the man should live in peace and joy and in all upright Love and should not know nor take on any thing without the same but live only therein and not dye 10. If so be now that the man knew nothing without the same forementioned life nor took on any thing besides the same whereon to tye his heart wits and thoughts or understanding Then should he know taste and feel nothing else but all good Also walk in all Love Concord and Peace and so have (m) Gen. 1.2 b the whole earth in subjection under him and govern uprightly to the life all whatsoever is upon the earth according to the commandment or word of the Lord. 11. For that same is the life and the freedom of the manly generation for the which many creatures do sigh and long there-after which upright freedom of the children of God doth now come unto us according to the Promises because that all manly creatures might assemble them with us to the same rejoyce them with Godly joy in the same and live in all truth and upright righteousness 12. Behold the same was unto the man in the beginning (o) Gen 2. a Phil. 3. b 4 Esd 8. f Apoc. 2. a a Tree of life in the middst of the Paradise of the Lord for that he should live and that (p) Sapl 1. b it should go well with all that which God had created 13. But now when the man would know the good and the evil and had eaten of the same tree then (q) Gen. 3 a tasted he both the life and the death the which God had forbidden him because he should not eat nor tast of any other thing but of the good that is of the life and not feel any evil or death but should live unto his God in the life for that (r) Sap. 1. b it might go well both with himself and also with all what God had created 14. Whatsoever now therefore is taken on besides the same good or life whereon we do witness that is the evil the death or the destruction the which God hath not willed that it should be upon the earth for that the man might stand perfected from all evil and destruction 15. But now hath the man through that same prepared to himself the driving forth out of the Paradise of God and caused the peace to cease upon the earth also brought himself and all what is upon the earth into (s) Gen. 3. b much calamity and misery and is utterly estranged from the way directing to the Tree of life and so is taken captive in all kind of deadly and damnable fruits 16. That verily is the knowledge of the good and evil which he himself hath taken on and (t) Dan. 9. Math. 24. 2 Thes 2. it is the confused abomination which standeth in the holy place whereout all violence calamity and grief is come upon the earth 17. If the man now will (u) Ezek 14. a turn himself away from all the abominations of the wicked world and humble him rightly under the Love and her service then shall he likewise through the administration of the holy word of the Lord and his requiring have his regard unto the inward upright life whereon the word pointeth for that is Gods living being or substance it self and he shall also according to the requiring of the word try or examine himself diligently in his inwardness whether he can perceive yet still remaining there any ungodly or deadly being which is not the life or that serveth not the life unto the life but which (x) Eph. 4. b is minded to destruction through the lusts of error 18. So long then as the destruction besides th preservation of the life is looked neto or esteemed of by the man and that likewise the death besides the life the evil besides the good and the bondage besides the freedom is known tasted and felt so shall the man in his obedience to the requiring of the word of the Lord daily (y) Mat. 10. d 16. c Mark. 8. Luk 9 14. take up his Cross on him with the life die the death or the evil and bury the same according to the word of the Lord and so shall he by means of following the life in his like behaviour or (z) Ro. 6. a Phil 3. b death of the Cross become planted into the same good life who suffereth the death of the Cross by the evil 19. Out of which dying of the death or of the evil which death hath brought the death unto the life and hath had the dominion over the same the life riseth up again and cometh gloriously in Lordly manner against all his enemies 20. Even thus now through the rising up or resurrection of the upright life out of the second birth from the death the man also is raised up (a) Ro. 6. a from the death or born again out of the death for that he might live and not dye any more 21. Upon which resurrection of the dead according to the Scripture all Believers of the life do likewise hope and long thereafter for the life shall swallow up (b) Eze. 13. 1 Cor. 15. the death in victory in all his Believers which be incorporated or planted into him and so bring his enemy under him according to the Promises 22. For all what is not the true life that is against the true life and whatsoever is against the true life that is the death and the enmity unto the true life is also an enimy unto God and to the Lamb which enmity is minded neither according to the true being or nature of God nor of the Lamb nor yet according to the upright righteousness of the true life which true being of God and of the Lamb together with the upright righteousness of the true life ye may behold in the endless (c) Apo. 5.20 b book of the Lamb which is full of writing both without and within written with the finger of God and it is the everlasting life whereon we do witness The eighteenth Chapter THen when as thou O thou precious man hast looked into both these Natures Books and writings inwardly according to the spirit namely the straying being of the wicked world and the good being of God from eternity which good being is the (a) Apo. 20 21. b book of the Lamb written by the God of life besides the which the straying being which destroyeth through the lusts of error is come in place and written by the Devil the Father of death So judge then with the truth which of them it is that ought to have the superiority or preheminence in us for the od of life vouchsafeth unto us nothing else but all God life love and peace 2. Therefore let us be agreeably minded with the same good being of God and Love the good being for wherefore do ye receive and take unto you the destruction and why will ye in perditional manner perish
also divided or as a thing broken off from the incorporating to the Love the very perfect being or substance In like manner is also the prophecying yet are they both namely the knowledge and the prophecying serviceable unto the man in the fore-going service before the true being and do witness unto him (r) Mat. 13. b Luk. 8. a as in a secret word the cleerness of the Love or of the true being 9. Unto which true being the knowledge and the prophecying do point in the service of the holy word as that the same is coming to the Believers in uncovered cleerness of God whereby they (s) 2 Cor. 10 3. b. may behold the same from face to face and to continue heirs therein with all the Saints of God for evermore 10. And that is the Love the true being and the perfection of all the riches of God where Christ the spiritual and heavenly high Priest is a Minister unto us in (t) Heb 8 9 b those same spiritual and heavenly goods For (u) Ro. 11. b of him through him and in him are all things to whom be praise for evermore Amen 11. Now at the end of the ministration of the former Tabernacle when as the same perfection (x) 1 Cor. 13. b cometh unto us or appeareth (y) Isa 60. 2 Pet. 1 c as a day-light from on high then doth also the peice-work or that which is in part as likewise the childish understanding touching the Godly things cease or leave off with us for the being of the man (z) 1 Cor. 15. b Eph. 4. b or the old age in the manly understanding of the new birth in Jesus Christ layeth off or putteth away the childish comprehending it is very true The sixteenth Chapter TO the end now that all understandings might be satisfied and that the Books of the mystery namely the discerning into the being of God or the holy of his Saints and the discerning into the Devils being or the abomination of desolation of his wicked members might (a) Apo. 5. a not still continue shut Therefore will we out of an inclination to the Love discover shew or witness out of that sight which we have in the truth so much as we can and perceive to be profitable the beings and properties of them both whereby we may also reveal the secret treasure of the Devil (b) Apo. 9 12 13 16 17. and the Dragon or the Beast of the bottomless Pit that false Prophet which hath seduced the whole world and made her drunken with his unchastity so to disclose or display in evident manner before the eyes of all people that false and ungodly nature And nakedly or apparently to shew wherein he hath covered or hid himself hitherto in the world with deceit and falshood And with what manner of form or property of his wicked members he hath dwelt in the hearts and minds of men 2. Wherethrough the man hath in so divers manners committed whoredom and Adultery (e) Ier. 2. d 3. a. Eze. 16. c Eze. 4.5 a against his God and so through the bewitching of his mind wit and thoughts hath served the (d) Ap. 9.13 14 16 17. beast of the bottomless pit honoured the Devil and worshipped the Dragon even in that place where he should (e) Deut. 4.6 b Mat. 4 b. serve and honour his God only by reason whereof it is grown everywhere full of abominations of desolation the which (f) Mat. 24. b 2 Thes 20. hath gotten and possesseth the holy place like as the Prophet Daniel (g) â—an 9. c hath spoken thereof with which horrible fashion or monstrous disposition of the enemies of God the whole world is governed (h) Apo. 14. a 18. a. b and therein are all heathen drowned or overwhelmed 3. Even thus hath the wicked corrupt nature who laboureth to destroy it all a long time held forth his own book or his own wisdom as a book of life or consolation before the man for a delight or pleasure unto him and hath taken him captive or bound him under the same which book are the bands of the Devil and the (i) 1 Pet. 2. a Apo. 20 a chains of darkness 4. Therefore is the Lamb killed (k) Apo. 5.13 a. b from the beginning and thrust out of his Kingdom and the strangers have possessed his (l) Psa 78 a heritage with unrighteousness laid his Kingdom wast with their abominations trodden down the living book of the Lamb with feet not willing or allowing that the man should look into read or live the same 5. See in that manner is the mans upright understanding of the truth stolen away from him and he is turned into a corrupt or false understanding and into a lying being or estate and the strangers who through their falshod have possessed the heritage of the Lamb have also comforted the man with a vain and false comfort because that the book of the Lamb might alwayes continue shut and the seals thereof never to be opened (m) Apo 5 a for when as his seals be once opened (n) Apo. 6. b 20. b then cometh forth the Judgement according to the truth 6. Now when the seals of the book of the Lamb be opened and that the same book is read then become the names of the Saints manifest which are written in the Book of the Lamb and through the Lamb and the Saints illumination or brightness there becometh likewise seen and known the great and manifold deceit of the wicked enemy that Adversary unto God 7. Through which light of the Lamb the enemy of God must lose and leave the seat of his possession even thus is then his peace taken away from the earth and he himself as a destroyer rejected on the earth for to be destroyed which hath eretimes corrupted and destroyed the earth 8. Therethrough now cometh the killing upon earth and the murthering among all ungodly ones in such sort that through their impugning or resistance against the Lamb their punishment cometh over themselves and they fall to be many dead bodies upon the earth 9. See in such manner do then the Kingdoms (o) Apo. 12 a of the world become the Lords and his Christs who shall raign for ever and ever before whom all Elders or wisdoms do fall down and worship him which liveth for ever and ever witnessing and saying unto him (p) Apo 4. b Lord thou art worthy to receive praise honour and power for thou hast created every thing and for thine own sake they have their being and were created 10. For seeing now that Gods Judgement is (q) â—oh 8. b acccording to the truth and not according to the judgement of men therefore do we find very truly according to the truth That Gods secret mind and judgement is far different from the mind and judgement of men 11. Therefore it is in no wise possible for any man to know (r) 1 Cor. 2.
in misery and in unrestfulness O ye children of men turn you to the (e) Deu. 30. c life with humble hearts and in like manner to the Love that ye may live 3. Awake up I pray thee O thou precious man for behold death and life (d) Deut 3. b Eccles 15. c Ier. 21. a evil and good destruction and preservation damnation and salvation the old wicked world in the which all wickedness dwelleth and the (e) Isa 61. b 1 Pet. 3. b Apo. 21. a new good world in the which all love peace and righteousness dwelleth is held forth or presented unto thee and figured out before thine eyes therefore choose or incline thou now unto that which thou seest or knowst to be Gods righteousness extending to the laud and praise of his glory and apply thy self to live only the same that (f) Deut. 6. a o. b Math. 4. thou mayest serve and live unto the Lord thy God only 4. If so be now therefore that any one do look into or esteem the being of the Devil the treasury of iniquity (g) Sap. 2 4.14 b Rom. 1. c 2. a. and the form or fashion of the wicked world to be an upright life tending to the praise and glory of God and if it be the same whereunto God hath created the man to have that raign over him then let him incline and stick unto it and serve the same only and let him separate himself from all what is contrary thereunto and accompany him with those that are of one mind with the iniquity or with the wicked world that he may beare or receive either his salvation or condemnation with those that are his own members which are agreeably-minded with each other and let him (h) 2 King 18. c halt no longer on both sides nor feign nor dissemble before the upright Love which is held forth and proffered unto him 5. But if now any man do look into or esteem the Being of God or Treasure of vertue to be the salvation of men tending to the land and praise of the godly glory and so understandeth or perceiveth that (i) Gen. 2. c Sap. 2. c Eccles 17. a God hath created the man to that end that the same should raign over him So let him then likewise submit himself obediently under the Love and incline or cleave wholly to the same good being even with a fervent good will that he may serve the same only (k) Deut. 6. a 10. b. 30. a and live only unto the eternal God 6. For to that purpose is the service of the word both by writing and by speech under the obedience of the Love administred unto men to assist them to the life of God and to the eternal truth because they should live in the same truth and life as in a Treasure of vertue and that altogether in a lively meek minded being or nature but not to the end to catch to snare nor to bring any one into bondage therewith or to (l) 2 Cor. 1. c 1 Pet. 1. a raign over his faith O no but in him free or at liberty to yield to the obedience of the Love and to the (m) Luk. 1. g Eph. 1. a righteousness of Faith because the righteousness of Faith which God esteemeth of might by that means be set up in the belief under the obedience of the Love And that the peace might appear upon the earth according to the Promises 7. For that cause to the end that the life of the eternal truth might be manifest and that the mans understanding might be planted into the same life therefore do we through our service of the holy word as by an inclination of the Love take (n) 2 Cor. 10. a captive all understandings under the obedience of the Love 8. To that end namely for the Love and the good lifes sake shall men also hear and believe the service of the holy and gracious word administred under the Love But with their spirits they (o) Isa 53. 2 Cor. 6. b shall depart out of the evil or that which is perditionable and enter into the vertue of the life 9. For the outward writings or speakable words which be testified or ministred unto the man out of the inclination of the Love to do him service and stretch to the incorporating of him into the vertuous nature are all figurings forth of the upright righteousness and godly word who in their service do go before the man and guide him to the living book of the Lamb which lieth hidden in (p) Apo. 12. a the Ark of witness namely within our hearts and consciences for there inwardly in the spirit is the life of God formed or written according to the truth 10. And that same life of God is the (r) Apo. 5. a book which John saw in his Revelation which was full of writing both without and within and which also was shut or made fast with seven seals for which books sake John wept because there was none found worthy neither in heaven nor upon the earth to open to read nor to look into the same book 11. Howbeit in the midst among the Elders or wise there stood a Lamb in manner as though it was killed and he took the book unto him and all prophesies testified of him with triumph and joy saying Thou (s) Apo. 5. d art worthy to receive the book and to open his seals for thou being killed hast bought us with thy blood 12. John hath also heard a voice of many Angels (t) Dan. 7. b Apo. 5. b whose number is many thousands of thousands saying with a mighty great voice the the Lamb that was killed is worthy to receive power riches wisdom strength honour praise and blessing 13. Behold this living book of the Lamb is a book of spirit and life and (u) 2 Cor. 3. a not a book of the sinful flesh and death for it is the (x) Eph. 5. c Apo. 14. commonalty of the Lamb in the spirit 14. Which Lamb is the living being of God it self the which was driven to (y) Isa 53. b 1 Pet. 2. a suffer and the book of life occasioned to be shut (z) Apo. 5. a with seven seals because of the great Dragon which is the (a) Apo. 12. murderly beast namely the self wisdom of the flesh unto (b) Dan. 7. Apo 11.13 a whom power hath been permitted to kill the Saints of God but the same power is now even in the uttermost or last time (c) Apo. 17.19 20. b taken away from her for God showeth his power and dominion against the same in the restoring or setting up again of his Saints (d) Eze. 37. Dan. 12. Apo. 2. whom he raiseth from the death 15. Verily now it shall no longer prevail with the Dragon how murderly soever the beast be neither shall her Kingdom which is full of abominations prosper any longer for her (e) Apo. 18.
At that time shalt thou swear uprightly and holily without hypocrisie as true as the Lord liveth and the heathen shall be blessed in the Lord and make their boast of him The twentieth Chapter BUT if any one now should determine in his heart to turn him unto God to cleave unto the Love and to enter into the Kingdom of God and yet for all that doth with his will hold his heart tyed unto any thing of all the abominations above named he doubtless cannot come to the Kingdom of God nor be perfectly incorporated to the being of the righteous spirit and of the Love neither yet can his name be written (a) Apo. 5. b in the living book of the Lamb with the commonalty of the Love which Book is in the right hand of him that liveth from everlasting to everlasting which commonalty of the Love whose names are written in the living book of the Lamb is very lovely delightful and peaceable and with them also is our fellowship through the Love of God the Father and by reason of his mercy shewed on us 2. And with the same commonalty all those likewise have their fellowship which do humble themselves with us under the Love and her service and through the service of Love do hear believe and stand obedient to the holy Doctrine and godly information whereby to become understanding through the wisdom and holy knowledge thereof and so do intirely love exercise and assist the same service of Love for that it might be spread abroad generally among many 3 Howbeit not according to every ones self-mindedness or drift of his own mind as in a Love towards himself according to his own proper knowledge (b) Deu 12. a or good-thinking but to come to one manner of obedience under the true Love of God the Father and that altogether to an (c) Eph. 1. a unity in the peace also not with any division of heart but for to become of one mind with each other through the Love to the end (d) Isa 57. b Luk. 10. a that the peace in that sort might be prepared concordable upon the earth under the obedience of the Love according to the Promises and that all our names might be written in the book of the Lamb and that we might be partakers of the being or nature of the same commonalty of Saints whose names are written in that same Book and might have our fellowship with the Lamb and his Saints 4. Unto which Book of life and his holy writings we do humble our selves under the Love and her requiring and so do learn of the Love the true humility and (e) Math. 11. c meekness of heart according to the wisdom of all those whose names are written in the living book of the Lamb in as much as their wisdom only is delightful unto the God of life The new good world with her servants and fellow-companions 5. For in that same Book of the Lamb whereunto all our hope and longing standeth that it might even with fervent affection and good-willingness of heart be looked into and be read by many there is written and found therein (f) Gal. 5. c Eph. 4 a Col. 3. b 1 Pet. 3. b Love peace joy Gods will or Law heavenly truth faith righteousness meekness gentelness friendlyness long suffering patience fear of the highest God understanding and wisdom 6. All these forementioned Saints have a lust even with whole heart for to procure and prepare all those which love the good life and the everlasting truth unto the Love for that they might every one become assembled together under the Love and it might even so both inwardly and outwardly go well with all people which live under the Love and that altogether in unpartial love 7. Which upright commonalty of Saints is not inclined to raign over one another but to stand serviceable one towards another and also towards all those which submit themselves with them under the obedience of the Love because that the holy understanding and the knowledge of every good exercise might as (i) Eph. 2. c 1 Pet. 2. a a perfect good building come to light or be made manifest under the obedience of the love 8. Behold such a nature and upright service of unpartial love have all those whose names are written in the living book of the Lamb which service stretcheth not to a renting and scattering like as the false services according to the nature of the hearts of the self-love do stretch and have their drift thereunto who do serve and live only unto themselves in a private mind of self-love O no for the children of the upright Love do neither rend nor scatter but gather together 9. Also they seek not (k) 1 Cor. 10. c their self-ness but much rather that every one might be nourished and fed out of the Love and her service for to become a commodable Kingdom of the Love and that the one may serve the other to that effect for that is might go well with every one and that altogether in the Love and in the peace of Jesus Christ 10. Furthermore there is written in the same book of the Lamb foresightfulness quietness natural equity lowlyness of heart constancy (l) 2 Pet. 1 a discreetness measurableness orderlyness contentedness open-heartedness simplicity justness or uprightness good-willingness (m) Mat. 5. a 1 Tim. 1. a purity of heart clean conscience honesty civility or modesty obedience concord stedfastness kind-heartedness (n) Phil. 4. a helpfulness serviceableness to the vertue peaceable conversation Gods praise laud glory eternal life and heavenly delightfulness c. 11. Now for to have our fellowship with the same commonalty of the upright Saints of God (o) Ge. 1.2 b thereunto doubtless was the man created from the beginning because that such a precious excellency and such a Kingly Crown of delightful beauty should have the dominion over him 12. For those same and all they which are like unto them of nature and disposition their names verily are every one written in the living Book of the Lamb who do neither worship honour or serve the (p) Apo. 13. a Dragon or the high-minded beast for the name of the most high God is written upon them which God only they do (q) Apo. 7. b. 21 22. a serve honour and worship from everlasting to everlasting they stand all likewise as lights of life in the beholding of God their Father 13. Behold that same holy people of God or Christ or such like is the (r) Isa 64. a house of Israel (s) Eph. 2. b. the Citizen-ship of Jerusalem and the family of Love and they are every one likewise the true (t) Isa 66. b children of Sion where the God of life hath his holy Tabernacle in whom (u) Lev. 16. 2 Cor. 6. b he dwelleth liveth and walketh And they shall be the Lords people for ever and ever And he himself God with
b or understand the truth except that he should first of all be or stand grounded therein according to the spirit and that the truth as a light of life repugning or striving against his lyes were risen up unto him in his obeying of the requiring of the service of Love For in that sort do we attain to know the truth from the lye the life from the death and the sin from the righteousness Because that we should rightly or according to the truth hate or reject that which is worthy to be hated or rejected and according to the truth in like manner love that which is worthy to be loved And so then might with a good understanding come to (s) Eph. 4 b the knowledge of the right commonalty of Saints whose names are written in the (t) Apo. 5.20 21. b living Book of the Lamb. 12. Which Book of the Lamb the mysticalness of God shall not alwayes remain shut but his seals shall be opened and the book being full of writing both without and within shall likewise be read to a comfort of life and to a perpetual Godlyness unto all those whose names are written in the Book of the Lamb whose bodies are killed even like unto the Lamb and (u) Apo. 6. b their blood cryeth vengeance in the height upon those that dwell upon the earth unto whom the recompence thereof shall be made by God and the Lamb. 13. For although the Lamb be killed yet shall he notwithstanding condemn the living ungodly ones and raise up those that are his (x) Eze 37. b Dan. 12 b Ioh 5. c 1 Cor. 15. f from the death out of the grave and make them Lordly and glorious with himself over all his enemies namely through his righteous judgement to the (y) Mat. 25. c 2 Pet. 3 b condemnation of all ungodly ones to the end that they may be rooted out and (z) Apo. 18 a that it may be recompenced again even as they have done unto the Saints of God 14. Even thus now from henceforth be reputed for a praise or an advancement unto all that are his whereby to keep the judgement against every one which hath brought forth ungodlyness judged Gods truth falsly and shewed no repentance and to exhalt and garnish his Saints above all what is upon the earth for (a) Apo 5 b 1 Pet 1. b the Lamb hath bought them with his blood out of all generations people and nations He hath made them Kings and Priests unto God and they shall raign upon the earth and triumph in joy everlastingly with the Lamb for they shall live for ever and not dye any more 15. And that same is the everlasting life which was preached in the world in times past to the end that men should believe on the same And which also cometh unto us in the last time in the resurrection of the righteous dead ones The seventeenth Chap. THerefore give ear O all ye that live upon the earth consider of the words of wisdom ye children of men For the life to the end that ye may live is now published unto you likewise as well as unto the people (a) Gen. 6.18 19. Exo. 3 4. Deut. 3. in times past because that ye may shew repentance assemble you with us to the mercy seat of the love of Jesus Christ and enter (b) Heb. 3.4 a. into the rest which is reserved for the children of God inasmuch as the entrance into the rest of the Lord and of his children or Saints of Jesus Christ cometh to pass and is to be enjoyed now in the last time according to the Promises 2. Therefore give ear attentively that ye may once understand whereunto ye are created and turn you to the same if ye will remain preserved and not bide lost for ever 3. Apply your hearts unto the good that ye may live and not be buried in hell everlastlngly (c) Psa 55. Apo. 21 22. with the ungodly 4. Shew upright fruits of repentance that ye may serve the (d) Deut. 6. b Lord your God only and walk in all love like children of peace And halt no longer neither (e) 3 Kin. 18. on the one side nor on the other 5. For although that ye which covet after knowledge do daily read many Scriptures or writings whereout ye do also gather some sentences or get a certain kind of knowledge therethrough wherein ye think to rejoyce your selves Yet is not the same the life for all that for it is neither the Scripture nor yet the knowledge thereof (f) 1 Cor. 8. that maketh us righteous but the life of Jesus Christ wrought through the belief or faith 6. For that same life is (g) Deut. 30. Rom. 10. the word of God the Father and the very true light wherein we stand grounded or whereon we are set for to believe the same because that we should live and not (h) Deut. 5. Prov. 4 c turn or shrink therefrom with our mind wits memory or thoughts neither to the right side nor to the left 7. If so be now that ye stand not minded hereunto as in tending to live in the Love and to stand upright therein to what end then do ye assemble together and to what end do ye read the Scriptures For if ye read the Scripture only for the knowledge sake and rest unbelieving unto the life whereof the (i) 1 Ioh. 5. Scripture witnesseth then do ye (k) 3 Kl. 18. halt on both sides and break the bond of wedlock and go a whoring with that which is not the life namely that ye cleave unto that which ye neither are grounded in nor created unto by God neither yet called through Jesus Christ nor also through his service of Love ministred now in the last time 8. But if ye will perform the Scriptures counsel then follow the Scriptures counsel Turn you to the life and to his service of Love And in the obedience of the requiring of the life of Jesus Christ and of his service of Love behold in the spirit your own being or estate And consider there inwardly in your selves whether that your memory wits senses and thoughts do in all their course or proceedings stand minded to the true life of Jesus Christ and not run out after this or after that for to go a whoring after that which is not the life it self and also whether that they being without the life are bound or tyed unto any other thing that is not the life And likewise whether they have or gather all their knowledge wisdom and understanding only out of the l fe of Jesus Christ and out of his love and so do neither know discern or understand any thing without the Life and without his upright Love For behold to such a concord hath God joyned together the thoughts and the life 9. This doubtless was the life of the man in (l) Gen. 1. b Joh. 1. a the beginning for that
sins are ascended up even unto heaven and now shall her descending or fall be even into the bottomless pit 16. For the self-wisdom or self-mind of the flesh which hath exalted her self very high against the Lamb even as though she were Gods wisdom (f) Apo. 5.13 b hath killed the Lamb from the beginning of the world and likewise his members the (g) Apo. 6.12 b 16. a innocent guiltless blood and so for a time hath gotten the upper hand upon the earth but now must she fall and go under whereas contrarywise the Saints of God shall (h) Apo. raign for ever according to the Promises The ninteenth Chapter SEing now that the Saints of God have (a) Apo 6.12 13 16. suffered with the Lamb for a certain time and have been killed upon the earth therefore is the book of the beast most loved and read everywhere (b) Apo. 17. b 18. a men have lived according thereto but forasmuch as it is all now made manifest through the (c) 1 Cor. 4. a light or day of the Lord so becometh the book of the (d) Apo. 18 19 20. beast to be found a false book full of deceit and subtile falshood whereunto also all false men all wicked hearts of the Scripture-learned ones and all false setters forth and preferrers of religion have their lust and affection bent 2. For of all the names of her felfness or private holyness and of all her false hearts and Scripture-learned ones together with all the nature of the heathenish distraughtness who do every one even joyntly with each other serve and worship the beast there is not (e) Apo. 13.17 a. 20 21. b one written in the living book of the Lamb for the names of the people that serve and worship the beast whereby the Dragon hath had the dominion are (f) 2 Pet. 2. all names of darkness and of the good thinking wise and disobedient ones and are all likewise (g) 1 Ti. 4 a spirits of errour as being all one and of one manner of substance according to one manner of nature 3. That same verily is the cord or chain of darkness or the band of the Devil wherein all good thinking wise ones and false hearts which do neither fear the living God of Israel nor stand obedient to his requiring are captived or caught bewitched therewith tyed thereunto and (h) 2 Pet. 2. a. b. Apo. 20. b led with the same even into Hell the which is the everlasting death and damnation from the which God hath willed that the man should keep himself and serve only the living God that (i) Eze 18. d he might not dye but that it might everlastingly go well with him and that he might live 4. The names of the people of the evil wicked world The wicked world with her servants and fellow-companions who are written in the book of the Dragon that murderly beast are these envy division contention or discord high-mindedness or pride subtilty deceit craftiness unquietness cruelty arrogancy disorderlyness masterfulness mischieveously disposed violence honour or vain-glory stubbornness resistance unto Gods nature in all disobedience wrathfulness presumptuous boldness churlishness bitterness maliciousness commotion or uproar treachery striving fighting persecuting lying war or battle vexing or troubling cursing swearing destroying spoyling oppressing killing murdering dishonest dealing unreasonableness or injustice gluttony unchastity whoâ—edom adultery knavery buggery thievery unprofitable searching high vain boasting ambition dissembling hypocrisie Sectuarishness framed or chosen holyness idolatry false God services false Laws blasphemy self-wisdom swelling in minde curiousness self-mindedness unadvisedness mens commandments giving credit to the imaginations of the good thinking in the spirit unbelief to the gracious word of the Lord despair doubtfulness accusing ignorance bondage of the heart to something without the nature or being of God vain comfort slothfulness mens fear covetousness niggardlyness undiscreetness scoffing or mocking dis-favour self-Love 5. There is yet moreover (q) Rom 1. d 1 Pet. 2. a back-biting or evil reporting of others whereby to make them seem odious and contemptible before the people and to cause themselves to be had in favour and well-liked of 6. Behold such a nature hath the partial Back b ter who doth yet oftentimes for all that greatly bewitch the people with his abominations as with a show of holyness which witchcraft is full of foolishness and is an unprofitable delusion even like as are all vain games also table-playing maskings or mummeries c. and are also unedifying even like as are all manner (r) Eph. 5 a of rude light behaviour disorderly toying and unseemly jesting all which likewise are names of the people of the wicked world furthermore there is also death darkness false spirits devil hell and condemnation c. 7. These and such like are the abominations before God and the pernitious mischief to a destruction over the children of men and for one to yield or apply his heart hereunto is the falling off and the turning away from God 8. That is finally the perverse and wicked nature (s) Deut. 32. a. c. which hath corrupted every thing and stoln from the man and quite defaced in him the mind of his God and corrupted his understanding through the affection born to the knowledge of good and evil by which manner the noble understanding of man is become bewitched with the abundant lying being in such sort that the man can very little understand (t) Deut 32. Isa 44. Ier. 5.8 a or comprehend for it entreth too too little into the consideration of his heart for to come rightly to the conversion or turning again to his God for be continueth even generally cleaving fast and depending with his heart upon one thing or other that is not God because he doth not quite and clean forsake the Idols and their services nor thrust nor chase them out of the Temple of his inward mind But stands affected either to this or to that according to the imagination of his own understanding and so serveth the God-service or God himself falsly 9. That same is it verily which God hath oftentimes rebuked by the mouth of his Prophets (u) Isa 1 b 28. b. 29. 57. b. 58. a. 59. a. b. Ier 2 3 4 5 6 7. Eze. 5 6. Amos 1. b Mich. 6. a because that the people of Israel when they would seem to turn them and to use God-services did alwayes incline their hearts towards one thing or another that was not God and served that which God never commanded or required 10. Therefore hath God also in times past witnessed unto them by the Prophet Jeremiah which mind of God remaineth perpetually for thus saith the Lord as an everlasting continuing word 11. O Israel (x) Ier. 4 a. if thou wilt turn thee then turn thee unto me saith the Lord And if thou wilt put away thy abominations from before my face then shalt thou not be cast out