from the beginning [o] Jerem. 7 John 14 Apoc. 21 and chosen you to an House for my Dwelling to which glorious lordliness with Me ye cannot come so long as ye resuse the Obedience of my gracious Word and [p] Heb. 10 despise my Spirit of Love and so hearken to your selves and pass forth after the direction of your own Iudgment 8. O ye children of men saith the Lord consider and call to mind yet once what ye all have been thus long and yet are so long as ye have heard and beleeved your selves or whilst that ye yet dayly do hear and beleeve your selves and abide [q] Ephes 4. estranged from my Service of Love and upright Being 9. And if ye now desire to come again unto Me and to your upright Being and State then hear nor beleeve not your selves any longer but hear and beleeve my [r] Joh 5 and 8 Word that in my Service of Love floweth sorth out of my Mouth 10. Submit you [s] Eccles 7 1 Pet. 5 there-under and do according to my Counsel saith the Lord so shall ye then come to right again also enjoy my Goodness and inherit all my Treasures [t] Mat. 13 Col. 2 and Riches 11. O ye children of men saith the Lord Wherefore will ye thus abide so gladly by your selves seeing ye are always so much deceived with your selves For by your selves ye find nothing else but [u] Jer 7 9 John 8 Lyes and [x] Is 5 9 Darkness where-through ye divide intangle and destroy your selves 12. But by Me and by my Word and Service of Love ye find the true Being of my Dwelling together with the Truth the Wisdom and all good Counsel to your Preservation also the Light of Life [y] Eccles 24 the lovely Being of the Love and the everlasting Life to your Joy and Felicity 13. For that cause to your Preservation take now good heed to the gracious [z] Jer. 31 Word that I presently in this very day through my holy Spirit and Service of Love [a] Isaiah 2 and 26 Micha 1 and 4 set to be heard and set forth before you out of the Tabernacle of my Dwelling 14. And even so for my Loves cause saith the Lord wherewith I have always loved you [b] Mat. 16 Luke 9 14 forsake now your selves and all your own Word Will and Counsel and hear and believe only my Word that floweth from Me out of my holy Spirit and Service of Love for otherwise ye cannot come to my Dwelling 15. Therefore [c] Isaiah 2 Micha 4 Zach. 8 come now all unto Me saith the Lord and assemble you all to the House of my Dwelling namely to the House of my Love where-out I let my [d] Isaiah 2 and 26 Word be heard and wherein I have the Seat of my Majesty 16. Come now all hither and for my Loves cause [e] Mat. 16 forsake wholly your selves or your own life and all what ye your selves and for your own selves cause have taken on and all that is Mine [f] Psal 24 and 146 or that belongeth to Me bring unto Me and lay it all down before the [g] 1 Pat. 30 Acts 5 Feet of my Majesty even the House of my Love and acknowledg that it is all my [h] Psalm 24 and 50 Propriety or very own 17. When ye now have done all this saith the Lord then plant all your Hearts in the only Heart of my gracious Word and holy Spirit of Love to the end that ye all might become (i) Iohn 17 Acts 4 one Heart Being or Mind in Me and that I likewise with my gracious Word and holy Spirit of Love may even so dwell (k) John 14 2 Cor. 6 Apoc. 21 live and walk in you all 18. For thereto truly the Service of my Lovestretcheth which I now in the last time extend so graciously on you and even thereto I have also loved and elected you all O ye generations of men to the end that ye all through the Service of my Love might be assembled again unto me in my godly Being and have love and peace among each other 19. Wherefore seeing now that this is the last time [l] Joel 2 Acts 2 of Grace in which saith the Lord I let my voyce go forth to the end that every one may come to my Rest so [m] Psal 95 Heb 3 4 harden not your hearts in any case this day in the hearing of my voyce that ye abide not without this my holy Rest which is published unto you and whereunto ye are courteously bidden But become turned about thereunto in your heart and minde and to enter into the same so gather you now altogether unto my house of Love and to my holy Tabernacle or man of God [n] Ier. 31 Ezek 37 wherein I as a glorious God with my perfect Godhead as with my Christ at my right hand and with my holy Spirit of Love my true Being do live dwell and walk and wherein we as one true Deity have revealed and [o] Iohn 13 and 17 glorified us to the end that ye all now may become consubstantiated or conformably united in me as one Man of God and inherit my Rest with all the Children of God 20. For verily I say unto you saith the Lord whosoever now in this very day of my Love assembleth him not to my house nor becometh with his heart graffed [p] Rom. 11 or planted into my heart he shall not enter into my [q] Heb. 4 Rest nor yet for evermore inherit or inhabit with my children of Peace the worthy pleasant Land which I have promised unto them and [r] Math. 25 prepared for them from the beginning of the world neither yet obtain either in this time or in any time to come any Grace of Salvation Life of Peace nor true Love nor yet become [s] 2 Pet 1 one Being with my godly nature but all such which so abide without me and my holy house or communality of Love shall be [t] Ier. 17 and 22 and 25 Wisd 17 scattered abroad and brought to confusion and bound [u] Mat. 25 2 Pet. 2 with the bands of darkness in the horrible Destruction and so abide [x] 2 Thes 1 estranged from the Light of my lovely face for ever and ever 21. O ye Children of men saith the Lord harden [y] Psal 95 Heb. 3 not your hearts in any case in the hearing of the voyce of my Spirit in the Service of my Love but come now all to this my [z] Isai 12 and 55 Apoc. 21 and 22 Fountain of Life and refresh [a] Ezek 36 Heb. 10 your heart and minde in the same and in her out-flowing waters for the same waters which flow there-out [b] Iohn 4 and 7 Apoc. 21 and 22 are my safe-making waters of Life to the satisfying of all thirsty Souls after the Righteousness and the
to their Knowledge For as soon as they read or hear the same they suppose by and by that thet have rightly apprehended and well understood them not first minding to enter in to obtain and to live in that which they bear witnesse of whereas yet the service of our writing tendeth hereunto even that mens hearts as is there set forth should be prepared to the same 35. For men strike up no alarm in the host to the intent to make the people unlusty to the battell nor yet that they should but know the exercise of the warr or judge of the Alarm-stroak but that with good courage they should prepare themselves to the battell or fight Thereby every one that hath courage to fight doth then make himself ready to incounter with his enemies and to root out his adversary or to subdue him 36. But alas I find it with many otherwise in that alarm by which the man is called to the spirituall i Eph. 6. fight to the vanquishing of his enemies which inwardly in him are killers and murderers of his soul 37. Therefore it is very true that the children of this world are much k Luk. 16. wiser in their dealing as concerning the flesh then the children of the Kingdom are in that which concerneth the spirit 38. What availeth I pray you an alarm made if men prepare them not to the battell for many are perswaded that this is no time of fighting and that there shall be no need thereof supposing because of their unbelief that nothing shall come of it and lay their hands behind on the back or put them up in the bosome Their heads are giddy as if their hearts were utterly unlusty or dismaid to the fight 39. If one should seek for men of warre where I pray you should he find them Are they not for the most part gone back l Levit. 26. Jer. 48. and become faint hearted as women 40. If they do but once suffer harm and be wounded or forced by any evill defamation or assault of the wicked to sustain any molestation or reproach then are they persvvaded that the cause is altogether nought and so running again after their case they suffer themselves to be ruled by women m Esa 3. their enemy to raign over them and in like manner make truth n Esa 28. with death and a league with hell retain peace with the sin and accuser and become of one mind with the world supposing that then all shall be well moreover they make an appointment or conclusion with themselves that they will no more trouble themselves with the doctrine of the Family of Love nor yet vvith the battell thinking Let them run that will 41. For to resist the evill to break and subdue the wicked heart and evil thoughts and to suffer much distresse contempt and reproach for the same liketh them not they will none of that Howbeit we are alwaies to fight against the evill and to keep good watch continually we are alwaies to think night and day upon the vertue of the godly life alwaies to long and to hunger and thirst after it alvvaies to speak and to treat thereof with such as do so labour thereafter and yet then of many sorts of people and letter-learned to be despised and reproached 42. Because of this toil and for the shame and reproaches cause which meeteth them and because they love not the righteousnesse of the godly life with the heart they let the matter passe saying out of unbelief I cannot further it I hold me still or unoccupied about it let the Lord work it I will commit it unto him Supposing when they thus passe on according to their imagination or do live after the fashion of the world and with an o Rom. 2. unrepenting heart towards God do hold peace with the blasphemers and strivers against the truth of Christ and his love that then God will make it to be well with them 43. Deceive not your selves ye dearly beloved the saying is very right p Act. 16. Eph. 3. Gol. 1. that the Lord worketh it and that he will also cause it to go well with us q Phil. 1.2 and prepare us after his will and pleasure howbeit not without us nor yet without the obedience of the requiring of the service of his holy and gracious word and of his love and whilest that we turne us away in such a sort from him and from the Ministers of his word and do refuse him r Luk. 17. but it is done inwardly in us under the obedience of the requiring of his gracious word and service of love so as we stand subject unto him with good will therein and be of one mind with him against the ungodly being that God may so in us magnifie his holy name Å¿ 2 Reg. 7. and be called t Ier. 10. a God of Hosts a u Esa 47. God of Israel or a God of such a one as beareth dominion with God over his enemies 44. After this manner is God a Lord of his Army He is only the Lord but we the instrument of his hands 45. Out of such an understanding under the obedience of the Law of the Lord did the Kingly Prophet David eftsoons apprehend a zealous stoutnesse even as in divers manners we read in his Psalms how valiantly and couragiously he setteth himself on Gods part against his enemies as well in fighting with good courage as also sometimes in praying and making supplication that God might be his helper 46. After the same manner ought it also to go with us inwardly in our hearts under the obedience of the love x 2 Cor. 3. for no man can do any thing of himself how stout strong or wise soever he be unlesse God be with him who strengthneth him whom under the obedience of the Word and his love he findeth to be of good will and that prayeth unto him for his help 47. If then any man be weak finding himself infirm yet to the battell the same is not y Eccl. 2. rejected nor despised no nor any one that hath been in errour so that they do but trust in God and be good of will do abide in the faith and so in processe of time do increase in strength and be not unwilling in the word of the Lord. 48. Therefore Oye little and sorrowfull hearts z Esa 35.41 be not dismaid but be confident in hope the Lord will not suffer you to be a Esa 54. put to shame Therefore be of good courage 49. Though that the battell come unto you and that ye be despised by the unbelievers of the gracious word and by the blasphemers of the love of God and of the holy spirit of Jesus Christ and that moreover b Mat. 5. 1 Pet. 2.3 all evill be lyingly spoken of you yet be not therefore dismaid 50. For the God of Israel is c Esa 51. our comfort and he the same
or be justified therefrom and might live thereby with God the Father to an everlasting peace according to the promises 10. This communalty or believers of the good life were as children of the belief and obedience t Mat. 26.28 Acts 2.4 joyned together to a bringing in to the same life under the service of the holy Word and the hand reached them thereunto with the Christian ceremonies of Baptisme and the Supper of Christ which Christian ceremonies were administred unto them out of the word of life and observed by them to obedience yet not for the ceremonies but for the upright lifes sake which being afterward to come was u Infra 23 required therewith And thus the Christian ceremonies were not the everlasting commandement of God but the word of life was it 11. Howbeit the ceremonies were annexed thereunto for an assistance x Gal. 3.4 Heb. 7 and bringing in of the believers into the life as is aforesaid even as the same is prefigured unto us by the ceremonies of the Catholike Church of Jesu Christ to the intent that the believers of the holy word and of the good life or Christ should through the service of the ceremonies y 2 Pet. 1 have regard to the same word of life being afterward to come 12. Even thus for the good lifes cause and for the mans sake are the true Christian ceremonies of the gracious word and of his service of love now in the last time annexed unto Gods everlasting Commandement for an assistance of all them to the z 2 Pet. 1 entrance of the upright life which believe in Jesu Christ and humble themselves to the service of his love to the end they should be brought thereby to the life which is Gods everlasting commandement and still abideth namely to a Deut. 10 30 Mat 22 love our God with all our hearts and our neighbour as our selves and to obtain the same b Rom. 3 Eph. 2. through the belief even as it is preached and written because no man should trust upon the ceremonies and find himself deceived by being without the upright life 13. Neverthelesse after those daies of the fore-said ministration of the Christian ceremonies many c 1 Tim. 4 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 2 fell away from the true belief of Christ or of the good life knowing no difference in Gods precept or commandement wherethrough there are now also many become vaine in their understandings in such sort that they themselves know not the meaning of the christian ceremonies nor yet to what purpose they were adjoyned to Gods commandement and by that occasion there is risen up for the Christian ceremonies cause much discord and debate even as heretofore it came to passe for d 2 Cor. 11 Gal. 1.2 3 4 5 6 the Jewish ceremonies 14. Wherefore seeing the services of the former Christian ceremonies after the Letter do bring in controversie and are not set forth or observed out of the word of life nor out of the love of Jesu Christ to the unity of heart in the love but out of the letter with different understandings and in diffention and cannot alone in themselves extend to any commandement of God therefore are not the believers of the good life namely the communalty under the obedience of the love of Iesu Christ bound as is rehearsed thereunto as of necessity outwardly to observe them but they stand free unto them either to keep or to omit them to wit e Rom. 14 as they serve them to peace and are edifiable unto men for Gods commandement f Ioh. 12 is the everlasting life and that is the very love it self even g Deut. 0.30 Mat. 19.22 Rom. 13 to love God above all things and our neighbour as our selves 15. Lo this to be short is the difference of the Jewish and Christian ceremonies and of those of the Family of the Love of Jesu Christ namely to what purpose their office or service is commanded and to what intent they are annexed to the everlasting Commandement of God and observed 16. Now there are likewise divers people that will not use some ceremonies because they judge them as heathenish or idolatrous services and as a forbidding of the Lord by means of abhorring and fear that they have of them least any harm or hinderance should hoppen unto their souls thereby concereing the which it also must be considered how and wherefore the same should be idolatrous services and a forbidding of God for every unright usage hath his occasion sense and signification 17. For whilest the heathen or the uncircumcised people are in respect of the knowledge of God become vain h Rom. 1 Eph. 4 blind and insensible as being utterly estranged from the upright life which God esteemeth therefore do they make or counterfeit unto themselves out of the vanity of their thoughts services and ceremonies which the vain hearts that understand not Gods Law and Ordinance are bewitched and bound with 18. So then the vaine corrupt and bewitched life which neither knoweth nor loveth the living God nor his i Rom. 1 Eph. 4 righteousnesse but is rebellious and unfaithfull to God is Gods forbidding And out of it have the blind people which know not the upright life joyned thereunto their services and ceremonies k Deut. 12 wherefore the contary life to God is the forbidding of the Lord to wit that men shall not believe serve nor be subject to the same and not alone the heathenish services and ceremonies in themselves 19. And for the bewitched lifes cause all is idol-service and against Gods will which such people as are held captive under it or in their inwardnesse are corrupted and bewitched by it do observe and use not for the services but l Esa 1.58 Amâ—s 5 Mic. 6 for their corrupt lives sake 20. For albeit they do out of such a bewitched life of unbelief take on them or counterfeit any thing which men call Jewish or Christian ceremonies yet it is not that which availeth before God m Eph. 2.4 because they are strangers from the life which is of God 21. Therefore seeing they are become n Rom. 1 vain and dark in their understanding insomuch that they know neither the true God or his true God-service nor the Idoll or his Idol-service therefore neither are their outward Gods which men call Idols in themselves o 1 Cor. 8 the right Idols but they are that they are neither are their services or ceremonies the right Idol-services For the Idoll and the Idol-service which God accounteth for such and shutteth for ever without him and his Kingdome and will not have it to be in his Temple or Tabernacle but inwardly to be rooted out p 1 Reg. 15. 1 Cor. 6 Eph. 5 Col. 3 is the depraved or corrupt life as is aforesaid by which corrupt life the people that are holden therewith are bewitched and tied to the unprositable and vain things which indeed
obediently in the Service of Love with humble hearts unto the holy Word of the Spirit of Love and are godly of Will yea my minde standeth good-willing-towards all such even to all Grace and Mercy be he then what he is Friend or Stranger CHAP. IX BUt now if happily certain of the good-willing hearts to the Love should take these our fore-spoken sayings somewhat heavily or grievously to minde and say thereupon Because we are not altogether perfect Ye nor the Lord have not peradventure any good pleasure in us and we shall also possibly for our Imperfections cause seeing that we yet dayly stumble fall and sin very much perish with the wicked world and all ungodly 2. O ye Beloved and all ye good-willing hearts which are good-willing to the obedience of the witnessings of the holy Spirit of Love but are yet too young [a] Rom. 15 Gal. 6 and too weak to enter into the perfection these fore-spoken sharp sayings reprovings and punishments are not spoken to such as humble themselves obediently to the gracious Word and his Service of Love to do the Lords Will nor yet to the good-willing ones unto the same obedience b Rom. 7 although they are yet young and weak in the accomplishing of the perfection but to the evil-willing and to all them that with perverse c Wisd 1 thoughts and false or deceitful intents enter in so falsly d 1 Iohn 2 besides us and mean or purpose in no wise the Love but in all themselves and even so with their [e] Isai 59 Ier. 9 Wisd 1 malicious hearts and perverse thoughts hall away again from us also slander or [f] 2 Pet. 2 Iude 1 blaspheme the holy Word and our upright and godly Service of the Love and so spue forth their falshood with many lyes over us 3. Behold over this g Isa 1 wicked and venomous nature passeth forth the Judgment of God h Prov. 1 Isa 13 Wisd 12 Heb. 10 and his Punishment to the Condemnation of the same wicked Nature 4. For that cause O ye good-willing hearts set apart such thoughts as that God and the Spirit of his Love or his holy Ones should not for your weakness cause have any good pleasure in you in any case far from you but remember as it is also very true and look into the same according to the Truth that the grace of God the Father and the mercifulness of his Love prevaileth or taketh in the preeminence i Isai 13 Rom. 5 abundantly by or in the Beleevers of the Word and that God and the Spirit of his Love is k Rom. 2 2 Pet. 3 long-suffering towards all good-willing ones which humble them under the obedience of his Love also l Heb. 2 and 5 beareth them in all their weakness and m Ier. 31 forgiveth dayly all their sins to the end that they should even so enjoy his comfort and grow up with cheerful hearts or good courage so much the good willinger in the obedience n Eph. 4 Col. 1 of the gracious Word and so go on or press forth unto o 1 Pet. 5 Phil. 3 Heb. 6 the perfection 5. For consider and look into it once aright If the Sin whilest it was yet night have p Rom. 5 prevailed in us how much more then shall the Grace and Mercy of God to the obtaining of the Righteousness seeing that now to the salvation of men [q] Rom. 13 the Day against the Night and the Love with her safe-making Service against the Sin and Condemnation is entered in prevail or take the preheminence over us namely over all them that are [r] Luke 2 good of will and that submit or wholly give over themselves with all their heart for to be s Deut. 30 1 Kings 15 obedient unto the holy Word under the Love and express even so in the giving over of their heart that they have not any will to the t Rom. 6 sin or that which is [u] Wisd 14 Romans 1 unright nor yet to the [x] Rom. 13 Eph. 2 5 darknesses of the wicked world but have turned all their lust to the Righteousness for to [y] Iohn 8 and 12 1 Iohn 1 and 2 walk uprightly with the Communality of the Love in the light of the lovely Being of God for God hath no pleasure [z] Ezek. 18 1 Tim 2 2 Peter 3 in the perishing of sinners but his Pleasure is that they should all convert unto Him [a] Acts 17 repent them for their sins and live in his Righteousness 6. For that cause O ye feeble minded of heart and all ye infirm or weak which love the upright Life permit not any evil surmisings to take effect in you nor yet give place to the unbelief whereby you might be plucked away from the God of Life from the House or Communality of the holy ones of his Love but in all things wherein your memory or understanding might chance to be moved apply always [b] Prov. 4 your minds and thoughts to the instruction of the Wisdom and to the Doctrine of the holy Understanding of the Spirit of Love and submit [c] Eccles 6 even so your whole memory or understanding with all your minds and thoughts to the vertues of the godliness for to follow after the same in all obedience of the holy Word and to become old [d] Ezek. 4 and understanding therein to the end that ye in the youngness of your understanding seduce or deceive not your selves with any strange and [e] Wisd 4 Eccles 3 unprofitable thoughts 7. But ye shall always in your youngness and weakness let the giving over of your heart or your good-willingness to the Love and to the Obedience of the Requiring of her Service [f] Eccles 4 and 17 appear or become expressed before the [g] Eccles 6 7 8 9 Elders of the holy Understanding in the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love and not at the first the Perfection for verily it is not in your power at the first in the time of your youngness and weakness to bring forth the Perfection CHAP. X. GIve diligent Ear hereto and understand well the Words of my Voyce O ye Novises in our holy Communality or Family of Love wherein God himself dweleth and walketh and ye all which are yet young a Cor. 3 Heb. 5 and 6 in the holy Understanding and weak in the accomplishing of the upright Righteousness Consider and note once aright which is your first School Rule or the beginning of the Christian Doctrine in our upright Service of the godly Love namely that ye first of all turn you about from the b Isaiah 1 and 55 Jer 7 18 25 35 Iniquity and from all ungodly Being utterly forsake all the c Ezek. 14 Mat. 24 Abominations of the wicked world and with all your heart d 2 Cor. 6 Apoc. 18 depart there-from
become manifest and known whether thou art an adulterous Whore or the upright and faithful married Wife of the Man Christ 12. For verily like as the jealousie of an husband standeth over his wife that she dealeth not faithfully but as an adulterous whore even so standeth also my jealousie over thee thou earthly man which wilt g 2 Cor. 11 be the espoused Wife of the Man Christ or vauntest and givest forth thy self for the same and also over all such as with the spirit of the earthly and h Iohn 8 devilish Being boast them to be the married wife of Christ or of his Spirit of Love 13. For that cause if thou now account not thy self for an whore but esteemest thee for the faithful espoused Wife of Christ and that my jealous conceiving cannot stand otherwise towards thee but that thou art a presumptuous Whore which dissembleth or playeth the hypocrite with Christ and coveredly i Jer 2 3 Ezek. 16 Hosea 4 and 5 committeth whoredom and yet nevertheless wilt be judged as a faithful espoused Wife of Christ so shalt thou then presently be constrained to drink this bitter k Numb 5 cursed water of my jealousie and to bear the cursing of an adulterous Whore or of an unfaithful Wife 14. But if now thou be faithful and the upright espoused Wife of Chrst then fear not to drink these bitter Waters for any destruction that can chance unto thee there out or endamage thee thereby For the upright married Wife or Bride of the Man Christ namely the faithfull l Rom 12 1 Cor. 12 Eph. 4 5 Communiallity of the Holy ones of God or the fellow Members of Christ hath been constrained in times past by her Adversaries to drink such like and the bitter Waters have not hurt or endamaged her 15. But truly as for thee O thou corrapt Nature of the earthly Man thou shalt in thy vain-glorious Boasting that thou art the right Espoused Wife of Christ be found a Lyar and as a wicked mischievous and m Apo. 17 18 false whore and through these bitter cursed Waters thy hips or thighs shall rot and thy n Num. 5 womb break and so shalt thou then become made manifest in thy whorish Nature CHAP. XII BEhold hereto thou must needs come and it shall now also fall upon thee O thou unfaithful Seed a Isaiah 1 John 8 thou earthly and lying Man which hast at all times dealt or behaved thee hipocritically b Ier. 6 7 9. falsly against God the Father by his service of the Law against Christ the Saviour by his Service of the Belief against the Holy Ghost by his Service of the Love even so vanted or given forth thy self to be the Communjallity of Holy ones or c Rom. 12 1 Cor. 12 Eph. 4 5. the co-joyned body of the Body of Christ all over the universall Earth But thou shalt presently be forced to bear thy just Sentence of Iudgment and Accusation As that thou art false and against the pure d 2 Cor. 11 Apoc. 21 Bride Church or co-joyned Body of Christ a polluted or e Apoc. 17 18 defiled Whore and that thou art worthy of the eternal Condemnation f Mat. 25 2 Peter 3 and fire of Hell 2. And although thou wouldest never so fain cover thee with thy Hipocrisie and give forth thy self in this Day of the Love as faithfull and upright yet shalt thou not be able so to do For here availeth now no longer any Hipocrisie or Coveredness neither yet likewise shall any man know how to cover himself before this same Light of the Love but they must all now become g Iohn 3 1 Cor. 4 Eph. 5 apparently mafested even the same that they are by the same Light 3. Whosoever now therefore is earthly minded false and covered of heart and desireth to continue therein his Nature shall now right-soon be seen or perceived For the Light of this Day h 1 Ioh. 2 shineth now so perfect bright and clear that no ungodly nor any hypocrites or false hearts let them then hold themselves so presumptuous on their false righteousnes as they will shal any way be able i Mal. 3 Apoc. 6 to endure or abide standing in this same day of the righteous Judgment of God 4. But whosoever is heavenly minded and upright of heart humbleth himself with a good-willing heart under the Love and her Service wholy giveth over himself under the Majesty of God and even so without any perverse k Wisd 1 thoughts loveth the upright and godly Being By such a one the same shall likewise certainly appear and in the expressing of his deed be very well perceived 5. For to those same upright hearts which walk l 1 Pet. 1 obediently in the Doctrine of the gracious Word and Service of Love and shew all faithfulness thereunto it is granted to understand in their Spirit according to the heavenly Truth of the upright Being m Mat. 1 the mystery of the Kingdom of the God of Heaven where-through they make manifest the powers of the holy Ghost and the Testimonies of his living waters n Iohn 4 and 7 which flow at that time from the body of their spirit and reach even unto the everlasting Life 6. But the strangers which walk without the Family of Love or deal falsly therewith o Mat. 22 Luke 14 taste not the lovely Being of the spiritual and heavenly goods For they understand nor p Isa 6 Acts 28 know not the same any otherwise but according to an earthly and fleshly Being For earthly and fleshly are all their mindes and thoughts 7. But alas this cannot an earthly man which truly is always nothing q Rom. 8 1 Cor. 2 but fleshly minded comprehend nor understand yet will he nevertheless always go on with his lying earthly and fleshly mindes and judg even so the spiritual and heavenly Understandings there-out For that cause he cannot have any lust nor bear any love towards the true spiritual and heavenly but well towards the lying earthly and fleshly where-out he likewise as it is right well to be perceived bringeth forth nothing else but the r Gal. 5. works of the Flesh and of the lying Being 8. But a Spirituall Man s Rom. 8 is clothed with the Spirit of God and the Truth for that cause he is also according to the Truth spiritually minded his forth-going and the lust of his works is in all to the t Gal. 5 and 6 Fruits of the Holy Ghost for to bring forth those same out of the Spirit of God and so to publish or declare forth the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness 9. For he knoweth out of the secret Mystery of the Kingdom of God how to discern distinguish the spiritual Goods according to the heavenly Truth or holy u Levit. 10 Understanding to wit that he sheweth and declareth an
1. feat of David his Father to the intent there may be no end of the peace upon the same from this time forth for evermore and that so he may rule and raigne as an everlasting peaceable King over the house of Jacob according to the promises 71. For in this sort and to the finishing thereof is he revealed unto men and published k Ioh. 1. 1 Tim. 3. 1 Joh. 2. to the world for a Saviour because all people should believe in him by him inherit the everlasting life and so confesse him and that sameis the true righteousnesse which is availeable before God and well pleasing unto those men which are of a good will 72. Now inasmuch as the rich bountifull God hath out of his grace granted me to perceive that we are all called and loved to the same glory of God and to the upright being of the love of his Christ because we should inherit with all what is of God and Christ the everlasting life and for that the same is the l Eph. 1.5 Col. 1. principall point of our godlinesse therefore have I pointed none unto flesh and bloud nor to any elementish or visible things neither doth my teaching tend to the outward but from the outward to passe on to the same inward and heavenly and to Gods Kingdome of heaven whereof is spoken before to the intent that no man should set the consolation of his soul nor the comfort of his Salvation upon the outvvard nor earthly nor put his confidence thereon but only on the upright life of the righteous spirit and upon the coming of the godly glory in Jesu Christ of which things I have according to my sight out of the heavenly revelation of God much and abundantly spoken in the Glasse of Righteousnesse and in this Introduction mine exhortation is out of love also to the same to the intent we should have an earnest love and be provoked with desire towards it 73. Which life of Righteousnesse whereof we witnesse is inwardly godly according to the divine nature and outwardly brotherly after the upright humane nature and that same is the upright righteousnesse before God and amongst men 74. Who so now from the heart seeketh God and his righteousnesse and rightly hath regard to the upright life the same person will acknowledge that my teaching and ministration is of God and that it tendeth to the upright life and vvho so likewise to this end searcheth the Scripture for the promises shall assuredly find that it maketh mention of such things and that the Law the Prophets and the Apostles of Christ dâ— all point and vvitnesse to the very same 75. When the man now according to the truth perceiveth this same then will he for the love of righteousnesse sake be also inclined there unto and yeeld his understanding m 2 Gor. 10. captive under the obedience of the love praise God highly for his grace and through the belief passe on towards the upright life in all love 76. Though he now and then fail stumble or fall yet if his eyes of the spirit have respect to the upright life and to the love and that he glasse himself daily in the Glasse of Rightousnesse doubtlesse the same shall cause him to see and shall rightly shew him his spots and shall be unto him n Ioh. 4.7 as an open fountain of life against the sin and way of death CHAP. XIII 1. None can know God nor Christ rightly but in the Spirit of the love 11. No better grounds then the Doctrine of the love 14. An exhortation to the obeyers of her service that they blaspheme not other mens writings nor condemn any for Sects but rather allure all to the love 19. and that they put away the evill as much as they can out of themselves 20. The despisers are vaine 23. The consenters hereunto are counselled not to think they have already obtained but to labour and to continue in the doctrine of the love till the laying away of the mortall body 32. Not to be dismaid at the enemies but like souldiers to prepare themselves to the battell 33. Though we be sometimes hurt yet to take new courage still 36. Considering whereunto we are called through Jesus Christ TAke it to heart O ye children of men and let your understanding be renewed a Rom. 12. Eph. 4. according to the spirit to such an upright knowledge as God esteemeth to wit vvith the vvord of truth in the spirit of the love to an assured living hope and good conscience in Jesu Christ 2. For vvho so after the spirit conceiveth not the same nor is renevved in his understanding to the same upright knowledge under the obedience of the love in such a one there is no knowledge of Christ neither can he be rightly turned to Christ or to the upright belief but only through the same 3. For the fall from Christ is come and it is according to the Prophecie understood known and well perceived how that the same b 2 Thes 1. through the child of perdition according to the mention of the Scriptures hath in every respect so utterly c Rom. 1. Eph. 4. blinded depraved and corrupted the understanding of men concerning God and Christ that the children of men how wise or learned soever they of themselves be do neither d Ioh. 8.16 of the Father nor yet of the Son knovv any thing at all 4. And surely whosoever doth not submit his understanding under the service of the love the same man sheweth thereby that he is without understanding because by his understanding he perceiveth not how that he vvhich hath not the love e 1 Ioh. 1 hath not also the Son nor the Father but is vvithout Christ and his Church and can please God by no other means also can neither now nor evermore without the inclination of love neither through any other services or literall wisdome come to the holy knowledge of God or attain unto the same 5. But if any now believe not this same by reason of the high regard to their knowledge or by means of any respect unto their holinesse f Col. 2. or spirituall humility such as they have chosen or taken to themselves and as is not according to the promises as God in times past hath spoken by Moses his servant and by the mouth of his holy Prophets doubtlesse they howsoever they suppose or maintain g Esa 59. that they have the light must needs abide in h 1 Ioh. 2. darknesse for their unbelievers cause whose unbelief cannot hurt the believers neither can the Work of God for all that abide back 6. O deep and unsearchable vvisdome of God! i Esa 40. Sap. 9. Rom. 11. 1 Cor. 2. which of the great and high glorious wise or of the self-chosen holy ones hath ever attained unto thee 7. Unto which of them is thine arm known that hath heard or understood thy holy word or thy mind
and reasonable y Phil. 4. lovely and peaceable and with them in like obedience under the love to stand obedient in the same life z Eph. 4. to all unity of heart in the Love 34. Behold the true Christians of Israel the people of the Lord and even in this sort minded with us and there are no other Christians nor Jewes nor House of Israel nor People of the Lord but those that stand subject with us to the Love with one accord and over whom the Love is likewise the head who with us also are not partiall or divided with this or that which is earthly or visible 35. Thereunto in like manner is the service of my writing namely to the right stock of life in the Love and not to contend or to strive against any And I do not know that I have written against any mans dealing so farre forth as the same is according to Trut and out of love Neither have I named any faction by name for to contemn them nor singled out any persons particularly whereby to reproach them neither reviled any mans Religion for heresie but have called and invited all men to the unity of heart in the Love The which is the blessing of all the Generations of the Earth according to the Promises made to the Fathers 36. Therefore let every one glasse himself and look how neer his cause is right and so give over his understanding to the obedience of the Love for therein consisteth the upright being to the intent that all may through the Love and her service a Eph. 1. be renewed and the Corruption reigne no more but that the upright Righteousnesse which God esteemeth b Esa 60. may come to light according to the Promises CHAP. XXV 1 The Author concludeth this Introduction with his Desire and Request to all that reade or hear his Writings that they apply themselves unto that which is set forth therein 3. It is much happier to be among the lowly and sorrowers for sin than to be with the proud and dissolute 6. A menacing of the obstinate 12. The reward of the righteous and the horrible End of the rebellious HErewith ye beloved we will cut off and end this Introduction to the holy understanding of the Glasse of Righteousnesse And we desire of all those that read or hear our writings of the godly Testimonies and likewise of all those that have any desire to the Truth and do humbly apply themselves to that which is witnessed by us and do joyn with us in all uprightnes under the obedience of the Love to the intent that the Love may bear the dominion and rule in us to a one minded Communion in one amiable and godly life that they will not take it grievously to suffer contempt heavines or anguish for a little while with those that love the Righteousnes but rather stand alwaies minded whether it be in prosperity or adversity to be joyned to the mind of God in all love even as the same under the obedience of the Love is plainly and cleerly described according to the life that abideth for ever in the Glasse of righteousnes 2. The Almighty God grant us his Grace and strengthen our minds to the same a Eph. 4. in the unity of Love and Peace and in like maner all lowly hearts that hope upon the righteousnes and suffer heavines for the sins cause 3. It is surely much happier to be among the lowly hearts where b 2 Cor. 7. is heavines and sighing for the sins cause c Matt. 18. Rom. 15. 1 Thes 5. Heb. 3. where exhortation to amendment and instruction to the knowledge of God and Christ is and where men out of love d Prov. 27. reprehend the blindnes of the heart for the righteousnes sake than to be among the haughty where the flattering lips of the ungodly and the dissolute stout or uncircumcised of heart are where men embrace all gladnes commendation praise and honour of men and not the honour of God 4. Wherefore have regard hereunto and awake to the good For behold It shall in his time be found that the endurers or sufferers who now for the sinnes cause beate heavinesse sorrow and the Crosse and who out of the love of Righteousnesse endure out such things shall be turned to a e Esa 60 62.66 4 Esd 2. Ioh. 16. godly joyfulnesse where contrariwise all despisers of the Righteousnesse which now rejoyce themselves in ungodlinesse how evilly soever they do it shall be turned to f Matt. 25. grievous sorrow and paine yea g 4 Esd 5. Apo. 21. horrible it is to remember the reward of the unrighteous or wretched men which is for to come upon them 5. O how happy is that man which joyneth himself to the Word of the Lord in his service of the Love and h Esa 1. Mat 18 turneth him away from the evill which betimes i 1 Cor. 11. heareth his Judgement and so setteth himself down in the dust k which receiveth Wisdom and Instruction to Vertue that loveth the Righteousnesse and l Prov. 3. Heb. 12. refuseth not the Chastening of the Lord that he may be upright of heart before God For it shall go well with him in this day of the righteous Judgement which God now bringeth over the whole Earth yet passing through great dangers of his salvation 6. How will it go with you then m Prov. 11. 1 Pet. 5. O ye sinners and sinneresses which receive n Sap. 2. 2 Pet. 2. Jude 1. this transitory life for your delight and keep God out of your hearts and have not once borne sorrow nor heavines for your sinnes 7. Where will ye then hide your selves ye haughty ye covetous and ye proud men and all ye arrogant self-wise that now will not submit nor give over your selves to obedience under the service of the Love of the gracioue Word o Sap. 5 What profit I pray you will your pride and your riches then yeeld or bring you 8. Who think ye will then have compassion on your misery ye which now withhold your selves from the obedience of the Doctrine and requiring of the gracious Word and make your selves common with the worldly minded and with those that oppresse the little ones grieve the Consciences of the simple and betray persecute and spill p Ezek. 22. the innocent Bloud 9. Oh! I am astonied whil'st I thinke upon the horrible being of the ungodly the wicked perverse nature that will not convert 10. Oh how horrible and fearfull shall it be unto him that shall behold it with his eyes Yea what misery and VVoe commeth over him that shall taste bear and be tormented with the same eternally 11. Therefore q Pro. 15 much better in this dangerous Time is a little in the fear of God with the Righteous than superfluities with the ungodly It is also much better to suffer and endure Poverty Shame Reproach Affliction Heavinesse Anguish and Contempt r Heb. 11 with the Children of Peace which have regard on Gods Righteousnesse according to his Promises than to have all the Delights or Pleasures with all the honour riches and Triumphs of this world 12. For the Reward of the Righteous redoundeth Å¿ Pro. 11. Sap. 5. to Gods Glory but the recompence of the ungodly of the wicked world with all unbeleevers or resisters of the good t Apo. 21 shall with confusion perish in horrible calamity and with misery It is true Take it to heart Love ye the Vertue fervently Give God his Honour due Delight therein continually That is his Doctrine true CHARITAS EXTORSIT PER H. N. FJNJS