according to the name and stock of his Father 7. Lia bare his first son and called him Ruben and signifieth unto us a Son of the vision 8 Again Lia bare him his second Son and called him Simeon and signifieth unto us harkning 9 Again Lia bare him his third Son and called him Levi and signifieth unto us adjoyned 10. Again Lia bare him his fourth Son and called him Iuda and signifieth unto us a confessing or thanksgiving 11. But Bilha Rachels maid bare him his fifth Son and called him Dan and signifieth unto us a Iudgement 12 Again Bilha bare him his sixth Son and called him Nepthalim and signifieth unto us a making equal 13. Then Zilpha Lias maid bare him his seventh Son and called him Gad and signifieth unto us Prepared or Girded up 14. Again Zilpha barâ— him his eight Son and called him Aser and signifieth unto us Salvation or Blessedness 15. After that Lia bare him his ninth Son and called him Issachar and signifieth unto us a Reward 16. Again Lia bare him his tenth Son and called him Zabulon and signifieth unto us an Habitation or Dwelling place 17. But Rachel bare him his eleventh Son and called him Ioseph and signifieth unto us Perfection It signifieth also unto us Exalted as that â—he Perfection is worthy to be a Ruler and to govern Countries and People 18. Again Rachel bare him his twelfth Son and died and called him Ben-nom and signifieth unto us a Son of Sorrow But Iacob his father called him Ben-iamin and signifieth unto us A Son of the Right hand 19. MOreover Iacob with his whole house or Tribe came to dwel in Egypt which name signifieth unto us Strictness or Heaviness In which Land the Children of Iacob multiplied them into many people And they had not any other Ceremonies but such as had been by their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob namely the ministration of the Circumcision Which Circumcision they bare for a Covenant of God in their flesh to a true signe that they were God's elected people and did bear the laying away of the sin in their flesh 20. But whenas now these Tribes of Israel in Egypt multiplyed them exceedingly and became great and mighty of People so reigned the king of Egypt over them with in justice and this king of Egypt was named Pharao which name signifieth unto us One that is making naked or wasting 21. NOw whilst that these Tribes of Iacob were by the king Pharao sore afflicted in the land of Egypt and overlorded with injustice so cryed they unto the God of their Fathers And the Iord remembred his Covenant which he had made with Abraham to wit That he would be a Judge over the seed of Abraham in the land wherein they were oppressed And he had compassion on the misery of the children of Iacob and chose them out from among themselves one man of the Tribe of Levi named Moses which name signifieth unto us Fetched or taken up out of the Waters Through whom God would lead his People out of Egypt and râ—lease them from the violent power of Pharao 22. And the Lord called this same Moses unto him and sent him unto the children of Israel and caused him to publish unto them the grace of the God of their Fathers and that the same God would lead them out of the Strictness deliver them from the violence of Pharao and bring them into a good land that floweth with milk and honey 23. Moreover the Lord prepared Moses an helper which should witness and manifest the word of Moses before the children of Israel and before Pharao king of Egypt which was also of the Tribe of Levi and Moses brother named Aaron which name signifieth unto us a Doctrine or an hill whereout Doctrine is recâ—ived or that is Teaching 24. And the Lord wrought many signes and wonders in the land of Egypt in the presence of Pharao and of the children of Israel but before Pharao to the hardning of his heart and before the children of Israel that they should believe the God of their Fathers understand and know the power of his wonderful works and humble them under him and his Word which was shewed unto them by Moses and Aaron out of the living word of the God of heaven as also be obedient unto the same 25. All this wrought the Lord among the children of Israel through Moses and Aaron to the end that they should witness and set forth the Lord's word and will with his Institutions and Rites before the children of Israel 26. BUt whilst now the children of Israel had not any further sight nor knowledge of the house or tabernacle of the Lord then of the Fear of God the beginning or forefront of God his true Tabernacle and did bear the Circumcision for a signe of the true Covenant of God that they were the Lord's people and feared the living God in their flesh and were not yet entred into the Holy of the true Tabernacle of God so would God declare the Holy by them and bring them therein and even so build among them the Holy of his Sanctuary or true Tabernacle to a great name of his glory and to the blessing and salvation of his people also upon the earth Therefore God caused some better and godlyer thing to be published through Moses unto his people then that wherein they stood comprehended to the end that they should set their hope thereon and even so for to obtain the Rest be obedient unto the word of the Lord as also to their releasing from the violence of Phâ—raoh depart out of Egypt 27. BEhold in the same time did the Lord with great signes and wonders make maniâ—est his Glory among the Children of Israâ—l and even so to the end that his great Nâ—me and wonderful power might also be known among all Heathen and he feared as a true God led his people Israel through Moses and Aaron with a mighty hand and forcible Arm out of the land of Egypt and seâ— forth and taught them through Moses his Inâ—titutions and Laws for to observe those same in the good land whereinto the Lord would bring them 28. In which time there was no more spoken unto them of the circumcision of the flesh buâ— of that which was neerer unto the consummation or perfection and of the inheriting of the good land which God had promised unto the seed of Abraham Isaac and Iacob 29. BUt when as now the Lord had led his people out of Egypt and through the wilderness even unto the red sea where they were pursued by Pharao so opened the Lord the red sea before them dividing it asunder and brought his people through Moses and Aâ—ron undamaged therethorow 30. Buâ— Pharao with all his might and power which entred also into the red sea for to destroy the children of Isrâ—el perished in the same so that not one of all
God was born or brought forth Whereunto all foregoing services with the images figures and shadows do induce and lead and cease therein and wherethrough the true God-service of the spiritual and heavenly goods is nakedly seen known ministred and inherited in full cleerness It is very true 4. NOw when as these forementioned figurative services had had their foregoing till unto Zacharias at which time Herod out of the power of Rome was king over the lands of Iuda so ministred Zacharias the Priest's office at the same time according to the ordinance of Abia that is in such wise as the Father of the Lord would have it or as it pleased him And Zacharias had a wife of the daughters of Aaron named Elisabeth 5. Herod signifieth unto us a Mountain of glory Rome signifieth unto us Puissance or strength These Romans not being out of Iuda but out of the Heathen were in the time of Zacharias lords over the land of Iuda Zacharias signifieth unto us the memory or remembrance of the Lord. Abia the Will of the Lord. Elizabeth the Oath or Covenant of God 6. And when as now Zacharias ministred the Priest's office before God according to the ordinance of Abia and that he burned incense in the Temple of the Lord so remembred the Lord the Oath or Covenant of his promises and sent at the same time his Angel Gabriâ—l 〈◊〉 Zacharias evangelized unto him that Elisabeth his wife should bear him a Son and his name should be called Iohn which name signifieth unto us the grace mercy of the Lord. Angel signifieth unto us a messenger or publisher Gabriel which published the same signifieth unto us the power or strength of God 7. Gabriel witnessed yet further to Zacharias unto thee and unto many people there shall be joy in the birth of Iohn For he shall be great before the Lord c. He shall go before the face of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elias which signifieth unto us in the spirit and power of God the Lord. 8. With these sayings there is made known unto us by the Angel Gabriel that the foregoing of Iohn before the face of the Lord should not chance in figures but according to the true being in the spirit and power of God the Lord in like manner as Zachariis also witnessed of Iohn when he was born read the first of Luke The XVIII Chapter NOw when the Lord had out of the imagelike foregoing after the manner of Aaron brought forth a true foregoer in the spirit and power of God the Lord or obtained him out of Zacharias and Eilzabeth his wife through whom he would begin his work or Office according to the true being so remembred he also his servant David or his beloved service and the oath which he had sworn unto him to wit that his seed should sit upon his seat 2. Whilest then the procreation of the seed of David according to the Genealogie stretched even unto Ioseph which was the right stock of the Kingly seed of David and that he had out of the same house of David a Virgin to wife named Mary which was betrothed unto him so hath the Lord according to his promises also visited the house of David and sent forth from him his Angel Gabriel into a City of Galilee named Nazareth unto the same Virgin Mary which was espoused unto the man Ioseph of the house of David as is abovesaid 3. Galilee signifieth unto us a turning or winding about Nazareth signifieth hallowed Mary a Doctress Ioseph one that is perfect or an exalting or great esteeming of the perfection 4. ANd Gabriel went in unto Mary and when he had saluted her he said unto her thou hast found mercy with God behold thou shalt conceive in the womb and bear a Son and shall call his name JESVS which name signifieth unto us Saviour 5. This same saith Gabriel shall be great be called a Son of the most highest And God the Lord shall give unto him the Seat of his Father David and he shall be a king over the house of Iacob for evermore and of his kingdom there shall be none end 6. When Mary had heard these sayings of Gabriel she askt him how the same should come to pass forasmuch as she knew no man 7. Gabriel answered her and said The holy Ghost shall come down from above out of the height upon thee and the power of the most High shall shine about thee Therefore shall also that holy one which shall be born of thee be called the Son of God 8. And Mary believ'd the word of the Lord and became with childe by the holy Ghost And rejoyced her in God her salvation 9. COnsider ye beloved how that there is shewed unto us and given us to understand through the speeches of the Angel Gabriel which he used with Mary that at the same time when the holy Ghost came through the power of the most high upon the Virgin Mary and procreated the true seed of promise the time of the procreating of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh turned it self about to wit that the holy and true seed of Abraham should not from thenceforth be conceived of the flesh but of the holy Ghost through the power of the most highest in the Belief and that the same should even so be born out of the true faith of Abraham for the seed out of the faith of Abraham and out of the pure Virgin Mary is the true seed of Promise to the blessing of all generations of the earth 10. And thus from that time forth the genealogie of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh ceaâ—ed with the Believers For the upright children of the Belief which had their Descent out of the seed of the faith of Abraham and of the pure Virgin Mary as also from the holy Ghost were known to be the true seed of Abraham because the same seed was the seed of the promise of God the Father and was likewise in his mind according to the spirit the likeness of God his Father also Spirit and spiritual of the godly Nature and Being and according to the will of God wholy minded with God 11. AT the same time when Augustus the Emperor of Rome reigned and had made a stedfast peace in all lands whereover he ruled so caused he a Commandment to go forth from him that all the world should be â—axed every one in his own City 12. In which time Ioseph and Mary journeyed also unto the City of David named Beth-lehem that they might be taxed there seing that they were of the same City of David And even there in Beth-lehem Mary brought forth her first Son 13. Augustus signifieth unto us a great estimation or respecting of the thing that is glorious holy and increasing Beth-lehem an house of Bread 14. AT the same time when Mary had brought forth her first
uprâ—ghtly before God 2. Whose Children also went forth evermore in all Simplicity and righteousness according to the example of the simplicity of Abel and after the manner of Seâ—h Noah and Sâ—â— till unto Abram which name signifieth unto us Old Father or a glorious Fâ—â—her to wiâ— one which hath attained or is grown up to the old age of the true and hâ—ly understanding and therefore is meet to take him a wife and to beget Children for to nourish them up also unto such an old age to the end that there might continually be found upright Fathers and Elders of the holy understanding which multiplyed them into such an upright and holy generations in all fruifulness to many thouâ—ands on the earth Abram was also by the Lord named Abraham which signifieth unto us a Father of many people 3. THis Abram which dwelled with his generations among the heathen and lived and walked uprightly according to the stock of his Fathers was indued with understanding above or more than all other people or heathen both in the godly wisdom and in the heathenish prudence 4. Whilst now his wisdom was born out of the right stock of Seth Noah and Sem and far excelled the wisdom of the world or the understanding of the heathen and that he even so had regard unto the upright being of God and the simplicity of Abel and walked in the upright righteousness of his Fathers so was it also given him to understand the secretness of the works of God Wherethrough he knew how to distinct or divide the form of the everlasting and unchangeable being of the supream Godhead from the form of the elementish things and the word which proceedeth or hath his out flowing out of the living and almighty God from the word of men which proceedeth out of the mans ingeniousnes or imagination of the knowledge 5. In the same time of Abraham the whilest that he dwelled among the heathen God had not upon earth any written services or Ceremonies nor Temple or Tabernacle wrought with mens hands And all generations of the earth or heathen which were not of the right stock of the holy Fathers walked in the seperation from God in the cursing And God had compassion on all the generations of the earth which for their ignorances cause and estranging from God must bear the cursing 6. For that cause God chose him Abram and called him out of the Nations of the Heathen as the principallest among all people which was in the godly understanding and in the simplicity of Abel according to the manner or ordinance of Seth Noah and Sem neerest unto God for to understand the Lord his word and will through whom God would take in hand and set forth some singulâ—r thing to the blessing of al the generations of the Heathen 7 And the Lord spake unto Abram go out of thy Native Country from thy kindred and from thy Fathers horse and â—ourney into a land that I will shew thee And I will make of thee a great people I will bless thee and make thee a great Name and thou shalt be a blessing I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee For in thee shall all generations of the â—arth be blessed 8. Consider here now ye beloved how that the Lord calleth and leadeth thâ— wisdom of the holy understanding out of the foolishness of the heathen and his elected stock or upright Olive tree out of all wild or unfruitfull Olive trees for to plant the same and his seed in a good land that it may continually bring forth convenient fruits unto the Lord to the intent that the strange sprouts grown out of the wilde Olive trees might even so be cut off and graffed into this upright Olive tree and bring forth good fruits out of the sap or growing of the upright Olive tree For in suchsort would God make Abram great that he might also be named Abraham and a father of many heathen according to the promises 9. Even thus doth the Scripture testifie unto us that God himself would make Abraham great and not that Abraham in the promises which were made unto him should make himself great or multiply him into many people but that it should all come to pass in such wise as the Lord had promised him the same like as there standeth written I saith the Lord will make of thee a great people I will increase thy seed This is the Lord his own work and not mans 10. Now when as Abraham had heard the word of the Lord and understood the mind or will of God so beleeved or trusted he the Lord in his word and that was â—ounted unto him for righteousness For in all this same Abraham stood wholy given over and was with all single mindedness obedient unto the Lord in his requiring without surmising any evil cogitations there over or making any suspition of the knowledge touching the same The VII Chapter BUt when as now Abraham dwelled in the land which the Lord had shewed him and promised unto his seed for an everlasting possession and that the promises to the Salvation of the heathen were freely given unto him so hath God furthermore with his godly wisdom dealt very prudently with Abraham and his seed that is God hath at all times revealed unto Abraham and to the right stock of his seed in naked cleerness how that he is an eternal and living God and which are according to the truth his upright laws Institutions and rites and of what maner or which is the upright house or the true Seat Temple or Tabernacle for his holy dwelling 2. Of which true Tabernacle the Lord hath prepared or builded the forefront in his true being to a dwelling for his glory and to the blessing of all men by the Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob on the earth namely in the Circumcision which God hath ordained or set for an everlasting covenant between him and Abraham and his seed 3. This true forefront of the Sanctuary of God which God hath prepared or builded in his Covenant of Circumcision is the true fear of God through which fear of God the foreskin of the sinful flesh was cut off or laid away from the hearts of Abraham's houshold and thus they became seperated from al iniquity and from al disorder of the heathen or uncircumcised for to serve even so the living God alone in his sincere righteousness and godliness 4. For that cause to the end that all they of Abraham's houshold should always serve the living God alone in the fear of God so was the Lord his true Covenant of Circumcision to an everlasting and stedfast covenant made thus with Abraham that the foreskin of all them that be born in the houshold of Abraham and are manly should be cut away from their flesh 5. Behold this Covenant of Circumcision would God that Abraham and his seed after him
then did Iosue circumcise again all the males And the children of Israel took in with forcible hand all the whole land 2. And thus in process of time they brought the people in sujection and had many battels against their enemies until David the king of the Tribe of Iudah which vanquished and subdued in battel the enemies of Israel and of the Lord with all his own enemies wherethrough his son Salomon inherited the Kingdom of Israel in peace sate upon the seat of David his Father and ruled the whole land and the people of Israel through the Godly wisdom peaceably and judged them uprightly 3. This David was exceedingly beloved of the Lord in such wise that the Lord said that he had found a man according to his own heart And the Lord nameth him also in certain places of the Scripture my servant David the which signifieth unto us my service which is lovely 4. BEhold this righteous plant of David hath the God of heaven raised up by us now in the last time like as the Lord promised the same according to the Scriptures and hath ordained him in this day of his love to be a ruler which shall govern wisely He shall set up judgement and Righteousness again upon earth that Iuda may now in this time be hopen and Israel dwel undismayed or without fear For his seed shall stand from henceforth before the Lord and sit upon the seat of David for evermore like as there is written thereof 5. Behold this covenant hath the Lord made thus in times past with his servant David and sworn to keep the same with him for evermore 6. But now when as Salomon which is the right seed of his Father David hath inheriâ—ed in peace the Kingdom of Israel and the seat of David his Father so builded he at the same time an house or temple within Ierusalem unto the name of the Lord and also an house for himself which was the house of Salomon and all lands and people humbled them under Salomon and his godly wisdom 7. Salomon signifieth unto us peaceable or one which is rich of peace Ierusalem signifieth unto us a vision of peace or of perfâ—ction 8. O Ye dearly beloved consider here the Mysterie of the works of God and the providence of his unsearchable wisdom and behold in the Jmages and figures what they shew forth unto us 9. Verily they will now in this day of love express some singular thing unto us and declare in this last time a great mysterie For in this day they make known unto us that it all which they signifie or whereof they give their cleerness shall now in this last time be erected according to the true being and fulfilled or accomplished according to the heavenly truth 10. But in all this former beauty and in the garnishing of the images and figures wherewith the Lord trained or informed he children of Israel that they might thereout know or understand the very true so served they at that time not the very true which God required out of the imagelike or figurative services but they served the images and figures and were subject to the service of the Levitical Priesthood after the order of Aaron Which service increased alwaies in glory to the multiplying and greater respecting of the righteousness 11. NOw after that Salomon was fallen asleep and buried with his Fathers so rented then the Kingdom of the children of Israel into two parts and ten Tribes of Israel fell away from the house of David and chose unto themselves another king named Ieroboam which name signifieth unto us an assaulting or a tempting of the People 12. Through this king which reigned over the ten Tribes of Israel they departed away from Ierusalem from the Temple of Salomon and from the services of the Priests after the order of Aaron and set up for themselves services and images at Beth-el and Dan and so brought the holy places into desolation They instituted Priests also which were not of the Tribe of Levi out of Aaron wherewith they observed the services falsly and did that which displeased the Lord and were for that cause at the last vanquished by the king Salmanaser which came from Assyria and by him led away out of the land and are yet estranged from the same even unto this same day in which the Lord will presently bring them again to their heritage and to the house of David 13. Beth-el signifieth unto us the house of God and Dan the judgement 〈◊〉 coming from Assyria signifieth unto uâ— a peace bound or knit together proceeding from the snares or sins which one â—ayeth to such a purpose or wherewith 〈…〉 assaulted or tempted like as their first king Ieroboam had brought in the same 14. What we had here more to say of the children of Israel of their disobedience against the Lord wherethrough they in times past remained without the rest of their uncircumcision or which is the uncircumcision of heart of Israel's casting out and how long they shall abide cast out from the Lord as also when they shall be restored or set up again is declared in the Glasâ— of Righteousness The XVI Chapter BUt the Stock of David and all what was of the Tribe of Iuda and Benjamin kept themselves together and held them unto the services of the Priesthood out of Levi according to the ordinance of Aaron like as the Lord had commanded the same which they observed at Ierusalem in the house of the Lord prepared by Salomon 2. Howbeit the tribes of Iuda and Benjamin sinned against the Lord and estranged them even so through a confusion or commixture unto intanglement from his law and from the requiring of the same wherethrough the Lord gave them over also at the last into the hands of the King Nabuchodonosor coming from Babel the which signifieth unto us a sighing or heaviness through strictness proceeding from a confusion or from a commixture which hath intangled or snared it self in it self 3. This Nabuchodonosor of Babel utterly destroyed the temple of the Lord which Salomon had builded and burned the same and Salomon's house also he brake down the wals of Ierusalem and carryed away all the vessels of silver and gold which were in the house of the Lord and the most part of the Citizens of Ierusalem into Babylon Wherethrough the government of their King of Iuda with their Psalms Songs and Mirth was utterly laid down the house of the Lord brought in desolation and the City of Ierusalem as a ruinated City made to heaps of stones Whereover Ieremy in his Lamentations greatly sighed wayled and wept 4. NOw when the tribes of Iuda were led away into Babylon so must they then for their sins or confusions cause wherein they had mingled and bewrapped themselves together serve there the King Nabuchodonosor 5. But after that or after the end
unto him the freedome for to be unbound from the services not â—o the edifying of the Congregation but to â—nedifying and contention and is seduced and deceived by his owne spirit or imagination of â—he knowledge wherewith he also sâ—duceth â—nd deceiveth other moe which hear and folâ—ow him therein in such wise that they not â—â—ely utterly forsake the services and the â—mages figures and signes but also the obeâ—ience of the requiring of the gratious word raised up presently with us out of the grace â—f God according to his promises and the teâ—â—imonies of his holy Spirit and service of love â—nd make up themselves there against and â—ill needs even so according to the Imaginaâ—â—on of their knowledge live free or in freeâ—ome and cause nothing else but breach and â—ivision among the Congregations and resistâ—â—g against the Priests or Elders 16. Now when they have thus in every â—art forsaken and resisted or derided the â—â—age-like or figurative services counting them as unneedful so forsake and resisted they then those same contrary to Gods truth and his requiring and contrary to all godly and Christian ordinances and understand nothing at all of the mystery of those same nor of the right Salvation of men in Jesu Christ and run even so forth with the far inspection of their knowledge thinking all too little on the obedience which they are debtours to shew in the foregoing services And so they remain in the taking on of their owne freedom without the right and true freedom of the children of God Let every one take it to heart 17. BUt of these our fore-mentioned Sayings of the figurative services and Ceremonies consider ye dearly beloved how that the Christians for a certain season have had and ministred figurative services and been sustained therewithall till unto the day of the love of Jesus Christ. Which figurative services and Ceremonies have been the Images figures and shadowes of the true and spiritual things which were tofore through Jesus Christ come to pass seen heard aliâ—â— spoken and published in the true being foâ— that we should therethrough remember thâ— same true and spiritual things and that altogether in such wise as the Jews also had and ministered their figurative Services and Ceremonies wherewithal they were sustained unto the day wherein Christ was borne unto them of the seed of David Which figurative services and Ceremonies were the Images figures and shadowes to a memorial of the true spiritual things which should in the time to come come to pass and be seen heard also spoken and published in the true being of the uncovered face of Christ. The XXXI Chapter FUrthermore ye dearly beloved behold and consider how that he Catholick Church of Rome hath obediently grounded it self on the aforesaid Services and Ceremonies which are the figures or the prefiguration of the true Christianity and her Services and with diligence and ferventy observed those same to a good discipline or ordinance of the congregations and even so in figures borne the name of Christians 2. Christians signifie unto us those that are anointed For the holy ones of Christ were in times past so named which were anointed with the holy Spirit of Christ to Priests or Elders of the holy understanding 3. Through which anointing with the holy Spirit of Christ they were the upright Fathers of the houshold of Christ and foregoers in the Christian Congregation which dayly set forth the word of life which is Christ himself and had his shape in them before the Disciples of the Word or Christ wherewith the Novices or Disciples of Christ were nourished and brought up in all wisdome and righteousness of God with holy understanding unto the old age of the Man Christ or anointing of the holy Ghost The which shall now also in this day under the obedience of the love â—lourish even so in the true being according to the promises 4. THis same foregoing of the Elders of the holy understanding and their anointing of the Holy Ghost to Priests Elders and Fathers hath the Catholick Church of Rome till unto this day ministred and observed in figures as is abovesaid For to a token of râ—membrance of the holy anointing of Christ with the holy Spirit they have used the anointing with Oile And it is a Sacrament of the holy Church of Christ which signifieth unto us the anointing of the Priests or Elders with the holy Ghost 5. Of which anointed Elders or foregoers of the Communality of the Catholick Church of Rome the chiefest anointed is named Papa and signifieth unto us an old Father in the holy understanding also the chief Bishop or High-priest which hath his being or conversation in the most holy of the true and perfect Sanctuary and ministereth his office of the holy word thereout and for that cause is also named the most holy Father 6. For in times past the eldest in the holy understanding among them which were anointed with the holy Spirit was so named because that he before all other was the eldest in the holy wisdom of God also a Father of his spiritual Children and of all spiritual Persons 7. For through his service of the holy word the true clearness of Christ was spread abroad in all Lands and the living souls through the seed of the holy Spirit of Christ were brought forth to a communality of Christ and Tabernacle of the living God wherein God lived and dwelt Which true being is the upright service of Christ that flourished in force by the anointed with the holy Spirit of Christ. And hath to a memorial of the same service been figuratively observed in the Catholick Church of Rome 8. THose now that are next unto the fore-mentioned Papa are named Cardinals which signifie unto us the Principallest which are nearest in the most holy understanding of the godliness unto the eldest or holiest father have their coÌ„munion with him in the most holy of the true and perfect being 9. For the Principallest which were neerest to the Eldest or holiest Father in the old age of the holy understanding and in the righteousness and godliness were in times past so named in the true being 10. THe next unto the Cardinals are named Bishops Which signifie unto us the pastours of the sheep and Lambs of Christ and the chief Priests or Elders which in the service and testimony of the spiritual and heavenly truth administred by the chief Bishop or oldest Father are understanding and grown up so old and manly to the manly stock of the oldest Father that they have received the key of the spiritual and Heavenly understanding for to unlock the same holy intelligence unto them that are a-growing up to Elders and to ordaine them to Priests or Elders Wherethrough they distinctly divide the ordinance and laws of the spiritual and heavenly goods and the understanding of the same from the earthly natural and wordly ordinances namely to a good keeping and Pastouring of the