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PEOPLE OF THE LORD,

CALLED

e UAKER S.

Dear Friends and Brethren,

T hath of long time refted with fome preffure upon I my fpirit, for Zion's fake, and the peace of Jerufalem, to write fomething of the nature of true fpiritual liberty; liberty, one of the moft glorious words and things in the world, but little understood, and frequently abused by many. I befeech Almighty God to preserve you, his people, in the right knowledge and use of that liberty, which Jefus Chrift, the captain of our falvation, hath purchased for us, and is redeeming us into, who hath "led captivity captive, and is "giving gifts to them that truly believe in his name." Chrift's liberty is obtained through Chrift's-cross; they that would be his free-men, must be his bondsmen, and wear his bleffed yoke. His liberty is from fin, not to fin; to do his will, and not our own; no, not to speak an idle word. "It is not I that live," faith the apoftle, "but Chrift that liveth in me," who had fet him free from the power of fin, and brought immortality to light in him; whence he learned thus to triumph, "O death, where is thy fting! O grave, "where is thy victory!" this is the perfonal freedom that comes by Jefus Chrift, to as many as receive him in the way, and for the end for which God hath given

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him:

him; to wit, to be a Saviour and a leader, to save us from our corruptions, and guide us in the narrow way of his holy crofs, and through the strait gate of selfdenial, which leads to eternal life. And as many as

have entered at this door, are come to have unity with God, and one with another; to love him above all, and their neighbours as themselves; yea, to prefer each other before themselves. Such will not violate the great law of their Lord and mafter; "Love one "another;" the new, and yet the old commandment: thefe dwell in love, and fo they dwell in God; for "God is love." It was the beloved difciple's testimony, and it comes up to what another man of God hath faid, namely, "The church that dwells in God:" if fhe dwells in God, then in love; confequently her members are in union, of one mind in church matters, fince fhe has but one head to rule her.

Perufe this brief discourse in this love, and it may be to edification. My aim is to affert the truth, detect error, and point in true brotherly kindness at those fhoals and fands which fome by mistake, or over boldnefs, have and may run upon. O friends! I greatly defire, that the fpirit of love, wisdom, and a found understanding, of meeknefs, judgment, and mercy, may ever reft upon you; that blamelefly you may be kept an holy family, at unity with itself, to the Lord God your Redeemer, that he over all may in you, through you, and by you, be exalted, honoured and praised, who is worthy and blessed for ever.

A BRIEF

A

BRIEF EXAMINATION

O F

SPIRITUAL LIBERTY.

Published in the Year 1681.

Quest.

WHA

HAT is fpiritual liberty? Anfw. It is two-fold; there is a true and a falfe liberty, as a true and falfe fpirit, the right difcerning of which concerns every one's eternal well-being.

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Qu. What is true spiritual liberty?

Anfw. Deliverance from fin by the perfect law in the heart, "The perfect law of liberty," James ii. otherwife called, "The law of the Spirit of life in Chrift Jefus, that makes free from the law of fin and "death;" elsewhere ftiled, "The law of truth writ "in the heart," which makes free indeed, as faith Chrift, "If the Son fhall make you free, ye shall be "free indeed." So that the liberty of God's people ftands in the truth, and their communion in it, and in the perfect fpiritual law of Chrift Jefus, which delivers and preferves them from every evil thing that doth or would embondage. In this bleffed liberty, it is not the will nor wifdom of man, neither the vain affections and lufts, that rule or give law to the foul; for the minds of all fuch as are made free by the truth, are by the truth conducted in doing and fuffering through their earthly pilgrimage.

Qu. What is false liberty?

Anfw.

Anfw. A departing from this bleffed Spirit of truth, and a rebelling against this perfect law of liberty in the heart, and being at liberty to do our own wills; upon which cometh reproof and judgment.

Qu. But are there not fome things wherein we ought to be left to our own freedom?

Anfw. "We are not our own, for we are bought "with a price;" and in all things ought we to glorify God with our bodies, fouls, and fpirits, which are the Lord's.

Qu. But muft we have a motion or command from the Spirit of truth for all things that we do?

Anfw. That may be according to the truth, which may not be by the immediate motion or command of the truth; for that is according to the truth, that is not against the mind of the truth, either particularly or generally expreffed. The truth commands me to

do all to the praife and glory of God;" but not that I fhould wait for a motion to do every particular thing. For example: the variety of actions in trading, commerce, and hufbandry, the variety of flesh, fifh, and fowl for food, with more of the fame nature, in all which there is a choice and liberty, but ftill according to the truth, and within the holy bounds and limits of it.

Qu. Then it seems there are fome things left to our freedom.

Anfw. Yes; but it must be according to the mind of God's truth: there are things enjoined, fuch as relate to our duty to God, to our fuperiors, to the household of faith, and to all men and creatures, these are indifpenfable. There are alfo things that may be done or left undone, which may be called indifferent; as what fort of meat I will eat to-day, whether I will eat flesh, fish, or herbs, or what hours I will eat my meals at, with many fuch outward things of life and converse; yet even in fuch cases I ought to act according to the truth, in the temperance and wifdom of it.

Qu. But doth not freedom extend farther than this? For fince God hath given me a manifestation of