raiment shining and to hear a voyce from the glorious Majesty this was strength and confidence enough what never be moved but it was but the Lyons day yet and he was not brought to lye down with the Lamb but Moses and Elias was seen to be talking with the Lord of that glory that by the roaring of the Lyon made the Beasts of the field to tremble but see the thing being come to be effected that was foreseen talked of the Cock did but crow and the Lyon trembles this was self-denyal indeed for the way was making and preparing for the Lambs day and all the self-confidence proved but a Christ denyal that he might see himself that by the Cock-crow had that foretold of brought to remembrance and then he went forth and wept bitterly and after repentance aright came to conversion Peter when thou art converted strengthen thy Brethren but this might seem a strange saying after he had been his Follower and Disciple and then could he tell of the more sure word of prophesie whereunto they did well to take heed as unto a Light that shined in a dark place untill the day dawned and the day-star to arise in the heart here the Cock had crew and the day had dawned the Lambs day and the day-star had arisen in the heart and so no need of counsel from the wise men of the world concerning his birth for he is come to feed his Lambs his Sheep and such a Shepherd sees his star for God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in the dark heart to give the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Thus spake I comfortably to thee that hast a sence of these things for while Gods face was hid thou wert troubled but now his countenance is lifted up thou art more glad than when Corn and Wine and Oyl encreased mark thee more glad for there was gladnesse then and a face of the love of God his countenance seemed to shine and his favour to be on the dwelling place but this was but the aray of Solomâ—n in his glory and the life was yet subdued in hope that gloryed in an endlesse joy and rejoycing yet was shut up under the Law untill a faith afterward to be revealed and then all the care is cast on God and the more sure word heeded that is that faiths begetter that leads out of the world and to consider the Lillyes glory and for rayment and food is no care in the worlds mind and spirit and Solomon in all his glory was not thus arrayed where the life comes to be seen more than meat and the body than raiment and then seest thou all the things after which the Gentiles seek and here is the faith of the elect of God of Christ the Son of God and the life I now live is by the faith of the Son of God thou mayest truly say yet not thee but Christ that lives in thee and because he lives thou livest also and he being revealed in thee thou canst say Christ in me the hope of glory and so there is no glorying in the flesh and any fleshly appearance but in him in whom is hid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge and then the fear in and of the worldly mind and all therein held and retained comes to dye to thee and in thee and thee to and in it as thou art found dead to the Law which when it came revived sin and thou dyed for by it thou wert slain and then death hath no more dominion but the Babe of salvation is lift up and thou canst say Now let thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation c. And here the child dyes a hundred years old and the sinner a hundred years old dyes accursed for the old man that hath been waiting for the salvation of God sees the end of its expectation and the servant in the House of God that hath been faithful in all his House as Moses was faithful therein as a servant delivers up all to the Son as the Builder of the House that is more worthy of honour than Moses and so the old man and his deeds that was and is the transgressor and is accursed under the Law of its works comes to be judged and condemned by Moses in whom he hath seemed to trust because he was got into Moses's Seat and Choice and thou comest to dye and be dead to him and he to thee and the dayly dying is known and witnessed and the dayly living to God felt and the cost and charge of the building is considered of and counted and all reckoned on to be given up and the life lost for its souls salvation sake and what is here to lose or be affraid of seeing thou art resolved to trust God with all both soul body and spirit and the work of thy souls salvation which thou canst not any longer reason and dispute or question and distrust but believe in the salvation and goodnesse and love and mercy and pity and free-grace of God thou dost and if thou perish thou concludest it shall be in the hands of God having nothing else to trust in nor no where else to fly but as one which is stript of all earthly and creaturely dependance art resolved there to lye and remain even at the foot of mercy and in it to rest and trust and confide untill help and deliverance come and spring up and arise over all beneath that which is eternal And then thou seest what-ever work is in thee and for thee wrought is by the Spirit of God through thy faith therein and not thine own work but is Gods own work in and by the Spirit of his Son that only doth praise God and so doth not at all praise and glorifie self and boast in the flesh as that thou art this and this and he is that alass no of this thou art ashamed and to meddle of and with controversies about different opinions and judgements or anoy and upbraid such with any sin and wickedness that thou mayest get the victory and mastery is not thy work in that Spirit of God thou art returned unto but readily sayest How can we boast in those things whereof we are now ashamed and God that knows my secrets knows how it hath been with me and what I have been so that I find no cause to insult and boast over any nor to upbraid the worst of men for that doth but provoke unto mischief and stir up strife and contention and at best can but bring the creature to look at himself and what he hath been and done that may cause a looking back again if the forgivenesse of God be not seen into and thus to bring off the mind from looking at God and his work again that in love and pity and mercy and salvation to the soul of the creature had let him see himself and a way to escape the snares and baits and
God shed abroad in thy heart and so thou canst shew thy faith by its work the work of love that is the ground and foundation of it in thy heart in that of those three Faith Hope and Charity that is the greatest as being the bond of perfection And this is it thou art differenced by from the worst of men even by the love of God and his grace and favour therein and flowing forth there-from that thereby thou hast a Christians mark and by all men art known to be a Disciple and Follower of Christ because of thy love by which thou art translated from death to life or that thou canst not see any thing hurtful to thee in the first death even of the body in and under the enemies power fallen Object But in that thou art further reasoning yes this I believe that God hath blotted out all my former transgressions now I am come to lay hold on him by faith and my sins in the time of ignorance I believe are winked at by God but since that day I have sinned and come short of the glory of God who never did evil and this appears to me to be a sin of wilfulnesse and a falling away after I have tasted of the Heavenly gift and of the power of the world to come and so being against the grace and favour of God though I cannot say it was and is in despite to the spirit of grace but is through the weakness of the flesh that wars and lusteth against the spirit that is willing to obey and follow God in the regeneration where-ever he goeth yet there remains nothing but a fearful looking for of judgement and fiery indignation from Heaven on that part and nature in me that thus hath betrayed the Just under sufferance again and hath crucified the Son of God afresh who in that he dyed once for all dyeth no more for me in that death hath no more dominion over him but by and through me and there remains no more offering for sin therefore what have I to offer up to make a second attonement Answ The attonement is already made for thee in thy faith though not in the doubting and unbelieving mind and part for that was it that betrayed the Just under sufferance again and is the unrepenting part and nature of Esau that hath been hunting abroad for its prey and so hath lost the blessing and birth-right and cannot again be renewed by any worldly sorrow in the dayly and hourly repentings of the worldly mind that may seek a place of acceptance thereof which cannot be found but in the Godly sorrow is the repentance never to be repented of and so Judgement witnessed and born again on that mind and part and nature that hath went out to the burdening and crucifying of the Just afresh and thus is Sion redeemed even through the Spirit of judgement and of burning where the house of Esau is as stubble and the house of Joseph for a flame that leaves it neither root nor branch and so the root of the matter that was once within a bitter root of envy and that hath lusted to vanity and in which thou hast used the liberty of what had the beginning of its work in thee as an occasion to the flesh and cloak of maliciousnesse that thy joy and content hath not continued and the satisfaction thou once began to take in God when thy Castle seemed to be strong and thou to say in thy heart I shall never be moved is not lasting but in the hiding of Gods face to thee in that state thou art presently troubled this being removed by the Ax that is laid to the root of the tree as those hidden things of Esau are sought out the matter is clearly seen that hath caused the wound of the Daughter of Gods people to be healed deceitfully and while the Core of corruption wrought thus hiddenly and secretly needs must there be the breakings out of the botches and boils of that imposterous infection of depraved nature that hath contracted guilt on the soul and made thee like a Tree that cumbers the good ground of God in which his mercy and pity and grace and forbearance hath wrought for any honesty of heart God hath beheld that being wearied out and weary to bear thee any longer the Angel Mowers are seen come forth to reap the earth and a voyce comes Cut it down so it hath a curse because of unfruitfulnesse to him that looked for fruit but beheld none no Figs for his taste and then why cumbers it the ground So that that part in which the enemy hath wrought after the grace and love and favour of God is or hath been manifest to a condition thy souls peace and good is concerned in is that which the Judgement is to that is to be laid to the Line and Righteousnesse to the Plummet and so comes Sion again the Daughter of God to be healed and cured perfectly that is redeemed by Judgement and her Converts with Righteousnesse and though the sinner in Sion be afraid and fear doth surprize the heart of the hypocrite whose hope is perished and perishing yet is not this thee that art again returned unto God and dost love his Judgements and canst truly say O how I love thy Law that is sweeter to me than the honey and the honey-comb and thy Commandements are not grievous and burdensome to me no though thou hast felt a part was afraid of Judgement to which and in which the fear of death wrought and wherein was received the spirit of bondage that it was made subject to that feared death on a part and mind it delights in in the world where was the fearful looking for of judgement and a spirit of bondage received again to fear that concerning the coming of Christ to judgement and his day of vengeance on the world might be terrified with Letters and Epistles because of the falling away for else that day had not come 2 Thess 1. And yet let this comfort thee though many may be upbraiding thee and thou mayest be made sad that God hath not made sad yea though many may say I am not so and it hath not been so with me but they have left thee smiting thy hand on thy breast c. thou art rather justified in this state than the other he that thinks his standing is and hath been so sure that is like a Rock concerning whom it may be said his confidence is strong and on that Rock God will build his Church but being held in the wrong mind and part and the confidence of and in the flesh and selfs work for see presently when the sufferings are foretold of to and in that part Master save thy self and then Get thee behind me Satan Oh was not this the part to which the Corn and Wine and Oyl encreased and that would say It is good to be here and would erect and build a Tabernacle in the transfiguring glory of his
in the ear preached on the house top but until he appear to be my life I must suffer with him waiting for a further manifestation of his glory and the appearance of the Son of God therein And so for reports alass thou canst not but know more of thy self in the root and ground of things and that to the light and heart-searching spirit art come than men can have to accuse thee and now being come to know nothing by thy self yet thou art not thereby justified what therefore is in this more than to manifest the frame and temper of such spirits that yet have a root of the same hidden that in thee hath broken forth and thou art therefore like to come first to the day of healing for their covering and false healing is the same that was thine and thus have they been daubing and are daubed with untempered morter as thou wert in that the same that hath been upbraiding when it is displeased will flatter when it is pleased and is it that is flattered deceiving and being deceived Therefore whatever they threaten and wait to see concerning thee wish not the same to them no not in thy heart because of him that seeth its secrets but wait on the Lord for preservation and the end of that spirits woâ—k thou shalt see manifest before thee and shalt be made able to judge of it And then as to thy state thou wilt see there is no need of a second offering or attonement for the offering is through the eternal Spirit once for all and the atonement for ever perfecting in the sanctified life and in thy going from that Spirit and the sence therein and thereof begotten the life of God hath been brought into a suffering state and to be afresh crucified which thou being again returned to and with the Spirit that manifesteth the cause thereof come into unity feelest the atonement makeâ— and the atonement making to be for ever then what the many offerings under the Law of works where was the blood of Bulls Goats of a year old sprinklings of an Heifer could not do in that they make nothing perfect â—s pertaining to the Conscience thou being come to that which manifesteth the nature that the Bull was a figure of and also the Goat at left hand that being offered up and slain on the Crosse all sufferance to the Lamb that went before for a peace-offering and is the atonement maker ceaseth and so the offering is but one and once for all that being offered to God which his Spirit hath begotten and wrought and the kindling and inflaming being of that nature and so no false fire put into thy Sensure Object 2. All this I confesse very true to my condition concerning the cause and ground of the apostasie and back-sliding and falling away from the truth of God in the prodigality of that mind a part and nature in the creature that could not be content to trust the Father withall and to have the portion in his hands and now I plainly see that the Apostate and Backslider and Prodigal is not so much such a Sect or Opinion and Perswasion and People of such a different Judgement from me though I confesse in these different Perswasions some are more deeply tainted with this apostatizing spirit than other-some as the spirit and nature of a part in all that hath backsliden from the Law and Commandements of God and in the adulteration of that mind hath been caused the breach that is yet standing between God and his Creture untill the spirit of atonement and reconciliation be so received and adhered to that it make up all again And seeing thou art not in Pauls state of unconversion from the ignorance of a blind zeal that persecuted and spoke evil of that he knew not when concerning the Law he could say he was blamelesse yet was one at whose feet was laid the garments of the witnesses neither art crying Lo here or Lo there or I am of Paul or Apollo c. but art found comforting the Babe and partaking with the afflicted in their way and as one that hath passed through the state and condition I am in and that would not have sin and wickedness countenanced under any pretence whatever but the creature of God pityed in every state betrayed under the enemies power and yet the Axe of God layed to the root of the tree and the root of the matter relating to the cause and ground of the apostasie and backsliding from the truth of God seen into that it may be removed and taken out of the way of God utterly the conditions of many being concerned herein I further query how and when it came in and how it may be removed again perfectly seeing it is generally the voyce and cry of the world it came in but just now and that the deceiver entred but as in their dayes and yet excuse themselves of his entring of them that they may lay the burden heavy on others Answ The first Apostate was old Adam that went from the guidance and government of the Spirit of God and as all have taken a nature and part from him who was of the earth earthly and as was the earthly so are they that are earthly though he was made a living soul nevertheless the soul that sinned having dyed in the day he eat of the forbidden fruit and so death having past over all from Adam c. all are to wait again for and in the power of the second Adam a quickning spirit and yet as to the first man as he was and is a natural man he was betrayed under and into this state and is not properly reckoned for the sinner and offender and transgressâ—r as to the natural part further than creatures in it are so joyned and united to the cause thereof that they neglect the work of that and him who gives the sight of the misery of such state and so in the end comes to sleight and dis-regard the remedy out of it for the mistery of iniquity that hath wrought and yet works in the hearts of many oppâ—sers of the work of the Spirit of Truth there is spiritual wickednesse in high places so that though death came on the bodyes of all as by one man that sinned they have taken a nature and part from for the souls sake that is immortal whom the tribulation and anguish hath rested on as a death that came by reason and means of sin yet the feeling of a remedy to the one to wit the soul once relapsed and fallen under the power of a second death is through the begettings and working up of a faith in the spirit of him that endured the one for the conquering the dominion and power of both Thus is there a man of sin or man by whom came sin whom God will destroy by the breath of his lips and nostrils and brightnesse of his appearance with an everlasting destruction and yet not properly the first