The banner of love, under which the Royal Army is preserved, and safely conducted being a clear and perfect way out of wars & contentions : with a short testimony unto the way of peace, given forth for the edification and comfort of all that truly fear God / written by ... William Smith. Smith, William, d. 1673. 1661 Approx. 39 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 13 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A60616 Wing S4288 ESTC R3922 12018797 ocm 12018797 52591 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A60616) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 52591) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 824:15) The banner of love, under which the Royal Army is preserved, and safely conducted being a clear and perfect way out of wars & contentions : with a short testimony unto the way of peace, given forth for the edification and comfort of all that truly fear God / written by ... William Smith. Smith, William, d. 1673. 23, [2] p. Printed for Robert Wilson ..., London : 1661. Reproduction of original in Duke University Library. Signed at end: William Smith. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Written by the hand of One who bears Good Will to all Men , WILLIAM SMITH . LONDON , Printed for Robert Wilson , at the Sign of the Black Spread-Eagle , and Wind-Mill , in Martins Le Grand , 1661. THE Banner of Love ; Under which The ROYAL ARMY is Preserved , and Safely Conducted . THE Loving Kindness of the Lord God is abundantly made manifest , and with the Cords of it the hearts of many are drawn unto him , and made willing to Love , Serve and Obey Him , and to Deny what is contrary to him , and to Follow his Leadings to come into more Acquaintance with Him ; whereby there is a true Tenderness begotten , which doth earnestly Thirst after Him , and there is nothing so Dear as His Love , and for His Love the World is Denied , & the Thirst is more and more increased after God , and presses after more Communion with His Love , and in the Breathings the Love opens , and the Streams thereof reach the Thirsty , and with the sweet Savor of it the Thirsty is Refreshed , and it becomes exceeding Pretious , and in it Strength is Renewed , and the Bones are made Fat , and so the breathing Babe is Nourished ; and this Fountain is Freely Opened , that all that Thirst may come , and all that Hunger may be partakers of the Love of God , and in the Light of Christ it is obtained : For it is given of God to seek those that are out of the Love , and to bring them into the Love ; and as it appears to discover that which Separates from the Love , the mind Turning unto it , the Judgement takes hold , and that which separates from the Love is Denied , and upon the Cross crucified , and the power removes it out of the way , whereby there is Ease given to that which is Oppressed , and the w●y is cleared of that which Separated from God , and so the Light Leads out of the Earth and all Earthly things , and Leads up to God the Fountain of Eternal Love , in whose Pure , Presence the fulness of Joy is found : And as the Light is believed in , so is the Translation wrought , and the Power puts off the Old , and makes all New , and a Birth comes to be Born that is of God , and it loves the Father and delights to do His Will , and the Father spreads his Love over it for a Banner , by which it is Protected and Preserved in its Growth and Increase ; and what it makes War against , the Love is a Banner over it , and the furious Beasts are thereby Stopped , and also driven back , and that which Presses after Communion with God , it goes forward , and the Banner of Love is Spread over it ; and this is the great Battel to be Fought , and unto it hath the Lord God gathered a Remnant , and orders them under His Banner , by which they are Encouraged to make War in Righteousness , and in Love to overcome their Enemies , and in Patience to silence the foolish and gainsayers ; and of the Immortal Seed is this Royal Army Born , and they are Conquerours through Him that loves them , and spreads his Banner over them , and their Weapons are Love and Patience , by which they overcome ; and they do not think ill to their Neighbors , but Love their Enemies , and are Ready to do Good to those that are contrary minded ; and they would have all come to the Love of God , that they might be saved ; and what the Father Leads them unto , His Love Constrains them to follow , and when they are Persecuted the Love Constrains them to Bless , and in Patience they Endure it , and seek no Revenge upon it , but overcome Evil with Good : and this is the Royal Army of the Lamb , who are Born again , and redeemed out of the World , and their Union is with that which was before the World , therefore are they Persecuted and Evil entreated by the World , who are Separated from the Love , which they are partakers of , and over whom it is spread for a Banner , and they have nothing in their hearts but Love and Good Will to all men : And this is an Army that the Lord God hath gathered , and is gathering , from amongst the Earthly Warriors , whose strength is in the Horse and his Rider , and the Lord God puts into their hands the Spiritual Weapon , and with it they go forth to Battel , and they seek to Save mens Lives and not to Destroy them , their Weapon is Stretched forth to cut down the Proud Lustful Nature , from whence all Warrs arise , and so to bring People to the Meek and quiet Spirit , and to Live Peacebly with all men . And this is not like the Aliens Army , who are strangers unto that Spirit that Leads into Love and Good Will , and to do Justly , and walk Humbly with God , it is quite of a contrary Nature ; The Aliens Army draw their Swords , and kill one another ; the Royal Army have put up their Swords , and would have all men Saved ; and who needs to fear such an Army , whose Banner is Love , And their Weapons Good Will ? There need no Horsemen and Strong Armies to oppose them , nor Prisons to quiet them , for they are Marching under the Banner of Love , and in Love Meet their Enemies , and Quench their Fury ; and whatever can be done against them , Love is their Banner , and with it they are wonderfully Preserved , and as any thing arises to turn them back , the Love Protects them , and is a sure Refuge for them , and with it they stand Armed , and the fiery darts are quenched ; and though the wicked may strike Exceeding soare , yet doth the Love Defend and Preserve , and from it there goes forth a mighty Strength , that Drives back the wicked One , and overcomes him , and under this Banner is Safety , and in this Royal Army is Love and Good Will , and to be Born into the Love , there is Strength Received , and the Enemy is Driven back and confounded , and all that keep under the Banner they are kept from Danger ; For It goes before and Leads Forward , and It also comes behind and is the Rereward , so that the Army is Compassed about with Love , and it is the Banner over them , and Safely Conducts them in their travel , and makes their Passage Easie , so that they willingly go forward , and march boldly in the strength of Love , in which they are stronger than their Enemies ; and One falls at the Right hand , and Another at the Left , and as they would Stop for going forward , the Love Wars against them , and Overcomes them , for there is nothing Stronger than Love ; It makes an Easie Passage and drives that back which stands in the way , and whatever Rises , it Falls again , and the Armies of the Aliens are put to flight ; for in the Strength of Love One chases a Thousand , and the Army of Royalty Marches forward and takes Possession , and they are kept under the Banner of Love , and are ordered by it , and it is a Bulwark for them , that the Enemy cannot come ▪ any way to touch them : And this is the Banner that keeps unto the End , and who are gathered to it , and travel under it , their Strength is in it , and their Diligence is to be kept Faithful , and they stand Watchful , left they should be drawn aside and thereby fall into Danger ; for the Enemy is near , and if the Watch be not Kept , he will Tempt , and also Entangle , and so bring the Hands to be weak , and the Knees to be feeble , and Draw the Mind to look at the weakness , and then bring up his Army , and place them in the way , and they appearing Mighty in Strength , he then draws into Reasoning which way they must be Overcome , and if that cannot be seen Speedily , then he draws to Consult which way to Escape them ; and if he take not there , then he labors to drive Back again , as if it were not possible to Overcome such strong Enemies in such a weak and feeble state ; but he is a liar ; therefore let none encline unto him , though here he hath wronged many , and hath secretly entised them from under the Banner of Love , and hath drawn them out of the Order of Gods Royal Army ; But the Watchful are preserved in safety , and walk in the strength of Love , and believe that all things are possible , and their Faith works by Love , and in the Faith they go forward , and by Faith in the Love they are made Conquerors ; and these are Free-born Children of the Living God , who are gathered under the Banner of his Love , and there fight against the World , the Flesh and the Devil , against Principallities and Powers , and Spiritual wickedness in high Places , and they stand by Faith , and fight the good fight of Faith , by which Victory is obtained , and in the Faith that works by Love , Flames are quenched , Lyons mouthes are stopped : And this is the Saints Weapon with which they go forth to Battel , and in which they are made stronger than their Enemies , and they are of the Royal Seed , that God hath blessed , and are true Followers of the Lamb , and fight under his Banner and they must have the Victory ; for in the Love are all things ended , and as the Lamb appeares and spreads forth His lovely Banner , so unto him will the gathering be ; and unto His Royal Army there shall be a great Increase , and they shall wax stronger and stronger , and their enemies weaker and weaker ; and as the Gathering is unto Him , and His Banner known , so will Swords be beaten into Plowshares , and Spears into Pruning Hooks , and Wars will cease , and Cruelty come to an end , and Love will abound , and the Banner of it reach over Nations ; and this is the Lord bringing to pass with His holy Arme , and a lovely Army hath he Gathered , and they willingly follow Him , and His Banner over them is Love , and under it they are Protected , and safely Conducted , and goe Forward in the strength of Love , and all that withstands them must fall before them ; For the Lamb makes the way , and His Royal Army follows Him , and He exalts Himself upon his Throne , and Establishes His own Government in Everlasting Righteousness , and in His Royal Army doth His Purity shine , & His Meekness , Patience and Gentleness , is the Garment of their Praise , and with His Vertuous Life are they beautified , and their strength is in Him , and under His Banner they abide , and when He Leads , they stand in readiness to Follow , and so keep the good Order , and He prepares the way and makes it Easie ; and though many Tribulations and afflictions come upon them , yet he doth not forsake them , but stands by them , and His Lovely Banner covers them , and with it He preserves them , and He bears the Affliction with them , and so upholds them in it , and makes way through it , and works Deliverance from it ; And this is the Lamb of Glory , who Leads His Royal Army in the Way of Peace , and He Proclaims His Peace on Earth and his Good Will towards Men , and doth not Destroy Mens Lives , but appears to Save them ; And the same Mind he begets in his Followers , who are an Army of Peace , as He is The Prince of Peace ; And yet they Fight His Battel , under the Banner of his Love , and their Warfare is not Carnal , but Spiritual , and in the Spiritual He sets up His own Kingdom , and into it He Conducts His Royal Army , and there gives unto them an Everlasting Inheritance , in His Everlasting Kingdom , which doth Recompence their Faithfulness ; And these are a Royal Army that Fight the Lords Battel boldly , and yet dare not Destroy the Life of any , but abide under the Banner of Love , and there in Patience rest ; And He appears His own Cause to plead , and makes them more than Conquerors through His own Love ; And these are a Peaceable People , who are guided by a peaceable Principle that is of God , and in Peace they obtain the Victory , and the Lamb comes forth in His Power , and takes the Dominion , and sets up His own Government in the Kingdom of Peace ; And this is a Spiritual Work , and it is His own , & not to be accomplished by any Carnal Weapon , for that cannot Establish a Spiritual Kingdom , and the Lamb's Kingdom is Spiritual , His Government Spiritual , His Royal Army Spiritual , & they cannot fight about an Outward Kingdom , but mind the Inward Work , and to be Kept with Him , whose Kingdom is not of this World ; And so they come more into an Inward Spiritual Work , and wait to know an Inward Spiritual Change , whereby Christ is Revealed in Spirit , and comes in his Power and Glory , and takes his Right and Sets up his Kindom , and in it Reigns , and puts down all his Enemies under him ; and this is his Battel in which he appears to exalt his own Name in Dominion , and in his Right he Reigns this day , and he is the King of a Royal Army , who are Strong in his Strength , and Lovely in his Beauty , and unto him alone they give the Praise and Glory . Now all that are Striving and Warring , and have it in their hearts so to do , and thereby think to set up their Religion , and their Observation ; or such as Expect a time in which Christ will appear Personally upon the Earth to Reign , and have it in their hearts to cut off and destroy the contrary minded , and so by Weapons of War Fight for His Kingdom , and thereby exalt Him into his Dominion , unto such sorts of People it is said , Be still and quiet , lest ye put sorth your hand to do Evil , and so provoke the Holy One to anger , and in your froward minds provoke one another , and so kindle Wrath and Anger one in another ; From which comes all Wars and Contentions , which is not the way that Christ appears in , nor the path in which he leads His Royal Army : Therefore let all men appear in the Moderation , and cease from Warring and Fighting , and Killing one another , and let them mind the thing that concerns their own Peace , and follow that pure Principle of Light in their own Conscience , which will teach them to put up their Swords , and to live Peaceably with all men ; And it will purge out that Revenging Blood-thirsty Spirit which provokes hastily to commit Cruelty , and it will not suffer one man to Kill another , for it commands the contrary , and he that Kills transgresseth against it , and is not of the Lamb 's Royal Army , who have put up their Swords and cannot learn War any more ; And unto such it is said , Be Faithful still , that a clear Deliverance may be wrought out , and let the Patient be Patient still , that Patience may have its perfect Work , and that there maybe an Intireness ; so will the Lamb Lead up his Royal Army , unto the Fountain of Living Waters , and there reward them with Fulness of Joy , and crown them with Glory and Immortality ; and this is his Day , and with his Royal Army he goes forth , before whom the Nations must tremble , and the glory of all Flesh must be stained : for His Work is New , and he will not piece it to the Old , but the Old must pass away before the glory of his Rising . And now is the Lord God Crowning his Seed , and giving unto it the Power , and Glory , and Dominion ; and the Righteous Rejoyce , and the Royal Army are Glad : For He is Come whose Reward is with him , and his Power he takes unto him and Reigns , and thus is his Kingdom come , and the Joy and Peace therein is Known , and the Banner of Love is Spread over the Flock , and they are gathered in the One Spirit , and are the One People , of the One only True God , and with one heart they offer a Sacrifice upon the holy Altar , which is for a Praise throughout the whole Earth . Stand still ye Aliens and see the Salvation of God : Go on ye Free-born Children , for great is your Reward . A Short TESTIMONY unto the WAY of PEACE . THe Life of Christ is sweet , it is the Substance of whatever can be spoken ; To Inherit a measure of it is Joy and Peace , and the Desire of the Simple is abundantly Satisfied therein ; It is the One Thing Needful to be Chosen , and being Chosen , to be Watchful in it to abide ; for the Erring from it goes down to Death , and without it is Distress and Sorrow ; It is abundantly Revealed in this Day , and the Breasts of it are layd Open to the Weary ; It hath its Course in the Valleys , and Flowes in the Channel of Lowliness ; The Humble meet it in the Way , and in the pure Streames they receive their Portion ; To be Low and Humble is the Way of Life , and therein do the Lambs enjoy their Pasture ; As it is Tasted it Draws still after it , and the more it is Tasted , the more it is Beloved ; and as it is Beloved the more it Springs , and Flows to that which Thirsteth , and in Patience Waiting the Virtue of it is Felt , and the Mind sinks down , more into it and the Delight is in the Sweet Savour of it : This is the Way of the Humble , and this is the Path of the Lowly Mind ; Hither do all the Lambs resort , and here do the Babes Receive their Consolation ; It is the Endless Fountain that Ministreth to the Thirsty , and Releives the Weak and Feeble in their Travel ; In it are All things done , without it Nothing ; Life is the strength of all , and in the Humility it is Possessed , and in the Meekness , the Riches of it are Felt ; The Lowly Feel the Way of its Passage , and in the Path of Humility it Runs exceeding Sweetly ; They that Abide in their measure , Receive their Consolation , and Feel their Gathering into Union with Life , and in it are Translated out of the Earthly , and so an Undefiled Birth is Born , which in the Chaste Mind is Retained , and truly Beloved , and unto it alone belong the Issues from Death ; it is not to be Contained in any one Place , nor Comprehended in any one Vessel ; There is no Limitation of its Breaking forth , but when and where , and in whom it pleaseth ; it Prepares the Vessel for its use , and makes it Honourable in its own Holiness ; It Springs and Fills according to its Pleasure , and the Vessel must be New that doth Contain it ; This ▪ is the day of its Renown , and many Partake of its precious Virtue ; The Low Estate is exceeding Sweet , and to be truly Humble is the Way of Life ; To keep Self in the Nothingness , brings in Joy and Peace , and to be Abased makes truly Contented ; for in that Path the Streams do Run , and in the Savor thereof is Sweet Consolation ; The Patient Waiter knows it , and the Humble in Heart can Seal unto it ; And this is a Birth of Innocency born of Immortality , and as it doth Arise it humbles the Mortal unto the Death of the Cross , and makes self of no Reputation , and in the Believer it works its own Freedom , and Purges out the Corruptible , and makes Way into the Believers Heart , and puts Joy and Gladness therein , whereby a Supply is Ministred unto that which stands in Need , and with this are the Babes Nourished , and the Lambs Refreshed , and herein is Joy and Peace obtained and truly possessed ; and as the Mind in the Lowness sinks down to the Life , so doth the Life Exalt it self into Honour , and Spreads abroad its Renown in the Heart , and becomes exceeding Glorious in the Beauty of its own Holiness , and fills the Vessel with its perfect Life , whereby the Adoption is wrought , and a Child brought forth that is an Heir of God , and a Joynt-heir with Christ , who in the Believers Heart reveals his Innocency , and in the Humility brings forth his Glorious Image , where he is Felt in the Covenant of his Grace , and Enjoyed in the Power of his Endless Life ; And then he is truly Touched , and his Vertue Received , in which Strength is perfectly Renewed , and an Increase and Growth Witnessed , and the Innocency Springs , and Brings to God the Father , and the Heart unto it is Joyned and United , and is made One with the Father , and with his Son Jesus Christ ; And so he that Begets , and he that is Begotten are truly Loved ; and in the Lowness this comes to be Attained , and the Glory of it Revealed , where he is beheld who is the only Begotten of the Father , Full of Grace and Truth : For through the Judgement that comes to be Separated , which cannot be united , and then the Innocent is Raised , and the Meek quiet Spirit springs , and thereby Life is given , and there is a partaking of it and a Living by it , and this is sure Bread , that Nourishes and Strengthens with his Living Virtue , and Ministers Sweet Consolation to the Worthy Receiver , and many are made Partakers of it , and thereby are Strengthened in their Testimony for God ; And though many Exercises come upon them , yet they are Upheld to stand Faithful , and as the Mind keeps down , and Abides in the Fear , the Lords Name is Known , and the Safety in it , and the Wicked One cannot Touch , though he may strongly Tempt ; But as he Appears he is Judged , and the Innocency Preserved , and the Simplicity Retained , which is Exceeding Precious to be Enjoyed ; For Innocency and Simplicity is ever Accompanied with Joy and Felicity ; And to be in Union with the Innocent Life , is Joy and Peace , and the Love Arises and Sheds abroad in the Heart , whereby the Heart is Overcome to Love God , and all Babes born of the Innocent Life , in which perfect Unity is Felt , and the Love hath a Free Course , & Knits the Heart unto God & unto one another , whereby a Tenderness Springs one towards another . So that Humility is the Way to come into true Unity , where there is nothing Remaines , but Love out of a pure Heart , that seeks not to be Exalted , but still to be Humbled ; And in this Path the Love and Life of God hath a Free Course in Every Particular , and Meets in the Unity ▪ and Embraces each other , where the Innocent Life hath its Rejoycing , and in true Love and Tenderness reacheth to its own in each Vessel , and in this State there is true Satisfaction and Contentment ; And a great Carefulness there is , lest the sweet Savour of it should be at any time Lost ; And it is of a Bearing and Long-suffering Nature , and in the Humility keeps in the Feeling , and Possesses its Portion , and it hath Enough as it Partakes of the Love in the Unity ; And it strives not after the Enjoyment of any thing , but Waits to keep in the taste of the sweet Savour of the Life ; it Covets not to be Rich , that thereby it might be Exalted , but keeps down in the Poverty , and in the Humility Inherits Life and Immortality ; And it Travels in Lowness and Plainness for Preserving in Love and Peace ; It seeks not after Worldly Glory , for of the World it is not , but the Power of an Endless Life it is ; and in many hath the Lord God Revealed it , who therein Feel his Presence and Peace , his Love and Grace , and are Partakers of it through his own good Will ; and his Love is Felt , wherewith he Loves his own , and there is a Watchfulness to abide therein ; So that he Reveals it more and more according to his own Pleasure , whereby the Innocency is strengthened , and the Glory of its holy Life spreads in the Vessel , and so a Death comes upon Self , with all its Glory , and a New Life in the Seed is Felt , which lives to Gods Glory ; and when at any time the Love is not Felt , nor the Refreshings of it ▪ Tasted , then doth the Babe sit in the Lowness , and wait in the Patience , until the Spring Opens in its own Freeness , and when it Opens none can Shut , as when it Shuts none can Open , and when it Opens it fils with Love , and mightily goes forth to Heal , and Bind up in Unity ; And though in the Innocent Life Unity cannot be broken , yet who are not born of it , have not Unity with it , nor with such as are truly of it ; But something would be Exalting out of the Humility which God doth not give Grace unto ; But where the mind keeps down in the Light this cannot Enter , but is kept under Judgement , through which Innocency is brought forth , and in Love it doth abound and draws the Heart into it , and fills it with the Excellency of its Treasure , whereby the Heart comes to be perfectly United to it , and unto all that are Born of it , and thereby there is Oneness made in Christ , and then no more Twain but One New-Man in him who makes Peace , and Reconciles to God the Father in one Spirit , in which Union is Felt with God , and with all born of God ; and there is nothing so Sweet as here to dwell together , and to come into this Habitation is Joy and Peace for Ever ; And in this holy Birth of the Seed , there is but one Heart and Mind , and so one People unto the Lord God , who are truly his own People , his Chosen Generation , his Royal Off-spring , and he is Raising them in his Authority to Trample Satan under foot , who labours in his Subtilty , many and divers ways to wrong the Innocency , and in nothing more than in breaking Unity , but his head is bruising , and he must go down into a bed of sorrow , and the Innocency come up into Peace and Joy ; in the way of the Humble is this known , and in the path of the Poor it is brought forth and perfected , and no way is so safe as the way of the Humble , for there is Gods Teachings known , and his hand is felt that brings down into Death , and quickens and raises a new Life , that seeks nothing but his Glory , and as it is brought forth it travels to Convert Sinners unto God , and when they are Converted , then to Strengthen them and Build them up in their most holy Faith , and so to bring every one to the measure of God , that they therein may be Edified and Comforted ; And this is truly the Son of Humility , whose Travel is for Peace and Unity , and the Lord God is satisfying the travel , whereby the Faithful in Unity Rejoyce together , who have born the burden and heat of the Day , and have not been slack in their Testimony , but through Perils and Dangers have Travelled , to gather People unto God , and to bring them into the Unity of the Spirit of God , which he is largly fulfilling in this day ; And as the Mind keeps down and waits in the Stilness , so doth the Life arise , and in it is the Desolate Comforted , and the Needy relieved , and the Love and Unity is Felt and Enjoyed , and with its strong Cord it Joynes perfectly together , and knits the heart into Oneness , and makes a willing People in one pure heart , whereby the one onely true God is Served and worshipped , and in his own Work Praised ; And this Honour have all the Saints , who are born of the Innocent Life , the Lord God is with them and amongst them ; And in the midst of Afflictions his Comforts delight them , and his Goodness abounds in them ; And this is Joy for Mourning , and Gladness for Heaviness , and in the Humility the Garment of Praise is Received , and the Birth Immortal is Cloathed with it , and God gives his Grace unto it , and therein it is Beautified and Honored ▪ and this Honour cannot be attained until Humility go before ; And this is the Honour which the Lord God is bringing forth by a Strong Hand , and by an Outstretched Arm , and in this Simple Innocent State the Springs of Life are Felt and the Streams thereof have a free Course , and they Flow in the Heart , whereby the Love is felt in its fresh Visitations , and the Mercies in the Renewings , and the Heart is gathered into it , and is made One with it ; So that there is a Habitation known in the Love , and from the Love nothing can Separate , but the Heart is more and more Quickned to Love God , and to Love all the Children of God , and this Flows out of a pure Heart servently , and truly loves the least Babe , and Succors and Relieves the Weak and Feeble ; And with this Garment are the Humble Cloathed , and are very Beautiful and amiable , and the Lord keeps them in his saving strength , so that in Love they do abide , and it increases more and more in them , and in it they grow up to Perfection , and when the Love is perfect , all Fears with their Torments are cast out ; So that to Endure Afflictions is Joy , and not worthy to be compared to the Glory of Innocency Revealed ; And this keeps close with God , and girds up the Mind into perfect Union with him , where the Life is felt and sed upon , which doth truly satisfie the Desire of the Hungry ; and in this State there is Contentment , and in Content there is perfect Peace and Joy : So the Way of the Humble is the Sweetest Path , and in Choosing of it there is great Reward , for in it is Innocency found , and there doth Love spring and abound , and the Life is tasted in which Innocency is Increased , and the growth of it is in a sweet pleasant valley , where the streams hath their Constant Course , and is alwayes touching and nourishing the Root , which causes every Branch that partakes of the Sap , to become Exceeding Fruitful ; and the Vesture is then made Glorious , with which the Kings Daughter is Beautiful within ; and when the Darkness at any time works to draw out of the Humility , and to betray the Innocency , the Watch discovers it , and the secret workings of it , and in the Light it is seen to be of that nature , which will defile the pure Innocency , and near the Beauty of its holy Image , so with the Light it is Judged , and is not touched , and from it Innocency is Preserserved , and still springs in it ▪ s Purity , and spreads it self more in its tender Life , and beautifies the House of its Holiness , and the Image of it is Love , and in its holy Life is Unity and Peace ; The Mind that keeps Low , feels it , and waiting in the Humility it is Known in the Enjoyment of it , and the Unity is with it , and with all that are born of it ; Then the Love is like a fresh stream , that cannot cease its Course , nor stop its Flowings , but must shed it self abroad , and Embrace its own in the Unity , and there is no habitation that yields the like Peace : Blessed are they that are Born into the Love and Life of the Innocent Immortal Seed , for they are Children of the Kingdom without End , and are bound up in Unity , and keep the Bond of Peace . And here was the holy Order of Gods Creation before Transgression , and it was Very Good in his fight , and into this Order of Unity and Peace is the Lord God Restoring by the Resurrection of Life , in which the Seed is known , and its holy Order in the Unity , and in its own Innocency it Creates Peace , and hath its Ministration in its self , and gives forth 〈…〉 requires , whereby every Member is Supplied , and the whole Body in Unity Nourished and Comforted , and so grows up unto an holy Temple in the Lord , which He fills with his Glory , and hath the Preheminence , and is the Head unto whom all the Members are subject ; and He binds them up in the Bundle of Life , and makes them partakers of his Divine Nature , in which they are truly One , and his Love constrains them to love Him , and to love one another , and hereby they are perfectly known to be his Disciples and his Chosen Inheritance ; and He ordains Peace for them , and gives it to them , and men cannot take it away from them ; and they in the Love , and Life , and Peace of the Seed , Rejoyce together , and are comforted one in another . So in the Humility the Seed of Honour springs , and reveals its Innocent Life , and spreads abroad the Glory of its Renown , and all the little Babes it covers with its own Innocency , and cloathes them with a Garment of Righteousness , whereby they are translated into the Heavenly , and stand adorned with Purity and Chastity , and profess the Treasure of Wisdom and Life : And this is the Cause that the Lord God will plead , and who abides faithful in it shall receive their Reward , and shall come to the End of their Testimony in Peace and Joy , and shall meet with a Portion to answer their Tribulation ; and this Testimony doth truly spring from the Innocency , and in Meekness and Humility is given forth , and unto the Innocent reacheth in the Love and Life of Unity , that unto it the Gathering may be , and every one may feel it in the Increase , and therein grow up into the measure of the statu●e of the Fulness of Christ ; for as the Fear abides upon the Heart , so is the Mind kept down and low , and walks in the Humility in which 〈…〉 there is safety ; and when at any time it is lifted up , and exalted by any Wile of the Enemy , and that there is a departing out of the Fear , and a going from the Path of Humility , then comes Trouble and Sorrow ; and as the Light is minded , the particular state is opened , and it is seen what is uppermost , and bears Rule in the Heart ; and by diligent waiting the present Condition opens more and more , so that the Book of Conscience , and the things that are written therein , are made manifest , and they are discerned with an Understanding , and it is seen what the Union is with ; and if it be not Innocency in the True Love and Unity , the Light Reproves it , and Judges it , and the Judgment being waited in , the Innocency springs and encreases , and in the midst of Judgment Mercy reaches to it , and in the Mercy it grows and comes into Dominion ; then is His Mercy known over all His Works , and in the Mercy , Love and Unity is preserved : So nothing is more safe , than for every one to be minding their own House , and see how their own Family is provided for , that every Particular may in themselves feel Good Order , and their own Habitation keep in Peace and Quietness , which gives true Satisfaction and Contentment , and every one will then feel the Good Order of the Body in Unity , and will Enjoy their Peace and daily Consolation ; and this is Exceeding sweet and precious , and more to be desired than whatever is beside it , that the Innocent Life of the Holy Seed may reign , and that it may be the Garment of all that this day bear Testimony unto God's living Truth ; So will the Glory of its Renown spread over the Nations , and the Beauty of its Holiness shall still ravish the Hearts of many , and the Lord God Everlasting , whose Love is without End , He will certainly plead with all that stand in the way , and break down the High Mountains that are proudly exalted , and He will feed the innocent Babes , and increase their strength , and make each one stronger than the strength of Enemies ; and who walks in the way of the Humble they do know , that God will not spare the Proud , neither withhold his Grace from the Humble , but He will lay down the one and exalt the other , for he will have the Seed to Reign ; and in this holy Birth of the Immortal Seed , an Immortal Inheritance is possessed , wherein the Blessing , and Joy and Peace is obtained , which doth constrain to give up the Body and Spirit to glorifie God ; and all that abide Faithful with God , and walk in their own measures received , He will Replenish them with his Goodness , and satisfie them with Marrow and Fatness ; for He will bless the Humble and crown the Innocent with Glory and Renown for ever . The Day of the Lord is glorious , in which He hath gathered a People to walk in his Fear , and to follow Him in the Path of Humility , where He teacheth them and makes them to understand His Precepts ; and He fills them with his Love , and spreads it over them , and keeps them under the Shadow of it , where they rest in the Feeling of his Presence , and thereby their Hearts are Enlarged to Him , and His Love Constrains them to keep a Conscience void of Offence , and neither to sin against Him , nor to do any Violence unto Men , but to walk soberly and peaceably , and to behave themselves in Love and Tenderness unto All People ; and in the One Spirit hath the Lord gathered them , and in the One Spirit He hath bound them up , and they are His People , and He is their God , and dwells amongst them , and walks in them , and the Prince of Peace orders them , and they are His Royal Army , in whose Love and Life they stand in Unity , and give up their Bodies and Spirits unto God , that his own Will may be done , and the Intents of his own Heart performed , and his own Name therein glorified . WILLIAM SMITH . From Worcester County Goal , being there a Prisoner for Obedience to the Command of Jesus Christ ; Second Month , 1661. THE END .