sorrow to multiply and this is alwayes present none can run from it but it follows him and shall pursue every one to the pit who obey it not and kindle his torment and whatsoever the mind may run into to take pleasure for a moment and the heart be exercised in yet this measure of Gods spirit is alwayes present to condemn it and judge a man for it so the strokes of the Almighty is still heavy upon his back being still in the disobedience of the spirit it never bears witness unto any man in that state but God through it still sounds the alarum of war and terror in his heart so that fear compasseth him about on every side and though for a moment the cry may not be heard and through disobedience it may seem as dead as unto him yet if ever the mind be but still and a man sober and calm and ever mind what he is doing it appears again and though a man may take up something and perform something which is called religious and pray in words and read and talk of the Scriptures and may take up some carnal outward Ordinance and there content himself for a time yet still the witness of Gods holy Spirit for that shews him his hypocrisie and that he seeks a cover to shelter himself under that he may live in disobedience and be at ease in the flesh but all in vain for there is no peace within but the measure of Gods spirit still shews him he serves sin and follows his own will and in this will brings forth a worship and this is will worship nay if a man should practice all those things which others who were in the life performed and were accepted yet this will not satisfie God hath no pleasure in this no more then if one slew a man or blessed an Idol or kissed Baal all is abomination to the Lord and though a man may sin so far against the light of Christ in his own conscience that the light be to him as though there were no such thing yet all this will not do for the Lord will thunder from his holy place though thou have stopped thy ear as to him and closed thy eyes yet he will make thee hear and see and will cause his terror to strike into thy heart so that dread shall compass thee about as a wall and thou shall be afraid for that which thou shalt see and hear and though the spirit strives long yet being still disobeyed the long-suffering of God comes to an end concerning him that hath been unfaithful and then his wrath is kindled as fire which shall burn to the lowest Hell into which all the rebellious and stiff-necked shall be cast and have their portion for ever among all the children of darkness therefore all who have been convinced long and still are by Gods holy spirit of the way of truth and yet have not submited to the leading of the Spirit think on this for its the Lords truth which I declare unto you or else eternal misery will be your end And if thou still persist on after the imaginations of thine own heart and in thy rebellious will thou quencheth the spirit and the motions thereof and though it be life in it self yet is as dead unto thee who art in the gainsaying resisting that through which Gods eternal power is manifest in them that believe and thou wilt grow insensible and past feeling and become as seared flesh and be sensless as to the things of God and hardness of heart will come upon thee and thou wilt be as a stone which cannot be melted and wo wil be unto such where the spirit of the Lord in them ceaseth to strive with them having so long rebelled against and gainsayed the pure drawing of it that so the Lord is grieved and wearied with their impenitency that he gives them up to their vile affection and to follow the imaginations of their own heart who receiveth not the truth in the love of it but in the enmity still remains obstinate doing despight unto the Spirit of grace his long-suffering comes to an end and his fierâ—â— wrath comes to be kindled against such and that which would have led them out of the world into true pure everlasting peace now becomes their tormentor and they banished from his presence and shut up in eternal misery where the fire is kindled by the breath of the Lord that burns for ever the sentence of condemnation being past upon them because they had pleasure in unrighteousnesse and have sold themselves to do wickedly and crucifying the appearance of God in themselves which appearance though it live in the fountain of life yet crucified by thee who art out of the life yet lives still for ever in it selfe to be thy condemnation eternally How the Spirit of the Father worketh in them who are turned to it and have taken heed unto its manifestation and are in some measure partakers of its power THere are differences of administration But the same Lord and there are diversity of gifts but the same spirit and there are diversities of operations but the same God which worketh all in all Now the spirit of Truth which is life in it selfe putteth forth its own pure act not onely to convince and detect him that transgresseth its appearance manifesteth evill which hath been committed by man but also being turned unto and waited in it shews man when motions and temptations unto sin ariseth and as the Creature is still and waiteth in that which manifesteth and singly keeps in his minde to it It sheds abroad its power and vanquisheth and subdueth those lusts which do arise and condemns the ground from whence they arise and it purely draweth the mind after it and secretly worketh and breatheth forth its pure life in him that waiteth in patience and in stilness not heeding the vain thoughts and imaginations that riseth in his heart but rather heeds the manifestation of the Spirit at whose bright appearance all the vain desireâ— comes to be extinguished and there comes to be a hunger begot within to be made partakers of its purity and of its nature for God through the operation of the eternall Spirit lets forth his power which turneth and changeth the heart and cuts asunder and divides betwixt a man and those lovers that he hath joyned unto and makes a separation within and carries a man further from those things which the measure of the Spirit reproves and this leads nearer unto God And so they that do believe in the measure of Gods Spirit comes to feel what repentance from dead works is and the works and the worker is seen and who it is that hath wrought is manifest in the light and as there is a diligent waiting upon it there is nothing that passeth through the minde but it discerns and gives a discerning unto every particular heart who singly and quietly waits upon it But yet after the Spirit of truth
in some measure be felt and its living testimony in some thing yet it may be a long time before there be a clear distinguishment in the understanding so that one cannot clearly discern its moving from all other false motions and high imaginations which are above And hence it is that the hasty and forward minds follows their vain motions which leads them into deceit and then the Questioner gets up and then they question all that ever the Spirit hath made manifest unto them before a vaile then is drawn over and the enemy lodges in the vayl and in the darknesse which is entred and then as soon as any hearkens within to that which is the uppermost and doth abound the enemy that lodges in that presents motions as to obey this and that and all is deceit So therefore all is to keep back that they may sensibly feele between the pure motions and drawing of the Spirit and the vain thoughts that arise out of the earthly heart and when any thing doth arise which the light doth not bear witnesse to it 's not to be followed nor heeded but a quiet still writing that things may be cleared to the understanding and for want of this many have run out and have brought forth Satans work and acted things forwardly in their wil and so have clean lost the true sense of that which should guide their minds and have followed the spirit of errour and have caused the pure spirit of the Lord to be evil spoken of But as there is a keeping back and a quiet waiting out of willing or running and hast it arises purely and stilly in the heart and shines forth in brightnesse in the heart so that it giveth perfect evidence and full testimony of it selfe that there will be no doubting nor questioning of it's motion for it will apparently shew forth its selfe in its own transparent brightness with full assurance of its own will and then after it be cleerly seen and its motion then keep under all reasoning and keep out all questioning and give not way to temptation and that which moves of the Lord of life will carry thee through in its own operation and power to accomplish the will of God and so thou wilt have peace being obedient and thy strength will be renewed for as any is brought to submit unto the will of God when it is known and comes to obey by vertue of its own power that which is contrary unto Gods spirit in thee comes to loose its strength and to decay and be weâ—kned but as any disobeys the pure motion of Gods holy Spirt after it be known the enemy is strengthened and that which is of the flesh nourished and the spirit comes to be quenched that which would give thee power if thou submittest to it But yet know this the spirit in it selfe never loses its purity neither can be quenched in it selfe but will bear its pure witnesse against thee and none shall be able to stop its reprooâ— Thus the diversity of its operation comes to be known as it s hearkned unto obeyed loved and believed in it puts forth its pure power and gives strength and seales peace to the obedient but disobeyed and resisted it condemns judges reproves and seals condemnation to the disobedient and yet there is no variation in it self for it is always one and the same But as it operateth upon different natures or objects unto which it joyns to or stands at a distance from that is to say the good ground it causeth to bring forth fruit unto God and the cursed ground out of which bryars and thorns do arise it kindles a fire in that shall not quenched but as there is a submission unto its pure operation it burns up and destroys that which hinders the growth of the seed and it purgeth the heart of them that have confidence in it from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit and worketh up the creature into its own frame and nature and fashions and makes and moulds all that are in the faith into the image of the Father and so the Fathers love comes to be shed abroad in the heart and as wrath was revealed through the spirit and condemnation so now the peace of God comes to be enjoyed and his consolation shed abroâ—d largely in which there is pure rejoycing for ever Vnto whom the Spirit of the Father bears witness and seals assurance of the Fathers love aâ—d of justification with God declared NOne hath the witness of Gods spiâ—it bearing witnesse to them nor in them who have not believed in the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world by whom alone life is begotten by the powerful operation of Christ in them that believe in him who is eternal light it selfe whose word is spirit and life by which the new Creature is framed formed in them that bâ—lieve unto whom he maketh manifâ—st his power for unto him who is the life of men is all power committed both in heaven and earâ—h for nothing was made or created but by him neither is any turned from sin but by him and by his mighty power without him â—s death in him is life and the life is the light of men So that none but they that are born of the light and are begotten by him who is light can have the spirit of Christ who is light to bear witnesse unto them neither the assurance of the Fathers love for onely they that are born of the spirit and walk after the spirit are justified by the spirit of the Lord for the assurance of his love is not made manifest to his enemies but unto them that are born and brought forth in his own image in his own likenesse and nature which is pure and incorruptible without stain or dâ—filement the holy seed which is heire of the promise who knows the living hope which purifies the heart and bringeth the answer of a good conscience unto them that feel and witnessâ—the washing of regeneration and have knowâ— in themselves the clean water poured sorâ—h upon them which hath taken away the stains and spots and blâ—mishes and the defilements for where these are not washed out and the heart cleansed from them and that believed in wherein Gods all-suffiâ—iency is felt and his powâ—r made manifest there cannot be assurance of the Fathers love in the heart nor in the soule neither doth the spirit of the Faâ—her bear witnesse unto such nor assure their justification but on the contrary where sin remains unsubdued and taken away the spirit of the Father condemneth the sin and the creature now is joyned to it and is become one with it for no sin is broughâ— forth but there is a consent and an ascenting to the instigation of the Devill although when a temptation ariseth either within or without there may be a resisting and a striving against it for a little but the heart not being kept close to the spirit the enemie
SOME OF THE MISTERIES OF GODS KINGDOME Declared as they have been revealed by the Spirit through FAITH For the Information of all such who have erred for lack of knowledge in their Judgements and have perished for lack of understanding to the intent that they may for the time to come wait in that which gives the true knowledge of God and of his Kingdome and of the Mysteries thereof which comes to be revealed through Faith to the upright in HEART Also for the confirmation of such who are made partakers of the like precious Faith By one who is made partaker of the riches of his grace and of the salvation which is in Christ Jesus revealed through the Spirit called Francis Howgill The secrets of the Lord are with them that feare him LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth neer Aldersgate 1658. The particulars treated on in the following DISCOURSE 1 WHat the day of the Lord is and to whom it hath appeared and how it is seen and discovered 2 What it is and what it will be to the wicked declared 3 What it is to the righteous and how he appears to them and whether we are to look for it while in the body resolved 4 Where it doth appear and how it cometh and how it is to be looked for declared 5 What the Spirit of the Lord is and how it comes to be received which discovers the things of God 6 How the spirit of truth worketh and opperateth in them who are convinced and yet have not obeyed it shewed 7 How the spirit of the Father worketh in them who hearken to it and are in some measure made partakers of its power shewn 8 Vnto whom the Spirit of the Father bears witness and seals assurance of the Fathers love and of justification with God declared 9 What the grace of God is which is free and to whom it hath appeared and where all is to wait to receive it 10 Whether all have received the grace of God or no and whether it be a sufficient teacher in it selfe demonstrated 11 Some objections answered 12 A word to the wise men of this world who are glorying in the sound of words 13 Also another to them who are glorying in outward appearances and worshipping visible things in stead of the life 14 The Kingdome of God and his Christ declared in some measure as it is revealed by the Spirit what it is and where it is to be waited for and how it comes to be revealed in them that believe 15 Divers Objections answered To the READER Reader IN times past in the night of ignorance when men groped in the darke as blinde men since the Apostles days and out of thicke darknesse have spoke darkly of the things of God and of his Kingdome and written many things about the things of God and of his Kingdome which hath fed the darke mynds of many who are unconverted unto God And seeing how many people are confused in their mindes and erre in judgement and have lost the key of knowledge which should give an entrance into the mystery of Gods kingdome and open their hearts Therefore in compassion unto them who are thirsting after the Lord to finde him these few things I was moved to write for the sakes of those who have no place to rest in or upon to the intent that all may wait in that through which God reveals his minde and manifests his true knowledge in man and these things that I have written as they were revealed to me and in me by his pure Spirit If thou wait in the manifestation of the Spirit these things thou wilt see to be truth though hid and vailed from the world that lies in wickednesse as thâ—u comes out of its nature I have not written for to please men of corrupt minds who glory in words and outward appearances and glory in naturall parts and in sounds and are erred from the life but to the simple-hearted and for the strengthning of the weake and for the understanding of the simple and that which thou seest in the following discourse which thou canst not close with let it alone and judge nothing before the time in thy wisdome which is earthly or in thy reason but in that and to that of God in thee I desire to be approved and to nothing â—lse and shall be made manifest in the day of the Lord which is dawning in the world and many have seen it to appear in power and glory wait thou in thy own particular that thou maist fâ—ele thy own condition and see thy own state and that which lets thee see thy own condition will let thee see the Lord and what I have declared of him to be true I am thy friend in truth and wisheth good to all men F. H. THe Lord God of the whole earth who lives for ever even the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and Jacob whose Throne is established in righteousness for ever who rideth upon the heavens and shines forth in his eternal excellency from the firmament of his power he is manifesting himself in his power as in the dayes of old revealing his righteousness as in the years past and pouring forth his spirit upon his sons and daughters according to his promise and they that believe comes to be made partakers of the blessing of the everlasting Hills even the Lord who appeared at Sinai unto Moses his servant in the bush who rose up from mount Seir and shined forth in his brightness from mount Paran and came with ten thousands of his Saints even he from whose right hand went a fiery Law so that the people could not behold his glory the same is he who hath now appeared in this the day of his power and is appearing whose glory shall dazel the eyes of the world whose brightness shall make dim all the worlds glory and stain its wisdom and shut it up in utter darkness that it shall not aâ—pear to have any existance or being and the shadow of death shall flie away and all the haughty and lofty Princes of this world shall be horribly afraid the beasts shall go into their dens when the day appears and the Lambs of the everlasting fold shall come forth and be fed in the fat valleys where the springs of life compasseth about all the banks and rejoyce in their shepherd and shall say The Lord is my shepherd which many at this time doth admire and say What hath the Lord wrought who have seen his wonders in the dayes of old and have seen his noble acts which the fathers have told of who are fallen asleep and are at rest in the Lord and now many is God bringing to see their witness to be true and to have the same fulfilled in themselves honour and praise unto him for ever who is the stay and strength of all his people for ever And the day of the Lord is broken and the light hath appeared that manifesteth
this world teachers of this world and professors of this world who profess the Scriptures have prayed for the day of the Lord yet when it comes it will be as hot burning fire as devouring fire and they will fall as stubble and as burnt mountains before it and will not be able to abide for as I said whatsoever is reproveable is manifest by the day the light which is eternall in which God appears and it shall appear even to the wicked to the ungodly they shall be made manifest that which is manifest is not hid but seen and brought to light and beholden So all you hirelings who preach for hire and you people that love to have it so you shall not be hid all gainsayers of the truth you shall be found out all shall be convinced of their ungodly deeds and hard speeches and that which makes your deeds manifest will be the day and that will convince you for even the wicked shall see his appearance although to condemnation shame and contempt They shall see him whom they have pierced And know further even in the wicked God hath a witnesse which is pure which checketh often though they heed it not because the God of the world hath blinded their eyes yet when Christ the life shall appear he will make that see in the wicked which they have put out and the God of the world hath blinded yet he by his power will open even the eyes of the wicked and they shall see him and his coming in dread and his pure appearance which shall make them horribly afraid and his day and appearance will be to their sorrow Although they would not see yet they shall be made to see and to hear that which they would not heare when God sounds his Trumpet to give warning to all that the dead both small and great may arise some unto everlasting life and some unto shame and everlasting contempt All that hath hated his appearance shall see though they would not Put not this far away all deceitfull workers drunkards lyars swearers whores whoremongers adulterers idolaters who worship your own imaginations and all raylers mockers and proud wanton disdainful people that live in wantonnesse and pleasure time-servers flatterers men-pleasers cursed speakers vain talkers foolish jesters fiecre despisers of those that are good who are come out of the pollution that you wallow in his appearance will be to their joy but to your shame and eternall misery except you speedily repent What the day of the Lord is to the righteous and how be appears to them and whether any are to looke for it while in the body resolved THe appearance of God who is eternall life in his day in his immeasurable light a great joy and rejoycing to the righteous for there they come to behold him who is unto his people an everlasting light and in his light they come to see light and in his day he reveals the secret mysteries of his kingdome in them who see his day appear in their hearts which maketh all things manifest even the secrets of the Lord and his hidden treasure and his durable riches which never cankers nor rusts but is fresh and keeps its pure image and impression and is still the same by which all the righteous who have waited for Gods appearance comes to see him and his riches as it is written This is he we have waited for let us rejoyce and be exceeding glad why what is he come that you have waited for yea come and his reward is with him and they that see him come finde contentment in him and in his reward and what is the reward joy gladnesse peace of conscience assurance of Gods love sealed in their hearts by the pure Spirit of the Lord the streams of life flowing forth continually from the great deep which refreshes and keeps cool in the greatest extreamity and heat temptation and this is enjoyed by them that have waited and do wait for it even in the body they bare witnesse of him and of his coming the Disciples what was their witnesse The Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding Of what of God of his day of his appearance of his power of his wisdome of his kingdome of hope of faith of assurance of peace of joy of comfort and consolation what in this life yea a cloud of witnesses I might bring in former ages and a cloud of witnesses I might bring in this age blessed be the Lord But my witnesse is nearer me that giveth me assurance and is surer to me then all their witnesses although they be all true Abraham the Father of the faithful and of the righteous who believed God and was accepted he saw Christs day and was glad Say literall professors that 's by faith yea what else by faith he and all that ever saw Christ and his day or the Father they saw him by faith By faith they saw him who was invisible Isa. 12.2 Behold God is my salvation he also is become my salvation what dost thou enjoy it already yea he is become And Simon who waited for the consolation of Israel Luk. 2.30 Now let thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seen thy salvation And this he said who knew Gods comfort and consolation as our suffering for Christ doth abound even our consolation in Christ doth mâ—ch more abound and they were made partakers of his Divine nature and sate together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus For heaven is his Throne and they that are in him and enjoyeth him who is the power of God and the wisdome of God knows peace and rest and salvation both from guilt and act of sin And the Apostle wrote to the Hebrews After he had purged away our sins speaking of the attonement the everlasting high Priest he sate down on the right hand on the Majestie on high He saw beyond sin even him who had purged away sin and this comes to be made manifest unto them and in them that believe by the Spirit of Jesus who is Christ the Lord the arm that brings salvation and is the author of eternall salvation unto all them that believe who begins it in his day and perfecteth it in his day for he works in the day as he himselfe said Hitherto my father worketh and I worke but the night cometh when none can worke So that he destroys the work of the Devill which is his work in man which they that are come to his day feels and sees the handy-work of God in themselves and his owne works praise him for they onely can and they that are not come to the day knows not Gods work in themselves and they who have not yet heeded that in themselves which manifesteth all things reproveable neither that which doth reprove they are not come to know the appearance of the glimmering of light or of the day yet in themselves which the Saints witnesse in them even all they
that are sanctified Where the day of the Lord doth appear and how it cometh and how it is to be looked for declared THey that gaze abroad whose eyes are abroad cannot see his appearance nor his day which appears He that knoweth not wherein it consists knows not how to look for it no more then the Jewes who were Scripture-professors and learned men knew wherein the kingdome of God did consist Even no more do the litteral professors whose faith is founded on the Letter and upon that which is visible knows what I say First all must know wherein it doth consist It is eternall brightnesse shedde abroad through all things which pierceth through and searcheth the secretest place even that which is invisible and maketh manifest all things and the nature of every thing by the day of the Lord comes to be seen and it appears in the heart they were to wait for the day to dawn and to break forth in their hearts and to wait for its appearance there and that 's it which is to be waited for and upon that which maketh evill manifest and brings it to light and declares against that which is contrary to its nature and so the day cometh to dawn Christ the covenant of light Gods gift who is sent and annointed of God to preach and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and also the day of vengeance He proclaims in the heart for he comes not to bring peace but a sword and his sword is the sword of the Spirit it 's that which divides and discerns the intent of the heart and his day discovers the desperate wickednesse of the heart And where he finds no faith in the heart he kindles a fire in the earthly heart and executeth his vengeance And his day unto such is a day of great perplexity their spirits comes to be wounded the heart comes to be made faint and sorrow comes to fill their hearts and trouble to be felt and in this state are all in who are unconverted he findes no faith no hope in the heart therefore he comes and takes away peace Many hath talked of the day of the Lord but when it comes to draw neer them they will not abide it Whatsoever makes manifest is light Now the day makes all things in every one manifest and when deceit is seen and wickednesse brought to light then thâ—y that have done evill cannot abide but would run to any thing rather then abide the day or to see the Lord of life appear in his day to execute vengeance upon his enemies and to destroy his adversaries and to kindle an unquenchable fire to consume all his enemies And who hath not seen this yet in themselves never hath seen the day of salvation nor of gladnesse and this made the Prophet cry out Who may abide the day of his coming And many have been eye-witnesses of the dreadfull day of the Lord which hath appeared wherein all peace hath been hid from their eyes and all that ever came to see the day of joy and gladnesse first did know the terrour and terrible day of the Lord in themselves Therefore said the Apostle We knowing the terrour of the Lord doe perswade men Now it cometh not with observation loe here or there So the Pharisees looked the Kingdom should come when Christ told them it was within them So say I if ever any do behold the bright shining forth of eternal life thou must wait in that which is pure of God through which he will manifest his day and his power in his day in thee as thou keepest in thy minde to that which manifests unto thee evill and shews thee good thou wilt see how it appears Even as the light shineth from the East unto the West so is the coming of the day of the Lord And the eye which is spiritual sees it and the power and the glory of the Lord comes to to be seen in the day which is pure and spiritual in the heart and the eye which is pure doth behold when it comes where it comes and how it comes and it 's hid from Vulterous eyes and from their eyes which are full of adultery and cannot cease from sinne Now the day of the Lord cometh not where the carnall mind may imagine nor when Man will neither according to the carnall desire of the carnall heart neither according to the evil eye that looks out can it be seen but it is seen in Gods own light and by the measure of Gods holy spirit And as the day of the Lord is a mysterie the spirit of the Lord is the onely discoverer of it None knows the things of God but by the Spirit of God and the day of the Lord and his bright shining forth in the heart of man is one of the glorious things of God which onely the spirit of God doth give the knowledge of to man and in man and not the letter nor the Scripture for the Jews had the letter and they had neither heard Gods voice at anytime neither ever did see his shape neither did they see the day of the Lord nor the power neither in a word did see or perceive God or any of the mysteries of Gods Kingdom at all but dreamed imagined thought and conceived of things in their minds their foolish hearts being darkened for the further a man draws from the light his heart comes to be more dark and their understanding closed up and shut up that they cannot behold the Lord neither his glory which is revealed onely by Gods holy spirit which spirit is near man though he see it not What the spirit of the Lord is and how it comes to be received which discovers the things of God THe Spirit of the Lord is pure holy equal purity it self holiness it self equity it self and is one with the Father and the Son The Father the Word and the Spirit is one its life its pure power pure strength purity it self which mixeth not neither joineth to any thing but that which is of its own nature it s an immeasurable pure substance its life issued forth an active living power and is everlasting alters not changes not keeps its holiness its purity for ever it is unsearchable unfathomable undeclarable words are all too short too narrow to declare its excellency and glory but onely as it makes it self out to them that believe and opens it self and sheds it self abroad in them that wait upon it it is revealed in its own purity manifest in its own power and received in its own light felt in its own vertue the living father of life himself is manifest by it and appears in his power majesty and excellency through it to man and to the sons of men to the righteous and unrighteous to godly and ungodly to the upright and to the deceitful to the children of darkness and to the children of light that which searcheth the heart of man and sees through all things and maketh
state of thousands at this day and they that have been publishers and preachers of free grace Now when the thing it self comes to be witnessed and declared what it is and as it is and where it is now they say it is not sufficient to teach any the knowledge of God but from all such foolish doaters and blind guids and ignorant shepherds is God bringing many sheep home which they have driven away and they would kill now them that are fed and taught by the gift of God and says its not sufficient and so make them to dislike their food dislike their shepherd so would make them deaf blind and then they might lead them into any desert feed them among the swine who wallow in the mire in filthiness and lust and pleasure and ungodliness and so beguil the sheep and scatter them from the fold and lead them from the true shepherd and from his appearance which is his grace and from the shepherds voice which is the word of his grace which is able to save the soul Oh all you blinde guides and you that call your selves Orthodox-men and Ministers and all you that have been preaching free grace in words and now when God hath given them that have waited upon him an understanding to declare the thing it self that you have spoken of now you cry it s not a sufficient teacher Now let me ask you a question if that which teacheth to deny ungodliness and shews it be the grace of God and the gift of God then how say you it s not a sufficient teacher if it be not a sufficient teacher then why did the Apostle commit them and commend them to the word of his grace which was able to save their souls and whether is not that which is able to save the soul a sufficient teacher Answer ye wise men and ye literal Rabbies if that which shews sin and temptation be not sufficient then declare you and let us see your skill in the mysteries of God but to return unto them in whose minds there is a desire to be informed seeing then that Gods free grace which is his pure appearance hath so far manifested it self or God through it shews sin and teacheth from sin that which teacheth from sin is holy and that which leadeth from worldly lusts is pure and that which saves from sin is grace which is saving in it self and God hath so loved the world as that he hath sent his Son into the world and he was and is the light of the world and hath shed abroad his grace and hath made it appear to all and all that waites upon it and comes to be taught by it feels its assurance so all is left without excuse therefore wait in that which hath appeared in thee that which shews the lusts and thoughts and motions unto sin this is Gods gift Gods grace this is sufficient though all men in the world say it is not sufficient yet this makes not my faith void neither thine who hath received it but thou hast the witness of thy faith in thy self which giveth pure and perfect feeling of the operation of the Spirit of the Lord and all is to wait within to hear him who condemns sin in the flesh within which by his grace shews man his transgression and insufficiency in himself and by the word of his grace saves all them that believe in it out of sin and giveth dominion over sin and this comes to be revealed in the heart of man and there must it be waited for in that which is pure that it may be received and there the operation of it comes to be known and its vertue partaken of by all that do believe in it and receive it and are subjected to it they see and feel Gods salvation revealed through it to their souls and knows where their strength lies not in self-acting but in the free gift of God the gift of righteousness the righteous gift by which justification cometh upon all that believe· Whether all have received the grace of God or no declared and and whether it be a sufficient teacher in it selfe to wit that grace that hath appeared to all if it be received demonstrated THis wise generation whose wisdome is below the wisdome of God have confounded peoples minds with distinctions as that there is a two-fold grace First that which they call common which they say hath appeared to all men Secondly that which they call special and saving which hath only appeared to the Saints and by giving heed to these distinctions in times past many years ago I lost my selfe and my guide and went from the appearance of it in my selfe to hearken to a thing at a distance from me and heeded not that at home which was near because it was called common and insufficient and so suffered great losse and there I am moved by him in whose fight I have found favour and mercy and grace to declare the truth as the Lord hath made it manifest to me and in me that all who seek after the Lord may be informed and know where to wait upon the Lord for unto that grace which shewed me evill and temptations unto evill I was made to go back unto after many yâ—ars profession which they called common and insufficient before ever I found the Lord or felt his living power again For the first they ground upon the Letter as they judge where it is said He causeth the sun to shine and the rain to fall upon the just and unjust And where it is said in him we live and move and have our being healâ—h and strength and an understanding in things naturall and by which men comes to see grosse sins and evils but that which they call special is that which the Saints are saved by are established in in righteousnesâ— and receive the remission of sins Now he that causeth the Sun to shine and the Rain to fall â—nd giveth health and strength and nourishment to all things living that are visible in the outward visible creation and that discovereth grosse sins and open evils to man the same is he who is the life of the soul the same is he that sanctifies and purifies and saveth them that believe and its the same vertue and power that upholds the naturall man in his pure nature that upholds the spirituall man and by which he liveth unto God It 's the same grace I do not say the same measure for the same vertue and power by which all things that are visible and living were made alive and subsist in their station and covenant and bound where they are set and placed the same grace strength power and suffiâ—iency upholdeth the heavenly bodies and moveth and acteth in a higher sphear or degree and preserveth all that believe and are quickned by him who is the power of God in heavenly places and the same power and vertue that discovereth the dark places and hellish places and
slayes the enmity therefore all must be still and quiet and wait in that which is pure of the Lord that they may feel that raised up which receiveth grace above the corruptible thoughts and desires of the carnall mind but many who talk of free grace have put no difference betwixt the precious and the vile but hath put them upon doing and working who are in the enmity and curse and in death and so hath brought forth dead works notwithstanding all performances they being dead to the life God another acteth in them even he which hath the power of Death which is the Devill and so have not known that which was precious in themselves could not minister unto that which was precious in others but have been Ministers of Death and have ministred to Death and so Death nourisheth it selfe in all them who are not yet come to the separation to see betwixt the precious and the vile Now though all have not received grace so as to save them from the committing of sin the fault is not in God Israel would have none of my counsell they stopped their â—ares Neither is the fault in the grace which hath appeared unto all men Neither is it because of it's imbecillity and weaknesse but because it is not hearkned unto and waited in and obeyed believed in and received For this eternall truth which shall for ever stand the least measure of the grace oâ— God hath power in it self to save man from committing of that evill or sin which it shews man And as it is received the power comes more and more to be made manifest where all that believe comes to be preserved out of evill Object But some have said and now say there is common grace and preventing grace and restraining grace and saving grace and the former that hath appeared to all but the latter hath appeared to the Saints and to the elect onely Answ. Grace is Gods pure and perfect gift and is but one thing I speak not of qâ—antity but of quality not oâ— so much as that the fulnesse of grace hath appeared to all but of a measure of that fulnesse which is in Christ the head although I do not divide the least measure from the fulnesse in quality or nature for it 's one and the same for that which shews a man he should not lye nor swear that is as pure according to it's latitude proportion as that which shews a man all that ever he hath done and that same grace which leads a man from drunkennesse and excesse is as pure and of the same kind and nature as that greater proportion which leadeth a man from all sin I speak what I have seen from the Father though the dark world cannot receive it But people hâ—ve been blinded and darkned with sounds and distinctions which men coyn and frame in their natural reason and by their natural parts which is out of the life although I do not condemn naturall parts which are purely naturall if they keep â—heiâ— bounds and compasse that is to say to the management of naturall things of the visible creation but the things of Gods kingdom are of another quality and nâ—ture and cannot be reached unto by the natural but as I said men through distinctions and names hath wrackâ—d peoples minds and confounded their understanding and have led them into a thick wood or a wildernesse so they know not where to get forth neither what the thing is of which one speaks because not being spoken through the enticing words of mans wisdome which darkens the counsell of God Now that which shews a man evill after it be committed is the pure appearance of God And that which shews a man the temptations when they arise that is the same now this they call common and that which preventeth a man and keeps him back that he lend not his heart nor puts forth his hand to commit evill but restrains a man from it is not that saving out of evill and that which stops the adversary in his way that he enter not but preserveth the Creature out of defilement and saves him from it is not this saving is not this the same thing that the Apostle who was well acquainted with the grace of God and of it's operation wrote of to Titus That grace of God which brought salvation which had appeared and doth now appear to all men which taught self-denyal them to deny worldly lusts and also to live godlily or like unto God in this present world and now doth the same is not this sufficient to believe in and sufficient to save Now I do not say but there is a greater measure let out unto them that are converted unto God then is to tâ—em that are convinced of their evill by the same grace yet still â—t is one and the self-same thing one gift yet a greater measure of one and the same pure vertue and power which is given to them that obeys the life which is already made manifest by its appearance unto all Object But some will be ready to say that this is errour and that which is contrary to the Scripture and to orthodox Teachers that the grace which is saving is near all men and hath appeared to all men To that I answer Though grace be saving in it self even the grace that hath appeared to all men and may be truly called saving grace yet to them that believe not in it neither are taught by it it convinceth and shews evill and checks and judges for it yet there is no variation nor change in the gift of God but as it worketh upon different objects for faith and unbelief are two different things as light and darknesse are different and so the word of his grace is the savour of life unto life that is to say unto them that believe and is the savour of death unto death unto them who are in the unbelief who indeed are dead while they live yet here is the same grace and the same word of grace yet here is different operations so the Lord killeth and maketh alive yet the same Lord the Spirit convinceth of sin and reproveth for sin and also consolates and comforts here is diversity of operations yet the same Spirit which never alters Obj. But further some may say If that it be saving grace or at the least a degree and a measure of saving grace that hath appeared to all men then how is it that all are not saved by it Answ. Because I would all stumbling blocks were removed away that the path might be made plain that all might come to believe in that which is Gods gift in which there is power and sufficiency therefore I am constrained by the grace of God to declare of it and to bear witness to it thus largly which I know will be to the edification of all that hunger after righteousness All are not saved by it because they believe not in it neither are taught by it
mâ—ke you sensible of his pure presence I say if he appear not in the way you would limit him to in those things you would confine him in you cannot receive him the Lord open your understandings that you may see your selves and how frothy vain light and wanton you are one with the world in all things in the very ground pretending liberty in Christ and priviledge in him when you may see you are servants to corruptions and to many noysom lusts that makes war Again what are all outward appearances any more but as a Curtain or as a veil and as a shadow in respect of Christ Gods righteousness within but you are filled so full of your apprehensions of his righteousness at a distance that you have forgotten all at home and your own conditions for his righteousness will not be a cloak for your self-righteousness and unrighteousness and if Christ be nor formed in you Gods righteousness and live in you and act in you and work his work in you you are in the self-righteousness and a talk of imputation will not save you while you are not in that capacity nature and faith â—nto whom his righteouâ—ness is imputed Are you not weary with tumbling up and down among the earthly Hills among which you have situated your selves Do you not see your land grows barren and your possessions dry and your worship dead heaven rains not on you the bottles is stopped the dew falls not on you you wither daily as a stick withousap what have you found that which will last unto perpetuity oh nay it s rusted already it 's canckered already it 's moth-eaten already it 's fading the glory is staining the renown of all earthly things is â—ading and all terrestrial appearances though never so glorious they are all to cease a consumption is coming blasting is near there will be no more glory in these things they will flye away as a shadow when the Sun arises your riches are wasting when will ye seek after that which endures for ever I pity you who have had breathings after God hath sate down at ease in that which is not eternal Be warned return home consider see what corruption thou hast power over now which had once power over thee Dost thou rest in that faith that thou shalt never be cleansed here that faiâ—h is curst it 's reprobate it s rather properly unbelief It 's not the faith of Gods elect by which they were sanctified and overcame the wicked one in themselves by the power of Christ who is able to save and manifests his ability in all them that believe in the light which they are enlightned withal through which he manifests himselfe to the Creature and makes known his power in the Creature to redeem the soul out of death and to redeem the Creature from under the bondage of corruption to serve him in the free spirit of God in which the sons are made free from sin from the act and guilt they become the Temples of the holy Ghost How far you are from this many of you consider who are yet temples of uncleanness and a habitation for many noysome lusts repent and minde that which empties you of your thoughts and conceitednesse that you may know poverty of spirit that the kingdome may come unto you and be yours in possession else you are everlastingly miserable and this is the true state of many of you own it and repent that if it be possible you may finde a door of mercy yet opened unto you and that you may enter in thereat for it is not setting up and conforming to a visible practice without that will justifie you while that which is in the transgression and hath transgressed the life and hath disobeyed the light in your consciences is head in you and above the pure that will not recommend you unto God neither can you have any accesse or acceptation with God in that state till you come out of the waters upon which the Whore fits which is unstable and boysterous and reels too and fro and unsetled which is all to be dried up and all the springs cut off that nourishes and you must come to the Rock before you know any thing that will endure to build upon which rock is Christ who abides for ever but you are all gone from that which should give the knowledge of him in your selves and doth not retain him in your knowledge neither that which gives the knowledge of him the light of his Spirit which shines in your hearts making manifest in your hearts the intention of your hearts when motions unto evill do arise This must you all come to before Gods salvation or redemption you come to know in your selves or have the witnesse of Gods holy Spirit without which there is neither seale nor evidence nor assurance enjoyed or felt of the love of God The time of restoring is come and many are restored again into Gods covenant and are delivered out of the jaws of death and feels him who is the healer of the Nations and the restorer of the desolate places to dwell in but first you must come to see those places made desolate wherein the wilde nature lodges before you come to have a share in the restoration Come off these barren mountains where you are feeding to Christ the life of men who hath lightned you and wait in it that you may feel his mind in your selves and the signification of the Spirit of truth from your own spirits or else you will still erre for lack of knowledge and perish for want of understanding and so lay down your heads in sorrow The kingdome of God and of his Christ declared in some measure as it is revealed what it is and where it is to be waited for and how it cometh to be revealed to them and in them that believe that all who are waiting for it may know wherein consists and so receive the end of their hope and the end of their expectation and know the Dominion which hath no end THe Lord hath prepared his Throne in the Heavens and his Kingdome ruleth over all his dominion is an everlasting dominion and without end God is a Spirit his Kingdome is spiritual his habitation is sutable to his own nature he is immortall his Kingdome is so he is light his dwelling place is so a pure scituation in which there is no uncleannesse nor ever shall be It 's eternall dignity it is an immutable being that remaineth always in it's purity and pleasantnesse Eternally glorious it consists in power in righteousness in purity in joy in hope in peace in life in vertue eternall In quietnesse it 's a quiet habitation it is incomprehensible unsearchable and indeclarable words are too short they are but as sounds as vayls It is unexpressible in it is the treasure-house of wisdome out of which all that believe in him who is the King of eternall and immortall glory comes to receive of his
wisdome of his life of his power vertue righteousnesse and comes to enjoy him who is the fulnesse that filleth all things whether visible or invisible whether terrestrial or coelestial his power is over all his dominion is over all who is eternally blessednesse it self and felicity it selfe who makes all that believe in him to partake of his kingdome of his grace of his power of his dignity of his dominion and of his glory coelestiall but these things are hid from the world who are not redeemed from the earth neither never looks to be while they are in the body Unto such I say Gods kingdome you shall never see nor enjoy while you are in that faith which is reprobate but may be truly called unbelief although you imagine a glory and a kingdome in your earthly minds and dream of a thing to come sutable unto that wherein your glory now standeth but that will all fail and those imaginations will be confounded and dissolved into nothing because they are centred in that which is out of the truth Christ and so are without ground or bottome and are out of that which should give you the sight and knowledge of God in your selves and his kingdom Christ when he taught them that followed him exhorted them that first of all they might seek the Kingdom of God even while they were in the body Mat. 6. 36. The Pharisees were gazing abroad in their earthly knowledge although they had the Scripture that declared of Gods kingdome yet they knew it not and this generation is the same who are in the same nature and in the same wisdome which is earthly and litteral and they are imagining as the Jews were and are loe here and loe there in this observation and the other and look to see it there Nay Christ said The kingdome of God is within you to the Pharisees And he bade them and others seek it first what strange Doctrin was this might the Pharisees say he saith the kingdome of God is within us and yet bids us seek it Need we seek that which is in us may professors say Yea it 's like a pearl hid in the Field it 's like a grain of mustard-seed among many great seeds which is not easily found it 's like a piece of silver lost in the house among much rubbish till that be swept away thou wilt not finde it thou must dig deep sweep clean search narrowly before thou find it although he said to the Pharisees the kingdome of God is within you he did not say they were possessors of it or that it was theirs but to the Disciples whom he taught to pray in faith thy kingdome come they came to find it that which they prayed for that pearl that groat that grain of mustard-seed which it was like having found it and believed in it he said unto them Matth. 5.3 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdome of God And in Luk. 6.20 And he lift up his eyes on his Disciples and said blessed be ye poor for yours is the kingdome of God They had seen it and were possessors of it it was theirs And Christ said unto his Disciples There are some of your standing that shall not tast of death till ye see the kingdom of God come in power And his words were fulfilled they declared what they had felt and seen and some of them say The kingdome of God is not in wâ—rd but in power And Paul to the Romans writes Rom. â—4 17 who was also made partakers of the same power and the same kingdom he spoke his knowledge of and said It 's not meat nor drinke but righteousnesse and peace and joy in the holy Ghost And the Colossians who had waited for it and believed in that through which it vvas revealed the Apostle vvas in the same faith Colos. 1.12 13. Who hath made us meet partakers of the inheritance of the Saints in light who hath delivered us from the power of darknesse and hath transformed us into the kingdome of his deare Son And those things vvere seen in the body and vvitnessed in the body And the Apostle to the Hebrews saith He that believes is entred into the rest And this and all these things vvas feeled vvithin by the seed immortal the birth immortal and they that witness the birth immortal to live in them One said Who hath made us joynt-heirs with Christ who is the King of eternall glory and they were Joynt-heirs with him of the Kingdome that fades not away and all that ever comes to see the Kingdome of God in the spirit which is spiritual must wait in the spirit and in it's manifestation that so God and his Kingdome and the things oâ— Gods Kingdome may be felt and seen and enjoyed in the Spirit which is glorious Objâ—ct All this which thou hast spoken may somâ— say is the Kingdome of grace and that we hold there is a two-fold kingdome the one of grace here the other of glory hereafter which none comes to enjoy glory nor any part of it in this life or in the body Answ. People hath long been blinded with confused distinctions about names and being full of imaginary thoughts and conceptions have brought forth foolish and unlearned distinctions and that which God hath joyned together they would separate Grace is glorious and glory is gracious he that can receive it let him the kingdom of God which was like a grain of mustard seed afterwards it became a great tree the tree in its strength and glory and height is more glorious then when it s in the seed yet the seed and the tree is in nature and quality and kind one if the kingdom be in dominion in purity and power and glory is not here unity yet a greater measure yet still the dominion is one the power one the glory one and the thing one wherein grace standeth and glory standeth wherein the kingdom standeth grace is glorious Eph. 1.6 7. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children to the praise and glory of his grace wherein he hath made us accepted in beloved In the fathers house there are many mansions places in the kingdom of God there are many heavenly places and they that walked to the praise of his grace came to sit also in heavenly places Eph. 2.6 through grace salvation through grace glory comes to be revealed in the earth Isa. 6 3. The earth is full of his glory he that makes heaven and earth glorious is glory it self from whence grace and every degree of glory receives its being the least measure of Gods strength and power is glorious and to be gloried in in the Lord by all that have seen it things might be declared which God hath revealed which is not lawful for me now to utter for as one star differs from another in glory yet all glorious even so is it with the children of the resurrection who are quickened and made alive and