A manifestation of the love of God unto all such as are convinced of truth and do not obey it. Smith, William, d. 1673. 1663 Approx. 18 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 5 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A60641 Wing S4315 ESTC R32689 12746228 ocm 12746228 93252 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. A60641) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 93252) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1536:43) A manifestation of the love of God unto all such as are convinced of truth and do not obey it. Smith, William, d. 1673. 8 p. s.n., [London : 1673] Caption title. Signed at end: William Smith. Place and date of publication suggested by Wing. Reproduction of original in the Harvard University Library. 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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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Society of Friends -- England -- Pastoral letters and charges. Inner Light. Salvation. 2005-04 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2005-05 Apex CoVantage Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2005-09 Emma (Leeson) Huber Sampled and proofread 2005-09 Emma (Leeson) Huber Text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion A Manifestation OF THE LOVE of GOD unto all such as are convinced of TRUTH , and do not Obey it . THE breaking forth and dawning of the day is very pleasant unto such as have long walked and been wearied in a night of darkness , for by the appearance of the day there is a discovery of the crooked paths in which there hath been a sore travel whilst darkness over-spread ; and in some measure there have many seen this day to dawn , and it hath been pleasant to them in its appearance , as making those things manifest , which in the darkness they could not see , and by the manifestation many have been convinced of the evil deed of darkness , and also of the Truth ; and so , the day-spring from on high hath visited , to give light to many that sat in darkness , by which they see what is good and what is evil : but all have not obeyed , and therefore many are yet covered with darkness , notwithstanding they are convinced , and the Seed is yet in bondage though the Light hath shined ; for many may be convinced of evil and not forsake it , and they also may be convinced of what is good and not come to live in it ; and this is for want of obedience to the Light which visiteth and convinceth , and that is the ground why darkness standeth and the Seed is burdened , for none can come out of darkness but in the Light which reproves it ; and though People may be convinced of all the deeds of darkness , and the evil of them , yet if they do not obey the Light which convinceth , and deny those deeds which the Light reproveth , there is a continuance in them , notwithstanding there be a convincement in the conscience to the contrary : and this is a disobedient state , by which the Light is denyed and not the darkness , and unto this state there are many stripes belong ; for they that know their Masters will and do it not , they must be beaten with many stripes : Therefore you that be convinced with the Light , and are not yet come into obedience , so as to deny that which you are convinced is evil , and to live in that which you are convinced is good , be mindful to answer the requirings of God , and keep close to the Light which convinceth you of that which is evil , and so love the Light and obey it , as to confess it and bear testimony to it ; and whatsoever would let or hinder you for obeying , deny it , and take up the Cross unto it ; for many stumble at the Cross , by which they are hindred from obeying the Truth , and that which stumbles at the Cross , will deny Christ when he should be confessed ; and they which deny him before men , he will deny them before his Father which is in Heaven : ( so mark ) there is none that are to expect that Christ will confess them before his Father in Heaven , but as they confess him before men upon earth , and so come to be his Witnesses upon Earth , in a true and faithful testimony , by denying the darkness , and confessing him the Light ; and this is the Cross which must be taken up before there be a true Disciple ; for they that deny not themselves , and take up the Cross and follow Christ , they are not his Disciples ; so a Disciple is known by self-denyal , and submitting to the daily Cross , that is a mark of a Disciple , for by that they are known to follow Christ in his Light , as Children of obedience : now many may be convinced and yet not come to be Disciples , because they do not obey the Light unto self-denyal , nor submit unto the daily Cross , and so keep that life and nature living which is to be crucified ; and such never come , in that state , to be Gods Witnesses upon earth , though they be convinced of what is Truth ; therefore all are to examine what it is that hinders you from obeying the Truth , for if you do not search it out with the Light , and so deny it , and take up the Cross unto it , you will find it to be a hinderance to you all your dayes , and so you will never come to confess Christ before men , but , on the contrary , deny him ; and then what will he do for you before his Father in Heaven , but as you have done unto him before men upon Earth ? Now as you mind the Light which convinces you , it will let you see every particular thing that hinders you from obeying ; for the Light will search unto it , and find it out , and make you sensible of it , and then you will see that you are in love with something more than Christ , and that you do not answer the Light as Children of Obedience , and so every particular thing which hinders you from obeying , will be manifest in the Light , as you mind it ; and there you will know whether you love Father or Mother , Wife or Children , Houses or Lands , worldly Honour or Esteem , more then you love Christ , and how they have hindred you from obeying the Truth , and how scorn , and reproach , and persecution , which such suffer as live in the Truth , how those things have hindred you from obeying it ; and so you will come to see in your selves what is the hinderance , as you mind the Light with which Christ enlightens you , and by which he convinceth you . For , have you not purposed sometimes to draw nigh , and have not those things hindered you ? and when ye have purposed to go forward , have they not drawn you back again ? and doth not the Seed of God travel in pain , as being oppressed with that nature which you should deny and crucifie ? and is not that Hagar and her Son , which is to be cast out ? for Hagars Son must not inherit with Isaac who is the Heir of Promise : therefore all wait in the Light with which Christ Jesus doth enlighten you , and be faithful to every manifestation of the Light in you ; that as you are perswaded that Christ doth enlighten you , so you may be perswaded to obey the Light which doth convince you , and so through obedience came to witness Redemption and Salvation by his Power : for as you yield your selves servants to obey him , he will turn you , and convert you , and work deliverance for you , and there you will know him in his power , who is able by his power to subdue all things to himself ; and as you come to be converted by his power , you will feel his virtue and goodness in a sweet savour , for he loveth the Children of obedience , who are willing to turn unto him ; and in your obedience unto him , his Life will rise in you , and there you will know the streams with which he refresheth Chosen ; and if you yet love him and follow him , you will come to know the River which maketh glad his Heritage ; for until you be converted and turned unto God through obedience to the Light , you neither taste nor feel the virtue of his Life , but sit in the Land of Famine and sore drought , and there you are as dry and unfruitful branches , that cannot bear fruit for want of nourishment ; for until you obey the Light , and come out of Darkness , you are rooted in a bad ground , and bring forth unsavoury fruit , and whilest that standeth , the good Seed is hindred from sprouting forth in its own nature , and there can be no fruit to Gods glory , but what the Seed brings forth in its own nature ; for in the Seed is the Testimony by which God is glorified , and all born of the Seed are Gods Witnesses upon earth , and they are not ashamed to confess the Truth before men ; for where any are convinced of Truth , and are ashamed to confess it , there is not faithfulness unto that which convinceth , and so the Power is not felt that beareth testimony with boldness : and this maketh many to conform unto that which they are convinced is not the Truth ; and to deny that which they are convinced is the Truth ; so that where they should confess , they deny ; and where they should deny , they confess ; and here the testimony falleth , and the hands of evil doers are strengthened , and the disobedient bring trouble upon their own consciences , for there is no true peace with God in a disobedient state . But some may say , We see many that have long professed the Truth , that do not so fully answer all things in a clear Testimony ; and we also see others , that seemingly did bear a large Testimony , and yet are turned again into the course of the world : And seeing some fail , and others fall , we are ready to question , whether it be really Truth in the ground , because Truth is able to preserve either from failing or falling ? If thou give way , and joyn unto such reasonings and questionings , thou mayest soon be hindred from obeying the Truth ; yea if thou wast going forward , such things would draw thee back again , and some have suffered loss in that very place ; for it is the work of the enemy to draw the eye abroad to keep his own Kingdom standing at home , and to effect his design , he sets his own work in others to be viewed ; for if thou that makest such an Objection , dost but mind the Light and Truth in thy own Conscience , and keep thy eye into that , thou wilt see and discern that such failings and fallings come to pass by yeelding to temptations , by which the mind is enticed and drawn from the Truth , and so thou wilt see the Truth stand clear in it self notwithstanding such things may happen unto some that have long professed it : For by such questionings the Enemy labours to hinder thee from obeying the Truth in thy self , because some that have professed it fail in performance , and others fall back and abide not ; now if thou mind the Truth in thy self , thou wilt see that such things are not of or from the Truth , but of the Enemy ; and thou wilt also see that it is the Enemy in thee which draws out thy mind to look abroad , and thereby to hinder thee from minding and obeying Truth in thy self ; and if he can work his work , he then saves his own Kingdom , and holds thee Captive under his power ; but if thou mind the Light in thine own Conscience , thou wilt see what Truth is in it self , and if thou love it ; to obey and follow it , thou wilt witness a going forward in it , and that will take away all occasion of stumbling from before thee , and the Testimony of Truth will spring and live in thee , and as thou livest in that , it will preserve and keep thee ; and then the failings and fallings of such as do not live and abide in the Truth , will not come nigh thee , and so thou wilt witness a growth in the Truth , though some may fail and others may fall ; and that will cause thee to be more in love with Truth , because it preserves thee ; for the danger lyeth in looking forth , by which the Enemy hath an advantage to deceive , and so the eye is more abroad , and taking notice of what others do amiss , than it is at home to behold Truth in its own naked simplicity , innocency and purity ; and then the Enemy begetteth hard thoughts of Truth , because some fail and others fall , and that must needs hinder from obedience to the Truth , where it is so . Therefore seeing the Enemy hath such cunning devices to deceive thee , thou shouldest watch to the Light with which Christ Jesus doth enlighten thee , and wait in the Light for power to resist thy Enemy , and so when he would break in upon thee , the Light will lift up it self a standard against him , and then thou wilt know where the Cross standeth , and what is to be crossed when it moveth ; and as thou abidest in the Cross to every motion that would draw out thy mind from the Truth , so thou wilt come to receive Truth in its own power , life and virtue , and in the Truth thou wilt receive strength to go forward through all oppositions that would hinder thee , or drive thee back , and the Light and Power will take away stumbling-blocks from before thee , if thou be willing to go forward in obedience , and that will make the yoke easie to thee , and the way plain before thee ; and then thou wilt come to feel what Truth is in it self , and what it is unto thee , and that will put the Questioner down , because thou art come to understand that to be true which he questioneth . Oh therefore love the Truth , as nothing may hinder thee any longer from obeying it ; for if thou so love it , thou wilt be drawn by it to live in it , and bear . Testimony to it , and that will free thee from those burdens which thou bearest in the disobedience ; for whilest the corrupt and disobedient nature liveth above the Seed , there is a burdened Conscience , and a wounded Conscience , and a troubled Conscience ; but as the Light is obeyed , it worketh by its own power , and purgeth out corruptions , by which the oppressed cometh to be eased : And so thou wilt come to receive Faith in the power , and thereby get victory over the world , and over the flesh , and over the devil , which is thy Enemy ; and then thou wilt come to witness a growth in grace and godliness , and the Seed will bring forth the fruit of its own nature in thee , and thy Testimony will be found to Gods glory , and that will multiply peace and blessing upon thee ; therefore let not the world entangle thee , nor scorn or reproach discourage thee , nor persecution affright thee , but yeeld thy self to obey the Light with which Christ Jesus doth enlighten thee , for it will be better for thee to suffer affliction with the People of God , than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season ; but if thou run with the multitude to do evil , thou wilt fall into the same destruction , and then thy sorrow will be heavy upon thee , and thy perplexity a perpetual misery . Oh that thou wouldest consider the things which belong to thy peace , before calamity come upon thee , and do not stand at such a distance from the Light which convinceth thee ; for now there is a door open , and thou knowest not how soon it may shut upon thee ; and now is the day of salvation , and thou art not sure how long it may be continued to thee : therefore believe in the Light whilst thou hast the Light , that thou mayest be a child of Light ; for until thou come to be a child of Light , and to walk in the Light , thou art not in the Saints fellowship and inheritance , though with the Light thou be convinced ; So wait to learn of the Light as thy Teacher , and follow the Light as thy Leader , that thou mayest not only stand in the knowledge of what thou shouldest deny , but deny it ; nor only stand in the knowledge of what thou shouldest live in , but live in it : And so ungodliness and worldly lusts will die , and righteousness and godliness will spring up and live , and in that nature thou wilt bear a right Image after him that hath created thee ; and as thou learnest thou wilt understand more perfectly ; for by learning , thy understanding will be opened and informed , and that will make thee of a good understanding in heavenly things ; Therefore be mindful to learn of Christ Jesus as thy Teacher , and follow him as thy Leader and Way unto God , for none can come to the Father but by him , nor none can inherit Life but who are born of him ; and as thou waitest to learn , thy understanding will be enlarged , and then live in that which gives thee understanding , and so thy ignorance will vanish away , and sound wisdom will take place , and thou wilt there see Christ Jesus in the beauty of his holiness , and receive consolation in the virtue of his Life , and so thou wilt be able to bear testimony to him from a good understanding of him ; and if thou here stand faithful , he will be with thee in all trials which come upon thee because of thy Testimony , and thou wilt know a hiding-place in stormes , and a sure refuge in distress ; for as thou receivest Christ Jesus in his Light , and in his Light abidest , thou art with him of whom it is said , that he liveth , and there thou hast darkness under thy feet as a foot-stool and treadest upon the high places of the Earth , by which thou comest to be unloosed from all entanglements , and to be freed from all burdens , and to rejoyce in the glorious Liberty ; and so thou comest to sit down in a quiet habitation , and in a sure dwelling , and to feel the presence of the Lord God , and peace and satisfaction in it . And as some may be hindred from obeying the Truth , in not minding to follow it , so some may be hindred from obeying the Truth in running forwardly before it ; and so one may lie questioning and lingring , and the other may run hastily in presuming ; and this is a disobedient state as is the first ; For if there be not a standing in the fear , there may be an intruding into those things which have not been seen , and thereby the fleshly mind may vainly be puffed up ; and where this commeth to pass , there is not a holding of the Head , from which all the Body , by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together , increaseth with the increase of God. And so a hasty and forward willer and runner is in the same state of disobedience as is the backward Lingerer ; for the Light is not minded as a Leader by either ; And in this disobedient state of intruding and presuming , the Seed of God is held in great bondage with corruption . So all are to mind the Light by which they may see their present states and conditions , and what the Light maketh manifest to be a hinderance from obeying the Truth , to deny it and take up the Cross unto it , and then the Light will draw such forward , as are questioning and lingering , and pull such back again as are intruding and presuming ; and so the way of peace and life will be witnessed by all such as are obedient , and the Lord God will manifest himself unto them , and shew them his salvation , and they will find a sure resting place in him that lives for ever ; and here every one will know not only a good beginning , but also a good ending , and then they will finish their course in joy , and not in grief and sorrow ; and so all walking in true obedience to the Light , there is no occasion of stumbling , nor no occasion of failing or falling , either by lingring or presuming ; but as the Light convinceth , so it will lead , redeem and save ; and that is the gathering power , and preserving power of the Lord , and in that is the unity and fellowship of the Saints ; and the mind which humbleth it self unto it , and liveth in it , is directed and ordered by it to the praise and glory of Almighty God. William Smith . THE END