to say of the Supper and Following of Christ of the Holy and of his true Service or Oblation and of the Altar in the Holy and of the Vayl before the most holy is declared in the Glass of Righteousness The XXVI Chapter NOw when this true being of the holy of the true Tabernacle of God whereof we witness was declared come and prepared in his true service with the disciples of Christ and ministred in the belief so were then the foregoing services which were the images figures and shadows of that same no longer fruitful with them they ceased also among them with their services and the true being of the promises whereon as on the seed of the blessing the foregoing services pointed and led threunto was at the same time to the blessing of all generations of the earth published by the same illuminated disciples of Christ as the true seed of Abraham in all the lands of Iuda according to the promises 2. There was also testified by them that the righteousness of life was to be obtained in the death of Iesus Christ through faith and not through the works of the law And that the law of Moses and the services of the Priest hood of Aaron ceased and had ended their service with them in the same service of Christ of the very true testament 3. HEreon we ought advisedly to consider ye dearly beloved for to understand according to the truth in what manner the Law of Moses and the foregoing services of the Priesthood after the Ordinance of Aaron ceased with the Disciples of Christ. 4. Not verily through the bringing in or setting up of any other services or ceremonies nor yet through the knowing of a greater and truer Righteousness and that one should even so pass forth therewith unregenerated or unrenewed in the Spirit and minde and so forsake the foregoing ministration and ordinance wherewith the Righteousness is required O no that is far wide and whosoever supposeth that he misseth the truth very faâ— 5. For the Law of Moses the Images Figures and Shadows with the Priests office after the manner of Aaron which are all fulfilled and cease in Christ minister unto us out of the true light an higher and perfecter cleerness namely the perfect Being and the renewing of the heart and spirit to wit to be purged for a Tabernacle or House of the living God wherein God with his Christ dwelleth liveth and resteth wherein it becometh then all fulfilled and the costly Treasure of the heavenly and spiritual goods brought unto men and from thence doth it flow forth again as waters of life 9. BEhold even thus or to this end had the old Testament ended his Service with the Disciples of Christ. And in such a state as being replenished with the fulness of the holy spirit of Christ have the former services ceased with them inasmuch as they had accomplished the requiring of those same in Jesu Christ. 7. And verily not through other services nor through the knowing of any thing better truer or perfecter like as many conceited Christians suppose and say out of the blindness of their hearts that the services of the old Testament after the Law of Moses and Ordinance of Aaron are all ended and that they therefore have now the services of the new Testament and know the new or the best and the true and run forth even so therewithal not once distincting that the fulfilling of the foregoing services which require the very true doth not come to pass in the knowledge of the very true nor yet that the services of the new Testament which follow or depend on the accomplishing of the foregoing are services of spiritual and heavenly goods and bring a power of God in the spirit to the declaring of the seat of God and Christ in the heavenly Being 8. Therefore let us have a regard how and wherein the changing and renewing of the services came to pass and how that the changing and renewing of the same services shall not now also in the last time come otherwise to pass then as is abovesaid and as we have witnessed according to the Scripture Therefore consider well 9. WHen now the Law of Moses which is literal and for the sins cause wrought the death had ministred her Office till unto the death of the sin in the death of Jesu Christ then had the Law which in her Service required the Righteousness with writings and ordinances and with correction and Doctrine and was likewise in her service deadly over the sin served out her office with the Disciples of Christ and even so at the end or fulfilling of the requiring of the same Law namely in the death or end of the sin the true spiritual Law or heavenly Ordinance which made them alive in Jesu Christ came unto them wherethrough the foregoing service of the Law was fulfilled and ceased with them 10. Behold when as now the Law of Moses was in such wise as is said fulfilled or accomplished and had no longer service with the death of the sin and with the Believers of Christ which through the Law were dead unto the Law but the Spirit of Christ which made the deceased Believers of Christ alive again in righteousness out of the death of Christ so had then also the Priesthood in his Images Figures and Shadows after the manner of Aaron no more ministration with the living in Iesu Christ neither yet gave it any cleerness more with them because the heavenly cleerness of Christ and his upright Being of love wherein the Disciples of Christ were comprehended excelled far away all cleerness of the figurative services 11. For that cause the Priesthood of Aaron changed also with the Disciples of Christ and ceased by them for with them there was a spiritual heavenly Priesthood appeared in upright righteousness and even so was the same with his service established on Christ after the Spirit the true light which is an high Priest that bideth for ever at the right hand of God in the heavenly Being whose service of the spiritual and heavenly ministration cometh not to pass in the letter nor in the figures but in the very true Being 12. BEhold even so was Christ after the spirit in his Office or Service a minister of the very true and heavenly goods among his Disciples and Believers and hath when he had taken in the heaven multiplied himself through his seed of the holy Ghost out of the heavenly Being to the increasing of his generation the upright seed of Abraham according to the Promises And even so became Christ fruitful upon earth in many thousands of his saints all which he through his death made free or justified from the sin and made them alive through his holy Ghost taking them up from the earth and assembling them unto him at the right hand of God his Father in the
with all people Let every Nation then have among them so many manner of grounds beliefs religions ceremonies and services as they will wherein they love God his truth and the righteousnes 5 The grace and peace from God our Father the refreshing or renewing of the minde from the naked or uncovered face of our Lord Iesus Christ the communalty of holy ones their uniformity of being with the holy spirit of the love of Iesus Christ becommeth presently published proffered and brought unto you And to all the same yee are also this day called and bidden namely yee all which love the truth unto godlines and have a desire to do the will of the Lord and to humble your selves obediently to the service of the love of Iesus Christ and his requiring 6. HAppy are they which have now in this day intended or minded the love and the peace For in this selfe same day shall now the good with all the repentant ones which stand good willing towards the good become known and made manifest from the wicked and from all unrepentant ones which have a desire to the iniquity and to the wicked and corrupted world and they shall separate them the one from the other 7 For it shall now in this day be seen and evidently perceived that all good willing ones to to the good shall assemble them unto the good namely to the communalty of the love wherein the Lord hath manifested and set his light and where his Sun of righteousnes the true heavenly day-light shineth enter into the rest of the Lord and obtaine the everlasting godliness and that they all which are evill of will and hardned in the iniquity shall make them up with their good thinking wisdom ther-against and bâ—ing the eternall damnation over themselves like as there is written thereof Therfore cometh there presently great grace unto all good willing ones but unto them that refuse the grace also are evill of will and love the darkness more then the light great severity or indignation 9 For behold in this present Day the glorious coming of our Lord Iesus Christ w th the many thousands of his saints becometh manifested which hath set himselfe now upon the seat of his Majesty for to judge in this same day which the Lord hath ordained or appointed the whole world with equity and with faithfulnesse and truth according to his righteousnes 10 For that cause O all yee which dwell upon the earth fear now the Lord the most highest and givâ— him alone all honour laud and praise for the day of his judgement is now come that it might now in the same day of the true judgement of God and Christ become all fulfilled in Christ whatsoever is written of him 11 OH that they now all had such an heart that they respected well this same day submitted them with humble and single minded hearts under the gracious hand of the Lord and stood obediently and concordably minded to the holy and gracious word so should then assuredly every one right well perceive by experience that God had opened now in the last time a great door of grace unto all faithfull and good willing hearts declared and brought the salvation of the everlasting life unto them and that the same grace bideth altogether closed to before all unbelievers of the word and his service of love before all wavering minded ones and decliners from the same service and before all such as have neither lust nor will unto God nor unto his love the salvation of the everlasting life unknowne and this Joyfull message of the Kingdome which is now in the last time through the holy and gracious word published in all the world before the destruction or perishing of the wicked world to an everlasting rest for all the children of God and to the preservation of mâ—n which hope on God covered or secret 12 For verily if this Joyfull Message of the Kingdom of Christ which in his mistery is the perfect cleernesse of God and the true light of Christ himself be covered or secret before any man So is it then secret before them that perish and are turned unto themselves and their knowledge as also are captived with the minds of the unbelieving world 13 FOr that cause O yee good willing hearts Awake now all out of the sleep of your sins and hear and beleeve the out-flowing living voice of the love of Iesus Christ which Christ in this present day letteth be heard through his holy spirit and elected Minister H.N. upon the earth 14 Happy is he that can now in this perilous time indure the voice of the true light also hearing the gracious word of the Lord which becometh witnessed forth and administred with the same voice beleeveth it and harâ—neth nor dâ—praveth not his heart in this same day but becometh assembled unto Christ and unto the family of his love Amen The Second Chapter SEeing now then that out of God's grace in this day of the godly love the mistery of the heavenly Kingdome of God his righteous Judgement and the coming of his Christ now in the last time in the Resurrection of the dead is declared unto me as an elected vessel house or dwelling of God and given me to know or understand the same and that I through the service of the love of Iesus Christ declare forth again the same mystery of the riches of God upon the earth and minister the gracious and living word of the â—ord which I have received out of the true light and heavenly Ierusalem to a witnes of the truth from the mouth of God himself in his name and according to his will to the preservation and blessing of all generations of the earth which beleeve theron according to the promises So were it likewise very meet and right that they all which will now bide preserved in these perilous times gave ear unto me in the gracious word of my heavenly father turned their hearts with all good willingnesse to the love and her service unto the obedience of the gracious word and ran not forth in ignorance according to their good-thinking or imagination of the knowledge and that also they all which hear to day this voice or witnessing of the holy spirit of love hardned not their hearts nor yet took offence at the Ministraâ—ion of the gracious word but stood well-minded to the lovely and upright being of our Lord Iesus Christ and to his love respected well this same day to the purging of their heart and minde and even so enâ—red with the children of God into the resâ— of the Lord. 2 Which rest even till unto this same day is left unto the children of God or reserved for them to the end that the same should now in the last
that likewise the unilluminated inclined their hearts with the ears of their hearing and understanding unto the testimonies of the unregenerated and unrenewed or ungoded men or unsent Preachers which meaned not Christ or had him not in consideration aright nor had kept according to the truth the Pascha with Christ and were not entred through the death of Christ into the everlasting life but out of their own goodthinking or out of their literal knowledge came into the sheep or communalty of the Believers or besides the Church of Christ which were also called of Christ thieves wolves and murderers and of the true prophets false pastors so ceased then likewise with them the true daylie offering or God-service in the holy the incorporating into Christ with his like death and the renewing of the life and mind in Jesu Christ or the procreation of Christ through his light and Spirit and it became over them and over the whole face of the Earth utterly night and dark and through the same darkness the foregoing service which leadeth to the life of Jesus Christ became unknown and there entred in much renting and division among the children of men to wit that many of them became estranged from the truth from the Church of Christ and from the right sense of her services and even so got the abomination of desolation contrary to Christ and the requiring of his doctrine his breaking in over such as were declined or estranged from the true Doctrine of Jesus Christ which leadeth to the new birth of the uprâ—ght mind and Being of Christ. 5. For with all them that turned off and went astray from the Church of Christ and from the right use of her services the Belief of salvation was forsaken and the Scripture was become to them all as a closed book or dark word that was without light For that cause also the service which was administred out of the letter of the Scripture of the unilluminated was as a dead body without soul or as a dead wife which is deceased from her husband and can bring forth no children of life 6. NOw when this true light for the self wisdoms cause of the earthly man which is the darkness against the true light gave no more cleerness upon earth with the off-fallers and estranged from the true belief and that likewise the night or darkness had captived the unbelievers and the estranged from the Church of Christ so obtained then the nature of sin or the childe of the Divel and condemnation that contrary nature or adversary of Christ which is called Antichrist his shape in the inward Temple of the unbelieving and unregenerated men and multiplyed it self even so among many on the earth in the bringing forth of his wicked fruiâ—s 7. Antichrist signifieth unto us a contrary anointing And is an anointing or a freedom either an appeasing of the heart which cometh unto the man when he is separated or estranged from the true Belief of Jesu Christ and from his Church in his inwardness before the coming of the true Christ or anointing of the holy Ghost from the seed of the old serpent or of the Divel Which false anointing that the man taketh on to himself out of the flesh and out of the fleshly wisdom of his goodthinking knowledge as also cut of the seed of the divel and wisdom of the flesh worketh in him a secret resâ—sting and disobedience against the Lord Jesus Christ and his requiring And the same resisting and disobeence is the secret iniquity of Antichrist which the man in his estranging from Christ and his Church cannot well perceive because that he in the separation from Jesu Christ is well contented in his heart with the wisdom of the flesh and even so contrary to the right doctrine of Iesu Christ which hath her ministration to the holy Spirit of Christ and his love on the good life of God liveth boldly against all God's truth in his self wisdom knowledge or scripture learnedness the which is a false freedom and the abomination of desolation against all that which is God God service and Christ or the truth of God 8. BEhold this Antichrist hath exalted himself with his deadly service and fals light of disobedient knowledge against all that which is of God or of the upright Being of Jesus Christ above God and above the true God service and set himself as though he himself were God in the temple of the Lord namely in the inward part of the man wherein the living God with his Christ ought to dwell to live and to walk and hath â—ven so quite and clean abolished or destroyed the Law of the Lord and the true faith in Jesu Christ also driven out and taken away the same from the hearts mindes and thoughts of men and darkned it in them brought the Holy of the house of God into desolation caused the daylie offering in the Holy which is the mortifying of the sin through the death of Christ to cease and even so set the abomination of desolation in the holy place where it ought not to stand 9. Out of which abomination of Desolation which in the secret of the man's inwardness hath increased in all manner of iniquity and abominations till unto this day and obtained the preheminence with many there are risen up many manner spirits of Error and sundry sorts of false hearts of the Scripture learned which have out of the goodthinking of their own spirit and out of their Scripture learnedness as also through their ingeniousness or imagination of the knowledge brought forth manifold false Doctrines wherethrough they seduced the people and estranged them more and more from Christ and his Church and from the new Birth in Jesu Christ. The XXIX Chapter NOw when the Apostates or off-fallers from the safe making faith had set aside the true doctrine of Jesu Christ which taught the Believers of Christ unto all humility and meekness of heart and to the upright Being of the love of Christ and gave them to the ingeniousness of their knowledges and even so with their knowledge set up themselves to be Judges over the testimonies of Christ and his Apostles so clave they â—hen unto the spirits of error and brought in therethrough absurd arguments of Christ and of all that the Scripture speaketh of him or of the spiritual heavenly goods stirred up the hearts of men unto many manner of foolish desireâ— vain or fond knowledges and to manifold false righteousness and chosen holyness and administred even so their own leaven for the bread of life 2. Wherethrough likewise the daily offering in the holy of the true Tabernacle was no more observed according to the true Being with them and their adherents and for that cause also there chansed with them no purging of sins nor pouring forth of the holy Ghost 3. For the imagination of the
Ceremonies should always remember the passion or suffering of Christ the Offering for the sin the death of Christ his Burial the Pascha or his Passe-over and his Resurrection and Ascension 5. They held also a remembrance of the Saints which had faithfully followed after Christ likewise of the confessing of sins and of the forgiveness of the same as also of the Cleansing which is called Purgatory Also they named certain observations or usages of the same services Sacraments which they held forth before the believers to holy signes and kept them therewith in orderliness of life 6. The Cleansing which is called Purgatory signifieth unto us the making pure of the beleevers of Christ which they in distress affliction sorrow and anguish for the sins cause do pass thorow wherein they as in a fire of humiliation are purged or justified from all their sins through the belief for to enter even so with pure hearts into the Kingdome of the God of heavens In which fire of Cleansing or Purgatory the upright beleevers of Christ shew forth patience in Prayer unto God And even so in the beleef and in the manner of suffering they follow after Christ in his death of the cross to the purging of their sins Sacrament signifieth unto us an holy signe of a secret or hidden thing to whom one giveth the name of some holy or godly thing that the same Sacrament hath hidden in it or it signifieth the same holiness or godliness that hath been tofore or shall come after-ward 7. In conclusion they held of all the holy â—â—â—ngs whereof the Scripture maketh mention a memorial or remembrance And all this same was daily set forth and preached or published in figures unto the People to a good memorial or for to have the same continually in remembrance that it was come to pass or had the foregoing according to tâ—e truth in the true being 8 BUt verily where now these figurative services are far away preferred above the upright righteousness and above the very true which they signifie so are they in themselves or out of themselves without the true light void of force for men to come therethrough to the perfection in Jesus Christ neither yet can the People likewise through those same obtaine or inherit the purging from their sins nor the putting away of spottedness from their conscience nor yet the true being of the mystery of the Sacraments and figurative services like as the same is now through the holy Spirit of Jesus Christ and his service of love declared and brought unto us 9. Therefore have not these foresaid figurative services been any more furtherance unto them nor yet brought the People neerer unto the true being then unto nurturable sustentation and to a figurative remembrance of Christ and of the things which the holy ones of Christ were passed thorow and which all beleevers of Jesus Christ ought to pass thorow 10. BEhold In the mean time the while it was yet night with many and that the figurative services and Sacraments were with diligence set forth and earnestly observed to an humbling of the People so have the People which humbled them obediently thereunder been kept under those figurative services so that the great and horrible destruction hath not fallen upon them which shall now in this last time fall upon all ungodly and resisters of the truth and upon all them obediently under the service of the love of Jesus Christ. 11. For that cause the said figurative services and ceremonies shall not now in this day of the love of Jesus Christ be imputed unto the People which have intended sought the righteousness therein for sin but much rather for righteousness because they have shewed therein their good will unto the righteousness 12. For now in this day of the love of Jesus Christ must no doubt the figurative services be all renewed unto their right use through the true light and through his upright service of love aâ—d declaring of the requiring of his upright righteousness also set or oâ—dained in their right ordinance and used to the requiring of the upright righteousness in their right observation they shall even so in their right use at the appointed time of the Father have the fulfilling of their requiring with the obedient beleevers in Jesus Christ. 13. And all good willing ones to the upright righteousness in Jesus Christ with all such as assemble them unto us and our communiality and humble them to our most holy services of the love and his requiring shall then likewise to an entrance into the same upright righteousness become renewed in their understanding to the enâ— that they all might rightly according to the truth and according to the râ—quiring of our most holy service of love pass forth from their beginning or entrance of the Christian life after the very true perfection But whoso refuse this same and they that turne them away therefrom those shall not obtaine the upright righteousness of God nether presently nor for ever 14. WHat shall we now say hereof shall we then witness that we which are comprehended established in the â—rue love and upright being of Christ and are Elders and Ministers of the word of the Lord do let pass to minister the right use of the â—mage-like and figurative services and the â—â—gnes of the secret godly things among the unilluminated and unregenerated seeing that their Images figures and shadows have through the perfect righteousness the fulfilling of the requiring with the perfect ones and that also the unregenerated should forsake those same No in no wise but we require under the obedience of the love with the right use of the image-like and figurative services the obedience unto the requiring of those same at their hands and so daily instruct them with those same and through those same that they are debtours to accomplish and obediently to â—stablish the requiring of thâ—se same and even so obediently to observe them till unto the appointed time of the fullfilling oâ— their requiring 15. For this we say out of the living trutâ— of God which is declared unto us out 〈◊〉 Gods grace that he which without the loâ—â— and hâ—r service or without the very true beiâ—â— of the love of Jesus Christ and his service foâ—â—saketh the image-like or figurative servicâ—â— and the signes of the secret godly things through his good thinking or knowledge and even so separateth him from the ministâ—â—tion of those same and accomplisheth 〈◊〉 their requiring nor hath been obedient 〈◊〉 the service of love till unto the rising up tâ—e true light in his heart nor yet remainâ— stedfast in the doctrine of the same services unto the upright being of the love of Jesus Christ â—e forsaketh verily although he have never so much knowledge of spiritual and heavenly things the Images or figures and the signes of the secret godly things unrightly and with ignorance and taketh
Congregation or flock of Christ. 11. For that cause they are also fore-goers unto them that are growing up to Elders in the mortifying burying of the sin and the ministers of the holy word in the holy of the true offering that is in the keeping of the Pascha or Passeover with Christ in his Supper wherein the death of the sin at the end of the same the making alive of the man cometh to pass 12. With which service they inform and are serviceable to the Priests or Elders which are a-coming on namely unto the weaned Lambes which are weaned or withdrawn from the milk of their youngness and growing up to the old-age of a sheep of Christ or which increase them in the godly wisdom of Christ till unto the old age of the holy understanding of Christ and of the godly wisdome of the oldest Father or chief Bishop 13. For because of this same service in the holy and because of their manly old age of the holy understanding such ministers of the holy Word were in time past in the true being named Bishops or Superiours of the Elders either Pastours of the sheep of Christ. 14. THe next unto the Bishops are named Parish-Priests or Curates which signifie unto us Levitical priests or adjoyned Pastors and Elders of the holy understanding as those that are joyned and ordained to the ministration of the holy Priests office and to the service of the Communalty for to minister even so in the service of the holy Word the fore-front of the holy Tabernacle or the entrance of the Church of Christ either beginning of the Christian life in his Service and Requiring Which Elders are chosen and joyned to the Service of the holy Word because they leave or let pass the childhood or youngness of the holy understanding and grow up according to the requiring of the service of Love unto the manly agedness of Christ that is unto the true being of the oldest and holiest Father or pass forth after the Perfection and even so go before the Communalty of the Believers in the Circumcision of the heart or in the laying away of the sin in the Flesh in all fear of God 15. For that cause they have also their Service in the Congregation or Church of Christ namely in the fore-front that is where the Sanctification or godliness or the new birth in Christ hath his beginning to a laying away of the sin in the â—lesh 16. Hereunto serve the Parish-priests as to â—â—ch procuratours or helpers forward of â—he communiâ—lities for to bear a good care over them and to witness â—nd teach them daily the holy understanding of Christ the oldest Father according to the ordinance of their Bishop to a leading of them into the holy of the true God-service in the Spirit where the purging and forgiveness of sins cometh to pass to the end that the communiality should even so with the service of the holy word be peaceably sustained and nourished and live godly in all love and concord 17. THe next unto the Parish-Priests are named Deacons Which signifie unto us Ministers or helpers of the Parish-priests in the holy God-services to the end that it all whatsoever concerneth the service of the holy Word and the godly doctrine might be orderly and godly ministred among the Communialities 18. THe next unto the Deacons are named Sextons Which signifie unto us conservers or keepers of the holy things or to whom the charge of holy things to be used in their Ordinance is committed that they might be occupied in due or convenient time 19. AMong all those there are also risen up many manner of Orders wherethrough many anointed ones and zealous People have sought the righteousness and holy ones which are named Monks Which signifie unto us such as dwell alone and are through the love of the righteousness sanctified and for that cause also separated from the World and from all what is worldly and fleshly for to live even so as sanctified ones of God in the solitariness of their life wholly in God and in his holy being 20. For such as were mortified touching the world and the flesh with all self-lusts and desires and busied them not with any thing save only with the things which concerned God and his righteousness were in time past so named 21. NExt unto all these forenamed anointed ones are the common People which believe and cleave unto the Services Religions Ceremonies of the anointed and which also humble them to the requiring of those same The which are named Christians and are yet unanointed and signifie unto us the Christian Church or the Congregation of Christians or anointed ones which are assembled through the service of the holy Word by the Elders of the holy understanding unto the sanctification in Jesu Christ and before whom the costly treasures of the holy things or of the spiritual and heavenly goods are set forth unto Salvation in Christ and which also submit them obediently under the doctrine of the anointed ones or spiritual persons which daily hold forth the law or ordinance of the Lord before them and teach them how they should live also come to the spiritual understanding or new Birth in Christ and what they ought to do and leave undone 22. And they that remaine live and walk without the same Christianity or her Congregation with al them that are not incorporated as fellow-members of the Church of Christ into the same are named Heathen which have their forth-going without Christ and his Church in the Heathenship or uncircumcision also are captived or blinded with darkness and cannot obtaine nor inherit any Salvation nor everlasting life with Christ. 23. BEhold All this hath been even so in times past in his true being whenas the light of life had his clearness and the belief of Iesu Christ her service in the holy ones of God the renewed or godded men upon the Earth But all this same as touching the knowledg thereof according to his upright being is become darkned or secret before many and the truth and right ordinance of the same also utterly unknown All which shall now in this day of love be restored or brought againe through the revealing of the coming of Christ and of his holy Spirit into his upright state and true being or Christian ordinance and flourish or become forcible according to the promises The XXXII Chapter NOw when these Services of the Images or figures to a memorial of the holy things which were tofore chanced concerning Christ and his holy ones had stood a long season in their Service so have many People been drawn therewithall which respected and believed those same for the very true and perfect God-services and works of righteousness which God required and they were likewise so set forth and taught by many namely after the manner as it also chanced in times past with the
Jews which stood in such-like wise captived in their image-like and figurative Services and Ceremonies 2. For unto all them that walk without the true being of the Godliness heavenly Truth or without the Family of the Love of Jesu Christ and so according to their good thinking set up minister teach forth and observe Services and Ceremonies all things chance or they have them in Similitudes Parables or closed books and in Images Figures and Shadows because they should not without the Very true and his upright prefiguration see with the eyes of their earthly mindes hear with the ears of their fleshly thoughts nor comprehend in their dark hearts the secret works of the holy Spirit of Christ which also the world nor her Wise understand know nor receive 3. BUt whenas now many manner abuses and ignorance of the right difference of the said figurative Services which witnessed according to the Scripture figuratively of the Very true which was come to pass were entered in and that the Services and Ceremonies were taught believed and observed with ignorance by many so is there at the last great contention debate and division of minds and understandings risen up among them that were comprehended thereunder for the Services and Ceremonies cause 4. Wherethrough many unorderly rejected and blasphemed the Services and Ceremonies of the Catholike Church of Rome rented the concord and nurturable sustentation of the same and turned them away therefrom and even so out of their knowledge which they took out of the Scripture brought in certain Services and Ceremonies in another wise or order and set forth and taught those same for the upright Christian Ceremonies unto the people Howbeit they have procured or obtained little love and righteousness but rather much contention controversie therewithal For many of them understood not what they taught nor what the Services and Ceremonies which they rejected and blasphemed signified in themselves 5. They spake likewise much of Gods Word which yet they themselves like as it is a living and mighty Word that cutteth and pierceth as a sharp sword into the inmost part of the soul had never heard nor seen his clearness like as it is shining and flowing forth out of the living God much less understood the mind or will of the same 6. For that cause they have also not distincted nor declared unto the People the figurative services nor the mind of their right form and use whereunto they were used by the old Fathers from the perverse opinion wherein they were set forth or taught by many and the People captived therewith 7. BEhold in this contention and controversie which sprang up among the unilluminated People after that the defection or estranging from Christ and from the holy belief was once chanced with many through the works of darkness so became then manifest and known like as there is written thereof the nature of sin or the child of the devil and of the condemnation which in the Scripture is named Antichrist whose iniquity wherethrough the Law or Ordinance of the Lord was abolished and the true holy and the requiring of his services laid wast in the hearts of the men remained secret and unknown unto many till unto the same time 8. In which time of the manifesting and knowledge of this same mischievous one one might certainly if he had had a right regard unto the Scripture have easily perceived thereout that the great day of the Lord and the coming of Christ was coming on or at hand and hâ—rd by according to the Scripture 9. BUt seeing now that there was much contention and many divided minds and understandings which very much reprehended slandered and judged each other for evil risen up or come in place and that certain services and Ceremonies weâ—e brought in in varible sort so have there been also among them all many zealous and God-fearing hearts which have loved the righteousness with all their hearts and for that cause searched the Scripture that they might understand the same with great diligence and earnestness and so sought after the most perfect understanding of the Scriptures 10. But for the most part they were all divided one against another For every one rested perswaded to have right in his cause and like wise in his service the upright Christian Ceremonies or the name thereof 11. Among all these there have also been certain which were counted of many for Sectaries Hereticks and Seducers of the people and for that cause persecuted and banished and many for the conscience and faiths cause were slain and put to death 12. OH what a lamentable thing is the slaying or shedding of blood for the consciences cause to wit of those that are zealous towards the righteousness and according to the outward dealing do no man harm 13. For this I say verily that many single-minded hearts for the consciences cause which they had to God and his righteousness have been guiltlesly put to death 14. Oh what is there more lamentable before God and his holy ones then the shedding of innocent blood The XXXIII Chapter AMong these divided people there have many likewise mingled themselves whose hearts sought not the righteousness which also at the last became manifest to be false hearts namely through their covetousness and ease in the flesh and through manifold self-seeking whereafter they sought as also through much more other falshood which they practised and used 2. Certain of those false hearts have turned them to slandering and traitory in such wise that they have with slander and wicked back-biting betrayed the other with whom they in hypocrisie had falsly their conversation yea and also delivered over certain into the hands of the Magistrates for to be slain or rooted out 3. Certain have killed murdered and in many manner of wise destroyed one another of them Certain have applied them with subtilty unto uproar and warlike dealings and to stealing or the every and certain also to false and inordinate liberties and are even so fallen into manifold unjust dealings and blaspheming of God 4. For that cause through these many manner of abuses and ignorances taken on and maintained out of the knowledge of the Scripture and by reason of the false hearts which set forth and enforced Religions Ceremonies or God-services wherethrough they with many manner of false testimonies accused each other for Sectaries and Seducers and also brayed forth much wickedness to slander and cursing one over another the Magistrates of the world were occasioned against many to persecution and putting to death 5. AT that time there came great strictness and calamity upon many people also much doubting and bethinking which might be the truth the righteousness and the upright services or Ceremonies which God regardeth 6. But whilst that they knew not the truth the righteousness nor the upright services and Câ—remonies nor loved the upright righteousness with all their heart so is also
sung from everlasting to everlasting and wherein all minds of pure hearts do dwell live and walk with freedome and Christian triumph in all love 5. THis great day-light of the most high God hath presently in his righteous Judgement shined about us Which great grace and mercy is chanced unto us for that we should publish the true Evangelie of the Kingdom of the same light in all the world for a witness unto all people and to peace and joy as also to an eternal mercifulness or pitying of the servants of the Lord or of all them that seek the Lord that the Scriptures mought become fulfilled and all such as remember the Lord be assembled in the body of Christ unto this his seat of the righteous judgement and to his Most holy of the true Tabernacle or house of his dwelling and not for our sake nor for any mans righteousness cause 6. For even so in all such sort as God hath now made manifest his wonderful work upon the earth must the Scripture be fulfilled his Most holy declared to an everlasting true and perfect light and evangelized or published in all the world to an everlasting rest and peace of his holy ones 7. For I say unto you verily that the Lord hath wrought this wonderful work of his love extended on us out of his grace for his own sake for to make his holy Name now in the last time according to his promises great and glorious in all Lands and so to declare his truth and righteousness upon the earth to shew his true God-service to consecrate or hallow again the Holy of his true Tabernacle which hath a long time utterly lain waste with many abominations through his gracious word and service of Love out of the light of the Most holy and to set up again the daily offering which hath also ceased a long time for the abomination of desolations cause To the end that the same mought be ministred in his upright Service like as in times past to the purging and forgiveness of sins 8. EVen thus would tâ—e Lord let his Word of life be heard now in the last time upon earth that his promises mought be â—stablished the hungry souls satisfied with righteousness the Scripture fulfilled in all what God hath spoken through the Spirit of his Prophets and of his Christ and the man which hath utterly corrupted his understanding with the knowledge made safe and blessed out of his grace according to the promises The XXXV Chapter BEhold ye dearly beloved how that now in this present day the Scripture becometh fulfilled in all what it mentioneth of Christ of his seed and of the coming of his glory 2. Which coming of Christ in his glory like as the same was in times past published unto the heathen and also believed of them God hath now in the last time declared among the Heathen and shewed mercy on the Heathen before all other that the whole earth mought be filled with his glory like as there is written thereof As truly as I live saith the Lord the whole world shall be filled with the glory of God 3. Further saith the Lord through Esdras They that have not heard me shall notwithstanding believe me or put their trust in me and they to whom I have shewed no tokens shall do the thing that I command them They have seen no Prophets yet shall they call their unrighteousness to remembrance Therefore witness I mercy saith the Lord unto the People which are to come whose babes or little children rejoyce them with gladness And although they see me not with bodily eys yet believe they in the Spirit the thing that I say I will give unto them the Dukedom of Abraham Isaac and Iacob and of the Prophets 4. Further through Isaiah The Lord will display or set up a Banner far-abroad among the Heathen and allure them from the ends of the earth 5. Againe through Ezekiel I will bring my glory among the Heathen that all Heathen may see my Judgement that I have kept and my hand which I have stretched out over them to the end that the hous of Israel may thereby know that I the Lord am their God even from this day forth for evermore 6. Again over Israel O thou Daughter of Israel I will build thee again that thou shalt be firm and sure 7. Againe The habitations of Israel are very goodly For they are like broad valleys as the well-watered Gardens by the Rivers and as the Tabernacles which the Lord stablisheth even like the Cedars planted by the water side There shall water flow forth out of his bucket and his seed shall be a great water 8. BEhold In this present day is this Scripture fulfilled and according to the testimony of the Scripture the raising up and resurrection of the Lords dead cometh also to pass presently in this same day through the apearing of the coming of Christ in his Majesty Which resurrection of the dead seeing that the same is come unto us from Gods grace we do likewise in this present day to an Evangely or joyful Message of the Kingdom of God and Christ publish in all the world under the obedience of the love 9. In which resurrection of the dead God sheweth unto us that the time is now fulfilled that his dead or the dead which are fallen asleep in the Lord rise up in this day of his judgement and appear unto us in godly glory which shall also from hencefoâ—th live in us everlastingly with Christ and reign upon the earth wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written thereof 10. The Lord shall judge his people and he will have mercy on his servants or ministers For he shall behold that their power faileth them 11. Again The Lord slayeth and maketh alive he leadeth into hell and bringeth thereout again 12. The Lord maketh poor and rich he humbleth and exalteth 13. He lifteth up the needy out of the dust and exalteth the poor out of the mire that he mought set him among the Princes and let him inherit the seat of honour 14. Further the Lord saith touching his dead I will not contend for ever nor be always angry but there shall a spirit or winde blowe from my face and I will make breath 15. Again Christ speaketh touching him which believeth in him I will raise him again in the last day 16. Again The Lord hath appointed a day in which he will judge the compass or circuit of the earth with righteousness through one man in whom he hath decreed it which holdeth forth the Belief before every one inasmuch as God hath raised him from the death 17. Again There shall be no more death sorrow wailing nor pain for the first is passed by And he which sate upon the seat