Whether they be In Forms, Without Forms, or Got above all Forms
A Direction to turn your minds within, Where the voice of God is heard, whom whom you ignorantly worship as afar off; and To wait upon him for the true Wisdom.
That you may know Truth from Errour, the Word from the Letter, the Power from the Form, And the true Prophets from the false.
Given forth by those whom the world in scorn calls QUAKERS.
Printed at London, 1655.
Keyboarded from Facsimile of Original by Keith Saylor 2017
A warning to all sorts of people who live in sin and uncleanness, For the wicked must be turned into hell, and all that forget God: And who are workers of iniquity are accursed from Christ: for saith he, Go yet cursed, ye workers of iniquity into utter darkness.
I am the light of the world, and enlightens every one that cometh into the world: Christ hath enlightened every one that comes into the world; thou that loveth that light, which Christ hath enlightened thee withall, thou brings thy works to the Light, that thy deeds may be proved that they are wrought in God; and he that walks in the light, there is no occasion of stumbling in him, it teacheth righteousness and holiness, it will keep thee from lying, and not let thee lye, and keep thee in tenderness of conscience towards God and man, and never let thee swear, it will check thee if thou dost; the light will not let thee take Gods name in vain, it will let thee see if thou dost, thou must not go unpunished; And will never let thee follow Drunkenness, nor vain company, for who lives in that nature, are without God, and shall never inherit the Kingdom of God; therefore beware, this light will keep thee from adultery and whoredom for such will God Judge; and the light will keep thee from theft, quarrelling and fighting, and abusing thy self with mankind, and envy, and will keep thee in the fear of God, this light which is of God, and let thee see all the works of the world and draw thee out of the worships of the world, and keep thee in the fear of God; where the true wisdom is made manifest, the pure wisdom is made manifest to the pure, and put into the pure heart, and then thy own wisdom thou wilt see with the light, arising out of the earthly part in thee; which wisdom is sensual, and devilish and earthly; for while there is enviousness in thee, there lodegth the manslayer, and all the wisdom is from below, while that nature stands: there’s Sects, and there’s Opinions, and theres conceivings ariseth out of this earthly part, where lodgeth this wisdom, and self-conceit, and pride, and by this wisdom the living God is not known, and so all who dwells in this wisdom put the Letter for the word, and give meanings and expositions upon it, and so gathers together the outward Letter, not having the power and life that gave it forth; so theres castles builded, and strong holds, and fenced cities, and high walls, as the Jews, who had the outward form of the which was given forth from the power, the form of the Prophets, and Moses, and David, and Abraham, who saw Christ, who loved in the power, but the Pharisees and the Priests getting their words, knew not Christ: so it is now with this generation of the world: for you say, ye know Christ: the Jews said, they were of Abraham, the same; so they had gotten the letter, and other words which had the power, and all these are but imitations and likenesses which are above, lifted up above the pure, and here lodgeth the serpent in this earthly part; but as the eternal light which Christ hath enlighten you withall is loved, minded, and taken heed unto, this earthly part is wrought out, that daily cross is taken up, the fear of the Lord grows, the true wisdom increaseth, the errors of the wicked are discovered and made manifest, the unjust comes to suffer, the just comes to reign, the wisdom of the world come to be confounded, that the heathen begin to rage, then tumult arise. And dwelling in the light, all Sects, and all Opinions, and Religions are discovered, and stand naked before the Lord, and before all who are of God, and seen with the eternal eye, which ariseth out of the earthly part, and the earth is but one, and all they do raise their ground from the Letter, which is given forth from the power. Now the power dwelling in it, in the eternal light, all Sects and Opinions come to be judged and overturned, and seen to be chaff and is to be burned with that which cannot be quenched, for the light is but one which is Christ, who enligheneth every one, and all are enlightened with one light, every one taking heed to that light which Christ hath enlightened you withall, it leads you out of Sects, out of form, out of the beauty of the world, to live in live and power: and waiting in the light which Christ hath enlightened you withal, you come to be Disciples of Jesus Christ, and servants to the truth, and not to serve the lusts, not the desires, nor pleasures, but the light it judgeth them, for serving the desires and the lust, thou turns into the beastly nature in the world, and into the flesh, and comes to be darkened and vailed, then thy throat is an open Sepulchre, that thou drinketh up iniquity as it were water: but dwelling in the light, it judgeth all that; and all thy works and actions come to be judged by that light, and all walking in this light which Christ hath enlightened your with, you all walking in unity and oneness of mind and lay alway all guile, sin, and uncleanness, and all taught to fear the Lord God: and it will lead you to the Church of God, from the Church of the world, and from your Teachers, to cease from men, to be taught alone of God, who teacheth eternal things eternally, and leads the mind up out of external things: and dwelling in the light, there’s no occasion at all of stumbling, for all things are discovered with the light: thou that lovest it, here’s they teacher, when thou art walking abroad, its present with thee in thy bosom, thou need not say Lo here, or, Lo there: and as thou liest in thy bed its present to teach thee, and judge thy wandring mind; which would wander abroad, and thy high thoughts and imaginations, and makes them subject; for following thy thoughts thou art quickly lost: dwelling in this light, it will discover to thee the body of sin, and thy corruptions, and fallen estate where thou art, and multitude of thoughts: in that light which shews thee all this, stand, neither go to the right hand, nor the left: here’s patience exercised, here’s thy will subjected, here thou wilt see the mercies of God made manifest in death; here thou wilt see the drinkings of the Water of Shiloah, which run softly, and the promises of God fulfilled, whichk are to the seed, which seed is Christ: he that can own me here, and receive me into his heart, the immortal seed is born up, and thy own will thrust forth, for it is not him that willeth, nor him that ruineth, but the election obtaineth it, and God that shews mercy: for the first step of peace is to stand still in the light, which discovers things contrary to it, for power and strength to stand against that nature which the light discovers: here grace grows, here’s God alone glorified and exalted, and the unknown truth, unknown to the world, made manifest, which draws up that which lies in the prison, and refresheth it in time, up to God, out of time, through time.
Whom God loves he loves to the end, where the eternal unity is, where is all peace, all clean, no jarre, who are all of one mind, hid from the worlds wisdom, knowledge, and comprehension, and thoughts can never enter, as it is written, The world by wisdom knows not God, and he is coming to confound the wisdom of the wise. And the Church in God, is not in imitation, gathered from the Letter, and a high-flown people in their imaginations, but are them who are born again of the Immortal Seed, by the word of God, which lives and endures for ever, which the world knows not; for the Word cuts asunder, hews down all wickedness, pride, and honour of man, that all honour and glory may be given alone to God; he hews down the first, that he may establish the second, and raise up the second; and the Word of the Lord is a fire, burns up all corruptions, burns up all that it has hewn down, and as a hammer to beat down that nothing can stand it; and this is the Word by which the Saints are born again; you are born again by the immortal Word, which lives and endures for ever, and feeding upon the milk of the Word, which Word is God, which Word became flesh and dwelt among us; so he is the Head of the Church, and they are lively stones, but all you now, who put the Letter for the Word, and have gotten it in your minds, and gather Assemblies by it; this you cannot witness, and it is blasphemy for you to say, the Letter is the Word, when the Letter saith, God is the Word; and it is a lie to speak and say, the Steeple-house is the Church; or to say, them that are gathered by the form of the Letter, is the Church of God: for the Church is the Pillar and Ground of Truth, gathered by the Eternal Power before the Letter was; and all who are in this Church, as it is called of the world, and live in the comprehension of the Letter, and the earthly part yet standing, there is devilishness in your minds, and earthliness, and pride, and filth; and do but hearken to that in thy conscience, and it will let thee see so: and while that is standing, God accepts not; and praises, while the nature is standing, God accepts not, which is Cains, which God has no respect, but to Abels: and God is coming to judge the great Whore, all manner of Opinions, and all manner of Sects, and Fellowships, as you call them, all manner of Forms, several, as every one livs in, God is coming to overturn and overthrow, for they alle lodge in her; all the Foundation of them is in the Earth, and earthly wisdom, gathered in the Earthly nature; he will overturn them, that he may establish his own Truth, his own Truth in righteousness, his own Kingdom. Now the stone cut out of the Mountain without hands, begins to strike at the feet of the Image, that the head of Gold begins to fall: and the Breast of Silver, and Thighs of Brass, and Feet of Iron, and part Clay, & his Dominion is a Dominion for ever over all. And all who dwells not in this light, which Christ hath enlightened withal, you will be found too light, for he is coming to weight all things in the balance, & before him the Hills shall move & the mountains shall melt, & the rocks shall cleave, who measures the water in the hollow of his head, and his thunders begin to utter their voyces, that the mysteries of God may be opened, and the carnal hearts rent; great Earth quakes shall be, the terrible day of the Lord draws neer the Beast shall be taken, and the false Prophet, into the fire they must go, for the Beast and the false Prophet hath gone together, the one has holden up the other. Now is the Lord coming to sit as Judge, and reign as King, who is the Law-giver which shall go forth of Zion. Now shall Zion arise and thresh to beat the hills and thresh the Mountains, now is the Sword drawn, which glitters and is fourbushed, the Sword of the Almighty, to hew down Baals Priests, corrupt Judges, corrupt Justices, corrupt Lawyers, fruitless Trees which cumber the ground. Drunkard, thou canst not hide thyself, cursed speaker, thou canst not hide thy self; Whoremonger, thou canst not hide thy self. Awake awake all people every where who live in Forms, see what ye possess: not having that eternal spirit that gave forth the Scriptures; all your formal Prayers, formal Preaching, formal Singing, will be found as the chaff, which is for the unquenchable fire; for Christ is risen, the true light shines, the glory of the Lord appears, and you are discovered to him, to be empty of the eternal spirit to be born up in your understandings, which gave forth the Scriptures, I am the light which enligheneth every one, that light you hate, and all who hate this light set up Teachers without them, but all who love this light is of God, and teacheth to God, which is a Cross to all the world, and this light it is in every one, waiting in it to receive Christ; and as may as receive Christ, to them he gives power to become the Sons of God, which are not born of the will of man, nor by the will of man, but by the will of God: but these are them who are out of imitations, and have no Images, nor no likeness of truth, but are in it, and possess it: Glory, glory to the Lord God, forever, who governs his people, and is the head of Christ, he that can recieve this, if he had not known the Letter let him, he is come before the Letter was written. In the beginning was the word.
To all you who hate the light, your deeds are evil: Christ saith, He is the light of the world, and enlighteneth ever one that comes into the world: The one he loves the light, and bring his works to the light, and walks in it, there is no occasion of stumbling in him: The other he hates the light, and will not bring his works to the light to be made manifest, because his deeds are evil, and the light will reprove him. Thou that saith Christ doth not enlighten every one that comes into the world, thou art a lyar, and denier of Christ words, and laies waste the Scripture; and thou that saith this light is naturall, thou puts the letter for the light, which is natural; true it is, darkness cannot comprehend this light but the light makes manifest darkness and this is the condemnation of the world, the light, thou that hatest this light, thou hast it. Christ saith, Swear not all all, the light will say the same to thee, in thee, Christ saith, He that lusteth after a Woman committeth adultery with her in his heart: This light will tell thee the same, bringing thy works to it, and loving it. Christ cryed woe against the Pharisee, the Hypocrite; this light will let thee see the same. Christ will say, Go ye cursed workers of iniquity, his light will say the same to thee, in thee, who art a worker of iniquity; here shalt thou be condemned with the light, and judged with the light out of thy own mouth; this light will let thee see all thy hard speeches, thy venomous thoughts, thy evil intentions, and covetous desires, which is Idolatry, and dissembling and deceit, to be works of darkness, and let thee see that all those things are evil; there thou hast learned thy condemnation, there is thy teacher, that would teach thee to know God, there is thy condemnation, hating that light it will condemn thee from him: Thou wilt say, thou knowest in thy conscience that drunkenness is sin, here thou lovest darkness rather than the light that shews it thee, and lying and swearing, and cursed speaking in sin and yet thou followeth it, and pleasure, there thou lovest darkness rather than the light that shews thee them, because thy deeds are evil, and there thou hast learned thy condemnation, when Gods righteousness shall be revealed in flames of fire, thou shalt witness I speak truth. Thou knowest theft is sin, and all unrighteousness God forbids, thou wilt see something in thy conscience, and bring thee to repentance. Christ saith, I call sinners to repentance, that in thee calls thee to repentance, and if thou hearken to that, thou hearkens to Christ, and it thou hate that, thou hates Christ, and God, than. thou turns into the sorcery, into all uncleanness, and then god is not in thy thought, and then thou art the disobedient one, which disobeys that light which God hath enlightened thee with, and there the wrath of God abides on thee, and the Prince of the Air rules in thee, as he doth in all the children of disobedience, who hates this light. Now do not think that I hold free-will here, mans free-will, I speak of that which is contrary to mans will, and loving the light it will keep your wills from running, and your wills from willing any thing, and keeps it in subjection; but that hates this light, and makes a profession of God and Christ, and saith, that letter is the word, and the four Books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, is the gospel, thou knowest not Christ, which is glad tidings, that Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the world; for the letter takes not away sin; and thou that sayest thou had not come to repentance, if thou had not known the letter, thou denist Christ, who comes to call sinners to repentance before letter was, but it is he that calls to repentance sinners, and not the letter, but the letter is a declaration of the word, the book(?), God is the word; and it is a declaration of the light, Christ is the Light, and a declaration of the Spirit; but the Spirit is not in it; a declaration of power, but the power is not in it; the power, and the life, and the light, was in them that spoke it forth, which ever the world hated; there fore waiting in the light, which Christ hath enlightened you with, that’s Scripture within you, and that will open the Scriptures according as you grow in the light, the Saints conditions; as you are sanctified, and as you are cleansed and made free with the Son of God, for it is he that maketh free, who are made free from sin, from the world, are made free by the Son of God; and Blessed be the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath raised him from the dead, and by him raised us up from the dead.
And to you that tempt God, and say, the Lord give us a sight of our sins, Priests and people, does not the light, which Christ hath enlightened you with, let you see your sin, that lying, and swearing, cursed speaking, theft, murder, and whoredom, and covetousness, and pride, and lust, and pleasures, all these to be the works of flesh, and fruits of darkness? This light within you lets you see it, so you need not tempt God to give you a sight of your sins, for ye know enough, and waiting in the light, power and strength, shall be renewed and living in the light; and walking up to God, it will bring you to true true hunger and thirst after righteousness, that you may receive the Blessing from God, and give over your tempting of God, to give you a sight of your sins. And to all ye that say, God give us grace, and we shall refrain from our sin, there ye have got a tempting customary word, for the free grace of God hath appeared to all men, and this is the grace of God, which shews thee ungodliness and worldly lusts. Now thou that liveth in ungodliness, lying, and swearing, and theft, and murther, and drunkenness, and filthy pleasures, and lusting after the world, thou art he that turns the free grace of God into wantoness, and casts his laws behind thy back & walkest despightfully against the spirit of grace; here the Scriptures is fulfilled upon thee Oh vain man! Yet thou canst say, God is merciful; he is mercifull and just, and that shalt thou see, when destruction comes upon thee; for thou canst say, God is merciful; yet lives in the wickedness, passing on thy time without fear of God, sporting thy self in thy wickedness. Oh ye covetous proud Priests! which deceives the Nations, who mind earthly things, whose God is your belly, who glory in your shame, enemies of the Cross of Christ, your destruction is coming, that ye shall not make a prey upon the people any longer the Lord hath spoken it.
Oh ye great men, and rich men of the earth! weep and howl, for your misery is coming, who heaps up treasure for the last day, your gold and silver shall eat you up as the rust and the canker; the fire is kindled, the day of the Lord is appearing, a day of howling will be amongst your fat Bulls of Basham, that all the tall Ceders and strong Oaks must be hewn down, and all the loftiness of men must be laid low, then shall the Lord alone be exalted.
The free grace of God is the Saints teacher, which teacheth them to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live righteously and godly, like God, in this evil present world, denying all the worlds lusts, and worlds waies, and worlds teachers, and works of darkness, which grace is turned into wantoness, by those who follow the course of the world, and the works of darkness, drunkenness, and uncleanness, and such are they who cannot abide sound doctrine; which heaps up teachers, having itching ears, And all who turns this grace of God into wantonness, deny it to teach them, and they live in their worldly lusts and ungodliness. Oh how doth the Land mourn because of Oaths? Oaths are heard in the streets openly belched forth. Oh how doth the pride and haughtiness of Men and Women abound, scarce know how to walk in the streets? Oh how doth Oppression and Tyranny Rule, that the cries of the poor are entered into the Ear of the Lord of Sabboths? Oh how doth drunkenness and drunkards walk abroad in the streets, which devoures the creatures? The Lord is rising, and surely he will be avenged of all his Adversaries. He is come to sweep the Land of evil doers, that the earth shall yield his increase, and the Land enjoy her Sabbaths: And he will sit a Judge, and righteousness shall run down our streets, and God alone be magnified and glorified, to whom it alone belongs for ever. Oh how doth all the creation groan under this bondage of corruption? the Lord is pouring out his Spirit upon all flesh, that his sons and daughters may prophesie up and down this great City, and none shall make them afraid, crying for Justice, crying for Righteousness, crying for Equity: for the cry of the great Whore is come up before the Lord, who is adulterated from the truth, they who hate this light, hate Christ which is the husband, and goes from him: they who love the light, have the Husband which is Christ, but the Judgement of the great Whore is come, who made all Nations to drink the cup of her Fornication, who must drink of the cup of the indignation of the wrath of God poured out without mixture, who must have it filled double, Rejoyce, rejoyce all ye Prophets and holy men of God, triumph in glory: sing aloud praise to the Lord God almighty and Omnipotent, who is come to reign; rejoyce over the world, over the false Prophets, over the Beast, over the Whore, which is adulterated from the light, and tels all her lovers that the light is natural, and so denies the husband of Christ Jesus, and lives in Fornication but all who loves the light, and walks in the light, witness Jesus Christ to be the husband, and this light to be spiritual: Now she is convinced of her adultery, of he witchcraft, of her socery, and that which doth convince her is the light which Christ hath enlightened her with, and this is her condemnation. And now the Judgement of the great Whore is come, God will be avenged on her, who has drunk the blood of all his Saints, who dwelt in the light, and loved the light.
All who hate this light, they set up to be their light, such as are called Man Masters, have chief places in the Assemblies, stand making long Prayers, lay heavy burdens upon the people, which devour widows houses, the widow has not a husband, all are widows who are devoured of such; but who love the light which Christ hath enlightened them with, it joyns them to Christ, and then they witness him to be their husband, and such are not devoured of them. And who hate this light, hold up them who bear rule by their means, which Jeremy, who dwelt in the light, was sent to cry against. And they that hate this light, hold up them that cry for their gain from their quarter, and never have enough, which Isaiah who dwelt in the light was sent to cry out against. And they that hate the light go after the error of Balaam, and hold up such who love the wages of unrighteousness; and all who hate this light have the spirit error, and what the spirit of error follows, And all who hate this light, hold up the Hirelings that Micha cryed against and such as call for the Fleece, and cloath themselves with the wooll, that Ezekiel cryed against, who was the Light, and full of the spirit. Now where the same light is made manifest, as was in the Prophets which saw Christ the light; and the Apostles in the same light, which gave forth the Scripture, all the Scripture is witnessed; and here we are grounded upon the Prophets, upon the Apostles and Christ the Corner-stone, in the eternal light, by which we see tthe Priests bear rule by their means now, and seek for their gain, form their, Quarter now, and are greedy dumb Dogs now, ney worse than Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but durst not take it; but these sue men at the Law for it; worse then Simon Magos, who would have bought the spirit, but these fell the letter: this corrupt doctrine hath long reigned, but now is made manifest, and in this light we see the Hirelings that Preach peace, but he that puts not in their mouths, they prepare war against him, and by which light, we see teachers who profess they are sent of Christ to be in the seat of the Scribes and Pharisees, and are called of men Masters, and have the chiefest places, going in their long robes, love salutations in the Markets, have the uppermost seats at Feasts, and under pretence making long Prayers, devouring widows houses, which Christ cryed woe against, and such we cannot own as sent of Christ, not hold up, for if we should, we should deny the Scriptures, and hold up that which Christ forbids; and if we should hold up them who rule by their means, we should deny Jeremiah to be a true Prophet, who cryed against such: and if we should hold up such as go for gifts and rewards, who love the wages of unrighteousness, we should deny the Apostle, who cryed against such; for the same light is manifest, praised be the Lord God, by which that are seen and cannot be owned, but must be denied, as they were by the Prophets, by Christ, by the Apostles; and if we should hold up such that say, Revelations are ceased, we should deny the Son, as they do, for none knows the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son reveals him, and so we deny those to know any thing of Christ, or to be sent of Christ, which deny the Son, and deny Revelations; for the Apostle, which was a Minister of God, he was not a Minister of Christ, till the Son was revealed in him, and then he Preached him, and Preached the Kingdom of God, so all who deny Revelations deny the Son and the Father both, and live in their imaginations, of the Letter: And the Apostle exhorts the Saints to have the loins of their minds girded up, and hope to the end, for the grace that was to be brought to them at the Revelation of Jesus Christ; now has was a Minister, and did exhort to wait for the Revelation of Jesus Christ: but now thou that denies Revelations, dost declare they self openly, to be no Minister, and raceth thy self out from among the Ministers of Christ, and thou goest in the waies of Cain, thou art raced out from Abel, for in thy heart lodgeth Persecution, and thy mouth utters it, and thy hands Acts it. And you that speak a Divination of your own heart, are raced out from them who speak from the mouth of the Lord; for the Prophets of the Lord cried out ever against such, and so they do now: and yet that seek for gain from your quarter, are they that are raced out from the true Prophets of God; they cryed out against you, and the same light cries out against you now, otherwise the Prophes should be made of none effect, for they spoke forth freely and do they do now that speak forth the same light; the light is free, which hath enlightened every one that comes into the world: thou that hates it, has learned thy condemnation; it lets thee see all the evil deeds of the heart. And the Gospel is free to every creature; not to be bought and sold for money: Oh shameless men, that tell People the Letter is the Word, and buy and sell it for money, which is but a Declaration of the Word, and the Grace is free, which hath appeared to all men, which is the Saints teacher, and you need not have any teacher if you own the Grace, which shews your ungodliness and worldly lust; this Grace will teach you to deny it, and the Light which hath enlightened every one that comes into the world, there’s every one of you condemnation in particular that hates it; and there’s every one of your teachers that loves it: which is but one, and will open all the Figures, and the Parables, and Types to you: and waiting in it, it will guide you to God, there is your teacher: there is your condemnation: every one of you shall eternally witness me, to that which exerciseth your conscience do I speak, for now the mighty day of the Lord is coming, meet him, by putting off your works of darkness. God that made the world and all things in it, dwells not in Temples made with hands, neither will be worshipped with mens inventions; but Israel, when he had forgotten his Maker, builded Temples, and Judah builded fenced Cities; but the Lord will send a fire to devour them, and all your songs shall be turned into Mourning, the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Oh then, all ye that profess, see that you possess, and profess no more than you are.
All who stumbles at the light are without, and are not come to repentance, and so all who stumbles at the light, stumbles at repentance: All who stumbles at the light, stumbles at the door, the door is known by the light which comes from Christ: And al who stumbles at the light stumbles at the way; for Christ hath enlightened every one, that with the light he might see the way (which is Christ) to the Father. So all who stumbles at the light, stumbles at the Scriptures, and not know the meaning of them; for that eye that is turned from the light, is the blind, and leads into the ditch, and is to be condemned with the light from Christ: And all who stumbles at the light never knew Hope which purifies, nor Faith which purifies, nor the belief which overcomes the world; but he walks in darkness, and doth not know whether he goes, and the Children of light which dwels in the light, to him their condition is unknown, for he hates that which they walk in: So with that he is condemned, and to you all this is the word of God; And all who stumbles at the Prophets words, and cannot understand the words of them, spoken from the light which in them was; And all who stumbles of the light, stumbles at the Apostles words, which were declared from the light which was made manifest in all Consciences which ministred to the Spirits in Prison: So all who stumbles at the light, they are to be condemned with the light from the life of the Prophets and Apostles, which dwelt in the light with the rude wicked world. And here every one shall witness his condemnation just, and see it Just, with the light which shews his evil deeds, and Christs words true, and to own his condemnation.
To all that denies that light the enlightens the conscience to be the light of Christ, and all who say that light which enlightens the conscience is natural, Isaiah the 5 and 10. and to all that builders that denies the Corner-stone.
1. How is Christ the light of the world, and how doth he enlighten every one that comes into the world, if it be not in the conscience? John 8. 12. John 1. 9.
2. How doth the spirit of Christ reprove the world of sin, of righteousness, and of Judgement, if it be not in the conscience? John 16.8.
3. How doth the spirit of Christ guide into all truth, and shew things to come, if it be not within the conscience? John 16.13.
4. How are all the Children of God taught of God, if it be not by the light of God in the conscience, and how do they hear his voyce, if not in the soule and spirit within? Isaiah 59. 13. John 6. 45.
5. How that can be said to be a naturall light which bears witness to God in that which is Holy, and against all the natural inclinations of false man, seeing the Scripture saith; the natural man receives not the things of the spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2. 14
6. If that be a natural light which enlightens the conscience of every one, and manifests the deeds of darkness, sin and evil in them, and that they are fallen from God, and in them dwells no good thing, then wherein doth Christ enlighten every one that comes into the world, and how do you distinguish of that natural light, from the light of Christ, by their several operations? John 1.9.
7. How Christ is given for a light to the Gentiles, who had not the Letter, and whether that [be] not the light of Christ which shewed them the law of God written in their hearts, who had not the law without, by which light they did the things contained in the law: and whether any Light lead to do the things contained in the law, but the light of Christ. Acts 26.23. Isaiah 49.3. Romans 2.15.
8. How is the Gospel of Christ Preached to every creature under heaven, if it be not the prescripts of the light in the conscience, it being that many never come to read or hear of the Scriptures? Romans 10.18. Colossians 1.23.
9. If that which accuseth or excerseth and so is Judge in the conscience, be a natural light, then all Judgement is not committed to the Son, But you set up another judge in the conscience before him? Romans 2.15. John 5.22.
10.. If that be a naturall light which Checks and bears Rule in the conscience, then is not Christ alone King in the conscience, but another Ruler is set up before Christ be owned? Matthew 2.6.
11. If that be a natural light which excuseth, and so gives peace in the conscience, then you set up a peace before Christ come, and here you deny him to be the foundation and Prince of peace? Zechariah 9.10. Ephesians 2.14.
12. If that be a natural light which shews the way towards God in the conscience, reproves the untoward wayes, then is not Christ alone the way to the Father, but you set up another way before him? John 14.6
13. If that by which all shall be Judged and condemned, be any outward teaching from the letter, or by man, then of what was the Gentiles condemned, who had not the law, letter, or outward teaching, and yet was to perish, not doing the things contained in the law? Romans 2. 12, 13, 14.
14. Is there any other thing that convinceth of unbelief but that which convinceth of sin in the conscience, seeing Christ saith he shall convince the world of sin, because they believe not in me? John 16.8.9. Ephesians 5.13 14.
15. If there be something in the conscience naturally which is light, then how is it that the scripture concludes [not readable] in their natural estate, and have not recieved the light of Christ, and how is Christ said to give light to them that sit in darkness. Ephesians 5.8. Luke 1. 79.
16. Whether in the Scriptures do you find any light that Convinceth the conscience but the light of Christ, which shews the Law of God in the heart, and the Beach of it?
17. Is not that good which beareth witness in the conscience against all evil; which if it be, and be not the light of Christ, but a natural light, then man is not wholy fallen, but is something good in man before Christ come? Matthew 19.17.
18. How Christ is tendered a Covenant of the Father freely to every creature, if it be not in the conscience, and if it be not tendered to every creature, then what shall be the Condemnation or Salvation of those to whom he was never tendered; and how it will stand with the Impartial God to tender Christ to some and not to others, and to condemn for unbeliefs, those to whom the light of Christ was never tendered. and how such can be said to be unbelievers? Genesis 9.9.10. John 3.18.19.
19. And now you that talke of a natural light, and a spiritual light. Produce one scripture that speakes of a natural light, But you who see with natural light, eye and minds not that in the conscience are Ignorant of this spiritual light, for darkness cannot comprehend the light, thought it shine in it. And here all you who denies Christ to be the light of the world, are seen to all who have the light to be children of Darkness, and are in that generation who hate the light, and put light for darkness and darkness for light, and here you are shut out of the Scriptures: And the Woe is to you, And the true light you deny, by which the Saints have judged, and have been guided in all ages, and you cannot judge of the things of god, nor his people. Isaiah 5.20.
To all who denies the teaching of God in Spirit, and would keep people in the teachings of men from the letter, ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1. What and where that New Jerusalem is, which came came down from Heaven, in which there is no night, neither needs it light of Sun, Moon, or candle, but the Lord God is the Light thereof: and into which shall in no wise enter any thing that defileth, worketh abomination, or maketh a lye, but whose names are written in the Lambs Book of Life? Revelation 21.
2. What & where that Sion is to which all Nations shall flow, where the Lord shall teach of his waies, and fom whence the Law of God and his word shall go forth; after which they shall learn war no more, but shall say, Come let us walk in the light of the Lord. Isaiah 2. Micah 4
3. What and where that covenant is wherein the Lord will write his Law in peoples hearts and put it in their inward parts: and they shall no more teach every one their nighbour and brother; saying, Know the Lord, for all shall know him from the least to the greatest: and whether any may expect to come into that Covenant in these daies? Jeremiah 31. Hebrews 8.
4. What and where that unction and anointing is, by which the Saints knew all things and needed not that any should teach them, but as that anointing taught them of all things which was true, and it was no lye: and whether it be of the same effect in these daies?
5. What and where that comforter is, which doth reprove the world of sin, of righteousness and Judgement, and doth guide into all Truths, and shews things to come, and shews the things of Christ, and glorifies him: and whether that comforter may be expected in these daies? John 1.9.
6. Whether any of the Saints of God may expect, and wait to recieve his word from his mouth immediately, as all the Messengers of God did in all ages: or there must be no word now but the Letter taken out of Books, and which hath been formerly spoken to others? Jeremiah 23.
7. Whether any may wait for that promise fulfilling in these daies, That all the children of God shall be taught of God; and whether that teaching be sufficient to salvation, without any humane help or learning from man? Isaiah 54.13. John 6.45.
8. What and where the word is that people shall hear behind them, saying This is the way walk in it, when they turn to the right hand or to the left, and what that teacher in the midst of them is, which shall be no more in corners: and whether any may expect that word and Teacher in these daies? Isaiah 30.
9. What that word of faith is, which needs none to say, who shall ascend up into Heaven, or into the depth, to fetch Christ from above or below, but which was nigh in the heart, which the Apostles preached to them which had it in their hearts: and whether the same word be not in the hearts of people now, though they mind it not? Deuteronomy 30. Romans 10.
10. What that voice of Christ is which his sheep knows and how they come to know it from all other voices and which all that hear it, will no more hear the voice of a stranger, hireling, or thief, but by that voice are brought to follow Christ alone; And whether Christs sheep hear the same voice now, and know it from all false voices? John 6.10. [John Chapter 10]
11. What that way in the wilderness is, which is called the way to all holiness, which the unclean shall not pass over, but it shall be for the wayfaring men, and fools shall not err therein: in which way the redeemed shall walk, and the ransomed of the Lord shall come up to Sion; And whether any may find that way who are strangers and fools in these daies? Isaiah 35.
12. What that Ministration of spirit is which is given to every one to profit withall; and whether there can be any profiting without it: and whether it be not of it self an infallible guide in all the waies of God according to its manifestation. 1 Corinthians 12.7.
13. What and where that worship of God in spirit and truth is, which God alone seeketh to be worshipped in; and whether any can worship in Spirit, but he who is born of the spirit; and whether he that is born of the Spirit needs any guide in that spiritual worship but that spirit of which he is born, according to its measure, and whether such worshippers have not been and are now different from all other worships, and therefore hated by them in all ages.?
14. What and where that is which enlightens every one that comes into the world, and is the condemnation of all that lives darkness, because of their evil deeds: and whether there be any other condemantion but this light to all who believe not in it, but hate it?
15. What that Law of the spirit of life is, which after Paul’s warfare did set him free from the Law of sin and death, which formerly had led him captive into the Law of sin, and made him wretched; and whether any now in these daies may look to be set free by the Law of the Spirit of life from the said wretched condition, who find themselves in it?
16. What that grace of God is which bringeth salvation and hath appeared to all men, and teacheth the Saints to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and whether it would not teach all the same, if they did not turn in into lasciviousness and they need no other teacher?
The LIGHT in your consciences the true Teacher.
Friends. You that look out at teachers without you consider what you have been doing all this while, and what you have learned, and you will see your selves to be strangers from the Covenant of promise, by which all comes to the know the Lord, and need not teach one another; this Covenant of peace you are strangers from who owns not the light, which Christ doth enlighten every one that cometh into the world withal, to teach you, if you have the light which Christ doth enlighten every one with, which shews you sin, and evil, and the deceits of your heart, and how you have spent your time, and how you spend it, and whom you have served, and whom you do serve, that light is your teacher to teach righteousness, for it is righteous; that light will be your condemnation hating it, and you set up such teachers as hates the light, that are called of man Masters, have the chief places in the Assemblies, which Christ cried woe against, and so doth not own that Christ which the Scripture speaks of, but sets up such as Christ cried wo against: as you may try your Spirits, read Matth. 23. If you will own the Scriptures; and if ever you will own God; you must own that light in your conscience which Christ hath enlightned you withal: and if ever you see God, you must see him with that light which Christ hath enlighten you with; for it is the Eye, and if ever you see the Church which is in God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, it must be with this light which Christ hath enlightned you with; but hating this light, you run to the teachers of the world, and worships of the world, and so from god, and the Church in God, and this light will be your condemnation that hates it. Now if you love the light, it will teach you when you lie in bed, and shew you where your heart is, where your treasure is, and what your thoughts are upon, and all the deceits of your hearts, and bring you to stand in the counsel of God, to receive instruction from God, and direction how to walk before him; and as this light doth shew you sin, and the deceits of your hearts; stand still in the light, and will nothing: but wait for the power of God to stand against that nature which the light of Christ discovers in you, and here is your first step to peace.
And eternally you shall witness what is spoken: for to that in your consciences do we speak.
FINIS.
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