What
The Possession of the Living
Faith Is, And The Fruits thereof
Forasmuch as a right faith is the only
ground of man's eternal happiness, and the only thing which gains the
creature an entrance towards his Creator, and without which it is
impossible to please God; though much has been said of it already, yet I
having found by learning the true and living faith, which has the living
power, different from that faith which is dead and without that power;
and seeing that so many at this day are at ease in a dead faith, and
their souls in the grave, in tender love thereto I am stirred up, to
declare something of the faith of Christ, which I have found only
effectual to salvation and reconciliation with God. And somewhat the
rather in regard the enemy has spread so many false reports of me,
touching my faith in Christ Jesus, which here I shall declare in
plainness, for the satisfying of simple minds, who desire to know the
truth rather than to reproach it; and for those who seek occasion, I
choose rather to bear their reproach who are in that nature, then
contend therewith: for my work is not with flesh and blood, nor is it in
my spirit to strive with any about words, that stir up strivings and
contention, and edify not; but with God I strive daily, and to that of
God in all I seek to be manifest, which resists not evil, but seeks to
overcome it with good, waiting for the kingdom of God in all, and the
soul's redemption out of death, and the Seed out of bondage, and where
that is not effected in measure, I look not to be owned, nor my witness
received, though it be not of myself, but of Christ Jesus in me.
And first a faith, or belief I have
found in the world, of which I shall say little in this place, having
found indeed a little in it to the salvation of life. It's a literal
faith, grounded upon the history of the Scripture touching God and
Christ, and what Christ did in that temple which the Jews destroyed at
Jerusalem &c. But do not know Him in Spirit, nor believe Him as His
name is Immanuel to all generations, and so do not necessarily
work the believer into a conformity to Him in His then walking, by His
coming again in the same Spirit and power, working in them the same
will, mind and affections, and obedience to the Father in their measure
which were in Him the Example, Author, Worker and Finisher of the true
and living faith.
And of this faith (being somewhat
dressed by the several opinions of men) are all the unclean spirits,
living in whatsoever abomination is to be mentioned in the world, all
sects and opinions, or whatsoever may be found in all colors in these
Northern Parts of the world, with this faith they are covered, and this
is their strength, and here they take comfort to themselves, against all
reproof within or from without, though living openly in the greatest
whoredoms against the Spirit of holiness, either carnal or spiritual,
that can be mentioned, even at a distance from Christ in His whole life;
yet they believe Christ came to save sinners, of which they are chief;
and they that are whole need not the Physician, &c. As if the
greater their wickedness is, the nearer to Christ they believe. And by
this faith, He that came to save people from sin, and to lead out of
sin, both by example and Spirit, is made a cover for all filthiness of
flesh and spirit, and to strengthen the heart of wickedness against the
life of holiness, some in one sin, some in another; but with this faith
do all sorts strengthen themselves, and harden their hearts against the
light of Christ, and that Spirit which reproves the world for sin, and
convinces of it, and would lead out of it. And hence it is that the
Witness of God, which is holy in all, is trampled under foot in all, and
little regarded in any, but by this faith believed on in none to be the
Way to the Father, though the world have no light but it, nor is there a
promise of life in any other. And this to me appears to be that faith of
the devil, or dead faith the Apostle speaks of in James ii. though more
hardened in it against God's fear, for the devils when they believe
tremble at it. So this faith I leave, being judged already by its
fruits, with the light of Christ in every honest Heart that loves
holiness.
And of that faith I shall speak
something, in which I have found a measure of the Life of Christ made
manifest in my mortal body, in which life alone is the true and eternal
union and atonement with the Holy God, into whom no unclean thing can
enter. And this is not a notion of what was done in another generation,
past or to come, hundreds or thousands of years distance, but that which
leads to the beginning of the work of a new creature at this day, and a
new birth spiritually begotten, and born and brought to light, without
which none can see the kingdom of God, nor enter therein. And this faith
does not work by the comprehensions of brain knowledge, that because I
could here conceive or declare of Christ Jesus, from the beginning of
this age, in words or thoughts, that thereof I have learned Him, or know
Him as I ought to do, or am grown up in Him to a perfect man; and so to
deceive others by declaring and boasting of what God has not wrought in
me, as a man may easily do, and deceive his own soul, and bewitch others
also, by leading them out of their measures of God's present work in
them: But of the living faith, which now works powerfully in Spirit by
love thereto, the mystery whereof is held forth in a pure conscience,
working out the old leaven, purifying the Heart, and making all things
new, judging, and killing, and crucifying with Christ in Spirit the
works of the flesh, and casting out everything in me that is not of God,
and renewing in me the things of God in their order, by His mighty
working in me, in which the soul is raised out of the grave, and the
dead restored to life, actually and not in conceit. Of the grounds and
workings of this living faith I shall speak something.
And though the foundation of this faith
or beginning of it was, that I did really believe, in that which Christ
did and suffered at Jerusalem, and that there in that body He bore the
sins of the world, and satisfied the wrath of God for sins past, and
overcame death, hell and the grave, and made way for the Seed to arise
in all, through the whole world, who would believe in His light; which
then shined through Him to all men, wherein He might be seen to be the
way, the truth and the life apparent, openly triumphing over all that
had passed above the Seed. And much more might be said of Him there
finished, all which I did believe according to Scripture, which was as
an opening of me to receive Him from heaven in the same Spirit and
power; without which I could not have received the gift of the Holy
Spirit, God having so purposed from the beginning, that the covenant of
eternal life, and power should be received no other way but by faith in
Him, who in the fullness of time was there manifest in the flesh, for
the taking away sins past, and making a way for the resurrection of Life
over all, to save from sins for time to come.
The effect of which faith, when in the
light I first received it, did turn my mind out of all my sins past, and
took my mind out of them, and turned me towards God, and holiness of
life I then believed to attain in that faith, and receive power therein,
to grow up in Him to the measure of the stature and fullness, which then
I saw no less faith could save me, then the perfect faith of the Son of
God, which before I had not received, but then received with such
gladness of heart, that it set my face and delights out of sin, towards
the perfection in Christ, in which I then believed, which was the joy
thereof before me; yet was not the work done and finished in me already,
though (I having received the faith and hope of the Son of God, and was
turned from my former sin, and my own righteousness; so that) if I had
departed this body, I had died in no less faith than the holy faith of
Christ Jesus. And so being turned to His Spirit, out of the works of the
flesh, I was turned from my sin, and so from condemnation; yet was there
a great work to do in me, before I could witness freedom from the body
of death, and the root and ground of evil removed, and the Seed raised
to reign, and the soul brought into the Holy City, the resurrection of
the dead, and fellowship in the Father and the Son, &c. and that
glorious liberty of the new creature, and all things to be of God in me,
as the Scriptures do witness: So this faith did not work me into a
conceit of myself, glorying in knowledge, and so to become a teacher of
others, what I had conceived below the life, but it led me down, into
the obedience of the Spirit of light, to wait therein for the
resurrection of Life. And I came to see in that light, that the motions
of sin did still work from the old ground and root, and that must be
removed by the power of Christ working in Spirit, and my obedience and
watchfulness therein was required; and that without obedience to this
faith I could not come to perfect victory over the enmity, nor to the
glorious liberty of the sons of God: for though this faith had turned my
heart to Christ, and given me hope to attain Him, yet I had not then
learned Him, nor was He yet formed in me. So was I led in the light of
Christ, to see what I had of this treasure in the earthen vessel, which
I found to be in me very little, and that Seed the least of all seeds;
so I became little in my own eye, and that which told me the truth,
though I had been high in my own thoughts formerly.
And so to the word of the beginning, or
the first principle of the doctrine of Christ I was led, that with that
which teaches Christ, I might learn Christ in every measure of Him, as I
grew therein: So was I brought to know Him that was made under the law,
and to the foundation of repentance from dead works, and to the
doctrines of baptisms, and to eternal judgment. Then came I in truth and
life to see what they were doing, whom the Apostle exhorted to work out their own salvation with
fear and trembling, after they had fully believed what Christ had
done for them at Jerusalem in that body, and many other Scriptures did
He open to me, as I learned Him, which before to me was a mystery, while
I learned them in meanings without the life of Christ, which then were
opened by the revelation of Christ Jesus, as they came to be fulfilled
in me, being led by the same Spirit in that work of faith. Then came I
to see, that I through the law must be redeemed from the law, and that
my redemption from it must not be by making it void, but by fulfilling
of it; and till then it had power over me, and sin took occasion by it
to strengthen itself in me; But as I came to grow in the Spirit and
Power of Christ, I was in Him brought through it, it in Him fulfilled,
and I dead to it as it came to be fulfilled; and the words of Christ I
found true, I came not to destroy the law, but to fulfill it; and
it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than one jot of the law
to pass away till it be fulfilled; and I needed not a meaning to that
Scripture, but a fulfilling thereof in Christ Jesus: And the
Schoolmaster that brings to Christ I learned, and Christ formed, and the
heir under tutors, before I knew the liberty of the Son of God, or
perfect freedom; and then I saw the Scripture could not be broken nor
wrested; but it must be learned in the Life of it to salvation, which
the unlearned wrest to their own destruction, by meanings without life,
and that it was of no private interpretation; but this one Spirit must
open it all in the fulfilling thereof, and this faith in Christ Jesus
only was able to make wise unto salvation of eternal life.
Then came I clearly to see Christ Jesus
set before me in all things that I was to go through, in that faith
which I had first received, and that the attaining of Him was the hope
of glory, and no hope without Him: And this hope an anchor in all
hardships and temptations, which were not a few I was led through; but
all were counted little while I stood in this faith, for the hope that
was in me to win Christ. And I clearly saw, that notwithstanding my
first faith, in what He had done at Jerusalem; yet if I did not continue
therein, to follow the same Spirit in obedience thereto, believing
therein, in all its leadings, hoping to attain to Christ Jesus the end
of that faith, in daily growing towards His stature and fullness, but
had turned aside, or sat down short of the leadings of that Spirit in
the way, I had made void my hope of glory, the work of my redemption,
and that which Christ did at Jerusalem (as to me) and had denied my
first faith, and could not have been saved from wrath to come. That
being the end of that faith committed to me, that therein I might
faithfully, without doubting, follow Him in Spirit through all trials
and temptations, of which way He was a perfect example in His walking in
the flesh at Jerusalem, that through the Scriptures I might have hope,
seeing He went the same way before me there, in which He now leads, and
that therein I might see Him to be the same to all generations, as He
was there, and in His Saints that followed Him. And as they exhorted one
another to look unto Him in their travel, who was the Author and
Finisher of their faith, and to consider Him as an example, who endured
such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest they should be weary
of suffering, and faint in their minds, and so their faith and hope was
strengthened. So also I looking to the same in Him, and also in them
after Him, my faith and patience might be doubled, and my obedience made
without doubting, and my hope firm to the end, which end was the winning
of Christ in me the hope
of glory, the great mystery of faith, which is hid from all till
the revelation of Christ Jesus. And so when the Saints and Apostles had
Christ revealed in them, they were able ministers of Him, and had the
mystery opened, and preached it without doubt, that mystery of godliness
which was great, yet hid from the world, but to them without all
controversy, God manifest in the flesh, not God flesh, but manifest in
flesh; which mystery of faith they held in a pure conscience. And so I
knew my faith to be the same faith once delivered to the Saints, and the
good fight of that faith I came to know; and that faith which overcomes
the world, which has the promise and inheritance of eternal life, which
all that go back from deny the faith of Christ, and set up a faith
without Christ, which is not the faith of Christ: And so in learning of
Christ, I came to see the faith of Christ from faith to faith, and also
the faith of devils; the living working faith, and the dead faith
without works: And I find, that it is not the faith of Christ, to
believe that men could never be perfect, nor overcome the devil or sin;
it was never the faith of Christ, to make void the law of His Father
unfulfilled in Him; it was never His faith to revenge evil, but to
overcome it with good; It was never His faith to respect persons, or
that we could commit sin, and not be servants of sin; it was never His
faith to sue, contend, fight, or persecute any; to judge for rewards, or
preach for hire, or any way to serve the mammon of this world, it was
not His faith to observe His own will, His own times or the world's
customs, but to observe His Father in all things, and only what He
received from Him that He did, and could do nothing of Himself, He never
owned them to be children of God, who said and did not.
And many such like things as these were
never by Him believed, but is the world's faith to uphold them in sin
and lusts, who are enemies to the faith of Christ which presents perfect
to God by working out such evils; all which I came to see, not by man,
but in the revelation of Christ as in His faith I learned Him, growing
into His faith, into Him and His life therein made manifest in my body;
So I see what is His in truth, as the truth is in Jesus, and what is the
world's, and but called His to oppose Him; and I see that which loves
the things of this world to be none of His love, nor that His joy that
takes pleasure in carnal things, nor that His liberty which is in works
of the flesh, nor that His peace that is in sin, nor that His patience
that seeks its own revenge, nor that His glory that's in pride, nor that
His worship which stands in carnal things, nor that His honor that's
sought of men, nor that His knowledge that's sought after the flesh, nor
that His fear that's taught by the precepts of men, these are in the
world, and not in Him, but have only got the name to be His, but are
enemies to His Life, and were never begat of His Father, nor learned in
the Son; all which and much like stuff I came to see the deceit of, by
that truth and simplicity I found in Christ, contrary to the will of
man.
And so in the Life of Christ I have
learned to know the growth of the faith of Christ, and the riches of it,
and the end of it, which is Christ Jesus in all its workings; and I also
knew the world's faith, its uncleanness, whose end is not to attain the
holiness of Christ in life, but would live in the world's delights, and
have Christ for a cover, and be saved by the righteousness of another,
which they have no mind to walk in themselves; and so that faith works
not by love, which loves not the life of Christ, but are enemies to His
cross, minding earthly things, and this is the earthly faith; but the
living faith works by love to holiness of life, and therefore purifies
the heart, and the mystery of it stands in a pure conscience within
themselves that have it, and not in telling and comprehending what was
in another, for the devils believe the holiness that was in Christ, and
can preach it, but cannot inherit it, because they love not to live the
life of it, and by this I know them both forever, and all that prove
them in the life of Christ shall witness with me; the end of the one is
the life of Christ, in which Himself walked, and the same obedience of
the same Spirit to the same Father by the same power, according to the
proportion of faith received from God, which faith is from above, and so
lays hold on heavenly things for its strength, and so brings forth
heavenly fruits: The other professes and promises great things, but ends
in the world and minds earthly things, and does not purify the heart,
nor believes ever to attain the life of Christ, His stature or fullness,
but counts it an error in such as press after such attainments, and so
the end of the conversation of one is Christ Jesus to hold forth in life
and power, the same yesterday, and today and forever; The end of the
other is a liberty to sin while they can take any pleasure in it, and
sanctification and salvation when they are dead. And according to the
end of each faith so it works, for it's impossible for him that cannot
believe holiness, to work holiness; but according to each man's faith so
must he inherit in this world, and that which is to come.
And in the workings and attainments of
this living powerful faith I have found several measures according to my
growth therein, from the word of the beginning of Christ, or the first
principle of Christ, and the fullness, and stature of Christ, as between
a babe and a man grown in strength, and much working in Spirit I found
between faith received of Christ Jesus, and Christ learned in me; for
though I received the faith of His fullness in what He was at Jerusalem,
in His flesh there at once, yet had not I so learned Him in Spirit and
life in my mortal flesh, nor put Him on at once, but in the light of
faith I saw I was so
to run as to win Him before I could put Him on, wherein I came to
see and know myself begotten of the Father manifest in measure in me in
the pure image of a Holy Child, separate from the fleshly sinful seed,
or Christ formed in me as the Scriptures witness; and when I did behold
His pure image and His pure mind and nature so contrary to my own, yet
then was He not in His kingdom, nor all things put under His feet; nor
could I say that Jesus was then Lord in me, but by the Spirit's working
by this faith I had received, and in hope thereof, was I made to endure
the loss of all things, and to deny all things that ever this Holy
Spirit did war against in me, which might any way oppress this Holy
Plant, or hinder its growth, owning His judgment in the light, upon
whatever was in my heart or affections but Him alone, though never so
much gain in my account in the world; which judgment being owned and
consented to against myself, and all my self-lovers, therein was I
parted from them in judgment, and so then were they subdued by the
powerful workings of that Spirit, and put under His feet, and I set free
from them, to arise with Him above them, being brought from under them;
and this was not done all at once, but in order as He appeared in the
light to manifest every particular evil: And as that faith I had
received worked by love to Him, a consent in my spirit to His just
judgment upon them, and I made willing to give them up to the fire, and
to come out of them, and join to Him in the execution, lest He should
consume me with them, as it must have been had I stayed in them; and
here I found the benefit of the light which goes before His face to
prepare His way, and the salvation of faith which saved me through hope
of Him, that I was not destroyed in my sins; which faith and hope gave
me an entrance within the vail, or a hiding place in Him while the
indignation was over, which was to pass upon the man of sin.
And so a voice was heard in the
wilderness calling out of sin, into a way I knew not, but as the light
of His covenant led me in the Spirit, turning my heart towards Him, that
He might not smite the earth with a curse at His coming; in which way
e're I came into the kingdom of Christ, my pure rest, I met with many
hardships and great travails, and many temptations and trials within and
without, but the greatest enemies were yet within me, which would upon
every hardship be tempting with unbelief to destroy this faith and hope,
which was all that I had set before me to encourage me to endure such
hardships, and to follow the light in a way I had not known, and to walk
in the clouds to meet the Lord, and to leave my former knowledge and
wisdom, and glory and riches, to go in a way I had not walked, and to
abide such assaults on every hand; every foot the world which I was
called out of ready to overtake me and compass me about, and to turn me
back again into what I had seen and enjoyed, behind me, ever seeking to
persuade me that I should never attain to Him that was set before me in
the faith and hope; then came I clearly to see, that though I had
received the faith of Christ as a shield in this war, by which I was
saved that the wrath of God took me not away in these temptings, and
murmurings, and reasonings and doubtings which did arise in the fleshly
part, yet was not I at present brought to enjoy the purchased
possession, though I had heard and believed the gospel of salvation, and
was sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise till I came to be built up
with Christ for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
And I found by daily experience that my
salvation was not complete so long as my soul was subjected under any
earthly lust or passion, nor the war over, but as by the mighty working
of God in me by that Spirit these came to be subdued under the feet of
Christ, and the soul set above it with Him to reign in the heavenly
place; so was my salvation nearer than when I believed, for the soul is
not safe while sin lives, or the flesh lusts, for that wars against the
soul, and every sin wounds it, and this shall all know who are not past
feeling, whatever their faith be touching Christ Jesus, or what was
wrought in another, while sin defiles the soul it is not safe, nor the
honest heart has peace and rest, for the rest and peace is placed in the
Holy City where comes no unclean thing, into which the soul enters not
till that all righteousness be fulfilled upon earth, and the soul
singled from all corruption, and have put on immortality, and death
swallowed up in victory, when the sting is taken away, which is sin, and
the strength of sin, which is the law, which is not taken away but where
it is fulfilled, there only grace reigns through righteousness; and this
I found to be truth, as the truth is found in Jesus, as I came to learn
Him and put Him on by faith which I had believed; and I saw the folly of
such as would make void the law by talking of faith and grace, where sin
is yet standing, and the soul taken captive therewith, which I had often
sought peace therein to myself, but could not inherit liberty to my soul
any other way, but as it came to be purified in obedience through the
Spirit
And this work was not wrought in me by
the knowledge of Christ after the flesh, but as I came to learn Him in
Spirit, for spiritual wickedness had taken my soul captive, and by the
Spirit it must be sanctified and set free. And I came to see that if I
had been in His company here on earth as long as His disciples were in
the flesh, and seen as much as they did, and heard from His own mouth, I
should have been short of this work as they were, in whom the Child was
unborn when He went away in the flesh, and they knew not what spirits
they were of, until He came again to them in Spirit and was revealed in
them; then could they preach the resurrection of the dead and the soul's
redemption, and desired to know Him no more after the flesh, when once
they had received Him in Spirit, but preached Christ within the hope of
glory, who till then looked for an outward kingdom and glory, until they
had received His promise, He that dwells with you shall be in you, I
will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you; the world sees Me no
more, but you see Me, and because I live, you shall live also; at that
day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you:
And this was His promise, which they received, whom the world sees no
more, whose expectations are carnal; neither can any see the kingdom of
heaven but who are born of this Spirit, and heirs of this life, and he
that has the Son has life, and he that has not the Son has not life, but
the wrath of God abides upon him, whatever he may say he believes; and
none have the Son but as they receive this Spirit, and are led by this
Spirit, and born thereof.
And this I found also, that the Son of
God does not appear in (works of righteousness,) but as He conforms them
to His own image, which He has always born in this world, as says the
Scripture, when He shall appear we shall be like Him, who shall change
our vile bodies and make them like His glorious body, from glory to
glory by the same Spirit; And herein we have boldness in the day of
judgment, because as He is so are we in this present world; and this is
not obtained with thoughts of believing without, but by a lively working
of His power, which works out the earthly image and nature, and conforms
man to the heavenly in that spiritual birth which is not of flesh and
blood, nor could flesh and blood ever discern it in whom it was, but
ever hated it in whom it has appeared in all ages; which is of a shining
nature where it is begotten of the Father, and cannot be hid where it is
formed, but by his fruits gives light to the world contrary to the
world's ways, showing of his coming to judgment against the deeds of
darkness: And this heavenly begetting of the Father is to be held forth
in that clear image of the Father, according to every several measure as
He grows therein without mixture, that all may see that He is not of
this world, who also takes them out of this world as He grows in any, or
they in Him, forth of the world they must go bearing His reproach, that
the Scriptures may be fulfilled, they are not of this world, even as I
am not of this world, and this is the world's light and condemnation,
even His coming.
And so I find that faith which joins to
the world where it is, and does not overcome the world, is not the faith
of Christ, though faith may believe the history of the Scriptures
concerning Christ, which faith alone sets not up the kingdom of God in
the heart, nor casts out the world there; nor saves the soul from the
pollution of the world through lust, and so is but a notion of
salvation, and not the power of salvation, as says the Scriptures; Whosoever is born of God overcomes
the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even your
faith; and the faith which works not thus, is like a body without a
spirit, which is dead; But the living faith that stands in Christ Jesus,
that Spirit purifies the heart and conscience, and makes toward God in
Christ the example of all good things, overcoming whatever would let the
appearance of Christ in His temple, or hinder the bringing forth His
virtues, which are believed to be in Him, to the utmost whatever He has
received of the Father for such believers, who believe not in a lie, but
in the truth and power of God as it is in Christ Jesus, and has been
declared in Scripture, not for a discourse, but for an inheritance of
life, of whose fullness we all receive according to our faith, till His
coming, and we be complete in Him, and He in us; and so not come short
of the glory of God, the end of our faith and conversation, that to the
world He may be manifest in life and power to be the same that ever He
has been, though He has appeared in several forms, yet one in Spirit to
make up a complete body.
And therefore we find those who were of
this faith witnessed Christ present (which the world's faith could never
receive under any form or profession, but counted it blasphemy, and that
Spirit the spirit of the devil.) And so Isaiah witnessed this Child born
to them that so believed in his time, who was the mighty God, the
everlasting Father, &c. whose name they knew to be Immanuel, and
this was before He appeared in that temple at Jerusalem, and Ezekiel was
called the son of man before that time also; and Paul said He was
revealed in him, and spoke in him, and wrought in him, and in his flesh;
that which was behind of the afflictions of Christ was to be filled up
for His Body's sake which is the Church: And to whom he forgave anything
in his time, he forgave it in the person of Christ; and many more might
be noted who confessed the same Christ in them present, both before and
after His time at Jerusalem, which testimony could never be received (by
the wisdom of the world) in His servants before nor then, nor since to
this day, for the god of this world being king in the heart, and having
blinded the eye of the mind that should see His spiritual glory through
the light of the gospel, he persuades the world that He is either past,
or to come, but never present; and as many as are brought to confess Him
before men find it so at this day, who are hated of all men for His
name's sake, that the Scriptures may be fulfilled, and His testimony
finished.
And this faith which confesses Him
present, is that which the world cannot bear nor receive, who will
preach Him themselves at a distance, what He was and will be, but this
faith cannot reach His coming at present in any measure to receive His
appearance now, nor will this faith ever give an entrance into His
kingdom upon earth, nor the holy rest, nor is this the faith of Christ
(that puts Him thus afar off,) which fills with all the fullness of God.
And by what I have learned, this is
clear to me forever without anymore controversy, That the faith that
admits of sin is not Christ's faith, nor has any share or possession in
Him; that faith which is not holy came not from God, and so cannot build
up to God; this is not saving faith that does not save form sin; but is
deceiving faith which deceives the soul, and suffers lust to defile it
and destroy it, and so brings it under condemnation, by believing lies,
and so letting in sin upon the soul by consent, persuading that it
cannot be otherwise; and so gives the devil victory, and sin victory
over the soul, which should give the soul victory over all: And what
greater deceit can there be to the soul than this? And therefore forever
that which I have seen and learned do I declare openly, that this is the
deceiving faith, and indeed rather unbelief than the faith of Christ,
which makes way for the god of this world to reign, and act in things
contrary to the life of Christ in the creature, and the Life of the
soul; and that faith which gives way to the least sin is not the faith
of Christ, whose work and coming is to destroy the works of the devil,
and redeem the soul from sin, and the least measure of that faith that
stands in His life overcomes the world and sin in that measure; and he
that commits sin goes out of that faith, and acts against it.
And a lying faith I have found that to
be which persuades the soul of freedom from condemnation, but gives it
not freedom from sin which is the cause of condemnation, and all shall
witness this with me now, or hereafter, that where sin has power, there
death has power, and the grave and hell and condemnation have power
also, for these are the wages of sin; then shall you see you were
deceived who believed the contrary; and may not such truly be said to be
past feeling in deed, who can commit sin and feel no condemnation for it
already?
And this is the effect of their false
faith, to harden themselves against the faithful Witness of God in their
own conscience, and the seared conscience has made shipwreck of the
faith of Christ, and the doctrine of devils preaches the faith of devils
to give way to the works of the devil, which all sin is from the least
to the greatest, and he that pleads for it is a father to it, and he
that commits it a servant, and may look for the wages there of if he
repent not, notwithstanding he believe the contrary.
And many may feel this truth at this
day, who have a long time believed with this faith, deceiving their own
souls day after day, believing they shall not be condemned, when they
are condemned already in their own hearts, and feel the weight of sin
daily pressing their souls, and burdening the pure conscience; and the
fear of death and sin keeps their souls still in bondage, and lies upon
them all their lives, and yet they will force themselves to believe
contrary to holy faith and a good conscience that they are saved and
redeemed, and thus make shipwreck of saving faith and a good conscience,
by believing a lie contrary to their own daily feeling, no other thing
to encourage them therein but this persuasion, which suits well with
such as take pleasure in unrighteousness; which persuasion comes not of
God, but is condemned by that of God in themselves; and this is the
state of many at this day, though some there be whose consciences are
seared, and feel not this Witness living in them, yet their damnation
slumbers not, though they have lost their calling and election also.
And this have I learned in Christ, that
there is a great difference both in effect and nature between that faith
which is the gift of God, and that faith which men make to themselves;
for that which is the gift of God is of His own nature, clean, pure and
perfect as are all His gifts, and so it works naturally the work and
will of God in all who receive it freely, and mix nothing with it to
darken it or stop its working, and by this faith I am saved from sin and
condemnation, and begotten to the Father thereof in Christ Jesus; which
faith is not of myself, but is the gift of God, to perfect holiness in
the sight of God, and whatever is done in this faith is not sin; and
whatsoever is against this faith, or not of this faith is sin, and
brings condemnation, and this faith approves not of it. And if I act
nothing doubtingly nor against this holy faith, in this faith I am
justified in my own heart, and my own conscience kept clean, and I
approved in God's sight, and I have boldness through the obedience of
faith in the day of judgment, that it is not my own work, but the
righteousness of faith which is in Christ Jesus, and this effect has
saving working faith, and this is its nature and grace.
But another faith I have found which is
not so in nature or effect, being not freely received from above, but is
feigned, and has its ground here below, and its ends also: The earthly
man in his wisdom from the letter, reason or comprehensions, sets up an
opinion or image in his mind touching God or Christ, or religion,
worship, doctrine or manners, or any other thing, and then looking upon
the likeness of it in the reasoning part, gathers strength to believe it
must needs be so, and so forms a faith in himself: And though this faith
be not perfect when he has formed it and made it with all his strength,
but many things in the Scriptures and the practice of the Saints (but
especially that of God in his own conscience will not suit with it) yet
the strong man being above in the strength of his comprehension, forces
a faith against all these, and causes all to bow under it. So this faith
brings not forth the birth of Christ, not His pure image and life,
neither in matter of worship nor manners, but what he may imitate Christ
and the Saints in worship, and keep the world and escape the cross, and
save his life and credit and glory there, that he will conform to, and
glory in, and for the rest, he believes it concerns not him now, in all
things at this day so to walk as they did. And as this faith is not
perfect in worship, so in practice also; for that evil he is not
addicted to he condemns in all, but that which is in his own heart and
eye, and brings him profit and pleasure, that he will cover, and
believes it may stand with true belief at this day, though formerly it
could not. And this is the faith made after man, and not after God, and
serves in respect of persons, times and things; but bows not all these
forever to worship in Spirit, nor brings them under the foot of Jesus,
that Spirit, and God does not own that with His power, nor goes forth
with that which man makes, but with His own gift, which is good and
perfect in every measure thereof. And this also I have learned in Christ
Jesus, and declare to all that seek faith in Him, That I never received
any measure of this faith of Christ in vain, but whatever I acted or
suffered therein, from the least measure to this day, in it I prevailed
against whatever the light of the Spirit led me out of therein, and a
shield I have found it, and a growth in it towards Christ Jesus in every
work of it, wherein I have stood single to the end, however tempted or
tried before the end appeared; yet in the end of that faith I was ever a
conqueror through the Spirit, and whoever proves it to the end in
singleness of heart, shall be witness with me herein, with a cloud of
witnesses that have gone before, who by this holy faith have prevailed
over the powers of sin, and entered into the holy rest, who have not
sought their own kingdom, but the kingdom of Christ.
And only this pure faith, which works
towards the appearance of Christ in all actions and sufferings, is that
which orders all things in their place and time, and fits all relations
for His appearance therein to glorify God; for God is not glorified in
anything upon earth, but in whom the Son appears, who is the express
image and glory of God, and in whom alone He reveals Himself, and the
glory of His judgments and mercy, the grace and truth of God is in His
face in whomsoever He appears. And so every measure of the heavenly
faith works towards the heavenly appearance, and the earthly faith to
the earthly appearance: And so faith in God is that which works
effectually by love, to the image and life of God in this world, which
is seen only in His spiritual begettings, which being believed in, and
set above, shines forth in every measure showing the virtue and glory of
the Spirit of God. But the feigned earthly faith admits of some earthly
thing in the heart for its end, in love to which it works disobedience
to the Spirit, and so comes short of the glory of God; for it cannot
hold forth the fruits of the Spirit to glorify God, with an earthly
lover in the heart; nor can one faith serve God and mammon. So he that
loves the things of this world is God's enemy, whose faith withstands
the appearance of Christ in His actions or sufferings, and so withstands
the glory of God, which therein should be manifest to all men: And this
is that faith which ever of old has put Him afar off, yet gets the forms
and words to withstand the life and virtue: And of this sort they are,
of whom the Apostle speaks, having a form of godliness, but deny the
power of godliness, whoever were the greatest enemies to the coming of
Christ, being not of the faith of Christ, nor of the Spirit of Christ;
but being from below, withstand His coming from above, to be brought
forth in His virtue, or worshipped in His Spirit, this is antichrist.
And this spirit and this faith it is
that wrests the Scriptures to seduce from Christ, and destroy the way of
His coming; and to that end, what Christ really commands to be brought
forth of His life and virtue in real appearance, this spirit serves
himself with a meaning, instead of serving Christ with real actual
obedience; and so His birth is a meaning instead of the life of Christ,
and this he sets to oppose that life, lest it should be born into the
world. As for instance; when Christ says in the Scriptures, He that smites you on the one cheek,
offer him the other; and he that sues you, and takes your coat, forbid
him not your cloak also; and he that takes away your goods, ask them not
again: Resist not evil, but overcome evil with good; and love them that
hate you. And many such like commands, which Christ means really
and indeed, and led an example in Himself, and whoever received the same
Spirit, moves to the same things, as it grows in any, and being obeyed
will bring forth the same fruits, to glorify the Father thereof to all
generations; which Spirit waxes not old, nor in its fruits barren, where
it is really received in the faith thereof, and obeyed. But says this
other faith in the earthly spirit, Christ did not mean as He spoke,
you must not take it literally, those words must have a spiritual
meaning: And this spiritual meaning of his is to devour the life of
this obedience, both in the letter of Christ and Spirit of Christ, and
to set up a subtle meaning, without the life of Christ, and contrary to
His example; and this he will have to take place in all, both against
the plain words of Christ, His example in His walking, and the working
of His Spirit in others. And if he cannot destroy this faith and fruit
before it be brought forth, then his work is to render him a high
blasphemer, in whom this Child is born, and brought forth to light, and
counts it high presumption for any to witness the life of Christ in him,
and the Spirit of Christ in him, and his body the temple of God, &c.
because he finds these words in Scripture: But if any worship in that
temple, so as to believe and obey unto life openly, that he cannot own
without a meaning instead thereof. And so he sets the form to deny the
power, and Christ's words he wrests to deny His coming. And how long
this faith has professed Him to come (and His life and glory at His
coming) in its own carnal comprehensions, many may witness; but is never
like to receive Him in the same life, and Spirit, and power in which He
ever appeared. And so to that generation is He ever to come, but never
present, further than to make a cover for sins past and present, and an
encouragement for sin to come. And thus the devourer turns the best of
things into a lie, in all that believe him, that he may keep Christ and
the soul from their present union, which there being that gift of God in
everyone which daily draws towards Him, where it is not quenched by
believing lies, whereby such as receive not the truth in the love of it
come to be damned, as it was in the days of old. And a strait passage I
have found into the way of truth and life, which misses all his subtle
pretences; and I have seen His words true, who says, Few there be
that find it, the enemy being every way ready to meet them that
seek with a shadow, meaning, or some deceit to believe instead of the
Substance, handling the words of God deceitfully, using the gifts of God
to withstand the life of the Giver, and turning grace into lascivious
liberty.
And thus have I learned in the Light of
the world, that in my turning towards Him at His reproof, when I knew
Him not, and believing in His light whom I had not seen, I found that
faith given, which did declare the righteousness of God in Him, wherein
He perfectly walked upon earth, both in doing and suffering, which being
turned towards, I found the propitiation that God had sent forth,
through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the
remitting of my sins past, that God might be just, who would not have
past by my sins past, had He not accepted His sufferings; nor have I had
liberty from sin past to have followed Him, nor could I have been
accepted therein, but in the faith and hope of the same righteousness;
so God was full in justifying, and His forbearance magnified to me
therein. And in turning to this righteousness of His, declared in the
light of faith and hope, my face was set towards God's righteousness in
Christ Jesus, to be attained for life and salvation for time to come to
walk in. And so being turned towards God, all my sins past were behind
me, and God's righteousness before me; and so from henceforth was I to
be found in God's righteousness, walking in a measure of it, and in the
faith and hope of the fullness of Christ, and attainment of God for my
inheritance. And this great redemption I found in Christ Jesus at that
day was in such things as these following: As first, His calling of me
with His light; His holding forth to me His life and suffering, which
were so holy, that I could not but confess to them, His turning me
towards the same in hope thereof by believing, His begetting a Mind in
me towards that same life, and the increase of His light that way to
lead me, and the setting of me free from the wrath of God, for all my
sins of ignorance past, which else had laid upon me as a weight or
chain, binding me that I could not have walked in the way of His light,
&c.
But I do not say, that if I turned to
commit sin again, that that sin was cast behind my back also; I learned
otherwise, I found that sin then before my face greater than the rest,
and stood in my way to God, and stopped me from following His light, or
growing in His life, that I could no way escape it but by repenting of
it, and receiving the just sentence of condemnation in myself, and
bearing His indignation, till He that wounded me for it healed me again;
which I never found, but as I turned from the evil with my whole heart,
and accepted the punishment, till the Advocate did arise to intercede,
whose blood I had trampled on, and whose precious life I had pierced,
and His Holy Spirit grieved, by turning away from His leadings.
Nor do I say, that all my sins, which
formerly I had committed, of which I had been convinced by the light of
the world, when I was in the world, before I believed it to be
sufficient, that they were wholly taken away, as my sins of ignorance
were; for this I found, that God in this was just and merciful:
merciful, in that He did not lay them all at once before me, lest they
should have pressed me down, that I could not have followed the light,
nor gotten any strength; but must needs have perished under them, had He
not spared. And just I have found Him also; for as they were not
committed all at once, against the light of His Spirit; so He has at one
time or another visited for them, and laid them before me; yet not all
at once, nor no way so heavy as those committed after I believed, and
gave up myself to follow the light, and yet to an account He has brought
me for them. And coming to feel the terrors of God, I have learned to
fear and love, and have found the ground and the rise, and deceits of
that faith that believes Christ to have taken away the sins of
believers, past, present and to come, with which many at this day make
merry over the Witness of God, and the Just is slain in them, and that
Scripture I have learned without a meaning, If we sin
willfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remains no more sacrifice for sin; but a certain fearful looking for of
judgment, and fiery indignation to devour the adversary; though
none know how but he that comes to it in the fulfilling, and then shall
be seen, he that's born of God sins not, and he that believes is born of
God, but he that sins, turns his back both on the faith and Birth that's
towards Christ, and becomes adverse thereunto in his work, whatever he
says he believes. And this I have found an everlasting truth, whatever
men believe or imagine, that no longer than a man keeps his face towards
the light of God; no longer is his sins cast behind his back, whether
they be sins past, present or to come; but if he turn from God's
righteousness, his own iniquities will arise and meet him, both new and
old, and in vain do such believe, they are then blotted out of God's
sight, whose eye shows him his way, in which he then walks, and condemns
him for it in his own heart.
Nor was the ground and root of sin
removed, so soon as my mind was turned by the light from sin towards
God, but the motions thereof I found, and the lust seeking to go forth
to its objects, to bring in to conceive sin again afresh; that ground
was but removed, as I grew in Christ and He in me, and as I came to
learn Him, that was in the beginning before sin was, who was learned in
the faithful following and serving of His Spirit, in watching, in
fastings, in prayers, and in all spiritual wrestlings, as I came to be
led into with the light; in which warfare I came to see the hardship of
him that will be a soldier of Christ Jesus, and the baptisms into His
death, the slothful servant and the faithful, and their reward, and the
parables and figures of the kingdom opened, as that Spirit grew in me
which interprets the Scriptures in the life; and opens the sealed
mysteries thereof in their season, as they come to be fulfilled. And so
I came to the gift of the Scriptures by inspiration, which only profits
to the perfecting of the man of God, which the man of this world not
having learned, wrests to his own destruction, getting the words of them
in the earthly part, before they be fulfilled in his heart through the
Spirit, and such receive them not by inspiration, nor the gift of the
Holy Ghost.
And in this journey I have seen the
slothful servant overtaken in a fault, which he had once cast behind
him, and never intended to join to again, of which the diligent servant
is kept free; and I have seen the wages of each servant according to his
diligence, in that which he has of God entrusted in him, and not by his
own strivings, in the thoughts of himself, his worth or wisdom. And in
diligent hearkening and obeying of the Spirit, have I found the right
faithfulness towards God, though getting knowledge be highly esteemed
with men, and I have found that, as I have the Spirit manifest in me to
profit withal: So the time of my profiting are only in His hand, and my
waitings upon Him when He moves not, is my reasonable service, and a
profiting time to me as if He moved, though I see it not. And this I
found a great cross to my hasty will, which is indeed the true worship
in Spirit, which, when I knew not this Spirit to hearken and bow to, and
obey and observe in all things as His will leads, I worshipped I knew
not what, and my fear towards God then was taught by the precepts of
men, and I was not taught of the Lord, not being born of that Spirit:
And so all the children of the Lord are taught of the Lord, and as many
as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. These
Scriptures I then could read, and understand without meanings, not by
that which my wisdom taught me, but which the Holy Ghost taught me; and
the Scriptures, thus learned and received, was no more a notion to be
lost, but a possession; and I came to have an inheritance therein among
them that are sanctified in all ages, and no subtle man could either
steal them, or change them, or anyway beguile me of the truth of them,
by wresting them, nor take away my comfort I had in them, my comfort and
fellowship therein being in the same Spirit and Life that gave them
forth; and the Word of God thus grew and endures forever, and the Spirit
of truth, that leads into all truth, endures forever, and the Seed of
God is one therein to all generations, and that is one which perfects
the spirits of all just men, and God Himself is judge over all, and
Leader of all, by His own begettings in all that enter into this rest of
the faithful, which remains to all His children, out of which false
faiths and disobedience shut themselves.
And that which declares the
righteousness of God for remission of sins past, and for an inheritance
against sin for time to come, have I found to be faith without
falsehood, which righteousness though in faith and hope beyond
declaring, yet inherited but as the virtues that are in Christ Jesus
come to be received in the life of them. And that faith which has not
that righteousness for its ground and end, and the virtues, and several
measures of the growth of Christ for its life and increase, that I have
found upon trial to be a feigned fancy, after man's mind, and not after
God's and is without the hope of this righteousness for his inheritance;
or says he has Christ further than he has His virtues, for his life and
growth towards this inheritance, when he comes to be weighed with the
truth, will be found too light to stand in the judgment, or abide the
fire, or to dwell with everlasting burnings; the trial of that faith
will leave him without faith: then shall it be read as it is written, When the Son of man comes shall He
find faith on the earth?
Who they be
that are under the law, and who they be that have made void the law
against themselves, and who they be that are under grace.
Grace reigns through righteousness, and
the law through transgression; and he that says he is under the law, and
the transgressor alive, he makes void the law against himself, but is
under it in the account of God.
For the seed or image of God being
fallen, the transgressor is above, to whom there is no grace nor life
promised, who has no true obedience but for self-ends; upon this is the
law added till the promised Seed arise, and a Schoolmaster the law is
till it bring to Christ, who of the woman is made under the law, who
takes upon Him the seed after the flesh, the soul to redeem from under
the transgressor, that the natural Plant of God may grow. So we can
witness the teachings and chastisings of the law, to bring him so low
till he come under the Seed, so as the Seed be set above the head of the
transgressor, and have bruised it, and so taken away the strength of
sin, there the strength of the law is taken away also; And as the soul
is raised up through the law, the law being fulfilled by the Seed
through the Spirit, so it arises above the law, into the kingdom of
grace, which reigns through righteousness, and not by making void the
law; for the grace is to the Seed, and the law to the transgressor: And
as these reign in the creature, so is he under the law or under grace,
for the law has power over the man of sin as long as he lives, then is
the Seed of the promise in bondage; but he being dead by which the Seed
is held captive, the Seed rises under grace, which as it rises through
the law fulfills it, and being fulfilled it loses its strength, as sin
dies, and so has no more power, the law being the strength of sin till
it be fulfilled by the Seed through the Spirit; so he that is dead to
sin, is free from sin, and under grace: And he that casts off the law
while he is alive that sins, makes void the law against himself.
So he that's under grace is dead to sin,
and dead to the law which is the strength of sin, and sin has no more
dominion over the soul, the power of it being subdued, which was the law
unfulfilled; but where the law is made void, the strength of sin yet
remains, and the law will overtake them in the end.
And he that learns this in the death and
resurrection, and eternal life, shall in this work learn what the
transgression is, and how the law is added upon him, and how it is the
strength of sin in him, but not in the Seed, and what it is that makes
the entrance through the law, and how grace comes to abound where sin
has abounded, and to reign through righteousness to eternal life.
So where the transgressor is slain,
there the law is at an end and fulfilled, and the Plant of God brings
forth, against which there is no law, but the law is against the man of
sin, and the man of sin against the law as long as he lives, and power
it will have over him, and one jot of it will not pass away till it be
fulfilled: And he that would cast off the law and make it void, is far
from grace, but in him that fulfills the law, does grace and truth
abound.
On the Way of Life,
from the knowledge that devours the life.
Would you know the way of life from that
knowledge which devours the life; then be no longer as the wild asses
colt, but take up the yoke of the Son, in whom you say you believe, that
the life of faith you may feel and know, for only in the obedience is
the life made sure to you of what you believe, and thereby is faith and
knowledge made perfect.
But until you attain power for obedience
of faith, you are dead, and know but words, in which your faith stands
without life, which accomplishes nothing, but will arise to condemn you
when your time is out.
Therefore in all your seeking, mind that
which works in a lowly mind, calling you into the obedience of what is
there made manifest in the begettings of the Father, and not in the
conceivings of the brain, but in the Son; for in the brain-knowledge the
boaster rules who glories in the wisdom of words, but not in the words
of life; but in the obedience of the Son is the Father known and
glorified in such as walk in the Spirit and not in the wind, whose
praise is of God, and their lives hid with Him from all knowledge, but
what is revealed in the obedience of the Son: So from man you may learn
the knowledge of words, but the knowledge of life is only in the
begotten of God; so that he that has the Son has life, not of the
disobedient nature, for the begotten of God is conformable to Him that
begets him in all things through obedience.
So feeling your measure of the
begettings of God, in it be obedient, and seek not to be above it in
anything, lest the enemy thereby get power in you to puff up your mind
in your knowledge above your life, which devours the life.
Therefore as you feel faith, love,
meekness, gentleness, patience, or any godliness move in the Spirit,
therein become obedient with all diligence, and thereby shall you know
the power thereof against all the contrary motions in your flesh, so
shall you learn the salvation of grace unto life eternal, which you can
never attain by talking or any other way but in the obedience thereof,
so shall you not receive the grace of God in vain, nor words without the
working power of life, whereby the living knowledge of the mystery of
godliness will daily increase.
For by obedience of the Spirit is the
soul purified from its darkness and pollution, and made fit for the
further manifestation of the hidden mystery, and the receiving the
fullness thereof, and walking therein; and so by the Holy Ghost you
shall be able to confess Jesus Lord over all powers in heaven and in
earth, the opener of all secrets, and only revealer of the Father who
begets, by whom you become wise in your knowledge unto salvation, not
unto vain babbling, whose words shall rise and condemn them who glory
therein.
But you, if in Spirit you hearken
diligently and obey, shall know that He who sometimes spoke by the
Prophets, does now speak by His Son, the everlasting power of godliness,
the only begotten of the Father, and in all things like unto Him, in
whom He is made manifest; and the Prophets have prophesied of glory to
come, but the Son declares the Father in this present life, according to
the measure of Him formed; and as He arises in fullness He opens the
heavens, and gives the inheritance thereinto.
*******
Sections yet to be
added:
An opening of light
to all sorts of rulers and people that wait for the kingdom of God, that
you may not oppose Him in His appearance, nor set up another to reign
upon earth in His stead.
A candle lighted, to
give the sight of the good old way of God at His coming, from the ways
that now ensnare the simple.
The living God glorified
in His Temples, the true worshippers, that worship Him in Spirit and in
truth.
To the Ranters
Deceit discovered by its
fruits.
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