of Christ cannot be shaken Daniel saith His Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome and his Throne is an everlasting Throne and is established for ever saith David Well he that overcomes by Christ shall sit by Christ in this Throne How we overcome I tould you at first namely by Christ the Captaine of our salvation an easie way for thee well O sinner resolve resolve thy selfe what thou wilt doe For surely there are two eternities that all must passe into one with Christ in the Throne of Christ and of this eternity and glory all this that hath beene spoken is but as one Grape of that Bunch which the Spies brought from Canaan for Israel to taste in her journey you who are traveling with your faces Zion ward taste if there be not a sweetnesse in this one Grape this one Promise of Christ in sitting down with Christ in the Throne and Glory of Christ but as for thy resolution I know it I know it very well thou art resolved to live more and more to Christ and the honour of Christ who will thus honour thee by seating thee on his own Throne but for thy resolution I faine would have yea thine O carelesse sinner and if it be not for Christ and the honour of Christ mark me well what I say thy eternity shall not be with Christ no nor the Saints of Christ but quite contrary with Devils Zim and Ohim and damned spirits in dreadfull flames and utter darknesse but I hope thou wilt be wise and change thy resolution or else O all that love thee mourne mourne mourne for thee Revel 21. v. 1. And I John saw the holy city the new Jerusalem come downe from God out of heaven prepared as a Bride trimmed for her husband MAny glorious things did this young bosome beloved disciple see in the chap. 20. v. 11. He saw Christ sitting on his throne in Iudicature and in v. 12. The dead both small and great standing before him and the books opened which I conceive to be the consciences of men by which he judges all according to their works and in the 13. v. it is said The Sea Death and Hell give up their dead and in conclusion all was cast into the lake that was not found in the book of life which book of life I conceive to be Christ or the foreknowledge or purpose of God in Christ And now in the 1. verse of this chap. he saw a new representation of all things as a new Heaven and a new earth and of this Isaiah speaks chap. 66. v. 22. and chap. 65. v. 17. and here again Rev. 21. I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth was passed away and there was no more sea which denotes trouble O christian the time is comming when sea and trouble sin and sorrow shall be no more for ever and now in the 2. v. he tels us of the holy city new Ierusalem comming down out of heaven from God prepared as a Bride trimmed for her husband I Iohn saw c. From whence observe briefly that God makes his divine and glorious discoveries to some singular men to Abraham to Moses to Iacob to Daniel to a Paul to a Iohn as in these words Secondly I Iohn saw the holy city too he saw many glorious things and this city amongst the rest From whence observe where God makes one divine discovery he will go on to make more and more still till at last he shewes them his own face and glory and they shall see my face saith God Revel 22. verse 4. Thirdly I Iohn saw how didst thou see by a divine discovery of Christ O all discoveries of this nature are from Christ and the Spirit but when was this discovery to him on the Lords day as chap. 1. v. 10. on the Lords day that is on that day when the Lord Christ took Iohn up in a trance to shew him all those glorious things which he saith Blessed are they that read or hear these things I blessed are they indeed that ever they were born whose eyes and eares Christ hath so opened as to see and understand the misterie herein which the blind bats and carnall world neither doe nor can see till God enlighten them by his Spirit Fourthly I Iohn saw the holy city new Ierusalem the Prophet Isaiah speaks chap. 64.16 of a holy city which lay wast v. 26. of a city which had salvation for wals and bulwarks But briefly the holy city Iohn speaks of here is that new Ierusalem of which old Ierusalem was but a type and yet that Ierusalem which was but a type of this city was the glory of the whole world the only city in the world yea called the city of the great King For first it was the figure of the everlasting city of God and therefore called Salem a place of peace wherein the Priests of God reigned it was setled on four mountaines mount Sion mount Moriah the two chief on mount Sion Dauids house stood and it was called mount Sion because it was a type of the highest heaven or habitation of Almighty God from which throne or habitation he descended in Christ to this lower Ierusalem and became our Redeemer to bring us into the highest Mount his eternall glory in mount Sion the highest heavens And now for mount Moriah it is as much to say the Lords mirrhe as ministers do interpret which signifieth our Lord Christ which is the true mirrhe and a sweet smelling sacrifice unto God yea a stedfast rock and unmoveable foundation whereon Gods Church and Christs members are all built as on a sure foundation as Isaiah 28. and Matth. 16. On this rock I will build my Church saith Christ meaning himself and therefore the gates of hell shall never prevail against it Besides this city had many mountaines round about it mount Olivet was one to which Christ went many times to pray and meditate David saith in one of his Psalmes as the mountaines are round about Ierusalem so the Lord is round about his people and in Ierusalem was Davids house which stood on mount Sion as I said before mount Sion was a great mount in Ierusalem on which David built typing out the Saints safety who are built on Christ Thirdly in Ierusalem was Solomons temple which the Iewes told Christ was fourty yeares a building and this temple was indeed the glorious piece in the whole world for workmanship and riches and in this temple was all the holy things the Ark and the Covenant the Mercy-seat and the Manna the Arke of God was made of Shittim-wood which like the Olivet and the Cipresse are not subject to wormes and putrifaction which did typefie the humane nature of Christ which Dauid saith Psal 16. Thou wilt not suffer to see corruption And in this Ark of Shittim was kept or laid up by Gods appointment the golden pot of Manna Aarons rod and the two tables of commandements as Exod. 25.
rejoyce in by an eye of faith fore-seeing it a forehand God gives a promise after that the thing so he delt with us by his Sonne first sent him in a promise after that in substance to be our life light and glory rest peace comfort and salvation in all wants and from all wants of all kindes and nature Well this Christ and God that sent him and the Spirit too is the Stream of sweetnesse where all your comfort lyes unlesse it be in the creature which withers like the grasse when it is cut and grows no more if creature comforts be cut off or withering one of these they are or else they are not momentany but induring which I am sure they are not from my own experience no more then a dreame which is but a fancy when the man awakes may fancies riches honours pleasures profits in the dreaming houre thou mayst doe the like and not enjoy at all what thou labourst for whilst thou seekest it in the creature runne thou mayst and win not seek thou mayst and finde not try thou mayst and taste not the sweetnesse thou expectest true some lyes in every flower but the Bee that skips from one to another all the Summer long can scarce fill her Hive but grant that she doe how quickly is she rebl'd and strangled too at last O thou 〈◊〉 Christian after pleasures profits riches lands and livings death will one day strangle thee and râ—b thâ—e to of all those sweet comforts thou ever gâ—therste here the Manna would not keep but in the pot of gold no more will the creature but in God and Christ and therefore what thou hast lay it up 〈◊〉 Christ and lay it out for Christ and the thou shalt be sure to finde it like bread upon the waters after many dayes but thou that seekest none and hast none but God Christ and the Spirit thou hast all already yea more then all the world ten thousand times can give thee for thou hast all All they seek and crave thou hast found in God Christ and the Spirit and hence it is that a poore Christian who hath Gods love Christs pardon and the Spirits seale can beare up his head and smile in his heart though purseless and penyless houseless and homelesse ragged poore and hungry in a chearfull way when many rich and great men complaine of a thousand wants whilst the true Christian in the sence of Gods love wants nothing but if some poore Christian 〈◊〉 as many there are wailing and weeping like to Hagar for want of this or that comfort a Wife a Childe estate pardon this or that comfort light or knowledge loe this seeming want is in thee only thou dost not see it for where Christ is all is and therefore look about thee yea look and if Christ bee in thee I dare say thou shalt finde more sweetnesse and drink too more delight out of this little Booke then in all the creature comforts thou ever yet enjoyest and therefore when the world is still and thy Spirit quiet in a leasure houre tast try read and if yee be deceived pardon me for I am a weake froward doubting Christian and yet I hope a growing though it be but slowly let us pray for one another for I will for you and the Israel of God while my name is William Blake A Word and but a Word to many of my fellow Christians who think they have no ability to raise write or speak to a portion of Scripture in a linct and profitable way for want of learning I dare say to thee whoever thou art if the Spirit of God be in thee lend him thy sleep or meditation when thy businesse of the world is ever and thy Spirit quiet he will feed thy thoughts beyond thy expectation I dare pawn my life for it these few lines was brought to my hand in this way and therefore try and see if William Blakes words be not true A STREAME OF SVVEETNESSE from the Spirits breathing Revelat. chap. 3.21 To him that overcomes will I give to sit with me in my throne as I have overcome and am set with my Father in his throne THis is the revelation of God by Jesus Christ unto John and therefore it is said blessed is he that readeth and he that heareth What this mystery or prophecie I blessed is that soul for ever as in the first chap. and the third verse In the seventh verse Christ saith he comes Amen saith the Bride come Lord Jesus quickly In the last of the Revelation and in the second chapter and the seventh vers To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the Tree of Life This tree is Christ and his leaves are for the healing of the Nations Rev. the 22. and the 2. v. And in the last of the 10 v. A Crown of life And in the latter end of the 11. v. A promise of no hurt by the second death In the 17. v. A promise to eat of the Manna that is hid This Manna was the sweet food that the children of Israel fed on in the Wildernesse Christ is this Manna but his sweetnesse is a hidden thing to the carnall world and in the 25. A promise to rule over Nations and further I will give him the morning Star this Star is Christ as Peter tels us saying Wait untill the day dawn and the Starre arise in your hearts In the 15. ver of the 3. chap. Christ tels his Church That he that overcomes shall be clothed in white array I then shall he stand with boldnesse before Christ when Kings and Princes shall cry to the hills and mountains to fall and cover them Revel the 16. And further I will not put out his name out of the book of life and in the 12. ver I will make him a standing Pillar in the house of my God and I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the City of my God and my name The name of my God that is he shall be so filled with his divine nature that it shall be as visible as a name in his forehead And now in the 21. ver which I first mentioned a further promise is laid downe as if Christ had not enough yet spoken to engage his Church against hers and his enemies namely the world flesh and devill Well according to my light I shall hint at the meaning of Christ in these words and first Observe The universallity of the promise it is a promise to him any him high low rich poor young old bond or free man or master maid or mistresse O but the world does not alwayes so one gaines the victory and another gets the honour or reward many times But secondly What is meant by overcomming surely to get the masterdome or upper hand with those we encounter with this masterdome is got two wayes by a Captain or a souldier by a Captain or a Champion so David engaged with Goliah and his slaying him
you know who I mean in a mysticall way from one to another till all be halfe drunk and then they depart with an equall proportion toward the shot but I will bid these good night and come closse to the matter in a spirituall way for I think it as vain to speak to them now as it is to expect a swallow in winter Well the next thing is the place where Christ knocks which is the door O that is without you know who is without why who is within that the King of glory is without why who is within that Christ stands without sinne Satan the world pleasure profits and they alwayes keep Christ without till he breakes in and whips these buyers and sellers out of his Temple which Christ sometimes doth as well as once those out of Solomons Temple but for present Christ is without Christ the Lord of life and glory who stands with pardons peace and mercy for their soules if he might once be admitted but what if he be not then they are undone for they must die without them and be damned too for the abuse of his patience therefore minde it carelesse sinner before Christ goes and takes his leave for knocking any more which Christ will one day doe when he cannot have admittance for the worlds pleasures profits But sure it is impossible Christ should be without whilst they are within nay it is true enough doe you not heare him knock I heare some body but I doe not think it is Christ you doe not thinke it is Christ sometimes you doe not heare at all for businesse and sometimes you doe not heare for carelesnesse when shall Christ have admittance when when I am for my selfe saith the servant and can tend to open and when I have this or that estate saith the worldling and for every childe a portion so saith the vaine christian or much to this purpose when I have my swing of pleasure I will tend Christ and till then he must wait and thus the servant puts off Christ for freedome and the worldling for estate and the luxurious for his pleasure all abusing Christ and his patience too But if these delayes Christ should take for full and flat denyals what will then become of their immortall soules worth more then crowns and kingdomes or ten thousand worlds because they are immortall and breathed once from God But now must die in their sinnes as Christ told the Jewes and perish too for him and now they had been happy if they had never heard of him nor his knocks neither which seeing they have slighted shall damne them with a vengeance But how doe you know it is Christ that knocks Poore simple soule doe you not know it that seemes thou art not much acquainted with Christ nor his knocks when thou dost not know that when the Servant knowes his Master and the Childe his Parent every thing knowes more then thee the Sheep the Shepherds whistle the Bee his own Hive and the Asse his Masters Crib but my People knowes not me saith the Lord by his Prophet Isaiah But I will helpe thee what I can to learne Christs knocks expecting thou wilt open when he comes againe 't is Christ knocks mark me First I know it is Christ that knocks he knocks thunderingly or loudly 2. I know it is Christ that knocks by his still and soft knocks 3. I know it is Christ by his slow and leisurely knocks 4. I know it is Christ by his sweet and pleasant knocks 5. I know it is Christ by the place he knocks at the doore where he usally comes in and not at a window or a by way But why doth Christ knock so loud and thunderingly He thinkes you are asleepe or dead sure as every man and woman too is by nature and therefore saith Christ The dead shall he are my voyce and live as in John 5.25 This Christ doth not meane of the day of Judgement though that be true that by Christs voyce and power the dead shall one day heare and every man be started from his grave some for glory most for wrath and vengeance or execution like malefactors with chaines of guilt about their necks and consciences binding up their feares about them which heavier laies then milstones O how dreadfull will this resurrection be when millions of ungodly soules shall come to joyne with cursed bodies It is said Iephthah wept and tore his haire when he saw his daughter and the Virgins of Israel come to meet him but surely this meeting of damned soules and cursed bodies will bee much more bitter to thy body who laid in dust silent free from paine happy were it for thy body if it might still live with wormes and mouldring rottennesse and silent darknesse but it cannot be Christ must have thee out and judge thee too for thy ungodly deeds and acts as well as reward his Saints for all their works wrought by his Spirit in their soules But I shall forget my selfe The thing was that I was speaking too Sure Christ knew the sinner was asleep or dead that he did not open and truly a sinner may be well said to be dead till Christ comes to live in him because Christ is the Fountaine of life and therefore if Christ be not in the soule it must needs then be dead at least in a spirituall sence for want of Christ for as the soule is the life of the body so Christ is the life of the soule and therefore when thou keepst Christ out thou keepst thy soule from thy soule O death and sleepy sinner But why doth he knock so softly because he would not fright you Christ would come in a milde and gentle way and not in a furions way which he often doth to many soules who hath long kept him out by delayes and sinnes but Chrisst doth not alwayes doe so You know he discoursed and reasoned himselfe at the Well of Iacob unto the Woman of Samaria and invited himselfe to Zacheus house bringing salvation with him and so did not at all fright the little man though a great sinner the Ethiopian found Christ in his chariot by reading of Isaiah and many a soule doth the like by a good booke reading in a private way where Christ comes breathing life and peace to their soules as once to the Disciples when the doores was all shut and they met in a roome where Christ comes and breathes the holy Ghost on them But Thirdly Why doth Christ knock so slowly that you might consider who it is that knocks and opens to him the Turtle hath a sweet and penetrating voyce but the most slow of any creature you seldome heare her often at one time but she cals her mate once and then is silent for a while and then she sweetly cals againe in a mournfull way even to the peircing of a mans heart as it were with her sweet and serious yet dolourous call but with a pretty distance of time between every call