have done the thing which ye have been convinc't is evil although ye have been judged in your selves that that was evil and knew that that was the Judgement of God and that his Judgment is Just And you know that the things which ye have been convinced of to be evil many years ago and have been judged for it do yet remain with you and that the Lord hath been rejected and his drawings slighted and his Enemy and yours heeded that ye have refused to come to him that ye might have life to the light which makes manifest for whatsoever is made manifest is made manifest by the Light and I am the Light of the world saith he he that believeth in me shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of life And this is the condemnation that Light is come into the world and men love darkness rather then light because their deeds are Evil. And in him was life saith John and the Life was the Light of men that is the true Light that lighteâ—h every man that cometh into the world And this you know as I have said viz. That there is such a thing in you and the thing in you witnesses that it is so and ye cannot blot it out and that ye have disobeyed it and do disobey it and that it suffers in you and yet you are vain and proud and wanton and lustful and do conform to this world and do lye and deceive and cheat and cozen and swear and are drunk and do spend the creatures upon your Lusts and do hate and do kill and do steal and do commit Adultery and do covet your Neighbours Goods and do grind the Faces of the Poor and oppress and smite with the Fist of Wickedness and take the Name of the Lord in vain and do go beyond one another in dealing where you would not be done so to your selves These things I say ye know are so and yet ye contlnue as ye were before and these things continue in you and ye think the Lord is such a one as your selves because he holds his peace and hath a long time been silent and hath not brought his Judgement upon you nor caused ye to feel the Power of his Wrath and ye think to morrow shall be as to day and much more abundant because the Lord hath been long-suffering slow to anger abundant in goodness and truth not willing that any of you should die but rather that ye should return and live And this is the Use ye have made many of you of his loving kindness and mercy his long-suffering and forbearance to add Drunkenness to Thirst Iniquity unto iniquity and to draw iniquity with Cart-ropes of Vanity And you cannot think many of you how to be Vain enough nor Drunken enough nor Proud enough nor Voluptuous enough nor Consumptive of his Creatures enough and ye declare your sin as Sodom the shew of your countenance witnesses it against ye and ye think that ye are delivered to commit all these Abominations as if the Lord took Pleasure in these things or delighted in them and as if this was a Retribution Equivalent to him for all your deliverances and as if it were the summe and the end of all his working and as if the more vain and wicked ye are the more ye give him thanks and the more ye answer the end of his working and so ye lavish out your selves in all riot and excess as he hath been liberal to you in his Mercies as if this were the thing the Lord aimed at in all and expected as the Return of his Goodness and ye have been very bold many of you thus to do notwithstanding that that of him in you tells you and ye know it that ye should do otherwise and judgeth ye and so ye overturn your own Mercies and provoke the Lord to be jealous of his Name and Glory which he hath said he will not give unto another and to make ye examples to the ages to come of his judgments as he hath made ye patterns of his mercies and to let the world know by what he shal do unto you that he is a God that delighteth not in iniquity nor shall sin come near his Dwelling but that he is holy and will be sanctified in all that draw near him be had in Reverence by all that are about him And this I am moved of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to warn ye of and to let ye know that he will appear against you and that he will vindicate his Name and his Glory in what he shall do unto you and that he is drawing near to plead with you and to render unto you according to your works Therefore in the Bowels of Love I exhort and warn you to break off your sins by righteousness and your iniquities by shewing mercy to the Poor if so be there may be yet a lengthening of your tranquility For this I have received from the Lord God whose Word and Warning it is that he will make a short work with you and after ye have filled up the measure of your Iniquity which he will suffer ye to fulfil if so be yet ye shall not hearken nor yield obedience to his voice nor depart from iniquity nor choose to do the thing that is good which that of him shews ye in your hearts He will cut ye Down and his judgments shall come upon you and ye shall know that this is the Word of the Lord and his Warning unto you through his servant GEO. BISHOPE Bristoll 25 8 Month 1661. THE END
the New-Moon or of the Sabbath-Dayes which are a shadow of things to come but the Body is of Christ Col. 2. 16 17. And He that regardeth a Day regardeth it unto the Lord and he that doth not regard the Day unto the Lord he doth not regard it He that Eateth Eateth to the Lord for he giveth God thanks and he that eateth not unto the Lord he eateth not and giveth God thanks For none of Us liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself For whether we live we live unto the Lord and whether we die we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore or die we are the Lord 's For to this end Christ both Died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of the Dead and Living But why doest thou judge thy Brother Or why doest thou set at nought thy Brother We shall all stand before the Judgment seat of Christ As it is written As I live saith the Lord Every knee shall bow to me and every tongue shall confess to God So then every One of Us shall give account of himself to God Let us not the â—efore judge one another any more but judge this rather that no man put a stumbling block or occasion to fall in his brother's way I know and am perswaded by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of it self but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean to him it is unclean But if thy Brother be grieved with thy Meat Now walkest thou not Charitably Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ dyed Let not then your good be evil spoken of For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God and approved of men Let Us therefore follow after the things that make for Peace and things wherewith we may edifie one aâ—oâ—her for meat destroy not tâ—e work of God one man esteemeth one day above another Another esteemeth every day alike Let every man be fully perswaded in his own mind Rom. 14. 5. to the end Now these things I am moved of the Lord to lay before you to the End that yee may take heed of Doing any thing by which the Lord may be Displeased with you Or that may grieve his Spirit or make him to Repent of the good he hath done you or to become your Enemy For certainly if yee shall impose upon Conscience in things appertaining to the Worship of God or cause his Innocent People to suffer or not Answer the End of the Lord in giving you this Day and Tryal His hand will be against you and he will reckon these things with you and it will be sad for you in that Day When he shall render unto you according to your Works And therefore in love to you and in the fear of God and as moved of him and as desiring your welfare both here and hereafter I have written GEO. BISHOPE To the Nobility and Gentry of These Nations Friends YOur Opportunities are great to do Good the Lord hath not dealt by You as with Other men You have Estates Great and Large Lands and Revenues and many your Servants in the most sweet and flourishing Places of the Nation You are Seated and your World abounds You have in a manner what yee can wish and your Travel is little most of you from your Ancestors yee have received from Generation to Generation with little Toyl or Trouble as to you unless your Desire of Encrease or falling below by other Miscarriages hath occasioned it You are full of Ease and Pleasure and if any thing be of more Deâ—ectableness then other you have it Ride in and out Rise Walk lie down at your pleasure when multitudes of others rise early and lye down late and Eat the bread of carefulness and are your servants And this is the state of many or most of you and it is great and large as to the Outward Who are like to you Now it concerns you to see how you Answer the Lord for all his kindness and how yee Return to him according to the benefits received For the End of the Lord in all this is not that yee should do as yee list and because yee have your Wills as to this World therefore yee should do your Wills in this world but the Will of him that gave it you Excess Riot Pride Haughtiness Surfeting Drunkenness Gluttony Wantonness Cursing Swearing Diceing Gaming Chambering Revelling spending the Creatures on your Lusts Living in pleasure loving of pleasures more then God with such like were not the things that he minded as his End who with a liberal hand hath ministred to you but to be humble sober meek just temperate lovers of good things lovers of God liberal charitable given to good works lovers of Hospitality kind virtuous serving the Lord without distraction Passing the time of your sojourning here in fear For the Lord will require an account of you for all the deeds done in the body and his judgment ye cannot escape and the more kind and liberal he hath been to you and put it into your hands to do good the more he will require at your hands For to whomsoever much is given of him much will be required Therefore Friends it concerns you as I have said to mind your state and see how it is with you That within you which witnesseth to God will shew you if you heed it and become obedient thereunto which knows your Up-risings and your Down-sittings the thoughts and intents of your hearts and tries them which is with you wherever you go and wherever you lie down and whatever you do which is Gods witness and takes account of all your Actions and speaks to you from God and bids yee not to do the Abominable thing that his soul abhorrs which judgeth yee for Evil which shews yee Evil which tells yee what yee should do and which will make up the Reckoning for God and will leave you without excuse in the Day that he shall Judge the Quick and the Dead at his appearing and coming Now Friends this is of Concernment to You that this be your friend and that this answer for you in that Day that yee have done the Will of God and Answered the Requirings of his Spirit in you and what it moved you from God Well done thou good and faithful servant Enter into thy Masters Joy will the Lord say then to that which hath Done his Will and that will be a good word for you in the Day of the Lord when amazement and horror shall seiz upon all who know not God neither yield Obedience to his God and all faces shall gather Blackness and Paleness and the Mighty shall be afraid and the Strong man shall weep bitterly and the Heavens shall depart as a Scrowl and the Elements melt with fervent heat and the Earth and the works thereof be burnt up
bless being persecuted we suffer it being defamed we entreat We are made as the filth of the world and are the off-scouring of all things unto this day 1 Cor. 4. 11 12 13. And they wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins being destitute afflicted and tormented of whom the world was not worthy They wandered in Deserts and in Mountains and in Dens and in Caves of the Earth Heb. 11. 37 38 And how the Apostles went about from Nation to Nation from City to City preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom their Epistles and Acts manifest unto which I refer And Paul saith A Bishop then must be blameless the Husband of one Wife vigilant sober of good behaviour given to Hospitality apt to teach not given to Wine no striker nor given to filthy Lucre but patient not a Brawler not Covetous One that ruleth well his Own house having his Children in subjection with all gravity For if a man know not how to rule his Own house how shall he take Care of the Church of God Not a Novice least being lifted up with Pride hee fall into the condemnation of the Devil Moreover he must have a good Report of them that are without least he fall into Reproach and the snare of the Devil These things write I unto Thee saith he to Timothy hoping to come unto thee shortly but if I tarry long that thou mayst know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the House of God which is the Church of the living God the Pillar Ground of Truth which no Temples made with hands are but the Church which is in God 1 Thes 1. 1. Lively stones built upon that spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. 1 Tim. 3. 2. to the 8. 14 15. And the same Apostle saith to Titus For this Cause left I thee in Creet that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee If any be blameless the husband of one wife having faithful Children not accused of Riot or unruly For a Bishop must be blameless as the Steward of God not self-willed not soon angrie not given to wine no striker not given to filthy lucre but a lover of hospitality a lover of good men Sober just holy temperate holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught that he may be able by sound doctrine both to Exhort and to Convince the gain-sayers Tit. 1. 5. to the 10. And this Paul was an Apostle not of men neither by man but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the Dead So he saith himself Gal. 1. 1. And Timothy had the Gift by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery 1 Tim. 4. 14. And the Apostles laid their hands on them that believed and they received the Holy Ghost Act. 8. 17. which Simon the Sorcerer would have bought with mony For when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given he offered them mony saying Give me also this Power that on whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the Holy Ghost But Peter said unto him Thy Money perish with thee because thou hast thought the Gift of God can be purchased with Money Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter For thy heart is not right in the sight of God Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if perhaps the thoughs of thine heart may be forgiven thee for I perceive thou art in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity ver 18. to the 24 And Paul said to Timothy Lay hands suddenly on no maâ— neither be partakers of other mens sins Keep thy self pure 1 Tim. 5. 22. And that Ministration had an End with them and Antichrist was then entring and the Apostles prophesied of the Apostasie and Jude speaking of what was already entred which the Prophets and the Apostles of the Lord Jesus had foretold should come which was then already come But Beloved saith he ver 17. Remember ye the words that were spoken by the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time which should walk after their ungodly lusts These be they who seperate themselves sensual having not the Spirit ver 18 19. And John saith expresly That it was then the last time Little Children saith he it is the last time and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come even Now there are many Antichrists whereby we know it is the last time 1 John 2 18 And in the Revelations he saw the Court which was without the Temple to be given to the Gentiles and that they should tread the holy City under foot fourty and two Months Rev. 2. 21. And in the Overthrow of Babylon and the Return from the Apostasie and after it he speaks not of the Return again of that Ministration but of a More glorious a City wherein the Lamb was the light thereof And I saw saith he No Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it And the City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof And the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the light of it and the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honor unto it Rev. 21. 22 23 24. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day for there shall be no night there And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the Nations unto it And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth neither whatsoever worketh an abomination or maketh a lye but they that are written ia the Lambs book of life ver 25 26 27. And all sorrows here are wiped away and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more pain for the former things are passed away And he that sate on the Throne said Behold I make all things new And he said unto me Write for these things are true and faithful Rev. 21. 4 5. And to the Lambs Wife was granted that she should be arrayed in fine Linnen clean and white for the fine Linnen is the righteousness of Saints Rev. 19. 8. And behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God Rev. 21. 3. And he saw the holy City the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband ver 2. And the Angel that flew through the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the Earth and to every Nation and
Kindred and Tongue and People said with a loud Voice Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his Judgement is come and worship him who made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters And the other Angel that followed him said Babylon is fallen is fallen that great City because she made all Nations drink of the wrath of her Fornication Rev. 14. 6 7 8. And rejoice over her thou Heaven and ye holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath avenged ye on her Rev. 18. 20. And the Victory was to the Lamb and his followers who sate on the white Horse whom the Armies of Heaven followed on white Horses cloathed in fine Linnen white and clean Rev. 19. 11. 16. And the Angel which stood in the Sun cryed with a loud voice and said to all the Fowls that flie in the midst of Heaven Come and gather your selves unto the Supper of the great God that ye may eat the Flesh of Kings and the Flesh of Captains and the Flesh of mighty Men and the Flesh of Horses and of them that sit on them and the flesh of all men both free and bond both small and great ver 17 18. And he that testifies these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus Rev. 22. 20. And behold I come quickly and my Reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be ver 12. And I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testifie unto you these things in the Churches I am the Root and the Off-spring of David and the bright and Morning-Star And the Spirit and the Bride say Come and let him that heareth say Come and let him that is athirst Come and take of the Water of Life freely ver 16. 17. And he saith unto me Seal not the sayings of the Prophesie of this Book for the time is at hand He that is unjust let him be unjust still and he which is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is Righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy let him be holy still And I am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the first and the last Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life aad may enter in through the gates unto the City For without are Dogs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murderers and whosoever loveth and maketh a lye Ver. 10 11 12 13 14 15. For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this Book If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this Book And if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and from the holy City and from the things that are written in this Book Ver. 18 19. And so I have said to you what at present lies upon me from the Lord whether you will hear or forbear it shall witness for God against ye all if ye hear not in the Day that he shall tender to every man according to his Deeds So farwel It 's my love unto you that hath drawn this for you from the movings of the Lord. It concerns you to mind whether your state stands not so as is here represented and to turn unto the Lord lest being so ye be plucked up For every Plant thaâ— my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up saith Christ It 's that which I said to ye in the beginning in the Word of the Lord and which I now say unto you in the same at the End And the time is near Geo Bishope To the PREYSBTERY so called in these Nations Friends YOu have been staggering as Drunkards and starting aside like a Deceitful Bow You were of the Bishops and came out from the Bishops and covenanted against the Bishops and have let in the Bishops and have many of you turned and many are returning to the Bishops and this hath been and is the Work of you and of many of you to be upwards and downwards and backwards and forwards now here and now there reeling and rouling pinching here sometimes and drawing as contrary at another You had a tender Principle once which kept ye from evil as ye kept to it whilest ye were under sufferings but no sooner were you free but ye took the places of them that made ye to suffer and sought to make all others to suffer that differed from you ye have been true to Nothing not to your own Principles Ye have built again the things that ye have destroyed and so have made your selves Transgressors None should live but you had ye power to your Wills and you would live with and above every one The Lord hath tryed you and let the World see what you would do and his servants have suffered sorely by you and now he hath tryed you before his servants and ye are fallen before them whilst they stand And yet there is not confideration with you so as to think Is not there a lie in our right hand The Lord hath born long with you and loath he is that you should perish He hath suffered ye to fall into the same condemnation in which others are whom you would not have free Ye had a Day which ye long strove for and had the Door in your hands You let it open against your selves as it hath proved as well as others and it is well if so be it were not something in that your wariness lest you being so others should be free And now see what you have done the Lord hath befooled you and suffered ye to befool your selves and to be befooled because ye departed from the Counsel of the Lord and so what wisdom is in you Whilst Age and Generation lasts this your Work will be your shame and the Lord will be against you whilst ye turn not to him For here was your miss at first Ye kept not to your principle you turned to persecute who were persecuted your selves and the farther ye went on in this the more you were mad as Paul sometimes was and so saith of himself when he was as to the Law blameless and yet without Law as to Christ and what your madness hath brought forth upon your selves judge ye This Friends is to you in love 'T is time for you to consider and to mind that ye may see your state and know what the Lord is doing to you and the end of his working He would have you to bethink your selves and see where ye are He would have you to mind that in you which shews you your state and to hearken to the Reproof of Life the Voice of Wisdom that your souls may live and that out of all heats and rashness and anger ye may be brought into that calm state which doth unto others what it