the Saints in this life which may very well be rendered as a wildernesse-condition two of which are to be accomplished in spiritual Babylon as Babylon may be rendered a State and a National Church both which particulars concerning this wildernesse are to be understood in a spiritual sense Now the Scripture to prove is Hosea 2. 3. where God doth denounce his judgements against his people in case they do not put away their adulteries from between their brest and because they do not the judgement follows which is to be stript naked and sit as in the day wherein she was born in being made as a wildernesse and set as a dry land and slain with Christ and so it goes on to vers. â—4 Now in this Scripture the condition of the Church of God is remarkably set forth in respect of us who have committed spiritual adultery as it is here spoken of at large And so the first wildernesse condition is accomplished in the last and dreadful desertion of the Church immediately before her great and glorious deliverance out of mystical Babylon which deliverance is as well temporal as spiritual even from the bondage of the creature as in Isai. 9. 4. and 10. 27. and then follows the wildernesse-condition Hos. 2. from vers. 14. to the end We may see the like in Isa. 32. Jer. 30 and 31 Chap. I pray compare these Scriptures which speak of the wildernesse-condition that doth befal the Saints in this spiritual desertion when God hath bereft them of all Now there is another wildernesse-condition in reference to the Saints whilst they are in Babylon which is of another nature as in Revel. 12 where there is mention made of the womans fleeing into the wildernessâ— before she hath wings given her as is spoken in vers 14. to flee into the wildernesse in respect of a local separation which hath been the condition of the Saints ever since the defection from the Faith for the space of one thousand two hundred and threescore days but now it is accomplished in the condition of the Saints which have brought forth a man-childe which man-childe is caught up to heaven unto God and to his throne which shews that the spiritual man in those who are enlightned with that light of God in whose light we see light I say the spiritual man in such a one lives in God though as we are in the flesh we are in Babylon amongst our hateful enemies And so our being in God in this sense may be understood to be that wildernesse into which the woman flees immediately after she hath brought forth a man-childe where she is kept in respect of her spiritual subsistence And this we may likewise observe she is fled into this wildernesse before she is persecuted by the dragon and so hath wings given her to flee away And so I see that this wildernesse in a spiritual sense may be said to be God himself as in Isai. 33. when the Spirit shall be poured down from on high even that wildernesse spoken of in Hos. 2. which we were made in our spiritual desertion shall be a fruitful field and the fruitful field a forest Now having spoken of the wildernesse in the spiritual desertion and after the resurrection into which the woman flees now the main businesse is to prove that the Lord will gather his people into a wildernesse as a wildernesse is to be understood in the letter when the Lord shall gather away his Saints in respect of a local separation from Babylon Now the Scriptures to prove this are as followeth Isa. 35. thorowout Isa. 48. 20 21. Isa. 51. at the beginning Jer. 31. 1 2. Ezek. 34. 25. you may take notice of the whole Chapter Hos. 2. from vers. 14. to the end Revel. 12. 14. I pray compare these Scriptures And so with this I shall close up nothing doubting but that the Lord will in his good time reveal unto his people those things which have been hidden from the beginning of the world whilst that others shall promise to themselves peace and safety when sudden destruction shall come upon them as travel upon a woman with childe but the Saints shall foresee the evil and have an escape The Third Letter Concerning the Resurrection of the dead Dear Friends IT is the will of God to call me forth to heark what he shall say and so accordingly to communicate it in the same giving forth of the Spirit in that here I must make it known to you before I can conceive it in my self Now the main thing that God will speak by me at present is concerning the condition of mankinde after natural death and so likewise of the Resurrection of the body and in this God doth condescend unto my weaknesse in that some few hours since I did retain sad thoughts concerning the state of the Saints departed with those who shall before the glorious manifestation of Jesus Christ in the flesh and so likewise of the redemption of the body which redemption shall be as well temporal as spiritual Now the faithful who are departed this life already with those who shall before this glorious manifestation it doth not appear that they do partake of that glory which they do who shall live unto that time and if that we do not expect the resurrection of the body after the natural death Unto this I answer Though we do not expect such a resurrection as formerly yet we do expect a resurrection of the body mystical for when some of the people of God as in 1 Cor. 15. might object according to their conceiving as the Apostle speaks in that place Some may say How are the dead raised and with what bodies come they forth Thou fool saith he that which thou sowest is not quickned except it die as in vers. 35. and that which thou sowest thou sowest not the body which shall be but bare grain it may be of wheat or some other grainâ—â— but God giveth a body as it pleaseth him and so he goes on to vers 42. so also is the resurrection of the dead it is sown in corruption and it is raised in incorruption it is sown in dishonour and raised in glory it is sown in weaknesse and raised in power it is sown a natural body and raised a spiritual body There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body as it is written The first man Adam was made a living soul and the second Adam was made a quickning spirit And so it follows unto vers 47 where it is said As we have born the image of the earthly so we should bear the image of the heavenly that is as we now bear the image of the earthly that is the image of Christ in the flesh so we shall bear the image of the heavenly Christ who is said to be a quickning spirit and here we are raised a spiritual body for the body is Christ and so the spiritual bodies of the Saints are not distinct one
the Ordinances whereas the Ordinance in it self is but a vail or shadow and silver is a pure metal though not so esteemed of as gold Unto this I answer Though the Ordinance in it self is but a shadow and so Babylon yet no question but that there are some glorious truths held forth which may be compared unto silver though the gold and silver it self shall fall in the fall of Babylon Now having spoken of the head of gold and the brest and arms which are silver next I shall speak of the belly and thiths which are of brasse that may very well signifie the counterfeit truths which were held forth in the National Church of England as touching Discipline I may very well say they are altogether counterfeit because they have no rule from the Word for what they practise neither for the calling of the Ministery nor the institution of such a Church Now having spoken concerning what is to be understood of the Image of Babel in reference to the Saints and the Ordinances and that counterfeit Church which was amongst us now I shall speak concerning those parts of the Image that concern the state in which Babylon hath begun to fall and in the first place I shall speak of the Monarchical power of this mixture of the feet and toes even that power which rules in the tenth part of the great City which is mystical Babylon But now some may object That Babylon is everywhere and so not to be confined unto any State Unto this I answer It is true that Babylon cannot be confined yet the Scripture is clear that whatsoever is spoken of that Babylon wherein the Witnesses are slain Rev. 11. Jer. 50 and 51 or where the Saints are in bondage c. now this Babylon spoken in these Scriptures is the tenth part of the great City which is spiritually called Sodom and Egypt where our Lord was crucified as Rev. 11. which doth evidently appear to be this Island of Great Britain as I have formerly written Now as for the Monarchical power that hath been acted in the tenth part of the great City immediately before its fall it is well known to be before quoted Dan. 2 7 8 11 Chap. The Scripture will speak it forth to be an arbitrary power which hath evidently appeared to be in this Island which arbitrary power hath not onely been in the Monarchical Sâ—ate but in the foregoing Parliament of England which did in its special manner appear to be that glorious State spoken of Ezek. 28. and not onely have spiritual excellencies appeared in her but she hath appeared to be Babylon in special manner and in particular the violence done unto the Saints remember March and April Anno. Dom. 1647 and so accordingly the inhabitants of Caldea do go on to fill up the measure of their sin in the persecuting of the Saints to the hastening of the dreadful indignation of that God who is nothing but love in his own nature but consuming fire to his enemies Another Objection may arise Some may say What is the reason that you do give the spiritual meaning of the head of gold and the brest of silver and the belly of brasse and do onely give a literal signification of the legs of iron and the feet and toes of iron and clay Answ. As for the three former they have been accomplished already in the letter and the fourth almost though there is some of it remains behinde concerning which we must give literal interpretation before the spiritual meaning shall be made known Now as for the literal intepretation of the legs feet and toes of the great Image and the spiritual interpretation of the head brest and belly all this is to be accomplished in a spiritual and literal sense together and the spiritual meaning of the legs feet and toes shall be accomplished in the Kingdom of the Saints And with this I shall end this discourse The Second Letter Concerning the nature of the dissolving the heavens and the earth My dear Friends I Have cause to blesse God who causeth me to triumph in tribulation for sure I am most strong in God when I am weakest in my self and more enabled to act by the Spirit when I am most straightned in the flesh and having nothing in visible appearance in the enjoyment of the Saints or any other spiritual or temporal comforts yet I possesse all things in my God in whom I live and he in me and my joy and consolation is not in my self in that I live in God in mine own particular but my joy is the joy of you all for sure my soul is bound up with yours in the same bundle as the Apostle says I am alive if you stand fast in these terrible times wherein the powers of heaven are shaken and not onely the powers of heaven shaken in the Saints but heaven it self is passing away with a great noise and the element melts with fervent heat Now here I shall God assisting make forth that which I have formerly written which for the present I am deprived of howsoever I do here depend upon his help who I am sure will give it in again so far as it is spiritual enabling me to communicate it for the benefit of others so far as it shall stand with his glory which Writing did consist of divers particulars As First concerning the state of the Church of God in Babylon in respect of that wonderful tribulation before her deliverance out of Babylon and her being gathered out of Babylon and her being brought into the wildernesse after her deliverance and the glorious state of the Church which shall follow concerning all which particulars most of the Saints will joyn with me onely this wildernesse-condition is lookt on as most disconsolate insomuch that the Saints themselves may think as the children of Israel that it is best for them to continue still in Babylon especially those who do not onely live under the Ordinances but in them in abundance of sensible consolation which I am sure is not spiritual insomuch that it may well be compared to the flesh-pots of Egypt Now as for the former Writing so far as God shall enable me I shall here make it forth and so shew how far the Saints do joyn with me and where we differ Now all the people of God will agree in this that the Lord will gather his people out of Babylon in bringing them out of Darknesse and Errour they do likewise expect a glorious state of the Church but in contrariety of judgements one from another which is most in circumstances and not in substance Now the particular judgements of the Saints are as followeth In the first place and so in that they do most agree which is concerning this new heaven and earth that we do expect which is conceived shall not be till all these old things shall passe away And they do likewise expect an utter dissolution of this visible heaven and earth and
be shaken but our heaven without us hath been shaken which is the Ordinance and hath likewise been taken away for when God withdraws and doth not appear in it then all is gone But howsoever here is matter of unspeakable comfort to the Saints even at this time wherein the powers of heaven are shaken and shall likewise vanish away because that which remains cannot be shaken though it be dissolved ceasing to appear in that manner as formerly as covered with a vail but now we shall see face to face Now having spoken at large concerning the heavens being on fire which is dissolved to some and shall be dissolved to all when the Saints shall see God as he is because the Ordinance which is that vail that hath hid the glory of God from us whilst we live so lowe in the earth is taken away because we could not see God and live except he had been so covered but when this vail shall vanish away like smoke Isa. 51. and be rolled together like a scroll Revel. 6. 14. and every mountain and hill shall be removed out of his place and heaven shall be shaken and the earth shall be removed out of his place in the wrath of the Lord Isa. 13. 13 14. Heb. 12 God saith that once more I will not shake earth onely but also heaven Now this once more signifies the removing of those things which are shaken that the things which cannot be shaken may remain And our Saviour saith Heaven and earth shall passe away but my word shall not passe away which is God himself Now that which vanisheth and passeth away and is shaken and taken away as in these Scriptures here quoted heaven which is here spoken of is the Ordinances which shall passe away when God appeareth in his glorious manifestations when he comes into his Temple Mal. 3. 1 c. But it is said Who can abid his coming and who shall stand when he appeareth Heaven passeth away now with a great noise there is great trouble in the Saints when this shall be Now heaven which is the Word of God in distinction to that heaven which passeth away with a great noise v. 10. though this heaven which is the word of God shall be dissolved it remains the same in nature though not in such a grosse substance Now when it is thus dissolved there is more spiritual efficacy in it then before in that this Word shall become flesh as is spoken of Christ 1 Joh. 1. And so as the Word of God did become flesh in Christ our elder brother so this Word shall become flesh in all the Saints when God shall be manifested in their flesh and they likewise shall be declared mightily to be the sons of God by the Resurrection from the dead not the Resurrection of the body natural which we do not expect in that manner as formerly we conceived but the resurrection from the dead in a spiritual sense Now concerning the resurrection of the bodies of the Saints which is expected after their natural death it is to me a mystry as yet and so I conceive it is to most of the Saints As for that resurrection which is held forth commonly in the Scripture it is in part made known unto me 〈◊〉 to be dead with Christ and so to be risen with him Now to be dead with Christ the Apostle saith is to be dead unto the Ordinances and all vails and shadows and to be risen with him is to live in God in seeing eye to eye when God shall bring again Sion Isai. 52. And so that resurrection which we do expect is not the resurrection after death but a resurrection in a spiritual sense whilst we are in the flesh before the state of glory and it is a resurrection out of a spiritual defection which we have been brought into being slain by our iniquity as Hos. 13. where God saith O Ephraim thou hast destroyed thy self but in me is thy help Onely here is a difference in the cause of the death of Christ and the cause of this death in the Saints in a spiritual sense Now the cause of the death of Christ was the sin of mankinde as the Scripture speaketh but the Saints are slain by their own sin Now here will arise a Question How can it be said that the Saints are slain by their iniquities seeing Christ hath satisfied for the sins of the whole world Answ. It is true the satisfaction which was in Christ it was a sufficient ransome for in that the whole Creation is redeemed from the curse of the â—aw and if all did believe all should have benefit by this redemption for it is evident that none are damned but for the sin of unbelief as the Scripture declares in divers places So howsoever though there be such a sufficient ransome yet none have benefit by it but those who do believe and unto them the guilt and malediction of sin is taken away but though the guilt and malediction of sin be taken away by this redemption and so the Saints cannot be slain by their iniquity in respect of the spiritual man yet they are slain in their own apprehension when they are bereft of all joy and comfort in the spirit in that God hath withdrawn himself from them And here it may be said they are put to death with Christ in that they are conformable to his sufferings in respect of the spiritual desertion that Christ was in who in the days of his flesh did pour out strong prayers with crying and tears as in the Hebrews and so likewise the Saints are to be conformable to Christ their Head in being slain by the cruel hatred of the wicked in respect of reproach c. And so the Saints may be said to be slain with Christ when they are slain by their iniquities as in the first Chapter of Hosea When Ephraim saw his sicknesse and Judah his wound then went Ephraim to the Assyrian and sent to king Jareb yet could be not heal nor cure him of his wound for saith God I will be unto Ephraim as a lion and as a young lion to the house of Israel I will tear and go away I will take away and none shall rescue And then God returns to his place until they do acknowledge their offences in their afflictions they will seek him early And so the resurrection of Christ follows in the sixth Chapter where those which are thus slain in a spiritual sense take unto themselves these words and say Come let us return unto the Lord for he hath wounded and he will heal after two days he will revive us and the third day we shall live in his sight So in Hos. 13 it is said that Ephraim had destroyed himself as we may see in the words following in that death follows for it is said that Ephraim was an unwise son for he should not have stood still in the breaking forth of children but he doth stand still and in
men whereas the Saints suffer the judgements of God in this kinde and the wicked and ungodly are freed Unto this I answer Judgement begins at the house of God as Peter saith and if it begin at the house of God where shall the wicked and ungodly appear and if it be thus with the green tree what shall become of the dry But howsoever though this fire with which God doth judge flesh in his Saints as it is in Isa. 66. the Lord doth judge with fire and the sword all flesh in the first place so I say this fire breaks forth in the house of God unto the destruction of the flesh and so you see the benefit that comes by it Now this destruction of the flesh it is not to be understood in the letter but flesh in a spiritual sense and so the works of the earth likewise Now flâ—sh in the Sainâ—s is that earth which shall be burnt up in some by the fire of the Spirit which hath dissolved heaven and hath melted the elements and burnt up the earth with the works thereof even that which remains when the pure metal is refined and separated from it Now this earth as before I have spoken is the best part of man as his Reason Natural Wisdom and Learning Now as the fire of the Spirit dissolves heaveâ— and melts the elements and burns up the earth which is the flesh in the Saints so the fiery trials which are inflicted upon the people of God whilst they are in Babylon do effect the same work as the fire of the Spirit though it doth not so appear to our apprehension Now when this is done and heaven which is the Word of God is dissolved ceasing to appear in a shadow which is to see Christ in the flâ—sh now we do enjoy heaven more spiritually in that we have more spiritual discerning and Truth which was our element hath been refined and hath lost nothing but its drosse and the earth being burnt up in the Saints when all this is accomplished in the Saints Object How can it be said that the heavens and earth that now are which is the Ordinances as before spoken can be reserved to fire against the day of judgement and perdition of wicked and ungodly men Unto this I answer It is howsoever it may appear for now heaven is passing away with a great noise and the elements are melting with fervent heat and the earth and the works thereof are burning up which is all accomplishing in the Saints and at this time the Church of God is in a sad condition for the sorrows of a travelling woman are come upon them as in Revel. 12. and Hos. 13. and Isai. 26. nay the pangs of death are upon her and sure it is not an easie matter for the soul to part from the body and it is no otherwise when we must part from all our former comforts and so when the Saints are under these fiery trials the dolorous nature of them cannot be expressed at this time the hateful enemies of God the inhabitants of Caldea do adde unto their affliction and in doing so they do procure damnation to themselves whose judgement as Judge saith of a long time slumbreth not where he speaks of Enoch the seventh from Adam who prophesied of these things Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints to execute judgement c. And so you see that these heavens and earth are reserved to fire against the day of judgement and the perdition of the wicked And surely the long-suffering of of God in that the heavens and earth have not passed away long ago is as the Apostle Peter saith salvation to us-ward in that God was not willing that any should perish but that all should be saved that is God will offer salvation to all and for this reason this heavens and earth are continued which is the Ordinances and the teachings of the Saints because God appearing in them they are the ordinary means of salvation for as the Apostle Paul saith faith cometh by hearing the Word of God preached and certainly though there have been much of earth made forth by the ministery of men yet there is somewhat of God so much as is necessary to salvation And so when this heaven and earth which is reserved to fire in reference to the Saints shall passe away with a great noise and the element shall melt with fervent heat according as before it is spoken then presently follows the perdition of wicked and ungodly men for when heaven is passed away and vanisht away and taken away which is the Ordinance then there remains no more means of grace in an ordinary way but howsoever no doubt but God will work extraordinarily in bringing in those who are heirs of salvation Now another reason why the perdition of wicked and ungodly men followeth immediately upon the passing away of the Ordinances is Because when God is refining his people in destroying the flesh in them he doth make use of the wrath of men who do fill up the measure of their sin by their cruel usage of the Saints but sure the wrath of man shall turn to the praise of God and the remainder of wrath will he restrain and when God hath finished his work on mount Sion whilst they are in Babylon and so shall have gathered his people from all places whither they have been led captive in respect of a local separation from their hateful enemies then he will visit the proud heart of the King of Babylon and then the violence which hath been done unto the Saints shall be on Babylon shall the inhabitants of Sion say as in Jer. 51. and our blood be on the inhabitants of Caldea shall Jerusalem fay And so when heaven and earth are passed away and the Saints gathered away then follows the destruction of the wicked The Scriptures to prove it are many as in Isa. 13. 14. c. Jer. 50 8 44. and 51. 45. Mic. 4. Rev. 18. This is the day of judgement and perdition of wicked and ungodly men Now having spoken so far as God hath carried me forth concerning the former particulars I shall come to the next as it lieth in order which is concerning the glorious state of the Church that shall not be until the Jews are converted unto the Faith Unto this I do agree with those of this judgement howsoever we differ concerning whom those Jews are which shall be converted Now as God hath made known to me I conceive that those Jews which are to be converted are not the natural Jews for we know there are no natural Jews in that they are mixt among all Nations But let it be granted that there are yet it can be proved that the ten Tribes did never return out of Captivity and so likewise they have no Genealogie howsoever I do not deny but that there are a remnant of those people according to the election of grace But the Apostle Paul who
priests to God to offer up spiritual sacrifice when the Lord shall have thus purified the sons of Levi by this anointing that they may bring an offering to him in righteousnesse as in Mal. 3. Here I have made a digression But now if God will put words into my mouth I shall speak as concerning the resurrection of the body and the state of mankinde after natural death Now in the first place it is clear in Scripture that there is no resurrection of the natural body but that resurrection spoken of is the resurrection of the body mystical which is to be understood in two particulars First a resurrection in this life out of a spiritual desertion as I have formerly spoken of at large Now there is another resurrection of the mystical body in respect of the Saints departed concerning which Christ speaks to Martha when she did answer to our Saviour according as the people of God do now adays as they do conceive of spiritual mysteries But when our Saviour said unto her Thy brother shall rise again she replied I know that he shall rise again at the resurrection at the last day But here we may observe though our Saviour doth not contradict Martha in plain terms yet he speaks quite contrary to her conceivings for saith he I am the resurrection and the life whosoever believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die So that from this it is clear that death natural is not death and the resurrection of the natural body is not life because we know by experience that the people of God that live and believe in Jesus do die a natural death And so this resurrection spoken of in Scripture is to be understood in a spiritual sense as in the first place a resurrection out of a spiritual desertion which the death and resurrection of Christ did typifie as now that Christ suffered as our surety and so as a sinner and though he was put to death in the body yet he did not die as other men but onely lay down his body for it was said of him that God would not leave his soul in grave neither suffer his body to see corruption for he laid down his life to take it up again Now as Christ was slain by our sin as our surety so we are slain by our iniquities in a spiritual sense as it was spoken of Ephraim Hos. 13. 1. to the 15. And not onely doth the resurrection of Christ typifie the resurrection of the Saints out of spiritual desertion as in Isa. 26. and Hos. 6. but the resurrection of Christ did typifie the resurrection of the whole mystical body after natural death as before spoken And likewise it is said when Christ comes in glory all the Saints are gathered together from the four windes which shews a general resurrection as well of those that are departâ—d as those which shall be alive at that time And in Dan. 7. it is said when the ancient of days did sit thousands and thousands stood before him and ten thousand times ten thousand did minister unto him Now as I have formerly said this is not to be understood of the natural body but the resurrection of the mystical body compleat in one Now having spoken of the resurrection of the Saints after their natural death I shall now God assisting speak concerning the state of the wicked according as God shall give it in to me As the glory and joy of the Saints in heaven is unspeakable concerning which Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it at any time entered into the heart of man to conceive which now is revealed to us by the Spirit though it cannot be apprehended in the carnal sense as we are flesh so on the contrary that horrour of conscience and torment which shall be in the wicked is likewise unspeakable For when a wicked man dies in respect of his natural death that spirit of God which is in a wicked man returns to God again and so God and the wicked man is separated for ever and ever and so God ceaseth to be Love as to them and the creature is given up unto the devil to be tormented to all eternity which torment begins in the day of judgement and perdition of wicked and ungodly men and so it is clear in Scripture the wicked are not to be tormented until that time for a spirit is not capable of torment but when it is in the body and so the spirit of the devil that is in a wicked man shall remain unto all eternity And as in the day of judgement and perdition of wicked men there shall be a separation between the sheep and the goats the Saints and the Wicked even so likewise shall Christ appear and all his Saints with him which make but one incomprehensible God one Body which is Christ so this incomprehensible God this Christ the manifestation of the Father shall appear in those living Saints who shall live successively and so this glorious manifestation shall come in more and more until the incomprehensible God be comprehended in the Saints And then when it is thus the body shall be clothed upon and mortality shall be swallowed up of light and these very bodies of flesh shall be annihilated and brought to nothing Now as this glorious manifestation of God shall appear in the flesh of the Saints which is that resurrection spoken of in that we are raised a spiritual body so on the contrary all the infernal spirits which have acted in the spirits of the children of disobedience from the beginning of the world shall be comprehended in one body which is a spiritual body likewise the spirit of the devils and so all these infernal spirits being comprehended in one shall be manifested in the flesh of the wicked when God shall say Go ye cursed into utter darknesse where there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth world without end For the worm shall never die and the fire shall never be quenched And so it is clear from Scripture that all the infernal spirits shall be tormented in the bodies of the wicked who shall live until the day of Judgement because as I have formerly said a spirit is not capable of torment but a spirit is capable of joy concerning which we have a cloud of witnesses in the Scriptures in what God hath revealed to his people And now to this we shall finde that the devil speaks to Christ in those who were possest which came out of the graves very fierce who cried out What have we to do with thee O Jesus the Son of God art thou come to torment us before the time And from this Scripture the bodies of the wicked whose time of torment shall be when God hath destroyed death and hell in his Saints which is all darknesse all fear and terrour all vexation of spirit which the Saints are subject to before the glorious manifestation but when God shall appear thus in his Saints then hell and death which remain yet in the flesh after the beginning of this manifestation though the spiritual man be destroyed shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death and so the Saints may be said to torment the wicked as the devil spake to Christ which time of judgement is not yet begun but when the Lord shall give a deliverance unto all his people both from the spiritual bondage and out of the spiritual desertion then begins this hell to the devil and his angels which shall be in the bodies of the wicked as in Zech. 14. 12. Isai. 66. last With this I shall close up this Discourse committing both you and this unto that God who will bring to light those things which have been a long time hidden in darknesse nay he will make known that which hath been kept secret from the beginning of the world not onely that which was made known to the Prophets of old and the Apostles who saw no further then the letter onely that which God did reveal unto them by the Spirit which was to be accomplished in that age for they did onely see Christ in the flesh and so they did see Christ as thorow a vail and accordingly they did expect more glorious manifestations which should appear to them who live unto the time of the glorious appearing of the second coming of Christ which manifestation doth now begin to some in whom the day-Sâ—ar doth appear So I shall ever remain yours in Christ Elizabeth Avery FINIS
speaks most of the conversion of the Jews speaks by the spirit of prophecie and sure the Prophets and Apostles though they spake by the inspiration of the Spirit yet they did see no further then the accomplishment of the Prophecies in the letter in that the spiritual meaning was shut up until the end of time as in Dan. 12. You shall finde that when the Apostle had spoken at large concerning the calling of the Jews Rom. 11. when he had spoken all which God had revealed by the Spirit he breaks forth in â—o admiration O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgements and his ways past finding out And so when we read in Scripture concerning the calling of the Jews it must of necessity be confined to the Israel of God not Israel in the flesh but the Israel according to election who are the children of God according to the promise which consist both of Jews and Gentiles for the Apostle saith Rom. 3 that he is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that Circumcision which is Circumcision in the flesh but Circumcision is of the heart not of the letter whose praise is not of man but of God And the Apostle saith likewise All are not Israel which are of Israel but in Isaac shall thy seed be called So the children of the promise are counted for the seed And in Rom. 11. it is said that the election have attained what they sought for but the election have attained it and the rest were hardened But and if you will needs have it to be the Nation of the Jews which shall be converted it cannot be the natural Jews because they are mixt amongst the Heathens Why then it must needs be a Jew according to profession Why then if it be so we see a good part of the Jews by profession converted to the Faith already and the Lord will make a short work in the earth For do you not see many of the Israel of God which have been under the bondage of the Law in entering into Church-fellowship and do not we see that God does begin to discover unto them their errour in thinking that they were under the Gospel and so possest of the substance but now they finde unto their sorrow that it was but a shadow in that it vanished away But howsoever the comfort is the Lord does begin to pour upon the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of prayer and supplication and though they are in sadnesse in the consideration of what they have done and so look upon him whom they have pierced and shall be in bitternesse for him as one that is in bitternesse for his onely son and in that day there shall be great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo as in Zech. 12. from vers. 10. to the end but though I say it be thus with the Saints at present there is a joyful day at hand when the Lord shall return their Captivity as the rivers in the South And so whatsoever is spoken concerning the return of the children of Israel out of Captivity it is to be understood of Israel in the spirit And whereas the Scripture speaks in the Revelation of the Tribes which are to be sealed it is to be understood likewise in this sense Now as for the judgement that is given unto the Saints the glorious state of the Church it consists most of all in respect of spirituals though I do not deny but that there shall be a temporal power which is begun already for the Kingdom is begun even here in Babylon among the implacable enemies of God as in Dan. 2. Mic. 4. Now I do joyn with the Saints in this their judgement though I must go further for it will appear that though the Kingdom is begun in Babylon yet it shall not stand in Babylon which is Confusion but it is clear that God will gather his people out of Babylon for divers Reasons The first is Because they are to be distinguished from other people in that God will appear in them in glory which cannot be here in Babylon in that the Saints here are as black as pots they are the off-scowring of all things they are vile in name and sore in affliction even as Christ when he was on earth but when he shall appear we shall appear with him in glory and certainly the whole earth shall be full of the salvation of the Lord his holy arm in delivering his people which cannot be until he shall gather us from amongst our enemies and so go before us himself Now another Reason is why God will gather his people from all places whither they have been led captive Because the Saints cannot sing the Song of Moses and the Lamb until the Lord hath given a full deliverance to his Church and brought them into the wildernesse spoken of in Hos. 2. 14. And sure the Lord hath denounced to bring utter destruction on Babylon which assuredly shall come to passe and the Lord can do nothing in this kinde until he have gathered his people out from amongst them Now the Scriptures to prove the gathering away of the Saints out of Babylon and the utter destruction that follows are Isai. the 13 14 50 51 and 52 Chap. Revel. 18. Now the Scriptures which do speak of the wildernesse that the Lord will gather his people into when they are delivered out of Babylon are likewise many in which wildernesse though there shall be nothing in sight in respect of spirituals and temporals yet the glory of Lebanon shall be brought into it and the fruitfulnesse of Carmel Now this wildernesse which is prophesied of that shall be a receptable to the Saints it was never yet accomplished in the letter and therefore we do verily expect to have it accomplished both in the letter and in a spiritual sense Now it is not needful for me to speak any thing concerning this wildernesse for the Scripture it self is so clear that he that runs may read it The Scriptures to prove are these Isai. 51. 1 2. Isa. 43. from vers. 4. to the 12. Isai. 35. thorowout Isa. 51. 3. Isa. 48. 20. Hos. 2. from vers. 14. to the end Rev. 12. Ezek. 34. Isai. 34. from vers. 20. to the end Now I had thought to close up this Discourse that concerns the wildernesse-condition which we do expect God will gather his Church into when he shall separate them from Babylon which is to be understood as well literally as spiritually But seeing it is so incredible a thing to the Saints I conceive they will have but little minde to compare the Scriptures which speak of such a condition And therefore since it is the will of God to call me forth to make it forth more clearly I do here gladly follow him In the first place you may take notice of three particular estates which shall befal
from another but they make up the fulnesse of God and so this full God shall be manifested in the flesh of those Saints who shall live to the state of perfection and so the resurrection of this corporal body or flesh and blood as well in a spiritual sense as literal cannot inherit the kingdom of God neither can corruption inherit incorruption and so the Apostle saith Behold I shew you a mystery we shall not all die but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump and in Isai it is called the great trump that shall sound and then the dead in Christ rise concerning which I have spoken in another place So you see that these Scriptures do not concern the resurrection of the body after death which death cannot properly be said to be death in that the body is called a Tabernacle now a Tabernacle cannot be said to die onely it is dissolved as the Apostle saith When this earthly tabernacle shall be dissolved we have a house not made with hands but eternal in the heavens And so natural death may be looked on as when a man puts off his clothes when he goes to rest and the Apostle could desire not to be unclothed that is to put off this natural body but rather to live unto that time when the Saints shall be clothed upon and mortality swallowed up of life And so likewise the Scripture speaking of Christ calls his flâ—sh a vail saying the vail which was his flesh And so the natural body is onely a vail and when this vail which is the flesh is put off then man may be said to die and then this vail which is the body returns to the earth and the spirit returns to God that gave it Now this shews that the reasonable soul which is in all mankinde is God himself who is in a wicked man as well as in the Saints as the Apostle speaking to the Athenians comprehends them amongst the off-spring of God Acts 17. 28 29. when he saith Forasmuch then as we are the off-spring of God we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold or silver Now though God may be said to be in a wicked man Christ is not in any but those that are Christ's those who are the sons and daughters of God Almighty in whom God is manifested in the flesh however the Saints stand in the same relation to God their Father before the time of this glorious manifestation as the Apostle saith We are the sons of God but it doth not appear what we shall be but when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is and when to us a childe is born to us a son is given the government shall be upon his shoulder and in Revel. 12. that manchilde which is brought forth as he is caught up to God and to his throne so likewise he is to rule all nations with a rod of iron Now this Son in Isai. 9. and this Man-childe in Revel. 12. and he that sits on the white horse in Revel. 19. 11. who is called Faithful and True I say that which is spoken of in these Scriptures concerning Christ it is to be applied to every particular Saint who are comprehended in the number of those that overcome Revel. 2. 20. where it is said He that overcometh and keepeth my works unto the end to him will I give power over the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to pieces even as I have received of my Father and I will give unto him the bright morning-Star So likewise Psal. 2. which speaks of that power which is given to the Saints which is confined unto those which shall overcome which shall sit down with Christ in his throne as in Revel. 3. 21. where it is said To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father on his throne Now when it is thus with the Saints Christ ceaseth to be a Mediatour in that the Saints are invested into the kingdom and so declared mightily to be the sons of God by the resurrection from the dead and so have overcome hell and death being risen with Christ as in Hos. 6. 2 3. and 13. 14. I will ransome them from the power of the grave I will redeem them from death O death I will be thy plague O grave I will be thy destruction Now this ransome is an overcoming in that it is said in the Revelation that the Saints did overcome by the word of God and the testimony of Jesus which is done in the glorious manifestation of Jesus Christ and so we are in a capacity to keep the works of God unto the end Now this may be understood divers ways concerning which I cannot speak at present But when the Saints shall thus overcome they shall sit down with Christ in his throne even as he overcame and sate down in his Fathers throne Now this Kingdom of Christ is distinct from the former which was the Kingdom of Christ in the flesh a Kingdom of Forms a power over us but this Kingdom throws down all forms and power over us and all powers that were over us also in respect of the Ordinances which vanish away when this Kingdom doth begin and so likewise this Kingdom shall throw down all powers on earth Dan. 2 44. speaking there of the last powers it is said In the days of these Kings shall the God of heaven set up a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdom shall not be left to another people but it shall break in pieces and consume all these Kingdoms and stand for ever Dan. 7 27 it is said The kingdom and dominion and the greatnesse of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey him which is the fulnesse of God which comprehends all the Saints departed which shall be manifested in flâ—sh which is that resurrection spoken of as before Now this Kingdom which I have formerly spoken of is begun in Babylon Now here I have made a digression from the matter in hand in that I must follow God but now I am returned again and so accordingly I shall speak further concerning these particulars according as God shall give in which is concerning the state of the body after natural death Now we all know as the tree falls so it lieth and never riseth again as to live and that seed which is sown it dieth and ceaseth to be as it was that same body never appeareth And so when man dieth his body returneth unto the earth as in Ecclesiastes and Gen. 3. 19 where it is said In the sweat of thy brows theu shalt eat bread