word Father bear the same sense 17 Doth not the word Jesus signifie a Savior and doth not the word Son bear the same sense and doth not the word Christ signifie Chrystal clearness or anointing and doth not the word Holy Ghost bear the same sense 18 If this be truth which none can gainsay but men as yet under spiritual darkness what difference is there then between the word Father Son and Holy Spirit and Lord Jesus Christ Are they not onely names words or titles in relation to the onely wise immortal invisible distinct glorious God-man blessed for ever and ever in himself and honored onely of men and angels unto whom he is made manifest 19 Though the eternal Jehovah had variety of divine Titles for the exaltation of his infinite Majesty under the legal or ceremonial worship of Moses and the Prophets was he ever own'd by any more then one name of glorious God or Holy One of Israel 20 If he had contained of three divine Persons or Spirits in coequal Godhead glory can any man be so sensless to think that he would have hid it from Moses and Aaron Abraham David and all those Prophets with whom he was so familiar in divine appearances or wonderful miracles 21 If the Most High and Mighty Jehovah was but onely one spitual person in the times of Moses and the Prophets which none can gainsay but men in Egyptian darkness are not those men at present utterly ignorant of the onely wise God which endeavor by literal violence to perswade themselves and others that the Holy One of Israel is three persons because he is called by a three-fold name in the New Testament 22 You know in Scripture a man is called soul body and spirit though he be but one person 23 Also you may know that men in highest places are called by a three-fold Title as namely Kings excellent Majesty or the like 24 Though they attribute to themselves never so many honorable Titles to manifest their earthly greatness that they might be dreadful in the spirits of earthly minded people yet you know they are but one person onely 25 So likewise though the eternal Jehovah be called by a three-fold name of Father Son Spirit or Lord Jesus Christ or though he hath never so many divine Titles attributed to him for exaltation of his infinite Majesty within the spirits of his redeemed ones yet you may know that he can be no more then one glorious being onely 26 You that are truly spiritual may know why the God of glory called himself by a three-fold name because no man by humane learning should by the letter of the Scripture truly know what the Holy One of Israel is or was that God alone might have all the praise or glory in revealing himself unto mankinde 27 Christ Jesus the Holy One of Israel called himself by a threefold name in reference to a threefold maner of appearance to his elect Israelites 28 In his first appearance unto Moses and the Prophets he was pleased to manifest himself by the Divine Titles of Jehovah the mighty God of Jacob the Holy One of Israel and such like 29 When the God of Glory abased himself in flesh in the form of a servant answerable unto that second appearance unto his chosen ones you know he called himself Jesus the Son of God the son of man the Savior and such like 30 Jesus Christ the Holy One of Israel being ascended into the throne of his former glory now in his third and last appearance he is pleased to call himself by the names of holy Ghost or Spirit because of his immediate spiritual teaching of his redeemed ones 31 Or thus the onely God may be understood a spiritual Lion in the days of Moses and the Prophets a divine Lamb in the days of Christ and the Apostles a heavenly Dove in these our days of confused darkness 32 Or thus the Holy One of Israel may be described the eternal Jehovah in the Law the eternal Jesus in the Gospel the eternal Spirit in this age 33 And yet but one onely distinct personal Majesty even from eternity to eternity 34 Though the Lord of Life and Glory commanded his Apostles to Baptize those of the Faith in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost yet you know their miracles were done by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ 35 Whatever any literal monger shall object you that are spiritual may know that the Lord Jesus Christ and Father Son and Spirit beareth but one sence 36 Jesus Christ the Holy One of Israel called himself by a threefold name of Father Son and Spirit in relation unto his threefold witness on earth in the words following which are these and there are three which bear witness in the earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one CHAP. XX. 1 No title of honor ever attributed but to a Person 2 Who it was that Christ prayed unto in the days of his flesh 3 The Creator distinct from all his Creatures 4 Of Gods Oath concerning his Transmutation into pure flesh and bone MY spiritual brethren because all true and lasting peace wholly depends upon a right understanding of the onely wise God and because most of the heirs of glory are not clear in their understandings concerning his personal Majesty though much hath been declared to that purpose in this Epistle already I shall write distinctly concerning the Creator and his immediate commissionate Messengers or Embassadors from these two threefold Scripture Records 2 You know that in Scripture Records as beforesaid a man is called by a threefold name of Soul Body and Spirit as if he contained of three distinct essences yet you know that in the originality of nature he is but one distinct personal being 3 So likewise though the onely wise God in Scripture Records be called by a threefold name of Father Son and Spirit or Lord Jesus Christ as if he contained of three distinct essences yet you which are spiritual may know that he is but onely one distinct glorious person in form like a man 4 If an earthly Monarch did not possess a distinct body could there be ascribed any honorable titles of Emperor King or such like unto him at all 5 If the eternal Majesty were not a distinct person what holy names could be attributed unto him in the least 6 Is it names words or titles makes a King to be or gives being to an Emperor without a natural person 7 Is it divine words names or titles makes a God to be or gives being to a Divine Majesty without a spiritual person 8 Yow know that all the honorable titles in this world to be vain and of none effect if there were not the person of a man to ascribe them unto 9 You may know that all honorable titles concerning a divine Majesty would also be of none effect if there were not a spiritual person to attribute them unto or unless they were
A DIVINE Looking-Glass OR The third and last Testament of our Lord JESUS CHRIST Whose personal Residence is seated on his Throne of Eternal Glory in another world Being the Commission of the Spirit agreeing with and explaining of the two former Commissions of the Law and the Gospel differing onely in point of Worship Set forth for the Tryal of all sorts of supposed Spiritual Lights in the world until the Ever-living true JESUS the onely High and Mighty God personally appear in the Air with his Saints and Angels By John Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton Pen-men hereof and the last chosen Witnesses unto that Ever-blessed Body of Christ Jesus glorified to be the onely wise very true God alone Ever-lasting Father and Creator of both worlds and all that were made in them Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly to testifie and fulfil thy own promise in thy Records of Truth that thy redeemed ones may really know that thou hast seat us and art that unchangeable God which cannot possibly lie though millions of unredeemed mankinde thereby should everlastingly perish Printed in the year of our Lord 1656. and since reviewed by and reprinted for Lodowick Muggleton one of the said Witnesses dwelling in great Trinity-lane in London near â—he Sign of the Lyon and the Lamb where this Book is to be had 1661. To the spiritual discerning Reader MY beloved spiritual brethren in whom is rooted and really grounded the saving light of Life eternal I know that the manifold breakings forth of seeming glorious appearances in this Age can by no means be hid from your eyes Also you know that the true light of Life hath almost discovered them all to be nothing else but the very depth of mens serpentine subtilties cloaked over with the divine titles of the most infinite and holy God so that mens glittering language now is of no value unto you unless the holy Spirit beareth witness unto your spirits that the Lord hath spoken unto them from heaven neither can men blinde your eyes with their natural miracles artificial juglings sophistical signs and wonders to cause you ever the sooner for that to receive them as immediately sent forth by the ever-living God I say it is not lofty words of imaginary voices visions dreams revelations variety of languages declarations of the knowledge of the heights and depths of perishing nature pretended Jerusalem Journeys supposed seeing of spiritual Angels with eyes of natural flesh and familiar conversing with them and knowing the names of all the holy Angels in glory and every mans protecting Angel in this world or any such like carnal fancies can blinde your eyes any more which have received from above a distinguishing gift between the things of eternal life and death not onely from its effects but from its first causes also My selected brethren unto a pure light language and life from the very true God I certainly know that nothing in this world will satisfie your hungry souls but a right understanding of spiritual things which are eternal in that world to come therefore unto you alone which look not after gilded words but glorious things present I this Epistle from that Spirit which can neither deceive nor be deceived by men nor angels Wherefore if any sober man of a quick comprehension shall suppose that this Writing might have been composed into fewer words then is here inserted I hope he shall wisely consider that things of such concernment requires more words then ordinary not onely for informing and confirming of the simple Saints but also for confounding of the subtile Serpents of this Age. Moreover you that peruse this Epistle which are of an unjudging tender spirit may also know that before the eternal Spirit in Christ Jesus became my Minister I was very weak in the knowledge of learned mens Opinions their Disputes or Writings concerning heavenly things which are hid from them and revealed unto unlearned babes Therefore the chief desire of my soul is that it may be manifested unto elect men and Angels whether the substance of this Epistle proceeds from mine own carnal spirit or from the most pure and holy Spirit of God himself I mean that one personal glorious Majesty of our Lord Iesus Christ whose divine nature both is and shall be Crowns of immortal ravishing Excellencies in all his elect at the great and dreadful Day of eternal burning vengeance upon the souls and bodies of all bloody-minded impenitent Persecutors that ever were born John Reeve Another Epistle annexed to this Book My beloved spiritual Brethren who are or shall come to be really grounded in the true Doctrine which is held forth in the three Commissions namely the Commission of Moses and the Prophets 2 Of Christ Jesus and the Apostles 3 Of the Commission of the Spirit which Commission is now extant in the world though not accompanied with visible signs and natural miracles as the other two Commissions had in their time when their Commission was in being yet this I am sure that this Commission of the Spirit being the last Commission that God will ever send into this world while time is no more therefore it is that this Commission of the Spirit hath the onely interpretation of the two former Commissions for there is no man in the world at this day let him be of what Sect or Opinion soever that doth truly know any part of the Scriptures but this Commission of the Spirit onely notwithstanding they labor so much after the knowledge of them yet for wanâ— of a Commission from God they have no true understanding of any one principal or true ground of faith for all that they do of that nature is nothing else but the very strength of reason and reason can never truly know the deep things of eternity because there is no man in the world at this day that hath the knowledge of the true God his Form and Nature the right devil his form and nature but this Commission of the Spirit onely Therefore when God spake these words unto John Reeve saying I have given thee understanding of my minde in the Scriptures above all the men in the world Also God did say at the same time I have given thee Lodowick Muggleton to be thy mouth So that according to the words of God he hath given us two to understand more of his mind in the Scriptures then all the men in the world do at this day that is more spiritual knowledge of the Scriptures than all the men in the world because God hath chosen us two to be his last Commissionated Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit to declare and make known unto the Seed of Faith those great mysteries which have layen hid in the breast of God ever since the foundation of this world was laid and in the time of their Commission was in some measure made manifest unto the sons of men by some part of the mystery of God as those Commissions aforesaid namely Moses and Jesus But now
or glory at all and hell or misery must be essentially distinct from heaven or glory or else there can be no certain hell or misery at all 40 Moreover the glorious person of the divine Majesty himself must of necessity be essentially distinct from men angels heaven earth and all in them or elâ—e it were impossible that there should be any God or angels men or devils heaven or hell or any thing else besides but accidental things proceeding from those four elements of earth air water and fire as all filthy Atheists vainly and blindly imagine 41 But my beloved spiritual brethren you have not so learned Christ or received the truth of the ever-living Jesus into your innocent souls to abide in any such foolish darkness 42 Wherefore for your confirmation chiefly is this Epistle written that you may be enabled to discern the lying notions and fleshly voluntary wilâ—-worship in man contending against the secret decrees of the Holy One of Israel 43 Furthermoâ—e because many of the elect of God are as yet in bonds by the exceeding subtilty of many silver-roule merchants of this perishing world therefore I shall endeavor to confirm what is written from a cloâ—d of un-erring Witnesses my spiritual Brethren the foâ—mer true Prophets and Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ wherefore it was saiâ— by our God which is Christ Jesus the Lord that heaven and eaâ—th shall pass away but his words shall not pass away 44 Again it is written That he made all things for his own glory and the wicked for the day of wrath Also it is written That Jacob was loved and Esau was hated before they had done good or evil that the purpose of God might remain according to election For he saith to Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and will have compassion on whom I will have compassion So then it is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Further it is written But O man who art thou which pleadest against God shall the thing formed say to him that formed it whâ— hast thou made me thus hath not the Potter power over the clay to make of the same lamp one vessel to honour and another to dishonour what if God would to shew his wrath and to make his power known suffer with long paâ—ience the vessels of wrath prepared to destruction and that he might declare the riches of his glory upon the vessels of mercy which he hath pâ—epared unto glory Rom 9. And in Rom. 8. it is thus written Also we know that all things work togeâ—her for the bâ—st unto them that love God even to them that are called of his purpose for those which he knew before he also predestinated to be made lâ—ke to the image of his Son moreovâ—r whom he predestinated thâ—m also he called and whom he called them also he justified and whom he justified them also he glorified Again in the first Epistle of Peter it is thus written Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone elect and precious and he that believeth therein shall not be ashamed unto you therefore which believe it is precious but unto them that be disobedient the stone which the builders dâ—salowed the same is made the head of the corner and a stone to stumble at and a rock of offence even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient unto the which thing they were even ordained But ye are a chosen Generation a royal Friesthood an holy Nation a People set at liberty that ye should shew forth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous lâ—ght Moreover in the Epistle of Jude are these word For there are certain men crept in whâ—ch were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men they are whiâ—h turn the grace of God into wantoness and deny God the onely Lord and our Lâ—rd Jesus Christ they are the raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame they are wandring stars â—o whâ—m is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever Again For if God spared not the angels that had sinned but cast them down to hell and delâ—vered them into chains of darkness to be kept unto dâ—mâ—ation what will become of all those angâ—lical fleshly hypocrâ—tes which bless themselves in their unrighteousness and cursedly contend for it even against the holy God elect men and angels and their own consciences which will become their eternal chief Accomptant in the great day 45 Again as a conclusion unto what is written aforesaid I shall write something concerning the Scriptures themselves 46 My spiritual brethren can you possibly think that those men as yet have received the spiritual truth of the true God which idolize the visible Records and worship them in stead of that holy Spirit in our Lord Jesus Christ which spake them 47 Again did ever any man attain to a true understanding of that Holy One of Israel by any endeavor whatsoever from the bare letter of the Scripture 48 It is written The letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life Again it is written That the Scriptures are sufficient to make the man of God wise unto salvation 49 My brethren can any man be a godly man or a man of God unless he hath the spiritual light of life eternal to enable him to understand the minde of God in the Records and so believe unto immortality CHAP. VI. 1 Of the Scripture Records 2 Of the ignorance of men that deifie or villifie them 3 The Prophets Prayer in the conâ—lusion IS there any testimony in Scâ—iptures that ever any man of God received the true faith of the spiritual Jesus in him from the letter of the Scripture or could possibly know whether those literal Records proceeded from the wisdom of God or from the wisdom of prudent men onely unless he were inspired from that spirit which spake them In the third of the Galatians it is thus written O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth This onely would I learn of you Received ye the spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of faith preached Are ye so foolish that after ye have begun in the spirit ye would now be made perfect by the flesh 2 My spiritual brethren is it not a work of the flesh in man which studies day and night in the letter of the Scripture to finde out the spirit of God in the letter 3 Is it not a work of the flesh in man which labours to reconcile Scriptures of seeming contradiction without a divine gift of the spirit 4 Is not that man in the depth of spiritual darkness which perswadeth his hearers that the Scriptures are easie and plain in the very letter of them unto that mans reason that is laborious to know them 5 Are not the Scriptures all matters of faith and very misterious for
the most part how then can any man comprehend spiritual misteries which are eternal by his natural perishing reason 6 Is not the most piercingst reason in man onely natural And can that which is natural comprehend that which is spiritual 7 Are they not as contrary as fire and water or as light and darkness How then can any man by his natural reason understand any thing that is spiritual It is written But the natural man perceiveth not the things of God because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual discerneth all things yet he himself is judged of no man Again is is written Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are given to us of God which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual 8 My beloved brethren you may see that the Apostles came not to understand spiritual things by their study in the writings of Moses and the Prophets but by a gift from the Holy Ghost they were enabled in a great measure to comprehend the invisible things of God which they should enjoy in the resurrection of the just 9 Moreover you know that the Apostle Paul before his conversion was a very able man in the letter of Moses and the Prophets yea and according to the letter blameless in his conversation yet for all that in zeal towards an unknown God he persecuted the spirit of that letter through ignorance of that second man which was the Lord from heaven 10 T is truth that when the Apostles preached the spiritual things of eternity they alluded unto Moses and the true Prophets because some of those mysteries were fore-prophesied of by them but yet you may see that they were not instructed in those heavenly things by vertue of their prophetical letter but as beforesaid by inspiration from the holy spirit onely 11 Thus you that are spiritual may clearly see that no man by his natural reason and study in the letter of the Scripture can ever be established in the truth of those glorious things unto which the letter beareth record unless he hath received a spiritual gift from that glorious God that moved holy men of old to speak and write those Records of Truth 12 Therefore you may be confident that those men which ignorantly call the Letter Spirit as yet they are not acquainted with those spiritual teachings of the things of God which many of his elect do enjoy that cannot read one letter in the Bible his divine Secrets are treasured up for the simple and the subtile learned Rationists are sent empty away 13 My beloved spiritual brethren in the glorious things of eternity though men seemingly appear never so innocent in their way is it probable think you that those men are immediately moved to speak unto the people by the spirit of God that slight all the Scripture Records as a thing of nought 14 I humbly beseech you that are sober can any man of what tongue or language soever speak or write a better or as good a language as the Scriptures are and not speak Scripture words or prove it was not the glorious God that moved the holy men of old to speak or write these Scripture records 15 Again if the most desperatest man living which saith in his heart there is no God shall commit murder or the like and should scape the vengeance of mans Laws for a season yet he cannot possibly prevent the voice of that spiritual Law within crying for vengeance from that Law without him answerable to that within him 16 Moreover though natural wise men as a nose of wax produce those Records to bear testimony unto all error whatsoever yet you that are spiritual may know that the Scriptures themselves are words of pure truth not having the least error in them but error proceeds onely from that serpentine devil in men which take upon them to interpret the Scriptures without a spiritual gift 17 Can any man that hath the spiritual power of the Scriptures in him be offended with those Records which are witnesses of his innocent life in the faces of those carnal hypocrites which for love of silver or honor prate of them onely but secretly hâ—te all obedience to them 18 Are not the literal Records a demonstration of the minde of the holy spirit unto the chosen of God which have the light of life in some measure to comprehend them 19 Moreover are not the teâ—chings of the blessed spirit more abundantly consolate to him if those heavenly breathings in him be harmonious with the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ without him 20 Can any man therefore which expects that eternal glory unto which these Scriptures above all the writings in the world bear record possibly despise the letter and yet love that Spirit from whence it came 21 Again give me leave to make one comparison in reference to this matter Suppose two friends that loved each other as their own souls had their personal residence in several kingdoms and one of them as a testimony of his real love before he passed away left behinde him a Book containing variety of sweet expressions of friendship unto the other until he come again if that man in the absence of his friend should burn that Book to ashes in stead of embracing it is that any sign of love in him to his friend afar off 22 Wherefore can any sober man imagine or think from any ground of truth that the eternal spirit of the true Jesus upon any account did ever command any man to burn those Records which are a Remonstrance of the wonderful spiritual transactions of the most high and holy God since the world began yea before this world was 23 O Lord God of heavenly order and not of earthly confusion even for the glory of thy dreadful names sake deliver thy redeemed ones not onely from exalting the literal Scriptures above the holy Spirit which spake them but also from disputing against the mysteriousness of them 24 Then no kinde of natural witchcrafts which bear the name of spiritual power shall have dominion over them for ever but they shall patiently wait for their change by a peaceable death or being swallowed up of life through the appearing of our onely God and Savior in the air with his mighty Angels to reward every man according to his works 25 Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly and make it manifest in the sight of men and angels whether thou hast sent us as we have declared or no. CHAP. VII 1 Of the creation of the Firmament Sun Moon and Stars 2 Of the Earth in the deep waters 3 The meaning of the word Create 4 Why the deep waters are eternal 5 By what the Firmament was formed 6 How the Sun Moon and Stars came 7 Of the distinct and fixed bodies of the Sun
who shall change our vile bodies that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself And to you which are troubled rest with us When the Lord Jesus shall shew himself from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance unto them that do not know God and which obey not unto the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ which shall be punished with everlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power 2 Thes 1. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the Archangel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first then shall we which live and remain be caught up with them also in the clouds iâ— meet the Lord in the air and so shall we be ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4.16 17. For therefore we labor and are rebuked because we trust in the lâ—ving God which is the Savior of all men especially of those that believe 1 Tim. 4.10 We know that we are of God and this whole world lieth in wickedness but we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us a minde to know him which is true and we are in him that is true that is in that his Son Iesus Christ the same is that very God and that eternal life 1 John 5.19 20. Now unto him that is able to keep you that you fall not and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with joy that is To God onely wise our Savior be glory and majesty and dominion and power both now and for ever Amen Jude 25.26 18 Remember the golden positive Rule and none can deceive you concerning the one glorious personal God-Man blessed for ever This is a true saying and by all means worthy to be received that Christ Iesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief notwithstanding for this cause was I received to mercy that Iesus Christ should first shew on me all long-suffering unto the example of them which shall in time to come believe in him unto eternal life Now unto the King Everlasting Immortal Invisible unto God oâ—ely wise be honor and glory for ever and ever Amen 1 Tim. 1.15 16 17. 19 My spiritual brethren if you take good noâ—ice of this place of Scripture you may plainly see that the Apostle Paul owneth no other God Father or eternal Spirit but that one personal Majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ in immortality There is one Lord one Faith one Baptism one God and Father of all which is above all and through all and in you all But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Wherefore he saith When he ascended up on high he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men Now in that he ascended what is it but that he also descended first into the lowest parts of the earth He that descended is even the same that ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things 20 My beloved spiritual brethren which are appointed unto an immortal personal glory you may see that the Lord Jesus Christ is that Holy One of Israel which first descended from his throne of infinite God-head glory into the lower parts of the virgin earth and so became a body of pure flesh of her seed and by vertue of his divine power in that very body of flesh and bone he descended into the lowest part of the earth death hell or the grave for a moment not onely for improving the power of his God-head life entring into death and in that very body of flesh quickening and reviving a new and glorious life again and as a flame of fire naturally ascending and immortalizing that body of flesh and bone with a Fathers Throne of transcendent Excellencies but also for destroying of the power of sin and fear of eternal death in all his new born elect trees unto eternal life CHAP. X. 1 Of persecution of Conscience 2 Of the sin against the Holy Ghost MY beloved brethren by immediate inspiration from that Holy One of Israel in the next place I shall clearly demonstrate unto the heirs of glory the confused darkness of two or three sorts of men concerning the knowledge of the onely very true God the which confusion riseth in them through their mis-understanding of the true grounds of certain Scriptures as namely these God is a Spirit and a Spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have But more especially these Trinitary expressions Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Ghost Mat. 28.19 For there are three which bear record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one 1 John 5.7 2 The first sort of deceived persons past or present which affirm the Holy One of Israel to consist of three persons were Athanasins Socinus alias Iohn Biddle and their literal adherents 3 My brethren I do not say they can help this their darkness or blame them for this their error for alas poor simple or over-wise men to their imaginary understandings it is a pure truth and those which are contrary minded to them in darkness 4 Therefore who ever are left to persecute their persons for their judgements sake onely it would have been better for those men that they had never been born if they acknowledge a Christ 5 Take this for an infallible Rule those that persecute a man for error in judgement concerning his God will as soon persecute him for the truth of Christ as for a lie 6 Let no persecutor flatter himself that he may repent and find mercy as well as Paul because Paul acknowledged no Jesus at all when he persecuted his Saints therefore you know how he pleads Gods mercy towards him in that he did it ignorantly 7 Moreover how deeply did he pledge that cup of persecution upon his own body for the Truths sake all his dayes which instrumentally for Christs sake he had caused others to drink 8 Again before I go forward concerning the point in hand it will be necessary for me to shew you who those persecutors are which commit that unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost 9 My spiritual brethren if a Turk do persecute a man that professeth himself to be a Christian for despising of his Mahomet or if a man called a Christian should persecute an Infidel for despising the Lord Jesus Christ this persecuting each other is pardonable though not justifiable in their consciences when they shall understand the truth of leaving all vengeance in spiritual things unto God himself 10 But on the contrary suppose two men shall acknowledge that the man Christ Jesus glorified is the Son of God spoken of in the Scriptures both of them affirming that all their hopes of eternal
salvation onely depends upon him if these men for difference in judgement onely concerning this Jesus shall persecute each other before a Magistrate or the like there remains no more sacrifice for that sin 11 For that is the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit because they persecuted each other for his sake which they both confessed to be their God and Savior even to their own knowledge 12 And in so doing they condemned their own faith and to the utmost of their power they crucified the Lord of glory afresh and put him to an open shame even before his filthy scoffing enemies 13 Again if a man shall come in the holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and shall declare many heavenly secrets which he hath received from the throne of glory 14 If men which confess the same Jesus because the things declared are contrary to their ways and hard sayings to their comprehensions shall therefore condemn them as delusions and blasphemies and the spirit which spake them to be of the devil in so doing they have fallen under that sin of eternal condemnation because as aforesaid they have crucified the Lord of Glory afresh and put him to an open shame and have judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life and have denied their own faith and hopes in him thorow their despising that holy spirit which seals men up unto the day of redemption 15 My beloved brethren though any one beloved Dalilah reigning in men unto the death tendeth to eternal condemnation yet there are no actual sins whatsoever but are pardonable unless men commit them upon the account aforesaid 16 My spiritual brethren there is a vast difference between the heirs of glory and the vessels of shame concerning this sin 17 The holy spirit of Christ Jesus hath endued his elect with such a measure of light though most of them know it not that by vertue of that holy fire they are not onely preserved from that condemning evil but are rather fearful they have or shall commit it 18 But on the contrary the desperate reprobate is so far from any kinde of fear in him concerning the committing of that cast-away sin that when occasion is offered he glorieth in it as the acceptable sacrifice unto his God and yet knows it not 19 Thus briefly I have touched upon the unpardonable sin against the holy spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ whose very saying onely makes a sin pardonable or unpardonable because he is Truth it self and cannot possibly lie Verily I say unto you all sins shall be forgiven unto the children of men and blasphemies wherewith they blaspheme but he that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost shall never have forgiveness but is culpable of eternal damnation because they said he had an unclean spirit Mark 3.28 29 30. You blessed ones know who it was that spake those words CHAP. XI 1 Of the true nature of Infiniteness 2 Wherein it lyeth viz. in the not knowing its beginning or ending 3 Infiniteness and Finiteness are uncapable of equal glory 4 Against all true reason that there should be three persons in the Trinity 5 Christ and the Father one undivided God-head 6 Denying Christ to be the onely God is Antichrist 7 How Prayers are heard IN the next place from the Holy One of Israel I shall demonstrate the absurdity of that error of Trinity of Persons in the unity of God-head 2 My beloved spiritual brethren if the divine Majesty should contain of three distict persons in coequal God-head glory and each person be uncreated and eternal of it self then in stead of those Names of Father Son and Holy Ghost they would of necessity be three Fathers onely 3 Because you know that if the person of a Son or Holy Ghost were created or begotten or proceeded from a Father then it is contrary to all sober sense or reason that the persons of Son and Holy Ghost should either be co-equal with the Father or eternal of themselves 4 Moreover if the persons of Son and Holy Ghost proceeded from the Father then they are but finite created glories and in degree lower than the Father 5 You that are spiritual know that that which received its beginning from another could not possibly be made equal with that which was eternal of it self 6 Uncreated incomprehensible infiniteness was capable to transmute it self into a lower condition for its own transcendent advantage in the spirits of his elect but it was utterly impossible for him to create infinite incomprehensible beings to become coequal in Godhead wisdom power and glory with himself 7 Uncreated glory is so unutterably infinite that it is uncapable to comprehend the height length breadth or depth of its own eternal excellencies 8 If this saying seem strange unto any man as to cause him to think it ridiculous or dishonorable to the Creators glory unto that man I positively affirm from the spirit of Truth that it is so far from any kinde of dishonor unto the divine Majesty that on the contrary all the variety of spiritual joys or heavenly pleasures for himself or elect-men and angels consists onely in his perfect understanding that he cannot possibly know any beginning or ending of his glorious excellencies 9 To know the beginning or ending of it self you know causeth nothing but sorrows rather then joys 10 So likewise on the contrary not to know any beginning or ending of it self must needs occasion nothing else but ravishing everlasting joyes 11 Thus you which are spiritual may clearly see the falacy of the three persons and one God spoken of in Athanasius Creed you know that infiniteness and finiteness are uncapable of equal glory 12 Also you know that if there should have been three persons eternally of themselves there could not possibly have been any Son or Holy Ghost at all because a Son or Holy Ghost proceeds from a Father and not as beforesaid from themselves 13 Moreover you may understand that if it stood to any true faith or sober reason that there were three persons eternally of themselves yet they of necessity must be three Fathers onely and so agreeing together two of those Fathers must be transmuted into a Son and Holy Ghost by the other Father or from themselves to make up this confused Trinity proceeding from the Literal-mongers of this vain-glorious perishing world or conscientious non-commissionated men which would compel Words to become Persons having no positive record to prove any such three persons throughout the whole Scriptures but the contrary altogether My glory I will not give to another saith the Holy One of Israel Jehovah our ever-living Iesus God onely wise blessed for ever and ever honored onely from his elect men and angels 14 My spiritual brethren you know that the Lord Jesus Christ hath not onely the God-head Titles in Scripture records but also all the glory from men and angels was attributed unto him in the body of his flesh And let all the angels of God worship him Heb. 1. To
then most men 3 Usually they will talk of one pure being within all men onely also if they branch forth this their pretended God unto their deceived hearers you shall hear them utter these or such like expressions Brethren be not so carnally minded as to think of a God in the form of a man sitting in a Heaven above the Stars but minde that spiritnal God in the invisible Heaven of your hearts Again they will say that spirit of the Father within you is that God of love beauty vertue with all variety of glorious perfections whatsoever if you were but once acquainted with it wherefore if fears of eternal damnation seize upon you they are apt to say it ariseth from your ignorant conceivings of a God and a Heaven at a distance Again for mannaging of this their sophistry that their deceit might not be perceived they will treat upon these and such like Scriptures Christ in you the hope of Glory know ye not that Christ is in you except ye be reprobates as he is so are we in this present world the Kingdom of Heaven is within you at that day shall ye know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you that they all may be one as thou O Father art in me and I in thee Even that they may be also one in us he that is born of God sinneth not 4 Thus they wrest these literal Scriptures to hide their fleshly glory and subtile Hypocrifie that their eternal vengeance may exceed all mens in this age at the visible appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ with his mighty Angels 5 You that are endued with a gift of spiritual distinguishing between perishing glittering words and glorious things which are eternal if you observe these sorts of golden sophisters you shall finde that whatever scripture they treat upon they carry it in an allegorical notional mistery of nothing but meer empty words onely As for example if they speak of the persons of Cain and Abel or of the persons of the bond-woman and her son and the free-woman and her son they will bid you look within you and you may see them all there in seeming contrariety onely 6 Again if you observe these men you shall seldom or ever hear them speak of any thing after this life but they will tell you of a death and resurrection of man in this life but as concerning this mortal soul and body of ours entring into the grave or death and quickning again a new and glorious life by raysing this mortal body into a glorified condition in the visible sight of it self and presence of a personal God elect men and Angels in a kingdom of eternal glory these are riddles or uncertain things at a great distance 7 It is not a God or Christ or throne of eternal glory above the Stars which no mortal man can make visible unto mens eyes that will cloth men in plush-Jackets and feed their bodies with dainty delicacies no no the infallible truth concerning a bodily resurrection of a purified spirit unto eternal Glory and a personal appearing of an impurified soul unto everlasting shame will yeeld no such Peacocks feathers nor Dives dishes as those are the Apostles and those of the same faith with them will one day personally appear again to bear record unto this truth 8 My brethren what difference is there between those men which glory of a God Christ Heaven Word Ordinances and Salvation without them and are ignorant of the teachings of the Holy Spirit within them and those men which glory of all these heavenly things within them and yet are ignorant of that glorious personal Majesty and Throne of immortallity without them 9 Are not these men those hypocritical Pharisees and Atheistical Sadducees which indeavored to cover their nakedness with inward and outward leaves of rational words onely 10 Do not all men which confess a Creator conclude that his spirit is infinite immortal unchangeable and eternal 11 Doth not every man possess a distinct living spirit in his own body 12 Is not every man a sinner and subject to all manner of loathsome diseases of mortallity 13 Wherefore if this one pure spirit of God himself was dwelling in the body of any mortal man whatsoever is it possible think you that that man could be desirous after carnal copulation or subject unto any kind of putrifaction whatsoever 14 Who art thou then poor vain perishing clay which boasteth of possessing of a most holy immortal spirit within thee and yet canst not enjoy any life of peace in the least without a continual supply of fleshly carnalities without thee 15 Again art thou capable of possessing an infinite eternal spirit which art but a finite piece of fading dust 16 Art thou so vain in thy imagination as to think that such a changeable piece of confusion as thou art can possibly be capable to bear about thee that bright burning glorious spirit of the unchangeable God whose glory is above all heavens at whose power of a word speaking all kinde of lights within this Creation are immediately subject to enter into silent darkness as if they had never had any being 17 Again is not the glorious body of Jesus Christ in the Throne of the Father the eternal Son of God 18 And is not all the divine Godhead of the everlasting Father living and raigning in him bodily 19 And is this spirit any more then one spirit united unto that one body of glorious flesh and bone of our Lord Jesus Christ 20 And is not all the treasures of wisdom hid in this Jesus onely and is it not from his fulness that we all receive grace for grace 21 If we have any true light at all ruling in us if this be truth which none can deny but notional Atheists or bloody minded Formallists what art thou then but that outcast angellical Reprobate which doth not onely divide the Godhead spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord but impudently affirmest that thou and all of thy opinion do possess the very Godhead spirit within you 22 And not onely so but like a Devil incarnat as thou art thou cursest those that discovereth this thy horrible blasphemy 23 Again thou which carriest thy God about thee where ever thou art when thou hast breathed out thy sinful Soul and all thy light or life into silent dust or death where then is thy inward God and self become 24 But it may be thou wilt reply and say thy soul is immortal and cannot die to this lying conceit of thine I answer by way of Quere 25 Dost thou indeed believe any truth in Scripture Records 26 If thou reply thou doest then my Qâ—ere is this whether thou thinkest that the soul of Christ when he was in a body of flesh on this earth were not as immortal as any other mans is or rather immortal alone and all others mortal besides him 27 Well then if I prove that the soul of Christ died and
of flesh blood and bone from eternity 22 Neither would I willingly have any of the blessed of the Lord to be so grosly ignorant as to think that the glorious Creator could possibly be a spiritual living substance without a body or person 23 If Christ Jesus and the Father from all eternity were but one distinct person some men may say unto me What might the form of his uncreated Majesty be before he became flesh from the light of life eternal 24 To this I answer His divine form did not consist of natural Earth Air Water or Fire in the least but is was a bright burning fiery glory of uncompounded purities continually satisfying it self with variety of divine excellencies 25 Though the spiritual person of the Holy One of Israel was from eternity so transcendently glorious that no Elements could possibly contain him without being immediately consumed to ashes yet he was absolutely from the crown of his glorious head to the soles of his divine feet in form like unto the first man Adam 26 You that possess the heavenly truth in you may know the divine form of Jesus Christ the everlasting Father was of so pure thin or light nature that as beforesaid it was swifter then thought clearer then Cristal infinitely more glorious then the Sun purer then the purest gold or any thing more precious 27 So that when the eternal spirit moved him to enter into the Virgins Womb it being swifter then thought and its body being of its own nature he was in her womb before she was aware of it onely by a wonderful change in her soul she felt him converting his Godhead glory into flesh blood and bone according to his promise by the Angel Gabriel this was that wonderful mystery of God the everlasting Father which manifested himself in a body of flesh at which most men and women stumble and perish 28 Is any thing impossible for God to do when his divine glory moves him to it 29 Moreover is not the infinite power wisdom or glory of the everliving God most of all seen by men or Angels in the lowest abasing himself 30 Do not all men which confess a Creator conclude that his holy spirit is infinitely full of all divine qualifications whatsoever and is the incomprehensible Spirit of the Holy One of Israel any thing at all without its glorious vertues 31 Is it possible think you that this eternal spirit could be sensible of its heavenly glories without a distinct body of its own to enjoy them in If this be truth the which none can gainsay but senceless sots or simple saints then with controversie Christ Jesus and the Father was eternally but onely one spiritual body in form like a man 32 Is there any created being whether sensible or insensible either in Heaven or in Earth that possesseth any kind of spiritual or natural motion heat light life joy or glory in the least without a distinct body of its own suitable to its present condition 33 Hath the most wise Creator so ordered every living being that all the joy they possess is in their own bodies chiefly distinct from one another and that each others joy is nothing at all to one another unless they be both sensible of the same 34 Can any sober man be so sensless as to imagine or think that the glorious Creator of all spiritual and natural order can possibly be any thing at all without a distinct body of its own as abundantly beforesaid 35 Are not all infinite creatures a meer Chaos of sensless matter until they are formed into distinct beings of themselves and have names given them by God and man according to their natures and are they any thing at all until they become living spirits in compleat bodies of their own as aforesaid 36 This being known to be as true as truth it self can it possibly be that he that gave beings to all things should not be something that is infinite also or a distinct glorious body having variety of holy Names attributed to him according to his divine nature for the exaltation of his infinite Majestical Person above all Heavens Angels and men CHAP. XIX 1 Of the true spiritual Trinity in Vnity 2 Of the one personal divine Majesty 3 No Scripture mentioneth God to be three persons onely one God and one person 4 Why God called himself by a three-fold name IN the next place I shall treat of that divine Trinity in Unity of the Holy One of Israel 2 You may remember I have already elsewhere in this Epistle clearly demonstrated the horrible fallacy and absurdity of that old error of three distinct persons or spirits and but one God from these words For there are three that bear record in Heaven the Father Son and Holy Ghost and these three are one 3 My spiritual and literal brethren also that have any desire in you to know the truth take special notice of this thing there is not one positive record in Scripture that affirmeth the God of Heaven and Earth to consist of three persons 4 Was not the eternal Jehovah called the Holy One of Israel in the Law 5 Was not the eternal Jesus called the Holy One in the Saints time of the Gospel 6 Is not Jesus called a consuming fire in the Gospel as well as Jehovah in the Law 7 Hath not Jesus attributed unto him the Titles of a Creator Ancient of Days Everlasting Father Mighty God or Redeemer and such like as well as Jehovah 8 Was not all divine honor glory praise might or dominion by men and angels in as full a maner ascribed unto Jesus as Jehevah 9 Doth not the Scripture say that the Holy One of Israel will not give his glory to another and yet you know Christ Jesus had all glory from men and Angels given unto him who then is that eternal Jehovah but the everlasting Jesus and what is that eternal Jesus but the everlasting Jehovah 10 Before the eternal Jehovah became Jesus in flesh was not his invisible Spirit the everlasting Father 11 Was not that fiery glorious body wherein God the Father had his heavenly habitation that eternal Son of God 12 Was not the Holy Ghost that Almighty Word that proceeded through his heavenly mouth when his holy Spirit mov'd him to speak 13 Is not this Trinity in Unity or Unity in Trinity more agreeable to the Holy One of Israel then any other Trinity whatsoever unto all men which acknowledge but one eternal Being 14 What difference is there between the holy Names of Father Son and Spirit and Lord Jesus Christ was it any thing else but one and the same Godhead person in a three-fold condition appearing unto men 15 Again if need be will not the Names of Father and Lord bear one sense The names of Son and Jesus signifie one thing and may not the Titles of Christ and Spirit be of one signification also 16 Doth not the word Lord signifie divine protection and doth not the
a signification of the divine nature and form of a something that is infinite 10 It is as clear as the purest light it self unto you that are experimentally spiritual that it is not names words or titles proves God or Man to be any living beings at all except they be distinct persons to manifest their honorable names as proceeding from comprehensible somethings and not from incomprehensible nothings 11 If the God of Glory in Scripture Records should be called not onely by three divine titles but by threescore thousand holy names also yet all the men in this world or Angels in that world to come can never prove him to be an infinite spirit without a body or prove him to be any more then onely one distinct glorious person also 12 You heavenly ones may also know that the divine Majesty is called in Scripture Records by three divine titles that as beforesaid that the most learned prudent men in this world might never attain to a right understanding of the very true God and the spiritual mysteries of his everlasting kingdom by all their rational study in the Scripture Records or any other ways and that was the very cause that the Lord Jesus Christ said unto his own spiritual power represented by Angelical Moses and Elias I thank thee Father that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes and sucklings 13. Concerning that threefold title of Father Son and Holy Ghost in stead of three persons as of long time by blinde guides have been imagined doth it not rather stand to better sence that the word Father hath reference unto the Godhead Spirit eternally united unto Christ Jesus our Lord. 14 And that the word Son hath relation unto the glorious body of the everliving Emanuel which is visibly seen by elect Angels Moses and Elias 15 And that word Holy Ghost hath reference unto a divine word of light life or power proceeding from the invisible Father through the glorious mouth of the visible Son into the invisible spirits of elect mankind to the inlightning of their dark understandings and purifying of their fleshly mindes 16 Thus you which are truly enlightned from above may clearly see what that threefold heavenly Record signifieth of that onely distinct personal Majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ God alone blessed for ever and ever Amen 17 It is also as clear to you that are spiritual as the light it self that the holy one of Israel could not possibly be three distinct persons or spirits in one Godhead being or any such like confused deities 18 You know that wheresoever the Scriptures exactly make mention of the Holy One of Israel it attributes all honor praise and glory unto him always in the fingular number as unto one distinct personal Majesty or glorious being and not in the plural number of three distinct persons or spirits in one body as hath been long imagined by deceivers of the whole Christian world so called which are in bondage to their confused God and invented formalities 19 You know that in the conclusion of many several things the Scriptures run in such a line as this to the onely wise God or unto God onely wise or though there be that are called many Gods or many Lords yet unto us there is but one God or the holy one of Israel and such like 20 You know because there is none above a King or head Magistrate in his own kingdom or equal with him upon an extraordinary occasion he will swear by himself or by the faith or word of a King 21 Thus it was with that Holy One of Israel because there was none above him or beside him or equal with him in Heaven or Earth he swore by himself concerning the transmutation of his uncreated glory and everlasting spiritual Priesthood into a pure body of flesh blood and bone 22 Before the God of Glory was descended into the Virgins Womb you know he had many holy names attributed unto him wherefore you may also know from all eternity he was a distinct divine person and not an infinite formless spirit as most men blindly imagine 23 You spiritual ones may also know before he was clothed with flesh it is not the holy names of Creator infinite Spirit Jehovah Ancient of dayes mighty God Lord of Hosts Redeemer Holy One of Israel King of Glory or everlasting Father or any glorious expressions that can be uttered by the tongues of men or Angels that can prove any God at all except he was a divine person distinct from Heavens Earth Waters Angels Men and all things else 24 That the one personal infinite Majesty may remain in the heavenly center of his own uncreated glory and all beings that he hath formed to live in his sight may continue in their own creaturely stations for an everlasting distinction between the glorious Creator and poor changeable creatures 25 Thus by a free gift received from the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the Throne of Glory in simplicity of spirit and plainness of speech in a small measure I have declared the minde of the Holy One of Israel in those literal expressions for there are three which bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one CHAP. XXI Of a threefold Record of natural witnesses proceeding from the blessed person of Christ at his death I Shall write a little of a threefold Record in that most pure natural body of Christ when he was on this earth in relation unto the threefold record of his spiritual body in the invisible heavens before said in the 53. of Isaiah it is written He poured forth or out his soul unto death and in the 19 Chap. by S. John you may finde it thus written but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side and forthwith came there blood and water here you that are spiritually discerning may clearly see a threefold Record of natural witnesses proceeding from that blessed person of our onely God and Savior at his voluntary death 2 As namely blood water and spirit wherefore his most precious soul pouring forth it self unto death that was the witness of the death of the everlasting Father in flesh 3 The issuing forth of the unvaluable blood that was the witness of the death of the eternal Son in flesh 4 The flowing forth of the water that was the witness of the death of the erernal spirit in flesh on earth 5 These sayings are not onely hard but intollerable to be born by cursed Oanaanites which understand nothing truly of the power of an infinite Majesty 6 Nevertheless unto you which are made to understand the deep and hidden mysteries of the most wise and powerful Creator doth not this answer these Scriptures sayings 7 I and the Father are one and from Jesus Christ which is that faithful witness and that first begotten of the dead and that Prince of the Kings of the
earth unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood will pour clean water upon them and they shall be clean he died in the flesh and quickned in the spirit 8 Thus you that are truly enlightned from on high may see a little into that wonderful mystery of the onely wise God imanifesting it self in earth answerable unto his threefold Record in the Heavens beforesaid 9 Three glorious words names titles or distinctions in reference unto one divine person onely in a threefold manifestation of his spiritual glory unto elect men and Angels CHAP. XXII 1 Of the three Witnesses on earth 2 Of Spirit Water and Blood 3 The three Records on earth are the three Commissions 4 What the Commissions are SEeing all spiritual power and wisdom in Heaven above or in Earth beneath is no where to be found nor never was but onely within the divine Ark or spiritual person of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 In the next place by his own light in some measure I shall remonstrate unto you that are capable what is the meaning of those three witnesses of Water Blood and Spirit in Earth which agree in one unto which the foregoing words have relation of Father Son and Spirit which are but one 3 My spiritual brethren are not those three witnesses in earth the commissionated messengers which by voice or words through the glorious mouth of God himself were sent forth unto an unbelieving bloody worldly minded people for a witness unto them to this purpose at the unexpected dreadful day of the Lord Jesus Christ 4 Doth not that water witness in earth signifie Moses and the true Prophets under the Law in reference unto the holy name of God the everlasting Father 5 Doth not the witness of the blood in earth signifie Jesus and the chosen Apostles in relation of that heavenly name of God the eternal Son 6 Doth not that witness of Holy Ghost in earth signifie those two witnesses in the 11. of the Revelations 7 As Water Blood and Spirit mixt together are in a sweet harmony in the body of a man in perfect health and through a defect of either of them the body could not subsist 8 So likewise it is with those witnesses of God in earth called Spirit Water and Blood for these three sweetly unite bearing witness unto but one onely wise distinct personal God glorified 9 Therefore they agree in one heavenly harmony and cannot possibly be one without the other not onely because they proceeded from one glorious spirit but also because they three onely by the secret wisdom of the Eternal Majesty were chosen to bear witness in earth before men and Angels unto that threefold Record in Heaven of Father Son and Holy Ghost aforesaid 10 But some men may say unto me the Law and Gospel being witnessed unto by the Prophets and Apostles already what need is there of this third witness of the spirit in earth or what doth it bear Record unto 11 From a divine gift to this I answer In many respects there is as much use of the witness of the spirit in this Atheistical age as of the two former witnesses of Water and Blood 12 To fulfil the Scriptures which saith heaven and earth shall pass away but his word shall not pass away or not one title of his word shall be unfulfilled 13 How should Christ Jesus the Lord of Glory be known to be the onely God of truth if there were not at one time or another a third witness in earth to fulfil the Scripture for there are three that bear witness in earth 14 Another necessity of this third witness of the spirit is this because you may know that there hath not been above these thousand years a commissionated messenger sent forth by the eternal Spirit to bear witness unto that truth which the two former witnesses sealed too with their bloods 15 Another necessity of the witness of the spirit is this because of late and at present so many several Antichristian spirits are come forth into the world in their own names and from the power of their own strong imaginations and cunning cursed observations have acted many visible lying signs and wonders upon their own bodies and other ways to the ruining of many a poor deceived soul in body minde and personal estate all of them pretending when those fleshly fits comes upon them that it is the power of the eternal Spirit immediately moving them CHAP XXIII 1 Of several empty opinions concerning the Two Witnesses in the eleventh of the Revelation 2 What they are 3 No true witness without a voice from Heaven 4 Who are the two last Spiritual Witnesses IN the next place I shall write somewhat of mens empty opinions concerning the two witnesses in the Revelation for your better understanding of the insuing truth some men have imagined them to be the spirit of Christ and the flesh of Christ 2 Now you may know that cannot be because the spirit and body of Christ were both glorified together in the highest Heavens long before John prophesied of the two Witnesses standing before the God of the whole earth amongst the sons of men 3 Others there are that would have them to be the literal Law and Gospel now you that are spiritual may also know that cannot be the Witnesses here spoken of because without a true Interpreter the Scripture in it self is but a killing letter 4 You know that the invisible truth of the Scriptures proceed onely from a true light received from the spiritual person of Christ Jesus our Lord in the throne of immortal glory 5 You know that from the bare records it is impossible to attain to the knowledge of the onely very true God or the spiritual mysteries of his everlasting kingdom and that was the very cause of these and such like Scripture sayings I thank thee Father that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes Make the heart of this people fat which have eyes and see not cars and hear not hearts and understand not and why so to fulfil the word of the Lord spoken through the mouthes of his Prophets in the time of the Law 6 If the two Witnesses here spoken of were the Letter of the Scripture what need then would there be of the invisible teachings of the Spirit 7 For the most part doth not the Ministers and people set up the letter of the Scriptures and offer divine worship unto them as the children of Israel worshipped their golden Calves 8 The two Witnesses cannot be meant the literal Scriptures because it is said If any man will hurt them fire proceeds out of their mouthes and devoureth their enemies and if any hurt them in this maner they must be killed 9 Now you may know that at this very present there are many thousands in these three Nations that do not onely count the Scriptures meer inventions of wise men to keep the
all eternity if the Creator himself did not speak those very words unto me by voice from Heaven as aforesaid 28 Though at present Atheistial men shall laugh to scorn what we speak or write in the name of the Lord Jesus yet they being words of truth by an immediate Commission from the eternal spirit you that are heirs of immortal Crowns may know in that unexpected day of the Lords general account they will become an invisible fire within the spirits and bodies of those that heard them of eternal bright burning ravishing glories or everlasting fiery shame in eternal death 29 What power is attributed unto the two witnesses in the 11. of the Revelation you may know that it is spiritual and invisible why because as beforesaid it being the third and last witness in earth of the eternal spirit its declarative Plagues upon the spirits and bodies of persecutors were spiritual answerable unto the natural Plagues that were executed by the two former witnesses upon the spirits and bodies of those that persecuted them for their Commissions sake CHAP. XXIV 1 Of the witnesses Trials and Persecutions after the publishing of their Commission 2 The Prophets interpretation of some verses in the 11 Revelation 3 An objection against the true witnesses answered YOu that are experimentally spiritual may understand that the true light of Christ in his beloved Apostle Saint John hath in those two Revelation-witnesses concluded in one both the true Prophets in the Law and chosen Apostles in the Gospel and the two last commissionated witnesses of the invisible spirit in this spiritual conceited Age. 2 Why because they jointly as one man against all gainsayers in the world do bear witness unto that man Christ Jesus cloathed with flesh and bone in glory to be the onely wise very true God and alone everlasting Father and Creator of both World Angels and men 3 Again you know it is written that when the witnesses have finished their testimony the beast out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them and overcome them and kill them behold as that bottomless pit beastly imagination within the spirits of the Cananitish Pharaohs and Herods was stirred up unto cruel persecution upon the two former witnesses for their testimonies sake 4 So likewise a little after that testimonial truth of the same nature was published by us the Holy Spirits two last witnesses in a Book entituled A transcendent Spiritual Treatise I humbly beseech you that were the moderate eye-witnesses thereof through the instigation of the people 5 Did not the spirit of persecution appear in the head Magistrate of this City of London when he committed us unto the common Goal of Newgate so called in September 1653. notwithstanding no man did accuse us in the least of the breach of any civil Law of England 6 The next Sessions following in the Old Bailey were we not araigned at the Bar like Theeves or Murderers before Alderman Fouke then Lord Mayor of London the Recorder Steel and some other Magistrates 7 And did not the Magistrates beforesaid in open Court condemn us as blasphemers against God because we did bear witness unto the man Christ Jesus glorified to be the onely wise God and alone everlasting Father by vertue of a commission we received from his eternal spirit 8 Upon the account aforesaid were we not kept close prisoners in the house of correction called old Bridewel six Moneths without bail or main-prise 9 I appeal unto any man that heâ—â—d our trial that hath any true hope of eternal salvation by that Jesus Christ that was nailed to a tree without the gates of Hierusalem whether any thing was laid to our charge by our accusers the Lord Mayor and the witnesses upon any civil or natural account in the least 10 'T is truth because of some speeches spoken unto the Lord Mayor first and afterwards to the whole Bench and Jury by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ in us in reference unto our Commission and innocence of spirit whether it was to gain the Magistrates favor or whether they knew of it the Lord knoweth some said whipping was too good for us others said hanging was too good for us burning of us was most fit 11 But where was the man that had so much love of truth or natural pity in him as to say but what evil have they done was there any such man upon the Bench or in the Jury or among the Officers or amongst all those men that heard our tryal if there were it was in secret 12 I remember it is written when our Lord Jesus was accused before Pilate for a deceiver of the people blasphemy and such like notwithstanding he was vehemently accused by the chief Priests and rulers 13 Yet Pilate oftentimes said but what evil had be done I finde no fault in him so likewise though we are but poor sinful dust and ashes and in comparison of our Lord Jesu Christ not worthy in the least to make mention of his most Holy name 14 I am fully perswaded in my soul if Pilate had sate in the judgement-seat with the Recorder he would have asked the Lord Mayor and our accusers what evil we had committed or what Law we had broken before he had past sentence upon us 15 What ever mens thoughts and opinions are concerning the Recorder Steel I appeal unto God elect men and Angels and to his own conscience whether he came not short of Pilate when he sate in the judgement-seat concerning us if this be truth which none can deny that heard our tryal if truth be their guide I hopâ— he doth not think much of Pilates being his elder brother but will also grant him the preheminence in the day of the Lords eternal account 16 Some of you that heard our tryal may remember that the Recorder did examine us chiefly 〈◊〉 not wholly concerning Christs Father or what that Father was that in his agonies he cried or prayed unto 17 If you have not forgot it through distance of time you may remember our answer was to this purpose 18 That that Father which our Lord Jesus Christ made mention of in all his extremities was his own representative spiritual power or charge which he had committed unto Angelical Moses and Elias in glory whilest he went that sore journey in flesh for the redemption of his elect lost Israelâ—tes it is written he shall give his Angels charge concerning thee that he and thee was but onely one divine being let men and Angels disprove what I have written concerning this thing if they can that I may be ashamed and confounded of my great confidence in that which is not 19 So much concerning our trial for our bearing testimony unto Jesus Christ to be the onely true God and alone everlasting Father before the powers of this perishing world 20 For a more clear manifestation of the commissionated witnesses of the eternal spirit unto the heirs of immortal glory I shall write somewhat of
body then shalt thou know that thou didst hear of a personal God infinitely glorious for Heavens Earth Angels or men to be capable of the indwelling essence of his eternal spirit CHAP. XXV 1 Of the sinful soul of man 2 Of its mortality 3 All souls that are generated are mortal 4 If mens souls were immortal they could not be capable of diseases CAn the soul of man be any thing at all but dust without their bodies or can their bodies be any thing at all but dry dead cold dust also without their spirits 2 Doth not the rational soul or spirit of man lye secretly hid in his seed like unto a spark of fire and can this seed of man have any living being without its body 3 Can the soul and body of man be therefore any more then one distinct living or dying essence 4 When a woman conceives life in her womb through mixtures of seeds by vertue of the decreed word of the Lord spoken at the first Creation of nature is not that life the very soul or spirit of the childe 5 Doth not that soul or spirit in the womb by degrees congeal together into rational fire blood and water and so in due time become a compleat body of flesh blood and bone 6 If men and women together beget and conceive the soul and body of the childe by an instinct in nature which none can gainsay but senceless sots or conceited wise men which through an ambition of tongues or languages have studied beyond all sober sence reason or wit 7 Is it then possible think you that the soul of a man should be immortal and the body wherein it liveth be mortal 8 Doth it not stand to very good sence that being both conceived into life into the womb together and both born together into the world and both living together upon the earth their appointed time and being both poluted together with sin that they should also both die together and turn to their dust or non-being again until the general bodily resurrection of all mankind that are dead asleep in the dust of the earth when time is no more either unto eternal glory or everlasting shame 9 Again it is written in the 46. Chap. of Genesis All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt which came out of his loins beside Jacobs wives where in the whole threescore and six souls 10 In the tenth of Deuteronomy and the last verse it is written thy fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons Here you see the Scriptures are plain for prooving the souls proceeding out of the loins of man as well as the bodies 11 Also you see that a man in Scripture is caled soul and sometimes is called body or soul body and spirit and yet you know he is but one living essence or substance 12 If all souls and bodies since the fall of Adam by natural generation proceed from the loins of one another as it is prooved clearly by spiritual sence reason and Scripture how can poor vain perishing dust imagine that his sinful soul is immortal and cannot die 13 Is it not natural for an immortal spirit to be united onely unto an immortal body and is it not natural for a mortal soul to be united onely unto a mortal body 14 Is it not against all sober sence or reason that the body of man could be subject to any kinde of diseases or distempers in the least if his soul were immortal and could not die 15 Is it not the very nature of immortality immediately to swallow up all into life or to transmute that body wherein it siveth from all maner of corruption into his own uncorrupted glory 16 Is it not the nature of a sinful soul to become subject to die through the defilement of its first created purity 17 Is there any undefiled soul now living upon the face of the earth and is not immortality all spotless purity as aforesaid how then thinks thou it possible that the sinful souls of men are immortal already and cannot die 18 It is written the soul that sins shall die also it is written in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death I confess that the souls of Adam and Eve were not capable of any kinde of death until they were both defiled with the sinful nature of the Angelical Serpent 19 But as soon as ever they had eaten of that cursed Serpentine Tree of knowledge of good and evil their soul and bodies were free from all their former pure life 20 In the room thereof were subject to all kinde of imputed death whatsoever and did not know but that they were both cut off from the divine presence of the eternal spirit 21 Until the God of Glory himself graciously promised them to become flesh blood and bone of the Virgin seed to redeem their sinful souls and bodies again out of all kinde of death into an unchangeable immortal glory at his personal appearing with his mighty Angels 22 Again the Lord hath said in divers places of Scripture that the souls of men shall be cut off from the land of the living and that the soul that sins shall die and that the pure soul of Christ himself was poured forth unto death and that the soul of Christ should not be left in grave nor that his blessed body should see corruption and the Lord hath said that Adam and Eve were but dust and to dust they should re uâ—n again And yet thou contrary to all Prophetical or Apostolical Scripture and against all sober sence or reason in its right minde ignorantly or impudently affirmest that the sinful soul of man is already immortal and cannot die or be put to death 23 Again from this thy nonsensical imagination dost thou not call all the Scriptures all lie and the eternal Majesty from whence they proceeded a lyar to his face and dost thou not call all sober sence and reason a meer lie also 24 I know it is a common thing for men to say they have in them a good spirit and a bad spirit 't is confest that every man in his fallen spirit hath remaining a little light or motion of the spirit of God in him 25 Yet take notice of this though he hath a twofold motion in him to justifie all the righteous proceedâ—ngs of the Creator in his conscience at the last day yet he hath but one spirit or soul in him 26 Indeed the Apostle saith the spirit lusteth against the flesh and the flesh lusteth against the spirit and these two are contrary that which the Apostle calls the spirit in this place of Scripture was a divine light of life received into the dark understanding by vertue of a word speaking from the eternal spirit of a glorified Christ but not the essence of the Holy Spirit 27 And that which he calls the flesh was mans own spirit which consists of nothing but confused lying imagination or cursed carnal reasoning against that heavenly light
aforesaid 28 Again you that are spiritual do know that all men that do expect a glory to come in the invisible Heavens do confess that the spirit of the divine Majesty is infinite unchangeable immortal an eternal 28 If the Creators person is of an incomprehensible brightness which none can gainsay but angelical carnalities how then thinkest thou it possible for men or angels to be capable of the in-dwelling essence of the eternal Spirit 29 Though every man as aforesaid have little or much of the spiritual motions of God abiding in his soul yet take notice of this when he inspireth any light into sinful spirits that very light it self being distinct from the infinite Spirit and essentially one with mortality is made capable not onely to live but also to die together that it through death might be capable by the decree of that Spirit from whence it was produced to quicken and revive that mortality again into the glorious likeness of the eternal Majesty it self from whence it came CHAP. XXVI 1 Of the nature and place of the Reprobates torment 2 The last witnesses great confidence concerning the end of the world 3 Without a tongue no speech can be made by God Angels or men 4 God is visibly seen by spiritual bodies as Kings are by their subjects TAke notice of this also that in what soul soever this in-shining light hath appeared though he be preserved from despising a personal God if before he taste of death he doth not attain to understand this glorified Jesus to be the onely wise very true God upon the sight of so clear a discovery as this is then this will be his portion All the light at his death shall vanish and come to nothing and in the day of the Lords account by vertue of his decree that Luciferian Serpentine spirit which abhorred the simple plain truth because it discovereth its carnal deceits shall quicken and bring forth a body spiritually as dark as pitch and naturally as heavy as lead a body of thick darkness or blackness of darkness according to Holy Writ 2 Again it will be a body whose invisible spirit shall be a fire of such a dark envious nature that it shall burn more intollerably fierce than any fire in this world whatsoever through which it shall be tormented as if it were nothing else but a carcase or pillar of unsavory burning brimstone 3 In that very place where it doth appear upon this earth it shall either stand sit kneel or lie along neither seeing its own dreadful person nor no mans else 4 And the main ground of all his unspeakable sorrow will arise from hence because its spirit is bar'd close prisoner in its own body from all kinde of former thoughts or motioning forth upon any spiritual comforts whatsoever through the total absenting in-shining presence of the Lord Jesus Christ the everlasting Father 5 Again all thy former pride envy covetousness lying lust and hypocrisie which thou with delight didst act towards thy innocent brothers ruine shall then be acted against thine own self it will be the eternity of thy condition that will increase thy sorrowes and shame O it will be in vain then to wish thou hadst never bin born or any thing else 6 Who ever thou art that shalt out of thy atheistical soul laugh these words to scorn and say these are but meer fancies of my own brain know this from the Lord of Glory when this whole world and all the beauty and natural glory thereof as namely the Firmament Sun Moon and Stars are become nothing but burning dust or dry sand and an utter Chaos of everlasting confused darkness then thou shalt remember thy despising things thou knewest not 7 Is not this answerable to Christs own words where he saith If that light in thee be darkness how great will that darkness be Again The Son of man shall send forth his Angels and they gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of sire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 13. Take notice of this record of Scripture and you shall find that he said these things should be done at the end of the world Again and when the Son of man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit on the throne of his Glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats and he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left then shall the King say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father take the inheritance of the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Then shall he say to them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels Mat. 25. 8 Here ye may see that the Lord Jesus doth not speak of cursing or burning up of sin in all men and eternal salvation unto all mens persons but maketh as clear a distinction as there is between sheep and goats of an eternal separation of two distinct generations 9 The one personal nation to enter into that most blessed estate or kingdom of the right hand of eternal ravishing glory with Christ and his holy angels and the other personal generation to be cast out into the left hand of the fiery burning kingdom of everlasting utter darkness with that devil Cain and his cursed generation being thereunto appointed from the foundation of the world 10 Again what ever men shall imagine or think to the contrary this was the very minde of Christ in those words of his concerning blessing elect Israelites to eternity and cursing Canaanitish reprobates for everlasting 11 Who shall dare open his mouth in that day to say why hast thou made me thus As sure as the Lord liveth and as certain as thou art a living soul and body this very thing will come to pass in a short season though men or angels should gainsay it 12 The Lord Jesus Christ neither can nor will be found a liar in this nor any thing else for all the cursed whimsies of men in this age or any other age though the persons of ten hundred thousand times ten Millions of men and women should suffer the vengeance of eternal fiery death in utter darkness O poor vain despiser of a personal God what acursed condition art thou in and knowest it not 13 In the next place I shall speak again concerning the Creators being an infinite personal Majesty unto which the visible forms of men and angels bear record as unto an incomprehensible glory from whence all their comprehensible things had their beings 14 Was there not an uncreated eternal Majesty alone when no creatures whether men or angels appeared in a sensible living being 15 Again seeing there was from
unclean reason or lying imagination within him is it possible think you that any man should be so tormented as some men are with an inward burning through a secret fear of eternal sufferings rising in them from the guilt of former evils committed against the light of conscience 21 Furthermore seeing all men which live after the flesh must die or perish and that mans own lust is that imaginary Devil from whence proceeds all sin or evil without controversie though men or Angels should gain-say it there are now no other evil Spirits Angels or Devils but unmerciful men and women onely 22 Again if envy pride covetousness hypocrisie lust and such like be the Devil in man are not men and women those Devils that are under the power of those evils I would fain know from the learned men of this world whether there are any other evil Angels or Devils besides mankinde that lust after women or silver or honor or revenge or any kinde of evil whatsoever 23 Truly if those supposed wise men which talk so much 〈◊〉 subtilty of the Prince of the air that rules in the children of disobedience could possibly know that their own imaginary reason was that evil spirit or Prince of all their airy disputes concerning God Angels Devils Heaven Hell eternal glory or shame to come which they know not of according to truth 24 Then in stead of their rejoycing in the approbation of many men in relation unto their natural gifts their own spirits would immediately become the principle of all those howling groaning Serpent Devils spoken of in holy Writ even in the sight of elect men and Angels in this mortal life 25 Again is it not against all spiritual or rational sence that any Man Angel or Devil should suffer eternal damnation for the sins of another or for anothers tempting him to sin or evil 26 Moreover doth it not stand to very good sence that that creature that is left to himself to be tempted unto sin or evil and overcome thereby and remains under the power of it to his lives end should eternally suffer at the great day for his own sins and not for anothers iniquity 27 Wherefore is it not now one of the vainest things in the world for any man to think that there is any other evil Spirit Angel or Devil that tempts him to any motion imagination thought desire word or action of rebellion against God or man but that lying proud envious Devil living in his whole man as beforesaid 28 Therefore let no man that professeth spiritual light or life in him for very shame say that God can be tempted or tempt any man unto sin or evil neither let him say that any evil Spirit Angel or Devil in the air or earth or in the water or in the fire tempts him to commit any sin or evil but that air watery fiery fleshly Devil dwelling onely in his own body 29 I say let him know that that is the Prince of the air which through the abscenting vertue of the Holy Spirit begets those legions of Devils or lusts in the soul of man 30 And it is the true light of the Lord Jesus Christ in all his new born ones that crushes those Cockatrice Egs before they become Serpent Devils to sting the whole man with fears of eternal death 31 Those Devils which by the powerful word of the Lord Jesus were cast out of Mary Magdelen or any other creature spoken of in holy Writ were onely all maner of filthy diseases or fiery distempers in man that hurried him about any desperate wickedness whatsoever oftentimes increasing so powerfully that it did not onely occasion him to rend his own body and break iron chains 32 But also he is ready to tear any one in pieces until the Lord of glory shine into his distempered soul with that golden grace of true faith through which that imaginary Devil is chained up whereby all his fleshly goods were spoiled of ever having power in him as formerly and being now in his right minde at the glorious feet of the true Jesus through his own pure light leading him into heavenly raptures in reference unto his eternal glory at his visible appearing in the Clouds with all his mighty Angels CHAP. XXXVII 1 The prerogative power of God is above all Law 2 Why God cursed the fallen Angel in the womb of Eve 3 The Angels nature after his offence was not satisfied without being ruler SOme men may say unto me if it should be granted that that Serpent by whom Eve was beguiled was none of the trees of this Creation nor an evil spirit in the body of a natural Serpent as hath been long imagined by the learned Ministers of men but was an absolute Serpent Devil as is abundantly declared by you and that it entred into Eve and in her womb was pronounced cursed by the Creator and so naturally brought forth himself a cursed Cain of her seed what was this unto Eve or why should she suffer any kinde of punishment for being overcome by an enemy that was too mighty for her 2 From the light of life eternal to this I answer Concerning the enemy being too potent for her that was hid from her eyes by the unsearchable wisdom of the Creator 3 For you that are spiritual may know that the soul of Eve was not onely purely created in its kinde like unto Angels or other creatures but it was also of the very same nature of his most glorious spirit that formed it so that she could not be ignorant in the least that all obedience was most due unto her Creators command 4 Moreover you may know also that the Creator by the vertue of his Royal will for manifesting of his glorious power might give his creature a spiritual law of light and life in it self and yet reserve to himself the prerogative power of it 5 Furthermore you know the glorious Creator might present unto the view of his image a Serpent Devil for the trial of his workmanship and might upon pain of death forbid his creature of having to do with that tree or of hearkening unto it in the least 6 Also you know the Creator might leave his divine image unto its own present strength through which it might by a subtile enemy be tempted and overcome to commit evil with it against its Creators law and yet its sin be upon his own head 7 Why not onely because it rebelled against its own divine light but principally because there was no law to binde an infinite Majesty to protect it in its created purity 8 My beloved moderate brethren if men could forbear reasoning against the Creators prerogative power wonderful wisdom or ways which are past finding out then would they enjoy true and lasting peace in their own souls through deliverance from that conscience condemning evil of rash judging things they know not but this grace of patience is prepared onely for the blessed Israelites and not for scoffing
Angels some men may say unto me may it not be a long season are there not many prophecies yet to be fulfilled before his coming as the calling of the Jews and the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven and such like 2 From an unerring spirit to this I answer As John the Baptist was the last Prophet under the Law and the forerunner of the sudden appearing of Christ Jesus the Lord in a body of flesh 3 So likewise I positively affirm against all gain-sayers under heaven that I John Reeve am the last commissionated Prophet that ever shall declare divine secrets according to the foundation of truth until the Lord Jesus Christ appear on his Throne of glory visibly to be seen by all his elect face to face 4 But of the contrary in that day of our God and King of glorious Crowns appearing none of those cursed men and women which blasphemously said that God hath no person at all shall ever be able to behold his face and live but according to Holy Writ they shall cry to the Mountains Hills or Rocks to hide them from the wrath of his bright burning body or face that sits upon the Throne 5 Concerning a general visible calling of the Jews in all Nations to the acknowledgement of Christ being come in the flesh I say from the eternal spirit that sent me that there will never be any such thing in the world indeed the Ministerial Artists have of a long season imagined an outward call of the Jews to their vain glorious seeming holiness but the most Wise and Holy God intends no such thing 6 Wherefore to confound their carnal wisdom his glorious purpose is to call home to himself those Jews and Gentiles elected to everlasting life by the invisible teaching of his most Holy Spirit 7 You that are sober may come to understand that there is two sort of Jews there is a Mosaical Jew and an Apostolical Jew 8 Moreover you may know that those men called Independents Annabaptists Presbyterians are the literal Apostolical Jews 9 And those men that observe Saturday for their Sabbath are those Mosaical legal Jews which utterly deny that Christ is yet come in the flesh but ignorantly expect his appearing in a fleshly glorious manner to raign over them in the Throne of David his Father 10 Moreover these Sabbattical Saturday Jews John Tanee like do imagine when their fleshly Christ appears to raign over them that he will gather them out of all nations wherein they are scattered and conduct them into the inheritance of their fathers that promised Land of Canaan and there they make account with their imaginary King to live in a temporal glorious condition for a long season and as they have been servants and slaves to all Nations wherein they were scattered so likewise as a reward of their servitude they fully expect that all Nations shall bow down to them and bring in their riches and glory unto them as their vassals for ever 11 You that are spiritual may know that these unbelieving Mosaical Jews which expect a carnal Christ to raign over them were those Jews which at the death of Christ said his blood be upon us and our children and truly you know his blood was upon them and their children to some purpose in the destruction of Hierusalem and unto this day yea and so it will be to the end of the world For the Lord Jesus will never spiritually gather the seed of those Jews which rated a bloody Barabas above the Lord of life himself 13 Moreover those Jews which were afraid of having any hand in the death of Christ were the fathers of those spiritual Jews in all Nations that are mixed in marriages with the Gentiles whose merciful innocent spirits are delivered from all tyranny over mens consciences 14 Furthermore those Independent Annabaptist Presbyterian men which hold it lawful just and good to persecute men in their persons and estates upon a spiritual account I say from the eternal spirit that they are for the most part the off-spring of those bloody-minded Jews that crucified the Lord of Glory upon the account of blasphemy as beforesaid 15 O blessed are all unpersecuting merciful minded men and women onely 16 All innocent merciful Independent Annabaptist Presbyterian men or women that are preserved from a persecuting minde of divine things which seem difficult from the eternal spirit I declare those are part of Gods spiritual wheat which are mixed with the chaffy Jews and Gentiles which are the off-spring of cursed Cain whom the Lord shall burn with unquenchable fire when he cometh in his Glory with his Angels to receive his spiritual wheat into his heavenly barn as aforesaid 17 Thus you that are spiritually enlightned from on high may clearly see that the calling of the elect Jews in all nations unto the knowledge of the divine Majesty and his heavenly truths was not meant an outward calling of them from a Mosaical legallity unto an Apostolical literallity as many men have vainly imagined but it was an inward calling of them by the motions of the eternal spirit to the right understanding of the one personal Majesty on the Throne of Glory and his heavenly truths 18 Again concerning the sign of the Son of Man in heaven in the 24. of Matthew and the 30. it is thus written And then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven and then shall all the kindred of the earth mourn and they shall see the Son of Man come in the Clouds of heaven with power and great glory this sign of the Son of Man was that substance or very Son of Man himself and the glory of his personal appearing in the Clouds of Heaven with his glittering Angels caused such a fiery brightness not onely in the visible Heavens above but the whole earth beneath also appeareth like a flame of fire or burning lightning insomuch that all the kindreds of the earth which never expected that dreadful day because their persons were not transmuted into the divine likeness of the Son of Man 19 Therefore their unbelieving earthly spirits did quake and tremble lament and howl like dogs for very fear of the foresaid sign of the Son of Man should rend them to pieces and burn them and their inward God or Christ to powder I mean all those which gloried of a God or Christ within them onely and cursedly despised this personal God on his glorious Throne without them 20 Thus you in whose persons the King of Glory raigneth by the heavenly incomes of his eternal brightness may in some measure see what is meant by the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven when he appeareth in his glory with his holy Angels 21 As the immortalized spirits and bodies are filled with astonishing ravishments with the very sight of the Son of Man in his glorious Throne aforesaid 22 So likewise the carnal spirits and bodies of all Hypocrites which gloried in a Christ ordinances
God of their own reason onely with all their rebellions against it shall be that dreadful Judge sitting in their fleshly consciences with an eccho of everlasting torments in utter darkness 6 Thus in some measure I have been made to declare unto my spiritual yea and fleshly brethren also the sudden glorious and dreadful appearing of the most high and mighty God-man sitting on the Throne of his Glory with his elect Angels to judge both the quick and dead according to his own sayings in Holy Writ 7 And now as a conclusion unto this Epistle I shall speak a few words to all that may peruse it in the name and power of our Lord Jesus by whose most blessed spirit I was inspiringly moved to write it 8 My beloved Brethren that hath the least hopes in you of a glory to come I confess through unusualness of such a language many sayings in this book may seem to your reason very absurd at the first 9 But if the light of life eternal qualifie you with a meek and patient spirit they may be as plain and easie to your understanding at the last as the Lord hath made them to me his poor despised messenger 10 I know if I were an University man possessing perishing wealth or honor among Princes your rational spirits would be as subject to erre on the right hand as now they are on â—he left 11 O forget not that the wisdom of God seeth it most advantagious for his glory to choose base and despised things to confound the honorable and eloquent things of this vain glorious world 12 Again if some men should say unto me that I have written many sayings without book concerning the creaâ—ion of Angels and such like I would fain know of them wheâ—her Moses had any books by him when he wrote of the creation of this world and the things therein 13 Though the holy Prophets Christ and the Apostles aluded sometimes to the former Prophetical writings to convince gain-sayers yet you know they spake by inspiration of the eternal spirit onely according to that saying in holy Writ All Scriptures was given by inspiration and holy men of old spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost 14 Moreover if you should ask me how shall you know whether I write by true inspiration or no as to that if you had the spirit of the Scriptures no man could deceive you 15 Furthermore unless you have a light in you that can clearly convince me of error in my Epistle in questioning the truth of my writings you also question the truth of Holy Writ 16 If I should write nothing but what is exactly set down in the Scriptures I should then write nothing at all because they are other mens works and you have them already besides many eloquent men to play upon the harp of those records very harmoniously unto your carnal ears which godliness of theirs is very gainful unto many of them as you well know 17 If I should write nothing but what is recorded in Holy Writ there would be no need of any other witness to prove me a lyar but my book onely and so I should be bound together in a bundle of literal tares and burnt with unquenchable fire at the appearing of the Son of Man in his glory with hâ—s mighty Angels because I have declared my self sent forth by voice from the Lord of Glory himself to demonstrate some secrets to his chosen ones that hath not been revealed since the world began 18 And now I desire no other witness to bear record in the consciences of men to this Epistle whether it be truth or no but the everliving Jehovah or eternal spiritual Jesus himself with all his holy Angels Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly Amen Amen John Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton the two last immediate Commissionated Witnesses or Prophets by the eternal Spirit of the man Jesus glorified in the Throne of Eternity which is far above all Gods Heavens Angels and Men. FINIS
in this last Age is the Commission of the Spirit which is to finish the mystery of God accordiâ—g to that saying of John Rev. 10. and 7. where it is said But in the days of the voice of the seventh Angel when he shall begin to sound the mystery of God shall be finished as he hath declared to his servants the Prophets And now this mystery of God is made manifest in the world by this Commission of the Spirit both in our Discourse and Writings so that it may be clear to you that are capable to understand and to comprehend those deep and high mysteries which hâ—th been declared by this Commission of the Spirit both by word of mouth and pen wherein we have unfolded the mystery of the true God and the right Devil with the persons of Angels and their natures with many other sacred mysteries which never were revealed unto the sons of men until this last Commission of the Spirit And the knowledge of the two Seeds is these two Keyes which doth open or unlock the gates of Heaven and of Hell that is they know what the Commission of Moses and the Prophets was and how far a man is freed from the visible worship of his Commission which was of the Law which is the gates of Hell Also we know what the other Commission of Jesus and the Apostles was and how far a man is bound to observe the visible Worship which was set up in their time which was then in great force so long as that Commission stood but when God doth give a new Commission the old is made void as with reference to the visible Worship which is set up by a Commission therefore you know that the Apâ—stles Commission did wholly thrust out the visible Worship which was set up by Moses Therefore it was that Christ said unto Peter I have given thee the keyes of heaven and of hell that is thou shalt be a Preacher of the Gospel which is the Kingdom of Heaven and so thou shalt open the gates of Heaven unto all those that shall believe in thy Declaration Also thou shalt have the true interpretaâ—ion of the Law of Moâ—es which shall open the gate of hell unto all those persecuting Jews which were under the Law of Moses at that time when the Commission of the Apostles was in being So likewise it is wâ—th this Commission of the Spirit because this Commission of the Spiriâ— doth hold forth no visible nor external outward Worship as the other two Commissions did But as it is the Commission of the Spirit therefore there is no outward nor visible Worship to be used in it but that invisible and spiritual Worship onely which is to worship God in spirit and truth which spiritual Worship doth consist in the knowledge of the true God and the right Devil upon which the foundations of the other two Commissions both stand upon which no man in the world at this day doth or can knovv but this Commission of the Spirit onely and those which come to understand and to believe the truth of this Commission Much more might be said in this thing but it would be too large an Epistle therefore my counsel and advice unto you that do believe or shall come to believe in this last spiritual Commission is that you would seriously read and peruse this Book called A Divine Looking-Glass though it hath been much sleighted and disregarded because of the abuse that it did receive in the Press yet there is contained in it the most highest mysteries of all which have not been revealed since the world began until now But I having occasion for to reprint it again have read it over with much serious deliberation and finding in it such variety of matter with such deep profound mysteries which could not be declared but by the unerring Spirit of God which was given unto John Reeve so that I hope that you that have received some light in your understandings concerning the mystery of the true God and the right Devil upon the knowledge of which doth depend many other heavenly Mysteries which is treated upon in this Book which I do desire and shall be glad that you may increase and grow in the knowledge of them so that you may be satisfied in the full assurance of Faith while you are here and your knowledge perfected in glory hereafter By Lodowick Muggleton The Printer to the Reader Courteous Reader THere being but few Errors in this book by the mistake of the Press and therefore not worth the reciting of every particular literal fault I shall onely advertise thee of some escapes which may perhaps impede the sense viz. chap 18. ver 31. read without chap. 33. ver 5. for of read or chap. 38. ver 37. for visible read invisible chap. 39. ver 33. for impossibly read impossible These being the most material you are desired to correct with the pen the other every ordinary capacity may understand without amendments Farewel A DIVINE LOOKING GLASS CHAP. I. 1 From whence all Writings proceed 2 A necessity of extraordinary light to satisfie or silence curious Questions 3 The names of the two last Wâ—tnesses and the time of their Call 4 The highest Queries concerning the eternal estate of mankinde 5 Of the Form and Nature of God from all eternity who continually increaseth 6 The person of God is the object of true Faith 7 No reason in God 8 The purest reason in man cannot understand the Scriptures MY beloved Brethren you know that all speakings or writings are either natural or spiritual and that of necessity they proceed from their several heads of divine inspiration or humane imagination 2 Moreover 〈◊〉 know also that a man had need be endued with an extraordinary light to satisfie or silence curious Questions concerning things which are eternal 3 Dear friends I John Reeve being a poor Lay-man so called upon a Declaration that the Most High from the Throne of his Glory spake unto me in the year 1651. you may be sure since that the propounding of nice Questions have not been wanting unto me and my Spiritual Companion Lodowick Muggleton both from the strong and the weak 4 Amongst the rest not many moneths past a friend of mine being somewhat troubled in minde was moved to propound these high Queries VVhether any creature was formed of purpose for eternal sufferings Or whether it would not have been as advantagious for the Creators glory to have formed all creatures for eternal happiness as otherwise Or if any creature was made to be a vessel of wrath to shew forth the prerogative Royal of its Creator wherein is that creature blame-worthy of sin or evil which through a secret decree could not possibly avoid it Or whence came that sin or evil into the spirits of man or angel if they were pure in their first creation My Christian Brethren these curious Queries will occasion variety of spiritual matter yea and it will further me also
to treat upon the original of all heavenly secrets Wherefore in answer to these difficult queries I shall write of several things of most highest consequence unto mankinde namely concerning the Glorious Creator himself and the original cause that moved the Divine Majesty to produce any creature sensibly to live in his sight and of the creation of the true God and of the imaginary lying creation in the spirit of sinful man and whence it came Also of the creation of Angels before man with the materials and manner of it 5 I confess I have been moved briefly to touch upon most of these things to the publike view of many already but now through assistance of the unerring Spirit I shall handle them more fully in removing many obstructions in the way and for more clearer satisfaction unto the true spiritual Christian and confutation of all fleshly lying Antichristians whatsoever 6 First by immediate inspiration from the Holy Spirit I posiâ—ively affâ—â—m against all Naturalists under heaven that there is a Creator 7 Secondly with the same confidence I affirm against men or angels that this our God from 〈◊〉 Eternity was an uncreated spiritual person in form like a man 8 Thirdly from the same spirit I declare that that blessed God-man Christ Jesus so exalted throughout the true Scriptures was and is that eternal Creator beforesaid 9 Fourthly I declare against all literal-mongers in this world that this our Creator and gracious Redeemer was only one immortal undivided personal God-man from all eternity and in time and to all eternity 10 Fifthly I declare from the holy Spirit that the addition of two persons more unto this our onely wise God blessed for ever proceeded onely from the old Serpentine Antichristian devil in carnal men 11 Moreover as for those words of Father Son and Spirit or Lord Jesus Christ or any other divine titles in Scriptures you may know that they are onely variety of names to set forth the infinite God-head glory of the Creators person 12 Again I declare from the Spirit of truth that from all Eternity the Creators person was of a sun-shining fiery glory of sensible heavenly motion light heat voyce and speech and his divine person was swifter then thought 13 Moreover all variety of divine excellencies as a christal Sea did infinitely reign in his heavenly person as namely Pure Spiritual Faith his Almighty Power or heavenly Love his ravishing Glory or any other divine vertue that can be named 14 Thus you that are truely spiritual may undoubtedly know that from all Eternity the Creator possessed his heavenly joyes or new glories by himself alone when no created being sensibly appeared to behold his excellent Majesty 15 By true inâ—piration from the holy spirit I positively affirm that the principal motion of all variety of heavenly wisdom joy or glory which the Creator foresaw he should eternally possess naturally sprang in him from an incomprehensible knowledge of his own endless infiniteness 16 Or from a perfect understanding of an eternal increase of all manner of glorious excellencies to solace himself withal and elect men and angels that should be câ—â—â—ted by him 17 If the Creator should be an infinite formless spirit as some men vainly imagine my spiritual brethren you know then that it were impossible for any spirit of man or angel to be made capable of fixing his understanding upon any such spiritual Creator 18 You know that no man can describe the form of an invisible spirit whether it be finit or infinite unless it be covered with a body or person 19 Moreover you know also that no man or angel can be made able in the least to comprehend the nature of any spirit whatsoever that wants a distinct body or person of its own to inhabit in 20 Therefore you cannot but understand that the Creator of mankinde must needs be a substantial glorious person and not a nonsubstantial formless spirit as beforesaid 21 Again notwithstanding every divine vertue in the Creators person be infinite yet by inspiration from his own spirit I positively affirm that there was never any kinde of reason in him 22 Whâ—â—ever the learned men of this world have â—ong imagined concerning pure reason being the divine nature of God they are utterly dark concerning a true understanding of the Creators divine nature or personal glory in the least 23 I declare from the true God that all those men that call pure Reason Gods divine nature if they undâ—rstand no other light before â—â—ath seize on them they shall finde their imaginary reason nothing else but a dark tormenting fiery devil of burning envy in their own bodies at the great day even against the Creator himself and his elect men and angels for everlasting 24 For this I say from the Lord unto you that are spiritual the very nature of reason though it be never so pure is nothing else but meer desire therefore you may know that if the Creator himself should have any desire in his spirit there would be a kinde of want in him 25 For if his naâ—ure be all variety of heavenly satisfaction in it self as it is what rational desire can finde place in such an infinite fulness of Divine Glory 26 Moreover my spiritual Brethren what is the principal ground of all Antichristian darkness in the spirits of Solomon-like men in reference to a right understanding of the Creator and his divine nature is it not because they think to apprehâ—nd the true God by a false light which they vainly call pure reason 27 What is this which worldly men call pure reason is it any thing else but that proud angelical serpent devil in them which by its own natural strength continually strives to finde out the tree of eternal life that they may cure themselves of their deadly wounds of soul arising from all their spiritual and fleshly rebellions against God and man 28 Again doth the true understanding of the Creator run in the line of pure reason or pure faith in the Scriptures 29 Is there any saying in Scripture that Gods divine Nature is pure reason or by pure reason we know the true God or any thing that is spiritual Indeed I have read Scriptures that say By faith the Apostles knew the worlds were made and by faith they knew their mortal bodies should be raised immortal bodies at the great day of the appearing of Christ in his glory but as beforesaid I never read or heard any spiritual wise man say that the invisible things of eternity were understood by mans pure reason no nor Angels that behold the glorious Creator face to face It is written With thee is the well of Life and in thy light shall we see light It is also written That men were partakers of the Divine nature and that Abraham beliâ—ved God and it was imputed to him for righteousness and by faith men were justified before the Creator and in their own spirits And that without faith it was impossible
to please God Furthermore it is written That faith is the gift of God 30 In these Records and many more such like you see the Scritures takes no notice of the word pure reason by which men could know any thing of the true God or of his heavenly secrets at all 31 Therefore I would fain know whether those men that call pure reason the Divine Nature are fit to interpret Scriptures or to bear the name of Gospel-Ministers but I will leave them at present to him that will discover them soon enough to their costs CHAP. II. 1 What the substances of Earth and Water were from eternity 2 A great secret revealed concerning Death and Hell 3 Concerning the Heavens above 4 Earth and Water not eternally glorious 5 The residence of the Creator 6 Earth and Water uncreated substances A Gain in the next place by inspiration from the unerring Spirit I positively affirm that the substances of Earth and Water were from all eternity in the Creators presence uncreated sensless dark dead matter like unto water and dust that have no kinde of life or light or vertue in them at all 2 Also I declare from the Holy Spirit that darkness death or devil and hell lay secretly hid in that earth above this perishing Globe and in the sight of the Creator were eternally naked and bare both in their root and in their fruit 3 Again I declare from the true Light of Life Eternal that that world or kingdom where the Creators glorious person is visible is a place or throne infinite in length bâ—eadth or height answerable unto an infinite Majesty 4 Moreover for your information that are spiritual from the true God I declare that in this heavenly City there is no Firmament Sun Moon nor Stars so that you may understand that is an infinite open place for Divine personal ascending or descending at pleasure onely under foot is fixed a spiritual earth and a chrystal sea 5 Furthermore you that are spiritual may know that it stands to very good sense that an infinite Majesty cannot be confined to a finite world or kingdom as this is I mean when he possesseth the throne of immortality as at this time or before he became a body of unspotted flesh 6 Again concerning that glorious earth and chrystal sea aforesaid I would not have you to think that I mean it was eternally so but after or in the finishing of the creation of Angels and variety of other creatures the infinite vertue of the Creators word produced that chrystal spirituality in them that both visible as well as invisible every thing or creature appointed to abide in the presence of the Divine Majesty might be all glory in their kinde and measure answerablâ— to the unmeasurable variety of unspeakable glory in the Creator himself 7 My spiritual brethren you know that it is an opinion of the Learned that those substances Earth and Water aforesaid were not eternal but they have long imagined that the Creator spake the word and so they came to be and after he had given them their being he formed all things that were made out of them 8 My beloved brethren you may know that this must needs be an error because you know that the word Create is to make formless dead matter into sensible living forms 9 Besides this you know as for creating of those elements of water or dust there is no Scripture maketh mention of any such thing therefore a meer imagination but more of this in the 6. Chapter 10 Again you know that from eternity the divine nature of the Creators spirit was nothing but immortal fiery glory of life and light It is written God is light and in him there is no darkness at all and it is written in Gen. 1. And darkness was upon the deep 11 My Brethren if the Creator be all life and light as you know he is then without controversie the dead earth and dark deep water never proceeded out of his glorious mouth but if that Scripture should be objected where it is said I create light and I create darkness to that I answer The mind of the holy Spirit in those words was this that he created those souls that were naturally dark and he created these mortal spirits that were full of immortal light but on the contrary there was not the least meaning in those words or any other throughout the Scriptures that God created or gave any being or beginning unto dead dark sensless earth and water as aforesaid 12 Whatever men vainly imagine the Creator to be if they shall conclude there was nothing eternal but God onely if they acknowledge the Creator to be some glorious thing which is incomprehensibly infinite then I would fain leâ—rn of those wise men where the glorious Creator was resident when he gave a being to earth and water If they shall say unto me that he was uncapable to be in any one place because he was every where As to that I cannot understand which way the Creator should be every where or any where at all if he had no place or habitation to abide in neither finite nor infinite 13 God being all light life joy and glory in himself from eternity is it not against all divine or humane light that is not unreasonable that ever those daâ—k dead elements of earth and water should have their original from his glorious spirits because their natures are so contrary that it was impossible that they should proceed from one another for alas what is death or darkness Is it not through the absence of life or light And is not life being overcome by death absolutely become death and darkness or utter silence for a moment 14 Again if light and darkness or life and death meet together is there any peace or agreement between them untill life be swallowed up by death or death be swallowed up into life 15 If th s be so the which no sober man can gainsay then without controversie earth and water were uncreated substances eternally distinct from the God of glory because the Scripture saith and darkness covered the face of the deep CHAP. III. 1 Of the Angels 2 Their Form and Nature 3 Out of what they were made 4 The Serpent which tempted Eve 5 The Cause why any creature was formed 6 Who are partakers of the Divine Nature 7 No created being capable of the essence of God to dwell in it A Gain from the true light of life I affirm that the Angels were the first sensible living beings formed by the Creator 2 I declare also that the angelical host were all produced by his word speaking into that dust without or above this visible heavens 3 Moreover I positively affirm from the same light that all the Angels in the heavenly throne aforesaid are persons in forms like men and not bodiless spirits as the Learned have long declared and the nature of their angelical spirits are pure reason onely 4 From the God of all
brethren you know that the heavenly nature of the divine Majesty is nothing else but all variety of glorious excellencies 33 Also you know that the Creators spirit being variety of spiritual perfections he could create nothing against his glory but for his glory onely because that glory of his is himself or his all in all or onely pillar upon which he built his everlasting kingdom 34 Wherefore if angels or man had been framed in unchangeable conditions then in stead of making known his manifold divine glories to his creatures he must have created things for his own eternal ruine 35 For if such a thing could possibly have been in stead of being creatures as aforesaid they would all have been Creators and being unchangeable it could not possibly be avoided but they must all have shared in or of the Creators unchangeable glory also 36 Moreover if the Holy One of Israel should be divided into three divine Persons as many men blindly imagine then you know that being all eternal they must of necessity be equal in God-head wisdom power and glory A kingdom thus divided cannot stand 37 For you that are truly spiritual know that all the true Prophets in the time of the Law did never acknowledge any more Gods then that Holy One of Israel onely and by inspiration they attributed many holy Names unto his divine Majesty for the exaltation of his glorious person above all angels and men 38 Moreover you know that in Scriptures it is written That the Holy One of Israel will not give his glory to another 39 Therefore what ever men vainly dream of a Creator or God or three Persons or of a bodiless infinite Spirit yet unto us that are heirs of eternal glory there is but one onely wise God Creator Redeemer and alone Everlasting Father which is our Lord Jesus Christ in one blessed body of flesh and bone glorified CHAP. IV. 2 Of the Angels further 2 Of the nature of pure Reason 3 Of the divine Nature 4 Wherein they differ 5 The Angels were under the Moral Law which was written in their natures 6 The Creator above all Law 7 A necessity of supplying the Angels with continual Revelations from the Creator 8 He that was above all Law made himself under the Law by becoming flesh 9 Who is Antichrist 10 No joy in God without a form 11 Death an Enemy to all kinde of life in God angels and men BEfore I treat of the first appearance of sin or evil in the reprobate angel I shall speak of the creation of angels by a compariâ—on 2 Suppose a man should speak words unto dry dust of sand distinct from his person and before he spake unto that senseless Chaos he did perfectly know or beleeve in himself that out of that dead dust his very woâ—ds would produce so many several sensible living bodies in his sight though those words proceeded from the soul of the man 3 Yet you may know that they were not the essence of the mans spirit but onely a powerful influence of speech or words spoken through his mouth for manifesting the variety of his natural wisdom power or glory over the words which he had spoken 4 Moreover you know that a man with great ease might spare a few words without any trouble of mind in reference to what use he saw fit to imploy them they being his own workmanship can any sober man deny this mans pâ—erogative pleasure with his own I trow not 5 This was the Creators very case in the matter of creation and who dares to speak against it No spiritual wise man I am sure onely some lustful persons may dispute against it though it be contrary to their own reason when it is sober 6 But deeds of darkness hate the light and can do no otherwise and those that live in the light are made to abhor all deeds of darkness or vain disputes against the Creators Royal will or righteous ways 7. Thus you which are truly spiritual may understand that neither the spirits of angels no nor of the man Adam himself was of the divine essence in their creation T is truth the soul of Adam was of the very nature of the spirit of God but it was a created nature or vertue which brought forth its pure natural body as its house or tabernacle of abode so that as the body had a beginning of dust through which it was capable of change 8 So likewise when that divine soul was covered with an earthly temple it was capable of mutability though it proceeded from an immutable glory 9 But on the contrary though the spiritual bodies of angels had beginning also yet they were not subject to change but their spirits not being of the divine nature of him that made them was wholly subject to mutability 10 For the angels spirits were pure reason as aforesaid and what is the nature of the most purest reason is it any thing else but all pure desires And what is the original of the most purest or perfect desire that is Is it not a want of soâ—ething that is desired or a kind of unsatisfaction untill its desire be satisfied from some thing that is not inherent in it self 11 Again my spiritual brethren is it possible think you that there should be the least motion of the most purest desire that is in the nature of that spirit which is all fulness of divine satisfaction in it self 12 Or is it possible that that spirit that hath any desire in its nature should enjoy fulness of content in it self 13 Wherefore though the holy God created that angelical reason of all pure desire let no spiritual wise man call it his divine nature 14 Why because you know there can be no kind of desire in the nature of that immortal God that is all variety of glorious satisfaction in it self as beforesaid 15 But let him know from the true light of life that the Creator by his infinite wisdom or power from a word speaking unto dust could create yea and did make divers living creatures and yet not one motion of the natures of those created beings was inherent in his heavenly spirit 16 Therefore you that are possessed with that new and true divine birth from the immortal throne may know that the spirits of elect angels are not in the least of any part of the glorious natures of his spirit but onely a created rational spirit of all pure desires which was not onely become distinct from his divine nature now it possessed its personal living being in it self 17 But was also in its non being in the fore-knowledge of the Creator eternally distinct from his undesiring nature of all spiritual glories secretly hid in its own dark sensless elements as beforesaid onely by a powerful word it was commanded to appear and manifest it self in its own creaturely condition 18 Again some may say unto me Were the angels under any Law in their creation From the unerring spirit of our
if they acknowledge this rational truth without controversie when the light of the Sun is eclipsed from us it is through its near conjunction with the natural light or ruler of things of the night 58 And when the light of the Moon is eclipsed from us though it be in the night or early in the morning it is through her near 〈◊〉 Junction with the natural light or ruler of the day or a planetary fire answerable to his nature 59 My beloved spiritual brethren as for the time and effect of Eclipses I leave them unto the figurative Merchants of a Sun Moon and Stars which they rightly understand not because no man can truly know them but by inspiration from him that made them CHAP. VIII 1 Of the Heavens 2 How many were created 3 No more but three 1 A Throne of Eternal ravishing glories 2 A Throne of Natural perishing glories 3 An invisible spiritual Throne leading to Eternity AGain if there was but one heavenly firmament created in all some men may say unto me What is the meaning of that third Heavens in the Scriptures 2 From that light which cannot lie to this I answer The spirit of God speaketh of a third heaven in Scriptures that some men might be capable to declare unto his redeemed ones how many heavens there are and where those heavens are and what those heavens are 3 My spiritual brethren which have ears to hear hearken unto the pure light of life eternal There are three created heavens spoâ—en of in Scripture Records and no more no nor never was any more what ever vain men have imagined 4 The first is that third heaven of visible and invisible ravishing glories which are eternal this is that vast kingdom where the persons of the mighty Angels and glorified bodies of Moses and Elias do now inhabit beholding the face of that most excellent Majesty whose divine nature unto his elect is crowns of unutterable excellencies 5 This is that habitation third heaven throne or kingdom of ravishing glory above the starry heavens spoken of so frequently in Scripture Records which is needless to nominate unto you which are spiritual 6 But lest some vain glorious men should say Wheâ—e is the word of God for what I speak Seeing the letter is their God whom they adore in stead of the holy Spirit which spake them therefore to stop their carnal mouthes if it may be I shall write down two or three Scripture Records Heaven is my throne and Earth is my foot-stool Acts 7. O God thy throne is for ever and ever Heb. 1. That we have such an High Priest that sitteth at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens Heb. 8. 7 The second Heaven which the Lord created was not a spiritual but a natural therefore of necessity it must fade away 8 This Heaven is this visible firmament adorned with majestical lights above us and a fixed earth beneath us beautified in its seasons with variety of delights which is natures onely desired haven through the secret decree of the most wise God to manifest the variety of his most infinite wisdom unto elect men and angels in the creating of such natural glory to perish and the â—â—gelical merciless rulers thereof after they have enjoyed their momentary glory 9 Give me leave to cite two or three Scriptures as a visible testimony to this second Heaven also It is written In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth 10 My beloved spiritual brethren you know that there could not be any beginning unto the Creator therefore it may be understood that saying did include that immortal throne above and this mortal world beneath as having a beginning was spoken for the capacity unto men or angels which knew their being was from another and understood also their continuance in those several heavens for a time or for eternity 11 In the first of the Hebrews it is thus written And thou Lord in the beginning hast established the earth and the heavens are the works of thine hands they shall perish but thou dost remain and they shall wax old as doth a garment 12 Again the third and last created heaven is that within the bodies of men or the first man Adam the which spiritual creation being in natural bodies and within this perishing Globe it is made capable through its union with changeable nature to enter into mortality that by the most secreet decree of the most high God after a moments tasting of silent death as he himself did it may quicken again through death it self spiritual bodies full of divine glories that as one man naturally as a flame of fire all the elect may as swift as thought ascend to meet their Lord in the air and with his divine person of bright burning glory enter into that prepared Throne of eteâ—nal pleasures 13 This created or inspired light in man you know hath variety of Scripture-expressions for the setting forth its excellencies that it shall enjoy in the life to come as namely the kingdom of heaven is within you Christ in you the hope of glory Know you not that the spirit of Christ is in you except ye be reprobates It is a true saying for if we be created together with him we also shall live together with him 2 Tim. 2 Thus God created the man in his image in the image of God created he him he created them male and female Gen. 1. 14 Thus briefly I have touched upon the three created Heavens nominated in the literal Records unto an invisible yet visible infinite being of all finite beings blessed for ever viz. a throne of eternal ravishing glories secondly a throne of natural perishing glories lastly an invisible spiritual throne leading them to eternity 15 From that spiritual Majesty by whom was formed the Heavens aforesaid and all in them I positively affirm against all mortals that ever were or shall be that though men have written or shall speak of more worlds then what is fore-written those additional heavens proceeded from their own imaginary confused reason and not from that holy Spirit of all heavenly order CHAP. IX An exact Scripture rule to prove the Man Christ glorified to be Father Son and Holy Spirit in one distinct Person MY beloved brethren which desire a right understanding of spiritual things in Scripture Records take special notice of this one thing and you cannot be deceived by all the wisdom or subtilty of men 2 I say again from the Lord take good notice of those Scriptures which speak positively concerning God or the highest Heavens or Angels or eternal Life or eternal Death or of a natural Heaven and all mortal things within its orb why because you may know that all privative Scriptures though never so eminent or numerous wholly depend upon positive Scriptures 3 My dear brethren for whom my soul is in continual travel until the pure truth be rooted in you some of you being weak of comprehension I shall
worship honor magnifie or adore man or angel is not that giving glory to him or glorying in him 15 Doth not all such kinde of divine worship honor or glory belong onely to the Creator and doth not the Holy One of Israel positively say that he will not give his glory to another what sober sensible man then that hath any spiritual light in him dares say that Christ and the Father are not one undivided personal being seeing all glory in heaven and earth was given unto him onely 16 Again seeing God hath said that he will not give his glory to another and yet all his glory was given unto that Man Christ do not those Trinitary Literal-mongers call the divine Majesty a liar to his face which deny Christ Jesus the Lord of Glory to be that Everlasting Father 17 Doth not the Father give all glory to the Son in Scriptures as well as the Son gives all glory to the Father who art thou then that dividest them into three personal beings presum tuously taking upon thee to share the infinite glory of the Holy One of Israel seeing his glory he will not no nor cannot give to any other distinct person 18 And what art thou then but that Antichrist and utter enemy unto thine own soul and a deceiver of those which are deceived by thy literal wit which saith That Christ was onely an extraordinary Messenger sent forth by the most high God to do his will or that Christ was onely a God and not the God or that Christ onely had the Titles of the divine Majesty put upon him for a season that he might become a fit Mediator between God and man but there was another Father above him that sent him abiding in the highest Heavens unto which he was fain to cry out for help in his need 19 My spiritual brethren if men so acute in the letter can attain to understand this one thing in Scripture Record then those sayings of Christ or Son and such like will be no stumbling-block in their way concerning Christs Father You know that the Lord Jehovah saith Because there was none greater than himself he swore by himself concerning something that was in his minde to bring to pass the thing is this that God of Glory that was compelled to swear by himself for the exaltation of his own greatness in men and angels because there was none beside himself therefore he glorifieth himself alone 20 Again because none could humble or exalt him but himself therefore he alone first exalts himself by an oath that he might be the more admired at of all that know him after that he abaseth himself a little lower then his angelical creatures in respect of death that by vertue of his infinite humility in flesh his glorious Godhead might in that personal manhood exalt it self in a new and wonderful way far above all Gods heavens angels and men 21 Wherefore concerning the Scripture saying The Lord said unto my Lord sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool that is the everlasting Father speaking to himself in a two-fold condition or God the great Jehovah in the height of his glory exalting himself over all opposition in his creatures in the lowest appearance of a creature himself 22 Again the Lord saith He will set his King upon his holy hill of Sion And God saith O God thy throne is from ever and ever wherefore God even thy God hath anointed thee with the oyl of gladness above thy fellows 23 My beloved brethren is there any more then one God and King of Glory perpetually fitting in the midst of the Throne of the highest heavens 24 Is there any more then one God and King spiritually sitting upon his Throne of Sion or souls of his redeemed ones 25 Is not this one God in his Throne above and in his Throne beneath Christ Jesus our Lord 26 If this be granted which none can deny but filthy Atheists over-wise Literalists or very weak Saints I would fain know from any man under what kinde of Trinity soever who that God and King was unto which God said I will set my King upon my holy hill of Sion O God thy throne is for ever and ever 27 If there be but one God and King of Sions glory alone then there cannot be a God and God or a King and a King of eternal glory If this be not good sense let me be reproved with better 28 Again hath God any other King to exalt upon Sions holy hill but himself or to sit on the right hand of all Majesty Wisdom Power and Glory in the personal presence of his mighty Angels Moses and Elias but himself 29 Who then is that most high and mighty God and King of Sions glory or that spiritual All in All or that Alpha and Omega or that Father Son and Holy Spirit but our Lord Jesus Christ in immortal glory it self 30 Thus you that have any true light of life eternal in you may clearly see that the Holy One of Israel which swore by himself to himself for his own further exaltation by the same rule he may change his glorious condition into flesh and having humbled himself to himself he may cause his humanity to speak pray or cry unto his divinity within him or unto his own spiritual charge committed unto his angels without him for a further manifestation of his unsearchable wisdom power and incomprehensible glory in shame and weakness as well as in power and glory as aforesaid 31 Is any thing hard or impossible for an infinite Creator to do when his glory moves him to do it 32 Again did not his infinite power wisdom and glory more abundantly appear in the lowest abasing himself in the visible sight of elect men and angels why then should it seem strange to any sober wise man that the everlasting Father should be clothed with flesh and bone as with a garment 33 Or that Christ Jesus should be both God and man in one distinct body glorified there is none but Christ none but Christ no other God but that man Christ Jesus our Lord if men or Angels should gainsay it 34 Though this may seem strange unto many at present yet they onely are eternally blessed that are not offended with this saving truth but are made obedient unto this crucified and glorified Jesus CHAP. XII 1 To own or believe any other God but Christ is a cursed lie 2 Who are the deceived persons 3 Concerning the true knowledge of God 4 The deceivers of others under conflicts of minde described by many and various expressions ALl the Divine Titles of the Holy One of Israel made over to the second man the Lord from Heaven and is not the Fathers Throne invested upon his person and is not all spiritual honour praise and glory commanded to be attributed unto him by men and angels 2 And is not all the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him bodily and from his
fulness onely do we not all receive and grace for grace if we have any grace at all ruling in us 3 And is he not the Redeemer of his beloved people with his own blood and is he not the Judge of quick dead and was not all things made by him and for him and was there any thing made that was made without him and was he not before all things and do not all things consist in him and are not all things upheld by that Almighty word of his holy Spirit onely 4 Seeing these are undeniable words of Truth it self do not all those men that own any other God or Father or Creator above before or besides our Lord Jesus Christ deny the Holy One of Israel and imagine a cursed lie and bow down to that cursed Idol of their own invented words onely utterly denying that honor and glory due unto Jesus Christ the Creator himself 5 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is that Christ the same is that Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son Whosoever denieth the Son the same hath not the Father he that hath the Son hath that life and he that hath not that Son of God hath not that life he that believeth in the Son of God hath the witness in himself he that believes not God hath made him a liar because he believed not the record that God witnessed of that his Son and this is the record to wit that God hath given unto us eternal life and this life is in that his Son But ye have anointment from that Holy One and know all things These literal words of truth are in the Epistles by St. John All things are given unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11. 6 Some deceived persons ignorantly hold forth a false God or Trinity which say that the infinite Majesty is a vast bodiless spirit also they call their God by a twofold name or spirits a Spirit Father and a Spirit Son and these spirits they say are in their spirits and so these three spirits being one essence make up their imaginary Trinity in Unity 7 These are those which affirm that there is no other God or Father or Creator bâ—t what is invisibly living in the Creation or in the creatures onely and if you soberly ask them whether there be a Creator and concerning the true knowledge of any such Creator you shall receive such like answers as this is 8 The Creator is an infinite incomprehensible Spirit essentially filling all things and places or they will say that a creature is utterly uncapable of any knowledge of the Creator himself but within the creatures onely or else they will tell you that not to know the Creator is the greatest knowledge of a Creator 9 Again you shall have such confusion as this from some of these high flown Atheists the Creator is all things and yet he is nothing at all and is every where and yet he is no where at all 10 If a man shall reply and say Nothing is nothing but if you grant a Creator he must be something as well as his creatures or else there can be no Creator at all 11 Further if a man shall say the Creator must of necessity be some glorious thing which is infinite in it self and distinct from all creatures as well as the creatures are distinct from one another or else you utterly deny a Creator 12 Then these men will say What is your Creator you pretend to know and where is his residence did you ever see him or such like 13 If a man shall reply That the Creator is an incomprehensible glorious person in the form of a man and that by vertue of his brightness he fills heaven and earth angels and men spiritually or naturally onely his ever blessed person is resident on a throne of infinite glory in but one place at once as the person of a man is in this world 14 Then these men are ready to villifie such a Creator as a simple weak thing or else they will say this is to confine an unknown infiniteness into a creaturely substance and such a God of a bodily appearance any way like unto themselves in the least they utterly abhor but as beforesaid a wonderful God which is uncapable of ever being seen or known by the creatures such a non-sensible infinite nothing all vain-glorious men delight to own who love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil 15 Another sort there are of these men which appear more angelical then the rest these are those which are full of expressions of heavenly Raptures through a supposed union with a Father and Son within them onely and various Songs which they call Spiritual breakings forth in them unto which hymns or natural songs mixt with many spiritual expressions in meeter or otherways they bow down their souls and ignorantly say it is the Father breathing forth those fleshly ballads through their mouthes Moreover if these notional flashes shall see any of their own fancies lying under a wounded spirit and through some extraordinary guilt crying out they have that fire of hell burning in them and are those devils which are under eternal damnation already 16 Further though their condition be like unto Cain through the eternal absence of the spirit of God speaking peace unto their outcast condition yet when these notional flashes shall come to visit their friend in this his horrid unutterable pain and shame they will speak such like empty speeches are these Come come it is very good for you that you should be thus afflicted it is a token of the fathers love unto you he will bring all men and women into your condition more or less that the glory of his mercy might shine over all or else they will say 't is the Fathers love in darkness appearing unto you if you could but see it Further they will say unto their hopeless friend wherefore do you thus torment your own soul there is but one pure being and all our spirits came forth from this Father of Spirits and in the end we shall all be swallowed up into the eternal being again wherefore then do you talk so much of eternal damnation or call your self a devil making such lamentation for your sins as if you could possibly be divided from your Fathers love or cast out of his glorious presence I boldly affirm unto you it is no such matter for there are no such devils or damnation or sins at all but in the esteem of men deceived so to think by their fellow creatures which ignorantly lord one over another from some blinde opinion in them wherefore our counsel is that you would hearken no more unto vain thoughts or motions or imaginations within you or words from any creature without you as to become so weak or foolish
to trouble or torment your sâ—lf seeing there is nothing in us but God onely in variety of appearance Furthermore do you not know that he is all in all what then is there besides himself Comfort up your despairing self therefore and understand that it is the spirit of the Father only appearing in you sometimes in light and love and sometimes in death darkness or seeming wrath or envy in the end you shall finde that all visibilities are but meer forms shapes or shadows and that all invisible operations of seeming contrariety was the Father onely who is the first and the last and there is none beside him 17 Again if a more grosser sort of these Trinitary-mongers or rather fleshly Atheists shall come to visit their friend in the condition beforesaid they will endeavour to comfort them or smooth them up with these and such like expressions Friend what is the matter with thee or what is there that should cause thee to be so full of fears or trouble of minde thou fearest where no fear is thou art like unto a child or fool that is frighted with their own shadows or else thou art mad and wantest a Chyrurgeon to let thee blood that the devil damnation sins or ciphers may flie from thee Further they will say unto their wrathful friend Let not that called sin in the least trouble thee but rather let it be thy glory because there is none in such bondage as those that are so nice or scrupulous concerning sin Sin what is sin or sins in us are they any thing else but so many several Stars or Angels in us Art thou not worse then mad therefore to be troubled with the variety of thy Fathers brightness appearing in thee though in seeming darkness 17 Again if none of these or such like cursed speeches take effect with their despairing friend then out of Atheistical madness they will say unto one another That he is an ass and a fool for making such a noise and trouble to his friends as he doth when he will he may help it with case sure it is somewhat doubtful that he dissembles with himself for some by-end to bring his friends into publick shame amongst their â—eligious adversaries 18 My beloved spiritual brethren this is the end of such comforâ—ers and their hellish counsel unto their friend under present wrath O will not Jobs comforters rise up in judgement and condemn all such wretched counsellers as these are at the visible appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ with his mighty Angels 19 Another sort of empty comforters will say unto this their despairing friend Brother how is it with you do you earnestly pray unto the Lord to forgive you your great transgressions committed against him or are you heartily sorry for all your evils or are you willing to be prayed for when the Saints shall meet together or shall we set a day apart of fasting and humiliation before the Lord for you or are you not guilty of some secrets sins lying heavy upon your conscience because you do not disclose them through which the prayers of the Saints are not answered certainly your sins are not so great but if you confess them and forsake them they are pardonable cry therefore mightily unto the Lord day and night we also will do the like that your wounded spirits may be heal'd but it may be you have comitted some such horrible wickednes that God will not suffer you to be in peace though you cry never so much or long unto him until you are made to desire his Saints to lay open your rebellions before him in publick or private zealously fasting and crying unto him with a loud and bitter voice that this sort of soul despairing sins or devils may be cast out of you or it may be you have committed some secret action of murder buggery or such like and therefore the Lord will neither answer our prayers or your own or ever suffer you to be in peace more until you are cut off by the hand of the Magistrate therefore that you may be delivered from the wrath of God upon you and die in peace our counsel is that you will hide none of your rebellions committed against the Lord or man CHAP. XIII 1 Of the language and conditions of two sorts of men and women 2 The one elected unto Glory the other rejected unto shame 3 The Prophets declaration thereupon IN the next place I shall speak of two sorts of men and women the one elected unto glory the other rejected unto shame or which have committed the unpardonable sin against the holy Spirit through reprobation and which hath not through election yet both of them may continue under despair to their lives end for the manifestation of the prerogative will or pleasure of the Creator over his creatures and who art thou that dares dispute against it 2 My spiritual brethren if an elect vessel hath been left to commit adultery buggery murder or such like and lyeth under despair and if he hath not fallen under these serpentine stinging evils but is wounded in spirit through a continual fear of being overcome through temptation to commit it one time or other 3 Or suppose he is full of blasphemous thoughts against the Creator through which there is a continual fear in him of eternal damnation yet there is so much light of life in him secretly upholding his bleeding spirit that if you discourse with him concerning his condition he will usually utter these or such like words I know God is able to pass by all my rebellions against him but I fear he will not Or he will say Do you think that if God did purpose to shew mercy unto me or had ever any thoughts of love unto my poor soul that he would suffer me to do those detestable evils against nature it self beside my inward dreadful temptations against himself Again they wil say I cannot believe that ever any of the beloved of the Lord were ever under any such strange temptations or desperate thoughts against the Lord or against my self my wife my children or relations as I am Again they will say When I finde any motion of deep sorrow in me for all my rebellions and a full resolution by the power of the Lord to forsake them and a desire to love the Lord in hope of his mercy or to praise him for his preserving me under all past dangers then immediately I am subject to the most firiest temptations of all therefore what hopes can there be for such a one as I am I fear hopes or desires concerning me is but vain sure my condition is as bad if not worse than Cain Balaam Judas or any such like 4 Notwithstanding these and such like hopeless expressions yet if they finde a man that experimentally understands the sadness of their condition they are apt to desire that man to intreat the Lord for them 5 Again what ever befalls them they have this property abiding in
them that if you speak of the Creator you shall never hear them speak evil of his most glorious person nor endure to hear any one blaspheme his holy Name but on the contrary in the very depth of their despairings they will speak honorably of the Holy One of Israel and justifie him in all his proceedings towards them or any other of his creatures 6 The truth is this is that repentance or godly sorrow in them proceeding from the Holy Spirit and that most acceptable spiritual sacrifice that can be offered up unto him if the wounded spirit did but know it 7 An elect vessel under fear of the wrath to come hath this property in it also that it is both ready and willing if it be perswaded that the Lord will speak peace through the mouth of any man or woman unto its poor soul even to walk unto the ends of the earth to hear the voice of the Lord in that creature 8 Another true testimony in a chosen vessel is this notwithstanding his present hopelesness of mercy in reference to his former rebellions yet his soul through the secret love of God by his own light in him is not onely fearful of further temptation unto evil but it doth also abhor all kinde of iniquity whatsoever upon the account of its contrariety against the Divine Majesty and is full of longing after perfection whether it be through life or death 9 Again another infallible testimony of an experimental wounded spirit is this if out of bitterness of spirit they open their sorrows unto their supposed or real friends they will oftentimes say these or such like words O wretched creature that I am sure never any one rebelled against such light as I have done I have been so ravisht sometimes with the presence of the divine Glory shining into my poor soul that I thought I had been unmsveable for ever and yet in a little season through remembrance of former iniquities committed against so glorious a Maâ—esty or â—ew temptations against so gracious a Father I am so full of burning horror of confused darkness as if never any true light of life had appeared in me 10 Again through a strong desire of knowing of the secret purpose of the Creator towards them they will say O that I never had been born or that I had been a toad or any other created being but a man or that that God which gave me a being would finish my intollerable sorrows through my everlasting dissolution Or if I must perish O that I were in it that I might know what I must trust unto for I think I should finde more ease then now I do or if it be thy pleasure neither to let me know it nor know it not O give me strength to bear it and leave me under the hottest wrath that thy fury can administer unto me 11 These and such like bitter lamentations are the elect beloved of the most high God subject unto which are left under a despairing condition upon what account soever A man may bear any natural sufferings whatsoever because he knoweth they will have an end but a wounded spirit who can bear not knowing any end thereof 12 It is thou O Lord Jesus Christ which wounds the souls of thy redeemed ones through thy spiritual absence and it is thou alone must heal them with thy glorious presence 13 It is not in the power of men or angels if they could weep rivers of blood or could submit for a season to bear the same wrath in their own spirits that can move thee in the least to release that wounded soul whom thou lovest as thine own self until the fixed time thereof which is onely known to thy self that thou alone mayst have the glory of all thy love tryals 14 O empty vain men who ever you are which measure the unsearchable wisdom of the Holy One of Israel by your own lying imaginations and by your blinde reason think to perswade the unchangeable God with goodly words to walk out of his own way 15 And because your vain spirits are upon any occasion subject to change you think the unchangeable God is like unto your selves and may change also and so either for silver or honor or both you combine together as one man to publick or private meetings to cheat one another with flattering speeches and call it the pure worship of God being ready to condemn all that come not to it as ungodly men orhereticks though in their dealings be ween man and man they are seven times more righteous than your selves and in obedience unto the Lord Jesus Christ are subject to all civil Authority for conscience sake by suffering under them leaving all vengeance unto the Lord who hath said Vengeance is mine and I will repay it CHAP. XIV 1 A moderate Discourse concerning Civil Wars in a Kingdom 2 The peoples subjection to the Laws 3 Wherein several Objections are answered 4 Many things of very great consequence seasonably declared IN the next place give me leave to take notice of this that I do not account those men truly rational which say there is no God but Nature onely 2 Or which say that God is onely an incomprehensible formless Spirit 3 Neither do I account them spiritual or rational which confess an infinite being of beings and yet deny the creature to be a creature and the Creator to be the Creator my meaning is this which make no difference between the glorious Creator and the poor empty creature but affirm the divine Majesty of glorious purities to have his abode in all impure spirits 4 Though God is the life of all sensible or insensible living beings by vertue of Creation yet I positively affirm against men or angels that neither heaven earth angels nor men are capable of the In-dwelling Essence of his holy Spirit but his own person onely 5 Again I do not account those men truly spirit◠〈◊〉 or rational as yet which pretend to know themselves to be personal living beings and yet deny the personal God of all infinite glories 6 Moreover though men speak like Oracles and seemingly appear to be innocent as Doves yet if they say there is no God but within this world onely or if they confess a God upon the Throne of his Glory in another world if they say he is three persons in coequal Godhead glory or in degree one above another or their Spirits are in one personal Majesty or any such like confusion concerning the one personal being of our Lord Jesus Christ 7 From his unerring spirit I declare that none of these are the men that I account spiritual or rational grounded men what ever good thoughts they have of themselves or one of another wherefore if there be any sober rational man in the world come let us reason together 8 What though thou and this present Civil Powers to your own thinking and full resolution of equal good to the three Nations did engage together against
our Lord Jesus Christ to this I answer It is impossible for any Civil Magistrate to be obedient to this Rule because you know then that he could not execute justice upon any man upon what account soever 30 Again whether a Magistrate be a just or unjust person yet you may know that upon a civil account he represents the person or place of the righteous Judge of quick and dead wherefore according to his obedience or disobedience unto his commands he shall be rewarded in this world or that to come Therefore know that since the God of glory clothed himself with flesh and bone in the form of a man to kill or consent to murther the Head Magistrate it is as if thou hadst murthered the King of Glory himself 31 Though nothing comes to pass by chance or fortune but by the Providential Decree of the most High God yet no man can be cleared in his Conscience from the guilt of innocent blood all his days if secretly or openly he shall consent to kill the Ruler of the Nation without an immediate command by voice of words from the God of heaven and earth 32 Suppose the former Governors of these Nations were guilty of much innocent blood and ruine of Families by their Spiritual Courts so called and through their imaginary wisdom Lucifer-like sate in the throne of God commanding men to worship their inventions triumphing over all tender Consciences which could not bow down to their Egyptian Calves and yet what spiritual or sober rational man can blame those men for their willful bloody-mindedness seeing a blinde fiery zeal moved them to it in reference to the worship of their God 33 If any of them through covetousness of silver or honor amongst earthly Princes did onely pretend a Divine Worship and through secret envy to those which could not obey their commands did ruine men to the utmost of their power through those Jesuitical Councellors who were Atheistical can any sober man imagine or think that those men were not oftentimes convinced of hypocritical irrationality besides a secret fear of eternal vengeance notwithstanding all their fleshly glory through which they were strengthned in their spirits to flatter themselves up with vain hope that there was no God at all or if there was any God to cheat themselves with a conceit that it was irrational cruelty for a man to think that the Creator could be so unmerciful as to create men for eternal damnation in reference to momentary infirmities which their frail natures could by no means prevent 34 Again if thou which thus reasonest didst truly understand that thou hadst no power in thy self to withstand these natural evils beforesaid thou couldst not possibly then commit them but this is hid from thine eyes by the secret wisdom of the most High God that thou mightest clear his divine Justice in reference to thy former cruelties with everlasting thoughts that thou mightest have done otherwise when thou wast in thy earthly pomp if thou wouldst 35 If the God of Glory should neither recompence men in this life nor in that to come for all their wilful vain-glorious bloody cruelties which they think they could prevent if they would then indeed these seeming wise men may justly say if there be a God he is so far from any spiritual equity that he falleth short of all rational equity whatsoever 36 Another infallible demonstration of the truth of this writing is this that though many writings extant are more accute in form of words yet throughout this Book thou shalt finde no point absolutely contradicting it self nor one another 37 Again another testimony of the truth of this writing is this That it discovereth the vanity of all formal or irrational opinion in man concerning God Worship Angels Devil Sin Heaven or Hell 38 By this infallible Rule also thou mayest know that this Epistle proceeded from a spirit infinitely above all kinde of reasoning in man or Angels because it alloweth no man upon what pretence soever to murther one another or to sit in Gods throne to cut off the Head Magistrate or to rebel against him with a sword of steel or to speak evil of him or desire evil unto him 39 Moreover though this Book was penn'd by the hand of a sinful man yet by this undeniable Argument thou mayest know it proceeded from that Spirit that cannot be deceived because it denies all power in man or angel as to be capable to act spiritual or natural good to one another or to resist spiritual or natural evil without a continued light proceeding from a spiritual body too infinitely glorious to be essentially united to heaven earth angels or men yet this wonderful God is now for everlasting abiding in a body of flesh and bone therefore not a bone of him was suffered to be broken upon the tree or corrupted in the grave onely his Godhead natural Life was left in this world for an everlasting Consolation unto those that shall attain to believe that it was the unvaluable Life-blood of the onely Wise God himself that was freely poured out unto death for the redemption from the power of sin and fear of eternal death and for a dreadful witness at the Great Day against those men that shall be left to their own unbelieving spirit to vilifie the glorious God for abasing himself into the likeness of sinful mortals CHAP. XV. 1 Of the Error of Errors in men who say that there is no other God or Christ but in this Creation onely 2 Several Objections and Answers concerning the death of the soul 3 The light of Christ in man is the invisible image of God which purifieth the inward filthiness of the flesh and spirit and presents the certain truth of an eternal life of glory or shame 4 No need of a new birth if there be a sufficient light of Christ in generation to conduct to heaven 5 Children cannot understand spiritual or natural good or evil so need not Christs spiritual gifts in the womb for eternal happiness 6 A great error to believe that the essence of the eternal Spirit dwelleth in any man but in the Lord Jesus onely 7 Two marks of Reprobates YOu that are truly spiritual may know that there are many thousands of Atheistical minded men and women at this instant which are possessed with a spirit reprobated unto all inward and outward purity out of which there is no redemption what ever men shall vainly imagine to the contrary onely their decreed time of eternal damnation in the sight of elect men and Angels is fixed These are those which say all things comes naturally of themselves Also they will say there is no beginning of any thing at all but from all eternity all things were as you see and so shall continue to all eternity 2 There are many of these men which appear in Temples of Stone or else where as experimental speakers of the everlasting Gospel and are more accute in a seeming glorious language
was buried canst thou then be convinced that thy sinful soul is mortal and must die also 28 In the 53. of Isaiah it is written he poured out his soul unto death Again it is written that his soul was heavy unto death Again it is written that his soul was made an offering for sin Again in the first of Revel it is written I am he that was dead and am alive and behold I live for evermore Again it is written in St. John I lay down my life of my self no man takes it from me I have power to lay it down and power to take it again Christ therefore died and rose again and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and the quick In the second of the Acts of the Apostles it is written thou wilt not leave my soul in grave nor suffer thy holy One to see corruption 29 Behold is it not as clear as the light in these Scripture Records that the pure soul of Christ himself died and was buried in the Grave for a moment and doest thou think thy sinful soul is immortal and shall scape death 30 Again thou canst not be so fortish as to think that the spirit of Christ was buried alive in the grave neither canst thou possibly prove by these Scriptures that his soul was not buried with his body in the grave how then canst thou or darest thou say that thy polluted soul is immortal and cannot die 31 Again did that spotless soul that was uncapable of the least motion of folly enter into death and dost thou think that thy soul shall scape death which naturally is become so full of folly that it is utterly uncapable in it self of all kinde of purity whatsoever 32 If no sinful man be capable of the in-dwelling of the Spirit of God some men may say unto me What is that spirit light or life of Christ spoken of in the Scriptures which all men are made partakers of except they be reprobates 33 From a divine gift of the Eternal Spirit to this I answer The elect of God being endued with the vertues fruits or effects of the most Holy Spirit these heavenly graces or motions in the minde proceeding from the glorious Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ are called by the divine Titles of God himself because they are of the very same nature operating the very same effects of immortal glory in the end of the world as it did upon Christ himself 34 Again you know it is written in Scripture The fruits of the Spirit is love peace gentleness goodness faith long suffering brotherly kindness and such like against which there is no Law Also it is written That men were made partakers of the divine nature and that Christ did live in mens hearts by faith And that Christ said He was the Vine and his Apostles or Believers were the Branches and his Father or Spirit was the Husbandman Again it is written Let the same minde be in you that was even in Christ Jesus Likewise it is written There were diversity of gifts or operations of the Spirit of God in men 35 My spiritual brethren which wait for a Crown that fadeth not away if you compare Scriptures with Scriptures you may see then that no sinful mortal did or possibly could possess the in-dwelling essence of the Spirit of God himself but onely the in-shining motions operations voices vertues fruits or effects of that most glorious Spirit 36 Again it is written That Christ is the Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world and why so Truly because there is no other Father Spirit Creator or God at all but Christ Jesus alone to give light unto men or angels that is all men which are enlightned with the true light that leadeth unto life eternal receive it only from the glorious Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ 37 Again though it is said that Christ is the Light of the world or that he giveth light unto every man that cometh into the world yet it doth not therefore follow that all men are partakers of the light of Christ in them unto life eternal 38 Furthermore I confess there is so much light of Christ in the most wickedst of men to convince them of sin but not to restrain them or convert them from evil 39 Again there is a two-fold light of Christ in men the one is literal and the other is spiritual 40 Now you that are truly enlightned from above may understand that there is naturally so much light of Christs Law written in every sensible mans spirit to convince him of good and evil and to cause him oftentimes to confess the truth and to wish that he could love it or do it or that he might die the death of the righteous like unto Baalam 41 But though this legal light of Christ in men be never so great in measure yet no man was ever capable by it to be made inwardly obedient unto the spirit of Christ our Lord Jesus 42 Therefore who ever thou art which sayest that all men have so much light in them as will make them happy if they will thou knowest not as yet what it is to possess that spiritual new birth of true light unto life eternal 43 That light of Christ which doth not onely convince a man of inward Rebellions and convert him from the ruling power of them may also be called by a two-fold name either a created light or a renewed light 44 This light of Christ in man is that invisible image of God which doth not onely purifie the inward filthiness of flesh and spirit but doth also in some measure present unto the understanding the certain truth of an eternal personal glory or everlasting shame of a life to come 45 Again you know it is written that except a man be born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven Also it is written From his fulness we all receive and grace for grace 46 My spiritual brethren if a mans understanding is not capable to comprehend any thing of the invisible and visible things of the Kingdom of Glory except the eternal Spirit of Christ Jesus convey a new and shining light into him what then think you will become of those men which say there is so much light of Christ planted in every mans spirit that is sufficient to make him eternally happy if he will but hearken unto it 47 If all men which are begotten and brought forth by the spirits of sinful parents were naturally endued in the womb with such a measure of the light of Christ in them that will safely conduct them into the Kingdom of Glory if they will what need then would there be of any new birth at all from the Lord Jesus Christ Or what man would want any further light from the Holy Spirit of the onely everliving God 48 Again it is written When Christ ascended on high that he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men 49 My
spiritual brethren you know that by nature we are all under a tyrannical yoke of spiritual darkness and all maner of fleshly uncleanness whatsoever 50 Also you know that innocent infants though defiled in their natures through generation yet they are neither capable to understand spiritual or natural good or evil therefore they have no need of Christs spiritual gifts in the womb for to ensure themselves of their own eternal happiness 51 Again if the Lord Jesus Christ alone is the light and life of men and if all men that are saved must of necessity receive a new light unto their dark souls from his Divine Spirit then without controversie those men as yet are utterly ignorant of the new and true birth of the ever-living Jesus which say every man hath so much light of Christ in them that is sufficient to salvation if they will 52 Again if every man have the spirit of Christ living in his conscience as many men vainly imagine what then is become of the spiritual body or that Jesus that ascended into the throne of his glory in the visible fight of men and angels 53 Or what man hath any need of his spiritual gifts or heavenly graces at all if his Christ and he was conceived and born together from the womb of his mother 54 When the Apostle said For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and from his fulness we all receive and grace for grace I would fain know from any man whatsoever whether that God or Christ were in them when they spake or writ those words 55 Again if that Godhead spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord had been within them when they uttered those speeches I suppose it had been more proper for them to have said For in us dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily If the Apostles had always possessed the spirit of God or Christ within them then they uttered but vain words when they speak of receiving of grace or truth from a personal Christ without them 56 Again if Christ or his Spirit had been within the Apostles when they spoke of his divine Glory or Godhead fulness of grace and truth would it not have been more proper for them to have said from that God or Christ within us we are filled with all manner of spiritual consolations or heavenly perfections whatsoever 57 If Christ or his Spirit were within men when they uttered those words all faith or hope in reference to eternal glory was vain and of no effect why because if men have their God or Christ within them onely they are no more under the teachings of another spirit but are as glorious already as ever they are like to be But what saith the Scripture If our hopes were in this life onely we were of all men most miserable Again concerning these words Christ in you the hope of glory Or know ye not that the Spirit of Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 58 My beloved brethren what need any man hope for glory if he hath the Spirit of Glory resting upon him already 59 Again I hope no man will say that he hath a Christ in him that hopes after glory or stands in need of any glorification whatsoever Well then the minde of the Spirit of Christ in those words was this That except your understanding be enlightned from the eternal Spirit of a glorified Christ in that heavenly throne above the stars ye are but reprobates 60 Or thus Except you are filled with the gifts of graces of that glorious God-man Christ Jesus who is ascended far above all Heavens Angels or men know ye not that you are but in the State of reprobation 61 Or as if the Apostle should have said Know ye not that you are but meet reprobates if ye glory of a God or Christ within you and deny the Godhead person of that Lord Jesus Christ that was crucified upon a tree without you 62 Again who ever thou art which glorieth of a spiritual union with a God or Christ within thee and despisest a personal glorified Christ of flesh and bone without thee yea and distinct from thee in another world I say from his eternal Spirit thou art but a reprobate 63 Who ever thou art which boasteth of a God and a Christ and his Ordinances and of a glory to come without thee in the highest heavens if thou shalt be left to the pride and envy of thy formal spirit to condemn the invisible teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ in his innocent people because they are contrary to thy opinion I say from the everliving Emanuel that thou art also but a reprobate CHAP. XVI 1 Of divers comparisons of the Spirit or Person of Christ unto the face of the natural Sun 2 No man or Angel can be capable of the in-dwelling of Gods essence but his own person onely THe Spirit or person of Christ may fitly be compared unto the face of the natural Sun in divers respects you may know that the natural spirit of the Sun by vertue of the decreed word of the Lord is so exceeding fiery glorious that no created thing that hath natural life in it is capable of its in-dwelling brightness but it s own body or face onely 2 So likewise that infinite Spirit abiding within the glorious body or face of our Lord Jesus Christ is so unspeakeable fiery glorious that no created spirit of man or Angel is able to bear the indwelling essence of it but it s own body or face onely 3 Again you know that all natural things of the day are preserved onely by vertue of that inward light life beauty or glory in them which shineth through the body or face of the Sun onely 4 So likwise all spiritual light life beauty joy or glory within the spirits of elect men and Angels shineth onely through the glorious heavenly mouth of Christ Jesus our Lord. 5 Again though both sensible and insensible creatures are preserved in their well beings by vertue of a measurable light and heat proceeding from the Sun you may know that if the essence of the Sun were on this earth it would not onely put out the fire but also immediately consume all things to ashes or dry sand 6 So likewise though the spiritual well beings of elect men and Angels are onely preserved by vertue of a measurable light and life proceeding from that bright shining spirit through the face of Christ Jesus our Lord yet if the essence of his spirit were within the spirits of any created beings it would consume them immediately to powder 7 Again though all created beings under the Sun are enlivened and continued by vertue of its light and heat through which according to their kind they are full of joy yet if the Sun should absent it self a little too long all his former light would vanish like smoke and the creature would both languish and perish for want of a new supply from its presence so likewise it
one another by writings or speakings unless they are hurried on for silver or an everlasting name 10 If there be no other God or Christ but within mens consciences onely is it not one of the maddest things in the world for men to talk of rebellion against the divine Majesty or of any cruelty acted between man and man whatsoever 11 Is not the divine nature of the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ all Wisdom Power Glory Love Meekness Patience Long-suffering Justice Righteousness yea Salvation it self or condemnation to whom it pleaseth for manifesting the glory of its power 12 Sure I am that none can will or dare deny this truth but reprobates Wherefore if the very spirit of God were living within the spirits of men could there possibly then be any thing else but a godlike harmony between them 13 Is not the eternal spirit of Christ Jesus in it self a glorious order and is not every man living at varience within himself and so at the best is but a disorderly piece of contradiction or confusion in himself 14 If this be truth which none can deny but vain glorious cast aways how then think you it possible that any mortal man that is but polluted dust should be capable of the indwelling essence of the Spirit of God or if he enjoyed the eternal spirit what could be in him but a glorious harmony 15 If no created being is capable of the indwelling essence of the Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ because of its incomprehensible glory but it s own body onely some men may say unto me if the Spirit of God be infinite what person place or creatures can be excluded of its invisible presence from that light of life eternal 16 To this I answer There is a twofold invisible presence of God in all sensible or insensible beings that have any light or vertue in them 17 There is a natural presence of God by vertue of creation which shall perish and come to confusion for everlasting 18 Also there is a spiritual presence of God in elect mankind by vertue of redemption which gloriously increaseth and continueth to all eternity 19 Again what ever natural wise men imagine or think from the spirit of all truth it self I declare that all created natural light life or joy both visible and invisible shall become utter darkness and a Chaos of everlasting confusion because though it made not it self it is as contrary to the nature of that spirit that made it as light and darkness or life and death 20 Who ever thou art unto whom this seemeth strange if thou wast in nature as wise as Solomon yet if thou hast no distinction in thee between this natural perishing God of time and that spiritual flourishing God of eternity as yet thou art in utter darkness concerning any heavenly thing whatsoever 21 Though all natural or spiritual light do virtually flow from the divine Spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord yet if that eternal Spirit were not a glorious being distinct from all created beings it could not possibly be infinite 22 Why because you may understand that infinite life doth not consist in bigness or bulk of things but in its exceeding brightness of wisdom power and glory in it self in that it can contain its infinite brightness within its own person onely or let forth his inshining glory by degrees in the spirit of elect men or Angels as it pleaseth him 23 Though all light or life in men or Angels proceed from the natural or divine presence of the one holy Spirit of God himself yet if that eternal Spirit were essentially united unto those creatures it could not possibly then be infinite 24 To be essentially dwelling within all living things is not infiniteness but finitness but as beforesaid to be a glorious being in it self in the bigness of man and essentially distinct from Heavens Earth Angels and Men and yet from so small a compass though at never so small a distance all created beings in heaven or in earth to be virtually filled with his divine or natural presence in their measures according to the pleasure of his good will by a word speaking in this is all infiniteness indeed 25 If there were no God or Creator at all but what doth live increated beings then it is possible that all beings and their indwelling God may eternally vanish together because there is that in them which is more natural to provoke them all to murder one another and kill themselves then the good of one another for alas you know that it is both a common and easie thing oftentimes with small means for men to destroy themselves or one another and is it not by the same rule as easie totally to cut off all the creation at once 26 If this be truth which no sober man can deny what then would become of men and their Christ if this totall dissolution at once should fall upon them 27 If the Spirit of the most high God be so infinitely vast boundless or that it is both the light and life of all spiritual or natural things or places whatsoever as is abundantly declared some unsatisfied men in this point may say unto me That to confine this incomprehensible Spirit of the omnipresent God of Heaven and Earth into one single person and place at once like unto a poor mortal man seems unto us an imprisoning of infiniteness into a narrow compass instead of declaring its incomprehensible glory from a divine gift of life eternal To this I answer 28 Is it not rather an imprisoning of the everliving God and robbing him wholly of his infinite glory for any man to divide his most blessed Majesty into distinct persons or to divide his Godhead Spirit into all spirits of men and Angels leaving no throne or person for the divine glory to be in but his created beings onely 29 In stead of honoring that Spirit within the glorious person of Christ Jesus our Lord doth not those men that affirm the indwelling of that infinite spirit in the whole Creation not onely share the divine glory and Godhead titles of the eternal Spirit amongst the lying creatures but also wholly deny any other Creator or eternal Spirit within or without men but perishing nature onely whatever they pretend to the contrary 30 What dishonor or disadvantage is it unto an infinite Spirit to possess his ravishing glories to himself within a distinct body of his own nay is it not altogether advantagious unto his divine Majesty that it should be so and that it can be no other ways for alas you know that it stands to good sence or reason that if the God of Glory were onely an invisible spirit dwelling within the Creation he could not theâ— possess any new joys or ravishing glories to himself but the whole creation of men or Angels must be partakers with him as soon as he 31 Therefore you that are truly spiritual may know that those men that talk of a
God or a Christ living in mens consciences only and cannot endure to hear of a distinct personal God upon the throne of his glory in the Heavens above the Stars 32 What ever God-like shape they appear in as yet they are but freewill redemptionists or refined naturalists at the best and all their speakings though mixed with many words of truth tend to nothing else but meritorious popery from themselves and tyrannical Prelacy over one another CHAP. XVIII 1 A discourse that the divine being is clothed with flesh and bone 2 How God knows all things in the world 3 Of the manner of Gods taking upon him humane nature 4 What the form of God was before he became flesh 5 No spirit can enjoy happiness or misery without a body IS not Heaven Earth Angels and Men as they are created beings subâ—ect to change or to be changed 2 Doth not all men that acknowledge a Creator conclude that his spirit is infinite unchangeable immortall and eternal as beforesaid 3 Wherefore if this infinite or boundless Spirit of the Eternal Majesty were dwelling within the spirits of men or Angels could it possibly be avoided but every thing then would become infinite unchangeable immortal and eternal in it self as he is 4 Doth not the Scriptures call the glorious Spirit of the everliving God by titles a consuming fire and everlasting burnings 5 O all ye lucepherian despisers of a glorious God in the person of a man wonder and perish at a miracle of all miracles that shall be declared unto the general view of men in this place 6 Wherefore behold ye elect and precious Jewels of divine glory though the eternal spirit of your Creator and Redeemer be of so fiery glorious a nature that neither Fire Air Earth Water Sun Moon Stars Heavens Earth Angels Men nor any thing else is capable of the indwelling of it one moment without being consumed to Ashes Dust Sand or Powder yet this infinite bright burning spirit is contained within a single person of flesh and bone glorified 7 Yea and is so united unto it that all its divine pleasures naturally floweth from its essential owness to all eteâ—nity 8 Insomuch that from that unerring spirit I positively declare against men or Angels that this fiery glorious spirit cannot possibly possess any sensible living being out of that blessed body of flesh and bone in glory no more then the mortal soul of a man can live without its natural body of flesh blood and bone in shame 9 Though the heavenly body of the eternal Majesty be very flesh and bone it self yet I would gladly have you that are spiritual to understand that through the indwelling of its Godhead spirit it is so fiery glorious that neither men nor Angels can behold his faâ—â— and live unless their spirits be strengthned by vertue of its inshining excellency 10 Though the glorious body of the everliving God be very flesh and bone yet you may understand that its clearer then Cristal brighter then the Sun swifter then thought yea and infinitely more softer then Doun and sweeter then Roses 11 You may also know that the visible sight of so glorious a face is that which will eternally ravish the spirits of men and Angels 12 You may also understand that though the body of Christ glorified be very flesh and bone of a burning bright swift soft sweet nature beyond all expression of men or Angels yet it is of an immortal fiery glorious softness or sweetness and not of a mortal fiery nature mixt together as the most softest or sweetest of pleasures in this world are 13 Though the infinite Spirit of the unchangeable God is clothed with his eternal Son beforesaid which was too pure to be subjected by sin wrath death hell or the grave yet you that are truly enlightned from on high may know that by vertue of his wisdom or transcendent glory he perfectly seeth through Heavens Earth Angels and Men at once and knoweth all motions thoughts desires words or actions in all things whatsoever without charging his spiritual memory in the least 14 Therefore it is written that the eyes of the Lord pass to and fro through the earth beholding the just and the unjust and the Lord knoweth that the heart of man is vain and his imaginations are evil and onely evil and continually evil and all evil things that are done now in secret with delight shall be revealed upon the house top or head of mens understandings soon enough and with sorrow pain and shame enough what ever is thought or said to the contrary 15 If the Spirit of the divine Majesty be so infinitely glorious that no created being is capable of the indwelling of its divine Godhead some men may say unto me had not that man Christ called the Son of God his being on the womans part from the loins of Mary his mother as well as other children If this be truth which the Scriptures clearly demonstrated how then could that childe Jesus be capable of the indwelling of an infinite spirit any more then any other childe whatsoever 16 Unto this curious query from the unerring spirit I answer though that childe Christ Jesus had beginning of the seed of his Virgin Mother as all children have yet he was that Holy One of Israel which from eternity was a spiritual body in form like a man therefore when he entred into the Virgins Womb he laid down his infinite spiritual glory by vertue of his Godhead power that he might be capable to transmute create or conceive himself of the Virgins seed into a condition of pure flesh blood and bone in a new and wonderful way for an everlasting astonishment unto elect men and Angels 17 Wherefore the Virgin Mary his Mother was forewarned by the Angel of his glorious and gracious purpose that her soul might be prepared for that marvelous incoming of her onely God and Savior to become the Redeemer of his elect people from the power of sin and fear of eternal death 18 It is written great is the mystery of godliness which is God was manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up to glory Again it is written who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God but he made himself of no reputation and took on him the form of a servant 19 Is there any more then one God and was not Christ the form of this invisible God before he became the person of a man and did not that spiritual form of Christ Jesus enter into the Virgins Womb and became a pure natural form 20 Moreover was not Christ and his Father onely one uncreated heavenly person from all eternity 21 Though I undoubtably affirm that Christ Jesus eternally was the divine form of the invisible God yet I would not have any man imagine or think that I go about to prove the Creator to be a body
the minde of Christ from John's words in the beginning of the 11. Chapter the first words are these then was given me a Reed like unto a Rod and the Angel stood by saying Rise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two moneths 21 My devine friends you may understand that that reed like unto a rod possessed by John was a free gift of inspiration which he received from a glorified Christ in the high heavens by his Angel whereby like unto a skillful Land-measurer his understanding was enabled to comprehend the spiritual signification of the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein 22 You may also understand that the Temple and them that did worship therein did signifie Gods spiritual house or tabernacle of elect Jews and Gentiles which make but one compleat body for Christ Jesus their head to raign in by his heavenly light 23 That Altar spoken of by John did signifie the glorious body or Tabernacle of the eternal spirit unto which divine Altar or Godhead person those spiritual worshippers were vertually united by a received light from that infinite Majesty through which invisible intercourse sometimes their souls were full of spiritual joy through that inward seal of Godlike glory which they were to enjoy in the life to come 24 You may understand that that unmeasured Court without the Temple did signifie the visible Scriptures 25 You know that when sacrifices or ordinances were in force at Hierusalem there was the inward Temple and outward Porch or Court joyning to the Temple 26 You also know the Court without the Temple was a common place for all people to meet in but none might enter into the inward Temple in the time of their worship but the chief Priests or those that were Confessors of the true God and approved of by those teachers of the Law 27 Likewise you may understand that the outward Court or Scripture which is common to all men that was left unmeasured or cast out did signifie all the out-cast unbelieving Jews and Gentiles and the inward Temple or spirit of the Scriptures did signifie all the Elect believing Jews and Gentiles in that glorious Altar beforesaid 28 Again you know that the Court of the Temple was an outward ornament or witness unto the beauty or glory within the Temple 29 So likewise the Court of the visible Scriptures is an ornament or testimony unto that eternal spirit of all truth within the Temple Body or Tabernacle of the everliving God and vertually in a great measure living in the Temples or bodies of his elect that are inabled to give a true distinction between the things of eternal life and eternal death 30 Again you know it is said that the unmeasured Court without the Temple was given to the Gentiles and that they should tread the holy City under foot two and forty moneths 31 You spiritual ones may know that the minde of the Holy Spirit in those words was this that to fulfil the Prophesie of Christ concerning the destruction of the Jews their Temple and City of Hierusalem by the Romans through conquest they should possess the literal Records written by the Prophetical and Apostolical Jews and not onely worship it in stead of the eternal spirit but also by cruel persecution for above thirteen hundred years were to tyrannize over the Holy City of spiritual Jews and Gentiles that could not bow down unto their inventions 32 You that are spiritual may know that the Roman Gentiles here spoken of by John are those people which men call Cavaliers whose Princely race sprang first from the loins of King Herod that bloody persecutor of the Lord of glory and so streamed into the line of the tyrannical Roman Empire or Popedom 33 From this papal power whatever Apostical or Christian stile they attribute to themselves through all the Christian world so called they have banded together as one man to tread underfoot as beforesaid that chosen City of heavenly minded Jews and Gentiles 34 Because their innocent souls could not forsake that everliving Altar manifested unto them and bow down to their Egyptians Calves set up as a snare unto the people chiefly for fleshly gain and perishing glory from men of their own spirits 35 Also you that are spiritual take special notice of this that these two witnesses or Prophets spoken of in the 11. of the Revelation did not appear unto men until the Gentile power of persecuting Bishops were extinguished in this land 36 But it may be objected by some that one Bull and Varnum and others long before them have pretended to be these two witnesses and yet it came to nothing 37 To this I answer by way of query can any man make it appear from any Record since the Apostles time that in any Land or Nation two men did ever bear witness in all opposition of all men or Angels unto the man Jesus Christ glorified to be the onely God everlasting Father and Creator of both worlds Angels and men 38 Again amongst all the pretended Prophets in the world doth any of them bear witness unto one personal Majesty distinct from Heavens Earth Angels and men 39 Nay of the contrary do they not all rather disown such a God as a weak or carnal thing and as one man like unto Baals four hundred Priests and the false Prophets and Priests in all ages imagine the Creator to be an infinite formless spirit 40 If any man should moderately enquire of the pretended Prophets or spiritual lights in this age concerning the knowledge of the Creator or a glory to come is there any answer to be had from them but this or such like the Creator is an infinite invisible unchangeable eternal spirit or else they will say the Creator is all wisdom love purity riches beauty joy righteousness justice or divine excellencies he fils heaven and earth he is the all in all and there is nothing besides him or else they will say the more ye desire the knowledge of the Creator the less you will know of him because he is infinite or they will bid you minde that God or Choist within you and trouble not your self about incomprehensible infiniteness thus these false Prophets of cursed Cain make a wonderment of an infinite Creator of nothing but meer words onely 41 Thou which art puffed up with such a Creator as this is shalt one day know to thy eternal sorrow and shame what it is to despise a personal God infinitely full of all glorious perfection 42 When this personal Majesty shall shew his infinite power upon thee through the retaining of his inshining light from thy Lucepheâ—ian spirlt and shall leave thee and thy inward God in an unspeakable condition of eternal shame and confusion of sould and
eternity a distinct Glory is it not of necessity that this everliving being should be a glorious something 16 Is it not both lawful and expedient also for a man according to sobriety to declare unto his spiritual and natural brethren what this glorious God was and is that man being sent forth by the eternal Spirit for that very end or purpose 17 Doth not all men which confess a Creator conclude positively there is but one God and no more 18 If this one God was an infinite distinct spiritual substance before any created being appeared to themselves is it not of an absolute necessity that he should abide in his own divine center and so continue a distinct glorious being to all eternity for an everlasting distinction between the unchangeable Creator and the changeable creatures 19 Do not all men which acknowledge this distinct glorious Being conclude him to be an infinite eternal unchangeable Spirit and do they not conclude this incomprehensible Spirit to be an eternal Godhead being in it self and so of necessity must he not be a distinct glorious Being from all things and places 20 If there be a Creator and if this glorious Creator be an infinite distinct something too transcendently divine to be essentially united unto heavens earth angels or men which none can deny but conceited Notionalists or literal Hypocrites are not those men as yet utterly ignorant of the Holy One of Israel which imagine the Creator to be an infinite formless Spirit essentially united unto the whole Creation utterly hating that God that is a distinct glorious being to himself 21 Again if the eternal Being be an infinite Spirit can that glorious Spirit be any thing at all without it be endued with variety of divine qualifications 22 Is not that infinite Spirit and its glorious properties but onely one essence or Godhead substance 23 Is not every vertue in the Eternal Spirit infinite 24 Is that eternal Spirit and its heavenly vertues any thing else but immortal Crowns of bright burning glories 25 Can this infinite spiritual Glory be sensible of its divine excellencies or be a perfect blessedness except he hath a distinct body sutable unto his eternal Spirit to enjoy his divine pleasures to himself and at his pleasure to distribute by measure into the elect spirits of men and angels the in-shining glimpses of this incomprehensible glory 26 Though the eternal Spirit be that invisible God that by the power of its Almighty word hath created all things either for a time or for eternity into that glorious order they now appear to be yet you that are spiritual may know that without a body face or tongue his glorious Spirit could not possibly have spoken any distinct words at all no more then the spirits of men or angels can speak distinct words without a body face or tongue of their own 27 Though all power wisdom and glory proceeds onely from an invisible eternal Spirit yet you may know that it cannot be a perfect glory except it be clothed with a Majestical person as a visible ornament for men and angels to behold face to face in the high heavens no more then the invisible spirits of earthly Monarchs could be compleat without natural bodies or persons for their subjects beholding them face to face 28 Thus you that are truly spiritual may know that though there was nothing created by any bodily labor or painful study of the glorious Creator 29 Yet without a distinct heavenly body there was nothing made that was made neither possibly could be what ever is or shall be imagined to the contrary 30 So much at present concerning that one personal Majesty or iâ—comprehensible being of all beings which are subject to change or to be changed at his divine pleasure 31 O blessed onely are all you that have the faith of his own glorious personal God abiding in you CHAP. XXVII 1 A more full discourse of the two witnesses 2. No true messenger or witness without a voice from God to the hearing of the ear 3 The three Commissions agree all in truth 4 Differing onely in point of worship 5 There was not nor can there be assurance of eternal happiness but in the belief of a Commission 5 God owneth no worship in this Commission but what is spiritual 6 The difference between true and false Commissioners IN the next place I shall treat again concerning the witnesses according to former intention you may remember where I ceased I challenged the whole world whether since the primitive times any men upon the account of bearing record unto the man Christ Jesus in glory to be the onely wise God Creator Redeemer and everlasting Father appeared as the two Revelation-witnesses 2 Again until the Roman Bishops persecuting tyranny was expired in this land you may know the two Revelation-witnesses or Prophets never appeared 3 For according unto Scripture order you that are of a spiritual comprehension may know that we are those two commissionated witnesses or Prophets of the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ because as beforesaid 4 According to the prophesie by Saint John we exactly appeared when the Roman Bishops times were expired of treading under foot the holy City or people of the Lord Jesus Christ in this land 5 Some men may object and say Why are the witnesses of the spirit but two in number and the former witnesses of so great a number Unto this objection from the Lord I answer by way of quere Doth not the glorious wisdom of the eternal spirit most of all appear in the smallest number of things for the acting of a wonderful work 6 Is it not most advantagious unto the Creators glory to prevent men or Angels from knowing his witnesses or their number either by miracles or without miracles until his pleasure is to reveal them 7 You know that Gods worship formerly was not onely invisible but visible also and to continue for a long season therefore there required a great number of spiritual speakers unto the elect 8 But the worship of God being now onely spiritual or invisible thou mayest know that a witness or two is sufficient the day of the Lord being near at hand to proclaim his glorious coming by speaking or writing unto the ends of the earth 8 Again is not a witness or two sufficient to discover the vanity of all vain glorious fleshly formalities amongst the sons of men seeing the Lord is at hand to make an eternal separation between the blessed Israelites and the cursed Canaanites 9 Doth not these three witnesses in earth onely agree in one divine body of all truth in this respect because they received their commission by voice of words to the hearing of the visible as well as invisible ear through the glorious mouth of a personal Majesty 10 Wherefore can any man upon this earth that counts himself or is accounted by others to be a true Prophet Apostle Minister Preacher Teacher Bishop Shepherd Priest Embassador or witness from
the God of Heaven and Earth without a voice of distinct words to the hearing of the ear from the everliving God 11 Or can he possess any true joy or peace of conscience in his prophetical declarations without such an immediate commission from the true God as beforesaid 12 Again though Spirit Blood and Water by the wisdom of God sweetly agree within the body of a healthful man yet you know that they are of contrary natures to one another 13 For the soul or spirit of man is an absolute mortal fire within the blood and the water which by vertue of its fiery nature qualifieth the blood and the water according to their capacities 14 Through which they are so sweetly composed that unanimously they give natural life and strength through the whole man in so much that the one cannot live without the other though they are of contrary natures 15 Thus through the secret decree of the divine Majesty there is a marvelous trinitary mystery within the natural body of man 16 But very few men understand it for want of the prophetical spirit of David in them who cryed out with exceeding admiration of the Creators wisdom saying I am fearfully and wonderfully made 17 So likewise you may know it is with these three commissionated witnesses of the divine Majesty in earth 18 For though all three proceeded from one and the same spirit of truth and all bear Record unto onely one distinct personal God-man glorified yet in the maner of their declarations concerning the worshipping of the Holy One of Israel they differ and are as contrary as fire blood and water which are without the body of men 19 But in the spirituality of their administrations concerning invisible worshipping of the Lord Jesus Christ they harmoniously agree as one soul like unto spirit blood and water within mans body as aforesaid 20 If any man should ask why the Holy One of Israel hath put such a vast difference between the administrations of his three witnesses in earth To this from the Holy Spirit I answer by way of Quere Is it not to blinde the eyes of the wise and prudent men of this world that from their strength of reason in Scripture records they may war against the pure light of life within the witnesses of the God of all saving truth 21 That they may remain in their rational darkness of unbelief wherein they were born and so everlastingly perish for want of that â—ew and true birth of the fiery glorious Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ 22 Is it not also that God alone may receive all the honor power praise and glory from his redeemed ones in the revealing his true witnesses or Prophets unto them by his eternal spirit through which they attain to the right understanding of the very true God and the glorious things of eternity declared by his own chosen messengers 23 And so are made to receive those divine truths in the purity of them by loving of them above the gain or glory of this conceited periâ—hing world 24 Moreover do they not thereby enjoy an invisible seal of an assurance of the eternal immortality of their persons at the visible appearing of the divine Majesty of the Son of man 25 That most infinite glorious God with all his mighty Angels Moses and Elias at that dreadful day when all time shall vanish immediately and eternity onely seize upon all mankinde in their several persons 26 Again if water blood and fire without the body of man be mixt together being of contrary conditions or natures you know they cease not contending until they have conquered one another 27 Also you know blood is too strong for water and fire too powerful for blood so likewise you may know it is with the three commissionated witnesses of God in earth Moses the Apostles and two last Witnesses 28 Though they unanimously agree in bearing record unto onely one distinct personal God of all saving truth as spirit water and blood sweetly accord within the healthful body of a mortal man as aforesaid 29 Yet you may know that in their visible worship they are at warfare with each other until they have obtained victory one over another 30 That the present immediate spiritual wisdom of the divine Majesty might bear rule in the consciences of the chosen Jewels of immortal crowns and not that which is past 31 Wherefore when that Gospel administration of blood appeared you know that the Apostolical Commissioners thereof did with all their power preach against all Mosaicall observations of Jewish circumcision new Moons or abstinence from meat drinks or any kinde of Sabbattical Ceremonies whatsoever to be vain and of none effect and contrary to the Spirit of Christ 32 Thus you that are enlightned from on high may see that that spiritual wine of the everlasting Gospel in the chosen of God transmuted all watery Ceremonies into its own spiritual substance even as water being mingled with blood is converted into its own nature 33 Moreover since the appearing of the two last Witnesses of the eternal spirit you may know that all Apostolical ordinances imitated by men called Ministers of the Gospel are counterfeit Apostles which take upon them to Preach Pray Baptize with water break bread lay on hands or any such like without a commission from on high 34 Whether for silver or honor or a name amongst men under pretence of conscience unto a God which they truly understand not nor desire to know 35 From the true God I say again you that are spiritual may know that these idol Shepherds and their imaginary formalities are now become vain and contrary to the heavenly breathings or incomes of the glorious Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ God-man glorified 36 Thus in what soul soever this divine worship of the true God powerfully appeareth it immediately transmutes all Apostolical formalities into invisible spiritualities of glorious joys 37 By vertue of an heavenly intercourse between the divine spirit and the poor soul that is acquainted with his heavenly voice or still motions 38 Again if divers men appear as Witnesses or Prophets immediately sent forth by a powerful commission from the everliving God are there not certain divine seals to distinguish between those Embasladors which are infallible and them that are but fallible 39 My elect brethren is it not the property of a commissionated Witness of Christ Jesus at the first appearance of God unto him to desire the Most High that he would passe him by and make choice of any other to be his Embassador unto his people 40 Furthermore in the maner of his spiritual declarations unto the most wisest natural men doth he not appear not onely seemingly quite contrary unto the Lords former witnesses but also as the most blasphemous simple base fellows that ever appeared in the name of the Lord 41 But of the contrary for the most part in men that are deceived is there not a strong desire in their fleshly spirits
to be a spiritual witness of the Lord 42 And upon that account will not the least appearance within them or without them stir up their spirits to go or run before they were sent 43 Moreover for want of a true commission by voice of words from the God of heavens and earth do they not declare marvellous natural things that shall suddenly come to pass or spiritual voices of power within them with many lying signs and wonders suitable unto the nature of man 44 Through which the most wisest rational men are not onely out-witted by them but subject to become one with them 45 Furthermore for want of spiritual declaration to witness in the consciences of the people of pure light language and life that they are from the unerring spirit do they not deceive their own tosticatd spirits by taking upon them to act over anew the former actions of the true Prophets or Witnesses or high Priests of the Holy One of Israel 46 Doth not this demonstrate those to be the commissionated Witnesses of the unerring spirit that are indued with a divine gift to write a volume as large as the Bible and as pure a language as that is with as much variety of matter without looking in any writing whatsoever or having any real contradiction in it 47 Again if men are endued with a divine gift to remonstrate the real grounds of the invisible things of eternal glory and shame appointed for two worlds of people when time is no more is not this a clear manifestation unto the elect Israelites that those men are the immediate Witnesses or Prophets of the eternal spirit 48 But on the contrary if men pretend to be Prophets high Priests or Kings of Israel by an immediate power from the eternal Jehovah and yet are ignorant of the invisible things of eternity 49 Is not this a clear manifestation unto all that have any divine light in them that such men are but spiritual counterfeits 50 If men by a divine gift unto those that have any light of life eternal shall make an undeniable discovery of all sorts of spiritual counterfeits in the world is not that a real evidence of the infalibility of their commission from the Holy One of Israel 51 On the contrary if men are so far from a true discovery of all spiritual counterfeits that they can shew no sensible divine grounds of their own commission from above is not that a clear manifestation unto all that are truly enlightned that they are persons under spiritual deceits 52 If all sober men in general upon the perusal of this epistle shall in their consciences be convinced that concerning the invisible things of eternity this is the clearest discovery that ever their eyes beheld and yet but very few of them shall dare to own the penmen thereof for fear of loosing their present enjoyments of fleshly honor profit or pleasure amongst men 53 Is not this a clear demonstration unto the chosen of God that this book was penned by the infallible witness of the eternal spirit in the glorified person of our Lord Jesus Christ 54 Whom men durst not own when he was on this earth for fear of being excommunicated of their vain glorious Synagogues or because of many hard sayings unto mans reason spoken through his gracious and unerring mouth 55 So much at present concerning the chosen Witnesses Prophets and Apostles sent forth by the eternal spirit unto the sons of men to bear record unto the man Christ Jesus the Lord from Heaven the onely wise God and alone everlasting Father against all gain-sayers that ever were are or shal be from these Scripture words And there are three which bear witness in the earth the spirit the water and the blood and these three agree in one 56 Crowns of eternal glory are prepared for those men and women which are not onely preserved from despising things that seem strange unto them but are also made with patience to wait upon the Holy Spirit for his discovery of them CHAP. XXVIII 1 No reason in Angel or men can be satisfied in it self without revelation from the Creator 2 God created reason 3 Yet it was not of his own nature 4 Infiniteness is to create persons and things differing from his own nature 5 Though all Creatures werâ— made by God yet they came not out of him but by the word of his power 6 No creature spiritual or natural can be said to be the image of God but man onely 7 It is the property of reason to promise obedience to God by his Prophets but perform none 8 Why the Angels are called mighty AGain because of the endlesness of that Serpentine reason in man continually warring against the innocent Dove of plain truth proceeding from the eternal spirit of a glorified Christ 2 Therefore I shall write again concerning the vast difference between the nature of angelical reason and the nature of divine satisfaction in it self utterly unknown to men or Angels until it be his pleasure to impart the inshining glimpses thereof into their shallow comprehensions 3 Though the spirits of the mighty Angels are pure reason yet you that are spiritually quick may know that their undefiled reason would immediately become all rebellious imagination against the Creators glory if it were not continually supplied with inspirations from his eternal spirit 4 Is the nature of the most piercing reason that is any thing else but meer desire 5 Where any desire abideth is there not a want of something desired and where any thing is wanting can that spirit be fully satisfied in it self 6 Again seeing the pure spirits of the mighty Angels are but rational and the most excellentest reason that is but meer desire and desire a want of inward satisfaction and where such satisfaction is wanting in it self there can be no true peace enjoyed or continuance one moment in its present purity 7 What spiritual power is there in the most piercing reason that can be 8 Is it any thing else but a meer desire that it might be partakers with the glorious purity of that spirit that gave its sensible being 9 Hath it any power at all to desire after wisdom love or any kinde of divine excellency in the least from its own rational nature If this be truth which no spiritual or sober rational man can deny are not those men under deep darkness which say the divine nature of God himself is pure reason onely 10 If the most purest reason in its own nature be nothing els but unsatisfactory desire is it possible think you that spirit should have one thought or motion of reason inherent in his nature whose divine vertues are all transcendent satisfaction in it self 11 Some men may say unto me Could the divine Majesty create a rational living spirit and yet have none of that life or rational nature living in himself 12 You may remember I have written upon this point already in the creation of Angels yet for a
and deny God the onely Lord and our Lord Jesus Christ we unto them for they have followed the way of Cain and are cast away by the deceit of Balaams wages and perish in the gainsaying of Core 31 Thus is it not clear unto all men that have any faith in them in the truth of the Scripture that there is two distinct whole worlds to distinguish between the divine glory of election and everlasting shame of rejection 32 A Curse Cain and a blessed Abel from the beginning of the world unto the end thereof a subtil Serpent and a simple Saint a scoffing carnal Ishmael and a spiritual Isaac a bloody minded Esau and a merciful minded Jacob a persecuting Saul and a prophetical David a trecherous Judas and a gratious and glorious Jesus a blessed Seath born in the stead of righteous Abel whom cursed Cain slew to bring forth the generation of the just that the Lord of eternal glory might according to the flesh as well as the spirit spring from a spiritual line of his own light of life eternal 33 And not from a rational or carnal line of eternal deaâ—â— in chaines of utter darkness which if it had power according to iâ—â—cursed desire it would destroy God elect Men and Angels Heaven and Earth and all in them and it self also rather then be subject to any or might not onely it self bear rule over all 34 Seeing the God of eternal glory himself sprang from the loins of Adam according to the flesh is it not the greatest darkness that can be imagined for any man to think that Cain and Judas were of the seed of Adam as well as Abel and Jesus 35 Do not those men that teach this error out of ignorance justifie Cain and Judas and condemn Abel and Jesus 36 From this gross mistake do they not strengthen men in all their rebellions against God and man what seeming glorious language soever proceed through their mouth 37 Again if Cain and Judas Abel and Jesus sprang both from the loins of the first man Adam according to the flesh or any other account whatsoever is it not one of the vainest lip labours under heaven for men to speak or write concerning the visible things of eternity unless it be for a heap of silver or deceitful honor among men that perish 38 All solid sober men do certainly know that it is impossible that any man should suffer eternal misery if all mankind by generation sprang from one root onely 39 What is the reason think you that the wise naturallists in disputes are able to silence the most learned speakers under heaven in their own supposed spiritual matters Is it not because those Ministers are uncapable to give a true distinction between the originals of eternal life and death or the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent 40 If men that speak their experiences to one another as received from the holy One of Israel are ignorant of this point is not that the occasion of all notional brain fancies or airy opinions even amongst the most purest appearances in this present age 41 Is it not from hence that men of a rational piercing wit are able to counterfeit out-landish Chronicles in a Methodical manner concerning the strange acts of Kings and Emperors many thousand years before the first man Adam had any sensible being or invent Histories so accurately concerning Knights Ladies Gyants and 〈◊〉 like that no man by his natural reason can know whether they aâ—â— fained or unâ—â—igned 42 Can any sober man imagine or think those men that want the foresaid spiritual gift were ever moved or called by that glorious spirit to be a publique or private speaker or interpreter of holy Writ or a messenger or Embassador to his brethren of invisible spiritual excellencies appointed visibly to be seen to eternity 43 If Cain and Abel were both begotten by Adam upon the body of Eve as almost all men vainly imagine from one bare Scripture Record which they understand not I would fain know of that man that is offended with me concerning this point why Cain was nominated in Holy Writ to be of that wicked one aforesaid and branded as an out-cast fugitive or vagabond and cursed from the divine presence of the Creator and cast out of the natural presence of his parents for ever and condemned with Balaam and Core as a perishing cast-away 44 This I am sure of that no spiritual or rational man that is sober dares say that either Adam or Eve was that wicked one from whence the cursed spirit of Cain sprang 45 Why because there is no such approbrious names attributed unto them throughout the sacred Scriptures 46 Moreover you may know that that wicked one from whence Cains spirit proceeded could not possibly have any relation unto Adam or Eve though Cain was conceived in her womb and born of her body 47 Why because there was an absolute curse denounced upon the Angelical Serpent and his seed in her womb as aforesaid without any after promise in Holy Writ for ever being redeemed by the Creatoâ— 48 But on the contrary you know there was a gracious promise by the Creator himself of the redemption of Adam and Eve after their fallen estate with their whole generation of righteous Abels Seths or Abrahams in that glorious hidden saying the seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head and that in the fift of the Romans where it is thus written likewise then as by the offence of one the fault came on all men to condemnation so by the justifying of one the benefit abounded toward all men to the justification of life 49 If you that are spiritually sober compare this Scripture of seeming general redemption unto other Scriptures concerning Cain and his generation as abundantly aforesaid you may understand that the Apostle spake onely of a restoration of the elect Israelites or Adamites and not of the line or generation of Cananitish Reprobates 50 If you look in the Generalogy of Adam unto Jesus the second Adam you shall finde no Cain there made mention of in the least CHAP. XXXIX 1 No condemnation but to persons of maturity 2 No children damned though they be of the seed of the Serpent 3 He that killeth a Prophet or a righteous man would kill the Creator if he could 4 No salvation by the power of mans own will 5 but by the power of God IF two distinct generations have proceeded through the body of one woman the one elected unto eternal personal glory in the high heavens and the other rejected unto everlasting shame in this perishing world at the end thereof which we can no ways disprove 2 Wherefore our desire is to know whether all the posterity of Cain are rejected seeing the whole generation of Adam are elected is as at length declared by you from that divine gift I received by voice of words from the everliving Jesus 3 To this I answer That eternal election or
strengthning themselves in their Atheistical error to prevent discovery they may or will say there is no world but this onely and this world had never any beginning nor will never have any ending men may talk of a Creator and a day of judgement for silver and honor or to keep children or fools in awe but wise men knows as aforesaid that one generation passeth away and another cometh in its room and so it will be for everlasting 28 Thus you that are truly spiritual do or may know that the spirit of every man naturally is so cursedly proud that rather then men should finde him a lyar in the name of the Lord of Hosts even against his own rational light he is apt to say there is no other God or shame or world to come but the Elements of air water earth and fire of this perishing world though these and such like sandy foundations are the pillars of cursed Cananites yet I know that you blessed ones have not so learned Christ 29 The fourth and last sort of deceived men are so far from acknowledging Christs personal raign with his Saints in any kinde whatsoever that they blasphemously affirm they are all Gods or Christs themselves 30 These are those which say that God is a Spirit and that his Spirit and their spirits are but one spirit onely 31 Moreover to strongthen themselves in this their Serpentine Sophistry they can tell you from the Records that Christ is the head of his Church and his Saints are his body 32 Also this sort of men pretend such a union with the divine Majesty that they do not onely attribute to themselves his Holy Names or Titles but Lucifer-like they will tell the simple and fearful soul that they are set down in the Throne of Glory with Christ already 33 Furthermore though this sort of Saints in their own account are all Kings Priests and Prophets unto God yet if you should ask them a sober question concerning any spiritual thing after death they are so dead drunk with their notional witchcrafts that they count all men in darkness that see not themselves in the throne of immortal glory already as aforesaid 34 Again they also seem to be full of Hymns or Spiritual songs in reference to the present glory they enjoy with the eternal Spirit when the Lord knoweth they acknowledge no divine Majesty or God at all but those imaginary Siren songs and their own natural blinde-born spirits from whence they proceeded 35 This sort of seeming glorious Saints do imagine their spirits so divine that they think it impossible it should ever see death but they like unto children or fools conceit their bodies turn to dust for ever but their souls ascend into an unknown spiritual glory 36 Therefore if a man speaks of a personal God or a personal glory in a life to come they will tell him he troubles himself above a simple carnal God and Glory that is not 37 But if he knew what it was to be possessed with divine light life or glory in his own soul as they do he would no more trouble himself in the least concerning a God or glory to come at a distance 38 There are some among these of a more purer sort which speak many sweet truths and according to their light they live in them onely poor hearts as yet they are ignorant of the fountain of glory from whence their spiritual streams proceed 39 Moreover though they cannot close with a personal God and personal glory of the elect in another durable world and a personal shame of Reprobates in this world to all eternity yet the secret love of God preserves their merciful spirits from that error of the wicked I mean from despising things that are hid from them 40 Therefore I make no question but in due season they shall be revealed to them unto their everlasting joy and glory in the highest heavens as aforesaid 41 Furthermore though these elect vessels at present understand no other God but what is within them yet they are afraid to call themselves God or Christ or Creator or the like lest there should be a divine Majesty to own those titles himself 42 Again all those simple hearted souls which are appointed to eternal glory are not so rivetted in their present light but if a more clear manifestation appear their spirits are both ready and willing to embrace it 43 But of the contrary all cursed Cananites are fully resolved to remain where they are though never so glorious a light should appear 44 Moreover those that are the blessed of the Lord are very tender of condemning any men of what appearance or opinion soever if they see never so little of the pure light of life eternal appearing in them 45 But of the contrary the unmerciful reprobate condemns all men as in a bottomless pit that are contrary unto his fleshly opinion 46 Furthermore the blessed of the Lord are made willing to yield all spiritual obedience unto the unknown God till they know him and shew mercy unto all though he perish this is a Job-like spirit who said though thou kill me yet will I trust in thee 47 But of the contrary the hypocritical Cananites love to make a glittering shew before men but as for any inward purity of spirit towards God and mercy unto all men they are so far from any such principle that they count it a delusion in them that enjoy it 48 Many of the blessed of the Lord do know that all the desires of men or Angels cannot prevail with the divine Majesty to perswade him to set the seâ—l of his love upon any mans person until he is graciously moved unto it of his own pleasure according to those sayings of Holy Writ I am found of them that sought me not and before they call I will answer when they were in their blood I said unto them live and of that notable saying in the 15. Chapter of the Prophet Jeremiah Then said the Lord unto me though Moses and Samuel stood before me yet mine affection could not be toward this people cast them out of my sight and let them depart 49 But of the contrary the formal Hypocrite is so dark in this divine secret that he thinks himself the blessed of the Lord for his much babling and counts those men cursed that are not of the same minde with him 50 My beloved spiritual friends though I have branched these men into four several heads yet in the main they are all of one spirit my meaning is this they are all ignorant of the glorious God being in the person of a man CHAP. XLII 1 A further Discourse concerning the Error of Christs personal reign 2 The interpretation of the three last verses in the 12. of Rev. 3 Concerning the Dragon and the Woman 4 Of the binding of the old Serpent Dragon for a thousand years 5 When they expired 6 Of the worship of the beast 7 Of Satans being loosed out
of prison 8 Who they are that be in the deepest prisons of raging darkness IN the next place according to promise I shall write somewhat upon the 20. Chapter of the Revelation by St. John because that error of Christs personal reign a thousand years with his Saints on this earth is partly grounded from this Chapter 2 My beloved brethren in the eternal truth you know that this Book of the Apocalyps is too mysterious to be understood by the Achitophels of this perishing world 3 Also you know that Gods way is to choose the base things of this world to confound the most honorable things thereof that no flesh may glory in his presence 4 Moreover you know that if the most High endues a man with a divine gift to demonstrate his eternal secrets to his brethren he preserveth the soul of that man from giving the glory of that heavenly power to his own net my meaning is this that man doth not give any praise or glory to any God or Christ or light within him but he is made as is due to return all the honor praise or glory unto an infinite Majesty or spiritual Fountain of glories without him from whence alone all divine light as chrystal streams floweth into the spirits of elect men and angels 5 But to come to the matter in hand And I saw an Angel come down from heaven Brethren what Angel was that which John saw come down from heaven Truly it was no other but that Angelical personal God our Lord Jesus Christ himself with whom John was more conversant than all the Apostles in divine secrets 6 Again having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand that is this Angelical Jesus alone had all divine power of heaven and earth in his own spirit over the bottomless pit lying imaginations of devils incarnate or cursed men 7 Moreover the everlasting Gospel or Truth which proceeded through his heavenly mouth for the consolation of his Saints and confounding of the Serpents that was the great chain in his hand 8 Furthermore it is written And he took the Dragon that old Serpent which is the devil and Satan and he bound him a thousand years and cast him into a bottomless pit and he shut him up and sealed the door upon him that he should deceive the people no more till the thousand years were fulfilled My spiritual friends what was that old Serpent Dragon Devil which was bound a thousand years by the spiritual power of Christ It was an imaginary bottomless pit Devil within the body of man that persecuted the Truth of Christ in his own person Apostles and Saints 9 Again you that are spiritual may know that the Serpent Devil that was bound or shut up as in a prison or in a dungeon of darkness for a thousand years was the cursed spirit of murdering Cain raging against Christ and his seed in the person of King Herod and his seed or seven sons in the Ten persecutions 10 In the 12 Chapter of the Revelation it is thus written And there appeared another wonder in heaven for behold a great red Dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven Crowns upon his head Also in the 13 Chapter it is thus written And I saw a beast rise out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns were ten Crowns This red Dragon and beast that rose out of the sea was that Herod and his seven sons in the Ten persecutions as aforesaid 11 Again for your clearer understanding in the thing give me leave to speak of the three last verses of this twelfth Chapter the words are these And the Serpent cast out of his mouth water after the woman like a flood that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood My spiritual friends you may know that this Serpent was bloody Herod and the woman was that Virgin Mary that brought forth the Lord of life and the flood was the men of war that was sent forth to persecute the Virgin and murder her Son and our Savior but the earth holp the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the flood which the Dragon had cast out of his mouth 12 My spiritual friends you may know that the innocent children that were murdered by bloody Herods men of war was that earth that opened her mouth and swallowed up that flood of persecution that was intended to be poured forth upon the blessed Babe or God of eternal Glory 13 Again then the Dragon was wroth with the woman and went and made war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ My spiritual brethren you may also know because Herod could not come at the holy Babe and his Mother in its infancy therefore his cursed spirit in his seed or sons did persecute the Lord of Glory and his Apostles and Believers to the death afterwards if you look with a spiritual eye in the second of Matthew and the Acts upon king Herod his seed Councel of Priests Scribes and men of war then you may see this to be the very minde of the holy Spirit in these mysterious Records 14 Again when the earthly powers through the glorious appearance of the everlasting Gospel are sealed up unto bloody mindedness against the messengers of that divine Truth to fulfil the secret decree of the most high God then are their spirits shut close prisoners in their own bodies as in a dungeon of spiritual darkness through which in stead of enjoying any sweet peace that soul is full of raging madness and not knowing which way to turn it self it thinks to get out of its condition by acting all maner of cruelties to the utmost of its power 15 My spiritual friends you may know that this was that spiritual binding of that old Serpent Dragon Devil in king Herod and his Herodian spirits for a thousand years the which thousand years were expired when the Ten persecutions ceased which was the ten horns of that savage beast aforesaid 16 For you that are spiritual know that no man can possibly finde out the truth of Holy Writ of the most perfectest account in the world because the wisdom of God hath reserved the seasons of all divine secrets in his own heavenly breast that men or Angels may know them when his Glory seeth it most fit 17 Wherefore all time observation in reference to a right understanding of any thing that is spiritual is utterly confounded in that Scripture saying For a thousand years is as one day with the Lord and a day is as a thousand years 18 Moreover when the glorious Truths of the divine Majesty were poured forth upon the face of the Nations as it was in the primitive times through the spiritual Ministery of the everliving God you may know whilest that commissionated spiritual power remained in being the Nations could not be deceived with the hypocritical
Formalities of the persecuting Powers and Priests of this perishing world 19 This was that shutting up of the Serpent Dragon Devil in the evil powers aforesaid from deceiving the Nations any more until the thousand years of their ten bloody persecutions of the Saints was fulfilled 20 Again it is written And I saw seats and they sate upon them and judgement was given unto them and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God and which did not worship the beast neither his image neither had taken his mark upon their foreheads and they lived and raigned with Christ a thousand years My spiritual friends what judgement-seats were those which John saw and who were them that sate thereon in judgement 21 Those seats of judgement were the accusing consciences of the bloody persecutors aforesaid and the preaching or publishing of the glorious truths of our Lord Jesus Christ through the Commissionated mouthes of the chosen Apostles Ministers or Saints was that judge of life and death reigning in the consciences of the aforesaid spiritual Tyrants Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the world Know ye not that we shall judge the Angels 22 My spiritual friends what ever men shall imagine of these literal Records as sure as the Lord liveth those Angels spoken of by the Apostle Paul were the Tyrannical Magistrates and their bloody minded covetous Priests which committed spiritual wickedness together in high places 23 Again you chosen ones may know though the bodies of the Saints suffer imprisonment or death for the truth of Christ yet their spirits are in pure peace and at perfect liberty in life and death 24 But of the contrary though the persons of the cruel persecutors be at perfect liberty in their temporal heaven yet their spirits are close prisoners in their own bodies and void of all heavenly peace whatsoever through that envy in them against all divine purity 25 And that blood spilt upon the earth by them for the testimony of Christ that was the shutting up of the door of all true hope from them and sealing up their bloody spirits unto an eternal vengeance at the great day of our Lord Jesus Christ with his mighty Angels 26 Again seeing John by a divine light saw the souls of them that were put to death for bearing witness to the word of God or spiritual truth of Jesus reigning with Christ over the raging spirits of their bloody persecutors that thousand years time of the Ten persecutions aforesaid My spiritual brethren what was that worship of the beast and receiving his mark in their fore-heads and hands which they were preserved from in the thousand years reign or time of their fiery tryals for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that is they were delivered from that idolatrous worship proceeding from the beastly imagination of their spiritual bloody Tyrants as aforesaid not daring in the least to handle any carnal weapons in defence of their cursed inventions what sufferings soever they endured 27 This I would gladly have you to understand that the commissionated Witnesses of the Lord of Glory are for the most part appointed unto the greatest tryals at the hands of Cananitish devils or perishing gods of this vain glorious world because of the reward of that transcendent glory which the Lord Jesus hath prepared for them with himself above ordinary Saints with his holy Angels face to face 28 Again it is written But the rest of the dead men shall not live again until the thousand years be finished this is the first resurrection blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection for on such the second death hath no power but they shall be the Priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years â—nd when the thousand years are expired Satan shall be loosed out of his prison My spiritual brethren who were those dead men that lived not again until the thousand years were finished You know in holy Writ it is said ye that were dead in sins and trespasses hath he quickened 29 So likewise you may also know that those dead men there spoken of were the remainder of the Saints and chosen Witnesses of the eternal Spirit that were to appear in these last days to bear record unto that glorious Truth which the Prophets Apostolical Ministers and Saints sealed too with their blood as abundantly beforesaid 30 Again you know it is written that Satan shall be loosed out of his prison for a little season when the thousand years are expired to deceive the people which are in the four quarters of the earth even Gog and Magog to gather them together to battel whose number is as the sand of the Sea and they went up in the plain of the earth and they compassed the tents of the Saints about and the beloved City but fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them 31 Again you may remember that from an unerring Spirit that sent me to declare divine secrets that I have already demonstrated unto you what that Satan is and that prison of his thousand years abode 32 It remains now that I should write somewhat concerning his being loosed out of his prison that you may the better understand the truth in relation to the dead men aforesaid 33 Moreover you that have been well acquainted with spiritual conditions cannot but know that no men in the world are in such a deep prison of raging darkness as those men that tyrannize over the consciences of innocent souls which cannot bow down to their imaginary divine ordinances 34 Furthermote you may also know that when the Magistrate and his pretended Prophets were prevented from persecuting mens persons in reference to their consciences towards God then and not till then was Satan loosed out of his prison 35 This was that loosing of Satan for a little season out of his unspeakable prison in the temporal powers when the innocent professors of Christ had freedom of conscience in reference to their faith in the Lord of Glory through which the Christians were multiplied again in the earth 36 Again you may know that it was but a very little season since Christ was glorified that the Saints possessed any such spiritual freedom in any kingdom under heaven 37 Therefore the persecuting spirits of Satanical Prelates in the Civil Powers have had but a very little season of resting from shedding the blood of Gods innocent people in the whole world 38 Moreover though the name of Christ was almost extinguished from the face of the earth in the thousand years spiritual reign of the Saints and raging of the serpents as aforesaid yet you may know in that season of liberty of Christian conscience that the Saints were mightily increased again in the world 39 Furthermore you may also know that those Saints are the dead men that lived not again until these last times of the invisible teachings of
of Gods essentially being in all things 20 Again if the eternal spirit should consist of so great a bulk how then can there be any God at all but nature onely 21 Or how can it possibly be an infinite spirit when it is not distinct to it self but is compelled to have its being in finite things onely this unknown bodiless God is much like unto the Star-gazers monstrous Sun and Moon aforesaid 22 Is not this infiniteness indeed for all the spirits of elect men and Angels to be filled with variety of divine glories with one word speaking from so small a fiery glory as this is 23 Who ever thou art that shall be left to despise this little spark of immortal Crowns which essentially raigneth in the man Christ Jesus alone it is because there is no true light of life in thee CHAP. XLIV 1 Of the great white Throne which John saw Revelation 20. 2 A mark of a Reprobate to desire miracles to make him believe the truth of a commission IN the 20. of the Revelation it is thus written And I saw a great while throne and one that sate on it from whose face fled away both earth and heaven and their place was no more found My spiritual Brethren though mens earthly mindedness and heavenly conceitedness will flye away and be no more foundâ— when the true light of life eternal is throned in their spirits yet from the unerring spirit I positively affirm that this place of Holy Writ had reference onely unto Christs personal appearing in his glory with his mighty Angels to make an eternal separation between the just and unjust 2 My Christian friends why did John call it a great white Throne which he spiritually saw It was because of the glorious brightness of the Judges face or person and his Angelical attendance and also because it was the dreadful general appearance of mankinde to receive their eternal dooms 3 You know when Christ was transfigured upon the Mount through which his face shone and his garments glittered the Texts saith that Moses and Elias appeared to him in glory 4 So likewise you may know that John called it a great white Throne as beforesaid because of the transcendent brightness of Christs person 5 What heaven and earth was that which fled away from his glorious face what ever men imagine to the contrary you that are spiritual may know that it was the dissolution of that heaven and earth that had a beginning as if it had never had any being I mean this visible firmamental heaven and earth and all light or life in them 6 Therefore where John saith their place was no more found that was spoken in reference unto their former natural brightness vertue beauty power or glory being translated into a Chaos of everlasting confusion 7 Again besides the glorious brightness of Christs person and his Angelical Host give me leave to write a little more of that great white Throne which John saw 8 You that are truly spiritual cannot be so grosly ignorant as to think that Christ hath no other Throne to inhabit in but his peoples spirits and this natural world onely why because that error ariseth out of the Atheistical hearts of fleshly men that hath no faith in the truth of Holy Writ 9 Moreover if mens spirits be but rationally sober though at present they be never so atheistical they may be convinc'd that there is another world besides this which is of a higher nature compassing this Globe round about and yet it is not global as this is onely there is no elementary Firmament Sun Moon nor Stars in it but it is an open place City Throne or Kingdom of infinite vastness in length breadth or height answerable to the person of an infinite Majesty 10 Also it is a Throne of exceeding whiteness or Sun-like brightness suitable unto the transcendent brightness of the Kings person that sits thereon and his glorious companions 11 Though the joy and glory of an earthly Prince consists chiefly in the greatness of his person power vast territories and honorable subjects for his safety yet for all this you know that his palaces are deckt with embroidered Ornaments of gold silver precious stones and such like for the further setting forth the mortal glory of his Princely Majesty 12 So likewise it is with the divine Majesty for though the variety of his infinite Godhead joy and glory principally is within his own person and Princely power over so innumerable a company of kingly companions 13 Yet you may also know that he hath a great Throne or Palace for the further setting forth of his visible glory decked with Ornaments of spititual brightness or immortal glittering whiteness as beforesaid 14 Do not all men that acknowledge a Creator whether they understand him to be a spirit or a person confess him to be boundless immortal unchangeable and eternal 15 You know this global world is not boundless in length height breadth or compass but is is surrounded with a firmamental heaven as with a brazen wall to keep it within its own station 16 Moreover if the eternal Majesty be infinite or boundless as he is I would fain know of any man how it is possible for a glorified infinite spirit or person to be contained in a finite bounded world 17 Though the Doves of divine glory are compelled for a season to live among the Tyrannical Serpents of this perishing world yet I would have you to understand that if an infinite or boundless God with his mighty Angels should have no other Throne to solace themselves in but this then in stead of spiritual liberty they would all be in natural bondage 18 If you ask me the reason of it you may know that the glorified person of God or Christ is of a motion swifter then thought and the persons of Moses Elias and the mighty Angels are of motion as swift as thought 19 Therefore no inclosed place can contain them but they must of necessity inhabit a Throne or Kingdom of infinite vastness for ascending or descending at the divine pleasure according to their motional swiftness 20 Again you spiritual ones may undoubtedly know that there is such a throne as I speak of why because this world cannot possibly contain our thoughts but they nimbly pierce through the heavens and in a weak measure they comprehend an infinite or boundless God and a Throne or Kingdom of an infinite circumference 21 If our bodies were answerable to our thoughts this world could not possibly contain them but they would ascend through the natural heavens to see whether there were such a vast kingdom of eternal glory as they had apprehended 22 I know all fleshly Atheistical minded men are apt to say unto me If they could see this infinite personal God and glorious white Throne I talk so much of then they could believe it 23 O how fain would finite carnal eyes behold infinite spiritual glories 24 Moreover they may say unto me
know the whole earth and all things therein had a curse upon them in one kinde or another 3 Furthermore you may know that this curse did in some measure extend unto the very souls and bodies of all creatures with the whole world throughout 4 Some men may say unto me Seeing the divine nature is all purity it self what was that curse upon the while Creation or whence came it seeing they were uncapable of sin or evil in the least From the unerring Spirit to this I answer It was not an infusion of any curse or evil into the natures of any thing by the Creator but it was a withholding the motions of its first created blessedness through which naturally it became barren or cursed in it self this was the fruit of unlawful lust 5 Moreover that you may clearly understand wherein the blessing or cursing of the Lord consists you may know that when he wholly denies the heavenly motion of his holy Spirit unto a man immediately that soul becomes nothing but cursed envy against all spiritual or natural purity whatsoever 6 So likewise when he denies the natural motions of his blessed Spirit unto any thing that he hath made it becomes subject to all kinde of putrifaction whatsoever this was that cursing of the Jews natural blessings and hardening of Pharaohs heart by the Lord spoken of in Holy Writ 7 Thus you that are sober may clearly see the ground of all spiritual or natural cursings in the whole Creation for though it was pronounced through the spiritual mouth of the Creator himself yet it could not possibly proceed from that word of the Lords speaking because of the glorious purity of his divine nature but that curse rose out of the natures of the creatures themselves for want of the motions of the spirit of God in them as beforesaid 8 Again you that are spiritual know that immediately after the Lord said an end of all flesh was come before him when Noah and his family and the Creation were entred into the Ark the whole world of lustful men and women and the glory thereof were destroyed by water now you know all that was in the Ark was secured from the raging waters through their ascending above the waters 9 Moreover you may know that the Ark and those creatures therein were not onely preserved for the increase of a new world but they were also a figure of a world to come 10 Furthermore the Ark it self had relation unto that Kingdom of Glory in the high Heavens which is too sublime to be overtopped by any natural water or sire whatsoever 11 The person of Noah who was made a Preacher of truth and righteousness to the unbelieving world did represent the person of that spiritual preacher of all truth and righteousness in the heavenly Ark beforesaid 12 Furthermore the other persons and creatures in the Ark had reference unto the salvation of the elect of God and the whole creation that are in being at the personal appearing of Christ in his Glory with his mighty Angels 13 The drowning of the whole world of ungodly men and the rest of the creation had relation unto the eternal condemnation of all Reprobate men in this world 14 The burning up of their natural delights wherewith they sport themselves in excess of riot and drunkenness little thinking of that eternal vengeance coming upon them 15 Again righteous Noah represented the divine judge of ungodly men in this because he entred into the Ark and by vertue of a great light in him he was made to sit as a judge in the consciences of wicked men when the waters rose upon them in the remembrance of their laughing him to scorn about his Ark and knowing his security in the Ark and their present destruction by water having no Ark of refuge to deliver them 16 Moreover as they sported themselves in fleshly filthiness and vain glorious mirth about him his Ark pure language and life 17 So likewise as a mighty Prince in his Chariot tramples rebellious subjects with delight under his horses heels he rode in his Ark as in a Chariot triumphing in the Lord for his own deliverance and their destruction under the feet of his Ark as a just recompence of their unrighteous deeds and despising the Lord and his truth which he had declared to them for a long season 18 As sure as the Lord liveth thus it will be very suddenly with this lustful bloody world that sports themselves about the resurrection of the dead and judgement day saying it is past already or there will never be any such thing for that righteous Noah the King of Glory will open the Firmament of Heaven and stand in the air with his mighty Angels surrounding his person and by the power of his word speaking as he raised Lazarus out of the grave 19 So likewise I affirm against men or Angels the very same person and no other which did that deed is that God that will by his word speaking command all his righteous Noahs both dead and alive bodily to a ascend into that holy Ark of eternal glory in the high Heavens and when they are safely arrived with the whole creation which according to their kinde groaned long for deliverance then as beforesaid that mighty God the man Jesus in glory with a flood of fire will burn all the beauty or glory of this world to ashes leaving all cursed Cananites bodies and spirits burning together like fire and brimstone upon this earth in utter darkness answerable unto their former burning lusts in their natural conditions 20 Moreover those men and women that glory of a God or Christ within them and what ever filthiness they act charge the most Holy Spirit with it I say from the Lord Jesus Christ though they scape the vengeance of men by their Satannical subtilties yet in the remembrance of their despisings of a glory or misery to come in that day the divine vengeance shall burn more fiery hot in their souls and bodies then all other men whatsoever 21 Then those that are ascended into the Ark of eternal glory with the Son of Man and his holy Angels shall sing that new song of all honor power praise and glory unto the Lamb that sits in the midst of the Throne for ever and ever not onely because they are delivered from the eternal vengeance 22 But also because the most Wise and Holy God hath rewarded those filthy despisers of his glorious truths according to what they did and would have done unto Christ and his redeemed ones 23 O blessed are those men and women that are not offended with these plain truths CHAP. XLVI 1 The last commissionated Prophet come into the World 2 No calling of the natural Jews to the profession of the true Jesus 3 Two sorts of Jews 4 Some remarkable signs of the approaching of the day of Judgement IF there be such a dreadful day of Christs personal appearing in his glory with his mighty
exalt thy self above thy Creator by conceiting thy self in a throne of glory with Christ already 26 Moreover be thou never so seemingly holy or charitable or a great sufferer in reference to thy inward God or Christ yet if thou art left to the pride of thine own spirit to despise the spirit of the Son of man glorified in the highest heavens thou and all that is within thee will eternally perish 27 So much doth the man Jesus in glory heed thee and all of thy blasphemous lofty spirit He that denies me before men him will I deny before my Father which is in heaven and his holy Angels CHAP. XLVIII 1 Of the first Resurrection 2 and what it is by several Questions and Answers IN the next place give me leave to write a little of the new birth or first resurrection from a glorified Christ 2 What is this first resurrection that who ever hath part in it is blessed and holy and the second death hath no power Truly it is the enjoyment of a divine light in the understanding which a man hath received by inspiration from the spirit of a personal Christ on a throne of glory in the third Heavens 3 How shall a man truly know whether he hath this light in him or no or when he received it He that hath this light of Christ in him his very thoughts desires and affections are by the power of it wholly bent upon all spiritual and natural purity whatsoever 4 So that the Scriptures imputes Justice Righteousness Holiness or Perfection unto that man onely which hath this light in him because he is principally guided by a light which he hath received from the glorious God of all divine perfections without him 5 Moreover this light of Christ sometimes is known by a glorious voice to the hearing of the ear through which a man is so full of inward joy glory or majesty in himself that he knows not for that present whether he be in the condition of a God or a man this I certainly know yet I believe few of the Saints themselves have tasted of this condition 6 Furthermore this light of Christ conveys it self so secretly into the understandings of most of his redeemed ones by a low voice of his most Holy Spirit that oftentimes they know not the time thereof onely after this light of life hath once appeared the soul is so delighted with it that it thinks it can never have too much of it or hardly enough of it therefore like a woman in travail it is full of hungring or thirsting after the knowledge of that Fountain of Glories from whence its light and joy proceeded 7 Again he that hath this light of Christ in him is not onely full of longings after more of it but his soul is also full of that new song of praise honor power and glory unto the infinite unknown God until he doth in some measure truly know him 8 Moreover he that hath this new and true light is not rash in judging divine things he knows not but by vertue of that light of life he is preserved with a meek and patient spirit to wait the Lords leisure for manifesting the truth thereof 9 Furthermore he that hath received this white Stone or new Name of Christ to the purpose sees all the speakings or writings of non-commissionated men but meer literal or notional emptiness in comparison of that joy or glory that he possesseth from the invisible motions of the divine Majesty himself 10 Again by vertue of this light he is made able to discern whether mens speaking or writings proceed from a literal notional or spiritual Christ or no. 11 Moreover he that hath this light of Christ thus grounded in him doth not lie doting upon mens invisible God Christ Spirit Light Life Love Joy Beauty Vertue Power or Glory of meer words onely but nothing will satisfie his new-born hungry spirit but a divine embracing of a personal God of spiritual substance yea too transcendently glorious for men or Angels to be capable of the in-dwelling of his eternal Spirit but of the in-shining vertues or motions onely 12 So much at present concerning the first resurrection or new birth from a personal substantial God or Christ on the Throne of Eternity in the high heavens in opposition of a supposed new birth from a notional inward Christ or literal outward Christ onely CHAP. XLIX 1 Concerning Gods becoming a childe 2 None lives and moves and have their beings in God but the Seed of Faith 3 No creature capable to be essentially one with God AGain it is written In him we live and move and have our being Also it is written Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. What did the Apostle mean by living in the Lord and dying in the Lord Or how can a man be said to live in the Lord and to die in the Lord also 2 My spiritual friends though all men have their life or being in the Creator or in this power by vertue of creation yet none but the elect do spiritually live move or have any being in him and that is by vertue of redemption onely and that was the occasion of the Prophets saying for unto us a childe is born unto us a son is given now you know that the Prophet spoke them words long after the birth of that glorious babe and yet you see that all his joy or glory in reference to a life to come was fixed onely in the person of that Childe 3 Thus the Prophet by vertue of the true Jesus in him did spiritually live and move and had his being in the Lord of Hosts in a full assurance that God the everlasting Father and Creator of both worlds and all in them would become a little childe for the Redemption of his elect from eternal death by pouring forth of his most precious life it is writted who hath believed our report or unto whom is the arm of the Lord revealed 4 Thus you may see that those men which wanted the light of life in them to receive that prophetical report concerning the God of Glory 's coming by the out-stretched arm of his eternal Spirit in a body of flesh to redeem the elect world to himself were utterly ignorant of the Prophets spiritually living moving or being in the Lord. 5 So likewise this was the Apostle Pauls meaning also when he said for in him we live and move and have our being according to that saying of his for the life which I now live is by the faith of the Son of God which gave himself for me Also you know it is written to this effect that some men did live without God in the world so that you may understand that reprobate men are accounted by the spirit of the Scriptures to live and to die in the devil and to rise again very devils in souls and bodies to all eternity 6 The chosen of God are guided by the true light or love of
Christ by vertue of that light they are accounted to live and to die in the Lord and to rise again in the Lord both soul and body because of their God-like condition even to all eternity 7 Thus you that are filled with the light of the true Jesus may clearly see though a natural man by vertue of creation may be said to live in or by the power of the Lord yet upon a spiritual account in reference to Redemption he may be an absolute devil in himself and so wholly live in the dark power 8 Moreover though it is said that the Saints live and die in the Lord yet I would not have you think that the spirits of the Saints and the spirit of the Lord are so united that they are but one essential life or spirit no that was none of the Apostles intent in those words but as beforesaid his meaning was that those men which were possessed with the true light of life eternal by a continual intercourse with the God of Glory from whence that light proceeded they were vertually united unto the eternal Spirit 9 Though the chosen of God are vertually united to the eternal spirit of a glorified Christ yet how can it be said they die in the Lord or what is meant by their dying in the Lord Truly most of the elect of God themselves are dark in this thing it is a sealed book unto them the Lord alone must open it 10 My beloved brethren as there is two lives of the elect in the Lord a life of grace and a life of glory proceeding from one and the same spirit onely differing much in degree so likewise you may know there may be said to be two deaths or dyings of the Saints in the Lord also 11 Moreover you know by vertue of the light of Christ in the new born of God they become dead to all their former inward filthiness of flesh and spirit as namely they are dead to covetousness envy pride lust yea and all excess of vain-glorious delights among men that perish so likewise they are dead to all their formal righteousness or hypocritical holiness to be seen of men 12 Moreover they are dead to all carnal Christs in men whatsoever whether they be literal natural or notional Christs of empty words onely arising onely from that blinde-born devil of mans imaginary reasons 13 Furthermore there is such a self-denying spirit in all experimental true born Christians from the high heavens that they abhor to put confidence in any God Christ Light or Life to give glory unto any thing that is in sinful man or angels in the least 14 Because they certainly know that there is not one motion or thought of any spiritual light or truth in man or angel but what he received from an infinite glorious Majesty whose personal presence is in a world where never any actual rebellions was committed against his Holy Spirit 15 Thus in a small measure through divine assistance I have shewed you what is the first dying in the Lord in reference to the first resurrection from carnal darkness to the true light of life in Christ Jesus God-man blessed for ever and ever Amen Now give me leave to write a little of the second and last dying in the Lord because of the eternal personal glory that will immediately follow it CHAP. L. 1 Of the second and last dying in the Lord 2 what it is 3 Eternal life is hid in the person of God onely I Know the general cheat of the Priests concerning this secret for hey tell the ignorant people that the body onely dies and the soul ascends to a place of blessedness or descends to a place of cursedness until the day of Judgement and they say then the soul assumes the body again and so receives the sentence of eternal life and death and so enters into heaven to the Lord or hell with the devil and his angels which they say are bodiless spirits 2 If the blinde lead the blinde how can they scape falling into a ditch this opinion of theirs is like unto most of their matters but I 'le pass them by and come to the thing in hand 3 You that are spiritual may know that to die in the Lord is when a mans spirit dies in a full assurance of the resurrection of his spirit and body again out of the dust of the earth by the spiritual power of the Lord Jesus Christ at the last day 4 Furthermore he that dies in the Lord though all that 's in him turns to dust for a moment yet before he entred into the silent sleep of death he knew who would raise him to life and glory again at the end of the time 5 You know it is written When Christ which is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory now you may know that the Apostle meant a personal glory that was eternal with Christ in his personal presence and not a particular spiritual glory in the elect which was hid and in stead of love occasioned a general hatred and persecution of men as a delusion unto them and the like 6 Moreover you know though the Apostle Paul was ravisht with more glorious incomes of the love of Christ then the rest of his brethren yet he had many sorrowful afflictions mixed with those heavenly raptures 7 Therefore you may know if you are an heir of glory that this appearing of Christ in glory to his suffering innocent people was meant such a like glory as he now possesseth himself in a Throne of eternity where is neither hunger nor thirst nor affliction of sickness nor death nor need of any Sun Moon or Stars or any kinde of natural comforts for everlasting 8 Furthermore though a man be full of the glorious incomes of the eternal spirit yet you may know that his life is hid in that fountain of spiritual enjoyments in the new heavens and earth above this whole globe why because if a mans life or glory were hid in that light within them then he would not onely be full of unmoveable consolations but he would also increase in himself with such God-like wisdom power and glory that no envious man would be able to behold his face and live 9 Though the light of Christ in his new born ones occasion much joy and peace of conscience and power to suffer persecution for his names sake yet you may know that the glory of that light might well be said to be hid with God in Christ because the quickning power of his spiritual light in men or Angels remains onely in his own person which is the fountain or sea of all heavenly glories as aforesaid Without me said Christ ye can do nothing ye are not sufficient to think a good thought 10 You may know that it is the glory of Christs glory which compels him to keep the prerogative power of all his light or life in elect men and Angels to himself that
they may have no confidence in the strength of that light which is within them but that they may cast down the crowns of their spiritual confidences at the divine feet of his heavenly Majesty as the onely Author Protector and finisher of their eternal blessedness 11 So likewise it is with the elect also when they die in the Lord for though the light of Christ was given them as a seal of his eternal love that they might glory onely in the Lamb and be enabled to wear his Crown of thorns to their lives end as a preparative unto glorious Crowns at his appearing yet I would have you for whom these thorns and Crowns are prepared to understand because the life of all light or glory you possess are hid in the divine breast or book of life with Christ in God 12 Therefore when your soul comes to die all your spiritual motions must enter into death also until time be no more because the power wisdom and glory of Christ will be seen in this thing above all his former works 13 Again he being the onely light and life of men will not this be a Crown of glory to his infinite power seeing the spirits of mankinde are mixt together in the sea and earth in a marvelous manner yet by a word speaking he shall call his elect by name as he did Lazarus and they shall hear his voice and come forth of their graves as one man with distinct persons all glorious yet very flesh and bone and with those elect then living whose bodies shall be transmuted into glory also ascend as swift as thought to meet their God in the air and sit in Thrones of Judgement with him over all the Angels of darkness remaining in this destroyed world for everlasting 14 Moreover if that error of mens bodies dying onely and not ther souls could possible be true then no man could die or be put to death at all because the life of mans body is his spirit and but one spirit onely though there is a double motion in it of contrary natures and effects by the secret decree of the Lord for the manifestation of his eternal wisedom power and glory over the elect and Reprobate 15 Thus you that are spiritual may see what is meant by the Saints living and dying in the Lord and concerning the place of refuge where their lives are hid both in life and in death is not this truth answerable to those sayings of Christ himself in John The words that I speak unto you are spirit and life I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and he that sate upon the throne said behold I make all things new Revelation the 20. and I will raise him up at the last day Again Jesus said unto her said I not unto thee that if thou didst believe thou shouldst see the glory of God you know this was spoken by Christ that God of all power wisdom and glory at his raising Lazarus from death to life 16 Therefore you may know also that the greatest glory of all will redound to his infinite Majesty he shall shortly come in his glory with his mighty Angels to call forth the living dead to glorious blessedness in the great white Throne with himself Moses Elias and his Angels and to call forth the dead living into shameful cursedness of souls and bodies in utter darkness burning together to eternity on this earth where they possessed all their former glory and acted their unrighteousness against Christ and his redeemed ones then will this Scripture be fulfilled and they shall hear a great voice from heaven saying unto them come up hither and they shall ascend up to heaven in a cloud and their enemies shall see them and these Scriptures CHAP. LI. 1 Eternal damnation is a living death and a dying life 2 Three Books will be opened at the last judgement 3 Signifying the three Commissions of the Law the Gospel and the Spirit 4 The Heathens are judged by the Law of their consciences having not had the Scriptures 5 The Prophets heavenly conclusion AGain But fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them Moreover and the Devil that deceived them was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone where that beast and false Prophet is and shall be tormented even day and night for evermore and I saw the dead both great and small stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged of those things which were written in the books according to their works and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire this is the second death these both were alive cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire My brethren in the spirit and in the flesh also which are sober you see when Christ cometh in his glory with his Angels the Books must be opened which are three in number the Book of the administration of the Law must be opened in the consciences of them that were under the Law and made a profession of obedience unto it but hated to perform it and they will have work enough with that fiery Law and all their former filthiness of flesh and spirit to sit in judgement on those burning brimstone souls and bodies of flesh and bone to all eternity 2 The second Book of the administration of the Gospel will be opened also in the consciences of those that made a profession thereof and hated obedience to it and that literal fiery Judge and their former unrighteousness will neither want work to sit in judgement on those fleshly bodies of burning brimstone even world without end 3 Moreover the third Book of the administration of the eternal Spirit which is the book of life shall be opened also in the consciences of all pretended lights in these last days and those whose names were not found written in that book of life as Commissionated Messengers of the eternal Spirit to bear witness unto a personal Jesus in the high heavens but published a lying Jesus in the lower heavens of their carnal spirits onely that pretended God or Christ with all their lies spoken in the name of the Lord and blasphemy against his Majesties persons shall burn more fiery hot then any other opinion among men even to all eternity as aforesaid all is not spiritual gold that glisters 4 Again give me leave to speak of one sort more whose natural conscience must be opened also 5 This sort of men are those called Heathens which never had the books of the Scriptures among them I say from the true God that these men and all the naturalists in the world according to their rebellions against their rational Judge unto which they acknowledged all obedience of righteousness between man and man was due this
truth I declare that that Serpent which tempted Eve unto evil was one of those Angels of light 5 Moreover that Serpent Angel was more wise or God-like in his creation then all the elect angels of glory for the most wise God in this may be likened to a wise earthly prince that for the manifestation of his royal pleasure exâ—lteth that â—ubject to the highest dignity which he hath secretly decreed to the highest disgrace 6 Thus it was with the glorious Creator who foreknowing that his prerogative Royal would compell him to create this angelical reprobate in reference to his divine Justice therefore for the manifestation of his most glorious power unto his elect men and angels his wisdom saw it most fit to endue him with more piercing rational wisdom and brightness of person then all his angelical companions because he was decreed to the greatest shame and pain as aforesaid 7 And not onely so but also because the elect Angels should admire their Creators wisdom and power when they should see the outcast condition of the highest created glory and be filled with new declarations of honor praise and glory unto the divine Majesty for his free electing love towards them through which they were ensured eternally to reign in their created purity 8 Again from the true light of life I positively affirm that there was but onely one reprobate Angel created at the first which is fully cleared in this Book 9 Moreover you spiritual ones may understand that if the most merciful Creator could possible have known any other way for the manifestation of his divine excell 〈◊〉 unto men and angels I say you may be confident he would never have created any thing on purpose for eternal suffering 10 Furthermore can you possibly imagine or think that the most gracious and wise Creator would ever have suffered the nature of any creature to become rebellious against himself for the occasioning of such marvellous transactions in this world and suffering both of God Angel and man if he could have possessed his inâ—â—nite glory in the creating of every thing unto eternal pleasures 11 Again if dust and water were eternâ—l â—ubstances distinct from the Creaâ—or it being dark and dead matter it could not produce any kind of life at all of it self but was brought forth into life by another 12 Wherefore it may be queried by some what was that which entered into dust and brought forth angelical bodies to live in the Creators presence was it any thing else but that spiritual life or divine nature of God himself 13 Unto this curious Quere from the true light of life I answer that neither the spirit of angels nor any other creatures were formed of the divine nature but the souls of Adam and Eve onely 14 But they were created of variety of spirits to one another and to the Creator also yet they were all purely created and in a sweet harmony with each other and their Creator also even so long and no longer then they abode in their created purity 15 Again by inspiration from our Lord Jesus Christ I affirm that the unsearchable wisdom of the most high God was secretly hid in the infinite power of his word speaking onely 16 So that it was the fore-knowledge of his own mighty power which was one of the principal grounds that moved him to produce and living creature in his presence 17 Wherefore before any creature was formed by him if he had not perfectly known that of those aforesaid elements of dust or water by his word speaking onely he could create as many several spirits with bodies sutable to their natures as he saw good and yet wholly retain the divine nature of his spirit to himself he would never have formed any creature to have lived in his sight 18 Because then you know there would have been no distinction of natures or names between the creatures themselves and the Creator nor none of the variety of his infinite wisdom power and glory ever seen or known by the creatures 19 For you that are spiritual may understand that the Creators Royal will or pleasure was that glorious wheel that moved him to form any creature at all 20 Therefore you may also know that it was impossible for him to create the spirits of Angels and man to be both of the nature of his own spirit or neither of them to be of his divine nature because as aforesaid the variety of his wisdom power and glory would have been all lost for want of distinction 21 Moreover if angels and man had been both of Gods divine nature in their creation then in stead of their being capable to be transmuted into a higher or lower condition at the divine pleasure of the Creator would they not rather have been unchangeable Creators then changeable creatures 22 Therefore the most wise and holy Creator that he might prevent all that might impede his divine purpose he created the bodies of angels spiritual and their natures rational and he made the body of the man Adam natural and his soul spiritual 23 For if their spirits and bodies had been both of the divine nature then it would have been impossible for them to be capable of any change of sin or evil or consent to evil in them no more than the Creator himself 24 Where then had been all the wonderful transactions of his glorious Majesty or what would have been formed but Creators onely in stead of creatures as aforesaid 25 Again because of our weak comprehension in the deep things of God I shall speak something by way of imagination onely which is as followeth 26 Suppose the most high God should have created both angels and men all glorious like himself and eternally so to remain yet those created beings could not possibly be the divine essence of his God-head spirit but onely a created light of sensible life of divine joys proceeding from the eternal spirit by vertue of words speaking through his heavenly mouth into those elements beforesaid 27 Because you may know that the uncreated Essence or Godhead spirit of an infinite Majesty was utterly uncapable to be conveyed into a finite created being for infiniteness is onely capable of its own glorious centre 28 So that you that are truly spiritual may understand that after the Angels were formed into living bodies the divine Majesty and those created beings were become distinct in their essences for everlasting 29 That the angels by apparent sight of their Creators face might know themselves to be but creatures and subject to the divine pleasure of him that made them 30 Moreover from the true light of the Holy One of Israel I affirm that the elect Angels of eternal glory had no certain knowledge of continuing in their created purities until the Lord had discovered the reprobate angel unto them 31 It is written that he made all things for his own glory and the wicked for the day of wrath 32 My beloved spiritual
and salvation without them and despised the invisible breathings of his Holy Spirit in his innocent people as delusion blasphemy and such like shall be full of unspeakable burning pain and shame through their inability of bearing the fiery brightness of the Son of Man that most high and mighty God with his elect men and Angels as abundantly beforesaid 23 Moreover you know it is said As it was in the days of Noah and in the days of Lot so it shall be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed 24 Furthermore you know the Scripture saith They were eating and drinking and marrying of wives and planting and building unto the day that Noah entred into the Ark but in the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone and destroyed them all 25 Again you know the whole old world and Sodomites a little before their final dissolution were not onely possessed with all variety of natural comforts but they were also given up to all maner of unnatural filthiness and so continued to the day of their total destruction 26 Moreover you know it is recorded of the men of Sodom that they were haters of God and turned the truth of God unto a lie and worshipped and served the creature forsaking the Creator which is blessed for evermore Amen 27 Furthermore While the meat of the unsatiable Jews were in their mouths you know there was a plague brake out among them These final dissolutions you know were not onely invisible but visible also 28 Moreover if the personal appearing of Christ in his Glory shall be like unto that of Noah and Lot and the final dissolution of the old world and that of Sodom and Gomorrah when it was in the midst of the height of all their fleshly filthiness and exceeding fulness of bread which included all good things and in their more then ordinary planting building putting the evil day far from them is it not thus in these out days also was there ever more glorying in all maner of Sodomitical unnatural filthiness then now there is 29 Did men ever deifie carnal creatures as now they do Moreover was there ever such a babling about a God or Christ in mens consciences onely as now there is notwithstanding many of those cursed Serpents villifie the very name of a personal God in a Throne of Glory above the Stars more then the greatest theeving whoring murderer in the land 31 Furthermore was there ever such talk of pure love without envy upon a spiritual account as in these our days and in stead of mercy towards one another since the world began under pretence of conscience and an art of lamb-like words do not men like roaring Lyons lie lurking in every quarter seeking whom they may devour 32 Again notwithstanding such varieties of breaking forth in declaring the sudden appearing of the Lord of Hosts to recompence vengeance upon all sorts of bloody-minded covetous men whatsoever can any man living ever remember such purchasing such buildâ—ng such planting and plenty of all natural comforts as now there is 33 Moreover was there in any mans memory such changes in Government and marvelous transactions in them as in these our days 34 Furthermore was there ever such variety of witchcraft voices visions signs and wonders acted as in these our days from a pretended spiritual God Christ or power within men onely 35 Besides all this hath not the God of Glory by poor and contemptable means discovered the Serpentine subtilties of the honorable artificial Priests and Astrologian Sorcerers in this age and land more then ever he did since the Apostles times and hath there not been many signs in the heavens and in the earth and in the creatures in a marvelous maner since our civil dissentions with many bloody massacres at home and abroad and doth these things presage nothing or did they come to pass by chance or fortune onely 36 O ye Hypocritical minded sign-mongers and cursed despisers of the Son of God who is the Lord your maker remember what effect those wonderful signs in Egypt took upon Pharaoh his Counsellors and people and what effect Eliah the Prophets signs took upon Ahab Jezebel and her four hundred Idolatrous Priests besides your forefathers that murdered the Lord of Glory his Prophets Apostles and innocent people for the truths sake onely though they had the gift of tongues and miracles by calling all their miracles languages or spiritual truths delusions to deceive the people against the very light of their own consciences through a secret fear of losing their gain and glory among men that perish CHAP. XLVII 1 Further signs of the approaching day of Christs coming to judgement 2 The Prophet writes by inspiration 3 And giveth the interpretation of several Scriptures tending thereunto AS the old world and Sodom were blinded by abundance of prosperity and plenty of all things to the very day of their final overthrow so likewise what ever men shall declare to the contrary it shall be with this bloody-minded world until the Son of Man come in his glory If you ask me the reason the main ground of it is this because the God of Glory that cannot possibly lie hath said that they day of his appearing shall be like unto that of Noah and Lot 2 Moreover another reason of it is this not onely to prevent mans wisdom to be prepared for the day of his glorious and dreadful appearing but also to catch those men with their own craft that counted them children or fools that expected any such thing 3 Furthermore another reason is this for the deeper condemnation of all those men that heard the declarations of this personal appearing in his glory but laught it to scorn or put the evil day far from them because of the present fleshly gain and glory they lived in 4 Again you know it is written That in the day Lot departed out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone and destroyed them all behold what a dreadful and sudden desolation fire maketh in a mortal world even within a dayes compass 5 So likewise it shall be when the Son of man appears in his glory for within the compass of a day or twelve hours after mans account the heavens without the body of man shall be melted with fervent heat and in stead of the former and latter showers of water to nourish the earth and rejoyce mans heart as a flood of fire and brimstone it shall pour it self upon the whole world and burn all the beauty vertue or glory thereof to dust or powder as beforesaid 6 I write not against the truths of the Scriptures but by inspiration from the Holy Spirit I bear record to the mind of God in them in opposition of all pretended spiritual lights under heaven 7 Wherefore as an eternal witness against all sorts of men that wrest the Scriptures to their own hurt give me leave to recite that threefold testimony of Peter as a seal to this