Moon and Stars 8 The Sun and Moon of contrary natures SEeing a right understanding of the mysteries of the true Creation or Redemption or any spiritual truth whatsoever consists onely in the knowledge of him which gave them their beings therefore by divine assistance in the next place I shall treat again of that glorious Being concerning whom there is and hath been in this world such innumerable dark disputes 2 My beloved brethren in the truth you may remember that unto any sober mans understanding it is cleared already that earth and water were an eternal chaos of confused matter essentially distinct from the Creator 3 Also you may remember that out of those elements I have told you by inspiration from an unerring spirit that the Divine Majesty hath created all things that were made into that heavenly order they appear to be whether for a time or for eternity 4 Moreover it is clear also that without those eternal materials was nothing made that was made neither possibly could be onely that serpentine devil in the learned men of this world have long imagined a confused creation of more seeming wisdom power and glory then that of the Creator as abundantly beforesaid 5 Again concerning the word Create make or form I shall write a little of the sense of it 6 My beloved brethren the very true meaning of that word Create is to compose confused dead matter into compleat living forms or that word Create is light and life producing dark dead dâ—st or water into sensible living beings or it is a powerful word proceeding from a glorious form of sensible light and life into a chaos of confused formless matter of sensless darkness and death and from thence producing variety of sensible living bodies according to their kinde for the demonstration of the Creators infinite wisdom power and glory in creation unto some of these living forms 7 Again seeing unlearned spiritual men wrest the Scripture to their own destruction therefore for our more cleerer understanding of the true Creator in order thereunto I shall speak somewhat of the visible heavens and the lights formed in them for mans natural comfort next unto the Creators glory 8 My beloved spiritual brethren you know concerning the deep waters throughout the Scripture Records no man can finde one word or tittle in reference to its beginning therefore of necessity it must be eternal 9 Likewise you know that the waters covered the earth before the creation wherefore the earth being as it is in the deep waters of necessity must needs be one essence eternally with those deep waters aforesaid 10 Therefore though it be said In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and the earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the deep and the spirit of God moved upon the waters 11 My spiritual brethren you cannot be deceived by literal interpretations as to think that the deep waters might be eternal but that lump of hid earth within those waters had a beginning by the word of the Lord 12 No you know that is against all sober sense or reason it self for if that earth which was within the water proceeded from the word of the Lord then the dark deep water must of necessity have its beginning also at that time the earth received its being because in the lump they were essentially one 13 Wherefore what ever man in darkness have dreamed as to say that God created all things of nothing or that God created that confused chaos of water and earth it is so far from having any truth in it that it is all one as if they should say there is no Creator at all but eaâ—th and water and such like stuff as they are 14 Again by inspiration from an unerring spirit I positively affirm against men or angels that the earth and the deep water were eternally one chaos of confused matter distinct from the ever-living God 15 And whereas it is said In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth that is out of that matter of water and earth that were formless and void God did by a word speaking create a formable world as a place of convenient residence for mortals to inhabit in 16 I also declare from the holy Spirit that God created no light nor darkness at all without bodies 17 Wherefore concerning those words Then God said Let there be light and there was light that is the spirit of God being all light moving or speaking into the deep dark waters his word caused a light to appear throughout those waters to make a distinction between light and that utter darkness that was both in the deep water and the earth inclosed as a prisoner in the womb of darkness 18 So that the Lord called this created light Day not onely because it was all darkness before or that he did not purpose to form a more eminent natural light then that was but as aforesaid an ordinary created light is worthy to be called Day as well as ordinary darkness is called Night 20 Or you may know that the very word Light signifieth Day as the word Darkness signifieth Night 21 Likewise you know that darkness was not darkness without its body therefore you may know that light can be no light unless it be in a body also 22 It is not the word Light nor the word Darkness is or possibly can be any thing at all unless they be in distinct bodies that they might become absolute beings of light or beings of darkness 23 It is written Agaâ—n God said Let there be a Firmament in the midst of the waters and let it separate the waters from the waters 24 My spiritual brethren I declare from the holy Spirit that this visible Firmament called Heaven was formed by the powerful word of the Creator out of those very waters in which it is now fixed to keep them asunder 25 Moreover it is written And God said Let there be Lights in the Firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth and it was so God then made two great Lights the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night He made also the Stars and God set them in the firmament of heaven to shine upon the earth 26 My spiritual brethren whatsoever hath been written formerly from mens imaginations concerning the vastness of the bodies of the Sun Moon and Stars it arose in them from their utter darkness of that glorious Creator from whence all true light proceeds 27 Wherefore from that Light by whom no man ever was deceived in some measure I shall demonstrate why the Lord called the Sun and Moon two great Lights and of that matter of which they were made 28 My spiritual brethren though the Sun Moon and Stars transcend each other in glory yet you may know that they were all created of that element of water and are distinct bodies of light fixed in the heavenly firmament 29 I do not
if they acknowledge this rational truth without controversie when the light of the Sun is eclipsed from us it is through its near conjunction with the natural light or ruler of things of the night 58 And when the light of the Moon is eclipsed from us though it be in the night or early in the morning it is through her near 〈◊〉 Junction with the natural light or ruler of the day or a planetary fire answerable to his nature 59 My beloved spiritual brethren as for the time and effect of Eclipses I leave them unto the figurative Merchants of a Sun Moon and Stars which they rightly understand not because no man can truly know them but by inspiration from him that made them CHAP. VIII 1 Of the Heavens 2 How many were created 3 No more but three 1 A Throne of Eternal ravishing glories 2 A Throne of Natural perishing glories 3 An invisible spiritual Throne leading to Eternity AGain if there was but one heavenly firmament created in all some men may say unto me What is the meaning of that third Heavens in the Scriptures 2 From that light which cannot lie to this I answer The spirit of God speaketh of a third heaven in Scriptures that some men might be capable to declare unto his redeemed ones how many heavens there are and where those heavens are and what those heavens are 3 My spiritual brethren which have ears to hear hearken unto the pure light of life eternal There are three created heavens spoâ—en of in Scripture Records and no more no nor never was any more what ever vain men have imagined 4 The first is that third heaven of visible and invisible ravishing glories which are eternal this is that vast kingdom where the persons of the mighty Angels and glorified bodies of Moses and Elias do now inhabit beholding the face of that most excellent Majesty whose divine nature unto his elect is crowns of unutterable excellencies 5 This is that habitation third heaven throne or kingdom of ravishing glory above the starry heavens spoken of so frequently in Scripture Records which is needless to nominate unto you which are spiritual 6 But lest some vain glorious men should say Wheâ—e is the word of God for what I speak Seeing the letter is their God whom they adore in stead of the holy Spirit which spake them therefore to stop their carnal mouthes if it may be I shall write down two or three Scripture Records Heaven is my throne and Earth is my foot-stool Acts 7. O God thy throne is for ever and ever Heb. 1. That we have such an High Priest that sitteth at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens Heb. 8. 7 The second Heaven which the Lord created was not a spiritual but a natural therefore of necessity it must fade away 8 This Heaven is this visible firmament adorned with majestical lights above us and a fixed earth beneath us beautified in its seasons with variety of delights which is natures onely desired haven through the secret decree of the most wise God to manifest the variety of his most infinite wisdom unto elect men and angels in the creating of such natural glory to perish and the â—â—gelical merciless rulers thereof after they have enjoyed their momentary glory 9 Give me leave to cite two or three Scriptures as a visible testimony to this second Heaven also It is written In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth 10 My beloved spiritual brethren you know that there could not be any beginning unto the Creator therefore it may be understood that saying did include that immortal throne above and this mortal world beneath as having a beginning was spoken for the capacity unto men or angels which knew their being was from another and understood also their continuance in those several heavens for a time or for eternity 11 In the first of the Hebrews it is thus written And thou Lord in the beginning hast established the earth and the heavens are the works of thine hands they shall perish but thou dost remain and they shall wax old as doth a garment 12 Again the third and last created heaven is that within the bodies of men or the first man Adam the which spiritual creation being in natural bodies and within this perishing Globe it is made capable through its union with changeable nature to enter into mortality that by the most secreet decree of the most high God after a moments tasting of silent death as he himself did it may quicken again through death it self spiritual bodies full of divine glories that as one man naturally as a flame of fire all the elect may as swift as thought ascend to meet their Lord in the air and with his divine person of bright burning glory enter into that prepared Throne of eteâ—nal pleasures 13 This created or inspired light in man you know hath variety of Scripture-expressions for the setting forth its excellencies that it shall enjoy in the life to come as namely the kingdom of heaven is within you Christ in you the hope of glory Know you not that the spirit of Christ is in you except ye be reprobates It is a true saying for if we be created together with him we also shall live together with him 2 Tim. 2 Thus God created the man in his image in the image of God created he him he created them male and female Gen. 1. 14 Thus briefly I have touched upon the three created Heavens nominated in the literal Records unto an invisible yet visible infinite being of all finite beings blessed for ever viz. a throne of eternal ravishing glories secondly a throne of natural perishing glories lastly an invisible spiritual throne leading them to eternity 15 From that spiritual Majesty by whom was formed the Heavens aforesaid and all in them I positively affirm against all mortals that ever were or shall be that though men have written or shall speak of more worlds then what is fore-written those additional heavens proceeded from their own imaginary confused reason and not from that holy Spirit of all heavenly order CHAP. IX An exact Scripture rule to prove the Man Christ glorified to be Father Son and Holy Spirit in one distinct Person MY beloved brethren which desire a right understanding of spiritual things in Scripture Records take special notice of this one thing and you cannot be deceived by all the wisdom or subtilty of men 2 I say again from the Lord take good notice of those Scriptures which speak positively concerning God or the highest Heavens or Angels or eternal Life or eternal Death or of a natural Heaven and all mortal things within its orb why because you may know that all privative Scriptures though never so eminent or numerous wholly depend upon positive Scriptures 3 My dear brethren for whom my soul is in continual travel until the pure truth be rooted in you some of you being weak of comprehension I shall
and deny God the onely Lord and our Lord Jesus Christ we unto them for they have followed the way of Cain and are cast away by the deceit of Balaams wages and perish in the gainsaying of Core 31 Thus is it not clear unto all men that have any faith in them in the truth of the Scripture that there is two distinct whole worlds to distinguish between the divine glory of election and everlasting shame of rejection 32 A Curse Cain and a blessed Abel from the beginning of the world unto the end thereof a subtil Serpent and a simple Saint a scoffing carnal Ishmael and a spiritual Isaac a bloody minded Esau and a merciful minded Jacob a persecuting Saul and a prophetical David a trecherous Judas and a gratious and glorious Jesus a blessed Seath born in the stead of righteous Abel whom cursed Cain slew to bring forth the generation of the just that the Lord of eternal glory might according to the flesh as well as the spirit spring from a spiritual line of his own light of life eternal 33 And not from a rational or carnal line of eternal deaâ—â— in chaines of utter darkness which if it had power according to iâ—â—cursed desire it would destroy God elect Men and Angels Heaven and Earth and all in them and it self also rather then be subject to any or might not onely it self bear rule over all 34 Seeing the God of eternal glory himself sprang from the loins of Adam according to the flesh is it not the greatest darkness that can be imagined for any man to think that Cain and Judas were of the seed of Adam as well as Abel and Jesus 35 Do not those men that teach this error out of ignorance justifie Cain and Judas and condemn Abel and Jesus 36 From this gross mistake do they not strengthen men in all their rebellions against God and man what seeming glorious language soever proceed through their mouth 37 Again if Cain and Judas Abel and Jesus sprang both from the loins of the first man Adam according to the flesh or any other account whatsoever is it not one of the vainest lip labours under heaven for men to speak or write concerning the visible things of eternity unless it be for a heap of silver or deceitful honor among men that perish 38 All solid sober men do certainly know that it is impossible that any man should suffer eternal misery if all mankind by generation sprang from one root onely 39 What is the reason think you that the wise naturallists in disputes are able to silence the most learned speakers under heaven in their own supposed spiritual matters Is it not because those Ministers are uncapable to give a true distinction between the originals of eternal life and death or the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent 40 If men that speak their experiences to one another as received from the holy One of Israel are ignorant of this point is not that the occasion of all notional brain fancies or airy opinions even amongst the most purest appearances in this present age 41 Is it not from hence that men of a rational piercing wit are able to counterfeit out-landish Chronicles in a Methodical manner concerning the strange acts of Kings and Emperors many thousand years before the first man Adam had any sensible being or invent Histories so accurately concerning Knights Ladies Gyants and 〈◊〉 like that no man by his natural reason can know whether they aâ—â— fained or unâ—â—igned 42 Can any sober man imagine or think those men that want the foresaid spiritual gift were ever moved or called by that glorious spirit to be a publique or private speaker or interpreter of holy Writ or a messenger or Embassador to his brethren of invisible spiritual excellencies appointed visibly to be seen to eternity 43 If Cain and Abel were both begotten by Adam upon the body of Eve as almost all men vainly imagine from one bare Scripture Record which they understand not I would fain know of that man that is offended with me concerning this point why Cain was nominated in Holy Writ to be of that wicked one aforesaid and branded as an out-cast fugitive or vagabond and cursed from the divine presence of the Creator and cast out of the natural presence of his parents for ever and condemned with Balaam and Core as a perishing cast-away 44 This I am sure of that no spiritual or rational man that is sober dares say that either Adam or Eve was that wicked one from whence the cursed spirit of Cain sprang 45 Why because there is no such approbrious names attributed unto them throughout the sacred Scriptures 46 Moreover you may know that that wicked one from whence Cains spirit proceeded could not possibly have any relation unto Adam or Eve though Cain was conceived in her womb and born of her body 47 Why because there was an absolute curse denounced upon the Angelical Serpent and his seed in her womb as aforesaid without any after promise in Holy Writ for ever being redeemed by the Creatoâ— 48 But on the contrary you know there was a gracious promise by the Creator himself of the redemption of Adam and Eve after their fallen estate with their whole generation of righteous Abels Seths or Abrahams in that glorious hidden saying the seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head and that in the fift of the Romans where it is thus written likewise then as by the offence of one the fault came on all men to condemnation so by the justifying of one the benefit abounded toward all men to the justification of life 49 If you that are spiritually sober compare this Scripture of seeming general redemption unto other Scriptures concerning Cain and his generation as abundantly aforesaid you may understand that the Apostle spake onely of a restoration of the elect Israelites or Adamites and not of the line or generation of Cananitish Reprobates 50 If you look in the Generalogy of Adam unto Jesus the second Adam you shall finde no Cain there made mention of in the least CHAP. XXXIX 1 No condemnation but to persons of maturity 2 No children damned though they be of the seed of the Serpent 3 He that killeth a Prophet or a righteous man would kill the Creator if he could 4 No salvation by the power of mans own will 5 but by the power of God IF two distinct generations have proceeded through the body of one woman the one elected unto eternal personal glory in the high heavens and the other rejected unto everlasting shame in this perishing world at the end thereof which we can no ways disprove 2 Wherefore our desire is to know whether all the posterity of Cain are rejected seeing the whole generation of Adam are elected is as at length declared by you from that divine gift I received by voice of words from the everliving Jesus 3 To this I answer That eternal election or
to please God Furthermore it is written That faith is the gift of God 30 In these Records and many more such like you see the Scritures takes no notice of the word pure reason by which men could know any thing of the true God or of his heavenly secrets at all 31 Therefore I would fain know whether those men that call pure reason the Divine Nature are fit to interpret Scriptures or to bear the name of Gospel-Ministers but I will leave them at present to him that will discover them soon enough to their costs CHAP. II. 1 What the substances of Earth and Water were from eternity 2 A great secret revealed concerning Death and Hell 3 Concerning the Heavens above 4 Earth and Water not eternally glorious 5 The residence of the Creator 6 Earth and Water uncreated substances A Gain in the next place by inspiration from the unerring Spirit I positively affirm that the substances of Earth and Water were from all eternity in the Creators presence uncreated sensless dark dead matter like unto water and dust that have no kinde of life or light or vertue in them at all 2 Also I declare from the Holy Spirit that darkness death or devil and hell lay secretly hid in that earth above this perishing Globe and in the sight of the Creator were eternally naked and bare both in their root and in their fruit 3 Again I declare from the true Light of Life Eternal that that world or kingdom where the Creators glorious person is visible is a place or throne infinite in length bâ—eadth or height answerable unto an infinite Majesty 4 Moreover for your information that are spiritual from the true God I declare that in this heavenly City there is no Firmament Sun Moon nor Stars so that you may understand that is an infinite open place for Divine personal ascending or descending at pleasure onely under foot is fixed a spiritual earth and a chrystal sea 5 Furthermore you that are spiritual may know that it stands to very good sense that an infinite Majesty cannot be confined to a finite world or kingdom as this is I mean when he possesseth the throne of immortality as at this time or before he became a body of unspotted flesh 6 Again concerning that glorious earth and chrystal sea aforesaid I would not have you to think that I mean it was eternally so but after or in the finishing of the creation of Angels and variety of other creatures the infinite vertue of the Creators word produced that chrystal spirituality in them that both visible as well as invisible every thing or creature appointed to abide in the presence of the Divine Majesty might be all glory in their kinde and measure answerablâ— to the unmeasurable variety of unspeakable glory in the Creator himself 7 My spiritual brethren you know that it is an opinion of the Learned that those substances Earth and Water aforesaid were not eternal but they have long imagined that the Creator spake the word and so they came to be and after he had given them their being he formed all things that were made out of them 8 My beloved brethren you may know that this must needs be an error because you know that the word Create is to make formless dead matter into sensible living forms 9 Besides this you know as for creating of those elements of water or dust there is no Scripture maketh mention of any such thing therefore a meer imagination but more of this in the 6. Chapter 10 Again you know that from eternity the divine nature of the Creators spirit was nothing but immortal fiery glory of life and light It is written God is light and in him there is no darkness at all and it is written in Gen. 1. And darkness was upon the deep 11 My Brethren if the Creator be all life and light as you know he is then without controversie the dead earth and dark deep water never proceeded out of his glorious mouth but if that Scripture should be objected where it is said I create light and I create darkness to that I answer The mind of the holy Spirit in those words was this that he created those souls that were naturally dark and he created these mortal spirits that were full of immortal light but on the contrary there was not the least meaning in those words or any other throughout the Scriptures that God created or gave any being or beginning unto dead dark sensless earth and water as aforesaid 12 Whatever men vainly imagine the Creator to be if they shall conclude there was nothing eternal but God onely if they acknowledge the Creator to be some glorious thing which is incomprehensibly infinite then I would fain leâ—rn of those wise men where the glorious Creator was resident when he gave a being to earth and water If they shall say unto me that he was uncapable to be in any one place because he was every where As to that I cannot understand which way the Creator should be every where or any where at all if he had no place or habitation to abide in neither finite nor infinite 13 God being all light life joy and glory in himself from eternity is it not against all divine or humane light that is not unreasonable that ever those daâ—k dead elements of earth and water should have their original from his glorious spirits because their natures are so contrary that it was impossible that they should proceed from one another for alas what is death or darkness Is it not through the absence of life or light And is not life being overcome by death absolutely become death and darkness or utter silence for a moment 14 Again if light and darkness or life and death meet together is there any peace or agreement between them untill life be swallowed up by death or death be swallowed up into life 15 If th s be so the which no sober man can gainsay then without controversie earth and water were uncreated substances eternally distinct from the God of glory because the Scripture saith and darkness covered the face of the deep CHAP. III. 1 Of the Angels 2 Their Form and Nature 3 Out of what they were made 4 The Serpent which tempted Eve 5 The Cause why any creature was formed 6 Who are partakers of the Divine Nature 7 No created being capable of the essence of God to dwell in it A Gain from the true light of life I affirm that the Angels were the first sensible living beings formed by the Creator 2 I declare also that the angelical host were all produced by his word speaking into that dust without or above this visible heavens 3 Moreover I positively affirm from the same light that all the Angels in the heavenly throne aforesaid are persons in forms like men and not bodiless spirits as the Learned have long declared and the nature of their angelical spirits are pure reason onely 4 From the God of all
capable of a divine throne then he which sate thereon 12 Furthermore he began to imagine a new creation of his own for he thought if he had bin the Creator by a word speaking he could have formed more glorious creatures then those angels were without any dust or any other matter whatsoever 13 Or if he must have had some materials to form things withal he imagined by his word speaking or thinking onely he could have produced matter of a more excellent nature for creation then a little dry dust out of which he conceited he could have created creatures all glorious and yet have retained his divine glory within himself distinct from them all 14 Furthermore he imagined that he could have created as many spirits as he saw fit without any bodies at all 15 Or if he saw good he could have formed spiritual bodies that might be transformed into any other nature or form after he had created them and not to continue onely in one nature and form always 16 For he thought it want of wisdom or power in a Creator yea and a veyling of his infinite glory over the things which he had made if they might not be transmuted into any condition whatsoever at his pleasure that formed them 17 Wherefore in the midst of these and such lâ—ke creative conâ—usions his irrational wiâ—dom of imaginary impossibilities so elevated his out-cast spirit that secretly he utterly abhorred that the Creator or any other creatures should remain in being unless he onely might bear rule over them all 18 Wherefore when the secret pride and envy of this angelical reprobate was at that height of unthroning the Creator or else a dissolution of all then the most wise God revealed his spiritual cruelties unto his holy angels and answerable unto what he would have done for a Creators throne in the visible sight of his elect angels he condemned him to be cast out of his personal presence and heavenly throne or kingdom for everlasting 19 And immediately like unto lightning he was thrown down into this perishing world where his desired kingdom of godlike government was prepared for him and his lineal angels in another way 20 And so having left their first estate they are reserved in everlasting chaines of darkness or unbeleef untill the judgement of the great day then to give an eternal account of their divellish government over God elect righteous Abels on this earth which was so exalted by him in the highest heavens beforesaid 21 My beloved spiritual brethren you may know that then and not till then all the elect angels in glory were filled with variety of new spiritual praises in their mouths of honour power praises glory majesty wisdom councel dominion faith love mercy patience peace meekness justice righteousness or any divine excellency that can be named to their glorious Creator for his electing free love unto them eternally to abide in their created purity to behold his glorious face 22 And for his wonderful wisdom in creating such angelical perfection unto an everlasting rejection of desperate burning envy in utter shame 23 Moâ—eover you which expect crowns of immortal gloâ—y may know that in the downfal of the angelical reprobate his spiritual form remained 24 But the nature of his spirit was onely changed as beforesaid and so after our first parents were deceived by him answerable unto his filthy nâ—ture of impure reason or lying imagination 25 In Scripture Records you know the Lord is pleased to call him by such like titles as these namely Devil a Dragon an Enemy a Wicked one a Murderer a Liar a Theef an Envious man an Hypocrite a Lucifer a Beelzebub or a Prince of the Air or Satan or Reprobate and such like 26 O ye blessed ones of the most nigh God! with astonishing admiration it behoveth you not to flight but seriously to ponder Gods wonderful wisdom in the creating of angels and man why because in it is hid all spiritual secrets which are appointed to be revealed to elect men and angels unto eternity 27 Again I humbly beseech you which have really been possessed with that spiritual new birth of our Lord Jesus Christ in glory is there any light or life or love or any kind of divine excellency in the glorious spirit of our Creator 28 Again had he any power over himself or over any creature which he had formed either to fill them with glimpses of his most excellent glory or wholly to retain them to himself 29 If you grant him this his royal prerogative the which no spiritual one can possibly deny then without all controversie unless the most wise and holy Creator had formed two vessels of several spirits to remain onely for a season in their created purity 30 And at the decreed time leave them both to their own created strength and so withholding that heavenly Manna of divine inspiration from them both by which they stood that in order to their charge they might unite their spirits and bodies unlawfully together for producing of two several generations of mankind on this earth for the manifestation of his ravishing glories unto the one and retaining the heavenly splendor of his divine excellencies wholly from the other for the demonstration of his divine justice will or pleasure 31 Would not all his heavenly wisdom divine power or ravishing glory have been vailed from men and angels And must they not either have been all Creators or creatures like unto sensless stocks or stones to all eternity in reference of any knowledge of the various wisdom power and glory of the Creator as abundantly beforesaid 32 Again in that pure distinguishing spirit of all divine truth I humbly beseech you which are delivered from the power of all natural notional or literal witchcraft and in the room thereof are endued with a good measure of spiritual undersâ—anding in the things of eternity can there possibly be any distinction between the unchangeable Creator and changeable creatures without variety of distinct natures and names to manifest the difference between them 33 As namely since the outcast condition of the angelical reprobate and fallen estate of the man Adam 34 Can there now be any Creator or God at all unless there be a devil or devils also 35 Or can there be any light or life and no darkness in death 36 Or can there be any eternal immortal glory for some men and no eternal shame and misery for other 37 Again can any man from any kind of faith or truth possibly imagin or think that any one of these can be without the other 38 Doth not the one give an absolute being unto the other Can any man therefore think that if one of them should be dissolved that the other could continue to be 39 Thus you which enjoys that true distinguishing light of eternal life in you may cleerly see that immortal heaven or glory must of necessity be essentially distinct from hell or shame or else there can be no perfect heaven
mean that they are so fixed as to be uncapable of motion but of the contrary from the Lord I affirm that the Firmament it self is not capable of motion but by the word of the Lord that formed it it is made unmoveable until the day of its dissolution and those bodies of Sun Moon and Stars motions in that firmamental heaven in their seasons to fulfil that word of Government in them 30 For you that are spiritual may know that the firmament of heaven and those Rulers of Sun Moon and Stars set in them as to govern both the day and the night may be compared to a Prince with his Nobles Throne and other inferior Rulers 31 For you know that his kingdom whereon they have their living being is unmoveable but the Governours do the work unto which they are appointed 32 My brethren you may understand also that the firmamental body above us or below us if you think it so for its appointed season is as firmly fixed as the earth we tread on and as things in power are motional on this earth so likewise those created lights are onely motional in that heavenly body aforesaid 33 Again it is said That God set them in the firmament of heaven to shine upon the earth 34 My brethren hearken no more unto vain Astronomers or Star-gazers concerning the bulk of the Sun Moon and Stars for I positively affirm from that God that made them that the compass of their bodies are not much bigger then they appear to our natural sight 35 O empty vain liars how long have you been suffered to deceive the people with your monstrous imaginary bodies of Sun Moon and Stars which are not and of your great knowledge concerning them your things are too big to be good or true and the time of your serpentine Sophistry is almost finished 36 Again I declare from the holy Spirit that the bodies of the Sun Moon and Stars are all distinct beings from each other and possess their own created light alone neither borrowing nor lending their light to one another what ever hath been imagined to the contrary concerning New Moons or Eclipses 37 Again you know the Scriptures do not say that the Sun and Moon are two great bodies but two great lights onely Neither doth the Scripture say that the bodies of the Global Earth and Heavenly Firmament are covered with the vastness of the Sun Moon or Stars or that they inclose any other bodies within their own bodies or that any other bodies are fixed in them 38 But on the contrary the Scripture saith That the Sun and Moon were set in the firmament of Heaven to shine upon the earth wherefore it is as clear as the light that that which is fixed is of a less bulk than that wherein it is inclosed 39 Yet you know that the greater bulk may receive its principal light from that lesser body within its circumference as a rich diamond in a Ring or a Candle or Torch in the night in a wide room or the like 40 My spiritual brethren you may understand that the glory of the most high God consists not in bulk of things but in the exceeding brightness of them 41 Nay moreover you cannot but know that the infinite wisdom of the Divine Majesty doth the more abundantly appear in an extraordinary light shining from a very little body 42 My brethren it is not the bulk of the Sun or Moon which causeth so great a light but as aforesaid it is the transcendent brightness of their created purities which displayeth those beams of light through the visible heaven and earth 43 What ever hath or shall be said to the contrary from the Lord I positively affirm that the bodies of the Sun Moon and Stars are all fixed beings onely in one firmament 44 Moreover from the Lord of glory I declare that this visible Heaven is all the Firmaments that ever was formed by the Creator 45 Furthermore though the bodies of the Sun and Moon were both formed out of that element of water yet they were made as contrary in their natures as fire and water 46 Because you know their government were over contrary beings the one to rule the day and the other to rule the night so that as the Sun is a fiery glorious light for consolation unto the natural things of the day so likewise the Moon is a qualifying cold watry light answerable to the watry things of the night 47 Wherefore though the body of the Sun is of a more eminent brightness than that of the Moon yet they being of contrary natures it is against all sober reason that the one should receive any light from the other in the least 48 Again you know that when the bodies of the Sun and Moon seem close together in stead of any agreement between them there is such a fiery contest as if they would absolutely destroy each other And what think you is the just occasion of it is it not the difference of their natures 49 Can fire and water or light and darkness agree if they be united together is there any rest unto either of them until one of them is dissolved 50 My beloved friends in the pure truth what ever men have long declared concerning the Eclipse of the Sun through the near appearance of the Moon you may understand that the true occasion of the Sun eclipsed whether in part or whole is according to their appearing at a further or nearer distance unto each other 51 For as beforesaid the nature of the one being fiery hot and dry and the nature of the other being watry cold and moist if the most high God had not decreed the time of their contest when they are nearly conjoyned there would be no communion between them until one of them were utterly dissolved 52 Again is it not as clear as the light it self unto us that the true occasion of all variance between created beings whether sensible or insensible ariseth onely from a difference of natures or spirits in them 53 Moreover when any kind of natures are sutable to each other is there not a sweet harmony between them 54 Wherefore if the Moon received her light from the Sun as natural wise men have long imagined is it not against all sense or reason that there should be no union between them but at a distance 55 Doth it not rather agree with all true sense that if the one received her light from the other that the more nearer they are in bodily appearance the more greater harmony would ensue and occasion the lesser light rather to shine more clearly than darken each others brightness 56 I think that William Lilly and his learned brethren in Astrologian figures dare not say that either the Sun or the Moon were ever at variance with their own selves or that the Eclipses of the Sun or Moon proceedeth from any harmony between that which occasioneth the Eclipse and the thing so eclipsed 57 Well then
worship honor magnifie or adore man or angel is not that giving glory to him or glorying in him 15 Doth not all such kinde of divine worship honor or glory belong onely to the Creator and doth not the Holy One of Israel positively say that he will not give his glory to another what sober sensible man then that hath any spiritual light in him dares say that Christ and the Father are not one undivided personal being seeing all glory in heaven and earth was given unto him onely 16 Again seeing God hath said that he will not give his glory to another and yet all his glory was given unto that Man Christ do not those Trinitary Literal-mongers call the divine Majesty a liar to his face which deny Christ Jesus the Lord of Glory to be that Everlasting Father 17 Doth not the Father give all glory to the Son in Scriptures as well as the Son gives all glory to the Father who art thou then that dividest them into three personal beings presum tuously taking upon thee to share the infinite glory of the Holy One of Israel seeing his glory he will not no nor cannot give to any other distinct person 18 And what art thou then but that Antichrist and utter enemy unto thine own soul and a deceiver of those which are deceived by thy literal wit which saith That Christ was onely an extraordinary Messenger sent forth by the most high God to do his will or that Christ was onely a God and not the God or that Christ onely had the Titles of the divine Majesty put upon him for a season that he might become a fit Mediator between God and man but there was another Father above him that sent him abiding in the highest Heavens unto which he was fain to cry out for help in his need 19 My spiritual brethren if men so acute in the letter can attain to understand this one thing in Scripture Record then those sayings of Christ or Son and such like will be no stumbling-block in their way concerning Christs Father You know that the Lord Jehovah saith Because there was none greater than himself he swore by himself concerning something that was in his minde to bring to pass the thing is this that God of Glory that was compelled to swear by himself for the exaltation of his own greatness in men and angels because there was none beside himself therefore he glorifieth himself alone 20 Again because none could humble or exalt him but himself therefore he alone first exalts himself by an oath that he might be the more admired at of all that know him after that he abaseth himself a little lower then his angelical creatures in respect of death that by vertue of his infinite humility in flesh his glorious Godhead might in that personal manhood exalt it self in a new and wonderful way far above all Gods heavens angels and men 21 Wherefore concerning the Scripture saying The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool that is the everlasting Father speaking to himself in a two-fold condition or God the great Jehovah in the height of his glory exalting himself over all opposition in his creatures in the lowest appearance of a creature himself 22 Again the Lord saith He will set his King upon his holy hill of Sion And God saith O God thy throne is from ever and ever wherefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows 23 My beloved brethren is there any more then one God and King of Glory perpetually fitting in the midst of the Throne of the highest heavens 24 Is there any more then one God and King spiritually sitting upon his Throne of Sion or souls of his redeemed ones 25 Is not this one God in his Throne above and in his Throne beneath Christ Jesus our Lord 26 If this be granted which none can deny but filthy Atheists over-wise Literalists or very weak Saints I would fain know from any man under what kinde of Trinity soever who that God and King was unto which God said I will set my King upon my holy hill of Sion O God thy throne is for ever and ever 27 If there be but one God and King of Sions glory alone then there cannot be a God and God or a King and a King of eternal glory If this be not good sense let me be reproved with better 28 Again hath God any other King to exalt upon Sions holy hill but himself or to sit on the right hand of all Majesty Wisdom Power and Glory in the personal presence of his mighty Angels Moses and Elias but himself 29 Who then is that most high and mighty God and King of Sions glory or that spiritual All in All or that Alpha and Omega or that Father Son and Holy Spirit but our Lord Jesus Christ in immortal glory it self 30 Thus you that have any true light of life eternal in you may clearly see that the Holy One of Israel which swore by himself to himself for his own further exaltation by the same rule he may change his glorious condition into flesh and having humbled himself to himself he may cause his humanity to speak pray or cry unto his divinity within him or unto his own spiritual charge committed unto his angels without him for a further manifestation of his unsearchable wisdom power and incomprehensible glory in shame and weakness as well as in power and glory as aforesaid 31 Is any thing hard or impossible for an infinite Creator to do when his glory moves him to do it 32 Again did not his infinite power wisdom and glory more abundantly appear in the lowest abasing himself in the visible sight of elect men and angels why then should it seem strange to any sober wise man that the everlasting Father should be clothed with flesh and bone as with a garment 33 Or that Christ Jesus should be both God and man in one distinct body glorified there is none but Christ none but Christ no other God but that man Christ Jesus our Lord if men or Angels should gainsay it 34 Though this may seem strange unto many at present yet they onely are eternally blessed that are not offended with this saving truth but are made obedient unto this crucified and glorified Jesus CHAP. XII 1 To own or believe any other God but Christ is a cursed lie 2 Who are the deceived persons 3 Concerning the true knowledge of God 4 The deceivers of others under conflicts of minde described by many and various expressions ALl the Divine Titles of the Holy One of Israel made over to the second man the Lord from Heaven and is not the Fathers Throne invested upon his person and is not all spiritual honour praise and glory commanded to be attributed unto him by men and angels 2 And is not all the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily and from his
our Lord Jesus Christ to this I answer It is impossible for any Civil Magistrate to be obedient to this Rule because you know then that he could not execute justice upon any man upon what account soever 30 Again whether a Magistrate be a just or unjust person yet you may know that upon a civil account he represents the person or place of the righteous Judge of quick and dead wherefore according to his obedience or disobedience unto his commands he shall be rewarded in this world or that to come Therefore know that since the God of glory clothed himself with flesh and bone in the form of a man to kill or consent to murther the Head Magistrate it is as if thou hadst murthered the King of Glory himself 31 Though nothing comes to pass by chance or fortune but by the Providential Decree of the most High God yet no man can be cleared in his Conscience from the guilt of innocent blood all his days if secretly or openly he shall consent to kill the Ruler of the Nation without an immediate command by voice of words from the God of heaven and earth 32 Suppose the former Governors of these Nations were guilty of much innocent blood and ruine of Families by their Spiritual Courts so called and through their imaginary wisdom Lucifer-like sate in the throne of God commanding men to worship their inventions triumphing over all tender Consciences which could not bow down to their Egyptian Calves and yet what spiritual or sober rational man can blame those men for their willful bloody-mindedness seeing a blinde fiery zeal moved them to it in reference to the worship of their God 33 If any of them through covetousness of silver or honor amongst earthly Princes did onely pretend a Divine Worship and through secret envy to those which could not obey their commands did ruine men to the utmost of their power through those Jesuitical Councellors who were Atheistical can any sober man imagine or think that those men were not oftentimes convinced of hypocritical irrationality besides a secret fear of eternal vengeance notwithstanding all their fleshly glory through which they were strengthned in their spirits to flatter themselves up with vain hope that there was no God at all or if there was any God to cheat themselves with a conceit that it was irrational cruelty for a man to think that the Creator could be so unmerciful as to create men for eternal damnation in reference to momentary infirmities which their frail natures could by no means prevent 34 Again if thou which thus reasonest didst truly understand that thou hadst no power in thy self to withstand these natural evils beforesaid thou couldst not possibly then commit them but this is hid from thine eyes by the secret wisdom of the most High God that thou mightest clear his divine Justice in reference to thy former cruelties with everlasting thoughts that thou mightest have done otherwise when thou wast in thy earthly pomp if thou wouldst 35 If the God of Glory should neither recompence men in this life nor in that to come for all their wilful vain-glorious bloody cruelties which they think they could prevent if they would then indeed these seeming wise men may justly say if there be a God he is so far from any spiritual equity that he falleth short of all rational equity whatsoever 36 Another infallible demonstration of the truth of this writing is this that though many writings extant are more accute in form of words yet throughout this Book thou shalt finde no point absolutely contradicting it self nor one another 37 Again another testimony of the truth of this writing is this That it discovereth the vanity of all formal or irrational opinion in man concerning God Worship Angels Devil Sin Heaven or Hell 38 By this infallible Rule also thou mayest know that this Epistle proceeded from a spirit infinitely above all kinde of reasoning in man or Angels because it alloweth no man upon what pretence soever to murther one another or to sit in Gods throne to cut off the Head Magistrate or to rebel against him with a sword of steel or to speak evil of him or desire evil unto him 39 Moreover though this Book was penn'd by the hand of a sinful man yet by this undeniable Argument thou mayest know it proceeded from that Spirit that cannot be deceived because it denies all power in man or angel as to be capable to act spiritual or natural good to one another or to resist spiritual or natural evil without a continued light proceeding from a spiritual body too infinitely glorious to be essentially united to heaven earth angels or men yet this wonderful God is now for everlasting abiding in a body of flesh and bone therefore not a bone of him was suffered to be broken upon the tree or corrupted in the grave onely his Godhead natural Life was left in this world for an everlasting Consolation unto those that shall attain to believe that it was the unvaluable Life-blood of the onely Wise God himself that was freely poured out unto death for the redemption from the power of sin and fear of eternal death and for a dreadful witness at the Great Day against those men that shall be left to their own unbelieving spirit to vilifie the glorious God for abasing himself into the likeness of sinful mortals CHAP. XV. 1 Of the Error of Errors in men who say that there is no other God or Christ but in this Creation onely 2 Several Objections and Answers concerning the death of the soul 3 The light of Christ in man is the invisible image of God which purifieth the inward filthiness of the flesh and spirit and presents the certain truth of an eternal life of glory or shame 4 No need of a new birth if there be a sufficient light of Christ in generation to conduct to heaven 5 Children cannot understand spiritual or natural good or evil so need not Christs spiritual gifts in the womb for eternal happiness 6 A great error to believe that the essence of the eternal Spirit dwelleth in any man but in the Lord Jesus onely 7 Two marks of Reprobates YOu that are truly spiritual may know that there are many thousands of Atheistical minded men and women at this instant which are possessed with a spirit reprobated unto all inward and outward purity out of which there is no redemption what ever men shall vainly imagine to the contrary onely their decreed time of eternal damnation in the sight of elect men and Angels is fixed These are those which say all things comes naturally of themselves Also they will say there is no beginning of any thing at all but from all eternity all things were as you see and so shall continue to all eternity 2 There are many of these men which appear in Temples of Stone or else where as experimental speakers of the everlasting Gospel and are more accute in a seeming glorious language
is with elect men and Angels for though that inshining light and life be of the very same nature of God himself yet if his spirit should wholly retain its glorious brightness within his own body all its former light or life would either be subject to be defiled as Adams was or else it would perish for want of the renewing presence of his glorious spirit 8 Again through that consolation flowing from the inshining light of the Sun you know in all sensible or rational creatures there is a desire to behold that bright shining face from whence their joys proceed 9 So likewise through that spiritual joy and hopes of glory flowing from the inspiring light of the Son of God there is as strong desire in those that enjoy this light to behold that glorious face from whence it proceeded 10 Again if the Sun had not a distinct body or face to give forth his light into the Creation you know there could be no sun-shine at all 11 So likewise you may also know that if the God of glory had not a person or immortal face to display the sun-beams of his heavenly glory into elect men and Angels there could be no God all all 12 Therefore you that are truly spiritual may know that all that light life or glory shining in the spirits of elect men or Angels doth not proceed from a God or Christ within them but from an eternal spirit of a God or a Christ without them too transcendent glorious to be possessed by Heaven Earth Angels or men as beforesaid 13 Again though the natural life of created beings by the decree of the most high God be continued by vertue of the inshining light of the Sun yet you may know that what ever joy the creatures are possest thereby it doth neither adde nor diminish unto the glory of the Sun in the least 14 So likewise though the spiritual light of elect men and Angels be everlastingly continued by vertue of the inshining light of the eternal spirit yet you may also understand that what joy or glory soever the creatures are possest withal that it doth neither adde nor diminish the Creators glory in the least therefore you which are truly spiritual may understand that if any man or Angel could be possessed with the indwelling essence of the eternal spirit it could not possibly be avoided but he must become infinite immortal unchangeable and eternal even as the Creator himself is 15 Again whether creatures are possessed with joy or sorrow life or death by an extraordinary light proceeding from the Sun yet you may know that according to his understanding he glories in himself equally in reference unto what was effected by him so likewise whether creatures are possessed with spiritual joy or sorrow eternal life oâ— death by a more then ordinary presence or absence of the eternal spirit yet you may also understand that the most glorious God equally rejoyceth in himself in relation unto what was produced 16 Again though the nature of the Sun through it s cretaed brightness is so exceedingly glorious that it is utterly uncapable of natural polution from any creatures within its orb yet you know that things which are not by vertue of his power in measure qualified with a suitable capacity to receive his in shining light are rather hardned or destroyed by his appearance then any way comforted or revived in the least witness the fire or any thing else of an adamantine nature 17 So likewise it is with the Son of God the everlasting Creator for though his eternal spirit in its own nature is so infinitely pure that if it be his divine pleasure it destroyeth all impurity immediately and wholly converts a polluted creature into its own divine likeness you may also know that if the spirits of men or Angels by his power be not in some measure qualified to receive his glorious in-comes instead of dissolving their spirits into a soft and sweet pleasantness it hardens their legal spirits with envy against the Creator like unto brass or the nether-milstone according to that of Paul where he said they were a sweet savour unto God of life unto life in them that are saved and of death unto death in them that perish CHAP. XVII 1 No mans salvation or damnation lyeth in his own will but in the prerogative of God 2 Divers absurdities which follow from the opinion that Christ is onely within men 3 A Question and Answer concerning a two-fold presence of God in the creature 4 If the essential Spirit were united unto creatures it could not be infinite THis I would gladly have men and women to understand which were elected unto glory that the eternal salvation or damnation of created beings lieth not in the will power or desire of men or Angels or in any divine light received from the holy spirit that made them but onely within the glorious breast of the divine Majesty himself 2 That neither elect men nor Angels may glory in themselves or render praise honor power wisdom or salvation unto any spiritual light joy or glory whatsoever why because that is but the Sun beames of life eternal shining in them but as most due is by vertue of that light they may return all praise and glory unto that infinite Majesty upon the Throne of glory without them 3 Wherefore you know it is written That it is not in him that willeth or in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Also it is written To will is present but how to perform I know not Also it is written Every branch that beareth not fruit in me he taketh away and every one that beareth fruit he purgeth that it may bring forth more fruit Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you The words that I speak unto you are spirit and life 4 I would fain know of any man whether the spirit of Christ were not in his own body when he spake those words unto his Apostles or Disciples 5 If it be granted it was which none can deny but reprobates then that light of Christ in men or Angels cannot be the essential spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ but a spiritual word proceeding through his mouth from the throne of his infinite glory as it did formerly on this earth the footstool of his divine Majesty 6 If there should be no other spiritual God or Christ but what dwelleth in the spirits of men or Angels then of necessity this must follow that every man and Angels is a God or Christ to himself 7 It is not to be wondred at that many thousands should be so easily perswaded of attaining to a perfection in this mortality if they be possessed with the God of heaven and earth 8 If there be no other God oâ— Creator but within men onely I would fain know for what end men so mighâ—ily contend with one another about a God or worship due unto him 9 Or why they vex
one another by writings or speakings unless they are hurried on for silver or an everlasting name 10 If there be no other God or Christ but within mens consciences onely is it not one of the maddest things in the world for men to talk of rebellion against the divine Majesty or of any cruelty acted between man and man whatsoever 11 Is not the divine nature of the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ all Wisdom Power Glory Love Meekness Patience Long-suffering Justice Righteousness yea Salvation it self or condemnation to whom it pleaseth for manifesting the glory of its power 12 Sure I am that none can will or dare deny this truth but reprobates Wherefore if the very spirit of God were living within the spirits of men could there possibly then be any thing else but a godlike harmony between them 13 Is not the eternal spirit of Christ Jesus in it self a glorious order and is not every man living at varience within himself and so at the best is but a disorderly piece of contradiction or confusion in himself 14 If this be truth which none can deny but vain glorious cast aways how then think you it possible that any mortal man that is but polluted dust should be capable of the indwelling essence of the Spirit of God or if he enjoyed the eternal spirit what could be in him but a glorious harmony 15 If no created being is capable of the indwelling essence of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ because of its incomprehensible glory but it s own body onely some men may say unto me if the Spirit of God be infinite what person place or creatures can be excluded of its invisible presence from that light of life eternal 16 To this I answer There is a twofold invisible presence of God in all sensible or insensible beings that have any light or vertue in them 17 There is a natural presence of God by vertue of creation which shall perish and come to confusion for everlasting 18 Also there is a spiritual presence of God in elect mankind by vertue of redemption which gloriously increaseth and continueth to all eternity 19 Again what ever natural wise men imagine or think from the spirit of all truth it self I declare that all created natural light life or joy both visible and invisible shall become utter darkness and a Chaos of everlasting confusion because though it made not it self it is as contrary to the nature of that spirit that made it as light and darkness or life and death 20 Who ever thou art unto whom this seemeth strange if thou wast in nature as wise as Solomon yet if thou hast no distinction in thee between this natural perishing God of time and that spiritual flourishing God of eternity as yet thou art in utter darkness concerning any heavenly thing whatsoever 21 Though all natural or spiritual light do virtually flow from the divine Spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord yet if that eternal Spirit were not a glorious being distinct from all created beings it could not possibly be infinite 22 Why because you may understand that infinite life doth not consist in bigness or bulk of things but in its exceeding brightness of wisdom power and glory in it self in that it can contain its infinite brightness within its own person onely or let forth his inshining glory by degrees in the spirit of elect men or Angels as it pleaseth him 23 Though all light or life in men or Angels proceed from the natural or divine presence of the one holy Spirit of God himself yet if that eternal Spirit were essentially united unto those creatures it could not possibly then be infinite 24 To be essentially dwelling within all living things is not infiniteness but finitness but as beforesaid to be a glorious being in it self in the bigness of man and essentially distinct from Heavens Earth Angels and Men and yet from so small a compass though at never so small a distance all created beings in heaven or in earth to be virtually filled with his divine or natural presence in their measures according to the pleasure of his good will by a word speaking in this is all infiniteness indeed 25 If there were no God or Creator at all but what doth live increated beings then it is possible that all beings and their indwelling God may eternally vanish together because there is that in them which is more natural to provoke them all to murder one another and kill themselves then the good of one another for alas you know that it is both a common and easie thing oftentimes with small means for men to destroy themselves or one another and is it not by the same rule as easie totally to cut off all the creation at once 26 If this be truth which no sober man can deny what then would become of men and their Christ if this totall dissolution at once should fall upon them 27 If the Spirit of the most high God be so infinitely vast boundless or that it is both the light and life of all spiritual or natural things or places whatsoever as is abundantly declared some unsatisfied men in this point may say unto me That to confine this incomprehensible Spirit of the omnipresent God of Heaven and Earth into one single person and place at once like unto a poor mortal man seems unto us an imprisoning of infiniteness into a narrow compass instead of declaring its incomprehensible glory from a divine gift of life eternal To this I answer 28 Is it not rather an imprisoning of the everliving God and robbing him wholly of his infinite glory for any man to divide his most blessed Majesty into distinct persons or to divide his Godhead Spirit into all spirits of men and Angels leaving no throne or person for the divine glory to be in but his created beings onely 29 In stead of honoring that Spirit within the glorious person of Christ Jesus our Lord doth not those men that affirm the indwelling of that infinite spirit in the whole Creation not onely share the divine glory and Godhead titles of the eternal Spirit amongst the lying creatures but also wholly deny any other Creator or eternal Spirit within or without men but perishing nature onely whatever they pretend to the contrary 30 What dishonor or disadvantage is it unto an infinite Spirit to possess his ravishing glories to himself within a distinct body of his own nay is it not altogether advantagious unto his divine Majesty that it should be so and that it can be no other ways for alas you know that it stands to good sence or reason that if the God of Glory were onely an invisible spirit dwelling within the Creation he could not theâ— possess any new joys or ravishing glories to himself but the whole creation of men or Angels must be partakers with him as soon as he 31 Therefore you that are truly spiritual may know that those men that talk of a
body then shalt thou know that thou didst hear of a personal God infinitely glorious for Heavens Earth Angels or men to be capable of the indwelling essence of his eternal spirit CHAP. XXV 1 Of the sinful soul of man 2 Of its mortality 3 All souls that are generated are mortal 4 If mens souls were immortal they could not be capable of diseases CAn the soul of man be any thing at all but dust without their bodies or can their bodies be any thing at all but dry dead cold dust also without their spirits 2 Doth not the rational soul or spirit of man lye secretly hid in his seed like unto a spark of fire and can this seed of man have any living being without its body 3 Can the soul and body of man be therefore any more then one distinct living or dying essence 4 When a woman conceives life in her womb through mixtures of seeds by vertue of the decreed word of the Lord spoken at the first Creation of nature is not that life the very soul or spirit of the childe 5 Doth not that soul or spirit in the womb by degrees congeal together into rational fire blood and water and so in due time become a compleat body of flesh blood and bone 6 If men and women together beget and conceive the soul and body of the childe by an instinct in nature which none can gainsay but senceless sots or conceited wise men which through an ambition of tongues or languages have studied beyond all sober sence reason or wit 7 Is it then possible think you that the soul of a man should be immortal and the body wherein it liveth be mortal 8 Doth it not stand to very good sence that being both conceived into life into the womb together and both born together into the world and both living together upon the earth their appointed time and being both poluted together with sin that they should also both die together and turn to their dust or non-being again until the general bodily resurrection of all mankind that are dead asleep in the dust of the earth when time is no more either unto eternal glory or everlasting shame 9 Again it is written in the 46. Chap. of Genesis All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt which came out of his loins beside Jacobs wives where in the whole threescore and six souls 10 In the tenth of Deuteronomy and the last verse it is written thy fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons Here you see the Scriptures are plain for prooving the souls proceeding out of the loins of man as well as the bodies 11 Also you see that a man in Scripture is caled soul and sometimes is called body or soul body and spirit and yet you know he is but one living essence or substance 12 If all souls and bodies since the fall of Adam by natural generation proceed from the loins of one another as it is prooved clearly by spiritual sence reason and Scripture how can poor vain perishing dust imagine that his sinful soul is immortal and cannot die 13 Is it not natural for an immortal spirit to be united onely unto an immortal body and is it not natural for a mortal soul to be united onely unto a mortal body 14 Is it not against all sober sence or reason that the body of man could be subject to any kinde of diseases or distempers in the least if his soul were immortal and could not die 15 Is it not the very nature of immortality immediately to swallow up all into life or to transmute that body wherein it siveth from all maner of corruption into his own uncorrupted glory 16 Is it not the nature of a sinful soul to become subject to die through the defilement of its first created purity 17 Is there any undefiled soul now living upon the face of the earth and is not immortality all spotless purity as aforesaid how then thinks thou it possible that the sinful souls of men are immortal already and cannot die 18 It is written the soul that sins shall die also it is written in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death I confess that the souls of Adam and Eve were not capable of any kinde of death until they were both defiled with the sinful nature of the Angelical Serpent 19 But as soon as ever they had eaten of that cursed Serpentine Tree of knowledge of good and evil their soul and bodies were free from all their former pure life 20 In the room thereof were subject to all kinde of imputed death whatsoever and did not know but that they were both cut off from the divine presence of the eternal spirit 21 Until the God of Glory himself graciously promised them to become flesh blood and bone of the Virgin seed to redeem their sinful souls and bodies again out of all kinde of death into an unchangeable immortal glory at his personal appearing with his mighty Angels 22 Again the Lord hath said in divers places of Scripture that the souls of men shall be cut off from the land of the living and that the soul that sins shall die and that the pure soul of Christ himself was poured forth unto death and that the soul of Christ should not be left in grave nor that his blessed body should see corruption and the Lord hath said that Adam and Eve were but dust and to dust they should re uâ—n again And yet thou contrary to all Prophetical or Apostolical Scripture and against all sober sence or reason in its right minde ignorantly or impudently affirmest that the sinful soul of man is already immortal and cannot die or be put to death 23 Again from this thy nonsensical imagination dost thou not call all the Scriptures all lie and the eternal Majesty from whence they proceeded a lyar to his face and dost thou not call all sober sence and reason a meer lie also 24 I know it is a common thing for men to say they have in them a good spirit and a bad spirit 't is confest that every man in his fallen spirit hath remaining a little light or motion of the spirit of God in him 25 Yet take notice of this though he hath a twofold motion in him to justifie all the righteous proceedâ—ngs of the Creator in his conscience at the last day yet he hath but one spirit or soul in him 26 Indeed the Apostle saith the spirit lusteth against the flesh and the flesh lusteth against the spirit and these two are contrary that which the Apostle calls the spirit in this place of Scripture was a divine light of life received into the dark understanding by vertue of a word speaking from the eternal spirit of a glorified Christ but not the essence of the Holy Spirit 27 And that which he calls the flesh was mans own spirit which consists of nothing but confused lying imagination or cursed carnal reasoning against that heavenly light
be changed from its present condition his immortal soul having its being in a piece of clay was become subject through temptation to be transmuted from its present created glory also 16 For this I would gladly have you to understand though the soul of Adam was of a divine nature yet because it was a created nature distinct to it self it was become a son a subject a servant unto its divine God and capable of transmutation through deep temptation into a sinful condition through which both soul and body might not onely be subâ—ect to natural death but also full of fears of an eternal death or casting out of the spiritual presence of the divine Majesty 17 To bring forth his heavenly design of a more transcendent eternal glory that he had prepared through sufferings to be enjoyed by his divine image at the last day with himself face to face 18 You that are spiritually quick may know that the body of Adam was not created natural onely because he was appointed for generation but also because if his body had been immortal in its creation as well as his soul he would not onely then have been uncapable of natural generation but also he would have been uncapable of any kinde of transmutation whatsoever unless he gave consent unto it self 19 And where then had the prerogative power infinite wisdom and transcendent glory of the Creator ever been seen or known by man or Angels as beforesaid 20 Again though Adams soul was of the divine nature in its creation yet I would have you to understand that he knew not whether he should stand or fall from his present estate or no. 21 Neither did he know not what power he was endued withall in his created purity as many man vainly imagine 22 If he had known that he had power in his own will to preserve himself in his present condition he not knowing as aforesaid any glory above what he had enjoyed you may be sure if he could have kept himself in that blessed estate he would never have lost it for want of making use of all the power that was in him to have resisted a temptation unto rebellion in which he knew there was a threatning of the losse of that created glory he enjoyed as beforesaid 23 Again though the soul of Adam was of the divine nature in its creation yet because it was one essence with a body that was taken out of dust therefore it was both probable and capable to be brought into a condition of entring into dead dust for a moment to fulfil those Scripture sayings for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death in the sweat of thy face shalâ— thou eat bread till thou return to the earth for out of it wast thou taken because thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return 24 Was the body of Adam any thing but dead dust before its living soul was infused 25 Was the soul of Adam ever spoken of as a sensible living being before it became one essence with his body of flesh blood and bone formed our of the dust as an house or tabernacle for its comfortable substance and sensible understanding of its own living being 26 Seeing the body of Adam was nothing but a lump of dead cold senceless dust before his soul entered into it and composed it inâ—o a comâ—leat living man by vertue of a spiritual word spoken through the glorious mouth of the Creator dost thou think it possible that either of them could enjoy any sensible living being without the other 27 You know the Scripture saith the Lord God also made the man of he dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living soul though the body of Adam was formed of dust you see all the lise it enâ—oyed was from its soul onely and the man became a living soul 28 When the Lord said for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death was it not the very soul of Adam as well as his body that was threatned with death it self 29 Nay was there any thing could live in the body of Adam but the soul what then could be capable of dying but the soul onely 30 Again canst thou be so senceless as to think that ever the body of Adam could have turned to dust if his soul had not died within his body and like a spark of sire in an Oven that is closed from all kinde of air 31 So likewise thou mayest understand that the immortal soul of Adam became mortal as soon as ever it was polluted with sin and when it came to taste of death according to the word of the Lord through the sloppage of the breath of life proceeding from the invisible soul that fiery spark was quenched with silenâ—sleep of death as life or light that is smothered and did not flye in the air as men vainly imagine 32 Again it is said the man became a living soul now you know that every mans sinful soul is the life of its natural body yet it may be a dark dead soul in spiritual matters while it is alive in natural but as beforesaid the spirit of Adam was called a living soul in relation unto the living vertue beauty or invisible glory of its creation 33 I confess that it was impossible for the soul of Adam of ever being capable of death if it had been always preserved from being polluted with sin 34 Moreover as soon as ever it was but touche with sin in that very sin was death it self 35 Who ever thou art that shalt say that the pure soul of Adam was not defiled with sin it self what ever light thou pretendest to know thou art utterly ignorant as yet of the spirit of the Scriptures 36 If according to the divine truth of Scriptures thou art made to confess that the pure soul of Adam was overcome of sin and therewith all defiled through his whole man though men or Angels should gain-say it thou mayest be fully assured that both the soul and body of Adam are in the dust of the earth dead asleep void of all life light motion heat or any thing appearing unto life until that second man Adam the Lord from heaven by the mighty power of his word doth or shall raise him again and all mankinde that are asleep with him in the dust at the last day 37 Again though the body of the man Adam being formed of dust was absolutely natural through its appointment for generation yet I would have you that are spiritual to understand this secret that until Eve lufted after Adam through her being first defiled with the Angelical Serpent the soul of Adam being divine and free from all kinde of rationality could not possibly have any desire in it after carnal copulation with his wife 38 You may know that carnal pleasures were too low for a spiritual soul whose nature was variety of divine satisfaction in it self
of prison 8 Who they are that be in the deepest prisons of raging darkness IN the next place according to promise I shall write somewhat upon the 20. Chapter of the Revelation by St. John because that error of Christs personal reign a thousand years with his Saints on this earth is partly grounded from this Chapter 2 My beloved brethren in the eternal truth you know that this Book of the Apocalyps is too mysterious to be understood by the Achitophels of this perishing world 3 Also you know that Gods way is to choose the base things of this world to confound the most honorable things thereof that no flesh may glory in his presence 4 Moreover you know that if the most High endues a man with a divine gift to demonstrate his eternal secrets to his brethren he preserveth the soul of that man from giving the glory of that heavenly power to his own net my meaning is this that man doth not give any praise or glory to any God or Christ or light within him but he is made as is due to return all the honor praise or glory unto an infinite Majesty or spiritual Fountain of glories without him from whence alone all divine light as chrystal streams floweth into the spirits of elect men and angels 5 But to come to the matter in hand And I saw an Angel come down from heaven Brethren what Angel was that which John saw come down from heaven Truly it was no other but that Angelical personal God our Lord Jesus Christ himself with whom John was more conversant than all the Apostles in divine secrets 6 Again having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand that is this Angelical Jesus alone had all divine power of heaven and earth in his own spirit over the bottomless pit lying imaginations of devils incarnate or cursed men 7 Moreover the everlasting Gospel or Truth which proceeded through his heavenly mouth for the consolation of his Saints and confounding of the Serpents that was the great chain in his hand 8 Furthermore it is written And he took the Dragon that old Serpent which is the devil and Satan and he bound him a thousand years and cast him into a bottomless pit and he shut him up and sealed the door upon him that he should deceive the people no more till the thousand years were fulfilled My spiritual friends what was that old Serpent Dragon Devil which was bound a thousand years by the spiritual power of Christ It was an imaginary bottomless pit Devil within the body of man that persecuted the Truth of Christ in his own person Apostles and Saints 9 Again you that are spiritual may know that the Serpent Devil that was bound or shut up as in a prison or in a dungeon of darkness for a thousand years was the cursed spirit of murdering Cain raging against Christ and his seed in the person of King Herod and his seed or seven sons in the Ten persecutions 10 In the 12 Chapter of the Revelation it is thus written And there appeared another wonder in heaven for behold a great red Dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven Crowns upon his head Also in the 13 Chapter it is thus written And I saw a beast rise out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns were ten Crowns This red Dragon and beast that rose out of the sea was that Herod and his seven sons in the Ten persecutions as aforesaid 11 Again for your clearer understanding in the thing give me leave to speak of the three last verses of this twelfth Chapter the words are these And the Serpent cast out of his mouth water after the woman like a flood that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood My spiritual friends you may know that this Serpent was bloody Herod and the woman was that Virgin Mary that brought forth the Lord of life and the flood was the men of war that was sent forth to persecute the Virgin and murder her Son and our Savior but the earth holp the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the flood which the Dragon had cast out of his mouth 12 My spiritual friends you may know that the innocent children that were murdered by bloody Herods men of war was that earth that opened her mouth and swallowed up that flood of persecution that was intended to be poured forth upon the blessed Babe or God of eternal Glory 13 Again then the Dragon was wroth with the woman and went and made war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ My spiritual brethren you may also know because Herod could not come at the holy Babe and his Mother in its infancy therefore his cursed spirit in his seed or sons did persecute the Lord of Glory and his Apostles and Believers to the death afterwards if you look with a spiritual eye in the second of Matthew and the Acts upon king Herod his seed Councel of Priests Scribes and men of war then you may see this to be the very minde of the holy Spirit in these mysterious Records 14 Again when the earthly powers through the glorious appearance of the everlasting Gospel are sealed up unto bloody mindedness against the messengers of that divine Truth to fulfil the secret decree of the most high God then are their spirits shut close prisoners in their own bodies as in a dungeon of spiritual darkness through which in stead of enjoying any sweet peace that soul is full of raging madness and not knowing which way to turn it self it thinks to get out of its condition by acting all maner of cruelties to the utmost of its power 15 My spiritual friends you may know that this was that spiritual binding of that old Serpent Dragon Devil in king Herod and his Herodian spirits for a thousand years the which thousand years were expired when the Ten persecutions ceased which was the ten horns of that savage beast aforesaid 16 For you that are spiritual know that no man can possibly finde out the truth of Holy Writ of the most perfectest account in the world because the wisdom of God hath reserved the seasons of all divine secrets in his own heavenly breast that men or Angels may know them when his Glory seeth it most fit 17 Wherefore all time observation in reference to a right understanding of any thing that is spiritual is utterly confounded in that Scripture saying For a thousand years is as one day with the Lord and a day is as a thousand years 18 Moreover when the glorious Truths of the divine Majesty were poured forth upon the face of the Nations as it was in the primitive times through the spiritual Ministery of the everliving God you may know whilest that commissionated spiritual power remained in being the Nations could not be deceived with the hypocritical
the divine Majesty himself wherefore you spiritual ones may also know that that Gog and Magog that are gone forth to battel in the plains of the earth compassing the Tents of the Saints and the holy City are those Heathenish Magistrates and their bloody Priests that proceeded from cursed Cain through the loins of King Herod and his Priests and Scribes as beforesaid so that the dead men that lived not again until the thousand years were fulfilled are those Saints and holy City of God which at this time and to the end of all time do suffer cruel persecution for the testimony of a good conscience in all the Nations of the world 40 My beloved Brethren this is that spiritual raign of the first resurrection with Christ on this earth appointed in some measure for all men to drink which are delivered from that second death which is treasured up for all bloody minded Tyrants whatsoever 41 Thus you that are sober may clearly see that it was not a visible personal raign of Christ a thousand years with his Saints on this earth that John aimed at as many men have long imagined but it was a spiritual raign or suffering with him for his truths sake upon earth that when he appeareth in his glory with all his holy Angels then to raign with him in his Throne to all eternity in the third heavens 42 Now brethren I shall go on to prove his personal coming in glory according to the intent of his most holy Spirit from his own words CHAP. XLIII 1 Of the personal glory of Christs coming to judgement 2 No man hath so much faith as a grain of mustard-seed but Christ onely 3 Of spirits finite and infinite MY beloved brethren in the unerring spirit you may know there is a twofold appearing of Christs glory in his chosen ones as the glory of the Sun excels the glory of the Moon so these two glories transcend each other 2 Moreover you know the Moon appears in the brightness of her glory at one time and at another time she appears altogether like unto darkness or shame 3 So likewise it is with Christs appearing in glory to mens souls in this life sometimes by vertue of the in-comes of his eternal spirit the soul of man for a moment is transmuted into the glorious likeness of the divine Majesty himself 4 But at another time you know when none of these spiritual lightnings appear through some fleshly guilt the poor soul seems to be full of fearful darkness horror and shame as if it had never seen any light or life at all 5 So that you see all the glory of Christs appearing unto the spirits of men in this life is but a changeable Moon-like glory at the best 6 Therefore it can be but a spiritual type of this personal appearing of Christ in his judgement-seat glory with all his mighty Angels 7 Again you know the Sun is no way subject to change in the least but Gyant-like runs his course in four and twenty hours through the whole heavens and in one place or other appears in his glory unto the end of all time 8 So likewise you may know it is with this personal appearing of Christ in his glory with his holy Angels for in that day of his appearing the persons of his redeemed ones shall be nothing else but Sun-shine like divine glories in themselves and so run their heavenly course even to all eternity 9 Who ever thou art that is ignorant of this personal glory of Christs coming in the clouds or air with his elect Angels to make an eternal separation between the persons of the blessed Israelites and cursed Cananites though thou art full of seeming glorious expressions concerning a God or Christ living in mens consciences yet thou canst never be firmly established until thou knowest that personal God or Christ sitting in the throne of his infinite glory in the high heavens without thee from whence alone all inward light or life proceeds 10 I confess if a man become an innocent merciful spirit he may be able to speak such a language from a supposed God or Christ in mens consciences onely that may confound the seeming holiness of all Church fellowships in the world 11 But what advnatage is this to himself or his heirs except when he is confounded in the room thereof he doth not onely declare the effects of Christs truth in the minds of men but is able to demonstrate in some measure the personal appearing of Christ in his glory in the world to come 12 If the visible appearing of a glorified God or Christ in the person of a man be such a choak-pear unto thee or seem low or carnal because the national Priests confess such a like thing 13 I would fain know of thee by sober speaking or writing where thy God or Christ is become when thy soul and all thy light or life for a moment is become silent death or darkness with thy body of dust 14 Moreover if thou understandest not a personal God or Christ too transcendent glorious for Heavens Earth Angels or Men to be capable of the indwelling of his eternal spirit what is thy inward God or Christ thou discoursest so much about but pleasant words or perishing nature onely 15 Furthermore if thou knowest this wonderful secret concerning what a spirit is then wouldst thou certainly know how impossible a thing it is for any spirit whatsoever to possess a living being without a distinct body of his own 16 Again of what bigness dost thou think a spirit is whether it be finite or infinite give me leave to write a little of this strange thing from those sayings of Christ to his disciples in the 17. Chapter by St. Matthew the words are these For verily I say unto you for if ye have faith as much as is a grain of Mustard seed ye shall say unto this mountain remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove and nothing shall be unpossible unto you Behold is not a grain of Mustard seed a very little and yet you see Christ saith nothing should be unpossible unto that man that hath such a quantity of spiritual faith in him 17 Again it is written with God nothing shall be unpossible who then is capable to possess so much faith in him as will contain the quantity of a Mustard seed but Christ Jesus the God of Glory himself unto whom all things are possible that he is moved unto by that seed of faith which is the eternal spirit of his glorified person 18 Moreover if a spirit be in its quantity but as a grain of Mustard seed or a spark of fire how then is it possible for the Spirit of God Men or Angels to possess any sensible light life joy or glory but in their own bodies onely 19 Furthermore if this description of a spirit seem strange be it known unto thee the Lord hath made me to declare it for the confounding of that cursed error
didst thou ever see this infinite Maâ—esty and Throne of Glory thy self if thou didst where are thy miracles to confirm it or why dost thou not make us believe it by thy spirituality or why doth not this infinite Majesty bear witness that he sent thee as he did to his former Prophets and Apostles or when will he do it that we may see and believe and own thee for the truths sake 25 Whoever thou art that thus callest in question the glorious truths of eternity under pretence of my weakness in reference unto miracles that thou mightest believe 26 Little dost thou think in stead of contending with me thy sinful brother according to the flesh that it is that old Serpent Devil in thee that arraigns the glorious God that made thee at the blinde bar of thy carnal reason and by it condemns him and his heavenly truths because thy unbelieving desires are not satisfied 27 Again did not the Lord of Glory himself call those Jews that required a sign an adulterous and wicked generation 28 Moreover when the Lord of life by the mighty power of his word onely wrought wonderful miracles in their sights instead of believing on him ever the sooner for that the sign-mongring Jews cursedly say that he cast out Devils through Beelzebub the Prince of Devils 29 Furthermore if thou shouldst upbraid me for want of the gift of tongues or languages yet I render praise unto the God of Glory by his poor light in my poor soul thou canst not upbraid me for want of a spirit of Prophesie though thou at present shalt slight it 30 And what if I could speak all languages would it advantage any sign-monger in the world but to his further condemnation only 31 What saith the Scripture concerning this thing Wherefore strange tongues are for a sign not to them that believe but to them believe not but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not but for them which believe 22 verse of the 14. Chapter of the 1. Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 32 Moreover did not the Lord of Glory himself say that John the Baptist was the greatest Prophet under the Law that was born of women and yet thou never reads of any miracles or tongues possessed by him 33 The Christian Dove waites for a spiritual sign within him that he may believe the glorious truths of the everliving God without him but the carnal Serpent requires a natural sign without him to make him believe the spiritual truths of an invisible God in the high heavens 34 Again if there should be no other appearing of a God or Christ but in mens consciences as thousands vainly imagine in this drunken age what did Christ mean by these and such like sayings in the 15. of St. Matthew And when the Son of man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats and he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on the left then shall the King say to them on his right hand come ye blessed of my father take the inheritance of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world for I was an hungry and ye gave me meat I thirsted and ye gave me drink and such like then shall he say to them on his left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels for I was an hungry and ye gave me no meat I thirsted and ye gave me no drink and these shall go into everlasting pain and the righteous into life eternal 35 Again thou that vainly boasts of a spiritual God or Christ appearing in glory within thee onely darest thou say that these Scriptures are fulfilled 36 Moreover canst thou say that thou hast this King on his Throne of Glory with his holy Angels and all the Nations of the world within thee 37 Furthermore is the Devil and his Angels and eternal blessedness and cursedness within thee also 38 My beloved friends in the Lord of life if there were not a generation of cursed men that glory of a God or Christ within them that are not onely full of these and such like discourses but are also given up unto all filthiness I could not have mentioned this thing wherefore there are many of these Serpents that creep into houses telling poor deceived men and silly women laden with many lusts that the resurrection of the dead is past already since Christ in his glory is risen in them 39 Moreover if their captivated friends should seem to scruple at any kinde of fleshly community held forth by them then these wandring Stars will say unto them What poor low things are these that you are troubled withal what are you in Egypt still is there any more then one pure being and is not this pure being within you all and is it not he that speaks and acts all in you seeing there is but one power what do ye scruple at are ye as little children or fools yet do ye not see that there is no union or true communion in the world among those people that hold two powers 40 Furthermore lest their deceived friends by whom they possess Balaams wages should fail them then these cursed captives will tell them That their bodies are fleshly forms that turns to dust from whence they came and shall appear no more therefore not to be minded in the least in reference to sin so that ye fall not under the civil law or oppress nature but your souls are immortal and cannot die but ascends into its glory from whence it came Wherefore since ye have attained to such liberty that all men are in foolish bondage which know it not let us eat and drink and be merry whilest we enjoy these vanishing forms yet let us sollace our selves with all delights even as our divine rights 41 O thou King of all kings for the glory of thy great names sake discover these Serpents with their carnal wiles that all thy simple hearted people may be delivered out of their Satannical snares and brought into that pure light and liberty of thy own likeness by one heavenly glance from thy eternal spirit CHAP. XLV 1 The Creators withholding of his divine assistance was the cause of the Fall of our first Parents 2 The ground of all spiritual or natural Curses 3 Noahs Ark assimulated to Heaven 4 Of the Resurrection YOu that are full of the light of life may know that whilest Adam and Eve continued in the purity of their Creation this whole earth and all things made therein were as pure in their kinde and measure as that vast kingdom of glory and all that therein is 2 Moreover as soon as ever their pure natures were defiled with the Serpentine nature of fiery lust you
and salvation without them and despised the invisible breathings of his Holy Spirit in his innocent people as delusion blasphemy and such like shall be full of unspeakable burning pain and shame through their inability of bearing the fiery brightness of the Son of Man that most high and mighty God with his elect men and Angels as abundantly beforesaid 23 Moreover you know it is said As it was in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot so it shall be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed 24 Furthermore you know the Scripture saith They were eating and drinking and marrying of wives and planting and building unto the day that Noah entred into the Ark but in the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone and destroyed them all 25 Again you know the whole old world and Sodomites a little before their final dissolution were not onely possessed with all variety of natural comforts but they were also given up to all maner of unnatural filthiness and so continued to the day of their total destruction 26 Moreover you know it is recorded of the men of Sodom that they were haters of God and turned the truth of God unto a lie and worshipped and served the creature forsaking the Creator which is blessed for evermore Amen 27 Furthermore While the meat of the unsatiable Jews were in their mouths you know there was a plague brake out among them These final dissolutions you know were not onely invisible but visible also 28 Moreover if the personal appearing of Christ in his Glory shall be like unto that of Noah and Lot and the final dissolution of the old world and that of Sodom and Gomorrah when it was in the midst of the height of all their fleshly filthiness and exceeding fulness of bread which included all good things and in their more then ordinary planting building putting the evil day far from them is it not thus in these out days also was there ever more glorying in all maner of Sodomitical unnatural filthiness then now there is 29 Did men ever deifie carnal creatures as now they do Moreover was there ever such a babling about a God or Christ in mens consciences onely as now there is notwithstanding many of those cursed Serpents villifie the very name of a personal God in a Throne of Glory above the Stars more then the greatest theeving whoring murderer in the land 31 Furthermore was there ever such talk of pure love without envy upon a spiritual account as in these our days and in stead of mercy towards one another since the world began under pretence of conscience and an art of lamb-like words do not men like roaring Lyons lie lurking in every quarter seeking whom they may devour 32 Again notwithstanding such varieties of breaking forth in declaring the sudden appearing of the Lord of Hosts to recompence vengeance upon all sorts of bloody-minded covetous men whatsoever can any man living ever remember such purchasing such buildâ—ng such planting and plenty of all natural comforts as now there is 33 Moreover was there in any mans memory such changes in Government and marvelous transactions in them as in these our days 34 Furthermore was there ever such variety of witchcraft voices visions signs and wonders acted as in these our days from a pretended spiritual God Christ or power within men onely 35 Besides all this hath not the God of Glory by poor and contemptable means discovered the Serpentine subtilties of the honorable artificial Priests and Astrologian Sorcerers in this age and land more then ever he did since the Apostles times and hath there not been many signs in the heavens and in the earth and in the creatures in a marvelous maner since our civil dissentions with many bloody massacres at home and abroad and doth these things presage nothing or did they come to pass by chance or fortune onely 36 O ye Hypocritical minded sign-mongers and cursed despisers of the Son of God who is the Lord your maker remember what effect those wonderful signs in Egypt took upon Pharaoh his Counsellors and people and what effect Eliah the Prophets signs took upon Ahab Jezebel and her four hundred Idolatrous Priests besides your forefathers that murdered the Lord of Glory his Prophets Apostles and innocent people for the truths sake onely though they had the gift of tongues and miracles by calling all their miracles languages or spiritual truths delusions to deceive the people against the very light of their own consciences through a secret fear of losing their gain and glory among men that perish CHAP. XLVII 1 Further signs of the approaching day of Christs coming to judgement 2 The Prophet writes by inspiration 3 And giveth the interpretation of several Scriptures tending thereunto AS the old world and Sodom were blinded by abundance of prosperity and plenty of all things to the very day of their final overthrow so likewise what ever men shall declare to the contrary it shall be with this bloody-minded world until the Son of Man come in his glory If you ask me the reason the main ground of it is this because the God of Glory that cannot possibly lie hath said that they day of his appearing shall be like unto that of Noah and Lot 2 Moreover another reason of it is this not onely to prevent mans wisdom to be prepared for the day of his glorious and dreadful appearing but also to catch those men with their own craft that counted them children or fools that expected any such thing 3 Furthermore another reason is this for the deeper condemnation of all those men that heard the declarations of this personal appearing in his glory but laught it to scorn or put the evil day far from them because of the present fleshly gain and glory they lived in 4 Again you know it is written That in the day Lot departed out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone and destroyed them all behold what a dreadful and sudden desolation fire maketh in a mortal world even within a dayes compass 5 So likewise it shall be when the Son of man appears in his glory for within the compass of a day or twelve hours after mans account the heavens without the body of man shall be melted with fervent heat and in stead of the former and latter showers of water to nourish the earth and rejoyce mans heart as a flood of fire and brimstone it shall pour it self upon the whole world and burn all the beauty vertue or glory thereof to dust or powder as beforesaid 6 I write not against the truths of the Scriptures but by inspiration from the Holy Spirit I bear record to the mind of God in them in opposition of all pretended spiritual lights under heaven 7 Wherefore as an eternal witness against all sorts of men that wrest the Scriptures to their own hurt give me leave to recite that threefold testimony of Peter as a seal to this
exalt thy self above thy Creator by conceiting thy self in a throne of glory with Christ already 26 Moreover be thou never so seemingly holy or charitable or a great sufferer in reference to thy inward God or Christ yet if thou art left to the pride of thine own spirit to despise the spirit of the Son of man glorified in the highest heavens thou and all that is within thee will eternally perish 27 So much doth the man Jesus in glory heed thee and all of thy blasphemous lofty spirit He that denies me before men him will I deny before my Father which is in heaven and his holy Angels CHAP. XLVIII 1 Of the first Resurrection 2 and what it is by several Questions and Answers IN the next place give me leave to write a little of the new birth or first resurrection from a glorified Christ 2 What is this first resurrection that who ever hath part in it is blessed and holy and the second death hath no power Truly it is the enjoyment of a divine light in the understanding which a man hath received by inspiration from the spirit of a personal Christ on a throne of glory in the third Heavens 3 How shall a man truly know whether he hath this light in him or no or when he received it He that hath this light of Christ in him his very thoughts desires and affections are by the power of it wholly bent upon all spiritual and natural purity whatsoever 4 So that the Scriptures imputes Justice Righteousness Holiness or Perfection unto that man onely which hath this light in him because he is principally guided by a light which he hath received from the glorious God of all divine perfections without him 5 Moreover this light of Christ sometimes is known by a glorious voice to the hearing of the ear through which a man is so full of inward joy glory or majesty in himself that he knows not for that present whether he be in the condition of a God or a man this I certainly know yet I believe few of the Saints themselves have tasted of this condition 6 Furthermore this light of Christ conveys it self so secretly into the understandings of most of his redeemed ones by a low voice of his most Holy Spirit that oftentimes they know not the time thereof onely after this light of life hath once appeared the soul is so delighted with it that it thinks it can never have too much of it or hardly enough of it therefore like a woman in travail it is full of hungring or thirsting after the knowledge of that Fountain of Glories from whence its light and joy proceeded 7 Again he that hath this light of Christ in him is not onely full of longings after more of it but his soul is also full of that new song of praise honor power and glory unto the infinite unknown God until he doth in some measure truly know him 8 Moreover he that hath this new and true light is not rash in judging divine things he knows not but by vertue of that light of life he is preserved with a meek and patient spirit to wait the Lords leisure for manifesting the truth thereof 9 Furthermore he that hath received this white Stone or new Name of Christ to the purpose sees all the speakings or writings of non-commissionated men but meer literal or notional emptiness in comparison of that joy or glory that he possesseth from the invisible motions of the divine Majesty himself 10 Again by vertue of this light he is made able to discern whether mens speaking or writings proceed from a literal notional or spiritual Christ or no. 11 Moreover he that hath this light of Christ thus grounded in him doth not lie doting upon mens invisible God Christ Spirit Light Life Love Joy Beauty Vertue Power or Glory of meer words onely but nothing will satisfie his new-born hungry spirit but a divine embracing of a personal God of spiritual substance yea too transcendently glorious for men or Angels to be capable of the in-dwelling of his eternal Spirit but of the in-shining vertues or motions onely 12 So much at present concerning the first resurrection or new birth from a personal substantial God or Christ on the Throne of Eternity in the high heavens in opposition of a supposed new birth from a notional inward Christ or literal outward Christ onely CHAP. XLIX 1 Concerning Gods becoming a childe 2 None lives and moves and have their beings in God but the Seed of Faith 3 No creature capable to be essentially one with God AGain it is written In him we live and move and have our being Also it is written Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. What did the Apostle mean by living in the Lord and dying in the Lord Or how can a man be said to live in the Lord and to die in the Lord also 2 My spiritual friends though all men have their life or being in the Creator or in this power by vertue of creation yet none but the elect do spiritually live move or have any being in him and that is by vertue of redemption onely and that was the occasion of the Prophets saying for unto us a childe is born unto us a son is given now you know that the Prophet spoke them words long after the birth of that glorious babe and yet you see that all his joy or glory in reference to a life to come was fixed onely in the person of that Childe 3 Thus the Prophet by vertue of the true Jesus in him did spiritually live and move and had his being in the Lord of Hosts in a full assurance that God the everlasting Father and Creator of both worlds and all in them would become a little childe for the Redemption of his elect from eternal death by pouring forth of his most precious life it is writted who hath believed our report or unto whom is the arm of the Lord revealed 4 Thus you may see that those men which wanted the light of life in them to receive that prophetical report concerning the God of Glory 's coming by the out-stretched arm of his eternal Spirit in a body of flesh to redeem the elect world to himself were utterly ignorant of the Prophets spiritually living moving or being in the Lord. 5 So likewise this was the Apostle Pauls meaning also when he said for in him we live and move and have our being according to that saying of his for the life which I now live is by the faith of the Son of God which gave himself for me Also you know it is written to this effect that some men did live without God in the world so that you may understand that reprobate men are accounted by the spirit of the Scriptures to live and to die in the devil and to rise again very devils in souls and bodies to all eternity 6 The chosen of God are guided by the true light or love of
they may have no confidence in the strength of that light which is within them but that they may cast down the crowns of their spiritual confidences at the divine feet of his heavenly Majesty as the onely Author Protector and finisher of their eternal blessedness 11 So likewise it is with the elect also when they die in the Lord for though the light of Christ was given them as a seal of his eternal love that they might glory onely in the Lamb and be enabled to wear his Crown of thorns to their lives end as a preparative unto glorious Crowns at his appearing yet I would have you for whom these thorns and Crowns are prepared to understand because the life of all light or glory you possess are hid in the divine breast or book of life with Christ in God 12 Therefore when your soul comes to die all your spiritual motions must enter into death also until time be no more because the power wisdom and glory of Christ will be seen in this thing above all his former works 13 Again he being the onely light and life of men will not this be a Crown of glory to his infinite power seeing the spirits of mankinde are mixt together in the sea and earth in a marvelous manner yet by a word speaking he shall call his elect by name as he did Lazarus and they shall hear his voice and come forth of their graves as one man with distinct persons all glorious yet very flesh and bone and with those elect then living whose bodies shall be transmuted into glory also ascend as swift as thought to meet their God in the air and sit in Thrones of Judgement with him over all the Angels of darkness remaining in this destroyed world for everlasting 14 Moreover if that error of mens bodies dying onely and not ther souls could possible be true then no man could die or be put to death at all because the life of mans body is his spirit and but one spirit onely though there is a double motion in it of contrary natures and effects by the secret decree of the Lord for the manifestation of his eternal wisedom power and glory over the elect and Reprobate 15 Thus you that are spiritual may see what is meant by the Saints living and dying in the Lord and concerning the place of refuge where their lives are hid both in life and in death is not this truth answerable to those sayings of Christ himself in John The words that I speak unto you are spirit and life I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and he that sate upon the throne said behold I make all things new Revelation the 20. and I will raise him up at the last day Again Jesus said unto her said I not unto thee that if thou didst believe thou shouldst see the glory of God you know this was spoken by Christ that God of all power wisdom and glory at his raising Lazarus from death to life 16 Therefore you may know also that the greatest glory of all will redound to his infinite Majesty he shall shortly come in his glory with his mighty Angels to call forth the living dead to glorious blessedness in the great white Throne with himself Moses Elias and his Angels and to call forth the dead living into shameful cursedness of souls and bodies in utter darkness burning together to eternity on this earth where they possessed all their former glory and acted their unrighteousness against Christ and his redeemed ones then will this Scripture be fulfilled and they shall hear a great voice from heaven saying unto them come up hither and they shall ascend up to heaven in a cloud and their enemies shall see them and these Scriptures CHAP. LI. 1 Eternal damnation is a living death and a dying life 2 Three Books will be opened at the last judgement 3 Signifying the three Commissions of the Law the Gospel and the Spirit 4 The Heathens are judged by the Law of their consciences having not had the Scriptures 5 The Prophets heavenly conclusion AGain But fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them Moreover and the Devil that deceived them was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone where that beast and false Prophet is and shall be tormented even day and night for evermore and I saw the dead both great and small stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged of those things which were written in the books according to their works and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire this is the second death these both were alive cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire My brethren in the spirit and in the flesh also which are sober you see when Christ cometh in his glory with his Angels the Books must be opened which are three in number the Book of the administration of the Law must be opened in the consciences of them that were under the Law and made a profession of obedience unto it but hated to perform it and they will have work enough with that fiery Law and all their former filthiness of flesh and spirit to sit in judgement on those burning brimstone souls and bodies of flesh and bone to all eternity 2 The second Book of the administration of the Gospel will be opened also in the consciences of those that made a profession thereof and hated obedience to it and that literal fiery Judge and their former unrighteousness will neither want work to sit in judgement on those fleshly bodies of burning brimstone even world without end 3 Moreover the third Book of the administration of the eternal Spirit which is the book of life shall be opened also in the consciences of all pretended lights in these last days and those whose names were not found written in that book of life as Commissionated Messengers of the eternal Spirit to bear witness unto a personal Jesus in the high heavens but published a lying Jesus in the lower heavens of their carnal spirits onely that pretended God or Christ with all their lies spoken in the name of the Lord and blasphemy against his Majesties persons shall burn more fiery hot then any other opinion among men even to all eternity as aforesaid all is not spiritual gold that glisters 4 Again give me leave to speak of one sort more whose natural conscience must be opened also 5 This sort of men are those called Heathens which never had the books of the Scriptures among them I say from the true God that these men and all the naturalists in the world according to their rebellions against their rational Judge unto which they acknowledged all obedience of righteousness between man and man was due this
the minde of Christ from John's words in the beginning of the 11. Chapter the first words are these then was given me a Reed like unto a Rod and the Angel stood by saying Rise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two moneths 21 My devine friends you may understand that that reed like unto a rod possessed by John was a free gift of inspiration which he received from a glorified Christ in the high heavens by his Angel whereby like unto a skillful Land-measurer his understanding was enabled to comprehend the spiritual signification of the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein 22 You may also understand that the Temple and them that did worship therein did signifie Gods spiritual house or tabernacle of elect Jews and Gentiles which make but one compleat body for Christ Jesus their head to raign in by his heavenly light 23 That Altar spoken of by John did signifie the glorious body or Tabernacle of the eternal spirit unto which divine Altar or Godhead person those spiritual worshippers were vertually united by a received light from that infinite Majesty through which invisible intercourse sometimes their souls were full of spiritual joy through that inward seal of Godlike glory which they were to enjoy in the life to come 24 You may understand that that unmeasured Court without the Temple did signifie the visible Scriptures 25 You know that when sacrifices or ordinances were in force at Hierusalem there was the inward Temple and outward Porch or Court joyning to the Temple 26 You also know the Court without the Temple was a common place for all people to meet in but none might enter into the inward Temple in the time of their worship but the chief Priests or those that were Confessors of the true God and approved of by those teachers of the Law 27 Likewise you may understand that the outward Court or Scripture which is common to all men that was left unmeasured or cast out did signifie all the out-cast unbelieving Jews and Gentiles and the inward Temple or spirit of the Scriptures did signifie all the Elect believing Jews and Gentiles in that glorious Altar beforesaid 28 Again you know that the Court of the Temple was an outward ornament or witness unto the beauty or glory within the Temple 29 So likewise the Court of the visible Scriptures is an ornament or testimony unto that eternal spirit of all truth within the Temple Body or Tabernacle of the everliving God and vertually in a great measure living in the Temples or bodies of his elect that are inabled to give a true distinction between the things of eternal life and eternal death 30 Again you know it is said that the unmeasured Court without the Temple was given to the Gentiles and that they should tread the holy City under foot two and forty moneths 31 You spiritual ones may know that the minde of the Holy Spirit in those words was this that to fulfil the Prophesie of Christ concerning the destruction of the Jews their Temple and City of Hierusalem by the Romans through conquest they should possess the literal Records written by the Prophetical and Apostolical Jews and not onely worship it in stead of the eternal spirit but also by cruel persecution for above thirteen hundred years were to tyrannize over the Holy City of spiritual Jews and Gentiles that could not bow down unto their inventions 32 You that are spiritual may know that the Roman Gentiles here spoken of by John are those people which men call Cavaliers whose Princely race sprang first from the loins of King Herod that bloody persecutor of the Lord of glory and so streamed into the line of the tyrannical Roman Empire or Popedom 33 From this papal power whatever Apostical or Christian stile they attribute to themselves through all the Christian world so called they have banded together as one man to tread underfoot as beforesaid that chosen City of heavenly minded Jews and Gentiles 34 Because their innocent souls could not forsake that everliving Altar manifested unto them and bow down to their Egyptians Calves set up as a snare unto the people chiefly for fleshly gain and perishing glory from men of their own spirits 35 Also you that are spiritual take special notice of this that these two witnesses or Prophets spoken of in the 11. of the Revelation did not appear unto men until the Gentile power of persecuting Bishops were extinguished in this land 36 But it may be objected by some that one Bull and Varnum and others long before them have pretended to be these two witnesses and yet it came to nothing 37 To this I answer by way of query can any man make it appear from any Record since the Apostles time that in any Land or Nation two men did ever bear witness in all opposition of all men or Angels unto the man Jesus Christ glorified to be the onely God everlasting Father and Creator of both worlds Angels and men 38 Again amongst all the pretended Prophets in the world doth any of them bear witness unto one personal Majesty distinct from Heavens Earth Angels and men 39 Nay of the contrary do they not all rather disown such a God as a weak or carnal thing and as one man like unto Baals four hundred Priests and the false Prophets and Priests in all ages imagine the Creator to be an infinite formless spirit 40 If any man should moderately enquire of the pretended Prophets or spiritual lights in this age concerning the knowledge of the Creator or a glory to come is there any answer to be had from them but this or such like the Creator is an infinite invisible unchangeable eternal spirit or else they will say the Creator is all wisdom love purity riches beauty joy righteousness justice or divine excellencies he fils heaven and earth he is the all in all and there is nothing besides him or else they will say the more ye desire the knowledge of the Creator the less you will know of him because he is infinite or they will bid you minde that God or Choist within you and trouble not your self about incomprehensible infiniteness thus these false Prophets of cursed Cain make a wonderment of an infinite Creator of nothing but meer words onely 41 Thou which art puffed up with such a Creator as this is shalt one day know to thy eternal sorrow and shame what it is to despise a personal God infinitely full of all glorious perfection 42 When this personal Majesty shall shew his infinite power upon thee through the retaining of his inshining light from thy Lucepheâ—ian spirlt and shall leave thee and thy inward God in an unspeakable condition of eternal shame and confusion of sould and
aforesaid 28 Again you that are spiritual do know that all men that do expect a glory to come in the invisible Heavens do confess that the spirit of the divine Majesty is infinite unchangeable immortal an eternal 28 If the Creators person is of an incomprehensible brightness which none can gainsay but angelical carnalities how then thinkest thou it possible for men or angels to be capable of the in-dwelling essence of the eternal Spirit 29 Though every man as aforesaid have little or much of the spiritual motions of God abiding in his soul yet take notice of this when he inspireth any light into sinful spirits that very light it self being distinct from the infinite Spirit and essentially one with mortality is made capable not onely to live but also to die together that it through death might be capable by the decree of that Spirit from whence it was produced to quicken and revive that mortality again into the glorious likeness of the eternal Majesty it self from whence it came CHAP. XXVI 1 Of the nature and place of the Reprobates torment 2 The last witnesses great confidence concerning the end of the world 3 Without a tongue no speech can be made by God Angels or men 4 God is visibly seen by spiritual bodies as Kings are by their subjects TAke notice of this also that in what soul soever this in-shining light hath appeared though he be preserved from despising a personal God if before he taste of death he doth not attain to understand this glorified Jesus to be the onely wise very true God upon the sight of so clear a discovery as this is then this will be his portion All the light at his death shall vanish and come to nothing and in the day of the Lords account by vertue of his decree that Luciferian Serpentine spirit which abhorred the simple plain truth because it discovereth its carnal deceits shall quicken and bring forth a body spiritually as dark as pitch and naturally as heavy as lead a body of thick darkness or blackness of darkness according to Holy Writ 2 Again it will be a body whose invisible spirit shall be a fire of such a dark envious nature that it shall burn more intollerably fierce than any fire in this world whatsoever through which it shall be tormented as if it were nothing else but a carcase or pillar of unsavory burning brimstone 3 In that very place where it doth appear upon this earth it shall either stand sit kneel or lie along neither seeing its own dreadful person nor no mans else 4 And the main ground of all his unspeakable sorrow will arise from hence because its spirit is bar'd close prisoner in its own body from all kinde of former thoughts or motioning forth upon any spiritual comforts whatsoever through the total absenting in-shining presence of the Lord Jesus Christ the everlasting Father 5 Again all thy former pride envy covetousness lying lust and hypocrisie which thou with delight didst act towards thy innocent brothers ruine shall then be acted against thine own self it will be the eternity of thy condition that will increase thy sorrowes and shame O it will be in vain then to wish thou hadst never bin born or any thing else 6 Who ever thou art that shalt out of thy atheistical soul laugh these words to scorn and say these are but meer fancies of my own brain know this from the Lord of Glory when this whole world and all the beauty and natural glory thereof as namely the Firmament Sun Moon and Stars are become nothing but burning dust or dry sand and an utter Chaos of everlasting confused darkness then thou shalt remember thy despising things thou knewest not 7 Is not this answerable to Christs own words where he saith If that light in thee be darkness how great will that darkness be Again The Son of man shall send forth his Angels and they gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of sire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 13. Take notice of this record of Scripture and you shall find that he said these things should be done at the end of the world Again and when the Son of man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit on the throne of his Glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats and he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left then shall the King say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father take the inheritance of the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Then shall he say to them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels Mat. 25. 8 Here ye may see that the Lord Jesus doth not speak of cursing or burning up of sin in all men and eternal salvation unto all mens persons but maketh as clear a distinction as there is between sheep and goats of an eternal separation of two distinct generations 9 The one personal nation to enter into that most blessed estate or kingdom of the right hand of eternal ravishing glory with Christ and his holy angels and the other personal generation to be cast out into the left hand of the fiery burning kingdom of everlasting utter darkness with that devil Cain and his cursed generation being thereunto appointed from the foundation of the world 10 Again what ever men shall imagine or think to the contrary this was the very minde of Christ in those words of his concerning blessing elect Israelites to eternity and cursing Canaanitish reprobates for everlasting 11 Who shall dare open his mouth in that day to say why hast thou made me thus As sure as the Lord liveth and as certain as thou art a living soul and body this very thing will come to pass in a short season though men or angels should gainsay it 12 The Lord Jesus Christ neither can nor will be found a liar in this nor any thing else for all the cursed whimsies of men in this age or any other age though the persons of ten hundred thousand times ten Millions of men and women should suffer the vengeance of eternal fiery death in utter darkness O poor vain despiser of a personal God what acursed condition art thou in and knowest it not 13 In the next place I shall speak again concerning the Creators being an infinite personal Majesty unto which the visible forms of men and angels bear record as unto an incomprehensible glory from whence all their comprehensible things had their beings 14 Was there not an uncreated eternal Majesty alone when no creatures whether men or angels appeared in a sensible living being 15 Again seeing there was from