1. The Universality of God's Love in sending his Son to die for all Men.

WE freely own, that it is the Duty of the Children of Men to believe in Christ, as he did outwardly appear; and we hold it to be absolutely needful, that they believe in his Death and Sufferings, and what he has done for them, without them, where it has pleased God to afford them the Benefit of the Holy Scriptures, that declare thereof; yet we believe this outward Knowledge is not so absolutely essential to Salvation, but [Page 17] that Men may be saved by the Lord Jesus Christ, that suffered upon the Cross for them, if they are subject to his Spirit in their Hearts, although their Lots may be cast in such remote Parts of the World, that are deprived of the Benefit of the Holy Scrip­tures, and may know nothing of the Com­ing of Christ in the Flesh, for the Apostle Paul in the 5th of the Romans saith, as by the Offence of One, Judgment came upon all Men to Condemnation, even so by the Righteousness of One, the free Gift came upon all Men to Justi­fication of Life; for as all Men partake of the Fruit of Adam's Fall, by Reason of that evil Seed, which through him is communicated unto them, which inclines them unto Evil, although many Thousands of them never heard of the Fall of Adam, nor of his Eating of the forbidden Fruit; so we believe many may, and do receive Benefit by the Lord Jesus Christ, as they take Heed to that di­vine Light and Grace, which is communi­cated to Mankind universally, through him, although they may know nothing of his Coming in the Flesh. Now though we hold it absolutely needful, that Men believe in the Death and Sufferings of Christ, where they have the Benefit of the Holy Scriptures, that declare thereof, as is before observed; [Page 18] yet all this Knowledge will not entitle to a Part in the Kingdom of God, without they know him that died for them, to save them out of those Things that unfit them for that Holy Kingdom, into which nothing that is unclean can enter.

But because we bear Testimony to the inward Appearance of the Lord Je­sus Christ, John 1 9. by his Light and Spirit in Men's [...], some have been so unkind and unju [...] [...] that they have not stuck to say, that we [...] the Lord Jesus Christ, that suffered without the Gates of Jerusalem for us, which is a very great Abuse upon us, for we firmly believe in him, that was born of the Virgin Mary, that suffered upon the Cross for the Redemption of Mankind uni­versally; and we are so far from denying him that died for us, and rose again, and ascended into Heaven, and is come again by his Spirit into our Hearts, that we hold forth his Death and Sufferings in a far more ex­tensive Manner, than many others do; for a great many will have it, that Christ only died for the Believers, and a Part of Man­kind, but are believe according to the Scrip­ture, that he tasted Death for every Man, but we see Jesus, Heb. [...]. [...]. who was made a little lower than the Angels, crowned with [Page 19] Glory and Honour, that he by the Grace of God should taste Death for every Man. My little Children, 1 John 2. 1, 2. these Things write I unto you, that ye sin not; and if any Man sin, we have an Advocate with the Fa­ther, Jesus Christ the Righteous: And he is the Propitiation for our Sins, and not for ours only, but also for the Sins of the whole World. Here is the wonderful Love of God set forth to Mankind universally, therefore, as by the Offence of one, Judgment came upon all to Condemnation; Rom. 5. 17. even so by the Righteousness of one, the free Gift came upon all Men to Justification of Life: So that the Plaister is as broad as the Sore. Now although we believe, that Christ has by his offering up of himself once for all, cleared the Score, so far upon the Account of Man­kind in general, that no Man will perish be­cause of the Sin of Adam; yet we do not believe that the Death and Sufferings of Christ without the Gates of Jerusalem, will render Men justified, and acceptable in the Sight of God; except they know him that died for them, to redeem them out of actual Sinning, and from those Things that [...] them for the Kingdom of God. Know ye not saith the Apostle, that the Unrigh­teous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10, 11. be not deceived; neither [Page 20] Fornicators, nor Idolators, nor Adulterers, nor Effemmatt, nor Abusers of themselves with Mankind, nor Thieves, nor Covetous, nor Drunkards, nor Revilers, nor Extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of God; and such were some of you, but ye are [...], but [...]are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by the Spirit of our God. Here the Apostle has clearly set forth how Men are justified. Now this is what we are concerned for, that all People may come to know the Lord to work a Change in their Hearts, and wash them by his Spirit, he hath saved us by the washing of Regeneration, Titus 3. 5, 6 and the Renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he hath [...] on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savi­our. Now here is Salvation and Justification by Christ, upon a true and right Founda­tion, Mat. 1. 21. and she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shall call his Name Jesus, for he shall save his People from their Sins. Mark that Salvation from Sin, is the Way for Men to be saved by Christ, from the Wrath to come; Rom. 1 9. 8. 1. for we read, that Tribu­lation and Anguish will be upon every Soul of Man that doth Evil, first up­on the Jew, and also upon the Gentile; there is therefore now, no Condemnation to them [Page 21] which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the [...], but after the Spirit. As Men come to witness a being washed and sanctified, and brought into Christ, and know their a­biding to be in him, they are redeemed out of those Things that bring Condemnation.

If any Man be in Christ, he is a new Crea­ture, whosoever abideth in him, sin­neth not: 1 Joh. 3. 6. 1 Joh. 5. 18. We know, that whosoever is [...] of God; sinneth not, but he keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not: 1 Joh 5. 10. He that believes on the Son of God, hath the Witness in himself. This is the Sum of all, for Men so to live, that they have the Witness in themselves, that they please God; we read concerning [...], that before he was translated, he had this Testimony, that he pleased God. If our Heart condemn us, God is great­er and knoweth all Things; 1 John 3. 20, 21. if our Heart condemn us not then have we Confidence towards God. Friendly Reader, whoever thou art that art condemned and reproved in thy self, for that which is Evil, I tenderly desire, thou mayst turn to that Holy Spirit, which doth inwardly reprove thee for it, if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart, I will find him unto you, John 14. 7, 8. and when he is come, he will reprove the World of [Page 22] Sin. The same Holy Spirit that reproves Men for Sin, will not only give them Power over those Things that they are overcome with, which are evil, if they take heed unto it; but as they come out of those Things, they are reproved for, it will be a Divine Comforter to them, and they will be inward­ly justified in themselves. We read, that the Grace of God, Tit. 2. 11. 12, 13. that bringeth Sal­vation, hath appeared unto all Men, teaching us, that denying Ungodliness, and worldly Lusts, we should live soberly, righ­teously, and godly in this present World, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appear­ing of the great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all Iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar People, zealous of good Works. Now although the Apostle has here so ex­cellently born Testimoney to the Sufficiency and Universality of the Grace of God; many are so narrow, that they are not willing to own, that Christ has died for all, nor will they allow, that saving Grace is given to all altho' we read, that a Manifestation of the Spirit is given to every Man, to profit with­al. And in the Parable of the Sower, that went forth to sow, the Seed fell on all the four Sorts of Ground, but it did not bring [Page 23] forth Fruit to Perfection, save only in the good Ground; and the unprofitable Servant had a Talent committed to him, which was sufficient for him if he had but improved it; 'tis plain that the Fault was in himself, so that if any Man perish, he is the Cause of his own Destruction, as it was said of Israel, Oh Israel, thou hast destroyed thy self, but thy Help is in me! God gave them of his Spirit to instruct them, Neh. 9. 20, 26. but they rebelled against him. Many for want of a right Understanding, have made a very wrong Use of Paul's Words in the 9th of the Romans, for the Children being not yet born, neither having done Good or Evil, Rom. 9. 11, 12, 13. that the Purpose of God accord­ing to Election might stand, not of Works, but of him that calleth, it was said unto her, the Elder shall serve the Younger; as it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. Now the Apostle doth not say, that before the Children were born, it was said, Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated, but that the Elder shall serve the Younger; and as 'tis written, Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated. He has Reference to what is written: read Obadiah, for thy Vio­lence against thy Brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, Obad. 1. 10 and thou shall be cut [Page 24] off for ever. If God had hated Esau, and or­dained Pharaoh to perish before they were born, he would have been a Respecter of Persons, which is contrary to the Apostle Peter's Testimony, Acts 10. 34 35. I perceive of a Truth, said he, that God is no Re­specter of Persons, but in every Nati­on he that feareth him, and worketh Righteous­ness, is accepted with him. Here are the Con­ditions laid down, upon which all People may be accepted of God, for we believe, as it is the Will of God, that all Men should be saved, he gives to every Man a Day of Visi­tation, in which he inwardly strives with them, by his Holy Spirit to reclaim them, he strove long with the People in the old World, and the Lord said, Gen. 6. 3. my Spirit shall not always strive with Man, because he is also Flesh. There was a Time, in which they might have been saved, but they would not be reclaimed, from those Things that were displeasing to him, therefore he cut them off in his Wrath; and there was also a Time in which the Inhabitants of Jerusa­lem might have been gathered, but they would not; and our Saviour wept over them, and said, Oh Jerusalem! Jerusalem, Thou that killest the Prophets, Mat. 23. 37, 38. and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy Chil­dren [Page 25] together, even as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings, and ye would not? Behold, your House is left unto you desolate. Christ did not say, they could not be ga­thered, but said, thou wouldst not; so that the Reason why they were not gathered, was not in the Lord, but in themselves; but if God by a secret Decree had before hand determined their Destruction, why should he have sent his Servants to them, in order that they might be gathered; and what will People make of our Saviour's weeping over them; if they were before ordained inevita­bly to perish. I wish all may consider these Things seriously, the Apostle saith, what if God, willing to shew his Wrath, and make his Power known, Rom. 9. 22. endured with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath fitted to Destruction; and why is this long-suffering, but in order that they may be gained upon, why was the long-suffering of God which waited in the Days of Noah, 1 Pet 3. 20. while the Ark was preparing, but that they might be reclaimed from their wrong Doings: When Pharaoh had refused to let Israel go, and said, who is the Lord, that I should obey his Voice, Exod. 5. 2. to let Israel go? I know not, said he, the Lord, neither will I let Israel go; then we read [Page 26] that the Lord said, Exed. 7. 3. I will harden Pharaoh's Heart, and multiply my Signs, and my Wonders in the Land of Egypt; and the Lord shewed his Power in his Destruction, Exod. 14. 23. as he did in the Destruction of the old World; but let it be consider'd, that they brought this upon themselves, by their rebelling against him, for why should the Lord have striven with the old World, if he had determined their Destruction before-hand. Friendly Reader, I desire the Lord may open thy Un­derstanding by his holy Spirit, that thou mayst have a right discerning of these Things, Peter saith, account that the long-suf­fering of our Lord is Salvation, 2 Pet. 3. 15, 16. even as our beloved Brother Paul also, according to the Wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you, as also in all his Epistles, speaking in them of these Things, in which are some Things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned, and unstable, wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own Destruction. If Peter had meant, that it was them that were outwardly un­learned, that wrested Paul's Words, we read, that he and John were both said to be unlearned and ignorant Men, Acts 4. 13. now when they saw the Boldness of Peter [Page 27] and John, and perceived that they were unlearn­ed and ignorant Men, they marvelled, and they took Knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. It was they then, and it is such now, as are unlearned in the School of Christ, that did, and do wrest Paul's Words; and if People do not come to learn of Christ, it is no wonder if they put wrong and gross Constructions upon many Places of the Holy Scriptures; but altho' this Place has been made very ill use of by many, the Apostle Paul doth give ample and full Testimony of the good Will of God to Mankind, 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2, 3, 4. I exhort, saith he, therefore, that first of all, Supplications, Prayers, In­tercessions, and giving of Thanks, be made for all Men; for Kings, and for all that are in Authori­ty, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life, in all Godliness and Honesty; for this is good and acceptable in the Sight of God our Saviour, who will have all Men to be saved, and to come unto the Knowledge of the Truth. If the Apo­stle had believed, that a Part of Mankind were ordained to perish, before they were born, he would not have advised Timothy to pray for all Men, and told him, that it was the Will of God, that all Men should be sa­ved; so that if any Man perish, as is before observed, the Fault is in himself, say unto [Page 28] them, as I live, saith the Lord God, I have no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked, but that the Wicked turn from his Way and live. [...]. 33 11. 13, 14, 15. When I shall say to the Righ­teous, that he shall [...] live; if he trust to his own Righteousness, and commit Iniquity, all his Righteousness all not be re­membred, but for his Iniquity that he hath com­mitted, he shall die for it. Again, when I say unto the Wicked, thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his Sin, and do that which is lawful and right, if the Wicked restore the Pledge, give again that he hath robbed, walk in the Statutes of late, without committing iniquity, he shall surely live, he shall not die. I wish that all might seriously consider this, and that all who think they stand, and are secure, may take heed lest they fall; and that they who have gone into evil Things, may be en­couraged to return to the Lord, by true Re­pentance and Amendment of Life, that they may find Mercy at his Hand, as the Pro­phet saith, Isa. 4. 7. let the Wicked for sake his Way, and the unrighteous Man has Thoughts, and return to the Lord, and he will have Mercy, and to our God, and he will a­bundantly pardon. We are not of their Mind, that say, once in Grace, and ever in Grace, or that the least Degree of truth and saving [Page 29] Grace cannot be fallen from; but we be­lieve Men may now, as some of old did, make Shipwreck of Faith and a good Conscience, and from what is before said, it is plain, that a righteous Man may turn from his Righteousness, therefore it is good for all to be watchful: What I say to you, said Christ, to his Followers, I say to all, watch. No Man is longer safe than he is upon his watch. It was when David and Peter were off their watch that they fell, and the Miscarriages that are amongst the Children of Men, are owing to their Unwatchfulness; not but that we be­lieve, the Grace and good Spirit of God is sufficient to keep Men from falling and sin­ning, and out of all evil and hurtful Things, as they take heed unto it; unto which Grace, Friendly Reader, I commend thee for Safety and Preservation.

2. Concerning the Holy Scriptures.

ALTHO' some have misrepresented us, as tho' we undervalued or dis-esteem'd the Holy Scriptures, of the Old and New Testament; yet we do bless the Lord, and have great Cause so to do, that the excellent Counsel therein contained, which proceeded [Page 30] from the Spirit of God, is preserved upon Record unto this Day, and it is a great Fa­vour, that we live under such a Govern­ment, that we have the Liberty to read them, this being a Priviledge that many called Christians are deprived of, in some other Countries, and I wish that all would be frequent in reading of them: The Apostle Paul commended Timothy, in that from a Child he had known the Holy Scrip­tures, 2 Tim. 3. 15, 16, 17. which, saith he, are able to make thee wise unto Salvation, thro' Faith, which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture given by Inspiration of God, is profitable for Doctrine, for Reproof, for Correction, for In­struction in Righteousness, that the Man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good Works. John 5. 39, 40. Ye search the Scriptures, said Christ, for in them ye think ye have Eternal Life, and they are they which testify of me, and ye will not come to me, that ye might have Life. They are greatly to be valued, in that they testify of Christ, in whom there is Power to give Men Victo­ry over their Corruptions and Passions, and enable them to do the Will of God; we read, John 1. 11. 12. that Christ came unto his own, and his own received him not; but as many as received him, to them gave [Page 31] he Power to become the Sons of God. They that receive Christ by his Spirit into their Hearts, they receive Power; for Christ's Spirit is a Christian's Strength: I can do all Things, saith the Apostle, thro' Christ which strengthens me; Phil. 4. 13. 2 Pet. 1. 20. 21. we read that no Prophesy of the Scrip­ture is of any private interpretation; for the Prophesy came not in the old Time by the Will of Man, but holy Men of God, spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Now we say, the most true Interpreter of the Holy Scriptures, is the Holy Ghost, or Spirit from which they did proceed; we read that the natural Man receives not the Things of the Spirit of God, neither can he know them, saith the Text, and there is a strong Reason laid down for it, because they are spiritually discerned; they are beyond his Reach and Comprehension, 1 Cor. 2. 11. for what Man knoweth the Things of a Man, save the Spirit of a Man which is in him; even so the Things of God knoweth no Man, but the Spirit of God. This is the Key which opens the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God to Men. I take this to be the great Reason why there are such great Mistakes about Re­ligion, and why many put such gross Con­structions upon many Parts of the Holy [Page 32] Scriptures, as they do, because they do not come to that Divine Spirit which gives a right and true Understanding, as Elihu said, there is a Spirit in Man, Joh 32. 8. and the Inspi­ration of the Almighty giveth them Understanding. Till Men come to the Holy Spirit of God in themselves, they can neither know God, nor the Things of God; for we read, Mat. 11. 27. that no Man knoweth the Father save the Son, and he, to whom soever the Son will reveal him. Now if Revelation were ceased, as some do imagine it is, what a sad Condition would Mankind be in? For we read, the World by Wisdom knows not God, there is no Knowledge of God but by the Revelation of his Son; and it is as Men come to have an inward Knowledge of God, that they come to have a right Understand­ing of the Holy Scriptures, which proceeded from the good Spirit of God, wherefore we highly value them, tho' 'tis to be feared, some called Christians, do dis-believe many of the great Truths therein contained, for I believe, that a Man through often rebelling against the Holy Spirit of God in himself, may arrive to such a Degree of Wickedness, that he may reject the Scriptures, and count them but Fables; and that he may be so far from owning of any Thing of God in Man, [Page 33] that he may come to deny the Holy Three that bear Record in Heaven, 1 Joh. 5. 7. there are Three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these Three are One. It must be very deplo­rable, if a Man come to be so wicked, as to deny the Lord that bought him, and to say, as 'tis written, Psal. 14. 1. the Fool hath said in his Heart, there is no God. It is the Work of the Enemy of all Righteousness, to perswade Men to believe that there is no God, and that the Scriptures are but a Ficti­on, and that Men are not accountable for their Words and Actions, and that there are no future Rewards and Punishments; that they might walk at large, and take their full swing in Wickedness. It is greatly to be desired, if there be any such now living, whose Day of Mercy is not wholly over, that have arrived to such a degree of Hard­ness and Wickedness as this is, they may be brought to a Sense of their Iniquity and Error, and be so truly humbled in Soul be­cause thereof, that if possible, they might find Mercy at the Lord's Hand. The better Christian that any Man is, the more true and real Value he has for the Holy Scriptures.

3. Concerning Worship.

WE live in a Time, in which there is great Difference, even amongst them called Christians about Religion and the Worship of God. Difference about Religion and the Worship of God, John 4. 9. is no new Thing, the Jews and Samaritans differ'd to such a great Degree, that it seems they did not deal with one another. It is very much amiss, where Religion sowers People, and makes them rigid, and bitter one a­gainst another. Christianity is Love, and he that is a Christian in his Heart, is full of Pitty and good Will to them that are under a Mistake in Matters of Religion; and the worst that he wishes for all such, is, that the Lord may direct them right; for they that have the Mind of Christ, would not have any Soul to err, neither in Faith nor Practice. Our Saviour in his Discourse with the Wo­man of Samaria, has clearly described the true and spiritual Worship, but the Hour cometh, John 4. 23 24. and now is, when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth; for the Fa­ther seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spi­rit, and they that worship him, must worship [Page 35] him in Spirit and in Truth. Now we believe, that as God is a Spirit, that he may be truly worshipped, as we are gathered in his Spi­rit, if there be not a Word outwardly spo­ken amongst us, Mat. 18. 20. as Christ said, for where two or three are gathred together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them; and the Holy Prophet saith, they that wait upon the Lord, Isa. 11. 31. shall renew their Strength, and mount up with Wings as Eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint. Al­though I believe a great many pious good Christians can say, as they have waited hum­bly upon the Lord, in the true Silence of all Flesh, with their Minds truly staid upon him, they have enjoyed that divine Comfort which has been beyond what they could ex­press in Words; yet this of silent waiting, is a great Mystery to many People. There is a Divine Teacher near Men, even in their own Hearts, which is sufficient to teach them, as they take heed thereto. It is to be feared, that many People too much depend upon the Teachings of Men, and neglect the Divine Teacher in themselves, 1 Joh. 2. 27. but the A­nointing which ye have received of him, abideth in you, and ye need not that any Man teach you, but as the same Anoint­ing [Page 36] teacheth you, of all Things, which is Truth, and no Lic, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Now we understand the Holy Man here, to speak in a large Sense. He told them that they needed not that any Man taught them, but as the same Anointing taught them, &c. We do very much own outward Preach­ing and Praying, where it proceeds from this Divine Anointing. If it please God to speak by this through any Instruments, whether Male or Female, we believe there should be Liberty amongst us, for every one to speak as he requires it of them; for ye may all prophesy one by one, 1 Cor. 14. 31. 32. that all may learn, and all may be comforted, Acts 2. 4. and the Spirits of the Prophets are subject to the Prophets. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other Tongues, as the Spirit gave them Utterance. We believe the true Preaching and Praying is that which proceeds from the Holy Spirit, Rom. 8. 26. we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh Intercession for us, with Groanings which cannot be uttered. I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the Understanding also, 1 Cor. 14. 15. and I will sing with the Understanding.

[Page 37]This is the Preaching and Praying, and Singing, which we own, that is, by the Di­rection and Assistance of the holy Spirit. Now some, 1 Cor. 14. 34, 35. from what the Apostle saith, let your Women keep silence in the Churches, for it is not permitted un­to them to speak, but they are com­manded to be under Obedience, as also saith the Law, and if they will learn any Thing, let them ask their Husbands at Home, for it is a Shame for Women to speak in the Church. Let the Woman learn in Silence, 1 Tim. 2. 11, 12. with all Subjection, but I suffer not a Woman to teach, nor to usurp Authority over the Man, but to be in Silence. We do not take this to be a prohibiting of Holy Women to speak, whom the Lord calls thereto; and I think it would be very much amiss, to say that the Apostle Paul was against holy Wo­men speaking, that God called to speak; but such troublesome and unruly Women, as dis­turbed the Church by their Questions, and usurp'd Authority over the Man. Such Women as these, which he was against, we are against. If the Apostle Paul had been against holy Women praying and Prophesy­ing, why should he lay down a Rule how they ought to behave themselves when they [Page 38] pray or prophesy, 1 Cor. 11. 5. but every Woman that Prayeth or Prophesyeth with her Head uncovered, dishonoureth her Head And he commends to the Believers divers good Wo­men, Rom. 16. 1, to 13. I commend unto you Phoebe our Sister, which is a Servant of the Church. All good Ministers of Je­sus Christ, are Servants to the Church. And he advised his true Yokefellow, to help those Women, which laboured with him in the Gospel; so that he was an Encourager of holy Wo­men that laboured in the Gosple; we read, that Anna spoke in the Temple, Luke 2. 37, 38. and she was a Widow of about fourscore and four Years, which departed not from the Temple, but served God with Fastings and Prayers, Night and Day; and she coming in that instant, gave Thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of him, to them that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem. And we read, that Philip the Evangelist had four Daugh­ters, Virgins, and they did all prophesy. And Joel also prophesied that God would pour forth of his Spirit, &c. But this is that, saith Peter, Acts 2. 16, 17. which was spoken by the Prophet Joel, and it shall come to pass in the last Days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all [...], and your Sons and Daughters shall prophesy, and your young Men [Page 39] shall see Visions, and your old Men shall dream Dreams, and on my Servants, and on my Hand­maidens, I will pour out in those Days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. Now although Prophesying is several Times taken in the Scripture for foretelling Things to come, Jer. 21. read Jeremiah, and several other Prophecies of the Prophets. It is also taken for edifying the Church, but he that prophesieth, 1 Cor. 12. 3. 4. speaketh unto Men to E­dification, and Exhortation, and Comfort. He that speaketh in an un­known Tongue, edifieth himself, but he that pro­phesieth, edifieth the Church. Mary was sent by Christ to declare of his Resurrection, Je­sus saith unto her, John 20. 17. touch me not, for I am not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my Brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father, and to my God, and your God. And the Woman of Samaria was instrumental to bring many of her Neighbours to believe in Christ, she said, John 4. 29. 39. Come see a Man that has told me all Things that ever I did, is not this the Christ? And many of the Samaritans of that City believed on him, for the Saying of the Woman, which testified, he told me all that ever I did. Now it is to Christ as he inwardly appears in Men's Hearts, by his [Page 40] Light and Spirit, that we desire all may come. It is he that shews Men when they do amiss. Col. 1. 27. Christ within, which is the Hope of the Saints Glory, is a great Mystery to many People, when it pleased God, Gal. 1. 16. saith the Apostle Paul, to re­veal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Heathen, I conferred not with Flesh and Blood. Here was the Son of God revealed in him. Now that all may have a right Understanding of the Things of God, we desire that they may come to him that hath the Key of David, that opens the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God to Men.

4. Concerning Baptism.

BECAUSE of our Disuse of Water-Bap­tism, and Bread and Wine, we have been very hardly spoken of, as though we denied the Ordinances of Jesus Christ, when as there is no People that I know of, that do more truly own the Necessity of believing and being baptized, than we do, but we do not understand it to be only a Historical Belief of the Conception and Birth, and Life and Miracles, and also of the Death and Sufferings, and Resurrection and Ascension [Page 41] of Christ, or a being outwardly baptized with Water, that will entitle Men to Salvation; for we read, that Simon the Sorcerer believed, Acts 8. 13, 23. and was baptized; and yet he was so far from being in a State of Salvation, that Peter saith to him, I per­ceive thou art in the Gall of Bitterness, and in the Bond of Iniquity. But lest any should be under a Mistake, and take the Baptism of Water, to be the one essential and saving Baptism, hear the Apostle Peter, when once the long-suffering of God, waited in the Days of Noah, 1 Pet. 3. 20. 21. while the Ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, eight Souls were saved by Water, the Antitype wereunto even Baptism now saveth us, not the putting away of the Filth of the Flesh (mark that) but the Answer of a good Conscience towards God, by the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now it is the Baptism of Christ by his Spirit, that brings Men to that, for it is plain, from the Instance of Simon before-noted, that a Man may believe, and be baptized with Water, and be so far from having the Answer of a good Conscience, that he may be in the Gall of Bitterness, and in the Bond of Iniquity, which is the very Reverse of Christianity. A great many take the Commission in the 28th of Matthew, to be a Commission for [Page 42] Water-Baptism, Mat. 28. 19. go ye therefore, and teach all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Now here is no men­tion of Water. Is it not reasonable to sup­pose, that if our dear Lord had intended that they should baptize with Water, that he would have expresly mention'd it; altho' the Apostle Paul was not inferior to the chief of the Apostles, 1 Cor. 1. 14, 15, 16, 17. he saith, I thank God, that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius, least any should say, I baptized in mine own Name; and I bap­tized also the Houshold of Stephanus, besides, I know not whether I baptized any other; for Christ sent me NOT to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: So that, what he did in that Case, was by way of Condescension, as in the Case of circumcising Timothy, Acts 16. 3, 21, 26. and going into the Temple, and purifying him­self. It would be a weak Thing to plead for these things now, because the Apostle practis­ed them. Doth it therefore follow, that Wa­ter Baptism should be practised now, be­cause the Apostle Paul, by way of Conde­scension, practised it? For if he had took that Commission, Mat. 28. 19. to be a Commission for him to baptize with out­ward Water, we may safely conclude, that [Page 43] he would not have thank'd God that he had done him so little Service. We do not deny, but that some other of the Apostles, did also by way of Condescension, practise Water Baptism; but that they were commanded to baptize with Water in that Com­mission, Mat. 28. 19. I think, will be too hard for any body to prove. It is possible some may be ready to say, it must needs be meant of Water; because say they no Man can baptize with the Spirit, or into the Power and Spirit of Christ. We freely own, that no Man, as he is a Man, by his own Power can do this; neither can any Man by his own Power, as he is a Man, heal the Sick, cleanse the Lepers, raise the Dead, cast out Devils, Mat. 10. 8. and yet we find the Disci­ples were commanded to do these Things. And by the same Power, by which they did cast out many Devils, and heal'd the Sick, &c. they were instrumental to baptize Men into the Name and Power of Christ. And as I began to speak, saith Peter, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us in the Be­ginning. Acts 3. 16. Acts 11. 15, 16. Then remembred I the Word of the Lord, that John truly baptized with Water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. At that great Meeting we read of in the 2d of Acts, verse the 4th, [Page 44] saith, and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other Tongues, as the Spirit gave them Utterance; yet some of the Multitude mocked, and were so igno­rant of the Operation of the Holy Ghost, that they said, vers. 5, 13. these Men are full of new Wine; but Peter standing up with the Ele­ven, lift up his Voice, and said unto them, ye Men of Judah, and all ye that dwell at Jerusa­lem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my Words, for these are not drunken, as ye sup­pose, seeing it is but the third Hour of the Day, but this is that which was spoken by the Prophet Joel, &c. It is hard to make Men sensible of the Operation of the Holy Ghost, and of the spiritual Baptism, while they are Strangers to the Spirit in themselves; but if it could be proved, that the Disciples in that Commissi­on, Mat. 28. 19, 20. were commanded to baptize with, or in Water, which I believe cannot be done; how will they that are for the sprinkling of Infants, prove their Practise from that Commission, go teach all Nations, Acts 16. 33. &c. for they are not ca­pable of being taught. As to what is urged of the Jailor, and all his, and of whole Families being baptized; there is no Account that there was any Infants baptized in any of them. There is abundance of Fa­milies [Page 45] now (as we may reasonably suppose) there were then, in which there are no little Children. As to that of our Saviour, where he saith, suffer little Children to come unto me and forbid it not, for of such is the Kingdom; it cannot be proved from the Scripture, that he baptized any of them in, or with Water. But as to this Practise of sprinkling Infants, it is so much without Foundation in the Scripture, that a great many People who are not of our Society, do not hold it nor own it. The Way rightly to understand this Commission, is to come to that Spirit, by which it was given forth. Many urge, that our Saviour was baptized of John, he was also circumcised, doth it therefore follow, Luke 2. 21. that we must be circumcis­ed, because he was circumcised; for as he was born under the Law, he fulfilled the Law, and he is the End of Law, for Righte­ousness Sake, to all them that believe. When Christ came to John to be baptized of him, John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee. Mat. 3. 13. 14. Here John the Baptist, who was the Administrator of Water Baptism, was sensi­ble that he had need to be baptized of Christ, with the Baptism of the Holy Ghost: Suf­fer [Page 46] it to be so now, Vers. 15. said Christ; for thus it becometh us to fulfil all Righteousness: So that he fulfilled the Righ­teousness of John's Dispensation. John has very clearly and excellently distinguished his Baptism with Water, from the Baptism of Christ, with the Holy Ghost, I indeed bap­tize you with Water, Mat. 3. 11, 12. unto Repen­tance; but he that cometh after me, is mightier than I, whose Shoes I am not worthy to bear; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and Fire; whose Fan is in his Hand, and he will throughly purge his Floor, and ga­ther his Wheat into the Garner but he will burn up the Chaff with unquencheable Fire. This is the Messenger of the Covenant, the Prophet speaks of, Mal. 3. 1, 2. and the Lord whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his Temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts, but who may abide the Day of his Coming, and who shall stand when he appears: for he is like a Refiner's Fire, and like Fuller's Sope: ‘And he shall sit as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver: and he shall purify the Sons of Levi, and purge them as Gold and Silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an Offering in Righteousness.’ For this End the Lord Jesus Christ is come into the Hearts of Men, [Page 47] by his Spirit, to purge them from their Dross, and wash them from their Uncleanness, that so they may be fitted for that Kingdom, into which nothing that is unclean can enter; this is the Washing which will avail, for Men to know their Hearts to be washed from Wickedness; as it was said to Jerusa­lem, wash thy Heart from Wickedness: The Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Ephesians, Eph. 4. 5. saith, that there is one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism. John, as is before ob­served, has distinguished very plainly be­tween his Baptism with Water, and the Baptism of Christ with the Holy Ghost. Now, what we desire is, that all might come to the Baptism of the Spirit, which the Apostles and primitive Christians witnessed, that could say, by one Spirit, we are all baptized into one Body, 1 Cor. 12. 13. whether we be Jews or Gentiles, bond or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit, for as many as have been baptized in­to Christ, Gal. 3. 27. have put on Christ, Now this is the Sum of all, for Men to put on the Lord Jesus Christ, the new and heavenly Man, then they will witness inward Communion with the Lord.

But why are many of our sober Neigh­bours so strenuous for Water Baptism, and [Page 48] neglect to wash one another's Feet, when as we read, John 13. and ver. 14. that our Sa­viour wash'd the Disciples Feet, and he told them, that he had given them an Example, that as he had done to them, so they should do to one another: Now here is both Ex­ample and Precept for this; and if we ask many sober People, why they are not in the Practice of this? I presume many would be ready to answer, that they look upon it to be but an outward and visible Sign, by which our Saviour shew'd his Followers, that they ought to serve one another, and be ready to do the meanest Offices of Love if need re­quire: and that they do not hold the cere­monious Part of washing one anothers Feet, to be obligatory upon them, as long as they come to the spiritual Part of what was there­by signify'd; although we find that this was practised by our Saviour, now, why they should lay such Stress upon Water Baptism, which we cannot find was ever practised by our Saviour, and drop this, deserves their serious Consideration; although as we disuse Water Baptism, so we do also disuse the ce­remonious Part of washing one another's Feet, being sensible that they that are come to the spiritual Part of what was thereby signify'd, are come to the End of the outward and visi­ble Signs.

5. Concerning the Supper.

ALTHO' we disuse the outward Bread and Wine, we do very truly own the spiritual Supper of the Lord, which is spoken of in the Revelations, behold, I stand at the Door and knock; Rev. 3. 20. if any Man hear my Voice, and open the Door, I will come into him, and will sup with him, and he with me. It is what we desire, that all religious well minded People, who conscientiously receive the outward Bread and Wine, may open the Door of their Hearts, and receive the Lord Jesus Christ by his Spirit, that so they may know an inward Supping with him, in his Kingdom; for we read the Kingdom of God cometh not with Observation, Luke 17. 20, 21. neither shall they say, to here, or to there, for behold the Kingdom of God is within you. I will not leave you comfortless (saith Christ our Lord) I will come to you; John 16. 18. but I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this Fruit of the Vine, Mat. 26. 29. until that Day, when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom.

[Page 50] He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. And in that excellent Prayer, he saith to his Father, John 17. 23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one, and that the World may know thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. We bear Testimony to the Coming of Christ, by his Spirit, into Men's Hearts; and they that have known him to wash them through­ly by the Water of Regeneration, will know inward Communion with the Lord, as the good Christians of old knew; That which we have seen, 1 John 1. 3. and heard, declare we unto you, that ye also may have Fel­lowship with us; and truly, our Fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. They were People of blessed Experience, and it is what we desire, that the Children of Men might come to witness this in them­selves; for they that are come to have Fel­lowship with the Father, and with the Son, are come to the End of the outward Bread and Wine, even to the Glory of the Gospel­Dispensation, which is a Dispensation of Enjoyment, for as Men are inwardly recon­ciled, and brought into Favour with God, they come to know a feeding of that divine and living Bread which comes down from [Page 51] Heaven; John 6. 51. I am (said 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. He that eateth my Flesh, and drinketh my Blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. It is as Men witness this, that they can speak from their own Experience, what a blessed Thing it is to have inward Communion with Christ. It is the great Blessing of Wis­dom's Children, that she brings them to the Substance; I Wisdom lead in the Way of Righteousness, Prov. 8. 20, 21. in the midst of the Paths of Judgment, that I may cause them that love me, to inherit Substance; and I will fill their Treasures. Reader, this is what is desired for thee, that thou mayst come to the Substance, that so thou mayst know a Feeding of that divine and spiritual Bread which can only satisfy the Soul, and a Drinking of the Wine of the Kingdom; but it is hard to make the natural Man sensible of these Things; they are beyond his Reach and Comprehension. When our Saviour told Nichodemus, that except a Man be born again, John 3. 3, 4. he cannot see the Kingdom of God; Nichodemus saith unto him, how can a Man be born when he is old; can he enter the [Page 52] second Time into his Mother's Womb, and be born. Notwithstanding that he was a Ru­ler of the Jews, he argues very grosly, and how many, when we have born Testimony to the inward Appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ, by his Light and Spirit in Men's Hearts, have made very strange of it, and been ready to say, how can this be? And when we have spoken of Men's having in­ward Fellowship with the Father, and with his Son, while they are upon the Earth, many cannot understand how this can be, altho' the primitive Christians had it in their own Experience, as is before observed.

The Apostle saith, Gal. 6. 15. neither Cir­cumcision or Uncircumcision, avail­eth any Thing, but a new Creature. It doth not avail in the Sight of God, whether a Man be baptized with Water, or he is not baptized; or whether he receives the Bread and Wine, or he doth not receive it, if he be not a new Creature; we read; if any Man be in Christ, 2 Cor. 5. 17. he is a new Creature, and as is before observed, except a Man be born again, he cannot see the King­dom of God; we greatly desire, that all Peo­ple might have this in their own Experience, that so they might walk as becomes the Children of God, and manifest themselves [Page 53] to be the Followers and Disciples of Christ, by their living agreeable to his Doctrine; for I count that is the greatest outward visi­ble Sign that any Man can give, that he is truly a Christian, and a Member of Christ's Church, for him to live agreeable to the Doctrine of Christ; by this, said our Saviour, shall all Men know, that ye are my Disciples, if you love one another. Now for Men to love one another, and to love their Enemies, and do good for Evil, and to forgive Injuries, and to be just and merciful, and walk hum­bly, as Christians ought to do, these are good outward visible Signs; but we believe no outward Observations will make Men Christians, Eph. 5. 27. and Members of that pure Church which Christ came to present to God, without Spot or Wrinkle, or any such Thing; but that it should be holy and without Blemish: If they do not know the Lord to work a Change in their Hearts, and redeem them out of those things which unfit them for his holy Kingdom; the Apostle saith, he is not a Jew that is one outwardly, Rom, 2. 28, 29. neither is that Circumcision, which is outward in the Flesh, but he is a Jew, that is one inwardly; and Circumcision is that of the Heart, in the Spirit, and not in the Letter, whose Praise is not of [Page 54] Men, but of God. As a Man's being out­wardly circumcised, and observing a great many Jewish Rights and Ceremonies, did not make him a true and real Jew, if he was not one in his Heart; so it may be truly said, he is not a Christian, that is only one outwardly, although he has been outwardly baptized, and received the Bread and Wine, and observed a great many outward Obser­vations. If he is not one in his Heart, all his outward Observations will not render him acceptable in the Sight of God. What availed all the Jew's outward Observations, while they lived in those Things that dis­pleased the Lord; he that killeth an Ox, is as if he slew a Man; Isa. 66. 3. 4. he that sacrisiceth a Lamb, as if he cut off a Dog's neck, he that offereth an Oblation, as if he offered Swines Blood; he that burneth Incense, as if he blessed an Idol: Yea, they have chosen their Abo­minations. I also will chuse their Delusions, and will bring their Fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake they did not bear; but they did Evil before mine Eyes, and chose that, in which I delighted not. Here is the Reason laid down, why the Lord was angry with them. These Things afford great Instruction and caution, and I desire that all may learn from what [Page 55] such brought upon themselves, through their chusing their own Ways, and delighting in their Abominations, to beware of doing the like; but they that are Christ's, and Christi­ans in reality, are crucified to the World, with the Affections and Lusts thereof; and we desire that all who are called Christians, may demonstrate themselves to be such, by their so doing, that they may witness the spiritual Communion and Supper here spoken of. There are many religious People, par­ticularly in Holland, who do not propose to be of our Society, though they do not clearly see beyond the Use of Water Baptism, and Bread and Wine, do join with us in opposing Swearing upon any Account; because they are convinced, that all Swearing is forbid­den by Christ, but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by Heaven, for it is God's Throne, nor by the Earth, for it is his Footstool, Mat. 5. 34, 35. neither by Jerusalem, for it is the City of the great King, nei­ther shalt thou swear by thy Head, because thou canst not make one Hair white or black, but let your Communication be yea, Ver. 37. yea, and nay, nay, for whatsoever is more, cometh of Evil. And the Apostle James saith, but above all Things, my Brethren, swear not; Jam. 5. 12. neither by Heaven, neither by [Page 56] the Earth, neither by any other Oath; but let your yea be yea, and your nay nay, least you fall into Condemnation. They are also one with us in opposing Fighting, because they look upon it to be contrary to his Doctrine, that taught his Followers to love their Enemies; but I say unto you, Mat. 5. 44. love your Enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. They are of our Minds, that the Ministry should be free; for they look upon it to be contrary to Christ's Doctrine, for Men to preach for Hire, and worldly Ends, who said to his Ministers, Mat. 10. 8. freely you have received, freely give; and they are likewise one with us, in holding forth the universal Love of God to all Men. Now although there be many that are purely Consciencious for the Use of Water Baptism, and Bread and Wine, we have a great deal of Charity for all such; for many that are now join'd in Society with us, were once as much for the Use of these Things, as many well-minded People now are, and as the Lord has mer­cifully brought many of us, in a good De­gree, to witness the spiritual Baptism and Supper, we desire that others might be brought to the Experience thereof in them­selves; [Page 57] and he that witnesses the Substance of what many allow, the Water Baptism, and Bread and Wine to be but outward and visible Signs of, he is come to the End of the Signs; for I hope, I may be fate in saying, all Signs end in their Substance. Now as we have Charity for all them, who do con­scienciously use these Things, we think they ought to have Charity for us, if we disuse them; because we believe they are ceased in Point of Obligation; and we read, Rom. 14. 23. that whatsoever is not of Faith is Sin.

6. Concerning Perfection.

THIS Doctrine of Perfection seems very strange and novel to many that wit­ness but little Victory in themselves, over their Lusts and Passions; and the Enemy of Man's Happiness, has perswaded many Peo­ple to believe, that there is no Possibility of overcoming their Corruptions and Sins, while they are here upon the Earth, that so they may be quiet and easy in them, or of doing God's Will, and keeping his Com­mands, that so they may not endeavour for [Page 58] it. Ez. 18. 25. Now we believe, that God's Ways are equal; is not my Way, saith the Lord, equal. God is just in all his Do­ings, and requires no more of Men, than he gives them Ability to perform. If God did require that of Men, which they were not able, neither of themselves, nor by any Grace received to perform, then it might be said, that his Ways were unequal, and that he was a hard Master; but that would be abo­minable to charge upon the Almighty, who is full of Justice and Equity. The Wise man saith, Eecl. 12. 13. fear God, and keep his Commandments, for this is the whole Duty of Man. Now if God require this of Men, as to be sure he doth, then there is a Possibility of it, or else, as is before observ'd, his Ways are unequal; but it is far from the Children of God, to charge him with In­justice: The Disobedient and rebellious People of Israel said, that the way of the Lord was not equal, Ezek. 18. 29, 30. yet saith the House of Israel, the Way of the Lord is not equal: O House of Israel, are not my Ways equal, therefore I will judge you, O House of Israel, every Man according to his Ways, saith the Lord; repent, and turn your­selves from all your Transgressions so Iniquity shall not be your Ruin. Now Reader, from [Page 59] this thou mayst gather what Sort of People they were, that said the Way of the Lord was not equal, and we read in the Parable of the Talents, that it was the unprofitable Servant that complained of his Lord; then he which had received the one Ta­lent, Mat. 25. 24. came and said, Lord, I knew thee, that thou art an hard Man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed.

Now we do not read, that the good Ser­vants, that had improved the Talents, com­plained of their Lord. But we freely own, that no meer Man of himself, by his own Power, as he is a Man, can do the Will of God, and keep his Commands; yet we be­lieve there is Power in that divine Grace, that the Apostle saith, has appeared to all Men, to enable them to overcome those Things which are evil, and to do that which is well pleasing to God; for the Grace of God, that bringeth Salvation, hath appear­ed to all Men, Tit 2. 11. teaching us that deny­ing Ungodliness and worldly Lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present World. Here is both the Universallity and Sufficiency of it, excellently set forth by the Apostle, my Grace, saith the Lord to the A­postle, is sufficient for thee; although we free­ly [Page 60] own, that we are weak of our selves, as Men, and cannot by our own Power do any Thing that is good, as Christ said, will out me you can do nothing; yet we say, there is Power and Sufficiency in the Grace of God, to enable Men to do his Will, and keep his Commands, as they take Heed unto it, I am able saith the Apostle, through Christ, who strengthens me, to do all Things.

It doth not consist with the Wisdom of the Holy Ghost, that those gracious Promises, which are made conditionally, upon Men's overcoming and doing the Commands of God, should be made, if there was no Possibi­lity of it; Rev. 21. 7. ‘as he that overcomes, shall inherit all Things, and I will be his God, and he shall be my Son. He that overcometh, Rev. [...]. [...]. the same shall be cloathed in white Raiment and I will not blot out his Name out of the Book of Life, but I will confess him before my Father, and before his Angels. Him that overcometh, Rev. 3. 12. will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall go no more out; and I will write upon him the Name of my God, and the Name of the City of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of [Page 61] Heaven from my God; and I will write upon [...] my new Name. Rev. 2. 17. He that overcometh shall eat of the hidden Manna, and I will give him a white Stone, and in the Stone a new Name written, which no Man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. He that overcom­eth, Rev. 2. 13. shall not be hurt of the se­cond Death. Blessed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have Right to the Tree of Life, Rev. 22. 14. and may enter in through the Gates into the City. To him that overcometh, will I grant to sit with me on my Throne, Rev. 3. 2 [...]. even as I have over­come and am set down with my Father in his Throne. He that overcometh, shall enter in through the Gate into the Holy City. And hereby we do know, that we know him, if we keep his Com­mandments. 1 John 2. 3. He that saith, I know him; and keepeth not his Command­ments, is a Liar and the Truth is not in him; 1 John 2. 5. but whoso keep­eth his word, in him, verily is the Love of God perfected, hereby know we, that we are in him; Verse 6. and he that saith, he abideth in him, ought also to walk even as he walked.’ O that Christi­ans [Page 62] so called, would consider how they ought to walk. It is very unjustifiable to deny Perfection, for we read, ‘that Christ came to present the Church to God without Spot or wrinkle, Eph. 4. 11, 12, 13. or any such Thing, but that it should be holy, and without blame. And he gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors, and Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ, till we all come in the Unity of the Faith, and of the Knowledge of the Son of God, unto a per­fect Man, unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Christ. 2 Tim. 3. 16, 17. And the Scriptures are for the making of the Man of God perfect, through Faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is gi­ven by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for Doctrine, for Correction, for Instructi­on in Righteousness, that the Man of God may be throughly furnished unto all good works. And the Apostles laboured to per­sent Men perfect;’ Col. 1. 28. speaking of Christ within the Hope of Glory, he saith, ‘whom we preach, warning every Man, and teaching every Man in all wis­dom, that we may present every Man per­fect [Page 63] in Christ Jesus.’ Why should they teach and preach for this End, if there was no Possibility of attaining it. Yet many have born hard upon us, for the asserting the same, although it be the Doctrine of Christ, if it be but well considered, I think they hold Perfection to a great Degree, that are called God-fathers and God-mothers, that do promise and vow three Things in the Name of a Child when it is sprinkled, viz. that it shall forsake the Devil and all his Works, the Pomps and Vanities of this World, with all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh; and that it shall do God's Holy Will, and keep his Commandments, and walk in the same all the Days of its Life. See the Church of England's Catechism. I wish they themselves may be found in the Practice of what they here promise for ano­ther. It is certain, Christians ought to be as like Christ, as it's possible for Men and Women to be, and walk even as he walk'd, as far as they are capable.

He was holy, humble, meek and merci­ful, but how much the Reverse are too ma­ny that profess to be his Followers. Many who are for Imperfection, and say, there is no Victory over Sin while here, do urge that of the Apostle Paul, where he saith, for [Page 64] I know that in me, Rom. 7. 18. that is, in my Flesh, dwelleth no good Thing; for to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good, I find not; for the Good that I would, that I do not; but the Evil which I would not, Rom. [...]. 21. 22, 23, 24. that I do. And ver. 21. he saith, I find then a Law, that when I would do Good, Evil is present with me; for I delight in the Law of God, after the inward Man; but I see another Law in my Members, warring against the Law of my Mind, and bringing me into Captivity to the Law of Sin, which is in my Members: O wretched Man that I am, who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death. If the Reader please, he may read the whole Chapter through for his own Satisfaction; but we may not reasonably suppose this to be the Apostles present State, but rather persona­ting the carnal State of others, or himself be­fore Conversion, when he saith, ver. 14. but I am carnal, sold under Sin; for we be­lieve he was in a happy State and Condition, when he wrote that Epistle; as he saith in the sixth Chapter, verse 2. how shall we that are dead to Sin, live any longer therein. And in the eighth Chapter, ver. 1. there is now therefore no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the Flesh, but [Page 65] after the Spirit, for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death: I wish that all might come to experience these Things in themselves. Now Reader, if thou wilt ob­serve, although many say, that there is no Freedom from Sin on this Side of the Grave, the Apostle saith in the sixth of the same Epistle, verse 22. to the believing Romans, but now being made free from Sin, and become Servants to God, ye have your Fruit unto Holi­ness, and the End everlasting Life. And John saith in his first Epistle, 1 John 2. 14. I have written unto you young Men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. May all come to the Experience of this in themselves, the Apostle Paul saith to the believ­ing Colossians, Col. 2. 10. that they were complete in him, which is the Head of all Principality and Power. The Apostle Peter told the Be­lievers, that they were a chosen Ge­neration, 1 Pet. 2. 9. a royal Priesthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar People, that they might slew forth the Praises of him who had called them out of Darkness into his marvellous Light. To be sure these did not break the Commands of God daily, in Thought, Word and Deed. [Page 66] We know that the Son of God is come, 1 Joh. 5. 20. and has given us an Understanding, that we may know him that is true; and that we are in him, that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ, this is the true God and eternal Life: Be­hold what manner of Love the Father hath bestowed upon us, 1 Joh. 3. 1. 2. that we should be called the Sons of God; therefore the World knoweth us not, because it know him not.

Beloved, now are we the Sons of God, and it doth not yet appear, Ver. 3. what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is, and every Man that hath this Hope in him, purisieth himself, even as he is pure: John saith, 1 Joh. 3. 6. 9. whosoever abideth in him, sin­neth not; whosoever is born of God, doth not commit Sin; for his Seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin; because he is born of God. It Contrary to the Divine Nature to sin; and as Men are born of it, they will not only know a ceasing from Sin, but it will be their Pleasure and Delight to do the Will of God: except a Man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. Unless Men are born of the Divine and Heavenly Na­ture, they can never come to do the Will of God, nor keep his Commands, for it is impo­ssible for Men, while they are in the fallen [Page 67] and degenerate State, to do God's Will, and walk in his Way; we read That Enoch walked with God, and before he was translated, the Text saith, he had this Testimony, that he pleased God, Heb. 11. 5. and concerning Za­charias and his Wife Elizabeth, the Text says Luke 1. 6. They were both righteous before God, walking in all the Commandments and Or­dinances of the Lord, Blameless; and that all might take such heed to that Divine Grace and good Spirit, which God has graciously sent into their Hearts, that they might walk in all well-pleasing before him; and in the End have an Inheritance amongst them that are sanctified, is my sincere Desire.

7. Concerning the Resurrection.

BECAUSE we do not hold with a great many People, in their gross Concepti­ons concerning the Resurrection, therefore some have not stuck to say we deny it; but we believe firmly, Rev. 20. 12, 13. 1 Cor. 15. 35, 36. that there will be a Resurrection of the Just and Unjust, and that God will give to every Man a Reward according to his Works, whether they be good or Evil; [Page 68] but saith the Apostle Paul, some Men will say, how are the Dead raised up, and with what Bo­dy do they come; he saith to such a curious Enquirer, thou Fool, that which thou sowest is not quickned, 1 Cor 15. 37, 38, 39, 40. except it die; and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that Body, that shall be, but bare grain, it [...] of Wheat, or some other Grain, but [...] it a Body, as it hath pleased him, [...] every Seed his own Body.

[...] Flesh is not the same Flesh, but there is one Kind of Flesh of Men, another Flesh of Beasts, Verse 41. 42, 43. another of Fishes, and ano­ther of Birds; there are also Celestial Bodies, and Bodies Terrestrial; but the Glory of the Celestial is one, and the Glory of the Terrestrial is another. There is one Glory of the Sun, and another Glory of the Moon, and ano­ther Glory of the Stars; for one Star differeth from another Star in Glory, so also is the Resur­rection of the Dead, it is sown in Corruption, it is raised in Incorruption, it is sown in Dishonour, it is raised in Glory, it is sown in Weakness, it is raised in Power. It is sown a natural Body, it is raised a spiritual Body. There is a Natural Body, and there is a Spiritual Body. We be­lieve, if we saithfully serve the Lord while we are here, we shall have such glorified Bo­dies hereafter, as He, in His Wisdom sees fit, [Page 69] and that satisfies us: but the Apostle saith, Verse the 50th, 1 Cor. 15. 50. that Flesh and Blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God, neither doth Corruption inherit Incorruption: Now what we desire is, that all may know a Part in the first Resurrection, Rev. 20. 6. Blessed and holy is he that hath Part in the First Resurrection, on such the second Death hath no Power.

The true Christians knew, that they were past from Death to Life, 1 John 3. 14, 15. be­cause they loved the Brethren: He (saith the Text) that loveth not his Brother, abideth in Death, he that hateth his Brother, we read, is a Murderer, and no Murderer, saith John, hath eternal Life abiding in him; 1 Tim 5. 6. and she that lives in Pleasure, is dead while she liveth. While Men and Women remain in a State of Death and Ali­enation from the Lord, they are full of Envy and Wrath one against another; and they live to gratify the Lustful Desires of the Flesh, we read, that whosoever doth not Righteousness, 1 John 3. 10. is not of God, nei­ther he that loveth not his Brother. O that all would seriously consider of these Things, for it is greatly to be lamented, how wide ma­ny of the Professors of Christianity live from the Doctrine of Christ and the Primitive [Page 70] Christians, it is as Men come to know the second Adam, the Lord from Heaven, the quickning Spirit, to quicken them, and make them alive, that they come to love one another as Christians ought to do, and if all did but live in the Spirit and Doctrine of Christ, they would not only be full of Love and good Will to one another, but would al­so bring forth other holy and good Fruits, and they whose Fruits are unto Holiness, their End will be everlasting Life. As Men sow in this World, so they may expect to reap in the next, we read, that he that sows to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting, and he that sows to the Flesh, shall of the Flesh reap Corruption. Men are not only accoun­table for gross Sins, but we are told by Christ our Lord, that a Man must give an Account in the Day of Judgment for every idle word he speaks, and the Wiseman saith, God will bring every Work to Judgment, with every se­cret Thing, whether it be good or evil. Now we think it not safe for any to be too inquisi­tive how the Dead shall be raised, and with what Bodies they shall come, least that Re­proof of the Apostle, thou Fool, should belong to them; but let us all endeavour to live as becomes the Children of God, that when we leave this World, we may have the comfort­able [Page 71] Answer, of well done, enter into the King­dom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World, and all such will know a glorious Resurrection.

8. The Conclusion.

HAVING made the foregoing Observa­tions, which are left to the Reader's serious Consideration; what I greatly desire, is, that all may come to the practical Part of true Religion and Christianity; for altho' a Man may believe, according to the Scripture, that there are three that bear Record in Heaven, 1 John 5. 7. the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and that these Three are One: And also believe, that Christ was con­ceived by the holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, and that he wrought many wonder­ful Miracles, and suffered Death upon the Cross, as he was Man (for he could not die as he was God) and that he was dead and buried, and rose again, and ascended up to Heaven; and that he is also come again by his Spirit into Men's Hearts; although a Man may believe all these great Truths, and all the Articles of the Christian Faith; all this will not entitle him to a Part in the King­dom [Page 72] of God, unless he come to live an Holy Life, for we read, Heb. 12. 14. that without Holi­ness, no Man shall see the Lord. ‘Thou believest, Jam 2. 19. 20. saith the Apostle, there is one God, thou dost well, the De­vils also believe and tremble; but wilt thou know, Ver. 26. O vain Man, that Faith with­out Works is dead; for as the Body without the Spirit is dead, so Faith without Works is dead; Ver. 18. he saith, shew me thy Faith without thy Works, and I will shew thee my Faith by my Works.’ The Saints Faith gave them Victory, and wrought by Love, to the purifying of their Hearts. The practical part of Christianity, is too much wanting amongst many of them, that profess to be Followers of Christ. Jam. 1. 27. To visit the Widow and Fatherless in their Affliction, and to keep themselves unspotted from the World, is the Religion which will [...] Men in a dying Hour. It is very good for those unto whom the Lord has opened his Hand wide, and blest with a plentiful Share of these low Things, to be full of Bowels of Compassion towards them that are in Want, and Distress, and to stand up for the Right of the Widow and Fatherless, this is one part of true Christianity; but to wrong and oppress the Widow and Fatherless, is the [Page 73] Reverse of Christianity; many not only amongst us, and I hope, also amongst other Societies, have so much of the Fear of God, that they hate this; the Scripture saith, that the Fear of God is to hate Pride and Arrogancy, and the evil Way. The more Men live in the Fear of God, there is the greater Hatred in their Hearts against ill Things, but ma­ny for want of this, have fallen into very bad Company, and evil Things, whereby they have brought great Ruin and Con­tempt upon themselves. Bad Company has been the Overthrow of many; my Son, saith the wise Man, if Sinners entice thee, consent not. The Enemy of Man's Happiness, doth often make Use of ill Instruments to draw People into ill Things; and as many have been drawn into very wrong and ill Things, by keeping of loose and bad Company; so I believe many have been greatly corrupted, through reading of corrupt and ill Books; so that some from reading of Atheistical Books, have arrived to a great Degree of Atheism. But it is very profitable to read the Holy Scriptures, which proceeded from the good Spirit of God; as People read them in the same Spirit from which they did proceed; and there are also a great many other good Books that are written by such as did fear [Page 74] God, which do greatly tend to promote Pie­ty and Virtue, and are very profitable to be read.

Great Controversies have been, and yet are amongst the Professors of Christianity, about Religion, one saith one Thing, and another another, so that I believe, many well-minded People are at a very great stand to know which is the right Way: Now the Apostle Peter, by the Direction of the Holy Ghost, Acts 10. 35. has told us, that God is no Re­specter of Persons; but in every Nati­on, he that fears God and works Righteousness is accepted with him. Now here are the Terms and Conditions clearly laid down, upon which Acceptance with God stands: and this is what we desire, all People may come to be found in the Practice of, that so all Bitterness and envy one against another, a­bout Religion, might cease and come to an End, that Truth and Righteousness may flourish in the Earth.

If all did but truly live in the Fear of God as they ought to do, there would be a holy Harmony amongst the Children of Men, and Love, Peace, Mercy, Truth, Justice and E­quity, would abound amongst them, but for want of this, how doth Strife, Envy, In­justice and Oppression, abound even amongst [Page 75] many of them, who prosess to be the Disci­ples and Followers of Christ. O that the Children of Men had it but in their own Ex­perience, what great Reward and Peace there is in living in the Fear of God, and in keeping of his Commands, then they would serve him with Pleasure; for there is Peace and Comfort in obeying and serving the Lord, beyond what any are sensible of, except those that have it in their own Experience; so that I believe many pious good People are thankful beyond what they can express in Words, that they were prevailed upon to serve him.

And such are concerned in Heart, that others might also be gained upon to serve the Lord, that so they might be truly happy; it is for this End, that many of our Religious good Friends, have travelled from one Land and Country to another, in Hazard of their Lives; it is also upon this Account, that many have appeared in Print, that if possible, they might be instrumental to gain upon the Children of Men, to fear and serve the Lord, for if Men observe a thousand out­ward Observations, if they do not obey the Lord, they will not all render them accep­table in his Sight: Samuel told Saul, that Obedience was better than Sacrifice, and [Page 76] to hearken to the Voice of God, was better than the Fat of Rams.

When it pleased God to reach to the A­postle Paul, and bring him to partake of his Love and Goodness, how did his Bowels yern for his Relations and Kinds folks after the Flesh, that they might be gained upon to serve the Lord: And his Love did not only reach to them, but to Mankind universally, for in his first Epistle to Timothy, he saith, I exhort that Prayers and Intercessi­ons, 2 Cor. 5. 20. &c. be made for all Men; and the Apostle laboured, as in Christ's Stead, that Men might be reconciled to God: O what could a true Christian, that hath the Mind of Christ go through, that Men might be won upon to serve God truly, that so they might experience the Love and Goodness of God in themselves; for the Nature of the Love of God is such, that when it prevails in Men's Hearts, that they desire that others might come to share thereof with them, as the good Man of old said, Come, Taste and see that the Lord is good. It is when Men are truly revealed upon, by the Power of Di­vine Love, that they come to be in Love with God, and to run the Ways of his Com­mands with Cheerfulness; for if there were no future Rewards and Punishments, that [Page 77] Peace and Comfort which they enjoy, who truly serve the Lord is very encouraging to them therein. Friendly Reader, if thou be­lievest in the Death and Sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified with­out the Gates of Jerusalem, according as the Holy Scriptures relate, let not this satisfy thee, but be concerned that thou mayst know the Lord to bear rule, and set up his Kingdom in thy Heart, then will it be easy for thee to do the Will of God, and keep his Commands. And if thou hast a Value and Esteem for the holy Scriptures, do not satis­fy thy self with only reading the Experiences of the holy Men of God, that spake what they were Witnesses of, who knew a being washed by the Water of Regeneration; but seek that thou may also come to the Expe­rience thereof in thy self. And if thou art conscientious for the outward Water-Bap­tism, and Bread and Wine, be careful thou do not rest in the outward Observations, short of that inward and spiritual Baptism and Communion which the good Christians of old witnessed: That through the Enjoy­ment thereof, thou mayst grow beyond the Use of the outward and visible Signs: And as thou finds that some of old knew an Over­coming of the Enemy of their Souls, and re­ceived [Page 78] Power to become the Sons of God, consider what Victory thou has gotten over the Enemy in thy self. And as some People have been too inquisitive how the Dead should be raised, and with what Bodies they should come, let it be thy great Concern to know thou art raised out of the Grave of Sin and Iniquity, that thou mayst walk with the Lord in newness of Life, and live to his Praise and Glory, whilst thou hast a Being here, that so thou mayst attain to the Resurrection of the Just hereafter.

As the Lord in his wonderful Love and Mercy, has sent the Son of his dear Love, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for the Chil­dren of Men, whilst they were Enemies to him; I tenderly desire that all may consider the great Love of God to them therein; and as he is the Fountain and Author of all the Good that we receive, it is greatly to be de­sired, that his long-forbearance, great Good­ness, and manifold Mercies extended to the Children of Men, might engage them to Care and Watchfulness, 1 Pet. 3. 20. we read that the Long-suffering of God waited in the Days of Noah, while the Ark was preparing; Geref. 6. 3. and when the Lord had long striven with them by his Spirit, and they would not be [Page 79] gained upon, then he destroyed them all, Ver. 21, 22. save only eight Persons that were [...] the Ark. It is not long since the Pestilence did very much prevail in France, by which many Thousands were swept away. Now as the Lord has mer­cifully spared the People of these Countries, and the British Isles adjacent, in lengthning a Day of Mercy to them; I desire that his great Goodness and long forbearance, may lead them to Repentance and Amendment of Life; for the Lord, as a tender Father, seeks to endear the Children of Men to him­self, by his Kindness and Love.

And Friendly Reader, that thou, and all Men may be prevailed upon, to walk hum­bly with God, and live such pious and holy Lives, that the great and good End for which the Lord has made Man, and given him a Being upon the Earth, to shew forth his Praise and Glory, may be answered, that thou, and they may be happy to all Eternity, is the sincere Desire of one of the People cal­led Quakers,

BENJAMIN HOLME.

If the Reader desire a more full and particular Account of our Principles, there is an Apology written by ROBERT BARCLAY, which has been printed in English and Latin, and in High and Low Dutch, and also in French, to which he is referred.