Some things relating to religion, proposed to the consideration of the Royal Society, (so termed) to wit, concerning the right ground of certainty therein, concerning tenderness of spirit, and persecution, a query concerning separation, concerning washing away sin from the conscience, and the garment of salvation, and what it is that is covered therewith : likewise, some questions and answers concerning the church of the New-Covenant, the rock of foundation whereon it is built, and its preservation by and upon the rock : with some queries concerning the scattered and hidden estate of the church, and concerning that church which got up in the view of the world, instead thereof, and was acknowledged by the world as if she had been the true church, though indeed and truth she was not so : whereunto are added, some queries to professors, who speak of high attainments, &c. / written by ... Isaac Penington.

A Query concerning Separation.

Quer. Whether after the Apostacy from the Spirit, Life and Power of the Apostles, and the getting up of the Anti∣christian state, Church and Worship, there must not of ne∣cessity be a separation from all these, before there can be a recovery of the Life and Power again, and of the true Church∣state,

which was brought forth in the daies of the Apostles? Must there not be a perfect coming out of the corrupt state (in the whole nature, several parts and degrees of it) be∣fore there can be a restoration to and witnessing of the true and pure state? Must not the Christians now come out of all the Antichristian Inventions and Churches, as well as the Christians of old came out of all the Heathenish worships, yea out of the Jewish worship and Church (which once was of God) before they can become an holy building and habita∣tion to God in the spirit? Yea doth not the same spirit, which cryed to the people of God then, Come out from among them, and be ye separate &c. call and cry now, Come out of her, my people, out of Babylon, out of the false Church, out of all the Antichristian buildings, which are reared up after the se∣veral forms and waies of mens inventing, but out of the spi∣rit, life and power, which alone is able to build up in and unto the Lord? And what is that which cries out against se∣paration, in this day of the Lord's dividing and separating, but that spirit which would hold back the soul, from being gathered to the Lord, in the Chains of darkness and in the Land of death and confusion?

O that men knew that which divides and separates, and which is appointed by God to divide and separate both in∣wardly and outwardly, and might feel the full work and ef∣fect of it, even perfect separation from all that is not of God, that so they might be joyned to him and built up in him, who is the life, rest, peace, joy and pure breath of the soul for ever! The word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged Sword, and what doth it do? Why, it separates between Nation and Nation, between Church and Church, between People and People, between Cattel and Cattel, between Soul and Soul, yea between the thoughts and intents of the same heart, owning and cherishing all that is of the pure, and condemning and destroying all that is of

the impure. And happy, O for ever happy is he, who can wit∣ness the work of this word perfected in his soul, even the Axe of the Lord powerfully laid to and having cut down all that is corrupt in him, that the pure plant of God may flou∣rish and bring forth fruit in him in peace, without Annoy∣ance or Interruption of the impure. Then the River of Life as the Streams of everlasting Righteousness shall flow into his vessel, and Jerusalem become in and to him a quiet habitation, and nothing be able to hurt or destroy any thing of Life in him, who dwells in and abides on the Mountain of God's Holiness. O blessed is the Race of Travellers, which in the pure Light of the everlasting day are travelling thi∣therwards, even with their hearts and faces faithfully bent towards Sion, which is the Holy, Spiritual, Heavenly Hill of God! And blessed, O blessed for ever, is the Lord God of Life and Power, who is the Faithful Guider, Leader and Conducter, of all that follow the footsteps of the flock, in the way which is Pure, True, Living and Everlasting.