would not hide it from his chosen ones and certainly God would not suffer them to act as they do as to endeavour to build up the State that is fallen and shall the Saints build Babel sure this is a very preposterous thing and certainly this is not a truth hold Answer That the Saints shall endeavour with all their might to heal Babel according to the appointment of God as in Jerem. 51. 8 9. where it is said Babylon is suddenly fallen howl for Babylon take balm for her pain if so be she may be healed And when the Saints have endavoured what they can to heal her then they take up this sad expression We would have healed Babel but she is not healed let us leave her and depart every one to his own Country for her judgement reacheth unto heaven and is lifted up to the skies Now I shall give an Answer to some Questions and some Objections and so close up The first Question How it can be said that when the Saints depart out of the land of their nativity they go unto their own Country if it be to be understood of a local separation Unto this I answer The Land of our nativity is not their own Country to the Saints if in such a place they are in bondage for how was the land of Egypt the own Country to the children of Israel though it was the land of their nativity and so was Babylon to many of the people of God but the land of Canaan was the place of their rest and so God hath prepared a wildernesse for the Saints to depart into when he shall gather them from the land of their Captivity not a wildernesse where there is want of all things but where there shall be abundance both of spiritual and temporal enjoyments as can be proved by the Scriptures before quoted which is an undoubted truth as well in a literal sense as spiritual I say it may appear to be a wildernesse for the present to the carnal sense but it shall not be so long for the Scripture doth prefix a time Rev. 12. a time and half a time that is three yeers and a half and then when that time is accomplished as in Isai. 31. the solitary places and the wildernesse shall rejoyce for them and the desarts shall blossome like a rose The second Question What is the reason if God will gather his people out of their land he doth so hide it from the generality of the Saints for there is not one amongst a thousand of your judgement Unto this I answer that the Lord doth thus hide it from his Saints for divers Reasons First Because he will have them endeavour vi armis id est by force and might to heal Babel which if it were made known unto them that all their labour were in vain they would not trouble themselves any further but God will have it so because he will render his Saints a righteous people unto the whole world and that they shall acknowledge shortly when as they shall say in the words following The Lord hath brought forth our righteousnesse let us declare in Sion the works of the Lord our God The second Reason why it is thus hidden Because if it were revealed the people of God would be so impatient under these sufferings that they would make too much haste and be gone before that God have finished his work on mount Sion which he hath appointed for Babylon to do in the cruel using of the Saints unto the mortifying of the flesh in them And the onely and true reason that God doth reveal it to so few is because there is no considerable part of the Church in a capacity to apprehend such a mercy as to have a deliverance out of such bondage as we are in to whom the Lord is pleased to reveal these things unto our great consolation in the time of our greatest dolour and extremity Now I shall answer to some Objections First of all it may be objected How can it be made appear that there is more excellency in the feet and toes of the great Image then in the head of gold Unto this I answer that there is in divers particulars as it is held forth in the letter As first There is more excellency in the feet and toes then in the head of gold because the feet and toes which were partly of potters clay and partly of iron have mixt themselves with the seed of men and so upon this account the seed of men is more precious then the golden wedge of Ophir for none will deny but that the body of the meanest man in the world is more worth then raiment and so of gold and whatsoever we look on as excellent Now this is clear in the letter In a spiritual sense the feet and toes of the great Image is more excellent because they have mixed themselves with the seed of men Now the seed of men in this nature is the Saints Unto this it may be objected How can that be for the Saints are but men as others as it is spoken of Elias and Moses and all the faithful and so they have their infirmities as the Scriptures speak Unto this I answer It is true that the Saints are men and subject to infirmities none will deny but the Kings daughter is all glorious within the Saints do not appear to the world as yet but when the Witnesses Rev. 11. shall ascend in a cloud into heaven then the enemies shall behold them and then the Saints shall appear as they are unto the confusion of their enemies which shall be very shortly Now it may be objected If it be so as you say that the seed of men which are mixed in the State is the Saints as you call them yet sure they have done no good And are they not over-voted and accounted as the worst of men because they will not joyn with the rest of the body insomuch that they are the means to bring all to confusion which if they had held together it would have been otherwise It is true that though the State have mixt themselves with the seed of men thinking thereby to joyn themselves to the Iron which is the Monarchical power yet it cannot be so for iron and clay will not hold together insomuch that the stone that was cut out of the mountain hath but smote the Image upon his feet and hath broken them already Now here may arise a Question How it can be proved that there can be more in the seed of men then in the head of gold for if the seed of men be the Saints in a spiritual sense then the head of gold must needs be understood to be the Truth and so I say How can it be made appear that there is more excellency in the Saints who are but men then in that whereby they are sanctified for Christ prays the Father that he would sanctifie his by the Word and the Word says
Scripture-Prophecies OPENED Which are to be accomplished in these last times which do attend the second coming of Christ In several LETTERS Written to Christian friends BY E. Avery ISAI. 29. 17 18 19. Is it not a very little while and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book and the eyes of the blinde shall see out of obscurity and darknesse The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord and the poor among men shall rejoyce in the holy One of Israel LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the signe of the black spread-Eagle at the West-end of Pauls 1647. To the Reader Christan Reader THese following Letters were intended onely for some particular Christians but seeing that which is contained in them is of general concernment I do here present it to the view of all and the rather because the power of God doth appear in it in respect of the weaknesse and contemptiblenesse of the instrument whom he doth here employ as formerly it hath been his course in doing great things by weakest means and so by such foolishnesse he doth bring to nought the wisdom of the wise that so no flesh may glory in his presence And as it hath been the manner of God's proceedings heretofore so likewise I finde the immediate acting of the Spirit in giving in and so accordingly in carrying me forth to communicate it to others And seeing it is thus I dare not conceal it in oblivion but I must hold it forth to the view of the whole world not fearing any thing in way of opposition from the creature for I fear not the prison having such enlargements in God I fear not reproach for I can wear it as my Crown I fear not want in that I do enjoy all in God And though I may be counted mad to the world I shall speak the words of sobernesse and if I am mad as the Apostle saith it is to God and if I am in my right mind it is for the benefit of others And I desire likewise that the Christian Reader should know though I question not the truth of that which I do here hold forth yet I am resolved not to contend for it with carnal weapons as by Argument but rather I shall witnesse the truth of it with my Blood if God shall call me to it for I have nothing to do but to hold it forth and so I must leave it to God who I know will witnesse to his own Truth and reveal it unto all his in his good time in the mean while so far as we have attained let us walk by the same rule and minde the same thing and accordingly wait for further discoveries And so I shall leave thee good Reader to the manifestation of Christ in thy flesh which doth begin to appear in some and we do likewise expect it in general unto all the Saints when God shall bring them out of darknesse into his marvellous light which is begun and shall increase until it be perfect day And with this I shall close up committing thee to God and to the power of his grace ever remaining Thine in Christ Elizabeth Avery The Contents The First Letter THe opening of the mystery both of the state and fall of Babylon Pag. 1. Some discovery of what is meant by the mystery of the feet and toes of the great Image Dan. 2. 34. p. 3. How the Saints are said to be slain in and by Babylon Jer. 51. 49. p. 4. Of Babylons fall p. 6. How the Lord shall gather his Saints out of Babylon before it be destroyed as God overthrew Sodom p. 7. Objections answered as touching local separation p. 8 9. Objections answered as to a further discovery of the mystery of the feet and toes of the great Image p. 11. Also the mystery of the head of gold c. p. 13 14 15. The Second Letter HOw the heavens and the earth shall be dissolved p. 17. What is meant by the Apostle Peter when he saith that the heaven and the earth are reserved to fire against the day of judgement p. 20. Question answered How it can be said that the Saints are slain by their iniquities seeing Christ hath satisfied for the sins of the whole world p. 23. Of the coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven p. 25. What is meant by the heavens and earth that must passe away p. 28 29. The beginning of the glorious estate of the Church by the calling of the Jews and what those Jews are p. 30 31. Of a threefold wildernesse which the Saints are brought into p. 34 35. The Third Letter COncerning the Resurrection of the dead c. p. 36. The death natural cannot properly be called death p. 37. When the Mediatour ship of Christ ceaseth p. 39. Khrists Kingdom in Spirit throws down all dominion that is of the earth p. 39. The state of the natural body after death p. 41. What the lake of fire and brimstone is Ibid. Martha her conference with Christ about the resurrection of Lazarus opened Ibid. Of the state of the wicked after death p. 45. What is meant by the body being clothed upon Ibid. Spirits not capable of torment out of the body Ibid. When the judgement of the devil and his angels in the wicked doth begin p. 46. Christian Letters The First Opening the Mystery of the state and fall of BABYLON Dear Friend SEeing it is the greatest joy of the Saints to have communion one with another in the Spirit though distant in the Flesh which joy is much improved when the Lord doth carry us forth in communicating one unto another that which he is pleased to reveal unto us by his Spirit And here by the providence of God I am come forth to act in this kinde So in the first place I shall speak of Babylon as it is that vail of Darknesse which covers all flesh Isa. 25. 7. which God will shortly take away from all his Saints but at present this vail covers all flesh more then ever and Antichrist the spirit of Errour doth reside in the flesh more then ever even in the Saints themselves as well as others and so it shall be till God is manifested in the flesh of the Saints as he was in the Humanity of Christ and such a one in whom God shall be thus manifested shall confesse that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh 1 Joh. 4. 3. and when it is thus with any in such a one Babylon and Antichrist is fallen But at the present Babylon and Antichrist is fallen in a very inconsiderable number of the Saints who are enlightned with the light of Truth and these are the Watchmen that shall declare glad tidings Isa. 51. 14 15 16. and 52. 7 8 But howsoever Babylon and Antichrist which is Confusion and Errour doth remain in the generality of mankinde yea the Saints
themselves I say That Babylon and Antichrist is over all States which govern by an Arbitrary power and over all Churches whether National or others and all Worshipâ— whether the Worship of the Heathens or Antichristian Worship that comprehends all which hath formerly been understood to be the Worship of the Papists but we have found it otherwise and not onely is Confusion and Errour in all false Worship but Babylon is in the purest Worship that is most agreeable to the letter of the Word because the Saints have no rule for what they practise in taking up the Ordinance never since the defection from the faith for though the Apostle speaks of a falling away yet he never speaks of the restauration of the Truth in the same form of Worship which at the first was given forth And so we must look for new discoveries such as have not been yet as the Prophet speaks The things that have not been shall be told you and the Apostle Peter speaking unto the Saints in general and in them he spake to us whom it doth more immediately concern even we which live in this age wherein the Prophecies are to be accomplished in a spiritual sense the Apostle Peter says 2 Pet. 1. the three lâ—st verses You have a more sure Word of prophecie to which you shall do well to give heed as unto a light shining in a dark place until the day dawn and the day-star arise in your hearts Now Babylon you see is not onely the Church of Rome which doth appearto all that are enlightned to be so because their Religion consists of so many particulars which is needlesse for me to recite being so well known to all but Babylon doth more mystically appear to be in this present State and Church of England I put them together because they are so involved that they make but one Beast which is the second Beast spoken Revel. 13. 11. which is distinct from the Beast that rose out of the Sea who had power given him over Kinreds Tongues and Nations But howsoever though that Beast that did rise out of the sea did rise first and so did act according to his power in the first place yet sure Babylon falls first in this glorious State and Church of England which may well be understood to be the feet and toes of the great Image spoken of Dan. 2. 34. which are different from the legs which are altogether of Iron which did shew the great strength of the Roman Monarchy But here it may be objected That this glorious Church and State of England hath appeared to be a golden cup in the Lords hand Jer. 51. 7. in respect of the Spiritual excellencies which have been seen in her and therefore how can it be compared to the feet and toes of the great Image which is the meanest part of the body To this I answer Though the feet and toes are the meanest part of the body yet it will appear that there are more excellencies in them then the head of gold for though the feet and toes be thus mixt part of Potters clay and part of Iron which shews that the Kingdom is partly weak and partly strong but though this part be not strong by reason of the mixture yet I say there is more excellency in this mixture then in the head of Gold for it is said of this State that they did mix themselves with the seed of men which is a great mystery And so though Babylon may be in all manner of Professions and all States who govern in an arbitrary way yet I may boldly say that Babylon concerning whose destruction the Prophets of old and John in the Revelation speak that spiritual Babylon as it is a State and Church and mystically Babylon in our gathered Churches and Antichrist rendered in a mystery in the Saints all which out of question is to be accomplished in this Island of Great Britain which by the learned is made evidently to appear to be the tenth part of the great City which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified Revel. 11. 13. that falls first Now if this can be proved as very probably it can that this State and National Church of England be Babylon then I pray take notice of that which the Lord speaks Jerem. 51. 49. that as Babylon caused the slain of Israel to fall so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth Not that all the earth shall be slain with a temporal sword but the earth is slain in a spiritual sense for natural Babylon did not slay Israel in the flesh for the Prophet Jeremiah and other of the Saints had good usage in Babylon And a slaughter to be slain in this sense as here it is spoken it is to be slain by following their wicked ways in being led in Errour and so slain by their sin And sure natural Babylon did never use such cruelty on the Saints as the Scripture speaks of onely on some which were not Saints but the enemies of God which did go contrary to his command in rebelling against the King of Babylon unto whom the Lord had given commandment by Jeremiah the Prophet that they should subject themselves unto his yoke And so whereas it is said that Babylon did cause the slain of Israel to fall it's Babylon in the Saints that is Confusion and Errour have slain the Saints in a spiritual sense as the Lord says concerning his people that they were slain by their iniquity as in Hos. 13. it is said that the iniquity of Ephraim is bound up and his sin is hid but when it did appear see what follows even the sorrows of a travelling woman and death it self Now this is Babylons causing the slain of Israel to fall So Babylon causeth the slain of Israel to fall by her false teachings as in Isai. 9. 13. Jerem. 51 5. and so forward again vers. 25 of the same Chapter which shews how Babel did destroy the people of God by their false teachings Again Babylon causeth the slain of Israel to fall by her cruel hatred and most deceitful usage and by her vile reproaches by which she slays the people of God with the sword of the heart and with the sword of the tongue concerning the nature of which is fully made forth in Psal. 11. So as Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth which is flesh in the Saints when the Lord hath judged with fire and the sword all flesh as in Isai. 9. 5. and 66. 16. Revel. 19. 10. Now though sinful flesh be slain in the Saints whilst they are in Babylon yet this is not done till we are slain by Babylon and so have attained unto a resurrection with Christ as in Isa. 26. 19 20 21. I pray take notice of this Scripture for it makes forth clearly that state of the Church which hath been or shall be slain by Babylon
be shaken but our heaven without us hath been shaken which is the Ordinance and hath likewise been taken away for when God withdraws and doth not appear in it then all is gone But howsoever here is matter of unspeakable comfort to the Saints even at this time wherein the powers of heaven are shaken and shall likewise vanish away because that which remains cannot be shaken though it be dissolved ceasing to appear in that manner as formerly as covered with a vail but now we shall see face to face Now having spoken at large concerning the heavens being on fire which is dissolved to some and shall be dissolved to all when the Saints shall see God as he is because the Ordinance which is that vail that hath hid the glory of God from us whilst we live so lowe in the earth is taken away because we could not see God and live except he had been so covered but when this vail shall vanish away like smoke Isa. 51. and be rolled together like a scroll Revel. 6. 14. and every mountain and hill shall be removed out of his place and heaven shall be shaken and the earth shall be removed out of his place in the wrath of the Lord Isa. 13. 13 14. Heb. 12 God saith that once more I will not shake earth onely but also heaven Now this once more signifies the removing of those things which are shaken that the things which cannot be shaken may remain And our Saviour saith Heaven and earth shall passe away but my word shall not passe away which is God himself Now that which vanisheth and passeth away and is shaken and taken away as in these Scriptures here quoted heaven which is here spoken of is the Ordinances which shall passe away when God appeareth in his glorious manifestations when he comes into his Temple Mal. 3. 1 c. But it is said Who can abid his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth Heaven passeth away now with a great noise there is great trouble in the Saints when this shall be Now heaven which is the Word of God in distinction to that heaven which passeth away with a great noise v. 10. though this heaven which is the word of God shall be dissolved it remains the same in nature though not in such a grosse substance Now when it is thus dissolved there is more spiritual efficacy in it then before in that this Word shall become flesh as is spoken of Christ 1 Joh. 1. And so as the Word of God did become flesh in Christ our elder brother so this Word shall become flesh in all the Saints when God shall be manifested in their flesh and they likewise shall be declared mightily to be the sons of God by the Resurrection from the dead not the Resurrection of the body natural which we do not expect in that manner as formerly we conceived but the resurrection from the dead in a spiritual sense Now concerning the resurrection of the bodies of the Saints which is expected after their natural death it is to me a mystry as yet and so I conceive it is to most of the Saints As for that resurrection which is held forth commonly in the Scripture it is in part made known unto me 〈◊〉 to be dead with Christ and so to be risen with him Now to be dead with Christ the Apostle saith is to be dead unto the Ordinances and all vails and shadows and to be risen with him is to live in God in seeing eye to eye when God shall bring again Sion Isai. 52. And so that resurrection which we do expect is not the resurrection after death but a resurrection in a spiritual sense whilst we are in the flesh before the state of glory and it is a resurrection out of a spiritual defection which we have been brought into being slain by our iniquity as Hos. 13. where God saith O Ephraim thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help Onely here is a difference in the cause of the death of Christ and the cause of this death in the Saints in a spiritual sense Now the cause of the death of Christ was the sin of mankinde as the Scripture speaketh but the Saints are slain by their own sin Now here will arise a Question How can it be said that the Saints are slain by their iniquities seeing Christ hath satisfied for the sins of the whole world Answ. It is true the satisfaction which was in Christ it was a sufficient ransome for in that the whole Creation is redeemed from the curse of the â—aw and if all did believe all should have benefit by this redemption for it is evident that none are damned but for the sin of unbelief as the Scripture declares in divers places So howsoever though there be such a sufficient ransome yet none have benefit by it but those who do believe and unto them the guilt and malediction of sin is taken away but though the guilt and malediction of sin be taken away by this redemption and so the Saints cannot be slain by their iniquity in respect of the spiritual man yet they are slain in their own apprehension when they are bereft of all joy and comfort in the spirit in that God hath withdrawn himself from them And here it may be said they are put to death with Christ in that they are conformable to his sufferings in respect of the spiritual desertion that Christ was in who in the days of his flesh did pour out strong prayers with crying and tears as in the Hebrews and so likewise the Saints are to be conformable to Christ their Head in being slain by the cruel hatred of the wicked in respect of reproach c. And so the Saints may be said to be slain with Christ when they are slain by their iniquities as in the first Chapter of Hosea When Ephraim saw his sicknesse and Judah his wound then went Ephraim to the Assyrian and sent to king Jareb yet could be not heal nor cure him of his wound for saith God I will be unto Ephraim as a lion and as a young lion to the house of Israel I will tear and go away I will take away and none shall rescue And then God returns to his place until they do acknowledge their offences in their afflictions they will seek him early And so the resurrection of Christ follows in the sixth Chapter where those which are thus slain in a spiritual sense take unto themselves these words and say Come let us return unto the Lord for he hath wounded and he will heal after two days he will revive us and the third day we shall live in his sight So in Hos. 13 it is said that Ephraim had destroyed himself as we may see in the words following in that death follows for it is said that Ephraim was an unwise son for he should not have stood still in the breaking forth of children but he doth stand still and in
standing still he dieth But what saith God I will ransome him from the power of the grave I will redeem him from death O death I will be thy plague O grave I will be thy destruction repentance shall be hid from mine eyes Howsoever all his former fruitfulnesse shall be blown away as in the words following in the next Chapter where those which are thus ransomed as before take unto themselves these words and say They shall no more look unto Idols they shall no more seek unto Ashur nor any carnal confidence but they shall wait on the Lord and in him shall they trust And those who have attained unto a resurrection with Christ if they go on to know the Lord he shall return as the rain and as the later rain upon the earth And those that shall attain unto this resurrection as before spoken shall grow up as calves in the stall as Mal. 4. And those likewise which are thus risen with Christ shall be secured in the chamber spoken of in Isa. 26. in respect of the spiritual man whilst the Lord comes out of his place to destroy the works of the flesh in us which are the inhabitants of the earth in a spiritual sense and the chamber is God himself wherein the spiritual man liveth in security and peace even that man-childe spoken of Revel. 1. who is caught up to God and to his throne which man-childe shall rule all nations with a rod of iron even this spiritual man shall be secured when the heavens are shaken and the earth is removed out of its place yea the spiritual man in those who are living at the coming of Christ which never died in respect of the spiritual desertions even that part of the Church which doth remain when two parts are cut off and die as in Zech. 18. from vers. 8. to the end I say the spiritual man both in those that are risen at the coming of Christ with those that are risen from the dead shall be caught up into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air Now these clouds are not the clouds of the air but the clouds of heaven which are the Saints themselves which shall witnesse that all this is done Christ's being taken up into the clouds of this visible firmament did typifie the taking up of the Saints spiritually unto God concerning which we have a cloud of witnesses in the Saints and accordingly do expect Christ coming in glory spiritually and all his Saints with him as the Scripture speaks Now having spoken at large concerning the heavens being dissolved which remains the same in nature though it ceaseth to be in that manner as before and having likewise spoken of the Saints being dead and risen with Christ spiritually Now in the next place I shall make forth so far as God shall reveal that which followeth And in the first place concerning those elements which melt with fervent heat which certainly is to be understood to be the glorious truths which are held forth in Babylon in which there is great mixture of Errour that may very well be compared unto that head of gold and the brest and arms of silver of the great Image Dan. 2. which shall be triâ—d by the fire of the Spirit and though the truths cannot burn yet they shall be melted and the fire shall try every mans work whether it be of God or no and I am sure if any man build on the foundation wood hay or stubble it shall be burnt up with this fire which tries and refines the Truths and the Saints and so the melting of these elements which are the Truth shall but refine them as silver and purifie them as gold and so it loseth nothing but drosse which is the earth and the works thereof that shall be burnt up as follows in this Scripture which burning we have formerly conceived to be the utter consummation of this visible earth in which we live but now we finde it otherwise in that the books which were sealed begin now to be opened even that which was hidden from the Prophets and Apostles and Christ himself as man who speaks concerning the end of the world that of that day and hour knoweth no man but the Father onely but when God shall appear in his glorious manifestations in the Saints and the enemies of God shall behold the glory of the Saints when the Lord shall make bare his holy arm in the sight of all the Nations and all the ends of the earth shall behold the salvation of the Lord Isa. 52. but unto their horrour and amazement Zech. 13. So you see that the earth before spoken of which shall be burnt up is not the earth we live in which is harmlesse in it self for sure it can do no evil but by the blessing of God it doth much good though not of it self yet according to the providence of God who maketh the sun to shine and the rain to fall that the earth may bring forth fruit and sure every creature of God is good in its kinde and therefore the earth cannot be said to be evil nor her works evil and accordingly it shall not be burnt up for the curse is taken from the earth in that redemption that was in Christ and in that the earth is not fruitful but brings forth briars and thorns and the like it is not because the earth is evil but onely a just judgement of God to make a fruitful Land barren for the sins of them that dwell in it and so we cannot finde in Scripture that this visible heaven and earth are to have an end for we finde to the contrary that they are to continue as in Jer. 33. 25. and 35. 36. and likewise it is said in the Psalms and in Ecclesiastes that the earth endureth for ever and so where it is said that the heavens and earth that now are are kept by the same word in sâ—ore reserved unto fire against the day of judgement and perdition of wicked and ungodly men this ye see is to be understood otherwise then hath been formerly Now I shall make forth in brief concerning those things which do remain according as God shall reveal the meaning of this Scripture Now in the first place where it is said that the heavens and earth which now are in distinction from that heaven and earth which were before the flood which if you do understand it in the letter is the same as it was from the Creation and therefore as I have before spoken the heaven and earth which now is is to be understood in a spiritual sense as the heavens to be the glorious Ordinance wherein God hath appeared and the earth to be wisdom and gifts and the like these heavens and earth are to be reserved to fire against the day of judgement of wicked and ungodly men Unto this some may object How can this heaven and earth you speak of be reserved to fire for the destruction of wicked