and sometimes so far prevailed as to occupie the affections of the soul while the Spirit as a law within was labouring for deliverance until the Lord Jesus pleased to prepare the soul and break into it by his blessed presence and give it feeling of pure love and so stretch the heart forward to fathom and follow what is before for behinde are all bodily things thoughts desires fears and such like that hinder the comfort in and speed of the whole work for nothing is to be kept from the slaughter that is for destruction no mean in destroying sin though a right hand or eye they must away and give place to the divine work of the Spirit in the light which is bâ—fore as the spiritual vertues begâ—n in the Reason of the willing soul and to be perfected in love as it comes to be reformed into the grace of Christ to a perfect hatred of the deeds of the flesh and all wavering mindedness and want of love for otherwise he hinders the work through his own wâ—lfulness and choice in the contrary nature which will cause all to be to little purpose troublesom and heavie as a working in the fire if not thereby destroyed because of his not feeling any grace or spiritual savour therein The ways wiles and dâ—vices of the evil one to deceive and devour souls are such and so divers in these later days that the ignorant and unskilful souls may not easily escape because he takes all advantages by the times temptations bodily wits and faculties of such dark souls to lead them into self-love and the sundry kindes of lustful living in the vanities of their mindes wantonness and pleasure upon the earth as fitting themselves for a day of slaughter and so keeps them while he may in presumption c. but if once he see any soul would entirely give themselves to be spiritually employed then he striveth by himself and his ministers to set their sins in order before them and tells them they are great sinnâ—rs and more in this change and turning then in any thing before saying to them That is not the way but a denial of Christ a fancie and frenzie of a Fanatick spirit and for some wicked end and that it will bring them into contempt want and poverty wherein none will pity them that they must change their conditions with their mindes wives and children come to want that they will fall into bodâ—ly sickness and be laid in prisons that they should have learned men to advise them better the Ministers to admonish them and pray for them to take counsel at the Priests lips which preserve knowledge and not run of their own heads with a few giddy contemptible people that are ignorant of the Scriptures and Original tongues and if they depart not from their new way greater temptations will overtake them And with much more of this kinde doth this flattering devil seek to beguile such souls as hearken to him by the cunning craftiness of such as lie in wait to deceive and that entangle with enticing words of mans wisdom to beguile their souls with bodily savours sweetness of wits arts and outward exercises and thereby if possible draw them aside from the simplicity and puff them up with conceit of themselves as if they had by such wisdom and the ways thereof formerly found the feeling of heavenly joy and so lead them back again and up into high notions and conceits of a proud minde until they become base and blockish and thereby fall full lowe at last with their cold dry and barren souls for the more they imagine to gain by such means the greater will be their loss and they the farther off from what they so seem to seek and much more indisposed to return into the right way of obtaining it for thereby the minde will be oft and highly lifted up as if it were in a happie estate and condition more holy vertuous and better then others and to rejoyce as if they had escaped a very great temptation and to conceive angry stirrings in themselves when others seem not so to esteem of them and the flattering spirits will suddenly praise and applaud such as for good deeds and vertuous living and this last is the sorest and greatest of all temptations and most dangerous because of the delight men will seem to feel about them by such sounds to the ear and sweet savour of sense tickling them with delight therein as if all were well and they had much grace and were rightly travelling with their mindes from fleshly things while they are onely ravished with spiritual pride wherein the vain love and self-conceit prayeth weepeth speaketh and thanketh God with the Pharisee while they know not God but their proud hearts deceive them and lead them to shew outward love and meekness in speech and gesture as if they were spiritually vertuous and that they disliked nothing but sin onely because it is contrary to God and yet are even then at the gate of spiritual death so puft up with pride and pleasure therein as that they are even dead while they live or rather twice dead and pluckt up the roots become servants to men and times mistaking one thing for another with their fleshly hearts got aloft and puffed up resting in the root and rottenness of sin black and thick darkness filling their souls which may be hid from some men yet Christ Jesus sees it and abhors it and their services because of their hypocrisie and heresie so accompanied with bodily and spiritual pride which was never learned of Christ as their God for man maketh any thing his God that his heart is in love with that he takes content in dares sin against God for or wrong any man by and so such men have their divers kinds of Idol-gods one his belly another the applause of men a third his opinions and words heard or spoken wherein such serve not the Lord Jesus but their own lustful mindes and every other thing that a man chuseth by his own act to take pleasure in is his God and then when God stirs up such souls to obedience and gives them suitable abilities these proud hearts resist all and in stead of obedience become rebellious heady harsh and high-minded abusing the tender mercies of the Lord God in the light of his spiritual leadings to repentance and this condition is as aforesaid the more desperate because therein such conclude that all is well and sound and that they are right sure and righteous even above any ordinary Pharisee and so arrogate to themselves And therefore hear and consider thou that thinkest thou standest that supposest thou art raised from death to life hast tasted of the good word of God and born it may be some afflictions and take heed of this false liberty for then will Satan try and winnow thee and be teaching thee as aforesaid or as sometime he would have done Jesus Christ to cast himself down to turn stones into
men according to right reason and clear them of their fleshly lusts that war against their souls did they not disable themselves thereto by withstanding it and the checks thereof in their own consciences and by yeilding to the enemy of their souls to have dominion over them whereby the working of grace comes to be stopt so that it may not enter shine finde room or rest in their souls though it be truely tendered and there sheweth it self to discover things that differ as the Sun doth outward things where it is not letted but while the strong man thus armed keeps the house the things he possesseth are in peace the root body and image of sin stands the false and misruled love lives and the soul remains insensibly wrapt up in stinking rags of sin and selfishness where it feeds on nothing but black smoke in thick darkness and spiritual blindness as a body of sin and death born about and heavily loading the soul and conscience that it cannot comprehend the light but every tentation of the same nature with it prevails over it and leads it captive more and more into a servile slavery and lustful living in fleshly filth for sin is not any corporeal thing and therefore not corporeally to be destroyed striven about or contended with neither have men any power of themselves to amend this in themselves more then in others and therefore cannot but so remain until their minds be truely turned into and surely kept in the pure light which onely can discover and shew them the fairness or foulness of their souls and the love of Jesus Christ therein giving power to take up and bear the cross within in the powers of the soul and feel the two Laws warring against each other as Paul sometimes did and the innermost of the Law of the spirit of life striving for deliverance out of captivity and to gain victory over the Law of the flesh earthly will and worldly wisdom that rests seated in the bodily wits and as the reasonable soul comes to take part with and thereby wait in the pure principle of light and spiritual leading to have some sight of it self and somewhat of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are in Christ Jesus as his free gift to all obedient souls thereby the soul begins to see somewhat of it self and how highly it is concerned to keep a constant inward watch labour and strive by the measure of light and life so in wardly received to keep the thoughts from all bodily things until the sore pain and miserable blindeness of that condition as Paul when he cried out O wretched man that I am be found and felt and then will the Lord Jesus appear as the pain of this dark soul and conscience wherein is to be a free suffering with a patient waiting and abiding with him in his love and meekness until he shall please to raise the soâ—l up and cause the light to shine out of and over this darkness as the day-star arising in the heart to give another life whereby to overlive all the former dead and dark life and then to think no more on that darkness past as a woman forgets her pain and peril for joy that a man is born loathe and despise it but be ever ready and quick in keeping the heart and taking heed that no open door nor privy hole be left to imaginations wisdom of words or earthly vanities that would draw out the soul from the love of God ever minding that as we have born the ugly image of the earthly so it is requisite that we bear the image of the heavenly and as our Lord Jesus breaks down this earthly image of false love and likings he sets up the contrary vertues of pure love meekness patience and brotherly kindeness of his own forming in the poverty of such spirits and also gives true zeal in spiritual devotion with soberness and chastity in soul and body and so puts down the old man with his deeds rotten desires and affections and there sets up the new man of a meek and chaste spirit created in him to good works to walk therein with all his parts and members fitly composed together for his service and glory wherein the old members eye ear heart affections imaginations or desires will not serve the turn but all the whole vessel must be new to hold the new wine and heavenly liquor of the blessed and endless life and thereby be freed from fleshly uses vain thoughts light looks unsavory words carnal reasonings and heeding the praise or dispraise of men and mens judgements but surmounting and over-topping all lets and impediments in the way of this perfect freedom and lightsome liberty in the Lords service as guided and strengthened therein by his holy Spirit as it turns the reason into that pure light and the will into the eternal will which is a great work and therefore to be well waited in until there be no sin charged or felt as a load on the conscience but all freely pardoned as it is discovered to the soul and clean wiped away and so the soul reformed by the siritual light and bright beams of Jesus Christ let into it as burning desires clean affections holy and wise thoughts and considerations and therewith abilities to flee all deadly stirrings in this travel of soul from the first old Adam to the second that makes all things new And though men should otherwise cease to meddle with worldly business avoid outward delights and pleasures and devote themselves to pray read study learn and confer of heavenly matters sigh weep or do any other act outwardly or otherwise yet if he love himself mind or carefully heed providing for the flesh or outward man or have any other earthly fears cares or immoderate desires this will not do it but the greater is the deceit by such forsakings and actings in his becoming affected with himself as if better then others or in slighting others by terms or titles of distinction whereby he is so much the worse and more disabled to good or if he suffer his heart at all to rest in bodily feelings of spiritual comforts or sweetness or set his heart on any such fleshly savours he thereby loseth that life he seemeth to seek for because not rooted and grounded in love but the fleshly part gains ground again in the earthly dark and dead nature and then is the law of sin served for the time but yet if there be no wilful sin or liking thereto it is not he but sin that stirreth in him which he consenteth not to And thus have many been troubled and overlaid for a time with weight upon their weaker parts that they have not had for that time any clear sight or freedom in themselves but sate sadly without any knowledge of their own conditions or abilities to move one step forward because sin got so great a hold or as a lodging in their fleshly parts that it troubled the Reason
bread c. And full many have so fallen by his means into this high spiritual pride and thought that therein they have done God service and unless the soul be rooted and grounded in love and so in meekness with a spiritual feeling of Jesus Christ as God equal with the Father it will be apt to yeild to such transformings and to ask as the Disciples sometimes did who shall be greatest and so may soon depart from the simple and pure life and loose their hold of that which leads the humble and meek to perfection and therefore what great care waiting and diligence yea what faithfulness is requisite in keeping in the light that will let men see the deceit and lead them in the way to escape the evil thereof for as we read the Lord Jesus was tempted but was not overcome because the Devil found nothing in him whereto he might fasten the temptation And this is of experience and advisement to all willing souls that when tentations come and move to fleshly love and likings of earthly things heed them not consider them not whether it concern outward profit or loss scorning or despising frowning or flattering for if the Devil by himself or means of his instruments prevail with thee to consider it thou art then thereby more then half overcome because the same nature in thee will be apt to joyn with it and the great danger is lest thou shouldst like it or be afraid of it and so be overcome by it Therefore keep within in the light that thou maist be able to say to thy self in that case I have chosen my way my part my portion is in Christ Jesus him I love in him I have righteousness and strength in him I rejoyce and enjoy all things and nothing will I have out of him for he accepts me as worthy to love him c. and be sure to be bold and clear therein and then shalt thou find thine enemies less bold against thee for truth never suffers more than when it is coldly and faintly owned Though these enemies will be still striving against thee and telling thee of dangers and perilous things to befal thee in that way and set themselves to hinder thee by slanders and reproaches of all kindes striâ—â— thee of thy reputation and strive to drive thee aside into anger and words of rebâ—ke that they may have whereof to accuse thee therefore take hâ—ed thereof and keep thy tongue as with a bit and bridle and as thou comâ—st to know Jesus Christ spiritually thou wilt also come to a hearty love in being despised sputned at trampled upon and abused and if there shall happen to be some inward regret or rising against it the light will shew thee the evil of it and the spirit of love will suppress it and give victory over it and as thou attendest faithfully thou wilt find and know that God forsaketh no man in such tentations unless it shall be to encrease their spiritual strength if they suffer a while patiently and not turn to folly that they may find Jesus Christ the sweet and ready way full of spiritual refreshments and comforts and themselves poor blind and naked without him and to have nothing bâ—t what he giveth and herein suffer much buffeting of Satan and his ministers withoâ—t heeding or rather with despising such tentations setting them at nought c. But if any shall strive with his thoughts and bodiâ—y wits to drive away tentations and put them out as by mastery thereby will the enemy get advantage and overcome and therefore as before so I say again ever withdraw thy thoughts from the tentations into the light of Jesus Christ where the striving and life of strength lieth and wait on him for deliverance and victory And also beware thou never shew such temptations to any worldly men though reputed never so wise learned or religious that have not felt the like tryals in themselves for they will certainly bring thy soul into greater danger by their worldly advice to thy fleshly feeling And this also know that the Lord is pleased to leave the soul so sometimes for its tryal a little season that in mercy he may gather it more cleanly into himself to grow and spring up as a morning-star and deliverance he will surely give in the needful time to all his members that they may trust in him more fully and then he gladdeth them with his presence and fasteneth them to himself shewing them his secrets and giving them treasures of wisdom and knowledge He brings in light and expels darkness opens the eye of the soul and lighteth it to see how good it was for it to be so troubled the like whereof David witnessed and thereby learned the Lords righteous judgements I shall here say little of the Faith that stands in the wisdom of men though that be most in use and esteem with the worldly wise men of this generation because it is of mentioned in other places as the great Engine of deceit serving to silence the voice of Christ in their own and others consciences and for other earthly ends and to lead them into perilous paths of sin and selfishness from the pure and spiritual path of Jesus Christ the endless light love wisdom and power of God whereby mans conversion is hindred and the way thereto as it were thereby blockt up for in mans conversion before reason be turned into light and will into love and the soul comes into a waiting condition for cleansing it usually feels its self heavy loaden dâ—ll and indisposed thereto by reason of such obstructions as thereby and otherwise also lie in the way yet as Jesus Christ moveth and desireth so is he therein covertly desired and thereupon he fâ—rther moveth to work his secret work in man as in a reasonable instrument that by degrees may have faith wrought in him with knowledge of Christ Jesus and his spiritual presence light and truth and for that end that so I begins to wait upon him at all times diligently with the whole heart until he give words whereby to pray and do fitly order the affections to that continâ—al duty without using words otherwise heard lest vanity of mind and spiritual enemies enter and blind the eyes and hinder the soul from chasing the love of God in Christ Jesus whereby the heart should be cleansed and established to feel and find how fair and profitable his work will be in and to the soul as it comes to know the two days or lights the false light and true light the love of this world and fleshly things and the pure love of Jesus Christ through grace establishing the soul with the real difference between them and begins to feel some increasing knowledge in the true light to feel the false light worldly love and lustful pleasures seem lâ—ttle and pass away as a shadow which is the light that the Devil brought in by Eve and Adam saying they should be as gods knowing
him and his motions and the more is the soul alive and active to him accounting it a shame to be fed with swines meat of fleshly things and savours wherein he feels no spiritual refreshment or true joy of love and delight And therefore he ever sets his heart and mind spiritually upon good meditates on him to know what he willeth and to please him see him know him have love and enjoy him by his grace and by degrees more and better and as the soul ever keeps to these desires it will be shewed plainly in the light what is evil and what good what is pleasing to God and what is contrary to him and teach him all needful things for salvation gain them for him and bestow them on him and therefore as there is a standing fast in this watchful desire victory will be given so that the soul wait and meditate meekly and patiently until Jesus Christ accept thereof give spiritual savour and accomplish his own work therein with victory as to other saints in his own time and so as it may become that souls chiefest joy to know and do that heavenly will because of the true spiritual delight therein But if man should comply and strive with his bodily wits and worldly wisdom that will but drive him farther off and a wretched thing it is for any man to leave the inward watch and keeping of his heart and shape to himself any outward form figure likeness or habit of vertue and holiness in meditation prayer or other performance to live in such a form of outward exercise beholding joyning with or imitating others and supposing himself right and righteous in so doing for thereby he departeth from the light guidance and government of Gods blessed Spirit and deceiveth himself by thinking he hath acceptance with God in his own doings which so done are directly against God though they might be right and acceptable in those that were led thereto by the Spirit of God In this general calling of souls employment nothing is rightly done but in watching and prayer nor any true watch kept or prayer presented but in the light and with a spiritual understanding wherein vertue wisdom and strength comes to be received and rightly employed but this consists not in learning to say words or know how many parts prayer hath or how to word it wisely for the drawing of others affections and so to make long prayers for pretence or as to be heard for much speaking in the way that mans wisdom teacheth of bodily exercise as did the Pharisees whereof Christ warned his Disciples and lifting up themselves in their own strength for the applause of men that they may be reputed able Christians of excellent parts full of knowledge better then others c. By which means many are themselves deceived by thinking they have the grace of Christ and spiritual knowledge and thereupon do so worship and please themselves in their hearts as if they were the onely men to pray praise and give thanks to God for with and above others while all is but with their lips vain words and bodily wits wherewith they onely dishonour God and defile themselves and others that so joyn with them in words before their hearts and souls are therein agreed by stealing the thanks praise and worship from God to themselves like the Pharisees that would presently be thanking God in words and judging others without the fear of God faith in him or any true love in feeling or affections or desires to know their own hearts and the iniquities thereof much less that God or others should know them or they their duties to him But these forward minds are far from any sure savour of delight or being in God and therefore their prayers or praises find no place with him neither are they fair or seemly in the mouths of such men where self is loved and their minds employed to provide for the outward man and their pride is the greater that so move while they keep no true watch and guard over their thoughts have no hold of their hearts or stay of their minds but multiply words in a powerless way of mans wisdom by imagining evils finding faults accusing themselves and others and asking sometimes what they do not in truth desire and oft what they do not want but to spend upon their lusts wherein the most are misled as their consciences witness being ignorant of the A ostles doctrine fellowship and prayers as they are of the knowledge of God and the Godhead in the manhood of Christ But that no man may mistake my understanding in the commands of Christ Jesus my Lord how to pray or my practise in obedience thereto let every one turn in their minds to his light and there wait to know how he said Enter into thy closet and shut thy door forget not that and pray to thy Father in secret So Christ himself prayed in the mountain in the garden in the desart alone from his Disciples and required thâ—m to watch and pray And also appointed joynt praying and said Where two of you shall agree upon any thing to ask it shall be granted of my Father which is in heaven but said he Use no vain repetitions as the heathen do And again Hitherto have you asked nothing in my Name ask and you shall receive that your joy may be full And his Disciples did afterwards so ask in his Name in faith and feeling and that without wavering as it is written and prayed much without ceasing with all manner of prayers and supplications in the Spirit and with the Spirit and understanding not knowing what to ask but as the Spirit helped and made requests with sighs and groans not to be uttered and so asking they received whether privately alone as Paul when he felt the grace sufficient for him or as agreed in particular cases as was that in chusing one in the room of Judas their praying together with one accord their sitting so together waiting for the gift of the holy Ghost while they had received but the first fruits of the Spirit So likewise the Church prayed for Peter and for others on other occasions but still more and more in the pure power and fervent love as they received the more spiritual gifts of the holy Ghost By all which it is most evident that the fire of that blessed Spirit of holiness at all times kindled the sacrifice and the praise was not of men but of God And thus they prayed in Christs Name as they were made partakers of his divine Nature But what outward naming of Christ was there in all this which is a work that the rude and unâ—â—ly soul the wild and worldly mind knows nothing of Or what of set times places or personal respects was used therein though now men have learned frequently to take the Name of God and Jesus Christ in vain into their mouths while they hate to be reformed and neither know his Nature nor his Name
Devil and man made might perish and be no more for the everlasting love of God in Jesus Christ is the true light and blessed day love and light being of and in him in whose light the children of the day see light and greatly rejoyce But they that truely seek him must be content to abide a while in the darkness for the darkness was before the light and the evening and morning were the first day and man may not suddenly come from the dark day which is the love of himself and this world into the perfect love of God in and to his soul and to see and feel spiritual things gaining victory in his thoughts to bring all into obedience because it is first night or darkness with him wherein the love of this world is shut out and the day springs from on high and visiteth and as the soul becomes quiet and still the light breaks forth more and more unto the perfect day as he becomes wholly acquitted of his sin and the favour of it But as there is a passing to this light through the evil day or night of darkness wherein is no pleasure but sorrow and sighing doubts and deadness of soul there is a blind longing after and thinking on Jesus Christ how good and blessed he is with desires to feel his love and be lighted with his presence as David sought God in the night to be hid though in pain from beholding the world and its false likenesses which so well please those that are blind in spiritual things and dwell quietly in this darkness wherein Satan cometh with his likenesses and light under colour of true light until the light of love by little and little break forth to him so dwelling in the shadow of death and shine through the darkness and death c. for there are many that would seem to forsake the love of the world and also would come to the love of God and his light to understand him but through this darkness they will not come to know themselves what they have been and are in their sinfulness against God to enter into themselves and view all things there with all wicked stirrings and risings in their hearts of pride envy anger and other evils and to wait desiring in the still silence and spiritual watchfulness to Jesus Christ as his Saints ever did but so soon as in their own wills they seem to have forsaken the world outwardly they presently think themselves holy and full fit for spiritual understanding and heavenly mysteries and that they love God perfectly and have received grace through the special gift of the holy Ghost for they are stirred and seem to feel knowledge as it were then given to them without great study before-hand and a hear of desire therewith to preach forth truth and righteousness and will run into words thereof as with great forwardness and zeal c. And this they hold for the grace of God and visitation of his blessed light before their souls pass through this darkness though this light of knowledge and heat of desire they feel cometh not of the true love of Jesus Christ but from the Devil and his transformings as being onely a fained light and likeness of the true light and Son of God whereby cunningly he leadeth blind souls into a presuming of being themselves righteous and abusing others as the Pharisâ—es did and so have no light of grace to them given by the holy Ghost for though the knowledge they have were in it self outwardly true yet by the Devil and mans own wit it makes onely a fained light of true things but not the light of the true Son nor approved of by his pure light in their Consciences and such men are so blind by these fained lyes and puffed up with spiritual pride that they see it not nor are willing to consider it but highten their hearts against the true light surposing the feeling in their own wills is perfect freedom of spirit and so like clouds without rain tossed to and fro bring forth one device eâ—rour and heresie after another which are known by their wild minds exercised in covetousnesaid this wiss s much vanity talking disputing contending about words rayling and reviling others and perfecuting them and yet will not be ashamed to say They do all this in charity and zeal for righteousness But as James said this wisdom is not from above but is earthly sensual and devilish and therefore this cunning that brings forth such Saints is not of the God of peace and Father of lights with whom is no variableness or evil speaking but such as Jesus Christ used not nor allowed in his Disciples but to do all in his spiritual light and faith in him which is a mystery held in a pure Conscience in the love and meekness of Christ Jesus for it is the fire of love that goeth before him to consume the enmity and evil works c. whereof such are ignorant as have not been smitten down from their height and haughtiness into the lowest degree of meekness and there purged from all spiritual filthiness without which they cannot endure the bright shining of spiritual light the precious liquor of the love of Jesus Christ because not purified in the heavenly furnace to receive the gracious light of heavenly knowledge and perfect love which is the true Son of rightcousaess with healing under his wings and he that thereby reforms in feeling through the dear light that springeth forth and ariseth after this darkness which is not well known but to the soul that travelleth in darkness and cryeth after light to shew it the right way and comfort it in travel therethrough for after true darkness where one firmly sets himself to forsake the love of this world and through grace come to a feeling and knowing of himself and keeps meekness therein he may not be destroyed by errours or fancies for the feeling of grace in that meek darkness teacheth the soul to be faithful and watchful against the enemies motions and subtil slights And it may so be and oft is that some have these workings and firm desires in them and yet remain doubtful thereof what the issue may be but such as they know it begets love and meekness are to keep it tenderly and pursue it fervently that no creature hinder it for this grace will ever be free from sin and worldly business that hinders it which cannot be until he be throughly dead to the world poor inward and outward and have fully forsaken the love of it without any worldly cunning covering or device whereby to be esteemed above others but rather despised of the world and all worldly men sets not his heart upon his own deeds or vertues nor loves nor allows any heart-risings against others for any matter or cause whatsoever so that he doth not disease nor anger any man willingly in word or deed nor pats any trust in worldly goods or friends for otherwise he cannot be
the holy Ghost contemplating on Jesus Christ they were awake though they had other sleeps sometimes as when Christ said Could you not watch with me one houre having their souls inspired through grace and the speciall eye therein opened and beholding Jesus Christ in purity and poverty of spirit inward silence true rest peace in conscience highness of heavenly thoughts with singleness and purity of heart disliking the joyes of this world and onely delighted with spirituall savour of bright burning love thirsting for and gently seeking the Lords blessed presence spiritually These are true testimonies of the inspiration of the holy Ghost in this keeping the spirituall eye of the soul but seeing that reforming onely in faith and fleshly feeling is very low and perilous in its beginning because of the aptness then to yield to the tempter and backslide and reforming in spirituall feeling and savour so high and sure great diligence is requisite in watching waiting coveting and labouring as the Lord Jesus moveth in disposing the affections and bringing the heart to cleanness and feeling of grace which is a constant work of much travel of soul against all wicked stirrings and temptations for it so falls out with some that through negligence and yielding to tentations the enemy enters the soul again and then it feels not the grace as it did but it is withdrawn and the soul returns into the state as before but then the soul is in much blindness pain sorrow and unsavouriness for it relisheth worldly things but unsavourily and is encumbered with bodily wit and earthly matters for the time and then it desireth after the grace of Christ Jesus again and may not find it for a time but this withdrawing is alwayes for just cause and also in much merey to prove the soul and let it see that without Christ it can do nothing and come to him again with much pain and labour fear care and watchfulness while it supposeth that Jesus Christ heareth not which is his dealing with many for their spirituall strength and growth in him for then the Lord Jesus is sure that the soul will not turn again to worldly love for that it can have no savour therein and then after a time Jesus Christ returneth into that soul full of grace and truth visiteth it in its desires sighs and longings for very love to his presence and then as he toucheth it softly and anoynieth it with the oyle of gladness it is healed of all pains and pantings and then it cryeth to Jesus in the spirit with a glad heart and sweet still voyce as his love teacheth This opening of the spirituall eye of the soule is a light darknesle and rich poverty leading to purity of spirit quietness of conscience inward peace and spirituall rest with high and heavenly thoughts in singleness of soul a light and feeling of grace in the secrets of the heart tasting heavenly savour of inflamed love with bright-shining light of reforming into pure feeling whereof many holy men of God have written every one according to his respective feeling thereof in the grace of the holy Ghost and though they seem divers in shewing by words because then each one spake after his own then receiving and encreasing in grace yet nevertheless they agreed in all as in one sentence of unchangable verity for the soul that through the Lords mercifull visiting with his grace comes to see the face of Jesus by that touching and especiall grace of the holy Ghost is changed and turned from what it was into another manner of living for it is wonderfully drawn first into it self from love and likings of all earthly things insomuch that it hath lost the savour of the bodily life and all things else save onely Jesus Christ and is thereby made clean from all the filth of sin and all inordinate affections are wiped off and washed away in the blood of the Lamb and hath nothing standing to hinder him between God and his soul but onely the bodily eye which is thereby become blind and the soul in spirituall rest with Jesus Christ without fears cares or desires of worldly things but fully imployed in a free and spiritual working and love therein whereby its rest increaseth to perfection it being truly called rest because grace hath wholly loosed the heavy yoak and bonds of fleshly love to work with ease in sweet amity joy and delight as the holy Spirit directeth the soul and leadeth it And this doth silence the soul from janglings of all other speakers for it is the voyce of Jesus Christ in heavenly vertue softly sounding in the clean soul by his quick and piercing word sharply dividing between the joynts and marrow and discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart that slayeth all fleshly love and keepeth the soul quiet from all the stirrings thereof and so is silence made in heaven for half an hour as it is written even within in the clean soul that is lifted up by grace from earthly love to heavenly conversation and so it is in silence though but for a short time before it be again assaulted by its enemies yet hath it peace in conscience because this grace puts out all gratings prickings stirrings and fightings of sin making Jesus Christ and the soul both one in agreement of will and affections so that there are no upbraidings of sin nor reprovings for faults for the Son and that soul have kissed each other and are become friends and all faults past are forgiven whereby the soul feeleth assurance of its salvation by the witness of the holy Ghost in the heart and thereby receiveth day by day more and more spirituall joy and boldness to come to the throne of grace the holy Spirit bearing witness of its sonship and the witness in the conscience administring sure consolation with peace and pure accord love and lasting friendship between Jesus Christ and the soul so that the soul is then above the world in high and heavenly contemplation which is an earnest of true glory here in the body in the knowledge of Jesus Christ with so strong and lasting desires of love that many waters cannot quench And blessed is that soul which is ever fed in feeling of love in Jesus Christs presence is born up by desire to him in his absence for he is wise and hath well learned Christ that holdeth him sadly and reverently with pure affections while he is present and while he is as absent beareth it patiently and easily without bitter pains of impure desires and as there are diversities of feelings in the presence of grace so there are in the absence of grace according to the souls meekness or growth therein and therefore he that knoweth not the absence of grace is readily deceived by outward sounds of other mens sayings and he that is not diligent and watchfull to keep the presence of grace is very unkind to Jesus Christ that in and for love giveth it for the soul should be
like her head in vertue and firmness of perfect love And this take for a maxime that he who perceiveth no changes in feeling of his grace given him but still remains a like all whole strong stable unbroken or unhurt as he thinketh must needs be either full perfect or full blind but the latter is more like or most to be feared for he that is so perfect that he is above all touches of earthly things dwelleth in Jesus Christ by sweet and soft love is accepted into a high estate of heavenly glory and restfull pleasure knowing nothing but pure love which is God but he is full blind indeed that feigneth himself to be in grace and savour with Jesus Christ without spirituall feeling of the holy Ghost and setleth himself in a stay'd condition as if he were ever in feeling working in spirituall grace thinking that all is grace that he feeleth without and within and that what he doeth and speaketh is grace and that he is unchangable therein and alwayes at one stay and condition which he esteemeth good Such a soul is fully blind and altogether without feeling of grace in any its workings for they are wrought as aforesaid and by a lively inspiration thereof with the spirituall presence of Jesus Christ in the soul and sweetness of his love by his wonderfull in-dwelling there This is the life of feeling in grace after the measure of the gift with a reverend beholding him spiritually without which in some measure all is but deceitfull and nothing worth nor any way of good use but hurtfull for as the soul is the light and life of the body so is Jesus Christ the light and life of the soul by his gracious presence which cannot so well be exprest as felt for it is the light life love joy strength and rest of the soul that hath painfully felt it yet with sweetness insomuch that it cannot cease from desiring it And this is that no man may mistake in or concerning the work of grace in his own soul and he who will remain still filthy may bear his own burthen whatever he be and his shame also for God hath not left himself without a witness in every man neither is he wanting to any though as Christ said The holy Ghost inspireth where and when he will and that privily as the wind bloweth oft-times when men are least aware of him but is known by his stirring and turning the heart into a beholding of his goodness and melting it into softness of love yet wondereth at his highness shining brightness but the substance effect of this shining grace remaineth though not in its fervour while the soul is kept clean without fallings by wilfulness or negligence into a dissolute life of fleshliness and outward vanity and also know that the soul which is unacquainted with the touches of spirituall grace is an enemy to all spirituall works as being old dry rotten barren and without savour in it self for the salt hath there no savour and to be trodden under foot and nothing but the light of grace through touching maketh it lively sharp quick subtil ready and able to spirituall work by giving it great freedome and a holy readiness in will and affections to obey all the stirrings of grace in the soul and to watch thereto for opening of the spirituall eye whereby it becomes apt to meditation watching and prayer but not to pray in the common manner it did before with loud voyce many words and other mens speakings but in stilness of the voyce and tenderness of heart being gathered up into it self and in the spirituall presence of Jesus Christ wherein every word and syllable hath a savoury sweet sound and delectable melody in the heart by the holy Spirit as being wholly entered into the fire of love the powers of the soul being all heated and inflamed with love so that the sparks flie upward whence the fire came and therein is the soul so comfortably enlightned that it knowes not how to leave off watching praying and praising God with spirituall delight and heavenly joy when no matter is seen outwardly nor voyce heard And this is the food and nourishment of the soul and of much vertue against temptations and likings of the world for it beareth up both soul and body from painfull heaviness of heart and feeling of the wretchedness of this earthly life and the soul is thereby kept quick and lively This was Davids prayer as Incense ascending and perfuming the soul and so as any hath a Psalm of the spirit which is savoury and soft sweet and pleasant in the pure mind broken and burning heart it giveth up a sweet smell to the face of our Lord Jesus Christ these are the prayers and praises heard and accepted of God as before hath been said yielding and also receiving grace from him which he accepts as an addition to his Glory and all other praying wants savour and sweetness as a speaking of words with the tongue when the heart is gone after other lovers or likings of fleshly things and the soul is not master of the bodily wits and imaginations of the brain and is that wherein is no constant devotion no freeâ—om of spirit no ardent and burning love and affections nor whole mind but much speaking and running about here and there by words seeming to speak of spirituall matters without savour profit or any soul-satisfaction and therefore hear with me a few words more of this weighty business of Prayer and keep first to silence and firm watchfulness that thou maist first come to a joyfull feeling of this spirituall praying and that shall teach thee unchangable wisdome without fancy or faineâ—ness that those are possessed with that speak well or ill of things they know not and therefore abide therein untill grace come into thy soul otherwise and will remove it in part for a time and employ thee otherwise and then therein be obedient for that is the best of all sacrifices whereby the holy God will be served and so there is no need of mans teaching how to pray or praise him what words to speak how to divide duties into parts or to guide the affections for the holy Spirit teacheth all this and much more as he pleaseth and the soul feeleth it self led thereby to enjoy Jesus Christ in some measure but this praying and praising God with the Spirit and understanding the wise world accounts foolishness and being strangers to it would have others continue so likewise In this spirituall watchfulness is the Revelation of Jesus Christ whereby the writings of the holy men of God are rightly shewed and opened which mans wit learning reason or study cannot reach for the understanding thereof is freely shewed to the clear soul by Jesus Christ who is the well-spring of wisdome and knowledge it is he that maketh the soul lively and wise to understand the holy Scriptures and yet not all at once in speciall view thereof
like men and be strong in the Lord and the power of his might that the fear of man careful thought or immoderate desire be not found in any of you watch and pray that you enter not into tentations or give occasion to the enemy of your souls lest there should be floath guile or dissimulation hid in any heart or a root of bitterness springing up to trouble and defile or other unskilfull stirring by inordinate affections in any soul after the bodily sufferings changes being seldome free from temptations specially in the weak who are most apt to censure the strong he that hath the beam in his own eye to pull at the moat that is in his brothers eye while contrarily the strong strive not with the weakness in any but ever to strengthen the pure principle help it over the weakness that you may appeare as you are the plant which the Lords right hand hath planted so as that none can pluck you up his portion and peculiar treasure his Jewels sons of the free woman that abide in the house for ever a people whom the Lord loves leads about instructs in his way and keeps from evil and to whom is his blessing of peace and life for evermore that are as living stones built up a spirituall house as a city set on a hill that cannot be hid to shew forth his praise in the blessed love and brightness of his shining glory and be a sweet savour to him in them that believe and in them that perish in unbelief by holding forth the faithfull word of his patience and everlasting Gospel of mans salvation c. What manner of persons ought you therefore to be in all holy conversation that by the burning beams of his beautifull and holy presence you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men that blame your good conversation in Christ Jesus and the hearts of others that tremble at the word of the Lord be melted into tender love and heavenly sweetness suitable to receive that blessed Gospel of peace and reconciliation and so suck at the breasts of consolation as to be daily delighted with the fresh springs of his love thereby to flourish as an herb and be prepared to enjoy the inheritance of the Saints in light and though the world know you not and Satan the enemy of your souls would not have you known lest it should be to his loss yet is the righteous God greater in you then he that is in the world hasting to clear up your innocency that you may be well known to have no strange god amongst you that you touch not the unclean thing but are his sons and daughters having your habitation in the holy mountain with the shout of a King amongst you and that his word spoken shall surely come to pass your enemies be found liars and confess that they have dealt unworthily with you for the Lord hath kindled a fire that shall proceed out of your mouthes to devoure the adversary which cannot be quenched and they that hurt you must be so killed and there is no project to prevent it but as you are faithfull to our Lord spirituall victory you shall have over the beast over his image over his mark and over the number of his name and be found without spot before the throne of God and the Lamb and this is it that giveth you victory even your firm faith but you have need of patience and that it have its perfect work in you so that having done the will of God you may enjoy the promises in the new heaven and earth the true voyce of God in spirituall glory in the essentiall freedome of will and restitution of all things into the heavenly rest wherein all doubts are resolved un on cleared and expectations satisfied and in the way every one is to take care there be no giving or taking offence no falling our no touching of any unclean thing noâ—haâ—…y striving with the evil nature in any others for that as pitch will defile no giving place to evil but overcome it with good as our Lord commanded and being ever apt to teach and bless that you may be heirs of the blessing And to conclude here is nakedly and barely set before all sorts of men the wayes and wages as Moses sometimes said of good and evil life and death for every man to chuse which he will for so it pleaseth the Lord to deal with every man and therein he doth man no wrong by leaving him to his own will and giving him a reward according to his own works c. and experience teacheth that every man will say he loves God and Christ and would be sorry else while he acts as his enemie against him and that he would have everlasting life his soul saved by partaking of the joyes of heaven and avoyding the torments of hell and therefore would die the death of the righteous and have his latter end like his And so said Baalam when he was striving to curse the people of God and gave wicked counsel to the King of Moab against them and to such I say Why walk you then in Balaams way for mens favours rewards so act against the Lord his servants and the light of him in your own consciences for self-ends and make such provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof And why are you not now willing to live the life of the righteous but have him in so great derision and a proverb of reproach as at this day why do you account his life madness and his end without honour why erre you so from the truth that the light of righteousness should not arise and shine in you but rest your souls so in fleshly likings and love of this world whereby godliness seems nothing to you but as a scornfull thing of nought and wrath rests in your hearts even against the Lord and his servants though you say you love him but know that for all these things the Lord God will bring you to judgement you shall see as it is written the righteous stand with great boldness and his salvation seem strange to you above all you looked for and then over-late you may say within your selves What hath pride profited us or the pomp of riches with our vaunting brought us when the â—dolgods you now serve shall depart as a shadow or Post that passeth by with the friendship of this world whereby you are at enmity with God for as it is written whosoever will be a friend to this world is the enemy of God and afraid of him seeks to hide his heart from him and inward fear possesseth him as it did Adam so that he hates his light loves darkness keeps in it flies wanders stumbles staggers and peace departeth from him and though he force to himself a kind of counterfeit mirth for a time yet therewith also he is soon pinched and feels a heavy weight and pain in his own bosom from which he cannot flâ—e but it reproves him and condemns him at every turn and as for the light that shineth in the dark place of his soul he is afraid of that also and faith or love find no room in his earthen vessel for his own lusts fill up the place and devour all by conceit imaginations and vile affections wherein he spends his time to beast himself and yet got swelling words of vanity touching things he never saw and to have mens persons in admiration for advantage sake which is a knowledge and condition that puffâ—th up the heart but redeems not to God from the worldly glory and vain conversation wherein some are so fettered that they will not be reclaimed or endure to be soberly admonished to the contrary for the safety of their souls from whence there is this one onely way Jesus Christ the pure path to be known spiritually and the Father worshipped in him to which a very plain simple man as the fishermen without humane learning may easily attain if he hinder not himself by his own willing seeking desiring hearing striving or outward contention about it because there is a pure principle in every mans conscience which hath onely need to be awaked stirred up and quickned to behold and see all things in the inner powers and parts of the soul and so cease from all outward seekings for it because it is there the free gift of God by his spirit and such as no man can fully teach the knowledge of to another though he were never so well acquainted with the Divine Mysteries which if well considered by those that have attained to some small measure or degree of grace they world not so run into words as many do or be so conceited of their little grace received as to lose it by vain glory while others that have much more wait in still silence of their souls for the Lords work to be therein accomplished as these also would oft times when they speak did they know how little grace or spirituall favour they have in respect of what God giveth to others that singly wait on him with holy and humble hearts and may give also to them if they likewise wait diligently for it Ah that worldly and vain minded men would at last consider and commune with their own hearts to finde out their wayes and see the sadness of their conditions with the high concernments of their souls and how the difference stands between the children of this world that are wife in their generation and the children of light and how the latter exceed the former by many degrees of true wisdome from above and heavenly joy when no word is spoken or matter seen outwardly whereof may be some directions found suitable to each mans present condition in what is here written according to my understanding in the simple and unchangable truth that hath a willing heart to embrace the appearances of Jesus Christ spiritually in his own particular and if not here is over-much said to rise up in judgement against him when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to his Gospel who is the Lord of Life and Glory 22. of the second moneth 1661. THE END