Womb to bring forth many Children vvhich are as Oliv-branches round about his Table Glory unto him that Liveth and Raigneth for Evermore in the Highest Amen Therefore come out of Babylon come out of Babylon confusion saith the Lord come avvay and stay not but come into Zion the Holy Hill and declare in it the Vengeance of the Lord against her For the Arrovves are ready and the Bovv is bent by the arms of the Almighty that shall sink Babylon therefore haste run and deliver every man his soul out of her for God hath set her on fire at both ends he that can read let him and thou shalt be burnt O City of confusion the smoke of whose torment begins to ascend up which shal ascend for ever and ever for strong art thou O Lord God Almighty who wilt judge and avenge thy own cause and of thy righteous seed and the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus upon her and thou hast said the time is at hand that she shal sink like a Milstone in the depth of the Sea and rise no more at all therefore unto thee be the glory and praises songs and halelujahs in the highest for evermore for thou art worthy Postscript ABel worshipped God in the Spirit and in the Truth but Cain was a false worshipper and knew not God who arose up against Abel his brother and killed him about Worship Enoch walkt with God and was translated he worshipped God in the Spirit and in the truth and God took him and he had a witness in him that he pleased God Abraham obeyed God who rejoiced to see Christ's day the Light and was led out of his own Country thereby he was a true Worshipper of God in the Spirit and in the Truth These and many more obeyed God and vvorshipped God and knevv God and his day in vvhich he is vvorshipped before the Bible vvas vvritten vvhich declares of these things Esau the first Birth the cunning Hunter abroad lost the Birth-right and Blessing he was a profane person but Jacob the plain man the second birth which carried at home was blessed And saith the Scripture Blessed is the man whose mind is staied on thee thou wilt keep him in perfect peace But the foolish woman her feet abides not in her house but pulls it down with her own hands being without loud stubborn and clamorous These things were written for your learning and may be read near they are an Allegory but let him that readeth understand for the time hastens in which they shal clearly be understood to the ends of the earth The Second Part c. Concerning Christ Jesus and his Names c. AS concerning Christ Jesus what he is and what he was and where he is none knows or can rightly or truly know but such as have received the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth and shews the things that are and are to come which reproves the world for sin for righteousness and for judgment which is the Comforter of all them who forsake their sins their own righteousness and all false judgment and puts on his righteousness and righteous judgment which exceeds that of the Scribes and Pharisees who in all ages did and do shut the Kingdom of Heaven against men not entring themselves nor suffer but persecute them that would And the Kingdom of Heaven is within c. 1. Christ is a Name given to some thing which was before that Name was and Jesus is a Name given to the same thing and Emanuel and many other Names are given to the one self-same thing according to the discoveries operations and manifestations unto them and in them in several seasons who declared of him according as they witnessed and knew his appearances and effectuall workings in their inward parts even the holy men of God who spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit which Spirit revealed the Mysteries of Godliness unto them according to his will and their several measures and abilities of his gift 2. This Christ of whom they speak was in the world before the Law and in the time of the Law was that mystery hid under all the vails and types figures and shadows carnal ordinances and ceremonies in which time he was as a seed or that good part or substance of truth and righteousness hid in the consciences of the Children of Israel which answered the outward Law written in tables of stone This Moses saw in his day who received the Laws ordinances statutes judgements and ceremonies which were to keep them in a sence and in a fear towards God against whom they had transgressed and to keep them near the feeling of his tender seed and witness in them that they might not be wholly hardened against his appearance when the time came that he should be manifest to Israell which was the end substance of all these outward things Which once being rightly known and obeyed in the inward parts keeps the heart and conscience tender and upright pure and undefiled in God's sight and fear without the precepts of men shadows or ceremonies for I have seen that wisdom of God that gives the interpretation of things and to understand the dark sayings of old and what was hid in all those Ceremonies in the time of Moses's Laws and he that makes known the Parable I am sure is the end and substance of them all in whose Light let me speak of two or three which in simplicity hath been hid from the wisdom of man who cannot answer them but as that understanding is brought to nought but let that answer in which they are given forth and you shal understand them with satisfaction and my questions are these 1. Why did the Lord command that when any one found a birds nest that the Dam was not to be taken with the Young 2. And thou shalt not seeth a Kid in his mothers milk 3. Nor fow thy field with diverse sorts of seeds 4. Nor wear a garment of linnen and wollen together 5. And thou shalt not muzle the mouth of the Ox that treadeth out the corn c. Now if thou canst see with that eye which Paul saw who was a fool for Christ when he said Doth God take care for Oxen or Speaks he not this for our sakes For our sakes no doubt c. Then thou wilt answer Doth God take care for birds nests or the sowing of fields or garments of linnen and wollen or Kids or their mothers milk or was there not something in all this for our sakes Well but however these things served to keep them in a sence of the unknown seed which suffered because of the hardness of heart and corrupt will of man which had lost the knowledge and guidance of God's good Spirit and these things served for a time even till the fulness of time came in which the seed came to be manifest which was Christ who had been hid from ages and generations and till the same spirit that
Deep calleth unto Deep OR A Visitation from on High UNTO The Breathing Seed OF JACOB Which is not satisfied among all the Professions in the Earth or with the Husks cannot fill its belly but is pincht with hunger and feels a secret Cry for the true Bread that comes down from Heaven which gives Eternal Life Wherein is opened some of the mysteries of God's Kingdom to the clear understanding of the Poor in Spirit to whom it belongs but to others it's Parables Concerning GOD what he is and where he is and of his Worship And of the First-day and the Seventh or Sabbath day Also shewing plainly in what day God is rightly and truly Worshipped and the difference and Character of the true Worshippers and false clearly described And concerning Christ what he was before the Law and in the time of the Law to this present time and what and where he is now Also something concerning the Word and the Gospel and the Scriptures and of the Body of Christ and Resurrection and Ascention and of his Coming and Reign and of the Kingdoms of this World becoming his Kingdoms c. Which may give much satisfaction to the upright inquiring mind being given forth in the true love and compassions of my breathing soul that so the simple might be turned to hear the voice of Wisdom which crieth in their streets and forsake the foolish and live By William Bayly The day-spring from on high hath visited us to give light to them that sit in darkness c. Luke 1.78 79. London Printed in the year 1663. A Visitation from on high c. Of the fall and and Restoration c. IF man who was made upright after Gods own Image had never sinned or transgressed against him there had been no need of sacrifice and offerings for sin or of a Saviour from it If man had never fell from the Knowledge of God and lost unity and peace with him thorow disobedience against his word of command and so become degenerate there had been no need of a restoration reconciliation or of salvation If man had never gone into darkness out of the right way of blessedness and everlasting happiness there had been no need of preaching or declaring the way which is the light to lead him out of darkeness into the way of peace and unity with God again If there had not been a departure from the invisible God who is a Spirit of Truth and Righteousness then had been no need to say to the Sons of men Return why will ye dye If death were not the end of that path which leades from God the invisible Fountain of life If man had never been in bondage and captivity to sin and Sathan the author of it there had not been need to have mentioned or declared of redemption and freedom from it c. But seeing as the Scripture saith all have sinned and fell short from the Glory of God and death hath passed upon all men and darkness hath covered the earth and gross darkness the people and a vail have been over the face of all nations and blindness hath happened to Israel so that the Ox and the Asse hath more knowledg of their owner than they of the Lord their maker and all have gone out of the way of peace which was the good old way before transgression was and the fear of God was not before their eyes as it is written and the true voice of God the shepperd hath scarcely been understood by dream vision or prophet man hath been so degenerate by the deep sleep of ignorance wilfulness and perversness from the pure God and his wayes that it is hard to be uttered by the tongue of men or Angels the invisible eye that only sees God have been so blinded and the wrong eye have been opened in the imaginations and in the visibles that it hath been frequent among the children of men to call good evil and evil good to put light for darkness and darkness for light because the God of this world hath blinded the eye and then by the blind both leaders and followers he himself is worshipped as God even that wicked one which leads out from God and then exalted himself in man the temple of God governing and ruling in the hearts of the children of disobedience and this great Whore hath sate and raigned over Nations Kindreds and tongues and the Kings of the earth and this is that Antichrist whom the Lord will consume with the Spirit of his Mouth and destroy by the brightness of his comming which day is at hand But now seeing as I said it is and hath been thus as before mentioned all have been concluded under sin and in the bondage of corruption darkness ignorance where the mysteries of God and Godliness have been hid and the way of peace not known being departed from by transgression which is the onely ground of separation between God and man who thereby is captivated and become as sold under it so that without being awakned by the voice of the Son of God and made alive and redeemed from transgression and reconciled to God again man will utterly perish from Gods comfortable refreshing presence and be for ever driven into darkness where they shall never see light but to their perpetual torment and anguish this will be the portion of them who knoweth not God nor desireth the knowledg of his wayes therefore there is a necessity of a Restorer a Redeemer and Saviour for them who are sencible of this their fallen captivated and miserable state for while man is in this state he neither knows God nor his vvorship but this inscription is vvritten upon all their Altars their prayers sacrifices and vvorships to the unknown God for no man knovves the things of God but by the Spirit of God though they may imagine and talk about them in their darkned minds and none have received the Spirit of God as to know his doctrine and worship but they who turns and have turned at its reproof which is in the inwards parts which reproofs are because of transgression that it may be turned from which is the onely ground and cause of the separation from God and of the Ignorance of his will wayes and worship which is in the spirit and in the truth which no man can know or comprehend or walk in acceptably but by the guidance and direction of Gods good Spirit which is the leader of his Children and people into all truth and righteousness So now seeing there is a necessity of a Saviour to help and restore redeem and reconcile man unto God again and of a way to enjoy that happiness and blessedness again which was once lost by disobedience and transgression And that unity and peace with God must again be witnessed or else all the talk of Hope Faith worships or religions are but in vain except the Soul which is in man invisible and Immortal comes to enjoy the invisible eternal God
body was the Christ which had a body prepared to do his will that prepared it Now was it the body or an invisible power Spirit or Soul that sayd A body hast thou prepared me He that hath an ear and understanding let him hear and judge But yet here this question may rise concerning the body of Christ is it not written The heavens must contain him untill the restitution of all things And was he not taken up into heaven when the cloud received him out of the sight of the Gallileans that guned outwardly after him To this also I may answer unto thee who lookest dayly for his personall appearance and coming if the heavens must contain him until the restitution of all things why doest thou thus so much expect his coming before that time of the restitution of all things or canst thou say that that time is come if not let it come first before thou so earnestly expect his coming but indeed it is but a cloud that hath received him out of the fight of the gazers but saith the Lord to his children I have blotted out your iniquities like a thick cloud and to the people your sins have separated between me and you and have with held good things from you And indeed this hath hid both his body and face from you for the kingdom of heaven and the Lord from he aven comes not with outward observation but the kingdom is within and the Lord from heaven is that quickning spirit which quickens them that have been dead in the sins the trespasses the clouds of separation that they might live unto God and behold the beauty of the Lord in his temple which temple they are in whom he dwells and in whom he walks and he is their God and they are his people and the day being come and the Sun risen the clouds and the shadows are fled away but they who live in iniquity are dead unto God whose God he is not the cloud is stil between that they can neither see darkly as in a glass nor face to face but are in darkness clouds blindness even until now But if the inquisitive mind be not yet answered but art still saying as they did in the Apostles days concerning the Resurrection How doth the dead rise and with what body do they come I must answer unto thee as he did Thou fool that which thou sowest it not that body that shall be c. But the Lord giveth every seed it 's own body as it pleased him It is sown A naturall body but it is raised a Spirituall body It is sown in weakness but it is raised in power a Spirituall body raised in power now canst thou tell what body this is But if thou understand it not thou hast little or no knowledge of the mysteries of God I speak to the shame of that inquisitive mind that would know these things which are hid in Gods treasury and yet will not come to the door nor the keys that gives the understanding of them without which no man can enter this Kingdom which is prepared for that birth to which only it be longs for no man knoweth the things of God but by the Spirit of God which searcheth all things yea the deep things of God which are spiritually discerned So that unless you come to the Light and Spirit of God the door that reproves the World for sin and lets you see the evil of your wayes and obey it enduring the cross and bear the condemnation and in dignation because you have sinned against the Lord and turn at his reproofs that he might powr forth his Spirit upon you and make his words and secreta known unto you I say unless you enter in this way at Gods Light and Spirit that shines in your hearts you shal never rightly know understand or enjoy any of these things of Gods Kingdom before mentioned it 's an infallible word of Truth from God unto you all For they are hid perpetually from the out-birth of the wisdom of this World and revealed onely to the Babes in the inward spiritual ground in Christ Jesus who is still a mystery hid to the professors Scribes and Pharisees rulers elders and hypocrites as wel in this age as in the ages past who then were saying among themselves notwithstanding his mighty works which were done among them Is not this the Carpenters Son whose Father and Mother we knew and are not his brethren and sisters among us c. Undervaluing and contemning his low and mean appearance who was in the forme of a servant and these did love to be called of men Master and greetings in the market and upermost Rooms at Feasts and to go in long robes and stand praying in the chief or highest places in the Synagogues and were the blind Pharisces to whom the woe belonged as at this day it doth to them who in the same spirit are contemning the low appearance and manifestation of the Son of God saying Is not this you preach or declare of which people must believe in natural Light even this which checks and reproves us for sin Have we not had this alwayes with us from our child-hood and do not we know its father and moher Is it not some of the remainder that was left in Adam after he fell to restrain him and his children from gross evil c. And is it at best any other then restraining grace and not saving or but natural conscience and the like this hath been the reasonings amongst many though mighty works hath been done and are yet a doing and must yet be done by him who is the Light the Power the Grace the Truth and the Wisdom of God in these last days thorowout the earth But O ye Children of men and high in the tree of Knowledg which is forbidden as to seed upon let me answer these your reasonings with a few questions in Gods Wisdom which is hid from the eyes of the prudent of this World c. 1. What was that seed and where was it after man fell which was promised that it should bruise the Serpents head And what is that Serpent and where is he whose head must be bruised 2. What was that which let Adam see his Nakedness when he had transgressed What are the Eyes of the Lord that are in every place beholding the evil and good and where are they if not in every conscience seeing the Lord saith to his faithful I will guide thee with mine eye 3. And what is the true Light that Lighteth every man that commeth into the World and what is that Light of men that shineth in the darkness which the darkness comprehendeth not and where is it if not in the conscience of every man 4. What grace is that and where is it which hath appeared unto all men which bringeth salvation which is the Saints teacher is it onely restraining and not saving seeing the Scripture saith it bringeth Salvation 5. What Light
is that of which the body shall be full if the eye be single and what is that single eye or the one eye with which it is better to go to Heaven then with two into Hell-fire and what is that eye which is the Light of the body seeing the eye of the Lord is the guide 6. And what makes the difference between the wise Virgins and the foolish and whether the Lamp without oyl and the light burning be not the form or profession without the power and life which saves from sin and gives an entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of God 7. What wise man is that which Solomon speaks of whose eyes are in his head and what is that fool vvhose eyes are at the ends of the earth 8. And vvhat is that prudent man which foresees the evil and hides himself and what did he hide from and in what is the sure hiding place and what gives the fore-sight of evil what is that fool vvhich passeth on and is punished and vvhat is the head of every man 9. Whether the fear of the Lord be not the beginning of Wisdom and to depart from evil be not understanding and vvhether they vvho are not yet come unto the fear of the Lord vvhich is to depart from evil be yet come to the beginning of true vvisdom and if not yet come to the beginning it is possible they may be the fools vvhich may dye for vvant of wisdom if they do not speedily repent and turn to him that smites them for their folly c. So take this for an ansvver till thou knovv further of vvhich much might be said and of this kind but a few vvords to the vvise may be enough Concerning Christ second coming and Kingdom and Raign and of the Kingdoms of this World becoming his Kingdoms I Never read in all the Scriptures as I can remember of a third comming of Christ personally in his ovvn fingle person or of a personal reign besides vvhat shall be in his Saints But I have read of his coming the second time without sin unto salvation c. which the Apostles in their days did witness yea even his comming and Kingdom as may be mentioned hereafter I believe most people in that called Christ endom who have read the Scriptures will confess Christ is come once already even when he had the body prepared which he laid down and took up without the gates of Jerusalem this I grant was a personal comming or the God head dwelt in that person bodily this we conclude was his first comming to be manifest in these days and we beleive all the things that are written of him to be really true and that whatsoever he did or said must be fulfilled c. But now this being his first comming he tels his disciples while he was yet with them that he must go away and that it was expedient that he should go away or else said he the Comforter will not come the vvhich if I go avvay I shall send unto you even the Spirit of truth vvhich shall abide vvith you for ever c. Yet notvvithstanding sorrovv had filled their hearts though he tell them he vvould come again unto them and their heart should rejoyce and their joy no man should take from them This vvas his promise to his disciples vvhile he vvas yet personally vvith them and to comfort and strengthen yet more he told them that he that vvas vvith them should be in them c. For they loved his person for the sake of the frame quality of the spirit that dvvelt in him or else vvhat vvas his person being mean and contemtible to them more then another person but for that vvhich dvvells in him they loved him let none mistake I do not slight it nor the person of any of his brethren or children as they are prepared to do the vvill of their Father but I do knovv in Gods Counsel that it was even so as it hath been also in these days among vvhom God the Father of mercies hath as it were deprived some of his disciples of the personal presence of some of his dear sons servants which may be to this end that the same Spirit and Life might be felt possessed lived in enjoyed in themselvs in their own particulars in which onely their eternal well being consisteth And so he taught them to pray Our Father c. Not to look at his person and pray to him as a person without them but bid them pray to their Father which seeth in secret who would reward them openly and he that seeth in secret searcheth the heart trieth the reins he bid them pray thy Kingdom come the Kingdom of Heaven is within and the heart and reins and the searcher of them is within And he bid them wait at Jerusalem till they were endued with power from on high the Kingdom of God consisteth in power c. So they waited for his comming and Kingdom in their days after his bodily departure from them and also came to enjoy what they waited for and to receive the promise of the Father which was fulfilled unto them and in them For saith the Apostle we wait for his Son from heaven this was after he had suffered and was departed from them and at length sayd the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we know him that is true and are in him that is true this is the true God and eternall Life and this Life is in his Son And then again spake on this wise Wee have received a Kingdom which cannot be moved letus have grace in our hearts whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear for our God is a consuming sire c. So here they received the Kingdom and the Son of God was come they vvere in him vvho came unto them in his Kingdom Here vvas Christs prayer sulfilled vvho said That they might be one as vve are one thou in me and I in them and they in me that vve all might be perfect in one and here is their prayer also fulfilled or ansvvered vvho said the thy Kingdom come c. When they receive the Kingdom vvhich could not be moved vvhich Kingdom Christ tels them was vvithin so this they received vvitnessed which was the second time unto salvation from sin who never mentioned as ever I need of a personal coming and reign the third time or of a third coming in a single personal appearance as hath been imagined by many who know not the waiting to be endued with power from on high but a running in their ovvn vvils and times and vvill-vvorships and feigned humilicies vvhich is not at all accepted vvith God vvhile that birth is not being nor that body prepared vvhich only can do his vvill acceptably But this we have read of the pourings forth of the Spirit in the Last days upon all flesh then none is excepted and Sons and danghters should prophesse which is come to pass and that the Lord will come in ten thousands of his Saints to convince all the ungodly of their ungodly deeds and hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him and to execute his judgements this is comming to pass and that he will consume Antichrist by the Spirit of his mouth and destroy him with the brightness of his comming then not with carnal weapons but withspiritual he will destroy Antichrist when this is done then must the Kingdoms of this world needs become his and he shall Reign for ever and ever Blessed is the eye that sees and the heart that feels and understands these things for the time is born and the day is dawned in which they shall be fulfilled And this is the Word of the Lord of Heaven and Earth who is come to Reign and reigneth and vvill reign till all his enemies are become his footstool and the Kingdoms of this world become his Kingdoms and dominions even for ever for evermore Therefore let the earth tremble and them that fear and obey him rejoyce Amen Hallelujah Amen O Thou professor who are yet a transgressor Would'st thou know the Mysteries of God thou must first feel his Red Which will thy back sunce till thou leave works of night And walk in the Light this is the way to know the first day And also the rest which is Holy and for ever blest For Zacheus climbing was too high the Saviour to embrace But down below he was received in whom Salvation was The voyce that from the tree did call though below him he obeyed The little stature is not despis'd therefore be not afraid But come then down into the house with joy the Light receive For he 's the Saviour of all men that in his name believe The tree of Knowledge hath beguil'd and fed the birth must dye The tree of Life hath not been known while in the wisdom High Men have aspired and not desired with poverty and thirst To walk i' th Light with hearts upright the plain path of the just Therefore the Pearl from them is hid who dig not in the deep But with the sluggard and the fool in rags and folly sleep But now the awakning day is come the trump aloud doth sound The Life 's reveal'd as in days past mans wisdom to confound Therefore all people stand up and see the state in which you are For either Heaven or hells your Lot the hour is not far For I have heard from throne of God a dreadful voyce and cry O England England thou art visited and now thy end draws nigh Even so hasten thy Work O Lord God Almighty as thou hast shewed thy Servant and cut it short in Righteousness for thine Elect sake that cries unto thee night and day thotowout the whole Earth Even so come Lord Iesus come quickly saith my Soul Amen Written by a Servant of the living God who is a trembler with joy at the VVord of his Power for whose sake I am in outward bonds at Hartford but my peace can no man take from me blessed be the Lord the God of Jacob whose compassion fails not but his Mercies endures for ever and ever Amen W.B. The Second Month 1663. THE END