and glory in house and kingdom to them that would carrying it all away one day and take them captive so it is with many taken away by sorceries SECT XXXVII §. 37 The Comfort that the Lord comforts his people withal as the fruits of his coming THe Lord comforteth his people with these things 1. That their warfare is shortly accomplished 2. Their sins pardoned 3. The way of the Lord to be prepared in them the mountains there to be removed and the valleys lifted up there which is the poor in spirit to be comforted the rough ways made plain and the crooked thoughts made streight 4. Their flesh to be made like grass and toyling so that all flesh is grass 5. That the glory of the Lord is to be revealed and all flesh shall see it together for the Lord hath spoken it 6. That Zion shall have all glad tidings in her that she shall cry behold my Lord and my God for he shall come with a strong hand and his arm shall rule for him Behold his reward is with him and his work before him 7. The Lord himself shall feed us as a shepherd doth his flock he shall gather his lambs with his arms and carry them in his bosom leading them that are with young 8. Holding the waters in his hand spanning the heavens comprehending the earth weighing the mountains To whom the Nations are a drop and the Isles a little thing calling the stars by his names To whom then will ye liken me saith the Lord the everlasting God the Creator of the ends of the earth that never faints nor is weary whose understanding is unsearchable that gives strength life and being to all things and to them that wait upon the Lord he renews their strength that they mount up with wings like Eagles they shall run and not be weary walk and not faint SECT XXXVIII §. 38 The Worm Jacob made strong FEar not thou Worm Jacob for I will help thee and be thy Redeemer I have chosen thee thou art my Servant and I will not cast thee away but will uphold thee with the right hand of my Righteousness I will plant thee anew and none shall root thee up and every plant or idol that is in you shall become an abomination to you yea and the works of your own hands vanity and nothing and ye shall rejoyce in the Lord and all that strive with you shall perish SECT XXXIX §. 39 What the Lord doth for his Servants BEhold my Servants whom I have chosen mine Elect in whom my Soul delighteth I have put my Spirit upon them and they shall bring forth Judgment to the Gentiles They are mine and not their own mine and not mens for no man can serve two Masters Behold they are excellent Servants whose service is perfect Freedom indeed and pleasure all his Words and Works Joy Peace and Righteousness for ever Again they are Servants of my own choosing calling fitting trained up by my self in my own house to serve me in Righteousness and Holiness before me And in whom my Soul delighteth Whom the Lord chooses he delights in them though they be but Servants the unworthiest of them nay and that with his Soul delighting himself in the prosperity of his Servants and whom he delights in he puts his Spirit upon them he can keep no good things from them yea all is theirs Heaven and Earth Christ the Spirit God and All. And lastly they shall by this Spirit overcome all things and bring forth Judgment unto Victory indeed SECT XL. §. 40 The sweetness and love of the Spirit of Christ in his HE shall not cry nor lift up his voyce nor be heard in the streets a bruised reed he shall not break nor quench the smoaking flax till he bring forth Judgment unto Victory he shall not fail nor be discouraged till he hath set up Judgment in the Earth and the Isles shall wait for his Law Thus shall it be with the Children of Jesus in whom Christ is formed the Spirit of Jesus is Love Meekness Sweetness Patience it seeks not revenge but in all things behaves it self comely in the streets abroad towards them without and at home towards them within it will offend none but help all SECT XLI §. 41 The smoaking flax and the bruised reed in us the little measure of the Spirit THe smoaking flax c. The lowest and darkest appearance of him is glorious he comes to his own and receives it if but a smoak he makes it a flame and such as sit in darkness he makes them to see light and where there is smoak and trouble of heart he takes away the dimness and makes the smoak to vanish and the fire of the Lords Spirit must burn us as flax and tow decay to nothing before we shall be good for any thing And the bruised reed also the Lord will not break he doth cherish and nourish it as the husband doth his wife the Lord rather doth bind up the reed then bruise it and makes the reed become a rod of iron to break in pieces the Nations the Potters vessels the fleshly man for the Lord can do nothing against himself SECT XLII §. 42 Flesh is deaf and blind the Lord seeing all things ANd the Lord will give himself for righteousness strength and light to the people eyes to the blind freedom to the prisoners I will no more give my glory to another I will make waste their mountains and hills dry up all their herbs and dry up all their pools and then will I bring the blind by a way they know not I will make darkness light before them and crooked things straight all flesh shall be deaf and blind and then shall they see even my Servant and my Messenger shall be blind that he that glorieth may glory in the Lord. SECT XLIII §. 43 The blind and the deaf shall be Gods Witnesses BRing forth the blind people that have eyes and the deaf that have ears for they are my Witnesses and my Servants whom I have chosen saith the Lord. For they beleeve understand and know that I am he and there is none besides me O Israel fear not for I have redeemed thee and called thee by my name thou art mine Wheresoever thou goest I am with thee through waters rivers fire and all for thou art precious in my sight and honorable therefore I will give men for thee and people for thy life Behold I will do a strange thing I will dry up all rivers and make a new river in the Wilderness and the Beast and the Dragon therein shall honor me for it and drink thereof and change their natures SECT XLIV I the Lord do all things §. 44 I Am the Lord and there is none else I the Lord do all things I make the Heavens to drop down from above and let the Sky pour down Righteousness and the Earth open and let them bring forth Salvation and let Righteousness spring forth together I
in bondage from serving the Lord in freedom of heart and this is his Call Let my people go that they may serve me To this purpose speaks Zacharias Oh that he would grant unto us that we being delivered from the hands of our enemies may serve the Lord without fear in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life I know saith the Lord that Pharaoh that proud flesh wil not let my people go to serve me But they saith Christ shall go in spite of all to serve the Lord I will make all their enemies their footstool saith the Lord. CHAP. IV. The third Book that God writes in Man is §. 1 called LEVITICVS NOw the third Book is called Leviticus This also is made good in the Saints in the truth of it the spirit of that Letter dwells in them and the substance of what is written in that Book concerns them chiefly as this All the Sacrifices looked at them they are to offer up the Sacrifice of Righteousness of which all the legal were but Types Secondly the Sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart and then their souls and bodies to be offered up as living Sacrifices to the Lord holy and acceptable And what were all the Calves Lambs Doves but meerly figurative not only looking at Christ but Christians also they must be the Lambs of God Doves Turtles and Christ presents them thus to God therefore the Apostle saith We shall be presented harmless and blameless at his coming And again I beseech you present your selves a living Sacrifice to God And again Ye are a holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifice to God so that the Apostle makes them and all that they do to be Sacrifices to God and the Lord smells a sweet savor in them nay he tells them they are the Lords Levites and Priests to make prayers and supplications to God yea to offer the Sacrifice of thanksgiving and to call upon the Name of the Lord these are they that are to stand before the Lord of the whole earth the anointing of the Lord is upon them to minister before the Lord God not only oyl but the oyl of Life and Grace the Spirit of the Lord falls on them and hath anointed them to preach the glad tydings Thy God cometh O Zion SECT II. §. 2 The Levites garments that minister to the Lord. NAy yet more all the fine linnen the Priests did wear what meant it but the white garments the walking with God in white the pure white linnen the Righteousness of Saints what was the Ephod and their Brest-plate their Urim and their Thummim their Bells and Pomegranates the names of the twelve Tribes on their Brestplates their Incense their ministring before the Lord their entring in with blood to the Temple all these are fulfilled spiritually in Saints the mind of God is with them that fear him they have a Brestplate of Righteousnes the Name of the Lord written in their hearts and they have the Names of the Tribes all the people of God are fellow Members and fellow Feelers one of another SECT III. §. 3 The spiritual Service in the House of the LORD THeir Incense they have is The sweet perfume of the Spirit of Grace in them that runs all along their garments their Bells and Pomegranates is the everlasting Gospel of God made known by them in truth and evidence of the Spirit every way these are they that minister before the Lord day and night they kindle the fire upon the Altar and do not offer up strange fire keep the Lamps in the House of the Lord that they go not out all these things and many more are proper to the Saints they have the Lamps of the Lord burning in them never decaying having the Olive trees always feeding them so that whensoever the Lord comes these wise Virgins are with their Lamps prepared and they receive this fire from Heaven to consume every Sacrifice and not false fire the fire of the Lords Love and Zeal the Zeal of his House eat them up they look to the doors of the Lords House see that no lame blind sick Sacrifice be offered but the best in the flock not the female but the male they think it not a weariness to serve the Lord neither do they make his table contemptible they have the Tythes of all all things in Heaven and Earth they have the first fruits all do homage and yeeld obedience to them all the sheaves bow to them the whole world shall bring their glory into them and they shall be the store-house of the Lord. CHAP. V. The fourth Book that God writes in Man §. 1 is called NVMBERS THe fourth Book is the Book of Numbers where you have the Lords people to be the Sum of all that is therein contained it is fulfilled in them and compleated spiritually by them they are Gods Numbers they are all numbered in his Books are all their names written nay their thoughts and actions numbered a Book of Remembrance writing down what they say of the Lord Mal. 3. Their very bones nay the very hairs of their heads numbered much less will he have any one of his number lost though the shepheard had ninety nine he would leave all to seek after the one because of all that is his he will lose none he keeps a perfect account of them and of every sort of them so many Tribes so many of every Tribe of all tongues languages kindred and people he hath his Numbers besides he hath the number how many lambs how many babes how many strong men how many fathers how many hired servants how many sick how many well how many strong how many weak how many fat and lean poor and rich male and female bond and free in all such things the Lord is instructed taking care of all and providing for all SECT II. How every thing is numbred by the Lord in them AGain numbering their gifts and graces their growth and age till they come to that perfect number and stature in Christ having their days and age filled being full of days and of the holy Ghost Besides this the Armies of the Saints their Banners Christ their Camp Righteousness their General the Lord of hosts their Pillar of Fire and Cloud by day and night the presence of the Lord even the Angel of his presence their matches from strength to strength going on to perfection forgetting the things behinde Their Trumpets sounding is the Voyce of the Lord heard amongst them calling and gathering them together their Sacrifices Praises their Meat Manna their Flesh Quails their Drink out of the everlasting Rock the Lord a Well of living water their spies viewing the holy Land and bringing the first fruits is the earnest of the Spirit giving us a view of Heaven and a taste of the Milk and the Wine therein with the clusters of Grapes brought from thence to refresh us withal SECT III. The true Serpent healing us §. 3. THe brazen
heard in that Spirit praising the Lord and speaking of the wonderful things of Heaven Wherefore saith the Apostle When ye are thus full of the Spirit then ye shall rejoyce in the Lord. And again Ye shall rejoyce singing to your selves Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs that is there shall be musick all sorts and tunes and melodies heard SECT II. Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs in §. 2 us all FIrst for Psalms In the beginning of the breathings and breakings forth of the Spirit the Psalms are for the weak ones the babes in joy The second Hymns are for the fathers in joy but the Songs are for the strong young men whose joy is full so that by these three I understand only the several degrees of joy and also the various operations of the Spirit The Psalms are doctrines mutually mixt with Praises the Hymns thanksgivings purely and the Songs the ravishments of love Psalms are the tastes we have of him the Hymns are longings after him but the Song is the full possession of him My beloved is mine and I am his he comes to his garden so that one Saint hath a Psalm another that is higher a Hymn and third a spiritual Song and that all from one and the same Spirit but the inspirations more or lesse SECT III. §. 3 The new Song in the new Jerusalem ANd as for Davids new Songs he speaks so often of in his Book we have the same written in our Books Psalm for Psalm Prayer for Prayer Hymn for Hymn Song for Song even a Song for every Season the new Song is like to the new Name the new Covenant the new Jerusalem the new Creature so is this new Song only to be sung by such therefore called the Song of Moses and of the Lamb and none can sing it nor knows the tune of it but the Virgins that follow the Lamb it is in Spirit full of Glory SECT IV. §. 4 The chiefest sinner shall rejoyce most ANd again As our sufferings have abounded so shall our consolations he that hath suffered a little shall have a Psalm or a Hymn but he that hath abounded in sorrow in affliction shall have this Spirit of Joy above his fellows he shall sing aloud and shout for joy of heart wherefore he saith Blessed are the meek and hungry and that mourn these shall all be comforted but when he speaks of this Blessed saith he are they that are persecuted for Righteousness sake for they shall be exceeding glad and rejoyce their joy shall exceed others and as sin also hath abounded so shall Grace and Glory and Honor and eternal Praise and Joy abound also Wherefore it s well said of Christ That as his sorrow was such as he saith Behold if ever sorrow were like unto my sorrow when he cryed My God my God why hast thou forsaken me So behold his joy never joy was like it at the conversion of a sinner SECT V. §. 5 All Gods workings in us come to a Song at last THis Book of Psalms in Man it is all but one Psalm it is an eternal Song a praising God for ever and and ever without end this is not with our mouth but the Lords mouth and heart not with lips but the kisses of his mouth and the breath of his Spirit and indeed all the workings of God are in joy they all bring forth the first fruits of Righteousnesse in peace and joy all things working together for good all our sorrows travels crucifyings self-denials crosses losses miseries deaths and torments they all bring forth a Psalm a Hymn and a Song this is the man child that shall be born after all Now it may be God is only making or beginning this Psalm in us yet a little while and it shall be finished and the noise thereof heard from one end of the Heavens to another SECT VI. §. 6 And what this Song is in the Saints ANd the Song shall be this Holy holy holy Lord God of Sabbath Thou art worthy of all Honor Glory and Praise for thou hast redeemed us to thy self And again The Lord the Lord the Lord God omnipotent raigneth And again We give thee thanks Lord God Almighty that thou hast raigned and takest this great power to thy self and that thy time is come and that the Kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ and of his Saints Rejoyâ—â— O ye Heavens and all that are in them for thy God raigneth SECT VII The Lord alone is the Psalm and the Hymn §. 7 and Song in us BUt yet further The Lord God is our Song our Blessednesse that David speaks of and the Law that we delight in and tree of Life that brings forth all good fruit and all flesh is the chaff and like the wind the Spirit of the Lord shall scatter and divide it all bringing it to Judgment and flesh is that which rages and imagines vain things against the Lord and it is the Lord alone that shall sit upon the holy hill of Zion and breaks all flesh in pieces with its scepter Our flesh is the enemy that increases and rises up against us and the Lord and it is the Lord that Spirit that smites this enemy in the cheek bone and breaks the teeth of the ungodly so all salvation is the Lords and his blessing is his people Again The Lord is their Sacrifice of Righteousnesse their Wealth and Health and all the light of his Countenance is that which is their Life indeed the Lord is their Life and Peace that makes them to dwell in safety alone their wine and corn and oyl it is all with the Lord alone and nothing else What singing was there at the birth of Christ Jesus after the flesh How did the Angel Shepherds Joseph Mary Zachary Elizabeth Simeon and all sing How did they all magnifie the Lord and bless the Lord God of Israel What is it but an example of the heavenly Thing that when Christ Jesus is born in us and framed there there is singing and will be where the Lord lives But all the minstrels in the flesh are turned out and it calls them all madness yea there is a singing though we be in prison outwardly and great misery yet our joy none can take from us nothing can break out peace nor interrupt our melody nor quench our joy no man nor devil can take it from us SECT VIII §. 8 There is no singing in the strange Land till we come to the Lord himself YEt a word more this glory and perfect joy is not for them that live in the flesh nor in darkness or in the Kingdoms of this world There is nothing but howlings sorrows gnashing of teeth weeping and lamentations here as Israel in Egypt and in the wilderness were weary in their lives and full of groanings strivings and fightings But the songs are heard neither in Egypt nor in Babylon nor in the Wilderness but in Canaan here we hang up our
rock of offence a snare a gin to others here they shall fall be broken and taken but the stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner and it 's the Lords doing and the Law and the Testimony shall be bound and sealed in my Disciples and they shall go no more to them that have familiar spirits to be taught but shall be taught of God not of the dead but of the living and they shall go to this Law of Life in them and speak according to that Light of the Lord that shines in them SECT XII §. 12 The joy of the Lord and the people that sate in darkness and see light and are governed by the Lord himself THe people that sit in darkness shall see great light and those that walk in the region and shadow of death light shall spring up there and thou shalt multiply their joy as the joy of harvest and as them that divide the spoil this shall be the Light of the Lord shining in them their joy and the Lord shall break the yoke and burden of the hands and traditions of men nay their bonds and bondage the staff and the rod of the oppressor and this shall be with burning and with fuel of fire by my Spirit faith the Lord For unto them is born a Governor the wonderful Counsellor the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of Peace the Government is upon his shoulders and of the increase of it there is no end it shall be established in Justice and Judgment Rejoyce therefore O Zion thy God raigneth and instead of the bricks that shall be thrown down and the Sycomores we shall have hewen stones and Cedars instead of earth and fleshly things spiritual in the room of all the Land this Government of the Lords Spirit shall throw down all other and endure for ever and the Lord shall joy in nothing but this Government for the wrath of the Lord shall darken the land and burn the thorns and bryars and eat the flesh of their own arm every one pulling out his eye and cutting off his hand casting them from him as unprofitable members and all manner of divisions shall then be reconciled the Lords anger turned away When this Government is established then neither shall Manasseh vex Ephraim nor Ephraim Manasseh nor both against Judah brother shall not condemn nor cast out or betray brother but they shall have the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace SECT XIII §. 13 The proud Assyrian is brought low and Israel to be exalted THe unrighteous Decrees of men that turn aside the needy from judgment and the poor to take away their right robbing the fatherless and making a prey of the widow but the day of visitation shall take them all away and leave them without help or glory the tyrant shall cease from any oppressing And the Assyrian the rod of anger with his pride that rules in fleshly power and glory lifting up it self above all when I have done my work with him I shall make him to cease and pull down his stout heart that boasts of his Princes and his idols as if they made him to prosper and he knoweth not me saith the Lord Thus the Ax Saw Rod Staff boasteth and lifteth it self against him that made and rules it and can take it and burn it but the Lord will send a leanness upon them and their proud flesh and the light of Israel shall be as a fire and the Holiness of Judah like a flame and it shall devour the thorns and consume his glory his fruitful fields and all his idols but Israel shall turn to the mighty God and stay her self in him for a remnant shall be saved And as for the Assyrian all his yokes shall be broken off thy neck because of the anointing of the Lord thy God upon thee SECT XIV The peaceable and righteous Kingdom of the §. 14 Branch and the great encrease thereof from the four corners of the earth THe branch of the Lord Christ Jesus shall grow out of thy roots and the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon thee in wisdom understanding counsel might and of the fear of the Lord and it shall make thee of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord and not to judg after the sight of the eyes or reprove after the hearing of the ears but in spirit and truth shall he judg and reprove all things and smite the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked and righteousness and faithfulness shall be our girdle of loyns and reins then and thus shall the Wolf and the Lamb the Leopard and the Kid the Cow and the Bear and their young all lie down together and feed together the Lion eat straw like an Ox and a young childe shall play on the hole of the Asp and a weaned childe put his hand on the Cockatrices egg for there shal be no poyson nor hurt in all my holy mountain saith the Lord for the earth shall be full of the knowledg of the Lord God and to the ensigne upon this mountain shall the people seek for rest which shall be glorious and from the four corners of the earth the Lord will gather them in even the outcasts of Israel All envy and adversaries shall depart enmity and all between Ephraim and Judah brother and brother we shall flee upon the shoulders of the Philistins Edom and Moab and Ammon shall obey us and joyn hands and hearts together and the tongue of the Egyptian sea shall be utterly destroyed and her mighty rivers dryed they shall be no more a let to my people Here is much glory indeed both a restoration reconciliation and gathering all into one head the Lord Then old things shall pass away and all things become new indeed SECT XV. The day of the Branch brings joy and §. 15 thankefulness ANd in that day the Branch being grown up all boughes and branches shall be cut down and spred under his feet in the way in joy and thanksgiving and the babes and sucklings shall say Blessed is he that cometh Hosanna Hosanna to the highest Thy anger is turned away and thou comfortest us behold thou art our salvation strength and song therefore rejoyce and draw water of his wells of salvation Sing unto the Lord for he doth excellent things and this shall be known to all the earth and great is the Lord in the midst of thee SECT XVI §. 16 The destruction of Babylon in us the glory of the earth BAbylons destruction the Lord musters the Army they are sanctified ones and the onely mighty men such as rejoyce in his highness and these shall destroy and overcome her such as were tormented by her and pangs shall take hold of her and the sinners destroyed out of her her Stars shall fall her Sun shall be darkened and her Moon turned to blood yea thy heaven shall be shaken
the Flesh be so beautiful what is his Head then which is Christ justified in Spirit If the Feet of his Humanity be such what think you must the Head and Heart of his Divinity be SECT LIV. Thy God reigneth in the Zion of Saints §. 54 THe only glad tydings is this to all Zion Thy God reigneth This is their greatest joy and without which all other joys are soon quenched This is the Day of Salvation Redemption Remission Justification Sanctification and all blessedness the acceptable year and Jubile of the Lord and his Zion then when their God reigns and where must he reign not only in heaven and in earth but in men in the midst amongst us then is his Kingdom come and Will done on earth as it is in heaven when thy God reigneth O Zion SECT LV. §. 55 How thy God doth set thee apart and how though thy outward man be vile yet the inward glorious DEpart ye depart ye shall the Lord then say get ye out from hence and touch no unclean thing I have received you go out of the midst of her and be altogether in my holiness and live in me for I will lead you and go before you and be your rereward and come behind you so that nothing shall come nigh you but my self I will compass you so about and deal so prudently with you that I shall only be exalted and extolled amongst you and though his outward form and visage in whom I dwell be so base and marred by reproaches more then any other in the world yet I will stop the mouths of Kings for their sakes and my glory shall break forth in the midst of them and that which had not been told them by flesh and blood shall they see by the Spirit of my Father and that which they had not heard neither could they believe shall they now know and be fully satisfied in and all this shall be in the day that thy God raigneth in Zion SECT LVI The Arm of the Lord. §. 56 THe Arm and Strength of the Lord are we in the Lord and it is revealed to us in Christ who is this Arm of the Lord indeed and we cannot but report so the Lord is with us and his Arm upon us when it is so indeed when the Arm of the Lord goes along with the report and indeed how can we that have been saved and healed by the Lord and his Arm but go about testifying what great things the Lord hath done for us and magnifie his name and declare his goodness whether they will believe it or not I am constrained to report it to prepare his way SECT LVII §. 57 The plant growing up out of a dry ground with sorrow to the flesh and the world but with joy to the Lord his Spirit in Saints ANd this Arm of the Lord as it is revealed and comes that way before it can be reported by us flesh and blood reveals it not but our Father which is in Heaven so it grows up as a tender plant of the Lords own planting Christ planted in us grows up like a plant and takes root from the Father and brings forth his branches and fruits in the dry ground of our nature in our sinful state poor barren flesh and when this tender plant Christ Jesus grows up it shall be at first in weakness without form or comeliness after the flesh nay without beauty that you should desire him after the flesh for he comes to crucifie flesh and blood in us and therefore the natural man will despise him hide his face and not esteem him for the plant of the Lord will be a man of sorrow and grief to his flesh as the Lord Jesus was to the Jews in his day And further this Arm of the Lord will bear all our griefs and sorrows all our smitings strikings and afflictings of God and men besides the principalities and powers of Satan which dwel with us it will bear them all yea the wounds of our transgressions and the bruises of our iniquities wounding and bruising him he heals them all and overcomes them reconcileing us to God slaying the enmity taking away the wall of partition becomes a Mediator between God and us uniting us in one SECT LVIII §. 58 The Lamb that opens not his mouth but by suffering overcomes THis arm of the Lord findes us lost and going astray like sheep out of his way and turns us into the way and leads in the way of righteousness bearing all our iniquity both in the way and out of the way that lies upon us it s the Lords pleasure to remove them that they lie not in our way nor keep us from the way nor turn us out of the way and as a Lamb so opens he not his mouth though oppressed afflicted smitten and slaughtered but by patient suffering overcomes all and is glorified over all and is taken out of prison and from judgment and who shall declare his generation for when he was oppressed and smitten he was in prison in flesh but when the Lord rises in us and leads us captive after him then he is out of prison and destroys flesh he is not here in prison he is risen SECT LIX §. 59 Christ makes his grave with the wicked and the rich in his death BUt this Lamb though he lies in the prison of flesh and is in the wicked as in a grave buried and imprisoned yet there he will rise and as his grave is with the rich that have righteousness but not from the Lord he rises amongst them so that the Lord makes his grave in his death with the wicked and the rich and makes them both one in his death and buried with him into his death and lie with him in his grave and rise with him in the Spirit by making wicked and rich both happy in himself alone SECT LX. What it is to have the pleasure of the Lord §. 60 for to prosper in his or in our hand IT pleased the Lord to bruise his Son and so his Saints often to put them to grief in the flesh that they might rejoyce in the Spirit and to sow that seed in them that might prolong their days and to let them see the seed of his soul and love and the seed of their soul joy and praises and so to have the pleasure of the Lord to prosper in their hands as it did in Christs and to have the Lords pleasure to prosper in the hands of Christ and no other hands for it cannot if taken out of his hands all decays and withers every branch or work but in him is all fruit and prosperity found the pleasure of the Lord is he and the pleasure of the Lord is his work and way and it is to save sinners to dye for sinners call sinners justifie sinners and to make them Saints and sons the soul of the living God blameless harmless glorious beautiful all over this is the pleasure of the Lord nay
Judgment by the Spirit of the Lord and consume them like stubble here and within me Thus desiring the Lord to give thee understanding to take the good and refuse the evil in this and all things else For his good and thy glory I Rest Thy Friend T. Butler THE TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAP. I. CHrist the Sum of all Things Page 1. The true Ministery 2. Christ the true Temple-Sanctuary 3. Christ the true Tabernacle Ibid Christ is the heavenly Thing in Christians Ibid. Christ is the new Covenant in the new Creature 4. What is that Covenant he will write in us first what it is not then what it is 5. How this Covenant differs from all others it being in Spirit 6. Christ is in us Gods Dwelling and his Writing 8. What this new Covenant is further to us 10. The high excellency and vertue of it in us what it doth for us and is to us 11. The Lord setting forth a book to the world 13. What be the things God makes use of in writing this Book Man Ibid. Gods making mans heart plain and faire for it as paper 14. What God minds and loves it is to live with us and in us 15. What is shall be of the Lords Will and Law and nothing else 17. His own Laws he keeps and them he wil have us keep one Law for both 18. All Gods Laws a whole volumn within us Ibid. Mans blessing or curse is within himself 20. What God writes in us is such writing as nothing can blot it out 21. Where God begins to write he perfects it in us 22. The writing of God in us is by degrees 23. Gods magnifying himselfe in Man 24. The state of the two Adams 26. The Lord is all the Book and Scripture his people have him they preach heare read practise 27. CHAP. II. The first Book that God writes in Man is called Genesis 29. The six daies works in Man brought forth first 30. The second work in Gods day in Man Ibid. The third work of God in his day 31. The fourth worke in the day of the Lord. Ibid. The fifth work in the Lords day 32. The sixth work in the Lords day 33. The end of the work of God 34. The Paradise of God in Man Ibid. The Adam and Eve there in Paradise 35. The Tempter the Fall the Serpent 37. How all things are made new in the beginning of this book 38. CHAP. III. The second Book that God writes in Man is called Exodus 40. God calling his Son out of Egypt Ibid. God leading his Son through the Wilderness 43. What this Wildernesse is Ibid. What God doth for his Son in the Wilderness three or foure things especially The first thing is the severall forms of Rest 44. The second thing that God doth for his Son in the Wilderness is His giving the living Law with the Tables by the Spirit of Christ from Mount Zion 47 The third thing in the Wilderness is The Tabernacle of God with his Son 49. The total Circumcision of Flesh and finall destruction of the fiery Serpent 50. CHAP. IV. The third Book that Gods writes in Man is called Leviticus 52. The Levites garments that minister to the Lord. 54. The spiritual Service in the house of the Lord. 55. CHAP. V. The fourth Book that God writes in Man is called Numbers 65 How every thing is numbred by the Lord in them 58. The true Serpent healing us 59. The Arke of Gods presence 61. CHAP. VI. The fifth Book that God writes in man is called Joshua 62. The true Joshua saving us in fighting to deliver us 63. The seven blessings he delivers to us 64. CHAP VII The sixth Book that God writes in Man is called Judges 66. The Spirit of the Lord the best and just Judge 67. The Sampson and Gideon that is in us 68. CHAP. VIII The seventh Book that God writes in man is the two first books of Kings 70. The Kingly Scepter ruling in us 71. The outside of the Book opened 73. The inside and the Spirit in it opened and revealed there 74. The Raign of the Spirit of the Lord the true David 76 CHAP. IX The eighth Book that God writes in Man is the third Book of Kings 78 A Kingdom divided cannot stand Christ is not divided 80. CHAP. X. The ninth Book that God writes in Man is the fourth Book of Kings 82. The opening of the Temple and the repairing it 84. CHAP. XI The tenth Book that God writes in Men is the two Books of Chronicles 85. How we are made Gods Chronicles 87. CHAP. XII The eleventh Book that God writes in Man is the books of Ezra and Nehemiah The restauration of all things 89. CHAP. XIII The twelfth Book that God writes in Man is called Esther 92. CHAP. XIV The thirteenth Book that God writes in Man is called Job 94. What is the Mystery of this History of Job in Man 95. The latter end of a Saint better then the first the longer he lives the better 96. CHAP. XV. The foureteenth Book that God writes in Man is called Psalmes 98. Psalms and Hymns and spirituall Songs in us all 100. The new Song in the new Jerusalem 101. The chiefest sinner shall rejoice most Ibid. All Gods workings in us come to a Song at last 102 And what this Song is in the Saints 103. The Lord alone is the Psalm and the Hymn and Song in us 104. There is no singing in the strange Land till we come to the Lord himselfe 106. To sing with the Spirit and with Vnderstanding 108 A Psalm 109 A Hymn Ibid. A spirituall Song Ibid. CHAP. XVI The fifteenth Book that God writes in Man is called Proverbs 110. The Spirit that interprets secrets and proverbs where it is and dwells Ibid. The sum of the history of Proverbs spiritually in us in five particulars The Father God the Mother Wisdom the Son the Saint 111. CHAP. XVII The sixteenth Book that God writes in Man is called Ecclesiastes 114. The vanity of all things in the outward man or world Ibid. The earthly man is the vanity of vanities and the vexation of spirit 116. CHAP. XVIII The seventeenth Book that God writes in Man is called the Song of Solomon 117. Christ Kisses and his Mouth what they be Ibid. The ointment poured out 118. What the Kings Chamber is to be brought there 119. What the blackness and the comeliness is 120. What the brothers are angry at and what is the keeping of other Vineyards and not the true Vineyard 121 It is God that justifieth that is our comeliness 123. The true Vineyard 124. Three things thirsted after by him that is as the Spouse here hath tasted any thing of the Life of God 125. The bread that satisfies not and where our rest fulness and fatness lies 126 We shall never be taught well till the Lord teach us 127. The teachings of God more excellent in three things then mens teachings 129. This teaching will make us perfect 131.
standing between Heaven and Earth Flesh and Spirit both fighting the one against the other SECT IV. What this Wilderness is §. 4 FOr this Wilderness in us is nothing else but the warfare between Flesh and Spirit light and darkness between Michael and the Dragon with their Angels and it is a long time before it be altogether finished we go on as we overcome through faith still gaining ground overcoming by little and little till at last all the two and fourty years are expired along time God had many battels in them searching and smiting drawing and healing but at last the Lord overcoming and they sing with Deborah and Barack and with Moses and the Virgins that follow the Lamb having their harps in them the new song the Lord omnipotent reigneth and as Paul said I thank God through our Lord Jesus Christ by whom I have obtained the Victory SECT V. What God doth for his Son in the Wilderness §. 5 three or four things especially The first thing is the several forms of Rest BUt there are three things remarkable in the wilderness and another at the end of the wilderness before they entred the Land For the first how many several rests and standings turnings and windings they had there at the least fourty two and all this time were these witnesses prophecying in sackcloth Judah and Israel or Moses and Aaron for they could not in the Wilderness sacrifice well nor serve God nor keep their Feasts nor their solemn meetings for fear of their enemies So is it in the warfare between Flesh and Spirit as long as there is any flesh reigning living fighting opposing there is little Sacrifice Obedience Worship Praise or serving of God because of these enemies we are kept under in bondage being in fear of them so in these several stages forms or seats that Israel had it was given them because of their weakness had they been able God could have brought them sooner but their wickedness makes these standings lest they should faint in the way And we shall finde it hindered them much and because of their dulness and deadness their unbeleef they went no faster on so is it in the experience true in the spiritual state and travel in this Son Christ travelling in us till he is brought forth into rest the Spirit is willing but the Flesh is weak and we make many false rests and say Lo here is Christ and lo there Now we are well and may stand still and go no further and anon a little further and stay there again Thus our pressing from one Form Presbytery to Independency and to Anabaptism and so further we are apt to flatter our selves they be our Rests and many a Proselite having fellowship with some Church to be a member and have such and such a Pastor and breaking bread with such beleevers and in such a pure outward way as they conceive here they are happy and lay themselves down to rest thinking they have purchased a good degree to themselves when they may be as far from the Kingdom of God as before SECT VI. §. 6 The second thing that God doth for his Son in the Wilderness is His giving the living Law with the Tables by the Spirit of Christ from Mount Zion NOw the second thing in the Wilderness is this The giving of the Law upon Mount Sinai this is Hager and her children the bond woman and her son shall not be heir with the Son of the Promise the one is of the Flesh and the other from the Spirit The one from Mount Sinai the other from Mount Sion the City of the living God the new Jerusalem and we have our Laws from Mount Gerizim and not from Mount Ebal and our Laws from Mount Zion not by the hand of Moses nor by the Ministry of Angels nor yet in Tables of stone which are only the patterns of heavenly things but by the hands of the Lord himself by the Ministry and Writing of the Spirit and that in the Tables of the Lords will planted in us which are the very heavenly things themselves and here shall the Vail be taken away and we shall say no more now Let not the Lord speak to us lest we dye but we shall say Let the Lord alone speak to us that we may dye and he may live and there shall be no more here the Thunder nor the Lightening nor Earthquake seen but the still Voyce of the Lord speaking within us and setting up his lively oracles there that he that preacheth may take out his Text from the Law of God within him and he that speaketh may speak as in the name of the Lord that shall here be fulfilled Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord And this is that which will carry us through the Wilderness indeed through all Tryals Troubles Temptations Persecutions in whose heart the Law of God lives when those that have it only written with pen and ink shall perish in the mid way SECT VII §. 7 The third thing in the Wilderness is The Tabernacle of God with his Son THe third thing I spake of is the Tabernacle now having a Law given them they must also have a Tabernacle for the Congregation to meet and hear the Law read and expounded also and here must they bring their sacrifice and worship the Lord this being the holy place of the Lord that he hath chosen to dwell in so that all this is true in us Christ is the only Tabernacle where the Godhead dwells there is the glory of the Lord filling that Tabernacle and here is all the Sacrifice and Worship of God in Spirit and Truth here all the Congregation all that we have or are is offered up to the Lord as a burnt offering wherefore he saith in a certain place The Tabernacle of God is with men and he dwells amongst them and he will be their God and they shall be his people And further here is the Law of God revealed and taught as from the Tabernacle God speaking with a lively voyce in them and calling the whole Congregation of Heaven and Earth Flesh and Spirit Men and Angels to draw nigh to him to his Tabernacle which is his presence saying and writing this in them I am the Lord your God which brought you out of the house of bondage thou shalt have no other Gods but me SECT VIII The total Circumcision of Flesh and final destruction §. 8 of the fiery Serpent THe last thing I only mention is the Circumcision in the end as they were going to enter into the Land this was the last fiery tryal the same is also made good in our spirits that Gilgal where we must be first of all Malice Guile Hypocrisie of Altar Forms and Notions only circumcise from all our filthiness of flesh spirit this is the book of Exodus God makes good in us in bringing us forth with a mighty hand from all the powers of flesh and Satan that keep us