The Ranters Principles & Deceits discovered and declared against, denied and disowned by us whom the world calls QUAKERS.  
With a discovery of the Mystery the Cross of CHRIST.  
And a discovery of the true Light and the false, with their ways, worships, natures, properties and effects. etc.  
A vindication for the truth against the deceit, to clear the truth, of Scandals written for simple ones sake, that desire to know the truth as it is in Jesus.  Let no man deceive you with vain words, for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience and know you not, that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God, therefore be not deceived, for God will not be mocked. Ephes. 5.3, 4, 5, 6, 1. Cor. 6.9, 10. 
LONDON: Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black spread-Eagle at the West end of Paul's. 165●.   

Leicestershire from Swanington the 29. of the 6. Month. 1654.  
FRIENDS,  
 the deceit of the Ranters is and hath been a hindrance to many simple hearts from recovering the truth, and that their deceit hath opened the mouths of many to speak evil of the truth, I was moved to write something to lay open their deceits, false Rests, and false liberties for the truth's sake and the simple ones sake, that it may go abroad as a testimonial of our denial of them, and to be a witness against them and their deceits, that truth may be kept clear and pure, so will righteousness shine and spread abroad, that wisdom may be justified of her children, truth be established and deceits confounded.  
Being in Leicesteishire, and seeing that deceit of the Ranters there as in some other places to be much hindrance to honest hearts, keeping them back from recovering the truth, with the love of it, I have sent this to you, that it may be a witness against them and their deceits for ever.  
R. Forneworth.   

The Ranters Principles & deceits discovered and declared against, denied and disowned by us whom the world calls QUAKERS.  
THe false rest and false liberty of the Ranters discovered, who be in that nature which acteth contrary to the light, with the light which never changeth are you seen, and with the light are you comprehended, and with the light chained and condemned, and with the light you are seen to be in the lust, in the filth, and accursed from God, who stands in enmity to the light, the cross is inward, and the true light, which light is the way to salvation, and blessed are all who walk in the light, which cometh from God, the father of lights, that with the light they may be kept out of all the pernicious ways, which way you walk in, who are turned from the light, and that is your condemnation, the light, and the condemnation of all that hate it, and to you this is the word of the Lord, according to that in the conscience, the light of Christ Jesus, which changeth not.  
Remember the Angels that kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, 
Judas. 6, 7.  he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, unto the judgement of the great day, even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them, in like manner giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire, Jug. 6, 7.  
Mind here your types, you that have cast the pure law of God, behind your backs, and have turned the grace of God into wantonness, here is your character, look to yourselves, you that have not kept your habitation with God, when once you were enlightened with the pure light, after so many troubles, sorrows, fears, and tears, and watch, when the wrath of God was revealed against sin and ungodliness in you, and the pure law was set up, and the judgement within you, to have freed you from sin, and from punishment eternally, had you kept in the straight way, and stood in the counsel of God, that judgement might have been brought forth into victory, and the pure seed have been borne up, to have saved you from sin, but not abiding in the judgement, you have crucified the Son afresh, and put him to open shame, 
Col. 3.1, 2, 3. Eph 5.3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12.  and vo is your portion, you did run well, but you have lost the right way, and are turned into the paths of darkness again, and you act in darkness, and brings forth the fruits of unrighteousness, and are become servants of sin. Remember your type, Judas likewise, who had received part of his ministry, 
Rom. 6.16. John. 8.34.  and after betrayed the Lord of glory for self ends, and to have the love and friendship of the world, but woe was his portion, and when he knew what he had done, he went and hanged himself, and his case is yours, who have betrayed the light of God in you, and the union with it, though it was in wrath to the seed of the serpent, when your senses are opened again, you shall see the misery and the woeful estate and condition that you are in, and how you have betrayed Christ with a kiss, to deliver him into the hands of sinners, and so the witness also lies slain in you, that should witness and give sentence against sin, but the Lord will find you out, and give you your reward, 
Rom. 2.5, 6, 7, 8, 9 2. Pet. 2.11, 12, 13, 14. 2. Pet. 2.17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. Mat. 24.50, 51.  you that have fed yourselves with conceits and imaginations, from the discovery of the light to the seed, and your subtle wisdoms having intruded into the room thereof, and so you have got into the liberty of the flesh, and can rant and swagger in wickedness, and say you are free, but it is but the flesh that is at liberty, and that must be cursed, and all that follow your pernicious ways, by reason of whom, the way of truth is evil spoken of, but you are accursed with a curse that is joined with the serpent again, you shall see him whom you have pierced, and mourn bitterly, and as Esau did seek the blessing again with tears, but shall not find it, but be cast into utter darkness, where shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth.  
I know many of you were once tender and simple hearted, and did make conscience of your ways, and were zealous for the truth, and did practise what was made known in some measure, and were under the sense of the wrath of God against sin, and the witness did arise to curse the seed of the serpent, and then you apprehended God to be an angry God, and so is he still against sin, and will not suffer it to go unpunished, but that was bitter to the fleshly part, but it had been good for you, if you had continued under the cross, in the executing of the righteous judgement of God upon the serpent in you, for in the end it would have been sweet, when you had eaten the , to have came to the hidden name, but not abiding under the wrath, the light vain mind is got up in you, and the flesh is at ease, but woe to all careless ones that are at ease in Zion, 
Rev. 3.12. Rev. 22.9. Rev. 21.27.  so soon as the pure law did break out in force, and give in some refreshment to the seed in prison, and the love and joy did spring into the imprisoned seed, from him who lives out of time, to refresh that which is captivated by that which lives in times, and time, and so the will turned into the conceiving of something from what was made out to the seed, and the fallen wisdom joined with the corrupt will, and got liberty from under the cross, and the Devil he wrought strongly upon the imaginations, and so sought to comprehend the light, and drew a vail over the heart, and there he acted in the mystery of the iniquity after the pure were vailed, and he brought all into question, and pleaded for liberty to the flesh, through his workings upon the imaginations, and the comprehensions by carnal reason, and the fallen wisdom joining to conceive and comprehend, to have all at command, and be as God, knowing good and evil, and now saith the Devil, all is good, and there is nothing evil, but as thou conceivest it to be so, and thou art brought into the knowledge of this, that is, all good, and it was but thy weakness to think that there was any thing evil; now thou art the son of God, and thou knowest it, all is thine, take thy liberty, and rejoice, let thy heart be merry, use all things in righteousness, and there is no sin in them, thou hast been so critic, that thou couldst scarce look cheerfully, or partake of any thing that was for thy comfort, but now thou art a son, and thou seest how thou hast been kept from thy liberty merely through thy conceits and apprehensions of eull, and an angry God against sin, and fear lest thou shouldest go into a place thou callest hell, but saith he, now thou mayst see it was but the weak and low apprehensions in those things, there is neither hell nor Devil, nor any such thing, but what as was in thee, and thou hast got through those conceits now rejoice and be merry, and take thy pleasure, use thy freedom, thou art a son, and if a son, than an heir, and thou mayst laugh the heathen to scorn, poor fools, that they should so deprive themselves of their liberty and freedom as they do, and be bound so to false conceits as they are, because that their judgements are not rightly informed, to know all things to be good, and this which they call sin, to be but a conceit, and that i● they knew their freedom, they might rejoice and he glad. etc. and thus the Devil he works strongly upon the imaginations, when the light breaks forth, and the love comes to be made manifest to the seed in prison, not abiding in the cross, the will is seeking to comprehend and get out from under the judgement, and here Satan doth delude and deceive under fair colours, like an angel of light, and leads out into fleshly love; fleshly joy, fleshly liberty, and fleshly pleasures; and calls all good, and calleth that a freedom by the son, but it is but by the son of perdition; that doth exalt himself above all that is called God, and that liberty which he leads into, is a false liberty and thou shalt find it, whoever thou art that takes his counsel, after that the light do arise in thee, than he useth all his devices to deceive withal, which before were not known, afterwards comes to be made known, and woe to them that turn out of the straight way, and the daily cross, to seek ease to the flesh, there they took counsel of the Devil, and he will work them into such a strong combination with the powers of darkness, that they shall find that of the Apostle to be true, those that were once enlightened, and have tasted of the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew then again to repentance, they crucify to themselves the son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame, and woe is thei● portion, 
Heb. 6.4, 5, 6, 7, 8.  for the earth that drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them, by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God, so do they that abide in the teaching and counsel of God, who works them into a fruitfulness, to bring praise to his name, to receive his blessing, which is as the dew of ●●aven, to water, nourish, and comfort their souls, but that nature which is contrary to the light, and all that go out of the counsel of God, and the daily cross, turneth into the crooked paths of fleshly delights and pleasures, and dishonoureth the Lord, and is as the ground that beareth nothing but thorns, and is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing and burning, and so are they who turn the grace of God into wantonness, and lasciviousness, and will not abide the fire, and the sword, to c●t down the thorny nature, and the fleshly corrupt heart, and to burn the earth, and place of the serpent's abode in them, therefore must they know the eternal fire, and vengeance of God to be revealed from heaven, for they who sin wilfully after that they have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sin, but a fearful looking for of judgement, and fiery indignation of the Lord, which shall devour the adversaries. Heb. 6.4. to the 8.2. Thes. 1.6, 7, 8, 9 Heb. 10.26, 27.  
Look to yourselves all Ranters and Libertines, who turns the grace of God into wantonness, the Devil he hath deceived you, and you seek to deceive others, preaching to them liberty, when you yourselves are the servants of sin, but woe and misery is your portion, yet the Lord may pluck some as brands out of the fire, that they may be witnesses for the truth, against the deceits to forewarn all of that dangerous way, whereby the Devil lieth in wait to deceive if it were possible the very elect, but for the elects sake doth the Lord discover your deceits, and false light, Liberties, Rests, and pleasures, which you live and take delight and pleasure in, woe is your portion, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it, and this I testify unto you, from the word of the Lord.  
But you may object and say, 
Object. Gal. 5.1. Rom. 14.14. 2. Cor. 5.18.  did not the Apostle say, stand fast in tnac liberty, wherewith Christ hath see you free, Gal. 5.1. and he said all things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient, and I know and am persuaded by the Lord jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself, but to him that esteemeth it to be unclean, to him it is unclean, and to the pure all things are p●re, and all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself, by jesus Christ, etc.  
I answer, 
Ans.  that the liberty which Christ parchaseth to and for his, is a liberty and freedom from sin, and he that saith he is in Christ, aught to walk as he also walked. 1 Joh. 2.4, 5, 6. who was a pattern and an example for all his to follow, 
1. joh. 2.4, 5, 6. 2. Pet. 3. chap to the end.  but who lives in the flesh, and have their liberty in the pleasures, and delights thereof, and are in the lust, are out of the light, and so out of Christ, an I know no freedom by the son, but are in the paths that leads to destruction, and are servant● to sin, and lives in uncleanness and filthiness of the flesh, which neither Christ nor the Apostles did use, but doth forbid such practice and fleshly liberty as you use, who are in uncleanness, and are servants of Corruption, 2 Pet. 13. to the end, with the light are you seen, & comprehended, and with the light condemned.  
And where he said all things were lawful to him, he was speaking of meats, and such like, but he did no● 〈◊〉 any liberty to the flesh, 
Rom. 8.16. 1 joh. 3.6, 7, 8. v.  but said, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound, God forbidden, know ye not saith he, that they which commit sin are the servants of sin, and so serveth the Devil. Rom. 6.16. 1 Job. 3.6, 7, 8. And thirdly where he saith, I know and am persuaded by the Lord jesus, that there is nothing unclean ot itself, but to him that esteemeth it to be unclean, it is so, but he is not speaking of sin nor fleshly liberty, but to tender consciences in that place, and his care was so tender ever them that were in a scrupling condition about the unlawfulness of eating all meats, and such like. Rom. 14. chap. that he would not have a weak brother grieved, for saith he, if thy brother be offended with thy meat, which he had been speaking of the pureness and lawfulness of it, as it came out of the covenant from God, yet saith he, if he be grieved, now walkest thou not charitably, destroy ●ot him with thy meat, for whom Christ died, let not then your good be evil spoken of, for the kingdom of God is nor meat nor drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, for he that in these things serveth Christ, is acceptable to God, and approved of men, let us therefore follow after those things which make for peace, and things wherewith o●● may edify another. Rom. 14. from the 14. verse, where he is speaking of the lawfulness and purity of all things as they are in God, and so on to the end, he showeth how they are, and in what manner to be used, but you that follow after unrighteousness, to satisfy your fleshly lusts and pleasures, are not in the light, nor the kingdom of God, but out of the l●ght, and in that nature which is accursed from God and you who are turned from the light, and live in unrighteousness, you are the very enemies of all purity, and lives in uncleanness, and must be tormented with the wrath of God, and to the light in all your conscience shall this be witnessed, and where he saith, All things are of God, he is speaking to them that were born of God, who abode in the light, and were new creatures, the old things were passed away, and the old lusts, and old natural corruptions, and they were new creatures, and so redeemed into purity with God, and in covenant with him, and they knew no man in the fleshly union, wherefore saith he, henceforth we know no man after the flesh, yea though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet henceforth know we him so no more, therefore sa●●h ●e to others that were in the light, as well as them, 
2 Cor. 5.16, 17, 18.  that were in the life and power of truth, if any man be in Christ, he is a n●w creature, but you cannot say so in truth, who lives in the unity of the world, and in the old nature, he that is in the new nature, all things that were from the old root of corruption, is passed away in him, and all things become new, and that is the all things which the Apostle there speaks of, 2 Cor. 5. 16, 17, 18. All things that are in the new nature are pure, and he that is born of God is pure, and one in that nature, and he is coined before the world was, and before the corruptions, or filthiness of the flesh was, and he sees all things in God to be pure and good, and from one root, and all things to be unpure and unclean that is of the evil root, and so that which proceeds from the fountain of corruption to be of the Devil, and if any man have an car, let him hear what the spirit saith, for the secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him, here with that light which never changeth are you all seen and comprehended, who art turned out of the light, 
jam. 3.11. to the end.  and with the light chained and conemned, and lastly to the pure all things are pure, none is pure but God, the father of spirits without Lord jesus Christ and he that is born of God the father and the son, they are all one, and he that is sanctified by the Son, he is made clean in and by the divine power of righteousness, and ye are clean, through the word saith jesus Christ, and I am in you, and you are in me, and all things that the Father hath are mine, and the holy Ghost shall take of mine, and show unto you all that are in covenant with God, are made pure with the blood of the Lamb, and are redeemed to purity again, and all things that comes out of the covenant from God, to them is pure, his love, is pure without any mixture of the love of the world, for that is unpure, and full of lust, and self-ends, but the love of God is pure, and his wisdom is pure, pure love, pure heart, pure peace, comfort, and joy in the holy Ghost, all the make forth of God to the soul is pure, and all the works of God in themselves as they are wrought in the soul are pure, but the Devil would defile the work, and sow in his seed, if he be not watched over, and all his works are evil, such is his namesuch is his nature, and his seed is corrupt, and he acteth and guideth it, and raiseth it up by the power of darkness, to oppose the good seed which is of God, and is acted and guided, and raised up by the power of God in those that are obedient to the commands of the spirit of truth, and quenches not the motions of it, it works into purity and also into unity with the divinity, and reconciliation with the father and the son, and in that unity things are pure, but who lives in the lust, the old nature and the fall, know it not, for great is the mystery of godliness, from whence all purity springs, and blessed are they who are reconciled to God, and under the dominion and government of the spirit of truth, where the pure life, and the heavenly food is, and spiritual laws statutes and ordinances are to walk in, and the Lord God and the Lamb, the light and glory of the spiritual kingdom, where all variecies is in their purity; but who are yet reconciled to God, are under the dominion of the Prince of darkness, and sucks poison from the corrupt ●oor, and so feeds the flesh, and wallows in the mire and lust of their own conceivings, inventions and fleshly imaginations, and so are under the curfe and wrath of the almighty, but God hath not called us to uncleaness, but to holiness, 1 Thes. 4.  
I know she vain light mind, and the careless dark spring will say, 
Object.  let, the seed of the serpent be accursed, and let it be damned, so that God save his own, I care not what he doth with me, etc.  
But be thou assured and know this, 
Ans.  that as the seed of the serpent is accursed from God, he that is joined to the seed of the serpent is one, and body and soul and all is polluted by reason of sin, and except thou know thy redemption by the power of the Lord to separate the seed of the serpent and thou asunder, and to un●te thee to the power of truth, thou wilt be accursed from God both soul and body, and all that is one with the serpent, and be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and the presence of the holy Angels, for as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to 2 reprobate mind, to work all uncleanness with greediness, 
2 Thes. 1.7, 8. Rom. 1.18, 29.  and when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolisih hearts were darkened, for the mystery of iniquity doth work there strongly with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved, and for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thes. 2.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.  
Thou mayst say that there is no evil nor no Devil, 
Object. Ans.  but thou shalt knew that there is a Devil and a hell, and a root from whence all evil doth proceed, and though thou sayest it is but a conceit, yet be sure. O vain man; whatsoever thou art, God will be aveanged of thee, and suffer the tormented to plague thee for thy spiritual wickedness, blasphemy and despite to the spirit of grace, for all sins and blasphemies against men shall be forgiven, but the sin against the holy Ghost, which is to sin wilfully after grace received, and to speak evil of the power of truth, that sin shall never be forgiven, neither in this world nor in that which is to come.  
Thou mayst say it is but a conceit to tell of sin and the Devil, 
Object. Ans.  but it is but a deceit which tells thee there is none, and so thou art swallowed up in uncleanness, and the custom of sin taketh away the conscience of sinning, and thou art seared and makes no conscience of what thou dost, but thou mayst as well say, it is but a conceit to say, the Sun is not the Sun, it is but a conceit to think so, as to say there is no sin nor Devil, but good and evil are all alike etc. But will any who are endued with natural knowledge believe thee, if thou sayest there is neither Sun nor Moon, night nor day, they are all alike, only they conceive it to be day and night, Sun-light and Moonlight, but it is but their conceit that they have of these things; But is it so, because thou sayest so, will not the very natural man that hath his natural sight and knowledge of those things, tell thee thou art a liar, and speaks but only thy conceits, and fleshly conceivings, and carnal inventions, but it is vain for thee to deceive one that hath his eyes in his head, in those things.  
But if it were to a natural blind man, that never saw any of these, but were born blind, thou mightest deceive him in those things soon, to tell him there is neither night nor day, Sun nor Moon, but as men's conceits carrieth them forth to conceive of these things, according to their low apprehensions that they have of those things, thou mightest deceive a blind man in those things, because that he never saw them, but only as he heard others speak of them, but he that seethe and knoweth or those things, he will tell thee thou art a fool to labour to persuade him to believe thy conceits, when he seethe it to the contrary evidently before his eyes.  
So on the contrary, to say there is neither God nor Devil, heaven nor hell, nor sin, nor sorrow, will any believe thee that knows those things, whose eyes are in his head hath evidently seen the nature and property of these, he that is born again, and enlightened by the spirit of Jesus Christ, knows that thou art a liar, to say that good and evil, righteousness and unrigteousnesse, is all one, and proceeds from one root, it is but only their low apprehensions and conceits to think otherwise, as thou sayest, but thy saying is false.  
And I testify against thee that sayeth so, be what thou wilt, or who thou wilt, thou art guided by a lying spirit, and art of thy father the Devil, who was a liar from the beginning, and the father of it, Joh. 8. 44. the Devil that deceived thee was a liar from the beginning, and he hath since the beginning got into thy heart, and hath been working upon thy imaginations, and drawn thee out into conceits, and carnal imaginations of things, through the wiles and craftiness of his deceivableness, whereby he hath plunged thee into the pit of inventions, and divinations of thy own brain, but thou art shut out of the truth, and art blind and ignorant altogether of unfolding the divine and heavenly mystery, and art kept in the fountain of filthiness, of the Devil's suggestions, who acteth thee by the power of darkness, and casts a mist before thy eyes, the eyes of thy understanding, that thou shouldst be blind, and groap by thy fallen wisdom, and the knowledge in the history, but art yet in wickedness, and deep in the mystery of iniquity, and knowest nothing but the evil itself, and calls that good, but the woe is to thee that dost so, for thou art blinded by seeking to comprehend the light by thy carnal wisdom, thou mayest as well seek to comprehend the Sun in thy band, for light shineth in darkness, but darkness comprehends it not. 
Joh. 1.5.  This then is the message, that God is light, 
joh. 1.5,  and in him is no darkness at all, if we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth, but if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, 
joh. 1.5, 6, 7  and the blood of jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin, 1 Joh. 1.5, 6, 7, he that dwelleth in God, dwelleth in light, but he that is out of God, is in darkness, and walketh in crooked paths, that leads to destruction.  
Therefore I say unto you, who desire to fear the Lord, as John said to the brethren, Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous, but he that doth not righteousness, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother, in this the children of God are made manifest, 
1 joh. 3.9, 10.  and the children of the Devil. 1. Joh. 3.9, 18.  
Here is two seeds acted by two powers, and receiveth strength from two roots, the seed of God acted by the power of God, and all who are in unity with that seed, are crucified to the world, and dead to unrighteousness, Christ being made manifest, to destroy the works of the Devil, who is the bright & morning star, I am the root and offspring of David; Rev. 22.16. saith Jesus Christ, and he that is unjust, let him be unjust still, and he that is saithy, let him be filthy still, there is the evil seed, but he that, is righteous, let him be righteous still, and he that is holy, let him be holy still, there is the good seed, and righteousness springeth from one root, and is of God, and all who act in righteousness, who are acted and guided by the divine power of God, are one, and are in covenant with God; but all unrighteousness doth spring from another root, 
Rev. 22.10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Isa. 5.22, 23, 24, Rev. 22.16, 17. Isa. 28.13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19  and those who are of unrighteousness are of the seed of the serpent, and are acted and guided by the power of the Devil, Rev. 21.10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. and I witness the same with the Scriptures by experience, that good and evil it from two roots, distinct, and two powers; therefore be not deceived, for God will not be mocked. Heb. 1.14, 15. Act. 26.28. Rev. 13.4. Rev. 16.10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Rev. 19.11, 12. to the end of the chapter. You who are of the unrighteousness, and of the seed of the serpent are one, and all in covenant with the Devil, and have made a covenant with death and Hell, that the Scriptures maybe fulfilled. Isa. 28.15.28 chap. 1. 2. Isa. 5.18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 13, 24.  
But you can deceive none but such as are of the same seed of evil doers with you, who are of the serpent, and lives in the fall, and the lust of the flesh, forsaking the fountain of living mercies, to delight in lying vanities; but the seed of God is springing up, and begin to grow, and righteousness will be a terror to unrighteousness, and the seed of God will be a torment to the seed; at the serpent, and the Lord ruling in his Saints, will be a terror to the heathen; Howl ye serpents, and all ye dragons, for you will be found out, and have the vial of wrath and indignation poured forth upon you, howl ye lustful ones, who delight in unrighteousness, the Lord will be avenged of you, 
Isa. 1.24. Isa. 3.11.  all vengeance is mine, all I will repay saith the Lord, sury to mine adversaries, you would have two kingdoms, but Esau's dominion is yours, and the hatred of God it to you all, who delight in unrighteousness, and and ye shall desire to see one of the days of the son of man, out shall not, or the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it, and this declare I unto you from the word of the Lord.  
The mystery of the cross of Christ, and the law in the heart, taking hold upon sin and all unrighteousness, to cut it down, and cast it out, through the working of the divine power of God in Mankind.  
The cross is inward, 
joh. 16.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, v. Luk. 9.23, 24, 25, 26. 1 Cor. 1.17, 18. 〈◊〉. 6.14.  to the cutting down of sin and uncleanness within, the pure light of God, which convinceth of sin and evil, and witnesseth against all the branching forth of the unrighteous power of darkness in man, when his mind, will and affections would run forth into the world, to conceive some comfort to himself, out of die visible objects, his heart is soon taken through the outgoing of his eye, with the things of the world, and he transforms the very image of what part of the creation soever his eye was out after, and sets it up in his heart; if it be a house▪ field, horse, ox, or any other creature, he is taken with beauty or riches, and so his heart is stolen away into the earth, and he sets his affections on the things, below God, and his will falls down to worship silver and gold, and such like things, making them his Gods, to delight himself in, and when his heart is running out after the love and honour of the world, there is a principle of purity within tells him, all is but vanity, and this calls for equity, equity to take of oppression and cruelty, but the lustful proud nature crosseth that principle of purity, and draweth the heart after vanity, when the Devil bears rule in the heart, working into the mystery of the iniqnity, but that of purity which calls for equity, still cryeth out, and tells man, all is but vanity, and calls and cries in his heart for purity, and to set up truth and righteousness; and to do to all men as he would be done by, for that is the Law and the Prophets, and to love God with all his heart, and his neighbour as himself, and to give over folly and vanity, this is the cross to iniquity, which calleth and cryeth for justice and equity, and love and pity, let that be heard and obeyed in you, and it will shut out jollity, and cut off vanity, and work into unity with that which calleth for purity, and cross the lustful proud nature, that hardness of heart may not rule over justice and equity. Consider oh man, that thou art mortal, and must return to dust, and be cast into torment and burning, if thou wilt not give ear to the cry of the poor, that which is pure in thee, that it may work thee into charity, and show thee the way that leads to eternity, and cut of oppression and tyranny, that diligence may rule in thee, that thy lusts may be slain, that would break the bonds of amity, the pure light will witness against the dark nature in thee, and strike at the root of all enmity, to reconcile thy soul unto God, in yielding to the pure law of love, and the divine power of purity, in thee, and so circumcise thy heart, and cut off the evil nature which hinders thy, soul of the unity; so will the righteous law kill sin in thee, and give thee knowledge of the true way that leadeth to life, joy and comfort in yielding obedience to the principle of purity in thee, heartken to that which checks thee for running into folly and van●ity, and it will cross thy mind, will, and affections, 
2 Pet. 1.19. 2 Cor. 4.6, 7. Pro. 20.27.  that runs out after carnality and so search thy heart, and turn thee out of the iniquity, and guide and lead thee into holiness and purity, in walking up to God, in the right way that leadeth to the divinity with Christ, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no man cometh to the father but by me, know Christ the way in you, to lead out of darkness into the light of purity, Christ is the light, and Christ is the way, and he comes to set up his judgement within, and to reveal wrath against sin, and to break the peace of the carnal mind, and to draw under judgement all the first birth, 
joh. 9.39. 1 Cor. 1.19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. Col. 2.13.14. Eph. 2.11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,  both the love of the world, the wisdom of the flesh, and carnal reason, and lead that into the pit of confusion, to slay the enmity by the execution of the righteous judgement upon the unjust nature, that he may pour forth fury upon the head of the wicked, and slay that which crosseth purity, and opposeth the work of redemption, as man doth embrace the come in of wrath, to the wrathful nature, to cut it down, and burn it up, that the good seed may hare room to grow in man, and make man fruitful to God, in joining with the slayer of sin, that the world, or the creature man may be saved by the power of the Lord, which doth redeem the soul, and unite both soul and body to God, that they may be reconciled by the death of the cross in the mystery, to praise and glorify God in sincerity, and in integrity.  

The true light, and the false, with their ways, worships, natures, properties, and effects.  
This then is the message that we have received, to declare unto you, that God is light and in him is no darkness at all, and that every good and perfect gift is from above, and cometh from the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, 
jam. 1.17, 18. 1 Pet. 1.22. Rom. 11.16. Eph. 5.1, 2. Eph. 2.8, 9, 10.  neither shadow of turning, for of his own will begat he us, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures, being born again, and children of the light, 1 Pet. 1.22. Rom. 11.16. Eph. 5.1, 2.  
God is the fountain of all good, and of man's salvation, and happiness, and God is pure, his ways, words, works and worships are pure and holy, and this holy God doth inhabit in eternity, and dwelleth in purity, in himself, and none can approach to come near him in their sins, nor by their fallen wisdom, none knows him but those that are born again, and washed and cleansed (not in his purity) therefore as he that hath called you is holy, 
Heb. 12.14. 1 Pet. 1.15, 16.  so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written, be ye holy as I am holy, for holiness becometh mine house for ever, as God is pure and holy, so the light that proceedeth and cometh forth from God is pure and holy, and stands out of all apprehensions, and comprehensions of man, by his fallen wisdom, and so sees all man's devices, his deceits, and false ways, and false worships, and this pure light that doth proceed and come forth from God which is pure, and perfect, it convinceth man of all the deceits of his heart, and of all his devices, and deceivableness, and of all his false ways of worship, and showeth him his transgressions, and convinceth him of unrighteousness and infidelity, and all manner of evil whatsoever, and calleth him out of the ways and works of darkness, into unity with this pure light, and leads him into the way of peace and salvation, in obedience to it, to worship God in purity, even in spirit, and in the life and power of truth, 
joh. 16.25, 26, 17, 28. joh. 12.35, 36.  this light is from the fountain of lights, it is not a conceited thing, that is conceived in the brain, but it is the light of life, and is not to be found in books nor learning without, it gathers out of all books without, to reading the book of life, within; this light opens all Scriptures, 
1 joh. 5.8, 9, 10, 11. joh. 17.23, 14.  and jeads man out of the fall, up to God, the fountain & father of lights, this is the true light, & leadeth into life eternal, 1 Joh. 5.12, 13. Joh. 17.10.  
But the natural men know it not by their natural learning, at studies, at universities, that is but a borrowed or false light, that leads them into books and studies, to find out the truth by their carnal wisdom, which is gathered up from the serpent, and is accursed from God, and that fallen wisdom, and man that lives by conceivings, and comprehension, and catching of truths in the nation, to speak of, and sell for money, it is earthly, carnal, and devilish, 
jam. 3.15, 16.  and he that is joined to that serpentine wisdom, is one with it, in the same nature, and sets up a way of worship, that stands in the carnal conceivings of his own brain, in imitation from them who lived in the life and power of truth, and his ministry that is of the seed of the serpent, stands in his own will, and so learns his natural tongues, and so would be a judge of spiritual things, by his natural learning, and trades out of books, and the conceivings of his own brain, to sell his divinations at a great rate, and calIs them his spiritual things, when he is in his carnal corrupt nature, 
1 Cor. 2.7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5. 2 Pet. 1.19, 20, 21. joh. 28.7, 8, to the 22. Isa. 30. jer. 23.29, 30, 31, 32. Isa. 5.20. Mat. 23.24, 25. joh. 8.12.  and the natural man knows not the things of the spirit God, for they are foolishness to him, 1 Cor. 1.14, 15.  
And that is a false light that leads the minds of men out into conceivings and imaginations, and to gather up knowledge out of old authors, or books without them, and that light which is borrowed from without, and gathered into the brain, through the conceivings and imaginations, leads the mind, will, and affections out, after pride, and oppression, self-love, and the honour of the world, and the like, and it conceives that to be good also, and all to be evil that crosseth his knowledge in his carnal conceivings, but the light that leads out into such things is a false light, & a blind guide, and he that is guided & led by such a false light, he knows not the true light, which leadeth out of all books and histories, into the life, in the mystery, and leads out of pride into humility, out of covetcusnesse, into compassionateness, & fruits of that nature: but the light is in the world, and the world knoweth it not, the true light, which sees all deceits, and comprehends all Babylon's ways, works, and worships, and sees where the beast and false prophet is, and the mother of harlots, with their sorceries and divinations, and the cup of their fornications, whereby they deceive the nations, but God will bring them all into contempt, and make them ashamed of their deceits and deceivableness, for the light is risen and arising, that will lay open all their abominations, and give them the cup of fury, and make Babylon's merchants and craftsmen sick with amazement, and with astonishment, at the calamity that is to come upon them, now read where you are, he that hath an ear to hear, let him hear what the spirit saith. Rev. 17.3, 4, 5. to the 18.  
The true light now shineth in darkness, but darkness comprehendeth it not.  
Even that light which is pure and perfect, which proceeds and cometh from God, the father of lights, but dark minds knows it not, but walks in darkness, disobeying the light, and there is their condemnation, the disobedience to the light, where it is in measure made manifest. Joh. 3.19, 20, 21. God is supernatural, and this light proceeds and comes from him, which is the true light, that convinceth of sin, and exerciseth the pure senses, working in the conscience, to bring men up to God, into that which is eternal, out of corruptions into purity, and unity with the divinity, to reconcile them to have fellowship with the father and the Son, and receive joy and comfort from the holy Ghost, to praise and glorify God in the spirit, who sendeth the spirit of his Son into their hearts, 
joh. 16.13, 14, 15. joh. 14. 2●, 27. joh. 15.1, 2, 3.  to administer true comfort to the soul, and this ministry standeth not in the will of man, nor in the wisdom of the flesh, but in the power of God, and in demonstration of the spirit, baptising with the Holy Ghost, into the holy union, to drink and receive joy and comfort from the Lord Jesus, the spiritual vine, and these fruits and effects proceeds from the true light, that worketh powerfully in the spiritual ministration, drawing souls out of darkness into light, out of corruptions into purity, out of the false ways and false worships, into the true way that leadeth into life eternal, where the mystery of faith is held in a pure conscience, and there is no uncleanness where this is fulfilled: for God the fountain of light is pure, and of purer eyes then to behold iniquity, and he sends this light, to enlighten the understandings, and draw up souls to God, out of the fall into the pure life again, and this gift is perfect, that cometh from God to draw souls up into perfection, and into the powerings forth of the father's love, to rejoice in him for ever. Rev. 21. to the 9 Rev. 21. 23, 24, to the end. Rev. 22. 3, 4.  
But natural men, that have but learned their natural things, of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew? which the natural man may easily do, and yet be an enemy to God, and to his own soul, for all his natural learning and languages, and be ignorant of God, for the natural man knows him not, and he is a very natural indeed, that saith this pure light of God which doth convince of sin, and uncleanness is a natural light, he that saith so, is a dim light, and blind guide indeed, and knows not God.  
For this light that reproves for sin in the conscience is a divine principle, and was with the Father in the beginning, but in due time he manifests himself by it, to the view of the minds and understandings of men, to let them see into their selves, that they are all gentiles, in their first nature, and sinners, and are under the curse and wrath of God, and no reconciliation can be made, whilst the seed of the serpent is head, unbruised in them, & had not this come forth from God, to give man a discovery of his heart, he had not known sin, but the light coming and appearing in him, he sees himself to be a vile sinner & miserable wretch, and he would fain quench the light, rather than obey it, but there is his condemnation, for the light will find him out, if he hid himself never so closely in his own conceits, and thoughts, by his carnal reason and fall'n wisdom, and the woe will follow him, go where he will; this light will not have union with the corrupt nature, nor with man, whilst he is one with that nature, but the light will check and reprove him both in secret, and openly, and be a testimony against sin eternally, and also against him that is one with the evil, this light will leave all natural men without excuse, that they can have no cloak for their sins, for it is privy to all their actions, both at home and abroad, & it will not be bribed to hold its peace, but it will cry out against sin and give sentence against thee, that disobeys it, be what thou wilt: This light doth not waver nor wander, but shows thee thy wavering and wandering mind, and tells thee of all thy base actions, and if it were a natural light, it would not so much oppose nature, and cross its desire, as it doth, and will do more and more, as it doth break forth into the understanding, it will tell thee that thou art a natural blind man, in the things of God, and it will not be beholding to thee for all thy natural learning and tongues, but cross it and thee both, and tell thee the wisdom of the flesh, and the world, is foolishness with God, and the love and friendship of die world is enmity with God, and thou must ●ye to thy own wisdom, and natural learning, and tongues, before thou knowest God indeed and in truth, this light was before the fall, and cometh forth from God, to call out of the fall again, and if thou wilt not obey it, it will condemn thee eternally, as light as thou makes of it, but it is because the wild nature is head, but thou mayst go where thou wilt, it will not leave thee, and it will tell thee that all thy worships which thou sets up in thy own will, and by thy own wisdom, not acceptable with God, and this light will tell thee that all thy prayers are an abomination to the Lord, whilst thou regardest iniquity in thy heart, this light will tell thee that except thou be born again, thou shalt never inherit the kingdom of God, and when it breaketh thy peace, and raiseth up torment in thee, for thy unrighteous actions, than thou apprehending the wrath of God against sin in thee, thou wouldst be applying the promises of the Saints conditions, which was to another seed, to heal the wound in thee, when the seed of the serpent gets a blow, by the stroke of the righteous judgement of God; But this will confound thy wit, and muddle thy memory, and scatter all thy conceits and imaginations, and cross thy will in its expectations, & tell thee thou art reprobate from God, in that nature than thou shalt see this is not a natural light that doth so oppose and strike at all natural ways, worships, tongues learnings and vanities, it will work thee into unity with it, if you give up to be guided by it, and lead thee into eternity, but it will confute, and confound, and condemn thee, if thou do not obey it, and so thou art left without all excuse, thou natural blind man, that lives in thy motions and high conceits, but thou art found out, and thy place of abode, and art in Sodom and Egyptian darkness, this light shineth in darkness, but darkness comprehends it not, thou that wouldst go about to comprehend the light of thy subtlety and serpentine wit, thou art an enemy to God, and to thy own soul, and thou wouldst fain know much, that thou mightest have it at command, to talk of, but thou wouldst not put in practice, therefore thou knowest so much as will serve to condemn thee, For thy disobedience to the light, the light will not be comprehended by thee, thou thief, thou wouldst fain comprehend it, that thou mightest thereby be exalted, and thou wouldst rob God of his glory, and take it to thyself, and thou wouldst command the light, that thou mightest be a Lord thyself, but it stands out of thy reach, and it will not be commanded by thee, though thou mayst conceive something from it, and catch it to talk of, yet except thou do walk accordingly, it will tell thee thou art for destruction, and this light will be thy condemnation, who ever thou art that dost not obey it, and it will scatter thy imaginaons, and dash down all thy conceivings, and high motions, and tell thee thou art yet unreconciled to God, and check thee, and break thy peace, if thou do but give ear to it, it will witness for me in thy conscience, this light is within thee, 
joh. 1.9. joh. 8.12. Psal. 36.9. Isa. 49.6. Isa. 1.60, 19 2 Pet. 1.19. 2 Cor. 13.5. Col. 1.23.  it is not without, in books, nor Scriptures: The Sriptures do declare of it, but they are not the light, it is within, and springs from a divine root, and thou canst not comprehend it, therefore wait upon God, in obedience to it, and it will teach thee, and show thee the way to salvation, and the way to condemnation, and set before thee life and death, good and evil, choose thee whether thou wilt join to, if thou join with the good seed, thou wilt find power against sin, to withstand the evil, and it will judge and break down wickedness in thee, and slay the seed of the serpent, and administer to that which is captivated through the lust, and raise it up, that thou may worship with it a God near hand, and as the seed of God doth arise in thee, it will open parrables and dark say, and bring every secret thing to judgement in thee, and the seed being raised up by the power of the Lord, to rule over the deceit, it will not bend to the Devil, if he would give it all the world, one seed raised up out of one grave, by one power, and brought into one covenant, baptised by one spirit into one body, though ten times ten thousand in particulars, yet they are but one in the body, one faith, one seed, one baptising, one supper, one covenant, one God and father, all one heart, and one soul, serving God in one way, worshipping him in the spirit, and with one mouth, all glorifying his great and glorious name, and who are of this seed, are of Abraham, and where it is carried up into power, it will tread upon the seed of the serpent, and strike at the head of it, where ever it sees it, who are of the seed of the serpent are one, though ten hundred thousand, and are in unity with the deceit, the beast and false prophet, and in the false worships, worshipping the works of their hands, and the imaginations of their own hearts, and they are acted and guided by the power of the Devil, but they shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God poured out without mixture, and be tormented night and day. Rev. 14 9, 10, 11. and all that seed shall be shut out, and shall never enter into the city of the living God, but death and hell shall be cast into the lake of fire, this is the second death; and whosoever is not found written in the Lamb's book of life▪ must be cast into the lake of fire. Rev. 20 14, 15. and the seed of the serpent never was, nor never shall be written in the book of life, and those that are joined with that seed, are one, and shall never enter into the holy city: for the seed of God, and the seed of the serpent have enmity placed betwixt them, and they can never be reconciled together, and that which defileth shall not enter, for without is all that seed cast, and is reprobate from God, and must not enter into the kingdom. Rev. 21.8. Rev. 22.15.  
Blessed are they that do his commands, that they may have right to the tree of life, and enter into the city, through the strait way. Rev. 22.14. he that overcometh shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. Rev. 21.7.  
This seed where it hath overcome through the power and strength of the Lord, and is set above, it doth comprehend all languages▪ kindreds, and tongues, and all BabyIons ways and worships, and doth triumph and rejoice over them all, and sees where the Antechists and deceivers all are, and from whence they all come, and whither they shall return again.   

The Ranters Principles, and denial of them by us.  
ON the first day of the seventh month, we met with one Robert Wilkinson of Coaton in Leistershire, and he said he was born of God, and could not commit sin, and said he was both God and the Devil, and he said there was no God but him, nor no Devil but him, and he said whom he blest was blest, and whom he cursed was cursed, and he said he was a serpent, and so he is, he said the Apostles were liars and deceivers and I gave him a Bible to prove that, and he said die Bible was a pack of lies, and there was neither heaven nor hell but here, and yet he was both in heaven and in hell, and he had as lief be in hell, as in heaven, and he said he was a serpent, and a whoremaster, and before he said he was born of God, and could not commit sin. Now all that are in the light may see this confusion, and this Beast is full of blasphemy, and the vengeance of God he shall not nor cannot escape. woe to the Ranters, this book is as a testimony against you, from us whom the world calls Quakers, and you and your wicked principles we deny, and hold them and you accursed. GaI. 1.9.  
The Apostles were not as many that did corrupt the word of God, but were of sincerity, and in the light of God spoke they in Christ. 2 Cor. 2.17. and he was no liar nor deceiver, though the wicked ones counted him one, Joh. 7. as thou wicked one dost, and the Apostles were not liars, and deceivers as thou Wilkinson Ranter said they were. The world called them deceivers, and counted them deceivers, as I told thee, yet they were true, though counted deceivers by such as thou art, the Apostles were the Ambassadors of Christ, and they prayed the Corinthians in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God. 2 Cor 5.20. and Christ was no liar, nor no guile was found in his mouth, and they were without guile as he was. Rev. 14.5. 1 Thes. 4.6, 7, 8. Pev. 18.20. But thou Wilkinson, and you Ranters, false Apostles, are full of guile and deceit, that says the Apostles of Christ were liars and deceivers, when first they were Christ's Ambassadors, and secondly they were workers together with him, and he did not work in the iniquity as you Ranters do, for they in all things prove themselves as the ministers of God. 2 Cor. 6.11.2.7. which thou Wilkinson and you Ranters are enemies unto, thirdly, they had wounded the hidden things of dishonesty, and did not walk in craftiness. 2 Cor. 1.12. as thou Wilkinson and you Ranters do, and fourthly, they were a sweet favour of Christ, with them that were saved. 2 Cor. 2.15. but thou Wilkinson and you Ranters stinks, and are an ill savour amongst them that walk with the dogs, sorcerers and liars. Rev. 22.15.  
Wilkinson, of a God thou art born with, but thy God as I told thee before, is the God of the world, that hath blinded the mind and the minds of all you Ranters, wicked ones, and from them the Gospel is hid as it is written. 2 Cor. 4.3, 4. and that God that is of the world and the Devil is one, which is the father that begat thee, and all the generation of liars and lustful ones, such as thou art. Joh. 8.44. and the serpent thou art a whoremaster as thou saidst, and art in the mystery of Babylon, committing fornication, 
1 Cor. 6.9, 10. Gal. 5.10, 20, 21. Rev. 20.15. Rev. 21.27.  and art full of the filthiness thereof. Rev. 15. thou beast that carrieth the whore, shall go with her into perdition, and all whoremongers and adulterers God will judge, and the serpent thou art, and you Ranters, Scorpions, Serpents, you shall not escape the damnation of hell. Mat. 23.33. for heaven thou hast nothing to do to talk of, who hath no part nor portion in it, for the lake thou art, and the tormentor thou shalt know, as Dives did, and thou wiucked one, and you wicked Ranters, and the wicked, and all that forgot God shall be turned into hell. Psal. 9.17. Mat. 25, 41. with the light are you seen, and all thy crooked ways, thou crooked serpent, with the light comprehended, and with the light for ever condemned, and all the Gods of the heathen shall be famished.   
FINIS