us all who will bring forth light out of darknesse and love out of our divisions And as he in wrath remembers mercy so in much love I pray you remember Your WILLIAM ERBERIE A Scourge for the Assyrian the great OPPRESSOR ZACH 11.8 Three Shepherds I cut off in one moneth my soul loathed them and their soul abhorred me That is the glorious Appearance of the great God in men is most abhorred by seeming godly men and Ministers or three Shepherds whom God therefore loathes and hates all their performances as they hate his appearance the hatred of both is perfect for his soul loathes them and their soul abhorreth him AS Christ is the glory of the Father Heb. 1.1.3 Iohn 14.10 Ioh. 15.23 24 Isai 8.18 Hebr. 2.12 13 compared the appearance of God or God manifest in flesh so God in Christ the Father in him was that which was most hated by the Church of the Jews and Christ in us Iohn 14.11 Eph. 5.30 Heb. 2.11 compared Christ in the Church is abhorred by the Christian Churches who not knowing the Deity nor the humanity of Christ indeed will not acknowledge the Father to be the Godhead of Christ nor his brethren to be his humanitie in whom the fulnesse of the Godhead is so embodyed 1 Cor. 12.12 Eph. 4.13 compared that he being the head and they the members they and he make one perfect man in whom God appears to be all in all 1 Cor. 15.28 This Mysterie of God even the Father Col 2.2 and of Christ is therefore abhorred by the shepherds or Pastors of Churches Gal. 1.16 Eph. 1.17 Col. 1.27 compared because they knew not the Father in the Son nor the Son in the Saints nor the Spirit in both which would reveal this glory in them God in their Flesh that is Christ in us the hope of glory which now they hate and abher not having higher discoveries of God then what they have read in traditional forms of doctrine received Col. 2.8 1 Tim. 1.17 1 Ioh. 1.1 Rom. 9 1. Heb. 1.3.8 Col. 1.15.13 Col. 2.9 compared and invented by men For as the Father is the invisible God inhabiting eternitie so Christ is God visible the Image or out-goings of God the glory of the Father in flesh the appearance of God as I said or God manifest in flesh who in the spirit was from the beginning and will be to the end though this mystery of Christ was not manifested to men till the fulness of time Isai 9 6. Ioh. 5.19 20 30. Iohn 8.28 Iohn 14.10 compared 2 Cor. 13.4 1 Pet. 1.21 Psal 68.1 Psal 68.18 Eph. 4.10 Ioh. 16.28 Iohn 17.8 when the mighty God the everlasting Father appeared in flesh taken of a Virgin then the Son was born for God was brought forth in flesh and was manifest in flesh by mighty works and words which he spake and did while he lived in the dayes of his flesh but in his death God crucified that flesh to himself which afterward he raised to glory God rising or revealing himself gloriously therein then God ascended up on high that is God in flesh did ascend not onely to heaven but far above all heavens into his own eternall abisse and incomprehensible being and unaccessible light whence the brightnesse of his glory proceeded and came forth in flesh in the fulness of time as we said before But this Mysterie was not made known nor manfested to the Sons of men Eph. 3.5 till God who ascended up in flesh sent down the Spirit from on high Psal 68.18 Eph. 4.8 when he not onely received gifts for men or as Hebrew reads received gifts in the man but gave gifts unto men that is the same Spirit and power of God dwelling in the flesh of Christ appeared in the Church which is called Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 because the Son was revealed or known in the Saints and they in the Son and both in the Father all perfect in one for which cause the Spirit is called the promise of the Father Acts 1.4 Rom. 8.25.17 and the Spirit of the Son in the Saints cryed Abba Father God being a Father to them as to him his God and theirs For though the Spirit be called the Spirit of the Son yet he received and sent it from the Father therefore the Spirit is said to proceed onely from the Father c. it is the promise of the Father the power of God from on high which the Saints received from and with the Son they being Sons and coheirs with him Joh. 15.26 This Mystery of Christ though once manifested to the Apostles and Primitive Saints by the Spirit and since shut up as a sealed book by the apostasie or spirit of Antichrist in the Churches yet the book will be open the mystery will be manifest again for the mystery of God shall be finished and fully known at last Rev. 10.7 Rev. 1.4 Rev. 2.8 But as Christ is the first and the last he who was is and is to come of Christ was vayled in the Law and is revelaed in the Gospel though but in part the full Revelation of Christ Jesus is to come Jesus Christ the same yesterday and to day and for ever not Christ after the flesh for that was not till the fulness of time but Christ in the Spirit Heb. 13.8 God manifest in flesh was both yesterday under the Law and in the day of Gospel-dispensation and in the third dispensation now approaching he will abide for ever There was a change indeed from Law to Gospel when the Spirit of Christ first came into the Church the state of the Gospel changed also when the Spirit of Antichrist came in power and the Churches fell by the Apostasie when Christ shall come the second time in spirit and glory time shall be no more no more change of things shall be for all things and times shall appear in eternity which is the third dispensation as the first was yesterday the second to day Rev. 10 6 7. so the third is to be for ever I shall not now speak at large of this third dispensation onely as God is both Father Son and Spirit 1 Joh. 5.7 So God being manfest to his people in this threefold discovery of himself declares the third dispensation a third discoverie of himself unto them and in them God under the Law and to the Fathers before was known as the Father Deut. 32.6 Rom. 1.9 Rev. 22.17 In the Gospel God was known as the son or the knowledge of the Son was peculiar to the Gospel-dispensation The third will be pure Spirit when nothing but Spirit and power shall appear when God shall be all in all For although Gospel-believers were baptized into the name of Father Son and Spirit yet what they possessed was but the first fruits of the Spirit Rom. 8.23 there will be a full harvest flouds and Rivers of waters of life which no man can passe
over when the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord or as another Prophet adds full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord Ezek. 47.5 Isai 11.9 Hab. 1.14 Zach. 14.8 Rev. 22.1 compared as the waters cover the Sea Isai 11.9 Hab. 2.14 There the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb God even the Father and Christ the Fathers glory shall be fully known by men Rev. 21.22 Rev. 22.4 For as Christ is the appearance of God so when God shall appear in men they shall know how Christ was under the Law and as he is in the Gospel and will be the same for ever All that I know at present of Christ is this he was under the Law in Forms In the Gospel hee appeared in Flesh Tit. 2.13 Heb. 9.28 he will appear wholly in Spirit in Spirit onely the appecarance of the great GOD and Saviour shall be and yet manifest in the flesh of men that is all the transactions of God or all that God did in the flesh of Christ Rev. 12.5 Rev. 11.8 11 12. 1 Cor. 6.2 3. Obad. 21. compared shall visibly appear in the flesh of men the birth of Christ his life death resurrection and ascention shall be seen in us men shall see us ascend in a cloud to sit in heaven to judge the world and Angels and to bee Saviours of men in mount Zion at last For the Lamb shall bee in mount Zion and with him we shall be Rev. 14.1 having his Fathers name on our foreheads that 's the full discovery of God in us and men shall see God even the Father in us with Christ so cleerly manifest as written on our foreheads Mount Sion is not an outward Church-state as the Churches now imagine and call themselves though they be indeed the daughter of Babylon Zach. 2.7 but Zion is the state of all the Saints in the Spirit as they are in God and God in them For as Zion was the place where God dwelt so all the Saints from the beginning of the world have been still waiting for this for the full discoverie of God in them Glorious things were spoken of Zion Psal 87.3 and the people of God both under the law and in Gospel-dispensation were still going on from strength to strength Psal 84.7 till every one of them appears in Zion before God Every one appears at last in Zion Rev 14.1 not onely the hundred and fourscore and four thousand who go before and are the first fruits unto God v. 4. but a numberless company of men whose voyce was as many waters and as a mighty thunder vers 2. For as the hundred fourscore and four thousand is the just number of the sealed ones Rev. 7 4. selected out of the twelve Tribes who were first called the Church and people of God typifying those in the last dayes who shall be redeemed from men and the first fruits unto God as we said before so afterward there will be a company of people called to God whom no man can number Rev. 7.9 But these come to Zion through great tribulation through the bloud of the Lamb in them v. 14. that is through much suffering through the fellowship of Christs suffering and conformity to his death they come to rise and raign with him having palms in their hauds that life of Gospel-Saints which was hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 shall appear in God and the life of God shall appear in the Saints at last thus Christ their life shall appear in them with glory This glorious appearing of the great God rising up in higher discoveries of himself in men is that which hath been ever most opposed and persecuted I speak not now of the times under the Law nor Gospel nor yet of former appearances since the Apostasie But to goe no further then our own age what we have heard and seen How was the appearance of God in the First Reformers yea in our Prelates and Bishops persecuted as heresie by the Popish Hierarchie Next the honest Presbyters or Puritans how were they opposed by the same Prelates who suffered before Thirdly these Presbyterians formerly themselves in a suffering condition persecuted the appearance of God in those of higher forms and fellowships as the Independent Churches and these likewise are ready to oppose and persecute the spirits of the Saints who in worship and doctrine are of higher discoveries then themselves The doctrine of God and of Christ for substance is the same in all the Saints though their apprehensions differ or are divers rather And who is ignorant of this that the appearances of God in one man hath not been the same as it was formerly in himself and yet all have been going on from strength to strength at least in their desires and aimes toward Zion Though I am but a child in underdanding and in yeares also to some of our Elders yet here I observed four great steps of Gods glorious appearance in mens preaching First how low and legall were their teachings as they learnt the way of preaching from Mr. Perkins Bolton Byfield Dod and Dike most blessed in their generation by whom and such conforming Ministers more men were converted to God then ever since in any period of time Next the Doctrine of free Grace came forth but with lesse successe or fruit of conversion by Dr. Preston Sibs Crispe yet many before converted were confirmed and comforted by their words Thirdly the letter of Scripture and the flesh of Christ hath been highly set up by both the famous Goodwins the one Master John Goodwin like Apollos being mighty in Scriptures and strength of reason the other excels in spirituall discourses of Christs death resurrection ascension and intercession yet much according to the flesh for he meddles not with the Mystery of Christ in us of his dying in us as Mr. Dell in part discovers but all of Christ without us which though a truth yet not the whole truth nor that spirit and truth which Christ spake of John 6.63 2 Cor. 3.6.18 for as the flesh profiteth nothing but the quickning spirit that dwelt therein so the the Apostles had a ministery of the spirit to carry men through the flesh of Christ into the Father that eternall Spirit dwelling in him and them and so to draw them up into the same fellowship with himself Again this good man speakes much of Christ in the flesh not as he is in the Father and we in him and be in us which is the sum of our spiritual knowledge and all we should know of Christ after his Ascension Joh. 14.20 Thirdly he brings us no further then to the vail of his flesh not through it into the holy of holiest into the Godhead it self that is into the Father for Christ was but our fore-runner Hebr. 6.19 20. Fourthly though the vail of his flesh be a new and living way into the holiest yet not that flesh as living but as dead
is the Religion of the world and of little Children Another cause of divisions in Doctrine is this the confidence of men and Ministers who conceive that Christians know God and Christ already whereas themselves are ignorant of both Rev. 1.7 03 Rev. 5.2 not minding that God is a Mystery and that the Mystery of Christ hath been a sealed Book ever since the Apostasie as I have shewn in a book of neither Truth nor Error Nor Truth nor Error c. page 6. nor Light nor Darknesse but in the evening there shall be Light Thirdly Their darknesse and divisions hath been caused by not knowing Christ in the Spirit nor understanding the Mystery of Christ for all Christian Religions have been doting onely on the flesh of Christ See the Papists how they look upon Christ in a Picture so Protestants have their pleasant Pictures also Isai 2.16 Ezek 16.17 the Image of a Male as the Prophets phrase it that is fleshly apprehensions of Christ which they adore and deifie thus the Arminians and Socinians goe no farther than Christ after the flesh and the last especially though religious and most learned men yet look no higher than flesh yea the eternall Spirit and infinite God they confine to a place in Heaven where say they his essentiall presence is though his power be every where a very carnall conceit of God and of Christ But what mystery can the Socinian see in the Man Christ if the Man be not God or God manifest in flesh is not the Man Christ the Mystery of God Rev. 10.7 Col. 2.2 Eph. 3.5 And how can the Mystery of God and of Christ be manifest but by the Spirit 't is neither strength of reason nor reading of Scripture but the Spirit onely even the Spirit of Revelation that can prove the Godhead of Christ therefore the Apostle himself had it not as he received it of man nor as he was taught it but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ when it pleased God to reveal his Son in him c. Gal. 1.12 15. For how could the Apostle preaching to the Heathen prove the Godhead of Christ by Scripture to them who owned neither Christ nor Scriptures But Christ speaking in him that is Christ in the Spirit 2 Cor. 13.3 God powerfully acting and appearing in Pauls flesh did so manifest the Mystery to them that by the power of God working in him mightily he was able to present every man in Christ that is in God and God in them and they his Off-spring and thus did he prove the Godhead of Christ Col. 1.28 29. and that God would judge the world by the man Christ Jesus even by the manifestation of God in the Saints Acts 17.28 29 32. who should judge the world with them and in him 1 Cor. 6.2 Indeed to the Jewes who acknowledged the Scriptures by Scriptures he proved that Christ was God yet not the Godhead of Christ by that for as Christ never said that he was God but sent by God so he shewed his Godhead to be the Father dwelling in him and doing all his works which though neither the Jewes nor Disciples clearly saw in the dayes of his flesh yet when he should depart to the Father and the Spirit or Promise of the Father should be sent then the power of God appearing in their flesh as in his he shewes them the Father plainly for as no man knowes the Father but the Sonne and he to whom the Sonne reveales him so I said before that God even the Father must reveal the Sonne in us by the Spirit of Revelation to us else there is no knowing the Godhead of Christ at all John 14.10 John 16.25 27 28. For no man can say that Jesus is the Lord 1 Cor. 12.3 but by the Spirit alas man what mystery is it that Christ is God because God made the Man so because God gave him that name gave him that power and glory as God 't is true that Christ even the Sonne of God had all by gift of the Father Iohn 5.19 22 26. verses The Sonne could doe nothing of himself God gave him even the Spirit gave him authority to judge gave him to have life in himself whereas we have all of him Math. 28.18 Iohn 17.2 Phil. 2.6 9. Heb. 1.8 9. and by him God gave him glory all power in heaven and earth God gave him a name above every name yea gave him to be called God for God his God annointed him to it above his fellowes all this proves not the Godhead of Christ but that he was the Man Gods fellow that is equall with God in the form if God as 't is parallell'd by the Apostle and Prophet Zach. 13.7 Phil. 2.6 9. Therefore what Socinus saith that Christ is God because God gave him that name that power that glory and honour is no mystery for God can give to a Worme to thresh the mountaines to throw down the earth to destroy and judge the world Isai 41.14 15. Jer. 51.20 But what 's the Mystery of Christ wait for the Spirit to manifest it to thee and me Till the seventh Angell sound Rev. 10.7 the Mystery of God shall not be finished nor fully known What a madnesse is it then for men to warr and wrangle about that they know not Is it not better for us to wait in peace and patience forbearing one another and embracing one another in love till the Lord God appear in all I shall therefore crave pardon of all men because I cannot chuse but say that no man yet knowes God nor Christ nor himself this makes the difference and division as I said before because men are so confident and therefore contend of the free Grace of God the free Will of Man and the Death of Christ yet they know not God as he is nor what Man is in God nor what the Man-God Christ is in the Mystery how in God and how he is in man Oh yee Protestants Papists Arminians and Socinians answer me this one question Why did the highest Apostle beg the prayers of all the Churches that he might know the Mystery of Christ that he might manifest it and that he might speak as he ought to speak Eph. 6.19 20. Col. 4.3 4. You think you know Christ and can preach him well enough we shall be all silent and God himself shall speak at last and speak himself and manifest himself unto men Oh that men could watch and wait in love together to that day This is the last thing I had to observe that all the speaking and preachings of men will be silenced by God when the Lord appeares Pray but observe in those four steps before mentioned of Gods appearance in men how the power efficacie and fruit of Conversion hath decreased The Doctrine of Free-grace converted fewer than that legall teaching before the preaching of Christ after the flesh by the purest Churches hath had lesse converts yet yea those
the Law had but the tenth our Preachers of the Gospel take up the fifth or fourth of mens lands and labours Fiftly the Priests who had Tithes paid them had no other portion or temporal estate as most of our Ministers have who may therefore preach the Gospel freely if they can Secondly they are more oppressive than Popish Tithes in forrain parts France the Kingdome of Asses as 't is called hath not such an oppression in Tithes for their Priests as our Protestant Teachers and Preachers of the Gospel doe burthen this free Nation for as 't is credibly reported by some who have long liv'd in France that there and in Spain also onely Tithe of hard corn is paid that is of Wheat and Rye but no Tithe of Barley Oates Pease Beans Fitches Tills much lesse Tithe of Hops Hemp Flaxe Saffron or of garden Hearbs Secondly 't is not the tenth sheaf as ours but onely the twentieth sheaf of Wheat and Rie is paid with them Thirdly if there be but nineteen Lambs there is none if thirty nine there is but one Lamb for the Priest as one of twentie and two of fortie is his Tithe but our Gospel-Priests must have one Lamb of ten yea one of seven if there be no more Fourthly ours have not onely the tenth Lamb but tithe of the Wool of the nine remaining wherers the Popish Priest hath no tithe of wool at all Fifthly They take no Tithe of calves hay hay-grasse or justments much less tithe of pigs geese apples eggs and of every thing almost the poor live on our Gospel Ministers must have their tithes Thirdly since the Independent Pastors are turnd Parsons and Preachers of the Gospel Parish Priests the burthen of Tithes hath been more oppressive in them than in the Prelates and Presbyters heretofore For first These were Nationall Ministers and did service to every Parish in the Nation therefore the National maintenance was more of right proper for them but the Independent Churches separating from the Nation and professing a Gospel-practice cannot for shame deny their own Principles as to keep up Tithes but rather to look for a maintenance from their own Churches or to live of the Gospel if they preach to the World I say of the Gospel that is to live by faith in God who will doubtlesse feed his servants and cause men freely to contribute unto them who preach the Gospel freely Secondly The Tithes formerly were never so farmed out to Commissioners friends who rackt the poor Parishioners to raise their own private gain though they get forty or fiftie shillings yearly by the bargain Thirdly as 't is more reasonable for the Parish to farm their own Tithes with the former abatements so in these times of publike Taxes Contributions and necessary burthens on the Nation the oppression of Tithes is more intollerable but our Independent friends load the people who hoped to have been eased of all by their meanes Fourthly Godly men in Wales who have suffred much for the State and in tenderness of conscience could not pay Tithes to the Prelates of old yea who were indulged in those dayes are now forced not onely to that but to pay all their Arrears of Tithes formerly spared Fifthly as Tithes under this oppressive Form was first established by the Churches of Wales who have given example for the English to follow the pattern and oppression so consider what the Churches there have gained by this even more Officers in the Church than ever Christ commanded as Commissioners Treasurers Sequestrators and Collectors for Tithes a thing which neither Law nor Gospel nor former Ages ever heard of Sixtly Hos 6 8 9. God compareth such unto Thieves and Robbers Gilead is a Citie of them that work iniquitie and polluted with bloud or as the Margen reads cunning for bloud And as Troops of Robbers wait for a man so the companie of Priests murther in the way by consent the Geneva notes Gilead to be the Citie where the Priests dwelt and the companie of them was like a Synod or Classis Independents and Presbyters agree together and consent in Tithes Seventhly Doe not the Churches by this rob God also this at least being a Typical expression of their spiritual robberie Will a man rob God yet yee have robbed me Mal. 2.10 14 17. Mal. 3.7 8 13. saith the Lord But ye said Wherein have we robbed thee In tithes and offerings Mal. 3.8 Pray observe in this and in the former Chapters how oft God seeks to convince the Priests six times together but the Priests will by no meanes be convinced by God himself of their manifest hypocrisie Secondly That God speaks to the Priests in both Chapters is plain from Mal. 2.1 And now O ye Priests this word is for you and 't is their word also Mal 3.14 What profit is it that we have kept thy Ordinances and walked mournfully Or as the Hebrew reads it walked in black that is their garbe as Baals Priests are called Chemarim Zeph. 1.4 or Black coats Now What profit is it say they that we have kept thine Ordinance It is not Ordinances but thine Ordinance the Lords Ordinance as I shall shew another time is the Spirits presence and power from on high this was the first Gospel-Ordinance the Baptism of the Spirit and of Fire for the appearance of the Spirit was on every Ordinance of the Gospel Acts 1.4 5. Acts 2.38 Acts 8.6 28. in water-Baptism there was the promise of the gift of the Spirit and the power of the Spirit in some visible gifts appeared with every one that did baptize in breaking of bread 1 Cor. 12.13 1 Cor. 14 15. 2 Pet. 1.12 they dranke into one Spirit they did sing in the Spirit pray in the Spirit preach the Gospel with the holy Spirit sent down from heaven yea in truth all outward Ordinances of the Gospel were but the Ordinances of man though appointed by God the appearance and power of the Spirit was the Ordinance of God but what profit say the Priests is it that we have kept thine Ordinances waited on the Spirit there 's no profit in this Truly the Spirits presence was more waited on and the Saints in Wales were far more spiritual before their Church-fellowship more simple-hearted sincere self-denying and dying to the world yea though they walkt in Ordinances there was no talk then of Ordinances they were dead unto them it being the worlds Religion the Saints were all drawn up to the Spirit which made them to be scoft of the world which now they follow in their principles practice and desire of profit What profit say they Oh there is no profit in the Spirits presence in the Ordinance of God the power of men the Ordinance for Tithes and maintenance for Ministers hath more profit with it Well Friends you must shortly walk in black and mournfully with your Forefathers the Prelates and Presbyters because you follow their steps in the height of your Spirits and
is risen up as an Enemy c. Oh the great Oppressor how the earth doth rejoyce at the ruine of that man who smote the peogle in wrath with a continuall stroke that ruled the Nations in anger nothing of love mercy and goodnesse to mankind or the poor appeared in him but he persecuteth and no man hineth saith the Prophet Isaiah 14.6 7 8. And as the whole Earth is merry at his fall so hell from beneath is moved for him to meet him at his coming it stirs up the dead even all the cheif ones of the earth and all the Kings of the Nations rise up from their Thrones they say art thou also weak as we art thou become like unto us verse 4.10 What are the people of God and Princes of Israel the holy Princes so prophane Is the prophane Prince of Israel so weak weak as the imperious whorish woman Ezek. 16.30 Art thou so weak as we weak in thy passions and pettish Spirit art thou become like unto us as one of the Kings of England or the Princes of Wales What man would think that the Church or People of God should ever come to this to oppresse both God and man good and bad at once But this is naturall to spirituall men in Church formes yea to the flesh of the best Christians 1 Cor. 3.3 Gal. 4.29 who may for a time be very fleshly and yet the children of God as Ishmael was Abrahams sonne after the flesh persecuting him that was born after the Spirit yea Saints by calling may be called carnall much more when they are become so wise after the flesh so mighty and so noble 1 Cor. 1.26 which must have an Almighty power of the Spirit to make them foolish and weak and base and nothing to bring to nought things that are the great things and Conquests here attained by the people of God was when they were nothing now being something they are overcome by all and by themselves When men doe adore the people of God and idolize them as the Gods of the earth Zeph. 2.11 then a thousand to one God does befoole and famish them and they fall to be proud and to oppress the world yea their own Brethren and their Father also even the most high God appearing in lowest Saints above them in grace and the knowledge of our Lord in simplicity in purenesse and peace and in patience also Well this is the thing that God will doe with his own he will undoe them either by the high discoveries of himself in them as the Prophet was Isaiah 6.1 who came to this that he saw himself though as good as the best yet as bad as the worst verse 3 5. Or else he will undoe them by discovering that without to the world which is within in the heart 1 King 8.38 Iam. 3.6 what a plague is in it what a sinke and sea of sin yea a hell is in the tongue this the Saints will not see but God does and men shall when he shall turn their inside out their hidden hypocrisie shall appear to all for they shall openly practise hypocrisie as men doe grosse prophaneness for the vile person shall be no more called liberall nor the Churle said to be bountifull c. Isaiah 32.5 6 7. see it Alas man Thou maist give all that thou hast to the poor yet have no love 1 Cor. 13.3 Tit. 3.4 1 Ioh. 4.16 Oh belye not the Spirit of God in thee for God is love and good to all mankind while thou art a murtherer in hating thy brother John 3.15 yea in not loving him so as to lay down thy life for him verse 16. much more in not laying out thy livelihood and this worlds good verse 17. not onely for the godly as they say but for any man that needs thee who is both thy brother and thine own flesh Isaiah 58.7 Nay t is not enough that thou art no Oppressor as I said before but to loose the bands of wickednesse Isai 58.6 to undoe the heavy burthens to let the Oppressed goe free and to break every yoak is the duty of love if there be power in thine bands to doe it But when the people of God are silent and sit still seeking onely self not sensible of the burthens of the oppressed of the Prisoners bands nor of poor families who cry for bread how dwelleth the love of God in them saith John Well want of love besides worldlinesse wrath and that oppressive power in the Churches Gen. 49.7 Isai 19.2 Ier. 51 49. is the cause why they are so divided among themselves yea God divides them as he did prophane them he sets Brother against Brother Ruler against Ruler one ruling Elder against another 'T is Rule and Government the Churches still aime at therefore they not onely dash one against another but are like to destroy that civill Government and the Governours they depend upon for since the Apostacy the Churches have ever had a dependance on worldly powers and undone the powers with themselves and therefore our present Governours are wise to beware of men But Men and Ministers and Churches as we see are divided this day like Babylon into three parts as we shall shew anon and so their destruction is of themselves I say they seek for rule and this ruines them Now there is a threefold kind of Government among men Monarchy Aristocracy and Democracy the first is as of the King the second is like that of the Parliament the present Government some compare to the third though it appears not yet but Parliament and Army have voted the Supream power to be in the people Well the Churches must have power and rule also the Prelatick Church was Monarchicall all were ruled by one by an Arch-Bishop the Kingly Power or Prerogative fell by that The Presbyterian Church is an Aristocracy the Elders or chief of these govern as 't were in a Parliament and Parliamentary priviledges was like to fall by them if not fallen already The Independent or baptized Churches both is one are a pure Democracy for not the ruling men or Ministers but all the Members have equall power to order and ordain as they professe and therefore called Independent I wish they were so but if they have a dependance on the Civill or Martiall power 't will be worse for both if both be not wiser than former times A word to the wise 't is my folly to use so many to understanding men as the Ministers are especiall Independents being men of parts power policy and of piety also many I shall fear none of them because I love them all and they me though wrath at present may appear in both as it doth among themselves 't was so once between God and his own people of old a perfect-hatred loathing and abhorring one another Well the Vials are yet full of the wrath of God when these are poured forth Love will appear that is the Lord himself in
and crucified became the living way Heb. 10.20 as with God I shall shew another time Fifthly that worthy man brings men to the way but not to the Truth and Life Now Christ was all First the way for no man cometh to the Father but by me Iohn 14.6 now 't is a vain thing to keep men still in the way to stand still in the way and not to goe on by Christ into the Father into the holiest and thus was Christ the Truth Iohn 14.3 also taking us into the Father with himself for as this was eternall life to know the Father to be the onely true God Ioh. 17.3 and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent so Christ was sent or God even the Father was manifest in his flesh that we might see God in us as he was in him Iohn 17.21 23 24. and our life with him in God Lastly thus Christ is the life and thus he that hath the Son hath life that is the Son being once revealed in us reveals the Father in us also God in our flesh as in his and we living with him in God alone Joh. 14.19 20. 1 Joh. 5.11 12. This is the knowledge of Christ in the Spirit and this is the fourth step which some have attained to holding forth Christ in the Spirit as Mr. Sedgwick Mr. Sterrie Mr. Sprig and others these with their fellows are neerest Zion yet are they not come into it for as every Prophet shall one day be ashamed of his vision Zach. 13.4 yea prophesie it self shall fail So it is manifest these men are of a dark and deeper speech then can be easily understood Isai 33.19 therefore it is not Zion when there shall be such a glorious appearance of God in men that all shall see and hear him in them and as they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion Isai 52.8 or bring forth himself cleerly in us who are now in captivity or he rather captive in our flesh so men shall hear God himself in us for so it is in the Hebrew Zach. 8.23 not we have heard that God is with you but we will go with you for we have heard God with you and in you Then man shall be nothing and God shall be all in all yet man shall be all in God and nothing but God shall appear in man This glorious appearance of the great God in man the three Shepherds the Pastors and Teachers doe indeed abhor they hate his appearance as I said and he abhors all their performances But who are these three Shepherds the Pastors of Churches What their cutting off is my former Letter shewed to suffer the curse of God and contempt of men How God cuts them off It is by unchurching them and by confounding or dividing them the Lord doth first unchurch them burns up the Church with fire Zachariah 11.1 there he calls Lebanon to open the doors that the fire may come in to burn up the tallest Cedars What 's Lebanon but the Temple for it was built with that Who are the Cedars but the tallest Members the principall of the flock What is the fire but the Spirit of the Lord as the Lord God calls upon Lebanon so he commands that the Church doors may be open for the fire to enter and the spirit to burn up all their chiefest members and Ministers for so it is vers 2. The mighty men or the gallants are spoiled yea there is a howling of the shepherds for their glory is spoiled v. 3. Their Church-fellowship and forms is that they glory in God spoils them and stains the pride of all their glory yea he burns it up How By fire The baptisme of the Spirit and of fire was the first Gospel-Ordinance Acts 1.4 5. or that which first set up the Church in a Gospel-order Fire will be the last that shall burn up the Churches who because they would not as the Primitive Saints did wait for the Spirit to build them the Spirit shall come to burn and consume them at last Secondly God cuts them off confounds and divides them he cuts them into three parts as we shall see by and by Thus then the three shepherds are the Pastors of all the Churches or whole Ministery of the Church Ezek. 16.30 Rev. 17.2 for as the Apostate Jewish Church was a Type of the Christian Church now under the Apostacie the whoredomes of Israel typifying the great whore whose fornications and the wine thereof in their forms of doctrine and false worships as we shall shew another time so Junius well notes the three Shepherds to signifie the whole teaching Ministery of the Jewish Church Vid. Junium in Zach. 11. for the Pharisees Sadduces and Essenes saith he were the onely Pastors or Teachers who did instruct the people in the Word of God as Prelates Presbyters and Independents are the whole Ministery of the Church of England this day These are divided not onely in Worship and Discipline but in doctrine also especially in three things 1. In the free grace of God which some call Antinomianism 2. In the free-will of man which otherscall Pelagianism 3. In the death of Christ or universal Redemption of mankind thereby which both Presbyters and Independants abhorre as Paganisme though nearest the Gospel indeed I shall not now shew the cause of all those divisions in Doctrine being engaged onely at present to prove their defilements in the worship of God and in their walking with men Yet this is one cause of their former difference and divisions in Doctrine Acts 2.42 because the Apostles Doctrine being before all Gospel-Ordinances is out of order in the Churches 1 Tim. 6.3 2. Tim. 1.13 who not content with that forme of sound words and wholsome Doctrine delivered by them doe follow the childish Dictates of Fathers the Decrees of Councels being a company of Bishops with such Creeds Confessions and Catechismes formed by them and reformed Churches whose conformities and fooleries in formes of worship though our Churches cannot chuse but see yet with a blind devotion they follow all their formes of doctrine not suffering a doubt or the least debate to passe upon their reason and judgement therein How injudicious this is with ingenuous men let all men judge Iohn 3.12 for if I tell you of earthly things saith Christ and yee beleeve not how will yee beleeve if I tell you of heavenly all outward worship is but an earthly thing Now if all Fathers and former Churches have erred in worship why not I pray you may they not erre in Doctrine in heavenly and hidden things in the high Mystery of God and of Christ especially seeing the Apostles did prophesie of such deceit to come in this by vain Philosophy Col. 2.8 and metaphysicall speculations of the Deity by the traditions and inventions of men the rudiments of the world the rudiments that is the A. B. C. or common Catechismes which
who preach Christ in the Spirit the most seraphick Sermons call in but few Sinners though some Saints may be raised others proud flesh rankle thereby but as for the Spirit of Jesus where does it appear in mens preaching or practise or the power of godlinesse That which I conclude from this is that God is going out and departing from all the preachings of men that men may give themselves wholly to publick acts of love one to another and to all mankind therefore all religious formes shall fall that the power of righteousnesse may rise and appear in all 2 Pet. 3.13 Rev. 21.22 The new Heaven and new Earth where dwelleth Righteousnesse hath no form of Religion there I see 't is hastening by many things and this to me is the least prophetick providence and experience in the present powers of the Nation when the Parliament of England first began oh what speakings were there what Speeches of severall Members of the house of Commons were printed every week but now the Common-wealth comes on there is more of Action done every day and though the Parliament many times say more than they doe yet they doe more than they say which is best of all Again I cannot but observe that as the falling of a Sparrow Math. 10.30 or the smallest hair of our heads is subject to the speciall providence of God so 't is remarkable that all the Parliaments Ordinances are now turned into Acts for Acts indeed are better than Ordinances these are of form those of power the Army was best indeed when they were about their Ordinances their Guns going forth for common freedome those were their Acts and God did blesse them therein in all their publick actings and in their publick Spirits but as for their publick speakings their Declarations Protestations Remonstrances 't is not worth a rush So are their Councels of War when judging the Consciences of men in the Mystery of Christ a most high presumption yea all their fasting and prayer before God is not worth a pins head till they repent and return to their first principles to the power of Righteousnesse to Justice and Mercy to the Nation without all self-seeking striving for the universall good of mankind even for Papists and for Jewes themselves to live with freedome and comfort among us Mal. 1.9 10 11. compared with Mal. 3.4 5. This is the glorious appearance of the great God not to talke and prate of things but to be working and acting to be ever doing good as Christ did alwayes to all Acts 10.38 and though there was a Ministery of men once to speak also glad tydings and good things to men yet since the Apostacy that Apostolick Ministery being silenced and the manifold gifts of the Spirit ceased and no man sent of God to preach the Gospel which the holy Spirit sent down from Heaven all is but earth and man that is said 1 Pet. 1.12 the number of the beast being the number of a man Rev. 13.16 And though God hath hitherto fed and led the woman in the wildernesse Rev. 12.6 and caused men to minister some truth and peace to his people under the Apostacy yet this was but his Free-grace and high Prerogative of love who as not tyed to meanes so by a false Ministery could convey light and comfort to his own but now God is pouring vials of wrath on that which was once lovely upon the Sun and air upon the light of man upon the meanes and those mediums that receive it Rev. 16.8.17 Again seeing the man of sinne the mystery of iniquity is now more revealed in the Temple of God than ever and the ministery of men is discovered every day not to be of Gods appointment as Prelates and Presbyters and purest Independent Pastors cut off by the Lord himself it is therefore judged that not onely the whole Ministry but all the preachings of men will shortly be silenced by the glorious appearance of God Be silent O all flesh for the Lord is raised out of his holy habitation Zach. 2.13 Why if man be silent what will God doe among men A Father of the fatherlesse and a Judge of the widow is God in his holy habitation Psal 68.5 that is God will so appear in men that instead of speakings they shall goe forth in actings of love to mankind and to the miserable part thereof to the poor to the oppressed to the fatherlesse and the widow and to all that want that which we abound in As this was once pure Religion and undefiled before God even the Father Iam. 1.27 to visit the Fatherlesse and widow in their afflictions and to keep our selves unspotted of the world so the neglect of this is charged on the Apostate Churches Isai 1 23. Jer. 5.28 Alas what is it to send Preachers abroad before the burthens and oppressions of the people be eased Israel it self could not hear Exod. 6.9 because of the sore bondage in Aegypt I say not all burthens taken off because the charge of the Common wealth encreaseth but why may not rich Citizens racking Landlords in the Country and mighty moneyed men be made immediately to rife in their payments that poor Farmers Labourers and honest Tradesmen may be spared Why not oppression be presently eased at least of Lawyers and Tithes Why not a Treasury for the poor when so many thousands a year can be found out to give to the rich would that hinder the publick more than this It is the goodnesse of the State indeed to honour and conferre gifts on high deserving men but it is dishonourable and base for such to receive it who neglecting the publick good seek their private gain who would seem to be Saints and self-denying men yet forgetting their vowes to God and men care not though the poor and the oppressed sink starve and dye so they may live fat and full and free from those evils Gifts are as bad as bribes when Justice and great things are to be done in a Nation for as a bribe blindes the eyes and they shall never see the King in his beauty Isay 32.15 Eccl. 7.7 who shake not their hands from holding of bribes and despise not the gain of Oppression so a gift destroyes the heart that the most publick spiritted man dares not think a good thought much lesse to speak or act for common freedome and the good of mankind while money stops the mouth choakes and destroyes the heart They say indeed the time is not yet come but is it a time to receive monie said Elisha Oh say others 2 King 5.26 Isai 51.14 you are to hasty c. but the captive exile hastened that he might be lcosed and that he should not dye in the pit nor that his bread should fail If these men were bamshed but for a year or their Babes without bread for a day they would not delay justice and mercy to men seeing the Lord comes riding on a swift
cloud to judge and raign and to hasten Righteousness Isai 16.5 Let Mercarius Politicus tell you the reason of State and shew you if men were religious indâ—â—d that is righteous just honest plain simple hearted people they might quickly doe what they say what 's that Take away the iniquity of the Land in one day the iniquity that is Zach 3 9. the oppression c. I will take it away in one day how so spray When God shall appear in men See the Lord of hosts or Armies defence pag. 23. and men act in the immediate power of God when the power that God and man hath put into their hands is improved to the utmost without fear of man and with full confidence in God oh what a world of good might be done in one day all the proud enemies oppressors the unrighteous riches the unjust gaines the great reveneues suddenly got yea all the iniquity of the Land would be taken away in one day This would be Gospel indeed and glad tydings to the poor and make all the oppressed in the Land to sing for this is the everlasting Gospel which shall be preached not in wordbut in power not as the Gospel at first in speaking or preachings but in publick actings the everlasting Gospel shall goe forth in the last times as I shall hint anon and another time with God more fully prove that the preaching of the everlasting Gospel is not the ministery of man nor is that Angel a man or Minister but the Angel of the Covenant Christ in us God in our flesh that is God fully manifest in us shall minister himself to us God shall minister himself to men a pure Ministery of the Spirit shall be the Spirit shall onely minister both light and love among men salvation and strength sufficiency and fulnesse of all good things to the whole Creation at last This glorious appearance of the great God and Saviour in men is that which is most abhorred by Ministers and Pastors three Shepheards whom the Lord loaths and divides because they will not be drawn up to union and love to mankind to whom they are rather cruell their throat an open Sepulchre and their feet swift to shed bloud that is they will speak no good will to man but swallow down the most and destroy them not owning all men as their own flesh Isai 58.7 and God the eternall Spirit dwelling in them therefore God divides the Shepheards with their flockes dashing one against another causing every man of them to eat the flesh of his brother Zach. 11.9 True it is but flesh and fleshly formes the Churches fight and contend for the cause of all the contention is in the Shepheards or the Ministers the Church-members poor soules would be quiet and come up again to walk in the Spirit but because the Members will follow not the Head but their fellowes Members and Ministers God gives them up to their King v. 6. Who is that Sure some chief Pastor who commands in Church and Common-wealth Well for this God takes no more care of the Church but divides them also He breaks the Covenant which he made with all the people v. 10. The Independent Church was built once on a Covenant now being ashamed of that they call it a confession others an ragreement God breaks all in pieces even the Covenant First his staffe Beautie that is the unitie of the Spirit v. 10. then his staffe bonds the bond of Peace for the brotherhood between Judah and Israel is broken verse 14. How cleer doth this appear in the present Churches who by a Law call none brothers but such of their own societies no Saint whatsoever nor yet Christ were he among them would they call brother unlesse he were of a Church way and of theirs also therefore the brotherhoood between Judah and Israel the Independent and baptized Churches is broken Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God almighty Rev. 15.3 just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints How just is it for God to divide those Churches that divide themselves from Saints How true is their division when the very Brotherhood is broken Oh love the brotherhood saith Peter 1 Pet. 2.17 that cannot be saith the Prophet for there is nothing but wrath and wars to be among them they must be divided and subdivided also I will deliver the men every one into the hand of his neighbour or fellow member and into the hand of his King or Pastor for such are called Kings in Scripture Zach. 11.6 Princes of the Sanctuary Again saith God I will not feed you that that dyeth let it die and that that is to be cut off let it be cut off and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another v. 9. that is those fellow-Members who were more moderate and peaceable minded men not given to common division are yet destroyed and die in their spirits by being in Church-fellowship for God breaks the Covenant that he made with all the people v. 19. This is that I shewed in the mountaines from Ezekiel 37.3 That All the people of God this day are a dead divided people not onely gathered Churches but scattered Saints these in their flesh those in their forms and fellowships First they are as dry bones of the valley yea bones very dry lying in the open valley the lowest part of the earth and it is the open valley every one above them who are on the hills may behold and see how dead and dry they are very dry saith he having neither skin nor sinew nor strength nor spirit nor yet flesh indeed upon them not the letter of Scripture for any of their publique Worships common Prayers c. nor yet in their walkings doth the flesh Christ appear upon them in meekness and lowliness of heart yea they are not so lowly and loving as once they were so humble and tenderly minded so self denying and dying to the world And as they are dead so divided into two sticks Ezek. 37.16 See Zeph. 39. a pure lip and perfect love or union will not be on earth till the earth or Church in her divisions and defilements be burnt up with fire which is Babylons last plague Rev. 18 8. then men will serve or worship God in Spirit and with one consent or shoulder they are not now called branches but sticks dry sapless things without any shew of spiritual life yea with out hope to rise here on earth as themselves confesse v. 11. But I have better hopes of you beloved then your selves have All the Churches indeed shall fall but the Saints therein shall rise Oh my people saith God I will open your graves and cause you to come forth out of your graves v. 12. But there the people of God yet are and this the Lord would haue them know this day although they will not that they are all in Babylon dead dry bonâ—s and divided sticks Dead in
the Gospel know not as I shall shew with God another time But now see what Merchants we have in the world mark it they sell Wheat nay shame upon them they sell the refuse of Wheat and sell it for what at the highest rate that ever was the refuse of Wheat an old Sermon that is even mouldy with lying by they will not part with without a price yea they sell it them at a dear rate none will preach now under a hundered pound a year teaching is turned to a meer Trade he that will give most shall most Gospel under the Law all the Priests had but the like allowance Gospel-Ministers preached freely yet wanted nothing now men will not trust God but must have beforehand some twenty shillings for every Sermon they make some fortie shillings a Sermon yea there are Pastors and Teachers in England who have four pound for every Sunday Sermon besides four pound every week for government and gaudies or eating good cheer Doe not these make merchandise of the Word of God are not these the Merchants which John speaks that shall shortly cry alas alas Rev. 18.15 Rev. 18.15 Was there ever the like heard in the world that the refuse of wheat should be sold so dear by Divines and Spiritual men Spiritual men said I What they who are imployed in Secular and Martiall affaires I doe not blame the Governours of our State for setting such honour and preferment on the heads of Pastors and Teachers Constantine did more yet more mischief followed and the Church as they say fell asleep in Constantines lap so I wish the wise and godly Governours of the Common-wealth to consider I pray consider is it according to the order of the Gospel Acts 20.28 that Pastors should leave their own Church-fellowships and turn fellows of Colledges Is it according to the Gospel that Pastors should become Princes and Presidents Deans and Doctors Is not this a secular imployment and this in the hands of spirituall men is but the Instruments of a foolish Shepherd as the Lord General Cromwel excellently words it This is the great hand of God and worthy of the consideration of all those Ministers who taking into their hands the Instruments of a foolish Shepherd to wit medling with worldly policies and mixtures of earthly power to set up that which they call the Kingdome of Christ which is neither it nor if it were would such meanes be found effectunll for that end and neglect or not trust to the word of God the sword of the Spirit c. A Letter from Dumbar p. 11. That this is not a spiritual but a secular power or earthly mixture appears because an Universitie is properly the School of Nature elevated and improved by Art not by Religious forms though the power of it be precious but by excellencie of learning which Pastors and Teachers are not much acquainted with so were fitter men Again It is a very sad Omen when Ministers of the Gospel and Pastors of Churches creep so fast into Colledges not onely because the prosperitie or ease of fools destroys them Prov. 1.32 but it is the Geneva Note on Acts 6.12 That the first bloudie Persecution of the Church of Christ sprang up and began from a company of Priests by the suggestion of Vniversitie Doctors But we are gone too far from Market we heard before their selling the refuse of Wheat for Silver Amos 8.6 I tell you there is more in that Verse They buy the poor for Silver and the needie for a pair of shooes Or as the same Prophet speaks Amos 2.6 They sell the righteous for silver and the poor for a pair of shooes That is if there be a righteous poor man that seeks the publike good of the Common-wealth or the good of mankind they will either keep him poor or make him rich they will stop his mouth with a piece of silver or send him away in a pair of shooes What 's that set him in a good office or gainfull imployment that 's a pair of shooes that many an honest heart is bought and sold for I wonder that the Prophet should say of God Thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob Isai 2.7 c. Why Their land is full of filver and gold and there is no end of their treasures Truly it were well the tidings had bin true That we Christians would have no more silver and gold from the Indies then gold should not be our God But now I fear me that Mammon is not onely the god of the world but the god of Churches also yea many good Christians make Mammon and money their God In the Apostles dayes The love of money was the root of all evill it lay close in the Earth but now it is risen to a Tree all men may see that money is most loved by good and bad alike Ezek. 7.10.11 Paul speaks of a cloaked covetousnesse 1 Thes 2.5 it was much covered and kept close then because indeed the Churches were so pure and poor but now covetousnesse walks abroad by day without any cloak stark naked that all doe see and cry shame on the Saints this day Oh the hour of Temptation is come upon all them that dwell on the earth True that dwell on the earth yea Rev. 3.10 those who dwell in heaven are tempted with it also the glory of the world was the last and greatest of all Christs Temptations Matth. 4.8 I doe not envie your greatnesse God knows but pitty your goodness that is so besieged with greatness and Worldly glory with Silver and Gold and Money and more then heart could wish Psal 73.7 the Lords and Nobles of old could doe better with it because Gentlemen born but when so much money comes into the hands of poor Saints oh how they hold it and hug it and hunger after more as dogs after dry hones Woe woe to the Churches and Christians this day Truly Friend I was forced as first to speak then to write so now to publish these things to the world I would much rather have been at home and sate in silence yea better had it been for my flesh and family if I had as I said even enter into my chambers Isai 26.20 and shut the door upon me untill the Indignation bee overpast that is till all the seven Vials full of wrath be poured forth there is wrath enough on the Churches already their own divisions would destroy them quick enough and why then must I come forth like a fool and put my head between their blows But yet God hath appointed a worm to pour out wrath on the Churches to pour out wrath and yet in love to lye under the same wrath with them and for their sake to suffer this for he that kills with the sword shall be killed by the sword Rev. 13.10 'T is not my happiness then but Woe is me my mother that thou hast made me a