“To all the elect seed of God called Quakers, where the death is brought into the death, and the elder is servant to the younger, and the elect is known, which cannot be deceived, but obtains victory. This is the word of the Lord God to you all: Go not forth to the aggravating part, to strive with it out of the power of God; lest ye hurt yourselves, and run into the same nature, out of the life. For patience must get the victory; and to answer that of God in every one, it must bring every one to it, to bring them from the contrary. Let your moderation, and temperance, and patience be known unto all men in the Seed of God. For that which reacheth to the aggravating part without life, sets up the aggravating part, and breeds confusion; and hath a life in outward strife, but reacheth not to the witness of God in every one, through which they might come into peace and covenant with God, and fellowship one with another. Therefore that which reacheth this witness of God in yourselves, and in others, is the life and light; which will out-last all, is over all, and will overcome all. And therefore in the Seed of life live, which bruiseth the Seed of death.”

“Dear Friends,

“Keep your meetings in the power of the Lord, which is over all that is in the fall and must have an end. Therefore be wise in the wisdom of God, which is from above, by which all things were made and created; that that may be justified among you, and you all kept in the solid life, which was before death was; and in the light, which was before the darkness was with all its works. In which light and life ye all may feel, and have the heavenly unity and peace, possessing the gospel fellowship, that is everlasting: which was before that, which doth not last for ever; and will remain when that is gone. For the gospel being the power of God, is pure and everlasting. Know it to be your portion: in which is stability, and life, and immortality, shining over that which darkens the mortal. So be faithful every one to God, in your measures of his power and life, that ye may answer God’s love and mercy to you, as obedient children of the Most High; dwelling in love, unity, and peace, and in innocency of heart towards one another; that God may be glorified in you, and you kept faithful witnesses for him, and valiant for the truth on earth. God Almighty preserve you all to his glory, that ye may feel his blessing among you, and be possessors thereof.”

“All my dear friends in the noble Seed of God, who have known his power, life, and presence among you, let it be your joy to hear or see the springs of life break forth in any; through which ye may have all unity in the same, feeling life and power. And above all things, take heed of judging any one openly in your meetings, except they be openly profane or rebellious, such as be out of the truth; that by the power, life, and wisdom ye may stand over them, and by it answer the witness of God in the world, that such, whom ye bear your testimony against, are none of you: that therein the truth may stand clear and single. But such as are tender, if they should be moved to bubble forth a few words, and speak in the Seed and Lamb’s power, suffer and bear that; that is, the tender. And if they should go beyond their measure, bear it in the meeting for peace and order’s sake, and that the spirits of the world be not moved against you. But when the meeting is done, if any be moved to speak to them, between you and them, one or two of you, that feel it in the life, do it in the love and wisdom that is pure and gentle from above: for love is that which edifies, bears all things, suffers long, and fulfils the law. In this ye have order and edification, ye have wisdom to preserve you all wise and in patience; which takes away the occasion of stumbling the weak, and the occasion of the spirits of the world to get up: but in the royal Seed, the heavy stone, ye keep down all that is wrong; and by it answer that of God in all. For ye will hear, see, and feel the power of God preaching, as your faith is all in it (when ye do not hear words,) to bind, to chain, to limit, to frustrate; that nothing shall rise, nor come forth but what is in the power: with that ye will hold back, and with that ye will let up, and open every spring, plant, and spark; in which will be your joy and refreshment in the power of God.

“Now that ye know the power of God, and are come to it, which is the cross of Christ, that crucifies you to the state that Adam and Eve were in, in the fall, and so to the world, by this power of God ye come to see the state they were in before they fell; which power of God is the cross, in which stands the everlasting glory; which brings up into the righteousness, holiness, and image of God, and crucifies to the unrighteousness, unholiness, and image of Satan, that Adam and Eve, and their sons and daughters, are in, in the fall. Through this power of God, ye come to see the state they were in before they fell; yea, I say, and to a higher state, to the Seed Christ, the second Adam, by whom all things were made. For man hath been driven from God: all Adam and Eve’s sons and daughters, being in the state of the fall in the earth, are driven from God. But it is said, the Church is in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: so they who come to the church, which is in God the Father of Christ, must come to God again: and so out of the state that Adam and his children are in, in the fall, out of the image of God, of righteousness and holiness, and they must come into the righteousness, true holiness, and image of God; and so out of the earth whither man hath been driven, when they come to the church which is in God. The way to this, is Christ, the Light, the Life, the Truth, the Saviour, the Redeemer, the Sanctifier, and the Justifier; in and through whose power, light and life, conversion, regeneration, and translation are known from death to life, from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God again. These are members of the true church, who know the work of regeneration in the operation and feeling of it; and being come to be members of the church in God, they are indeed members one of another in the power of God, which was before the power of darkness was. So they that come to the church that is in God and Christ, must come out of the state that Adam was in, in the fall, driven from God, to know the state that he was in before he fell. But they that live in the state that Adam was in, in the fall, and cannot believe a possibility of coming into the state he was in before he fell, come not to the church which is in God; but are far from that, and are not passed from death to life; but are enemies to the cross of Christ, which is the power of God. For they mind earthly things, and serve not Christ, nor love the power, which should bring them up to the state that Adam was in before he fell, and crucify them to the state that man is in in the fall; that through this power they might see to the beginning, the power that man was in before the heavenly image, and holiness, and righteousness was lost; by which power they might come to know the Seed, Christ, which brings out of the old things, and makes all things new; in which life eternal is felt. For all the poorness, emptiness, and barrenness is in the state that man is in, in the fall, out of God’s power; by which power he is made rich, and hath strength again; which power is the cross, in which the mystery of the fellowship stands: and in which is the true glorying, which crucifies to all other gloryings.

“And, Friends, though ye may have been convinced, and tasted of the power, and felt the light; yet afterwards ye may feel a winter storm, tempest and hail, frost and cold, and temptation in the wilderness. Be patient and still in the power, and in the light, that doth convince you, to keep your minds to God; in that be quiet, that ye may come to the summer, that your flight be not in the winter. For if ye sit still in the patience, which overcomes in the power of God, there will be no flying. The husbandman after he hath sowed his seed, is patient. And by the power, being kept in the patience, ye will come by the light to see through, and feel over winter storms and tempests, and all the coldness, barrenness, and emptiness: and the same light and power will go over the tempter’s head; which power and light was before he was. So standing still in the light, ye will see your salvation, ye will see the Lord’s strength, feel the small rain, and the fresh springs, your minds being kept low in the power and light; for that which is out of the power lifts up. But in the power and light ye will feel God, revealing his secrets, inspiring your minds, and his gifts coming in unto you: through which your hearts will be filled with God’s love, and praises to him that lives for evermore: for in his light and power his blessing is received. So in that, the eternal power of the Lord Jesus Christ preserve and keep you! Live every one in the power of God, that ye may all come to be heirs of that, and know it to be your portion; even the Kingdom, that hath no end, and the endless life, which the Seed is heir of. Feel that set over all, which hath the promise and blessing of God for ever.”

“Friend,

“It is not circumstances we contend about, but the way of Christ and his light, which are but one; though the world hath imagined many ways, and all out of the light; which by the light are condemned. He who preached this light, said, ‘He that knoweth God, heareth us; he that is not of God heareth us not: hereby know we the Spirit of Truth, and the spirit of error.’ It is the same now, with them that know the truth; though the whole world lies in wickedness. All dispensations and differences, that are not one in the light we deny; and by the light, that was before separation, do we see them to be self-separations in the sensual, having not the Spirit. Their fruits and end are weighed in the even balance, and found to be in the dark, the lo-here, and lo-there thou tellest of. The presence of Christ is not with them, though the blind see it not; who see not with the pure eye which is single; but with the many eyes which lead into the many ways. Nor are any the people of God, but they who are baptised into this principle of light; by which all the faithful servants of the Lord were ever guided in all ages, since the apostacy, and before. For the apostacy are and is from the light; and all that oppose the light was apostates. They who contest against the truth, are enemies to it, and are not actuated by the Spirit; but have another way than the light. All such are in the world, its words, fashions, and customs, though of several forms, as to their worship; yet all under the god of this world, opposing the light and appearance of Christ, which should lead out from under his power, of what form soever they are: yet are they all joined against the light. All these are of the world; and fighting against them who are not of the world, but are gathered and gathering out of it; and so it ever was against the people of God, under what name soever.

“They only are saints by calling, who are called into the light; and sons of Sion, who vary not from the light, to which the Spirit is promised, which is not tied to any forms out of the light; wherein all inherit who are co-heirs with Christ; which many talk of, who inherit the earthly instead of the heavenly. And whereas thou speakest of Christ and his apostles clothing themselves with the sayings and words of the prophets; and of their being your example in so doing; I say, wolves will take the sheep’s clothing; but the light and life finds them out, and judges (not by their stolen words, but) by their works. Nor did Christ cover himself with any words, but what were fulfilled in him; neither do any of Christ’s boast in other men’s lines made ready without them: to which rule if ye be obedient, fewer words and more life will be seen among you. Then ye will not count it straitness to silence the flesh, and hear what he saith, who speaks peace, ‘that his people turn no more to folly.’ If ye once know that what is stolen must be restored fourfold, the mouth of the false prophet will be stopped, which builds up in deceit, but not in righteousness.

“And whereas thou sayest, ‘The Spirit of truth affords nothing but endless varieties;’ I say, the Spirit of truth thou knowest not: for the Spirit of truth said, ‘there is but one thing needful;’ and to speak the same thing again, is safe for the hearers. But that spirit, which affords nothing but endless varieties, is not the Spirit of truth; but is gone out into curious notions: and the number of his names and colours is read nowhere, but in the unity of the Spirit of truth. All others call truth deceit, and deceit truth, as the blind, that opposed the light, ever did; who are ever learning endless varieties, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, nor to an end of their labours: but when they are out of one form, get into another; so long as they can find a green tree without. Thus ye are kept at work all your life, and to the grave in sorrow, as the dumb priests, thou tellest of, have been before you: only ye have got a finer image, but less life. And thou, whose teaching hath no end, art in the horse-mill thou speakest of. I have read the epistles of Timothy, and to the Hebrews; and there I find the duty of all believers is, to see the law of the new covenant written in the heart, whereby all may know God, from the least to the greatest. I know the Holy Scriptures are profitable for the man of God; but what is that to the man of sin, to the first-born, who is out of the light, and being unstable and unlearned, wrests them to his own destruction; but to the life cannot come?

“And for your two ordinances thou speakest of, I say, upon the same account ye deny the priests of the world therein, we deny you; being both of you not only out of the life, but out of the form too. That command, Matt. xxviii. 19, ye never had, nor its power; which was, ‘to baptize into the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.’ What Paul received of the Lord, that body, and that bread, ye know as little, but what ye have found in the chapter; nor the coming of Christ either, who cannot believe his light. And whereas thou speakest of preaching Christ of envy, and pleadest for it; I say, such preachers we have enough of in these days. What else art thou doing, who sayest, Paul was sent to baptize; though Paul says he was not: and so thou wouldst prove him a liar, if any would believe thee before him. Thou sayest also, ‘for ought thou knowest, he might baptize thousands.’ Thou mightest as easily have said millions, and as soon have proved it. Thou mayest say the same of circumcision also, and on the same ground.

“As for the signs that followed those that believed, which thou sayest are ceased; I say, they who cannot receive the light cannot see the signs, nor could believe them if they should see them to carp at; no more than formerly they could do, who opposed the light in former ages. They cannot properly be said to cease to such, who never had them; but have only heard or read, that others long ago had them. But that the power, and signs, and presence of God is not the same that ever it was, in the measure, wherein he is received in the light, that I deny; and declare it to be false, and from a spirit that knows not God, nor his power.

“And as for the gospel foundation thou speakest of, I say, it is to be laid again in all the world. Ye never were on it, since the man of sin set up his forms without power. Till ye can own the light of Christ, which the saints preached, and their life and practice; for shame cease to talk of their foundation, or glorious work, or quakings and tremblings, which are the saints’ experiences, which the world knows not, nor can own: though ye cannot read that ever any came aright to declare how they knew God, or received his word, without them. In thy exhortation thou biddest me ‘love Christ, wheresoever I see him:’ but hadst thou told me where one might come to see him, or how one might know him, thou hadst showed more of a Christian in that, than in all thou hast spoken. But it seems, ye are not all of one mind: some of you say, ‘he is gone, and will be no more seen, till doomsday;’ but if ever ye come to see Christ to your comfort, while ye oppose his light, then God hath not spoken by me. This thou shalt remember, when thy time thou hast spent.”

“To all you professors, priests, and teachers, who are in darkness, and know not the Spirit in prison, nor the light that shines in darkness, and which the darkness doth not comprehend; but are the infidels, whom the god of the world hath blinded, and to whom the gospel is hid. For though ye have the four books, yet the gospel is hid to you; who are now wondering at the work of God, and do not believe that Christ hath enlightened every one that cometh into the world. I offer you some Scriptures to read, which will prove your spirits, and try them, how contrary they are to the apostles’ spirit, the Spirit of Christ and of the saints. Christ went and ‘preached to the spirits in prison,’ 1 Pet. iii. 19. He that readeth, let him understand, whether this was a measure of the Spirit, yea or nay, or the Spirit without measure, which he ministered to? ‘For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God; for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him,’ John iii. 34. Here Christ had not the Spirit given to him by measure. The apostle said, ‘We will not boast of things without (or beyond) our measure.’ 2 Cor. x. 13. So here was measure, and not by measure. Christ, who received not the Spirit by measure, told his disciples he would ‘send them the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, that should guide them into all truth: for he should not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and show it unto you,’ John xvi. 13, 14. Mind, read, and learn; the Comforter shall receive of mine, saith Christ, and shall show it unto you: who hath the measure, receives of his who hath not by measure. The Comforter, when he comes, is to ‘reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment,’ ver. 8. Now all mind the great work of God: the Spirit of Truth, which leads the saints into all truth, which receives of Christ’s, and shows it unto the disciples, who are in the measure, he shall reprove the world of sin, because they do not believe, &c. The Comforter, whom Christ will send, takes of his, and shows it to the disciples; the same reproves the world. Mind now, whether this be a measure, yea or nay, which comes from him, who received not the Spirit by measure. He that leads the believer into all truth, reproves the unbeliever in the world, of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; so he that is led into all truth, sees that which is reproved, by the Spirit of Truth that leads him. Now Christ saith, ‘He shall take of mine, and show it unto you.’ Is this a measure, yea or nay, from him to whom God gave the Spirit not by measure?

“Again, the Lord said, both by his prophet, Joel ii. 28, and his apostle, Acts ii. 17, 18, ‘It shall come to pass in the last days, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: and on my servants, and handmaidens, I will pour out in those days of my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.’ Look, ye deceivers: here the Lord saith, he will pour out of his Spirit; mark the word, OF the Lord’s Spirit upon all flesh. What! young men, old men, sons and daughters, and maidens, all these to have the Spirit of God poured forth upon them? Here, say they, these deny the means then: nay, that is the means. And the great and notable day of the Lord is coming, wherein it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. The God of the spirits of all flesh is known; ‘And,’ saith the apostle, who would not boast of things beyond his measure, ‘that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them,’ Rom. i. 19. By this which was of God manifest in them, they knew covetousness, maliciousness, murder, deceit, and ungodliness; and knew that the judgments of God were upon such things; and that they were worthy of death not only that did the same, but who had pleasure in them that did them. Therefore said the apostle, ‘the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness, and unrighteousness of men,’ &c. Now this of God manifest in them, which God showed unto them, by which they know unrighteousness, and God’s judgments thereupon, and that they which commit such things are worthy of death; whether this be a measure, yea or nay, which is of God, and which he hath showed to them? What was that in them that ‘did by nature the things contained in the law, which showed the work of the law written in their heart,’ Rom. ii. 14, 15? Mark, ‘written!’ Shall not this judge them that have the outward law, but are out of the life of it? The apostle saith, ‘the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal,’ 1 Cor. xii. 7. There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit; but ‘the manifestation of it is given to every man to profit withal.’withal.’ Mark, ‘to one is given by the Spirit, the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.’ Mark that, to every man severally as he will.

“Again, the apostle saith, ‘the grace of God that bringeth salvation, hath appeared unto all men, teaching us, that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world,’ Tit. ii. 11, 12. Now ye, that turn this grace which bringeth salvation, into lasciviousness, deny it, and say, that which teacheth the saints, who by grace are saved, hath not appeared to all men. Jude saith, ‘Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them, of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed, and of all their hard speeches, which ungodly sinners have spoken against him,’ ver. 15. Here mark again; him that cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to convince all of their ungodly deeds and hard speeches; here it is, ALL of their ungodly deeds, and ALL of their hard speeches; none left out, but ALL to be convinced and judged, the world reproved by him who comes with ten thousands of his saints, and will reign, and be king and judge. And have not ye all something in you, that doth reprove you for your hard speeches, and your ungodly deeds, the ungodliest of you all, who live in your hard speeches against him, and his light and spiritual appearance in his people?

“Again, the apostle, writing to the Gentiles, saith, ‘But unto every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ,’ Eph. iv. 7. Now mark, here is the measure of the gift of Christ, ‘who lighteth every man that cometh into the world,’world,’ John i. 9, ‘that all men through him might believe. He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned, &c. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,’ &c., John iii. 18, 19. Now every man that cometh into the world being enlightened, one loves it, and brings his deeds to the light, that with the light he may see whether they be wrought in God; the other hates the light, ‘because his deeds are evil;’ and he will not bring his deeds to the light, because he knows the light will reprove him. So he that hates the light, wherewith Christ hath enlightened him, knows the light will reprove him for his evil deeds; and, therefore, he will not come to the light.

“Again, the Lord by his prophet said concerning Christ, ‘I will give him for a light to the Gentiles, that he may be my salvation to the ends of the earth,’ Isa. xliv. 6. And what is that, which the children that walk ‘according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience,’ Eph. ii. 2, are disobedient to? Mark, and read for yourselves, who being disobedient, walk according to the course of the world, according to the power of the prince of the air; mark, I say, what it is that all such are disobedient to? He that hath an ear, let him hear. The apostle saith to the Colossians, ‘the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience,’ Col. iii. 6. Come, ye professors, let us see, is not this something of God that is disobeyed? Is it not that which is of God manifest in them, which God hath shown them, which lets them see God’s judgments are upon such, when they act unrighteously? Is not this the measure of God (mark), the Spirit that is in prison? and the Spirit of God that is grieved?

“And ye professors, come, let us read the parable of the talents, and reckon with you, and see who it is that hath hid the Lord’s money in the earth? Come, ye that have gained, enter ye into your master’s joy. Go, thou that hast hid the Lord’s money in the earth, into utter darkness; ‘take it from him, and give it to him that hath;’ every man shall have his reward. For the Lord hath given ‘to every man according to his several ability,’ Matt. xxv. 15; mark that, ‘to every man according to his several ability?’ read this, if you can. Now is the Lord coming to call every man severally to account, to whom he hath given severally according to his ability. Now the wicked and slothful servant, who hid the Lord’s money in the earth, will be found out; and the Lord’s money will be taken from him, although he hath hidden it. To him the Lord’s commands have been grievous; but to us they are not, who love God and keep his commandments. ‘And,’ saith the apostle to the Romans, ‘I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith,’ Rom. xii. 3. Read and mark, here is a measure of faith.

“‘And,’ said another apostle, ‘as everyone hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God,’ 1 Pet. iv. 10, ‘For the grace of God hath appeared unto all men.’ The good stewards can give their account with joy; but ye bad stewards, that turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, now ye will be reckoned withal; now ye shall have your reward. ‘But,’ say the world, ‘must every one minister as he hath received the gift?’ ‘Yea,’ say I, ‘but let him speak as the oracles of God; and let him do it as of the ability which God giveth,’ ver. 11. John in the Revelation saith, ‘They were judged every man according to his works,’ Rev. xx. 13. Christ saith, ‘every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment,’ Matt. xii. 36. So ‘ye, that name the name of Christ depart from iniquity,’ 2 Tim. ii. 19. ‘The Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father, with his angels; and then he shall reward every one according to his works,’ Matt. xvi. 27. He who is gone into a far country, and hath given the talents to every one of you, according to your several ability, ‘will render to every man according to his deeds,’ Rom. ii. 6. ‘And further I say unto you, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life, because of righteousness,’ Rom. viii. 9, 10. So let the light which cometh from Christ examine; for the Lord is appearing. Ye that have received according to your ability, smite not your fellow-servant; and think not that the Lord delayeth the time of his coming. Be not as they that said, ‘Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die.’

“The apostle tells the Ephesians, that unto him ‘this grace was given—to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ,’ Eph. iii. 9. Read and understand every one with the light which comes from Christ, the mystery, which will be your condemnation, if ye believe not in it. This is to all, who stumble at the work of the Spirit of God, the manifestation of it, ‘which is given to every man, to profit withal.’ Come, ye professors, who stumble at it; let us read the parables. ‘A sower went forth to sow; and some seed fell on the highway ground, and some on stony ground, and some on thorny ground; the Seed is the Word, the Son of Man is the seedsman. He that hath an ear, let him hear,’ Matt. xiii. Now look, all ye professors, what ground ye are? and what ye have brought forth? and whether the wicked seedsman hath not got his seed into your ground? ‘He that hath an ear, let him hear.’ And come, read another parable, of the householder, hiring labourers to go into the vineyard, and agreeing with every man for a penny, Matt. xx. Every man is to have his penny, the last that went in, as well as the first; and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last; for many are called but few are chosen. He that hath an ear, let him hear.’ There is a promise spoken to Cain, that if he did well he should be accepted, Gen. iv. 7. And Esau had a birthright, but despised it. Yet it is ‘not of him that willeth,’ Rom. ix. 16; ‘but by grace ye are saved,’ Eph. ii. 8. And stand still, and see your salvation, Exod. xiv. 13. And ye that are children of light, put on the armour of light, that ye may come into the ‘unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ; that henceforth ye be no more children tossed to and fro,’ Eph. iv. 13.

“And the Lord said, he would make a new covenant, by ‘writing his law in people’s hearts, and putting his Spirit in their inward parts;’ whereby they should all come to know the Lord—Him by whom the world was made. Now every one of you, mind the law written in your hearts, and this Spirit put in your inward parts, that it need not be said to you, ‘know the Lord;’ but that ye may witness the promise of God fulfilled in you. ‘But,’ say the world, and professors, ‘if every one must come to witness the law of God written in their hearts, and the Spirit put in the inward parts, what must we do with all our teachers?’ As we come to witness that, we need not any man to teach us to know the Lord, having his law written in our hearts, and his Spirit put in our inward parts. This is the covenant of life, the everlasting covenant, which decays not, nor changes; and here is the way to the Father, without which no man cometh unto the Father.

“And here is the everlasting priesthood, the end of the old priesthood, whose lips were to preserve knowledge; but now, saith Christ, ‘Learn of me;’ who is the high-priest of the new priesthood. ‘And,’ saith the apostle, ‘that ye may grow up in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, in whom are hid the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.’ So we are brought off from the old priesthood that changed, to Christ, to the new priesthood, that changeth not; and off from the first covenant, that doth decay, to the everlasting covenant that doth not decay, Christ Jesus, the covenant of Light, from whom every one of you have a light, that ye might believe in the covenant of Light. If ye believe not, ye are condemned; for light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. ‘I am come a light into the world,’ saith Christ, ‘that whosoever believeth in me, should not abide in darkness, but have the light of life,’ John xii., 46. And, ‘believe in the light, that ye may be children of the light.’ But ye who do not believe in the light, but hate it, because it manifests your deeds to be evil, ye are they that are condemned by the light.

“Therefore, while ye have time, prize it; seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near; lest he say, ‘time is past;’ for the rich glutton’s time was past. Therefore, while time is not quite past, consider, search yourselves, and see if ye be not they that hate the light; and so are builders that stumble at the corner-stone; for they that hated the light, and did not believe in the light, did so in ages past. ‘I am the light of the world,’ saith Christ, ‘who enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world;’ and he also saith, ‘learn of me;’ and of him God saith, ‘this is my beloved Son, hear ye him.’ Here is your teacher. But ye that hate the light, do not learn of Christ, and will not have him to be your king, to reign over you;—Him, to whom all power in heaven and earth is given, who bears his government upon his shoulders, who is now come to reign; who lighteth every man that cometh into the world, and will give to every man a reward, according to his works, whether they be good or evil. So every man, with the light that comes from Christ, will see his deeds, both he that hates it, and he that loves it. And he that will not bring his deeds to the light, because it will reprove him, that is his condemnation; and he shall have a reward according to his deeds. For the Lord is come to reckon with you. He looks for fruits; now the axe is laid to your root, and every tree of you that bears not good fruit, must be hewn down, and cast into the fire.”