is come that the Bondwoman and her seed are to be cast out the true Heirs or Children of the Free must now inherit who have hitherto stood still in an obedient Child-like freedom to be offered up as Sacrifices yea slain all the day long for the Lamb's sake and led as sheep to the slaughter For although the Sons of Concubines have been sent away into the world with gifts whereby they have as rich and full publish't their own glory rather than in the Cross of Christ Jesus yet the more enduring Substance that fades not away or the Inheritance which can never be lost or alienated belongs to those Free-born Children of a greater than Abraham who like Princes have wrestled and prevailed because annointed with that spirit which suffers no foyle but by being in deaths often and willingly receiving the sentence thereof in themselves are grown too strong for the King of Terrors and much more for all petty Kings or Rulers on earth that must yeeld to him You are the regenerate Generation of just and upright ones who have dayes and nights in prisons holes or corners made it your work to become true learners of your gentle Lord and Master to be meek and lowly and by bearing his easie Yoke of self-denying love are become bound in Spirit not to avoid but freely embrace all others bending your minds to that holy stillness and silence wherein ye are instructed to commune with your own hearts and by doing so have escaped the flattering inticements of the strange woman whose wayes are moveable to hinder the simple in heart from pondering the path of Life and having countermin'd the subtil evil one in all his secret coverts of the self-loving nature and by renouncing all hidden leagues with the lustful bondage of corruption have let the immortal oppressed seed of God in you go free Behold even in that true freedom of the Son you are become free indeed Free from all creature-intanglements that would engage and anticipate your affections and hinder your minds from making those continual ascents and descents which only concern the will and work of your heavenly Father Free I say to follow the holy innocent patient Lamb of God wheresoever he goes even into those untrodden pathes of daily death to eternal Life which uncrucified flesh may boggle at and account uneasie and all this to no other end than that by straitning your selves by this fiery Baptism and contracting your selves within the narrow gate of self-denial your hearts and soules may become the more inlarg'd in universal love to God and good will to men in true bowels of pity mourning over the poor blind and their blind-leaders as also willing to direct them both in all humility to him that is ready to lead them as he hath you by a way unknown till it be tried and telling them with a brotherly kind of tenderness that this glorious liberty wherein you are new made and free-born Christ hath purchased and obtained for them also if they will but accept it in his obedience O ye Free-born Citizens of the New-Jerusalem your time is come to awake and come out of the dust where ye have lain long among the pots put on your beautiful garments of praise lay aside your sack-cloth O ye slain but now living Witnesses of Christ who is the Truth and Life and in this cloud that now arises of earthly trouble coming upon all Nations and Countries previous to the much longer calme and quiet which will follow ascend into the highest heavenly conversation while your enemies shall behold you yea ascend so as to descend no more but for his sake whose voice draws and calls you up thither even Christ who is your Life who as he appears in you so will you with him not in a vain but real glory even that glory upon which there is a defence both night and day a defence of Lambes from Wolves but offensive to none save onely such as in stead of yeelding or casting themselves into that gentle warming and nourishing heat of Divine Love which should cleanse and purify them from enmity and all other uncleanness do but kindle a fire of lustful wrath to devour their own soules whereby they intended to consume others It hath been the great joy of present and past ages to such as by Faith which is the evidence of things not seen by the carnal eye or darkened understanding could take a pleasing prospect of the New-creation-glory as well as the restitution of the old before it is to passe away the mystery whereof hath been alwaies hid from the wise and prudent in Christ who reveals himself to babe and sucklings These things were beautiful and lovely in their root but much more as they grow manifest in the branch of righteousness the very leaves of which shall heal the Nations and recover all that are not incurable by reason of their fixt and irreconcileable enmity against him that is unchangable in his love and goodness whereby a good time of refreshing shall come now no less to answer the longing expectance of the weary oppressed Creature which remaines as yet subject though not willingly to bondage then to raise and heighten the spiritual glory of such as are renewed in the spirit of their minds an earnest of which redemption both general and special all you have received who have willingly quit what is old and are contented it should pass away that you might be made new to all things and all things new to you both within and without you O you to whom this changable world yeelds no content in its most alluring smiles or flatteries nor terrour in its frowns but have still amidst all its variety sought for the one true unchangable being and an unchangable union with it behold now all vails and coverings will be worn away the shadows must fly apace and the true substance appear so as every eye shall see him though at present he comes in clouds even he whom the earthly kindreds and breed of but seeming Saints and sinners have pierced but they shall mourn because of him who shall be admired in all them that wait for and believe in him The force of Armes nor Armies nor yet the carnal Policy or Grandure of this world can any longer withstand that work which now is to be wrought in the fight of all nations not by might nor by power but by the spirit of the Lord which work is neither outward or inward singly but both even the one as well as the other and therefore room no further remains for craft or subtilty to practise and prosper no inchantments against Jacob nor divination against Israel shall hurt the remnant that is redeemed from the earth undefiled in the way but the wicked shall be insnared in the work of his own hands and the righteous whom they plot against even by standing still in pure obedience to the will of God abstracted from all self-motions or desires shall see
A VOICE FROM THE Close or Inner PRISON UNTO ALL THE Upright in Heart Whether they are BOND OR FREE LONDON Printed for the Author 1662. A Voice from the close or inner Prison unto the upright in heart whether they are Bond or free THe night of thick darkness or ignorance bondage and affliction is far spent the day of Redemption the welcome year of general Jubilee and glorious liberty of the Sons of God is at hand the Day-Star of the lightsom Morning is already risen in the hearts of hundreds and thousands of Saints Yea clouds of Angels or ministring Spirits are impowered and coming from the heavenly Temple to proclaim and publish it by sound of Trumpet By terrible things in righteousness will the God of Salvation now answer them that have waited on him His swift messengers from above are commissionated to pour their Vials forth and destroy the third part of all that grows in the earthly nature or bodily form of things as also of all creatures whose life is in a troubled boyling Sea and many men must die by the bitter waters of affliction who have not faith to sweeten them by the tree of Life being cast into them yea the very heavenly Lights themselves whether that rule by day or by night viz. Sun Moon and Stars must lose the third part of their lustre and woe woe woe to the Inhabitants of the earth by reason of the other voices and trumpets that are for to follow But oh ye meek ones of the earth that have sought righteousness and meekness who therefore have been are and shall be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger the time is coming and now is when the Holy one of Israel shall beautifie you with Salvation to the astonishment of earthly kindreds and people You that have sowne long in tears the time of reaping the joyful harvest of all your labours travels hardships and sufferings inward and outward is at hand and your joy is of that new nature that no man can take from you Oh ye that have long obscured your selves in silence to seek the pearl of price even the innocent harmlesse patient long-suffering suffering life by the blood of the Lamb which as it lost its living lustre in earthly ease power and prosperity so of late hath it shined forth to all beholders in burning fiery trials and having discovered this inheritance of the Saints in light have forsaken and sold all to purchase it Behold the clear evidence of your matchless wisdom and immortal state will soon appear for all that 's mortal will shrink and consume in that fervent heat whereby the old worlds Elements or Foundations shall melt and the heavens of visible worships themselves will pass away with a great noise then will that which cannot be shaken or consumed remain not impaired but improved in virtue strength and power convincing both apostate Professor and open Prophane between whom ye have suffered as fools gladly that you have wisely chosen the better part by keeping the word of Christ's patience without fainting To you shall come the first Dominion that stand as Towers or He-goats of the flock having withstood all encounters both within and without against Satan and his instruments enabled thereunto not by a sound of words but by an Almighty power whereby through weakness being made strong and willing by resisting even unto blood to overcome you have not minded the conquest that saves Life in stead of loosing it but with a ready willing mind yeelding to the loss of all in that war wherein is no discharge You that can stand still in this manner resign'd and sincerely given up into the will and custody of your faithful Creator without a double mind that consults to hear what flesh and blood can say which cannot inherit that glorious kingdom of God consisting in righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost nothing can hinder your admittance thereunto whose union in death and sufferings is so firm with Christ who is the resurrection and the life that over worldly distresse and tribulations of all kinds you are become more than Conquerors through him that loves you The Captain of our Salvation hath led the way before us and all you that have thus followed the gates of hell it self can never prevail to hinder your interest in his reign and glory Nevertheless Satan's winnowings and siftings of you may be for some small time frequent and many until by your finishing upon the Cross your Fathers work your hearts and soules become dry places wherein though the unclean spirit of this world seeks its rest yet finds none and the Prince thereof being thus judged hath nothing when he cometh in you for as there is no way to kill the fear of Death but by loving it in order to an abiding life so no resurrection can be to life but by dying to all on this side it and in this Grave mystical or litteral wherein no man of the meer first or natural birth which is of the earth earthly ever lay are alwayes buried those carnal fears vain hopes and false joys which are Satans various Engines of deceiveable unrighteousness to corrupt and beguile unstable soules whose conversation still is only in the changable glory of the first or second heavens but are not yet taken up into the third where the hidden Manna remaines incorruptible within the Vail of all transcient ministrations though pure and beautiful in their kind and season there only stands the true tree of everlasting life for all that come to feed upon even in the midst of the Paradise of God This is that pleasant lovely food that causes to hunger no more after carnal husky comforts of the old world without which man may live but not by bread alone though spiritual meat and Angels food but by every word coming forth from the mouth of the living God not as 't is onely written on paper but on the fleshly tables of his heart where God hath set the world which being restored or renewed by a right spirit within him does become an inward Paradise and in that is Christ the living Word who makes to live for ever yea out-live all storms as well as sun-shines of this lower outward world with a growing youth and beauty But to such as have not yet gained this Crown incorruptible and nevertheless are still lawfully striving for the mastery by a holy temperance in all things this time of general restitution which is at hand will much facilitate their course because the brethrens accuser shall be bound in chaines to his place not only from bruising the outward man with trouble and torment but also from seducing the inward man with his false glass or gloss which he is wont to present before as well refined as grosse self-lovers thereby inticing souls who are not fixt upon their invisible rock of Ages to those ensnaring treats and entertainments that are abundant in his airy principality Behold also the time
in the form of servants before he makes them Lords of all The greatest favourites to the King of kings subject their inward man to him onely but their outward to every one that treads upon and bruises it by which suffering and no otherwise they come to reign in this manner by conviction taking them captive whose captives they were As their Captain leads so do they follow under his skirt and banner display'd the motto whereof as it was written in his blood so are they content it should be in their own viz. Love your Enemies Oh what pen can write or tongue expresse the transcendent joy the surpassing glory of such conquests that are begun in self-hatred conclude in universal love to the whole Creation of God! in which kind of ascent we gain as by descent into the lust we lost the true dominion and as the true knowledge failed in the one and the false or deceitful spread it self in stead thereof as a painted face or covering over all flesh so in the other will all false vails vanish or wear away and the true real knowledge of the glory of the Lord cover the earth as the waters cover the sea yea new Names will be given to all things when they become new and their natures intuitively known by this redemption after their long burial and obscurity in or by the bondage of corruption What strength power or wisdom is of value that springs not to a new Life or appearance by death of the old and that which does what can master it being too strong for death it prevailes against the very gates of hell and who would not love death for the resurrections sake to a new life wherein the clog of flesh and blood that can never enter much less inherit the kingdom that consists in righteousness peace and joy is wholly put off whereby the soul becomes clothed upon with a new spiritual house from above that is not too strait but large enough for entertainment and that not for a night as a wayfaring-man but even perpetual to the King of Glory Let us therefore bid farewel to the old house of clay and all its sensual supporters the fools Paradise of full barns and earthly plenty must never bend the mind to any longer lingrings or delays in this Sodomitical old world the bread of a Fathers house is now a loud call from husky vanities the continued diversion whereof cannot but be very burdensom to any soul that hath fed at wisdoms table and tasted her mingled wine of the kingdom that glads the heart both of God and man An End is now proclaimed of all perfection under the Sun and nothing is now of value but that Commandment and keeping it which is exceeding broad of no less breadth than between Heaven and Earth for 't is the seed of Jacob's Ladder that reaches both and not onely gives light but strength also in the angelical life to ascend by Faith and descend by Love even at pleasure This New Commandment of Love is the still voice of the great Shepherd whose sheep hear him and know it from the loud voice of a stranger and by following him that loves them they cannot only go in but out also and find pasture They know their time to retire as also to go forth and in both they desire to honour serve and please him not themselves for 't is their meat and drink to do his will but not their own O ye true self-denying crucified and in spirit already risen Christians bear with the fond expressions of a Brother whose bonds are grown easie with wearing who hath had his mid-night sighs and songs in some hope that the fear of death and hell are conquered by an acquaintance with that love which can visit both without danger even in that life which can abide devouring fire and dwell with everlasting burnings Where is it that he would not go to meet the true fraternity folded up together in the unity of the spirit even the bond of lasting peace and love married or joyned to Christ their head and husband who is Lord of all whether male or female bond or free yea thrice happy and worthy are all ye to be sought out who in pure chastity have kept the bed undefiled during the night of apostacy wherein the adulterers and adulteresses of this world either by frowns or flatteries have too much prevailed to seduce or affright the unstable What should hinder harmony of spirits where a fellowship in sufferings is freely own'd even with strong weak for his sake whose divine love makes us debtors to the wise and unwise and as ready to share the penny to him that comes in at the eleventh or last hour as that came at the first of the Lamb's warfare this not being the day of vain-glorying or self-arrogance to any that have led or born the brunt either in doing or suffering since the pride of the one is as much accursed as of the other nay if any glorying be at all let it be in the Cross whereby the world and all its honour or esteem is crucified to us and we to it but if any will be greatest let him be the minister or he that would be accounted chief for any hazard travel or hardship performed or undergone without fainting or reluctancy let him be the servant of all desire of Lordship or Dominion is as little comely in the Jewish as in the Gentile world and as its exercise is uneasie to be born by Saints from Sinners so no less by Sinners from Saints but least of all by Saints over each other unless it be in that abiding Love that refuses to rule but in form of a fervant and even hides it self with Christ in God from a worldly kingdom The true Nobility by heavenly birth and breeding in Christ's School of long-suffering and fiery tryals appears most by stooping low not climbing on high which is the property of the Thief that would be robbing both God and man of their due for as Love only that can bear subjection is most fit to reign so doth it shew it self by descending first yea below it self into that Life which must period and conclude before it ascends where it was or higher than at first But why need words to multiply though the Lord hath been forsaken and his holy Mountain where is no dividing or destroying forgotten by some that prepare a Table for this or that Troop and furnish the drink-offering to that number yet behold they are now new-born that could freely traverse the world to seek unity with Indians Barbarians Turks Jews so called and Papists as well as Protestants of all sorts and sizes Vnity I say in Spirit not of this world or the god thereof even the false deceiver that maintains his wicked Principality in the hearts of men by his engine of the selfish nature but of the true holy One that tasts death in every man as well as for him and yet
sees no corruption whose light shines in the very darkest of mankind though they comprehend it not but when that Light which is the same also of them that love and live in it shines by good works as it ought before meer men that as yet remain in darkness then they may be induc'd to glorifie the heavenly Father of Spirits and Lights of all degrees or measures as well that rule by night as by day or of seven dayes together gathered into the glory of one 'T is love even love universal that hath imbreathed and its beauty inamoured the soules of some that are but few of many whereby they do as it were burn with holy desires to live in union with all mankind yea with the whole Creation and not an Oxe or an Asse or any other Creature that groanes and travels together in pain till now but as it waits for so it rejoyces in this glorious liberty of the sons of God who will ere long be better known among the sons of men than heretofore even by going forth and growing up as Calves of the stall not to be markt out for slaughter as they have been but by treading down the wicked things and persons like ashes under the soales of their feet when the Lord shall by fire and his spiritual sword plead with all flesh and the slain of the Lord rather then of his People in whom he shall be admired will be very many because now the weapons of the Saints warfare will appear daily not carnal but more and more spiritual inabling them to single out and encounter those spiritual wickednesses in the high places of their own hearts and others thereby bringing down the mighty from their seats and exalting them that are of low degree and all this without any destroying in that holy mountain of God where they converse which in this respect is lifted up above all others and will suddenly fill the whole earth O ye Victorious Army of the Lamb who on white horses as Emblems of Peace and Love and in linnen white and clean which betokens the innocence and righteousnesses of Saints have followed him that is now gone forth conquering and to conquer glorious is and will be the triumph by the death of the Cross over all created excellencies as well as impure defilements by abandoning the adultrous spirit of this world O ye that witness the conquest of desire to any carnal pleasure which tends but to stupifie the immortal soul of man and bring it into the sleeps or slumbers of eternal death great is your wisdom in determining to know nothing but Christ and him crucified and in standing alwayes delivered up to death for Jesus sake that the life of Christ might the more be manifest in your mortal flesh great is your power and authority in the world as you appear already risen with Christ by seeking those things that are above as ye are living witnesses of the first Resurrection mystical so you tell the world that the literal is not far off and therefore what Prisons or Inquisitions can longer hold you what outward Chains can bind you that are inwardly free who is it that will harm you that are followers of good but eschew the evil in every appearance O ye that have chosen the most solitary paths that an earthly pilgrimage could yeeld therein to meet your Beloved whose love is better than wine that does but refresh and exhilerate for a season and then the natural man that is served becomes as heavy as before 't was tasted but the pleasure of your love and espousals with the Lamb knows no end it grows in you and you in it with such divine increases till it swallowes up words and thoughts as those narrow medium's which are far below and too strait for the expression of that loving life which is incapeable of any confinement but enlarges it self freely in and unto all that entertain it You that have conquered the great and last enemy and that by yeelding daily to it what other enemies but either are or will be at peace with you because you fear not them but love and fear him that commands all hearts and hands yea the very stones of the street and beasts of the field will be in league with you not to offend but defend you though because your munition of rocks and wall of fire is never wanting all other help from without is wholly needless and such as offer it do rather express their own love than your desire of any guard or regard but what alwayes comes from heaven before you call or ask it Your Wisdom is from above What Serpent can beguile you you are redeemed from the Power of all things below What Scorpion or deadly Poyson can hurt you ye are past the Fear of Pain no Tyrant can torment you yea you have past thorow Sorrows Sighs and Tears beyond them you are neither to be exalted or abased by any thing which Flesh can give or take your Life Peace and Joy is endless because your Love is stronger than Death Who will not bend or yield to you and take hold of your skirts O ye inward Jews circumcised in heart and be called by your New-name for all your Names are given by Him whose Name is One that no man knows but he that hath it Your Language one and not divided Your Church but one and not rent in Schisms Sects or Divisions And therefore not Carnal but Spiritual unknown invisible to the World but well known to Christ your Head and one another O ye that admit no Buyers or Sellers in your inner Man the Lord's Temple but are freed from Cares and Cumbers of this World having sold all your Possessions personal to gain the real and therefore have not spent your Money for that which is not Bread and does not satisfie but laid it all down at the great Apostles feet with a free willing mind to quit all single selfish property that is from beneath for that universal equal Liberty that is from above and as well to distribute or communicate your Wealth of good Works to an Enemy or poor Stranger as unto a Friend or Brother What man or sort of men under the Sun when they see you walk by this Principle but will desire your ruling with if not over them You are the Governours of Judah that rule with God because God rules in you and alwayes checks the entrance of any other that is strange or forreign to his All-pure impartial Spirit you that have learn'd of Shiloh the prosperer to heal Breaches and restore Paths to dwell in What People Nation or Language will not ask your Help to new lay their Foundations renew their Land-marks to re-build the wast Places and Desolations of many Generations All Government in things spiritual you yield to Christ onely in things temporal to Him and the Nations whereof he is as well King as of Saints yea the Heathen are his Inheritance and the utmost parts