Truth Held Forth and Maintained, Part 1 · Chapter 6
Concerning Perfection, and that Warfare which the faithfull are to paſs through, before they come to witneſs free and full Redemption from Sin in this Life, according as will appear by what follows.
GOD is perfect, juſt and holy in all his Works and gifts towards all the Sons and Daughters of Men; for every good and perfect gift cometh from the Fathêr of all Grace, Life and Light, with whom there is no variableneſs nor ſhadow of Turning, Jam. 1.17. but in Man, the heart above all things is deceitful and deſperately VVicked; who can know it, ſave the Lord, that made Man in his own Image, after his own Likeneſs made he him, and gave him Dominion over the things of the Earth, Jer. 17.…. Gen. 1 26. commanding him, that he ſhould not eat of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil, for in that day wherein he did eat thereof, he ſhould ſurely dye, gen. 2.17. Which Command, through Diſobedience, Man broke, by which he brought the Sons and Daughters of Men into a ſtate of Luſt which through the Temptations of the Enemy to his own feed in the Heart, draws the natural Mind to luſt after that evil which bringeth ſin, and ſin bringeth Death ove… the Soul; for the VVages of ſin is Death, but the gift o… God …s eternal L…e, unto them who do not remain in that firſt ſta…e of D…generation, ſinning againſt the gift of God; for as the Children of men ſel… ſhort of the glory of God, through the I all of the firſt Man Earthly, ſo the Children from Adam, … Faith and Obedience to the gift of …od, ſhall be ſaved, through the Death and Reſurrection of the Lord of Life, the ſecond Adam …om Heaven, ſpiritual, who requires perfect Obedience of all men, to his holy. Commands, that their Souls, through Faith in him may be ſaved; for only they are ſaved which perfectly believe in him, that he is able and willing to give them Power that are willing to keep his Commands; …or which end of Mans Salvation, he hath commanded People to be …ect, even as God is Perfect, Mat. 5.48 which Command by Jeſus Chriſt, ſeems too ſtraight for many to receive into their Belief of ever attaining ſuch a ſtate in this Life, that they either diſtruſt in the Power of God …y Jeſus Chriſt, or otherwiſe they are not willing to part with all their ſins to gain Chriſt; for Sin makes a partition Wall between God and mans Soul, that it cannot come to receive the incomes of Gods divine Love by Jeſus Chriſt; for all Sin is of Unrighteouſneſs, and all Unrighteouſneſs is of the Devil, which is the Father of all Sin, whoſe work of Darkneſs hath no relation to the Kingdom of Heaven, neither can any enter Gods holy place before they are free from Sin; but he that ſerves the Lord, and keeps all the Commandments of God, doth witneſs a perfect ſtate in this Life, Mat. 19.20, 21. & 5.48 and the holy Scripture is full and clear, that ſuch as feared God and wrought Righteouſneſs, were perfect Men; for Noah, which walked with God was a perfect Man; and God commanded Abraham to be perfect, Gen. 17.1. Alſo, Job was a perfect M…n, being upright, and one that fea…ed God and eſchewed evil, Job 1.1. & cap. ….2, 3. in which Tryal of Job's Faith, he ſaid… That God would not caſt away a perfect Man, J…b 8.20. which manifeſts, that ſuch have been perfect men in this Life, otherways the Spirit of the Lord would not have ſuffered an account of the ſame to have been recorded in the … Scriptures of Truth. Alſo, David was a man after Gods own heart (except in the matter of Ʋriah, of which he repented) which could not have been, had not David been a perfect Man; for he that is not perfect in the Work of the Lord, to keep his Commands, he is not a Man after the Nature of Chriſt, who perfectly performed the Work of God, for the Redemption of Men, in whom the work of God is to be perfected by Jeſus Chriſt, who came to redeem from ſin, and will redeem the Souls of them that faithfully believe in his redeeming Power, by which they ſhall be freed from ſin in this Life, till ſin can find no place to lodge in the hearts of them that are ſaved; and this hath been the ſtate of Noah, Abraham Job and David, with many others of the Lords Servants, who did not diſtruſt in the Power of the Almighty, but believed in God by which they became Men after Gods own heart; and for any to believe, that David, or any other of the Lords Servants, could be Men after Gods own heart, and yet could not be free from all ſin, which is the work of the Devil, to me it ſeems the Anti-chriſtian Faith, which is of the Devils begetting, to perſwade People, that G…d is not willing to give Power to them that truely believe in him, to perform what he requires of his People that is, to keep all his Commandments, according as he hath commanded; that thereby they may fullfill his Command. To be perfect as …od is perfect and holy as he is holy, that is, to be free from ſin, which is to be free from conſenting to joyn with the Devils Temptations; for Gods Holyneſs i… Perfection extends beyond what M…n in this Life can …prehend; but they that dye from ſin, to live in …, a… made free from ſin in this Life, otherwiſe according to Chriſts own words, where he is gone, they can never come. Then it is ſufficient in the Wildom of God, to be perfect, juſt and holy, according as the Lord requires, in this Life, and in the Life to come to ſee him, and to be with him in Glory, and to be, in meaſure, of his Glory, even like unto him; and as it pleaſed the holy God, in his own Wiſdom, to let the Enemy, by Temptation, to prevail againſt David, and Peter, with others of his Servants in dayes paſt, by which their Teſtimonies for Gods holy Truth came to bear the more force, by the Power of God, through which, by true Repentance, they came to be renewed to a heavenly Life again; by which Fall they t…roughly came to ſee and behold, that there was not any … …ower, ſave the Power of God, that was able to preſerve and ſave from the Power of the Devil; for tho' the Wildom of God, many times doth ſuffer the righteous to all, yet the cauſe is imputed unto themſelves, through the neglect of their Watch againſt the Temptations of their Souls Enemy; but by Repentance, through Faitly in God, they by his Grace come to be reſtored again, which is ſufficient warning, that their Watch ſhould never be neglected more; ſo that though the Righteous fall yet by their faithing it doth not in the leaſt meaſure weaken the Truth of God's Cauſe in the work of Perfection; for they which fall riſe again, and by Repentance, through Faith in Chriſt, by him they are reſto…ed, as his faithful Servants and Children, to God again, which ſtate of Falling once or twice in the whole time of a Man or Womans Life, ſome make an c…ſion or matter for the Devil to work againſt the Trum of God, as doth evidently appear by them that ſin daily in Thought, Word and Deed againſt God, …hoſ Commaniton…nts, they ſay, no Man in this Life, can keep, according… to what God requires of them to do; By which they unjuſtly charge the Lord, as did that unfaithful Servant, which hid his Lords Talent in the Earth, and charged his Lord of being a hard Maſter, …at. 25 2…. &c. even ſo is it with them in this day, who do not improve the Gift of God, but live in the daily breach of Gods Commandments, in which ſtate they plead for ſin all the dayes of their Life, in which they remain in the Fall, which is as much differing from the Life of the Righteous, as Heaven diff…rs from Hell; for the Righteous live not in the Fall; for God is their ſtrength and Power, he maketh their wayes perfect, Pſal. 18.32. By which it is manifeſt, that if People would but give up in their Minds with this godly Reſolution, to follow the Dictates and Motions of Gods Gift, which is the Light of his own Spirit by Jeſus Chriſt, and by meaſure is beſtowed on the Sons and Daughters of men to profit withal, that they would come to witneſs Gods Power by Jeſus Chriſt, to be ſufficient for their preſervation againſt all the Temptations of their Souls Enemy; but while People remain in their Lo here and Lo there, running in their Minds from one high Hill to …he other Barren Mountain, where the chiefeſt of their Food is by a Confeſſion from their Shepherds Mouth, That their beſt Performances are Sin, and that they draw in Sin as an Ox draweth in Water; which in ſo doing, they do well to acknowledge the Truth of their ſtate, which by their continuance therein, it doth further enlarge Gods juſt Judgments againſt a People which live in ſin againſt the Lord of Life, whoſe gift of Grace they ought to improve to the profit of their Lords Talent, which h… hath beſtowed upon them, for the honour of his own Name, and everlaſting wellfare of their Immortal Souls, which muſt either live by true Faith and Obedience to God, or eternally periſh, through their Diſobedience to his heavenly Gift of the divine Light of his Spirit; for as they live in ſin; they continue Servants unto him whom they obey, and his Children they are whoſe Works they do; and they that plead for a Body of ſin all their dayes, they uphold the Devils Kingdom, in which ſtate they oppreſs the Seed of God, and quench the gift of the Spirit of God, by which they hinder themſelves of the heavenly divine incomes of Gods Love, which refreſhes the Heart and quickens the Spirit of the faithful, by which their Souls, through Faith in Chriſt, are made alive to God, whoſe people preach, pray and ſing in his Time, to the honour of his holy Name, and edification of one another; but the Prayers of the Wicked are an Abomination to the Lord; for the Lord doth abhor the Prayers of him that prayeth in his own Time and in his own Will; for the Spirit of Prayer leads the faithful to pray in the Lords own due time, by which the Sour… comes to be refreſhed, by the effectual working of Gods ſpiritual Appearance, which doth aſſiſt the in ward Man in the holy Work of Prayer unto God, without which aſſiſting Power of Gods ſpiritual Appearance, which doth aſſiſt the inward Man in the holy Work of Prayer unto God, without which aſſiſting Power of Gods ſpiritual Appearance Prayer is of no effect to the Soul of Man, who in their own Time go round in their own Wills, in their preaching, praying and ſinging, even like to a Horſe in the Mill, and a Door on the Hinges, and ſtill remaining where they were; yet ſuch men in the like Confeſſion will in the ſame place of their Worſhip, preſume to call the …uakers Light a ſtinking Vapour from, Hell
Now, we know, that with God there dwelleth no imperfect thing but with the Devil dwelleth all Unrighteouſneſs, and with him remaineth all they that live and dye in thei… ſins; for all them that remain in ſin in this Life, they are never free from the Devils Power, which if it were not for the reſtraing Power of God, the Devil by them that ſerve him) would ſoon deſtroy the whole Heritage of God, which as yet remain the Body on this ſide the Grave; for the Devil finneth from the beginning, and his Work is to lay waſte Gods Heritage, and to deſtroy all that which is good. Now ſo this purpoſe was the Son of God made manifeſt, that he …ght deſtroy the Works of the Devil, 1 Joh. 3.…. For whoſoever committ…th ſin, tranſgreſſeth the Law; for ſin is the Tranſgreſſion of Gods holy Law, and ye know he was made manifest to take away our ſi…, and in him is no ſin, 1 Joh. 3.5. Whoſoever abideth in him, ſinneth not, whoſoever ſinneth, hath not ſeen him, neither knoweth him, 1 Joh. 3.6. Let no man deceive you, he that doth Righteouſneſs is righteous, 1 Joh. 3.7. Whoſoever is born of God doth not commit ſin, for his S…d remaineth in him and he cannot ſin becauſe he is born of God, 1 Joh. 3.9▪ Now in this the Children of God are manifeſt, and the Children of the Devil; whoſoever doth not Righteouſneſs is not of God, neither he that hateth his Brother, verſ 10. Now, we know, that whoſoever is born of God, ſinneth not, but he that is begotten of God, keepeth himſelf, and that Wicked One toucheth him not, 1 Joh. 5.18. And this Declaration of Gods Truth, hath proceeded from the Spirit of God, and is agreeable with Chri…s own words, John 8.21 Thy that dye in their ſins, where Chriſt is gone, they can never come; for as Death leav…s, ſo Judgment finds, and there is no Repentance in the Grave. And in John 1….23. from Chriſts own words, Ian them, and ther în me, that they ma… be made perfect in one, and that the World may know that thou haſt ſent me, and hast loved them, …s thou hast loved me.
By which we may ſee, that which God hath commanded, he is in no way ſhort in his Power towards the willing and obedient, but unto them, who through Diſobedience to the Gift of Gods Spirit, which came by Jeſus Chriſt, they remain in ſin, whoſe Reward will be with that unprofitable Servant which hid his Lords Talent, by which he loſt his portion of Gods heavenly Riches, which the faithful are made partakers of in this Life, and in the Life to come; ſo that where there is any thing of faithfulneſs wanting to the gift of Gods Spirit of divine Grace, Life and Light, it hinders from a perfect ſtate, even as with him whom Chriſt brought to the Touch-ſtone, If thou wilt be perfect go and ſell that which thou haſt, and give it to the poor, and thou ſhalt have Treaſure in Heaven, Mat. 19.20, 21. By which it is manifeſt, that men through Obedience to what the Lord requires of them to do, may by him be made perfect, according to his own Command, in this Life, Mat. 5.48. for Chriſts words are to be believed before the words of all men that have ever taught the Doctrine of Imperfection; for Chriſts vvords are very plain, and by the Spirit of God eaſie to be underſtood, in his ſaying, Be ye therefore Perfect, as your heavenly Father …s Perfect; alſo, That the Diſciple is not above his Maſter, b…t every one that is perfect ſhall be as his Maſter, Luke 6.40. Which alſo implyes, that ſome there were that were perfect, otherwiſe it vvould not have been ſaid, Every one that is perfect; and for this end Chriſt gave Gifts, for the perfecting of the Saints, Epheſ. 4.12. For the gift of God is for the perfecting of his Saints, for vvhichwhich the Lords Servants prayed, That they might preſent every man Pefect in Chriſt …eſus, preaching and …arning every man, and teaching e… man in all Wiſdom, that they might preſent every man perfect in Chriſt Jeſus, 1 Col 1.28.
But unto ſuch who Reply, That he that ſaith he hath no ſin, deceiveth himſelf, and the Truth is not in him, 1 Joh. 1.8. and verſ 10. If we ſay, we have not ſinned, we make him a L…ar, and the Truth is not in us. By which it is evident, That all men in their firſt ſtate have ſinned, and that there is ſomething of that Nature, ſo long as the Warfare againſt ſin remaineth; but at the end of the Warfare againſt ſin, ſin in the Warfare is overcome, and no longer remains in the Man of God, which is according to the Spirit of God, as by the Apoſtles writing concerning that ſtate in which men were in the Warfare, I write unto you, little Children, becauſe your ſins are forgiven you for his Name ſake; I write unto you Fathers, becauſe ye have known him that is from the beginning; I write unto you, Young Men, becauſe ye have overcome the Wicked One; I write unto you, little Children, becauſe ye have known the Father; I have written unto you Fathers, becauſe ye have known him that is from the beginning: I have written unto you, Young Men, becauſe ye are ſtrong, and the Word of God abideth in you, and you have Overcome the Wicked One, 1 John 2.12, 13, 14. So that in the Warfare, the Churches growth, was in their ſeveral ſtates of preſſing forward to Perfection; in which ſtate of their Warfare, they came to grow from a Childs ſtate, to the ſtate of a ſtrong man in Chriſt Jeſus. So that in their Spiritual Travail againſt Sin, they ſtill come more and more to the increaſe of Gods holy Truth by their knowledg of his will and mind, through Jeſus Chriſt, by whoſe Power they received dayly Strength for their Preſervation in his holy Truth, by which they come to grow from one degree of Grace unto another, till at length in the Lords due time they become perfect Men in Chriſt Jeſus, who is the Author and Finiſher of his good Work in the hearts of his People; for when they have overcome the wicked One, they have alſo overcome ſin, and the ſame is a perfect Man, 1 John 2.13, 14. And this is agreeable with the Apoſtle Pauls writing concerning the ſame ſtate, which he did experience in his Warfare, including all under ſin in the firſt ſtate; for as Men are found to partake of Adams Diſobedience, ſo alſo are they found Tranſgreſſors of Gods holy Command, in which they have ſinned, and all that remain in that ſtate, remain in ſin, being Servants to ſin, which frees them from the Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, whoſe faithful Servants war not with carnal Weapons, but with ſpiritual Weapons, which through him are mighty, to the pulling down of ſtrong Holds and Wickedneſs in high Places. Now leaſt the Apoſtle ſhould be exalted above meaſure, through the abundance of Revelations, there was given unto him a Thorn in the Fleſh, the Meſſenger of Satan to buffet, leaſt he ſhould be exalted above meaſure. And whereas he ſaid, O wretehed Man that I am! who ſhall deliver me from this Body of Sin and Death, Rom. 7.24. All which doth not incinde him to be a Tranſgreſſor of Gods holy Law, as every man that remains in ſin is, which cannot in truth and righteouſneſs ſay, as the holy Apoſtle did, I thank God throvgh Jeſus Chriſt our Lord; ſo then with the Mind I my ſelf ſerve the Law of God, but with the Fleſh the Law of ſin, verſ. 25. Now by the Law of Sin, the ignorant do conclude, the holy Apoſtle was not free from ſin in this Life, which he clears in Rom 8.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. There a therefore no Condemnation to them which are in Chriſt Jeſus, who walk not after the Fleſh, but after the Spirit; for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Chriſt Jeſus hath made me free from the L… of Sin and Death; for what the Law could not do, in that it was weak, through the Fleſh, God ſending his own Son in the Likeneſs of ſinful Fleſh, and for ſin condemned ſin in the fleſh, that the Righten…ſneſs of the Law might be full…illed in them who walk not after Fleſh, but after the Spirit. For they that be after the Fleſh, do mind the things of the fleſh, but they that be after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit; for to be carnally minded is Death, but to be ſpiritually minded is Life and Peace, becauſe the carnal mind is at Enmity againſt God; for it is not ſubject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be; ſo then they that are in the Fleſh cannot pleaſe God, Rom. 8.1, 2 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. By which it is manifeſt, that the holy Apoſtle did not all his days continue in a Body of ſin, but in his War…are was preſſing forward towards the Mark of the Calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus, Phil. 3.14. forgetting thoſe things which are behind, and reaching forth unto thoſe things which are before, Phil. 3.13. That the Man of God might be perfect, thorowly furniſhed unto all good Works, 2 Tim. 4.17. in which ſtate of preſſing forward to Perfection, Patience hath her per…ect work, that they might be per…ect, wanting nothing, James 1 17. Which ſtate the holy Scriptures bear Record, Paul in the end of his Warfare did attain, which is a ſtate free from ſin in this Life according as by the Spirit of God he himſelf teſtified, That he had ought a good fight, wherein he had finiſhed his Courſe, and …ept the Faith, or whom there was laid up a Crown of Righteouſneſs, which the Lord the righteous …udge would give him at the laſt Day, and not to him only, but to all them that love his appearing, 2 Tim. 4.7, 8. And theſe things were done before his Departure from the Body, as appears by his Epiſtle to Titus, and to Philemon, and alſo to the Hebrews; ſo that the Lords People well know, by the Spirit of God agreeing with the holy Scriptures, as alſo by their daily prog…eſs in the Way of the Lord, all agreeing with the gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit, that by true Faith and Obedience thereunto, they ſhall receive a daily ſupply of his Power, which will give ſufficient ſtrength againſt the Devil, and all his Temptations; by which he that hath ſet his hand to the Plow, and doth not look back, ſhall come to witneſs a thorow cleanſing from ſin in this Life, which they that witneſs not in this Life, ſhall not witneſs a cleanſing in the Kigndom of Heaven; for no imperfect thing can enter the Kingdom of Heaven, neither is there any Repenting in the Grave, for as Death leaves, ſo Judgment finds.