hear and receive it let him vvith vvhom is no variableness nor shadovv of changing He is that I am that sent Moses to deliver Jsrael to vvhom he spake in a bush that burned and vvas not consumed but Moses savv no similitude onely he heard a voice and so forbad them by Gods command of making to themselves any likeness or image of any thing in Heaven or earth to vvorship read in the Life of God vvhich is invisible whose voice may be heard saying To vvhat vvill ye liken me do not my presence fill Heaven and Earth or vvhat house vvill ye build for me and where is the place of my worship or rest or the day which I have sanctified thorovv out all generations and this same God vvhich spake unto Moses vvas the God of his fathers vvhich vvere before Moses vvas born or the Lavv vvritten in Tables of Stone or the outvvard dayes or Cerimonies vvas even of Abraham of Isaac and of Iacob not the God of the dead but of the living mark that and the living it is that can onely praise and worship him he that hath an ear to hear let him hear And this same invisible God of which no similitude must be made is a Spirit of Light Life Truth and righteousness in himself holy and incorruptible c and so is his worship in the Spirit and in the truth which is witnessed in the hearts of such as are quickned and made alive by his power and Spirit in their inward parts who can now say to the professors of this age as our elder brother did unto the women of Samaria though they think themselves in a better state for she was then saying in her simplicity Our father 's worshipped in this mountain at Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship c but he answered and said Woman believe me the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father ye worship ye know not what c. this is a hard saying can the Jewes and Samaritans of our age bear it God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in the Spirit in the truth But some wise professor might say unto me Who knows not this But I say be not hasty or wilfull but stand still and make diligent search in thy own closet and see whether thou art yet come to the Spirit and to the truth which is but one and in it dost worship God in which only is the true worship for he that talked with this woman that was able to distinguish by her knowledge between the way of the Jews and Samaritans telling her all that ever she did was the very Christ read in the book of thy conscience which made her leave her water pot as he hath many of us who were as high in knowledge as she when vve perceived he vvas the Prophet of vvhich Moses vvrote vvhom all are to hear that ends the types temples made vvith hands at Jerusalem and Samaria's mountain vvhere their fathers vvorshipped c but he is to be obeyed novv vvho said The kingdom of heaven is vvithin you vvho drives all his in this path to vvithin in the Spirit and in the truth for they only knovv vvhat they vvorship for salvation is of the. Jevves and he is the Jevv that is one invvardly vvhose heart is circumcised to vvorship God in the Spirit vvhose praise is of God though unknovvn despised or persecuted of men So novv I say to you vvho are contending and disputing about the seventh and first day outvvardly in vvhich of those God is to be worshipped being divided about days and times and outward worships one party for one day and the other part for another day c. Not knowing what or which day to worship in like the Jews and Samaritans for that was the parallel which came into my heart from God concerning you both of which I had spoken somthing as I said before had you been peaceable like Christians or the Church of God where the first is to hold his peace when any thing is revealed from God to him which standeth by c. Which was truly in me but some of you were so rude with noises more like Bear-baiters then Christians that my words should not be heard amongst you like them that stop their ears and gnashed their teeth against Stephen which especially was thorrow that Tho Tillham of whom I was even ashamed of your profession and indeed my heart could even been broken for you to behold the blindness and ignorance enmity and wilfulness that was amongst you which I even marvelled to hear and see in such a day as this of Gods revelation and manifestation of truth and love amongst the children of men But I have considered and said in my heart how can it be other wayes with you then it was with Babels builders of old in confusion one building up in this meaning another throwing down in the other meaning and Imagination bringing morter for brick and brick for morter not understanding one anothers meaning and language and this is just with God seeing many of you have denyed the one pure language which is before Babel in which God is worshipped in one consent for it is his hand that always breaks and confounds the City and Tower vvhich the children of men vvould build in their imaginations vvhose top they thought vvould have reached to Heaven This is your state and the Lord God vvill scatter you and your building till there is not one stone left upon another in all the earth and also destroy you from being a people except you repent vvith speed and turn to him that smites you secretly in your consciences for your iniquity and hypocrisie and this is a vvord of prophesie from the Spirit of truth vvhich shall be fulfilled in a season that is approaching And novv as concerning your controversy about the time or day in vvhich God is to be vvorshipped I have somvvhat more to say desiring that you vvould vveigh it in the ballance of equity though it might seem a cross to somthing in you yet the vvords of my mouth shall be right and the Mysteries of God are in my heart as a great deep in this matter which would be very large to express in full concerning these things to the clear understanding of them among you which indeed cannot be rightly known but by the Keys of David which only opens the door of this treasury and though it may be esteemed a low thing in the eyes of the prudent of this world and be dispised as a day of small things yet in this Mountain the Lord have made unto us his Children a feast of fat things praise and glory and everlasting thanks-giving be unto him that sits upon the throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever Therefore now that you may understand these things and be rightly informed mind first the fear and dread of
the Lord came to the Prophets at several times and upon severall occasions saying Thus saith the Lord c So then they spake and writ vvhat they were commanded by the Word of the Lord so that it is plain to them that have a right understanding that the words vvere given forth from the word vvhich word was hid in their hearts as David saith vvhich vvas there before the words vvere given forth Holy men of God vvere moved first by that vvhich is Holy to speak and vvrite before they did speak or vvrite forth the Scriptures vvhich are a true declaration of those things vvhich were done and spoken by the word which was in the beginning and Iet none say that the report is the arm of the Lord seeing Isaiah a true Prophet of God did make a true distinction between the report and the thing reported of for saith Christ the Scriptures are they that testify of me c but in him was the life and Salvation and not in the Scriptures though they are an outward testimony and true declaration And yet how ignorant have people been since the Apostles dayes in the Apostacy of these things calling the Scripture the Word of God when the Scriptures themselves saith Christ is the Word and in the beginning was the Word and the World was made by the Word but the Scriptures were not in the beginning neither was the World made by them for they are many words spoken at sundry times since the beginning and so are many words which declares of the Word and of those things which are certainly believed among us Luk. 1.1 Concerning the Gospel AND so in the time of ignorance and darkness which hath been for ages both teachers and people who have been and yet are in the Apostacy from the Apostles Life and Spirit have frequently called the writings of Matthew Mark Luke John the Gospel and so have called the Scriptures the Gospell when as the Scriptures the true declaration saith the Gopsel is the power of God and the Gospel is everlasting and the Gospel was preached to Abraham long before Marthew Mark Luke John were born which Gospel is the power of God and Christ is called the power of God and the wisdom of God who sayd Abraham rejoyced to see my day and he saw it and was glad so Abraham knew the glad tidings who was before Moses for God saith to Moses I am the God of thy Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob this was before the Scriptures this was the power of God and the wisdom of God by which the soul immortal comes to be redeemed the captive delivered the chaines of darkness death and hel broken and all its enemies scattered this is glad tidings indeed and this is rightly called the Gospel of salvation of which Paul nor we are not ashamed for it is the power of God and many have the Scriptures and yet have not salvation or redemption by them but are in the errour ignorance and darkness not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God of which the Scriptures declares And in this state people have been in great contentions and debates striving in their dark imaginations about these things and can never be satisfied nor never shall till they come to the Light in themselves which only can give them the knowledge thereof for that is the Key of David that opens to them who do not exercise themselves in things too high for them but are become as weaned children for saith Solomon wisdom is to high for a fool and she dwelleth not with consuming envy neither wil she enter into a froward heart for wisdom is a loving Spirit she is the beginning of all the works of God and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom unto which if a man comes not he shal never know Gods secrets nor the mysteries of his kingdom which are hid to that part nature or Spirit in man that would always be knowing and climing up into the tree of knowledg and would know the mysteries but not obey his call and come down as Zachens did but the Cross is to obey according to what is already known though it be never so little of stature and without this daily Cross which crosseth the hasty mind the wil and wisdome of man there can be no true knowledg of the Mysteries and will of God and without it thou can never know true peace and satisfaction though thou compass sea and Land in thy comprehension the Lord hath spoken it Concerning the body of Christ AND now having mentioned somthing concerning Christ and concerning the Word and the Scriptures and the Gospel c. There is somwhat in my heart remaining concerning the body of Christ about which great contentions opinions and debates have been amongst them whose eyes are not in their head but at the ends of the earth First I beleive and we beleive that Christ had a body and came and preached and suffered and dyed and rose and ascended and sitteth at Gods right hand c. According to the Scriptures but yet some are saying to us with a lying Spirit You deny the Resurrection and the body of Christ c. To which for the simple-sake according to the Scriptures of truth I shall answer As for Christ I do beleive in my heart infallibly that he had a body prepared him to do the will of God and that he suffered the contradictions of sinners in the days of his flesh and was crucified by wicked men great professors chief priests rulers Souldiers and elders and was laid in the grave and rose again according to the Scriptures and did ascend over all the principalities and powers of the darkness of this world and now sitteth at the right hand of God c. And I do also beleive that he hath yet a body which was prepared and is yet preparing to do Gods will in earth as it is in heaven c. But me thinks I hear some say in their reasonings and imaginations What body hath he and where is it seeing it is sayd he is at the right hand of God this I shall answer with his own words which he spake here on earth viz. No man ascended up into heaven but he that came down from heaven the Son of man which is in heaven he that hath an ear to hear let him hear and take notice what body that was which come down from heaven when Mary sayd unto the Angell How can this be seeing I know not a man when he told her the Saviour should be born and that holy thing that should be born of her should be called the Son of God c. Now mark the answer The power of the most high shall overshadow thee by which power the body was prepared here on earth and saith Christ the Saviour the wisdom of God and the power of God a body hast thou prepared me mark the distinction thou me and a body this me that spake in the
Deep calleth unto Deep OR A Visitation from on High UNTO The Breathing Seed OF JACOB Which is not satisfied among all the Professions in the Earth or with the Husks cannot fill its belly but is pincht with hunger and feels a secret Cry for the true Bread that comes down from Heaven which gives Eternal Life Wherein is opened some of the mysteries of God's Kingdom to the clear understanding of the Poor in Spirit to whom it belongs but to others it's Parables Concerning GOD what he is and where he is and of his Worship And of the First-day and the Seventh or Sabbath day Also shewing plainly in what day God is rightly and truly Worshipped and the difference and Character of the true Worshippers and false clearly described And concerning Christ what he was before the Law and in the time of the Law to this present time and what and where he is now Also something concerning the Word and the Gospel and the Scriptures and of the Body of Christ and Resurrection and Ascention and of his Coming and Reign and of the Kingdoms of this World becoming his Kingdoms c. Which may give much satisfaction to the upright inquiring mind being given forth in the true love and compassions of my breathing soul that so the simple might be turned to hear the voice of Wisdom which crieth in their streets and forsake the foolish and live By William Bayly The day-spring from on high hath visited us to give light to them that sit in darkness c. Luke 1.78 79. London Printed in the year 1663. A Visitation from on high c. Of the fall and and Restoration c. IF man who was made upright after Gods own Image had never sinned or transgressed against him there had been no need of sacrifice and offerings for sin or of a Saviour from it If man had never fell from the Knowledge of God and lost unity and peace with him thorow disobedience against his word of command and so become degenerate there had been no need of a restoration reconciliation or of salvation If man had never gone into darkness out of the right way of blessedness and everlasting happiness there had been no need of preaching or declaring the way which is the light to lead him out of darkeness into the way of peace and unity with God again If there had not been a departure from the invisible God who is a Spirit of Truth and Righteousness then had been no need to say to the Sons of men Return why will ye dye If death were not the end of that path which leades from God the invisible Fountain of life If man had never been in bondage and captivity to sin and Sathan the author of it there had not been need to have mentioned or declared of redemption and freedom from it c. But seeing as the Scripture saith all have sinned and fell short from the Glory of God and death hath passed upon all men and darkness hath covered the earth and gross darkness the people and a vail have been over the face of all nations and blindness hath happened to Israel so that the Ox and the Asse hath more knowledg of their owner than they of the Lord their maker and all have gone out of the way of peace which was the good old way before transgression was and the fear of God was not before their eyes as it is written and the true voice of God the shepperd hath scarcely been understood by dream vision or prophet man hath been so degenerate by the deep sleep of ignorance wilfulness and perversness from the pure God and his wayes that it is hard to be uttered by the tongue of men or Angels the invisible eye that only sees God have been so blinded and the wrong eye have been opened in the imaginations and in the visibles that it hath been frequent among the children of men to call good evil and evil good to put light for darkness and darkness for light because the God of this world hath blinded the eye and then by the blind both leaders and followers he himself is worshipped as God even that wicked one which leads out from God and then exalted himself in man the temple of God governing and ruling in the hearts of the children of disobedience and this great Whore hath sate and raigned over Nations Kindreds and tongues and the Kings of the earth and this is that Antichrist whom the Lord will consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroy by the brightness of his comming which day is at hand But now seeing as I said it is and hath been thus as before mentioned all have been concluded under sin and in the bondage of corruption darkness ignorance where the mysteries of God and Godliness have been hid and the way of peace not known being departed from by transgression which is the onely ground of separation between God and man who thereby is captivated and become as sold under it so that without being awakned by the voice of the Son of God and made alive and redeemed from transgression and reconciled to God again man will utterly perish from Gods comfortable refreshing presence and be for ever driven into darkness where they shall never see light but to their perpetual torment and anguish this will be the portion of them who knoweth not God nor desireth the knowledg of his wayes therefore there is a necessity of a Restorer a Redeemer and Saviour for them who are sencible of this their fallen captivated and miserable state for while man is in this state he neither knows God nor his vvorship but this inscription is vvritten upon all their Altars their prayers sacrifices and vvorships to the unknown God for no man knovves the things of God but by the Spirit of God though they may imagine and talk about them in their darkned minds and none have received the Spirit of God as to know his doctrine and worship but they who turns and have turned at its reproof which is in the inwards parts which reproofs are because of transgression that it may be turned from which is the onely ground and cause of the separation from God and of the Ignorance of his will wayes and worship which is in the spirit and in the truth which no man can know or comprehend or walk in acceptably but by the guidance and direction of Gods good Spirit which is the leader of his Children and people into all truth and righteousness So now seeing there is a necessity of a Saviour to help and restore redeem and reconcile man unto God again and of a way to enjoy that happiness and blessedness again which was once lost by disobedience and transgression And that unity and peace with God must again be witnessed or else all the talk of Hope Faith worships or religions are but in vain except the Soul which is in man invisible and Immortal comes to enjoy the invisible eternal God
is that of which the body shall be full if the eye be single and what is that single eye or the one eye with which it is better to go to Heaven then with two into Hell-fire and what is that eye which is the Light of the body seeing the eye of the Lord is the guide 6. And what makes the difference between the wise Virgins and the foolish and whether the Lamp without oyl and the light burning be not the form or profession without the power and life which saves from sin and gives an entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of God 7. What wise man is that which Solomon speaks of whose eyes are in his head and what is that fool vvhose eyes are at the ends of the earth 8. And vvhat is that prudent man which foresees the evil and hides himself and what did he hide from and in what is the sure hiding place and what gives the fore-sight of evil what is that fool vvhich passeth on and is punished and vvhat is the head of every man 9. Whether the fear of the Lord be not the beginning of Wisdom and to depart from evil be not understanding and vvhether they vvho are not yet come unto the fear of the Lord vvhich is to depart from evil be yet come to the beginning of true vvisdom and if not yet come to the beginning it is possible they may be the fools vvhich may dye for vvant of wisdom if they do not speedily repent and turn to him that smites them for their folly c. So take this for an ansvver till thou knovv further of vvhich much might be said and of this kind but a few vvords to the vvise may be enough Concerning Christ second coming and Kingdom and Raign and of the Kingdoms of this World becoming his Kingdoms I Never read in all the Scriptures as I can remember of a third comming of Christ personally in his ovvn fingle person or of a personal reign besides vvhat shall be in his Saints But I have read of his coming the second time without sin unto salvation c. which the Apostles in their days did witness yea even his comming and Kingdom as may be mentioned hereafter I believe most people in that called Christ endom who have read the Scriptures will confess Christ is come once already even when he had the body prepared which he laid down and took up without the gates of Jerusalem this I grant was a personal comming or the God head dwelt in that person bodily this we conclude was his first comming to be manifest in these days and we beleive all the things that are written of him to be really true and that whatsoever he did or said must be fulfilled c. But now this being his first comming he tels his disciples while he was yet with them that he must go away and that it was expedient that he should go away or else said he the Comforter will not come the vvhich if I go avvay I shall send unto you even the Spirit of truth vvhich shall abide vvith you for ever c. Yet notvvithstanding sorrovv had filled their hearts though he tell them he vvould come again unto them and their heart should rejoyce and their joy no man should take from them This vvas his promise to his disciples vvhile he vvas yet personally vvith them and to comfort and strengthen yet more he told them that he that vvas vvith them should be in them c. For they loved his person for the sake of the frame quality of the spirit that dvvelt in him or else vvhat vvas his person being mean and contemtible to them more then another person but for that vvhich dvvells in him they loved him let none mistake I do not slight it nor the person of any of his brethren or children as they are prepared to do the vvill of their Father but I do knovv in Gods Counsel that it was even so as it hath been also in these days among vvhom God the Father of mercies hath as it were deprived some of his disciples of the personal presence of some of his dear sons servants which may be to this end that the same Spirit and Life might be felt possessed lived in enjoyed in themselvs in their own particulars in which onely their eternal well being consisteth And so he taught them to pray Our Father c. Not to look at his person and pray to him as a person without them but bid them pray to their Father which seeth in secret who would reward them openly and he that seeth in secret searcheth the heart trieth the reins he bid them pray thy Kingdom come the Kingdom of Heaven is within and the heart and reins and the searcher of them is within And he bid them wait at Jerusalem till they were endued with power from on high the Kingdom of God consisteth in power c. So they waited for his comming and Kingdom in their days after his bodily departure from them and also came to enjoy what they waited for and to receive the promise of the Father which was fulfilled unto them and in them For saith the Apostle we wait for his Son from heaven this was after he had suffered and was departed from them and at length sayd the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we know him that is true and are in him that is true this is the true God and eternall Life and this Life is in his Son And then again spake on this wise Wee have received a Kingdom which cannot be moved letus have grace in our hearts whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear for our God is a consuming sire c. So here they received the Kingdom and the Son of God was come they vvere in him vvho came unto them in his Kingdom Here vvas Christs prayer sulfilled vvho said That they might be one as vve are one thou in me and I in them and they in me that vve all might be perfect in one and here is their prayer also fulfilled or ansvvered vvho said the thy Kingdom come c. When they receive the Kingdom vvhich could not be moved vvhich Kingdom Christ tels them was vvithin so this they received vvitnessed which was the second time unto salvation from sin who never mentioned as ever I need of a personal coming and reign the third time or of a third coming in a single personal appearance as hath been imagined by many who know not the waiting to be endued with power from on high but a running in their ovvn vvils and times and vvill-vvorships and feigned humilicies vvhich is not at all accepted vvith God vvhile that birth is not being nor that body prepared vvhich only can do his vvill acceptably But this we have read of the pourings forth of the Spirit in the Last days upon all flesh then none is excepted and Sons and danghters should prophesse which is come to pass and that the Lord will come in ten thousands of his Saints to convince all the ungodly of their ungodly deeds and hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him and to execute his judgements this is comming to pass and that he will consume Antichrist by the Spirit of his mouth and destroy him with the brightness of his comming then not with carnal weapons but withspiritual he will destroy Antichrist when this is done then must the Kingdoms of this world needs become his and he shall Reign for ever and ever Blessed is the eye that sees and the heart that feels and understands these things for the time is born and the day is dawned in which they shall be fulfilled And this is the Word of the Lord of Heaven and Earth who is come to Reign and reigneth and vvill reign till all his enemies are become his footstool and the Kingdoms of this world become his Kingdoms and dominions even for ever for evermore Therefore let the earth tremble and them that fear and obey him rejoyce Amen Hallelujah Amen O Thou professor who are yet a transgressor Would'st thou know the Mysteries of God thou must first feel his Red Which will thy back sunce till thou leave works of night And walk in the Light this is the way to know the first day And also the rest which is Holy and for ever blest For Zacheus climbing was too high the Saviour to embrace But down below he was received in whom Salvation was The voyce that from the tree did call though below him he obeyed The little stature is not despis'd therefore be not afraid But come then down into the house with joy the Light receive For he 's the Saviour of all men that in his name believe The tree of Knowledge hath beguil'd and fed the birth must dye The tree of Life hath not been known while in the wisdom High Men have aspired and not desired with poverty and thirst To walk i' th Light with hearts upright the plain path of the just Therefore the Pearl from them is hid who dig not in the deep But with the sluggard and the fool in rags and folly sleep But now the awakning day is come the trump aloud doth sound The Life 's reveal'd as in days past mans wisdom to confound Therefore all people stand up and see the state in which you are For either Heaven or hells your Lot the hour is not far For I have heard from throne of God a dreadful voyce and cry O England England thou art visited and now thy end draws nigh Even so hasten thy Work O Lord God Almighty as thou hast shewed thy Servant and cut it short in Righteousness for thine Elect sake that cries unto thee night and day thotowout the whole Earth Even so come Lord Iesus come quickly saith my Soul Amen Written by a Servant of the living God who is a trembler with joy at the VVord of his Power for whose sake I am in outward bonds at Hartford but my peace can no man take from me blessed be the Lord the God of Jacob whose compassion fails not but his Mercies endures for ever and ever Amen W.B. The Second Month 1663. THE END