the Messengers and Servants of the Most High in Ages past was the same as now is viz. To turn People from Darkness unto Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of the Living God thereby in no wise invalidating Christ Jesus his Manifestation in that Bodily Appearance neither his Sufferings Death Resurrection or Ascension but brings all People guided thereby unto that which will open the Eyes of their Understandings whereby they all come unto such a Condition and spiritual Understanding as to see and know their Benefit by that Appearance of the Saviour of the World for this we testifie All are perfected by that one Offering that are sanctified But here ariseth another Objection by some who may come so far as to own and confess That there is a Principle or Light in man that discovereth Sin and teacheth man to do Justly and Equally which some call Morality but That this Light or Principle in man is of a Saving Property and of the Nature and Quality of the Divine Being many for want of Understanding do deny and so are found Opposers of Truth it self and stumble at the Corner-stone which indeed in all Generations hath been to many men a Stone of Stumbling Rock of Offence which Thousands giving themselves up to be guided by their own Wisdoms and Prudence reject yea those accounted the Wise Master-Builders Professors of God and Christ being ignorant of the Root and Off-spring of David have and yet do reject this Corn â—-Stone Now for the sake of all who do or may desire after the true and saving Knowledge of Christ Jesus it is on my Spirit yet further to open and manifest the Original Nature aâ—â— Property of this Principle and Light whose Original and Founâ—â—â—n is the Eternal Being and Everlasting Ocean of Divine Fulness and its Nature and Quality is one with this Fountain from which it comes John testified In the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God c. In him was Life and the Life was the Light of men He also testify'd That he was not that Light but came for a Witness to bear witness that that was the True Light which lighteth every Man that cometh into the World So the Original of this Light is Christ Jesus the Word But some may query thus Is Christ the Light in every man To which I answer Christ doth appear by his Light in every man and the Light which cometh from Christ is in every man as is clearly demonstrated from the Scriptures of Truth And though I account it unnecessary to answer the curious Inquiries of such who seeking to know much do not walk answerable to what they know yet for the sake of such whose Understandings are not open'd and yet are inquiring the Way to Sion I add this Similitude The Natural Sun is placed by the Creator to lighten the Outward World and doth extend from its Body a Measure of its Light and Natural Property shining on the Just and the Vnjust and so doth daily give forth of that Vertue which is inherent in its self when the Sun shineth on an Object whatsoever we sometimes say the Sun there appears and other times we say there is the Sun the Propriety of either of which manner of Expressions I suppose none will question for Light in that Appearance is seen and Vertue is felt penetrating to the Refreshment of our Natural Bodies and this Light and Heat is inseparable from the Fulness and notwithstanding it daily shineth and displayeth its Vertuous Life into and over all the Earth and its Inhabitants yet its Body is not any way exhausted or altered through Ages and Generations And so I say that Christ the Vniversal Fountain of Life the Sun of Righteousness the Ocean and Fulness of Spiritual Light Life and Vertue from whence is communicated a Measure of his Nature Property and Quality is given of the Father to enlighten all the Sons and Daughters of men who accordingly are all enlightened with his Spiritual Appearance and though this Appearance cannot be call'd the Fulness yet being a Measure of that Fulness it is one in Nature Property with and inseparable from the Fulness And though through its Virtue Life is daily communicated unto the Sons of men who waiting for the Appearance thereof as for the Morning-Light cannot live unto God without it yet doth he admit of no Diminution Alteration or Change but all Fulness of Divine Light Life and Glory doth and shall through every Age and Generation remain with him And albeit the Vail of Darkness hath over-shadowed the Hearts of some so as when we give Testimony unto the Universal Appearance of the Sun of Rightcousness in the Hearts of all the Sons and Daughters of men they are ready to say Such a Testimony leads to the Diminishing of that Glory and Honour which belongs unto him as he is the Fulness and sitting at the Right Hand of the Father inferring from such our Testimony as if whilst we testifie to his Appearance in our Hearts we exclude his Presence to be else-where which Inference I say is as irrational as it would be for any to conclude That because we say of the shining and Appearance of the Sun there is the Sun or the Sun there appears therefore we exclude the Being of the Sun else-where For its Virtue is communicated to our Natural Bodies every one having in measure some Enjoyment of the Virtue or Light of the Natural Sun which is Light to the Eye even as the Outward Eye is Light to or of the Natural Body and whosoever they are whose invisible Senses are quickened by the influencing Virtue which proceeds from the Eternal Sun of Righteousness do thereby see and discern that these things are according to the clear Manifestation of Truth in their inward parts and from a true Sence thereof can of a Truth give this certain Testimony That Christ the Lord by his holy quickening Spirit hath appeared in them to the quickening of their immortal Souls and that through believing in the Light and Obedience to his Appearance being come out of that State which is reprobated by the Lord can of certain experimental Knowledge say Christ is in 〈◊〉 the Hope of Glory And so when we direct People to this Word Light Law Grace and Spirit we do not thereby intend that Christ Jesus the Light of the World and Gift of God is not the true Saviour Redeemer and Reconciler of Mankind unto God Now this Word Light Law Grace and Spirit which is one in Nature doth lead and guide the Souls and Spirits of all such as obey it up to God the Fountain from whom it comes and no man comes to see its Nature and Original but such who are led by it for in the Light of the Lord alone man cometh to see Light to have an Understanding of the Original from whence it springs before this be seen or understood the Mind of man must be brought down
God they obtain'd it and not through meer Notions upon the Words of their Brethren the Prophets of which Victory through Faith and Obedience unto and in the eternal Spirit of Holiness they were made Partakers and thus was it that they came to put off the old Man which indeed is a Work and to put on the new Man which is a real Change Translation out of Satan's kingdom from under his power into the Kingdom of the dear Son of the living God and so to be under his Power But the Enemy of your Souls turn'd you from this free Grace of God which was that which stirred in you and wrought in you in your day of Tenderness by drawing your Minds up into an airy notional Profession of this Grace and that by it you were saved not considering that the immortal Souls of such lie in Bondage whose Faith stands in Notions and not in the Power of God or whose Faith is no other then a Belief of what is done for them without not coming experimentally to know the Work of God in themselves and the Obedience of Faith which purifies the Conscience and makes alive unto God And such was the soaring up into Imaginations of some called Gifted Men for the Ministry that they presumed to teach and hold forth the free Grace of God after such a manner as that the Understandings of many were confounded and thereby many were defiled and corrupted by admitting a Liberty unto the fleshly Nature and avoiding the Cross of Christ contrary to that holy Liberty which through the Operation of the Grace of God is known For though it is true that as the Apostle saith By Grace we are saved yet whosoever holds forth this Grace so as to creat a Belief in any that they are thereby saved from Condemnation whilst they are found Transgressors against that Righteous Law of God of which not one jot nor title passes away unfulfil'd in them that walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit such I say divide not the Word of God aright but teach for Doctrine the Conceptions of their own Brains for it s not a bare Belief or Assent of the Mind to the Power of the Grace which can give Satisfaction to the immortal Soul or true Assurance of eternal Peace with God but there must be also a Conformity in the inward Man unto the Power thereof and so man comes to be created in Christ Jesus unto good works to be sanctified throughout both in Body Soul Spirit And indeed I have found that instead of preaching up Conformity to the Power of the Grace they have not only preached up free Grace which indeed is an Expression in it self proper enough to be held forth for that the Grace of God is freely extended unto all but also therewith they have preached up a Justification of sinful unsanctified Persons by Imputed Righteousness even in such a manner as many have from thence concluded themselves in a State of Salvation while Sin hath had its reign in their mortal Bodies which I cannot but testifie is as great an Error and as contrary to the Gospel-Ministration and the End for which Christ was manifest in the Flesh which was to save people from their Sins so as to live no longer therein as the Error of the Scribes and Pharisees was when they were seeking and believing Justification by the Works of the Law without the Righteousness of Faith And thus hath it been that many have turned the Grace of God into Wantonness or turned from the Grace of God into Wantonness so that in a little time how did many Professors grow light and vain and ran with the very Prophane into the same excess of Riot lifted up in the Flesh and so came to be much in Shew but little and light in the Ballance And here you Professors of all sorts that have gone from the spiritual Appearance of Christ Jesus within into a Profession of the Saints Conditions and Performances without the Leadings and Guidings of the same Spirit Power lost your Way and went out from your Guide which would have lead you up to the Substance Christ Jesus and thousands of ignorant people have been lead here through the cunning Sleights of men into an empty Profession and when the Manifestation of the Spirit of God which is given unto every man to profit withal hath stirred in the Heart and Soul to draw the Mind out of the Ways Spirit and Nature of the World then the transforming Enemy of Mankind has lain near to betray deceive by pointing directing people to run into this Profession or the other or take up this outward Performance or the other Shadow under the specious Pretences of the Ordinances of God and Christ And hereby the subtil Enemy that will admit of the peoples being in the outward Practice of outward things whilst that he can have his Place Seat and Throne in the Heart of mankind has lead thousands aside out of the straight Way of Salvation through his drawing them from the true inward Guide the Grace of God that brings Saivation that hath appeared unto all men into the outward Observation and here the Fear of thousands towards God is taught by the Precept of men who know not the Leadings and Guidings of the Spirit Power of God and so have heal'd the Hurt of the Daughter of Zion deceitfully and have daubed with the untemper'd Morter And now all you scatter'd Ones upon the barren Mountains of Professions give ear hear the Counsel and Call of the Lord Turn you Prodigals who have spent your Portions and lost much of your Sincerity and Tenderness and that secret Injoyment you had of the Lord inwardly years ago and who for a long season have endeavour'd to fill your Bellies with Husks and the Profession of the Saints Injoyments my Heart earns on you and for you are my Bowels turned my Soul is often bow'd down in the Sence of your Estates yea often my Heart is pained within me when I behold your Wanderings up and down from Mountain to Mountain seeking Rest and finding none but what is polluted and your Souls are lean for want of the Fatness of God's House and you have not the Injoyment of it my Soul is even many times distressed for you God that made Heaven Earth bears me record whom my Soul cryes unto even Night and Day to visit you with an Out stretched Arm Return return unto that which will shew you all that ever you have done and that will hasten you to the Father's House where Bread of Life is and no longer spend your Money protious Time Labour for that which is not Bread of Life but a Profession a Talk of Bread which cannot truly satisfie your Souls And now in the Name Authority and by the Motion of the Spirit of the Eternal God Behold I sound the Trumpet of the Lord God Almighty in your Ears Prepare prepare to meet the Lord Jehovah in the Valley of Decision and all you who have any Tenderness in your Hearts and Breathings inwardly after the Lord amongst all Professions of what Name or Denomination soever Come out come out of Babylon and be you separated touch not any longer the unclean that the Lord may receive you who stands ready to receive all that come in Truth and Righteousness unto him who now will mark all that mourn because of the Sins of the people which are great and the measure thereof filling up apace and the day time is hastening of the pouring out of the Vials of the unmixt Fury and Indignation of God who lives forever and ever And therefore stee flee for your Lives out of Sodom 's Nature and stick not in the Profession of things neither the one nor the other whilst the Ground of thy Profession did not or doth not spring from the immediate Work of God and daily Operation of his eternal Power in thy Heart but come down into pure Obedience to the pure still Voice of the Spirit and Gift of God in thy own Heart and Soul which will as thy inward Ear is attentive direct thee in the narrow Way of Life eternal in which thou shouldst walk So coming here you come to that which moved in the Hearts of many years since God-wards which was that which wrought many into the Tenderness before spoken of herein walk and be faithful and it will â—â—ad to the Fountain of Blessedness from which it came and unto the Horn of God's Anointed and to Shiloh shall be the Gathering of Thensands through the Nations Tongues Languages and People and the Mountain of the Lord's House shall be exalted through this great Day of Tryal Tribulation and Anguish upon the top of all the Mountains So the Lord God Almighty by the Arm of Strength reach all Hearts that have any breathing panting Desires after him amongst all Professions and pull many as Brands out of the Fire So breathes my Soul who am a Travailer for the universal Visitation and Deliveraence of the Seed of Jacob and raised up to Prophesie of the things which come to pass and shall be fulfilled in their Time and Season Charles Marshall THE END
testified before he was stoned to Death This is He who is without Beginning of Days or End of Life who in the Fulness of Time was manifest taking on him not the Nature of Angels but the Seed of Abraham for whom there was a Body prepar'd to do the Will of his Father who after he had accomplish'd it ascended where he was before far above all Heavens that he might fill all This is the Emanuel God with us Jesus the Saviour Christ the Anointed who hath been called by several Names spoken of under several Denominations and Appellations through the Mouthes of his Servants the Prophets and Apostles in Ages and Generations by past This is the only Beloved of the Ransomed and this is our Friend And now he is arisen and arising who is the Ancient of Dayes in the Might of his Power and is revealing himself the Good Old Way and Path of Life whose Out-goings have been from Everlasting in which Way Abel Seth Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob and all the Servants Prophets Apostles and Saints of the Most High God walked through all Ages and Generations which Way was before all the invented Ways and Worships were which have been set up in the Will and Time of Man for all the holy Men of God and Saints of the Most High worshipped God in the Spirit of Holiness in which they were accepted of him who is the God of the Spirits of all Flesh And no outward Performance whatever performed by any through Ages and Generations was any farther acceptable unto the Lord but as performed in this Spirit The Way of Restoration out of the Fall into the Image of God again in which Man was before the Fall c. BUt how Salvation comes to be wrought by him and how Mankind may be brought again into him who is the Way the Truth and the Life and brought from under the Power and Dominion of the Seed of the Serpent in which by Nature all have been the Children of Wrath is indeed the thing that lieth on my Spirit weightily to demonstrate having obtained Mercy to see this Way of Life and Salvation revealed and opened and not only so but a Necessity hath been and is upon me to preach the Gospel of Christ Jesus and declare the Way of Life and Salvation to my Country-men through this Island of England and now a Necessity is also upon my Spirit to leave a Testimony of the same on Record This is generally confessed that in the first Adam all dyed and in the second Man Adam Christ the Lord all come to be made alive again But how Mankind comes out of this State of Death in the first Man Adam into this State of Life in the second Man Adam is that which the Wisdom of this World never knew never saw never understood nor comprehended truly or rightly Man by that Wisdom hath only imagined conceived something in the Carnal Mind concerning this great Mystery and therein hath set up many Inventions of the Way of Life and Salvation And into these many Wayes of man's Inventions and Imaginations set up in the fallen Wisdom of Man there have been the several Calls Lo here Lo there but the Day is dawned and appearing and now breaking forth more and more magnified and praised be the Name of the Infinite Almighty God wherein all invented Wayes set up in the Will and Wisdom of Man that is Earthly Sensual and Devilish shall come to an End And now in the Name of the Mighty God all the graven Images the Work of Men's Hands and Earthly Wisdoms shall be broken to pieces and ground to Powder the Mouth of the Lord of Hosts hath spoken it who will perform it by the Might of his Arm and by the Strength of his Power And therefore Tremble Tremble all ye Image-makers of all sorts who have been making and framing Likenesses of the Way of Life and Salvation in your fallen Wisdoms and corrupt Wills and have mad Gods thereof and have fallen bowed down to and worshipped them so that it may be said of Christendom so called as it was once said of Israel As are thy Cities so are thy Gods O Israel But now is the Fulness of Time come and coming wherein the ancient Way of Holiness in which the Righteous walked through all Ages and Generations is cast up manifest and manifesting which Way is Christ Jesus the Gift of the Father's Love unto the Sons and Daughters of men who hath as before-mentioned been preached up and declared of by his Servants Messengers Prophets and Apostles under several Denominations and Appellations according as he was pleased to manifest himself in to them and as his Spirit gave them Utterance Amongst many other Appellations he hath been declared a Priest forever after the Order of Melchizedeck the Rock that followed Israel who was in the Church in the Wilderness a King a Law-giver VVonderful Councellor Prince of Peace a Branch a Light to lighten the Gentiles the Arm of God's Salvation a Covenant Messiah a Leader a Commander a Captain the Horn of God's Anointed a Stone of Stumbling a Foundation laid in Ston the Corner-stone the VVord of God the VVord that was in the Beginnning the True Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the VVorld the Truth the VVay and the Life King of Kings Lord of Lords Christ Emanuel Jesus the Beginning of the Creation of God the First-born of every Creature the First-begotten from the Dead the Faithful VVitness Alpha and Omega Bright and Morning Star the Image of the Invisible God the Off-spring of David Under these I say and other Names and Denominations hath he been spoken and declared of and by who still hath a Name that no man knoweth but himself who is that One Eternal Fountain of Blessedness and the One Pretious Saviour and there is no other besides him although diversly denominated according as his Spirit gave Utterance to demonstrate him to those unto whom his Servants spake prophesied and wrote And now by the Ancient Power of the Holy Everlasting God is he preached up under the Denomination of LIGHT in this Island of the Gentiles according as was prophesied of old Isaiah chap. 49. vers 6. who said Is it a light thing that thou shouldst be my Servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob and to preserve the Restored of Israel I will also give thee for a Light to the Gentiles that thou mayst be my Salvation unto the Ends of the Earth which is one with the Testimony of John chap. 1. saying In the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God the same was in the Beginning with God all things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made In him was Life and the Life mark was the Light of men and the Light shineth in the Darkness and the Darkness comprehendeth it not There was a Man sent from God whose Name was John the
same came for a Witness to bear Witness of the Light that all through him might believe He was not that Light but was sent to bear Witness of that Light that was the true Light which lightneth every man that comes into the World c. And to this agrees the Testimony of Just Simeon who came by the Spirit into the Temple and took the Child Jesus into his Arms and said Lord now lettest thou thy Servant depart in Peace according to thy Word for my Eyes have seen thy Salvation which thou hast prepared before the Face of all People a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of thy People Israel This is He of whom we Testifie whose Light is the VVay to Life And this is the Condemnation that Light is come into the World and men love Darkness rather then Light because their Deeds are Evil For every one mark that doth Evil hateth the Light neither cometh to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved but he that doth Truth cometh to the Light that his Deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God Now this Light which the Servants of the Most High testified of is that which hath been spoken of and denominated under several Names For this Manifestation of God in man is sometimes called the Word the Spirit the Law the Grace of God now the VVord Light Grace Law Spirit are all one in Nature although diversly named Moses called it the Word and directed to this Word in the Heart and in the Mouth which Paul that illuminated Man rehearsing saith Say not in thy Heart mark Who shall ascend into Heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall descend into the Deep that is to bring Christ up again from the Dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that is the Word of Faith that we preach This is the sure Word of Prophecy unto which Peter directs to take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark place until the Day dawn and the Day-star arise in the Heart c. This Light is the Law of the Spirit of Life where-with Paul was acquainted that warred in his Mind against the Law of Sin and Death which was in his Members This Light is the Law in the Heart and the Spirit in the inward parts the New Covenant of God Almighty This is that which converts the Soul which Law Paul delighted in according to the inward Man This Law is Light of which the Scriptures of Truth plentifully testifie This is that Grace that Paul declared brings Salvation which hath appeared to all men which Law Light Spirit Grace Gift hath in measures as God's Talents appeared unto all men which teacheth all that are lead taught and guided by it to deny all Vngodliness and Worldly Lusts and not only so but also to live Soberly Godly and Righteously in this present Evil World This is that Grace which the Lord the Giver thereof said to Paul was sufficient for him to deliver him from the Temptation the Thorn in the Flesh of which the same Apostle said unto the Ephesians By Grace ye are saved c. And this is the Manifestation of the Spirit spoken of by Paul which is given to every man to profit withal And this is that good Spirit of the Lord given to Israel who rebelled against it as the old World did unto whom the Lord said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with Man of which â—ord Law Light Grace and Spirit given to be the Leader and Guider of Mankind out of Sin Death and Darkness into which Man fell through disobeying the Righteous Law of God as is afore declared the holy Scriptures give clear and full Testimony as hath been demonstrated But now that which is ready to arise is an Objection in some whose Understandings are not opened whose searchings to comprehend and Inquiries after the Way of man's Salvation stand in that Wisdom that is from below and in the Will and Reason of Man degenerated from the Life of God which is VVhether the preaching up this Word Light Law Spirit and Grace of God manifest within hath not a Tendency to make Christ Jesus his Appearance in the Flesh his Sufferings Death Resurrection and Ascension to be Invalid Unto which I answer Nay Forasmuch as no Persons ever did do or shall truly see discern know understand or enjoy the Benefit of Christ Jesus his Manifestation in the Flesh but as their Hearts were are or shall be opened and Understanding illuminated by the Light which is a Measure of the Divine Fulness that dwelt in him and is communicated to and placed in all Immortal Souls as the Universal Love of God extended in the Son of his Love to all the Families of the Earth as the Revealer and Discoverer of the VVill of him from whose Divine Fulness it comes and issueth forth it self universally for the Scripture thus witnesseth that No man knoweth the things of a man save the spirit of a man which is in him even so the things of God knows no man but the Spirit of God The Hearts of the Jews not being seasoned with this Grace of God and ignorant of the Gift of God which is Eternal Life they neither discerned loved nor received Christ Jesus when manifested in that outward bodily Appearance but rejected him notwithstanding they professed Love Honour and Regard to the Prophets and were in Expectation of the Fulfilling their Prophecies of the Coming of the Messiah who in due time came and yet they did not receive him but instead thereof set themselves against him taking Counsel from time to time how they might slay him though in Words they profest an earnest waiting for him So in this Day Age and Generation there are many who by their words do profess they believe his Coming in the Flesh and his Sufferings Death Resurrection and Ascension but yet having their Faith consisting in outward Notions and having no inward Experience of the End of his Coming nor of the Virtue of his Sufferings Death Resurrection c. they are Enemies in their Minds to his second Appearance and coming without Sin unto Salvation So there is a Necessity for all the Sons and Daughters of men to come to and obey this Divine Spiritual Principle which is placed in their Consciences by the Living Eternal God that thereby the Eye which hath been blinded through Disobedience by the God of the VVorld may be opened for until this in some measure be effected the Mystery of Godliness which is great can neither be seen nor understood and therefore Christ said finding the Woman of Samaria ignorant of himself who was and is that great Mystery and the Gift of the Father's Love If thou knowest the Gift of God and who it is that saith unto thee Give me to drink thou wouldst have asked of him and he would have given thee Living Water The Travail in Spirit of
out of all its own Willings and Runnings Comprehendings Searchings into the Principle of Light therein to see a Death to his own Will and be comprehended into this Light and so man comes to have an Understanding to know him that is true and to be in him that is true Now as any are convinced of and converted by this Heavenly Principle which is placed in the Conscience there given to be a Guide and Leader unto Mankind they are led thereby out of Darkness wherein they have been while yet the Light shone in Darkness in which Darkness no man ever comprehended this Light or Heavenly Grace which sometimes moves through the Darkness on the Depth of man's Understanding reproving and discovering Darkness causing man to hear its small still Voice moving in man God-wards so daily continues without Change reproving man whilst he remains in Rebellion and Disobedience all the time of his Visitation and approving and giving Peace unto man when he is Obedient This Principle of Light remains intire in its own Purity and although man may change and alter and go from it and rebel against it and thereby become one of them of whom Job speaks that rebel against the Light and thereby knows not the Way of it but gives way to the Working of the God of the World to be drawn out into the fading perishing things yet this Principle remains immutable in it self being of and from the Immutable Unchangeable Being and remains with man until it be taken from him and he be cast into utter Darkness The first Operation of this heavenly Light amongst those who are convinced by and turned to it the Gift of the Father which Christ Jesus in his Parable to the Jews compared to a Grain of Mustard-seed and to a little Leaven which a Woman took hid in three Measures of Meal until the whole came to be leavened is to shew man his in ward State and Condition and the first Step in the Way of Life is to be turned to this holy Principle that teacheth the Obedient to know God savingly and when by this Principle man comes to have a true Sight and Sence of his fallen Estate and sees how he hath transgressed against that Eternal Being that gave him Life and Breath who notwithstanding in his Long-Suffering waiteth long to be Gracious and knocketh at the Door of the Heart and hath striven by his Divine Light the true Sight and Sence hereof will break the Heart and tender the Spirit before the Lord and under the weighty Sence of the great Burden of Sin and Iniquity there will be a crying out My Sins they are too heavy for me to bean and mine Iniquities are gone over my Head as Paul did saying Oh Wretched Man that I am who shall deliver me from the Body of this Death And here comes the Eye to be opened that seeth him whom man in his Disobedience hath pierced afresh and put to open Shame and then there will be Dayes of Mourning and Wailing because of him and this is truly the Day of Jacob's Trouble And in the Sence of this Deplorable Fallen Estate and the Long-suffering of the Lord and the Long-striving of his Spirit thou wilt see that in the Justice of God Eternal Death might be thy Portion but that which brings into this Sence begets a secret Cry in the Immortal Soul after a Deliverer and Saviour and will also give a true Sence and Sight that there is no way for thy Soul to be ransomed but in and through the tender Mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ which thou wilt see can no other way be effectually begun in thee but in the Way of the Judgments of the Lord For 't is through Judgment that Zion is redeemed and her Converts with Righteousness And here also thou wilt see that the Measure of the Sufferings of Christ yet behind must be filled up in thee for no other Way can any man pass unto Life Peace and Joy with the Father of Spirits but the Way the Captain of Salvation passed which was through Death and here thou wilt begin to arm thy self with the same Mind For none ceaseth any farther from Sin but as they suffer in the Flesh the crucisying of the Affections and Lusts thereof and here the End of the Gospel's Preaching comes to be known and witnessed which was and is that all man might be judged as men in the Flesh that so they might live according to God in the Spirit and in this spiritual inward Sence Exercise the Lord God Almighty will bow down his Ear Answer the Cryes of thy Awakened Soul and manifest his Word of Power which all in this State and Passage will know to be sharper then any Two-edged Sword piercing to the dividing asunder of thy Immortal Soul from the Spirit and Nature of Transgression and its Working daily as Subjection and Obedience is yielded unto it dividing and making a Separation between Joynts and Marrow giving thee daily a Discerning of the Thoughts and Intents of thy Heart And as the Soul Mind and Heart gives up in Love to God freely to follow him in the Way of his Judgments and gives up to the Sword of the Lord that which is for the Sword and that which is for Destruction to be destroyed thus will the pretious Work of the Lord prosper And although this be a Time of Sorrow and a Time of Trouble Travail and Anguish yet notwithstanding it is a Good Day therefore strive not to get from under it neither to make haste for the true godly Sorrow worketh the true Repentance which is never to be repented of and after the true Repentance follows the true Knowledge of Remission Forgiveness and so thy Inquities by the Judgments of the Lord God Almighty come to be blotted out and then the Times of Refreshment come from the Presence of the Lord and from the Glory of his Power c. And as there is a faithful abiding in inward Watchfulness and continual Obedience to this Heavenly Light in which the Beginning of the Work of God was known there will be a going on from Step to Step in the Foot steps of the Flock of Christ Jesus and a growing from Strength to Strength over Sin and the Nature thereof and from one Degree of Grace to another and as there is a faithful Perseverance in this Divine Principle the Eye of the Understanding will be single and here every thing which hath or doth let will be seen and the Soul never start aside from an inward Travil until that which hindereth be taken out of the Way and until thou seest all the Rule and Authority of the Enemy to be subdued under the Feet of the Lord 's Anointed and the Government in the Soul upon his Shoulders whose Right it is to Raign over all And here Salvation Redemption and Restoration is effectually injoyed through the Effectual Working and Operating of the Almighty Power and Arm of God Almighty
known and witnessed from Death unto Life and the Administration of Condemnation being passed through and the Spirit that ruled in the disobedient Estate cast out and the Openings of that which doth exceed in Glory the Administration of the Spirit being known here the Enemy will again Transform and with all his Power and Strength in the Transformation as an Angel of Light work by his Temptation on the Right Hand and on the Left For when there are Openings to the Understanding and Prophecies and through the Working of the Eternal Power Joy springs in the Heart then will the Enemy work secretly and cunningly to draw the Mind out of the Valley of Humility and if he prevaileth here to draw out of this Habitation of Safety then he will transform to lead the Mind out eitchr through the Motions of his transforming Spirit and Power into Extreams thereby endeavouring to destroy the true Birth which is bringing forth and so bewilder the Mind and hurry it forth through imaginary Motions to Dishonour the Name of the Living Eternal God and to destroy his work which through Sorrow and Travil hath been brought forth And if he cannot prevail here but the Light of the Lord discovereth him and the Power of the Lord works over his Appearance herein then will he be at work to draw the Mind out of the Watchfulness out of the daily Awe and Fear and out of the Liberty of the Sons of God which Libeity is only to serve the Lord for Dominion being selt in some measure the Morning of Comfort Consolation injoyed and Praises spring in the Heart to him that vifited and redeemed the Enemy will be ready here also to draw the Mind out of the Valley of Humility out of the stay'd Estate of Meek and Constant Watchfulness in the Light thereby causing the Creature prodigally to spend the Portion and to lavish out the Injoyment by running and climing up to sacrifice upon the Mountains and run before the Leadings Guidings and Movings of the Power of the Lord into the speaking forth of the Injoyment the Prophecyings and Openings not being led thereunto by that Eternal Power that first opened the Heart and here is the Ground of the Untimely Birth that hath been brought forth that hath and will wicher and come to nothing But now where the Enemy is seen and discovered in all the aforesaid Workings and cannot prevail by these Snares Trapps Gins and Ternptations aforesaid he will not cease who goes about on a Roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour and how he may again get an Entrance so that he layes his Temptations according to the Spirit Growth Capacities and Inclinations of every one Now after the good Work of God has been begun prosperously and that the Right Arm of God's Salvation hath been wonderfully revealed and signally manifest to bring out of Egypt's Land of Darkness spiritually and that the Lord hath magnified his Arm spiritually in giving many signal Deliverances from the Destroying Enemy and has often fed with the Heavenly Food and caused the Rock to yield Water for the Thirsty and that the many Turnings aside in the Passage through the Wilderness have been seen and the Back-slidings and Going out from a Sence of the Eternal Power have been discovered that there is a coming through the River of Judgment and the Mighty Power and Arm of the Everlasting God drives out the Enemy that hath inhabited where only Abraham's Seed is to inhabit and that the War in great measure ceaseth and part of the good Land is possessed and enjoyed even the Land that floweth with Spiritual Milk and Honey and the Fruit of the Vine drunk of here also as in the Travils afore-mention'd will the old crooked subtil Enemy be working as he did with outward Israel causing Jesurun to wax fat and then kick against the Ancient Power leading the Mind out through the Injoyment of that which in its place is good into ease and so to forget the Lord that made formed man and brought him into the Land of Rest and lightly to esteem of the very Rock of Salvation and so leadeth into an easeful State in a Profession and draws away the Mind from the inward Enjoyment of Virtue to set up Idols in the Heart and to serve other Gods even Gods of Gold and Silver and an Idol a Profession without Life and Possession And into this State and Condition did the old Enemy prevail to lead a People who in many Ages had seen the Great and Mighty Works of the Lord who saw from time to time the Arm of God Almighty out-stretched and magnified in the Sight of their Enemies for them howbeit as aforesaid they departed from the Lord and from the inward Sence of his eternal Power Now here the Spirit that was cast out and wandred in dry Places takes to it Seven worse Spirits and returns tempts prevails enters and here indeed the Latter-end sâ— worse then the Beginning for in the Beginning although the Enemy had his Power and Rule yet there was a Sence thereof and the Heart and Mind was humbled tender and brought into the true Poverty and there was a Mourning before the Lord for want of the Dominion and this State of Humiliation Brokenness of Heart and Tenderness of Spirit in which the Lord took and taketh Delight and therefore in his endless boundless Loving-kindness visited caus'd his red â—ming saving Power Arm to be reveal'd But now in this other Estate the Mind is high the Heart fat full and at ease and gotten forth into the Love of the World and the things there 〈◊〉 through which there is an Vamindfulness of the Lord who in the beginning was every day sought after and diligently waited for and here the Rock the Power is lightly esteemed of for the Escimation is of another thing and here two great Evils are committed even at once viz. The Fountain of the former living Mercies forsaken a hewing out broken Cisterns a Profession that will hold no Water no durable Refreshment no durable Joy no durable Peage nor Consolation And the Enemy hath thus prevailed through many Ages to bring Thousands from their Enjoyment of God in the pure tender broken contrite upright-spirited Estate which he hath doth effect through his Workings and Subtilty and that gradually his first Foot-step hereunto is to bring out of the constant daily sure Watchfulness and causing a little Liberty to be taken to the carnal Mind and to the Flesh and that gradually and as it were unperceivably causing such to take down as it were a Taste a certain Enjoyment of Sweetness therein and thereby a little darkning the Sight alluring a little into a little more Liberty sometimes his Beginnings are to draw out of the Obedience in those things that were required in the Day of Small things sometimes into many Words out of Watchfulness no more to be as a Door-keeper in the House of the Lord and so