that is the circumcision which is inward known by the spirit and we are the circumcision in Christ who worship God in the spirit and have no confidence in the flesh and who are circumcised outwardly they are bound to keep the whole Law which none of the Jewes could do who had circumcision outwardly but who are of faith are of Abrabraham unto whom the promise was when he was in the uncircumcision or before he was circumcised so that neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new Creature Jer 4.3 Colos 2.11 Rom. 2.25.28 29. Phil. 3.3 1 Cor. 7.19 Gal. 5.2 Ioh. 7.19 Rom. 4.10 4 Of the outward Passover THe Lord God commanded the Passover to be observed in the first Covenant which was a Lambe without blemish a male of the first yeare which was to be roasted with fire and they were not to carry the flesh of it abroad but to eat it with their loines girded and their shoos on their feet and they did strike the blood of this lamb on the posts of the door of the house where they did eat it which was for a token unto them that the Lord seeing it he would not smite them when he smote the Egyptians but his plague did passe over them and did not hurt them that eat the passeover and they kept the feast of it seven daies with unleavened bread But no uncircumcised person might eate of the pasover now the ordinance of the passover was in force untill Christ fulfilled it that night he was betrayed he eate the passover with his disciples Exo. 12. Lev. 23.5 Num. 9.12 and 28.16 Mat. 26. Mark 14.12 Luke 22. In the second Covenant is Christ received and his life made manifest in the Saints and he is our passover who hath offered himselfe a lamb without spot to God having laid down his life for the ransome of many and he is the bread of life and his flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed which except a man eat and drink he hath no life in him and with him is the Saints feast and solemnity kept of unleavened bread of sincerity and truth having their hearts circumcised and purified unto God by his spirit and the old leaven of iniquity and corruption purged our and the loines of their minds girded up in the spirit and life of Christ which brings to see him the bread of life which came down from God and in this feast must none be partakers but who come to have their minds joyned unto God and their hearts circumcised from unrighteousnesse by his spirit and they who are come to Christ the Saints passover they are kept in remembrance of him and do witnesse him come that they need not observe the taking of outward bread and wine and elementary things to keep them in remembrance of him or to signifie the crucifying of his body and shedding of his blood as many in the world do 6. Io. 3.36 and 5 24. Mat. 20.28 1 Pet. 1.19 Iohn 6.53 1 Cor. 5.7 8. 1 Pet. 1.13 5 Of the outward Sabbaths THe first Covenant priesthood had a command to keep the Sabbath which was the seven daies of the weeks and in the Sabbath to rest from all their labours and works For the Lord rested from his work on the seventh day and was refreshed so that none of the Israelites was to travel nor bear any burthen on the Sabbath day seeing God had sanctified it neither might they gather sticks nor kindle a fire within all their families on the Sabbath daies Moreover they had a command to keep every seventh year for a Sabbath of rest unto the Lord which was called the year of Jubelee wherein every debter was to be freed from his servitude or bondage wherein he had served towards the satisfaction of his Creditors And every creditor was to release the debts owing them and they that had their lands or estates morgaged for debt were to have them released that every man might possesse his own in the year of the Sabbath but the everlasting Sabbath they were not then come to For they had often fightings and war with their enemies who sought to oppresse them Gen. 2.2 Exo. 16.23 and 20.8.11 and 31.15 and 35.2 Levit. 23.3 and 35.3 Num. 15 Deut 5.14 Neh 10.31 Jer. 17.21 Exo. 21.2 and 23.10 11. Levit. 25. Deut. 15.2.12 Jer. 34.14 They who are come into the second Covenant have received Christ who is the Lord of the Sabboth the end of the Sabbaths without for meats and drinks and new Moons holy dayes and Sabbaths were but a shadow of things to come which they who do observe the shadow they neglect the substance even the body of Christ And the Jewes who observed the Sabboths without they accused Christ because he healed the sick on the sabboth-Sabboth-day and because his disciples had pluckt the eares of Corn on the Sabboth day but these knew not him who was Lord of the Sabboth And the Jews said unto one that had been an Impotent man that Christ had cured on the Sabboth day it is the Sabboth day it is not Lawful for thee to carry thy bed he Answerred them he that made me whole the same said unto me take up thy bed and walk and the Jews sought the more to kill Jesus not onely because he had broken the Sabboth but said also that God was his Father and in Acts 1.12 it is written then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet which is from Jerusalem a Sabboth dayes Journey And according to one Greek translation in the 6 Chap. of Luke next after the 5 vers it is written Jesus seeing a certaine man working on the Sabbath-day said unto him O man if thou didst know indeed what thou dost thou wert happy but if thou knowest not thou art accursed and a transgressor of the Law And the saints who were come to Christ the end of the outward Sabboths they met on the first dayes of the weeks not in observation to the dayes but in obedience to Christ in whom is the everlasting Sabboth of rest remaining where the burthens must not be for the people of God who continue in his Faith and love whereby the rest comes to be obtained And the year or time of release or restauration comes to be witnessed and the Bedemption from under the bondages and the burthens known and the Iniquity which hath caused burthens is there taken away by the Lord of the Sabboth who is the foundation of many Generations who is raised up to him that maketh the Sabboth his delight and doth not his own pleasure nor speaketh his own words on the holy day he shall delight himself in the Lord but unto this Sabbath are all strangers who are following their own pleasures and lusts from whence the Wars and the strifes do arise speaking their own words And none comes to the true rest but they who receive the true light wch brings man to deny his own will
is come wherein he is come to visit thee who will build thee up and restore unto thee thy fermer dignity and renown thee with beauty and Authority that thou maist even be the glory of the Nations and thy King may rule over the whole earth for he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords arise come forth and shew forth thy self thou that hast been as a vine troden under foot and as a desolate widow who long hast been barren since the spoilers and the destroyers had power over thee come forth and see him that visiteth thee and know thy Rock the everlasting Councelor that no longer thou may be desolate nor remain Barren but awake and come forth for thy light is come and a time of love is coming upon thee shake thy self from the dust and let thy oppressors come into the dust and sit in the darkness for now is he come who will spoil the spoiler and deliver the oppressed and will take away and remove the bands of wickedness that the oppressed may enjoy glorious liberty and Redemption out of all snares and incumbrances whatsoever that she that hath mourned in dust and ashes may rejoyce and have beauty for ashes and the garment of praise in stead of heaviness and that she that was desolate may be married unto an husband who is the everlasting Comforter and will be an husband unto the widow that receiveth him who hath waited for him and then the Barren shall bâ—ing forth children rejoyce in her precious fruit which shall increase abundantly and multitudes shall come up to the mountain of the Lords house and walk in the light of the God of Jacob in which light he that waiteth shall see these things brought in the day of the mighty God whose power is gone forth to manifest his saving health in the Nations whosoever will let them come freely and taste of the everlasting light and power of the Almighty who breaths and thirsts after righteousness and salvation whether they be Jewes or Gentiles that they may receive and feel his anointed brought forth who sets open the Treasures of life and mercies to all that do receive him who believe in his light according to his promises O ye Jews ye people who are scattered among the Nations There is a remnant the Lord hath among you even as it were the Corne which is left in the time of harvest for gleaners and as the gleaning grapes which is left for the stranger to gather For though you be many in number and you may professe the Law of Moses and the prophets yet the iniquity is great you are in and you worship an unknown God while you are worshiping in the outward observations and traditions held forth by your predecessors and forefathers and you have not seen felt nor known him whom you worship Jacob is small and how shall he arise among you And the remnant is little that will receive the witnesse and Testimony of the everlasting Covenant Say not you are Abrahams children except ye were in Abrahams faith and the righteousnesse which he was in he heard the voice of God and through faith obeyed him and was accepted yea whose worship stands in outward observations ye have not heard Gods voice nor do ye obey him while your hearts are enranged from the light and the power of the living God many of your forefathers transgressed and break the Covenant that God made with them wherein was the outward Tabernacle Altar Sacrifices and outward ordinances which had a shadow of an everlasting Covenant which God hath in store for the seed of Abraham who come into the faith and Righteousnesse of Abraham And the Israelites forsook the true and living God and followed after the Gods of the heathen and prophaned his name and polluted his Sanctuary through their Idolatry and their abominations So that Gods anger turned against them he turned his countenance from them he gave them over for a pray to the heathen so that they were dispersed and scattered among strangers and their seed came to be mixt with the heathen and so the curse came upon them and their enemies got the preheminence over them for they hated his counsel and break his Covenant and persecuted and slew his prophets and messengers and yet the Lord God did not leave himselfe without a witnesse among them after that they had transgressed For he gave his good spirit to instruct them and yet they temped the Lord wrought grievous provocations against the Lord Nehemiah 9. and the Lord God overthrew and cut many off in his wrath and in their iniquities who tempted him would not hearken unto his words which he spake unto them by his holy prophets nor unto his good spirit which he gave to instruct them But they made their hearts as an Adamant least they should hear the Law the words which the Lord of Hosts hath sent in his spirit by his former prophets Zechariah 7.12 Yea and they set up covetous Priests who were greedy after gain as ravening wolves and they prophane the holy things that were consecrated under the Law For the service of the outward Temple which God comands and even abused the outward things that stood in the shadow by their cursed inventions and in serving strange Gods There was a time when Gods presence and of his vertues was found in the Temple that Solomon builded and in the outward things that he comanded which shadowed forth the heavenly things But when Israel fell into Idolatry and offered incense and sacrifices and built up high places to worship strange Gods in then the Lord forsook them and forsook the Temple and outward things which he had commanded according as he promised Read 2 Kings 18. 2 Cron 7. So when they had gon a whoring after their own inventions and had forsaken the covenant the Testimonies of the Lord God he was wearied with their prayers did not esteem of their sacrifices nor accept of their burnt-offerings nor of their vain oblations but cryed away with them and said the true prophet at that day shall a man looke to his maker and his eyes shall have respect to the holy One of Israel and he shall not looke to the Altars the work of his hands neither shall he respect that which his fingers have made Isai 17. And said the prophet David unto the Lord Thou desirest not sacrâ—ficeâ— else would I give it Thou delightest not in burnt offerings the secrifices of God are a broken spirit a brâ—ken and contrite heart O God thou wilt not dispise Psa 51 Therefore hear O ye Jews and consider these things ye people scattered among the heathen for now I come to witnesse forth the everlasting Covenant of Life and peace unto you which the first covenant that stood in the outward observations and ordinances had the shaâ—ow of And this is the second Covenant which in these latter daies the Lord God of power is bringing to light among
as a root out of a dry ground Isa 53. and the Isles must listen to him and the people must hearken unto him from far for the Lord hath chosen him and made his mouth like a sharp sword in the shadow of his hand hath he hid his chosen one and made him a polished shaft in his quiver Mark how God gives his Elect power to execute Judgement who surely will shoot at the wicked and slay the unrighteous who will not listen nor hearken unto him Therefore yâ— scattered people dread and fear the holy One for it is he that must Reigne though long he hath been dispised and his glory and dominion must reach unto the ends of the Earth over both Jewes and Gentiles for his light is broken forth already among many and the scepter of his Kingdom is held forth and his righteousness must be declared even unto the ends of the earth that he may be known to be the foundation of many generations whom God is raising up among thousands and whom thousands in the Northen Islands of England do already witnesse raised up and take heed how you do resist his government least that the Lord God shoot forth his arrowes and empty his quiver or vials of wrath against you and kill you in his wrath for he hath a bundance of Arrowes reserved to shoot forth against them that do resist his chosen One and would not that he should rule over them nor walk in his light nor suffer it to lead them and they who are so far from knowing his government as they say that his light doth not enlighten the heathens or the Gentiles they are far out of his faith and righteousnesse and there are many such that profess his name in words but are ignorant of his righteousnesse and judgements who will not own that Gods Annointed is a light to the heathen or that the heathen are inlightned by him and such there are many but if it were so how should he inherit the wast and desolate places And how should the Gentiles seek or come unto him from far For the Gentiles shal come unto the Lord from far yea from the ends of the earth and they shall say surely our fathers have inherited lyes vanities and things wherein there is no profit Jer. 16. Now they that seek after the Lord they must first have a feeling after him and that which bringeth any to feel after him is a measure of his life and light who enlightens every man and who worketh in every man to will and giveth him strength to obey him even by his free gift which he hath freely bestowed upon man So that all who come to seek and find him who is the holy one of Israel They must not follow the vanities nor Traditions which their sore-fathers have inherited contrary to the wil and commands of the Lord but every one come to hear obey him marke they are to hear what the Lord speaketh and walke in his light for God himself must reigne and his holy one shall lead and they shall not be as the false prophets in Israel who said thus the Lord said and the burthen of the word of the Lord when the Lord had not spoken unto them for said the true prophet thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour and every one to his brother what hath the Lord answered and what hath he said Jer. 23. Chap. and now the Lord is manifesting his everlasting covenant for behold the daies come saith the Lord that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the dayâ— that I â—ook them by the hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt which my covenant they brake although I was a husband unto them saith the Lord But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those daies saith the Lord I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people and they shal teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them even unto the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their iniquitie and I will remember their sin no more Read Isa 54. and Jere. 31. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquities whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have transgressed against me saith the Lord God Read chap 33. and again I will take you from among the heathen and gather you out of all countries and bring you into your own land then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthinesse and from all your Idols will I cleanse you a new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you an heart of flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes Read Ezek. the 11 Chap. and Chap. 36. and again saith the Lord I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord the remnant of Israel shall do no iniquity norâ—speak lyes neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth for they shall feed and lie down and none shall make them afraid Zephaniah the 3d chap. Now these things is the Lord God of Israel bringing to passe in these our daies since he hath this second time stretched forth his hand and made bare his holy arme to recover his seed in the Islands of the Sea and in all countries where it hath been scattered and many do already know and feel him who taketh away all iniquity and doth even thorowly refine his heritage who is the teacher of his people himself therefore all they who do not believe that they shall be so taught of God But that they must have need of men to teach them so long as they live in the body they are in darknesse deny the promise of God which his seed that believes in him is a witnesse of And all they that do not believe that any may be washed and thorowly cleansed from all sin and iniquity whilst they live their faith is out of Gods light and they deny his Covenant and so cometh short of adoption because of their unbeliefe and the deceit of their hearts for this is the Covenant which God will gather his people into even the covenant that he made with David who walked wisely before the Lord and with a perfect heart and became wiser then his Teachers when he knew the deliverance and salvation of God towards him and all that believe in the light of the everlasting
Covenant of God they come to be made partakers of the sure mercies of David whose Tabernacle the Lord God is building up among men and restoring the waste places thereof that his seed may be exalted and his Covenant may be injoyed among his people in which Covenant they may witness holiness and purity and life in the countenance of the everlasting Jehovah and the Prince of Peace whom the Kingdom and the government belongs unto and in this Covenant they shall be so spotless that the Lord will not find fault with them as he did with them that brake the first Covenant wch he commanded in Horeb and gave to the Israelites when he had led them out of Egypt which Covenant is put an end to for righteousness by that which never shall have end wherein his people shall be found faultless therefore linger not in death and darkness and go not a whoring after your inventions and take heed of rejecting the message or despising or persecuting the messengers of the everlasting Covenant of God as your fathers of old have done least the iniquities of them that hated Gods Covenant and slew the Prophets be upon you And now is the Lord God of power sending forth messengers to witness forth his everlasting name and Covenant and to direct peoples towards his holy mountain and habitation yea the Lord sends forth messengers from the North Countrey to witness forth his Covenant for his remnants sake and behold he causeth his trumpet to be sounded forth and his voyce to be uttered through his sanctified ones whom he hath chosen to War against Babylon against her that is polluted whose abominations have been long over all the earth therefore blessed is that people and happy is that land that receiveth the Testimony of the everlasting Covenant of God and do open the doors that the righteous that holds the truth may come in and be received among them in the name of the everlasting Jehovah who hath sent them that his Name may be published and may be great even among the Gentiles or heathen from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same as he hath promised Malachi the first Chapter But wo unto them that reject the messengers whom God sendeth forth of the north Countrey and who despise their message and persecutes them or puts any of them to death he Lord God will himself arise like a man of war and will awake and come forth against them to destroy them as a fierce lion that cometh forth of his Thicket to lay hold on the prey for they that truely receive the witnesses that God sendeth forth to direct people into his living way they receive him that sent them and so receives his truth in the love of it but they that reject them they do reject him that sent them and so do refuse the waters of Shilo which run softly and therefore will the Lord bring upon them his fierce indignation as an overflowing scourge that shall sweep away the refuge of lyes and lyars and evil doers into the pit of his indignation therefore O ye scattered people have a regard to Gods Covenant and to his Truth that his Elect seed and heritage may be known among you that there may be a man found among you to make up the breach which hath been between God and you and that he may stand in the gap whom God hath chosen to mediate between him and you and to turn away his wrath from you which hath come upon you because of your Rebellion for thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem break up your fallow ground sow not among thorns circumcise your selves to the Lord and take away the foreskins of your hearts ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Ierusalem least my fury come forth like fire and burn that none can quench it because of the evil of your doings Jer. 14. chapter so be not uncircumcised in heart but let thine ear and thy heart be circumcised and hearken to the words of the holy One who calleth unto the prisoners to come forth and who is come for to relieve the oppressed he saith the Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary and again he saith the spirit of the Lord God is upon me because he hath appointed me to Preach good tydings to the meek he hath sent me to binde up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to the Captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all that mourn Isai 61. chap. Mark whom glad tydings liberty and comfort is Preached unto not to the hard-hearted nor the proud nor the stubborn nor such as are at ease in their inquities which causeth the seed of God to suffer and imprisons the just but to the meek to the prisoner and to him that mourneth hear this thou seed of Jacob and receive consolation O Israel for thy Saviour and Redeemer is come to visit thee according to the promise a deliverer shall come forth of Zion and he shall turn away iniquity from Jacob for unto him the Lord saith I am with thee to save thee though I make a full end of all Nations whether I have scattered thee yet will I not make a full end of thee but I will correct thee in measure and will not leave thee altogether unpunished Jer. 30. therefore come forth come forth O Israel in the light and glory and strength of thy Redeemer and let thy Tabernacle be set up for Nations to come to and let thy tents be set up and increased among the heathen and let them bow to thy Standard and Ensign and inlarge thy dwelling places and thy borders over the desert waste places where thou mayst find a way for thy seed and rivers of living waters may issue forth unto thee for thy thirsty ones to drink at that thou maist be nourished and thy children satisfied in a fruitful land that thou maist possesse a goodly heritage and thy seed shall be known among the Gentiles and thy off-spring among the people and all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed for these are they who walk in the wayes and keep the judgements and obey the commands of the Lord God whom he calleth and Redeemeth and justifieth by his righteousness which he revealeth in them whom he finds out in a day of salvation and whom he gathers in an accepted time who do answer his call in due season and are willing to keep his Covenant and such a seed and a people will the Lord God find out in many Nations where his word shall be heard and unto whom his standard shall be listed up And ye scattered Jewes this know that now as the everlasting Covenant of light and life
is freely given and tendred to all Nations and none are hindered from having a priviledge or interest in it but they who are hindered and kept from it by their iniquities unbelief so you cannot justly challenge an interest in the Covenant because of any outward line or succession you are of since many of your fathers did provoke the Lord God to wrath who were cut off for their grievous abominations whose feed was mixt with the uncircumcised neither can you attain unto this Covenant wherein God presents his seed faultless by all your will-worships and carnal observations pertaining to the first Covenant where neither Priests nor people are without fault so are all short of the promise in the second Covenant which now the Lord God is fulfilling even among many who have been strangers and many of Israel after the flesh did seek after the righteousness of the Law but attained not to it because they sought it not by faith and stumbled at the holy one who is a stumbling stone in Zion and a Rock of offence Psa 118. Isai 28. which if you stumble at and seek after the righteousnes of the law by the works of the law then your expectations will fail you and you 'l be broken to pieces and scattered in Gods wrath and perish among the uncircumcised and Rebellious if you continue in hardness of heart and Rebellion against the Redeemer who comes to turn away iniquity from them that receive him and though many of Israel after the flesh did not or do not attain to the everlasting righteousness in Gods Covenant yet his Covenant shall not be disanulled neither will he fail thereof neither shall his City lie waste nor his habitation desolate for as a City may be builded in a Barren wilderness or desart place and the Elect one may spring up as a root out of a dry ground that groweth up as a tender plant and increaseth till it bring forth precious fruit even so can the Lord God raise up seed unto Iacob who is called Israel from among the heathen and outcasts who have been accounted as the barren places and as the dry ground that doth not bring forth fruit And as that wch was planted a noble vine wholly a right seed did become a degenerate Plant of a strange vine unto the Lord even so can the Lord take plants of a wilde vine and plant them into the true vine that they may receive nourishment from the true root and grow into the nature and become branches of the true vine and said the Prophet David thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it thou preparedst room before it and didst cause it to take deep root and it filled the land Ps 80. and now are the last dayes come and now is the accepted time wherein God is causing the light of Israel to break forth as a flame that shall burn up the stuble and the Bryars and the thorns which the wicked are compared unto and now behold the light appeareth to lead many thousands into the path of life and the way of peace that Israel may now remember his resting place and the people that are weary and deeply loaden under the burthen of their iniquities who does seek unto the holy One of Israel may come to find rest for their souls and in the light of the holy One they may come to learn doctrine who have murmured and they that have Erred in spirit may come to understanding Isa 29. and again it shall come to passe in the last dayes that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all Nations shall flow unto it and many people shall go and say come ye and 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 O house of Jacob come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord Isai 2. Mich. the fourth chapter Now in these last days is the Lord God bringing this to pass that his holy mountain may be exalted and many may have a true desire to walk and come to walk in the light of the Lord which now he causeth to be Preached and published which Light many do oppose and many hates it and rejects it even many who make a professing of God in words but in practices deny him though they do build themselves up in their own imaginations and sets up their own knowledge but in resisting the light of the Lord these builders do reject the chief corner stone as it is written of them but he that believeth on him shall never be confounded nor ashamed for he shall be counted among the remnant that God hath chosen and gathered according to his promise as he hath promised Therefore behold the dayes come saith the Lord that they shall no more say the Lord liveth which brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt but the Lord liveth which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the North Country and from all Countries whether I had driven them and they shall dwell in their own land Read Ier. 16. and chap. 23. Now this in a great measure hath the Lord fulfilled and hath gathered and is gathering his seed in the North Country and he hath made his Arm and power so far manifest in many there that he hath made them able to War against Babylon who hath long oppressed the seed of Israel but spoilers and men of War cometh forth of the North that shall fight against and spoil Babylon whose weapons are the weapons of indignation which God hath given them to fight withal Isai 13. and Ier. 50. Chapters and the heathen that do resist the spirit and the powerful truth of the Lord who have laid desolate the habitation of Iacob and devoured him they shall dread before the Lord of hostes who goeth before his hoste and overturneth the wicked and casteth out the heathen that his vine may take deep root and spread forth her branches even as far as the Sea and the Lord God is pouring forth his spirit upon all flesh that both Sons and Daughters may prophesie as he hath promised which already is come to passe both among Sons and Daughters Ioel 2. cha therefore O ye dispersed ones consider these things and lay them to heart for the Lord is bringing them surely to passe and he is not slack concerning his promises he that believes them and waits in the light to see them fulfilled shall partake therein and his soul shall live and be satisfied and he shall come to praise the Lord God in his fruitful hill and rejoice in his salvation in the land of the living But they that live in pride and stifneckednesse and hardens their hearts against the counsel of the Lord and
outward relation but she was incouraged by an Angel who told her that that holy thing in her was of the holy Ghost and also Joseph was incouraged by the Lord in a dream concerning his virgin that was with child by the holy Ghost and the child was born in Bethlehem a City of Judea and his name was called Jesus according to the direction of the Angel unto Joseph and the Virgin and Immanuel that is to say a Saviour of the people from their sins and God with us and this was according to the prophesie of the Prophet Isay who said therefore the Lord shall give you a sign behold a Virgin shall conceive bear a Son and shall call his name Immanuel Isa 7 14. And the Prophet Micah prophesied saying but thou Bethlehem Ephratah though thou be little among the thousands of Juda yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be Ruler in Israel whose going forth have been from of old from everlasting Mica 5.2 and that there was such a child born in Bethlehem as declared we have the evidences of several true witnesses Mat 1.18 and Chap. 2.5 6. Luke 1 27. to the 35. ver Now by the Law of Moses at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word is to be established And we have the Testimonies of many witnesses touching this same Jesus whose out-goings have been of old for this was the word which was made flesh and which grew in the spirit and power of his heavenly Father though he took part of flesh and blood and according to the flesh he was the seed of Abraham and David as the Scriptures do testifie this I speak to them that are without for we are satisfied by the spirit of truth touching this man 2. Touching the life of Jesus In him was life and the life was the light of men who walked in innocency and blamlesness and was without fault before his heavenly Father from the womb and he was tempted of the Devil yet he entred not into temptation but was kept clear and innocent for God gave his Angels charge over him as the Scripture declares Psa 91.11 and to this we have several testimonies as in the book of Mathew the 4. chap. and of Mark the first cha and of Luke the 4. cha And several others did bear witnesse of his innocency and humility and he having come of a woman made under the Law he was circumcised at 8. daies old according to the law And when the daies of his mothers purification were accomplished he was presented unto the Lord and a paire of turtle Doves and two young pigions was then offered as a Sacrifice unto the Lord according to the comand Gen. 17.12 Exod. 13.2 Numb 18.16 Levit. 12.2.6 and Luke 2.21 22 23. Moreover this Jesus was baptized in the river of Jordan by one Iohn Baptist who was a prophet And so he came to fulfill the righteousnesse passing through the shadowes Mat. 3.13 Mark 1.9 Luke 3.21 Also this Jesus found buyers and sellers in the Temple which God commanded under the first covenant who bought and sold in the Temple and Jesus reproved them and drove them out and the sheep and the Oxen which they had there and poured out the changers money and overthrew the tables and said unto them that sold doves Take these thing hence make not my house an house of merchandize Iohn 2.15 And he said unto them it is written my house shall be called the house of prayer but ye have made it a Den of theeves Isa 56.7 Jer. 7.11 Mat. 21.12 Mark 11.17 Luke 19.46 These things were thus confirmed at the mouth of several witnesses and thus Christ did reprove many who professed the law and outward Ordinances for prophaning the holy things and thus he set the figures or shadowes in their order and place according to the Law and passed thus under the shadowes which were but in force until he suffered and nayled them to the crosse so fulfilled the law righteousnesse in many things before he was glorified that others might come out of the shadowes into his glory and righteousnesse and have the righteousnesse of the law fulfilled in them yet he that hath defiled their bodies which are the temples of the holy Ghost or house of God may be driven forth and destroyed and the house of God may be made pure and clean for holinesse becomes his house for ever Thirdly touching Christs Ministry ANd at the was Law given by Moses so grace and truth came by Jesus Christ whom Moses prophesied of Iohn 1.17 Acts 3.22 and chap. 7.37 Deut. 18.15 and upon this Christ did rest the spirit of grace and of wisdome and might and the fear of the Lord as was foretold of him for he was full of grace and truth Isa 11.2 Iohn 1.14 And from this Jesus did proceed the words of grace and wisdome who often preached the truth in his everlasting Fathers name in so much that many people were astonished and thousands convinced and many converted with the truth of his doctrine and he disputed with the Doctors or learned men in the Temple at Jerusalem when he was but about twelve years old Luke 2.46 and chap. 4.22 32. Also he often with his wisdome and power stopped the mouthes of gainsayers and put the Jews Priests Pharisees and learned men to silence when they sought to intrap him in his words to get accusations against him so they could not justly accuse him thus he dealt prudently as was prophesied of him Isa 52.13 Mat. 19.3 to the 10. ver and chap 21.23 to the 27. ver Mar. 11.27 Luke 20.1 Mat. 22 46. Moreover he spoke many parables and uttered things that had been kept secret from the foundation of the world Psa 78.2 Mat. 13.35 Fourthly Touching the workes of Christ HE opened the blind eyes he caused the Lame to walk he cleansed the Leapers caused the deaf to hear and raised the dead and cast out Devils and unclean spirits and cured many that were infected with grievous maladies and sicknesses and restored them into perfect health and strength and so he wrought such wonders in Israel and shewed such miracles that his fame went forth throughout all the countries he having done such works as none before him ever did In so much that many believed on him that were heathens and many of the Rulers in Israel and the poor received the Gospel yet for all these his mighty works which was more then was done in the time of the Prophets Ellezeus when there was none cleansed from their lâ—â—â—osie but Naaman the Syrian 2 Ki. 5.14 There wâ—â—e many of the Pharisees chief Priests Rulers which did not believe in Christ but were filled with wrath against him and sought to bring him within the compasse of their Law that they might take away his life though by his wisdome and power he often overcame them and stopped their mouthes and his power and truth spread dayly and overcame the
world and through him was more way made for his powerful truth and for the spreading of his fathers name that many more came to believe then ever did in the former ages when they slew and killed the holy Prophets though he was despised by Rulers and rejected of men yet all these things were fore-known of God and were done that the Scriptures were fulfilled Read Isa 35.5 chap. 52.15 Mat 8. and chap. 9. Luke 4. 5. Touching the suffering and death of Christ NOw after the Jewes had long laid wait against Christ but could not put him to death untill his testimony was fulfilled though often they sought to have taken away his life but had not power till his time was come that these things that were written of him might be fulfilled one Judas Iscariot who for a time followed and owned Christ who was numbred among the eleaven other disciples he betrayed Christ sould him into the hands of them that sought to take away his life for 30. pieces of silver Mat. 26.14 Mark 14.10 Luke 22. thus the prophets words were fulfilled He that eateth bread with 〈◊〉 hath lift up his heel against me Psal 41.10 and they weighed for my price 30. pieces of silver and the Lord said unto me Cast it unto the potter Zachariah 11.12 and they bought with this price the potters field cal led the field of blood and Judas the traytor was so smitten for what he had done that he hanged himself there came two false witnesses against Christ and the people did spit in Christs face and buffetted him and others smote him with the palmes of their hands thus came the Prophets words to passe I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair I hid not my face from shame and spitting Isai 50.6 And the chief Priests and Elders of the people took councel together against Jesus to put him to death Mat. 27. Mar. 15. Luke 22 Joh 18. Psal 2.2 and afterward had him forth unto a place called Golvotha or Caluary nigh unto Jerusalem and they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall which he did but taste off then they crucified him and thus came the Prophets words to passe they gave me also gall for my meat and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink Ps 79.21 and when they had crucified him they parted his garment casting lots upon them what every man should take and this was according to the Prophets words Ps 22.18 and when Jesus had said I thirst knowing that all things were now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled they filled a spunge with vinegar and put it upon hysop and put it to his mouth and when he had received it he said It is finished or done and he bowed his head and gave up the Ghost Ioh. 19.29 thus he finished his Testimony faithfully through his deep suffering and gave his life into his Fathers hands a ransom for as many as believed in him through whom faith is offered unto all men and moreover he was numbered among transgressors for he suffered on the Crosse between two Malefactours who then suffered on each side of him Isai 53.12 and one Pilate put a Title over Christs head in Latin Greek and Hebrew where he suffered the title was Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews and the souldiers brake the legs of those that were crucified with Christ but did not break his legs and this was according to the Scripture touching the typical Passeover Exod. 12.46 Num. 9.12 Joh. 19. Now when Christ was crucified there was darkness over all the Land from the sixth hour to the ninth hour and behold the vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom and the earth did quake and the Rocks rent and the graves were opened and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after his Resurrection and went into the holy City a dappeared unto many of this there are the Testimonies of several and one Joseph who was a Disciple of Jesus took his body and wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid his body in a new Tomb which he had hewen out in a Rock and he rolled a great stone to the door of the Sepulchre and Pilate and the chief Priests and the Pharisees caused the stone of the Sepulchre to be sealed and the Sepulchre to be made sure and a watch to be set least that his Disciples should have stollen the body of Jesus away by night as they said thus was the just pierced afflicted and put to death by them of his own-generation of the Jewes who rejected him in the dayes of his flesh when he witnessed forth the power and the righteousness of his Heavenly Father both in life in works and in doctrine and now the Priests were so envious against him that they would have had him kept in the grave thus the just suffered by the unjust and came unto his own and his own received him not who had gotten the Prophets words which foretold of Christ and had gotten Latin Greek and Hebrew as many of the Priests have now but they set it above the just whom they have pierced and crucified as the false Priests and traytors do now thus the just hath suffered for the unjust and his life is afflicted by the wickedness of people Sixthly Touching the Resurrection and Ascention of Jesus Christ MOreover as Christ prophesied often while he was in the flesh of his suffering and of his resurrection and ascending into glory to the right hand of the Father It came to passe that nigh the first day of the week which was the third day after Jesus was crucified when about the day began to dawn there was a great earthquake and the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door of the Sepulchre where Jesus his body was laid and Jesus was raised again from the dead and the Angel smote the keepers with fear whom the chief Priests and the Pharisees had set to watch the Sepulchre where Jesus was laid in so much that the keepers did shake became as dead men And Jesus afterward appeared unto two women and he appeared in a form to some Disciples that then knew him not also he appeared to the eleven Disciples at one time and spoke unto them and he appeared in the midst of his disciples and brethren when thy were assembled and met together in an house where the doors were shut and he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once the greater part of whom was remaining until the Apostle Paul wrote unto the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15. to verifie these things we have certain evidences and Christ himself said after I am risen again I will go before you into Galilee which thing was fulfilled Mat. 26.32 Mar. 14.28 Mat. 28. Mar. 16. Joh. 20.19 As also that this Christ was immediately taken from the
their hearts and in their minds and his spirit in their inward parts that they are taught of God as he hath promised behold the days come saith the Lord that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the day wherein I took them by the hand to lead them out of the Land of Aegypt because they continued not in my Covenant c. for this is my Covenant that I will make with the house of Jsrael after those days saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their minds and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people and they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord but they shall all know me from the least of them even unto the greatest saith the Lord Now this is the Covenant which Christ is the Meditator of And which he makes known and performes with his people who receive his Testimony which is the spirit of prophecy within them and witness his witness his Law and Judgments within and here they feel the mercy seat in the heavenly Tabernacle set open and the Vaile taken from off their hearts and in stead of hardness and stoney hearts he gives them an heart of flesh an heart to know the Lord according to his promise and this was more then many knew while the Tabernacle of mans pitching was standing for what was upheld in that Tabernacle was but a figure or shadow of the heavenly Tabernacle wherein the Lord is heard by all his people and his worship in the spirit is known which his Light leades them to which gives them understanding and causeth their Lamps to burn and fitteth them for the Lord that he makes his abode with them whose foundation stands sure and Tabernacle shall not be removed For it is builded upon the Rock of ages and the Lord hath a pure people to dwell among who are become Inhabitants of his holy City into which he will gather the outcasts of Israel and they shall not say the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord neither shall it come to mind but they shall call Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord. Let him that can receive this Heb. 8. Heb 9. Rev. 21.3 2 Cor. 6.16 Levit. 26.12 Ezek. 37.26 Heb. 8. Jer. 31.32 Rev. 19.10 Ezek. 36.26 Jer. 3.16 17. 11 Of the outward sacrifices and burnt offerings Moreover in the first covenant there was sacrifices burnt offerings commanded of the Lord to be offered by the Priests both for the sins of the Priests and the sins of the people offerings of divers sorts the Bullock the Heifer the Ram and the Goat were sometimes offered and burnt for the sins of ignorance and for the trespass offerings and sometimes a pair of Turtle Doves and two young Pidgeons were offered and for Peace offerings sometimes a Lamb without blemish of the Male of the first year of the dock and this being taken and slain at the door of the Tabernacle the blood of the offering was sprinkled on the Altar and on the people for their Consecration after they had trespassed And the offerings that were made by fire were for a sweet Savour unto God and thereby his command for a time was fulfilled and his wrath appeased but these things did not purifie the people nor the blood of Bulls and Goats nor the Ashes of an Heifer cleanse the people as pertaining to the conscience for as there was dayly offerings made for sin there was dayly a conscience remaining of their sin and almost all things by the Law was purged with blood so all the many offerings and the divers washings and cleansings that were in the first Covenant did neither bring the people into inward cleanness nor to persection as pertaining to their inward state Exod 19.10 18. Levit. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Chap. Num. 15.19.3 4. Heb. 9. But now in the fulness of time according to the promises of God whereon the second Covenant is established God hath made manifest his own begotten Son who hath offered himself a Lamb without fault to God and by his blood he cleanseth them that beleeve in him from all sin and he is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world through faith in his blood which is his life which he hath laid down and revealed in the saints And his righteousness being revealed his power and spirit is felt in the hearts of his people which is as a fire which consumeth the nature of the Bull the nature of the Heifer and the Goat and the Ignorance of the Ram which many are in who are bruitish in their knowledge and as natural bruit beasts then they are like unto the fat Bulls of Bashan and the wild heisers and as the rough Goots that are on the lest hand of God so it is the one offering Christ Jesus who redeemeth out of the brutish and the sensuall state that God is pleased in by which God hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified which could never be done by the offerings which were offered year by year according to the first covenant so the blood of Bulls and Goats and slain Beasts the Lord takes no delight in for the Cattell upon a thousand hills are his but a broken and a contrite spirit is a sacrifice to God and to him he looketh who is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at his word and he that killeth an Ox is as if he slew a man he that sacrificeth a Lamb as if he cut off a Dogs neck and he that offereth a Lamb as if he offered swines blood So these things without became an abhorring to the Lord because of the Abhominations of the people but God in his Son who is the true and undefiled propitiation is forever well pleased for he is a good Savour to his Father and so are all who are made conformable to his Image who are partakers of his Life and Divine nature So in the second priesthood the heavenly Tabernacle is manifest and the life of Christ is felt and shed abroad which sanctifieth his people who being an high Priest of good things to come by a great and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of this building neither by the blood of Goats and Calves but by his own blood he entred in once into the holy place haveing obtained eternall Redemption for us 1 John 1.7 2 2. Jer. 10.14 Jude 10. 2 Pet. 〈◊〉 12. Heb. 10.4 Psal 50.10 Psal 51.17 Isai 66.3 Heb. 9.11.12 12 Of the Ephod and consecrated garments wch Aaron and the Priests had ANd moreover in the first Covenant there was an Ephod of gold blue and purple and Scarlet and fine twined linen and a robe of the Ephod and about the hem of the robe was put Pomegranates and bells
first Priesthood were of and their appointment ANd this we note that in the first Covenant Aaron and his sons who were in the Priests office were of Levi. And there were Priests under the first Covenant made or appointed by the law of a carnal or changeable Commandment without to do their office Exod. 4.14 Num. 18.12 But Christ Jesus sprang up of the tribe of Judah and having finished his testimony through suffering and offered himself freely unto God an offeringwithout blemish for the sins of the people that his life or blood may be made known in them he is become an high Priest over his people by the power of an endless life and not by the law of a carnal Commandment so that such as are made Priests now by the carnal Commandments of men and do uphold or take tythes which was a thing pertaining to the changeable Priesthood of Levi they deny Christ the true Minister of the heavenly Sanctuary and such are not of Christ Heb. 19 14. Rev. 5 5. 16. Of the reading of the Law and of the pulpit of wood IN the time of the first Covenant and the law of Commandments contained in carnal Ordinances the Israelites and Jewes had the law read among them every Sabbath day to put them in mind of it and Ezra the Priest or scribe stood up upon a Pulpit of wood as it is recorded in the English Translation but according to the Hebrew it is a Tower of wood And there he read in the Book of the law in the street that was before the water gate which was in the sight and audience of the people from morning till mid-day and the Priests gave the sence of the law and caused the people to understand the Reading But here is not a telling that a Minister of the Gospel is to stand up in a Pulpit in a Steeple-house and preach half a day from a Text of Scripture as many now do who professe themselves to be Ministers of the Gospel and say they are not under the Law and yet are pleading for pulpits and giving their sences to the Scriptures Nehe. 8 3 4.5 6 7 8 Ezra 3 1 7 6. Deut. 17 19 31 11. And moreover the reading of the Law was continued among the Jewes every Sabbath day in their Synagogues when they were in Rebellion and envy against Christ in the dayes of his flesh nevertheless their reading of the law being before Christ was crucified people were to do these things they commanded according to the law but not after their wicked works for they were enemies to Christ though they had the law and sate in Moses seat Acts 13 27 15 21. Mat. 23 1 2 3. Now in the second Covenant and Priesthood he is not a Jew that 's one outward but he is a Jew that 's one inward whose praise is not of men but of God neither are they all Israel which are of Israel according to the flesh but they are true Israelites who have received the Covenant of God within and his law within who are come to know the Ministration of the spirit which in glory exceedeth the ministration of death written or the law without which was read to the people though in its time it was glorious but the Ministration of the spirit which the true Ministers are Ministers of exceedeth the other in glory And we are not Ministers of the letter but of the spirit and of the New Testament which Christ is the Mediator of that people may come to see and hear the righteous law of God and and his light within them and they may not be forgetfull thereof any more but know Christ the Mediator in whose hand the law is held and by whose power it is executed upon the ground of the offences within and it must come in Judgement upon the head of all them that are wresting the Scriptures and pleading now for their own sences upon the Scriptures and prophesies of the Scriptures who also are pleading for the chiefest places in the Assemblies as the pulpits and high places such did Christ cry often wo against But we have learned the example of Christ Jesus who was meek and lowly in heart and taught meekness and lowliness and he that would be the greatest among his was to be servant to all Therefore away with the Idolatrous high places wherein proud men are exalted And away with their imagined meanings sences and private interpretations which they give to the prophecies of the Scriptures for they came not by mans will neither are they of any private interpretations Rom. 2 28 29. 2 Cor. 3.6 7.8.9.10 11. Gal. 3 19. Mat. 23. Mat. 11 29. 20 27. 2 Pet. 1 21. 17. Of Jewels of silver and gold and costly ornaments IN the time of the first Covenant some did wear Jewels of silver and gold Bracelets and costly ornaments and attire and the Israelites borrowed of the Egyptians Jewels of silver and Jewels of gold and raiment but this was in Egypt but after they were come out of Egypt when the Lord was angry with them for their transgression by the mount Horeb they mourned and stript themselves of their ornaments according to the command of God Exod. 3.2 11.2 12 35. 33. chap. But now in the second Covenant God hath a plain people whose moderation may be known unto all men both in apparrel and other things for they are come to deny the strange apparrel and the gaudy attire and the bravery the bracelets and the Jewels the superstitious ornaments wch they had whom the true Prophets bare witnes against Isa 3. cha and the Harlot which John saw was arraied in purple and Scarlet Colour and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls read Rev. 17.4 And see now how that many professors are attaied in costly superstitious and gaudy attire like the Harlot And let the women be adorned in modest apparrel and their adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair and of wearing of gold or putting on of apparrel but let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the fight of God of great price mark this ye proud professors and people And know that the day is coming wherein God will punish them that are clothed in strange apparrel And in the day of their visitation they shall monrn and be stripped of all their deceitful covers 1 Tim. 2.9 1 Pet. 3 3 4. Zeph. 1.8 18. Of Solomons Temple MOreover after the Tabernacle of the first Covenant was forsaken of the Lord in Shilo when Israel had violated the Covenant of God and after they were made a prey upon by the heathen King Solomon builded a glorious Temple for the Lords service according to the Law to be done in which there was neither hammer nor Ax nor any Iron tool heard while it was a building and this temple was furnished