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
which was to fill the earth with himself and his body but a house or Temple for the present work to redeem the lost man according to the promise The seed of the woman shall break the serpents head as also to throw down Moses Law and became the substance of his Lambs and Types and Sacrifice for that body was the Lamb that did fulfil the righteous will by his voluntary and free-will offering up of himself therefore Christ is called the spreading power because he fills all with himself and because this power did appear first to Abraham as we read of therefore is he called The father of the faithful for it was an everlasting Covenant that God made with him therefore every one that follows after him and treads in his steps being willing and obedient they shall eat the good of the land and they shall be called children of that seed of Abraham which seed is the blessing of all Nations and is the restorer of all his from bondage and although his just ones many times lie under oppression and hardship by the seed of the flesh and they are despised ones by them yet now the day is at hand that their glory shall arise and the reason is for the Almighty God is in them of a truth he will lead their captivity captive and set them down in peace for they are the City of the Lord new Jerusalem the place of his rest which shall be the praise of the whole earth for the Almighty King of righteousness is their Saviour and there is no other name under heaven whereby men can be saved but the name of Jesus and verily I bear my Testimony from him that he will be exalted in this the great day of his power for the Lord is a bringing mighty things to pass in this the day of his appearance and the hearts of his shall fear for to him saith the Lord will I look that trembleth at my word and therefore let all his redeemed ones wait patiently for the consolation of Israel for their King is coming and he will fill the earth with his glory and turn ungodliness from Jacob then shall Jacob rejoyce and Israel shall be glad For without controversie great is the mystery of godliness God was manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up into glory And that his might not be deceived he saith In the latter times seducing spirits shall come and so cunningly carry themselves that if possible the very elect should be deceived and Paul 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3 4. sheweth some of the principles of their deceit and thus he saith Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to the seducing spirits and doctrines of devils speaking lies in hypocrisie having their consciences seared with a hot-iron forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth for every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving for it is sanctified by the Word of God and prayer And this Paul exhorts those that will manifest themselves good Ministers of Jesus Christ such who are nourished up in the words of Faith and good Doctrine that they should put the brethren in minde of these things and exercise themselves in godliness by which it appears that Paul reckoneth such as are before spoken of amongst Hymeneus and Philetus who concerning the truth have erred saying The Resurrection is past already and overthrow the faith of some nevertheless the Foundation of God standeth sure having this seal The Lord knoweth them that are His and let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity So that it is plain that every act of evil is a fruit of old Adam the flesh which hath nothing but envie lust pride drunkenness malice and all uncharitableness which the King of Righteousness Christ Jesus redeemeth his from and also maketh his righteous godly full of faith love patience meekness being without spot unrebukable for they are born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever which word is Christ in them the hope of glory For Moses truly said unto the Fathers A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you So that it is plain that the Lamb Christ Jesus was the substance of Moses and where the substance is shadows and Types doth cease and this method of divine Discovery doth finish the Mystery for the Lord doth take up all into Himself for he is in all and acts through all and all that power of Righteousness that appeareth in any is still but that power of the Lord which he hath promised to pour forth in the last dayes as you may see in the second of the Acts vers 17 18. And it shall come to pass in the last dayes saith God I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesie and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream Dreams and on my servants and on my hand-maids will I pour out of my Spirit in those dayes and they shall prophesie So that every Branch shall be a Joynt or Member of the Mystical Body or several spreadings forth of the Vine being filled with that one Spirit Christ the anointing who filleth all with himself and so becomes the alone King of Righteousness that rules and governes all his ransomed ones Joh. 17. 23. I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thou hast loved me For I am the Lord and beside me there is no Saviour He is in every one of his little ones that are born again and how is declared Joh. 14. v. 15 16 17 18. If you love me keep my commandments and I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you I will not leave you comfortless I will come to you Yet a little while and the world seeth me no more but ye see me because I live ye shall live also At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you He that hath my commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and manifest my self unto him if a man love me he will keep my
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
made to be all of one heart and one mind and this shall more and more appear as the day approacheth which hath already dawned Therefore let me tell you that all your enmity will not uphold your forms your imprisoning and reviling and making Laws to suppress such as are contrary to you will never work your will but pull miseries and shame upon your selves as the zealous Scribes and Pharisees did in killing the just one Christ the Son of man Therefore be patient look up to him for teaching from whom every good and perfect gift cometh down even the Father of lights in whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning who stands at the door and knocks and if any man will open he will come in and sup with him and the high and lofty one that inhabiteth eternity delighteth to dwell in the contrite ones that he may give life unto them for when the Law of righteousness ariseth up and maketh himself more manifest he will reconcile all and make every one to be of one heart and of one mind and no other power must be the restorer but this King of righteousness and peace for this is he that makes men do as they would be done unto and then envy and bitterness dies see Act. 4. 32. Isa 60. 16. Now when this King Jesus Emanuel God with us ariseth up in sons and daughters whereby the Scriptures are proved true Prophesies Promises Visions and Revelations the Teachers of this World deny the Testimony crying out Visions and revelations are ceased because they would have the people ever learning of them and giving their money to them for that which is not bread and profiteth not for they can teach no further then they have learned and they have learned no further then the declaration which the Scripture it self saith is but a dead Letter it is a mystery and Christ revealeth it by his Spirit and it is the Spirit that maketh known the deep and hidden things of God Now when any receiveth power from on high by believing in him and he maketh such to eat the good of the Land and they are forced to bear their Testimony to witness unto others as David did he had not hid his goodness within his breast but shewed even in the great Congregation what the Lord had done for his soul I say When any thus moved speaketh to the Priests of our days although Scripture warrants speaking one by one as it is made manifest to them by the Spirit and the first is to hold his peace yet they presently cry out A disturbance in their Steeple-house and hale them to prisons where many times the just ones of the Lord Jehovah die in the outward man by their hardships as in Colchester Gaol and other places in the Nation by the Priests means who possess the people with conceits and make them believe their lies that these people are self-conceited and it is Errour and Blasphemy they hold even just like those that when the Holy Ghost had filled the Apostles and all those that were with them they cried out mocked saying These men are filled with new wine because they knew not the voice of the Spirit for the natural man knoweth not the things of God they are spiritually discerned Well he is at hand and is a working for he that keepeth Israel neither slumbereth nor sleepeth and he will discover your shame and make your nakedness appear unto all men for wickedness shall slay the wicked though no mans hands be upon him The tender Lambs of Christ by the Wolves in sheeps clothing are destroyed but yet let the wolves know for their eternal woes that the Lambs are the blessed of the most high for the King of righteousness is in them for they are the field wherein the treasure hath lain hid all the dark and cloudy days of the Beasts Reign which is now almost expired they are Zion whom no man regards out of whom Salvation cometh for Jacob is in them who hath been long a servant to Esau and now is set free and he will glorifie himself both in them and for them to the shame of all wolfish Esaus that are of a destroying nature and the whole earth shall be filled by these with the knowledge of the Lord of whose Dominion and Power there shall be no end for the consolation of Israel doth draw neer to be made manifest to every ones particular therefore let all wait with patience for it on him that is almighty able to save for Jesus is able to save to the utmost all those that come unto God by him and for ever blessed are such for the Lord is their portion for it is the Law and power of righteousness which made Abraham forsake his Isaac his dearest Relations according to the flesh rather then to refuse the way of his God and by this he found peace so that this King of righteousness and Prince of peace that governed Abraham and is called blessed the blessing of all Nations for this shall save his people from their sins for he shall remove from the Curse and restore his from the bondage they groane under for Abraham sprang from him as a tree groweth from a seed that gave the tree its being the Law of righteousness and peace ruling and dwelling in any one is the seed of Abraham and the several branches of men and women in whom that power rests are children and of the family of Abraham for it was not the man of the flesh that was called Abraham but the Law of righteousness and truth and peace that did rule and govern in that body he was the Abraham for it is clear that before this righteous power was manifest in it it was Abram as you may read Gen. 17. 1. And when Abram was ninety years old and nine the Lord appeared unto Abram and said unto him I am the Almighty God walk before me and be thou perfit and I will make my Covenant between thee and me vers 5. Neither shall thy name be called any more Abram but thy name shall be called Abraham for a father of many Nations have I made thee And in Mat. 3. the Pharisees and Sadduces come to Johns Baptism as you may see ver 7. And he said unto them O generation of vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come bring forth fruits meet for repentance think not to say within your selves We have Abraham for our father for God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham So it is plain that Jew or Gentile in whom the power of righteousness breaketh forth and ruleth are the children of Abraham Act. 10. 34. Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted with him For as the visible body of Christ was not the anointing but the Spirit in that body was the Christ the spreading power of righteousness