APPENDIX to VOL. I.
_By referring to page 167 of this Volume, it will be observed
that the author, in giving a paper written by James Nayler,
has omitted the part that immediately precedes the conclusion
of it. This, which it is now thought proper to supply, is as
follows_:
‘And this further is given me to say to every particular person,
to whom this writing shall come, Whatever is thy condition, wait
in the light which lets thee see it; there is thy counsel and
thy strength to be received, to stay thee, and to recover thee.
Art thou tempted to sin? abide in that which lets thee see it,
that there thou mayest come to feed on the right body, and not
on the temptation; for if thou mindest the temptation it will
overcome thee, but in the light is salvation. Or, having sinned,
art thou tempted to despair, or to destroy thyself? mind not
the temptation, for it is death that sin hath brought forth;
feed not on it, nor mind it, lest thou eatest condemnation; for
that is the wrong body. The body of Christ is felt in the light,
in which is life from death, grace and truth to feed on, which
will overcome for thee, being followed; but if thou followest
the temptation, fear and condemnation will swallow thee up. If
there appear to thee voices, visions, and revelations, feed not
thereon, but abide in the light and feel the body of Christ,
and there wilt thou receive faith and power to judge of every
appearance and spirit, the good to hold fast and obey, and the
bad to resist. Art thou in darkness? mind it not; for if thou
dost, it will fill thee more; but stand still and act not, and
wait in patience till light arise out of darkness to lead thee.
Art thou wounded in conscience? feed not there, but abide in
the light, which leads to the grace and truth, which teaches to
deny and put off the weight, and removes the cause, and brings
saving health to light; yea, this I say to thee in the name of
Jesus Christ, that though thou hast made thy grave as deep as
the nethermost hell, or were thy afflictions as great as Job’s,
and thy darkness as the depth of the sea, yet if thou wilt not
run to vain helps, as I have done, but stay upon the Lord, till
he give thee light by his word, (who commands light to shine out
of darkness,) from thence will he bring thee forth, and his eye
shall guide thee, and thou shalt praise his name, as I do this
day, glory for evermore! And this word is nigh thee which must
give thee light, though darkness comprehends it not. And hadst
thou gifts, revelations, knowledge, wisdom, or whatever thou
canst read of in the Scriptures of truth, and dost not abide
in the light, and feed on the body of Christ, whence the gifts
spring, but feed on the gift, thou mayest be up for a while in
thy own sight, but certainly thou wilt wither and die to God,
and darkness will come upon thee, and thy food will turn to thy
condemnation in the sight of God.’
_Nayler’s Works_, _page_ lv.
THE
HISTORY
OF THE
RISE, INCREASE, AND PROGRESS,
OF THE
CHRISTIAN PEOPLE CALLED QUAKERS.
INTERMIXED WITH
SEVERAL REMARKABLE OCCURRENCES.
WRITTEN ORIGINALLY IN LOW DUTCH,
AND ALSO TRANSLATED BY HIMSELF INTO ENGLISH.