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am to tell such, and from the Spirit of the Lord God of all truth, they will never be accepted.

The utmost of that literal knowledge, historical faith, and outward religion, is at best but the old heavens that are to be wrapped up as a scroll, and the old wine and bottles that belong not to the kingdom of God. Such believers may flatter themselves, and at last cry, Lord, Lord; but alas! they shall never enter into the rest that God hath reserved for his regenerated and redeemed children, for under such a faith and religion, envy, wrath, malice, persecution, pride, passion, covetousness, worldly-mindedness, &c. may and do prevail; yea, and are cloaked, as with a secure cover from the stroke of God's Spirit. Insomuch, as when any are moved of the Lord to decry such fair and hypocritical shows of religion, they are reputed rash and censorious, and presently a plea must be made on this wise: Do not we follow the commands of the scripture? Did not such and such do so and so? Which at best are but the duties of sacrifice, and not of obedience. Never regarding from what ground the performance springs, whether it be according to the rule of the new or of the old creature. But abuse and vilify us for making such distinctions; as if the prayers, preachings, singings, outward baptizings, and suppings, &c. of men in their own unsanctified spirits, strength, and will, were required and accepted of God for evangelical worship. Thick darkness, and a dangerous presumption! Thus are men out of the way concerning both faith and practice, and the true rule and judge of them. They make the former to lie in an assent of the understanding to such propositions, and in an imitation of former observations, that were at best but signs of good things to come, and the duties of sacrifice, (which is far from the Emmanuel state,) and the latter, viz. the rule and judge, to be the scriptures; which is but an account of those things that others were ruled to, and directed in by the holy Spirit, before they were ever recorded or made scripture. And no other rule or judge can so regulate; for as the faith and experience, so the rule and judge of that faith and that experience must be one. God by his Spirit begets faith; God by his Spirit rules faith, and governs the life of his children ; "for as many as are children of God are led by the Spirit of God." Rom. viii. 14, 15.-The scripture, much of it, is but a declaration of faith and experience; therefore not the rule, or judge. For as faith and experience were before scripture, because, as I said before, there must be a rule and judge where there is faith; therefore the scripture is not that rule or judge. And before that declaration be answered or fulfilled by any, they must come to the faith, rule, and judge, of which that is a declaration. So that faith is yielding up to the requirings of God's Spirit in us, in full assurance of the remission of sins that are past,

through the Son of his love, and life everlasting. From whence daily flow works of holiness well pleasing to God; which is more than a mere assent of the understanding to a verbal, though a true proposition. Again: the life of a true christian stands not in bodily exercise, which, says the apostle, profits little; nor in an imitation of the ancients in temporary and shadowy things, which the hypocrite as well as the saint can do; but in self denial and walking in the spirit, to bring forth the fruits thereof unto all godliness. Which is the pure and spiritual obedience, resulting from the living spiritual faith of God's elect, and the rule and judge thereof, is their author and begetter, even the Spirit of truth, which alone gives saving understanding, faith, and obedience, and searcheth the deep things of God.*

O you professors of religion, that you would but seriously weigh these things, and examine yourselves in God's sight, (for he respects none for their fair outside,) if this saving faith be your faith, and this heavenly life be your life, and if the holy Spirit be your ruler and leader? If not, you are but legal, formal, and in the oldness of the letter, and will worshippers, which obtain not with God. In which state, not the wisdom from above, but that which is from below, of the old creature, is your rule. In it you read scripture, expound it, pray, preach, sing, and perform all your duties. And this is not to walk according to the rule of the new creature; but in a legal spirit to make a gospel profession, the end of which, from the Lord I am to tell you, will be a bed of sorrow.-Gal. vi. 16. Therefore resist not the light and spirit within, but turn at the reproof thereof, that you may come to walk in the way of life, (Prov. vi. 23,) daily life to your souls, that so you may be quickened and made alive to God in all your duties, and live to him, while you live in that life which is hid with Christ in God; that being thus born again, and become renewed in your inward man, you may perform that pure and spiritual worship which is of a sweet savour with the Lord. So shall he bless you with his heavenly blessings, and daily replenish your souls with the unspeakable joys of his love and salvation. This I heartily desire, and through all difficulties incessantly travail for, in body, soul, and spirit, that the all-wise, good, omnipotent God may be known, served, and obeyed by you, to your comfort and his eternal honour, who alone is worthy to receive it, now and for ever. Amen.

WILLIAM PENN.

* 1 Tim. iv. 8. Col. ü. 20, 21, 22, 28.

Gal. v. 16, 22, 23.

CHRISTIAN QUAKER,

AND

HIS DIVINE TESTIMONY

VINDICATED.

AGAINST

THE ADVERSARIES OF THE TRUE LIGHT.

PART II.

CONTAINING

A MORE PARTICULAR ANSWER TO THE BAPTISTS' AND OTHERS' ARGUMENTS, EXCEPTIONS, ERROKS, AND FALLACIES HEREIN SPECIFIED.

BY A SERVANT AND FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST THROUH
PERSECUTIONS AND REPROACHES,

GEORGE WHITEHEAD.

The vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the Lord.--Isa. xxxii. 6.

London-Printed in the Year 1673:

PHILADELPHIA-REPRINTED BY JOSEPH RAKESTRAW,
NO. 254 NORTH THIRD STREET.

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