high mountaine and shewed mee that great Citie the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God having the glory of God And her light was like unto a stone most precious even like a Jasper stone clear as chrystall The Bride of Christ is the Church of God and it is descended out of Heaven from God for it is one with him for it is the Spirit of God in all the children of God that is this body the Church The Bride and this descendeth from God into us yet it is not parted from him but is in him and this is cloathed with the glory of God This is that righteousnesse of the Saints and her light is the light of Christ and that light is the clearest and purest and most precious and glorious light that can be I will appeare glorious in thee Isa 49.3 Awake awake put on thy Strength O Sion put on thy beautifull garments O Jerusalem the holy Citie for hence-forth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the uncleane Shake thy selfe from the dust arise and sit downe O Jerusalem loose thy selfe from the bands of thy necke O captive daughter of Sion Isa 52.1 2. Shee was in a sleepy drousie condition so long as shee sate in the dust of that earth of Anti-christ and was a captive in his band But now our Beloved is come hee calls unto us to awake and to put on strength The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be affraid Psalm 27.1 Psalm 28.7 Hee hath cloathed us with his strength And this is that beautifull garment Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee For behold the darkenesss shall cover the earth and grosse darkenesse the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seene upon thee Isa 60.1 2. And the glory that thou hast given me I have given them John 17.22 The Spouse of Christ being cloathed with the glory of Christ shee is all glorious The Kings daughter is all glorious within Wee are the King of heavens daughters for wee are married to Christ and God the Father is our Father and wee are all glorious within It is the Spirit of God in us that is so glorious and this is a spirituall glory it cannot be seene outwardly by others they may hear us speake forth something of this glory in us but none sees it nor knowes it but those that have it Revel 2.17 To him that overcommeth will I give to eate of the hidden Manna and I will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth saving him that hath it This Manna is Christ and he is hid from the world but as wee are Saints wee see it and feede upon it for it is that which wee live by and this stone is Christ 1 Pet. 2.6 And this is a very precious stone and here is a new name written in this stone that none doth know it but hee that hath it And that which is written in it is the manifestation of the exceeding riches of the love and mercy of God and all his glory and excellency which hee hath given us as we are Saints Christ doth set forth the beauty and comlinesse and glory of his Church having his beauty and comelinesse and glory on her Cant. 4. Cant. 7. Thou hast ravished my heart my Sister my Spouse thou hast ravished my heart with one of thy eyes with one chain of thy necke How faire is thy love my Sister my Spouse how much better is thy love than wine and the smell of thy oyntments than all spices Thy lips O my Love drop as the honey-combe honey and milke are under thy tongue and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon This oyntment that our Beloved is so taken with the smell of is the anoynting of the holy Ghost 1 John 2.27 The anointing which yee have received of him abideth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you all things and is truth and is no lye and even as he hath taught you ye shall abide in him The Priests and Kings used to be anoynted with oyle and it was a type of Christ hee was that King and Priest that was anoynted with the holy Ghost Psalm 45.6 7. Thy throne O God is for ever and ever the scepter of thy kingdome is ascepter of righteousnesse Thou lovest righteousnesse and hatest wickednesse because God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse above thy fellowes And this is like that precious oyntment upon the head that runneth upon the beard even unto Aarons beard which wet downe on the border of his garments Psal 133.2 This oyntment of the Spirit of God is all of it poured upon this Priest Christ which is the head of the Church and it runs off from him down upon all the Saints and this ointment of the Spirit of God makes our garments smell so sweete which is that Wedding garment Mat. 22.12 which is the righteousnesse of the Saints Revel 19.8 And being filled with this Spirit causeth our lips to speake or drop forth sweet heavenly glorious things more sweeter to the soule than the honey and honey-comb is to the pallet The Spouse of Christ is exceeding glorious in every respect being in Christ she is perfect in him I in them and they in me that they may be made perfect in one John 17.23 That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us John 17.21 Put on charity which is the bond of perfectnesse Coloss 3.14 which is Christ And where hee is there is perfection Col. 1.27 28. To whom God would â—ake knowne what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in â—ou the hope of glory Whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdome that wee may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus We are perfect in Christ as wee are Saints and are the Church of God for this Spirit of Christ in us is perfect but as wee are men and women we are not perfect for we are naturall and not spirituall and as we are naturall we cannot discern the things of God neither can we doe them 1 Cor. 2.14 But it is this Spirit of God in us that doth all and if hee withdraw his Spirit from us we shall runne into all sin if he doth not restraine us for our bodies are the same as they were before the Spirit of God appeared in us and by his reigning in us he suppresseth destroyeth and burneth up by degrees as he revealeth himself in us all things that are contrary to him and hee brings our wills into subjection to his for wee are led by his Spirit and being filled with his Spirit wee are made drunke as it were with it
not away the Comforter will not come but depart I will send him unto you John 16. â— So when hee departed from them in the â—â—dy hee did send his Spirit to them and only to them but to all his children to and of the world He shall abide with you â—â—ver I will not leave you comfortlesse I will to you John 14.18 So he departed from them in flesh and 〈◊〉 â—nto them in Spirit and remaineth with his Church for ever and is a greater Comforter â—o his Church in Spirit than hee was to his Disciples in his flesh when he was with them â—o Christ hath given us his spirit freely that we â—ay see the things that are freely given to us â—f God So in thy light saith David we see light Though wee as wee are men cannot see the â—hings of God but as we are Saints and have â—he Spirit of God so we come to see the things of God for the Spirit of God in us seeth the â—hings of God and so far as hee revealeth the â—hings of God to us so far wee see them with his s pirituall eye of himselfe The Lord is my â—ight Psalm 27.1 So in this light we see God who is light For ye were sometime darkenesse â—ut now are yee light in the Lord Ephes 5.8 For thou art my lamp O Lord and the Lord will â—ighten my darknesse 2 Sam. 22.29 So farre as God hath revealed himselfe to â—n so farre we have seen him with the light of himselfe And so farre as we have not seene him with the light of himselfe so farre we are â—n darknesse still and so farre as hee hath revealed himselfe to us hee teacheth us all things and brings all things to our remembrance For therefore hee was sent unto us to teach us to know what Christ hath done for us and to know the things that are freely given to us of God and to be our Comforter There is 〈◊〉 Comforter like this for he is alwayes in 〈◊〉 and knows our trouble there is not any thiâ— hid from him for we have not an high Prâ—â—â— which cannot be touched with the failing 〈◊〉 our infirmities but was in all points tempâ—â— like as we and yet without sin Heb. 4 1â— For in that he himselfe hath suffered being templâ— he is able to succour them that are tempted Hâ—â— 2.18 Christ hath suffered in all manner of afflicâ—â—â—ons both spirituall and temporall thereforâ— his Spirit is a sufficient Comforter to comfoâ—â— us in all our troubles with the love of himselâ— and in upholding us in it and to bring us 〈◊〉 of them when he sees it is for his glory and 〈◊〉 good Thus the Spirit seeth the things 〈◊〉 God For the 2d. It is the Spirit alone that hearâ— the things of God He that hath an eare to heaâ— let him beare Mat. 13.9 Mâ—r. 4.9 He that haâ—â— an ear let him beare what the Spirit saith unto tâ—â— Churches Rev. 2.7 It must be such an eare as can heare what thâ— Spirit faith It is only the Spirit that can heâ—â— the Spirit speak that knows the languageâ— the Spirit and none else man may or can hâ—â— what man speaketh and of the minde of Goâ— as it is writ in Scripture and to heare it in thâ— letter as it is in the letter but to hear it so as to understand know what it is in the truth of it as the truth is in Jesus none knowes it but the Spirit of God for it is spirituall The word that I spake unto you is Spirit and life and this word is Christ And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory 〈◊〉 of the only begotten of the Father ful of grace truth Joh. 1.14 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God John 1.1 So this word is spirituall for God is a Spirit John 4.24 And none can hear this word but that which is one and the same with it and therefore it is onely the Spirit of God which is one and the same with God which hath that hearing eare to hear what the Spirit saith and this Spirit of God heares all the mind of God yea all the secrets of God He doth heare what things they are that God hath prepared for them that love him and those things the eare of man as man cannot heare what they be for they are spirituall and heavenly glorious things and man is carnall and cannot heare them so as to understand it It is a strange language to him hee doth not know the meaning of it therefore he hath declared all things to his Spirit and hath given us his Spirit and so this Spirit of God in us doth heare the Spirit speake it speakes nothing but peace and love and mercy and goâ—â— will to us and what he hath done for us 〈◊〉 what he is in us and to us and what we are 〈◊〉 him and to him as we are Saints and 〈◊〉 Spirit will declare it to us by degrees that 〈◊〉 we are Saints wee shall know them for theâ—â—fore the Spirit was sent to us that throâ—â— him we may hear what God hath done for 〈◊〉 Thus have I shewed you in some measâ—â— that it is alone the Spirit of God that hearâ—â— the things of God for us For the 3d. It is the Spirit of God aloâ—â— that understands the things of God for mâ—â—â— as man cannot understand the things of Goâ— because they are spiritually discerned 1 Gâ—â— 2.24 And man is altogether earnall Mat. 1â— 13 They seeing see not and hearing bear nâ—â— neither doe they understand Isa 6.9 Mark 4 1â— John 12.40 Acts 28.26 How can they uâ—â—derstand that which they can neither see nâ—â— heare When Christ told his Apostles that he mâ—â— goe to Jerusalem and all things that are writâ— by the Prophets concerning the Sonne of Mâ—n fâ—â— be accomplished For he shall be delivered unto 〈◊〉 Gentiles and shall be mocked and spightfully 〈◊〉 treated and spit on And they shall scourge 〈◊〉 and put him to death and the third day hee shâ—â— rise againe And they understood none of thing and this saying was hid from them neither â—new they these things that were spoken Luke 18. â—1 32 33 34. They were the Apostles of Jesus Christ and â—â—e chose them among his Disciples to goe and â—â—reach the Gospel to all the world yet they 〈◊〉 they were men they understood not those â—â—ings in the mysterie what should be brought 〈◊〉 passe by those things They could not chuse 〈◊〉 know what those things meant outwardâ—y when he told them so plainly what things â—e must suffer for they could do no other but â—now those things outwardly but those sayâ—â—gs spirituall were kept from them that they â—â—derstood them not For man as man canâ—ot understand any thing but that which is of â—â—n For the things of God knowes no man Hee â—ay hear much with the eare and speak much 〈◊〉 that which hee
saith not to the seedes as speaking of many 〈◊〉 but unto thy seede as of one which is Christ Abraham was a type of God and Isaa◠〈◊〉 type of Christ and the promises are promised to this seed Gen 17.7 8. I will establish my Covenant betweene me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting Covenant to be God unto thee and to thy seed after thee And I will give thee and thy seede afâ—â—â— thee the Land wherein thou art a stranger evâ—â— all the Land of Canaan for an everlasting possession and I will be their God And vers 21. of this Chapter he saith My Covenant will I estâ—blish with Isaac And vers 19. And I will establish my Covenant with him an everlasting Covenant â—and with his seed after him All the promises are to Christ and his seâ—â— which is sowne in the Saints for that i◠〈◊〉 with Christ and all the land of Canaan 〈◊〉 promised to him and his seed The land of Câ—naan waâ— a type of heaven so heaven iâ— pâ—â—mised to the seed of Christ with Christ Christ obtained it of his Father for us by his suffering Heb 5.9 And being made perfect he became the author of eternall salvation unto all them that obey him Heb. 8.14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified All that Christ did doe or suffer was for man he was made perfect for them and the children of God hath the whole benefit of it so they are made perfect in Christ Hee is the author of eternall salvation unto all them for they are the seede of Christ not as they are men but as they are Saints CHAP. XII How the seede of Christ is the Church of Christ or the Spouse of Christ CHrist hath purchased of his Father a chosen people to himselfe in his Father he is a common salvation to all but a speciall salvation to them and them he will make known hiâ— love and mind unto by degrees This seed of himselfe in them is the Church of Christ and the Church of Christ is the body of Christ Ephes 1.23 Not as he was man but 〈◊〉 he is God he iâ— a Spirit and the Church which is his body must be spirituall too and sutable to Christ for hee is the head of the Church Ephes 5.23 So the seede of himselfe being sown in all the Saints is the body Eph. 5.23 Christ is the head of the Church and the Saviour of the bodie vers 25 26 27. Christ loved the Church and gave himselfe for it that he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word that bee might present is to himselfe a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and wiihout blemish That seede of Christ in us is perfect and Christ came not to purge sanctifie and wash it but to wash us as we are men and women to purge away our sinnes by his blood and to sanctâ—fie and wash us in our conversation by his Spirit in us We have a neare relation to Christ as he was man for we are members of his bodie of his flâ—sh and of his bones Ephes 5.30 He tooke our nature upon him that he might obtaine all things for us as wee are men and he is the Saviour of our bodies Ephes 5.23 For our bodie is the temple of the holy Ghost 1 Cor. 6.19 Know yee not that yee are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If 〈◊〉 man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy For the Temple of God is holy which tâ—â—ple ye are 1 Cor. 3.16 17. For ye are not yoâ— owne ye are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6.20 He hath redeemed us to himselfe that we should serve him in all love hee hath done all things for the glory of himselfe and that we should have the benefit of it and he doth purge his Temple for himselfe to dwell in but as we are men there is no good in us nor no inclination to good we are but poor earthen vessels yet hee himselfe is pleased to dwell in us by his Spirit For God who commanded the light to shine out of darknesse hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.6 7. So it is not our bodies that is the Church for our bodies are not one with God for it is but an earthen vessell for the Spirit of God to dwell in But this Spirit being in all the children of God makes one body Now yee are the bodie of Christ and members in particular 1 Cor. 12.27 For as the body is one and hath many members and all the members of that one bodie being many are one body so also is Christ For by one Spirit are wee all baptized into one body whether wee be Jewes or Gentiles whether wee be bound or free and have been all made to drinke inâ—â— one Spirit For the body is not one member but many If the foote shall say because I am not the hand I am not of the body is it therefore not of the body And if the eare shall say because I 〈◊〉 not the eye I am not of the body is it therefore not of the body If the whole body were an eye where were the hearing If the whole were heâ—ring where were the smelling But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body as it hath pleased him And if they were all one members where were the body But now are they many members yet but one body And the eye caâ—â—â— say to the hand I have no need of thee nor agaiâ— the head to the feet I have no need of you Nâ—â— much more those members of the body which seeâ— to be more feeble are necessary But all thâ—â—â— worketh by one and the selfe same Spirit dâ—viding to every man severally as he will 1 Câ—â— 12.11 to the 22. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift 〈◊〉 Christ Wherefore he saith When hee ascended 〈◊〉 on high he led captivity captive and gave gifâ— unto men He ascended up far above all heavâ—â— that he might fill all things And he gave some â—postles and some Evangelists and some Pastors 〈◊〉 Teachers For the perfecting of the Saints for 〈◊〉 work of the Ministery for the edifying of the boâ—â— of Christ Anâ— growing up into him in all thiâ—â— which is the head even Christ From whom 〈◊〉 whole bodie is fitly joyned together and comâ—â—cted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part maketh encrease of the bodie unto the edifying of it selfe in love Ephes 4.7 8.10 11 12.15 16. Christ is the head and
his Church the body and every particular Saint is the members of it and Christ which is the head hath compact and fitly joyned this body together he being the head of it the head is the principall of all for that receives sustenance for the nourishment of the bodie as a tree receiveth nourishment by the roote for the sap is in the root and springs into the body and so infuseth into the branches and causeth them to bring forth fruit I am the vine ye are the branches He that abideth in me I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can doe nothing Joh. 15.5 Christ in all the Saints in the Vine and every particular Saint are the branches and Christ hath the fulnesse of the God-head which is the roote of all and the Church is of the seede Christ is the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all Ephes 1.23 He is the head from which all the body by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together encreaseth with the encrease of God Col. 2.19 And he hath put all things under his feete And gave him to be the head over all things to the Church which is his body Ephes 1.22 23. So he supplieth the wants of the Saints with the infusing of the fulnesse of himselfe into them working effectually in them according to the measure that he infuseth in them in his wisedome so though we have but the manifestation of himselfe in a small measure let us not say I am not of the body because I have no more for the body cannot be without the foote but beâ— contented with that thou hast still desiring waiting patiently for more and those that are the weakest members in this spirituall body the Church hath as much honour with God as the highest members and are as glorious Those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary and thoâ—â— members of the body which wee thinke to be lest honourable upon these we bestow more abundant honour and our uncomely parts have more abundant comelinesse for our comely parts have no neede but God hath tempered the body together having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked that there should be no schisme in the body but that the members should have thâ— same care one for another And whether oâ—â— member suffer all the members suffer with 〈◊〉 or one member be honoured all the membâ—â—â— rejoyce with it 1 Cor. 12.22 to the 26. And â—is Church is compared to a building and 〈◊〉 called a spirituall building whose builder and â—â—ker is God Ye are the Lords building and yee â—e built upon the foundation of the Apostles and â—rophets Jesus Christ himselfe being the chiefe â—â—er stone In whom all the building fitly fraâ—ed together graweth unto an holy Temple in the 〈◊〉 In whom you also are builded together for 〈◊〉 hobitation of God through the Spirit Eph. 2. â—â— 21 22. The foundation of the Prophets and Apoâ—â—es is Christ and he is the corner-stone Ye also as lively stones are built up a spirituall house 〈◊〉 holy Priest-hood to offer up spirituall sacrifice â—â—ptable to God by Jesus Christ Wherefore it 〈◊〉 contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in â—â—ion a chiefe corner-stone elect and precious and 〈◊〉 that believeth on him shall not be confounded â—sa 28.16 It is he that is the builder and he â—uilâ—s his Church upon himselfe hee is the â—ooke and he faith Vpon this rocke will I build â—y Church This is sure builded Therefore whoâ—â—ver beareth these sayings of mine and doth them â—ill liken him unto a wife man that built his â—â—se upon a rocke And the raine descended and 〈◊〉 â—â—oods came and the winde blew and beate 〈◊〉 that house and it fell not for it was founded â—â—on a rocke Mat. 7.24 25. And he is the corner-stone that joynes the building fast toâ—â—â—ther and this corner-stone holds up the bâ—â—â—ding and in the corner two meete together he gives the Jewes and Gentiles to himself and the Spirit of himself in us is the stone thâ—â— he builds withall through that word of Gâ—â— that was taught by the Prophets and Apostâ—â—â— and this Church and building is the Spousâ—â— Christ a garden enclosed is my sister my Spouse spring shut up a fountaine sealed Cant. 4 1â— There is the nearest relation betwixt Gâ—â—â— and his Church as can be and all his fulneâ—â— of love and all glory and all happinesse for his Spouse but yet it is shut and sealed thâ—â— she cannot see it yet it is shut up in her beleved for her and he will come quickly It shâ—â—â— not be long before he will come and break open this seale to thee that art the Spouseâ— Christ There is none can doe it but he aâ—â— he will shew thee that fulnesse of happiness thâ—â— thou hast in him and how it was thine whâ—â— thou wert an enemie to him and he hath kâ—â— it in store for thee though thou knewest is noâ— O what sweet expressions of love hee utterâ—â— to her that she might know his love hee â—alâ— her my love my dove my faire one Cant. 2 1â— Thou art all faire my Love and there is no spâ—◠〈◊〉 thee And my Dove my undefiled is bu◠〈◊〉 Cant. 6.9 Though some be growne in some measure â—â—gh Saints and some lies low some have â—uch enjoyment of God some little and some â—one at all yet they are all his Love his Dove â—is undefiled and faire one They all but only thee is his Spouse hee hath but one love for them all he loves them all alike with an everlasting love and none can keepe them from him she is his Wife I have married thee to my selfe Hosea 2.19 20. I will marrie thee unto 〈◊〉 for ever yea I will marry thee unto me in righteousnesse and in judgement and in mercy and in compassion I will marry thee unto me in faithfulnesse and thou shalt know the Lord. The Lord hath married us unto himself before the foundation of the world for he knew what should come to passe but wee doe not know it for it is shut up in Christ and sealed and in his time he comes and breaks open this seale to us by degrees and opens himselfe to us and sheâ—s us that he is married to us he is our husband Jer. 31.32 and we are his Wife Let us be glad and rejoyce and give glory to him for the matriage of the Lamb is come and his wife hath made her selfe ready Revel 19.7 O what comfort is this to every member of this Church that Christ is thy husband and thou art his wife My well-beloved is mine and I am his Cant. 2.16 There cannot be a nearer relation for hee being our husband aâ—â— things are ours in him whether they be thingâ— present or things to come even all are yours 〈◊〉 you are Christs and Christ is Gods 1 Cor. 3.22 23. And being married to Christ God 〈◊〉 our Father and
Independents nor the Independents despise the Presbytery and those that are neither of them let them not despise either of them for those that are the children of God what form soever they are in there is the seed of God in them though it be covered with a great deal of drosse that the seed of God doth little appear yet that which is of God is pure wheresoever it is though Anti-christ appeareth more in â—hem than Christ and seduceth them and â—hey cannot see it while Christ doth break oâ—en his seales to us and as hee breakes open a â—â—al to us then we come to see more light then â—e see what grosse ways of Anti-christ we have â—een in then we come out of that forme into â—nother that more seeming glorious forme â—han the other that we were in before but Anâ—i-christ will reign in us in this form as well as in the other that we were in appearing more glorious to us then hee did before and when the Lord comes and breaks open another seale to us and brings us up higher to himselfe and â—hews us more light than we saw before then wee see what a darke way wee were in before then wee come out of that forme into another forme more glorious than the other even the most purest and glorious form that we can find in all the Scripture Thus the Lord brings us from one thing to another from Papacie to Presbytery from Presbytery to Independency and the Lord is in every one of these formes to his people while hee brings them out of it and Sathan also doth transforme himselfe to an Angel of light and will be in that form to you for now you are out of an Anti-christian way and thinke your selves safe but you may hug and embrace Anti-christ in the mystery when you hate him speak against him in the history and the more glorious form you are in the more secure you thinke your selves and are ready to say let us here build Tabernacles And beloved wee make goodly Images to our selves the more glorious our forme is the more glorious images we make and the more liker God the more dangerous for that which is not purely of God so far as it is not of God it is of Anti-christ and we make an image of it and that which is like Christ for Anti-christ doth appeare in us like Christ we doe not know him from Christ therefore let not any of us despise each other or undervalue one another for Anti-christ doth tyrannize over us all some in one way and some in another and hee it is that causeth us to despise and undervalue one another for that which is of God is loving and kind to all and meeke and milde and causeth us to forgive one another and forbeare one another and overcome one another with love When Christ comes and breaks open another seal to you then you will see that yet you are in the darke for that light which now you have is a great light to that which you saw before but it is but darknesse to that light which shall appeare to you and then hee will shew you that a great deale of that in you which you thought was spirit will appeare to be but flesh which is of Anti-christ CHAP. XVII How God brings his Church into the wildernesse THere is a spirituall wildernesse that Christ brings his Saints into before hee giveth them a full possession of Canaan that is that glorious inheritance which is Christ A wildernesse is a barren place he will strippe us of all our excellent things so far as it is not purely of himselfe hee will come with the North-winde and nip and deaden and blast all our most excellent performances that wee shall have nothing to trust to but see our selves in a barren condition like a wilderness The church of God hath been in the wildernesse ever since Anti-christ began to reigne and Anti-christ is that which is like Christ yet opposeth Christ and it began in the Apostles dayes for no sooner is there any thing of Christ made known but the Devill will transforme himselfe as like it as may be and labour to set up his way in us and opposeth the way of Jesus Christ For every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God and this is that spirit of Anti-christ whereof you have heard that it should come and even now already it is in the world 1 John 4.3 Little children it is the last time and as ye have heard that Anti-christ shall come even now there are many Anti-christs whereby wee know that it is the last times 1 John 2.18 That which doth deny Christ any other ways in the history or in the mysterie in what manner soever it be so farre as wee hold any thing that is not the pure truth of Christ so farre as it is not truth it is of Anti-christ though it appeare never so glorious and it is said that there are many Anti-christs because hee appeareth in many wayes to us but he did not reigne in the Apostles time so as he hath done since for the Gospel was then purely preached but Christ told his Disciples what things should come to passe Mat. 24.15 When yee therefore shall see the abhomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet stand in the holy place whoso readeth let him understand When the Lord openeth our eyes that wee see it before us and in us then wee come to read and understand that the abhomination of Anti-christ being set up makes the truth of Jesus Christ desolate for that light that shined in the Apostles dayes hath beene quite put out and the Church hath been led in a very darke way for the minde of God hath beene sealed up with seven seales and all the time that the booke is sealed up the Church is in the wildernesse and there shee hath a place prepared of God and there she should be fed a thousand two hundred and threescore days Rev. 1.26 And this was the time of the two Witnesses prophesying And I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes cloathed in sack-cloath Rev. 11.3 God hath some alwayes to speake forth his pure truth in some measure and they that speake forth the things of Christ are the witnesses of Christ and they prophesie in sacke-cloath which signe of sorrow and mourning when there is but little manifestation of Jesus Christ then we are kept under by Anti-christ both outward and inward and then is the time of mourning Can the children of the bride-chamber fast while the Bride-groom is with them but when the Bride-groom is taken from them in those dayes shall they fast And when they fasted they used to be cloathed in sack-cloath which doth appeare that the time of the Church being in the wildernesse having then but small appearance of the Bride-groom to them then is
hither Rev. 4.12 After this I looked and behold a doore was open in heaven and the first voyce which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me which said Come up hither and I will shew thee things that must be hereafter And immediately I was in the Spirit and behold a Throne was set in heaven and one sate on the Throne And being in the Spirit he comes to see it then after hee hath showne himselfe to us he shows us Anti-christ which is called the great Whore because we all commit spirituall fornication with her and here is a carrying us up higher in the Spirit to see her And there came one of the seven Angels which had the seven Vials and talked with me and saying unto me Come hither I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carryeth her I will shew unto thee the judgement of the great Whore Rev. 17.17 And then after he hath shewed us the mysterie of the Whore and her destruction then he shews us the marriage of the Church to Christ in the mysterie in his glory And there came unto me one of the seven Angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues and talked with me saying Come hither I will shew thee the Bride the Lambs wise And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountaine and shewed me that great Citie the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God having the glory of God Rev. 21.9 10 11. So we are carried up higher and hiher into God by the Spirit of God revealing the things of God in us and when the Spirit of God doth shew us God sitting upon his Throne in his glory in such a measure as we are enabled to see him then he shewes us Anti-christ in his glory or the Whore in her glory for it is one and the same as Christ and his Church is Christ being the head and his Church the body so Anti-christ which is the Devill transformed to an Angel of light is the head 2 Cor 11.14 and his seede in us all is the body which is called the Whore and she doth appeare very glorious And the woman was arraied in purple and scarlet-colour and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls Rev. 17.4 like the church of God the Lambs wife and without the Spirit of God doth shew us the difference betwixt her and the Church of God we do not know her from the Church of God for she is in the wildernesse where the Church of God is Rev. 17.3 So he carried me in the Spirit into the wildernesse and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast full of names of blasphemie having seven heads and ten horns By seeing the beast that she sitteth upon which doth beare her up and this beast doth ascend out of the bottomlesse pit Revel 11.7 Wee come to know her from the Church of God And there appeared a great wouder in heaven a woman cloathed with the Sun and the Moone under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve Stars And she being with child crying travelling in birth and pained to be delived This woman is the Church of God and is said lo be in heaven that is in Christ for hee is the perfect heaven and she is cloathed with Christ which is the Sonne of righteousnesse and all things that are below him is under her feete And she hath a crowne of twelve stars the glory of Christ that did appeare by that Doctrine that was taught by the twelve Apostles of Christ for the Preachers of the Gospel are called stars Rev. 1.20 Shee hath the glory of Christ and is cloached with him and he is with her and in her yet she saw it not hee had not manifested himselfe to her She was as it were with childe with him and in great paine desiring to have him brought forth to her that shee mighe see him as hee is and have the enjoyment of him and no sooner did this woman appear but there appeared another wonder in heaven And behold a great red Dragon having seven heads and tenne bornes and seven crowns upon his head and hee stood before the Woman which was ready to be delivered for to devoure her childe as soone as it was delivered Thus Anti-christ labours to devoure Christ as soon as he is brought forth in us appearing to us like unto Christ And there was warre in heaven Michael and his Angels sought against the Dragon and the Dragon sought and his Angels and prevailed not neither was their places found any more in heaven And the great dragon was cast out that old Serpent called the Devill and Satan which deceives the whole world hee was cast out into the earth and his Angels were cast out with him Here is the Devill made known to us how he is in heavenly places fighting against Christ but Christ hath overcome him and cast him out of his heavenly shape that hee shall not be able to overcome us He is called a red Dragon and a scarlet-coloured beast because hee persecutes and destroyes the Church of God and this Beast is spoken of in many places of the Revelations and the woman that sits upon it is the glory and seeming excellency of Antichrist and she also is cloathed with scarlet-colour which is persecution Though shee be cloathed in the most glorious manner as can be with gold and precious stones and pearls like the glory of Christ yet this is but to deceive us And she hath in her hand a golden cup full of abhominations and filthinesse of her fornication Being shee appeares so glorious to us like unto Christ and the cup that shee giveth us to drinke of appeareth so pure and glorious which maketh us not to question it but thinke that it is the cup of salvation So we drinke of her abhominationr and commit spiritual fornication with her and she sitteth upon all people multitudes and tongues and nations Rev. 17. Shee domineereth over us all and she is carried on swiftly in her abominations upon the backe of the Beast which was full of names of blasphemie which blasphemeth the name of God and ways of God And he hath seven heads perfection of wisdome he knows all the wayes of God and hee transformeth himselfe to the likentsse of them all And hee hath tenne hornes to persecute withall and he makes use of them so farre as God suffereth him and he hath all wayes to decive us in appearing like a Lamb to us having two hornes like a Lamb but speaking like a Dragon Rev. 13.11 and also appearing like Prophets in us Revel 16.13 14. And I saw three uncleane spirits like frogs comming out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the false Prophet For they are the spirit of Devills working miracles And the Lord doth make the wayes of Anti-christ appeare
wee shall see our selves live in his life and dead to that life that wee did live to our selves Thus the Lord will strip us of all our excellent things bringing us into the wildernesse and shewing us that all our works are burnt up so far as they are of us but that which is of God in us is not burnt up but is purged from our drosse and will appeare very glorious and will make us silent for we shall have nothing to boast of but confesse that it is Christ in us which is that glory then we shal â—e that he is no respecter of persons for whatsoever he be whether he be a strict Jew as the Jewes were very strict as ye may see by Paul before his conversion Or a Gentile one that makes no shew of godliness but lives very loosâ—y as those Gentiles did which are spoken of â—n Rom. 1. yet when Christ reveales himself to them they shall finde that his love is the same to them as to them that have been most strictest When the Lord of the Vine-yard sent labourers into his Vine-yard he sent some at the first hour and some at the third hour and some at the sixth hour some at the eleventh hour and when hee came to pay them hee began with him that went in last and he had as much given him as he that went in first Mat. 20. Those that are but young Saints that have been but lately brought into Christ the Lord doth many times reveal himselfe in a very glorious manner to them before he doth to them that have laboured in the Lords Vineyard a great while and have had the seede of God appearing in them a great while Mat. 29.30 But many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first That we may know that God is no respecter of persons for wee are all one body and his love is as great to one member as to another Ephes 4.4 5 6. There is one body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling One Lord one faith one Baptisme One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Col. 3.11 Christ is all and in all the Saints CHAP. XVIII How glorious the glory of Christ will appeare in his Church when he bringeth them out of the Wildernesse VVHen Christ hath stripped his Church off of all her goodly things then she hath nothing to trust too but on Christ Isa 2. Then the lofty lookes of man shall be humbled and the baughtinesse of men shall be bowed downe and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day For the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty and upon every one that is lifted up and hee shall bee brought low and the Idols hee shall utterly abolish And they shall goe into the holes of the rockes and into the â—aves of the Earth for feare of the Lord and for the glory of his Majestie when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth In that a man shall cast his Idols of silver and his Idols of god which they made every one for himselfe to worship to the Moles and to the Bats Hosea 14.8 Ephraim â—â—all say what have I to doe any more with Idols Isa 31.7 For in that day every man shall â—ast away his Idols of silver and his Idols of gold which your owne hands have made for a sinne When this day of the Lord is come to us then wee shall be willing to cast them away because the Lord shewes us the odiousnesse of them by the glory of himselfe revealed in us but before this day is come to us we had rather part from any thing than part from them But when he comes to give a full possession of himself then wee are willing to part from all thinge that are not of himselfe but hee doth not reveale all his glory to us at once but revealeth himselfe to us by degrees as wee are able to beare and containe him And as hee shewes himselfe to us so hee shewes us Antichrist and his destruction for the more incomes wee have of Christ the more of selfe and Satan doth appeare to us and is destroyed more and more by this fire of Christ For hee doth baptize us with the holy Ghost and fire Mat. 5. Acts 2. Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burnings Isa 33.14 This fire of the Spirit of God never goes out but is always burning up that in us that is contrary to it selfe that there may be all the drosse burnt up And this fire is in Sion and his fornace in Jerusalem Isa 31.9 which is the Church of God Who is this that commeth up from the wildernesse leaning upon her Beloved Cant. 8.5 The Spouse of Christ seeâ— all other things faile her and she leaneth now wholly upon her Beloved shee is of her selfe like a barren wildernesse but now hee will cause the fuiâ—ts of his Spirit to appeare to grow and flourish in her The Wildernesse and the solitary place shall bee glad for them and the desart shall rejoyce and blossome as a rose It shall blossome abundantly and rejoyce even with joy and singing the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it the excellency of Carmel and Sharon they shall see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God Isa 35.12 The Spirit shall be powred upon us from on high and the Wildernesse be a fruitfull field and the fruitfull field bee counted for a Forrest Then judgment shall dwell in the wildernesse and righteousnesse remaine in the fruitfull field And the worke of righteousnesse shall be peace and the effect of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurance for ever And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places and none shall make her affraid Isa 32.15 16 17 18. Now is the time come for us to see that the marriage day is come when he doth come and manifest himselfe in us in a glorious way to tell us what he is to us and in us and what wee are in him and to him when hee thus comes to us that day is the marriage day to us Rev. 19.7 8 9. Let us be glad rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his Wife hath made her selfe ready And to her was granted that shee should be arraied in fine linnen cleane and white for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of Saints And he said unto me write blessed are they that are called to the marrioge supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me These are the true sayings of God Rev. 20.9 10 11. And there came unto mee one of the seven Angels and talked with me and said unto me Come hither and I will shew thee the Bride the Lambes Wife And hee carried mee away in the Spirit to a great and
and being overcome and wholly swallowed up in it we are what the Spirit would have us to be and thinke speak and doe what it would have us We are no longer our owne but Gods and his will is become ours and our will is to doâ— his will and is become his so wee are now no longer twaine but one and all our delighâ— is wholly in him and all his delight is wholly in us for it is the manifestation of his love to us that causeth us to love him and the more we see him the more we shall love him and we cannot see him but we shall be like him for we shall see our selves the same in him for as he is so shall we be in this world as wee are Saints the seeing of him by his Spirit doth cleanse us in our conversations So farre as we have seene him wee shall be like him in our conversations for we shall hate all sinne and so farre as we live in God wee shall have neither will nor power to doe any thing that is contrary to him so farre as he revealeth himselfe in us and that is by degrees enlarging our vessels and filling us with himselfe as wee are able to beare him and when he reignes in us we also reigne with him over all things in us that is contrary to himselfe and this is the time of Satans being bound Rev. 20. For Babylon in us being fallen whereby Satan hath overcome us and Christ himselfe having taken possession in us he binds Satan that he cannot â—o what he would against us yet many times God doth let out the linke of Satans chaine â—nd so far as he hath power given him to goe â—e doth wind every way into us will by his â—cting in us ecclips the glory of God but hee â—â—all not overcome us this shall be for the gloâ—y of God and for an humbling to us and â—â—aking us to see that all things that are good â—re of God and how weake we are and reaâ—y to fall if hee with-drawes himselfe but hee â—ill draw backe this chaine of Satan and his â—lory shall appeare more glorious in us and â—his perfection of Christ shall be revealed more â—nd more in us and wee shall see our selves â—ore and more like him 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all â—ith open face beholding aâ— in a glasse the glory of â—he Lord are changed into the same image from â—lory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. And this Church of God is called a garden â—here all manner of choise fruit grow which 〈◊〉 the fruit of his Spirit in us and he doth water â—t and make it fruitfull and keeps it night and â—ay and is as a wall and bul-worke about it â—o keepe out all our enemies and the greatest â—annon-shot as can be shot by the Devill aâ—ainst us this bul-work will defend us against 〈◊〉 for it cannot pierce it nor do us any harm CHAP. XIX Christ being come into his garden doth feast his Spouse and his Spouse is feasted with him THe Spouse of Christ hath beene as a garden enclosed a spring shut up and fountaine sealed up that shee hath not appeared what shee is but shee hath beene hidden in Christ And now he saith I am come into my Garden my Sister my Spouse Cant. 5.1 Hee was ever in his Garden feasting himselfe though wee saw it not but now hee makes it knowne to us that hee is come in his glory to marry us to himselfe and to sit downe together at this heavenly Table and eate of those spirituall dainties that hee hath prepared for us and to rejoyce together and to remaine alwayes together and the first thing that hee doth when hee is come into us that are his Saints for that is his Garden he calls unto us Cant. 2. My beloved spake and said unto me Rise up my Love my faire one and come away For loe the winter is past the raine is over and gone the flowers appeare on the earth â—he time of the singing of birds is come and the â—oyce of the Turtle is heard in our Land The figâ—ee putteth forth her greene figges and the vines â—ith the tender grape give a good smell Arise my â—â—ve my faire one and come away O my dove â—hou art in the cleft of the rocke in the secret plaâ—es of the stairs let mee see thy countenance let â—â—e heare thy voyce for sweet is thy voyce and thy â—â—untenance is comely She lay in the clefts of that rocke Christ Jeâ—us and when she was in the clefts she could â—ot see the full glory of that rock wherein shee â—ay But there she was hid while the stormes of â—he winter were past that is Before Jesus Christ hath manifested his love and goodnesse â—o us and when this sunne appeareth but low 〈◊〉 us then there is much darknesse and glooâ—inesse in us and much coldnesse and then â—e storms of Satan ariseth against us but now â—ee is risen in his glory with a burning heate â—â—d laid the stormes of Satan and hath burnt â—â—p all that hath hindered us from seeing him â—â—d now he bids us come away for hee tels us â—â—e winter is past that which hindered us is â—one now the spring Christ Jesus is come â—â—d his voyce which is that pure Turtle is â—eard in our Land that is in us and he cauâ—th all that is of himselfe in us to appeare and grow fruitfull and flourish though they bee but young and tender at the spring at the first appearing of Christs manifesting himselfe in us yet they give a good smell and our beloved takes a great delight in them and he cals twice to her to come away that he might behold her for she is very comely and beautifull and glorious for shee is one with him she is attired in the glorious robes of Christ and all his rich ornaments are upon her and his crowne of glory And when he lookes upon her he is ravished with her that is hee is overcome with the sight of her all his love runneth forth to her There is not any two lovers upon earth that their love can be so great as the love of Christ and his Spouse is one to the other and she is called forth to behold him Cant. 3.11 Goe forth O ye daughters of Sion and behold King Solomon with the Crowne where-with his mother crowned him in the day of his spousall and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart Christ is compared to King Solomon because hee had the most glory of any King upon the earth and in the day of Christs Espousall doth his glory appeare to us and the gladnesse of his heart and all is for joy of his marriage to us and it is his joy for us to behold it and she beholding her beloved in his glory and seeing his love to her she is also ravished and wholly overcome and swallowed up in him in seeing him to be her beloved My beloved is
worshipped God that sate upon the Throne saying Amen Allelujah And a voyce came out of the Thronâ— saying Praise our God all ye his servants and yee that fear him both small and great And I heard as it were the voyce of a great multitude and as the voyce of many waters and as the voyce of mighty thundrings saying Allelujah for the Lord God oâ—â—â—â—potent reigneth Revel 19. The foure and twenty Elders are thought to be the Prophets and Apostles for by them was the minde of God made known and these foure beasts yee shall find spoken of in the first of Ezek. Rev. 4. which was moved by the Spirit of God and was continually praysing God And this heaven where there is such a noyse of joy and rejoycing and praising God is the Church of God here is the singing of birds Cant. 2.12 Because the voyce of this Turtle our beloved Bride-groom our sweet Saviour Jesus Christ his sweet voyce of love and peace to us and joy and rejoycing in us is heard by us and wee see all things that hath hindered us from seeing him is destroyed by him for these earthen pitchers of Antichrist in us wherein the lamps of the light and glory of God lieth hid These pitchers being broke by Christ then the glory of God appeareth Judges 7. And then the trumpets will sound forth the praises of God our tongues shall be as a trumpet being blown by the Spirit of God to sound forth the praises of our God and this sound shall be heard throughout the whole world for the Lord will come in his time and reigne in all his Saints throughout the whole world and throughout the whole world shall this trumpet be sounded and it will cause a great earth-quake for all things that are not of God shall be exceeding fraid and troubled for as the Saints joy encreaseth more and more by Christ manifesting himselfe in us so shall the sorrow of those that are not the children of God encrease more more Rejoyce ye heavens ye that dwell in them Woe to the inhabiters of the earth of the sea for the Devill is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that he hath but a short time Rev. 12.12 For the light of these lamps and the sound of these trumpets doth terrifie our spirituall enemies and causeth them to flie and let us doe as the four and twenty Elders did fall downe at the feete of Christ And when those beasts gave glory and honour and thankes to him that sate on the Throne who liveth for ever and ever The four and twenty Elders fell downe before him that sate on the Throne and worshipped him that liveth for ever ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created Rev. 4.9 10 11. These Elders that God had revealed himselfe unto in such a high and glorious way and made them instruments to make his mind knowne to all people crowned them with his crowne of glory these cast their Crowns at the feet of God for it was he in Christ that did make knowne his minde by them and as he deserveth all the honour and praise so let us be willing for him to have all the honour for wee have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4.7 It is he that doth all in us and let him have all for it is the glory of the Saints for Christ to have all the glory and for us to be abased and cast downe as low as may be at the feete of Christ and for him alone to be exalted in us There is one seale more to be broke open for this is the sixth seal and the first resurrection and now is Satan bound but he must be again let loose for a little season Revel 20. Hee shall have power given him of God and will transforme himselfe to the likenesse of this glory to deceive us but hee shall never have his will of the Saints for when he thinks to deceive us in this way the Lord breakes open the seventh seale then is the whole mystery of God made known and then shall the seventh trumpet of perfection of joy and rejoycing sound forth the praises of God in the dayes of the seventh Angel when he shall begin to blow the Trumpet even the mystery of God shall be finished as hee hath declared to his servants the Prophets Rev. 10.7 And now we see but in part and know but in part and so we have an enjoyment of God but in part but when that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away and now we see him but darkly but then we shall see him face to face and behold him as he is in his full glory and when we come to have this seale broke open to us then we shall know when the time is for the breaking of it open and how it is what it is that we shall enjoy and in the mean time let us not be inquisitive to know when it shall be or how it shall be for wee shall not know till then and then we shall know whether it be here while we live in this world or hereafter when all things are dissolved but let us leave that to God and to him commit our selves rejoycing always in the Lord. To whom be all honour praise and glory given both now and for evermore Amen FINIS