away How did you Reform that which you call Baptising Infants you layed by the sign of the Cross which was made by a man called Minister in the Childes Fore-head and you layed by those called GOD-FATHERS and GOD-MOTHERS and yet you continued sprinkling water in the Childrens Faces and call it Baptisme and say You baptize them into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost What Scripture have you for this practice Did not the Sign of the Cross and sprinkling water in the Childes face both spring from one Root and neither of them can be proved Warrantable from the Scriptures of Truth and you have layed by the One as unlawful and continues the Other as lawful and this you call REFORMATâ—ON Are you not in the Midnight of Apostacy who upholds such things in your Profession of God which the Saints never practised nor any Scriptures declare of such things being used by them Who taught you to sing Davids Words in Meeter and to call upon your Congregations to sing to the Praâ—se and Glory of God and to have a Clerk to publish them and give them forth Is this to sing with the Spirit and Understanding and to make melody in your hearts to the Lord who have not a Psalm before the Clerk give it forth and then for all people of all Conditions to sing the Words though they know nothing of the state of David who Published the words from the sensibleness of his Condition as then he was in when he did declare them so they were true in him but such as cannot witness David's state you make them to sing Lyes in Hypocrisie And who taught you to take a portion of Scripture and call it a TEXT and tell people It is the Word of the Lord and that they may finde it written in in such a Book Chapter and Verse and then raise Doctrines from it Uses Motives Helps Arguments and make Applications Is not this the Colledge Work And have you not learned it there And is not this the Philosophy and vain Deceit which peopâ—e is to beware of Do you know the Scriptures and the Power of God you that are so wise in your own Eyes Where is you Scripture for these things Or did ever the LORD of LIFE and GLORY teach his Ministers so to Do as you are Doing at this day You are from the Saints life and in the old Root and your Birth is begotten in Whoredome and formed in the Inventions and Imaginations of the Old Man and brought forth in the strength of that Nature and the Lord's Controversie is sore against You because you do in Words profess him but in your Works deny him Therefore Repent speedily and turn to the Light of Christ in your own Consciences and be not so wise in your own Eyes but become Fools to you own wisdome that you may be wise in the Wisdome of God that your understandings may be opened to know the Scriptures and the Power of God For the Lord is visiting the Nations in this day of his Mercy and his love reaches unto you and with a measure of his Spirit he doth Reprove you and secretly discovers unto you the intents and thoughts of your hearts Turn when Reproof comes and hate it not for the Lords Love is tendred to you in that which doth Reprove you Hearken to it that you may be Converted and Healed before the Door of Mercy be shut and no place of Repentance can be found for the Lord hath a Seed to gather from amongst you that cannot live long with you such is the earnest desire after life in many this day whilest it is called to day let none behard but all wait to Receive from the Lord in tenderness that his Spirit may guide and lead you which is manifest in you and that the fruits thereof may be brought forth by you that LOVE and PEACE and GENTLENES may abound amongst you that WARRING and FIGHTING and DESTROYING one another may all cease that the Sound of the TRUMPET and the Al-arm of WAR may not be heard in the Land but that you may be gathered and united in the Spirit of Life where no Confusion nor Distraction is but perfect love and peace for ever Turn to the Lord and walk in the way of Understanding A few Words of tender Counsel unto those called INDEPENDENTS with all that walk in that way HEar ye Wandring ones who upon the Mountains are scattered You are tossed up and down and driven to and fro in the Cloudy and dark day something of the Morning did once appear unto you though you knew it not and in the Dawnings of the light which in you did begin to shine your understandings were opened and you beheld the Formes and Practises and abominable Idolatries which were come up in the Darkness and a true tenderness was raised in you towards the Lord and a breathing there was in you to enjoy his presence and you departed out of the Idolatrous wayes and worship could not joyn with them nor own their Customs and Tradâ—tions which were set up but seperated from them and gathered into a more particular and private Fellowship to wait upon the Lord and in this tenderness abiding and you kept in the fear to wait and the Visitations of God did break upon you and his Love did open to that which breathed in you and this was a good Day unto you and you were sweetly refreshed in it But behold how you have erred and from the Lord are gone astray and betrayed the Innocent Life you were not faithful unto God nor did not sink into his Counsel that his Arm of Power might have wounded the Head of the Transgressor smitten him down into the Death buryed him under the Judgement for ever you fled from Him when you should have joined unto Him and so never came through the Gaâ—e of Death to obtain Life in the Resurrection But you reached forth with that Mind which should have come to Judgement and with that Mind comprehended those things which in the Day of Tenderness were opened to you in the Light then did you enrich your selves and grew Wise and Mighty in Skill and Knowledge and you decked the false Birth with that which God opened to you in the Day when you breathed after him in the unsatisfiedness of your Minds were in the true hunger and in the sensibleness that you wanted Bread so you betrayed the simplicity delivered it up into the hands of the subtilty under which it lyes in Captivity and sorely oppressed and afflicted and so you erred from the LIFE which was near to be revealed in many of you and lost the WORD and drew back again and ran into the words and have got the words and with them stands filled in the earthly mind that fled the Judgement and there you are lifted up and exalted above the Witness of God and the false Birth hath beautified it self with the Saints words and sits
fellowship one with another and the Blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth them from all sin And this is John's Testimony unto the Saints gathered in the Light and then he exhorted them to abide in it and walk in it and receive the Teachings of it For saith John You need not another Teacher but the Annointing which you have received of him and abideth in you Mark the Annointing which the Saints had received it did abide in them and they needed not that any man should teach them but as the same Annointing taught them all things and is truth and no lye 1 John 2.27 And in the Truth received they lived and it did abide in them and by the same Spirit of Truth were they led into all Truth and had Fellowship and perfect unity one with another in the Truth and they were dear and tender over one another and loved one another with an unfeigned Love and these were they that were born of God and were Children of the Light and of the Day and they were not of the Night nor of Darknesâ— but out of that state were redeemed and saved by the Power of Christ and in his Light they were led into the holy City which John in the Spirit saw descending out of Heaven from God having the glory of God and her Light was like a Stone most precious and the City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the Glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the Light thereof and the Nations of them that are saved shall walk in the Light thereof and the Kings of the Earth bring their Glory and Honor into it Rev. 21. Mark all that are saved must walk in the Lambs Light which shines in the Holy City and thither the Kings of the Earth must bring their Glory and Honour and all must be laid down at the feet of him who reigns for ever for unto the Lambs Power must all be subject he is greater than all there was none before him neither is there another after him the Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the Ending the First and Last Rev. 22. Mark I am Alpha and Omega the Beginning and the Ending the First and Last And here Moses and John meets in unity and their Testimony agrees in one and all the Dispensations and Administrations did hold forth this excellent Glory which unto John was revealed in the Spirit and from the beginning to the end of all that is declared and written in so many Words it is but a Testimony of him whose Name is called the Word of God Rev 19 Mark The WORD is his Name and it was in the beginning and by it was all things made that are made and all the Holy Men of God received it and had a part in it and by it they all obtained Life and they testified that there was not another Name given whereby any could be saved And this is declared in Words and is called Scripture of Truth but is not the Word whereby Life and Salvation comes For that was in the Beginning and is the same this Day and abides for Ever CHRIST the Power of God the Salvation of God without any variableness or changing and what Moses saw him to be in his time John saw him to be the same in his time and as he was made manifest unto them so they testified of him and exalted him above every Name and laboured to gather people unto him and many believed in him and were united to him and by one Spirit were baptized into one Body and had fellowship and communion in one life and in the Spirit they worshipped God with one accord and served him with one consent And this was glorious in its time and a Service accepted of God for they were single and upright to God and worshipped him in his own Spirit and his living presence was amongst them and the Light of his Countenance did shine upon them and their hearts were made glad and rejoiced in him and they offered up a living Sacrifice of Praise unto his Name Then did Antichrist begin to work amongst them and with his subtilty entered and prevailed over some of them and through his deceivableness entangled them and drew them from their obedience unto the Power in which they were gathered then did those forsake the rest that in the Power were kept went out from them and turned the Grace of God into wantonness and made Shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience then Night came upon the Disobedient and the Vail spread over them and darkness covered them and they lost the Life and Power of God and went out from the Spirit and from the Truth and so became false Apostles and Deceivers holding the Form but denyed the Power had the Sheeps Clothing kept the Words but inwardly ravened from the Spirit And these Apostates who were gone from the Life and Power of God and had lost the Leading of his Spirit they turned into the Flesh and joined to the Harlot and committed Whoredom and generated in the Flesh and conceived a false Birth and in their own strength brought it forth and it turned a Persecutor of the Birth born of the Spirit and exercised Dominion and Lordship over others and sought to pervert the Right Way of the Lord and to turn people from it and after the Saints decease who by the true Spirit were guided then the false Apostles and Deceivers prevailed and drew people unto their Way which stood in the Form out of the Power so that the people were covered with gross Darkness and their minds blinded that the things of God were not at all perceived then they sought out many Inventions and made many Likenesses and set up Forms and every man's Way seemed right in his own eyes and all became observers of their own Way so set up the Kingdom in their observations and all crying that Christ was in that Way which they had made and observed Now Christ beheld the coming of such and exhorted to beware of them and not believe them nor go forth after them for he declared that they were false who shall cry him up in any observation or set up the Kingdom of God in any such thing therefore saith Christ The Kingdom of God is within you Luk. 17. So in this dark Night of Apostacy that was entered people ran into Confusion and did not understand one another And when this glorious Day was lost that the Saints lived in who gave forth the Scriptures and that people were gone astray and erred from the leading of the Spirit and had no union with the Life and Power that the Saints enjoyed then they got their Words and in the strength of their Imaginations they set up a Way and formed a Likeness then centered in the Form and rested there for Life so was the Light and Day of God lost and no Morning in them appeared but gross Darkness was over them and
in the heart and reveals Truth in the inward parts and so becomes the Author of Faith and of eâ—ernal Salvation and the Mysterie of this Faith is held in a pure Conscience where his Arm hath been working and purging and purâ—fying And as you give up to that Measure of LIGHT in your own Conscienceâ— and wait to be guided and led by it and exercised in it you will know CHRIST revealed within you whom you are looking for without you and puts his Day far off from you And so you live in want of him and know not how to come to him nor the place where to find him but live in the Dreamings and the Nâ—ght-Visions and have a talke of him and what he hath done for you and so spend your precious time in slumbering and dreaming but do not behold the Light of his Countenance noâ— feel not the Joy of his Salvation nor drink not at the Wells thereof Now wait to feel him in the Light which makes all things manifest within you and when he draws near unto you reâ—ect hâ—m not if you feel an evil thought discovered that is his appearance that makes the â—â—iscovery then do thou sink down to that which makes manifest and be still and quiet in thy mâ—â—d and in the stayedness wait to receive him and though it 〈◊〉 but a little thing in its first appearance do not thou despise the Day of small things nor cast behind thee the Grain of Mustard-Seed because it is a little one but wait to know the glory of the Day and the branching forth of the Graâ—n of Mustard-Seed until it be grown up and spread it self over all The Lords Love freely opens unto all you that in tenderness and simplicity thirsts for his lâ—ving presence and for your sakes plainness of speech is used and God's pure Truth opened in the Life of his own Spirit that you may come and partake of the Riches of that GRACE and MERCY which from the FATHER is revealed and appears in you all that you may truly know the benefit that is in the Lord of Life and Power and feel his Eternal operation your Consciences to purge and your Hearts to purâ—fie that you may have fellowship with him in the everlasting Covenant of Peace and know the Blood of the Covenant to take away your sin and to pardon your Iniquity and so the Redemption through his blood you wil feel and the forgiveness of your sins according to the Riches of his Grace And this is unto you from the Lord God Eternally moved who breaths after Life that you may Arise and follow the Leadings of God into his own House and from his Hand receive your Daily-bread and drink of the Water of Life freely and this will satisfie and refresh you and daily renew strength unto you to follow the Lord God in the Light in all obedience and faithfulness without any weariness or faintness so will the Lord God receive you and be a Father unto you and make you Sons and Daughters and give you an Inheritance amongst the Saints in Light who are justified by Faith in Christ Jesus Be swift to hear and slow to speak A few Words of tender Counsel unto the BAPTISTS with all that walk in that WAY HEar you seperated ones who have set your selves in the Highest Seat and whose Branch puts out over all the Branches of the Tree you are beheld though you be climbed high and your Work is seen of what sort it is you must come to Tryal for your Work is not right before the Lord Once did the Morning open unto you and a Measure of Light out of Darkness shined and a sight you had of something which was out of the Truth and beheld Babylon without you in Practice and Worship and saw her Merchants that traded in her and could not for Conscience-sake Trade with them any longer nor buy their Merchandize any more but you separated from them in Practise and Worship And that which made these things manifest to your Understandings was Light and it was near unto you though you were but little acquainted with it you had Clearness in sight through Forms and Traditions then in practice amongst men and something opened before you that appeared more excellent and you did not onely depart out of that which was manifest to be out of the Truth but there was also a true waiting amongst you that you might come to enjoy living Bread that something in you hungred for and in that day a tender people you were whilest the true fear was in your hearts placed and in the fear you diligently waited and were kept low and little in your own eyes and you had fresh Visitations of God's Love and felt that which truly judged the Abomination and Vanity which you beheld in the World and you were convinced of the evil thereof and could have no fellowship with them and you cannot say in truth but in that Day the Lord was near you to have wrought his Work in you had you enclined to his Counsel and as you were kept in lowliness to wait and met and assembled in God's fear he was not straitned towards you but did relieve you and succour you in your wants and had compassion upon you in all your needs What Hungerings and Thirstings Breathings and Pantings were raised in the earnest for Life and Salvation And what a tender love was raised in many of you after the best things And how did you delight to walk in that Way which then was made manifest to you Was it noâ— better with many of you in that Day then it is now Consider soberly in the fear of God and judge down the rash wrathful Spirit which hath a Seat in many of you Are you not gone from that in which the Lord did first visit you and in which his tender Love was made manifest in you Was it any thing without you that first let you see your Way to be corrupted and that brought you into a sensibleness of your want and of your miserable and undone state without the Salvation of Christ Was this made manifest unto you by Reading or Hearing or by the Gift of God's Spirit manifest in your own hearts How hath the old Enemy deceived you and drawn your minds into the Visibles to look after and behold the things that are seen and there tenders you Satisfaction and so draws your minds from the weightier matter and that which is of absolute necessity for all to know a part in And so you are cumbred about many things and are got into the many Words and there you are sucking your nourishment and labouring to receive strength and there have taken up your rest What have you to live upon besides the Letter And what do you know of GOD and CHRIST more then what they declared who enjoyed his Life And if you say that it is sufficient for you to mind the Declaration and to know GOD and CHRIST as the Saints
are still defiled and the weight of corruption doth oppress you and makes you go heavily and that keeps you from the enjoyment of life You that are feeding upon the visibles which you call an Ordinance and yet cry for hunger and are feeble for want of nourishment and your strength ready to fail Oh! Arise Arise Turn to the Light of Christ within you which is freely given of God unto you neglect it no longer for it is the power of God unto salvation to all that beleeve and in him alone is treasured up all good things for he is the fulness and he ministers in freeness unto all that wait upon him and he hath enough for you all who will come that you may have life and will plentifully give unto you and cause you to feel his goodness in the land of the living Be not vainly puffed up but in lowness wait to receive A few Words of tender Counsel to all the Inhabitants of BABYLON HEar Oh ye people BABYLON must be destroyed and and all the Pride of her glory must be spoyled the Lord God hath so determined and no part of her Countrey must be spared for the Scourge is to pass thorough her Land and to find out high and low rich and poor who inhabits within her Borders and to smite them and spoil them that a dreadful cry will be heard amongst them all slying for their lives and none able to escape the severity of God's Judgement Therefore all Arise come out make haste who desires to live for destruction comes as a VVhirl-wind and there will not be a hiding place found in BABYLON for strong is the Lord that judgeth her and in one day will Judgement fall upon her and the Lord will make a full end concerning her Oh! my heart is heavy and my Spirit sad when I behold the Viol filled and how near it is to be opened and poured forth the Day hastens upon thee Oh BABYLON yea sudden Destruction is coming swiftly and in flames of Fire it will be rendered and will take hold upon thee and kindle within thee as Fire kindles in the midst of Tow and who shall then stand up for thee or bring deliverance to thee Not a man within thee will be able to lift up his head to do any thing for thee for all hearts will fail and all faces gather paleness who are found within thy borders and thou must drink the Cup of God's Indignation because thou hast rebelled against him for thou hast been a HARLOT from thy youth and hast decked thy self with costly Ornaments that thou mighest entice Lovers to thee and many have been deceived by thee and have been overcome to commit VVhordom with thee and many Children are brought forth by thee which are sons of thy Whoredom and these thy Children would rule in the Earth and would have all bow unto them and strive amongst themselves who should be greatest Is not this the fruit of thy womb O BABYLON that runs into all confusion and distraction and have no agreement amongst themselves but would devour and destroy one another And dost thou not dark thy Children with costly Attire and â—eautifie them with fair Ornaments that they may be beloved because of their Comeliness in which they appear to men Is not this thy VVitchcrâ—fâ— and Sorcery which thou hast spread over the Earth in this night of Apostacy Hast not thou sitten dâ—â—ked as a QUEEN and thy Children like PRINCES Sons And hast not thou and thy Children been the wonder of the World And have not all been subject to thee and bowed before thee and thy Sons VVhoredome And hast not thou handed forth a CUP of FORNICATION And have not the Nations received it at thy hand and drunk so deep of it until they have been made drunk What is this that thou hast done thou MOTHER of HARLOTS Hast thou deceived all Nations and made them drunk and then enticed them to commit VVhoredome with thee Must not thou be done unto as thou hast done unto others And must not thou be rewarded double for all thy sins I tell thee yea for he is just that will render unto thee a recompence and though thy Kingdome seem to be strong and thy City to be walled and thou enriched therein with the best things of the Earth all this will not save thee from the hand of him that pursues thee swiftly in Judgement And though thou hast gathered Nations unto thee and hast many Merchants that trade in thee and they all with their strength joyn together to save thee yet thou must fall and all that strive to uphold thee for thy Ruine is near to come and the wrath is kindled against thee and ready to take hold upon thee and to destroy thee Root and Branch that thy place will be no more found and it is the Lords long-suffering and patience that hath spared thee from utter Ruine untill this day and hath not as yet out thee off in the fierceness of his wrath with all those that are Inhabitants in thee It is not for thy sake that the stroak hath been kept off but for his own Name sake who delights to save in his Mercy that some of thy Inhabitants might behold his patience and his goodness and thereby come to repentance as some of them have done who were once in the midst of thee but his own arm reached unto them and hath gathered them out of thee and hath brought his Sons from far Daughters from the Ends of the Earth yea from all quarters of thy Dominion hath the Righteous God brought up a Remnant who in thy Kingdome were once scattered and dispersed and were amongst thy various Observations and thy Forms and Traditions where they could not finde a Resting-place and there is yet a Remnant that God will not destroy with thee who sit by thy Rivers and weep and it is for his Chosen sake that thou art spared unto this day but God is making haste the work to finish and is opening the Eyes of many who yet remain within thee thy filthiness to see and thy abominations and wickedness to loath and abhor and many will the Lord gather out of thee who now sit in sorrow within thee and wait to be delivered by the Arm of his Power such doth he reach unto in his Mercy and is drawing them out with the Cords of his Love So all people hear and consider from the highest to the lowest and let not this seem small in your eyes though your wisdome may account it so and sleight it and reject it as a tale that is told and still make your necks stiffe and your hearts hard against the Lord yet shall you all one day know that the Lord hath spoken it And all you tender ones that breathes after God under what Form soever you do yet abide or in what part of BABYLON soever your habitation is Arise come forth do not delay neither look behinde you but make
THE Morning-Watch OR A Spiritual Glass Opened WHEREIN A Clear DISCOVERY is made of That which lies in Darknesse from whence WARS CONTENTIONS and DESTRUCTIONS do arise concerning a professed RELIGION With a few words of tender Counsel Unto the Pope Prelate Presbyter Independent Baptist c. That they may all watch to the Morning and in the Glass behold themselves and try their Principle and Practise and see whose Image it bears and vvhether it be the same Principle that the Saints vvere guided by and the same Practice that they walked in that none may lye any longer in darkness and be deceived but all may come in one spirit to be gathered and into one body baptized where Love and Life Peace and Eternal Unity is truly enjoyed and possessed By one vvho travels for Israel's Freedom William Smith LONDON Printed and are to be sold by Robert Wilson at the sign of the Black-spread-Eagle and Wind-Mill in Martins near Aldersgate 1660. To the READER READER THe Way of Life or the Way of Death is the Choice that all people make and are found walking in The Way of Life is strait and there be not many finds it the Way of Death is broad and many walk therein Theâ—efore it is of concernment for thee to examine thy present state and to be careful in what way thou walkest least suddenly thou fall into danger for God would not have thee peâ—ish nor to go on in the Way of Death but would have thee turn and depart out of it and for that end hath he freely made manifest in thee a measure of his Spirit to discover it that thou mayst see the danger and escape it and that thou mayst not run into it and destroy thy self and that is in thy Conscience placed which truly tryes thy wayes and doings and doth not let an evil thought word or deed go unreproved thaâ— is the Light of Christ which thou art enlightened withall and lets thee see that when thou art at liberty in the flesh and satisfying the lusts of it thou art in the broad way that leads to destruction it reproves thee for it calls thee to turn and depart out of it if thou walk in pride drunkennesse covetousnesse envy or malâ—ce in scorn or disdain of others the Light of Christ doth reprove thee in thy own Conscience for such things and calls thee to abstaâ—n from them and this is the broad way that leads to destruction all that walk in it and will not turn from it when reproof comes they destroy themselves and will perish in their gain-saying Therefore whilest the Lord is visiting thee in his tender mercies harden not thy heart against him nor reâ—ect his counsel but be diligent and ready to receâ—ve and in the quietnesâ— of thy mind attend to the Word near thee which is in thy heart and in thy mouth that thou mayst obey it and do it for it is Gods gift unto thee and stands a witness for God in thy Conscâ—ence it is Life and the Life is the Light and the Light breaks forth in thee and makes manifest unto thee the secrets of thy own heart and lets thee see all thy thoughts whether they be good or evil and thou canst not hide thy Counsel from it nor cover any intent so close but it will find it out This is God's Love unto thee who hath given his Son for thee that thou in him might believe and have everlasting life Wait in his fear his counsel to know and his leading to follow and he will bring thee to the strait Way and open it for thee to walk in and he will judge and condemn all that in thee which must not enter and he will bring thee down into the Death where God's Wonders thou wilt behold in the deep And this is the straitness of the Way and the Ground why so few findes it and walks in it Because that flesh and blood must not enter but be judged down to death Therefore Reader be diligent to find out thy present state and to know the Way wherein thou art walking and do not deceâ—ve thy self by crying Peace when sudden destruction is near at hand and be not secure with a talk of God and Christ but wait to know them and speak not of Faith and Grace until thou have them for thereâ—n thou deceives thy self and the Enemy blinds thy mâ—nd in a secure state So unto that of God in thee which is pure I direct thee that thou mayst know the Leadings and Teachingâ— of it and believe in it and joyn to it and it wâ—ll bring thee to know those things that concerns thy own Peace And in the measure of God manifest in thee read this following Treatise and it will keep dâ—â—n that mind thaâ— covets Knowledg and would be feeding upon Knowledge which the Lord forbids or if any thing arise in thee which would be angry oâ— envious the Light of Chrâ—st will judge that down and â—â—ll keep thee low in the meekness and patience to read and understand and if any thing seem hard unto thee whiâ—h at present thou mayst not have clearness â—n let it aloâ—e until the day declare it And be not hasty to know nor rash to juâ—ge in that which cannot dâ—scern it but be stiâ—l coâ—l and sink down and wait in patâ—ence until the appointed time And this is published in the servâ—ce of Love for thy sake who erres for want of knowledge and is not come to walk in the Way of Understanding that thou mayst be informed of the subtil workings of the Enemy of thy Peace and to know a part in that which gives Dominion over him which is CHRIST JESUS the LIGHT in thy Conscience unto which I am made manifest who â—ravels to relâ—eve the weary and to ease the oppressed ones that the feeble may be strengthened and all that breath after God may be saved â—n this day of his Mercy My Friendship is to thee and all people in the Truth of God W. S. THE MORNING-WATCH Or A Spiritual GLASS Opened c AWAKE Awake all people Arise lift up your eyes watch to the Morning the Day is come and the glory of Israel is risen all things is manifest as they are Darkness is dangerous and the Ways thereof leads unto Death Why will ye walk therein And why will ye dye O ye yeople Everlasting Mercy from the Lord God is held forth that none might be lost but all might be saved Bow down your ear and hear be diligent and encline for that is come which was before the Subtilty and that is manifest which in the beginning made all things and was before the Serpent prevailed or before that sin or death entered and this hâ—th God revealed in his tender mercy and hath visited many therein whose Understandings are opened and their eyes enlightened to behold the way of life and they are come to that which was before the World was made and knows a part in that
which was Moses life whose understanding was opened to see to the beginning and beheld God's Eternal Power in the Creation and the movings of his Spirit upon the face of the Waters and his bringing Light out of darkness and when this was opened to his understanding and he had seen it then he declared it and it was written and that which was written was called Scriptures but that which Moses declared as the Word of oâ— Life which was in the beginning and this Word was with God and was God who said Let there be Light Gen 1.3 mark God said it this was the Word the thing was done and came to pass Then God saw the Light that it was good and he called the Lâ—ght Day and the Darkness he called Night and the Evening and the Morning were the first day Gen. 1.4 Mark this The Word said Let there be Light and the Light was brought out of Darkness so the Morning was come and the first Day was created in the Eternal Word and â—nto this Life was Moses gathered and had his Understanding opened that he could see to the Beginning and behold the Works of God in the Creation which was wrought and brought to pass before his time upon the Earth there was no Traditâ—on to give him the knowledge of it but the Light which shone out of darkness in his heart in which he was gathered unto God and had union with his Life and in the Lâ—fe revealed Moses had clearness in his Understanding to the Beginning and beheld the six dayes Work and the Creation finished and also the seventh Day in which God rested He â—eheld man in his Innocency and Vprightness and saw the Image in which he was created and the purity and glory in which he was formed he beheld the Habitation in vvhich he vvas placed and he saw the covering with which he was clothed and in which he stood before the Creator and was not ashamed he beheld Paradise and all the Trees of the Garden and saw what was allowed unto man for Food and what was forbidden He beheld the Serpents subtilty and his deceitful working and saw how he entered and how he prevailed over man he beheld how he drew enticed man's mind from his obedience unto God and he saw how man fell and degenerated from the Power that had made him and he beheld the entrance of sin and transgression and saw the Curse and Death that came over all men in the Fall he beheld and saw the Love of God open and the Seed of the Woman promised to break the Serpents Head This was â—oses understanding opened in the Light that shone out of darkness which was manifest within himself in which the Morning appeared and the First Day did break unto him then in the Light he read thorow the generations that were before him and declared of their states and conditions and of their wayes and doings and then it was written and became Scriptures Mark It was not Scripture before Moses had declared it and what he hath declared and what is written is true and given forth by him in the Power that made all things manifest to him So he declared of Adam and of hâ—s Innocent state and of his Fall and of his driven-out-state he declared of Cain and of his Sacrifice and of Abel and of his Sacrifice he declared of the Flood that came upon the World of the ungodly and of Noah a just person who with his Sons and Daughters were preserved in the Ark He declared of Abraham the Father of the faithful and of the Covenant that God made with him and his Seed for ever he declared of Ishmael and Isaac of Esau and Jacob and through all the generations that had gone before him and he did not receive these things by Tradition or by any knowledge that came without him but as they were opened and made manifest within him where he beheld and read them in the Light and Life by which all things were made and created and into which he was gathered and united This is that Moses whom God sent into Aegypt to bring up Israel his chosen who with mighty Signs and Wonders delivered them from under Pharoah's Power and was a Leader unto them out of Aegyptian Darkness and from under the heavy Tasks that they weâ—e oppressed withall He received the Law at Mount Horeb and he writ it in Tables of Stone that Israel might know the Statutes and Ordinances which the Lord required that they should observe and keep and that they might obey the Lord their God this was the Covenant which God made with Israel in those dayes when he brought them out of the Land of Aegypt and it was committed unto Moses who was made a Minister of it and taught the people to observe and do it that they might possess the Land which the Lord their God had given unto them and that they might not forget the Lord and his Benefits And this was Moses Ministration for the Law came by him howbeit this Ministration was not the Thing it self neither could make the comers thereunto perfect yet in its time was glorious and was a true Figure and Shadow of him that was to come which afterwards was to be more fully revealed whose glory exceeded and Moses Ministration was but a Type of him and a School-Master to bring unto him who was before the World was and it held forth though more darkly as in a Glass the glorious appearance of CHRIST the Word of God and Power of God who was yet to come and to be made manifest and revealed of whom Moses truly prophesied when he said A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you like unto me him shall you hear in all things and who will not hear the voice of that Prophet shall be cut off from amongst the People Mark They were to be cut off that would not hear the voice of him of whom Moses prophesied who was yet to come and to be the end of the Lâ—w for Righteousness and to be the fulfiller of it and to save and redeem from under it seeing that no flesh could be â—ustified by it because of the weakness and unprofitableness of it and because it was a Ministration of Condeâ—nation unto such as did not continue in all things written therein therefore Moses testified of him who was to be raised up and directed all to hear his Voice whose Ministration was to bring in Everlasting Righteousnesse and to redeem from under the Bondage of the Law and this was Moses Testimony unto CHRIST the Power of God and he did not direct People to look at any thing or hear any thing that was written before his time but to look to Christ and to hear his Voice that they might come to that which made the World and was in the beginning with whom Moses had then true union and felt his life and beheld the Excellenâ—y of his glory which was still to be
Testimony who spake the Things that he heard and received of the Father Mind this all you wise people of this present Age who are wise in your own eyes and hears and reads the Testimony of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles and is searching the Scriptures from one end to another and yet you come not to him nor cannot receive his Testimony of whom the Scriptures do declare in whom is life Now there was a poor people in that day that did own his Testimony and received him and believed in him and became followers of him though by the Wise and Mighty and Noble he was despised and rejected And those that followed him were made Witnesses of the Works and Miracles which he did whilest he was in that Body prepared and they beheld great and mighty things done by his Power the Dead raised the Lame restored blind Eyes opened deaf Ears unstopped the Tongue of the Dumb unloosed Lepers cleansed Devils cast out with many other Signs and Miracles which in the days of his Flesh was done by him And when the Work was near finished which the Father had given him to do and the time of his Departure drew nigh and that he was to leave them who believed in him and were Followers of him all things drawing near an End he said unto them It is expedient that I go away that I may send you another Comforter to abide with you for ever the Spirit of Truth which the world cannot receive And when he had finished he departed from them and left them and entered into the Glory that he had with the Father before the World began and sits at his Right Hand in the highest Heavens Principallities and Powers being subject to him This is he that doth redeem and save his People from their sin and there is not another Name given whereby any can be saved but the Name of Jesus And after he was taken up from them and was ascended then did they wait for his Promise to be fulfilled and they tarryed in Jerusalem and waited until they were endued with Power from on High and he did not leave them Comfortless but in his Faithfulness he came unto them fulfilled his Promise and poured forth his Spirit upon them they all spake the wonderful Works of God then they preacht his Name from City to City and published Salvation in his Life and so they Witnessed that which they received in the pourings forth of the Spirit and they were made able Ministers of the Spirit and in the Spirit the things of God were unto them revealed and they then laboured and travelled that others who were Strangers and Aliens unto that Life which in them was revealed might be gathered and brought to have union with it So their Ministry in the Spirit was to turn people from Darknesse to the Light and from the Power of Satan unto the Power of God that they might receive forgiveness of sins mark There must be a coming from Darknesse to the Light and from Satan's Power unto the Power of God before that sin be forgiven or transgression blotted out And this is that which so many vvants they want the Light and Power of God and lyes in Darknesse and under the Power of Satan so their sin â—emains and they live in it and sayes it must be so whilst they are in this World and they come not to that in which sin is forgiven and done away And so people preach and believe in another Doctrine and Gospel then they preached and believed in who vvere Witnesses of his Majesty and were true Labourers in the Gospel who converted and gathered many unto God who sometimes were afar off from hâ—m and many came out of Darknesse to the Light and from under Satan's Power unto the Power of God vvhich vvas the Gospel that they preached and laboured to gather people unto and all that believed and received their Testimony set to their Seals that God is true and Witnessed Salvation and plentious Redemption in the Light and Power of Christ and they knew the Gospel and Life and Immortality brought to light by it and then they stood in the sanctification of the Spirit and knew the Povver of it in their Inward parts and their hearts vvas by it purified and they were made Saints of the Most High and they all had their Life in one Spirit according to the Measure received and in the Spirit they served and Worshipped God Day and Night and their Worship and Service he accepted these were the faithfull in Christ Jesus vvho had crucified the Flesh with all the Affections and Lusts of it and vvere born of the Spirit into a new life vvhere they Witnessed the Work of Regeneration and Renewing in the Power of God And then there vvas Epistles written unto such to edifie and comfort them and to build up and strengthen them that they might stand in the Faith vvhich they had received and in the Faith resist the Devil and all his fiery Darts and so by Faith in the Power they Witnessed the World and Flesh and Devil overcome and Victory obtained over all the Povvers of Darkness and in the Povver they vvere kept that the Wicked one did not touch them So these vvere exhorted to stand fast in the Liberty vvhereâ—ith Christ had made them free and and not look back again to be entangled vvith a yoake of Bondage Gal. 5.1 Mark their Liberty was in Christ and he had made them free and they were come out of bondage and were not to look back again least they should be entangled these had the Mark before them in the Light and was to press forward and not look back again and the knowledge of the glory of God was given unto them in the Light which shone in their hearts 2. Cor. 4 6. Mark The Light was in their hearts by which they came to know God and his Glory and they that did not believe in the Light which was manifest in them they did abide in Darknesse and the God of this World blinded their minds and kept them from the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ 2 Cor. 4.4 Mark The Light was there but they believed not So the God of this World ruled over them and kept them from it but unto those that did Believe it was the Mighty Power of God unto Salvation and by it were they gathered unto God and had fellowship with him one another So had they the true knowledg of God being in the Light gathered into fellowship with him then they testified That God is Light and in him is no Darknesse at all 1 Joh. 1.5 Mark This was John's Message which he had heard of him declared unto the Saints That God is Light in him â—s no darknesse at all and those that say they have fellowship with God and walk in darkness they lye do not the Truth but who walk in the Light as he is in the Light they have
they did not like to retain God in their knowledge then they went into the Visibles and grew wise in the Letter and read of the Saints Practice and of their Worship and laboured to form up some thing like it and what they made and formed in that they worshipped and it seemed to be right in their own eyes So they kept the Words and with them stood cloathed but were from the Life and from the Spirit inwardly ravened And this is Babylon the Mother of Harlots where the Seed of God is in Captivity where people are distracted and confused all tossed like waves of the Sea and all unstable as VVaters and out of this the Beast rises and his Heads and Horns appeares and he opens his mouth in Blasphemy against God and blasphemes his Name and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven And this John in his time saw in the spirit and when the Beast had got up his Heads and his Horns he began to make war and to force and compel subjection to his Power that all might bow unto him and receive his Mark then did the world worship the Beast and wondered after him whose Names were not written in the Lambs Book of Life and they that would not worship the Image of the Beast was to be killed And none was to buy or sell but those that had the Mark or the Name of the Beast or the Number of his Name Rev. 13. so came People under the Beasts Power in the Darkness when they were ravened from the Spirit in which they should have worshipped the Father then they worshipped the Image of the Beast and received his Mark so turned against the Lamb and his Followers and made War with them that when any thing of God appeared which was made manifest in people then the Beast rose up and made War against that and reached unto it with his Horns and pushed it down so the true Church hath been driven into the Wilderness where she hath been through time and times and dividing of times and now is coming forth in the purity and glory of her Beloved upon whose Breast she leans and thus people have erred and gone astray from the Way of God and have not known their part in that Life into which the Saints were gathered who gave forth the Scriptures neither hath their Ears bin open to hear the teachings of God's spirit which is manifest within them so they have heapt up Teachers without them after their own ungodly lusts and their ears have been itching after them and they have built Houses for them and called them Churches and they have crept into them and there have they led the silly Women captive who have been laden with sins and divers lusts and have been ever learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth so hath the false Church and false Teachers spread over the Earth in the Night of Apostacy and the people they have loved to have it so there was liberty for the flesh they could sit down in that Way and eat and drink and rise up to play and that pleased the carnal mâ—nd and satisfied the affection and lust of the Flesh and so hath all the vain Worships and Customs which people are this day worshipping in who yet abides in Forms and Traditioâ—s they are all come up since the dayes of the Apostles and are after mens Traditions and not after Christ and the Conception of all hath been in man's Imagination and hath been brought forth in his own Will and Wisdom and so is a fleshly Birth which hath ever persecuted the Birth of God for man's heart adulterating from that of God in him he goes into the Flesh and unto the Flesh he joins and commits VVhoredom and brings forth a Child of VVhoredom and so have all Conceptions and bringings forth since the Dayes of the Apostles been Bastards and not Sons then the Father that Begets and the Mother that Bears would have their Son to be set up and they clothe him and adorns him with fair coverings that he may appear beautiful and be beloved then would have all be subject to him bow down and worship him and though all these Bastards differ much in their Likenesse and cannot joyne nor own one another yet is their Conception all in one womb and they all partake of one Nature and that which makes the difference is the Garment which they are dressed withall in which they appear outwardly to the eyes of the beholders and when the true Birth appears they all take a part and joins together and conspires to kill him and to cast him out of their Countrey So doth all the Harlots Children stand this day every one for themselves and one against another but all against Christ the Son and Heir and not one of them by what Name soever known that would have him to reign but strives with him and makes War against him as hath been experienced in this present Age So every one likes and loves their own best and labours to cherish and to strengthen that and would have it to have a Name and Power in the Earth and this is the great Contention amongst all the Apostates who Wars and Fights and Destroys one another about their Religion they would all set up their own Birth and would have that Adored and Worshipped and if there be but a bowing unto the Appearance of it they are satisfied with it though the heart be in the Hypocrisie but if any deny to Worship that which they set up and cannot bow unto it for Conscience sake then they are offended and provoked and so Wars and Fights and Destroys one another because their Image is not adored nor their Birth worshipped and all runs to the Scriptures for shelter and from the Scriptures would prove their Birth to be lawfully begotten and from that ground would have their Son Worshipped or would have such as cannot to be persecuted And thus do all lye in Darkness and in Confusion in the Night of Apostacy and understands not one another nor knows not what they would have done for they being from the Life that gave forth Scriptures their understandings are darkened and they erre and knows not the Scriptures nor the Power of God the Light not shining out of Darkness nor the Morning having not appeared in them they be still in the Earth where Darkness covers and are all Wanderers and Vagabonds in the Earth and hath no part nor union with Moses's Life the Prophets Life and the Apostles Life who had unity together in the one Spirit and all walked in the manifestation of it and so declared the things they heard and saw and tasted and handled of the Word of Life and they knew the Son of God to be come the same that was in the beginning and their Understandings were opened by him and then they knew him that was true and was in him that is true even in his Son JESUS CHRIST
this is the time GOD and ternal LIFE 1 John 5. Mark the Son of God was come the true Birth was born in them and they knew him to be the only true God and obeyed and worshipped him and in him they had Eternal Life and this they witnessed to be true But who knows him not to be come that is True they are not in the Saints Life so runs into their Words and gets their Words and sows them together and makes themselves Coverings but abides in the Darkness and brings forth that which is false then searches the Scriptures for Words to prove their Image a lawful Son And this is the bottom and foundation of all professed Religions this day centring in the Letter and running thither for shelter but are all from the Life and out of that which is the sure Refuge and Defence and though all these Births differ in their Form and Likeness yet in the Ground one and all nourished from one Root and the difference is in their branchings forth and appearances for they reach to the Letter in their comprehensions and from that imagines how the Saints practised and worshipped and then they adde their own Inventions and Conclusions concerning it and so makes it up as a thing that is true and these are divers in appearance some carved out into one likeness and some into another some appearing more excellent and glorious than others and some being more painted with Scripture-words than others are and so they make up the Image which Daniel saw whose brightness was excellent and the form terrible the head of the Image was of fine gold his Breasts and his arms of Silver his Belly and Thighs of Brass his Legs of Iron his Feet part of Iron and part of Clay Dan. 2. Mark here was divers appearances in the Image and some more glorious than others to behold yet but one Image and from the Feet unto the Head it seemed more excellent in shew but all must fall together for the foundation is in the mixture and the little Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands it smites the Mixture and brings down the whole Image and in the fall of it there is no difference made from the Feet unto the Head but the Iron the Clay the Brass the Silver and the Gold was broken to peeces together and became like the chaffe of the Summer-threshing-floors and the wind carried them away that no place was found for them and the Stone that smote the Image became a great Mountain and filled the earth Dan. 2 23. Hear O BABYLON for this is the Lord's Decree against thee this day and all the Apostates that inhabits within thee though many may be climbed up to the Head of Gold yet they are part of the Image whose feet is Iron and Clay and the little Stone will bring them down with the Rest and they must fall and be destroied before the brightness of his Rising who is come to fill the Earth with his Glory and though Babylon be diverse in appearance and there be many branchings forth in her and that there is not an agreement amongst themselves yet they differ not in the root but all springs up from the heart that is deceitful and desperately wicked which lieth degenerated from God and the night of Apostacy spread over it and the fruit that is brought forth by them hath one taste and is all bitter and no savour of the life of God is felt amongst them And though it be so that all sorts and sects profess God and with their lips seem to honor him yet is their hearts far off from him and their fear towards him is taught by the precepts and traditions of men and in their works they are all found to deny him and lies in darkness and confusion some setting up and some pulling down some building and some destroying so doth the Inhabitants of Babylon dash one against another and breaks one another and destroies one another about their professed Religion and are all out of that which mâ—kes for Peace and that wherewith one may edifie another So the Image hath been made and set up and all these branches put forth since the daies of the Apostles the Spirit of Truth being lost and people having run in the night of Apostacy they have been like blind men groaping for a Way to walk in and when they could not find the Saints way then in their inventions they made wayes to themselves and what they made that seemed right in their own eies So have all the people a way and a worship and in their own way their hearts is most delighted and in that they are â—est satisfied though it never bring them near to God or to feel the refreshings of his living presence 1. Now the POPE those that walk and worship with him they have a way and unto them it seems right as others do and they strive and contend for it and counts all Hereticks that differ from them and in their zeal to their way and worship they make Laws and Decrees for to cut off and destroy such as cannot own their way and walk with them and the Pope challengeth the first place in Government and Power as to those things that concerns Religion and sets himself over all and sits as a holy Father and Head of the Church and institutes and orders what his will leadeth him to and that he sets up in practise and profession then unto that must all bow or draw his displeasure upon them and he concludes something from the Scripture that may be a ground for him in his practise imagining that he is as Peter was and hath power as Peter had and fits in Peters Seat to rule but is not found in Peters life so an earthly carnal man dark and blinde not perceiving the things of God and is far off from that in which Peter had power to binde and loose so sits in a decked Seat in the pride and hautiness of his hearâ— and in that rules over people by the might of his earthly powers which Peter never did so the Thing he maketh to himself and sets up a likeness out of the power and the form is practised and a Will-worship performed and in that is the Pope with his people satisfied and thinks that they do God service but are found in the degeneration and alienation from the life of God and the in dark night of Apostasie where the mystery they cannot perceive so in darkness walk and know not whither they go because that darkness hath blinded their mindes 2 And from the same Root another branch springs up something higher and is called PRELACY whose birth is conceived in the same womb as the other and brought forth in the same strength and they flye to the Scripture to uphold that part of the Image which they bear forth and from the Scripture they would prove their's a lawful birth having read of Bishops and Church-order of Prayer