Messengers with Blindness so that they could not find the Door to go into the House Gen. 19.11 even so we have seen in our day when the Lord hath sent forth his Messengers and Servants from City to City and from one Country to another to perswade and exhort people to cease from the Evil of their Wayes and to fear and obey the Lord that created them How hath the Wicked even Gog and Magog mustered up their Forces against us the Dragon and his Angels against Michael and his Angels but Michael our Prince shall have the Victory And we have seen the Lord to smite the Aegyptians as he did Pharaoh and his Host when they pursued the Israelies and would not let them go free out of Aegypt according to the Mind and Will of the Lord that they might Worship him how wonderfully did the Lord God appear for their Deliverance to the dividing the Waters of the great Deep that his chosen People might pass through and escape the Hands of their Enemies The Sen obeyed his Command and fled and Jordan was driven back c. Exod. 14.22 Psalm 114.3 and Pharaoh and his Host overturned in the midst of the Sea so that they saw the Aegyptians dead upon the Shore Then they sung the Song of high Praises to the Lord and the Songs of Deliverance to the God of Israel whose mighty Wonders they had seen in the Deep And many in this day can sing a Melodious Song of High Praises to the God of their Salvation upon the Banks of Sion and upon the Walls of Jerusalem in the deep Sense of his many great Preservations and Miraculous Diliverances which we have known since we were a People by the saving Arm of his Power unto which we ascribe all the Honour and Glory of his own Works who is God over all worthy to be Magnified and in the highest Praised forever and evermore And as we have stood in his Counsel when with Tribulations and Temptations on every hand we have been surrounded and beset as the Israelites were whe nthe Sea was before them and the Aegyptians pursuing after them and Hills and Mountains on every hand yet standing still and in Patience waiting upon the Lord we have seen the great Salvation of God manifested in our greatest Straits and his Strength in our Weakness And although we be but poor and despicable Instruments as in the Eyes and Esteem of the Wise and Prudent of this World yet is the Wisdom of this World Foolishness with God and he is making choice of the Despised and Contemptible things of this World to Confound the Wisdom of the Wise and to bring to Naught the Understanding of the Prudent that no Flesh may glory in his Presence before whom every tall Cedar and sturdy Oak must how and all Shrubs must be rooted up not by Sword nor by Spear or any Carnal Weapon but by the Word of God's Power which is quick and powerful sharper than any two-edged Sword which Word also is as a Fire and an Hammer to cut down burn up and beat in pieces all the Ungodliness of Wicked men that stands in Opposition to Him whose right it is to Reign in the Kingdoms of Men. And we have seen the Uncircumcised Philistims to fall Heaps upon Heaps as they did by the hand of Sampson who had no better Instrument of War than the Jaw-bone of an Ass which in outward appearance was very Contemptible yet standing in that living Faith which gives Victory the Conquest is known And this is that Word of Faith which the Apostles preached by which the Just live to God and is much more pretious than Gold that perisheth One Grain of it if no bigger than a Grain of Mustard-Seed is sufficient to enable for an Encounter against the potent Enemy of the Soul Although he come like a roaring Lyon seeking his prey in this Faith there is safety for the Righteous by which the holy men of God stood and were upheld when they fought the good Fight of Faith and by which the Noble Warriors and Antients of Israel obtained a Good Report and did many Valient Acts and got Victory by and through it by the stopping the Mouthes of Lyons quenching the Violence of Fire escaping the Edge of the Sword out of Weakness were made Strong And by this Faith Women received their Dead raised to Life again c. Heb. 11.34 35. And others were Tortured not accepting Deliverance that they might obtain a better Resurrection And it was by Virtue of this Living Faith that David whilst a Stripling and a Keeper of his Father's Sheep went forth against and Encountred with Goliah of Gath that Great Gyant and Uncircumcised Philistim who had defied the Armies of the Living God and insulted over them because of his Greatness and Strength at which Saul was Discouraged But says little David Let no mans Heart fail because of him Thy Servant will go and fight with this Philistim Now when Saul seemed to Discourage him David answered and said unto Saul Thy Servant kept his Father's Sheep and there came a Lyon and likewise a Bear and took a Sheep out of the Flock and I went out and rescued the Lamb and slew the Lyon and the Bear And this Vncircumcised Philistim shall be as one of them because he railed on the Host of the Living God Moreover he said The Lord that delivered me out of the Paw of the Lyon and out of the Paw of the Bear he will deliver me out of the Hand of this Philistin So David went out against him not with Saul's Armour For sayes he I cannot go with these for I am not accustomed with his Staff and his Sling and Five SMOOTH Stones taken out of a Brook and when the Philistim saw David come he Disdained him being but a Boy and for the Meanness of his Instrument of War and said Am I a Dog that thou comest to me with a Staff with other Disdainful and Approbious Language But David answered Thou comest to me with a Sword and with a Spear and a Shield But I come unto thee in the Name of the Lord of Hosts the God of the Armies of Israel whom thou hast defied This Day will the Lord deliver thee in to mine Hands c. 1 Sam. Chapter 17. Read throughout So David slew this great Gyant with a Sling and a smooth Stone out of his Pag which was but a mean Instrument yet being handled in the Faith and Power of God prevailed and gave Israel Victory over their Enemies Oh! how precious is this Faith whereby the Righteous obtain Victory over both Inward and Outward Enemies from Generation to Generation This is that Faith which cometh by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God which Word is nigh thee even in thy Heart and in thy Mouth Rom. 10.8 And is the same Word unto which Moses recommended and directed the Children of Israel and earnestly pressed them to the keeping of the Commandment and the Word in the
lies slain in the Streets of the Ungodly World spiritually called Sodom and Aegypt that his got a place in man's Heart since the Fall The Foundation of this wicked World that is in Sin Polution that has so corrupted the Earth and filled it with Violence was laid by Transgression whereby Death came over all men But as by the Disobedience of one Man All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God so by the Obedience of one Man the Man Christ Jesus we come to be made alive again And as the Creature comes to joyn with the Manifestation of the Light of Christ Jesus the free Gift of the Father's Love who is full of Grace and Truth they come to know and feel his quickening Spirit which sets free from the Law of Sin and Death And keeping to the Light which discovers all the Deeds of Darkness they come to see their Way out of the old Adam to Christ the second Adam and how to refuse the Evil and chuse the Good according as in the Light it is made manifest for as saith the Apostle All things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light for whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Ephes 5.13 Now mind that in your own Hearts which reproveth in secret when no mortal Eye sees nor Ear hears the small still Voice which calls unto you when you are running to do Evil which grieves the Spirit of the Lord in you Return return hearken unto the Voice of Wisdom for she uttereth her Voice in the Streets of the World and in the midst of the Concourse of the People How long ye simple ones will ye love Simplicity and Scorners delight in their Scorning and Fools hate Knowledge Turn ye at my Reproofs c. Because I have called and ye have refused I have stretched forth my Hand and none regarded but ye have despised all my Counsel and would none of my Reproof I will also laugh at your Calamity when your Fear cometh like a Desolation and when Affliction and Anguish shall come upon you Then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but shall not find me because they hated Knowledge and did not chuse the Fear of the Lord But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely Prov. 1.22 23 24. Here the Wise Man in the Wisdom of God shews what is to be turned from and the Safety Peace and Consolation of those that turn at the Reproofs and hearken to the Voice of this pure Wisdom as also the Calamity and Distress of such as will not give ear to the Reproofs of Instruction which as one said is the Way to Life nor be obedient to the Measure of Light and Life in their Hearts such must reap the Fruit of their own Devices Job speaking excellently and experimentally of this Wisdom saith on this wise Where is Wisdom to be found and where is the place of Understanding Man knoweth not the Price thereof The Depth saith It is not in me and the Sea saith It is not in me It cannot be gotten for Gold neither shall Silver be weighed for the Price thereof But THE FEAR OF THE LORD that is Wisdom and TO DEPART FROM INIQUITY that is a good Understanding Death and Destruction have heard of the Fame of Wisdom and many can talk of it but they are Aliens to it and their Hearts remote from it Oh! the pure holy Fear of the Lord God it keeps the Heart clean it preserveth out of all Evil and delivers from the Snares of Death it is a precious Pearl indeed a matchless Jewel Where is the Man that is furnished with Eloquence to unfold the Excellency of this Wisdom or who knows the Worth of it but those who have digged and searched the Deep for it and when they have found it sold all their Treasure that they have been heaping up in their Notional and Artificial Wisdom which is from below and made a Purchase of this precious Treasure and Riches which endures forever such have made a blessed exchange never to be repented of the Thief cannot break through and steal nor Moth corrupt neither can Canker rust or eat this Treasure But this is not to be found or attained unto in the Path where the Lyons Whelp hath trodden the fierce angry Nature or the fierce Lyon has passed by no Vultures Eye nor Beast of Prey can walk therein And though the Lyons may suffer Hunger yet those that fearthe Lord shall want no good thing a blessed Priviledge indeed It was the Fear of the Lord that preserved Joseph in his tender Years when he was in Egypt and when the Egyptian Woman his Mistress tempted him How can I said he do this great Wickedness and sin against God Gen. 39.9 The Dread and Fear of offending the Lord was before his Eyes whereby he was preserved out of that Snare Oh that people would lay these things to heart and consider what they are a doing and search their Hearts in the Light and Fear of the Lord and humble themselves before him to whom they must give a just and final Account of the Deeds done in the Body that they may receive Mercy at his Hand before the Door be shut and there be none to open For saith the Lord by the Mouth of his holy Prophet I saith wash you make you clean put away the Evil of your Doings from before mine Eyes cease to do Evil learn to do well then come and let us reason together though your Sins were as Crimson they shall be made white as Snow though they were red as Scarlet they shall be as Wool If ye be willing and obedient ye shall eat the good of the Land but if ye refuse and be rebellious ye shall be devoured with the Sword c. And the Son of God saith Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy laden with your Sins and Iniquities and know not whither to go and I will give you Rest This is Glad Tidings of an Acceptable Rest indeed unto all who are weary with travelling in the By Wayes and Crooked Pathes which lead to the Chambers of Death And this Rest remains for all the People of God who have been willing to come unto Christ by his Light in their own Hearts and to bow to his Appearance And all you who are in want of this Rest and desire the attainment of it but are ignorant of the Way that leads to it my Exhortation and Advice unto you is to come unto him who said Come unto me all you that are weary c. of whom it was testified That when he should come he should reprove the world of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment and cease from seeking and striving in your own Wills which is not according to the Will of God and rest from your own Labours as God did from his mind that which discovers Sin and reproves in secret for it and turn at the Reproofs of it
Observations Dayes and Times and who shall have the greatest Wages as did those whom Christ called into the Vineyard who gives Liberally without upbraiding a Reward answerable to every ones Desert he is just and righteous in giving true Measure and full Weight and will reckon truly with every one and will bring all thy Deeds and Actions into thy Remembrance If his Witness in thy Conscience justifie thee then may'st thou with Courage Boldness and Joy appear before him but if it condemn thee then God is greater who will in no wise hold thee guiltless in his sight And the sluggish idle and negligent Servants shall be clothed with the Rags of old Adam and their Nakedness and Poverty will appear unto all For when Adam and Eve had sinned they saw their Nakedness and not before for then they were naked and strip'd of that Garment and Covering of Innocency wherewith the Lord had clothed them at the first and then they went to work and made for themselves Coverings of Fig-leaves which was but a mean Covering instead of the Garments of Innocency and Holiness which the Lord had put upon them And how insident is it unto fallen Man and Woman to make Unrighteous Coverings for Sin and as Adam after Transgression did to hide themselves under the Thickets and Shades of Excuses and Pretences But the Lord will rip off all such Coverings and Pretences and We from him is pronounced against such as are covered and not with his Spirit that they may add Sin unto Sin Isa 30.1 But now is the Everlasting Comforter come the Spirit of Truth which leads the Believers and the Obedient into all Truth of whom it is written on this wise as a signal Token and to give full Assurance that it is he who was promised When he is come he will reprove the World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgment of Sin because they believe not in me of Righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged John 16.8 9 10 11. Therefore arise stand up and make haste you who have been idle and come into the Vineyard and Work of the Lord who gives Light unto all whereby they may see what is the Work of the Day and what is required of them for when the Night comes no man can work for God Therefore follow Christ the Anointed of God who is given for a Leader and a Commander unto the People who is Jesus the Peaceable Saviour who leads his People out of and saves them from their Sins he has been sleighted despised and set at nought by the Wise Master Builders but unto a Remnant is he become the Head Stone of the Corner Chosen of God Elect and Precious unto all those who have received him and believed on him He is that Stone which Daniel saw cut out of the Mountain without Hands and is now growing great and shall fill the whole Earth and is striking at the Feet of the great Image and Images and the power of the Dragon Beast False Prophet is coming down apace and Mystery Bobylon the Great Whore and Mother of Harlots is now discovered who has ridden upon the Beast which by his power has defended her and has made the Nations drunk with the Wine of her Fornication which she had hold forth in her Golden Cup who hath this Inscription written in her Fore-head Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth Rev. 17.5 This Whore the False Church has gone a Whoring from the Life and Power of God and from Christ Jesus the Ground the Apostles and primitive Church of God was built And this false Church is that great Whore which John saw sit upon the Waters which are Nations Multitudes Tongues and People who are not mis-parallel'd to Waters because through the drinking of the Whore's Cup they are become unstable and wavering in their Minds and Judgments and hence did arise Confusion like a troubled Sea and great Combustions which ended in Bloodshed and Murder and the Beast upon which John saw the Woman sit became Scarlet coloured and he saw the Woman drunk with the Blood of the Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus that has been shed from Age to Age and cryes in the Ears of the Lord for Vengeance who will judge and avenge the Righteous Cause of the Faithful Followers of the Lamb with whom the Dragon Beast and False Prophet have made War because they have kept the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus But they overcame by the Blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their Testimony and they loved not their Lives unto Death These are they who are not defiled with Women but have come through great Tribulation and have made white their Garments in the Blood of Jesus And we know the Lamb shall have the Victory And he will overturn overturn until he come to reign whose Right it is whose Kingdom is an Everlasting Kingdom and whose Dominion endures throughout all Generations and the Kingdoms of this World shall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall Reign forever and ever Rev. 11.15 And Desolation and sudden Destruction is coming upon Babylon the great City of Confusion and all her Inhabitants and Merchants who have enriched themselves by trading in her Wares and with her Costliness shall weep and wail because no man buyeth them any more and they shall stand afar off for fear of her Torment and east Dust on their Heads and say Alas alas the Great City wherein were made Rich all that had Ships on the Sea by her Costliness for in one Hour she is made desolate Rev. 18.15 19. And the Lord will dry up the Tongue of the Aegyptian Sea and all the goodly Buildings and pleasant Pictures which men in their fallen Wisdom and sensual Inventions have been erecting and setting up must now be broken down and demolished by those Weapons which are not Carnal but Spiritual and mighty through God to the bringing down the strong Holds of Satan the Prince of Darkness And those whom the Lord has deliver'd out of this spiritual bondage and from under the Aegyptian Task-masters and has open'd their Eyes to behold their miserable Estate and the great Desolation that is coming upon them who are yet in this City whose rotten Foundation is tottering and ready to fall They cannot but call unto them and cry Haste haste and escape for your Lives out of Babylon and flee to the City of Refuge as just Lot did at the Warning and Call of the Angel of the Lord to haste out of Sodom and flee to the little City Zoar and how soon after was Sodom destroyed with Fire and Brimstone and how eminently was the Arm and Power of the Lord manifested in preserving his People to wit Lot and his Family in that day who smote the Sodomites which pursued his
AN INVITATION OF LOVE To all who Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness to come and take of the Water of Life freely without Money and without Price With a Word of Advice to such as are Asking the WAY to SION and are Weeping with their Faces thither-ward Together with A faithful Warning to the Inhabitants of BABYLON to come out of her lest partaking of her Sins ye also come to partake of her Plagues By Isabel Yeamens And I heard a Voice from Heaven saying Come out of her my People that ye be not Partakers of her Sins and that ye receive not of her Plagues Rom. 18.4 Printed in the Year 1679. TO THE READER Friendly Reader WHen in the weighty and deep Meditations of my Heart I beheld the States and Conditions of such as are inquiring the Way to Sion and have some tender desires begotten in them after the Lord and the Knowledge of his Way my Life was abundantly drawn forth in the Love of God with living breathings unto him in whom all Fulness dwells that of the Manifestation and free Dispensations of his Love Life all such may come to feel and receive and to take heed of sleighting the Day of their tender Visitation whilst the Lord secretly calls unto them by his good Spirit in their Bosoms lest the Night overtake them wherein no man can work And in the Sense of the Universal Love of God extended unto All Mankind I was constrained in my Spirit to commit these following lines to publick view as finding my Burden unremoved until I was made willing to communicate the same which I have done with as much brevity as I could with clearness hoping the ponderous Reader and such whom it chiefly concerns may not be distasted at the simplicity of the Srile or my want of Eloquence in expressing my self in things of this nature having herein hinted at divers things which I have experienced through the free Love of God to my Soul which seeming but little and low things yet may not miss of some service for the stirring up of the simple-minded to make a diligent search how the Case stands betwixt God and their Immortal Souls who thereby coming to see their Conditions and their Neglect and Disobedience in not answering the Lord's Requirings according to the Manifestations and divine Discoveries of his Light and Grace in their Hearts may come to redeem their Mis-spent Time which is irrevocable and take up a Holy Resolution by the Assistance of the Grace of God to redeem their Time to come by a Godly Righteous and Sober Conversation in the Fear of the Lord and by taking heed to this pure Principle of Light and Life may come to be enabled thereby to perform that Duty and acceptable Service which the Lord requires of them and receive the Reward of the Profitable and Obedient Servant is the Desire of my Soul And that none may sleight the Day of small things but be faithful to what little measure the Lord commits to them and thereby to become worthy of more So not desirous to be tedious or to undertake great things I recommend the Reader to the following Lines whose Mind I desire may be possessed with seriousness and with the Fear of the Lord when exercised in reading of things relating to Eternity so shall such reap Benefit hereby and answer the End of my Labours and Travails which is the Well-being of their IMMORTAL SOULS This is chiefly intended for the Northern Parts of this Nation where many are thirsting afresh after the Truth although ignorant of it and that such may be informed of the Way thereto and reap Everlasting Life by it is my Soul's Desire Isabell Yeamans An INVITATION of LOVE to all that Hunger and Thirst after Righteousness c. TO all you who are ignorant of the Way of Life and Salvation and are seeking the Living amongst the Dead Tombs and Sepulchres and are wandring in the Night in the dead Forms and empty Professions Will-Worships and Traditions of Men which are set up held and performed in man's Will and in man's Time and not in God's Time nor according to his Mind and Will and therefore are an abomination unto him Now that all such may be informed aright my Testimony and Exhortation in the Fear of the Lord is That he is not there but is arisen and ascended far above all Heavens the Stone is roled from the Door of the Sepulchre and the Grave-Clothes are left behind the Watch-men of the Night could not hold him nor the Grave contain him Oh! look not for him where he is not to be found as the Angel said to Mary Magdalen and the other Women He is not here he is risen and they declared his Resurrection John 10.17 Matth. 28.7 Where 't is manifest that the first Witnesses that were commissionated and that by the Angel of the Lord to preach the Resurrection of Christ Jesus were Women who as it s written returned with Fear and great Joy and could not but declare what they had seen and heard concerning the Lord Christ though yet it seemed to some yea of the Disciples themselves who were afterwards convinced of the Truth of those Women's Testimonies as idle Tales as it seems to many in this Age because the Resurrection is held forth and born Testimony unto by Women but blessed be the Lord he hath raised up many both Sons and Daughters to be living Witnesses this day of his inward and spiritual Appearance and Power of his Resurrection and Ascension So look not for him in the Shadows and Forms without the Power and Substance nor be satisfied with the hearing of him by the hearing of the Ear or a notional Traditional Knowledge without the saving Knowledge of Power for until you come to know his Power and Life in your selves to save you from Evil you are not come to the Substance but are still running from Mountain to Hill as Sheep having no Shepherd seeking living Bread in desolate places and hewing unto your selves Cisterns that will hold no Water an Evil which the Lord complain'd of among the Children of Israel saying Ye have forsaken me the Fountain of Living Water and hewn unto your selves Cisterus that can hold no Water So come ye off the Mountains of Esau into the low Valleys where the Springs of Life you may feel and come into the Valley of Jehosaphat where the Lord pleads with all flesh by Sword by Fire that through his deep Judgment for Sin and Transgression through true Acknowledgment and Repentane the Valley of Achor may be known to be a Door of Hope to the Transgressors and by this Hope through Faith come to receive Christ in you the Hope of Glory who is the Resurrection of the Just unto Life and of the Unjust unto Condemnation the first begotten from the Dead and the first born of every Creature and now glorified with the Father the Creator of all things who made the Heavens and the Earth the Sea
and the Fountains of Water who formed the Mountains and created the Winds and declares unto man what his Thoughts are Amos 4.13 the Lord of Hosts is his Name He is making himself known in the Hearts of people by his great Power who will overturn and remove all Mountains and Hills that may be shaken or removed that that alone which cannot be shaken may remain then shall the Loftiness of the Heart of Man be brought down and the Haughtiness thereof laid low that all Flesh may fear and tremble before the Lord who gives unto all Life Breath and Being And as Man and Woman comes to believe in the Light of Christ Jesus which discovers and makes manifest unto them the most secret Thoughts and intents of their Hearts that they are continually Evil in the unregenerate state for as the Lord said Every Imagination of the Heart of Man was only continually Gen 6.5 and the Prophet saith The Heart is Deceitful above all things and desperately Wicked who can know it I the Lord search the Heart and try the Reins to give unto every Man according to his Wayes This Light I say being believed in kept to and obeyed is able work a Change and to cleanse the Heart that was corrupted by Sin and Transgression and to beget good Thoughts and good Desires and to judge down the contrary even all the Corrupt Wayes that man in his own Inventions has involved himself into and forsaken his Maker But this is not of our selves nor by any Acquirement of our own but is the free Gift of God the Giver of all good things which he has given us to believe in and to him alone not unto any thing of our selves we ascribe the Glory and Honour to whom it is due forever Now forasmuch as all men have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God it pleased God out of his infinite Love and Compassion towards the Sons and Daughters of Men to send his only begotten Son Christ Jesus a Light into the World that all through him might be saved and have Everlasting Life who gave his Life a Ransom for all that he might purchase them by his precious Blood He is the Propitiation for our Sins and not for our Sins only but also for the Sins of the whole World 1 John 2.2 And as man comes to believe in his Name which is his Power he comes to know Reconciliation through his Death and Blood and by it Redemption up unto God again And the Everlasting Gospel which is the great Power of God unto Salvation to all that believe in it and obey the same comes here to be witnessed which is that Gospel which Christ commanded his Disciples to preach throughout the World to every Creature under Heaven Mark 16.15 And If any man preach any other Gospel then that which is already preached and declared let him be accursed Gal. 1.8 But if this Gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost in whom the God of this World hath blinded the minds of them which believe not lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ who is the Image of God should shine unto them 2 Cor. 4.3 4. Now this Everlasting Gospel is preached again in the same Power and Demonstration of the Spirit as in times past by virtue whereof Life and Immortality is again brought to Light so that the Prisoner of Hope comes to receive the acceptable Tidings of Liberty and Freedom out of spiritual Bondage and Captivity And the Lord is arising and appearing in the Hearts and Consciences of the Sons and Daughters of men by the bright shinings of the Beams of his Glory to give unto them the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Christ Jesus 2 Corinth 4.6 Now the Reason why people have been erring and wandring every one after their own Wayes and in the dark Imaginations of their own Hearts is for want of the Knowledge of the only true God and Christ Jesus whom he hath sent whom to know is Life Eternal and the Reason why People come short of this Knowledge is because they will not believe in and yield Obedience unto the Light of Christ Jesus manifested in their Hearts to give them the glorious Knowledge of the Lord and of his Way of Life and Salvation and to lead them from under Satan's power who hath held people in Ignorance through Unbelief and hath kept them under the Region of the Shadow of Death For Christ Jesus who said I am the Light of the World also said Except ye believe that I AM HE ye shall dye in your Sins and whither I go ye cannot come So that Unbelief in the Light was and is the Cause why people dye in their Sins and come short of the Knowledge of God and Jesus Christ whom to know is Life Eternal But Christ Jesus who is that Word that was in the Beginning by which all things were made that were made in whom was and is Life and the Life was and is the Light of Men John 1.4 he is the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World by which lost man comes to see his Way to God again out of his miserable Estate and undone Condition where all Flesh hath corrupted its way before the Immortal God in which way of Corruption by reason of Sin and Transgression there is none that doth good no not one And in this fallen Estate and deplorable Condition hath the Lord God beheld the Sons and Daughters of fallen Adam and with an Eye of Pity and in the Bowels of Compassion hath he looked down from the Habitation of his Holiness and hath sent forth the Son of his Love who by his Light and Grace appears in the Hearts of all Mankind his Light and his Grace and good Spirit is universal and freely extended unto all that as they mind it believe in it and are obediene to it they come to witness Salvation by it according to the Testimony of the holy Apostle The Grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts we should live soberly and godly c. Titus 2.11 12. Now there is none excluded from the Appearance of this free Grace of God nor any to be excused who receive it not and resit the Teachings of it But as many as are obedient to the Teachings of it in their own Hearts they come to witness Freedom and Liberty by it and Power in it to resist the Temptations and many Snares that be in the Ungodly World And those that hate the Reproofs of its Instruction which is the Way of Life and turn from it into Lasciviousness and Vanity they will find it to be their Condemnation and those are they that crucifie unto themselves afresh the Lord of Glory and put him to open shame and trample the Blood of the Covenant under foot as a thing of no value And here the Lamb
of an Higher Attainment or that it was higher or of further Latitude which certainly was more pernicious and Destructive for until the Temptation was entred into they had not the Knowledge of Evil by participation but were clothed with the Sweet Innocent Life of God which he breathed into them and dwelt in Covenant with their Maker But after the Enemy had prevailed and had subjected the Creature unto Vanity as saith the Apostle Romans 8. vers 20. not willingly but in Hope of an Higher Attainment or Better State than that wherein the Lord had placed them they were betrayed and lost their Habitation by breaking the Command of God and lost the Heavenly Dignity and Excellency of the first Creation and became dead as to that sweet Unity Fellowship and Access they had unto God and here the Serpent was found a Lyar who told them They should not surely dye c. So here Man and Woman were drove out of the Paradise of God and became degenerate Plants of a strange Vine branching forth it self into many Corrupt Trees whose Fruit have been Envy Wrath Murder and Persecution about Religion Sacrifice and Worship Pride Emulation Deceit and Hypocrisie and in these evil Branches have the unclean Birds and the Fowls of the Air lodged and the Cockatrice that comes out of the Serpent's Root whose Fruit saith the Prophet shall be a Fiery Flying Serpent Isa 14.29 Now the Cockatrice hath been hatching and bringing forth her Cage of unclean Birds by the power of the Serpent whereby they are become Birds of Prey to the persecuting of the Innocent Birth or good Seed of the Kingdom and quenching the good Desires which are in the Hearts of People But as the first Appearance or Motion to Evil is resisted and turned from the Conception thereof is prevented in the Heart for 't is there that Sin is conceived before 't is brought forth into action and the Cockatrice comes to be crushed in the Egg before it is brought forth to be a Bird of Prey and the Creature preserved out of the Snare And so it may be seen that this Crooked Serpent has been the ground Cause of all the Wo and Misery that is come upon Mankind who seeks to betray and deceive the Innocent as he did Adam and Eve who actually knew no Evil until under a fair Pretence he presented the forbidden fruit unto Eve the weaker Vessel who by hearkening unto him did eat and gave also to her Husband and so brought Death over themselves according as the Lord God had said In the day that ye eat thereof ye shall dye Thus by transgressing the Righteous Law of God in eating the forbidden Fruit Sin entred and Death by Sin which is come upon all and all have fallen short of the Glory of God And they that are feeding of the Tree of Knowledge without Life are under the same Sentence of Death which was passed over Adam and Eve through their Disobedience So Death reigned from Adam to Moses even over them who had not sinned after the similitude of Adam 's Transgression as saith the Apostle For as by the Offence of one Judgment came upon all men to Condemnation even so by the Righteousness of one the free Gift came upon all unto Justification of Life Rom. 5.18 And as many as receive the free Gift of Grace and Righteousness shall reign in Life by Jesus Christ And in this free Gift of God in which is Life eternal comes Man and Woman to inherit their former Priviledge and Right to the Tree of Life again for the universal Loving-kindness of the Lord God was such towards the Noble Workmanship of his Hands that notwithstanding Man and Woman had transgressed the holy righteous Law of the Lord and being first violated by the Woman yet he promised That the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpent's Head and to the Serpent he said I will put Enmity between thee and the Woman and between thy Seed and her Seed it shall bruise thy Head and thou shalt bruise his Heel Gen. 3.15 This faithful Promise in which the Patriarchs of old with the Prophets and Holy Men of God believed in the Fulness of time came to be fulfilled and the Virgin conceived by the Holy Ghost and by the Overshadowing of the Power of the Most High and brought forth that Holy Thing whose Name was called Jesus according as the Angel of the Lord had fore-told unto Mary saying Blessed art thou among Women thou hast found Favour with God for lo thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bear a Son and shalt call his Name Jesus Now Mary reasoned a little saying How can this be seeing I know not Man To whom the Angels Answer was The Holy Chost shall come upon thee and the Power of the Most High shall evershadow thee therefore that Holy Thing that shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God So Mary consulted no more but believing the Angel said Be it unto me according to thy word Luke 1.35 And in the overcoming Sense of the Joy which through Faith she had received said on this wise My Soul doth magnifie the Lord and my Spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour from henceforth all Generations shall call me blessed because be that is mighty has done great things for me and Holy is his Name So in the Seed Christ Jesus the second Adam that never fell who is made a quickening Spirit comes the Blessing again to be obtained and all those that believe in him come to be redeemed from under the Curse and to know his Spirit as a Standard lifted up in them to the crushing and breaking down the Head of the Serpent which is his Power so that the Enmity that is put between the two Seeds shall never be reconciled and as this Seed of Life which the good Seedsman has sown in every Heart comes to take root and grow it will suppress and keep under the Evil Seed of the Serpent which brings forth Bryars and Thorns to entangle the Soul as in a Net whose End is to be burnt up and consumed by the Breath of the Lord. And although the Enemy has come in the Night and hath sown Tares and Brambles in the Field which is the World where the good Seed was sown yet mark their End is to be cut down at the time of Harvest which is the end of the World and to be bundled up and cast into the Fire unquenchable Oh! what will become of all those in that day who have suffered the Tares and Brambles to grow have not believed nor put Confidence in but obstinately resisted the appearance of Christ the benefit of whose Sufferings Death Resurrection and Assention such might have received and have been cleansed from all their evil Wayes and corrupt Devices by Christ Jesus who is come a Light into the World that whosoever believes in him should not abide in Darkness but have the Light of Life John 8.12 he testified of
they with us might partake of the living Bread which comes down from Heaven I am that living Bread saith Christ that came down from Heaven My Flesh is Meat indeed and my Blood is Drink indeed whoever eats of the Bread and drinks of the Water that I give shall never hunger nor thirst any more Except ye eat my Flesh and drink my Blood ye have no Life in you This was an hard Saying to the professing Jews whose Eye was outward and carnal as it is with many this day who make a great talk of his Flesh and Blood But except you have Faith in his Name and by virtue of that Faith come to eat his Flesh and drink his Blood ye have no Life in you for sayes he who sais I am the Light Except ye believe that I am he ye shall dye in your Sins and whither I go ye cannot come so that it is Unbelief in his Light or Grace in people which disappoints them of the benefit of his Blood which cleanseth washes and sanctifies all those that believe in his Name and Power by which as they keep unto and abide in it they come to witness their Redeemer to live even Christ the Anointed of God the Everlasting Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which God hath pitched and not Man he is become our High Priest and the Bishop of our Souls he is teaching his People himself and our Invitation unto all is that they may come and sit down under the Teachings of his Spirit and Grace in themselves For whatsoever may be known of God is manifest within and he hath shewn unto Man what is good that he should obey it and do it and the Apostle said Examine your selves prove your selves know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you except ye be Reprobates Now thou who hast had thine Eye outward hast bin running abroad and spent thy Portion with the Prodigal and hast not obtained an Establishment in that which is durable and satisfying the Soul Return return to thy Father's House and turn thy Mind inward to that which thou hast run from and hast been seeking without thee and thou wilt find virtue in it and the Efficacy of it to satisfie thy breathing Soul for remember the Parable of the Woman who sought her piece of Silver without her House but turning within lighting a Candle and sweeping her House she found it and for the Joy that she had found this Treasure invited her Neighbours to come and rejoyce with her Now the Candle of the Lord which is the Spirit of a Man is lighted and the Houses of many are swept and that which they have been seeking without they have found within them to the exceeding great Joy Gladness of their Hearts so that they could not but invite and perswade others through the constraining Virtue and Soul-satisfaction they had receiv'd from it to turn in to that inward Word of Power which is nigh in the Heart and is a sure Word of Prophecy unto which sayes the Apostle Peter ye do well to take heed as unto a Light shining in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day Star arise in your Hearts 2 Pet. 1.19 Now we having taken heed unto this divine and heavenly Word in our Hearts we are come to see the arising of the Star of Jacob and to the bright and morning Star by which the blessed Day of God's great Salvation is known and experimentally witnessed by a Remnant Oh! how glorious is the appearance breaking forth of this heavenly Day in which the rising of the Son of Righteousness who is risen with Healing under his Wings many are come to behold how excellent is the Power Wisdom and Majesty of him who is greater than Solomon whose marvellous Order Magnificency and Splendor the Queen of Sheba from the uttermost parts of the Earth came to see who when she had heard and seen all that she desired yea to her Astonishment made this acknowledgment I believed not this Report until I had seen it with mine Eyes but lo the one half was not told me for thou hast more Wisdom and Prosperity than I have heard by Report 1 Kings 10.7 And many can now say that a Greater than Solomon is now come whose infinite Wisdom and Power whose excellent Glory and Majesty the Tongues of Men and Angels are incapable and insufficient to set forth who is filling his latter House with the Splendor of his own Glory for transcending and surpassing the Glory of the Outward Temple which was typical figurative of that which is not built with Hands and many Sons are coming from far and Daughters from the ends of the Earth to behold the Beauty and Comliness and Holy Order of the House of the God of Jacob which he is establishing atop of all the exalted Mountains and Professions without Possession and above all swelling Notions and Hills and Nations are flowing unto it according as the Lord spake by the Mouth of the Prophet Isa 2.2 Beautiful foâ—â—â—tuation is Mount Sion the Hill of God and it is now fulfilled in these latter days that many are come to say Let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord and to the House of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his Wayes and we will walk in his Pathes These are the true Jews in Spirit the Circumcised in Heart Ear whose Praise is of God and not of men such are the true Worshippers who worship the Father in the Spirit and in the Truth which is that living true and standing Worship set up and established above sixteen hundred years ago by our Lord and Saviour in that blessed Conference held with the woman of Samaria at Jacob's Well who hearing of the Disputes various Opinions about the Place where men ought to worship said Woman believe me The Hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain nor at Jerusalem worship the Father for the Hour cometh and now is that the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and Truth and such is the Father seeking to worship him John 4.21 23. This Woman by this Converse with Christ being converted to the Faith in him went her way into the City and gave this Testimony of him Come see a Man says she that has told me all that ever I have done is not this the Christ And many of the Samaritans believ'd on him not only because of the saying of the Woman who told them That he had told her all that ever she had done but because of his own Word And we know say they that this is indeed the Christ Now these men were directed unto Christ by the Declaration or Preaching of a Woman who was not despised by them because of her Sex but they received her Invitation came to be made Believers in him who had told the Woman all that she had done and well were it for the People of this
Nation if they would be of the Samaritans Mind and believe in that inward Testimony and Power which lets them see and tells them all that they do and reproves them for Sin and Evil. Now God is a Spirit and they that worship him aright must worship him in by the divine Assistance of his Spirit but those who deride and make a Mock at the Spirit and the Guidings and Leadings of it are known to be out of the Spirit neither know the Truth bat are Enemies to it and all their Worships Duties Self-Performances Offerings Sacrifices out of the Truth are an Abomination unto the Lord let their Pretence be never so specious Now God in his Love hath given a Measure of his Spirit unto All people whereby through Obedience thereto they may be enabled to perform that acceptable Service he requires of them and they that come to feel such a good Desire and holy Thirst begotten in them as did the Woman of Samaria after the Water of Life such by pursuance after the same in the Faith come to receive Satisfaction and Refreshment from the Fountain Christ Jesus who said unto the Woman If thou knew'st the Gift of God and who it is that saith unto thee Give we to drink thou wouldst have asked of him who would have given thee living Water those said he that drink of this Water speaking of the Water in Jacob's Well shall thirst again but whosoever shall drink of the Water that I shall give him shall never thirst but the Water that I shall give him shall be in him a Well of Water springing up unto Everlasting Life The Woman said unto him Sir give me of this Water that I thirst not again c. So it appears this Woman was ignorant of the Gift of God though it was in her yet by believing in and receiving his gracious Words she became acquainted with the true Knowledge of the Gift of God in her self as are all true Believers and spiritual Worshippers at this day and thereby to receive the ingrafted Word with Meekness which is able to save the Soul in and through which the true Worshippers offer up an acceptable Sacrifice within the Gates of the New and Heavenly Jerusalem which John saw coming down from God out of Heaven as a Bride adorned for her Husband Salvation is the Walls of this holy City and her Gates Praises neither in her is there need of the Light of the Sun or of the Moon or Stars but the Lord God and the Lamb is the Light thereof and the Nations of them that are saved must walk in the Light of it rev 21.23 24. Now we who are come to witness this defirable and glorious Habitation of Reft and Peace which through many deep Sufferings Cryes and Travails of our anxious Spirits we have mourned for sought after and obtained we cannot but declare unto others in the Love of God with tender Pity and Compassion unto their Souls who are tossed about with every Wind of Dectrine as a Ship in a storm and even labour to perswade such who are thus distressed to lay hold on the great Salvation of God which he in and by his Son Christ Jesus has freely tendred unto all People to be his Salvation to the Ends of the Earth a Light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the Glory of his People Israel this is he whom good old Simeon saw in his day when he was waiting for the Consolation of Israel Luke 2.25 And you who are looking for Christ without you in the outward Forms and Traditions my Advice unto you is To turn to that Principle in your own hearts that is meek and lowly for sayes Christ Learn of me I am meek and low in heart and ye shall find Rest unto your Souls Mat. 11.29 The Humble he teacheth his Way and the Meek will he guide in Judgment This is the good Physician of Value who hath brought Balm from Gilead and gives Health to the wounded Soul he washes and thoroughly cleanses the Wound when all that has poluted and defiled the Heart and Conscience is purged and done away then he pours in of his precious Oyntment which gives a fragrant smell to those who have been poluted and defiled by reason of Sin of which the Oyntment was a Figure that was poured upon Aaron's Head and run down to the Skirts of his Garment and was precious and if that was precious which was outward and typical how much more is this which is an inward and spiritual Unction which only can reach the Soul as that did the Body and which comes from Christ who is anointed with the heavenly Oyl above his Fellows by vertue of which inward Anointing Health Soundness of heart and mind comes to be known again by those who through this Universal Grace receive it a measure of which Grace is committed to every one to profit withal if they would prove it and try it it is one and the same in Nature and Quality though not in Quantity For unto one he gave five Talents to another two and to another one and to every man according to their several Abilities in the least of which is sufficientcy if obey'd and improv'd and where much is given much is required But the wicked and sloathful Servant who had but one Talent counted the Lord an hard Master because he was negligent and careless to improve it and hid his Talent in the Earth but read his Portion was he not cast into utter Darkness where is weeping and gnashing of Teeth and the same Reward to this day remains for all the Negligent Unfaithful and disobedient Servants who will not improve their Gift and Talent committed unto them Now to speak a little after the manner of men and to compare Spiritual Things with Temporal That as no Malady or Distemper of the Body can be healed without the Application of some suitable Medicine and that only such as can reach unto the grieved part even so no visible Preparatory or outward Existence can reach unto or effectually heal a Wounded Soul but the alone saving Health and Power of Jesus and whoso makes a right Application of it comes livingly experimentally to witness the blessed Effects thereof which are the same as in the dayes past that is to give Sight to the Blind to cause the Deaf to hear the Lame to walk the Leper to be cleansed and the Tongue of the Dumb to be unloosed to praise the Name of the Lord and to magnifie his great Power in the Land of the Living and the Poor in Spirit have received the Everlasting Gospel of Peace which is freely preached and Life and Immortality is brought to Light thereby Oh! the Day of Glad Tidings is come and the Year of Jubile to the Prisoner of Hope and to the Captives and Disconsolate Souls is known who had no Comforter in the Earth nor any to be found that had the Tongue of the Learned to speak a
word in season in the needful time But now has the Lord appear'd to comfort the Mourners in Sion and to give Beauty for Ashes the Oyl of Joy for Mourning and the Garment of Praises for the spirit of Heaviness Isa 61.3 Therefore lift up your Heads ye mournful Travailers who have been weeping as Rachel for her Children and refused to be comforted because they were not Jer. 31.15 For the Comforter is now come even the Spirit of Truth which leads into all Truth all those that are willing to follow him who saith I am come that you might have Life and that you might have it more abundantly John 10.10 and he will lead you by a Way you know not where you shall not Err. Life from God the Fountain of Life and Glory is now come and is entered into the Witnesses the Graves are opened the Dead is raised and they that hear his heavenly Voice their Souls live unto him This is the new Birth which the Apostle speaks of on this wise My little Children of whom I travail in Birth again until Christ be formed in you Galat 4.19 Here the Apostle travailed for the bringing forth of that holy Birth which is conceived by the holy Ghost and is born of the Water and of the Spirit and is made a new Creature in Christ for sayes he If any man be in Christ he is a New Creature But Nichodemus a Ruler of the Jews who came unto Jesus by Night reasoned carnally on this manner How can a Man be born which is Old can he enter again into his Mother's Womb and be born How ignorant was this Teacher of Israel concerning the Work of Regeneration it was a sealed Book and a Mystery unto him as it is to many Wise Professors and Night walking Nichodemus's of this Age who though they pretend to high things yet stumble at that which should open their Understandings and give them a true Discerning betwixt that which is born of the Flesh and that which is born of the Spirit but are yet in the dark and their Understandings vailed by reason of Sin and Transgression which stands as a Partition Wall unremoved and the old man with his Deeds not put off nor the new man the second Adam put on which bears the heavenly Image and being gone astray and alienated from the Life of God in themselves they become not acquainted with that which should work a Change in their Hearts not withstanding all their Profession of God and Christ in Words whilst in their Works they deny him Now the birth of the flesh is known by its fruits which is Envy Wrath Murder and Persecution of that Birth that is born after the Spirit hath been so even from Righteous Abel to this very day for Cain who was the first that was born of a Woman envyed his Brother Abel and slew him because his Brother's Sacrifice was accepted and his rejected whose innocent Blood from the Ground on which it was spilt cryed in the Ears of the Lord for Vengence as doth the Blood of the Innocent People of God this day cry unto him who will render Judgment and Vegeance upon the Enemies of his Righteous Seed and People who have sacrificed unto and worshipped the Lord their God according to his Commands and the Requirings of his holy Spirit in their Hearts And Ishmael the Son of the Bond Woman who was born after the Flesh and is in Bondage with her Children he was a Mocker and Mocked Isaac who was the true Seed and Heir of the Promise so all those now who are of Abraham's Faith are of the true Seed and inherit the Blessing and Kingdom prepared for them before the Foundation of the World And again you may read how Esau the first birth who was a prophane man and sold his Birth-right for one Morsel of Meat he set himself against Jacob the second Birth who was of the true Seed and righteous Line unto which the Promise and Blessings did descend and appertain So here people may see how that after man had transgressed and forsaken the Lord he fell short of the Blessings of God and in that state the first birth which was of the Earth earthly and sensual was rejected with its Offerings and Sacrifice so it is the second birth which is after the Spirit that obtains the Blessing And Haman an Informer against Mordecai was of this corrupt seed birth of the flesh whose Off-spring as well as himself has been persecuting the Members of the true Church Seed of God for these many hundred years unto this very time and all about Religion Sacrifice and Worship so that our Persecutors who have been rending and tearing like Dogs and Bears and persecuting people for their Non-conformity and different Perswasions about Religion may see their Off spring and who was their Captain and General in this wicked Work whose Spirit is alive though his Body be dead and it will deceive them in the end And Wo and Misery will be the Portion of all such if not prevented by timely Repentance at unawares when 't will be too late to call unto the Hills and to the Mountains to fall upon them and cover them from the Presence of the Lord and to hide them from his dreadful Majesty and fierce Indignation which is kindled against all the Enemies of his chosen People who are unto him as the Apple of his Eye and no Way will be found to escape his terrible Judgments For such as every one sows such must they reap and they that sow to the flesh shall of the flesh reap Corruption but they that sow to the spirit shall of the spirit reap Life Everlasting Gal. 6.8 And if they who are and persist in Cain's nature and Esau's spirit seek a place of Repentance with Tears as they did they shall not find it but shall be like Cain who was a Fugative and a Vagabond in the Earth being driven out from the Presence of the Lord and said My Punishment is greater than I can bear Oh! that people would but consider what they are a doing and to whom they yield their Members Servants to obey and follow that Exhortation of the Apostle Rom. 6.13 Yield not your Members as Instruments of Unright cousness unto sin but yield your selves unto God for the Wages of Sin is Death but the Gift of God is Eternal Life Now this Gift of God is freely extended unto all Mankind in and by which he calls and excites to Purity and Holiness and to turn to him and forsake Sin which makes the Separation and to come out of Ungodliness and all Uncleanness The Call of the Lord has reached unto all but the Apostle saith Have they not all heard yes verily their sound went into all the Earth and their words to the end of the World Rom. 10.18 but all have not obeyed the Voice of the Lord. Oh! why will ye stand idle in the Market-place pleading for and contending about outward
Heart and said It is NOT in Heaven that thou shouldst say Who shall ascend to bring it from thence NEITHER is it beyond the Sea that thou shouldst say Who shall go over to fetch it us but the Word is very nigh thee in thy Heart and in thy Mouth for to do it Behold this day I have set before thee Life and Good Death and Evil Deuteronomy Chap. 30. Verse 12 13 14 15. From whence I conclude and am fully satisfied that Life and Good consists in and is obtained by hearkening unto and obeying that Word that is nigh in the Heart And on the contrary by sleighting and rejecting of it Death and Evil cometh upon the Souls of all those who running after Empty Words and after the Tree of Knowledge and come not to the Guidance of that Inward WORD in the Heart which is able to give them Acceptance with the Lord. For Without Faith viz. in this Word which purifies the Heart it is impossible to please God and by it we have Access unto him But a Dead Historical or Notional Faith will profit none But that which purifieth the Heart and worketh by Love and purgeth the Conscience from Dead Works of which Christ is the Author and Finisher too that only will profit And this True and Living Faith is known by the Blessed Effects and Works of it for as the Body without the Spirit is Dead so Faith without Works is Dead also James 2.26 And all those that are true Believers in Christ Jesus the Lamb of God that takes away the Sins of the World they come to find the Powerful Operation of this Faith in his Blood to cleanse and purifie them from all Filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit and hereby are made Vessels of Honour and fit Temples for the Lord to dwell in being sanctified through the Blood of Cleansing and Washed with pure Water and made clean thereby so that an Acceptable Sacrifice and a Pure Offering is offered up unto God from a clean Vessel which is a Sweet Savour unto him and well pleasing in his Sight and hereby we know that we are of God because we have Admittance into his Presence and free Access to the Throne of his Grace so that whatsoever we ask by Faith and in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ it is granted unto us And this Faith is the Gift of God and is received and witnessed in receiving Christ the true Light But they that deny the Light are Strangers to this Faith and so are ignorant of the Blood of Cleansing and of that which should reconcile them to God and discover unto them the Mysteries of his Kingdom But my true desire are that all who in any measure are stirred up and feel an inquiry and search begun in their Hearts after the Lord and the knowledge of his Way that such may receive the word of Truth into their Hearts and that it may be as Seed sown upon good Ground which takes Root downward and brings forth Fruit upward and an Heavenly increase to God and Satisfaction and Comfort to their Souls may be witnessed that all old things may be done away the old Heavens and the old Earth with the beggarly Elements and Rudiments of the World that the new Heavens and the new Earth may be known wherein dwells Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost Oh! Prise the Day of your Visitation and let it not slip over your Heads unregarded lest it be said unto you as it was to Jerusalem of Old How often would I have gathered you as a Hen gathers her Chickens under her Wings But ye would not Behold your Habitation shall be left unto you desolate Matth. 23.37 38. Now mark 't was not because they COULD not come unto Christ but because they WOULD not that they were left ungathered there was a Sensual and Corrupt Will in them that would not be subject to him that called them nor bow down their Necks to Christ's Yoke but Stiff-necked and Rebellious were they wherefore Christ withdrew himself and said unto them Henceforth ye shall not see me untill ye say Blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord vers 39. Now consider your Latter End and labour to make your Calling and Election sure that when you come to render a final Account of the Deeds done in the Body to the Great and Mighty Judge of Heaven and Earth before whose Tribunal Seat of Judgment All must appear you may receive the Sentence of PEACE and the Reward of WELL DONE GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD Oh! this will be a joyful Sentence and more Estimable than all the Glory of Egypt-or the Treasure of Ten Thousand Worlds where the Soul comes to possess an Everlasting Inheritance and a Crown of Life and Immortality among them that are sanctified where the Song of High Praises and Everlasting Halelujahs is sung to the God of their Salvation who hath wiped away all Tears from their Eyes and Sighing and Sorrow is fled away Which are the true Breathings of her who desires the Everlasting Well-being of the Souls of all People Isabel Yeamans Swarthmore the 2d Moneth 1679. THE END