A DISCOVERY OF Divine Mysteries Wherein is Unfoulded SECRET THINGS of the KINGDOM of GOD BEING A TESTIMONY I. Concerning Life and Death with their several Fruits and Effects distinguished II. Concerning the Mystery of GOD and Godliness and concerning the Mystery of the Devil and Iniquity III. Concerning true Liberty of Conscience what it is in it self and how obtained And what the true Guide and Rule is of the Exercise of Conscience IV. Concerning the Diversity of Iudgments in Religion the Cause and the Effect thereof and the Means to bring to Unity All which are Published for the Edification of such as desire to know the Truth By a Servant of Truth Edward Burroughs London Printed for Robert Wilson at the Sign of the Black-spread-Eagle and Wind-mill in Martins Le Grand 1661. THE PREFACE THE Light of the Day of GOD Almighty is arisen upon us in our day and the shinings forth thereof is with great clearness and force even as the Sun at noon-day and many are come to the glorious Appearance thereof and to walk in its Light with much joyfulness for as the Wise man said The Light is sweet and a pleasant thing it is for the Eye to behold the Sun And so fully is our Morning-Sun now appeared that the Upright in heart may walk and not stumble and the poor in spirit may run in the path of Life and not fall for indeed we may say the Night is spent and the Day is come therefore let us walk in the Day and put on the Armour of Light as many as are made the Children thereof And where the Light of this Sun is arisen and in whose hearts it shineth it cannot but give some Testimony through such an one of its own Glory Vertues and Excellency to them that sit yet in darkness and in the bondage of Corruption that they also may see the same Light and Glory arise on their Tabernacle for 't is the property of this spiritual heavenly Light to shine forth out of darkness and to give light to such as have long sate in darkness that their souls may live and be refreshed with the Light of the Living And for this cause do we labour and spend and are spent accounting nothing too dear for us that the Light of Truth may shine abroad and guide the Upright in the perfect way till the Elect be gathered into the pasture of Eternal Life and the Sun so elivated on the Firmament of Ioy and Praises never to go down but the saying fulfilled There shall be no night but the light of the Sun shall be as the light of seven dayes These following Testimonies were written at divers times as the Lord drew forth my spirit through the motions of his Life in me some of them some years since and being cast by among bundels of Manuscripts and now lately come to my sight and looking them over I have thought good to send them abroad as being of service to many And this is the Occasion and End of my present publishing these things And to the Iudgment of the Spirit of God in all the Saints do I commend my Labours and may self to be approved Who am a Friend to all men E. B. Westmoreland the 25th of the 7th Month 1661. CHAP. I. A TESTIMONY concerning LIFE AND DEATH with their several Fruits and Effects distinguished THere is only Life and Death and there is but only Life and Death in the whole Creation that ruleth and reigneth in and among and over all the Children of men and all the Children of men upon the face of the Harth are under the Government and Dominion of Life or of Death in whatsoever they are and in whatsoever they do and Life or Death hath the Rule and Government in every Creature in every Exercise whether of Works or Words and all People upon the Earth are subject to the Government of one or the other and bring forth the Fruits and Works in obedience to Life or to Death and shews them forth in visible appearance Now these two to wit Life and Death are contrary one to the other in being in nature in works and fruits and each of these are known and distinguished the one from the other in being in nature in fruits and effects which diversly they bring forth in this World and each of them hath a Kingdom and Government in himself distinct from and contrary each to other and each of them have their several Subjects which also are contrary in birth and generation in quality and kind over which they rule and govern and to whom they give distinct Portions and Heirships in this World and hereafter And where Life rules and reigns Death is held in captivity and bondage and where Death lives the Life dies and where one of these brings forth fruit the other is barren for they agree not in one but are in all things contrary and the Subjects of the one are always opposing and striving against the Subjects of the other And between Life and Death there is continual war and strife among the Creatures who are the Subjects of the one of them in whatsoever man is and in what he doth First concerning Life I will speak Life was in the beginning with God and is without descent and God is Life in himself without beginning or ending of time place or matter and Life put forth it self out of its invisible being into work and action in the beginning of the World and appeared in visible operations and works and brought forth all Creatures and all things into visible appearances and Life was the Author of all the Beginning and Foundation of all and Life was and is that Being and Vertue of all things that are and it was the Ioy and Delight of all things that it self brought forth for all 〈…〉 through it and it gave breath and 〈…〉 all Creatures and Life blessed them all and in it were all Creatures at Unity being framed and brought into visibility and for the pleasure of Life which was all in all in the beginning and there was a sweet concurrance and harmony in the whole Creation through the power and being of Life in the midst of all Creatures through which the whole Creation was made and framed by the Eternal Word of Life and through which they stood and did remain in blessedness and Life ruled and reigned in every Creature that was brought forth and was the glory and substance thereof for Life was and is that only begotten of the Father the Son and the Heir of the Everlasting Father his express Image and Brightness being one with the Father not separated or divided from him And as for Death it was not yet known nor had it any place in the Creation if had yet received no Power nor Kingdom nor Government neither was it in being But Life was all over all through all and in all in the beginning before disobedience and transgression entered to war against Life But Life was
Spirit of Truth and of the Father but a false Spirit ruleth and leadeth the Conscience and it is not exercised with the Spirit of the Father that leadeth into all Truth So I do acknowledge that Conscience may be mis-led and mis-guided and mis-informed and Conscience may be made of doing such and such things which the Lord doth not require and there may be a fear not taught of the Lord not received by the sence of his Presence but only received into the heart by the Precepts of men Example of others Custom of times or the like and here the Conscience being not truly informed nor guided by the Spirit of the Lord there is a false fear and zealousness in the performing of such things which the Lord doth not require nor his Spirit lead into the practice of but only the Tradition and Precepts of men hath placed a false Law and Commandment which requires a false obedience which many whose understandings are blinded and being without true knowledge they zealously perform and practise as the Worship of God thinking themselves bound in Conscience to practise such things and not to leave them undone when as the Lord and his righteous Spirit leadeth not to them nor yet his just Law doth require the doing thereof but only a false Law and Commandment is received by Precepts and Traditions of men or from looking upon the Practice of others By such means as this there is a false fear in a blind mis-guided Conscience and a zeal without true knowledge And thus it was amongst the Iews in the Prophets dayes they sacrificed their Children and cut themselves and caused their Children to passe through the fire and did many things zealously when as saith the Lord Who hath required these things at your hands for they come not into my heart And Paul witnesseth the same of the Iews in his dayes and bore them record that they had a Zeal but it was not according to True Knowledge And thus the Iews were zealously performing that as their Duty and as out of a good Conscience which the Lord required not at their hands and so they made Conscience to do that which the Lord required not and their Consciences were mis-led and not rightly informed and as it was amongst the Iews in this case in the dayes of old so now is it amongst the Christians in the Apostacy their Conscience being mis-guided by a false spirit they are doing and performing the things in great Zeal and for the exercise of their Consciences which the Lord doth not require of them Thus do the Papists they do and practise the things in great Zeal and through a false Fear in their blind Consciences which things are in themselves Idolatry and not commanded nor required 〈◊〉 the Lord as in many particulars I might shew even in many parts of their Worship and Religion which out of a Fear and blind Zeal and mis-guided Conscience they practise which is in it self but Idolatry and not required nor accepted of the Lord. And many things in relation to the Protestants Worship and amongst all the several false Sects upon Earth which are done and practised in great Zeal and out of a false Fear and as in pretence of a good Conscience and yet are things in themselves Idolatrous as done and practised by them And this comes to passe as I have said because the Conscience is mis-informed and a false spirit guides and rules in the exercise of Conscience and the understanding of the People is blinded and they know not but they do well though their minds are captivated and their minds and judgments in error and though there be a sincerity to Godwards and a desire of Him in the bottom among some People of all Forms and Sects and some of all are zealous towards God in their practices in their Religion and Worships yet among all People and the Churches that have been for many Generations there hath been great Error in Iudgment and much blindness in mind and the Conscience falsly exercised towards God and the Superscription hath been To the Unknown God and He hath been ignorantly worshipped and the Spirit of the Lord hath not truly exercised Peoples Consciences nor guided their Zeal nor been Ruler in the Judgment And by this means the sincerity and humility towards God hath been eaten out and alwayes quenched and the bare practice of things and profession of Religion in the outward appearance hath been more lookt at than the Presence of God felt in the Practices and the Zeal hath been more for the performance of such things than for God purely enjoyed through them And thus it hath been through Christâ—â—â—â— in the Apostacy since the dayes of the Apostles and true Churches Many have erred in their Judgments and the Zeal for God 〈◊〉 proceeded our of the error of Judgments and out of misinformation of Conscience and some other thing man only the Spirit of God hath ruled in the Iudgment and been the exercise of peoples Consciences And this is 〈◊〉 of things about true Liberty of Conscience and about the Error in Iudgment and the blind Zeal in captivated sincerity Now it may be objected What is the only absolute Rule of the right Exercise of Conscience and when are Mens Consciences truly guided To this I answer The only chief and perfect Rule of the right Exercise of Conscience both to God and all men is The SPIRIT of CHRIST for it is only that which can truly guide the Conscience in Faith Doctrine and Worship and in all things towards God even the Spirit of CHRIST which is the gift of the Father it only leadeth into all Truth as it is written and all whose Consciences are guided and exercised by it are in Unity and Peace in their Worship Doctrine and Religion for the Spirit of CHRIST is but one in it self and guideth the Conscience into the exercise of one Truth and Faith and in this same Spirit is the true Union and Communion of Saints in Religion and Worship and this is manifest through the Scriptures for the Apostle exhorted to walk in the Spirit and by it and as many as walked by the Rule of the Spirit peace was upon them and it is the Spirit of CHRIST the Everlasting Comforter that teacheth all Truth and the Holy Anointing of the Spirit that dwelt in the Saints taught them all things and they needed no man to teach them but as the Anointing that dwelt in them And then are Mens Consciences truly guided in all the wayes of Righteousness when the Spirit of God guideth the Conscience and is the Rule of all Faith Doctrine and Practices So that Traditions of Men Prescriptions of Councils Antiquity of Time Commandments of Men nor Example of others without the Spirit of Christ cannot be the onely true Rule of the Exercise of Conscience for all these things are changeable alterable and subject to variations and therefore cannot infallibly guide the Conscience in the Duty towards
it appeared freely of it self without opposition and brought forth the first Creation But now it doth appear through great opposition and through all that doth oppose it in this second Creation when Life comes again to reign over Death and swallow it up and overcome and subdue it and who comes to witness this the new Creation they know Life appearing through opposition and through the destroying of Death and all its works and fruits for CHRIST is the Life and he is the Seed of the Woman which bruiseth the Serpents head who hath the power of Death Life bruiseth his Head breaketh his Government and destroyes his Works as it appeareth and riseth in the Creature and Death and its works opposeth Life and its manifestation and appearance and gainsayes it and often quencheth it in its appearances Now the first appearance of Life in the Creature it convinceth and reproveth the works of Death and the words that proceed from Death which are unrighteous words and unrighteous works and Life when it rises reproves them and condemns them and thâ—â—â—gh Death doth oppose and gainsay the Operation of 〈◊〉 yet Life works through and overcometh subdueth and swalloweth up Death and destroyes all its works in the second Creation and Life again comes to take possession of the Creature which it made in the beginning and Life comes to reign again 〈◊〉 Right it is to reign for by it the Creature Mankind and all Creatures were in the beginning formed and brought forth and therfore it is its Right to reign and to have the dominion over the works of its 〈◊〉 is whom since the beginning in Transgression the Devil and Death and his seat of Government hath had they possession of and CHRIST the Power of God and the Life hath been as it were dispossessed and thus the first Creation has been defaced and lost its Glory and it hath been corrupted and degenerated quite from the perfect state as it was created in and Mankind hath been servent to another Power and led captive by another Power than the Power that made him and another Government hath been established over him and another Law hath exercised him than the Government and Law of the Creator to wit the Power and Government and Law of Death have had the Rule Government and Exercise of man and of the old Creation and hereby all things have been diverted from their proper and perfect place and service to which they were ordained in the beginning by reason Transgression and the reigning of Death and Man 〈◊〉 been held in Captivity and in sore Bondage and 〈…〉 all 〈◊〉 and distress deprived of unity with his 〈◊〉 and deprived of the comfortable use and benefit of the Creation 〈◊〉 that of all Creatures he hath been the most 〈◊〉 being held in Bondage and Captivity under the 〈…〉 which hath ruled and reigned over him and in 〈…〉 alwayes subject to Death and subject to the Curse and Anger of the LORD and subject to 〈◊〉 and fears 〈…〉 and sorrow and all this is because Death hath reigned and had dominion even that which 〈…〉 in the beginning of Transgression betrayed him of the 〈…〉 that got possession it self to reign and to have the Power which ever since hath reigned and alwayes doth till the appearance of the Life again which doth appear in the Creature for this end to overcome and subdue Death and destroy his works that it self may reign and free the Creation from its degeneration and corruption and free Mankind from his bondage and captivity and from his misery and all his trouble which is come upon him by reason of Death And this comes to passe in the New-Creation when Life is born again to rule and reign again and to swallow up Death and to subdue it wholly and its Kingdom and Government And then Man again is become a Son of GOD an Heir of Salvation and no more Death reigns in him nor hath power over him when he is restored out of Transgression then as Death hath reigned and had power in Transgression Life shall so reign in and over the Creature in the New-Creation when that is brought forth as Death hath reigned in the Old-Creation in Transgression and Disobedience And Life will arise to reign and rule over all and in all though it be through great opposition the Body of Death shall be put off and the Government of Death shall be subdued and all the Works Fruits and Effects of Death shall be destroyed and done away and its place shall no more be found so as to bring forth Fruit for its sting shall be taken away and shall no more wound nor pierce nor hurt the Creature For the sting of Death is Sin and that hath wounded and hurt the Creature and when this comes to passe then there is glory and rejoycing over all for Life hath swallowed up Death and overcome it and the cause of Sorrow is removed and taken away and the Kingdom of Life is established in the Creature and is set upon the Top of Death's Kingdom and keeps it under and if there be but a motion of Death that would spring up or appear in the Creature Life judgeth it down and condemns it And this Kingdom is Righteousness Ioy and Peace full of Iustice Righteousness and Equity and there is nothing in it that doth defile or destry or bring sorrow or misery but Life rules over all that and subdues the Cause thereof and removes every thing that would imbondage or captivate the Creature in evil And this Kingdom is not of this World but from Heaven and heavenly and the Birth immortal is Heir thereof which receives the Crown and the Kingdom of Eternal Life Now the Kingdom of Death is of this World which is defiled and degenerated Cain was a Subject of this Kingdom and Esau that was a Reprobate and Iudas that betrayed the Life and all the Ungodly and Generation of the Wicked since the beginning they were all of the Kingdom of Death and the Kingdom of Death ruled in them and brought forth its works through them and its exercise in their hearts and in their lives And though its power they opposed and gainsayed the Life and they fought against the Kingdom of Life and Righteousness and such were the Pharisces who put Christ to death who is the Life Death reigned over all these and they were of the Stock of Death and they were of this World and had their Conversation below in the earthly things and knew not the Life not its Government but were strangers to it and enemies to it as all are at this day who are transgressors against the Life and all such are subject to the Curse to Sorrow and Misery and the Anger of the LORD but who comes to feel the Life and the obedience to it again Death is destroyed through Death for through the death of Death Death comes to be destroyed and no otherway which the Life works and the Life works through
not force one another by violence nor persecute one another neither by words evil-deeds nor actions but live in love to the persons every one of another and fight not with Persons nor kill one anothers Persons with carnal weapons about Religion but take the spiritual weapons and war with the Spirit against the evil one in one another and love persons though they are enemies and this is Christ's Doctrine and never hereafter let your divisions about Spiritual things grow into personal quarrels to the envying or killing one another And this is a Charge to you all in the presence of the living God Lastly The Means and Way to be reconciled and to come out of all Division and Strife and to come into Peace with God and one with another about Faith and Church-Government is by the Spirit of God and every one of you in particular must receive the Spirit of Christ that it may work in every one of your hearts true Faith and teach every one of you the true Worship of God and the way of Doctrine and true Church-Government it is the Spirit of Christ in every one both male and female that must reconcile and bring into unity with God and one with another in all Spiritual things for it is that which is the bond of Peace and Love among true Christians and it is that which reconciles peoples hearts into oneness And if you receive that Spirit every particular person of you it will bring you to be of one Faith of one Worship and then your Doctrine and Church-Government will agree if you receive the Spirit that gave forth the Scriptures it will work in you the same Faith and lead you in the same way of Worship which the Scriptures speak of and then you will cease taking up Conceits and making Imitations of Church-Governments from the Letter but the same Spirit will work in your hearts Faith and Knowledge in the fulfilling of the Scriptures and this is true Christianity and the other is the way of all Apostate Christians all Imitations from the Letter without the Spirit as gave it forth for there is a great deal of difference between making a Conformity in the Imitation of a Worship and Church-Government from the Scriptures without the Spirit and between the Spirits teaching and leading into the same Truth and same Worship and Church-Government which the Scriptures speak of the one is of Christ and is in unity peace and everlasting fellowship the other is of Antichrist and is in division strife and contention so you must all wait for the Spirit of Truth that you may receive it to work in your hearts to teach you and lead you or else you will never come to true Union and everlasting Fellowship with God and one with another neither can you be of one true Faith in one true way of Worship nor in one way of Church-Government except you receive the Spirit and walk in the Spirit And these be the words of the Lord God unto you all Now as concerning the way of Uniformity in Faith and Church-Government imposed upon Nations and Countries and Cities by cruel Laws of Kings and Rulers as hath been the practice through Christendom to cause a whole Nation and Kingdom to bow and conform to such Principles of Faith and Worship and Church-Government according to the will and pleasure of a King or a Ruler such Uniformity and Union and Fellowship among Christians hath not been of Christ where people have walked by Imitation and conformed to the Commands of Men in such a Faith or to such a Worship or Church-Government this hath not been of God neither could this Unity stand or remain for ever but it hath perished and will perish where ever it is and that Faith and Worship and Church-Government which is so set up and so held will never save the Soul nor comfort it but it is blasted of God whilst a Nation or a Kingdom or a People have Uniformity or hold Faith Worship or Religion either in the ignorance of their Consciences or contrary to their Consciences by the force of Mens Commandments and not by the perswasion of the Spirit of God in their own Consciences such Conformity I say is of Antichrist and not of the Father neither can it stand in the Day of the Lord but the fire of his Wrath will consume it All the Apostate Christians in their Uniformity of Faith Worship and Church-Government which is some other way or by some other means than only by the Spirit of God is of Antichrist and will be confounded for there is no true Unity and Fellowship in the Wayes of God and his Truth and Worship but what is in the Spirit and that Unity will stand for ever for it is in GOD not feigned neither because of the love and fear of this world as the other is That Uniformity in Faith and Worship which is forced upon People is all but hypocrisie and deceit both to God and man and God will judge it in the Imposers and Imposed Therefore no true Unity in Faith nor Worship nor in Religion but what is in and by the Spirit of God for as 〈◊〉 come to divide themselves into many wayes and into divers Sects when they went from the Spirit of God and lost it and whilst they have been without the Spirit they have remained in Division Strife and Contention about Religion so now the means and way of true Union and Fellowship and Faith is by receiving the Spirit of God again and not any otherwise and as Christians are brought again to receive this Spirit and walk therein all division and strife about Religion will cease and the cursed fruits and effects thereof will also wither and be no more but then Unity Peace Blessedness Everlasting Fellowship and Comfort with the Lord and one with another in all his Ways will be witnessed amongst all People THE END