THE WORK OF SIN in the Flesh Condemned and the Power of the Enemy in and over the Creature mankind by Spiritual Weapons resisted and Warred against In a Controle of the dark Reason and Imaginations and Conceivings of Fallen Man in and under the curse of the Law that was added because of transgression AND Wherein is opened and unfolded by and from the spirit of Truth the Mistery of much and many Truths contained in the holy Scriptures in these Several particulars of the Doctrine of holy Faith 1. Concerning New Wine put into old botles or a new peice of cloath into an old Garmenâ— c. 2. Concerning the Wedding garment which many in this day are found without c. 3. Concerning the fruitless Tree that cumbers the ground 4. Concerning the words of Christ fear not him that can kill the body c. In which hell death and judgement are treated on and such likewise discribed who are already in it And 5. Whereby the difference of the Creatures sining against the Judgement of â—od in a time of ignorance and against his mercy in a time of knowledge is discoursed Which is a precious warning and visitation of repentance to all the world but especialy to thee O England By one â—hat hath remained hidden in the retiredness of spirit in and with God a friend to all â—ouls and loveâ— of â—ruth and righteousness R. B London Printed in the Year 1663. Concerning New Wine put into old botles or a new peice of cloath into an old garment c. Wherein is discribed the difference between a man changed in heart and nature by the truth of Judgement in God and men changing their Judgements and opinions from one perswasion to another c. IN the begining of creation the creature was created changeable that is in a condition that might be changed or subject to vanity and change not willingly but by reason of him that subjected the same in hope this condition was not wholly subjected to the power of the enemy without but in the creature though as a creature he was subject to temptation and to be tempted by the power of the Enemy in the creaturely state of nature in and of his body and both body and spirits composure for yeilding or subjection was the creatures frame in which he had properties and qualities and faculties acting him and in that was he a subject to what did or should raign over him which was or should be his Lord for the enemy could not have entered the creation of God out by and in him whose place was without the creature and creation of God where he secretly and hiddenly wrought in the mistery of darkness and nothingness and emptiness which made for the exalting the name and Justice of â—od in what he was resolved to glory over the enemy and spirit of enmity that wrought its own torment in the dark unconceivable wombe and mistery of eternities sufferance Thus was the creature in the cause of his change from and in the condition he was first-placed and stated in and had and hath these conditions they bear in the fall from and transgression against God â—herein the work and power of changeablety is manifest And â—udgement was and is a condition in the creature whose pâ—operâ—y faculty and quality is alterâ—ble to and in him as to a state or â—â—ates he doth or may possess And it is become an easy thing o the creature to change his Judgement from one thing to an 〈◊〉 or from opinions and perswasions in the world as the world doth alter and change but this is but to put new wine into old botles or a new peice of cloth into an old garment for the proper work of trueth in God or God who is a spirit of trueth is to change the heart of the man whose nature is old and hath the old wayes and course of the enemyes road to walk in and so creat all things new then is the prayer and desire of the righteous and upright witnessed and fulfilled creat in me a clean heart O Lord and renew a right spirit within me and the heavens and earth are new created and every and all desires of the soul are new and after new things even in the Lord and of his Kingdom and thus may creatures and people see whether the work of the Judgement of God hath place in their hearts and whether Judgement be so set up in the earth that the inhabitants may learn righteousness for it is Gods work to Judge the earth in righteousness and they in whose heart the spirit of Judgement and burning doth work to the changing it and them in it are such in whom God is come to dwel and where he sitteth as a refiners fire and fullers sope to purefy the dross from the silver c. in that the heart is the true seat of â—udgement and the place where the spirit of truth in all creatures doth Judge for God and work its work first before any thing can be retained that will hold for where trueth or trueths are not held and retained in righteousness in the righteous part and heart its Judgement is against the man that thus treasures up or retains in the wrong part what works and makes against him and the man cannot hold and retain it to his lives end in any comfort or rejoycing therein that may appear and seem to be his strength in Judgement but it breaks him even the vessel or creature that strengthneth Judgement against self himself by his thus holding and retaining it in that part it is against him in for it is a very dangerous thing for the creature to hold or retain Judgement in that which makes against him though it be the Judgement of the spirit of trueth in that in this day is the wrath of God revealed from heaven against all them that hold the trueth in unrighteousness and such are children of wrath filled with the wrath and indignation of the almighty God which we were by a nature we were born and brought forth in as well as others yea those hate the Judgement of God that thus retain it in the wrong mind and nature the nature of hatred that is the hateful nature of enmity against God and his good spirit of trueth which God hates in referance to the enmety therein and thereof is retained against the work and workings and operation of such his good spirit where the truth is not received in the love thereof And this day is God come forth to work a mighty change in the creature and creation the earth and world which is the workmanship of his hands for behold he is creating all things new and Ephraime is come up before his remembrance that hath sought to rest and settle her self on the old lees and draggs of the worlds defilements and liberty and ease of the flesh and all fleshly motions and desires and God hath been emptying her from vessel to vessel untill she is
well nigh refined wine from the leese and the savour of the old nature and vessel is well nigh lost and the settlement left in the burning and inflaming body of nature to Gods praise and glory his Judgement hath wasted and consumed the evil in and of Oh that there was a heart for these things to enter and that men would receive and lay up wise sayings for where trueth is received in the love thereof the Judgement of trueth is seen not to be against but for the creature of God and he that is in and hath the love of the Judgement of the spirit of trueth posessing his heart and soul hath the love and charity of God there to inform the Judgement of the work and works of the enemy the spirit of trueth in Judgement in God first made and is still bent against for the creatures preservation out of hurt under the power of the enemy and so Judgement is kept on the work of the enemy that would destroy the creature or creation of God the workmanship of his hands in which a sence of the love of God should remain in this day Gods salvation and love is sprung up to the creature and creation which groans and waytes to be delivered and travils together in pain for the adoption to wit the redemption of the body that the persons and spirit of creatures might be saved alive and as the love of God is hereby come into and dwelt in where our brother that we see is loved ere God can be seen and loved and obeyed in the heart what remains but a ground for manefesting the same And hereby what would lead into the work of destruction the hurt and enmity of the creatures life is kept out of and not joyned to in the perticular or general and this is the way he is leading his creature in and by where the work of the enemy is wearied and tired out and the creature made weary of the weight and burden of sin and willing to set down and rest from his own labour with God and so hath rest and peace with â—od in the enemies destruction he is not joyned and united to in heart or spirit neither hath any love towards but hates the work and workings of the enemy and enmity to the creatures life and well being with a perfect hatred for the sake of God and his creature in whom the love of his trueth to raign ought to be respected for the comfort and rejoycing of whatever God is pleased to work and act in the earth and heart of such creatures for that which leads into the power of destruction and under its spirits guidance doth first lead and guide into destraction whereby that seeming zeal for God or the Lord is for a power of dominion that is God in and of the world of ungodly that vallues not the creatures good and preservation in an equal concern with the honor and glory of that God they have a zeal for and love to the way of So who is in the love of the trueth revealed in the heart and that they know and are acquainted with and the Judgement thereof respects in their own particulars loves that which shews the evil of all biterness of spirit and emnity against the work and will of God in which is an equall concern of his creatures good in that will and work but the biterness of spirit it loves not neither the enmity to the spirit of God which he learns by the evil of what he therein sees in it to come out of as that which is no friend to God nor his creature therefore should he be a friend to it he sees he should befriend the enemy of God and his own soul and strengthen the enmity and hatred of God against self himself in countenancing or loving what God hates and so make the Judgement of God intolerable and hard to be born as such work of the enemy is pitied at home which by loving that which discovers the evil and danger hereof he is thereby preserved from such evil danger prevented and so nothing is broken and distracted oâ— the work of God in th Judgement and understanding of the creature neither so comes forth in the world through a hastiness of spirit in such the creature in referance to self and the selfish favour of the minds passion in the predomenacy of any overflowing humour but the heart is made new from whence inordinacy of passion in such favours do arise and where the humors have had predomenaci and the cause hereof which is the creatures destruction in the particular or generall dyes from him and he from it and so is in and of a healing saving sound spirit sound and wholesome in and under Judgement being seperated from the old and the old nature and spirit of the world that had the old affections which are crucified to him as he is to the world in which the inordinaci of love and affâ—ction wrought in and after earthly things which should the work of the enemy be countenanced in the creature and a pity in the heart lurke and remain to it that may foster the evil then is Judgement strengthened against the creature in that work of countenancing the enemies power and so becomes intollerable to the creature and can not be born but leads into distraction and into a broken torn condition but the treasure being in heaven where all things are new made and created the baâ— is without holes for the heart is also there and the affections set on things above And this is that heart and minde that what hath been empted from vessel to vessel is now retained in and though it hath been the cause of braking â—in many vessels a heart is now felt and found that can retain the savour of its work to its lifes end and rejoyce in and speake well of the same that like the good housholder can bring out of its treasury things new and old for the heart being made new there is dayly new and fresh experience of Gods goodness and though old things are done away yet the remembrance of Gods goodness and glory who is the worker brings up all before the creature to exalt the goodness of God and to put the creature in a dayly remembrance of what he is as in and to himself And here is no more sea nor confused heaps of unstable waters and raging waves that foame up and out their own shame neither is the broken and torn brought before God and offered to him as a sacraâ—ice Yea And here is neither old wine in new bottles nor new wine in old botles whereby the botles should break and the wine be spilt on the ground but new wine is put in new botles and both are preserved and the garment is all new and so no rent which new cloath to the old garment might make the rent worse but a liquor is in the vessel that hath been powered and emptied from vessel to
shameful cursed death of the Cross to teach and lead the creature of God what he was to wait in to feel the power of to the overcoming the curse for it was written in the Law cursed was every one that hanged on a tree and this curse came on the transgressor first and was added because of transgression and a sence and feeling of this condition are all to come into for the creatures sake ere the transgression can be removed and he that is really the transgressor brought to judgement and condigne punishment for though the woman the creature of God was first found in transgression that was created for the man and the man in this state is by the woman yet the man of sin that man by whom sin came was the cause of and in the ground of her betraying who was created to be the mans glory in this fallen state as he was created to be the glory or Image of God And it is he that was in the cause of and rejoyceth in the creatures fall and destruction that was not nor is not Gods creature that God will destroy by his coming in the brightness of his appearance and by the breath of his mouth and nostriles And Thus are all to consider the man is but one that hath soul and body and the way of God is but one and the fire of Gods eternal Judgement that is fury and wrath to the wicked is but one and this fire is the curse pain of death the torment thereof is that which the enemy kindled and awakened under the sufferance of God wherein God is called and termed a consuming fire Yea and this fire is to be indured by all that he may be known that can indure everlasting burnings and can dwell with and in consuming fire where God is come to sit in his people as a refiner But though the creature was once found in transgression the first man Adam was And though the curse of the Law of men rested and resteth on the just and innocent yet the judgement of God hath begun at the house of God where the Judgement of men and curse of their Law hath rested And into this sence and feeling even of sufferance with the just and to the bearing the waite and burthen of and on the creature and creation of God are all to come for there is Christ Jesus the just this suffering seed and spirit of God and whoever feeleth or hath a sence of him hath that sence first raised of him in a suffering condition and comes to suffer with him as did David that came the right way to God and felt him in the seed and spirit of life in a suffering condition and for that cause was his soul in hell or grave under the power of the enemies work first awakened temptation to that which being overcome by as Gods witness was and is awakened in the soul the torment of fear and terror of and in death made him cry out under my sins are a burden to heavy for me to bear and whether shall I sly from thy presence If I go into hell thou art there and in the bottom of the Sea also for mighty waves had went over his soul and he saw the grave of the wicked and the place of the ungodly where they dwell that are set in slipery places but he was assured that God would not leave his soul there in hell or the grave nor suffer his holy one to see corruption for the Lord sayed unto my Lord sayed he sit thou at my right hand untill I make thy foes my footstool so The dwelling and keeping in a sence and feeling of that state and condition the creature or creation of God is in all the world is to be in the way and hope of the redemption of God and to have the faith of God in his son concerning the work of restoration for it is the misery and sad state of the world that they are unsenceable of their misery and the sadness of that state they are in and under and therefore is it the house of darkness and utter darkness will be their portion if they come not this way even to that which awakeneth the sence of sin and of the creatures misery therein and under for in that state of darkness and blindness of mind eternity and endless seperation steals on the creature and he slips into the pit and ditch out of which is no recovery And this is to have soul and body cast into hell fire when in the body of nature a fire is kindled and wrath come forth in referance to the power of the enemy and destruction the creature in that state hath favoured and wherein the humors of the mind hath lodged that leads into and creates humors of body favourable to deaths power and dominionâ— yet I would not have it concluded that the just seed of God and spirit of life in the creature and creation or the creature it self is alwayes to continue in and under susferance in the world though whâ—le the world is in this state and condition things now standing in and under needs must the sufferance thereof continue And the creature is not to go out of the sence and feeling of the state and condition the Justice is in in the general into hardness of Judgement against the creature of God in the world because of any experience of deliverance in the particular out of such state the generality of people layes in and under and so in that hard mind and state to close up themselves against mercy and pitty and limit God to the will of any creaturely Judgement for the sufferance of and in the body of nature in the state things now stand in and under cannot for ever continue to and in the creature of God but drives it to its eternal home which rules in and over the world and is God in the spirit of the world to the setting the creature of God at liberty that hath been in bondaged under the power hereof The Difference between the creatures Sinning against the Judgement of God in a time of ignorance before God was known and acquainted with and against his mercy and grace after he hath made known and revealed himself in his presence of joy favour and loving kindness Which is A precious warning and visitation of repentance to all the world but especially to thee O England Oh World World and in thee O England this is not so much a threatning thee with what is to come to pass as a warning and visitation of information for the turning your minds to the light of Christ and spirit of God in your hearts that you may see from the King on the throne to the maid that grindes on the mill or bagger on the dunghil that God is no respector of persons but is this day come down into the earth to visit for the sins of all high and low rich and poor and none shall go free and
be of the flesh of the flesh it reapes corruption for the works of each body and spirit is ripe for tryal and to receive Judgement is ready which must be born by and rest end on the transgressor though it hath begun or may begin on the creature of God And though the works of many doth suffer loss in this particular yet so as their persons shall be saved alive in this day of the Lord Iesus but where Judgement goes against the body the tree or man if the creature be not dead to it and it to him how hard is it to be born And the more just judgement is the more painful is it to be born by a life in the creature So this is the sume of what hath been sayed what fruit was brought forth to God before his truth was professed was in a green tree and then was the wild olive standing and the wild vine and grapes was brought forth and as their Judgement was without and in the first man they have found hard measure and were beaten with a few stripes that which was under the Law and had its measure from men without mercy in a time of profession there Judgement is only with the Lord and their fruit called for c. Though such hath been and are beaten with a few stripes and hath the like measure meated from God as they have measured to him in his requirings of their duty to his creature and do taste of the bitter things of his house as he hath tasted of their bitter fruit as the fruitless and barren tree that hath worren out the patience and forbearance of God and hath drawn forth the strength of the root into a bare and meer show and profession flourishing with leaves only but hath no fruit of that which it makes a shew of and professeth in the world This is it that hath a curse at its root which the Axe of God is layed to whereas under the law when the fruit was only sower and unpleasant bitter to the taste of God and unsavoury in the nostriles of the holy one when as in a sensure it was offered to him as insence the axe was onely layed to the branches to the bodyes spreading forth but now cut it down saith the Lord why cumbers it the ground Oh that this could be read for great is the work of God in revealing the mistery hereof in this day For it is this tree God is displeased with in the biterness of his soul that hath not the nature and virtue and sap of the life it makes shew of and professeth to and in the worlds eye and sight whereby the name of God is blasphemed and spoken evil of by and through them that have been branching forth themselves into several Judgements and perswasions of opinion and the strength of all they labour and indeavour after is but to make a fair shew in the flesh and to insult over such they have power over in this particular and so is fit for nought but the fire for the sower grapes though they were unpleasant to Gods taste suâ—h that our fathers or father eat of this tree and the childrens teeth hath thereby been set an edge whereby the â—nger of what was raised and kindled hath discovered Gods countenance not to be his wounted favour way and course of doing good whereby the sons of men have seen themselves threatned with the displeasure of God that which was thus unpleasant to his relish yet shall this proverb no more be used in our Land the fathers have eaten sower grapes and the childrens teeth are set on edge but as what was done in a green tree hath been favourably dealt with and the branches thereof only cropt and taken away as a time of ignorance God winked at much of these things and chastised them with rods only but now with Scorpions then with a few stripes but now with many and concerning this saith my soul oh that the states hereof could be distinguished of in the world Concerning the words of Christ fear not him that can kill the body but fear ye him that is able to destroy both body and soul and cast it into hell fire Intorduct Because the Judgement of God is eternal and the fire is everlasting into whose burning flames the wicked is and are to be cast it hath become a common proverb in the world that out of hell is no redemption though there may be and are many already in it that thus are useing and exclaiming this message unto others and that both such and all others may have a care for the future what they say and pronounce in such cases I proceed to declare First What hell is And who those are that already are in it Hell is utter darkness and its fire is the unquenchable fury of the wrath of Gods judgement in the torment of the wicked but though it be so to a nature and state the creature mankind was once fallen into and under yet it is not absolutely so to the creature of God in any state he hath been betrayed into and hath so fallen in and under for there is a great deal of difference between the man of sin and worker of inequity the enemy of mankind under whose power the creature of God hath fallen and the creature it self thus betrayed by the subtle alurements and temptation of the serpent and Satan that old deceiver of mankind Yea and the creature of God shall be redeemed and restored in all the world into that state of liberty and under that subjection God first placed and stated him in and though God created all things for himself and the wicked for the day of destruction yet did not God create them wicked but that state they were lead into under the power of the destroyer that thereby hath deceived the creature of that peace and comfort in the world that stands in time and place that otherwayes was therein peculiar to him and that he might have injoyed whose such day of destruction he the destroyer called to himself though the day God created even this day that manifesteth the destroyer and power of destruction that God in eternity and his equal decreeings that measures to every one and thing a just recompence of reward had ordained and measureth back to him and on his own head what he thus awakened to the creature that is now returned to and on himself Therefore Such are already in hell Who are not or hath not been brought down into a sence and filling of the creatures misery under the power of the destroyer and devourer for thither was Christ Jesus the lambe of God that taketh away the sin of the world that was made sin for us though he knew no sin in himself but took on him the infirmities of nature sin was the cause of and suffered the curse of the Law due to sin and that was added because of sin and transgression against God brought and he indured the
vessel untill all the evil savour of what was found and remaines in the first vessel be lâ—st and consumed and it is though the vessels be altered and that is remaining which can bear and retain the last savour and â—ast of Judgement oh blessed blessed to God for ever for thiâ— is the winâ— that cheaâ—eth the heart of God and man it makes it glad as we come to drink it a new with Christ in the Kingdom of heaven Concerning the wedding Garment which many in this day are found without c. This is the day that the light of God is arisen and his glory doth shine and break forth in the earth and world in great lusterâ— through the heart and spirit of his creature and he that dwells in the light that no mortal eye can approach unto in this day Imortality and life is come to light through the Gospel is come down among men to tabernacle and the spouse of the great and mighty prince hath made her self redy the chaste wise virgin tho bride the lambs wife that hath joyned with the spirit of God and to it is found united in desire that as the spirit saith come so the bride with the same voice saith come And she hath the wedding garment on the fine lining white and clean which is the righteousness of the Saints the covering of the spirit of God And all that are without this covering in this day are found naked and men come to see their shame And though they are of them that may be come into the bride chamber yet being found not having on the weding garment even it that covereth and hideth all the creaturely deformity and weakness and infirmitys they are nevertheless shut out into utter darkness where is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth A feast is prepared in this the great day of God and proclamation thereof is gone forth into the earth and world yea very many hath been invited thereto for the table God of hath been spread in the wilderness and thither hath many been alured to a feast of fat things of marrow and wine from the Lees well refined and multitudes yea very many hath fallen in this condition by the way through unbeleife and unfaithfulness of heart that have been found murmuring and repining against God as a hard master or hard dealer with them who hath thereby took occasion to beat their fellow servants themselves being in the occasion of the hardness and of bringing thither but that way are they to return which they went forth even through sufferance to the man that hath grew up in and under the sufferance of his spirit and the winter must be indured and the wilderness passed through which will try every mans works of what heart they are for the first appearance of the bridegroom hath been at midnight and the foolish Virgins as well as the wise hath come forth to meet him and hath had Lamps trimed but no oyl was therein yea the unprepared hath had a lamp and it was trimed they have come into the feast very many that were invited but without a Wedding garment on and yet room hath been at the feast for such that are compelled to come in and all that are not arrayed to the content of the master of the feast are nevertheless put by shut out and cannot hold the tryal of what is to come but will come short of the rest prepared for the people of God in the flying from the one to wit the winter they are found short of the benefit of both even that which indureth the winter and comes to set down in and injoy and possess the sabbaâ—h and rest of God And all them that are not come to taste of the goodness of God that yet do not taste and see how good he Lord is are short of experience of the good of these things they taste not of the dainties of Gods house and are not arrayed with that which makes lovely in Gods eye and where a condition is pleasant and refreshable but in that eternal eye are comprehâ—nded in the state of enmity notwithstanding their profession for though a call and Proclamantion is gone forth into the earth and world unto the sins of men and as many have been invited so very many hath been comepelled to come in in this day and hour to fill up the room in the house of God that was once empty â—o guâ—sâ— yet here also even at the door or out of the house they have 〈◊〉 a repulse in an unprepared condition much more in a condition altogether a stranger to these thing and the life of his covenant of promise how therefore doth the word of the Lord run thorugh me prepare prepare to meet the Lord by repentance that after the armor of God hath been put on and thou come to the certain sound of the trumpet and art prepared for the batle the whole armor of light the shield of faith the brest plate of Salvation and helmet of righteousness having on thy head the crown of the victory of truth with the loyns of thy mind girt up to God and thou made strong in him in mind and soul thou hereby may be distinguished a Warrier in the army of the mighty God and under his banner come which hath been displayed in the sight of nations And having done all thou may be found in patience having the garment of a meek and quiet spirit which with the Lord is of great price herein God will receive thee as a tryed stone he will meet thee here as a dove in the wilderness that wants her mate as a widdow in the desart that hath displeased the favour of her husband as a prodigal son and the garment is put on the wedding garment the garment of praise in which thou mayest again be joyned to God in a new and fresh covenant oh this is the sume of all the substance of all that having done all we may stand stand to our own master not think so but be warned by that which learns to take heed least we fall To be covered with righteousness is the thing to have that over all a mans garment his cloathing a wedding garment and it put on then what can harm or who can make afraid To feel truth within in the heart to God to refresh the soul and to men to have the like mind of truth and righteousness it is hereby worn in the worlds sight then is the man covered and cloathed with it as that in the heart is brought forth into action and manifestation when the time comes that the excercise thereof is called for in the world for it is both food and rayment oyl to the wounded and food rayment to the hungry and naked and refreshment to the weary soul And the more is professed the more is required and called for in answer to such profession and then if there be a stay behinde the call the voice he is compelled to come
in very like to see and behold the dainties of Gods house but he hath not power to touch thereof much less to taste but that is his torment to see that which he hath no appetite to that is not relishable to his taste And if so that is not prepared for him nor he for it But of this are all the upright in heart perswaded and that they have right to the tree of life to the paradice of God to the riches and dainties of his house notwithstanding all their failings and backsliding which God hath healed freely for his own name sake having him that all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom are hide in on their side whom God freely gave for us all and with him shall he not freely give us all things They have relish they have taste and savour cloathed they are on the right hand and left and do feel truth to be the garment and covering they are cloathed with and it warmes them without and refresheth them within to feel themselves in the life of truth professed Concerning the fruitless Tree that cumbers the ground c. The ground of this worlds essence and being the heart thereof that was an honest and upright heart in Gods creation was once good and the root of the tree also that God once planted a truly right noble seed and the body and branches that grew up from the good ground and root as it stood good and in innocency in like manner was good and brought forth the fruit of his praise and honor and as one man did Adam in innocency and uprightness in joy and possess the benefit of this good before nature degenerated into the plant of a strange vine then were sower grapes brought forth unto the Lord bitter and unpleasant to taste the grape of Sodom and apples of Gomorah And the servants of the Lord were beaten and cruelly used that were sent for the Lords own for he looked for grapes and behold vvild grapes and he had no benefit of his vine-yard wherefore he began to brake off the branches and to gather in others that might bring forth better fruit and from the East and West and North and South to call in and invite to come and sit down in the kingdome with Abraham Isaac and Jacob where chi dren of the kingdome are shut out yet were not the branches that were gathered in to boast themselves against them that were broken of and cast out but to remember and consider the root bares them and not them it And these thâ—ngs were seen and done in a green tree ere the body was thorough grown or any thing quite ripe and dry ready for the fire of unquenchable burnings and before the fruit of such works and actions could manifest the hidden works of darkness and fruitlessness of what is brought forth from the mistery of Iniquity against which the fury of Gods soul is bent And had he not longed for figgs to taste of the fruit of what his own right hand had planted never had the curse been felt And it was not so much the degenerate plant the unpleasant tasted tree and fruit that the curse was to or that drinks the dreggs of the fury of God and his wrath and indignation to the wicked so is its sin strengthened against the favour love and mercy of God that not onely lets see this state but a way to escape a further and greater danger is made known in and by the same discovery in reference to what is come forth against the dry tree for the fruit is already ripe and well nigh gathered in and the harvest of Gods favour iâ— the general near over as to and in many particulars the work hereof hath been manifested and witnessed in therefore hath this tree over stood its time that which hath no fruit to God in time of vintage and offends more then Gods Judgement for his favour and grace is hereby so abused and sinned against that it s well nigh wearied out as his Judgement had been offended whâ—â— sower grapes were brought forth this God bore for thy sake hiâ— creature and for thy weakness sake and want of knowledge of his mind and will and the counselings of his pure spirits work and workings because his servants were not altogether sent away empty but brought unto him such as the ground bore but where the servants of the Lord and last of all the son himself hath been sent away without fruit and evilly intreated and violent hands laid on them and the heir not owned to be Lord of and ever the inheritance the provocation is aggravated and the mans condemnation the more just in the wilful dispite of and against the spirit of grace and for his own name sake is he thus arisen that he may get himself a name and a praise in the salvation or destruction of such he comes to plead with in mercy and the free grace of his love wherein he begins as an enemy and as submition is found and witnessed under Judgement friendship and unity is witnessed and the breach made up and all still and quiet Yea and was it not a favour in God to bear with this tree beyond the time of his first gathering the time that Judgement was due to it and that God came forth in the Judgement of and against his creature in a state he is fallen in and under that passing by he should find it cumbring the ground and have no fruit to his praise or any thing from thence brought forth pleasant to his taste and is it not the favour grace and mercy of God is the ground of thy being and if it be not of thy well being is it not because of thy sin and offence against it for there was goodness in God in his forbearance and bearing with thee to this day but if he can have no more good from and in thee thereby say not he hath dealt hardly in this kinde for on Gods part there is goodness in the ground of thy being which honoreth his forbearance and if it be not answered on thy part this is the continual voice and cry of God in that soul that which is good is cumbered the feild is over grown with weeds netles and bryars and thorns and these choak the good seed but when the ground is seen bad either high-way ground or stony or thorny its nigh unto cursing whose end is to be burnt and this is a very sad state where mercy and favour hath left man to the second death of Judgements decreeing and that beares with the man waiting to honor and get God a name in its execution therefore ought the furrow ground to be ploughed up and no more to sowe among thornes So this tree is that the man that hath been sown to that which is of the flesh being flesh as that which is of the spirit is spirit which man lives in and reaps and injoyes that which he hath been sown to and in and if it