Way then should that wicked one be revealed whom the Lord would consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroy with the Brightness of his Coming And the Apostles declared That Perilous times were at hand and should come wherein men should be Lovers of themselves more then Lovers of God and that they should be Proud Heady High minded men and should have a Form of Godliness but should deny the Power they should be such who seek after filthy Lucre and through Covetousness should make Merchandize of Souls for dishonest Gain and they should be Fierce Despisers of them that are good and should speak Evil of Things they know not but what they know is naturally as Bruit Beasts and in those Things they corrupt themselves these are Murmurers and Complainers walking after their own Lusts and their Mouthes speaking great swelling Words having mens Persons in Admiration because of Advantage these are as raging Waves of the Sea foaming out their own Shame Wandering Stars to whom is reserved the Blackness of Darkness forever therefore the Wo is unto them for they have gone in the Way of Cain and run greedily after the Error of Balaam even for Gifts and Rewards And Enoch the Seventh from Adam prophesied of these saying Behold the Lord cometh in Ten Thousand of his Saints to execute Judgments upon all and to convince all that are Ungodly amongst them of all their Ungodly Deeds which they have ungodlily committed and of all their Hard Speeches which Ungodly Sinners have spoke against him Now these were the Ministers of Darkness therefore they have wrought in the dark their Deeds have been the Deeds of Darkness and these are they that have kept People in Blindness and Ignorance some Thirty some Forty and some an Hundred Years even all their Life time ever learning but they never came to the Knowledge of the Truth by them and these are they which have taught for Doctrine the Precepts of Men and their Precepts are contrary to the Scriptures and are as followeth First They tell People That the Scriptures are the Word of God when there is no such thing mentioned in the Scriptures but they declare that Christ was the Word which was in the beginning with God and was God 2dly They tell People of a Sacrament and some of them of several Sacraments and of Three Persons in the Trinity when the Scripture declares no such thing yet the Father Son and holy Ghost we own which is but one 3dly They Sprinkle Infants with Water and tell the People They are adopted into Christ and are thereby become Members of his Body when there is neither Command nor Example in all the Scriptures for any such thing 4thly They tell People That the First Day of the Week is the Sabbath Day and ought to be kept more holy then any other Day when there was no such thing commanded by Christ nor any of the Apostles 5thly They have told the People That the House made of Lime and Stone is the Church and the Temple of God wherein the Lord dwels when the Scripture declares no such thing but the Contrary that is that God dwelleth not in Temples made with Hands 6thly They taught the People to observe Dayes and Set Times as Christ mas day and Children mas-day and Lammâ—s-dâ—y and Candle-mas-day and Michael's-mas-day with Easter and their Good Fryday and their Whitsuntide and Shrovetide and many other Saints Dayes which are tedious here to mention whereof the Scripture makes no mention And they have told the People That Tythes and Offerings are due to them and Easter-Reckonings and Midsummer-Dues and Smoke-Pennys and Reek-Pennys and Money for Eggs and Gardens with their great fair House and Glebe-Lands whereby they their Wives and Families may live even in the Sins of Sodom which were Pride abundance of Idleness and Fulness of Bread Now this which they call their Dues is the very Pillar and Ground upon which their Gospel and Ministry stands for let this be but taken away and down fall they with their Gospel and Ministry which some of them have not been ashamed to declare in publick Now the Scripture declares not any such thing neither is there any mention made of such Maintenance to be Compelled from the People to maintain them that are the True Ministers who are Called and Chosen and sent abroad from Country to Country and from City to City to declare the Glorious Gospel that the Sound thereof might reach even to the Ends of the Earth and as they received freely so they were to give freely and into what City soever they came they were to enquire who was worthy and there to remain eating such things as were set before them for the Labourer is worthy of his Meat Now thou that readest consider in thy own Heart thinkest thou that the Lord God of Life hath intrusted his Glorious Gospel in the Hands of such Hirelings as before-mentioned who would not declare it to the Poor and Needy whereunto it is the Glad-Tidings of Salvation because they have not wherewithal to satisfie them for it Nay verely nay the Lord never intended any such thing but he sent his Prophets to cry out to every one that thirsts that they might come unto the Waters and take Wine and Milk without Money and without Price And John witnesses that the Spirit saith Come and the Bride saith Come and whosoever is athirst may come and take of the Water of Life freely And Paul affirms That he did not eat any Man's Bread for nought but wrought with Labour and Travail Night and Day that he might not be Chargeable to any but he commanded that if any would not Work neither should he eat Therefore their Maintenance was not so large neither did they sit down in one Place to preach the Gospel some Ten some Twenty and more years and so sit at Ease in Pride and Idleness compelling their Maintenance from the People and making Friends to the Rulers Magistrates having their Persons in Admiration that they may have the Advantage of the Law against the People that they may have their Goods by Violence and cast their Bodies into Prison if they Refuse to put into their Mouthes to satisfie their Lusts as those which have ruled in this long Night of Apostacy have done But the True Apostles who laboured with their own Hands and travailed up and down in Hunger and in Cold who were counted as Vagabonds and not worthy to live upon the Earth by them in whom the seed of the Serpent ruled they fore-told the People that such Ravening Wolves should come who should make a Prey upon the Sheep and as there had been False Prophets in all ages before them even so there should arise False Teachers amongst them who privily should bring in Damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them and bringing upon themselves swift Destruction and many should follow their pernicious Ways by reason of whom the Way of Truth should be
THE REDEMPTION OF THE Seed of God At Hand Declaring the Return of the True Church out of the Wilderness into her former State of GLORY RICHARD MOORE Thâ—â— sâ—â—â—â— the Lord Keep ye Judgment and dâ— Justâ—â—e for my Salvation is near to come and my Righteousness to be revealed Isa 56. Printed in the Year 1677. A TESTIMONY Concerning RICHARD MOOR THE Author of this Book being a faithful Servant of the Lord and zealous for the Truth who laboured and travailed in the Work of the Ministry both in England and beyond Sea and was in Barbadoes when he wrote this little Book which was some Years since and because the Press hath been fully supplyed with other Things there was not an Oportunity to print it but knowing it was his great Desire it should be published and having now a fit Oportunity I was willing to answer what his Mind then was He came to London to visit Friends in the 11th Moneth and there fell sick and on the 13th Day of the same Moneth he dyed in Peace and thus much is signified concerning him by one who truly loved him for the Truth 's sake E. H. London the 14th of the 9th Mon 1676. TO THE READER WHoever thou art that readest this ensuing Treatise if thou findest any Thing in it which doth appear strange unto thee in the reading thereof be not troubled thereat but stand still in the Coolness of thy Spirit and turn in to the Measure of the Light of God which shineth forth clearly in thy own Conscience and there thou wilt see it openly made manifest unto thee but if thou readest it in the Power of thy own Will and therein standest expecting to receive Benefit thereby thou wilt find nothing but Deadness and barrenness for the Appearance of God and his Eternal Truth hath at all Times and Seasons been contrary to Man's VVill for it is now as it wâ—s in the Days of Old it comes not by the VVill of Man but holy Men speak as they are moved by the Spirit of God and as it was in former Ages so it is now in this our Day for he that departeth from Iniquity maketh himâ—elf a Prey unto this Generation of Evil-doers who set themselves in Perverseness against the Lord and have hardened their Hearts and stiffned their Necks against the Appearance of the Lord and of his Eternal Truth and he is come to be a Cross to the VVill of all Flesh for if the Things of God came according to the will of Man then the VVorld would receive them but seeing it crosseth Man's VVill therefore the VVorld hates it and calls it Foolishness and Madness and cryes out that them that are given up to follow it are Deceivers and are deluded and bewitched R. M. THE CONTENTS I. THe Return of the True Church out of the Barren Wilderness into her former State and Glory II. The Destruction of Babylon the Mystery of Iniquity and the Mother of Harlots and the Abominations of the whole Earth III. A Revelation of the Man of Sin and Death wherein he is separated from the Man of Righteousness and Life which two Men are of two several Births which Births proceed from the two Seeds which two Seeds are herein manifested and declared the one to be the Seed of God and the other the Seed of the Serpent whose Head is now to be bruised IV. A Word of Love unto the Sons and Daughters of Sion and a Hand held forth unto them who are yet in Egypt's Captivity and to them who are yet in the Desert Wilderness A True Manifestation of the Church's Return out of the Barren VVilderness where She hath remained since the Dayes of the Apostles which Church is the true Spouse the Lamb 's VVise Also the Speedy Downfal of Babylon the Mother of Harlots declared c. NOW is the appointed Time come wherein the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob is risen and arising to manifest himself unto his People and to make himself known to those that have long waited for this the Day of his Appearance unto whom the Son of his Righteousness is arising with healing in his Wings and now is the great Jehovâ—h appearing in his Dread and in his Power to the establishing of his Covenant unto â—braham and to his Seed forever and he is now gathering his Elect from the four Quarters of the Earth and redeeming the Seed of Jacob out of their Captivity and the Outcast of Israel from under their Yoak of Bondage Therefore prepare thee to meet thy God O Israel for behold he is come and coming in Ten Thousand of his Saints and who may abide the Day of his Appearance for the Eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful Kingdom and he will destroy it from off the Face of the Earth saving that he will not utterly destroy the House of Jacob for behold he sitteth upon a white Throne before whose Face the Heavens and also the Earth shall fly away and their Place shall be no more found at all his Eyes are as a Flame of Fire and on his Head are many Crowns and he hath a Name written that no man knows but himself is clothed with a Vesture dipped in Blood and his Name is called The word of God and out of his Mouth goeth a sharp Sword wherewith he doth smite the Nations and he treadeth the Wine-press of the Fierceness and Wrath of the Almighty God and he hath on his Vesture and on his Thigh a Name written KING of KINGS LORD of LORDS and in his Hands is all the Power of the Earth and also of the Heavens for behold he makes all things new old things must pass away for the Dragon having had Possession for so many Dayes even many Generations of the old Heaven and also of the old Earth which I say the subtile Dragon having gotten the Dominion thereof he by his Filthiness defiled it so that the true Virgin could no longer remain therein but was driven forth of it and was banished into the mourning and desolate Wilderness a place prepared her of God for so many Dayes and her Heir which she had brought forth which is to rule the Nations with his Iron Rod hath been caught up from her to God and so the Dragon hath had the Dominion of the true Virgin 's Territories since the Dayes of the Apostles and hath made War with the Seed of the Virgin and as it were overcome them and in her Dominion he hath placed the great Whore the Mother of Harlots and she hath corrupted the Earth and also the Heavens wherein the true Virgin was placed before she fled into the Wilderness the Whore having poluted them with the Filth of her Fornication for her Superscription is Mystery-Babylon the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the whole Earth And the Nations which the true Virgin 's Heir should have ruled they have all been the Seat of this great VVhore and she hath
guided them and rul'd them as a man would guide and rule the Beast whereon he rideth and she hath made them all unstable as VVaters for she sate upon Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues and all the Kings of the Earth have committed VVhoredom with her and have drunk of the Cup of her Fornication for she held forth a golden Cup in her Hand a smooth Profession and pleasing Pretences but within full of Abominations yea rich and poor bond and free even from the Beggar upon the Dunghil to the Prince upon the Throne they all drunk of this Cup and have been drunken with the VVine of the VVhore's Fury and many of them have as it were drunk the Blood of the Saints and of the Martyrs of Jesus Christ whom he hath raised to bear their faithful Testimonies against the VVhore and against her Fornications and all the Blood that hath been spilt upon the Earth is to be found in her for within her lodgeth the Ground of all Iniquity and the Foundation of all Transgression But now hath the Lord God remembred his poor banished Spouse which sits mourning in the Wilderness and the great Persecution of her Seed and great BABYLON is coming into his remembrance and she shall receive a just reward from the Lord God of Life for all the Abominations that have proceeded from her since the time the Virgin fled into the Wilderness though she hath long sate as a Queen and hath known no Sorrow but hath had a Husband and hath brought forth many Children of Fornication and hath lived deliciously for many Generations whilest the true spouse the Lamb's Wife hath sate desolate in the barren Wilderness where she hath been childless and deprived of her Husband yet nevertheless thy Judgments are at hand and thy Downfal approacheth O thou great and Antichristian-Babylon for Sorrow Desolation and Misery is even ready to seize upon thee and the Smoak of thy Torments doth begin to rise and thy Kingdom is full of Darkness and the Lord God hath discovered thy Nakedness and thy Sorceries and thy false Divinations whereby thou hast deceived the Nations and caused them to receive thy Beast like mark and many are they that are come out from thee and will no longer be partakers with thee in thy Sins lest they should partake with thee of thy plagues for strong is the Lord God who judgeth thee and thy Cup which thou hast given to others shall be filled unto thee double even the measure that thou hast measured to others shall be measured unto thy self double and all that wherein thy soul delighted must depart from thee and thou must come down and sit in the Dust O thou Virgin-Daughter of BABYLON thou shalt be no more counted delicate nor fair for the DECREE is gone forth against thee and thy Judgment is assuredly coming upon thee Therefore all ye Inhabitants of the Earth hearken diligently and your Souls shall live and take WARNING in this the Day of your Visitation and go no longer on in your Polutions but come forth of the midst of BABYLON and be no more partakers with her in her Sins for if you do you will assuredly partake with her of her plagues for she must be burn'd up and consum'd and brought to nought by the fiery Fierceness of the Lord's Wrath and the old Heavens and the old Earth wherein she hath ruled in all this Dark Night of Apostacy since the Dayes of the Apostles must be destroyed with her and all them that wilfully resisted the Voice of the Lord their God in their own Hearts and Consciences calling them out of BABYLON the Land of Darkness into his marvelous Light Therefore beware of kicking against this but if in wilfulness and stubborness you reject this the large Love of God towards you yet nevertheless let it be known unto you all in his living presence that you have at large been warned therefore shut not your Ears at the Voice of Peace and be not like to the deaf Addâ—r which stoppeth his Ear at the voice of the Charmer although he charms never so wisely For now Wisdom uttereth her voice in the open Street and in the broad wayes she crieth at the Gates at Entry of the City at the coming in at the Door unto you O men I call and my voice is to the Sons of man O ye simple understand Wisdom and ye Fools be of an understanding Heart and know in thâ—s your day the things that belong to your Peace before they are hid from your Eyes and the Door of Mercy be shut upon you and the Decree sealed against you and Repentance removed far from you so that you cannot attain to it although yâ—u should seek it with tears Now as BABYLON comes to be destroyed so likewise is the mariage of the LAMB prepared and preparing and his Bride is making her self ready even the true Virgin the Lamb's Wife the true Church is now returning out of the desolate and barren Wilderness where she hath sate for many Generations in a mournful state and condition a place not known to the World a place prepared her of God for so many Dayes and now praises be unto the Lord our God the Dayes are near expired and she is returning again into her former State and Glory and the Lord is now creating for her a new Heaven and a new Earth wherein dwelleth Righteoushess and if any question what her former Glory was and wherewithal she then was beautified let them with singleness of Heart stand in the Light of the Lamb look into John's Revelations and there thou shalt see what he declareth of her and of her Glory Beauty in Ages past even in his Dayes for he saw her a woman exceeding glorious and beautiful even cloathed with the Sun having the Moon under her Feet and on her Head a Crown of twelve Stars She was clothed with the true Light of heaven even with the brightness of the everlasting day and the Moon with her changeable things was under her Feet she was â—rowned with the Brightness of the Glory of the Lord God of Life and she travailed to bring forth the Man-Child that should rule the Nations wiâ—h a Rod of Iron Now this was the state of the true Church in the Dayes of the Apostles before the time of her Banishment into the Wilderness And John saw this to be wonderful even in Heaven Now this will be the State and Condition of the true Church after she is returned out of the Wilderness again and the time is assuredly come where in the Lord God will cloath her with his own Brightness and with his own eternal Glory and she shall again bring forth the Heir which shall rule the Nations with his Rod of Iron and shall bind PRINCES in Chains and NOBLES in Fetters of Iron and he that doth deny this doth deny plain Scripture for they bear Witness that Sion shall arise and shall shine forâ—h for her Light is