mystery hid since the world began, from ages, but now is made manifest to his saints,' glory to God forever, to whom God would make known, what is the riches of this glorious mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you the hope of glory.' And this mystery we are witnesses of, blessed be the Lord forever.

Whom we preach, admonishing every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.' Mark, perfect in Christ Jesus; this is a contrary doctrine to you that present people with a body of death and sin to the grave, and say there is no perfection to be attained here.

And the apostle saith to the church, Col. iii. 2. set your affections on things that are above, [mark,] and not on things which are on the earth,' this we believe should be the practice of all true christians.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God, and when Christ which is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.' Col. iii. 3, 4. And this we are witnesses of, as the apostle was, and it is Jesus Christ who delivers us from the wrath to come, and who is raised from the dead, and our peace is from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. For Christ Jesus saith, in me ye have peace, but in the world trouble.' And this we do experience, and this all witness that are risen with Christ, who seek those things that are above, where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God. And 1 Thes. ii. 12. the apostle exhorts the church: that ye walk worthy of God who hath called you to his kingdom and glory.' Now this we declare should be every true christian's walk, and not talk only and not like the professing Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and persecuted the apostles, as you professors have, and do us.

And 1 Thes. iii. 11. the apostle saith, now God himself and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ guide our journey unto you.' So here it is seen who was and is the true christian's guide. And 1 Thes. v. 5, 9, 10. ye are all children of the light and of the day, we are not of the night, neither of darkness.' Mark this testimony, are children of the day, and of the light, and are not of the darkness, nor of the night. For God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation, by the means of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. Whether we

wake or sleep, we should live together with him.' So not only to talk, but to live; which we are witnesses of.

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And the apostle saith, now the very God of peace sanctify you throughout. And I pray God that your whole spirit, and soul, and body may be kept blameless, [mark, blameless,] unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will come in flaming fire, rendering vengeance unto all them that do not know God, and obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Therefore, the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is to

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be glorified in all his saints, according to the grace of our God, and our Lord Jesus Christ; as 2 Thes. i. may be seen. And 2 Thes. ii. 13. because that God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through the sanctification of the spirit, and the faith of truth.' Mark, from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit, not of the letter. And therefore, take heed, ye professors, least that saying come upon you, that God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe lies;' that all those might be damned that believe not the truth, but take pleasure in unrighteousness, lies, and false reports, which ye have been full of against us, (God's people, called Quakers,) as by large experience we witness.

And 1 Tim. i. 15, this is a true and faithful saying, and by all means worthy to be received, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief,' saith Paul, notwithstanding for this cause I was received to mercy, that Jesus Christ should first show on me all long suffering, unto the example of them which shall in time to come believe in him unto eternal life.' And this now we the believers do witness, and many can say this in truth, as he did; yea, who have been persecutors of Jesus, as he was in his people, and yet professors. But now unto the king immortal, invisible, unto God only wise, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen.' 1 Tim. xv. 17.

And Christ would have all men,' saith the apostle, 'to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.' (Mark, all men to be saved,) 2 Tim. iv. &c. And therefore are prayers and intercessions and giving of thanks to be made for all men, for kings, and all that are in authority, &c. For there is one God and one Mediator betwixt God and man, which is the man Christ Jesus: mark, the man Christ Jesus is the Mediator betwixt God and man, Christ, who is the heavenly man. For the apostle doth not call him humane, or humane body; he did not give him that by-name, as the professors do, who call him humane body, and humane; as they give us the people of God, the nickname of Quakers. And the apostles say, he is the second man, the Lord from heaven, the man Christ Jesus;' and calls his body a glorious body,' and not humane, as the professors do, who say the scripture is their rule, and yet give Christ's glorious body a by-name, which they have no rule for. 'And Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, tasted death for all.' Therefore, all must be prayed for.

So when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, as Rom. v. and 1 Tim. ii. 'Who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time.' So this due time is witnessed by many, for it was not testified to Paul, until after he was risen, and the Son of God revealed in him, and so it is known now by revelation; and by revelation Christ Jesus and his glorious body is discerned. For,' saith Christ,

'flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee,' that is, concerning Christ's being the Son of God, but my Father which is in heaven,' who is known by revelation now, as then. And the church of the living God,' which Christ is the head of, and the 'pillar and ground of truth.' 1 Tim. iii. 16. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness, which is God manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory.' Now we are the believers of this, who believe in his light, in which he is seen and manifest; and are members of this church, whereof Christ is the head.

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And 1 Tim. iv. 9, 10. This is a true saying, and by all means worthy to be received; we labour and are rebuked, because we trust in the living God, which is the Saviour of all men, and especially of those that believe.' And this we have received, and would have all others to do. "These things,' saith the apostle, 'command and teach. And this the apostle gave in charge to Timothy, 'before God and Christ, and the elect angels,' that he should observe those things, as 1 Tim. v. 21. And 2 Tim. i. 9,' be not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord Jesus, who hath saved us, and called us to an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus, before the world began; but it is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.' Mark, this we witness, and are not ashamed of our testimony of this, and of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: for,' as the apostle saith, I am not ashamed, for I know in whom I have believed.' 2. Tim. i. 8, 9, 12. And 2 Tim. ii. 8, remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised again from the dead, according to my gospel.' And John vii. 42, 'saith not the scripture that Christ shall come of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem?' and this Christ did fulfil in his coming accordingly, of whom we are witnesses.

And the apostle saith, 'every one that calls on the name of Christ,' or nameth his name, 'let him depart from iniquity.' 2 Tim. ii. 19. And 2 Tim. iii. he exhorts the church thus: they that have the form of godliness, and not the power, from such turn away.' For they that have not the power, have not the gospel, nor the cross of Christ, the power of God; neither have they Christ, who is the power of God, though they may have the form of godliness, and the form of the prophets' and apostles' words; yet may be false accusers, fierce despisers of them that are good, &c. And all that will live godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution,' (mark, all that in Christ Jesus will live godly, shall suffer persecution,) as we have found it by the ungodly professors and talkers of Christ Jesus, that live out of him, though they have the form of godli

ness, yet deny the power thereof. And Tit. i. the apostle saith to my own son according to the common faith:' grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. (Mark,) according to the common faith, grace, &c.

And Tit. ii. 11, 'for the grace of God that brings salvation unto all men hath appeared, (mark, which brings salvation, this grace of God brings salvation,) and teacheth us (mark, us the church, the saints, and believers, true christians,) that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world, looking for the blessed hope, and the appearing of the glory of the mighty God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, [mark,] and purge us to be a peculiar people unto himself, zealous of good works.' And this is our teacher, the grace of God that hath brought us salvation, which brings us to believe and witness these things: but there were such in the apostles' days that professed they knew God, but by their works denied him, and were abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.' Tit. i. 16. And have we not many such professors now, that say they know God and Christ, but by their works deny him, and are abominable and disobedient.

'But when the bountifulness and love of God our Saviour towards man appeared, not by the works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration.' This should every professed christian witness; they must know this new birth; so it is not a talk of Christ without, and uncleanliness within, but 'by the renewing of the Holy Ghost which he hath shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour,' (here is a confession with a witness) that we being justified by grace (that grace that teaches us, and brings us salvation) should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.' Tit. iii. 5, 6, 7. And Heb. i. 1. At sundry times and after divers manners God spake unto the fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath made heir of all things, by whom also he hath made the worlds.' Mark, the worlds were made by the Son of God, and God was Adam's and Eve's teacher in paradise; and now the same hath spoken unto us by his Son, by whom the worlds were made. So he is the Quaker's first speaker, and is the last, the Son of God, being the brightness of his Father's glory, and the express image of his substance; and upholding all things by his mighty word and power, hath by himself purged our sins, and is set at the right hand of the Majesty in the highest places, and is made more excellent than the angels, having obtained a more excellent name than they. For unto which of his angels said he at any time, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be his Father, and he shall be

my Son. And again when he bringeth his first begotten Son into the world, let all the angels worship him, but unto the Son he saith, O God, thy throne is forever, the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of righteousness, for thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity. Therefore, to profess Christ, and live in iniquity, this is an abomination to the Lord, and he will bid such depart from him.'

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'Wherefore, God, even thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. For thou, O Lord, in the beginning hath established the heavens, and the earth is the work of thy hands. And in Heb. ii. to ver. 10. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, (mark, steadfast,') and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward, how should we escape, if we neglect so great salvation? which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him,' (to wit, Christ,) 'God bearing them witness both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will,' (not the wills of men) for he hath not put in subjection unto the angels the world to come, whereof we speak; and thou madest him a little lower than the angels, and thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands,' &c. But thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet, and in that he put all things in subjection under him, he left nothing that should not be subject to him; but we see not yet all things subdued unto him, but we see Jesus crowned with glory and honor, who was made a little inferior to the angels, through the suffering of death, that by God's grace he might taste death for all men (mark, for all men' so here he makes no sect,) and this Jesus we see, who is our Saviour, and the author and finisher of our faith. And it became him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, seeing that he brought many children to glory, that he should consecrate the prince of their salvation through sufferings and afflictions, for he that sanctifieth and they that are sanctified are all of one. Wherefore he is not ashamed to call them brethren: for as much then as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself (to wit, Christ,) likewise took part with them, that he might destroy through death, him that had the power of death, that is the devil, that he might deliver all them, which for fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage.' Here is a blessed deliverer, which thousands do witness; and how dare ye professors or others give the apostle and the scripture the lie, and say Christ did not taste death for every man, but for the world of believers only? see Heb. ii. 9.

And he took not upon him the nature of angels, but of the seed of Abraham, wherefore in all things it became him (to wit, Christ,) to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and a faithful VOL. V.-15