Quaker Heritage Press > Online Texts > Works of Isaac Penington > Isaac Penington to _______ _______
FRIEND,
God breathed into man the breath of life, and man thereby became a living soul to God, to whom by transgression he died. But Christ (who was before Abraham, and, in due time, took up that body prepared by the Father) is the resurrection and the life, who, from the father, breathes life into man again, and so he comes to live again. And man, being quickened by Christ, is to rise up from the dead, and travel with Christ into the land of the <29> living. And Christ is all to the believers, in whom dwells all fulness; the circumcision is in him, the baptism in him, and the righteousness, rest, and peace also; yea, in him are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; and he is made of God, unto them that believe in him, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Now, it is very precious to feel this; but of little value to imagine or comprehend apprehensions about this. For the end of words is to bring men to the thing; but the Scribes and Pharisees, by their apprehensions upon the words given forth by the Spirit, missed of the thing (though they thought they missed not, but were blessed in the knowledge of the law, and they that knew not the law were cursed): and the same spirit is alive in many that profess truth now, who, by their understanding of scripture words, are kept from the thing which the Scriptures testify of. What did Christ come in the flesh and suffer for, but to unite and reconcile to God? and what is the antichristian way of erring from the truth, but to cry up the appearance of Christ in the flesh, his sufferings, resurrection, ascension, &c., in that spirit, wherein the true union and reconciliation is not witnessed? If we receive the light, and walk in the light, as God is in the light, then have we a share in his Son's death and atonement, and his blood cleanseth from unrighteousness; but not otherwise.
Oh that all who truly desire salvation, might know the way hither, and receive that from God, which cleanseth and keepeth clean! Amen.
I. P.