Naked truth, or, Truth nakedly manifesting itself in several particulars for the removing of hinderances out of the way of the simple-hearted, that they may come to true knowledge, life, liberty, peace and joy in the Lord, through the vertue and power of his precious truth, revealed and working in them : given forth by way of question and answer : whereunto are added, some experiences, with some Scriptures very sweet, and necessary to be experienced in the Gospel-state : as also, a few words concerning the true Christ, and a few words in the bowels of tender love and good will to my native country / by a long mourner and traveller after, but as length an happy experiencer of the truth, as it is in Jesus, Isaac Pennington.

VII. Concerning the Words being a Fire and a Hammer, to burn up the Chaff and break the Rocks in pieces.

Quest. Is the Word which is a fire and ham∣mer, the Testimonies and Declarations of the holy Scriptures without, or the Word nigh in the mouth and heart?

Answ. That which I have felt hammering inwardly, that which I have felt burning in∣wardly (unquenchably, as the mind has been kept to it) has been the Word of Life it self, from which the good words and holy testimo∣nies proceed. That which does the work in

the inward Jew, is the inward Ministration of the inward Covenant, the appearance of God there: He is the consuming Fire, he is the Spi∣rit of Judgment and Burning, who by his holy flamings inwardly, burns up the filth of the daughter of Sion. A man may be exercised in the letter all his dayes, and yet witness no∣thing of this inwardly in Truth and Righte∣ousness: but he whom the Spirit of Judgment and Burning inwardly comes nigh, and whose flesh is kept in that holy furnace, it will be consumed there day by day, until it be quite wasted and destroyed; and so he come to be judged according to the flesh, and to live to God in the Spirit.