then did Iosue circumcise again all the males And the children of Israel took in with forcible hand all the whole land 2. And thus in process of time they brought the people in sujection and had many battels against their enemies until David the king of the Tribe of Iudah which vanquished and subdued in battel the enemies of Israel and of the Lord with all his own enemies wherethrough his son Salomon inherited the Kingdom of Israel in peace sate upon the seat of David his Father and ruled the whole land and the people of Israel through the Godly wisdom peaceably and judged them uprightly 3. This David was exceedingly beloved of the Lord in such wise that the Lord said that he had found a man according to his own heart And the Lord nameth him also in certain places of the Scripture my servant David the which signifieth unto us my service which is lovely 4. BEhold this righteous plant of David hath the God of heaven raised up by us now in the last time like as the Lord promised the same according to the Scriptures and hath ordained him in this day of his love to be a ruler which shall govern wisely He shall set up judgement and Righteousness again upon earth that Iuda may now in this time be hopen and Israel dwel undismayed or without fear For his seed shall stand from henceforth before the Lord and sit upon the seat of David for evermore like as there is written thereof 5. Behold this covenant hath the Lord made thus in times past with his servant David and sworn to keep the same with him for evermore 6. But now when as Salomon which is the right seed of his Father David hath inheriâ—ed in peace the Kingdom of Israel and the seat of David his Father so builded he at the same time an house or temple within Ierusalem unto the name of the Lord and also an house for himself which was the house of Salomon and all lands and people humbled them under Salomon and his godly wisdom 7. Salomon signifieth unto us peaceable or one which is rich of peace Ierusalem signifieth unto us a vision of peace or of perfâ—ction 8. O Ye dearly beloved consider here the Mysterie of the works of God and the providence of his unsearchable wisdom and behold in the Jmages and figures what they shew forth unto us 9. Verily they will now in this day of love express some singular thing unto us and declare in this last time a great mysterie For in this day they make known unto us that it all which they signifie or whereof they give their cleerness shall now in this last time be erected according to the true being and fulfilled or accomplished according to the heavenly truth 10. But in all this former beauty and in the garnishing of the images and figures wherewith the Lord trained or informed he children of Israel that they might thereout know or understand the very true so served they at that time not the very true which God required out of the imagelike or figurative services but they served the images and figures and were subject to the service of the Levitical Priesthood after the order of Aaron Which service increased alwaies in glory to the multiplying and greater respecting of the righteousness 11. NOw after that Salomon was fallen asleep and buried with his Fathers so rented then the Kingdom of the children of Israel into two parts and ten Tribes of Israel fell away from the house of David and chose unto themselves another king named Ieroboam which name signifieth unto us an assaulting or a tempting of the People 12. Through this king which reigned over the ten Tribes of Israel they departed away from Ierusalem from the Temple of Salomon and from the services of the Priests after the order of Aaron and set up for themselves services and images at Beth-el and Dan and so brought the holy places into desolation They instituted Priests also which were not of the Tribe of Levi out of Aaron wherewith they observed the services falsly and did that which displeased the Lord and were for that cause at the last vanquished by the king Salmanaser which came from Assyria and by him led away out of the land and are yet estranged from the same even unto this same day in which the Lord will presently bring them again to their heritage and to the house of David 13. Beth-el signifieth unto us the house of God and Dan the judgement 〈◊〉 coming from Assyria signifieth unto uâ— a peace bound or knit together proceeding from the snares or sins which one â—ayeth to such a purpose or wherewith 〈…〉 assaulted or tempted like as their first king Ieroboam had brought in the same 14. What we had here more to say of the children of Israel of their disobedience against the Lord wherethrough they in times past remained without the rest of their uncircumcision or which is the uncircumcision of heart of Israel's casting out and how long they shall abide cast out from the Lord as also when they shall be restored or set up again is declared in the Glasâ— of Righteousness The XVI Chapter BUt the Stock of David and all what was of the Tribe of Iuda and Benjamin kept themselves together and held them unto the services of the Priesthood out of Levi according to the ordinance of Aaron like as the Lord had commanded the same which they observed at Ierusalem in the house of the Lord prepared by Salomon 2. Howbeit the tribes of Iuda and Benjamin sinned against the Lord and estranged them even so through a confusion or commixture unto intanglement from his law and from the requiring of the same wherethrough the Lord gave them over also at the last into the hands of the King Nabuchodonosor coming from Babel the which signifieth unto us a sighing or heaviness through strictness proceeding from a confusion or from a commixture which hath intangled or snared it self in it self 3. This Nabuchodonosor of Babel utterly destroyed the temple of the Lord which Salomon had builded and burned the same and Salomon's house also he brake down the wals of Ierusalem and carryed away all the vessels of silver and gold which were in the house of the Lord and the most part of the Citizens of Ierusalem into Babylon Wherethrough the government of their King of Iuda with their Psalms Songs and Mirth was utterly laid down the house of the Lord brought in desolation and the City of Ierusalem as a ruinated City made to heaps of stones Whereover Ieremy in his Lamentations greatly sighed wayled and wept 4. NOw when the tribes of Iuda were led away into Babylon so must they then for their sins or confusions cause wherein they had mingled and bewrapped themselves together serve there the King Nabuchodonosor 5. But after that or after the end
God was born or brought forth Whereunto all foregoing services with the images figures and shadows do induce and lead and cease therein and wherethrough the true God-service of the spiritual and heavenly goods is nakedly seen known ministred and inherited in full cleerness It is very true 4. NOw when as these forementioned figurative services had had their foregoing till unto Zacharias at which time Herod out of the power of Rome was king over the lands of Iuda so ministred Zacharias the Priest's office at the same time according to the ordinance of Abia that is in such wise as the Father of the Lord would have it or as it pleased him And Zacharias had a wife of the daughters of Aaron named Elisabeth 5. Herod signifieth unto us a Mountain of glory Rome signifieth unto us Puissance or strength These Romans not being out of Iuda but out of the Heathen were in the time of Zacharias lords over the land of Iuda Zacharias signifieth unto us the memory or remembrance of the Lord. Abia the Will of the Lord. Elizabeth the Oath or Covenant of God 6. And when as now Zacharias ministred the Priest's office before God according to the ordinance of Abia and that he burned incense in the Temple of the Lord so remembred the Lord the Oath or Covenant of his promises and sent at the same time his Angel Gabriâ—l 〈◊〉 Zacharias evangelized unto him that Elisabeth his wife should bear him a Son and his name should be called Iohn which name signifieth unto us the grace mercy of the Lord. Angel signifieth unto us a messenger or publisher Gabriel which published the same signifieth unto us the power or strength of God 7. Gabriel witnessed yet further to Zacharias unto thee and unto many people there shall be joy in the birth of Iohn For he shall be great before the Lord c. He shall go before the face of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elias which signifieth unto us in the spirit and power of God the Lord. 8. With these sayings there is made known unto us by the Angel Gabriel that the foregoing of Iohn before the face of the Lord should not chance in figures but according to the true being in the spirit and power of God the Lord in like manner as Zachariis also witnessed of Iohn when he was born read the first of Luke The XVIII Chapter NOw when the Lord had out of the imagelike foregoing after the manner of Aaron brought forth a true foregoer in the spirit and power of God the Lord or obtained him out of Zacharias and Eilzabeth his wife through whom he would begin his work or Office according to the true being so remembred he also his servant David or his beloved service and the oath which he had sworn unto him to wit that his seed should sit upon his seat 2. Whilest then the procreation of the seed of David according to the Genealogie stretched even unto Ioseph which was the right stock of the Kingly seed of David and that he had out of the same house of David a Virgin to wife named Mary which was betrothed unto him so hath the Lord according to his promises also visited the house of David and sent forth from him his Angel Gabriel into a City of Galilee named Nazareth unto the same Virgin Mary which was espoused unto the man Ioseph of the house of David as is abovesaid 3. Galilee signifieth unto us a turning or winding about Nazareth signifieth hallowed Mary a Doctress Ioseph one that is perfect or an exalting or great esteeming of the perfection 4. ANd Gabriel went in unto Mary and when he had saluted her he said unto her thou hast found mercy with God behold thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a Son and shall call his name JESVS which name signifieth unto us Saviour 5. This same saith Gabriel shall be great be called a Son of the most highest And God the Lord shall give unto him the Seat of his Father David and he shall be a king over the house of Iacob for evermore and of his kingdom there shall be none end 6. When Mary had heard these sayings of Gabriel she askt him how the same should come to pass forasmuch as she knew no man 7. Gabriel answered her and said The holy Ghost shall come down from above out of the height upon thee and the power of the most High shall shine about thee Therefore shall also that holy one which shall be born of thee be called the Son of God 8. And Mary believ'd the word of the Lord and became with childe by the holy Ghost And rejoyced her in God her salvation 9. COnsider ye beloved how that there is shewed unto us and given us to understand through the speeches of the Angel Gabriel which he used with Mary that at the same time when the holy Ghost came through the power of the most high upon the Virgin Mary and procreated the true seed of promise the time of the procreating of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh turned it self about to wit that the holy and true seed of Abraham should not from thenceforth be conceived of the flesh but of the holy Ghost through the power of the most highest in the Belief and that the same should even so be born out of the true faith of Abraham for the seed out of the faith of Abraham and out of the pure Virgin Mary is the true seed of Promise to the blessing of all generations of the earth 10. And thus from that time forth the genealogie of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh ceaâ—ed with the Believers For the upright children of the Belief which had their Descent out of the seed of the faith of Abraham and of the pure Virgin Mary as also from the holy Ghost were known to be the true seed of Abraham because the same seed was the seed of the promise of God the Father and was likewise in his mind according to the spirit the likeness of God his Father also Spirit and spiritual of the godly Nature and Being and according to the will of God wholy minded with God 11. AT the same time when Augustus the Emperor of Rome reigned and had made a stedfast peace in all lands whereover he ruled so caused he a Commandment to go forth from him that all the world should be â—axed every one in his own City 12. In which time Ioseph and Mary journeyed also unto the City of David named Beth-lehem that they might be taxed there seing that they were of the same City of David And even there in Beth-lehem Mary brought forth her first Son 13. Augustus signifieth unto us a great estimation or respecting of the thing that is glorious holy and increasing Beth-lehem an house of Bread 14. AT the same time when Mary had brought forth her first
the love unto the righteousness waxen cold with many and they are therethrough become slothfull towards the same but very diligent in their own inâ—orcements or enterprises 7. In like manner many seeing that they loved not the righteousness with whole heart became altogether vainely minded and like unto the world in her abominations and have even so let pass all fruitfull doctrine 8. FOr that cause O all ye which now in this day love the truth and righteousness have now a good regard hereon and follow not the seducing of the destroyers nor the multitude of the ignorant in their error nor inforce you not to be of one mind with the contentious world nor with the discordable or divided wise and Scripture-learned but apply you unto concord in all love and lock into it with undestandinging what the Scripture saith what it requireth of us and how it becometh fulfilled as also how that we are not called through the Scripture unto strife contention nor to variance or discord but unto peace and to the love 9. For I say unto you verily that there are before this day of love which is the true light of God and the coming of his Christ it self many Scripture-learned that were very richly learned with the speeches of literal Scripture in the subtilty and knowledg but not in the renewing of the Spirit and mind unto the kingdom of God risen up which have not inseen understood nor known the truth of God in the light of the heavenly and spiritual wisdome of Christ much less witnessed or taught the same and yet much less brought in or ministred the upright or true Christian Ceremonies which lead unto the Godliness in Jesus Christ or to his love and Peace 10. For they have not out of their literal knowledge understood the secret mind of God nor the clear ground of the services and Cerâ—monies of the Christians therefore also they have consulted or held Councels thereof and are even so become disputing and at variance betwixt themselves about the Scripture and about each others opinion and institution of his Ceremonies and Services and have not inherited the true love and peace of Christ. 11. Whereout each one may by himself well perceive and mark that it is meer Lyes or untrue what such Scripture-learned through the knowledge which they get out of the Scripture bring in institute preach and teach 12. THerefore consider now that no man out of his knowledge of the Scripture can rightly erect teach nor set forth the Christian Ceremonies But they shall in their right form and use be set forth administred and taught by them that are chosen or raised up thereunto by God which follow after Christ in his death become renewed with him in a new life and in whom the living God with his Christ hath even so then obtained his dwelling and shape From whose bodies likewise the words of God and Christ do then slow forth as living waters which also concordably agree with the testimonies of the holy Ghost and with our Writings and their requiring as also with the requiring of the Law of the Prophets and of the Apostles of Christ. 13. Behold out of the declaring of these upright followers of Jesu Christ in the requiring of his doctrine till unto his love it shall now all whatsoever concerneth God and his Services be uprightly and according to the truth used and ministred in his right Ordinance according to the Scripture Let every one now therefore have a good regard hereunto and take it effectually to heart 14. WHat we had here more to say of the dissention of the contending about the Ceremonies and of the pernicious Sectaries and Hereticks and who they are is declared in The Glass of righteousness The XXXIIII Chapter BUt the whilst now that the figurative Services and Ceremonies of the Christians yet flourished in vigour and that the discordable mindes out of the knowledge of the Scripture did daily increase to a more intangling with much contending and disputation of Christ and of his Services and Ceremonies and that many good-willing hearts which had great hunger and thirst after the righteousness searched the Scripture for to understand the truth and the will of God and to live therein with great diligence and zeal and sighed and prayed unto God so hath God at the last remembred the desolate heard the â—ighing and prayer of the poor and for his chosens sake to the end that his Truth and what his will is mought before all lovers of the Truth be made manifest or declared and the Scripture fulfilled shortened the days according to his promises and through the hearty mercifulness of his love wrought a great and wonderful work upon earth out of his holy heaven and raised up me HN the least among the holy ones of God which lay altogether dead and without breath and life among the dead from the death and made me alive through Christ as also anointed me with his godly being manned himself with me and godded me with him to a living tabernacle or house for his dwelling and to a seat of his Christ the seed of David to the end that this wonderful works mought now in the last time be known the light of his glory with full clearness and instruction reavealed and the coming of his Kingdome to an Evangely of the same Kingdome and to the blessing of all Generations of the earth published in all the world according to the Scripture 2. Behold and consider my beloved how wonderfully God worketh in his holy ones and how that now in this Day or light of the love the Judgement-seat of Christ is revealed and declared unto us out of Heaven to a righteous Judgement upon Earth from the right hand of God and how that on the same Judgement-seat of Christ that the Scripture mought be fulfilled there sitteth one now in truth in the habitation of David which judgeth uprightly thinketh upon equity and requireth righteousness 3. Through him God will now in this day which he himself hath appointed or ordained thereunto judge the compass of the earth with righteousness 4. In which this same day or last Time namely in the perfection of the works of God and in his righteous Judgement the God of heaven hath now declared himself and his Christ together with all his Saints unto us his elect also made a dwelling with us and brought even so unto us out of his holy being the most holy of his true Tabernacle with the fulness of his garnishing and spiritual heavenly riches to an everlasting fast standing Ierusalem and house for Gods dwelling according to the Scripture The which is the very true undisturbable kingdome full of all godly Power Joy and of all heavenly beautifulness wherein the laud of the Lord with fulness of the eternal life and lovely sweetness is
spake Behold I make it altogether new The XXXVI Chapter WIth this resurrection of the Lords dead God the Father doth now declare how that he hath chosen us to an house for his dwelling and liveth and walketh in us with his holy ones wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day namely in all like as there is witnessed and written of the resurrection of the dead and of the restoring of his house or tabernacle Wherewith God sheweth now unto us that in this present day the time of the restoring of his house is fulfilled whereout the salvation of the people is evermore manifested and Gods true light Word Spirit and life published or preached and whereout also the same shall always and for ever be published and declared to the end that tâ—ey all which have a desire unto the house of the Lord and turne them thereunto mought now according to the word of the Lord be assembled unto the Lords house and walk in his light wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written thereof 2. It shall come to pass in the last time saith the Lord that the hill whereon the house of the Lord is shall be erected and exalted above all hills and all the Gentiles shall run thereunto and much people shall go thither and say Come let us go up to the hill of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths 3. BEhold where now the Lords house is there is also the holy City of Ierusalem and the hill of Sion Therefore shall now likewise namely where the house or dwelling of the Lord is the law of the Lord proceed out of Sion and his Word out of Ierusalem like as there is written thereof 4. Further Christ saith also touching the house of the Lord Whoso loveth me he will keep my word and my Father will love him We will come unto him and make a dwelling with him 5. Againe Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men And he will dwel with them and they shall be his People and he God himself with them will be their God And God will wash away all teares from their eyes 6. VEâ—ily with all these and in all these wonderful works of God in this holy day of love there is revealed unto us according to the Testimony of the Scripture the promised Kingdome of the seed of David and the seat of the true majesty and the same is also established with us for the righteousness cause even for ever and ever To the end that the same Kingdome of the seed of David and the seat of his Majesty mought indure for ever and ever like as the Scripture witnesseth thereof Wherewith the Lord sheweth and maketh known unto us that the time is now fulfilled and the day come wherein he establisheth his promises and accomplisheth it all which he hath assured or promised in times past unto his servant David that is unto his beloved service wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written 7. I will raise up thy seed saith the Lord to his servant David that shall proceed out of thy body after thee I will make his kingdom to prosper He shall build an house for my Name and I will make the seat of his kingdom prosperous for ever I will be his father and he shall be my son saith the Lord. 8. Again I will keep my goodness towards him for ever and my Covenant shall stand firm unto him I will give him seed perpetually and uphold his seat so long as the heaven endureth 9. Again There shall be a seat prepared through grace or benignity that one may sit thereon in truth in the habitation of David 10. FOr that cause the true seed of Christ the seed of David shall now in this day make manifest it self and come forth in righteousness and shall likewise through us out of this our true ministration of the love spread abroad and publish the Lords righteousness wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written thereof 11. A seed shall serve the Lord The Lord shall be published or declared unto childes childe that is from generation to generation for evermore 12. Again Such as are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God and when also they are old yet shall they blossom and be fresh or in good liking for to declare that the Lord is righteous 13. BEhold ye dearly beloved how that the Scripture becometh now made clear unto us the sealed-to prophecies opened and alâ—o accomplished in this present day And consider likewise how that the God of heaven hath shewed his great love grace and mâ—rcy on us little ones and Gods elect brought the Most holy of his true Tabernacle in his perfect building and gorgeous garnishing to us or in us out of his holy heaven and declared the same to an everlasting manifestation of the perfection of all his works through us upon the earth To the end that his gracious Word which he hath spoken in times past and raised up with us according to his promises mought remâ—in and stand fast with us from henceforth for evermore and the Scripture and all what it witnesseâ—h and requireth perfectly accomplished and this day of love and of salvation of the godly and heavenly clearness which is revealed and come unto us little ones with whom the living God of heaven hath begun his work to bring it to perfection published in all the world and that likewise in the passing thorow with his light the true judgement-seat of Christ before the which every one is debtour to humble himself with naked heart mought in the same day be seen among the People and the true most holy of the true Tabernacle ministred â—verlastingly in his true being in the same day And that even so the mercy-seat of the godly glory with his treasures of the spiritual and heavenly goods may bide and raign to an eternal rest and peace of his holy ones everlastingly on earth like as in heaven according to the promises 14. WHat we had here more to say of the wonderful works of God of his love extended out of grace unto us and of the fulfilling of the word of the Lord and of the Scripture is declared in The glass of righteousness and in more other testimonies of our writings The XXXVII Chapter SEeing then that this most holy and perfectest of the true Tabernacle of God is now come unto us from Gods grace upon the earth and that the living God is declared unto us in his glory so shall now also in this day the most holy be ministred in his true being to an everlasting perfection or consummation of all the works of â—od under the obedience of