many thousands and this I say before you and before the Gentiles that you eyes might wair upon the Lord God and you may have respâ—ct to the holy One of Israel who is descended and revealed unto and in many of the children of men and hath given gifts unto men yea he hath received gifts even for the Rebellious that the Lord God might dwell among them Psa 68. marke Here is the end of the outward Temple which God departed from here the Lords Temple or Tabernacle is among men and his sacrifices are a broken spirit a brokeâ— and contrite heart and this doth his gift bring many to witnesse who come to feel their hearts prepared and firted for the Lord by his own good spirit or gift which he freely bestowes upon them and this is he whom God hath given for a Covenant who hath ascended and received gifts even for the rehellious this is the Shilo that was promised and this is he unto whom the gathering of the people must be Gen. 49. And this is the Prophet whom God promised unto Moses to raise up whom the people was to hear and whosoever will not hearken unto him shall be cut off for God will even require it of him that will not hearken unto the words of God spoken by him And saith h the Lord God I will give him for a Covenant unto tâ—e people and for a light unto the Gentiles yea for a Leader to be my salvation to the ends of the earth mark this is the true Leader who is the light the everlasting covenant now since that your fathers have broken the first covenant that the Lord God made when he had brought Israel out of Egypt It is expedient for you that you turne your mindes from the outward Temples or Synagogues from the outward offerings and outward things that pertained to the first covenant and looke unto the holy one of Israel who is the salvation of God freely tendred unto you that by him your hearts may be cleansed and you saved from your manifold transgressions and offences and be established on an everlasting foundation least that through your obstinacy and wilfulnesse and rebellion you be found in your fathers iniquities and so perish with them that God destroyed for Israel was as the sand of the Sea in number yet it was but a remnant that were saved or preserved in comparison of the number that were destroyed and had it not been that the Lord of Hosts had left unto Israel a smal remnant they had all been unto the Lord as Sodome and as Gomorrah whom God destroyed read Isa Is and Chapter the 10th and even so it would be with many Nations but that God hath respect unto his heritage the seed whom God will sift from among the Nations and gather into his everlasting covenant that a right vine plant may grow up among them which plant he wil cause to take root and to spring up and bring forth fruit in abundance this is he that cometh out of the stem of Jesse and out of the root of David unto whom the Gentiles shall seek and his rest shall be glorious who shall be for an ensigne of the people and the second time will the Lord set his hand to recover the remnant of his people unto him both out of the Sea Jslands and many far countries and he shall assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the foure corners of the earth Isa 11. mark this is the seeker and saviour of that which was lost unto whom the people must be gathered both of Jews gentiles yea this is the righteous plant upon whom resteth the spirit of wisdome of understanding of might and of the fear of the Lord whom man despiseth and the Nations abhoreth who is a servant of Rulers Thus saith the Lord concerning him Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship because of the Lord that is faithful and the holy One of Israel and he shall chuse thee thus saith the Lord in an acceptable time have I heard thee and in a day of salvation have I helped thee and I will preserve thee and give thee for a covenant to the people to establish the earth to cause to inherit the desolate heritages that thou maist say to the prisoners goe forth and to them that are in darknesse shew your selves they shall feed in the waies and their pastures shall be in all high places they shall not hunger nor thirst neither shall the heat nor Sun smite them for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them even by the springs of water shall he guide them and I will make all my mountaines a way and my high waies shall be exalted behold these shall come from far and loe these from the North and from the West and these from the land of Sinim Read Isa 49. Even this in the North and in several of the Islands of the Sea is come to passe already and believed by many who have been as desolate heritages but now the Redeemer is come who is bringing many out of bondage and out of the prison house of corruption and iniquity wherein many are yet in bondage unto whom this shall be reported and who shall be visited by this Redeemer and Saviour whom God is raising up and hath raised him up in his power and Majesty amongst many in the North Countries whom God hath gathered unto him and who now are led by the River of water which cometh from the everlasting fountain of life and mercies as many in the Island of England do and shall witnesse who were once desolate and as Gentiles by nature that knew not the everlasting covenant of light but now are come into the light and power of God in which God is setting up his holy mountain that his peomay find rest and dwell in safty and shall praise the Lord in the glory of his light and beauty of his holinesse Therefore ye in whom there is some sincerity and some thirsting after holinesse in whom Jacob is not wholly eaten up or destroyed nor his habitation quite desolate and in whom there is some thing of the truth appearing and kindling look ye unto the servant of the Lord the Elect the chosen one in whom his soul delighteth he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles for the spirit of God is upon him A bruised reed shall he not break and the smoking flax shall he not quench he shall bring forth judgement unto truth this is he that is given for a Covenant of the people and for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darknesse out of the prison house his Law the Isles shall wait for Isa 42. and he shall sprinkle many Nations though he be dispised and rejected of men he being a man of sorrowes and acquainted with grief yet he groweth up as a tender plant and
as a root out of a dry ground Isa 53. and the Isles must listen to him and the people must hearken unto him from far for the Lord hath chosen him and made his mouth like a sharp sword in the shadow of his hand hath he hid his chosen one and made him a polished shaft in his quiver Mark how God gives his Elect power to execute Judgement who surely will shoot at the wicked and slay the unrighteous who will not listen nor hearken unto him Therefore yâ— scattered people dread and fear the holy One for it is he that must Reigne though long he hath been dispised and his glory and dominion must reach unto the ends of the Earth over both Jewes and Gentiles for his light is broken forth already among many and the scepter of his Kingdom is held forth and his righteousness must be declared even unto the ends of the earth that he may be known to be the foundation of many generations whom God is raising up among thousands and whom thousands in the Northen Islands of England do already witnesse raised up and take heed how you do resist his government least that the Lord God shoot forth his arrowes and empty his quiver or vials of wrath against you and kill you in his wrath for he hath a bundance of Arrowes reserved to shoot forth against them that do resist his chosen One and would not that he should rule over them nor walk in his light nor suffer it to lead them and they who are so far from knowing his government as they say that his light doth not enlighten the heathens or the Gentiles they are far out of his faith and righteousnesse and there are many such that profess his name in words but are ignorant of his righteousnesse and judgements who will not own that Gods Annointed is a light to the heathen or that the heathen are inlightned by him and such there are many but if it were so how should he inherit the wast and desolate places And how should the Gentiles seek or come unto him from far For the Gentiles shal come unto the Lord from far yea from the ends of the earth and they shall say surely our fathers have inherited lyes vanities and things wherein there is no profit Jer. 16. Now they that seek after the Lord they must first have a feeling after him and that which bringeth any to feel after him is a measure of his life and light who enlightens every man and who worketh in every man to will and giveth him strength to obey him even by his free gift which he hath freely bestowed upon man So that all who come to seek and find him who is the holy one of Israel They must not follow the vanities nor Traditions which their sore-fathers have inherited contrary to the wil and commands of the Lord but every one come to hear obey him marke they are to hear what the Lord speaketh and walke in his light for God himself must reigne and his holy one shall lead and they shall not be as the false prophets in Israel who said thus the Lord said and the burthen of the word of the Lord when the Lord had not spoken unto them for said the true prophet thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour and every one to his brother what hath the Lord answered and what hath he said Jer. 23. Chap. and now the Lord is manifesting his everlasting covenant for behold the daies come saith the Lord that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the dayâ— that I â—ook them by the hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt which my covenant they brake although I was a husband unto them saith the Lord But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those daies saith the Lord I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people and they shal teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them even unto the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their iniquitie and I will remember their sin no more Read Isa 54. and Jere. 31. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquities whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have transgressed against me saith the Lord God Read chap 33. and again I will take you from among the heathen and gather you out of all countries and bring you into your own land then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthinesse and from all your Idols will I cleanse you a new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you an heart of flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes Read Ezek. the 11 Chap. and Chap. 36. and again saith the Lord I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord the remnant of Israel shall do no iniquity norâ—speak lyes neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth for they shall feed and lie down and none shall make them afraid Zephaniah the 3d chap. Now these things is the Lord God of Israel bringing to passe in these our daies since he hath this second time stretched forth his hand and made bare his holy arme to recover his seed in the Islands of the Sea and in all countries where it hath been scattered and many do already know and feel him who taketh away all iniquity and doth even thorowly refine his heritage who is the teacher of his people himself therefore all they who do not believe that they shall be so taught of God But that they must have need of men to teach them so long as they live in the body they are in darknesse deny the promise of God which his seed that believes in him is a witnesse of And all they that do not believe that any may be washed and thorowly cleansed from all sin and iniquity whilst they live their faith is out of Gods light and they deny his Covenant and so cometh short of adoption because of their unbeliefe and the deceit of their hearts for this is the Covenant which God will gather his people into even the covenant that he made with David who walked wisely before the Lord and with a perfect heart and became wiser then his Teachers when he knew the deliverance and salvation of God towards him and all that believe in the light of the everlasting
that is the circumcision which is inward known by the spirit and we are the circumcision in Christ who worship God in the spirit and have no confidence in the flesh and who are circumcised outwardly they are bound to keep the whole Law which none of the Jewes could do who had circumcision outwardly but who are of faith are of Abrabraham unto whom the promise was when he was in the uncircumcision or before he was circumcised so that neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new Creature Jer 4.3 Colos 2.11 Rom. 2.25.28 29. Phil. 3.3 1 Cor. 7.19 Gal. 5.2 Ioh. 7.19 Rom. 4.10 4 Of the outward Passover THe Lord God commanded the Passover to be observed in the first Covenant which was a Lambe without blemish a male of the first yeare which was to be roasted with fire and they were not to carry the flesh of it abroad but to eat it with their loines girded and their shoos on their feet and they did strike the blood of this lamb on the posts of the door of the house where they did eat it which was for a token unto them that the Lord seeing it he would not smite them when he smote the Egyptians but his plague did passe over them and did not hurt them that eat the passeover and they kept the feast of it seven daies with unleavened bread But no uncircumcised person might eate of the pasover now the ordinance of the passover was in force untill Christ fulfilled it that night he was betrayed he eate the passover with his disciples Exo. 12. Lev. 23.5 Num. 9.12 and 28.16 Mat. 26. Mark 14.12 Luke 22. In the second Covenant is Christ received and his life made manifest in the Saints and he is our passover who hath offered himselfe a lamb without spot to God having laid down his life for the ransome of many and he is the bread of life and his flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed which except a man eat and drink he hath no life in him and with him is the Saints feast and solemnity kept of unleavened bread of sincerity and truth having their hearts circumcised and purified unto God by his spirit and the old leaven of iniquity and corruption purged our and the loines of their minds girded up in the spirit and life of Christ which brings to see him the bread of life which came down from God and in this feast must none be partakers but who come to have their minds joyned unto God and their hearts circumcised from unrighteousnesse by his spirit and they who are come to Christ the Saints passover they are kept in remembrance of him and do witnesse him come that they need not observe the taking of outward bread and wine and elementary things to keep them in remembrance of him or to signifie the crucifying of his body and shedding of his blood as many in the world do 6. Io. 3.36 and 5 24. Mat. 20.28 1 Pet. 1.19 Iohn 6.53 1 Cor. 5.7 8. 1 Pet. 1.13 5 Of the outward Sabbaths THe first Covenant priesthood had a command to keep the Sabbath which was the seven daies of the weeks and in the Sabbath to rest from all their labours and works For the Lord rested from his work on the seventh day and was refreshed so that none of the Israelites was to travel nor bear any burthen on the Sabbath day seeing God had sanctified it neither might they gather sticks nor kindle a fire within all their families on the Sabbath daies Moreover they had a command to keep every seventh year for a Sabbath of rest unto the Lord which was called the year of Jubelee wherein every debter was to be freed from his servitude or bondage wherein he had served towards the satisfaction of his Creditors And every creditor was to release the debts owing them and they that had their lands or estates morgaged for debt were to have them released that every man might possesse his own in the year of the Sabbath but the everlasting Sabbath they were not then come to For they had often fightings and war with their enemies who sought to oppresse them Gen. 2.2 Exo. 16.23 and 20.8.11 and 31.15 and 35.2 Levit. 23.3 and 35.3 Num. 15 Deut 5.14 Neh 10.31 Jer. 17.21 Exo. 21.2 and 23.10 11. Levit. 25. Deut. 15.2.12 Jer. 34.14 They who are come into the second Covenant have received Christ who is the Lord of the Sabboth the end of the Sabbaths without for meats and drinks and new Moons holy dayes and Sabbaths were but a shadow of things to come which they who do observe the shadow they neglect the substance even the body of Christ And the Jewes who observed the Sabboths without they accused Christ because he healed the sick on the Sabboth-day and because his disciples had pluckt the eares of Corn on the Sabboth day but these knew not him who was Lord of the Sabboth And the Jews said unto one that had been an Impotent man that Christ had cured on the Sabboth day it is the Sabboth day it is not Lawful for thee to carry thy bed he Answerred them he that made me whole the same said unto me take up thy bed and walk and the Jews sought the more to kill Jesus not onely because he had broken the Sabboth but said also that God was his Father and in Acts 1.12 it is written then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet which is from Jerusalem a Sabboth dayes Journey And according to one Greek translation in the 6 Chap. of Luke next after the 5 vers it is written Jesus seeing a certaine man working on the Sabbath-day said unto him O man if thou didst know indeed what thou dost thou wert happy but if thou knowest not thou art accursed and a transgressor of the Law And the saints who were come to Christ the end of the outward Sabboths they met on the first dayes of the weeks not in observation to the dayes but in obedience to Christ in whom is the everlasting Sabboth of rest remaining where the burthens must not be for the people of God who continue in his Faith and love whereby the rest comes to be obtained And the year or time of release or restauration comes to be witnessed and the Bedemption from under the bondages and the burthens known and the Iniquity which hath caused burthens is there taken away by the Lord of the Sabboth who is the foundation of many Generations who is raised up to him that maketh the Sabboth his delight and doth not his own pleasure nor speaketh his own words on the holy day he shall delight himself in the Lord but unto this Sabbath are all strangers who are following their own pleasures and lusts from whence the Wars and the strifes do arise speaking their own words And none comes to the true rest but they who receive the true light wch brings man to deny his own will
of the Tythes as well as the Priests taht there might be no beggar in Israel And the Priests did offer an heave-offering unto the Lord of the tenth part of the Tythes as God commanded which command was in force until Christ was crucified as other Ordinances were the Jewes and Pharisees they payed Tythes in the dayes of Christ in the flesh but neglected the weightier matters of the Law Num. 18 26. Deut. 10.9 and 12.12 and 14.29 Mala. 3.10 Mat. 23.23 Luke 11.42 But now is Christ come and made manifest through suffering who is became an everlasting high Priest over the houshold of God who was not made a Priest after the Law of a carnal commandment as the Priests without were but by the power of an endless life and he is the end of that Priesthood which had the Tithes and offerings which could not continue by reason of death though tithes and offerings were Ordinances in the changeable Priesthood they did but continue by the law until Christ the one offering suffered on the Crosse who took away the hand writing of Ordinances blotted it out nailing it to his crosse and he abolished in the flesh the emnity that was against us even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances So that in stead of a Priesthood that dyed a Priesthood is witnessed in Christ the everlasting covenant of God so the priesthood being changed that had the tithes and offerings there is made of necessity a change of the law which upheld these outward things also And then certanly they that either take or maintain the taking of Tythes either Priests or others they deny Christ come in the flesh and are enemies to his Crosse minding earthly things in their taking or upholding tythes and he that denyeth Christ come in the flesh the same is Antichrist But they who own Christs coming and do receive him he becomes their friend their husband and father and leads them into his Fathers house which is an everlasting store-house of many mansions and bread enough and so sees the life and substance of that which the store-house without was but a figure of in which no strangers comes to be entertained but such as receive the truth in the love of it Heb. 10.21 and chap. 7. Colos 2.14 Ephes 2.15 2 John 7. Phil. 3.18 19. 10. Of the outward Tabernacle under the Law and the instruments thereof and the Lords forsaking thereof THe first Covenant and Priesthood had a Tabernacle of the Congregation which was made according to the pattern which God shewed unto Moses in the mount and made known unto him how to make the Tabernacle and instruments thereof and there was the Ordinances of Divine Service and this Tabernacle had the worldly sanctuary or outward Court called the sanctuary wherein the Priests did dayly service as offering sacrifices and offerings for the sins and trespasses of the people And there was seven Lamps continually burning and within the Tabernacle was there a second vail hung up and within that vail was the the Tabernacle called the most holy wherein was the Cherubims mercy-seat and the Ark of the Testimony that God gave to Moses the Testimony was in the Ark the mercy-seat was over the Ark and the Cherubims stood over the mercy seat on each end of it with their wings stretched forth overshadowing the mercy-seat and none was to go into the most holy place within the vail save the high Priest once a year but he went not without blood which he offered for his own sins and for the errors of the people and the Lord communed with the Priest from between the Cherubims of glory and yet neither the Priest nor the people were made pure as pertaining to the conscience by these offerings and Ordinances which they offered and upheld in that Covenant which had a shadow of heavenly things so that there was need of a second Covenant and of the blood of the heavenly Mediator whereby a cleansing from sin and error is witnessed by such as have received the end of these outward shadows which in their time was glorious But now mark this figure in the first covenant the Ark of the Testimony was under the mercy-seat which was over shadowed with the Cheribins And both the Ark and the mercy-seat was within the vail whether the people that was in the error and hardness of heart might not come save the Priest that was annointed with precious ointment for in this holy place was the golden censer also the golden pot which had the Manna and Aarons rod which budded and the Tables of the Covenant And thus this Tabernacle where God was heard was furnished with more instruments then I need mention at present And no stranger nor uncircumcised person might come nigh the Tabernacle least he was cut off Exod. 25.9.16 20.21.22 37.40 27.20 Num. 7 89. Acts 7.44 Heb 8.5 9. chap. Heb. 9.1.2 3 4 5. And moreover when the Israelites had forsaken the Lord and were turned into I dolatry and had set up high places and images the Lord forsook the Tabernacle in Shilo which before he was heard in and the Israelites sell into the hands of their enemies who did make slaughter spoil both among them and their consecrated things that Gods presence in some measure had been found in till they had provoked him And when the Israelites sell into the hands of the Philistines that the Philistines got the upper hand of them they took away the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites but they were fain to send it back unto them again for the Lord smote and plagued the Philistines for it and their Idol Dagon fell before the Ark and he smote the heathen men of Bethshemesh with a great slaughter because they looked into the Ark of the Lord Mark the uncircumcised heathen were not to look into the holy things And this Ark was of such a great account in the eyes of many in Israel seeing that it was a consecrated precious thing and the hand of the Lord was known with it that some counted that the glory of Israel was departed when the Ark was taken Deut. 32.21 Psal 78.58 59. Judg. 2.11 3.7 4.1 6.1 10.6 13.1 1 Sam. 4.10 11.16.17 5.3.4 6 chap. Now Christ Jesus being come he is the Mediator of a better Covenant which is established upon better promises then that Covenant which had the Tabernacle and Sanctuary without and the Cherubims and mercy seat Ark and Testimony without for that Tabernacle without did man pitch and the Priests and the people did God often find fault with and then there was a vaile over the peoples hearts that they could not see into the holiest of all while the first Tabernacle was standing but Christ the everlasting high Priest is a Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man and according to his promises his Tabernacle is with men who have received his Laws in