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{Written in 1659 but
applicable for today}
Give ear you gathered churches, so
called, in England and Ireland, and hear what truth says of you
concerning your dealing towards God; for the day has discovered you: And
God is coming to inquire for his own among you.
Was there not a Plant planted among you
once, a tender Plant, which had a little rooting in a tender ground,
which began to appear out of the earth, more in beauty than all the wild
trees of the forest; it also did begin to blossom, and some tender
grapes did appear; and the roots and branches began to spread, and to
bend towards him that planted it, and made its appearance towards
heaven; and there was great hopes of a blessing in it, and that it would
have covered the earth with its comeliness that was beginning to be put
upon it; insomuch as the oaks and cedars, and all the rest of the trees,
the briars and brambles, began to envy its appearance, and gathered in
counsel against it in great strength: But the Maker thereof, seeing it
bending to Him, in the straight undertook to make room for it, cutting
down some, and plucking up others by the roots, even of the tallest and
strongest that withstood its spreading, until He left scarce a briar to
hinder the fruitfulness thereof: Then He looked that it should arise,
and spread, and bring forth fruits, according to its own nature, tender
and good; and this was that which bare the name of tender consciences,
and indeed did so prevail in many, as nothing was to be compared with
it, nor valued like it, whose fame was spread in the world.
But now stand still, and behold what is
become of this plant; and what the fruits are you bring forth, and how
you are turned into a degenerate Plant of yourselves, since the Lord
took away kings, bishops, and all the whole body of opposition; compare
your spring and your harvest together, and see what was sown, and what
is now to reap among you for God.
Come to your faith, and come to your
fruits, and try if they be of that nature which was sown and planted,
which is from above; or have they that life and power; or have they that
heavenly image? Are you not conformed to this present world? And have
you not that beastly mark of pride, of covetousness, of self love, and
other works of the flesh? What testimony hold you forth this day from
heaven against the wickedness that abounds in your streets, openly; that
you may be known to be from above, and not of this world, to all that
pass by; that they may believe who cannot receive a feigned profession
that is without works of life, nor faith in words without fruit? By what
will you be known not to be of the world, but to be on the Lamb's part
this day of battle? And what marks of His do you bear in your flesh, by
which His enemies may be judged in themselves, of all their ungodly
ways, and hard speeches, which a profession without life has cast upon
Him these many years? By what are you manifest to every ones conscience?
And by what shall the unbeliever say, God is in you of a truth,
and fall down before His righteous power? Have you His lively image upon
you in truth and righteousness in the streets? Or, can you say indeed,
the Lord your Redeemer lives, and reigns in you, in the face of your
actions? Has He redeemed you from all iniquity? Or are you presented
without spot? Or does your faith say, that ever you shall while you
live? Is not all hope decayed, and many of you gone back from what you
once were, many degrees? Alas for you! Is this the faith of God, which
by the flesh is overcome? Or, are these the fruits of the heavenly
Plant? What is become of your Lord's money, and how is your gold become
dross? Is there not a more precious Witness trodden down under all this?
And does not the Pearl lie covered under all this earth? Is there not a
Holy One of another nature; and feel you nothing moving to bring forth
better fruits? I know there is a measure of the grace of Christ in you:
Why is it you are gone so astray from His counsel, and erred in your
hearts from His precious life? Why will you not hearken to that which
once was drawing you out of the world, for which you did bear the cross
and reproach thereof? Were you not once they that were called the
spiritual men and women, and became a scorn because you professed the
obedience to its moving? And what way did it then lead you, and into
what was it turning you? Were you not then hated for His Names sake; and
did it not lead you down into meekness and patient sufferings? And could
you not then rejoice, in that you were counted worthy to bear His
reproach openly, in hope of His appearance to plead your innocency. How
did you then begin to preach and practice lowliness of mind; and pride
began to become a shame, and covetousness abominable; and a spiritual
man, who had a tender conscience, who could rather die than defile
himself with vain customs, was not such an one a jewel in your eyes? And
in his sufferings you could feelingly share. Did not that Spirit lead
you out of your old dark forms of worship which you received by
tradition? And did not your light and life arise as you removed by
following thereafter; and did you not leave them in darkness that came
not out with you? And none was able to withstand that Spirit by which
you then spoke and walked while you were going that way; but your
adversary was forced to betake himself to carnal weapons. And did not
your God then save you by His Spirit, and by weak means scatter the
mighty, that He might make way for this Plant to grow? But what way did
you then take? Let that of God in you be witness. Did you not soon grow
into ease and carelessness, and so let the spirit of your old enemies
overtake you, and many of those things by which your consciences were
then oppressed, are you yielded to, and the worldly spirit you have
suffered to beset you, and enter you again; which has turned your faces
into the world's riches and glory, with which you are covered at this
day, and soon left off to follow that Spirit that led out of this, which
the Lord seeing, was grieved: But for His Names sake, not willing His
work should fall, did call another people to His light, and many from
far whom you then counted not a people, are come to the brightness of
His rising, to follow His Spirit; and what is now become of the children
of the kingdom? And what is the fruit of that vineyard? Are not you now
the great opposers of that Spirit, and of the light within: Undervaluing
it as though it were not worthy to be a Leader, nor able to keep in the
paths of safety? Ah foolish people! Have you well requited your
Redeemer? Or, did His leadings deserve this from you? While you followed
Him in Spirit, the Husband of your youth: What evil found you in His
light while you hearkened to it? Compare your way then and your way now,
and be witnesses against yourselves forever. What is this you have done?
How is that Spirit become your enemy, that then was your Leader? Was He
your enemy till you changed your way, and returned back into the love of
the world, in which His Spirit could not join with you, nor own you, nor
change with you? So Him that does not change you have left; and testify
against His light since you have received the spirit of the world. So
darkness cannot comprehend the light, nor such receive Him, who have
changed their God like you? The Guide of your youth is now as an
adversary in your way, testifying against you in your own hearts; so you
would stop His way in the hearts of others. If this be not so, let Him
be witness, whose Spirit condemns sin in the flesh, with all its
motions, in everyone where His light is minded; which will truly let you
see (as many as with faith and diligence hearken thereto) what way you
are going, and what has befallen you since you became resisters of that
Holy Spirit in its temple, and have set up idols; and how the spirit of
the world has prevailed to cover you with its own vanities, and fading
glory, till you have nothing left to separate you from the world but a
form, without the life of the Saints.
And now you having suffered the Plant of
life to be covered with the earthly spirit, and having sold yourselves
under the fleshly power for want of a steadfast and faithful watch in
the Spirit of life, which did once redeem you in measure; now is the
same Spirit coming over you in the powers of the world, ready to rise up
against your form also (which is all you have left) under which you must
either join or suffer. And when this comes upon you, to who will you cry
for help? Or where will you leave your glory? Or how will you do to save
your sanctuary in which you trust? If you look to the god of this world,
you may easily have his favor, but then you must take upon you his form;
and then what must become of your own you have trusted in, and so cried
up for a sanctuary?
And if you cry to the Lord, will not His
light in your consciences tell you, that He was once your Redeemer,
while you would own His Spirit in you for a Leader, and that it was not
He that sold you, but your iniquities, and choosing other gods, and
letting in the worlds idols into His temple, and denying Him therein,
that has now overtaken you again; and will not the second evil be worse
than the first? When every sacrifice comes to be salted with fire, then
will you know what it is for the salt to lose its savor: Then will such
be seen to be blessed, who have salt in themselves, and who have not
turned their light into darkness, nor denied the Lord that bought them:
Then woe to the vessel which is filled with that which will not abide
the fire. And this day is near at hand to come upon him that believes,
and him that believes not.
And at that day, that which you have
been filling the vessel with will be a heavy burden, though pleasant in
the heaping up, with which you have oppressed the Just, and darkened the
holy light which would have shined in your hearts, which once was
arising to have given you the knowledge of God in purity; which gives to
see the odiousness of all iniquity, and a way out of it; which Spirit,
had you retained, you would not have slain the Just, nor taken pleasure
in unrighteousness, nor been filled with ungodliness, like the world, as
at this day your works are found to be, nor opposers of the spiritual
light that leads out of the world. For in the light which now you
oppose, dwells no wickedness, nor unrighteousness, no covetousness,
fornication, malice, envy, deceit, hatred, pride, despite, lust, nor
oppression, nor fleshly pleasures inhabit in the light; but by it are
judged and condemned, and cast out: For it is the house of God, who
dwells in the light, which sees all these to be vile affections, to
which they are given up, who are children that disobey the light and
deny it, and take pleasure in these deeds of darkness, on whom the wrath
of God abides; on which works the fire will take hold, and whose end is
to be burnt: Which works you have seen to be evil by the light, while
you were led by the Spirit, and did condemn them in others, and preach
against them; and do the same things, and plead for them now in
yourselves, and now having no excuse to cover you, you rage when you are
told thereof in sound words: But your teachers you will hear, which are
of your own, and one with you herein, who feed the ear, but starve the
soul.
And now when you hear of these things
from such as love your souls, take heed to your spirits, that nothing
arise as in the days of Cain: For the strong man has had a time to
fortify himself within you, and he will rage if his kingdom be entered.
Wherefore hearken not to that which is above in the high mind, but
return to that Spirit which is lowly, and sink down into meekness, and
take counsel of that Spirit which receives truth in love, and abides the
search with patience (and in whom there is no guilt there will be no
wrath) for we do not this to stir up the evil, but to overcome it with
truth. And as many of you as upon true search are justified in the light
of life, with such we rejoice, and are one, and seek unity herein, in
one testimony of life; and for such as put on a fair covering, and a
large garment above, but these evils are seen in the skirts of it, this
is not to discover anything which true love can hide, but that such
might see with that by which they are seen, and mourn in secret with
those that mourn for them in secret, seeking the way to return. But for
most part it is too plain a truth to need a secret search to be seen,
for it's come into the streets, and in the places of your worships, and
in your daily employment; it is found in all these. So wickedness being
come into the streets, truth may not creep into a corner to reprove it:
Nay, it is high time to cry aloud, not to spare the whore; for with an
impudent face has she backslided from her youth; and has decked herself
with the attire of an harlot. Is not pride become a glory openly among
you? And to deceive souls has got the name of decency, and covered under
the finest forms of religion; and the Scriptures of truth which forbid
it, wrested through your subtlety to plead for it, against the light in
your own consciences; and how can humility hold her peace thereat? How
are our honorable men and women, who were once covered with grace, and
lovely in the beauty of holiness and modesty, be daubed with ribbons,
lace, bables, and foolish vanities not worth the naming, and too many to
mention? And how can wisdom but utter her voice against such whoredoms,
and call her children from the paths of the destroyer? And to that of
God in you all we appear, what spirit that is which is offended therein;
or can he that glories in such folly hear Wisdom's voice? See what
spirits you are of. And if you be the churches of Christ, or if any of
you be sensible of His suffering, who has long suffered under all this
filth, then strip yourselves thereof, and come forth to His help against
this height of wickedness that is now growing to the full, and has
fenced its way against all reproof and teaching, so that nothing is now
left but the life to finish its testimony against it unto blood
suffering, which now is at the door. Wherefore, if any of you be on the
Lamb's part, who now has a controversy with the whore, then come take up
His cross and follow Him, and show forth His life a witness in your
bodies against all this wickedness. If you be baptized into Him, put Him
on; and if you have received Him, walk in Him openly: For His coming is
not in the secret chambers, to witness against wickedness that's come
forth in the open streets, nor in the desert to testify against the
enemy that rules in the places of greatest concourse; but in the
streets, and markets, temples and synagogues, where these whoredoms are
acted, there He utters His voice, and by His precious life witnesses
against them, as in the days of old in His Saints, so now is it, glory
to God forevermore, whose day is world without end, which whoever comes
to, must give up their bodies as a sacrifice, holy, and they only are
acceptable at His coming, and fit for His use, glory for ever.
Wherefore be not so deceived, to think
that long preaching and praying against these evils in your words, with
the power thereof ruling in your hearts, captivated within, and covered
therewith without, has power to overcome this spiritual wickedness, or
make it ashamed in the streets, or drive it into a corner, which you
practice yourselves openly; for it's the life of Christ that's cross to
all this, and the Lamb must take the victory. Therefore in the fear of
God, turn to the Spirit from whence you are gone, that His light may
give you the knowledge of God in your hearts, and what you have of His
power to save you from this evil generation, by redeeming your minds out
of these vanities, your hearts out of the world, and your bodies and
estates to Himself, as a sacrifice freely given up to bear His testimony
in your bodies, and in your estates, against the evil that now abounds,
to the convincing of such as are out of the ways of God, by His walking
in you, by the steps of His Spirit which will shine forth as a light in
your lives, if you become obedient thereto, forsaking your own ways to
be led thereby. And let not your high thoughts deceive you, nor trust in
lying words; for you are no further redeemed than you have this power
given from above, and this treasure in the earthen vessel, which gives
life from the dead; this is the riches of His grace, which saves by
faith, and the gift of God, glory and eternal life. And he that says, he
is redeemed, or set free, and yet is led captive in his mind into these
evils, and walks in them, is a liar before the Son, and blasphemes the
holy name of Christ, and causes it to be blasphemed through the world.
But he that is baptized into Christ, and all this filth buried, and that
life that delights in it mortified, and covered with His lowly Spirit,
having received the gift of God, and put Him on, and walks in Him,
honors Him, and Him that sent Him, and has fellowship with the Father
and the Son, led by the Spirit out of the world, through His sufferings,
His death and resurrection; and such know the life of Christ, and gift
of God, to whom it is given not only to believe, but to suffer for to
spread His name and power, and to preach His truth and righteousness,
and to hold forth His virtue, as it is in him, according to the measure
of Him received in spirit, not adding nor diminishing: And this is the
true ministration of life, and gospel light, which calls to the simple
with power, and which is manifest to that of God in every conscience,
and that lively faith which is known by its works, which contains the
glory of God for its witness. But a faith there is, which to this Life
is reprobate, which stands not upon the foundation of righteousness, but
stands in lying words without fruits of the Spirit to glorify God, or
evidence the substance in life, and whose conversation is not in Christ,
yesterday, today, and forever; but glories in swelling words, and
conceiving of what Christ was and will be; putting Him afar off, but
today hear not His voice, nor bear His image; and these are they that
glory in words, but not in power, whose faith does not overcome the
world, but gives way to the devil, always promising great things to
come, but themselves servants to these corrupt things, and this is faith
without works.
And with this net are many easily
caught, who being convinced in their understanding of a form nearer the
letter, and having got words suitable thereto, then are received
church-members, and presently having changed their opinion, become new
believers, and teachers of others, as though they had attained some
great thing, not minding to prove their new faith by the light of life,
and truly to try it, what life is in the new, more than in the old, by
its powerful working in the vessel; whether it be that faith which
purifies the heart and hands, which mystery stands not in feigned words,
but in a pure conscience, purging the vessel, and fitting the temple of
God for His coming, by the Spirit of His Son, which faith opens as it
cleanses, drinking in the new through the death of the old; by which the
Just lives, which gives the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus, not
in vain words, and who are gathered into it are gathered by the living
faith, which works and conforms to Christ, within and without, to live
His life, and manifest His life to the world, in their mortal bodies,
and to bear His name and nature, His marks and sufferings in their
conversation before His enemies, showing Him to be the same today,
blessed forevermore; and such are baptized into His likeness in death
and resurrection in a true measure.
But who are gathered by words without
power, and a faith without this holy life, such may run on heaps, swell
high; and make many heads and horns, yet all make one beast, and their
several names serve but to make up his number, to which they do arise,
all against the Lamb: But His life and power they cannot reach, neither
can they read His name, nor bear His mark, who are not redeemed from the
earthly: But the whores heart, and the beasts image is their mark, which
now is come into the open view, and cannot be hid: That being the
whorish heart which loves the things of this world; and that's the beast
which bears her, whose life is in them, and lusts after them, a striving
and fighting for them, and whose glory stands therein, and to be covered
therewith, so that you need not dive so deep with your dark wisdom, to
find whose you are, for the light is come which gives the knowledge of
God (and who are His temples, and in whom He walks) and in the face of
Jesus this is known in every conversation, by which light God has shined
in the heart for that purpose: And the power of the beast is seen by the
light in all consciences, his image and mark appearing out of his
temple, wherein his seat and kingdom is; so that he that runs may read
each head, and their mark; and they that are Christ's have crucified the
flesh, with the affections and lusts, and have put on Christ, and walk
in Him, and His face is seen, and in such only are the fruits of the
Spirit manifest; and they that have denied the Spirit, its light and
leadings, are enemies to its life, and in such the fruits of the flesh
are manifest, and can be no longer hid.
And all who have followed your own
spirits, and denied the light of Christ, by the light in every
conscience are you made manifest, not to be spiritual men and women;
which light judges pride, covetousness, deceitful dealing, and all your
wanton pleasures and vain customs, and shows them to be works of the
flesh. So the light denies you, and you deny it before men; and such are
found among your churches; and the light has laid you so naked, that the
world sees you, and has power over your holy things, to trample them
under feet, saying, What is their
profession worth? They are as proud and covetous, &c. as we are; and
can lie and dissemble as others, and we will never more trust them for
their professions. Thus is your profession covered with reproach,
because you have denied the Spirit, and have covered yourselves with
that which spiritual men count dross and dung, and you are not found of
tender consciences. And to that of God in your consciences are we
manifest, that this is truth; and to God Almighty, that this is not to
upbraid anyone, or to glory in wickedness, but in obedience to the
Spirit of God, who has quickened us out of these things, and in love to
your souls, which are wounded and slain thereby, and to warn you of what
we see coming on, having felt the terror of the Almighty against the way
you have chosen; who could rejoice to meet you in your return, and
desire to separate from none of you, but in your sin, and that which
devours the creation to feed the lust, which is separated from God
forever, and you as long as to it you join, whatever you profess.
And this is to call to you all to return
to the Lord, who is that Spirit, and that life wherein all must worship
that would be received of the Father; for God will confound Babel, and
all that give glory to images, and all that confess a likeness instead
of life; and that you might all see that this is coming upon you, who
cry the ordinances of God in words, with your lips, but deny His light
in your hearts, and His Spirit and Word there, which is the great
Ordinance of God, and endures to all generations, and that by which all
outward shadows were given forth, which ends shadows, and is the
substance and body, which is Christ
within the hope of glory, and worship in Spirit, and the truth in
heart, which changes not, which God looks at, and seeks such this day to
worship Him, and gives them power over the world, who confess to the
Spirit and life within, and worship God in His temple made without
hands, wherein He is lifted up in truth and righteousness, light and
true judgment this day in your streets (against the horn of wickedness)
where He is confessed in life and power, and glory is given to the
Spirit alone, and He owns it, and receives it, and bears witness to it,
with His presence, with His sufferings and with His blood, and is daily
clothing such vessels with the Son, whom He brings forth in the
everlasting arm and life. And this is the birth He loves, and the child
of His own bosom begotten again, which bears His image lively against
all the world, though it be but never so little that dare not disobey
what He leads to in Spirit, to conform to the will of man, though to
save their lives and liberties, but daily cast off all as dung, that
they may win Christ, this Spirit and life, to lead and redeem them out
of the dark world, which nothing else can do but this Spirit; and this
is the Immanuel, and the Man-Child that was, and is, and is to come,
world without end. And since the Father saw Him appear on earth in this
image, He has loved Him, and owned Him, though His appearance be as a
lily among thorns, and many tall trees which have great names would stop
His appearance, that He might not be seen, nor confession be made to His
light and rising in this lowly stature; yet is the Father daily making
His way before Him, cutting down many high grown plants, which are not
of this lowly nature, and many fall on each hand, some into the earth
are sunk and buried, some into the Red Sea raging, into blood and
persecution, and all to make way for the Lamb, to be seen and know by
His life, to be Him that was to come, for whose sake God is selling
Egypt, and spoiling them of their jewels, and confounding of Babel,
whose lives and language are now seen to be contrary. And thus is He
drying up the sea, that kings may come and worship in Spirit, and they
that overcome the world may confess thereto, and that He may recover His
glory to Himself in Spirit, which men have given to visible things and
shadows, that can neither see nor save, and where the Pearl is lost, God
loves not for your sacrifice.
And this is written to you all, that you
may see what has covered you since you have erred in Spirit, denied the
light, and have walked in the wind, and have exalted great forms and
outward things above the Spirit: So with outward earthly things are you
covered, and not with the Spirit; and as you have delighted to spend
your strength and study to set up the letter above the light, and your
carnal ordinances to be the salvation, and so have not given glory to
the Spirit, but have given glory to that which is not God, to oppose the
light and Spirit of God, and His living word in the heart, which only
has power to save, and enlighten the heart against the powers of the
prince of this world. So by the light you may see what power now rules
in your hearts, and with what glory you are covered, and that which you
have been contending for with others, against the Spirit, has not given
you power to contend against the world, and overcome; but you may feel
yourselves captivated to that which some of you (who are not yet
hardened) would not: others are come so as to glory in their shame, in
open pride and vanity and fleshly pleasures, and with the same mouth
they plead for the idol, with the same they plead for his fruits.
And so you all may read your judgment
with the light of the world, which condemns the works of the world,
yours and theirs, and that you are all come short of the glory of God,
and are turning back to the glory of this world, and joined to it in
pleadings and practice; and so manifest to all men, that you are not
found worthy to declare Him to this generation, He not being the end of
your conversation, Christ Jesus the Savior of the world: but the hope
that was awakened in you, when you at first received the earnest of His
Spirit, is withered and dead, and now you have your conversation in the
earth, and your names being written there, you have put the day of His
coming afar off, and are joined with the world, to withstand His
appearance in the poor, that now God has called to confess His light,
and preach His resurrection and life in Spirit, and this you and the
world would quench wherever it begins but to sparkle, telling them it's
not sufficient &c. to draw their minds out from it, and you keep
them in some outward observations,
Lo here, Lo there, lest the light should arise and condemn your
fruitless observations; which light says, The kingdom of God is
within you.
And thus you quench the Spirit in many,
and having lost the key yourselves, you suffer not others that would;
and all you do for these when they deny the light, and come to you, is,
you learn them to paint the sepulcher, but the soul in the grave; and so
the Spirit being denied, the flesh prevails within and without. And
seeing you have refused to judge yourselves with the light, therefore
are you laid open, and your lives with the world to be condemned; and
the light, which you say to the world is not sufficient, arises in the
hearts of the world to condemn your practices.
Friends, you that yet have a feeling of
that which pants after God, and waits for the kingdom of heaven, and
where that Principle is not yet buried, which first turned your minds
out of the world, with the same now mind what way you are going, and
what is the end you aim at, and in what will you take up your rest, that
you may be eternally happy; will a settled form of truth, without the
power of righteousness and presence of God in you, satisfy your longing
souls? Was not this the thing that was awakened in many of you at first,
and strongly breathed towards His appearance, so that nothing would
satisfy, but a feeling of that Spirit working obedience and tenderness,
and speaking peace in you; for all your former failings and coming short
of obedience? And how many honest and just ways did this Spirit lead you
into which you had not from man, and in your obedience thereto, opened
to you of the Father's bosom-love, melting your hearts, and opened the
Scriptures, and of the secrets of God, which you had never known of man,
nor by man? And thus while you were tender in following the Lord in
Spirit, He led you therein, and fed you therewith; and whatever you did
in singleness of obedience thereto, He answered with peace and joy
therein: And this the witness of God, which in some of you remains yet
not wholly slain, will witness too with us in secret, and yet till this
day, if you have any obedience that God owns or answers, it is in that
Principle. And now will it satisfy you to sit down in a form at ease,
and this oppressed in you, and grieved by setting carnal things above
it, to lead you, and rule in your hearts, till it be weary with
striving, and now is departing out of all your forms, and you have lost
its leading; and do not you feel this in your souls? Is there never a
secret lamentation in you, to seek after Him who was the Husband of your
youth and led you at the first? This is all our souls long to see at
present, that you would but diligently mind how you are parted from Him,
and what is the cause, and where He now appears that you might follow
Him, that He might lead you into life. We preach not ourselves, but
Christ Jesus, that Spirit whose appearance in Spirit changes shadows,
forms, likenesses, and carnal ordinances, and makes all things new at
His coming, which with the flesh is defiled. And though we would not
have you leave anything in which you have formerly found anything of
God, till He lead you out of it, yet we would not have you forsake Him
who led you therein, and therein was found of you; but Him to follow
wherever He goes: Will your carnal things be any more to you than the
temple, and circumcision, and the Jewish priesthood, when God had left
it for the wickedness that was covered therewith? What then became of
them that stayed therein, crying, The temple of the Lord? Did
they not then trust in lying words? And was it ought but a den of
murderers, strengthening themselves with the notion of God's ordinances
against the life of Christ, who came in another appearance, though they
knew it not then, no more than you do now?
Therefore take heed what you do at this
day, when all are looking for the kingdom of heaven, some one way, some
another; but most see that righteousness is departed from among men of
all forms and professions, and the earth is got into men's hearts, and
has filled them with violence, pride and oppression. Now your work
should be, and all that love His appearance, to watch diligently (not, lo here, lo there,
but) where righteousness arises as the lightning; in whatsoever form He
comes, righteousness is the life and power. And now take heed how you
set up your form to oppose this, wherever it begins in the least to
arise, lest you oppose God; for God's kingdom consists in righteousness,
and through righteousness does grace reign. And this we further say to
you in tenderness and true love, that if you once see that power of true
righteousness arise in any sort of people whatsoever above you, which by
the light of the world in your own consciences condemns your
conversation, take heed how you then oppose it, or stay in your forms
which have it not in them, from joining to it, lest your temple become a
habitation of murderers, as theirs was; for so will it befall such as
will not follow the Lamb wherever He goes, they war against Him; for as
He departs He will draw away that of His own from all that will not come
with it, to Him, wherever He sets up His ensign: And then your
ordinances being left empty of that Spirit, what must enter instead is
easily to be discerned. And as you feel a spirit of strife and envy,
lust and earthly mindedness, and of all the works of the flesh, begin to
more and more prevail in you and over you, then remember what we in love
to your souls have warned you of, which we dearly desire may never come
upon you to the full, but that that eye may be minded in you, which
would lead you out of the world, to see the rising of the Son of
righteousness, where the honest in heart shall meet in Spirit, and find
healing.
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