the Flock of God which is among you over which the Holy Ghost is Overseer not by constraint but willingly not for filthy Lucre-sake but voluntarily and not as Lords over God's Heritage but as Examples even as Christ was to his Followers who said Learn of me for I am meek and humble of Heart and ye shall find Rest to your Souls So Holy Jesus by his Doctrine and Example did not give Peter Lordly Supremacy over the rest of his Disciples but said otherwise to them that desired Supremacy and Lordship over the rest Be not called of Men Masters nor seek the uppermost Seats at Feasts nor greetings in the Market-place Seek not Supremacy nor Authority over your Brethren for he that would be greatest among you shall be Servant unto all Thus you see Christ gave no Supremacy to Peter for Supremacy and Lordship is what the Kings of the Gentiles exercise over one another and that which Phocas the Emperor of Rome who slew his Master Mauricius gave to Boniface the Third i.e. Supremacy for setting him up Emperor So you see Supremacy is not the Doctrine of Christ but the Gift of the Gentiles Emperors and Kings And though many Graces attended the Church yet the greatest and supreamest Gifts and Graces were Humility and Charity Allelujah As I am a Priest to God having Christ Jesus in me sent to try what Spirit governs the World my hearts desire to the Church of Rome is That they would try and examine themselves by the Rule of God's Spirit whether they stand upon Christ the Rock the Revelation of God to Peter the Foundation whereon all the Faithful stand and are built the Rock of Ages throughout all Generations Or whether they are built on Peter's Person in his Degeneration and Fall when he denied and left the Rock by savouring and setting up the Things of Man above the Revelation of God the only thing needful to make a true Christian Allelujah I humbly crave leave further to query and ask Whether the Church of Rome affirming Mary a Creature espoused to Joseph to be the Mother of God who is infinite whether this be not Blasphemy read Mat. 12.47 to 50. Luke 2.48 John 2.4 and to worship or adore her Image Similitude or Picture whether this be not a breach of the Second Commandment and the highest Idolatry seeing to worship or adore the Work of Man's hand is worse Idolatry than to worship and adore the meanest Creature that God hath made And you calling the Pope of Rome a Creature Head of Christ's Church is not this think you Blasphemy And for you to call Bread and Wine meer Creatures after Consecration the real Body and Blood of Christ our Creator and Redeemer who is the Bread of Life that came from Heaven is not this think you also Blasphemy and for you thus to adore and worship these Creatures is not this think you Idolatry Likewise to call a Crucifix of Man's making the Cross of Christ which is the Power of God that crucifies Sin and the Lust of the Flesh in the Saints is not this think you a high Crime of Blasphemy And to worship and adore this Creature of Man's making is not this think you the highest Idolatry feeing you own falling down adoring and worshiping to be all one and the same thing And for a Man to make an Altar and bow to it is not this the worst kind of Idolatry thus to worship a Creature of Man's making more than the Power of God Christ the Word revealed in the Heart Allelujah For you to set up Holy Dayes and observe Saints Days is not this think you a Prescription and Imposition of Man and not by God's Command and may not we call all these days of Man's making the Devil's Days as Jesus called Peter Satan when he savoured more the things of Man than the things of God rather than the Saints Days who served God in the Spirit of Truth every Day So he that keeps a Day holy to the Lord doth well but he that keeps a day in satisfaction of the Flesh in Chambering and Wantonness doth ill I have bin credibly informed that in Ireland the Roman Catholicks keep St. Patricks and St. Peters day with more Debauchery and Drunkenness than any other day in the Year and I am sure in England Holy-Days used to be kept and celebrated more to the honour of Venus and Bacchus than to the Service of the only holy true God Allelujah You say Christ's Church is Vniversal and always visible I say Christ's Church is and ever was invisible to Men unregenerate who are not born of the Spirit tho never so wise and prudent in natural Things I pray where was the Church visible when Peter denied Christ and the rest of his Disciples forsook him and fled Mat. 26.56 And do not you think that these things were written for our Example that we should not follow Man nor the things of Man in the Unregenerate Estate in the Worship of God but the gracious holy Spirit of God in our Selves which whosoever hath not is no true Christian Read Rom. 8.9 which Spirit is the Saints only Teacher Allelujah And I pray where was the Church of Christ visible when St. John saw her as on Eagles Wings flee into the Wilderness to save her self from the usurpation and tyranny of the false Church for a time times and half a time where she was seen and known only to God fed and nourished by him not with visible Bread but with Bread and Water of Life from Heaven the true Flesh and Blood of Christ of which the National Visible Church knoweth nothing which only feed upon outward carnal visible Things such as the Traditions Prescriptions and Impositions of Men prepare for them So that all this time the True Church and Spouse of Christ lay hid in the Wilderness as a mourning Widow a City unbuilt troden under-foot of the Gentiles cloathed in Sackcloth whilst the visible false Church sat as a Queen upon the many Waters Which Waters saith St. John were Peoples Multitudes Nations Tongues and Kindreds whereon the Whore and false Prophets sat cloathed in Purple and Scarlet and deckt with Gold and precious Stones in so much that all the World wondred and worshipped the Whore and false Prophet she having a golden Cup in her hand full of the abomination of Man's Inventions which she gave to drink to the Nations to the Tongues even to all the People that received the Mark of the Beast and Number of his Name what the Civil Magistrate imposed on whom the Whore and false Prophet sat To such she filled of her Cup and received them within the Pale of her Church but for those that refused to drink of her abominable Cup and to receive the Mark of the Beast and Number of his Name which Number stands in things of Man's imposing against such the Beast Whore and false Prophet proclaimed War and would neither Buy nor Sell with them but made Laws and
and all his Works the Pomps and Vanities of the World and all the sinful Lusts of the Flesh and that he shall keep God's Holy Will and Commandments and walk in the same all the days of his life I say it would be inquired into Whether those God-Fathers and God-Mothers do perform and keep this Oath Promise and Vow themselves If not then why should they undertake for another what they perform not themselves And if I mistake not it is a Tenent of the Church of Englands That we cannot live free from sin so long as we live in this World If so were it not far better never to Swear and Vow than afterwards to break them Is not this to add Sin unto Sin and so bring a greater condemnation on our selves As I am a Priest to God by having Christ Jesus in me I declare That Infant Baptism is no Ordinance of Christ's neither is John's Baptism with Water Christ's Baptism Christ's Baptism is to be baptized into the Name Nature and Spirit of God the Father Son and Holy Ghost which Baptism of the Spirit is the one Lord one Faith and one Baptism one God and Father of all who is above all through all and in us all that are born of and baptized with the Spirit of Grace This Baptism is that alone which saveth by the washing of Regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost and not by putting away the filth of the Flesh but the answer of a good Conscience towards God And this Baptism of the Spirit which followed John's Baptism of Repentance is that only which can initiate into the Church of God make a Child of God and give an entrance into and an inheritance in the Kingdom of Heaven Allelujah And I query Whether Infant Baptism were not the Invention of Man rather than the Command of God brought in by the false Church for advantage-sake in the long dark night of Apostacy after that the True Church was fled into the Wilderness there fed and preserved of God whilst the Whore the Beast and false Prophet ruled who set up Shadows instead of Christ the Substance the Letter above the Spirit Man's Baptism which is with Water instead of Christ's by Fire which is the Holy Ghost And instead of putting on the Lord Jesus Christ the New Man which is the Saints Righteousness they put on a white Linnen Surplice to make them seem outwardly Holy that inwardly were full of Sin and Uncleanness full of Self-love Hypocrisy and Pride full of Covetousness Hatred Malice and all Uncharitableness And instead of bowing at the Name of God which is the Command of God Isa 45.23 that every knee should bow to him you bow at the Name of a Man not greater than is Immanuel which is the Name God himself gave the Virgin 's Birth Isa 7.14 who is the only begotten Son of God in all the Sanctified that saves his People from their Sins And your bowing at the Name of Jesus rather than at the Name Immanuel doth it not demonstrate you to be worshippers of Angels rather than the true God And for you to bow down to any Letters or Syllables joined into a Name of God or Man is this think you to worship God in Spirit and in Truth as he requireth And for any to bow down and worship any Thing or Name that is not purely God alone is most certainly Idolatry and false Worship And be not ignorant that the Name of God is his Power his Love shed abroad in our Hearts his Immanuel a strong Tower whereinto the Righteous flee and are there in Peace Rest and Safety Allelujah Holy Days Holy Days both Fasting Days and Feasting Days were they brought in by the Command of God or prescribed and imposed by Man Was not St. Paul afraid of his Galatians that he had bestowed his labour on them in vain who instead of setting up and forming of Christ the Day-Star in their Hearts fell to the observation of Days and Months and Times and Years setting up of Meats and Drinks what to Eat and when to eat and what and when to forbear respecting of New Moons and Sabbath Days one day more holy than another all which in the first Covenant were but shadows of good Things to come which the Saints possess and enjoy in the second Covenant which is Christ in them the end of the first Covenant their Hope their Crown and Glory Allelujah In the fourth Commandment you pray That God would incline your hearts to keep this Law which is to keep holy the Seventh day according to God's Command to the Jews Thus by your Traditions ye make void the Law of God and change the Truth of God into a Lie and by bringing in the Old Covenant which stands in divers outward Observations which maketh nothing perfect ye have thrust out the New Covenant Christ the Word in the Heart the Saints Teacher which perfecteth for ever those that are sanctified Allelujah The Lord's Supper The Lord's Supper I humbly declare to be a great Mystery not rightly understood by Man in the Fall It is not Carnal Bread and Wine neither Carnal Flesh and Blood as unregenerate Men apprehend and imagine Christ's Words and Works are more Spiritual than for Carnal Men to understand them it is the Spirit that quickneth and the Inspiration of God alone that giveth to man understanding in the things of God The true Supper of our Lord is when Christ stands at the door of our Hearts and knocks that we then open to him and he comes in to us and sups with us This is the right Supper of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus who is the First and the Last the Alpha and Omega of all our Graces and Mercies Wherefore my dear Hearts Open O ye Gates and be lift up ye everlasting Doors that Christ the King of Glory may come in and sup with you Allelujah So the Flesh and Blood Bread and Wine that comes from Heaven is Christ's Spirit of Light his Body which he gives for the Life of the World this is Meat indeed and Drink indeed that feeds and nourisheth the Soul up to Eternal Life which Cup of the New Testament is the saving Health of all Nations that dwell upon the Face of the whole Earth O my dearly Beloved take and receive eat and drink abundantly of this Cup of Salvation it is the new Wine in our Father's Kingdom a Fountain of Life that can never be drawn dry Allelujah Behold I shew to you a Mystery the Word in the Heart the Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts is the Leaves of the Tree of Life St. John speaks of in the Revelations given for the healing of the Nations for the uniting of all Sects and Opinions in Religion into the one true Religion both Jews and Gentiles Barbarians and Scythians as well as Christians of all Sorts or Names whatsoever whether called Roman Catholicks Episcopal Protestants Presbyterians Independents Baptists Quakers Seekers Socinians Arminians or
they account not themselves responsible for every particular Passage or Notion of the Author's especially as it may be distorted either by weak or malevolent Spirits but judg that they have sufficiently discharged their Duty by communicating his own Thoughts according to his desire to the World J. W. Our Saviour saith In his Father's House there are many Mansions and in the Christian State there be three Degrees Incipientis Preficientis and Perfecti each State may find what is sutable to them to that joy Capiat qui Capere potest Per R. B. Ph. An Abstract of a Letter and Directions of Robert Rich to Mr. John Raynes for the distributing of his Benevolence to the Seven Churches in London Mr. John Raynes THese may inform you That in the month of December 1666 by the way of Ireland we received the sad and deplorable Intelligence of London's Destruction by Fire wherewith the Beauty and Glory of that City is like Sodom turned into Ashes which when I had understood and throughly pondred I did impart my thoughts to your Brother Mr. Fr. Raynes to this effect viz. That this Calamity would be so universal and extensive that multitudes must of necessity be cast upon great extremities of Want and Misery and that now was a fit opportunity for all to hold out a hand of Charity towards their distressed Brethren To which purpose I had You upon my Heart to write unto you when our Fleet went which hath bin detained until now to dispose of the 210 l. in your hand Now Sir as touching your proceedings in this Business of my Request that these Seven Churches with all others might more fully discern the mind of my Lord in this figure of Love and Amity to them I think it meet to let you know that I have something already written to each of those Seven Congregations which in the fulness of time may be presented to their view Holding forth the Everlasting Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Christ in us the Saving Health and universal free Grace of God ready to be revealed to all Nations Sects and People Together with a Declaration or Testimonial of that dear Love and Vnity which my Soul hath to all that fear God and work Righteousness and not only to such but likewise to the Rebellious Disobedient and worst of Sinners Also something I have to offer concerning the New Creation God's Workmanship in Christ Jesus that which mine Eyes have seen and Hands have handled of the Word of Life of things that now are and must shortly come to pass when the Son in Man the New Birth shall more abundantly be revealed which as yet is a great Mystery to many and hath bin long hid from Ages and Generations of formal Professors of Godliness that have wanted the Power of Love or Christ Jesus that Spirit working all their Works in them and for them but is now making Himself manifest in all that are born again of his Spirit and baptized with that Water of Life which regenerateth and keepeth clean the heart That Chast Virgin that only bringeth forth the Man-Child and Second Adam who is Heir of all Things and the Saviour of All that believe and follow Him Who enlightens every one with the knowledg of Good that cometh into the World This is He that was and now is and is yet to come to all succeeding Generations of whom all the Prophets from Moses until John bare Record Allelujah Whose Day Abraham saw and rejoiced as do all that have Christ the Unction in them who only and alone openeth Mysteries and doth teach to sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb Allelujah Whose Star of old led as his Spirit doth now lead all the wise in Heart both to find and also to worship him acceptably according to his Law Mind and Will written therein even Him that is the Rock of Ages whose Body and Blood our Fathers did in the Wilderness as at Jerusalem taste of and which we their Children that are Heirs of the same promised Spirit do now eat and drink the Bread from Heaven which is not carnal but nourisheth the Soul into a Life and Kingdom that fadeth not away but endureth for ever Allelujah And now having in part acquainted you with the reason of my intended Proceedings my next care is what I can to lessen your trouble to which end I think it the best way to propound three of each sort of People chief amongst them as Overseers of the rest Men of good Report into whose hands the 30 l. may be delivered as a sign of my Love and by them be distributed amongst those of their way who are in Need Sickness or any other kind of Adversity A Note or List of Direction to Mr. John Raynes after what manner to dispose of the 210 l. in his hands I. THirty pounds to the Professors of the Roman Catholick Religion Enquire I pray on the Exchange for Mr. Daniel Arthur or Mr. Thomas Wise Merchants they can inform you who are the chief Confessors and Teachers in Queen Katharines or in the Queen Mother's Chappel and give the Mony to three of the chief of them as a sign of my dear Love intreating them to bestow the said Mony on those that are in Need Sickness or any other kind of Adversity amongst them II. Thirty pounds to the Episcopal Protestants Give to Dr. Thomas Pierce Dr. Pearson Dr. Peter Gunning Dr. Robert Pory Dr. Britten Dr. Dukeson of St. Clements Danes to any three of them or any other three you judg more convenient as a sign of my dear love entreating them c. III. Thirty pounds to the Presbyterian Professors Give to Doctor Spurstow Dr. Manton Mr. Richard Baxter Mr. Thomas Case Mr. Samuel Clark or any three of them or to any three of that way you judg more convenient as a sign of my dear love c. IV. Thirty pounds to the Professors of Independency Give to Dr. Owen Dr. Dell Mr. John Goodwin Dr. Thomas Goodwin Mr. Thomas Brooks Mr. Feak to any three of them or to any other three of that way you judg more convenient as a sign c. V. Thirty pounds to the People called Anabaptists Give to Mr. Thomas Lamb Mr. John Rogers Mr. John Cooper Mr. Kiffen Mr. Vavasor Powel to any three of them or to any three of that way you judg more convenient as a sign c. VI. Thirty pounds to the People called Quakers Give to Amos Stoddard Simon Dring John Bolton Samuel Newton Gerand Roberts Henry Clark to any three of them or to any other three of that way you judg more convenient as a sign c. VII Thirty pounds to the Church of the First Born who worship God in Spirit and have their Conversations in Heaven Give to Mr. Robert Bacon Mr. VVilliam Rawlinson and to Mr. Blackborow My request to them is That they would receive this 30 l. of you and therewith provide a Dinner or Supper which I chiefly do for the
persecuted the True Church and Members of Christ according to those Laws made by Man many a thousand even to death And this came to pass that the Prophecy of Daniel might be fulfilled who saw the Beast the Roman Monarch should have power to scatter to destroy and to make desolate the Holy City and Holy People for a time times and half a time which time is One thousand two hundred and sixty days and taking a Year for a day is One thousand two hundred and sixty Years He that is wise and standeth in his Lot as Daniel did in the measure of God's Holy Spirit the Lot of God's Heritage knoweth the meaning of the Spirit in those deep mysterious and hidden Things of God in which Spirit it is seen that the time times and half a time is accomplished that the Church of Christ is to stay in the Wilderness who is coming out of her Wilderness condition out of her mourning Sackcloth as a Woman cloathed with the Sun of Righteousness and a Crown of Stars upon her Head the Faithful Chosen and truly Sanctified and having the Moon all inferior and borrowed Lights under her Feet where the Citizens of Sion the New Jerusalem have no need of a Candle or any teaching of Man for the Lord God by his Inspiration is their Light and they need no other Light but as the Unction the anointing teacheth them and is the true Inward and Infallible Teaching in which Light of the Lord God the Nations that are saved walk Allelujah Thus you see when how and by whom the Apostacy from the true Faith and Church of Christ came in and wherein it still standeth even in savouring as Peter did the things of Man more than the things of God the inspiration of his blessed holy Spirit Allelujah And this Apostacy appeared in the Apostles days whereof Peter was the Ring-leader as may be seen Gal. 2.11 when Peter dissembled and forsook Christ his Spirit the Rock the True Church and Faith the Corner-Stone the sure Foundation of the True Church throughout all Generations God's Covenant of Light to all the World and his Salvation to the Ends of the Earth his Talent and Measure of his Holy Spirit of Grace given to every one to profit with in the which disobeying stands our Condemnation and in obeying of it standeth our eternal Salvation our Peace and Rest with God Allelujah Thus by Peter's bad Example the Church of Christ had like to have bin lost in the Apostacy had not St. Paul that great Apostle of the Gentiles stood in the Gap in withstanding Peter so boldly to his very Face for this his dissimulation which did not only draw away the Jews but Barnabas was also carried away by their dissimulation by their compelling the Gentiles to live as did the Jews they brought a great Schism into the Church and had like even at that time to have carried the whole Church into the Apostacy had not St. Paul withstood them Which Apostacy afterwards came in by observing the Old Law and other Heathenish Customs prescribed by Man rather than the Commands of God For did not the Apostacy come in by observing of Days Months Times and Years by observing Holy Days New-Moons and Sabbath-Days or Sundays so called from the Heathens read Gal. 4.10 Col. 2.8 16 17. Luke 17.20 What ado was there about the keeping of Easter-day of outward Circumcision Baptism and Supper all which were but Figures of the Inward What Quarreling and Disputes were there even in the Apostle's days about these Matters and soon afterwards between the Arrians and those of one Substance concerning the Nature and Being of Christ one Bishop thrusting out another and killing one another about these outward Things of Man's setting up such things wherein the Kingdom of God is not found nor the Church of Christ edified but much Blood spilt and Humility Love and Charity lost in these bitter Disputes and Contests and all about such beggarly Rudiments as these which no ways did benefit the Church but destroy it in so much that those called Christians were worse than the Heathens in Conversation and more like their Father the Devil than the Children of God or Brethren of Christ Jesus Allelujah And as the Apostacy increased and waxed strong by savouring the things of Man more than the things of God then came in the Abomination which made desolate the Observation of Christmass-day Whitsunday c. and other Saints days both Feasting and Fasting-days keeping of Lent prescribing what Meats should be eaten and what not About this time came in also Altars made with mens hands and brought into the Church to worship God withal which in the Old Law was but a shadow of Christ in the Saints the New Law which Altar and Tabernacle God pitched in Man and is God's Workmanship and not the Work of Man's hand And did not the Apostacy bring in the Seven Sacraments viz. John's Baptism which stood in the outward Element of Water in the place of Christ's Baptism which consisteth in the operation of the Holy Ghost in the Saints the which cleanseth from Sin and begets the New Man Christ in them their Hope and Glory Allelujah Did not also the Sacrament of the Altar come in with the Apostacy consisting of carnal Bread and Wine which are but Creatures turned you say by the Priest's Consecration into the Real Body and Blood of Christ whereas the Real Body of Christ is not Carnal nor Elementary but the true Blood that came from Heaven the Blood and Spirit of Christ the Vine and is the true Wine that chears the heart of God and Man Read Judges 9.13 Matth. 26.29 John 6 51 63. which Bread and Wine whosoever eateth and drinketh shall live for ever as it is written Behold I stand at the Door and knock if any Man hear my Voice and open the Door of the Heart I will saith Christ come in to him and Sup with him and he with me Which Supper is not an outward carnal eating and drinking as the false Church supposeth but is a Spiritual eating and drinking to receive Christ into our Hearts and feed on him there which nourisheth the Soul up into Eternal Life Allelujah Read John 6.27 33 48 51 57 63. Rev. 3.20 The other Five Sacraments as Confirmation Penance Orders Marriage Extream Vnction are these think you or the two former more a Sacrament Similitude or Representation of Christ than the meanest Animal that God hath made And where doth the Scripture call these or any one of them a Sacrament Is not Christ the Beginning and End of all God's Works figured out by a Lion a Lamb yea by every thing that hath Life Is he not the Rose of Sharon and the Lilly of the Valleys yea by things that have no Life For is not Christ the Door and Way to God And may not we as well bow down and worship God in these things as in any of these Seven Sacraments And to fall down and
meerly Worldly and Carnal hath caused betwixt Prince and Prince And doth not this plainly shew that such a State or Church as hath brought so great a Curse over God's Creation where-ever it hath bin received is not Christ's Church whose Church and Kingdom is not of this World who loved his Enemies and came to save Mens Lives and not to destroy them So by their Fruits all Men may know the True Church from the False the Church of Christ from Antichrist's Church As I am a Priest of God after the Order of Melchisedeck who was of the Order of the Holy Ghost and born of the Spirit without Carnal Father or Carnal Mother I say as I am a Priest of God ordained by having Christ Jesus in me my Priest my Prophet my King I have something from God my Father to the high and mighty Men of the Earth in whose hands the Almighty God hath placed the Rule and Government of things Terrestrial as his Vicegerents in all the Earth to them I humbly make this Request First That they would look up unto him who bestowed on them this great Honour and Glory and acknowledg him God of Gods King of Kings and Lord over all Lords Allelujah Next that they would seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof which having found I most humbly intreat them to adore worship and serve the Lord our God therein and therewith which Worship only stands in the Spirit of Truth the Spirit of Grace given to every one to profit withal which Worship the Omnipotent Lord God will accept and no other Service nor Worship but what proceeds from a pure sincere Heart to the Commands of Christ in Spirit the Word in the Heart And that none may be ignorant what this Kingdom of God is and wherein it doth consist and where it is to be found I most humbly offer and say The Kingdom of God stands not in any outward Observation of Man's prescription but is placed within every Man a Light to lighten the Gentiles and to be God's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth which Light is called the Word in the Heart Christ the Vnction the Messiah the Anointed of the Lord which God in his great Love to the World hath given to and in every Man a Talent to profit withal that so every Man in it might work out his own Salvation the which as it is received and obeyed giveth power to repent and forsake Sin and leadeth into Truth and Righteousness and thereby we become the Sons of God being led by his Spirit This Talent in Scripture is also called by divers Names viz. The Grace of God which appeareth to and in every one teaching those that love his appearance to deny Vngodliness and worldly Lusts c. It is also called A Measure of the Spirit given to every Man to profit with also Truth in the inward Parts the Word in the Heart Christ the New Birth and New Creature God's Covenant of Light and Life to all the World who is the Light of the World and doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World and so is God's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth the way to God and Godliness that whosoever believeth in him and followeth him faithfully shall have Life Everlasting Allelujah Read Deut. 30.11 c. with Rom. 10.6 c. Isa 42.6 49.6 57.10 54.13 60.3 Jer. 31.3 c. with Heb. 8.8 c. John 1.9 1 Cor. 12.7 Tit. 2.11 And this Light of Life the Kingdom of God within every Man is compared to many things in Scripture He is the Lamb of God not the Pope's Agnus Dei that taketh away the Sins of the World the Lord our Righteousness the Spirit of Truth that leads into all Truth and the one thing only needful is that we hear and obey the Spirit of Truth and our Souls shall live Allelujah This Kingdom of God is likewise compared to a grain of Mustard-Seed sown in the Heart of every Man by God the Seed of Abraham which Seed is Christ the Light of the World also the Kingdom of God is compared to Leaven placed in a Man's Heart sufficient to leaven the whole Lump from the leaven of Malice and Uncharitableness into a lump of Truth and Love to Righteousness which Leaven is the Bread from Heaven which nourisheth the Souls of true Believers into Eternal Life Allelujah Thus you see what the Kingdom of God is where it is to be found and the blessed Effects it produceth in all that receive God's Heavenly Gift and are found walking therein and when ye know and feel this Kingdom of God in the movings thereof to be within you in the next place my most humble request and advice is That you would thenceforth seek the Righteousness thereof and walk in the same all the days of your Life in which you will find Peace with God Joy in your own Spirits and good Will from and to all Men but as you do undervalue this Small Seed the true Light and Spirit of Grace the Gift of God and prefer this present evil World Man's Prescriptions Traditions and Impositions above it then a Woe and a Curse from God to your Souls and Bodies in your Basket and in your Store but walking in the Righteousness of God's Kingdom you will know how to give God his due and to please him in things Spiritual and Temporal If you leave the Conscience of your Subjects to God alone for him to rule and guide which is God's due then will God give to Caesar his due viz. the Hearts of his Subjects to obey their Soveraigns in all things Temporal Natural and Civil then will Unity and Concord spring up Righteousness Peace and Love will kiss each other And then God will give his Blessing bless us in our Bodies and in our Souls in our Basket and in our Store in our Wives and in our Children in what we eat and what we drink and in whatsoever we set our hands unto both Prince and People Rulers and Ruled all blessed and happy and so will all the ends of the Earth fear the Lord our God bless and magnify him for ever Allelujah The Contents hereof I most humbly and heartily recommend to your most holy Father the Pope of Rome and his Clergy as they will answer it at the Day of God's Tribunal that they communicate these Matters to the Emperor and to all other Kings Rulers and Princes over whose Souls God I hope by his blessed Spirit of Grace hath made them Overseers who being born of the Spirit and having Christ Jesus the new Man in you the only begotten Son of God the Father in you go and preach Him to and in all the World a Saviour to all that believe in him and that follow him who is the Light of the World and doth enlighten every one that comes into the World Yet know that no Man can preach truly to the converting of Souls neither can turn any from
Darkness to Light save those only that are born of the Spirit and so have Christ the Word in their Hearts as Paul had and all true Ministers of Christ have Read Gal. 1.15 16. 2.20 Eph. 2.10 Col. 1.27 2.6 3.16 2 Cor. 13.5 Thus learn to know Christ as all the truly sanctified know him not after the Flesh as he was the Son of Man nor after the Letter which kills but after the Spirit which begetteth Christ the new Man in us who is the only true Agnus Dei that takes away the Sins of the World of all that believe in him and that saves his People from their Sins as he did the Virgin Mary Luke 1.47 giving and encreasing Grace in them working all their Works in them and for them perfecting Holiness in all that love his Appearance which Work of Grace in our Hearts is our Sanctification Justification and Salvation Allelujah Thus being faithful to God in administring the things of God as you receive them from him on God's Name and in his Strength go on and prosper convert all Nations to Christ the Word in the Heart God's Covenant of Light to all the World to Christ the Rock and Revelation of God to Peter on which his Church is built which Spirit of Grace guided the Church of Rome when she was so much renowned into Truth and Righteousness which Spirit of Truth gave St. Peter Repentance and led him out of his Fall where the Gates of Hell prevailed into all Truth and made him an able Minister of Christ not of the Letter but of the Spirit in which Spirit he faithfully served his Master in feeding his Sheep with Spiritual Food Christ the Bread and Water of Life from Heaven Allelujah And know that no Man can please God save Christ the new Man in the Saints who is created after the Image of God in Righteousness and true Holiness And the first Step towards Heaven and true Christianity is to be born of the Spirit for no Man can please God nor go to Heaven save he that came from Heaven even the Son of God in Man which always is in Heaven Read John 3.13 Also know that every Motion in Man's Heart to Good is the Inspiration and Revelation of God as every Motion to Evil proceeds from the World the Flesh and the Devil which Trinity is but one evil Spirit that rules in the Hearts of the Children of Disobedience for of our selves we cannot so much as think a good Thought and without Inspiration and Revelation we can never know God the Father nor God the Son but by the Inspiration of God the Holy Ghost Nor can we know or act aright in the things of God but by the Revelation of his own Spirit a measure whereof is given to every one to profit withal Nor can we please God nor attain Salvation but as we are born of his Spirit and led by his Spirit into Truth and Righteousness as it is written Mat. 11.27 John 3.3 6.44 1 Cor. 2.10 11. Gal. 1.15 16. 1 Pet. 1.13 1 John 3.24 with 1 Cor. 6.11 17. 12.7 2 Cor. 3.3 6. Gal. 5.16 Eph. 2.22 3.16 1 Pet. 12.11 For the natural unregenerate Man tho never so knowing in Literature and other worldly Knowledg as to please the Ear and Understanding of a Man knoweth nothing of the things of God nor understandeth the Scriptures meaning nor Gospel of Christ nor can he preach it because these things are only spiritually discerned And he that wanteth this Spirit of God in him to be his Prophet his Priest his King to reveal the things of God to offer Prayers and Praises to God and to lead into Truth and Righteousness is no Minister of Christ nor true Christian neither can such a one ever inherit the Kingdom of Heaven Read Luke 4.18 8.10 24 45. Rom. 10.8 1 Cor. 2.10 11. 2 Cor. 3.6 4.3 4 6 7. Gal. 1.11 12. 1 Thess 1.5 3.8 1 Pet. 1.11 12. With John 3.3 Rom. 8.9 2 Cor. 13.5 1 Joh. 3.3 After this manner you having Christ the Bread and Water of Life in you then may you feed Christ's Lambs otherwise not and your selves being converted and turned from Darkness to Christ the Light in your selves then you may convert others else not And all that profess themselves to be Ministers of Christ be sure you feel God's Spirit to be your Commission both to begin and carry on that Work else all Preaching and Praying will be but vain and you cannot profit the People at all but must lie down in sorrow under all your own Kingdlings and Conceivings either from the Letter or what you have learned from Man in the Schools c. Thus you having Christ the Truth in your selves being born of the Spirit he will teach you to preach Truth and lead you into all Truth to the saving not only of your own Souls but also of the Souls of those that hear you Even so Amen Allelujah And there is but one thing needful to make the Church of Rome as much renowned now as ever which is That all forsake the Wisdom of the Flesh and walk in the Wisdom of the Spirit of Grace the Word in the Heart given to every one of all Religions to be their Teacher and Leader into the Way of Truth and Righteousness Allelujah Thus there are and have bin in all Ages and of all Opinions and Religions Witnesses of Christ's Birth who are begotten and born again of the Spirit which crucifieth Sin in us and of his Resurrection which createth the New Man in us in which Body of Christ the Spirit of Light which came from Heaven the Sanctified arise and ascend into Heaven and there sit even whilst their Mortal Bodies are here on Earth at the right Hand of God the Father in the Unity and Fellowship of Christ the Son and Blessed Spirit where are Pleasures for ever-more Allelujah Read Ephes 1.3 2.6 Heb. 12.22 1 John 4.17 Psal 16.11 Job 36.12 In the Unity of which Spirit of Grace Love and Charity I most humbly take my leave and in it rest one with all the faithful Seed of Abraham who are begot and born again of the Seed and Spirit of God and led by the same Spirit into Truth and Righteousness Allelujah In which Spirit of Truth I remain a Friend to the Vniversal Catholick Church of Christ throughout all the whole World amongst Jews and Gentiles yea a true Friend to the Souls of all Men whilst I am and when I am no more ROBERT RICH. To the Episcopal Protestants the most Reverend Arch-Bishops the Right Reverend the Lord Bishops the Reverend the Priests Doctors and Deacons and all Degrees of the Clergy and Laity of the Church of England ROBERT RICH sendeth Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting Allelujah TO you that are Regenerate and born again of the Spirit and so are initiated into the Church of Christ made Members of his Body Spiritual through sanctification of the Holy