A collection of the several writings and faithful testimonies of that suffering servant of God, and patient follower of the Lamb, Humphry Smith who dyed a prisoner for the testimony of Jesus, in Winchester common-goal the 4th day of the 3d moneth in the year 1663.

Hidden things made manifest by the Light, In a plain Distinction between Condemnation & Temptation.

Wherein is shewed How the Righteous Law of God is ministred upon the Transgressor, and how it is to be by all received, as a Schoolmaster to come to Christ, by him to have the sin done away forever. Also, of Temptation, what it is, and how it may be known & discerned from Condemnation. With a Direction to them who profess the knowledge of Truth, and live not in the power of God.

Concerning the Ministration of Condemnation.

THe World being set in man's Heart, and Sin being in the World before the Promise was made, which Pro∣mise was before the Law, by which the Sin is discover∣ed; which Sin was in the World before the Promise, yet the Promise was before the Law; and yet until the Law comes, Death reigns over that to which the Promise is, and Sin separateth man from God, the which is not clearly seen until the Command∣ment (which is Light) is come, the Ministration whereof is Con∣demnation unto Man, being found in the Transgression; the which Ministration of Condemnation is to pass over all, having sinned; and when this cometh, it finds man in the Death, and by it is sin revived, whereby man comes to see a Body of Sin,

which stands between him and God, so that he is afraid of the dreadful Power of God, ministred forth through the Law, to slay him that hath transgressed, the which some coming to see, or in the least measure to feel, call it a Temptation, because it maketh him sensible, that Condemnation belongeth to him, and that all his Profession and building upon the Promise, in that which the Promise was not unto; and seeing, that if he lie down to re∣ceive this Ministration, that then all his Profession and Know∣ledge, Zeal, Wisdom and Prayers (which did arise out of that ground which was cursed by reason of the sin that was in the World before either the Promise, the Profession, or the Law) will be all ript up from him, as filthy Rags, and that his shame and nakedness must appear, as its written, Every mouth shall be stopped, and every one shall stand guilty before God, and no Darkness, no shadow of Death shall hide the workers of Iniquity from the mighty hand of God, who brings to judgment the hidden things of Darkness, and rips open the secrets of the Heart, so that the most secret Sin•• that ever were committed are clearly made manifest, and justly charged upon the head of the Transgressor, who stands in Enmity to God, who will wound the head of the Transgressor, and plead in Righteousness with him, in whom the sin is found, though not made manifest until the time that the Law is come, by which it is discovered.

And this Ministration of Condemnation is not a Temptation, though many call it so, who being blind, put Darkness for Light, and Light for Darkness; for that which sheweth man his sin, doth not tempt man to sin, but rather brings man in fear that he may not sin; for because of sin was the Law added; and the Law was given after much of the Love, Preservation, Power, Deli∣verances, and the Wonders of the Lord had been seen, and it was given in the Wilderness, where sometime there was want of Bread and Water, where was Serpents, Scorpions and many Tryals, where the figure of him who was to heal the wounded, and take away the sting of death, and save the Life of man, was lifted up on high without them; the which figure or outward bo∣dily Appearance, was prepared by Moses: And Christ had a body prepared him, both which the carnal Eye might see, and the carnal Mind contend about (even as the Devil about the bo∣dy of Moses) but the Substance of the Figure, Christ the Light,

Gods power, being not received within, in the heart, and so fin (the transgression of the Law) remains within, and the figure or that which the natural Eye did or may see, was and is looked upon without; and that without doth not take away the sin with∣in; and these knew not the Ways of God, who sinned, and at last loathed the Manna (calling it light bread) in the Wilderness, even there was the Law Ministred; they whose eyes are open may read and understand

And where the Law was given forth, there was a Mount, or a high place of the Earth, which then trembled by reason of the dreadful Power of the Lord of Hosts; and beneath or under the Mount was the Seed and Israel of God, which was to keep the Law and Life [Read within and understand] and yet by reason of that which was hard upon the heart, there was a crying out with Dread, and Horror, and Fear, That the Lord might speak no more, lest they dye; and so that which is hard upon the heart, in the which by the Law (which is Light) sin is found, that is it which is afraid to receive the Law, and come near the Darkness, and Thunders, and Tempests; and so, though many do talk of the Law (being a School-master to Christ) yet they are much afraid to receive the Ministration of Condemnation, as their Fa∣thers were, who might have boasted, that they were the People of God, his only chosen flock, and that the Land of rest was pro∣mised to them, and that they had fed upon the Passover (and yet they perished before they came to that which was promised, who are left for an Example) and they might have boasted and talked much of the goodness of God, and of his wonders, and of his presence being with them, and of their own experiences therein, and that therefore they were not to come under the Ministration of Condemnation, and fear, and horror, and trem∣bling, and astonishment, and that they need not now to be a∣fraid of God, who had shewed them so much love and mercy: And many such things might they have pleaded, as most profes∣sing People do now, who can talk of promises and deliverances, and of Christ, and his Merites and Righteousness, and Justifica∣tion, and Redemption (finished without them) and especially of Ordinances, and their own experiences of the Power of God, but are yet in their sins, having not received the thing promised,

neither come to him who is the end of the Law, and maketh an end of sin, whom many satisfie their vain Minds with talk∣ing of him with the same Tongue that useth deceit; and pro∣fessing him who is the end of the Law, but the Law they despise, holding the Truth of God in the unrighteous Ground, which by the mighty power of God, through the Ministration of the Law, is to be shaken and removed, as it is written, Sinai also was moved, and all Israel trembled, and Moses did fear and quake; and once more will the Lord shake not only the Earth, but the Hea∣vens also, and then shall the Foundation of the Hypocrites be overturned forever.

For though the Name of God and Christ be professed, yet if Moses's Law be despised, such dye without Mercy; for the Law is to remove the Iniquity, which doth with-hold the Mercy and the good things from man; and in the end of the Law is that received by which the Law is fulfilled, which is according to the Law and the Prophets; but there is none can come to that in the end of the Law, who refuse to come to the beginning of the Law, and despise the Ministration of Condemnation, and make a mock at Trembling, or at least, not knowing what it is, exceed∣ingly to fear and quake, being not in the least sensible, what that is which must be shaken and removed, before the thing pro∣mised be obtained; for a Promise may be made long before the thing promised be given or obtained; for a Promise was made unto Abraham and his seed, and yet it is written of him, and ma∣ny more, that they dyed, having not obtained the Promises; and he that made the promise was before the sin, who ministred forth the Law to discover the sin; through the Ministration whereof, and by Obedience thereunto, that cometh to be received which taketh away the sin, in which all the Promises are received.

And so, all that come to receive the thing promised, they re∣ceive that which is the end of the Law, and was before the sin, in which there is no sin, by which sin is finished, and him received in whose Mouth there is sound no Guile; who bringeth his to be as he is in this present World, being made the Righteousness of God through him, having the Righteousness of the Law ful∣filled in them, by him who is the end of the Law, dwelling in them, in whom also his Power worketh mightily, which is more

than to talk of the Law being fulfilled without them; for many such are neither come to that which fulfills the Law, neither yet to the Law it self; and such are hating, reviling, backbiting, opposing, and many ways persecuting those who witness the Law fulfilled in them, even as Saul, who was bred up at the feet of Gamal••••l, and knew that of the Law which was written with∣out, and walked blameless according to the Righteousness there∣of, and yet knew not that which gave forth the Law, but per∣secuted him by whom the Law should be fulfilled, whose dread∣ful Power smote him down, and a blindness came upon that great Professor, who had profited much in that Religion, above many of his equals: And to that Power which struck him blind did he then bow, and became obedient, and afterwards said, When the Commandment came, sin revived, and I dyed: And so that was struck blind, and is to be blinded, which professed the Law before it came, and encreased in that knowledge, without the Life, and Knew not that by which the Law should be fulfil∣led. Therefore that which sees, must be blind; and that which is blind, is to see. And this Revelation and heavenly Vision he did not then call a Temptation, nor a Delusion; neither did he despise that which struck him blind, and let him see a Body of sin, and came to cut him down because of the sin, but cryed out of his Wretchedness, and accounted all as Dross and Dung; and unto this he was obedient, and this he loved, and did not say of it, That it was not able to save him from Sin, the which be∣fore did prick for sin, though against that which prickt he had strived (which was in him) and it was said unto him, It is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And so, that which striveth and kicketh against that which pricketh at the Heart, is that by which the Heart is hardened; for the Word is hid in the heart, which Word is sharp as a sword; which Word being preached, some were pricked to the heart (others cut to the heart) so that many cryed out, Men and Bre∣thren•• what shall we do to be saved? And so the Word being nigh, ••n which God is striving with man, even piercing the hearts of many, that some in secret have been ready to cry out and say, What shall I do to be saved? And yet being not truly sensible what it is in them which did prick and pierce through the heart,

and let them see themselves out of Gods Covenant; therefore have they strove against it, and called this a Temptation, which was the Powerful Operation of God by the Light of his Son in the heart, calling to Repentance, the which they have called a Temptation of the Devil (esteeming it so to be) which is most horrible Blas∣phemy and resisting of the Spirit, and refusing to turn to him that smiteth: And this is the blindness of them who know not God, who by the Light of his Son doth knock at the Door of the heart, to minister forth the Law, to judge and condemn, and break the hardness, that in the broken heart this Word of Life might be received, and his Power made known, to the Confound∣ing of that which kept that in Bondage (under the Transgressi∣on) which was given into man before the Transgression was, out of which Transgression there is no coming, but by and through the Ministration of Condemnation, which doth it discover in the ground of it, through which there is a coming to receive the Gospel of Peace, which is the Power of God, not to be preach∣ed to the Wicked things, under which the just do suffer, which the Law is to, but by the Lord of glory, through the Light, preached to the Spirit in Prison, that it, through the Condemna∣tion of the other, may grow up to lead and guide the Creature in all things, in obedience to Gods will, from a true sense of his Love in the heart, whereby his whole Law comes to be fulfilled, and the Promise and the Blessing received in him, who is the end of the Law, who is the Light, given into man, to let him see, and to condemn the sin, the which man being dead in, and in Trespasses, doth not love, but is afraid of that which in secret judgeth and reproveth him, from the which man flying, forsak∣eth that by which he should come to receive the Mercies of the Lord; but Wo to them forever, who strive with their Maker, and call him Belz••bub, who is the Light in the Heart, and should be Master in the House.

Therefore let all take heed of despising the Law, which is written with the singer of God in the heart, whilst it is yet hard; sor the Law of God is perfect, making wise the simple, and the Ministration thereof is to destroy that which did it Transgress, and lead unto him by whom the Transgression is finished: And this is not a Temptation, but a Dispensation of Gods Justice Through

his Righteous Law upon that which sinned, over which the Law hath Power so long as that liveth, which the Law is to kill, that through the death of it, that might come again to live which was before the Law, and before the death, and before the sin.

And now when the Law or Ministration of Condemnation cometh, man is to stand still and wait quietly under it, and not let any thing break through in a haste, to rage or gaze, and wonder at that which is so dreadful that man is not able to stand under it, without unspeakable Astonishment, because of that which then is over him, who then is commanded, not to break through, lest he dye; for the Law is to break through that which cannot keep it, and make way to that which is to keep it, and live forever; but man is not to break through, from under the Condemnation, to that where the Law is ministred, until that is received by which the Law may be kept; for such who in the Condemnation do abide, come at last to see and receive him that is made under the Law, and is the end of it, and taketh away the sin; but such who come to the Law, and break out from un∣der the judgment, before the Lord had broke through, and cut down all that in them which could not keep it, such have let in Death again to reign over that which with judgment should have been redeemed, to bear away that which the Law had po∣wer over, and arise up with that Power, Love, Life and Obedi∣ence to God, as in all things to fulfill the whole Law of God, which until then, doth still stand in force over that and them in which sin remaineth, which doth transgress the Law, one tittle whereof shall not perish till all be fulfilled, though some coming to the Law have broke forth, and then healed the Wound slightly, supposing it would serve their turns to talk of the fulfilling of it by and in another for them, and without them, seeing themselves not able to keep it in all things, not waiting to the end of the Law, by it to have all that destroyed which could not keep it, and receive that which cannot break it; [Mark] and in it keep, by it to be led out of the Wilderness of sin, in the promised Land to rest, in it to have the dayes prolonged and the life preserved; for Christ the Light cometh to save the Life.

And there are many that are now come to peace, dominion and the land of Rest, who did once come to know the judgments of

God upon Cain's nature, which then cryed out, That his punishment was too heavy to bear, and have also come to see the Beast, whose head is full of the Names of Blasphemy, and yet have they not started aside like a broken Bow, from under the judgment, nei∣ther suffered the Enemy to prevail over them by Temptations, to curse God and dye, nor to call him Belzebub, who is the Light, which condemns, and should be Master in the house; neither have they dispised Moses Law, which is the Ministration of Condem∣nation, and in its time is glorious; but in patience and long∣suffering under it have waited, and that without murmuring, or suffering that to break forth in rage, which Gods judgments are to; neither have they suffered Unbelief to prevail over them, but in love to him who was made a Curse, in patience have endured all these things, and have been made as free to drink the Cup of Astonishment, with the Dregs thereof, as the Lord was to pour it forth unto them, who now drink the Cup of Salvation, even the Blood of the Lamb, which cleanseth from all sin, whose life saveth them from the Terror of the Pit, who have come to feel the seed born and brought forth (though with Pangs and Sor∣row) which the blessing is to.

Those may see, hear, and understand what I write, who are come to know how the Law is handed forth by a Mediator (who was before the Law) and the Righteousness of God manifest without the law, and sin discovered by the Law, and Gods Righ∣teousness revealed by that which was before the Law; and that notwithstanding the Law must be received, yet by the works thereof no flesh shall be justified, but by obedience of Faith to∣wards God in the Blood of his Son, by which all that is done a∣way which trangress'd the Law; and so not of Works, nor of Merits, but of Faith and Love, is the Law fulfilled.

Concerning Temptation.

And that those who were born blind, and have been ever since covered with the blackness of Darkness, through their own Wis∣dom, being dead in Trespasses and Sins, not feeling nor savour∣ing the things of God, but remain in that Religion and Profession

which crucisied his Son, who is a man of Sorrows, and called him, A Blasphemer, who is the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the World; and said, he had a Devil, who came to condemn sin in the flesh, whose Light in every Conscience is the Condemnation, so long as the Evil deeds remain; the which Condemnation is not a Temptation; for God, who is Light, temp∣teth no man to Evil. Therefore in love is this written, that no man through blindness and ignorance (in his own wisdom) may esteem that to be a Temptation, which doth condemn, and that out of Temptation, all such who are tempted, may be led and kept by that which doth condemn, which is the pure Light of Christ, which doth judge and condemn the Temptations, and the Sin, and the Transgressor (who enters into it) and every E∣vil motion, which is apt to arise in the mind, that is darkned and blinded by the God of the World; which mind from the Darkness to the Light is to be turned, in the Light to believe as he hath said, I am the Light, believe in the Light; and it is a Temp∣tation which hinders man from believing in the Light; and all such keep not the Commands of Christ, who do not believe and obey the Light; and such profess his Words, but deny that in which the power of his Life doth stand.

And it is a Temptation which causeth man to deny and refuse the Law (which is Light) and not come under, nor receive the Ministration of Condemnation, supposing he is under Grace, and so not to come back to the Law, because he hath gotten a Professi∣on of Christ, whose day Abraham saw, whose seed came through the Law, of whom Christ came, who fulfills the Law, and mak∣eth an end of sin, who was in the Church in the Wilderness, and in his pity saved them, and bare them all the dayes of old, lea∣ding the humble seed, that through the Wilderness of sin it might come, and at last enjoy that by which the sin is done away forever.

And it is a Temptation which causeth man to call that a Temp∣tation which in the Conscience doth sometimes arise and let men see, that he by his sin is in the Fall, the Death and the Curse, and that the Judgments of God belong to him, and that he cannot escape the fierce Wrath of the Almighty, living in that by which sin is daily committed, and the Righteous Law of God transgres∣sed,

and himself out of the Covenant of Life, wanting the pow∣er of God to bear him up out of Iniquity, so that he labours, and prays, and crys sometimes with Tears (like Esau) to keep that alive in the Transgression, which God hath appointed to de∣struction; [Consider this] And strives against that which lettet•• see the emptiness thereof, and condemns afterwards; if a false joy doth not arise secretly to glory in what was done, whereby that was satisfied and got ease, which the Judgment was to, which of the Judgment was afraid, and from under it led forth to per∣form a Will worship, from the ground where Cain's nature bears rule, who can bring a sacrifice, but the deeds (with the Light) seen to be evil, who at last murthers the just, and the sin lying at the door, which secret sin cannot be hid from the Light in any that commit it, or in whom it is, though never so secret.

And it is a Temptation which worketh in the dark corners of the heart, in the time when Condemnation cometh to drive man to despair, by reason of the fierceness of the Judgment, and drives him from God and his Righteous Judgments, into Unbelief and Hardness of Heart against God; and herein the Tempter pre∣vails over many, some whereof then go to destroy themselves, not keeping in patience under the Judgment, which was to de∣stroy the sin; for Christ the Light comes to condemn and destroy the sin, but the Life he comes to save; Others through Unbelief have hardned their hearts in sin, their minds being in that in which they cannot believe, That ever they shall overcome sin, nor be saved from it; and such grow worse than before, and use all means in vain lustful Delights to murther that in them which checks, reproves and condemns them for sin; and many here turn aside from under the Condemnation, many and various ways, some who are blind calling it Melancholly; so that few endure to the end, and enter through the strait Gate by the Death, through it the Life to find, not waiting with long forbearance out of that which hasteth, in patience in the Light to see, feel and know the seed of Abraham (brought forth of the barren Womb) which against hope, in hope believe: And these Temptations lead further into sin, and is not that which condemns for sin; for that would keep out of sin, though its Judgments be never so heavy upon man for sin.

And being that God is known in the ways of his Judgments, and that they who are to receive the Promise, must keep Judg∣ment, and that with Judgment Sion's Redemption is to be witnes∣sed, and when Judgment begins to be set up in the heart, to judge, condemn, confound, overturn and cut down the Head, Body and Root of all that which by the Light is seen to be in the Transgression, having the form of Godliness, but not the Power which keepeth out of, and free from all sin, which the Judgment is to pass upon: Therefore is that a Temptation which then draweth forth the mind from under the Judgment, to get ease by a supposed Peace with God, from the Comprehension of some∣thing done without afar off or long ago, and so climb up ano∣ther way then by the Light within (which I know is the door) which condemns and bringeth to Judgment the hidden things of Darkness, and brings fire and sword upon the Earth, and send∣eth not Peace to it, but setteth two at variance within, where∣by there is much striving in the Womb, and not rest day nor night, because of the War between the two seeds, out of which trouble being led, by that which in the Judgment could not stand, so that getteh ease again, and then man preached peace unto him∣self, having got out of some trouble, he then striveth more strongly to keep out of it then he did before, and labours much to comprehend a resting-place to abide in, though that be not redeemed with Judgment out of Bondage, which thereby should come to obtain rest and peace for evermore.

And being that the Law and the Prophets (together) are until John, and that the Law is to judge and cut down that which is above the seed exalted; and that the Prophecies and Openings from the Testimony of Witness, is to uphold and preserve under the Judgment, whereby some secret hopes or refreshings come unto that which at last out of Bondage shall be redeemed; there∣fore it is a Temptation which leadeth forth (on that hand) in a Joy, through the reason, with great swelling Imaginations in the vain light Mind, out of the fear of God, not standing in his Counsel, but like the rest of the false Prophets coming to true Openings, from it run forth, before that through judgment be brought forth, which should go before, and lead them in God's Wisdom and Counsel to stand; and such speak great swelling

words in a secret pride, boasting of their Experiences, but are become the untimely Children of the Mother of Harlots, who with their Mother must be turned back into the Bed of Tor∣ments.

And being the Lord God of Life hath given his Son a Light in the Heart, that man might be led, taught and guided by him out of sin, and giveth power to all them that love, follow and obey him, to overcome their sin, whose light being in Man a free gift from God, and that by no other Name, Way or Means man can ever be saved. Therefore that is a Temptation which leads out from that in the Heart [Which in it is given, there to make an end of Sin] to follow that which doth not make an end of Sin, nor minister Power to them that follow it, to overcome their sin, so that they cannot receive that which cleanseth from all sin, such have the root and ground in them, from whence sin cometh; but the Root of Jesse, in whom there is no sin, they are only professing and talking of without them.

And that is a Temptation that leadeth man to commit any manner of sin whatsoever, and keeps man from believing in him that maketh an end of Sin, and keeps man in sin, and from Re∣pentance and turning from sin (whilst that of God in the Con∣science is striving with him against sin) perswading him, that he cannot be free from sin, and to put off the time of true Re∣pentance until Gods Spirit by the Light in the Heart, hath ceased striving, and then such think all is well, because that which judged and condemned them for the least appearance of Evil, hath ceased striving with them, that so they are now quiet, and not judged as formerly for what they do, though they do the same things for which formerly they were judged; but let such assuredly know, That that which was sin, is sin still, though they (instead of coming through the Law) are gone back from the Law which did discover it, and come to that state again, which was before the Law (or a worse) where Death reigns, and Sin is in the World, though not discovered by the Law to them who have despised the Law, and so become dead to that which should fulfill the Law, and also dead in that which doth transgress the Law, even so dead in sin, that now feeling the weight and bur∣then thereof, neither yet feeling any thing of God in them,

striving in them against it; and is not their latter end like to be worse than their beginning? And are not such as these, who have got a Profession, more hardned in their Sin, and pleading more strongly for their continuance therein, than the Publicans, Harlots and Prophane?

And that is a Temptation which draws forth the mind to fear, love, serve, obey or respect any man, or created thing, glory, honour, or whatsoever may be named, more than God, or to deny obedience to God; for the attaining or retaining thereof, or to let any of the most glorious Creatures of God fill and take plnce in the heart, that in it room may not be found for the Power of God to enter; so that the life, virtue and substance of all things, in which there is full satisfaction, cannot be received.

And that is a Temptation that leadeth forth to seek or love the praise of men; for if that was out of the Faith, which re∣ceived Honour from men, then that must needs be of the Devil which would compel Honour to be given to it; that is it in man of the Devil, which would have the begotten of God, honour and worship it, which would take the due honour and praise from God, to whom alone belongeth all Dominion, Glory, Honour and Obedience, and Praises forever and ever.

And that is a Temptation which draweth forth the Mind to worship any other God but he that made all Men of one Blood, and is above all, and through all, and in you all, who dwelleth in his People, and what of him may be known, is manifest with∣in, whom all may feel after and find, whom the World by Wis∣dom doth not know; who abhorreth the Sacrifices of them whose Hearts are Uncircumcised; and is wearied with the Peo∣ples Words, Mat. 2. 17. and grieved with their Iniquity, who heareth not the Prayers of men of Sin, but waiteth to be graci∣ous unto such who wait for him in the Light of his Son, who was led as a Lamb dumb, and is of the Seed of David, who was dumb with silence, and opened not his Mouth while the Wicked was in place.

But when the wicked thing is removed out of his place, and the humble Seed of the Shepherd raised up in his Throne upon his Hill of Holiness, having his Enemies under his Feet, then he speaketh with Authority, and not as the Scribes.

Thus man coming into the fear of the Lord, and waiting in the Light of his Son in the Heart, with it may he see and dis∣cern between that which discovereth and condemneth Sin, and that which tempteth to Sin, out of which that man may be re∣deemed (and kept out of Temptations) is this written in love to the Seed, over which the Beast, the Dog and the Swine do vaunt themselves, who have nothing to do with this, but only to receive the Cup of Astonishment, which to the Serpents is to be poured forth, who are not to feed upon this which is written.

A Direction in the way to that within the Vail, by which Temptations are overcome.

TRuth is that in which the Power of God doth stand, and in the Truth there is no Lye; and all them who receive Truth from God, in it they receive his power, whereby they are made his Sons, in his power to stand in obedience to his will, which is that by which they are sanctified, and by obedience of Faith thereunto are preserved, keeping in stedfastness by the mighty Power of God, out of that which doth defile, are pre∣served in that Dominion and place of Holiness, into which the Harlots (out of the Truth and Power) and all proud Boasters (and such who are intruding into things they have not seen, and all Murmurers, who complain for want of Power) do not enter.

Therefore, all People who profess the knowledge of the Truth, and yet have not received the Power of God, in which no Sin doth stand, wait ye all in the Light to know the Vail rent, and the ground to be removed, from whence the Words come, which darkens that in which the counsel of God should be received, and wait to feel Judgment and Condemnation up∣on the Earthly, that over the Seed doth rule; and keep Judg∣ment, that through the Condemnation that may spring, which never yet was found: For certainly till there be a coming through the Ministration of Condemnation, the Pearl is hid under the Earth, and the Earthly bears rule over it, whereby it still in Bondage lies, and the Creature sometimes led by a fight of that

which it doth not possess, holding the Truth of God in that which is not his Righteousness; for his Righteousness is revealed by Faith through the power of him that takes away the Sin; and so its not comprehended in, by that mind which is out of the Co∣venant. And this know assuredly, That many may see that which is afar off, and not feel the Life of what they see; and so are ma∣ny high Professors in the World, who change from one Opinion to another, and are all yet but fruitless Trees, which are to be cut down and rooted up.

And many there are who call him that is the Light, Lord and Master, but to the Light are not obedient in Self-denial, nor ta∣king up the daily Cross, which is the Power of God, and cru∣cifies unto the World; and so the first Man of the World being not crucified nor put off, the new Man is not received; and so little more is witnessed by many, who profess Truth with∣out the Life, than was in the time of other Forms: for if the Death be not known, the Resurrection of the Just received, and the Dead raised, then is all in vain: And this is not known by any but such who know the Judgments of the Lord set up in the Heart, and the Cup of Astonishment to the Adulterous Seed, which comes of the will of the Flesh, and cannot lay down the Life for the Friend.

Wherefore (I say) wait to know the Birth that is Immortal, and feel that born up which never yet was raised in them, over whom the Vail yet is, that the free Birth may be known, and the Seed, whom God hath appointed the blessing unto, from un∣der death redeemed, that by the powerful risings thereof, the understanding may be opened with that which was before Forms were, that to it you may come, which giveth Life unto the Soul, and know a Saviour born of the barren Womb, and a Deliverer brought forth in the place where he hath not been known, and the Plant to spring out of that ground which is yet dry, that it may be overshadowed with the loveliness of its spreading forth, that a way may be opened in the Wilderness, and the humble ex∣alted in the Valley, and so come to learn of that which is yet little and low; and take heed of taking counsel of the Serpent, whose subtilty will soon lead forth from the Simplicity, neither cover your selves with any thing before the Righteousness of God

(which is perfect) be received; but love that which comes from the man of Sorrows, who comes to break the peace of all them who walk not in the Everlasting Way of Life. Let all them who are out of it, search their Hearts with the Light.

And take heed of that which is high, froward or strong in the Will [for we are weak] which is not brought to the Cross; for there is the first Birth from the wrong grounds, which will speak and act that which it lives not in, neither is able to confirm it in Faithfulness to the Death and Loss of all; for things may be true in themselves, and that which is out of the Truth may speak of it; yet such vain Talkers cannot suffer to Death for what they speak.

For that which cometh forth first, is strong in the Earthly, and would live forever, and have the Blessing, and would rule over the meek thing in the particular; and in others, having a secret desire to be admired, being far unwilling to take a Servants place; but certainly it is the meek, humble, suffering Seed (which in many is yet oppress'd) that is to last forever, who through Death comes into the Dominion.

Therefore sink down out of the airy Comprehension and Sub∣tilty, above the Life, and first come to suffer with that which is meek and low, if ever you intend with it to reign in that Peace and Life, which from all that without the Vail is hid; and in silence watch, and be sober, to see him come which saves the Soul, and clothes it with his own Righteousness, that you be not found without a Covering of the Spirit, Power and Life, among the foolish Virgins; for few there be that find the Way of Life, and abide therein.

And I knowing the Terror of the Lord that will certainly come upon all them who dye out of his Covenant, therefore I Warn all People every where (as the Lord enlargeth me) to wait to feel the powerful Word of Repentance, and with the Light to make diligent search into the ground and foundation of all Pro∣fessions, Words and Actions.

For the Lord will make inquisition for the Blood of the Just, and reward the Double-minded according to the intents of their hearts, the Gaul whereof will be rent with the Power of his Might, which will sweep away the refuge of Lyes, and con∣found,

your Divinations in the head of that knowledge above the seed; and a day of Desolation must come, Sword and Famine must you know, and the Earth to be removed, and your Heavens shaken, that the poor may come to receive the glad Tidings of the Gospel, which is the Power of God; for the fat and the strong are for judgment both within and without, and they are still sent away empty; but the poor are they which are to be satisfied, not the rich, high, wise, strong, mighty, prudent Diviners, and Orthodox men, and zealous Professors, and liscentious Liber∣tines (as they are called) who profess a Saviour to come, and some would have a King to reign hereafter; but they are not a∣greed how, nor when, nor where their King shall reign (whom they imagine shall come) but are found Despisers, not Lo∣vers nor Faithful Followers of him that is come, the Glory of whose KINGDOM is already shining over the World, and is established in Righteousness, who is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, who is our Head, our Law-giver and our King; and we do not look for another, as the Drunkards of Ephriam do, who are drunk, but not with Wine, and stagger at Noon∣day, and must be dashed one against another, and broken to pieces as the Potsherds of the Earth, who are looking for a King to come, and know not the King who is already come, who is the Light, to which they will not bow, though it in secret doth them reprove, and shew us plainly of the Father, and lets them see their Disobedience.

To it now therefore bow and bend, for plainly the Lord God, who is Light, will not alwayes strive by the Light of his Son in your hearts: And this know, That as I tender the least honest desires that are begotten in any after the living Truth of God, yet I am to deal plainly with all, and clear my Conscience of all who are covered with their own Conceivings, and in Words and Writing to warn all in the Spirit of Truth and Meekness, as the Lord moveth me in faithfulness to declare against that which yet in any bears rule over the Seed, which by Judgment must be o∣verturned, and all the Judgments of the Lord are true.

Wherefore, ye that are willing to come out of Temptations, in∣to that where the foolish Virgins cannot enter, wait in the fear of the Lord to feel his Work within, whilst the day of Salva∣tion

lasteth, lest thick Darkness come upon you, and you be found in the Night, in which none can work; and take heed of a secret High-mindedness, and prize your day of Visitation more then Life or Liberty, and take heed of that which would contrive a way to shun the Cross, or stop the mouth of the Wit∣ness; but let the honest Simplicity come to rule in the measure of it; and take heed of entring in and yielding to Temptations; for many ways hath the Serpent (which is near) to beguile and destroy the Life from man; which is not overcome, but in the continual fear, through the Cross to the Will, with the Power of the Light, which is given to lead through all these things, into the rest which is prepared only for them who are faithful to the Light.

For this have I not learned nor received from men (the Lord God knoweth I Lye not) but through the operation of the migh∣ty Power of God, whose Indignation I have born, in whose Judgments I rejoyce forever, and glorifie and praise his blessed Name, who by it my Wisdom confounded, and suffered me to be sifted and tempted by the Enemy divers wayes, yet preserved my Life under the shadow of his Wing, that I might praise and serve him in the Land of the living, and declare his Wonders among the Sons of men, and let them also see with the Light the narrow way that they are to come, which in some measure hath been declared, though in that Language which the Wisdom of the World may not understand, and call it legal, to whom as foolishness it may appear; but my voice may be known to the Spirit in Prison, whom my Soul travels for in the bowels of my Father's love.

Given forth for such who say, they see, and yet their Sin remaineth; and may be serviceable to such who can hear and understand the things of God, that those who are yet blind may no longer put Dark∣ness for Light, and Light for Darkness.

H. S.