sup with him Now there is a measure of the light of Christ in every one which is given to profit withal and when he cometh he destroyeth sin or taketh away sin for he came to destroy the works of the devil and he will consume and destroy all sin by the brightness of his power for he is stronger then the strong man that divideth the spoils and taketh from him whatsoever he trusteth in So that whatsoever estate a son or daughter is in it is still but Christ combating with his Enemies in that estate drawing all into himself and destroying all opposing powers that himself may remain to be the one alone Almighty power spread forth every where and so doing the will of the Father bruising the serpents head in them that believe that he alone who is the Divine may grow up flourish and remain and bring forth abundance of fruit in them when their created flesh is purged from bondage and made subject unto him in all things for they that are in Christ ought so to walk as Christ hath walked who did no evil neither was there guile found in his mouth so that every one speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things which is their head even Christ who is their Anointed and he shall subdue all their enemies under their feet Psal 100. 1. and his people shall be willing in the day of his power And the new heaven and the new earth mentioned Rev. 5. 13. wherein he who is King of Righteousness doth dwell and rule and they that are his redeemed ones shall see him in all his creatures and they shall all rejoyce in each other and all their joy in him shall be full This great Mystery Christ is begun to appear and Christ is arising and drawing all his into himself and he that hath part in the first Resurrection over him the second death shall have no power For there is no peace saith my God to the wicked there is no peace so long as deceipt lodgeth in the heart If I regard iniquity in my heart God will not hear me there can be no quiet nor true peace in man till the Kingdom of Darkness be conquered and the serpent be cast out and all his works and then such a heart is made a fit Temple for the holy Ghost to dwell bodily in for all Christs enemies must to the fire and when they are burnt up then he reignes in the soul for unto us a Child is born and unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellour the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace of the increase of his Government and Peace there shall be no end and those that wait or stay themselves on the Lord he keepeth such in perfect Peace For it is Righteousness that delivereth from Death even death eternal and therefore it concerneth every man and woman to wait that he may feel that power of righteousness the Lord subduing every lust in them bringing all into subjection that is contrary to him that Christ alone may Rule Open the gates and stand open ye everlasting doors that the King of glory may enter in which is Jesus who will cast out all sin that he may present his without spot unto the Father for the Lord hateth every hypocrite Isa 9. 17. and Christ saith Wo unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for wickedness burneth as a fire and through the wrath of the Lord of Hosts is the Land darkned and the people shall be as fewel of the fire no man shall spare his brother and all because of sin And Tophet is prepared of old even for the king it is prepared and the breath of the Lord as a river of brimstone kindleth it And therefore all you stout-hearted Magistrates that oppress and destroy his holy ones in this the day of the Lords power fear and tremble for he is coming to punish the stout heart of the King and all that do wickedly under him and he pronounceth wo unto all them that make or decree unrighteous decrees and that write grievousness and subscribe it to turn aside the needy from judgement and take away the right from the poor that widows may be their prey and that they may rob the fatherless What will you do in this the day of the Lords visitation which will bring desolation upon all oppressours for they shall be troden down as dirt in the streets Isa 10. 6. And all those that kill the Prophets and stone the just ones that are sent unto them to turn them from the evil of their doings Let them fear and tremble before him for fear he require at the hands of them the bloud of all the Prophets slain from the foundation of the World for the wicked shall be turned into hell and all people that forget God for the Lord is known by the judgements which he executeth in snaring the wicked in the works of his own hands for the Lord will break in pieces all unjust oppressing Magistrates like a Potters vessel Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be learned ye Judges of the earth serve the Lord in fear and rejoyce in trembling kiss the Son lest he be angry and ye perish in the way when his wrath shall suddenly burn then blessed are all they that trust in him For nothing but truth in the inward parts can stand before him and therefore every one wait till this King Jesus who is the Word and was in the beginning and all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made for in him is life and the life is the light of men which is the true light that lightneth every man that cometh into the world and to all those that do receive this light in the love of it to them he gives power to â—ecome the sons of God even to such as believe on his Name which are born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh but of the will of God For it is plain the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us Joh. 1. 14. the same was in the beginning vvith God of vvhose fulness vve have received grace for grace Now say the people of this World vvho lye in vvickedness for the vvhole World lyeth in vvickedness this Light vvill delude you it vvill deceive you Thou vain man what can deceive Antichrist what can deceive a Drunkard a Whoremonger an unclean Swearer Lyer Covetous man who is an Idolater are not these led by the Prince of Darkness that ruleth in the hearts of the children of disobedience Cannot all men see that they are in darkness and can the light of the World Christ Jesus can he delude them these are plainly lulled asleep by Satan in a carnal security and cry peace peace until sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape it
word and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him And Rom. 8. 9. Now if any man hath not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his for as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are Sons of God vers 14. Ephes 1. 17 18 19 20 21 22 23. Paul speaking to them concerning their faith in the Lord Jesus as he had heard and their love unto all Saints he ceased not to give thanks for them making mention of them in his prayers that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him the eyes of their understandings being enlightned that they may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe according to the working of his mighty power which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places far above all principalities and power and might and dominion and every name that is named not onely in this world but also in that which is to come and hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his Body the fulness of him that filleth all in all Which Mystery was made known to Paul by Revelation and he expresly saith That this Mystery in Christ was not made known unto the sons of men in other ages as it is now revealed unto his Apostles and Prophets which is made known by the Spirit and that is that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and of the same Body and partakers of his promise in Christ and to this end he prayeth for them that they may be strengthened in the inner man by the riches of his glory with might by his Spirit that Christ may dwell in their hearts by Faith that they may be filled with all the fulness of God and may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ Jesus in them the hope of glory which cleanseth all his from all filthiness that they may perfect holiness in his fear for they that have learned Christ and been taught by him as the Truth is in Jesus they put off all uncleanness and lasciviousness they put off the old man with his deeds which is lying deceipt lust evil speaking they must not be angry neither give place to the devil nor his Temptations against which they must keep a continual watch that they may not fall they must let no rotten nor corrupt communication proceed out of their mouths but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers and all bitterness wrath anger and evil speaking and clamour must be put away with all malice drunkenness and fornication filthiness and foolish jesting And that which maketh manifest sin is the light in every one for all things are reproved and made manifest by the light for whatsoever doth make manifest is light and therefore awake thou that sleepest and stand up from the dead and Christ shall give thee light and wait on the Lord to be filled with his Spirit for we are members of his Body of his flesh and of his bones that you may be strong in the Lord and the power of his might that puting on the whole Armour of God they may be able to stand against the wises of Sathan for they are not onely to wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers against the Rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickednesses in high places and therefore they must have their loins girt about with truth and having on the brest-plate of Righteousness the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God that enlightneth every one that cometh into the world Christ in you the hope of glory for they that are Christs crucifie the flesh with the affections and lusts and he maketh his walk as he hath walked to be holy as he is holy and pure as he is pure to count all things but loss and dung that they may win Christ for whom they suffer the loss of all things that they may know him and the power of his Resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable to his death that they may attain unto the Resurrection of the dead forgetting those things that are behinde and reaching after those things that are before that they may attain unto perfection having their conversations in heaven from whence they look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change their vile bodies that they may be fashioned according to his glorious body according to that working whereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself and therefore they are careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and thanksgiving and supplication their Requests are made known unto God and those things that are true just pure and of good report peaceable and lovely bowels of compassion kindness humbleness of minde meekness long-suffering charity that whatsoever they do in word or deed they may and ought to do all in the name of Jesus Christ giving thanks to God the Father by him this is the fruits the Saints are clothed with which doth demonstrate their new birth which gift is from above from the Father of spirits from whom they receive power to become the sons of God by believing in his Name Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth In his dayes Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and this is his Name whereby he shall be called THE LORD OVR RIGHTEOVSNESS For he is that mighty King that shall be established upon the holy Hill of Sion that is he shall be the onely King unto whom every man and woman must be subject for He shall Reign for ever and ever But here may an Objection arise We see the power of darkness reigns in most men and women and they are guided by the god of this world who ruleth in the hearts of the children of disobedience for the Mystery of Iniquity doth work in them with all deceivableness in unrighteousness in them that perish to whom the Lord sendeth strong delusions that they should believe lies that they all might be damned that would not receive the truth in the love of it but took pleasure mark this in unrighteousness so it is sin is the cause of all misery I answer That all men by nature are children of wrath but God who is rich in mercie giveth unto all a tender of grace for he stands at the door and knocketh if any man open he will come in and
the inventions of their own hands who are deceived by her Witchcrafts her Gog and Magog who are in number like the sand of the sea But what will be their end they must be destroyed by fire and therefore follow not a multitude to do evil And the devil that deceived them shall be cast into the lake of fire where the Beast and false Prophets are who shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever O stand amazed all Deceivers of his people for the time will come that he will require the blood of his people at your hands and what will become of you when the dreadful and terrible GOD appears in Judgement you will then desire the hills to fall upon you to hide you from his presence then those that have Christ in them who hath filled them with everlasting rest and glory shall lift up their heads for their Redemption draweth neer and he that shall be your Judge is become their Saviour for the Father judgeth no man but hath committed all Judgement unto the Son And they that live in the Son have the Light of Life abiding in them And so in him they walk from strength to strength until they appear before GOD in Sion The fourth Epistle To all the Hypocrites in Sion desiring them that they would return that the Lord may heal their Back-slidings For the Wrath of the living God is revealed from heaven against all Vnrighteousness And Woes will be upon them even Woes eternal that take upon them the Profession of Religion in any Form to be a Cloak to their Sin and Vnrighteousness THere is no man saith Christ that putteth his hand to the Plough and looketh back that is apt for the kingdom of God Now doth not most Professors look back do they do the works God or are they not doing the works of the devil is not wrath anger backbiting whispering deceiving over-reaching in their bargains killing is not these fruits to be found amongst all Professors and therefore it is high time for them to repent that they may do their first works for the time once was that they had Zeal and Love and Gentleness and Temperance and were in the Moderation a little kept but now they are come into the persecuting nature into the destroying nature the devouring nature the dogs nature and are out of the Lambs nature for the fruits of Faith are Love Goodness Gentleness Meekness Temperance Brotherly kindness Charity Bowels of compassion Holiness and Righteousness Against such saith Paul there is no Law For they that are Christs have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts And now amongst those tender Lambs of Christ those Babes that are born again those Plants of the Lords right Hand Trees of his own planting that are full of sap the Cedars of Lebanon I mean those that are by the wicked of the earth the men of this world in scorn called Quakers amongst these is crept in wicked Deceivers ungodly men and ungodly Women even as Judas crept in amongst the Apostles such who think that gain is godliness such who follow Christ for the Loaves such as think they can serve two Masters God and Mammon Christ and Riches Christ and Lusts Christ and the World Christ and Antichrist such who teach that Doctrine of Devils that Paul speaketh of denying to marry and to abstain from meats such who turn the Grace of God in them into wantonness Truce breakers Breakers of Covenants pretending they were married in their carnal estate and they were never moved of the Lord and therefore they may leave their husbands and leave their wives and that spirit these are guided by is of Satan and so will lead them to take others as their blind Ignis fatuus leads them for by nothing but Imagination Lust and Fancie are such led And such leads away silly women that are captivated by Satan laden with divers lusts and pleasures that are alwayes learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth Others are led to neglect their Families and Relations to neglect their Children contrary to that Doctrine of Paul that saith A man is worse then an Infidel that doth not provide for his Family meaning his outward Family For let every man wait on his calling and God hath appointed that the creation shall be managed that man may be Lord of all the creatures and Christ saith It is a more happier thing to give then to receive and the Apostle commandeth to lay up that there may be a distribution amongst the Saints and how can he lay up that is idle and runs to and fro wasting his time in idleness and consuming his pretious time whilst his wife and children wants at home and so this spirit rents and tears the affections of men from their wives and women from their husbands and children from their parents and this that brings into a dis-uniting is not the Spirit of the Lord for the Spirit of the Lord brings into Union for it shall convince the whole world at last that they shall be all of one heart and of one spirit and the one alone spirit of Righteousness shall fill all in all And this cannot be that spirit that rents and makes divisions but this spirit of Righteousness teacheth the man to know his own wife and love her as Christ did the Church and it teacheth the woman to know and love her own husband and the man and woman so taught live like Turtle Doves And so the unbelieving woman cometh to be sanctified by the believing man the unbelieving man by the believing woman and here the good vertuous Wife cometh to be found that Solomon speaketh of whose price is above pearls and she doth him good and not evil all his days and is not as the wicked woman that is termed by him a whorish woman that is rottenness to her husbands bones And Others there are that are very loose in their carriage and deny the Resurrection of the Body contrary to the Doctrine of the Apostle saying The Resurrection is past already and such was in his time that had overthrown the faith of some now these people are in distraction and the Spirit of the Lord leades into Unity Love and Peace and out of all disturbance and the Lord is the portion of his people for ever and they that stay themselves upon God are kept in perfect peace and the Spirit of God is infallible they that are guided by that cannot erre and these do erre not knowing the Scriptures and so are led into the distraction which causeth disturbance and this is by the cunningness of Satan who lieth in wait to deceive and this simple people are led captive by him to do his will at his pleasure And therefore dear Friends take heed how you hear and whom you hear and be not blinded by those that lie cunningly in wait to deceive you for all that is to be known of God is made manifest in man and
Christ as is before shewed who are in the life which are onely such that have the seed of God raised in their own particulars and alwayes obey it in the power thereof such are not under the power of the Law but under Grace and the Spirit of the Lord Jesus which dwelleth in them hath made them free from the Law of sin and of death and they and they onely are Christs because they are led by the Spirit of Christ and all others let their forms be Episcopal Presbytery Independents Anabaptists or whatever all their Worship is but will-Worship and their eatings and drinkings and washings and preachings and singings and hearings are all but the Sacrifice of Fools being all will Worship the inventions of mens hands out of the life and power of the truth as it is in Jesus and therefore is before the Lord but as the cutting off a dogs neck being a blind zeal without knowledge for I know upon what ground they all stand having run through all these Forms and could never finde rest for the sole of my feet in them neither can any find true peace until they come to lie down in the Father worshipping him in Spirit and in Truth being holy in all manner of conversation for unto such it is become natural to do the will of their Father on Earth as it is done in Heaven And therefore I do dearly exhort you all men and women to whom this shall come to keep close to the pure seed of God in you for that is your true Teacher and follow it and it will shew you the Father and the Son and if you obey this Doctrine you shall know that it is of God and lend not your ears at any time or place unto the Tempter but crush the Serpent in the first motions of sin and then they turn upon his own accompt and not upon thine for it is no sin to be tempted but the sin is to yeild for when lust hath conceived it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death Therefore break the Cockatrice Egg before it be hatched that it may never come to be a Serpent and resist the devil and he will flee from you and turn in the minde to the pure light and wait in it that preserved you may all be out of that sin and evil that would defile you for this pure Principle of God in you will not consent at any time to sin but will check and reprove for it and if its motions be obeyed it will keep you all single and unspotted of the world and so you shall be found worthy to follow the Lamb in this the day of his power wherein he is risen to make War with the Beast and false Prophet And therefore it doth concern every one continually to watch and to have their loines girt about with the preparation of the Gospel of Truth that is with Jesus the Word by whom all things were made who is in all his Babes and Children that are born again and those that have his commandments and keepeth them dwelleth in him and he in them and this Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world shall have the Victory and blessed and thrice happy are all they that can come to witness sensibly in their own particular him rising in them that are truly fighting under his Bannâ—… against sin the world and the devil and feel a dayly conquering of sin that die dayly as Paul saith unto sin that they may be made alive unto God and as David saith that hateth the very appearance of evil And the onely way to this is to keep low in ones self and to wait in the cool of the day turning in to the light and in it wait and put on the whole Armour of God that you may be preserved at all times out of the snares of Satan for this will let you see sensibly the Tree that bringeth forth corrupt fruit to be cut down in you and a new plant raised which will bring forth its fruit in due season to the glory of the Lord who alone is worthy of all glory and honour and everlasting praises for ever and for ever And therefore all Friends keep in the pure fear and wisdom of the Lord that at all times you may be ordered by it to do all things to his glory at all times and in all places that you may be a good savour unto all men you have to do withal and let your souls truly pant and thirst after the living God as the hart panteth after the water-brooks for your Redeemer is neer you if you refuse him not the Word is nigh thee even in thy heart and in thy mouth and the kingdom of heaven is within you as is plainly shewed in this Treatise and if Satan be in his first motions resisted you shall plainly see him pass away as the shadows pass away and the dew when the Sun ariseth And therefore keep in the pure fear and wisdom of God that with it you may be ordered and guided in all things to do them to his glory and so you shall sensibly witness the seed of God in you all to reign that will trample Satan under feet and then shall the saints rejoyce and they shall witness pure and holy rejoycings with songs of Triumph and Praises with Glory Glory Glory and everlasting Praises to their Father which is in heaven who is worthy We have had great stirs in the Nation of late years by Souldiers and great Words and good Language have they spoken that they would do much for Christ and the setling of his Kingdom which they do not know and the protecting of his people whose Life is in it being in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost which is a hard thing for a Souldier that kills men for mony houses lands and goods ever to witness until with Zacheus he restore to him that he hath robbed by forged cavilation and to the debtor his pledge But the whole Nation is sensible if they be not wilfully blind of the backsliding and Apostatizing of the Army and how in all changes they have sought themselves and not the things of God it is like they have forgot that Text Joh. 18. 16. My kingdom saith Christ is not of this world and Paul saith Rom. 14. 17. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink nor yet Arms and Armies but righteousness and peace and joy in the holy Ghost which Souldiers and Armies usually destroy and confound and therefore Christs Souldiers must have onely the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God which leadeth them into all the truth and peace and condemneth the very practices of this Army that hath so often changed and sworn and engaged with hands lifted up to heaven and yet broke all as fast as made them to the sadding of the hearts of all their faithful friends to the strengthning of the hands of their enemies and
of the flesh and they that are risen with Christ seek the things that are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of the Throne of God and they do not mind earthly things And therefore all dear Friends mind the pure love of the eternal God the loving Father unto you all to manifest his living pure way of Truth Life and Salvation unto you which is treasured up in Christ who is in you that believe the hope of glory and therefore lay hold upon him and highly prize this the day of your visitation which the Father hath given you all in tender love to your souls which the Lord desires the salvation of for the Lord saith As I live saith the Lord I desire not the death of a sinner but that he may turn from his wickedness and live and God would have none to perish but that all might come to the knowledge of the truth that they might be saved And what is the Reason when men have the measure of the manifestation of the true light of Christ in them which is given them to profit withal that they are not saved The Reason is Because they will not part with their Lusts their darling sins for they love Darkness more then Light because their Deeds are evil and they will not come unto the light that they may have their deeds made manifest and Thy condemnation is of thy self O Israel and Christ saith I stand at the door and knock if any man will open I will come in and sup with him and he with me O Jerusalem Jerusalem that killest the Prophets and stonest those that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thee together as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not So thy rebellious sinful nature leadeth thee to thy everlasting destruction because thou takest pleasure in unrighteousness and sin and thou slightest the pure wayes of the living God and countest the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing and thou dost despite unto the Spirit of Grace And therefore now search and try your wayes and turn to the Lord and put away the evil of your doings and learn to do well and the Lord will heal all your back-slidings and will love you freely and remember your sins past no more if you from this day go away and sin no more But if you go on in sin know That although judgement is not speedily executed against evil doers yet the Lord will punish assuredly the hairy scalp of him that goeth on in his sins and wickednesses and when the measure of thy iniquities are fully ripe then Judgement shall come upon thee to the utmost and there shall be no Remedy and none shall be able to deliver thee in the day of the Lords wrath And therefore stand in aw and sin not lest a worse thing come upon thee then yet hath done And therefore confess thy sins unto the Lord and he is faithful and just to forgive thee thy sins But woe be unto him that covereth his sin and hideth his Transgressions for he shall not prosper Therefore high and low rich and poor learned and unlearned turn unto the Lord and harden not your hearts and let the great ones know That the Almighty God is coming against them and he will plead with them by fire and by the sword and the ungodly shall be as chaff before the wind as stubble before the fire for the day of the Lord shall burn as an Oven and the day shall burn up all that do wickedly for the Lord God will not be mocked but he will be avenged on his enemies and all the unbelieving and unrighteous generation of men both Priests and People shall feel the stroke of his almighty Arm of Power if they do not speedily repent and turn unto him and leave off their wicked deceitful wayes and their doings that are not good for they are wallowing in their own wayes and their hearts are running a whoring after their own inventions And therefore return unto the Lord and learn Righteousness now at the last before you die for as the Tree falleth so it lieth and there is no Repentance in the grave whither thou goest and as death leaveth Judgement findeth for this I say as Paul doth That according to the way that most men call heresie so worship I the God of my Fathers believing all things which are written in the Law and the Prophets and that there shall be a resurrection both of the just and the unjust a resurrection of the dead and herein do I exercise my self to have alwayes a conscience void of offence towards God and towards man Act. 1. 10 11. And while they looked stedfastly towards heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in white apparel which also said Ye men of Galilee why stand yee gazing up into heaven this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven Act. 2. 20. The Sun shall be turned into darkness and the Moon into blood before that great and notable day of the Lord come 1 Thes 4. 15 16 17. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord That we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them that are asleep for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-Angel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thes 5. But ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief 2 Thes 7 8. And to you which are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe As Paul reasoned with Felix Act. 24. 25. of Judgement Felix trembled and said Go thy way I will call for thee when I have a convenient season 1 Cor. 15. If after the manner of men saith Paul I have fought with beasts at Ephesus what advantageth it me if the dead rise not 1 Cor. 15. 43. It is raised in power by the mighty power of him that is Almighty that said Let there be light and it was so and laid the Foundations of the earth by the word of his power can destroy it in the very twinkling of an eye by the word of his power 1 Cor. 15. 52. In a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the
Prov. 22. 7 16 22 52. the 22. 8. Jer. 15. 10. Ezek. 18. 13. and 22. 12. Mat. 5. 42. 7. 12. Luk. 6. 30 34 35. and this lay upon me to acquaint all people with from the Lord that they do injury to no man for gain to themselves but every one do as they would be done unto as they would that men should do unto them for the great day of the Lords wrath is at hand and all shall be judged according to the things done in their Bodies whether they be good or evil and all evil doers sin lyeth at their doors and the flaming sword of the Lord of hosts doth hang over their heads And therefore my desire yea my souls desire unto all is That they would keep their mindes out of fading visible perishing things for none but such have their hearts upon the invisible God who is a Spirit and none but spiritual worshippers do serve him or honour him even such the Father seeketh to worship him that worship him in the Spirit and in Truth and such feel their lives to be in God and they live by Faith which Faith is the Faith of Gods Elect for they that so come to live dayly do they feel the flowings in of comfort from the well-spring of Life and they grow like Trees that are planted by the Rivers of VVaters that do bring forth Fruit in due season whose Leaf shall not fade and whatsoever they do it shall prosper and the Lord refresheth their souls with fatness and giveth them the bread of life that they eat and live for ever and they drink of that water that they never thirst and they taste of that heavenly Rock which is Christ and they are the tender Lambs of Christ and the Lord God doth esteem of them as his Jewels and they that touch them touch the Apple of Gods Eye For they are they that do overcome the world and they shall be cloathed in white and they shall follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth and sing songs of Triumph Glory Glory everlasting Glory and Hallelujahs be given to him that is Lord of lords and King of kings that is the God that giveth his people light and in his light they see the everlasting Light which maketh them live for evermore in his presence where there is the fulness of joy and at whose right hand are pleasures for evermore The eleventh Epistle To all Those whose souls panteth after the living God as the Hart panteth after the Water-Brooks DEar Hearts my dearly beloved in the light and love of God for whom my soul travelleth in birth that I might see Christ formed in you that you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all well-pleasing being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God strengthned with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness giving thanks to the Father who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the Kingdom of his dear Son in whom we have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins who is the image of the invisible God the first born of every creature for it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell And so dear Hearts as you wait in him out of all visible things wherein your life hath formerly been nourished and upheld you shall by Christ witness a new birth and a new nature and the life of God will be felt and witnessed which doth redeem the soul out of sin and of inquity and doth reach the seed of God which is pure and of his fulness of whom we receive grace for grace and so the pure innocent seed of the Lord springeth up in you that you become fruitful Branches and bring forth much fruit unto the Lord and so every one in their several measure answer the Lords expectation who is this day seeking for fruits amongst his people and all dead fruitless Trees must have the Ax laid to the root of them that they may be hewed down and cast into the fire for the Lord hath chosen forth of the world unto himself a people to wait in his counsel and light that they may serve him in Righteousness and obey him in Truth And therefore dear Hearts be diligent and watchful that in the strength of God you may be continually armed against the old devouring Enemy Satan who goeth about like a roaring Lyon and all his War is against the tender Lambs of Christs fold that he may make Rents and Divisions amongst them but you are commanded to resist him being stedfast in the Faith always to let your works and labour to abound in the Lord for as much as you knovv your labour is not in vain in the Lord and this know that Satan will do what he may or possibly can against you he had sought to winnow Peter as Wheat was winnowed in a sieve he tempted Christ but there was no ground for him to enter in him And those that are renewed in the spirit of their mindes in Christ they pluck up and plow up the fallow ground of their hearts they pluck up sin by the roots they remove the ground that there is no room to receive the devils temptations although he strives to the utmost of his power to keep the seed of God in bondage which seed is Gods Elect and Precious and he will redeem it out of captivity and thraldome for it is the Resurrection and the holy Birth the Beloved the incorruptible that destroyes Satans kingdom and therefore love it and nourish it and cherish it and let it have the whole dominion in you and it will totally put out Satan and you shall tread him under your feet for where the seed of God doth reign there Satan is subjected and so in the light of God you will finde strength and power and dominion over the Enemie and over all his sleights and deceits As you stand in the light which is the power of God the Enemy will find no place to enter and his strength will be abated and decreased and then you will by degrees find your bodies fit Temples for the holy Ghost to dwell in and the strength of the Lord God of Life and Glory will dayly be renewed unto you and in his strength you shall walk until you appear before him in Sion and you shall obtain victory over the Enemy of your souls and know the glorious liberty of the Sons of God and so come to have a portion and an inheritance with the Babes of Christ even an everlasting inheritance reserved in heaven for you in that Kingdom which hath no end and even such glory as no eye hath seen nor ear hath heard nor tongue is able to express which God hath laid up for them that love him What hath not eye seen what hath not ear
heard and the heart is able to conceive more then all yea it is able to conceive and entertain into the imagination any thing yet all this is nothing to those everlasting joyes and comforts and consolations which the Saints shall enjoy in the presence of the Lord for evermore And therefore faint not at your fiery trials which cometh or is admitted or suffered in the Wisdom that is Infinite to try you as if some strange thing were come unto you as you may see in 1 Pet. 4. 12 13. But rejoyce in as much as you are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed you may be glad also with exceeding joy if you be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are you for the Spirit of God and of glory resteth upon you on their parts he is evil spoken of but on your parts he is glorified for the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God and if it first begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God and if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear Wherefore saith the same Apostle let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator And so dear hearts look not out at things past present or to come or at others but stand in the light and in the counsel of the Lord and freely give up to his will as Job did Although he kill me saith he yet will I trust in him And in the Lords due time there shall be deliverance out of all troubles and he will work your peace even peace that men and devils shall not take from you for he that keepeth Israel neither slumbereth nor sleepeth and although many are the troubles of the Righteous yet the Lord will deliver them out of them all And therefore cast your whole care upon the Lord and trust in him and he shall bring it to pass he shall bring forth your Righteousness as clear as the light and your just dealing as the noon day and so the power of the Lord will compass you about and his Angels shall have charge concerning you to keep you in all his ways for they that stay themselves upon the arm of the Lord have perfect peace and their strength shall be renewed day by day in him who is made perfect and is become the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him which is Jesus that saveth to the utmost all that come to God by him for he ever liveth to make intercession for them And so believe in him and you shall be saved For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the Law that the man which doth them shall live by them but the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thy heart Who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall ascend into the deep that is to bring Christ back again from the dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach which teacheth to deny all ungodliness and worldly lust and to live godly soberly and righteously in this present evil world and to do injury to no man but to do unto all men as you would have all men do unto you even this the Lord thy God doth require of thee O man To do justly to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God And this walking with God is that way that Enoch vvalked in all the holy men of God that brought their souls to the true centre of Rest even Rest everlasting where there is the innumerable company of Angels and the first-born whose names are written in heaven in the book of Life And so dear hearts indure as Moses did all things patiently as seeing him that is invisible for the patient abiding of the Meek shall not be forgotten and the Lord bottles up all the tears of his redeemed ones and so every one come with patience to do the will of God that when you have done it you may receive the Reward and so every one come to feel Christ Jesus in you that believe the hope of glory and feed upon the living Gospel which is the bread of life that whosoever eateth hungreth no more for every one must come to possess Christ in their own hearts for it is the Oyl in a mans own Lamp that must convey him into the Bridegrooms Chamber where the fulness of life and joy is to be found possessed and enjoyed for unto such who ordereth their conversations aright will Christ say at last Come you blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world for those that be guided by Christ are such as hear his voice and do desire to be taught by him as the truth is in Jesus and they shall be guided by him to do the will of God in every thing and so they shall come to be filled with his Righteousness and so his Righteousness filleth them with everlasting glory and the pure broken heart that is contrite the Lord doth accept And so let all Rulers and Magistrates cease the naming of God until they part from evil and let them cease their medling with setling the things of Gods Kingdom for I have seen they have all been broken to pieces as soon as they go about that work for the Lord will do his work himself by his Spirit and by his power it shall be accomplished and it shall not be in the power of man to hinder but he will break the great Potsherds of the earth to pieces if they meddle with those things that concern the setling of his Kingdom And therefore in render love to their souls I dearly exhort them to settle their own Governments and their own Kingdoms which are of this world and let Christ alone with the setling of his Kingdom which is not of this world for a Spirit of Righteousness shall rule and reign in the earth as the spirit of wickedness hath done and although the devil doth roar yet the time is at hamd when this shall be and it shall not be in the power of man to hinder it And therefore give over striving against the stream you mighty Potentates of the world for it is hard for you to kick against the pricks For the great day of the Lord is at hand and all mens works shall be tryed with fire and in that day the great and mighty men shall cry to the mountains and the hills to fall upon them and hide them from his presence And therefore all lend their ear to this call to Repentance while the day of their salvation lasteth and whilst the Lord standeth
at the door of your hearts knocking let him in remember what Christ said to Jerusalem Jerusalem O Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee how often would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not But her calamity came of a sudden and so let her be an Example for you speedily to repent and put away the evil of your doings cease to do evil and learn to do well for fear the wrath of the Lord destroy you for the time was when all the Kings of the earth would not have believed that the Adversary should have entered the gates of Jerusalem and all the inhabitants of the world would not have believed that the Enemy should have entered the gates of Jerusalem for the sins of her Prophets and of her Priests which were full of iniquity as the Priests of England are who have shed the blood of the Just in the midst of her And therefore wo wo to thee O England if thou dost not speedily repent and put away the evil of thy doings for the Lord desireth not the death of a sinner but that he may live Therefore turn ye turn ye for why will you die O house of Israel And come to be within the promise of the Elect of God for the Lord loveth his saints and he preserveth the faithful and mercy shall embrace them on every side For he is nigh to them that are of a broken heart and he saveth them that are of a contrite spirit therefore blessed are the people whose God is the Lord the people who he hath chosen for his own inheritance for the eye of the Lord is over them to preserve them and to keep them in all their wayes and to preserve them in famine and thousands shall fall before them and the plague shall not come neer them for the destroying Angels shall pass over their heads Therefore all dear hearts fear the living GOD who is a God of power and he is dreadful to all the workers of iniquity but a God of love and joy and consolation to all those that fear him and that delight in his Commandments to do them Therefore fear the living God and wait upon him that you may finde pure wisdom flow in upon you from on high For every good and perfect gift cometh down from above from the Father of lights who doth powerfully manifest himself unto his Babes and Children and doth flow from heaven with fresh discoveries of his love unto his belved Ones that they can say feelingly Their beloved is their and they are his and he draws them by the cords of everlasting love that they are refreshed at the well-spring of life And therefore return return forsake your idol-shepherds and embrace Christ which is the Light for he is the true Shepherd and Bishop of your souls in whom the sure mercies of David are enjoyed and the glory of Israel is witnessed even the free Covenant of light in which the true Prophets did stand who is the Rock of Ages and is the Light of the World and is perfect Righteousness and they that are in him are righte us by his Righteousness for he hath for ever perfected all those that are sanctified and he commandeth his to be holy as he is holy and pure as he is pure and Be ye perfect saith Christ as your Father which is in heaven is perfect and the Cross of Christ is the mighty power of God unto salvation unto every one that believeth And by this saith Christ shall you appear to be my Disciples by taking up the cross dayly and following me and Gods witness in every man will shew him the Cross of Christ what it is for that will shew all those that are faithful to it what is the will of God in every thing for it is that pure Thing of God in man that never did consent to sin nor never will but shews man all that ever he did and so we may say with the woman Come see a man that hath told me all that ever I have done Is not this the Christ said she And so dear Hearts this is your true Teacher Emmanuel God with us and the Lord is a strong Towet the Righteous fly unto it and are safe and they are hid in that invisible life which is in God and they know the life of God and they walk in his dayly presence and the arm of his strength is revealed dayly unto them which bringeth salvation And therefore come off from all your Idol shepherds and from all your false Forms of worship unto the Lord who is bringing his people off from the barren Mountains where they have fed upon husks and chaff and he is become their â—…cher himself and he will feed them with the finest of the Wheat and they shall drink of the well-spring of Life and never thirst again and they shall finde that one day in his Courts is better then a thousand elsewhere Now the Priests must know That an old Mass-house is not the Courts of God for the Church of Christ is the Pillar and Ground of Truth and as many as were baptized were baptized into Christ and They that are in Christ are new creatures old things are passed away all things are become new and Your Bodies are the Temples of the holy Ghost and him that defiles the Temple of God him will God destroy And so dear Friends and Brethren and Sisters and Fathers and all You that do fear the Lord Take heed how you hear and take heed whom you hear for I do see dangerous seducers and deceivers abroad in the world besides the Priests even such as the Apostle Peter speaketh of that even would beguile the saints out of their simplicity if they could even as the serpent beguiled Eve such as have eyes full of adultery beguiling unstable souls hearts exercised with covetous practises having forsaken the right way and gone astray following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor which loved the wages of unrighteousness these are wells without water clouds that are carried with a tempest to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever For when they speak great swelling words in the Name of the Lord they allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonness those who were clean escaped from them who live in Errour while they promise them Liberty 〈…〉 themselves are the servants of corruption for of whom 〈…〉 overcome of the same is he brought in bondage for 〈…〉 they have escaped the pollutions of the world through 〈…〉 knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are 〈…〉 intangled therein and over-come the latter end is 〈…〉 with them then the beginning For it had been better 〈…〉 yhem not to have known the way of righteousness then after 〈…〉 have know it to turn from the holy commandment deli 〈…〉 ed unto them but it is happened unto them according to 〈…〉 true Proverb 〈…〉 dog is turned to his own vomit againâ—◠〈…〉 sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire And amongst the 〈…〉 other so called that saith he was born in Holland â—…t he is the dangerousest person that ever I read of or heard of next unto that grand Apostate Spira and I fear he had more Brethren I shall do my endeavour to finde them out and then publish them to the world that all men may take notice of them And my Advice now unto you from the Loâ—… is That you all dear Hearts wait low in the counsel of the LORD GOD and when you have got into the simplicity of Christ stay in it and abide in it and wait in the power and strength of GOD that you may be kept out of the wiles and suggestions of the roaring Enemy who stirreth up Enemies without and Enemies within and all to keep your Crown from you Put on therefore dearly beloved in the Lord the whole armour of God that you may be more then Conquerours through Christ that loveth you even as Paul was and learn the wisdom which is from above which is pure peaceable gentle easie to be intreated full of mercy and good fruits be humble meek lowly be broken-hearred be contrite-spirited let patience possess your souls For ye were as sheep going astray but ye are now returned to the Saviour and Bishop of your souls Christ Jesus Unto his keeping I commit you To whom be given everlasting Praises Honour and all holy Hallelujahs to Him that liveth for ever and for evermore world without end The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all Those that set Their Faces toward Sion and seek it with their Soâ—… sire To which my Soul saith AMEN FINIS Deut. 13. Chap. 18. 2 Pet. 2. Baal