and his mouth must be stopt and he must make supplication to his Judge whom though I were righteous saith Job yet would I not answer but I would make supplication to my Judge Job 9. 15. And this becomes man and not to argue it with the Lord and to wrangle with him as if God were unrighteous as if his Ways were not equal Who measures the Lord by his shallow understanding who cannot be searched out O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and the Knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgements and his Wayes past finding out for who hath known the mind of the Lord Or who hath been his Counsellor Or who hath first given unto him and it shall be given unto him again For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be Glory for ever Amen Rom. 9. 33 34 35. 36. So every man's mouth here must be stopt and before his Judge he must be silent as I have said and not lay unrighteousness on God or charge him that his Wayes are not equal For man himself shall conclude it otherwise in the day wherein the Lord will render unto him according to his deeds and therefore it is in vain to stand it out with the Lord. It is but the artifice of the Enemy that works this in you he knows you will otherwise say when it is too late therefore be not deceived by him least when 't is too late you blame your folly Moved of the Lord I am to write this to you in bowels of love that you may see your state and how this matter stands and that ye may be delivered And if ye yet say The Children being not yet born neither having yet done any good or evil that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated I answer as I did before this is spoken of the two Seeds the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent of which these two were Figures in which as the Knowledge of the Lord foresaw they would be so he loved so he hated For he loveth and hateth no man but as they are in these and it was after the fall that this was spoken both the promise that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents head and the Elder shall serve the Younger Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated For before there is nothing spoken of this for all stood well and as the same in the first Adam whilst he stood and there was no need of the Promise nor was there two as to man the one whereof was the Object of Love and the other of Hatred the Elder serving the Younger but man was one spirit from the Root Eternal and in the Root Eternal which God hath blessed And the two or that which made two the seed of the Serpent which entered into man came out afterwards For man receiving the Serpent and obeying his voice after he was made against the Command of God there came to be two things in man two Roots two which strugled the Seed of the Woman the seed of Promise and the seed of the Serpent the seed of the Curse as the Promise came to take place and that seed came to move in man to bring him back to God which the Lord hath promised as the Children strove in Rebecca's womb when she came to be delivered so do these as the time cometh wherein as I have said the promise of God cometh to be fulfilled The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one unto the other So that ye cannot do the things that ye would As the Apostle speaks Gal. 5. 17. And which the Apostle found in himself when the Promise came to be fulfilled in him I see saith he another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into Captivity â—o the law of sin which is in my members And he cries out there as Rebecca did concerning the Children If it be so why am I thus And she went to enquire of the Lord Gen. 25. 22. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this Death Rom. 7. 23 24. So the Children strugled in the Womb of Rebecca which was the Figure Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be separated from thy bowels and theone people shall be stronger then the other people and the Elder shall serve the Younger said the Lord unto her of whom she went to enquire when it was so with her as aforesaid And when her dayes to be delivered were to be fulfilled behold there were Twins in her womb and the first came out Red all over like an hary Garment and they called his Name Esau and after that came his brother out and his hand took hold on Esau's heel and his Name was called Jacob â— 24 25 26. So the Law of the Spirit of Life which was in Christ Jesus strugled with the law of Sin and of Death In Paul which though the law of sin and of death the law in his members strugled with and came out first When I would do good the law of his mind evil is present with me the law in his members the good that I would I do not the evil which I would not that do I Yet it took hold of its heel and supplanted it as the Name of Jacob the true Seed siignifies Is he not said Esau rightly named Jacob For he hath supplanted me these two times he took away my birth-right and behold now he hath taken away my blessing and Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his Father blessed him And Esau said in his heart the days of mourn-for my Father are at hand then will I slay my brother Jacob Gen. 27. 36 37. 41. It came after and supplanted overthrew the other I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death For what the Law could not do for that it is weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace vers 21. chap. 8. 2 3 4 5 6. So there is the first and the second the first man Adam and the second the Law of Sin and Death and the Law of the Spirit of Life the Law of the
said unto you Yea hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree in the Garden Yea is it so We may eat of the Fruit of the Trees of the Garden said the Woman who was first in the Transgression Adam was not deceived the first man Adam was made a living Soul 1 Cor. 15. 45. that was not deceived which was made a living Soul after the Image of God being the Image of God or the Image of God in man Christ Jesus the Son of God the new man And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him where there is neither Greek nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision Barbarian Scythiâ—n bond nor free but Christ is all and in all Col. 3. 10 11. Who is the Image of the Invisible God the first born of every Creature Col. 1. 15. Who being the brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God All things were made by him without him was not any thing made that was made 1 Joh. 1. 1. 3. Heb. 1. 3. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head forasmuch as he is the Image and Glory of God but the woman is the glory of the man For the man iâ— not of the woman but the woman of the man Neither was the man created for the woman but the woman for the man he that reads let him understand for this cause ought the woman to have Power over her head because of the Angels Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman neither the woman without the man in the Lord for as the woman is of the man even so is the man also by the woman but all things of God 1 Cor. 11. 7. to the 13. And as we have borne the Image of the Earthly we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly 1 Cor. 15. 49. and this is Christ but the woman being deceived was in the transgression the woman that man waâ— not Created for but the woman for the man the woman by whom also the man is as the woman is of the man the woman without whom neither is the man neither the man without the woman in the Lord being deceived was in the Transgression the Creature that was made not the Soul of the Creature the living Soul that of God the Image of God in which the Creature was made God breathed into man the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul the first man Adam was made a living Soul I say the Creature that was made in the Image of God the living Soul that man became after God had breathed into man the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul the first man Adam the Creature that was so made the woman not Adam the living Soul which by this came into death and death came over it and there he remains till the second Adam the quickening Spirit the Lord from Heaven raise it up and deâ—iver it being deceived mistaking the thing was in the Transgression went from the Commandement in the which Adam was not deceived for that testified in the woman that which was taken out of man which proceeded from man for which the man was not Created but that for man without which the man is not nor that without the man in the Lord We may eat of the Trees of the Garden said the woman to the Serpent whilst she stood in the man the Image of God the living Soul the first man Adam into whom God breathed the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul this said she but of the Fruit of the Tree which is in the midst of the Garden the Eternal state of which the Creature is and by which it is preserved from a dependency on which the Creature cannot be that is to say to be as it is without dependancie change or alteration which the Lord alone onely is and the Creature can be never viz. in a state of Independency on God on another nor shall be ever no eating no touching of this fruit of this Tree that groweth in the midst of the Garden no coming to this state by man for ever no coming at it though the Serpent climbing up to it mist and so keeping not his first state drew man thither to fall also God hath said ye shall not eat of it neither shall ye touch it least ye die v. 2 3. Thus said the woman whilst she stood in the man in that in which she was made out of which she was took from which she proceeded thus she answered the living Soul that was not yet under that death was not yet over for she had not yet let it in the first man Adam into whom God breathed the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul the Image of God Righteousness and true holiness the new man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that Created him as aforesaid Christ Jesus the Lord from Heaven the quickening Spirit who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things which be not as if they were the amen the true faithful Witnesse the beginning of the Creation of God that was dead and is alive and behold I am a live for ever more Amen And have the Keys of Hell he that is Holy he that is true he that hath the Key of David he that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth the first and the last the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Behold he cometh in Clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which piereed him and all Kindreds of the Earth shall wail because of him even so Amen Rom. 4. 17. Rev. 1. 7 8 18. Rev. 2. 14. Rev. 3. 7. He was not yet slain the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13. 8. So she was not yet deceived He yet spake in her as aforesaid Adam who was not deceived who was not in the Transgression but shewed the Transgression who said in her God hath said and she spake after him God hath said said she c. Now she spake right now she was not deceived whilst she spake after him in her who witnessed who was the Son of Adam who was the Son of God Luke 3. 38. The Seed of the Woman which God said should bruise the Serpents head Gen. 3. 15. who lives for Ever the Root and Off-spring of David whilst she heard him speaking in her and kept there she said God hath said Ye shall not eat thereof neither shall ye touch it least ye die Yea said the Serpent hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree in the Garden Ther 's somewhat in the matter I 'le tell you a secret tush there 's a state beyond that in the which you
the Younger that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth So then of him that calleth it is where the purpose of God as to Election stands of him that witnesses that moves to God-ward in man not of that which goeth another way not of that which worketh All the endeavours of man from that or that is not of that which calleth in man the Election will not avail the purpose of God is not there Esau the Hunter hath not the blessing the first state Prospers not it cannot inherit it must serve the younger to whom the blessing is Pharaoh the hard-hearted which will not let Israel go when God calleth him the Election is hated of God is for Destruction and all that are in it the purpose of God is as to the Other the Election the Power of God is shewn here and it is raised up for that purpose even that his Name may be declared throughout the earth Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction all that are in it all in whom it is whom he hath endured with much long-suffering What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction v. 22. So man hath a day and God calleth upon man to turn and live and man heareth not so as to turn and live and the Lord endures with much long suffering whilst he calls whilst he speaks And man's day is over and long suffering is at an end and God calls no more and waites no longer and the Election is withdrawn Christ the Seed of the Promise that which calls that which seeks that which waites that which bears that which endures with much long suffering Those whom wrath fills whom the first Exercises the State in the Fall in the Transgression the state of Vnbelief the state of Reprobation the Lord makes known his Power God shews his wrath after long-suffering hath an end On the Vessels of wrath fitted to destruction Those in whom destruction hath had its course and will now end Even for this cause have I raised thee up that I might shew my Power in thee and that my Name might be declared in all the Earth So God is not unrighteous What shall we say then is there unrighteousness with God God forbid For he saith to Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion as the Apostle saith in the same case Rom. 9. 15. He found all men in the fall He found all men in the state of wrath in the state of Reprobation in the state of Vnbelief He concluded all in Vnbelief that he might have mercy upon all and herein is his mercy manifest in that he calleth man in this state who seeks not after God in that he waites on Man in that he seeks him who is lost In that there is something of himself in man that stands at the Corners of the Streets in the chief place of Concourse in the openings of the Gate and calleth upon him â—o Return the Voice of Wisdom Now if man will not come hither if he will not be drawn here if he will not return but go on in his own way and follow after the counsel of his own heart and not the Lords his destruction is of himself the Lord is clear if he give over calling after him If he let him alone If he seek after him no more and shut up his day upon him The day of his Visitation the Lord is clear and that which called upon man in man which man would not hear that of him in man which sought man and man would not return would not be gathered will witness for God in the day that he will render unto every man according to his deeds So Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated the Elder shall serve the Younger the Children being not yet born neither having done any good nor evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth for this purpose have I raised thee up that I may shew my power in thee and that my Name may be declared throughout all the Earth The Vessels of Wrath fitted for destruction the Vessels of Mercy afore prepared unto Glory of which the Apostle speaks Rom. 9. 22 23. Are the two Seeds the two States and those that stand in them according as they stand in them according as they are found in them are they determined to Life or Death to Salvation or Destruction to the one that the purpose of God according to Election might stand to the other that he might shew his power in them and that his Name may be declared throughout all the Earth even for this same purpose have I raised thee up Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth Whom he will he inclines the Ear to hear that which calleth and they are gathered into it the Election that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth Whom he wills their day is shut up and he calleth no more who hath been long rejected and these are hardned as was Pharaohs who refused to let Israel go and the more the wonders of the Lord were shewn and he called upon by Moses to let the people go the more he hardned his heart till he bad Moses see his face no more for in the day that he did it he should surely die look to this all ye who resist the Motions of the Spirit the movings of the good Spirit of the Lord in you that which calleth on you in you to return and live And do not against it but be led by it least you come to hate it and though Wonders have been shewn to the Dead that which is in the state of Death in you and lies in the Grave by reason of Transgression be reached and it hear the Voice of the Son of God that which calleth in you and you know it You come yet to rebel against the Lord and that which calleth on you be an abomination unto you Wilt thou shew Wonders to the Dead shall the dead arise and praise thee Shall thy loving kindness be declared in the Grave and thy Faithfulness in destruction Shall thy Wonders be known in the dark And thy Righteousness in the Land of Forgetfulness but unto thee have I cryed O Lord Psal 88. 10 11 12 13. Then is your day like to be at an end and your evening is at hand when you come to hate him that reproves in the Gate and that which calls on you must no more come neer you least it die Moses that which works the Wonders which shews them to the Dead which calls upon you and you hear its Voice For then your first born is like to be slain and Israel shall come out of
Egypt that which suffered in you and you made to serve with an Out-stretched Arm and be delivered in your destruction it is the Word of the Lord. He that hath an Ear let him hear what it speaketh Because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my Hand and no man regarded but ye have set at nought all my Counsel and would none of my Reproofe I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as Desolation and your Destruction cometh as a Whirlwind when Distress and Anguish cometh upon you then shall they call on me saith Wisdom who cryeth without and uttereth her Voice in the Streets she cryeth in the chief places of Concourse in the openings of the Gates in the City she uttereth her Voice saying how long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the Scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate Knowledge Turn ye at my Reproofe behold I will pour out my Spirit upon you I will make known my Words unto you then shall they call on me saith Wisdom But I will not answer They shall seek me early but they shall not find me For that they hated Knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord they would none of my Counsel they despised all my Reproof therefore shall they eat of their own way and be filled with their own devices for the turning away see you here of the Simple shall slay them and the Prosperity of Fools shall destroy them But whoso hearkneth unto Me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of evil Prov. 1. 20. to the end So the Vessels of Wrath and the Vessels of Mercy are hear Those who stand in the one 〈◊〉 are found in the other which is the Election and Reprobation according to the purpose of him that calleth And even for this same purpose have I raised thee up Both his purpose they who are found in either his purpose is according to the state of either in which they are found Vessels of Wrath Vessels of Mercy What if God be willing to shew his Wrath and to make his Power known endured with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction he doth not say ordained to destruction and all Eternity but fitted to destruction which Iniquity doth and destruction is the end when it hath finished its course sin when it is finished brings for Death Jam. 1. 15. Destruction is the end when Iniquity finishes its course and that he might make known the riches of his Glory on the Vessels of Mercy which he had afore prepared unto Glory Even us whom he hath called not of the Jews only but also of Gentiles Rom. 9. 22 23 24. So fitted for destruction vessels of wrath iniquity fits to destruction as I have said the creature in that state the state of the fall the state of Reprobation vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction on whom he will he makes his power known after he hath endured with much long-suffering see you here after he hath waited after he hath called after he hath sought after he hath endured with much long-suffering and man will not hear man will not turn If he turn not he will whet his sword he hath bent his bow and made it ready he hath also prepared for him the Instruments of death he ordaineth his Arrows against the Persecutors Psal 7. 12 13. God is willing what if God willing to shew his Wrath to make his Power known even for this same purpose have I raised thee up that I may shew my Power in thee endured with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath whom Reprobation Iniquity Vnbelief hath filled up whom it hath contained in whom it hath long lodg'd who would not be emptied would not have it cast out on which the wrath of God abides Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction made ready for that purpose by Iniquity Iniquity fits to destruction that 's all the profit of it if so be it may be called so to fit to destruction for God to shew his wrath to make known his power upon after he hath endured with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath. And the Vessels of Mercy which he had afore prepared unto Glory Here 's both as I have said Vessels of Wrath Vessels of Mercy Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction Vessels of Mercy afore prepared unto Glory That which receives that which calls which shews mercy I will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy That the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth Vessels of Mercy they receive mercy contain mercy retain that which calleth the Purpose of God according to Election Even as they did not like to Retain God in their Knowledge God gave them over to a Reprebate mind to do those things which are not convenient being filled with all unrighteousness c Rom. 1. 28 29. I will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy afore prepared unto Glory Mercy that which calleth the Purpose of God according to Election not of Works but of him that calleth prepares unto Glory where it is received that which calleth Mercy afore prepared unto Glory As Iniquity that which hardens the heart shuts the ear maketh to refuse mercy not to retain that which calleth the Purpose of God according to Election fits to destruction Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction Vessels of Mercy afore prepared unto Glory What if God be willing to shew his wrath and to make his Power known And that he might make known the Riches of his Glory So God is not Vnrighteous he made not man to destroy him Neither hath he concluded any man from all Eternity to destruction But he made man Upright and after his own Image and therein man was kept as he kept therein but man turning from that in which he was made to another thing Death came over all because all in Adam had sinned and in the state of Death every man stood and was concluded because in Adam every man had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God Now in this state as I have said the Lord finding every man his compassion wrought to man and his bowels earned towards him whom he had made in his Image which now man had lost and was fallen from and Death was come over therefore as he concluded all in this state because all had sinned and come short of his glory so he had mercy upon all he concluded all in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all and this is his mercy that there is something of himself in man which shews him where he is and what he doth as he hearkens to it believes in it and obeys it and his enemy and sin and transgression by reason of which death came over and judges it and calls upon man to return to the Lord that he may be redeemed from Death and ransomed from the power of the Grave
Apostle as aforesaid and were it not that the Lord first touched man that of him in him which lies in death and by reason of the fall is buried in the Grave so that it cannot move to God man never would look after God nor know the state in the which he is for the enemy having him and holding him and compassing him about would never suffer him so to see nor so to understand Now herein is the love of God manifest and his great loving kindness that when man whom he made upright and in his Image and breathed into him the Breath of Life and he became a living Soul turned away from the Lord and from that in which he was made which kept and would have preserved him had he kept to it and let in the enemy and so death came over him in the Transgression over that in which he was made that it moved not but lay as dead Free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave whom thou remembrest no more and they are cut off from thy hand Psal 88. 6. I say that the Lord should then visit man and reach to that of himself in man which lay in the grave free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave and so give man to see the state in the which he is and his enemy and to cause a moving after God a Will to God this is the Lords great loving kindness and his free mercy and this the Apostle reckoned when he cast up the sum and minded the great love of God to man in this state In this saith he as hath been said was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him Herein is the love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins 1 John 4. 9 10. And when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly Rom. 5. 6. So then man cannot move to God unless God reach him that of him in him that lies in death by reason of Transgression and quicken him then it moves to God again not that we loved God see in what state the will of man is in the fall where all men are found when God comes to them when God visits them when he speaks to them when his voice reacheth them that shaketh the Wilderness when that moves in them which shews them sin and evil and judges it not that we loved God saith he before whilst we were in this state the state in the fall we loved not God before God reached to that of himself in us that lay in death Free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave whom thou remembrest no more saith he also as aforesaid but he loved us and sent his Son that of himself in us to be a propitiation an atonement for our sin and herein is love and in this was manifested the love of God towards us that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him We who were dead in trespasses and sins who were without sence or feeling of God over whom death was gotten who had no mind nor will to God nor moving to him who could never have moved to him nor minded nor willed him in the state in which we were in the fall in the Transgression when we were from that of him which gives the sence and feeling of him and willing to and moving after him because of death which was got between us and that of him in which we were made from which we fell which came under by reason of Death by reason of the fall and so were at that time without Christ Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel strangers from the covenants of Promise having no hope and without God in the World that we who were in this state might live through him through that which speaks in us which in us moves to God So that it is not in the will of man in the fall for so man as to this particular is to be considered for that which restores him brings him to God is another thing being brought to God is another state of which I speak not now but of the state in which man is before he is brought thither I say it is not in the Will of man considered in the fall to will to God or to move to him that which moves him to God and makes him will to God is another thing as I have shewed and there being no will in man as to God in this state wherein every man is found when God comes to him as hath been instanced where then is free will or the freedom of his will to God for where there is no such thing as a thing there cannot be said to be the freedom of such a thing because there is a non entity as I may so speak if so be it be proper so to speak and yet how shall I otherwise speak to give a demonstration of the thing of which I speak there is no such thing in being of which the freedom or the freedom of which is pretended there is no such thing in being therefore there cannot be said to be the freedom of such a thing For again of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures saith the Apostle Jam. 1. 18. Of his own will then it is not of man's will that man is begotten to God that he is delivered for two wills cannot consist in this Particular no more can it consist then two Fathers in the Generation of man or for a man to beget himself which is incongruous to Nature to say as it is to reason to think it and it being not of man's wil then man hath no freedom of will to be begotten to beget himself to God And this is manifest for it is by the Word or with the Word of Truth too that he is begotten to God So man hath nothing to do in the matter of his own will With the Word of Truth hath he begotten us the Word of Truth the Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart the Word of Faith which we preach said the Apostle The Word of the Lord which endures for ever and this is the Word which by the Gospel is Preached unto you saith Peter 1 Epist 1. 25. The Word which is quick and powerful and sharper then any two edged Sword piercing even to the dividing assunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a discerner of the Thoughts and intents of the heart neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 12 13. So it is by this Word the Word of Truth the
Word of God the Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart that calls upon man that speaks to man to turn unto the Lord that we are begotten of his own will and with the Word of Truth this is first that which calls on man to turn unto the Lord is that which begets and that which begets you know is first and if it begets you know in Nature it is another thing a seed of its own each Body it s own Seed the Seed of God that 's his Seed that 's of him which begets his own will something of himself with the Word of Truth that which calls on man which is not man nor of the will of man but of God which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the Will of man but of God John 1. 13. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth v. 14. And so man hath nothing to do in this thing the first moving and rise and step to this thing is the Will of God with the Word of Truth that which witnesseth something that is not of man nor the will of man nor of the flesh though it be in man that begets to God This reacheth to it 's own that lies in death by reason of Transgression that 's got between and quickens it to God then that moving in man turns him to God So the first and the last the beginning and the ending the whole of the work of Regeneration of begetting man to God is the Lord his Will his Word of Truth his Power his Arm that of him in man being reached by his Omnipotent Power which lies in death by reason of the fall that in which man was made being reached again thorough death moves to God and as this is abided in and kept to it works out the old man the old nature and brings forth the Image of God in man again that which man was made in at first and causeth it to reign over all for ever And here 's the Redemption and here 's the Restauration the bringing man back again to God from whence he is gone the beginning and the finishing Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1. 6. He that begins he performs it Here'â— no second here 's not another here 's not man in the beginning and God in the end man willing and then God working but God working both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith Heb. 12. 2. Looking to Jesus Jesus the Author Jesus the Finisher looking to him who is the Author who is the Finisher wher 's room then for the will of man Jesus begins the Word of Truth that which speaks that which witnesses that which calls this begets the beginning the ending this as it is heeded and abided in finishes he that begins his own will with the Word of Truth performs forms through finishes The Alpha and Omega the beginning and ending I am saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Rev. 1. 8. The Alpha the Omega he that first made remakes he that made man in his Image renews man into his Image or renews his Image in man he from whom man is gone brings man to God again he that made him at first in his Image â—eaching to his Image that of him in man in which man was made from which man is fallen which witnesses to God raiseth it up and this begets man unto God or a will in man to turn unto the Lord or is the will or the mind that turns unto the Lord Of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth as aforesaid and this performs this finishes as it is abided in and no other So that were it not for his Seed for that in which man was made the Breath of Life which God breathed into man and man became a living Soul which suffers and lies under by reason of Transgression which is over man in the fall and hath the possession of him were it not that God visiteth or reacheth to this his Seed in man in which man was made which so lies under and suffers in man by reason of Transgression and so causeth it to spring through man again man would never think of God or move to him which Seed the Lord reaching and visiting in man with the day spring from on high shews man where he is and what hath him in possession and where he hath been and so begets it's own Mind and Will and Image in man and brings him to the Lord. Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted Isa 31. 6. and man heeding it is turned unto the Lord and abiding in it is preserved unto God Here 's the beginning and the ending and the whole sum of this matter and the ground of the mistake that is in men concerning it which I have opened for the satisfaction of the simple in the movings of the Lord because the time is nere wherein these things will be seen as they are when it will be too late and men will be concluded with the God whom they serve So the bowels of the Lord have moved in me to you wards that your eyes may be open and that you may see this great mystery which hath been hid from ages and generations but is now made manifest to his Saints which is Christ in you the Hope of glory and that you may not place the will of man to be it and so mistake in this thing of weight unto all eternity And so I am clear of you also in the sight of the Lord who hath moved me to write and which I have written in his Counsel and as I have received of him whose word it is and which shall be fulfilled and your eyes shall see it and in that day I shall be witnessed in you to whom this shall come by that which witnesses to God for ever and ever and your judgement will be just you that do not hear who will not obey who will not see who will not hear who stop your ears as the the deafe Adder refusing to hear the voice of the Charmer charm he never so wisely The day I say is near wherein these things you will see and witness wherein it will be too late Therefore you also Give glory to the Lord your God before he cause darkness and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains and while ye look for light he turn it into the shaddow of death and make it gross darkness Jer. 13. 16. My Bowels are turned within me for you that so you may not be mistaken and undone for ever For this know that the Lord's Spirit will
Mind and the Law in the Members the Flesh and the Spirit the Son of God in the likeness of sinful flesh condemning sin in the flesh and the body of sin and death Two Nations two manner of People the one stronger then the other the strong man armed the stronger then he The Elder as to man in the state of the fall that came out first the Younger which was before the Elder though it came out in the World after This is he said John of whom I said after me cometh a Man which is preferred before me for he was before me John 1. 30. The Younger who comes after the fall the seed of the Woman to redeem out of the fall to bruise the Serpents head which the Elder must serve which taketh hold of the heel of the Elder and supplants it and makes it to serve the Elder shall serve the Younger And so the Apostle speaketh They are not all Israel who are of Israel Neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all Children but in Isaac shall thy seed be called That is they that are the children of the flesh these are not the children of God but the children of the Promise are counted for the seed For this is the word of Promise at this time will I come and Sara shall have a son And not only this but when Rebecca also had conceived by one even by our Father Isaac for the children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated as aforesaid Rom. 9. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. And here is the whole matter as it lies together and as the Scriptures testifie and are the Explanation of one another in the Spirit of the Lord from whom I have written and who hath shewn me these things that I might write them unto you that your understandings might be opened and that ye might come to see the Truth as it is in Jesus and be brought to the Knowledge of the Truth And so I have finished this particular The Lord God Eternal open your eyes that in this your day you may know the things that belong unto your Peace And so I shall proceed As the Lord made not man to destroy him and as he hath not concluded any man from all Eternity to destruction So neither hath he so made man as that it is impossible for him to fall from the state in the which he was made or to miscarry so as to fall from life for ever and ever That were to put man in another state then that in the which he was made who was made in a Dependance on God for his being and Subsistance in the state in the which he was made and to render him as God knowing both good and evil that is to set him as do he good or do he evil he shall never be finally removed from the state in the which he was made that is from Life but shall remain as God The Judgement of the Ranters whom the Serpent hath taken with that which was his first bait with which he took Eve at first and with which they are taken at this day who hold That do they what they will they shall never be finally â—emoved from the state in the which they were made that is from Life Ye shall not surely die for God knoweth that in the day that ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil Gen. 3. 4 5. This the Serpent laid before Evè viz. a state beyond that in the which she was made Ye shall not surely die a state at the pleasure of him that made you and at his Commandmen who gave you your being Yea hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree in the garden v. 1. hath he put you are ye under such a dependency on him and at his command Nay ye shall not surely die it is not so ye shall be as Gods a state beyond that in which ye were made ye shall not need to stand in such awe and dread Ye are not necessitated to such a dependency upon God as that doing contrary to his Command ye shall die your state shall be changed nay your state shall not be so changed but eating of the Tree doing of that which he hath said ye shall not doe which signifies a Subjection and Subordination a Creature state of Variation and Change at the Will of Him that made you Nay the doing of this will enter you into another state that 's more high more fixed more certain a state wherein God is who changeth not nor is moved nor doth alter or varie from that wherein he is and this God knoweth for God doth known this is the Reason that God hath set you under such a command in such dread in such awe as of death a loosing of the state in the which ye are and a coming into a quite contrary or another this he knows and therefore hath laid this Command upon ye to keep ye from this to prevent your attaining unto this to be as he is setled and unchangeable do ye what ye will ye shall not surely die Nay it shall enter you into that state wherein there is no such thing as death but only a death unto that in which ye are as you are passing to it as through death to life ye shall not need thus to be put to it ye shall be as Gods without change without alteration without fear or dread or a necessary dependance upon another to keep you in the state in the which ye are Ye shall not need thus to be put to it at every turn to be under this Rod under this reproof under this check under such a manifestation as this and who would be so when he may be otherwise This God knoweth therefore hath he laid this Bar upon you this Precept this Bond to keep ye under that in the day that ye eat thereof ye do otherwise then he hath ordained you and so put your selves out of a state of dependance upon him or of being Creatures so to be disposed of and ordered by him so taking your selves into your own Power your own disposal as he doth himself and you whilst it is thus with you that you dare do nothing but what he requires you and that ye dare not do that which he forbids you which is a Creature state of alteration and change of Subjection and Subordination you will be as he is you will be as Gods unalterable unchangeable insubjectible insubordinate and this God knoweth that in the day that ye eat thereof that ye so put your selves that ye so take your selves into your own order and not stand under his Order and Rule who hath so