the Messenger of Satan to buffet least he should be exalted above measure And whereas he said O wretehed Man that I am who shall deliver me from this Body of Sin and Death Rom. 7.24 All which doth not incinde him to be a Transgressor of Gods holy Law as every man that remains in sin is which cannot in truth and righteousness say as the holy Apostle did I thank God throvgh Jesus Christ our Lord so then with the Mind I my self serve the Law of God but with the Flesh the Law of sin vers 25. Now by the Law of Sin the ignorant do conclude the holy Apostle was not free from sin in this Life which he clears in Rom 8.1 2 3 4 5 6. There a therefore no Condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Lâ—â— of Sin and Death for what the Law could not do in that it was 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 Rightenâ—sness of the Law might be fullâ—illed in them who walk not after Flesh but after the Spirit For they that be after the Flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that be after the Spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is Life and Peace because the carnal mind is at Enmity against God for it is not subject to the Law of God neither indeed can it be so then they that are in the Flesh cannot please God Rom. 8.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. By which it is manifest that the holy Apostle did not all his days continue in a Body of sin but in his Warâ—are was pressing forward towards the Mark of the Calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3.14 forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before Phil. 3.13 That the Man of God might be perfect thorowly furnished unto all good Works 2 Tim. 4.17 in which state of pressing forward to Perfection Patience hath her perâ—ect work that they might be perâ—ect wanting nothing James 1 17. Which state the holy Scriptures bear Record Paul in the end of his Warfare did attain which is a state free from sin in this Life according as by the Spirit of God he himself testified That he had ought a good fight wherein he had finished his Course and â—ept the Faith or whom there was laid up a Crown of Righteousness which the Lord the righteous â—udge would give him at the last Day and not to him only but to all them that love his appearing 2 Tim. 4.7 8. And these things were done before his Departure from the Body as appears by his Epistle to Titus and to Philemon and also to the Hebrews so that the Lords People well know by the Spirit of God agreeing with the holy Scriptures as also by their daily progâ—ess in the Way of the Lord all agreeing with the gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit that by true Faith and Obedience thereunto they shall receive a daily supply of his Power which will give sufficient strength against the Devil and all his Temptations by which he that hath set his hand to the Plow and doth not look back shall come to witness a thorow cleansing from sin in this Life which they that witness not in this Life shall not witness a cleansing in the Kigndom of Heaven for no imperfect thing can enter the Kingdom of Heaven neither is there any Repenting in the Grave for as Death leaves so Judgment finds Concerning the true Worship of God in Spirit EVen at this day as in days past among the Peopâ—â— of the World there are many Wayes of Worship but with the People of the Lord his way of Worship is but one in which they worship God in the Spirit and in the Truth for God is a Spirit and they which are true Worshippers of him they worship in the Spirit and in the Truth Then how can any be true Worshippers of God which abide not in his Truth for Christ is the Way the Truth and the Life and they that are not in â—hrist are out of his Truth and so not in the true Worship of God so as they are not in Christ theâ— are not in the 〈◊〉 but out of that spiritual Life in which the true Worship of God remaineth Now this we know that all men are in the worship of some one thing or another all pretending that their Worship is the right and true way of Worship Then seeing that all are Worshippers How is the true Worshipper known from the false Even as the Tree is known by its Fruit so are Worshippers known one from the other for the good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit but the evil Tree bringeth forth corrupt Fruit for men do not expect to gather Grapes of Thornes nor Figs of Thistles neither can any man be a true Worshipper of God in Spirit that doth not bring forth Fruits of the Spirit which are Love Joy Peace Long-Suffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance against such there is no Law Gal. 5.22 23. for they live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit with Christ such are the true Worshippers of God in Spirit and Truth but such Worshippers that draw in sin as an Ox draweth in Water their best Performances in Worship are sin unto which the Lord hath no regard for we know that God heareth not sinners but if any man be a true Worshipper of God and he doth his will him he heareth John â— 31 Now to think that God will accept any mans Work wherein sin remaineth that man deceiveth himself for all Works wherein sin remaineth it is not of the Spirit of God but of the Devil for he is a sinner from the beginning and the Truth abideth not in him for in the time of the Law the Peoples Offerings before the â—ord were to be perfect without blemish Lev. 22.21 and their weight and measure were to be perfect before the God or their Salvation Deut. 25.15 Which did signifie spiritual Obedience to â—hrist the Lamb of God without blemish spot or wrinkle who requires in this Gospel Day under the Light of his â—ovenant of Grace Light and Life unto which not any thing of mans imperfect Gift and Offerings can find place to enter into Covenant with the Lord of Life for the Salvation of their immortal Souls for as God hath perfected his work of Grace in Jesus Christ for the Salvation of Peoples Souls so most their work be also perfect by the Power of God in and through Christ for the Salvation of them that are saved in and through him the Lord of Life of whose Spirit there is a gift given to the Sons and Daughters of men which is for
of Life seemeth to the Sons and Children of men to be pleasant fruit which indeed are but such as are Death it self for I do believe that no man can sufficiently express the general worshipping of Idols where withal the corners of the World and hearts of men are stuffed How common is it for men to worship Idols and what is an Idol but to worship the true God in a false way and who is it that saith not to his own reason knowledge honesty art and wisdom thou art my God They do not thus say with their Mouthes but their whole life and their idolatrizing Mind saith as much by their deeds for they continually sacrifice to their own Drag and here it is that mortal men deny God and testifie it by their works which are without faith being dead even as a body is without the spirit for if by true faith they were alive to God they would leave vengeance to him and not so much seek to revenge themselves which doth manifest they dare not trust God with their cause to avenge for them if otherwise why are they anctiously careful why do they so exercise mischief and fraud and so deceive one another why do they make war and strife right or wrong for mine and thine why do they so lye deceive and flatter one another why do they forget God and his saying making no account of his Commandments wherefore are they so covetously minded to labour night and day and to take every opportunity to improve every unrighteous advantage against their Neighbour to get and heap up the perishing things of this Worlds Riches truly all this is because they retain not God in their Thoughts to believe that he hath any care of them or that he can provide or will revenge for them therefore is it as their works do manifest for them to believe they must not be wanting in this and the other thing but that it is most necessary to help and revenge for themselves otherwise say they we might by our Enemies be all hilled or become Slaves and Bond-men and beg our Bread And thus it is with them who will not have ought to do with good and Truth in good earnest no they must not be wanting to themselves but make their own Markets by lying deceiving cozening usury and the like these things they think will enrich them good and thus by them are the Commandments of God and his Word slighted until with many they cause his Spirit to leave striving for they oppress the seed and crucifie the just Principle of God in themselves and account the Word of God an insufficient help in time of adversity therefore it well pleaseth them to adore themselves and to kiss their own Works and to sacrifice to their own Net to speak big words and to admire themselves for who else is our God saith the whole World by their works CHAP. IV. Concerning that great Idol of Mans Wisdom and Knowledge how men kiss their own hands and the whole World doth diligently worship only self and the Works of their own hands that is the Inventions Arts and Counsels of their own Reason and Wisdom WHAT other thing is it that is the Worship of Idols Superstution Witch caft evil Doctrine and the Ordinance of Men which is no other but the Wisdom Reason Inventions Crafts Actions Instincts and Prudence of men therefore the worshipping of Idols is but to fashion such or such a form like unto God but not according to his Word as he teacheth figureth and formeth himself in man but according to their own Opinion and Judgment of him Moreover what is sin any other then mans own Will Wisdom and Counsel sown in the mind of Adam and in his Posterity by the serpent Then consider the purpose cause and life of Man where and how thou wilt and it is nothing but humane Wisdom here will man be his own God to lead teach govern revenge defend excuse enrich him self and the like and so mans own Head Will and Reason is instead of God to him though the sin and fall of Adam be nothing but the cunning Reason and Wisdom of the flesh which in Scripture is called Foâ—y and Devilish Wisdom yet how do men generally prize and magnifie it as if they were endowed from above all men therefore ought with Christ to bring man to nothing and that by daily lessening and depressing him to make him become as a Child and a Fool but instead of performing what God hath commanded it is with man clear contrary thereunto for men build up the man that so he may come to prove wise glorious and famous and for that end they have many Arts that wreched and unprofitable man may become great eminent praised and excellent and may obtain Places Titles and Names so that thereby young men are purposely inflamed with a desire of Glory for which cause many are they that are not content to abide with the teachings of Gods gift of divine Light by the Word of his Spirit but by their humane Wisdom and cunning reason of the flesh they come to domineer in Pulpits and teaching places where they are upheld to lord it over Gods Heritage and to this very end there are artificers imployed to make their Schollars accute witty and knowing in all kinds of Crafts and in all exercises arts and litteral deceits whereby it appeareth more clearer then the light that the World is contrary and an enemy to God Now here the wise and prudent of this World perish in their own way because they live without the true knowledge of God and kiss their own hands and adore the wisdom of their own wit which is to the World and its Teachers insted of God his way and word and indeed of all things it is the greatest and only sin and the very fall of Adam and the very fountain whence all other sins do flow as Job confesseth for this only to be obedient addicted to serve himself to admire and adore himself to follow his own will briefly to be his own and to serve only self being of a free will and glad to be some-what in and of himself and to do to omit and to know some what in himself and not to be utterly void of all name will work and subject only to God this is the only and most deadly sin yea rather the sinck and mother of all sins for the delight will and wisdom of the flesh is Death it self and a man is thereby no more profitable better nor religious then a dog toad or swine in his Death for when they dye all their misery endeth with them but in this state with man as death leaves so Judgment finds and he cannot repent in the grave but his torment doth increase and with him will abide forever without end which to remove all horror which to the wicked is disquietness of Mind trouble of Conscience in this life and encreaseth torment in the life to come is
did will provide that Man in his misery and in enmity to God might not forever lead a wretched and calamitous Life for which cause he drove him out of Paradise from the Tree of Life into his House of Penance as if it were the World and shewed him a way whereby he might agâ—in come out of Death into Paradise to the Tree of â—ternal Life but in the mean time he fenced the Tree of Life with a flying Cherub and glittering Sword lest Adam in his banishment would eat Life for it seemed better to God that Man should dye and so by Death put off this miserable Life and change it to be translated to a better for he knew that Life after this Death cold calamâ—y and banishment would be so much the more wellcome and he the more dear unto God after Victory therefore God who cannot hate the Sons of men ever deals mercifully with them howsoever he handleth them if they would take it in good part and not suspect him to be their Enemy for such indeed is the nature and suspicion of mans heart Now may it not thus be that for a greater Evidence or Testimony that the same thing did likewise happen in the Tree Paradise i. e. Adams heart as there is the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil which is the Seed Speech Council Knowledge Wisdom and Will of the Serpent so there is also the Tree of Life the Seed Speech and Counsel of God or of the Woman and as God and the Devil are even so are these two Seeds or two Trees so contrary the one to the other that one brings Life the other Death and therefore it is impossible that whoso eats of the one should at the same time eat of the other or come unto it as being seperated by a flying Chrub and aâ— glittering Sword Thus do I and also other faithful Writers interpret whinged Sin and obstinate Disobedience which is else-where called in Scripture a seperation or waâ— of partition for whoso eats of the Tree of Knowledge oâ— good and evil that is he that greedily swallows down and devoureth humane and diabolical Wisdom he is already seperated from the Tree of Life that is from the Wisdom Speech and Knowledge of God and neither of these Wisdoms Speeches Wills or Knowledges can endure the other neither can the one come from the other so great is the Gulf between them being as far divided asunder as Heaven and Hell He that eats of the Tree of Life that is of the Word of God he is born of God and cannot dye nor sin for his Fruit doth eat the Eater and translate him into his own Nature that is into Life as elsewhere the Scripture speaketh of eating Christs flâ—sh for indeed it is the same thing to eat Christ and to drink his Blood to live in his Word to believe to know God and the like as likewise it is all one to believe in Adam to live in Adam to dye to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil to obey the Seed and Word of the Serpent and to become Gods therefore he that eats of the deadly Tree and cleaves to the Word and Wisdom of the Serpent being born of Satan and afflicted he lives in flesh and blood and therefore cannot do well or please God as contrary wise the other cannot sin do evil or displease God Therefore he that will have the one must needs part with the other they must of necessity go out of the Wisdom of Adam and the Serpent and from the forbidden Tree that so the Wisdom of the Tree of Life may enter to abide in them Adam and the Wisdom of the flesh must dye in them that Christ may live in them and the Spirit may have the government the Life of the one is the Death of the other and the weakness of one is the strength of the other for no man can serve two Masters and in vain shall men strive to reconcile God and Adam or Christ and the Serpent Light and Darkness the Old Man and the New God and Beliel or the Temple of God and the Temple of Idols CHAP. III. Concerning the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil planted in the heart of Adam that is the Seed Speech and Spirit of the Serpent and that great Idol Anti christ Sin Death and the Devil and the Beast spoken of in Daniel and the Revelations which is the greatest and most ordinary worshipping of Angels WHat is it that men think is the Beast of which Daniel writeth that resisteth and blasphemeth the the most High and killeth the Saints is it not that old Serpent that overthrew Adam and Eve And what is the Tree of knowledge of good and evil what is the shameless King and Anti-Christ of which Daniel writ and Paul to the Thessalonians And what is that many headed Beast which the whole World adoreth which is spoken of in the Revelations And what is Sin what is Death what is the Devil himself but every mans own Will Wisdom Reason Religion Righteousness Skill Delight for which cause Paul calleth it Death itself Enmity against God and Folly before him and the Apostle James calls it Earthly humane Devilish Wisdom because these three are one and the same and that is devilish which is meerly humane and contrary wise Man the Devil Adam and the Serpent are the same and do agree for the Serpent did so instill this Wisdom and feinged goodness into the nature of Adam that the Serpents seed and word was in Adam made a corporal man so that now the same thing may be said of them both and as they are that are born of God and in whom the Word of God is made man or flesh are called Gods and one Spirit with God so all men being sprung of flesh and blood before they be planted into Christ and are born of the Spirit they are justly called Devils and the Devils Children and Off-spring of the Devil whose work they do therefore that which is only humane is evil and that which is devilish is humane And again what is the fall of Adam but the wisdom of the Flesh and the fruit of the forbidden Tree What is that old Dragon that came out of Hell and drew down from Heaven with his Tail a great part of the Stars of Heaven but only the Wisdom of this Tree which extolls it self against God and places his seat with the higest And what else are the Thoughts of the Flesh What is sin what is Arrogance but the Fruits and Wisdom of this Tree And what are the Decrees of Men and the bent of their Reason against God their devices and light Books but the cunning of the Devil from this Tree eaten What is all the Worship of Idols the false Religion of all the wicked Jews Turks Gentiles Mamalucks and all false Christians And what are all the Leagues Conventicles Ceremonies and Covenants but the Apples of this Tree eaten which counterfeiting the Tree
the Father in full Power Maiesty and Dominion being God over all and in all for evermore whom the World hath in great dispute and many Controversies have risen to the destroying of many Thousands of Peoples lives when that it is plain That Christ came not to dâ—stroy menâ— lives but to save and make alive leaving this Example That Wheat and Tares should grow together until the Harvest lest in gathering the Tares they root up also the Wheat with them Mat. 13 28 29 30. from which saving Christ proceeds to another Parable comparing the Kingdom of Heaven to a grain of Mustard-sâ—ed being accountâ—d the least of all Grain Seeds which being grown up it becomâ—th the greatest among Hâ—rbs and bâ—cometh a Tree that the Bâ—rds of thâ— Air come to lodge in the Branches thereof Mat. 13.31 32. and in the 33 verâ— Christ likens the Kingdom unto leven hid in three measures of Meaâ— until the whole was leavened These things were spoke in Parables that the Saying of the Prophet might be fullfilled in the â—ttering things which have been kept secret from the Foundation of the World which now is manifest by the Light through the Death and Resurrection of Christ Jesus and also left upon Record in the holy Scriptures of Truth that in the light of the Lord God People may learn and come to uâ—derstand that Peoples perishing is not altogether for want of Knowledge but for want of Obedience to that measure of Light which they have received for he that is faithful in that which is little is made Ruler over more for as the Grain of Mustard Seed hath the Light been â—own in the hearts of many which have received as one Talent and in others who have received more so that where much is given much is required and where more or less if it light on good ground it becomes the greatest among Herbs in the Lords Garden and bringeth forth Fruit abundantly to the Praise and Honour of Gods holy Name also the little Leaven had in three measures of Meal implyes the whole man till the whole becomes leavened into a new lump of the heavenly Nature of Gods Kingdom in Christ Jesus which as men come into a true Christian state of Obedience to the Gift of Gods divine Light quickening Word or his Spirit which hath been handed â—orth through the Death and Resurrection of the Lord of Life and Light they through Obedience may come to witness Eternal Life by Jesus Christ Which things one would think are sufficient to incourage all to yeeld their Obedience to the gâ—â—t of Gods divine Light for there is not a Thought of the Heart nor an Inâ—ent of the Mind but the Light makes it manifest which to obey is 〈◊〉 and to disobey is Death for to be carnally minded is Death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace Rom. â— 6 For while men â—emain in obedience to the Light they are spiritually minded in which state they are â—ervants to Righâ—â—ousness but while men are in Disobedience to the Light it is accounted before the â—ord as Rebellion which is as the 〈◊〉 Witchcraft for it is the Willing and Obedâ—ent that shall 〈◊〉 the good Land which 〈◊〉 only extends to the Christ of 〈…〉 to the Lâ—ght who walk in the right as 〈…〉 â—â—dallght and â—n Christ the 〈◊〉 and Light havâ— they Fethâ—â—sh pâ—one with anothâ—â— and the Blood of Jesus Christ cleansâ—◠〈…〉 from their sins 1 John 1 7 for Christ is the Light 〈◊〉 the â—oeld and he that followeth Christ shall not walk in Darkâ—◠〈…〉 have the Light of Life Joh. 8.12 Now 〈◊〉 this 〈…〉 it 〈◊〉 the Dâ—â—obedâ—ent whose Eyes are blâ—nde◠〈…〉 of 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Gor. 4.4 Awake thou that sleepest in sin and Christ will give thee Light for all things that are reproveable in the heâ—â—t of man are reproved by the Light for whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Ephe. 5.13 1â— by which it is manifest that mans condemnation is of himself in that he will not be faithful to the Gift of Gods divine Light because his deeds are evil for every man that doth evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reprovea Joh. 3.19 20. but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his â—eâ—ds may be manifest that they are wrought in God cap. 3.21 for God in Christ is the Fountain and Well spring of all Life and Light in whom the â—aithful of God shall for evermore remain in the holy City of heavenly Jerusalem where there is no need of Sun Moon nor Stars to shine in it for the Glory of God righteth it and Christ the Lamb of God is the Light thereof and the Nation of them that have been Obedient to the Light of Gods Gift by Jesus Christ shall be saved and shall walk in the Light of it Rev. 21.23 24. So the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ who is God of all Life and Light and the Way the Truth and the Life of Light which all men in measure have received that they may yeild their Obedience to the Requirings of it that by it their Understandings may come to be more more enlarged towards the Lord of Life and Light that by him through the Power of his Spirit of Grace they may come throughly to see and perceive to hear and understand the things of God treasured up in â—hrist for all them that love the appearance of his â—ight in their own hearts which is the gift of his Spirit of â—race which in measure all men have received and it preaches Life and Salvation to all that are found in faithful obedience to it but it preaches Condemnation Wo and Misery to all that live in a known Life of Disobedience to it which state of so living is no less than to â—rucifie the Lord of Life afresh and to trample under foot all that ever Christ hath done and suffered for the Redemption of the Soul of that Man or Woman which is found in a known state of Disobedience to the Gift of Gods Spirit of Truth which is that Gift of his divine Light which will not loose it honour either by the Salvation or Condemnation of all Mankind even as their Obedience or Disobedience hath been in this Life accordingly will be their Reward in the Life to come which is matter for all to consider before the Spirit of God hath lest striving and the Day of Gods Grace be over with them that perish through a Life of known Disobedience to the Gift of Gods divine Light which came by Jesus Christ who is the Author and Finisher of his own Work in them that believe Concerning Christ the true Seed and everlasting Covenant of God to his People THis is the Christ which the holy men of God in their Day and eneration prophesied to come and to finish Sin and to put an end to Transgression in all thaâ— truly believe in his Name which according to Gods appointed
in learning the holy Scriptures in which they have the Doctrine Principles and Practice of the holy Men of God for their Example to follow them even as they have been Followers of Christ then they would come into that state in which they would witness the Power of God by Jesus Christ to crucifie every unruly Affection which doth lust after sin and evil and leads the Mind from serving God into the excess of spending the Creation to perform their hearts Lusts by which they dishonour the Name of the Lord and increase Trouble and Sorrow to the destroying of their Souls which is the end of them that remain in an unrighteous Life for whatsoever People may say in respect that their Tongues are their own anâ— that their Thoughts are free to think what they please and that there is a time to be Merry and to Sing and Dance and Recreate themselves with much more of the like Expressions yet for all these things there is a time wherein all men must appear before the Lord of Life to render a just Account of every Thought Intent and Action of all the Deeds done in the Body in which Day it shall go well with the Righteous but the Ungodly and Prophane shall be turned into Hell with him unto whom their Obedience hath been for all that have forgot to retain God in all their Thoughts so living and dying God will also forget Mercy towards them for his Regard is only to his own Seed and to Men as they are joyned to it which hath been sown in all sorts of Ground which is in the heart of every Man and Woman for them to yeild their whole Obedience thereunto for whatsoever ye do whether ye eat or whether ye drink let all be done to the Praise and Honour of God who gives Life Health and Strength for that end for whatsoever is in Peoples talk more than of Yea and Nay it is for Condemnation which is great matter of weight for People well to consider what will become of their Souls who live in the daily Practice of Words Actions wherein the Lord never savingly appears but as he doth permit their Souls Enemy to rule their Thoughts Intents Words and Actions so of his free Love in Mercy to their Souls the Lord doth manifest to them the evil of their way which is by the gift of his divine Light in their own hearts and by his Spirit in the Instruments of his Truth which have been sent and are yet sending to warn the Wicked to turn from their unrighteous Wayes which if they would but give up their minds to come under the Cross of Christ which is that Cross for them to bear which remains in Opposition to their corrupted Desires then they would become able by the Power of God in Christ to witness his Yoke to be easie and his Burden to be light for what he hath said unto one be hath a so said unto all that is Watch and Pray lest ye eater into Temptation for he that remains faithful in his Watch by the Light of the Lord perceiveth the Devil's Temptation in his first Allurement which by true Prayer in faithfulness to his Watch the Power of God in him doth appear to the resisting of his Souls Enemy and causeth him to slee so that in them in whom the Mind is stable in seeking after the Lord for the Knowledge of his Truth in Jesus Christ their Understanding will open more and more towards him by which the reading of the holy Scriptures will also be of great benefit to the Understanding which will also refresh the inward Man so that as all are diligently to mind the Gift of Gods Grace which they have received as a Seed of the Kingdom through which by Obedience it will grow and bring forth Fruit acceptable to God who requites his own with increase for the Honour of his Same and profit of Peoples Souls that by Obedience to his holy Seed they may remain in Covenant with God and be made Partakers of his Kingdom in and through the Son of his Love the Lord Jesus Christ Further concerning the Man Christ which was conceived by the holy Ghost born and brought forth of the Virgin Mary and suffered Death for the Redemption of all men and as many shall be saved as believe in his Name GOd so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life John 3.16 Which doth manifest that God sent his only Son born of a Woman to suffer Death in a Body of Flesh for the Redemption of Peoples Souls in which Body of Flesh did remain the Fullness of the Spirit towards the Salvation of all mens Souls yet they only shall be saved which believe in his Name for his Name is called Jesus because he was sent of God to save his People from their sins Mat. 1.21 Luke 1.31 which is according to the Prophet Isaiah cap. 7.14 15. A bruised Reed shall he not breaâ— nor smoking Flax shall he â—ot quench till he send forth Judgment unto Victory and in his Name shall the Gentiles trust Mat. 12.15 to v. 21. He came to his own and 〈…〉 received him not but as many as received him to them he gaâ—e Power to become the Sons of God which were born not of Blood nor of the will of Flesh nor of the will of Man but of God Joh. 1 11 12 13. Which doth manifest that where men only believe in the outward Righteousness of the Man Christ who as he was in the Body of Flesh was God and Man without the believing in the Gift of his Spirit which iâ— the inward Word of Life and leads the heart and mind of every sincere Christian into a sanctified state of true Obedience to the Gift of his divine Light and quickening Word of his Spirit of Grace without which they cannot come to live in that true Faith which justifies the Souls of the Righteous in the sight of God the Father in which state of true Obedience the evidence of his Spirit doth bear witness with their Spirit That the Declaration of his Truth recorded in the holy Scriptures hath proceeded from the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus who in that Body of Flesh was both God and Man according as it is written for Peoples learning That the Word was made Flesh and dwelt on Earth among the Sons and Daughters of Men and many that believed his Name believed his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth Joh. 1.14 They outwardly believed as Man with a visible Eye but as to his invisible Glory of Holiness they believed him the Lord of Life as he was God and Man with an invisible Eve which by the Gist of his Spirit enlightened them to know him to be the Lord of Life whom to know by true Faith is Life Eternal which was made known unto them by the gift of
mens learning no man can learn to know God aright without the gift of his Grace and divine Light of his Spirit by Jesus Christ for the Letter kâ—â—eth but the Spirit giveth Life 2 Cor. 3.6 for as the Spirit of God is the Ministration of Condemnation to the Disobedient so also do they read their Condemnation in the Scriptures of Truth but to the faithful who live in Obedience to the Spirit of Truth to them the Spirit of God by Jesus Christ is the Ministration of Life and Salvation and through Faith in Christ Jesus the Scriptures do minister the knowledge of Life for through Faith in Christ they are able to make wise to Salvation Then whatever men may gather in the outward Comprehension from the holy Scriptures concerning the great Work of God by the Death and Resurrection of his Son the Lord of Life which will not profit them that remain in a state of daily sinning against the gift of his divine Light which is their Condemnation for evil Deeds Joh 3.19 20 21. in which state they remain dead as to God having no benefit by the Resurrection in the Life to come â—or God is not a God of that which is dâ—ad but a God of thê Living Mat. 22 23 So that God is a â—od of the living who have been buried with the first Man in sin but through the Resurrection of the second Man the Lord from Heaven have they received the earnest of Life Everlasting 1 Cor. 15.48 49 50. having obtained the Promise of God through the Resurrection oâ— Jesus Christ which the 〈…〉 the benefit 〈◊〉 Christ concâ—ied and 〈…〉 â—he is â—hat which People ought to witness through the in â—ard Word of his traching which teaches the true knowledge of God according as is recorded in the holy 〈…〉 That â—â—s sâ—hcient to Salvâ—tion to know God and Jesus Christ 〈◊〉 Lord which was made of the Sâ—ed of David accordâ—nâ— to the 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 to be the Sâ—â— of God with 〈◊〉 according to the Spirit of Hoâ—â—ness by the Resâ—rrection of thâ— death Rom 1 4. which the Righteous witness through 〈◊〉 the Law of sin by the Body of Christ that they should b◠〈◊〉 to another even to him who is raseaâ— from the dead that they should bring forth fruit unto God Râ—m â— 4 for they 〈◊〉 have been planted together in the likeness of his Death 〈…〉 also in the likeness of his Resurrection Rom. 6.5 So that the châ—efest desire of true Believeâ—â— is to know the Lord Jesus Christ and the Power of his Resurrection and the fellowship of his Sufferings being made conformable unto his Death Phil. 3 10. for they that shall be accounted worthy to obtain the Kingdom of God and the Resurrection from the Dead neither marry nor give in Marriage neither can they dye any more for they are equal unto Angels and are the Children of the Resurrection Luke 20.34 35 36. but they whose hearts and minds are joyned to the perishing things of this â—ife they are not married to Christ and so have no hope to be the Children of the Resurrection but only Children of the World which love gain delights and pleasures in which there is no profit for a man to gain and lose his soul for he that loveth any thing more than Christ is not worthy of the rich benefits which the faithful receive through his Death Resurrection Therefore it concerns all that they may so live as to dye from sin and be mâ—me alive with Christ that they may be partakers of his heavenly Riches in the Kingdom of God where Flesh and Blood cannot inherit 1 Cor. 15.50 CHAP. XV. Concerning the Ministers of Christ and the Ministers of Antichrist Also of Humane Learning and the Vsâ—â—f it and how it came in practise among them called the Reformed Churches of this latter Age. And concerning Gospel-Maintenance and in what manner and to whom it belongeth JEsus Christ the Son of God and Everlasting Covenant of Grace Life and Light he is Minister of all Truth and Righteousness which hath appeared for Salvation of men for which end in dayes past he chose unto himself Twelve Disciples which were men that believed in him and not being brought up in that manner as the many Teachers are in this day who serve a time in Schools of Learning by which they gather outward knowledge in Hâ—brew Greek and Latine Phrases also Arts in other things which the holy men of God did never practise for the twelve Disciples of Christs chusing were not fitted after any such manner to preach the Gospel for they were illiterate and Trades-men c. and lived not by hire for preaching but laboured with their hands for their outward subsistance such were they whom the Lord did call to preach the Gospel which did minister the glad Tidings of Peace and Salvation unto the Nations among whom the Word of God was divided 〈◊〉 and every one their portion according to their 〈◊〉 for they had not their Wisdom from below is the many Teachers now have notwithstanding the Lands Servants wanted not Wisdom from above when gave them utterance of words whereby they were enabâ—â—d â—o divide the Word aright in declaring and demâ—ustraâ—ing the Will and Mind of God at which time some of the learned Jews and wife Rabbies opposed them setting them at naught others resisted them notwithstanding they did not 〈◊〉 to be approved in that Wisdom that Man toucheth which is never able to prepare and sit for 〈…〉 work and service of the Gospel as is further manifested by the saying of him who was brought up in great outward Learning at the feet of Gamaltel Acts 22. in which state he was not capable by all his outward Learning to know Christ whom he persecuted in his Servants and Messengers of his Truth thinking that he did good service for God when he was destroying his People even as hath been in many places many of the learned Hebrew Greek and Latine Men have destroyed the Lives and Estates of many People because they could not conform to their Anti-Christian Faith which the Devil would have had set up in the Disciples of Christ who came not to destroy mens lives but to save and make alive which work is of a contrary Nature to that Wisdom which is from below for the true Wisdom of God openeth the Understanding in the things of God which the learned by all their outward wisdom can never do for they remain in the Wisdom of Darkness as to the things of Gods Kingdom which Paul in all his outward Learning was a stranger unto but by that Wisdâ—m which is from above he came to receive that spiritual sight which gave him the true saving knowledge of God by Jesus Christ whose Minister he became being then a Witners unto all men of both what he had seen and heard Act. 22.13 14 15. Which doth manifest that his 〈◊〉 to the work of the â—oâ—pel was of God which Work he attended according
evil one time and another time move them to do it for the Spirit of God by Jesus Christ moves his People in the way of holiness in which holy Way of Righteousness they have born their faithful Testimonies for Gods holy Truth against Fighting to defend their Faith by or with the carnal Sword or to take up any such like evil Practice again for Gods way of bringing his People nearer to him is by Jesus Christ whose Kingdom he will more and more exalt in the hearts of the saithful and not with the using of any carnal Weapon but by the Power of his own Spirit Ezek. 4.6 in which state they desire the wellfare of all men both Soul and Body and not as many do to kill the Body and say they desire the wellfare of their Souls whose Bodies they have destroyed for the Spirit of God meaneth not any such thing as to destroy mens Bodies with the carnal Sword and say they desire the wellfare of their souls for according to Christs Dostrine he that destroyes the Body of his Enemy cannot love the Soul of his Enemy for Christ came to save both Soul and Body and through the Power of God in him are many redeemed which by nature were Enemies â—nto him then what more can be said are not men by rature Enemies to one another then come to the Law and the â—rophets and do even as ye would be done unto for if you will be beloved of God in Christ you must love both Soul and Body of your Enemies even as Christ hath done unto them which have been Enemies unto him for Love covers a multitude of faults and Love leads them that are faithfull to God to keep the sayings of Christ who hath commanded to pray for Enemies and to do good unto all men by which they may be the Children of their Father which is in heaven in which state the Kingdom of this World may become the Kingdoms of Jesus Christ that the Prophets saying may be fulfilled that Nation shall not lift up Sword against Nation neither shall they learn War any more Isa 2.4 Mich 4.3 untill which time the saying of Christ is fulfilled upon them that take the Sword which must perish with the Sword then happy are they that are yet living in the Body and have known the end of all War Strife and Contention for unto their Number Will be the gathering of them that shall not lift up the Sword one against the other neither learn war any more of which Number are the despised of this day who strive to maintain Peace by denying all Wars and Fightings with the carnal Sword or of the like Nature CHAP. XXIII Concerning Conscience which justifies the Ways of the Righteous and condemneth the unrighteous Works of the Wicked MAny People talk of Conscience among vvhom some there are vvhose Hearts are so hardned that their Consciences are seared as vvith a hot Iron such are in the depth of Iniquity against God and his Christ and many are they that have so little regarded Conscience that they have sinned out the Day of Gods Grace and many more are travailing in the broad Way of Destruction and fevv there be that knovv vvhat Conscience is or the Nature of a good Conscience tovvards God and all men for the Righteousness of God is held in a pure Conscience by vvhich the fruits of their righteous Works are manifest in the sight of God and in the sight of men but the Righteousness of the World is Unrighteousness vvith God for their Righteousness is held in a corrupt Conscience of their own Unrighteousness vvhich is to themselves for Destruction but vvhere there is any thing of Life in heart mind and spirit as to the things of God vvhich concern the Wellfair of the Soul there is Conscience at vvork either excusing or accusing according as their vvords thoughts actions are before the Lord vvhich searcheth the heart and giveth to every man according to the Fruits of his ovvn Works vvhether of Faith and Obedience or of Unbelief and â—isobedience vvhich the Witness of God vvith every and â—isobedience vvhich either justifie or condemn for all men shall be tryed by their Deeds done in the Body and accordingly they shall receive from the Lord the righteous Judge of Heaven Earth vvho vvill call all to an Account in the great Day of his Coming to judge the Quick and the Dead then happy vvill it be vvith them vvho have made good Conscience in all things of this Life towards God and all men for the Day is coming in which Fear and Dread shall come upon all the Ungodly vvho have not made Conscience of Obedience to the Name of the Lord Jesus vvho is largely manifested and many have and do believe and confess and shevv their Deeds as many have already â—one vvho have brought out their Books of curious Arts â—nd burnt them in the presence of men the loss of which to â—hem vvas gain though the price thereof amounted to fifty thousand pieces of Silver Acts 19.17 18 19. and such vvere they that by believing made good Conscience before God in the sight of men vvhich if all vvould live up in obedience to the Witness of God they vvould come to the improvement of the like Conscience before God CHAP. XXIV Concerning the free Love of God in and by the Lord Jesus Christ THe Love of God by the gift of his Spirit of Light Life and Grace is free for all men by Jesus Christ for God so loved the World that he sent his only beloved Son the Lord Jesus to suffer Death for all men that abosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life John 3.15 16. Then they that believe in Christ are them that abide in the love of God which leads to keep all his Commandments which he hath by the Son of his Love the Lord of Life commanded all men to keep for the great Love of God was manifest that Jesus who was made a little lower then the Angels for the suffering of Death crowned with Glory and Honour that by the Grace of God should taste Death for every man Heb. 2.9 by which every man that heareth his Word and believeth on God hath Life and shall not come into Condemnation but is passed from Death unto Life John 5.24 For 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 Vers 25. which is according to the Apostles saying that when he was dead in Tâ—espasses and Sins against God the Voice of the Son of God appeared unto him who became willing to give up in true love to serve the Lord with uprightness in heart and mind by which thorough the Love oâ— God in Christ he came through Faith and Obedience to receive that Crown of Righteousness which was not only in store for him but for all them that love the appearance of the Lord Jâ—sus in their
Lord. CHAP. XXVII Concerning the begetting being born and brought forth of the Immortal and Incorruptible Seed of Gods Kingdom by Jesus Christ THe Immortal and Incorruptible Seed of Gods Kingdom in Jesus Christ is of that Birth which the World by all their Wisdom in outward Learning are never able to find neither can any ever know to witness the new Birth further than by Faith and Obedience to the gift of Gods Spirit by Jesus Christ whose Spirit of Life makes frâ—â— from the Law of Sin and Death for the Seed of the Kingdom is of a heavenly divine Nature which hath no fellowship with the Works of Darkness in which all that disobey the Lord of Life remain by which their Birth is of the Enemies Seed which alienates the Heart of Man and Woman from true Oâ—edience to God â—n which state they are Strangers to the nature of the New Birth which is not born of Blood nor of the will of the Fleâ— nor of the Will of Man but of God Iohn 1.13 for it is born of the Spirit of God and brought forth by Gâ—ace through Faith in Christ Jesus by whom the Children of men have received a measure which though but as a grain of the smallest of all grain it is of the little leavens Nature to purge out and leaven the whole Lump into the nature of Gods Kingdom in Christ Jesus whom the World by all their Wisdom can never know for the things of Gods Kingdom are hiâ— from the Wise and Prudent of this World and revealed to the Children of God whose Life remains in the Babe-like Nature of God in Christ whose Babes they are begotten of God by the word of his Spirit through Faith and Obedience to the Lord of Life in whose Life and Nature every true Child of God in their measure live move and have their being in the nature of him for as his nature is the New Birth and all that are born of him hey bring Fruits acceptible to him for they are the Children of the Day which live in the Light and walk in the Light which the Children of the Night cannot do for the Day of Gods Visitation by the gift of his divine Light is unto them a dark thing at which the wise stumble and the prudent cannot receive for by their own Wisd 〈◊〉 in their own prudent way is their Understanding darkdarkened as to the things of God and Nature of his Kingdom neither can any grow to understand the things of 〈◊〉 Jesus Christ buâ— as they grow in Grace through the affectual working of his divine Life and Light by the quickening Word 〈◊〉 his Spirit which opens the understanding and enlarges the gift of his divine Nature through which 〈◊〉 the holy Seed increâ—seth more and more and in the increase bringeth forth fruit more and more abundant to the praise of God and honour of his Name and well-being of the Soul in Christ Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of his own Work of Righteousness in his true begotten People who are begot by the gift of Gods good Spirit of Grace Life and Light in which the faithful see Light Psalm 36.9 for by Light is all and every Deed of Darkness manifested so that Faith in Christ Jesus and Faithfulness Obedience to the gift of Gods divine Light is the first beginning of an acquintance with the divine Nature of Christ who draws the heart of every faithful man and woman into the assurance of Faith having their hearts sprinkled from â—n evil Conscience and their Bodies washed with pure Water Heb. 10.22 and of this Nature is the Seed of Gods Kingdom in the hearts of them that belong unto him the nature of whose Kingdom the wise prudent part in man cannot comprehend for the wise unregenerated part is that which ramains in the Fall and is alienated from the true Seed of the Kingdom which will not take root in any other ground but in that honest heart which is made willing to bear the Cross in all things to the self will in which state of subjection to the will of God the Seed takes root down-ward and brings forth Fruit upward to the honour of Gods holy Truth so than all reasoning with Flesh and Blood is shut out by the Power of Gods Spirit in every upright honest heart to wards God in which life of Obedience there is no giving way to the Earthly part which ramains in the Disobedient through which they oppress the Seed of God and cause his Life in the measure of the Seed to depart which if they were but faithful to the measure of Seed received the Life of Gods Spirit of Grace would increase to the withstanding of all the Enemies Power which through the willingness of the obedient part being yeilded to him the true Seed of God will take no root of abidance in any sort of ground whatever where People live in a state of sinning against God and his Christ Mat. 13. So they that are new born of the incorruptible Seed they first come to dye through the Cross of Christ which crucifies the self will prudent part for Knowledge without Obedience brings Death over the Soul in which state the Kingdom oâ— God is hid For that which is born of the Flesh is Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit John 3.2 3 4 5 6. So they that are truely begotten of God in Christ theâ— witness the New-Birth which is not born of Flesh and Blood nor of the Will of Man but of the incorruptible Seed the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever 1 Pet. 1.23 Now the Word of God which abideth forever is of his Spirit 〈◊〉 Life Light and Grace which floweth into the hearts 〈◊〉 true Believers through Faith in Christ Jesus who drawâ— the willing mind to partake of Gods heavenly Riches iâ— and through him who is the Lord of all Grace Life anâ— Light which by measure lives moves and abides in thâ— heart of every sincere Believer in him through whoâ— Power they witness a daily decaying of the first Nature and a daily increase of Newness in a holy Life unto Goâ— who gives power to the weak feeble through which there is no distrust in the Power of God which they daily experience to give them Victory over every Thought which would exalt it self above the Witness of God and hinder the growth of the Seed of the Kingdom of Heaven in which no man can enter without being born again the benefit of which no man is denyed of God by Jesus Christ who hath said by his Spirit of Truth Whosoever will let him take the Water of Life freely Rev. 22.17 Isa 55.1 2 3. By which it is clear that the Spirit of God hinders no man of any benefit by Jesus Christ for the Salvation of his Soul that is as Man keeps faithful to God according to what he hath commanded by the Son of his Love the Lord of Life Postscript MUch more might
should be so blind and of so unbelieving hard hearts to work in such a hight of Wickedness against the Lord and his People whom they have imprisoned whipt stockt out theâ— Ears undering them to be sold for Bonds Men and Bond Women banishing them upon pain of Death if ever they return to be offered up at their bloody Altar and to the value of twenty hundred Pounds taken from them for Fines and made a Law that every Master of a Vessel that landed any one Quaker within their Power of Government should pay one hundred Pounds and five pounds for any one that gave entertainment to any one of their Books with much more of the like nature acted and done by them to the aforesaid honest harmeless People whom in their Law they have stiled with the Name of Rogues and Vagabonds Blasphemous Hereticks and Seducers of the People from the Faith but if they have called the Master a Devil they of the same Spirit have called his People after the like manner and after the same nature have they perseented his Servants to Death at Boston which Wickedness they would cover with a Lye even as their fore Fathers did by giving large Money to the ignorant to say his Disciples stole him away by Night which large Money will not hide their Lying no more will the twenty hundred Pounds taken from the Quakers hide the Lyes of them in this day who say The Quakers hanged themselves for the Law by which they were put to Death was made after that they had been a time in the Country which after their Return according to that Law of Banishment were they in a most barbarous inhumane way put to Death being drove to their bloody Altar with Drums Guns and Swords and out down even to the breaking of their skulls and in a barbarous manner dragged their naked Bodies in a Roap with the gnashing of Teeth in which inhumane manner they threw their naked Bodies into a stinking Pit near to their Bloody Altar not suffering their Friends to secure the place with Fence by which their Bodies might be preserved from Swine and other ravenous Creatures By which it is evident they hanged not themselves but as they were persecuted in one place they kept the Command of the Lord by fleeing to the other until they delivered up their Lives as for â—xample the Lords Servants in days past have done for the Truth of God and Testimony of Jesus whom they have followed even as the Disciples and Apostles of Christ have done Then seeing that it is high Rebellion against God and the King to put his People to Death without any warrant precept command or example from either of how much lower nature is the Work of Witch-craft if really it so be in and about the Town of Salâ—m for the Lords People are to him as the apple of his Eye and he that toucheth them toacheth the Apple of his Eye Zâ—ch 2.8 Deut 32 10. Psal 17.8 for whosoever offendeth one of them bâ—tter were it for him that he were drowned in the depth of the Sea Mat 18 6. Mark 9.42 Luke 17.1 2. Therefore People ought well to consider whom they establish to rule for their outward Peace among themselves for where men of Persecuting Principles are appointed by the People to rule where they once gain Power by the consent of the People to persecute their unrighteous Work draws the judgments of God upon the Inhabitants of the whole place where they rule for had the Body of the Jews withstood their unrighteous Prieâ—â—s and Rulers by bearing a faithful Testimony for Gods holy Truth they had been freed from that Judgment which now remains upon their Generation even so is it with tâ—e Inhabitants of New-England though many of them had no actual hand in shedding of innocent Blood which hath defiled the Land because they did not bear a faithful Testimony against the unrighteousness of their Priests and Rulers of that Day for which cause every Judgment upon this place reaches the whole Body of People in the general Calâ—â—â—ty for Christ charges the Spirit of Persecution with all the righteous Blood that hath ever been shed Mat. 23.35 Then seeing that this Spirit of Persecution is charged with more Unrighteousness towards God and his People then all them of that nature which they call witches who have not that influence upon People to bewitch them that they should not obey the Truth even as the persecuting Priests and Rulers have done which proves Persecutors to be the greatest Witches in the World because the one as the Devil was only permitted to touch the outward Body for the inward tryal of Faith but the other are permittnd to bewitch People to persecute one the other to Death and through the Power of the Devil cause People to believe that they are deing good Service for God when they are persecuting his People to Death Acts. 26.10 11. and 8.5 and 9.1 2. which time hath been and yet remains where the Priests bear rule Joh. 16.2.3 for as Troopes of Robbers have waited for a man so have the company of Priests murdered in the way by consent Hos 6.9 So that these things are in all places where the persecuting Priests are rule among the People who are like their Priests Hos 4.6 7 8 .10 it is by the consent of the People that persecuting Magistrates rule and by consent of their â—urighteous Laws do the persecuting Priests destroy he outward Lives and Liberties of the Lords People 〈◊〉 which cause the Lords Wrath and Indignation is gainst the whole People so far as they are either accally or by silence consenting to these things through which the righteous suffer for the cause of Gods holy Truth who are not to give their Bread to Dogs nor to cast their Pearls before Swine neither are they to forgive further then men turn and say they repent Mat. 6.10 Luke 17.4 for nofurther then men repent of their Evil Deeds will the Lord forgive so that his will may be done on Earth as it is done in Heaven men are not to seek to unbind that on Earth which as not unbound in Heaven neither to â—â—ek to bind that on Earth which is not bound in Hraveâ— but to pray that the sin of Murder may not be laid 〈…〉 charge of them that know not what they do Mat. 5.44 Acts 7.00 for in this Day of great Trouble upon them that have not done even as they would be done unto the Lord is daily adding unto their Afflictions because they Kopent not of their evil Deeds towards him and his People whom Pharaoh-like they have opprest but the Lord hath in a great measure with-held the roaring of the Lyon and the fierce Lyon and the Teeth of the young Lyon the Lord hath broken and the strength of their power against Gods Heritage is become of no force for their striving against the holy One of Israel is brought to nought for he is a consuming fire to
burn up and lay waste the Works of the Wicked whose unrighteous ways have been in Disobedience against hiâ— holy Truth in which the Righteous are preserved for the Lord is the Hope of his People against whom there is no Inchantment neither against them can any Divination take place for the Lord exalteth Judgment for the Oppressed and giveth food to the hungry the Lord is his Name by whose Power Miracles are wrought and Aonders done for the Lord openeth the Eyes of the blind and unstoppeth the Ears of the deaf and causeth the Lame to walk in pleasant places the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down and preserveth the strangers he is God and Lord over all he relieveth the Fatherless and pleadeth the Widdows Cause but he turneth the way of Wicked upside down which they that are not deaf dumb and blind may hear see and understand â—o the praise of God and honour of his Name who preserves the Righteous from falling into the many Snares of the Worlds Ways and Customs who are accustomed to serve in those things which the Lords soul abhors in which state the blind lead the blind to Death Hell and Destruction wherefore the Day of Gods Wrath increaseth against the Wickedness of men who without Repentance shall certainly perish for the â—ay of Gods Vengeance hath overtaken many and is hastening towards all that preach for hire and all that divine for Money and to all them that pervert the Truth and turn the cause of the Fatherless and Widdow and he that purteth the Cup to his Neighbours mouth for outward gain by which excess is made in the use of the Creature and to him that oppresseth in time of Sickness and wrongeth the weak and feeble in time of Trouble and the Thief with the Swearer Lyar and Drunkard and the Adulterer with the Adultress and he that oppresseth the Poor and he that is opprest in buying which seeks his loss by Oppression in selling which causeth Oppression among the poor even like a sweeping rain and he that spends of the Creation beyond what is meet for his present state and of all others of what nature soever as the Charmer or Observer of Times or Inchanter or Witch or Consulter with familiar Spirits or a Wizard or a Nicromancer for all these are an Abomination unto the Lord which with these sins and the destroying of the Lords Servants let the Priests Rulers and rest of the Inhabitants consider what Work there is for them to do before the Lord will with-draw his Wrath which burneth against New-England for their rebellious stiff-neckedness in Unbelief and hardness of Heart against the Lord of Life who hath given a measure of the same Light Life and Grace to the faithful in this day as to the Righteous in days past through which they receive Wisdom from above which leads them not to spend their whole time to study out of other mens Lines made ready to their hands but receive the mind of God in Christ through the gift of that Wisdom which gave the Lords Servants to know the staâ—e of Annanias and Saphira and the Damsel Simon and Elymus Acts 8.23 2â— cap. 5.9 14.9 10 11. 16 17 18. But to them that live in known Disobedience against the known Commands of the Lord they deny all infallible means by the Spirit of God for which cause of Disobedience the Light of the Lord is their Condemnation for evil Deeds John 3.19 20 21. for the Lord doth call to remembrance the Disobedience of them that are bewitched that they should not obey his Truth and against them will the Lord draw up Judgment after Judgment until he hath destroyed the Disobedient even as he hath done to the Rebellious in days past for he will out off the Wicked even as we see in the midst of their days in which day the sinner escapes not though a hundred years old Isa 56 20. Deut. 18.6 Heb. 10.28 Psal 37.16 21.37 38 Gen. 6.3 Therefore let not People be any longer deceived by such idle Shepherds as we read of in days past which live upon the Peoples Labour and not profit their Souls Isa 56.10.11 Ezek. 34. Mic. 21.2.3.4 Isa 5.2.9.10 Jer. 14.9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16 Joh. 10.12.13 but insteed of Peoples searching the holy Scriptures which through faith in Christ Jesus are able to make wise to Salvation they are roving in their minds after this and the other Teacher as learned and brave Orthodox men whom they esteem to be Preachers of the Gospel not at all considering that the Gospel is the Power of God to Salvation to them that beleive and Condemnation to them that do not believe which must needs follow that such savingly believe not in the Power of God which gives Power to them that savingly believe in his Power which redeems the mind of every true believer out of every dead form and from all dead formal Teachers whose Teachings is altogether from the Letter without the assisting Power of divine Grace and Spirit which in words they will seem to own but in works they deny for their preaching is where outward profit gives the greatest encouragment and if there be one place of more outward benefit then another that is for the accutest Workâ—man and the lesser benefit for the weaker capacity in their way but as Unrighteousness is of mans Enemys and they are they of his own House and unto them is their Obedience yeiled through which they are Servants unto him whom they obey and Children unto him whose Work they do Rom. 6.16 Ioh. 8.44 Mat. 6.24 Luke 16.13 1 Joh 3.8 so that if they say they have no sin they are Lyars and deceive themselves for they remain in the Degeneration having their minds alienated from God and from serving him in the true and living way Rom. 3.11.12 13. Psal 59. 140.7 Prov. 1.16 Isa 59.7.8 But that nature which maketh atrue believer is by Faith in God through Jesus Christ and they that are true Believers believe in him of whose nature they be which sinneth not 1 Joh. 3.2 to 11. Isa 5.3.6 but they whose minds are exercised in the love of that which is below the love of God in Christ are not worthy to receive him Mat. 19.20 to 25. and 10.37.38.39 But through Disobedience the wise are blind from receiving the Truth of these things Mat. 11.25 Luke 10.21 but the faithful press forward having the assurnace through Grace by faith in Christ that the Lord will perfect his Work of Grace according to his faithful Promise even as he hath done to his faithful Children in dayes past Gen. 17.1 Job 1.1 and 8.3 Psal 18 â—2 Mat. 19.20.21 Ephes 4.12 Luke 6.40 Col. 1.28 for nothing less then of what Obedience God required of man in the time of the Law will be of God accepted in this Gospel Day Levit 22.21 Deut. 25.5 Therefore not any one man nor woman but shall be left without excuse in the Day of Account because all have in measure
likewise are his People and Paradise and that the Beast spoken of in the Revelations which the whole World both great and small do at this day worship in their hearts as likewise the Tree of knowledge of good and Evil is within men for the whole exterior World or whatsoever either is or is done outwardly are but only an accident and figure signifying the Truth of the thing and the internal nature and therefore there is nothing true of whatsoever is seen with the Eyes of man for the figure and fashion of this World must pass away and perish as being nothing else but a certain imaginary World and the figure that is true right eternal and subsisting of it self consequently all things which in the Bible weâ—e done externally and signifyingly must again be done and again be brought to tâ— pass after their manner and all the History of the Bible and all Moses and the Prophets for the whole Scriptures to this day stand in force and are continually accomplished and fulfilled internally and spiritually for all things are by Christ translated into the Truth therefore it must needs be that all the Prophesies which God sâ—ake from the beginning of the World by the mouth of his holy Ones must still be called back reiterated or done over again therefore that shadow or that Tree was and is nothing else in the Truth but the â—ature will knowledge and life of Adam of this he should not have eaten this he should not have ascribed or arrogaâ—ed to himself but should a been-free and freely subject to God and not to have known any thing but what God knew in him nor to have done any thing but what God did in him nor to have spoken any thing but what God spake in him c. And upon this account every man is as much forbidden this Tree as Adam was to the end that God without any impediment might have exercised his Almighty Kingdom Will Nature Power in him but himself should have been utterly void of all knowledge will or nature and not to have arrogated any of these as proper to himself this pleaseth God this was that which he commanded and what he would have had done to this interpretation agreeth true Divinity that this Tree in the substance thereof is nothing else but mans own Will Knowledge of which alone in all the earthly Paradise of this wide World of mens hearts they ought not to eaâ— but to account it forbidden except they will eat of Death and Distruction for as soon as Adam fell by eating of this Tree the Tree was immediately planted in his mind and afterwards derived into all the branches and fruit thereof so that as the same Word precept and forbidding was commanded to all so is the same Fall all men which are in Adam have novv eaten of Death and received from the Serpent this undigested Pâ—yson so that it is easily perceived hovv man is his ovvn greatest Enemy and vvhat he ought to think of himself of his ovvn Will Understanding Wisdom and Knovvledge seeing it is the Counsel Seed Wisdom Knowledge and Head of the Serpent vvhich must by Christ be bruised in the Children of men for it must needs be that as in the old Testament was signified by Circumcision that in the new one by Baptism which is that of the Spirit through Regeneration and being new born of the incorruptible Seed of the Kingdom of God therefore he that will be made fit for the Kingdom of Heaven must part with and put off all things by nature and Inheritance by Adam even as he would do the Devil and Death it self viz. his own Will Prudence Wisdom and Righteousness where-with as fig-leaves their Adam doth vainly seek to 〈◊〉 himself for that is Sin and the 〈◊〉 of Death namely to eat of this True to 〈…〉 as 〈◊〉 his own Wisdom Prudence 〈…〉 but alas who knowâ— this 〈…〉 who is it that is displeased with his own 〈◊〉 Understanding occâ—â—isdom when will men forsake them where are the men that do not delight themselves in their own will and recreate their minds svveetly and contentedly therein reposing upon their own knowledge understanding and the â—ike The Tree is fair to be looked upon and sweet to be tasted and therefore do the Sons of Men so greedily swallow and devour Death as Adam did land this is the misery that men know it not neither think they of it but judge it to be good and think assuredly that this is the Tree of Life even to follow their own Wills and their own Conceits and Opinion of good which indeed is false to know much to discern many sciences and so to grow great in their own Thoughts assume to become Gods and in the mean time they are not aware that this is Adams fall his biting of the Apple yea his bitter Death it self yet are continually speaking â—f the miserableâ— state of Man by Adams fall but not take notice the same is done in themselves and many are they that talk of his eating and pretend to detest it and him for it yet themselves eat of it even as he hath done which doth manifest the miserable state of men who prepare a Rod for themselves by giving sentence against their own life by condemning their first Father Adam and perceive not themselves fast in the same Trap. Here then consider diligently what mans Will Knowledge and Understanding is where with they think they may come into the presence of God whereas indeed it is nothing but the bitterness of Death and the fruit of the forbidden Tree how few is there among men that perceive this or will learn to put off deny fear mortifie or kill his own Will and Wisdom nay rather do they not hold it fast extol and value it as pure Gold whenas indeed it is eternal Death and truly in this Misery the whole World lieth sick and few is the number of them blessed Ones who are delivered from themselves and their own wills power and wisdom but are a small remnant and few in number as one of a City and two of a Tribe that find this strait gate and enter in at it CHAP. II. Concerning the Tree of Life what it is and why Adam was shut out forbiaden and with-holden from it and not suffered to eat thereof I Can also allow that there is the Tree of Life likewise in Paradise as we find recorded in the holy Scripture whose fruit might have been so seasoned and endued by God and how it had that nature that he who should eat of it should live forever and never dye and when Adam had eaten of the forbidden Tree and had fallen as God foretold into Death it might not now be that he should be permitted to eat of the Tree of Life otherwise he might have lived forever and the Word of God if thou eat thereof thou shalt dye the Death had been false Moreover God who is meer Love and cannot forever be angry
while time is the spirit of God keeps striving to live to his Word to do his will that is to yeild their obedience to the Word of his Spirit that the Will of God may be done in their earthly Tabernacle agreeble to the desire of his Will which is in Heaven this is the way of them that to God abide faithful to keep the path of him that is Just in which their is neither variation nor shadow of turning buâ— keeping the way of Life which leadeth to enter thâ— strait Gate that is to that man that doth nothing know-nothing and willeth nothing of himself but bears and suffers and sees God making holy day in him this man keeps the Sabbath holy being void of all skill and will is subject only to God in him to do out will know both how what when and why he pleaseth God Now the whole World lieth in this Death and Sin for that it doth nothing else but kiss its own hand and Sacrifice to its own Net that is adore the purpose counsel invention and wisdom of it self and to this purpose are all things drawn and bent even the holy Scriptures and words of God namely to be consonant to the Reason of men and not to cross their own wisdom course and way but all these things must be overthrown unlearned again if they will see God therefore doth the Spirit of God and the holy Scriptures so vehemently urge the Children of Men to become Children and Fools and to vomit up again all the art and knowledge of this forbidden Tree to be purged by the strength of the Tree of Life consequently let men in this state look and observe in themselves narrowly what they do either in their worship to God or serving their Neighbour and they shall find that all this is true in their own brest that themselves is the mark they aim at in all they do J. E. T. M. CHAP. V. Concernining the Sin of Covetousness THe nature of which Lust or Devil lusteth to covet after that Which God hath expresly forbidden namely the Tree of Knowledg of good and evil which causeth men to become as Gods whose Eyes are opened against themselves to perceive the Tree good for Food and pleasent to the eyes and a Tree to make one wise therefore do they covet after the fruit of the Tree and greedily eat of it not considering how they eat Death and dye to God as Adam did even so is it with every man that is not planted into the Tree of Life and new born of Christ regenerated and brought forth by the immortal Seed the Word of God the Spirit of Truth and Seed of his Kingdom but on the contrary covet after the perishing things of this World thereby to enrich themselves there-with contrary to what God hath commanded first to seek the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness thereof unto which is the promise of adding all other things for as the Promise was on condition to Adam To do and live so hath it been the same to all men in every age and is the same in this day therefore let none deceive themselves for the doers of the Law were only them that kept the Word of the Lord who accounted them worthy of receiving Life to live with God forever for to the Disobedient who are only hearers of the Word and not doers of the Word there is no true peace neither in this Life nor in the Life to come for there is no peace to the Wicked saith my God so that the doers of the Law were they and only them that kept the Commandments of God and by faith in him were the works of the Law imputed to them for Righteousness So not in this Gospel Day Christ is given for a Light to lighâ—â—n the Gentiles and for Salvation to the ends of the Earth that whosoever will believe in him might not perish but have the Light of Life Therefore as Christ hath dyed for the sins of the whole World that every man in the World may be left without excuse God hath given unto them a gift of divine Light which is to them a Talent and Seed of the Tree of Life as is else-where called the â—ord of Faith being a manifestation of the Spirît given to every man to profit withal which as they hear to obey and do it they also profit by it to perform the Commandments of God and of this nature is their strength in the Tree of Life renewed which causeth the Seed to grow and makes rich the berren land through purging out the old Leaven that the new Lump may take place which bringeth forth holy Fruit abundantly to God so that the Children of her that was barren now bringeth forth and become many and thus do the faithful grow who covet after the better part namely to fear God and work Righteousness to 〈◊〉 Justly love Mercy and walk humbly doing no other thing to any then as themselves would be done unto This is the Law and the Prophets and also what God hath commanded for all men to do in this day that they may come to pertake of his Promise to grow in the Tree of Life from Grace to Grace until by Grace the work of God in them is wholly perfected but these things are to a Coveteous man even as the wise Charmeer is to the deaf Adder for having ears to hear they hear not to receive the Truth in the love of it because the love of Money is their pride in which they delight to become wise rich and what not in the perishing things of this life Here coveâ—ous men grow from one covetous desire to another until through pride and covetousness they come to â—all as Angels have done and yet may remain as many covetous Usurers do who have cloathed themselves with the Prophets and Apostles words that thereby they may appear in the sight of mâ—n to be knowing prudent and wise and accounted men of good Reason yea and withal religious and righteous whenas indeed it is but their own work and the Righteousness thereof which is as filththy Rags and fig-leave Garments of Unrightecusness where-with they vainly seek to hide themselves from the presence of God whose all seeing eye beholdeth the wayes of every covetous mans setting up for himself to walk in for which cause God that searcheth the heart and knoweth the intents of the mind and checks reproves and condemns for every vain thought evil intent and idle word and Unrighteous work for which cause often times covetous and proud unrighteous men and woman fall into such condemnation by the Power of God that they even despair of Mercy yea the horror of their condemnation is such that Preist nor Levit nor the dark Watch-men of the night can afford no help to the wound of a troubled Conscience in which state of a wounded Spirit who can bear which for remedy the physitian of no value is set to work who in his own will