There is one thing more that would be necessary for the wise in Heart to
know, which the Scriptures speak of in several Places; but I never heard
any of the Ministry tell what that Satan is the Scriptures speak of,
therefore I shall speak a Word or two to shew what Satan is, and so
conclude. 1 _Chron._ xxi. 1. _And Satan stood up against_ Israel; and
_Job_ i. 6. _And Satan came also among them_; and Chap. xxi. 22. _And
the Lord said to Sathan, From whence comest thou? And God said to Satan,
Hast thou considered my Servant_ Job? Ezek. iii. 1. _And Satan standing
at his right Hand._ Mat. xvi. 23. _Get the behind me, Satan._ Luke x.
18. _I beheld Satan as Lightning fall from Heaven._
1 _Chron._ xxi. 1. _And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked_
David _to number Israel_. This Satan that provoked _David_, it was the
Motions of Reason in himself, being lifted up in his own Mind, in that
he had overcome the Children of _Ammon_, he thought to make nothing of
the _Philistines_; therefore the Thoughts of his Heart moved him to
number the People, to know his Strength. And this Motion that did arise
in his Heart, it was Satan, it is called Satan, because those Motions
proceed from the Spirit or Seed of Reason in him. In 2 _Sam._ xxiv. 1.
it is said, _The Anger of the Lord was kindled against_ Israel, _and he
moved_ David _against them to say, Go, number_ Israel: that is, the Lord
suffered the Motions of Reason in _David_ to be powerful and strong in
him, that no Arguments should disswade him from it, but the People must
be numbred; and this was that Satan in _David_, and no Spirit without
him.
So _Job_ i. 6. _The Sons of God came to present themselves before the
Lord, and Satan came also among them._ To this I say, the Book of _Job_
is no Scripture, neither are Men to build their Faith upon it, because
the Book of _Job_ was written before _Moses_, therefore no Scripture;
for _Moses_ his Writing is the first Foundation of Scripture. Yet this I
do confess, that _Job_ was a good and faithful Man; and because he was
afflicted by Satan, and Satan is spoken of in several Places of
Scripture, yet none of them did declare what this Satan is, therefore I
shall declare now what that Satan was, that came among the Sons of God.
I declare, the Sons of God they were the Sons of _Job_, who feasted
their three Sisters, as you may read. They were called the Sons of God,
because they were that good and faithful Man _Job_'s Sons; as the Sons
of _Seth_ were called the Sons of God, and _they looked upon the
Daughters of Men, and saw that they were fair_, &c. as you may read in
_Genesis_. Now that Satan came amongst them when they presented
themselves before the Lord, it was the Spirit of Reason in _Job_'s seven
Sons, when they feasted their three Sisters, they were moved in their
Minds to Voluptuousness, Drunkenness and Lust, as the rest of the
Heathen were where they lived; so that they did Wickedness in the
Absence of _Job_ their Father: And _Job_ fearing in their Wickedness his
Sons had cursed God in their Hearts, as you may see in the Verse before.
So _Job_ caused his Sons to present themselves before the Lord, and to
worship the Lord, as it was the Manner for _Job_ to do in those times,
and Satan came with them, that is, the Spirit of Reason in his Sons came
with them, reasoning in themselves; why should their Father _Job_
reprove them for their Wickedness in their Feasts; this was that Satan
that came amongst them, for he was in them, and no other Satan but what
was within them.
And this is that Satan that goeth to and fro in the Earth, to tempt and
destroy those that are faithful: So that this Spirit of Reason, this
Satan, it goeth to and fro in the Earth, to tempt and destroy the
faithful.
It was that Satan that did motion the _Sabeans_ and _Chaldaeans_ to take
away _Job_'s Oxen, and slay his servants as they were plowing; and fired
the Sheep, and burnt up _Job_'s Servants; and the _Chaldaeans_ came with
a Band of Men, seeing _Job_ smitten and destroyed by the _Sabeans_; and
they came with three Bands of Men, and destroyed the Camels and the rest
of his Servants.
For this must be minded, that in those Times there was no Law to deliver
or help the Innocent, but he that had the strongest Sword carried the
Day. And the Lord for Trial of _Job_'s Faith and Patience, and for a
Pattern for the Ages to come, he suffered the Spirit of unclean Reason
in the _Sabeans_ and _Chaldaeans_ to go to and fro in the Earth, to stir
up their People to destroy _Job_ and all his House and Cattle.
Also God suffered the natural Wind to blow down the House where _Job_'s
Sons were feasting, and destroyed them according to the Desire of the
Spirit of unclean Reason in the _Sabeans_ and _Chaldaeans_. For the Sons
of _Job_ were wicked Children, though called the Sons of God.
And last of all the Spirit of unclean Reason in _Job_'s Wife was that
Satan that tempted _Job_ to curse God and die: So that there is no other
Spirit or Satan without Man: But that Satan spoken of in _Job_, it was
the Spirit of unclean Reason in the Minds of the _Sabeans_,
_Chaldaeans_, and in _Job_'s Wife and Sons; that was the Satan, and no
other.
And as for those Disputes; God had with Satan, and Satan with God; it
was nothing else but the Motions of _Job_'s Heart passing through his
troubled Soul, the Seed of Faith disputed in him for God, persuading him
to be patient, and let that have its perfect Work, and so Hope did
increase in him; and the Seed of Reason, which was Satan in him as well
as in others, it pleaded against God, Reasoning in him as if God did not
do well or justly by him, that had been so righteous in his Life, one
who never did no Wrong to his Neighbour, but always feared God; yet that
God should suffer the wicked to destroy his Cattle and Servants, and
suffer the Wind to blow down his House, and destroy his Children; and
not only so, but suffer his Body to break out with Boils and Botches
most loathsome, as if he had been the greatest Sinner in the World; so
that he thought that God dealt more cruelly with him then with any other
Creature. And further, he thought God dealt hardly with him, that he
would neither take away his Life, that he might die out of this troubled
Mind and Pains of Body, nor restore him to Health. These and such like
Reasonings and thoughts passed through _Job_'s troubled Soul even from
the Spirit or Seed of Reason in him, which is the Dispute of Satan: For
as the Seed of Faith in _Job_ disputed for God so did the Seed of Reason
in _Job_ dispute for Satan; for there is no other Satan but what is in
Man, as I said before.
So in _Zach._ iii. 1. here _Zachariah_ the Prophet saw in a Vision the
Redemption of the Seed of Faith by Christ under the Type of _Joshua_ the
High-Priest, standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing
at his right hand to resist him. This High-Priest was Christ clothed
with filthy Garments, when he became Flesh, when on Earth he appeared
unto Men, to be clothed in filthy Garments, being so mean, and had not a
Place to lay his Head yet professed himself to be the Son of God, the
High-Priest that should offer up himself for to save his People; for
High-Priests in former Times did appear to the People with rich and
glorious Garments; but this High-Priest doth appear to the Seed of
Reason, to be clothed in filthy Garments, not fit (as Reason thinks) to
stand before the Angel of the Lord.
And this Satan that stands as his right Hand to resist him, it was the
Spirit of unclean Reason in those People of the Jews when Christ was
upon Earth, and when that Devil that tempted Christ, spoken of in
_Matthew_, disputed with Christ, he resisted the High-Priest, and stood
at Christ's right Hand at that time; and this Devil that tempted Christ,
it was a Man endued with an high Pitch of Reason, and that Spirit of
Reason, or Wisdom of Reason, in that Man that tempted Christ the
High-Priest, it was Satan that strove to resist Christ in dispute,
whereupon Christ said, _Get thee hence Satan_.
This Satan was a Man, and the Spirit of Reason in this Man is that Satan
that always resisteth the Wisdom of Faith, which is the Wisdom of God.
But this hath been more largely treated upon in our other Writings, so I
shall speak no more of that Devil and his Temptations here.
So in _Matth._ xvi. 23. Christ said unto _Peter_, _Get thee behind me
Satan_. Here you see _Peter_ is called Satan, because it was the Spirit
of Reason in _Peter_ that said, Master, pity thy self: That is, the
Thoughts of _Peter's_ Heart they did savour of the fleshly part, that
is, those Motions to persuade Christ to save himself from Death, they
did arise from the Seed of Reason in _Peter_, therefore called Satan;
for there was no new Spirit that came into _Peter_ at that time to cause
him to speak those Words, but those Words proceeded from the Seed of
Reason in him, as aforesaid, therefore called Satan.
And wheresoever that Expression is used, as _Peter_ said himself in the
_Acts_, _Why hath Satan filled thine Heart to lie unto the Holy Ghost?_
that is, why hath the Motions of Reason in thee persuaded thy Heart to
tell a Lie unto us, that have the Holy Ghost in us?
So the Reader may clearly see, there is no other Satan to tempt God or
Man, but the Motions and Words that proceed from the Seed of Reason in
Man and Woman.
So in _Luke_ x. 18. _And Christ said unto his Disciples, I beheld Satan
as Lightning fall from Heaven_. This Christ spake, because his Disciples
rejoyced that the Devils were subject to them. The Meaning of Christ
was, that he saw the Spirit of Reason, that was in the Rulers of the
_Jews_, very high in the Righteousness of the Law of _Moses_, even as if
they were in Heaven, thinking in themselves that none could be more
happy and surer of Heaven and Peace with God, then they that kept to the
Law of _Moses_.
Now Christ knowing that this Righteousness of the _Jews_, should be
thrown down by the Righteousness of Faith, which his Apostles should
preach, therefore he saw by Faith that the Spirit of Reason in the
Rulers of the _Jews_ should fall like Lightning from Heaven; and so it
did, and the Disciples of Christ should, by the Doctrine and
Righteousness of Faith, tread upon Serpents, and upon their Persecution,
and upon their Righteousness of the Law of _Moses_, and upon all that
which did fall like Lightning from Heaven; they should tread upon Satan,
that is, upon the very Wisdom of Reason the Devil.
This is the true meaning of Christ, when he beheld Satan fall from
Heaven like Lightning, and what Satan is so much spoken of in Scripture.
Much more might be said to enlarge this Point, but I have spoken more
already then I did intend; but I suppose there is enough written here in
short to satisfy those, that can understand by a little what a great
deal Means. And also People may know when they speak of Satan what Satan
is, and when they speak of the Devil, they may know what the Devil is.
So much concerning the Interpretation of Satan, and the Conclusion of
this Epistle, written by
_Lodowicke Muggleton_.
_A Copy of a Letter written by the Prophet_ Lodowicks Muggleton, _to
Mr._ Edward Fewterrill _of_ Chesterfield, _bearing Date from_ London
March 29. 1660.
_Friend_,
I Received your Letter, wherein I perceive you are a Man that hath been
led through several Opinions, yet not suffered to joyn with any, but
have been made to wait upon Jesus Christ the only God for Satisfaction;
and now it hath been his great Love, which he hath loved you, to let you
have a Sight of those infinite Truths, written by the Hands of his two
Witnesses, and _Lawrence Claxton_; which Writing of ours, I perceive by
your Letter, have given you more Satisfaction than any that ever you
read before.
Only this I perceive, that you did and do still much approve of _Jacob
Bemon_'s Works; and for this Cause, because you were as I perceive by
his Writings, exhorted to resign your Will unto God's Will, and to come
unto that happy State, neither to Will or Desire any thing, but to abide
in the Will of God, which is Jesus Christ, into which Estate the Lord
did twice bring you in some Measure.
Also you say, That it is a hard thing to cast out that Devil that is in
us, nor can it be done as we say or think, but by that Resignation and
Faith in the true God.
Likewise you say, that you were a great Disputant against all Forms and
formal Worship, till the Lord silenced you, and did let you see it was
but a vain Thing to wrangle and jangle with the Devil more.
But I shall pass by part of your Letter, and I shall answer you to those
things that are of most Concernment.
You say, that there was that Portion of Scripture brought into your
Remembrance of his Promise, _I will send the Spirit of Truth, which
shall guide you into all Truth_, and there have you had your rest
reposed.
In the last Place I find, that you would have some Answer to some
Doubts, concerning that Devil that doth appear to Witches, and suck of
their Bodies, and what that is that doth appear to Conjurers, and the
Authors of lying Wonders of _John Robins_; though you do believe there
is no Devil but Man, you do believe also that the Soul of Man is mortal,
and must needs die, and so cannot appear, though you thought otherwise
in your Reason.
You say, Whether is there a Spirit in Man that surviveth and is allured
by them, or do they stir up awaking the Power of the first fallen Angel
through their devillish Faith, or is these Things from their vain
Imaginations. If so, how? if not, what it is, is your Desire to know of
me.
To which I shall give you some Answer both to the first of Part your
Letter, and also to the latter Part of it.
First you say, that you have been made to wait upon Jesus Christ the
only God; for Satisfaction thereof, I would have you to consider, how
could you wait and be satisfied in the Belief of such a God which you
never knew. For the Letter of the Scriptures did never declare to you,
that Jesus Christ was the only God, neither did God commissionate no
Prophet nor Apostle for to declare it, though their Declarations was as
necessary to be believed in their Time and Place, as this Commission of
the Spirit; which Commission of the Spirit hath deeper Mysteries held
forth in it, than the other two Commissions had: For God never did give
to any Prophets or Apostles, the Knowledge of his own Form or Nature
before he became Flesh. If they did know it, they did not reveal it. But
he hath given it to his two last Spiritual Witnesses and Prophets, _John
Reeve_'s and _Lodowicke Muggleton_, who were those chosen Witnesses of
God, which should have more Understanding of the Mind of God in the
Scriptures, than all Men in the World.
Which Knowledge of God's Mind in the Scriptures, doth consist of these
six Heads.
_First_, Of the Form and Nature of God before he became Flesh.
_Secondly_, Of the Form and Nature of the Devil before he became Flesh.
_Thirdly_, Of the Place and Nature of Heaven.
_Fourthly_, Of the Place and Nature of Hell.
_Fifthly_, Of the Nature and Persons of Angels.
_Sixthly_, Of the Mortality of the Soul.
Upon the Knowledge of these six Principles, depends the eternal
Happiness of many. And the Knowledge of the two Seeds, is those two Keys
that doth open those two, namely, the strait and narrow Gate that
leadeth unto Life, and the broad and wide Gate that leadeth to
Destruction. And those two Keys are given unto us two aforesaid, which
hath the Commission of the Spirit given unto us.
So that there is no coming unto the Knowledge of the true God, nor the
right Devil, but where the Declaration of this Spiritual Commission doth
open the Doors or Gates of Mens Hearts, and lets them see what Seed they
are of, and so Men come to know the true God and the right Devil. And
then a Man may truly say, that he can resign his Will to God's Will, as
you say _Jacob Bemon_ in his Writings doth declare.
Yet this I would have you to know that _Jacob Bemon_ had no Personal God
at all not to resign his Will unto, but his God was an Infinite,
Incomprehensible, Formless Spirit, as all the World hath.
Neither had his Devil a Person nor Form; neither had his Angels he
speaketh so much of any Body or Form at all, but they were all Spirits
without Bodies, which in the Conclusion was no more but so many Letters,
that is, three Letters, G, O, D, and so of the Devil and Angels.
And yet this Man would resign his Will into God's Will, and yet his God
had no Form nor Nature at all; therefore they could be no Will in his
God, whereby any Man should resign his Will into God's Will; whereas
there can be no Will in God, except he hath both Form and Nature.
And this is that Will of God which you call Jesus Christ, into which
Estate the Lord did twice bring you, which Estate of yours in that Faith
of _Jacob Bemon_'s, could not be a true Estate, because there was not
the Knowledge of the true God; and where there is not the Knowledge of
the true God, there cannot be the Knowledge of the right Devil; without
the Knowledge of these two, there can be no true lasting Peace in Man.
And as for your being a great Disputant amongst all formal Worship, I do
not question the thing, because I know that the Wisdom of Reason, which
is the Devil, doth love to be uppermost in Disputes.
But how can you say, that the Lord did Silence you, and made you to see
the Vanity of all Disputes; whereas you did not know any other God, but
what is generally believed on in the World; that is, an Infinite,
Incomprehensible Spirit, not minding whether God had any Nature or Form
at all.
Therefore it could not be the true Lord that did silence you, but it was
something that did arise out of your own Seed, which did shew you the
Vanity of all Disputes.
In the next Place you say, that there was brought into your Remembrance
that Portion of Scripture concerning his Promise, _that he would send
his Spirit of Truth, which should guide you into all Truth_, and there
have you had your rest reposed.
Answer, That this Place of Scripture did not belong unto you, nor to any
Man in the World at this Day; for that Promise was given only unto his
Disciples; which Disciples of his to whom those Words were spoken, were
afterwards made Apostles of Christ; so that the Promise which Christ did
promise to his Disciples before his Death, was that of the Blood which
was given unto his Apostles, which was called the Spirit of Truth,
because they should witness unto the Truth; that is, unto his Death and
Resurrection and Ascension.
Therefore take Notice of this, that that Promise was fulfilled upon his
Apostles after he was ascended up to Heaven, as you may read in the
second of the _Acts_, and to every Man that doth read the Promises,
which God did make to his Commissionated Apostles, it doth not belong to
every Man that doth read them, but every Man is to mind that Commission
which he is under.
Therefore for you to repose your Trust upon such Promises as was given
to other Men in their Commissions, that Peace will not endure to the
End, but will vanish like Smoke in the Fire.
In the next Place, I shall give you some Answers to those Doubts, which
you spake of concerning that Devil which doth appear to Witches and
Conjurers, and how those lying Wonders were acted by _John Robins_.
Answer, There is a twofold Witchcraft, the one is Natural, the other is
Spiritual.
Now this natural Witchcraft is acted by such as are called Witches and
Conjurers. Now as for those ignorant Women which are Witches, their
Witchcraft lies in their wicked Nature, by giving themselves up to
believe, that there is no God at all but Nature only, and so by that
strong Faith that they have in Nature, they have Power over those whose
Understandings are of a lower Capacity than themselves, and so People
being ignorant and fearful of them, doth many times disturb and search
their Blood with Extremity of Fear, which they have of one that is
suspected for a Witch, and so by their own Fear and Imagination, they
come to be bewitched. As a Man being overcharged with extream Grief, or
being prevented by one that he loves, he goes Distracted or runneth Mad,
which is no other but his being bewitched. And so it is with all those
that are ignorant, and over charged with Fear: and as for those Children
and Cattle that are bewitched, it is by some other Sorcery which they do
use with Herbs and Plants, and some other things of Nature, they having
some small Knowledge of that Sympathy, and Influence the Stars have over
those Bodies and Herbs, and so mix their Faith and Experience together,
pretending to do all Manner of Good, but intendeth nothing but Evil. So
that there is no such thing as People do vainly imagine as for Spirits
to suck Witches, but all the Devil that is, is their own dark Reason;
and that Spirit that doth bewitch any Creature, it doth arise out of
their own Imagination: And as for Conjurers and Magicians, their Reason
is more enlightened than the others is, because they do go altogether by
the Figure, which is an Art by which the Reason of Man hath produced
Characters and Figures for the several Stars and Planets, and so they
came to imagine the Influence of those Stars and Planets upon the Bodies
of Men, and many times they do hit rightly, yet it is still but
Witchcraft. For it is nothing else but the Imagination of Reason, that
doth pry into the Secrets of Nature. And the first Witchcraft that ever
was, it was produced by learning of Numbers and Figures; I say, it was
first from the _Egyptians_ Arts, and from thence came Conjuration, and
the Knowledge of the Influence of the Stars and Planets and the
Knowledge of Physick, which are no other in the Original but Witches,
only this their Witchcraft is more tolerated by the Power of the
Nations; but I am confident that there is more People in the World
bewitched with them, than there is with the other Sort of Witches, that
is, they are deceived both in Body, and in Mind, and Estate. For when a
Man is deceived in his Expectations and Faith which he had in that Art,
he may very well be said to be bewitched: But as for raising Spirits
without Bodies, there is no Witch, no Conjurer, or Magician, nor the
greatest Artist in the World can do; neither can any Spirit assume any
Body but its own. So much for natural Witches.
And for those lying Signs and Wonders which _John Robins_ did act, it
was by a more Spiritual Witchcraft; his was not by the Knowledge of the
Stars, though he had some Skill in that too, but the Power of his
Witchcraft did lye in the assuming and taking upon him the Title of the
Great God, as you may read in our Books: And so that his Reason being
more exercised in the Scriptures upon Spiritual Matters, because the
whole Body of the Scriptures doth consist of Spiritual and Heavenly
Matter; and he having more Knowledge in the Mystery of the Scriptures at
that time than all Men in the World, therefore he had many that did fall
down and worship him; because his Knowledge in the Scriptures, did
surpass other Men, and so produced Voices in himself, and could present
lying Signs and Wonders, unto all those that were deceived by him, or
that where afraid of him; yet he did not deal with Spirits that, had not
Bodies; but all that Wisdom and Witchcraft that he did shewn it came or
arose out of his own Spirit of Reason, which was inclosed in his own
Body.
And there is the Influence of the same Spirit of Witchcraft doth now
remain upon those People called _Quakers_, notwithstanding there seeming
Holiness, for they have many Times such fleshly Fits falling upon them,
which doth seem as if they had the Falling-Sickness, and be as Men dumb,
and will not speak a Word for three or four Hours together, and upon a
Sudden they will break forth into strong Language, as if the Spirit did
immediately move them to speak. This I say, it is nothing else but an
Influence of _John Robins_'s Spiritual Witchcraft, which is produced out
of their own Spirit within them, and not from any Spirit which hath no
Body without them. And all this is, they have no Knowledge of the true
God or the right Devil.
Therefore it is that the greatest Part of the World doth lie under
Witchcraft, either a Natural Witchcraft or a Spiritual Witchcraft, there
is a very few that is delivered from being under one or both of them;
there is none delivered but those that are come to have Faith in this
Spiritual Commission, which is now extant in the World; for Faith in it
doth lead Men to the Knowledge of the true God and the right Devil, with
all those deep Mysteries which doth depend on them, the Knowledge of
which doth free a Man from all Witchcraft whatsoever.
Therefore I would advise you to read the Books of ours called the
_Divine-Looking-Glass_, for that you may see there, that there can be no
Spirits without a Body, neither can any Witch or Conjurer raise any
Spirit without a Body: But these Conjurers may do through the Ignorance
and Darkness of Man's Reason, and that Fear and Belief that is in the
Ignorant, they may by their ignorant Power raise a Shadow of things, as
if they were real Bodies, or Spirits in the Shape of Bodies; as the
_Egyptians_ did before _Pharaoh_ King of _Egypt_, they did seem to raise
Frogs and Grashoppers in the Sight of _Pharaoh_ King of _Egypt_; but I
say, they were not real Frogs and Grashoppers, but Shadows of such
things, which as soon as ever the Witchcraft Power or Art was over,
their Frogs and Grashoppers were gone also, else would the King and his
People been as much troubled at those Frogs which the Magicians did
bring upon their Land, as they were with those which _Moses_ brought up,
which went into their Houses. And now if _Moses_ had not raised Bodies
as well as Spirits, or if he had raised Spirits without Bodies, they
would have been as little troubled at those things which _Moses_ did, as
they were at those Shadows or seeming things, which the Magicians of
_Egypt_ did. There is something more in your Letter you sent to me, but
I have not time at present to answer; _So resteth your Friend_,
Lodowicke Muggleton.
_The Prophet_ Reeve's _Epistle to his Friend, discovering the dark Light
of the_ Quakers; _written in the Year 1654_ September _the 20th_.
_Loving Friend_, Calling to Mind the Letter thou readest to me, which
was sent thee out of the Country, I am moved to present these Lines to
the View of thy ponderous Spirit; for as Words of Truth flowing from a
real Foundation, drew forth Humility and Love to God and Man, from that
Soul that hath received an hearing Ear, so likewise thou mayst know the
glittering Words proceeding from Man's Carnal Wisdom, is that which hath
occasioned many Men to be exalted above Measure, and to imagine himself
so essentially united to the Divine Glory, that at length that Man hath
been so bewitched through the Adorations of Men and Women in deep
Darkness, with high Conceits of his own Spiritual Wisdom, that he hath
been willing to deny his creaturely Condition, and to embrace the Holy
Titles and Honour of an infinite Creator. Yea, and to say in his Heart
and Tongue also, that there is no Spiritual God or Personal Glory in the
least, but what is in Man only, notwithstanding, as sure as the Lord
Jesus liveth, both he and all that is in him must turn into silent Death
and Dust for a Moment, yea, and would so remain unto all Eternity, if
there were not a distinct personal Majesty living without Man to raise
him again, to everlasting sensible Glory or Shame, according to the
Royal Pleasure of that God, that neither will nor can give his Glory to
another.
_My Dear Friend_, be not deceived with Mens crafty Words, who have no
true spiritual Distinction in them; for if any mortal Man have dwelling
in him the eternal Spirit, all the Motions, Thoughts, Words and Actions
of that Man must needs be as pure, holy and powerful as God himself,
because thou knowest they proceed from a pure, holy, and glorious
Spirit: But of the contrary, if thou perceivest a Measure of Light only
abiding in thee, which thou in Mercy hast received from an everlasting
Jesus without thee, then thou often seest Darkness in thee as well as
Light. For Light entred not into Sinners to make them spiritual Gods one
over another, but it shined into them to discover their natural Enmity
continually warring against a God of eternal Love towards them; and not
only so, but to prevent also their former Darkness from tyrannizing in
them for ever, yea and to consolate their elect Brethren by their
spiritual Experiences.
Wherefore, from a Divine Gift which I have freely received from an
unerring Spirit, I say unto thee, that those Men which labour to
perswade their Hearers, that if they diligently hearken to the Light
that is in them, they may attain to such a Power, as to be dead in this
Body from all Kind of inward Darkness, Sin, or Evil, have uttered the
falsest Doctrine that ever was declared to Men. Moreover, if the Light
of Life Eternal be thy Guide, though must needs know then, it was
neither the justifying Light of Christ within Man, no nor the Spirit of
Christ without Man, that moved those Men to speak or write to the
People; but it was their own lying Imagination which hurried them about
to beget Proselytes to themselves in the Man Christ Jesus's stead, who
alone _is God over all Blessed for ever and ever_. Amen.
He that is born of God sinneth not, that is he is not left to his own
Heart to commit the unpardonable Sin of Unbelief in the true God, in
despising the Spirit of Christ Jesus, to be the only Lord God of his
Salvation. _He that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth not
is condemned already_, not because he hath not believed in a God, or
Christ that is within him, but because he hath not believed in a
personal God or Christ that is without him, whose divine Majesty is
crowned with such immortal bright burning Glory, that if he did not vail
his fiery Nature within his own blessed Body, the Glory of it is so
transcendently infinite, that he in a Moment would consume all created
Beings to Powder. He that committed that Sin of calling God a Lyar,
which is the Sin of not believing in our Lord Jesus Christ as aforesaid,
or he that maketh glorious Pretences of unfeigned Love to Christ and his
tender-hearted People, and yet secretly lyeth under the Power of carnal
Filthiness; such a Man is not only of his Father the Devil, (cursed
_Cain_) but he also is a very Devil himself. _He that saith he hath no
Sin in him, is a Lyar, and the Truth is not in him_; that is, he that
saith Christ is so powerfully risen in him, that all Motions, Thought
and Desire of Sin against God or Man, is perfectly done away, that Man
is an horrible Lyar, and a deadly Enemy to all humble and broken-hearted
Saints; for their natural rebellious warring against the Light within
them, and the Lord of Glory without them. Oh! my precious Friend, for
whom my Soul spiritually travelleth, till thou art firmly established
with glorious Things which are Eternal; not with empty Notions
proceeding from an imaginary God or Christ within Men, only which with
_Syrenion_ Songs is very pleasing to the carnal Ear, which may delude
some undiscerning Spirits for a Season, nor with Pharisaical Looks,
Sighs and Groans, to be seen of Men, which is nothing else but the
Effects of Mens crafty Words and Gestures proceeding from Man's fleshly
Wisdom, which is abominable in the Sight of our God, who is the Lord
Jesus Christ in the Eternal Heavens above the Stars.
_My beloved Friend_, give me leave a little to reason with thee, about
Things of the greatest Concernment: What excellent Truths above other
Men hast thou heard from the chief Speakers of the _Quakers_? Didst thou
ever hear them speak to the Purpose? Or speak at all of any God or
Christ, but what is in Man only? Or didst thou ever hear them speak of a
bodily Glory and Misery to come sensibly to be enjoyed by the Saints in
the highest Heavens, and to be endured by the Serpents in this World at
the Day of eternal Accounts? Or dost thou see the Image or Likeness the
true Jesus in that Ministry, the true and living Jesus, rejected not the
Company of Publicans and Sinners, even when his Light appeared not in
them; but on the contrary, do they not rashly condemn those Men that
soberly oppose them, and shun the Company of those that are not of their
Opinion, as Serpents; much like unto those Hypocrites of old, who said,
stand farther off, for we are more holy than you. Moreover, in all their
Speakings and Writings to the People, do they not make a grand Idol of
the Word Light, and occasion Men to worship it as their only God; as if
meer Words, were to be adored without a Person, or worshipped within the
Bodies of sinful Man as a God: Or as if those that enjoy true Light in
them, have such a Measure of God in them, that they stand in no need of
any God without them in the least.
_My Dear Friend_, thou knowest Men of unstable Spirits, Child-like, or
rather Fool-like, are easily taken with every Wind of Doctrine: But if
thou hast a Spirit of true discerning in thee, thou wilt be made
thorowly then to try the Spirits and Doctrines of Men, whether they be
of God or no, before thou embrace them; having been in the Fire of the
Devil already, I hope thou hast gained Experience. Wherefore for thy
clearer Sight concerning of the Fallacy of all Speakers, which say, the
Lord _Jehovah_, or _Jesus_ sent them, I shall give some discovering
Characters; he that saith the everlasting spiritual God or Father,
became not a perfect Man of unspotted Flesh, Blood, and Bone, was never
moved by the Spirit of God or Christ, to preach or speak to the People;
or he that saith, that Spirit which is dwelling in the glorious Body of
Christ Jesus, is not the alone everlasting Father, God and Man in one
distinct Person glorified, is none of Christ's Messenger; or he that
saith, God is not in the Form of a Man, but is an infinite Spirit
essentially abiding in all Creatures, that Man is a Lyar, and the Truth
is not in him; or he that saith, Christ's Godhead died not in the Flesh,
and did not quicken and raise his Manhood to Life again, and in that
Body of Flesh and Bone, did not ascend into a Kingdom of Glory in
another World, the deep Things of God is utterly hid from that Man; or
he that saith all Mankind proceeded from the Loins of the first Man
_Adam_, is ignorant of the two Scripture Seeds (namely) the Seed of the
Woman, and the Seed of the Serpent, therefore he is none of Christ's
sending; or he that saith Mens Souls do not die with their Bodies, and
sleep together in the Dust of the Earth, till the Lord Jesus by the
mighty Power of his Word speaking only, do raise them unto Life again at
the last Day, that Man is in deep Darkness, not knowing the Scriptures
or the Power of God; or he that says Mens Bodies only perish (and not
the Souls) will be saved at the last, that Man is a Lyar, and the Truth
is not in him.
_Dear Friend_,
Thus far was I moved to write unto thee, as an eternal Witness between
us, when the Secrets of all Hearts shall be opened. If thou seest good,
thou mayst present this Epistle to the View of those Men called
_Quakers_, not that I can expect a good Issue from any of them, unless
God hath endowed them with hearing Ears, unjudging, meek and patient
Spirits.
_Sept. 20. 1654._
_Thine in all eternal Excellencies._