The wisdom of the earthly wife confounded, or, A manifestation of the spirits of some envious professors who are ready to prefer the hireling priests works of darkness, whose works are against the revelation and coming of Christ in spirit, as their fore-fathers works of cruelty and murder were against him in the dayes of his flesh, as may be seen at large in the scriptures of truth ... this was chiefly occasioned by some nonconformists promoting the works of darkness of a conformist (or chief priest of Warsick-shire, called, Thomas Willson, in his book, ... who slanderously charges the people called Quakers to be false interpreters of the Holy Scriptures) wherein is something of answer to such as have any true tenderness left in them, and would receive the truth if they knew it, but its like to the hard-hearted, stubborn and rebellious (like those, Matth. 27.25. who said, his blood be upon us and upon our children) it will be foolishness, as is the preaching of the cross to them that perish ... / by William Smith.
         Smith, William, d. 1673.
      
       
         
           1679
        
      
       Approx. 32 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 8 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
       
         Text Creation Partnership,
         Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :
         2003-01 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).
         A60665
         Wing S4345
         ESTC R9981
         12275741
         ocm 12275741
         58439
         
           
            This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of
             Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal
            . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.
          
        
      
       
         Early English books online.
      
       
         (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A60665)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 58439)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 899:5)
      
       
         
           
             The wisdom of the earthly wife confounded, or, A manifestation of the spirits of some envious professors who are ready to prefer the hireling priests works of darkness, whose works are against the revelation and coming of Christ in spirit, as their fore-fathers works of cruelty and murder were against him in the dayes of his flesh, as may be seen at large in the scriptures of truth ... this was chiefly occasioned by some nonconformists promoting the works of darkness of a conformist (or chief priest of Warsick-shire, called, Thomas Willson, in his book, ... who slanderously charges the people called Quakers to be false interpreters of the Holy Scriptures) wherein is something of answer to such as have any true tenderness left in them, and would receive the truth if they knew it, but its like to the hard-hearted, stubborn and rebellious (like those, Matth. 27.25. who said, his blood be upon us and upon our children) it will be foolishness, as is the preaching of the cross to them that perish ... / by William Smith.
             Smith, William, d. 1673.
          
           15 p.
           
             s.n.],
             [London :
             1679.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
         Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.
         Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors.
      
       
         EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.
         EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).
         The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.
         Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.
         Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.
         Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.
         The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.
         Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).
         
          Keying and markup guidelines are available at the
           Text Creation Partnership web site
          .
        
      
       
         
         
      
    
     
       
         eng
      
       
         
           Wilson, Thomas, 17th cent.
           Society of Friends -- Controversial literature.
           Dissenters, Religious -- England.
        
      
    
     
        2000-00 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2001-12 Aptara
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2002-01 TCP Staff (Michigan)
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2002-01 TCP Staff (Michigan)
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2002-02 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
         
         
         
           THE
           WISDOM
           OF
           THE
           Earthly
           Wise
           CONFOUNDED
           ,
           OR
           ,
           A
           Manifestation
           of
           the
           Spirits
           of
           some
           Envious
           Professors
           ,
           who
           are
           ready
           to
           prefer
           the
           Hireling
           Priests
           Works
           of
           Darkness
           ,
           whose
           Works
           are
           against
           the
           Revelation
           and
           Coming
           of
           Christ
           in
           Spirit
           ,
           as
           their
           Fore-Fathers
           Works
           of
           Cruelty
           and
           Murder
           were
           against
           him
           in
           the
           Dayes
           of
           his
           Flesh
           ,
           as
           may
           be
           seen
           at
           large
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           of
           Truth
           .
        
         
           This
           was
           chiefly
           occasioned
           by
           some
           Nonconformists
           promoting
           the
           Works
           of
           Darkness
           of
           a
           Conformist
           (
           or
           Chief
           Priest
           of
           Warwick-shire
           ,
           called
           ,
           
             Thomas
             Willson
          
           ,
           in
           his
           Book
           ,
           who
           slanderously
           charges
           the
           People
           called
           QUAKERS
           to
           be
           
             False
             Interpreters
             of
             the
             Holy
             Scriptures
          
           )
           wherein
           is
           something
           of
           Answer
           to
           such
           as
           have
           any
           true
           Tenderness
           left
           in
           them
           ,
           and
           would
           receive
           the
           Truth
           if
           they
           knew
           it
           :
           But
           its
           like
           to
           the
           Hard-hearted
           ,
           Stubborn
           and
           Rebellious
           (
           like
           those
           ,
           Matth.
           27.
           25.
           who
           said
           ,
           
             His
             Blood
             be
             upon
             us
             and
             upon
             our
             Children
          
           )
           it
           will
           be
           Foolishness
           ,
           as
           is
           the
           Preaching
           of
           the
           Cross
           to
           them
           that
           Perish
           :
        
         
           By
           WILLIAM
           SMITH
           .
        
         
           Printed
           in
           the
           Year
           1679.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           The
           Wisdom
           of
           the
           Earthly
           Wise
           CONFOUNDED
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           WE
           ,
           whom
           the
           heavenly
           Day-spring
           of
           God
           from
           on
           High
           hath
           visited
           ,
           who
           were
           once
           in
           Darkness
           and
           the
           Shadow
           of
           Death
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           others
           :
           I
           say
           ,
           We
           do
           not
           marvel
           to
           see
           (
           the
           Literal
           Outside
           Professors
           of
           this
           Generation
           ,
           of
           all
           Sorts
           and
           Perswasions
           (
           out
           of
           the
           Truth
           )
           as
           well
           as
           Chief-Priests
           (
           the
           Old
           Enemies
           of
           Christ
           )
           though
           they
           so
           much
           differ
           and
           disagree
           amongst
           themselves
           )
           how
           ready
           they
           are
           to
           joyn
           Hand
           in
           Hand
           against
           the
           Lord
           and
           his
           blessed
           Heritage
           ,
           whom
           he
           hath
           blessed
           ,
           and
           will
           bless
           above
           all
           the
           Families
           of
           the
           Earth
           :
           Yea
           ,
           how
           ready
           are
           you
           to
           catch
           up
           and
           imbrace
           any
           piece
           of
           Darkness
           and
           Confusion
           that
           ariseth
           out
           of
           the
           Bottomles
           .
           Pit
           of
           the
           
             Deceived
             ,
             Envious
          
           and
           
             Babylonish
             Hearts
          
           of
           such
           as
           hate
           the
           Witness
           or
           Light
           of
           Christ
           in
           their
           own
           Consciences
           ;
           and
           also
           envy
           such
           ,
           who
           by
           believing
           in
           the
           Light
           of
           
             Christ
             within
             are
             Witnesses
          
           of
           his
           
             Spiritual
             Appearance
          
           .
           So
           all
           you
           Malicious
           
             Papists
             ,
             Chief-Priests
             ,
             Presbyterians
             ,
             Independents
             ,
          
           and
           Baptists
           of
           all
           sorts
           ;
           &c.
           that
           do
           not
           believe
           in
           
             Christ
             ,
             the
             true
             Light
             ,
             who
             lighteth
             every
             one
             that
             cometh
             into
             the
             World
             ,
          
           according
           to
           Iohn
           1.
           9.
           
           &
           8.
           12.
           
           &
           9.
           5.
           are
           all
           wrong
           in
           the
           Ground
           ,
           and
           you
           are
           all
           against
           us
           ,
           and
           we
           are
           against
           you
           all
           ,
           till
           you
           come
           out
           of
           Deceit
           ,
           Envy
           and
           Unbelief
           ;
           we
           know
           your
           Spirits
           will
           concur
           against
           us
           ,
           as
           did
           your
           Progenitors
           (
           the
           chief-Priests
           ,
           the
           hard-hearted
           
             Iews
             ,
             Scribes
             ,
             Pharisees
             ,
             Saduces
             ,
             &c.
          
           )
           against
           Christ
           and
           his
           Followers
           in
           the
           days
           of
           his
           Coming
           in
           the
           Flesh
           ,
           who
           as
           Christ
           told
           them
           ,
           they
           did
           
             Err
             ,
             not
             knowing
             the
             Scriptures
             ,
             nor
             the
             Power
             of
             God
             ,
          
           Mat.
           22.
           29.
           
           And
           even
           so
           do
           ye
           ,
           who
           will
           not
           abide
           his
           Spiritual
           Appearance
           in
           your selves
           ,
           nor
           in
           such
           as
           are
           Witnesses
           of
           it
           .
           So
           in
           this
           State
           you
           are
           all
           from
           the
           Highest
           to
           the
           Lowest
           ,
           of
           all
           sorts
           ,
           both
           
           Priests
           ,
           Teachers
           aad
           People
           far
           from
           the
           true
           Interpretations
           of
           holy
           Scriptures
           ;
           and
           if
           ever
           you
           come
           truly
           to
           it
           ,
           you
           must
           come
           down
           from
           climbing
           up
           another
           way
           ,
           to
           Christ
           the
           Door
           and
           Light
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           
             who
             lighteth
             every
             man
             that
             cometh
             into
             the
             World.
          
           And
           also
           ,
           if
           you
           will
           be
           true
           Followers
           of
           him
           ,
           that
           you
           may
           have
           Life
           and
           Treasure
           in
           Heaven
           ,
           you
           must
           with
           the
           Young
           man
           ,
           Matth.
           19.
           (
           which
           I
           believe
           will
           be
           as
           hard
           for
           many
           of
           you
           Rich
           Ones
           in
           your
           Natural
           Wisdoms
           ,
           as
           for
           him
           )
           
             Sell
             all
          
           your
           great
           Possessions
           of
           that
           Wisdom
           which
           is
           from
           below
           ,
           which
           is
           
             Earthly
             ,
             Sensual
          
           and
           Devilish
           ,
           in
           which
           you
           have
           given
           false
           Interpretation
           upon
           the
           holy
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           thereby
           wofully
           wrested
           them
           to
           Justifie
           or
           Indulge
           your selves
           in
           a
           continuance
           in
           sin
           to
           the
           end
           of
           your
           days
           ;
           
             the
             Wages
             of
             which
             is
             Death
             ,
          
           as
           faith
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           
             But
             the
             Spirit
             gives
             Life
          
           ,
           and
           leads
           to
           true
           Interpretations
           of
           holy
           Scriptures
           ;
           though
           Contrary
           to
           your
           Natural
           ,
           Dark
           Conceptions
           and
           Imaginations
           :
           
             The
             Natural
             man
             receiveth
             not
             the
             things
             of
             the
             Spirit
             of
             God
             ,
             they
             are
             Foolishness
             unto
             him
             ;
             neither
             can
             he
             know
             them
             ,
             because
             they
             are
             Spiritually
             discerned
          
           ;
           see
           1
           Cor.
           2.
           
        
         
           Now
           ,
           I
           would
           have
           all
           you
           Outside
           ,
           Literal
           Imitaters
           of
           all
           sorts
           (
           that
           are
           not
           too
           high
           &
           too
           swelled
           with
           your
           vain
           Notions
           and
           Imaginations
           )
           to
           lay
           them
           by
           a
           while
           ,
           and
           consider
           Seriously
           ,
           since
           there
           is
           but
           
             One
             ●ay
          
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           
             One
             Truth
             ,
             One
             Lord
             ,
             One
             Faith
             ,
             One
             Baptism
             ,
          
           (
           which
           is
           Spiritual
           ,
           and
           only
           known
           to
           the
           true
           
             Spiritual
             Worshippers
          
           )
           Mark
           ,
           
             One
             God
             and
             Father
             of
             all
             ,
             who
             is
             above
             all
             ,
             and
             through
             all
             ,
             and
             in
             you
             all
             ,
          
           Ephes.
           4.
           5.
           and
           a
           Mystery
           to
           you
           all
           ,
           and
           ever
           will
           be
           while
           strangers
           to
           the
           Light
           of
           Christ
           within
           ,
           which
           will
           give
           a
           right
           Understanding
           of
           Scriptures
           to
           them
           that
           believe
           in
           it
           and
           follows
           it
           ,
           and
           will
           lead
           to
           a
           right
           use
           of
           them
           ,
           &c.
           
           But
           how
           many
           
             Ways
             ,
             Worships
             ,
             Faiths
             ,
             Baptisms
             ,
          
           &c.
           are
           there
           amongst
           you
           ,
           every
           one
           Crying
           up
           his
           own
           Way
           and
           Form
           ,
           pretending
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           for
           it
           :
           Oh!
           what
           Distractions
           and
           Confusions
           are
           here
           !
           And
           where
           must
           they
           be
           charged
           ,
           upon
           the
           Scriptures
           or
           upon
           you
           ,
           with
           your
           many
           
             Lo
             here
             's
          
           and
           
             Lo
             there
             's
          
           ?
           Every
           one
           for
           his
           own
           Way
           ,
           in
           Opposition
           to
           the
           Way
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           is
           but
           One
           and
           his
           
             People
             One
          
           in
           it
           .
           Now
           look
           upon
           your selves
           and
           among
           
           your selves
           ,
           and
           behold
           the
           Fruits
           of
           your
           Interpreting
           Scripture
           ;
           Is
           it
           not
           to
           make
           the
           World
           or
           People
           like
           a
           Wilderness
           ?
           
             Lo
             here
             ,
             Lo
             there
             ;
             See
             here
             ,
             See
             there
             !
          
           But
           what
           saith
           Christ
           ?
           
             Believe
             them
             not
             ,
             go
             not
             after
             them
             ,
             nor
             follow
             them
             ;
             for
             behold
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God
             is
             within
             you
             ,
          
           Luke
           .
           17.
           21.
           
           Thus
           saith
           our
           Lord
           Christ
           Jesus
           ,
           and
           we
           have
           believed
           him
           ,
           and
           in
           our
           measures
           have
           Infallibly
           found
           it
           so
           .
        
         
           And
           if
           this
           should
           seem
           strange
           Doctrine
           to
           any
           ,
           to
           whose
           hands
           these
           may
           come
           ,
           though
           of
           the
           many
           Ways
           ,
           Forms
           and
           Perswasions
           ,
           since
           you
           all
           profess
           the
           Scriptures
           to
           be
           your
           Rule
           ;
           I
           would
           know
           how
           you
           Interpret
           these
           following
           Scriptures
           .
        
         
           God
           is
           a
           Spirit
           ,
           
             (
             as
             Christ
             said
          
           )
           and
           is
           to
           be
           Worshipped
           in
           the
           Spirit
           and
           in
           the
           Truth
           .
           God
           is
           Light
           ,
           and
           in
           him
           there
           is
           no
           Darkness
           at
           all
           .
           If
           we
           say
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           fellowship
           with
           him
           ,
           and
           walk
           in
           Darkness
           ,
           we
           Lye
           ,
           and
           do
           not
           the
           Truth
           ;
           but
           if
           we
           walk
           in
           the
           Light
           ,
           as
           he
           is
           in
           the
           Light
           ,
           then
           have
           we
           fellowship
           one
           with
           another
           ,
           and
           the
           Blood
           of
           Iesus
           Christ
           his
           Son
           cleanseth
           us
           from
           all
           Sin.
           
             Christ
             said
          
           ,
           I
           am
           the
           Light
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           he
           that
           follows
           me
           shall
           not
           walk
           in
           Darkness
           ,
           but
           he
           shall
           have
           the
           Light
           of
           Life
           :
           
             and
             said
          
           ,
           Believe
           in
           the
           Light
           ,
           that
           ye
           may
           be
           the
           Children
           of
           the
           Light.
           The
           Grace
           of
           God
           which
           bringeth
           Salvation
           hath
           appeared
           to
           all
           men
           ,
           teaching
           us
           that
           denying
           Vngodliness
           &
           Worldly
           Lusts
           ,
           we
           should
           live
           Godly
           ,
           Righteously
           ,
           &c.
           in
           this
           present
           World
           :
           
             This
             Grace
             appearing
             unto
             all
             ,
             is
             ,
             that
             all
             might
             believe
             therein
             ,
             and
             obey
             it
             ,
             and
             be
             saved
             ;
             but
             some
             of
             Old
          
           did
           dispight
           unto
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Grace
           
             (
             as
             many
             do
             now
             )
             against
             whom
             the
             Apostle
             testified
             ,
             and
          
           Iude
           
             in
             his
             Epistle
             witnesses
             against
             such
             .
             The
             Apostle
             said
             unto
             the
             Saints
             ,
          
           By
           Grace
           ye
           are
           saved
           ,
           through
           Faith
           ,
           
             &c.
             and
             said
          
           ,
           It
           s
           a
           good
           thing
           that
           the
           Heart
           be
           established
           with
           Grace
           :
           
             And
             the
             Lord
             said
             to
          
           Paul
           ,
           My
           Grace
           is
           sufficient
           for
           thee
           ,
           &c.
           
           
             Christ
             in
             his
             Parable
             of
             the
             Talents
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Pearl
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Field
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             Sower
             ,
             and
             of
             the
             good
             Seed
             ,
             which
             fell
             upon
             the
             divers
             Grounds
             ,
             doth
             clearly
             hold
             forth
             the
             Universal
             Love
             of
             God
             unto
             all
             People
             .
             God
             said
             by
             the
             Prophet
             ,
          
           Look
           unto
           me
           ,
           O
           all
           the
           Ends
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           and
           be
           ye
           Saved
           ,
           &c.
           
           As
           many
           as
           are
           led
           by
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           they
           are
           the
           
           Sons
           of
           God.
           The
           Spirit
           of
           Truth
           ,
           which
           doth
           lead
           the
           Saints
           into
           all
           Truth
           ,
           the
           same
           doth
           Convince
           the
           World
           of
           Sin
           ,
           
             as
             Christ
             hath
             promised
             .
             Christ
             said
             ,
          
           This
           is
           the
           Condemnation
           ,
           that
           Light
           is
           come
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           men
           loved
           Darkness
           rather
           than
           Light
           ,
           because
           their
           Deeds
           were
           Evil
           ;
           for
           every
           one
           that
           doth
           Evil
           ,
           hateth
           the
           Light
           ,
           neither
           cometh
           to
           the
           Light
           ,
           lest
           his
           Deeds
           should
           be
           reproved
           ;
           but
           he
           that
           doth
           Truth
           ,
           cometh
           to
           the
           Light
           ,
           that
           his
           Deeds
           may
           be
           made
           manifest
           that
           they
           are
           wrought
           in
           God
           :
           
             See
             John
             3.
             19
             ,
             20
             ,
             21.
             
             &
             1.
             9.
             
             &
             8.
             12.
             
          
           First
           Epistle
           of
           
             John
             1.
             5
             ,
             6
             ,
             7.
             
             John
             16.
             8
             ,
             9
             ,
             10
             ,
             11
             ,
             12
             ,
             13
             ,
             14.
             
             Jer.
             17.
             10.
             
             Psal.
             7.
             10.
             
             Mal.
             3.
             5.
             1
             
             John
             5.
             10.
             
             Isa.
             55.
             4.
             
             Rom.
             8.
             13
             ,
             14.
             
             Psal.
             50.
             16
             ,
             to
             the
             End.
             Acts
             13.
             47.
             
             &
             26.
             17
             ,
             18.
             2
             
             Cor.
             4.
             6
             ,
             7.
             
             Let
             us
             hear
             what
             Interpretations
             you
             will
             give
             to
             these
             Scriptures
             .
             Again
             ,
             the
             Apostle
          
           Iohn
           saith
           ,
           God
           is
           Love
           ,
           he
           that
           dwelleth
           in
           Love
           ,
           dwelleth
           in
           God
           ,
           and
           God
           in
           him
           .
           Again
           ,
           He
           that
           hateth
           his
           Brother
           is
           a
           Murtherer
           ,
           and
           no
           Murtherer
           hath
           Eternal
           Life
           abiding
           in
           him
           .
           
             Again
             ,
             Christ
             said
             unto
             the
             Saints
             ,
          
           I
           and
           my
           Father
           will
           come
           ,
           and
           make
           our
           abode
           with
           you
           .
           
             And
             God
             hath
             promised
          
           ,
           That
           he
           will
           dwell
           in
           his
           People
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           will
           write
           his
           Law
           in
           their
           Hearts
           ,
           and
           put
           his
           Spirit
           in
           their
           Minds
           ,
           
             &c.
             
             Let
             us
             see
             how
             skilful
             you
             are
             in
             Interpreting
             these
             heavenly
             comfortable
             Sayings
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Lord
           God
           said
           by
           the
           Mouth
           of
           the
           true
           Prophet
           concerning
           the
           false
           ,
           
             Wo
             unto
             the
             Foolish
             Prophets
             ,
             who
             follow
             their
             own
             Spirit
             ,
             and
             have
             seen
             nothing
             ,
          
           Eccles.
           13.
           11.
           
           But
           the
           true
           Apostle
           said
           ,
           
             The
             Spirit
             it self
             beareth
             Witness
             with
             our
             Spirit
             ,
             that
             we
             are
             the
             Children
             of
             God.
          
           This
           Spirit
           was
           and
           is
           all
           the
           true
           Christians
           Guide
           :
           this
           did
           of
           old
           ,
           and
           now
           doth
           bear
           Witness
           with
           ,
           or
           unto
           the
           Spirits
           of
           all
           true
           Believers
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           the
           Children
           of
           God
           ,
           who
           are
           led
           thereby
           ;
           for
           it
           leads
           them
           to
           do
           those
           things
           which
           please
           God.
           The
           Apostle
           saith
           ,
           
             The
             Scriptures
             came
             not
             in
             Old
             Time
             by
             the
             Will
             of
             man
             ,
             but
             holy
             men
             of
             God
             spoke
             them
             as
             they
             were
             moved
             by
             the
             holy
             Ghost
             ,
             or
             Spirit
          
           ;
           and
           he
           saith
           ,
           
             they
             are
             of
             no
             private
             Interpretation
             .
          
        
         
           So
           you
           who
           deny
           Immediate
           Revelation
           ,
           and
           deny
           and
           hate
           the
           Universal
           ,
           Infallible
           Spirit
           of
           God
           and
           Christ
           ,
           you
           have
           nothing
           to
           Interpret
           the
           Scriptures
           with
           or
           by
           ,
           but
           your
           own
           fallible
           
           private
           Spirits
           ,
           and
           the
           wicked
           Spirit
           ,
           
             The
             Prince
             of
             the
             Power
             of
             the
             Air
             ,
             which
             works
             in
             the
             Hearts
             of
             the
             Children
             of
             Disobedience
             ,
          
           as
           saith
           the
           Apostle
           ,
           and
           with
           these
           joynt
           workers
           in
           Wickedness
           you
           cannot
           rightly
           Interpret
           the
           holy
           Scriptures
           ;
           but
           by
           the
           help
           of
           this
           dark
           Spirit
           you
           are
           taught
           to
           wrest
           them
           to
           your
           own
           Destruction
           :
           The
           Lord
           in
           mercy
           deliver
           you
           from
           this
           false
           Teacher
           .
        
         
           The
           Kingdom
           of
           Heaven
           is
           likened
           to
           a
           man
           that
           gave
           to
           his
           Servants
           Talents
           ,
           
             &c.
             
             Matth.
             25.
             14.
          
           
           A
           manifestation
           of
           the
           Spirit
           is
           given
           to
           every
           man
           to
           profit
           withal
           ,
           
             1
             Cor.
             12.
             7.
          
           
           Whatsoever
           makes
           manifest
           is
           Light
           ,
           and
           Christ
           is
           that
           Light
           ,
           
             Ephes.
             5.
             13.
          
           
           He
           that
           declareth
           to
           man
           his
           Thoughts
           ,
           the
           Lord
           the
           God
           of
           Hosts
           is
           his
           Name
           ,
           
             Amos
             4.
             13.
             
             Elihu
          
           was
           constrained
           by
           the
           Spirit
           within
           ,
           
             Job
             32.
             18.
          
           
           The
           Word
           of
           God
           is
           within
           ,
           
             Deut.
             30.
             14.
             
             Psal.
             119.
             11.
             
          
           The
           Law
           and
           the
           Covenant
           of
           Life
           is
           within
           ,
           
             Jer.
             31.
             33.
          
           
           The
           Word
           of
           Faith
           that
           purifieth
           the
           Heart
           is
           within
           ,
           
             Rom.
             10.
             8.
             
             Heb.
             4.
             12.
             
          
           The
           sure
           Word
           of
           Prophecy
           ,
           and
           the
           Day-star
           is
           to
           arise
           within
           ,
           
             2
             Pet.
             1.
             19.
          
           
           God
           ,
           Christ
           and
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Truth
           that
           leadeth
           into
           all
           Truth
           ,
           are
           to
           be
           known
           within
           ,
           
             John
             14.
             16.
          
           
           Know
           ye
           not
           your
           own
           selves
           ,
           how
           that
           Iesus
           Christ
           is
           in
           you
           ,
           except
           you
           be
           Reprobates
           ,
           
             2
             Cor.
             13.
             5.
          
           
           The
           Mystery
           that
           hath
           been
           hid
           from
           Ages
           and
           Generations
           is
           Christ
           within
           ,
           
             Col.
             1.
             26.
          
           
           The
           Anointing
           the
           true
           Teacher
           that
           shall
           never
           be
           removed
           into
           a
           Corner
           is
           within
           ,
           
             1
             John
             2.
             27.
             
             Isa.
             30.
             20.
             
          
           That
           which
           may
           be
           known
           of
           God
           is
           manifest
           within
           ,
           
             Rom.
             1.
             19.
          
           
           I
           thank
           thee
           ,
           O
           Father
           Lord
           of
           Heaven
           and
           Earth
           ,
           because
           thou
           hast
           hid
           these
           things
           from
           the
           Wise
           and
           Prudent
           ,
           and
           hast
           revealed
           them
           unto
           Babes
           ,
           
             Matth.
             11.
             25.
             see
             1
          
           Cor.
           
             1.
             26.
          
           
        
         
           We
           are
           not
           led
           by
           our
           own
           Conceivings
           nor
           Imaginations
           (
           as
           the
           Carnal-minded
           out-side
           Professors
           are
           )
           to
           interpret
           the
           holy
           Scriptures
           but
           by
           a
           measure
           of
           the
           same
           Spirit
           of
           Truth
           ,
           from
           which
           they
           were
           given
           forth
           ,
           in
           and
           by
           which
           they
           can
           be
           only
           and
           alone
           truly
           read
           and
           known
           ,
           by
           which
           Spirit
           we
           are
           made
           living
           Witnesses
           to
           the
           Truth
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           can
           read
           them
           within
           ,
           which
           is
           far
           more
           then
           the
           bare
           outward
           reading
           .
           
             And
             we
             know
             that
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             is
             come
             ,
             and
             hath
             given
             us
             an
             understanding
             that
             we
             may
             know
             him
             that
             is
             true
             ,
          
           John
           5.
           20.
           
           
             And
             greater
             is
             he
             that
             is
             in
             us
          
           (
           that
           teaches
           true
           Reading
           and
           right
           
           Interpretations
           of
           holy
           Scriptures
           )
           
             then
             he
             that
             's
             in
             the
             World
             ,
          
           1
           John
           4.
           4.
           
           
             And
             hereby
             know
             we
             that
             we
             dwell
             in
             him
             ,
             and
             he
             in
             us
             ,
             because
             he
             hath
             given
             us
             of
             his
             Spirit
             ,
          
           1
           John
           14.
           13.
           
           
             And
             we
             are
             sure
             it
             is
             he
             ,
             for
             he
             hath
             done
             that
             in
             us
             and
             for
             us
             that
             none
             other
             could
             do
             .
             And
             he
             that
             believeth
             ,
             hath
             the
             Witness
             in
             himself
             ,
          
           1
           John
           5.
           10.
           
        
         
           So
           our
           God
           is
           a
           God
           at
           hand
           ,
           a
           Just
           ,
           Righteous
           and
           a
           Merciful
           God
           ,
           who
           in
           his
           everlasting
           love
           hath
           committed
           a
           Talent
           or
           Measure
           of
           his
           Grace
           (
           and
           giveth
           his
           Light
           for
           a
           Witness
           and
           a
           Leader
           ,
           Isa.
           55.
           4.
           
           )
           to
           every
           Man
           and
           Woman
           that
           cometh
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           according
           to
           their
           improving
           or
           not
           improving
           of
           it
           ,
           believing
           or
           not
           believing
           in
           it
           ,
           is
           the
           Salvation
           or
           Condemnation
           of
           all
           mankind
           .
           Now
           to
           speak
           comparatively
           after
           the
           manner
           of
           men
           ,
           if
           a
           man
           should
           demand
           a
           sum
           of
           Money
           with
           Usury
           of
           another
           ,
           that
           never
           had
           any
           of
           him
           ,
           and
           condemn
           him
           for
           want
           of
           it
           ,
           would
           it
           not
           be
           altogether
           Unjust
           ?
           But
           the
           true
           God
           is
           Just
           and
           Righteous
           in
           all
           his
           wayes
           ,
           and
           man's
           Destruction
           is
           of
           himself
           .
           And
           further
           we
           say
           ,
           that
           God
           in
           his
           endless
           love
           hath
           offered
           a
           Day
           or
           Time
           of
           Visitation
           to
           all
           mankind
           ,
           and
           that
           by
           his
           secret
           Reproofs
           at
           times
           in
           their
           Consciences
           for
           Self-Righteousness
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           their
           other
           Ungodliness
           ,
           that
           they
           might
           turn
           to
           his
           Grace
           ,
           (
           which
           hath
           appeared
           to
           all
           men
           )
           Light
           or
           Witness
           within
           them
           ,
           and
           live
           .
        
         
           And
           all
           you
           confused
           Builders
           of
           Babel
           ,
           with
           your
           many
           
             Lo
             here
             's
          
           and
           
             Lo
             there
             's
          
           ,
           you
           have
           rejected
           the
           Head
           or
           chief
           Corner-Stone
           and
           true
           Foundation
           ;
           and
           if
           you
           will
           be
           truly
           Wise
           ,
           that
           you
           may
           know
           him
           ,
           you
           must
           first
           become
           Fools
           that
           you
           may
           be
           Wise
           ,
           and
           then
           you
           will
           throw
           down
           and
           lay
           waste
           all
           your
           lofty
           Buildings
           of
           Self
           Righteousness
           ,
           and
           dig
           deeper
           then
           ever
           you
           have
           done
           yet
           to
           the
           true
           Rock
           and
           Foundation
           ,
           and
           whoso
           Bui'ds
           truly
           thereupon
           shall
           be
           safe
           .
        
         
           But
           all
           you
           talkative
           Letter-wise
           People
           and
           Professors
           of
           all
           sorts
           ,
           that
           have
           no
           other
           Ru'e
           to
           try
           Spirits
           and
           Doctrines
           but
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           [
           in
           your
           Natural
           Carnal
           Reasons
           ,
           and
           fallen
           Degenerated
           Wisdoms
           ]
           though
           you
           neither
           know
           them
           nor
           the
           Power
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           are
           putting
           Darkness
           for
           Light
           ,
           and
           Light
           for
           Darkness
           ,
           justifying
           the
           Wicked
           and
           condemning
           the
           Righteous
           ,
           as
           did
           they
           whose
           steps
           you
           follow
           :
           What!
           did
           you
           never
           read
           
           or
           take
           notice
           of
           the
           Fruits
           of
           trying
           Spirits
           and
           Doctrines
           by
           the
           Scriptures
           in
           their
           Carnal
           Reasons
           &
           Degenerate
           Wisdoms
           (
           being
           out
           of
           the
           spirit
           which
           gives
           a
           right
           understanding
           of
           them
           )
           Was
           it
           not
           to
           Condemn
           the
           Saviour
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           his
           blessed
           Followers
           to
           Death
           ?
           Oh!
           Outside
           ,
           Literal
           Professors
           of
           this
           Generation
           !
           take
           heed
           ye
           be
           not
           found
           spiritually
           in
           the
           same
           steps
           :
           The
           holy
           Scriptures
           we
           more
           dearly
           &
           truly
           own
           ,
           in
           their
           places
           ,
           than
           you
           do
           ,
           and
           do
           esteem
           them
           above
           all
           other
           Outward
           Writings
           ,
           because
           of
           the
           great
           plenty
           and
           variety
           of
           sweet
           ,
           sound
           ,
           heavenly
           Sayings
           ,
           uttered
           by
           God
           in
           and
           through
           Christ
           Jesus
           ,
           who
           was
           filled
           with
           the
           Spirit
           without
           measure
           ,
           
             and
             anointed
             with
             the
             Oyl
             of
             Gladness
             above
             his
             Fellows
             ,
          
           as
           it
           s
           written
           of
           him
           ;
           and
           also
           uttered
           through
           Moses
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           holy
           Prophets
           &
           Apostles
           :
           but
           we
           cannot
           set
           them
           above
           the
           Spirit
           :
           We
           say
           ,
           they
           are
           a
           Testimony
           or
           Declaration
           of
           what
           the
           Primitive
           Saints
           were
           made
           Living
           Witnesses
           of
           ,
           by
           the
           working
           of
           the
           mighty
           Power
           of
           God
           in
           them
           ,
           whereby
           they
           came
           to
           put
           off
           the
           old
           Man
           with
           his
           Deeds
           ,
           and
           put
           no
           that
           New
           Man
           ,
           
             Christ
             Iesus
          
           which
           is
           after
           God
           created
           in
           Righteousness
           and
           true
           Holiness
           ,
           in
           whom
           ONLY
           was
           and
           is
           the
           Perfection
           of
           Saints
           :
           And
           without
           witnessing
           of
           more
           or
           less
           of
           this
           Spirit
           that
           wrought
           in
           them
           ,
           that
           gave
           forth
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           saving
           Benefit
           nor
           Comfort
           to
           be
           had
           from
           them
           ;
           for
           they
           ,
           viz.
           the
           Scriptures
           do
           answer
           to
           the
           Witness
           of
           God
           ,
           or
           Light
           within
           People
           ;
           and
           they
           are
           given
           forth
           to
           be
           read
           and
           believed
           ,
           and
           only
           can
           be
           rightly
           understood
           in
           a
           measure
           of
           the
           same
           Spirit
           that
           gave
           them
           forth
           ;
           and
           they
           testifie
           how
           ,
           where
           and
           by
           what
           means
           people
           may
           attain
           to
           that
           
             Infallible
             Spirit
          
           ,
           that
           always
           was
           &
           is
           the
           Saints
           chief
           Rule
           ,
           Guide
           &
           Leader
           ,
           who
           leads
           in
           the
           same
           Path
           they
           were
           in
           ,
           that
           gave
           them
           forth
           ;
           and
           these
           only
           are
           the
           truly
           learned
           ,
           that
           can
           read
           them
           without
           wresting
           ,
           and
           to
           such
           they
           are
           profitable
           for
           Doctrine
           ,
           for
           Reproof
           ,
           &c.
           but
           they
           were
           not
           given
           forth
           [
           to
           be
           set
           above
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           ]
           they
           were
           not
           given
           forth
           to
           be
           wrested
           by
           Covetous
           ,
           Carnal-minded
           men
           to
           uphold
           their
           Carnal
           Sects
           ,
           Opinions
           ,
           Judgments
           and
           Religions
           ,
           to
           War
           against
           the
           true
           Spiritual
           Worshippers
           ,
           
             whom
             the
             Father
             seeks
             to
             Worship
             him
             in
             the
             Spirit
             &
             in
             the
             Truth
             .
          
           And
           inasmuch
           as
           the
           Invisible
           
           Wise
           God
           ,
           Creator
           of
           all
           things
           ,
           is
           to
           be
           honoured
           and
           esteemed
           above
           any
           Visible
           created
           thing
           ,
           so
           is
           his
           Holy
           Invisible
           Spirit
           to
           be
           honoured
           and
           esteemed
           above
           the
           Scriptures
           ;
           are
           not
           all
           holy
           Declarations
           made
           by
           the
           holy
           Spirit
           of
           Truth
           ?
           And
           who
           dare
           say
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Maker
             is
             not
             Greater
             ,
             and
             more
             to
             be
             looked
             at
             and
             esteemed
             ,
             than
             the
             Thing
             made
             ?
          
           How
           now
           Porfessors
           (
           that
           in
           your
           Natural
           Reasons
           set
           your selves
           as
           Judges
           ,
           both
           of
           Scriptures
           and
           the
           Spirit
           that
           gave
           them
           forth
           )
           and
           in
           setting
           the
           Scriptures
           above
           the
           Spirit
           of
           God
           ,
           your
           Darkness
           is
           largely
           Manifest
           :
           And
           may
           you
           not
           be
           justly
           compared
           to
           those
           that
           built
           the
           Tombs
           of
           the
           Prophets
           ,
           and
           garnished
           the
           Sepulchers
           of
           the
           Righteous
           ,
           and
           were
           the
           Children
           of
           them
           that
           killed
           them
           ?
           The
           Scripture
           saith
           ,
           
             Believe
             not
             every
             Spirit
             ,
             but
             try
             the
             Spirits
             whether
             they
             be
             of
             God
             ;
             because
             many
             false
             Prophets
             are
             gone
             out
             into
             the
             World
             ,
          
           1
           John
           4.
           1.
           
           I
           say
           ,
           the
           
             Infallible
             Spirit
             of
             God
          
           must
           Try
           all
           Spirits
           ,
           and
           without
           that
           none
           can
           try
           them
           :
           Come
           Professors
           ,
           what
           say
           you
           ,
           have
           you
           that
           
             Infallible
             Spirit
          
           to
           try
           the
           Fallible
           with
           ?
           If
           you
           say
           ,
           
             Nay
             ,
             but
             we
             have
             the
             Scriptures
             to
             try
             them
             by
          
           (
           I
           never
           yet
           heard
           any
           of
           you
           say
           otherwise
           )
           I
           hope
           you
           will
           not
           deny
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Christ
           is
           Infallible
           ;
           and
           the
           Scriptures
           say
           ,
           
             He
             that
             hath
             not
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Christ
             is
             none
             of
             his
             ,
          
           Rom.
           8.
           9.
           
           
             And
             he
             that
             's
             spiritual
             judgeth
             all
             things
             ,
          
           1
           Cor.
           2.
           15.
           
           So
           you
           Fallible-spirited
           Natural
           men
           ,
           what
           have
           you
           to
           do
           with
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           you
           being
           the
           Unlearned
           men
           ,
           who
           have
           not
           learned
           of
           Christ
           ,
           you
           do
           but
           Wrest
           them
           to
           your
           own
           Destruction
           ,
           because
           you
           have
           no
           true
           Judgment
           in
           your
           goings
           ,
           and
           make
           to
           your selves
           crooked
           Paths
           ,
           
             Lo
             here
             ,
             Lo
             there
          
           !
           and
           in
           your
           own
           private
           Spirits
           give
           your
           corrupt
           Meanings
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           &
           oppose
           the
           Spirit
           that
           gave
           them
           forth
           .
           The
           Apostle
           saith
           ,
           
             He
             that
             keepeth
             his
             Commandments
             dwelleth
             in
             him
             ,
             and
             he
             in
             him
             :
          
           And
           hereby
           we
           know
           that
           he
           dwelled
           in
           us
           ,
           by
           the
           Spirit
           which
           he
           hath
           given
           us
           ,
           1
           Iohn
           3.
           24.
           
           The
           Lord
           God
           said
           by
           the
           true
           Prophet
           ,
           concerning
           the
           false
           ,
           
             Wo
             unto
             the
             Foolish-Prophets
             ,
             who
             follow
             their
             own
             Spirit
             ,
             and
             have
             seen
             nothing
             ,
          
           Ezek.
           13.
           3.
           
           And
           these
           are
           the
           true
           Confessors
           of
           Christ
           come
           in
           the
           Flesh
           ,
           [
           and
           in
           the
           Spirit
           ]
           whatever
           
           Fallible-spirited
           men
           (
           that
           are
           rending
           and
           wresting
           the
           Scriptures
           )
           may
           judge
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           whereas
           some
           Envious
           Dark
           Spirits
           (
           seeing
           their
           glorying
           in
           their
           Literal
           Knowledge
           so
           hard
           beset
           )
           may
           suggest
           ,
           
             That
             I
             Design
             to
             possess
             People
             against
             (
             or
             would
             beget
             them
             into
             a
             Low
             esteem
             of
             )
             the
             Scriptures
             .
          
           God
           knoweth
           ,
           if
           any
           such
           there
           be
           ,
           they
           greatly
           Wrong
           themselves
           and
           me
           ,
           and
           all
           those
           who
           believe
           their
           
             False
             Suggestions
          
           ;
           for
           my
           only
           End
           is
           ,
           That
           People
           might
           be
           possessed
           with
           the
           
             Spirit
             of
             Truth
             ,
             that
             leads
             into
             all
             Truth
             ,
          
           and
           teaches
           the
           true
           Knowledge
           of
           Scriptures
           ,
           and
           to
           set
           them
           in
           their
           places
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           be
           
             ever
             Learning
             ,
             and
             never
             able
             to
             come
             to
             the
             Knowledge
             of
             the
             Truth
          
           ;
           so
           that
           you
           all
           might
           come
           to
           Christ
           ,
           and
           learn
           of
           him
           ,
           that
           you
           may
           have
           Life
           ,
           is
           the
           Desire
           of
           your
           Friend
        
         
           
             Written
             in
             
               the
               10th
               Moneth
            
             from
             Market-Harborough
             ,
             
               1678.
               
            
          
           
             William
             Smith
             .
          
        
      
       
         
           POSTSCRIPT
           .
        
         
           HAving
           considered
           that
           some
           Dark
           Spirits
           ,
           like
           this
           Priest's
           may
           take
           Occasion
           at
           my
           so
           much
           judging
           his
           Works
           to
           be
           Works
           of
           Darkness
           ,
           without
           any
           plain
           Proof
           made
           thereof
           ,
           to
           Answer
           my
           present
           Business
           at
           this
           time
           ,
           is
           not
           so
           much
           to
           concern
           my self
           with
           his
           Darkness
           (
           it
           is
           so
           palpably
           Gross
           ,
           to
           all
           that
           have
           the
           least
           spiritual
           discerning
           )
           as
           to
           shew
           the
           Confusion
           and
           Darkness
           of
           such
           Professors
           that
           separate
           from
           such
           Priests
           ,
           as
           not
           owning
           them
           to
           be
           Ministers
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           yet
           in
           Envy
           prefer
           and
           promote
           their
           Works
           in
           Opposition
           to
           the
           Truth
           of
           God.
           
        
         
           Now
           since
           his
           works
           ,
           viz.
           the
           Priest's
           ,
           seems
           to
           be
           chiefly
           about
           True
           and
           
             False
             Interpretations
          
           of
           Scriptures
           ,
           I
           may
           compare
           them
           ,
           and
           see
           which
           he
           most
           resembles
           :
           The
           
             True
             Interpreters
          
           
           do
           it
           by
           the
           
             Spiritual
             Vnderstanding
          
           received
           by
           the
           Inspiration
           of
           the
           Almighty
           :
           The
           
             False
             Interpreters
          
           do
           it
           by
           
             Natural
             Reason
          
           or
           
             Earthly
             Wisdom
          
           of
           
             Fallen
             Degenerate
             Man.
          
           I
           may
           touch
           at
           a
           Passage
           or
           two
           in
           his
           Book
           (
           passing
           by
           many
           such
           like
           )
           with
           the
           ground
           of
           his
           Matter
           in
           General
           (
           with
           as
           much
           brevity
           as
           I
           can
           ,
           because
           I
           would
           not
           be
           tedious
           to
           the
           Reader
           )
           from
           which
           I
           can
           prove
           his
           whole
           heap
           of
           Confusion
           and
           Darkness
           of
           One
           Hundred
           Sixty
           and
           Six
           pages
           to
           be
           founded
           upon
           a
           Shadow
           ,
           and
           down
           must
           it
           tumble
           and
           vanish
           away
           like
           Smoak
           before
           the
           Wind.
           So
           having
           perused
           His
           tedious
           Tautologies
           ,
           or
           rather
           bundle
           of
           Dark
           Impertenent
           Cavils
           against
           
             God's
             Truth
          
           and
           People
           :
           I
           find
           the
           Scope
           and
           Drift
           of
           his
           Matter
           is
           to
           make
           void
           or
           cry
           down
           (
           as
           now
           ceased
           )
           
             Immediate
             Revelation
             ,
             Inspiration
             ,
             Vision
             and
             the
             Truth
             in
             the
             Inward
             Parts
             ,
          
           or
           the
           
             Spiritual
             In-being
             of
             Christ
             in
             the
             Hearts
             and
             Souls
             of
             his
             People
          
           (
           there
           to
           Work
           their
           Salvation
           )
           all
           which
           is
           still
           continued
           and
           truly
           witnessed
           by
           the
           true
           Spiritual
           Worshippers
           ,
           without
           which
           ,
           we
           affirm
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           true
           Interpretations
           of
           holy
           Scriptures
           .
           Oh!
           all
           People
           ,
           that
           have
           the
           least
           Spiritual
           Understanding
           ,
           behold
           the
           Darkness
           of
           such
           Priests
           and
           Professors
           ,
           
             Where
             there
             is
             no
             Revelation
             ,
             there
             is
             no
             True
             Saving
             Knowledge
             of
             God
          
           ;
           see
           Mat.
           11.
           27.
           
        
         
           Object
           .
           But
           we
           have
           it
           by
           the
           Scriptures
           .
        
         
           Answ.
           
             I
             prove
             by
             the
             Scriptures
             that
             it
             must
             be
          
           Immediate
           
             from
             the
             Son
          
           Christ
           Iesus
           ,
           
             or
             you
             have
             no
             Life
          
           ;
           Search
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           for
           in
           them
           you
           think
           ye
           have
           Eternal
           Life
           ;
           they
           testifie
           of
           me
           ,
           but
           ye
           will
           not
           come
           unto
           me
           that
           ye
           may
           have
           Life
           ,
           Iohn
           5.
           39.
           
        
         
           
             [
             See
             page
             74
             ,
             &
             75.
             of
             this
             Priest's
             Book
             ]
          
           We
           
             (
             saith
             he
          
           )
           like
           Honest
           Men
           ,
           have
           no
           Vision
           ,
           pretend
           none
           ;
           if
           we
           were
           Knaves
           we
           might
           pretend
           Inspiration
           as
           well
           as
           others
           .
        
         
           Ah!
           Poor
           Blind
           Guides
           indeed
           !
           then
           you
           Perish
           ,
           and
           have
           no
           heavenly
           Understanding
           ;
           
             Where
             there
             is
             no
             Vision
             the
             People
             Perish
             ,
          
           Prov.
           29.
           18.
           
           
             There
             is
             a
             Spirit
             in
             man
             ,
             and
             the
             Inspiration
             of
             the
             Almighty
             giveth
             them
             Vnderstanding
             ,
          
           Job
           32.
           8.
           
           
             When
             it
             pleased
             God
             to
             reveal
             his
             Son
             in
             me
             ,
             &c.
          
           Gal.
           1.
           15.
           
           
             I
             was
             not
             
             Disobedient
             to
             the
             heavenly
             Vision
             ,
          
           Acts
           26.
           19.
           
           
             I
             will
             come
             to
             Visions
             and
             Revelations
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
          
           2
           Cor.
           12.
           1.
           
           And
           also
           ,
           Paul
           prayed
           ,
           
             That
             the
             People
             might
             receive
             the
             Spirit
             of
             Wisdom
             and
             Revelation
             :
          
           What
           was
           Paul
           a
           Knave
           for
           this
           ?
           And
           how
           often
           doth
           Paul
           say
           ,
           
             be
             ye
             Followers
             of
             me
             ,
             even
             as
             I
             also
             am
             of
             Christ
             ?
          
           And
           if
           we
           do
           so
           ,
           and
           in
           our
           measures
           witness
           the
           same
           Spirit
           of
           Wisdom
           ,
           Revelation
           ,
           Inspiration
           and
           Vision
           ,
           must
           we
           therefore
           be
           Knaves
           for
           that
           ?
           Oh
           Darkness
           !
           who
           is
           so
           Blind
           that
           they
           cannot
           see
           it
           !
           We
           say
           ,
           All
           holy
           Scripture
           is
           given
           by
           the
           Inspiration
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           can
           never
           be
           rightly
           known
           nor
           understood
           ,
           but
           by
           the
           Inspiration
           of
           the
           Almighty
           ,
           which
           gives
           an
           Understanding
           to
           know
           them
           ,
           without
           which
           they
           can
           never
           be
           truly
           known
           nor
           interpreted
           .
           
             And
             in
             the
             Latter
             Dayes
          
           (
           saith
           God
           )
           
             I
             will
             pour
             out
             my
             Spirit
             upon
             all
             Flesh
             ;
             Sons
             and
             Daughters
             shall
          
           Prophesie
           ,
           
             Young
             Men
             shall
             see
          
           Visions
           ,
           
             and
             Old
             Men
             shall
             dream
          
           Dreams
           ,
           Ioel
           2.
           28.
           
           Acts
           2.
           17.
           
           Many
           more
           Scriptures
           might
           have
           been
           instanced
           ,
           as
           full
           and
           pertinent
           to
           this
           purpose
           ;
           but
           these
           are
           sufficient
           to
           Manifest
           the
           
             Ignorance
             ,
             Darkness
          
           and
           Blindness
           of
           such
           Priests
           and
           Professors
           :
           And
           who
           have
           believed
           in
           Christ
           
             as
             a
             Light
             within
             them
          
           know
           him
           to
           be
           the
           same
           to
           his
           People
           Yesterday
           ,
           to
           Day
           ,
           and
           forever
           .
           So
           all
           Honour
           ,
           Praises
           and
           Thanks
           forever
           be
           given
           to
           him
           who
           hath
           hid
           these
           things
           from
           the
           Wise
           and
           Prudent
           of
           this
           World
           ,
           and
           revealed
           them
           to
           Babes
           and
           Sucklings
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           to
           Christ's
           Spiritual
           being
           within
           ,
           it
           is
           before
           sufficiently
           proved
           ;
           but
           I
           perceive
           such
           Priests
           ,
           and
           Professors
           do
           only
           or
           chiefly
           talk
           of
           Christ
           without
           them
           ,
           which
           is
           Well-pleasing
           to
           the
           Devil
           ,
           that
           so
           he
           may
           do
           his
           Work
           within
           them
           without
           Disturbance
           ,
           while
           He
           that
           is
           stronger
           then
           he
           may
           not
           be
           received
           to
           cast
           him
           out
           and
           spoil
           his
           Works
           :
           and
           such
           Ministers
           or
           Teachers
           ,
           of
           what
           sort
           soever
           ,
           are
           not
           of
           Christ
           ,
           but
           of
           Anti-christ
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Pope
           .
        
         
           Now
           I
           charge
           all
           ,
           or
           any
           one
           of
           the
           blind
           Guides
           ,
           of
           all
           sorts
           in
           the
           whole
           World
           (
           to
           whom
           the
           Spirit
           of
           true
           Wisdom
           ,
           Revelation
           ,
           Inspiration
           and
           Vision
           is
           ceased
           )
           to
           give
           one
           plain
           Scripture
           that
           it
           ever
           was
           ,
           is
           ,
           or
           ever
           will
           be
           ceased
           to
           the
           People
           of
           God
           (
           who
           did
           and
           do
           fear
           and
           obey
           him
           )
           while
           upon
           Earth
           .
           Why
           
           did
           the
           chief
           Priests
           and
           outward
           Professors
           of
           the
           Letter
           in
           days
           past
           slight
           and
           set
           at
           nought
           Christ
           Jesus
           ,
           in
           his
           outward
           appearance
           to
           them
           ?
           because
           he
           reproved
           their
           Self-Righteousness
           ,
           and
           said
           ,
           
             he
             was
             the
             Son
             of
             God
             and
             Light
             of
             the
             World
             ,
          
           and
           said
           ,
           
             his
             Kingdom
             was
             not
             of
             this
             World
             ,
             neither
             was
             it
             to
             be
             found
             in
             Observations
             ,
          
           where
           they
           were
           seeking
           it
           ,
           but
           it
           was
           to
           be
           found
           within
           in
           the
           Spirit
           :
           so
           making
           clean
           the
           out-side
           of
           Cup
           and
           Platter
           would
           not
           serve
           them
           then
           ,
           neither
           will
           it
           now
           .
           And
           why
           do
           the
           chief
           Priests
           and
           outward
           Professors
           of
           the
           Letter
           in
           this
           day
           slight
           and
           reject
           him
           in
           his
           inward
           appearance
           ,
           as
           Light
           within
           in
           their
           Consciences
           ?
           because
           he
           condemned
           their
           Self-Righteousness
           ,
           which
           they
           are
           also
           getting
           in
           the
           outward
           Observations
           ,
           and
           many
           of
           them
           see
           that
           if
           they
           should
           hearken
           or
           lend
           an
           Ear
           to
           him
           or
           his
           Light
           within
           ,
           he
           would
           break
           their
           false
           Peace
           ,
           and
           bring
           Spiritual
           War
           ,
           Division
           and
           a
           Sword
           within
           to
           spoil
           and
           cut
           down
           their
           Self-Righteousness
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           rest
           of
           their
           .
           Ungodliness
           ,
           and
           that
           which
           would
           not
           that
           he
           should
           Reign
           in
           his
           Kingdom
           within
           ,
           to
           subject
           Man
           and
           Woman
           to
           himself
           ,
           who
           will
           admit
           of
           no
           Righteousness
           but
           his
           own
           ,
           and
           therefore
           the
           Hypocrites
           and
           Formal
           Professors
           will
           not
           abide
           him
           ,
           but
           love
           the
           Darkness
           rather
           then
           Light
           ,
           and
           in
           their
           Darkness
           Judge
           his
           Light
           within
           to
           be
           a
           
             Spirit
             of
             Delusion
          
           ,
           and
           what
           not
           ,
           as
           their
           fore-Fathers
           did
           of
           Old
           ;
           yet
           he
           that
           is
           the
           Searcher
           of
           Hearts
           and
           Tryer
           of
           Reins
           ,
           hath
           not
           left
           himself
           without
           a
           Witness
           in
           you
           ,
           to
           which
           I
           now
           appeal
           ,
           what
           any
           of
           you
           from
           the
           highest
           to
           the
           lowest
           know
           more
           by
           your
           long
           Professing
           of
           the
           true
           God
           (
           mark
           )
           
             whom
             to
             know
             is
             Life
             Eternal
             ,
          
           (
           John
           17.
           3
           )
           then
           you
           did
           at
           your
           first
           beginning
           to
           profess
           him
           ?
           O!
           Friends
           and
           People
           ,
           that
           have
           any
           regard
           to
           your
           Immortal
           Souls
           ,
           this
           is
           of
           great
           weight
           for
           you
           all
           deeply
           to
           ponder
           ,
           and
           let
           Gods
           Witness
           speak
           in
           you
           ,
           that
           will
           deal
           plainly
           with
           you
           ,
           and
           tell
           you
           the
           Truth
           .
        
         
           And
           since
           the
           Life
           of
           Man
           and
           Woman
           here
           is
           full
           of
           trouble
           ,
           short
           and
           uncertain
           ,
           attended
           with
           Temptations
           ,
           Oh!
           how
           doth
           it
           concern
           all
           that
           truly
           desire
           a
           better
           and
           more
           durable
           inheritance
           to
           weigh
           &
           consider
           that
           great
           and
           double
           caution
           of
           Christ
           &
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           
             Take
             heed
             that
             no
             man
             deceive
             you
          
           ;
           and
           let
           no
           man
           
           deceive
           himself
           ,
           in
           which
           deceit
           all
           men
           are
           (
           how
           conceited
           and
           confident
           soever
           they
           may
           be
           )
           till
           they
           come
           out
           of
           their
           vain
           and
           dead
           Faiths
           into
           the
           living
           Faith
           in
           God
           &
           Christ
           ,
           which
           is
           to
           believe
           in
           (
           as
           sufficient
           for
           the
           Salvation
           of
           man
           )
           his
           Spirit
           ,
           Grace
           ,
           Talent
           ,
           Light
           or
           Kingdom
           within
           ,
           which
           is
           likeed
           to
           a
           Grain
           of
           Mustard-seed
           ;
           indeed
           too
           low
           and
           too
           small
           a
           thing
           for
           the
           lofty
           Professors
           of
           this
           Generation
           to
           find
           or
           receive
           ,
           as
           was
           his
           outward
           appearance
           to
           your
           fore-Fathers
           ,
           when
           he
           was
           found
           in
           the
           Manger
           :
           I
           know
           your
           Inns
           are
           taken
           up
           with
           other
           Guests
           ,
           and
           there
           is
           yet
           no
           room
           for
           him
           ;
           so
           full
           of
           vain
           Imaginations
           and
           high
           Conceits
           are
           you
           ,
           that
           you
           will
           not
           bow
           down
           so
           low
           as
           to
           receive
           &
           own
           him
           as
           a
           Reprover
           in
           your
           Consciences
           ,
           for
           whoso
           do
           come
           to
           have
           their
           Understandings
           opened
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           enlightned
           with
           the
           Light
           of
           Life
           ;
           so
           that
           they
           come
           to
           see
           the
           blind
           Guides
           of
           all
           sorts
           ,
           that
           are
           boasting
           in
           other
           mens
           Lines
           ,
           of
           things
           made
           ready
           to
           their
           Hands
           ,
           and
           how
           they
           strive
           to
           keep
           People
           from
           believing
           in
           this
           Heavenly
           Principle
           within
           ,
           lest
           they
           with
           their
           chargeable
           unprofitable
           Preaching
           should
           be
           discovered
           ,
           and
           their
           running
           unsent
           ,
           speaking
           of
           themselves
           ,
           seek
           their
           own
           Glory
           ,
           the
           Praise
           of
           Men
           ,
           Self-Interest
           ,
           their
           Gain
           from
           their
           Quarter
           ,
           &c.
           all
           which
           with
           much
           more
           the
           Light
           within
           doth
           discover
           ,
           judge
           and
           condemn
           ,
           and
           that
           makes
           such
           Hireling
           Teachers
           of
           all
           sorts
           to
           hate
           it
           ,
           and
           prejudice
           their
           People
           against
           it
           .
           Oh!
           People
           of
           all
           sorts
           beware
           of
           such
           Teachers
           ,
           for
           they
           make
           a
           Prey
           upon
           you
           ,
           &
           Deceive
           you
           ;
           Therefore
           no
           longer
           spend
           your
           Money
           for
           that
           which
           is
           not
           Bread
           ,
           nor
           your
           Labour
           for
           that
           which
           satisfieth
           not
           your
           hungry
           pined
           Souls
           ,
           but
           come
           home
           to
           your
           Teacher
           within
           ,
           to
           the
           Law
           ,
           Testimony
           ,
           Commandment
           or
           Light
           within
           you
           ,
           which
           made
           David
           wiser
           then
           all
           his
           Teachers
           ;
           and
           so
           it
           will
           you
           ,
           if
           you
           can
           receive
           it
           ,
           believe
           in
           it
           ,
           and
           follow
           it
           .
        
         
           
             W.
             S.
             
          
        
         
           THE
           END
           .