrial informs us, That the primitive Christians had no Accademical Schools, like those now a days. And we do not read of any University of the Albigenses, Waldenses or Bohemians; for most of their Teachers were Tradesmen and Handy-crafts-men, and did not spend their Time in reading Tongues or studying Authors. Herald. Aaimad. in Arnob. The Christians living excluded from all Honours and Magistrates, did neglect the Studies, which were for the discharge of civil Employments, because Sophesters and Philosophers were the principal Enemies of Christianity; therefore upon this account they condemned all Tragadies and Comedies and all other Poetical Writings being the main part of humane Learning, as Judging they did not conduce to solid Knowledge. Tertullian lib. de Idolat pag. 138, 139. Judged, that Schoolmasters professing Learning, were guilty of great Idolatry, because they did only expound Names, G●neologies, and fabulous Arts o● Heathen g●dds, and generally in ho●e days Believers harboured a very bad esteem of Natural Learning, and generally the Christians were provoked thereunto, because the Gentiles did upbraid them, that their Teachers were sal●●erate Persons, as Wool-Combers, Weavers, or the like. These things being objected against the Christians, the Christians on the other side rejected all humane Learning, as a 〈◊〉 thing, and no ways advantageous to Salvation, though their Adversaries boasted of it. Origine lib. 3. saith The Christians did declare that Men of any Condition might be saved, Servants, Idîots, Rustics, and such as the World valued as Fools; and that God did confound the wise in their own Wisdom. And Coelsus, as Orig●ne 〈◊〉 his Book 〈◊〉, That Christians did proclaim it in their Assemblies, Let none that is Wise enter, none that is learned, none that is ●oudent; for thus it is appointed us in the Gospel; but if there be any that is unwise, unlearned, any foolish, let him approach with Confidence, for these are fit to be the Servants of God.  
Gazentius in his Annimadversions, pag. ●5. saith, That the Gentiles did object against the Christians their rude Style, their harsh Language, and how they wer● destitute of all Addresses, calling them Rustics, Clowns etc. So the Christians did again term the Gentiles th● Eloquent and the Learned.  
Clemens Romanus saith in his Writings, lib. 2. cap. 6. Abstain from all the Books of the Gentiles, for what have you to do with strange Discourses, or Laws, or false Prophets, which seduce weak men from the Truth?  
Petrus Belonius saith, That in Greece among the Christians, which were very many, there were few learned men▪ because they esteemed not of it, as of necessity to Christianity, though they could speak Greek, and some Larine, few could write or read. In their Libraries were found several Manuscripts of Divinity, but no History, no Philosophy, for these were 〈…〉, and 〈◊〉 Christians not to study Poetry and Philosophy. Yet we find that the Greek Church is highly owned for a true Christian Church by the Protestants, though neither the Greek Church, the Pikards, Albigenses nor Waldenses in Bohemia did value Learning, so far were they from esteeming of it, as the proper true Religion.  
Luther de Inst, puer inter. oper Wittingburg, tom. 7 fol. 444. Paul exhorteth to beware of Philosophy and vain deceit, 2 Col. 2. He had been as A●h●ns, and had acquainted himself with that vain glorious humane Wisdom, and knew the multiplicity of Contradictions which it had procured; what then had Athens to do with Jerusalem? what hath the Epicures and Stoics to do with the Church of Christ?  
Jerom lib. 1. contra. Peleg. What had Aristotle to do 〈◊〉 with Paul, or Plato with Peter? And a multitude of Testimonies may be brought to the same effect, how that Christians did in former days reject Philosophy and Heathen Authors, and all such frivolous stories, as of no way lawful 〈◊〉 Christians to meddle in, nor good to propagate Christi●nity. And Bishop Usher in Vindication of the Waldenses, by way of Apology, saith, God did choose Fishermen, that he might not give his Glory to another; forasmuch as the little Ones had asked Bread, they came to receive it, and the learned being busied about vain Contentions and Disputations, were sent empty away. Bishop Usher, des. Eccles. cap 6.28. The Waldenses said, We are not ashamed of our Teachers, because they labour with their hands, procuring thereby a livelihood to themselves, because both the Doctrine and Example of the Apostles doth lead us to such Apprehensions.  
But I would not have any to mis-understand me, or to think that I am against all outward Learning, for that is not my drift, but that Truth and Righteousness may take place, by which outward Learning may remain for the use of that end for which it was intended, the knowledge of Tongues and Languages having their proper Uses, which are not evil in themselves; and Schools of Learning I acknowledge there aught to be, for Natural Languages are serviceable for Translating the Scriptures, and ●the● pious Books into the vulgar Tongues, and for natural use● in natural Transactions, in civil Affairs betwixt Man and Man, and Nation and Nation; for its good to maintain Learning, and to keep it in its right place, otherways i● can never be of that service for which it was intended that is, for the honour of God and service of men's outward Employments between Man and Man, and Nation an● Nation, and not to be upheld for this end that none without humane Learning are capable of preaching th● Gospel; for Paul without that Learning which was 〈◊〉 the Wisdom of God, was not capable of preaching Chri●● to the Peoplè, no more are they Gospel Ministers, n● Ministers of the Gospel which remain in Paul's first sta● of outward Learning; but Learning sanctified, through Grace, by Faith in Jesus Christ, is of benefit to his People, which without Grace, outward or 〈◊〉 Learning cannot be any Honour to God for 〈◊〉 profit of his People; which doth prove, that men without Grace cannot be the true Ministers of Christ, but all without Grace are of the Ministers of Anti-christ, unto whom no Gospel Maintevance belongeth; for they remain in the outward knowledge of the Letter, and by their Fruits they are manifest not to be the Ministers of Christ, but the Ministers of Anti-christ.   

CHAP. XVI. Concerning divine Inspiration and Revelation.  
MAny are the Teachers which hold, all divine Inspiration and Revelation to be ceased ever since the Apostles days, and from that time that God hath wholly committed his Will and Mind to be known by the written Word.  
To which I Answer: That God in Christ, before the World began, did determine all things necessary for man's Salvation, whom God did make in his own Image, and gave him Dominion over the Works of his own Hand, which Image of Holiness Man lost in the Fall. Now Adam is called the Son of God, and he that is a Son of God is also a Child of God, Luke 3.38. in whom the Spirit of God by measure dwelleth, which is for this end, to direct the mind of Man unto the true and living Knowledge of God; for which end there was a sufficient gift of God Spirit to save Adam's Soul, which gift in measure is given to all the Children of Men, that they may know the Mind of God, and do it; for Salvation is not by the Works of the Law, but by Grace, through Faith in ●esus Christ; for the Law was given by ●loses, but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ, who is the Author and Finisher of his own work of in his people, John 1. 1●. and for that end they have received a divine gift of his Spirit of Grace, which doth reveal the Mind and Will of God, in and through the Son of his love, the Lord Jesus, which is Christ (by the divine Life and Light of his Spirit in his People the Hope of Glory, in which state they serve the Lord of Life, according to the Revelation of his Spirit, of which all, in measure have received, or shall receive, for their Obedience to the Faith, through which Obedience of Faith, is the Justification of Life and Salvation, and Condemnation unto them whose Disobedience is to the true Faith, which hath been delivered unto the Saints, unto whom the Lord, in measure, doth reveal himself in this day, as to his faithful Children in days past, it being granted, that God gave extraordinary Revelations, etc. to the holy Prophets and Apostles, beside what he gave them in common with all Saints; for he changeth not, but is the same God yesterday, to day and for evermore, who makes known the Mystery of Salvation by the Revelation of his good Spirit of Grace, through their Faith in Jesus Christ.  
So now, as the Almighty God hath in all Ages made known of his Will and Mind to the Children of men, by the revealings of his Spirit in their hearts, even so is it among his Children in this Day, who behold with their spiritual Eyes the mighty Works of God to their Souls, by the Revelations of his Spirit, in and through Jesus Christ; for he that was to come, is come, in whom the fullness is, and hath brought in the hope of Salvation to all them that believe in the gift of his Spirit, which doth reveal the Mind of God in his People, who witness him to be come, which hath fulfilled all Righteousness, and brought in the Hope of Assurance, which is revealed by the Inspiration of his holy spirit in them, through which they are brought into a further acquaintance with the Lord of Life, whom to know, through the drawings of the Father, is Life Eternal, through the Son; for no man cometh to receive Life by the Son, but as the Father draws him, neither cometh any to the Father, but by the Son, John 6.44. Thes. 65  
So here is a drawing by the Spirit, which reveals the Will of God in the Children of his own begetting, through which, by Faith, they come into fellowship with the Son more and more, whom no man knoweth but the Father, neither knoweth any the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him, Mat. 11. 2●. Therefore the true saving knowledge of God, is by the divine Revelation of his own Spirit, in and through Jesus Christ, whom to know is Life Eternal, of which the Scriptures do declare, that the Power of God remains in the gift of his Grace, which c●me by Jesus Christ, through which is the assurance of Salvation, to them that by Faith in Christ, through whom by his Grace, they are saved. Now the holy scriptures were given forth by the holy Spirit of God; therefore is his Spirit before and above the Scriptures, as the workman is above the instrument he works with; for the spirit worketh with the Scriptures instrumentally upon the souls of men, both to inform their Understandings, and to move and incline their Wills and Affections; and no man can understand the things o● the Spirit but by the Revelation of the Spirit; for they in days past did search the Scriptures, thinking therein to find eternal Life, when tho' they testify of him, yet there is no Life to them th● by true Faith, in Obedience to the gift of his Spirit, will no● come unto him, Joh. 5.39, 40, Here is Life tendered, but not barely and only by the Scriptures, but by coming to Christ; for they in that day had the outward knowledge of the Letter, which kills without the saving knowledge of God in Christ, which by Faith is revealed through the Gift of his own Spirit in his People; for all that either tends to Salvation or Condemnation, it is by the Revelation of God's Spirit in man, for the Spirit of God keeps striving against the Enemy's Power in them whom God hath armed with his spiritual Armour against the Devil's Temptations, and in them that disobey God, through their Life of Disobedience to the gift of his divine Light, in them it is their condemnation for sin and evil, Joh. 3.19. Rom. 1.18, 19 2 Cor. 3.6. for it is by the Revelation of God's Spirit, that men come to the knowledge of which thought and intent is for him or against his Truth; for the thoughts and Intents of men, whether good or evil, the Lord shows it unto them in their own heart and conscience, by the Revelation of his spirit, which Justifies the thoughts and intents of the Righteous, but condemns the thoughts and intents of the Wicked. Now the holy Scripture is short in giving men the knowledge of their thoughts and intents, without the search of the Spirit of God; for the Lord searcheth the Heart and tryeth the Reigns and decleares unto Man what is his Thoughts, Amos 4.13. Also, the Prophet hath said by the Spirit of Truth, That they shall all be taught of God, which is according to Christ's saying, John. 6 45. Every man that hath heard and hath learned of the Father, cometh to me● neither hath Eye seen nor Ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath Prepared for them that love him, but God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searcheth all things, even the deep things of God; for what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of a man which is in him, even so the things of God, knoweth no man, but the spirit o● God, and to whom the Spirit reveals them; for true believers in this day, as well as in days past have not received the Spirit of the World, but the spirit which is of God, that they might know the things that are freely given to them of God, 1 Cor. 2 9, 10, 11, 12 By which it is manifest, that divine Revelation, by the inspiration of God's holy Spirit, is of absolute necessity for Salvation, in and thorough Faith by Jesus Christ, whom no man can know, but by the revealed gift of his Spirit, which through Faith begets the inward man into the saving knowledge of God, and of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, through which every true Believer in him, comes to receive of the like benefit with the Saints in their day, to see with their spiritual Eyes, and to hear with their spiritual Ears, and with their spiritual hands, they come to handle the Word o● Life, 1 John 1.1. Then if all divine Revelation and Inspiration of God's Spirit to his Children be ceased, must not all spiritual seeing and spiritual hearing be ceased also? which by their Doctrines doth seem to me, as if they conclude Christ also to be ceased; for if the Inspiration of God's holy Spirit of Revelation be ceased, then how shall God and Christ be heard and seen spiritually, as believers in days past did spiritually hear and see him? Also if God hath committed his whole Will and Mind to Writing, then by what means are these saved, which have not received the knowledge of the Letter of the holy scripture? Will they conclude, they all perish, for want of the Letter, when the Mind and Will of God is, that a Remnant of all Nations, of them that fear him and work Righteousness shall be saved. And though the holy Scriptures do give Infallible Marks of such an estate yet there is no scripture can infallibly assure any man that he hath these marks, but it must be the spirit of God, that gives every true believer such an assurance; for the spirit itself beareth witness with our Spirits, that we are the Children of God, Rom. 8.6. So it is the Spirit of God by which that assurance is revealed to beleivers, or more properly in believers, by which they come to witness, that they have the Son, and he that hath the Son of God, hath Life, 1 Joh, 5.12. Now the holy Scriptures hold forth, that he that hath the Son of God, hath Life, but give no assurnce of Life, but the Spirit of God doth reveal an assurance; which proves, that all divine Revelation is not ceased.   

CHAP. XVII. Concerning the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of Antichrist.  
THe whole state of man's Life is governed in Thoughts, Words and Actions, by the Power of the Spirit, which hath the Commanding part in man, who is either governed by the Spirit of Christ, or the Spirit of Antichrist, which is the Devil; for there are but two Spirits which rule, the Spirit of God, through Jesus Christ, which rules in the Righteous, whose Thoughts Words and Actions are governed by the Power of God's Spirit, which brings the Thoughts of the Faithful to be subject, in Obedience to the Power of his own Spirit, in and through Faith by Jesus Christ. Now the Spirit of the Devil, is that Antichrist, which Gods Power permits to rule in the Children of Disobedience, whose Thoughts, Words and Actions are governed by the Spirit of the Devil, so that men are Servants unto that Power which they obey; for the Thoughts of man's Mind are in a continual motion, and where God is not retained in the Thoughts, they cannot be of any service to him for the Souls benefit, but are in servitude to him unto whom they yield their Obedience, which Work altogether tends for Destruction of the soul; therefore People ought to be diligent with that gift of divine Light which God hath given, to find out the hidden things of Darkness, in the heart of man, who by Obedience to the gift of God's Grace, may come to understand the Lords Will to be done in their Thoughts, Words, and Actions, which work will bring honour to the Name of the Lord, and Peace to their own Souls; for he that brings his Deeds to the Light, they are made manifest by the Light, whether they are wrought in God, through faith and Obedience to the gift of his Grace; for the promise of God by Christ, is to the obedient part) for his Children are made a free and Willing People, to serve him with uprightness of Heart, Mind, Thoughts, Word and Actions) for the carnal Thoughts of man brings Death over the soul, but the spiritual Thoughts of man bring Life; for to be carnally minded, is Death, but to be spiritually minded, is Life and Peace with God in Christ. S● as there is but two Spirits which bare rule, the one or the other hath the Commanding part, in the heart and mind of man; for the Mind cannot serve two Masters, that is, no man can serve God and Mammon; for while the Mind is in obedience to the Spirit of Life, it overcomes the Spirit of Death, but while it remains in obedience to the Spirit of Antichrist, it becomes dead, & remains with Death, which state hath no relation to the things of Christ's Kingdom; for God is not a God o● that which is dead in sin and Trespass against the heavenly divine gift of his Spirit of Grace, Life and Light, which come by Jesus Christ, whole Spirit is not of this World, neither are they of this World, whose Minds are begotten of God, through him, to live in Obedience to his holy Truth, but the Spirit of Antichrist is of this World, and rules the Thoughts Words and Actions of them who are the Children of this World, which by subjecting to his Power, they believe that in the best of men, sin remaineth all the days of this Life, which Faith is begotten by the spirit of Anti-christ, which rules in the Children of Disobedience, whose minds are drawn into works of Darkness, which are begotten by their Father, the Devil, the Prince & Power of the Air, whose ●iry Kingdom remains in the Heart and Mind of all Unrighteous men, who are bewitched by the spirit of Antichrist, that they should not obey the Truth of God, made manifest by Jesus Christ, Gal. 3.1. by whose Spirit the heart and mind in the righteous are governed from vain and evil Thoughts; for every Thought, Word and Action that tends not to the honour of God, it proceeds from the lust of the corrupted Desire, which yields its Obedience to the Spirit & Power of Anti-christ, who is that Devil and Enemy to God and all Mankind, and his they are if they obey; for his Servants ye are, to whom ye obey, whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness, Rom. 6.16. So that Death, Hell and Destruction remains in all Thoughts Words and Actions, which proceed not from the Power of God, in Obedience to the gift of his Spirit by Jesus Christ; for all that is not of God's Righteousness by the Spirit and Power of Christ, is of Unrighteousness, by the Spirit and Power of Antichrist. So that all sin is of Unrighteousness, and all unrighteousness, is of the Devil, who sinneth from the beginning; and he that committeth sin, it is of the Devil; but whosoever is born of God, doth not commit sin, for his seed remnineth in him, and he cannot Sin, because he is born of God, 1 Joh. 3.8.9. Then let no man be deceived by the Spirit of Antichrist, or by any of his Disciples, for he that doth Righteousness, is righteous, even as he is Righteous, 1 Joh. 3.7. for whosoever committeth Sin, is a Servant to sin, Joh. 8.34. Then he that is a Servant to sin, is free from Righteousness; for the wages of sin is Death, and God is not a God of the Dead, but a God of them that are made alive, by the Power of his Spirit, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, whose gift of Righteousness is Life eternal, that is, to them that keep close in their minds with the Lord, by which they may not be drawn into the Antichristian Faith of any one thing, with which the Devil seeks to destroy the Soul; for God is not mocked, whatsoever men some, that they shall also reap; for he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap Corruption, but he that soveth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting, Gal 6.7.8. Now every-Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God, and every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God. 1 Joh. 4 2.3. Then that which appears from a spirit in men, which doth not lead from sinning against the gift of God's holy Spirit, their so living doth manifestu● a unrighteous Life is towards God, and that unrighteous Life is in obedience to the Spirit of Antichrist, which denyeth that Christ is come in the flesh; of which Spirit there are many, which have entered the false Prophets, which are gone out into the World, by which many are deceived; for they are of the World, and speak of the World, and the World heareth them, 1 ●oh. 4.5. but the Children of God are begotten by the Power of his own Spirit, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, and by Grace, through Faith in him, their works are of Righteousness before him, who is the Author and the Finisher of his own Work, in all them whose Works of Righteousness manifest Jesus Christ to be come in the flesh, which the works of the Unrighteous do not do.   

CHAP. XVIII. Concerning the true Language, and proper Nature of Speech, and the true Names of the Days and Months. And also the unrighteousness of People's vain living.  
Through the Unrighteousness of People's careless living unto God, they are got into a habitual custom of vain living before the Lord, not regarding to live up in Obedience to the the Spirit of Truth, which lead, God's faithful People into the true Nature of Speech, and to call the Days of the Week, and the Months of the Year by their proper Names, according as by that Spirit of God they are recorded for People to learn, in the holy Scriptures of Truth, which givs a holy Testimony, of the Righteous in days past, who lived in all manner of good Life, and holy Conversation before the Lord, speaking their words in the true Language, which is the proper Nature of Speech, and calling the Days of the Week, and and Months of the Year by their proper Names, which holy Practice, doth witness against this Generation of evil Doers, who accostom themselves to a vain way of living, both in Words and Actions, by which it doth manifest, that they are Lovers of their own vain Ways, and not the Lovers of God's holy Truth, which leads every upright hearted man and woman, to keep in the true Language and proper Nature of Speech unto all men, without respect of Person to any; for that which the World terms Respect, with Hand, Hat, and Knee, and You to the Rich, and Thee and Thou to the Poor is a respecting of M●ns Pe●sons, which is a transgressing of God's holy Law, for they that respect men's persons, commit sin, and are convinced of the Law, as Transgressor's, Jam 2.9. for thee and thou is proper to all men, and you to more than one for God said thee and thou to Adam, and Adam, said thee and thou to God again, Gen. 3.12, 13. and the same was maintained between ●acob and his Sons, Gen. 43.49. which proves, that thee and thou was the true Nature of Speech between God and Man, and Men and their Children, as Jeptha, a Judge in Israel did thee and thou his Daughter, and his Daughter, did thee and thou her Father again, Judg. 11.3, 5, 6. And the three Children did thee and thou to the King, and also Paul to Agrippa. And the same form of thee and thou to a single person, and you or ye to more than one, was prectised by Christ to his Disciples, and the same by the Disciples (as thee and thou) to Christ again, which is the true Nature of speech, as contained in holy Record, throughout the Scriptures of Truth, though some have wrested divers Scriptures, thinking thereby to prove a lawfulness of saying thee and thou to more than one, which doth not prove that you on ye is proper to a single person; for those scriptures which they have wrested, do manifest, that when the spirit of God in his Servants and Messengers of his Truth, did speak by the Spirit of Truth, to a Nation, Church or People, it was proper to say either you or ye, or thou, which did include a Nation, Church, or People, as one body in the cause, which was from the Lord, either for or against them, which is not the same between man and man, or between man or men, further than the cause doth concern a body of People, which in the cause are included, as one Man; for as the Body hath many Members, them many Members make but one Body, even so is it with a Body of People, whether in Church, or state; the many Members of that Church or state, make but one complete Body of People, which is very proper to say, thee or thou to that Body of People, but not proper to say thee or thou to a part of them, as they are divided; for though it was proper, according to Truth, to say, thee and thou to Jerusalem, yet we never find that the Spirit, of God did direct any to say you or ye to a single Jew, nor thee and thou to more than one, except as aforesaid, to a Body of People, whom the Spirit of God did as many Members includes one Body.) But then why not you to a single Person, which includes all the Members of that Body? because when the spirit of God did you or ye to a Body of People, it was that all might understand the Lords Cause, which was either for or against them. Now though the body of a single Person hath many Members, yet the Understanding of that body is but one, which Understanding comprehends the matter or cause, which the other doth relate; for when the Spirit of God speaks by the Messengers of his Truth to a Body of People; they do not speak to all the Members of the Body of each Man and Woman, but to the Body, which includes each man and woman a Member of that Body; so that it is very improper, and inconsistent with Truth, for People to plead, that when they say you or ye to a single Person, they speak as including all the Members of that single Persons Body; for which they have no warrant from the Spirit of God, nor Example from any that we read of in the holy Scriptures of Truth, Mat. 23.37 Luk. 13.34. Isa 43 5. but to keep to the proper true Nature of Speech, which God did set forth in the beginning, and the same by his People hath been in practice throughout all Ages, the height of Pride is such in many People of this Age, that they abhor to receive thee and thou to themselves, in which words they themselves render their Prayers to the Lord, which doth manifest their Disobedience to God's holy ●ruth, which leads to practice every good Work, which doth not appear in them which will not in love receive thee and thou to themselves, without esteeming of it as ill breeding; than what breeding are such of, who render their Prayers to God, ●n or by the same words of thee and thou, which they accounted Ill Breeding in the People of God, whose Communication is Yea, Yea, and Nay, Nay, and Thee and Thou ●o a single Person, and You and Ye to more than one, but ●vil Communication corrupts good Manners, and it is ●il for People to live in that which is inconfident with ●●e Truth of God, who brings forth his Children with the same Breeding, which in days past his People did manifest, by their upright living in all manner of good Life and holy Conversation which in this day among them account the Scriptures the Rule of Life, how contrary are they to the Scriptures, in the words and actions of of their Life? for among many, if not the greatest part of them called Christians in this day, who will not in love receive thee and thou from their Parents, neither will Parents in love receive thee and thou from their Children, nor the Rich from the Poor; for according to men's outward Wealth, or their place in Authority and outward Power, do Peopler spect them in their words and actions, as with Hat, Hand and Knee, you Sir, and your Servant Sir, and of the like, too tedious to mention, which are so many and ridiculous, that by such Fruits, with many of the like nature, they may with the spirit of God b● Judged, that they are far from a L●●●e or the holy Scriptures and the Spirit of God, which is their Condemation; 〈◊〉 there is matter sufficient contained in the Scriptures for Pe●ple to learn the proper Nature of speech, and to call th● Days & Months as there recorded ●or every man's learn 〈◊〉 and not to practise you and ye to a single Person, and th● or thou to more than one, neither to call the Day's 〈◊〉 Months by that Name which the Heathens, and the 〈◊〉 Saxon Pagns have put upon them, according as will 〈◊〉 low, in their Idolatry, when they worship the Sun, fr● which they called the first day of the week Sunday, a● the second day of the week they worshipped the M● from whence came Monday; and the third day of 〈◊〉 week, they worshipped the Planet called Tuisko, 〈◊〉 which came Tuesday; and so following, from their I Woden came Wednesday; and from their Idol Thor 〈◊〉 Thursday; and from their Idol Friga came Friday; 〈◊〉 from their Idol Seater came Saturday. And the Heathens called Mars the god of Battle, and from thence they called the first Month March; and Venus they called the god of Love and Beauty, and from thence they called the second Month A●ril; and Maja, a Heathen Gods, called Flora and Flowris, were called the Gods of Flowers; and unto Maja, the Heathen Idolators used to sacrifice, from thence was the Third Month, called M●y, and upon the first day of the same Month, they used to keep Floralia i. e. Feasts to the two Goddesses of Flowers, viz. Flora and Flowris; and Flora was a Strumpet in Rome, ●●at used on the first day of the month to set up a Maypole before her Door, to entice her Lovers, from whence came May Poles to be first observed; and from the Heathen Gods, Juno, is the fourth Month called June; and in honour to Jalius Caeser, a Roman Emperor, is the 〈◊〉 Month called July; and the sixth Month took its Name August, in honour of Agustus Caesar, the Emperor; and September, October November and December are called from the Latins; and Janus, a King in Italy was for his Wisdom pictured with two faces, whom they honoured as a god, from this name Janus was the eleventh Month called January; and Saturnus, Plato, Februs, were called the Gods of Hell, whom the Heathens said had the rule of the evil Spirits there, and from Pluto Februs was the Twelfth Month called February. Now as to them who have been, and yet are accounted Gospel Ministers of Christ, how have they neglected the work of God, to let People stray from the outward Letter of the holy Scriptures, to follow the practise of Pagans and Heathens, as before related, whose Fruits are not agreeable with the Truth of God, as by holy Record appears; and for a Tree to be good, that bringeth forth evil Fruit all its days, is a thing impossible; for men do not use to gather Grapes of Thorns, nor Figgs of Thistles; and for T●●chers with their People to live in a Life of these things, which are so contrary to the holy Scriptures, and the Spirit of God, by which they have been given forth, doth manifest that such People are only Christians in the outward Name, but not in the inward Li●e and Nature of what God requires, that every true Christian should be.   

CHAP. XIX. Concerning Prophesying, & women's speaking in the Church.  
Prophesying signifies Preaching, which is declaring the Word of God, as they receive his Will and Mind, by his Spirit of Grace, in and through the gift of his own Spirit by Jesus Christ, whose gift of good spirit of Grace, is by measure in the Male and in the female alike, who are made partakers of his blessed Truth, and in this day called of God by Jesus Christ, to declare his Truth, as the holy Men and Women were in days past; for he hath promised, To pour out of his Spirit upon all flesh, and among the faithful, their old Men dream Dreams, and their Young Men see Visi●ns, and their Sons and Daughter's Prophecy. But many have wrested the Apostles words, 1 Cor. 14 35 L●t our Wom●● keep silence in the Church, for it is not permitted them to speak but are commanded to be under Obedience; and if they will lea●● any thing, let them ask their Husbands at home, for it is a sham● for a Woman to speak in the Church. Now the Apostle words do not include all speaking by Women in the Church which if they did, it would then follow, that every true believing Woman is debarred from improving the gift of God's holy Spirit among his People, which are the Church of Christ; for by measure is the gift of God, by Jesus Christ, to the Man and Woman alike, wherefore they may pray and prophecy in the Church of Christ; for all may prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted, 1 Cor. 14.31. So that here is no tye nor bar from believing women's speaking in the Church of Christ, but debarred by them which are not the true Church; for every Woman that praveth & prophesyeth with her Head uncovered, dishonoureth her Head, 1 Cor. 11.15. By which it is evident, that their Women did in that day speak in the Church; for it's of no Edification for any Woman to prophesy alone by herself, but where two or three are gathered together in the Name of the Lord, there will his Spirit be in the midst o● them; which proves, that where two or three (Male or Female) are met together in the Lords Name, that there is his Church; and whether Male or Female, if called of him, they are to speak, which is not that speaking which Women in the Church are not permitted to do. For whereas they are not permitted to speak in the Church, it is to be understood relating to the Government of the Church, in which they are to keep silence, and be under Obedience, as also in the Law; for the outward Government of the Church God hath committed unto men, of which if the Women will learn, they are to ask their Husbands at home; for it is a shame for a Woman to speak in the Church, relating to the Government thereof; for in so 〈◊〉 she comes to usurp in Government over the man, 1 T●o. 2.12. for Christ is the Head of his Church, and the Head of every Man is Christ, and the Head of the Woman is the Man, and the Head of Christ is God, 1 Cor. 11.3. And as to such Women whose Husbands are Unbelievers, or that have no husband, a believing Brother hath liberty to inform them in things relating to the Government of the Church; in which the Women Prophets in days past, did not rule in the Government of the Church, as may be read of Miriam and Deborah, who were Prophetesses in their day, Exod. 15 20. Judg. 4.4 and Haldah the Prophetess, which prophesied of the evil to come upon Jerusalem 2 Chron. 34.22.23. And we read of Anah that prophesied concerning Redemption; for it is said, she coming in that instant, gave Thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of him to all them that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem; which all that looked for Redemption, did include the whole Church of Christ in Jerusalem; and at that instant of her coming in, and giving Thanks likewise, was, when the Church was gathered together, and Christ himself at that time in the midst of his Church in which, at that time, Anah the Woman Prophetess did speak, Luke 2.27. to v. 0. And Philip had four Daughters which did prophesy, Acts 21.8, 9 And the Lord hath promised, That he will pour out his Spirit upon all Flesh, and their Sons and Daughters shall prophesy; and their old Men shall dream Dreams, and their Young Men shall s●e Visions, and upon the Servants and Handmaids will the Lord pour out his Spirit, Act. 2 17, 18. Joel 2.28, 29. By which it appears, that prophesying is not altogether ceased among the People of God, whose promise doth continue among the faithful, whom he hath called, both Male and Female, to preach the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ, and by his good spirit of Life, Light and Grace are they lead to preach, in order as becometh the Gospel so to do, that the Prophets may speak two or three, and the others to judge; and if any thing be ravealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his p●ace, that all may prophesy one by one, that all may learn and be comforted; for the Spirit of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets; for God is not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace, as in all the Churches of the Saints; but if any he ignorant, let him be ignorant, 1 Cor. 14, to v. 38. But all covet to prophesy and forbidden not to speak with Tongues, verse. 39 Now among such Professors, where these things are not in practice, according to the Record of the holy Scriptures, which are for People's learning, that by the Spirit of God they may follow Christ, as the Apostles have done for Example, and to mark them which walk other ways; than whom is it that true Believers should mark, but them who pretend to be Gospel Ministers, and with their Hearers are not in the holy Practice of the faithful in days past, whom they are commanded to follow, as they have followed Christ, which until such time as they reform, in obedience to God's holy Truth, and are found to worship him in the Spirit & in the Truth, they are to be marked by all true Believers in Christ Jesus, To have a form of Godliness, but deny the Power, who are ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth.   

CHAP. XX. Concerning Powers.  
ALL Power is of God, either by commission or permission; Let every Soul be subject to the higher Power, for there is no Power but of God the Powers that be are ordained of God, Rom. 13.1. The Apostles words are very weighty, for all to Consider, and not to do as many say, that if they live where Governors and Rulers are, they must be subject to their Laws, which (they say) are ordained of God, for the benefit of Church and State, otherways (say they) we cannot be subject to all Powers which are ordained of God. Now this I do believe, that all Powers which are to keep down sin and evil, that they are ordained of God, but for any to think that the holy Apostle did include the Powers of Darkness, to be ordained of God, is gross Ignorance in them that so believe; for all the Powers of Darkness are of the Devil, who is the Father of all Unrighteousness; and God never ordained the Devil, nor any of his Dark Towers, which rule in the Children of Disobedience, of whom some have asserted to me, That God made the Devil, as he now is a Devil; but it's through Disobedience to God, and Obedience to the Power of the Devil, men come to grow into such gross Ignorance, that they will venture to the hazard of their souls, to say that which they neither know nor understand; for the Powers of Darkness, which God permits to rule in the Children of Disobedience, are for a trial of his People's Faith, who are not to submit in active obedience to the dark Powers of the Earth, among unrighteous men, which cause the righteous to suffer for the Truth of God, and Testimony of Jesus, which if any refuse Obedience to suffer for the Truth of God, and Name of his Son Jesus Christ, they cannot be his Disciples; for he that is not willing to part with his Life for the sake of Christ, can never be made partaker of his heavenly Riches in the Life to come; for he that denyeth Crhist before men, he will be denied of God's Kingdom by Jesus Christ in the World to come; so that the Righteous are not to be subject, in active Obedience they are to submit, and that for Conscience sake, well knowing that their reward will follow in heavenly Riches of God's Kingdom, where the Wicked shall never come. So all Powers that be, are of God, who permits the Devil's Power, in unrighteous men, for a trial of his People's Faith, and that he may gain honour to his own Name, through their damnation, which fullfils the Apostles saying, Let every soul be subject to the higher Power, for there is no Power but what is of God, either by commission or permission; for the Power of the Devil, God doth permit in unrighteous men, whose Power the righteous are not actually to obey; for if they should actually they any unrighteous Power, in so doing they resist the Ordinance of God, and to themselves receive Damnation, Rom. 13. 1●. which according to the Apostles words, no man is actually to obey any Power, save the Power of God, which is saving to them, that through Faith live in Obedience to his Truth, according as the holy Apostle did or example, who hinself was accounted one of the greatest Transgressor's of men's Laws, in that he was not in actual Obedience to any of their dark Powers, which ●ere then in his time, for which cause he himself suffered 〈◊〉 the Name of Jesus, through whose Power his People ●ome to be redeemed from all actual Obedience to the reviles Power, which rules in Unrighteous men, which ●ould force People from their Obedience to God, which ●ermits the Disobedient to wrêst the holy Scriptures to ●eir own Destruction, in which state they would bind 〈◊〉 others to believe in their Antichristian Faith, that 〈◊〉 is of God, and that if any man resist their Power, that 〈◊〉 resisteth the Ordinance of God, and to himself receives damnation, which is the very way of promoting the Kingdom of Antichrist, through whose Power many weak People are seduced from the true Faith, and have disinherited in the Power of God, by their actual Obedience, of conforming to the dark Powers of the Devils setting up in wicked men; but the day will come, which haltens towards the wicked, whom the Lord by his mighty Power will overthrow; for all power is committed unto him, whose power is over the power of the Devil, which the power of God suffers to rule, that he may see who will serve him, the God of all Truth, which permits the Devil to set up and pull down, even to the making waste o● one another, but they that truly serve the Lord, shall stand forever; for he is God and Lord over all, whose almighty Power suffers one dark Power to pull down one, and to set up another, until his time comes, whose right it is to rule in Truth and Righteousness in the heart of every man and woman, and in the mean time, they that rule for God, are not a Terror to good works, but to the evil; for they are the Ministers of God for the People's good, that they that do evil might be afraid; for he bareth not the Sword in vain, but is the Minister of God, and a Revenger to execute wrath upon them that do evil, Rom. 13.3.4. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for Wrath, but also for Conscience sake, Verse. 5. and for this cause pay you Tribute also; for they are Gods Ministers, attending continually upon this very thing, Verse. 6. Render therefore their due, Tribute to whom Tribute is due, Custom to whom Custom is due, Fear to whom Fear is due, Honour t● whom Honour is due; own no man any thing, but love on another, Rom. 13.7, 8. Now them that are faithfully in Obedience to the Power of God's gift of Grace by Jesus Christ, they fear the Lord, and work his Righteousness through which they live in the love of God towards all men, which is the fullfilling of the Law, Vers. 8. in which sta●e o● true love they render to all men (rich and poor) whatever the Lord requireth of them to do; for their obedience is to the power of his own spirit, which leads every Just and upright man in Power, to rule for God's Honour, through which they have Dominion over the evil Doers, and praise unto them that do well, such Rulers bore not the Sword in ●aine; but he that respects the Person of any man, in Justice and Judgement, is a Transgressor of God's holy Law, & is convinced of the Law, as a Transgressor, Jam. 2. ●. for they that rule for God, do no unrighteousness in Judgement, neither do they respect the Persons of the Poor, nor honour the Persons of the Mighty, but in Righteousness judge they their Neighbour, Lev 19.15. for they hear the small, as well as the great, without respecting the persons of either, thereby they do not fear the face of any man, for the Judgement is the Lords, which if there be any thing too hard for them they are to wait on the Lord, who in his own due time will manifest the truth of the Cause, by which they may come to render true Judgement, according to the mind of God, Deut. 1.17. but if they respect men's Persons, and wrest Judgement, and receive Gifts, than they are out of God's way, and rule not for his Honour, but for their own Honour, and self-ends among men; for a Gift blindeth the Eyes of the Wise, and causeth them to pervert the words of the Righteous Dan. 6.19. Now that Honour which is of Hand, Hat and Knee, to each other, it is not of God, for the Honour of God dwelleth in the heart of every faithful man; which is faithful to what the Lord hath ●●mmitted to his charge; for it is the Lord that searcheth the heart, and tryeth the reigns of the heart, and declareth unto man what is his thoughts; which no man can know by the Hat, Hand, and Knee of another, for which Honour they have no express command from God, nor example from his Servants in days past, who in their day did render Tribute, Custom, Fear and Honour in its right place, which at all times doth not belong to one and the same Person, but as he appears for God's cause, is there Honour due to him, as in the case of Paul before Festus and Agrippa, the one appearing in the truth of Paul's cause, and the other by Paul almost persuaded to be a Christian, which Noble Principle in them, was worthy of Honour from Paul, Act. 26.2.28, 31. 32 and divers other instances do the holy Scriptures afford, of that noble Spirit appearing in man of outward Power, whom they of this Generation esteem as Heathens, but be what they will, or whatsoever they were, the Lord and his People well know, that them so esteemed, their works towards the Lord's People in their day, do condemn the works of many men towards the People of God in this day, which do give Honour unto them, unto whom it doth belong, and not to honour them which honour not the Lord; for they whose works bring no honour to the Name of the Lord, they are not to be honoured by his People; for Old Age to many is lengthened out by many days, that the condemnation, of him that fears not God, and works not his righteousness, may be the greater; for though the Wicked may live to a hundred years, so living and so dying, they are accursed 〈◊〉 but the Hoary Head is a Crown of Glory, if it be found in the way of Righteousness, Prov. 16.31. By which we see and know, that God hath no respect for them that live not in the way of his Truth, for Old Age is as a Judgement to some, which desire to die, because of outward Troubles in Body, and Horror of Conscience for their evil Deeds, but Death as an addition to God's Judgements from such flieth away, others again, for their unrighteous living in sin and Rebellion against God, are (by his Just Judgements) cut off in the midst of their days.  
And as to such Rulers that trouble the People of God from day to day, and from time to time, they may read their Portion Luke 16.19, to 24. but the People of the Lord cannot be brought into bondage by the Power of unrighteous Laws, made by wicked men, to ensnare and hinder the faithful of their Obedience to God, who doth abhor the dark Works of unrighteous Rulers, whose wicked Works against the Lord's People, are done in pretence of some service for God, when that they are altogether for the service of Antichrist, and the promoting of the Devil's Kingdom, which the Lords People, by the Power of God, are kept and preserved from touching, tasting or handling with any unclean thing, well knowing, that the Wages of Sin is Death, but the gift of God is Life Everlasting; so than Death remains in the unrighteous Powers of Wicked and Ungodly Men, who, Balaam like, love the Wages of Unrighteousness, which the dumb Ass declared against, when he forbidden the madness of the wicked Prophet, who had forsaken the right Way of the Lord, to obey the dark Power of an Earthly Ruler; So the portion of Balaam will be the Inheritance of them that do not obey the Power of God by Jesus Christ, whose Power is the higher Power, unto which every soul is to be subject; for his Power is ordained of God, and there is no other Power, but the Power of God, which is by Jesus Christ, whom all men are commanded to obey; for by and through his Power are the faithful supported in all their Sufferings for his Truth, which is the Condemnation of all unrighteous Judges.   

CHAP. XXI. Concerning Oaths, which includes all Swearing.  
IN the first ●ovenant the Lords People were commanded to Swear by the Name of God, in which time of the Law Oaths were observed, in that Covenant which was faulty for if that Covenant had been faultless then should no place been sought for the second, Heb. 8.7. Now that Ordinance did not ma●e perfect, as pertaining to the Conscience, by which there came to be an end to that Covenant, and a better H●pe was brought in, which stood upon better Promises; for that Covenant, and the Ordinances thereof were only to continue till the time of Reformation, which stood only in Meats and Drinks, and divers Washings, and carnal Ordinances imposed on them, until the time of Reformation, Heb. 9.10. Now Christ, the everlasting Covenant of God to his People, fulfiled all Righteousness under the Law, by which the Covenant of Grace took place, in which the Oath ended, for Christ is the Oath of God, and the end of all Oaths, Strife and Contention. Mat. 5.33. to 37. It was said of old Time. Thou shalt not Forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oaths, but I say unto you, Swear not at all. Plain Doctrine, easy to be understood, commanded by Christ. Not at all to swear, or not to Swear at all; there is not a plainer and more strict Command contained in the holy Scriptures of Truth, than for people Not to Swear at all, which doth exclude from all manner of Oaths, otherwise Christ would not have mentioned Oaths, which were observed in the first Covenant of Works under the Law, in which time they were not to forswear themselves, but to perform their Oaths unto the Lord, which were to be conscientiously performed, according to Truth, in what they were engaged, or had engaged themselves in God's Name to do. Now Christ, the Oath of God is come, and in him is fulfiled the Righteousness of the Law; for he is the end of all Oaths, Strife and Contention; and the holy Apostles followed Christ's Doctrine, and exhorted People to follow them, as for Ensample they were Followers of Christ, whose Command they obeyed, and directed People to perform the same, and that was, Above all things not to Swear at all, but to let their Yea be Yea and their Nay, Nay, lest they fall into Condemnation, Mat. 5.33, 34, 35, 36, 37. James 5.12. Now the Apostles exhorting the Brethren to observe and keep close to the Truth of God, according to the Doctrine of Christ, which was, Not to Swear at all; which doth manifest, by his calling them Brethren, that they whom he exhorted not to Swear at all, were Brethren in Covenant with the Apostle in the Church of Christ else why called he them Brethren? then if Brethren with the holy Men of God in the Church of Christ, then why should any presume to say, his Exhortation from Swearing did only include common Swearing, which it so, it must then follow, that there were common Swearers in Covenant with the holy Apostle in the Church of Christ, which thing I do not believe, that any common Swearers were in Covenant with the Apostle James in the Church; but that as they were Observers of the Oath in the Law, he exhorted them to believe in Christ, who had fulfilled all Righteousness contained in the Law, in which the Oath was contained also. So that by fullfilling the Righteousness of the Law, or that righteousness of Works which was required in the Law, he also fulfilled the Righteousness of the Oaths and being the end of all Oaths, Strife and Contention, be exhorted the People to believe in him, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life of Light, which lighteth every true Child of God, begotten through faith in him, to speak the Truth each to the other in all cases whatever without Swearing, which is according so what the Apostle James doth also direct, viz. Above all things, my Brethren, Swear not at all, but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these, is evil; and we know that all evil is for condemnation, neither do the People of God cause any to Swear, but desire that all may speak Truth, and that they which speak the Truth, and they that swear the Truth, may be received under one Penalty, without transgressing the King's Law, by which men might live in outward peace, as to these things of Swearing, or not Swearing.   

CHAP. XXII. Concerning Wars and Fightings, being contrary to the Command of God by Jesus Christ, and Example of his holy Apostles.  
IF People would but follow Truth and Righteousness, they would do to one another as they would be done unto, which is the Law and the Prophets, Mat. 12. Luke 6.31. then would there be an end of all Wars and Fightings, which until men come to the first Ministration of the Law and the Prophets, to do even as they would be done unto, they are far from the Covenant of Life, Light and Grace by Jesus Christ, whose doctrine to his Disciples, by many is not minded, as they ought to do, or else they would put up the Sword; for Christ hath said, All they that take the Sword, shall perish with the Sword, Mat. 26.52. whose Doctrine is in general for all men to observe and do, that thereby they may perform the command of God, and live the Life of Obedience unto him, who hath said, all they that take the Sword, shall perish with the Sword; by which People may see and know, (besides what daily experience teacheth) that they which take the Sword, perish with the sword; by which they may see the woeful effect of their use of means, as they call it, which is, according to the spirit of God by his Prophet, ●ursed b● the man, that trust th●in man, and maketh Flesh his Arm Jer. 17.5. Then is not man departed from the command of the Lord, when he takes the Sword, with which Christ hath said, they that take it; shall perish with it? Can there be a more plainer saying in the holy Scriptures for People to understand, than the saying of Christ to Peter, Put up the Sword, for all they that take the sword, shall Perish with the Sword; which doth manifest ●he use of the Sword, to destroy the lives of each other, not to be the ordinance of God; for Christ came not to destroy men's ●ves, but to save and make alive. And his holy Apostle queries, Do not Wars and fightings come even of men's Lusts, ●hat war in their members? Jam. 4.1. which notwithstanding Christ, and his holy Apostles their say, People ●un back in their minds, as Israel, when in distress, turned ●heir minds to Egypt for help; even so do People distrust 〈◊〉 this day, as if there was no God in Israel to save, but 〈◊〉 run back in their minds to what Abraham and David, and divers others of God's faithful Servants did against the Enemies of God in the time of the Law, which is no way lawful for Christians to do in the time of the Gospel; for the holy men of God, in the time of the Law, did destroy People by Cursing them in the Lords Name, and destroyed m●n, others by fire from Heaven, which if such things were lawful in the time of the Gospel, as was lawful in the time of the Law, than every false Preacher is to be destroyed now in this Gospel day, even as they were destroyed in the time of the Law; for though they do not preach up a false God, yet they preach the true God in a false way, which no whit differs in sin against God in this Gospel day, no more than the sin of Baal's priests did in the time of the Law; but as the Lords People are to pray, and do pray, that the Lord may turn the hearts of all such to preach the true God in the true way of living unto him in Truth and Righteousness, with uprightness of heart and mind, according as of God, by Jesus Christ, they are commanded to do, then would they preach against the use of the Sword, and pray for the return of their Enemies, which is according to the command of Christ, who directs not any of his true begotten Children, to follow Abraham, David nor any other of the Lords Servants, with the use of the Sword in the time of the Law, which was to cut down, and lay waste their Enemy's Country, that it might be an outward holy Land for the Lords People to remain in, and serve him in Truth and sincerity of heart and mind, according to the Commandments of God which they had received so that all what was done in the time of the Law, in respect of wars and fightings, they were all to end in the time of the Gospel; for Christ is the end of all war, strife and contention, for Christ's day was before Abraham, who trained up his Servants to fight the Lord Battle against the outward Enemies of God's Truth, which is fulfilled by Jesus Christ, who hath commanded us to pray for Enemies; for he suffered Death for all, and doth not desire that any should perish, but that all might turn and live, and for that end, he doth not withhold the Sword of his Spirit from his Servants and Children, but trains them up to fight the Lords Battle against the spiritual Enemies, which oppose his Truth, and strive to hinder the prosperity of his People's peace, towards the holy Land or spiritual abode in heavenly Rest, which Enemies are the World, the Fresh and Devil, and all whatever else doth tend to hinder the soul of true enjoyment (with ●he Lord) of Rest; so that now in this Gospel day, it is by the Sword of the Spirit, by which the Kingdom of God is advanced in the hearts of his People, who pray to the Lord o● Life to teach their spiritual hands to right the Lords Battle against the Enemies of their Peace with him, so as Israel of old were to destroy all Gods outward Enemies with the outward Sword, for the outward advancing the outward Kingdom of Israel, in the outward La●d of Canaan, so are the People of God in this day, with the inward Sword of his spirit, to maintain now in their inward Travail to the heavenly Canaan, against all the inward Enemies which would hinder the advancing of God's Kingdom by Jesus Christ in his People, by whom they receive strength to fight the Lords spiritual Battle against the Enemies of their soul; and as Israel of old, did not perform the command of the Lord by the mouth of his Prophets, to destroy all them outward Enemies out of their Land, for which cause they remained as Thorns in their sides, so will it be with them, that reserve alive any one inward Enemy to God's Truth; for every Enemy to his Truth, seeks to draw the heart and mind from serving God in the true and living way, even as in the outward with Israel, in that day of the Lords command, to destroy all them that were outward Enemies to his Truth, which Israel, not fulfilling the word of the Lord, them Enemies were as snares and 'gins to draw their minds from serving the true and living God, by which they not obeying the word of the Lord, they by their enemies were drawn into Idolatry to worship the gods of the Nation, which were no gods to save Israel from the just hand of God, through whose just Judgements they received their reward from ●he Lord, which suffered them, for their disobedience, to be destroyed by the hand of their outward Enemies, so as Israel was to fulfil God's command to destroy their outward Enemies, by, or with the outward Sword of the Lords outward Battle, against them that were outward Enemies to the true Worship of God in that day, even so are the inward Enemies of man's soul to be destroyed by or with the spiritual Sword, which is to fight the Lords spiritual Battle, against the spiritual Enemies, which would hinder the inward man of the true inward Worship of God in the Spirit and in the Truth, so as the Rebellion in days past, did not regard the Sword of the Lord, who of long time after did strive with his People in that day of their outward War, against their outward Enemies, and they would not hearken to obey the Word of the ●ord by the mouth of his Prophets, but beat one and destroyed another, till at length, through unbelief and hardness of heart, they crucified the Lord of Life, whom they put to open shame without their City gates, for which cause, their day was over, and their House became desolate, even so will it be with the Rebellious in this day, who reserve Gods spiritual Enemies, by keeping them alive whom God hath apppointed to be destroyed, which for not obeying the command of God by his Son, the Lord of Li●e, but refuse the tenders of his Grace, by his gifts of divine Light and Word of his Spirit, which keeps striving from day to day, and from time to time, until their day be over, and House be left desolate; for the Spirit of God will not always strive with man; which is matter of great weight for all to consider, that they may so live in obedience to the manifestation of God's Spirit, that they may come to witness every evil Lust of the heart, and corrupt desire of the mind, which are the inward Enemies to God and man's Soul, that they may not reserve or keep any one alive, but keep all down with the spiritual Sword of God's Power, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, who withholds not from any that are willing to take up the Cross to their natural will, and follow him, to gain the Crown, which is far from them that lust after War and Fight with the outward Sword, which hath no relation towards the promoting of God's Kingdom by Jesus Christ, who hath said, all they that take the Sword shall perish with the Sword; which is according to the Apostles Query, From whence come Wars and Fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your Lusts, that war in your Members? ye lust, and have not, ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain; ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your Lust, Jam. 4.1, 2, 3. Then they which ask cannot receive, because they ask that which God hath forbidden; they lust to kill, and ask. Victory, that they may spend it on their lust, but their reward is to be according to Christ's words, all that take the sword, shall perish with the Sword.  
But some will say, If the Spirit move the Quaker, he will sell his coat and buy a Sword to fight for his Religion.  
To which I Answer,  
That Christ sent his Disciples without Purse, and Scrip, and Shoes, yet they lacked nothing, notwithstanding he said unto them, He that hath a Purse, let him take it, and likewise his Scrip and he that hath no Sword, let him sell his Garment and buy one, for I say unto you, that this that is written, must yet be accomplished in me. So he that had no Sword, was to sell his Garment and buy one, that the use of the Sword, according to the Righteousness of the Law, might befulfilled by the Righteousness of Christ, who said unto them that two Swords were enough, Luke 22.35, 36 37, 38. Then seeing that two Swords were enough, for the Disciples of Christ, by whom the use of the Sword was fulfilled by the Righteousness of Christ, as to the Law, than whose Unrighteousness is that, which the many Swords are fulfilling in this day? for the use of the Sword, as to the Righteousness of the Law, is fulfilled by the Righteousness of Christ, which suffered his Body to be pierced for the sins of the People, that all might witness him to be the end of all War, Strife and Contention; for if his Kingdom had been of this World, he could have prayed to the Father, and the Father would have sent him more than twelve Legions of Angels, and this was in full satisfaction to Peter, which was after Peter had put up the Sword, when Christ said to him, all they that take the Sword, shall Perish with the Sword, which doctrine is true, as by the Spirit of God, and holy scripture, with daily experience, which teaches the same; but Faith and Patience of the Lords People, witness the Kingdom of Christ, not to be of this World, for which cause, they cannot fight for him with the carnal Sword; for the Spirit of God doth not change in his People, to command them from a thing that is evil one time, and another time move them to do it; for the Spirit of God, by Jesus Christ, moves his People in the way of holiness, in which holy Way of Righteousness, they have born their faithful Testimonies for Gods holy Truth, against Fight, to defend their Faith by or with the carnal Sword, or to take up any such like evil Practice again; for God's way of bringing his People nearer to him, is by Jesus Christ, whose Kingdom he will more and more exalt in the hearts of the saithful, and not with the using of any carnal Weapon, but by the Power of his own Spirit, Ezek. 4.6. in which state they desire the welfare of all men, both Soul and Body, and not as many do, to kill the Body and say, they desire the welfare of their Souls, whose Bodies they have destroyed; for the Spirit of God meaneth not any such thing, as to destroy men's Bodies with the carnal Sword, and say they desire the welfare of their souls; for according to Christ's Dostrine, he that destroys the Body of his Enemy cannot love the Soul of his Enemy, for Christ came to save both Soul and Body, and through the Power of God in him, are many redeemed, which by nature were Enemy's ●nto him; then what more can be said, are not men by rature Enemies to one another? then come to the Law and the prophet's, and do even as ye would be done unto, for if you will be beloved of God in Christ, you must love both Soul and Body of your Enemies, even as Christ hath done unto them which have been Enemies unto him, for Love covers a multitude of faults, and Love leads them that are faithful to God, to keep the say of Christ, who hath commanded to pray for Enemies, and to do good unto all men, by which they may be the Children of their Father which is in heaven, in which state the Kingdom of this World may become the Kingdoms of Jesus Christ, that the Prophet's saying may be fulfilled, that Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation, neither shall they learn War any more, Isa. 2.4. Mich 4.3. until which time, the saying of Christ is fulfilled, upon them that take the Sword, which must perish with the Sword; then happy are they that are yet living in the Body, and have known the end of all War, Strife and Contention, for unto their Number Will be the gathering of them that shall not lift up the Sword one against the other, neither learn war any more, of which Number are the despised of this day, who strive to maintain Peace, by denying all Wars and Fightings with the carnal Sword, or of the like Nature.   

CHAP. XXIII. Concerning Conscience, which justifies the Ways of the Righteous, and condemneth the unrighteous Works of the Wicked.  
MAny People talk of Conscience, among whom some there are whose Hearts are so hardened, that their Consciences are seared, as with a hot Iron, such are in the depth of Iniquity against God and his Christ, and many are they that have so little regarded Conscience, that they have sinned out the Day of God's Grace, and many more are travailing in the broad Way of Destruction, and few there be that know what Conscience is, or the Nature of a good Conscience towards God and all men; for the Righteousness of God is held in a pure Conscience, by which the fruits of their righteous Works are manifest in the sight of God, and in the sight of men; but the Righteousness of the World is Unrighteousness with God; for their Righteousness is held in a corrupt Conscience of their own Unrighteousness, which is to themselves for Destruction; but where there is any thing of Life in heart, mind and spirit, as to the things of God, which concern the Wellfair of the Soul, there is Conscience at work, either excusing or accusing, according as their words, thoughts & actions are before the Lord, which searcheth the heart, and giveth to every man according to the Fruits of his own Works, whether of Faith and Obedience, or of Unbelief and ●isobedience, which the Witness of God with every and ●isobedience, which either justify or condemn; for all men shall be tried by their Deeds done in the Body, and accordingly they shall receive from the Lord, the righteous Judge of Heaven & Earth, who will call all to an Account in the great Day of his Coming to judge the Quick and the Dead, then happy will it be with them who have made good Conscience in all things of this Life, towards God and all men; for the Day is coming, in which Fear and Dread shall come upon all the Ungodly, who have not made Conscience of Obedience to the Name of the Lord Jesus, who is largely manifested, and many have and do believe and confess, and show their Deeds, as many have already ●one, who have brought out their Books of curious Arts, ●nd burnt them in the presence of men, the loss of which to ●hem was gain, though the price thereof amounted to fifty thousand pieces of Silver, Acts 19.17, 18, 19 and such were they, that by believing made good Conscience before God in the sight of men, which if all would live up in obedience to the Witness of God, they would come to the improvement of the like Conscience before God.   

CHAP. XXIV. Concerning the free Love of God, in and by the Lord Jesus Christ.  
THe Love of God, by the gift of his Spirit of Light, Life and Grace, is free for all men by Jesus Christ; for God so loved the World that he sent his only beloved Son, the Lord Jesus, to suffer Death for all men, that abosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting Life, John 3.15, 16. Then they that believe in Christ, are them that abide in the love of God, which leads to keep all his Commandments, which he hath, by the Son of his Love, the Lord of Life, commanded all men to keep; for the great Love of God was manifest, that Jesus, who was made a little lower than the Angels, for the suffering of Death, crowned with Glory and Honour, that by the Grace of God should taste Death for every man, Heb. 2.9. by which every man that heareth his Word, and believeth on God, hath Life, and shall not come into Condemnation, but is passed from Death unto Life, John. 5.24. For the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live, Verse 25. which is according to the Apostles saying, that when he was dead in T●espasses and Sins against God, the Voice of the Son of God appeared unto him, who became willing to give up in true love to serve the Lord with uprightness in heart and mind, by which through the Love o● God in Christ, he came, through Faith and Obedience, to receive that Crown of Righteousness, which was not only in store for him, but for all them, that love the appearance of the Lord J●sus in their own hearts, 2 Tim. 4.8. which is that true be●eving on Christ, by which the faithful receive Life everlasting, John 6.7 for he that loveth any thing more th●n the appearance of God's Gift of divine Light of Life by J●ins Christ, he is not in the true Love of God to receive Christ; for he that will not come into obedience to the gift of God's Spirit in his own heart, he is free (through Disobedience from the Love of God by Jesus Christ; for it is the Willing and Obedient, that are made partakers of Gods heavenly Riches, by the Son of his Love, and Lord of Life, whose Life remains hid to them that are not willing, in true love, to forsake the love of all Visibles, and visible Delights for his sake, but they who in obedience to him, are willing to forsake the love of Houses or Brethren, or Sisters, or Fathers, or Mothers, or Wife, or Children, or Lands, for the Name of Christ, they shall receive an hundred fold, and shall inher●● everlasting Life, Mat. 19.29. Luke. 8.29, 30. So that Life and Salvation is of no other way, then by that love which is free for God, to serve him in what he hath commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ, who requires no less love from his People, then to serve him in true love of Uprightness in heart, and mind; for he that was to come, is come to redeem his People from spiritual Bondage, and they are to serve no other lovers, but the Truth of God made manifest, by the Son of God's love, the Lord Jesus Christ, whose Commands they are to keep all the days of their appointed time, and not to love any thing more than to serve the Lord with a perfect heart and willing mind, out of which state the Soul is free from that benefit which the faithful receive through the love of God by Jesus Christ; for no man can remain in love to serve two Masters, he will either hate the one, & love the other, or despise the one, and hold with the other; for no man can serve God and mammon, Mat. 6.2. Luke 16.13. but many are they that profess love to God in words, but their love is far from him in works, for he that saith his love is to God, and doth not keep the Commandments of God, the same is a Liar; and the love of God abideth not in him for whosoever keepeth his word, in him is the Love of God perfected, and he is known by his walking, even as he walked, Joh. 2.1, ●, 3, 4, 5, 6. for Christ is the Righteousness of God's Love to his People, and every one that doth Righteousness, is born of him, 1 joh. 2. 2●. then People who are in a profession of God's Truth, and of loving one another, and their Neighbours as themselves, which except such Professors are come to witness the saving Love of God, and of his redeeming Power, through Faith and Obedience, to the gift of his divine Light, and quickening Word of his Spirit, their Profession is for Condemnation, because it remains dead, as to the Love of God by Jesus Christ, in which state it is not he that saith Lord, Lord, that shall enter, but he that doth the will of God, in love of obedience to what he hath required, which is to serve him and keep his Commandments; for in that day many shall say, they have done wonderful Works in his Name, but having not done the will of God, in perfect Love of Obedience, to keep his Commandments, they shall not be found worthy to enter the Lords Rest, Mat. 7. to 23. Luke 13.27. So that God's Love is not for the rest of man's Soul which remains only in the outward Profession of his Truth, unto such the Lord will say, Depart from me, ye that work Iniquity, I know you not; so that the Love of God, by Jesus Christ, doth not reach to save the soul of any man, only and barely by an outward Profession of his Truth, but if any man love him, and keep his Word, the same is accepted of God, john 14. for the Promise of God's Love is only to them that fear him, and work Righteousness, they shall receive Life everlasting; for where the heart is, there the Treasure is also, if in the Love of Visibles, then free from the love of God; for all that is of the World, the Lust of the Flesh, and the Lust of the Eye, and the Pride of Life, all which is not of God, but altogether of the World and the World passeth away, and the Lust thereof, but he that doth the will of God abideth forever, 1 john 16.17. then as the World and Vanities thereof shall perish, the Souls of them whose minds remain in the things of this World, they shall perish also; therefore let none be deceived, for God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that also shall he reap; for he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap Corruption, but be that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting, Gal. 6.7.8. which is sufficient encouragement for all to be faithful in love to God, by which they will come more and more, to witness of his divine Love to the spiritual strength of their inward man, through which every true Believer in him, comes to witness their holy Life in all manner of good Conversation, in which state the love of God, in and through the Lord of Life, leadeth in true love, to do good unto all men, especially to them of the Household of Faith, Gal. 6. ●. 10. who arê bound in true love to God, that they do not dare to love that which God ha●t●, neither to hate that which God loves, neither indeed can they, because the Love of God is to his own begetting, and they that are begot of him, through Faith and Obedience in Christ, they can neither love nor hate, but as ●●od loveth or hateth, that which is for him, or against him, so that the Life of every true believer in Christ, is of the nature of Christ, and is led by his spirit to love that which Christ loveth, and to hate that which he hateth, in which Life of true love to God, by his good Spirit of Grace, are the faithful led to perform his will, in all things of Love and Charity, to the honour of his Name, and the everlasting well-being of their own Immortal Souls; so that good Works are in a band of true Love and Charity, which man in his own Will and Time cannot perform, according to what the Lord requires; for the Lords Thoughts, are not as man's Thoughts, neither is the Lords Time, as man's time, whose Love is as unstable as the Mind, which m●ves here and there, having no constant abiding place, even so is the Love and charity of unstable men, which for want of true Love to God, and obedience to his command, they have no a biding in his Truth, but love and hate, even as the natural will stands affected one towards the other, in which state they run on in many words about Love and Charity, even as they do in all other things of the like nature, not knowing a bridle to the Tongue in true love to God and knowledge of his Ways, which lead the faithful in love to render unto every Man his due, in which work they do justly, love mercy, and hate all iniquity; in which life of true Obedience, there is no room to love that which the Lord hates, nor to hate that which the Lord loves, but to render, in true, love to every man, according to the mind of God in Christ, who doth not allow his Children, to give their holy things to Dogs, nor to cast their Pearls before Swine, but to live in the true love of God, which is above the Wisdom of the Serpent, whose Wisdom in unregenerated man, is far from the innocent Dovelike nature, in which li●e the faithful continue, and remain in the Power of an endless Life, in which they are redeemed from the pollutions of the World, which the unfaithful remain in; for as they are of the World, the world loves its own, but the Righteous, whom God hath chosen out of the World, such the world hates, John 15.9. Then they which remain in the love of the world, they cannot receive the love of God, because they continue in Disobedience against the known will and mind of their maker, therefore they have no true love to God, nor his People, John 15.18. but this the righteous know, that all things of this world shall perish, even so shall the love of them which are of this world perish also, but unto them which are of the world to come, the love of, God is there received, which shall endure forever; but the love of this World remains in the works of Darkness, in which the minds of them that are the Children of this World, are roving out of one perishing thing into another of the like nature, being unstable in all their ways, as to the Lord; but the love of God which passeth knowledge, is stable in the hearts of all that are faithful, whose Works are without Dissimulation, a●horing all that is evil, cleaving only to that which is good, and leads to be kindly affectionated in Brotherly Love, and in the holy fear of God, honouring, and preferring one another in the work of his own calling, who hath called his People out of all sloathfulness, into ferventness of Spirit, seeking the Lord, and rejoicing in Hope, patiented in Tribulation, and instant in prayer, in which state love worketh no ill to his Nighbour, but is the fulfilling of the righteous Law, Rom. 12 9 to v. 13. and 13.10. So the works of the Righteous, manifest them to be Christ's Disciples, Joh. 13.35 for they have not received the Spirit of Fear, but of Power and Love, and good Works 2 Tim. 1.7. Heb 10.2, 4. which they that witness not these things, they remain in Darkness, as to the things of God, from which the Righteous cannot be separated, neither by trial in Affliction, Tribulation, Distress, nor Persecution, neither Famine, Nakedness, Peril, nor. Sword, for as it is written, the Righteous are all the day long killed for his sake, and accounted as sheep for the Slaughter, Rom. 8.35, 36. which is the state of God's Heritage, who are justified by Faith, and have peace with God in Jesus Christ, by whom also, they have access by Faith, into his Grace, wherein they stand, and rejoice in the hope of the Glory of God; and not only so, but they glory in Tribulation, also knowing that Tribulation worketh Patience, and Patience, Experience, and Experience, Hope, and hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God, is shed abroad in their Hearts, by the holy Ghost, which is given unto them, Rom. 5.2, 3, 4, 5. so that height nor depth, nor any other Creature shall be able to separate from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, Rom. 8. for their Souls are redeemed, and become the first fruits of his Spirit, in Truth and Righteousness, and Holiness, Love, Joy, Peace, Long-sufferîng, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance, against such there is no Law, Gal. ●. 22, 23. And this is the Love of God in Christ, which passeth knowledge, that they may be filled with all the fullness of God, Ephes. 3.19. in which state the Work of the Lord is done in them that are brought home to him, through perfect Obedience to his holy Will, in all things which of them he hath required, by the gift of his Spirit of Grace, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ ●y whom the Righteous are saved, for they are grounded in the Love of God, which is without blame, forbearing in love, speaking in love, walking in love, dwelling in love, having no fear in love, being knit together in Faith and love, which is in Jesus Christ, 1 john 4.12. Ephes. 1.4. Thes. 3.17. and 4.2.15. and 5.2.16. Col. 2.2.2 Tim. 1.13. and many more Instances which the holy scriptures afford to the same effect that the free love of God by Jesus Christ, hath appeared unto all men, but all men have not received the free tenders of his love, through faith and obedience to his holy Will, so that by Disobedience to the free gift of God's Grace, hardness of heart and unbelief hath got the Victory in all that perish, and God is clear of the Blood of all men that perish, because his free love hath been tendered, through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, who delights not in the death of them that perish, but had rather all might turn and live.   

CHAP. XXV. Concerning the Church of Christ, and Gospel Order in the Government of the Church of Christ.  
IN the World among men of divers Persuasions, each Society pretends to be the Church of Christ, and each have their differing Forms to govern in their Church. Now Christ is but one in God the ●ather, and so are his Children but one in him, who are begotten by the quickening Word of his Spirit, which governs the Righteous in Thought, Word and Deed, by which they know his government in his Church, which are the true People of God, in whom Christ is glorified, John 17.9, 10, 11. for as God is but one in Christ, and Christ is but one in God, so are the People of God but one in Christ, and Christ is but one in them; for as their Body is the Temple of the living God, he hath said, That he will dwell in them, and walk in them, and will be their God, and th●y shall be his People, 2 Cor 6.16. Then God's People, begotten by him, through their Fa●●h and Obedience to the gift of his Grace, in and through Christ Jesus, by whom, through Grace, his People are of an upright heart and willing mind, to part with all that is not agreeable to his holy Will, who will not take up his abode in men of corrupt hearts, whose minds are not free to part with every delight to gain Christ, and only to delight in the performing of his holy Will, who knocks at the door of man's heart, for obedience to his holy Truth, which if any man will obey the Word of his Grace, he spiritually will come in and sup with them, and they with him, Rev. 3.20. Then the Table of the Lord is in a clean heart, and with them of a willing mind; for Christ will not enter the Door to remain (for his abode) with them of corrupt hearts and unwilling minds, whose state is always to confess, but never to forsake all sin against God and his Christ, neither doth the most High dwell in Temples made with hands, Acts 7.4.8. & 17.24. For thus saith the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth Eternity, whose Name is holy, I dwell in the High and Holy Place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit, and revive the heart of the contrite Ones, Isa. 57.15. But to this Man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite Spirit, and Trembles at my Word. Isa. 66.2. By which it is manifest, that God in Christ, by the Grace of his Spirit of Life and Light, dwelleth not in outward Covenants, made by men in their own time and will, whose hope of Salvation (as they say depends on the Promises of God by Christ, who is not to be found in all their humane Precepts and Ordinances, which from time to time, for many years, People have observed, which to the D●obedient, the Lords coming to them will be, even as his coming was to a Generation in days past, whom savingly he did not know, because their works and way was not in obedience to his holy Commands, for which cause, though many Works by them were done in the outward Profession of his Name, yet they were commanded to departed from him, as workers of Iniquity, because they had not kept the Commandment of God, Mat. 7.23. Luke 13.22, 27. for the Works of their own establishing were found unclean before the Lord, even as all men's works will be, which are not established by the Power of God's Spirit, in and through the Lord of Life, whose Life is only witnessed in men of clean hearts and willing minds, who are made willing that Christ should rule every Thought of the Heart and Intent of the Mind, that all their Works may be done to the Honour and Praise of his own Name, and they to receive the Comfort of it to their own Souls; in which state of Obedience they witness the Cords of God's Love to draw the heart and mind in to a more and more fellowship of his divine Nature, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, by which they remain in the true Worship of the Spirit, and in the Truth, and such Worshippers are they whom the Lord seeks to worship him, Joh. 4 22, 23, 24. & 6.44 Then the true Church and People of God witness a drawing by his Spirit, or the Power of his Spirit, in and through the Lord of Life, otherways they cannot receive Life; for no man cometh to the Son, except the Father draw him, for all things of the Father are delivered unto the Son, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son reveals him. Therefore all that will come to the knowledge of God by Jesus Christ, it must be through Faith and Obedience to the gift of God's Spirit of Grace, which comes by Jesus Christ, under whose easy Yoke and light Burden all may learn of him, who is meek and lowly, whereby they that are heavy laden may come to find rest in him to their Souls, Mat. 11.27, 28, 29, 30. for by and through the Power of God in Christ, every obedient Child learns of the will and mind of God in Chri●●, Joh. 6.45. by which Life and Salvation cometh to them that believe, neither is there any true Believers, but as they are come to witness, in measure, of the like state; for he that hath not received the Son, hath not received the knowledge of God by the Son, through whom every true Believer in him receives Life; for he that hath the Son, hath Life, and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not Life, 1 Joh. 5.12.  
Now they that have received this Life, they manifest it by fruits of a holy Life, in all manner of holy Conversation, doing no other to another, then as themselves are willing to be done unto; for as the outward Tree is manifested by its fruits, so is every man's works manifested by the outward manner of Life; for Grapes of Thorns, nor Figs of Thistles can no man expect to gather, neither is any man's Faith accepted of God without Works of Obedience to his holy Will; for as the Body is dead, without the Spirit, in the sight of men, so is Faith, without Works of Obedience, also dead in the sight of God, Mat. 7.16, 17, 18, 19 James 2. Then where Faith is, without Works of Obedience, they cannot perform the Commands of God by the Power of his own Spirit, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, that Church and People remain in a dead Faith to God, who is not a God to that which is dead, but a God to that which is living, in true Obedience to the manifestation of his Spirit, which they have received to profit withal, 1 Cor. 12.7. for as in the time of the Law, there was means for the People's outward cleansing, who were to remain without the Camp, as not fit for the service of God's Worship, before they were cleansed of their Filth, Leu. 13.46. & 23 42, 43. Neh. 8.14. even so in this Gospel Day, is no man fit for the service of God's Worship in Spirit and Truth, before he comes to witness something of an inward cleansing, through the little Leaven, whereby (through Faith and Obedience to his Talon received) he will come to witness more and more of God's Power by Jesus Christ, until the whole Lump be leavened into the new Nature of God's Kingdom in Jesus Christ, which only belongs to them of his Church, who are not in a state of always confessing, and never so faking; but as the true Church acknowledgeth her Weaknesses and Inabil●t●es, as of themselves not able to do any one work acceptable to God, so through Faith and Obedience to the Word and ●ower of God, by Jesus Christ (through his Grace) are they made able to do all things, according to what the Lord of his Church and people requires; so that they remain not in a state of always confessing what great Sinners they are, but withal forsake their sins, in Obedience to God, whose Power gives Victory over their sins, in which state they grow from one degree of Grace to another, till they become perfect Men and Women in Christ Jesus, which is according to the Apostles Doctrine, who were sent of God by Jesus Christ, to turn People f●●m Darkness to Light, and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God, and praying, that they may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, whose Church and People are not to remain in sin all the days of their appointed time here in this Life; and therefore many Teachers of this Age with their Hearers, are out of God's holy Truth, in the Doctrine of Imperfection, and even so is the Life and Practice of many who call themselves by the Name of Christ, to say, that their Church is the Church of Christ, when in neither Doctrine, Principle nor Practice are they according to the Command of Christ, nor Example of his holy Apostles, but in a faith of their own Works, teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of men, Mat. 5.19. But the Church of Christ are they of the Circumcision, which worship God in Spirit, and rejoice in Christ esus, having no Confidence in the fl●sh, Phillip 3.3. and in all things relating to the Worship of God and Government in his Church, are they led and guided by the Power of God's Spirit, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, who ever was, and will rem●in to be the Head of his Church, whom God hath bu●lt upon that Rock of Ages, and Foundation of many Generations, against which the Gates of Hell can never prevail, for he is the first born of God whom the Father hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be Head in all things over his Church; so that in him is the fullness, that filleth all in all, Ephes. 1 22, 23. for he is the Head of the Body, the Church, who is the beginning, the first and the last, the first born ●rom the Dead, that in all things he may have the Pre-eminence; for it pleased the Father, that in him should all fullness dwell, Col 1.18 19 for he is the Head of his Church, from which all the Body, by joints and bands, have nourishment ministered increaseth with the increase of God, Col. 2.19. which increaseth the knowledge of God in Christ, that not any one Member of the Body may be ignorant in spiritual things; and as every one hath received the true Knowledge and Faith of Christ, the Spirit of Christ will enable and move them to confess with the Mouth, God and Christ, in whom they have believed, and openly to confess and profess, without fear or shame, the Doctrine of Christ; & such have their Minds wholly given upto wait the movings of Christ, the Head, through whose Power the spiritual Understanding in each Member, comes to receive the true knowledge, in things relating to the wellfair of the Body; for no man can truly say that Jesus i● the Lord, but by the holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 12 3.  
Which doth manifest, that there cannot be the performing of any one Work, by any one Member, which will be ●●●ted of God, but as they receive Power from the gift of his Spirit by Jesus Christ, who is the Head, by which the whole Body of true Believers witness his Government, in which Body, as every Member keeps faithful to the Head, it comes to know a true Government in its right place belonging to the Body, of which Christ remains the Head; for as every Member of the Body keeps faithful to the gift of God's Spirit, he is serviceable, according to the measure of his gift, which is of service to the whole Body, in which Body each Member hath his gift, according to that measure which God ●ath given him to p●o●t with●●; for there are dive●s●ies of Gifts but the same Spirit; and there are differences of Administrations, but the same Lord; and there are diversities of Operations, but ●he same God, which worketh all in all; for the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal; for to one is given by the Spirit, the Word of Wisdom, to another the Word of Knowledge, by the same Spirit; to another the working of Miracles, to another Prophecy, to another the Discerning of Spirits, to another divers kinds of Tongues, to another the Interpretation of Tongues; but all these worketh, that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will; for as the Body is one, and hath many Members, and all the Members of that one Body being many, are one Body, so also is Christ; for by one Spirit are all the faithful baptised into one Body, whether Jews or Gentiles, Bond or Free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit; for the Body is not one Member, but many; for if the Foot shall say, because I am not the Hand, I am not of the Body, is it not therefore of the Body? And if the Ear shall say, because I am not the Eye, I am not of the Body, is it therefore not of the Body? for if the whole Body were an Eye, where were the hearing? or 〈…〉 wholeBody were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the Members every one of them in the B●●y, as it hath pleased him; for if they were all one M●●ber, where were the Body? But now are they many Members, yet one Body, and the Eye cannot say to the H●●●, I have no need of thee; nor again, the Head to the 〈◊〉, I have no need of thee; nay, much more, those Members of the Body which seem to be more feeble, are necessary; and those Members of the Body which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness, for our comely parts have no need, but ●od hath tempered the Body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacke●, that there should be no schism in the Body, but that the Members should have the same care one of another, and then where one Member suffers all the Members suffer with it, and when one Member is honoured, all the Members rejoice with it.  
Now the Church of Christ, which are the chosen People of God, they are the Body of Christ, and Members in particular, and God hath set some in the Church, first, Apostles, secondly, Prophets, th●rdly Teachers; after that Miracles, than gifts of H●aling, H●lps, Government, Diversity of Tongues; a●● all Apostles? are all Prophets? are all Teachers? are all Workers of Miracles, having all the gifts of Healing? Do all speak with T●n●●es? do all Interpret? but covet earnestly the best Gifts: And yet show I unto you a more excellent way; though I speak with the Tongues of Men and A●gel, and have not Charity; I am become as sounding Brass, or a tinkling ●●mbal, and though I have the gift of Prophecy, and understand all Mysteries, and all Knowledge; and though I have all Faith, so that I could remove Mountains, and have no Charity, I am nothing: And though I beslow all my goods to feed the Po●r, and though I give my Body to be burnt, and hav● Charity, it profiteth me nothing. So that these thing left recorded by the Spirit of God, with which every faithful Believer, which is a Member of the Body, re● his Duty, to follow Christ the Head, even as the Men of God in days past have done for Example, 1 cap. 12, 13. in which holy Work the hol● Scriptures● great help; for through Faith in Christ J●sus they are to make the Man of God wise to Salvation; for of the N● of God and Christ is every true Believer, begotten by and by his Spirit, gifted in measure, and are to mark that live not up in good Works of Faith, to the w● God's holy Truth, according as it is manifested by 〈◊〉 Christ, and left recorded by his Spirit of Tru●h, w● hath commanded each Member of the Body, to w● over one another, not for evil, but for good, and i● Member be out of place, the next Members are to see● the way of the Lord, for to restore it into its place ag● but when all diligent care and means hath been use● its restoration, and with long waiting cannot be recov● but remains in a state of dishonour to the Body, the 〈◊〉 is to cut off that Member, in obedience to God, by w● means all the other Members of the Body may receiv●nefit in the Work of the Lord, by by casting that 〈◊〉 from the Body, which hath offended the whole Body, by all the other Members of the Body cannot be res● to the Body again; for its better that one Member viperish, than that the whole Body should be cast into Hell, 5.29. & 18.8. Mark 9.47. So that of what use for that Member hath been, as to the benefit of the E● whether as the right ●ye or the right Hand, yet if o●●orrupted, and cannot be recoved by all the other M●●ers of the Body, it is not to remain whereby to destroy ●he who●e Body, and to cause it to perish. So that all is ●o be done by and through the gift of Wisdom, which is from him who is the great Physician of Value; so that all ●●e to stand faithful upon their Watch, and to watch over one another for good, and not for evil, that all may be done to the praise and honour of God's Name, and for the Prosperity of his Truth, in and among his chosen People, which are the Church of Christ, among whom there can ●e no real forgiving of each other, further than thy Brother turns to thee, and says, he does Repent; for the Lord forgiveth no man, but as he doth turn by Obedience, and Repent. So that al● may live so as to keep out that Canker Worm of Prejudice, which hath eaten up some, till they are become nothing, as to the Life and Power of Gods saving. Truth by Jesus Christ, but are turned with the Dog to the Vomit, and with the Sow to the wallowing in the Mire; such went out from the People of God, because they never were of the Church of Christ, but remain as Landmarks, and not as Way-marks for any of the Lords People to follow; so there is no unbinding that on Earth which is 〈◊〉 unbound in Heaven, neither binding that on Earth which is not bound in Heaven, but that all may be done to the Honour of God, and Prosperity of his Truth, whose People are to pray, that in all their Undertake for his Truth, the Will of God by them may be done on Earth, as it is done in Heaven, through which he will have the Honour of his own Work, and they the Comfort of it to their own Souls, which I desire may be fulfilled.  
When all the scattered Sheep shall come  
Into that Fold, in which are some,  
Then will the faithful come to see  
Christ's Church in glorious State to be.   

CHAP. XXVI. Concerneng the State of all men, and of God's Judgements, and also of Gods calling the Jews, and manner of their Return to the Light of the Gospel.  
THe Light of the Gospel is of God by Jesus, who is the Power of God to Salvation, in all them that believe, and the Power of God for Condemnation in them that believe not, John 1.11, 12 for the Lord searcheth the heart and trieth the Ram's, even to give every man according to the fruit of his do; for the Light of God's gift of divine Life, by Jesus Christ, makes manitest what fruit God requires of the Sons and Daughters of men, who through Faith and Obedience, do not answer his holy Will, for which cause the Wrath of God is revealed from Heaven, against all Ungodliness and Unrighteousness of men, because their Life of Disobedience is knowingly against the gift of God's divine Light, which is their Condemnation for their evil Deeds, John 3.19, 20. for that which may be known of God is manifested in them, for God hath showed it unto them, Rom. 1.18, 19 For the Lord showeth unto Man what is his Thoughts, Amos 4.13. Which if through Faith and Obedience to what the Lord makes manifest, than the Thoughts of the Heart and Intents of the Mind are justified before him; but if their Works are of Unbelief, through Disobedience, than the Thoughts of their Heart and Intents of the Mind are for Condemnation; for every Obedient Child of God bringeth his Deeds to the Light, by which they are manifest to be wrought in God; but they who are Lovers of their own unrighteous Ways, more than they are Lovers of God's holy Truth, they hate the Gift of God's divine Light, because by it their evil Deeds are reproved So that the state of all men is either of Obedience or Disobedience to the known Will & Mind of God, made manifest by the Light of his Spirit, in and through the Lord Jesus ●hrist, whose Light is not hid to them that are faithful, but through Disobedience, the Wicked, that sin away the Day of Grace, their Candle hath been often lighted, and through their Disobedience goeth out again, Job 21.17. & 8.5, 6. Prov. 2.20. So that if the Light of the Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom the god of this World hath blinded the Minds of them which believe not, lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the Image of God, should sh●ne unto them, 2 Cor. 4.3, 4. So that it is through continued Disobedience by which men perish; for the Light of the Lord is not hid under a Bed, nor under a Bushel; for there is nothing hid that shall not be made manifest, neither was any thing kept secret, but that it shall come abroad, Mat. 5.15. Mark 4.21, 22, 23. Luke 11.33. By which it is clearly manifested, that God's Wrath and Indignation in his just Judgements upon the Unrighteous, is because of their Unbelief and Rebellious living, which is as the sin of Witch craft before him, and in his sight. Now as the state of the faithful witness Salvation by Grace, through Faith and Obedience, so also do the unfaithful witness Condemnation & Destruction, through Disobedience and Unbelief, begotten by the Father of all Unrighteousness. So that the state of all men are either in Servitude to the Power of God's gift by Jesus Christ, or in Servitude to the Power of the Devil, who is the Father of all Unrighteousness, which the Disobedient live in, and in that state of Disobedience the Wicked perish for evermore; more; but unto the Righteous hath God regard, whose Portion is of his heavenly Riches, which shall for evermore endure with his People in the World to come. But the Day shall come, and now is, that the Lord shall suffer his Judgements to make way for the Righteous to inhabit the Earth, in which the Wicked have, of long time been suffered (through the permission of God) by the Enemy of Maus Peace, to lay waste the Lives and Estates of the Righteous, who shall inhabit the Earth with Peace and Quietness, when the Lords Judgements have destroyed all the Thorns and Thistles, with all other the Combustible high and lofty Trees, which have long encumbered the Lords Earth▪ without bringing forth Fruit unto him, through whose Judgements of Famine, Sword and Pestilence, with other Judgements of the like Nature, by which the Potsherds shall dash one against another, till the Earth shall become plain and smooth, from the crooked Nature of unrighteous men; For every Valley shall be exalted, and every Mountain and Hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made strait, and the rough places plain, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all Flesh shall see it together, for the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it, Isa. 40.4, 5. Luke 3.5. And all Flesh shall see the Salvation of God in that Day, in which all Israel shall be saved; for there shall come out of Zion a Deliverer, and shall turn away Ungodliness from Jacob which is his Covenant to them, when he shall take away their sins, Rom. 11.26, 27. for the Lord will finish the Work, and cut it short in Righteousness, because a short work will the Lord make upon the Earth; and for that end hath the Lord begun in his Judgements among the Wicked, that he may make way for his Seed in the Remnants of the Nations which shall be saved, of which there is a Number already gathered, unto which small Number of despised People, the Lord ●s daily adding unto his chosen Heritage and elect Seed, unto whom the Promise doth belong which is to all them that fear the Lord and work Righteousness, unto them is the gathering of the Nations which shall be saved, and for their sakes hath the Lord begun his righteous Work against the Adversaries of his Truth, whom he will overthrow and bring to nought, for out of Heaven will the Lord thunder of his Judgements upon them; and will judge the ends of the Earth; for God hath given strength to the Righteous, and will exalt the Horn of his anointed, and he shall only and alone rule, unto whom the Government doth belong; for when his Judgements are in the Earth, the Inhabitants thereof will learn Righteousness; for God shall arise in Judgement to save the weak of the Earch, and the Wrath of man shall praise him, and the remainder of Wrath shall the Lord restrain, Psal. 7.6, 9, 10. And the Lord will return to Jacob, and have Mercy upon the House of Israel, after they have born the Shame of their Trespasses, whereby they have trespassed against the Lord, Ezek. 39 Then will the Lord gather them from among the Heathen, and they shall know him whom their Fathers slew, to be the Lord of Life, then shall they sing Praises acceptable to God, giving Glory due unto his holy Name, and their Offerings unto him shall be in the Beauty of Holiness; for they shall know the Lord, and him the only true God shall they worship in the Spirit and in the Truth; the● shall the Earth fear before the Lord, and the World also shall be stable, that it be not moved; then the Heavens will be glad, and the Nations will sing Praises to the holy One of Israel, whom they shall know to rule and reign in the hearts of the Out casts of Israel; for if the casting away of them have been the reconciling of the World, what shall the receiving of them be, but Life from the Dead? Rom. 11.15. Then let the S●a roar, and the fullness thereof, let the Fields rejoice, and all that is therein; then shall the Trees of the Wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, for he cometh to judge the Earth, Chron. 16. And unto them that fear his Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in his Wings; and they shall grow up in Truth and Righteousness before the Lord, and the Wicked shall be as Ashes under the sol●s of their feet, in the Day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of Hosts; for the Lord will pour out of his Spirit upon the Fathers and the Children, and the hearts of the one shall be turned towards the other; for Truth and Righteousness shall reign in all the Earth, and there shall be no more Norse of the Horses rushing into the Battle; for all carnal Weapons of War shall be done a way, and all the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of God and his Christ, and the Lord of Life shall rule and reign in his People for evermore; and happy is it with that small Number of despised Ones among men in this day, who witness the beginning of these things in themselves; for having set their hand to the Blow, & not looking back, they shall be made fit for the Kingdom of Heaven, into which no unclean thing shall ever enter; for it is prepared of God by Jesus Christ, for them that have kept his Commandments in this Life, and not for them that plead for a Body of sin all their days, in which sinning state they know no end of Disobedience against God's holy Truth; for sin brings Death, and Death brings Judgement, which is for Wrath to come upon all the Ungodly, which fear not God, to keep his Commands; for which cause the Wicked live in a ●ell upon Earth, which by the Wrath of God's just Judgement, will be enlarged to all the Wicked after this Life; for for when the Righteous dye, they die to live in the Lords Rest, where they enjoy Pleasure at the right hand of God for evermore; but the Wicked (who have disregarded the Commands of the Lord in this Life) they die to live in Everlasting Torment of the fiery Flames of God's Wrath and Indignation, which is the Reward of all the Wicked and Ungodly of this Life whose Life is far worse than the Life of a Dog or a Toad, for when they die, all their Misery is ended, but when the Wicked die their great Misery then beginneth and will increase forever and ever. Which things are too little regarded by many in this Life; but the Day will come, in which they shall wish, that others might have warning, but if they will not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither have they regarded the Lord from Heaven; for which cause is their Misery, which will come upon all the Ungodly that call not (as they ought to do) upon the Name of the Lord.   

CHAP. XXVII. Concerning the begetting, being born and brought forth of the Immortal and Incorruptible Seed of God's Kingdom by Jesus Christ.  
THe Immortal and Incorruptible Seed of God's Kingdom in Jesus Christ, is of that Birth which the World by all their Wisdom in outward Learning, are never able to find, neither can any ever know, to witness the new Birth, further than by Faith and Obedience to the gift of God's Spirit by Jesus Christ, whose Spirit of Life makes fr●● from the Law of Sin and Death; for the Seed of the Kingdom, is of a heavenly divine Nature, which hath no fellowship with the Works of Darkness, in which all that disobey the Lord of Life remain, by which their Birth is of the Enemy's Seed, which alienates the Heart of Man and Woman from true Obedience to God; ●n which state they are Strangers to the nature of the New Birth, which is not born of Blood nor of the will of the Fle●, nor of the Will of Man, but of God john. 1.13 for it is born of the Spirit of God, and brought forth by G●ace, through Faith in Christ Jesus, by whom the Children of men have received a measure, which though, but as a grain of the smallest of all grain, it is of the little leavens Nature, to purge out, and leaven the whole Lump into the nature of God's Kingdom in Christ Jesus, whom the World by all their Wisdom can never know; for the things of God's Kingdom are hi● from the Wise and Prudent of this World, and revealed to the Children of God, whose Life remains in the Babe-like Nature of God in Christ, whose Babes they are, begotten of God by the word of his Spirit, through Faith and Obedience to the Lord of Life, in whose Life and Nature, every true Child of God, in their measure, live, move and have their being, in the nature of him; for as his nature is the New Birth, and all that are born of him hay bring Fruits acceptible to him; for they are the Children of the Day, which live in the Light, and walk in the Light, which the Children of the Night cannot do; for the Day of God's Visitation, by the gift of his divine Light, is unto them a dark thing, at which the wise stumble, and the prudent cannot receive; for by their own Wisd 〈◊〉 in their own prudent way, is their Understanding darkdarkened, as to the things of God, and Nature of his Kingdom neither can any grow to understand the things of 〈◊〉, Jesus Christ, bu● as they grow in Grace, through the affectual working of his divine Life and Light, by the quickening Word 〈◊〉 his Spirit, which opens the understanding, and enlarges, the gift of his divine Nature, through which 〈◊〉 the holy Seed increaseth more and more, and in the increase bringeth forth fruit, more and more abundant, to the praise of God, and honour of his Name, and well-being of the Soul in Christ Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of his own Work of Righteousness in his true begotten People, who are begot by the gift of God's good Spirit of Grace, Life and Light, in which the faithful see Light, Psalm 36.9. for by Light is all and every Deed of Darkness manifested, so that Faith in Christ Jesus, and Faithfulness▪ Obedience to the gift of God's divine Light, is the first beginning of an acquaintance with the divine Nature of Christ, who draws the heart of every faithful man and woman, into the assurance of Faith, having their hearts sprinkled from ●n evil Conscience, and their Bodies washed with pure Water, Heb. 10.22. and of this Nature is the Seed of God's Kingdom in the hearts of them that belong unto him, the nature of whose Kingdom, the wise prudent part in man cannot comprehend; for the wise unregenerated part, is that which ramains in the Fall, and is alienated from the true Seed of the Kingdom, which will not take root in any other ground, but in that honest heart, which is made willing to bear the Cross, in all things to the self will, in which state of subjection to the will of God the Seed takes root downward, and brings forth Fruit upward, to the honour of God's holy Truth; so than all reasoning with Flesh and Blood is shut out by the Power of God's Spirit in every upright honest heart to wards God, in which life of Obedience, there is no giving way to the Earthly part, which ramains in the Disobedient, through which they oppress the Seed of God, and cause his Life, in the measure of the Seed, to departed, which if they were but faithful to the measure of Seed received, the Life of God's Spirit of Grace would increase, to the withstanding of all the Enemy's Power, which through the willingness of the obedient part being yielded to him, the true Seed of God will take no root of abidance in any sort of ground whatever, where People live in a state of sinning against God and his Christ, Mat. 13. So they that are new born of the incorruptible Seed, they first come to die, through the Cross of Christ, which crucifies the self will prudent part; for Knowledge, without Obedience brings Death over the Soul, in which state the Kingdom o● God is hid; For that which is born of the Flesh is Flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit, John 3.2, 3, 4, 5, 6. So they that are truly begotten of God in Christ, the● witness the New-Birth, which is not born of Flesh and Blood nor of the Will of Man, but of the incorruptible Seed, the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever, 1 Pet. 1.23. Now the Word of God which abideth forever, is of his Spirit 〈◊〉 Life, Light and Grace, which floweth into the heart's 〈◊〉 true Believers, through Faith in Christ Jesus, who draw● the willing mind to partake of God's heavenly Riches, i● and through him who is the Lord of all Grace, Life an● Light, which by measure lives, moves and abides in th● heart of every sincere Believer in him, through who● Power they witness a daily decaying of the first Nature and a daily increase of Newness in a holy Life unto Go● who gives power to the weak & feeble, through which there is no distrust in the Power of God, which they daily experience to give them Victory over every Thought which would exalt itself above the Witness of God, and hinder the growth of the Seed of the Kingdom of Heaven, in which no man can enter, without being born again, the benefit of which no man is denied of God by Jesus Christ, who hath said by his Spirit of Truth, Whosoever will, let him take the Water of Life freely, Rev. 22.17. Isa. 55.1, 2, 3. By which it is clear, that the Spirit of God hinders no man of any benefit by Jesus Christ, for the Salvation of his Soul, that is, as Man keeps faithful to God, according to what he hath commanded by the Son of his Love, the Lord of Life.  

Postscript.  
MUch more might be related for the convincing of People concerning the Truth of God by Jesus Christ; but all that hath been, with all whatsoever of holy care and means that may be used, is but for the further Condemnation of them that refuse Obedience to the gift of God's divine Light, which men have received as a Talon or Talents for them to improve for their Lords use, and the benefit of their Souls; for the Lord of Life waits with the Tenders of Life and Salvation for every Soul, where the heart and mind is willing to forgo all the ways of Unrighteousness, and to give up in true Obedience to serve the Lord with an upright heart and willing mind, as becometh his People so to do; for there is no Salvation of God by Jesus Christ to any man's soul, but by true Faith and Obedience to God in Christ, who siving● is no● a God to them 〈◊〉 love and delight in any one thing which is not 〈…〉 his holy Commands; for as the Lord of 〈…〉 of God in all things, for the Servation 〈…〉 so them that witness S●●vation in and through him, must through Faith and Obedience, come through the Cross, even as he hath done; for as he was outwardly crucified on the outward Cross for the sins of the People, somust the Power of God, through Christ, come to crucifix every lustful affection, which would exalt it sel● above the Witness of God's holy Truth, which no man can savingly partake of, but as he comes through faith and obedience to partake of God's heavenly Riches, which are in store for all them that love the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom it any man will hear, let him not harden his heart by Disobedience in ●nbelief; for the Devil's Power is of no other strength than to tempt the mind of man to serve him, which if men obey his Temptations to serve him in sin, it begets the heart into a hard stare of Unbelief, to believe no other but a sinning life all the days of their appointed time in this life, the cause of which is altogether through their Obedience to the Devils Temptations, whose Power never did, neither can force any man to sin, but as they yield their Obedience to his alluring Temptations, which if through faithfulness men would watch and pray to God, the strength of his Power by Jesus Christ would give them Victory against and over every lustful Desite of the corrupted heart, which is by nature inclineable to serve no other save the Devil, which seeks all unrighteous ways to destroy the soul of Man, which through Faith and Obedience to what God hath of his divine Grace and Light of his Spirit, made manifest by Christ Jesus, through which they may be saved. And though some may despise at my small measure in the aforesaid Work, yet this I have an a●●urance of, and that from the Lord of Life, tha● as 〈◊〉 keep faithful to that measure of his good Spirit of Grace, Light and Life which through Faith and Obedience he will increase my Faith and enlarge my Understanding, to understand his Will and Mind more and more in the things which concern the wellfair of the Souls well-being with God in Jesus Christ.    

CHAP. XXVIII. The Substance of my Letter to the Committee of the Militia in Salem, in answer to what they did desire of me.  
I Received yours, by one of the Committee, relating to my joining with your laying out Disbursments for a Town stock of Ammunition and Provision, against a time of Invasion. Now you yourselves well know, that I never did withhold the promotion of any Work among you, or any other of Power in this place, so far as it hath not been inconsistent with the Truth of God, according to my Faith, which leadeth me to assist and help, according to my measure, when and where God shall direct, until which time, if I should conform to your desire, where then will follow my Reward? And as to your War, both Temporal and Spiritual, where doth the benefit of it appear to a People whose unrighteous cruel Bloody Laws yet remain, only wanting Power against the Lives and Estates of their honest Neighbours, whom your Priests esteemed, as those of your Church Members, whom yourselves do now put to Death as Witches, which possibly some of them may be so; and if that God should further permit the Devil's Power against the Rulers, Priests and Hearers, it would follow to be the greatest of all other of God's just Judgements that ever have befallen New-England, since they began to stock, whip, cut off Ears, banish, order for Bonds men and women, long and cruel Imprisonment, and taking away to the value of twenty hundred Pounds, besides the Lives of them four Righteous ●e sons put to Death at Boston; all which hath been the afflicted state of the Lords People, which in Derision have been known by the Name of Quakers. And if the Children of them that destroyed the Lives and Estates of the Lords People in that day, will say, That they had no hand in the same I say that their assertion is utterly false (so long as they condemn not their Predecessors actions) and I prove it by the rebellious Jews, many thousands of whom had no actual hand in destroying the Righteous in those days, and they could say even as these in this day, That they had no hand in the same; but forasmuch as they did not bear a faithful Testimony for God's holy Truth, against the Unrighteousness of their Priests and Rulers, the just Judgements of God hath reached their Posterity to following Generations; even so is it with New England, while the Land remains defiled with the Blood of the Lords Servants slain at Bo●on, which New-England former Priests and Rulers have done, in the Name of God, and the King's Name, without any warrant or example from either; but in their blind persecuting Spirit have maintained their persecuting way, from a command in the Law, which relates to false Worshippers in that day, which in this Gospel Day they have charged upon the Lord's People, which worship the only true God in the Spirit and in the Truth; which if God should permit the Power of the Devil, by the spirit of Persecution, then might more than three parts of the People of the World lose their Lives, among whom it is evident the Lord hath a Number belonging unto him, though at present stranger's to the outward Sufferings of Christ; for he is the Light of the Gentiles, and Salvation to the ends of the Earth, and by him the Remnant of the Nations which fear God and work Righteousness are saved; and he hath commanded, That Wheat and Tears should grow together until the Harvest, of which things I only hint to you, for your understanding my Mind concerning the Proceed in New-England, whose former Priests and Rulers have not manifested the like Repentance as that of Judas, who repenting himself o● betraying innocent Blood, and withal returned the Money which he had unrighteously taken, which Doctrine ought not to find itching Ears among any the Children of them who have persecuted the Lords Servants to Death at Boston; but as the Lords Servants and Messengers of his Truth have born the merciless Rod of that persecuting Generation, so ought every man concerned, either actually, or by consent, to bear the Charity of the Lords People, which is great Charity indeed to inform them of their unrighteous ways against the Lord and his People.  
The foregoing Letter some of them called Railing, but the Day will come, in which they shall know, and that from the just God of Heaven and Earth, that it is no railing to inform People of the Truth, which in the time of my Letter was both lawful and expedient for me so to do, neither are they to have forgiveness of God, further than they turn and repent, neither are the Lords People to forgive that on Earth which is not forgiven in Heaven, but to pray that his Will may be done on Earth, as it is done in Heaven.   

CHAP. XXVIII. Concerning the Covering and Uncovering of the Head, in Honour to Man or Men.  
WHere there is liberty by the Law of God for one man to remain with his Head covered before another, it can be no transgression of any Righteous Law among men; and as to Customs of that nature, it is better to obey God than Man● for all things which a man is persuaded of God in his own heart, to be comely, decent and of good report, that men ought, in obedience to God, to follow; but that which hath no Scripture Example from any command of Christ, nor Practice of any of his Apostles, for one man to stand bear-headed in honour to another, is that which cannot proceed from the Life and Power of God, because it is not found in the holy Scriptures to be commanded of God, neither in practice by any of Christ's Disciples, nor his holy Apostles b●t only a bea● Custom got up among some of the Nations, which indeed by many of them are so accustomed to the Hat, Hand and Knee, by or with which they bestow so much Honour one towards the other, that by that practice, with other of their Works among men, they have not due regard to the Works of Righteousness and Holiness, for the honour o● God, before whom, in the time of praying & prophesying, the Head is to be uncovered, for the Head of every man is, Christ, and the Head of Christ is God; which proves a dishonour to the Name of the Lord, to honour men whose hearts they know, not as to God, but honour them in the sa●●e form as they do the Lord, when their Prayers are made to him, who is the searcher of all hearts, and giver to every man according to the fruits of his do, which to the faithful will be a Crown of Righteousness to the hoary Head, but to the Sinner, though a hundred yea●s old he is accursed, which also doth of Hat-Honour, by which men honour that which is accursed of God.   

CHAP. XXIX. Concerning the great Judgements of God upon the Inhabitants of New-England by Witchcraft.  
Witchcraft is altogether wrought, through the Spirit and Power of the Devil, which rules in the Children of Disobedience, who ramain in the Works of the flesh, with which Witchcraft is included, Gal. 3. and 5 20 for which cause the just Judgements of God, are the Reward of all Wicked and ●●godly men, but to all that repent, their Sins and Blasphemies, wherewithsoever they shall blaspheme, shall be forgiven, but he that blasphemeth against the holy Ghost, shall not be forgiven in this World, nor the world to come, Joh. 5.6, 17. Mat. 21.10. Now as to divers Authors, their apprehensions are various, in differing one from the other about Witches and Witchcraft, which to prevent error, that Truth and Righteousness may take place I have taken in hand, to set forth, in order, a Declaration, which is according to the holy scriptures, which do hold forth the nature and cause of People having familiarity with the Devil, who is the Father of all Unrighteousness, through which Unrighteousness he begets the heart and mind to serve him, in which state more or less are most men, through which Life of Disobedience, the Understanding of man is darkened, that it cannot see what is for God, according to his will, neither do they comprehend divers works which are against him, which is also as a Judgement from God for Disobedience, which indeed is of the nature of Rebellion, which is as the sin of Witch craft; then where men are in the like state, they are blind, as to the knowledge or God, concerning such whom he commanded to be destroyed in the time of the Law, Deut. 〈…〉 11.12. Exod. 22 18. for they that are not come to 〈◊〉 Law and the Prophets, do not know the will and Mind of God, relating to the new Law of Light, Life and Grace by Jesus Christ; for they that serve sin, are servants to sin, and of him they are, whose works they do, Rom. 6.16. john 8.44. Mat. ●. 24. Luke. 6.13. Then in what state are they that are always confessing, but never forsaking? for if through Obedience they did forsake sin, than there would be no such need of confessing that which they have forsaken, because where men forsake their sins, and live in all good order of God's holy Truth, as they are commanded to do then the Lord will remember their Transgressions no more, Isa. 45 7. and 44.25. for where men keep Judgement, and do Righteousness at all times, they are not in a state of always confessing, and of not forsaking, Psal. 106.3 for where men confess and not forsake, their works manifest a dead Faith, James 2.26. in which state of ●●obedience they draw near with their Lip and Mo●th, to honour the Lord, when it is manifest by Works, that the heart is far from him, and their fear is taught by the precepts of men; therefore doth the Lord do amarvelous work, and a wonder; for the Wisdom of then Wise Men shall perish, and the Understanding of their Prudent men shall be h●d, Isa. 29.13. Mat. 15.8. Mark, 7.6. which scriptures are fulfilled, as a Judgement of God for innocent Blood shed in New-England, whose Priests and Rulers, with the consenting Inhabitants have been bewitched, that that should not obey the Truth of God, made manifest by Jesus Christ, whose Servants they have put to Death at Boston, for which cause (as a Judgement) they are delivered up through Unbelief) to hardness of heart, to commit other sins, which with the sin of Blood, hath further stored up the Lord's Wrath, to add to their Troubles, through the increase of his Judgements against them, for rebelling against his holy Truth, for which cause, as Judgement increaseth against sin, so sin in New-England increaseth against Judgement, until the Light of sin at this time is of that height and nature, that there is no less of the Priests and their Church Members, with others of their hearers, than five hundred accused of Witch craft; but some of them called Witches, with some of the afflicted Evidences as the say) do give an account ●f seven hundred, all being by them accused for Witch●s, of which Number there is now this present year 1692. ●ne hundred and twenty, which are apprehended for Witchcraft, of which there are 20 put to Death, and about twenty more condemned to die; but by reason that the Spertre or apparition hath accused some Priest, and others accounted eminent, the Rulers have aba●ed in their speedy work; and as at first they with speed, did condemn and put to death, so now with as much speed they have cleared many ●rom their Prison, though as guilty of Witchcraft, by the accusation of the Spe●●er, as they already put to Death, all which left this life in denial of what was laid to their charge though they had before confessed, yet when they come to die, before the multitude, they said, that their confession was by reason of divers fair pretences, That if they did confess, they should find mercy with God and Man, and one the other side, if not confess, as they said divers did threaten what would b● done unto them; So what with the Priest's on the one fi●e, and Relations on the other side, any indifferent man may judge of the work▪ But as to the Work of the Devil to the afflicted Evidences, it is sufficient, in short, to say, that I never heard nor read of the like work from any Author; and not to omit Lynn Priest, who was one of the forwardest to have all that by the Spectre were accused, to be put to Death, which in some shor● time, was also by the Spectre (or Devil) accused himself; by which People may see and know, their eminent Teachers, (they so term) are no more freed from the Power of the Devil, than others so accused; to Geo. Burroughs, in denial of all laid to his charge though a learned Preacher of the Gospel (as People called him and a Teacher for them called the Church of Chris● was one whom now is put to Death) the other priest's do now render him as odious as may or can be; b● let him be what he is, for my part, I know not to th● contrary, but that in his Doctrine they do not him exeee● and as to their Principles and Practice, let the faithful judge how far they fall shor● of bewitching People, that they should not obey the Truth of God, made manifest by Jesus Christ, who came to destroy all the Devils Power, which (to me) many Teachers in this Age seem to uphold, through their imperfect Preaching, That a Body of sin remains with all men to the end of this Life; then where the Body of Sin remains, it must needs follow, that there remains the Devil's Power, which doth bewitch People to commit sin, because all Unrighteousness is of the Devil, and all sin is of Unrighteousness; then they that commit sin are Servants to sin, even as we daily see, to the grief & trouble of the upright in heart, to see such a known Life of Disobedience among the Inhabitants of New England, among whom the Devil's Power rules in their body of sin, and bewitches the Mind to obey him, in which state People are instrumental, through the Devil's Power, in bewitching one another, either to believe pernicious false Doctrines, or to swear, lie and be drunk, which is common with all other sins, which attend them, that by false Persuasions men are seduced from the true Faith; so that in whomsever the Devil's Power bears rule, they are Instruments for his Service to bewitch others into the same manner of Life, even as we daily see one Drunkard; Swearer & Liar begets another into the same sin, and of the like nature doth one evil minded Person beget another; for as the Righteous are Instruments in the hand of the Lord, to beget others into the Works of Righteousness, so are the Wicked Instruments in the hand of the Devil to bewitch others into the Works of Unrighteousness; and of this Nature is the bewitching of one another to serve the Devil in the Works of the Flesh, with which Witchcraft is included, Gal. 5.20. Then if they that despised Moses' Law were to be cut off without mercy under two or three Witnesses, how much greater Punishment, suppose ye, are they found worthy of, who live in Rebellion against the Lord of Life in this Gospel day? are they not to be cut off without Mercy, by the just hand of God's Judgements, under three Witnesses, viz. the Father, Son and Spirit, Heb 10 28, 29. which if otherways, that the command in the Law remain, of not suffering a Witch to live in this Gospel Day, than the false Worshipper, the Adulterer and the Adultress, with the rebellious Son, are also, according to that Command, to be cut off from the Land of the Living, in which more than two thirds of the People are guilty of the one or the other; but Christ hath said, Love your Enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you, that you may be the Children of your Father which is in Heaven; for he makes the S●n to rise on the evil and on the good, and on the just and on the unjust; for if ye love them which love y●u, what Reward have you, do not even the Publicans the same? And if ye salute your Brethren only, what do you more than others, do not the Publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect, Mat 5.44, 45, 46, which if People, through Obedience to the Command o● God would fulfil his Will, according to his Command, it would soon put an end to all men's various Apprehensions, and these bustling Noises about the Devil and Witches, and indeed the very Name of a Devil and a Witch is to be abhorred among men; also shall the Name of the Wicked perish, which are no such manner of Witches as these are accused for, though through God's goodness I have no● Relation among them, neither am I any Advocate for the Devil, Witches, nor Wicked Men, but desire that Truth and Righteousness may take place in the Earth; for it were better that one hundred Witches should live, than that one person be put to death for a Witch, which is not a ●itch; but God Almighty best knows what the Priests and Rulers have done towards these People, who have not lived unto God as they ought to have done, for which cause these things are, (as a Judgement for ●in and Transgression) fallen upon them. But with the Righteous it is not so, because they abide in Obedience to the holy Commands of God, through whose Power they witness a sure d●e●ing place, having their settlement upon that sure R●ck of an everlasting Foundation, against which there is ●o Enchantment nor Divination for the Gates of Hell against it shall never prevail; for the Love of God in Christ Jesus ●s to the faithful, and through him are they kept in perfect peace, out of which state the World remains unstable, having the mind tossed to and fro in the bus●●gs and clamourous Noises about the Devil and Witch craft, which ●●man need to fear, as he keeps faithful upon his watch, 〈◊〉 Obedrence to God's holy Truth made manifest by Jesus Christ; for while Israel kept faithful, the Devil could not get entrance; for it is said, Surely there is no Enchantment against Jacob, nor Divination against Israel, N●mb. 23.23. Which doth certainly prove, that if there were not first a falling from Obedience to the Command of the Lord, that ●e would not departed from them; for God hath commanded all men to watch and pray, that they may witness deliverance in the hour of Temptation; and if this Command had been kept by the afflicted Evidences, they could not have been possessed or bewitched by the Devil, nor any of his Instruments; for the cause of their being possessed or bewitched, hath been through a Life of Disobedience to God, who (as a Judgement for not obeying his Truth) hath suffered further affliction to come upon them, which is also as a warning to all others, that they may live (as they ought) to God's Truth, which the Devil's Power cannot touch; for though the Devil's Power was permitted to touch the outward Man of Job, for a trial of his inward Faith, but not to touch the inward Man; for whatsoever the Lord may suffer the Devil, for the outward trial 〈◊〉 his People's inward Faith, yet he never suffers the Devil's Power to lauch in such a manner, as in these bewitched or possessed Evidences, which is almost beyond the credit of man to receive, what manner of strange actions they had, which I do believe the true Prophets of God were never acted by any such Spirit, which gives them (as they say) the true knowledge who are Witches, and who are not, th● divers of the Persons they never knew, nor never heard of the● Names, before the Spectre (or Devil turned informer) ma● their Names known to them, and where they live; and the● have presumed to affirm, That P. F. a Merchant of Salem murdered J. R's Son of Salem, by drowning him at th● Island of Barbadoes, with many more things of th● like nature, which are too tedious to relate of the afflicted Evidences; and I desire of God to be preserve from such a Spirit of Sights. And yet some (who Names I shall not here mention) have said, That the afflicted, bewitched or possessed Evidences, are the true Marty of Jesus Christ, and that they are killed all the Day long, a● as his Sheep accounted for the Slaughter. From which Bel● the Lord deliver me; for the chosen of God, which w● read of (Psal. 4●. 22. Rom. 8.35, 36, 37, 38, 39) we not sighted by any such Spirit as these are sighted with 〈◊〉 they were Christ's Sheep, and knew his Voice, who 〈◊〉 he true Shepherd of Israel, which neither slumbereth 〈◊〉 sleepeth, but watcheth over his Flock by day and by ●●ght, and his Voice they know, but the Voice of a ●●ranger they will not follow, John 10.5. For they follow 〈◊〉 Lamb of God which taketh away the Sins of the World, Joh. ●. 29. for by his Blood are the Righteous made clean from 〈◊〉 corrupt part, which is the cause in them who are affected and tormented, even as we see these Evidences be, ●hose whooping and hollowing, with all their other ●●tick Actions, is far from singing the new Song, as they ●●d who were redeemed, not by the power of Man, but ●y the Power of God, Rev. 5 9, 10, 11, 12. for by the ●ower of God, without the help of Man, were they made ●●re than Conquerors, through him that loved them, Rom. 〈◊〉 37.  
So that the Love of God savingly, is to them that ●ar and obey, and not to the disobedient state, through ●hich Unbelief and hardness of heart, brings People ●●o trouble of Spirit; and it may be, that some of ●●ese People called Witches have been in trouble, which ●ith other Circumstances, may have occasioned them to ●●clare that against themselves, which (it may be they ●e not guilty of; for to them that are in trouble of ●nd, by reason of unfaithful living to God, the Devil ●ay be permitted to work the frame of their Spirits into ●●th Delusions, that thereby the whole natural senses the understanding, may be drawn to believe a thing, ●hich is but only in show, and not in substance, as for ●an to believe that the Devil hath avisible Book of natu 〈◊〉 Paper, and with the natural Blood of men's natural Bo●●, they subscribe to this natural Book, and that the Devil taketh their natural Bodies of natural men and women, and baptizeth them with natural Water, and that he setteth them upon a natural pole, and carrieth them for above the highest Trees, to a natural House, where the Priests and the Devil give them natural Bread, and natural Wine, which they say they eat and drink, and he promises them to pull down the Kingdom of Christ, and himself to sit upon the Throne of Christ; with much more of the like nature, which some of there called Witches have confessed but most of them that have so confessed I think are at liberty, and those that have not confessed put to Death, for what they have confessed of the like nature most of them (〈◊〉 not all have denied again, which as to their deny at, I do believe would not have been of much benefit, had not the Devil been so hasty to inform against such whom some may think impossible to be Witches, but as to that, God and their own Consciences know best; but the faithful may Judge, according to men's fruit, even as the Apostle did, when he said, O foolish Galations! who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the Truth, before whose Eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucifi●● among you, Gal. 3.1. So that Witchcraft is maintained through the Devil's Power in divers manners, which to be sure, one part of Witchcraft properly belongeth to them that bewitch People, that they should not obey the Truth of God's holy commands by Jesus Christ; for which cause of Disobedience (as before related) is it tha● some (as a Judgement upon them) are given up through unbelief, to hardness of heart, in which state some liv● in such horror of Conscience, that their Lives are of suc● burden, that they wilfully murder themselves, other in the same state, are as willing to die as the other but desiring to die, and not being permitted to destroy themselves, because Death (as an addition to Judgement) slee●h away, Rev. ●. 6. then in that state of horror, may they not accuse themselves of such sins which they have not committed, for this very end, to be destroyed by others? for a wounded Spirit, who can bare? Prov. 14. 1●. and how common is it in Barbadoes for black People to destroy themselves, merely upon a false belief, of their being at more ease when out of this body, than in the body; then what changeth the nature between black People, and white People? the colour of the skin doth not change the Nature. But some may say, The Negroes in Barbadoes do not go to Church. Indeed is it so, and what better are many for going to Church in New-England, where they that have been nearest related to the Church, have manifested themselves to be the furden from God, as witness their putting four of the Lords Servants to death at Boston, which Church they then accounted the purest Church in the World; and if the shedding of innocent Blood be the mark of a pure Church, the Church of Rome is more pure than the church of Boston, of which I may hereafter more relate; so that it is not the going to Church in New-England, that causeth white People to differ in nature, from black people, which go not to Church in Barbadoes. And therefore Judges had need to consider all things aright, because they are expressly commanded, To do no unrighteousness in Judgement, Leu. 19.15. Now some of these People have said to me, that they were in trouble of mind, and then hearing of themselves accused by the Spectre, (or Devil turned Informer) that it made them even as it were besides themselves, or out of their natural Understanding; and then hearing that all, without confession were suddenly put to Death, and large promises of mercy from God and Man, and with the Priest and his Fallowers on the one side, and their nearest and dearest Relations on the other side, all urging to a Confession, which is so (as I believe it was) let all rational men judge what state and condition these confessors were in; for we read, That over much Oppression will make a wise Man mad; and its easy to conceive that lesser Oppression will make them mad who are not in their right Understandings, by reason of some trouble in mind.  
But the thing than is, how or which way, or by what means shall men come to know one that is a Witch, from one that is not a Witch?  
To which I say, it must be by that Wisdom by which the Damsel, E●●mus and Simon came to be known, Acts 10.16. & 13.8, 9, 10. & 8.23. and notwithstanding they were known to be Witches, the Apostle did not direct to the command in the Law, of not suffering a Witch to live, but directed or exhorted him to repent, and pray; which ought to be noted, that first to repent, then pray, which may afford this use, that Prayer before Repentance is not accepted of the Lord, neither is Repentance, without the Fruits of Repentance, and without Fruits the Faith of Man is dead, even as the Body is dead without the Spirit, James 2.26.  
But then say the Professors of this Age, Is there no other way and means to know Witches, but as the Apostle did in his day? Then there is no knowing a Witch in this day, because (say they) all such means by the Spirit of God is ceased; for one working of Miracles is past.  
Answ. Past indeed to them that know no other state, but to bear a Body of Sin all their days; but to them who are redeemed from sin, they know, in measure, as the Apostle did in his day; for if one Spirit cannot discern another, than Christ is not in his People; but the faithful witness Christ is spiritually in them, and in whom he is not, are they not Reprobates? 2 Cor. 13.5. and to them is no Prophecy, no Revelation, no Miracle, for they are spiritually dead, deaf, dumb and blind, as to all the spiritual things of God by Jesus Christ, and to such the Truth of God (by any of his Servants) is as Pearl before Swine; and if a faithful man should say, That he hath an infallible assurance that some of these twenty People put to Death in N. E. for Witches, were not such Witches, as accused, condemned and put to Death for; then what follows, but the prosecution of Law, because he hath but one Evidence, and that's in himself by the Spirit of God; so though all are lawful, yet all things are not expedient, without the call of God thereunto. But Witches there be of divers sorts, as before related, and if any be convicted of Murder, they ought to die; but if men once maintain it lawful to put all to Death for Witches, in whose likeness the ●evil may appear, and work the like Wickedness, as is laid to the charge of these put to Death, they may, (I believe) put to Death for Witches, the greatest part of People now in the World, because it's but a few in comparison that shall be saved; which greatest Number that perish, when the Spirit of God leaves striving, and the day of Grace is over, than their House becomes desolate, and they become the Children of him whose Work they have done, and he takes more full possession of his own House and Goods, which is the heart, mind and Spirit of them that are wholly departed from the Lord, and the Lord from them, (Gen. 6.3. Mat. 12.43, 44, 45. Luke 11.24.25) And thou hath not the Devil full Power over his own, that is, without their consent, to act and do, so far as he is permitted, any manner of Wickedness in their likeness, or in the form and shape of their Bodies? But to act and do such Wickedness in the form, shape and likeness of God's faithful Children, is that which I cannot believe, therefore I leave it, waiting the Lords time for the further manifesting of that, with other Mysteries unto me, and doubt no●, but as I remain faithful, the Lord will manifest unto me, in his own due time, what he sees convenient for me. And his I am well satisfied in, that if men maintain that command of not suffering a Witch to live, as in the time of the Law, that they are not Ministers in all things according to the Law, except they put to Death as the Law in that day did require, that is, the Witch and the Wizard, the false Worshipper, the rebellious Child, the Adulterer and Adultress, all which were under one sentence of Death in the time of the Law; then why only a Witch, not guilty of Murder, to be put to Death in this Gospel Day, when Christ hath said Let the Tares and Wheat grow till the Harvest, and to let the blind alone, for if one lead the other, both shall fall into the Ditch. And though the holy man of God destroyed twice fifty, with their Captains, by fire from Heaven, and forty more by cursing them in the Name of the Lord, these things, according to Christ's own words, are not lawful to be done in this Gospel Day, 1 King. 1.10. Thes 2.24. Luke 9.5. Mat 15.14. Luke 6.39. Mat. 13.30. Mat. 5. Then as to the Command in the Law relating to false Worshippers, as they were accursed, so was their whole Substance accursed also; therefore if these put to Death be Witches, it must needs follow, that they are false Worshippers, then why they put to Death, according to that Command in the Law, and their Substance taken away to defray public Charge, contrary to the express Command of God in the time of the Law, Exod. 22 18. Deut. 28.16 & 13. 1●, 1●. But when men come ●o burn their Books of curious Arts, than the oldness of the Law will die, and newness in Spirit will appear, through the growth of God's Word, which in that day shall prevail, Acts 19.17, 18, 19, 20. until which time, let Christ's saying to the Rebellious Jews be sufficient, that is, when they brought the Woman taken in the act o● Adultery, saying, Moses in the Law commanded that such should b● stoned to Death, Christ bids, Let him that is without sin cast the first stone; but no man among them being without sin, the woman escaped, even so may Witches, not guilty of Murder, escape in this day; for he that ●s wholly clear of every degree of Witchcraft, may cast a stone at Witches, that is, when as evidently proved as the Woman's act was in Adultery, John 8.4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. for where the nature of Witchtraft remaineth, it evidently appears by Peoples Threats one to the other, and their living in Malice, Hatred and Envy one against the other, watching and waiting for the opportunity of advantage one against the other, and if no advantage present of damnifying one the other, yet the sin of Witchcraft in one degree, is as deeply rooted in them, as the sin of Adultery is rooted in him that looketh on a Woman, to lust after her, hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart, Mat. 5 28. for the intent of Wickedness is of greater abomination in the sight of God, than the act of sin is in the sight of sinful men.  
Of which number I am now concerned to give an account of New England's first Inhabitants, and of them which yet remain without Power, but in the very nature of their fore Fathers, justifying the Laws by which the Lords Servants were persecuted to Death at Boston, for which Judgement after Judgement hath fallen upon this place even since, and the Lords just Judgements were to bring them to a sight of that sin of Blood, but instead of re●enting, their hearts have waxed harder and harder against the Truth of God, delivered by his Servants, in that day, in which Day of God's Truth to them, their requital was by destroying the Lives of the Lords People, with whole innocent Blood, New-England remains defiled; for the very first stepped of the first Inhabitants towards this land, in may be questioned whether or not they fled beyond the command of the Lord; for finding the Bishops Yoke uneasy, under which if they had remained faithful, the Yoke of the Lord would have been easy, and his Burden light, but instead of manifesting the Lords cause in the other City, they fled this Land, which fleeing was it not beyond what the Lord hath commanded when persecuted in one City, to flee to the other, that each place or each People may hear the Truth, which all that are called of God, are to deliver, according to their measure, which if any say that it was sufficient warrant from God, for them to flee the Land, and as Paul did, preach the Gospel where Christ was not named, then why followed they not Paul, as for example he followed Christ, who came not to destroy men's lives, but to save, and 〈…〉, by turning People from Darkness to Light, and 〈…〉 Power of Satan to the Power of God; but how 〈◊〉 they turned the Native Indians, where Christ 〈…〉 named, did they not in their first settlement, 〈◊〉 them in to the Grave, where there is no Repentance? a strange turning in feed, by a People that pretended so much to God's Truth, as they did, and not come so far as the Law and the Prophets, but to do unto the poor Natives, otherways than they themselves would be done unto, well might such a work not be expected, to promote a People for the Service of God, & Honour of his Name, who hath well rewarded the Inhabitants of New-England, for their unrighteous deal towards the Native Indians, whom now the Lord hath suffered to reward the Inhabitants with a double measure of Blood, by Fire and Sword, which had they followed the command of the Lord, to have prayed for their Enemies, and done to others, even as themselves would have been done unto, the inhabitants might have been free from these great and terrible Judgements of God, which for sin and evil, is their Reward in this Day. So its evident that through their unfaithfulness to God, in their first settlement of this Land, and since hath been the leading cause of their being further left to do these unrighteous things, which have increased the Lords Wrath against them, and their following Generation, who remain guilty, for not repenting of sin and evil against God, for whose Truth they ought to have born a faithful Testimony in their public assemblies, against all the unrighteous Ways of their fore-Fatcers, which have been against the Lord and his People, of which I may relate something, that others thereby may receive warning, not to follow Unrighteousness, but to remain faithful to their measure, lest the Lord deliver them up, through Unbelief, to hardness of heart, and they do as New-England's Priests and Rulers have done, which hath caused the hand of the Lord to be against them, and all that actually, or by silence, have consented to their unrighteous ways, which have been maintained by the Sword of the Magistrate, which the Priests, in the day of their Power, whitted sharp through their false pernicious Doctrines, which did encourage the Rulers of that day to deshoy all the Lords Servants that were found within their Government, under the Name Quaker, to whom they allotted the Valley of Anchor for a door of Hope, Josh. 7 24.25. perverting the Truth of God, through their preaching up things in the Law, which Christians are not to do in the time of the Gospel, Deut. 13. 1 King. 1.10. & 2.24. Luke 9.54. which notwithstanding they would preach and pray, That all were accursed that did their Work negligently against the Quakers, whose living among the People the Priests did impute to be the cause of God's Judgements, which they said, was the People's just Reward, for suffering any one Quaker to live among them; whereupon the Rulers, with the silent consent of the greatest part of the Inhabitants, did make sharp and bloody Laws against the Quakers, whereby they were long imprisoned, under many Hardships, as in respect of the hard cold Climate, without fire, and for days together without food having their Friends denied of visiting them in any kind, but as the Lord was daily with them, their strength in love did increase towards him, who did uphold and support them in their great Sufferings, which were of that Nature, that one would even wonder that a People of so much preaching and praying, should be so blind, and of so unbelieving hard hearts, to work in such a height of Wickedness against the Lord and his People whom they have imprisoned, whipped, stocked, out the● Ears, undering them to be sold for Bonds Men and Bond Women, banishing them upon pain of Death, if ever they return, to be offered up at their bloody Altar; and to the value of twenty hundred Pounds taken from them for Fines; and made a Law, that every Master of a Vessel that landed any one Quaker within their Power of Government, should pay one hundred Pounds, and five pounds for any one that gave entertainment to any one of their Books, with much more of the like nature, acted and done by them to the aforesaid honest harmless People, whom in their Law they have styled with the Name of Rogues and Vagabonds, Blasphemous Heretics, and Seducers of the People from the Faith; but if they have called the Master a Devil, they of the same Spirit have called his People after the like manner, and after the same nature have they perseented his Servants to Death at Boston, which Wickedness they would cover with a Lie, even as their fore Fathers did, by giving large Money to the ignorant, to say his Disciples stole him away by Night; which large Money will not hid their Lying, no more will the twenty hundred Pounds taken from the Quakers, hid the Lies of them in this day, who say, The Quakers hanged themselves; for the Law by which they were put to Death, was made after that they had been a time in the Country, which after their Return, according to that Law of Banishment, were they in a most barbarous inhuman way put to Death, being driven to their bloody Altar with Drums, Guns and Swords, and out down, even to the breaking of their skulls, and in a barbarous manner dragged their naked Bodies in a Roap, with the gnashing of Teeth; in which inhuman manner they threw their naked Bodies into a stinking Pit near to their Bloody Altar, not suffering their Friends to secure the place with Fence, by which their Bodies might be preserved from Swine, and other ravenous Creatures. By which it is evident they hanged not themselves, but as they were persecuted in one place, they kept the Command of the Lord by fleeing to the other, until they delivered up their Lives, as for example the Lords Servants in days past have done, for the Truth of God and Testimony of Jesus, whom they have followed, even as the Disciples and Apostles of Christ have done. Then seeing that it is high Rebellion against God and the King, to put his People to Death without any warrant, precept, command or example from either, of how much lower nature is the Work of Witchcraft if really it so be) in and about the Town of Sal●m? for the Lords People are to him as the apple of his Eye, and he that toucheth them, toacheth the Apple of his Eye, Z●ch 2.8. Deut 32 10. Psal. 17.8. for whosoever offendeth one of them, better were it for him that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea, Mat 18 6. Mark 9.42. Luke 17.1, 2. Therefore People ought well to consider whom they establish to rule for their outward Peace among themselves; for where men of Persecuting Principles are appointed by the People to rule, where they once gain Power by the consent of the People, to persecute, their unrighteous Work draws the judgements of God upon the Inhabitants of the whole place where they rule; for had the Body of the Jews withstood their unrighteous Priest's and Rulers, by bearing a faithful Testimony for God's holy Truth, they had been freed from that Judgement which now remains upon their Generation; even so is it with t●e Inhabitants of New-England, though many of them had no actual hand in shedding of innocent Blood, which hath defiled the Land, because they did not bear a faithful Testimony against the unrighteousness of their Priests and Rulers of that Day, for which cause every Judgement upon this place, reaches the whole Body of People in the general Cal●●●ty; for Christ charges the Spirit of Persecution with all the righteous Blood that hath ever been shed, Mat. 23.35.  
Then seeing that this Spirit of Persecution is charged with more Unrighteousness towards God and his People, then all them of that nature which they call witches who have not that influence upon People to bewitch them, that they should not obey the Truth, even as the persecuting Priests and Rulers have done, which proves Persecutors to be the greatest Witches in the World, because the one, as the Devil was only permitted to touch the outward Body, for the inward trial of Faith, but the other are permittnd to bewitch People to persecute one the other to Death, and through the Power of the Devil, cause People to believe, that they are deing good Service for God, when they are persecuting his People to Death, Acts. 26.10, 11. and 8.5. and 9.1, 2. which time hath been, and yet remains, where the Priests bear rule, Joh. 16.2.3. for as Troops of Robbers have waited for a man, so have the company of Priests murdered in the way, by consent, Hos. 6.9. So that these things are in all places, where the persecuting Priests are rule among the People, who are like their Priests, Hos. 4.6, 7, 8, .10. & it is by the consent of the People, that persecuting Magistrates rule, and by consent of their ●urighteous Laws, do the persecuting Priests destroy he outward Lives and Liberties of the Lords People, 〈◊〉 which cause the Lords Wrath and Indignation is 'gainst the whole People, so far as they are either accally (or by silence) consenting to these things, through which the righteous suffer for the cause of God's holy Truth, who are not to give their Bread to Dogs, nor to cast their Pearls before Swine, neither are they to forgive further than men turn, and say, they repent, Mat. 6.10. Luke. 17.4 for nofurther than men repent of their Evil Deeds, will the Lord forgive; so that his will may be done on Earth, as it is done in Heaven, men are not to seek to unbind that on Earth which as not unbound in Heaven, neither to ●●ek to bind that on Earth which is not bound in Hrave●, but to pray that the sin of Murder may not be laid 〈…〉 charge of them that know not what they do, Mat. 5.44. Acts 7.00. for in this Day of great Trouble upon them that have not done even as they would be done unto, the Lord is daily adding unto their Afflictions because they Kopent not of their evil Deeds towards him and his People, whom Pharaoh-like they have oppressed, but the Lord hath in a great measure withheld the roaring of the Lion, and the fierce Lion, and the Teeth of the young Lion the Lord hath broken, and the strength of their power against God's Heritage, is become of no force; for their striving against the holy One of Israel is brought to nought; for he is a consuming fire, to burn up and lay waste the Works of the Wicked, whose unrighteous ways have been in Disobedience against hi● holy Truth, in which the Righteous are preserved; for the Lord is the Hope of his People, against whom there is no Enchantment, neither against them can any Divination take place; for the Lord exalteth Judgement for the Oppressed, and giveth food to the hungry, the Lord is his Name, by whose Power Miracles are wrought, and Aonders done; for the Lord openeth the Eyes of the blind, and unstoppeth the Ears of the deaf, and causeth the Lame to walk in pleasant places, the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down, and preserveth the strangers, he is God, and Lord over all, he relieveth the Fatherless, and pleadeth the Widows Cause, but he turneth the way of Wicked upside down, which they that are not deaf, dumb and blind, may hear, see and understand, ●o the praise of God and honour of his Name, who preserves the Righteous from falling into the many Snares of the World's Ways and Customs, who are accustomed to serve in those things which the Lord's soul abhors, in which state the blind lead the blind to Death, Hell and Destruction; wherefore the Day of God's Wrath increaseth against the Wickedness of men, who, without Repentance, shall certainly perish; for the ●ay of God's Vengeance hath overtaken many, and is hastening towards all that preach for hire, and all that divine for Money, and to all them that pervert the Truth, and turn the cause of the Fatherless and Widow, and he that purteth the Cup to his Neighbour's mouth for outward gain, by which excess is made in the use of the Creature; and to him that oppresseth in time of Sickness, and wrongeth the weak and feeble in time of Trouble; and the Thief, with the Swearer, Liar and Drunkard, and the Adulterer, with the Adultress, and he that oppresseth the Poor, and he that is oppressed in buying, which seeks his loss by Oppression in selling, which causeth Oppression among the poor, even like a sweeping rain; and he that spends of the Creation beyond what is meet for his present state, and of all others, of what nature soever, as the Charmer, or Observer of Times, or Enchanter, or Witch, or Consulter with familiar Spirits, or a Wizard, or a Nicromancer, for all these are an Abomination unto the Lord, which with these sins, and the destroying of the Lords Servants, let the Priests, Rulers, and rest of the Inhabitants consider what Work there is for them to do, before the Lord will withdraw his Wrath, which burneth against New-England, for their rebellious stiffneckedness in Unbelief and hardness of Heart against the Lord of Life, who hath given a measure of the same Light, Life and Grace to the faithful in this day, as to the Righteous in days past, through which they receive Wisdom from above, which leads them not to spend their whole time to study out of other men's Lines, made ready to their hands, but receive the mind of God in Christ, through the gift of that Wisdom which gave the Lords Servants to know the sta●e of Annanias and Saphira, and the Damsel, Simon and Elymus, Acts 8.23, 2●. cap. 5.9. & 14.9, 10, 11. & 16, 17, 18. But to them that live in known Disobedience against the known Commands of the Lord, they deny all infallible means by the Spirit of God, for which cause of Disobedience, the Light of the Lord is their Condemnation for evil Deeds, John 3.19, 20, 21. for the Lord doth call to remembrance the Disobedience of them that are bewitched that they should not obey his Truth, and against them will the Lord draw up Judgement after Judgement, until he hath destroyed the Disobedient, even as he hath done to the Rebellious in days past; for he will out off the Wicked, even as we see, in the midst of their days, in which day the sinner escapes not, though a hundred years old, Isa. 56, 20. Deut. 18.6. Heb. 10.28. Psal. 37.16, & 21.37, 38 Gen. 6.3.  
Therefore let not People be any longer deceived by such idle Shepherds as we read of in days past, which live upon the People's Labour, and not profit their Souls, Isa. 56.10.11. Ezek. 34. Mic. 21.2.3.4. Isa. 5.2.9.10. Jer. 14.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16. Joh. 10.12.13. but instead of People's searching the holy Scriptures, which through faith in Christ Jesus, are able to make wise to Salvation, they are roving in their minds after this and the other Teacher, as learned and brave Orthodox men, whom they esteem to be Preachers of the Gospel, not at all considering, that the Gospel is the Power of God to Salvation, to them that believe, and Condemnation to them that do not believe, which must needs follow, that such savingly believe not in the Power of God, which gives Power to them that savingly believe in his Power, which redeems the mind of every true believer out of every dead form, and from all dead formal Teachers, whose Teachings is altogether from the Letter without the assisting Power of divine Grace and Spirit, which in words they will seem to own, but in works they deny; for their preaching is where outward profit gives the greatest encouragement, and if there be one place of more outward benefit then another, that is for the accutest Work●man, and the lesser benefit for the weaker capacity in their way; but as Unrighteousness is of man's Enemy's, and they are they of his own House, and unto them is their Obedience yeiled through which they are Servants unto him whom they obey, and Children unto him whose Work they do, Rom. 6.16. joh. 8.44. Mat. 6.24. Luke 16.13, 1 Joh 3.8. so that if they say, they have no sin, they are Liars, and deceive themselves, for they remain in the Degeneration, having their minds alienated from God, and from serving him in the true and living way, Rom. 3.11.12 13. Psal. 59 & 140.7. Prov. 1.16. Isa 59.7.8. But that nature which maketh atrue believer is by Faith in God, through Jesus Christ, and they that are true Believers believe in him, of whose nature they be, which sinneth not, 1 Joh. 3.2. to 11. Isa. 5.3.6. but they whose minds are exercised in the love of that which is below the love of God in Christ, are not worthy to receive him, Mat. 19.20. to 25. and 10.37.38.39. But through Disobedience the wise are blind from receiving the Truth of these things, Mat. 11.25. Luke 10.21. but the faithful press forward, having the assurnace, through Grace, by faith in Christ, that the Lord will perfect his Work of Grace, according to his faithful Promise, even as he hath done to his faithful Children in days past, Gen. 17.1. Job 1.1. and 8.3. Psal. 18, ●2. Mat. 19.20.21. Ephes. 4.12. Luke 6.40 Col. 1.28. for nothing less, then of what Obedience God required of man in the time of the Law, will be of God accepted in this Gospel Day, Levit 22.21. Deut. 25.5 Therefore not any one man nor woman, but shall be left without excuse in the Day of Account, because all have in measure, received to profit withal, Joh. 3.16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. Mat 25. 1 Cor. 12.3. to 9 Ephes. 5.13.14. So that if People would but give up in their minds to spend that time in reading the holy Scriptures, which they spend in that which only satisfies the Lust of the natural Will, which begets from a further and further obedience of retaining God in their thoughts by which the mind is fitly framed, through Disobedience, to veiled itself a servant to the Devil's Power, through which they become Witches, and in one degree or another, are Instruments of bewitching others▪ in which state of Disobedience the World remains in Wickedness, bewitching one the other that they should not obey the Truth of God made manifest by Jesus Christ so that the greatest sort of Witchcraft by the Devil, is to make men Instruments for his service, and to bewitch into that which is of the most service to promote his Kingdom of Unrighteousness, which cannot be higher promoted, by any that serve him, then when they are by him bewitched, to bewitch others into the like state, that when they are destroying the lives of the Lords Children, think it is of the greatest Service for God, and benefit to their Souls, which is the greatest sort of Witchcraft that ever was, for People, of the Devil, so to believe.  
Now for all other sort of Witches, they only touch the outward, but cannot touch the Spirit of one true Believer in Christ Jesus, which, according to that command of God, for the destroying of Witches and false Worshippers in the time of the Law, if it remain the same in this Gospel Day, it reaches the Life of every Persecutor, which doth bewitch that they should not obey the Truth; in which state, though they worship not a false God, as in the time of the Law, yet they worship the true God in a false way, which comes under the same Condemnation of not suffering a Witch and the false Worshipper to live, in the time of the Law. So that Persecutors are no more the true Worshippers of God in this Gospel Day, than Witches, and other false Worshippers were in the time of the Law; for Publicans and Harlots shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven before them that are of that Persecuting Spirit, by which so many Thousands of People are bewitched, that they should not obey the Truth, but remain in the works of the flesh, with which Witchcraft is included, Gal. 5.20. for which cause the Devil is permitted to imitate the very form of the way and manner of their former proceed against the People of God, at their general Court in Boston; for some of the afflicted, bewitched or possessed Evidences say, That the black Man, (i. e. the Devil) in a high crowned Hat, with his Priests, have divers times called together about four or five hanared of their Number, at Sa●●m they use to assembl● themselves together, breaking R●●ad and drinking Wine, which they call the Devil's Sacrament, which practice (as the Evidences, with some of the confessed, say) is before they set upon the height of their intended Work, to a 〈◊〉 and torment others, thereby to force them to conform to the same practice of the Devil's way; and some have confessed, they have been freed from the Torment of their afflicted state, upon conforming to the Devils Will, who then baptizeth them into Covenant, to do what he and the Priests with him command to be done. Which work of the Devils general Court, is as like in imitation to the work of the former Priests and Rulers against the People called Quakers, as the moving shadow of a wicked man, is like to the moving of 〈◊〉 corrupted Body; for all that would not conform to the Faith of the Priests and Rulers, to do as they did in that day, were by them and their followers esteemed no better than Dogs; for I never heard of any D●g but received more Mercy than that Servant of the Lord William Breand, received at the hands of the Priests, Rulers and their Followers in that day, who tied the said W. B. neck and heels sixteen hours, and laid upon his naked back thirty stripes with a three cord knotted whip, and then from ●●e of their Church Members (with a pitched Roap) received one hundred and seventeen stripes, only his Shirt to defend the same; having his body thus beaten into a Jelly of flesh and blood, he fainted away; some thinking that he would not have recovered life again, and the Doctor said, if he did recover it would be a Miracle; which through the goodness of God he did recover to 〈◊〉 and strength again, whose Testimony was of great courage, through the Power of God, for the service of his Truth among them that did believe, and for the further Condemnation of them that did not believe; in which day the work of Unbelievers was of that nature against the said People called Quakers, that to read the History of all their Sufferings in that day, in and about Bo●on, may in Ages to come, make men to wonder, that such a professing People in New-England should manifest themselves so mad against an innocent people; nay, in that day did they not appoint their Women Church Members to search the Bodies of the Lords Hand maids for Witches, whose Testimony will remain to the end on Record, That one of them so searched, in the bearing and bringing forth fire Children, did not undergo the like trouble, as the inhuman cruelty of these Church Women put her to in the searching of her Body for a Witch, which she was clear of, but now among their own Church Members, they have, as is supposed, Witchcraft upon Witchcraft, the which whether true or not, is a Judgement of God upon them, for their not repenting of their evil Deeds against the Lord and his People, who daily desire of God that they may manifest Repentance by the fruits thereof, until which time of Reformation, that men may come to do, even as they would that all men should do unto them, the Lords Anger against the Inhabitants of New-England will not be removed; for they may expect, that as they increase in Unrighteousness against God, that as he draws off the lesser Judgement, a greater, for sin and evil against him, will upon the Unrighteous be poured forth; for God is not mocked, such as men sow, such they shall also reap; and if the Inhabitants of New-England do not amend and repent, the Lord hath yet a Work to do by Pestilence and Famine, which will be more terrible than all the Lords former Judgements have been, ever since they began to persecute the honest People called Quakers.  
Of which work, under Boston Government, in that day, I have before mentioned, proving it to be the moving cause that the Lord hath, as with Israel of old, left the Inhabitants of New-England to further evils, which with the shedding of the Blood of the innocent, and their other sins, these horrid Accusations of Witchcraft have increased among the Inhabitants and Churches, so called, in New-England (but whether true or not, I do not affirm.) And to conclude, I shall give an account of the Quakers suftering in one small Town in New-England, by which the whole may the better be comprehended, which is as followeth.  

An Account of Goods taken from the People called Quakers in the Town of Sandwich in New-England.   l. s. d. Taken from Robert Harper, 44 00 00 Taken from Ralph Allen, 68 00 00 Taken from Joseph Allen, 05 12 00 Taken from Thomas Greenfield, 28 00 00 Taken from Edword Perry, 89 00 00 Taken from Richard Kirby, & his son Richard, 54 12 00 Taken from George Allen, 25 15 00 Taken from William Allen, 86 17 00 Taken from Matthew Allen, 48 16 00 Taken from William Gifford, 57 19 00 Taken from Thomas Ewer, 25 08 00 Taken from William New-land, 36 00 00 Taken from Daniel Wing, 12 00 00 Taken from Ralph Allin, 18 00 00 Taken from Peter Gaunt, 43 14 06 Taken from Thomas Jenkins, 19 10 00 Taken from Michael Turner, 13 10 00 Taken from John Newland, 02 06 00 In all 678 19 06  
The other part of their Sufferings, in this small Town of Sandwich, was with whipping, and long Imprisonment, and though the sufferings of the Inhabitant Quakers of Sandwich were great, yet under Boston Government the sufferings of this People, did abound in Cruelty above the other Colonies adjoining to Boston Government, from which the other united colonies adjoining took their example, to persecute the Quakers, as i● short I have before related; but the Lord open the dark Understanding of their Mind, and give them a heart Suitable to Repent, that they may live to God, as they ought to do, which Repentance, must appear by the fruits of Repentance, otherwise there can be no Salvation to them that leave this Life without Repentance, because that there is no repenting in the Grave, which if mwn did without Repentance, than they die in their sins, and cannot share with the faithful, in the things of Gods heavenly Riches, which are in store for all them, that love the appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ.   

CHAP. XXX. Concerning the Lord's Harvest, and of the Labour in his Vineyard.  
EVen now, as in days past, the Lords Harvest is Great, but the Labourers are few, because many have received of the Lord to work in the Vineyard, but are not faithful to that of him which they have received; for which cause their part of labour in the Vineyard remains not done, and they remain clothed with the works of their own Labour, which is not of the Spirit of God, therefore do they labour in Vain; for it is the diligent hand (through the gift of God) which enriches the Soul of him, that is a faithful Labourer in the Lord's Vineyard, when the negligent and floathful ones are sent empty away; for all have in measure received the seed of the Harvest; but through unfaithfulness the harvest of Truth and Righteousness is not perse●●ed in them, because through their unfaithfulness to the gift of God, the Seed taketh not root, for the ground proves barren, which is the cause of the seeds not taking root, to bring forth fruit acceptable to God; for as the seed, in measure, hath been sown in all forts of ground, it only takes root to bring forth good fruit in the honest heart, which is faithful to God in the work of the Vineyard; for many are called to labour in the Vineyard, that through unfaithfulness to their call, are never chosen among the faithful Labourers in the work of the Lords Vineyard, therefore pray to the Lord of the Harvest, that he would send forth more faithful Labourers, or the Harvest is great, & many unfaithful Labourers there be, which hinder others from receiving the Truth, for they have sown divers strange seeds in the Lord's Vineyard, where the many Pastors have trodden the Lords portion under foot, and have made his pleasant Portion a desolate Wilderness, which being desolate, it mourneth unto the Lord, for which cause the Lord hath sent his Servants, as in days past, to warn the learned wise rebellious Ones from the evil or their way, that People may find ease from under these heavy burdens, with which their Teachers have yoked them, and encouraged them to beat one, destroy the other, persuading them it was good service for God in so doing, in which state many have itching ears, that will not endure to hear found Doctrine, but heap up Teachers, which turn them from the Truth into Fables, through which the Vinyard is encumbered with a multitude of fruitless Trees, Briars, Thorns and Thistles, among which the Lion waits for his prey, and the Subtle Foxes have their hiding places, where the Wolf also seeketh to devour, which things are left for Preachers to consider, and not to teach People, to dash one against the other, but to love one another, and to pray for their Enemies, and do no other thing to another, than they themselves are willing to be done unto, until which time the Just Judgement of God is their Reward, for all their evil ways towards him and his People, for whom the Lord is making way, through his righteous Judgements, which take please upon all them that obey not his Word, to keep his commands, they like potsherds, shall even dash one against the other, until all be consumed, which is not fitly framed and tempered according to the Lords own mind, but the Lord is making way for the growth of his own Seed, which shall bring forth abundant of increase, to the praise of God, and honour of his Name; for the harvest is Great, and the Labourers are few, but the Lord will daily add more and more, that by the strength of his own Power, he will make his Vineyard fit, according to his own desire, where every one shall remain in peace under his own Vine, unto which many are gathered, and unto them will be the gathering.   

CHAP. XXXI. Something of an Account concerning Gods Judgements upon divers of the chief persecuting Priests and Rulers in New-England, as also relating to some of their Laws, Acts and Orders, for the further Reformation of them called their Churches, with some what relating to their form and manner of Habit in that day.  
IT hath been found lawful and expedient in all Ages, (as appears by the holy Scriptures) to record the Works of the Righteous, that as Land Marks they might remain for all to follow them in the way of Righteousness, and also to record the Works of the Unrighteous, that as Way-Marks all might take warning to hate evil and do good; for had the first Inhabitants of New-England remained faithful under the Bishop's Yoke, in fleeing from one City and Town to the other, the Yoke and Burden of Christ would have become easy and light, but not bearing the Cross of Christ, in opposition to their natural Wills, they fled beyond the Command of God, in fleeing the Land, though seemingly under a fair pretence of gathering Churches, and planting them where Christ had not been once named. But their preaching their Gospel and planting their Churches, seemeth to me of the nature of the Spaniards among the Indians in New Spain, who destroyed the Natives by Fire and Sword, even so was it with them that at first came to preach the Gospel and plant Churches in New-England, the effect of which Work is recorded in their Book of God's Providences towards them, in suffering them to destroy the Natives, not considering how to love their Enemies, and to pray for them, unto whom the King of Heaven and Earth had given this Land to possess; but as in that day, by reason of the Native not understanding the nature of Guns and Powder, one English Man with his Gun, would put ten Indians to flight, so in fifty or sixty years' time of being acquainted with the Unrighteousness of the English, they are now become so unrighteous in the same way, that as a Judgement upon the English, their Fire and Sword is so terrible, that at the sight of ten Indians do one hundred well armed English men take their flight; for the Natives now understanding Trade, do say, the English cheated them of their Land, and also of the many ten Thousand Pounds worth of Furs, with which they have traded with the English, who were bounded by a Law, that only a few of them, which were mostly in the Priests and Rulers favour, could trade, without paying five pounds in Money for every pint of strong Drink they sold to any Indian, without licence from the Rulers, who did licence such as aforesaid, to sell what they thought good, insomuch that some of the Traders have boasted, that their profit was one thousand pound in Furs, for one hundred pounds in Rum, Gun powder, and other Goods with which they traded; but of all their trading goods, they said Rum was the chief; for the Indians nature did so require and desire after strong Drink, that all would be drunk in some short time, for which cause the English Traders might then buy at any rate, and also to lengthen out out their stock by mixing Rum and Brandy with two thirds Water; but ill gotten goods do not long remain with the Wicked; for the Indian Traders, with their great Estates, have the Indians destroyed most of them and their Estates with Fire and Sword; and if New-England hath been purchased of the Natives, as they say, after the like nature it hath been, how can the English have peace with the Indians, until they have repent of their sin, and made full restitution to them for their wrong received from the English, especially about their Land, which all know God gave unto them; and before the English came here, it's generally acknowledged, the Indians were a moral People in way of Trade with each other; but since the English undertook the work of reducing them into the knowledge of their Doctrine, Principles and Practices, they are become the worst of men in stupidity, to work wickedness; so that it is concluded, that those Indians which have complied with the former Government, by which they have gained the Name of Praying Indians, have been the greatest Enemies to the English in the late Wars; and this I know, that some of them called praying Indians, have far exceeded them called cursing Indians, in Mischief against the English, and in general, the praying Indians are no more to be credited than they that never prayed in their life; so that the great sums of Money or Goods sent from England, to promote the Priest's and Ruler's Work of converting the Indians in New England, hath no more answered the end, than all the Money and Goods, which in the time the Priests have received of their people for preaching; for in that day, the nearer people were drawn, by their Priests, to join with their Church, the further they were drawn from serving God in the true and living way, as is sufficiently manifest by their persecuting of People to death; so that the more the Indians complied, in joining with the Church, the more subtler they grew, and now in subtlety exceed the Foxes, Bears, Lions and Wolves, which if a true man were b●● by the one, he could have no true recompeace by complaint to the other; in which day they accounted their Devotion so holy, that if one that was a Member was was reading in his Psalm Book, and another that was no Member did but cast his eye, to behold what he was reading, the prerson that was reading would close his Book, as a thing unfit for them, accounted as Dogs, to partake with with them in their holy things; and at that day, in the Church of Salem, the Women in time of service had their faces covered with a Veil, which practice did not many years continue, and when this practice was laid aside, they had (for the more order in their Church) to keep people from sleeping, a man that wholly tended with a short clubbed stick, having at the one end a knop, and at the other end a Fox , with which he would struck the women's faces that were drowsy to sleep, and with the other end would knock unruly Dogs, and Men that were a 〈◊〉; in which time the Persecutors were not only known by their persecuting, but also by their habit of high crowned Hats, and two inch broad Bands, with short hair above or even with their Ears, and peaked Beards, for their manner was to cut their hair by the brims of a dish upon their heads. They had also a Law about Men and women's Apparel, by which in wearing of black silk Hoods and Scarves, the Priests and Rulers Wives might be known from others, and them accounted rich might be known by their fine Cloth, and Gold and Silver Buttons, and thereupon came they to receive Honour of the poorer sort, which were yearly rated to maintain their Priests, etc. And in that day a man or woman, tho' never so base and wicked, yet should they find acceptance of favour with the Priests and Rulers, by informing against the Quakers, who were recorded as Liars, Blasphemers, Seducers, Heretics, Rogues and Vagabonds, with much more of the like nature.  
Now having related in several places of this Book some, what of the unrighteous Laws, Acts, Orders and Practices of New-England, I shall now relate a little concerning their last ensnaring Law against the same people called Quakers, through their pretended zeal for Conformity, by choosing Tiding Men in each Town under their Government, which were year after year sworn to give true Information where they found the Quakers to meet, or any other professing people which were not lisenced to meet by the Priests and Rulers, who for so meeting, according to that Law, did forfeit House and Land to the Country, and then the Priests and Rulerrs were called the Country; and the persons, of what quality soever, that were taken at any of the the aforesaid Meetings, were forthwith to be well whipped in the house of Correction, the penalty of which Law several honest rich Merchants in Boston received, which Law well pleased the Priests, not knowing how little time they had to ride the Rulers at their pleasure; but soon after this King Charles the second, with his Council o● Parliament, called them to an account, and found tha● they had forfeited their Charter, and which was condemned, and for their misdemeanour towards him and his Subjects justly taken away. And in that Day their pretended Holiness was such, that none but them of their own Profession were admitted to bear Office, or fight against their Enemies; but now they will accept the Mahoque Indians, or Pirates, or them highly accused of Witchcraft, to be their chief Commanders; and instead of differing Apparel, all that can get it may wear w●at they please, most striving who shall come nearest the newest French fashion; and instead of women's Vails in their Worship, strive who can spy out the newest fashioned Apparel, and the richest and highest Top-kno●s, etc. and too much let their minds out to discourse of these things, till their next Worship day I writ not these things to reflect upon the People of New-England, but that they may repent of their evils, which provoke the Lords Judgements against a People that profess him in words, but deny him in Works; for which cause it was, that divers of the former Priests and Rulers were suddenly removed by the just hand of the Lord, which reached them by sudden Death. according as I have read in a printed Paper given to King Charles the second, and to his Council, that upon the day of putting to Death them four Persons called Quakers, many people to see them put to death, run over the Draw-bridge in Boston, which broke down, and several people hurt but only one Woman big with Child killed, and that was her who had said, That rather than those four Quakers should not be put to Death: for want of some one to hang them, that her Husband should perform the Work.  
The next in order was their Major General, whose Horse threw him in all his Pomp, at the head of the Train-bands, and he died immediately in the same place.  
The third was the Captain of their Castle, who was suddenly killed with Thunder, at which time the blades of his Soldier's Swords melted in their sheaths by their sides, yet all preserved alive.  
The fourth and fifth were their two Captains which drove those innocent persons to their bloody Altar; the one was deprived of his natural Reason, and for filthiness degraded of his Church Brethren, and became eaten of Lice, and a reproach to them that met him. The other was given up to strong Drink, and suddenly died.  
The sixth of their Rulers, was one Webb, who was accused of Uncleanness with his near Kinswoman, he was strangely drowned, when all others in the same Boat, were out of danger.  
The seventh was their Jailor, a devout Member of their Church, who departed this Life in great horror of Conscience, confessing, it was for his great Cruelty to the poor Quakers.  
The eight is said to have rotten alive, and was he that condemned the innocent to die  
The nineth bled to Death, not known to have any Wound.  
The tenth was one Underwood, a rich Baker, which wasted his Estate, and became a Servant in Virginia And another, which I well knew, did the like.  
The twelfth (a great persecutor) was a rich Collonol, he ended miserably, being killed by the Indians in his own House, in a taunting way of reproach. And at the same time his Riches consumed by fire, and his Daughter taken Captive.  
The thirteenth was John Norton, their high Priest in Boston, who preached in the forepart of the day, and in the latter part of the day, it's said, he confessed, the hand of God was upon him, and ●o died.  
And as the Word of the Lord was by the Mouth of his Servants to John Indicot Governor, even so is it, for his fair Dwellings in Boston are become a Barn, and Stable for Cows and Horses; and one can hardly find where his fair D● in Salem stood. And of all his other great Estate in Lands and Live, it's well known, that on four pence a day for labour, many honest men in Old England have and do live far more better than any of his Posterity upon the aforesaid great Estate, and yet I know not any of them extravagant, but things do not prosper with them.    

Some Deep and Mysterious Matters for all to Consider. BRIEFLY RELATING How Man came to fall, his state in the Fall, and Way of Restoration to God again.  

CHAP. I. Concerning the wonderful and mysterious Trees in the Garden of Eden, unknown ever since Man was driven out of Paradise, until admitted to return again, viz. the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, and the Tree of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God.  
NOw some will have the Tree of Kowledge of good and evil, to be a natural Tree, planted by God in Paradise; with whom I will not much contend, but of such a nature it was, that whosoever did eat thereof should have their Eyes opened against themselves, and so to be as Gods, to know both good and evil; then might it be, that God would admonish Adam both inwardly and outwardly, of what he did inwardly and in his heart, either forbidden or teach him, that he would 〈…〉 for the greater Evidence set before his Eyes, but ●●●al this may be granted, that what was outwardly done, the same happened inwardly in the heart of Adam, that he was there temped by the Seed of the Serpent, viz. to make some account and reckoning of his own Wisdom, Will and Nature, and not submit himself unto God, as void of all name, knowledge or work, but to be something of himself; and there are two causes for it, first, because the promise is, that the Seed of the Woman shall bruise th● head of the Serpent. Now I do not read of any natural o● living Serpent, whose head was so bruised by the Seed of the Woman; therefore it may besaid, as the spiritual Seed of the Woman (or Christ) was in the heart of Adam, so likewise was the serpent's Seed; for man was made good, and not of the substance of God, therefore is it that man turns himself always from God, and inclineth to his own vanity; for what is the Devil Sin, Death and Hell, but nothing, even as many of the ancient Fathers have writ, especially Thaulerus that God never created them, for they are a Nonentity, a not being, which is contrary and perfectly opposite to Entity and being; and this might be the Devil that dwelled in Adam which seduced him, as also in Lucifer; The other cause is this, that the Scriptures likewise witness, that the City of God, and the heavenly Jerusalam, and the Kingdom of God, is a Paradise within his People; and further, that God and his Almighty Word is their Paradise, the Tree of Life the Temple where they dwell, walk, sacrifice and pray, as likewise are his People and Paradise; and that the Beast spoken of in the Revelations, which the whole World, both great and small do at this day worship in their hearts, as likewise the Tree of knowledge of good and Evil, is within men, for the whole exterior World, or whatsoever either is or is done outwardly, are but only an accident and figure, signifying the Truth of the thing, and the internal nature; and therefore, there is nothing true, of whatsoever is seen with the Eyes of man, for the figure and fashion of this World must pass away and perish, as being nothing else but a certain imaginary World, and the figure that is true, right, eternal and subsisting of itself, consequently, all things which in the Bible we●e done externally and signifyingly, must again be done, and again be brought to t● pass, after their manner, and all the History of the Bible, and all Moses and the Prophets; for the whole Scriptures to this day stand in force, and are continually accomplished and fulfilled internally and spiritually; for all things are by Christ translated into the Truth, therefore it must needs be, that all the Prophecies which God s●ake, from the beginning of the World by the mouth of his holy Ones, must still be called back, reiterated, or done over again, therefore that shadow or that Tree, was and is nothing else in the Truth but the ●ature, will, knowledge and life of Adam, of this he should not have eaten, this he should not have ascribed or arrogated to himself, but should a been-free, and freely subject to God, and not to have known any thing, but what God knew in him, nor to have done any thing, but what God did in him, nor to have spoken any thing, but what God spoke in him, etc. And upon this account every man is as much forbidden this Tree as Adam was, to the end that God, without any impediment, might have exercised his Almighty Kingdom, Will, Nature & Power in him, but himself should have been utterly void of all knowledge, will or nature, and not to have arrogated any of these, as proper to himself; this pleaseth God, this was that which he commanded, and what he would have had done, to this interpretation agreeth true Divinity, that this Tree in the substance thereof is nothing else but man's own Will & Knowledge, of which alone in all the earthly Paradise of this wide World of men's hearts, they ought not to ea●, but to account it forbidden, except they will eat of Death and Destruction; for as soon as Adam fell, by eating of this Tree, the Tree was immediately planted in his mind, and afterwards derived into all the branches and fruit thereof, so that as the same Word, precept and forbidding was commanded to all, so is the same Fall, all men which are in Adam have now eaten of Death, and received from the Serpent this undigested Pason; so that it is easily perceived how man is his own greatest Enemy, and what he ought to think of himself, of his own Will Understanding, Wisdom and Knowledge, seeing it is the Counsel, Seed, Wisdom Knowledge and Head of the Serpent, which must by Christ, be bruised in the Children of men; for it must needs be, that as in the old Testament was signified by Circumcision, that in the new one by Baptism, which is that of the Spirit, through Regeneration, and being new born of the incorruptible Seed of the Kingdom of God; therefore, he that will be made fit for the Kingdom of Heaven, must part with, and put off all things by nature and Inheritance by Adam, even as he would do the Devil, and Death itself, viz. his own Will, Prudence, Wisdom, and Righteousness, wherewith (as fig-leaves) their Adam doth vainly seek to 〈◊〉 himself, for that is Sin, and the 〈◊〉 of Death, namely, to eat of this True, to 〈…〉 as 〈◊〉, his own Wisdom, Prudence, 〈…〉 but, alas! who know● this, 〈…〉 who is it that is displeased with his own 〈◊〉 Understanding, occ●●isdom? when will men forsake them? where are the men, that do not delight themselves in their own will, and recreate their minds sweetly and contentedly therein, reposing upon their own knowledge, understanding, and the ●ike? The Tree is fair to be looked upon, and sweet to be tasted, and therefore do the Sons of Men so greedily swallow and devour Death, as Adam did; land this is the misery, that men know it not, neither think they of it, but judge it to be good, and think assuredly that this is the Tree of Life, even to follow their own Wills and their own Conceits and Opinion of good, which indeed is false, to know much, to discern many sciences, and so to grow great in their own Thoughts, assume to become Gods, and in the mean time they are not ware, that this is Adam's fall, his biting of the Apple, yea, his bitter Death itself, yet are continually speaking ●f the miserably state of Man by Adam's fall, but not take notice the same is done in themselves; and many are they that talk of his eating, and pretend to detest it, and him for it, yet themselves eat of it, even as he hath done, which doth manifest the miserable state of men, who prepare a Rod for themselves, by giving sentence against their own life, by condemning their first Father Adam, and perceive not themselves fast in the same Trap. Here then, consider diligently, what man's Will, Knowledge and Understanding is; where with they think they may come into the presence of God; whereas indeed it is nothing but the bitterness of Death, and the fruit of the forbidden Tree; how few is there among men that perceive this, or will learn to put off, deny, fear, mortify or kill his own Will and Wisdom? nay, rather do they not hold it fast, extol and value it as pure Gold? whenas indeed it is eternal Death; and truly in this Misery the whole World, lieth sick, and few is the number of them blessed Ones, who are delivered from themselves, and their own wills, power and wisdom, but are a small remnant, and few in number, as one of a City, and two of a Tribe, that find this straight gate, and enter in at it.   

CHAP. II. Concerning the Tree of Life, what it is, and why Adam was shut out, forbiaden and withheld from it, and not suffered to eat thereof.  
I Can also allow that there is the Tree of Life likewise in Paradise, as we find recorded in the holy Scripture, whose fruit might have been so seasoned, and endued by God, and how it had that nature that he who should eat of it; should live forever, and never die; and when Adam had eaten of the forbidden Tree, and had fallen, as God foretold, into Death, it might not now be that he should be permitted to eat of the Tree of Life, otherwise he might have lived forever, and the Word of God, if thou eat thereof thou shalt die the Death, had been false. Moreover, God who is mere Love, and cannot forever be angry, did will provide, that Man in his misery, and in enmity to God, might not forever lead a wretched and calamitous Life, for which cause he drove him out of Paradise, from the Tree of Life, into his House of Penance, as if it were, the World, and shown him a way, whereby he might ag●in come out of Death into Paradise, to the Tree of ●ternal Life; but in the mean time he fenced the Tree of Life, with a flying Cherub and glittering Sword, lest Adam in his banishment would eat Life; for it seemed better to God, that Man should die, and so by Death put off this miserable Life, and change it to be translated to a better; for he knew, that Life, after this Death, cold calam●y and banishment, would be so much the more welcome, and he the more dear unto God, after Victory; therefore God, who cannot hate the Sons of men, ever deals mercifully with them, howsoever he handleth them, if they would take it in good part, and not suspect him to be their Enemy; for such indeed is the nature and suspicion of man's heart.  
Now may it not thus be, that for a greater Evidence or Testimony, that the same thing did likewise happen in the Tree Paradise, i. e. Adam's heart, as there is the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, which is the Seed, Speech, Council, Knowledge, Wisdom and Will of the Serpent; so there is also the Tree of Life, the Seed, Speech and Counsel of God, or of the Woman; and as God and the Devil are, even so are these two Seeds, or two Trees, so contrary the one to the other, that one brings Life, the other Death; and therefore it is impossible that whoso eats of the one, should at the same time eat of the other, or come unto it, as being separated by a flying Chrub and a● glittering Sword. Thus do I, and also other faithful Writers, interpret whinged Sin and obstinate Disobedience which is elsewhere called in Scripture, a separation or wa● of partition; for whoso eats of the Tree of Knowledge o● good and evil, that is he that greedily swallows down and devoureth humane and diabolical Wisdom, he is already separated from the Tree of Life, that is, from the Wisdom, Speech and Knowledge of God; and neither of these Wisdoms Speeches, Wills or Knowledges can endure the other, neither can the one come from the other, so great is the Gulf between them, being as far divided asunder as Heaven and Hell. He that eats of the Tree of Life, that is, of the Word of God, he is born of God, and cannot die nor sin, for his Fruit doth eat the Eater, and translate him into his own Nature, that is, into Life, as elsewhere the Scripture speaketh of eating Christ's fl●sh; for indeed it is the same thing to eat Christ, and to drink his Blood, to live in his Word, to believe, to know God and the like; as likewise it is all one to believe in Adam, to live in Adam, to die to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, to obey the Seed and Word of the Serpent, and to become Gods; therefore he that eats of the deadly Tree, and cleaves to the Word and Wisdom of the Serpent, being born of Satan, and afflicted, he lives in flesh and blood, and therefore cannot do well, or please God; as contrary wise, the other cannot sin, do evil, or displease God; Therefore he that will have the one, must needs part with the other, they must of necessity go out of the Wisdom of Adam and the Serpent, and from the forbidden Tree, that so the Wisdom of the Tree of Life may enter, to abide in them; Adam, and the Wisdom of the flesh must die in them, that Christ may live in them, and the Spirit may have the government; the Life of the one is the Death of the other, and the weakness of one is the strength of the other; for no man can serve two Masters, and in vain shall men strive to reconcile God and Adam, or Christ and the Serpent, Light and Darkness, the Old Man and the New God and Beliel, or the Temple of God, and the Temple of Idols.   

CHAP. III. Concerning the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil planted in the heart of Adam, that is, the Seed Speech and Spirit of the Serpent, and that great Idol Anti christ, Sin, Death and the Devil, and the Beast spoken of in Daniel and the Revelations, which is the greatest and most ordinary worshipping of Angels.  
WHat is it that men think, is the Beast, of which Daniel writeth, that resisteth and blasphemeth the the most High, and killeth the Saints? is it not that old Serpent that overthrew Adam and Eve? And what is the Tree of knowledge of good and evil? what is the shameless King and Antichrist, of which Daniel writ, and Paul to the Thessalonians? And what is that many headed Beast which the whole World adoreth, which is spoken of in the Revelations? And what is Sin? what is Death? what is the Devil himself, but every man's own Will, Wisdom, Reason, Religion, Righteousness, Skill, Delight, for which cause, Paul calleth it, Death itself, Enmity against God, and Folly before him; and the Apostle James, calls it Earthly, humane, Devilish Wisdom, because these three are one and the same, and that is devilish which is merely humane, and contrary wise, Man, the Devil, Adam, and the Serpent, are the same, and do agree; for the Serpent did so instill this Wisdom and feinged goodness into the nature of Adam, that the Serpent's seed and word was in Adam, made a corporal man; so that now the same thing may be said of them both, and as they are, that are born of God, and in whom the Word of God is made man, or flesh, are called Gods, and one Spirit with God, so all men being sprung of flesh and blood before they be planted into Christ, and are born of the Spirit, they are justly called Devils, and the Devils Children and Offspring of the Devil, whose work they do, therefore that which is only humane, is evil, and that which is devilish, is humane. And again, what is the fall of Adam but the wisdom of the Flesh, and the fruit of the forbidden Tree? What is that old Dragon that came out of Hell, and drew down from Heaven with his Tail, a great part of the Stars of Heaven, but only the Wisdom of this Tree, which extols itself against God, and places his seat with the higest? And what else are the Thoughts of the Flesh? What is sin? what is Arrogance, but the Fruits and Wisdom of this Tree? And what are the Decrees of Men, and the bent of their Reason against God, their devices and light Books, but the cunning of the Devil, from this Tree eaten? What is all the Worship of Idols, the false Religion of all the wicked Jews, Turks, Gentiles, Mamalucks, and all false Christians? And what are all the Leagues, Conventicles, Ceremonies and Covenants, but the Apples of this Tree eaten, which counterfeiting the Tree of Life, seemeth to the Sons and Children of men, to be pleasant fruit, which indeed are but such as are Death itself? for I do believe, that no man can sufficiently express the general worshipping of Idols, where withal the corners of the World and hearts of men are stuffed. How common is it for men to worship Idols? and what is an Idol, but to worship the true God in a false way? and who is it that saith not to his own reason, knowledge, honesty, art and wisdom, thou art my God? They do not thus say with their Mouths, but their whole life, and their idolatrizing Mind saith as much, by their deeds, for they continually sacrifice to their own Drag? and here it is that mortal men deny God, and testify it by their works, which are without faith, being dead, even as a body is without the spirit; for if by true faith they were alive to God, they would leave vengeance to him, and not so much seek to revenge themselves, which doth manifest they dare not trust God with their cause to avenge for them; if otherwise, why are they anctiously careful? why do they so exercise mischief and fraud, and so deceive one another? why do they make war and strife, right or wrong, for mine and thine? why do they so lie, deceive and flatter one another? why do they forget God and his saying, making no account of his Commandments? wherefore are they so covetously minded, to labour night and day, and to take every opportunity to improve every unrighteous advantage against their Neighbour, to get and heap up the perishing things of this World's Riches; truly all this is, because they retain not God in their Thoughts, to believe that he hath any care of them, or that he can provide or will revenge for them, therefore is it as their works do manifest, for them to believe, they must not be wanting in this and the other thing, but that it is most necessary to help and revenge for themselves, otherwise, say they, we might by our Enemies be all hilled, or become Slaves and Bondmen, and beg our Bread. And thus it is with them who will not have aught to do with good, and Truth in good earnest; no, they must not be wanting to themselves, but make their own Markets by lying, deceiving, cozening, usury, and the like; these things they think will enrich them good; and thus by them are the Commandments of God and his Word slighted, until, with many, they cause his Spirit to leave striving; for they oppress the seed, and crucify the just Principle of God in themselves, and account the Word of God an insufficient help in time of adversity, therefore it well pleaseth them to adore themselves, and to kiss their own Works, and to sacrifice to their own Net, to speak big words, and to admire themselves; for who else is our God, saith the whole World, by their works.   

CHAP. IU. Concerning that great Idol of Man's Wisdom and Knowledge, how men kiss their own hands, and the whole World doth diligently worship only self, and the Works of their own hands, that is, the Inventions, Arts, and Counsels of their own Reason and Wisdom.  
WHAT other thing is it, that is the Worship of Idols, Superstution, Witch caft, evil Doctrine and the Ordinance of Men, which is no other, but the Wisdom, Reason, Inventions, Crafts, Actions, Instincts and Prudence of men, therefore the worshipping of Idols, is but to fashion such or such a form, like unto God, but not according to his Word, as he teacheth, figureth and formeth himself in man, but according to their own Opinion and Judgement of him? Moreover, what is sin? any other than man's own Will, Wisdom and Counsel, sown in the mind of Adam, and in his Posterity by the serpent? Then consider the purpose, cause and life of Man, where and how thou wilt, and it is nothing but humane Wisdom; here will man be his own God, to lead, teach, govern, revenge, defend, excuse, every himself, and the like; and so man's own Head, Will and Reason is instead of God to him, though the sin and fall of Adam, be nothing, but the cunning Reason and Wisdom of the flesh, which in Scripture is called Fo●y and Devilish Wisdom, yet how do men generally prise and magnify it, as if they were endowed from above; all men therefore ought with Christ, to bring man to nothing, and that by daily lessening and depressing him, to make him become as a Child and a Fool, but instead of performing what God hath commanded, it is with man clear contrary thereunto, for men build up the man, that so he may come to prove wise, glorious and famous, and for that end they have many Arts that wretched and unprofitable man may become great, eminent, praised and excellent, and may obtain Places, Titles and Names; so that thereby young men are purposely inflamed with a desire of Glory, for which cause many are they, that are not content to abide with the teachings of God's gift of divine Light, by the Word of his Spirit, but by their humane Wisdom and cunning reason of the flesh, they come to domineer in Pulpits and teaching places, where they are upheld to lord it over God's Heritage, and to this very end, there are artificers employed to make their Scholars acute, witty and knowing in all kinds of Crafts, and in all exercises, arts and literal deceits, whereby it appeareth more clearer than the light, that the World is contrary, and an enemy to God. Now here the wise and prudent of this World perish in their own way, because they live without the true knowledge of God, and kiss their own hands, and adore the wisdom of their own wit, which is to the World and its Teachers instead of God, his way and word, and indeed of all things, it is the greatest and only sin, and the very fall of Adam, and the very fountain whence all other sins do flow, as Job confesseth, for this only to be obedient, addicted to serve himself, to admire and adore himself, to follow his own will, briefly, to be his own, and to serve only self, being of a free will, and glad to be somewhat in and of himself, and to do, to omit, and to know some what in himself, and not to be utterly void of all name will, work, and subject only to God, this is the only and most deadly sin, yea, rather the sink and mother of all sins; for the delight, will and wisdom of the flesh, is Death itself, and a man is thereby no more profitable, better nor religious, than a dog, toad or swine in his Death; for when they die all their misery endeth with them, but in this state, with man, as death leaves, so Judgement finds, and he cannot repent in the grave, but his torment doth increase, and with him will abide forever, without end; which to remove all horror, which to the wicked is disquietness of Mind, trouble of Conscience, in this life, and increaseth torment in the life to come, is while time is, & the spirit of God keeps striving, to live to his Word, to do his will, that is to yield their obedience to the Word of his Spirit, that the Will of God may be done in their earthly Tabernacle, agreeble to the desire of his Will which is in Heaven; this is the way of them, that to God abide faithful, to keep the path of him that is Just, in which their is neither variation nor shadow of turning, bu● keeping the way of Life, which leadeth to enter th● straight Gate, that is to that man that doth nothing, know-nothing, and willeth nothing of himself, but bears and suffers and sees God making holy day in him, this man keeps the Sabbath holy, being void of all skill and will, is subject only to God in him, to do out, will know, both how, what, when, and why he pleaseth God. Now the whole World lieth in this Death and Sin, for that it doth nothing else but kiss its own hand, and Sacrifice to its own Net, that is, adore the purpose, counsel, invention, and wisdom of itself, and to this purpose are all things drawn and bend, even the holy Scriptures and words of God, namely, to be consonant to the Reason of men, and not to cross their own wisdom, course and way, but all these things must be overthrown & unlearned again, if they will see God; therefore doth the Spirit of God, and the holy Scriptures so vehemently urge the Children of Men, to become Children and Fools, and to vomit up again all the art and knowledge of this forbidden Tree, to be purged by the strength of the Tree of Life, consequently let men in this state, look and observe in themselves narrowly what they do, either in their worship to God, or serving their Neighbour, and they shall find, that all this is true in their own breast, that themselves is the mark they aim at in all they do.  
J. E. T. M.   

CHAP. V Concernining the Sin of Covetousness.  
THe nature of which Lust or Devil, lusteth to covet after that Which God hath expressly forbidden, namely, the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, which causeth men to become as Gods, whose Eyes are opened against themselves, to perceive the Tree good for Food, and pleasant to the eyes, and a Tree to make one wise, therefore do they covet after the fruit of the Tree, and greedily eat of it, not considering how they eat Death, and die to God, as Adam did, even so is it with every man that is not planted into the Tree of Life, and new born of Christ, regenerated, and brought forth by the immortal Seed, the Word of God, the Spirit of Truth, and Seed of his Kingdom, but on the contrary, covet after the perishing things of this World, thereby to enrich themselves therewith, contrary to what God hath commanded, first to seek the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Righteousness thereof, unto which is the promise, of adding all other things; for as the Promise was on condition to Adam, To do and live, so hath it been the same, to all men in every age, and is the same in this day, therefore let none deceive themselves, for the doers of the Law were only them that kept the Word of the Lord, who accounted them worthy of receiving Life, to live with God forever; for to the Disobedient, who are only hearers of the Word, and not doers of the Word, there is no true peace, neither in this Life, nor in the Life to come; for there is no peace to the Wicked, saith my God; so that the doers of the Law were they, and only them that kept the Commandments of God, and by faith in him were the works of the Law imputed to them for Righteousness. So, not in this Gospel Day, Christ is given for a Light to lighten the Gentiles and for Salvation to the ends of the Earth, that whosoever will believe in him, might not perish, but have the Light of Life; Therefore as Christ hath died for the sins of the whole World, that every man in the World may be left without excuse, God hath given unto them a gift of divine Light, which is to them a Talon and Seed of the Tree of Life, as is elsewhere called the ●ord of Faith, being a manifestation of the Spirît given to every man to profit withal, which as they hear, to obey and do it, they also profit by it, to perform the Commandments of God, and of this nature is their strength in the Tree of Life renewed, which causeth the Seed to grow, and makes rich the berren land, through purging out the old Leaven, that the new Lump may take place, which bringeth forth holy Fruit abundantly to God; so that the Children of her that was barren, now bringeth forth, and become many; and thus do the faithful grow, who covet after the better part, namely, to fear God and work Righteousness, to 〈◊〉 Justly, love Mercy, and walk humbly, doing no other thing to any, then as themselves would be done unto; This is the Law and the Prophets, and also what God hath commanded for all men to do in this day, that they may come to partake of his Promise, to grow in the Tree of Life, from Grace to Grace, until by Grace the work of God in them is wholly perfected: but these things, are to a Covetous man, even as the wise Charmeer, is to the deaf Adder; for having ears to hear they hear not, to receive the Truth, in the love of it, because the love of Money is their pride, in which they delight to become wise, rich, and what not, in the perishing things of this life. Here cove●ous men grow from one covetous desire to another, until, through pride and covetousness, they come to ●all as Angels have done, and yet may remain, as many covetous Usurers do, who have clothed themselves with the Prophets and Apostles words, that thereby they may appear in the sight of m●n to be knowing, prudent and wise, and accounted men of good Reason, yea, and withal religious and righteous, whenas indeed, it is but their own work, and the Righteousness thereof, which is as filththy Rags and fig-leave Garments of Unrightecusness, wherewith they vainly seek to hid themselves, from the presence of God, whose all seeing eye beholdeth the ways of every covetous man's setting up for himself to walk in; for which cause, God that searcheth the heart and knoweth the intents of the mind, and checks, reproves, and condemns for every vain thought, evil intent and idle word, and Unrighteous work, for which cause often times covetous and proud unrighteous men and woman fall into such condemnation by the Power of God, that they even despair of Mercy, yea, the horror of their condemnation is such, that Priest nor Levit, nor the dark Watchmen of the night, can afford no help to the wound of a troubled Conscience, in which state of a wounded Spirit who can bear, which for remedy, the physician of no value is set to work, who in his own will, wisdom, knowledge and reason of Disobedience in its own time, & with his own words, doth apply such means, of which himself did never experience, imputing the cause to proceed from Witchcraft or a Melancholy humour, and withal giveth direction, not to give way to comply with the Light within, which (he saith) are the checks of a natural Conscience, and relics of old Adam. Thus, and of he like nature, are the directions, counsels & advice of such proud covetous men, who follow the ways of Balaam, that forsook the right way of the Lord, to gain the Wages of Unrighteousness; for Light is sown for the Righteous, and gladness for the Upright in heart, and to them that will not obey, it is their Condemnation, Joh. 3.19. for it is the gift of God which came by Jesus Christ, by whom all that are saved come through the Cross, which mortifies and kills every Lust, which is man's deadly Enemy, by which every covetous and unrighteous man is deceived, and of his own lust drawn into this and the other form of Religion, which is their cloak, to cover, hid and shelter all their pride and unrighteous Works of Covetousness. And here it is that poor mortal men are become Servants and Slaves to their own Lusts, which are Devils, Thiefs and Robbers, the deadly Enemies of man's own House, that have drawn a way his mind into the love of carnal things that perish; and of this like Nature are they bewitched that they should not obey the Truth; for in their own wisdom, will and time they can neither see, hear nor obey, to do those things which are of faith in Christ, to make their peace with God, because their own wisdom, knowledge, will and reason is the Righteousness of their works, which make a Wall of Partition between Man and his Creator, who hath created him to wait upon his Maker, to hear and obey God in all things, according to his will and time, that he may have the honour and praise of his own work done by and of himself, on man; the omitting of which Duty keeps the Children of men from the true saving Knowledge of God; for Man, in his own wisdom, will and time, hath always the eye of Knowledge and Reason open against himself, in which state he cannot receive the will and mind of God from above, because he giveth way to serve his own Lusts, which are his Enemies, that ensnare his Soul and keep his Mind in Bondage, to serve this and the other thing of his own invention, in which abideth Death and Destruction; and indeed, of this nature is every man's God, that liveth not to the true God, in thought, word and work, according to his Word, which he teacheth and formeth in all them that abide faithful, which without faithfulness to what God hath commanded, no man can come unto him; therefore it is that every covetous, proud and unrighteous man is shut out from having any entrance into the true saving knowledge of God, because to him is not the true God retained in any of his Thoughts, which of his own lust are moved here and there, and indeed every where into this and the other thing, which abideth but for a time, and then leaveth the Mind, or the Mind leaveth it, and so in its motion; which is swift indeed for another thing of the like nature, in which abideth Death. So that every proud vain covetous man in the world, to him there are Gods many, all being of one nature, which in his own wisdom, will, knowledge, reason and righteousness, to him make but one God, which is their own lusts, the Prince and Power of Darkness, which rules in the Children of Disobedience, and is called, The God of this World, because he is a God to them that are of the World, who have yielded their minds to serve their own lusts, therefore is this lust to them, the God of this World, the Prince and Power of Darkness, that rules the mind of every covetous, proud and unrighteous man and woman, that retain not the true and living 〈…〉 thoughts, the moving cause of which 〈…〉, their own Enemies, the Devil 〈…〉 away the mind in the swiftness of motion, the world over into the many things thereof, in 〈◊〉 and with which the mind is besettered, and entangled with the love and delight therein, that there is not the least measure of freedom in the will, for the mind to abide in retiredness to wait upon God, to see his Salvation wrought in his own time, according to the will and mind of himself. Now to them that abide faithful unto God, they keep in a true state of watchfulness, waiting upon God, and watching against the appearance of every lust, which is such an Enemy against God, and man's true peace, with his maker, that lust is ever ready to draw away the mind from God, that it may not retain him in its thoughts, but to be thinking of this and the other thing, in which remaineth death, that draws the soul into perdition, which as they abide in faithfulness, upon their watch, their strength, by the power of God will be renewed, that they shall not only perceive their Enemy's motion, but also receive power to withstand their lusts, and cause God's enemies to scatter.  
And of this nature, in the hour of temptation, he receiveth strength, in and through the Power of God, which resisteth such Devils, and causeth them to flee; and of this nature it is with them that are not carnally minded, to live after the flesh, but spiritually minded, to live after the spirit, through which, by the spirit, they mortify the deeds of the flesh, which work of God is only known to them who retain him in all their thoughts, that with a holy Resolution and godly zeal for his Cause, they are made willing to give up and forsake all for the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, him to hear, and in all things to obey, as becometh his Truth; this is it which God would have all men to do, that he only may rule in them, and the spirit have the government, that thereby Man may come to live and abide in peace with his Maker, who is willing to be at peace with them, that are willing he shall rule, whose right it is to have the government; for he that will be Christ's Disciple, must first take up the Cross, and follow him in all things, according to his wisdom, will and time, who best knows when, where and how to cleanse the house of Thiefs and Robbers, which rob God of his honour, by living to their own lust, their own thoughts, words and works, according to the reason of their own will and wisdom of the flesh, which desires the Temple of God and makes it become an unfit habitation for the Lord of Life to abide in; therefore if any covetous man, any unjust man, or he that is unrighteous and unholy, will know himself to be purged from his unjustness, his covetousness and unholiness, he must forsake the love of all things which are his own, and wholly cleave to the Tree of Life, to live to God's Word, that the Life of it may grow in him, otherwise he will remain in that state which fulfils what is written, That he which is unjust, unrighteous, unholy and filthy, let him be so still; for the Lord will quickly come as a swift Witness, and his Reward will be with him, to give to every man according as his Works shall appear to be, and a day of terror, horror and misery will be to every vain, proud, covetous and unrighteous man and woman, who have defiled the Temple of God, through a life of obedience to the love of any one thing whatever, more than to love the appearance of God's holy Truth, his divine Light and Word of his Spirit, which is the appearance of Christ, the Tree of Life, and seed of the Kingdom of Heaven, which all unrighteous and covetous men have, and do in this day burden, oppress and keep under, as a Cart loaden with Sheaves, until, with many, the Spirit of God leaves striving, and their house becomes desolate, being left in hardness of heart with a seared Conscience, having eyes and ears with which they can never more see the tenders of Gods free Love, and the riches of his free Grace and large Mercy towards them that hunger and thirst after his Righteousness, which only them that abide faithful are made to partake of; for although the seed of the Tree of Life hath been lown in all sorts of ground, yet for as much as through pride, covetousness, usury, oppression, and the like of other sins, which fruit it hath brought forth to unrighteousness, the seed or their own lust, which hath refused to cleave to the Tree of Life, and lived on the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, which hath caused their ground to be accursed, and their 〈◊〉 with the fruit thereof to whither, waste and perish away; for every branch which bringeth not forth fruit in the Tree of Life, the sa●●e is taken off, and cast into the fire of God's Wrath, which is burning against all the unrighteousness of men; but as any repent, they find mercy with God, with whom all power in Heaven and Hell doth remain; for as Love is a Heaven to them that live to him, so likewise is his Wrath a flame of holy zeal and fire from Heaven, which is Hell both in this World, and also Hell in the World to come, which will burn forever against every wicked Spirit of every wicked Man and Woman, who have yielded themselves Servants, to serve their own lusts, which hath brought forth all manner of evil fruit, which is accursed in the sight of God, who hath commanded all men against Pride and Covetousness, which are the two great inlets or doors of Unrighteousness, which man's Enemies, the Devils, his own lusts keep open, through which, the greatest of all sins enter, namely, Pride, Blasphemy Covetousness, Usury, Oppression, Murders, all manner of Profaneness, Lying, Swearing, Drunkenness, Theft, Whoredoms, both spiritual and temporal, Backbitings, Whisper, Witchcrafts, Hatreds, Strifes, Emulations, and what not of other sins, is it, that Pride and Covetousness make not way for them to take place; for Pride and Covetousness are not willing to live and abide alone, without the whole company of Enemies, which find room enough to abide and live together, as Brethren of one House or Family, in the heart and mind of every covetous man and woman, whose lust is natural to give way to any appearance of outward profit or gain in the things of this 〈◊〉 Lust is such a subtle Devil, that it teaches and lead 〈◊〉 a covetous man and woman to  the outside with a form of Religion, which is but a Child of their own lusts begetting, whose Servants they are to whom they obey, and a Child of their own Lusts, whose work they do. And thus is the Scripture fulfilled by men in a form of godliness, without the power of God therein, being outwardly clothed with Scripture words, which to them is such clothing, that causeth such men and women outwardly to appear as Sheep of the true Fold, when indeed, (as the Scripture speaketh) they are inwardly ravening Wolves; for when they speak most fair, there is seven abominations in their heart. So that all men and women, under what Name soever, few are they that cleave to the Tree of Life, to live to God in thought, word and work, as they ought to do, because the love of some one thing or another blocks up the way of Truth, that no part of the Cross can be taken up, by them that love any thing more than the appearance of God's holy Truth, for which cause many are them that cannot enter the straight Gate, which will not open to any but to them that keep in the path of the just, which leadeth to the Tree of Life, from which the faithful receive their daily nourishment, who are made fit to enter the Kingdom of Heaven; but of such their Number is small, and in this life the trial of their Faith is great; but this is their strength, through faith in the Promise of God, that nothing shall befall them, more than what he will enable them to bear; for they have an assurance of his Grace, that it is able to save from the nethermost pit of Hell, and will keep and preserve all them that abide faithful to him, who, in the stillness of mind and retiredness of thoughts, witness his saving power, whose Salvation is to the ends of the Earth.  
So that nothing more shall befall his chosen ones, than what hath happened to the Household of Faith in days past; There is no new thing under the sun, for as in all ages, even so now, he that was a Jew in the outward, was only a hearer of the Law, and not a doer of what was contained in the Law, and so no true Heir of the Promise, which was to faithful Abraham and to his seed, not after the flesh, but after the spirit, for that which is born after the flesh, lives to the things of the flesh, which to the wisdom of the flesh are sweet and delightful, but the end thereof is the bitterness of Death, for Death and Destruction is the portion and inheritance of every covetous man born after the flesh, whose love to covet, is that Enemy, the Lust and Devil of his own hour that persecutes the Just Principle of Truth, both in themselves and others, which fulfilleth the scripture, he that that is born after the flesh persecutes him that is born of the spirit; which consequently follows, that every man which is in disobedience to the spirit of God, is a persecutor of the just and holy One; but who is it that considers this, or thinks of it? nay, rather do not men hid and cover themselves with this and the other form of Religion, which if they do but barely come up to the outward form, and in common honesty, answer the extreme Righteousness of the Law of men, they pass among men for Christians not at all considering, that no man can be a true Christian, but as he is born of the Spirit, and through the Spirit to mortify the deeds of the flesh, such are not only Christians in name, but in nature also they witness the work of God, by Jesus Christ, whose Leaven is the seed of the Kingdom, the Tree of Life, unto which every true Christian cleaveth, to know himself purged, cleansed and purified, regenerated, new born and planted into Christ, being of one spirit with him, to know, do, omit, go forth and work for God, when, and at what time soever his spirit moveth; here the Anointing teacheth them in all things, and the Evidence of the spirit gives an infallible assurance, of their having the mind of God in Christ, and to thêm that have not made some good beginnings in this work, however their outside Cup may seem clean, as to men, yet their minds are in the world, and the world in all its ways, is at enmity with God, who will shut out every covetous man & woman, from having any lot or inheritance in the Tree of Life, except they turn to God by true Repentance, which will manifest itself by holy fruit of the Spirit, which bringeth forth no unclean thing in thought, word nor work, but is altogether obedient and submitting to its own nature, to work Righteousness, do justly love mercy, and in lowliness of mind, and meekness of heart, keeps the even path, and enters the strair Gate, which will not open to any, that do not in all things follow the teachings of God's Word, and leadings of his Spirit, which begette●h true faith, of which is good works viz. to fear God, to work Righteousness, to do justly, love mercy, walk humbly, and doing no other thing to any, whatever, than as themselves would be done unto; this is the Law and Prophets, and what God requires of all men to do, otherwise they are not accepted of God by Jesus Christ, to enter into his rest. So that, if any man say, he hath faith, and trusteth in God, to believe in his promise, and doth not manifest his faith, by holy works, which according to the Light of the Gospel, so shine, that others may glorify God by the same, that man whomsoever he be, is a Liar, and the saving knowledge of God's holy Truth abideth not in him; for faith without works is dead, and such a faith and hope will fade away and perish.  
And again, in whom Faith is not, Grace worketh no effect, which is altogether through man's own neglect of Obedience to the spirit of Truth, which leadeth into all Truth; for the Truth is no other than the Tree of Life, which is Christ, in whom no man's faith can abide, without works of Holiness; for where men have a Faith, without works of Righteousness, their building is founded upon a rotten foundation, against which the Gates of Hell do ever prevail, that is, of their own Lusts they are led, and kept in bondage, not having any right to the promise, which only belongeth to the free born, who are redeemed by the power of an endless Life, and made heirs of the promised Land, and heavenly Jerusalem, which is from above, and is the Mother of all them that abide in faithfulness to the end. Now here every unrighteous and covetous minded man is shut out from entering the Kingdom of Heaven; nay, though he may be outwardly righteous, as was one in Christ's day, when he said, It was easier for a Camel to go through the eye of a Needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom Heaven, which is for this cause of a coveting desire, to which their love is joined, that their love abounds more to delight therein, than to part with all, to take up the Cross, in true love, to follow Christ, who hath said, He that loveth any thing more than me, is not worthy of me. Now for what end, do people think, were these things written? do they think that God is such another as themselves, or that he will be mocked? No verily, God will not be mocked, such as every man soweth, of the same he shall reap, whether to the flesh or to the spirit, the one being life, the other death; for, to be carnally minded is Death, but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace; which things ought by all men to be duly considered, before Time be no more, for as Death leaves, so Judgement finds, and in the Grave they cannot repent; but these things are not regarded nor minded among many, therefore is it written, The fool hath said in his heart there is no God; which though in words he acknowledge God, yet the bent of his covetous mind draws the heart from retaining God in its thoughts, that such men live without God in the World, for by their deeds they manifest the same; therefore is it that there is no true saving knowledge of God to them; and in this state are all covetous men, among whom many are they that have taken upon them the Name of God and Christ, whose words they have stolen, who through covetousness make it their Trade to gain Money by; this is also contrary to the Word of God, and not at all according to the example of his holy Ones, who coveted no man's Silver nor Gold, but freely received the gift of God, and as good Stewards of his manifold Grace, they freely broke their Bread from House to House, with singleness and gladness of heart, rejoicing in the Work of the Lord, whose Word they divided to every one his portion, without Money or Price, labouring with their hands for their maintenance, that they might not make the Gospel chargeable to any, and woe was to him that did not preach the Gospel without reward from men, because the promise of him that taketh care for birds of the air, and beasts of the field, is large, in that he taketh the greater for his Servants and Messengers of his Truth, who have said, That Godliness, with content, is great gain; but alas! who is it among men, that regard or mind these things? is not the love of Money, which is the root of all evil, that which is most beloved among men? And again, Covetousness is of Lust, such a Devil, that contrives and joins so close and fast to the mind of men, that some have lost their lives by sorrow for worldly goods; for a covetous m●n can meet with no greater sorrow than to part with that in which his love doth most abide; for above all other things, that which a man doth most love to delight his mind in, that is to him his god; therefore is it that bear outside Christians are so entangled with the things of this Life; for where the Treasure is, there is the heart also, and yet extreme righteous, as towards the Law of men, which often is extreme wrong in the sight of God, because a covetous man takes the opportunity to enrich himself by another man's necessity, whereby the borrower rather becomes a slave than a servant to the lender, who, through covetousness, can in no wise sympathize nor participate with his friend or neighbour in loss or cross whatever, because the affectionate part is only to self, so as covetousness can do no good work to itself, neither can it do that which is properly good to another, therefore is it not safe to be too far concerned with the god of any covetous Usurer, for as it wholly tends to the destruction of the soul of him that binds, so it also tends to impoverish him that is bound; for the lust of a covetous man, namely, the Devil, his idol and god, will never suffer the rust and canker to feed upon his Money, nor the mote to devour his goods, more than to supply the necessity of any man without interest; so that the mercy and pity of a covetous man is plain Cruelty, not only to his own soul, but also to the body of others, who are concerned with the idol or god of a covetous man, whose mind is always bend towards the enlarging of his idol; therefore he taketh the opportunity of every advantage, by bill, bond, mortgage, and the like, to enrich himself with those things which will perish with him, except he repent; and of this nature, by opportunity, through advantage of another man's necessity, do men enrich and impoverish one another; so that Oppression among men is like to a sweeping rain, which drives all from one man into the bounds and possession of another, through which many men are enlarged with Mountains, Hills and Valleys, when many have not whereon to set their foot; and of this nature is it that Covetousness leads to Usury, Oppression, and the like which hath divided the things of this World, and is the only portion of every covetous, proud and vain man, which does not forsake and repent of all his evil deeds, and covet after the better part, unto which is the promise, of adding all things needful; therefore is it written, The Righteous are never forsaken, nor their seed begging Bread. Say unto the righteous, it shall go well with them, but with the wicked it shall go ill. Therefore study after Righteousness, and covet after the better part, against which, lust to covetousness, cannot prevail; for lust to covet after the Riches of this World, is as natural to the Children of men, as the ground is natural to bring forth Weeds; therefore is it, that men by nature, of their own wills, wisdoms, knowledges, reasons righteousnesses, and the like, will not come under the cross, to hear and obey Moses and the Prophets, to fulfil what the Law required of him to do; so also are they accursed which refuse to hear and obey the Voice of the Son of God, whose gift of divine light is the condemnation of every covetous man's thoughts, words and works; so that Covetousness is of no profit to any man that gains the riches of this world, with the loss of his soul; but godliness, with content, is great gain, to them that fear God, work righteousness, do justly, love mercy, walk humbly, and do no other thing to others, than as themselves would be done unto. Yet notwithstanding this, and whatever else is written in the holy Scriptures against Covetousness, how do men daily nourish and cherish it, as if it were a god of such a nature and life, as to abide with them forever; therefore are they so choice of this lust of unrighteousness, that for its sin they provide the largest cloak; for of all other sins, Covetousness is most in credit among the Sons of men, therefore they will not let this Devil go naked, but cloth it with credible Names, not as sin or vile, but as thrift, provident good care of a man's own, and care of the main chance, and not only so, but will protect and defend it with Scripture words, viz. He that provideth not for his own house is worse than an Idfidel, and hath denied the Faith. Therefore as God directeth, is my labour to uncloak and lay open this Lust, Devil and Sin of Covetousness, which abideth in the wise and prudent of this World, who, through coveting after Money, the love of which is the root of all evil, in them that will neither enter the Kingdom of Heaven, nor suffer others which are entering, to go therein; which doth manifest their Covetousness to exclude all love and fear to God, and all love and pity to their Neighbours good. Nay, what sin is it, that Covetousness leads men not to commit? it leadeth them that are covetous to oppress, cousin, deceive, lie, and sell their Conscience for every trifle; also, it leads men to turn from the Faith, betray the Truth, sell it for Money, and to hold the Truth in Unrighteousness; it leads men to forsake all good Religion, to turn Persecutors, which is the greatest Oppression that can be, for it sweeps away the Life and Estate of many men; it leads men to wait as Troops of Robbers, to kill and destroy by the consent of unrighteous Laws, which have been made by covetous Usurers. And I may say, Covetousness not only leads men to kill and steal by the highway, but to rob God of his honour, by stealing his words which he spoke by the mouth of his holy Ones, whose words they sell for Money, each looking for his gain from his Quarter, which if any man refuse to pay, open war is prepared against him; and of this, and the like nature doth Covetousness lead men to sin against God, even to the destroying of their peace with him; for to the Wicked there is no true peace in this life, nor in the Life to come. Covetousness is one of the chief gates and Inlets to the broad way of Death, Hell and Destruction, and is so delightful and wellpleasing, that many are led thereby into all manner of Abominations, even to rebel against God and King, and to change the form of Worship at every change in Government. In short, it leadeth Parents to destroy their Children, and Children to destroy their Parents; also, it leadeth men to lie and swear, and to hold the the Truth in unrighteousness, and to pervert the truth, thereby to turn the cause of the Fatherless and Widow. Therefore let all men beware of coveting after that which God hath forbidden; for while some have beên coveting after Riches, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows, because it is such a sin, that it draws the soul of him that is over much righteous, into perdition; for over much righteous before men, is over much wicked in the sight of God, because its only man's own works, which is plain hypocrisy and deceit, and indeed so are all things which are not done by man in truth and sincerity, with uprightness of heart and mind to God, whose allseeing eye beholdeth the evil and the good in all men whatever, among whom the heart of some that labour to be rich, is pierced through with many sorrows; for it is written, They that will be rich, fall into many Temptations, and a Snare, and many foolish and hurtful Lusts, which draw men into perdition; for lust to Covetousness, is such a subtle Enemy, and the Devil's snare is so cunningly contrived, and so full of fair pretences, that let a man be once in love with Money, he knows not which way to wind himself out; for it doth so bewilder, fetter and entangle his mind, even to the destruction of his soul, and loss of body also, yet how vehemently with care and diligence, will men vindicate Covetousness, because that care and diligence there may be, and aught to be, but the truth is, every covetous man makes care and diligence a cloak for Covetousness, whereby he is sheltered against all reproof; in which state man's life among his Neighbours is not much , neither by the Poor lamented at his Death, but rather rejoice at the dividing of his Idol, to whom God hath not given the privilege of a beggar, who hath a Child to inherit his old Apparel. And again, an Inheritence hastily gotten by covetous men, soon wasteth among their Children, for all that is gained not agreeable to truth and righteousness, it is under the curse; for the promise of blessing is only to that which is gained according to God's Word, which is, That men should first seek the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Righteousness thereof, unto which is the promise, of adding all other things needful; for God that taketh care to provide for the birds of the air, and the beasts of the field, takes the greater care for them that fear him and work righteousness. So that in whomsoever God is not retained in their thoughts, words and works, cannot be agreeable with his Truth; therefore are they of the World, the ways of which are Covetousness, through which they oppress one another, euèn like to the sweeping rain.   

CHAP. VI Concerning that Life, the Nature of it, which God requireth of all Men.  
GOd in the counsel of his own Wisdom and Time, hath set before all men, the way of Life and the way of Death, which Death is the Tree of Knewledge of good and evil, that is, mans own will, wisdom, knowledge, reason, righteousness, and the like, of which he ought not to eat, because in it is death; for it opens their eyes against themselves, and that in eurey thing, in which to them abideth death. Now the Tree of Life is Christ, which calleth to all men to feed upon him, to eat his Flesh, to drink his Blood, to do his Will, to follow his gift of divine Light, to hear and obey his Word, to improve his Talant, and measure of his Spirit of Truth, which leads into all truth, which is Bread and Wine indeed, without Money, without Price, the Bread of the Kingdom, the Water of Life, of which if a man eat and drink, he can neither hunger nor thirst, for it giveth life to all that hunger and thirst after Righteousness. These things are not hid from man, unto whom the spirit saith, Come, take of the Water of Life freely; come, take the yo●e, it is easy, and the burden is light; come, take up the Cross, and follow him, that in all things hath done the Father's will, for the Redemption and Salvation of all them that hear him, and obey him, to do his will, which is meat and drink indeed. Here the heavy are made light, and the mourner is comforted, yea, he of a sad Countenance hath his heart made better; here the flying Cherub and the glittering Sword turns every way to destroy, lay waste, and dispossess the strong man of all his goods, the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, man's own wisdom, will, knowledge reason, righteousness, and the like, that all lust may die, and Devils be cast out, and that through the work of the spirit, which hath the Government, to mortify all the deeds of the flesh, that man may be brought to nothing, to will nothing, do know nothing, omit nothing, but as God willeth in him, doth in him, knoweth in him, and omiteth in him; this man doth rest from his Labour, and keepeth the Sabbath holy, he cleaves to the Tree of Life, he is regenerated, new born, and brought forth of the immortal Seed, he is cleansed and purified, through the Baptism of the Spirit, he is planted into Christ, and is in whole obedience to the rule and government of his Spirit, both in though, word and work, his meat and drink is to do the will of God on Earth, as it is done in Heaven, he willeth nothing, but what God willeth in him, he doth nothing, but what God doth do inhim; he omitteth nothing, but what God omitteth in him; he knoweth nothing, but what God knoweth in him; his only food is of the Tree of Life, which is Bread and Wine of Life indeed, which he that knoweth nothing of this work wrought in himself, he yet is in a miserable, and undone estate, reposing upon his own knowledge, wisdom and reason, in which abideth death itself; therefore saith the Spirit, arise, take up the cross to that which is of self, and Christ will give thee Life; his yoke is ease, his burden is light, that is, to them whom he is of God, made Wisdom, Righteousness, Senctification and Redemption, they also renew their strength in the Tree of Life, which is the beginning of grace by the work of the Spipit, which mortifies the deeds of the flesh, that the house may be cleansed of God's Enemies, which destroy means peace with his maker, and defile the Temple of God, whose Enemies is man's lust, and every Devil which hath sprung from the seed of the Serpent sown in man, which lusteth to be wise and knowing, having its eyes always open against itself, which must be destroyed by the Spirit of Truth, the strength of the Tree of Life, that the man of God may grow from one degree of Grace to another, till they become perfect men and women in Christ Jesus, in whom there is no condemnation, to them, to whom Christ of God is made wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, they are born of the Spirit, and baptised of the Spirit, and made free by the Law of the Spirit of Life, from the Law of Sin and Death, in which work of the Spirit of Life, there is nothing of man's own Wisdom, Knowledge, Will or Reason, for the work is wholly wrought of God, through faith and obedience, to hear, believe and obey God's gift of Grace, his Spirit of Truth by Jesus Christ, who for his works lake imputeth it to them for Righteousness; for faithful Abraham believed God to trust in his promise, but his faith was not without Works of Obedience, nor according to his own knowledge, wisdom, will and reason, but in God's time, according to his own knowledge and wisdom, through which the work done by Abraham, was done in Faith and Obedience to God, whose will was done on Earth, as it was done in Heaven; therefore is it written, that as the body is dead without the spirit, so is also Faith dead without Works, that by whomsoever works are not manifested, agreeable to God's holy Truth, and example of his holy People in days past, they are only Christians in namê, and not in nature of that life, which God requireth of all men to live and abide in; therefore it is, that people profit not by what they hear or read, because they are spiritually dead having blinded Eyes and deaf Ears, with which they can neither see, hear, nor receive to understand the Spirit of Truth, of which a manifestation is given to every man to profit withal, and is the gift of his Spirit, the Word of Faith to them that will hear, to obey the Light of the Spirit of Truth, which is the condemnation of the Disobedient, who are here and there, in this and the other Form of Religion, serving God with mouth and lip, in their own wisdom, wills, and with their own words, being only called by the Name of Christ, without the Nature of his Life, which being destitute of, no man can be a true Christian, yet how contentedly do men live and abide in this and the other form, but do not witness the strength of the power of God to redeem from sin and transgression, and to make alive to God, who is only a God them that through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the flesh, and through the Spirit are brought in again, by the flying Cherub and glittering Sword of God's power, in and by Christ the Tree of everlasting Life, on which as any eats he cannot die to God, but hath an infallible assurance of life in the Son of God, without which assurance no man can truly say, that he pleaseth God in thought, word and deed; for it is the anointing, which is by the Tree of Life, that teacheth all things, & which leadeth into all Truth, the evidence of which Spirit doth assure the Son, in whom there is life, and the nature of his life dwelleth and abideth in them, that by true faith in him, and obedience to the word of his Spirit, they are made alive unto God; and of this nature is Christ in his people, and in whom he is not, they are Reprobates, and in whom he abideth not, they are cursed Children, abiding under the curse in their own wisdom, knowledge, will, reason, righteousness, and the like, which causeth them to lust more and more after the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, for which cause they rebel against the Spirit of God in themselves, and deny his appearance in his People; for which cause of Rebellion, which is as the sin of Witchcraft, the Truth of God abideth not in them; therefore are they without God in the world, living to their own God, of which, in the world there are many that delight, and sweetly recreate their minds in, by living a life of obedience to their own ways of righteousness, which only proceeds from lust, that gives way for men to live according as their own will and reason directeth them, in all they do for God, and to one another, all which is under the Curse, as it is written, Cursed is he that putteth his Trust in man, and maketh flesh his Arm. So all men that live in flesh and blood, and are obedient to their own wisdom, will and reason, they are servants to their own lust, being in bondage, as slaves, & servants to that and those things which they do, as it is written, Men are Servants to him to whom they obey, and Children of him whose work they do; therefore he that will be free from the curse of condemnation, must take up the cross, and deny himself of all things which are not of God and his Spirit of Truth, otherwise he cannot come to the Tree of Life, but will fall short of that Crown of Righteousness which is in store for all them that abide faithful to God, as by his divine Light he doth lead, and teach by the spirit of Truth, which leadeth into all Truth, by which men are made fit to enter in at the straight gate of Christ● Kingdom.   

CHAP. VII. Concerning Judgement begun at the House of God, and in his House to judge down every appearance of evil.  
THe House of God in general, where Judgement first beginneth, is his people, but Judgement cometh to every Transgressor of his holy Truth, and that to judge down every appearance of evil; therefore said one in his day, Who shall deliver me from this Body of sin & death? Now the Body of this man was the House of God, and Temple of the holy Ghost, in which God by his Judgement was at work, to judge down, cast out and destroy every lust that would evalt itself above the Witness of God, that the House of God might be throughly cleansed, and only become a house of ●oly Habitation for the Spirit of Truth to abide in; for as 〈◊〉 is written, The high & holy one who inhabits Eterníty, dwelleth not in Temples made with hands, but taketh up his abode with men of clean hearts & contrite spirits, that fear him and work righteousness, do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly, such bear the image of God and nature of Christ, with whom, and in whom both Father and Son do take up their abode; therefore where men give not up to come under the cross, and follow the light and word of God's Spirit, in obedience to his call, they resist the holy one, & crucify him afresh to themselves, such defile the house and temple of God, and them will God destroy; & indeed, how many such people (with a fair Israel 〈…〉 of Religion) are crept into a profession of God's Truth, 〈◊〉 through deceit, have, under the like profession, entered 〈◊〉 selves as Christians among the People of God; but he that caused the Net to be cast into the Sea, which brought forth good and bad to the shore, the same doth permit the net of profession to gather all sorts of People into the outward name Christian, therefore doth Judgement also begin at the House of God, which are his people, to make a separation between the precious and the vile, not only to purge and cleanse from lusts, but also, to cut off the stubborn and stiffnecked ones, which will not submit to the cross, whose Judgement will also reach to the old Age of them that live in disobedience to the Spirit of Truth; for Judgement from God hath spread itself to the ends of the Earth, and hath begun its work at the house of God. If the righteous scarcely are saved, where shall the ungodly and sinners appear? Judgement is not come to bring peace to any unrighteous person, but is gone forth to do the work of God among the People, and will, both inwardly and outwardly lay waste and destroy all that is not of himself; for that which only is of himself shall stand, and that which is not of himself shall come to nought, and therefore Judgement from God is gone forth to the ends of Earth, that all that will be gathered may be preserved, and that which will not hear the Spirit of Truth, to be obedient thereto, the same shall be scattered abroad, till Judgement gather it, as Fuel for the fire of God's Wrath, which forever burneth against the unrighteousness of wicked and ungodly men; and for this very end is judgement at work for God, that he may gather a People pure in heart, and of uprightness in mind, which in all things shall be of one spirit and mind towards him, in thought, word & work, therefore let none in this day, which make a profession of God's holy Truth, deceive themselves, for God will not be mocked, such as every man soweth, of the same he shall 〈◊〉 reap, whether to the flesh, or to the Spirit; for all that is of the Spirit, the spirit giveth evidence in every faithful man and woman, that it is of God; & though the Spirit abideth not in every unrighteous man, yet the appearance of it is often to their condemnation, and so doth continue, 〈◊〉 it hath left striving, and the day of God's Grace be over, having sinned out the day of God's Visitation. Let all therefore consider in what state they abide, as to God, whose promise to the Righteous is, That it shall go well with them, but it shall go ill with the Wicked; Therefore let not these Truths which have been received by the Spirit of Truth, find itching Ears among any, but as every man turn in his mind to the Spirit of Truth, he will witness the truth of these Things.   
●th. 1st. Mon. 1694. THO. MAULE.  
THE END.