not standing in the Cross to your wills in Obedience to the Light to receive the Judgment due to that ground from whence Transgression ariseth whereby the Enmity might be â—â—ain the love of the World rooted out and that ruled over with the perfect Law of God which was not subject to it that the Law of the Spirit of Life your minds might be alwayes exercised in thereby to be made free from the Law of sin and death that sin might not reign in your mortal Bodies but that through the power of the Cross of him who is the Light the sinful Lusts of the flesh might be mortified and you led by the Light through the Law by it to have the Transgression thereof to you in every Particular discovered that every one might deny and stand out of that which leads into the Transgression thereof seeing with the Light that not one jot nor tittle thereof shallpass till all be fulfiled and the Righteousness thereof is to be fulfilled in you by your humble and faithful following of him that worketh in us who cannot transgress the Law who being made as a Servant under the Law to him you are all to come and see the Law stand in force over every one that doth transgress which Law is addedbecause of sin and that which saveth the Soul doth not make it void nor mittigate the power thereof against any one that sins wilfully after the knowledge of the Truth received but upon such the Wrath of God abideth which is ministred forth through the Law with Tribulation Anguish and Wo upon every Soul that doth Evil so Trouble Torment and Vexation of Spirit cometh upon such who turn aside from the simplicity of the Gospel and let the spirit of the world reign over them not being faithful in the little which from God they had received by the powerful ministry of his living Truth that the smallest of all seeds in them might spring with obedience through the whole body of the Earth under which it lieth and by it in many is oppressed and such in whom it is so are in many Doubts and Reasonings from that ground out of which Unbelief doth arise And then the Mind being from the Light a hardness comes in and the Rebellious take entrance and so that which is worse than before gets strength which being joyned unto leads in a secret deformity farther from the Witness then ever so that then the good Savour comes to be lost and the Understanding darkned not knowing the true motion and often a carcless Spirit gets head and such are from the true Love and suffering Seed in themselves and so not joyned in the Covenant of Love and Peace with them that abide therein the which they sceing a discontent ariseth therein in the mind so did Cain he murmured at the other but the Fault was in himself for Sin lay at the Door and it is Sin to transgress against that which is Perfect and the Light is the perfect gift of God and his Gifts are Perfect and in the Light there is no Evil and the Light is to lead out of that which is Imperfect they that err from the Light are in the strife and fleshly will And the other Eye seeks for evil and then that kindles a Fire in the Bowels and eats as a Worm and so drowns that from whence true Love should arise as deep as the depth of the Sea and nothing but raging Waves over it sometimes ready to vent forth its own shame and discover the nakedness of it self and others which begets its Image in the minds of them that regard it so as to come under it or let it have entrance in them And where these things are there is little increase within or without but Truth suffers and the World takes advantage and the Weak stumble for whom Christ dyed and the Lambs hurt and their dear Life grieved And so these things are far from answering the dear and tender Call and Visitation of the Lord and then if not faithful in little when can such come to rule or how can they receive the blessing of God being joyned to that which he hath cursed What shall I say to such or with what Words shall I find entrance in them Surely if I had not a Word to write I would mourn in secret for them Oh fruitless Trees dry Branches foolish Virgins unprofitable Servants take heed lest the Lord spue you out of his Mouth What should the Lord do for you that he hath not done My Bowels within me are troubled for you and I even mourn under the burthen of your Iniquities How is it that you delight in other Lovers and what is it in you that keeps you from the power of Truth How long shall the Lord stretâ—h forth his Hand to them that rebel against the Light And how often have you grieved the Spirit of the Lord And why is it that he is provoked to Jealousie every day Will not the Lord visit for these things And can the Wicked go unpanished Turn ye now therefore O ye Rebellious and let the Double-minded fear and tremble before the God of Power for no Peace have I to preach for the Wicked nor Pearls for the Swine in which the Unclean is entred Let your Hearts now therefore be opened and let Judgment come upon that which is above the Seed and sink down into the House of Mourning that the Prisoner may hear my Voice And now you that are honest tender faithful willing and obedient dear is my Love unto you the Lord God eternal preserve you dear Babes and give you up your Lives and praise his endless rich love who hath called you to come out of the World My dear Friends let my Fathers love arise in you even the same which I now feel towards you and let me come near unto you in the power of my Fathers love that you may feel my Life and partake with me of the hidden Treasure that your Hearts may be open to me again from the feeling of the Power of the covenant of Life that in him I may salute you who is at the Fathers Right Hand For unto you O ye Children of the Light is my Heart enlarged and toward you doth the Power of my Life arise from the streams of unlimitted Love which from all the World is hid and reserved in the Bosom of the Father for the meek and tender Lambs for whom the Milk is prepared and to whom the Bread is to be given and the sure Waters that never shall fail Let the Light arise in you my dear Ones that with it your Hearts may be opened one to another that you may know that the Lord is a God of Power and near at hand unto the Humble that in his Love you may be kept and by his Power be defended and so from strength to strength in his fear to walk and to come at last to be a People saved from Death and redeemed from the
down from Heaven and gives Life the which Bread being not in outward shew was not only hid from the Scribes and Pharisees who had the Oracles of God outwardly but also from them that profess Christ without them only for there is a time wherein Christ is known after the Flesh therefore saith Christ He that is with you shall be in you John 14. 17. Ch. 6. 35. 60. The first Priesthood though made by a Law of God which Law stands outwardly the Priests being Ministers of the Law and not come to Christ but now the Priests are out of his Doctrine Mat. 23. and so are found themselves Transgressors of the same Law which they teach to others therefore the Lord declares against such saying Wherefore ye Priests this Commandment is for you If you will not hearken I will send a Curse upon you and I will Curse your Blessing and spread the Dung of your solemn Assemblies upon your Faces Mal. 2. 1 2 3. Mich. 3. 10 11. Jer. 10. 21. Hosea 6. 9. Isa 56. 9 10 11 12. Râ—â— 2. 21 22 23 24. The Ministry of the second Priesthood witnesseth the Righteousness of the Law fulfilled within and so comes to the freedom from the Law of Sin and Death and so comes to receive a Blessing from God not a Curse Rom. 7. 6. Chap. 8. 2 3 4. Heb. 6. 7. The first Priesthood who offers daily for the Poeple and themselves thought it be much and consisteth in many Words and outward Ceremonies yet this is not able to make him that doth in Perfect as pertaining to the Conscience but the Guilt remaineth still upon the Conscience both of him and his followers Heb. 9. 9. 2 Pet. 2. 1 2 3. 14. The second Priesthood who hath forever Perfected them that are Sanctified he is of the heavenly Mansion of the which there are many in the Fathers House whose House are we who are of the Body which is the Church which is raised up by the Ministry of the second Priesthood to sit together with Christ in the Heavenly places where the Unclean cannot come but the living Service and Prayers are offered up through the Eternal Spirit Ephes 1. 20 21 22 23. Chap. 6. 2. Heb. 3. 6. John 14. 2 3. The first Priesthood and its Ministry consisted in reading of the Law that was written in Tables of Stone and Writings which are without and in preaching of Moses in the Synagogues every Sabbatâ—-day the Vail being over the Heart and the end of the Law not seen nor him known that 's made under the Law Acts 15. 21. 2 Cor. 3. 13 14 15 c. The second Priesthood and its Ministry consisteth in ministring Life to the Seed in Prison and opening the Prison-doors that the Seed of Abraham may spring out of the barren Womb and feel the Power of the Son of God breaking down that which the Law had power over and so to bring to him that is the end of the Law and to behold with open Face the Glory of him that takes away the Sin and brings in everlasting Righteousness Isa 61. 1 2 3. Dan. 9. 24. 2 Cor. 3. 18. The first Priesthood had the Letter but afterward resisted the Holy Ghost yet profess Moses and the Prophets Writings and make a Gain thereby but resist the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of Prophesie the Heart being Uncircumcised Acts 7. 51 52. Jude 11. The second Priesthood and its Ministry is of the Spirit with the power of the Holy Ghost and the same Spirit that guided Moses and the Prophets and all the holy men of God and so comes to that from whence that was given forth which was preached in the Synagogues every Sabbath-day Isa 44. 3. Isa 59. 21. 2 Pet. 11. 21. In the time of the first Priesthood the Cherubims cover the Mercy-seat and the Lord communeth with him that is the Minister of the Law above the Mercy-seat which Mercy-seat being both covered and under and the People being both stiff-necked and hard hearted So the Power stands above ministring the Law which is to judge and cut down that which causeth the hardness of the Heart which is covered with the Vail through the transgression of the Law under which the Mercy-seat is and the Testimony lieth under it Exod. 25. 31. Let him that readeth understand Matth. 24. 15. Heb. 9. 5. In the time of the second Priesthood the Testimony and Witness of God is raised up and the Mercy-seat opened and the hardness of Heart broken and so the Wall that 's separated between him and his Testimony comes to be broken down and the Fountain of living Mercies opened and the Soul refreshed with the hidden Manna so the Seed of Abraham comes to be raised up through the Vail by the power of him who is the living Minister within the Vail made under the Law to redeem the Soul from under the Law and so as this is read in the work of it and so felt and understood the Promise of the second Covenant under the Ministry of the second Priesthood is witnessed even as it is written I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my People 2 Cor. 6. 16. Jer. 31. 33. Heb. 8. 8. to the end Chap. 9. 12. Isa 57. 15. In the time of the first Priesthood there is much talking of the Ordinances and many are pleading from the Letter for the Ordinances which say They are to last forever as Circumcision was and also many are crying The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord and yet the Temple is made by such a den of Thieves and a habitation of Dragons and wild subtil devouring Beasts of the Field who have stollen up another way in the Serpents wisdom than by Christ the Light and the Door and so resist the Holy Ghost being yet in their Sins and their Faith vain and their Minds and their Consciences being defiled and they not come to the Doctrine of Repentance the Mountains being not leveled and the burning Light not felt nor the Wilderness not yet found nor the way opened for the Seed neither yet seen him that takes away the Sin of the World and yet such are crying The Ordinances The Ordinances and the Commands which say they are to last to the end of the World and yet they themselves not come to the beginning of the World nor to feel the power of the Word separating the Light from the Darkness nor yet to feel the entrance into the true Circumcision and so the Vail remains over the Heart that they cannot see to the end of the Commands Figures and Ordinances which are a shadow of good things to come but the End and Substance is Christ the Light Life and Corner-stone at which they stumble Col. 2. 17. 1 Pet. 3. 21. In the time of the second Priesthood the Kingdom is witnessed which is not in Words but in Power where the proud Boasters are shut out and the Unclean
Whose Soul is lost from bliss Oh praise him all ye Saints Who feel his vertue near Vnto him still give thanks Who is our Father dear Let wicked men lament Let all Vngodly howl Too late shall some repent When down his Judgments rowle When Babel's turn'd in t ' Lake When the Beast is thither thrown When Drunkards reel and shake When Wrath is poured down When Vengeance much w th might Is pour'd on the Whore And all secret Deceit Destroy'd forever more Then Sion shall be glad Then God shall honoured be Then Praises shall be had Then Worship shall be free Then Comfort shall abound In all true mourning Lambs And Gospel free shall sound Throughout all Nation Lands The time hereof's at hand The Captives shall be free Gods Seed in every Land By him shall gathered be Let Friends rejoyce in fear Let fear in love abound Let Thousands more draw near For we the Pearl have found Let all in Patience dwell And in the Lord still trust That we in Love excell In which with you I rest As I walking alone in my close Prison at Winchester upon the 24th of the 5th Moneth 1662. in much Quietness Meekness and inward Refreshings by the rising vertue of Gods refreshing Love these Lines began to run gently through me with Melody in my Heart to the Lord and when I was free in my self to write it departed not from me but came so easie and so fast as I could well write whereby in a very little part of the said day this was begun and finished with my own Hand Yet would I not have it looked upon to be a great thing nor a pattern or example for others to run into the like For since I came into the Life and Obedience of Truth I durst not write any thing thus in Verse until this day and time neither was there the least thought in me thus to write until the very instant For writing in Meeter is apt to beget a lightness in some Readers and make way for too much or a wrong Liberty in others to do the like but not in the true fear which is the continual Refuge of Humphry Smith Hidden things made manifest by the Light In a plain Distinction between Condemnation Temptation Wherein is shewed How the Righteous Law of God is ministred upon the Transgressor and how it is to be by all received as a Schoolmaster to come to Christ by him to have the sin done away forever Also of Temptation what it is and how it may be known discerned from Condemnation With a Direction to them who profess the knowledge of Truth and live not in the power of God Concerning the Ministration of Condemnation THe World being set in man's Heart and Sin being in the World before the Promise was made which Promise was before the Law by which the Sin is discovered which Sin was in the World before the Promise yet the Promise was before the Law and yet until the Law comes Death reigns over that to which the Promise is and Sin separateth man from God the which is not clearly seen until the Commandment which is Light is come the Ministration whereof is Condemnation unto Man being found in the Transgression the which Ministration of Condemnation is to pass over all having sinned and when this cometh it finds man in the Death and by it is sin revived whereby man comes to see a Body of Sin which stands between him and God so that he is afraid of the dreadful Power of God ministred forth through the Law to slay him that hath transgressed the which some coming to see or in the least measure to feel call it a Temptation because it maketh him sensible that Condemnation belongeth to him and that all his Profession and building upon the Promise in that which the Promise was not unto and seeing that if he lie down to receive this Ministration that then all his Profession and Knowledge Zeal Wisdom and Prayers which did arise out of that ground which was cursed by reason of the sin that was in the World before either the Promise the Profession or the Law will be all ript up from him as filthy Rags and that his shame and nakedness must appear as it s written Every mouth shall be stopped and every one shall stand guilty before God and no Darkness no shadow of Death shall hide the workers of Iniquity from the mighty hand of God who brings to judgment the hidden things of Darkness and rips open the secrets of the Heart so that the most secret Sinâ— that ever were committed are clearly made manifest and justly charged upon the head of the Transgressor who stands in Enmity to God who will wound the head of the Transgressor and plead in Righteousness with him in whom the sin is found though not made manifest until the time that the Law is come by which it is discovered And this Ministration of Condemnation is not a Temptation though many call it so who being blind put Darkness for Light and Light for Darkness for that which sheweth man his sin doth not tempt man to sin but rather brings man in fear that he may not sin for because of sin was the Law added and the Law was given after much of the Love Preservation Power Deliverances and the Wonders of the Lord had been seen and it was given in the Wilderness where sometime there was want of Bread and Water where was Serpents Scorpions and many Tryals where the figure of him who was to heal the wounded and take away the sting of death and save the Life of man was lifted up on high without them the which figure or outward bodily Appearance was prepared by Moses And Christ had a body prepared him both which the carnal Eye might see and the carnal Mind contend about even as the Devil about the body of Moses but the Substance of the Figure Christ the Light Gods power being not received within in the heart and so fin the transgression of the Law remains within and the figure or that which the natural Eye did or may see was and is looked upon without and that without doth not take away the sin within and these knew not the Ways of God who sinned and at last loathed the Manna calling it light bread in the Wilderness even there was the Law Ministred they whose eyes are open may read and understand And where the Law was given forth there was a Mount or a high place of the Earth which then trembled by reason of the dreadful Power of the Lord of Hosts and beneath or under the Mount was the Seed and Israel of God which was to keep the Law and Life Read within and understand and yet by reason of that which was hard upon the heart there was a crying out with Dread and Horror and Fear That the Lord might speak no more lest they dye and so that which is hard upon the heart in the which by the
to the Confounding of that which kept that in Bondage under the Transgression which was given into man before the Transgression was out of which Transgression there is no coming but by and through the Ministration of Condemnation which doth it discover in the ground of it through which there is a coming to receive the Gospel of Peace which is the Power of God not to be preached to the Wicked things under which the just do suffer which the Law is to but by the Lord of glory through the Light preached to the Spirit in Prison that it through the Condemnation of the other may grow up to lead and guide the Creature in all things in obedience to Gods will from a true sense of his Love in the heart whereby his whole Law comes to be fulfilled and the Promise and the Blessing received in him who is the end of the Law who is the Light given into man to let him see and to condemn the sin the which man being dead in and in Trespasses doth not love but is afraid of that which in secret judgeth and reproveth him from the which man flying forsaketh that by which he should come to receive the Mercies of the Lord but Wo to them forever who strive with their Maker and call him Belzâ—bub who is the Light in the Heart and should be Master in the House Therefore let all take heed of despising the Law which is written with the singer of God in the heart whilst it is yet hard sor the Law of God is perfect making wise the simple and the Ministration thereof is to destroy that which did it Transgress and lead unto him by whom the Transgression is finished And this is not a Temptation but a Dispensation of Gods Justice Through his Righteous Law upon that which sinned over which the Law hath Power so long as that liveth which the Law is to kill that through the death of it that might come again to live which was before the Law and before the death and before the sin And now when the Law or Ministration of Condemnation cometh man is to stand still and wait quietly under it and not let any thing break through in a haste to rage or gaze and wonder at that which is so dreadful that man is not able to stand under it without unspeakable Astonishment because of that which then is over him who then is commanded not to break through lest he dye for the Law is to break through that which cannot keep it and make way to that which is to keep it and live forever but man is not to break through from under the Condemnation to that where the Law is ministred until that is received by which the Law may be kept for such who in the Condemnation do abide come at last to see and receive him that is made under the Law and is the end of it and taketh away the sin but such who come to the Law and break out from under the judgment before the Lord had broke through and cut down all that in them which could not keep it such have let in Death again to reign over that which with judgment should have been redeemed to bear away that which the Law had power over and arise up with that Power Love Life and Obedience to God as in all things to fulfill the whole Law of God which until then doth still stand in force over that and them in which sin remaineth which doth transgress the Law one tittle whereof shall not perish till all be fulfilled though some coming to the Law have broke forth and then healed the Wound slightly supposing it would serve their turns to talk of the fulfilling of it by and in another for them and without them seeing themselves not able to keep it in all things not waiting to the end of the Law by it to have all that destroyed which could not keep it and receive that which cannot break it Mark and in it keep by it to be led out of the Wilderness of sin in the promised Land to rest in it to have the dayes prolonged and the life preserved for Christ the Light cometh to save the Life And there are many that are now come to peace dominion and the land of Rest who did once come to know the judgments of God upon Cain's nature which then cryed out That his punishment was too heavy to bear and have also come to see the Beast whose head is full of the Names of Blasphemy and yet have they not started aside like a broken Bow from under the judgment neither suffered the Enemy to prevail over them by Temptations to curse God and dye nor to call him Belzebub who is the Light which condemns and should be Master in the house neither have they dispised Moses Law which is the Ministration of Condemnation and in its time is glorious but in patience and long-suffering under it have waited and that without murmuring or suffering that to break forth in rage which Gods judgments are to neither have they suffered Unbelief to prevail over them but in love to him who was made a Curse in patience have endured all these things and have been made as free to drink the Cup of Astonishment with the Dregs thereof as the Lord was to pour it forth unto them who now drink the Cup of Salvation even the Blood of the Lamb which cleanseth from all sin whose life saveth them from the Terror of the Pit who have come to feel the seed born and brought forth though with Pangs and Sorrow which the blessing is to Those may see hear and understand what I write who are come to know how the Law is handed forth by a Mediator who was before the Law and the Righteousness of God manifest without the law and sin discovered by the Law and Gods Righteousness revealed by that which was before the Law and that notwithstanding the Law must be received yet by the works thereof no flesh shall be justified but by obedience of Faith towards God in the Blood of his Son by which all that is done away which trangress'd the Law and so not of Works nor of Merits but of Faith and Love is the Law fulfilled Concerning Temptation And that those who were born blind and have been ever since covered with the blackness of Darkness through their own Wisdom being dead in Trespasses and Sins not feeling nor savouring the things of God but remain in that Religion and Profession which crucisied his Son who is a man of Sorrows and called him A Blasphemer who is the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World and said he had a Devil who came to condemn sin in the flesh whose Light in every Conscience is the Condemnation so long as the Evil deeds remain the which Condemnation is not a Temptation for God who is Light tempteth no man to Evil. Therefore in love is this written that no man through blindness
being the Lord God of Life hath given his Son a Light in the Heart that man might be led taught and guided by him out of sin and giveth power to all them that love follow and obey him to overcome their sin whose light being in Man a free gift from God and that by no other Name Way or Means man can ever be saved Therefore that is a Temptation which leads out from that in the Heart Which in it is given there to make an end of Sin to follow that which doth not make an end of Sin nor minister Power to them that follow it to overcome their sin so that they cannot receive that which cleanseth from all sin such have the root and ground in them from whence sin cometh but the Root of Jesse in whom there is no sin they are only professing and talking of without them And that is a Temptation that leadeth man to commit any manner of sin whatsoever and keeps man from believing in him that maketh an end of Sin and keeps man in sin and from Repentance and turning from sin whilst that of God in the Conscience is striving with him against sin perswading him that he cannot be free from sin and to put off the time of true Repentance until Gods Spirit by the Light in the Heart hath ceased striving and then such think all is well because that which judged and condemned them for the least appearance of Evil hath ceased striving with them that so they are now quiet and not judged as formerly for what they do though they do the same things for which formerly they were judged but let such assuredly know That that which was sin is sin still though they instead of coming through the Law are gone back from the Law which did discover it and come to that state again which was before the Law or a worse where Death reigns and Sin is in the World though not discovered by the Law to them who have despised the Law and so become dead to that which should fulfill the Law and also dead in that which doth transgress the Law even so dead in sin that now feeling the weight and burthen thereof neither yet feeling any thing of God in them striving in them against it and is not their latter end like to be worse than their beginning And are not such as these who have got a Profession more hardned in their Sin and pleading more strongly for their continuance therein than the Publicans Harlots and Prophane And that is a Temptation which draws forth the mind to fear love serve obey or respect any man or created thing glory honour or whatsoever may be named more than God or to deny obedience to God for the attaining or retaining thereof or to let any of the most glorious Creatures of God fill and take plnce in the heart that in it room may not be found for the Power of God to enter so that the life virtue and substance of all things in which there is full satisfaction cannot be received And that is a Temptation that leadeth forth to seek or love the praise of men for if that was out of the Faith which received Honour from men then that must needs be of the Devil which would compel Honour to be given to it that is it in man of the Devil which would have the begotten of God honour and worship it which would take the due honour and praise from God to whom alone belongeth all Dominion Glory Honour and Obedience and Praises forever and ever And that is a Temptation which draweth forth the Mind to worship any other God but he that made all Men of one Blood and is above all and through all and in you all who dwelleth in his People and what of him may be known is manifest within whom all may feel after and find whom the World by Wisdom doth not know who abhorreth the Sacrifices of them whose Hearts are Uncircumcised and is wearied with the Peoples Words Mat. 2. 17. and grieved with their Iniquity who heareth not the Prayers of men of Sin but waiteth to be gracious unto such who wait for him in the Light of his Son who was led as a Lamb dumb and is of the Seed of David who was dumb with silence and opened not his Mouth while the Wicked was in place But when the wicked thing is removed out of his place and the humble Seed of the Shepherd raised up in his Throne upon his Hill of Holiness having his Enemies under his Feet then he speaketh with Authority and not as the Scribes Thus man coming into the fear of the Lord and waiting in the Light of his Son in the Heart with it may he see and discern between that which discovereth and condemneth Sin and that which tempteth to Sin out of which that man may be redeemed and kept out of Temptations is this written in love to the Seed over which the Beast the Dog and the Swine do vaunt themselves who have nothing to do with this but only to receive the Cup of Astonishment which to the Serpents is to be poured forth who are not to feed upon this which is written A Direction in the way to that within the Vail by which Temptations are overcome TRuth is that in which the Power of God doth stand and in the Truth there is no Lye and all them who receive Truth from God in it they receive his power whereby they are made his Sons in his power to stand in obedience to his will which is that by which they are sanctified and by obedience of Faith thereunto are preserved keeping in stedfastness by the mighty Power of God out of that which doth defile are preserved in that Dominion and place of Holiness into which the Harlots out of the Truth and Power and all proud Boasters and such who are intruding into things they have not seen and all Murmurers who complain for want of Power do not enter Therefore all People who profess the knowledge of the Truth and yet have not received the Power of God in which no Sin doth stand wait ye all in the Light to know the Vail rent and the ground to be removed from whence the Words come which darkens that in which the counsel of God should be received and wait to feel Judgment and Condemnation upon the Earthly that over the Seed doth rule and keep Judgment that through the Condemnation that may spring which never yet was found For certainly till there be a coming through the Ministration of Condemnation the Pearl is hid under the Earth and the Earthly bears rule over it whereby it still in Bondage lies and the Creature sometimes led by a fight of that which it doth not possess holding the Truth of God in that which is not his Righteousness for his Righteousness is revealed by Faith through the power of him that takes away the Sin and so it s not comprehended in by that mind which is
midst and hath rent the Vail and from under Death is risen in his unlimited Power Dominion and Authority even him that Death nor the Grave cannot hold who through Death hath conquered Death forever and though Death had Power over him before the Way into the Holiest of all was made manifest yet now Death hath no more dominion over him but he is risen through Death who was made a Curse and hath born away the Curse and removed the cursed ground upon which fallen man stood and hath born away the sin of the World and was made sin for us that we might be made the Righteousness of God through in and by him who hath opened the Understanding whereby the unsearchable Riches of unspeakable love comes to be made manifest even unto us who were going astray and were Children of Wrath as well as others and Aliens and Strangers to the Covenant of Grace and long were without God and in the World tossed to and fro with every wind of Doctrine after the cunning Craftiness of men whereby we were long deceived even by such who still bewitcht the Minds of the simple out of which Witchcraft I can say the Lord hath delivered and obedience to the Truth that makes Free is yeilded and Love Mercy and Judgment is come and brought forth and Victory is witnessed the Messenger of the everlasting Covenant is come even he that we long waited for and we do not look for another but he that is the same yesterday to day and forever who was to come and is come and is to come he that readeth let him understand who is without beginning of time or end of dayes who is made under the Law and became as a Servant being obedient to the Death through which the Life is risen up into the understanding and hath born away that which the Law had power over and hath brought in that by which the Law is fulfilled and so he that is the end of the Law for Righteousness is felt and received who taketh away the Sin and reconcileth the World up unto the Father where the sin is taken away by him who though he was made sin yet knew no sin who appears now the second time without sin to the saving of that which was lost which is now brought again and plenteous Redemption is known for the desire of all Nations is come and the second Houses is filled with his Glory the Wine-press is full the Fat 's overflow for the VVinter is past and the Summer is come and the Lillics appear in the Field where the Pearl was hid the Fig-tree puts forth her buds and the Vine yeilds her encrease the Olive doth blossom and the Apple-Tree in the midst of the VVood doth flourish and the good ground yeilds her encrease and is fruitful in its season to the good Husbandman and there is seed to the sower and bread to the eater the Barns are filled with abundance and the Store-houses with plenty and Treasure is laid up for many years in the heavenly places which are purified with the lively sacrifices so that the earthen Vessels are fitted to keep the heavenly Manna that shall dure throughout many generations and so against the Famine comes upon the Earth and all them that feed at Jezabels Table Oyle is laid up in safety and the finest of the Flower in a place where it is sure where it will last and never fail until the Heathen are scorched with heat and they that have forsaken the Lord are become as a parched Heath and all the gods of the Heathen famished and the Tongue of the Aegyptian Sea dryed up and all the false Prophets overturned who belong to Jezabel whose Body the Dogs must tear though she yet sits as a Qeen in opposition to the true Prophet Christ the Light and until them who are drunk with the Wine of the Fornication of the Whore and are the Merchants of Mystery Babylon the great the Mother of all the painted Harlots be all condemned in one day with an utter overthrow and the Seat of the Whore removed and all them that commit Fornication with her made as the Valley of Hammon Gog and as the Dung upon face of the Earth and all the Brats of the VVhore dashed against the Stones until then I say shall that in store remain and a Hiding-place be found for the Prophet of the Lord who is also hid near thee in thy own Land though thou art seeking him afar off Wherefore hear O ye Kindreds of the Earth for as the Dew spread upon the Mountains so doth the Streams of my Beloved raise overspreading the Earth with the comliness of his Love and filling it with the Beauty of his Grace the Banner of his Love is spreading forth as a Curtain and under the shadow of his Wings is a certain Hiding-place both from the Storm and from the Heat and though the Sea rage and all Kindreds and Tongues swell up in Wrath Pride and Arrogancy yet he come known witnessed and received who commands both the VVirds and the Sea who is the former of all things by whom they all were made and at his Command all are subdued and the lightnings of his Light enlightens the VVorld Psal 97. 4. and the Glory of his Power is spreading over the Nations and the excellency of his Beauty is reaching to his Lambs and because of his Comliness the Virgins love him and to him the Daughters of Jerusalem bring their Gifts and before him the Princes of the People lay down their Crowns and because of him the VVilderness doth rejoyce and the Desolate is made glad for the fruitful Land was become a barren VVilderness and now the baren VVilderness is turned into a fruitful Field and the plant sprung out of a dry Ground and the Seed is born of the barren VVomb and there is a VVay made in the VVilderness and streams are given in the Desart and the Ear of the deaf is opened the Lame doth walk and the Leaper is cleansed and the stammering Tongues speak plainly the Gospel is received and the everlasting Power is come even the Immanuel God with us and in us and we confess Christ come in the Flesh and do not look for another but do know that this is the great Prophet who is come into the VVorld that is set in the Heart Ecclcs 3. 11. which is in the midst out of which Moses said the Lord would raise up a Prophet Deut. 18. 15. the which Prophet being come which all are to hear he saith I am come a Light into the World John 8. 12. ch 12. 35 36 46. The VVorld being set in the Heart there is the light of him who saith I am the Light and he that is the Light is the true Prophet and the true Prophet is in the midst who is the Light whose day Abraham saw unto whom the Gospel was preached which Gospel is Gods Power whereby Abraham rejoyced because he came to see the Day
prosper even as Kings whose Armies are swift to the Battel their faces are as an Adamant and their Countenances firce and terrible the found of their Voice is dreadful and the noise of their Appearance Astonish the Heathen the Earth before them is full of its Fruit behind them its a desolate Wilderness they spare not the Antient nor the Honourable neither have they respect to the Persons of men they even smile at Destruction when its coming and they are prepared for all your Oppressions VVherefore now gather your selves together O ye Potsherds of the Earth and stand up all you that thirst for blood assemble your selves together all ye Persecutors let your Counsels come up from Hell and let the depth of the Powers of darkness shew forth it self in the utmost of its strength and with it combine ye all together and stand up in the Power of your King which is the Angel of the Bottomless Pit who is head among in and over all you who thrist for the blood of the Innocent Now come and draw near in the very height of your Father's VVrath and behold we meet you in the Infiniteness of our Fathers Love and stand you together in the depth of your secret Subtilty and behold we abide in the pure VVisdom of the most High Stand ye up for the Glory and Honour of the World and we abide faithful for the Glory of the Lord our Maker And this I say plainly unto you that your long Tyranny will never weary out the patience we have received neither can you inflict more punishment than the Lord hath enabled us to bear and as your Wrath is incrased our Humility is increased much more and as you are filled and moved with Envy we are much more filled and overcome with the Power of the Fathers Life and though you contrive ways to ensnare the Innocent we take no thought aforehand to deliver our selves for Self we have denyed and we have given up our Bodies and Souls a living Sacrifice unto God to do or suffer his Will And him that kills the Body we fear not much less those that can but Whip or Imprison but for a few Moneths for our Life you cannot reach neither can you disturb their Rest whom the Lord hath crowned with Honour who out of the World are redeemed and bought with the price of Blood most precious but are become his to follow him whither-ever he leads them though it be through Tryals great Tribulations Bonds and long Imprisonments these things cannot move them who are brought to rest in the Defarts and sleep in the Woods yea and there is none can make them afraid with all their Threats unrighteous Laws Bonds Bridewels long unjust Imprisonments or Death it self And this Honour hath the Saints and herein do they rejoyce for evermore in that they are counted worthy to suffer for his Names sake who was made perfect through sufferings and and thereby overcame all the Powers of Darkness whereby Principalities and Powers are spoiled forever and through sufferings are we made more than Conquerers over all our Enemies whose Day will have an end whose Cruelty will cease whose Tyranny will be rewarded upon their own Heads and their Memorial will Rot forever but the faithfulness of the Faithful shall never be taken from him nor the innocency of the Harmless shall never be forgotten neither shall they ever want strength to stand in the day of Battel nor courage and boldness to endure when the Enemies of the Lord arise in Opposition against the brightness of the rising of the Power of the Lamb of God who is come to take away the Sin of the World even him who is the Light and the Heir against whom with one consent the Rulers of the Earth the Hireling Priests with all the Prophane and Unclean and all them of all Opinions in the World are joyning together in one Combination as with one Mind conspiring in their Enmity to slay and murder the Heir that is come to make an end of Sin Who saith I am the Light H. S. To all that want Peace with God To the Sheep every where not brought Home To the Thirsty Breathing Soul and to the Seed though in Captivity among and in the midst of all Professors Greetings of Love Mercy and Peace from God the Father of the Living VVHere the Bowels are not shut up nor the Heart darkned and where that doth not bear rule which stoppeth the Ear and closeth the Eye and where Prejudice and Rebellion against the Light with the Wisdom of the Flesh through that knowledge which puffeth up hath not wholly eaten up devoured got over and wholly overcome that tender Principle which once moved in the Heart towards that being of the living Substance There may my words take entrance and unto such who feel that which breathes to God and who are willing to be satisfied concerning the living Truth of his Son and who would receive the Truth if they knew it and do yet more desire after the Power of God than all the Temporal things that are seen and who are yet come no further than the reading of the Law the Priests the Tythes nor that Religion that makes nothing perfect and who are come no further than the outward Baptism Shadow or Figure or such things which are to be left behind Hâ—b 6. or who are come no further than the Supper or the Death and so not yet saved by his Life nor drunk of that which saveth and is to cleanse from all that which separateth from God after whom and the incomes of his Love Immortal whosoever truly desireth and is willing to receive the Power of his Life and come in Covenant with the Lord Such may lend me an Ear a little and you are them who may receive some benefit hereby for behold I write in plainness of the things of God my heart being enlarged with abundance of his Peace in which there is good will towards men that you might come to draw near to the Witness the Testimony whereof is within the vail which vail is over the heart 2 Cor. 3. 15 and is not done away but as you come to be in him who is given for a witness Isa 55. 4. by believing in the Light John 12. 36. and so to have the witness in you 1 John 5. 10. and you to be in it and that you may come to participate of Gods Indwellings and feel the Oyl which will last forever therefore I proceed thus How can I but look back a little with an Eye of Pity over those who yet are where once I was when the Darkness was over the Earth and the Cloud of Error compassed me as well as others surely I cannot now be so unmindful of them that are yet lost as not to have compassion upon the Out-casts of Israel or to conceal from them these things of so great concernment but rather as the Lord of my Life hath opened to me will I reach
forth my hand towards the weak and utter my voice to the Prisoner of Hope and shew unto the meek in the Earth how the invisible God hath led his seed and is leading his Remnant through and out of the Variety of things unto the one thing it self from whence the various Things Gifts and Ministrations do come Now that which is chiefly in my heart to write for the Seeds sake is First Something concerning the Ministration of Moses when he was upon Earth Secondly Concerning the Ministration of Christ whilst he was upon Earth Thirdly and chiefly Concerning the Ministration of the Spirit First Concerning Moses's Ministration when he was upon Earth which was to last till Shiloh came or until the time of Reformation AS concerning Moses Ministration to wit the Law Condemnation or Death with the Priests Offering and worldly Sanctuary and an outward Tabernacle and daily Offerings for Sin and Store-houses for the Levites Strangers Fatherless and Widdows having the Ark of the Testimony within the vail and the Mercy seat covered and the Golden-pot and the People to seek the Law at the Priests Mouth whereby their knowledge is preserved and many profit much thereby and come day by day and year by year unto that which they esteem a place of holy Worship and Ordinances of God And notwithstanding the Priests of Moses Law were made by the Law of God yet that Priesthood changeth and the Law changeth and the very glory of all this passeth away for this did once seem glorious unto me and many more which only discovered sin though it made nothing perfect and with much delight was the reading of the Law and the Prophets hearkened unto and the daily confession of sin but the vail is over the heart whilst Moses is Preached and Sacrifices Morning and Evening with the long Prayers which the comers thereunto were not at all thereby made Perfect as pertaining to the Conscience though it had a shaddow of good things to come yet the glory thereof comes to be done away then how much more will the very glory of the most glorious Appearance of that Ministry perish and be done away which cometh short of this and hath not so much as the Image of this which was as a shaddow O weak and beggarly things that are found among those Priests now and their followers who come short of Moses Ministry for he directed them to Christ the substance and so his Ministration comes to be done away as Christ comes to be received for Moses did not seek to uphold his Priests or Law or Tythes or any thing else when Christ should come who is the end of the Law but did write of him and not withstanding his Ministry and Priests he said He that would not hearken unto him should be cut off and said The Lord will raise up Mark the words raise up The Lord shall raise up a Prophet and when the Prophet was come he said I am the Light and I am meek and low in Heart and this is to be raised up which is meek for to them that sate in darkness Light hath sprung up and the Soul that hearkneth not to the Prophet which springs up shall be cut off for Truth springeth up out of the Earth and Christ is the Truth and he said I am the Light which is the Horn of Salvation that God raiseth up to be a Light to lighten the Gentiles and is the Salvation of Israel and so the soul is to hearken to that which God raiseth up and that is it which condemneth sin under it who is like unto Moses whose Ministry discovers sin and so Moses directed unto Christ who puts away the sin and Paul said of the glory of Moses Ministration That it was no Glory in respect of the Glory of the Ministration of the Spirit and the glorious Ministry of the Spirit was received after he who had a Body prepared had suffered the Crucifying of his body and the Prophets searched diligently to see the glory that was to be after the sufferings of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. But the thing intended That Moses when he was upon Earth directed unto Christ and gave commandment That they should hearken unto him who said I am the Light and this is one Tittle of the Law that the Light be hearkned unto who is the end of the Law and the substance and he that offendeth herein is guilty of all and this is that in which all the large Ministrations of Moses is included that Christ the Light the true Prophet be hearkned unto and obeyed that by hearing and obeying his Voice or the Word in the Heart they might come from under the Law and the Priests and that which waxeth old unto the Life and Obedience of him who abides a Priest forever even the Lord of that glory which lasteth for evemore Secondly Concerning Christ and his Ministration when he was upon Earth and his work which he finished ANd when he cometh which Moses commandeth to hearken unto even Christ the true Prophet the Light of the World the living Minister the end of the Law who had a Body prepared to do the will of the Father which was in him the Man Christ Jesus he saith follow me and he took up his Cross and passed through the Death and the Vail and so being made Perfect through sufferings attained that Glory which he had with the Father before he had a Body which Body was prepared to do the Fathers will whose will was That all men should be saved therefore Christ tasted death for every man and rose again for the Justification of those that believe in him who said I am the Light and is sate down at the right hand of God who is a Spirit eternally in the Heavens ascended up out of the sight of them which gazed after that Body which is gone out of their sight even he Christ the Ministry hid from Ages and Generations now made manifest to destroy the works of the Devil being meek and low in the Heart he saith Learn of me Then not the of Priests nor any longer of Moses for the Law is the Schoolmaster to Christ who being come calleth one from the Custom another from going to bury the Dead another from questoning and reasoning what this man or another should do that he might not stand looking out at others but himself to follow the Light saying follow thou me And those that followed him when he was upon Earth saw his Miracles and heard his Parables and eat of the outward Bread and were filled though many now eat and are not filled and they had his body among them and they came to the Baptism and the Supper but Christ himself Baptized not and when he was upon Earth he said I go to the Father and I go to prepare a place for you and he said whither I go ye know and he said before follow me and except a man deny himself and take up his Cross and follow
Honour 1. By His Subjects Unity one with another 2. By His Subjects Submission to all his Laws 3. By His Subjects Faithfulness unto him 4. By His Subjects Uprightness in Craffick with other Nations 5. By His Subjects Departing from that which dishonoureth both God and the King 6. By His Subjects Being the peculiar People of God and they having his Spirit to counsel him I. Concerning the honour of the king by the Unity of his Subjects one with another WEre all or the Major part of the King's Subjects so in Unity one with another that every man sought each others good as much as his own and so fulfilled the Law of God therein by each mans loving his Neighbour as himself and doing unto all and at all times as they would be done unto having the Bond of Peace upon their Hearts by the power of his Spirit who commanded the Christians not only to love one another but also their Enemies whereby they are so far from Defraud or coveting other mens Goods or wronging any man in Person or Estate that Covetousness is not named among them neither could be by any justly charged upon them but rather the things they possess are acknowledged to be the Lord's and themselves to be but Stewards thereof and therefore durst not be unfaithful towards God or man in the Unrighteous Mammon lest the Lord should refuse to commit unto them the greater Riches And were they brought to have a certain knowledge one of another herein that they durst with boldness confide one inanothers Constancy in those things without the least fear of being any way wronged or oppressed or injured by each other with what abundance of satisfaction would such live upon the Earth and how desirable and amiable would this be for Christians and Brethren to live thus in Unity And were they brought not to turn away their faces from their own flesh nor to slight the Cry of the Poor but with an Eye of Pity still to be commiserating the Needy and much caring how to have Oppression removed that so with the more chearfulness the Necessities of their poor Brethren might the easier be relieved and such continual Care to be taken herein until all Oppressions were brought to an end and all the Poor kept from want their being sufficient within the King's Dominions to do it that what is spent in Vanity might be forborn and what is wasted in Oppression might be withheld and other wayes found out as something hath been prescribed by Thomas Lawrence of Marleborough until there were not one poor Member of all the Body of the King's Dominions to be found that had need to ask for Food or Rayment by reason of the Brotherly Care Love and Unity in the aforesaid Subjects And all Jealousies and Heart-burnings one against another and fear one of another as to be hurt in Person or Estate or destroyed one of another to be as clearly removed out of all minds as if such things had never been all being contented with the things and places that they have and no man seek another's Goods or House or House or Land or Place or Worldly Honour from him nor any strive to be greater than another therein but if any strive then so to strive as to excel in Virtue and in his service of love to his Brethren and People of his Nation until Love Unity and lasting Peace and Concord spread over all and all the contrary removed which would be much for the Honour of the KING not onely all the dayes of his Life but would reach unto the Ages to come II. Concerning the King's Honour by his Subjects submission actively or passivly unto all his Laws VVEre the King's Subjects or the major part thereof brought to be as ready to observe and keep all his Laws Edicts and Commands which are according unto and grounded upon good Reason the holy Scriptures and according to Gods Witness in their Consciences as he is to require it and as freely willing to walk according to all such his good and wholsom Laws Statutes and Ordinances as he is to impose such upon them And moreover that they could not be constrained to break them by any Forreign Prince or Evil Member at home but at all times and in all cases standing so faithful that the King be never dishonoured by their transgression of his just and righteous Laws and that for Conscience sake out of love and not for fear And moreover did the King make such Laws and Orders or suffer such to remain in force which his Subjects aforesaid did certainly know were contrary to good Reason and not according to the Scriptures or Law of God but quite contrary also to Gods Witness in their own Consciences and that such Laws also were well known to them to be destructive to the King's Subjects and much hurtful to their Estates and danger of ruinating their Families or if it should reach to Death or Banishment yet they not to rebel against the King nor raise Arms to defend themselves though they are truly satisfied that such Laws are unreasonable yet for Conscience sake not to oppose but submit unto every Ordinance of Man whether unto the King or such as are set in Authority under him And so though they cannot actively obey those Laws which are contrary to Gods Righteous Law written in their Hearts yet passively to fulfill those Laws also by a passive suffering the Penalties which those Laws require of such as actively keep them not And so therein again are those Laws fulfilled also by them that so it might be said of him That his Subjects are alwayes ready to fulfill or submit unto all his Laws and Orders either by active or passive obedience whether they be reasonable or unreasonable And a People being brought thus to submit to the King in all things would be very much for his Honour in Truth and Righteousness III. Concerning the King's Honour by the Faithfulness of his Subjects unto him VVEre all the King's Subjects brought unto such Faithfulness unto him that he himself could with good Confidence trust them or himself with them and without any doubting believe and know that they would not harm him in the least nor in the least contrive the shortning of his dayes but all desiring his long life to govern in Righteousness And were they all of such a Principle and unalterable therein as not to destroy any man's Life though their Enemies much less a Friend a Neighbour or a Christian that the King might be well perswaded of them that they would never harm him nor plot nor conspire against him nor ever offer or intend Violence towards him though he had none to guard him so that if he please he might even with boldness and confidence at any time trust himself with them or amongst them without the least danger or fear in himself knowing all his Subjects to be as careful of his Life as his Life-Guard so that if he please he might