Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n
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A57218
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Mr. Robert Rich his second letters from Barbadoes writ upon the occasion of the Quakers prevarication in the matter of the 30 l. sent to them in common with their brethren the other six churches so termed by him. With a preface extorted from R.B. phil. to the said people.
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Rich, Robert, d. 1679.; R. B.
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1669
(1669)
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Wing R1362; ESTC R220588
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23,007
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33
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you into the number of that Name of love the highest power to which every knee must bow The third last and most excellent estate is to be risen with Christ Jesus and to sit down in the new Jerusalem with him in the heavenly places the everlasting Sabbath of rest which is a kingdom that cannot be shaken eternally in the heavens the which remains when the old passeth away a fixt and sure habitation whose inhabitants are ever singing praises and drinking new wine in the Fathers kingdom where all old things are passed away and all things anew brautified with the Spirits leading and nothing represented in the oldness of the letter And such a people there are in this present world even as he is in heaven Read and understand Matth. 5.14 1 Pet. 2.9 Joh. 14 18. 1 Cor. 2.16 and 15.48 2 Cor. 5.17 and 6.16 Eph. 1.3 and 2.6 and 14. and 16.4 24. Phil. 2.5 Col. 2.12 and 3.1 Heb. 2 11. and 12.22 c. 1 Joh. 4 17. Behold we shut not our gates at all by day fearing no spirituals nor have we any night as the Prophets had for the Lord God is risen in us a shield and a sun which no more goeth down for Christ being once dead and risen again dies no more but leads captivity captive giving up all to the free grace and leadings of the Father where death and hell is swallowed up in victory that the eternal principle of love may be all in all Hallelujah Go ye and learn what this meaneth then will you come to see that to be a Christian indeed is a very high calling not made by a carnal commandment nor outward observation writ or ceremony of mans institution whatsoever no not by the washing away of the filth of the flesh nor yet by breaking of carnal bread nothing less makes a Christian then the power of an endless life the bread from heaven the indwelling of Gods most blessed spirit of grace his Son in whom Abraham Mary and all the faithful in every Nation Sect and People are blessed Read Gen. 22 3. Judg. 5.24 Psal 51.10 72 27. Isa 65.17 Mal. 3.12 Luk 1.42 48. Rom. 8 9 c. Gal. 3 9 16. creating in them new hearts and begetting the answer of a pure conscience towards God in a vertuous life and innocent harmless loving conversation towards men as well to a foe as to a friend and to the * Mat. 5.39.44 45. Luk. 6.35 c. Psal 68.18 evil as to the good this principle of Love onely is that which makes a true Christian and he that hath not this Spirit of Christ Jesus in him abiding to rule and guide is but a meer Heathen yea a Reprobate to every good work Read and understand Rom. 8.9 c. 2 Cor. 13 5. 1 Joh. 2 6. For except Christ Jesus that Spirit work all our works in us and for us nothing we do without him will finde acceptation with God the Father no though we give our bodies to be burnt and all our goods to seed the poor from a spirit of self-endedness to exalt gratifie or please our selves or others not having in us love and charity the onely begotten of the Father and express image of his person all is nothing And doubtless many Heathens and Roman-like spirits have and may suffer from a wrathful principle as some preach Christ of envie and for to defend their own Way and Worship with as much boldness zeal and resolution as ye can do Wherefore look to the root that leads you either to do or to suffer and earnestly pray and seek for that best and most excellent love and charity that you may have enough thereof to serve in the time of need and to carry you thorow that wilderness and sore famine which is seen coming upon you and all flesh that if it be the will of God you must suffer you may so do as Christians with joy and patience for well doing and not as busie-bodies in other mens matters nor yet as smiters nor false accusers of the innocent neither as despisers and revilers of others more just and righteous then your selves Had you been baptized with this spirit of love that thinks none ill you would not have so much condemned me for an innocent word for calling as Geo Forster said one of my friends by way of salute long since at the Bridge Rascal at which he took no offence neither would G. F. have done had not he looked out with an evil eye For 't is a word I daily use to sucking children am not convinced of the least evil therein nor would I have you ignorant how that words and works are either good or bad from the principle or spirit from whence they flow and proceed He that from the root of * Read Mat. 5.20 22. 12.34 and 18.9 with 1 Joh. 3 5. Hos 1 2. enmity speaks a word against his brother mark is a manslayer yea a murtherer and is in danger of hell-fire Whereas Abraham offering to slay his innocent and onely begotten son from a principle of love and obedience had a great recompence of reward Wherefore look to the root and principle that leads you first make the tree good For after this manner is the ax now laid to the root of every rotten heart which will hew and cut you down ye whited walls ye painted sepulchres who thus make a man an offender for a word And when you had for a long time judged and condemned me as one guilty of all manner of evil in general but proving not so much as one particular indeed accusing me of many things as being a proud person a wine-bibber and a friend of publike sinners things wherein the witness of God did not at all condemn me which made me cry out that it was a small matter for me to be judged by man in those things wherein I was justified of the Lord. Thus your forefathers having called the good man of the house Mark 3.30 Joh. 7.38 39 viz. the Spirits leading Beelzebub it matters not what you call them of his houshold You are indeed those that judge according to outward appearance but I judge no man so neither in meat drink nor apparel For I am satisfied that one man may be much prouder in Sackcloth then another that weareth Velvet and Sattin and I know every creature of God to be good being received with humility and thanksgiving Which made me again cry out saying Judge your selves condemn your selves who so easily can see and espie out a moat in anothers eye but not the beam in your own This counsel also ye rejected against your selves calling it deceit and a lye which made me to say this Scripture was also fulfilled in your ears which saith The time shall come that they will not endure sound doctrine And why were ye so angry with me for saying that man did not live by words onely but by the Word of grace and love shed abroad in our hearts the bread of life which sustains the soul in peace and rest This likewise ye called deceipt and denied my voice therein after which I called you friends at the which you were exceeding wroth crying out against my deceit therein and asking me how I could call you friends To when I replied that in truth I had unitie with those that could love their enemies as with him that called Judas friend Thus I return you these things as your own money into your own sacks that you may see and consider what manner of spirit it is which leadeth you into these and such-like ways and practices and till I hear of thy and your publick repentance as you have publickly appeared against the truth and the innocent defenders thereof I shall esteem you no better then Judas or as infi els and heathens that have denied the truth and faith once delivered to the Saints which to maintain some have hazarded the loss of all things yea suffe ed great shame and reproach amongst you But blessed be God that which ye intended for evil against me that hath the Lord my God turned unto good for which my soul doth bless and magnifie his Name and for ever give thanks even whilst I am and when I am no more Robert Rich. 8 June 1668. POSTSCRIPT I Am told by some of your peope to whom I have shewed the Receipt that the 30 l. received by you from me is again returned but thou sayst it never was received at all and theâ—â— say If it be not returned it shall be Thus is Babel built amongst you and the citie of the Quakers become confusion For my part if it be not received kept and distributed amongst the poor of your people in and by the same spirit of saving kindness I gave it that you think good to return it to me I shall not refuse to receive it again and not doubt of finding those in â—e worthy then your selves though in the highways and hedges scratcht 〈◊〉 and cast out by you 〈◊〉 kindness will accept receive and make use of the same not so reproachfully despise me for my love as you have done