of the raign of King Nabuchodonosor there raigned a King over them which was not of Babylon named Darius coming from Media and Persia. 6. Darius signifieth unto us seeking or searching Media one which hath abundance Persia one which is parting sepâ—rating one from another or unsnaring 7. Under the might of this King Darius of Media and Persia it was licenced the Jews to build again the City of Ierusalem and the Temple of the Lord whereof Aggeus and Zacharias prophesied and moved or exhorted the people thereunto Which building of the City of Ierusalem and of the temple of the Lord. Ezechiel doth also cleerly describe or figure forth 8. Aggeus signifieth unto us beautiful or glorious Zacharias the remembrance of the Lord Ezechiel one whch seaeth God and also a taking hold of God 9. IN this time of Darius king of Media and Persia according to the Prophesie of Aggeus Zacharias and Ezechiel was the City of Ierusalem in all respects as she was before and the House of the Lord with the Vessels of Silver and Gold and all its ornaments like as Salomon had builded and garnished the same set again each thing in its old place All which was builded and accomplished by Zorababel a Prince in Iuda of the house of David and by Iosua an high Priest of the Tribe of Aaron 10. Zorobabel signifieth unto us One that hath not bâ—wrapped himself in the Commixture or that is without Tangling Iosua signifieth unto us a Saviour 11. From this time forth that Ierusalem was inhabited again of the Jews the Temple of the Lord consecrated by the Priests so was also like as Moses had ordained the same and as there was witnessed and figured forth in the Letter the Law and services of the Priests and Levites very diligently observed But all this came to pass under the might and dominion of the heathenish kings 12. And the Jews with their God-service obtained in process of time so wide room among the Heathen that certain of the heathenish kings and people esteemed the God-service of the Jews to be a true God-service and they came unto Ierusalem to worship and offer unto the highest God And certain of the heathen did let themselves also be circumcised and became proselytes or fellow companions in religion unto the Jews 13. In such sort was the Law of Moses with the ordinance of the Priests and Prophets so much as the Scripture mentioned thereof read daylie more and more with diligence and ferventness for to observe according to the Scripture in most perfect manner all what Moses had commanded 14. Through this same zeal or diligence which was used hereunto wherethrough the figurative services were in most gorgeous manner furthered or required and for to be observed set forth before the people many people were therein captived so that they supposed that the figurative services were were the very self true God-services and that God was to be reconciled therewith and marked not God's counsel or will because they respected not the cleerness of the very true Being whereof the images and figures gave their shadows wherethrough also they understood not the mysterie of those same For that cause they were yet bondmen and servants of the Lord which were yet bound unto the same services and not as children of God made free through the Truth 15. Whilst now that they were yet servants and not made free through the light of the truth so knew they not likewise the truth nor the mind or will of their Lord neither what the Lord did or would accomplish For a servant knoweth not what his Lord hath in mind neither what he will do or leave undone 16. But unto his Son which sitteth with him upon his seat and raigneth with him in wisdom and righteousness he openeth all the secret counsel of his heart 17. These forementioned imagelike or figurative services remained and stood a long time in their Garnishing and great estimation by which the Lord had always a seed out of Aaron which went daily in the same services before the people for to minister in the holy and entered once in the year when the service had ended his course into the most holy and even so out of the most holy sanctified it all with the bloud of the testament to the forgiving of their sins 18. Which services witnessed and shewed unto them in figures and in secret words or parables the very true and spiritual services which should in the times to come be administred through the spiritual and heavenly Goods in the face of the Lord nameâ—◠〈◊〉 the â—aked or uncovered clearness of Christ in the Spirit that is in the inwardness of the believing men and that the same spiritual and heavenly services should then also in like manner be seen and known in all their cleerness and the promises of God the Father in all blessing accomplished and fulfilled according to the Scripture 19. Hereout we have easily to perceive who are the ministers of the services and Scriptures who stand yet captived under the letter and which are the right believers and disciples of Christ that as faithful servants of the Lord pass or wade through the servitude of the service and Letter and obediently fulfil the same and so become born again to children of God 20. What we had here more to say of the right stock of Iuda or of the Jews or of their servitude under the Law of their freedom of their to coming dominion and whereto to the figurative services do serve and when or wherein they cease or with whom they have ended their service as also with whom they are yet needful and necessary is declared in the Glass of Righteousness The XVII Chapter THis figurative service had in his state and ministration according to the ordinance of Aaron as Moses had commanded the same in all garnishing according as the Scripture maketh mention the foregoing in fruiâ—fulness until Iohn the Baptist. 2. For the genealogie of Aaron the Priest out of the seed of Levi had his description from the procreating of the Priesthood until Zacharias and Elisabeth his wife of whom Iohn the Baptist the true fore-goer was born which declareth himself not in figures but in the spirit and power of God and goeth before the face of God for to bring in his service all things again into their right state or form 3. According to the same manner after the genealogie of the kingly seed hath the kingly seed of David out of the tribe of Iuda his procreation till unto Ioseph and the Virgin Mary his wife of whom Iesus Christ which is the true king of the Jews the true seed of David after the flesh and after the spirit the true Son of God and God's everlasting light liâ—e and cleerness the true Spirit of the godly glory and the lovely Being of the uncovered Face of
then did Iosue circumcise again all the males And the children of Israel took in with forcible hand all the whole land 2. And thus in process of time they brought the people in sujection and had many battels against their enemies until David the king of the Tribe of Iudah which vanquished and subdued in battel the enemies of Israel and of the Lord with all his own enemies wherethrough his son Salomon inherited the Kingdom of Israel in peace sate upon the seat of David his Father and ruled the whole land and the people of Israel through the Godly wisdom peaceably and judged them uprightly 3. This David was exceedingly beloved of the Lord in such wise that the Lord said that he had found a man according to his own heart And the Lord nameth him also in certain places of the Scripture my servant David the which signifieth unto us my service which is lovely 4. BEhold this righteous plant of David hath the God of heaven raised up by us now in the last time like as the Lord promised the same according to the Scriptures and hath ordained him in this day of his love to be a ruler which shall govern wisely He shall set up judgement and Righteousness again upon earth that Iuda may now in this time be hopen and Israel dwel undismayed or without fear For his seed shall stand from henceforth before the Lord and sit upon the seat of David for evermore like as there is written thereof 5. Behold this covenant hath the Lord made thus in times past with his servant David and sworn to keep the same with him for evermore 6. But now when as Salomon which is the right seed of his Father David hath inheriâ—ed in peace the Kingdom of Israel and the seat of David his Father so builded he at the same time an house or temple within Ierusalem unto the name of the Lord and also an house for himself which was the house of Salomon and all lands and people humbled them under Salomon and his godly wisdom 7. Salomon signifieth unto us peaceable or one which is rich of peace Ierusalem signifieth unto us a vision of peace or of perfâ—ction 8. O Ye dearly beloved consider here the Mysterie of the works of God and the providence of his unsearchable wisdom and behold in the Jmages and figures what they shew forth unto us 9. Verily they will now in this day of love express some singular thing unto us and declare in this last time a great mysterie For in this day they make known unto us that it all which they signifie or whereof they give their cleerness shall now in this last time be erected according to the true being and fulfilled or accomplished according to the heavenly truth 10. But in all this former beauty and in the garnishing of the images and figures wherewith the Lord trained or informed he children of Israel that they might thereout know or understand the very true so served they at that time not the very true which God required out of the imagelike or figurative services but they served the images and figures and were subject to the service of the Levitical Priesthood after the order of Aaron Which service increased alwaies in glory to the multiplying and greater respecting of the righteousness 11. NOw after that Salomon was fallen asleep and buried with his Fathers so rented then the Kingdom of the children of Israel into two parts and ten Tribes of Israel fell away from the house of David and chose unto themselves another king named Ieroboam which name signifieth unto us an assaulting or a tempting of the People 12. Through this king which reigned over the ten Tribes of Israel they departed away from Ierusalem from the Temple of Salomon and from the services of the Priests after the order of Aaron and set up for themselves services and images at Beth-el and Dan and so brought the holy places into desolation They instituted Priests also which were not of the Tribe of Levi out of Aaron wherewith they observed the services falsly and did that which displeased the Lord and were for that cause at the last vanquished by the king Salmanaser which came from Assyria and by him led away out of the land and are yet estranged from the same even unto this same day in which the Lord will presently bring them again to their heritage and to the house of David 13. Beth-el signifieth unto us the house of God and Dan the judgement 〈◊〉 coming from Assyria signifieth unto uâ— a peace bound or knit together proceeding from the snares or sins which one â—ayeth to such a purpose or wherewith 〈…〉 assaulted or tempted like as their first king Ieroboam had brought in the same 14. What we had here more to say of the children of Israel of their disobedience against the Lord wherethrough they in times past remained without the rest of their uncircumcision or which is the uncircumcision of heart of Israel's casting out and how long they shall abide cast out from the Lord as also when they shall be restored or set up again is declared in the Glasâ— of Righteousness The XVI Chapter BUt the Stock of David and all what was of the Tribe of Iuda and Benjamin kept themselves together and held them unto the services of the Priesthood out of Levi according to the ordinance of Aaron like as the Lord had commanded the same which they observed at Ierusalem in the house of the Lord prepared by Salomon 2. Howbeit the tribes of Iuda and Benjamin sinned against the Lord and estranged them even so through a confusion or commixture unto intanglement from his law and from the requiring of the same wherethrough the Lord gave them over also at the last into the hands of the King Nabuchodonosor coming from Babel the which signifieth unto us a sighing or heaviness through strictness proceeding from a confusion or from a commixture which hath intangled or snared it self in it self 3. This Nabuchodonosor of Babel utterly destroyed the temple of the Lord which Salomon had builded and burned the same and Salomon's house also he brake down the wals of Ierusalem and carryed away all the vessels of silver and gold which were in the house of the Lord and the most part of the Citizens of Ierusalem into Babylon Wherethrough the government of their King of Iuda with their Psalms Songs and Mirth was utterly laid down the house of the Lord brought in desolation and the City of Ierusalem as a ruinated City made to heaps of stones Whereover Ieremy in his Lamentations greatly sighed wayled and wept 4. NOw when the tribes of Iuda were led away into Babylon so must they then for their sins or confusions cause wherein they had mingled and bewrapped themselves together serve there the King Nabuchodonosor 5. But after that or after the end
substance of God his Father nor yet by any manner means of their knowledge comprehend behold nor inherit any beauty of the heavenly goods and how â—hat it all remained covered before them until they had kept the Passover with Christ namely in his death burial and resurrection until that he ascended from them into heaven and that Christ had made manifest himself in glory unto them in a spiritual cleerness out of heaven from the right hand of God his father with the pouring forth of his holy Ghost abundantly The XXIII Chapter BEhold in the same day of the pouring forth of the holy Spirit of Christ which was shed forth into them as a flood of living waters out of the heavenly powers they rightly knew Christ in the Spirit even as he after the Spirit is a true Christ of God and understood his services and ceremonies according to the truth and they had even so through the same Spirit their fellowship with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in the heavenly being whereout they brought forth and published the Counsel mind and will of God and the Treasures of the spiritual and heavenly goods to the salvation and joy of all men and to the inheriting of those same unto them which believed in Christ and held the Passover or Supper rightly with him For otherwise it could not come to pass 2. Therefore no man knoweth Christ nor the Father nor yet the upright services or ceremonies of Christ for to minister those same according to the truth but such as are even so renewed or born again through Christ as we have declared in their spirit and mind neither yet doth it become any other to set forth any services or ceremonies of Christ nor to ordain any unto Priests or ministers of the word nor to preach or publish the Evangelie but such or they that are sent of Christ himself for otherwise it is all false 3. Ceremonies signifie unto us Services which have Mysteries or Secrets in them Evangelie signifieth unto us a joyful message which is published through the power of God and operation of the holy Ghost out of the heavenly Truth 4. HEreout have we a great mysterie to consider of and also to note how that many false Christians or such as falsly make their boast of Christ are risen up before this day of Christ or to have set them against the same and how that many through the knowledge which they have taken on unto them out of the letter of the Scripture busie them to set forth the knowledge of Christ and his ceremonies which are not sent of Christ but are yet utterly estranged from him much less then have kept the Pascha or Passover of his Supper like as the Disciples of Christ held the same with Christ. 5. For I say unto you truly whilst that the Disciples of Christ which had their conversation in times past with Christ after the flesh and spake mouth to mouth with him have not in their knowledge understood or inherited the cleerness of Christ although the mysterie of the kingdom of God was brought and given unto them to understand neither yet could understand or inherit the same before that the fiftieth day after the Passover of Christ was fulfilled that the heaven was opened before them and that the holy Ghost was shed forth upon them so shall not likewise presently which thing I testfiie unto you for certain the Scripture learned nor yet any conceited disciples of Christ which have not kept or passed thorow with Christ after the flesh the Passover from death into life and from flesh into spirit nor in the following of Christ attained through the powers of the holy Ghost unto the cleerness of Christ understand the cleerness of the word of Christ out of the knowledge of the letter of the Scripture nor out of the imagination of their knowledge touching the spiritual and heavenly things much less receive or inherit his godly being of love neither yet also set forth teach or minister his ceremonies and services according to the truth nor publish the true Evangelie of Christ out of the light of life 6. FOrasmuch then as that the Scripture-learned and wise of the world which in times past believed not the word of Christ neither yet they all which turned them away from the doctrine of Christ and from his ministers and made up themselves thereagainst have never known the very true of the heavenly Truth of Christ nor attained unto or gotten without the Passover with Christ the cleerness of his holy Spirit so give I you then ye good willing hearts to consider and judge what testimonies of the truth that the Scripture learned and the wise of the world can presently give forth which believe not the love of Christ but resist the same with their disobedient knowledge and what counsel they can hold and decree and after what Righteousness they can go forth which concordably agreeth with the counsel of God with the true righâ—eousness and single minded doctrine of Jesu Christ with his true services and ceremonies and with the godly wisdom and the requiring of the love of Jesu Christ seeing that the same is all unpossible for them to do 7. For if they turn them not about to the childish single mindedness nor come even so with humble hearts unto this stool of grace whereof we witness nor to the obedience of the requiring of the same to wit that they be not assembled obediently according to the requiring of the service of love unto the communalty of the love of Jesu Christ but turn them away from the same and harden their hearts thereagainst so shall they not understand the truth of Jesu Christ nor his right service of love nor the counsel or will of God nor yet obtain or inherit neither presently nor for ever the true spiritual and heavenly goods but perish in much contention and in their hardness of heart and unclean consciences be estranged from the face of Christ dy in their sins and be condemned with the ungodly which will not believe nor obey God's truth nor yet the love of Christ in the fire of hell and be constrained to bear the curse of the ungodly also bide separated from the cleerness of the upright and vertuous Being of God and Christ and not behold the amiable face of God in righteousness 8. LEt every one take it effectually to heart For it shall all in his time come to pass and be found even so whether it be now believed or no. 9. For I say unto you verily the sun of this same day shall not go down or leave off to shin before all this come to pass and that the world be judged through the judgment of Christ with righteousness according to the Scripture The XXIIII Chapter NOw when the holy of the true tabernacle with his services according to the true
knowledge â—ncreased in much richness of the knowledge â—nd obtained the preheminence with them wherethrough many of the children of men grounded their hearts thereupon and not on Christ nor on the obedience of his requiring By which occasion also the true services of the holy spirit of Christ with the treasures of the spiritual and heavenly goods ceased with them and the abominations of desolation became the more manifold in the holy place of the Lord namely in the inwardness of men 4. For that cause the true Belief and the upright service of the holy ones is now also come into reproach or contempt the Sun that heavenly day light of Christ become utterly covered with the darkness of the wisdom of men and the Scripture before the understandings of men as a dark word or a closed book and as a Lanthorn without light whereout many singular matters are presupposed but not at all perceived or understood 5. BEhold from that time forth that the children of men estranged them from the true faith and from the true service of Christ in the holy and that the darkness and desolation and the many manner divisions of Religion came fast upon the world so was the world covered with such abominations and darkness and the hearts of the peoplâ— with such desolation of confusion 6. In which time of this same night and error many goodwilling hearts to the Righteousness have sighed with anguish of mind also diligently sought the light and truth groped thereafter as the blind here and there on the painted walls and so with great diligence zeal and earnestness inquired after the righteousness also searched for the same with fervency in the Scripture and had a regard or consideration on many whether same were any where to be found or to be gotten by any man or might break forth by any one 7. But whereto soever they turned them or went without Christ his Church and without his true belief so was it everywhere nothing else but knowledg wisdom of the flesh good thinking of man darkness lyes and sin or error which met with took hold of them 8. And whilst that the sun of righteousness shined not unto them so have they not been able how much diligence soever they bestowed thereabout to find the righteousness which God esteemed 9. Even thus have truly in process of time the foresaid darknesses lyes and iniquities with all erring Spirits obtained the preeminence with the estranged from Christ and from his safe-making Belief and with all the enemies of Christ and his love and even so born rule upon the Earth namely from the tiâ—e forth of the defection or estranging from Christ and his true belief till unto this day of love and of the appearing of the coming of Christ. 10. In which day God will now with the Spirit of his mouth slay the Antichrist or mischievous Nature and make an end thereof sanctifie again the Fore-front and the Holy of the true Tabernacle which are utterly fallen into desolation and ruine through the earthly wisdome of the slesh according to the service of her true being and set up again the daily Offering and judge the People with his light and righteousnes according to the Scripture 11. Yea assuredly the Lord will now accomplish this same and with his light truth and righteousness take the preheminence according to the Promises 12. WHat we had here more to say of the defection or estranging from the true light of the true faith of the Child of the Devil or Antichrist of the abomination of desolation of the false pastors and of the many manner conceited opinions or good thinkings of meâ— is declared in the glass of righteousness The XXX Chapter BUt whenas now these foresaid many manner of abominations divisions and errours were entred in besides the Church of Christ and that the Apostles of Christ with the principall Elders of the holy understanding or the codeified Men through the incorporating into Christ which were the upright Ministers of the holy Wrd of Christ with all the holy ones of God and Christ were fallen asleep that the light of life was become unknown the Law of Lord forsaken the true faith taken away from the earth as also the darkness with much fals doctrine through the unregenerated or ungodded men come in aboundantly and great discord and division risen up among the children of men upon the earth so were there then many of the remnant of the Christianity who in the same time greatly bewailed the discord and erring blindness of men and did mourn in their hearts veâ—y sore and have even so out of a good intent and goodwilling heart to the righteousness loved the peace and concord among the children of men and also with diligence sought after the same 2 These have in their good-willingness to the righteousness searched the Scripture also bestowed all their diligence and care to understand the same and even so thereout according to the utterest or best that they knew figured out and set forth the services and Ceremonies and the ordinances of the Christianity in most like manner or conformablâ—st unto the Scriptures and requiring of the Apostolical doctrine of Jesus Christ in the distinctest manner that they were able before the Children of men that they mought live therethrough in righteousness and peace They have likewise used the same Services and Ceremonies to the requiring of the righteousness and to a good discipline and orderliness for the people which humbled them under thosâ— same 3. Howbeit whilst that the light of the true being of Jesus Christ shined not in his perfect clearness with many of them so could they not use nor minister the right use of those Services or Ceremonies which bring the spiritual and heavenly goods with them reveale or declare the face of Jesus Christ uncoveredly and teach the beleevers to the Kingdome of Heaven but they have so far forth and so neer as they to the utterest of their power could by any means get or attain to the same according to the testimonies of the Scripture with their understanding and knowledg administred unto the people to a memorial of Christ and his Acts the signification and the image-like and figurative services of that which is required through Christ and even so taught them through the same Services and Ceremonies the civil or nurturable righteousness but not the very true Spiritual or heavenly for they could not attain unto the same 4. NOw when these Services and Ceremonies to a Testimony and Signification of the inward righteousness were thus figured forth and ministered so were they then set forth before the children of men to holy signes or such as signified holy things And the Priests and Ministers of those same have allured and drawn the hearts of the People therewithall also nurtured many thereby to humility and taught them thereout that they through the same Services and
time be inherited of all and in all them that have minded the peace and the upright amiable life 3 FOr that cause awake now in the spirit yee Lovers of the truth and diligently search or throughly measure this same spirit which to the making alive of all the Dead that are deceased in the Lord is proceeded from God and marvel not at any of this same but search or scanne the Scripture whether that it make not mention of the same 4 But certes this new miraculous work of God whereof we witnes hath God now in this his holy day of love begunne or taken in hand with us his elected ones wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written 5 Behold saith the Lord I will doe a new thing and it shall now appear whereby yee shall well perceive that I make ways in the desert and rivers of water in the wildernesse 6 Again a spirit or wind shall blow forth from my face and I will make wind 7 Presently hath the Lord prepared his way in the desert and caused a living River to run there-thorow that all thirsty may drinke of the living waters 8 FOrasmuch now as that the River giveth forth her water abundantly and that the winde or Spirit of the Almighty bloweth So cannot I refraine nor keep silence but must needs through the powers of the same make manifest even out of burning love the secret mistery of God which is given me to understand out of the heavenly truth in the obedience of the love of Iesus Christ unto the lovers of the truth and unto the diligent searcherâ— of the Scripture as also expres or declare to them the counsel and will of the most highest with the accomplishing of the service in his Sanctuary like as the Scripture speaketh thereof and witnesse the same before their ears 9 Whosoever now therâ—fore seek the Lord with whole heart they shall now easily finde him if so be that they beleeve and obey the holy word of grace administred now in this present time 10 Unto all them that presently knock and would gladly be let in through the right door for to walke in the house of the Lord it shall now be opened and they shall be let in They shall also dwell with the Lord and eat with Christ and his holy ones the bread of life which is come unto us from Heaven in the Kingdom of God the Father the lovely heavenly being 11 THerefore give eare now unto the word of the heavenly verity O yee lovers of the truth and hearken to mee now in this day yee great Lords or mighty of estate and yee rulers of communalties and let this same enter into your ears all yee people For I will make relation of the things that are hidden before the world and declare the same from the beginning till unto this new or last day which is presently appeared and come unto us according to the Scripture The Third Chapter O Sion for thy sake I will not keep silence and for Ierusalâ—ms sake I will not leave off untill that her righteousnesse rise up as a shining light or clernesse and her salvation burn as a Cresset that the heathen may see thy righteousnesse and all Kings thy glory 2 For this is the day of thy glorifying and of thy joyfulnesse O thou holy hill of Sion and the day wherin Ierusalem becometh seen glistering and where-over the Lord with his light and glory will shine for evermore according to the promises 3 Now shall the Law be taught out of Sion and the word of the Lord witnessed out of Ierusalem 4 For this is the day of promise the day which the Lord maketh Let us now rejoyce and be glad therein 5 This is the day in the which the Lord hath prepared his seat unto judgement that he might judge the earth with justice and governe the people uprightly and accomplish therein all which he hath spoken in times paâ—t through the mouth of all his holy Prophets 6 Therefore take now good heed unto this day to your Sanctification and learn therein wisdom and holy understanding and walk even so in the light of the same that yee may be able to endure as children of the light of his cleernes and the light of his lovelines and not stumble in the mid-day 7 In this day saith the Lord I will not keep silence but will cause my word to be heard continually therein that the children of men run not forth any longer with their good-thinking according to the imagination of their knowledge 8 For out of this light of my holy day shall my word saith the Lord continually proceed according to the truth that it may be heard even unto the end of the world And I will let the children of men see how that they all namely they that hear nor beleeve not me and the service of my holy word under the obedience of my love neither yet love my true being nor stand submitted to the same for to become planted thereinto doe erre in their wisdom and Scripture learnednesse and goe about with lies 9 BEhold I saith the Lord will take in hand a wonderfull work like as I have heretofore spoken thereof through my servants the Prophets and promised to perform the same Through which work of mine saith the Lord the man which hungreth and thirsteth after the true Righteousness shall not be able to comfort himself any longer with lies nor to put his trust therein neither yet shall the Scripture learned or such as set forth their own Opinions out of their own Spirit drive or teach the People any longer according to their good thinking but every one shall not chuse but acknowledge that my word is the Truth and the Life 10. For lo I bring forth now my Day so clear as a light of my Glory to the Lighting of the whole World with Righteousness my living Word as a true Bread of Life to the satisfying of all hungry souls my true Being or Perfection as a Kingdom of Heaven full of all lovelyness pure beauty and undisturbable Powers and my Service of Love as a naked or uncovered Truth All which is my Spirit where through the Man is led into all Truth to the end that now in this my holy day my Righteousness might in the obedience of the requiring of my Love break forth and obtain the Victory upon the Earth and that all people may love the upright Righteousness and live peaceably in all Love 11. AWake now therefore ye Lovers of the Truth so shall Christ then illuminaâ—e you Anoint your eys with Ey-salve and ye shall see the pure and glorious cleerness of this last or newest day which God himself hath appointed or ordained for to judge
the belief of the upright being of Abraham which also was Abraham's sister and become his wife is named Sara which name signifieth unto us a Lady or a Princess which is free 4. THis Sara had a servetrice which waâ— her own or subject unto her which is the Service the Law or Ordinance and the serviceable writing or letter of the belief of Abraham Which Servetrice through the belief of the true being standeth serviceable for to bring forth a serviceable seed unto the belief whilst that she is yet closed or barren 5. And this Servetrice namely the service of the belief of Abraham or his law either Ordinance is also a Testament of Abraham which is called the elders Testament because the same is administred through the belief out of the light of the true being by the eldest in the holy understanding and hath the foregoing in the Procreation out of the letter and out of the obedience of the requiring of the serviceable doctrine which also ceaseth when as the belief bringeth forth out of the true light which is the godly being it self whereunto the service of the word and of the letter doth likewise reach Nevertheless albeit that the service of the word and of the letter reâ—cheth to the belief and true lighâ— yeâ— appeareth not the righteousness out of the service of the letter nor out of his Ordinance although notwithstanding the same be required therewithall but out of the belief 6. This servetrice of Sara was named Agar and she was a Servetrice out of Egypt which signifieth unto us a woman coming on out of Strictness or which is stricting 7 But whilst that Sara the belief of the true being of Abraham was yet closed and brought not forth but was inclined thereunto so desired she Abram namely the old Father in the holy understanding that he would joyn him unto Agar her Servetrice and she gave him Agar to wife for that she might even so out of her obtain Children of the belief 8. Abram therefore joyned him unto Agar and Agar conceived or became with child and brought forth a seed unto Abraham 9. BEhold this was a seed of the Service namely of the unfree woman Agar whereof Paul maketh mention to the Galathians how that Agar in Arabia is called the Mount Sina 10. Arabia signifieth unto us a pledge or surâ—ty which standeth fast for that which is promised until that the promise be fulfilled Sina signifieth unto us Armour or a Shield wherewith one furnisheth him unto Battel when as he passeth thorow the way unto the rest of the promises and wherethrough one is sustained against the enemies and defended therewith until that he come unto the place whereas he inheriteth the rest the peace and all sweetness of the land like as there is promised 11. This Mount Sina in Arabia although it stretcheth even unto Ierusalem is not free with his Children but the belief the free hill within Ierusalem is free with his Children for the believers which are born out of the belief of the true being of Abraham and grown up in Christ in the holy and godly understanding are the free Children of the free woman according to the Scripture 12 But when as â—ow the time was â—come about that the fruit of the belief could live so became Sara fruitful and brought forth unto Abraham the true seed of promise to the Blessing of all Generations of the earth 13. Now when this seed of â—he free woman was born then was the Servetrice with her seed thrust out or given leave to depart as one whose service and seed was there no more needful to a service or help of the beliâ—f because the upright seed was born out of the belief and for that cause the Servetrice with her seed could have no Portion or Coinheritance with the son of the free woman 14. This seed born of the free woman was named Isaac which name signifieth unto us a laughing For Sara laughed when as she heard thet she should bear a Son 15. COnsider here now the Mistery of the Scripture of these two women and of either others service and procreation For behold I declare unto you this day the truth with naked speeches and not in similitudes or dark words inasmuch as that God and Christ with his holy ones is also declared in the most holy even so unto us 16. Where now then this seed of the true Testament after the Accomplishment of the foregoing serviceable Testament is born or brought forth even there is Christ the belssing the salvation and the spirit of the Lord come and where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom He that hath ears to hear let him hear 17. WHat we had here more to say of the promises to Abraham of Sara the free woman and of Agar her servetrice and of the seed of both their procreations is declared in the glass of Righteousness The IX Chapter NOw when as Isaac the upright stock of his Father Abraham was grown up into a good old age of the holy understanding so took he a wife unto him named Rebecca which Name signifieth unto us one that setteth contention or debate And Rebecca conceived by Isaac and became with child with two Sons which she bare unto Isaac 2. He which she first brought forth was named Esau which name signifieth unto us one that is working he is also named Edom which signifieth unto us one that is earthly or bloudy And this is the first born after the flesh of the seed of the promise 3. Which first born may not inherit the heritage of the godly promises nor the covenant which God maketh with his elected people 4. Therefore God erecteth not his Covenant with him that is born after the flesh and is earthly or bloudy but wiâ—h him that is born after the spirit and is spiritual or heavenly For that cause God hath a good pleasure in the second birth â— But the second Son which was the second born next unâ—o Esau was named Iacob which name signifieth unto us one that treadeth under foot and so kâ—epeâ—h the Victory He was also named Israel and signifieth unto us one that lordeth or surmounteth with God 6. Behold this same which was born after the spirit increased and becamâ— prudent in the godly wisdom and heavenly truth and excelled Esau his brother in prudeâ—ce and holy understanding and hath brought the earthly or bloudy being under him obtained the blessing of his Father and is become an heir in the promises of God and in the testaments of his Fathers 7. VErily these two sorts of people or Procreations namely Esau and Iacob which Rebecca bare unto Isaac the seed of promise and how that the greatest must serve the lesser make known unto us a great mistery to wit that the Righteousness of the law with the great knowâ—edge and
diligent prudence of the flesh or of the earthly being which becometh born out of the letter shall serve the little single minded simplicity of Christ which becometh born out of the spirit or heavenly being and be wholy subject thereunto namely when as the spiritual birth hath through the coming of Christ gotten the dominion over the flesh 8. We can also in the service of the gracious word under the obedience of the love now openly feel and perceive these two births in our selves For the first or foregoing birth which in the ministration of the gracious word hath the foregoing by us is the knowledge of God and of his requiring and of God his truth spirit or being out of the letter or serviceable word which stretcheth to the obedience and fulfilling of the requiring of the gracious word and his service of love and the same knowledge which stretcheth to the said obedience is the right knowledge of the man out of the flesh or letter and that seed of Righteousness and his obedience is the former seed of the law or service which becometh born according to the flesh and hath no inheritance in the promises of the covenant of God the Father nor in the Testament of the holy Elders or Fathers for that same becometh fulfilled therein and hath even so in his service the foregoing unto the Inheritance of the same Testaments in the very true being 9. The second birth which appeareth thereafâ—er in the fulfilling or accomplishing of the serviceable word and of his requiring by us in the renewing of our spirit and mind is the Godhead the truth and spirit of God or God his true being it self yea the same spiritual heavenly being is the inheritance of all spiritual and heavenly goods and the true seed of the belief that becometh born in us aâ—cording to the spirit and inheriteth the promises of the Covenant of God the Father And these two births the one after the flesh and the other after the spirit are both out of the seed of the promise sown ingendred or brought forth in the letter and through the letter of the administration of the holy word and heavenly understanding or mind of the spiritual promises in our memory minds or thoughts 10. But the knowledge of the letter or the mind either understanding of the flesh out of the letter and the obedience unto the same appeareth first and taketh the foregoing in birth and diligently applieth it self therein for to inherit the blessing of the promises And whenas now this foregoiâ—g birth namely the knowledge of the letter which stretcheth to the obedience and accomplishment of the requiring of the gracious word and his service of love is become moving and forcible to such a diligency in our minds and understandings so inspect and understand we then at the first the testimonies of the spiritual and heavenly truth which extend unto spirit and life none otherwise but according to the flâ—sh and according to the minde of our flesh do we also seek after the same or apply us thereunto for to obtain the same according to the flesh And we suppose moreover we shal in such wise inherit the blessing of the promises of Christ. And this is in the man the knowledge of the letter or the mind of the flesh which is named Adam Esau or Edom and hath out of the administration of the holy word the fâ—regoing of birth in us and is the knowledge of Christ after the flesh 11. Now whilst or in the mean time that the â—irst born with his earthly and bloudy mind is hunting after or labouring for the blessing of the promise g of God and Christ and yet notwithstanding inheriteth not the same so doth then the second born hold him in stilness and following the counsel of the wisdom he obtaineth through the prudence of the holy Ghost the blessing of the promises of the seed of Abraham as also the prevailing over the first or former born and becometh even so the lord over the first born And this is in the man the mind or spirit of Christ which is named Iacob or Israel which obtaineth at last the victory and the dominion with God and also keepeth the same And to have obtained the same second birth is the upright knowledge of Christ after the spirit 12. SEe ye dearly beloved and consider with spiritual understanding the mystery of these two Nativities or births namely the first after the flesh earthly and bloudy the second aftâ—r the spirit spiritual and heavenly and how that the understanding of the first birth would according to his fleshly mind inherit the promises of Christ and how that the second birth which is not minded according to the flesh but according to the spirit of the heavenly truth obtaineth the victory beareth rule with God and bringeth forth the name of Israel or Christ it self 13 WHat we had here more to say of Isaac the seed of promise of the birth of Esau and Iacob of the fleshly and spiritual birth and of the knowledge of Christ after the flesh and of the knowledge of him after the spirit is with larger Instruction declared in the Glasâ— of Righâ—eousness The X. Chapter IAcob the upright stock of his Fathers Isaac and Abraham walked uprightly before God in the ways of his Fathers And God was with him and was his God light life and cleerness in all respects even as God had been with Abraham and Isaac 2 And God made manifest himself unto this same Iacob and shewed him in what manner the house or tabernacle of his dwelling is and gave unto him and his seed the same promises which he had given and promised unto Abraham and Isaac And God erected his covenant with Iacob therefore called Iacob the place wherein the Lord appeared unto them Beth-el which name signifieth unto us an house of God 3. Behold ye dearly beloved how cleerly the scripture expresseth unto us who are God's elected people and the house of his dwelling wherein he as a living and glorious God maketh manifest himself letteth his word be heard and establisheth his promises 4. Iacob also won with his service two wives which were sisters germans The eldest was named Lia which name signifieth unto us a Labourice This Lia had a Servetrice which she gave Iacob also to wife and she was named Zilpha which signifieth unto us contempt 5. The youngest was named Rachel which name signifieth unto us a sheep This Rachel had a Servetrice which was named Lilha which name signifieth unto us a woman which is humble or lowly which Servetrice she gave Iacob to wife for that she whilst she was closed might through her Servetrice bring forth Children unto Iacob her husband 6. THese four wives brought forth unto Iacob twelve Sons out of which the twelve tribes of Israel are sprung or come forth and every Tribe was named
then the Law and the Services do in such wise change by the believers of the Anointed to wit out of the figures into the true being and out of the letter or serviceable word into the revealing of the holy Spirit of Christ there is also then by those same the Priests office changed For Christ the honorable Priest cometh unto them from the right hand of God the Father out of the heavenly Being which hath or useth not his servce after the manner or ordinance of Aaron which is yet a teaching or requiring to observe the Will or the Righteousness of the law of the Lord but after the manner or ordinance of Melchisedech which bringeth with him the Blessing the accomplishing of the Law or of the Lord's will the salvation of life and the anointing of the holy Ghost to a pledge of the godly inheritance and to an everlasting treasure or riches of God and reigneth in the righteousness of the same 7. Melchisedech signifieth unto us One that ruleth in the Perfection which is called a King of Righteousness And in him is the fulfilling of the Law and of the service of the Prophets Therefore theâ—e shall not one Letter nor the very least 〈◊〉 fall from the Law until all come to pass 8. OH alas How grosly then have certain wise of the world and Scripture learned over-reached them herein which have without diversity forsaken the Law and the service of the Elders Testament and of the Priests office after the ordinance of Aaron and set back the same as a thing unneedful not once distinguishing unto whom the service after the Ordinance of Aaron is yet necessary nor yet with whom the same at the appointed time ceaseth or leaveth ofâ— 9. But have all for the most part cryed Christ Christ and we are Christians and attributed to themselves much freedom ere ever the time of the appearing of Christ or the anointing of the holy Ghost was come to pass or fulfilled with them in the accomplishing of the old Testament 10. Oh that they yet now awaked and took heed in the word of the service of love unto this gracious time and gave ear unto the same that they might understand their safe making and so then be rightly and according to the truth brought to the true Being that is unto Christ. 11. What we had here more to say of the foregoing service after the ordinance of Aaron or of the foregoing before the true light of the Elders of the holy Uunderstanding of the Levitical Priesthood of the Sabbath day of the Lord and of the Treasures of the Riches of God is declared in the Glass of Righteousness The XIV Chapter NOw when as all these forementioned holy things were prepared according to the commandment of the Lord so were there men sent forth into the land of Promise for to spy out the same 2. But when as now these were returned out of the same land certain reported unto the children of Israel that the battel wherewith the land was to be won was very tedious and that the land was invincible or that it was impossible to destroy the inhabitants wherethrough the people became unbelieving of the promses of the Lord and dismayed in heart unto battel and were afraid of their enemies which they through the mighty hand of their God should have destroyed and rooted out and they murmured against Moses and his ministration 3. Howbeit Iosue and Caleb which had also spyed out the same land brought good tydings namely that they could well win the same good land and destroy their enemies which dwelled therein 4. But they were not harkned to or believed because the people waxed unbelievâ—ng of the word of the Lord and his promises and unlustful to the battel and complained sore that they remained not in Egypt to the end they might have died there 5. And even so out of fear and through unbelief and despair to win the battel against their enemies they wished that they might dy in the wilderness and that came to pass even so 6. For all they that had murmured continually against the Lord and bin unbelieving and disobedient unto him and the ministration and requiring of his word came not into the good land but Iosue and Caleb which cleaved with all their heart unto the Lord and believed and were obedient unto his word inherited the same Iosue signifieth unto us a Saviour Caleb the inward heart or minde 7. HEreout we may perceive ye dearly beloved that the circumcision of the resisters or disobedient unto the word of the Elders Moses and Aaron was through their unbelief and murmuring against the Lord and the Ministers of his word become an Uncircumcision and that there was also no love of God but in all the love of themselves found among them 8. Whilst then they bowed not nor inclined the ears of their heart unto the doctrine of the word which was administred unto them by Moses and Aron but after their own good thinking were chusing this or that or somthing else even thus or even so so have they not known the truth nor yet understood the mysterie of the works of God For that cause also they were not made free of the truthâ— they entred not likewise into the holy of the true tabernacle of God nor have inherited the inheritance which God had promised unto the seed of Abraham 9. The which giveth us to understand that they are not Abraham's seed which bear only the circumcision on their flesh but they that are of his belief for the believers inherited the good land 10. Notwithstanding the glory of God was not at that time erected in his fulness nor the promises fulfilled which the Lord had promised to the salvation and blessing of the Heathen 11. For in his time the Lord would also visit the heathen declare his righteousness among them and even so according to his promises make Abraham a father of many heathen which should not be of the circumcision of the flesh but of his faith 12. But the murmurers and complainers which bare alwaies a care how it should go with themselves but thought very little on the glory of the Lord or on the magnifying of his holy name fell all into the indignation of the Lord and God shewed no compassion on them for their infidelity sake And therefore they must then remain without the Rest and dy in the Wilderness 13. But Iosue a leader or guide of Israel brought the remnant of the people of Israel unto Iordan which Iordan opened or divided it self asunder before them and so they went thorow the same even unto the borders of the good land Iordan signifieth unto us a River of Iudgement And it is the same River wherein Iohn the Baptist afterward baptised The XV. Chapter NOw when Israel was come into the borders of the good land
Son in Beth-lehem an Angel appeared unto the Shepherds in the field which published unto them all that was chanced at Beth-lehem to a great joy that should come unto all people And he said This day is born unto you the Preserver which is Christ the Lord in the City of David 15. Christus is a Greek word and is called in Hebrew Messias and signifieth unto us Anointed or the Oyl of the holy Ghost wherein the perfect Godhead dwelleth and resteth And he was circumcised the eight day and named Iesus that is Saviour like as the Angel Gabriel had said it before 16. And this Child Jesus born of the seed of David after the flesh grew or increased became strong in the Spirit and full of all wisdom for the mercy of God was in him 17. OH alas how great contention and unprofitable disputations hath there been concerning the Conception of Iesus in the Womb of Mary and touching his birth But if they all which contended hereabout had known the power of God and that also the mysterie of the mind and works of God had bin given them to understand so should they then verily not have contended thereabout neither yet many of them so grosly over-reached them in their Judgment which they have witnessed and judged of the conception and birth of Iesus or of his incarnation 18. For which cause to the end that all understandings might be satisfied and much contention ended we have out of the light of the heavenly truth nakedly declared according to the truth the conception of Iesus with his birth as also many secret works of God He that hath ears to hear let him hear and to whom wisdom is given let him comprehend understanding 19. What we had here more to say of the conception of Iesus of the name Iesus Christ of his birth and of the eight day is declared in the Glass of Righteousness and in more other testimonies of our Writings The XIX Chapter NOw when the time was fulfilled that God would according to his promises accomplish his work to a good ending or fulfilling of all the services of the Images figures and Prophets which services have all their ministrations till unto Iohn the Baptist which is the true minister and foregoer before the true light or face of God that cometh after Iohn or his service with the holy Ghost so hath Iohn through the commandment of God had the foregoing in his service or office to the true God-service in the spirit and in all the coasts of Iordan preached and taught the baptism of repentance to the forgiveness of sins to the end that he might even so in his service according to the word of the Lord spoken before by the Prophets bring all things again into their right state or ordinance 2. At that time the people which feared God were informed and taught with other services that were of greater force then the services of the images and figures 3. Thus hath Iohn begun his office published the Kingdom of the God of heavens to be at hand and baptised the people in Iordan with the water of repentance 4 Iesus came also unto Iordan for to be baptised of Iohn that all righteousness might be fulfilled through Iohn and Iesus which also is called Christ. 5. COnsider and respect well now in understanding ye dearly beloved how Iohn ministred the office of his baptism not that men should run forth with an handful of water and perswade themselves when they have the elementish water that it is there with enough to be a Christian. 6. O no the Baptism of Iohn is not in such sort but he baptised them that confessed their sins and where the water of Repentance flowed inwardly in the heart 7. Behold even thus namely in the confessing of the sins hath Iohn baptised the people with the water of repentance in Iordan which signifieth unto us a River of Iudgement 8. For unto such where the water of repentance flowed inwardly in the heart came the mercy or grace of the Lord and they were baptised or washed with the same water of repentance in the River of Judgment to the knowledge of the salvation and to the forgiving and purging of their sins 9. And even so after that came Messias or Christus that is anoinâ—ed unto them to the saâ—e-making of their souls wherethrough they were baptised with the living waters of the holy Ghost to the reedifying of the Tabernacle of the living God namely the generation of mankind wherein God himself with his glory would to a light of men dwell live and walk as an holy and true God and everlasting life 10. Wherethrough the man becometh rightly released from the hand of all his enemies and the comsummation or perfection erected by him whereof God hath from the begining spoken through the mouth of all his holy Prophets till unto the day or light of Iohn 11. Behold were the man once baptised in suchwise might then verilyboast him to be a Christian but not otherwise for whosoever is not in his mind and spirit one spirit with Christ he belongeth not unto him 12. OH alas how great contention and disputation hath therebin among many touching the baptism The one would have the baptism thus the other so but whilst that it was yet night with them so hath no man been able before this day of love which is the true light and the Glory of God himself to understand nor distinct the baptism of Iohn nor the baptism of Christ. 13. What we had here more to say of Iohn of his baptism and of the baptism of Christ is declared in the Glass of righteousness The XX Chapter NOw when Iohn had in baptising made himself manifest so hath Christ after the baptism of Iohn made himself also manifest preached taught the Kingdom of the God of heavens But he taught as one that in his doctrine was mightier then the scripture learned after the law of Moses 2. For the people were taught through Christ with other tongues and through an other spirit for there was preached and taught peace and peace abundantly 3. Wherethrough the mysterie of the truth of God whereon Moses in the law the scripture and the prophets did wittness was uncovered or made manifest and it was with many great offence to a fall and with many great joy to restoring in Israel 4. But whilst now that the word of Iesus had more efficacy and clearness then the services of the Levites and Priests according to the ordinance of Aaron so have many people and devout men given ear unto the same Iesus and beleeved in him and even so obtained Iesus Christ many disciples which followed him in his word and doctrine Yet were there many of those same Disciples which fell away and turned them from him and his doctrine 5. In which time there were also many that hoped the
Kingdom of Israel should have been restored according to the promses of the prophets 6. Likewise there were many that were offended at his word and doctrine but chiefly the scripture learned which were thâ— expertest or learnendst in the scripture and seemed to be the holiestq. Many of these could not away with him 7 And although they were daylie converversant with him and heard his word which was the word of God his Father it self as also saw his wonderful signes which he did yet believed they not but were so much the more displeased with him 8. Hereout we may evidently understand ye dearly beloved that the wisdom the holy understanding nor the holiness which God regardeth cometh not unto the Disciples in the Scripture learnedness nor in the knowledge but unto the Disciples in the obedience of the requiâ—ing of the word as also of the light of life and of the godly truth whereunto our upright service of love together with the Scripture and the Ceremonies which are administred out of the true light of our most holy service of love do point and lead 9. WHilst now that Iesus Christ himself is the very true holiness and the upright substance of God his Father whereon we witness so gave he also in times past like as presently in his service such a cleerness from him wherewith he sufficiently witnessed and manifested who he was 10. But forasmuch as the children of men were utterly estranged from the substance of the Being of God like as in this present day there are many estranged therefrom so have they not known him according to his godly Being like as he is a Christ of God much leâ—s understood his word which is the spirit and life of his Father 11. Although he spake or witnessed before the ears of men of the new birth or renewing in the spirit of the turning about and to become as children of the kingdom of the God of heavens of the bread that cometh from heaven of the light of the world of the way the truth and of the resurrection and the life all which he himself is yet was it all covered before their eys with the flesh of Christ whereat many Scripture learned took offence and secret before the ears of their understanding yea and it remained also all covered or secret before his Disciples although they were not offended at his flesh and word until that Christ had fulfilled or accomplished with them through his death of the Cross his Pass-over and the true oblation Godservice in the holy of the true Tabernacle and they had imitated him therein that Christ after the Spirit replenisht them out of his heavenly being with his holy Ghost and so declared himself unto them according to the spiritual form of his heavenly being 12. BEhold until that time remained the vail which is the flesh of Christ before the most holy so that they could not behold with the eyes of their inwardness the most pure beauty of the heavenly Being namely the naked cleerness of the most holy of the true Tabernacle of God nor the perfect lovelyness of the everlasting life of Jesus Christ nor yet understand the same according to the heavenly truth 13. For although Christ after the flesh witnessed much unto them of Spirit and life yet was notwithstanding their heart so long as Christ after the spirit was not declared unto them captived with the love of Christ after the flesh and they understood all things for the most part according to an outward form or observation 14. If now the right Disciples of Christ understood not the spiritual and heavenly truth of Christ before their Passover with Christ into the second birth how much less then understood they the truth of Christ which were offended at his flesh and at his word and doctrine which also turned them away from him and would not be his Disciples For verily all they that were offended at his flesh and at his doctrine and works and humbled not themselves obediently under his Doctrine nor yet assembled them unto him understood nothing at all of the spiritual and heavenly Testimonies of Jesu Christ nor of the kingdom of the God of heavens and yet much less of the salvation of men even like as also yet in this present time all unregenerated men which shew forth no upright fruits of repentance nor become incorporated into Christ after the flesh with his like death nor yet baptised in his death for to become renewed in the second birth from the death of Christ through the holy Spirit of Jesu Christ in their Spirit and mind understand not any thing at all thereof neither yet of the spiritual and heavenly testimonies of the holy Spirit of the love of Jesu Christ nor yet likewise of all that which the Scripture speaketh of Christ of the coming of his glory and of his judgement over the living and dead And for that cause there are also now in the last time so many which take offence at the appearing of the coming of Jesu Christ or of the son of maa and at the ministration of the word and doctrine of Jesu Christ after the flesh as also contemn the requiring of the obedience of his service of love and turn them away therefrom The XXI Chapter FOrasmuch now as that in times past the cleerness of Christ through the holy Ghost was yet unknown unto the upright and faithful Disciples of Iesus Christ whilst that they knew him not otherwise but after the flesh namely how or in what godly and heavenly cleerness that Iesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the most highest the very like Being or substance of God his Father the way the truth and the life the light of the world the dore of the sheep the right Vine the living bread of heaven the resurrection from the death and the new heavenly man So was it therefore needful that Christ should keep the Pascha or Pass-over with them which is called in Hebrew Phase the which signifieth the true Pass-over which the right Disciples and Believers of Iesu Christ do pass or go through in the following of Christ after the flesh and it is the true oblation or Godservice in the holy to the remission and purging of sins Which Phase as in a figure of the very true had been observed by the Jews in his figurative service even until the same time 2. For that cause the Lord Iesus caused the same to be prepared him for to keep the Pass-over or Pascha with his Disciples in the true being and told them before of his suffering and Pass-over and that they must also do the like if they would come to his cleerness in the heavenly Being with his Father 3. Therefore he gave them to understand in what manner his pass-over should be to wit that he namely Christ
being was heretofore as is abovesaid builded among the disciples of Christ and erected in his declaring and righteousness and that the services of the same holy namely the trespass offering sin offering and death offering were all likewise fulfilled with them so became then also with the disciples of Christ the vaâ—le that was before the most holy removed from the most holy and the middle wall which was betwixt them and God taken away and even so in the true righteousness became the clearness and friendliness of the uncovered face of God and Christ made manifest among them and the fulness of the spiritual and heavenly goods brought unto them 2. For even out of the heavenly cleerness there was in the upright being of Christ uncovered among them the mercy seat of the true tabernacle of God in the most holy namely in the heavenly being wherein God would through his Christ gather together his holy ones so many as followed after Christ in the holy and held the passover or pascha with him like as his disciples had in the eating of his flesh and drinking of his blood holden or gone thorow the same with him for to make manifest now likewise at the very last namely in this last time with us little ones and God's elect that same most holy of the true tabernacle of God with the glory of Christ his holy ones as the most perfect to an everlasting rest and peace for his holy ones upon the earth and to bring unto us in ful cleerness the communion of his love to the end that now even so at the very last namely how in this day of the love of God the Father wherein God declareth and bringeth unto us his holy goods and spiritual riches his true tabernacle should in all perfection be everlasting upon earth to a dwelling honour and glory for him the supream God and to an everlasting blessing joy and salvation for all men which assemble them thereunto according to the promises For so it hath pleased God to the end that his will and the Judgment of his righteousness might be done and executed on earth as in heaven 3. Behold in suchwise is God glorified in his holy ones and Christ wonderful in his believers Let every one have a good regard thereon 4. IN all these wonderful works of God and also in the Images and figures which are figured forth unto us in the scripture we can well make and understand ye dearly beloved how that the tabernacle of God and his service was prepared by Moses and Aaron in images figures and shadows and how that the unilluminated people have bin served therewithall till unto Christ the true light of life And also how that God's elect and illuminated holy ones which are obediently gone thorow the passover of Christ with Christ after the flesh and even so being departed out of the imagelike and out of the fulfilling of his requiring are entred into the true being of Christ are served with the spiritual and heavenly goods and with the living word of truth in the upright being of the love of Jesus Christ 5. For that cause consider now in this day on the wonderful works of God how that God after the departure out of the heathenship prepared the forefront of his true tabernacle which is the fear of God with the Fathers of Israel through the promses in his Covenant of Circumcision 6. But the holy which is the belief of Iesu Christ hath he prepared in the death or â—uffering of Christ and in the baptism or washing in the same death namely with the disciples of Christ which were of the belief of Abraham and the upright believers of Christ and passed over with Christ out of the flesh into the spirit through faith the which is the true Pascha that we ought to keep with Christ to a testimony that we believe uprightly in him 7. For the belief is the true holy wherein Christ to the vanquishing of sin is gon before us in the pass over of his suffering and death and hath prepared us the boldness for to follow after him therein to a new and living way through the vail that is through his flesh to the end that we should in the true holy wherein Christ if we enter into the same with him beareth our sins and taketh them clean a way from us become implanted into Christ with the like death of Christ. For even so through the oblation of Christ and his death of the Cross and to follow after him therein in the holy we obtain the everlasting remission and purging of the sins and the making alive or resurrection from the death in Iesus Christ as also the eternal life with all holiness and righteous and inherit even so the true spiritual and heavenly goods with Christ in the heavenly being The XXV Chapter BEhold this way to the everlasting life and heavenly being in the pass over of Christ wherein Christ with his disciples hath gone before us in the holy is now likewise in this day of the coming of Christ declared unto us like as unto the people in time past for that we should now also with Christ namely when we have received into us the body and blood of Iesus Christ enter into the same way keep his supper or pass over with him like as he hath kept the same with his disciples and even so accomplish the true oblation or God-service in the holy namely to lay ofâ— to mortifie and to bury the flesh and all what is fleshly and wicked of nature either perverse or hath an earthly and fleshly or wicked and perverse mind in the death of Christ or to pass thorow the same in such sort and to rise again from the death and be made alive with Christ in the renewing of our mind in the upright spiritual being of Christ to the intent that it might even so now all be accomplished in us through Christ whatsoever is written of Christ and of all them that love him 2. If we now follow after Christ in such wise according to the word of his doctrine in the holy so shall we then certainely in his Doctrine know the truth of Christ also evidently understand that the same Imitation of Christ in the holy will lead or bring us to the accomplishing of the holy offering of Christ and his Disciples to the perfect light or glorious day of the love and to the service of perfection which is administred with the spiritual and heavenly goods out of the most holy of the true tabernacle of God 3. In which day of perfect light we behold with naked cleerness the most holy which God hath brought now in the last time with all his glorious garnishing unto us little ones and God his elect erected the same with us and herited us wonderfully therein in his perfect
to say of the Supper and Following of Christ of the Holy and of his true Service or Oblation and of the Altar in the Holy and of the Vayl before the most holy is declared in the Glass of Righteousness The XXVI Chapter NOw when this true being of the holy of the true Tabernacle of God whereof we witness was declared come and prepared in his true service with the disciples of Christ and ministred in the belief so were then the foregoing services which were the images figures and shadows of that same no longer fruitful with them they ceased also among them with their services and the true being of the promises whereon as on the seed of the blessing the foregoing services pointed and led threunto was at the same time to the blessing of all generations of the earth published by the same illuminated disciples of Christ as the true seed of Abraham in all the lands of Iuda according to the promises 2. There was also testified by them that the righteousness of life was to be obtained in the death of Iesus Christ through faith and not through the works of the law And that the law of Moses and the services of the Priest hood of Aaron ceased and had ended their service with them in the same service of Christ of the very true testament 3. HEreon we ought advisedly to consider ye dearly beloved for to understand according to the truth in what manner the Law of Moses and the foregoing services of the Priesthood after the Ordinance of Aaron ceased with the Disciples of Christ. 4. Not verily through the bringing in or setting up of any other services or ceremonies nor yet through the knowing of a greater and truer Righteousness and that one should even so pass forth therewith unregenerated or unrenewed in the Spirit and minde and so forsake the foregoing ministration and ordinance wherewith the Righteousness is required O no that is far wide and whosoever supposeth that he misseth the truth very faâ— 5. For the Law of Moses the Images Figures and Shadows with the Priests office after the manner of Aaron which are all fulfilled and cease in Christ minister unto us out of the true light an higher and perfecter cleerness namely the perfect Being and the renewing of the heart and spirit to wit to be purged for a Tabernacle or House of the living God wherein God with his Christ dwelleth liveth and resteth wherein it becometh then all fulfilled and the costly Treasure of the heavenly and spiritual goods brought unto men and from thence doth it flow forth again as waters of life 9. BEhold even thus or to this end had the old Testament ended his Service with the Disciples of Christ. And in such a state as being replenished with the fulness of the holy spirit of Christ have the former services ceased with them inasmuch as they had accomplished the requiring of those same in Jesu Christ. 7. And verily not through other services nor through the knowing of any thing better truer or perfecter like as many conceited Christians suppose and say out of the blindness of their hearts that the services of the old Testament after the Law of Moses and Ordinance of Aaron are all ended and that they therefore have now the services of the new Testament and know the new or the best and the true and run forth even so therewithal not once distincting that the fulfilling of the foregoing services which require the very true doth not come to pass in the knowledge of the very true nor yet that the services of the new Testament which follow or depend on the accomplishing of the foregoing are services of spiritual and heavenly goods and bring a power of God in the spirit to the declaring of the seat of God and Christ in the heavenly Being 8. Therefore let us have a regard how and wherein the changing and renewing of the services came to pass and how that the changing and renewing of the same services shall not now also in the last time come otherwise to pass then as is abovesaid and as we have witnessed according to the Scripture Therefore consider well 9. WHen now the Law of Moses which is literal and for the sins cause wrought the death had ministred her Office till unto the death of the sin in the death of Jesu Christ then had the Law which in her Service required the Righteousness with writings and ordinances and with correction and Doctrine and was likewise in her service deadly over the sin served out her office with the Disciples of Christ and even so at the end or fulfilling of the requiring of the same Law namely in the death or end of the sin the true spiritual Law or heavenly Ordinance which made them alive in Jesu Christ came unto them wherethrough the foregoing service of the Law was fulfilled and ceased with them 10. Behold when as now the Law of Moses was in such wise as is said fulfilled or accomplished and had no longer service with the death of the sin and with the Believers of Christ which through the Law were dead unto the Law but the Spirit of Christ which made the deceased Believers of Christ alive again in righteousness out of the death of Christ so had then also the Priesthood in his Images Figures and Shadows after the manner of Aaron no more ministration with the living in Iesu Christ neither yet gave it any cleerness more with them because the heavenly cleerness of Christ and his upright Being of love wherein the Disciples of Christ were comprehended excelled far away all cleerness of the figurative services 11. For that cause the Priesthood of Aaron changed also with the Disciples of Christ and ceased by them for with them there was a spiritual heavenly Priesthood appeared in upright righteousness and even so was the same with his service established on Christ after the Spirit the true light which is an high Priest that bideth for ever at the right hand of God in the heavenly Being whose service of the spiritual and heavenly ministration cometh not to pass in the letter nor in the figures but in the very true Being 12. BEhold even so was Christ after the spirit in his Office or Service a minister of the very true and heavenly goods among his Disciples and Believers and hath when he had taken in the heaven multiplied himself through his seed of the holy Ghost out of the heavenly Being to the increasing of his generation the upright seed of Abraham according to the Promises And even so became Christ fruitful upon earth in many thousands of his saints all which he through his death made free or justified from the sin and made them alive through his holy Ghost taking them up from the earth and assembling them unto him at the right hand of God his Father in the
that likewise the unilluminated inclined their hearts with the ears of their hearing and understanding unto the testimonies of the unregenerated and unrenewed or ungoded men or unsent Preachers which meaned not Christ or had him not in consideration aright nor had kept according to the truth the Pascha with Christ and were not entred through the death of Christ into the everlasting life but out of their own goodthinking or out of their literal knowledge came into the sheep or communalty of the Believers or besides the Church of Christ which were also called of Christ thieves wolves and murderers and of the true prophets false pastors so ceased then likewise with them the true daylie offering or God-service in the holy the incorporating into Christ with his like death and the renewing of the life and mind in Jesu Christ or the procreation of Christ through his light and Spirit and it became over them and over the whole face of the Earth utterly night and dark and through the same darkness the foregoing service which leadeth to the life of Jesus Christ became unknown and there entred in much renting and division among the children of men to wit that many of them became estranged from the truth from the Church of Christ and from the right sense of her services and even so got the abomination of desolation contrary to Christ and the requiring of his doctrine his breaking in over such as were declined or estranged from the true Doctrine of Jesus Christ which leadeth to the new birth of the uprâ—ght mind and Being of Christ. 5. For with all them that turned off and went astray from the Church of Christ and from the right use of her services the Belief of salvation was forsaken and the Scripture was become to them all as a closed book or dark word that was without light For that cause also the service which was administred out of the letter of the Scripture of the unilluminated was as a dead body without soul or as a dead wife which is deceased from her husband and can bring forth no children of life 6. NOw when this true light for the self wisdoms cause of the earthly man which is the darkness against the true light gave no more cleerness upon earth with the off-fallers and estranged from the true belief and that likewise the night or darkness had captived the unbelievers and the estranged from the Church of Christ so obtained then the nature of sin or the childe of the Divel and condemnation that contrary nature or adversary of Christ which is called Antichrist his shape in the inward Temple of the unbelieving and unregenerated men and multiplyed it self even so among many on the earth in the bringing forth of his wicked fruiâ—s 7. Antichrist signifieth unto us a contrary anointing And is an anointing or a freedom either an appeasing of the heart which cometh unto the man when he is separated or estranged from the true Belief of Jesu Christ and from his Church in his inwardness before the coming of the true Christ or anointing of the holy Ghost from the seed of the old serpent or of the Divel Which false anointing that the man taketh on to himself out of the flesh and out of the fleshly wisdom of his goodthinking knowledge as also cut of the seed of the divel and wisdom of the flesh worketh in him a secret resâ—sting and disobedience against the Lord Jesus Christ and his requiring And the same resisting and disobeence is the secret iniquity of Antichrist which the man in his estranging from Christ and his Church cannot well perceive because that he in the separation from Jesu Christ is well contented in his heart with the wisdom of the flesh and even so contrary to the right doctrine of Iesu Christ which hath her ministration to the holy Spirit of Christ and his love on the good life of God liveth boldly against all God's truth in his self wisdom knowledge or scripture learnedness the which is a false freedom and the abomination of desolation against all that which is God God service and Christ or the truth of God 8. BEhold this Antichrist hath exalted himself with his deadly service and fals light of disobedient knowledge against all that which is of God or of the upright Being of Jesus Christ above God and above the true God service and set himself as though he himself were God in the temple of the Lord namely in the inward part of the man wherein the living God with his Christ ought to dwell to live and to walk and hath â—ven so quite and clean abolished or destroyed the Law of the Lord and the true faith in Jesu Christ also driven out and taken away the same from the hearts mindes and thoughts of men and darkned it in them brought the Holy of the house of God into desolation caused the daylie offering in the Holy which is the mortifying of the sin through the death of Christ to cease and even so set the abomination of desolation in the holy place where it ought not to stand 9. Out of which abomination of Desolation which in the secret of the man's inwardness hath increased in all manner of iniquity and abominations till unto this day and obtained the preheminence with many there are risen up many manner spirits of Error and sundry sorts of false hearts of the Scripture learned which have out of the goodthinking of their own spirit and out of their Scripture learnedness as also through their ingeniousness or imagination of the knowledge brought forth manifold false Doctrines wherethrough they seduced the people and estranged them more and more from Christ and his Church and from the new Birth in Jesu Christ. The XXIX Chapter NOw when the Apostates or off-fallers from the safe making faith had set aside the true doctrine of Jesu Christ which taught the Believers of Christ unto all humility and meekness of heart and to the upright Being of the love of Christ and gave them to the ingeniousness of their knowledges and even so with their knowledge set up themselves to be Judges over the testimonies of Christ and his Apostles so clave they â—hen unto the spirits of error and brought in therethrough absurd arguments of Christ and of all that the Scripture speaketh of him or of the spiritual heavenly goods stirred up the hearts of men unto many manner of foolish desireâ— vain or fond knowledges and to manifold false righteousness and chosen holyness and administred even so their own leaven for the bread of life 2. Wherethrough likewise the daily offering in the holy of the true Tabernacle was no more observed according to the true Being with them and their adherents and for that cause also there chansed with them no purging of sins nor pouring forth of the holy Ghost 3. For the imagination of the
Jews which stood in such-like wise captived in their image-like and figurative Services and Ceremonies 2. For unto all them that walk without the true being of the Godliness heavenly Truth or without the Family of the Love of Jesu Christ and so according to their good thinking set up minister teach forth and observe Services and Ceremonies all things chance or they have them in Similitudes Parables or closed books and in Images Figures and Shadows because they should not without the Very true and his upright prefiguration see with the eyes of their earthly mindes hear with the ears of their fleshly thoughts nor comprehend in their dark hearts the secret works of the holy Spirit of Christ which also the world nor her Wise understand know nor receive 3. BUt whenas now many manner abuses and ignorance of the right difference of the said figurative Services which witnessed according to the Scripture figuratively of the Very true which was come to pass were entered in and that the Services and Ceremonies were taught believed and observed with ignorance by many so is there at the last great contention debate and division of minds and understandings risen up among them that were comprehended thereunder for the Services and Ceremonies cause 4. Wherethrough many unorderly rejected and blasphemed the Services and Ceremonies of the Catholike Church of Rome rented the concord and nurturable sustentation of the same and turned them away therefrom and even so out of their knowledge which they took out of the Scripture brought in certain Services and Ceremonies in another wise or order and set forth and taught those same for the upright Christian Ceremonies unto the people Howbeit they have procured or obtained little love and righteousness but rather much contention controversie therewithal For many of them understood not what they taught nor what the Services and Ceremonies which they rejected and blasphemed signified in themselves 5. They spake likewise much of Gods Word which yet they themselves like as it is a living and mighty Word that cutteth and pierceth as a sharp sword into the inmost part of the soul had never heard nor seen his clearness like as it is shining and flowing forth out of the living God much less understood the mind or will of the same 6. For that cause they have also not distincted nor declared unto the People the figurative services nor the mind of their right form and use whereunto they were used by the old Fathers from the perverse opinion wherein they were set forth or taught by many and the People captived therewith 7. BEhold in this contention and controversie which sprang up among the unilluminated People after that the defection or estranging from Christ and from the holy belief was once chanced with many through the works of darkness so became then manifest and known like as there is written thereof the nature of sin or the child of the devil and of the condemnation which in the Scripture is named Antichrist whose iniquity wherethrough the Law or Ordinance of the Lord was abolished and the true holy and the requiring of his services laid wast in the hearts of the men remained secret and unknown unto many till unto the same time 8. In which time of the manifesting and knowledge of this same mischievous one one might certainly if he had had a right regard unto the Scripture have easily perceived thereout that the great day of the Lord and the coming of Christ was coming on or at hand and hâ—rd by according to the Scripture 9. BUt seeing now that there was much contention and many divided minds and understandings which very much reprehended slandered and judged each other for evil risen up or come in place and that certain services and Ceremonies weâ—e brought in in varible sort so have there been also among them all many zealous and God-fearing hearts which have loved the righteousness with all their hearts and for that cause searched the Scripture that they might understand the same with great diligence and earnestness and so sought after the most perfect understanding of the Scriptures 10. But for the most part they were all divided one against another For every one rested perswaded to have right in his cause and like wise in his service the upright Christian Ceremonies or the name thereof 11. Among all these there have also been certain which were counted of many for Sectaries Hereticks and Seducers of the people and for that cause persecuted and banished and many for the conscience and faiths cause were slain and put to death 12. OH what a lamentable thing is the slaying or shedding of blood for the consciences cause to wit of those that are zealous towards the righteousness and according to the outward dealing do no man harm 13. For this I say verily that many single-minded hearts for the consciences cause which they had to God and his righteousness have been guiltlesly put to death 14. Oh what is there more lamentable before God and his holy ones then the shedding of innocent blood The XXXIII Chapter AMong these divided people there have many likewise mingled themselves whose hearts sought not the righteousness which also at the last became manifest to be false hearts namely through their covetousness and ease in the flesh and through manifold self-seeking whereafter they sought as also through much more other falshood which they practised and used 2. Certain of those false hearts have turned them to slandering and traitory in such wise that they have with slander and wicked back-biting betrayed the other with whom they in hypocrisie had falsly their conversation yea and also delivered over certain into the hands of the Magistrates for to be slain or rooted out 3. Certain have killed murdered and in many manner of wise destroyed one another of them Certain have applied them with subtilty unto uproar and warlike dealings and to stealing or the every and certain also to false and inordinate liberties and are even so fallen into manifold unjust dealings and blaspheming of God 4. For that cause through these many manner of abuses and ignorances taken on and maintained out of the knowledge of the Scripture and by reason of the false hearts which set forth and enforced Religions Ceremonies or god-God-services wherethrough they with many manner of false testimonies accused each other for Sectaries and Seducers and also brayed forth much wickedness to slander and cursing one over another the Magistrates of the world were occasioned against many to persecution and putting to death 5. AT that time there came great strictness and calamity upon many people also much doubting and bethinking which might be the truth the righteousness and the upright services or Ceremonies which God regardeth 6. But whilst that they knew not the truth the righteousness nor the upright services and Câ—remonies nor loved the upright righteousness with all their heart so is also
the love unto the righteousness waxen cold with many and they are therethrough become slothfull towards the same but very diligent in their own inâ—orcements or enterprises 7. In like manner many seeing that they loved not the righteousness with whole heart became altogether vainely minded and like unto the world in her abominations and have even so let pass all fruitfull doctrine 8. FOr that cause O all ye which now in this day love the truth and righteousness have now a good regard hereon and follow not the seducing of the destroyers nor the multitude of the ignorant in their error nor inforce you not to be of one mind with the contentious world nor with the discordable or divided wise and Scripture-learned but apply you unto concord in all love and lock into it with undestandinging what the Scripture saith what it requireth of us and how it becometh fulfilled as also how that we are not called through the Scripture unto strife contention nor to variance or discord but unto peace and to the love 9. For I say unto you verily that there are before this day of love which is the true light of God and the coming of his Christ it self many Scripture-learned that were very richly learned with the speeches of literal Scripture in the subtilty and knowledg but not in the renewing of the Spirit and mind unto the kingdom of God risen up which have not inseen understood nor known the truth of God in the light of the heavenly and spiritual wisdome of Christ much less witnessed or taught the same and yet much less brought in or ministred the upright or true Christian Ceremonies which lead unto the Godliness in Jesus Christ or to his love and Peace 10. For they have not out of their literal knowledge understood the secret mind of God nor the clear ground of the services and Cerâ—monies of the Christians therefore also they have consulted or held Councels thereof and are even so become disputing and at variance betwixt themselves about the Scripture and about each others opinion and institution of his Ceremonies and Services and have not inherited the true love and peace of Christ. 11. Whereout each one may by himself well perceive and mark that it is meer Lyes or untrue what such Scripture-learned through the knowledge which they get out of the Scripture bring in institute preach and teach 12. THerefore consider now that no man out of his knowledge of the Scripture can rightly erect teach nor set forth the Christian Ceremonies But they shall in their right form and use be set forth administred and taught by them that are chosen or raised up thereunto by God which follow after Christ in his death become renewed with him in a new life and in whom the living God with his Christ hath even so then obtained his dwelling and shape From whose bodies likewise the words of God and Christ do then slow forth as living waters which also concordably agree with the testimonies of the holy Ghost and with our Writings and their requiring as also with the requiring of the Law of the Prophets and of the Apostles of Christ. 13. Behold out of the declaring of these upright followers of Jesu Christ in the requiring of his doctrine till unto his love it shall now all whatsoever concerneth God and his Services be uprightly and according to the truth used and ministred in his right Ordinance according to the Scripture Let every one now therefore have a good regard hereunto and take it effectually to heart 14. WHat we had here more to say of the dissention of the contending about the Ceremonies and of the pernicious Sectaries and Hereticks and who they are is declared in The Glass of righteousness The XXXIIII Chapter BUt the whilst now that the figurative Services and Ceremonies of the Christians yet flourished in vigour and that the discordable mindes out of the knowledge of the Scripture did daily increase to a more intangling with much contending and disputation of Christ and of his Services and Ceremonies and that many good-willing hearts which had great hunger and thirst after the righteousness searched the Scripture for to understand the truth and the will of God and to live therein with great diligence and zeal and sighed and prayed unto God so hath God at the last remembred the desolate heard the â—ighing and prayer of the poor and for his chosens sake to the end that his Truth and what his will is mought before all lovers of the Truth be made manifest or declared and the Scripture fulfilled shortened the days according to his promises and through the hearty mercifulness of his love wrought a great and wonderful work upon earth out of his holy heaven and raised up me HN the least among the holy ones of God which lay altogether dead and without breath and life among the dead from the death and made me alive through Christ as also anointed me with his godly being manned himself with me and godded me with him to a living tabernacle or house for his dwelling and to a seat of his Christ the seed of David to the end that this wonderful works mought now in the last time be known the light of his glory with full clearness and instruction reavealed and the coming of his Kingdome to an Evangely of the same Kingdome and to the blessing of all Generations of the earth published in all the world according to the Scripture 2. Behold and consider my beloved how wonderfully God worketh in his holy ones and how that now in this Day or light of the love the Judgement-seat of Christ is revealed and declared unto us out of Heaven to a righteous Judgement upon Earth from the right hand of God and how that on the same Judgement-seat of Christ that the Scripture mought be fulfilled there sitteth one now in truth in the habitation of David which judgeth uprightly thinketh upon equity and requireth righteousness 3. Through him God will now in this day which he himself hath appointed or ordained thereunto judge the compass of the earth with righteousness 4. In which this same day or last Time namely in the perfection of the works of God and in his righteous Judgement the God of heaven hath now declared himself and his Christ together with all his Saints unto us his elect also made a dwelling with us and brought even so unto us out of his holy being the most holy of his true Tabernacle with the fulness of his garnishing and spiritual heavenly riches to an everlasting fast standing Ierusalem and house for Gods dwelling according to the Scripture The which is the very true undisturbable kingdome full of all godly Power Joy and of all heavenly beautifulness wherein the laud of the Lord with fulness of the eternal life and lovely sweetness is
spake Behold I make it altogether new The XXXVI Chapter WIth this resurrection of the Lords dead God the Father doth now declare how that he hath chosen us to an house for his dwelling and liveth and walketh in us with his holy ones wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day namely in all like as there is witnessed and written of the resurrection of the dead and of the restoring of his house or tabernacle Wherewith God sheweth now unto us that in this present day the time of the restoring of his house is fulfilled whereout the salvation of the people is evermore manifested and Gods true light Word Spirit and life published or preached and whereout also the same shall always and for ever be published and declared to the end that tâ—ey all which have a desire unto the house of the Lord and turne them thereunto mought now according to the word of the Lord be assembled unto the Lords house and walk in his light wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written thereof 2. It shall come to pass in the last time saith the Lord that the hill whereon the house of the Lord is shall be erected and exalted above all hills and all the Gentiles shall run thereunto and much people shall go thither and say Come let us go up to the hill of the Lord to the house of the God of Iacob that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths 3. BEhold where now the Lords house is there is also the holy City of Ierusalem and the hill of Sion Therefore shall now likewise namely where the house or dwelling of the Lord is the law of the Lord proceed out of Sion and his Word out of Ierusalem like as there is written thereof 4. Further Christ saith also touching the house of the Lord Whoso loveth me he will keep my word and my Father will love him We will come unto him and make a dwelling with him 5. Againe Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men And he will dwel with them and they shall be his People and he God himself with them will be their God And God will wash away all teares from their eyes 6. VEâ—ily with all these and in all these wonderful works of God in this holy day of love there is revealed unto us according to the Testimony of the Scripture the promised Kingdome of the seed of David and the seat of the true majesty and the same is also established with us for the righteousness cause even for ever and ever To the end that the same Kingdome of the seed of David and the seat of his Majesty mought indure for ever and ever like as the Scripture witnesseth thereof Wherewith the Lord sheweth and maketh known unto us that the time is now fulfilled and the day come wherein he establisheth his promises and accomplisheth it all which he hath assured or promised in times past unto his servant David that is unto his beloved service wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written 7. I will raise up thy seed saith the Lord to his servant David that shall proceed out of thy body after thee I will make his kingdom to prosper He shall build an house for my Name and I will make the seat of his kingdom prosperous for ever I will be his father and he shall be my son saith the Lord. 8. Again I will keep my goodness towards him for ever and my Covenant shall stand firm unto him I will give him seed perpetually and uphold his seat so long as the heaven endureth 9. Again There shall be a seat prepared through grace or benignity that one may sit thereon in truth in the habitation of David 10. FOr that cause the true seed of Christ the seed of David shall now in this day make manifest it self and come forth in righteousness and shall likewise through us out of this our true ministration of the love spread abroad and publish the Lords righteousness wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written thereof 11. A seed shall serve the Lord The Lord shall be published or declared unto childes childe that is from generation to generation for evermore 12. Again Such as are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God and when also they are old yet shall they blossom and be fresh or in good liking for to declare that the Lord is righteous 13. BEhold ye dearly beloved how that the Scripture becometh now made clear unto us the sealed-to prophecies opened and alâ—o accomplished in this present day And consider likewise how that the God of heaven hath shewed his great love grace and mâ—rcy on us little ones and Gods elect brought the Most holy of his true Tabernacle in his perfect building and gorgeous garnishing to us or in us out of his holy heaven and declared the same to an everlasting manifestation of the perfection of all his works through us upon the earth To the end that his gracious Word which he hath spoken in times past and raised up with us according to his promises mought remâ—in and stand fast with us from henceforth for evermore and the Scripture and all what it witnesseâ—h and requireth perfectly accomplished and this day of love and of salvation of the godly and heavenly clearness which is revealed and come unto us little ones with whom the living God of heaven hath begun his work to bring it to perfection published in all the world and that likewise in the passing thorow with his light the true judgement-seat of Christ before the which every one is debtour to humble himself with naked heart mought in the same day be seen among the People and the true most holy of the true Tabernacle ministred â—verlastingly in his true being in the same day And that even so the mercy-seat of the godly glory with his treasures of the spiritual and heavenly goods may bide and raign to an eternal rest and peace of his holy ones everlastingly on earth like as in heaven according to the promises 14. WHat we had here more to say of the wonderful works of God of his love extended out of grace unto us and of the fulfilling of the word of the Lord and of the Scripture is declared in The glass of righteousness and in more other testimonies of our writings The XXXVII Chapter SEeing then that this most holy and perfectest of the true Tabernacle of God is now come unto us from Gods grace upon the earth and that the living God is declared unto us in his glory so shall now also in this day the most holy be ministred in his true being to an everlasting perfection or consummation of all the works of â—od under the obedience of
ones shall stand fast everlastingly in his ministration and remaine for ever according to the Scripture 15. HAppy is he which giveth eare unto the same Service of the most holy which is ministred out of the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of love and believeth it as also obeyeth the requiring of those same and waxeth not bitter-hearted either offended thereat neither hardeneth his heart thereagainst but respecteth the same gratious time to the end that he may enter into the rest of the Lord and that the severe Judgement which cometh in this last day upon all ungodly and resisters of the service of love and upon all rich knowledge full wise which have corrupted the way of their understanding in the knowledge fall not upon him to his condemnation 16. Yea happy is he which now respecteth well the true light and assembleth him in this day unto the mercy-seat of the Majesty of God and Christ to his salvation 17. For after this day there shall no day of grace more come upon the earth because all the works of God and his prophecies become fulfilled according to the Scripture in the same and for that the righteous Judgement of God to an everlasting death and damnation of all ungodly and to an eternal life and salvation of all the holy ones and elect of God becometh also executed therein The XXXVIII Chapter COnsider and mark ye dearly beloved in what sort that the foregoing services of God are in many manner of wise how that they all out of one God as linked together do reach unto this day and service of the love of the most holy being of Christ and how that the God of heaven out of his mercifull love hath through the ministers of his gratious word informed trained up and served the generation of mankind that the same mought be set up again in the godly nature and forme wherefrom it is fallen away or estranged and so become saved with the foregoing services till unto this service and day of love of the perfection In which day the God of heaven hath also brought againe and erected with us the right ministration of his foregoing services and will likewise in this day with all that same which he hath spoken and wâ—ought from the beginning of the world and restored againe with us execute his righteous judgment to death and to life like as there is written thereof 2. Wherefore awake now all lift up your heads hear and see the wonderful acts of God and have regard unto the sound of the last Trumpet and consider 3. The fore-front of the true tabernacle of God wherein the beginning of the true god service and of the upright Christian life becometh erected The holy of the true tabernacle of God wherein the true god-service and his requiring and the obedience of the belief even unto the upright Christian life is accomplished and the veil removed from the most holy The most holy of the true tabernacle of God wherein the perfection of the true Christian life and all that which God hath spoken from the beginning and promised through his prophets is set up The kingdom of the God of heavens full of all pure beauty and heavenly powers wherein all minds of pure hearts do live with Christian triumph free without fear The day of the righteous judgment of God in which the compass of the earth becometh judged with righteousness The judgement-seat of Christ before which all things must needs be manifest The perfect being of God and Christ in his abundant clearness of the godly light The true rest of all the children of God in their perfect loveliness and upright being The mystery of the heavenly truth wherein the right service of love hath his ministration And the declaring of the spiritual Treasures or riches of the heavenly goods which are administred and brought through the service of love to an everlasting perfection unto the upright of heart and wherein al unperfect or childish things images figures and shadows do cease becometh now in this present day O ye lovers of the truth evangelized and declared unto you all and thereto also ye all so well as we were created for to live therein and are called and bidden unto the same out of the grace and mercy of God by me HN in whom God hath sealed the dwelling of his glory and his holy name 4. Not onely they with whom I particularly do speak and write unto but also all those that love the truth in Jesu Christ and to whose hands the godly Testimonies of our writings out of our most holy service of love do come to an assistance and leading into our communiality of love and which read or hear the same This day is the door of the heavenly truth the gate of the kingdom of the God of heavens the entrance into the Paradise of God or pleasant garden of the Lord and the way to the Tree of Life opened and great joy published unto you all and that the God of heaven restoreth againe with us in this day of his love all what he hath spoken from the beginning of the world through the mouth of his holy Prophets 5. WHoso now therefore are the People of the Lord and all such as have a desire to do his will They shall now be well able to understand that this our testimony and doctrine is of God and come with humbled hearts unto the house and work of the Lord submit them before the Lords feet and be assembled with us under the obedience of the love unto the communiality of the holy ones of God and incorporated to all unity of heart of the one man of God into the true body of Jesu Christ. 6. But whosoever appertaineth not to the Lord hath not minded the love truth nor unity of heart nor believed me HN in the service of love but supposeth to be wise out of his own spirit and understanding excuseth or justifieth himself and so hath no desire unto the will of God my Father He shall not desire to come unto us nor to make manifest himself in this day before the judgment-seat of Christ. 7. BUt I say unto you verily Whoso assembleth him not unto us nor manifesteth himself either confesseth not his sins good-willingly out of an inclination unto the love before the Lord and his seat of judgement he shall notwithstanding in this day not chuse but be manifested before the judgement of God and before this seat which God hath prepared to Judgement let him then cover himself so subtilly as he will in his sins and in his perverse and corrupt nature as also in his averted or off-turned meanings from us and from the requiring of the service of the love of Jesu Christ hear the judgement or sentence of his condemnation out of the righteous judgement of God and bear the burden of his damnation
wish much grace and Salvation in the Lord here have I endeavoured me to express and signifie unto you all out of our most holy service of love the counsel mind and will of God whereunto every one is debtour to humble and to submit himself obediently also Gods wonderfull work with his holy ones which the wicked world hath never known nor understood and which also bideth alwayes and for ever hidden or secret before the same and the declaration of the foregoing services of God and how that they all lead and have their ministration unto the service of love which is ministred out of the most holy of the true Tabernacle of God thus largely and in the most simple manner and each ones service briefly and with few words to an assistance and introduction unto those heavenly things which shall yet in their manifestation of clearness in the Spirit be seen and spoken of in the most perfect manner 2. For thereunto do we under the obedience of the love shew forth our service namely towards all them that God stirreth into our way and that assemble them unto us which also love the truth of the declaration of the true God-services and Christian Ceremonies and desire to accomplish the requiring of those same To the end that they all which seek after the truth of Jesu Christ and read or hear these godly testimonies of our writings mought be somewhat furthered with this assistance or hand-teaching to the knowledge of the truth of Jesu Christ and that the true God-services and Ceremonies which lead unto the godliness mought be in their upright use and whereto each ones God-service reacheth seen into and understood of them according to the truth and that likewise the unilluminated and unregenerated men mought then even so understand and know that they ought not through any taking out of the knowledge of the Scripture nor through any knowledge which ariseth in their hearts to set forth to preach nor to teach any services nor Ceremonies wherewith doubtless they seduce themselves and other moe but that they ought first humbly to turn them unto the Word of grace to submit them obediently under the service of love wherein the true light cometh with full clearness to give eare and credit to the same and to accomplish his requiring For in the same service every one shall receive good resolution and instruction how for to come to the new birth in Jesus Christ and to what manner of accomplishment the services and Ceremonies ought to be used and obeyed in their right use 3. And thereto and to the unity of heart in the love is likewise all my service chieffest unto all lovers of the truth That they all which love the truth mought now come-somewhat nearer unto us in the holy understading and be concordably minded with us under the obedience of the love to the unity of the heart in Jesu Christ and become assembled unto us and that they should then even so so much the better understand the holy mind of our God the true service of love wherein God the most highest hath comprehended us and the heavenly truth witnessed in The glass of righteousness and administred out of love in this declaration 4. FOr that cause my desire is unto you all which read and hear these our writings that ye will diligently revolve in minde and throughly measure our upright and undeceiveable service shewed on you and the ground of this same and have an inspection and consideration with pure devotion unto God upon the understanding of every particular sentence and whereunto the same serveth to the lightning of our understanding And take even so good heed unto the hearty mercifulness of God shewed on you through the service of love 5. For out of grace undeserved is this mystery of the works of God uncovered unto you all which love the truth and presently in this day of love is the Evangely of the Kingdome which is breathed on and brought unto us now in the last time out of of the word of grace and out of the Spirit of the living God to the procreating of the living souls of Sion published or evangelized in these perilous times to the Salvation and Preservation of you all To the end that you mought now in the last time be led out from the wicked world and from her perverse generations be released from all conceited opinions which the man taketh to him out of the knowledge of the Scripture and have your communion or society with us 6. For our communion in this true light of the love is the uniformity with God the Father with his son our Lord Jesus Christ with the holy Ghost the pledge of the promises of our Inheritance and with all the holy ones of God in the heavenly being It is very true The XLI Chapter UNto this same grace which is this day O ye lovers of the truth with all ye which love the upright and lovely life of the love proffered unto you and to the same Majesty of God and communiality of his holy ones which is this day declared unto you ye are all presently called and invited 2. For seeing that this great grace and hearty love is chanced unto us through the appearing of the glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ from God the Father and that the Lord hath stirred us up in the end of the world and sent us in the right time for to gather together his chosen holy ones unto the mercy-seat of the of the Majesty of God to unity of heart in the love of Jesu Christ So pass we with the presenting of the same grace and intire love of God thorow the Nations of People from the chiefest in the understanding and knowledge of the Scripture even unto the smallest and simplest For the sound of the last trumpet namely the voice or testimony of the grace of the holy Spirit of love shall be heard in all the world 3. Happy is he which to day heareth this voice and hardeneth not his heart but believing the Word becometh assembled unto the body of Jesu Christ the mercy-seat of the majesty of God and entreth into the rest of the Lord. 4. BEhold thereto is our service among all Nations of the people If happily we mought find any lovers of the truth which seek God and his righteousness with all their heart and assemble them with us to our communiality of love the onely Body of Christ and that they mought even so enter with us and all the children of God into the rest of the Lord to their preservation in this day of the righteous judgment of God 5. For that cause let every one take now good heed unto this Day and have regard what the holy Spirit of love requireth 6. For whosoever assembleth not himself in this day unto the body of Jesu Christ under the obedience of his
EVANGELIUM REGNI A joyful MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM Published by the holy Spirit of the love of Jesus Christ and sent forth unto all Nations of people which love the Truth in Jesus Christ. Set forth by H. N. and by him perused anew and more distinctly declared Translated out of Base-Almayn O how lovely are the feet of the Messengers which publish the peace preach good tidings and evangelize the salvation Isa. 52. b. Nah. 2. a. Rom. 10. c. The Evangely of the Kingdom shall be preached unto the world for a witness unto all people and then shall the end come Matth. 24. b. I saw an angel flie thorow the midst of heaven having an everlasting Evangely to publish unto them which sit and dwell upon the earth namely unto all heathen generations languages and people Apoc. 14. a. Imprinted at London 1652. THE PREFACE COnsider on the Time O all yee People which love the truth of Iesus Christ. 2 Presently in this day of the love and of the appearing of the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ in the Resurrection of the dead wherein the Law the Prophets and all that is written of Christ becometh fulfilled is this Ioyfull Message of the Kingdom out of the hearty mercifulness and love of God the Father Evangelized unto us all and sent especialy by the holy spirit of the love of Iesus Christ unto all lovers of the Truth as also published in all the world for a testimony unto all peoplâ— aâ—â—ording to the scripture To the stirring up of all â—nderstandings unto the true knowledge of the godlines in Iesus Christ and to an everlasting concordable and stedfast peace upon the earth according to the promises 3 Let every one respect well this profered Grace for even now in the last time the Lord sendeth his Angel or Messenger before him for to prepare his way and to publish an everlasting evangelie unto all generations languages and people according to his promises to the intent that they all should now withdraw them from the iniquity turn them to the family of the love of Iesus Christ God his mercy seat and even so to their preservation in the godlines shew fortst upright â—epentance for their sins the end shall come 4 And albeit that we have set forth these present testimonies O yee lovers of the truth of Iesus Christ to an Evangelie of the Kingdome and publish to a joyful message that the God of heaven hatâ— shewed mercy on all people for that they should repent them and stand goâ—d-willing unto his requiring declared his great Day-light of the upright righteousnes through us his elected ones in the world out of heavâ—n from his right-hand and brought it ovâ—r the whole earth for to judge the â—ame with righteousnes yet are not therefore these present testimonies alone the Evangelie of the Kingdome which was promised to be published in the world and unto all people but also all the Testimonies which the God of heaven hath brought forth through his holy ones and through his elected Minister H. N. 5 For all those same are also evangelical testimonies of the Kingdom of his declaring All which testimonies are also new in the last time held forth to a true â—lass of righteousnes before the children of men to an everlasting peace upon earth unto men which are good of will according to the promises 6 For that cause O ye lovers of the truth if yee now this day hear his voice and that this grace and loue of God the Father Christ become to your preservation in the godlines proffered unto you so hardâ—n not then your hearts that ye bide not without the rest of the Lord which is prepared from the beginning for the people of God and for all repentant sinners and is appeared now in the last time according to the Scripture Take it to heart A Joyfull Message of the Kingdom of God and CHRIST The First CHAPTER HN Through the Grace and mercy of God and through the holy Spirit of the love of Iesus Christ raisâ—d up by the highest God from the death according â—o the providence of God and his promises anointed with the Holy Ghost in the old-age of the holy understanding of Iesus Christ Godâ—d with God in the spirit of his love made heire with Christ in the heavâ—nly goods of the riches of God â— illuminated in the spirit with the heavenly truth the true light of the perfect being â—lected â—o a Minister of the gracious word which is now in the last time raisâ—d up by God according to his promises in the most holy service of God under the obedience of his love for to publish in the last time out of the same grace and hearty mercifulnes of God and through the same holy Spirit of the love of Iesus Christ good tydings or a joyfull message of the Kingdom of God unto all people which â—it in darknes and have a desire or longing after the true light and to bring unto the beleevers a great light of the true being of Iesus Christ and the glorious day of his godly cleeâ—nes as also to expreâ—â—â— that God hath pitied the generations of mankind and that Iesus Christ hath not left us as orphanes but as our faithfull Father for to beget us anew out of the safe-making water or doctrine of his service and out of his holy spirit of love also to judge us with his righteousness and to bring us into his rest is come againe unto us according to his promises to the end thâ—t they all which love God and his righteousnes and Christ and his upright being might presently enter into the true rest which God hath prepared from the beginning for his elect and inherit the everlasting life 2 For that cause all lovers of the truth and all souls which hunger and thirst after the righteousnes become assembled obediently unto the service of the love of Iesus Christ shal presently according to the word of the Lord eat of the bread of life and drinke out of the fountain of living water and become satisfied 3 Unto the same God which hath prepared all this for us and bringeth it to us out of the bosom of his love be laud honor praise thanks-giving for ever and ever Amen 4. UNto the lovers of the Truth here and there wheresoever or in what quarter of the world they dwell or have their abode of what Nation and Religion soever they be Christians Jews Mahomites or Turks and heathen with all divided people of what condition or dignity soever they be Pastors of the Religious or Fourders of Religion Understanding ones or expert in the godly wisdom well learned exercised eloquent in the holy Scripture High Magistrates and renowned Potentates noble of linage rich or mighty of estate rulers of commonalties together
with all people Let every Nation then have among them so many manner of grounds beliefs religions ceremonies and services as they will wherein they love God his truth and the righteousnes 5 The grace and peace from God our Father the refreshing or renewing of the minde from the naked or uncovered face of our Lord Iesus Christ the communalty of holy ones their uniformity of being with the holy spirit of the love of Iesus Christ becommeth presently published proffered and brought unto you And to all the same yee are also this day called and bidden namely yee all which love the truth unto godlines and have a desire to do the will of the Lord and to humble your selves obediently to the service of the love of Iesus Christ and his requiring 6. HAppy are they which have now in this day intended or minded the love and the peace For in this selfe same day shall now the good with all the repentant ones which stand good willing towards the good become known and made manifest from the wicked and from all unrepentant ones which have a desire to the iniquity and to the wicked and corrupted world and they shall separate them the one from the other 7 For it shall now in this day be seen and evidently perceived that all good willing ones to to the good shall assemble them unto the good namely to the communalty of the love wherein the Lord hath manifested and set his light and where his Sun of righteousnes the true heavenly day-light shineth enter into the rest of the Lord and obtaine the everlasting godliness and that they all which are evill of will and hardned in the iniquity shall make them up with their good thinking wisdom ther-against and bâ—ing the eternall damnation over themselves like as there is written thereof Therfore cometh there presently great grace unto all good willing ones but unto them that refuse the grace also are evill of will and love the darkness more then the light great severity or indignation 9 For behold in this present Day the glorious coming of our Lord Iesus Christ w th the many thousands of his saints becometh manifested which hath set himselfe now upon the seat of his Majesty for to judge in this same day which the Lord hath ordained or appointed the whole world with equity and with faithfulnesse and truth according to his righteousnes 10 For that cause O all yee which dwell upon the earth fear now the Lord the most highest and givâ— him alone all honour laud and praise for the day of his judgement is now come that it might now in the same day of the true judgement of God and Christ become all fulfilled in Christ whatsoever is written of him 11 OH that they now all had such an heart that they respected well this same day submitted them with humble and single minded hearts under the gracious hand of the Lord and stood obediently and concordably minded to the holy and gracious word so should then assuredly every one right well perceive by experience that God had opened now in the last time a great door of grace unto all faithfull and good willing hearts declared and brought the salvation of the everlasting life unto them and that the same grace bideth altogether closed to before all unbelievers of the word and his service of love before all wavering minded ones and decliners from the same service and before all such as have neither lust nor will unto God nor unto his love the salvation of the everlasting life unknowne and this Joyfull message of the Kingdome which is now in the last time through the holy and gracious word published in all the world before the destruction or perishing of the wicked world to an everlasting rest for all the children of God and to the preservation of mâ—n which hope on God covered or secret 12 For verily if this Joyfull Message of the Kingdom of Christ which in his mistery is the perfect cleernesse of God and the true light of Christ himself be covered or secret before any man So is it then secret before them that perish and are turned unto themselves and their knowledge as also are captived with the minds of the unbelieving world 13 FOr that cause O yee good willing hearts Awake now all out of the sleep of your sins and hear and beleeve the out-flowing living voice of the love of Iesus Christ which Christ in this present day letteth be heard through his holy spirit and elected Minister H.N. upon the earth 14 Happy is he that can now in this perilous time indure the voice of the true light also hearing the gracious word of the Lord which becometh witnessed forth and administred with the same voice beleeveth it and harâ—neth nor dâ—praveth not his heart in this same day but becometh assembled unto Christ and unto the family of his love Amen The Second Chapter SEeing now then that out of God's grace in this day of the godly love the mistery of the heavenly Kingdome of God his righteous Judgement and the coming of his Christ now in the last time in the Resurrection of the dead is declared unto me as an elected vessel house or dwelling of God and given me to know or understand the same and that I through the service of the love of Iesus Christ declare forth again the same mystery of the riches of God upon the earth and minister the gracious and living word of the â—ord which I have received out of the true light and heavenly Ierusalem to a witnes of the truth from the mouth of God himself in his name and according to his will to the preservation and blessing of all generations of the earth which beleeve theron according to the promises So were it likewise very meet and right that they all which will now bide preserved in these perilous times gave ear unto me in the gracious word of my heavenly father turned their hearts with all good willingnesse to the love and her service unto the obedience of the gracious word and ran not forth in ignorance according to their good-thinking or imagination of the knowledge and that also they all which hear to day this voice or witnessing of the holy spirit of love hardned not their hearts nor yet took offence at the Ministraâ—ion of the gracious word but stood well-minded to the lovely and upright being of our Lord Iesus Christ and to his love respected well this same day to the purging of their heart and minde and even so enâ—red with the children of God into the resâ— of the Lord. 2 Which rest even till unto this same day is left unto the children of God or reserved for them to the end that the same should now in the last