A brief examination and state of liberty spiritual both with respect to persons in their private capacity and in their church society and communion / written ... by a lover of true liberty, as it is in Jesus, William Penn.

To the People of the Lord, called QUAKERS.

Dear Friends and Brethren;

IT hath of long time rested with some pressure up∣on my Spirit, for Zion's sake, and the Peace of Jerusalem, to write something of the Nature of True Spiritual Liberty; Liberty, one of the most Glori∣ous Words and Things in the World, but little under∣stood, and frequently abused by many. I beseech Almighty God to preserve you, his People, in the right Knowledge & Use of that Liberty, which Jesus Christ, the Captain of our Salvation hath purchased for us, and is redeeming us into, who hath led Captivity captive, and is giving Gifts to them that truly believe in his Name. Christ's Liberty is obtain'd through Christ's Cross; they that would be his Free-men, must be his Bonds∣men, and wear his blessed Yoke. His Liberty is from Sin, not to Sin; to do his Will, and not our own; no, not to speak an Idle Word. 'Tis not I that live (saith the Apostle) but Christ that liveth in me, who had set him Free from the Power of Sin, and brought Immortality to Light in him; whence he learned thus to triumph, O Death, where is thy Sting! O Grave, where is thy Victory! This is the Personal Freedom that comes by Jesus Christ, to as many as receive him in the Way, and for the End for which God hath given him, to wit,

to be a Saviour and a Leader, to save us from our Corrup∣tions, and guide us in the Narrow Way of his holy Cross, and through the strait Gate of Self-denyal, which lead to Eternal Life. And as many as have entered at this Door, are come to have Vnity with God, and one with another; To love him above all, and their Neighbours as themselves; yea, to prefer each other before them∣selves. Such will not violate the great Law of their Lord and Master; Love one another, the New; and yet the Old Commandment: These dwell in Love, and so they dwell in God; for God is Love. 'Twas the be∣loved Disciples Testimony, and it comes up to what another man of God hath said, namely, The Church that dwells in God, if she dwells in God, then in Love; consequently her Members are in Vnion, of one Mind in Church Matters, since she has but one Head to Rule her.

Peruse this brief Discourse in this Love, and it may be to Edification. My aim is to assert the Truth, de∣tect Error, and point in true Brotherly Kindness at those Shoals and Sands some by Mistake, or Over∣boldness, have and may run upon. O Friends! I greatly desire, that the Spirit of Love, Wisdom, and a sound Vnderstanding, of Meekness, Judgment and Mercy may ever rest upon you, that blamelesly you may be kept, an holy Family, at Unity with it self, to the Lord God your Redeemer, that he over all may in you, through you, and by you be Exalted, Honoured and Praised, who is worthy and blessed forever.