is come wherein he is come to visit thee who will build thee up and restore unto thee thy fermer dignity and renown thee with beauty and Authority that thou maist even be the glory of the Nations and thy King may rule over the whole earth for he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords arise come forth and shew forth thy self thou that hast been as a vine troden under foot and as a desolate widow who long hast been barren since the spoilers and the destroyers had power over thee come forth and see him that visiteth thee and know thy Rock the everlasting Councelor that no longer thou may be desolate nor remain Barren but awake and come forth for thy light is come and a time of love is coming upon thee shake thy self from the dust and let thy oppressors come into the dust and sit in the darkness for now is he come who will spoil the spoiler and deliver the oppressed and will take away and remove the bands of wickedness that the oppressed may enjoy glorious liberty and Redemption out of all snares and incumbrances whatsoever that she that hath mourned in dust and ashes may rejoyce and have beauty for ashes and the garment of praise in stead of heaviness and that she that was desolate may be married unto an husband who is the everlasting Comforter and will be an husband unto the widow that receiveth him who hath waited for him and then the Barren shall bâ—ing forth children rejoyce in her precious fruit which shall increase abundantly and multitudes shall come up to the mountain of the Lords house and walk in the light of the God of Jacob in which light he that waiteth shall see these things brought in the day of the mighty God whose power is gone forth to manifest his saving health in the Nations whosoever will let them come freely and taste of the everlasting light and power of the Almighty who breaths and thirsts after righteousness and salvation whether they be Jewes or Gentiles that they may receive and feel his anointed brought forth who sets open the Treasures of life and mercies to all that do receive him who believe in his light according to his promises O ye Jews ye people who are scattered among the Nations There is a remnant the Lord hath among you even as it were the Corne which is left in the time of harvest for gleaners and as the gleaning grapes which is left for the stranger to gather For though you be many in number and you may professe the Law of Moses and the prophets yet the iniquity is great you are in and you worship an unknown God while you are worshiping in the outward observations and traditions held forth by your predecessors and forefathers and you have not seen felt nor known him whom you worship Jacob is small and how shall he arise among you And the remnant is little that will receive the witnesse and Testimony of the everlasting Covenant Say not you are Abrahams children except ye were in Abrahams faith and the righteousnesse which he was in he heard the voice of God and through faith obeyed him and was accepted yea whose worship stands in outward observations ye have not heard Gods voice nor do ye obey him while your hearts are enranged from the light and the power of the living God many of your forefathers transgressed and break the Covenant that God made with them wherein was the outward Tabernacle Altar Sacrifices and outward ordinances which had a shadow of an everlasting Covenant which God hath in store for the seed of Abraham who come into the faith and Righteousnesse of Abraham And the Israelites forsook the true and living God and followed after the Gods of the heathen and prophaned his name and polluted his Sanctuary through their Idolatry and their abominations So that Gods anger turned against them he turned his countenance from them he gave them over for a pray to the heathen so that they were dispersed and scattered among strangers and their seed came to be mixt with the heathen and so the curse came upon them and their enemies got the preheminence over them for they hated his counsel and break his Covenant and persecuted and slew his prophets and messengers and yet the Lord God did not leave himselfe without a witnesse among them after that they had transgressed For he gave his good spirit to instruct them and yet they temped the Lord wrought grievous provocations against the Lord Nehemiah 9. and the Lord God overthrew and cut many off in his wrath and in their iniquities who tempted him would not hearken unto his words which he spake unto them by his holy prophets nor unto his good spirit which he gave to instruct them But they made their hearts as an Adamant least they should hear the Law the words which the Lord of Hosts hath sent in his spirit by his former prophets Zechariah 7.12 Yea and they set up covetous Priests who were greedy after gain as ravening wolves and they prophane the holy things that were consecrated under the Law For the service of the outward Temple which God comands and even abused the outward things that stood in the shadow by their cursed inventions and in serving strange Gods There was a time when Gods presence and of his vertues was found in the Temple that Solomon builded and in the outward things that he comanded which shadowed forth the heavenly things But when Israel fell into Idolatry and offered incense and sacrifices and built up high places to worship strange Gods in then the Lord forsook them and forsook the Temple and outward things which he had commanded according as he promised Read 2 Kings 18. 2 Cron 7. So when they had gon a whoring after their own inventions and had forsaken the covenant the Testimonies of the Lord God he was wearied with their prayers did not esteem of their sacrifices nor accept of their burnt-offerings nor of their vain oblations but cryed away with them and said the true prophet at that day shall a man looke to his maker and his eyes shall have respect to the holy One of Israel and he shall not looke to the Altars the work of his hands neither shall he respect that which his fingers have made Isai 17. And said the prophet David unto the Lord Thou desirest not sacrâ—ficeâ— else would I give it Thou delightest not in burnt offerings the secrifices of God are a broken spirit a brâ—ken and contrite heart O God thou wilt not dispise Psa 51 Therefore hear O ye Jews and consider these things ye people scattered among the heathen for now I come to witnesse forth the everlasting Covenant of Life and peace unto you which the first covenant that stood in the outward observations and ordinances had the shaâ—ow of And this is the second Covenant which in these latter daies the Lord God of power is bringing to light among
THE SEED OF ISRAELS Redemption Fully prophesied of And the Scriptures opened Which now is about to be fulfilled by its Saviour and â—edeemer whom God hath now raised up for an Ensigne to the Nations and the salvation of his people who is here evidently demonstrated and fully born witness of as he is the Remover of bondages the worker of perfect freedom and the end of things abolished to both Jews and Gentiles who through faith receive him And here all they who are weary with being captives under the bondage of corruption and would know the way to the Kingdom of God may receive a word of Consolation From a Witnesse of Gods Saâ—vation who waits for the Consolation of his Seed and thirsts for Sions welfare George Whitehead Amos 3.8 The Lion hath reared who will not fear The Lord God hath â—poken who can but prophesie Dan 10 21 I will shew thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth and there is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your Prince LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1659. AS this following Testimony was given forth in the faith of the Righteous seed even as the things therein were revealed by the spirit of promise so they are not given forth to feed vain-minds nor to satisfie the seed of the wicked who continue in their sin unbelief and hardnesse of heart against God and his Eternal Truth for many of them do get the saints words and apply promises to themselves in that nature which is in enmity against the seed of God and so with an empty profession covers and paints themselves over so are covered but not with the spirit of God taking counsel but not of God and there are many in that nature gotten into a false ease who pretend a dependency upon the mercies and promises of God but when â—hey come to be tried they are found in â—he unbelief hating the Light of the Lord which bringeth them that believe in it to â—ee the promises of God fulfilled so then â—hey who believe not according to Gods â—romises in his gift but continue in the â—nbelief against the gift of God in them â—hey come short of the promise of God â—nd of his righteousnesse because of their unbelief and the deceit of their own hearts so that wo and misery is upon all such and wo is unto all selfe-conceited empty Professors who hate to be reformed and persist in their pride and rebellion against God yet this I testifie that God is not slack concerning his promises as dispisers unbelievers mockers and scorners count slacknes but is near to fulfil them to the seed where ever it is scattered which is willing to wait in the patience to see his coming and the establishing of his everlasting Covenant according to his promises to that Seed I prostitute these things which neither the swine nor the devourer hath any right unto And to the gift of God in people which witnesseth for him against all unrighteousnesse do I appeal to which I am manifest in the sight of God whatever such as resist the truth may think or speak of me my diligent labour in giving forth these things is known to the Lord God as one who there in have sincerely obeyed him And let such as read this following Testimony minde their own state and see if they believe according to these things as these who come to feel of the same things fulfilled and revealed by the gift of God in themselves For I have not written these things for people to feed their airy minds with reports of them and so to live upon reports of things they feel not but to be read singly believed seriously fulfilled effectually and witnessed eternally as they may be known and made manifest by the power of the Lord God which they receive who receive the Son of God and believe in his everlasting Name which is his Word which lighteth every man that cometh into the world The particular Contents or subjects treated upon in this following Treatise are as followeth c. FIrst the Seed of Israels Redemption and its Redeemer fully prophesied and declared of Afterward here are certain reasons according to the Scriptures of truth produced from a sure ground Whereby is proved that the Messias or Saviour of Israel did come in the flesh and things are come to passe touching him and his outward sufferings according as the true Prophets have foretold Whereby is proved First The Conception and birth of Jesus according to his outward Nativity who is called Christ or the Messias 2 Concerning the life of Jesus 3 Touching his Ministery 4 Touching his works 5 Touching his sufferings death 6 Touching his Resurrection and Ascention With several things of concernment both to the professors of the world and others touching Christ and his way And these things are born witness of according to the evidences of faithful witnesses that both Jewes and others who are in the state of unbelief and have been gazing abroad and are yet looking to see the Messias come in person or who do not believe that he is already come may take warning to turn their mindes within and wait for the life and power of Christ Jesus to be revealed in them that thereby their souls may live and be satisfied least they die in their sins and their souls remain in misery with the hard-hearted and unbelievers Also here is the difference between the first and second Covenants and between the first second Priesthoods and the end of the things abolished and how far they reached truly described Wherein is discovered 1 SOmthing touching the giving forth of the outward Law and the establiing of the first Covenant and of the state of the people at that time 2 Of Moses his making intercession for the people when they had transgressed 3 Of the outward Circumcision 4 Of the outward Passover 5 Of the outward Sabboths 6 Of the brazen serpent that Moses made 7 Of oathes and swearing 8 Of the outward anointing of the Priests 9 Of the Tithes the Priests received 10 Of the outward Tabernacle under the Law and the instruments thereof and the Lords forsaking thereof 11 Of the outward sacrifices and burnt offerings 12 Of the Ephod and consecrated garments which Aaron and the Priests had 13 Of the outward washing of thepriests 14 Of meats and drinks and days in the first priesthood 15 Of the tribe that the first priesthood were of and their appointment 16 Of the reading of the Law and of the pulpit of wood 17 Of Jewels of silver and gold and costly ornaments 18 Of Solomons Temple 19 Of the singing and praising upon outward Instruments which was used in the outward Temple 20 Of the overthrow and destruction of Solomons Temple and the building it again and its destruction the 2d time And the end of the things particularly in like manner described A â—rue account of these things are given that
both Iews professors who are seeking rest for their souls and to meet with God in visible things and carnal ordinances which were upheld either under the Law or since the Law may see beyond and come out of these thing and out of their wil worships and feed no longer upon the husk buâ— come to the bread of life which cometh down from God By a lover of the seed of God and a friend to them that follow on to know him G.W. The seed of Israels Redemption and the Redeemer thereof fully prophecyed and declared of c. NOw are the times of Restauration come and coming as thousands do witness and will witness for the remnant of Jacobs sake the seed concerning which the determination of the everlasting God is gone forth which he will fully accomplish and fulfill for the gathering of the remnant of the seed unto himself for which his his holy Arm is made bare and stretching it self forth over all the Nations of the earth where the Remnant of his seed hath been scattered whether among Jewes or Gentiles bond or free kindreds or Peoples the Lord God of power and glory hath a controversie to plead with all Nations where his remnant hath been carryed away captive yea and his promises will he fulfill which hath been declared by the mouth of his holy Prophets since the the world began for his captivated seed which lyeth desolate and which is troden under foot by the heathen the uncircumcised and the unclean even as a vine that 's troden under foot by the wilde beasts of the forests that it could not spring up nor bud forth nor bring forth fruit for many years yea and the remant which the Lord hath to gather unto himself is even like unto a widow who is cast out of her habitation and bereaved of her children and now hath her habitation been troden down and laid waste and her children taken from her by the enemies and she as a widow is in a waste howling wilderness as one that mourneth for the want of her husband and for the want of her children and who wanteth a Comforter even so hast thou O seed of Jacob and oh habitation of Israel long been oppressed and long hast thou been desolate and long hast thou been destitute thou hast been incompassed with death with captivity with want with bondage by thy oppressor within and without he that hath oppressed thee within is he that hath the power of death and whose dwelling and kingdom is in the darkness and hath caused many thousands to transgresse the Law and to erre from the Covenant and to disobey the Councel of the most high God and they that are thy oppressors without are they that fear not the Lord God neither do they serve nor worship him but followes the imaginations of their wicked hearts and serves and worships strange Gods And even among many who in words professes the true God and do often make mention of his name is Jacob very small in many he is even eaten up and destroyed and among many is his habitation laid desolate and waste And these that feel not his habitation nor him raised up they are out of Gods Councel and out of his Covenant what ever they in words do professe or speak concerning him or what ever they act in pretence of obedience to him who is the true and living God whose name is to be professed in truth and in righteousnes even in the righteousnes of himself whereinto he will gather his seed to serve to obey him and to bring glory to his powerful name through his own righteousness sincerity wherein his pure name must be held forth and no otherwise for the wo is to all them that professe God or hold his truth in unrighteousness and wo to all them that reject and hare the Councel of the Lord God and cast his law and fear behind their backs and yet do present their prayers and vain oblations before him who is Lord of heaven and earth who will have a pure people or seed to place his name in and he will raise up a clean habitation and an holy house to dwell in wherein no uncircumcised nor unclean person must dwell and he will raise up his holy mountain and manifest his everlasting salvation which his holy seed shall possesse and into which no unclean thing shall come and into his mountain shall no venomous beast nor any destroyer enter but there shall the seed inhabit which must have dominion and power over the earth and over all the powers of the earth and the Lord God hath a seed to bring forth and to gather both among Jews and Gentiles yea both among many professors and among many that have not a profession of the truth in words yea the Lord God hath an heritage to possesse among the heathens whom he will rule with a rod of Iron and subdue Nations by his holy Arm and make way for his annointed his Elect seed who is the right heir and chosen One that he may possesse the inheritance now is the day come and the Sun risen whereby the darkness which hath covered the earth and the people shall be expelled and driven away and in this the day of the everlasting God will he fulfill his promises and finish his work which he hath begun in the Northern Islands who have waited for his law and many have received the law and the everlasting Covenant which is the inheritance of the seed which God is bringing forth according to his promises and all that now incline their hearts towards the Lord God and wait for his law believing his promises his righteousness shall appear and his salvation shall be brought near unto them but they who refuse the Counsel of the Lord God and do still walk on in their Rebellion and wickedness who will not wait for his law to be written in their hearts nor yet receive his Covenant nor believe his promises they shall be overturned and scattered in Gods fierce wrath and heavy displeasure and his love to such will be turned into fury and his mercies into bitterness for as much as in the time of their visitation they have hated reproof and hated to be reformed from their evil wayes and have despised the messenger of Gods Covenant even his own living witness which he hath sent and which hath often appeared and knocked at the door of their hearts to warn them and to instruct them to cease from their iniquities and Rebellion that they might have returned from their wickedness and the Lord might have healed their backslidings who often erred and backslided from the true messenger when he hath appeared to convince them of and to draw them from their wickedness and evils Therefore O thou seed of Jacob which hath been scattered and dispersed abroad and oppressed and O thou tabernacle of David and habitation of the righteous arise arise and come forth for thy day is come and thy time
many thousands and this I say before you and before the Gentiles that you eyes might wair upon the Lord God and you may have respâ—ct to the holy One of Israel who is descended and revealed unto and in many of the children of men and hath given gifts unto men yea he hath received gifts even for the Rebellious that the Lord God might dwell among them Psa 68. marke Here is the end of the outward Temple which God departed from here the Lords Temple or Tabernacle is among men and his sacrifices are a broken spirit a brokeâ— and contrite heart and this doth his gift bring many to witnesse who come to feel their hearts prepared and firted for the Lord by his own good spirit or gift which he freely bestowes upon them and this is he whom God hath given for a Covenant who hath ascended and received gifts even for the rehellious this is the Shilo that was promised and this is he unto whom the gathering of the people must be Gen. 49. And this is the Prophet whom God promised unto Moses to raise up whom the people was to hear and whosoever will not hearken unto him shall be cut off for God will even require it of him that will not hearken unto the words of God spoken by him And saith h the Lord God I will give him for a Covenant unto tâ—e people and for a light unto the Gentiles yea for a Leader to be my salvation to the ends of the earth mark this is the true Leader who is the light the everlasting covenant now since that your fathers have broken the first covenant that the Lord God made when he had brought Israel out of Egypt It is expedient for you that you turne your mindes from the outward Temples or Synagogues from the outward offerings and outward things that pertained to the first covenant and looke unto the holy one of Israel who is the salvation of God freely tendred unto you that by him your hearts may be cleansed and you saved from your manifold transgressions and offences and be established on an everlasting foundation least that through your obstinacy and wilfulnesse and rebellion you be found in your fathers iniquities and so perish with them that God destroyed for Israel was as the sand of the Sea in number yet it was but a remnant that were saved or preserved in comparison of the number that were destroyed and had it not been that the Lord of Hosts had left unto Israel a smal remnant they had all been unto the Lord as Sodome and as Gomorrah whom God destroyed read Isa Is and Chapter the 10th and even so it would be with many Nations but that God hath respect unto his heritage the seed whom God will sift from among the Nations and gather into his everlasting covenant that a right vine plant may grow up among them which plant he wil cause to take root and to spring up and bring forth fruit in abundance this is he that cometh out of the stem of Jesse and out of the root of David unto whom the Gentiles shall seek and his rest shall be glorious who shall be for an ensigne of the people and the second time will the Lord set his hand to recover the remnant of his people unto him both out of the Sea Jslands and many far countries and he shall assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the foure corners of the earth Isa 11. mark this is the seeker and saviour of that which was lost unto whom the people must be gathered both of Jews gentiles yea this is the righteous plant upon whom resteth the spirit of wisdome of understanding of might and of the fear of the Lord whom man despiseth and the Nations abhoreth who is a servant of Rulers Thus saith the Lord concerning him Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship because of the Lord that is faithful and the holy One of Israel and he shall chuse thee thus saith the Lord in an acceptable time have I heard thee and in a day of salvation have I helped thee and I will preserve thee and give thee for a covenant to the people to establish the earth to cause to inherit the desolate heritages that thou maist say to the prisoners goe forth and to them that are in darknesse shew your selves they shall feed in the waies and their pastures shall be in all high places they shall not hunger nor thirst neither shall the heat nor Sun smite them for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them even by the springs of water shall he guide them and I will make all my mountaines a way and my high waies shall be exalted behold these shall come from far and loe these from the North and from the West and these from the land of Sinim Read Isa 49. Even this in the North and in several of the Islands of the Sea is come to passe already and believed by many who have been as desolate heritages but now the Redeemer is come who is bringing many out of bondage and out of the prison house of corruption and iniquity wherein many are yet in bondage unto whom this shall be reported and who shall be visited by this Redeemer and Saviour whom God is raising up and hath raised him up in his power and Majesty amongst many in the North Countries whom God hath gathered unto him and who now are led by the River of water which cometh from the everlasting fountain of life and mercies as many in the Island of England do and shall witnesse who were once desolate and as Gentiles by nature that knew not the everlasting covenant of light but now are come into the light and power of God in which God is setting up his holy mountain that his peomay find rest and dwell in safty and shall praise the Lord in the glory of his light and beauty of his holinesse Therefore ye in whom there is some sincerity and some thirsting after holinesse in whom Jacob is not wholly eaten up or destroyed nor his habitation quite desolate and in whom there is some thing of the truth appearing and kindling look ye unto the servant of the Lord the Elect the chosen one in whom his soul delighteth he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles for the spirit of God is upon him A bruised reed shall he not break and the smoking flax shall he not quench he shall bring forth judgement unto truth this is he that is given for a Covenant of the people and for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darknesse out of the prison house his Law the Isles shall wait for Isa 42. and he shall sprinkle many Nations though he be dispised and rejected of men he being a man of sorrowes and acquainted with grief yet he groweth up as a tender plant and
as a root out of a dry ground Isa 53. and the Isles must listen to him and the people must hearken unto him from far for the Lord hath chosen him and made his mouth like a sharp sword in the shadow of his hand hath he hid his chosen one and made him a polished shaft in his quiver Mark how God gives his Elect power to execute Judgement who surely will shoot at the wicked and slay the unrighteous who will not listen nor hearken unto him Therefore yâ— scattered people dread and fear the holy One for it is he that must Reigne though long he hath been dispised and his glory and dominion must reach unto the ends of the Earth over both Jewes and Gentiles for his light is broken forth already among many and the scepter of his Kingdom is held forth and his righteousness must be declared even unto the ends of the earth that he may be known to be the foundation of many generations whom God is raising up among thousands and whom thousands in the Northen Islands of England do already witnesse raised up and take heed how you do resist his government least that the Lord God shoot forth his arrowes and empty his quiver or vials of wrath against you and kill you in his wrath for he hath a bundance of Arrowes reserved to shoot forth against them that do resist his chosen One and would not that he should rule over them nor walk in his light nor suffer it to lead them and they who are so far from knowing his government as they say that his light doth not enlighten the heathens or the Gentiles they are far out of his faith and righteousnesse and there are many such that profess his name in words but are ignorant of his righteousnesse and judgements who will not own that Gods Annointed is a light to the heathen or that the heathen are inlightned by him and such there are many but if it were so how should he inherit the wast and desolate places And how should the Gentiles seek or come unto him from far For the Gentiles shal come unto the Lord from far yea from the ends of the earth and they shall say surely our fathers have inherited lyes vanities and things wherein there is no profit Jer. 16. Now they that seek after the Lord they must first have a feeling after him and that which bringeth any to feel after him is a measure of his life and light who enlightens every man and who worketh in every man to will and giveth him strength to obey him even by his free gift which he hath freely bestowed upon man So that all who come to seek and find him who is the holy one of Israel They must not follow the vanities nor Traditions which their sore-fathers have inherited contrary to the wil and commands of the Lord but every one come to hear obey him marke they are to hear what the Lord speaketh and walke in his light for God himself must reigne and his holy one shall lead and they shall not be as the false prophets in Israel who said thus the Lord said and the burthen of the word of the Lord when the Lord had not spoken unto them for said the true prophet thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour and every one to his brother what hath the Lord answered and what hath he said Jer. 23. Chap. and now the Lord is manifesting his everlasting covenant for behold the daies come saith the Lord that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the dayâ— that I â—ook them by the hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt which my covenant they brake although I was a husband unto them saith the Lord But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those daies saith the Lord I will put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and I will be their God and they shall be my people and they shal teach no more every man his neighbour and every man his brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them even unto the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their iniquitie and I will remember their sin no more Read Isa 54. and Jere. 31. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquities whereby they have sinned against me and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have transgressed against me saith the Lord God Read chap 33. and again I will take you from among the heathen and gather you out of all countries and bring you into your own land then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthinesse and from all your Idols will I cleanse you a new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you an heart of flesh and I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes Read Ezek. the 11 Chap. and Chap. 36. and again saith the Lord I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people and they shall trust in the Name of the Lord the remnant of Israel shall do no iniquity norâ—speak lyes neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth for they shall feed and lie down and none shall make them afraid Zephaniah the 3d chap. Now these things is the Lord God of Israel bringing to passe in these our daies since he hath this second time stretched forth his hand and made bare his holy arme to recover his seed in the Islands of the Sea and in all countries where it hath been scattered and many do already know and feel him who taketh away all iniquity and doth even thorowly refine his heritage who is the teacher of his people himself therefore all they who do not believe that they shall be so taught of God But that they must have need of men to teach them so long as they live in the body they are in darknesse deny the promise of God which his seed that believes in him is a witnesse of And all they that do not believe that any may be washed and thorowly cleansed from all sin and iniquity whilst they live their faith is out of Gods light and they deny his Covenant and so cometh short of adoption because of their unbeliefe and the deceit of their hearts for this is the Covenant which God will gather his people into even the covenant that he made with David who walked wisely before the Lord and with a perfect heart and became wiser then his Teachers when he knew the deliverance and salvation of God towards him and all that believe in the light of the everlasting
Covenant of God they come to be made partakers of the sure mercies of David whose Tabernacle the Lord God is building up among men and restoring the waste places thereof that his seed may be exalted and his Covenant may be injoyed among his people in which Covenant they may witness holiness and purity and life in the countenance of the everlasting Jehovah and the Prince of Peace whom the Kingdom and the government belongs unto and in this Covenant they shall be so spotless that the Lord will not find fault with them as he did with them that brake the first Covenant wch he commanded in Horeb and gave to the Israelites when he had led them out of Egypt which Covenant is put an end to for righteousness by that which never shall have end wherein his people shall be found faultless therefore linger not in death and darkness and go not a whoring after your inventions and take heed of rejecting the message or despising or persecuting the messengers of the everlasting Covenant of God as your fathers of old have done least the iniquities of them that hated Gods Covenant and slew the Prophets be upon you And now is the Lord God of power sending forth messengers to witness forth his everlasting name and Covenant and to direct peoples towards his holy mountain and habitation yea the Lord sends forth messengers from the North Countrey to witness forth his Covenant for his remnants sake and behold he causeth his trumpet to be sounded forth and his voyce to be uttered through his sanctified ones whom he hath chosen to War against Babylon against her that is polluted whose abominations have been long over all the earth therefore blessed is that people and happy is that land that receiveth the Testimony of the everlasting Covenant of God and do open the doors that the righteous that holds the truth may come in and be received among them in the name of the everlasting Jehovah who hath sent them that his Name may be published and may be great even among the Gentiles or heathen from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same as he hath promised Malachi the first Chapter But wo unto them that reject the messengers whom God sendeth forth of the north Countrey and who despise their message and persecutes them or puts any of them to death he Lord God will himself arise like a man of war and will awake and come forth against them to destroy them as a fierce lion that cometh forth of his Thicket to lay hold on the prey for they that truely receive the witnesses that God sendeth forth to direct people into his living way they receive him that sent them and so receives his truth in the love of it but they that reject them they do reject him that sent them and so do refuse the waters of Shilo which run softly and therefore will the Lord bring upon them his fierce indignation as an overflowing scourge that shall sweep away the refuge of lyes and lyars and evil doers into the pit of his indignation therefore O ye scattered people have a regard to Gods Covenant and to his Truth that his Elect seed and heritage may be known among you that there may be a man found among you to make up the breach which hath been between God and you and that he may stand in the gap whom God hath chosen to mediate between him and you and to turn away his wrath from you which hath come upon you because of your Rebellion for thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem break up your fallow ground sow not among thorns circumcise your selves to the Lord and take away the foreskins of your hearts ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Ierusalem least my fury come forth like fire and burn that none can quench it because of the evil of your doings Jer. 14. chapter so be not uncircumcised in heart but let thine ear and thy heart be circumcised and hearken to the words of the holy One who calleth unto the prisoners to come forth and who is come for to relieve the oppressed he saith the Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary and again he saith the spirit of the Lord God is upon me because he hath appointed me to Preach good tydings to the meek he hath sent me to binde up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to the Captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all that mourn Isai 61. chap. Mark whom glad tydings liberty and comfort is Preached unto not to the hard-hearted nor the proud nor the stubborn nor such as are at ease in their inquities which causeth the seed of God to suffer and imprisons the just but to the meek to the prisoner and to him that mourneth hear this thou seed of Jacob and receive consolation O Israel for thy Saviour and Redeemer is come to visit thee according to the promise a deliverer shall come forth of Zion and he shall turn away iniquity from Jacob for unto him the Lord saith I am with thee to save thee though I make a full end of all Nations whether I have scattered thee yet will I not make a full end of thee but I will correct thee in measure and will not leave thee altogether unpunished Jer. 30. therefore come forth come forth O Israel in the light and glory and strength of thy Redeemer and let thy Tabernacle be set up for Nations to come to and let thy tents be set up and increased among the heathen and let them bow to thy Standard and Ensign and inlarge thy dwelling places and thy borders over the desert waste places where thou mayst find a way for thy seed and rivers of living waters may issue forth unto thee for thy thirsty ones to drink at that thou maist be nourished and thy children satisfied in a fruitful land that thou maist possesse a goodly heritage and thy seed shall be known among the Gentiles and thy off-spring among the people and all that see them shall acknowledge them that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed for these are they who walk in the wayes and keep the judgements and obey the commands of the Lord God whom he calleth and Redeemeth and justifieth by his righteousness which he revealeth in them whom he finds out in a day of salvation and whom he gathers in an accepted time who do answer his call in due season and are willing to keep his Covenant and such a seed and a people will the Lord God find out in many Nations where his word shall be heard and unto whom his standard shall be listed up And ye scattered Jewes this know that now as the everlasting Covenant of light and life
is freely given and tendred to all Nations and none are hindered from having a priviledge or interest in it but they who are hindered and kept from it by their iniquities unbelief so you cannot justly challenge an interest in the Covenant because of any outward line or succession you are of since many of your fathers did provoke the Lord God to wrath who were cut off for their grievous abominations whose feed was mixt with the uncircumcised neither can you attain unto this Covenant wherein God presents his seed faultless by all your will-worships and carnal observations pertaining to the first Covenant where neither Priests nor people are without fault so are all short of the promise in the second Covenant which now the Lord God is fulfilling even among many who have been strangers and many of Israel after the flesh did seek after the righteousness of the Law but attained not to it because they sought it not by faith and stumbled at the holy one who is a stumbling stone in Zion and a Rock of offence Psa 118. Isai 28. which if you stumble at and seek after the righteousnes of the law by the works of the law then your expectations will fail you and you 'l be broken to pieces and scattered in Gods wrath and perish among the uncircumcised and Rebellious if you continue in hardness of heart and Rebellion against the Redeemer who comes to turn away iniquity from them that receive him and though many of Israel after the flesh did not or do not attain to the everlasting righteousness in Gods Covenant yet his Covenant shall not be disanulled neither will he fail thereof neither shall his City lie waste nor his habitation desolate for as a City may be builded in a Barren wilderness or desart place and the Elect one may spring up as a root out of a dry ground that groweth up as a tender plant and increaseth till it bring forth precious fruit even so can the Lord God raise up seed unto Iacob who is called Israel from among the heathen and outcasts who have been accounted as the barren places and as the dry ground that doth not bring forth fruit And as that wch was planted a noble vine wholly a right seed did become a degenerate Plant of a strange vine unto the Lord even so can the Lord take plants of a wilde vine and plant them into the true vine that they may receive nourishment from the true root and grow into the nature and become branches of the true vine and said the Prophet David thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it thou preparedst room before it and didst cause it to take deep root and it filled the land Ps 80. and now are the last dayes come and now is the accepted time wherein God is causing the light of Israel to break forth as a flame that shall burn up the stuble and the Bryars and the thorns which the wicked are compared unto and now behold the light appeareth to lead many thousands into the path of life and the way of peace that Israel may now remember his resting place and the people that are weary and deeply loaden under the burthen of their iniquities who does seek unto the holy One of Israel may come to find rest for their souls and in the light of the holy One they may come to learn doctrine who have murmured and they that have Erred in spirit may come to understanding Isa 29. and again it shall come to passe in the last dayes that the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all Nations shall flow unto it and many people shall go and say come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us of his wayes and we will walk in his pathes O house of Jacob come ye and let us walk in the light of the Lord Isai 2. Mich. the fourth chapter Now in these last days is the Lord God bringing this to pass that his holy mountain may be exalted and many may have a true desire to walk and come to walk in the light of the Lord which now he causeth to be Preached and published which Light many do oppose and many hates it and rejects it even many who make a professing of God in words but in practices deny him though they do build themselves up in their own imaginations and sets up their own knowledge but in resisting the light of the Lord these builders do reject the chief corner stone as it is written of them but he that believeth on him shall never be confounded nor ashamed for he shall be counted among the remnant that God hath chosen and gathered according to his promise as he hath promised Therefore behold the dayes come saith the Lord that they shall no more say the Lord liveth which brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt but the Lord liveth which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the North Country and from all Countries whether I had driven them and they shall dwell in their own land Read Ier. 16. and chap. 23. Now this in a great measure hath the Lord fulfilled and hath gathered and is gathering his seed in the North Country and he hath made his Arm and power so far manifest in many there that he hath made them able to War against Babylon who hath long oppressed the seed of Israel but spoilers and men of War cometh forth of the North that shall fight against and spoil Babylon whose weapons are the weapons of indignation which God hath given them to fight withal Isai 13. and Ier. 50. Chapters and the heathen that do resist the spirit and the powerful truth of the Lord who have laid desolate the habitation of Iacob and devoured him they shall dread before the Lord of hostes who goeth before his hoste and overturneth the wicked and casteth out the heathen that his vine may take deep root and spread forth her branches even as far as the Sea and the Lord God is pouring forth his spirit upon all flesh that both Sons and Daughters may prophesie as he hath promised which already is come to passe both among Sons and Daughters Ioel 2. cha therefore O ye dispersed ones consider these things and lay them to heart for the Lord is bringing them surely to passe and he is not slack concerning his promises he that believes them and waits in the light to see them fulfilled shall partake therein and his soul shall live and be satisfied and he shall come to praise the Lord God in his fruitful hill and rejoice in his salvation in the land of the living But they that live in pride and stifneckednesse and hardens their hearts against the counsel of the Lord and
shuts their eyes in their unbeliefe against the light of his countenance and against his promises Surely the Lord will cut them down in his vengeance and fury and they shall be cast out of his sight and become an abhorring unto all flesh and their worme shall never dye their plague shall never cease and the fire that shall scorch and burne them shall never be quenched Consider this ye stif necked ones who make mention of the name of God in words but not in righteousnesse whether you be Jewes or Gentiles you are as degenerate plants of a strange vine that bringeth not forth fruite unto the Lord God Consider the vine tree that groweth up wild in the forrest what is it more then any other tree or then a branch which is among the trees of the forest shall wood be taken thereof to do any work or will men take a pin off it to hang any vessell thereon Behold it is cast into the fire for fuel Eze. 15. Even so wil all they be counted as fuel for the fire who bringeth not forth fruit unto God in righteousnesse how many leaves and blossoms so ever they bring forth or what ever they professe in words they l wither and their glory will fall And the fire of the Lords jealousie and anger will take hold upon them and devour them So feâ—r the Lord God of glory and power and let all flesh dread his name and power and worship him that made heaven and Earth and the Sea and all things that therein is whose worship is in the spirit and in the truth and humble thy selfe before him thou that hast been a stranger and a foreigner who yet art not come to know the Redeemer of Israel but hast been as a sheep without a shepheard seeking rest but couldest find none who hast been wandring upon the mountaines and in the desert places where thou couldest find no satisfaction nor resting place for thy soul Look towards the Sun of Righteousness who doth arise with healing in his wings upon him that feareth the Lord and who putteth forth his beames and giveth light unto such as sit in darknesse and in the land of the shadow of death that they may come forth and receive life walk in his light that his everlasting Salvation may be their reward and this is the everlasting foundation and Rock of refuge to all that truly look unto him for help and Salvation whom I do freely publish both to Jew and Gentiâ—e that whosoever be a thirst may come freely and receive of the water of life which cometh from the rock and is to be drunk of freely and bought without mony and without price and this is the living water which issueth forth from the rock unto the waters to heal them and the waters are the peoples kindreds and Nations which the living water floweth forth unto to heal them glory to our King and keeper who is the Rock of ages whose righteousnesse hath appeared in this our age and time and whose faithfulnesse endures throughout all ages and generations and who is making known his glory and eternal Salvation as in the daies of old his righteousnesse as in former daies to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Let Sion awake and put on strength and let Jerusalem shine forth in her beautiful garments and lie no longer in the dust but be renowned and dignified in beauty and glory instead of sorrowing in dust and ashes Let her that was desolate be glad and let her that was barren bring forth and her seed multiply and the Gentiles shall bring children unto her the Lord shall nourish her little ones and lead gently her that is with young and carry his babes and lambs in his armes Let the barren wildernesse become a fruitful field and the desolate and waste places rejoyce for behold the Lord omnipotent reigneth whose voice soundeth thorow the Earth who is at work in his vine-yard and sendeth forth labourers into his vine-yard fit for his own purpose and reapers to cut downe the tares and fruitlesse plants and to gather his seed from the ends of the earth Let the heathen and all Nations fear dread and tremble at the presence of the God of Jacob for his standard is lifted up and his banner is spread forth and his trumpet he is causing to be heard in the land the day of his appearance is dawned wherein he is gone forth before his army to make war with his enemies to get himselfe a name among them that have not been called by his name and to conquer where his dominion hath not been known that his Kingdom may reach over all the Earth the heavens shall tremble and the earth shall quake and the hills shall melt at the presence of the Lord God of Israel who hath a way in the cloudes and rideth upon the wings of the winde and hath his footsteps in the deep and whose works and wonders are seen in the deep where his trumpet is heard tremble tremble and quake O ye inhabitance of the Earth for the Lord is come to reigne and his anointed shall have the preheminence and Rule the Nations with a Rod of iron the Lord God of power and glory who is the onely wise and infinite God whose presence filleth heaven and earth Heaven is his Throne and earth is his footstool for all these things hath he made and he inhabiteth eternity yet he dwelleth with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones and to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word saith the Lord read Psa 34. Isa 57. ch 66. Certain reasons according to the Scriptures of truth proving that Christ the Messias is come and made manifest and the word that made all things became flesh according as it was prophecied of him by the true Prophets of God formerly that the stumbling-block that lyes in the way of the Jewes or others they may see come out of the stumbling touching Christs coming who do not believe that he is come but looks for his coming as the Jews did when they persecuted him put him to death nigh Jerusalem but did not believe that was he because he came not according to their carnal expectations and now his coming and knowledge is to be felt and in the spirit and glory of his Father as he was known among the Saints who after they had known Christ after the flesh knew him so no more but after the spirit c. 1 Of the conception and birth of Jesus who is called Christ. THere was in the City of Galilee named Nazareth a certain virgin named Mary who was espoused to a just man named Joseph of the house of David this Virgin was found with child of the Holy Ghost or spirit before that Joseph knew her by the
world and through him was more way made for his powerful truth and for the spreading of his fathers name that many more came to believe then ever did in the former ages when they slew and killed the holy Prophets though he was despised by Rulers and rejected of men yet all these things were fore-known of God and were done that the Scriptures were fulfilled Read Isa 35.5 chap. 52.15 Mat 8. and chap. 9. Luke 4. 5. Touching the suffering and death of Christ NOw after the Jewes had long laid wait against Christ but could not put him to death untill his testimony was fulfilled though often they sought to have taken away his life but had not power till his time was come that these things that were written of him might be fulfilled one Judas Iscariot who for a time followed and owned Christ who was numbred among the eleaven other disciples he betrayed Christ sould him into the hands of them that sought to take away his life for 30. pieces of silver Mat. 26.14 Mark 14.10 Luke 22. thus the prophets words were fulfilled He that eateth bread with 〈◊〉 hath lift up his heel against me Psal 41.10 and they weighed for my price 30. pieces of silver and the Lord said unto me Cast it unto the potter Zachariah 11.12 and they bought with this price the potters field cal led the field of blood and Judas the traytor was so smitten for what he had done that he hanged himself there came two false witnesses against Christ and the people did spit in Christs face and buffetted him and others smote him with the palmes of their hands thus came the Prophets words to passe I gave my back to the smiters and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair I hid not my face from shame and spitting Isai 50.6 And the chief Priests and Elders of the people took councel together against Jesus to put him to death Mat. 27. Mar. 15. Luke 22 Joh 18. Psal 2.2 and afterward had him forth unto a place called Golvotha or Caluary nigh unto Jerusalem and they gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall which he did but taste off then they crucified him and thus came the Prophets words to passe they gave me also gall for my meat and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink Ps 79.21 and when they had crucified him they parted his garment casting lots upon them what every man should take and this was according to the Prophets words Ps 22.18 and when Jesus had said I thirst knowing that all things were now accomplished that the Scripture might be fulfilled they filled a spunge with vinegar and put it upon hysop and put it to his mouth and when he had received it he said It is finished or done and he bowed his head and gave up the Ghost Ioh. 19.29 thus he finished his Testimony faithfully through his deep suffering and gave his life into his Fathers hands a ransom for as many as believed in him through whom faith is offered unto all men and moreover he was numbered among transgressors for he suffered on the Crosse between two Malefactours who then suffered on each side of him Isai 53.12 and one Pilate put a Title over Christs head in Latin Greek and Hebrew where he suffered the title was Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews and the souldiers brake the legs of those that were crucified with Christ but did not break his legs and this was according to the Scripture touching the typical Passeover Exod. 12.46 Num. 9.12 Joh. 19. Now when Christ was crucified there was darkness over all the Land from the sixth hour to the ninth hour and behold the vail of the Temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom and the earth did quake and the Rocks rent and the graves were opened and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after his Resurrection and went into the holy City a dappeared unto many of this there are the Testimonies of several and one Joseph who was a Disciple of Jesus took his body and wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid his body in a new Tomb which he had hewen out in a Rock and he rolled a great stone to the door of the Sepulchre and Pilate and the chief Priests and the Pharisees caused the stone of the Sepulchre to be sealed and the Sepulchre to be made sure and a watch to be set least that his Disciples should have stollen the body of Jesus away by night as they said thus was the just pierced afflicted and put to death by them of his own-generation of the Jewes who rejected him in the dayes of his flesh when he witnessed forth the power and the righteousness of his Heavenly Father both in life in works and in doctrine and now the Priests were so envious against him that they would have had him kept in the grave thus the just suffered by the unjust and came unto his own and his own received him not who had gotten the Prophets words which foretold of Christ and had gotten Latin Greek and Hebrew as many of the Priests have now but they set it above the just whom they have pierced and crucified as the false Priests and traytors do now thus the just hath suffered for the unjust and his life is afflicted by the wickedness of people Sixthly Touching the Resurrection and Ascention of Jesus Christ MOreover as Christ prophesied often while he was in the flesh of his suffering and of his resurrection and ascending into glory to the right hand of the Father It came to passe that nigh the first day of the week which was the third day after Jesus was crucified when about the day began to dawn there was a great earthquake and the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven and rolled back the stone from the door of the Sepulchre where Jesus his body was laid and Jesus was raised again from the dead and the Angel smote the keepers with fear whom the chief Priests and the Pharisees had set to watch the Sepulchre where Jesus was laid in so much that the keepers did shake became as dead men And Jesus afterward appeared unto two women and he appeared in a form to some Disciples that then knew him not also he appeared to the eleven Disciples at one time and spoke unto them and he appeared in the midst of his disciples and brethren when thy were assembled and met together in an house where the doors were shut and he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once the greater part of whom was remaining until the Apostle Paul wrote unto the Corinthians 1 Cor. 15. to verifie these things we have certain evidences and Christ himself said after I am risen again I will go before you into Galilee which thing was fulfilled Mat. 26.32 Mar. 14.28 Mat. 28. Mar. 16. Joh. 20.19 As also that this Christ was immediately taken from the
that is the circumcision which is inward known by the spirit and we are the circumcision in Christ who worship God in the spirit and have no confidence in the flesh and who are circumcised outwardly they are bound to keep the whole Law which none of the Jewes could do who had circumcision outwardly but who are of faith are of Abrabraham unto whom the promise was when he was in the uncircumcision or before he was circumcised so that neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new Creature Jer 4.3 Colos 2.11 Rom. 2.25.28 29. Phil. 3.3 1 Cor. 7.19 Gal. 5.2 Ioh. 7.19 Rom. 4.10 4 Of the outward Passover THe Lord God commanded the Passover to be observed in the first Covenant which was a Lambe without blemish a male of the first yeare which was to be roasted with fire and they were not to carry the flesh of it abroad but to eat it with their loines girded and their shoos on their feet and they did strike the blood of this lamb on the posts of the door of the house where they did eat it which was for a token unto them that the Lord seeing it he would not smite them when he smote the Egyptians but his plague did passe over them and did not hurt them that eat the passeover and they kept the feast of it seven daies with unleavened bread But no uncircumcised person might eate of the pasover now the ordinance of the passover was in force untill Christ fulfilled it that night he was betrayed he eate the passover with his disciples Exo. 12. Lev. 23.5 Num. 9.12 and 28.16 Mat. 26. Mark 14.12 Luke 22. In the second Covenant is Christ received and his life made manifest in the Saints and he is our passover who hath offered himselfe a lamb without spot to God having laid down his life for the ransome of many and he is the bread of life and his flesh is meat indeed and his blood is drink indeed which except a man eat and drink he hath no life in him and with him is the Saints feast and solemnity kept of unleavened bread of sincerity and truth having their hearts circumcised and purified unto God by his spirit and the old leaven of iniquity and corruption purged our and the loines of their minds girded up in the spirit and life of Christ which brings to see him the bread of life which came down from God and in this feast must none be partakers but who come to have their minds joyned unto God and their hearts circumcised from unrighteousnesse by his spirit and they who are come to Christ the Saints passover they are kept in remembrance of him and do witnesse him come that they need not observe the taking of outward bread and wine and elementary things to keep them in remembrance of him or to signifie the crucifying of his body and shedding of his blood as many in the world do 6. Io. 3.36 and 5 24. Mat. 20.28 1 Pet. 1.19 Iohn 6.53 1 Cor. 5.7 8. 1 Pet. 1.13 5 Of the outward Sabbaths THe first Covenant priesthood had a command to keep the Sabbath which was the seven daies of the weeks and in the Sabbath to rest from all their labours and works For the Lord rested from his work on the seventh day and was refreshed so that none of the Israelites was to travel nor bear any burthen on the Sabbath day seeing God had sanctified it neither might they gather sticks nor kindle a fire within all their families on the Sabbath daies Moreover they had a command to keep every seventh year for a Sabbath of rest unto the Lord which was called the year of Jubelee wherein every debter was to be freed from his servitude or bondage wherein he had served towards the satisfaction of his Creditors And every creditor was to release the debts owing them and they that had their lands or estates morgaged for debt were to have them released that every man might possesse his own in the year of the Sabbath but the everlasting Sabbath they were not then come to For they had often fightings and war with their enemies who sought to oppresse them Gen. 2.2 Exo. 16.23 and 20.8.11 and 31.15 and 35.2 Levit. 23.3 and 35.3 Num. 15 Deut 5.14 Neh 10.31 Jer. 17.21 Exo. 21.2 and 23.10 11. Levit. 25. Deut. 15.2.12 Jer. 34.14 They who are come into the second Covenant have received Christ who is the Lord of the Sabboth the end of the Sabbaths without for meats and drinks and new Moons holy dayes and Sabbaths were but a shadow of things to come which they who do observe the shadow they neglect the substance even the body of Christ And the Jewes who observed the Sabboths without they accused Christ because he healed the sick on the Sabboth-day and because his disciples had pluckt the eares of Corn on the Sabboth day but these knew not him who was Lord of the Sabboth And the Jews said unto one that had been an Impotent man that Christ had cured on the Sabboth day it is the Sabboth day it is not Lawful for thee to carry thy bed he Answerred them he that made me whole the same said unto me take up thy bed and walk and the Jews sought the more to kill Jesus not onely because he had broken the Sabboth but said also that God was his Father and in Acts 1.12 it is written then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet which is from Jerusalem a Sabboth dayes Journey And according to one Greek translation in the 6 Chap. of Luke next after the 5 vers it is written Jesus seeing a certaine man working on the Sabbath-day said unto him O man if thou didst know indeed what thou dost thou wert happy but if thou knowest not thou art accursed and a transgressor of the Law And the saints who were come to Christ the end of the outward Sabboths they met on the first dayes of the weeks not in observation to the dayes but in obedience to Christ in whom is the everlasting Sabboth of rest remaining where the burthens must not be for the people of God who continue in his Faith and love whereby the rest comes to be obtained And the year or time of release or restauration comes to be witnessed and the Bedemption from under the bondages and the burthens known and the Iniquity which hath caused burthens is there taken away by the Lord of the Sabboth who is the foundation of many Generations who is raised up to him that maketh the Sabboth his delight and doth not his own pleasure nor speaketh his own words on the holy day he shall delight himself in the Lord but unto this Sabbath are all strangers who are following their own pleasures and lusts from whence the Wars and the strifes do arise speaking their own words And none comes to the true rest but they who receive the true light wch brings man to deny his own will
thoughts words and actions and to be given up in the will of the Lord God in singleness to wait upon him to be refreshed in his holy and everlasting day and to know and witness the acceptable year which the Redeemer of Israel hath proclaimed and is come to make manifest and he that is entred into his rest he also hath ceased from his own works as God did from his But all that continue in sin and Rebellion against God and the murmurers and unbelievers are shut out of the true rest Mat. 12.8 Luke 6.5 Col. 2.16 17.23 Mat. 12.1 Mar. 2.23 Luk. 6.1 Joh. 5.9.10.11.18 Joh 20.19 Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.2 Rom. 8.21 Isai 58.13 Heb. 4.10 Rom. 2 8 9. Rev. 21.8 6. Of the brazen serpent that Moses made WHen the people in the time of the first Covenant had murmured against God so that he caused Serpents to come among them and bite them that many of the people died then he caused Moses to make a fiery Serpent of brass which he set upon a pole and behold every man that was bitten with a Serpent if he beheld the brazen Serpent he was cured that he lived but afterward the people idolized this Serpent and it was broken down as the Lord commanded because of their Idolatry Num. 21.6.7.8 2 King 18.4 In the second Covenant is the power of Christ the righteous seed known which bruiseth the Serpents head and taketh away and destroyeth the enmity of the dragon that old Serpent which deceiveth the Nations and this seed giveth power over Serpents that they who are in him may tread upon Scorpions and not be stung and the wicked one cannot touch him that abideth in Christ who is revealed in his people and is the saving health and salvation of his people whose vertue and life hath been manifest of old accompanying the commands of God without which the Israelites could not have been cured when they looked on the Brazen Serpent without which as Moses lifted up the Brazen Serpent in the wilderness so is the Son of man lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life But they who continue in their hardness of heart in impenitency and unbelief they reject the saving health of Christ and must be plagued for their iniquities and their torment will be as the torment of a Scorpion when he striketh a man Gen. 3.15 Isai 27.1 Luke 10.9 1 Joh 5.18 Joh. 3.14 Rev. 9.4.5 7. Of oathes and swearing IN the first Covenant there was oaths and swearing between man and man for the deciding of controversies and they were to perform unto the Lord their oathes and not forswear themselves and men were to fulfill their vowes also which they made unto the Lord and as appears swearing was not used in all cases of controversies nor by both the parties between whom the controversie was but by the party accused or impeached where they had not witnesses to decide the controversie without oaths for at the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established Exod 22.11 Levit. 19.12 Num 30.2 Deut. 6.13 10.20 Num. 35.30 Deut. 17.6 19.15 But Christ Jesus who is the everlasting Covenant of God and the life and fulness of the New Testament said ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time thou shalt not forswear thy self but shalt perform unto the Lord thy oathes But I say unto you swear not at all neither by heaven for it is Gods throne nor by the earth for it is his footstool nor by Jerusalem for it is the City of the great King neither shalt thou swear by the head because thou canst not make one hair white or bâ—ack But let your communication be yea yea and nay nay for whatsoever is more then these cometh of evil And said the Apostle James above all things my Brethren swear nor neither by heaven neither by earth neither by any other oath but let your yea be yea and your nay nay least you fall into condemnation So that all swearers and all swearing is out of Christ and the Apostles doctrine and every one that sweareth shall be cut off and he that transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God and all that professe a love to Christ ought to abide in his doctrine and keep his sayings And they that love Christ are come out of all the strife and the enmity which causeth the controversies and the swearing unto Christ in whom the Godhead dwells and unto whom all power is given over Angels Thrones and Dominions principalities and powers And if Rulers come to the light of Christ in them they will receive wisdom and power to see an end put to the strifes and controversies without swearing either by the mouthes of witnesses or otherwise by diligent inquisition touching the controversies and by true judgement according to the righteous Law of God Mat. 5.34.35.36 37. Jâ—m 5.12 Zech. 5.3 2 Joh. 9. Phil. 2.3 prov 17.14 Mat. 28.18 Col. 1.16.17 Heb. 1.6 chap. 2.5 8. Of the outward anointing of the Priests IN the first Covenant neither Aaron nor his sons the Priests were to Minister before the Lord in the Priests office without being annointed and consecrated And the ointment they were annointed with was the principal of spices composed after the art of Apothecary of pure miâ—he of sweet Cinamon and of sweet Callamous and of sweet Cassia and of oil Olive c. Exod. 30.2 to the 30. verse In the second Covenant God hath a royal Priest and a peculiar people who have received a spiritual and inward anointing from God whereby they are fitted for the Lords service and have dominion over the earth for Christ is their annointing who teacheth them all things that they need noman to teach them which the the outward annointing of Priests was a figure of but none are fitted for the service of God neither are any come to have dominion over sin but who have received the inward unction from the Father of life whereby they become a sweet smelling savour unto God even as a garden of spices knowing the Name of the Lord which is as oyntment powred forth and because of the savour of his good oyntments therefore the virgins love him and a bundle of mirhe is my beloved unto me 1 Pet. 25.9 Rev. 1.6 2 Cor. 1.21 1 Joh. 2.27 Cant. 1.3.13 9. Of the Tithes the Priests received IN the first Covenant the Priests had a command to receive Tythes or the tenths of mens increase onely of their brethren and the people was to give them freely were they more or lefs and the Priests did not take them nor force them from the people by compulsion for the Tythes were the Lords portion And every man was to bring his tenths or the value of them unto a house which the Lord appointed for them to bring the tythes unto wch was the storehouse and the fatherless widowes and strangers was received and relieved out
their hearts and in their minds and his spirit in their inward parts that they are taught of God as he hath promised behold the days come saith the Lord that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah not according to the Covenant that I made with their Fathers in the day wherein I took them by the hand to lead them out of the Land of Aegypt because they continued not in my Covenant c. for this is my Covenant that I will make with the house of Jsrael after those days saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their minds and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a people and they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord but they shall all know me from the least of them even unto the greatest saith the Lord Now this is the Covenant which Christ is the Meditator of And which he makes known and performes with his people who receive his Testimony which is the spirit of prophecy within them and witness his witness his Law and Judgments within and here they feel the mercy seat in the heavenly Tabernacle set open and the Vaile taken from off their hearts and in stead of hardness and stoney hearts he gives them an heart of flesh an heart to know the Lord according to his promise and this was more then many knew while the Tabernacle of mans pitching was standing for what was upheld in that Tabernacle was but a figure or shadow of the heavenly Tabernacle wherein the Lord is heard by all his people and his worship in the spirit is known which his Light leades them to which gives them understanding and causeth their Lamps to burn and fitteth them for the Lord that he makes his abode with them whose foundation stands sure and Tabernacle shall not be removed For it is builded upon the Rock of ages and the Lord hath a pure people to dwell among who are become Inhabitants of his holy City into which he will gather the outcasts of Israel and they shall not say the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord neither shall it come to mind but they shall call Jerusalem the Throne of the Lord. Let him that can receive this Heb. 8. Heb 9. Rev. 21.3 2 Cor. 6.16 Levit. 26.12 Ezek. 37.26 Heb. 8. Jer. 31.32 Rev. 19.10 Ezek. 36.26 Jer. 3.16 17. 11 Of the outward sacrifices and burnt offerings Moreover in the first covenant there was sacrifices burnt offerings commanded of the Lord to be offered by the Priests both for the sins of the Priests and the sins of the people offerings of divers sorts the Bullock the Heifer the Ram and the Goat were sometimes offered and burnt for the sins of ignorance and for the trespass offerings and sometimes a pair of Turtle Doves and two young Pidgeons were offered and for Peace offerings sometimes a Lamb without blemish of the Male of the first year of the dock and this being taken and slain at the door of the Tabernacle the blood of the offering was sprinkled on the Altar and on the people for their Consecration after they had trespassed And the offerings that were made by fire were for a sweet Savour unto God and thereby his command for a time was fulfilled and his wrath appeased but these things did not purifie the people nor the blood of Bulls and Goats nor the Ashes of an Heifer cleanse the people as pertaining to the conscience for as there was dayly offerings made for sin there was dayly a conscience remaining of their sin and almost all things by the Law was purged with blood so all the many offerings and the divers washings and cleansings that were in the first Covenant did neither bring the people into inward cleanness nor to persection as pertaining to their inward state Exod 19.10 18. Levit. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Chap. Num. 15.19.3 4. Heb. 9. But now in the fulness of time according to the promises of God whereon the second Covenant is established God hath made manifest his own begotten Son who hath offered himself a Lamb without fault to God and by his blood he cleanseth them that beleeve in him from all sin and he is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world through faith in his blood which is his life which he hath laid down and revealed in the saints And his righteousness being revealed his power and spirit is felt in the hearts of his people which is as a fire which consumeth the nature of the Bull the nature of the Heifer and the Goat and the Ignorance of the Ram which many are in who are bruitish in their knowledge and as natural bruit beasts then they are like unto the fat Bulls of Bashan and the wild heisers and as the rough Goots that are on the lest hand of God so it is the one offering Christ Jesus who redeemeth out of the brutish and the sensuall state that God is pleased in by which God hath for ever perfected them that are sanctified which could never be done by the offerings which were offered year by year according to the first covenant so the blood of Bulls and Goats and slain Beasts the Lord takes no delight in for the Cattell upon a thousand hills are his but a broken and a contrite spirit is a sacrifice to God and to him he looketh who is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at his word and he that killeth an Ox is as if he slew a man he that sacrificeth a Lamb as if he cut off a Dogs neck and he that offereth a Lamb as if he offered swines blood So these things without became an abhorring to the Lord because of the Abhominations of the people but God in his Son who is the true and undefiled propitiation is forever well pleased for he is a good Savour to his Father and so are all who are made conformable to his Image who are partakers of his Life and Divine nature So in the second priesthood the heavenly Tabernacle is manifest and the life of Christ is felt and shed abroad which sanctifieth his people who being an high Priest of good things to come by a great and more perfect Tabernacle not made with hands that is to say not of this building neither by the blood of Goats and Calves but by his own blood he entred in once into the holy place haveing obtained eternall Redemption for us 1 John 1.7 2 2. Jer. 10.14 Jude 10. 2 Pet. 〈◊〉 12. Heb. 10.4 Psal 50.10 Psal 51.17 Isai 66.3 Heb. 9.11.12 12 Of the Ephod and consecrated garments wch Aaron and the Priests had ANd moreover in the first Covenant there was an Ephod of gold blue and purple and Scarlet and fine twined linen and a robe of the Ephod and about the hem of the robe was put Pomegranates and bells
that their sound might be heard when Aaron went in came forth of the tabernacle and upon the Ephod was put a breast-plate of curious work wherein was the names and the Judgements of the people Israel and these things were made for Aaron that he might do the priests office in the holy place and upon the Mitre was put a plate of gold on Aarons forehead wherein was graved Holiness to the Lord And Aaron his sons had consecrated clothes and holy garments as Coates and Breetches other curious ornaments of fine linen and in these they did the service of the Tabernacle before the Lord in offering sacrifices as God had commanded Aaron who was a Levite and the Levites and no man was to take unto himself that honour but he that was called of God as Aaron was Exod. 39.2 31.10 35.10 28.29.12.33.36.42 verses Heb. 5.4 Now in the second Priesthood which Christ is the Minister and lise and beauty of the adorning is within where the covering is of the spirit and the Armour is of the light of the Lord and their Breast-plate is of righteousness and this the children of light are witnesses of who are come to know Christ their high Priest in whom is witnessed Holiness to the Lord in the life and righteousness of God alone which is more then the words of it without Ingraven in gold or silver and their names are written in the book of the life of the Lamb his seal of righteousness being on their fore heads and this shall never be taken from them whose delight is in Holiness and righteousness without which no man shall see the Lord. And the Saints adorning wherein they serve the Lord is not of divers colors as the adorning of the Priests without was for they are clothed in innocency with the robe and Ephod of righteousness and their garments are washed white by the blood of the Lambe of God who have passed through many tribulations who are clothed in white linen which is the righteousness of the Saints And our high Priest is not heard by a company of carnal Bells neither are the Saints brought to their worship by the sound of carnal Bells as the world and its proprosessors are but by the spirit of truth in the inward parts thereby they are brought to hear the voice of God and to worship him in the spirit and in the truth for it is such that he seeks to worship him but wo is unto them who are covered but not with the spirit of the Lord for they are covered with iniquity Eph. 6. Rev. 5.3 Heb. 12 14 Rev. 7.14 Rev 3 4.5 18 4 4 6 11 7 9 14 9 8 14. Psal 51 6 John 4 Isai 30 1. 13. Of the outward washing of of the Priests ANd moreover Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet with water at the door of the Tabernacle before they offered offerings to the Lord which was his command to them least that they had died Exod. 30.18 19. But now in the second Covenant and royal Priesthood of God the Saints are washed with living water by the living word of life their feet is shod with the preparation of the Gospel which is the power of God and so made beautiful and their hands are washed in innocency that by the power of God many are come and coming to offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord in righteousness that holiness may be known to the Lord in all their wayes within them and without but they whose feet are in the steps and wayes of the ungodly and whose hearts are polluted with unrighteousness and fingers defiled with iniquity cannot offer nor present any sacrifice acceptable to the Lord God but are abominable in all their own righteousness and sin in the best of their performances John 13 3 1 Corinth 6 11. Ephes 5 26. Titus 3.5 Heb. 10.22 Eph. 6 15 Rom. 1 16. Ps 50.23 Isai 1.15 59 3. 14. of meats and drinks and days in the first Priesthood ANd in the first Covenant there was Ordinances made touching meats and drinks as there was also for the keeping of certain dayes holy there were several creatures that were esteemed common and unclean which they might not eat of as the flesh of swine and ravenous birds with several others neither were they to eat the blood of any thing but to keep from blood Levit. 19 26 Deut. 12 22 23. and chap 14. Heb. 9 10. Now in the second Covenant is the holy place and habitation known where there is no curse and purity witnessed in the life and to the pure all things are pure for it was the swinish ravenous cursed nature which the law took hold upon and which the creatures are not clean unto and there were some after Christ was manifest that made their abstaining from some meats a matter of conscience and scrupled the eating of blood as some do at this day and the Apostles for a time suffered some to abstain from blood and things strangled but that is the weak conscience and the defiled minde that scruples meats for Christ bad his eat such things that was set before them And when Peter the Apostle saw the vision of all manner of four footed beasts of the earth and wilde beasts and creeping things and fouls of the Air. And there came a voyce from heaven unto him saying rise Peter kill and eat but Peter said not so Lord for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean and the voice spake unto him again the second time what God hath cleansed that call not thou common And the Apostle Paul said whatsoever is sold in the shambles that eat asking no question for conscience sake and he called them seducing spirits that would forbid to marry and command to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them that believe and know the truth so with the light we see an end put to the first Tabernacle and the gifts and sacrifices that were offered in it which could not make perfect as pertaining to the conscience which stood onely in meats and drinks divers washings and carnall Ordinances imposed on them until the time of Reformation but now Christ being come and revealed in whom is the fulness and sum of all he worketh the Reformation in all them that believe in his light and maketh manifest his Kingdom in his people which stands not in meats nor drinks but in joy and peace in the holy Ghost and so let no man Judge you in meats or in drinks or in respect of an holy day or of the new Moon or of the Sabbath dayes which are as shadowes of things to come but the body is of Christ Rev 22 3. Titus 1 15. Acts 15 19. Rom. 14 14. Luke 10 7 8. Acts 10 10. Acts 11. 1 Cor. 10 25. 1 Tim. 4 3.4 Heb 9 10 Rom. 14.17 Colos 2.16 17. 15. Of the tribe that the
with golden vessels and divers instruments according to the command of God which command was given to Solomons father David who as God had shewed him directed Solomon for the building of it in Jerusalem But now in the everlasting Covenant of God he dwelleth and walketh in his people and their bodies are his Temple and he dwelleth not in Temples made with hands seeing that he giveth to all life and being the heaven of heavens cannot contain him much lesse could the Temple which Solomon built him and so the time is come wherein God is worshipped in spirit and in truth and not at Jerusalem as Christ said for that Temple was but a figure for the time then present of a Temple not made with hands so all that receive the spirit of the Lord walk in it they become a fit habitation for God through the spirit who dwelleth with the contrite with the meek and lowly in heart who are led by his spirit And in the holy City where the Lord makes his people Citizens there is no Temple but the Lord God is the Temple thereof and he is all and in all his Saints so seeing that that form of worship is ceased which was in the Jewes Temple which God commanded and the Lord hath forsaken that Temple much more is that worship and these Temples without to be denyed which God never commanded as the Gentiles Temples and these Temples that are builded by the Papists and in the idolatry which many calls Gods houses or Temples but be not deceived with their vain words who cry the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord who know not the Lord whose dwelling is on high and also in his own people 1 King 6.2 Chro. 28.2 Chro. 3 4. 5. chapters 1 Cor. 3 16.2 Cor. 6.16 1 Cor. 6 19. Acts 7.48 17.24 1 King 8.27 Joh. 4 21 22. Ephes 2 22. Isai 57.15 Psal 34.18 Rev 21 22. Jer. 7.4 19. Of the singing and praising upon outward Instruments which was used in the outward Temple MOreover there was several men of Israel appointed for officers and overseers in the temple that Solomon built and then there was singing songs of praises and praising God with Cymbals psalteries and harps and such instruments used David in his time with Organs other instruments of Musick which was in the time of the first Covenant which stood onely in the figures but they that were officers is in the house of the Lord had portions given them by his institution according to every mans servitude in the house but it was onely the priests of the tribe of Levi that had the Tythes ordered them to dispose of according to the law of God who offered sacrifices and burnt offerings in the house of the Lord 1 Chro. 24. and 15. chapters Psal 150.1 Chro. 9 29. Levit. 6 21 1 Chro. 23 28 29. 2 Chro. 31 19 Ezra 2.62 Nehe. 12.46 Num. 18.26 But that worship without had an end and ceased and the songs of the Temple without was turned into Howling as the Prophets of God foretold and wo was unto them that invented to themselves Instruments of Musick like David for deceit and wicked men are gotten into that Musick which is used on carnal instruments and carnal people to sing in idols temples without as they pretend praises to God when their hearts are filled with unrighteousness singing Davids prayers praises and prophesies complaints lamentations in Rhime and Meeter which the Lord never required of them whose singing will be turned into weeping as theirs was who invented Instruments of Musick like David who were nearer in the form to David then these are now in their singing who now sing Davids conditions but do neither praise God upon the harp nor other instruments as David did so that such worships neither with the spirit nor with understanding For by the spirit of the Lord are many brought to worship God according to his own will who being gathered into God who is the Temple in his holy place they are come to pray to sing and to praise him with the spirit And I saw harpers harping with their harps which are the prayers of the Saints so that he that is led by the Spirit of God with it knows when to pray and how to pray worship according to the mind of the spirit which is acceptable to the Lord but all praying worshipping that's out of the spirit of truth in mens own wills and their own appointed times by carnal observation is neither regarded nor accepted of the Lord and the prayers of the wicked are abomination unto the Lord who often pray but never truely waits for nor receives an answer from the Lord but still remaines in wickedness and sensuality while their minds are estranged from the light and spirit of Christ for want of following and minding his spirit they pine away in their wickedness which dryeth up their souls Amos 8.3 5.23 6.5 Rom. 7.6 Rom. 8.15.26 1 Cor. 14 15. Rev. 5.8 Ps 109.7 Prov. 28.9 Jer. 7.12.14 26.6 20. Of the overthrow and destruction of Solomons Temple and the building it again and its destruction the second time BUt after Solomon had built the Temple Israel forsook the Lord God and defiled his house and served other gods committing Idolatry against the commands of the Lord God in so much that God did with them as he did with them and the Tabernacle in Shilo for he forsook them they were taken captives by Nebuchad-nezzar King of Babylon who destroyed that house which God had commanded and it and all the houses of Jerusalem were burnt with fire and the Israelites were captives in Babylon as the Prophets had prophesied But after this the Temple was builded again according to the command of the God of Israel wch came by his Prophets Haggai and Zechariah unto the Jews and unto Zerubabel and King Cyrus and after unto King Darius who fulfilled the command of the Lord in causing the Temple to be built again and in setting the officers and things pertaining to it in order as the Lord God had commanded And after these things Christ prophesied of the overthrow of the Temple and said there should not be left one stone upon another that should not be thrown down 1 Sam. 4.12 Ps 78.60 2 King 24.2 25.8 Ezra 5.12 Hag. 1.1 Zech. 1.1 Ezra 6. Mat. 24.1 2. Mark 13.1 Luke 19.44 21.5 So now the sum and fulness of all things in the Covenant of life being made manifest which is the Covenant wherein God establisheth his own seed and remnant let all that hunger and thirst after God for their souls health come unto Christ the light the fountain of life and wisdom in whom the treasures of life are set open to them that fear the Lord and wait in his light whose fulness cannot be contained nor comprehend in any carnal or visible things for they are changeable and the earth the things thereof waxeth old and they
imaginations imagining a Christ like themselves and for salvation afar off and Justification afar off and yet they are in their sins and believe not that they shal be otherwise so long as they live upon earth they are strangers to the true Christ and to his righteousness and their minds are from that which Justifieth and comes not to see these things which Christ did in his own person fulfilled in his Kingdom as the Saints did who were translated into the Kingdom of Christ which stood in his power who knew Christ in them and his Kingdom in them and so they whose minds are out from the light who are gazing from it and will not own the coming of Christ within nor a justifying by his righteousness within the cloud of darkness is over them that they cannot see Christ in his power as they who were gazing when Jesus was taken from them they could see no further then the cloud which received him out of their sight but Stephen who was full of the holy Ghost he saw the heaven open and the glory of God and the Son of man on the right hand of God and John who witnessed the light within him and the spirit of God and Christ who is the light the quickening spirit revealed in him he saw the heaven open and they that walked in the light of Christ in them they witnessed his righteousness revealed in them and thereby are Justified from their sins and not in their sins for no further are any sanctified nor justified then they feel themselves made holy and just by Christ in his righteousness in them and no further are they justified by Christ then they are made partakers of the life of Christ in them for Justification is a real work of God in that creature that feels a sanctifying or cleansing from sin so ve that say ye are justified by Christs suffering without you above 1600. years since and yet you continue in sin and would lay all your iniquities upon Christs back you are of them that cause Christ to suffer by your sins and are condemned by his light in you for your sins and know that while you are condemned for your sins you are neither sanctified nor justified for as Christ the just suffered for the unjust and was grieved and burthened by their sins it cometh to passe that the unjust must come under his judgements and wrath for their iniquities they must bear their own burthens and he that denies the light or gift of Christ within to be his leader he hath no share in the death and refurrection of Christ for no further are any justified by Christ then they are brought to live with him in his life which is the light of men and no further are any justified and made free and restored by Christ then they are brought to have a share in the death and resurrection of Christ knowing his spirit in them which raised up Jesus from the dead to quicken their mortal bodies which have been dead in trespasses and sins for Christ rose again for our justification mark he doth not say that though men live in their sins all their life time that they are justified by what Christ suffered so long since without but he rose again for our justification as much as to say he rose again and gave gifts unto us of his spirit and grace which we have in us and so we are justified by his grace for since Christ is risen we have received the Comforter and Christ is in us and he shall abide with us for ever according to his promise Consider these things you blinde guides and professors that say there are two righteousnesses one that sanctifieth another that Justifieth when as the righteousness of Christ is but one who is the righteousness of God and who is made wisdom righteousness Sanctification and Redemption to the Saints who also are justified by Christ which is but one as they are brought to live unto him who gave his life a ransom for many which life is his light the light of men and he dyed for all that as many as live should not live unto them-themselves but unto him who dyed and rose again and they who are dead unto sin are healed by his stripes But they who live to sin are enemies to the Crosse of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation to the true believers and these that are enemies to the Crosse are they by whom Christ suffers and these who diswade people from heeding or following the light within which Christ hath enlightened them withall they are even such as keeps Christ in prison and such watchmen as are blind and ignorant such as they were that watched the Tomb where the body of Jesus laid that he might not rise yea these Priests now are worse then they were then whom the chief Priests hired to lie touching Jesus that people might not believe that he was risen for these were not such hypocrites as these Priests are now for people blindly hires them to Preach Christ now they professe to do it but directs them from the light within so that they are still in death having no part in his life or Resurrection whilst their minds are kept from his life which is the light of men and such Priests were alwaies enemies to Christ and Judas that turned to the Priests betrayed and sold the innocent into the hands of the Priests and murtherers for thirty pieces of silver and with it they bought but one field but these Priests now who teach for hire do make a trade of these Scriptures and sells the Letter of the Scriptures with much money they have thus unjustly gotten many of them have bought many fields or Lands so their wickedness doth in this exceed the wickedness of Judas and them who purchased but one field to bury strangers in and this ground they thus bought was not to live upon but to bury strangers in but these Priests now many of them do live of the earth or fields they purchase with the money they get for their preaching Christ as they pretend and they that crucified Christ they took his garments and parted them and so these coveteous Priests they get Christs words and make a Trade upon them but him they crucifie a fresh through these their horrible crimes and wickedness and so betrayes the just and watches to keep his life in the prison and in the grave for as much as they labour to keep people from following his light within them for they are afraid that it should discover their deceits for the light maketh manifest things that are reproved and the Apostle called the proud and the covetous teachers Traytors 2 Tim. 3.2 3.4 So let these Traytors and all that turn from the life of Christ within to the deceitful Priests without who makes a trade on Christs words and keeps the seed of God in bondage and his life which is the light they watch the graves
to keep it in remember Judas his end how he hanged himself how he thus fell into disparation and remember that the Angel of the Lord smote them that watched to keep Jesus in the grave or tomb that these watchmen were made to shake for fear and became as dead men and these watchmen who thus watch against the light of Christ which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world the Lord God will smite them that they will be made to shake and quake for all their filthy crimes one day though now they despise Quaking and despises him that God regardeth who trembleth at his word And remember that Christ he called them graves that appeared not and painted Sepulchres who had gotten the true Prophets words but were out of the Prophets life in the pride and hypocrifie and may we not call these teachers graves now who profefesse the Scriptures to be their rule but are in the pride coverousness and hypocrisie And let people that follow them and seek for help among them note that they are but seeking the living among the dead and are but seeking life among the graves and whited Sepulchres who have gotten the words of the Scripture but the life lies buryed in them and know that that man that kept among the dead mens tombes or graves was not led by the spirit of truth but was possessed with an unclean spirit and is it not an unclean spirit of error that makes so many people keep among these filthy graves and tombes whose out-side is whited with an empty profeshion but their inside is full of rottennesse and ravening Consider these things vee people and Priests It is written in the book of Iohn that many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples which are not written in this book but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God that believing ye might have life through his Name Iohn 20.30 31. Also it is written that there are also many other things which Jesus did the which if they should be written every one I suppose that even the world it self could not containe the books that should be written Amen Iohn 21.25 Indeed the whole world lieth in wickednesse and are reproved by the spirit of truth because they believe not in Christ whom the Scripture doth testifie of So that If all things that Christ did and spoke were written the world it self could not contain them for they truly do not contain these things that are already written of Christ for as much as they are ignorant of Christ and his light and many hypocrites had the Prophets words that prophesied of Christ but knew not Christ but persecuted him when he came many there are now who are both ignorant of the power of God and of the Scriptures Neverthelesse the example of Christ is known in his light and by his power which he hath left to be walked after and his steps to be followed who did not sin neither was there guile found in his mouth 1 Pet. 2.21 22. which example comes to be followed and fulfiled in the power of God by such as receive Christ and walk in him who is the wisdome of God and the power of God to him be glory for ever and ever Amen The difference between the first and the second Covenants and between the first and the second Priesthoods plainly described And the end of the things abolished discovered according to the scriptures of truth for their sakes who desire to have the vail taken from off their hearts and to see to the end of the figures and shadowes that were under the first Covenant and Priesthood into the life of the everlasting Priesthood And here they may see who deny Christ come in the flesh and who are strangers to the Covenant of life both among the Jewes and the professors of of the world as followeth c. AS the Law was added because of transgression which all men by nature are guilty of who are aliens and strangers to the righteousnesse of the Law being in the degeneration falen in the first man Adam who is of the earth earthly and no man in that state can fulfill the righteous Law of God nor come into the Bighteousness of the Law without the drawings and assistance of God by his Son Christ who lighteth every man that cometh into the world which light doth answer the Righteous Law of God in every man So Christ Jesus is come to fulfill the Law and he is the end of the Law for Righteousnesse and not that men should say or conceit that they are no more under the law when daâ—ly they do transgress the law but for righteousness is Christ come that the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in as many as walk not after the flesh but after the spirit And so none knowes any sure freedome from under the Law but who witness in themselves a sure freedom from under the transgression which the law takes hold of and hath power over the transgressors and many did and may seek to attain unto the righteousnesse of the Law but cannot so long as they believe not in Christ who is come a light into the World that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life and to this righteousnesse of the Law in Christ many have desirâ—d to come but never could so long as they stumbled at Christ the true light and believed not in his Light and in this stâ—te was Israel after the flesh when they had the vail over their hearts and stumbled at the stumbling stone which was Christ so that they câ—uld not see into Christ the everlasting salvation of God and the end of things abolished which none sees while the vail is over their hearts and the shadow or earthly part is standing in them which many shadowes without had a resemblance of and the types and figures without which were in the shadow did signifie a greater thing to come and to be manifest which was Christ the end of the figure Types and shadowes that were upheld in the first Covenant and Priesthood for in him dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead the fulnesse of all things And indeed though the Law had a shadow of heavenly things which are known in Christ yet it had not the very image of the heavenly things much lesse could the heavenly things or the fulnesse of Christ be contained or comprehended in the shadowes for they did but shadow or figure forth the life of the heavenly things which are a misterie for ever sealed and hid from that part which is cloudie and elementarie and earthly by which the Types in the first Covenant were upheld But now is the true light manifest and his Righteousness declared that all men through the light may believe and see Christ the everlasting righteousnesse and the salvation of God by whom all the ends of the earth that do look unto God may