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The Scribes and Pharisees were still questioning Christ, and desiring satisfaction about the kingdom, and about his doctrine and miracles, and the practice of his disciples, but could never receive satisfaction; yet, the disciples themselves were many times afraid to ask Christ questions, there being a dread of God upon their spirits, and a limit to the knowing and inquiring part in them; for indeed, the true birth learns under the yoke.

This, therefore, is precious; to come to feel somewhat to limit that mind, which is forward and inquisitive out of the true nature and sense, and to receive the yoke, and to be limited by it and famished; for famine, not food of life, is appointed for that mind and birth. It is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Now, this is precious and greatly needful: for a man to know, and discern, and watch against that wisdom and understanding in himself, which God will destroy and bring to nothing; for, to be sure, while he is learning and striving to know with that, God will never teach him, but rather hide the mystery of life and salvation from him. And what is all man's knowledge worth, that he learns of himself without God's teaching; and which he receives into that understanding which is to perish and be destroyed? In the new understanding, God sets up the true light; but in the other understanding, are false lights set up, which do not give a true distinction of good and evil, but they call good evil, and evil good, and put darkness for light, and light for darkness, and cannot do otherwise; because, the light in them is darkness, it not being the gift of grace whereby they see and judge, but a light of their own forming, according to their own comprehension of things, in the dark and fallen understanding.

Now, the Lord hath taught us the difference between all these lights, and the light of his grace, which purely teacheth, livingly teacheth, not in the reasonings of the mind, but in the evidence and demonstration of God's Spirit in the soul and conscience. When we came to see in this light, we found, that which we had called good, according

to our former apprehension of things, was not so in the true balance; and what we thought had pleased God, was abominable in his eyes. And truly, all that are not come to this light, they offer that which is abominable to God, and yet think it pleaseth him; and what a gross and dangerous mistake is this! indeed, all are no better than will-deeds, which are done out of the light, life, virtue, and power of God's Spirit. For the root must be good, or the fruit cannot be good. The mind must be renewed, or the knowledge is but old, dead, literal, and fleshly; such as the fleshly understanding comprehends and receives, which can neither know nor receive what is spiritual.

Truly, the Lord hath led us a great way in our journey, and done great things inwardly for and in our spirits; yet, if we were not kept under the yoke, but that part in us had liberty to know, and live, and act, and worship, we should yet perish, and be cut off from the land of the living.

I. P.

IN REPLY TO AN ANSWER OF I. H. TO SOMEWHAT WRITTEN ON BEHALF OF TRUTH.

INDEED, to speak properly, the church of the gospel, or new testament church, is invisible. The persons in whom the church is, are visible; yet the new testament church is not a society of men, but rather of the invisible life in men. It is a fellowship in the faith, in the Spirit, which is the bond of their unity and of their peace.

The life is breathed invisibly into the hidden man; John iii. 8. it is there nourished and built up invisibly into a spiritual, invisible temple, house, or church; and in that is the unity and fellowship. So that the church is a mystery, and the fellowship a mystery, which is hid from every eye but the eye of life; and there is no having fellowship one with another, but by coming to that, and keeping in that, wherein is the fellowship. 1 John i. 7. It is of inward Jews the church is built; it is of such, God seeks to frame his new house of worship, under the gospel. John iv. 23.

Now, of such stones as these, the Lord builds up a temple for his Spirit to dwell in, a house for his life and presence to manifest itself in,-even a church for the living God. This building is by the Spirit, in the Spirit, and of that which is spiritual; this building is one with the foundation, and therefore is the pillar and ground of Truth, which none is but Christ, and that which is married to him, and so one with him. 1 Tim. iii. 15. Consider the place well, and see whether it relate to that which thou callest the invisible, or to that which thou callest the visible church.

It is the candlestick in persons, that is the church; not any outward meeting of persons, or joining together by covenant, or receiving or practising of ordinances, can make a church; but the eternal life in believers, formed by the Spirit into a candlestick, to hold the eternal lamp or light, with the everlasting oil of salvation. The light thus shining in this candlestick, continually refreshed by this oil,—here is a flourishing temple, wherever it is found; here is the church of the living God, here is the spouse married to the Lamb, her Husband. But grieve the Spirit, quench the Spirit, despise the prophesyings thereof, and light up a candle of the fleshly wisdom and knowledge of the things of God, instead of these, the oil soon fails; the oil failing, the lamp goes out; the lamp, or light, being gone out of the candlestick, the Lord soon removes the candlestick; and the candlestick being once removed, the very same persons may meet together often, and hold up the form,-performing things mentioned in the Scriptures concerning a church, and observing such things as they may call the institutions and ordinances thereof,-but they are far from continuing to be a church. Take away the faith, what is left of a Christian? and take away the candlestick, what is left of a church?

It is the Spirit alone that can square stones, and fit them for building a church of; and he alone can build them up into a house, when he hath squared them. Eph. ii. 22. And after he hath built, he can pull down again, and bring into a wilderness state; for there is a wilderness state of Chris

tianity as well as a built state; Rev. xii. 6. and as, in the built state, it is dangerous to be out of the church, so, in the wilderness state, it is dangerous remaining in that building which the Spirit of the Lord hath forsaken. Now, if the Spirit be the builder, then, surely, he will take in no stones, but such as he hath first squared and fitted for the building. And after the church is built, it is he alone who addeth to the church; who will be sure to add none, but those whom he hath first converted. Acts ii. 47.

The church is a body gathered in the Spirit, and watching to the Spirit; who is present there with his pure, searching, discerning eyes; so that nothing that is impure can enter (they watching to the Spirit, according to the order of the gospel), no, not one counterfeit Jew, no, nor so much as one false apostle, though they clothe themselves ever so like angels of light. Rev. xxii. But if they be negligent, and from off the watch, not waiting for the guidance of the Spirit; then that which is corrupt may creep in, and endanger the body. Jude 4.

TO BRIDGET ATLEY.

DEAR FRIEND,

I am sensible of thy sore travail and deep distress, and how hard it is for thee to meet with that which is comfortable and refreshing, and how easily again it is lost; and whence it ariseth,-even from the working of the enemy in a mystery of deceit in thy heart; wherein thou dost not perceive nor suspect him, but swallowest down his baits, and so he smites thee with his hook, and thereby draws thee back into the region of darkness; and then, entereth that part in thee which is in nature one with him, filling it with his wickedness; and then, laying loads of accusations upon thee, as if they were true. These are not strange things to the travellers after the Lord, but such as are usually met with in the like cases: but if thy eye were made single and opened by the Lord, thou wouldst see those baits, and turn

from that, which thou now so readily swallowest down; and so avoid the stroke, and keep thy station, in the light and mercy of the Lord. Thou must not look so much at the evil that is nigh, but rather at that which stands ready to pity and help, and which hath pitied and helped thy distressed soul, and will pity and help it again. Why is there a mercy-seat, but for the sinner to look towards in time of need?

Neither must thou hearken to the questionings of the insnaring questioner: but cleave to that which shuts them out, keeping to the sense of the love and mercy, when the Lord is kind and tender to thee. When the enemy entered thy habitation again, and broke thy rest, peace, and enjoyment of the Lord; again, an earnest desire after cleansing arose in thee; not from the life, but in the evil; this was also a means to rob thee of that, which, in its abiding and powerful operation cleanseth the heart; and here, thou wouldst be limiting the Lord in his dealings, who worketh according to the counsel of his own will, and visiteth when and where he pleaseth. And thus the enemy having caught thee with his mysterious workings, he then draws thee into the pit of darkness, where the remembrance of life, and the sense of mercy and love vanisheth; and there is no help for thee, by any thing thou canst do or think. But be patient, till the Lord's tender mercy and love visit thee again; and then, look up to him against this and such like snares, which would come between thee and the appearance of the Lord's love; that thou mayst feel more of his abidings with thee, and of the sweet effects thereof. For, these things are not to destroy thee, but to teach thee wisdom; which the Lord is able, through many exercises and sore trials, to bestow upon thee; which my soul will exceedingly rejoice to hear the tidings of; that thy heart may be rid of all that burdeneth, and filled with all it rightly desires after, in the proper season and goodness of the Lord; to whose wise ordering and tender mercy I commit thee, remaining

Thy faithful friend,

I. P.

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