Love undefiled was your Conception begotten by the Word of immortal Life unto the Inheritance incorruptable whereof you are Heirs of the faithful Promise made free by the Son through the slaying of the enmity upon his Cross whereby you are nourished up into Immortallity to reign over Hell and Death and the Grave for evermore With thoughts of eternal Love are you remembred and read in the Lambs book of Life recorded by the eternal Spirit and of the Lord cannot be forgotten Your Mother is a Virgin unspotted and your City is new Ierusalem come down from Heaven and glorious and full of Pleasure is your Dwelling place there is no need of a candle for the Lamb is the Light thereof and the Temple therein Your God is no Image nor your Worship no Imgination nor to the great Image you do not joyn nor his power hath no dominion over you but the Yea and Amen is your Covenant and the I am whom there is none besides is your God and he that lives forever is your Rock and sure Defence and Salvation is appointed your VValls and Bulwarks Gladness is sown for you yea everlasting Mercies shall you reap and your long mourning shall be turned into everlasting Rejoycing and your present Heaviness into durable Joy your VVaters shall be sure and your Bread shall never fail your Fulness shall abound and your Plenty shall be enlarged never more to hunger nor thirst but your little Seed shall become a great Nation and the whole Earth shall be replenished thererewith and your despised Government shall rule over Kingdoms and your Laws shall all the Nations of the Earth become subject unto Ye are no part of the Image of Idolatry but your beginning is the little Stone cut out without a hand and it shall fill the Earth and become a great Mountain whereupon the Fowls of the Heaven shall be refreshed eating the flesh of Kings and Captains You are found faithful in your Tryals and the glory of the VVorld cannot steal away your Hearts you cannot be moved for your feet are set upon a Rock Satan you scorn and the glory of his Kingdom you utterly disdain upon his power you tread and your feet trample under foot his majesty and renown Your King reigns for ever and of his Government and Dominion there shall be no end but the uttermost parts of the Earth shall be given for a Possession to him his Scepter is Righteousness and his Law is Equity and his Statutes are full of Justice and Judgment And thus saith the Lord of Hosts your God and King Because you have been found faithful and have not loved your lives unto death for his Names sake and for his Glories sake but have continually abased your selves and laid down your Crowns that you might honour him therefore you will he honour and exalt and will establish your Kingdom in peace forever and all that riseth up in judgment against you shall be consounded and condemned and his Hand will be against all your Adversaries to their overthrow and dishonour everlastingly You have loved Righteousness and Judgment upon Earth and your Path hath been in Equity and you have born the Affliction and Storm with patience and have endured with joy the Burden of the Oppressor you have been tryed to the bottom and have been found Innocent and without Guile before the Throne of God clothed with the Garments of Uprightness your Light is the Candle of the Lord and your Life and Glory is the Possession of the Most High Babylon is given you for a Prey and the riches of Aegypt is given you for a Spoil and you are free-born Children of the Seed Elect the first Fruits unto God and unto the Lamb your Purchase is obtained through death and your Crown of honour is purchased through suffering and the glory of Babylon is no whit equal for thou excellest in Beauty and Vertue Whereunto shall thy Beauty be compared O thou fair and comly Virgin unto whom shall I liken thee O thou choice and free-born Daughter of Sions King thy long travel of sorrows in the womb of Anguish hath brought forth Children of a comly stature thy Babes are truly lovely upright and faithful-hearted thy Young-men are noble bold and valiant chosen of thy God and Victory is with them thy Virgins are perfect in Beauty pure and undefiled and no spot in their Garments thy Old men are lively and honourable and stedfast in the Path of Righteousness and their gravity shall be truly respected thy Body is perfect in the Lords Record and Remembrance and with an eternal Crown of infinite Glory shall the Righteous Judge honour thee because you have delighted to do his Will and have kept his Covenant undefiled which abides with you for ever sealed and signed unto you by the Spirit of Promise decreed before the World was All Nations shall call you blessed and of your fulness shall they partake Who is like unto you A People saved by the Lord elect and chosen and redeemed out of Kindreds Tongues and People and have a name better then of Sons and Daughters Praise ye the Lord and Glorifie him for evermore Young-men and Maidens Old-men and Children and all that breath Praise you the Lord for thereunto are you called and for this cause are you brought forth Clap your hands and sing for joy of heart your Redeemer is the holy One and your Maker is your Husband I know you and to you am I known and I read you within the Vail and do behold you the Train of the Most High filling his Temple Follow him forever and let his Name be testified of throughout the Earth Make War in Righteousness and prepare your selves to do his service Let not your hands be slack neither be you sloathful in our Lords Design but wound the Head of your Enemies and mannage War against Gog and Magog throughout all Generations Ride on and prosper tread down the fenced Cities and enlarge your dominion and let the Children of Strangers of the Seed of Esau be your Slaves and Bond-men and fill the Earth with your precious Seed and sow it in the morning and in the Evening with-hold not your hand though you are despised of men yet the Lord hath made you truly honorable in his Glory you appear and his Righteousness is your clothing which will never wither and though some of you for a moment suffer Bonds for his Names sake yet you are free everlasting and are not ashamed of your Testimony before the Princes and Nobles of the Earth O Sion thou art desirable because of thy Beauty and thy Dwelling-place is scituate in a very fruitful Hill and thou feedest in the Valleys of fat Pastures of eternal Pleasures where nothing that defiles can enter nor no Devourer treadeth on thy Mountain nor no Lyons Whelp treadeth in thy Path it is the Way of the Ransomed of the Lord who hath blotted out thy Transgressions never more to remember thy Sins thou Seed
long sate in Darkness that their Souls may live and be refreshed with the Light of the Living And for this Cause do we Labour and Spend and â—re Spent accounting nothing too dear for us that the Light of Truth may shine abroad and guide the Upright in the perfect Way till the Elect be gathered into the Pasture of Eternal Life and the Son so elivated on the Firmament of Joy and Praises never to go down but the Saying fulfilled There shall be no Night but the Light of the Son shall be as the Light of seven dayes These following Testimonies were written at divers Times as the Lord drew forth my Spirit through the Motions of his Life in me some of them some years since and being cast by among Bundles of Manuscripts and now lately coming to my sight and looking them over I have thought good to send them abroad as being of service to many And this is the Occasion and End of my present publishing these things And to the Iudgment of the Spirit of God in all the Saints do I commend my Labours and myself to be approved Westmoreland the 25th of the 7th Moneth 1661. Who am a Friend to all Men E. B. A DISCOVERY of DIVINE MYSTERIES c. CHAP. I. A Testimony concerning Life and Death and their several Fruits and Effects Distinguished THere is only Life and Death and there is but only Life and Death in the whole Creation that Ruleth and Raigneth in and among and over all the Children of Men and all the Children of Men upon the Face of the Earth are under the Government and Dominion of LIFE or of DEATH in whatsoever they are and in whatsoever they do and Life or Death hath the Rule and Government in every Creature in every Exercise whether of Works or Words and all people upon the Earth are subject to the Government of one or the other and bring forth the Fruits and Works in obedience to Life or to Death and shews them forth in visible appearance Now these two to wit Life and Death are contrary one to the other in Beeing in Nature in Works and Fruits and each of these are known and distinguished the one from the other in Beeing in Nature in Fruits and Effects which diversly they bring forth in this World and each of them hath a Kingdom and Government in himself distinct from and contrary each to other and each of them have their several Subjects which also are contrary in Birth and Generation in quality and kind over which they Rule and Govern and to whom they give distinct Portions and Heirships in this World and hereafter and where Life Rules and reigns Death is held in Captivity and Bondage and where Death lives the Life dies and where one of these brings forth Fruit the other is Barren for they agree not in one but are in all things contrary and the Subjects of the one are alwayes opposing and striving against the Subjects of the other And between Life and Death there is continual War and Strife among the Creatures who are the Subject of the one of them in whatsoever man is and in what he doth First Concerning Life I will speak Life was in the Beginning with God and is without descent and God is Life in himself without beginning or ending of Time Place or Matter and Life put forth it self out of its invisible Beeing into Work and Action in the beginning of the World and appeared in visible Operations and Works and brought forth all Creatures and all things into visible Appearances and Life was the Author of all the Beginning and Foundation of all and Life was and is that Beeing and Vertue of all things that are and it was the Ioy and Delight of all things that it self brought forth for all Things and Creatures subsisted through it and it gave Breath and Life to all Creatures and Life blessed them all and in it were all Creatures at Unity being framed and brought into Visibility and for the Pleasure of Life which was all in all in the Beginning and there was a sweet Concurrance and Harmony in the whole Creation through the Power and Beeing of Life in the midst of all Creatures through which the whole Creation was made and framed by the Eternal Word of Life and through which they stood and did remain 〈◊〉 â—â—â—â—sedness and Life ruled and raigned in every Creature that was brought forth and was the Glory and Substance thereof For Life was and is that only begotten of the Father the Son and Heir of the Everlasting Father his express Image and Brightness being one with the Father not separated or divided from him And as for Death it was not yet known nor had it any place in the Creation it had yet received no Power nor Kingdom nor Government neither was it in beeing But Life was all over all through all and in all in the Beginning before Disobedience and Transgression entred to war against Life But Life was Prince Ruler and Governour in and over all the Works of the Creator And Life in its beeing is God and God is Life and in its Government and Fruits and Effects is Purity Righteousness Truth Holiness Meekness and all the Works that are Just and Equal according to God and like him and which shews him forth in the Creation and this was and it was thus in the Beginning before Death entred into the World or had a kingdom But it is written The Devil abode not in the Truth but went out of the Truth and he is the King of Death and hath the Power of it he went out of the Power of God and out of the Life by which all things was made and created and abode not in the Truth nor in the Life to live and act and speak in that but desired to be and became to be something of himself without God and he spoke of himself and acted of himself without the Power and Life and also contrary to the Power and Life of the Creator being separated from it and become a distinct Beeing of himself and then having lost his State and first Condition thus became an Enemy to Life and Truth and became the King of Death and he was the first of Death's Race and he holds the Power of it unto this Day he being gone out of the Truth and out of the Power and Life of God and become a distinct Beeing of himself having a kingdom of his own to promote in Opposition to the Kingdom of God Then he drew Mankind out of the Power and Truth and Life and beguiled Eve and Adam as you may read in the Scriptures and they lost the Life and Power even all Feeling of it and Comfort in it by which they were Created and made and they also transgressed and acted contrary to the Life and Power and acted of themselves and spake of themselves without the Power and Life of their Creator being separated from it and were and did something
of themselves without God the Creator and then the Power and Life cast them out of all Peace Joy and Happiness into the Earth and into Death and Death became the King and Prince over Mankind and they had no more possession of Life nor Blessedness by it in their separated Estate neither did it any longer raign in them but they having transgressed against the Life and acted of themselves and spoken of themselves without the Leadings and Movings of the Life this was their Transgression They went out of the Power and Life in all Motions and Actions and then Life drove them forth of its good Pleasure into the Earth separate from its Vertues and Peace and into Death which is contrary to it self to live in Anguish and Sorrow And so when the Devil was gone out of the Truth and had led Mankind out of the Truth and out of Life and thereby they were all separated from Life and drove out from God out of his Pleasure into his Wrath Then became Death to have a Beeing in Mankind and great Authority and not before and then Death began his Kingdom in the World and over it and he set up his Rule and Government in and among and over all the Children of Men. And so from Transgression came Death that was its Beginning Man having Transgressed against the Life that brought him forth and being separated from Life then Death took place and its kingdom was established over the World and in all the Children of Men in opposition to Life and its Government and Kingdom and Death reigns from Adam so saith the Scripture and the Life was transgressed against and so provoked into an absence and to withdraw it self into invisibility from the enjoyment of Mankind that it should not be felt nor perceived of Him to comfort him and then the whole body of Death came upon Man to load his Conscience and vex his Soul and Death and only Death hath a preheminence over all in Transgression and is established into a Kingdom over sinful Subjects who are under its Command and hath its Rule and Goverment and brings forth its Works and Fruits in Mankind contrary to Life and in opposition to it and to its Kingdom and Power and opposeth the Kingdom and Power of Life the Creature and in its Nature and all its Fruits and Works it is contrary and opposite to Life and its Works and Fruits and through Death is the whole Creation in its exercise by man perverted from the right use and end ordained of God and out of Death proceedeth all evil as Lying Swearing Drunkenness and Whoredom Pride Strife and every evil work and word These things are the Fruits and Works of Death and Death governs the Children of men in the practice of all these things and in transgression Death lives and acts and speaks through Men and Women and Death rules in them and hath perverted them in all their wayes for they have given their Power to it and it wholly Captivates them and is established over them and hath the dominion in them and Life is swallowed up of it And this Kingdom of Death opposeth God and the Kingdom of Life and exalts it self against Life and hath its operation in the Creature in all manner of unrighteousness bringing forth daily such words works fruits and effects as doth oppress and is a burden unto the Life and unto the God of Life and Death and its Kingdom doth continually war and strive against Life and its Kingdom and the one opposeth the other through all Generation since the beginning for the Devil is the King of Death and hath the Power of iâ— and he is King in its Goverment and Ruler in its Dominion and this is the state of all the Children of men in Transgression Death rules and the Kingdom of Death reigns in them and it brings forth cursed fruits through them and they are subjects thereof and in obedience thereunto in all things And through Death which hath Power over them are they separated from Life and have no part nor portion therein because of Death that hath separated them and vailed and clouded them and loads their Consciences But now the Promise of the God of Life is to restore Mankind out of Death and Darkness and that Life shall reign again and subdue Death and destroy it and its Kingdom and swallow it up and this is the Promise of the Father For in Transgression Death hath subdued Life and overcome it in Mankind But in the Restoration Life shall swallow up Death and subdue it and overcome it and this comes to pass through the rising again of Life from under Death which hath held it in bondage and Life that made the World in the beginning and gave to all things Life and substance as I have said which Life in its measure in Mankind hath been overcome and swallowed up in Transgression That Life shall appear though in another manner of appearance than it did in the beginning for then it appeared freely of it self without opposition and brought forth the first Creation But now it doth appear through great opposition and through all that doth oppose it in this second Creation when Life comes again to reign over Death and swallow up and overcome and subdue it and who comes to witness this the new Creation they know Life appearing through opposition and through the destroying of Death and all its works and fruits for CHRIST is the Life and he is the Seed of the Wâ—… which bruiseth the Serpents head who hath the Power of Death Life bruiseth his Head breaketh his Government and destroyes his Works as it appeareth and riseth in the Creature and Death and its Works opposeth Life and its manifestation and appearance and gainsayes it and often quencheth it iâ— its appâ—… Now the first Appearance of Life in the Creature it convinceth and reproveth the works of Death and the words that proceed from Death which are unrighteous words and unrighteous works and Life when it rises it reproves them and condemns them and though Death doth oppose and gainsay the Operation of Life yet Life works through and overcometh subdueth and swalloweth up Death and destroys all its works in the second Creation and Life again comes to take possession of the Creature which it made in the beginning and Life comes to reign again whose Right it is to raign for by it the Creature Mankind and all Creatures were in the beginning formed and brought forth and therefore it is its Right to reign and to have the dominion over the works of its own hands whom since the beginning in Transgression the Devil and Death and his seat of Government has had the possession of and CHRIST the Power of God and the Life hath been as it were dispossessed and thus the first Creation hath been defaced and lost its Glory and it hath been corrupted and degenerated quite from the perfect state as it was created in and Mankind hath
Christ in them and no more after the flesh come to know his Resurrection he is the resurrection he is the first and the last who knows him risen and have seen him witness the first day and the last what speaks thou of a last day that never came to the beginning and so thy soul lies in death and in chains and in utter darkness and therefore lay thy hand upon thy mouth and see where thou art and the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures thou canst not witness 11 Quer. If after death there is no bodily Resurrection for the Spirits of men to possess an immortal Glory to eternity or to suffer an eternal Devil-like shame according to their deeds whether good or evil Is it not one of the vainest things in the World to discourse of God and Righteousness unless it be for earthly Gain amongst men Answ. There is a Resurrection both of the just and of the unjust the just into everlasting life and the unjust into everlasting shame and contempt and every one shall receive according to his works whether they be good or evil but this is a mystery hid for none knowes it but through death but what knowest thou who art yet alive in sin what shall be in the resurrection which is after death which whoever comes to know the resurrection knowes the end of all things therefore it is not taking their words nor thy own imaginations that is Faith nor if thou know Christ no nearer than Ierusalem nor no nearer than above the stars thou knowst not where but through thy dark imaginations this is not to know Christ risen from the dead see therefore what hast thou seen in thy self But thou art dead while thou livest in that nature and at the resurrection contempt and shame will be thy portion and turn in â—hy minde to that which shews thee sin and witness the body and sin destroyed within and then and not till then shalt thou know how it is in the resurrection 12 Quer. Thou raises a question from Pauls words to the Athenians and didst before condemn them that stole other mens words and here thou hast stolen a Query and thou askestwhat think you did that spiritual Creator dwell and sive in the Athenians Consciences or did his glorious person visibly appear in the highest heavens Answ. The Athenians to whom Paul spoke worshipped the work of their own hands as this Generation doth their own imaginations and that God whom ignorantly they worshipped at a distance which God lived in Paul's Conscience Paul declared unto them and they looked as thou dost carnally thinking God to be carnal and at a distance but he said he was not at a distance from every one of them for in him they lived moved and had their being and this was the God which Paul preached of which Creator we witness lives in the high and holy place and with him also that is of a humble and a contrite spirit and trembleth at his Word 13 Quer. And thou sayest what think you can there be any living Spirit without a body or person to display its life in or from and must not the Creator of necessity be a glorious personal substance and thou sayest doth not these men that worship an infinite Spirit without any bodily form living in mens Consciences glory only in a god of â—â—eir own imaginations instead of honouring the onely Lord of all life the man Iesus yesterday today and for ever Answ. That which is not possible with men is possible with God which God is a Spirit as Jesus Christ saith and a spirit hath not flesh and bone nor a created body but displays it self as it pleases contrary to thy will and the will of all men and thou who wouldst by thy reason tye the Creator with a necessity to a personal Beeing art void of the knowledge of God and led by thy corrupt reason which shall never know God and all those who worships God in Spirit worships an infinite Spirit which Spirit inhabiteth eternity and lives in the Consciences of the Saints and this is not to glory in an imagination but a witnessing of the same eternal Truth which the Saints witnessed which spake forth the Scripture for they witnessed Christ to dwell in them and the same God they worshipped whose temple they were and not another and the same we witness and this to the honour of the Man Jesus who was yesterday today and for ever 14 Quer. The eternal Spirit Creator and alone everlasting Father which dwells essentially in the glorified Body as our Lord Iesâ—â— his eternall Son and virtually reigns in all the Saints Elect men and Angels be Record between me and you world without end whether this Epistle shall not be sent to you and all the chosen that shall peruse it principally for the establishing of your tender spirits upon that eternal spiritual Rock Iesus Christ God and Man in one distinct body or person glorified and onely honoured with all spiritual praises from Elect men and Angels when this World is consumed into ashes and all time or times is swallowed up into eternity or eternities Ans The Eternal Spirit which is the Everlasting Father which thou sayst is essencially in the Son thy word essencially I deny and thy voice yet Christ and the Father is one and the same Spirit that dwells in the Son dwels in the Father which is one I and my Father is one the same dwells in the Saints thy word virtual I deny the same that dwells in the Father and in the Son the same dwells in the Saints not distinct nor divided For he that hath seen the Father hath seen the Son and he that hath the Son hath the Father also and Christ is not divided I in them and thou in me that they may be perfect in one and he that is joyned to Christ is one spirit and not distinct nor separate if thou have an ear thou mayst hear and that eternal Spirit which is the Father and the Son which dwels in the Saints is Judge of thee and by that Spirit I judge thee that this Epistle came not from him to none of the chosen for they who are chosen deny thy voice and what dost thou speak of Elect and Angels with whom God dwells when in thy fourth query thou saidst they were defiled and the holy Ghost saith He dwells with no uncleanness and so speaks confusion and Babylons language which is the land of thy nativity from whence all these things have been spoken by thee and all that shall ever be established with thy declaring or thy Epistles shall be thrown down for the Rock shall beat thy Image to pieces and therefore leave off thy speaking of him and of thy distinct body and of his glory for when he shall appear in his glory instead of thy praises thou shalt bowl and lament and wish the mountains to cover thee and he who is out of time shall consume thee to ashes who
that you may try every motion and every spirit and may by that which is infallible and errs not comprehend and judge that which is fallible and erring which flourisheth for a time but comes to an end is withered as that in your own Knowledge and Consciences will set to seal who have been strayed and scattered upon the Mountains in the cloudy and dark day but now the Light is breaking forth and the Day begins to appear and all you who abide faithful shall see the Glory of the Lord and shall enjoy him in the Land of the Living End of the Work of God We charge you all in the Lord that you who profess the Truth walk in it and who profess a change to let it appear by putting off the works of Darkness which by the Light are made manifest unto you and testified against by the Witness of God in you for know this that that which liveth in you which is contrary to God witnessed against by the Light of Christ shall be as a Prick in the eye and as a Thorn in the side for ever and Wrath is to be revealed upon him that spareth the best and saveth the fat from Judgment for to the slaughter all must come that Life and Glory may be made manifest and he that looks back by the way is not fit for the Kingdom and he that returns again to the pollutions his latter end is worse then his beginning and the Judgment of God cannot be escaped Therefore wait in the Power of God and stand in the Light which is the Armour against all temptations whereby the Darkness and Death and he that hath the power of Death is overcome and all that love the Light and are guided by it And all dear Friends who have tasted of the Love and Power of God and do witness the renting of the Earth dwell in the Power and pure Fear of the Lord that so all deceit may be kept down and under and take heed of the false Prophet speaking or suffering your minds to run out in the openings and so you will speak that which is opened in the Light and therefore we charge you all in the Presence of the dreadful God of Life and Power that you all wait in silence and wait to have Salt and Savour in your selves to know the Voice of Christ from the voice of the Stranger for till that be known in your selves you are not able to judge and therefore all wait in the Light which is the Eye which sees into the Mysteries of the Kingdom and none to utter a word but what you are Eternally moved unto or else that in every ones Conscience will bear witness against you and therefore be not hasty now when you see things open in your minds dwell in them and run not forth and speak but treasure them up in your hearts and take heed and keep low in the Fear of the Lord God that pride and presumption get not up nor nothing be exalted above that which is pure Dear Friends you are upon us as a great weight and burden lest we should have bestowed our labour in vain but we hope and trust the Lord will preserve you if you stand in obedience to that of God made manifest in you and so you will grow and take heed of striving and contending but judge that every one in your selves that you may all grow up in the pure Life of God And so the everlasting Power of God bless you all and keep you in his everlasting Love and Power and give the victory over your Enemies that you may come to witness eternal Life in you made manifest from God Your Brethren in the Work of the Lord E. B. F. H. To Friends in London DEar Friends in the evelasting Covenant of Life and Peace whom we bear witness of and unto whom we have declared and preached in season and out of season among yea and have often come unto in much weakness and fear and trembling and have not ceased day by day to watch over you lest any should start aside from the Hope of the Gospel which was declared amongst you in much demonstration of Spirit whereby your understandings came to be opened even by the Word of his Power which we directed you to wait in and for and you are Witnesses your selves of the Love and mighty Power of God which was made manifest among you which made the Heathen to rage and confounded the wisdom of the Wise So dear Children of Light of whom we have travelled in pains and great burdens that Christ might be formed in you fulfil ye our joy make our hearts glad in your growth up in him who hath called and spoken to you from Heaven by his Son in the Light and your ears have heard and your eyes have seen and you have been made to understand the Mystery of the Kingdom of God which is a Parable to all the World and sealed and cannot be read but to you who continue and abide in the Grace of God which hath appeared to all men which brings Salvation to all that walk and abide in it and leads to the Enterance and Earnest and the sealing of the Spirit until the time of the finishing transgreson and making an end of sin and so the everlasting Offering be witnessed which perfects for ever them that are Sanctified therfore all Friends whose minds are turn-to the Light and do witness a change in you by the working of the Spirit and now a door of Hope being set open abide in that measure every one and stay your souls upon him who is your Hope and keep low in the Fear to the just Principle of Life that you may have savour and discerning to know the Voice of Christ from the voice of a Stranger in your selves and in others and so grow up in the discerning and comprehend all spirits and judge them by the Light that makes all things manifest and all meet together in your several Meetings and watch one over another and be diligent all in your measure and take heed you neglect not and none be of a careless mind to meet and wait upon the Lord in silence for whose life stands only in words without such we deny for their eyes and ears are without and they would be ever learning and that is the silly woman that is loden with lust And all dear Babes take heed of taking liberty to the flesh nor give no ear nor liberty to the Earth but in the Cross dwell to the carnal and so you will witness the Plant of the Lord watered and a growth in the Immortal and the Seed you will see which is one in all which the Promise is to and all be still and cool and quiet and of a meek spirit that out of boysterousness and eagerness and feignedness and self-love you may be preserved in your measures up to God and if any be moved to speak a few words in your Meetings this we
them like to the Beast none upon Earth hath bought or sâ—â—d or judged or given evidence or been respected in all the World that 〈◊〉 not had the Mark of the Beast and the number of the names of Antichrist rich and poor small and great have receive his Mark as a Seal of their subjection to the Beast whose many heads and many horns have subjected all by the force of his arm and he hath blinded the eye lest men should see him and cast darkness over all faces and the false Prophet hath deceived many a Christ hath said and all the Earth hath been wandring in the Wildernâ—… of Wickedness and the Long-suffering of the Lord hath been wearied and he continually provoked to destroy the Nations who have followed Antichrist who hath shewed himself in the Seat of God to be God and hath sat in the Seat of God in the Seat of Justice Righteousness and of Mercy and the Abomination of desolation hath long stood in the place where it ougâ—â— not for many Ages and length of Times and his many Heads and many Horns hath swayed the World through the terror of the Beast who haâ—… made all worship him and they that would not he hath killed who hath carried the great Whore who hath made all men without exception and all Nations without respect to any wholly drunk with abomination and all hath staggered and fallen into grievous iniquities and the Dragon hath stood ready continually to devour the Child of Righteousness as soon as it was born and the Woman hath been forced to flee into the Wilderness that hath brought iâ— forth and hath fed there for so many dayes and for a long season hath the Lâ—â—d been blasphemed even the Name of God and his Tabernacle and them thâ—â— dwell in Heaven But now hath the Lord considered and looked down from his Habitatiâ—n and of a truth he is risen and hath taken to him his great Power that he may reign and put all things under his Feet and subdue the power of the Beast and Antichrist and all their Government and Rule and Laws and Decrees shall be overthrown and confounded all their worship shall be broken for great Babylon is come into remembrance before the Lord to render her according to her works the Lamb is now risen and advanced with his Bow and his Sword and he is going forth Conquering and to Conquer the Beast and all that have worshipped him and they that are with the Lamb are called and chosen and faithful they love not their lives unto death and they shall overcome him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of his Testimony the Dominion of the Lamb is setting up and his Power is made manifest and the Stone cut out of the Mountain without hand is a dashing at the feet of the Image and against the Beast and his Power and against all his Laws and Decrees is he risen and he will change Times and Laws and Powers and the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever for now the Spirit of Life from God is entred into the Witnesses which have been slain and they begin to stand upon their feet and great fear falls upon the great men of the World and the Devil is cast out into the Earth who hath sitten in Heaven in the Temple of God and deceived the whole World and his wrath is great against the Saints and against the Lamb because he knoweth his time is but short and the Man-child shall grow and shall rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron if any man hath an ear to hear let him hear he that leadeth into Captivity shall go into Captivity he that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword the Purpose of the Lord shall stand who is now gathering and bringing back such as have been driven away and deceived by the Generation of false Prophets who have deceived the whole World and all that dwell therein and the Lord will take vengeance upon them upon the Beast and upon the false Prophet and great Babylon shall be thrown down and shall be no more at all but shall be made desolate and the voice of Harpers and Musitians shall no more be heard at all in her but her Glory shall wither and fade away in a moment for he that hath a true Weight and Measure is appeared to divide and to give due weight and measure unto every one and all the wicked who will not come from under the worship of the Beast shall have their part in the Lake that burnes with Fire and he that is unjust let him be unjust still and he that is righteous let him be righteous still here is the dividing of all things as they were in the beginning the Glory of the Lord is risen whose name is called the Word of God and out of his mouth goeth a sharp Sword and with it be smiteth the Nations and he shall rule them with an Iron Rod for his Name is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and he is gathering his Saints together to the Supper of the Great God to eat the flesh of Kings the flesh of Captains and the flesh of Horses and them that sat thereon the Purpose of the Lord shall not be disannulled though the Beast and the Kings of the Earth gather together their Armies to make war against him that sits upon the Horse who is already gone out to conquer and the numberless number of the Saints are gathering together before the Throne of the Lamb and they have no guile found in their mouthes And the day is now dawned and the night is far spent Wo unto the World and to all the Inhabiters of the Earth who have worshipped the Beast the Lord is coming to plead with you and ye that have partaken of the sins of the great Whore shall partake of her Plagues and she shall be rewarded double according to her works for her sins have reached unto Heaven The Day of great tribulation is at hand of Anguish and Destruction men shall seek death and shall not find it but it shall flee from them when the Lord ariseth and the Lamb standeth upon Mount Sion and his Saints with him who shall tread down the Heathen and cast them out even as they have trodden down the holy City and the Worship thereof and the Kingdom of the Beast and his Seat and his great Authority which he hath received from the Dragon shall all be thrown down and the Kingdom of the Son of God with his Government Scepter and Rule shall be established in all the Earth and the utmosts part thereof shall be given him to possess this is the Promise and this shall come to pass and through the whole World Laws and Decrees Ministry and Orders shall be changed and renewed the Law and Decree of the Most High shall rule over all and the
〈◊〉 practice and also your keeping and setting apart the Saints dayes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holy-dayes and eating with respect to dayes denying of Flesh such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dayes and observing of Dayes and Meats and Drinks and Fasting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 own wills and your Nunneries and keeping Men and Women one frâ—â—â—…ther in secret Houses whether are these things commanded and required 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord from you and we charge you to give us some Example that 〈◊〉 true Church practized such things otherwise if you do not not caâ—â—◠〈◊〉 these your practices from the Scriptures and Example of the Apoâ—… 〈◊〉 you we must deny you and condemn your practiâ—es forever and 〈◊〉 â—…lieve that your Church is the true Church nor you lawful Successors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ly Apostles 9. What you believe concerning the Reign and Government of Câ—… and his coming is He his Reign and Government visible and of this World or invisible and from Heaven and whether Lyars Whoremongers â—…terers Drunkards Man-slayers and contentious Men or any that 〈◊〉 in any Sin or Transgression in the first Nature be of the Kingdâ—◠〈◊〉 Government of Jesus or have any part or portion therein in time to 〈◊〉 â—…ever and how may such ever have part therein and give us yoâ—…â—…ge in these things And also what you hold and profess concerning Eâ—… 〈◊〉 Reprobation that we may know whether your Knowledge and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sound and perfect in these things and to be embraced or condemned and 〈◊〉 10. What is the Man-child that hath been caught up to God and 〈◊〉 the reason of his being caught up and what is the Woman that fled into the Wilderness and what is the reason of her so fleeing and when is the tâ—… is it come or to come that the Man-child hath been caught up aâ—◠〈◊〉 Woman fled and that the Man-child shall come down again and the Wâ—… again return and what is that Beast the first and the second and is â—…s kingdom come or yet to come who reigned over the Kings of the Earth and caused all both small and great to worship him and killed the Saints and overcame them that would not worship him and made war against the Lâ—… and persecuted the Woman's Seed and when is it that the World wondred â—â—ter the Beast is it come or to come Answer these things in plainness 〈◊〉 â—â—mand of you 11. What and who is that great Whore that sits upon many waters with 〈◊〉 the Kings of the Earth commits Fornications and who hath made Nations dâ—… with the Wine of her Fornications and who hath reigned over the 〈◊〉 and Dominions of the Earth and is that Whore come or yet to come 〈◊〉 whether is your Church every whit free from the Fornications of that Whâ—… and will you admit of lawfull trial by your fruits and works and suffer 〈◊〉 men accordingly and whether the whole Church of Rome or any part of 〈◊〉 Dominions be the Multitudes Peoples and Nations and Tongues the Wâ—… on which the Whore sits and whether your Church be wholly free from 〈◊〉 Woman which hath drunk the Blood of Saints and of the Martyrs of Iâ—… and shew us plainly who that Whore is if you can and what is her Flesh and the Fire that must burnt it 12. Whether are the false Prophets and Deceivers come or to come which 〈◊〉 said should come if you say they are come when did they come and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they and how may they be known and what was their first original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of what doth all false Prophets and false Prophecies come is the Church 〈…〉 clear of all the false Prophets and whether is your Ministry in the very 〈◊〉 Power Spirit and Authority which the Apostles were in is its Call and â—…tion the very same is its Maintenance and Practice the very same and is iâ—â— Fruits Effects and End the very same or some other let us know from you 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may â—ay you to the Line of true Judgment for all People and Nations â—… â—…ome Friends let us reason a little with you further We are not satisâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bishop of Râ—…e is true and lawful Successor of the Apostle Peter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Tripple Crown and did Kings Bow and Kneel to him and had 〈…〉 â—â—â—enues and Money out of the Nations as the Pope hath 〈…〉 Pardon 's for Money 〈◊〉 or did any buy Religion of him and did 〈…〉 over mens Consciences and was Peter named Holiness We 〈…〉 you to prove rightly and truly That the Pope doth succeed Peter 〈…〉 Spirit in the same Power and in the same Conversation and that 〈…〉 â—…er-see the Church be justly the same as Peter's was and that he exeâ—…â—…ctly as Peter did 〈…〉 â—…wer us plainly What is the Seed of the Woman and what is the 〈◊〉 the Serpent and is his Head bruised yea or nay And what is the 〈…〉 what is his beginning and what is the kingdom that he is Ruler 〈◊〉 and how is his kingdom to be destroy'd And what is the Flesh of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Blood which was before Abraham and how is Christ made under the 〈◊〉 answer me these things 〈◊〉 what is the Death that hath reigned over all and what is the power 〈◊〉 and what is the fruits of that death and when must that death be 〈◊〉 and is it destroyed among you and what was man in his Creation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the ground and what was he that was the very Image of God 〈◊〉 and Female before Adâ—… was formed of the Dust of the Ground or â—…en out of him declare these things plainly if you can and what is 〈◊〉 Transgression and the Curse and whether any can be made free from 〈◊〉 Curse upon the Earth yea or nay and what is the Kingdom of Heaven 〈◊〉 is like a little Leaven and that is like a Net cast into the Sea and what 〈◊〉 which must be leavened and what is that good Fish that must be gatherâ—… into the Vessels and that bad that must be cast away and how doth the 〈◊〉 of Heaven bring the bad out of the Waters to the Shore and why is 〈◊〉 and wherefore and what is the reason that none can enter the Kingdom 〈◊〉 Goâ— nor see it but such as are born again and how is a man born again 〈◊〉 what is that Mothers womb that Iob and all mankind came out of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 must return thither again naked and what are the Fig-leaves that â—…vered in Transgression and what is the Covering of the Spirit and 〈◊〉 must be covered and what not and why is it and how comes it to pass 〈◊〉 one and the same thing is sin and wickedness acted by one and the same 〈◊〉 good and just acted by another These things answer to us plainly and 〈◊〉 â—…ve all your Practises and Profession by plain Scripture and give us Exâ—… from Peter and the true Churches that he and they practiced the same 〈◊〉 which the Pope and you do if you would have any to own you otherâ—… 〈◊〉
the Cause wherefore the Wrath of God may justly come upon the whole Nation it self if these things be not speedily repented of and forsaken And whether the Life and Practise and Subjection of an upright QUAKER so called whose Principle is to obey all just Commands and patiently to suffer under all that which is unjust and that lives in Meekness and Fear and Soberness and Love towards all Men whether or no such Men and such Practises are not more Honourable and Blessed in the sight of God and Men than this kind of Rudeness and Wickedness Singing and Drunkenness Ringing and Swearing and hanging Ribbins and Feathers about themselves and their Horses and many other things which are said to be done in honour to the King and his Government But whether there be not a Principle in your Consciences which doth rather condemn your selves than justifie you for these things and rather justifies a Sober Life and is not that more blessed Quer. 12. Whether or no all that cry you up and your Government do it really and out of good Conscience and from Principles of Sincerity Or whether they are turned to you in Feignedness and Hypocrisie and to save their Heads and Estates which some of them have gotten even such as have been your Enemies and Preached and Prayed and Fought against you and now cry you up and pray for you but whether can you trust that these will be faithful to you that thus deny their former Ways and Religion and Worship And whether thus to deny their Principles their Faith their Religion their former Oaths and Engagements is commendable and Justifiable in the sight of God and you Or whether a Quaker so called that will stand to his Principles and not deny his Faith nor Religion though he suffer for it nor will bow and bend in Hypocrisie under every sort of Men is not more justifiable and condemnable in the sight of God and your Consciences also I say do not they condemn these Hypocrites that have fought against you and prayed against you and yet bow under you with deceitful Hearts in the time of their danger Quer. 13. Whether or no you do not believe and know in your Consciences that the QUAKERS so called are a Sober Innocent and Harmless People and of an upright Conversation dealing justly towards all and such as do not Envy the Persons of any nor Plot and Project Mischief towards you or any And whether if you should proceed to persecute and seek to destroy such a People concerning whom you have such a witness in your Consciences Iustifying them as aforesaid would not be greatly unjust in the Sight of God and the very Cause to provoke God to destroy you and your proceeding if so be that you persecute them for their Conscience-sake while they live Soberly and Uprightly as men and injureth no mans Person or Estate by their Religion Quer. 14. Whether or no you do not believe or may not have just Cause to believe that your present Proceedings are not and may not prove to be the very natural Cause of Outward Visible external Judgements upon you and the Nation even Iudgments of Pestilence and Famine And do not you proceed in the very path hereof Is not your spending the Creation in such Excessive manner in Eating and Drinking and wasting the good Creation after this manner as you do Whether is not this a natural Cause to bring want and Poverty and also oppressing your very bodies with Excessiveness in Drunkenness Inflaming your selves through Excessiveness of Wine and Beer and through the abounding of uncleanness and through excesse and as well Defiling and Oppressing your very Persons as wasting the Creation by so doing Whether this is not a very Natural Cause to bring and beget Pestilence and Famine besides your provoking the Lord through this means as being works in themselves hateful and abominable in his sight and for which Cause he may justly bring Wrath and Judgements even Plague and Famine if there were no other Cause for it And whether you ought not seriously to Consider of this thing and to Turn from these Transgressions which are Natural Causes of great Judgements and also provokes the Lord to hasten and inflict Judgement Oh that the Sober minded among you would lay this to heart Consider these Queries in the Spirit of Soberness for they are worth your regarding and be not high-minded nor wicked in your way least the Lord who hath all Power in his hand meet you and bring you down and destroy your Cause which he can do if you provoke him This was written in the middle of the 3d Moneth called May 1660. E. B. TO THE Friends of Christ IN LONDON DEarly Beloved and much Respected in the Lord who are of the Election before the World began in everlasting Love do I often remember you and your Remembrance is Pretious and Pleasant to me even because the Lord hath chosen you and called you into his marvellous Light and formed you a People for himself to shew forth his Praise and herein I do behold you very often for I have seen you as a few pleasant Plants in a great Forest of fruitless Trees and I have seen you as a speckled Bird among the Birds of the Wilderness and even as a choice Virgin are you among Harlots in that great City even as a few righteous Persons whom the Lords regardeth amongst a Multitude of thousands of ungodly Men thus have I seen you and thus doth the Spirit bring you into my remembrance with earnest desires to the Lord God for you that you may be preserved through all Times and Seasons and over all this World that you may be alwayes unto the Lord as a pleasent Garden bringing forth Fruits of Acceptation unto him wherein his Soul may be delighted Now dear Friends live in the Seed of God and walk in the Faith which overcometh the World and feel your Election in Christ Jesus and grow up into it daily that you may have the Seal of Assurance of Mercy and Peace and Favour with the Lord God and wait that you may receive the Promise of the Father even of the same eternal Life the same Spirit the same Power of the same heavenly Vertue into your Vessels as was in Christ Jesus in whom dwelt the fulness of all things and in us the Fulness is manifest by measure and this is the everlasting Comforter that will abide with you for ever even the Appearance of Christ Jesus in Spirit God with us and the knowledge of him as he was before Abraham and this Life Immortal born in us and this Knowledge revealed to us is everlasting and remains for ever and if ye be gathered up into this to know him and to be in him that was in the beginning then are you builded upon the Rock and the Gates of Hell cannot prevail against you neither can the Flood of Death break in upon you And Friends walk in the Love of the Lord
perverted into evel in its practise of degenerate man and if you forget the Word then Iniquity prevails again and the love of this World and its vanities and the Riches and Pleasures of the mortal man steals away the Heart and they possess the Habitation of God unrighteously and all things are become sinful and the Body of Death comes over the pure Life and Peace with God in the Conscience is lost and that because the Word of God is forgotten which once begat unto God and where the unclean spirit enters again the latter end of such is worse then the beginning more finful against God and more hated of him and therefore let none follow the way of such for it leads to Death and Darkness and Misery will be the end of it But Friends mind him and feel his Power who is the Preserver of Men in Peace and Righteousness and let not up that part in you into liberty into which Satan enters and sows his seed of degeneration but live in the Cross of Christ and in the meek and lowly Spirit tha◠you may not do your own wills but the Will of the Father and may fear him and his Goodness and that subjecteth the ground of Temptations that Sin cannot prevail so shall your Peace be everlasting and your Life as a River of pleasure and Joy and Gladness shall be your daily Portion and the Lord shall never forsake you but be unto you a Tower of Strength and Habitation of Peace and a Crown of Victory and Reward in this present time and for ever And if ye abide in Christ the Vine into which you are planted by Regeneration then will your Fruit be of the Vine and acceptable unto the Father who is the good Husbandman and through his Vertue you will grow into Perfection as partaining to the Conscience where all guilt of sin is taken away and the burden of Iniquity and body of Death clean removed away from you for that is Perfection as partaining to the Conscience where Sin and Transgression is done away and Power received over it both in Motion and Action and the Guilt of it and the Conscience sprinkled with the Immortal Blood of the Lamb and no stain nor guilt remaining but Peace altogether by the holy Spirit in the Conscience and this is perfection which was not attained to by outward things in the first Covenant but is witnessed in the second which the Lord hath made with us and confirmed unto us where Sin and Iniquity is blotted out and Innocency and Immortallity lives and raigns and such stand before the Throne of God without fault before him and no guile in their Mouthes and these sing the Song of the Lamb and of the Redeemed where all sorrow is fled away if so be that the burden and guilt of all Transgresion be removed then there is no cause of sorrow and blessed are they that dwell here and that are entred into the everlasting Rest even into God for he is the Rest of the Immortal Soul and the Life of it and if ye know these things ye have satisfaction and comfort which none know but they that have it it s the portion of the Redeemed whose Father Master Ruler Judge and King is the Lord God and the Lamb and we are Subjects of that Kingdom and free born of that City the heavenly Ierusalem and we are made free through the price of Immortal Blood and then how can any of you that are such serve this World and the Vanities of it by any immoderate care or desire or exercise in earthly things for this is the bondage of Egypt but the Children are free from it and are not entangled concerning the things of this World but they are subjected under and the Inheritance of a better Portion is their Crown and Substance and Esau's portion is the Earth he that hath no assurance in God wherefore live above this World in the Seed of God and be without immoderate care in every thing as to earthly matters not taking thought what shall come or be to morrow neither cumbring your selves about uncertain riches but leave the issue of all things to the Lord in whose hands are Blessings and the Curse to give or take away according to his pleasure and be not Servants unto but Rulers over all affections in earthly things for spiritual Blessings are the Crown and the Earth is the foot-stool of the Lord's Redeemed And as for the dayes and seasons in which we now are let none be troubled as though it were not well or could be better for all things are well that are come to pass because the Will of the Lord hath effected them either as the Cause or as the Means and it is good for us that these things are so for the prosperity of our Kingdom is going on through all the Hammer is beating upon the Rocks that will beat them to pieces and the Axe is hewing down the Cedars and the little Stone prevails against the many-headed Beast and the Image of Idolatry is weakening and the holy Seed grows in strength and vertue and the Purpose of the Lord can none prevent But the light of the Son must be as the light of seven days amangst us and the Day-Spring from on high hath already visited us and we have seen of his Glory wherefore let all the Upright have Patience and Long-suffering till the Measure of Iniquity in our Adversaries be filled which is hastening to be accomplished and Transgression grows full and Sinners grow ripe for Vengeance and we must pass over their Mountain of Darkness and in the mean time the Lord hides us under his shadow even 〈◊〉 Transgression be finished and covers us from the storm and blinds the enemy and turns his rage backward and we are not destroyed but our life is renewed and righteousness mercy and love are a defence about us and how great is the kindness of the Lord herein mine eye hath seen it and my heart meditateth thereon the power and wisdom and love of the Lord herein are very great and who can find out the depth thereof or declare his immeasurable power and wisdom And thus the salutation of my life unto all the faithful is expressed and I am well in him who is my fulness and desire no more concerning you then your faithfulness in the cause of God for without controversie the cause of God is with us and on our part and as you are faithful therein that is my reward concerning you and the addition to my joy and in the Heavenly Spirit of the Lord God Almighty are you committed unto him who is able to keep you even to the end and in the end to glorifie you in eternal life in rest and peace for ever and this is the portion of the faithful and my desires on your behalf and my salutation of you hoping that you have not so learned Christ as to deny him because of the love or terror of this World
been servant to another Power and led captive by another Power than the Power that made him and another Government hath been established over him and another Law hath exercised him than the Government and Law of the Creator to wit the Power and Government and Law of Death have had the Rule Government and Exercise of Man and of the old Creation and hereby all things have been diverted from their proper and perfect place and service to which they were ordained in the beginning by reason of Transgression and the reigning of Death and Man hath been held in Captivity and in sore bondage and subject to all misery and distress deprived of unity with his Maker and deprived of the comfortable use and benefit of the Creation so that of all Creatures he hath been the most miserable being held in Bondage and Captivity under the power of Death which hath ruled and reigned over him and in him being always subject to Death and subject to the Curse and Anger of the LORD and subject to doubtings and fears and subject to continual misery and sorrow and all this is because Death hath reigned and had dominion even that which at first in the beginning of Transgression betrayed him of the Life and Fellowship with God that got possession it self to reign and to have the Power which ever since hath reigned and alwayes doth till the appearance of the Life again which doth appear in the Creature for this end to overcome and subdue Death and destroy his works that it self may reign and free the Creation from its degeneration and corruption and free Mankind from his bondage and captivity and from his misery and all his trouble which is come upon him by reason of Death And this came to pass in the New Creation when Life is born again to rule and reign again and to swallow up Death and to subdue it wholly and its Kingdom and Government And then Man again is become a Son of GOD an Heir of Salvation and no more Death reigns in him nor hath Power over him when he is restored out of Transgression then as Death hath reigned and had power in Transgression Life shall so reign in and over the Creature in the New Creation when that is brought forth as Death hath reigned in the Old Creation in Transgression and Disobedience And Life will arise to reign and rule over all and in all though it be through great opposition the Body of Death shall be put off and the Government of Death shall be subdued and all the Works Fruits and Effects of Death shall be destroyed and done away and its place shall no more be found so as to bring forth Fruit for its sting shall be taken away and shall no more wound nor pierce nor hurt the Creature For the sting of Death is Sin and that hath wounded and hurt the Creature and when this comes to pass then there is glory and rejoycing over all for Life hath swallowed up Death and overcome it and the cause of Sorrow is removed and taken away and the Kingdom of Life is established in the Creature and is set upon the top of Death's Kingdom and keeps it under and if there be but a Motion of Death that would spring up or appear in the Creature Life judgeth it down and condemns it And this Kingdâ—â— is Righteousness Ioy and Peace full of Iustice Righteousness and Equity and there is nothing in it that doth defile or destroy or bring Sorrow or Misery but Life rules over all that and subdues the Cause thereof and removes every thing that would imbondage or captivate the Creature in Evil. And this Kingdom is not of this World but from Heaven and Heavenly and the Birth Immortal is Heir thereof which receives the Crown and the Kingdom of Eternal Life Now the Kingdom of Death is of this World which is defiled and degenerated Gain was a Subject of this kingdom and Esau that was a Reprobate and Iudas that betrayed the Life and all the Ungodly and Generation of the Wicked since the beginning they were all of the kingdom of Death and the kingdom of Death ruled in them and brought forth its works through them and its exercise in their hearts and in their lives and through its power they opposed and gainsay'd the Life and they fought against the Kingdom of Life and Righteousness and such were the Pharisees who put Christ to death who is the Life Death raigned over all these and they were of the stock of Death and they were of this World and had their Conversation below in the earthly things and knew not the Life nor its Government but were Strangers to it and Enemies to it as all are at this day who are Transgressors against the Life and all such are subject to the Curse to Sorrow and Misery and the Anger of the Lord but who come to feel the Life and the Obedience to it again Death is destroyed through Death for through the death of Death Death comes to be destroyed and no other way which the Life works and the Life works through Death and overcomes it and swallows it up and this is the second Creation and the new Creation where Life raigns over all and doth possess the Creature as it did before transgression The Life is the Light and the Life is the Law and Life lives moves and acts the Creature and Christ who is the Life becomes all in all and Blessed are they who wait for this and do witness it to such am I known in these things where the kingdom of Death is overcome and swallowed up of Life CHAP. II. A Testimony concerning the Mystery of God and Godliness and concerning the Mystery of the Devil and Iniquity THere are two great Mysteries in their invisible Beeing and in manifestation to us in the world that is to say The Mystery of God and Godliness and The Mystery of the Devil and Iniquity These are two great Mysteries which do discover and act themselves forth in and among and through the Children of men in this Creation and these two Mysteries are contrary one to the other in Beeing in Nature in Works in Fruits and effects and they are in strife one against the other the one continually opposing the other and striving for the Creature Mankind to be the Instrument to display themselves through in visible Appearance for the Creature Man and Woman is a Vessel wherein these Mysteries are contained and whereby these Mysteries do shew themselves forth in the world and all the Sons of Adam upon the Face of the Earth are possessed with and of one of these that is to say The Mystory of God or the Mystery of the Devil do manifest themselves forth through every Man and Woman and through all the Sons of Adam upon the Face of the Earth the Works Fruits and Effects of one of these are brought forth And as for the Mystery of God it is Infinite and Eternal in Beeing and
Imposing upon the Flock of God or forcing in Religious Matters for ye see the Elders might not be constrained or forced to take the Oversight of the Flock neither having the Oversight of it might they be â—… 〈…〉 â—y noâ—◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 Heritage nor use any 〈…〉 〈…〉 the Apostle and the conâ—… 〈…〉 saith he Elâ—…â—or â—or 〈…〉 upon them in â—…igor or 〈…〉 Elders and Ministers overseeing 〈…〉 oversee God's Heritage 〈…〉 self-denial and in all th◠〈…〉 hereby with the Word of 〈…〉 wards and not ruling over them as 〈…〉 Lordship by forcing and 〈…〉 imprisoning â—nd 〈…〉 as hath been 〈…〉 â—ver the Heritage of God 〈…〉 Lords over the Flock 〈…〉 example of Scriptures and 〈…〉 Gentleness and good Example 〈…〉 Peter's Instructions Thus it is clearly manifest throughout 〈…〉 the way of imposing Religiâ—â— and 〈…〉 Worship and Church-Government in the dispensâ—… of 〈◊〉 Gospel as aforesaid is contrary to the commands of Chriâ—… 〈…〉 example of Scriptures and is not of God nor according unto him And now I shall â—â—â—w in the fourth place of whom â—it is 〈◊〉 â—y whose Example this violence used and prsecution unto 〈…〉 on and also the beginning of impoâ—… 〈◊〉 force â—â—ongst Christians 4. All this persecution 〈…〉 been in the world as imprisoâ—ments 〈…〉 unto death and grievous Afflicâ—… hath been of 〈…〉 through the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Envy of the Devil against God 〈…〉 that Persecution 〈…〉 before the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Christ in the 〈◊〉 it 〈…〉 the particulars of it as it is signified 〈…〉 Transactions in 〈…〉 â—â—â—wledged by all that such cruel Persecutions were of the Dâ—â—il And again in the days of Christ and his Apostles 〈◊〉 was the force and 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 practised â—â—on the true 〈◊〉 Christians by â—â—e Jeâ—â— and 〈…〉 which was in â—licted upon Chriâ—… Apostles and the Christians was imposiâ—ion and 〈…〉 Religion 〈…〉 so much for compâ—…ing them to any thing as from that way of Riâ—… and 〈…〉 which they walked they were â—…ded 〈…〉 in the Name of Iâ—sus and were â—â—prisâ—nâ—â—â—anished and greatly 〈◊〉 by the Iâ—â—â—s that 〈◊〉 proâ—… People 〈…〉 Religion 〈…〉 for the â—… I need 〈◊〉 mâ—ntion the particular proâ—fs for this thing 't is so clear 〈…〉 and elsewhere how the Primitive Christians were forced and impoâ—â—â— upon by cruel Laws and violent Persecutions for their Christian Religion sake all 〈…〉 out of 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 in the heart 〈◊〉 wicked 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Goâ—… by all â—â—t 5. This Way and Practice of imposing upâ—◠〈…〉 〈…〉 Pesecution 〈◊〉 the same wasâ—…â—…gst Chrâ—… nor â—…cticed by any called Christians 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Faith which some did 〈…〉 afterterwards For even in the Apoâ—… 〈◊〉 some were gone ouâ— from them into the Way of Câ—iâ— that killed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and into the Way of Balaam that went for Gift and Rewards 〈◊〉 these were Apostates 〈◊〉 the true Church and they were 〈…〉 and â—uch liâ—â— as Paul to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 such as these were alâ—â—â—dy sprung up in the first Age and they grew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the second Ages And these were the Antichristâ— and â—â—lse Proâ—… whith Iohn 〈◊〉 were gone out from the true Church into the World in his 〈◊〉 and these deceived the World by the Form of Godliness and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Power and Spirit of Christ And the Apostates from the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which were over spread in many Nations and grown 〈◊〉 were 〈◊〉 Sea and the Earth out of which the Beast arose Rev. 13. And it was 〈…〉 War with the Saints and to overcoâ—◠〈…〉 worship him and he should CAUSE the â—â—rth and 〈◊〉 that dwell therein to worship and 〈◊〉 should CAUSE 〈…〉 should be killed and 〈◊〉 should CAUSE all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â— Rich and Poor Bond and Free to receive â—â—s Mark c. And this Beast was the Authority of Antichrist that arose among the Apostaâ—â—â— and the false Prophets that thus Caused and Compelled all to worship the Beast and his Image Mark how often the word CAUSED is used in that Chapter which is Compelled or Forced and it was the Antichrist the Beast that did it the Authority that arose among the Aposâ—… Christians that were gone from the true Church and this was the first that we read of any Forcing or Compelling to Worship or persecuting about Worship and Imposing about the same since the dayes of the Apostles through Ages amongst them called Christians and here was the beginning of Imposing by 〈◊〉 and Violent Laws in the matters of Worship and Religion amongst the People called Christians and one Sect and Sort according to its Authority imposed by Laws and Force upon another causing and compelling one another to worship and believe according to his Form and Image and as any Sect of Christians gained outward Authority over others that same has caused and forced all others by outward violence into Conformity to its Way and Worship and this hath been amongst the People called Christians in the Apostacy ever since Antichrist and his power rose up amongst them and thus and at this time begâ—n first the imposing of Worship and persecuting about the same amongst Christianâ— And thus 't is manifest to be of Antichrist and of the Wicked one and not of the Lord. 6. By what is said it is plain That all in this present Age who impose by force of Laws and compel to worship and persecute about the same are not in the Example of Christ or his Apostles or any the good Primitive Christians but in so doing are in the Example of the Persecutors of the holy Prophets and in the Example of the cruel Iews that killed Christ and persecuted the Saints and in the Example of the cruel Heathens that violently persecuted the Christians in diverâ— Ages and Countries and are indeed of Antichrist and of the Beast that arose up against the Saints and made War against them and such are all they that do impose upon the Persons Estaâ—â—s and Conscienâ—â—s of â—…n at this day upon the account aforesâ—… And this is worthy of â—ll meâ—â— serious Consideration And now in the next place I shall proceed to shew how 〈◊〉 and Unreasonable it is for any called Christians to impose â—pon the Consciences of others and to force them by Laws and Commandments in the Matters of 〈◊〉 and to persecute â—â—out the sâ—â—e 1. Iâ— it unrighteous because it is an intruding upon the 〈◊〉 and Priviledge of God and seems to be a derogating from his Honour Power and Domiâ—… which properly is in himself and pertains to him alone and not unto mortal man which is to give Laws to Conscience â—nd to exercise it in all 〈◊〉 of Religion respecting his Worship Duty and Service and to perswade 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Consciencâ—â— by his Spirit to follow him and observe all things which he â—…quires in Faith and Worship This Power is only proper to God alone and to him pertaineth and to no other And therefore for any man or earthly Powers of man to give Laws and Rules to Conscience and to impose upon men in the