3. belief and hope to the sure promises of God having neither longing nor desire to God nor to his everlasting life 7. They delight in nothing else but to have their joy in the earthly f Isa 56. Wisd 2. corruptible things and when they want that then are they without joy and without comfort ful of lamenting and murmuring dying without hope 8. Othersome are ful of g 2 Pet. 2. Iude 1. reproachings self-seeking contentions and h Rom. 1. 2 Cor. 12. Iam. 3. resistant against one another 9. Some covet diligently after the highest honor wishing gladly that they or their taking on wisdom and holiness were above all other exalted harkned unto loved and commended i Matt. 6. over the whole land and that they might even so then have laud and praise among men 10. Many do chuse a way unto themselves according to the knowledg of their own minde to the intent to live to themselves therein and thus doth every one walk there k Isa 53.56 Ier. 6. and 8. according as his knowledg imagineth in him 11. To conclude they are all even every one with his consorts or fellow-companions resistant against each other with the l 1 Cor. 1.3 knowledg and the false light shineth upon them all quite over the whole land And the inward or spiritual pride ceaseth not there likewise but she groweth or m Iob 5. Wisd 3. taketh root and doth continually bring forth her false seed among those people more and more 12. Therefore every one there also is stout-minded upon the knowledg n Bar. 3. and supposeth that he must needes have the right or cannot erre in his knowledg and that he is illuminated by the Lord through his cunning knowledg and through his stout constant standing upon the same and is one of the number of the holy people but it is all false and meer deceit because that they themselves have laid those same foundations o Ier. 7. and 8. Eze. 13.22 2 Tim. 3. upon the which they set their confidence or quiet themselves and have made them of the dust of the same land which dust scartereth abroad all over the whole Land p Matth. 7. Luke 6. like unto a drift-sand and is named Self wils chusing CHAP. XX. BEhold in this land named The abomination of desolation it goeth very strange and wonderful absurdly the which is not possible to be all written 2. For every one there seeth that another mans foundation is vain and meeâ— foolishness but there is no man there or very few that can a Matth. 7. marke their own vanity or foolishness 3. Every one doth very gladly thrust off another from his foundation to the end to advance his own for the best yet are all their foundations notwithstanding b Ier. 44. Ezec. 13. Bar. 6. Self wills chusing and are every one uncertain and unstable and all their work that they build thereon is very c Matth 7. feeble or weak for it is all nothing but knowledg and self wills chusing in the which they proceed and with the which they strive and contend and with high knowledg do they cast down one anothers work and turn up the foundation of it 4. For whosoever there hath the highest mounting knowledg or is the richest of spirit or hath the most eloquent utterance of speech d 1 Tim. 1. he can there bear the sway or get the chief praise and can overthrow many other infirm foundations and works which are also vain but can shew no e 2 Thes 2. love to the unity of heart in the good beeing of Jesus Christ 5. And now when any mans foundation or work is overthrown through any maner of knowledg then is the same a great delight and glory unto the other that getteth the victory and to an advancement of himself 6. For that is the careful diligence that they use among each other f Num. 14 16. as how the one may with the knowledg overthrow the others foundation building and work and to bring him into contempt among others whereby to enlarge their own knowledg building or work and to make the same great or commendable 7. But whosoever hath his foundation and work overthrown the comfort of his heart is taken away and he falleth into grief of minde but if he do it for all that continue self-chusing and partially minded and doth not under the obedience of the Love turn him to the upright Life nor to the true entrance to the same then becometh he bound again unto g Ezec. 13. some other thing which is also knowledg and so he becometh a h Gal. 1. 2 Pet. 2. servant of men or of his own manly opinion or sense and buildeth again afresh upon Self-wils chusing 8. Even thus verily do they make one-another bondslaves in the good thinking-knowledg of men and seeing that they in their servitude do i 1 Cor. 1.3 2 Cor. 12. contend or take part against one another so do they likewise divide themselves into many several Religions or God-services 9. But although they be all partially affected as also have severall Religions and many maner of god-services yet do they notwithstanding give their Religions and God-services altogether one maner of name 10. Every ones Religion or God service is named Assured knowledg that it is right and good thereupon do they set their confidence and every one liveth in his own God-service thinking and perswading himself k 2 Tim. 4 assuredly that his Religion or God-service is the best or the holiest above all other CHAP. XXI THis people that dwelleth in this Land the Abomination of desolation hath indeed a a Rom. 16. fair spoken tongue but commonly they are not loving nor friendly of heart but full of b 1 Cor. 3. Heb. 12. Jam. 3. envy and bitterness soon stumbling and taking offence by reason they stand captived under the knowledg c 1 Cor. 8. and not submitted under the love nor under the obedience of her service 2. They are also generally d Rom. 1. Ephes 4. 2 Pet. 2. covetous of the earthly riches and in the Spirit of their heart they are proud e Rom 1. 2 Tim. 3. and stout minded 3. Their inclination lust and desire is to speak false witness against others also to blaspheme f â—sal 10. 35. 140. oppress persecute betray g Matth. 23 26. Acts 6. 7. and to kill and yet do know how to excuse all the same with the knowledg that they do right and well therein 4. They use not likewise any common brother-hood among whom the h John 13. 15. love is exercised with a good or kinde nature but are i Jere. 5. Lukâ— 22. lorders over one another And whosoever getteth the greatest multitude of people unto him or is the strongest company he exerciseth k Acts 5. 7. power and violence over the other that do not accord
c Jer. 14. 23. 27. Rom. 10. sent by God nor yet by Christ for to preach as also that they desire not to minister their Office of Preaching according to the requiring of the Service of the love of Jesus Christ 2. Yea all Majesties Rulers Governors and Magistrates d Rom. 13. that are of God shall every one submit e Esa 2. them with us thereunder for the peaces Cause which God hath even so fore-seen through his love and likewise for to prepare the same peace upon the earth under the obedience of the Love of JESUS CHRIST 3. And what Majesty Rulers Governors and Magistrates soever will not bow themselves in that manner under the love of Jesus Christ nor stand submitted thereunder those same shall declare thereby that they have no desire nor will to Minister their Office f Sap. 6. of Government according to Gods Ordinance and according to the love of Jesus Christ. 4. Seeing then that the Government is Gods Ordinance and that also those g Sap. 6. Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2. Governors which undertake the protection of the good and simple people and of all those that sin unadvisedly or ignorantly are Gods Ministers therefore shall likewise every Governor that ministreth his Office out of Gods Ordinance or is well inclined thereto with all his heart submit himselfe good willingly to to the love of God and Christ and to her Service for a testimony that they are Gods Ministers and have a desire to the peace upon earth and to be serviceable unto the children of men to that effect 5. And all common people that have minded the good life and the peace shall in like manner bow h Mich. 4. them under the Service of Love for to live such a life of peace under the obedience of the Love according to the godly testimonies of the Glasse of Righteousnesse 6. But whosoever shall refuse thus to do and so will not live peaceable under the love with us as likewise all those that turn them away from us and from our godly Doctrine of the same Service of Love those same shall be accounted for no people but for a i Job 21. Jer. 9. destroyed and lost heap who are neither profitable in the World nor yet before God For there is nothing upright nor true that excelleth k 1 Cor. 13 the love and her service 7. Therefore it is also every ones duty both before God and men to bow him under the love of his God and l Deut. 6. Mat. 22. to the love of his neighbour whereby to learne through the Love and her service to observe what is right and m Tob. 4. Phil. 4. equall to the end that the love might by that means be seen and knowne that she is the band of n Col. 3. perfection and the upright o Eph. 4. being it self whereon the Law p Mat. 22. and the Prophets do witnesse and whereunto the Services and Ceremonies have their Ministration 8. Which love is likewise published by the Apostles of Christ to be a q 1 Tim. 1 principall sum of the Commandement and of Faith and to be a stedfast God-service r 1 Cor. 13 which continueth for ever according to the Promises 9. Out of which our most holy Service of Love that is come unto us Å¿ 1 Cor. 3. by Gods grace we have according to the sight of the true life shewed forth the upright t Deut. 30. Eccl. 15. difference of the life and death in the glasse of righteousnesse in most large and ample manner 10. In the which one may sind and reap all fulnesse of Declarations or Instructions tending to the furtherance of the profitable knowledge both of all godly heavenly things and also of all manly and naturall things CHAP. L. FOrasmuch then as God hath out of his bountifull grace shined or given a 2 Cor. 4. into our hearts such a cleer light of the lovely being under the obedience of his love therefore do we likewise restifie of God and of the true light of his love and not of any creatures for that we might make manifest now in the last time unto all those that are good of will to the obedience of the love the heavenly b 1 Cor. 2. Eph. 3. Col. 1. mystery of the Christ of God to the end that the love in her service might be spread abroad and have her going forward to a serviceablenesse unto the life and that they might all inherit the life and the rest in the love namely those which love the good life and the rest c Esa 32. Heb. 4. that God hath promised unto his people and that labour diligently thereafter 2. And inasmuch now as our Service under the obedience of the Love whereby we do testifie of the spiritual heavenly goods in Jesus Christ to an unity d Joh. 17. Eph. 4. in the love tendeth thereunto therefore doth not the Love also permit us to cease in that matter but the inclination of her lovely being e 2 Cor. 5. driveth us continually forward to the same 3. Yea the heart and mind of our conscience cannot indure to keep f 1 Cor. 9. Col. 4. silence thereof lâ—st that we our selves inasmuch as such a grace is happened unto us might by our silence-keeping in this perillous time be any let or hinderance therein 4. Wherefore because now that the Love to the life might be furthered so do we shew forth our Service with curtesie g 2 Cor. 4. towards all consciences of men to the end to witnesse unto all people and with reasons and sentences to declare unto them according to the truth in what manner of life that they all ought to deal and to walk with each other and are likewise bound in duty to live faithfully in the same 5. Let them then believe it or let them not believe it let them do it or let them not do it we quiet our consciences before God and are h Act. 20. blamelesse of the destruction of all those that believe not nor yet will enter into the i Heb 3. 4. rest of life but do refuse k Pro. 1. the profered grace of the Love CHAP. LI. WHerefore because that the same now which is to come might appeare so do we not speak coveredly as in secret manner in privy places or corners a Mat. 10. but naked and apparent in the day 2. But if now our testimonies be covered unto any one or be witnessed or spoken in hidden or secret manner before any one then are they covered secret or b 2 Cor. 4. hidden before those that perish namely the decliners from those same and the unbelieving minds of the wicked world c Jam. 4. who are Gods enemies as also enemies of the love and of Christ which will not that d Luk. 19. God nor Christ not yet the Love should reign over them but are
spirituall things according to the mind of their flesh and witnessed of them in the same manner also For that cause likewise the right a 1 Cor. 2 knowledge of the spiritual and heavenly understanding hath not in the cleernesse of the true b Sap. 5. light shined unto them 3. Forasmuch then as they were c Eph. 4. yet estranged from the true light of life and of love and stood not subjected under the love nor to the requiring of her service therefore have they also made up themselves so much the stouter against us and against our most holy Service of Love 4. But all that which is happened unto us by them and by all those that turne them away from us or which doth yet daily happen unto us as to slander or speak evill of us and reproachfully with many lies to defame and to persecute us with falshood have we for the love of Christ his sake indured at their hands d Mat. 5. Heb. 12. in all patience giving laud and thanks unto God with joy for that he hath accounted us worthy for to suffer e Act. 5. reproach slander and persecution for his love and truths sake to the end that our most holy Service of Love and the godly Doctrine of the same might in the proceeding on or continuance of our patience so much the more break thorow f 1 Cor. 4. 2 Cor. 6. or come to light unhindered and become generally knowne to be the true God-service that God requireth and that it might also be knowne that we are unguilty of the false bruits that be laid to our charge behind our backs and that we doe Minister the g 2 Cor. 6 Word of the Truth of God and Christ under the obedience of the Love to the peace and salvation of men 5. For verily this assured confidence have we in the Lord that although our Cause be oppressed or contemned by many for a certain time yet shall notwithstanding h Eccles 1. in his time the just or the right understanding ones commend our wisdome which God hath graciously given to us and laud God for the same 6. But truly those that do now charge contemne and with their venemous i Psal 14. Jer. 9. Rom. 3. Serpents tongues sharply reprehend or maliciously speak evill of us and persecute us have not spoken evill of and contemned us only but also k Mat. 10. Luk. 10. Acts 9. 2 Thes 4. God himselfe who is our true Master-builder of his house of Love and have judged his holy service of Love through the which we do testifie and publish abroad the upright righteousnesse before God and Men for a most detestable error and so with their false judgement have drawn away l Mat. 18. many wavering hearts from the same 7. But alas the which out of the good nature of the Love maketh us sorry for them the judgment and the condemnation wherewith they have judged and condemned us is come upon themselves m Mat. 7. Rom. 2. for with all their judgement over us they have not condemned us but themselves inasmuch as they are found guilty in that which they have judged over us CHAP. LIV. O My beloved hearts in the Love of Jesus Christ forasmuch now as we do consider all this to stand thus over our enemies and that it is become manifest unto us therefore let not their misunderstanding and their resistance against us be any offence unto us neither yet let us make up our selves against them a Rom. 12 1 Pet. 3. to requite evill but pray unto b Mat. 5. God for them that the Lord will give unto them and unto all erring or strayed hearts and unto all those which out of their ignorance and unskilfulnesse in the truth do slander and persecute us as likewise unto all those that have turned them away from us and our godly Doctrine c Eph. 1. eyes of true sight and hearts of upright understanding that they may see and know their error and turn them d Eze. 18. 33. penitently to the Love and her Service and so under the obedience of the love become amended touching all their errors and evill deeds and may through the Love and her Service be raised up e Esa 35. Heb. 12. againe from their fall or be set upright in the truth and godlinesse O yea that same with prayer unto our God is all our desire towards all our enemies to the end that they might every one turn them to the love of Jesus Christ receive the Doctrine and requiring of the Service of Love obediently and so under the obedience of the Love might live in the upright godlinesse of Jesus Christ 2. Wherefore ye deerly beloved for to avoid all perills of destruction so let not every man take upon him to be a f Mat. 22. Jam. 3. Teacher or a Minister of the Word much lesse a Judge of the Truth for therethrough bringeth he the more grievous g Rom. 2. judgement and condemnation over himself 3. For it is not every mans office to be a Teacher or Minister of the holy Word but only his that h Exod. 28 Num. 17. Heb. 5. like unto Aaron is raised up promoted or chosen thereunto by God and his Word whose rod or stock verily doth also even like unto Aarons rod wax green and blossom and beareth fruit and his likewise who in the first Schoole-rule of the Christian Doctrine of the Service of Love hath like a faithfull i Joh. 15. Acts 1. Disciple of the Word and lover of the true being of Jesus Christ received the Doctrine and Administration of the holy Word from the Elders in the Family of Love obediently with a simple heart and so is growne up under the obedience of the Love in the holy and godly understanding till unto the k Eph. 4. Col. 2. old age of the Man Christ and taught to the l Mat. 13. Kingdome of the God of heavens 4. Who doth then also as a meet Elder and Houshold Father in the Family of Love m Mat. 13. bring forth out of his Treasure both the new and the old in whom likewise Christ with his Spirit of Love hath his n Joh. 14. 17. dwelling and shape and also his being like unto a flowing or o John 7. springing fountaine of living waters 5. Which living waters do then likewise flow p John 7. from his body with the which the thirsty souls after the righteousnesse be refreshed and the Lords fields or tilled lands moistened or made wet to a fruitfulnesse for to bring forth good fruits which doe serve the life of man to q Apo. 22. all healthfulnesse 6. Behold such a one which with his understanding and thoughts is thus in all r 1 Pet. 1. obedience to the gracious Word and the requiring of his service of Love Å¿ Joh. 17. Eph. 3. 2 Pet. 1. incorporated to the
led to the cleerness of the h Psal 38. John 9. true Light nor to the truth of the upright Life whereby to behold the same true Light in his upright Righteousness and to inherit the upright Life in his peaceable Being 6. And although now one should speak much of the light to any of the blinde people in the Land called Ignorance and should in most evident maner expound or open the same unto them in their knowledg and that they then should have no lust nor will to depart out of the darknesses of Ignorance neither yet to be taught nor led to the true light of the upright life So could it not doubtless profit them to the entrance into the rest of life but it should be unto them much more to a disquietness to an offence and to a death because they remain inhabiting in the Land and in the City of Ignorance For the whole City of the same Land is full of Ignorance For that cause also she hath her name according to that she is her self 7. Wherefore it is much better for the people of the same Land the whiles they dwell therein and have no desire to depart out of it through the fear of God that men give them in their blindness and ignorant error to understand of the i Ezek. 18. Mic. 6. Matth. 18. obedience which they ow to God and his Word and to require the same of them then that men should open the eyes of the k Gen. 3. disobedient knowledg unto them in their disobedience and so then if they endevor them not to obedience to let them go on still with their blinde guides till such time as they understand that they are blinde and be led by the blinde ones and that they then likewise grow desirous after some better thing and would very gladly or good willingly be taught to the Land of Peace and to his peaceable people and be led into the same 8. Verily that the same councel is the best councel to be used among the blinde people that know not their error I have sufficiently proved by experience among those that are ignorant of their error and among the decliners from us and our godly doctrine Let every one therefore take diligent heed that he tye or binde not himself too fast unto his error with his knowing wisdom nor yet boast him of his knowledg but let him study or endevor himself to enter into the upright Christian life and to the true understanding of God through the right l John 10. door of the Humility and Obedience of Jesus Christ and to become assembled to the family of Love as also taught and exercised obediently in the requiring of his Doctrine so shall it then assuredly not miss or fail to bring him to the true Light and to the Life of the upright Righteousness CHAP. III. THis forementioned City named Ignorance hath two Gates the one standeth in the North or Midnight through the which men do go into the City of Darkness or of Ignorance 2. This Gate now that standeth in the North is very large and great and hath also a great door because there is much a Zech. 9 Matth. 7. passage of people thorow the same and it hath likewise his name according to the nature of the same City 3. Forasmuch then as that men do come into Ignorance through the same Gate therefore is it named b Mic. 7. Luke 21. Men know not how to do And the great door where-through the multitudes of people do run is named Vnknown error and there is else no coming in to the same City named Ignorance 4. The other Gate standeth on the one side of the City towards the East or Spring of the Day and the same is the c Matth 7. Luke 13. narrow Gate through the which men travel out of the City of Ignorance and do enter into the straight way which leadeth to the Life of the Righteous 5. Now when one travelleth out through the same Gate then doth he immediately after espie some Light and that same reacheth to the rising of the Sun 6. The name of this Gate wherethrough men travel out of the Land of Ignorance we will rehearse d Infra 7. hereafter For we will now write forward of the maner of the ignorant Land and People CHAP. IV. THis Land of Ignorance is in it self so utterly wildernessed and incompassed and be-set with so many a Eccles 1. 2. 4. 5. Isa 41.59 vexations troubles and unprofitable labors that by means thereof there is no convenient place to be found there to sowe any Corn in b Lam. 2.4 Amos 8. for the food of men therefore there groweth neither c Jere. 14. Corn nor Grass in the same Land 2. The people of this Land do all likewise live in confusion or disorder and are very diligent d Eccles 5. Isa 44. in their unprofitable work and labor And although all their work be vain or unprofitable yet hath every one notwithstanding a delightful liking to the same For according to the nature of the Land they are all ignorant and inclined to unprofitable works 3. Forasmuch then as that they all have such a delight to such unprofitable work e Isa 24. so forget they to prepare the Ground for Corn and Seed to live thereby according to the good manly Ordinance and so they live not by the manly food but by their own f Ezek. 4. Hos 4. 9. Mic. 6. dung for they have there no other food to live by 4. There is oftentimes hunger but no man hath any lust or yet desire to any other food g Jere 36. 44. then to his own dung for their stomack and nature is accustomed and naturally inclined thereunto 5. Wherefore seeing they are not fed with any bread b Job 33. Eccles 14. but with their own filthiness or dung so is there likewise no satisfying among them 6. Seeing then that they understand not what kinde of Food serveth them to the good Life but through their Ignorance do sustain themselves by their own dung therefore they do not understand also how to prepare themselves the good things i Deut. 32. Luke 19. that serve them unto peace and to a peaceable life but do vex and trouble themselves out of measure for to make those things diligently and that k Psal 4. with a delight which are unprofitable and which do afflict themselves or bring them to much incumbrance 7. The vain or unprofitable works and the preparations or endevors of the foolish people where-through the whole Land every where is exceedingly burthened with great molestation and labor are these CHAP. V. THey make there divers sorts of Puppet works or Babies for to bring up the children in vanity there are made likewise many kinde of Balls Tut-staves or Kricket-staves Râ—ckets and Dice for that the foolish people should waste or spend their time therewith
of the same life against the mindes of the false light of the good-thinking Knowledg is held forth and evidently declared unto him whereby he becometh then likewise humbled in all his mindes and thoughts and there is also made known unto him what maner of sinner and how d Matt. 15. unclean of heart he is without the upright beeing of the true light and life that proceedeth out of God and so in the Knowledg of his sins and of the upright Righteousness as also of the first entrance of the way to the land of the living he beginneth to perceive and to get a little e Prov. 4. wisdom of the holy Understanding where-through likewise he is the more ready to consent to pass over and to travell thorow the small way that leadeth to the life 3. This light now that is held forth before the traveller or wherewith he is met in the passing thorow the fear of God and the beginning of wisdom is called f Matth. 3. Luke 3 Act. 2. and 3. The grace of the lord in the confession of sins through which light the traveller is prepared to the true life of the upright Righteousness and washed with the water of Repentance to the knowledge of Salvation in the forgiveness and in the cleansing of his sins 4. With which and through which light and his foregoing service the traveller is g Gal. 3. led and proceedeth on even unto the good land of the upright living ones 5. And although now that this light in the foregoing of his service be lesser then the great day-light of the good land yet reacheth it notwithstanding to the great h Isa 60. Mal. 4. Apo. 22. day-light of the same land And moreover albeit that the least in the kingdom of the good land be greater of light then the same foregoing light i Mat. 11. Luk. 7. yet doth it for all that bring the traveller to the greatest and chiefest light in the kingdom of the good and peaceable land 6. But in travelling forward upon the way for to come to the good land of Peace so do the k Psal 34. Eccles 2. Act. 14. 2 Tim. 3. perils then first make manifest themselves Therefore must the traveller keep a diligent watch in the said grace of the Lord and in the obedience to the Requiring of the same foregoing service and so constantly follow after the requiring of the grace of the Lord l Eccl. 2. Heb. 13. and of the service of love according to the counsel m Prov. 1. and 2. and 3. and 4. and 5. of the wise or elders in the same for otherwise he becometh hindered and deceived upon the way by the sundry maner of temptations and conceited lights that do oftentimes meet with him to the leading away or seducing of him from the right way 7. Wherefore to the end now there should no man remain n Heb. 3.4 without the Rest of the Saints of God which dwell in this good City except it were then through his own unwillingness or good-thinking Knowledg so will we mark out both the perils of seducing and also the means unto preservation for that no man should err upon the way o Deut. 13 Ier. 28. nor be seduced or deceived by any false ends 8. The Lord vouchsafe to strengthen the courage of all hearts that desire to go into the life of peace and to give them wisdom that they in any wise through p Num. 14. Heb. 4. unbelief nor through any good-thinking wisdom become not hindered from entring into the godly life by the many maner of temptations that do chance unto them by the sundry false ends and so might happen to stay by the way 9. Therefore hear and understand when one now entereth into this gate named q Prov. 15. The fear of God and will travell forward toward the good land thorow the door named r Pro. 1.2.9 Eccle. 1. The beginning of wisdom in the light named The grace of the Lord in the confession of sins so shall he not then run on rashly without discretion according to his own good thinking or immagination nor yet unadvisedly without the counsell of the Å¿ Pro. 4. and 5. Eccle. 8. elders in the wisdom of the love and of the upright beeing of Jesus Christ for whenas the wisdom doth first begin in the traveller so is she at that time but small in him yet as young or growing on and he himself is yet also but young of understanding and small of comprehending in the godly wisdom 10. For that cause the traveller in the youngness of his understanding must in the beginning when the wisdom groweth first in him have his proceeding forward according to the counsel of his elder in the Family of Love who hath obediently performed the requiring of the gracious Word and his service and so is grown up therein unto the t Ephe. 4. old age of the godly understanding of the gracious Word of the Lord and well exercised in the passing over the way to the good life and land of the Living to the end that he may likewise to the overcoming of all foolishness and seducing that meeteth him attaine to the u Eccl. 6. and 8. 1 Cor. 13. old age of the manly wisdom without harm and so go into the good land of the upright Wise and Understanding ones 11. Now when the traveller passeth thorow this said gate and door and so beginneth to travel forward towards the good land then doth he finde in the way of his forth-going two kinde of wise ones or counsellers that do meete with him 12. The one of those wise ones presenteth himself before him out of the Family of Love to his preservation and he standeth on the right side of the way and his form is not very amiable nor pleasant according to the mindes of the flesh to behold nor yet his sayings and counsel to be obeyed because that he is contrary to all mindes and knowledges of the flesh x Rom. 7.8 or standeth minded against them notwithstanding if the traveller have no regard unto him neither doth daily receive any counsel of him unto obedience nor yet follow his counsel then shall he not come to the rest and he is named y Exod. 20. Deut. 5. The Law or Ordinance of the Lord whereunto also is joyned the safemaking doctrine and serviceable ministration of the holy and gracious Word under the obedience of the Love 13. And the same Law or Ordinance with the adjoyning doctrine and serviceable ministration doth z Gal. 3. and 4. sustain and keep with the counsel and instruction of the elders in the holy understanding of the gracious Word of the Lord and his service of Love the disciples of the Wisdom the whilest they are yet young and unexpert in the same that they may remain preserved and a Col. 1. 2 Pet. 3. growing up in the godly Wisdom may in the
deceitful way of the knowledg of good and evil thinking that he can want nothing there and so he entreth boldly into it i Num. 26 perswading himself that the same is the best and that he shall there-through go into the good land CHAP. XVIII NOw when any people are come into the same land whereunto the pleasant way of the Knowleg of Good and Evil leadeth and which in it self is full of a Num. 16 contention full of great and grievous incumberances and ful of all abominations of desolation then doth there appear immediatly unto them an inward or spiritual b Pro. 11. Matth. 22. Cor. 8. Col. 2. pride and an arrogant boldness against the discipline of the gracious Word and the obedience to the Requiring of his Service of Love the which deceiveth many namely for the most part all those that ground them upon the knowledg and so do think to obtain or to enter into the Life and the Truth by means of the knowledg of good and evil 2. For the inward pride getteth root in them and they suppose that they are somewhat singular c Iob. 11.12 Isa 5. Luke 18. above other people because they have so much knowledg to talk of the Truth and are so rich of Spirit therein perswading themselves that the riches of the knowledg is the very light of salvation and that same doth then make them presumptuous bold 3. Even thus verily do they in the knowledg arrogantly take upon them that d 3 Reg. 22. their Cause is sure and certain but it is all nothing else but abomination of desolation Contention Disagreement and intangling among the children of men 4. Therefore is also the same land into the which one cometh thus through the said knowledg named e Dan. 9. Matth. 24. The abomination of desolation because that it setteth it self in such a place or dignity and hath such reputation among many men as if it were the holy understanding of God it self Yea it doth also vaunt or give forth it self to be the same and so setteth it self in f 2 Thes 2. the hearts of men and will likewise be reputed and held for the same at mens hands whosoever now beholdeth the same g Mat. 24. Mark 13. let him consider thereon 5 But alas whosoever is come into this horrible land and hath taken a dwelling place therein such a one cannot rightly behold or consider the abominations of the same land nor yet very well come out of the same again because that the spiritual pride and the arrogant stoutness against the Love and her service is by means of the knowledg so deeply rooted in him and therefore he perswadeth himself that the h Col. 2. knowledg is a City ful of the wise riches of God and a good understanding of the holy Ghost 6. Howbeit it is all false and meer deceit because that the understanding of God the which is Gods true Being and Nature doth not bear sway nor hath the superiority therein but that the i Gen. 3. prudent knowledg and the rash bitterness together with all maner of falshood and self-seeking hath there the superiority and beareth the dominion Wherefore there is nothing there also but k Job 5. bottomlesness and no upright ground of unity of heart l John 17. Ephes 4. in the love nor yet the good life nor the truth And among the Inhabiters of the same there is likewise nothing but m Jam. 3. contention division or discord against the obedience to the entrance of the good life 7. In the same Land there is also a false light through the which the people perswade themselves that their cause is so much the more certain in the knowledg n Isa 5. Sap. 2. and they do likewise account the same false light for the best and most firm foundation which they have found in the knowledg for to build upon But the same light serveth them not to the life but nodoubt o Isai 58. 1 Cor. 3. to an Arrogant stoutness and to the intangling of men and to presumption and reproachfulness over others and to much sedition in the Lands or among the people 8. This false Light hath its original out of the Knowledg and is named p 1 Cor. 8. Col. 2. a lofty stout minde upon the Knowledg where-through the people of the land do suppose that it is their firm ground of faith where-from they must not start but stand firmly to it And even thus doth the false light ingender in them all a stout minde in their knowledg 9. Seeing then that the people do not know the q Ioh. 1.17 1 Cor. 2. true Light the which is a godly life therefore be they all by means of the knowledg the which they account for a skilful wisdom and true Light deceived and corrupted in this wildernessed land by the same false light besides the which they know no other r Rom. 1. perfect good and so they be held by the same in the deceit and do pluck over themselves there-thorow nothing else but all destruction and disturbance or dispersing of mindes and thoughts 10. But as long as they dwell in the horrible confused land they understand not that they are deceived and corrupted nor yet that they have missed the true entrance to the good land of the upright and concordable life and are gone into the Å¿ Wisd 5. way of error where-through they themselves do take on out of the knowledg many opinions false t Col. 2. 2 Tim. 3. holinesses or worldly foolishnesses to their own destruction CHAP. XIX THis same horrible land of desolation is like unto the intangled a Gen. 11. Babylon which was overthrown by the Word of the Lord and also the builders of the same were dispersed abroad every where because that the knowledges do there in loftiness of minde run one against another and cannot understand each other 2. In the same do likewise all maner of people dwel who are come into it out of many quarters or lands the which hath indeed a coming in but no passing thorow 3 Therefore they do never come thorow the same unless they do b Mat. 18. turn them about and come again to the same place where they were when they went into the pleasant way of the knowledg that leadeth them thereunto 4. But that can they not very well do because of the false c 2 Cor. 11. light which holdeth them so captive with deceit that they will in no wise depart out of it and also because that the inward pride and the stout lofty minde in the knowledg is too deep rooted in them 5. The people of this land are a strange wilde rebellious and seditious people and d Bar. 3. are a people divided in minde and grounded upon many kinde of grounds proceeding our of the Knowledg 6. Of the which some are without e 1 Tim. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet.
in foolishness 2. There be made also playing Tables Draft-boards Chess-boards Cards and Mummeries or Masks for to delight the idle people with such foolish vanity There are made likewise many Rings Chains and Gold and Silver Tablets and Brooches also Garnishing of Plumes or Tufts of Feathers and many maner of stitched or imbroidered works with Gold Silver Pearl and Silk Likewise many kindes of Tapistry and Gards or Borderwork upon Garments And divers sorts of unprofitable colours upon Clothes as also sundry maner of Cut and Pinked Garments and likewise many kindes of Pictures Tables of Imagery Painted Walls and divers kinde of Carved and Graven or wrought Images for to delight the foolish and proud minded people a 1 Joh. 2. and to satisfie and fulfil the lust of their eyes 3. Men do occupy there likewise sundry sorts of unprofitable and unneedful merchandise for to provoke the hearts of the foolish people unto covetousness or greedy desire b 1 Tim. 6 Jam. 5. of vain riches and to rejoyce them in the same 4. There are made also divers sorts of sounding instruments for melody and there are Printed many maner of foolish Books for to delight the heating of the foolish people therewithal For after such things their ears do c 2 Tim. 4 itch 5. They build there likewise divers houses of common assembly which they call Gods houses and they use there many maner of foolishnesses of taken on Services which they call Religions or God-services whereby to wave or hold forth something in shew before the ignorant people touching the opinion of their d Sap. 17. Tit. 1. defiled consciences because they should quiet their foolish consciences 6. Seeing then that they are e Sap. 2. Rom. 1. covered with darkness and dwell in Ignorance so do they invent among themselves many maner of good-thingking or self-conceited knowledges to their appeasment in their Ignorance also sundry sorts of garnishing of services f Isai 44. 46. Jere. 10. Baruch 6. and of gods which they may handle or feel in their ignorance for else they should think that they had neither Gods nor Gods services neither could they set their consciences at quiet 7. In this maner are the vain people bewitched with these things where through they think or perswade themselves that their gods services and knowledges which they themselves do make or take on in their hypocrisie must needs be some g Wisd 14.15 holy or singular thing and so then they honor the works of their own hands 8. They bestow likewise much labour for to exercise themselves well in the knowledg and to teach forth the same but b 2 Tim. 3. they remain in the same land utterly unskilful and ignorant touching the knowledg of the truth 9. They make there also many swords halberds spears bows and arrows ordnance or guns pellets gunpouder armor or harness and gorgets c. for that the tyrannical oppressors and those that have a pleasure in destroying should use war and battel therewithall one against another 10. To be short all the unprofitable works of the same wildernessed land neither it all the abominations where-through the people of the same land do live very cumbersomly and unpeaceable are not very easily to be written but let him that hath eyes to mark look farther into the same 11. It is surely an evil land where it is neither good to dwell nor yet to remain for the people of the same land are too exceeding wonderful and too strange or i Deut. 32. Iudic. 19. absurd of life also too exceeding disorderly and too k Isa 57. unquiet of minde from whom likewise there proceedeth a foul or l Isa 34. Ioel 2. filthy vapour that stinketh over the whole land but because they are gross and soul of complexion they themselves do not smell their own stink CHAP. VI. THe people of this Land have also strange names each one according to his nature every one is known there likewise by his nature for according as their nature is such are their names written upon them whosoever can reade the writing let him consider thereon they are gross Letters who so hath but a little sight and understanding he may soon reade them whose names are these 2. Highmindedness a Rom. 1. Gal. 5. 2 Tim 3. lust of the eyes stoutness pride covetousness lust or desire to contrariness foolishness wantonness b Ephe. 5. or light behaviour vanity or unprofitableness c Rom 1. unnaturalness undecentness masterfulness gluttony unchastity unforesightfulness macking scorning dallying d Wis 14. adultery or fornication contemning lying deceiving variance e Gal. 5. strife and contention vexing f Phil. 2. self-seeking oppressing undiscreetness c. 3. Behold such strange or absurd names disposition and nature have the people andinhabiters of this land called Ignorance 4. Their dealing or maner of life is also variable for now they take on some thing then they leave somewhat else now they be thus led then be they so driven now they praise this then they dispraise that now they think to have this Vision then they think to have that Prophesie to be short they are alwayes unconstant 5. Their Religion or Gods service is called g Ier. 44. The pleasure of men Their doctrine and ministration is called h Ier 7. and 8. Ezec. 13. and 22. Good-thinking Their king is called The scum of ignorance which signifieth unto us the climing up of the hasty or rash mindes of ignorance whom they themselves do set up to be their Superior or King for to bear sway or to raign over them CHAP. VII WHosoever now findeth himself in this dark land ful of ignorance and desireth to go out of and to forsake the same and so hath a good liking towards the good land of Rest and Peace for to assemble him into the same among the peaceable people he must go thorow the other gate that lieth towards the East for that is the out-faring gate wherethorow he must travel forth out of the dark land of Ignorance and it is named a Prov. 1. and 8. and 15. and 16. The fear of God 2. The same gate hath also a strong or mighty door for to go thorow and it is named b Prov. 1. and 9. The beginning of Wisdom Now when the traveller beginneth to go thorow these same so can it not be otherwise with him then but he must endevor himself to give car and credit to the testimonies of the gracious Word of the Lord and to the service of the Family of Love Where-through he then also in his hearing and believing is presented or met withall by the Elders in the Family of Love with the light of the first entrance of the way that reacheth into the holy Land of the living With which light and his requiring the upright life of the pure hearts in Jesus Christ and the very true c Isa 60. Ioh. 1. light
The understanding of God for in the same is m Col. 2. all fulness of riches n Ioh. 10. and all fulness of life and of joy to be found CHAP. XV. IN this unpathed thorow-faring land there do also spring or grow certain Thistles and thornes which do many times somewhat vex the traveller but with patience he may escape and pass thorow them all 2. The Thistles and Thornes are named a Num. 14 Wisd 17. Vncertain Consciences 3. Therein are likewise to be found divers natures of beasts that are minded to devouring the which also do pursue the travellers very stoutly in such sort that they sometimes retire a little because of them but before the Cross they do all retire back at the last 4. These beasts are named b Rom. 3. Gal. 5. Envy Wrath Churlishness or Vnfriendliness Cruelty Offensiveness Resistance or Disobedience Craftiness greedy desire of Honor Subtilty to deceit and Violence and also one of the most detestable beasts that will worst of all give way is named Hypocrisie c Luk. 12. or Dissimulation where under all maner of naughtiness is covered with a coloured Vertue d Mat. 6.7.23 or made holiness and he is indeed the subtillest beast who provoketh all the other beasts for to devour the travellers 5. Of which wilde beasts the travellers must take heede with great foresightfulness e Matt. 10. Ephe. 5. that they run not into the mouth of them and so be swallowed up CHAP. XVI NOw when the traveller is passed thorow all this said land and hath left all these abominations then cometh he to three Castles thorow the midst of the which he must pass and must leave them in like maner for he shall not neede a 4 Esd 2. to fear any thing of all whatsoever meetteth him in the journey 2. It is true when any thing meeteth him in any place that hath a shew or that he himself regardeth as if it were of some valuâ— hen doth it vant out it self so highly sometimes as if it were impossible to be overcome b Exod. 1â— Num 13 but when one is gone thorow or past the same and then looketh about after it so is it nothing at all and is alt gether deceit c â—ob 20 Psal 37 vanity and bewitching 3. Upon these Castles there lie subtile watchers which are very crafty and wily but thorow the d Mar. 8. Luk. 9. forsaking of himself and with the patience one may pass by them but whosoever through unbelief hath lost the Compass and left the Cross him do they take captive to be their bondslave 4. The one of these Castles is named e Iob 1. and 2. Matt. 4. The power of the Devils assaulting the second f Heb. 12. The forsaking of Hope the third is named g Psal 55. Fear of death 5. The Watchers that lie upon these Castles for to take the people captive under the same as named according to their nature and these are their names 6. h 2 Cor. 11. Appearing like angels of light i bzec 13. and 22. Indeavoring to the stealing of the heart k Pro. 14.16 2 Tim. 3. Appearance of Vertue Subtil invention l Prov. 12. Col. 2. Confidence in Knowledg m Mat. 23. 1 Tim. 4. Made laws and imagined rights Disguised or unknown holiness Self framed Righteousness there goeth also among them n 4. Esd 16. Wisd 17. Rom. 2. Accusation of sins Fear of evil Fear of adversity Careful of destruction Fear of hell c. 7. These and such like before named are the Watchers of the Castles who do go out with many o â— Isal 35.57 suâ—till snares for to let the travellers and to catch them into their Captivity 8. But the p Mat. 16. forsaking of himself pointeth quite beyond as to forsake it all and with the patience one passeth thorow the same as if it were nothing for the Compass doth point only unto the Understanding of God to the end to bring the traveller to the same and to arm him thereunto forasmuch doubtless as all other things are q Wisd 5. seducing and foolishness CHAP. XVII NOw when one is passed beyond and hath left all this as is rehearsed then doth he a Num. 27. Deut. 34. come hard by the good land and he approacheth neer unto the understanding of God But many do run past the entrance thereof because they perswade themselves too soon that they have left it all and that they are grown so wise that they think it is not needful for them to near the serviceable Word of the Lord any more and think that therefore they cannot fail to know very rightly the entrance of the good land and also the maner how they shall go into the good land and so they lose the Compass coming even so yet into very great errors 2. For the neerer one cometh to the Land the more subtilly doth the deceit assault him for besides the entrance of this good land as the one wayes entrance joyned to the other there lieth also a way b Matth. 7. that leadeth to an abominable or horrible land and the same way is a pleasant way to behold and c Gen. 3. Pro. 14.16 pleasant likewise to enter into wherewith many be deceived supposing forasmuch as his coming in is so delightful and pleasant in beholding that the same is the very way that leadeth into the good land 3. Here it is very needful to have a diligent and sharpe regard to which of both these wayes the d Matth. 2. Star leadeth and upon which the Compas pointeth whither it be to the same pleasant way or to the peaceable life of the good land and also that the Cross be not forsaken for through e Heb. 12. 1 Pet. 2. the Cross one may perceive which of them is promised to be the Rest namely the pleasant way or the peaceable life of the good land 4. This pleasant way is named f Gen. 2.3 Knowledg of Good and Evil the which deceiveth many people because they perswade themselves that to know the good and the evil doth far excel the serviceable Word of the Lord and his Requiring and that likewise the same is the very best the most holy and the most prudent Understanding whereby to go into the good land and to inherit his Riches and so they judg that the Knowledg is the greatest or the chiefest Riches of God Howbeit it is nothing at all g Gen 3. Wis 2.5 but deceit pain labour trouble and no rest also nothing but Death and no Life 5. For if any man adjoyn him unto the knowledg of good and evil and maketh more account of it then of the Nature of God h Gal. 3. Heb. 7. whereunto the Law of the Lord is serviceable unto him then doth he forsake the door or gate serving to the entrance of the life and so chuseth to enter into the
together with all abominations and desâ—lations and all undiscreetness and unrighteousness 7. But within in the City among this lovely people of Peace there is nothing but all life and prosperity i Isa 60. and 61. and 62. as likewise all loveliness peace and heavenly delightfulness 8. Also no man getteth shame nor reproach there no man there coveteth after Honor or Praise nor yet after Dignity or greatness of estimation for there is no mastership nor violence but all brotherly love and concord 9. There likewise no man raigneth over another but they are all alike with each other loving and peaceable fellow-brethren or members of Jesus Christ even as one only man or as one k Ephe. 2. and 5. body of the godly Disposition and Nature 10. Even thus also they do all there eat of one maner of bread and l 1 Cor. 10 and 11. drink all there of one maner of drink and inasmuch as they are every one spirituall children of God and Christ and are not covered with any foreskin of the sinful flesh nor yet with fleshly or earthly m 1 Cor. 3.4 mindes therefore do they likewise with their spiritual members walk naked and uncovered both before God and before one another 11. Also there the one doth see no unclean thing in the other for it is there all of God n Ephe. 1. Apo. 21. spiritual holy and good and pure are all their works and thoughts 12. Seeing then that these holy people are every one Spirit and spiritual and pure and undefiled in all their works and thoughts and that likewise it is all namely Land City Riches with all whatsoever is and cometh into the same spiritual godly and Gods own workmanship therefore also they are not ashamed of the godly works neither yet do they hide any spiritual o Gen. 2. members from each other for they altogether are no more then one spiritual body p Rom. 12. Eph. 2.5 or one man of God VVherefore the one member cannot be ashamed of the other 13. Forasmuch then as there is no shame nor reproach there q Gen. 2. among each other and that it is all good there and is all looked into and known for good whatsoever is there among them and what becometh assembled unto them so is there likewise no coveredness before God nor before one another and lauding and honoring their God perpetually they live in the true freedom of their God wherein God hath made them free through his truth and put off the r Isa 23. covering of reproach from their eyes and members 14. And in this maner doth God in this holy City of Peace and of Perfection behold the man in his manly nakedness Å¿ Gen. 1. and again the man the glorious God in his godly nakedness even thus do they there also behold one another in their manly and godly nakedness and that altogether in the Spirit and life of the pure hearts and that same pleaseth God namely that all partitions coverings and middle walls are put away from his t Gen. 2. 2 Cor. 3. Ephes 2. hand work that God may behold his hand work for good even as he hath created it and so likewise again the hand-work his Creator that they may all praise and laud God in the works of his hands u Gen. 1. Eccles 39. because he hath made it all so upright and well 15. Behold this same is the upright minde of life in the holy City of the living and is Gods Being and Nature and the very true x 2 Cor. 3. cleerness of the uncovered face of Jesus Christ and the inheritance of the holy Ghost and of all spiritual and heavenly Goods It is very true CHAP. XXXV SEeing then that this City is a spiritual City of Life and of perfect Righteousness and also full of wisdom and of the knowledg of God therefore doth not the one brother there teach the other neither is it needful for any man there to say to his neighbor a Jere. 31. Heb. 8. 1 Pet. 2. Apoc. 1. Know the Lord for there they are all Kings Priests or Elders and do all know the great glorious God both small and great and have all their dealing among each other in the upright love 2. Inasmuch now therefore as that they do all stand well-minded with one accord to the love and her upright being b 1 Tim. 1. so do they not there likewise compel any one to any righteousness as to learn or to observe the same by compulsion but they have all of themselves a c Isal 2. Jere. 50. Zech. 8. delight and pleasure in the life of righteousness 3. And so out of their inclination in the love they deal in all what is d Phil. 4. right and equal For the life in the love which is Gods true being it self is their chiefest and most perfect righteousness who is the e Eph. 1.5 Col. 1. head of them all 4. Moreover there is no man that claimeth any thing to be his own as to possess the same to his own private use for no man and that out of every ones good disposition can desire any thing to be his own or yet to make any thing f Acts 4. proper to himself from another but all whatsoever is there is free and is there left free in his upright form 5. There is also no man denied to use any thing g 1 Tim. 4. in freedom of all what is profitable and needful for him for they stand all in the equity h Ephes 4. as one in the love 6. Seeing now that they walk i Phil. 4. according to all maner of equity so is there no desire to any mans increasing nor diminishing nor yet to any mans extolling nor dispraising and therefore likewise there is no man extolled above his state and ordinance nor yet contemned or debased to be reputed less or lower then the same For the Almighty God is k Psal 7. 9. Isai 33. their Judg who directeth leadeth and upholdeth every one in his right Ordinance through his holy Spirit of Love 7. Every one there also useth l 2 Pet. 1. temperance and equity There is nothing done privily neither do they deal in any thing secretly but all naked and openly there is likewise no m Acts 4. self seeking nor unfaithfulness CHAP. XXXVI THere also no man desireth to serve a Exod. 20 Isal 2. any strange gods nor to make to himself any Images or similitudes for to worship them for they are come to the b Joh. 1.3 Beeing of God in the light of life And so they are c John 17. Ephes 2.5 one with God and God is one with them 2. Whose name likewise they use d Exod. 20 Eccles 23. not in vain for all what they speak of the Godhead to the Laud of his holy Name that same hath a living form in them 3. In this maner
e 2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 2.3 Jud. 1. stout and puffed up in mind as those that will reigne themselves according to their own advice or opinion seeking their selfnesse and not the Lords the which they do apparently shew by the deed because they will not stand submitted under the love nor her service neither yet do love the unity in the love and therefore likewise they understand not the f 2 Tim. 5. truth 3. Whose hearts are blinded with the g 2 Cor. 4 blindnesse of the wicked world and with the blindnesse h 1 Cor. 1.3 of her dissentions and chosen i Col. 1. holinesse for that they should not behold the light of the heavenly cleernesse in the love 4. For that cause also they cannot understand nor comprehend the service of Love which tendeth to the everlasting life nor the upright k Rom. 8. freedome to the blessing of the manly generation whereof we do witnesse 5. For that same is our service towards all those which love the good life and the peace namely for to declare and shew unto them under the obedience of the love and assured way to the life to the end that they might all now in this day of love have a free l 2 Pet. 1. passage to the good life through Faith for to live lovingly and peaceably in the same life m Joh. 1. 1 Joh. 1. which was likewise from the beginning and shall remain for ever and unto the which the manly generation is created and that â—t might go well and prosper with them perpetually 6. That same is the everlasting life that was n Mat. 28. Act. 2. published in times past unto the people as an Evangelie or good message for that they should be saved therein CHAP. LII BUt oh alas we have now in this perillous time very speciall cause to sigh and mourne grievously over the a Esa 6. 59. blindnesse of many people and to bewaile the same with great dolour of our hearts and that chiefly because there is now in this same day of love b 2 Mac. 2. and of the mercy of God so little knowledge of the good life of Peace and of love to be found among them and also for that the same knowledge is desired of so few and yet much lesse loved But they do almost every one delight to walk in strange c 4. Esd 5. Mat. 7. waies that stretch to contention and destruction by which occasion they live in many molestations and deadly afflictions every where 2. Therefore may we with wofulnesse and â—ighing hearts very jostly say that it is now a perillous d Amos 5. Mat. 24. 2 Tim. 3. time to be saved or to escape or remain over to preservation Oh what venemous winds do there blow to the desolation and destruction of men Yea it seemeth to be almost e Mat. 19. 24. unpossible for the man to come to his salvation or preservation in Christ or to the lovely life of peace 3. But yet is it easie and f Mat. 19. possible with the Lord namely for all those that seek him with all their g Deut. 4. Jer. 29. hearts and under the obedience of the Love do believe his Word of Truth whereof all false hearts have a lothsomnesse and it is unto them a secret h Mat. 13. 2 Cor. 4. or unknowne Treasure of wisdome 4. Oh! when we behold all the perills and snares which are now presently in the way as lets or hinderances against the good life of peace namely by the worldly foolishnesse pride and corruptiblenesse also by the many manner of seditions of the Scripture-learned i Mat. 6. 15. 23. Act. 7. and chosen holinesse and again by the sundry sorts of conceited opinions of men so doth our soule oftentimes suffer great sorrow and that even herefore because that all understanding of the flesh which is borne of the bloud of the flesh k Gen. 6. 4 Esd 3. and earthly being runneth on so ignorantly after the knowledge of the godly truth and over-reacheth it selfe so grossely in giving judgement in the testimonies of the spirituall things 5. For verily many of the opinionated or good-thinking wise ones and of the Scripture-learned sort have with their good-thinking understanding or arrogant wit of the flesh made up themselves for to judge there-through the truth of God which is brought to light by us and so have by the fleshly conceiving or mind of their l Act. 7. uncircumcised hearts and unilluminated understandings considered of or weighed our spirituall and heavenly testimonies of God and of the holy Spirit of the Love of Jesus Christ m Joh. 7. 8. according to the outward appearance and judged them after the same manner 6. Not only these our spiritual and heavenly testimonies of the spirituall land of Promise and of the spirituall Saints of God but they have also judged according n Joh. 7.8 to their earthly and fleshly minds other more spirituall and heavenly testimonies of God which are gone out from the holy Spirit of the love of God and Christ and that are set forth or published by us and which have their ministration unto spirit and unto inward spirituall things or doe extend thereunto and have not rightly understood our Ministration which guideth to the spirituall and heavenly even like as the same is happened unto us by some and become manifest before our eyes but chiefly by the principall ones in the Scripture-learnednesse and likewise by those which did advance and give forth themselves to be o 1 Tim. 1. Treachers and that seemed to be the most prudent and expert ones in the services and also how resistingly many false hearts have made up themselves with their earthly and fleshly minds against the truth of the spirituall and heavenly testimonies of God and his Promises and against the holy Spirit of Jesus Christ and of the mercifull love of God the Father p Heb. 10. 2 Pet. 2. Jud. 1. as blasphemers of their most holy goods and likewise against us who do witnesse and publish forth Gods Word his everlasting truth out of those same spirituall and heavenly goods for to defame and persecute us with much q Mat. 5. lying and falshood CHAP. LIII BUt although many of them have grossely over-reached themselves therein yet have some notwithstanding according to the imagination of their knowledge run on or laboured for the spirituall things for that they would understand them also many have according to their understanding of the flesh testified of them 2. But seeing they have not sought their knowledge of the spirituall things in the obedience of the Christian doctrine of the Service of Love but in their knowledge of the flesh and so have taken on their understanding of the knowledges of the spirituall things out of the imagination of their owne knowledge therefore have they likewise understood those same
Sprit of God and Life of Christ and knoweth t Joh. 8 the truth in that manner he verily hath rightly continued stedfast in the Doctrine of Christ and is meet likewise to minister u Joh. 15. Acts 1. the holy Word of Truth and to be a Teacher of the people and not those which doe yet carry the x 2 Cor. 3 fore-skin before their hearts nor yet those which are still earthly y Gal 1. and fleshly minded and so turning themselves away from us and running forth of themselves do sow nothing else but pernicious seed among the people CHAP. LV. WHerefore it is in like manner found true that the fleshly-minded ones which sow upon the flesh or which build upon the fore-skin of their uncircumcised hearts doe mow a Gal. 6. the corruption and inherite the destruction 2. But those that are b Ier. 4. Col. 2. circumcised on their hearts in the laying away of the fore-skin of the sinfull flesh and in the obeying of the requiring of our most holy Service of Love are become spiritually minded and so then out of the upright being of the love of Jesus Christ do sow upon the Spirit c Gal 6. or build upon the spirituall which is the true being it selfe those same do receive or reap the fruits of blessing d 2 Esd 2. in the everlasting immmortality which do not perish e Joh. 15. but continue for ever in the eternall life 3. For all flesh although it doe also speak of spirituall and heavenly things through his knowledge yet is it doubtlesse nothing else but like f Esa 40. 1 Pet. 1. Jam. 1. the grasse of the field and all his garnishing of beauty and holinesse is also like unto the flowers of the field behold the grasse drieth away and the beauty of the flowers of the field withereth or decayeth 4. But the spirituall good the power of God and his g Sap. 1. 7. Heb. 1. living being wherein all what is of God standeth firme and floweth thereout remaineth stedfast h 1 Pet. 1. unchangeable for ever and in the same or through the manifestation of the same being the Kingdome of the God of heavens cometh i Luk. 17. inwardly in us and that is the k Joh. 1.17 true light of the everlasting life 5. Whose naked cleernesse although the same be nothing else but light and life is l Esa 29. Mat. 11. 13. 2 Cor. 4. hidden shut and covered from all understandings and wisdomes of the flesh and from all those that are minded on the flesh or that build thereon 6. But it is manifest and shineth bright to the circumcised of heart and to the upright spirituall-minded ones m 1 Cor. 2 in a spirituall heavenly understanding and the same cleernesse is the n 1 Joh. 1. being of God from heaven the upright o Eph. 4. righteousnesse and holinesse and the life p Joh. 17. of God in eternity 7. Wherefore ye deerly beloved seeing that the q Apo. 3. doore of life is now by Gods grace opened unto us the r Mat. 3. Kingdome of the God of heavens and the heavenly Jerusalem Å¿ Esa 60. Apo. 21. or City of Peace descended downe to us and come neerby therefore let us take good heed unto such a time of the godly t 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 12. grace and not neglect despise or contemne the same but as goodwilling children of Faith take speciall heed unto it and so in the v Mat. 3. Acts 2. 3. doing of upright fruits of repentance enter u Hâ—b 4. 10. into the same according to the Spirit and live therein 8. But not according to the thinking-good or imagination of our own hearts nor according to the mind of the earthly wisdome wherethorow many have estranged x Eph. 4. them from the truth of life but according to the mind and requiring of the Service of Love and of the Spirit of the heavenly y Sap. 1.7 Jam. 3. wisdome which extendeth to the land of the living and City of Peace 9. For if we will contiue safely kept from all sâ—ducing and destruction and enter rightly z Heb. 4. into the rest according to the promises of God the Father then must we submit our selves a 1 Reg. 15 1 Pâ—t 1. obediently under the gracious Word of the Lord and the godly Doctrine of his Service of Love and so in the Spirit enter into the foresaid rich City of peace Gods secret understanding thorow the nature of God and tast therein the spirituall heavenly things and all life and sweetnesse for even there in the same one is come to the b Rom. 8. Col. 1. rest of all the Saints and Children of God and there one eateth of the wood of life that standeth in the c Gen. 2. Apo. 2.22 middest of Paradise and liveth for evermore 10. Which Paradise and place of rest is shut d Gen. 3. and hidden before the old man of errour and it shall likewise continue hidden for ever before all those which according the nature of Adam are falling away e Esa 59. from the holy Commandement of God and Christ and so are erring from the truth of Jesus Christ and his Church for those same are they that carry the right Aprons f Gen. 3. 2 Cor. 3. or coverings before their hearts which Adam hath made him which aprons or coverings of Adam is the hiding of the transgressions or of the sins 11. Therfore can no man see g John 3. the Kingdom of God except the aprons the taking on of Adam be put off from his heart that is that he do make manifest himselfe h Pro. 28. Eccl. 4.17 uncoveredly in his sins of disobedience towards God and do forsake i Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2. Heb. 12. or lay away the same in the obedience to the gracious Word of God and to the Service of his Love and that he even so becometh borne anew k Joh. 3. in the Spirit and is become plaine l Job 1. Mat. 18. 1 Cor. 14. and just and simple like unto a new-born Babe and doth grow up therein obediently taking nothing upon him any more nor yet hiding himself any thing at al before the face of God nor before the Ministers of his gracious Word 12. For whosoever doth not thus simply receive the Kingdome of God m Mat. 10. Luk 8. as a child he also shall not enter into it but must remain n Tess 1. separated from such a clearnesse of the godly light for ever and not tast o Mat. 22. or know any of the godly heavenly goods much lâ—sse inherite them CHAP. LVI BEhold because now that the craftinesse of the old man is counted by the man therefore doth likewise the noble a Gen. 3. rest the Paradise of the Lord and the Kingdom of the God of heavens as also his