and his mouth must be stopt and he must make supplication to his Judge whom though I were righteous saith Job yet would I not answer but I would make supplication to my Judge Job 9. 15. And this becomes man and not to argue it with the Lord and to wrangle with him as if God were unrighteous as if his Ways were not equal Who measures the Lord by his shallow understanding who cannot be searched out O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and the Knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgements and his Wayes past finding out for who hath known the mind of the Lord Or who hath been his Counsellor Or who hath first given unto him and it shall be given unto him again For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be Glory for ever Amen Rom. 9. 33 34 35. 36. So every man's mouth here must be stopt and before his Judge he must be silent as I have said and not lay unrighteousness on God or charge him that his Wayes are not equal For man himself shall conclude it otherwise in the day wherein the Lord will render unto him according to his deeds and therefore it is in vain to stand it out with the Lord. It is but the artifice of the Enemy that works this in you he knows you will otherwise say when it is too late therefore be not deceived by him least when 't is too late you blame your folly Moved of the Lord I am to write this to you in bowels of love that you may see your state and how this matter stands and that ye may be delivered And if ye yet say The Children being not yet born neither having yet done any good or evil that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated I answer as I did before this is spoken of the two Seeds the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent of which these two were Figures in which as the Knowledge of the Lord foresaw they would be so he loved so he hated For he loveth and hateth no man but as they are in these and it was after the fall that this was spoken both the promise that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents head and the Elder shall serve the Younger Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated For before there is nothing spoken of this for all stood well and as the same in the first Adam whilst he stood and there was no need of the Promise nor was there two as to man the one whereof was the Object of Love and the other of Hatred the Elder serving the Younger but man was one spirit from the Root Eternal and in the Root Eternal which God hath blessed And the two or that which made two the seed of the Serpent which entered into man came out afterwards For man receiving the Serpent and obeying his voice after he was made against the Command of God there came to be two things in man two Roots two which strugled the Seed of the Woman the seed of Promise and the seed of the Serpent the seed of the Curse as the Promise came to take place and that seed came to move in man to bring him back to God which the Lord hath promised as the Children strove in Rebecca's womb when she came to be delivered so do these as the time cometh wherein as I have said the promise of God cometh to be fulfilled The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one unto the other So that ye cannot do the things that ye would As the Apostle speaks Gal. 5. 17. And which the Apostle found in himself when the Promise came to be fulfilled in him I see saith he another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into Captivity â—o the law of sin which is in my members And he cries out there as Rebecca did concerning the Children If it be so why am I thus And she went to enquire of the Lord Gen. 25. 22. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this Death Rom. 7. 23 24. So the Children strugled in the Womb of Rebecca which was the Figure Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be separated from thy bowels and theone people shall be stronger then the other people and the Elder shall serve the Younger said the Lord unto her of whom she went to enquire when it was so with her as aforesaid And when her dayes to be delivered were to be fulfilled behold there were Twins in her womb and the first came out Red all over like an hary Garment and they called his Name Esau and after that came his brother out and his hand took hold on Esau's heel and his Name was called Jacob â— 24 25 26. So the Law of the Spirit of Life which was in Christ Jesus strugled with the law of Sin and of Death In Paul which though the law of sin and of death the law in his members strugled with and came out first When I would do good the law of his mind evil is present with me the law in his members the good that I would I do not the evil which I would not that do I Yet it took hold of its heel and supplanted it as the Name of Jacob the true Seed siignifies Is he not said Esau rightly named Jacob For he hath supplanted me these two times he took away my birth-right and behold now he hath taken away my blessing and Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his Father blessed him And Esau said in his heart the days of mourn-for my Father are at hand then will I slay my brother Jacob Gen. 27. 36 37. 41. It came after and supplanted overthrew the other I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death For what the Law could not do for that it is weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace vers 21. chap. 8. 2 3 4 5 6. So there is the first and the second the first man Adam and the second the Law of Sin and Death and the Law of the Spirit of Life the Law of the
Mind and the Law in the Members the Flesh and the Spirit the Son of God in the likeness of sinful flesh condemning sin in the flesh and the body of sin and death Two Nations two manner of People the one stronger then the other the strong man armed the stronger then he The Elder as to man in the state of the fall that came out first the Younger which was before the Elder though it came out in the World after This is he said John of whom I said after me cometh a Man which is preferred before me for he was before me John 1. 30. The Younger who comes after the fall the seed of the Woman to redeem out of the fall to bruise the Serpents head which the Elder must serve which taketh hold of the heel of the Elder and supplants it and makes it to serve the Elder shall serve the Younger And so the Apostle speaketh They are not all Israel who are of Israel Neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all Children but in Isaac shall thy seed be called That is they that are the children of the flesh these are not the children of God but the children of the Promise are counted for the seed For this is the word of Promise at this time will I come and Sara shall have a son And not only this but when Rebecca also had conceived by one even by our Father Isaac for the children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated as aforesaid Rom. 9. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. And here is the whole matter as it lies together and as the Scriptures testifie and are the Explanation of one another in the Spirit of the Lord from whom I have written and who hath shewn me these things that I might write them unto you that your understandings might be opened and that ye might come to see the Truth as it is in Jesus and be brought to the Knowledge of the Truth And so I have finished this particular The Lord God Eternal open your eyes that in this your day you may know the things that belong unto your Peace And so I shall proceed As the Lord made not man to destroy him and as he hath not concluded any man from all Eternity to destruction So neither hath he so made man as that it is impossible for him to fall from the state in the which he was made or to miscarry so as to fall from life for ever and ever That were to put man in another state then that in the which he was made who was made in a Dependance on God for his being and Subsistance in the state in the which he was made and to render him as God knowing both good and evil that is to set him as do he good or do he evil he shall never be finally removed from the state in the which he was made that is from Life but shall remain as God The Judgement of the Ranters whom the Serpent hath taken with that which was his first bait with which he took Eve at first and with which they are taken at this day who hold That do they what they will they shall never be finally â—emoved from the state in the which they were made that is from Life Ye shall not surely die for God knoweth that in the day that ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil Gen. 3. 4 5. This the Serpent laid before Evè viz. a state beyond that in the which she was made Ye shall not surely die a state at the pleasure of him that made you and at his Commandmen who gave you your being Yea hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree in the garden v. 1. hath he put you are ye under such a dependency on him and at his command Nay ye shall not surely die it is not so ye shall be as Gods a state beyond that in which ye were made ye shall not need to stand in such awe and dread Ye are not necessitated to such a dependency upon God as that doing contrary to his Command ye shall die your state shall be changed nay your state shall not be so changed but eating of the Tree doing of that which he hath said ye shall not doe which signifies a Subjection and Subordination a Creature state of Variation and Change at the Will of Him that made you Nay the doing of this will enter you into another state that 's more high more fixed more certain a state wherein God is who changeth not nor is moved nor doth alter or varie from that wherein he is and this God knoweth for God doth known this is the Reason that God hath set you under such a command in such dread in such awe as of death a loosing of the state in the which ye are and a coming into a quite contrary or another this he knows and therefore hath laid this Command upon ye to keep ye from this to prevent your attaining unto this to be as he is setled and unchangeable do ye what ye will ye shall not surely die Nay it shall enter you into that state wherein there is no such thing as death but only a death unto that in which ye are as you are passing to it as through death to life ye shall not need thus to be put to it ye shall be as Gods without change without alteration without fear or dread or a necessary dependance upon another to keep you in the state in the which ye are Ye shall not need thus to be put to it at every turn to be under this Rod under this reproof under this check under such a manifestation as this and who would be so when he may be otherwise This God knoweth therefore hath he laid this Bar upon you this Precept this Bond to keep ye under that in the day that ye eat thereof ye do otherwise then he hath ordained you and so put your selves out of a state of dependance upon him or of being Creatures so to be disposed of and ordered by him so taking your selves into your own Power your own disposal as he doth himself and you whilst it is thus with you that you dare do nothing but what he requires you and that ye dare not do that which he forbids you which is a Creature state of alteration and change of Subjection and Subordination you will be as he is you will be as Gods unalterable unchangeable insubjectible insubordinate and this God knoweth that in the day that ye eat thereof that ye so put your selves that ye so take your selves into your own order and not stand under his Order and Rule who hath so
said unto you Yea hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree in the Garden Yea is it so We may eat of the Fruit of the Trees of the Garden said the Woman who was first in the Transgression Adam was not deceived the first man Adam was made a living Soul 1 Cor. 15. 45. that was not deceived which was made a living Soul after the Image of God being the Image of God or the Image of God in man Christ Jesus the Son of God the new man And have put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of him that created him where there is neither Greek nor Jew circumcision nor uncircumcision Barbarian Scythiâ—n bond nor free but Christ is all and in all Col. 3. 10 11. Who is the Image of the Invisible God the first born of every Creature Col. 1. 15. Who being the brightness of his Glory and the express Image of his Person and upholding all things by the Word of his Power in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God All things were made by him without him was not any thing made that was made 1 Joh. 1. 1. 3. Heb. 1. 3. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head forasmuch as he is the Image and Glory of God but the woman is the glory of the man For the man iâ— not of the woman but the woman of the man Neither was the man created for the woman but the woman for the man he that reads let him understand for this cause ought the woman to have Power over her head because of the Angels Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman neither the woman without the man in the Lord for as the woman is of the man even so is the man also by the woman but all things of God 1 Cor. 11. 7. to the 13. And as we have borne the Image of the Earthly we shall also bear the Image of the Heavenly 1 Cor. 15. 49. and this is Christ but the woman being deceived was in the transgression the woman that man waâ— not Created for but the woman for the man the woman by whom also the man is as the woman is of the man the woman without whom neither is the man neither the man without the woman in the Lord being deceived was in the Transgression the Creature that was made not the Soul of the Creature the living Soul that of God the Image of God in which the Creature was made God breathed into man the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul the first man Adam was made a living Soul I say the Creature that was made in the Image of God the living Soul that man became after God had breathed into man the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul the first man Adam the Creature that was so made the woman not Adam the living Soul which by this came into death and death came over it and there he remains till the second Adam the quickening Spirit the Lord from Heaven raise it up and deâ—iver it being deceived mistaking the thing was in the Transgression went from the Commandement in the which Adam was not deceived for that testified in the woman that which was taken out of man which proceeded from man for which the man was not Created but that for man without which the man is not nor that without the man in the Lord We may eat of the Trees of the Garden said the woman to the Serpent whilst she stood in the man the Image of God the living Soul the first man Adam into whom God breathed the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul this said she but of the Fruit of the Tree which is in the midst of the Garden the Eternal state of which the Creature is and by which it is preserved from a dependency on which the Creature cannot be that is to say to be as it is without dependancie change or alteration which the Lord alone onely is and the Creature can be never viz. in a state of Independency on God on another nor shall be ever no eating no touching of this fruit of this Tree that groweth in the midst of the Garden no coming to this state by man for ever no coming at it though the Serpent climbing up to it mist and so keeping not his first state drew man thither to fall also God hath said ye shall not eat of it neither shall ye touch it least ye die v. 2 3. Thus said the woman whilst she stood in the man in that in which she was made out of which she was took from which she proceeded thus she answered the living Soul that was not yet under that death was not yet over for she had not yet let it in the first man Adam into whom God breathed the Breath of Life and man became a living Soul the Image of God Righteousness and true holiness the new man which is renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that Created him as aforesaid Christ Jesus the Lord from Heaven the quickening Spirit who quickeneth the dead and calleth those things which be not as if they were the amen the true faithful Witnesse the beginning of the Creation of God that was dead and is alive and behold I am a live for ever more Amen And have the Keys of Hell he that is Holy he that is true he that hath the Key of David he that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth the first and the last the beginning and the ending saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Behold he cometh in Clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which piereed him and all Kindreds of the Earth shall wail because of him even so Amen Rom. 4. 17. Rev. 1. 7 8 18. Rev. 2. 14. Rev. 3. 7. He was not yet slain the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13. 8. So she was not yet deceived He yet spake in her as aforesaid Adam who was not deceived who was not in the Transgression but shewed the Transgression who said in her God hath said and she spake after him God hath said said she c. Now she spake right now she was not deceived whilst she spake after him in her who witnessed who was the Son of Adam who was the Son of God Luke 3. 38. The Seed of the Woman which God said should bruise the Serpents head Gen. 3. 15. who lives for Ever the Root and Off-spring of David whilst she heard him speaking in her and kept there she said God hath said Ye shall not eat thereof neither shall ye touch it least ye die Yea said the Serpent hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree in the Garden Ther 's somewhat in the matter I 'le tell you a secret tush there 's a state beyond that in the which you
not alwayes strive with you nor will he alwayes have mercy for if he still call and you refuse and the day of your visitation pass over you will also be concluded with the God whom you serve Then shall I be a good savour unto the Lord and my reward shall be with him when he shall render unto you according to your deeds And so I shall proceed to what I have further to say in this weighty matter as I am moved of the Lord. I say as before God made not man to destroy him neither hath he concluded any man from all eternity to destruction neither hath he so made man as that it is impossible for him to fall from the state in the which he was made neither hath he so chosen man since the fall as that he can never be removed from the state unto which he was chosen Neither doth he so will the Salvation of all as that all are saved neither hath he redeemed all since the fall neither is it so in the will of man that if he will he shall be saved and if he will he shall be damned that were to do as hath been said and proved at large as to the Particular of each in their Place and Order but this the Lord hath done He made man upright as hath been said after the Image of God made he man in Righteousness and true Holiness but man hath found out many Inventions and hath let in the enemy and is wrought into his Image who hath sought to destroy him and is gone astray from him who made him who made him not to destroy him as hath been again and again said and hath not been guided by his Counsel and would have none of his reproof who found him out after he had sinned and shewed him what he had done neither would he turn and live but turned to his own way and followed the direction of his own Path's and his way turned unto Hell and his Path's unto destruction so that there is none in this state that doth good no not one They all are gone aside they are altogether become filthy their foolish heart was darkned destruction and misery is in their wayes and the Way of Peace they have not known and according to the Prince of this world have they walked after the course of this World according to the power of the Prince of the Air the Spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedince which is the Spirit of Reprobation which hath no sence or feeling of God which God hath shut out or Reprobated from his Presence to all eternity which hath neither seen him nor known him nor shall ever come to feel his Life nor shall any that are joyned to him whilst they are in that state and witness not Redemption from the Lord. For whilst men are upon this Root which God hath cursed and are found in him whom he hath reprobated who is without any true sence of God or his life those who are so found and do so stand are as he is and as it is said of the other Seed the Seed of God they that are in it and are born of it viz. As he is so are we in this world that is in the true Sence of God and his life as the Seed is which God hath blessed so is it with them and so may it be said of them that are found on this Root which God hath cursed As he is so are they in this world that is to say without any true sence of God whilst they grow on that Root or of his life And therefore is it said That at that time ye speaking to the Saints who once were in but were then delivered from that state and this was the state which at that time of which he speaketh they were in out of which they then were delivered viz. the state of Reprobation at that time saith the Apostle ye were without Christ being Aliens from the Common Wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of Promise having no hope and without God in the World without the true sence and feeling of God which quickens and refreshes them that feel him and are in him and he in them and are made partakers of his life which quickens and refreshes and makes alive to God and delivers from trespâ—sses and sins where is death and the alienation and the estrangement and the being without God in the World without the sence and quickening presence God for he otheâ—â—ise 〈◊〉 all things Whether shall I go from thy Presence c. and so may be said to be in them He that descended is the same also that ascâ—nded up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things Ephes 4. 10. And hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the Head over all things to the Church which is his body the fulness of him that filleth all in all far above all Principallities Powers and Might and Dominion and every name that is named not only in this world but in that which is to come Ephes 1. 21 22 23. And saith the same Apostle of them whose day is over and who are found in this state of Reprobation in that day Who shall be punished saith he with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his Power when he shall be glorified in his Saints and admired in them that believe 2 Thes 1. 9 10. And Reprobate silver saith the Prophet silver that is without a true touch the vertue is gone shall men call them because the Lord hath rejected them Jer. 6. 30. And to every good work Reprobate Tit. 1. 16. And Reprobate concerning the Faith 2 Tim. 3. 8. And even as they liked not to retain God in their knowledge God gave them over to a Reprobate mind Rom. 1. 28. A mind without a proof as the Latine word Reprobate compounded of re and probo is to prove backwards or to be without a proof without a sence a feeling of God of that which witnesses which gives the feeling of God signifies And saith the Apostle Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith this he spake to the Corinthians the Church that was in God which were washed which were sanctified which were justified in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God Who had a Proof a Sence a Feeling of him in them Examine your selves saith he to them whether ye be in the Faith prove your own selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates 2 Cor. 13. 5. But I trust saith he in the next vers that we are not Reprobates And saith he further Now I pray to God that ye do no evil not that we should appear approved but that ye should do that which is honest though we be as Reprobates vers 7. And he that believeth on the Son on him who witnesses the faithful and true
to ly We might have strong Consolation who have fled for refuge to the hope set before us which hope we have as an Anchor of the soul both sure and stedfast and which entereth into that within the Vail Whither the forerunner is for us entered even Jesus made an high Priest for ever after the Order of Melchesidec Heb. 6. 16 17 18 19 20. Now he hath sworn that he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live as hath been said and he having sworn it Impossible it is for him to lie it is Immutable but possible it is for him to lie and he must be Mutable and Vary With whom there is no Variableness nor shaddow of turning Jam. 1. 17. For I am the Lord I change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed Mal. 3. 6. If he hath concluded man to destruction from all Eternity and then saith unto them turn and live If he hath determined some to Reprobation and yet swears he hath no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live Turn ye turn ye from your evil wayes for why will ye die O house of Israel and O Israel thy destruction is of thy self but thy help is in me with whom is no Variableness nor Shaddow of turning For I am the Lord I change not therefore ye Sons of Jaeob are not consumed as aforesaid So Friends all you who are here take heed how ye impose upon the Lord in things of this Nature Or take upon ye to meddle with his Decrees who understand not the Lord nor the Counsel of his Decree whose way is in the Deep and his Foot-steps in the Mighty waters least he dash you to pieces For who are you that you should place such a thing upon the Lord which among men is the most horrid and Abominable much more as to the Lord if one can say more who is far above man as the Heavens are above the Earth whom man cannot reach He hath given something of himself to you and placed it within you by which you may know him and understand his counsel to you-wards and his thoughts of old even from the beginning which have been good to you which is that which Invites you that which draws you that which inclines you to God which shews you evil and is with you to resist it which watches evil and shews you the very approach of it and the appearance of evil and is near to deliver you which judges evil and reproves it in you and you for evil when you have joyned to it This testifies for the Lord that he hath no pleasure in your death This is a living witness that he hath not concluded you to destruction from all Eternity but that he seeks you that he desires your welfare that he would not have you die but live and is a living testimony even in you against this Opinion which you hold and such your conclusion as aforesaid who know not the Lord nor the way of his working who impose upon him and place that on the Lord which never was in his heart and this of him in you as I have said that seeks to gather you that makes your heart tender to God and to fear before him is in and to you and all men a living witness Therefore lay down such your Opinions and come to that of himself in you and believe in that which shews you which makes manifest which reproves that you may find his counsels of good to you that have been of old even from the beginning which seeks to gather you And if you say He hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth Rom. 9. 18. And who hath resisted his Will v. 19. And so Why doth he yet find fault And even for this same purpose have I raised thee up speaking of Pharaoh that I might shew my Power in thee and that my Name might be declared throughout all the Earth and so he sheweth mercy on whom he will shew mercy and whom he will he hardneth And Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated and the children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth It was said unto her unto Rebecca the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated v. 11 12. 13 17 18. And so it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy v. 16. and so I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion As he said to Moses v. 15. and as the Scripture saith unto Pharaoh Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up that I might shew my Power in thee c. as aforesaid I answer The Lord hath shut up no man in Vnbelief that he might have mercy on no man but he hath concluded all in Vnbelief that he might have mercy on all as the Apostle speaketh Rom. 11. 32. that is to say he hath concluded no man to Damnation that he should be Damned irreversible but he finding all men in the fall in the state of Vnbelief in the state of Damnation in the state of Reprobation he concluded all men in Vnbelief in that state What that he might Damn them that they might be Reprobated for ever that they might be destroyed that they might be damned No but that he might have mercy on all that is to say that they might come to life whom death was over How is that you may say Why thus the state of all men in the fall is the state of Reprobation in this state there is no being no believing in God the state is concluded in Vnbelief and all that are in it their eyes are darkned that they cannot see their ears are stopt that they cannot hear God hath given them the Spirit of slumber Eyes that they should not see Ears that they should not hear unto this day saith the Apostle of Israel that abided not in the Election Israel saith he hath not obtained that which he seeketh for but the Election hath obtained it and the rest were blinded according saith he as it is written God hath given them the Spirit of slumber Eyes that they should not see and Ears that they should not hear unto this day and David saith Let their Table be made a snare and a trap and a stumbling-block and a recompence unto them Let their eyes be darkned that they may not see and bow down their back always Rom. 11. 7 8 9 10. So then the state of Reprobation being a state of Vnbelief and the state of Vnbelief being a state of Reprobation the Lord hath concluded all in the state of Vnbelief in the state of Reprobation that he might
the Younger that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth So then of him that calleth it is where the purpose of God as to Election stands of him that witnesses that moves to God-ward in man not of that which goeth another way not of that which worketh All the endeavours of man from that or that is not of that which calleth in man the Election will not avail the purpose of God is not there Esau the Hunter hath not the blessing the first state Prospers not it cannot inherit it must serve the younger to whom the blessing is Pharaoh the hard-hearted which will not let Israel go when God calleth him the Election is hated of God is for Destruction and all that are in it the purpose of God is as to the Other the Election the Power of God is shewn here and it is raised up for that purpose even that his Name may be declared throughout the earth Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction all that are in it all in whom it is whom he hath endured with much long-suffering What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction v. 22. So man hath a day and God calleth upon man to turn and live and man heareth not so as to turn and live and the Lord endures with much long suffering whilst he calls whilst he speaks And man's day is over and long suffering is at an end and God calls no more and waites no longer and the Election is withdrawn Christ the Seed of the Promise that which calls that which seeks that which waites that which bears that which endures with much long suffering Those whom wrath fills whom the first Exercises the State in the Fall in the Transgression the state of Vnbelief the state of Reprobation the Lord makes known his Power God shews his wrath after long-suffering hath an end On the Vessels of wrath fitted to destruction Those in whom destruction hath had its course and will now end Even for this cause have I raised thee up that I might shew my Power in thee and that my Name might be declared in all the Earth So God is not unrighteous What shall we say then is there unrighteousness with God God forbid For he saith to Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion as the Apostle saith in the same case Rom. 9. 15. He found all men in the fall He found all men in the state of wrath in the state of Reprobation in the state of Vnbelief He concluded all in Vnbelief that he might have mercy upon all and herein is his mercy manifest in that he calleth man in this state who seeks not after God in that he waites on Man in that he seeks him who is lost In that there is something of himself in man that stands at the Corners of the Streets in the chief place of Concourse in the openings of the Gate and calleth upon him â—o Return the Voice of Wisdom Now if man will not come hither if he will not be drawn here if he will not return but go on in his own way and follow after the counsel of his own heart and not the Lords his destruction is of himself the Lord is clear if he give over calling after him If he let him alone If he seek after him no more and shut up his day upon him The day of his Visitation the Lord is clear and that which called upon man in man which man would not hear that of him in man which sought man and man would not return would not be gathered will witness for God in the day that he will render unto every man according to his deeds So Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated the Elder shall serve the Younger the Children being not yet born neither having done any good nor evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth for this purpose have I raised thee up that I may shew my power in thee and that my Name may be declared throughout all the Earth The Vessels of Wrath fitted for destruction the Vessels of Mercy afore prepared unto Glory of which the Apostle speaks Rom. 9. 22 23. Are the two Seeds the two States and those that stand in them according as they stand in them according as they are found in them are they determined to Life or Death to Salvation or Destruction to the one that the purpose of God according to Election might stand to the other that he might shew his power in them and that his Name may be declared throughout all the Earth even for this same purpose have I raised thee up Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth Whom he will he inclines the Ear to hear that which calleth and they are gathered into it the Election that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth Whom he wills their day is shut up and he calleth no more who hath been long rejected and these are hardned as was Pharaohs who refused to let Israel go and the more the wonders of the Lord were shewn and he called upon by Moses to let the people go the more he hardned his heart till he bad Moses see his face no more for in the day that he did it he should surely die look to this all ye who resist the Motions of the Spirit the movings of the good Spirit of the Lord in you that which calleth on you in you to return and live And do not against it but be led by it least you come to hate it and though Wonders have been shewn to the Dead that which is in the state of Death in you and lies in the Grave by reason of Transgression be reached and it hear the Voice of the Son of God that which calleth in you and you know it You come yet to rebel against the Lord and that which calleth on you be an abomination unto you Wilt thou shew Wonders to the Dead shall the dead arise and praise thee Shall thy loving kindness be declared in the Grave and thy Faithfulness in destruction Shall thy Wonders be known in the dark And thy Righteousness in the Land of Forgetfulness but unto thee have I cryed O Lord Psal 88. 10 11 12 13. Then is your day like to be at an end and your evening is at hand when you come to hate him that reproves in the Gate and that which calls on you must no more come neer you least it die Moses that which works the Wonders which shews them to the Dead which calls upon you and you hear its Voice For then your first born is like to be slain and Israel shall come out of
man to God from man to withdraw that which sought to gather him to remove that which was near to him which strove with him to bring him back again to God and so to let him erre from his wayes and to hearden his heart from his fear Which in a sence may be called a making man err from his wayes and a hardning of his heart from his fear because that 's withdrawn from man that 's removed that led man in his wayes and caused man to fear before him Man still turning from that which would have turned him to God and withdrawing from that which would have made his heart tender to him And so I have done with this Particular Lastly And to that why doth he yet find fault For who hath resisted his will I answer That is spoken as to the Omnipotent Power of God by which he is able to subdue all things unto himself which makes the Devils tremble though they love him not and to obey him though they fear not before him But there is a difference between the consideration of this Omnipotent Power of God which can make every thing bow as he pleases and that Power which he hath placed in man which yet is Omnipotent too to bring him to God For in the One the Lord deals as a Dread Soveraign who at his beck lays all things at his see In the Other as a Father as a Redeemer as a Woer as an Intreater as a Beseecher for man to be reconciled to God Now as to this Latter it is the Gospel of Reconciliation the Ministry of Reconciliation is that which he sends forth to turn man unto God God was in Christ reconciling the World unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them and hath committed unto us the Ministry of Reconciliation And all things are of God who hath reconciled us unto himself by Jesus Christ and hath given unto us the Ministry of Reconciliation And now then we are Ambassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you by us We pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 18 19 20 21. As to the other it is the Ministry of Wrath or of Condemnation The Savour of Death unto Death and of Life unto Life For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and to them that perish To the one we are the savour of death unto death and to the other the savour of life unto life 2 Cor. 2. 15. 16. And To YOV that are troubled rest with Vs when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking Vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting Destruction From the presence of the Lord and the Glory of his Power when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe because our Testymony among you was believed in that day 2 Thes 1. 7 8 9 10. So here 's the difference The Ministry of Reconciliation is the Power of God Christ Jesus the Wisdom of God and the Power of God that beseeches that prays that that woes that intreats man to be reconciled to God who hath made him sin for us who knew no sin and so the burden of sin is upon him and the suffering who takes it on him and bears and suffers the just for the unjust that he might bring us all to God 1 Pet. 3. 18. that we might be made the Righteousness of God in him And this is Gentle it works with the understanding of man it opens the understanding of man the Eyes of his understanding The Eyes of your understanding being enlightned that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the Glory of his Inheritance in the Saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his Power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty Power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the Heavenly places far above all Principalities and Power and Might and Dominion and every Name that is named not only in this World but also in that which is to come and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his Body the fulness of him that filleth all in all Ephes 1. 18. to the end And this is that which waits on man to reconcile him to God and bears the sins So that those who receive him in whom God is reconciling the World unto himself he imputeth not their trespasses unto them so makes him sin who knew no sin He bears it he suffers it the just for the unjust that we might be made the righteousness of God in him that he might bring us all to God And this is his Will and this is resisted Ye have condemned and kiled the just and he doth not resist you Jam. 5. 6. this is gain sayed They perished in the gainsaying of Core Jud. 11. This is evil intreated and scoffed There shall come in the last day scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying where is the promise of his coming 2 Pet. 3. 4 5. And. the remnant took his servants and intreated them spitefully and slew them Those whom the King sent to invite to the Wedding Mat. 22. 6. This is mocked and spit upon struck and blindfolded crowned with Thornes and scourged this is put to death when it hath cried out My God my God why hast uhou forsaken me Mat. 27. 28 29 30 31. For the same that was done without to him in that day is done to the measure of him within in this who is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World Rev. 13. 8. Whose witnesses John saw should prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes cloathed in sack-cloath Rev. 11. 3. Against whom when they shall have finished their testimony John saw also that the beast that ascended out of the bottomless pit should make war against them and should overcome them and kill them and that their dead bodies should lie in the streets of the great City which spiritually is called Sodom where also our Lord was crucified and that they of the People and Kindreds and Tongues and Nations should see their dead bodies three dayes and a half and should not suffer their dead bodies to be put in Graves and that they that dwell on the Earth should rejoyce over them and should make merry and send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the Earth Rev. 11. 7 8 9 10. And as a Lamb to the slaughter and as a Sheep before her shearers is dumb so he was brought
with man in his long-suffering to man in his seeking man who is lost in his gathering man who is scatered he is far otherwise he woes intreats prayes beseeches as I have said he waits to be gracious The Gospel the Power of God Christ Jesus the Wisdom of God and the Power of God that seeketh man that calleth man is as I have said the Gospel of Reconciliation His Ministers are the Ministers of Reconciliation God was in Christ Reconciling the world unto himself not rending from himself and hath committed to us the Ministry of Reconciliation Now then we are Ambassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you We pray you in Christ stead be reconciled unto God as aforesaid And here 's the Will and here 's the Power and here 's that which can be resisted and this is that which man resisteth which waiteth upon man which seeketh man and here the Lord and his Will and his Power is to be understood and no otherwise So all are to be silent and every mouth is to be stop't before the Lord for who can complain of him who hath placed something of himself in man Christ Jesus the Wisdom of God and the Power of God a measure of him in every man to gather him to the Lord and to bring him again to him who is gone from him which is that which witnesses which shews which judges which reproves which makes manifest and this waits on man after that man hath turned from him the Seed of the woman which he promised man after he was fallen should bruise the Serpents Head which bruises the Serpents head in all who are gathered to it believe in it and are guided by it Now they who are gathered unto this receive mercy become vessels of Honour fit for the Masters use vessels of mercy afore prepared unto Glory from him who hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and compassion on whom he will have compassion as he said to Moses who hath concluded all in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all and holds forth this unto all and hath placed this in all For as in Adam all die so in Christ all are made alive the Plaister is as broad as the Sore the Medicine as comprehensive as the Disease Those who are not gathered to it reject the Counsel of God against themselves as it was said of the Pharisees and Lawyers who came not to the Baptism of John being not baptized of him Luk. 7 30. and so become vessels of dishonor vessels in whom there is no pleasure unfit for the Masters use by reason of sin and that which defiles which he can have no fellowship with nor can it come near him vessels of wrath fitted to destruction And so all men are left without excuse and will be found so in the day of the Lord wherein he will render unto every man according to his Deeds for this of him which he hath placed in every man which calls upon every man which seeks every man that in every man which witnesses doth it which reproves which judges which shews man what he should do which makes manifest will then witness for God in every man and how the Lord hath sought every man and waited for him and all its sufferings and being rejected and its sighings and oppressions and afflictions and heavy loadings and groanings whilst the long-suffering of God waited will it bring up fresh in man which shall judge man and leave him without excuse You will not be able then to battail it against the Lord your reasonings will be stopt your great Arguments will be at an end No trifling it then as now wherein man is bold by reason of the Instigation of the Devil and the Ignorance that is in him and reasons with the Lord as if he were stronger then the Lord as if the Lord needed man as if he alwayes would wait on man No no before your Judge you will be silent and you shall confess to the Lord that his judgement is just So Friends ye all who are here heed whilst ye have time take heed of pleading with your Maker and reasoning it out with him Hath not the Potter power over the Clay of the same lump to make one vessel to honour and another to dishonour and yet he made not you so nor no man so he made all Nations on the earth of one blood and appointed the bounds of their habitations if happily they might seek after God So he hath concluded no Nation under reprobation from all eternity He Created man after his own Image In the Image of God created he them Male and Female and so he made none to Dishonour none to Reprobation He might have made man otherwise and who could have said to him what dost thou for he hath Power as the Potter over the Clay and yet when he hath made no man so why doth man complain for who hath resisted his Will why doth he find fault It is sufficient and riches of mercy that he hath had compassion on man and visited him again with the day spring from on high who sat in darkness and in the Region of the shadow of death which is the light which shews him whatsoever he doth Is not this the Christ if Man will not be gathered to this if he will neglect so great Salvation if he will trifle out his precious time and do despight unto the Spirit of Truth and trample under foot the blood of the Everlasting Covenant and reject mercy and loving kindness and that which waits upon him and hath compassion on him and his day have an end and so he be hardned and that which called withdraws and that which strove ceases and so he errs from his wayes and his heart is hardned from his fear and the Lord shew his Power in him that which he refused and did reject which is the Power of God unto Salvation and declare his Name throughout all the earth in his destruction Man hath nothing then to reason with the Lord and all men will find it so it is the Word of the Lord. And whereas the Apostle saith What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his Power known endured with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath fitted to Destruction that he might make known the riches of his Glory on the Vessels of Mercy which he had afore prepared unto Glory He doth but put the Question If he were willing to do so and if he had done so what hath man to do to complain Nay but O man who art thou that repliest against God Shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it why hast thou made me thus If the matter were only there it stood well against man but the Lord hath done otherwise as I have shewed he made man otherwise and the Lord hath otherwise done by man since he marr'd himself as hath been declared so the Lord is true and every man here a liar Rom. 3. 4.
Fatherless and that turn aside the Stranger I was a Stranger and ye took me not in saith he that witnesseth the Faithful and True Witness who is come whose right it is to Rule who witnesseth to God who is turned aside from his right when he is not suffered to rule from his right And fear not me saith the Lord of Hosts for I am the Lord I change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed Mal. 3. 1. to the 7th For a man to say that he is chosen when he is not in holiness and that he is sanctified in Christ Jesus when he is unholy this is to overthrow the work of him who came to Redeem to Purifie to Cleanse man and so to bring him back again unto God And is the highest blasphemy that can be Imagined and the greatest deceit For it is to make God as such a one is and to render the blood of the Covenant by which those which are Sanctified are cleansed of none effect and where 's the effect if it purgeth not And where 's the purging where the sin remaines And doth it not remain where yet it is And is it not yet where it abides to death And are such redeemed Are such washed Are such sanctified Are such justified in the Name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God as were they of whom the Apostle speaks But such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified So washed sanctified being otherwise then they were when in sin and such were some of you but ye are washed in the Name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God There 's the matter And as an unholy thing For He that is joyned to an Harlot is one body for two saith he shall be one flesh but he that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit 1 Cor. 6. 15 16. So Friends all ye that are here take heed of being mistaken take heed of a mistaken state take heed of abiding in a state that is mistaken for this will not hold you will find it so in the end and I desire it may not be when it is too late so I am clear of you also for whose sake or the Seed's sake in you which is Immortal in the movings of the Lord I have written for the day is near wherein you will find this to be so It is the Word of the Lord and therefore hath he moved me to write that you may see it in time before it be too late before your day is over which is very short however ye may account it or value what I have said the thing is so and as I have said you will find it and then ye will remember that ye were told of it before that ye might not trust on a mistaken thing which will prove as a broaken Reed to you in the day of Tryal and the time of need for the Lord is drawing near to judgement and he will be a swift Witness as hath been said and then wo will be to all them in whom that which witnessed to life and was not heard will arise and witness to Eternal Condemnation and be a Worm that will never die and a Fire that shall never go out and this will be the state of all them that have not obeyed unto life that have not hearkened to nor believed that which witnessed in them against whom then it will witness a judgement that 's eternal for ever and ever For there 's no mocking in things of this nature no jesting no trifling To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the Provocation the day of temptation in the Wilderness Obey his witness believe in it heed it least time be no more and ye be concluded with the God whom ye serve For except ye believe that I am he said Christ to the Pharisees ye shall die in your sins and except ye believe that that which witnesseth for God in you which came from God which whatsoever it seeth the Father do it doth and speaketh what it heareth him say unto whom the Father beareth witness and of whom the Scriptures testifie John 5. 36 37 38 39. Christ the Light ye shall die in your sins It is the Word of the Lord I am the light of the world saith he he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of ltfe Joh. 8. 12. That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world that which reproves that which makes manifest that shineth in darkness though the darkness comprehendeth it not Thou art my Lamp O Lord thou wilt lighten my darkness Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my Path the Word which endures for ever For ever O Lord thy Word is settled in Heaven Thy faithfulness unto all Generations said David Psal 119. 89. to 10. 5. 2 Sam. 22. 29. John 1. 5. 9. So Friends all that are here take heed hereunto least the day be cloased into night and ere ye be aware the shadow of death close up the hour of your Visitation and it be too late for to you hath the Lord often spoken as I have said and do now say it again in and by the same Spirit of the Lord and he hath often sought you and that by me I am Witness for the Lord for ever how his Bowels have yearned towards you and how he would have gathered you as a Hen doth her Chicken under her Wings and he indeed yet seeks you hearken to his Voice withstand not him that calleth in you that calleth to you that seeks to gather you least your day have an end and there be no more You will remember me in that day but I would you did it sooner before it be too late The bowels of the Lord move in me to you he would not have you perish he would have you hear that your souls may live he would have ye convinced and turned to the truth he would have you in the truth that the truth may make you free I am the Way the Truth and the Life said Christ the Son he that witnesseth If the Son make ye free saith he again then are you free indeed John 8. 36. 14. 6. And so farewell I have finished what I have to say to you from the Lord. Look ye to it I am clear Give glory to the Lord your God before he cause darkness and before your feet stumble on the dark Mountaines and and while ye look for light he turn into the shaddow of death and make it gross darkness Jer. 13. 16. And this hour is neer The Lord God Eternal open your eyes that in this your day which is now neer to an end you may know the things that belong to your Peace least they be hid from your eyes The Lord will not alwayes wait on you his Spirit will not alwayes strive with you It hath
Apostle as aforesaid and were it not that the Lord first touched man that of him in him which lies in death and by reason of the fall is buried in the Grave so that it cannot move to God man never would look after God nor know the state in the which he is for the enemy having him and holding him and compassing him about would never suffer him so to see nor so to understand Now herein is the love of God manifest and his great loving kindness that when man whom he made upright and in his Image and breathed into him the Breath of Life and he became a living Soul turned away from the Lord and from that in which he was made which kept and would have preserved him had he kept to it and let in the enemy and so death came over him in the Transgression over that in which he was made that it moved not but lay as dead Free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave whom thou remembrest no more and they are cut off from thy hand Psal 88. 6. I say that the Lord should then visit man and reach to that of himself in man which lay in the grave free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave and so give man to see the state in the which he is and his enemy and to cause a moving after God a Will to God this is the Lords great loving kindness and his free mercy and this the Apostle reckoned when he cast up the sum and minded the great love of God to man in this state In this saith he as hath been said was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him Herein is the love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins 1 John 4. 9 10. And when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly Rom. 5. 6. So then man cannot move to God unless God reach him that of him in him that lies in death by reason of Transgression and quicken him then it moves to God again not that we loved God see in what state the will of man is in the fall where all men are found when God comes to them when God visits them when he speaks to them when his voice reacheth them that shaketh the Wilderness when that moves in them which shews them sin and evil and judges it not that we loved God saith he before whilst we were in this state the state in the fall we loved not God before God reached to that of himself in us that lay in death Free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave whom thou remembrest no more saith he also as aforesaid but he loved us and sent his Son that of himself in us to be a propitiation an atonement for our sin and herein is love and in this was manifested the love of God towards us that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him We who were dead in trespasses and sins who were without sence or feeling of God over whom death was gotten who had no mind nor will to God nor moving to him who could never have moved to him nor minded nor willed him in the state in which we were in the fall in the Transgression when we were from that of him which gives the sence and feeling of him and willing to and moving after him because of death which was got between us and that of him in which we were made from which we fell which came under by reason of Death by reason of the fall and so were at that time without Christ Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel strangers from the covenants of Promise having no hope and without God in the World that we who were in this state might live through him through that which speaks in us which in us moves to God So that it is not in the will of man in the fall for so man as to this particular is to be considered for that which restores him brings him to God is another thing being brought to God is another state of which I speak not now but of the state in which man is before he is brought thither I say it is not in the Will of man considered in the fall to will to God or to move to him that which moves him to God and makes him will to God is another thing as I have shewed and there being no will in man as to God in this state wherein every man is found when God comes to him as hath been instanced where then is free will or the freedom of his will to God for where there is no such thing as a thing there cannot be said to be the freedom of such a thing because there is a non entity as I may so speak if so be it be proper so to speak and yet how shall I otherwise speak to give a demonstration of the thing of which I speak there is no such thing in being of which the freedom or the freedom of which is pretended there is no such thing in being therefore there cannot be said to be the freedom of such a thing For again of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures saith the Apostle Jam. 1. 18. Of his own will then it is not of man's will that man is begotten to God that he is delivered for two wills cannot consist in this Particular no more can it consist then two Fathers in the Generation of man or for a man to beget himself which is incongruous to Nature to say as it is to reason to think it and it being not of man's wil then man hath no freedom of will to be begotten to beget himself to God And this is manifest for it is by the Word or with the Word of Truth too that he is begotten to God So man hath nothing to do in the matter of his own will With the Word of Truth hath he begotten us the Word of Truth the Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart the Word of Faith which we preach said the Apostle The Word of the Lord which endures for ever and this is the Word which by the Gospel is Preached unto you saith Peter 1 Epist 1. 25. The Word which is quick and powerful and sharper then any two edged Sword piercing even to the dividing assunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a discerner of the Thoughts and intents of the heart neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 12 13. So it is by this Word the Word of Truth the
Word of God the Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart that calls upon man that speaks to man to turn unto the Lord that we are begotten of his own will and with the Word of Truth this is first that which calls on man to turn unto the Lord is that which begets and that which begets you know is first and if it begets you know in Nature it is another thing a seed of its own each Body it s own Seed the Seed of God that 's his Seed that 's of him which begets his own will something of himself with the Word of Truth that which calls on man which is not man nor of the will of man but of God which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the Will of man but of God John 1. 13. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth v. 14. And so man hath nothing to do in this thing the first moving and rise and step to this thing is the Will of God with the Word of Truth that which witnesseth something that is not of man nor the will of man nor of the flesh though it be in man that begets to God This reacheth to it 's own that lies in death by reason of Transgression that 's got between and quickens it to God then that moving in man turns him to God So the first and the last the beginning and the ending the whole of the work of Regeneration of begetting man to God is the Lord his Will his Word of Truth his Power his Arm that of him in man being reached by his Omnipotent Power which lies in death by reason of the fall that in which man was made being reached again thorough death moves to God and as this is abided in and kept to it works out the old man the old nature and brings forth the Image of God in man again that which man was made in at first and causeth it to reign over all for ever And here 's the Redemption and here 's the Restauration the bringing man back again to God from whence he is gone the beginning and the finishing Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1. 6. He that begins he performs it Here'â— no second here 's not another here 's not man in the beginning and God in the end man willing and then God working but God working both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith Heb. 12. 2. Looking to Jesus Jesus the Author Jesus the Finisher looking to him who is the Author who is the Finisher wher 's room then for the will of man Jesus begins the Word of Truth that which speaks that which witnesses that which calls this begets the beginning the ending this as it is heeded and abided in finishes he that begins his own will with the Word of Truth performs forms through finishes The Alpha and Omega the beginning and ending I am saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Rev. 1. 8. The Alpha the Omega he that first made remakes he that made man in his Image renews man into his Image or renews his Image in man he from whom man is gone brings man to God again he that made him at first in his Image â—eaching to his Image that of him in man in which man was made from which man is fallen which witnesses to God raiseth it up and this begets man unto God or a will in man to turn unto the Lord or is the will or the mind that turns unto the Lord Of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth as aforesaid and this performs this finishes as it is abided in and no other So that were it not for his Seed for that in which man was made the Breath of Life which God breathed into man and man became a living Soul which suffers and lies under by reason of Transgression which is over man in the fall and hath the possession of him were it not that God visiteth or reacheth to this his Seed in man in which man was made which so lies under and suffers in man by reason of Transgression and so causeth it to spring through man again man would never think of God or move to him which Seed the Lord reaching and visiting in man with the day spring from on high shews man where he is and what hath him in possession and where he hath been and so begets it's own Mind and Will and Image in man and brings him to the Lord. Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted Isa 31. 6. and man heeding it is turned unto the Lord and abiding in it is preserved unto God Here 's the beginning and the ending and the whole sum of this matter and the ground of the mistake that is in men concerning it which I have opened for the satisfaction of the simple in the movings of the Lord because the time is nere wherein these things will be seen as they are when it will be too late and men will be concluded with the God whom they serve So the bowels of the Lord have moved in me to you wards that your eyes may be open and that you may see this great mystery which hath been hid from ages and generations but is now made manifest to his Saints which is Christ in you the Hope of glory and that you may not place the will of man to be it and so mistake in this thing of weight unto all eternity And so I am clear of you also in the sight of the Lord who hath moved me to write and which I have written in his Counsel and as I have received of him whose word it is and which shall be fulfilled and your eyes shall see it and in that day I shall be witnessed in you to whom this shall come by that which witnesses to God for ever and ever and your judgement will be just you that do not hear who will not obey who will not see who will not hear who stop your ears as the the deafe Adder refusing to hear the voice of the Charmer charm he never so wisely The day I say is near wherein these things you will see and witness wherein it will be too late Therefore you also Give glory to the Lord your God before he cause darkness and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains and while ye look for light he turn it into the shaddow of death and make it gross darkness Jer. 13. 16. My Bowels are turned within me for you that so you may not be mistaken and undone for ever For this know that the Lord's Spirit will
be saved it is the Word of the Lord. Now in the Son there is Life He hath life in himself and he quickeneth whom he will For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them even so the Son quickeneth whom he will The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to Life Verily verily I say unto you The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live for as the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself and hath given him authority to execute Judgement also because he is the Son of man John 5. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. And he is the wel-spring of Life Vnderstanding is a wel-spring of Life to him that hath it but the instruction of fools is folly saith the wise man Prov. 26. 22. And whence then cometh wisdom and where is the place of understanding seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living and kept from the fouls of the Air Behold the fear of the Lord that is wisdom and to depart from evil that is understanding Job 28. 20 21. And I wisdom dwell with prudence and find out knowledge of witty Inventions The fear of the Lord is to hate Evil Pride and Arrogancy and the evil way and the froward mouth do I hate Counsel is mine and sound wisdom I am understanding I have strength By me Kings reign and Princes decree justice Be me Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me Riches and Honour are with me yea dureable Riches and Righteousness My fruit is better then gold yea then fine gold and my revenue then choice silver I lead in the way of Righteousness in the midst of the Paths of Judgement that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance and I will fill their Treasures The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old I was set up from everlasting from the beginning ere ever the earth was when there was no depths I was brought forth when there was no fountain abounding with water before the Mountains were stetled before the Hills was I brought forth whils't as yet he had not made the Earth nor the Fields nor the highest part of the dust of the World when he prepared the Heavens I was there when he set a compass on the face of the depth when he established the Clouds above when he strengthened the Fountains of the deep when he gave to the Sea his degree that the Waters should not pass his commdements When he appointed the foundation of the earth then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing allwayes before him Rejoycing in the habitable part of his Earth and my delights were with the Sons of Men. Now therefore hearken unto me O ye Children for blessed are they that keep my wayes Hear inâ—truction and be wise and refuse it not Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my Gates waiting at the posts of my door For who so findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord but he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul all they that hate me love death Prov. 8. 13. to the end And the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his Commandements his praise endureth for ever Psal 111. 10. And the fear of the Lord is Wisdom and the Knowledge of the Holy is understanding Proverbs 9. 10. And this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People and they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least unto the greatest for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their Iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8 10 11 12. And this shall be the Covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Law in their Inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People and they shall teach no more every one his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their Iniquities and I will remember their sins no more Jer. 31. 33 34. And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them and I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me yea I will rejoyce over them to do them good and I will plant them in this Land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul Jer. 32. 40 41. And I saw another Angel flie in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the Earth and to every Nation and Kindred and Tongue and People crying with a loud voice Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgements is come and worship him that made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters Rev. 14. 6 7. And except the God of my Fathers the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaack had been with me thou hadst sent me away now empty God hath seen my affliction and the labour of my hand and rebuked thee yester-night Gen. 31. 42. And Laban said to Jacob behold this heap and behold this Pillar which I cast up between me and the this Heap and this Pillar be witnesse that I not pass over this Heap to thee and thou shalt not pass over this Heap and this Pillar unto me for harm the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor and their Father Judge between us and Jacob sware by the fear of his Father Isaack v. 51 52 53. Thus saith the Scripture and the Scripture cannot be broken John 10. 35. And in him was life and the life was the light of men that was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 3. 9. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the World and men loved darkness rather then light