The flesh & blood of Christ, both in the mystery and in the outward briefly, plainly, and uprightly acknowledged and testified to, for the satisfaction and benefit of the tender-hearted, who desire to experience the quickning, healing, and cleansing vertue of it : with A brief account concerning the people called Quakers in reference both to principle and doctrine : whereunto are added some few other things which by the blessing of God may be experimentally found useful to the true pilgrim and faithful travellers out of the nature & spirit of this world / written in true love and tenderness of spirit by Isaac Penington.

A POST-SCRIPT.

Containing a few Words concerning the doings and sufferings of that de∣spised People called QUAKERS, which are both mis-understood, and mis-represented by many; with an Exhortation to true Christianity.

FIrst, their doings are looked upon by many, to be from a natural Prin∣ciple, and according to a Covenant of works, and not from the free grace and gift of Gods Spirit.

Now concerning this, I can speak somewhat faithfully, as having been long exercised in the Principle, and as ha∣ving had experience of the grace and tender mercy of the Lord from my Child∣hood.

And indeed, thus it hath been with me from my Childhood; what ever hath been done in me or by me, that was good, I have felt to be from Gods grace and mercy to me, and have cryed grace, grace, mercy, mercy to the Lord conti∣nually therefore. And when I was turned to his truth in the inward parts, I found it was Gods grace and tender love to me to turn me to it, and to pre∣serve me being turned; and to cause it to spring in me day by day, and to give me ability through it. Ah, none knows, but they who have had experience, how we have been weakned in the natural part; how poor we have been made, that we might receive the Gospel, and how poor in our selves we are kept, that we might enjoy the riches and inheritance of the Kingdom. And this we daily ex∣perience, that not by the works of Righ∣teousness which we had done, but accord∣ing to his mercy he saved us, and doth daily save us, by the washing of regene∣ration, and the renewing of the holy Ghost! yea, Gods writing his Law in

our hearts, and placing his fear there, and putting his spirit within us, to en∣lighten and quicken and cause us to walk in his wayes, and to keep his statutes and judgments, and do them, and all the mortifying of sin, and denying of the lusts of the flesh, and performing that which is holy and acceptable in the eyes of the Lord (as all that proceeds from his own holy spirit is) all this is of the new Covenant, and performed by the working thereof, and not by the working of the natural part of it self, but by the working of the spirit of life in the new Birth, and through the natural part as his instrument. So let none reproach the works that God brings forth in us, who hath created us a new in Christ Jesus unto good works, lest thereby he reproach the holy Spirit and power of the living God, in which they are wrought, and by which they are brought forth, and could never be brought forth without it.

Then, for our sufferings, indeed they are gifts we receive from God: so that

we can truly say, it is given us by the Lord our God, not only to believe in his Son, but to suffer for his sake: and that it is only in good Conscience to God, and by the assistance of the Lord, that we suffer: and that the patience and meekness wherewith we suffer, is not of our selves, but of him. When ever the Lord permits afflictions or suf∣ferings to come upon us; our eye is to him, and we enter into them in his fear, knowing our own inability to go through them, and looking up to him for strength. And when we are in them, while they continue, we daily look up to him for strength, and have been many times very weak in our selves, when im∣mediatly, or very soon after, we have felt great strength in the Lord. Also, after our sufferings, when the Lord hath been with us all along, and brought us through our sufferings, in the peace and joy of his Spirit; we do not look back boastingly, as if we had been any thing, or done any thing as of our selves; but we bow before the Lord, and bless the

Lord, when we consider how he hath been with us, and how he hath upheld us by the right hand of his Righteousness, and what he hath done for us, when we were very poor, weak, afflicted, and often sorely distressed. Therefore let none Reproach, mis-represent or vilifie our sufferings, which our God hath hel∣ped us through, and for which we (in humility of heart) give him thanks, and cannot but do so all our days; be∣cause the thankful remembrance and sense of them is written by the finger of his Spirit upon our hearts. O all sorts of People, whom we love and travel for, and use our interest in the Lord our God for, that ye might be truly sensible of your conditions, know the inward appea∣rance and visits of the Shepherd and Saviour of the Soul, turn to him (look∣ing in true faith unto him) and be saved, I say unto you, in tenderness of Spirit, O, do not requite us so ill for our love and truth of heart towards you, as to cast untrue and unjust Reproaches upon us, and to render that truth vile, which

God has made honourable, in sanctify∣ing and redeeming many thereby. Truly our love is from the God of love. We could not so love you, as we do, if our God had not taught us: nor so seek after you, as we do, in tenderness of Bowels, if we were not instruments in the hand of the Shepherd of Israel. And the light we testifie of, which we feel shine in us; it is no less then the true, sure light of the Sun of Righteous∣ness, which God hath caused to shine in our hearts, who also loveth mankind, and causeth it to glance into the darkest Corners of the Earth. And the life we are quickned by, out of Sin and Trans∣gression, and the power we have recei∣ved to become Sons of God, it is from him who is the fountain of life, and hath all power in Heaven and Earth. O that ye could receive the blessed report! O that the Arm of the Lord might be re∣vealed in you! O that ye could feel and witness the Saviour working out your Salvation in you, binding the strong man in you, casting him out of you, with all

his goods after him, that the place of the wicked one might be found no more in you, nor none of his lusts or vain thoughts lodge in your hearts any more; but ye might witness and experience the new heart, the clean heart, the pure heart, in which God dwells; and the eye that sees him that is invisible. O glory to the Lord for what he hath done in and for a despised People (who were no Peo∣ple, before the Lord made them one) who hath brought them to Sion, his holy Mountain, where he dwells and reigns, and where he builds up his own house and Temple, which he establisheth over all, where the Sheep of Israel seed, and where the Shepherd of Israel Reigns and Triumphs in glory, over the enemies of his Kingdom. The little innocent Babes tast somewhat of his holy Domi∣nion and Power, and of his Kingdom of Peace and Righteousness: but in his ancients his light shines very brightly, and before them he reigneth gloriously; so that he is praised in the very heights of Sion, and his name renowned there

over all for ever. Glory, glory to the pure spring of life, from whence the living streams come, which refresh the Souls of the living. Surely his pure praises shall be sounded in the hearts of the living for ever and ever, Amen.

AN EXHORTATION To true Christianity.

It is easie to pretend to Christ: but to be a true Christian is very pretious, and many Tribulations and deep Afflicti∣ons are to be passed thorow before it be attained unto, as those that are made so by the Lord, experience.

NOw everlasting Happiness and Salva∣tion depends upon true Christianity. Not upon having the name of a Christian only, or professing such or such Christian Doctrines: but upon having the Nature of Christianity, upon being renew∣ed by the Spirit of Christ, and receiving the Spirit, and walking in the Spirit, and bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit. Oh, here is the Christian indeed; and it should be every ones care, not to fall short of this. Now, because there is such a contention about Christianity, who is the right Chri∣stian; it behoves every man to take care,

as to himself, that he be really such: that he receive that from God, and be that to God, which none but the right Christian can be, or can receive. This is the use I would make of these things in my own heart; even to be sure I be such an one, as God hath made, and will accept and own as a Christian. And having had some ex∣perience of this thing, and truly understand what the Christian-state is, and what doth attend it; I shall set down some few things, which he that inwardly knoweth (witnes∣seth and enjoyeth) is without all contro∣versie, a true Christian, what ever men may account of him.

First, He that is a new Creature, is with∣out doubt a true Christian. He that is Regenerated, he that is renewed in the Spirit of his mind by Christ Jesus, he that is New-Created in the Holy & Hea∣venly Image; he has felt the power of Gods Spirit begetting him anew, forming him anew, out of the old nature and Image of the first Adam, into the nature and Image of the second Adam, who is the quickning Spirit: and that which is be∣gotten and born of him is Spirit.

Secondly, He that is in the new Cove∣nant, is a true Christian. He that hath thirsted after the living waters, and hath heard the call to the waters of life; hath

heard the voice of him who gives life, and hath received life from him, who giveth life to all that come to him, and who ma∣keth the new and everlasting Covenant with all that hear his voice, take up his Cross and follow him; he is without doubt one of Christs Sheep, whom the Shepherd owneth and taketh care of.

Thirdly, He that is inwardly circumci∣sed, with the circumcision made without hands, he is a Jew inward, a Christian inward (in the sight of God) who hath felt the Spirit and power of Christ Jesus, and rejoyceth in Christ Jesus, and is one of those Worshippers, whom God hath sought out and taught to Worship him, in the life and spirit of his Son.

Fourthly, He that is inwardly washed with the clean water, with the inward water; he is the inward Jew, the inward Christian. God promised to pour out clean water upon his Israel, and they should be clean. He who hath the clean water poured upon him inwardly, which inwardly washeth and cleanseth, he is without controversie of Gods inward Is∣rael.

Fifthly, He that feeds on the Bread of life within, and drinks the water of life out of his own Well or Cistern, he with∣out

doubt is living. He that is invited to the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb, and comes and Sups with the Lamb, he is one of the same nature and spirit with him. He with whom Christ Sups, who hath heard Christ knocking at his door, hath opened to him and received him in, to pu∣rifie his heart and dwell in him, and Sup with him, and to give him to Sup with himself; so that he eats Bread in the King∣dom, and drinks Wine in the Kingdom, and partakes of the Feast of fat things, which God makes to his Israel in his holy Mountain: he is without doubt one of Christs, and partakes of this in and through him.

Sixthly, He that lives the Christian life, who walks not after the Flesh, but after the spirit, who doth not fulfill the lusts of the Flesh, but hath the law of God writ∣ten in his heart, and his fear put within him, and his holy Spirit given to instruct him, and to guide him to answer the holy law written in his heart, which the carnal mind is not subject, nor can be subject to; without doubt he is spiritual, without doubt he is a true Christian.

Seventhly, He that lives by faith, who knows the faith which is the gift of God, hath received it and lives by it, who can

do nothing of himself, but only by faith in that holy power which doth all in him: so that he lives, and believes, and obeys from an holy Root of life, which causeth life to spring up in him, and love to spring up in him, and the Lambs meekness and patience to spring up in him, and all grace to spring up in him; I say, he that lives thus, without doubt is engraffed into the true Vine, into the true Olive-tree, and the Root bears him, and Ministers sap unto him, and he is a true, fresh, green, living branch of the true Vine of the holy Olive-Tree.

Many more things might be mentioned, as they are experimentally known and felt amongst us who are true Christians, though the Baptists and others have represented us to the world, as if we were no Christi∣ans, but that toucheth us not, their saying so, is no more to us than the professing Jews of the same Spirit, who said Christ had a Devil; but these are to give a Tast. And he that knows and feels these, may also know and feel the rest: and he that doth not know nor feel these, would not know or feel the rest, if never so many more should be mentioned. Now the way to feel these, and to become a true Christian (and to grow up in the Christi∣an

life) is to feel the Seed of the King∣dom, which is the beginning of the King∣dom, the beginning of true Christianity: and then to feel the Seed abiding (the Seed which is of the Spirit, and which is Spirit) here's the constant Seal of Chri∣stianity in my heart; here are true and certain evidences, day by day, of the Christian nature and Spirit, manifesting themselves undeniably inwardly. And now, having the witness in my self, the Testimony of him that begat life in me, testifying to his own work, and to his own Birth: of what value are any Testimo∣nies of men without against this? Chri∣stianity is a mystery: and he only can tru∣ly see, who is a Christian indeed, who hath the inward eye opened, and with that in∣ward eye, is taught of God to peirce into that, wherein Christianity consisteth. There have been many Christians of mens making: there are also some Christians of God and Christs making, which Christians God and Christ will own; but not the o∣ther. O let men have a care, that when God cometh to distinguish between Cattle and Cattle (between Christian and Chri∣stian) they be found such as God will make up as his Jewels, and own as the Sheep of his fold, such as shall be able to

bear the Tryal of his searching judgment, and pure impartial eye; and not such as still, notwithstanding all their profession of Religion and Christianity, are found workers of iniquity, and so not created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works, and therefore not truly of him, nor true Chri∣stians in his eye.

The End.