for want of that which is able to stay the mind upon the Lord, and to guide it in the right way. Some run to this mountain, and sacrifice there; others to that hill, and offer there; but few know the true resting place, or the place of the true worship. Now in these their errors, they can witness no acceptance with the Lord. Oh that they knew the acceptable thing, the acceptable way of worship, and might appear before, and be found of, the Lord therein! Then might they begin in that which is substantial, (in the gospel Spirit, life, and power) and come to inherit and sit down in that which is substantial and everlasting.

TO SUCH AS COMPLAIN OF WANT OF POWER TO BECOME THE LORD'S, AND SERVE HIM; AND WHO ARE NOT YET SO ACQUAINTED

WITH THE TRUTH AS TO WITNESS THE CLEANSING

BY IT, AND CEASING FROM SIN.

Query 1. WAS not Christ made a king and priest after the power of an endless life? And doth he not communicate of the power of that endless life to all that rightly believe in him, receive the truth as it is in him, and obey his gospel?

Query 2. Was it not the end of Christ's coming, to destroy sin in the heart, and to set the soul free therefrom, that it might serve the Lord in the liberty, life, and power of his Spirit?

Query 3. To them that believe in and receive him, doth not Christ give power to become sons to God? And to them that are sons, doth not the Father give the Spirit of the Son? And hath not the Spirit of the Son power over the contrary spirit?

Query 4. Were not the deliverances of the Jews under the law real deliverances from their outward enemies? And are not Christ's deliverances as real from the inward enemies? Whom the Son maketh free, are they not free indeed? Free from sin, free from Satan, being under the shadow of

the wing of the Almighty, which preserveth out of the darkness, and guardeth the mind from the evil and danger thereof?

Query 5. Is not Christ stronger than the strong man, whom he cometh to dispossess? Are not his weapons stronger than the weapons of the enemy? Is not he able to dispossess him, to cast him out, to spoil him of his goods and strength? And when he hath gained the house, is not he able to cleanse it, and garnish, and keep it clean and pure in the way of his covenant, against all the enemy can do?

Query 6. Doth not Christ dwell in the heart by faith? And is not Christ's nature and Spirit pure? and will he dwell in any thing that is impure? Is not the. spiritual temple under the gospel to be as pure inwardly, as ever the outward temple under the law was to be pure outwardly, or by way of representation? Must not they be cleansed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, who witness the Father dwelling in them, and walking in them?

Query 7. Who offer up the incense and the pure offering in the times of the gospel? Can any do it but the sons of Levi, whom the Lord hath purified? Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Who can compass the altar of the Lord, or offer up an acceptable offering there, whose hearts and hands are not washed in innocency?

Query 8. Is not the worship of the New Testament to be in spirit and truth? Is not the Spirit pure, the truth pure? Can any thing unclean enter into it? Can any be in it, can any worship in it, but they which be cleansed, purified, and changed by it?

Query 9. How did the apostle express the right manner of drawing nigh to God in the spiritual, gospel worship? Was it not to be thus, with the heart cleansed from an evil conscience, and the body washed with clean water? And is not the presence, power, and acceptance of God witnessed by them that appear before him and worship him thus?

Query 10. Had not other lords dominion over their heart, to subdue it to sin, and defile it, before Christ was known and received in his Spirit and power? But when Christ is

known and received in his Spirit and power, have the other lords power to do so still? Is not Christ's law, the law of his Spirit of life, able to bring under, and make the soul free from the law of sin and death? Insomuch as now it may be said in truth, by the souls whom he hath set free: "O Lord, our God! other lords besides thee have had dominion over us; but (now henceforward) by thee only will we make mention of thy name."

Query 11. Was it not a brand of ignominy on those who had got the good words and high notions about Christ, but were not in the authority and power of his Spirit, that they had eyes full of adultery, and could not cease from sin? Can any cease from sin, but he that receiveth the power; And he that receiveth the power of the new life, is it not natural to him to cease from sin, and unnatural to him to commit it?

Query 12. Is not the Lord the teacher of his people under the new covenant? Was it not promised of old concerning the gospel times, and is it not fulfilled in the gospel times, that "all thy children shall be taught of the Lord"? And what doth the Lord teach? Doth he not teach to cease from doing evil, and to learn to do well? And shall his children never learn this lesson of him?

Query 13. Whose servants are they that obey unrighteousness? Are they clothed with the strength of God? Do they stand in the power of his might against the power of the enemy? Are they overcomers of the wicked one? Or are they not rather daily overcome by him?

Query 14. What is the whole armor of God provided and appointed for? Is it not to keep out the enemy wholly? and is it able to do it, or no?

Query 15. Will not Christ say to all men upon the earth, profess they what they will, hope in Christ, and cast themselves upon him for salvation ever so much, and ever so of ten; yea, though they have received such power from him as to preach in his name, and to cast out devils in his name; yet if they have not so received the power as to overcome sin in their own hearts, and to cause them to cease from

working iniquity, though they call him Lord, and cry to him with confidence, "Lord, Lord, open to us," yet will he not say to them, "Depart from me, ye workers of iniquity, I know ye not;" ye are not of the birth of my power; ye are not those which have done my will; ye were never by me redeemed out of the evil doing; but have still all your days (notwithstanding your profession, notwithstanding your knowledge, notwithstanding your owning me as your Lord, and preaching in my name) been workers of iniquity?

Query 16. He that receiveth the spiritual circumcision and baptism of Christ, doth it not cause him to cease from sin? And doth not the new life spring up in him, which causeth him to live holily to God? He that hath the offending eye plucked out, the offending hand cut off, is not that taken away from him which caused him to sin? And he who is created a new creature in Christ, doth he not naturally do that which is holy and righteous? 1 John iii. 7, 8. Query 17. Doth not the true faith, the faith of the Son of God, give victory over sin? Can any believer be conquered by the enemy, he standing in the faith, abiding in the covenant? Doth not the power stretched out by the Father of life defend the soul in the way of the covenant against all the assaults of the enemies, so that the gates of hell cannot prevail against any here, but the name of the Lord is felt a strong tower against them; and though they encompass like bees, yet in the name of the Lord victory is witnessed over them, and against all that they can do? And doth not the Lord teach and enable his to keep covenant?

Query 18. Was not such a thing witnessed by Paul (and may not such a thing be witnessed by the believing and obedient travellers now): "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me. I know how to want, I know how to abound; everywhere, and in all things I am instructed," &c.? I am armed with the whole armor of God, and taught to stand so upon my guard in the power of his life, that the enemy cannot come at me; but the power of the endless life so preserveth me, as that the evil one can

not touch me, cannot enter me with any of his temptations in any condition.

Query 19. Was there not such a condition once witnessed, and may it not be witnessed again, of being more than conquerors through the love and power of Christ? When the life doth arise in its power and dominion in the heart, doth it not soon scatter the enemies? Do they not fly away, and are chased at the blast of God's Spirit? When the soul is filled with the love and with the power, is not the land cleansed of what annoyed it? And this, which is sometimes felt by many of the travellers, may it not be an abiding state? Are there not dwelling-places on Mount Zion (on the mount of God's holiness in the gospel time), and is not there security from sin, Satan, the soul's enemies, and dangers? "They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord;" and will he not fulfil it to those that wait upon him in the way of his covenant?

THE CONCLUSION.

THERE is a principle of darkness in the hearts and minds of men, which is as a seed or root of corruption in them, bringing forth in them fruits of sin and unrighteousness unto death.

And there is also a principle of the pure, heavenly light, as a free gift from God, to discover the darkness, turn man's heart against it, and lead him into the way and path of life.

Now as Satan rules in the principle of darkness, and there is the power of death therein; so God rules in the principle of light, and there is the power of life and redemption manifested by God therein.

For this principle is of the Father, of the Son, of the Spirit; yea, the Father, Son, and Spirit are in this principle; and here the soul meets with them, and is brought into union and fellowship with them, and feels the everlasting arm revealed and stretched forth for its delivery from cor