Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

CCCXCVII.-An epistle to Friends, against pride, haughtiness, and the vain customs and fashions of the world.

Friends,-Here you may see how the holy men of God testify against pride, haughtiness, high-mindedness, and the abominable customs and fashions, and the ungodly lusts of the world, which are not of the Father, but of the world. And how man and woman came into these things by forsaking the Lord, and so falling from his image. And how Christ renews them up into the image of God again, to serve him in humility. And all that are in the image of God are of one mind.

To all Friends and Brethren every where.

Peace from God and the Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied in you, who by his grace, light, and spirit, are turned towards the Lord, to receive it from him; and that by it you may grow up in the Lord Jesus Christ, out of the world's nature and spirit.

For Christ said unto his believers and followers, 'Ye are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world. And therefore, as the apostle saith, love not the world, nor the things of the world, for the love of the world is enmity to God.'

And in the beginning God created man in his own image. So in the likeness of God created he him; male and female created he them, and God blessed them. And in this state God set them above all things that he made. But, after man and woman had transgressed the command of God, they sowed fig leaves together to make them aprons; for their eyes were opened, and they came to see their shame. By their transgression and by transgressing the command of God, the spiritual eye came to be shut, and man and woman came to fall from the image of God.

[ocr errors]

And so, after man and woman had transgressed the command of God, and fallen from his image, the Lord God made coats of skins to clothe them withal. So, you may see, that the first covering which Adam and Eve made after transgression, was made of fig leaves; and the natural sun would soon scorch and dry them to powder. But those that the Lord made them, was of skins.

So the transgression of the command of God came, when the ear went out after the serpent, and the eye went after the fruit of the tree, which God forbid them to eat of. So here they came to see their outward shame and nakedness; who had fallen from the image of God

that covered them; and therefore they went to cover the outward shame.

And now man and woman in the fall, are taking thought what they shall eat and drink, and what they shall put on. And this is come upon them by forsaking the Lord's teaching, and following the serpent's.

And doth not John say, 'Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. And farther saith, 'For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life; this is not of the Father, but of the world; and the world passeth way, and the lust thereof.

Now, all may see, what man and woman is fallen into by transgressing the command of God; and therefore it is not good for any to live in that which will pass away, and is not the Father but of the world.

And you may see how pride is cried against throughout the scriptures of truth. And they that fear the Lord, do hate evil, pride, and arrogancy. By pride cometh contention, and a man's pride shall bring him low; but honour upholds the humble in spirit.' Prov. xxix. 23.

'For when pride cometh, then cometh shame; and pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty mind before a fall; but with the lowly is wisdom.' Prov. xi. 2. and xvi. 18. And better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.'

[ocr errors]

And Isaiah saith, The Lord of hosts hath purposed to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.' Isaiah xxiii. 9. And therefore love not that which God will stain.

6

The Lord saith, he will spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth, and he will bring down their pride.' Isaiah xxv. 11. And therefore it is good to keep it down in every one. And the Lord cries, Wo to the crown of pride, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower;' and 'when the crown of pride is trodden under foot, the Lord of hosts shall be for a crown of glory.' Isaiah xxviii. 1. 5.

[ocr errors]

And the Lord saith, He will mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.' Jer. xiii. 9.

And doth not Jeremiah say, 'Because of the pride of Moab, he was so exceeding proud, his loftiness, his arrogancy, and the haughtiness of his heart brought him into derision.' Jer. xlviii. 26. 29.

And therefore it is good to keep in the humility; for pride is that which deceives the heart, and brings the judgments of God. Jer. xlix. 16. And therefore take heed, let not pride bud, lest the rod blossom. Ezek. vii. to verse 11.

And the children of Israel, were grown in pride and fulness of bread, like Sodom, when they transgressed against the Lord, like their VOL. VIII.

33

father Adam. And therefore let them that profess themselves christians take heed, lest they be found in the same steps.

And see in Ezekiel xvi. 49. what became of Sodom, and the children of Israel.

And when Nebuchadnezzar confessed the kingdom of God, and praised, and extolled, and honoured the king of heaven, and said, 'All his works are truth, and his ways judgments; and those that walk in pride, God is able to abase.' Dan. iv. 34, &c.

[ocr errors]

And Hosea saith, The pride of Israel doth testify to his face; and therefore Israel and Ephraim shall fall in their iniquity. And Judaḥ shall fall with them.' Hos. v. 5.

And therefore you may see, and take heed of pride, for it is the cause of man and woman's fall.

And in Hosea vii. you may see that pride hath hindered man from seeking after the Lord, and turning to him. And you may see Edom's destruction was for his pride. Obad. i.

And you may see the judgments that came upon the Philistines, and Moab, and Ammon, and Ashur for their pride. Zeph. ii.

And in Zechariah x. and xi. chapters, doth not the Lord say, 'The pride of Jordan shall be spoiled, and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down; and there shall be a voice of howling of the shepherds, for their glory is spoiled.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

And Christ saith in Mark, Pride is one of those evils that cometh out of the heart, and defiles the man;' so take heed of that which defiles. And as John saith, The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life; this is not of the Father, but of the world;' all this must be kept down in christians.

6

And David saith, "The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor; but are they not taken in their devices that they have imagined.' Psalm x. 2. And David saith, the Lord hid them that feared him, in the secret of his presence, from the pride of man, and kept them secretly in a pavilion, from the strife of tongues.' Psalm xxxi. 20.

And also David saith, that pride compasseth the wicked as a chain, &c. and they speak loftily; and they set their mouths against heaven; but the Lord casts down such to destruction, and saves the righteous that fear him.'

And so you may see how pride was testified against by Christ and his prophets, and the holy men of God, both in the Old and New Testament, since man and woman fell from the image of God; and therefore all are to fear the Lord, and learn of Christ Jesus, who is meek and low in heart.

For it is said, that Josiah's heart was tender, and he humbled himself before the Lord.' 2 Chron. xxxiv. 33.

And if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and forgive them their sins, and heal the land; and mine eyes shall be open, and mine ear attentive to their prayer;' this is the comfort of the humble. 2 Chron. vii. 12.

6

And David saith, The Lord forgets not the cry of the humble.' Psalm ix. 12. Again David saith, 'Arise, O Lord, lift up thy hand, forget not the humble. Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble, thou wilt prepare their hearts, and wilt cause thine ear to hear.' Psalm x. 12. 17.

And the Lord, who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy, saith, ‘I dwell in the high and holy place. And also with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit; to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the hearts of the contrite ones.' Isaiah lvii. 15. Here are joy and comfort to the humble. And James saith, God gives grace to the humble, but he resisteth the proud.' James iv. 6. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; and be clothed with humility.' 1 Pet. v. 6.

[ocr errors]

So you may see how God resisteth the proud, and dwells with the humble, as is testified, both in the Old Testament and the New. And Christ saith, Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same shall be greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

So here you may see Christ, and the prophets, and the apostles taught humility, and judged pride. And again Christ saith, He that humbleth himself shall be exalted, and he that exalteth himself shall be abased.' Luke xiv. 11. and xviii. 14.

And therefore learn of Christ, who is meek and low in heart: for he rules in the hearts of the humble, who is king, priest, and prophet, and a shepherd to feed them, and a bishop to oversee them, and an everlasting Father, who begets man and woman up into the image of God, and an everlasting Prince of peace.

And so all that are in true humility, are the true subjects of Christ; and all the children of pride are subject to the prince of the air, the god of the world, who is the king of pride, in whom there is no truth.

Now concerning vain fashions, deckings, and customs, &c.

The Lord forbids his people, by Jeremiah, to follow them, or to learn the way of the heathen, for the customs of the people were vain, and they did not only deck themselves, but they also decked their images and idols. And God's people were not to be dismayed at the signs of heaven, in the old covenant; for the heathen were dismayed at them;

much less in the new covenant should the true christians not be dismayed at them. Jer. x. 2, &c.

And again, doth not Jeremiah cry against the paintings and deckings of Judah? And though Judah rent her face with painting, yet her lovers would despise her.' And this was when they forsook God, and followed other lovers; and therefore God's anger was against them in the old covenant; much more in the new. Jer. iv. 30.

And it is true, God did deck the Jews in the old covenant with outward things; but when they played the harlot with them, and decked their images with them, the Lord's anger was against them, as in Ezek. xvi. 15. 16.

[ocr errors]

And Hosea cries out against the Jews' decking of themselves with ear-rings and jewels, and going after other lovers, and forgetting the Lord.' Hosea ii. 13. And you may see the attire of the harlot, and the subtlety of her heart, how she decks herself, and decks her bed, and deceives a young man among the youth,' Prov. vii. And therefore let all that profess themselves christians take heed of such deckers.

And you may see how the Lord sent Isaiah to cry against their haughtiness, and stretched out necks, and wanton eyes, and tinklings, and mincings, and their round tires like the moon, and their chains, and bracelets, and their rings, and nose jewels, and other vain ornaments; and told them, they should be desolate, for the spoil of the poor was in their houses.' Isa. iii. 16.

[ocr errors]

Now if such things were testified against in the old covenant, then surely much more in the new.

And in Revelation xvii. and xviii. chapters, you may see how the whore decked herself, 'who drank the blood of the martyrs;' but at her fall God's people sung hallelujah.

And in Lev. xviii. the Lord commanded the Jews in the old covenant, not to defile themselves with the customs of the heathen;' so much more they should not do it in the new covenant.

6

And the apostle Paul exhorts the Corinthians, to use this world, and not abuse it; for the fashion of this world passeth away.'

[ocr errors]

And Peter exhorts the saints, not to fashion themselves according to their former lusts, in their ignorance; but as Christ, who had called them, was holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.' 1 Pet. i. 14. So see what a care the apostle had, lest that they should go into their former lusts of ignorance.

And the apostle Paul tells the Philippians, 'their conversations were in heaven, from whence we look for a saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile bodies, that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.' Philip. iii. 21.

This is the fashion that all true christians are to look at.

« AnteriorContinua »