AN INVITATION OF LOVE To all who Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness, to come and take of the Water of Life freely without Money and without Price.  
With a Word of Advice to such as are Ask the WAY to ZION (and are Weeping) with their Faces thither-ward.  
Together with A faithful Warning to the Inhabitants of BABYLON, to come out of her, lest (partaking of her Sins) ye also come to partake of her Plagues.  
By Isabel Yeamens'.  
And I heard a Voice from Heaven, saying, Come out of her my People, that ye be not Partakers of her Sins, and that ye receive not of her Plagues,  Rom. 18.4. 
Printed in the Year 1679.   

TO THE READER  
Friendly Reader;  
WHen in the weighty and deep Meditations of my Heart I beheld the States and Conditions of such as are enquiring the Way to Zion, and have some tender desires begotten in them after the Lord, and the Knowledge of his Way; my Life was abundantly drawn forth in the Love of God, with living breathe unto him (in whom all Fullness dwells) that of the Manifestation and free Dispensations of his Love & Life all such may come to feel and receive, and to take heed of slighting the Day of their tender Visitation, whilst the Lord secretly calls unto them by his good Spirit in their Bosoms, lest the Night overtake them, wherein no man can work.  
And in the Sense of the Universal Love of God extended unto All Mankind, I was constrained in my Spirit to commit these following lines to public view, as finding my Burden unremoved until I was made willing to communicate the same, which I have done with as much brevity as I could with clearness, hoping the ponderous Reader, and such whom it chief concerns, may not be distasted at the simplicity of the Srile, or my want of Eloquence in expressing myself in things of this nature, having herein hinted at divers things which I have experienced through the free Love of God to my Soul, which seeming but little and low things, yet may not miss of some service for the stirring up of the simple-minded, to make a diligent search how the Case stands betwixt God and their Immortal Souls, who thereby coming to see their Conditions, and their Neglect and Disobedience, in not answering the Lord's Requirings, according to the Manifestations and divine Discoveries of his Light and Grace in their Hearts, may come to redeem their Misspent Time (which is irrevocable) and take up a Holy Resolution, by the Assistance of the Grace of God to redeem their Time to come, by a Godly, Righteous and Sober Conversation, in the Fear of the Lord, and by taking heed to this pure Principle of Light, and Life, may come to be enabled thereby to perform that Duty and acceptable Service which the Lord requires of them, and receive the Reward of the Profitable and Obedient Servant, is the Desire of my Soul.  
And that none may slight the Day of small things, but be faithful to what little measure the Lord commits to them, and thereby to become worthy of more.  
So not desirous to be tedious, or to undertake great things, I recommend the Reader to the following Lines, whose Mind I desire may be possessed with seriousness, and with the Fear of the Lord, when exercised in reading of things relating to Eternity; so shall such reap Benefit hereby, and answer the End of my Labours and Travails, which is the Wellbeing of their IMMORTAL SOULS.  
This is chief intended for the Northern Parts of this Nation, where many are thirsting afresh after the Truth, although ignorant of it; and that such may be informed of the Way thereto, and reap Everlasting Life by it, is my Soul's Desire.  
Isabella Yeamans.   

An INVITATION of LOVE to all that Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness, etc.  
TO all you who are ignorant of the Way of Life and Salvation, and are seeking the Living amongst the Dead Tombs and Sepulchers, and are wand'ring in the Night, in the dead Forms and empty Professions, Will-Worships and Traditions of Men, which are set up, held and performed in man's Will, and in man's Time, and not in God's Time, nor according to his Mind and Will, and therefore are an abomination unto him.  
Now that all such may be informed aright, my Testimony and Exhortation in the Fear of the Lord is, That he is not there, but is arisen and ascended far above all Heavens; the Stone is roled from the Door of the Sepulchre, and the Grave-Clothes are left behind; the Watchmen of the Night could not hold him, nor the Grave contain him: Oh! look not for him where he is not to be found, as the Angel said to Mary Magdalen and the other Women, He is not here, he is risen, and they declared his Resurrection, John 10.17. Matth. 28.7. Where 'tis manifest, that the first Witnesses that were commissionated (and that by the Angel of the Lord) to preach the Resurrection of Christ Jesus, were Women, who (as it's written) returned with Fear and great Joy, and could not but declare what they had seen and heard concerning the Lord Christ, though yet it seemed to some (yea, of the Disciples themselves, who were afterwards convinced of the Truth of those Woman's Testimonies) as idle Tales; as it seems to many in this Age, because the Resurrection is held forth and born Testimony unto by Women: but blessed be the Lord, he hath raised up many, both Sons and Daughters, to be living Witnesses this day of his inward and spiritual Appearance, and Power of his Resurrection and Ascension. So look not for him in the Shadows and Forms without the Power and Substance, nor be satisfied with the hearing of him by the hearing of the Ear, or a notional Traditional Knowledge, without the saving Knowledge of Power; for until you come to know his Power and Life in yourselves, to save you from Evil, you are not come to the Substance; but are still running from Mountain to Hill, as Sheep having no Shepherd, seeking living Bread in desolate places, and hewing unto yourselves Cisterns that will hold no Water (an Evil which the Lord complained of among the Children of Israel) saying, Ye have forsaken me the Fountain of Living Water, and hewn unto yourselves Cisterus that can hold no Water. So come, ye off the Mountains of Esau, into the low Valleys, where the Springs of Life you may feel, and come into the Valley of Jehosaphat, where the Lord pleads with all flesh by Sword & by Fire, that through his deep, Judgement, for Sin and Transgression, through true Acknowledgement and Repentane the Valley of Anchor may be known to be a Door of Hope to the Transgressor's, and by this Hope through Faith come to receive Christ in you the Hope of Glory, who is the Resurrection of the Just unto Life, and of the Unjust unto Condemnation; the first begotten from the Dead, and the first born of every Creature, and now glorified with the Father the Creator of all things; who made the Heavens and the Earth, the Sea, and the Fountains of Water; who form the Mountains, and created the Winds, and declares unto man what his Thoughts are, Amos 4.13. the Lord of Hosts is his Name: He is making himself known in the Hearts of people by his great Power, who will overturn and remove all Mountains and Hills that may be shaken or removed, that that alone which cannot be shaken may remain; then shall the Loftiness of the Heart of Man be brought down, and the Haughtiness thereof laid low, that all Flesh may fear and tremble before the Lord, who gives unto all Life, Breath and Being.  
And as Man and Woman comes to believe in the Light of Christ Jesus, which discovers and makes manifest unto them the most secret Thoughts and intents of their Hearts, that they are continually Evil (in the unregenerate state) for as the Lord said, Every Imagination of the Heart of Man was only continually, Gen, 6.5. and the Prophet saith, The Heart is Deceitful above all things, and desperately Wicked; who can know it? I the Lord search the Heart and try the Reins, to give unto every Man according to his Ways.  
This Light, I say, being believed in, kept to, and obeyed, is able work a Change, and to cleanse the Heart, that was corrupted by Sin and Transgression, and to beget good Thoughts and good Desires, and to judge down the contrary, even all the Corrupt Ways that man in his own Inventions has involved himself into, and forsaken his Maker: But this is not of ourselves, nor by any Acquirement of our own; but is the free Gift of God (the Giver of all good things) which he has given us to believe in; and to him alone (not unto any thing of ourselves) we ascribe the Glory and Honour, to whom it is due forever.  
Now, forasmuch as all men have sinned, and fallen short of the Glory of God, it pleased God (out of his infinite Love and Compassion towards the Sons and Daughters of Men) to send his only begotten Son Christ Jesus a Light into the World, that all through him might be saved, and have Everlasting Life, who gave his Life a Ransom for all, that he might purchase them by his precious Blood; He is the Propitiation for our Sins, and not for our Sins only, but also for the Sins of the whole World, 1 John 2.2. And as man comes to believe in his Name (which is his Power) he comes to know Reconciliation through his Death and Blood, and by it Redemption up unto God again: And the Everlasting Gospel (which is the great Power of God unto Salvation to all that believe in it, and obey the same) comes here to be witnessed, which is that Gospel which Christ commanded his Disciples to preach throughout the World to every Creature under Heaven, Mark 16.15. And, If any man preach any other Gospel then that which is already preached and declared, let him be accursed, Gal. 1.8. But if this 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 shine unto them, 2 Cor. 4.3, 4.  
Now this Everlasting Gospel is preached again in the same Power and Demonstration of the Spirit, as in times past, by virtue whereof Life and Immortality is again brought to Light; so that the Prisoner of Hope comes to receive the acceptable Tidings of Liberty and Freedom out of spiritual Bondage and Captivity.  
And the Lord is arising and appearing in the Hearts and Consciences of the Sons and Daughters of men by the bright shinings of the Beams of his Glory, to give unto them the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus, 2 Corinth. 4.6.  
Now, the Reason why people have been erring and wand'ring every one after their own Ways, and in the dark Imaginations of their own Hearts is, for want of the Knowledge of the only true God, and Christ Jesus whom he hath sent (whom to know is Life Eternal) and the Reason why People come short of this Knowledge is, because they will not believe in, and yield Obedience unto the Light of Christ Jesus, manifested in their Hearts, to give them the glorious Knowledge of the Lord, and of his Way of Life and Salvation, and to lead them from under Satan's power, who hath held people in Ignorance (through Unbelief) and hath kept them under the Region of the Shadow of Death: For Christ Jesus, who said, I am the Light of the World; also said, Except ye believe that I AM HE, ye shall die in your Sins, and whither I go ye cannot come. So that Unbelief in the Light, was and is the Cause why people die in their Sins, and come short of the Knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, whom to know is Life Eternal.  
But Christ Jesus, who is that Word that was in the Beginning, by which all things were made that were made, in whom was (and is) Life, and the Life was (and is) the Light of Men, John 1.4. he is the true Light, that lighteth every man that cometh into the World, by which lost man comes to see his Way to God again out of his miserable Estate and undone Condition, where all Flesh hath corrupted its way before the Immortal God; in which way of Corruption (by reason of Sin and Transgression) there is none that doth good, no not one. And in this fallen Estate and deplorable Condition hath the Lord God beheld the Sons and Daughters of fallen Adam, and with an Eye of Pity and in the Bowels of Compassion hath he looked down from the Habitation of his Holiness, and hath sent forth the Son of his Love, who (by his Light and Grace) appears in the Hearts of all Mankind; his Light, and his Grace, and good Spirit, is universal, and freely extended unto all, that as they mind it, believe in it, and are obediene to it, they come to witness Salvation by it, according to the Testimony of the holy Apostle, The Grace of God, that bringeth Salvation, hath appeared unto all men, teaching us, that denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts, we should live soberly and godly, etc. Titus 2.11, 12.  
Now there is none excluded from the Appearance of this free Grace of God, nor any to be excused who receive it not, and resit the Teachings of it: But as many as are obedient to the Teachings of it in their own Hearts, they come to witness Freedom and Liberty by it, and Power in it to resist the Temptations and many Snares that be in the Ungodly World And those that hate the Reproofs of its Instruction (which is the Way of Life) and turn from it into Lasciviousness and Vanity, they will find it to be their Condemnation; and those are they that crucify unto themselves afresh the Lord of Glory, and put him to open shame, and trample the Blood of the Covenant under foot, as a thing of no value: And here the Lamb lies slain in the Streets of the Ungodly World (spiritually called Sodom and Egypt) that his got a place in man's Heart since the Fall. The Foundation of this wicked World, that is in Sin & Pollution, that has so corrupted the Earth, and filled it with Violence, was laid by Transgression, whereby Death came over all men. But as by the Disobedience of one Man, All have sinned, and fallen short of the Glory of God; so by the Obedience of one Man (the Man Christ Jesus) we come to be made alive again: And as the Creature comes to join with the Manifestation of the Light of Christ Jesus (the free Gift of the Father's Love, who is full of Grace and Truth) they come to know and feel his quickening Spirit, which sets free from the Law of Sin and Death: And keeping to the Light, which discovers all the Deeds of Darkness, they come to see their Way out of the old Adam, to Christ the second Adam; and how to refuse the Evil, and choose the Good, according as in the Light it is made manifest; for, as saith the Apostle, All things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light; for whatsoever doth make manifest, is Light, Ephes. 5.13.  
Now mind that in your own Hearts which reproveth in secret, when no mortal Eye sees, nor Ear hears the small still Voice, which calls unto you when you are running to do Evil, which grieves the Spirit of the Lord in you: Return, return, harken unto the Voice of Wisdom; for she uttereth her Voice in the Streets of the World, and in the midst of the Concourse of the People, How long ye simple ones will ye love Simplicity, and Scorners delight in their Scorning, and Fools hate Knowledge? Turn ye at my Reproofs, etc. Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched forth my Hand, and none regarded; but ye have despised all my Counsel, and would none of my Reproof; I will also laugh at your Calamity, when your Fear cometh like a Desolation, and when Affliction and Anguish shall come upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but shall not find me; because they hated Knowledge, and did not choose the Fear of the Lord: But whoso hearkeneth unto me, shall dwell safely, Prov. 1.22, 23, 24.  
Here the Wise Man in the Wisdom of God shows what is to be turned from, and the Safety, Peace and Consolation of those that turn at the Reproofs, and hearken to the Voice of this pure Wisdom; as also, the Calamity and Distress of such as will not give ear to the Reproofs of Instruction (which, as one said, is the Way to Life) nor be obedient to the Measure of Light and Life in their Hearts, such must reap the Fruit of their own Devices.  
Job speaking excellently and experimentally of this Wisdom, saith on this wise; Where is Wisdom to be found? and where is the place of Understanding? Man knoweth not the Price thereof. The Depth saith, It is not in me; and the Sea saith, It is not in me: It cannot be gotten for Gold, neither shall Silver be weighed for the Price thereof. But THE FEAR OF THE LORD that is Wisdom; and TO DEPARTED FROM INIQUITY, that is a good Understanding. Death and Destruction have heard of the Fame of Wisdom; and many can talk of it; but they are Aliens to it, and their Hearts remote from it. Oh! the pure holy Fear of the Lord God, it keeps the Heart clean, it preserveth out of all Evil, and delivers from the Snares of Death; it is a precious Pearl indeed, a matchless Jewel: Where is the Man that is furnished with Eloquence, to unfold the Excellency of this Wisdom? or who knows the Worth of it? but those who have digged and searched the Deep for it, and when they have found it, sold all their Treasure, that they have been heaping up in their Notional and Artificial Wisdom, which is from below, and made a Purchase of this precious Treasure and Riches, which endures forever; such have made a blessed exchange, never to be repent of; the Thief cannot break through and steal, nor Moth corrupt, neither can Canker rust or eat this Treasure. But this is not to be found or attained unto in the Path where the Lion's Whelp hath trodden (the fierce angry Nature) or the fierce Lion has passed by; no Vultures Eye nor Beast of Prey can walk therein. And though the Lions may suffer Hunger, yet those that fearthe Lord shall want no good thing (a blessed Privilege indeed.) It was the Fear of the Lord that preserved Joseph in his tender Years, when he was in Egypt, and when the Egyptian Woman (his Mistress) tempted him: How can I (said he) do this great Wickedness, and sin against God? Gen. 39.9. The Dread and Fear of offending the Lord was before his Eyes, whereby he was preserved out of that Snare. Oh that people would lay these things to heart! and consider what they are a doing, and search their Hearts in the Light and Fear of the Lord, and humble themselves before him (to whom they must give a just and final Account of the Deeds done in the Body) that they may receive Mercy at his Hand, before the Door be shut, and there be none to open.  
For saith the Lord by the Mouth of his holy Prophet I saith, wash you, make you clean, put away the Evil of your Do from before mine Eyes, cease to do Evil, learn to do well, then come and let us reason together; though your Sins were as Crimson, they shall be made white as Snow; though they were red as Scarlet, they shall be as Wool: If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the Land; but if ye refuse and be rebellious, ye shall be devoured with the Sword, etc.  
And the Son of God saith, Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden (with your Sins and Iniquities (and know not whither to go) and I will give you Rest.  
This is Glad Tidings of an Acceptable Rest indeed, unto all who are weary with travelling in the By Ways and Crooked Paths, which lead to the Chambers of Death. And this Rest remains for all the People of God, who have been willing to come unto Christ (by his Light in their own Hearts) and to bow to his Appearance.  
And all you who are in want of this Rest, and desire the attainment of it, but are ignorant of the Way that leads to it, my Exhortation and Advice unto you is, to come unto him who said, Come unto me all you that are weary etc. of whom it was testified, That when he should come, he should reprove the world of Sin, of Righteousness and of Judgement; and cease from seeking and striving in your own Wills (which is not according to the Will of God) and rest from your own Labours (as God did from his) & mind that which discovers Sin, and reproves in secret for it, and turn at the Reproofs of it (which is the Way of Life) as one well experienced, and testified in his day; The Commandment is a LAMP, and the Law is LIGHT, and the Reproofs of Instruction THE WAY OF LIFE, Prov. 6.23. This is that Lamp and that Light of which David testified, saying, Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet, and a Light unto my Paths, Psalms 119.105. He also said, The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the Soul; and is that Word of which he said, Wherewithal shall a Young Man cleanse his Ways? by taking heed thereto, according to thy Word: Which Word, Light, Law, Lamp, Grace, Spirit, etc. with many other Names and Denominations, are one and the same in nature and quality, though proceeding from the holy Spirit and Power in the holy Men of God under several Names and Appellations, according to the various Effects, Dispensations, Manifestations and Operations of it in their Hearts; as when it manifesteth unto man the Evil of his Ways, it is properly called Light; and as it judgeth and condemneth for Sin and Evil, it may be called a Lawgiver and a Judge, etc. this is able to deliver and set free from the Power of Sin and Death, and to bring lost man to God again: It was sufficient under every Dispensation for the Recovery and Salvation of Mankind, as it was obeyed and believed in, by which the Righteous Seed and Holy Men of God found Acceptance with the Lord, and knew that they pleased him, and walked with him, as Enoch did, and were made perfect, as Abraham was, to whom the Lord said Walk thou before me, and be thou perfect, Gen. 17.1.  
But is now manifested in these latter days in a more Glorious and Evangelical Appearance, wherein the Lord has fulfilled his Promise of old, and is pouring forth of his Spirit upon all Flesh, and is causing his Sons and his Daughters to prophesy, and to declare of his wondrous Works: and now Christ Jesus is manifesting himself in his inward and spiritual Appearance of Light in the Hearts and Consciences of all men, who is come a Light into the World, that whosoever believes on him might not perish, but have Everlasting Life; and in this Manifestation of his Spirit he is calling and inviting the Sons and Daughters of men, Behold, (says he) I stand at the Door and knock; if any man hear any Voice, and open unto me, I will come in and sup with him, and he with me, Rev. 3.20. It is the Voice of my Beloved that knocks, saying, Open unto me; for my Head is filled with Dew; and my Locks with the Drops of the Night, Song of Sol. 5.2. The Disobedient and Rebellious will not entertain him in their Hearts; but he is pierced by their Iniquities, and as a Lamb slain without their Door, and as killed all the day long as to them (though in himself he lives to judge them) He made his Grave with the Wicked, and with the Rich in his Death, Isa. 53.9. But the Lord beholds the Proud afar off, who think they know enough, and are fat and full, and want nothing, when they are miserable, and naked, and bare, and want all things; but the Humble he teacheth, and dwells with the Contrite in Heart; for it is in the Heart and Consciences of Men and Women where he ought to dwell, and it is his Prerogative to sway the Sceptre there; although the old Usurper of Authority (called the Devil and Satan) by his Stratagems and Insinuations, has gotten a large Room and open Entertainment in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience, so that the Inn is taken up with other Guests (the vain Delights and Pleasures of the World) and not room is left to entertain the Lord of Glory, but he is as laid in the Manger, and turned out of Doors, and his small Appearance slighted and rejected by the Ungodly: But now is the Prince of Peace come, and is arising in his glorious Power, to dis-throne the grand Enemy of man's Happiness, and to discover his many Snares, Baits and Temptations, which he has laid suitable to the Propensity and Inclination of the Creature, to betray the Simple-minded, and to draw forth the Heart and Affections after his Inventions, thereby to enslave and embodage the Creature in Sin and Iniquity, and to plunge it therein, until the Custom of it comes to take away the sense of the Evil of it, and then persuades the poor Captive, There is no Freedom from it, nor no Perfection to be attained on this side the Grave; and here he labours to keep them under his Power whilst in this Life, knowing that after Death, Judgement comes; and as the Tree falls, so it lies; and that there is no Repentance in the Grave; and here he obtains his End, which is the Eternal Destruction of Men and women's Souls; for he laid the Foundation of his Kingdom in the Heart of Man and Woman by a Lie, through which Sin entered, and by which he upholds his Kingdom to this day in all the Disobedient and Rebellious. But in the Light of Christ Jesus (which discovers all the Deeds of Darkness) is he clearly seen, and his rotten Foundation, which was grounded upon a Lie, gins now to shake and reel, and the Down-fall of his Kingdom is now seen to approach by them whose Eyes the Lord has opened. But as for those who despise this Inward and Evangelical Appearance of Light and Grace, and call it Natural. or the Check of a Natural Conscience, and a thing Insufficient (though obeyed) to Salvation; nay, many will not stick to call it Dia bolical: whoever they be that are in this state, I am bold to affirm and testify, That the same Power (call it what they will) that secretly checks and reproves for Sin and Evil in the Cansciences of Men and Women the same (in the Day of Account) shall set the Sins of the Wicked and Disobedient in order before their Eyes, and shall be their Judge in that Day, and as a Stone that shall grind them to Powder; and on the contrary, to those that love it and obey it, will be the Joy, Comfort and Everlasting Salvation of their Immortal Souls.  
Now the Reason why people hate the Light, is very evident from Christ's own words, who saith, This is the Condemnation, that Light is come into the World, and men love Darkness rather than Light, because their Deeds are Evil, for every one that doth Evil, hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, lest his Deeds should be repreved, John 3.19, 20. But he that doth Truth, loves the Light, and brings his Deeds to it, that they may be proved and tried that they are wrought in God.  
Now the Serpent in his Subtlety is the same at this day that he was in the Beginning, who in direct Opposition to the Command of God told Adam and Eve That in the day they did eat of the Forbidden Fruit they should Not surely die, but should be as Gods knowing Good and Evil: and here was the Temptation laid under the presentation of an Higher Attainment, or that it was higher or of further Latitude, which certainly was more pernicious and Destructive; for, until the Temptation was entered into, they had not the Knowledge of Evil by participation, but were clothed with the Sweet Innocent Life of God, which he breathed into them, and dwelled in Covenant with their Maker. But after the Enemy had prevailed, and had subjected the Creature unto Vanity (as saith the Apostle, Romans 8. vers. 20.) not willingly, but in Hope of an Higher Attainment, or Better State than that wherein the Lord had placed them, they were betrayed, and lost their Habitation by breaking the Command of God, and lost the Heavenly Dignity and Excellency of the first Creation, and became dead as to that sweet Unity, Fellowship and Access they had unto God: and here the Serpent was found a Liar, who told them, They should not surely die, etc. So here Man and Woman were driven out of the Paradise of God, and became degenerate Plants of a strange Vine, branching forth itself into many Corrupt Trees, whose Fruit have been Envy, Wrath, Murder and Persecution about Religion, Sacrifice and Worship, Pride, Emulation, Deceit and Hypocrisy; and in these evil Branches have the unclean Birds and the Fowls of the Air lodged, and the Cockatrice, that comes out of the Serpent's Root, whose Fruit (saith the Prophet) shall be a Fiery Flying Serpent, Isa. 14.29.  
Now the Cockatrice hath been hatching and bringing forth her Cage of unclean Birds by the power of the Serpent, whereby they are become Birds of Prey, to the persecuting of the Innocent Birth or good Seed of the Kingdom, and quenching the good Desires which are in the Hearts of People. But as the first Appearance or Motion to Evil is resisted and turned from, the Conception thereof is prevented in the Heart (for 'tis there that Sin is conceived, before 'tis brought forth into action) and the Cockatrice comes to be crushed in the Egg, before it is brought forth to be a Bird of Prey, and the Creature preserved out of the Snare, And so it may be seen, that this Crooked Serpent has been the ground Cause of all the Woe and Misery that is come upon Mankind, who seeks to betray and deceive the Innocent, as he did Adam and Eve, who actually knew no Evil, until under a fair Pretence he presented the forbidden fruit unto Eve (the weaker Vessel) who by harkening unto him did eat, and gave also to her Husband, and so brought Death over themselves, according as the Lord God had said, In the day that ye eat thereof, ye shall die. Thus by transgressing the Righteous Law of God, in eating the forbidden Fruit, Sin entered, and Death by Sin, which is come upon all, and all have fallen short of the Glory of God. And they that are feeding of the Tree of Knowledge without Life, are under the same Sentence of Death, which was passed over Adam and Eve, through their Disobedience. So Death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them who had not sinned after the similitude of Adam 's Transgression, as saith the Apostle: For as by the Offence of one, Judgement came upon all men to Condemnation; even so by the Righteousness of one, the free Gift came upon all unto Justification of Life, Rom. 5.18. And as many as receive the free Gift of Grace and Righteousness, shall reign in Life by Jesus Christ.  
And in this free Gift of God (in which is Life eternal) comes Man and Woman to inherit their former Privilege and Right to the Tree of Life again: for the universal Lovingkindness of the Lord God was such towards the Noble Workmanship of his Hands, that notwithstanding Man and Woman had transgressed the holy righteous Law of the Lord, and being first violated by the Woman, yet he promised, That the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpent's Head; and to the Serpent he said, I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman, and between thy Seed and her Seed; it shall bruise thy Head, and thou shalt bruise his Heel, Gen. 3.15.  
This faithful Promise, in which the Patriarches of old, with the Prophets and Holy Men of God believed, in the Fullness of time came to be fulfilled, and the Virgin conceived by the Holy Ghost, and by the Overshadowing of the Power of the Most High, and brought forth that Holy Thing whose Name was called Jesus, according as the Angel of the Lord had foretell unto Mary, saying, Blessed art thou among Women, thou hast found Favour with God; for lo, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bear a Son, and shalt call his Name Jesus. Now Mary reasoned a little, saying, How can this be, seeing I know not Man? To whom the Angels Answer was, The Holy Chost shall come upon thee, and the Power of the Most High shall evershadow thee; therefore that Holy Thing that shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. So Mary consulted no more, but believing the Angel, said, Be it unto me according to thy word, Luke 1.35. And in the overcoming Sense of the Joy which through Faith she had received, said on this wise, My Soul doth magnify the Lord, and my Spirit rejoiceth in God my Saviour; from henceforth all Generations shall call me blessed, because be that is mighty has done great things for me, and Holy is his Name. So in the Seed Christ Jesus, the second Adam, that never fell, who is made a quickening Spirit, comes the Blessing again to be obtained, and all those that believe in him come to be redeemed from under the Curse, and to know his Spirit as a Standard lifted up in them, to the crushing and breaking down the Head of the Serpent (which is his Power) so that the Enmity that is put between the two Seeds shall never be reconciled; and as this Seed of Life, which the good Seedsman has sown in every Heart, comes to take root and grow, it will suppress and keep under the Evil Seed of the Serpent, which brings forth Briars and Thorns, to entangle the Soul as in a Net, whose End is to be burnt up and consumed by the Breath of the Lord. And although the Enemy has come in the Night, and hath sown Tares and Brambles in the Field (which is the World) where the good Seed was sown, yet mark, their End is to be cut down at the time of Harvest (which is the end of the World) and to be bundled up, and cast into the Fire unquenchable. Oh! what will become of all those in that day, who have suffered the Tares and Brambles to grow, & have not believed nor put Confidence in, but obstinately resisted the appearance of Christ, the benefit of whose Sufferings, Death, Resurrection and Ascension such might have received, and have been cleansed from all their evil Ways and corrupt Devices by Christ Jesus, who is come a Light into the World, that whosoever believes in him, should not abide in Darkness, but have the Light of Life, John 8.12. he testified of himself, saying, I am the Resurrection and the Life; he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: this is he to whom all the ends of the Earth are to look for Salvation; he is the Shiloh, the peaceable Saviour, who is now come according to Jacob's Prophecy upon his dying Bed, saying, The Sceptre shall not departed from Judah, nor a Lawgiver from between his Feet, until Shiloh come, and unto him shall the gathering of the People be, Gen 49.10. (which Sceptre of Government is long since departed from Judah, therefore Shiloh is come) Now the spiritual Sceptre is delivered unto him, who, without Respect of Persons, is holding it forth unto all Nations, Kindred's, Tongues and People, that his Government may be set up, and his Sceptre sway in their Hearts, whose Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom, and of his Dominion there shall be no End; upon whose Shoulders the Government is set, and the Nations of them that are saved must walk in the Light of the Lamb, who is come to take away the sins of the world, & has brought a Remnant (through their Belief in and Obedience unto the Light of Christ) to the knowledge of his saving Power, which brings out of the dead Forms to the living Substance, which gives true Satisfaction to the Soul: And such cannot but say unto and invite all, who hunger and thirst after Righteousness, To come and taste with us, and see how good the Lord is; for it is that which was from the Beginning, which we have seen with our Eyes, which we have looked upon, and our Hands have handled of the Word of Life, that we declare unto you, that you also might have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ, John 1.3. And the Spirit and the Bride saith Come, and let him that heareth say Come, and he that is athirst let him come, and take of the Waters of Life freely, Rev. 22.17. Oh! why will you spend your Money for that which is not Bread, and your Labour for that which doth not satisfy your Souls, who with the Prodigal have spent your Portion, and are feeding upon the Husks in your Notional Self Performances, and Imitations of true Religion, Sacrifice and Worship? But alas! it is not the Profession, Show or Likeness of these things (without the Possession of that Life and Power in which they are accepted of the Lord) that will stand in stead in the needful time; for 'tis not a sight or show of Food that will satisfy an hungry or travelling Man; but Give me Bread (says the hungry Soul) or else I die— Oh! how doth my Spirit mourn for those who are seeking living Bread among the Husks, where it's not to be found, and are enquiring after their Souls Beloved, and are running from one Watchman to another, seeking the Footsteps of the Flock of his Companions, and where he feeds them, and causes them to lie down at noon day. Come you that have been enquiring of the blind Watchmen of the Night, I will tell you where we have found the Beloved of our Souls (where you also must find him) The Spouse of old sought him amongst the Watchmen, yet found him not; But, says she, when I had past a little from them, than I found him whom my Soul loved: Such was our enquiring Condition amongst the blind Watchmen of the Night, who cried, Lo here and Lo there, whose Trumpet gave an uncertain sound unto us, and instead of Relief caused our Wounds to bleed afresh, telling us, Revelation was ceased and we must not expect God & Christ in that inward and spiritual Appearance wherein he made known himself to his People in days past; but we must apply ourselves to this outward Ceremony, and the other Ordinance, etc. and thus they smote us and wounded us: But blessed be our God forever, who turned us from them, to the Light of Christ Jesus, which gave us the knowledge of our Beloved, and directed our Feet into the right Way, even the Just Man's Path, which is a shining Light, and shines more and more unto the perfect day, & the Wayfaring Man (though a Fool) shall not err therein. So it was by the inshinings of his Light & Grace in our Hearts, that we received the Discovery and Knowledge of our Beloved, who is become the chiefest of ten thousand unto a Remnant, as he was to the Spouse of old: He is the Door into the Sheepfold▪ and the true Shepherd, who laid down his Life for his Sheep; and whoever enters into this heavenly Fold of Rest and Peace, must enter in by his Light, who is the Door; for whoever climb up any other way, are Thiefs and Robbers; and his Sheep hear his Voice, and the Voice of a Stranger they will not follow, because they can clearly distinguish between the true Shepherd and the false Shepherds (who whilst people put into their Mouths cry Peace, Peace; and when not fed, prepare War against them) witness the many grievous Sufferings of Innocent People in Body & Estate; how many nasty Goals have been crowded full by their Cruelty? how many Wives have been made Widows and Children Fatherless (whose Cries have pierced the Heavens, and whose Complaint has entered the Ears of the Lord) by their unrighteousness & inhuman deal with God's people: And how have these Idol Shepherds, who have sought the Fleece, and not regarded the Sheep, like Wolves and Bears, rended the Goods of such as could not put into their Mouths, the impartial Reader and every unbyass'd Mind can well inform. But the great and powerful Shepherd, the mighty God, hath taken Cognizance of these things, and will surely call them to account, and reckon with them in a Day that is come & coming upon them, wherein they shall be more and more made manifest, that they are not sent of God, nor true Ministers of Christ, because they abide not in his Doctrine, who said, Freely ye have received, freely give: and if any shall ask, How we know them? we need go no further than the words of Christ, who said, By their Fruits ye shall know them; for they are such who seek their Gain from their Quarter, who feed with the fat and cloth with the Wool, and love the uppermost Rooms at Feasts, and Greetings in the Marketplace, with divers other Marks, whereby we know them to be such as ran and God never sent them, and their Doctrine to be erroneous and unprofitable. But the Sheep of Christ's Pasture are clothed with the Lamblike, Meek, Quiet and Suffering Spirit of Jesus, who makes his Followers conformable unto himself, that in all things we may be found followers of him in his Light and Grace, who hath other Sheep which are not of this Fold, whom also he said should be brought in, that they may hear his Voice; and there shall be one Sheepfold and one Shepherd, John 10.16. And for those Sheep who are not yet gathered into this Fold, doth my Soul travail, that they with us might partake of the living Bread, which comes down from Heaven. I am that living Bread (saith Christ) that came down from Heaven. My Flesh is Meat indeed, and my Blood is Drink indeed; whoever eats of the Bread and drinks of the Water that I give, shall never hunger nor thirst any more: Except ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood, ye have no Life in you. This was an hard Saying to the professing Jews, whose Eye was outward and carnal; as it is with many this day, who make a great talk of his Flesh and Blood: But except you have Faith in his Name, and by virtue of that Faith come to eat his Flesh and drink his Blood, ye have no Life in you; for, says he, (who says, I am the Light) Except ye believe that I am he, ye shall die in your Sins, and whither I go ye cannot come. so that it is Unbelief in his Light or Grace in people which disappoints them of the benefit of his Blood, which cleanseth, washes and sanctifies all those that believe in his Name and Power, by which, as they keep unto and abide in it, they come to witness their Redeemer to live, even Christ, the Anointed of God, the Everlasting Minister of the Sanctuary, and of the true Tabernacle, which God hath pitched, and not Man; he is become our High Priest, and the Bishop of our Souls; he is teaching his People himself; and our Invitation unto all is, that they may come and sit down under the Teachings of his Spirit and Grace in themselves; For, whatsoever may be known of God is manifest within; and he hath shown unto Man what is good, that he should obey it and do it; and the Apostle said, Examine yourselves, prove yourselves; know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates. Now thou who hast had thine Eye outward, & hast been running abroad, and spent thy Portion with the Prodigal, and hast not obtained an Establishment in that which is durable and satisfying the Soul; Return, return to thy Father's House, and turn thy Mind inward to that which thou hast run from, and hast been seeking without thee, and thou wilt find virtue in it, and the Efficacy of it to satisfy thy breathing Soul: for, remember the Parable of the Woman, who sought her piece of Silver without her House, but turning within, lighting a Candle, and sweeping her House, she found it, and for the Joy that she had found this Treasure, invited her Neighbours to come and rejoice with her. Now the Candle of the Lord (which is the Spirit of a Man) is lighted, and the Houses of many are swept, and that which they have been seeking without they have found within them, to the exceeding great Joy & Gladness of their Hearts, so that they could not but invite and persuade others (through the constraining Virtue and Soul-satisfaction they had received from it) to turn in to that inward Word of Power which is nigh, in the Heart, and is a sure Word of Prophecy, unto which (says the Apostle Peter) ye do well to take heed, as unto a Light shining in a dark place, until the Day dawn, and the Day Star arise in your Hearts,;;;;; 2 Pet. 1.19.  
Now we having taken heed unto this divine and heavenly Word in our Hearts, we are come to see the arising of the Star of Jacob, and to the bright and morning Star, by which the blessed Day of God's great Salvation is known and experimentally witnessed by a Remnant. Oh! how glorious is the appearance & breaking forth of this heavenly Day, in which the rising of the Son of Righteousness (who is risen with Healing under his Wings) many are come to behold; how excellent is the Power, Wisdom and Majesty of him who is greater than Solomon, whose marvellous Order, Magnificency and Splendour the Queen of Sheba, from the uttermost parts of the Earth, came to see, who when she had heard and seen all that she desired (yea to her Astonishment) made this acknowledgement, I believed not this Report, until I had seen it with mine Eyes; but lo, the one half was not told me; for thou hast more Wisdom and Prosperity than I have heard by Report, 1 Kings 10.7. And many can now say, that a Greater than Solomon is now come, whose infinite Wisdom and Power, whose excellent Glory and Majesty the Tongues of Men and Angels are incapable and insufficient to set forth, who is filling his latter House with the Splendour of his own Glory, for transcending and surpassing the Glory of the Outward Temple, which was typical & figurative of that which is not built with Hands; and many Sons are coming from far, and Daughters from the ends of the Earth, to behold the Beauty and Comeliness and Holy Order of the House of the God of Jacob, which he is establishing atop of all the exalted Mountains and Professions without Possession, and above all swelling Notions and Hills, and Nations are flowing unto it, according as the Lord spoke by the Mouth of the Prophet, Isa. 2.2. Beautiful fo●●●tuation is Mount Zion (the Hill of God) and it is now fulfilled in these latter days, that many are come to say, Let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, and to the House of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his Ways, and we will walk in his Paths. These are the true Jews in Spirit, the Circumcised in Heart & Ear, whose Praise is of God, and not of men: such are the true Worshippers, who worship the Father in the Spirit and in the Truth, which is that living, true and standing Worship) set up and established above sixteen hundred years ago, by our Lord and Saviour, in that blessed Conference held with the woman of Samaria at Jacob's Well, who hearing of the Disputes & various Opinions about the Place where men ought to worship, said, Woman, believe me, The Hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain nor at Jerusalem worship the Father; for the Hour cometh and now is, that the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and Truth; and such is the Father seeking to worship him, John 4.21, 23. This Woman, by this Converse with Christ, being converted to the Faith in him, went her way into the City, and gave this Testimony of him, Come see a Man (says she) that has told me all that ever I have done; is not this the Christ? And many of the Samaritans believed on him, not only because of the saying of the Woman, who told them, That he had told her all that ever she had done, but because of his own Word: And we know (say they) that this is indeed the Christ. Now these men were directed unto Christ by the Declaration or Preaching of a Woman, who was not despised by them because of her Sex, but they received her Invitation, & came to be made Believers in him, who had told the Woman all that she had done; and well were it for the People of this Nation if they would be of the Samaritans Mind, and believe in that inward Testimony and Power, which lets them see and tells them all that they do and reproves them for Sin and Evil. Now, God is a Spirit▪ and they that worship him aright▪ must worship him in & by the divine Assistance of his Spirit; but those who deride and make a Mock at the Spirit, and the Guidings and Leadings of it, are known to be out of the Spirit, neither know the Truth, bat are Enemies to it; and all their Worships, Duties, Self-Performances, Offerings & Sacrifices out of the Truth, are an Abomination unto the Lord▪ let their Pretence be never so specious: Now God in his Love hath given a Measure of his Spirit unto All people, whereby (through Obedience thereto) they may be enabled to perform that acceptable Service he requires of them: and they that come to feel such a good Desire and holy Thirst begotten in them (as did the Woman of Samaria) after the Water of Life, such by pursuance after the same in the Faith, come to receive Satisfaction and Refreshment from the Fountain Christ Jesus, who said unto the Woman, If thou knewest the Gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee [Give we to drink] thou wouldst have asked of him, who would have given thee living Water: those (said he) that drink of this Water (speaking of the Water in Jacob's Well) shall thirst again; but whosoever shall drink of the Water that I shall give him, shall never thirst; but the Water that I shall give him, shall be in him a Well of Water springing up unto Everlasting Life. The Woman said unto him, Sir, give me of this Water, that I thirst not again, etc. So it appears this Woman was ignorant of the Gift of God, though it was in her; yet by believing in and receiving his gracious Words, she became acquainted with the true Knowledge of the Gift of God in herself (as are all true Believers and spiritual Worshippers at this day) and thereby to receive the engrafted Word with Meekness, which is able to save the Soul, in and through which the true Worshippers offer up an acceptable Sacrifice within the Gates of the New and Heavenly Jerusalem, which John saw coming down from God out of Heaven, as a Bride adorned for her Husband, Salvation is the Walls of this holy City, and her Gates Praises; neither in her is there need of the Light of the Sun, or of the Moon or Stars, but the Lord God and the Lamb is the Light thereof; and the Nations of them that are saved must walk in the Light of it, rev. 21.23, 24.  
Now we, who are come to witness this defirable and glorious Habitation of Reft and Peace (which through many deep Sufferings, Cries and Travails of our anxious Spirits we have mourned for, sought after and obtained) we cannot but declare unto others in the Love of God, with tender Pity and Compassion unto their Souls, who are tossed about with every Wind of doctrine (as a Ship in a storm) and even labour to persuade such, who are thus distressed, to lay hold on the great Salvation of God, which he in and by his Son Christ Jesus, has freely tendered unto all People, to be his Salvation to the Ends of the Earth, a Light to lighten the Gentiles, and to be the Glory of his People Israel; this is he whom good old Simeon saw in his day, when he was waiting for the Consolation of Israel, Luke 2.25.  
And you who are looking for Christ without you, in the outward Forms and Traditions, my Advice unto you is, To turn to that Principle in your own hearts that is meek and lowly; for says Christ, Learn of me, I am meek and low in heart, and ye shall find Rest unto your Souls, Mat. 11.29. The Humble he teacheth his Way, and the Meek will he guide in Judgement: This is the good Physician of Value, who hath brought Balm from Gilead, and gives Health to the wounded Soul; he washes and thoroughly cleanses the Wound; & when all that has polluted and defiled the Heart and Conscience is purged and done away, than he pours in of his precious Ointment, which gives a fragrant smell to those who have been polluted and defiled by reason of Sin, of which the Ointment was a Figure, that was poured upon Aaron's Head, and run down to the Skirts of his Garment, and was precious; and if that was precious which was outward and typical, how much more is this which is an inward and spiritual Unction (which only can reach the Soul, as that did the Body) and which comes from Christ, who is anointed with the heavenly Oil above his Fellows, by virtue of which inward Anointing Health & Soundness of heart and mind comes to be known again by those who through this Universal Grace receive it; a measure of which Grace is committed to every one to profit withal, if they would prove it and try it, it is one and the same in Nature and Quality, though not in Quantity; For unto one he gave five Talents, to another two, and to another one, and to every man according to their several Abilities, in the least of which is sufficientcy (if obeyed and improved) and where much is given, much is required: But the wicked and slothful Servant, who had but one Talon, counted the Lord an hard Master, because he was negligent and careless to improve it, and hid his Talon in the Earth; but read his Portion; was he not cast into utter Darkness, where is weeping and gnashing of Teeth? and the same Reward to this day remains for all the Negligent, Unfaithful and disobedient Servants, who will not improve their Gift and Talent committed unto them.  
Now, to speak a little after the manner of men, and to compare Spiritual Things with Temporal; That as no Malady or Distemper of the Body can be healed without the Application of some suitable Medicine, and that only such as can reach unto the grieved part; even so no visible Preparatory or outward Existence, can reach unto, or effectually heal a Wounded Soul, but the alone saving Health and Power of Jesus; and whoso makes a right Application of it, comes livingly & experimentally to witness the blessed Effects thereof, which are the same as in the days past, that is, to give Sight to the Blind, to cause the Deaf to hear, the Lame to walk, the Leper to be cleansed, and the Tongue of the Dumb to be unloosed, to praise the Name of the Lord, and to magnify his great Power in the Land of the Living; and the Poor in Spirit have received the Everlasting Gospel of Peace, which is freely preached, and Life and Immortality is brought to Light thereby— Oh! the Day of Glad Tidings is come, and the Year of Jubilee to the Prisoner of Hope, and to the Captives and Disconsolate Souls is known, who had no Comforter in the Earth, nor any to be found that had the Tongue of the Learned, to speak a word in season in the needful time.  
But now has the Lord appeared to comfort the Mourners in Zion, and to give Beauty for Ashes, the Oil of Joy for Mourning, and the Garment of Praises for the spirit of Heaviness, Isa. 61.3. Therefore lift up your Heads, ye mournful Travellers, who have been weeping as Rachel for her Children, and refused to be comforted because they were not, Jer. 31.15. For the Comforter is now come, even the Spirit of Truth, which leads into all Truth all those that are willing to follow him, who saith, I am come that you might have Life, and that you might have it more abundantly, John 10.10. and he will lead you by a Way you know not, where you shall not Err.  
Life from God, the Fountain of Life and Glory, is now come, and is entered into the Witnesses; the Graves are opened, the Dead is raised, and they that hear his heavenly Voice, their Souls live unto him: This is the new Birth, which the Apostle speaks of on this wise, My little Children, of whom I travail in Birth again until Christ be form in you, Galat 4.19. Here the Apostle travailed for the bringing forth of that holy Birth which is conceived by the holy Ghost, and is born of the Water and of the Spirit, and is made a new Creature in Christ; for (says he) If any man be in Christ, he is a New Creature: But Nichodemus (a Ruler of the Jews) who came unto Jesus by Night, reasoned carnally on this manner, How can a Man be born which is Old; can he enter again into his Mother's Womb and be born? How ignorant was this Teacher of Israel concerning the Work of Regeneration? it was a sealed Book and a Mystery unto him, as it is to many Wise Professors and Night walking Nichodemus' of this Age, who though they pretend to high things, yet stumble at that which should open their Understandings, and give them a true Discerning betwixt that which is born of the Flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit; but are yet in the dark, and their Understandings vailed by reason of Sin and Transgression, which stands as a Partition Wall unremoved, and the old man with his Deeds not put off, nor the new man (the second Adam) put on, which bears the heavenly Image; and being gone astray and alienated from the Life of God in themselves, they become not acquainted with that which should work a Change in their Hearts, not withstanding all their Profession of God and Christ in Words, whilst in their Works they deny him. Now the birth of the flesh is known by its fruits, which is Envy, Wrath, Murder and Persecution of that Birth that is born after the Spirit, & hath been so even from Righteous Abel to this very day: for Cain, who was the first that was born of a Woman, envied his Brother Abel. and slew him (because his Brother's Sacrifice was accepted, and his rejected) whose innocent Blood, from the Ground on which it was spilt, cried in the Ears of the Lord for Vengeance, as doth the Blood of the Innocent People of God this day cry unto him, who will render Judgement and Vegeance upon the Enemies of his Righteous Seed and People, who have sacrificed unto and worshipped the Lord their God, according to his Commands, and the Requirings of his holy Spirit in their Hearts.  
And Ishmael the Son of the Bond Woman (who was born after the Flesh, and is in Bondage with her Children) he was a Mocker, and Mocked Isaac, who was the true Seed and Heir of the Promise; so all those now, who are of Abraham's Faith, are of the true Seed, and inherit the Blessing and Kingdom prepared for them before the Foundation of the World.  
And again, you may read how Esau (the first birth) who was a profane man, and sold his Birthright for one Morsel of Meat, he set himself against Jacob (the second Birth) who was of the true Seed and righteous Line, unto which the Promise and Blessings did descend and appertain.  
So here people may see, how that after man had transgressed and forsaken the Lord, he fell short of the Blessings of God, and in that state the first birth, which was of the Earth, earthly and sensual, was rejected with its Offerings and Sacrifice; so it is the second birth, which is after the Spirit, that obtains the Blessing.  
And Haman, an Informer against Mordecai, was of this corrupt seed & birth of the flesh, whose Offspring as well as himself has been persecuting the Members of the true Church & Seed of God for these many hundred years unto this very time, and all about Religion, Sacrifice and Worship: so that our Persecutors, who have been rending and tearing (like Dogs and Bears) and persecuting people for their Nonconformity and different Persuasions about Religion, may see their Off spring, and who was their Captain and General in this wicked Work, whose Spirit is alive though his Body be dead; and it will deceive them in the end: And Woe and Misery will be the Portion of all such (if not prevented by timely Repentance) at unawares, when 'twill be too late to call unto the Hills and to the Mountains to fall upon them and cover them from the Presence of the Lord, and to hid them from his dreadful Majesty and fierce Indignation, which is kindled against all the Enemies of his chosen People, who are unto him as the Apple of his Eye; and no Way will be found to escape his terrible Judgements: For such as every one sows, such must they reap; and they that sow to the flesh, shall of the flesh reap Corruption; but they that sow to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap Life Everlasting, Gal. 6.8. And if they who are and persist in Cain's nature and Esau's spirit, seek a place of Repentance with Tears, as they did, they shall not find it, but shall be like Cain, who was a Fugitive and a Vagabond in the Earth, being driven out from the Presence of the Lord, and said, My Punishment is greater than I can bear.  
Oh! that people would but consider what they are a doing, and to whom they yield their Members Servants to obey, and follow that Exhortation of the Apostle, Rom. 6.13. Yield not your Members as Instruments of Unright cousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God; for the Wages of Sin is Death, but the Gift of God is Eternal Life. Now this Gift of God is freely extended unto all Mankind, in and by which he calls and excites to Purity and Holiness, and to turn to him, and forsake Sin, which makes the Separation, and to come out of Ungodliness and all Uncleanness.  
The Call of the Lord has reached unto all; but the Apostle saith, Have they not all heard? yes verily; their sound went into all the Earth, and their words to the end of the World, Rom. 10.18. but all have not obeyed the Voice of the Lord. Oh! why will ye stand idle in the Marketplace, pleading for and contending about outward Observations, Days and Times, and who shall have the greatest Wages, as did those whom Christ called into the Vineyard, who gives Liberally without upbraiding a Reward answerable to every one's Desert; he is just and righteous in giving true Measure and full Weight, and will reckon truly with every one, and will bring all thy Deeds and Actions into thy Remembrance: If his Witness in thy Conscience justify thee, then may'st thou with Courage, Boldness and Joy appear before him; but if it condemn thee, than God is greater, who will in no wise hold thee guiltless in his sight. And the sluggish, idle and negligent Servants shall be clothed with the Rags of old Adam, and their Nakedness and Poverty will appear unto all: For when Adam and Eve had sinned, they saw their Nakedness (and not before) for then they were naked and stripped of that Garment and Covering of Innocency, wherewith the Lord had clothed them at the first; and then they went to work, and made for themselves Cover of Fig-leaves, which was but a mean Covering, instead of the Garments of Innocency and Holiness, which the Lord had put upon them.  
And how incident is it unto fallen Man and Woman to make Unrighteous Cover for Sin, and (as Adam after Transgression did) to hid themselves under the Thickets and Shades of Excuses and Pretences: But the Lord will rip off all such Cover and Pretences; and We from him is pronounced against such as are covered and not with his Spirit, that they may add Sin unto Sin. Isa. 30.1.  
But now is the Everlasting Comforter come the Spirit of Truth, which leads the Believers and the Obedient into all Truth, of whom it is written on this wise, (as a signal Token, and to give full Assurance, that it is he who was promised) When he is come, he will reprove the World of Sin, of Righteousness and of Judgement: of Sin, because they believe not in me; of Righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of Judgement, because the Prince of this World is judged, John 16.8, 9, 10, 11.  
Therefore arise, stand up and make haste, you who have been idle, and come into the Vineyard and Work of the Lord, who gives Light unto all, whereby they may see what is the Work of the Day, and what is required of them; for, when the Night comes, no man can work for God: Therefore follow Christ, the Anointed of God, who is given for a Leader and a Commander unto the People, who is Jesus, the Peaceable Saviour, who leads his People out of, and saves them from their Sins; he has been slighted, despised and set at nought by the Wise Master Builders; but unto a Remnant is he become the Head Stone of the Corner, Chosen of God, Elect and Precious unto all those who have received him and believed on him. He is that Stone which Daniel saw cut out of the Mountain without Hands, and is now growing great, and shall fill the whole Earth, and is striking at the Feet of the great Image and Images,; and the power of the Dragon, Beast & False Prophet is coming down apace, and Mystery Bobylon, the Great Whore and Mother of Harlots, is now discovered, who has ridden upon the Beast (which by his power has defended her) and has made the Nations drunk with the Wine of her Fornication, which she had hold forth in her Golden Cup, who hath this Inscription written in her Forehead, Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth, Rev. 17.5. This Whore (the False Church) has gone a Whoring from the Life and Power of God, and from Christ Jesus the Ground the Apostles and primitive Church of God was built. And this false Church is that great Whore which John saw sit upon the Waters (which are Nations, Multitudes, Tongues and People; who are not mis-paralleled to Waters, because through the drinking of the Whore's Cup, they are become unstable and wavering in their Minds and Judgements) and hence did arise Confusion, like a troubled Sea, and great Combustions, which ended in Bloodshed and Murder; and the Beast upon which John saw the Woman sit, became Scarlet coloured; and he saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus, that has been shed from Age to Age, and cries in the Ears of the Lord for Vengeance, who will judge and avenge the Righteous Cause of the Faithful Followers of the Lamb, with whom the Dragon, Beast and False Prophet have made War, because they have kept the Commandments of God, and have the Testimony of Jesus: But they overcame by the Blood of the Lamb, and by the Word of their Testimony; and they loved not their Lives unto Death: These are they who are not defiled with Women, but have come through great Tribulation, and have made white their Garments in the Blood of Jesus: And we know the Lamb shall have the Victory: And he will overturn, & overturn, until he come to reign whose Right it is; whose Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom, and whose Dominion endures throughout all Generations; and the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall Reign forever and ever, Rev. 11.15.  
And Desolation and sudden Destruction is coming upon Babylon (the great City of Confusion) and all her Inhabitants and Merchants, who have enriched themselves by trading in her Wares and with her Costliness, shall weep and wail because no man buyeth them any more; and they shall stand afar off for fear of her Torment, and east Dust on their Heads, and say, Alas, alas! the Great City, wherein were made Rich all that had Ships on the Sea by her Costliness; for in one Hour she is made desolate, Rev. 18.15, 19 And the Lord will dry up the Tongue of the Egyptian Sea; and all the goodly Buildings and pleasant Pictures, which men in their fallen Wisdom and sensual Inventions have been erecting and setting up, must now be broken down and demolished by those Weapons which are not Carnal, but Spiritual, and mighty through God to the bringing down the strong Holds of Satan, the Prince of Darkness. And those whom the Lord has delivered out of this spiritual bondage, and from under the Egyptian Taskmasters, and has opened their Eyes to behold their miserable Estate, and the great Desolation that is coming upon them who are yet in this City, whose rotten Foundation is tottering and ready to fall; They cannot but call unto them and cry, Haste, haste, and escape for your Lives out of Babylon, and flee to the City of Refuge, as just Lot did at the Warning and Call of the Angel of the Lord, to haste out of Sodom, and flee to the little City Zoar; and how soon after was Sodom destroyed with Fire and Brimstone! and how eminently was the Arm and Power of the Lord manifested in preserving his People (to wit, Lot and his Family) in that day, who smote the Sodomites, which pursued his Messengers with Blindness, so that they could not find the Door to go into the House, Gen. 19.11. even so we have seen in our day, when the Lord hath sent forth his Messengers and Servants from City to City, and from one Country to another, to persuade and exhort people, to cease from the Evil of their Ways, and to fear and obey the Lord that created them: How hath the Wicked, even Gog and Magog, mustered up their Forces against us, the Dragon and his Angels against Michael and his Angels; but Michael our Prince shall have the Victory.  
And we have seen the Lord to smite the Egyptians, as he did Pharaoh and his Host, when they pursued the Israelies, and would not let them go free out of Egypt according to the Mind and Will of the Lord, that they might Worship him; how wonderfully did the Lord God appear for their Deliverance, to the dividing the Waters of the great Deep, that his chosen People might pass through, and escape the Hands of their Enemies: The Sen obeyed his Command, and fled; and Jordan was driven back, etc. Exod. 14.22. Psalm 114.3. and Pharaoh and his Host overturned in the midst of the Sea, so that they saw the Egyptians dead upon the Shore. Then they sung the Song of high Praises to the Lord, and the Songs of Deliverance to the God of Israel,; whose mighty Wonders they had seen in the Deep. And many in this day can sing a Melodious Song of High Praises to the God of their Salvation, upon the Banks of Zion, and upon the Walls of Jerusalem, in the deep Sense of his many great Preservations and Miraculous Diliverances, which we have known since we were a People, by the saving Arm of his Power; unto which we ascribe all the Honour and Glory of his own Works, who is God over all, worthy to be Magnified, and in the highest Praised forever and evermore.  
And as we have stood in his Counsel; when with Tribulations and Temptations on every hand we have been surrounded and beset, as the Israelites were when nthe Sea was before them, and the Egyptians pursuing after them, and Hills and Mountains on every hand; yet standing still, and in Patience waiting upon the Lord, we have seen the great Salvation of God manifested in our greatest Straits, and his Strength in our Weakness. And although we be but poor and despicable Instruments, as in the Eyes and Esteem of the Wise and Prudent of this World, yet is the Wisdom of this World Foolishness with God; and he is making choice of the Despised and Contemptible things of this World, to Confound the Wisdom of the Wise, and to bring to Naught the Understanding of the Prudent; that no Flesh may glory in his Presence, before whom every tall Cedar and sturdy Oak must how, and all Shrubs must be rooted up; not by Sword, nor by Spear, or any Carnal Weapon, but by the Word of God's Power, which is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged Sword: which Word also is as a Fire and an Hammer to cut down, burn up and beat in pieces all the Ungodliness of Wicked men, that stands in Opposition to Him whose right it is to Reign in the Kingdoms of Men.  
And we have seen the Uncircumcised Philistims to fall Heaps upon Heaps, as they did by the hand of Samson, who had no better Instrument of War than the Jawbone of an Ass; which in outward appearance was very Contemptible; yet standing in that living Faith which gives Victory, the Conquest is known. And this is that Word of Faith which the Apostles preached, by which the Just live to God, and is much more precious than Gold that perisheth— One Grain of it (if no bigger than a Grain of Mustardseed) is sufficient to enable for an Encounter against the potent Enemy of the Soul: Although he come like a roaring Lion, seeking his prey, in this Faith there is safety for the Righteous, by which the holy men of God stood and were upheld, when they fought the good Fight of Faith; and by which the Noble Warriors and Ancients of Israel obtained a Good Report, and did many Valiant Acts, and got Victory by and through it, by the stopping the Mouths of Lions, quenching the Violence of Fire, escaping the Edge of the Sword, out of Weakness were made Strong▪ And by this Faith, Women received their Dead raised to Life again, etc. Heb. 11.34, 35. And others were Tortured, not accepting Deliverance, that they might obtain a better Resurrection.  
And it was by Virtue of this Living Faith, that David whilst a Stripling, and a Keeper of his Father's Sheep, went forth against, and Encountered with Goliath of Gath, that Great Giant, and Uncircumcised Philistim, who had defied the Armies of the Living God, and insulted over them, because of his Greatness and Strength; at which Saul was Discouraged. But says little David, Let no man's Heart fail because of him; Thy Servant will go and fight with this Philistim. Now when Saul seemed to Discourage him, David answered and said unto Saul, Thy Servant kept his Father's Sheep; and there came a Lion, and likewise a Bear, and took a Sheep out of the Flock; and I went out and rescued the Lamb, and slew the Lion and the Bear. And this Uncircumcised Philistim shall be as one of them, because he railed on the Host of the Living God. Moreover, he said, The Lord that delivered me out of the Paw of the Lion, and out of the Paw of the Bear; he will deliver me out of the Hand of this Philistin. So David went out against him (not with Saul's Armour; For says he, I cannot go with these, for I am not accustomed) with his Staff and his Sling, and Five SMOOTH Stones taken out of a Brook; and when the Philistim saw David come, he Disdained him, being but a Boy, and for the Meanness of his Instrument of War, and said, Am I a Dog, that thou comest to me with a Staff? with other Disdainful and Approbious Language. But David answered, Thou comest to me with a Sword and with a Spear, and a Shield: But I come unto thee in the Name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the Armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied; This Day will the Lord deliver thee in to mine Hands, etc. 1 Sam. Chapter 17. Read throughout.  
So David slew this great Giant with a Sling and a smooth Stone out of his Pag, which was but a mean Instrument, yet being handled in the Faith, and Power of God, prevailed, and gave Israel Victory over their Enemies.  
Oh! how precious is this Faith, whereby the Righteous obtain Victory over both Inward and Outward Enemies from Generation to Generation?  
This is that Faith which cometh by Hearing, and Hearing by the Word of God; which Word is nigh thee, even in thy Heart and in thy Mouth, Rom. 10.8. And is the same Word unto which Moses recommended and directed the Children of Israel, and earnestly pressed them to the keeping of the Commandment, and the Word in the Heart, and said, It is NOT in Heaven, that thou shouldst say, Who shall ascend to bring it from thence? NEITHER is it beyond the Sea, that thou shouldst say, Who shall go over to fetch it us? but the Word is very nigh thee, in thy Heart and in thy Mouth, for to do it. Behold, this day I have set before thee Life and Good, Death and Evil, Deuteronomy, Chap. 30. Verse 12, 13, 14, 15.  
From whence I conclude, and am fully satisfied, that Life and Good consists in, and is obtained by harkening unto and obeying that Word that is nigh in the Heart. And on the contrary, by slighting and rejecting of it, Death and Evil cometh upon the Souls of all those who running after Empty Words and after the Tree of Knowledge, and come not to the Guidance of that Inward WORD in the Heart, which is able to give them Acceptance with the Lord.  
For Without Faith (viz. in this Word which purifies the Heart) it is impossible to please God; and by it we have Access unto him. But a Dead, Historical or Notional Faith will profit none: But that which purifieth the Heart, and worketh by Love, and purgeth the Conscience from Dead Works (of which Christ is the Author and Finisher too) that only will profit.  
And this True and Living Faith is known by the Blessed Effects and Works of it; for as the Body without the Spirit is Dead, so Faith without Works is Dead also, James 2.26.  
And all those that are true Believers in Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God, that takes away the Sins of the World, they come to find the Powerful Operation of this Faith in his Blood to cleanse and purify them from all Filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit, and hereby are made Vessels of Honour, and fit Temples for the Lord to dwell in, being sanctified through the Blood of Cleansing, and Washed with pure Water, and made clean thereby; so that an Acceptable Sacrifice and a Pure Offering is offered up unto God from a clean Vessel, which is a Sweet Savour unto him, and well pleasing in his Sight; and hereby we know that we are of God, because we have Admittance into his Presence, and free Access to the Throne of his Grace; so that whatsoever we ask by Faith, and in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is granted unto us.  
And this Faith is the Gift of God, and is received and witnessed in receiving Christ the true Light. But they that deny the Light, are Strangers to this Faith, and so are ignorant of the Blood of Cleansing, and of that which should reconcile them to God, and discover unto them the Mysteries of his Kingdom.  
But my true desire are, that all who in any measure are stirred up, and feel an inquiry and search begun in their Hearts after the Lord and the knowledge of his Way, that such may receive the word of Truth into their Hearts, and that it may be as Seed sown upon good Ground, which takes Root downward and brings forth Fruit upward, and an Heavenly increase to God and Satisfaction and Comfort to their Souls may be witnessed, that all old things may be done away, the old Heavens and the old Earth, with the beggarly Elements and Rudiments of the World, that the new Heavens and the new Earth may be known, wherein dwells Righteousness, and Peace, and Joy in the holy Ghost. Oh! Prise the Day of your Visitation and let it not slip over your Heads unregarded, lest it be said unto you as it was to Jerusalem of Old, How often would I have gathered you as a Hen gathers her Chickens under her Wings? But ye would not; Behold, your Habitation shall be left unto you desolate, Matth. 23.37, 38. Now mark, 'twas not because they COULD not come unto Christ, (but because they WOULD not) that they were left ungathered; there was a Sensual and Corrupt Will in them that would not be subject to him that called them, nor bow down their Necks to Christ's Yoke, but Stiffnecked and Rebellious were they, wherefore Christ withdrew himself, and said unto them, Henceforth ye shall not see me, until ye say, Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord, vers. 39  
Now, consider your Latter End, and labour to make your Calling and Election sure, that when you come to render a final Account of the Deeds done in the Body to the Great and Mighty Judge of Heaven and Earth (before whose Tribunal Seat of Judgement All must appear) you may receive the Sentence of PEACE, and the Reward of WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD. Oh! this will be a joyful Sentence, and more Estimable than all the Glory of Egypt-or the Treasure of Ten Thousand Worlds, where the Soul comes to possess an Everlasting Inheritance, and a Crown of Life and Immortality among them that are sanctified, where the Song of High Praises and Everlasting hallelujahs is sung to the God of their Salvation, who hath wiped away all Tears from their Eyes, and Sighing and Sorrow is fled away; Which are the true Breathe of her who desires the Everlasting Wellbeing of the Souls of all People,  
Isabel Yeamans. Swarthmore, the 2d Month, 1679.  
THE END.