about you that ye may be sure of your works and that they be wrought in God For the Night is at hand wherein none can work but every man must be tried according to his work for what he hath not what hath another The Lord hath long waited on you and his presence hath been amongst ye and he hath been with you whilst ye have been with him He is now come whom ye knew not though he was with you The times of this ignorance God winked at now he commands men every where to repent because he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead and if Christ be not risen then are ye yet in your sins But Christ is risen and is become the first fruits of them that slept And that he is risen appears by his Witness in all men which testifies to all and witnesseth to his Kâ—ngdom which is an everlasting Kingdom and to his Dominion which shall never have end And it bears witness to the Lord that he desireth not the death of a sinner but rather that he may return and live as he hath sworn because there is that of him in every one that seeks them to live over which Death hath no more dominion For in that he is risen Death hath no more dominion over him but he liveth unto God And he is the propitiation for our sins By Faith in whose Blood we have access unto God by this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered in the flesh arm your selves with the same mind for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh in the lusts of men but to the will of God And so Friends I leave you to the Witness of God to answer to me in this thing which will answer to me if you heed it you will hear it for I am moved of the Lord unto this in bowels of Love and it wil leave you without excuse So Farwell My Love is to the Seed of God in you who am known to many of you by the Name of GEO. BISHOPE To the People of these Nations Friends YOu have had Long and Great Warning the Lord hath raised up from amongst ye of your Sons and of your Daughters of your servants and of your Neighbours faithful Witnesses unto his Name who by Word and Writing Conversation and Example Doing and Suffering have testified of his Day that is come wherein he will judge every one according to his Works and that the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree and every Tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire and therefore he warned you by them all to bring forth fruits meet for Repentance whilst the Door was open and whilst he called that when you should call in the Day of your distress he might arise and deliver you And by them he shewed you the way unto himself even by hearkning to and obeying that of him within every one of you which shewed ye evil and reprov'd and judged you and shewed to you what ye should do by which the Holy Men of God of Old drew near unto and were drawn to the Lord and by which those of your Sons and Daughters Servants and Neighbours who have testified as aforesaid and remained faithful have drawn near and were brought to the Lord and have felt his power to give them Victory over sin and evil and the corrupt Conversation in which they lived whilst they were ignorant of and believed not in him who witnessed in them who is the Power of God to salvation to as many as obey him even to as many as believe in his Name Now Friends after all this Warning and gracious Visitation the Lord hath long waited to see whether ye would turn to that which witnesseth in you which is of God and obey it that your souls may live and be redeemed out of Death and from the bondage of Corruption In which you are who are servants unto sin For as many as are led by sin are servants unto sin and as many as are servants unto sin are in bondage to sin and as many as are in bondage to sin are in Death and the Son hath not made them free For if the Son make ye free then are ye free indeed saith Christ and the Truth makes free and this is Truth To believe in the onely true God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent and that of him in you which shews ye your state and your condition and your Enemy and his working and where ye are and how ye are fallen and gone Out of the Way Is that which is come to redeem you out of that state and to deliver you from your Enemy and to recover you back again and to guide your feet in the way of Peace that your Souls may have rest with God And this you know every one of you You cannot stifle it It 's too late to do it the Lord hath reached to his Witness in you and hath given you to see all this and how you should hearken to that of him in you which shews ye all this and the secrets of your hearts and searcheth your hearts and trieth your reins and shews you the compass and end of your actions and that ye should do none iniquity it tells you in secret Now that which shews ye this is greater then all for it should never shine in your Consciences shew you this the way to God could that which hath you in Captivity keep it out it concerns you to heed and to have heeded this that so the Lord's loving-kindness might not be in vain as to you nor the striving of his Spirit nor the stretching forth of his Arms to draw and gather you for this of a truth I have to say unto you That ye have all need of him of his mercy not that he hath need of you And he might have left ye all in the state wherein ye were by Nature even Children of Wrath and never have shewn ye where you were or that ye were sinners or in such a state nor your Enemy nor what an Enemy he is until ye come to feel his Wrath and to be tumbled into the Pit out of which none that goes ever comes But he hath visited you and shewn you what is good To do justly to love mercy and to walk humbly with the Lord and something hath striven in you since the time you could remember and shew'd you evil and judg'd you for evil yet it ye have not obeyed but have been conformed to the World and to the Fashions and Customes of the World which are evil as you have been led and you
the New-Moon or of the Sabbath-Dayes which are a shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ Col. 2. 16 17. And He that regardeth a Day regardeth it unto the Lord and he that doth not regard the Day unto the Lord he doth not regard it He that Eateth Eateth to the Lord for he giveth God thanks and he that eateth not unto the Lord he eateth not and giveth God thanks For none of Us liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore or die we are the Lord 's For to this end Christ both Died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the Dead and Living But why doest thou judge thy Brother Or why doest thou set at nought thy Brother We shall all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ As it is written As I live saith the Lord Every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God So then every One of Us shall give account of himself to God Let us not the â—efore judge one another any more but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling block or occasion to fall in his brother's way I know and am perswaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of it self but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean to him it is unclean But if thy Brother be grieved with thy Meat Now walkest thou not Charitably Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ dyed Let not then your good be evil spoken of For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men Let Us therefore follow after the things that make for Peace and things wherewith we may edifie one aâ—oâ—her for meat destroy not tâ—e work of God one man esteemeth one day above another Another esteemeth every day alike Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind Rom. 14. 5. to the end Now these things I am moved of the Lord to lay before you to the End that yee may take heed of Doing any thing by which the Lord may be Displeased with you Or that may grieve his Spirit or make him to Repent of the good he hath done you or to become your Enemy For certainly if yee shall impose upon Conscience in things appertaining to the Worship of God or cause his Innocent People to suffer or not Answer the End of the Lord in giving you this Day and Tryal His hand will be against you and he will reckon these things with you and it will be sad for you in that Day When he shall render unto you according to your Works And therefore in love to you and in the fear of God and as moved of him and as desiring your welfare both here and hereafter I have written GEO. BISHOPE To the Nobility and Gentry of These Nations Friends YOur Opportunities are great to do Good the Lord hath not dealt by You as with Other men You have Estates Great and Large Lands and Revenues and many your Servants in the most sweet and flourishing Places of the Nation You are Seated and your World abounds You have in a manner what yee can wish and your Travel is little most of you from your Ancestors yee have received from Generation to Generation with little Toyl or Trouble as to you unless your Desire of Encrease or falling below by other Miscarriages hath occasioned it You are full of Ease and Pleasure and if any thing be of more Deâ—ectableness then other you have it Ride in and out Rise Walk lie down at your pleasure when multitudes of others rise early and lye down late and Eat the bread of carefulness and are your servants And this is the state of many or most of you and it is great and large as to the Outward Who are like to you Now it concerns you to see how you Answer the Lord for all his kindness and how yee Return to him according to the benefits received For the End of the Lord in all this is not that yee should do as yee list and because yee have your Wills as to this World therefore yee should do your Wills in this world but the Will of him that gave it you Excess Riot Pride Haughtiness Surfeting Drunkenness Gluttony Wantonness Cursing Swearing Diceing Gaming Chambering Revelling spending the Creatures on your Lusts Living in pleasure loving of pleasures more then God with such like were not the things that he minded as his End who with a liberal hand hath ministred to you but to be humble sober meek just temperate lovers of good things lovers of God liberal charitable given to good works lovers of Hospitality kind virtuous serving the Lord without distraction Passing the time of your sojourning here in fear For the Lord will require an account of you for all the deeds done in the body and his judgment ye cannot escape and the more kind and liberal he hath been to you and put it into your hands to do good the more he will require at your hands For to whomsoever much is given of him much will be required Therefore Friends it concerns you as I have said to mind your state and see how it is with you That within you which witnesseth to God will shew you if you heed it and become obedient thereunto which knows your Up-risings and your Down-sittings the thoughts and intents of your hearts and tries them which is with you wherever you go and wherever you lie down and whatever you do which is Gods witness and takes account of all your Actions and speaks to you from God and bids yee not to do the Abominable thing that his soul abhorrs which judgeth yee for Evil which shews yee Evil which tells yee what yee should do and which will make up the Reckoning for God and will leave you without excuse in the Day that he shall Judge the Quick and the Dead at his appearing and coming Now Friends this is of Concernment to You that this be your friend and that this answer for you in that Day that yee have done the Will of God and Answered the Requirings of his Spirit in you and what it moved you from God Well done thou good and faithful servant Enter into thy Masters Joy will the Lord say then to that which hath Done his Will and that will be a good word for you in the Day of the Lord when amazement and horror shall seiz upon all who know not God neither yield Obedience to his God and all faces shall gather Blackness and Paleness and the Mighty shall be afraid and the Strong man shall weep bitterly and the Heavens shall depart as a Scrowl and the Elements melt with fervent heat and the Earth and the works thereof be burnt up
because they that feared the Lord spake often one to another and the Lord hearkned and heard it and a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought on his Name and they shall be mine saith the Lord of Hosts in that day when I make up my Jewels and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him Mal. 3. 15 16. And not forsaking the assembling of our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching Heb 10. 25. They cannot swear because Christ saith Swear not at all neither by Heaven for its God's throne neither by the Earth for it is his footstool neither by Jerusalem for it is the City of the Great King neither shalt thou swear by thy Head for thou canst not make one hair white or black But let your communication be Yea Yea Nay Nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of evil Matt. 5. 34 35 36 37. And his Apostle James saith But above all things my Brethren swear not neither by Heaven neither by the Eaâ—th neither by any other Oath But let your yea be yea and your nay nay lest ye fall into condemnation Jam. 5. 12. And the swearing by any thing was that which made it an Oath and they used in their swearing to mention by something which made it an Oath and they were gone many of them from that of the Law which Christ the end of the Law for Righteousness also repeals in that he saith Ye have heard it hath been said by them of Old time Thou shalt not forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thine Oath 's but I say unto you Swear not at all c. as aforesaid which Law required them to swear and to swear by the Lord Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God and serve him and swear By his Name Deut. 6. 13. I say they were gone from that of the law which required them when they swore to swear by the Lord Thou shalt swear the Lord liveth in truth in judgement and in righteousness Jer. 4. 2. and swore by the Lord and by Malcom Zeph. 1. 5. And they taught my people to swear by Baal Jer. 12. 16. And they that swear by the sin of Samaria and say thy God O Dan liveth and the Manner of Beersheba the Calves there by which they worshipt God liveth even they shall fall and never rise up again Amos 8. 14. And by the Heaven and by the Earth and by Jerusalem c. He repeals it all But I say unto you swear not at all neither by the Lord nor any other thing Swear not at all I say unto you so though ye have heard it hath been said by them of old time Thou shalt not forswear thy self but shalt perform to the Lord thine Oaths This was not Cursorie swearing or in ordinary Communication as people would have it aâ—â— some say so but without proof for it appears not that there was any such kind of swearing among the Jews for they were not to take his Name in vain but such Oath 's as were made to God solemn Oaths as I may so say by which they bound their souls to God to perform as it was then required and when they swore so they mentioned by something as I have said and this By made it an Oath and that which they swore by was to be that which was Paramount to all and could witness and was able to avenge which the Lord was onely therefore they were to mention his Name when they swore and it was a figure of something which was to come which was not then come Christ Jesus whom that Nation and the Body of all that worship and service typified and which had their end in him and which he when he was come put thus an end unto who is the Oath of God to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy Covenant the Oath which he sware to our Father Abraham that he would grant unto us Luke 1. 72 73 74 And who it is that binds the soul to God In whom all the promises of God are Yea and Amen Even in Christ Jesus 2 Cor. 1 20. who saith But I say unto you Swear not at all And he that said so is the same that said Whosoever is angry with his Brother without a cause shall be in danger of the Judgement c. And whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart in the same Ch. Mat. 5. They cannot maintain a Priesthood by tythes because that Priesthood which had the tythes is done away and ended in him to whom Abraham paid tythes in Melchizedeck who is a Priest for ever after the Order of Melchizedeck Psal 110. 4. whom it figured They cannot maintain temples of stone or come to Worship in them as places consecrated by man or because they have in them more than other places or for that God is more to be found in them or wil be found in them or that he hath so signified more than in other places or that he will be present Because God dwelleth not in temples made with hands neither is worshipped with mens hands God that made the world and all things therein seeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands neither is worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing that he giveth unto all life and breath and all things Acts 17. 24 25. And the temple at Jerusalem was a figure of him who was to come which is ended in him who is come And now the temple of God is those in whom the Holy Ghost dwelleth Know ye not that ye are the temple of God and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you If any man defile the temple of God him shall God destroy for the temple of God is holy which temple ye are 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols For ye are the temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people Wherefore come out from among them and be ye seperate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing I wil receive you wil be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters saith the Lord God Almighty 2 Cor. 6. 16 17 18. They cannot be in the Observation of Daies and times set in the will of man Because such things also had their Day and End even those which were commanded of the Lord Ye observe Daies and Months Times Years I am afraid of you lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain Gal. 4. 10 11. And let no man therefore judge you in Meat or in Drink or in respect of a Holy-day or of
bless being persecuted we suffer it being defamed we entreat We are made as the filth of the world and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day 1 Cor. 4. 11 12 13. And they wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented of whom the world was not worthy They wandered in Deserts and in Mountains and in Dens and in Caves of the Earth Heb. 11. 37 38 And how the Apostles went about from Nation to Nation from City to City preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom their Epistles and Acts manifest unto which I refer And Paul saith A Bishop then must be blameless the Husband of one Wife vigilant sober of good behaviour given to Hospitality apt to teach not given to Wine no striker nor given to filthy Lucre but patient not a Brawler not Covetous One that ruleth well his Own house having his Children in subjection with all gravity For if a man know not how to rule his Own house how shall he take Care of the Church of God Not a Novice least being lifted up with Pride hee fall into the condemnation of the Devil Moreover he must have a good Report of them that are without least he fall into Reproach and the snare of the Devil These things write I unto Thee saith he to Timothy hoping to come unto thee shortly but if I tarry long that thou mayst know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the House of God which is the Church of the living God the Pillar Ground of Truth which no Temples made with hands are but the Church which is in God 1 Thes 1. 1. Lively stones built upon that spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. 1 Tim. 3. 2. to the 8. 14 15. And the same Apostle saith to Titus For this Cause left I thee in Creet that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee If any be blameless the husband of one wife having faithful Children not accused of Riot or unruly For a Bishop must be blameless as the Steward of God not self-willed not soon angrie not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but a lover of hospitality a lover of good men Sober just holy temperate holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to Exhort and to Convince the gain-sayers Tit. 1. 5. to the 10. And this Paul was an Apostle not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the Dead So he saith himself Gal. 1. 1. And Timothy had the Gift by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4. 14. And the Apostles laid their hands on them that believed and they received the Holy Ghost Act. 8. 17. which Simon the Sorcerer would have bought with mony For when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given he offered them mony saying Give me also this Power that on whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the Holy Ghost But Peter said unto him Thy Money perish with thee because thou hast thought the Gift of God can be purchased with Money Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter For thy heart is not right in the sight of God Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thoughs of thine heart may be forgiven thee for I perceive thou art in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity ver 18. to the 24 And Paul said to Timothy Lay hands suddenly on no maâ— neither be partakers of other mens sins Keep thy self pure 1 Tim. 5. 22. And that Ministration had an End with them and Antichrist was then entring and the Apostles prophesied of the Apostasie and Jude speaking of what was already entred which the Prophets and the Apostles of the Lord Jesus had foretold should come which was then already come But Beloved saith he ver 17. Remember ye the words that were spoken by the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time which should walk after their ungodly lusts These be they who seperate themselves sensual having not the Spirit ver 18 19. And John saith expresly That it was then the last time Little Children saith he it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even Now there are many Antichrists whereby we know it is the last time 1 John 2 18 And in the Revelations he saw the Court which was without the Temple to be given to the Gentiles and that they should tread the holy City under foot fourty and two Months Rev. 2. 21. And in the Overthrow of Babylon and the Return from the Apostasie and after it he speaks not of the Return again of that Ministration but of a More glorious a City wherein the Lamb was the light thereof And I saw saith he No Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it And the City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof And the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it and the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honor unto it Rev. 21. 22 23 24. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day for there shall be no night there And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the Nations unto it And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh an abomination or maketh a lye but they that are written ia the Lambs book of life ver 25 26 27. And all sorrows here are wiped away and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away And he that sate on the Throne said Behold I make all things new And he said unto me Write for these things are true and faithful Rev. 21. 4 5. And to the Lambs Wife was granted that she should be arrayed in fine Linnen clean and white for the fine Linnen is the righteousness of Saints Rev. 19. 8. And behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Rev. 21. 3. And he saw the holy City the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband ver 2. And the Angel that flew through the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the Earth and to every Nation and
Kindred and Tongue and People said with a loud Voice Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his Judgement is come and worship him who made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters And the other Angel that followed him said Babylon is fallen is fallen that great City because she made all Nations drink of the wrath of her Fornication Rev. 14. 6 7 8. And rejoice over her thou Heaven and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avenged ye on her Rev. 18. 20. And the Victory was to the Lamb and his followers who sate on the white Horse whom the Armies of Heaven followed on white Horses cloathed in fine Linnen white and clean Rev. 19. 11. 16. And the Angel which stood in the Sun cryed with a loud voice and said to all the Fowls that flie in the midst of Heaven Come and gather your selves unto the Supper of the great God that ye may eat the Flesh of Kings and the Flesh of Captains and the Flesh of mighty Men and the Flesh of Horses and of them that sit on them and the flesh of all men both free and bond both small and great ver 17 18. And he that testifies these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus Rev. 22. 20. And behold I come quickly and my Reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be ver 12. And I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testifie unto you these things in the Churches I am the Root and the Off-spring of David and the bright and Morning-Star And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say Come and let him that is athirst Come and take of the Water of Life freely ver 16. 17. And he saith unto me Seal not the sayings of the Prophesie of this Book for the time is at hand He that is unjust let him be unjust still and he which is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is Righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy let him be holy still And I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the first and the last Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life aad may enter in through the gates unto the City For without are Dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murderers and whosoever loveth and maketh a lye Ver. 10 11 12 13 14 15. For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this Book If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this Book And if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and from the holy City and from the things that are written in this Book Ver. 18 19. And so I have said to you what at present lies upon me from the Lord whether you will hear or forbear it shall witness for God against ye all if ye hear not in the Day that he shall tender to every man according to his Deeds So farwel It 's my love unto you that hath drawn this for you from the movings of the Lord. It concerns you to mind whether your state stands not so as is here represented and to turn unto the Lord lest being so ye be plucked up For every Plant thaâ— my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up saith Christ It 's that which I said to ye in the beginning in the Word of the Lord and which I now say unto you in the same at the End And the time is near Geo Bishope To the PREYSBTERY so called in these Nations Friends YOu have been staggering as Drunkards and starting aside like a Deceitful Bow You were of the Bishops and came out from the Bishops and covenanted against the Bishops and have let in the Bishops and have many of you turned and many are returning to the Bishops and this hath been and is the Work of you and of many of you to be upwards and downwards and backwards and forwards now here and now there reeling and rouling pinching here sometimes and drawing as contrary at another You had a tender Principle once which kept ye from evil as ye kept to it whilest ye were under sufferings but no sooner were you free but ye took the places of them that made ye to suffer and sought to make all others to suffer that differed from you ye have been true to Nothing not to your own Principles Ye have built again the things that ye have destroyed and so have made your selves Transgressors None should live but you had ye power to your Wills and you would live with and above every one The Lord hath tryed you and let the World see what you would do and his servants have suffered sorely by you and now he hath tryed you before his servants and ye are fallen before them whilst they stand And yet there is not confideration with you so as to think Is not there a lie in our right hand The Lord hath born long with you and loath he is that you should perish He hath suffered ye to fall into the same condemnation in which others are whom you would not have free Ye had a Day which ye long strove for and had the Door in your hands You let it open against your selves as it hath proved as well as others and it is well if so be it were not something in that your wariness lest you being so others should be free And now see what you have done the Lord hath befooled you and suffered ye to befool your selves and to be befooled because ye departed from the Counsel of the Lord and so what wisdom is in you Whilst Age and Generation lasts this your Work will be your shame and the Lord will be against you whilst ye turn not to him For here was your miss at first Ye kept not to your principle you turned to persecute who were persecuted your selves and the farther ye went on in this the more you were mad as Paul sometimes was and so saith of himself when he was as to the Law blameless and yet without Law as to Christ and what your madness hath brought forth upon your selves judge ye This Friends is to you in love 'T is time for you to consider and to mind that ye may see your state and know what the Lord is doing to you and the end of his working He would have you to bethink your selves and see where ye are He would have you to mind that in you which shews you your state and to hearken to the Reproof of Life the Voice of Wisdom that your souls may live and that out of all heats and rashness and anger ye may be brought into that calm state which doth unto others what it
would have others do unto its self A Zeale there is in many of you and as to God and something in some of you which is sincere to him but your Zeal is not according to Knowledge for whilest ye go about things in the will of man ye cannot accomplish the Righteousness of God nor doth the sincerity alwayes guide you for then you would not hurt your principle which was once to suffer in making and in a mind that would make others to suffer nor comply to things against your Principle because of suffering For Truth is great and the Righteous is bold as a Lyon and the feeling of a true Witness of God in a Man carries thorough as he abides in it all that he shall meet with because of it and neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to seperate between a man and it as he abides therewith and that which turns from it is seperate because in the Testimony of Truth there is the Love of God where the Love of God is it is in Christ Jesus and the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophesie and that which witnesses prophesieth teacheth and it beareth witness to God in this World and to his Truth and that there is nothing greater than it or more to be desired yea it is more desirable than life and this is made manifest when life and all is laid down for it and this glorifies God and is a Confession of him before men as Christ himself made a good Confession before Pontius Pilate And he that confesses me before men him shall the Son of Man also confess before the Angels of God saith he and he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the Angels of God And to him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne even as I also overcame and am sate down with my Father in his Throne And he that starts aside never Overcomes and he that doth not overcome cannot sit in the Throne But the fearful and the unbelieving and the abominable and Murderers and Whoremongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Lyars shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death And because thou hast kept the Word of my patience I also will keep thee from the hour of Temptation which shall come upon all the World to try them that dwell upon the Earth Be still therefore and cool and come into consideration and heed that in you which shews ye what ye have done which shews ye all things that ever ye have done as ye heed it Is not this the Christ And let the time past be sufficient wherein ye have walked according to your own minds and the will of the Flesh which lusteth after envy and return to the Lord to the old state which kept ye tender to God and keeps ye still as ye keep unto it and made ye not to dare to do any thing against him and judged ye when ye so did and judges ye still as ye heed it when ye transgress it This this is the Way to God the Reproof of Wisdom is the way of Life and there is no other It 's from Christ Jesus the chief Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls said the Apostle unto whom ye Return when ye are turned from going astray which turns to him those who are turned from going astray which is that which turns from going astray For ye were as sheep going astray but are now returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your Souls and when the chief Shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away said Peter to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bithina elect according to the fore knowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus 1 Pet. 2. 25. And to the Elders that were amongst them who fed the Flock of God that was amongst them and took the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over God's Heritage but being Examples to the Flock Chap 5. Ver. 4. This said the holy Man of God Friends the tender Bowels of my Love is to that in you which suffers through all this heat and Lust and the Will and Wrath of Man This Doing that which ye would not be done unto this turning to and for and against this condemning your selves in the things that ye allow this building again the things that ye have destroyed this Violence to your Brother Jacob this rest less spirit any where but where you would your selves this contradictory spirit which is not of God which is meek and gentle and easie to be entreated which doth no wrong which suffers wrong which avengeth not it self whose is Vengeance and who will repay it Which when it suffers threatens not which when it is reviled reviles not again but commits it to him who judgeth righteously and this is the Spirit of Christ The Bowels of the Lord God is the same in me to you I am witness through the shedding abroad of whose Love in my heart to his Seed in you which suffers and in his moving I have written Who am Your Friend who truly desires your welfare in this world and that which is to come Geo. Bishope To the People called Independents and Baptists Friends YOU must come down to that which witnesseth in you which is the Cross of Christ the Power of God to salvation to as many as believe and not live above it and yet think in your hearts that Abraham is your Father for if Abraham were your Father you would do the deeds of Abraham said Christ to the Pharisees but in that ye seek to kill me a man which hath told ye the truth which I have heard of God this did not Abraham Now in that you obey not that which witnesseth in you nor believe in it you do not the deeds of Abraham for Abraham said he saw my day and rejoiced and before Abraham was I am Now in this Day he believed or he could not have seen it and his day he saw or he could not have rejoiced and his Deeds he did whose Day he saw or he could not have believed For I believed therefore I spake And I know Abraham that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him and thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness So the Joy is in that which worketh righteousness and that which worketh righteousness is of Abraham and that which doth the deeds of Abraham seeth his day and rejoiceth and that killeth not nor seeks to kill
have done the thing which ye have been convinc't is evil although ye have been judged in your selves that that was evil and knew that that was the Judgement of God and that his Judgment is Just And you know that the things which ye have been convinced of to be evil many years ago and have been judged for it do yet remain with you and that the Lord hath been rejected and his drawings slighted and his Enemy and yours heeded that ye have refused to come to him that ye might have life to the light which makes manifest for whatsoever is made manifest is made manifest by the Light and I am the Light of the world saith he he that believeth in me shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life And this is the condemnation that Light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are Evil. And in him was life saith John and the Life was the Light of men that is the true Light that lighteâ—h every man that cometh into the world And this you know as I have said viz. That there is such a thing in you and the thing in you witnesses that it is so and ye cannot blot it out and that ye have disobeyed it and do disobey it and that it suffers in you and yet you are vain and proud and wanton and lustful and do conform to this world and do lye and deceive and cheat and cozen and swear and are drunk and do spend the creatures upon your Lusts and do hate and do kill and do steal and do commit Adultery and do covet your Neighbours Goods and do grind the Faces of the Poor and oppress and smite with the Fist of Wickedness and take the Name of the Lord in vain and do go beyond one another in dealing where you would not be done so to your selves These things I say ye know are so and yet ye contlnue as ye were before and these things continue in you and ye think the Lord is such a one as your selves because he holds his peace and hath a long time been silent and hath not brought his Judgement upon you nor caused ye to feel the Power of his Wrath and ye think to morrow shall be as to day and much more abundant because the Lord hath been long-suffering slow to anger abundant in goodness and truth not willing that any of you should die but rather that ye should return and live And this is the Use ye have made many of you of his loving kindness and mercy his long-suffering and forbearance to add Drunkenness to Thirst Iniquity unto iniquity and to draw iniquity with Cart-ropes of Vanity And you cannot think many of you how to be Vain enough nor Drunken enough nor Proud enough nor Voluptuous enough nor Consumptive of his Creatures enough and ye declare your sin as Sodom the shew of your countenance witnesses it against ye and ye think that ye are delivered to commit all these Abominations as if the Lord took Pleasure in these things or delighted in them and as if this was a Retribution Equivalent to him for all your deliverances and as if it were the summe and the end of all his working and as if the more vain and wicked ye are the more ye give him thanks and the more ye answer the end of his working and so ye lavish out your selves in all riot and excess as he hath been liberal to you in his Mercies as if this were the thing the Lord aimed at in all and expected as the Return of his Goodness and ye have been very bold many of you thus to do notwithstanding that that of him in you tells you and ye know it that ye should do otherwise and judgeth ye and so ye overturn your own Mercies and provoke the Lord to be jealous of his Name and Glory which he hath said he will not give unto another and to make ye examples to the ages to come of his judgments as he hath made ye patterns of his mercies and to let the world know by what he shal do unto you that he is a God that delighteth not in iniquity nor shall sin come near his Dwelling but that he is holy and will be sanctified in all that draw near him be had in Reverence by all that are about him And this I am moved of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to warn ye of and to let ye know that he will appear against you and that he will vindicate his Name and his Glory in what he shall do unto you and that he is drawing near to plead with you and to render unto you according to your works Therefore in the Bowels of Love I exhort and warn you to break off your sins by righteousness and your iniquities by shewing mercy to the Poor if so be there may be yet a lengthening of your tranquility For this I have received from the Lord God whose Word and Warning it is that he will make a short work with you and after ye have filled up the measure of your Iniquity which he will suffer ye to fulfil if so be yet ye shall not hearken nor yield obedience to his voice nor depart from iniquity nor choose to do the thing that is good which that of him shews ye in your hearts He will cut ye Down and his judgments shall come upon you and ye shall know that this is the Word of the Lord and his Warning unto you through his servant GEO. BISHOPE Bristoll 25 8 Month 1661. THE END
A Book of Warnings OR THE VISITATION OF THE LORD'S Love To The KING and his PARLIAMENT The NOBILITY and GENTRY The ARCH-BISHOPS and BISHOPS c. The PRESBYTERY The INDEPENDENTS and BAPTISTS The PEOPLE of these Nations Thorough His Servant GEORGE BISHOPE But the end of all things is at hand be ye therefore sober and watch unto Prayer 1 Pet. 4. 7. LONDON Printed for Robert Wilson and are to be sold at the Black-spread Eagle and Wind-Mill in Martins Le Grand 1661. To the KING and both Houses of PARLIAMENT Friends YOU have time to Work and it is not long The Lord hath been very Gracious unto you and Done for you above What ye were able to Ask or Think as it is at this Day He hath Replenished Your Sorrows and Troubles with Joy and Peace and made Your Dominion larger than Ye could Wish What is there that Your hearts can reasonably ask that You have not Was ever Such a Day seen by a People as by You Was ever such a Wonder wrought to make You so Did the Earth ever know the like Or can the Records of Ages parallel it Was it not as much beyond Your thoughts and that not long since as You are above Your Enemies Could Ye have thought that Ye should be Rulers over these Nations and so as at this Day some few years since Was it not Done in a Moment as it were without Blood or Price of War which brought and long kept Ye under How calm How still How in subjection are these Nations at this Day Have Ye an Enemy Can Ye think of one that can hurt You The Hearts the Persons the Purses of the Generalitie of the Nations are Under You. A large Dominion a goodly Heritage England the fairest and best of Nations England the most secure and safe of Nations England the fattest and most fertile of the Nations Men prompt and ready and bold and active A Seed Plot of Understanding An Academy of Learning A Nation of Men A Warlike Nation A People whom the Lord hath owned above any people A People whom the Lord hath appeared to save more than any people A people whom He hath sought to gather whom He hath gathered many of them into his Rest and who know the Lord. This is your state this your Condition and thus hath the Lord done for you that ye may observe his Statutes and keep his Judgments that ye may live and it may be well with you and your posterity after you and that ye may know his Rest which is Eternal as he hath given you here a Rest temporal And now what doth the Lord require of you but that you Do Justly and love Mercy and walk humbly with God that you break every yoke and unbind every burden and let the Oppressed go free That you love Justice and Judgement that you rule for God who hath brought you into Rule and hitherto preserved you That you take not upon you to Rule over his Kingdom or to prescribe to his Dominion Whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and his Dominion that which shall never have end that of him in the Conscience That ye make not his innocent people to suffer who suffered with you and by and under your Enemies who have good will towards you and all men though they war with the Spirit of iniquity which holds Mens souls in Captivity with Weapons that are not Carnal but Spiritual who desire your everlasting welfare and that it may be well with you and yours for ever who are innocent as to you neither hath there been any ill-will found in them against you in thought or in deed who are peaceable in the Land and seated in it by Natural Right who consist of Many Thousands of Families Men Women Children and Servants Natural English who wrong no man who resist not Evil who are good Examples of Holiness of Virtue of Temperance and Testimonies against Evil which causeth the Wrath of God to come upon Nations and to afflict and destroy them Whose Desire is that none may perish but that all might come to the knowledge of the truth The Lord God hath called them the Lord God is with them the Lord God hath kept and will keep them as they abide with him The Lord God hath made them to stand and will make them He hath made them a People and they shall be so He hath observed all that hath been done for and against them and he hath recompenced and will recompence it they fear before him they dare not displease him they may not set up Man above him they must obey him before man they obey man in him He cannot see them wronged and not require it they are his Jewels his People are and as the Apple of his eye He that toucheth you toucheth the Apple of mine eye saith the Lord they tremble before him and of him stand in awe who is Lord of Heaven and Earth they fear not man whose breath is in his Nostrils because they may not Their fear towards him is not taught by the precepts of men because it ought not Christ Jesus saith so Matt 15. 7 8 9. Ye Hypocrites saith he to the Pharisees well did Esaias prophesie of you saying This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth and honoreth me with their lips but their heart is far from me But in vain do they worship me teaching for Doctrine the Traditions of men And the Lord by his Prophet Isa 29 13 14. Wherefore the Lord said Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth and with their lips do honor me but have removed their heart far from me and their fear towards me is taught by the Precepts of men Therefore behold I will proceed to do a marvellous Work amongst this people and a wonder for the Wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the Understanding of their Prudent shall be hid They worship God in spirit and in truth neither in this Mountain nor yet at Jerusalem because the Father seeketh such to worship him whom the Son saith will be so worshipped God is a Spirit saith he and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth Woman believe me the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father Ye worship ye know not what we know what we Worship for salvation is of the Jews But the hour cometh and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him John 4. 21 22 23 24. They cannot bow to any thing but what 's of the Lord in his Worship because the Lord hath sworn As I live saith the Lord every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God Rom. 14. 11. They cannot owe their Consciences to any but to God because He is Lord of Conscience They cannot but meet together to Worship God and to wait upon him
and Men at their Wits Ends expecting what the End of those things will be and an Eternal End abides it to every one either of joy or sorrow for ever and ever But if it be otherwise and that condemn you which should be your Peace and that plead against yee which you should now mind to plead for you in that Day and be a Witness to the Lord that yee have not hearkned nor heard nor obeied nor received Instruction nor drawn near to the Lord but you would do as yee listed and serve your pleasures more then God and consume his Creatures on your Lusts and swear by and blaspheme his Name and make no other use of your time then to please your selves and not the Lord nor of your Estates but in order thereunto and your time be over and the Day of your Visitation be closed up and at an End then it will be sad indeed and better it had been for you that you had never been born when with Rich Dives you who have had in your life-time your Pleasure must be tormented for ever and ever Therefore my Friends whilst yee have time mind it Let not the gracious hour of the Lord 's tender Visitation pass Over you but be yee gathred unto it Come into his Arms now they are Open approach unto him now that he calls upon you It 's your need not his that makes him call on you Come to him when he calls He knows your state He knows what it will be for you to be Undone for ever He knows the power of his wrath though man doth not He knows how it will sink how it will lay Low how it will bring to the dust how it will bow the Pride of Man and lay his Haughtiness in the Dust and how intollerable it is He calls that yee may hear whilst yee have time He calls that your souls may live Why will yee die O house of Israel Return and your souls shall live He desires not your death he hath sworn it This is a testimonie of it that he calls upon you and that he calls upon you you know because yee find that in you which shews yee Evil and judges yee for Evil and tells yee what yee should do and Answers to what I have said to you And this is the power of God to salvation to as many as believe in it and obey it It 's stronger then the Powers of Darkness It steps thorough it It comes before it it shews yee what the Enemy is doing and where he is leading you and what 's the Path and whither it tends and shines before you for you to see the Path of Life to walk in it it will lead you into the Path of Life as you believe in it heed it and obey it And this is the loving kindness of God to you and his free Grace and his Mercy his Redemption if you will receive and accept it For to as many as received him it was that to them he gave power to be called the Sons of God even to as many as believe in his Name which were born not of Blood nor of the will of man nor of the Flesh but of God Who was in the World and the World was made by him and the World knew him not who came unto his Own and his Own received him not Live not then in Pleasures for he that liveth in pleasure is dead whilst he liveth But draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you Cleanse your hands ye sinners and purifie your hearts yee double-minded Be afflicted and mourn and weep Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness Humble your selves in the sight of the Lord and he shall lift you up Come to that which judgeth you and love that which shews you and follow that which draws you Least the hour of your Visitation pass Over you and you be swept away by the over-flowing scourge which is near to come on the head of the wicked So will ye feel my Love and the Arms of the Lord which seeks to draw you with the Cords of a Man with the bands of love of which I am Witness vvho so moves in me to you-wards whose love is to you and who am willing in any thing in the Will of God to be serviceable unto your Eternal Welfare and that which is here which is desired by him who is Your Friend GEO. BISHOPE To the Arch-Bishops so called and Bishops Deans and Prebends Chancellors and Chorâ—sters and the rest of the Priesthood and its Officers under Episcopacy in these Nations Friends EVery Plant that my Heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up saith Christ And you being not Plants of his planting ye will be rooted up Therefore look to your selves and see in this your hour whether ye be Plants which he hath set which shall not be rooted up Look thorough the New Testament so called the Scriptures of the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus and see whether ye have any footing there or in the Garden of God where they planted who were sent of him who were able Ministers of the New-Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit for the Letter kills but the Spirit giveth life 2 Cor. 3 6. See whether ever Jesus Christ planted such a thing in his Church as to be called Fathers or Reverend Fathers or Right Reverend Fathers seeing that he said unto his Disciples Call no man Father on the eartâ— for one is your Father which is in Heaven Matt. 23. 9. And seeing of the Lord it is said Holy Reverend is his Name Psal 111. 9. And whether this be Right or in God seeing it is Out of the Scriptures and from the Church of Christ which is in God 1 Thes 1. 1. And none of the Gifts which when he ascended up on high and led Captivity captive he gave unto men which were some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the Unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ Eph. 4. 8 to the 14. And seeing that Christ Jesus himself calls not himself Father but the Son though he be the Head of the Church Col. 1. 18 And whether These be not Names of Blasphemy And whether the Woman which John saw being carried away by the Angel which had the seven Vials in the Spirit into the Wilderness was not sitting on a scarlet coloured Beast full of Names of Blasphemy Rev. 17. 1 3. And whether she was not drunken with the Blood of the Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus Ver. 6. And whether these be not some of the Names Again look and see whether Lords Arch-Bishops and Lord-Bishops or any such thing be
found written in the Lambs Book of Life who exercise Dominion over the Lord's Herltage and are called of men Lords Seeing that Christ Jesus saith The Kings of the Gentiles exercise Lordship over them and they that exercise Authority over them are called Benefactors but ye shall not be so but he that is greatest among ye let him be as the younger and he that is chief as he that doth serve For whether is greater he that sitteth at Meat or he that serveth Is not he that sitteth at Meat but I am amongst ye as he that serveth Luke 22. 25 26 27. And seeing that his Apostle saith For though there be that are called Gods whether in Heaven or in Earth as there be Gods many and Lords many but to Us there is but one God the Father of whom are all things and We in him one Lord Jesus by whom are all things and we by him 1 Cor. 8. 4 5. And seeing another of his Apostles saith The Elders which are among you I exhort who am also an Elder and a Witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the Glory which shall be revealed Feed the Flock of God which is among you taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind neither as being Lords over Gods Heritage but being examples to the Flock 1 Pet. 5. 23. And seeing the same Apostle also saith And when the chief Shepherd No Arch-Bishop no chief Shepherd of the sheep but him shall appear we shall receive who are not as Lords over Gods Heritage or who Lord it not over them as aforesaid a Crown of glory that fadeth not away ver 4. Thirdly look and see whether ever the Apostles had the disposal of Lands otherwise then what every one that had a willing mind did sell and lay the money down at the Apostles feet for the relief of the Disciples that none amongst them might want and this in time of persecution Seeing that the Scripture saith And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul neither said any of them that ought of the things that he possessed were his own but they had all things common And that with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great Grace was on them all neither was there any among them that lacked For as many as were possessors of Lands sold them and brought the price of the things that were sold and laid them down at the Apostles feet And distribution was made unto every man according to his need And Joses who by the Apostles was called Barnabas which is by interpretation the Son of Consolation a Levite and of the Countrey of Cyprus having Land sold it and brought the Money not the Land and laid it at the Apostles feet Acts 4. 32. to the end And whether Palaces and yearlie Revenues of thousands of pounds in Land and Houses which they neither ploughed for or eared planted or sowed as proper to their Place and Function Or Earthly Dignities or Superiorities or Powers or Preheminencies or State or Grandeur was entailed by Christ to his Apostles and Disciples whom he sent forth to Minister to whom he said after he was risen from the Dead and near ascending And lo I am with you to the end of the World Matt. 28. 20. seeing that himself also saith to Pilate My Kingdom is not of this world if my Kingdom were of this world then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now is my Kingdom not from hence John 18. 36. And to Peter Put up thy sword into the sheath the Cup that my Father hath given me shall I not drink it Ver. 31 Put up thy sword Peter into his place for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword Mat. 26. 52 And to his Disciples The Foxes have holes and the Birds of the air have Nests but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head Matt. 8. 20. And When I sent you without purse and scrip and shooes lacked ye any thing And they said Nothing Luke 22. 35 And his Apostle saith For though I preach the Gospel I have nothing to glory of for necessity is laid on me yea wo is unto me if I preach not the Gospel For if I do this thing willingly I have my reward but if against my will a Dispensation of the Gospel is committed to me what is my reward then Verily that when I preach the Gospel that I may make the Gospel of Christ without charge that I abuse not my power in the Gospel for though I be free from all men yet have I made my self servant unto all that I might gain the more 1 Cor. 9. 16 17 18 19. Fourthly look and see whether they had any Courts or Synagogues or places of Judicature or sate as Judges over Mens Persons or Estates or had their Officers to summon or bring before them to censure and to punish them And whether they had or sought for or used or taught of such a Power or any thing like it to that or succeeding ages that might then or hereafter or at any time be used by the Apostles and the Disciples of Jesus Seeing that he saith Man who made me a Judge or a Divider over you to him that said Master speak to my Brother that he divide the Inheritance with me Who was one of the company that followed him Luke 12. 13 14. And seeing that he said to his Disciples Take heed to your selves for they shall deliver ye up to Counsels and in the Synagogues ye shall be beaten and ye shall be brought before Rulers and Kings for my sake for a testimony against them Mark 13. 9. And that they were so delivered and beaten and brought before the Acts of the Apostles testifie Fiftly Look and see whether the Apostles and Ministers of Jesus had fixed places or setled stations or Houses and Land appropriated to them by the Laws of Nations and such a Circuit of ground and all within it whether one or the other to be at their Order and this to be called their Diocess or Deanary or Parish or Cure of Souls Seeing that of Christ Jesus it is said That he went about all the Cities Villages teaching in their Synagogues preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom healing every sickness every disease among the people Mat. 9. 35. And he said to his Disciples Freely ye have received freely give Heal the sick cleanse the Lepers raise the dead cast out Devils Freely ye have received freely give And this was to the lost sheep of the House of Israel Matt. 10. 6 7 8. And seeing his Apostle said of himself and Brethren Even to this present time we both hunger and thirst and are naked and are buffeted and have No certain dwelling place and labour working with our hands being reviled we