The True and Spiritual Worship, Part 2 – Part 4
A Message of Truth to Professors.
WO to the Teachers of the People, that daub with untempored Morter, and cry, Peace, Peace, when the Lord hath not spoken Peace; For the Lord speaks Peace to none in their Sins; but they Teach for Doctrine, That none can live out of Sin whilst on this side the Grave; and so they Minister for Antichrist, the Man of Sin, and not for Christ, who is without Sin, in Gods Righteousness.
And he that keepeth Christs Commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him; and his Commandments are not grievous, saith John: And again, He that is Born of Christ sinneth not; for the everlasting Father of the Vnspotted Generation is he. And herein (saith the same John, and all the living Members of Christ) is our Love made perfect that we may have Boldness in the day of Judgment; because as he is, so are we in this World.
But the Masterly Teachers of this World cry out, O the Commands of Christ (who is God) are hard, none can keep them, we must live in Sin whilst on Earth, no Perfection here, no Victory over all while on this side the outward Grave.
These have their Eyes abroad, and judge after the Flesh; and the things of Gods Spirit are Foolishness to them: The Grave of Sin they lie dead in, and know not the Resurrection from it; and so are ignorant of Christ, who is the Resurrection and the Life: And the Eye in such is shut, as yet, that should hear the Sons Voice, whose Voice raiseth the Dead.
O foolish and flow of Heart to be…ieve all that Christ and his Prophets have spoken; Doth not Christ say, The hour is coming and now is, when the Dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live; For as the Father hath Life in himself, so hath he given to the Son, to have life in himself, John 5.25. And in another place, He that Liveth and Believeth in me, shall never die for God is not the God of the Dead, but of the Living; for th… Dead cannot Praise him. And I will Ransom them from the Power of the Grave; I will Redeem thee from Death; O Death I will be thy Plagues, O Grave I will be thy Destruction, Hos. 13.14.
And again, Ezek. 37.12 , &c. Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, O my People, I will open your Graves, and cause you to come up out of your Graves, and ye shall know that I am the Lord; and I will place my Sanctuary in the midst of you for evermore. These words are faithful and true, and the Israel of God, who are risen with Christ, know them; and in the Birth Immortal, being passed from Death to Life, do set to their Seal, That God is a Faithful Performer of his Promises this Day: For Life and Immortality is brought to Light through the Gospel, which is the Power of God to Salvation, in all that believe in God, and know his Christ in them, who is the D E A T H of Death, and Destruction of Sin, and Life Eternal to enjoy; Glory to his Name forever: And against this Living Faith and Quickning Power the Gates of Hell shall never be able to prevail.
But as was said before, Wo to the Teachers of the People, who Daub with Untempered Morter; who look outward, and judge of things according to the Flesh, and outward appearance of things; and plead for the Life of Sin during the whole time of mans being upon Earth, and look at the Grave without, and Death without, and so lie dead in Sin, and buried in the Grave of their spiritual Wickedness themselves; and so lead about a People, silly as Women in Matters Spiritual, laden, like themselves with divers Sins and Lusts, alwayes learning, but never able to come to the Knowledge of the Truth: For who know the Truth, as it is in Jesus, are set free by it; For if you be set-free by the Truth then are ye free indeed, saith Christ. This is more then all outward Knowledge and Profession, to be so free, as not to be under the Power of any Sin, Lust, Temptation, Will of Man, nor any of the Powers of Darkness whatsoever, but Free, as Christ is Free, who is over all, God blessed forever.
But now that Christ is come, to set up this his holy Glorious Kingdom in the Hearts of the Children of Men; Where is this Faith to be found on Earth? But all the Multitudes of Earthly Professors cry, The Kingdom of Heaven hereafter; The Kindom of Glory hereafter; no Perfection on this side the (outward) Grave; none c…n overcome, or put off the Body of Sin, whilst here, and the like: Not knowing what they say, nor whereof they affirm, when they speak of such things; because, to the Kingdom of Heaven within, in man, they are wilful Strangers; Eyes they have, but see not; and Ears, but hear not; for the inward Eye, which should see, have they fast closed; and the Ear, which should hear, have they shut, lest they should see and hear, and be converted, and be saved. But Blessed is the Eye that sees the Kingdom of God, which he hath set up, and is setting up in his Trembling People; and the Ear that hears the unutterable Word of the living Father, which raiseth the Dead; they shall never be Praising of him in the Congregation of the Righteous, where none can come to make afraid; for these Love and Fear the Lord, and that frees them from the Fear of Vain Man, whose Breath is in his Nostrils.
But all whose Religion stands upon the Sandy Foundation of mans Wisdom, and Thoughts, and Doings, which perfects not to God, these will be like the Chaff, which the Wind scatters to and fro; the Regenerating Power of Gods eternal Spirit they being ignorant of in themselves, all their shew of Religion is meer Hypocrisie, and the Religion of Hypocrites shall never be established; for all who gather not with Christ shall scatter, and every Plant that his Heavenly Spiritual Hand hath not plan…ed, shall be rooted up.
O! What Darkness have you rapt your Selves in? and how is the Understanding Part clouded in you, that you will neither see nor learn to know the things that pertain to Everlasting Life? Can you say the Branches of the faln Tree, the first Adam, are Unholy and Corrupt, because of the Unholiness of the Root? And will you not see that the Members of the Heavenly Man, Christ Jesus, who never fell, are Holy, because of the Holiness of the Root? For if the Root be Holy, so are the Branches. Anoint your Eyes with Eye-Salve, that if possible you may see, and know a better Root in you, then the faln mans nature, to grow on, that the Kingdom of Holiness you may feel come near you; For they that are in the Flesh cannot please God, whatever they may Profess: And this adds to their misery, that when they have brought forth the deadly Works of the Flesh, they would charge them upon Gods Elect, and make their Works like their own: These Fleshly ones are great Enemies to Christ, & his Righteousness, and his Members; for they that are in Christ are New Creatures; and to Abel and his Offering God hath still Respect, though Cain and his Offering was alwayes rejected, because polluted with Sin; as the Prayers and Performances of all Hypocrites are at this day: Therefore for this purpose was the Son of God manifested, and is at this Day received of the Faithful, even to destroy Sin, which is the Devils Work. And in him, to wit (Christ Jesus the Ligh…) is there no Sin, nor sinful Nature.
So they who love Christ, and Walk in his Life, and Light, please God; For he is that Way undefiled, wherein no Unclean can walk: but the Redeemed are here: And what if I should set down the words of Jesus, to wit, Whosoever abideth in Christ, Sinneth not; whosoever Sinneth, hath not seen him nor known him, 1 John 3.6. Can you believe it? I know you cannot whilst you stand reasoning with Flesh and Blood, not believing in the Light, that lightneth every man that cometh into the World, but call the Light of Christ in man Natural; and then put the Letter (which only witnesses to the Light) instead of it: And then the Enemy works in your natural Earthly wisdom, causing you to wrest Scriptures to establish your empty Forms, which makes nothing perfect; and this was the sin of the old Jews, who though they talked of the Messiah, yet when he appeared they would not come to him, that they might be saved; and so under the dead Profession of the Letter, they lay slain: And though they had a Zeal for God, as you have now, yet it was not according to knowledge, and so stumble at the Stumbling-Stone; and so in their dark minds would needs keep up the Forms and Shaddows of things in opposition to the Substance (the thing it self) Christ Jesus, when he appeared, as you do now. O that you could be perswaded of this, how well would it be for your poor Souls in time to come.
Therefore now that the True, Heavenly, Everlasting, Al-sufficient Light is broken forth again, from under the Clouds, after the long dark Night of Apostacy; turn your Minds in, to know a measure of it in you, and wait therein to be led out of all the dark Paths of Sin and Error by it: For I am the Way, saith Christ, the Light, that true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World; and I will send my holy Spirit of Truth to lead into all Truth: He i… come, and his Promise fulfilled; Glory to his Name forever, And do you not know how that Christ is in you, except you be Reprobates, saith the Apostle. And if we walk in the Light as he is in the Light, then have we fellowship one with another, and the Blood of this Innocent Lamb cleanseth from all Sin, and washeth from all Unrighteousness all real Commers thereunto, saith the same Spirit: Therefore go not sorth, for without are Doggs, and all Lyars; but Truth, and the Kingdom of it, is to be found within, nigh in the Heart, or never.
O how Beautiful is the Way of the Just! Holiness is the Girdle of their Reins continually, their hearts ponder deep things in Holiness; they do no Iniquity who walk in this Everlasting Undefiled WAY, Christ Jesus, the Light; for, by the Light are they led out of all Defilements; and to such there is no occasion of Stumbling.
O stoop down low with your minds to the Light of Christ in you, that convinceth you of sin and evil, that through the Light, the true Door, and Daily-Cross to the Carnal Mind, you may come into the Sheep-fold; for all who clime up another Way, are but as Thieves and Robbers, and must be judged as Goats, and set on the left hand, because they would not hear Christ Voice, the Light in the Conscience, to be led by it. Great Wo to the Climers over the Door; such neither receive Christ, nor his Servants whom he sends; but chose rather to follow such as love to be called of men Master, and live in the respect of Persons, and persecuting Nature, and daub over an old heart with fair Promises of Life, as it is amongst you this day; for what though some in the outward-stand against you for your Form, and Worlds sake; as the Heathen of old did the outward Jews yet both those outward Jews then, as you outward Professors do now, stood, and do stand, against Christ, and us for his Truth's sake: For we find it true from you all, That whosoever walketh in Christ, and holdeth forth his Life, and so Worship God in Spirit and Truth, shall be hated of all men, whether Professors or Prophane, who are out of that Life and holy Worship, even for Christs very Name and Life's sake, because it is a Cross and Offence to all the World, who are in their own Wills, under what Form or Profession soever, who are gotten into a Profession of Christ, without Christ, and the daily Cross which his Followers bear. Therefore all who are climed up into the Tree of an outward Profession without the true real feeling and spiritual acquaintance with the daily Cross, and fiery Law of the Lord, and flaming Sword (which Guards the Tree of Life) which is in the Hand of the Angel of the Covenant, for the cutting down of the Man of Sin (that the Birth Immortal, which is Holy, may enter in and possess the Inheritance) must come down again; I say, they must come to the beginning, from which in their faln Wisdom they are wandred, to learn of him in Silence, who speaks from Heaven, whose Word is nigh in the heart, before ever they be established; for except you become as little Children, not in Talk, but in Truth, ye cannot enter Gods Kingdom.
O ye People, hearken a while, whether Teachers or Hearers; You who have been feeding upon the Tree of Knowledge, and never came through Gods judgments, the Flaming Sword, to the Tree of Life: Your Food … Death, your Works will Burn, and your Figleaf-Covers will fall off you, and you be left Naked and Bare to the shame of your Nakedness, as in the day that you were Born: For what is any Covering unless it be that of the Spirit of Christ. The Lord God, who is of purer Eyes then to behold Iniquity, will bring your Deeds to the Light of his Judgments within you, from which you cannot flee; and before him will nothing stand but that which is Pure.
Your defiled Preachings, Prayings, Singings, Hearings, Readings, will be rejected, and cast out as Dung from the Presence of the Pure Holy God, that is a consuming Fire: You have multiplied words without Knowledge: Ye have not been, neither yet are ye Doers of Gods Will (to the Witness of God in your Consciences I speak) therefore in vain do you say Lord, Lord; and he will not hold them guiltless that take his Name in vain. Your Garment is not of the Pure White Linnen, which is the Saints Righteousness; but Linnen and Woolen is your Covering, a thing forbidden by Gods Law. Your Field is not sowen with the one Heavenly kind of Grain (the good Wheat) but another Seed have you mingled with it, and the mixture is so great, that the bad hath almost choked and covered the good in you: If you will work you must into Gods Vineyard, and be exceeding Dilligent, and Laborious (in Spirit) in plucking up the Weeds by the Roots in you, The Light of Christ in the Conscience waiting in it) will give thee Understanding: But Wo will be to them who call the Light Darkness, and put Darkness for Light; and so suffer the Good in them to wither, and nourish the Bad Part in them, which is like the Grane, that never hath enough; but is alwayes learning at man without, and not at Christ within, and ministring from the outward dead spirit of the World, and not from the measure of the living Spirit of Christ; & so not taking heed to the Word of Faith, which is nigh in the heart (the Word of Christ which is Spirit and Life) they never get victory over their sin, as is manifest, but go laden Teacher, and Hearer, all their life long with divers sins and lusts, as was said before. So Wo to the selfish Workers, who speak their own words, and think their own thoughts on this the holy Sabbath day of the Lord God, wherein he hath given his People rest from all their weary labour and burdens: The outward day, the first day of the Week shall not cover you, nor be a Sabbath to you; but in the breach of Gods holy & everlasting spiritual Sabbath of Rest, you being found, you must bear his Judgment. Behold, all ye that kindle a Fire this day, and that compass about your selves with Sparks, walk in the light of your Fire, and in the Sparks that ye have kindled; yet know, that your reward from the Lords hand, is to lie down in sorrow. I say, all you who feed upon, and whose Faith stands in the wisdom of vain mans words, raised up in the subtilty to please the iching Ear, and not in the Power of God, which washeth the inside; a day of scattering cometh upon you, it cometh, and a grievous Whirle-wind from the Lord; and the pleasant Brests of Mystery Babylon, which you so much delight in, shall be dried up; for the Lord hath rejected your confidence, because you have rejected his good Word and Counsel, and chosen your own Delusion, and evil entreated his Servants, whom he sent, rising up early, and sending them time after time, to warn you to come out of all your dead Forms, and dead Faith, into the living vertue and power of his eternal Spirit of Truth, to worship him there, and to know it in you, but you would not; therefore the Lord will yet do that great W…rk and Wonder amongst you; he will confound the wisdom of your Wise, and bring to nought the understanding of your Prudent Men, and they shall be as Women, weak and feeble, the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it; and the Songs of your Temple shall be Howlings in that day, because of the Vine of Sodom, that will bear no more Grapes, but so many as have drunk of the Wine of her Fornication, must drink of the Cup of Gods Wrath. And all you who talk of your Faith and suffering Condition, and yer live in your sin, you know not what spirit you are of; for the same mind, that you think to suffer in, is it which by Transgression grieves the Spirit of God, and stands against the setting up of his Kingdom in your selves, and the Testimony thereof in his redeemed Ones this day: And so, if you could give your bodies to be burnt in this your Unsaved and Unsanctified Condition, it would profit you nothing at all. Wherefore come out from amongst them, all you that would be happy, & touch no unclean thing, but give your hearts to the Lord, to know his Light in you, to teach you; and he will receive you, and hide you from the Wrath that is to come upon all that are not in him, as saith his Spirit in his Servant.
This is a Message of Truth to all you in and about Stafford, and those of like Spirit with you elsewhere, who go under the name of Presbyterians, Teachers and Hearers, to read and ponder in the cool mind, that you may know what the Lords Mind is concerning you in this his day, wherein he is manifest with his Fan in his Hand, to purge the Floor, that he may gather to himself the good Wheat, and burn up the Chaff: For we knowing the Terrors of the Lord, perswade you, and all People, in love to your Soules, to take heed of dallying with God, who is a consuming Fire; for his Judgments are manifest, and who can stand before his Wrath? O be not Proud, lest your hands be made strong; but be meek, and lowly, and gentle in heart, to learn of him that is so, that you may find rest for your soules; for there is no Peace to the Wicked, saith my God the true God, that made Heaven and Earth, whose Wrath from Heaven is perfect, revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (without respect of Persons or Professions) who hold the Truth in any manner of Vnrighteousness, So be it.
In the 2d MonethMonth, 1670. T. T.
WEEP thou England, Houl, Houl ye People; for the Dreadful Day of the Lord God is at hand, it is at the Door, as an Armed Man, coming swiftly upon you, to break down and tread under feet thy Pomp, Glory, and Strength.
Thou hast exceeded in thy Sins, and art grown monstrous in thine Iniquities; so the Lord will be exceeding Terrible unto thee. Thou hast suffered the Wicked in thee to have Liberty, and to take their fill of sin, when the Voice of the Righteous cannot be endured in thee; but he that departs from Iniquity, and would perswade others so to do, is even made a Prey of by Ungodly and Unreasonable Men; their Bodies Imprisoned and Banished, and Estates spoiled, and all sorts of Injuries done them for God's Name & Truths sake. And therefore will the Lord God arise to take Vengeance for these things; Yea, his Soul will certainly be avenged on such a Nation as this, saith this Spirit in his Servant.
AND moreover, because you have said in your hearts, We have compassed them about with an Act, and none shall Worship God but as we please: Therefore will the Lord, the mighty God, compass you about with his Terrors, and you shall find no place to hide your selves in, from his Wrath, because of the Pride of your Hearts, and Evil of your Doings, O all ye People of the Land (saith the Lord God) who are guilty of these things.
T. T.
THE Lord, even the Lord God of infinite endless glorious Power and Truth, plead our Cause, our innocent Cause, against you the Rulers of this Nation, and of all the World who hate us, and persecute us without all cause. The Lord hath raised us up in Righteousness, ever praised be his Name, to bear our Testimony for God and his Christ, against all the Wayes and false Worships of faln man; and therefore it is that such as are in the fall, through the ignorance and evil that is in them, number us with the Transgressors, and account all manner of Punishments and Grievances too little for us; yea, Banishment, Imprisonment, Spoiling of our Goods, and Death it self is judged not less then we deserve: So the Scripture is fulfilled, see John 16.2, 3. And all this for no manner of evil at all, but meerly because we cannot cease to Worship and Serve the living and true God, our Father, as he hath taught us, and doth teach all that come to him: For our Worship to God is pure in Spirit and Truth: And this is the true, standing, and established Worship for evermore; and God is now mightily seeking such to worship him. And so the Lord, the Ever-blessed and True God, plead our holy Cause against you, who hate us without a Cause. We have laid before you the Truth and Righteousness of our Cause, and our Good-will to all men, and how it is not in our hearts and hands in the least to injure you, or any; but to this day you will not hear, but stop your Ears to our innocent Cryes: and therefore to the Lord God of Heaven and Earth do we call, and before him, who is the KING of Kings, and LORD of Lords, and RULER of Rulers, and JUDGE of Judges, do we lay our innocent Cause.
O that you had known at least in this your day, the things of your peace, but you will not, and therefore how can ye expect less then a Forsaking and Casting-off by the Lord, as the People of old (called Israel)-found, who would not hear the Voice of the Lord and his Servants, crying and calling unto them in those dayes: Read the Prophesie of Hosea, Hos. 1.6, 8, 9, and see what Lo-ruhaemah and Lo-ammi signifie, and humble your selves greatly before the Lord; for assuredly great wrath is gone out from the presence of the eternal Majesty of Heaven and Earth against you; and nothing can stay it, but your ceasing from Persecuting the blessed Truth of God, which we, the People of God, in Scorn called Quakers, do love, and live in. It is so.
T. T.
THE END.
End of the text · Thomas Taylor, The True and Spiritual Worship (1670)