A voyce out of the thick darkness: containing in it a few words to Christians, about the late and present posture of spiritual affairs among them. Together with a post-script about darkening the counsel of God. As also, certain Scripture-prophecies concerning some transactions in the latter times. / By Isaac Penington, (junior) Esq;.

The Preface.

IT was my intention, some distance of time since, to have published somewhat concerning the then present state of Affairs; wherein I should have expressed ill-will to∣wards none, but only have uttered that deep affection that then was in me, towards the sod∣dering and healing the distempers of such spi∣rits, as are made more miserable by their own discontents, then they could be by any thing else that can in probability befall them in this state of things, wherein it is hard to determine what is truly best and most profitable, though most men are very ready to determine, and very con∣fident in determining, according to their own desires and apprehensions.

It was then my design to have cast some wa∣ter upon these flames, that they might not burn

so intensely within to the disturbance of mens own spirits there, nor yet be so liable to break forth to the disquieting and endangering of the publique interest.

There are one sort of men whom I should more especially have applied my self unto, who are wonderous eager after making the Nation happy; whose spirits can be no ways satisfied till they see the attainment of that Universal Freedom, and the flowing forth of that Univer∣sal speedy impartial Justice, which is easie to be desired, but hard to be met with.

In pity towards these (whom I had cause enough to pity, I my self lying with them under the same desire, though not expecting to meet with it in that way wherein it was pursued;) I say, in pity towards these, I was ready to issue forth to administer to them more especially what I conceived might be in any kind reliev∣ing; and after such reasonings as should have fallen within my shallow compasse, at last I should have ventured to have proposed three Directions to such as should be made willing to consider of them, which when embraced, would not quite have taken them off from, but

only have somewhat allayed the vehemency of their Spirits in this their prosecution of publike good, which in tenderness to them and others I could not but desire.

These Directions being so few, and of a more general nature then to be restrained unto them, or any one sort only, I shall here make mention of, being setled in my Spirit to wave the rest of the Discourse.

The first of them is to this effect:

Be content to passe through your pilgrimage without the full enjoyment of that Freedom ye have desired and pressed so hard after. There is a power above, whose Will may crosse yours in this, which may as well find fault with your untowardnesse to be governed, as with the Self-Seeking of such as have been Governors.

I might perhaps have said, if I had not sus∣pected it would have relished too harshly, Be content to be Slaves. It is a brave thing some∣times to oppose the yoke, but a braver from Judgment to submit unto it. It is in many cases better for particular persons, yea for Societies, to bear, then avoyd the yoke. It cost the Isra∣elites dear that they would by no means be

brought to put their necks under Nebuchad∣nezzars girdle. Canst thou say that a present Oppression is not determined concerning thee by him who hath power to dispose of all things? If thou canst not, take heed of over∣violent resisting. If thou labourest for Free∣dom with all thy might, and a greater power oppose, what wilt thou gain by the contest? I have often repented of shunning, of avoyd∣ing, but never of meeting and closing with mi∣sery. It is the stiffnesse of the neck, and unbro∣kennesse of the Spirit that chiefly makes all our yokes so harsh.

2. Groan, pant after, and in a just way pursue the attainment of perfect Freedom. Lie not down as a Slave, with a base abject Spirit, counting slavery best, but with a sweet Spirit submit to it for necessities sake, and withall let a Sense appear of your prizing and desiring of Liberty: And what way of attaining it is made out to you plainly and evidently justifiable, for∣bear not to fall in with; yet not in such a vio∣lent and irrational manner, as to make your more noble parts far worse slaves to bruitish passions within, to avoyd a more inferior sla∣very

of the outward and more ignoble part.

3. Hasten your desires and expectations aright: Look not for it from thence where ye cannot hope to find it, but thence from whence alone it can come: Look not for it from man, Righte∣ousnesse cannot grow there, it never grew there: Man has not a Soil fertile enough for such trees to flourish in; Man has not a Root deep enough to bear such Fruit. Besides, man seems now to be blown upon, and all his excellency withers; adore him no longer. Is not the glory of all sorts of men fallen? Why do ye so often remove your eyes from one sort of men to another? Oh loosen them from all, and fasten them no more on any, if ye would not be fru∣strated.

Solomon that deep wise man, who knew things in their causes, tels you what the place of Judgment and Righteousnesse under the Sun is, even a place where unrighteousnesse and iniqui∣ty is still to be found, Eccles. 3. 16. If ye look for a place of pure Judgment and Righteousnesse under the Sun, ye will be deceived. For this is the state that ever was and ever will be under the Sun; There will be Oppressions exercised

even there, and the oppressed ones may weep, but they are like to have no effectual Comfort∣er; for the power that should comfort and re∣lieve them, is still on the oppressors side, as that same comprehensive man speaks in that same Book, Chap. 4. 1. Therefore look not there for it any longer, since Wisdom hath said, and Ex∣perience too hath always shewn, that it is not, it will not, it cannot be found there. But if ye know and can think of a Fountain of Righte∣ousnesse, a Power that can issue out pure and perfect Salvation, look thither; and when that Fountain shall be opened, ye may chance to meet with it; but till then, your hunger and thirst is not like to be satisfied, however your hopes to meet with it in this or that party, this or that interest, may flatter you.

Now whether these may be useful to any or no, lies not in me to resolve; this is all I have to say concerning them, that I found them in my own Spirit, and I found my Spirit much composed by them, (in reference to the several tossings and tumblings that have been,) they lying at the bottom there, from whence I pro∣duce them into publique view, not knowing

but they may drop and distil into some other Spirit, to bring it also to some kind of rest in this respect, in the middest of such future sha∣kings as are very incident and frequent after dissettlement.

About the same time the state of spiritual things was presented to my view, and I beheld the people of God in their several stations; some scattered this way, some that way; some setled this way, some that way; some bewailing themselves under their Scatterings, others bless∣ing themselves in their Setlings; some seek∣ing, and others glorying, in what they imagine they have found; some complaining of the breaches, growing greater and more Spiritual, others crying out as fast, that their Antidotes, plaisters and arts of healing, which would easi∣ly help all, were not embraced. I found my Spirit likewise drawn out to speak a little con∣cerning this state of things, as I felt the sence of them then upon me, and as I found it most ready and convenient to communicate that sence; which though I had intended to wave also, yet finding the state of things calling for some such kind of language to invite to a more

then ordinary consideration of them, I find my self willing to let it go forth as an instru∣ment in his hand, who knoweth how to man∣age it, to effect what he pleaseth by it.

This is the account I thought fit to give by way of Preface, to lead to the Discourse it self, which now follows.