yet its validity power and vertue is nevertheless in it self and though them that are careless and heedless say we feel no power nor sufficiency in it to save us from sin yet this makes not void their confidence who have received it and knows its power which hath given them power and also sufficiency to do the will of God what though unbelievers who are in the alienation say there is no beauty in Christ neither form nor comliness this makes not his glory void who is the express Image of the father full of grace and truth the Disciples saw it and bore record of him who were in the faith and the Pharisees said he had a devil who were in the unbelief but in brief this is my testimony that the grace of God the perfect gift of God which shews ungodliness and leads from ungodliness all that are taught by it is a sufficient teacher of it self I mean as the power of Christ through it is made manifest unto all them that hearken to it Paul a Minister of the word of reconciliation who was rapt up into the third heaven where he saw things unutterable came to be tempted and buffetted with the messenger of Satan and fear and doubting rose up in him and he prayed unto God thrice and this answer was given unto him my grace is sufficient for thee so this is evident to all understandings who are opened by the Lord that which shewed him the temptations and Satans messengers and Satans buffetings was sufficient to preserve him and so is it for all who singly are kept to it and in it sufficient to shew ungodliness because of its purity and to lead from worldly lusts by its power and to teach the will of God and to live like unto God in this present world and this testimony I bear of it and to it even what as I have felt and tasted and handled of its sufficiency and vertue and power of its operation for the confirmation of the same truth which is believed by many brethren and also for the information of them who thirst after the Lord and for the opposition of all the gainsayers and opposers of it which testimony I commend to that of God in every man which will witness me herein in the day of God when all hearts is opened and all falshoods and truth is made manifest in the mean time shall rest in that which I have declared of in which there is pure and perfect peace A word to you wise men of this world who are glorying in the sound of words and worshipping outward appearances to all wise and litterall professors who think you are worshipping God aright who think to search into the deep things of God by your natural wisdom learning and parts and study GOd hath broken open the seals of the great deep where the wonderful unutterable things of God is revealed from whence eternal wisdom is flowing forth to his little ones whom he hath sanctified from the womb and his power and glory is he sheding abroad and making it to flow forth as though it issued out of a womb by which power and wisdom you are all weighed even by one who is swaddled about with righteousness and girded up with the girdle of truth you are all measured as with a span and are all weighed as with a scale all your parts tongues languages interpretations significations wisdome that is come to be enjoyed by them who have believed in the true light that lighteth everyman wch rounds you all as a heap measurs you all as with a line your breadth length height depth your parts tongues languages interpretations is but all natural words are but empty sounds though there be many languages and each have an interpretation and a signification they are all short to dâ—clâ—re the life the immeasurable being of eternal life you with all these are on heaps disjointed one from another your Rhetorick Philosophy your framed and devised disputations your tongues and the significations of all tongues cannot know the mind of the Spirit neither knows the original of eternal salvation by all these and so not knowing the signâ—fication of the living eternal spirit in your selves you invent study devise forms and frames up things in your carnal mind by the strength of your learned studied devised parts and framed speeches and hath filled the whole world with your dark muddy conceptions and hath led all out from seeking after the living wisdom of God which is from above which was before your tongues and languages was and they have sucked in your conceptions and distinctions and your devised fables and your imagined worship that many have lost the sence of any thing of God in themselves to guide them and when you have come as far as you can in those things and have devised in your minds by the strength of those parts natural you are farther from the knowledge then before and all that hear you and sucketh in your conceptions and imaginations into their hearts they are farther off Gods true knowledge then they were the day in which they came out of their mothers womb it is a lamentation to see how people are gone out of the pure simplicity which is in Christ into subtilty and deceit stuffed up full brim-full of that which must be all poured out as water before they and you all come to the least measure of Gods true and saving knowledge Oh a dreadful day is come upon many and it lingers not but will come swiftly as a thief upon you who have taken away the key of knowledge and gives people that which will not open and tells them of a litteral carnal thing that must give them entrance you and all they will be shut out together among the uncircumcised as fools though you count your selves wise men your wisdom will perish and your honour will be laid in the dust the time hastens it is the word of truth to you all And you litteral professors who have got the Scripture into your head and into the carnal mind to talk on and are run into so many heads you are almost past numbring and hath exalted so many horns yet the number is read the number of the heads of the beast and the number of his name you have taken up things and are exalting a visible shadowish practise and neglecteth the liâ—e and are making Idols of those things which were but a figure and a representation in their purest time now you like the Phariseâ—s are limiting the Lord that if he will not appear unto you in those thiâ—gs that you have prescribed unto your selves and fetched in from the lâ—tter and gotten it into the fleshly part which is heaped up as a mountain in many of you so high above Gods pure witness in you and so high above the appearance of God in you that you have quite lost the sight of that in your selves which should give you the knowledge of the living God and
SOME OF THE MISTERIES OF GODS KINGDOME Declared as they have been revealed by the Spirit through FAITH For the Information of all such who have erred for lack of knowledge in their Judgements and have perished for lack of understanding to the intent that they may for the time to come wait in that which gives the true knowledge of God and of his Kingdome and of the Mysteries thereof which comes to be revealed through Faith to the upright in HEART Also for the confirmation of such who are made partakers of the like precious Faith By one who is made partaker of the riches of his grace and of the salvation which is in Christ Jesus revealed through the Spirit called Francis Howgill The secrets of the Lord are with them that feare him LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth neer Aldersgate 1658. The particulars treated on in the following DISCOURSE 1 WHat the day of the Lord is and to whom it hath appeared and how it is seen and discovered 2 What it is and what it will be to the wicked declared 3 What it is to the righteous and how he appears to them and whether we are to look for it while in the body resolved 4 Where it doth appear and how it cometh and how it is to be looked for declared 5 What the Spirit of the Lord is and how it comes to be received which discovers the things of God 6 How the spirit of truth worketh and opperateth in them who are convinced and yet have not obeyed it shewed 7 How the spirit of the Father worketh in them who hearken to it and are in some measure made partakers of its power shewn 8 Vnto whom the Spirit of the Father bears witness and seals assurance of the Fathers love and of justification with God declared 9 What the grace of God is which is free and to whom it hath appeared and where all is to wait to receive it 10 Whether all have received the grace of God or no and whether it be a sufficient teacher in it selfe demonstrated 11 Some objections answered 12 A word to the wise men of this world who are glorying in the sound of words 13 Also another to them who are glorying in outward appearances and worshipping visible things in stead of the life 14 The Kingdome of God and his Christ declared in some measure as it is revealed by the Spirit what it is and where it is to be waited for and how it comes to be revealed in them that believe 15 Divers Objections answered To the READER Reader IN times past in the night of ignorance when men groped in the darke as blinde men since the Apostles days and out of thicke darknesse have spoke darkly of the things of God and of his Kingdome and written many things about the things of God and of his Kingdome which hath fed the darke mynds of many who are unconverted unto God And seeing how many people are confused in their mindes and erre in judgement and have lost the key of knowledge which should give an entrance into the mystery of Gods kingdome and open their hearts Therefore in compassion unto them who are thirsting after the Lord to finde him these few things I was moved to write for the sakes of those who have no place to rest in or upon to the intent that all may wait in that through which God reveals his minde and manifests his true knowledge in man and these things that I have written as they were revealed to me and in me by his pure Spirit If thou wait in the manifestation of the Spirit these things thou wilt see to be truth though hid and vailed from the world that lies in wickednesse as thâ—u comes out of its nature I have not written for to please men of corrupt minds who glory in words and outward appearances and glory in naturall parts and in sounds and are erred from the life but to the simple-hearted and for the strengthning of the weake and for the understanding of the simple and that which thou seest in the following discourse which thou canst not close with let it alone and judge nothing before the time in thy wisdome which is earthly or in thy reason but in that and to that of God in thee I desire to be approved and to nothing â—lse and shall be made manifest in the day of the Lord which is dawning in the world and many have seen it to appear in power and glory wait thou in thy own particular that thou maist fâ—ele thy own condition and see thy own state and that which lets thee see thy own condition will let thee see the Lord and what I have declared of him to be true I am thy friend in truth and wisheth good to all men F. H. THe Lord God of the whole earth who lives for ever even the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and Jacob whose Throne is established in righteousness for ever who rideth upon the heavens and shines forth in his eternal excellency from the firmament of his power he is manifesting himself in his power as in the dayes of old revealing his righteousness as in the years past and pouring forth his spirit upon his sons and daughters according to his promise and they that believe comes to be made partakers of the blessing of the everlasting Hills even the Lord who appeared at Sinai unto Moses his servant in the bush who rose up from mount Seir and shined forth in his brightness from mount Paran and came with ten thousands of his Saints even he from whose right hand went a fiery Law so that the people could not behold his glory the same is he who hath now appeared in this the day of his power and is appearing whose glory shall dazel the eyes of the world whose brightness shall make dim all the worlds glory and stain its wisdom and shut it up in utter darkness that it shall not aâ—pear to have any existance or being and the shadow of death shall flie away and all the haughty and lofty Princes of this world shall be horribly afraid the beasts shall go into their dens when the day appears and the Lambs of the everlasting fold shall come forth and be fed in the fat valleys where the springs of life compasseth about all the banks and rejoyce in their shepherd and shall say The Lord is my shepherd which many at this time doth admire and say What hath the Lord wrought who have seen his wonders in the dayes of old and have seen his noble acts which the fathers have told of who are fallen asleep and are at rest in the Lord and now many is God bringing to see their witness to be true and to have the same fulfilled in themselves honour and praise unto him for ever who is the stay and strength of all his people for ever And the day of the Lord is broken and the light hath appeared that manifesteth
all things which are reproveable and the day-star is arisen in the hearts of many and they are come to see that fulfilled in their hearts which Peter exhorted them to wait for and to take heed unto the sure word of prophesie until the day appeared and did dawn in their hearts which day when it appears and to whom it appears discovereth all things and maketh all things manifest as it is declared by the Spirit of truth in the Scripture of truth and every mans work shall be tried of what sort it is and of what nature it is and this day hath appeared to many praises to the Lord who have waited for it and now they see every thing in its ground and rise and every tree and fruit is seen according to its kind whether good or bad and every mans works is obvious to every one who are in the day and upon whom the morning of righteousness hath appeared and the Sun of righteousness hath shined upon whereby that is seen in every one by the light which is truly called day by the Lord who causeth it to spring from on high which is reproveable and condemnable and also whatever is justifiable and unreproveable is seen by the day of the Lord appearing in the heart The day of the Lord what it is and to whom it hath appeared discovered and how it is seen GOd is a spirit his day is spiritual and is seen with a spiritual eye its pure light pure brightness the pure shining forth of the Lord in his glorious excellency the pure shining forth of eternity life puting forth it self in its brightness holiness sheding it self abroad in its glory purity spreading it self in its immeasurable excellency and can onely be seen as it is in it self by the children of the light that are born of it there is a natural day there is a spiritual day the natural day receives its brightness from the Son the spiritual day receives it brightness from the Son of righteousness by whom it s brought forth without whom nothing was made or is made or brought forth but by him who is the fountain of life and as the natural day receives its clearness from the natural Sun and is discerned by the natural eye of a natural man and all things natural are seen and discovered by and in the natural day and are perspicuous and obvious to him that hath his natural sight even so from the Sun of righteousness the Lord of glory light and purity the day of God receives its brightness and is issued out from him by the rays of his brightness and is discerned and seen only by the spiritual eye of the spiritual man who is the Image of the father brought forth in life and in his own nature and quality that is to say from God the Father of life by Christ Jesus the life of men the light of the world and this is the birth which is born from above which is of the nature of the Father and the Sun and of the day and he onely comes to behold this day and discerns all things of the fathers kingdom by it and likewise discerns all the hidden things of dishonesty and the works of darkness which is brought forth by the Prince of darkness who is shut up in eternal and utter darkness which is his dwelling place for ever which is his residence and shall be the residence of all the workers of iniquity that bear his Image for ever Obj. But some may be ready to say It is not yet appeared and all things are not yet made manifest and that day is not yet come neither hath appeard in this age to any Answ. What if a man that is naturally blind say that there is no light in the day nor in the Sun because he sees none is therefore there no light in the day nor in the Sun And what if all things be alike unto him day and night so that he can distinguish nothing doth this therefore make void their seeing who do see with the natural eye both the Sun and the day and hinder them from distinguishment or discerning And what if they who are spiritually blind and are children of the night say they see nothing nor beholds nothing of the day of the Lord or of the discovery of the things of God or of his gloâ—ious appearance which many witness doth this therefore make their sight void or discovery of the things void to them who have seen into the things that be of Godâ— kingdom the unbelief of some doth not make the faith of them that do believe void God forbid What the day of the Lord is and what it will be to the wicked declared AS I have said though the day of the Lord be pure light and brightness in it self and mixeth not with the night which is of a contrary nature because the Lord in the beginning separated them and set a decree which will last unto all perpetuity and that which limited the bounds and circumferenâ—e theâ—eof now is the same I say though the day of the Lord be pure and keeps its purity and property and nature and is still one and the same in it selâ— for nothing can alter its purity yet it is a day of blackness and gloominess and a notable terrible day unto the wicked who hates its appearance and hates the light children of falshood and of deceit whose deeds be evil it makes them and their deeds manifest there it is unto them as it is written in a certain place The eye lids of the morning are unto them as the shadow of death the appearance of the Lord affrights them and they would run from it as a thief that diggeth through a wall and breaketh open a house in the night when deep slâ—ep is upon men but when the day appears that discovers his actions he is afraid because he wil then if he stay there be seen and all that live wantonly upon earth whose hearts are set to seek after wickedness as for hid treasure the day of the Lord will steal upon such as a thief and will come as upon a thief and they being children of the night and bringing forth the fruits of darkness contrary to the light they will have their portion in utter darkness and eternal vengeance will compass them as a wall and fury as a fiâ—e that devoureth all the fewel so shâ—ll the ungodly perish and have their portion with hypocrites Think on this all you raylers and revilers of the light and of the appearance of God and repent for as â—â—e wilde asse that snuffs up the winde and they that seeks will not weary themselves with her yet a time cometh when she may be found and taken Even so all the ungodly though they may runne as a wild Asse traverse their way as a Dromedary yet the moneth cometh and the day cometh they wil be overtaken in the middest of security and they shall not escape And though the children of
this world teachers of this world and professors of this world who profess the Scriptures have prayed for the day of the Lord yet when it comes it will be as hot burning fire as devouring fire and they will fall as stubble and as burnt mountains before it and will not be able to abide for as I said whatsoever is reproveable is manifest by the day the light which is eternall in which God appears and it shall appear even to the wicked to the ungodly they shall be made manifest that which is manifest is not hid but seen and brought to light and beholden So all you hirelings who preach for hire and you people that love to have it so you shall not be hid all gainsayers of the truth you shall be found out all shall be convinced of their ungodly deeds and hard speeches and that which makes your deeds manifest will be the day and that will convince you for even the wicked shall see his appearance although to condemnation shame and contempt They shall see him whom they have pierced And know further even in the wicked God hath a witnesse which is pure which checketh often though they heed it not because the God of the world hath blinded their eyes yet when Christ the life shall appear he will make that see in the wicked which they have put out and the God of the world hath blinded yet he by his power will open even the eyes of the wicked and they shall see him and his coming in dread and his pure appearance which shall make them horribly afraid and his day and appearance will be to their sorrow Although they would not see yet they shall be made to see and to hear that which they would not heare when God sounds his Trumpet to give warning to all that the dead both small and great may arise some unto everlasting life and some unto shame and everlasting contempt All that hath hated his appearance shall see though they would not Put not this far away all deceitfull workers drunkards lyars swearers whores whoremongers adulterers idolaters who worship your own imaginations and all raylers mockers and proud wanton disdainful people that live in wantonnesse and pleasure time-servers flatterers men-pleasers cursed speakers vain talkers foolish jesters fiecre despisers of those that are good who are come out of the pollution that you wallow in his appearance will be to their joy but to your shame and eternall misery except you speedily repent What the day of the Lord is to the righteous and how be appears to them and whether any are to looke for it while in the body resolved THe appearance of God who is eternall life in his day in his immeasurable light a great joy and rejoycing to the righteous for there they come to behold him who is unto his people an everlasting light and in his light they come to see light and in his day he reveals the secret mysteries of his kingdome in them who see his day appear in their hearts which maketh all things manifest even the secrets of the Lord and his hidden treasure and his durable riches which never cankers nor rusts but is fresh and keeps its pure image and impression and is still the same by which all the righteous who have waited for Gods appearance comes to see him and his riches as it is written This is he we have waited for let us rejoyce and be exceeding glad why what is he come that you have waited for yea come and his reward is with him and they that see him come finde contentment in him and in his reward and what is the reward joy gladnesse peace of conscience assurance of Gods love sealed in their hearts by the pure Spirit of the Lord the streams of life flowing forth continually from the great deep which refreshes and keeps cool in the greatest extreamity and heat temptation and this is enjoyed by them that have waited and do wait for it even in the body they bare witnesse of him and of his coming the Disciples what was their witnesse The Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding Of what of God of his day of his appearance of his power of his wisdome of his kingdome of hope of faith of assurance of peace of joy of comfort and consolation what in this life yea a cloud of witnesses I might bring in former ages and a cloud of witnesses I might bring in this age blessed be the Lord But my witnesse is nearer me that giveth me assurance and is surer to me then all their witnesses although they be all true Abraham the Father of the faithful and of the righteous who believed God and was accepted he saw Christs day and was glad Say literall professors that 's by faith yea what else by faith he and all that ever saw Christ and his day or the Father they saw him by faith By faith they saw him who was invisible Isa. 12.2 Behold God is my salvation he also is become my salvation what dost thou enjoy it already yea he is become And Simon who waited for the consolation of Israel Luk. 2.30 Now let thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation And this he said who knew Gods comfort and consolation as our suffering for Christ doth abound even our consolation in Christ doth mâ—ch more abound and they were made partakers of his Divine nature and sate together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus For heaven is his Throne and they that are in him and enjoyeth him who is the power of God and the wisdome of God knows peace and rest and salvation both from guilt and act of sin And the Apostle wrote to the Hebrews After he had purged away our sins speaking of the attonement the everlasting high Priest he sate down on the right hand on the Majestie on high He saw beyond sin even him who had purged away sin and this comes to be made manifest unto them and in them that believe by the Spirit of Jesus who is Christ the Lord the arm that brings salvation and is the author of eternall salvation unto all them that believe who begins it in his day and perfecteth it in his day for he works in the day as he himselfe said Hitherto my father worketh and I worke but the night cometh when none can worke So that he destroys the work of the Devill which is his work in man which they that are come to his day feels and sees the handy-work of God in themselves and his owne works praise him for they onely can and they that are not come to the day knows not Gods work in themselves and they who have not yet heeded that in themselves which manifesteth all things reproveable neither that which doth reprove they are not come to know the appearance of the glimmering of light or of the day yet in themselves which the Saints witnesse in them even all they
that are sanctified Where the day of the Lord doth appear and how it cometh and how it is to be looked for declared THey that gaze abroad whose eyes are abroad cannot see his appearance nor his day which appears He that knoweth not wherein it consists knows not how to look for it no more then the Jewes who were Scripture-professors and learned men knew wherein the kingdome of God did consist Even no more do the litteral professors whose faith is founded on the Letter and upon that which is visible knows what I say First all must know wherein it doth consist It is eternall brightnesse shedde abroad through all things which pierceth through and searcheth the secretest place even that which is invisible and maketh manifest all things and the nature of every thing by the day of the Lord comes to be seen and it appears in the heart they were to wait for the day to dawn and to break forth in their hearts and to wait for its appearance there and that 's it which is to be waited for and upon that which maketh evill manifest and brings it to light and declares against that which is contrary to its nature and so the day cometh to dawn Christ the covenant of light Gods gift who is sent and annointed of God to preach and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and also the day of vengeance He proclaims in the heart for he comes not to bring peace but a sword and his sword is the sword of the Spirit it 's that which divides and discerns the intent of the heart and his day discovers the desperate wickednesse of the heart And where he finds no faith in the heart he kindles a fire in the earthly heart and executeth his vengeance And his day unto such is a day of great perplexity their spirits comes to be wounded the heart comes to be made faint and sorrow comes to fill their hearts and trouble to be felt and in this state are all in who are unconverted he findes no faith no hope in the heart therefore he comes and takes away peace Many hath talked of the day of the Lord but when it comes to draw neer them they will not abide it Whatsoever makes manifest is light Now the day makes all things in every one manifest and when deceit is seen and wickednesse brought to light then thâ—y that have done evill cannot abide but would run to any thing rather then abide the day or to see the Lord of life appear in his day to execute vengeance upon his enemies and to destroy his adversaries and to kindle an unquenchable fire to consume all his enemies And who hath not seen this yet in themselves never hath seen the day of salvation nor of gladnesse and this made the Prophet cry out Who may abide the day of his coming And many have been eye-witnesses of the dreadfull day of the Lord which hath appeared wherein all peace hath been hid from their eyes and all that ever came to see the day of joy and gladnesse first did know the terrour and terrible day of the Lord in themselves Therefore said the Apostle We knowing the terrour of the Lord doe perswade men Now it cometh not with observation loe here or there So the Pharisees looked the Kingdom should come when Christ told them it was within them So say I if ever any do behold the bright shining forth of eternal life thou must wait in that which is pure of God through which he will manifest his day and his power in his day in thee as thou keepest in thy minde to that which manifests unto thee evill and shews thee good thou wilt see how it appears Even as the light shineth from the East unto the West so is the coming of the day of the Lord And the eye which is spiritual sees it and the power and the glory of the Lord comes to to be seen in the day which is pure and spiritual in the heart and the eye which is pure doth behold when it comes where it comes and how it comes and it 's hid from Vulterous eyes and from their eyes which are full of adultery and cannot cease from sinne Now the day of the Lord cometh not where the carnall mind may imagine nor when Man will neither according to the carnall desire of the carnall heart neither according to the evil eye that looks out can it be seen but it is seen in Gods own light and by the measure of Gods holy spirit And as the day of the Lord is a mysterie the spirit of the Lord is the onely discoverer of it None knows the things of God but by the Spirit of God and the day of the Lord and his bright shining forth in the heart of man is one of the glorious things of God which onely the spirit of God doth give the knowledge of to man and in man and not the letter nor the Scripture for the Jews had the letter and they had neither heard Gods voice at anytime neither ever did see his shape neither did they see the day of the Lord nor the power neither in a word did see or perceive God or any of the mysteries of Gods Kingdom at all but dreamed imagined thought and conceived of things in their minds their foolish hearts being darkened for the further a man draws from the light his heart comes to be more dark and their understanding closed up and shut up that they cannot behold the Lord neither his glory which is revealed onely by Gods holy spirit which spirit is near man though he see it not What the spirit of the Lord is and how it comes to be received which discovers the things of God THe Spirit of the Lord is pure holy equal purity it self holiness it self equity it self and is one with the Father and the Son The Father the Word and the Spirit is one its life its pure power pure strength purity it self which mixeth not neither joineth to any thing but that which is of its own nature it s an immeasurable pure substance its life issued forth an active living power and is everlasting alters not changes not keeps its holiness its purity for ever it is unsearchable unfathomable undeclarable words are all too short too narrow to declare its excellency and glory but onely as it makes it self out to them that believe and opens it self and sheds it self abroad in them that wait upon it it is revealed in its own purity manifest in its own power and received in its own light felt in its own vertue the living father of life himself is manifest by it and appears in his power majesty and excellency through it to man and to the sons of men to the righteous and unrighteous to godly and ungodly to the upright and to the deceitful to the children of darkness and to the children of light that which searcheth the heart of man and sees through all things and maketh
the horrible pit it 's the same power life strength and vertue that leadeth all that believe into the land of the living into the holy place into the peaceable habitation into the holy mountain and into the heavenly Tabernacle made without hands And in few words he that discovereth open sins the same grace and the same purity discovereth hidden and secret sins though the measure of its purity shine in one more then another because them that are in the unbelief the darknesse over-shadows and the mountains are high and the vayl is thick and the clouds are many and the ayre dark so that it's resplendency and brightnesse is not seen because of the vail which shadows it that it hath not much entrance but in them that believe and have received that grace and is joyned to it in which they believe it renteth the vail and maketh the shadow to flye away and scatters the clouds and breatheth forth it self in purity and makes the ayr clearer so that its brightnesse shineth more purely forth to them and in them because the heart is more open to receive its vertues in yet the same purity and vertue remains still and the same grace keeps its purity and property in it selfe and its power and sufficiency is always the same though it do not appear so to the creature So this I say and is my testimony of the grace of God which is the gift of God which hath appeared in some measure more or lesse unto all men and convinceth and shews grosse and opâ—n evills even the same grace by its vertue and power leadeth from the least or impurest thought and shews the secretest evils that lodgeth in the heart unbelief and also every temptation unto sin and this shall be witnessed to be the truth by the whole earth in the day of the Lords appearing and is now witnessed by all the children of Light who believe with whom I have fellowship in the pure living sufficient perfect grace of God which is Gods free gift which in some measure hath appeared to all whereby all are left without excuse And herein is the wonderfull love of God made manifest to all man kinde and all that turneth to his grace will see he hath long waited to be gracious in his grace which is near that all man-kind might be partakers of his bounty love mercy favour and free gift by which justification cometh upon all that believe Therefore my bowels and heart is more open in this unto all because many have erred for lack of knowledge and have wandred aside because they have not found a true guide Therefore in dear love unto all upon the face of the Earth where this may come I write and let out my bosome into this thing that they may also be partakers with me of the free love of God and the free grace of God by which I am saved and know the wall which is salvation and the gates which are praise which the Saints are compassed about with and enterd in at and for the sake of such who thirst after God and the knowledge of him I write for their information and not to satisfie critical men nor them who are in the Philosophy and vain deceit who are swollen big in their fleshly understanding and puffed up in their earthly mindes for by such I desire not any testimony neither acceptation But now to come to speak of that which many are doubting about that is to say the grace of God which bringeth salvation which hath appeared to all men whether this be a sufficient Leader and Teacher of it selfe if it be received but in order to the thing in hand let all take notice of this that when I speak of the sufficiency of grace and that it is a sufficient Teacher I do not speak of it distinct from Christ or of a thing separated from the power of God but one with it and him from whence it comes for as he is salvation it selfe so the grace of God is of the same nature by which he manifests himselfe and his salvation to them that believe and also reveales his witnesse in them for where the appearance and presence of Christ is manifest there is his power and strength mâ—nifest either to condemnation or salvation and though his pure appearance and presence is one in it self yet them that have marred his countenance and pierced him his presence always hath been and will be very dreadfull and terrible but unto them that believe and have continued with him in his temptation and have suffered with him and have longed for him his appearance and presence will be amiable beautifull and lovely sweet pleasant delightful desirable glorious and admirable so that they who have seen it have been melted into tears and dissolved as into water because of his love and beauty who is the chief of ten thousand Oh! that all that long after him may wait for him in patience in that wherein he will appear they shall see him whose sight will be a recompence for all longing and thirsting and desiring and waiting the sense of longing and thirsting will be taken away when he that makes glad the heart appeareth who lifteth up the light of his countenance and maketh whole them whose hearts have been broken for him whom their souls loved therefore all wait and think not the time long Keep in your minds to his grace which is his appearance and him you will feel and see and be satisfied and say This is he we have waited for let us rejoyce and be exceeding glad for now he is come and his reward is with him to give every one that wait upon him in purity full contentment and satisfaction where peace comes to be fâ—lt and joy unspeakable which is full of glory And though God out of his everlasting love unto the sons of men hath followed man and hath called him to return yet that nature which is above in man which hath transgressed the life doth alwayes resist the drawing of the Lord and is not subject to the law of God neither to the grace of God which teacheth to deny all ungodlinesse and worldly lusts that hath beset and compassed the creature about as a thick cloud and always maketh war against the soule that till there be a listning unto that which sheweth ungodlinesse which hath power in it selfe None hath power neither dominion over that in themselves which leads into the transgression Therefore though God who is salvation it selfe hath let out himself so farre and hath appeared in his pure and perfect grace unto all men yet all have not received grace For though the Lord profer his gift intentionally that the creature might receive it and so have benefit and partake of its living vertue and operation yet while that hath preheminence in man which is contrary to grace that will never receive it because it is contrary to the life of the corruptible and takes its life away and mortifies and