my self abundantly in love This true Paradise which God planted in man Christ formed in us and the Spirit of God living like a fountain of water with us SECT X. The Adam and Eve there in Paradise §. 10 ANd further as from the Paradise and River of Life the whole world is refreshed for from hence come the streames of life and divide themselves into all parts of the world teaching in his Name wonderfull things so the Man and the Woman that lives in this Paradise with God the Adam and the Eve is Christ and the Christian Christ the Man and the Christian the Woman both living in one Paradise brought together by God marryed and given in marriage by the Spirit of God making Christ and the Christian one this is the Mystery of God manifested in the flesh or God dwelling in us becoming a second Adam to us feeding us with the tree of Life in us and refreshing us as with living water which he gives us and the tree shall not dye but live need no clothing or any Tabernacle or Shrine or Fig-leaves but the nakedness of God appearing in the Righteousness of Christ not having our garments which are hairy but the smooth and naked clothes of Christ and we shall not be ashamed SECT XII §. 12 The Tempter the Fall the Serpent NAy further the Tempter here in the New Creature thus written by God is the good Tempter the Spirit of the Lord tempting us and leading us into all Truth and Lord lead us into this temptation for ever and this Spirit is not like the beast of the field but like the Doves of Heaven it is as wise as Serpents but as innocent and harmless as a Dove Now the great Fall of this New Man is a total and final fall from sin Satan or a Being taken up in Clouds from the earth a receiving out of their sight to live with the Lord as also the curse there is nothing but blessing there is neither pain nor sorrow conceiving nor travelling there is neither Lord nor servant but all are made one in Christ Jesus SECT XII §. 12 How all things are made new in the beginning of this book LAstly to conclude the writing of God in short for the book of the beginning of the new Creation or Book of life in Man Here is no carnal generation no living after the Flesh no knowing one another after the Flesh but in Spirit and Truth a spiritual encrease and multiplying Here is no death at all but a long life even for ever and ever Here is no marrying nor giving in marriage but they are like the Angels of God no violence but all meekness and love Here is no wrath nor destruction but eternal love and consolation Here is no repenting the Lord he made Man but it rejoyces him at the heart to see him Here is no Deluge but the pouring out of the Spirit no Ark but the Lords presence in our Ark we are the house of God no perishing but Flesh no Sacrifice but the Spirit no Covenant but the new one in Man no Rain but that of the Word of Truth no Flesh but Spirit to feed upon no Milk nor Herbs but Grace no Vinyard but that of the Lords love no Altar but God no Call but that inward Call to forsake thy Fathers house No House nor Father nor Mother nor Land nor Portion but the Lord none to serve nor follow but him no Circumcision but in Spirit no bond woman nor her children but the free woman the spirit of liberty from sin and death no Well but the deep Rivers of Salvation no Vision but of God no Famine but of Flesh no Corn nor Wine nor Oyl but the Light of Gods countenance lifted up upon us CHAP. III. The second Book that God writes in Man §. 1 is called EXODVS THe second book is the book of Exodus for where the Lord hath once begun a writing or a work a word or a line he will build up finish and make an end in his due time but now he is but beginning and going on from one strength to another appearing in us now he comes with an out-stretched arm to deliver before he came to pull down and to build up to lay the foundation now he comes to deliver from the enemies of our salvation SECT II. §. 2 God calling his Son out of Egypt THerefore saith he I have called my Son out of Egypt that is Christ is called out of the grave death darkness this is the Son called out of Egypt the Flesh to live in Spirit in his members and body Now in this Egypt of our flesh and filthiness dwells nothing but Thunder and Lightening Darkness Plagues and Crosses for all these lay upon the Son while he is and was in our Egypt or fleshly Nature but he must rise the third day the Son shall not always lie thus in the grave the Spirit shall not always strive with Flesh and be buffeted and betrayed by it as Israel after a certain time was called forth the Lord hears the groans of his Son on the Cross and Israel in Egypt and the groans of the Spirit in these Tabernacles of Flesh willing to be delivered waiting for the day of Redemption not out of a part of Egypt to live in the suburbs or as neer as may be but far off to get into another land and kingdom even the kingdom called the Lords And though Flesh and Blood Principalities and Powers spiritual wickedness in high places Pharoah and all his Taskmasters the Magicians and all the hoste of Egyptians rise up against this Call and power of God to withstand it as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses and as the Scribes and Pharises placing the watch and ward laying the stone upon the grave of Christ sealing it withstood God and as Antichrist withstands the two witnesses but all in vain till the power of God entred into them all bringing them forth with a mighty hand saying Come up hither and fire came out of their mouths and the sea to consume and devour them They I mean all their carnal and spiritual enemies may come after them as far as the red sea but then no farther As soon as his Son the Lord Christ or the Christian hath passed through the red Sea of the sufferings of Christ Flesh and Blood dare follow them no further nay here dyes and perisheth all this carnal power and enmity SECT III. §. 3 God leading his Son through the Wilderness BUt though Gods Son Christ Jesus be called out of Egypt and is led from thence and Egypt destroyed in the Red Sea there the Flesh suffers yet there is another Call God leaves not his Son in the Wilderness whom he hath once called but then he calls them on and allures them there speaking comfortably to them This Son of God called out of Egypt thus and now all his children in the Wilderness is brought to straits and knows not whither to look
the world what God hath done in the secret printing-house of the heart and whatsoever comes out to the world that is not of his printing and licensing shall be suppressed by the Spirit as not having the hand-writing that makes free and none shall buy or sell but those that have his mark SECT XIII §. 13 What be the things God makes use of in writing this Book Man ANd when the Lord God doth thus he will make our hearts his table-books washing them clean and pure fit and prepared to receive any impression his letters shall be all Spirit and his words life his Precepts and Commandments perfect Liberty as for the Lords Pen it shall be the Finger of the Spirit of God the Inditer God himself the Ink it shall be the pure Christal waters of Life and Grace that proceeds from the Throne of God and of the Lamb the everlasting Fountains of Love the Writings and Printings shall never perish it shall be for a perpetual Memorial to all generations the Lords Hand and Seal shall be set to the Book he will not be ashamed of his workmanship nor his writing therein it shall be also dedicated to all the world Angels and men for all to read his Name shall be to it and the Title shall be this The Book of Life Printed in the year of our Lord the fulness of time SECT XIV Gods making mans heart plain and fair for it §. 14 as paper I Will put my Laws in their minds this is the mind of God to have them of one minde with himself minding the same things His mind in their minds God would fain put his new wine into the new vessels of their minds knowing full well how much vanity for the most part lodges there like the Inn that was full of guests that there was no room for Christ to lay his head so it is in most minds enough of every thing but little enough of this love of the Spirit of Life What said the Lord Now I will come into the temple of mans mind and cast out the buyers and sellers overthrow the tables of the money-changers drive out the beasts and birds and the house that was full of murderers aden of theeves I will make a house of prayer before I leave them SECT XV. §. 15 What God minds and loves it is to live with us and in us BY this we may see the mind of God what he minds most amongst men what he loves best where he desires to live it is the minds of men Again we see all those Sacrifices under the Law that were commanded to be offered to God must be of the best the male in the flock not the sick blind lean or lame all which was abominable to God so here this is the male in the flock God will have offered to him his Laws put into our minds and if this be not all is nothing Thus it was with David surely when he said Oh how do I love thy Law it is my meditation day and night and again Psal 1. 2. Blessed is the man whose delight is in the Laws of the Lord surely it was because God had put his Laws in his mind As it was in the Temple of God which was a shaddow of good things to come there was we read in the most holy place the Ark of the Covenant surely this Ark was a kind of figure of what God would do in these last dayes in our Temples in the most holy place of our hearts even in the Ark of our minds he would place his Covenants and put his Laws in that Arke SECT XVI §. 16 What is shall be of the Lords Will and Law and nothing else ANd in that it is said my Laws it shall be a living Law a holy heavenly wise gracious good Law God himself shall be our Law and our Example in all things follow him the Governments shall be upon his shoulders he will Rule in us and over us and be our King Priest and Prophet Happy art thou O Israel a people governed by the Lord He is your Law-giver and it is given to the spirits and hearts of men where he rules and sits brings al things into subjection to himself I will break every other Law of man all your Laws either in Church or in State either in the inward man that convinces or in the outward that restrains that are not mine shall be rooted up those yokes and burdens you shall no longer bear but take my yoke it 's easie my burden and Laws are light and in them you shall find rest SECT XVII §. 17 His own Laws he keeps and them he will have us keep one Law for both ANd in that he saith my Laws see how good and gracious God is he will lay no other burden then what he bears himself live by one Law one Mind one Life one Spirit one Truth one Peace one Righteousness one Kingdom the Law God walks by lives in the way he goes that which is his own very heart and nature the same he would give us that we may be as God is holy as he is holy just as he is just that we may be the children of our Father which is in Heaven SECT XVIII §. 18 All Gods Laws a whole volum within us ANd it is observable he doth not say my Law though all his Laws agree in one and are as one but shews us further that how the Word of the Lord shall dwell in us richly and not sparingly we shall not abound in some grace but in every grace nor in some knowledg but in all wisdom knowledg not doing some of the Will of God but instructed in the whole Counsel of the Lord we shall have Laws in us of all sorts the Law of Faith the Law of Love the Law of Truth the Law of Life the Law of Righteousness the Law of Meekness the Law of Contentedness nay there is not a Law in Heaven nor a Law in the Heart of God but he will put it in our hearts for we shall be men after his own heart And this we must know God is the searcher of heart and mind it must be such an eye and such an arm as must be stretched out to reach the bottom and depth of our minds all that is in the world is too short we may speak to them present the forms and patterns of things given to us in the Mount to the eyes ears and outward view and hearing of men in the world and there we must leave it then comes God and gives the increase he puts it farther he doth the work powerfully We can but John the Baptist like say I indeed baptize with water but he that comes after me it is he that must do all without him all is nothing so here unless Christ come after as here he hath promised and put his Laws in our minds we shall heare pray and do all in vain SECT XIX §. 19 WHerefore my dearly beloved
what is Paul or what is Apollo or â—ephas It is the Lord alone that wil be exalted he will put his Law there where all the devils in hell all the powers of flesh and spirit cannot prevail against it if he put it there what shall be able to separate remove or pull it out of his hands or out of our hearts SECT XX. §. 20 Mans blessing or curse is within himself ANd I will write it in their hearts It is the heart of man that God ayms at and therein are the issues of death or life there is every mans Heaven or Hell his blessing or his cursing for if our own hearts condemn us shall not God much more If this Tree be good then all the fruits are good but if it be bad then all is corrupt look to your hearts then for from thence is discovered your weal or woe SECT XXI §. 21 What God writes in us is such writing as nothing can blot it out ANd here see how the phrase is changed to enlarge the sense what before he called his putting into our minds he enlarges it to the writing or rather explains the manner how he will put his Laws in our hearts and that is by writing them in our hearts or else what he will do after he hath put his Laws in our minds how he will preserve and keep it there that it may never be forgotten but abide in us for ever by an eternal written character that shall never be blotted out Sin may but Grace cannot and when it is thus printed in us no theeves can steal it nor rust corrupt it nor fowls gather it but it 's safe under Hand and Seal and we never have sure comfort till then we may then say I know that my Redeemer liveth and I see him and I know whom I have trusted I am perswaded fully that nothing is able to separate me from his love nor blot me out of his Book I was in much doubt of his word and promise before I had this Hand writing but now I thank God I have obtained the victory by the Lord. SECT XXII §. 22 Where God begins to write he perfects it in us NOw be assured of this all you that know any thing of God that when the Lord puts his hand to the pen and the pen to the paper which are the tables of our minds it will not be in vain he stays not there it is for this very end to write something therein either a protection to keep thee I wil be with thee or else a warrant to do something in his name and he will deliver thee or a Commission to go and teach all Nations to go forth to conquer and overcome fearing nothing SECT XXIII §. 23 The writing of God in us is by degrees ANd when the Lord begins his writing it may be in weakness in a letter first because of the smoaking flax and bruised reeds and from a letter to a Word a Word of Life and from a Word to a Promise and from a Promise to a Precept thus going on with line upon line and precept after precept here a little and there a little till he hath finished it his whole Will in us that in the volum of our hearts we may see it written Lo I am prepared to do thy Will O God When we shall see all his Words Promises Precepts Prophesies Exhortations Consolations Doctrines Reproofs Uses Means Motives and all compleated in Man It may be in the beginning like a grain of mustard seed but comes to a tree it is begun in free-grace but it ends in full Glory it is at first God manifested in the Flesh and thence justified in Spirit at last received up into Glory this is the writing called the Lords SECT XXIV §. 24 Gods magnifying himself in Man ANd all this is done for his own name sake to make his Glory Name known that he is the Lord the only God and there is no Beloved like to this Beloved this made David in his eight Psalm magnifie God so when he looked upon the three-fold writing of God 1. That in Nature saying O Jehovah God how excellent is thy Name in all the world thou hast set thy Glory above the Heavens this he read in Natures Book The second Book or Writing is in Letter Word or Promise and in this he is magnified in the same Psalm Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength stilling the enemy and avenger The third Book is in Spirit in Man and that is the highest of all Gods Writings there he is read plainest and best first in the first Man Adam secondly in the new Man Christ thirdly in the new Man the Christian this made him say more When I consider the the Heavens the works of thy hands Sun Moon and Stars which thou hast ordained Lord think I then what is poor man that thou art so mindfull of him or the son of man that is the second man that thou hast so much visited him as to dwell in him and be God with him making him a litle lower then the Angels in his flesh and crowning him with so much glory and honor in Spirit in us as to think Heaven Earth Angels Men Creatures Scriptures Means Sabbaths Ordinances Graces Promises Ministers Magistrates things Temporal things Spiritual Christ God the Spirit all is ours therefore I must say once again O Lord our God how excellent is thy Name in all the world SECT XXV §. 25 The state of the two Adams THe Lord is pleased to make man an epitome of all things as he is a little world created of God Heaven and Earth being in him and he made up of both so the fulness thereof is in him a compound of all at first as he was in the first Adam But now in the second Adam in the generation of Jesus Christ as he is brought forth a new to God dying to the World and living to God in spirit in a new world whereof this first is but the image so is he the sum of all that spiritual state For as Christ in the flesh was the sum of all the legal Rites Ordinances Sacrifices Worship and All so is Christ Jesus in spirit in the new Creature the sum of Gospel Ordinances Prayers Hearings Writings Preachings Church-fellowship Breaking of Bread and Excommunications SECT XXVI §. 26 The Lord is all the Book and Scripture his people have him they preach hear read practise NAy the Lord will be to us Heaven and Earth Lands and Livings Father and Mother Sister and Brother Children and Friends Master and Servant Gifts and Graces Knowledge and Wisdom Temple and Sacrifice Sabbath and Sermon Creature and Scripture yea Doctrine and Psalm Revelation and Consolation New Testament and Old Law and Gospel Letter and Spirit Promise and Precept Writing and Printing our Bible and Book all things past present and to come Therefore he saith when he comes to do this I will write What a
and glory in house and kingdom to them that would carrying it all away one day and take them captive so it is with many taken away by sorceries SECT XXXVII §. 37 The Comfort that the Lord comforts his people withal as the fruits of his coming THe Lord comforteth his people with these things 1. That their warfare is shortly accomplished 2. Their sins pardoned 3. The way of the Lord to be prepared in them the mountains there to be removed and the valleys lifted up there which is the poor in spirit to be comforted the rough ways made plain and the crooked thoughts made streight 4. Their flesh to be made like grass and toyling so that all flesh is grass 5. That the glory of the Lord is to be revealed and all flesh shall see it together for the Lord hath spoken it 6. That Zion shall have all glad tidings in her that she shall cry behold my Lord and my God for he shall come with a strong hand and his arm shall rule for him Behold his reward is with him and his work before him 7. The Lord himself shall feed us as a shepherd doth his flock he shall gather his lambs with his arms and carry them in his bosom leading them that are with young 8. Holding the waters in his hand spanning the heavens comprehending the earth weighing the mountains To whom the Nations are a drop and the Isles a little thing calling the stars by his names To whom then will ye liken me saith the Lord the everlasting God the Creator of the ends of the earth that never faints nor is weary whose understanding is unsearchable that gives strength life and being to all things and to them that wait upon the Lord he renews their strength that they mount up with wings like Eagles they shall run and not be weary walk and not faint SECT XXXVIII §. 38 The Worm Jacob made strong FEar not thou Worm Jacob for I will help thee and be thy Redeemer I have chosen thee thou art my Servant and I will not cast thee away but will uphold thee with the right hand of my Righteousness I will plant thee anew and none shall root thee up and every plant or idol that is in you shall become an abomination to you yea and the works of your own hands vanity and nothing and ye shall rejoyce in the Lord and all that strive with you shall perish SECT XXXIX §. 39 What the Lord doth for his Servants BEhold my Servants whom I have chosen mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon them and they shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles They are mine and not their own mine and not mens for no man can serve two Masters Behold they are excellent Servants whose service is perfect Freedom indeed and pleasure all his Words and Works Joy Peace and Righteousness for ever Again they are Servants of my own choosing calling fitting trained up by my self in my own house to serve me in Righteousness and Holiness before me And in whom my Soul delighteth Whom the Lord chooses he delights in them though they be but Servants the unworthiest of them nay and that with his Soul delighting himself in the prosperity of his Servants and whom he delights in he puts his Spirit upon them he can keep no good things from them yea all is theirs Heaven and Earth Christ the Spirit God and All. And lastly they shall by this Spirit overcome all things and bring forth Judgment unto Victory indeed SECT XL. §. 40 The sweetness and love of the Spirit of Christ in his HE shall not cry nor lift up his voyce nor be heard in the streets a bruised reed he shall not break nor quench the smoaking flax till he bring forth Judgment unto Victory he shall not fail nor be discouraged till he hath set up Judgment in the Earth and the Isles shall wait for his Law Thus shall it be with the Children of Jesus in whom Christ is formed the Spirit of Jesus is Love Meekness Sweetness Patience it seeks not revenge but in all things behaves it self comely in the streets abroad towards them without and at home towards them within it will offend none but help all SECT XLI §. 41 The smoaking flax and the bruised reed in us the little measure of the Spirit THe smoaking flax c. The lowest and darkest appearance of him is glorious he comes to his own and receives it if but a smoak he makes it a flame and such as sit in darkness he makes them to see light and where there is smoak and trouble of heart he takes away the dimness and makes the smoak to vanish and the fire of the Lords Spirit must burn us as flax and tow decay to nothing before we shall be good for any thing And the bruised reed also the Lord will not break he doth cherish and nourish it as the husband doth his wife the Lord rather doth bind up the reed then bruise it and makes the reed become a rod of iron to break in pieces the Nations the Potters vessels the fleshly man for the Lord can do nothing against himself SECT XLII §. 42 Flesh is deaf and blind the Lord seeing all things ANd the Lord will give himself for righteousness strength and light to the people eyes to the blind freedom to the prisoners I will no more give my glory to another I will make waste their mountains and hills dry up all their herbs and dry up all their pools and then will I bring the blind by a way they know not I will make darkness light before them and crooked things straight all flesh shall be deaf and blind and then shall they see even my Servant and my Messenger shall be blind that he that glorieth may glory in the Lord. SECT XLIII §. 43 The blind and the deaf shall be Gods Witnesses BRing forth the blind people that have eyes and the deaf that have ears for they are my Witnesses and my Servants whom I have chosen saith the Lord. For they beleeve understand and know that I am he and there is none besides me O Israel fear not for I have redeemed thee and called thee by my name thou art mine Wheresoever thou goest I am with thee through waters rivers fire and all for thou art precious in my sight and honorable therefore I will give men for thee and people for thy life Behold I will do a strange thing I will dry up all rivers and make a new river in the Wilderness and the Beast and the Dragon therein shall honor me for it and drink thereof and change their natures SECT XLIV I the Lord do all things §. 44 I Am the Lord and there is none else I the Lord do all things I make the Heavens to drop down from above and let the Sky pour down Righteousness and the Earth open and let them bring forth Salvation and let Righteousness spring forth together I
THE LITTLE Bible of the Man OR THE Book of God opened in Man BY THE Power of the LAMB Wherein God is the Spirit or inside of the Book and Man the Letter or out-side of it In whom as in a Glass you may both behold the Spirit and Letter of the holy Scriptures in the new Man fulfilled and Explained from Genesis to Jeremiah This is the first Volume of Gods Book in Man Written by a weak Instrument of the Lords Capt. T. BUTLER LONDON Printed in the first year of Englands Liberty 1649 For Giles Calvert at the black spread Eagle at the west end of Pauls TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE Lord of Pembroke AND To the Right Honorable the Lord of Mulgrave all Peace and Happiness My Lords IT is the Design of Heaven to pull down the pride of all flesh and to have the Lord alone Exalted that no flesh might glory before him but all that glory may do it in the Lord God they being the Lords For the day of the Lord is come upon all flesh to destroy it like grasse but the Word of the Lord abides for ever and he that is built upon that Rock the gates of hell can never prevail against him though the Lord cometh to shake terribly the Earth and the Heavens also yea though the mountains and hils remove out of their places though the stars fall from heaven and the Sun be turned into darkness and the Moon into blood by this terrible Earthquake yet the foundation of God stands sure their Sun never sets nor their Moon changes For the Lord himself is their everlasting Light and thy God their glory And though the fashion of this world perisheth waxing old as doth a garment and as a vesture shalt thou change them yet thy Kingdome is an everlasting Kingdome O God and thy Dominion throughout all ages thou changest not but art the same to day yesterday and forever thou shalt raign till thou hast made this world become the Kingdomes of our Lord Jesus Christ and of his Saints and great shall be the day of the Lord. My Lords I could doe no less then recommend this new born babe unto You which hath been brought forth in sorrow and much weakness of flesh though in the willingness of spirit the Lord gives it his grace and blessing that it may be growing up in you in strength and power which shall be the joy and desire of Your Servant T. Butler From my Quarters in Black-Fryers Mr Delaines February 8. 1648. To his Worthy Friend Mr Tho. Appletree Worthy Friend LEt him that stands saith the Apostle take heed least he fall and be not high minded but fear for God gives grace to the humble and exalts the meek but the proud he beholds afar off it is good therefore for every man to look to his feet and consider how he stands by sense or by Faith by Flesh or Spirit by Grace or by Works and where he stands on holy or unholy ground or the Sand or the Rock upon the Sea or the dry Land on Earth or in Heaven in himself or in God whether the Moon be under his feet and he clothed with the Sun whether he serve God or Mammon for if we stand in the Lord we are safe but if we stand any where else we sink and fall the Lords Angels pitch their tents about his to preserve them in all his ways they shall walk and not be weary run and not faint they walk as wise men and not as fools redeeming the time because the days are evil And while God gives You opportunity do good to all but especially to the houshold of Faith and be not weary of well doing for in due time you shall reap if you faint not faithful is he that hath promised who also will do it Your labor of love is well known to many Saints in Dedington and thereabout in Oxfordshire whose bowels You have refreshed the Lord make You more and more to abound in Faith and Love that You may never see Christ naked hungry or in prison but You may minister to him and relieve the oppressed judg the fatherless and widow and let the cause of the poor be maintained still keeping Faith and a good Conscience in all things that Your good example and counsel may win upon many and if J or my poor endeavors herein may advantage You any way in this kind it will be the travel of my Soul and the joy of my Spirit Sir Your Friend and Servant THO. BUTLER TO The Vertuous LADIES Mrs Elizabeth Mrs Anne Mrs Margaret Mrs Katherine and Mrs Lettice Babingtons my dear and precious Sisters together with the rest of that noble Family My deer Sisters AMongst the Catalogue of Gods great mercies to me I account it not the least to be of the number of that sweet and precious society and Family and to see how the Lord hath multiplied his mercies towards us as not onely to make us one Body but also one Spirit giving us the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace whereby we have fellowshp with the Lord and one with another in the Spirit praying rejoycing conversing walking and living together continually this never dyes neither can it be parted it s such a threefold cord that nothing can break it such a fellowship nothing can divide it and such a joy and life none can take from us I have through the love and goodness of the Lord to me drawn some spiritual Discoveries upon a part of the Scriptures as God gave me opportunity Onely my dear Sisters let me desire this from you What you finde herein of God glorifie him for it and what is not of God as you apprehend judg it not after the flesh but judg righteous judgment and withal remember the weakness of him that was but a poor instrument in it And if it may by the blessing of God give any light to you God speaking the same things in a vail to it in your spirits how will it rejoyce mine Thus leaving all to the good guide of the Spirit of Truth in all things I take leave and remain Your loving Brother T. BUTLER TO THE READER JVdg not saith the Apostle that ye be not judged for with what measure you meet it shall be measured to you again and what you would that men should do unto you even so do ye unto them for this is the Law and the Prophets but Christ and the Apostles go further and would have us do far better to others then they do to us give them good for evil knowing this now J cannot but perswade my loving Reader to lay aside all malice wrath envy guil and hypocrisie and in love meekness patience and much goodness read and consider trying the spirits whether they be of God or not And thus J shall say with thee if there be any thing as questionless there is of flesh darkness or the spirit of this world that all of it may come into
with the wicked and the rich in his death 250. What it is to have the pleasure of the Lord for to prosper in his or in our hand 251. The Lord shall see us as the travel of his Soul 253. We are the Lords spoil and portion Ibid. The Lord makes the barren to sing and to bring forth gloriously 254. The seed of the living God out of a barren womb wonderful 255. The Lord thy husband that comforts thee 256. I will be thy God and Husband from everlasting unto everlasting 257. The foundation windows and gates of the Saints the Lords house and building of what precious stones it is 258. The Lord is that water that wine and that milk to them that thirst after him and that hunger in him 260. Three things to be observed here more especially on the best wine kept last 261. That which is bread and satisfieth and is good and delights the soul and makes it live and prosper in fatness is from the Lord alone 263. Christ the true Witness and Leader to the People 265. The people that know thee not shall run afterthee for the Lord hath glorified thee in their eyes and their thoughts and ways shall be as the Lords thoughts and ways are 266. The Word that comes from Gods mouth shall prosper in what it is sent 268. No man is just but he to whom Salvation is come 269. The stranger and the Eunuch joyned to the Lord and made sons and heirs to God 270. The righteous man perisheth but not his righteousness yet none lays it to heart 271. The Lord will dwell in Holiness both on high and below 272. The sin and iniquity of Jacob the Fast that is the Lords the good and acceptable day that he chuses how we must love one another and walk in the light and not in darkness as the Lord doth to us 274. The exceeding sinfulness of sin the misery that it brings till the Lord arise against it in Justice and in Truth 277. Arise and shine for thy light is come 279. The glory given to them whom God doth glorifie Ibid. All Glory comes when Gods Glory comes 280. I will bring gold and silver strength and beauty unto thee 281. The Lord thy everlasting Light thy Sun and Moon that shall darken all other Suns and turn them to blood but himself in the end 282. The Spirit of the anointing of the Lord what works it doth binding and loosing doing all good 284 Our righteousness brightness and our salvation a burning lamp 286. The Lord thy Watchman day and night 287. The Lords dyed garments coming from the great slaughter of his enemies sin and Satan 288. The Lords coming down with power to destroy flesh 289. The Lord God is found of them that sought not after him 290. How all things are made new of God 292. Though heaven and earth be my house yet I will dwell in you 293. Zion brings forth yea a Whole Nation in a day and that without pain 294. THE Sealed Book of GOD opened in MAN The Mystery of the holy Scriptures the Volume of Gods Book written in mans heart in the Spirit and to be read in his life in the Letter HEB. chap. 8. vers 10. For this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people CHAP. I. §. 1 Christ the Sum of all Things NOw of the things which we have spoken and write saith the Apostle in the beginning of the chapter this is the sum Christ is the sum of it all the Figures Types Priest-hoods Sacrifices Temples Tabernacles Prophets and Prophesies in their severall parts Christ is their totall sum Let them be all numbred together they all make up but one Christ who is such an High Priest as is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majestie in the heavens they all give him 1. The right Hand 2. The Throne 3. The Majestie 4. The heavenly Thing in the Priest-hood and in all things else hath this preheminence SECT II. §. 2 The true Ministry A Minister of the Sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not man Christ is the sum of all the Ministry there is no other Ministry but Christ and Christians who make but one Spirit he the male they the female whom God the Father hath joyned together his Spirit poured out and married to their flesh the Divine Nature the Male our Humane the Female making one Emmanuel God with us so that as the two witnesses agree in one so be these SECT III. §. 3 Christ the true Temple-Sanctuary CHrist was also the Sanctuary the Temple of God upon the Altar of which Temple he offered himself a Sacrifice to God Soul and Body so are Christians SECT IV. Christ the true Tabernacle §. 4 CHrist also is the Sum of the Tabernacle God dwelling so richly in him the Tabernacle of God was then with men the life was manifested the true Tabernacle the Lord pitched and not man so are Christians SECT V. Christ is the heavenly Thing in Christians §. 5 ALL which serve for the example and shadow of hâ—avenly things as Moses when he was admonished of God about making the Tabernacle See saith God that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed thee in the Mount Now the truth and substance the heavenly Thing and the good Thing to come is Christ and the Christian this is the Tabernacle that God pitches even the man Christ there he will dwell that is his House Now Christ brings forth more excellent things then any in the Mount you have seen them all the Ministry Tabernacles Sanctuary Sacrifice the whole Worship the Law and Covenant also they all wax old vanish away from the Mount but not the other SECT VI. §. 6 Christ is the new Covenant in the new Creature BUt now Christ hath obtained a more excellent Ministry by how much also he is the Mediator of a better Covenant which was established upon better promises It is a Ministry in Spirit a Covenant in Spirit making intercession in our spirits an establishing in Spirit and precious promises written in our spirits so that if the first Covenant Promises Ministry Tabernacle had been faultless pure or perfect there had been no need of the second but the Lord finding fault with the first and the Worship and Worshippers thereof He saith Behold the days come that I will make a new Covenant a new Promise a new Tabernacle a new Ministry and all things new a new Heaven and Earth with the House of Israel and the House of Judah In those days saith the Lord all old things shall then pass away and all things become new and all things shall be of God who hath reconciled us to himself in Jesus Christ SECT VII §. 7 What is that
Writing shal that be think you which God will write What a Book shall that be Every word a word of Life all the leafes leafes of Life the whole Book must needs be the Book of Life but the outward Cover and Binding shall be Man it shall be covered in a fleshly Cover As the Tabernacle of gold within stone without so this Book of the will of God written printed or dwelling in us shall be opened within yet sealed without as to the world they can neither see nor read nor understand nor beleeve it it being sealed up the back and outside being towards them and the opening inward they know nothing in it and all preaching praying hearing reading writing receiving meeting must be from this written Word there must be your text and ground-work to build upon and what is not read there or writ there is not thine to give but let every one speak as the Oracles of God and preach as he findes it written in him from the Word of the Lord there and so expound and read to us in the letter of Words or Life what God hath written within as an epistle read to all friends so is the teaching written to be read to the world CHAP. II. The first Book that God writes in Man §. 1. is called GENESIS NOw the beginning of this Book of God in Man bound up there and hid in this wall of Flesh as the Law was in the Temple and revealed found by the spirit of God it is called the book of Genesis or the book of the beginning of Gods Book in us This is the first book wherein God appears as their Genesis creating all things Heaven and Earth a new in them making a Firmament between Flesh and Spirit to separate and divide the one from the other the waters above from waters below creating light in them the Lord their light scattering and dispelling the darkness and the Spirit of the Lord living moving and dwelling there in this new world Man in his Genesis or beginning herein the Lord brings forth all things in their beginning progress perfection SECT II. §. 2. The six days works in Man brought forth first THe Light first to enlighten every thing that comes into this world for as darkness was upon the face of the deep in the old world first so here in the true world of mans happiness in God first Light is brought forth to be upon the face of all things this is the Candle of the Lord set up in his Candlestick Man This is the first days work or rather the first work in the day of the Lord. SECT III. §. 3. The second work in Gods day in Man THe second work of God in Man his new world he creates of himself to dwell in is a Firmament to divide between the old and new man or old and new world to distinguish between Heaven and Earth SECT IV. §. 4. The third work of God in his day THe third is the gathering of all things together into one the chaff to be burnt and the wheat to be layd in the garner when the Lord comes with his fan thus to purge his floor Man and by the breath of his Spirit dries up the waters that divide and makes all to be a fruitful land bringing forth herbs meet for the dresser receiving blessing from the Lord every plant in man of Gods planting bearing every year twelve manner of fruits and the leaves of the trees for the healing and saving of Nations SECT V. §. 5. The fourth work in the day of the LORD THe fourth Work is the Lords going on to perfection setting up greater lights in us where light was as a day breaking in us now he is come to be the rising of the Sun in us and Moon and Stars light swallowed up of this great light of the Sun the Lord God himself according as it is written The Lord himself shall be the light thereof and also shall be the rule thereof saying Come let us walk in the light of the Lord and the light shall make no difference in days times moneths or seasons SECT VI. §. 6. The fifth work in the Lords day THe fifth Work is the several Mansions the Lord hath prepared for his higher and lower middle stories and chambers according to the degrees of Grace and Light of the Lord in us a higher for the birds and fowls the Doves and Eagle-sighted a lower for the beasts that have only the light of the Moon a sensitive light and a middle for men which are between both but upper for Angels so that every one as he hath attained so let him walk and this is but for a while till we come all up to the unity of Spirit when all partition walls shall be broken down SECT VII The sixth work in the Lords day §. 7. THe sixth is the Lords creating us yet in greater perfection and that is when he brought forth himself compleatly in us which is not only his image or likeness which was in the first man earthly there is therefore an image of God in all such earthly things an image of God in this world and all that in them is But in this new state of things God himself comes in the room and supplies the place of all such things he being the heavenly Thing himself the Heaven and Earth the Day the Light the Sun the Firmament he is all this in us and to us So that all former things are put under us and we have dominion in the heavenly things and rule in Spirit and reign with God for ever SECT VIII §. 8. The end of the work of God THe last days work or rather the end of all his works is the Lord our Sabbath and Rest having perfected his will in us and brought forth his Rest there from all his works and travel now inheriting all things having entred us into his Rest where is all fulness and pleasures for evermore no hungring nor thirsting any more fully satisfied in him And now the Lord looks upon all his works rejoycing in all and over all having his praises perfected and himself sanctified by all SECT IX The Paradise of God in Man §. 9. NOw the next thing is Gods creating a new Paradise where he lives and dwells Christ is our Paradise inasmuch as he is called the Tree of Life therein and the Spirit of the holy God is the living Fountain in this Paradise watering and cherishing quickening and refreshing every plant and tree planted by the rivers of the water of Life bringing forth their fruits at all seasons whose leaves wither not much less their fruits Now this is the delight of the Lord saying I will come into my garden my Love my Spouse and blow upon it that the spices thereof may flow forth and there I will feed among the lillies and eat my hony comb with my hony and drink my wine with my love satisfying
Serpent healing their stings is nothing but the power of the Lord breaking in peeces and slaying the head of the Serpent the Devil Christ Jesus the seed of the woman breaking the Serpent head Jesus saving us from our sins pouring out his wine and oyl into our wounds the Lord healing our Rebellion The Canaanites destroyed is the flesh crucified dead and buried The removing every unclean thing out of the Camp is the sanctifying of us in Soul Spirit and Body The false Prophet brought to curse us but cannot is the spirit of Antichrist dwelling too much in every one of us when Flesh glories in it self the Blessing of the Lord is the turning of every one from his iniquity The Inheritance is the Land of Peace the Kingdom of the Lord himself the dividing of it is the Mansions prepared of God for us all The Rest on this side the river is the living any where below God like the dove that stood upon the ark before she was taken in so here it s the outside only made clean which is but the hem of a Christians garment The murmuring and returning back again to Egypt is the beginning in the Spirit and the ending in the Flesh the dying and having their carcasses to fall in the Wilderness the running well who hindred them so run that ye may obtain so that for want of faith and patience they do not inherit the Promise Wherefore he saith let no man take thy crown he that is faithful to death shall have a crown of life and he that continueth to the end shall be saved SECT IV. §. 4. The Ark of Gods presence THeir Ark carried before them is the power of the Lord leading them forth The standing of the Ark is the Lords resting upon them Their arising with the Ark next day is the Lords making way and preparing it dayly for them through mountains hills plains drying up the waters destroying enemies all is to shew us how he wil bring forth judgment unto victory bringing down our haughtiness that the Lord alone may be exalted amongst us in that day CHAP. VI. The fifth Book that God writes in Man §. 1 is called JOSHVA THe book of Joshua or Jesus who is the Lord God the Commander and Leader of the people commanding all that is in them their mindes and spirits carrying them through Jordan or the midst of many afflictions in spirit giving them his grace which is strength enough and though his rod and staff be upon them yet it shall comfort them if the Lord be with them Moses could not bring them in their Rest but it must be Joshua that must do it not men but the Lord not the Ministry of Flesh but Spirit Moses dyed Joshua lived it is not the dying man but the quickened Spirit SECT II. §. 2 The true Joshua saving us in fighting to deliver us JOshua fought all their battels for them overthrew their enemies took their strong holds bound their Kings in chains and Nobles in fetters of iron This honor have all his Saints Praise ye the Lord. Joshua never left them till he had settled them in the good Land He followed the Lord he knew not whither but when he knew he did althings as the Lord commanded him So is it with our true Joshua Christ Jesus in us doth fulfil all things that are given him of the Father and never leaves nor forsakes us til he hath possessed us and desposed all things else for us Joshua overthrew the walls of Jericho with the blast of Rams horns went forth conquering and to conquer till he had made his enemies his footstool and the footstool of Israel and when they had overcome then he and his house would serve the Lord and so he dyed in the Lord So is our Joshua by the breath of his mouth all the foundations of the earth are shaken yea Heaven and Earth His Enemies are subdued yea the devil is made subject to him and his giving them power over Serpents and Scorpions and all manner of creeping things thâ—t nothing shall hurt them thus overcoming all things giving them the spoyl opening the Kingdom of Heaven to them that had been so long shut from it SECT III. The seven Blessings he delivers to us §. 3 ANd now having overcome all things through the spirit of the Lamb they shall inherit all things the oppressor shall pass through them no more the Lord shall encamp about them they shall now serve him 1. They shall eat of the tree of Life for Food 2. They shall not be hurt of the second death 3. They shall have the new name and white stone the Palms in their hands and Vials or Harps the hid Manna 4. They shall have power from God to rule over Nations yea they shall have the morning Star given them 5. They shall live in that Land they shall be clothed with white rayment and they shall not be blotted out of the book of Life for ever and they shall be confessed before God and Angels to be worthy 6. They shall be Pillars in the house of God they shall not go any more out they shall have the name of my God and the name of the City of my God written upon them 7. They shall sit upon my Throne as I am set on my Fathers Throne Thus Christ our Joshua and his house the Saints shall serve the Lord in one Spirit CHAP. VII The sixth Book that God writes in Man §. 1 is called JUDGES THe next book is called Judges in Scripture and this also is written in us by the finger of God We are his Judges to sit upon his Throne judging righteously We shall judg Angels saith the Apostle yea the world also how much more the smaller matters And again they shall sit upon twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel thus judgment is committed unto the Saints this honor have they Nay they can much more judg and condemn sin in themselves having their sences exercised to discern between good and evil judging every thought word and work SECT II. §. 2 The Spirit of the Lord the best and just Judg. WHen the Spirit of the Lord is our Judg then we are as Israel was here having good Iudges they were delivered from the cruelty of enemies and rejoyced But when the Flesh sits as judg and will rule the bramble wil have the command of all the trees then there is sorrow of heart then we are like Israel under the Philistins and other enemies till the Lord raise up his Iudges again the Spirit of life to break their yoke off our necks So that many are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord delivers them from them all fightings within and fightings without but more then conquerors in all having such a Gideon and a Sampson as the Spirit of the Lord is the Barly cake that must overthrow every tent that stands against it and carry away all the gates that oppose though they be the gates
shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall finde mercy So the strangers and strange wives are removed there shall no unclean thing live there any more Whatsoever lives in that is a stranger or a strange wife any thing thou art wedded or married to that is not the Lord is a strange wife that steals away thy heart and the Lord will give thee a bill of divorcement to put her away CHAP. XIII The twelfth Book that God writes in Man §. 1 is called ESTHER THe book of Esther opened in Man is nothing else but the state of a poor earthly creature in whom there is nothing when once beloved of God the Lord hath a favor to it and sends forth his Spirit to prepare it all things according to his heart and minde and so is brought forth in great glory washed perfumed adorned justified sanctified and so glorified with the Lord to be betrothed to the Lord in truth in judgment and in righteousness And as it shews how the Lord exalts the lowly and meek the worm and nothing above all things so it also holds forth the pomp pride and glory of all flesh and the fall thereof is great and that in Haman a lively figure and representation of this how flesh and blood is exalted and what favor honor friends it may have yea what obeysance and homage how it may have a glorious footstool and as stately and magnificent a crown as the god and king of this world can give him And what shall not be done to the man whom the whole world jointly intends to honor Here all things below are theirs yet behold of a sudden he is cut down like the grass and cast into the oven Cry then All flesh is grass and the glory thereof like the flower of grass so soon it withers away and we are gone surely all flesh is grass but the Word of the Lord endures for ever His Grace and Truth throughout all generations his Garments do not change neither his feet weary nor his shoes wax old but all is more beautiful for the wearing This is true in Esther and Haman the one Grace advanced the other Flesh disgraced CHAP. XIV The thirteenth Book that God writes in Man §. 1 is called JOB THe book of Job opened in man And herein you have the life and state of a Christian held forth dying in the flesh and to the world and then living to God and rising in Spirit above this world entering into another world his life with God in Christ this Job shews us in this history the true pattern of the other as for example first The Christians dying in the flesh and to the world is clearly manifested in Jobs miseries how Satan set upon him his wife tempting him Satan accusing him God hiding himself for a moment from him Satan buffeting him his children destroyed his cattel consumed his houses burnt his lands and living impoverished his spirit troubled his health broken his body bruised even from the crown of the head to the feet all over afflicted his friends forsake him his comforters torment him all his Physitians of no value thus he lies in the bed of sicknesse death seising upon all he hath SECT II. §. 2 What is the Mystery of this History of Job in Man I Pray what is this but the Christian crucified to the world and the world crucified to him a Christians dying dayly mortifying his members here upon the earth For this is the Will of the Lord even the denying of our selves and the bearing of our cross and following him And is not all this taught and learnt here in the spiritual state But mark the conclusion It dyes in weaknesse but it doth rise in power it is sown a natural body but it rises a spiritual body it dyes in the flesh but rises in the Spirit So much is clear in the other part of the History All that God took away from Job in the Flesh he gave him again in the Spirit so is it in the Mystery what we lose one way we gain another way we lose according as it is written He that loseth his life shall save it and he that would save his life shall lose it And again He that loseth or forsaketh father or mother wife or children lands or livings for my sake shall have a hundred fold in this life and in the world to come life everlasting SECT III. §. 3 The latter end of a Saint better then the first the longer he lives the better THerfore saith the Text The latter end of Job was better then his beginning so is it indeed in the spiritual state the latter end is better then the beginning he goes on to perfection his last works are the best therefore Iob said again I have heard of thee with the hearing of the ear but mine eyes never saw thee till now wherefore I abhor my self in dust and ashes The Lord had given him eye salve to see clearly the Glory and Beauty of the Lord God himself what he heard he sees true so is it in the pure spiritual state We see as well as hear the wonderful things of God what others eyes have not seen nor ears heard we can utter And lastly The more Job saw of God the lesse he saw in himself the more his flesh was dead and buried I abhor my self saith he so is it true in us also that know the Lord That the nearer the Lord appears to us the more we like wax melt away the more we enjoy of him the lesse we enjoy our selves CHAP. XV. The fourteenth Book that God writes in Man §. 1 is called PSALMS THe Book of Psalms opened in Man He is the Harp in the Lords hand the still and loud Instrument the Psaltery the Organ Sac but and Dulcimer tuned aright by the Lord and therein the Lord God makes melody with a loud Voyce their Sun and Moon Heaven and Earth Fire and Vapours all fulfilling his Word Fruitful Trees and all Cedars Gardens and Fountains Mountains and Hills Men and Angels yea every thing that hath breath praise the Lord as David saith Bless the Lord O my soul and all that is within me praise his holy name And again Bless the Lord O my soul and forget none of his benefits And again Yea while I have any breath will I praise the Lord. And again Lord let me live that I may praise thee This is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning us in all things to give thanks Wherefore saith the Apostle Be not filled with wine wherein is excess but be filled with Spirit wherein there is no excess This is the wine indeed that he that drinks abundantly thereof it will make him merry and wise according to the Apostles rule If any man be merry let him sing Psalms if afflicted let him pray And indeed when we are full of the Holy Ghost we shal be like men full of new wine every one shall be
his body is his wifes So here the Lords Spirit his Life Grace Righteousness and Kingdom is not his but theirs and to them their peace faith strength goodness is not theirs but the Lords for they are though two yet one in the Spirit SECT XXXIX §. 39 The day breaks and the shadows flee away UNtil the day break and the shadows flee away turn thou my beloved and be thou like a Roe or a young Hart upon the Mountains of Bether This is a sweet and gracious desire of the Spouse from her Lord to have a greater fellowship with him and know him better to have the vails taken away and the Lord turn in the room of them which are the flying away of the shadows and the breaking of the day When the day Star from on high hath visited us to give knowledg of salvation to his people by the remission of sins and then to guide our feet into the way of peace For the Lord is that Spirit that must do that and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and day breakings Now we all beholding as in a glass the Glory of the Lord are changed from Glory to Glory as by the Spirit of the Lord till then the Lord will be nigh unto us not far from us upon the Mountains of Bether some Mountains like shadows hinder but when the day breaks they shall become a plain and then the Kingdom of God shall come amongst us and dwell within us as it is said The Kingdom of God with in you SECT XL. §. 40 The Soul loving seeking finding holding and never parting BY night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loves I loved him and could not but seek him and am beloved of him and so cannot live without him My love continues seeking and waiting for him at all times places night and day street and City abroad and at home and amongst the watchmen but I found him not in any of these places or persons but when I had passed them all lived above them and beyond them then I found and was found of him whom my soul loveth I laid hands on him and would not let him go but brought him to my mothers house even to the chamber of her that conceived me this is to live in us where his Word and Spirit was before preparing away for him SECT XLI §. 41 The Lords high commendations of his Church and Spouse here in part described CHrist Jesus our Lord having adorned and beautified his Saints he so commends them that he makes it his delight to look upon them and rejoyce in all the works of his hands in them and over them First Behold thou art fair my love behold thou art fair thou hast Doves eyes a pure wisdom from above and peaceable Secondly Thy hair is like a flock of Goats as white as snow noting old age found in the way of Righteousness A Father in Christ and not a Disciple only and old Saint Thirdly Thy teeth like a flock of sheep clean wash'd and shorn and none barren amongst them notes soundness of Judgment Meditation doing nothing rashly noruttering ought rashly before God till it be well chew'd with the teeth It s the trying of all things the discerning whether things be of God or not Fourthly Thy lips like a threed of scarlet simple and honest unfeignedly spoken Fifthly Thy speech comely speaking with power and authority with the Spirit and with Understanding also Sixthly Thy temples like a piece of Pomegranate within thy locks stately and comely fresh and never unmindfull of the Lords Mercies Seventhly Thy neck like the Tower of David builded for an Armory wherein there hangs a thousand bucklers all shields of mighty men this is the strength of Faith prevailing with God and doing mighty things by which the Elders of old obtained such good reports as that their shields hang as a memorial Eighthly Thy two brests like two young Roes twins which feed among the Lillies These are the fruitfulness and abundance of Consolations in the Lord she hath and gives to others comforting them with that comfort wherewith she is comforted of God SECT XLII §. 42 There is no spot in her she is all fair yea altogether lovely THere is no spot in her that is she is all light and in her is no sin nor darkness at alll being all light in the Lord the chains of her neck ravishes the Soul of Christ being such a Pearl of heavenly Truth Thy love like wine and the smell of thy ointments like spices This is all sweet and gracious Spirit ministring Grace to the beholders Thy lips drop the hony the hony and milk are under thy tongue This shews a right dividing of the Word of Truth milk to babes hony to stronger and bread to the strongest And the smell of thy garments like the smell of Lebanon Such a sanctified and perfumed Conversation hath she A garden enclosed a spring shut up a fountain sealed that is indeed a garden planted by the Lord and watered and increased by him enclosed all by his goodness as a wall of fire about it a spring that shall spring up and shut from the Philistins to corrupt it and such a fountain of Grace therein sealed that it shall not tend unto wantonness not uncleanness yea what heavenly pleasant plants are in thee a well of living waters the Spirit flowing forth in them SECT XLIII §. 43 The sending forth of his Spirit into our hearts to make us to abide in the Lord. AWake O North wind and come O South wind and blow upon my garden that the spices thereof may flow forth and then let my beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits This is the Spirit the Lord pouring forth and causing his Winds which are in his Treasuries his Spirit the Wind of Heaven to blow in his Garden yea all his Winds for good the several operations and administrations of the Spirit for several Gifts and Graces the North wind for the Lilly and the South wind for the quickning and making this the North for convincing and renewing but the South for converting and comforting the one to wound and the other to heal and both good for the garden the one for the weeds the other for the herbs and both for to have the spices flow forth to abound in Grace and come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruits For is it not good reason that he that plants a Vineyard should eat of the fruits of it So for the Lord that hath planted us for the self same end and blown upon to be glorified in us and by us seeing we are his husbandry SECT XLIV §. 44 The sum of the fifth Chapter of Solomons Song THis Song of Solomon is very excellent and almost all is opened in us to our hands by the Spirit of the Lord for the very Letter makes the Spouse and the Lord Christ the sum of it all wherefore to proceed in the various
is all this but the good work of the Lord upon his We are his Vineyard the Lord God is the Husbandman Christ the Vine We the Branches the Spirit the Fruits the Lords Grace the fruitful Hill the Lords Peace the Hedg and Wall the Lords Power the Tower Righteousness his Vine Love his Winepress and this is watched and watered from Heaven and gives always increase abounding with fruits to the Lord. But as for the flesh and earthly man the corrupt nature formerly the Lords Vineyard when he leaves it O what is it Nay the very best of us if the Lord absent himself take away the hedg wall vine winepress then what a miserable thing is man then he minds nothing but earthly things woe unto him when I leave him Woe to him that joyns house to house then thâ—t is his treasure making provisions for the flesh that is his feasts but hell and darkness opens her mouth wide and is enlarged her self and all their pomps and glory descend thither SECT VIII §. 8 The second Vision of the Throne and of the Temple and him that sits there A Second Vision from the Lord There was a mighty high Throne and it was lifted up gloriously and the Lord sate upon the Throne high and lifted up and there was a Temple also the Throne was in the Temple where the Lord sate and the Lords train filled the Temple also full of Glory and above the Throne and about it stood the Seraphims and every one had six wings with two he covered his face with two his feet and with other two he did fly and as they fled they cryed one to another Holy holy holy is the Lord of Hosts the whole earth is full of his glory And moreover the voyce that cryed was so great that it shook and moved the posts of the door of the Temple and the house was filled with smoak and it shook and terrified the Prophet also that he cryed out I am undone I am undone I am unclean all over and as I cried thus I am undone for mine eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts that then the Lord of Hosts sent a Seraphim to me that came flying with a live coal taken from off the Altar with the tongs in his hand and he came and laid it upon my mouth and took away with it my iniquity purging away sin and cleansing my lips then saying to me Who will go for us whom shall I send And I said here am I Lord send me and the Lord said Go and shew this people what thou hast seen make their hearts fat and ears heavy and shut their eyes for they understand not and do so long till the Land be utterly desolate for a remnant only shall be left like an oak whose leaves are dryed up and the substance in the root so shall the holy seed be the substance thereof SECT IX §. 9 The Lord ruling in the midst of his people judging all within and without in Righteousness NOw what is all this that the Vision means but the Lord God coming to Judgment and sitting upon the Throne of Righteousness which is high and lifted up to rule the Nations and judg the Earth in Righteousness and inasmuch as the Throne was lifted up in the Temple which Temple are we in the Lord there God hath his Throne in the midst amongst us and none other and from thence he will send forth Justice and Judgment that shall run along the streets of the Cities and Countries but there shall his Throne be and what are the Seraphims but the ministring spirits from the Lord praising the Lord and fulfilling his Word crying Holy holy holy continually and what is the train that fills the Temple are not we in the Lord or are not all his Excellencies Grace Power Wisdom Truth Mercy Love Peace are they not his train that fills the Temple of the Saints All his Attributes Blessings Comforts Gifts Graces are his train and to the filling of the Temple and from thence he sends whom he will from the Temple where he is into the Land to convince them of sin righteousness and judgment c. SECT X. §. 10 Rezin and Remaliah 's sons confederacy their tails and evil counsel like fire-brands THis is is a Prophesie now of Rezin the Syrian King and Remaliahs son the Ephraimite being Confederates and taking evil counsel against the Lord and his people in Jerusalem saying Let 's go up and vex it make a breach in it and set a King over it of our own or else destroy it This news made the house of David Judah Jerusalem faint for fear like the trees moved with the wind because of the tails of these two fire-brands raging against them but the Lord sends the Prophet with a message to comfort them and not to fear for he will break destroy them both their evil councel shall not stand nor prosper and the Lord sent them a sign also either in heaven or earth which they refusing the Lord himself gave them a sign saying Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bring forth a Son shall call his name Emmanuel and then the Land and the enemy that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her Kings if thou believest this thou shalt be established and weary not the Lord as ye have wearied men This is the will of the Lord that though the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing and the Kings and the Princes take counsel together against the Lord and his anointed Judah and Jerusalem the house of David the Lords heritage and people yea though all the enemies of our salvation and all the host that flesh and blood can make against us should compass us round about yet the counsel of the Lord that shall stand and he will comfort his people and say unto them their sins are forgiven and their warfare accomplished and they shall receive double for all their miseries and this shall be their sign the Virgin conceiving and Christs forming in them shall be the Emmanuel God with them to deliver them out of all the hands of their enemies and establish them a glory to the Lord. SECT XI §. 11 The waters of Shiloah or the soft and still voyce condemned by most and Rezin followed the Law and Testimony where to be found THe people that refuse the waters of Shiloah that go softly and rejoyce in Rezin and Remaliahs son the Lord shall hiss for the Fly that is in the river of Egypt and for the Bee in the Land of Assyria and they shall devour thy Land and the mighty river shall overflow thee and reach even to the neck and the lifting up of his wings shall fill thy Land O Emmanuel yet Emmanuel shall break you all in pieces though you associate confederate and band your selves never so much yet the Lord God himself whom they sanctifie and who is their dread shall be their Sanctuary to them but for a stumbling for a
from the milk and drawn from the brests For with another tongue will he speak to this people and this shall be the Rest to them that be weary till then the Word of the Lord shall be precept on precept line by line here and there a little lyes and falshood shall be no more a refuge I will lay a foundation in Zion a sure tryed One and he that believeth shall not make haste SECT XXVI §. 26 The wise and the fool both alike in the sealed book till the Lord open it I Will fight against Ariel and speak to her from the dust all the earth that fight against Zion my Mountain I will fight against them and they shall be as men dreaming they eat and drink and are satisfied but behold when they do awake they shall be hungry and thirsty so shall the imaginations or dreams against thee be And the Lord saith Forasmuch as this people honors me with their lips and their hearts are from me they are drunk but not with wine but a deep sleep hath seized on them like a sealed book all things are to them that the learned is as the unlearned and the unlearned as the learned neither understand me knowing only the doctrine of men and I will do this wonder amongst them for the wisdom of the wise shall perish and the understanding of the prudent hid But the deaf shall hear and the words of my Book shall be revealed to the blind the meek increase their joy in the Lord and the poor amongst men rejoyce in the riches of the holy One of Israel they also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding and they that murmured shall learn doctrine this Wisdom of the Word becomes foolishness and the foolishness of the Lord true Knowledg and Wisdom indeed SECT XXVII §. 27 The Counsel that is not of God perishes WOe to the Counsel that is not of me and from my Spirit or Mouth wherefore all things shall be your shame and without profit all help else is in vain write it in a table book thus which say to the Seers See not teach smooth things go out of the way cause the holy One of Israel to cease before us And as for quietness and rest in the Lord alone you would not yet the Lord shall wait for thee and thou shalt have aword behind thee teaching thee when to turn to the right the left and the Lord shall give thee rivers on the top of the mountains and knowledg shall increase when the Lord healeth the breach of his people the light of Moon like the Sun and the Sun seven-fold brighter then shall the perfect day be and that shall cause his voyce to be heard SECT XXVIII §. 28 Nothing below God any thing WOe to them that go downwards for help looking to any thing below God for their men and means and not God when the Lord stretcheth his hand both he that is helped and that helpeth shall fall down and they shall all fall down together teacher and hearer without him The Lord like a Lyon shall keep Zion his prey and like a bird fly to their defence and all the earth shall be afraid of the Lord and run to their strong holds for the Lord hath his fire in Zion and his furnace in Jerusalem saith the Lord. SECT XXIX §. 29 Righteousness and Judgment King and Prince BEhold Righteousness thy King and Judgment thy Princes as rivers of waters as a rock in a weary land so is thy Lords Grace to thee no dimness nor dullness nor villany but Righteousness abounding behold the palaces shall be forsaken the Cities left the forts and towers dens until the Spirit be poured out from on high then Judgment shall be in the Wilderness and Righteousness the Field and peace and quietness and assurance the fruits thereof for ever SECT XXX §. 30 Who shall abide the everlasting burning and not be consumed therein THe spoiler spoiled by the Lord for he is exalted he filleth us his Zion with Judgment and Righteousness Wisdom and Knowledg the stability of of thy times and strength of salvation and the fear of the Lord thy treasure Now will I arise saith the Lord be exalted and lift up my self Ye shall conceive chaff and bring forth stubble my breath as fire shall devour you and you shall be as the burning of lime as thorns cut down so burnt in the fire Hear ye both far and neer acknowledg my might the sinners afraid the hypocrites trembled for fear of the devouring fire and the everlasting burning but he that walketh uprightly and speaketh righteously he that is against the gain of oppression that shaketh his hands against bribes that stops his ears from blood and his eyes from evil he shall dwell in the midst of the fire as Moses bush and the three children and not be consumed he shall dwell on high his defence the munition of rocks he shall have all bread his waters sure his King beautiful and before him and see things afar off Look upon Zion and Jerusalem our solemnities and our quiet habitation a Tabernacle not to be removed not a stake ever to be removed she is so rooted and stablished in the rock not a coard broken but there the righteous Lord shall be to us abroad river for the Lord is our Judg Law-giver King and Saviour and the people dwelling therein shall be forgiven their iniquity they shall not be sick praise the Lord. SECT XXXI §. 31 The wrath of the Lord revealed against earth and heaven HErein is revealed the indignation of the Lord against all unrighteousness of men which hold the truth in unrighteousness bringing them all to the fiery Vengeance First Let the Nations and people the earth yea the whole world and all therein draw near hear and hearken what God will do with them and the world That he will pour out his wrath and fury upon all the earth it shall be dissolved and delivered up to the slaughter cast out and left as stinking carcasses melted into blood nay his wrath is revealed against Heaven also they that boast themselves they are gods having heaven in the flesh a carnal heaven onely in shew and appearance not in heart it shall be bathed against the whole hoste of them and they shall all in heaven and earth be sacrificed to the slaughter for it is the day of the Lords vengeance and recompence upon them for their enmity to Sion and their streams shall be pitch their dust brimstone and the Land a burning tormenting all them that live in the earth and it shall not be quenched till all be finished in that day SECT XXXII §. 32 What strange things the Lord doth amongst us by his Spirit THe Lord will make your wilderness to rejoyce and the desart soul to blossom like a rose abundantly and he that is as a wilderness to rejoyce and sing the weak strengthened and the feeble confirmed the fearful in spirit encouraged
the blinde eyes opened the deaf ears unstopped the hard heart mollified the lame to walk and leap the dumb to sing the parched land a pool and the thirsty land springs of water Here among these shall the Lord prepare a way it shall be called The way of holiness no Lion shall be there nor any such beast but the Lambs of the Lord shall walk therein SECT XXXIII Sennacheribs and Rabshakehs blasphemies §. 33 against the servants of the Lord in whom they are comforted SEnnacherib comes with an Army against Jerusalem to besiege and take it Rabshakeh sent to summon it with fair promises to enjoy every one his own and to be brought to as good a land as their own and not to trust in Hezekiah nor his confidence or vain words nor in Egypt a broken reed nor in the Lord for there is no God that can deliver you or your land out of our hands or our King the great King of Assyria for neither Samaria nor her gods nor any other god was able to deliver them out of his hand and if they did refuse and rebel they should eat their own dung and drink their own piss and be afterwards destroyed with the sword for thus saith the great King Now all this is true in the application of it to our selves The world and the flesh or the evil spirit in both Rabshakeh like reviles and speaks evil against the Lord tempting and summoning us bringing an army of evil and strong delusions to ensnare us promising if we will yeeld up all soul and body and all that God hath given us to him falling down and worshipping him we shall have all glory and be like gods and withal telling us many lies that God does not nor can deliver us he sees not neither cares for us saying God hath not said it and as for Hezekiah beleeve him not nor stay your selves in the Lord for I am the God of this world and give honor and glory and riches to them I will be I am exalted on high in these Kingdoms All bow down to me and serve me and they that serve me the god of this world I preserve them and if not I persecute hate destroy kill murther and torment Woe unto them if I am set against them This is the railing Râ—â—shakeh contending for the poor creature and rending it but the servant of the Lord is silent and mourns waiting patiently on the Lord in all things and commits it self wholy to him against all temptations and blasphemies SECT XXXIV How the Spirit of the Lord given to his §. 34 doth overcome all the evil and blasphemies of the devil and is stronger then he or his YEt further when the evil spirit that dwells in us or sent to us from the powers of darkness shall grieve the Spirit of the Lord in his Hezekiahs or servants by high imaginations or abominable blasphemies against the holy Spirit of the Lord in his lifting up it self against the Lord then a greater power of the Spirit of the Lord comes upon us and his Word strengthens us saying Grieve not nor be troubled at the blasphemies of Sennacharib and Rabshakeh those spirits of Satan for I will be with thee and I will let all the Nations of the earth see that I am the Lord God and there is none besides me and that you are my people preserved by my power I will put a bridle in his mouth and my hook in his nose and overcome him and fall backwards and perish in his own land and the Angel of my presence shall fall upon his hoste with the breath of my mouth and slay them all you shall finde in the morning nothing but carcasses this shall they have that rage against the Lord and his Spirit above a hundred thousand nay almost two hundred thousand slain in the field but a remnant of the Lord shall take root downwards now and bear fruit upwards manifold and rejoyce in the Lord of the whole earth And again we see that though an evil spirit of wickedness or blasphemy like the beast in the Revelation may for a while triumph over all and speak great words and do mighty things yet the Spirit of Truth and Glory consumes it all at last SECT XXXV §. 35 How the Lord makes sick and well kills and saves and he is glorified in all he doth THis shews how those whom the Lord loves fall sick through boyls and distempers of flesh the corrupt nature is sickly and perishes and how it all turns to the glorifying of God and the good of the soul as in the 11. of John saith Christ of Lazarus this sickness is not for his death but for the death of sin in the flesh and for his life for the Son of God in him shall be glorified by it and it was so And even so here Hezekiahs life is renewed he dyes after the flesh to this life and state and lives to God after the Spirit dyes to himself to live to God as he saith now shall I live to praise thee Thus the Lord makes us sick and well dead and alive wounds and heals takes and gives after his good pleasure sets all in order the fire the faggot the sacrifice the knife and all the whole sacrifice the whole man with his whole house and it is not to kill the Lamb but the Ram not the Sinner but the Sin and the Lord healed him and defended his City all his with him house and all prolonging their lives giving them a long life even for ever and ever and a signe The Sun returning or going backwards ten degrees which shewed the return and fall of his enemies or the forgiveness of sins and the restauration of souls SECT XXXVI Babylons letters and presents to betray us §. 36 and our treasures into his own Land LEtters and Presents from Babylon and her King Baladan upon Hezekiahs recovering hearing of it pretends joy for it Thus the Flesh lies in wait for the Spirit Antichrist for Christ and the Christian if we recover from falling on the left hand we are presently tempted to fall and err on the right hand Here the Devil is transforming himself into an Angel of light and deceives and betrays us basely pretending to be outwardly for us giving us his letters and presents and is inwardly against us so creeps in unawares and like a serpent subtilly gains upon us undermines us findes and feels our strength and eats and drinks with us and is received into our heart and treasure we being all opened to him nothing in us but made known and yet really know not whence he comes a stranger from a far Country to see us and rejoyce with us but not out of love but envy like them in Pauls days that preached Christ out of envy But the Lord remembers us and findes out all our enemies for us and smites us when we do amiss so that as Hezekiah received these messengers and presents and withal shewed his treasures
which I know not of nor delight in the Fast that I choose is the abstinence from all appearance of evil a rending of the heart and not the garment a blessed joyful mourning it s to loose the bands of wickedness and to undo the heavy burden and to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke of oppression as taxes rythes free quarters besides the fightings within to be laid low as also to deal bread to the hungry drink to the thirsty and not to say be thou warmed or be thou clothed this is the new Commandment to love one another then shall we walk in light and not in darkness and our light shall break forth as the morning and thy health like the noon day thy righteousness shall go before thee and the Lord thy God thy rereward we shall no sooner call or cry but the Lord shall answer and say Here I am When the yoke of sin and speaking in vanity is cut off then thy soul will be drawn out to the hungry and the afflicted shall be satisfied and thy obscurity shall be as the light and thy darkness as the noon day for the Lord will satisfie thee and give to thee as thou dost to him so will the Lords Soul be drawn out to thee and make thee a watered garden a living fountain nay the Lord shall make thee a repairer of the breach and a restorer of paths to dwell in for the Righteousness of the Lord is upon thee and the Lord shall be thy Sabbath and pleasure thy holy day and delight thy ways and words being lost to thy self and remaining only the Lords delighting thy self in the Lord riding to and fro◠upon the high places of the earth-triumphing over all things SECT LXXIX §. 79 The exceeding sinfulness of sin the misery that it brings till the Lord arise against it in Justice and in Truth BEhold the Lords Hand or Power is never shortened that it cannot save even from the grave yea though they were dead yet can he say unto them live nor is his ear at all heavy but he can hear the complaints of the distressed soul nor his eyes closed but he can see their misery nor his heart sealed but he can pitty and have mercy on them if he please but our sins and iniquities shorten our hands close our eyes deafen our ears and harden our hearts that we shall not understand and so separate us from the Lord and from his face driving us out from his presence that he may not hear thus making us trust altogether in vanities lies conceiving nothing but mischief bringing forth nothing but iniquity breeding cockatrices egs in us weaving spiders webs wickedness in a mystery so keeping us far from the way of Peace and as for Judgment that is turned backward behind us Justice stands afar off Truth falls in the streets and Equity cannot enter therefore the Lords Arm is stretched out he sees what is done and puts on his Armor his Brestplate of Righteousness his Helmet of Salvation his Clothing of Vengeance and his Cloak of Zeal to repay and recompence fury on his adversaries our iniquities sins lifting up his Spirit like a Standard against them and bring them in like a mighty flood destroying iniquity and sin and this Covenant will I make in them and you my Spirit shall be with you and my Word in your heart and mouth never to depart from thee nor thy seeds seed for ever SECT LXXX §. 80 Arise and shine for thy light is come THe Lord thy Light O man is come he is risen and shines most gloriously and awakening thee to arise and shine in him and with him for his Glory is rising on thee dispelling all manner of darkness from thee and gathering all things to the light yea Kings and people to his brightness far and near sons and daughters to see his Glory they shall see and flow together be enlarged converted because of the abundance of the Glory of the Lord revealed they shall come flying as Clouds and as Doves to the windows and in thy light see light walking every one in the light of the Lord. SECT LXXXI §. 81 The glory given to them whom God doth glorifie THy Temple shall be glorious for the Lord to dwell in Kings and Princes strangers and friends gold and silver yea all precious substance the excellency of creatures shall be brought to thee because of the Name of the Lord thy God for he hath glorified thee therefore they shall bring their glory unto thee and glorifie thee as the wise men that brought their gifts to Christ the Babe in a manger gold frankincense mirrhe and worshiped him because God had glorified him above his fellows so here them that are Christs shall be glorified and the Nations and Kingdoms that will not serve the Lord kiss the Sun and have him to reign over them shall perish and their Land left desolate SECT LXXXII All Glory comes when Gods Glory comes §. 82 ALL Glory shall come unto thee when the Glory of the Lord is revealed the glory of Lebanon the Camels and Dromedaries of Midian the Flocks of Kedar the Rams of Nebaioth the Ships of Tarshish yea the Nations Kingdoms all abroad shall fear thee because of the Lord thy God that is with thee and shall come from far to worship thy God with thee and they shall be a beautiful Sanctuary to the Lord and the place of his feet amongst them shal be glorious the meanest and weakest of the Saints Gods lower parts thus God will make thee an everlasting glory and eternal excellency a joy to ages SECT LXXXIII §. 83 I will bring gold and silver strength and beauty unto thee ANd I the Lord thy Redeemer wil make thine enemies bow down to thee yea all thy high imaginations and spiritual wickedness that hated and afflicted thee and I will bring my Glory and Treasure to thee I will bring gifts unto thee I wil multiply my Mercy Grace and Peace to thee yea I wil give thee gold and silver for brass and iron the precious for the vile yea I wil make thy officers all peace ruling in peace thy exactors righteousness doing truth justice so they shal learn to war no more neither shall the sword any more devour flesh and it shall not be your bow sword spear or might but my Spirit that shall glorifie me and you also for all manner of violence will I cause to cease wasting and destruction no more seen for our weapons are spiritual our God glorious our dwellings on high our walls salvation and our gates praise thy God thy glory SECT LXXXIV §. 84 The Lord thy everlasting Light thy Sun and Moon that shall darken all other Suns and turn them to blood but himself in the end WHen this great light of the Lord himself is come then shall thy stars fall and thy lamps grow dim the heaven and earth in thee melt with fervent heat at the
am sought and found by them that never knew me nor sought me but I them and they loved me and beheld me I opened my heart to them and spred forth my hands and drew them from gâ—rdens altars graves and groves mountains and valleys and from eating swines flesh and abominable things and from thine own holiness and filthiness which was like a smoke and filth to me to my own self and my own mountain to dwell in for my blessing that is amongst you I will not quite destroy you but my inheritance shall be with you and I will dwell with you and all that is with you and in you that forsakes me I will number to the sword and bow down to the slaughter all that is disobedient to me and thus I will do to you my servants in you and amongst you you shall eat drink and rejoyce but what is my revenge in you and amongst you you shall hunger thirst and be ashamed and cry for sorrow of heart and howl for vexation of spirit and slain but his servant shall be called by another name and he that blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of earth and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of the earth so that heaven and earth shall give glory to God and all that dwell therein SECT XCI §. 91 How all things are made new of God ANd behold I make all things new and these shall be remembred but all the former forgotten and thou shalt rejoyce forever at what I create for I create truth peace salvation and righteousness yea my rejoycing and my praise there shall be no more an infant nor a father but all shall be as one strong man in Christ yea they shall have houses vineyards possessions of their own and no others they shall no more labor in vain nor bring forth for trouble but you shall be called the blessed of the Lord and his off-spring thy God I will be that hears and answers thee who lives and abides with thee there shall be nothing that doth hurt in all my Mountain but the Wolf and Lamb Lion and Bullock shall lie down together there shall be nothing else but rest amongst them all living in one SECT XCII §. 92 Though heaven and earth be my house yet I will dwell in you ANd though heaven be my throne and the earth my footstool yet this is not my dwelling nor the place of my Rest but in the houses and dwellings of men you are my building and house the humble and the contrite heart will I live with and till I come to live with them all their worship and sacrifice yea their lambs and offerings are abominable to me I hate them all till I am formed in them and when I am thus formed in thee all that hate thee hate me then your souls shall not delight in these things which I delight not in nor when I call shall they not answer but they shall delight in the Lord alone and nothing else SECT XCIII §. 93 Zion brings forth yea a whole Nation in a day and that without pain THe soul that trembles at my Word though he be cast out falsly for my names sake and think they glorifie me in it yet let them know their zeal is without knowledg and who hath required this at their hands but you shall be justified and they ashamed and the Voyce of the Lord shall be heard from his Temple with us that Zion travelleth and is delivered without pain Was ever such a thing heard or seen that a whole Nation should be born at once and brought forth in one day And why cannot the Lord do it Shall he bring to the birth and not cause to bring forth or then shall the Lord shut the womb No no be glad and rejoyce with her all ye that love her take of the brests of her consolation and be satisfied delight thy soul in the abundance of her glory for her peace shall be like a river and her glory as a stream you shall be born on her sides and be dandled on her knees I will comfort you as a mother comforteth her children for by fire and a sword shall the Lord plead with all flesh and make it as a loathsom carcass but you shall remain for ever and worship before me Thus I have finished this Book of Isaiah in much sorrow weakness and trouble and dare not yet venture to proceed till I finde a more convenient time for it then I have had for this first Volume it being brought forth in the midst of our troubles here at London while the Army was amongst you and these great things acted as the Charge Tryal and Execution of the King in all which time this was some repast and refreshment to write these things though it was by fits and starts yet the Lord may make it useful in some measure for the good of others Being called away now from London I am forced to break off here in the midway else I might shew you the Book of Jeremiah opened in Man Ezekiel and Daniel with the lesser Prophets one by one fulfilled in us as also the New Testament how we have the everlasting Gospel taught us by the Spirit of Christ in our hearts together with his Birth Life Doctrine Works and Death of Christ formed in us as also his Resurrection Ascension and Glorification within us Christ risen Again how we are the Acts of Christ and how Christ is all our Acts and Works it is he doth all for us and in us And again how we are his Epistles yea the heavenly and holy Epistles of Christ written by God on the Tables of his Hand our hearts known and read of all men how we are the Lords Church Spouse Members and Body his Building Planting Temple and Dwelling Lastly how we are the Lords Revelations and Visions to whom he shews himself and the things that are have been and are ro come things past present and to come afar off or nigh at hand we are these whom the Lord ravishes in Spirit in his day when that comes upon us and then he tells us all things and takes us up to heaven to see himself in all and all in himself opening heaven and revealing his whole Will and Counsel We are that sealed Book whom the Lamb takes and opens for he is worthy and we are these that shall have the honor to say Come come come Lord Jesus come quickly Thus the Bride shall say and we are those that shall have either all these Blessings Graces Gifts Mercies Promises Comforts and Glories that are in heaven and earth written or revealed in the whole Scriptures or else all the curses woes lamentations miseries threatnings and torments written in the whole Book of God to fall upon us thus eternally happy or eternally miserable but all these things I leave to the Day of the Lord to bring forth in me to perfect his praises that as the Lord hath began so he would continue and bring to the end of this Book of the Scriptures that we may be in the Lord God both the Alpha and the Omega of it I Know many things are amiss here the faults can hardly be numbered that come either from the Author Writer Printer or Reader I pray thee pass them by amend what is amiss and make use of what is good trying all things holding fast that which is good considering thou also mayst do amiss and truly this is all I can say in excuse that I wanted time to write what was in my mind only made use of the night never read it much less time to correct it but am importuned to print it and to press thy patience with it let patience then have its perfect work here Thine T Butler FINIS