AN ALARM To all Priests, Judges, Magistrates, Soldiers, and all People; Inviting Them to Repentance and Amendment of Life: For the great Day of the LORD is near at Hand  
Blow ye the Trumpet in Zion, and sound an Alarm in my holy Mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh: for it is nigh at hand.  
Lift up thy voice like a Trumpet, and show Judah her transgressions, and Israel her sins.  
The substance of most of this Discourse was by several Revelations from the Spirit of the Lord, given unto the Author to be proclaimed: who is known unto many, by the Name of Daniel Gotherson.  
Wherein Tho. Danson, a Priest in Sandwich, is proved a Deceiver of SOULS.  
LONDON: Printed by James Cottrel, dwelling on Addle-hill.   

To the honest-hearted understanding READER, who readeth without Prejudice.  
READER,  
LEt thy Heart be fixed upon the Lord, and the Arm of his almighty strength, in the supporting thee, and teaching thee: for it is Christ that openeth the Understanding to understand the Scriptures; and the great Mystery of Salvation lieth treasured up in Christ. And if thou without prejudice, in the cool of the day, dost search and commune with thy own Heart, and be still, thou mayst find the true Bread that came down from Heaven, that whosoever eateth thereof, shall never die: and thou shalt plainly see all Deceivers unmasked, and their Deceit plainly and nakedly laid open, with all Antichristian Practices used to this day; and their Mystery of Iniquity unfolded unto all those that are not wilfully blind, and desire to stupefy their senses.  
But if thou wilt search in thy heart, in meekness, for the Light Christ, thou shalt find Eyesalve, the Balm of Gilead, the Blood of Christ that will cleanse thee from all sin: for it will, by thy Obedience, bring thee to Mount Zion, the City of the living God, the Mount that cannot be touched: for it is a spiritual Life that must be witnessed: And Christ plainly showeth, that the Father seeketh such to worship him, as worship him in the Spirit and in Truth.  
And therefore lend thy Heart, nay, give it up into God, that thou, in thy own Vessel, mayest have the Bread of Life: for it must be the Oil in a Mans own Lamp, that must convey him into the Bridegroom's Chamber, to receive that Blessing: Come you blessed of my Father, saith Christ, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you▪ Enter, thou good Servant, into the joy of thy Lord: He is that great Prophet that Moses spoke of, that whosoever would not hear, should be cut off from amongst the people; who is JESUS, that saveth his people from their sins: Whose great day of power hath appeared unto many, and is appearing unto all, and doth pull down their pride: for, The loftiness of men must be brought low, and their haughtiness must be humbled: for Christ teacheth all His to be meek and lowly, that they may find Rest unto their Souls: for, Blessed are the meek; they shall inherit the earth: And by hiding the Word Christ in thy heart, thou shalt be kept, as David was, from sinning against God: for those that hear the Voice of Christ, & desire to be taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus, they shall be guided by him to do the will of God in every thing, and be led by the Spirit of God, to do as they would be done unto; and to walk in all things as Christ hath walked: for they shall be filled with the Spirit of Righteousness, that filleth all in all: and they shall not need that any man shall teach them, but as the Anointing which dwelleth in them, teacheth them all things: for they shall know their true Teacher. Know you not that Christ is in you, except you be Reprobates? And so being taught by Christ, they shall taste of his fullness, and the Arm of his strength they shall all witness; that will make them walk from strength to strength, and Grace shall make them see God in Zion: for Holiness becometh the House of the Lord for ever: And by leading holy Lives, they find their works to be wrought in God, and themselves Branches springing from that Vine Christ; and they come in by that true Door, and they follow Christ's Voice: for he is their Shepherd, and he leadeth them into pleasant Pastures, where their Souls are refreshed with that which is sweeter than the Honey, and the Honeycomb, and is better than thousands of Gold and Silver: for it is the enjoyment of the Lord, which is better than Life.  
And therefore as thou tenderest thy salvation, be like the wise man that foresaw the evil, and made his hiding place in his God: for assure your selus, High and Low, Rich and Poor, Learned and Unlearned, Priests and People, the great day of the Lords Wrath is near at Hand, wherein the stout Ones of the earth shall tremble: for all their words and works must come to judgement; and none but those that have truth in the inward parts, shall stand before him: it is the unspotted Life, the undefiled in their way, the pure in heart, will see him with comfort: the clean heart is a fit Temple for the holy Ghost to dwell in: and those that have part in the first Resurrection, from the Death of Sin to the Life of Grace; over such the second Death hath no power.  
This Treatise is for your instruction, to bring you to a sight of all that is past, and present, and to come. And therefore seriously read without prejudice: For it is the Advice of Him that thirsteth after the salvation of all men, that they may come to the knowledge of the Truth, that they may be saved: For every one that shall find a Benefit by Christ, are such as have part in Him; such as are baptised into Him; and such are baptised into His Death; and they are new creatures, and old things are passed away; all things are become new: For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing, nor Uncircumcision; but a new Creature: And where the new Creature is, there is the Unity of the Spirit witnessed to be kept in the Bond of Peace.  
The 22 of the 10. Month, commonly called by the heathens, December, 1659. I am a true Lover of all whose Desires are after the living GOD, who am called Daniel Gotherson.   

A PREPARATIVE To the Ensuing Epistles.  

1.  
DEspise not Prophesy: 1 Th' 5  
Try all things; firmly hold  
That that is sound and pure:  
The rest thou may'st be bold,  
As vanity and lewd  
Illusion for to hate.  
But if thou judge too soon,  
Thou wilt repent too late.  
Be well assured 'tis good,  
Before thou do approve;  
Be well assured 'tis naught,  
Before thou dare reprove.  
Mean while I wish thee do  
As Abraham's servant did;  
As Paul in Macedon,  
To preach when Christ him bid.  
As the Beraeans, whose  
Nobility is praised  
By Gods own holy pen:  
These men their courage raised,  
And utmost industry,  
To find the certainty,  
When doubtful novelty  
They heard or did espy.   

2.  
BEfore or rash receive,  
Or rash reject they durst;  
First if his Doctrine swerve,  
Detest him as accursed. 
Deut. 13.   
But if of heresy  
Thou canst not him detect,  
Stay till thou see the truth 
Chap. 18.   
Made plain by the effect.  
It is a wickedness  
To which men are not slow,  
In rage to cast away 
2 Pet. 2.   
That which they do not know.  
so joseph's brethren did  
His Dreams as Dreams deride;  
But them their reverend King,  
Up in his bosom laid.  
And though he thought them strange,  
Durst not yet vilipend;  
But humbly did observe,  
Until he saw the end.  
So Moses brethren durst  
His zealous loving fact,  
Reprove as deed accursed,  
And as Usurpers act.   

3.  
THough Moses knew that God  
Had sent him to that end;  
And hoped his brethren would  
This secret understand.  
Eldad and Medad, when  
I'th' Camp they prophesy,  
Even Joshua is rash  
To blame them foolishly.  
But Moses tells him plain,  
Not zeal doth him inflame,  
But envy and disdain;  
And would God would his name  
Not in these two alone  
In this sort glorify;  
But in all jacob's seed.  
When Gideon did destroy,  
In his heroic rage,  
The Altar which the Jews  
To Baal had set up;  
Oh how this people spews  
Dire wrath, and fell despite!  
But Joash bold replies,  
Will ye for Idols fight?  
That dares this morning dies.   

4.  
WHen Saul from that he was,  
Was suddenly transumed,  
And with the Prophets did  
As now he was endued:  
Some spoke of this amiss,  
But some were better skilled,  
And said, they cannot choose,  
Which with God's Spirit are filled.  
Will't thou the winds forbid  
To blow where they are sent?  
Shall sacred Prophecies  
In Schools or Cells be penned?  
When David offered  
His service to his King,  
What a loud peal did then  
His eldest brother ring?  
As if God might not send,  
When, whom he thinketh best,  
And as to him seems good,  
To relieve a State distressed.  
As if God might not set  
On Shepherd's head the Crown,  
When they themselves forget,  
That must be tumbled down.   

5.  
BUt let Eliab storm,  
Let Saul himself run mad,  
Let him and all his crew  
Conspire against the Lad:  
Prince Jonathan is wise,  
And for his brother glad;  
And for his thankless King;  
Religiously is sad.  
Michal shall be his friend,  
And so shall all the best;  
And above all his choice,  
What cares he for the rest?  
What weighs he Nabals scorn?  
The Ziphims treachery?  
Abner his skill in war?  
Dog Doegs villainies?  
When Jeroboams King  
A Prophet reprehended:  
His Majesty incensed  
Bid him be apprehended.  
For this his hand he lost,  
Until he sued for grace.  
Kings, 'twill be to your cost,  
If Prophets you disgrace.   

6.  
DId not King Ahab so,  
And with him that abused  
His Prince with tales, and false,  
Micaiah just accused?  
The Bethelites profane,  
That taught (as we to swear)  
Their Boys and Gyrls to mock  
Him that had power to tear,  
And with a word destroy  
Their lives, did in one day  
Four hundred children loose,  
Naaman went away  
From Elisha his gate,  
With scorn and rage fulfilled,  
Because (so wise men are,  
Learned and deeply skilled  
In their own judgements blind,)  
The word which him was sent  
Did not his prouder thoughts  
And high conceits content,  
But though his footing slid,  
His servants were more wise;  
And boldly faithful did  
Their foolish Lord advise.   

7.  
IF Lords or Kings misdeem  
You that on them attend,  
Be not base flattering Parasites,  
But your best counsels lend.  
Do not yourselves and them,  
Fond Parasites, for fear,  
Fearless down headlong cast  
In Pits of deeper care:  
Yet, if you be but stout,  
To speak as you believe,  
You may your froward Lord  
His leprosy relieve.  
Or if he needs must wend  
After his own advice,  
You have done nobly yet,  
And as became the wise.  
When Elisha again  
In a sad time of want,  
Did promise by next day  
Bread should be nothing scant;  
This cannot be, quoth he,  
That thought God could not do  
That which he could not see  
Was possible. And so,   

8.  
IF men these Prophecies  
Judge as to sense they seem,  
How can they feasibly  
Such uncouth wonders deem?  
But learn of that proud lord  
Your judgements to submit:  
For God is wise, and strong  
To do all he thinks fit.  
If in his name then hear  
You shall things difficult,  
Do not with flesh and blood  
Too suddenly consult.  
You may as did this Prince,  
His life who therefore lost,  
False sentence over-soon  
Pronounce unto your cost.  
Do not with Jehu's friends,  
If in your sight appear  
(As will) a Prophet, ask,  
What makes this madman here?  
Alas! can you straight know  
What God in heaven hath meant?  
Can you sans trial know  
Who is not surely sent?   

9  
LEt us this Jeremy  
How to supplant devise,  
(Said the rash Jews) for sure  
All that he tells are lies:  
Is no man wise but he?  
Is all the learning his?  
Are there no Prophets more?  
Do all else go amiss?  
Poor men! thus they must do,  
That must themselves destroy.  
Sad Jeremiah they'll force  
Against their pride to pray:  
I would their good, my God,  
But they reward me ill:  
Let famine and the sword  
Them and their Infants kill.  
As much did Pashur gain,  
The chief of Clergymen,  
A sect which always hath  
Before all other been  
In mischievous designs,  
And spiteful machinations:  
Be wise therefore you drones,  
And shun these consultations.   

10.  
IF your Archpriests will needs  
Like Anti-christs resist,  
Bid them alone for you  
Malicious blind persist.  
He that these Priests huge fame,  
And their foul friends found out,  
Hath ever been the same,  
And will still (do not doubt.)  
They shall be terrified,  
That terrible now seem:  
Magor-Missabib is  
This bull-beggars new names.  
Poor wretches, I do not  
Your pride at all envy!  
I do not, but lament  
And moan your misery;  
And of these surly sect  
Which with Hilchias child,  
At hand I do foresee,  
Repentance be your shield.  
When Jeremy again,  
By dreaful comminations,  
His people would restrain  
With hideous exclamations,   

11.  
(THe Priests they being chief)  
Against him they conspire:  
Treason must be his crime,  
Destruction must be his hire.  
For if you mark it well,  
Priests they this use have got,  
Reprove the state of sin,  
And death must be thy lot,  
If these bloodthirsty hounds  
Be suffered to prevail:  
But Magistrates are wise,  
Though catercaps can rail,  
And carry after them  
Sometimes with glozing lies;  
(As they Jehoiakim)  
The King (God opened his eyes)  
Yet you that fear the Lord,  
And in his Son believe;  
Do not too soon consent,  
But boldly wise relieve:  
And namely Shaphans' child,  
Such is thy prudence rare;  
So art thou just and mild,  
And for our weal takest care.   

12.  
ALthough Jehoiakim  
Would not with reverence hear  
The Book of Jeremy,  
But scornfully did it tear,  
And in the fire consume  
Unto his greater hurt,  
And of his royal race;  
Yet some men had the heart,  
Which next him were the first,  
And sat in highest place,  
The Prophet and his words  
To heed, and to embrace.  
They tremble as they hear,  
And amongst themselves confer,  
What course is best to take  
These judgements to aufer.  
In Zedechiah's days,  
Again this holy wight,  
For telling them the truth,  
Of treason he's indight.  
But though his own are blind,  
A Pagan doth believe:  
Moor more than Jews are kind,  
(Oh shame!) and dare relieve,   

13.  
WHom they dare persecute,  
And do the King exhort  
He credit not too soon  
Malicious fond report.  
When Amos in the court  
God's judgements did denounce;  
The Prince of Prelates than  
Him traitor doth pronounce;  
And the fond King incense:  
But what was his reward?  
Priests, you the story read,  
And awfully regard:  
Thy wife, said Amos then,  
Proud Priest, shall play the whore;  
Thy Sons and Daughters all  
The sword shall soon devour:  
Thy place thy eyes shall see  
Thy enemies possess;  
And in a foreign land  
Thyself die in distress.  
Frown, mow, grin, grind thy teeth,  
Swell, break, for all thy mood,  
The word I speak is truth,  
And cannot be withstood.   

14.  
OUr Lord himself his own  
Would not receive nor love,  
Chiefly the chief amongst you  
His words and works reprove.  
Because the ways of God  
They measure by their wits,  
They're scandalised and fall,  
And still lies in the Pit.  
Oh learn by their extremes  
And lasting miseries,  
What 'tis for to refuse  
The proffered verities.  
What 'tis rashly to judge,  
Resist, and persecute  
Things that distaste, before  
Thou know how to confute.  
As after his ascent,  
When he his promise paid,  
Many both mocked, and railed,  
And of the Apostles said,  
For they did prophesy,  
And with new tongues could  
They babbled idly,  
Because their brains were weak. speak,   

15.  
BUt wise Gamaliel,  
When others burst for spite,  
And plotted to destroy  
God's Prophets if they might,  
Sage counsel freely gave:  
Princes, beseech you hear;  
Be well advised, take heed,  
Too sudden wrath forbear.  
As Theudas lying knave,  
Judas the counterfeit,  
Although a while they seemed  
Great credit for to get,  
Yet quickly came to nought:  
So if these men you see,  
Not true Apostles, but  
Impostors crafty be;  
Believe it, they will soon  
Such as they are appear:  
But if they be of God,  
God will his servants clear;  
And we that dare resist  
Not men but Heaven's King,  
Shall wish that we had witted,  
And late repent this thing.   

16.  
IF therefore thou beest wise,  
Reader, thy spirit suspect,  
When thou perceivest it tempt  
Thee rashly to reject  
That which thou now hast read,  
Or shalt within a while:  
Do not with high conceit  
Thy weaker wits beguile.  
Though Doctors dote as yet,  
And this false doctrine teach,  
That Prophets now no more.  
Of future things shall preach,  
Nor miracles be seen;  
Do not their dreams receive.  
Blind guides, their silly selves  
And others they deceive.  
And if thou say as they,  
Then hear this prophecy;  
Thy eye before thou die,  
Shall give thy tongue the lie.  
Who shall the Jews convert?  
Who shall restore our peace?  
Who shall the Pope subvert?  
And Mahomet make cease?   

16.  
DId not Elias need  
When 'twixt Jehove and 
Baal   
The doubtful Jews did half?  
Did not Elias call  
Men from their crooked ways,  
And for the Lord prepare;  
Before himself appeared  
His Gospel to declare?  
And dost thou hope that now,  
These schisms at all shall cease;  
And the round world with light,  
As the full Moon increase,  
Without Elias aid?  
Or art thou so purblind,  
As nor in Malachi,  
Nor in Esay to find,  
That as the Baptist did  
Walk in Elias might;  
When this Messias came  
A miserable wight:  
So much more now before  
We see his glorious day,  
His usher shall prepare  
Afore his face the way?   

18.  
NOr do thou curious scan  
From whence he doth appear,  
Nor what his person is:  
For than I can but fear,  
Thou some offence wilt take,  
As men were wont of old,  
When in God's secrets they  
To pry were overbold.  
God doth send whom he list;  
The reason none can tell,  
But only God himself.  
For this you must all know,  
Christ's merits are the thing  
Which all must fly unto  
Even for salvation.  
God did appoint him for  
Salvation unto all  
That in the light believe.  
Which light is Christ alone,  
Who hath enlightened every one,  
Which in the world hath been,  
Or shall be to the end.  
The Lord he did also  
David and Solomon call,  
And his Apostles twelve,  
His Prophets every one.  
No man deserves this place,  
No man is competent,  
Let God do what he will,  
Let this thy mind content.   

19  
PRaise God that he hath found  
One whom employ he will,  
More for thy good then goods,  
To save thy soul from ill,  
Danger, fear, care, and grief;  
All for thy comfort, and  
Thy heavy heart's relief.  
Who if thou knew the soul  
Of those whom God hath called,  
As Israel in Egypt,  
I know thou art much appalled:  
Dost mourn, complain and cry,  
That God as he of old,  
Will now again provide  
The sorrows that unfold  
Thee, and his woeful spouse.  
How quickly to relieve,  
The means then glad embrace!  
The choice thee let not grieve;  
Thy wisdom in this case,  
Is thankful modesty;  
Say unto God thy grace  
Without an envious eye.   

20.  
THe poor, the mean, the rude,  
The vile God oft doth call;  
And place in highest room,  
That he the Lord of all,  
Of all may be confessed,  
His counsels be adored,  
Rather than vainly scanned,  
His name with hymns decored;  
And all flesh put to shame.  
David and Saul were poor;  
Moses a man unfit,  
Amos a country-boor,  
The chief of Prophets all,  
And of all Kings the head,  
A Carpenter's Son some so called:  
The Apostles earn'd their bread:  
The most were idiots called:  
Paul was a wicked man:  
Matthew himself records  
A hated Publican.  
Even Nathaniel said,  
From Nazareth to hope  
For good, I am afraid:  
Yet Christ from thence did come,  
Which brings salvation.   

21.  
THe word he brings, the works  
That he shall do, respect:  
All proud, and wicked ways  
Far from thy thoughts reject.  
Dost thou believe?  
Then lend thy helping hand:  
Dar'st thou deny?  
I dare thee then withstand.  
Or art thou in doubt?  
Then pray that thou mayst see:  
Study within,  
And then confer with me.   
Egerton, Anno 1660. D. Gotherson.  
FINIS.   

The first Epistle:  
To all people whose souls panteth after God, as the Hart panteth after the water-brooks.  
ANd now also is the axe laid to the root of the tree: therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down and cast into the fire. I is to the circumcised in heart, that cometh or springeth from all the twelve Tribes, that Jesus Christ is lovely, the choicest of ten thousand; for whom they part with all, to purchase that pearl that is of so great worth, that the heart cannot conceive, nor the tongue express, nor the eye see that is mortal; being that Stone with the new name written in it, that no man knoweth but he that hath it; and is not discernible with any but they that are born again, that can witness they are become little children, for only to such belongeth the kingdom, and to none other. Now the soul being of so great worth, that Christ said, What will it profit a man to gain the whole world, and to lose his soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? by which it appeareth, that there is none but Christ the promised seed can redeem man from death, nor offer unto God a ransom for him: and as the tree falleth, so it lieth, and there is no repentance in the grave whither thou goest: and every word and work must be brought to judgement, with every secret thing; and God is no respecter of persons, for he cannot behold transgression in Jacob, nor sin in Israel; and if David a man after his own heart sinneth, he must go with broken bones to his grave for it: and seeing all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God, it is the one thing necessary for every man and woman seriously to consider, and wait in seeking the Lord, that he may be manifested unto every one's particular: and this is to be sought for, to know him that taketh away sin, even the sins of the world: for as in Adam all died, so in Christ shall all be made alive: and Christ hath lightened every man that cometh into the world: and Christ the hope of glory is in every one; and know ye not that Christ is in you, unless you be reprobates? now the man Christ Jesus, the great Prophet, declared in general terms what should be in latter times, leaving it to every son and daughter to declare their particular experiences when the Spirit doth rise up in them, and manifest himself unto them: for they that believe (saith he) out of their bellies shall flow rivers (or plentiful discoveries) of the water of life. Therefore as Moses gave way to Christ; for when Christ appeared in flesh, Moses Administration began to be silent, and drew back, and set Jesus Christ in the Chair, to be the great Prophet that should be the Teacher in Types after him; and the Ministration of these discoveries were to reign in the world their appointed times: Even so the Lamb Christ Jesus, or that single body, giveth way to the Holy Ghost, or spreading Spirit, Joh. 16. 7. Joh. 17. 21. If I go not away, the Comforter cannot come to you: for he that dwells bodily in me, is to spread himself in you; that as the Father in me, and I in him, are one; even so I in you and you in me, may become one with the Father. And the Testimony of the Apostles declares as much, 2 Cor. 5. 16. Col. 1. 27.  
Though we have know Christ after the flesh, (in one single body) yet now henceforth know we him no more so, but we look after that mystery which hath been kept secret from ages and generations past, which is Christ in you the hope of glory: & therefore I must tell you that yet live in dipping in water, and observation of Gospel-Ordinances as ye call them, forms and types, you live yet under the ministration of Jesus Christ after the flesh, declaring the Lamb Christ to remain as yet in one single person: but know you, that as the ministration of Moses gave way to this; so this ministration is to give way to the inward teachings of Christ, and the spreading of the Spirit in sons and daughters, which will more excellently declare the glory of the mystery. The man Christ Jesus told the woman of Samaria, Woman, the time is coming and now is, that neither in Jerusalem nor in this mountain shall men worship the Father; but they that worship him, shall worship him in spirit & in truth, for the Father seeks such to worship him: by these words as also, Luk. 17. 21. Joh. 4. 45. the son of man declares that both outward forms, customs, and types of Moses worship under that ministration at Jerusalem, likewise all forms, and customs, and types of this ministration of himself, as the Lamb held forth at a distance to be our Mediator, should all cease, and give way to the spiritual worship of the Father in the latter days, or to the spreading of the Divine power in men; the one Law of righteousness being the Teacher of all: so that upon the rising up of Christ in sons and daughters, which is his second coming, the ministration of Christ in one single person is to be silent and draw back, and set the spreading power of righteousness and wisdom in the chair, of whose kingdom there shall be no end: so as all things were gone out from the Spirit, and were gone astray, and corrupted: the Spirit in this great mystery of truth being manifested in the flesh, burns up that dross out of the Creation, and draws in all things again back into himself, and declares himself to be the alone wisdom and power of righteousness, that rules, dwells, that governs and preserves both in and over the whole Creation, 2 Cor. 5. 19 1 Cor. 5. 24. and now the Son delivers up the Kingdom to God the Father; and he that is the spreading power, not one single person, become all in all in every person, that is the one King of righteousness in every one.  
Here is plainly seen what the dividing of time is, which is the last period in which the Beast is to reign: for now every ministration pleads his privilege till the Law of righteousness drown up all in himself. Moses yet pleads privilege in the practice of the Jews after the flesh: the Son of man, Christ in one single person, pleads a privilege; and not only the true ministration of the Son of man according to the Apostles declaration, but likewise many false forms, customs and observations of worshipping are raised up through a wrong understanding of those Scriptures; all pleads their privilege: and lastly, the ministration of the Spirit, forsaking all forms and types, worshipping the Father in the substance of truth, this now pleads his privilege as his due right by course. So that you see here is the dividing of time. But this last ministration is the sufferer for the present, as being denied his right by the former, that aught to give way: and as the worshippers in Moses ministration envied and killed those as worshipped the Son of man, the Lamb and his worshippers; so now those that worship Christ at a distance, in their several Congregations and Forms, and are most zealous therein, are in these days the most bitterest enemies to the ministration of Christ in the spirit and in truth. But when this ministration of the Spirit spreads himself, he will make the greatest separation that ever was: for though Israel's separation out of Egypt amazed the World, and the separation of gathered Congregations out of Parish Churches (so called) did trouble the earth, though it is no more but going out of one form into another, and none into the unity of the one Spirit: yet this ministration of the Spirit now rising up by right of inheritance, will take peace from the World much more; for he hath begun, and he will go on to gather the scattered of Israel together out of all Egyptian bondages and selfseeking oppressing Governments, and out of all forms and customs of the Beast, to worship the Father in spirit in and truth, being made to be all of one heart and one mind: and this shall more and more appear, as the day approacheth, which hath already dawned.  
Therefore let me tell you, that all your enmity will not uphold your forms; your imprisoning, and reviling, and making Laws to suppress such as are contrary to you, will never work your will, but pull miseries and shame upon yourselves, as the zealous Scribes and Pharisees did, in killing the just one Christ the Son of man. Therefore be patient, look up to him for teaching, from whom every good and perfect gift cometh down, even the Father of lights, in whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning, who stands at the door and knocks; and if any man will open, he will come in and sup with him; and the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity, delighteth to dwell in the contrite ones, that he may give life unto them: for when the Law of righteousness ariseth up, and maketh himself more manifest, he will reconcile all, and make every one to be of one heart and of one mind; and no other power must be the restorer, but this King of righteousness and peace: for this is he that makes men do as they would be done unto, and then envy and bitterness dies: see Act. 4. 32. Isa. 60. 16. Now when this King, Jesus, Emanuel God with us, ariseth up in sons and daughters, whereby the Scriptures are proved true Prophecies, Promises, Visions, and Revelations; the Teachers of this World deny the Testimony, crying out, Visions and revelations are ceased, because they would have the people ever learning of them, and giving their money to them for that which is not bread, and profiteth not: for they can teach no further than they have learned; and they have learned no further than the declaration, which the Scripture itself saith is but a dead Letter: it is a mystery, and Christ revealeth it by his Spirit; and it is the Spirit that maketh known the deep and hidden things of God. Now when any receiveth power from on high, by believing in him, and he maketh such to eat the good of the Land, and they are forced to bear their Testimony to witness unto others, as David did; he had not hid his goodness within his breast, but showed even in the great Congregation what the Lord had done for his soul: I say, When any thus moved speaketh to the Priests of our days, although Scripture warrants speaking one by one, as it is made manifest to them by the Spirit, and the first is to hold his peace; yet they presently cry out, A disturbance in their Steeplehouse, and hale them to prisons, where many times the just ones of the Lord Jehovah die in the outward man by their hardships, as in Colchester Gaol, and other places in the Nation, by the Priest's means, who possess the people with conceits, and make them believe their lies, that these people are selfconceited, and it is Error and Blasphemy they hold: even just like those that when the Holy Ghost had filled the Apostles and all those that were with them, they cried out & mocked, saying, These men are filled with new wine; because they knew not the voice of the Spirit: for the natural man knoweth not the things of God; they are spiritually discerned.  
Well, he is at hand, and is a working; for he that keepeth Israel neither slumbereth nor sleepeth; and he will discover your shame, and make your nakedness appear unto all men: for wickedness shall slay the wicked, though no man's hands be upon him. The tender Lambs of Christ by the Wolves in sheep's clothing are destroyed; but yet let the wolves know for their eternal woes, that the Lambs are the blessed of the most high: for the King of righteousness is in them, for they are the field wherein the treasure hath lain hid all the dark and cloudy days of the Beasts Reign, which is now almost expired: they are Zion whom no man regards, out of whom Salvation cometh: for Jacob is in them, who hath been long a servant to Esau, and now is set free, and he will glorify himself both in them and for them, to the shame of all wolfish Esau's that are of a destroying nature: and the whole earth shall be filled by these with the knowledge of the Lord, of whose Dominion and Power there shall be no end: for the consolation of Israel doth draw near to be made manifest to every one's particular; therefore let all wait with patience for it, on him that is almighty, able to save: for Jesus is able to save to the utmost all those that come unto God by him; and for ever blessed are such, for the Lord is their portion: for it is the Law and power of righteousness which made Abraham forsake his Isaac, his dearest Relations according to the flesh, rather than to refuse the way of his God; and by this he found peace: so that this King of righteousness, and Prince of peace, that governed Abraham, and is called blessed, the blessing of all Nations, for this shall save his people from their sins: for he shall remove from the Curse, and restore his from the bondage they groan under; for Abraham sprang from him, as a tree groweth from a seed that gave the tree its being: the Law of righteousness and peace ruling and dwelling in any one, is the seed of Abraham; and the several branches of men and women in whom that power rests, are children, and of the family of Abraham: for it was not the man of the flesh that was called Abraham, but the Law of righteousness, and truth, and peace, that did rule and govern in that body, he was the Abraham: for it is clear, that before this righteous power was manifest in it, it was Abram, as you may read Gen. 17. 1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God: walk before me and be thou perfect, and I will make my Covenant between thee and me: vers. 5. Neither shall thy name be called any more Abram, but thy name shall be called Abraham: for a father of many Nations have I made thee; And in Mat. 3. the Pharisees and Sadduces come to John's Baptism, as you may see ver. 7. And he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? bring forth fruits meet for repentance: & think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father; for God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. So it is plain, that Jew or Gentile in whom the power of righteousness breaketh forth and ruleth, are the children of Abraham, Act. 10. 34. Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. For as the visible body of Christ was not the anointing, but the Spirit in that body was the Christ, the spreading power of righteousness, which was to fill the earth with himself; and his body but a house or Temple for the present work, to redeem the lost man according to the promise, The seed of the woman shall break the serpent's head, as also to throw down Moses Law; and became the substance of his Lambs, and Types, and Sacrifice; for that body was the Lamb that did fulfil the righteous will, by his voluntary and freewill offering up of himself: therefore Christ is called the spreading power, because he fills all with himself; and because this power did appear first to Abraham as we read of, therefore is he called The father of the faithful: for it was an everlasting Covenant that God made with him; therefore every one that follows after him, and treads in his steps, being willing and obedient, they shall eat the good of the land, and they shall be called children of that seed of Abraham, which seed is the blessing of all Nations, and is the restorer of all his from bondage: and although his just ones many times lie under oppression and hardship by the seed of the flesh, and they are despised ones by them; yet now the day is at hand, that their glory shall arise: and the reason is, for the Almighty God is in them of a truth, & he will lead their captivity captive, and set them down in peace: for they are the City of the Lord, new Jerusalem, the place of his rest, which shall be the praise of the whole earth: for the Almighty King of righteousness is their Saviour, and there is no other name under heaven whereby men can be saved, but the name of Jesus; and verily I bear my Testimony from him, that he will be exalted in this the great day of his power, for the Lord is a bringing mighty things to pass in this the day of his appearance, and the hearts of his shall fear: for, to him (saith the Lord) will I look, that trembleth at my word; and therefore let all his redeemed ones wait patiently for the consolation of Israel; for their King is coming, and he will fill the earth with his glory, and turn ungodliness from Jacob: then shall Jacob rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.  
For without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of Angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. And that his might not be deceived, he saith, In the latter times seducing spirits shall come, and so cunningly carry themselves, that if possible the very elect should be deceived: and Paul 1 Tim. 4. 1, 2, 3, 4. showeth some of the principles of their deceit: and thus he saith: Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to the seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their consciences seared with a hot-iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth: for every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer. And this Paul exhorts those that will manifest themselves good Ministers of Jesus Christ, such who are nourished up in the words of Faith and good Doctrine, that they should put the brethren in mind of these things, and exercise themselves in godliness: by which it appears, that Paul reckoneth such as are before spoken of, amongst Hymeneus and Philetus, who concerning the truth have erred, saying, The Resurrection is passed already, and overthrow the faith of some; nevertheless, the Foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His: and let every one that nameth the name of Christ, depart from iniquity. So that it is plain, that every act of evil is a fruit of old Adam, the flesh, which hath nothing but envy, lust, pride, drunkenness, malice, and all uncharitableness, which the King of Righteousness, Christ Jesus, redeemeth his from, and also maketh his righteous, godly, full of faith, love, patience, meekness, being without spot, unrebukable: for they are born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever; which word is Christ in them the hope of glory: For Moses truly said unto the Fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. So that it is plain, that the Lamb Christ Jesus, was the substance of Moses; and where the substance is, shadows and Types doth cease: and this method of divine Discovery doth finish the Mystery; for the Lord doth take up all into Himself, for he is in all, and acts through all; and all that power of Righteousness that appeareth in any, is still but that power of the Lord which he hath promised to pour forth in the last days, as you may see in the second of the Acts, vers. 17, 18. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream Dreams; and on my servants, and on my handmaids, will I pour out of my Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy. So that every Branch shall be a Joint or Member of the Mystical Body, or several spreadings forth of the Vine, being filled with that one Spirit, Christ the anointing, who filleth all with himself, and so becomes the alone King of Righteousness, that rules and governs all his ransomed ones, Joh. 17. 23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them as thou hast loved me: For I am the Lord, and beside me there is no Saviour. He is in every one of his little ones that are born again; and how, is declared, Joh. 14. v. 15, 16, 17, 18. If you love me, keep my commandments: and I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you: I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more, but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me; and he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and manifest myself unto him: if a man love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him; and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. And Rom. 8. 9 Now if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his; for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are Sons of God, vers. 14. Ephes. 1. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23. Paul speaking to them concerning their faith in the Lord Jesus, as he had heard, and their love unto all Saints; he ceased not to give thanks for them, making mention of them in his prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; the eyes of their understandings being enlightened, that they may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power, to usward, who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand, in the heavenly places, far above all principalities, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come; and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church, which is his Body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all. Which Mystery was made known to Paul by Revelation; and he expressly saith, That this Mystery in Christ was not made known unto the sons of men in other ages, as it is now revealed unto his Apostles and Prophets, which is made known by the Spirit; and that is, that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same Body, and partakers of his promise in Christ: and to this end, he prayeth for them, that they may be strengthened in the inner man, by the riches of his glory, with might, by his Spirit; that Christ may dwell in their hearts by Faith, that they may be filled with all the fullness of God, and may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ Jesus in them the hope of glory, which cleanseth all his from all filthiness, that they may perfect holiness in his fear: for they that have learned Christ, and been taught by him, as the Truth is in Jesus, they put off all uncleanness and lasciviousness, they put off the old man, with his deeds, which is, lying, deceit, lust, evil speaking; they must not be angry, neither give place to the devil, nor his Temptations; against which they must keep a continual watch, that they may not fall; they must let no rotten nor corrupt communication proceed out of their mouths, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers; and all bitterness, wrath, anger, and evil speaking, and clamour, must be put away, with all malice, drunkenness and fornication, filthiness and foolish jesting. And that which maketh manifest sin, is the light in every one; for all things are reproved and made manifest by the light; for whatsoever doth make manifest, is light: and therefore awake thou that sleepest, and stand up from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light; and wait on the Lord, to be filled with his Spirit; for we are members of his Body, of his flesh, and of his bones; that you may be strong in the Lord, and the power of his might, that putting on the whole Armour of God, they may be able to stand against the wife's of Satan; for they are not only to wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, and powers, against the Rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickednesses in high places; and therefore they must have their loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of Righteousness, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, that enlighteneth every one that cometh into the world, Christ in you the hope of glory: for they that are Christ's, crucify the flesh, with the affections, and lusts: and he maketh his walk as he hath walked, to be holy as he is holy, and pure as he is pure; to count all things but loss and dung, that they may win Christ, for whom they suffer the loss of all things, that they may know him, and the power of his Resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death, that they may attain unto the Resurrection of the dead; forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching after those things that are before, that they may attain unto perfection; having their conversations in heaven, from whence they look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change their vile bodies, that they may be fashioned according to his glorious body, according to that working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself; and therefore they are careful for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer, and thanksgiving, and supplication, their Requests are made known unto God; and those things that are true, just, pure, and of good report, peaceable, and lovely, bowels of compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, charity, that whatsoever they do, in word or deed, they may and aught to do all in the name of Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father by him: & this is the fruits the Saints are clothed with, which doth demonstrate their new birth, which gift is from above, from the Father of spirits, from whom they receive power to become the sons of God, by believing in his Name. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch; and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth: In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his Name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS: For he is that mighty King that shall be established upon the holy Hill of Zion; that is, he shall be the only King, unto whom every man and woman must be subject; for He shall Reign for ever and ever.  
But here may an Objection arise: We see the power of darkness reigns in most men and women, and they are guided by the god of this world, who ruleth in the hearts of the children of disobedience; for the Mystery of Iniquity doth work in them, with all deceivableness in unrighteousness, in them that perish, to whom the Lord sendeth strong delusions, that they should believe lies, that they all might be damned, that would not receive the truth in the love of it, but took pleasure (mark this) in unrighteousness; so it is sin is the cause of all misery.  
I answer, That all men by nature are children of wrath; but God, who is rich in mercy, giveth unto all a tender of grace, for he stands at the door, and knocketh; if any man open, he will come in, and sup with him. Now there is a measure of the light of Christ in every one, which is given to profit withal: and when he cometh, he destroyeth sin, or taketh away sin, for he came to destroy the works of the devil; and he will consume and destroy all sin, by the brightness of his power, for he is stronger than the strong man, that divideth the spoils, and taketh from him whatsoever he trusteth in. So that whatsoever estate a son or daughter is in, it is still but Christ combating with his Enemies, in that estate, drawing all into himself, and destroying all opposing powers, that himself may remain to be the one alone Almighty power, spread forth every where; and so doing the will of the Father, bruising the serpent's head in them that believe, that he alone who is the Divine, may grow up, flourish and remain, and bring forth abundance of fruit in them, when their created flesh is purged from bondage, and made subject unto him in all things; for they that are in Christ, ought so to walk as Christ hath walked, who did no evil, neither was there guile found in his mouth; so that every one speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is their head, even Christ, who is their Anointed; and he shall subdue all their enemies under their feet, Psal. 100 1. and his people shall be willing in the day of his power. And the new heaven and the new earth, mentioned Rev. 5. 13. wherein he who is King of Righteousness doth dwell and rule, and they that are his redeemed ones, shall see him in all his creatures, and they shall all rejoice in each other, and all their joy in him shall be full. This great Mystery, Christ, is begun to appear, and Christ is arising, and drawing all his into himself: and he that hath part in the first Resurrection, over him the second death shall have no power. For there is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked; there is no peace so long as deceit lodgeth in the heart: If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear me; there can be no quiet nor true peace in man, till the Kingdom of Darkness be conquered, and the serpent be cast out, and all his works; and then such a heart is made a fit Temple for the holy Ghost, to dwell bodily in: for all Christ's enemies must to the fire, and when they are burnt up, than he reigns in the soul; for unto us a Child is born, and unto us a Son is given, and the Government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called, Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace; of the increase of his Government and Peace, there shall be no end: and those that wait or stay themselves on the Lord, he keepeth such in perfect Peace. For it is Righteousness that delivereth from Death, even death eternal; and therefore it concerneth every man and woman to wait, that he may feel that power of righteousness, the Lord subduing every lust in them, bringing all into subjection that is contrary to him, that Christ alone may Rule. Open the gates, and stand open ye everlasting doors, that the King of glory may enter in, which is Jesus, who will cast out all sin, that he may present his without spot unto the Father: for the Lord hateth every hypocrite, Isa. 9 17. and Christ saith, Woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites: for wickedness burneth as a fire, and through the wrath of the Lord of Hosts is the Land darkened, and the people shall be as fuel of the fire; no man shall spare his brother, and all because of sin. And Tophet is prepared of old, even for the king it is prepared; and the breath of the Lord, as a river of brimstone, kindleth it.  
And therefore all you stouthearted Magistrates that oppress and destroy his holy ones in this the day of the Lords power, fear and tremble, for he is coming to punish the stout heart of the King, and all that do wickedly under him: and he pronounceth woe unto all them that make or decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness, and subscribe it, to turn aside the needy from judgement, and take away the right from the poor, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless: What will you do in this the day of the Lords visitation, which will bring desolation upon all oppressors? for they shall be trodden down as dirt in the streets, Isa. 10. 6. And all those that kill the Prophets, and stone the just ones that are sent unto them, to turn them from the evil of their doings: Let them fear and tremble before him, for fear he require at the hands of them the blood of all the Prophets slain from the foundation of the World: for the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all people that forget God: for the Lord is known by the judgements which he executeth, in snaring the wicked in the works of his own hands: for the Lord will break in pieces all unjust oppressing Magistrates like a Potter's vessel.  
Be wise now therefore O ye Kings, be learned ye Judges of the earth; serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice in trembling; kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way; when his wrath shall suddenly burn, then blessed are all they that trust in him. For nothing but truth in the inward parts can stand before him, and therefore every one wait till this King Jesus, who is the Word, and was in the beginning; and all things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made: for in him is life, and the life is the light of men, which is the true light that lighteneth every man that cometh into the world: and to all those that do receive this light, in the love of it, to them he gives power to become the sons of God, even to such as believe on his Name, which are born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, but of the will of God. For it is plain, the Word was made flesh, and dwelled amongst us, Joh. 1. 14. the same was in the beginning with God, of whose fullness we have received grace for grace.  
Now say the people of this World, who lie in wickedness (for the whole World lieth in wickedness) this Light will delude you, it will deceive you.  
Thou vain man, what can deceive Antichrist? what can deceive a Drunkard, a Whoremonger, an unclean Swearer, Liar, Covetous man, who is an Idolater? are not these led by the Prince of Darkness, that ruleth in the hearts of the children of disobedience? Cannot all men see that they are in darkness? and can the light of the World, Christ Jesus, can he delude them? these are plainly lulled asleep by Satan in a carnal security, and cry peace, peace, until sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape it. Therefore let me advise such to wait and repent, if possible, that this the sin of the thoughts of their hearts may be forgiven them: for they are in the gall of bitterness, and the bond of iniquity. For I bear my testimony from the everlasting Spirit of the Lord Jesus, that this which hath been declared, is the truth of God, and will become his power unto Salvation unto every one that can lay hold upon him: for they shall put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness, whose conversation is in heaven, from whence they look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change their vile bodies, that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself: for Christ by his appearance with the Spirit of his mouth, will burn up all the cursed seed of bondage, under which his redeemed ones groan; and when that which is the Serpent's seed is cast forth, than the heart is a fit Temple for the Father himself to dvvel in, a garden wherein he will take delight: for the Lord will be alone exalted in this the great day of his power, wherein Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall devil safely: and this is his Name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness.  
Now the Priests of this Generation delude the People, just like those spoken of, Jer. 23. 14. I have seen in the Prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing, they commit adultery, and walk in lies; they strengthen the hands of evil doers, that none doth return out of his wickedness: for the Lord feedeth them with Wormwood, and giveth them Gall to drink; for the Lord expressly saith, They shall not profit his people; for they speak a Divination of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord; and they tell the people, if they walk after the imaginations of their own hearts, no evil shall come upon them: I have not sent these Prophets (saith the Lord) yet they run; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied: but if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, than they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? can any hide himself in secret places, that I shall not see him, saith the Lord? do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord? how long shall this be in the hearts of the Prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are Prophets of the deceit of their own hearts, which think to cause my people to forget my Name, by the dreams which they tell every man to his Neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my Name for Baal. Therefore am I against the Prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my word every one from his Neighbour, therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.  
Now let the Priests be tried, do they know the voice of the Lord? do they not deny, and say, Revelation is ceased, and teach men cannot be freed from sin while they live, and teach people to die in their sin? and what will become of them then? for as the Tree falleth, so it lieth; and there is no repentance in the grave. Well, look to it, woes will be your portion, Jer. 23. 40. The Lord will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten. And therefore let me seriously desire every one to wait patiently upon the Lord, and to turn in to the light of their minds, that checketh for sin and evil: for this is the true Teacher: for that which giveth power over one sin, will give power over all sin, if the watch be carefully kept; and strength from on high will be manifested to give power against all sin, if the mind be turned to the Lord, who will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and they shall be safe: And thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they are my people, saith the Lord God: for they know the Word of the Lord for ever settled in heaven, and they make my Law their delight, and will never forget my Precepts, but will meditate on my Law day and night: for Christ saveth his from their sins. He it is that cometh out of Zion, to turn ungodliness from Jacob: and the time shall come, that the Kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord Christ, and he will lead the captivity captive, and let the Prisoners of hope go free; now they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness, shall be filled; and the poor receive the Gospel daily: Christ is drawing all men after him; he is calling in the Isles and Nations of the world, to come to this great Battle: and blessed for ever are all those that fighteth under him, and are his soldiers. I give thee thanks, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hidden these things from the wise and learned, and hast revealed them unto Babes; for such have the anointing from the Anointed, as you may see in 1 Joh. 2. 27. But that anointing which you received of him, dwelleth in you; and you need not that any man teach you, but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things; and it is true, and is not lying, and as it taught you, ye shall abide in him: and now little children abide in him, if ye know that he is righteous, know ye that he that doth righteousness is born of him: For he that findeth rest and peace in this precious wisdom and power of the Spirit, findeth it not by looking upon it at a distance, but by seeing and feeling that power, ruling in the Body of his flesh; for that which makes true love flow forth to every creature, is Christ in you the hope of glory, who indeed is the Blessing of all nations, and the Joy of the whole earth; Therefore fear not, O Servant Jacob, neither be afraid, O Israel: for I will save thee, and thou shalt dwell safely; and shalt not follow me in Types and Figures, in a formal customary way of worship, which is zeal without knowledge; for he that hath the anointing within, seeth the Father in every thing.  
Now he that speaketh from imagination or tradition, and not from experience of what he seeth, cannot tell another of his evil, but such a one is a false Prophet, and runneth before he is sent, put forward by some secret lust; and he never can bring to that which procureth peace, for he knoweth it not; because that which a man seeks for, whereby he might have peace, is within the heart, not without: The Word of life, Christ, the restoring Spirit, is to be found within you, even inyour mouths, and in your hearts; the Kingdom of heaven is within you. And therefore I must tell you the Priests of this generation, Read all the Books in your Universities, that tells you what hath been formerly; and though by your natural parts, with the help of such Studies, you can make speeches of a day long, yet you have no peace, but your hearts still are as a barren wilderness, and increase in sorrow, till your eyes return into yourselves, and the Spirit come from on high to make you read in your own Book, your heart, wherein you shall find the Mystery of Iniquity, the Man of Sin seated, which is the fruits of the first Adam: and till the Mystery of Godliness, the second Adam, Christ Jesus, be revealed in you, to destroy the works of the devil, and make you righteous, and restore you to life, there is not neither can there be peace: for there is no peace to the wicked, saith my God: and, if I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear me: and, he that liveth in sin, the wrath of God abideth upon him.  
So it is clear, that the single-hearted ones, who see the Mystery of Righteousness, and are acquainted every one according to his measure, with that Spirit of truth that is to be the Blessing of the whole earth, and that enlightens all that come into the world, although they are slightly regarded, and trodden under foot of men of the world, whom God filleth with his hid treasure, that have every worldly thing their hearts can wish for, that their eyes many times are ready to start out for fatness: yet let them know for their sorrow and woe, that out of this Zion, which no man regards, shall the Deliverer come: for the light and life of Christ within the heart, discovers all Darkness, and delivers Mankind from Bondage; and beside him there is no Saviour: and what will become of those that are found fighters against God? for they that persecute them, persecute me, saith Christ. And therefore fear and tremble, whoever rhou art, for the wrath of the Lord smoketh against thee, and his jealousy burneth like fire: if thou art found in a persecuting nature, thy sin will bring destruction upon thee, and there shall be no remedy. Although judgement is not executed speedily against evil doers, which causeth their hearts to be set in them to do evil, yet the Lord will punish the hairy scalp of them that go on in their wickedness; and when their sins are fully ripe, than judgement shall come upon them to the utmost, and there shall be no Remedy: and therefore, O Man, who ever thou art, great or small, that fighteth or striveth against his little ones, fear and tremble, and cease from sinning any longer in that nature, for fear the Lord may be a heaping up thy iniquities, that he may bring wrath upon thee to the utmost, and then there shall be no remedy; for he repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them, he will not be slack. Deut. 7. 10, 21. For the Lord thy God is amongst you; a mighty God, and terrible; who is now rising in his might and power, to destroy the man of sin, and is rising like a mighty man, refreshed after Wine, and the seed of wickedness shall be destroyed by the brightness and glory of his coming: for he alone that is the King of Righteousness will be exalted amongst you. And therefore let all flesh stand still, waiting in silence before him, that they may see the Salvation of GOD.   

The second Epistle:  
To all people whose souls panteth after God, as the Hart panteth after the water-brooks.  
NOW to him that ordereth his Conversation aright, will I show the salvation of God. Harken to the Word of the Lord, and your souls shall live: mind what power rules in you, whether it be a particular, confining, selfish power, which is of the devil, or whether it be an universal, spreading power, that doth delight in the liberty of the Son: for if the Son shall make you free, then are you free indeed. The selfish power when it is crossed or shamed, it grows distempered, bitter spirited, sometimes endeavouring to kill that body it dwells in, and sometime some other that angers it: but the power of Christ, who is the giver forth of the Law of Righteousness, ruling within, is not moved to anger: charity, true love, thinketh not evil, but hopeth, and endureth all things, being meek and patient, loving and acting righteously, both to his own Body, and to others, though they be his Enemies, following the Rule of Jesus Christ their King, Do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, that you may be children of your Father which is in heaven.  
Let every man and woman know, that there is but two Spirits, a good and a bad; there is but two ways, the strait and the narrow, that leadeth to life eternal, and few find it; and the broad way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be that go in that way: there is but God and the devil, Heaven and hell; the way to happiness, and the way to misery; the way to life, and the way to death, even death eternal. And the way to life, is believing in the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world.  
And verily it doth concern every man to know in what state he is, whether the spirit or the flesh beareth sway: for the two powers before spoken of, are the two adam's in mankind; they are Jacob and Esau, son of the freewoman, or son of bondage: the first kills and crucifieth the Son of God; but the second, the Lord from heaven, he maketh alive: for Christ the Spirit of Truth, doth arise above the power of evil; and he takes the body, and rules in it: Isa. 65. 17. he makes it a new heaven and a new earth, where in dwells righteousness. Now that which seeks after the enjoyment of Creatures, to have peace in them, doth but seek the living among the dead: for all sin makes but one perfect body of the power of darkness, the devil, which doth reign in every man, till the man of righteousness, Christ, the stronger than he, who is the Anointing, comes and throws down his strong holds, and divides the spoil: and when Christ this Word of life hath the possession, that soul hath true peace in the salvation that cometh out of Zion: for peace is not to be found in any other: for he is the Prince of peace, and the Captain of our salvation, who hath perfected for ever all those that are sanctified by him; and he ever liveth to make intercession for them: for by his obedience many are made righteous. Every one shall be called by my name: for I created him for my glory, form him and made him. I will bring forth the blind people, and they shall have eyes; and the deaf, and they shall have ears. ay, even I am the Lord, and besides me there is no Saviour. Isai. 43. 7, 8, 11. Because thou wast precious in my sight, and I loved thee, therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy sake. This people have I form for myself; they shall show forth my praise. And all the seed of the Serpent shall be destroyed; and the power of darkness is that cursed ground that is for burning, which the Lord of life and glory will trample upon; for he came into the world to destroy the works of the devil; and all things shall be subdued by his power, and he will put all things under his feet: and then when all things are brought under by this Prince of peace, than the soul sits down in peace in him who is the King of righteousness, who will make all that living earth subject to himself, and fill all with holy breathe. Glorious things are spoken of him; for he is the City of God: and this holy breathing is the kingdom of heaven within you, when he rules within you; and the kingdom of heaven without you likewise, when you see the same glory rule in others, in which you rejoice. For in the day of Christ's power, he will subdue all his enemies under his feet, and deliver up the kingdom to his Father.  
Therefore let not any one marvel to see the people turning from one way of Worship to another: for the Father is driving his people thorough all the Ways, and Forms, and Customs, and Reformations, and Governments of the Beast, to weary them out in all, that so they may not find rest for the soles of their feet, in any outward form of Worship, nor in any thing until they come to lie down in him, forsaking all Forms to worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth; that is, to walk uprightly, being holy in all manner of Conversation; for it is written, Be ye holy, as I am holy; and pass the time of your sojourning here in his fear, knowing that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversations in time past, but with the precious blood of Christ Jesus, as a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. And until Christ reigneth as Lord and King, the soul is restless, running from post to pillar, as I may so call it, from one Worship and Form to another, meeting nothing but confusion and the curse in every thing he doth; so poor creatures are in bondage within, for they know not what to do; the way to Zion is not yet clear, and they are filled with sigh and secret mournings, to see themselves in confusion and loss, to stick in the mire, but cannot get out: this is inward slavery which they groan under, being under the hand of the Tyrant flesh that rules the Kingdom, and devises the several fleshly Forms and Ways of Government, to which, if any refuse to conform, than he thinks fit to punish them with imprisonment or shameful reproach, any way he can invent; so that many weak spirits are brought under, and are in awe, either by fear or shame; and thus Jacoh hath been kept very low, but he must arise. To see the Divine Power in Creature-Objects is sweet, but to see him ruling in the heart, is sweeter: for the Spouse had seen Christ, or else she could never have called him her Beloved, and mourned in his absence. Now all things, yea all things, must be but loss, dung, and Dogs meat, that we may be found in him, having the Law of Righteousness and Peace ruling and dwelling in our hearts, being refreshed with those sweet smelling Spices, the discovery of the Father's Love within, which is the Word of God. This is sweeter than the Honey and the Honeycomb; for this is to see him near at hand, even within the heart, ruling and resting there: This is the Kingdom of Heaven within you; this the City of Refuge that will not fail a man; this is the Rock of Defence and Offence: this is the Power that makes a man as bold as a Lion, that in the greatest straits findeth peace and rest: like Paul, can sing at midnight, although in chains under the hardship of persecution by Tyrants, for he felt peace, and was at rest; yea, such peace as the world knows not of: let come what will come, this man knows it is the will of his Father it shall be so, and he feels a quiet peace compass his heart, so that he seeth and feeleth peace within, and rejoiceth in the excellency of it; he seeth love and patience within, and rejoiceth in that sweet Ointment that doth cast a delightful savour all his soul over. Now if this man should be forsaken of all his outward Friends, imprisoned, banished, all men deny to deal with him, because they count him a man of strange Opinions, and Blasphemies, calling him all reproachful names; as they shall say all manner of evil falsely against the newborn Babes, and they shall kill them, and think they do God good service in it: Yet the Saints are in God, he lives in them and they in him; and he will have his holy Ones, whom he draws up to worship himself in spirit and in truth, to be silent, slow to speech, for a season; yet quicksighted, Eagle eyed; though they be silent, they are not sottish, as the world judgeth, and falsely surmiseth of them; but they shall all see and behold with the single eye, and judge others righteously, and they shall not be judged of any man. And let the ignorant Professors of the world be ashamed, for condemnation will fall upon them, and fear shall surprise the hypocrites: for the righteous actings and patient silence of those that are drawn up to wait on the Lord, shall be the great shame and confusion of face upon them; the wise flesh, that would be an Angel of light, is full of words, but dead to the Law of Righteousness: the Saints must die to waste words, but be made alive to righteousness, walking uprightly to all things, in all wellpleasing, in the sight of God their heavenly Father: for the man of the flesh is altogether for preaching, praying, as he calls it, observations of Forms and Customs, and knows not how to worship, if these be taken away; he hath no peace if this be gone. But the man that is in his natural condition, that is not born again, this man's prayer shall turn into sin, and all that ever he doth is an Abomination in the sight of God, and he that hath his eyes in his head, as Solomon saith the wiseman hath, he beholds all these his performances to be out of the life and power of Christ, and death is in all that ever he doth: let his specious fair pretences be what they will, if the inward Power be wanting, no Sacrifice can be accepted: therefore the clean heart God accepteth; therefore the just man is continually meditating, the Law of his God is in his heart, therefore his footsteps shall not slide. The godly man turns his eye inward to see the Law of Righteousness guiding and ruling his body; and this is the excellent sight, to see the Divine Power in ones self, ruling, dwelling and living within; which if it doth, that Body wherein it dwells, shall be wholly subject in all its actions to the Law of Righteousness. They that know what the power of Love, and the Law of Righteousness is, they know the truth of what is here verified: they that live in the light, they see the Lord abroad and at home; they see him in other creatures, and they see him in themselves; patiently submitting to his will in all things, that it may be done on earth, as it is in heaven; so that there is a sweet composed agreement between the disposing hand of God without, and his power within. He that thus seeth the Lord the Ancient of days, the one Almighty power, doth mightily honour him, when nothing can be done abroad, either in adversity or in prosperity, but the divine power that rules in the heart, consents, rejoices, and doth not grudge: And now the Lord is one, and his Name one, and his power one, every where.  
The sight of the King of Glory within, lies not in the strength of Memory, calling to mind what a man hath read and heard, being able by a humane capacity to join things together into a method, and through the power of free utterance, to hold it forth to others, as the fashion of Students in their Sermon-work is, which a ploughman that never was bred in the Universities, may do as much; nay, they do more, in some kind, as experience teaches. But the sight of the King of glory within, lies in the beholding of light arising up from an inward power of feeling experience, filling the soul with the glory of the Law of Righteousness, which doth not vanish like the taking in of words and comfort from the mouth of a hear-say-Priest, who doth speak by the strength of his memory; but it doth continue like the Sun in the Firmament, shining forth from that established power of the Divine within; and the enlivened heart shall sooner be separated from glorying in the Law of Righteousness that dwells in him, than the light and heat of the Sun, can be separated from the Sun: and truly, let me tell you, that as a man finds abundance of sweet peace in his heart, when he is made to live in the Kingdom of Heaven; so the words that this man speaks from this power within, are very profitable to others, and is good seed, wheresoever it is sown, that will spring up, and bring forth fruit: for words spoken from the light of experience, have a twofold operation upon the hearts of the hearers: for first, if I lie under straits and bondage in my spirit, by reason of some inward and outward troubles, by reason of the enthraldom to my own lusts, that overpowers me, so that I cannot do what I would; then the words of experience from another's mouth that hath been in the same condition, and is passed thorough it, sounds liberty and life to my weary soul: I speak what I have felt in this particular.  
Secondly, If I delight in any way of the flesh, as to seek peace in Creatures abroad without me, or to seek satisfaction to my self-vvill and lust, in the midst of this, I do (occasionally) hear the words of experience from others, declaring such actions and motions to be the powers of the flesh and devil, and not of the spirit of Righteousness; presently these words take peace from the earth, that is, from proud flesh, and fills the whole soul with anger, distemper, gradging and torment: and this is another operation that pure Language produceth, which is, a lancing of the dead flesh, that the disease may be cured; for this wounding is not to the ruin of the creature, but it is a Medicine sent from the Lord to heal him, to take away the evil peace from the flesh, that so the created part may lie down in rest, and be at peace in Christ which cannot be moved: for every comfort that is of the flesh, shall be shaken and removed; but Christ the one power of Righteousness and Peace, shall not be shaken nor moved, but stand firm for ever.  
Now by this may you see the Kingdom of the flesh and devil, which must be shaken to pieces, and fall, and the Kingdom of Heaven, or of God, that endures for ever, and is that Rock that cannot be removed.  
For every one that hath lain under the bondage of selfish power, and is delivered, he can from that experience, declare what the power of darkness is, in whole mankind.  
Now some may say, What is it for a man to live in the Kingdom of Hell, Devil, or Darkness?  
I answer: When a man takes delight in nothing but satisfying of the lusts of his own heart; when the way of the flesh is pleasing, and the way of the spirit of Righteousness is a burden to him; when he glories in himself, and feeds with delight upon his Covetousness, Pride, Envy, Lust, Self-vvill, and in all other Evil, that doth satisfy his devilish appetite; and if he can but overcome that power that checketh his will, or crosseth his carnal delights, than this man is in his Kingdom, he rejoiceth, and is well pleased. But yet know, thou vain Man, that this is yet but the Kingdom of the flesh, that must be shaken, and this earth must be removed; for this is glorying in a man's shame.  
What is the Kingdom of Heaven, or of Christ?  
The Law of Righteousness and Peace, ruling and dwelling in mankind, is the Kingdom of Heaven; for this is the universal power bearing rule, and therefore treadeth the selfish power under his feet; for all his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and in that Law he doth exercise himself both day and night. Now where the heart is thus established with grace, there is perfect peace; and that which is perfect peace, is the Kingdom of Heaven within you: yea, it is the White stone, with the new name written in it, that none know it but them that have it.  
What is it for a man to live in the Kingdom of Heaven within you?  
When a man is come to that condition by believing in the light, that he is brought over the works of darkness, and is made subject in every thing to the King of Righteousness, Jesus Christ, and all his delight is to walk according to his Law in every thing, his Crown and Glory being in that Law of Righteousness which he finds seated in his heart, and finds content no where else; and when the Spirit is honoured, this man is in his Kingdom, he hath what he would have: for when a man is made to see and know the Law of Love and Righteousness within him, and delights to act from that power of life and liberty which he seeth & feeleth seated in him; now this man is carried on with much joy & sweet calmness, meekness and moderation, and is full of glory: this is the excellency of the work of Christ, not only to make flesh subject to Righteousness, but to know himself made subject, and to rejoice in the sweet enjoyment of that Prince of peace: to make a man rejoice, and to know the ground of it, that his joy is unmoveable.  
What do you mean by Divine Power?  
The Divine is the spreading power of righteousness, which is Christ that filleth all in all with himself, & he is called a Tree, or a Vine, because he doth not lie in any single person, but spreads himself in all mankind; & every single body in whom he breathes, is but a bough or bud of the Vine: so that look upon all together in whom Christ is spread, and they make up but one Vine, knit together by that one Spirit into one Body, whether they be poor or rich, learned or unlearned; therefore those rich men that despise the poor, and those learned that despise the unlearned, as your University men and Priests of the Nation doth, for there is some Priests now in the Nation, that were not bred in the University: but know all of you that are despisers of them that are good, and have them in contempt for their poverty, and because they are unlearned in your Logic and Tongues, as men are; why I must tell you, you are all but pricks of the Thorn-bush, not Branches of the Vine, and you are the curse that is now very near unto burning.  
And every single one alone in whom Christ breathes, is but a parcel of the Vine in whom the Divine Power dwells and rests, even as every Branch of an Appletree is filled with the sap, which is the life of the whole Tree. Christ is the Divine, because he grows and flourishes in the time of light; he is the Son himself, he is a Vine or Tree that grows by day in the heat of light, and so brings forth abundance of fruit to the glory of the Father. Trees that grow in the heat of the Sun, they bring forth pleasant fruit: so those that are Branches of this Vine, that grows in the heat and life of the one Spirit, the King of Righteousness, they bring forth abundance of the fruits of Righteousness, according to the nature of the Vine they grow from: therefore the Saints are called, Children of the day, not of the night; for they speak what they know experimentally, and what they have received feelingly from the Lord: As we have tasted, as we have felt, as we have handled, so we deliver unto you: and their actions and words are not spent at random; for they act righteously in the creation, among all they have to do withal, and they do it from the Law of Reason and Righteousness which they feel seated within them.  
For every one that doth speak or act from the light or power of the Divine within himself, can give an account of his Words and Actions; but this is the glorying that the fleshly part hides himself from: for the Law of Righteousness, fleshly Israel, could not behold the new Covenant, which the men of the long Robe, the Clergymen, so called, are unacquainted with.  
For opposite to this Divine Christ, there is a night-Vine, which is the power of selfishness, which is a fruit of the bottomless pit; and it is spread abroad in mankind, and every man and woman that is guided by this selfish power of darkness, are but Branches of the night-Vine; and this night-Vine which is fleshly man, hath from the beginning of Adam's fall, filled the whole earth with darkness, under pretence of Learning, and fleshly Forms of Government, and so is become a spread Tree: but he is called by the Spirit of Righteousness, the Thorn; the Fruit he brings forth, is sour and bitter, and good for nothing but the dunghill; for Trees that grow always in the shade or place of darkness, where the light and heat of the Sun doth not cooperate, brings forth unpleasant fruit. Now this night-Vine, or rather Thorn-bush, is the branchings forth of the wisdom and power of selfish flesh; every bud from it, is a sharp prickle: Treacherous and covetous Judas was one Branch from that Root, and he hath risen sin up to a mighty great Tree: for every treacherous and covetous heart is but the buddings forth of Judas: so the envious Scribes and Pharisees are other Branches from the same Root, and these have risen up into mighty spreading Trees; for every one that is zealous without knowledge, making a profession of the spirit of Righteousness, and yet grudging and hating the way of the spirit, are but the buddings forth of the Scribes and Pharisees that killed the just One, the Lord of life and glory, and wrote Hebrew, Greek and Latin over his head, to blind the world, that their learning taught them to do that act of murder: and although they have now killed Christ after the flesh, and by that have spread in every Land and Family, to hinder Christ from rising, or else to suppress and kill him again after he is risen, if they could, in Sons and Daughters, whom he hath, by the manifestation of his light, made himself known unto them.  
So covetous Demas, proud Simon Magus, froward and churlish Nabal, unrighteous Elymas, and such like, are all the budoing forth of the Thorn-bush, and have covered the earth with their Branches, to keep it in darkness, and to hide the Son of Righteousness from it; and all these are centred in the Clergy of this nation, or the Priests, which is most suitable to their taking of Tithes, which is the great sin of Oppression that many people for conscience sake, and nothing else, are undone in their outward Estates; and some through hard imprisonment, have lost their bodily lives: and this great and sad grievance is upheld by these men's pride, covetousness, idleness, bitterness of spirit, despising and treading all under foot in whom the spirit of the Lamb appears; which all those that are born again do see and know this to be true, and that these are the standing Enemies against Christ; their Churches, as they call them, are the Successors of the Jews Synagogues, and are houses of bon-dage. And though they have prevailed with the Magistrates for their Tithes, to settle them, yet they shall find the last end of them will be sad; for they are but hear-say Preachers of the Gospel, they cannot say any thing from any Testimony of light they have within themselves, but from the Writings they have from the Apostles, which they profess great love to, & keep charily for their Tithes sake: and by the one, they deceive the people of their Souls, for they preach the letter for the spirit; and by the other, they pick their Purses.  
And this is very manifest by their carriage: for though those Writings which they live by, were not Writings that proceeded from any Scholars according unto humane Art, but from Fishermen, Shepherds, Husbandmen, who spoke and writ as the Spirit gave them utterance, from an inward Testimony of life; Yet now these learned Scholars, having got the Writings of these inferior men of the world, so called by some, they now slight, and despise, and trample under their feet, men guided by the Spirit of the Lord, pressing upon the powers of the earth, to make Laws to hold them under bondage, and that Lay-people, Tradesmen, and such as are not bred in Schools, may have no liberty to speak or write of the Spirit. And why so? Because out of these despised ones of the world, doth the Spirit rise up more and more to clearer light, making them to speak from experience, and every fresh discovery of the Father shines more glorious than the old, till at last the creature is made to see the Father face to face in his own light.  
But now the Scholars that come to speak from the strength of what they have stole from others, being not filled with the Holy Ghost, which maketh Ministers, they have no inward Testimony of their own to uphold their Trade, but by a customary practice, they uphold their Trade thus, by holding fast the old letter, getting their livings by telling the people the meanings of those Tradesmens Words and Writings. But alas! they mightily deceive them, and corrupt their Meanings, by their multitudes of false Expositions and Interpretations: for no man knows the meaning of the Spirit of GOD, but he that hath the Spirit: and if the Father sends forth any of these Tradesmen to declare their Testimony which is in them, as in these days he sends forth many, and these true labourers shall increase, maugre the Malice of Men & Devils, and all those false aspersions cast upon them, calling them new Lights, Factious, erroneous Blasphemers, and the like, shall not hurt them: for it is but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled; they shall say or speak all manner of evil, falsely, against them for my sake; and they that kill them shall think they do God good service in it, even as those that killed the Just One, crying, Crucify him, crucify Him: but all will be to no purpose, for the work is of the Lord, and it shall stand: The counsels of the Lord taketh place in every age, and his word is established in Heaven; and when all things else shall come to nothing, than not one jot or tittle of this shall fail. Wicked men and Deceivers had best give over, for it is hard for them to kick against the pricks, or strive against the stream: For the Lord Jehovah, at whose voice the mountains quake, the hills tremble; that telleth all the Stars, and calleth them all by their names; and saith to the proud waves of the Seas, Thus far shall ye go, and no farther; that keepeth the devils in chains, against that great and terrible day, when all men shall be judged for the things done in their flesh; that divided the seas for his children to pass over, and drowned his enemies in the same waters; I say, this God is too great for Man to contest with.  
But what is the reason that the Preachers of this world, so called by many, are so bitter against truth in the inward parts? in words they speak much for it.  
Because the light of truth that springs up out of this earth, which the Scholars tread under feet, will shine so clear, as it will put out the candle of these wicked learned Deceivers. Now the people are not to look for any teaching, but from the great Prophet Jesus Christ, and are not to acknowledge any other Ruler, but such as are guided by him, this King of peace, who plants the Law of Righteousness in the hearts. The hear-say Teachers would have the people look up to them for teaching: and verily I must bear my Testimony, that the more I looked upon any man for teaching, the more I was wrapped into bondage and confusion; and therefore all the upshot and end of the Priests is only to hinder Christ from rising, and to keep Jacob under, that he may be a servant unto the man of flesh.  
So it is plain, that all that is done in the world about hear-say Priests, and their settled Forms of Worship, is no other but the spreadings forth of the Thorn-bush, the fleshly man, to hinder the worship of the Father in spirit and in truth; and all these strict and zealous Preachers, so called, and Professors of other men's Words and writings, and Upholders of Forms and Customs, are no other but the Scribes, Pharisees, and Judas, that still pursues Christ in enmity. And this is the reason why many are so ignorant and cold spirited in the acknowledgement of the Father, because the night-Vine or Branches of the Thorn-bush are so mighty great and thick, that they hide the light and heat of the Sun of Righteousness from it; this is the man of sin, the Mystery of Iniquity, that lets, and must let, till he be taken out of the Way. Indeed, this Thorn-bush doth so prick, that none dare meddle with it, but those that are well clothed with Christ, such as have put on the whole Armour of God. This Thorn-bush or night-Vine, grows in the cold time of the night, while the Sun of Righteousness is under the clouds; and the fruit it brings forth is unpleasant, as pride, covetousness, envy, self-love, hypocrisy, confusion, bondage, and all misery, under the power of darkness: and all that oppress the holy just Ones, they act from this night-Vine, and are children of the night and of darkness.  
Now from hence it doth appear what proud men the Clergy are, that call themselves Divines, when their light is but a candle, stolen from the Apostles and Prophets writings; it is not their own Light, it is but hear-say in them, who cannot in their own particulars witness the things they do declare or hold forth unto others; and therefore their pride, and covetousness, doth plainly declare them to be false Christ's, and false Prophets, and that they are but Branches of the Thorn-bush that are full of sharp pricks, in regard they endeavour to uphold a forced maintenance from the people, whether they will or no, and force the people to be silent, to hear them preach hear-say, what Austin, Gregory, and the Fathers have said; and none must gainsay what they affirm, although never so false, upon pain of 5 l. or lie in the common Goal, and be bound to their good Behaviour; and are like to be crushed in their Estates, by the power of many wicked Magistrates, if they oppose these hear-say Priests that say and unsay; for they know not what they say, but say to darken people's knowledge more and more! O sad Anti-christian Laws, against the plain Scripture, which alloweth prophesying, or speaking one by one, as the Spirit giveth or maketh manifest, and the first shall hold his peace: doth not the shame of those Laws and their Makers almost appear unto all men? If it do not, it will do very suddenly: assure yourselves, you Priests, you must fall and be turned out, as Judas, Simon Magus, and the Scribes and Pharisees, that are the greatest Enemies to Christ, the spreading power of Righteousness: for the Lord doth not send hear-say men to be labourers in his Vineyard, but such as he first fills with his Divine power, and then sends them to work in his Vineyard: so that still it is but Christ in them, that is the One, that is sent of the Father: for the Father sends none but his only beloved Son in whom he is well pleased, who is the Law of Righteousness and Peace, the spreading power that fills all in all. And you shall find, you Priests that are so puffed up, and filled with pride, and are clothed with covetousness, that ere it be long these poor despised ones of the world that have this Law written in their hearts, are the true Labourers that are sent forth into the Vineyard; and you that call yourselves Divines, and Labourers, you are but Traitors to Christ, and Enemies to his Spirit: you have had warnings from time to time; Many Prophets hath the Lord sent unto you, and righteous men; but you have stopped your ears, and hardened your hearts at the voice of the Charmer, charm he never so wisely: but the greater will be your woes and sorrow; for you are left without excuse; you are the men that must have your mouths stopped, not by a humane tyrannical hand of power, as you have stopped the mouths of Gods holy and just Ones, for that they abhor; for the Lord himself, whom you dishonour by your hypocrisy, will stop your mouths with shame and sorrow, when he makes you to see yourselves in the state of Devils, Deceivers, Scribes and Pharisees, Simon Magus, Demas and Judas, that are Traitors to the spirit and power of Righteousness which is in the Saints. But if you say you do not assume the names of Divines as you write yourselves, under which description you are as bad as Diviners, Sorcerers or Deceivers, as Balaam was, and as the maid that got her Master gain by Divination, in Act. 16. 16. you hold forth letter for spirit, make people believe your words of hear-say, that it is the Testimony and experience of the spirit within you; and you pick their Purses extremely by this Sorcery and Divination.  
So it appears plain that the word you call Divinity, darkens knowledge: you talk much of the Body of Divinity, and of Anatomising Divinity: O fine Language! but when it comes to trial, it is but a husk: All is not Gold that glisters; there is no Kernel; the words ye say are without life; the spirit that gave forth the Scripture, ye are strangers unto: the natural man understands not the things of God; they are spiritually discerned: the Spirit hath filled the hearts of those you despise. You go on, selling words for money to the blind people, whom you have deceived; and the Spirit is not at all in your service, and your service stinks before the Lord: your preachings, prayings, and all your Will-worships, with all the people joining with you, is but an abomination in the sight of the Lord; for you are the people that draw nigh to God with your lips, but your hearts are far from him; and are removed afar off Love; Justice, righteous actings, doing injury to no man, is not to be found among you, neither clean hands and a pure heart: for the alone peace of the heart lieth in seeing and feeling Christ the Divine power to rise up and rule within; and every soul is in confusion, bon-dage and sorrrow, until he have true light and feeling thereof in himself, as I have showed and found by experience. And surely this may command all mouths to be silent, that speak from hear-say, and yet saith, Thus saith the Lord: he lies, & he dishonoureth the Lord, whoever he is, that speaketh before the Lord hath revealed himself in him, & spoke to him, and put words into his mouth; & he doth exceedingly wrong the souls of his hearers, by deceiving them; and so their lives, their whole actions, and their conversations are unprofitable to all men, because they make them believe a Divination are Words of Knowledge spoke from a pure Testimony.  
Surely if the Lord had not become the Teacher of his despised Ones, they had been overspread with Egyptian bon-dage and darkness, as the Priests are, by whom the earth is corrupted, and over spread with thick darkness: Well, you have Prophecies and Promises in the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles, wait upon the Lord till you see the fulfilling of them within yourselves: and leave off your much talk about words and syllables; for by this multitude of waste discourse people are blinded, that they neither mind the Ptophecies of Scriptures, nor wait for the fulfilling of them in themselves: for whatsoever is written, is written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the world shall fall.  
And verily, I can truly say; That so long as I was a blind Professor, a strict goer to Church, as they call it, and a hearer of Sermons, and never questioned what the Priest said, but believed as the learned Clergy, the Church, so called, believed; and still forgot all I heard: though I must say, The words they said were like a pleasant song in my ears, whilst I heard them. And this I know is the best condition of all your zealous Professors, this is all they can get from you; for you are in bondage and confusion; and Ignorance is the Mother of your Devotion: for your lives are in the flesh, you do not savour the things that are of the Spirit, and so you are not of God. Whilst I was such a Professor, I was counted by some Priests and others, a good Christian, and a godly Man, though all that was in me, was but zealous Ignorance, and led me on in the height of the deceitful Nature. But since it hath pleased the Father to reveal his Son in me, and hath caused me to speak what I know from an inward principle of light and power of life within; Now the same Priests, and Professors whom they have deceived, my former Acquaintance, begin to be afraid of me, and call me an erroneous Man, a dangerous man; and look upon me as upon a man of another world; and in that, they are not mistaken: for our Conversation is in heaven; and our delight on earth is in the Saints, and in those excellent Ones, that excels in virtue. For my part, I can truly say, from the goodness of the Lord, who is worthy of everlasting praises, to be acknowledged from me, that am as a brand snatched out of the fire, and kept from burning, by the goodness and loving kindness of the Lord, That my portion is fallen to me in a goodly heritage; the Lord is my portion; I have the Lord, I have enough. I look upon them with the eye of pity and love, seeing them as yet to live under the spirit of Delusion, and power of Darkness; the god of this world having blinded their eyes, that they cannot see the way to the Kingdom: and therefore I think it my Duty to wait upon the great Restorer of all things, until he manifest or raise in them the manifestation of the measure of that light that he hath placed in their souls, and given them to profit withal, and then that ruling in them, will makes us become one again, and then we shall not be divided any more. O dear Friends! despise not this Word, wait on the Lord for teachings; you neither will nor can have rest in your souls, until he speak in you peace: For those that stay themselves on him, are kept in perfect peace, And follow your Forms as much and as fast as you can, in the strictest way you can possible, and it will not bring you peace; nay, it will bring you to a loss, and you shall be more and more wrapped into Confusion and sorrow of Heart: I speak what I have found, and therefore let not any deceive themselves. But when once the heart is made subject to Christ, the Law of Righteousness, looking up to him for instruction, waiting with a meek and quiet spirit till he appear in you, than you shall have peace, than you shall know the truth; and those that are made free by the Son, they are free indeed: For they shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; for the Lamb which is in the midst of the Throne shall govern them, and shall lead them to the lively Fountain of water: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.   

The third Epistle:  
To all Those that teach for Hire, and divine for Money, that they may lay their Hands on their Hearts, and consider the evil of their doings, and cease to do Evil, and learn to do well: For the terrible Day of the Lord is at hand; And who can dwell in everlasting Burnings?  
VErily I must bear my Testimony from the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, which is everlasting, That you the Priests of England are all blind Guides, and have your right eyes put out: and I shall prove you Deceivers of the people, and woes everlasting will be your portions, if you proceed; and therefore in tender love to your souls, I send this unto you, without consulting with flesh and blood.  
Consider this, you that are wand'ring Stars, That when Christ appeared in flesh, Moses Administration began to be silent, and drew back, and set Jesus Christ in the chair, to be the great Prophet that should be the Teacher in Types after him, and the Ministration of these Discoveries were to reign in the world their appointed time: Even so the Lamb, Christ Jesus, or that single Body, gives way to the Holy Ghost, which is the spreading Spirit, Joh. 16. 7. Joh. 17. 21. If I go not away (saith Christ) the Comforter cannot come to you: for he that dwells bodily in me, is to spread himself in you; that as the Father in me, and I in him are one, even so I in you, and you in me, may become one with the Father: And the Testimony of the Apostles declare as much, 2 Cor. 5. 16. Col. 1. 27. Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more: but we look after the Mystery which hath been kept secret from Ages and Generations past, which is, Christ in you, the hope of Glory. And therefore all your merchandizing in Gospel Forms, as you call them, and Types, declare you the Priests of England, to be yet under the Ministration of Christ after the flesh, declaring the Lamb Jesus to remain yet in one single person. But know you, That as the Ministration of Moses gave way to this, so this Ministration is to give way to the inward teachings of Christ, and the spreading of the Spirit in sons and daughters, which doth more excellently declare the glory of the Mystery; and this you call, A Dumb Idol: for all those that patiently wait in silence upon the Lord, do wait for the manifestation of the measure of the Spirit of God, to be poured down upon them, to make them profit withal; for they that are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God. The Man Christ Jesus told the Woman of Samaria, Woman, the time is coming, and now is, that neither in Jerusalem, nor in this Mountain shall men worship the Father; but they that worship him, shall worship him in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  
Now you show your Ignorance of Scriptures, and that you have not the Key of David, that openeth and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; but like those that made silver Shrines for Diana, cried her up for a great goddess, because their Living was got by it; but their deceit was plainly seen to all, whose eyes were opened. Now you deny the Teacher within, that shall not be moved into a corner: For the word is nigh thee, even in thy heart, and in thy mouth; and you need not tell the people, Lo, here is Christ, or Lo, he is there: for there is in every one a measure of the light of Christ, which is given them to profit withal; and if they follow that light, it will bring them out of every evil way: for it is that pure thing in man, that never did consent to sin, nor never will, but doth check and reprove for evil thoughts, and vain lusts and desires, which this light judgeth down; for Christ hath thus enlightened every man that cometh into the world: now till the measure of this light is manifested in you, so as totally to destroy the works of the Devil, for to that end Christ came, even to destroy sin; I bear my Testimony from the Lords Spirit, You are strangers from the Covenant of Grace, and Aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel, and are without God in the world: and how are you fit to teach another, that know not your own Guide, that is, the Lord from heaven? for know you not that the Kingdom of heaven is within you? you Disciples, you little Ones, that are born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, the word that abideth for ever, Christ in you, the hope of glory: for know you not that Christ is in you, except ye be Reprobates? so your deceit is to drive a Trade in the world, to deceive souls, to keep people from knowing the true Teacher: for if they should once know one within them, to lead them whither they in their corrrupt wills would not go, and should give way to obey that holy Voice, for it is the Voice of Christ, than they would not give their money for that which profiteth not, and that which is not bread; for Christ saith, He that eateth the bread that I shall give him, shall live for ever: for my flesh is meat indeed: and, he that believeth in me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water: Now you do esteem men contrary minded, as Heretics; the Just One, Christ, was accused for a perverter of the people, by the Jews, Luk. 23. 14. Stephen was stoned for blasphemy, Act. 7, 59 Herod killed James the brother of John, with the sword, imprisoned Peter, Act. 12. 2, 4. Paul stoned till they supposed he was dead, Act. 14. 19 they had trials, Heb. 11. 36. by mockings, by bands and imprisonments, by cruel scourge, they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were slain with the sword; and all for faith, for bearing Testimony for that which doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world: for Paul said, That when Christ had revealed himself in him, than he spoke the word with boldness, and went about turning people from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they might receive remission of sins, which teacheth to follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.  
Now the light maketh manifest the Mystery of Babylon the great, the Mother of Harlots, and abominations of the earth, who hath made herself drunk with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus, and Saints of the most High: those that have the mark in their foreheads, in which you are yet, even in Babel, in confusion: and therefore fear and tremble before the Lord, for who is able to dwell in everlasting burnings? For the devil that deceived them, shall be cast into the lake of fire: mark that, that deceived them: nothing makes a man more like unto the devil, the Prince of darkness, then to be a deceiver of the Brethren, and they shall all to perdition, Rev. 17. 8. for they do mock now with the Lamb Jesus, and they offend his little Ones. O! it were better that a Millstone were hanged about their necks, and they thrown into the sea, then to offend one of those little Ones that put their trust in me. But know this, the Lamb shall overcome you, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful, and therefore rejoice over her, ye holy Ones, for God hath avenged you on her, and will avenge: for true and righteous are his Judgements; for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication; and hath and will avenge the blood of his servants at her hand: for the dreadful and terrible day of the Lord is at hand, in which no iniquity or deceit can stand: there is nothing but the pure, holy and undefiled shall be able to enter: for no unclean thing can enter the Kingdom of Heaven; and it must be the oil in a man's own vessel, whereby the true light is maintained, by which alone the Bridgegroom can be followed in to the marriage-chamber, who is the true Vine; and they that abide in him, and he in them, they bring forth much fruit; and he is the Way that whosoever walketh in, shall come to the Father: he is that Rock that whosoever buildeth his house on it, shall stand, and no persecution, storm or tempest, shall shake: although the mountains move into the midst of the sea, my heart (saith David) shall not be troubled: Why? Because it standeth fixed, fixed in the Lord: the Lord keepeth such in perfect peace, whose minds are stayed in him: there is nothing can disturb the peace of them whose minds are turned in to the light Christ, and hearken to his voice; For my sheep (saith Christ) follow me, they know my voice; I am the true shepherd, and they will not follow a stranger: now you are come in not by Christ the Door, but by the inventions and wills of wicked men, like yourselves, who are out of the life and power of God, and so cannot make Ministers: for the carnal man knoweth not the things of God, they are spiritually discerned: read Act. 13, 2. it is the holy Ghost that sends Ministers, they must be anointed by the holy Child Jesus, the Anointing, before they can go teach; & this you may see Mar. 16. 15. after the Resurrection, Go ye eleven disciples into all the world, & preach ye the Gospel to every creature: he doth not say to the Scribes and Pharisees, and High Priests, Go ye; nay, they put him to death, crucified him, as you the Priests do now, even murder the Just One, in your own particulars, and in every other that you can, to whom Christ pronounced this woe: Woe unto you, Lawyers, for you will not go to heaven yourselves, and those that would, ye hinder. O dumb Dogs, Idol-shepherds, that cry, The Lord, when the Lord never put into their mouths: but they prepare war against the Just; when he cannot put into their mouths, than they prepare war. Take heed, leave off seducing, for everlasting woes will be your portion: and this take notice, that from the Lord you are warned to repent, and turn in to the light in your consciences, that checketh you for sin and evil, for that is your true Teacher, Emmanuel, God with us; and to this I bear my Testimony, That it is true, and they that believe in the light Christ Jesus, in you that believe the hope of glory, they shall find him raising them from the death of sin to the life of grace, and have part in the first Resurrection, and over such the second death shall have no power; for he is Jesus, that redeemeth his from all iniquity, who is the light of the world, and the life of men, the living Way, the Resurrection and the Life, the faithful and true Witness, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, who was dead, and is alive for evermore.  
Now this Mystery is made known unto the Saints, Col. 1. 27. even the mystery hid from ages and generations, and is now unto his chosen ones made manifest; which is, Christ in them the hope of glory, ver. 28. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, whereunto I labour, striving according to his working which worketh in me mightly: as ye have therefore received Christ Jesus, the Lord, so walk you in him, rooted and built up in him: for in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and ye are complete in him, for you are risen with him, through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead; therefore their bodies are of Christ, and therefore they are not to be deceived by voluntary worships, and beggarly rudiments; which indeed have a show of wisdom, but it is to the man that is blind: and, if the blind lead the blind, they shall both fall into the ditch.  
Now is the day of the Lords mighty power appearing, and his people need not go to the Priests for help, Jer. 31. 34. After those days, saith the Lord God, I will put my Law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God, and they shall be my people; and they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them; for I will forgive their iniquities saith the Lord, and remember their sins no more. Thus saith the Lord which giveth the Sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the Moon and Stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea, when the waves thereof roar, the Lord of Hosts is his name. Now is it fit to hearken to your preaching, as you call it, by Arguments and expositions, putting a meaning upon other men's words, as you Priests do, telling stories by hear-say of what you have read out of the works of those, it is like, as much out of the power and life of God as your selves? whereas none of you know by experience: for if you did, you durst not sue for treble damages, but with Zacheus make restitution to those ye have robbed: it is plain you are merchandizers of the Scriptures, and drive a Trade with your Traditions, and imaginations of your own brains; and woes will be your portion, if you proceed: for you plainly preach to others, to get a living by it, and this makes you all children of the curse: for it is plainly seen, that Money, covetousness is your God.  
Well, you must all be slighted; your preaching stinks before the Father, and he will draw his people out of your confusion, and leave you naked and bare, and your shame shall be made manifest to all men. For indeed, I bear my Testimony from the Lord, That you are a most wicked Generation of men: for you are teaching people, busying their heads what hath been done in the time of Moses, and the Prophets and Apostles times, and in the Son of Man's time in the flesh, Jesus, the Anointed; but you do not, nor cannot teach them, because you are strangers to it, to wait upon the Lord, to find light from the spirit of Righteousness, which is to arise from the measure of the light of Christ in every one, and his power in and upon the heart. Now all the Learning and Arts in the world, is but to speak methodically of what hath been, what is, and conjecture what shall be: all which is uncertain. Now he that speaks within, as we have felt, as we have tasted, as we have handled, so we deliver unto you; I say, these must know what they say, and know who they worship: and whereas some of you call silent meetings a dumb Idol, when the people of the Lord are waiting on him, for the fulfilling of those Prophecies promised unto them; You show your blindness: for it is and shall be the portion of the sons and daughters of the Lord to wait in silence with their eyes looking upwards, waiting to be taught only by Christ, the great Prophet, before whom all flesh shall be made silent.  
And therefore cease your teachings, and your prayers, as you call them: for they are an abomination to the Lord, until you find this true Teacher Christ in you, opening your hearts to hear his voice: for whoever doth speak, and not declare the Lord in a pure Language, that is, from himself, shall bear his shame, whoever he be.  
For the time is come that none shall need anything to teach him the way to Zion, but an humble quiet heart, to wait on the Lord, till he manifest himself unto them: for the Lord is a great King, and worthy to be waited upon; and his Testimony within, fills the soul with joy and singing; such joy as the world knoweth not of, and such joy as men and devils cannot take from them, by which his holy Ones have experience of his goodness, that he is the Rose of Sharon, the choicest among the sons, altogether lovely; whose love is better than wine, his fruits are sweet unto the taste; whose voice is sweet, and his countenance altogether comely; and the souls of his beloved ones delighteth in him: and by this experience of him, he gives power unto them to speak forth those experiences unto others, and then they speak to the rejoicing of one another, and to the praise of Him that declares Himself in them.  
And therefore thou, whoever thou art, that speakest thy imaginations, studies of thy own brain, thoughts, and makes thyself a Teacher of others, and the voice of the Lord hath not appeared to thee, and the anointing from the holy Spirit hath not come down upon thee, thou shalt be judged for thy unrighteousness, because thou seekest to honour flesh, for thou dost not honour the Lord: for the anointing that cometh to teach all things, creates new heaven, and new earth, wherein dwelleth Righteousness; for they shall be filled with the fullness of Christ, who is the spreading power that filleth all in all; every Member of his Body, being a star shining forth of him; or rather, a body in and out of whom he shines; for he is the power that fills all, Rom. 8. 23. We that have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we, groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our bodies; and the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us, with groan which cannot be uttered: and he that searcheth the heart, knoweth what the mind of the Spirit is; because he maketh intercession for the Saints, according to the will of God: For he makes all new by himself and for himself; and this is called the holy breathing, which Christ said the Comforter shall come, who shall abide with you for ever. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 1 Cor. 3. 16. Now the fleshly part, first Adam, seeks peace, life and glory to himself, from creatures, and things that are without him; as first, he seeks content and peace from wife, children, friends, riches, places of dominion over others; but that peace that is built upon such hay or stubble, shall come to nothing, and the Foundations shall fall, 1 Cor. 3. 12, 13. Secondly, the fleshly first Adam that is from the earth earthly, seeks content and peace from sermons, prayers, studies, books, Church-fellowship, and from outward forms and customs in their forms of worship; but that peace that is built upon this foundation, will fall and come to nothing likewise; Rom. 9 31. But Israel which followed after the Law of Righteousness, hath not attained to the Law of Righteousness; for they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law; the reason they stumbled at that stumbling Stone which the Builders refused, but now is become the cornerstone, the Rock of Ages: as it is written, Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone, and a Rock of offence, and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed: The Word is nigh thee, even in thy heart and in thy mouth, that is, the word of faith which we preach, Rom. 10. 8. Isa. 28. 9 those that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breast, he teacheth knowledge, and maketh to understand doctrine. Now woe unto those that have made lies their refuge, and under falsehood have hid themselves, every one wondering after the Beast, and worshipping the golden Image, the inventions of their own hands, who are deceived by her Witchcrafts, her Gog and Magog, who are in number like the sand of the sea: But what will be their end? they must be destroyed by fire: and therefore follow not a multitude to do evil. And the devil that deceived them shall be cast into the lake of fire, where the Beast and false Prophets are, who shall be tormented day and night, for ever and ever.  
O stand amazed all Deceivers of his people: for the time will come that he will require the blood of his people at your hands; and what will become of you, when the dreadful and terrible GOD appears in Judgement? you will then desire the hills to fall upon you, to hide you from his presence; then those that have Christ in them, who hath filled them with everlasting rest and glory, shall lift up their heads, for their Redemption draweth near; and he that shall be your Judge, is become their Saviour: for the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all Judgement unto the Son: And they that live in the Son, have the Light of Life abiding in them. And so in him they walk from strength to strength, until they appear before GOD in Zion.   

The fourth Epistle:  
To all the Hypocrites in Zion, desiring them that they would return, that the Lord may heal their Back-slidings: For the Wrath of the living God is revealed from heaven against all unrighteousness; And Woes will be upon them, even Woes eternal, that take upon them the Profession of Religion in any Form, to be a Cloak to their Sin and unrighteousness.  
THere is no man (saith Christ) that putteth his hand to the Plough, and looketh back, that is apt for the kingdom of God. Now doth not most Professors look back? do they do the works God, or are they not doing the works of the devil? is not wrath, anger, backbiting, whispering, deceiving, overreaching in their bargains, killing, is not these fruits to be found amongst all Professors? and therefore it is high time for them to repent, that they may do their first works: for the time once was, that they had Zeal, and Love, and Gentleness and Temperance, and were in the Moderation a little kept: but now they are come into the persecuting nature, into the destroying nature, the devouring nature, the dog's nature; and are out of the Lamb's nature: for the fruits of Faith, are Love, Goodness, Gentleness, Meekness, Temperance, Brotherly kindness, Charity, Bowels of compassion, Holiness and Righteousness; Against such (saith Paul) there is no Law: For they that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts.  
And now amongst those tender Lambs of Christ, those Babes that are born again, those Plants of the Lords right Hand, Trees of his own planting that are full of sap, the Cedars of Lebanon; I mean those that are by the wicked of the earth, the men of this world, in scorn called Quakers, amongst these is crept in wicked Deceivers, ungodly men, and ungodly Women, even as Judas crept in amongst the Apostles, such who think that gain is godliness, such who follow Christ for the Loaves, such as think they can serve two Masters, God and Mammon, Christ and Riches, Christ and Lusts, Christ and the World, Christ and Antichrist; such who teach that Doctrine of Devils, that Paul speaketh of, denying to marry, and to abstain from meats, such who turn the Grace of God in them into wantonness, Truce breakers, Breakers of Covenants, pretending they were married in their carnal estate; and they were never moved of the Lord, and therefore they may leave their husbands, and leave their wives; and that spirit these are guided by, is of Satan, and so will lead them to take others, as their blind Ignis fatuus leads them: for by nothing but Imagination, Lust and Fancy, are such led. And such leads away silly women, that are captivated by Satan, laden with divers lusts and pleasures, that are always learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Others are led to neglect their Families and Relations, to neglect their Children; contrary to that Doctrine of Paul, that saith, A man is worse than an Infidel that doth not provide for his Family, meaning his outward Family: For, let every man wait on his calling; and God hath appointed that the creation shall be managed, that man may be Lord of all the creatures: and Christ saith, It is a more happier thing to give then to receive: and the Apostle commandeth to lay up, that there may be a distribution amongst the Saints: and how can he lay up that is idle, and runs to and fro, wasting his time in idleness, and consuming his precious time, whilst his wife and children wants at home? and so this spirit rents and tears the affections of men from their wives, and women from their husbands, and children from their parents; and this that brings into a dis-uniting, is not the Spirit of the Lord: for the Spirit of the Lord brings into Union: for it shall convince the whole world at last, that they shall be all of one heart, and of one spirit; and the one alone spirit of Righteousness shall fill all in all: And this cannot be that spirit that rends and makes divisions; but this spirit of Righteousness teacheth the man to know his own wife, and love her, as Christ did the Church; and it teacheth the woman to know and love her own husband; and the man and woman so taught, live like Turtle Doves. And so the unbelieving woman cometh to be sanctified by the believing man; & the unbelieving man by the believing woman; and here the good virtuous Wife cometh to be found, that Solomon speaketh of, whose price is above pearls, and she doth him good and not evil all his days: and is not as the wicked woman, that is termed by him, a whorish woman, that is rottenness to her husband's bones. And Others there are, that are very loose in their carriage, and deny the Resurrection of the Body, contrary to the Doctrine of the Apostle, saying, The Resurrection is passed already, and such was in his time, that had overthrown the faith of some: now these people are in distraction, and the Spirit of the Lord leads into Unity, Love, and Peace, and out of all disturbance; and the Lord is the portion of his people for ever, and they that stay themselves upon God, are kept in perfect peace: and the Spirit of God is infallible: they that are guided by that, cannot err; and these do err, not knowing the Scriptures, and so are led into the distraction which causeth disturbance; and this is, by the cunningness of Satan, who lieth in wait to deceive, and this simple people are led captive by him, to do his will at his pleasure.  
And therefore dear Friends, take heed how you hear, and whom you hear; and be not blinded by those that lie cunningly in wait, to deceive you: for all that is to be known of God, is made manifest in man: and this is all the Lord thy God requireth of thee, To do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God: for Holiness becometh the House of the Lord for ever. And Christ saith, He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, dwelleth in me, and I in him. And therefore do not think the Name or the Profession of a thing will serve the turn; it is coming into the Life and Power of the thing that is expected from the Lord: they that cry in that day, We have eat and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets; all that will not do: Depart from me, saith Christ: the reason why, is showed by him, because they were Workers of iniquity. So there is no privilege for a people, be they never so high in God's favour, yet if they sin against him, they must know, the wrath of God is against them: for if a righteous man turn from his righteousness, and do that which is evil, he shall die for the evil, and I will remember his righteousness (saith the Lord) no more. The people of Israel were a peculiar people, the Lord had manifested his love in abundance to them, he fed them with Angel's food, and led them in the Wilderness, that their clothes waxed not old; and he made the rock gush out waters, and gave them Quails, the lusts of their own hearts. But they died in judgement; whilst the meat was in their mouths, the wrath of God came down upon them, and God's Soul came to be angry with them, even so much that the Lord said, My soul shall be avenged on this Generation. David, a man after Gods own heart, yet for sinning, was forced to go with broken bones, and his Ioines were filled with a sore Disease, and he went groaning all the day long. Moses for striking the Rock twice, did not enter the Land of Canaan. And therefore do not thou think, whoever thou art, and let thy profession be what it will: for if thou sinnest against God, thou must be punished by him. And know this, That the end of all teaching, and speaking, and writing, is to be brought to doing. The end of all, saith Solomon, is to fear God, and keep his Commandments: This is the whole Duty of Man.  
And therefore be as thou seemest to be, or seem to be as thou art: For it is only the pure in heart shall see God; and the meek shall inherit the earth, and dwell therein for ever.   

The fifth Epistle:  
To Roger Crabb, and Francis Jennings, John Porter, Elizabeth Porter, Stephen Powel, Sarah Aldridge, Anne Bunion: To all those that are in the deceit with him, who stile themselves the Servants of the Lord only; with Judeth Edds, and some few Others, whose Names I cannot find: that they may see their dirty Dregs, and repent of their Abominations: For the Wrath of God is revealed against all Deceit, and all Deceivers.  
LAmentations, Mourning and Woe is pronounced against all evil; and he that soweth, or she that soweth Dissension amongst Brethren, is such a one as the Soul of the Lord abhorreth.  
Now let not their looks dismay thee, thou tenderhearted child or children of the most High: for the Duty of Obedience which the Lord thy God requireth of thee, is not in any other thing but in being obedient to the Commands of God, as sin is made known unto thee, by the light of the everlasting Spirit of Righteousness which is in thee, and there is placed, to make known sin and evil unto thee, and is there placed in thy heart, to raise thy immortal soul, by the immortal seed of the word, which is, Christ in thee, that thou mayst live unto him that hath called thee out of Darkness into his marvellous light, that we might not henceforth live unto ourselves, but unto him; and therefore living unto him, is to be holy as he was holy, and pure as he was pure: and so the Life of the Saints is to be a Life of purity, and it is the pure in heart that see him; and so it is not as Roger Crabb surmiseth, and William Smith, and John Dunck, and others, in wearing hair or not hair: for if they will believe the History of Josephus, they may find that Christ wore his Hair very long, waving about his Shoulders; and the Scriptures of Truth maketh mention, that he wore it according to the manner of the Nazarites, who had no Razor come upon their heads: neither is it in dirty hands & faces, as they fond do surmise; but it lieth in the hidden man of the heart, in a meek and quiet spirit, which is a thing of God, much set by: neither is it in straw Hats, or such fond conceits; for they cannot be made without hands, no more then woollen ones. But the Reader may take notice, that this people being departed from the living presence of the Lord God, where Life, and Peace, and Rest is to be dwelled in; they wander up and down, seeking Rest, and find none: for the Peace is not in eating or drinking, but in Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. It is not then in denying the lawful use of the creatures: for the Apostle saith, Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, making no scruple for conscience-sake. So than it is clear, that men may lawfully eat all creatures, as well as herbs, or what groweth naturally: And every creature of God is good (saith Paul) and nothing aught to be refused, if it be received with praise and thanks giving: and, it is not that (saith Christ) that goeth into the man, that doth defile the man; but that which cometh out: For out of the heart (saith Christ) proceedeth adultery, fornication, murder, and the like: So it is the evil heart being corrupted, that is the cause of the man being defiled, and it is not the denying of meats wherein Religion stands: for they may see that Christ fed five thousand men with five Loaves and two Fishes, and commanded the Fragments to be taken up, that nothing might be left; and he turned water into wine: if he had not allowed the use of it, he would not have made it; but it was to be drunk. And Christ saith, If any of you have a son shall ask bread, will he give him a stone? or if he shall ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? so he clearly owneth the eating of those creatures. And if they, or any led by their fond deceitful spirit, that deny the Resurrection of the Body of Christ out of the grave, let them read Luk. 26. vers. 37. and so forward: But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit: and he said unto them, Why are you troubled, and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see: for a Spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not, for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? and they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and a honeycomb; and he took it, and did eat before them: and he said unto them, These are the words which I spoke unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understandings, that they might understand the Scriptures. Act. 1. vers. 9 and so forward: And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight; and while they looked steadfastly towards heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen him go into heaven.  
And these people's Teacher, Roger Crabb, most blasphemously speaketh of a place where no Righteousness shall enter in, without distinction; and so he putteth no difference between the precious and the vile; and so most wickedly and perversely taketh upon him to speak of things he knoweth not: for Christ the Righteousness of God, who is righteous as God is righteous, doth enter, and sits on the Throne with clean Hands; and his righteous Seed, in all his true Babes and little Ones, is raised, that they feel his living presence in them, constraining them to love; and they feel his Arm of strength carrying them, and guiding them in all their Ways; and they feel that Rock of Ages, bruising the Head of the Serpent, who is too powerful in Roger Crabb, and his Followers, and leads them captive to do his will: For of whomsoever a man is overcome, his servant he is, of whom he is overcome; whether it be of sin unto death, or of obedience unto Righteousness.  
And so dear friends, I desire you to repent, and turn, and put away the evil of your doings. Cease to do evil: learn to do well: hide the word of the Lord in your hearts, that you may not sin against God: and be content with this knowledge of the Lord, to know what he requires of thee, and to do it; and that is this, What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, O man, but, To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy GOD?   

The sixth Epistle:  
To all Magistrates, Judges, Lawyers, Commanders, Soldiers and Priests: that they may plainly see by the Scriptures of Truth, what the Lord God requireth at their hands; and they may see here, as in a Glass, how short they come of what is required of them, and repent, and turn from their wicked and abominable Ways, that the Lord may have mercy upon them: for this they may assure themselves, The fierce and terrible day of the Lord is near at hand, and none but the pure in heart shall be able to stand before him: for nothing can dwell in his presence but purity: for without Holiness, none shall see him with Comfort.  
I Shall direct the Reader to some Texts of Scripture, that sets forth what Gifts a true Teacher ought to be qualified with. See Gen. 17. 1. And when Abraham was ninety and nine years old, the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Abraham, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. Gen. 18. 19 For I know him, that he will command his children, and his household after him; and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgement. Heb. 11. 24. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter: choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, then to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Vers. 26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ, greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect to the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Gen. 5. 22. And Enoch walked with God, after he begat Methusalem, three hundred years. And vers. 24. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not: for God took him. Exod. 4. 14. And the Lord said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy Brother? I know that he can speak well: and he cometh forth to meet thee; and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart. Vers. 15. And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in his mouth; and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what you shall do. Vers. 16. And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God. Josh. 1. 1. And the Lord spoke to Joshua, verse ●. There shall not a man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Vers. 6. Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance, the land which I swore unto their Fathers to give them: only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the Law that Moses my servant hath commanded thee: turn not from it, to the right hand, nor to the left; that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. Vers. 8. This Book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night. 1 Sam. 2. 10. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces: out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth, & he shall give strength unto his King, and exalt the horns of his anointed. Concerning David, Psal. 18. 20, 21, 22, 23. The Lord rewarded me according to the cleanness of my hands, according to my righteousness hath he recompensed me: for I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God: for all his judgements were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me: I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from my own iniquity: Mark that, from my own iniquity; his delightful sin: And vers. 32. of the same Psalm, It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my ways perfect. Psal. 37. 37. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. Psal. 119. 101. I have refrained my feet from every evil way. Vers. 113. I hate vain thoughts, but thy Law do I love. Vers. 128. I hate every false way. 1 King. 3. 14. And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy Father David did walk, then will I lengthen thy days. And Pro. 23. 26. My son, give me thy heart, and let thy eyes observe my ways. 2 Chron. 34. And Josiah did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. Ezra 7. 10. For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it. Vers. 25, 26. And thou Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God that is in thy hand, set Magistrates and Judges, which may judge all the people; all such as know the Laws of thy God, beyond the river: and teach ye them that know them not: and whosoever will not do the Law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgement be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment. Neh. 1. 5. O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him, & keep his commandments. Neh. 10. 29, They came to their Brethren, their Nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's Law, which was given by Moses the servant of the Lord; and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God, and his judgements, and his statutes. Job 1. 1. There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. Isa. 2. 3. Let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob, and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the Law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and your dread. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength. The ways of the just is uprightness. Thou most Upright dost weigh the paths of the just; yea, in the ways of thy judgements, O Lord, have we waited for thee: the desire of our soul is to thy Name, and to the remembrance of thee. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings: Trust not in lying words, saying, The Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord: for if you throughly amend your ways and your doings; if you throughly execute judgement between a man and his neighbour; if ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless and the widow, and shed not innocent blood in this place, neither walk after other gods to your hurt: then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and for ever. Behold, ye trust in lying words that cannot profit: will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods, whom ye know not, and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my Name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch; and a king shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice on the earth: in his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his Name whereby he shall be called, The Lord our Righteousness. Nevertheless, if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live: the soul that sinneth shall die: but if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, and hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to menstruous women, and hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge; hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; he that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath with-drawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgement between man and man; hath walked in my statutes, and kept my judgements, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God. And they that be wise shall shine as the stars in the firmament, for ever and ever: and they that turn many to righteousness, as the brightness of the firmament. And in that day will I make a Covenant for them with the beasts of the field, & with the fowls of heaven, and with the creeping things of the ground; and I will break the bow, and the sword, and the battle out of the earth, and will make them dwell safely; and I will betrothe thee unto myself in righteousness for ever; yea, I will betrothe thee unto myself in righteousness, and in judgement, and in loving kindness, and in mercy: I will betrothe thee unto myself in faithfulness; and thou shalt know the Lord. The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem: and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, & the strength of the children of Israel. Then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no stranger pass through her any more: For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live. But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions. They that observe lying vanities, forsake their own mercy. But I will sacrifice to thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed: salvation is of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord, concerning the prophets that make my people err, that by't with their teeth, and cry peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they ever prepare war against him. But truly, I am full of power, by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgement, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgressions, and to Israel his sin. Hear this, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor all judgement, and pervert all equity; they build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity; the heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord amongst us? no evil can come upon us. Therefore shall Zion for your sakes be ploughed as a Field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the Mountains of the house as the high places of the Forests. The Lord is of purer eyes then to behold evil, and cannot behold iniquity.  
When the Lords appearance cometh upon the soul, than he cuts away all Idols, and they shall be no more remembered: the appearance of the Lord giveth sight to the blind: Christ Jesus enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world; and that is Christ the Son of the most High, that checketh for evil in every one, and that is the true Teacher. Follow that: it will bring thee out of all evil; for it leadeth unto perfect peace. Ye shall not say, Lo here is Christ, or lo he is there: but the Word is nigh thee, even in thy heart, and in thy mouth: and this true Teacher, will keep thee from the very appearance of evil. The Lord Jesus promised the Comforter should come after his departure; and Peter received it: for he being full of the Holy Ghost, there was three thousand added by his Ministry at once: and the Apostles, when-they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spoke the Word of God with boldness. Now Christ is the Bread of Life: And he that eateth the bread that I shall give him, (saith Christ) shall never hunger: and he that believeth in me, (saith Christ) hath everlasting life: and he that eateth the bread that I shall give him, shall live for ever. And those that are risen with Christ, set their affections on the things above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God; and they do not mind earthly things: for as they have born the Image of the earthly Adam, which is sin unto death; so they must bear the Image of the heavenly, which is obedience unto righteousness: the end whereof, through his mercy that enableth them to bear it, is everlasting life and salvation: and, he that is born of God, sinneth not, because he is born of God; neither can he sin, because he is born of God: for he that committeth sin, is of the devil.  
Now consider these sayings, and ponder them in your minds; for where the Lord cometh, his presence is very dreadful and terrible; and he destroyeth all Graven Images, and grindeth them to dust; he maketh that heart deny himself, and take up his Cross daily, and follow him. When a stronger than the strong man armed cometh, he destroyeth his strong holds, and divideth the spoils, and maketh the heart clean: A new heart, saith the Lord, will I give thee, and a new spirit will I put into thee, and I will lead thee, and be thy everlasting reward and strength to support thee: for I dwell in the humble, and delight to give life to my contrite ones: for with the holy, wilt thou be holy; and with the contrite and pure, will I be pure, saith the Lord. Now by thy words, thou shalt be justified; and by thy words condemned.  
Now this is from the true Lover of all your souls, the seed of God in you, that groaneth after the deliverance of it, may come forth from the state of bondage, and corruption, and thraldom, where it is kept, that it may come to the glorious liberty of the Sons of God Almighty, the most high, who with continual praises with one heart, and in oneness of spirit sing continual Praises and Hallelujahs to Him that liveth for ever and ever, who alone is worthy of all everlasting praises from his own, henceforth and for ever.  
Now I shall show the signs, marks and characters of good Magistrates, as the Lord giveth of them, as I find in Scripture: and by the manifestation of his Spirit within me, I know it is the Lords desire, that Judges and all Magistrates should be such as feareth the Lord and hateth covetousness, and worketh Righteousness, that judgement and justice may run down like a mighty stream, and Rivers of waters.  
Moses was a good Magistrate: he executed the Law with Justice upon all, without respect of persons, or gifts, or rewards, according to the command of the Lord, who was the Lawgiver: For the Law came by Moses, but Grace by Jesus Christ.  
Deborah was a good Magistrate, and the children of Israel came up to her for judgement; and she judged Israel at that time, and the Lord was with her, and made her lead away the Captives, and lead them into Captivity that oppressed his people: for she was just before him; and the Stars from Heaven fought in their courses for her, against the enemies of truth, and the river Kishon swept them away: and the Land had rest forty years: and the Lord caused the Mighty and the Nobles to be in subjection unto her, and the Lord went before her, and the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds dropped water.  
Gideon was a good Magistrate, and the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour; go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel. And the Lord said unto him, I will be with thee. And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; thou shalt not die: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon; and Gideon did as the Lord had commanded him. And Gideon said, That neither I nor my Son shall rule over you. And the Land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon  
Solomon was a good Magistrate, and God said unto him, Because thou askedst this thing, and hast not asked the life of thy enemies, nor long life for thyself, neither riches for thyself, but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern Judgement; behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart, so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall arise any like unto thee; and I have given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honour; so that there shall not be any like unto thee, amongst the kings all thy days. And Solomon said, His meditation was stayed on the Lord all the day long, and his meditation was of his goodness, kept in the Lords fear: And Solomonraigned over all Israel forty years.  
Asa was a good Magistrate: he was perfect before the Lord, although the high places were not taken away in his time: he reigned one and forty years, and the people had much comfort by him, & made sore lamentation for his death: for they, by his appointment, entered into a solemn League and Covenant, That whosoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel, should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman: and all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their hearts, and sought him with their whole desires, and he was found of them; and the Lord gave them rest round about: And Asa reigned in peace seven and thirty years.  
Hezekiah was a good Magistrate; and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done, and wrought that which was right and truth in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done; and wrought that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and he did it with all his heart, in seeking the Commandments of his God, and prospered in the work.  
Josiah was a good Magistrate; and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and did not decline from the right hand, nor the left: and the people sorely lamented his death: for all Judah mourned for him, and Jerusalem, and Jeremiah lamented his death: and he reigned one and thirty years.  
And Paul saith of a good Bishop, that he must be no striker, blameless, the steward of the Lord, not soon angry, not given to filthy lucre, nor wine, but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate, holding fast the faithful word: and he showeth the reason, That he may be able by sound doctrine to convince gainsayers: he exhorts that prayers and supplications may be made for kings, and all in authority; to what end, he showeth; to this end, That we may live peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty: for this is good and acceptable in God our Saviour: and he saith, The Magistrate beareth not the sword sor nought; It is for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well.  
Now that Magistrate whose heart is not touched with the true fear of the Lord, and that seed of true faith that is as small as a grain of mustardseed, hath got the pre-eminence, and is chief in his soul, and Christ Jesus is set up in his soul, in him on the throne, that he hath the whole heart, and the whole man is in his dominion, that can truly say, by bearing Testimony to the witness of God in him, That to him to live is Christ, and to die is gain; unless the Magistrate be such, he is not Christ's Magistrate: for those that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts; and no drunkard, whoremaster, swearer, proud, ambitious, self-seeker, lover of pleasures more than lover of God, having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof, no such can be said to be of God, and so are not to have that double honour which is due to Magistrates that do truly rule in his fear. And this discovers plainly how short those Judges and Justices come of being godly Magistrates, that suffer and consent to the imprisoning of just and righteous ones, whom the Lord esteemeth as the Apple of his eye; and those that touch them to their hurt, will one day find it, that the Lord esteemeth them as his Jewels: and yet how is the Goals filled with them through the Nation? and some have perished to death, because they cannot consent, for conscience-sake, to pay Tithes, seeing them to be a great and abominable Oppression.  
I could wish that Judges and all Magistrates would regard their Oaths, to do equal Administration of Justice to every man alike, to have no man's Cause in respect of person, but rightly to judge for the Poor as well as the Rich, and let the merits of the Cause carry it; minding the words of Jehosaphat: for he said to the Judges, Take heed what you do: for ye judge not for man, but for the Lord: wherefore let the fear of the Lord be upon you: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor taking of Gifts.  
And let them that are contrary minded, remember the ends of Empson and Dudley, and mind the proceedings of Henry the Third, in the five and thirtieth year of his reign, against Henry de Bath, one of the Judges then. And the sixteenth year of Edward the First, there being a great complaint of the ill Administration of Justice by the Judges; whereupon the than Parliament, upon due examination, and proofs of their Bribery and Extortion, together with their injustice done to the people, were fined to pay to the King, as followeth: Ralph Hengham, chief Justice of the Upper Bench, 7000 Marks; John Lineton, chief Justice of the Lower Bench, 3000 Marks; William Brompton Justice, 6000 Marks; Solomon Rochester, 4000 Marks; Thomas Lodington, 2000 Marks; Walter Hopton, 2000 Marks; Richard Boyland, 4000 Marks; William Shame, 3000 Marks; Robert Litbury, Master of the Rolls, 1000 Marks; Roger Liester, 1000 Marks; Henry Bray, Escheter, and Judge for the Jews, 1000 Marks; Adam Streton, chief Baron of the Exchequer, was fined 34000 Marks; and Thomas Wayland, being found the greatest Delinquent, for Bribery and Extortion, and being of the greatest substance had all his Estate, real and personal, taken from him to the King's use: and this great Act of Justice was highly pleasing to the people, and brought much honour to the King, as well as Treasure into his Coffers: And one Bellknap and Trisillian, being both chief Justices, were executed for injustice. In the year forty one, Articles were exhibited against John Bramston chief Justice, Robert Barkly, Francis Crawly, Humphrey Davenport, Richard Weston, Thomas Trevor, being Justices of both the Benches, and Barons of the Exchequer; and as I take it, they were degraded for injustice done the people. It is said of that great Tyrant Nero, That he could not endure an unjust Judge: for one being convicted before him for injustice, he caused him to be flayed alive, and his skin to be nailed to the Judgement-Seat, that whoever came on that Seat, might have that act of Justice fresh in his memory.  
Thou art inexcusable, O man, whoever thou art, that judgest another: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself, if thou dost the same things: and thinkest thou to escape the judgement of Cod?  
Now it were a good thing for the people of England, that the chief Magistrates with their Council, would erect a Court of Justice, where every man, by their Proclamation, might once every quarter of a year, appeal to the said Court, for relief against any injury done them by Judges, Justices, or any Officers of the Commonwealth in private or in public, done to their detriment. This would be a high Act of Justice from the Counsellors, Magistrates or Rulers, who should preserve Justice in the Land: and it would be very satisfactory to all the people; and this would make men follow the Command of Christ in time, To do unto all men, as they would have all men do unto them.  
By all these Texts of Scripture before-rehearsed, it is plainly showed by the holy Ghost, the marks of true Teachers and false; the marks of hireling shepherds, and such as fleece the Flock; and such as are of Christ, and are truly Ministers of Christ, and have the Spirit of Christ, God having revealed himself in them, they do minister food in due season; and they do feed the Flock of Christ, over which the holy Ghost hath made them Overseers; and they do turn people unto God, unto the light that is single, that knoweth the deep and hidden things of God: for the Father that dwelleth in them, showeth them all things; and they have the first Fruits of the Spirit, and God is in them of a truth, and they and the Father are one; and they do abide in the Vine, and in him they bring forth much Fruit, to the glory of God the Father: and these Fruits of the holy Ghost are to be found dwelling in them, as Love, Joy, Meekness, Patience, Temperance, Brotherly Kindness, Bowels of Mercy, Humbleness of Mind, Holiness and Righteousness.  
And the false Teachers appear plainly by their Fruits, to be the Priests that do receive Tithes: for they seek gain from their Quarters; they fleece the Flock, and do not feed them; they speak a Divination of their own brain; they are in the number of those that steal the word from their neighbour, and cry, The Lord saith, when the Lord never spoke unto them: they do not at all profit the people: for they that were unclean, are unclean; they that were filthy, are filthy still; and Drunkards are Drunkards still: they are not sent of God; for if they were, they would have turned people from the evil of their doings, and they should have learned to do well. By their fruits (Christ saith) they shall be known: for men do not gather figs of thorns, nor grapes of thistles: but every good tree bringeth forth good fruit: and by their covetous filthy lives they destroy the hearty professions of their hearers, who are much led by example and practice of their Teachers; and herein they are partakers of other men's sins, and so must partake with them of their plagues; and the blind doth lead the blind, and they must fall into the ditch: for they that cannot witness in their own particulars, that the Spirit of the Lord in them, is raised, and hath the whole seat of the soul in his dominion and power, and the seed of God is raised in him, and there is a continual watch kept to destroy sin in its first motion, and so it is not yielded to, but is laid all upon the Tempter: unless a man be brought to this, he is not a fit person to teach others: for Christ commandeth his Disciples to be perfect, as their Father which is in heaven is perfect; and to be holy, in all manner of conversation: for without holiness no man shall see the Lord: and, he that is in Christ, ought so to walk as Christ hath walked, who did no sin, neither was there guile found in him.  
I am sure the Priests dare not say they are in Christ, or that he hath revealed himself in them, or that the holy Ghost is come down upon them: if these effects were wrought in them they durst not sue the just and righteous for treble Damages, and make such spoil and havoc of their Estates, as they do, throughout the Nation; taking from some eight times as much as is the Due, according to their own Demands. O sad Generation of men! that dare say the Lords Prayer, as they say, Forgive us our Trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us; and yet it is like, the next day sueth for treble Damage for a pretended Trespass, done before he saith the Petition. Do they think the Lord God, who hath an allseeing eye, doth not know their hypocrisy, and will repay their deceit upon their own heads? yea, be assured all of you, he will. Do you follow the Rule that Christ commandeth, To do unto all men, as you would that all men should do unto you? Do you expect a day wherein God shall judge the secrets of all men, by Jesus Christ, and when every man shall give an account for the things done in his body? And do ye think that these actions before-rehearsed, will stand and bear weight in that day? O fear and tremble: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he assuredly reap; he that soweth to his flesh, shall of that, reap corruption; but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of that, reap life everlasting: for they that are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God; and they that are led by their wills and lusts, whose servants are they? the Apostle tells you, That of whomsoever a man is overcome, his servant he is; whether it be of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness. And therefore awake thou that sleepest, and stand up from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light: and be not drunk with wine wherein is excess; but be ye filled with the Spirit: and look to see that Scripture fulfilled in you, that ye are covetors of spiritual things, and all other Scriptures also: for they are written for our Instruction, upon whom the ends of the world shall fall; and leave off the woolvish nature, the dog's nature, the lion's nature, and the destroying nature; and put on the Lamb's nature, be tender hearted one to another; and if any man have a quarrel against another, forgive it, even as God for Christ's sake, forgiveth thee: if thou unfeignedly repent, and turn from the evil of thy doings, than the Lord will blot out all thy transgressions, and he will remember thy sins no more. O turn ye, turn ye: for why will ye die, ye house of Israel?  
And therefore let all now take up the sore lamentation, and teturn unto him, that they may be saved: for Jesus is able to save to the utmost all those that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them: and they that do forsake lying vanities, and cleave unto him, blessed, yea, for ever blessed are they; for they that have part in this first Resurrection, from the death of sin unto the life of Grace, over such the second death shall have no power; but they shall reign as Lords and kings, for ever and ever; and the high praises of God shall be found in their mouths, and they shall be all clothed with white, the white Robes of his Righteousness; and follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth; and he will lead them unto the lively Fountains, and wipe away all tears from their eyes; and they shall sing praises and hallelujahs unto him, for ever and ever: for he hath found them worthy, and hath given them to be with his Father, that they may behold his glory, and see him as he is: for none of Christ's prayers shall fail: He saith, Father, I will that those whom thou hast given me may be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory; that as thou, O Father, art in me, and I in thee; so that they may be made one in Us, Joh. 17. 23, 24. And they have all this benefit here, that if they abide in Christ, and his Word abide in them, let them ask what they will, and it shall be done unto them. And herein is my Father glorified (saith Christ) that you bear much fruit, Joh. 15. 7, 8. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full, saith Christ.  
Now as for all others, let them be in what form of Worship soever, if they be out of the Life and Power of Christ, as is before showed, who are in the life, which are only such that have the seed of God raised in their own particulars, and always obey it in the power thereof; such are not under the power of the Law, but under Grace: and the Spirit of the Lord Jesus which dwelleth in them, hath made them free from the Law of sin and of death; and they, and they only are Christ's, because they are led by the Spirit of Christ: and all others, let their forms be Episcopal, Presbytery, Independents, Anabaptists, or whatever; all their Worship is but will-Worship; and their eatings and drink, and washings, and preachings, and sing, and hear, are all but the Sacrifice of Fools, being all will Worship, the inventions of men's hands, out of the life and power of the truth, as it is in Jesus; and therefore is before the Lord, but as the cutting off a dog's neck, being a blind zeal without knowledge: for I know upon what ground they all stand, having run through all these Forms, and could never find rest for the sole of my feet, in them; neither can any find true peace, until they come to lie down in the Father, worshipping him in Spirit and in Truth, being holy in all manner of conversation: for unto such it is become natural to do the will of their Father on Earth, as it is done in Heaven.  
And therefore I do dearly exhort you all, men and women, to whom this shall come, to keep close to the pure seed of God in you: for that is your true Teacher; and follow it, and it will show you the Father and the Son: and if you obey this Doctrine, you shall know that it is of God: and lend not your ears at any time or place unto the Tempter, but crush the Serpent in the first motions of sin; and then they turn upon his own account, and not upon thine: for it is no sin to be tempted, but the sin is to yield: for when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Therefore break the Cockatrice Egg, before it be hatched, that it may never come to be a Serpent: and resist the devil, and he will flee from you; and turn in the mind to the pure light, and wait in it, that preserved you may all be out of that sin and evil that would defile you: for this pure Principle of God in you, will not consent at any time to sin, but will check and reprove for it; and if its motions be obeyed, it will keep you all single and unspotted of the world; and so you shall be found worthy to follow the Lamb in this the day of his power, wherein he is risen to make War with the Beast and false Prophet. And therefore it doth concern every one continually to watch, and to have their loins girt about with the preparation of the Gospel of Truth, that is, with Jesus, the Word, by whom all things were made, who is in all his Babes and Children that are born again; and those that have his commandments and keepeth them, dwelleth in him, and he in them: and this Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world, shall have the Victory: and blessed and thrice happy are all they that can come to witness, sensibly, in their own particular, him rising in them, that are truly fight under his Bann●… against sin, the world, and the devil; and feel a daily conquering of sin; that die daily (as Paul saith) unto sin, that they may be made alive unto God; and (as David saith) that hateth the very appearance of evil.  
And the only way to this, is to keep low in ones self, and to wait in the cool of the day, turning in to the light, and in it wait; and put on the whole Armour of God, that you may be preserved at all times out of the snares of Satan: for this will let you see sensibly, the Tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit to be cut down in you, and a new plant raised, which will bring forth its fruit in due season, to the glory of the Lord, who alone is worthy of all glory and honour, and everlasting praises, for ever and for ever.  
And therefore all Friends, keep in the pure fear and wisdom of the Lord, that at all times you may be ordered by it, to do all things to his glory, at all times, and in all places; that you may be a good savour unto all men you have to do withal; and let your souls truly pant and thirst after the living God, as the hart panteth after the water-brooks: for your Redeemer is near you, if you refuse him not: the Word is nigh thee, even in thy heart and in thy mouth: and, the kingdom of heaven is within you, as is plainly showed in this Treatise: and if Satan be in his first motions resisted, you shall plainly see him pass away, as the shadows pass away, and the dew, when the Sun ariseth.  
And therefore keep in the pure fear and wisdom of God, that with it you may be ordered and guided in all things, to do them to his glory; and so you shall sensibly witness the seed of God in you all to reign, that will trample Satan under feet: and then shall the saints rejoice, and they shall witness pure and holy rejoicings, with songs of Triumph and Praises, with Glory, Glory, Glory, and everlasting Praises to their Father, which is in heaven, who is worthy.  
We have had great stirs in the Nation, of late years, by Soldiers, and great Words, and good Language have they spoken, that they would do much for Christ, and the settling of his Kingdom, which they do not know; and the protecting of his people, whose Life is in it, being in Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the holy Ghost; which is a hard thing for a Soldier that kills men for money, houses, lands and goods, ever to witness, until with Zacheus, he restore to him that he hath robbed by forged cavillation, and to the debtor his pledge. But the whole Nation is sensible, if they be not wilfully blind, of the backsliding and Apostatising of the Army, and how in all changes they have sought themselves, and not the things of God: it is like they have forgot that Text, Joh. 18. 16. My kingdom (saith Christ) is not of this world: and Paul saith, Rom. 14. 17. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, nor yet Arms and Armies, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the holy Ghost, which Soldiers and Armies usually destroy and confound: and therefore Christ's Soldiers must have only the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, which leadeth them into all the truth and peace, and condemneth the very practices of this Army, that hath so often changed and sworn, and engaged, with hands lifted up to heaven, and yet broke all as fast as made them, to the sadding of the hearts of all their faithful friends, to the strengthening of the hands of their enemies; and if they do not speedily repent, they must expect that the great God will pay their hypocrisy and deceitful dealings, with indignation and wrath upon the heads of every one of them that doth, or hath done evil: and when the measure of their iniquities are full, they must expect wrath from heaven to be poured down upon them, and there shall be no Remedy: For they may read that David, although a man after Gods own heart, yet because his hands were dipped in blood, the Lord would not let him build an house unto his Name. Zach. 4. 6. Not by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts, is this work to be done.  
We read that Soldiers have been great enemies to Christ and his Kingdom, Joh. 19 23, 24, 32, 34. the Soldiers armed with swords, staves, and spears, were employed to take Christ, and apprehend him, to bring him to Pilate; they stripped him of his Garments and Robes, and crowned him with Thorns; they spit in his Face, they buffeted him, they gave him vinegar to drink, they crucified him, and cast lots for his garments; they thrust a spear through his side, they watched the Sepulchre, for fear he should be taken away; and after he was risen, the chief Priests gave large money to the Soldiers to broach their lies, that his Disciples came by night, and stole him away while they slept: The Soldiers stretched forth their hands to vex certain of the Church; they killed James the Apostle with the sword; they apprehended Peter, and put him in prison, where he was guarded day and night with four Quaternions of Soldiers, to prevent an escape.  
The Lord hath resolved that men of blood, as is before showed, shall not build his house: Christ is the King and Prince of Peace, and his Subjects are the Subjects of Peace; Christ's Gospel is the Gospel of Peace, his Apostles and Ministers the Ambassadors of Peace, and his Kingdom consists in Righteousness and Peace. Now nothing is more directly opposite, inconsistent and destructive to this Peace, to the King, Prince, Gospel, Ambassadors, and Kingdom of Peace, than Armies, Wars, Soldiers and Arms are: and therefore you may read, that when Christ sent forth his Disciples to preach his Gospel, and set up his Kingdom, he did not choose Captains of thousands and hundreds, nor yet Soldiers and armed men, but Fishermen and others, altogether averse from war; and commanded them in express terms, not to take gold, silver, nor brass in their purses, nor scrip, nor two coats, nor yet staves; much less Pistols, Muskets, Pikes, Carbines, Swords: for Christ expressly meaneth that his Ministers must be no fighters, no strikers, strivers, much less professed Warriors; and their weapons must be the Spirit, and their mouth, the Word of God; and they must fight only against men's lusts and sins, not against their persons.  
It is prophesied by the holy men of old, That men shall learn war no more, but his people shall break their spears into pruning books, and their swords into ploughshares: for Nation shall not rise against Nation, nor lift up the sword any more; neither shall they learn war any more, but live in peace. And these things shall be fulfilled, when Christ's Kingdom cometh to be set up; and they shall keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  
And therefore let me admonish you all, to leave off your dissembling, & tell people in plain terms, you fight to get great Estates, and kill men for money: and sad and miserable will be the end of you, unless you repent, and perform all those Engagements, Vows and Promises made at Triplo-Heath, Newmarket, and other places; where, by your large Declarations, Remonstrances, professed by you, that you aimed at nothing but the public good, you caused many honest hearts to join with you, to the shedding of Blood. And therefore speedily repent, and turn to the Lord, with fasting, weeping and mourning, and set yourselves to do Justice in the earth, for fear it speedily open her mouth, and swallow you up, as it did Corah, Dathan and Abiram: for assure yourselves, the Lord is coming against you in Judgement, and he will be avenged on every one of you, great and small.  
And therefore, if you expect to reign with Christ, I say unto you once more, Speedily repent, and put away the evil of your doings, and go way, and sin no more, by your deceitful wicked practices, lest a worse thing come unto you.  
And consider how often you have declared to put your helping hand and utmost endeavours to regulate the Laws, that are so exceeding chargeable and burdensome to the people of this Nation, that I have heard it credibly reported, That according to calculation, cast up by good Arithmeticians, that say, There is near seven millions of money spent yearly, by the people of the Nation, in Law and Equity; and above one hundred thousand a year, it cannot be less, amongst Sergeants, Bailiffs, and such kind of needless Officers, besides many persons murdered every year, in and about Arrests, and escaping from Sergeants, that no Nation but England can parallel the like practices: which is a shame to all that profess the knowledge of the Lord, and makes the very Turks say in their common speech, as I have been credibly informed, when any doth them some great injury, I think you will use me like a Christian: O abominable shame! that Turks must rise in Judgement, and condemn the great Talkers of Religion in England: and this heightens the spirits of Judges, and makes them proud, and not like their Predecessors, that road to Westminster upon Asses to show their humility, from Sergeants Inn, and back again to Westminster, and did not vaunt and lord it over the people as some have done of late years, and gained great riches for themselves and their Favourites and Creatures; it is to be feared not justly, but evilly: just like the Papist Priests in former times, when most of those Laws now in being were made, who gained in their times most part of the great situations, and best Lands in this Nation, by Combination, Craft and Subtilty; by lulling the people asleep in ignorance and blindness, in their vain superstition, pronouncing hell and damnation, with bell, book and candle, to all that did not observe the same; and thereby brought the people into a fond belief of them: for since that fall, those, that is to say, the Judges and their favourites, have far outrun those Priests, in gaining riches in an excessive manner, by gripping very many men.  
And it is to be observed, that many of them have come of poor and indigent Parentage, yet have they climbed up, and leapt into most of the Lordly Titles and gainful places and Offices in the Nation, and therein and thereby have domineered and tyrannised over, and oppressed the honest people, and gained the favour of fawning, flattering, and lascivious Courtiers, by Rewards which they have usually given at their entrance, which they have made up again out of others, to their sorrows; contrary to the practice of the Judges in old time, in this Nation; and the Lawyers formerly were mild to their Clients, and honest, (as I must confess, some I have had trial of, hath been to me, as Sergeant Twisden, William wild, Shelton, and a few others) and used them very kindly, and had great care of their business; seldom any Lawyer taking above one Fee in one Cause in a Term; and they did not let their Client's standCap in hand, and make them scrape legs, and beseech them to take their money, and take large excessive Fees, as some will, and have done, and pretend they are afraid one of another: as Sergeant Conyers took a Fee of me to move in Chancery, and kept it four several days; and Sergeant Maynard, and Chal. Chute was feed to defend the motion; and that 'Cause was in an Order positive, That unless cause was showed that day, I was in a manner undone, in a business of almost all my Estate: and by the Rules of the Court, I was to stand committed, if I spoke up myself; and I could get no other, the time being so short; yet this Sergeant, just as he came to the Bar, gave me my Fee, and run into the Court, and told me the Atturney-General was against me, and he durst not nor would not meddle in the Case: So I was forced to move the Commissioners myself, and run the hazard of committing to the Fleet, or else I had been ruined. Now let all men judge, if such Lawyers ought not to be punished: for by Law they ought to be for ever put by pleading in that Court, or any other, and suffer imprisonment, during the pleasure of the King or chief Magistrate, as you may read by the Statute of 3 Edw. 1. chap. 29. The Life of the Law is execution of it. And some, nay, too many, have taken large Fees to speak in Causes, to my knowledge, and have never come to the Bar at all; and the Party hath gone and demanded his money again of them, and they have denied to give it again; and told their Clients it was enough for them that they were not against them. Is not this a grand Impudence? and doth not this cry for Vengeance against such a Generation as this is, that the Poor, the Fatherless, the Widow, hath little or no right done him? for if a poor man have never so much right to an Estate, he cannot get it but by suing under forma pauperis; and if he be cast, as many, nay most times he is, let his Cause be never so good or just, by the reason of a corrupt Judge, and the weight of his Adversaries Purse, which makes most Causes, according to the late practices and proceedings, than the poor man must be whipped at the Cart's Tail, saith our Laws: and if any man lends the poor man money to sue for his Estate, than it is Champerty and Maintenance, saith the Laws of England, and Barratry: and the man that doth it, must be fined all his Estate, and be punished with imprisonment, and pilloried, or what punishment a corrupt Judge pleaseth to put upon him. And now, Soldiers, will you tell us you have regulated our Laws? I say unto you, Up and be doing, and act like men of courage, and do some great things for us, according to all your Oaths, Declarations, Remonstrances and Engagements; or assure yourselves, the proudest of you shall be dashed and broken to pieces, like a Potter's Vessel, and none shall be able to deliver you: for the Lord is risen, and will stand by his redeemed ones, whom you are now helping to eat up, as men eat bread, and stand them in no stead at all: and your gilded Promises and specious pretences will not hold out without doing; it is he that doth good, and he that keepeth promise, shall come into the holy Hill; they that break it shall be sure to be cast forth for ever: your Form of Godliness, without the Power, is known, and is discerned by all men, who have their eyes in their heads.  
Now having done with the Deceit of these men, at present, I must speak a few words, in the vindication of a Party, who hath some calumnies cast upon her, by the scandalous Pen of a lying Priest, one Tho. Danson at Sandwich in Kent; it is on the behalf of one he calleth Mrs. Dorothy Gudderson, in his Book called The Quakers folly opened, by him, as he allegeth, upon his Dispute at Sandwich, with three Quakers, on the 12, 13, 14. days of the month he calleth April, in the year 1659. wherein he styles himself, Fellow of Magdalen College in Oxon: where he might, if he had made good use of his time, have learned more manners then to traduce a person so much above him by Birth and Parentage, as she is; which thing he highly esteemeth and prizeth, although she denieth it; having so learned Christ, as to count all things but dross and dung, that she may be found in him, not having her own Righteousness, which is by the Law, but having the Righteousness which is by Christ, through faith in his blood, and so expecting Justification by the Righteousness of Jesus Christ within her. And this I know is her whole desire, panting and breathing after holiness; as the hart panteth after the water-brooks, so longeth or breatheth her soul after the living God.  
And thus Tho. Danson beginneth his Discourse of her: I will tell thee a true story, which may perhaps move thy laughter. Just like a Jester in a Play, more like than a stayed Fellow of a College; wherein he condemneth her for denying to kiss a Gentleman, and is ashamed to tell it was himself: for I being present the same time, perceived by his countenance, as far as one may judge or discover by outward appearance of another, that he was much disturbed that she refused him to salute her: and the passage was thus: He coming to salute her, she put forth her hand to him, and said, That so far as God had made manifest to her any sin, or vain custom of the world, she should and had denied herself in it: and that she did believe to be one. And verily he might have been so far judicious, after so many high compliments used to her, and his wife inviting her to his house, as to have forborn the putting her in print, just in the end of his Book, as much as in him lay, to make her ridiculous to her Friends, Kindred and Acquaintance; when she said she believed it, and he may know, that what is not of faith, is sin.  
But all men may see what spirit he is guided by, even a lying spirit. He may be ashamed of what he held forth at the Meeting, at Sandwich; as also his traducing of Samuel Fisher, charging him with many lies, to my knowledge, in his Book, I being present at the Meeting, and also knowing Samuel Fisher very well, being confident he is a precious child of the living God, one that is born again, and is a Babe in Christ, and his whole desire is to do the will of his Father, which his soul continually breathes after, which is, the living God that made heaven and earth; and it is his meat and drink to do his will on earth; and I am sure this is the desire of his soul: and that he is a true Minister of Jesus Christ, I do bear Testimony unto it, the witness of God in me being raised by his Ministry: and for those false aspersions cast upon him, of his receiving a Pension from the Pope, I know his soul abhorreth any such thing; and that he is as great a hater of the Pope, and his ways, as any man in England is; and I know he hath no such need, nor ever will have: For they that seek the Kingdom of God, and the Righteousness thereof, all other things shall he administered unto them: and I do verily think, that there is not a man in England more able to confute Error and Heresy, than Samuel Fisher is.  
And verily, Tho. Danson did exceedingly wrist the Scriptures, giving his dark and blind meanings of them, at that Meeting in Sandwich: for he said, We were not justified by that Christ that was in us; he said, No, no, twice to it: for he owned two Christ's, one without the Saints, and another within them. But this he became ashamed of, and disowned in the Meeting: and then he owned but one Christ in the Saints and in Heaven, as there is but one God; though he be in heaven, yet is he with him that is poor, and of a contrite heart, and trembleth at his word. Yet still he could not clear himself from his former assertion, in his denying Justification by the Righteousness of Christ within: for he might as well have said, That Christ and his Righteousness was divided; inasmuch as he owned Christ in the Saints, but not his Righteousness, which justified: and all his Discourse and Drift was, to have men justified in their sins, and to be sinners all their lives, as one that justifieth the wicked, Prov. 7. 15. Isa. 26. 12. God hath wrought all our works in us, saith the Prophet: Rom. 4. 5, 9 saith the Apostle, Abraham's faith was counted to him for Righteousness: and this Priest is a bolsterer of men up in their sins, and sows pillows under their arms, as I may so say, in comparison: for he calleth them worthy that are his hearers, that loveth flattering and feigned Titles, and the fawn of men, which is deceit; when none ought to have the Title of Worthy, but those that truly set their faces toward Zion, and seek it with their whole hearts, and desire to have the King of Righteousness and Prince of Peace, to guide them and rule them in all their actions and works, that they may witness them to be all wrought in GOD.  
Now this person, Tho. Danson, all his teachings tendeth to a Justification of Christ without us, and not to a Justification wrought by Christ within us; and so his hearers can never attain to that perfect peace that the Scripture speaks of, which is thus written, That he that stays himself upon the Lord, he keepeth such in perfect peace; and there is no peace to be found out of a man: the peace is within the Heart; the Gospel, Christ Jesus, the enlivening Word is within the soul; and he is the pure Word, Power and Wisdom of the Father, who is the only Reconciler unto God, who is made manifest for the same purpose, to break down the partition-wall which separates the soul from God, & to bring the soul into its proper place & centre, into Unity & Fellowship withGod, who is Light, in whom there is no Darkness; and so by abiding in this living Word Christ, and he abiding in you, the creatures are brought to serve the ever living God in newness of life, and in the Spirit; and so Christ will and doth work their work in them and for them, to their everlasting salvation: and so the first fruits of the Spirit, maketh them alive unto God; and according to Christ's words, He that believeth in him hath everlasting life, and he shall never come into condemnation, but shall pass from death unto life: for Christ alone is the only Saviour; and there is no name under heaven given unto men, whereby they can be saved, but by the Name of Jesus. And this Gospel Christ, is a free gift of God: it is not to be bought for money, as Tho. Danson falsely surmiseth: for he must know, that there is a necessity laid upon those that are the true Teachers of the Gospel, and woes is to be upon them, if they do not teach freely, and be instant in season and out of season: for Christ saith to them, As ye have freely received, so freely give: and so having received from the Lord that which they do deliver unto the Saints, they speak from a pure Principle of Life and Power, that reacheth the witness of God in their Hearers, and they live themselves in the Life and Power of what they speak, and so by their good examples are a good savour unto all men that they have to do withal; and so they bring people into the pure and perfect image of Christ, and the unity of Faith, which brings them to the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure and the stature and the fullness of Christ; and they say, We that are dead unto sin, how can we live any longer therein? and such are in the number of such as the Apostle said, We preach wisdom amongst those that be perfect; not the wisdom of the world, but the wisdom and power of God, which is pure and peaceable.  
Therefore it is good and righteous to let the people know the false Teachers, and those that call themselves Ministers of Christ, and are not, but are of the Synagogues of Satan. And the true Prophets of the Lord, always did stir the people's memory up with these Deceivers: Isaiah cried against such Hirelings as seeked gain from their Quarters, Isa. 56. Jeremiah cried against such as taught for hire, and divined for money, Jer. 5. Christ himself cried against such as were called of men, Master, stood praying in the Synagogues, and had the chiefest places in the Assemblies, Mat. 23. the Apostle Judas declared against such as went in the way of Cain, in envy; and such as went after the ways of Balaam, for gifts and rewards, Jud. 11. Peter declared against such as through feigned words and covetousness made Merchandise of the people, 2 Pet. 1. 5. these and suchlike practices manifests the false Teachers: for they that have not the Spirit of the Lord Jesus dwelling bodily in them, leading them into all the fruits of Holiness and Righteousness, making them perfect in Christ; unless they be such, they are no Ministers of Christ, let their pretences be what they will: For they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the affections and lusts thereof; and, they that live in the Spirit, shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh; and they that are risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of the Throne of God, and they do not mind earthly things.  
And therefore all dear Friends, mind the pure love of the eternal God, the loving Father unto you all, to manifest his living pure way of Truth, Life and Salvation unto you, which is treasured up in Christ, who is in you that believe, the hope of glory: and therefore lay hold upon him, and highly prise this the day of your visitation, which the Father hath given you all in tender love to your souls, which the Lord desires the salvation of: for the Lord saith, As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of a sinner, but that he may turn from his wickedness, and live: and, God would have none to perish, but that all might come to the knowledge of the truth, that they might be saved. And what is the Reason when men have the measure of the manifestation of the true light of Christ in them, which is given them to profit withal, that they are not saved? The Reason is, Because they will not part with their Lusts, their darling sins: for they love Darkness more than Light, because their Deeds are evil; and they will not come unto the light, that they may have their deeds made manifest: and, Thy condemnation is of thyself, O Israel: and Christ saith, I stand at the door and knock: if any man will open, I will come in, and sup with him, and he with me. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killest the Prophets, and stonest those that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thee together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings! and ye would not. So thy rebellious sinful nature leadeth thee to thy everlasting destruction, because thou takest pleasure in unrighteousness and sin, and thou slightest the pure ways of the living God, and countest the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing, and thou dost despite unto the Spirit of Grace.  
And therefore now search and try your ways, and turn to the Lord, and put away the evil of your doings, and learn to do well; and the Lord will heal all your back-slidings, and will love you freely, and remember your sins past no more, if you from this day go away and sin no more. But if you go on in sin, know, That although judgement is not speedily executed against evil doers, yet the Lord will punish assuredly the hairy scalp of him that goeth on in his sins and wickednesses; and when the measure of thy iniquities are fully ripe, than Judgement shall come upon thee to the utmost, and there shall be no Remedy, and none shall be able to deliver thee, in the day of the Lords wrath. And therefore stand in awe, and sin not, lest a worse thing come upon thee, then yet hath done. And therefore confess thy sins unto the Lord, and he is faithful and just to forgive thee thy sins. But woe be unto him that covereth his sin, and hideth his Transgressions: for he shall not prosper.  
Therefore high and low, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, turn unto the Lord, and harden not your hearts: and let the great ones know, That the Almighty God is coming against them, and he will plead with them, by fire and by the sword; and the ungodly shall be as chaff before the wind, as stubble before the fire: for the day of the Lord shall burn as an Oven, and the day shall burn up all that do wickedly: for the Lord God will not be mocked, but he will be avenged on his enemies; and all the unbelieving and unrighteous generation of men, both Priests and People, shall feel the stroke of his almighty Arm of Power, if they do not speedily repent, and turn unto him, and leave off their wicked deceitful ways, and their doings that are not good: for they are wallowing in their own ways, and their hearts are running a whoring after their own inventions. And therefore return unto the Lord, and learn Righteousness now at the last, before you die: for as the Tree falleth, so it lieth, and there is no Repentance in the grave whither thou goest; and as death leaveth, Judgement findeth: for this I say as Paul doth, That according to the way that most men call heresy, so worship I the God of my Fathers; believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets, and that there shall be a resurrection both of the just, and the unjust, a resurrection of the dead: and herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence, towards God and towards man. Act. 1. 10, 11. And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven, as he went up; behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner, as ye have seen him go into heaven. Act. 2. 20. The Sun shall be turned into darkness, and the Moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come, 1 Thes. 4. 15, 16, 17. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, That we which are alive, and remain unto the coming of the Lord, shall not prevent them that are asleep: for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thes. 5. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief, 2 Thes. 7, 8. And to you which are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power, when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints, and to be admired in all them that believe. As Paul reasoned with Felix, (Act. 24. 25.) of Judgement, Felix trembled, and said, Go thy way, I will call for thee, when I have a convenient season. 1 Cor. 15. If after the manner of men (saith Paul) I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? 1 Cor. 15. 43. It is raised in power, by the mighty power of him that is Almighty, that said, Let there be light, and it was so; and laid the Foundations of the earth, by the word of his power, & can destroy it in the very twinkling of an eye, by the word of his power, 1 Cor. 15. 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 2 Cor. 5. 10. For we must all appear before the Judgement-seat of Christ, that every one may receive the things done in his Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 2 Pet. 3. 7. But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word, are kept in store, reserved unto fire, against the day of Judgement, and perdition of ungodly men. Vers. 10. But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat; and the earth, with the works that therein are, shall be burnt up. Ver. 12. Looking for, and hasting to the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat. Mal. 4. 1. For behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an Oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, and shall leave them neither root nor branch.  
I could instance many more places to clear it, and to show the Lords purpose in it, to make his mighty power to appear, and to show to all that ever was, his Justice in fulfilling his promise to his redeemed Ones, and to lay all their sins upon the Prince of Darkness, the Devil, for tempting the newborn Babes of Christ; and he not prevailing over them, because greater is he that is in them, than he that is in the world; and sin must not go unpunished: therefore Satan tempting, and they not yielding, it is all treasured upon his account, against that terrible day: and if it were not for that day, he should still remain, and be a Deceiver of the Brethren, and still range up and down the earth, and do wickedness. But his day of wrath is approaching, and that day is it, as you may see plainly, in that Epistle of Judas, vers. 6. And the Angels, which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, unto the judgement of the great day.  
When this day is, none knoweth but the Father, who keepeth it to himself: but thy particular, and the men of this Generations day of Judgement is at hand; and therefore it is good to live in judgement at all times: for blessed is the man that feareth always. And verily it is a blessed state for a man to wait on the Lord at all times: for blessed is he that waiteth on him: and, salvation is of the Lord, and his blessing is upon his people. And when the mind is stayed upon God, than the heart judgeth down sin in the first rise of it, and so it is blasted and laid upon the devil's account, that is the Tempter: and the mind that is always stayed upon the Lord, waiting upon that pure seed of God in him, judgeth down sin at all times, and sin hath no entrance in that heart, but it is, by the power of Christ in him, kept pure, and clean, and uncorrupt, and holy as God is holy, in all manner of conversation; as it is written, Be ye holy, as I am holy; and be ye perfect, as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Now all those that allow themselves in any sin or lust of the flesh, they cannot be of God, neither can any sacrifice that man or woman doth, be accepted. If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear my prayer: and, the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination in the sight of the Lord God: and, the prayers of the wicked shall turn into sin.  
And therefore cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded; that when that day cometh, you may be found in the number of those that shall have the Sun of Righteousness arise upon them, with healing under his wings; and they shall grow up as fat Calves: for their Redemption draweth near. And as for the wicked, woe to them, it shall go ill with them: for the wicked shall be turned into Hell, and all people that forget God: For the Lord is known by the Judgements which he executeth, when he snareth the wicked in the works of his own hands.   

The seventh Epistle:  
To all Magistrates, and Persons in Power, to consider what they do, when they oppress the tender Lambs of Christ's Fold: For the great Day of the Lord is at hand, and He will bring every word and work unto Judgement.  
GOD said to Pharaoh by Moses, Let my people go, that they may serve me; and if thou wilt not let them go, I will show my power and wonders upon thee; I will pour out my plagues upon thee and thy people. The Lord is coming to punish the stouthearted Magistrates that oppress his babes and children: and it is not he that cries, Lord, Lord, that will be able to stand before him: for he is coming with fire, like a Refiners fire, to purge the Dross from the good Metal; and it is only he that doth the will of his Father which is in heaven, that shall be able to lift up his head in that day: for the Lord will be avenged of all his Enemies, be they never so lofty; for they are all alike to him: God is no Respecter of persons, but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness, is accepted with him: and the Lord is a bringing forth his People with joy, and his chosen Ones with gladness: for he is become their Sun and Shield, their Righteousness and Strength, and their exceeding great Reward: for his delight is in the upright on the earth, and such he doth make to excel in Virtue: and the Lord will overturn all false deceitful Powers, that are not of his planting, and he will root them up, and leave them neither Root nor Branch, and they shall feel the stroke of his Almighty Arm, in this the day of his fierce wrath: for it is coming upon the Hypocrites in Zion; for the Marriage of the Lamb is come: now is he coming in power and great glory, and none but the pure in heart shall see him; and they shall behold him as he is: for the Lord is the God of Truth, and an everlasting King: at his anger the earth shall tremble, and the nations cannot abide his wrath: for he hath made the earth by his power, and established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion; he causeth the clouds to ascend unto the ends from the earth.  
And therefore every one, come to know this great GOD, that you may in him lie down in peace, and find rest unto your souls; and know this, That there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus, that walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit: for condemnation hath passed over them already; they are complete in Christ, and renewed into his image; they are in Covenant with him; they are his Children; they are born of him: and he that is born of him sinneth not, neither can he sin; because he is born of God. The Reason, because he is born of him, that is, the pure seed of God in him, being always obeyed and waited in, the watch being continually kept, by this he overcometh the world; and this is our victory, even our Faith, that hath given us victory over the world; and this Faith standeth in Christ, who removeth those Mountains of Sin and Uncleanness, that hath possessed them in the time of their ignorance, even like so many Devils: for every sin is a Devil, as you may read, that Mary Magdalen had seven Devils cast out of her, that is, seven reigning unclean spirits, being devils: and the devils besought Christ, when they saw they must go forth of the man possessed, that they might enter into the herd of Swine: So by this Faith in Christ, the corrupt fruitless tree that cumbreth the ground, is removed, and a Plant of Righteousness, of the Lords own planting, is placed in the room of it, that is planted by the Rivers of waters, that flourisheth, and bringeth Fruit in season, and whatsoever it doth, doth prosper, and his leaf shall never wither, but it shall bring forth his Fruit in due season, to the glory of the Father; and so by abiding in Christ the Vine, the creature doth bring forth much Fruit to the glory of the Father; & the pure is known from that which is impure, & the holy from that which is unholy & that of God from that which is not of God: for that which is holy, is to abide in the house of God, who dwelleth not in unclean Temples made with hands; but his Temples are his Saints, and their Bodies are the Temples of the holy Ghost, and this is the living sacrifice that God accepteth: for it is the living that praise the Lord, the dead cannot: they that are dead in trespasses and sins, they praise not God, their sacrifice is as the cutting off a dog's neck: it is the redeemed of the Lord that sings the songs of Zion, the songs of Holiness: they are they that follow the Lamb in the Regeneration, and they are regenerated; and these follow the Lamb Jesus, through great Tribulations, and they have washed their garments in his blood, and they shall sit on his right hand for evermore: for he hath found them worthy: for he hath redeemed them from all iniquity, that they may serve him in Righteousness and true Holiness, all the days of their lives; and so they are come to the perfect liberty of the sons of God; they are led by his Spirit, which leads them into all truth, out of all sin, and all unrighteousness; and so they are kept without spot or wrinkle, in the midst of a perverse and crooked Generation; and the Comforter, which is the Spirit of Truth, leads them into all Truth, and sets up true Judgement, and Justice, and Equity, that that rules the whole man, and governs the souls of his, that all unjust Rulers and Governors, that hath had possession formerly, is destroyed, and the LORD GOD alone doth reign in this the day of his power, and he alone doth plead the cause of his redeemed Ones, by that of his pure Self, which he hath placed in every one of them, and hath made it to get the victory.  
And therefore woe, woe unto them that lay heavy burdens upon his despised Ones: for a Day of terrible Wrath and Vengeance is coming upon you all, and the sword of the Lord is drawn, and will be avenged on all his Enemies, in this the great day of his terrible; appearance; and the Enemies of his power shall know, that he alone will reign and be exalted, in this great day of his appearance: for the Lord alone will reign, and be King over all the Kingdoms of the world; and all the Kingdoms of the world shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ, and unto him shall all bend and bow, and all the powers of the earth be made subject: for he is the Light, and in him is the Light of the world; and he is the beloved of God. Therefore every one lend their ear unto him, and hear him: for in him is to be found the white stone, with the new name written in it, that no man knoweth, but he that hath it: for all that are led by the Spirit of God, are led into Holiness: for Holiness becometh the House of God for ever: it is none but the pure in heart shall see God: for God is Righteousness, and he leadeth his people into righteousness: they that are led by his Grace, are led out of Ungodliness, and out of the paths of the wicked: for the wicked walk in darkness, they stumble at noonday: the fool saith in his heart, There is no God; and his actions plainly declare it: for he liveth as though there were no God to punish him, nor Devil to torment him, nor Hell-fire to burn him, which is the portion of the wicked; storm and tempest, fire and brimstone is their portion for ever, from the presence of the Lord, Rev. 19 3. And her smoke rose up for evermore.  
And therefore you stouthearted of the world, that bend your brows against the Just, fear and tremble: for the righteous God is coming in Judgement to avenge the blood of his servants at your hands; and which of you will be able to dwell in everlasting burnings? for Judgement is already begun at the house of God: And if the Righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the sinner and the ungodly appear? And therefore repent, repent, go away, and sin no more, before repentance be hid from your eyes, and you be cut off from the Land of the Living, and meet the Lord speedily in the ways of his Judgements: O it is good to live in judgement at all times, that is, to judge sin down in the first motion, as hath been already shown.  
And therefore all you that would be counted Christians, and be Coheirs with Christ Jesus the Son of the living God, who is the only Saviour of Mankind, depart from iniquity, sin, and all ungodliness, and return to him who is come to judge all flesh, raising up his true and faithful Witness in all Concernments, which showeth to all men upon the face of the earth, what sin, iniquity, and all ungodliness is, to the end they may unto their Father, return and repent of their former evil ways, that their sins may be taken away, and their iniquities may be blotted out, and his perfect life brought forth, which doth his will on earth as it is in heaven: and such who do obey this holy Voice of Christ in them, do witness his Kingdom come in great power and glory, which is not of this world: therefore the world knoweth it not: for they will not come unto Christ, that they may have life; and therefore they cannot taste of the Tree of Life, and eat and live for ever, John 6. 50. This is the bread (saith Christ) that cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am (saith Christ) the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. And this is he that giveth power to understand the Scriptures, that are dark to the understanding, until he that gave them forth, open their understandings: as you may see in Luke 24. 45. Then opened he their understandings, that they might understand the Scriptures: the only way to obtain this favour from the Lord, is to love the pure seed of God, in the which is God's witness in thy Conscience, and is his written Word in thy heart, which was that Word to David, that he had such a love unto, that by loving of it, God made him wiser then his Teachers, and it was sweeter than the honey and the honey comb, and it was better than thousands of Gold and Silver: and Solomon saith of this wisdom, The merchandise is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof is better than gold: And this is the Pearl of great price, that the man sold all to buy it: therefore my desire, nay, the desires of my soul, thirsteth after the Salvation of all men. And therefore, dear Friends and People, all be kept low in the fear of God at all times, and learn of Christ to be meek and lowly, that you may find rest unto your souls; and consider, that the only thing is to fear God, and keep his Commandments; for they that hath the Commandments, and keepeth them, dwelleth in Christ, and Christ in them: and much reading is a weariness to the flesh: here the end of all is, To fear God, and keep his Commandments; this is the whole duty of man: for he that manifests his faith by being obedient, he shall live for ever: for the Kingdom of God consisteth not in words, but in life and power, which is righteousness; and that procureth true peace, such peace as men and Devils can never take from you: and so walking in this peace, the God of love and peace will be with you to the end. Now unto God our Father, be glory, and everlasting praises ascribed, both now and for ever, and for ever.  
Amen.   

The eighth Epistle:  
To Richard Allen, a Priest in the Parish of Crundal in Kent, and also to be communicated to the rest of his Brethren the Priests, to show them the unlawfulness & wicked Practice of receiving of Tithes, contrary to the Practice of Christ and his Apostles; and yet call themselves, A Gospel-Ministry: But they must know, The terrible day of the Lords Wrath is at hand, and this their Act of Oppression must come to Judgement.  
WHat hast thou to do to take the Name of the Lord in thy mouth, seeing thou hatest to be reform? for, Let him that calleth on the Name of the Lord, depart from iniquity: and, He that saith he is in Christ, ought so to walk as Christ hath walked: and, He that hath Faith, it purifieth the heart, and he purifieth himself as Christ is pure. Now he that liveth in any known sin, is a transgressor of the Law: and, He that keepeth the whole Law, and yet offendeth in one point, is guilty of all: and, He that breaketh one of these least Commandments, and teacheth men so, shall be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.  
Now I do charge thee with the desiring of thy Neighbour's Goods, which thou hast no just right to, neither by the Law of God, nor just Law of Man: but the Reason is, there is Laws in being for thy wicked lust, because all things are out of God's order: for our Judges are not as they were at first, nor our Counselors as at the beginning; if they were, they might tell the people of the Law, what it is: for the power of the Nation of England hath had their Laws invested and enacted by Parliaments, and they chosen by the people. Now it was never conceived that a people should be so void of reason, as to give a company of persons a power to destroy their Birthright, the property of their Estates: for they are called to provide for the safety and weal of a people, not for their hurt or damage: and all Laws are grounded upon Reason, or aught to be; and where Reason ceaseth, there the Law ceaseth.  
Now thou art so ingenuous to confess that Tithes came first into England by the appointment and command of the Pope, and Popish Laws: and is it reasonable that those Laws should bind us, that were first made by them; when we are so distinct from them, that we now, in our times, have had Laws made amongst us, for the selling and sequestering of their Estates, quatenus as Papists? and that an Act of Parliament made against common Right, as Tithes is, common Equity and common Reason, is therefore null and void in itself in Law, and ought not to be executed, as appears by these following Laws: See the first part of Doctor Bonham's Case, fol. 118. and the eighth of Edward the Third, fol. 3, 30, 33. E. Cassanet, 32. and the 27 H. Annuity 41. and the 1 of Eliz. Dyer 113. and first part of Cook's Institutes, Lib. 2. Chap. 11. Sect. 209. fol. 140. and the fourth of Edward the fourth, 12. 12. Edward the Fourth, 18. 1 Henry the Seventh, 12, 13. Ploughed. Com. fol. 369. Yea, (saith that Learned Oracle of the Law of England, Edward Cook, in the fourth part of his Institutes, fol. 330.) where Reason ceaseth, there the Law ceaseth: for seeing Reason is the very Life and Spirit of the Law itself, the Law is not to be esteemed to respect that which hath no Reason, although the generality of the words at the first Institution, or after the Letter, seem otherwise. And (saith the Learned Author, in his first part of Institutes, fol. 140.) all Customs and Prescriptions, Acts of Parliament, Laws and Judgements that be against Reason, are void and null in themselves.  
And saith the Army's Attorney John Cook, in the late Kings Case stated, page the 23. That by the Law of England, any Act or Agreement against the Laws of God and Nature, as I shall prove Tithes are against both, is a mere nullity, saith he: for as a man hath no hand in making the Laws of God and Nature, no more hath he power to mar or alter them: and he citys the Earl of Leicester's adjudged Case for a proof: and all the Judges in England cannot make one Case to be Law, that is not Reason, no more than they can make one Hair white that is naturally black: for Law must be Reason adjudged; and every Law of man must be consonant to the Law of God, otherwise they are not Righteous nor Obligatory.  
Now what reason is there that a poor man taking a Frame at a rack rend, and peradventure hiring money at use, and spending all his time and pains for a whole year to maintain his charge, which is his duty, being up early, and down late, eating the bread of sorrow, ploughing and sowing, and buying seed himself, running the hazard of the loss of all his Cattle; and for want of a good season, peradventure may hardly have the seed he cast into the ground; and after he hath reaped it at his own charge, then for a lazy Priest, a Non-Resident, a Drunkard, a Whoremaster, a covetous Person, ambitious, arrogant, proud, vain, lascivious, swaggering, swearing, fight, lying, unconfcionable, antichristian, ungodly Priest, as many are such; and some are filled with all Unrighteousness, being Enemies to Christ, and his chosen Ones, persecuting the righteous Seed; for such a one to come and take the Tenth of the poor man's Corn: let any man judge whether this be reason; when the poor man neither imploys him, nor dare not hear him; for fear, if he should come to hear his Will-worship in his Idol-Temple, he may justly fall into the condemnation of the Devil.  
Thou sayest, That Abraham paid Tithes to Melchisedec.  
I answer: That was before the Levitical Priesthood: and Christ Jesus is made a Priest for ever, after the Order of Melchisedec; which was thus: Melchisedec met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the Kings, who brought him Bread and Wine; and Abraham gave him the Tenth of the spoil: what was this to the paying of Tithes yearly out of his own Estate? Canst thou prove that Abraham did pay Tithes out of that?  
And now the Levitical Priesthood is changed by Christ Jesus, and therefore there is a change of the Law: and now the Priesthood is not committed to the natural Offspring of Levi, or any other Tribe, but to Christ Jesus, the unchangeable Priesthood, whose Kingdom stands not in Figures and carnal Ordinances, but in the substance: For the time is come, (saith Christ) that ye shall not worship the Father at Jerusalem, nor in this mountain; but the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for he seeketh such to worship him. Now since the destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem, thou canst not read that ever God commanded another house to be built.  
Thou sayest that Christ Jesus said, Ye tithe Mint and Cummin; these things ye ought not to leave undone.  
Christ Jesus spoke then to the Jews, in the time when the Levitical Priesthood was not ended, who were bound by the Law. But when Christ was offered up, he said, It is finished.  
Now do thou remember, that he that addeth or diminisheth from the words of the Prophecies of this book, his name shall be blotted out of the Book of Life: and peruse thy Letter, and see if thou hast not added.  
Thou hast those Texts quoted, No man muzleth the mouth of the Ox, that treadeth out the corn: and, No man goeth a warfare at his own charge: and, He that plants a Vineyard eats the fruit thereof: And herein it is agreed, that the Ministers of Christ Jesus, who are effectually called to his service, and labour in the Word and Doctrine, aught to be comfortably provided for, that they go not a warfare at their own charge: but this doth not require the world, which lies waste as a wilderness, and is not of the Vineyard, should contribute: for Christ saith, Father, I pray not for the world, but for those that thou hast given me out of the world, that they may be one, as thou, O Father, art in me, & I in thee, so that they may be made one in us: therefore no reason that they that are of the world should be compelled to give of the substance of their labours to Christ's Ministers: for every man is sole owner of his own; and he that violently or fraudulently dispossesseth him of any, is a Thief and a Robber in the sight of God and good Men: God abhorreth the sacrifice of the wicked, and hath no need of his substance: for the earth is the Lords, and the fullness thereof; and he will never forsake those that put their trust in him: and, The just man shall live by his own faith: and, If any man withdraw himself, saith the Lord, my soul shall have no pleasure in him: and such as Christ sent forth, he always took care that they never wanted, but they were always kept without being chargeable to any, and they eat the fruits of their own Vineyards which they had planted, not which other men had planted: and by the Churches who were gathered out of the world, were they maintained, to preach the Gospel to the world, who lay in wickedness, unto whom they would not make the Gospel chargeable or burdensome; which was their glory, and their crown: and this Example of the Apostles, leaves every one free to give him that teacheth, not binding any to the maintenance of those that have less need than the Giver.  
And this discovers the hireling shepherds, that teach for filthy lucre, that fleece the Flock, and not feed them; that have a form of Godliness, but deny the power thereof; from such there is an express command to turn away, who make merchandise of the Scriptures: for the Lord saith, They shall not profit my people: for they are ever learning, and never able to bring to the knowledge of the truth: for he that knowetn not the life of Faith, to witness it in his own particular, how can he teach another?  
Thou sayest, That Peter converted three thousand souls at one Sermon, and thereby it did appear he was a Minister of Christ, the Lord effectually working with his Ministry, upon the hearts of his hearers.  
Now thou hast been a Teacher to the People of Crundal many years, and name me but one man or woman that hath been converted by thy Ministry; and if they can demonstrate unto me the work of Regeneration, wrought upon them by thy Teaching, than I will pay thee thy Demands. And how canst thou plead thyself a Minister of the Gospel, and sue for treble Damages? for learned Judge roll said in Court, That Tithes were not due and payable by the Law of the Land: in a Case of Tithes, on the Bench, when he was chief Justice: and when they were paid in the old Law, the Levites, the Fatherless, the Widows, the Strangers, were all to be provided for out of them; and the Priests of England hath no such custom, but consume them on their pride and lusts, and wicked covetousness: and the Disciples of Christ were commanded to go into all the world, to preach the Gospel to every creature; they were not to stay in a place: and the signs that followed them that believed in their Doctrine, in his Name they should cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.  
Thou sayest, That Believers sold their possessions, and laid them down at the Apostles feet.  
But they did distribute them as every man had need, they did not purchase Lands, and let the money to Usury and Extortion, as the Priests of this Generation do.  
Thou sayest that Paul informs of the qualities of a good Bishop, to be a man blameless, not given to filthy lucre: and Christ saith, Go not to Law with any man.  
Now learn thou these Lessons, and follow Righteousness, Faith, Love, Peace, with them that call on the Lord, out of a pure heart.  
Thou directest me to that Text, in Heb. 7. 8. And here men that die receive Tithes: read the 11 verse of that Chapter: If therefore perfection were by the Levitical Priesthood, for under it the people received the Law, what further need was there that another Priest should arise after the Order of Melchisedec? for Christ came of another Tribe: he sprang out of Judah, who was not made after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endlesslife: and vers. 25. Wherefore he is able also to save to the utmost them that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. And it shall come to passin the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy; and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; and on my servants, and on my handmaids I will pour out of my Spirit in those days, and they shall prophesy.  
And verily, I do bear my Testimony, that I do witness such a people now upon the earth, whom the Lord hath revealed his secrets unto, and doth powerfully work upon the hearts of thousands, to the turning them from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they do receive remission of sins: and this I do witness in my own particular, in great measure; blessed, yea, for ever blessed be his holy and dreadful Name: for he alone is worthy of everlasting Praises from his Own, both now, henceforth, and for ever. And woes, everlasting woes will be the portion of all those that oppress his righteous Ones.  
Now I find that all men that will attain unto salvation, must hear the Son of GOD: for, A Prophet (saith Moses) will the Lord your God raise up unto you, in all things like unto me, and him shall you hear: and it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall not hear him, shall be cut off from amongst the people. Now neither the Son of God, nor none of his Disciples nor Apostles did ever take Tithes, or ever command the paying of them: and they were not persons ordained by the will of man, but were anointed with the holy anointing, and were, by that Spirit that did anoint them, commanded to feed the Flock of Christ, over which the holy Ghost had made them Overseers. And Christ himself saith, That unless a man be born again, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven. And this new Birth is a Death unto all sin, and a Life unto all Righteousness: and this every man must feel, That it is as natural for him to serve the Law of God, as it was formerly to serve the Law of sin. And he is the true Teacher that is able by his own Experience to tell another how he hath passed from Death to Life: for no unclean thing can enter the Kingdom: for without are Covetous, Liars, Adulterers, Drunkards, Extortioners, and all evil Doers.  
Now a true Teacher must hate the very appearance of evil; he must hate vain thoughts, and every false way. We shall find in Scripture, that all the Teachers of Righteousness were such as were filled with the Spirit of the Lord, and did not preach for filthy lucre or gain, but of a ready mind, and were not as the Priests of these times are, that lie as Thiefs and Robbers, to murder in the way, and sue for treble Damages, and persecute the Son of God in all those that desire to live godly in him: which they will feel one day, that those that persecute them, they persecute him: and it were better that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he thrown into the sea, then that he should offend one of those little Ones that put their trust in me, saith Christ.  
Now I find that in the year 600. or soon after, Gregory the First, than Pope of Rome, sent over Augustine the Monk into England; by whom Ethelbert King of Kent was converted: This Augustine was a C●…n Regular; and after he had obtained his own Design, he then preached up Tithes in England, by the Pope's appointment; and at the same time, taught the people that the pardon of sin might be merited by good Works.  
In the year 786. two Legates were sent over from Pope Hadrian the First, to Offa King of Mercland, Alwolf King of Northumberland, who made a Decree, That the people of those two Kingdoms should pay Tithes: King Athelstone about the year 930. King Edmond about the year 940. King Edgar about the year 970. King Etheldred 1010. King Knute about the year 1020. Edward the Confessor, and others of the Saxon Kings, by Order from the Pope, made Laws for Tithes. The Normans afterwards entering this Kingdom, William the Conqueror, Henry the First, Henry the Second, King Stephen, and other Kings, by the like Order from the Pope, confirmed the said Laws for Tithes: and yet notwithstanding all these Laws, yet was it left to the Owner to confer it where he pleased; which was the cause of making so many rich Abbeys and Monasteries in England: and until the year 1200. or thereabouts, every one gave their Tithes as they pleased; which made Pope Innocent the Third, send his Decretal Epistle the Bishop of Canterbury, commanding him to enjoin every man to pay his Tithes to those that ministered spiritual things to them; which was enforced by Sentence of the Ecclesiastical Courts. And this was the first beginning of Parochial Tithes in England: and this after, by the Parliament was thought reasonable, and then established by a Law, the King and People being all Papists.  
Now all this will I prove: and let any man, that hath any fear of the Lord, judge whether that the Rules and Practice of those Backsliders, who were in the dark night of Apostasy, be fit to guide us, who have again received the pure light, as the Apostles of our Lord and Saviour, and have received the Lord Jesus Christ, and know how to walk in him: for know ye not that Christ is in you, unless you be reprobates? and, put you on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts ●…eof.   

The ninth Epistle:  
To all Priests that teach for Hire, and divine for Money; that call themselves Ministers of Christ, and are not, but are of the Synagogue of Satan; that they may repent: For the day of the Lord is at hand.  
THe Arm and strength of the Lord God is found and felt in the hearts of all his chosen ones; and they feel themselves branches springing forth of the Tree of Life: and in him (that is, in Christ) by abiding in him, and his living Word abiding in them, they bring forth much fruit, and they walk from strength to strength, and from faith to faith, until they appear before God in Zion: and they do turn people from darkness unto light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they do receive remission of sins, and an inheritance amongst those that are sanctified: and as they have felt, and handled, and tasted of the good Word of Eternal Life; so they do deliver it unto others: freely they have received, and freely do they give, according to the command of Christ their Lawgiver; and they have received the Unction, the anointing, from the Holy One, which doth abide in them, and teacheth them all things; and they have the first fruits of the Spirit, which doth make them alive unto God. And they do go into the dark corners of the world, as they are moved by the Holy Ghost, to preach freely the everlasting Gospel of Salvation, glad tidings to all people, whose feet are beautiful: and they do it upon this account, that a necessity doth lie upon them, and woes will be upon them if they do it not, if they do the work of the Lord negligently: and they are ready to sacrifice their lives, and to seal the truth of their Ministry with their blood, that they may finish their work with Joy and inward Consolation, which is full of power and great glory; and their Conversations are without Covetousness, they seek not their own, but the things of Jesus, the salvation of all men, that they may live the life of holiness; as they have been servants unto sin, so, that they may now come to be made free from sin, and have their lives in holiness and righteousness, the end whereof, is everlasting life: for the gift of grace is free; and so many as receive him, to them he gives power to become the Sons of God, even to all those that do believe in his name: and their conversations are in heaven; and they do not mind earthly things; and they do the works of the Spirit, which doth make them alive unto God: for as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God; and they are as Lights in the midst of a perverse and crooked Generation: and they are holy, harmless, without spot and blemish, waiting with Oil in their own Lamps, for the coming of the Lord, that they may enter into his Joy, and receive the end of their faith, which is, the salvation of their souls.  
The true Ministers of Christ, they were filled with the Holy Ghost, before they went forth; as Paul saith, when Christ had revealed himself in him, than he spoke the word with boldness: and many of the Priests say, That Judas had a Commission, as well as the rest of the Apostles, because Christ sent them forth, and said, As you go, preach; and say, The Kingdom of God is at hand; which Kingdom was the pouring down of the Spirit of Righteousness, which he promised that the holy Ghost should come down, and abide with them for ever, and lead them into all truth. But there is not one Text that ever I could find, that they did go forth until the lot fell upon Mathias in the room of Judas, and he was numbered amongst the twelve. It is said, That the seventy returned, and said, Behold, Lord, the devils are subject unto us. So at the best, those Priests that pleads for Judas, doth but derive their Office from him: for he was a Deceiver at the best: and so are all they that have not received the holy Ghost: for the Apostles were to feed the Flock of Christ, over which the holy Ghost hath made them Overseers, and the Priests of this Generation, are they not proud, covetous, arrogant, ambitious, self-lovers, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof?  
Where is the man or the woman that hath been at any time snatched out of the paws of Satan, and out of the snares of hell, by their Ministry, as it is called? Where is the fruits of the holy Ghost to be found amongst their hearers, which is, Love, Joy, Meekness, Temperance, Brothetly kindness, Bowels of Compassion, enduring all things, Temperance, Righteousness, and holy in all manner of conversation? Is not the fruits of their hearers clean contrary? are they not wrath, anger, malice, murder, robbery, plunder, a neater word for Thiefs, Swearing, Adultery, Fornication, and all uncharitableness, scoffing, despising those that are good, heady, highminded, disobedient to parents, unnatural, truce-breakers, Covenant-breakers?  
And by this it appears, that they neither have the call of Christ's Ministers: for if the Lord had sent them, they should have turned people from the evil of their doings, and they should have learned to do well: neither have they the maintenance of Christ's Ministers, nor the fruits of Christ's Ministers: for Christ's Ministers, they were commanded to take nothing with them, neither money, nor staff, nor scrip; and they were to inquire who was worthy, and there enter, and there eat such things as was set before them, and that was their maintenance: not to force people, and take away their Goods, three times as much as was or could be demanded. And the fruits of Christ's Ministers: Peter converted three thousand at once; and many thousands now, blessed be the holy Name of the everliving GOD, are escaped out of the snare of the hunter, by the sounding forth of the everlasting Gospel of salvation from his true Ministers, who are despised, and scornfully called, by the seed of evil doers, Quakers: whose Doctrine is, To turn people to the light within them, which doth bring them out of Rebellion, and the disobedient nature, which the light doth reprove and condemn; and they that do draw from the teachings of Christ within, such the Light Christ doth show to be seducers, 1 Joh. 2. 26, 27. and this light doth bring into the holy life, and into the pure worship of God in the Spirit.  
And therefore I do dearly exhort you from the Lord, to come out of all your false Churches, your false ways, and from your proud deceitful Priests; and come to Christ the true Pastor and Bishop of your souls; and so you shall come to the Church that is in God, 1 Thes. 1. 1. Heb. 12. 22, 23. whose Overseers are made by the holy Ghost.  
And so dear Friends I do dearly exhort you to take heed to that which is pure of God in your consciences, and obey it, and make that your Teacher: for that calls for a pure conversation, 1 Pet. 1. 13, 14, 15, 16. and let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works: and so you shall all come to be baptised into Christ, and so put him on, by one Spirit, and come to be buried with him in the true Baptism, Rom. 6. 1, 2. and so a fellowship into the new life cometh to be witnessed, where there is one Faith, one Lord, and one Baptism; and so one God and Father of them all: and so they are kept in that Church which is the pillar and ground of Truth, Ephes. 4. 4, 5, 6, 7. 2 Tim. 2. 19 1 Tim. 3. 15. Mat. 11. 28. Christ calleth all that are weary and heavy laden, to come unto him, and he will give: them rest.  
And therefore obey the light, and come out from your sins, take up the cross, and deny your wills, and forsake your iniquities, and touch not the unclean thing, and he will receive you; and take heed you do not reject the counsel of the Lord God, who desires to bring you to salvation: for, the vision is but for an appointed time: and, the Lords Spirit shall not always strive with man.   

The tenth Epistle:  
To all Drunkards, Swearers, Usurers, Extortioners, Adulterers, and all unclean Persons, showing the heavy Wrath of the living God burneth like fire against such evil Persons, and the terrible day of Vengeance is at hand: And these are to warn them, that they speedily repent, before their hearts come to be ripped up, and laid naked before the mighty and terrible GOD, who doth regard no man's Person in Judgement, but every one shall receive according to the things done in his Body, whether they be good or evil.  
THe Light that discovers sin, is Christ; and when any evil is committed, God's witness in the conscience is disturbed, the just seed lieth oppressed, and then the soul lieth under the wrath of God: and who can dwell in his Displeasure?  
And the many sad Judgements that have befallen persons in that condition of drunkenness, I think, should deter persons from that accursed beastly sin, which maketh men, that they are like unto the swine, as you may see in 2 Sam. 13. 28. Now had Absalon commanded his servants, saying, Mark now when Amnons' heart is merry with wine: and when I say unto you, Smite Amnon; kill him, fear not.  
Another precedent you may see in 1 King. 16. 8, 9, 10. In the six and twentieth year of Asa king of Judah, began Elah the son of Baasha to reign over Israel in Tirzah, and reigned two years. And his servant Zimri (captain of half his chariots) conspired against him as he was in Tirzah, drinking till he was drunk in the house of Arza, steward of his house in Tirzah. And Zimri came and smote him, and killed him in the twenty and seventh year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned in his stead.  
Holofernes, being drunk, was slain by Judith.  
Noah being drunk, his sons mocked him: he became a scorn to his Children.  
Lot being drunk, committed incest with his two Daughters.  
Benhadad being drunk, you may see what a sad loss he came to, and how he was discomfited, 1 King. 20. 16, 20, 34.  
David made Vriah drunk, and then sent Letters to Joab to have him set in the front of the Battle, that he might be slain.  
We ought not to keep company with Drunkards, Prov. 23. 20, 21. The woe of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, is pronounced against Drunkards, Isa. 5. 11. VVo unto them that rise up early, to follow Drunkenness, and to them that continue until night, till the wine doth inflame them: for they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the works of his hands.  
Many more Texts of Scripture might be quoted, and many Examples of God's Judgements against such sinners to my own knowledge: as, some that have fallen into wells, and been drowned; some into the Thames; some have broke their Necks off their horses; some their Legs, their Arms; sides wasting their precious time, that God hath put into their hands to get wisdom, and also ruining their wives and children in wasting and consuming their Estates: for a Drunken man is fit to do any wickedness, & to act any ungodliness: and this sad sin is many times committed by people's drinking of Healths: the Devil stealeth upon them, and if he can get them to drink Healths, he hath them safe enough: for of whomsoever a man is overcome, his servant he is, to whom he is overcome; whether it be of sin unto death, or of obedience unto Righteousness: so he that is overcome by sin, is the devil's slave.  
And verily, my soul doth mourn in secret, and my heart doth bleed within me, and sorrow doth over-whelm me, for some of my dearly beloved Friends, that are overtaken by Satan's snares in this way of sinning: and therefore my desire is to them from the Lord, that they would mind the light of Christ in their Consciences, which is, God's witness for himself; and it will either excuse or accuse, acquit or condemn: and this being silently and patiently waited in, will teach the denying the drinking of healths; and will be a means to keep out of this beastly sin, that makes persons like Beasts, and defaces the Image of God, and defiles his Temple; and such, if they do not speedily repent, the Lord will destroy them: for he that defiles the Temple of God, him will God destroy. And your Bodies are the Temples of the holy Ghost.  
And next to this is Swearers: for because of Oaths the Land mourneth: and, The curse shall enter into the house of the Swearer, and consume it, even with the beams and timber thereof. And what a company of sad creatures there is, that will swear any thing for advantage, in buying and selling in their ordinary course of trading in the world, between man and man! how for six pence, many times, they will sell their Faith! O let such fear, and tremble, and repent: for without heavenly Jerusalem are all swearers, drunkards, and all Liars, who have their portion in the lake that burneth with fire and Brimstone.  
And the sin of accustoming a man's self to swearing, is reproved, Eccles. 23. 9 to 24. & 17. 14. and Christ Jesus gave this command to all that then were and should be, Swear not at all, saith Christ: and all Controversies may be ended without swearing, if the Magistrates would come to the line of true judgement, and be guided by the witness of God in them.  
And therefore dear Friends, leave off this wicked custom of vain swearing: for it neither profiteth the speaker nor hearer; but serveth the Devil, and bringeth everlasting destruction to the soul.  
And there is a great and most abominable sin committed in and by many, that they eat up God's people like bread, they devour them by Extortion and Usury: but such must not come to the holy Hill of Zion. VVo to them that get fields and houses by violence and oppression, and devour the Fatherless and the widow: They are far from the commands of Christ, which saith, Lend, looking for nothing again: it is a sin forbidden amongst the Jews, Exod. 20. 17. & 22. 25. Leu. 25. 35, 36, 37. Deut. 5. 21. Neh. 5. 1. to 14. Psal. 15. 1, 5. Prov. 22. 7, 16, 22, 52. & the 22. 8. Jer. 15. 10. Ezek. 18. 13. and 22. 12. Mat. 5. 42. & 7. 12. Luk. 6. 30, 34, 35. and this lay upon me to acquaint all people with from the Lord, that they do injury to no man, for gain to themselves; but every one do as they would be done unto, as they would that men should do unto them: for the great day of the Lords wrath is at hand, and all shall be judged according to the things done in their Bodies, whether they be good or evil: and all evil doers, sin lieth at their doors, and the flaming sword of the Lord of hosts doth hang over their heads.  
And therefore my desire, yea, my souls desire unto all is, That they would keep their minds out of fading, visible, perishing things: for none but such have their hearts upon the invisible God, who is a Spirit; and none but spiritual worshippers do serve him, or honour him; even such the Father seeketh to worship him, that worship him in the Spirit and in Truth; and such feel their lives to be in God, and they live by Faith, which Faith is the Faith of God's Elect: for they that so come to live, daily do they feel the flow in of comfort, from the wellspring of Life; and they grow like Trees that are planted by the Rivers of Waters, that do bring forth Fruit in due season, whose Leaf shall not fade, and whatsoever they do, it shall prosper; and the Lord refresheth their souls with fatness, and giveth them the bread of life, that they eat, and live for ever; and they drink of that water, that they never thirst: and they taste of that heavenly Rock, which is Christ: and they are the tender Lambs of Christ: and the Lord God doth esteem of them as his Jewels; and they that touch them, touch the Apple of God's Eye: For they are they that do overcome the world, and they shall be clothed in white, and they shall follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth, and sing songs of Triumph; Glory, Glory, everlasting Glory and Hallelujahs be given to him that is Lord of lords, and King of kings, that is the God that giveth his people light, and in his light they see the everlasting Light, which maketh them live for evermore in his presence, where there is the fullness of joy, and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore.   

The eleventh Epistle:  
To all Those whose souls panteth after the living God, as the Hart panteth after the Water-Brooks.  
DEar Hearts, my dearly beloved in the light and love of God, for whom my soul traveleth in birth, that I might see Christ form in you, that you might walk worthy of the Lord, unto all wellpleasing; being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience, and long-suffering, with joyfulness; giving thanks to the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son; in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature: for it pleased the Father, that in him should all fullness dwell.  
And so dear Hearts, as you wait in him out of all visible things, wherein your life hath formerly been nourished and upheld, you shall (by Christ) witness a new birth, and a new nature; and the life of God will be felt and witnessed, which doth redeem the soul out of sin, and of inquity, and doth reach the seed of God, which is pure, and of his fullness, of whom we receive grace for grace: and so the pure innocent seed of the Lord springeth up in you, that you become fruitful Branches, and bring forth much fruit unto the Lord; and so every one in their several measure, answer the Lords expectation: who is this day seeking for fruits amongst his people: and all dead fruitless Trees must have the Axe laid to the root of them, that they may be hewed down, and cast into the fire: for the Lord hath chosen forth of the world, unto himself, a people to wait in his counsel and light, that they may serve him in Righteousness, and obey him in Truth.  
And therefore, dear Hearts, be diligent and watchful, that in the strength of God, you may be continually armed against the old devouring Enemy, Satan; who goeth about like a roaring Lion: and all his War is against the tender Lambs of Christ's fold; that he may make Rents and Divisions amongst them: but you are commanded to resist him, being steadfast in the Faith, & always to let your works and labour to abound in the Lord, for as much as you know your labour is not in vain in the Lord: and this know, that Satan will do what he may or possibly can against you: he had sought to winnow Peter as Wheat was winnowed in a sieve: he tempted Christ, but there was no ground for him to enter in him. And those that are renewed in the spirit of their minds in Christ, they pluck up and plow up the fallow ground of their hearts, they pluck up sin by the roots; they remove the ground, that there is no room to receive the devil's temptations, although he strives to the utmost of his power to keep the seed of God in bondage; which seed is God's Elect and Precious, and he will redeem it out of captivity and thraldom: for it is the Resurrection, and the holy Birth, the Beloved, the incorruptible, that destroys Satan's kingdom: and therefore love it, and nourish it, and cherish it, and let it have the whole dominion in you, and it will totally put out Satan, and you shall tread him under your feet: for where the seed of God doth reign, there Satan is subjected: and so in the light of God you will find strength, and power, and dominion over the Enemy, and over all his sleights and deceits.  
As you stand in the light, which is the power of God, the Enemy will find no place to enter, and his strength will be abated and decreased, and then you will, by degrees, find your bodies fit Temples for the holy Ghost to dwell in, and the strength of the Lord God of Life and Glory will daily be renewed unto you; and in his strength you shall walk, until you appear before him in Zion: and you shall obtain victory over the Enemy of your souls, and know the glorious liberty of the Sons of God, and so come to have a portion and an inheritance with the Babes of Christ, even an everlasting inheritance reserved in heaven for you, in that Kingdom which hath no end; and even such glory as no eye hath seen, nor ear hath heard, nor tongue is able to express, which God hath laid up for them that love him: What hath not eye seen? what hath not ear heard? and the heart is able to conceive more than all, yea, it is able to conceive and entertain into the imagination any thing; yet all this is nothing to those everlasting joys, and comforts, and consolations, which the Saints shall enjoy in the presence of the Lord for evermore. And therefore faint not at your fiery trials, which cometh, or is admitted, or suffered in the Wisdom that is Infinite, to try you, as if some strange thing were come unto you, as you may see in 1 Pet. 4. 12, 13. But rejoice, in as much as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also, with exceeding joy: if you be reproached for the Name of Christ, happy are you: for the Spirit of God and of glory resteth upon you: on their parts he is evil spoken of, but on your parts he is glorified: for the time is come, that judgement must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? and if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore (saith the same Apostle) let them that suffer according to the will of God, commit the keeping of their souls, to him, in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.  
And so dear hearts, look not out at things past, present, or to come, or at others, but stand in the light, and in the counsel of the Lord, and freely give up to his will, as Job did: Although he kill me, (saith he) yet will I trust in him. And in the Lords due time, there shall be deliverance out of all troubles, and he will work your peace, even peace that men and devils shall not take from you: for he that keepeth Israel, neither slumbereth nor sleepeth: and although many are the troubles of the Righteous, yet the Lord will deliver them out of them all. And therefore cast your whole care upon the Lord, and trust in him, and he shall bring it to pass: he shall bring forth your Righteousness as clear as the light, and your just dealing as the noon day: and so the power of the Lord will compass you about, and his Angels shall have charge concerning you, to keep you in all his ways: for they that stay themselves upon the arm of the Lord, have perfect peace; and their strength shall be renewed day by day in him, who is made perfect, and is become the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him; which is Jesus, that saveth to the utmost all that come to God by him: for he ever liveth to make intercession for them. And so believe in him, and you shall be saved: For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness, to every one that believeth: For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the Law, that the man which doth them, shall live by them: but the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thy heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? that is, to bring Christ down from above; or who shall ascend into the deep? that is, to bring Christ back again from the dead. But what saith it? The Word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart; that is, the Word of Faith which we preach; which teacheth to deny all ungodliness, and worldly lust, and to live godly, soberly, and righteously in this present evil world; and to do injury to no man, but to do unto all men, as you would have all men do unto you: even this the Lord thy God doth require of thee, O man, To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. And this walking with God, is that way that Enoch walked in, & all the holy men of God that brought their souls to the true centre of Rest, even Rest everlasting, where there is the innumerable company of Angels, and the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven, in the book of Life. And so dear hearts, endure, as Moses did, all things patiently, as seeing him that is invisible: for the patient abiding of the Meek shall not be forgotten: and the Lord bottles up all the tears of his redeemed ones: and so every one come with patience to do the will of God, that when you have done it, you may receive the Reward: and so every one come to feel Christ Jesus, in you that believe, the hope of glory; and feed upon the living Gospel, which is the bread of life, that whosoever eateth, hungreth no more: for every one must come to possess Christ in their own hearts: for it is the Oil in a man's own Lamp, that must convey him into the Bridegroom's Chamber, where the fullness of life and joy is to be found, possessed, and enjoyed: for unto such, who ordereth their conversations aright, will Christ say at last, Come you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world: for those that be guided by Christ, are such as hear his voice, and do desire to be taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus; and they shall be guided by him to do the will of God in every thing, and so they shall come to be filled with his Righteousness, and so his Righteousness filleth them with everlasting glory: and the pure broken heart that is contrite, the Lord doth accept.  
And so let all Rulers and Magistrates cease the naming of God, until they part from evil: and let them cease their meddling with settling the things of God's Kingdom; for I have seen they have all been broken to pieces as soon as they go about that work: for the Lord will do his work himself: by his Spirit and by his power it shall be accomplished; and it shall not be in the power of man to hinder: but he will break the great Potsherds of the earth to pieces, if they meddle with those things that concern the settling of his Kingdom. And therefore in tender love to their souls, I dearly exhort them to settle their own Governments, and their own Kingdoms, which are of this world; and let Christ alone with the settling of his Kingdom, which is not of this world: for a Spirit of Righteousness shall rule and reign in the earth, as the spirit of wickedness hath done: and although the devil doth roar, yet the time is at hamd when this shall be: and it shall not be in the power of man to hinder it.  
And therefore give over striving against the stream, you mighty Potentates of the world: for it is hard for you to kick against the pricks: For the great day of the Lord is at hand, and all men's works shall be tried with fire: and in that day, the great and mighty men shall cry to the mountains and the hills, to fall upon them, and hide them from his presence.  
And therefore all lend their ear to this call to Repentance, while the day of their salvation lasteth; and whilst the Lord standeth at the door of your hearts, knocking, let him in: remember what Christ said to Jerusalem: Jerusalem, O Jerusalem, thou that killest the Prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee! how often would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings! and ye would not. But her calamity came of a sudden: and so let her be an Example for you, speedily to repent, and put away the evil of your doings: cease to do evil, and learn to do well; for fear the wrath of the Lord destroy you: for the time was, when all the Kings of the earth would not have believed that the Adversary should have entered the gates of Jerusalem; and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed that the Enemy should have entered the gates of Jerusalem, for the sins of her Prophets and of her Priests; which were full of iniquity, as the Priests of England are, who have shed the blood of the Just in the midst of her. And therefore woe, woe to thee, O England, if thou dost not speedily repent, and put away the evil of thy doings: for the Lord desireth not the death of a sinner, but that he may live. Therefore turn ye, turn ye: for why will you die, O house of Israel? And come to be within the promise of the Elect of God: for the Lord loveth his saints, and he preserveth the faithful, and mercy shall embrace them on every side: For he is nigh to them that are of a broken heart, and he saveth them that are of a contrite spirit: therefore blessed are the people whose God is the Lord, the people who he hath chosen for his own inheritance: for the eye of the Lord is over them, to preserve them, and to keep them in all their ways, and to preserve them in famine; and thousands shall fall before them, and the plague shall not come near them: for the destroying Angels shall pass over their heads.  
Therefore all dear hearts fear the living GOD, who is a God of power, and he is dreadful to all the workers of iniquity; but a God of love, and joy, and consolation to all those that fear him, and that delight in his Commandments, to do them. Therefore fear the living God, and wait upon him, that you may find pure wisdom flow in upon you, from on high: For every good and perfect gift cometh down from above, from the Father of lights, who doth powerfully manifest himself unto his Babes and Children, and doth flow from heaven with fresh discoveries of his love unto his belved Ones, that they can say feelingly, Their beloved is their and they are his: and he draws them by the cords of everlasting love, that they are refreshed at the wellspring of life.  
And therefore return, return: forsake your idol-shepherds, and embrace Christ, which is the Light: for he is the true Shepherd and Bishop of your souls, in whom the sure mercies of David are enjoyed, and the glory of Israel is witnessed; even the free Covenant of light, in which the true Prophets did stand, who is the Rock of Ages, and is the Light of the World, and is perfect Righteousness; and they that are in him, are right us by his Righteousness: for he hath for ever perfected all those that are sanctified: and he commandeth his to be holy as he is holy, and pure as he is pure: and, Be ye perfect (saith Christ) as your Father which is in heaven is perfect: and the Cross of Christ is the mighty power of God unto salvation, unto every one that believeth: And by this (saith Christ) shall you appear to be my Disciples, by taking up the cross daily, and following me: and God's witness in every man will show him the Cross of Christ, what it is: for that will show all those that are faithful to it, what is the will of God in every thing: for it is that pure Thing of God in man, that never did consent to sin, nor never will, but shows man all that ever he did: and so we may say, with the woman, Come, see a man that hath told me all that ever I have done: Is not this the Christ? said she.  
And so, dear Hearts, this is your true Teacher, Emmanuel, God with us: and the Lord is a strong Towet, the Righteous fly unto it, and are safe: and they are hid in that invisible life which is in God: and they know the life of God: and they walk in his daily presence, and the arm of his strength is revealed daily unto them, which bringeth salvation.  
And therefore come off from all your Idol shepherds, and from all your false Forms of worship unto the Lord, who is bringing his people off from the barren Mountains, where they have fed upon husks and chaff: and he is become their ●…cher himself, and he will feed them with the finest of the Wheat, and they shall drink of the wellspring of Life, and never thirst again: and they shall find, that one day in his Courts, is better than a thousand elsewhere.  
Now the Priests must know, That an old Mass-house is not the Courts of God: for the Church of Christ is the Pillar and Ground of Truth: and as many as were baptised, were baptised into Christ: and, They that are in Christ, are new creatures: old things are passed away; all things are become new: and, Your Bodies are the Temples of the holy Ghost: and him that defiles the Temple of God, him will God destroy.  
And so dear Friends, and Brethren, and Sisters, and Fathers, and all You that do fear the Lord, Take heed how you hear, and take heed whom you hear: for I do see dangerous seducers and deceivers abroad in the world, besides the Priests; even such as the Apostle Peter speaketh of, that even would beguile the saints out of their simplicity, if they could, even as the serpent beguiled Eve; such as have eyes full of adultery, beguiling unstable souls, hearts exercised with covetous practices; having forsaken the right way, and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, which loved the wages of unrighteousness: these are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever: For when they speak great swelling words, in the Name of the Lord, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those who were clean escaped from them who live in Error: while they promise them Liberty, 〈…〉 themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom 〈…〉 overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage: for 〈…〉 they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through 〈…〉 knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are 〈…〉 entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is 〈…〉 with them, than the beginning: For it had been better 〈…〉 yhem not to have known the way of righteousness, then after 〈…〉 have know it, to turn from the holy commandment deli 〈…〉ed unto them, but it is happened unto them according to 〈…〉 true Proverb, 〈…〉 dog is turned to his own vomit against 〈…〉 sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.  
And amongst the 〈…〉 other, so called, that saith he was born in Holland; ●…t he is the dangerousest person that ever I read of, or heard of, next unto that grand Apostate, Spira: and I fear he had more Brethren: I shall do my endeavour to find them out and then publish them to the world, that all men may take notice of them. And my Advice now unto you from the Lo●… is, That you all, dear Hearts, wait low in the counsel of the LORD GOD: and when you have got into the simplicity of Christ, stay in it, and abide in it, and wait in the power and strength of GOD, that you may be kept out of the wiles and suggestions of the roaring Enemy, who stirreth up Enemies without, and Enemies within, and all to keep your Crown from you.  
Put on therefore, dearly beloved in the Lord, the whole armour of God, that you may be more than conquerors, through Christ that loveth you, even as Paul was: and learn the wisdom which is from above, which is pure, peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits: be humble, meek, lowly, be broken-hearred, be contrite-spirited: let patience possess your souls: For ye were as sheep going astray, but ye are now returned to the Saviour and Bishop of your souls, Christ Jesus. Unto his keeping I commit you: To whom be given everlasting Praises, Honour, and all holy Hallelujahs to Him that liveth for ever, and for evermore world without end.  
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all Those that set Their Faces toward Zion, and seek it with their So●… sire: To which my Soul saith,  
AMEN.  
FINIS.