raised from the dead and fashioned like unto his glorious body partakers of the glory of God of his kingdom of his power the power is his in which the kingdom stands the kingdom his wherâ—in glory stands the kingdom power and glory stands all in him who is the glorious God and the God of eternal glory who is revealing his power his kingdom and his grace and his glory unto all that patiently wait upon him in that which yet is as a grain of mustard-seed they will come to feel his presence his power and glory revealed in their hearts through the spirit and injoy God in his kingdom in his power and in his glory and through faith shall see the weight of glory which God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will reveal unto all that patiently wait for his appearance and in his appearance Obj. But some will cry out grievous blasphemy and error what I think you look for no other glory but in this life nor for no other kingdom but what you enjoy in this life thus I know dark spirits reasons Answ. The Saints looked not after any other glory but that which stood in eternal life and in the immortal life and in the uncorruptible life and the Country they sought after was that which God was the maker and the builder of and they looked and waited to receive of his power in which the kingdom standeth and did in this life I do not say the full weight of glory and to know and injoy and to be made partakers of his eternal dominion and authority is that which all his Saints in measure witness and in due time came to injoy through faith for by faith they saw him who was invisible and the things of his kingdom which is invisible spiritual and eternal but to speak of the carnal corruptible life in the flesh who are dead while they live there that life neither the kingdom nor the powâ—r nor the glory of God is revealed to them not till after the death of that life and till after the death of him who hath the power of death which is the devil which ruleth in the hearts of the children of disobedience where all the mysterie of Gods kingdom is hid from from their eyes and ever shall while in that state and so let the serpent be blind and they that have an ear to hear blessed is that ear for the kingdom of God is come nigh unto many and the salvation of God and the power of his Christ is seen by many honour and praise unto him everlastingly who is the onely potentate that puts down all authority under his feet that God may be all in all but first every one must come to feel in himself the kingdom which is as a little grain in himself and in it believe before any can come to know the kingdom or wherein it consists and after it be known in its measure yet this is far short of glory in the fulness so many may come to be partakers of the power in some measure yet this is far short of the eternal weight of glory He that believes is entred into the râ—st and made partakers of the heavenly gift and of the heavenly power and of the heavenly grace which is glorious and doth witness a heavenly place in Christ Jesus and yet many enemies to be subdued and much of the heavenly habitation which they see not which comes to be revealed as there is an abiding in the faith which stands in Gods power in which the kingdom stands the mysteries of God and of his kingdom comes in due time to be revealed through death they come to be known that is to say through the death of death for Israel the true type after they passed over Jordan and had taken Jerico and Aiâ— and had made an entrance into the land yet there was many enemies to be subdued and much land and possessions which they were not made partakers of long after even so after there be of the true rest injoyed and possessed and an entrance made into yet there is many enemies to be subdued and much of the heavenly inheritance to be injoyed by them that stand in the power which giveth domion over sin the devil hell and the grave and they come to be made partakers of God and so the enmity being slain man comes to injoy God who is eternal life and comes to receive the Crown immortal which God the eternal power strength giveth in due time to them that wait in patience and in faith through which the immortal inheritance comes to be revealed to all the children of light And so to conclude in few words this I say unto all who are longing after God and waiting to feel his power keep in your minds to the pure measure of Gods holy spirit and therein wait to see his kingdom and his dominion and to be made partakers of it which brings the world to an end and will let you see to the end of it too before it was and him who is now glorified with the father in the kingdom of God with the same glory he had with the Father before the world began and who so comes to the end of the world and to the beginning again comes to see him and his glory and the kingdom of glory which fades not away which who so comes to enjoy are eternally happy Lond. the 16. of the 4. moneth 1657. THE END
slayes the enmity therefore all must be still and quiet and wait in that which is pure of the Lord that they may feel that raised up which receiveth grace above the corruptible thoughts and desires of the carnall mind but many who talk of free grace have put no difference betwixt the precious and the vile but hath put them upon doing and working who are in the enmity and curse and in death and so hath brought forth dead works notwithstanding all performances they being dead to the life God another acteth in them even he which hath the power of Death which is the Devill and so have not known that which was precious in themselves could not minister unto that which was precious in others but have been Ministers of Death and have ministred to Death and so Death nourisheth it selfe in all them who are not yet come to the separation to see betwixt the precious and the vile Now though all have not received grace so as to save them from the committing of sin the fault is not in God Israel would have none of my counsell they stopped their â—ares Neither is the fault in the grace which hath appeared unto all men Neither is it because of it's imbecillity and weaknesse but because it is not hearkned unto and waited in and obeyed believed in and received For this eternall truth which shall for ever stand the least measure of the grace oâ— God hath power in it self to save man from committing of that evill or sin which it shews man And as it is received the power comes more and more to be made manifest where all that believe comes to be preserved out of evill Object But some have said and now say there is common grace and preventing grace and restraining grace and saving grace and the former that hath appeared to all but the latter hath appeared to the Saints and to the elect onely Answ. Grace is Gods pure and perfect gift and is but one thing I speak not of qâ—antity but of quality not oâ— so much as that the fulnesse of grace hath appeared to all but of a measure of that fulnesse which is in Christ the head although I do not divide the least measure from the fulnesse in quality or nature for it 's one and the same for that which shews a man he should not lye nor swear that is as pure according to it's latitude proportion as that which shews a man all that ever he hath done and that same grace which leads a man from drunkennesse and excesse is as pure and of the same kind and nature as that greater proportion which leadeth a man from all sin I speak what I have seen from the Father though the dark world cannot receive it But people hâ—ve been blinded and darkned with sounds and distinctions which men coyn and frame in their natural reason and by their natural parts which is out of the life although I do not condemn naturall parts which are purely naturall if they keep â—heiâ— bounds and compasse that is to say to the management of naturall things of the visible creation but the things of Gods kingdom are of another quality and nâ—ture and cannot be reached unto by the natural but as I said men through distinctions and names hath wrackâ—d peoples minds and confounded their understanding and have led them into a thick wood or a wildernesse so they know not where to get forth neither what the thing is of which one speaks because not being spoken through the enticing words of mans wisdome which darkens the counsell of God Now that which shews a man evill after it be committed is the pure appearance of God And that which shews a man the temptations when they arise that is the same now this they call common and that which preventeth a man and keeps him back that he lend not his heart nor puts forth his hand to commit evill but restrains a man from it is not that saving out of evill and that which stops the adversary in his way that he enter not but preserveth the Creature out of defilement and saves him from it is not this saving is not this the same thing that the Apostle who was well acquainted with the grace of God and of it's operation wrote of to Titus That grace of God which brought salvation which had appeared and doth now appear to all men which taught self-denyal them to deny worldly lusts and also to live godlily or like unto God in this present world and now doth the same is not this sufficient to believe in and sufficient to save Now I do not say but there is a greater measure let out unto them that are converted unto God then is to tâ—em that are convinced of their evill by the same grace yet still â—t is one and the self-same thing one gift yet a greater measure of one and the same pure vertue and power which is given to them that obeys the life which is already made manifest by its appearance unto all Object But some will be ready to say that this is errour and that which is contrary to the Scripture and to orthodox Teachers that the grace which is saving is near all men and hath appeared to all men To that I answer Though grace be saving in it self even the grace that hath appeared to all men and may be truly called saving grace yet to them that believe not in it neither are taught by it it convinceth and shews evill and checks and judges for it yet there is no variation nor change in the gift of God but as it worketh upon different objects for faith and unbelief are two different things as light and darknesse are different and so the word of his grace is the savour of life unto life that is to say unto them that believe and is the savour of death unto death unto them who are in the unbelief who indeed are dead while they live yet here is the same grace and the same word of grace yet here is different operations so the Lord killeth and maketh alive yet the same Lord the Spirit convinceth of sin and reproveth for sin and also consolates and comforts here is diversity of operations yet the same Spirit which never alters Obj. But further some may say If that it be saving grace or at the least a degree and a measure of saving grace that hath appeared to all men then how is it that all are not saved by it Answ. Because I would all stumbling blocks were removed away that the path might be made plain that all might come to believe in that which is Gods gift in which there is power and sufficiency therefore I am constrained by the grace of God to declare of it and to bear witness to it thus largly which I know will be to the edification of all that hunger after righteousness All are not saved by it because they believe not in it neither are taught by it
SOME OF THE MISTERIES OF GODS KINGDOME Declared as they have been revealed by the Spirit through FAITH For the Information of all such who have erred for lack of knowledge in their Judgements and have perished for lack of understanding to the intent that they may for the time to come wait in that which gives the true knowledge of God and of his Kingdome and of the Mysteries thereof which comes to be revealed through Faith to the upright in HEART Also for the confirmation of such who are made partakers of the like precious Faith By one who is made partaker of the riches of his grace and of the salvation which is in Christ Jesus revealed through the Spirit called Francis Howgill The secrets of the Lord are with them that feare him LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth neer Aldersgate 1658. The particulars treated on in the following DISCOURSE 1 WHat the day of the Lord is and to whom it hath appeared and how it is seen and discovered 2 What it is and what it will be to the wicked declared 3 What it is to the righteous and how he appears to them and whether we are to look for it while in the body resolved 4 Where it doth appear and how it cometh and how it is to be looked for declared 5 What the Spirit of the Lord is and how it comes to be received which discovers the things of God 6 How the spirit of truth worketh and opperateth in them who are convinced and yet have not obeyed it shewed 7 How the spirit of the Father worketh in them who hearken to it and are in some measure made partakers of its power shewn 8 Vnto whom the Spirit of the Father bears witness and seals assurance of the Fathers love and of justification with God declared 9 What the grace of God is which is free and to whom it hath appeared and where all is to wait to receive it 10 Whether all have received the grace of God or no and whether it be a sufficient teacher in it selfe demonstrated 11 Some objections answered 12 A word to the wise men of this world who are glorying in the sound of words 13 Also another to them who are glorying in outward appearances and worshipping visible things in stead of the life 14 The Kingdome of God and his Christ declared in some measure as it is revealed by the Spirit what it is and where it is to be waited for and how it comes to be revealed in them that believe 15 Divers Objections answered To the READER Reader IN times past in the night of ignorance when men groped in the darke as blinde men since the Apostles days and out of thicke darknesse have spoke darkly of the things of God and of his Kingdome and written many things about the things of God and of his Kingdome which hath fed the darke mynds of many who are unconverted unto God And seeing how many people are confused in their mindes and erre in judgement and have lost the key of knowledge which should give an entrance into the mystery of Gods kingdome and open their hearts Therefore in compassion unto them who are thirsting after the Lord to finde him these few things I was moved to write for the sakes of those who have no place to rest in or upon to the intent that all may wait in that through which God reveals his minde and manifests his true knowledge in man and these things that I have written as they were revealed to me and in me by his pure Spirit If thou wait in the manifestation of the Spirit these things thou wilt see to be truth though hid and vailed from the world that lies in wickednesse as thâ—u comes out of its nature I have not written for to please men of corrupt minds who glory in words and outward appearances and glory in naturall parts and in sounds and are erred from the life but to the simple-hearted and for the strengthning of the weake and for the understanding of the simple and that which thou seest in the following discourse which thou canst not close with let it alone and judge nothing before the time in thy wisdome which is earthly or in thy reason but in that and to that of God in thee I desire to be approved and to nothing â—lse and shall be made manifest in the day of the Lord which is dawning in the world and many have seen it to appear in power and glory wait thou in thy own particular that thou maist fâ—ele thy own condition and see thy own state and that which lets thee see thy own condition will let thee see the Lord and what I have declared of him to be true I am thy friend in truth and wisheth good to all men F. H. THe Lord God of the whole earth who lives for ever even the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and Jacob whose Throne is established in righteousness for ever who rideth upon the heavens and shines forth in his eternal excellency from the firmament of his power he is manifesting himself in his power as in the dayes of old revealing his righteousness as in the years past and pouring forth his spirit upon his sons and daughters according to his promise and they that believe comes to be made partakers of the blessing of the everlasting Hills even the Lord who appeared at Sinai unto Moses his servant in the bush who rose up from mount Seir and shined forth in his brightness from mount Paran and came with ten thousands of his Saints even he from whose right hand went a fiery Law so that the people could not behold his glory the same is he who hath now appeared in this the day of his power and is appearing whose glory shall dazel the eyes of the world whose brightness shall make dim all the worlds glory and stain its wisdom and shut it up in utter darkness that it shall not aâ—pear to have any existance or being and the shadow of death shall flie away and all the haughty and lofty Princes of this world shall be horribly afraid the beasts shall go into their dens when the day appears and the Lambs of the everlasting fold shall come forth and be fed in the fat valleys where the springs of life compasseth about all the banks and rejoyce in their shepherd and shall say The Lord is my shepherd which many at this time doth admire and say What hath the Lord wrought who have seen his wonders in the dayes of old and have seen his noble acts which the fathers have told of who are fallen asleep and are at rest in the Lord and now many is God bringing to see their witness to be true and to have the same fulfilled in themselves honour and praise unto him for ever who is the stay and strength of all his people for ever And the day of the Lord is broken and the light hath appeared that manifesteth
in some measure be felt and its living testimony in some thing yet it may be a long time before there be a clear distinguishment in the understanding so that one cannot clearly discern its moving from all other false motions and high imaginations which are above And hence it is that the hasty and forward minds follows their vain motions which leads them into deceit and then the Questioner gets up and then they question all that ever the Spirit hath made manifest unto them before a vaile then is drawn over and the enemy lodges in the vayl and in the darknesse which is entred and then as soon as any hearkens within to that which is the uppermost and doth abound the enemy that lodges in that presents motions as to obey this and that and all is deceit So therefore all is to keep back that they may sensibly feele between the pure motions and drawing of the Spirit and the vain thoughts that arise out of the earthly heart and when any thing doth arise which the light doth not bear witnesse to it 's not to be followed nor heeded but a quiet still writing that things may be cleared to the understanding and for want of this many have run out and have brought forth Satans work and acted things forwardly in their wil and so have clean lost the true sense of that which should guide their minds and have followed the spirit of errour and have caused the pure spirit of the Lord to be evil spoken of But as there is a keeping back and a quiet waiting out of willing or running and hast it arises purely and stilly in the heart and shines forth in brightnesse in the heart so that it giveth perfect evidence and full testimony of it selfe that there will be no doubting nor questioning of it's motion for it will apparently shew forth its selfe in its own transparent brightness with full assurance of its own will and then after it be cleerly seen and its motion then keep under all reasoning and keep out all questioning and give not way to temptation and that which moves of the Lord of life will carry thee through in its own operation and power to accomplish the will of God and so thou wilt have peace being obedient and thy strength will be renewed for as any is brought to submit unto the will of God when it is known and comes to obey by vertue of its own power that which is contrary unto Gods spirit in thee comes to loose its strength and to decay and be weâ—kned but as any disobeys the pure motion of Gods holy Spirt after it be known the enemy is strengthened and that which is of the flesh nourished and the spirit comes to be quenched that which would give thee power if thou submittest to it But yet know this the spirit in it selfe never loses its purity neither can be quenched in it selfe but will bear its pure witnesse against thee and none shall be able to stop its reprooâ— Thus the diversity of its operation comes to be known as it s hearkned unto obeyed loved and believed in it puts forth its pure power and gives strength and seales peace to the obedient but disobeyed and resisted it condemns judges reproves and seals condemnation to the disobedient and yet there is no variation in it self for it is always one and the same But as it operateth upon different natures or objects unto which it joyns to or stands at a distance from that is to say the good ground it causeth to bring forth fruit unto God and the cursed ground out of which bryars and thorns do arise it kindles a fire in that shall not quenched but as there is a submission unto its pure operation it burns up and destroys that which hinders the growth of the seed and it purgeth the heart of them that have confidence in it from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit and worketh up the creature into its own frame and nature and fashions and makes and moulds all that are in the faith into the image of the Father and so the Fathers love comes to be shed abroad in the heart and as wrath was revealed through the spirit and condemnation so now the peace of God comes to be enjoyed and his consolation shed abroâ—d largely in which there is pure rejoycing for ever Vnto whom the Spirit of the Father bears witness and seals assurance of the Fathers love aâ—d of justification with God declared NOne hath the witness of Gods spiâ—it bearing witnesse to them nor in them who have not believed in the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world by whom alone life is begotten by the powerful operation of Christ in them that believe in him who is eternal light it selfe whose word is spirit and life by which the new Creature is framed formed in them that bâ—lieve unto whom he maketh manifâ—st his power for unto him who is the life of men is all power committed both in heaven and earâ—h for nothing was made or created but by him neither is any turned from sin but by him and by his mighty power without him â—s death in him is life and the life is the light of men So that none but they that are born of the light and are begotten by him who is light can have the spirit of Christ who is light to bear witnesse unto them neither the assurance of the Fathers love for onely they that are born of the spirit and walk after the spirit are justified by the spirit of the Lord for the assurance of his love is not made manifest to his enemies but unto them that are born and brought forth in his own image in his own likenesse and nature which is pure and incorruptible without stain or dâ—filement the holy seed which is heire of the promise who knows the living hope which purifies the heart and bringeth the answer of a good conscience unto them that feel and witnessâ—the washing of regeneration and have knowâ— in themselves the clean water poured sorâ—h upon them which hath taken away the stains and spots and blâ—mishes and the defilements for where these are not washed out and the heart cleansed from them and that believed in wherein Gods all-suffiâ—iency is felt and his powâ—r made manifest there cannot be assurance of the Fathers love in the heart nor in the soule neither doth the spirit of the Faâ—her bear witnesse unto such nor assure their justification but on the contrary where sin remains unsubdued and taken away the spirit of the Father condemneth the sin and the creature now is joyned to it and is become one with it for no sin is broughâ— forth but there is a consent and an ascenting to the instigation of the Devill although when a temptation ariseth either within or without there may be a resisting and a striving against it for a little but the heart not being kept close to the spirit the enemie