To The Life of God in All {James Nayler's Confession}

The love of that precious life of Christ Jesus in me, constrains me (as the light thereof arises) to declare to all people, and to generations to come, how the innocent, just, and holy life came to suffer in me, and be betrayed, and I to lose the light thereof, so far as to be taken captive again under the power of darkness, sin and death, from which that life had once set me free, and born me in itself for some years, above all the craft, subtlety and power of satan, that old deceiver and tempter of mankind, who ceases not to take every occasion that pure life to devour, and so take the creature captive again, who with that precious Life has once been ransomed, as once I had been by the living virtue thereof; for out of kindreds and estate, and all visible relations had He once called me, and set me free; and had broken all my bonds as to all earthly things, which were strong and many, and redeemed me from all my sins past, and with His precious blood had He sprinkled my conscience (before God) as though I had never sinned in His sight, anointing me with the oil of deliverance and peace towards God and man; and sent me forth in the same bowels to call lost and strayed souls to the same everlasting light, therein to wait for the appearance of the same purifying life and power in themselves, therewith to be gathered to the pure God, to whom the children of darkness and wicked workers cannot come, till with the word of life they be cleansed and made new after Himself, in whom is no iniquity.

And in this His work, by Him was I preserved against all enmity, born in all afflictions, and fed above all wants within and without, though sent into a strange country without money, bag or scrip, and among a strange people that knew not God, in the North Parts of this English Nation; and I may truly say, as a sheep among wolves I was wherever I came; yet had none power to touch me further than what should make for His glory in whom I lived, and the advantage of that work I was about, which He daily turned to my exceeding joy and great reward; and His living Presence did ever furnish me with renewed strength against all contrary spirits, and the power thereof, and in Him I had judgment and power over them, wherever they withstood His pure work.

And in this same life and dominion did He bring me up into this great City London, into which I entered with the greatest fear that ever into any place I came, in Spirit foreseeing somewhat to befall me therein, but not knowing what it might be; yet had I the same Presence and power as before; into whatsoever place or service I was led of the Spirit, in that life I never returned without victory in Christ Jesus, the Lord thereof.

But not minding in all things to stand single and low to the motions of that endless Life, by it to be led in all things, within and without; but giving way to the reasoning part, as to some things which in themselves had no seeming evil, by little and little drew out my mind after trifles, vanities, and persons which took the affectionate part, by which my mind was drawn from the constant watch, and pure fear, into which I was once begotten, and spiritual adultery was committed against the precious pure Life which had purchased me unto Himself alone, and is grieved with the least departure from Him in body, spirit or mind, even that eternal, pure and zealous Spirit from above, had drawn me near into Himself, and that pure Word was become my life, who said; He that does but look upon a woman to lust, commits adultery; and in whose sight the least coveting, or letting any visible object into the affections is idolatry: Into that life I was comprehended, and the apple of that pure eye was opened in me, which admits not of an evil thought; but is wounded and bruised with the least appearance of evil, even this birth was born which reigns through righteousness, and suffers till all righteousness be fulfilled in every particular. And this is the Son of God forever, and into this life and kingdom I was translated; and I was in Him that is true, in whom there is no sin; and He alone lived and ruled in this His temple, which to Himself He had purchased with His precious blood, and His delight was in me, and His presence was glorious, and not the least evil could appear, but I could feel Him in Spirit lifting up His Witness against it.

But when I reasoned against His tender reproof, and consulted with another, and so let the creatures into my affections, then His temple was defiled through lust, and His pure Spirit was grieved, and he ceased to reprove, and He gave me up, and His light He withdrew and His judgment took away; and so the body of sin and death revived again, and I possessed afresh the iniquities of my youth, and that which had of old been buried, arose and stood against me, and so the temple was filled with darkness and the power of death, and my heart with sorrow, and satan daily at my right hand to tempt me further to provoke the Lord, and to take away my life.

Thus having in a great measure lost my own Guide, and darkness being come upon me, I sought a place where I might have been alone, to weep and cry before the Lord, that His face I might find, and my condition recover: But then my adversary who had long waited his opportunity, had got in, and bestirred himself every way, so that I could not be hid, and diverse messages came to me in that case, some true, some false (as I have seen since). So I knowing some to be true, to wit, how I had lost my condition, with this I let in the false message also; and so letting go that little of the true light which I had yet remaining in myself, I gave up myself wholly to be led by others, whose work was then wholly to divide me from the children of light; which was done, though much was done by diverse of them to prevent it, and in bowels of tender love many labored to have stayed me with them. And after I was led out from them, the Lord God of my life sent diverse of His servants with His word after me, for my return: all which was rejected; yea, the provocations of that time of temptation was exceeding great against the pure love of God, yet He left me not; for after I had given myself under that power, and darkness was above, my adversary so prevailed, that all things were turned and perverted against my right seeing, hearing or understanding, only a secret hope and faith I had in my God, whom I had served, that He would bring me through it, and to the end of it; and that I should see again the day of my redemption from under it all: And this quieted my soul in my greatest tribulation.

Thus was I led out from among the children of light and into the world, to be a sign, where I was chased as a wandering bird gone from her nest, so was my soul daily and my body from one prison to another, till at length I was brought in their own way before a backsliding power to be judged, who had lost their first love, as I had done; So they sentenced me, but could not see their sign, and a sign to the nation, and a sign to the world of the dreadful day of the just God, who is come and coming to avenge for that pure Life, where it is transgressed, and to plead the cause of that precious Seed wherever it is oppressed and suffers under the fleshly lusts of this present world, and the cup is deep and very dreadful that is seen and filling, and it has begun at God's house, but many must drink it, except there be speedy repentance.

And in this time of my darkness and night of great temptation (which darkness I had let up over my head, and my judgment being much lost) there got up many wild spirits, Ranters, and such like, acting many evil things against the life of truth and name of Christ, His light and people that walk therein, on purpose to bring reproach thereon, and set themselves to break and disquiet the meetings of the people of God, and made use of my name therein, and others rejoiced thereat, and cried, Thus would we have it, they are divided among themselves; this is that we looked for &c. Others came to me in that time in true pity, and in sorrow of heart suffered with me for all that was befallen me, and that precious truth I had walked in.

Thus became I an occasion to make sad the innocent and harmless people, whose hearts were tender, and to make glad the man that delights in mischief, and such as rejoice in iniquity, and to gratify many unclean spirits: which things the pure God hates, and my soul hates, and all that name that God had formerly given me in His house, and that power, the wicked one made use on against the Lord, and His Lambs, and His truth, wherein I had received that name and power. Thus I abused my power and knew not, by coming under him who seeks to pervert the right ways of God, and His truth to turn into a lie, wherever he gets above, whom the Lord had once trodden under my feet and all his instruments. And over the head of all this was I kept by His power, while singly I stood in His pure counsel, and humbly walked in His daily fear: the loss whereof was of myself. And this to His eternal glory I confess forever.

So that precious life of Christ Jesus I confess openly, which I had openly sinned against, which life is the light of the world, and all the good that is in man is from the virtue thereof; which whosoever goes from to feed elsewhere, forsakes their own mercies, and to this must return, and confess again, if ever they come to true peace in God: For this is the Peacemaker and the Christ of God, and the Lamb that takes away sin, and reconciles to the Father of spirits, and that Spirit that quickens the dead, of whom I testify forever, and Him I confess in the night and in the day before God and before men, who under all has been my help and Savior, immortal praises forever.

And he that has this precious Life has the Son of the eternal God and eternal life; and with all that receive Him as King and Leader, with such the Father is well-pleased, because He alone it is that leads in all holy ways, and out of all show of lust and uncleanness, and teaches to avoid every appearance of evil within and without; Therefore the pure God loves Him above all in heaven and earth, and had placed His fullness in Him, from whom the living of all ages are to be fed, and whatever good gift any creature receives from God the Father, it is in this pure Life and for the sake of this unspotted Seed; and that He alone (that Spirit) may be exalted in all and above all, not flesh which is grass, whose glory turns into dust. If this life withdraw its virtue, then all his wisdom is shame and folly, who goes out from this light and counsel: For this life is He, which being disobeyed in man's fall; and His Spirit being grieved, is God's wrath upon every creature, but in His favor is length of days and eternal glory; and both these I have learned in the day and in the night: So I give all glory to the life forevermore, and to Him it is due, and all the evil has been from self.

This life is the root and offspring of all heavenly fruit upon earth, and in whom this is planted, as it grows it will bring forth truth and righteousness towards God and man, and the virtue that rises with it will fill the creature with springs of heavenly life and heavenly power, it will cover you with health of salvation, and stay you with immortal strength; He will guide you with counsel of life, and open your mouth in that wisdom which none shall confound; yea, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him, and the richest excellency that ever appeared in the flesh in Him is sealed; For all generations that receive Him in their faith and obedience, and as He arises in is temples, He gives forth of His riches, gifts to adorn His habitation, and to cover it with His light and glory.

But this is the evil in His sight, and that which provokes His pure Spirit, that vain man, in whom He thus delights, should be exalted in himself, because of the gifts, and glory in his strength and wisdom, and so grow wanton against the Life, from whence he has it; And so through feeding on the gifts, ceases to walk humbly with the Giver in his own vessel. Here man forgets his God, and so withers at the root, and be the tree never so great it will fall in the end, and great will be the fall thereof.

And this is that God against whom I have sinned, and my offence I confess to the Root that bore me, who raises up the meek and lowly, and casts down him that boasts above the Root, who does what He will in the heavens, and rules in the kingdoms of men, the Lord of Hosts is His name, and He is worthy; yea, and will be feared: Even so be it forevermore.

And whatever of that worship or honor has any way by any creature been given or received to my person, which belongs to that eternal Spirit, forever by me it is denied and condemned as idolatry; and whatever creature I have at any time gone out to, from this pure Spirit, and let into my affections, or whatever I have taken counsel of without this Life and against it, it is forever condemned as adultery in my heart, and so I have found it in His pure Spirit, to whom I confess for my God and Savior in all my troubles.

In whomsoever this pure eternal Spirit of Life throughout the world has been troubled or offended, in man or woman, through my fall, or the advantage which the adversary got against my soul, God's truth and His people, to that in all I acknowledge my offence. Against Thee have I sinned who was with me in the deep, and in so many tender hearts for my recovery and salvation, which is one in all, forever confessed too, and the occasion of the grief thereof forever condemned in the Presence of God, His host and people.

But against him that sought my life in that day, and rejoiced at that occasion, have I requited no evil in my heart, neither have I opened my mouth before the Lord, that the evil day should haste, who rejoiced at my fall, and was glad at that advantage, to pursue my soul into the pit, that I might never be seen in the light more, nor have appeared in the assemblies of them which God has sanctified on the earth: But in the bowels of Him that has born me through all adversity, I have been kept towards them, and I know it is the Spirit of Christ Jesus which thinks not evil for evil. And when all visible help was removed afar off, and I in the depth of the pit, then this was with me and in me before God, which often appeared when all else was gone, and many a time stayed my soul in secret, that it sunk not under the accuser; and the weight of his temptations when I was alone from any creature. And now seeing that the loving-kindness of the Lord has outlived all this enmity, and the long-suffering of Christ Jesus has born to the end thereof, and that endless life has ministered freedom for me, thereto be glory and praise forevermore.

And to God the Father of all be thanks forever, who is begetting His creatures into that one pure Life, and with the cords thereof as bound up as in one bundle so many at this day, who in His living Spirit and power are made at the needful time to stand before Him, with cries and prayers one for another, which He has heard and does hear, even as he has begotten thereto in every creature, the answer whereof makes me glad at this day, praises to God everlasting.

And to the glory of this precious Life is this sent forth, that all that have sinned against Him may have hope in Him and return, whose judgments are right and His mercy endures forever, and that all who have made their graves deep through disobedience, and their darkness through lust, might awake and confess to the Lord of life, and come forth, who quickens the dead, at His Word the blind He makes to see, and has called to the great deeps, that His praises may live forever.

And that all you in whom any measure of this precious Life has been betrayed, either through this or any other thing, that to the light thereof you may return in yourselves, and there wait till the Life arise, which is your return, and which must give you rest with the flock of God; for it's the Life that's the door and the fold, and without it you will be but wanderers, and lost in all your thoughts and motions, and God will cross you and curse you for its sake, and plead against you till you return, if He cast you not off for often rebellion, from which the Lord keep you. And take heed of evil thoughts to which you will be tempted, you that are gone out from the true light, or an evil eye going out of your own hearts against the truth you were once called into, or them that walk in it, to spy faults in others and feed thereon; this food will but strengthen the enmity in you against you and your return, and with this you may make bonds which you cannot break when you would, and your evil thoughts are as witchcraft to the pure Life, and as a canker, will eat till it have devoured all that remains in you, to lead you to repentance, that not so much as the place thereof you will find in the end. And this I am moved to warn you of, having been often tempted therewith, that the Life of peace and truth may only live and guide in you in all, without which there can be no true unity with God or His people, which is that the devil chiefly hates and withstands in all in whom he can prevail.

Thus having drunken a measure of that depth which cannot be measured, I cannot but confess thereto, and declare thereof to His praise, who above all excels in judgment and mercy, to every particular creature in their several states and conditions, that all might hear and take heed to abide in Him, whose offspring they are, who has His way in the deeps, and makes darkness as light before Him: He turns man to destruction for his disobedience, and the light of His Word is salvation, and His Life the resurrection out of the greatest depth; who has saved my soul from death thus far, and lifted my feet out of the pit, even to Him be immortal glory forever; and let every troubled soul trust in Him, for His mercy endures forever.

Concerning Love And Judgment

Friends,

He that loves not, knows not God, for God is love, and he that dwells in love, dwells in God, and God in him. Herein is love made perfect, who are as He is in this world; here is boldness in judgment; there is no fear in this love, no torment in judgment. But if any man love the world, or the things that are in the world, the love of the Father is not in him, but the love of the world: which judgment torments; for all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life, is not of the Father. These are in the world, and lie in wickedness, which cannot stand in judgment, who have fear in judgment, who are tormented in judgment, whose life is in the world, in the lust, in the pleasure, in the pride, in the excess, in the ease and in the world's nature: These are not of God; whose love to these is greater in them than the Spirit which calls them out of the world; for such cannot endure judgment, cannot stand in it without torment, fear arises, torment arises within, which makes them flee judgment, and cry out against it; which God loves, which the sons of God love, who are redeemed therewith, who have denied the spirit of the world, which is to be tormented, and have received the Spirit of adoption, through the Spirit of judgment, and the Spirit of burning, and are purified, and sanctified, and baptized into Christ Jesus, and have put off the world in great tribulation: Such love judgment, and are able to stand therein, and to dwell with everlasting burning, that which condemns the wicked, the world and the spirit thereof; such love, who love God, who love His appearance in Jesus Christ, who is a consuming fire, which is love everlasting to His own Seed, not of the world, nor the lust thereof; but that which strikes at the world's life, vanity and glory, which cannot stand His appearance, whose day burns as an oven, before whom the world's glory and the fashion of it passes away, that He may bring forth His sons and daughters in another image and life which the world loves not, but has torment in judgment, but the redeemed rejoice therein.

And who is it now that cries, Away with judgment, and who has turned it into wormwood? Such as have their life in the world, whose delight is in that which will be burned, who are for condemnation, who are disobedient to Him that calls them out of the world, who deny the Light of the world, sent to convince the world of sin, and lead into all truth; Such cannot stand in judgment; what boldness can such have therein, who are condemned already, for unbelief in the light and disobedience thereto, fear and torment must needs arise and drive them away, and as chaff must they be, that the Scripture may be fulfilled.

And these cry out for love, who cannot stand in judgment, who stand in the enmity; those who love the things of the world, are in the enmity against God, and those whose life is therein, what have you to do with love? You must first deny the enmity, and give up that life that stands therein, through obedience to the Light, which is God's love to the world, that through the cross of Christ, and by the Spirit of judgment and baptism of fire, all the bonds of iniquity, which keep you in the world, in the enmity and out of God, may be broken, and you brought out free, born of that Spirit which the world hates and condemns, which condemns the world. And so through death of that life which holds you in the world, in the enmity, under the law, under the wrath, you may come to enjoy God, who is love, whom without holiness none can see to their comfort.

God's love stands not in man's will, nor can any who stand in the will of man either give or receive it, only to those who have no other lovers in the world, He gives Himself: whoever loves Christ's life, as to hate their own, whose hearts can join to nothing but what is of God. And this is that true chastity and true charity, which all must learn with the loss of the world's gain, e're God be enjoyed as a Husband. And he who has obtained this treasure in his vessel, must possess it in holiness, or lose it; he cannot let the harlot in and be undefiled, nor give it out to the nature which he has denied to obtain it, and not betray it and lose it, which is only retained in holiness alone. So He that dwells in love calls to all in love; Come to Me, says Christ, and drink and eat freely: this is love, but do all hear? Do all obey? Do all come? Do all inherit? Do all own correction? Are all of God? Do not many cast off judgment, and despise reproof? will not hear the rod, and yet would have the love? Whom I love, I rebuke, says the Spirit, and chasten every son that I receive. This is God's Way; so you who reject it, reject love, and not it you.

Ah! Silly people, how are you deceived! Does he that sees you fast in the world and in the curse, where you have not power to do well, as yourselves confess, but to do evil, and comes and cries peace to you there, and sits down with you in that form or fellowship, does he bring you love, or has he the love that is of God in him, who flatters you here? And does he who has the sword of judgment, and faithfully uses it to part you and the world in which the enmity stands against God, to bring you out into the Son's freedom, does he hate you, or is he your enemy? Is not this to put enmity for love, and love for enmity, as it is at this day with all that love the things of the world, and are kept captive therein, when truth comes to pass upon them where you are?

And you say you are come to the Son and to freedom &c. and you are all in love, as you say: But when judgment from God is sent among you, and falls upon that which is of the world where it finds you; then a fire kindles among you, and you have torment, and your love leaves you; which shows your love is not of God, which loves judgment, where mercy rejoices, whose love has not torment nor fear.

Now the day tries your sonship, your freedom and your love; For judgment I am come into the world, says the Son: And are you come to Him and cannot stand therein? Are you free-born who are in that nature whereon the fires kindle? Is your love that which bears all things, who are tormented in judgment, and driven into heaps of confusion and fear, speaking you no not what? Is this the voice of sons, which cries, Away with judgment? Is this to receive correction? Is this the Son's freedom, or of His nature? Nay, this is to kick against that which pricks you, wherein you plainly show you have not learned your sonship of the Father, after Christ Jesus; nor know Him formed in you, who bears the chastisement of peace, but have got your knowledge another way, than in learning of Christ, and your love is not obtained through the fire, with the loss of all that is to be consumed, which God hates, nor are you born of that Spirit of Christ, to whom all judgment is committed in heaven and earth, nor do you know the key of David.

Now honestly search your house with the candle which God has lighted, and when you find the truth in your inward parts, then shall you say, There is no love but in it; and that the world's love stands in that which God hates, and is a lie, and pierces the soul of all that serve it, or let it into their bosom. And for this we may not join in your love, though we love you, in that which is beloved of the Father, wherein alone we can have boldness in the day of judgment, and in that life alone, in which love is made perfect, which none can inherit further than they become as He is in this world, walking as He walked, dwelling in God who is love without end.

To some that were Backslidden

The Child is born who is not of this world; and many are called to bear His testimony against the world, who are no more of this world, nor the spirit thereof will they receive, nor be in bondage thereto, who have received the Spirit of freedom, even of the Father and the Son, in which they are begotten out of the world, and the love thereof.

Now what are you about to do, who have been called, and once enlightened to see the vanities of the world, and the evils of its customs and fashions, ways and worships, and have been touched with judgment for your consenting thereto, and now are turning back to settle and build therein, and there to take up your rest, seeking to get a peace to yourselves in that which judgment has once entered upon you, shall this your building stand? Shall not your peace be broken? Ask your own hearts, if they condemn you not herein, and of unfaithfulness to His faithful Witness in you; I know God has not left Himself without a Witness in you for judgment, which sometimes does arise, and cause fear in you, and lets you plainly see that you take not counsel of His Spirit, but of your pleasures and profits in the world, and by them are you led, and not by that Spirit which calls you to bear His testimony against them.

And do you see this deceitful dealing in your own spirits towards Christ, and that your hearts are not upright in His testimony against the evil of this world. And will you cover all this deceit with conceits, words and notions, and seek to build you a place of peace above all this? Will you thus heal your hurt deceitfully and know it? And shall this stand before God? Shall not judgment arise in due time, and your hurt appear again? Is not this worse than all your former sins of ignorance, which you now add knowingly? Ask your own hearts, if they fear not the end of this dealing towards God and your own souls.

You are seeking rest, but not in the Sabbath of God, but in the world, you deny the first days work, (to wit) That which separates light from darkness. So you are far from the Sabbath of pure rest; so your rest shall spew you out: it's unclean, and your building shall fall upon your own heads. The foundation is polluted and mixed with the world, your garment shall rot; it's defiled with the flesh, and all your notions and conceits as hay and stubble and chaff, shall burn in the day when He shall arise to judgment, whom you now betray for the world, and to get yourselves ease and pleasure, your ease shall slay you, and your pleasures pass away with bitterness of soul, when your own work shall set you on fire, and all your airy notions and high words, and all your knowledge you have gotten in that disobedient nature, shall become fuel, and all your fears shall fall upon you to the utmost, because you have willfully made a path for yourselves to err, and sought to hid your way from the light, thereby to stop judgment in your hearts, and that equity should not enter, who have denied Him that called you, and have withheld your body from Him that made it, lest He should have purged you, and have drawn away your shoulder from His burden, lest you should have born His testimony against the world's lusts and your own, who have cast off His yoke, and proclaimed liberty to yourselves in that which grieves the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, as you are joined with the world against the judgment of the Just, who comes to restore all things, so with the world will be your portion, when the Just comes to judge the world, and when all comes to be restored in the covenant, you who have not kept covenant will be cast out: then shall you know, that whoever denies the light is a child of darkness, notwithstanding now your conceits cover you.

Against whom do you strengthen yourselves, when you say, We shall have peace, notwithstanding the Witness in our conscience speaks not peace? And when you call that the spirit of bondage, that would have you free from the evil of the world and service of sin, do not you speak this against the Lord and your life? Do not you herein rise up against the Just and innocent, and to stop the mouth of Him that is faithful, that the wicked may escape unreproved and live? Have you anything else that will show you your hearts deceits? And is He become your enemy, because He will not flatter you therein? Does not He speak peace freely to the obedient, though He never prophesies good of the world, in its corrupted ways? Shall you prosper who seek deep to hide you sin from His reproof? and will you be found children of the day, who seek to hide your ways from the light?

Whose image do you bear, who are like the world, except in opinion and notion? And who can so far conform to it, as to procure its love, and escape the cross which should crucify it to you? Are you like Christ, because you profess Him, when you crucify every appearance of Him to yourselves afresh? Will you boast in the Saints lines to make you a cover, while that lies crucified in you which should lead to their lives? Will not you be found the sepulchers that appear well without, but death and dry bones within? The Babe slain, that is not of this world, and His Life buried in earthly minds, and the grave garnished with His Words? Shall he who steals his neighbors ass be condemned fourfold; and shall he that slays the innocent, and steals his garments go free?

The holy men of God travailed in sorrow, to bring forth that which God begot in them, and not their own conceiving; and when they brought it forth it was contrary to the world, and could not bow to it, nor join with its ways, but held forth another image. So their covering was with the Spirit of God, and with the reproach of the world. And in obedience to that Spirit they spoke as it moved; in which words you take liberty, and resist the Holy Spirit, and call their lives bondage. Now ask your own consciences, if you be not they who glory in words, without the life, in appearance but not in heart; But this is seen among you, that the blood of the slain cries so loud, that few dare look within his own house: So you make ado without, to stop it for a time; but by what is done within must you be judged in the end.

Are you the restorers of pure paths for the simple to walk in, as in the beginning, e're the god of this world caused error by his inventions? Or, are you the makers up of the breach, wherewith he had broken in upon our forefathers, in the days of darkness, error and superstition? When will your practice preach redemption from all those vanities, and your lives declare a liberty from his bondage of corruption, and to things that perish with using? Does not the creation groan because of pride, and the oppression that is used to uphold it, in its becking and bowing, and false worships and customs? And are not men and women wholly in bondage to things that God never set up, nor commanded; because they please the spirit of this world, with whom you are turning back to worship, and call it your liberty? So your liberty is in that which lies in corruption, and your glory in that which is unrestored, the end whereof is death; But the sons of God are they that are led by the Spirit of God, who glory in His likeness, and their substance is eternal life.

To watch against the Enemy's Wiles, and be Faithful to the End

Dear Friends,

In tenderness of heart which I receive of God daily, I am with you; and I pray God our Father, in the Lord Jesus Christ, that your minds may be kept pure and single to Himself, so as at the Fountain of eternal life you may ever feed and receive counsel, and grow in strength against that Spirit which has many subtle wiles to draw your minds from the Bread of life; even the Lord God of truth discover them all to every one of you, and preserve you daily against them; that to the Root which bears you, you may all be kept, there to receive renewed strength, that to God you may be fruitful forever; and not as trees whose root withers, and must needs fall in the end, though never so high in knowledge and conceit; even the Lord keep you all from this, which is that which is much in me to write to you of at this present, who to me are dearer than I can express; that to the Foundation of God you all may be kept, and all the people of God on the Rock to drink, who are His portion in this His day, with Him to stand against the powers of darkness that are arising against the Lamb, to whom be glory.

And blessed are they who with Him are found faithful, even such as continually feed with Him, where eternal life is ministered; and none can feed there, but as they come to have their minds redeemed out of worldly things. So dear Friends, all take heed of many thoughts, and many works, and walk humbly with God, with single minds always; and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.

Exhorting to Watchfulness

Blessed forever be the Father of light, who has called you out of the world, and has given you a testimony to finish in behalf of Christ Jesus; that through you He may manifestly declare Him to the world, in the true Savior of God, wherein you are the first-fruits of His glory, as you die and arise in Him: And so the Son is the light of the world. I beseech you, let your shining be in the right nature, and your rising be as you are born of God, and covered with the same Spirit and life by which you have been begotten towards Him: That none of you may be found false witnesses of His coming, when you are proved with fire, when nothing will abide with you but what you are in His nature: That's all you have of the treasure of God, even what you are in Him, who works in you against the flesh and the world; as many as abide in the feeling of His measure, and therein receive Him as Head over all. But if you receive anything above Him, in your minds, which is not of this nature, then you oppress Him who is meek and tender, which hinders His arising to walk and dwell in you.

Wherefore dear Friends, watch against all fleshly, selfish, hasty motions; take heed what you receive into His temple, lest you defile it, and He leave you desolate and in darkness.

Because of evil thoughts, covetousness, and pride of heart, is His Spirit grieved; every self-end, in whatever you do and suffer, is an enemy to His life, He suffers by whatever is done deceitfully towards God or man; and if you give way to wrath you deny His kingdom; yea, you that have tasted of Him, you know in measure how pure His way is in all things; and I pray you may all grow therein, being so much the more diligent, as you see your adversary seeking by all means to darken that glory of your holiness in Christ Jesus, that Spirit; to whom I commit you all, that in the holy bowels of His tender love you may know one another, in whatsoever any of you shall meet with from the world, in this way of your pilgrimage; that your unity in Him nothing may be able to break.

http://www.strecorsoc.org/jnayler/epistles.html#1

Not to Strive, but Overcome by Suffering

Children of God, seek a kingdom in you, that flesh and blood strive not for, nor cannot enter therein, a kingdom undefiled, and that fades not away, hid from that which feeds on earthly things, a heavenly kingdom, bearing heavenly fruits, and where heavenly things abound; wherein the heavenly Spirit rules, guides, and brings forth fruits of itself, heavenly fruits, the fruits of grace and meekness, and of a lowly mind, the fruits of peace and gentleness, and forbearance among yourselves. These are heavenly fruits and the virtues of the tree of life, and that which the loftiness of flesh and blood looks not for, nor does esteem, which loves the praise of men, and to be known in that which this world can see into with the outward understanding: But wait with patience to feel that quickened, which is sown in tears, and springs up with joy, out of the sight of the natural understanding, that that alone may bear you, and therein all your fruit may be found, and so come to the knowledge of the tree by its fruits; and let the life open the understanding (and not the notion, or the sight) that is the heavenly learning of Christ Jesus the Righteous, full of grace and truth; but striving to get up to the knowledge of heavenly things in notion and form, before the thing itself be born and brought forth, this is the wrong way to learn Christ, and the way of the world, that vails the life; for this knowledge stands in the sensual part, to exalt and puff up the mind above the meekness and lowliness that is in the Spirit of Christ Jesus, and beguiles the soul of the simplicity in which it should feed; and so a tree may grow high, and hard, and strong, yet fruitless and out of the power, got above the Poor, above the Innocent, out of the feeling of the Sufferer and Man of sorrows where He is; and the end of this growth is not in the pure rest, for the higher anyone grows here, the more does that wither and die in them, which is soft, and tender and melting, which makes one, and is the true Fold for lambs, where the lions must lie down in the end, if they come to rest, and that eye put out which looks to be great among men, that comes not into the rest, but has strife in the mind, strife in words and secret smitings, which defile the rest, and lead into the division and separation; but the little Child leads into the rest, and that which is lowly gives the entrance.

So feel that which is lowly and meek to arise above self, that which stills all strife at home in your minds, and gives peace in temptation and tribulation; that's a soft and tender thing in you, that is the Peace-maker, that's blessed of God. And this is first felt under the world, under the strife, suffering by the strife in patience, to bring to the end of the strife and the world, and in the end of it, and all exaltation, He comes to arise over the world and the enmity, who is not of a striving nature, but lives by hope, and believes to see to the end of all things under which He suffers, and to out-live every temptation by suffering. And so by an everlasting life comes over the world, and to reign over all things that are not of that eternal nature; but not to join with the evil.

And he that in the particular is born of this, has overcome the world in himself, and knows how to walk towards his brother in that which has power over the world and out-lives all, whereby he can suffer therein, and brings forth its own undefiled into one to rest, ever aiming in the ministrations at the kingdom of truth, peace and holiness, which is the end of all gifts and callings among the brethren, and is only obtained as that arises in all which suffers by the world, but is not of the world, which he that is Christ's minister comes to turn men to.

And this Seed all should know, which is beloved of the Father and Heir of the everlasting kingdom, who strives not by violence, but entreats; who seeks not revenge, but endures all contradictions from all against Himself, to the end He may obtain mercy for all from the Father. And this is the Seed of eternal peace, and the eternal Peace-maker, which was fore-ordained of the Father, and has power to endure all things, and subdue all things by overcoming.

So this seek in yourselves and all men, and in it seek one another as brethren. This is that which is perfect, and is never to be done away, neither can it be overcome of the world; wrath cannot enter it; it strives for nothing but to live its own life, which the world strives not for; nor can any that are of it strive with it; the worldly spirit seeks not that crown, whose life is to suffer all things, to be meek, and low, and poor, and rejected; reviled, contemned of the world, bearing the reproach of all that's above God in all. And little striving in the will of man is there for this kingdom, or the cross that belongs thereto, which no exalted mind can bear nor glory in.

And this is the righteousness that exceeds the Scribes and Pharisees, and Professors, and that wherein they cannot enter; nor can any reign in this kingdom, but who can bear the cross which leads to the crown, and has a habitation in that which cannot be moved with change nor kindled with wrath.

This the heritage of the meek, and the kingdom which only belongs to the poor in spirit and pure in heart, where the hardness of heart is broken, and melted, and self dead, many spirits desire to look into it; but few to live the life of it; It's only for the Heirs who are born through sorrow, and slain with ease; to whom flesh and blood is an enemy, and with the eye that looks out lightly esteemed among men.

http://www.strecorsoc.org/jnayler/epistles.html#1

Exhorting to Mercy and Forgiveness

Dear Friends,

Mind whereon you feed, and in what you grow, and keep all low in your minds, that the virtue of meekness you may feel, and know the strength of it with God; take heed of the knowledge above the life, and of getting words of wisdom, and therewith set yourselves above the meek, and despise the weak, and so become strong trees without fruit, which God will overturn by the roots: But everyone feed in a clean Spirit, and therein know the power of the word of life in yourselves, which as it passes breaks the rocks, and melts the hardness in every heart, and melts you all into one heart, as one man, all into one mind in Christ Jesus, that you may be knit in one body, and one Spirit, and one Head, the Lamb over all, glorified over all; having come through the world, and through the law, now know the power of love in yourselves, as it is in Christ, and the mercy seat and forgiveness of God; even as you have received of the Lord freely, that you may be sealed therein; that there be no evil in any heart unblotted out before God, that He may walk in you all in pure peace and mercy, and that all may know into whom you are begotten; and with the saving health of God you may be all covered, and the weak strengthened and comforted, that none be driven away for want of compassion, but that such be visited with the same you have received, or would receive from God for yourselves: and this is brotherly-kindness, as God is kind: And all know the virtue of a healing tongue, and how to use it; and often remember, you were enemies to God, and ignorantly did that which you should not; and in that state God sought you with much patience and long-suffering towards you, and with great forgiveness were you gathered into His love and mercy, that He might lead you an example towards your brethren, for all souls are His: How much more should you be tender to such as are already called, and serve them as brethren who have but received the truth in belief thereof, and are turned towards God, bearing their testimony in that faith against the world, though in much weakness? Yet of such be tender, and feed them with milk, as the Lord has fed you; so do with much fear and gentleness, lest the same be driven out of the way, and give no advantage to the enemy; and set not yourselves above them with that which you have received from God: But seek the life of God in all; and let that be the chief thing you aim at in all, for the Lord's sake, leading them the way of meekness and fear which is in God, and in the pure wisdom, putting a difference between weakness and willfulness, and between the brethren and the world; and as your hearts are found perfect to the Seed (of the word of God) herein, God will make you wise to salvation, nurses and fathers shall you be called, and a blessing will be in your hand on whomever you lay it; and you will grow in grace and mercy as you come to feel this rise in you, and in the knowledge of salvation, and the power of God's arm you will feel you have to gather with to God, and He will write His name of peace upon your assemblies, and build you as a city without breaches.

http://www.strecorsoc.org/jnayler/epistles.html#1