buying and selling of the Earth with the fruits of the Earth This is an Imaginary Art to fetch in content from without and breeds discontent and divides the creation and makes mankinde to imprison enslave and destroy one another These foure imaginary selfish powers are to be shaken to pieces at the resurrection of Christ For these are they that all the time times and dividing of time of the Beasts Raigne put Christ to death And these are they which Christ will destroy by the brightnesse of his comming and by the word of his mouth Therefore woe woe woe to the Inhabitants of the Earth whose delight peace and life lies in and upon objects without them and are strangers to the spirit within them These foure powers are the foure Beasts which Daniel saw rise up out of the Sea Dan. 7.3 c. And this Sea is the bulke and body of mankinde which is that Sea and waters upon which the Spirit of God is said sometimes to move for out of Mankinde arises all that darknesse and Tyranny that oppresses it selfe And though these Beasts appeare divers one from another yet they are all one in their power for Imaginary-selfe ruling in mans heart is the Father that created and bred them all The first Beast which Daniell saw rise up out of the deceived heart of mankinde was like a Lion and had Eagles wings And this is Kingly power which takes the Sword and makes way to rule over others thereby dividing the Creation one part from another setting up the Conqueror to rule making the conquered a slave giving the Earth to some denying the Earth to others And his Eagles wings betokens his swiftnesse to ride on horse back or march on foot quick from place to place conquering and to conquer The Imaginary selfishnesse created this power to burden and oppresse the Creation which was the worke of the righteous Spirit Yet Daniell saw this Beast lifted up from the Earth and made to stand upon the feet like a man and a mans heart was given to it that is This Power should be the Image of true Magistracie and while the Beastly power of selfe-Love rules in the hearts of mankinde this Kingly power should be the preserver of the meeke in spirit and so help the woman And when the time comes for Christ to reigne this Beast shall deliver up his Crowne Scepter Authority and government unto Christ and lay all downe at his feet Rev. 4.9 c. The second Beast was like a Beare And this is the power of the selfish Lawes which is full of covetousnesse and of a Beare-like tearing and devouring nature and he had three ribs in the mouth which are these First the power of Prisons whereby he kills and devoures Secondly the power of whiping banishment and confiscation of goods whereby he kills Thirdly the power of hanging pressing burning martering whereby he kills and devoures much flesh for take these three ribs out of the mouth of the Law or Innes of Court trade and that Beast hath no power but dies The third Beast was like a Leopard spotty and this is the thieving Art of buying and selling the Earth with her fruits one to another Imaginary selfish Covetousnesse created this Beast likewise And this Beast had foure wings Policy Hypocrisie Self-Love and hardnesse of Heart for this Beast is a true self-Lover to get the Earth to himselfe to lock it up in Chests and barnes though others starve for want And this Beast had foure heads that guides him and upholds him in his wayes The first is the power of the sword fighting for it Secondly the power of the Law enslaving others to it Thirdly the power of the covetous Imaginary Clergie preaching it up and drawing the people to wander after him Fourthly the power of a blinde deceived Heart over-awed with feare of men and a conceit that it is a righteous Art And this Beast had dominion to rule The fourth Beast is the Imaginary clergy-Clergy-Power which indeed is Iudas and this is more terrible and dreadfull then the rest and though he come last yet indeed he is the Father that begot the other All these Beasts they differ in shape and yet they agree all in one oppressing power supporting one another one cannot live without another and yet they seeme to persecute one another and if one truly die all dies What is the reason only this they shew hereby that either alone or altogether they are the curse and plague upon the Creation and is the cause of all sorrowes and teares amongst mankinde for they devoure abundantly and yet they rise out of the Sea even from the body of deceived covetous darke powered mankinde in the night time of that world These foure Beasts are all very fruitfull for from them as from foure Fountaines or Monarchs springs up divers heads and hornes that is severall spreadings forth of selfish tyrannicall Power whereby the Creation is opprest and burdened and these reigne in power while propriety rules as King but when righteous community rises which is the blessing then they all fall and are shaken to peeces The Creation will never be in quiet peace till these foure Beasts with all their heads and hornes the variety of their branching powers doe run into the Sea againe and be swallowed up in those waters that is into Mankinde who shall be abundantly inlightned and Light-Life and truth shall mightily overflow as the waters of the Seas over the Earth and all those Beasts with their selfe-will powers shall sinke like mudd to the bottome and their place shall be seene no more These are the heards of swine that must perish in the waters This worke Christ will bring to passe at his more glorious appearance he will consume the mysterie of iniquity by the brightnesse of his comming You Angells of the Lord who are the Lights of the Earth speake aloud roare out and spare not power out the appointed plagues upon the Beast in this her hypocriticall dividing of time These are the foure Beasts or selfish Beastly powers that rise up out of the Sea to oppresse burden and destroy universall Love and there returne back into the Sea will be the rising up of Love who is the Sonne of righteousnesse causing day-light The kingly Power he tooke the sword to kill and conquer and to lift up selfe to be the Ruler for all Lawes of the Nations are Lawes made by the will of this murderer kingly power And this Beast shall be throwne downe by his owne power for out of the Serpents root shall come forth a Cocatrise that shall devoure the body I wonder not to see the Midianites destroy one another He that takes the sword shall perish with the sword This kingly power fighting is the Army of the Midianites Therefore where you see Army against Army It is but the kingly power divided tearing and devouring it selfe for as he riseth by his owne sword so he shall fall by his owne sword as the
Midianites did they sheathed their swords one in anothers bowells while Israell looked on and at last tooke the spoyle So shall kingly power doe in his severall governments by the sword they shall dash one against another Time shall dash against times and times shall dash against the dividing of time and the divisions in the dividing of time shall destroy him till the Creation be cleansed of these plagues and that curse which hath destroyed the Earth shall now in the period of time destroy himselfe And this makes way for Christ the universal Love to take the Kingdome and the dominion of the whole Earth Therefore you souldiers you may see the end oâ— your trade it is a destroyer and shall be destroyeâ— by it selfe and surely you shall finde no true peace herein No no there is no peace and rest but iâ— Christ the Saviour your trade upholds the murderer or the Devill Now the other three Beasts who are Clergy Law and Buying and Selling these rise up by craft supported by the kingly power And the chiefe Beast is the Clergy he bred all the other He is a King understanding darke sayings and he shall by craft deceive many the other Beasts are this Beasts sons he bred them For this teaching Art first bids mankinde to looke abroad for a teacher and a ruler and to look abroad for Justice and content and when he had deceived them so to doe then he put mankinde upon buying and selling of the Earth and her fruits and so by that meanes the Creation is divided and Mankinde is put upon an Art to cheat and burden himselfe for the Earth ought to remaine a standing portion to them and their children successively by the righteous Law of Creation Then this teaching Art found out the Law calling it the Law of Justice a very good name to cover his knavery for he is a mighty Beast with great teeth and is a mighty devourer of men he eates up all that comes within his power for this Proverb is true goe to Law and none shall get but the Lawyer The Law is the Fox poore men are the geesse he pulls of their feathers and feeds upon them These foure Beasts are the Fountaines of Tyranny to the Creation they are of a fruitfull generation one begetting divers Beasts that are of mighty devouring natures But the most dreadfull and terrible Beast is the Clergy Power for though the other three raised him up by action yet this Imaginary learned Beast raised them up by policie for selfe ends For this stamped the other under foot saith Daniell And is not this true hath not the Clergy ruled over kingly Power Law and buying and selling and brought all under his Command for at the first he was onely a teaching Power and then it was a Beast differing from the rest yet he stamped them under foot and all the other had their strength and succour from him by his teaching and imaginary instruction Out of this teaching Beast rise up ten hornes or the branching forth of his strength in ten particulars Five fighting against the powers of the Creation Hearing Seeing Tasting Smelling Feeling which is called the body of the living soule that is very good And five fighting against the powers of righteousnesse which is Vnderstanding Will Affection Joy and Peace which is called the Seed and making war against him and so darking Heaven and Earth This is he that restraines the liberty of the outward man not suffering him to have a free enjoyment of his portion in the Earth making such actions to be sinne which the righteous creating Spirit made not a sinne And he restraines thereby the liberty of the Inward man not suffering him to act in the liberty of himselfe for he makes a man a sinner for a word and so he sweeps the Stars of Heaven downe with his tayle he darkens Heaven and Earth and defiles body and mind For so long as I must not act according to the freedome of my owne spirit and power within me but must be guided by others without me and punished for such actions which others in the ruling Chare doe in a higher nature then I doe I am then in bondage and my eyes are put out And this is the Covenant that the outward teaching power makes with the branches of Mankinde to put out their owne eyes to see by others telling them none can see but schollars so that this fourth Beast is more dreadfull then the other three for it stamps the other three under foot and rules over all And out of the ten hornes of this Beast rise up another little horne and this is the dominion and rule which the teaching power takes up called Ecclesiasticall power and this little horne was raised by a power that was not his owne for the kingly power puts that dominion and rule into his hands While he remained onely a teaching power he stamped the other under him and overawed others by his deceitfull words But now he hath got a power to rule called Ecclesiasticall power which is the extract of selfish righteousnesse from the seeming righteousnesse of the foure Beasts into one ruling power and by this which was little in the beginning There were three of the first hornes plucked up that is Kingly Power Law and buying and selling for the Little horne or ruling Clergie lifted up himselfe above all these and made these uncover and fall to him he had dominion and power over all these and these were in subjection and afraid and bowed to him He by his teaching lifted up these and these by their acting lifted up him to rule and he by his ruling treads these under his proud covetous feet And this is he who is said to be a King of a fierce countenance understanding darke saying that is mighty but not by his owne power and he shall by craft and power destroy many his rising was in the latter dayes when transgressions were come to the full when people were most blinde by his outward teaching then they easily receive him to be the outward ruler over their soules for now the Sea being bemuddied that is mankinde being mightily deceived he by his learned policy riseth up out of that deceived Sea for all the peeple wandered after him though he sore oppressed them Dan. 8.23 Rev. 13.3 And as the sword which is not his power lifted him up and supports him by forcing the people to pay him tithes for the Law of the Magistrate forces the people to pay them And he being lifted up he made war with the Saints and overcame them for a time times and dividing of time But as he was lifted up by others power through his owne craft Even so he shall be destroyed againe without hand the Sword shall not destroy him he shall be discovered in all his oppressing hypocriticall bewitching knavery by the light and wisdome of the Spirit of Truth that shall rise up out of the Sea of mankinde likewise appearing
cast out as stinking imaginary â—ung of false-hearted ones who professes Love in words and in actions deny Love but lifts up the Devill and covetousnesse and bondage If you truly owne Christ you will cheerefully hold forth the restoring spirit in your actions Christ the Anoynting spirit doth not enslave any but comes to set all free he comes not to destroy but to save he comes not to put sackcloath and mourning weeds upon mankinde but to pull them off and to wipe away all teares So long as the Earth is intangled and appropriated into particular hands and kept there by the power of the sword as it is and your profession holds it up so long the Creation lies under bondage And the Devill who is the power of covetousnesse or murderer doth rule and is the God whom you generally professe for you acknowledge Christ in words and the Dragon in your actions and so hypocrisie reignes King in the Earth at this very day But if any of you will truly acknowledge Christ now in the end of your dayes come joyne hands and hearts together and set the Earth free nothing now stands in the way of Englishmen but inward covetousnesse Be not like the Rats and Mise that drawes the treasures of the Earth into your holes to looke upon whil'st your fellow-members to whom it belongs as well as to you by the Law of Creation doe starve for want But you have no warrant from the Law of Righteousnesse so to doe whensoever you lock up the treasure of the Earth and desires more then food and rayment you doe evill When you know the Sonne within as you can talke much of him without then the Sonne will set you free and truly he is comming on a maine to breake downe all your pinfoulds and to lay all open to the Common the rough wayes he will make smooth and crooked wayes strait and levell mountaines and valleys And covetous proud selfe-Love and ruling and teaching hypocrisie shall tye up or restraine his spirit no longer for the voyce is gone out freedome freedome freedome he that hath eares to heare let him heare he that is filthie let him be filthy still till he be cast out as dung and unsavory salt And so I leave this with you as I was commanded and bid you farewell Being a friend to Love wading through the bondage of the world JERRARD WINSTANLY The Matters contained in the following DISCOURSE VVHat the Garden of Eden is Chap. 1. VVhat the tree of Knowledge of good and evill is 2. VVhat the Tree of Life is 3. What the Serpent is 4. What the living Soule Man is that is called very good 5. VVhat the Curse is that doth defile the man 6. What the blessing is that restores him againe 7. What these foure Beasts are whose burdning powers as that bondage which the Creation grones under waiting to be delivered from 8. What are the Time Times and dividing of time in the spirit of Mankinde which man posses through before he sits downe in true rest 9. How man is tempted and when he is said to fall by temptation 10. How Christ was tempted and by whom and how he overcame the tempter 11. What the Kingdome without is which is called the Devills 12. What the Kingdome of Heaven is within which is called Christs Kingdome 13. With divers other testimonies of like Nature FIRE IN THE BUSH The Spirit burning not consuming but purging Mankinde CHAP. I. What the Garden of Eden is THE whole Creation of fire water Earth and Aire and all the varieties of bodies made up thereof is the cloathing of God so that all things that is A substantiall being looked upon in the lump is the fullnesse of him that fills all with himselfe he is in all things and by him all things consist And this God or almighty Ruler is universall Love strength and life And as he begets and brings forth every thing in their degree and kinde so he is the Restorer of all things from that defilement death and sorrow which they fall into and the alone deliverer from the oppressing power preserving every one in peace Therefore he is called the Lord God Almighty for he is the onely and alone living spirit which dwells every where and can doe what he will And of all those bodies that are called Creatures or the clothing of God Mankinde is the chief And because the Father or spirit of all things manifests himselfe in mankinde in life strength and wisdome more then in any other creature therefore mankinde is made the Lord of all And the whole Earth is this The Lords For when all things were produced and appeared very good in the liking and content of the creating spirit The word of Command was to whole mankinde not â—o one or a few single branches of mankinde doe thou take possession over the fish fowle Beast and doe thou till the Earth and doe thou multiplie and fill the Earth And no part or branch of mankind is shut out by him from this imployment For as the great Earth and the inferiour creatures therein are as the Commons Forrests and delights of God in the out Coasts of the Creation Even so Mankind The living Earth is the very Garden of Eden wherein that spirit of Love did walke and delight himselfe principally as being the Head and Lord of all the rest In this Garden are five Rivers Hearing Seeing Tasting Smelling Feeling which we in our age of the world call five Senses And these five water springs doe refresh and preserve the whole Creation both of the out coasts and of the Garden In this Garden Mankind and in every branch of him there is a Tree of knowledge of good and evill called Imagination and the Tree of Life called universall Love or pure knowledge in the power When Mankinde or the living soule feeds upon or delights himselfe in the fruit of that tree of good and evill which is selfish unwarranted and unexperienced Imagination which is his weaknesse and disease then he looses his honour and strength and falls from his dominion Lordship and becomes like the Beasts of the field void of understanding For the Lord of so great and vast a body as the Creation is must know all things cleerely as they be and not by blinde Imagination that leads mankind sometimes astray as well as sometimes in the right way When mankind is guided by Imagination he runs a great hazard upon life and death This power is he that calls good evill and evill good This knowes not the creaâ—â—rg Spirit in inward feeling but does fancie him to be sometimes one thing sometimes another and still dwells in the dark Chamber of uncertainty And while Mankinde eates of this Tree and delights himselfe here he is driven out of the Gaâ—den that is out of himselfe he enjoyes not himselfe he knowes not himselfe he lives without the true God or ruler and is like the Beasts of the field who live upon objects without
them And does not enjoy the Kingdome within himselfe but seekes after a Kingdome and peace without him as the Beasts doe This Imagination is he that fills you with feares doubts troubles evill surmisings and grudges he it is that stirs up warres and divisions he makes you lust after every thing you see or heare of and promises delight to you in the enjoyment as in riches places of Government pleasures societie of strange women and when you have all these which you thinke or imagine to have content in presently troubles follow the heeles thereof and you see your selfe naked and are ashamed So that the selfish imaginary power within you is the power of darknesse The father of lies the deceiver the destroyer and the Serpent that twists about every thing within your selfe and so leads you astray from the right way of life and peace And the whole world of mankinde generally at this day through all the nations of the world is eating of this Tree of knowledge of good and evill and are cast out of themselves and knowe not the poweâ— that rules in them and so are ignorant of their God This is the fulnesse of the Beasts time it is his last period all places persons and things stinke with his imaginary power of darknesse in teaching and ruling therefore it is that fulnesse of time in which the Restorer of all things will come to deliver the Creation from that bondage and curse and draw up all things to live in him who is the true life rest and Light of all things For in the midst of this Garden likewise there is the Tree of Life who is this blessing or restoring power called universall Love or pure knowledge which when mankinde by experience begins to eat thereof or to delight himselfe herein preferring this Kingdome and Law within which is Christ before the Kingdome and Law that lies in objects without which is the devill Then man is drawne up into himselfe againe or new Ierusalem which is the spirit of truth comes downe to Earth to fetch Earth up to live in that life that is a life above objects even to live in the enjoyment of Christ the righteous spirit within himselfe and to tread the earthly life that lies in objects without under foot This is the life that will bring in true community and destroy murdering propriety Now mankinde enters into the garden of Gods rest and lives for ever he enjoyes his Kingdome and the word within himselfe he knowes sinne and sorrow no more for all teares now which blind Imagination brought upon him are wiped away And man is in peace This Tree of Life I say is universall Love which our age calls righteous Conscience or pure Reason or the Seed of life that lies under the clods of Earth which in his time is now rising up to bruise the Serpents head and to cast that imaginary murderer out of the Creation This Seed is he that leads mankinde into Truth making every one to seeke the preservation and peace of others as of themselves This teaches man inwardly to know the nature and necessity of every body and to administer to every body accordingly This was the Father in Jesus Christ who let him see what was in man This was that God-head that dwelt bodily in Christ reconciling the world to himselfe and so making peace when this almighty power of Life rules King of righteousnesse within then Satan or outward objects shall finde nothing in you to close with him when he tempâ—s This is the Kingdome of Heaven within and the white stone with the new name written therein which no man knowes the glory beauty life peace and largenesse of but they which have it This power is not a selfe-Lover But the universall Lover This will have all saved that is will have all live in peace and rest This Tree of life is full of humility sincerity patience tendernesse moderation Reason Wisdome Truth Righteousnesse Chastitâ—e Joy Peace Liberty yea full of the well springs of sweet life This is the blessing of Abraham the promised Seed that remaines within as a servant for a time times and dividing of time then he is to arise and cast out the Dragon and to purge out that drossie imaginary power that is crept in to defile the Creation And so properly he is called the restorer Saviour Redeemer yea and the true and faithfull Leveller And when this tree of Life is fed upon and delighted in by the five Sences which is the Creation Mankind or the living Soule Then these five Rivers are called pure Rivers of the waters of life for the life of truth and peace is in them and they are the sweet conveyers of the waters or breathings of life from one to another through the whole body and so bringing all into a onenes to be of one heart and one minde And there is but one God and King in all and among all who is Michael our Prince of peace And the whole Creation now will laugh in righteousnesse for there will be no murmuring or complaining heard in all the mountaine of the Lord For this I can say when this tree of Life begins to rule within a particular heart he casts out sorrow feares inward presssures he subdues muttering surmising heart rising he kills Envie pride vaine-glory uncleane lust in one word he casts the wicked man out and takes possession of his owne house and Temple himselfe The heart and sets it downe in peace so that the hâ—art shall sit singing where are all my enemies become they are sunk they are gone as if I never had any All bondage within is gone sighing and sorrowing is done away my heart now indeed is a Land of Righteousnesse full of life light and fruit of peace and truth Hallelujah praise honour and glory to him that sâ—ts upon the throne and to the Lambe for evermore And as there is this change and alteration wrought within a particular body and all the power Authority and government of Imagination is plucked up and cast out and a New Kingdome wherein dwels righteousnesse is set up Even so as this restoring spirit spreads himselfe in variety of bodies and he will spread for he is the vine teachâ—ng and ruling every one till at leâ—g â—â—â—e whole creation is brought into the unity of himâ—â—â—fâ— so that That saying is fulfilled you shâ—ll be aâ—l taught of God and I will be your God I tâ—e one spirit of Love and you the whole body of mankinde shall be my people Then that great reformation and restauration spoken of shall be made manifest in the Nations of the world then those pluckings up shakings downe tearing to pieces of all rule power and Authority shal be known what it is that so Christ alone may be exalted in that day of his power For now Mankinde every where shall be made to speake and act purely according to the life and necessity of every body and every businesse and keep his dominion and Lordship
in sonnes and daughters of righteousnesse in the latter dayes As Paul said Christ shall destroy him by the word of his mouth and by the brightnesse of his comming Dan. 7.26 c. 2. Thess. 2.8 When Christ the Anoynting spirit rises up and inlightens mankind then in his light they shall see the deceit and falshood of this Beast that hath deceived all the world and shall fall off from him and leave him naked and bare and if he will teach and rule let him shew his power over the Beasts for the people will all looke up to God to be taught and governed by him The discovery of the fulnesse and foulnesse of this Beast throwes downe all the rest likewise for when mankinde begins to fall off from one part of the beastly power he will fall from all for they all depend one upon another Kingly power depends upon the Law and upon buying and selling and these three depend upon the Clergy to bewitch the people to conforme and all of them depend upon Kingly power by his force to compell subjection from those that will not be bewitched But when mankinde once sees that his teacher and ruler is within him then what need is there of a teacher and ruler without they will easily cast off their burden Therefore woe woe woe to the Inhabitants of the Earth when Christ rises in power and bâ—gins to come in glory with his aints This discovery is coming on apace Therefore you Souldiers and you great Powâ—rs of the Earth you need not feare that the Levellers will conquer you by the sword I doe not meane the fighting Levellers for they be your selves but I meane Christ levelling who fights agaâ—nst you by the sword of Love patience and truth for whosoever takes the Iron sword to fight against you are your owne sonnes that fights against you â—oâ— Christ came not to destroy but to save But Antichrist whose power you are came not to save but to destroy Therefore if there be any amongst you that count truth and peace precious take the Spirits advice and come out of Babylon dwell no longer in the Courts and wayes of Imaginarie confusion come into truth Light and Liberty and be at pâ—ace When Christ comes and is glorified with thousand thousands attending upon him they shall not be cloathed with devouring instruments like Dragons bâ—t be cloathed with Love Righteousnesse and Peace like Lambs And at his appearing said Daniell the Beast was slaine and his body given to the burning flame that is all the Imaginary selfish Power that made people run abroad for a Teacher and a Ruler was all cast into the fire of pure Light and was consumed in that unquenchable flame Even destroyed by the brightnesse of Christs comming as darknesse vanisheth when Light comes in Dan. 7.11 He that hath Eares to heare Let him heare what the Spirit speaks CHAP. IV. What the Serpent is IF this be true It will destroy all government and all our Ministry and religion I answer it is very true for all government and Ministry that is lifted up by Imagination is to be throwne downe and plucked up That Christ alone may be exalted in the day of his power And you have Scripture for it Then cometh the end when he shall have delivered up the Kingdome to God even the Father when he shall have put downe all rule and all Authoritie and all power for he must reigne till he hath put all enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 15.24 Looke back into Ages past and see what overturnings and pluckings up there hath been of the Authority power and government of Nations Every government standing his period for when it was universally proved a Devill a destroyer and waster then it was throne downe And this casting downe plucking up and wars in the Nations shall be till Christ The Law of universall Love comes to reigne and then he shall settle all in peace and be the true restorer You oppressing powers of the world who think God hath blessed you because you sit downe in that Chaire of Govâ—rnment out of which the former Tyrants are gone Doe you remember this your overturning overturning overturning is come on to you as well as to your fellow break-promises that are gone before You that pretend to be saviours of the people and to seeke the peace of the whole Nation and yet serve your selves upon the peoples ruines not regarding the crie of the poore surâ—ly you must have your overturnings too For such a Government as preserves part and destroyes another part of the Creation is not the power of Christ but of Antichrist That Government that gives liberty to the Gentry to have all the Earth and shuts out the poore Commoners from enjoying any part ruling by the tyrannicall Law of Conquest over brethren this is the Government of imaginarie selfe-seeking Antichrist And every plant which my heavenly Fathâ—r hath not planted shall be rooted out This man will have nâ— government some will say I answer you run too fast True Government is that I long for to see I waite till the power Authority and government of the King of righteousnesse rule over all for as yet the power and dominion of the Prince of darknesse rules every where and that is the government which must be throwne down But government is called Magistracy and all Magistracie is of God I Answer Magistracie is a good name and the mystery of iniquity hath not only got this name but many other excellent names to be set upon the head of his blacknes of darknesse that under a good name he may goe undiscovered and he puts bad names upon things that are excellent Therefore let us see whether Imaginary government that divides part of mankinde to enjoy the Earth and the other part not to enjoy the Earth is worthy of the name Magistracie No no such a dividing selfe loving power is an enemie to Magistracie For Magistracie hath two excellent principles in his nature which the darke selfish government is an enemy to First Magistracie signifies a great Light as much as to say greater Light of Love greater Light of Humility greater Light of Reason greater Light of Truth keeping promise and covenant greater Light of Peace and tendernesse of heart greater Light of boldnesse in a cause that is universally righteous And where this power Authority and government rules this is pure Magistracie and it is the Life and power of Christ Secondly Magistracie signifies the greatest Band â—hat ties the Creation together in pâ—ace and this band is universall Love for this Love streames out to preserve all and deâ—pisâ—s none This is the unitie of the Spirit and the band of pâ—acâ— this is purâ— Majâ—stie indeed that â—ies peoplâ— tâ—gether in Love And this is the power Authoritie and government of Christ The love of Christ in us constraines all men to doe his will Now lâ—oke and see is the Magistracie of the Nations likâ— this Is it a light of pure excellency
â—riends and riches to follow me so that Covetousnesse doth not reigne Imagination doth not fright you with what shall we eate and what shall we drinke and wherewith shall be cloathed hereafter As they they themselves said Mâ—ster we have forsaken all to follow thee and what shall wee have c So that here is no subtlety but downe right simplicity without guile and these are like wax prepared for any stamp But now Judas the twelfth man was a Devill he was defiled and falne by temptation that is he was one that followed Christ for selfe ends not simply like most preachers and covetous bitter hearted Professors that will covenant before hand what they must have before they follâ—w Christ And when they heare they must part with all to follow Christ then they are sorrowfull This is Iudas a Devill the power of covetousnesse the curse that hath defiled mankind and he strives to spread himselfe that he may defile all But Christ who is the blessing appeares to destroy this curse And when plaine hearted Peter told Christ that though all forsooke him yet he would not alas saith Christ Peter thou art plaine hearted and thou know'st not the wiles of the tempter thou wilt be overcome and made to denie me I know thy strength for I that am the light and life of the world doe not yet live in thee Thou art a downe right living Soule a plaine innocent harmelesse man but thou art not yet Anoynted nor cannot be till I be gone from you And then I le send you the comforter that shall lead you into all truth and abide with you for ever Therefore when I am taken from you stay you quiet at Ierusalem till you receive power from on high which is the Fathers promise to you and that power ruling in you shall keep you from being overcome by temptation And you see Peters strength proved weaknesse though there was simple hearted innocencie in Peter's love to Christ's body yet his love was changeable for when the tryall came Peter denyed Christ And this plaine heartednesse is the first time of the Beast or selfe which is full of peace while a man is in it but it is a state like wax flexible and easie to take any impression Therefore the two powers of Light and Darknesse Christ and the Devill strives who shall rule in this living soule first And these two powers are Iacob and Esau flesh and spirit strugling within the wombe of the living Earth who shall rule first And darknesse first prevailes and rules within enslaves and causes sorrow and through his deceit drawes the man to seeke content in objects without But then followes Christ the restoring power and delivers the living soule againe from that bondage and sets him downe in himselfe which is the rest and strength of Love unchangeable who doth cast out all feare Now while the darke power rules the man is as Iudas a Devill a betrayer of Christ therefore when Christ begins to redeeme he kills that darknesse and brings mankinde back to that plaine hearted estate of simplicitie in which the Devill found the man when he deceived him and makes him meeke humble flexible loving plaine hearted without guile free from Envie like the state of a little child Except a man be borne againe and become as a little child he cannot enter into heaven that is into peace The power of the Devill must first be cast out before Christ will appeare to sit downe in rest This plaine hearted estate is that which Paul spake of A man must first become a foole that he he may be wise that is voide of guile or hypocriticall deceit which the power of darknesse is full of and these are the foolish things of the world whereby God will destroy the imaginary wise This plaine heartednesse without envie or guile is the Virgine-state of Mankinde And this Virgine is she that must beare a sonne and call his name Emanuell God with us This chaste Virgine-state that hath no outward Lover and that is not defiled but cleansed from deformity is this Virgine chaste state in whom the Sonne of righteousnesse will arise and take the man into union with himselfe he rules as King and Mankinde the living soule is freely subject with delight So that this Innocencie or plaine heartednesse in man was not an estate 6000. yeare agoe onely But every branch of mankinde passes through it c. first is defiled by imaginary covetousnesse and thereby is made a Devill and then he is delivered from that darknesse by Christ the restorer and by him made one with the Father and the Son In one word then the innocencie of mankinde which is the Image of God is plaine heartednesse without guile quiet patient chast loving without envy yet through weaknesse is flexible and open to temptation and change This is the living soule which God breathed the breath of life into This is the Garden of Eden it is the spirits house or mansion and in the body of Mankinde the spirit hath many mansions or dwelling places this is the field or heaven wherein Michaell and the Dragon fights the great battell of God Almighty Many men live in their innocencie longer then others some are tempted sooner then others but all must be tempted and tried by the evill one that so way may be made for Christ to shew his power for the Office of Christ the blessing is to restore and deliver from death and bondage and to set man downe in life and unchangeable rest Therefore temptations and falling from innocency must be that so man may be drawne up into the life and strength of the righteous God or ruler from whom he shall never fall again this is the mysterie of God God manifest in the flesh or righteousnesse ruling King in man So that this innocent estate is the Image of God but not the strength and life of God It is wise but not wisdome it selfe it is just but not justice it is loving but not Love it selfe It rejoyces but it is not Joy it selfe It is patient but not Patience it selfe It is chaste yet not Chastity It is plaine hearted without guile yet not sincerity it selfe It is filled with rest and peace while he injoyes himselfe within and doth not make a league with Satan or outward objects for then he falls and meets with sorrow Therefore he is said to be made in the Image of God because this Innocencie is an estate very good and there is no evill in it yet it is changeable subject to be overcome by temptation But now God or the righteous spirit is unchangeable for he is Wisdome Justice Love Patience Sincerity Chastity Joy and Peace it selfe nor cannot be overcome by any temptation And this is the mysterie and wisdome of God to let that innocent nature of man fall and be defiled by his owne invention that so he may declare his power in redeeming him from that defilement and in taking him up
his company As there are time times and dividing of times alloted to the reigne of the Beast in outward Government which is first the power of Magistracie medling with matters of Conscience in restraining or punishing before the universall Bishop was raised this is the first time Then the time of universall Bishop till reformed Episcopacy came in this is the second time Then the time of reformed Episcopacie till the variety of Independant and Presbyterian Churches or State-Government came in is the third time and these two latter are called times And now England is under the dividing of time and it is a fore-runner to the rest of the Nations and this is the Image of the Beast and this is the variety of Churches and differences in Relâ—gion that is amongst men every one pleading his priviledge or else it is called the dividing of time in regard the Government of the Land is taken out of the hands of one man and put into the hands of many this is the dividing of time or the halfe day of the Beast in respect of outward government Even so there are time times and dividing of time within the heart of man which is the occasion of that outward division of times The first time is the state of simple plaine heartednesse or Innocencie when the five Sences acts in their owne light which is the pure light of a Beast but knowes not the power of the Seed or of the creating spirit but is a stranger to the spirit and yet this state is the Image of the spirit for this is wise and loving and just but not Wisdome Love and Justice it selfe and being tempted it breaks out into folly envie and unjustice and this is the first time of the Beasts reigne within a man Then the pleasure of sinne enters or a league is made betweene that living Earth and outward objects and the man being deceived lookes altogether without him for good for pleasure and for content and followes all the pleasures of his five Sences with greedinesse and here he would be a ruler and some body over others and in this estate man doth what he will and his heart never smites him for it he can lie and cheat and whore and oppresse others and thinks all is good for nothing troubles him this is the state of prodigality or presumption And this is Esau the hairy mans Kingdome And this is the first step of his fall eating the Aple Then there followes a time of trouble of minde arising for that pleasure of selfe-seeking delight and this is called trouble for mispent time whereby he meets with many rubs in his good name in his health of body and in his outward livelihood amongst fellow-creatures and now he begins to rebate of his wildnesse and follow and the Beast or sensitive power begins to be a little tamer and more moderate yet Covetousnesse that Beast reignes still and that with more force within yet this is a cooler time of the day then the former was for he begins to consider what he doth yet here is no rest and this is the third time and so these two latter degrees makes times this is the second step of his fall Then comes in the dividing of time within a man and this is when the Law in the members fights against the Law of the minde when a man sees his folly and the bondage of his nature he sees himselfe a prisoner to his Lusts and this light in him strives against darknesse in him he sees Pride striveing against Humility Envy against Love contentednesse against anger uncleannesse of flesh against chastity sorrow against comfort and so cries out Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from this body of death or bondage to which I am â— slave this is the third step of mans darknesse Well this is the dividing of time within thee this 〈◊〉 the time of the battell within thee between Michaell the Prince of Peace and the red Dragon the selfish imaginary covetous murdering power there is no quiet rest in this estate neither nay this dividing of time is the sharpest and hottest time And now one step further in the first degree of time and then the man enters into rest And this is when the Seed or blessing in thee kills that Serpent and casts him out and takes possession of thee and rules in righteousnesse in thee for now all enemies are subdued under the Anoyntings feet and he now delivers up the Kingdome to his Father who is the one spirit of righteousnesse and peace in whom there is no sorrow And this God or Almighty ruler becomes all in all the alone King in that living Soule or Earth or the five living Sences Now this spirit of freedome being rising up in some already in part assures the Creation and gives those bodies as pledges that he will rise up in the whole and restore all mankinde to himselfe And thus those three particulars in mankinde is considered first the pure creation of the Living soule the single life of the five Sences which is called the Earth Oh Earth Earth Earth c. Secondly the curse that hath taken mankinde or this living Earth prisoner and this is the power of darknesse called sinne or bondage and this is called likewise flesh or carnall man If you by the Spirit mortisie the deeds of the flesh you shall live Now the created flesh is not to be mortified or killed by us but preserved therefore the curse therein is called flesh and deeds of the flesh because it is a meere selfish power that would have ease and honour and would be counted a God and would rule over all to the enslaving of all to himselfe this is the reprobate that shall have no peace for all peace shall be taken from this flesh Thirdly the blessing who is the seed of Life or Christ the righteous and rationall spirit arising up to rule and treading unreasonablenesse under his feet this is the restorer or Saviour of the captived or the imprisoned Earth which sets mankinde free from bondage within himselfe And when this power riseth up to rule he doth not rule to enslave others to him by the murthering sword but he drawes all men in Love to him and the union and communion of Love by him is established in and among the Creation And thus you see there are time times and dividing of time within the heart and though you become to the dividing of time yet you are not come to the Mount of God to true rest till dividing of time run his course likewise But yet here is great comfort to burdened soules that lies groning under the darknesse of this divideing of time within them and that are mightily opprest by men that rules in darknesse and oppression over them To you I say rejoyce your Redeemer is come he rides upon the clouds and he will speedily appeare for your deliverance as he hath done for some of your brethren already who