I. Concerning understanding the Holy Scrip­tures truly and aright.

Quest.

WHether the Scriptures can be understood aright, without the Light of God's holy Spirit shining inwardly in the heart, and giving the true understanding of them?

Answ. No, not possibly: for as the out­ward eye cannot possibly see, without the shi­ning of some outward Light; no more can the inward Eye see, without the shining of the inward Light. God who commanded Light to shine out of darkness, causeth the Light of his Spirit to shine in the hearts of People, ac­cording to his holy pleasure; and thereby they come to see. God seeth all things in his own [Page 12] Light, in the light of his own pure, eternal Spirit: and in his Light do the Children of Light see Light. The things of Gods Kingdom are holy Mysteries, and the words which he speaks concerning those holy Mysteries, none can understand, but as he pleaseth to open and reveal them. He hath given us an understanding to know him that is true, 1 Joh. 5.20. The Inspiration of the Almighty giveth understanding (Job 32.8.) without which Man is dead, and can neither hear nor see, nor understand any of the things of God's Kingdom.

II. Concerning the Illuminating Spirit, and Sanctifying Spirit.

Quest. Whether the Illuminating and Sancti­fying Spirit be one and the same Spirit or no? Because it is affirmed by some (and written by one to me as a sound distinction of Divines, which distinction, he saith, he hath a mind I should learn) that there is a Spirit of Sanctification, and that is peculiar to the Godly; and there is a Spirit illuminating, and that is oft vouchsafed to the wicked, as it was to Balaam.

Answ. The Spirit which illuminateth and the Spirit which sanctifieth, is one and the same Spirit: and the illumination of the Spirit is in order unto Sanctification. The same Light [Page 13] which discovereth the Darkness, also chaseth away the Darkness, as it is received and subject­ed to, and purifieth the mind: for the Light hath not only a property of enlightening, but also of cleansing and sanctifying. And the rea­son why Men are not changed, justified and sanctified in and by the Light, is because they love it not, and bring not their hearts and deeds to it, and so it is their reprover and condemner, and not their Justifier and Sanctifier. But the same Spirit, Light and Life, which Enlighten­eth, also Sanctifieth; and there is not another.

III. Concerning the holy Spirit of God, and the holy Scriptures.

Quest. Whether they be alwayes joyned; or some may have the Spirit, who have not the Scriptures; and some may have the Scriptures, who have not the Spirit.

Answ. The holy Spirit of God, and the ho­ly Scriptures, are not always joyned together; for some in the dark corners of the Earth may be visited by the Spirit, become sensible of the Spirit, and receive the Spirit, who never heard of the Scriptures; and many may have the Scriptures, and yet be very ignorant of, and strangers to Gods holy Spirit, as the Jews were, [Page 14] who had them read in their Synagogues every Sabbath day, and yet Christ told them, you neither know the Scriptures, nor the Power of God.

IV. Concerning the Law of the Lord which is perfect, and which converts the Soul.

Quest. What is the Law of the Lord which is perfect, and converts the Soul? is it the out­ward Law or Writing in the Letter, or the in­ward Law and Writing in the Spirit?

Answ. No Man is, or ever was, or ever can be converted to God from the inward Law of Sin and Death, but by the inward Law of Life and Righteousness written in his heart. And I am sure that Law is perfect. The New-Covenant is perfect, and the Law thereof per­fect, the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Je­sus perfect, which converts the mind to Christ the Righteousness of God, and sets it free from the Law of Sin and Death. And David was a spiritual Man, and knew the inward Covenant, and the inward creating of the heart a new, and Gods holy and free Spirit, and the Law and Testimony thereof. I will grant a great deal to the Letter and ministration outward; but I must attribute more to the inward; or else Gods [Page 15] Light, and the holy Experience which he hath given me, will condemn me. And as the Jew outward had the Law, and Testimony and Statutes outward: so I am sure the true Jew, the Jew inward hath the Law, and Testimony and Statutes inward, written in his heart by the finger of Gods Spirit; yea and the same Spirit put within him, to cause him to keep this Law, and the holy Testimony, Statutes and Judg­ments of the Lord: and the spiritual Jacob and Israel of God, in this the day of their Re­demption and Salvation from on high, do fol­low the Lamb whithersoever he goes, and walk in the Light of the Lord.

V. Concerning David's longings, exprest in Psal. 42. Psal. 43. and Psal. 119. and other places.

Quest. Were Davids longings more after the Law outward, or after the Law and Light of Gods Spirit inward?

Answ. David was a man after Gods own heart, a man that knew an inward and clean heart of Gods creating, and knew the free Spi­rit of the Lord, and the fresh springing Life thereof, and the leadings of the pure living Truth inwardly in his heart, and this was it [Page 16] he most especially prized and longed after. Cre­ate in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me, and take not they holy spirit from me, &c. saith he ( Psal. 51.10, 11.) after his fall, shewing what he had been acquainted with before, and what he now (God having touched his spirit afresh) began to long after again. And, saith he, in another place, O send out thy Light and thy Truth; let them lead me, let them bring me unto thy Hill and to thy Ta­bernacles, Psa. 43.3. O the sweetness of Light within, Truth within, O the precious leadings and drawings thereof; which where once felt, upon a fresh and tender remembrance thereof, cannot but be longed after again!

VI. Concerning the Sun, or Fountain of Spiri­tual Light.

Quest. Whether the holy Scriptures, or writ­ten Testimonies be the Sun or Fountain, and the Light within but a ray or stream from them? (as is affirmed by my Antagonist.)

Answ. It is just quite contrary: for the holy Men spake the holy words, from the inward Light and quickning Life of Gods Spirit within them: so that that was the Fountain in them, and is so still. With thee is the Fountain of Life, [Page 17] And he that believeth, as the Scriptures have said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. This spake he of the Spirit (Joh. 7.39.) that's the Fountain. The water that I shall give him, shall be in him a Well of Water springing up into everlasting Life, Joh. 4.14. Who esteems & honours the Scriptures aright? He that believes their Testimony, comes to Christ, and makes his Spirit Light and Life all: or he that sets the Scriptures in the stead of that Word of Life which they came from, testifie of, and point men to, as the fountain and foundation of Life and Salvation to all mankind?

VII. Concerning the Words being a Fire and a Hammer, to burn up the Chaff and break the Rocks in pieces.

Quest. Is the Word which is a fire and ham­mer, the Testimonies and Declarations of the holy Scriptures without, or the Word nigh in the mouth and heart?

Answ. That which I have felt hammering inwardly, that which I have felt burning in­wardly (unquenchably, as the mind has been kept to it) has been the Word of Life it self, from which the good words and holy testimo­nies proceed. That which does the work in [Page 18] the inward Jew, is the inward Ministration of the inward Covenant, the appearance of God there: He is the consuming Fire, he is the Spi­rit of Judgment and Burning, who by his holy flamings inwardly, burns up the filth of the daughter of Sion. A man may be exercised in the letter all his dayes, and yet witness no­thing of this inwardly in Truth and Righte­ousness: but he whom the Spirit of Judgment and Burning inwardly comes nigh, and whose flesh is kept in that holy furnace, it will be consumed there day by day, until it be quite wasted and destroyed; and so he come to be judged according to the flesh, and to live to God in the Spirit.

VIII. Concerning God's writing his Law in the heart.

Quest. How doth God write his Law in the heart?

Answ. By his Spirit and Power working there, whereby he both creates a new Heart and writes the new Law, even the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, in the new Heart The Isles shall wait for his Law. Whose Law The Law of the Messiah, the Law of Grace which gives dominion; the Law of the Anoint­ing, [Page 19] the Law of the New-Birth, the Law of the Holy Seed. His Seed remaineth in him, 1 Joh. 3.9. In that Seed is the new Nature, and the new Law both. What is the Law of Sin? what is the Law of Death? how is it written in the Heart? How doth the enemy write it there, but by his corrupt spirit and nature? And doth not God by his holy Spirit and Na­ture write the new Law, the Law of Life in the hearts of those that are renewed, and made tender to the impressions of his holy quick­ning Power: every motion and drawing where­of, is a Law to them who are born of the Spirit, and taught of God to eye and walk after the quickning Spirit.

IX. Concerning the inward Light of God's Spirit.

Quest. What is it which the mind is to be turned to, to enlighten it, and to work the dark­ness and corruption out of it?

Answ. It is no less than the Light of God's Spirit; nothing else can do it. The day-spring must arise from on high in the heart, or there will be night for ever there. All notions or apprehensions concerning the Light will not do it: it is the shining of the Light alone in­wardly, [Page 20] which is able to expel the darkness there. It was not for nothing that Christ came a Light to enlighten men; and directed men to follow him the Light, that they might not abide in Darkness; and that he sent his Apo­stles with this message, that God is Light, and in him is no darkness at all; and so gave his Apo­stles wisdom, authority and power to turn men from the darkness to the light. And if the dark­ness was within, which they were to be turned from, surely the light must shine within, to discover the darkness; and to that light must they be turned. And in this light the holy Spi­rit is received, and dwells there; but out of this light, and the limits thereof, in every heart, dwells the unclean and dark spirit, and hath power and rule there: for nothing but the light and strength of Gods Spirit is able to break his King­dom and dominion inwardly in the heart.

X Concerning the Ministers and Mini­stry of the Gospel.

Quest. Who are the ministers, and what is the ministry of the Gospel?

Answer. They are the ministers of the Gospel who have received that spirit and power where­in the ministry of the Gospel stands. For Christ [Page 21] came in the spirit and power of the Father, and he sends his Apostles and Ministers in the same spirit and power, that they might be able to be­get, and reach to that birth, which is to be be­gotten and ministred to. It is one thing to be a Minister of the Law, and to minister Letter: and another thing to be a Minister of the Gos­pel, and to minister Spirit. The Apostles were able Ministers of the New Testament; not of the Letter, but of the Spirit: and so are all in a degree, who succeed them in any measure or proportion of their Ministry. For the Ministry of the Gospel is in the Light, Spirit and Power of the most High, to turn peoples minds to a proportion of the same Light, Spirit and Power in themselves, and so to come to the manifestati­on and quickning of the same Life in themselves, that so they may walk in the same Light. For the Life is the Light: and he can never have Light, or see Light, who comes not first to feel some vertue from the quickning Power. O how precious is this ministry! blessed be the Lord, for his renewing of it in these our days! And this ministry is not to be confined to an outward order of men, as the ministry of the law was: but whoever hath received the gift, so he is to minister, as the Lord guides, leads and orders him in the use of that gift which he hath be­stowed upon him for that end. And what if he be an herdsman, a fisherman, a Tent-maker [Page 22] or the like? yet if God hath poured out his spirit upon him, and openeth his mouth, he hath not only liberty, but more, even autho­rity from the Lord God almighty to speak in his name, either for turning men unto Christ, the light and life of men, or for building men up in their holy faith in him, whose spirit and power was and is the resurrection of the life for evermore.

XI Concerning trying of Spirits and searching the Heart.

Quest. What is it which searcheth the heart, and infallibly tries Spirits?

Answ. Gods Spirit, Gods word nigh in the heart and mouth, separateth and giveth true discerning and judgment there, to all whose ears are circumcised and inclined to it. Gods Spirit is the spirit of judgment; and where he is given, the spirit of judgment is given; and he judgeth in his children by the quickning life and sense he bestoweth on them, which distinguisheth be­tween life and death, between truth and deceit yea between the same words, when they come from the dead spirit, and when they are spoken in his living power: Christ gives his spirit to his sheep, which gives them to know his voice; to [Page 23] know when life speaks, and when words are li­ving, and food for the living; and in what mouth they are dead, and cannot yield living nourishment.

XII. Concerning things necessary to Sal­vation.

Quest. Whether all things necessary to Salva­tion be contained in the Scriptures?

Answ. The Scriptures give testimony con­cerning the one thing necessary to salvation: but the thing it self, Christ himself, the seed it self is not contained in the Scriptures, but revealed in the shinings of the true light, and so received or rejected inwardly in the heart. Behold I stand at the door and knock. Blessed are they that hear his voice, and believe him knocking, and open to him; and receive him who gives eternal life, and power to become Sons of God, to as many as receive him, and believe in and give up to the inward revealings of his redeeming arm and power therein, To whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? They in and to whom this arm is revealed, Christ is revealed: and they, in whom and to whom Christ is revealed, know the one thing necessary, even him who is life eternal, in whom all other necessary things [Page 24] are wrapped up, and by whom they are con­veyed to the soul, according to its need, by him who is faithful in all his house, and takes care of every sheep which the Father committeth to him.

XIII. Concerning the true Gospel-Church. or Society.

Quest. What is the true Gospel-Church or soci­ety?

Answ. A company of true believers in the spirit and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. A company of true Jews, inward Jews, Jews in Spirit, of the true circumcision, whom the Father hath sought out, and made true inward wor­shippers: Such as are gathered to the name and gathered together in the name of the Lord Je­sus, to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God through him. A company of living stones, who have received life from him the foundation-stone, and met together to wait upon and worship the Father, in the life and Spirit which they have received from him. This is the holy Church, or living assembly of the New-Testament: blessed are they that are of it! For about this Church is the wall of Salvation: and they that are added by Gods spirit and power to this [Page 25] Church, and abide in it, shall certainly be sa­ved.

XIV. Concerning the way to Salvation.

Quest. Which is the certain and infallible way to Salvation?

Answ. It is a new and living way; it is such a way, as none but the living can walk in. It is an holy way, which none but the cleansed, the ransomed, the redeemed of the Lord, can set one step in. The way, the life and the truth are all one: blessed are they that find it, and walk in it. In plain and express terms, It is the Lord Jesus, the light of the Lord Jesus, the life of the Lord Jesus, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus, the Truth as it is in him, his wisdom, his power, he himself the covenant or holy limit be­tween God and the Soul. He that comes into him comes into the way: he that abides in him, abides in the way: he that walks in him walks in the way. He that comes to his light, his life, his Spirit, his truth in the inward parts, comes to him: he that abides therein, abides in him: he that walks therein, walks in him: and he that walks out of the light and leadings of his Spirit, let him walk in what form he will, yet he walks not in him the way.

XV. Concerning Christs saving the Soul.

Quest. How doth Christ save the Soul?

Answ. By visiting inwardly, knocking in­wardly, appearing inwardly, causing the light of life to shine inwardly; and so enlightning and quickning inwardly, breaking the strength of the enemy inwardly, and bringing out of the region and shadow of darkness inwardly, into the region and path of light. By the light and po­wer of his spirit he begets a child of light, which child of light he brings out of Egypt the dark land, out of Sodom the filthy unclean Land, out of Babylon the Land and City of confusion (where the Spirit of the living God, and the holy order of life, and his precious government in the heart is not so much as known) and brings him into the light, where He & his Father dwels. And this child of light is not of the nature of dark­ness, but light in the Lord, and walks in the light, as he is in the light: and by the further shining and working of the light and life in him, he preserves and saves him daily more and more.

XVI. Concerning Regeneration or the New birth.

Quest. What is the Regeneration or the new birth?

Answ. It is an inward change by the spirit and power of the living God, into his own na­ture. It is a being begotten of his Spirit, born of his Spirit, begotten into and born of the very nature of his Spirit. ( That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit Joh. 3.) It is not every change of mind, which is the right change: but only that which God by the very same power, where­with he raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the Grave, makes in the hearts of those whom he vi­sits, who are sensible of, receive and are sub­ject to his inward Life, Light and Power.

XVII. Concerning true Holiness.

Quest. What is true Holiness?

Answ. That holy nature and those holy a­ctions, which arise from the holy root: all else are but imitations of holiness, not the true ho­liness. The tree must be made good first, and [Page 28] then the fruit will be good also. There are ma­ny likenesses of the true holiness, up and down in several professions: but there is no real holi­ness to be found nor righteousnes neither, but in the trees of Gods planting, in the branches which are by him ingraffed into the true Vine and Olive-tree, whose strength of vertue and holiness lies in the lap, which they daily receive from him.

XVIII. Concerning Christs works outwardly in the days of his flesh, and inwardly in the day and inward shining of the light of his spirit in the heart.

Quest. Which are greater, the works which Christ did outwardly on the Bodies of men, in the days of his flesh, or which he doth inwardly in mens Minds and Spirits, by the powerful appear­ance and operation of his Spirit? because Christ said, the works that he did, those that believed on him should do, and greater also, because he went to the Father, Joh. 14.12.

Answ. Doubtless to reach to the Soul, and quicken the Soul, and raise the Soul out of the grave of death, and cure the blindness, deafness, hardness, and diseases of the soul, is greater than [Page 29] the outward; and was signified by the out­ward.

XIX. Concerning the yoke or cross of Christ?

Quest. What is the yoke or cross of Christ?

Answ. It is inward, as that which is to be crucified is chiefly inward. It is that gift of God, that light of his Spirit, which is contrary to the darkness, contrary to all that is corrupt; which wills against it, and wars against it; and being received, subjected to and born patiently, takes away the life of the flesh, the will and wisdom of the flesh, and all the subtile reasonings and devices of the fleshly part; and so that lan­guishes and dies, and Gods plant is eased of it; and the soul, abiding under this cross, comes into the true, pure and perfect liberty, where it hath scope unto holiness, freedom unto righ­teousness, and is in strait bonds and holy chains from all liberty to the flesh, and from all unho­liness and unrighteousness of every kind.

XX. Concerning making our Calling and Election sure.

Quest. How may a man make his Calling and Election sure?

[Page 30] Answ. By making the gift of God sure to him: by making that sure to him, wherein the Calling and Election is. For the choice is of the seed, the holy seed, the inward seed, the seed of Gods Spirit, and of the creature, as joyn­ed to the seed. God would have none to perish but would have all come to the knowledg of Christ the Truth, who is the seed in whom the Election stands: and his holy advice to men is, whom he begins to call and to lead towards the Election, To make their Calling and Election sure. So that the way of making the Calling and Election sure, is to make the gift sure, the seed sure, the leaven sure, the pearl sure, which God will never reject, nor any that are found in true union with it, and in the love and obedience of it. O therefore, as God visits with power (with his powerful gift) and as thou receivest power, dominion and authority over sin (for in this gift is God's dominion and authority re­vealed) be faithful to the gift, be faithful to the power, give up to the truth in the inward parts, come into it, dwell in it, that thou mayst feel its vertue and delivering nature, from every en­slaving and embondaging thing: and then stand fast in the liberty, wherewith Christ the Lord (by the life vertue and power of his truth) sets thee free. And so here thou wilt read thy Calling, and read thy Election day by day; and find them sealed and sure to thee in that truth, [Page 31] in that gift, in that Heavenly Light, in that holy seed, which came from God, and is of him and which he delights to own and will ne­ver reject.

XXI. Concerning Prayer.

Quest. Which is the true Prayer?

Answ. The breathings which arise from the true birth, from the living sense, which God gives to the true birth; that is the true prayer. There is a spirit of prayer and sup­plication given by God to his children, to wre­stle and prevail with him by. All prayer that arises from and is given by that Spirit, is true prayer: all other prayer is not right and true, but at best but an imitation of the true. We know not what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit maketh intercession for us, with groanings which cannot be uttered. Mark, the very groan­ings that come from Gods Spirit, from his breath­ing and work upon the heart, are right pray­ers in Gods sight: but other sighs and groans are not so.

XXII. Concerning Repentance.

Quest. Which is the true Repentance?

Answ. That which Christ gives, whom God hath exalted to be the Prince and Saviour, to give Repentance and forgiveness of sins, Acts 5.31. It is not in man's power to repent: his heart is hard and impenitent. It is God's power which melteth, tendereth and changeth the heart. So that there is a great difference between the sense and sorrow of mans nature, and the sense and sorrow which God gives to the heart which he renews and changes. The one is of an earthly, the other of a heavenly nature. The one is like the early dew, or morning cloud, it soon passeth away: the other is written in the new heart, and abideth. So that in it there is a real sorrow and mourning over the corrupt nature, and all the dead works of the flesh, and a turn­ing from them and medling no more with them. This is the Repentance of the renewed ones, which is the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ unto them, and is a godly sorrow for sin, not to be repented of.

XXIII. Concerning Faith.

Quest. What is the true Faith?

Answ. It is a belief, in the power which saves, from a true sense and experience of it in the heart. For the power which saves must first manifest it self, before it can be believed in. And how doth it manifest it self but by shining in the heart, which hath been darkened by transgression, to open the eye of the under­standing, which the God of the World hath Blinded, and to unstop the deaf Ear? and so it begets and creats somewhat capable to receive its further manifestation. The Scripture speaks of a new Creation in Christ. Indeed all true believers are so: and they have the ability, the faculty, the power of believing from him who creates them anew. There is that which is cal­led Faith in unregenerate men: but that is not the Faith I am now speaking of, but that which is the gift of God to his own birth, to his own begotten. To you it is given, not only to believe &c. Phil. 1.29. Mark, it is given to believe. O, this holy gift! this Faith of the new birth is the Faith which pleaseth God, prevaileth with him, purifieth the heart to which it is given, giveth ac­cess to God, interest in his power and promises [Page 34] and victory over the worldly nature, and over all the Soul's enemies. Blessed be the Lord for bestowing and increasing it in the hearts of his Children.

XXIV. Concerning Obedience.

Quest. What is the true Obedience?

Answ. The Obedience which slows from th [...] true understanding of God's will, and from th [...] holy nature which he begets in the heart. It is the Obedience which slows from true sense true understanding, and true faith. There is no birth can believe aright, but one: nor is there any birth can obey aright, but that birth which believes aright. The true believing is from the quickning vertue of God's spirit (all other Faith is but dead Faith: and the true Obedience is in the newness of the spirit (Rom. 6.4. an [...] 7.6.) Man may strive to understand and obey all his days; but he can do neither, but as he i [...] quickned, taught and enabled of the Lord Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, Psal 119.33. There is a mystical path of life. Th [...] way of wisdom, the way of holiness, the holy skill of obeying the truth is hid from all living from all mankind; but such as are begotten and [Page 35] brought up by him, in the holy skill and myste­ry of subjection to the Lord. The people shall be a willing people in the any of thy [...]er. It is the power of God that works the will in the heart, and the same power works to do also: and none can learn either to will or to do [...]righ [...], but as they come to be acquainted with that power, joyned to that power, and feel that power working in them. And here; in this power, to this new birth, faith and the Holy Obedi­ence are as natural, as unbelief and disobedience is to the birth of the flesh. It is frequently and abundantly experienced by his holy birth, by the child of his begetting. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

XXV. Concerning Justification.

Quest. What is Justification, or how is a man justified in the sight of God?

Answ. By a true sense of and Faith in that which justifies, which is the spirit, the life, the water, the bloud, the vertue, the power of the Lord Jesus. All these are one in nature, and they go together. Man is sinful naturally, fal­len from God, found a transgressor against him. Now he needs Justification from his sins and he needs Justification in respect of what God [Page 36] hath entrusted him with, and requires of him and in the new birth, and joyning to the spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, he meets with both. Being quickned by his holy spirit, turned from the darkness, coming into the light, and walk­ing in the light; there his sins are done away, blotted out as if they had never been, for his names sake: and there he receiveth a new abi­lity, a new heart, a new spirit; yea the spi­rit of the living God, to quicken him and work in him: and whatever he doth in this spirit (or rather what God doth by him, in and through this spirit) is justified, owned, and accepted; God finds no fault in any of the fruits of his own spirit (in any of the children of men) but only in the fruits of the flesh. And if for want of watchfulness the enemy should prevail and draw into a snare, yet upon turning to the light of Gods holy Spirit, which discovers and re­proves for it; in the holy light the water flows, the bloud is sprinkled, the conscience is cleansed, and so becomes clean even in God's sight. O blessed is he, who is not deceived with dead notions of Justification, but feels the Justification which comes from God, and is accompanied with a living sense, and with the testimony of his holy Spirit.

XXVI. Concerning Good Works.

Quest. What are Good Works?

Answ. The Works that flow from God's good Spirit, the Works that are wrought in God, they are good Works. The Works of the new birth, of the new creature, are good Works; whereas all the works of the flesh are bad, though never so onely painted. All its thoughts, imaginations, rea­sonings, willings, runnings, hunting to find out God and heavenly things, with all its sacrifices are corrupt and evil, having of the bad leaven, of the bad nature in them. Make the tree good, or its fruit can never be good. So that they are only the good Works, that flow from the good tree, from the good root. And here all the works of the flesh, though never so glori­ous and taking in mans eye, are shut out by Gods measure, by Gods line and plummet of righteousness and true Judgment: and every work of God's Spirit, the meanest work of faith the least labour of true love, the least shining of life in the heart, and the giving up thereto, [...]s owned by God, as coming from him and wrought in him, who worketh both to will and [...]o do of his own good pleasure He that is ga­ [...]hered to the light, which God hath enlight­ned [Page 38] him with, hath received the light, dwel­leth in the light, and walketh in the light; th [...] spirit of the living God is near him, and dwel­leth with him and worketh in him; and h [...] bringeth his deeds to the Light, where it [...] manifest that they are wrought in God. B [...] he that is out of the inward Light of God's holy Spirit, his works are not wrought in God and so can but make a fair shew in the Flesh ( [...] the fleshly eye) but are not good in God's sigh [...] The erring mans way and works are often rigi [...] in his own eyes: ah, but blessed is he whe [...] way and works are good and right in the ey [...] of the Lord, in the judgment of his searchin [...] unerring Light and Spirit.

XXVII. Concerning Love.

Quest. Which is the true Love.

Answ. The Love which ariseth from the n [...] ture which God begets, and from his circumcising the heart from the other nature. Lo [...] is the beautiful thing. What can be high [...] expressed concerning God himself, than to sa [...] he is Love? Love is greatly commended and admired, and there are many pretenders to it: b [...] none have the true Love, but only those that ar [...] born of God, and circumcised by him. T [...] [Page 39] Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live, Deut. 30.6. Mark, The true Love ariseth from the true circumcision. And the more a man comes to have his heart circum­cised from the fleshly nature, and to grow up in the pure and heavenly nature, the more he loves. God is Love: and the nigher any one comes to him and the more he partakes of him, the more he becomes Love in the Lord, and the more he is taught of God to love the Lord his God, and his brethren in the spirit, and all man­kind, who are of his bloud (for of one bloud God made all mankind) according to the flesh, or according to a natural consideration.

XXVIII. Concerning Meekness and Patience.

Quest. Which is the true Meekness and Pati­ence.

Answ. The Meekness and Patience which a­riseth from the Lambs nature. Deceit will put on an appearance of Love; and deceit will put on also an appearance of Meekness and Patience: but it cannot put on the true Love, the true Meekness and Patience. That is only learned of the Lamb, and received of him by receiving [Page 38] [...] [Page 39] [...] [Page 40] of his Spirit and nature from him. And O how precious is this how sweet is it felt in the heart To feel a meek, a quiet, a patient spirit in the midst of all trials, all troubles, all fears, all doubts, all temptations of every kind. Indeed this is of much price in the sight of the Lord, and also in the eye of him who hath received it from the Lord, and enjoyeth it in him, and posses­seth his soul in it.

XXIX. Concerning the Knowledg of the new Covenant.

Quest. What is the knowledg of the new Cove­nant?

Answ. The Knowledg which is given by God to the new birth: for to it the new Covenant be­longs, and the knowledg thereof. The truly begotten of God, the true disciples of Christ, to them it is given to know the Kingdom of God, but to others it is not given. The Jew out­ward, the first birth, the birth after the flesh; for hem the Priests lips were to preserve knowledg, and they were to seek the law a [...] his mouth, and to them God sent Prophets to speak to them and taught them by his prophets▪ but concerning the inward Jews, the Children of the new Covenant, the Children of the Jeru­salem [Page 41] which is above, concerning her seed it was prophesied, that they all should be taught of the Lord, they all should hear and know the voice of the Shepheard himself, they should all be gathered to the Sheepherd and Bishop of the Soul and taught by him. So that in this new, holy, living Covenant, God him­self is the Sheepherd, God himself is the Teach­er: not only of the greatest, but of the very least, Heb. 8. For he teacheth them all to know the Lord, and to know his Son, and to come to his Son, and to love him their Father, and one another. So that he that is taught of God, he hath the true knowledg, the living know­ledg, the substantial knowledg, the knowledg of the thing it self, of the life eternal it self. All that are not thus taught (but learn only from a literal description and relations of things) have not the knowledg of the new Co­venant, the knowledg of the thing it self: but only an outward knowledg, such as the first birth may catch at, lay hold on and compre­hend.

XXX. Concerning the Fear of the new Cove­nant.

Quest. What is the Fear of the new Cove­nant?

Answ. It is the Fear which God puts in the hearts of his children, which Fear cleanseth their hearts, and keepeth them from departing from their God. There is a great deal of dif­ference between the Fear, which may be learn­ed from precepts from without, and the Fear, which God puts into the hearts of his Children, from a root of life within; which Fear is of an heavenly nature, and is the free gift of God to his own heavenly Birth, and none else: which no man can possibly attain by any thoughts or reasonings of his own, but only by the spring­ings of life from God. And he that would have this Fear, must know the place of wisdom, and wait there for it and when he hath it, this Fear will soon begin to make him wise towards Salvation and teach him to depart from evil, which is the cause of destruction; Job. 28.28.

XXXI. Concerning Hope.

Quest. What is the true Hope.

Answ. The stay of the Mind upon the Lord, the stay of the heavenly birth upon its Father. For we must distinguish between Hope and Hope. There is the Hope of the hypocrite, or false birth, which shall perish: and the Hope of the true birth, which will never fail it, nor make it ashamed; because that birth is taught of God to hope aright. Now in Hope, there is both the ground of it, and the Hope it self. The ground of the Hope is God's Love, God's Truth, God's Faithfulness, God's Grace, his Seed, his Christ felt within; being of him, united to him, in him, he in me: here's the ground of my assurance of the everlasting glory and in­heritance, which is sure to the seed, and to all that are of and in the seed. So knowing Christ within me, feeling Christ within me, living in him and he in me, I have an anchor sure and steadfast, within the vail; which no storm no tempests, no tryals, no temptations, present or to come, have power over. And then there is the Hope or hoping it self, that is, the staying of the Mind upon the Lord, the leaning upon the Lord, the retireing beyond all thought, or [Page 44] reasonings, or lookings out, to the inward life; to feel somewhat spring from it, for the soul to Hope and trust in, beyond all outward appear­ance. And this Hope never deceives nor makes ashamed, those who are taught of God thus to stay their minds upon him. Nay though the state be darkness and no Light seen; yet be­neath the darkness, there is somewhat to stay the Mind of the Child and Servant of the Lord, till he appear and cause light to break out of obscurity; for light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright, even in their darkest saddest and most distressed conditions: in all which the Lord is near them, and there is still ground for them to Hope in him.

XXXII. Concerning Peace.

Quest. Which is the true Peace?

Answ. The Peace which God speaks to the Soul: the Peace which Christ gives to his own disciples. The way of Truth, the way of Life leads to Peace: and the Peace which is found therein, is of God's giving and is the true Peace. First; God breaths upon the heart, begets a right birth, a true Child: then he leads him into the holy way, the righteous way, from that which loads and burthens, to that wherein is the ease [Page 45] and rest. Thus in the believing and following him, there's Joy and Peace. This is experienc­ed by all the true travellers, and by none else. No man, with all his wisdom, know­ledg and understanding, can so much as guess at what this Peace is. The Peace of God, the Peace which he speaks to his Children, the na­ture of it, the sweetness of it, the heavenliness of it, passeth mans understanding: but he who is born from above, who hath a new and hea­venly understanding, he knoweth the nature, excellency and preciousness of it, and would not for all this World, for any fear or danger or expectation of any thing from without, hazard the breaking off this precious Peace and Rest of his Soul in his God.

XXXIII. Concerning Joy.

Quest. Which is the true Joy?

Answ. The Joy which flows from God's presence, and the work of his power in the heart, and the assured expectation which he gives of the full inheritance and glory of life everlasting. When the Bridegroom is present, when the soul is gathered home to him, married to him, in u­nion with him, in the holy living fellowship; when he appears against the enemies of the Soul, [Page 47] rising up against them, breaking, scattering them, and giving of his good things; filling with Life, filling with Love, filling with Vir­tue, feasting the Soul in the presence of the Fa­ther. O what sweet joy! O what fulness of Joy is there then in the heart! In thy presence is ful­ness of Joy, and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore, said the Psalmist (Psal. 16.11.) Surely he had had a taste of the thing, he had been in God's presence, and that made him cry out, Cast me not away from thy presence, Psal. 51.11. and he had drunk of the river of God's pleasure which is at his right hand, which made him speak so sensibly of it, Psal. 36.8. and 46.4. Christ said to his disciples, that because of his going away, they should have sorrow: but he would see them again, and their heart should rejoice, and their joy no man should come from them, Joh. 16.22. How, or when was this fulfilled? What were they sorry for? Was it not the loss of his outward presence, which had been so sweet and comfortable to them? How would he come to them again? Was it not by the Comforter? Was it not by his inward and spiritual presence! So that he that was with them should be in them? Before they knew Christ with them, now they should know Christ in them, the Father in them, and they in him Im­manuel, the Gospel-state, God with us, dwel­ling with us, tabernacling in us, living in us, [Page 46] walking in us; and we living and walking in him. When the Apostles came to this state; then they came to witness the Joy in the Holy Ghost, even the Joy unspeakable and full of glory. And hence it is, that the Gospel-state is a state of Joy and rejoycing in the Lord, even in his glorious living presence, and in the glory of his power. For in the Gospel-state, the true light shines in­wardly in the heart, the life is manifested and being manifested, they that come into the manifestation of it, come into the holy union, and into the holy fellowship with the Father and Son, where the Joy is, and where the Joy is full; where the power is revealed which does away that which is con­trary to the holy fellowship, and hinders the holy Joy and rejoicing in the Lord. See 1 John 1.3, 4.

XXXIV. Concerning Poverty of Spirit and Humility.

Quest. Which is the right Poverty of Spirit, and the true Humility?

Answ. That Poverty and Humility of Spirit, which springeth from the same root, from which the Faith, the Love, the Peace, the Joy, and the other heavenly things arise; and is of [Page 48] the same nature. There is a voluntary Humi­lity, and a voluntary Poverty, even of Spirit; which man casts himself into, and forms in him­self, by his own workings and reasonings. This is not the true, but the false image or counter­feit of the true. But then there is a Poverty, which ariseth from God's emptying the Crea­ture, from God's stripping the Creature; and an Humility which ariseth from a new heart and nature. This is of the right kind, and is lasting, and abides in the midst of the riches and glory of the Kingdom. For as Christ was poor in Spirit before his Father; and lowly in heart, in the midst of all the fulness which he received from him: so it is with these, who are of the same birth and nature with Christ. They are filled with Humility, and Cloathed with Hu­mility, in the midst of all the Graces and hea­venly riches, which God fills them and adorns them with. Keep in the faith, keep in the Truth, keep in the Light, keep in the Power; it excludes boasting in or after the flesh, and keeps the Mind in that Humility and Poverty of Spirit, which God hath brought, and daily further and further brings it into: and so the Humility and Poverty remains (poor in Spirit for ever, humble in Spirit forever, nothing be­fore the Lord for ever) even as that remains, which brought into that frame, and keeps in that frame for ever. And so the Lord of Life [Page 49] is only exalted; and the Creature kept abased before him, and low for ever; and is nothing, but as the Lord pleaseth to fill, and make it to be what it is. So what I am, I am by God's Love, by his Grace, by his Mercy, by his Good­ne s, by his Power, by his Wisdom, by his Righteousness, b his Holiness; which he of his own good pleasure communicateth and causeth to spring in me, and filleth and cloath­eth me with, as seemeth good in his sight.

I. Concerning the Seed of the Kingdom.

COncerning the Seed of the Kingdom this I have experienced, that it consists not in words or notions of the Mind, but is an inward thing, an inward spiritual substance in the heart, as real inwardly in its kind, as other Seeds are outwardly in their kind: and that being received by faith and taking root in man, (his heart, his earth being ploughed up and pre­pared for it) it groweth up inwardly, and bringeth forth fruit inwardly, as truly and re­ally, as any outward Seed doth outwardly. This Seed is known by its contrariety and en­mity against the Seed of the Serpent, against all the Seeds of evil in the heart of Men; it disco­vering them, turning the mind from them and warning against them, and bruising and over­coming them in all that receive it, and let in its holy nature which as an holy leaven or salt, worketh out that which is unholy and unrigh­teous, dark and dead, and seasoneth with [Page 58] Light, with Life, with Grace, with the Holiness and Righteousness of truth.

II. Concerning the Souls Food.

The Souls Food is that which nourisheth it, which is the same with that which giveth it Life. Every word proceeding out of the mouth of God, every motion, every quickning, every o­peration of his Spirit is living, and nourish­eth the Soul with Life, which receiveth it and feedeth on it. The spiritual Manna, the spiri­tual water from the holy Well or Fountain, the Milk of the word, the flesh and bloud of the Son of the living God, his words which are spirit and Life, nourish up the living birth unto life e­verlasting. How comes man to live at first: but by hearing the voice of him that giveth life? And how comes man to live afterwards, and to increase in life but by hearing the same voice still? Encline your Ear and come unto me: hear, and your Soul shall live, &c. Isa. 55.3. This I have always experienced to give me Life, to nourish up and strengthen me in Life; even fresh Life communicated from the living Foun­tain and so my life is not in my self, not in any thing I can comprehend concerning Christ; but in being joyned to him, in being ingraffed into [Page 59] him the holy root, into him the true Olive-tree, into his Spirit: and so by the sap that springs up into me from him, my life is maintained and increased in me daily. Glory to his name for ever.

III. Concerning God's Power.

Concerning God's Power this I have experi­enced, that that is it which doth the Work in the Soul. It begets to God, it brings out of the land of darkness, it leads through all the entan­glements, and preserves in the midst of them all. It breaks down the old building of sin and in­iquity (both inwardly and outwardly, both in heart, and also in life and conversation) and raiseth the new and holy building. It makes willing, it makes obedient, it gives to believe, it gives to suffer. O blessed be the Lord for the day of his Power, which is inwardly broken forth! O what would the poor child do, (the poor Lambs in the midst of Wolves, inwardly and outwardly) were it not for the Father's hand, the Father's arm, the Father's Power, which is still with them and compasseth them a­bout! O blessed are they that know the mini­stration of life inwardly, the Power of Life in­wardly! For in Life, in the Seed of Life is the Holy Power, which is manifest, appears and [Page 60] works, as it gains ground on the Creature, to put forth and exercise in it the virtue and strength, which it daily receiveth from its Fa­ther.

IV. Concerning Temptation.

Concerning Temptations this I have experi­enced, that the strength and hurt of them, as to the Soul, lies in the souls looking at them. For the strength of God is revealed in his Children against the tempter, which being patiently wait­ed for and trusted in, will never fail them. The least babe, the Lord would not have let in Temptation, and Sin: but watch to that, and keep joyned to that, which will preserve out of the Temptation, and out of the Sin. God is faithful who hath care of all his, and whose Promise is to all his: and as he would have none sin; so none that diligently wait shall want his Power to stand by them, to preserve out of sin. Look unto me and be saved, all the ends of the Earth. It's universally true. Look unto me, trust in me; look not at your selves, trust not in your selves, look not at the enemy, fear not the enemy; I will save you from every snare, every Temptation as your eye is steadfast upon me. What if the enemy come in like a floud, if the Spirit of the Lord lift up a stand­ard [Page 61] against him, can he prevail? what though he cast fiery darts? What though he be set round about? Will not the shield of Faith quench them all? Will not the whole Armour of God defend and keep safe from them all? If the enemy be resisted lawfully, that is, in true Faith in that Power which is engaged for the Soul against him; Doth not the Power of the Lord arise and scatter him, and strengthen and establish the Soul in the Grace and in the Truth? O the holy mistery of the heavenly Warfare, and of the working of the pure Power against the enemy, which overcomes all his impurities, and keeps clean from them! Look not at the e­nemy, let not in the reasonings of the Mind, keep in thy patience, keep in the pure fear, in the holy living sense, be only what thou art in the seed, in the new birth, in the Life which God hath begotten in thee; then art thou safe, then art thou in the name of the Lord, which is the strong Tower. The enemy indeed may make a noise about thee with his lusts, with his tem­ptations, with his flouds, with his storms, with his fiery darts: but he cannot enter thy habita­tation. The Spirit of darkness, the Prince of darkness, is shut out of the Land and Light of the Living. Abide thou there: dwell in the Light, and walk in the Light, as God is in the Light, and he shall never have power over thee.

V. Concerning Prayer.

I have experienced Prayer to be the breath­ing of that birth which God begets, to the Fa­ther of Life which begat it; who by his Spirit makes known to it its Condition and wants, and gives a suitable sense of heart and cries to it. For as it is not in man to beget him­self to God; no more can he pray to God in his own will or time, but as God pours out the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication upon him, and by his Spirit teacheth and helpeth him to pray as he ought. Because ye are Sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying Abba, Father. I have had a sense of the natu­ral man, and of the spiritual man; and of the Cryes and Prayers of each: and this I have been taught and learned of God, that the Gospel-Prayer, is the Prayer of that birth which is be­gotten by the Spirit and Power of the Gospel, and which prays in the Spirit and in the spring­ings of the holy Life and Power, whereby it rightly wrestles, and prevails with God, obtain­ing the Mercies and Blessings which it wrestles with him for. For to this Child there is access to God in the Faith, through that holy Spirit of Life which makes way for it, to obtain Grace [Page 63] and Mercy in the time of need. And through this Spirit it prays to God, and prevails with him on the behalf of others also. For the Prayers of the righteous avail much, as it is written.

VI. Concerning Justification and Sanctificati­on, some things which it hath pleased the Lord, in his tender Mercy, to give me to experience.

First, That it is the same Christ, the same Spirit, the same Life, the same Wisdom, the same Power, the same Goodness, Love and Mer­cy the same Water, the same Blood, which both justifies and sanctifies.

Secondly, That Justification and Sanctifica­tion go hand in hand together. There is none Justified, but he that is in measure Sanctified: and there is none Sanctified but he that is in measure Justified. For God Justifieth by a rule (by the new Covenant, and according to the Law thereof;) And men receive and partake of Justification, according as they are brought into and keep within the compass of that rule. For God acted of old toward, and Justified the children of the old Covenant according to the Law thereof; and the Children of the new [Page 64] Covenant are Justified and partake of Justifica­tion according to the Law thereof.

Thirdly, That Justification and Sanctifica­tion are both of and through Grace. It s so in the beginning and it is so all along. By grace ye are saved, saith the Apostle. The whole work of Salvation is began and carried on through Grace. It is through that God visits and reaches to the Soul, with his quickening Vertue and Power. He regenerates also there­by. Through that he Just fies; Through that he Sanctifies, &c. So that as the work goes on, Grace, Grace, is to be cryed for to him that does the work, from his very laying the Foundation and fastning the Soul there­upon, to his very laying on of the top-stone.

Fourthly, Though Justification and Sancti­fication be of God's Grace and Mercy in Christ; yet this doth not exclude Faith: but they are also through Faith, and not without it. God doth not Justify man in the unbelieving state, in the dead state, in his abiding there; but in the co­ming out of it, in the repenting and turning from the dead works, to the living God, and in believing in him: and so he also Sanctifies him.

Fifthly, Faith and Obedience are of the same nature, and always go together. So that wherever there is Faith, there is Obedience like­wise, and wherever there is Obedience, there is [Page 65] Faith. Obedience flows from Faith, and cannot be without it: for the very nature and vertue of Faith is in it. And Faith is Obedience. For this is the command of God, that the soul be­lieve on him (and in his appearances) whom he hath sent to save: and this Believing is Obedi­ence unto him that commands it. And this Faith and this Obedience is Holy and Just in God's sight and through it (but not without it) the Soul is the both Justified and Sanctified.

Sixtly, That the works of Faith, the works of the new Life, are not the works of the Law, the works of the old Covenant; nor are excluded Justification as the Works of the old Covenant are. For, I have found the Lord, who hath condemned and excluded all my doings, which ever I have been able to do of my self, still Ju­stify and accept what his Spirit and Holy Pow­er hath done in me. They are not of the same nature in themselves, nor are they so accounted of in the eye of the Lord. For the Lord distin­guisheth between root and root: and what springeth from the holy Root, he Justifieth as holy, and what ariseth from the unholy root, he condemneth as unholy.

Seventhly, That by the Law of Faith all boasting is excluded, in the whole work both of Justification and Sanctification. What is the Law of Faith? Is not this its Law to fetch all from the Son, to do all in the Son? to quit [Page 66] self and its own ability, and to perform all in the newness of the Spirit, in the ability which is of God, given and continued in and through his Grace and Mercy to the Soul in the Lord Jesus Christ? All the veins of Life, all the strains of the new Covenant run here. Here is no boasting of the Creature, here can be no boasting: for all its ability and strength is shut out; and that which is given of God to it, is all and doth all. Yet every Jew here hath praise of God. His Faith is commended, his Love is commended, his Faithfulness is commend­ed, his Zeal for the Lord, his Obedience to the Lord, his Patience in suffering is commended, &c. but the praise and honour of all redounds not to his flesh, but to the Spirit and Grace of God in him. So that here flesh is laid low, and kept in the dust for ever, and God alone exalted in this day of his pure power in the heart. He that truly believeth entreth into rest. How into rest? From what doth he rest? Why, from his own works, from the works of the flesh, yea from the Works of the Old Covenant; from the Works that arise from his own a­bility, from the works wherein he can never be Justified with the Gospel-Justification. But doth he cease from the works of Faith? doth he cease from the Labour of Love? doth he cease from Obedience to any thing that God re­quires? Nay, then surely he rather beginneth [Page 67] to work and labour in the Vine-yard; and his labour is not in vain in the Lord.

VII. Concerning Faith.

Several things I have experienced, both con­cerning the nature, vertue, and operations of it, some whereof (as I feel them spring up liv­ingly in my heart) I may mention at this time.

First, This I have often experienced, that it is an hard thing truly and rightly to believe. It is an easy matter to believe notions concerning God, and concerning Christ: but to believe in God, to believe in Christ; to believe in him that raised up Jesus, to believe in the Light, Life and Power, which flows from Jesus, this indeed is hard by reason of the great Darkness and Igno­rance which man is faln into through transgres­sion.

Secondly I have experienced this also, that Faith is God's gift, and that it flows from the power of his Life. There is first a quickening, first a touching of the heart by the holy, pure Power of the Lord: and when a man is touch­ed and quickened, then in and by and through that vertue which flows into him, he can be­lieve in that which toucheth and quickneth him.

Thirdly, That Faith never stands in a mans own power, but alwayes in the vertue and power of the life of the Son. So that he that will be­lieve [Page 68] aright, must wait to feel the Life of the Son revealed in him, and Faith flowing there­from. For the true belief springs from the Life of the holy root; and from the flowing up and springing up of that Life, Faith receives its nou­rishment and daily vertue.

Fourthly I have observed this in my travels, that the Earthly Wisdom and Notions there from, got into the Mind and held in the Mind out of the sense of life, are a great let to Faith. For these strengthen and nourish that in man, which is to be weakned and die, that Life and the birth of life may be all in the heart. Man is to die, man is to be ceased from his understanding, his Wisdom is to be brought to nought. But after it hath had a stroke and wound from God's ho­ly Spirit and Power (even the very wound which tends to death) yet it will be getting Life again (getting its deadly wound healed) and nourishing its Life by those very notions, which came from that Life and Power; which (in measure) slew it. And thus the Jew out­ward, hath his Life in the outwardness of knowledg, in the outwardness of the Law, in the letter which killeth: for the relation and outward knowledg of things killeth and dead­neth more and more, unless man come into the inward Life and Vertue, and daily feel them quickned there. If ye live in the Spirit, walk in the Spirit, said the Apostle. A man cannot [Page 69] live in an outwardness of knowledg concerning the Spirit and Power of the endless Life: but he that would truly live, must live in the spi­rit it self; and he that would rightly walk on in his way, must walk in that Spirit wherein he received life, and wherein he that abideth lives before the Lord.

Fifthly, This I have also observed, that all notional Faith wherein is not the living vertue (as concerning Christ, his sufferings, death, re­surrection, ascention, intercession; and con­cerning Justification by him, &c.) the enemy will let the Soul alone with, and let him enjoy peace in: but his war is desperately against the true Faith, against Faith in the true power, a­gainst Faith in the light of Life. O how many sore and sharp assaults doth he make against the Faith which receives its vertue from God, and causeth the Soul to live to God! And how sore is it with the soul, when Faith is weak, and the enemy comes on against it with the strength of his assaults and temptations. Lord, encrease our Faith, said the sensible disciples.

Sixtly, It is a precious thing to feel Faith quickened by God, and helped by God against the enemy. For then the enemy cannot prevail against the Soul, but the Soul through the ver­tue and power of life, prevails over the enemy in the Faith. And this is the great work of a Chri­stian, [Page 70] not only to wrestle and fight, but to learn so to wrestle and so to fight, as to overcome.

Seventhly, That in the pure fear (not that which is taught by the precepts of Men, but which God puts into the heart) Faith hath its strength and exerciseth its strength. O who knows the preciousness of this Fear! The power of Faith, the power of Life, the power of Salva­tion and everlasting preservation is revealed in it. Therefore, saith the Lord, when he speaketh of providing for his Children in the new Cove­nant, that they shall abide with him for ever; and not depart any more from him, as the Chil­dren of the old Covenant did; I will put my Fear in their hearts, and they shall not depart from me. And when the Angel preached the Everlasting Gospel, how did he preach it? Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his Judgment is come, &c. Rev. 14. When the pure Fear is felt, when that which is contrary to God is judged; then the Gospel is known and the work thereof experienced in the heart And how easy is it, when the pure fear is felt to distrust and deny ones self, and trust in th [...] Lord? O how weak are the reasonings and imaginations then, and how strong is the powe [...] which scatters them, and lifts up the head ove [...] them!

Now it concerns every one deeply to consder, of what nature his Faith is, and what vertu [...] [Page 71] is in it, and what it can do in and through the Power of the Lord for him; how it fetcheth in the true living nourishment every day, how it delivers the Soul and gives it victory over that which Faith was appointed to deliver from. For he who through the Faith overcom­eth that which is contrary to God, shall inhe­rit; and he that fights the good fight of Faith, shall overcome: but he that overcomes not his enemies, which stand in his way, shall be sure to be hindred by them from attaining to his journeys end.

VIII. Concerning Obedience some Experien­ces also.

First, True Obedience, Gospel-Obedience flows from life, flows from the living faith. If I could obey in all things that God requires of me, yet that would not satisfy me, unless I felt my Obedience flow from the birth of his Life in me. My Father doth all in me, saith Christ, this was Christs comfort. And to feel Christ do. all in the Soul, is the comfort of every one that truly believes in him.

Secondly, True Obedience, Gospel Obedi­ence is natural to the birth which is born of God. It is unnatural to the flesh, to mans [Page 72] Wisdom, to deny himself and take up the cross; but it is natural to the birth which is born of God's Spirit. That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit; and it is natural to it to be conversant in; and exercised about that which is Spiritu­al.

Thirdly, That honouring and pleasing and answering the will of the Lord, is the proper aim of the truly Obedient. O how do they de­light to do the will of God. I have Meat, saith Christ, that ye know not of. To do the will was his Meat and drink: and it is Meat and Drink to all that are of his nature and Spirit. If I should never have any other reward, but the pleasure of Obedience; yet I could not but say and testify, that in answering the Law of the pure Life; in keeping the holy statutes and com­mandments of Gods Spirit there is great re­ward. But yet there is a crown also, and a reaping after this Life, of every thing that is sown to the Spirt: and the crown is weighty and everlastingly glorious.

Fourthly, Gospel Obedience is exceeding ne­cessa [...]y in and to the Gospel-state. Mark, The Lamb is the leader: and can any be saved by him, but they that follow him? When Christ calls out of the World, must not the Soul come to him, who is the Sheepherd? And must not the Sheep daily learn to know his voice, and follow him: even till they come to be acquaint­ed [Page 73] with every moving, drawing and leading of his Spirit; and so come to follow the Lamb whi­thersoever he goes? Mark what a weight Christ layeth upon doing. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. Why then the disciples cannot come to happiness, but in the doing, in the obeying of the will of Christ, his Lord and Maker. And he that heareth these say­ings of mine and doth them, I will liken him to a wise man, that built his house upon a rock. But the believer, without doing the will, is the foolish builder, whose building will not stand. Again saith Christ. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Father's Commandements: and abide in his love. The disciples whom he, most dearly loved, must keep his command­ments, if they will continue in his Love. And his Apostles taught the same, even the working out of the Salvation and the purifying of the heart through the Obedience of the truth. For Mark. There is a Covenant of Life, a way of Life: and how can Life be reaped, how can the work of Life go on, but in Subjection and Obe­dience thereto?

O blessed is he, who meets with the power of Life, which enables to obey, and who is O­bedient and subject to that power. For he that truly believes in Christ, is turned by him to his [Page 74] Light, and to the power of his Father; and the Peace, Growth, Joy, Blessedness &c is witnessed in subjection thereto.

VIII. Concerning the Cross of Christ.

This I have experienced concerning the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, that it is an inward and spiritual thing, produceing inward and spi­ritual effects in the Mind: and that this is it, even that which slays the enmity in the mind, and crucifies to the World and the affections thereof. God forbid, said the Apostle, that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, whereby the World is crucified unto me, and I unto the World. Now mark; That which is contrary to the World, and crucifies to the World, that is the Cross. The Cross hath its power, and nothing else: and so there is nothing else to glory in. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to the other. Mind, here is the Cross: The Spirit which is contrary to the flesh, which mortifies the flesh, through the Obedience whereof the flesh is crucified. If ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Whatsoever is of and in the Spirit, it is contrary to the flesh. The light of the Spirit is contrary to the darkness of [Page 75] the flesh. The holiness of the Spirit is contrary to the unholiness of the corrupt heart. The Life of the Spirit is contrary to the Life (or ra­ther death) that is in sin. The power of the Spirit is contrary to the power that is in Satan and his Kingdom. The Wisdom of God is con­trary and a foolish thing to the Wisdom of man. Yea the new Creature, which springs from God's Holy Spirit, is contrary and death to the old. Now he that comes hither, out of his own Wisdom, out of his own will, out of his own thoughts, out of his own rea­sonings; and comes to a discerning of God's Spirit, and to the feeling of his begetting of life in his heart, and his stirrings and movings in the life which he hath begotten, and waits here, and receives counsel here, he is taught to deny himself, and to joyn to and take up that, by which Christ daily crosseth and subdueth in him that which is contrary to God.

And here is the fight of Faith, and the good travel under the Cross, whereby, the holy jour­ney is gone, and the enemies (which rise up to oppose in the way) vanquished and overcome. For here is the power revealed: the preserv­ing power, the leading power, the con­quering power of him, who rideth on con­quering and to conquer his spiritual enemi­es, in the hearts of his Children, who know his voice and are subiect to him; who daily [Page 76] denying themselves and taking up his Cross, fol­low him. Wo is to them that are at ease in Si­on, under any thing that is contrary to God: but blessings are upon them whose dwelling is under the Cross, and who know no ease but what it allows. It will make Truth, Life, Holiness, Righteousness, Faith, Obedience, Meekness, Patience, Love, Separation from Sin, Communion with the Lord, and all the fruits of the Spirit, as natural to them in the renewed state, as ever sin was in the corrupt state. And in that state, they shall be able to say with Paul; who once complained of his captivity, and that he did what he hated; yet after he had known the power of the Cross, and was crucified with Christ, he could then do nothing against the truth, but for the truth: Yea then being a con­querer, having overcome the enemies which stood in his way, he could do all things through Christ that strengthened him. The cause of so many complaints and bowings down the head, & going mourning because of the prevailings of the enemy, through temptations, sin and corrup­tion, is because the Cross of Christ, which is the power of God, (which is his Ordinance against the strength of the enemy) is either not known, or not taken up. And this is the reason that ma­ny that make a fair shew for a while, yet after­wards come to nothing (but are like untimely [Page 77] figs, or like corn upon the House-tops, which hastily springeth up, but soon withereth) be­cause they either rightly never learn, or keep not to the Cross. For that alone hath power from God, to bring down and keep down that which is contrary to him. So that from under the Cross of Christ, there is no witnessing Sal­vation or preservation from the Lord: but out of the limits of the Cross, the enemy hath power to recover and bring back under his dominion again. And whosoever, in his travels, leaves the Cross behind him, does draw back unto perdition, and not travel on in the living faith and newness of Obedience, towards the Salvati­on of the Soul.

X Concerning the Mystery of Life, and the Mystery of the fellowship which is therein.

God is hid from Man, as he lies in his sinful and fallen estate: and no Man can find or know him; but as he pleaseth to reveal himself by his own blessed Spirit. And Christ, being God's image there is no knowing or confessing him, or right calling him Lord, but in and by the same Spirit (1. Cor. 12, 3.) When he appeared in the days [Page 78] of his flesh, flesh and bloud could not reveal him, but only the Father. And he is the same to day as he was yesterday. He is not to be known now, but in the same Spirit; in his own Grace and Truth, in a measure of his own Life. The dead cannot know him; they only know him, who are his Sheep, who are quickned and made alive by him. And this Life is a Mystery: none can understand it, but they that partake of it. Can a man that is naturally dead know what the Life of nature means? No more can a man that is spiritually dead, know what the Life of the Spirit means. The natural Man may get the words that came from Life, and cry up them, and speak great words of the same of Wisdom and of her Children: but the thing it self is hid from them all. O it is a strait gate, at which the birth en­ters, at which none else can enter. The wise and prudent knowers and searchers after the flesh (and of the Scriptures, as they can put mean­ings upon them and comprehend them) are shut out in every age: but ther's a babe born of naked Truth (born of the pure simplicity) admitted by God, while men disdain and despise it.

And the fellowship of the Saints is in the Life and in the Light, which is this Mystery. The fellowship is not outward but inward. All they that meet together in the outward place, are not in the fellowship or worship: but only [Page 79] they they meet together in the inward Life and Spirit. They that worship the Father, must worship him in Spirit and Truth. Look, ther's the worship, there are the worshippers; They that are in the Spirit, in the Truth; They that meet in the Spirit, in the Truth, they meet together in the one spiritual place, as I may call it. And so we own no man after the flesh, no man according to the appearance; but in the righteous judgment of the Spirit, those only who are of the Spirit. Indeed we are ten­der, where there is the least beginning of the work of God in any heart, yea where there is but so much as a conviction of the understand­ing: but Men are not presently of us, who own our Principle in words or outward appear­ance, but only such as are inwardly changed thereby in heart. It is true Persons may walk a­mong us, & afterwards go out from us, who were never of us (as it was in the Apostles days) that were never in the fellowship of Life with us, whom we could never own in the sight of the the Lord, as being born of him; though we were willing to wait and watch for their good, that they might come to witness the true birth. Now from such come the offences, even from the falling off of such as never were truly in­graffed, and also from the slips of such who are not watchful to that which preserves. And wo is to the World, because of the offences which [Page 80] cannot but come. For they which are not ap­proved in the sight of the Lord, must not some­what or other happen to make them manifest? And when they are made manifest, the World's eye is offended, and is apt to think hardly of and reproach the Truth it self, because of them. But blessed is the eye, which sees into the My­stery, into the Life it self, where there is no of­fence, but Truth is one and the same for ever.

XI. Concerning Judging according to the ap­pearance, and Judging righteous Judg­ment. Judg not according to the ap­pearance (said Christ) but Judg righ­teous Judgment, Joh. 7.24.

What is it to Judg according to the appear­ance? and what is it to Judg righteous Judg­ment? I shall speak what I have experienced, having been deeply exercised about this thing. Mark then.

The holy Spirit of Life breatheth upon the heart: and by his breathing and working there, he quickens and begets life, Joh. 3.8. And that which is begotten and born of him, is begotten and born into his nature, and so is of the same nature with him, as ver. 6 of that chap.

[Page 81]Now to that which is born of the Spirit, the Spirit is the leader, the preserver, the supporter, the comforter, the daily quickner. He can do nothing without the Spirit, without the present Life and Power of him that begat him. So that all the judgment which the birth of Life hath, is from, and of, and in the holy Spirit of the Fa­ther.

And here is true Judgment, both concern­ing righteousness and against all unrighteous­ness. So that keep to the Life, keep to the Spi­rit, keep to the Birth, keep to the Power; then is the Wisdom and righteous judgment of God revealed. But any that go out of this, and measure without this, they measure in the un­righteousness: and though they search the Scrip­tures, and think in themselves they measure from the Scriptures; yet they are mistaken, and mea­sure but from their own knowledg and appre­hensions upon the Scriptures, as the Scribes and Pharisees did, when they seemed to conclude, upon searching the Scriptures, that Christ could not be the Messiah. Joh. 7.52. Search and Look (said they) for out of Galilee ariseth no Prophet. How then can this Galilean be he? See, by the Scriptures, if this can be the Christ.

It is said of Christ, He shall not Judg after the sight of his eyes, nor reprove after the hearing of his Ears: but with righteousness shall he Judg &c. Isa. 11.3, 4. Christ Judged righ­teous [Page 82] Judgment. How came he to Judg so? Why he judged in and with the Spirit. He kept to the Spirits judgment. The Spirit of the Lord rest [...]d upon him, and made him quick of understanding in the fear of the Lord, ver. 2, 3. And no man can judg aright concerning the things of God, but in and by the same Spirit. How shall I know whether m [...] duties be right my Prayers right, my waies right, m worsh p r ght, my faith right, my hope of the right kind, my knowledg and understanding of the Scriptures right, &c? Why there is no e but one can de­termine. He who bege [...]teth life, know [...] whe­ther that which is in thee be from his life: and whether that which thou oferest to h m, be truly living or no. And when the Lord separates the living from the dead, what will remain in many that make great pro [...]ssions at this day.

I would have no man mistaken about these things. I know many are deeply mistaken, as their own hearts will one day acknowledg, when the Lord shall make manifest to them, how they have called evil good, and g [...]od evil; and put darkness for light, and l ght for dark­ness. Indeed it is just as it was in the dayes of Christ's appearing outwardly in a body of flesh. The same Life, the same Spirit is deny­ed now, as was then. Then the Jews cryed up hrist to come, but they then spiritually saw him not. They saw the flesh: (or outward [Page 83] form, but they saw not him who dwelt in that flesh. And though the World of Christians now acknowledg Christ is come and did appear; Yet neither do they know him who did appear, but deny his life, his Spirit, his vertue, his pow­er, which is revealed in this day of his love and goodness, to the eyes of the Children of the true Wisdom. O let not flesh Judg. Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord, and cease judging: for he is arisen to Judg. He is Judg in the midst of his people, and he will Judg the Heathen also.

And every one brings this near. Wait to feel flesh judged in thee, and brought down in thee, that it may not Judg in thee: but Spirit and Life may be exalted and sit upon the Throne in thy Heart. And when Life is exalted & doth be­gin to Judg; Oh take heed of harkening to the flesh, of letting in the Judgment of flesh after­wards, lest the Spirit be grieved and quenched! For the Wisdom of the flesh is near, and will be striving to get in and recover its seat again: and if the watch be not singly kept to God's Holy Spirit, somewhat else will be judging in thee, which will Judg according to the appearance of things to thy mind, and so thou wilt miss of the true and righteous judgment of God's Spirit.

XII. A Question answered about knowing God's Spirit.

Quest. How shall I know God's Spirit? How shall I know the motions thereof? How may I know whether the Faith and Hope in my heart be from him? whether my prayers and desires arise thence, &c.

Answ. No man of himself, or by any way he of himself can take, can know God's Spirit. There must first be a capa­city given, before any man can know the Spirit of the Lord; His Life, his Power must first be felt; and somewhat quickned, somewhat formed by him, somewhat begotten of him, which is spirit, and this can know him. Now man in this may know him, but out of this can never know him. Therefore this is the great skill, and diligence and wisdom of a Christian, to keep to this, to wait for this, to have his eye towards the pure spring of wisdom; that when it springs, he may discern and receive it: and when that which is of a contrary nature springs, he may discern it under all its deceitful appear­ances, and turn from it. For out of the heart are the issues both of Life and Death. There is [Page 85] all manner of deceivableness or unrighteousness in the unrigh [...]eous nature in the unrighteous Spirit: and [...]f the watch be not diligently kept, it is easy to be deceived at any time. But the true Seed, the holy Seed, the Living Seed, the e­lect Seed, the immortal Seed is never deceived. O blessed are they who have their eyes opened and kept open in it, to discern the mystery of Godliness, and the mystery of Iniquity; that they may be preserved safe in the one, out of the reach of the other.

XIII. Some Queries concerning the Seed of the Kingdom, in which the Kingdom it self is contained (as the nature and substance of things is contained in the Seed there­of) and out of which it springeth up and ariseth in the heart.

Quer. 1. What is that Seed which is spoken of 1 Joh. 3.9. which remaineth in those that are born of God, and preserveth out of sin, those that are led by it and comprehended in it? is it not the Seed of the Kingdom?

Quer. 2. Do not the natural herbs and flowers, the natural plants and trees grow from a natural Seed? Do not the spiritual plants, the [Page 86] spiritual trees, the trees of righteousness grow from the Seed of righteousness?

Quer. 3. Was it not the great doctrine of Christ, to preach the Kingdom? And how did he preach it? did he not preach it as a Seed, as a grain of Mustard-Seed? and did not be liken this Spiritual Seed to leaven, to a precious pearl, to treasure hid in a field, to a piece of silver lost &c. O how happy is he, who knows and en­joyes the thing it self which Christ preached! All the prophets prophesied concerning him: and when he comes this was his doctrine, that men should mind this, look after this, purchase this, possess this, feel this planted and grow up in them, and themselves ingraffed into and grow­ing up in it.

Quer. 4. Can any man be born of God, and not born of this Seed? can any man be born of this Seed, and not born of God?

Quer. 5. How doth Grace and Truth come by Jesus Christ? Doth it not grow up from this Seed? Can it grow up any other way in any heart?

Quer. 6. Is not Salvation felt and witnessed in every heart (of those that are in any measure redeemed) as this Seed grows up and oversha­dows them? Was not this the Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, 1 Pet. 1.10. whereof the Apostle Pe [...]er himself was made a partaker? Chap. 5.10. In the law were the [Page 87] shadows of good things to come: but in the gospel the substance, the Seed it self it reveal­ed.

Quer. 7. Is it not the right beginning in Re­ligion, to begin in the Spirit? and can any be­gin in the Spirit, but he that begins in and with the Seed of the Kingdom?

Quer. 8. Is it not the main and chief thing in Religion, to know this Seed, to feel this Seed, to be joyned to this Seed and abide in this Seed?

Quer. 9. Is not all that flows from this Seed, true and certain? is not the Know­ledg certain here? the Faith here? the Love here? the Peace here? the Joy here? the the Righteousness here? From this true root, can there grow or shoot forth any thing, but that which is true? O, every breathing here is from pure Life, and precious in the eye of the Father. Is there any certainty elsewhere? O, when the Lord appears, will he not disown all the religion and worship, which is not of this growth?

Quer. 10. But some may say, how may I know this Seed, and how may I be joyned to it?

Answ. In the quickning Life mayest thou know it, and no-where else. Didst thou ever feel that which quickned thy heart towards the Lord? Therein and thereby, at that time, thou mayest feel an eye and heart opened, which can [Page 88] truly see and know somewhat of God. And (keeping thy eie to the quickning power of God, as that stirs, moves and operates in thee and up­on thee, thou mayest know again and know more. Therefore eye the power which quickens, and eye the Seed which it reveals and raiseth in thee, and wait to feel the power subjecting thee to the Seed, that thou mayest come under it, and it may come over thee, and press down in thee all that is contrary to its pure nature. And as thou comest hither, thou wilt find that which death hath no power over: and as thou abidest there, thou shalt find it to have no power over thee. F r, of a truth, in the holy Covenant of Life and Peace, death never had nor can have power: but he who abideth in him who is the Covenant, who is the sheepherd, who is the Love, who is the Wisdom and Power of God, witnesseth there a sure defence and strong tower, where Salvation is for a Wall and Bulwark against the Enemy, There are many sorts of talkers concerning the thing, but there are few travellers into it: but he alone who is a true traveller into it, and takes up his rest there, certainly knows and can truly witness what is to be found there. And this is the reason that so many (who seem great and expe­rienced knowers) cannot receive our testimony, because they know neither the Seed nor its voice, concerning which and whereby we testify. But [Page 89] Wisdom is Justified of her Children; and they that know the voice of the Sheepherd, know his present appearance in this our day, which is contrary to the Wisdom and Knowledg of all other Seeds and Births whatsoever. He that hath an Ear to hear, let him hear: But he that hath not the true Ear, cannot hear the true te­stimony, though it should never so often be de­clared unto him. But blessed is he that knows and stumbles not at the appearances of the Seed and Power of Life in his own heart, but is turn­ed from the Darkness to the Light there, and from the Power of Satan to the manifestation of God's Spirit there: for the end of words (even of Christs own directions in the days of his flesh) is to turn men to the holy Life and Power from whence the words came, and thither man is to travel, and therein to center, waiting on the Lord in the way of his Judgments and ten­der Mercies, to witness a translation from Dark­ness to Light, and from the Kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of the dear Son, which King­dom is at first but as a grain of mustard-Seed, and must be so known and so received. And now let every serious heart examine concerning himself. Dost thou know the Kingdom? is the Seed grown in thee? Doth it overspread thee? Art thou in it as in a Kingdom? Dost thou feel it overshadowing thee? Art thou in unity with it? Doth it speak Peace to thee from the Lord? [Page 90] Is the Wall of partition broken down in thee? is there of twain made one new man? Dost thou feel that which is contrary to Christ subdued in thee by his power? and his holy nature, Life, and Spirit reigning over it? Canst thou read that Scripture sensibly and experimentially, If ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the bo­dy, ye shall live? Ah how miserably do men talk of Christ, the Power of God, and miss of the effect and work of his Power in them? Faith is a powerful thing, it gives victory, (true Faith gives victory) it scatters that which stands between, and gives real access to God, and lets in his pure, fresh living Vertue, upon the heart. Love is a powerful thing, it constrains to Obe­dience: and the heart that is circumcised to love the Lord God, O how doth Life flow from him into it! O, away with empty notions, and come to the ministration of the Spirit, where the Knowledg is living, the Faith victorious, the Love pure and undefiled, the Worship truly spiritual, even flowing from and comprehended in the Life and Vertue of the Spirit. O that all that truly breath after the Lord, might be ga­thered hither, found here and dwell here, Amen.