according to the name and stock of his Father 7. Lia bare his first son and called him Ruben and signifieth unto us a Son of the vision 8 Again Lia bare him his second Son and called him Simeon and signifieth unto us harkning 9 Again Lia bare him his third Son and called him Levi and signifieth unto us adjoyned 10. Again Lia bare him his fourth Son and called him Iuda and signifieth unto us a confessing or thanksgiving 11. But Bilha Rachels maid bare him his fifth Son and called him Dan and signifieth unto us a Iudgement 12 Again Bilha bare him his sixth Son and called him Nepthalim and signifieth unto us a making equal 13. Then Zilpha Lias maid bare him his seventh Son and called him Gad and signifieth unto us Prepared or Girded up 14. Again Zilpha barâ— him his eight Son and called him Aser and signifieth unto us Salvation or Blessedness 15. After that Lia bare him his ninth Son and called him Issachar and signifieth unto us a Reward 16. Again Lia bare him his tenth Son and called him Zabulon and signifieth unto us an Habitation or Dwelling place 17. But Rachel bare him his eleventh Son and called him Ioseph and signifieth unto us Perfection It signifieth also unto us Exalted as that â—he Perfection is worthy to be a Ruler and to govern Countries and People 18. Again Rachel bare him his twelfth Son and died and called him Ben-nom and signifieth unto us a Son of Sorrow But Iacob his father called him Ben-iamin and signifieth unto us A Son of the Right hand 19. MOreover Iacob with his whole house or Tribe came to dwel in Egypt which name signifieth unto us Strictness or Heaviness In which Land the Children of Iacob multiplied them into many people And they had not any other Ceremonies but such as had been by their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob namely the ministration of the Circumcision Which Circumcision they bare for a Covenant of God in their flesh to a true signe that they were God's elected people and did bear the laying away of the sin in their flesh 20. But whenas now these Tribes of Israel in Egypt multiplyed them exceedingly and became great and mighty of People so reigned the king of Egypt over them with in justice and this king of Egypt was named Pharao which name signifieth unto us One that is making naked or wasting 21. NOw whilst that these Tribes of Iacob were by the king Pharao sore afflicted in the land of Egypt and overlorded with injustice so cryed they unto the God of their Fathers And the Iord remembred his Covenant which he had made with Abraham to wit That he would be a Judge over the seed of Abraham in the land wherein they were oppressed And he had compassion on the misery of the children of Iacob and chose them out from among themselves one man of the Tribe of Levi named Moses which name signifieth unto us Fetched or taken up out of the Waters Through whom God would lead his People out of Egypt and râ—lease them from the violent power of Pharao 22. And the Lord called this same Moses unto him and sent him unto the children of Israel and caused him to publish unto them the grace of the God of their Fathers and that the same God would lead them out of the Strictness deliver them from the violence of Pharao and bring them into a good land that floweth with milk and honey 23. Moreover the Lord prepared Moses an helper which should witness and manifest the word of Moses before the children of Israel and before Pharao king of Egypt which was also of the Tribe of Levi and Moses brother named Aaron which name signifieth unto us a Doctrine or an hill whereout Doctrine is recâ—ived or that is Teaching 24. And the Lord wrought many signes and wonders in the land of Egypt in the presence of Pharao and of the children of Israel but before Pharao to the hardning of his heart and before the children of Israel that they should believe the God of their Fathers understand and know the power of his wonderful works and humble them under him and his Word which was shewed unto them by Moses and Aaron out of the living word of the God of heaven as also be obedient unto the same 25. All this wrought the Lord among the children of Israel through Moses and Aaron to the end that they should witness and set forth the Lord's word and will with his Institutions and Rites before the children of Israel 26. BUt whilst now the children of Israel had not any further sight nor knowledge of the house or tabernacle of the Lord then of the Fear of God the beginning or forefront of God his true Tabernacle and did bear the Circumcision for a signe of the true Covenant of God that they were the Lord's people and feared the living God in their flesh and were not yet entred into the Holy of the true Tabernacle of God so would God declare the Holy by them and bring them therein and even so build among them the Holy of his Sanctuary or true Tabernacle to a great name of his glory and to the blessing and salvation of his people also upon the earth Therefore God caused some better and godlyer thing to be published through Moses unto his people then that wherein they stood comprehended to the end that they should set their hope thereon and even so for to obtain the Rest be obedient unto the word of the Lord as also to their releasing from the violence of Phâ—raoh depart out of Egypt 27. BEhold in the same time did the Lord with great signes and wonders make maniâ—est his Glory among the Children of Israâ—l and even so to the end that his great Nâ—me and wonderful power might also be known among all Heathen and he feared as a true God led his people Israel through Moses and Aaron with a mighty hand and forcible Arm out of the land of Egypt and seâ— forth and taught them through Moses his Inâ—titutions and Laws for to observe those same in the good land whereinto the Lord would bring them 28. In which time there was no more spoken unto them of the circumcision of the flesh buâ— of that which was neerer unto the consummation or perfection and of the inheriting of the good land which God had promised unto the seed of Abraham Isaac and Iacob 29. BUt when as now the Lord had led his people out of Egypt and through the wilderness even unto the red sea where they were pursued by Pharao so opened the Lord the red sea before them dividing it asunder and brought his people through Moses and Aâ—ron undamaged therethorow 30. Buâ— Pharao with all his might and power which entred also into the red sea for to destroy the children of Isrâ—el perished in the same so that not one of all
should bear to a Covenant of God in their flesh for evermore 6. And even so God made through his Covenant of Circumcision that there should be always a difference had and known betwixt Abraham and his seed and the other heathen or uncircumcised people Which Covenant of Circumcision God made with Abraham when he had called him out of the heatheâ—ship and shewed him the land of promise to an everlasting Inheritance for his seed which should bear the same Covenant in their flesh 7. VErily this Covenant of God of the Circumcision which God hath set for an everlasting Covenant betwix him and Abraham and his seed in their flesh giveth us presently in this day a great cleerâ—ess of his true being of the upright Circumcision in our hearts and teacheth or sheweth us the whilst we are captived with the heathâ—nship either implanted into the heathenship and bear yet the foreskin of the sinful flesh before our hearts the departing from all heathenish being and from all ungodliness or uncircumcision of all fleshly minds as also the entrance into the fear of God whereout the right wisdom doth spring and how we shall go forth therein till unto the mortifying of all fleshly minds through the obedience of the requiring of the godly word and his service 8. This is verily the upright Circumcision which cometh to pass without the help of mens hands and which is the everlasting and stedfast Covenant between God and Abraham and his seed Through which true circumcision the upright seed of Abraham which is of the faith of Abraham is easily to be known from the uncircumcised heathen or unbeleevers 9. For the right stock of the seed of Abraham bear the same upright Circumcision for an everlasting Covenant of their God in their flesh to a token and testimony of their upright Righteousness and also that the God of Abraham is their God and they his eâ—ected people 10. HEre out may we perceive ye beloved that the laying away of the sin in the flesh is the upright Circumcision which God regardeth and that the same maketh the right difference betwixt the circumcised and uncircumcised or betwixt them that fear God and them that fear not God For they that fear not God and are not of the right stock or of the faith of Abraham or else that have turned them away therefrom and yet nevertheless boast them to be the seed of Abraham those can well bear the circumcision outwardly on their flesh but not as Abraham inwardly in the flesh 11. Therefore there is not as concerning the Righteousness according to the inward man any difference at all betwixt such Circumcised which bear no more but the circumcision outwardly on their flesh and the uncircumcised heathen but they are both alike under the sin 12. For the laying away of the sin in the flesh which is the upright Circumcision maketh unto us the right difference betwixt the seed of Abraham and the brutish or Uncircumcised Heathen even as there is said 13. Which Circumcised of heart bear God his true covenant of circumcision in their flesh and express even so through their upright Conversation in the fear of God that God hath called them out of the heathenship as also led them into the forefront of his true tabernacle and planted them in his Sanctuary 14. And this token of the true covenant of God namely the circumcision on the foreskin of the heart which is the laying away of the sin in the flesh and the walking in the fear of God is not left by the right seed of Abraham but observed according to the word of the Lord for evermore 15. COnsider then unto all those that are in such like of the right stock of Abraham or of his seed and faith and bide stedfast therein it is given to understand the mistery of the work of God which God always taketh in hand and atchieveth with Abraham and with his right seed of the belief 16 But unto them that are therewithout and also unto all that fall away from the stock of Abraham or his belief either turn them therefrom and cleave unto any strange belief which Abraham hath not known or that bind themselves without the Righteousness of the faith of Abraham on any self-wisdom mens good thinking Scripture learnedness or on the Imagination of their own knowledge all things chance in similitudes figures or images which they also honour serve and greatly esteem but of the mystery of the true being they know not any thing at all 17. Therefore it is all unto them a dark speech or Parable and a closed book which no man of all their wise Seers nor Prophets or Teachers can read much less understand or comprehend the Contents of the same 18. WHat we had here more to say of the departing out of the heathenship of the Gelatenheyt or free giving over of the upright Circumcision of the forefront of the true Tabernacle of God of the difference betwixt the seed of Abraham and the heathen and of the closed book which is a book of life is rehearsed with larger declaration in the Glass of Righteousness The VIII Chapter ABraham which was indued with understanding in the godly wisdom hath to a memorial of the godly works of God and of the things which are right and reasonable to the Serviceableness of his houshold or of the posterity after him brought forth writings or letters wherein he witnessed or figured forth before them the righteousness of the upright being for a seal on their hearts to his end that the posterity the whilst they were yet young in the holy understanding and understood not the upright being might have the Lord his word Institutions and rites and the events or things chanched concerning his wonderful works figured forth in the letter and remember those same and might even so with the service of the letter be served nourished up and sustained in all good discipline nurture and equity for to deal with that which is right and reasonable until that the old age of the perfect wisdom and Righteousness came unto them the which is the true light of Christ or the heavenly truth whereunto Moses the law and the Prophets of God do lead and which cometh unto al the elect of God from on high in their spirit wherein it is given unto them as to the children of God to understand the mystery of the works of God 2. Therefore Abraham which walked and lived in the light or day of â—hrist whereon all Scriptures given by inspiration of God do witness and had a lust unto the seed of promise to the blessing of all generations of the earth held him stedfastly by the belief the true Testament whereout he hoped to obtain the seed of Promise to the blessing of all generations of the earth 3. Which true Testament namely
great with child and cry aloud like unto a woman with child when as she at the time of her travel is ready to bring forth But who heareth us or to whom is the arm of the Lord known verily unto few because many of them are wise in their own conceit and will judge the godly truth out of their knowledge or perswade themselves that they with their prudent understanding see rightly into all things and for that cause need not to harken unto the word of grace which God hath brought unto us out of his true light neither yet to humble them unto the service of the same 11. Oh these Ignorances of the unwilling unto the gracious word and his requiring which we dayly see and hear by them do work us very much wo anguish and sorrow in our hearts 12. Therefore may we now in this perillous time rightly say with the Prophet Isaiah that it goeth also with us in the presence of the Lord like as with a woman with child which through fear or smart cryeth out in her travel for we are with child and travel in birth and we are so full of anguish and wo that we can scantly draw our breath 13. Howbeâ—t although all this come upon us and that we daily pass thorow this â—ame and must be fain to indure or suffer much falshood at our adversaries hands yet cannot we therefore help the earth for that the Inhabitors of the world will not fal down or humble themselves nor yet forsake or leave the falshood of the unrepentant unregenerated men 14. For that cause our hope standeth now in this day very little on many Inhabitors of the world for of them there shall few come which shall mean or adjoyn them unto the love and the requiring of her service with all their heart and yet many fewer which shall persever therein unto the end 15. Therefore hope we with joy much more on the appearing of the dead which dy in the Lord or are dead in him to wit that they in their Resurrection from the death shall livingly come before either meet with us For all the dead of the Lord or members of Christ shall now live and rise with their bodies and we shall assemble us with them and they with us to one body in Iesus Christ into one lovely being of the love and be all together concordable in the love and peace of Iesus Christ. 16. Behold ye dearly beloved with those shall our life and joy be both now and for evermore For we which follow with them the footsteps of Christ shal in their appeaing or manifestation raign with the lamb which hath made us Kings and Priests upon earth 17. This see and know we now nakedly and truly Therefore have we which are now in this day of love adjoyned and incorporated into the body of Christ here in our Consolation amoag each other and set our Comfort much more on the righteous which are dead then on the living ungodly 18. For this is now the day of the Glorious pomp and tryumph of Christ in his coming wherein Christ to our consolation meeteth us livingly and in glory with his former Holy ones and maketh manifest and bringeth the word of the Lord namely the former Kingdom full of all beauty and lovelyness which God hath prepared from the beginning for his elect in his perfection and in his naked cleerness and maketh us heirs therein together with all his holy ones 19. In which Kingdom of everlasting perfection all minds of pure hearts do dwell and live without fear freely lovely and peaceably Yea therethrough becometh it presently seen how that the Lord glorifieth himself in his holy ones and becometh wonderful in his believers 20. Now this passed over we will declare from the falling away or disobedience of the man forth the earnest love which God hath always till unto this same day shewed towards the man through his elected ministers for to bring him again unto the heritable beauty of the former Kingdom from which he hath turned him away and how God in process of time is approched neerer unto us in cleerness with his true light and hath now at the last in the day of his love declared the most holy of his tabernacle in his absolute beauty and perfection and brought the same unto us to the establishing of his promises 21. What we had here more to say of the former Kinâ—dom and of his lovelyness beauty Garnishing and riches and of the mans falling away is nakedly expressed and declared in the glass of righteousness The V. Chapter BEhold and consider ye dearly beloved how that God after the man's falling away hath alwayes shewed his love on the man and promised him even so to the destroying of the sin to set Enmity betwixt the Serpent whose head is the sin and the woman which consented to the sin and betwixt the Serpents seed and the Womans seed to the treading down of the head of the Serpent and how that the same promised Enmity against the sin and the sinfull seed had her beginning by the single minded Abel which Abel offered up his willing gift or offering out of a good heart unto the God of heaven and was slain by the wicked Nature of the sin through the hands of his Brother Cain and how that Seth after the death of Abel was placed by God to be another seed in the plaâ—e of Abel to the establishing of the foresaid promise of God as also how that Seth which is the second seed in the place of Abel and his seed is the right stock or linage whereout the believers and Children of God namely all they that have been enemies unto the sin are born or brought forth to the establishing of the promises of God â—he Father 2. But all other people or Generations which were born upon the earth without the stock of Seth and also they that walked not in the state of Abel according to the manner or ordinances of Seth were not of the right stock of Seth but they were forain branches which turned them away there-from and were never prudent nor understanding in the godly wisdom but very well in their own self knowledge and good-thinking wherewith they turned unto themselves and forsook even so the upright Childishness and Simplicity and the willing oblation or God service of Abel 3. Abel signifieth unâ—o us a breath or a young manhood by whom there is yet no more prudence then a breath of God which proceedeth from God and breatheth to God again It signifieth also emptiness or any what whereto there is not yet any thing added of the ordinance of the Lord. Cain signifieth unto us a possession or one is possessed in bondship by the sin or is mastered or overwon by the same and applyeth him not according to the word nor law of the Lord. Seth signifieth unto us an