Lord which m Gal. 3. leadeth unto Christ whereout the Gospell of the Kingdom of God ariseth where no humane Law is taught besides that leadeth from Christ and darkneth the Gospell 33. Where is the upright Circumcision n Dan. 10. Jer. 4. Rom. 2. Phil. 3. Col. 2. to the laying away of sin in the flesh which was given by God to Abraham and his seed for an o Gen. 17. everlasting sign of his Covenant 34. Where is the Law of the spirit which p Rom. 8. quickneth in Jesu Christ and freeth us from the Law of sin and of death 35. Where is now the q Rom. 5. Eph. 2. peace with God the Father in pure and unspotted Consciences 36. Where is now the r Mat. 3. Rom. 6. Gal. 3. Col. 2. 1 Pet. 3. Baptisme of John or the grace of the Lord over those that are distressed for the sins cause to their amendment from the sin 37. Where is now the true Baptisme of Jesu Christ Å¿ Mat. 3.28 Mar. 16. Act. 10.19 which followeth thereupon to the forgiving and justifying from the sin whereon the name of the Father is witnessed the name of the son confessed and the name of the Holy Ghost t Eph. 1. for a pledge of the godly inheritance sealed 38. Where do any now keep u Mat. 26. Mar. 14. Lu. 22. 1 Cor. 11. the supper of Christ where they break distribute and eat the bread which is the true body of Christ to a remembrance of Christ that he hath suffered in us for our sinnes cause x Rom. 6. Phil. 2. 1 Pet. 2. the death of the Crosse and so his death y 1 Cor. 11. is published untill he come in his glory 39. Where do any now drink the cup z 1 Cor. 10. of Christ in the communion of his bloud of the true Testament 40. Where is now the Christian communion a Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 5. or where are the upright Christians which do all eat of the same bread and do all drink of the same cup b 1 Cor. 10. to an holy undivided body whereof Jesus Christ is c Eph. 1.4.6 the head and which are the d Eph. 1. 1 Pet. 2. peculiar ones of God for an holy people to the God of Life whom he hath made Kings e 1 Pet. 2. Apo. 1.5 and Priests through Jesus Christ 41. Where is now the seed of the believing Abraham f Gen. 15.17.22 Rom. 4. Gal. 3. wherein such promise is made for the blessing of all Generations 42. Oh where art thou thou seed of Isaac g Gen. 21.22 Rom. 9. that Son of the promise who art blessed by the Son of the promise thou noble stock h Gen. 27. of Jacob thou chosen blossom of Israel who onely i Deut. 4. livest in Gods Statutes and not after the manner of the heathen 43. Verily of all this which I ask after we find no whit at all in the wicked world nor yet among you O ye desolate peoples but only in the stock of the love that vertuous amiable being 44. Therefore come ye all hither to the love k Jer. 7.18.25.35 reform your being in her service and let the love with meeknesse be planted in you l Jam. 1. so shall ye even therein find all the goodlinesses of the riches of God and the whole communion of his Saints namely the whole house of Israel 45. Unto which stock of Saints and chosen Children of God we m 1 Pet 1. are all called through Jesus Christ that in the raising up of Israel according to the promises of God the Father we should inherit the blessing 46. O Israel ye right children in n Act. 3. the true Testaments of your holy Fathers when shall your dispersing have an end and your erecting come o Esa 2. Mic. 4. that the Law of the Lord and his word may be declared and his wondrous works manifested and all the heathen seek the righteousnesse learn the Law of the Lord p Zach. 8. and walk in his streets to the praise of the God of Israel who only is the Lord for q Esa 43.44 besides the God of Israel there is no God more 47. For truly the Idolls of the Heathen and all their spirituall wisdome which they set forth besides the everlasting God of Israel and his Law Esa 44.45.46 Ier. 10. is nothing els but foolishnesse and ignorance 48. Many of them have no understanding in the Law of the Lord nor knowledge of his Ordinances and of their calling through Jesus Christ Å¿ Luk. 2. of the tribe of Juda of the House of David they have no right discerning at all 49. And therefore it is that they misse of the meaning or intention of God and are thereby grounded on the glimmering of their knowledge and not on the stock of the upright olive tree t Rom. 11. to the which they are called to be grafted thereunto 50. But now when we consider all this and that we are not partakers of the Sap of the stock of our calling u Rom. 11. but to find our selves breken off from the same and thereby misse of all that which is of God and which his Ordinances are one with if then we have any love to the riches of God and do consider and know the damagefull x Mat. 16. losse with all the desolation y Dan. 9.11.12 Mat. 24. and abominations which are come in between then cometh upon us z Esa 13. Dan. 12. all woe and anguish and we greatly bewaile the losse of these riches of God above all the damages or losses of this world 51. For vvhere is there a more damagefull losse a Mat. 16. then vvhere one findeth no righteousnesse of God and vvhere the Lavv of God and his Statutes and Ordidances are in the losse so utterly darkened 52. Oh vvhat shall I more vvrite of this damagefull losse of the most precious riches my heart is heavie and my soul is pained in such sort b Ier. 9.13.14 Lam. 1.2.3 that oftentimes I am forced to sigh and mourne because my mind vvill not be pacified 53. O God that they all savv hovv they are c Psal 14. Rom. 3. turned herefrom and that no man hath continued in thy truth and hovv they are d Rom. 7. taken captive under the sin and strayed from thee yea these precious riches of God they scarcely knovv and hovv poor e Apo. 3 3. and naked in themselves they are vvithout thy Sanctuary to the end out of deep necessity they might cry unto thee f Psa 130. for grace and obtain in their spirit an inclined mind to the obeying of thy love that thou mighest have mercy on them all 54. For if so be they come not to thy love nor to the obedience of the requiring of her service nor thereunto have no good vvill belief or hope surely
a Mat. 11. and meek heart according to the mentioning of the Scriptures 27. Novv vvhen vve have heard or read the Scripture or service of the vvord to that effect and that vve have given over and yeelded our selves before the Elders b Eccl. 6 8. in the family of love thereunto then is it altogether needfull for us for the obtaining of such an upright heart diligently and earnestly c Esa 55. Jer. 29. to seek d Mat. 7. Luk. 11. knock and pray e Eccl. 2. to abide patiently the battell or tryall that meeteth us against our passage towards the good life f Mat. 10.16 Luk. 9.14 to take up our crosse daily by belief and hope in the patience and so with one accord g Act. 2. to continue stedfast in prayer and faith untill that through the service of the word we be h 1 Pet. 1. born or brought forth alive in the true word out of the death and blindnesse of the sin 28. Which birth in the spirit is not out of the word which is writable nor which is set forth by the unregenerate man out of the letter O no but out of the holy and living word of God i 1 Pet. i. 2 Joh. 1. which is Spirit and life and Christ himself according to the Spirit 29. For the written word of the letter is not the word it self that cleanseth and sanctifieth the man from the sin or which procreateth the life but the same is a shadow or figure out of the holy and true word and a serviceable instrument whereby we are made well affected inwardly in our souls to the true word of Vivification and do become believing of the same to the end that through the belief and love we might so in the spirit of our mind be made k Eph. 4. â— Pet. 1. of like being with the nature and being of the good life even as the word or Scripture witnesseth thereof 30. Lo this is our calling through the service of the holy word of the Apostles of Christ to the end we should so through the same service and her drawing of our hearts to the love be brought to the ministring of the spirituall and heavenly goods in such serving of the living God l Luk. 1. and in that upright righteousnesse and holinesse which is pleasing unto him 31. But where now is understanding where is there now any regard had unto the word and the matter rightly judged 32. Where are the guides that erre not m Esa 3.9.28.56 Jer. 8.18.23 Ezek. 13.22.34 The Prophets that lie not the Seers that faile not the teachers that mix not their own imaginations with the word 33. Is not the world every where so blind and dark that men cannot discern the shadow n Joh. 1. from that which it shineth from the sounding voice o Mat. 3. Rom. 10. 1 Pet. 1. from the word the letter p 2 Cor. 3. from the Spirit the Image of God from the Godhead mens teaching and word q Mat. 15. Col. 2. from Gods Teaching and Word the obedience and fear of men r Esa 51. Luk. 12. from the obedience and fear of God the righteousnesse which man esteemeth Å¿ Mat. 23. Rom. 10. from the righteoufnesse which is of value before God the naturall man from the spirituall the sacrifice of men from the sacrifice of Christ the Oblations from the Reconciliation the Law from the Gospell c. Is not every of these disorderly confounded one with another in the understandings of men and so taken all for one manner thing 34. This I saw that many hearts were intangled therein and it grieved me exceedingly 35. Oh darknesse and blindnesse or weed which from the beginning was sown in Adams heart how manifoldly hast thou spread thy self abroad amongst us and thereby covered the whole world that there is hardly any little plot to be found where the good seed might have his growing or springing up unto fruitfulnesse 36. If now it be not turned up u 4 Esd 4. namely the evill and the peace wherein it is sowne then shall not the good appear nor the place wherein it is sowne 37. O God that the place of the evill seed were stirred and turned up and the ungodlinesse taken away x 4 Esd 3. out of the heart that the thistles and thorns might grow there no more then might the noble Lilly branch namely thy Sanctuary once have his springing up y 4 Esd 6.7 the belief blossome and the love bring forth her fruits whereby the upright righteousnesse might z Sap. 7. Mat. 13. above any treasure of this world be embraced 38. Oh this same is it which I sigh for bewaile and lament because I find it not and because that appeareth not which God esteemeth and is the Salvation of men and for that moreover with many it is to be sought and fetcht so far of 39. But with thee O God are all a Mat. 19. things possible who so in belief of the truth trusteth in thee the same man can do much and look what seemeth unpossible with men that canst thou soon bring to passe CHAP. VIII 1. He bewaileth the desolation of the Sheep of Christ that go astray in the wildernesse and know not their right Shepheard 6. Yet many content themselves in that estate 14. An exhortation to the Seers 17. And to the desolate People that they behold and bewail the same their misery and the losse of the upright righteousnesse 44. An inviting to the love where the supply is onely to be found O God how long yet shall thy a Psal 74.79 Sanctuary remain wast how long shall the sheep run scattered abroad b 3 Re. 22. Ezek. 34. and in all respects remain bound intangled tyed and holden captive as though thou O God wouldst not be their redeemer and Shepheard for they c Psa 119. Esai 53. go astray in the wildernesses and forget the Land promised them of God for inheritance and the holy City Jerusalem 2. For behold and it is to be seen and noted the Foxes d Ezek. 13. do bear rule and every one in his own wisdome useth craft wilinesse and subtilty whereby many sheep and Lambs are caught and bewitched and so remain in the bands of the wildernesses because they know not the true life their upright Shepheard 3. For the fear which the foxes make with the show of their wisdome is the snare which hath taken captive and keepeth bound the poor silly sheep in the wildernesse that they neither hunger nor long for the good pasture supposing they come to the best and thus are they appeased 4. O ye silly sheep how long will you yet suffer your selves to be bewitched when will you heare the word of your Lord e Ioh. 10. and the voice of your Shepheard when will ye once desire to come unto him that hath made you f Ezek. 34. that he
read in his Psalms how valiantly and couragiously he setteth himself on Gods part against his enemies as well in fighting with good courage as also sometimes in praying and making supplication that God might be his helper 46. After the same manner ought it also to go with us inwardly in our hearts under the obedience of the love x 2 Cor. 3. for no man can do any thing of himself how stout strong or wise soever he be unlesse God be with him who strengthneth him whom under the obedience of the Word and his love he findeth to be of good will and that prayeth unto him for his help 47. If then any man be weak finding himself infirm yet to the battell the same is not y Eccl. 2. rejected nor despised no nor any one that hath been in errour so that they do but trust in God and be good of will do abide in the faith and so in processe of time do increase in strength and be not unwilling in the word of the Lord. 48. Therefore Oye little and sorrowfull hearts z Esa 35.41 be not dismaid but be confident in hope the Lord will not suffer you to be a Esa 54. put to shame Therefore be of good courage 49. Though that the battell come unto you and that ye be despised by the unbelievers of the gracious word and by the blasphemers of the love of God and of the holy spirit of Jesus Christ and that moreover b Mat. 5. 1 Pet. 2.3 all evill be lyingly spoken of you yet be not therefore dismaid 50. For the God of Israel is c Esa 5. our comfort and he the same God will be our redeemer and our King wherefore have your refuge only on him to the intent ye may not fear your adversary in the fight For truly this fight is godly and amiable 51. Men curse nor swear not there they do not there kill nor destroy any d Eph. 6. save only that opposite being against God for it is no outward battell or war 52. They use there no outward e Esa 2. Mic. 4. swords or spears they seek there to destroy no flesh of men but it is a fight of the crosse and patience f Rom. 6. to the subduing of the sin 53. This fight is also no disputation bravvling nor wrangling for the knowledges sake of the Scriptures It is likewise no contention with men howsoever the most part of factious men which do every faction in particular call themselves the right Christians have even to this day so used it and do also yet still bravvle g 1 Cor. 3. Jam. 3. contend and strive one against another and that with a secret hatred and envy who should be best wisest and holiest and how to have right and equity every one in his conceiving whereby they intangle themselves every way one with another 54. But such brawling and discord do not I hold for any Christian-like fight seeing men do thereby forsake the love therefore such a fight doth nothing further towards the life nor towards the upright understanding of the divine wisdome 55. Moreover all those which stand minded to such a kind of outward fight brawling wrangling railing have never rightly perceived nor understood h Eph. 7. the inward fight For inasmuch as they know not the vertue of the love nor that whereout she proceedeth therefore do they account the battell of the righteous spirit which through the crosse in the spirit of wel-vvilling hearts carrieth forth the fight against death sin devill and hell for an ignorance and foolishnesse because they do no more esteem of such a chosen Salvation as is brought forth after the manner of men and which the man hath his glorying in then of the righteous spirit of love and life which God himself bringeth forth for i Esa 60. a true light and salvation of men after his godly nature and manner the k Esa 42.48 glorying whereof belongeth only unto God and to himself he also keepeth it 56. Wherefore seeing God hath considered that all mans wisdome is vain and that men by their wisdome know not Gods work in his wisdome nor his Salvation through his Christ l 1 Cor. 1. it hath therefore pleased God through foolish preaching under the obedience of the love of Christ to save the world that is to say all those that believe in him that he might catch the wise m Esa 29. 1 Cor. 1. 3. in their wisdome the crafty in their subtilty and craftinesse and the letter-learned in their knowledge of the Scripture thereby making known unto them n Psal 94. 1 Cor. 3. how vain and void of understanding they are in the purpose of God and hovv that by all wisdome and prudency and by all their learnednesse in the letter they have not known any thing of o Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 2. Gods vvisdome at all wherethrough the Almighty God is magnified and by which it is known that his foolishnesse is much wiser then all the wisdome of the world or prudence of mans vvit 57. Novv vvhosoever believeth the same but on the contrary party is yet so selfvvise that he giveth no ear at all nor is inclined to the love or to our communion through the loves service vvherein Gods purpose is knovvn or understood the same man surely shall not understand the mind of God nor yet his secret p Kom 8. 1 Cor. 2. for it is unpossible to understand the vvisdome of God vvithout obeying of the love CHAP. XII 1. It is meet that every one submit himself to the appeared grace 2. The new day 3. Patience towards the unbelievers 4. Wherein the upright understanding is to be found 5 The worldly wise find it not but will rest upon their owne wisdome 13. An exhortation to cleave to the truth without bondage to outward things 15. What the perfect righteousnesse is 19. And how we ought to cleave thereunto and to esteemof the outward things so far as they are profitable and no further 21. And that not for their owne sakes but for the Ordinances sake 22. How to behave our selves towards all men wives children servants 26. He exhorteth to give our minds to a lovely behaviour towards all 32. Not to regard any thing that may cause dissention but to set our chief respect upon the inward and not upon the outward 43. The upright life is the same that the Fathers lived in 45. Whereunto also the Gentiles were called by the Gospell 46. He requireth all people to take heed to their calling 50. And to turn away from the self-minded thoughts that do tempt and intice us 51. Our union with God in the spirit is the stone that is disallowed of men 55. The Glasse of Righteousnesse serveth to try our selves by 56. The man is diversly perverted How H. N. passed forth under the love in his humane nature and how God received him unto grace 61. His little regard
love then let us for our parts look to it that we p 2 Cor. 6 Heb. 12. refuse not the same grace nor separate our hearts therefrom q Psal 95. Heb. 3.4 nor harden them thereagainst but be subject to his love and love him and beare good will towards him againe 31. For he hath shewed his tender love r Joh. 3. Rom 5. and ardent affection upon us first wakening us Å¿ Ezek. 37 Eph. 2. in the Spirit out of the sleep and death of sinne unto his Service of Love which reacheth to the everlasting life that we should walk in t Luke 1. righteousnesse and holinesse before him in all love 32. Lo out of such a disposition of heart and mind my writing is and unto this is all my longing that if the Lord would vouchsafe it I might in the truth any where upon earth find any communalty which might in that manner be comprehended in the Service of the Love or were inclined thereunto and that such grace might befall us as to have fellowship one with another 33. For in the service of the love and in the vertuous disposition and good nature it is all comprehended what God from the beginning and alwaies hath willed and required of the man wherefore the Law and the Service of the Prophets and Apostles u Mat. 22. Luk. 10. Gal. 5. 2 Tim. 1. are fulfilled in the Love for to the righteousnesse of the Love all of them have their Service and even all their office and ministration is to the love that so in the last time the Love x Col. 3. the true perfection might abide y 1 Cor. 13 in her Service for evermore CHAP. II. 1. The Love never faileth 3. The Law and the Prophets are not abolished by the beliefe 6. But when the Love is come and men are established in her then and not before is the Service of the Law ceased 9. The time is come that the well-minded people shal joyn to the Love and find nouriture in her Service 11. According as the Prophets have fore-told In which time the houses of Israel and Judah shall be gathered into one and the Gentiles also be joyned into them 14. H. N ' s. mild and peaceable service hereunto yet without flattery 21. He exhorteth to make this holy life which by this Service is set forth our patterne of righteous living putting away evill thoughts and reproaching lips 26. The vengeance of the wicked world in the last time FOr though the Prophecies cease and the knowledge leaveth off yet the love never a 1 Cor. 12 faileth for the prophecying is in part and hath his Prophecy and the knowing is in part and hath his knowledge and they do all cease in the love In like manner the Law also hath her Doctrine out of which in the end the b 1 Tim. 1 love is required 2. When the perfection therefore cometh that we be established in the love then is the Law the prophecying and the knowledge fulfilled and accomplished or then is the obedience shewed in the same Commandement and doctrine of God and not before 3. To the intent therefore that the odience which availeth before God should be set up the c Rom. 10 Gal. 2.3.4 belief was published to salvation through the service of the holy word of the Apostles of Christ howbeit not to break nor to set aside the Law of Moses and the Prophets neither the obedience thereunto d Mat. 5. Rom. 3. but to establish and to fulfill them 4. Therefore many do utterly mistake and faile in their imagination e Mat. 22. because they understand not the Scripture and because they thinke before the Love of f Gal. 4. Christ hath any form in them that the law and the Prophets be fulfilled and that they are not bound to be obedient to the Law 5. O beloved consider once rightly I. pray you how and in what manner or in what upright fruits of righteousnesse the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled For behold must not the Law require of us g Rom. 3.8 Gal. 2.3 the upright Righteousnesse and besides remain from one Generation of men to another in her service and degree for ever And do not the Prophets prophecie thereunto or have not the Prophecies and preachings their service to that purpose even to make the upright fruits of the Law known and must not we then in like manner through the belief in the knowledge of the Righteousnesse passe on obediently towards the same to our Salvation that so thorow the belief we might bring forth the fruits of the upright Righteousnesse of God which are required by the Law and be made the children of the new Testament through Jesus Christ in his bloud h Rom. 3.8 Col. 1.2 Heb. 9. whereby we might be justified from the fin and so live with each other in all love 6. Now when we are i Eph. 3. Col. 2. established in the love the foregoing services namely of the Law and Prophets have then the first time fulfilled their office vvith us and their requiring doth also with us then k 1 Cor. 13. cease and they have with us their rest and form in the love and so then have we peace l Eph. 2. with God and likewise love and peace among each other It is true 7. Verily that same when it appeareth and is present is the true being which is perfect And therefore the love is the highest good m Deut. 10. Mat. 22. Rom. 13. Gal. 5. the fulfilling of the Lavv and the n 1 Tim. 1. principall scope of the belief 8. For though a man could speak even as with Angells tongues or had such faith o 1 Cor. 13. that he could move mountaines out of their places and though he wrought wonders and signs or were endevved vvith such knovvledge that he could open and declare all mysteries and discover all secret treasures or that he gave all his goods to the poor or did out of a religious humble service p Col. 2. shevv a certaine obedience or as a servant vvere every ones Minister or by means of persecution q Mat. 10.23 fled from Land to Land and from City to City yea though he yeelded his body to be killed or gave it over to be burnt yet truly all these cannot profit the man to Salvation nor to the vvell pleasing of God r 1 Cor. 13. if he have not the love for without the love they are all of no value wherefore let not men without the love give any respect unto them as if they were any thing much lesse hold of them for they doe all cease in the love 9. Therefore the time cometh yea it is come already that it shal come to passe that all Religions all that are good of will and every understanding conceiving and knowledge shall be brought in under the obedience of the love to the uniforme building of
that all hearts of men might fear honor and only serve him 27. Now where the word of life to Gods glory and mens salvation was heretofore thus ministred d Act. 2.3 4.5 c. and God then gave his blessing and increase for a fruitfulnesse of his Word through the belief there was also the same Word ministred out of Love by the Ministers thereof namely to the believers for their strengthning and growing up in the Word and in like manner they held forth the same Word of life according to his worthinesse unto the little young and weak ones to cheer up their hearts thereunto and to confirme them in the holy being of the same Word that such an holy being of God might have e Gal. 4. a sure forme in them and all people might with their tongues laud and praise God 28. Behold this same holy being of God is the true life of the holy Ghost which heretofore God wrought among his people Israel and likewise f Joel 2. Acts 2. among the Gentiles that feared his name and the same is promised afterward to be given in the g Esa 2.3.9.25.32.35 c. last daies 29. This same being of God is indeed the right food of the soule and bread of life and is h Ioh. 6. descended unto us from heaven for a life to the man and was heretofore i 1 Cor. 10 11. broken and distributed to the people of Israel and Dicsples of Christ to feed on in their souls 30. And this same bread which they brake fed on or eat k 1 Cor. 10 is the Communion of the Body of Christ which Christ is l Eph. 1.4.5 the Head Lord and Master of his Congreation saving m Mat. 1. redeeming his people from their sins and the cup whereof they drank n 1 Cor. 10 is the Communion of the blood of Christ 31. This same bread which was given unto them is the true meat-offering of Christ namely his body o Mat. 26. Mat. 14. Luk. 22. 1 Cor. 11. and this cup which was powred forth unto them is the true shedding of his blood the which is the out-flowing of the holy Word or Spirit of Christ upon all believers of Christ to everlasting life 32. Even thus did the Disciples of Jesu Christ eat of his flesh and drinke of his blood to the forgivenesse of their sins unto him namely to Christ for an incorporating and unto them namely to the believers of Christ for a life and so then had they their fellowship p 1 Joh. 1. with the same Christ and with his Father and were flesh q 1 Cor. 12. of his flesh and bone of his bones 33. Behold that same bread or body of Christ is the word that became flesh r Joh. 1. and it dwelt amongst them and they saw Å¿ 2 Pet. 1. 1 Joh. 1. his glory as a glory of the onely born Son of the Father full of grace and truth 34. And that same is the new Testament t Jer. 31. Heb. 8.10 which God in those daies made and appointed with his people u Act. 2. Tit. 3. and he powred out his spirit plenteously on them x Apo. 12. and did let them see his Ark in the heaven sent down his holy Jerusalem unto them y Apo. 21. and shewed them the Temple of his holy dwelling z Act. 7.17 which is not made with mens hands but which he had prepared for himself according as he promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Juda and the same is published to the Gentiles for a joyfull message 35. The same bread which was sent down unto them from heaven was heretofore broken and distributed also to the Gentiles as it is now unto us there was also a 1 Cor. 11. powred forth unto them of the cup of Christ and God did likewise shed sorth the same spirit of Christ b Act. 10.11.13 upon the Gentiles and through the belief justified their hearts from the sin for a c Esa 2.42.56.60.61.66 Jer. 23.33 Joel 2. Zach. 2.8.13 serting up of the banner of righteousnesse unto them according as God had avouched and promised the same to the Gentiles aforetimes by the mouth of his Prophets 36. Loe such things doth God work through his ministration of the holy Ghost and it is the true service in the obedience of the love and in this very sort my sight is that it shall come to passe in the last daies when God setteth up again the house of Israel according to his promises and not according to any humane Ordinance or invention which the man bringeth forth out of his witty dexterity or knowledge or out of his letter-learned wisdome wherewith the ignorant ones who understand not Gods promises are taken captive or tyed and with the bondage of heart through mens doctrine and wisdome carried into a made holinesse and fed therewith but not unto the word of life or shedding forth of the Holy Ghost from the living father the most highest nor yet fed with it 37. O no ye deerly beloved God d Esa 42. giveth not that honour unto any creature It is also no mans work nor power through mans invention but the work and power of the Lord through his gracious word in the service of his love that so they might all according to the promises e Esa 54. Joh. 6. be taught of God and all know him from f Jer. 31. the least to the greatest CHAP. VI. 1. The service of the love being Gods work by the illuminate elders 2. Is of few believed yet is it certainly the truth 3. Neverthelesse he permitteth it to be judged of all upright hearts 6. But with caution that none judge of envy but faithfully out of love 16. The worthinesse of the true wisdome 25. For lack whereof the course of the world is marred 26. Of the false wisdome 28. and of the true 30. The end of the false wisdome is come 32. How to come to the true wisdome BUt this service out of the love and this administration of the true bread or living word where it is appeared out of the true God is administred among the unlightned by the Elders and illuminated men in the family of the love of Jesu Christ â—o a Esa 40.42.61 Jer. 1.20 Mat. 28. Mar. 16. prepare and make meet the unlightâ—ed for to receive the true light of Christ and the gifts of his holy Spirit yea the same ministration is even Gods Ordinance where b 1 Cor. 3. God is the worker but not els and then the illuminated man who is grown up under the obedience of the love c Eph. 4. to the old age of the holy understanding or of the man Christ d Joh. 15 Act. 1.2 is a witnesse and serviceable instrument thereof but the blessing or increase which is the spirit of the living Word e 1 Cor. 3. must God
give through which righteous spirit or spirit of promise f Act. 15. 1 Cor. 6. God justifieth our hearts from the sinne through the belief 2. Lo hereof have I written heretofore and do now still bear witnesse to the same but who believeth the truth or who hath any regard unto Gods promises to wait with long sufferance and with a firme confidence in God for such things to come and in the obedience to the requiring of the service of love to hope for them and my conceiving in the truth and mine understanding is even yet no otherwise neither can I otherwise discern but that God will thus in his time bring forth his work to an everlasting peaceable living in the love according to his promises 3. Notwithstanding if it be not so as I through the holy spirit of the love of Jesu Christ do according to the life describe it or that Gods working according to his promises be not in such wise promised also that such a life of peace as we bear record of should not be to come or that men should not under the obedience of the love hope for it according to the promises Let any man give judgement of it according to the truth for every one that loveth righteousnesse he intendeth doubtlesse the Salvation after his best meaning 4. But if on the other side O all ye which observe these things the Lord hath opened the door of understanding unto you or hath g Eph. 1. enlightned your understanding and that ye conceive that we have set forth and described the life of righteousnesse and the service which leadeth thereunto according to the truth then verifie the same to the unity of heart in the love and to one understanding of the true belief in Jesu Christ one with another and so h Eccl. 6. then give your selves obediently to the same service of love and to our communion of the living God in one faith and in one familiarity i 1 Pet. 1. of upright brotherly love to the end the true belief and the right obedience of the love may among us all which love the righteousnesse k 4 Esd 6. grow and blossome in all concord in a sure hope to Gods promises and that the righteous in the love may become many 5. Els if you think that we have conceived of the truth amisse or if in any point it be too slenderly set forth then give testimony thereof with a meek spirit and so help forward the unity of heart in the obedience of the love and think no evill of it neither blaspheme it for in such a sort we stand pliable to examine the truth whereby out of love we may cleave thereunto and so receive the explanation of the truth in that wherein we know it not aright for the wisdome of the truth in a gentle and meek spirit l Pro. 3.8 Sap. 7. is the most precioust treasure that a man can find 6. But one that covereth himself in his evill conceiving and thereby thinketh to be wise and one which hath a tongue that slandereth and an heart which is envious or wrath against any he is not to be commended Moreover an arrogant heart which with contempt of another hath a pleasure in his own understanding or which standeth partiall in the testimony of the truth or an heart that turneth it self away from the concord of the service of love and cleaveth to the vain conceited flesh and bloud and taketh part therewith that same can in no wise judge rightly 7. Therefore judge with faithfulnesse and truth and not with favour or disfavour nor yet with reviling or despite least any man judge out of such a disposition as they aforetimes did that were the confederates of the high-Priest and smote the mouth of the wisdome on his face m Joh. 18. saying with arrogant minds and malicious hearts wilt thou answer the High-Priest so 8. Behold howsoever it be meet and Gods Ordinance that men should learn the Law n Mal. 2. out of the mouth of the Priests and the wisdome o Eccl. 6.8 of the Elders or principallest of understanding yet is such dealing an unreasonablenesse and against the Law also against the wisdome and against the love which God requireth 9. Wheresoever therefore men deal after that manner or with such partiality though it seemeth to be some righteousnesse holinesse or wisdome there deem we not the true High-Priest nor any Elders of the holy understanding nor yet the Law of the Lord nor wisdome of God to be 10. Therefore ought men to stand impartiall with the heart in Gods upright being and so to set forth the Salvation out of the love and her service for many seek it ignorantly and through lack of wisdome they go into waies where it is not to be found 11. But if any man love the salvation and wisdome from his heart let him submit himself to the love and her service and so then in obeying of the requiring of the service of love let him be familiar p Col. 3. 1 Pet. 3. brotherly kind-hearted chast meek gentle sober patient or long suffering lowly of heart and friendly for that is a blessednesse q Jam. 3. and wisdome which is not earthly of the earth or of men but onely of God the fountain of grace full of all wisdome and he distributeth her unto every one that feareth seeketh and loveth him for there is none only wise nor onely good r Mat. 19 Luk. 18. but God who onely is the Lord and the everlasting wisdome it self 12. Therefore speaketh the mouth of the wisdome and saith Å¿ Mat. 18. where two or three of you be gathered together in my Name there am I amongst you and in the midst of you t Deut. 17.19 Mat. 18. Joh. 8. for in the mouth of two or three witnesses all matters shall be judged and be rightly known out of the true wisdome 13. But not of such as with subtilty of the knowledge do enquire daily thereafter of another or with wittinesse and reason do search or sound deeply for it whereby to discern the matters of understanding touching things divine out of the knowledge O no! but u Esa 57.66 Sap. 1.6 Mat. 11. 13. 1 Cor. 2. of those that are lowly of heart and have not studied nor searched for any knovvledge x Bccl. 6. 1 Pet. 1.5 but with a desire do humble their hearts to the obeying of the requiring of the holy vvord and his service of love for to do the will of the Lord. 14. Lo such are upright wise-ones and lovers of wisdome upon whom also the wisdome ariseth as a light whose judgements agree in one understanding and do tend or reach to one upright being 15. O God that the hearts of men were yet once rightly humbled before thee and thy service of love and were partakers of thy holy wisdome that so they might live in thee 16. O holy y
Rom. 11. bottomlesse depth of the everlasting godly wisdome who can sufficiently praise thy vertue 17. Thou surmountest z Sap. 7. all humane understanding therefore can no man compasse nor inclose thee for thou abidest for ever with the Godhead essentially 18. In thee is a Sap. 7. the holy Ghost and the perfection 19. Through thee is the earth grounded b Psal 33. Pro. 8. the heavens are made through thee and without thee c Joh. 8. there is nothing made that is any thing 20. Thou art d Joh. 8.9 the light of the world the way of the righteous e Joh. 14. the truth of God f Gen. 2. Prov. 3. 4 Esd 8. Apo. 2. and a tree of life 21. Thou refreshest all them that are burdened and laden if they do but come unto thee g Mat. 11. for thy yoke is easie and thy burden light to bear 22. Thou distributest forth knowledge and understanding h Prov. 8. Sap. 6. whereby the Lands are preserved and wherethrough the people are protected 23. But he that forsaketh thee and loveth thee not cometh into misery and destruction 24. Oh that they all had tasted a little of the wisdome of God then would there be no strife or dissention 25. Wherefore do the Lands perish and wherefore come the people into so much vvofulnesse and miserie wherefore cometh the desolation the division and the abomination over the world wherefore doth the man believe the lying rather then i 2 Thes 2. the truth wherefore is the man bewitched with vain God-services and wrapped with so many sorts of vaine imaginations vvherefore do men come into such false freedome and loosenesse of heart that they will in no vvise be obedient to the requiring of Gods truth and of his service of Love and so draw away others from the first entrance of the Christian life wherefore do certain come also into such intanglement of heart as that they give over themselves therein to a bondage and not to a deliverance from the sinne under the obedience of the love why do the people strive and use craft and violence one against another why are k Esa 1. Jer. 5. Ezek. 22. Mal. 3. not the simple ones rescued or defended why is there no righteousnesse l Hos 4. faithfulnesse truth nor love to be found wherefore do dissensions holinesse dissimulation hatred vvrath jangling slander battell warre m Mat 24. 2 Tim. 3. betraying and all deceiveablenesse reign among the children of men but because there is no wisdome n Jam. 1. of God nor any equity or righteousnesse loved out of impartiall love but every one walketh and liveth o Jer 7. â—1 in his self-mindednesse every where 26. We find indeed some men that imagine and seek their wisdome in the knowledge of all things thinking that the garnished speech of knowledge the utterance of flowred words and to have a golden tongue is the wisdome but many are beguiled and have been seduced thereby 27. For that same and to labour for such things or to have regard thereunto is not the wisdome which God requireth of us for he desireth not that the man should toil or trouble himself therewith howsoever the reason through his presumptuous imagination searcheth most of all after it contrary to Gods appointment 28. But this Gdoth od require lowlinesse of heart to p Mich. 6. bow unto him and his Ordinance and to have a desire and a delight to do his will and to be obedient to the requiring of his love 29. That truly is a wisdome of understanding which bringeth forth the peace in righteousnesse and which q Sap. 9. Salomon prayed for 30. But forasmuch now as the man doth not rightly labour for this upright wisdome nor yet from the heart desireth such things and that now every understanding hath in the knovuledge out of the first born Adam corrupted his way towards the wisdome as all flesh did r Gen. 6. in the time of Noe in such sort that one can now find few that have any understanding or knowledge of the upright wisdome therefore is also the end of the knowledge and of all the wisdome of the flesh come before the Lord. 31. For out of the knowledge and wisdome of the flesh are grievous errours come into the world to a great misery affliction sorrow and heavinesse over the children of men for the Å¿ 4 Esd 14. Mat. 24. wickednesse hath the upper hand and her end or the ripenesse of her harvest t 4 Esd 4. shall be out of measure horrible it shall assuredly come so to passe vvhether it be believed or not 32. Wherefore heare and understand ye deerly beloved if so be we love the upright wisdome and desire to obtaine or to inherit the same then may vve not seek nor desire to inherit her in the knowledge of our corrupt understanding nor yet take upon us in the same any judgement of â—he light for in our corrupt understanding and whilest we are yet u Eph. 4. estranged from God or are not wholly incorporated into his Christ according to the inner man so long doth God require of us no wisdome nor judgement of the light but x 1 Pet. 1. the obedience of his word and service of love which leadeth us to the wisdome and to the light of the divine clearnesse 33. For that cause it is before all things most needfull for us that we first come to the knowledge of our selves through the service of the holy word under the obedience of the love y Esa 59. and have sorrovv for our estranging from the upright being a Mat. 3. Luk. 3. Act. 2.3 and so shew repentance and amendment for the sin which hath brought forth unto us in our members the b Rom. 5. death or the dying away from God and so in long sufferance hope and comfort our selves on the avouching of the promises concerning the coming of the living word from on high c Rem 12. Eph. 4. to a renewing of our spirit and mind and to a restoring of all d Act. 3. that God hath spoken through the mouth of all his holy Prophets to the end that with single hearts we might obediently be incorporated e 2 Pet. 1. into the nature of God or of his Christ vvho is the true light the upright wisdome and the life of our salvation it self and so know and livingly feel the form of Christ f Gal. 2.3.4 not without us but in us and g 1 Cor. 15. carry or bear the Image of the Almighty God whereunto the man was created from the beginning 34. Behold to inherit that same true being of God and Christ in our inwardnesse is the upright wisdome h Jam. 3. which is humble meek gentle and friendly in which the true light also is known and inherited and whereout men judge uprightly 35. To this wisdome is our calling and thereunto are
we bidden through the service of the doctrines and writings of the Apostles of Christ i 1 Pet. 1. 1 Joh. 1. vvho have published in the world such a life as is everlasting 36. If then we believe in Christ so as the Scripture saith then shall not the upright wisdome remain separated from us but have her form in us and k Joh. 4.7 flow from our body as a river of living waters 37. But now is this upright wisdome l Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 1.2 hidden or unknown before all flesh also before the devill before the world and before all her wise and letter-learned ones 38. Also she is not to be learned in any schools through any study in the knowledges not found by any manner tongues or languages but she riseth as a light upon those who in the Doctrine of Wisdom of her service of Love are low and humble of heart m Esa 57.66 poor of Spirit willing to the good n Sap. 1.7 and not subject to the lustfulnesse of the sin 39. Therefore speaketh the mouth of the Wisdome saying o Mat. 11. I thank thee O Father of heaven and earth that thou hast hidden this same from the wise and learned in the Letter and hast made it knowne to the little and lowly 40. Yea it hath alwaies so pleased the Father to make the lowly contrite hearts partakers of the gifts of his holy wisdome CHAP. VII 2. In the off-fallen estate there is none truly wise though many boast 3. The Glasse of Righteousnesse is set forth to try every ones cause by it 8. Though the Author be moved at the misunderstanding of others 9. Yet would he not have men to think that his owne humane waies had been alwaies right 11. But through the Lords mercy he hath been inlightned 12. Which illumination and gifts he respected not in regard of the Love 13. And exhorteth all others to despise their gifts likewise in respect thereof 19. He bewaileth mens uncertaine knowledge 22. Yea even of them that are fore-goers unto others 25. How to walke in the Service of the Love 29. The written word is not the word it selfe 31. Yet mens misunderstanding perceiveth it not 39. But God can reveale the difference INasmuch as I now have perceived the fall or estranging of men from this holy wisdome and what a wicked nature and crafty heart they have or in what spirituall bewitching they stand that account themselves for wise and yet are strangers to the godly wisdome which is according to the Love and the requiring of her Service therefore could I not give credit unto any of them as true wise ones or upright Christians although they boasted them of Gods wisdome or gave our themselves for a Christian Congregation 2. For through mistrustfulnesse the fear of my heart was that the Christianity was not so good or upright among the Children of men as they made boast of or that it might yet not be for all that the right Christianity or that her Ministration was not yet proceeded out of the right stock of the Love 3. Whilest then that they were yet unknowne unto me in such sort that I could credit no man for his boasting fair speaking nor profoundnesse or deep knowledge and that out of Gods grace and his heavenly revelation there was granted me to see the good being of the Christianity and that the same stood before me in the sight of my spirit whereafter my hope and longing was as also we have said before therefore out of the inclination of love am I occasioned to shew openly and to set forth a Glasse of Righteousness whereby to make knowne before all eyes of understanding that glasse themselves therein the good and upright being of the true Christianity and what our calling is through Jesus Christ by the Word of the preaching of the Apostles of Christ and whereby also to lay open the understanding a Eph. 3. whereon we are to set our hope what manner life the Prophecies doe stretch unto wherein Gods promises are to be established and what manner ones they be or ought to be that are the upright Congregation of the Christianity 4. This verily have I through Gods grace b Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 3. which is given unto me plainly expressed in Letters according to the life of the upright Christianity namely according to the upright forme even as I behold the same in the vision of the truth through Gods heavenly Revelation which is c Rom. 16. Eph. 1.3 Col. 1. 2 Tim. 1. appeared and revealed unto me d Eccl. 24.33 seeking therein the salvation of all men and not mine owne only for therefore to the end that all controversie might now be ended and that it might be knowne what the true Christianity is I have impartially noted or described in Letters the upright being of the Christianity and also in like manner the true teaching-office of the Ministration of the holy Word in the obedience of the love of Jesu Christ. 5. If now any man have right in his matter concerning the Christianity or if any man minister the office of the holy Word rightly in the obedience of the love of Jesu Christ according to the promises he will also keep it and will likewise very willingly unite himselfe with us in the obedience of the Love of Jesu Christ for I desire not with my writing to bereave any man of the true being of the Christianity nor of the upright Office of the Ministration of the holy Word but much rather to point him to it and to be serviceable unto him therewith 6. But they that are wrong and stand in a conceit or imagination shall also very easily perceive wherein they mistake or are wrong if so be they read these writings and doe glasse themselves in the Glasse of Righteousnesse and have regard unto these testimonies 7. Let every one know himselfe and turn him to the Communalty of the love that he may be inlightned in his e Eph. 1. understanding and be delivered and unburthened of the f Rom. 1. vaine bewitched being and so with thanksgiving laud God 8. Oh what shall I say of the vaine understanding of the children of men and of all their conceits and imaginations whereunto they are subject Oh how much experience have I of this their ignorance and conceitednesse I have examined it very much I have had regard unto the judgement of many men and made my selfe common with every one howbeit I have found many things vaine or senselesse 9. But although I do thus write yet let no man therefore thinke that my humane waies have been still in the true understanding O no! but concerning my humane disposition and weak nature I have found my selfe in much sin and ignorance above many others 10. I have also passed thorow many g Sap. 5. tedious waies struggled much stumbled often and fallen many times yea I have been even the chiefe among
earth nor of flesh and bloud but a son of the most high God in the heavenly powers of the invisible being and is now in the last time appeared and come unto us the chosen of God in his glory and triumph from the right hand of God his Father and so hath with us with the spirituall and heavenly goods his ministration e Heb. 7.8.9.10 in the most holy of his Tabernacle under the obedience of the love af-the manner of Melchisedech to the erecting of the perfection 69. Thus as is said Jesus Christ hath his ministration even from the beinning untill the perfection through his Saints and Elect and so is in his teaching to his f Heb. 9. people a Salvation from their sins and a blessing and reviving g 1 Cor. 15. Eph. 2. Col. 1.2 from the death and hath then in that manner with them namely with the living his Believers his ministration with the spirituall and heavenly goods And so in the same ministration he is manifested by his believers that he is he right Messias and King of the Jews and the true h Psal 110. Heb. 7. high Priest for ever after the manner of Melchizedeck who in his Priesthood is greater and more excellent then the man because he abideth for ever 70. Behold this same high Priest in the ministration of the spirituall and heavenly goods and this noble King of Israel and Juda which ruleth in righteousnesse and of God is chosen to such an excellent glory before the foundation of the world was laid is by inheritance sealed to possesse the i 2 Reg. 7. Esa 9.32 Ier. 23.33 Dan. 7. Mic. 4. Luk. 1. seat of David his Father to the intent there may be no end of the peace upon the same from this time forth for evermore and that so he may rule and raigne as an everlasting peaceable King over the house of Jacob according to the promises 71. For in this sort and to the finishing thereof is he revealed unto men and published k Ioh. 1. 1 Tim. 3. 1 Joh. 2. to the world for a Saviour because all people should believe in him by him inherit the everlasting life and so confesse him and that sameis the true righteousnesse which is availeable before God and well pleasing unto those men which are of a good will 72. Now inasmuch as the rich bountifull God hath out of his grace granted me to perceive that we are all called and loved to the same glory of God and to the upright being of the love of his Christ because we should inherit with all what is of God and Christ the everlasting life and for that the same is the l Eph. 1.5 Col. 1. principall point of our godlinesse therefore have I pointed none unto flesh and bloud nor to any elementish or visible things neither doth my teaching tend to the outward but from the outward to passe on to the same inward and heavenly and to Gods Kingdome of heaven whereof is spoken before to the intent that no man should set the consolation of his soul nor the comfort of his Salvation upon the outvvard nor earthly nor put his confidence thereon but only on the upright life of the righteous spirit and upon the coming of the godly glory in Jesu Christ of which things I have according to my sight out of the heavenly revelation of God much and abundantly spoken in the Glasse of Righteousnesse and in this Introduction mine exhortation is out of love also to the same to the intent we should have an earnest love and be provoked with desire towards it 73. Which life of Righteousnesse whereof we witnesse is inwardly godly according to the divine nature and outwardly brotherly after the upright humane nature and that same is the upright righteousnesse before God and amongst men 74. Who so now from the heart seeketh God and his righteousnesse and rightly hath regard to the upright life the same person will acknowledge that my teaching and ministration is of God and that it tendeth to the upright life and vvho so likewise to this end searcheth the Scripture for the promises shall assuredly find that it maketh mention of such things and that the Law the Prophets and the Apostles of Christ do all point and vvitnesse to the very same 75. When the man now according to the truth perceiveth this same then will he for the love of righteousnesse sake be also inclined there unto and yeeld his understanding m 2 Gor. 10. captive under the obedience of the love praise God highly for his grace and through the belief passe on towards the upright life in all love 76. Though he now and then fail stumble or fall yet if his eyes of the spirit have respect to the upright life and to the love and that he glasse himself daily in the Glasse of Righteousnesse doubtlesse the same shall cause him to see and shall rightly shew him his spots and shall be unto him n Ioh. 4.7 as an open fountain of life against the sin and way of death CHAP. XIII 1. None can know God nor Christ rightly but in the Spirit of the love 11. No better grounds then the Doctrine of the love 14. An exhortation to the obeyers of her service that they blaspheme not other mens writings nor condemn any for Sects but rather allure all to the love 19. and that they put away the evill as much as they can out of themselves 20. The despisers are vaine 23. The consenters hereunto are counselled not to think they have already obtained but to labour and to continue in the doctrine of the love till the laying away of the mortall body 32. Not to be dismaid at the enemies but like souldiers to prepare themselves to the battell 33. Though we be sometimes hurt yet to take new courage still 36. Considering whereunto we are called through Jesus Christ TAke it to heart O ye children of men and let your understanding be renewed a Rom. 12. Eph. 4. according to the spirit to such an upright knowledge as God esteemeth to wit vvith the vvord of truth in the spirit of the love to an assured living hope and good conscience in Jesu Christ 2. For vvho so after the spirit conceiveth not the same nor is renevved in his understanding to the same upright knowledge under the obedience of the love in such a one there is no knowledge of Christ neither can he be rightly turned to Christ or to the upright belief but only through the same 3. For the fall from Christ is come and it is according to the Prophecie understood known and well perceived how that the same b 2 Thes 1. through the child of perdition according to the mention of the Scriptures hath in every respect so utterly c Rom. 1. Eph. 4. blinded depraved and corrupted the understanding of men concerning God and Christ that the children of men how wise or learned soever they of themselves
exhort any man that he suffer not his heart to be bound nor intangled with any thing that is outward is very meet so far forth as his heart may thereby be turned to have regard to the upright vertue of a pure heart and to the love f Gal. 3 whereby to be subject to the outward things no more but to serve the living God with a willing spirit 34. Thus or to this effect men shall loose the binding of the heart and proceed tovvards the upright righteousnesse with a free mind and humble heart to God for such things doth God require above all and not the g Rom. 3 Gal. 3.6 tying to the outward wherein neither life nor death of souls consisteth nor any life of righteousnesse required 35. For indeed it is true yea certain and sure both by the testimony of the godly truth in the spirit and also by the testimony of the Prophets and Apostles of Christ that neither in any thing whatsoever is visible or feelable nor in any factious God services or ceremonies which are observed with mens hands in contention and do not require any life of righteousnesse consisteth either any salvation nor condemnation before God h Rom. 14 1 Cor 8 neither can they bring any vantage or damage at all unto the souls of them whose hearts are not intangled therewith or have not any abhorring thereof 36. Notwithstanding if the God-services and ceremonies be Jewish or Christian i Rom. 3 then do they testifie of the life which God commandeth and k Rom. 8 Gal. 3.4 Heb. 7 requireth by them but if the ceremonies or God services be heathenish or mens invention or if they be ministred in strife and in schism or partiality then do those ceremonies and services shew that the life of those people that minister them is bewitched and that they l 1 Cor. 1.2 know not God nor m Rom. 10 his righteousnesse nor yet undeastand his Law or will and that they do walk in a n Ier. 7.11 Eph. 4 meer imagination and not after the Lords vvill and that is the thing vvhich God forbiddeth 37. For surely it is thick darknesse over the children of men o Esa 59 that they be so utterly blinded and bewitched of spirit that they cannot comprehend nor understand the upright life of righteousnesse for men are not to be subject in the spirit to the outward things wherewith they are served but should let themselves be served therewith to the upright righteousnesse and should cleave unto that which is spirit and the true life it self and which is required by those outward services 38. After this manner p Rom. 14 1 Cor. 8 if the heart be not tied with lusting and liking unto the outward things neither doth through any fear or disliking abhor them the Ceremonies do stand free for the Believers indifferently to be used CHAP. XVII In this Chapter is shewed the right difference between the true God-service and the Idol-service and also the Ceremonies of eithers Services NOw there are certain also that being intangled make conscience that men must necessarily use the Christian Ceremonies after the counterfeiting out of the Letter as a Commandement of the Lord. 2. Therefore seeing we now find many such people as in their consciences are tied or bound that they must necessarily use the services and ceremonies which after the testimonies of the Christian Services and Ceremonies are counterfeited out of the Letter as a Commandement of the Lord and because they understand nothing at all of the difference between the right Services and Ceremonies and the counterfeit I could not for the Loves sake omit to shew also a right difference of the same 3. Thus mark now ye Lovers of the truth how that between the true Services and Christian Ceremonies which are administred a Mat. 28 Mat. 16 Acts 2.3 4. c. out of the true light and word of life and the counterfeit services and ceremonies which are administred out of the knowledge of the Letter there must a right difference be noted and observed and so then must be considered to what intent or to what sense the true services and Christian ceremonies are Gods Commandement and whether the services and ceremonies be Gods everlasting Commandement or else be but annexed b Gal. 3 Heb. 7 or joyned to the everlasting Commandement of God or Christ for to serve the man withall in the obeying of them and to bring him in to the everlasting Commandement and life of God and that he should by such a means understand Gods everliving Commandement c Rom. 12 and Will and live therein For Gods true Commandement hath been from everlasting and d Esa 4 Mat. 24 1 Pet. 1. and remaineth unchangeable to everlasting 4. It is e Exod. 20 Deut. 5. commanded in the Law that men should rest upon the Sabboth day or sanctifie the same and such other like and after that the mouth of the the Wisdome and Truth saith f Mar. 2 that the man is not made for the Sabboth daies sake but the Sabboth day for the mans sake shewing a difference in Gods Commandement namely between that thing which was Gods commandement from everlasting and abideth unchangeable and that which for mens sake was annexed thereunto because they should understand Gods righteousnesse and his everlasting commandement thereby 5. And thus were the g Exod. 12.38.39.40 Luk. 1.2.3.4 5 6. c. ceremonies of the Law annexed to Gods everlasting commandement that is unto that which hath been Gods commandement from everlalasting and shall abide for ever because the people of Israel should out of the ceremonies of the Law and out of the outward Godservices of the same h Deut. 30 4 Esd 7 understand the life of godlinesse and the righteousnesse which God requireth and so live therein namely to love their God i Exod. 20 Deut. 4.6.10 Mat. 22 with all their hearts and their neighbour as themselves after all the manner of their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Jacob to whom the ceremonies were not commanded and yet for all that being obedient to the Lords commandements they walked alwaies in his statutes and ordinances which obedience or walking in the upright life was required by the Law and by the obeying of the ceremonies or outward God-services and were published through Christ in the world 6. But whilst now that in times past there came a k Rom. 11 blindnesse upon the learned in the Law insomuch that they knew no difference between the upright life that God requireth which is his commandement from everlasting and the ceremonies of the Law which were annexed thereunto that the upright life l Mat. 3.17 2 Pet. 1. wherein God had his delight was appeared and come therefore rose there up many controversies about the services and ceremonies amongst them that m Mat. 12.15 19 21 22. knew not the upright life and there fell out many questions
Righteousness and from the hope of Salvation according to the Promises and have sticked unto c Rom. 1. Epes 4. covetousnesse and lusts the snares of the confused world 4. Truly those that cleave to the Word and his Service of Love in such a sort and do so take and understand it they have conceived altogether amisse of the Word and his requiring and therefore they are d Rom. 1. Ephes 4. become vain in their understanding Insomuch that they forsake the Scriptures and Exhortations to the good all alike and do let the conversion to God and to his Righteousnesse utterly dye out of their hearts speaking thus with unrepentant hearts out of the vanity of their minde not discerning the upright understanding It must all come of God There is One that giveth all For it is God onely that can teach us Of him must we receive all and no men can give it us 5. This they say well and run yet neverthelesse forth as if there were no God nor Ministring of his Word that loved or required the Righteousnesse and do not once know nor consider the estranging or e Isa 1.59 falling from their God whereby to turn them again to him and his Righteousness and to shew repentance or f Matt. 3. Luk. 3. Acts 3. amendment for their sins and so in all humility to have regard to what purpose God hath given his Promises and annexed or ordained the Ministration of his Word under the obedience of the love therunto wherby they might receive of him the vertue of salvation For out of such a heart of humility g Isa 57.66 4 Esd 8. Eccl. 3. Jam. 4. 1 Pet. 5. the humble do always in God finde their salvation and not the stout hearts that do not esteem of Gods righteousnesse 6. O God! How dangerous a time is it now h 1 Tim. 4 2 Tim. 3 2 Pet. 3. Jude 1. in these last dayes through the misunderstanding of the children of men 7. What a number of false and venemous windes do there blow among the children of men to the hurt of their souls and to a drawing of them away from the Righteousnesse 8. Oh That there were in every one an hearty desire to the good then might they be protected and defended from the bewitching of the false windes which make the heart negligent to the upright Good and bring it either to the bewitched Humility or to the Lusts of the vain world 9. Therefore it is expedient to have a regard to Understanding i Prov. 1.2.3.4.8 to take heed to the Wisdom to esteem much of Godlinesse to account the upright Righteousnesse k Sap. 7.8 for the most precious above all Riches and to make choice of the Long-sufferance with the foresightfulnesse as Superintendents 10. This did the holy Fathers in times past give heed unto l Sap. 11. Eccl. 44.45 46. and so God taught them in his wisdome and preserved them that they were not partakers of the plagues of the ungodly 11. Wherefore let every one understand the meaning of the Word aright and take a right view that he may know who he is and how he ought to apply himself to be taught of God and to be endowed with his Spirit and what manner of people God will choose for his holy people 12. Truly not such m Sap. 1. as with their hearts cleave unto the world love the Evill n Pro. 1. and in all things let go the counsell of God Neither yet such o Mat. Luk. 17.21 as hang their Hearts in buying and selling upon coveteousnesse or p Rom. 13 1 Cor. 10 in eating and drinking upon gluttony or in marrying or being married upon unchastnesse or upon any vain transitory rejoycing whether it be in building or in planting and who in all their doings doe not attend nor have regard unto the works of the Lord as it came to passe in the times q Gen. 7. of Noe and in the r Gen. 19 times of Lot 13. For all those whose hearts in the time of Noe clave not to Gods righteousnesse but had a Lust and gave over their hearts to the vain corrupt things they marked not the work of the Lord neither had any respect to the preservation of the Righteous nor yet feared the punishment which then was ready to come upon all wicked men Of all this they knew nothing till the Flood came upon them and tooke them clean away 14. Therefore understand and know the preservation of godly men in these last dayes and consider well the meaning who or which they are that shall be taught of God and in what course they walke the which we have in some measure expressed Å¿ 1 Glass 7 in the first Book of the Glasse of Righteousnesse and doe here at this present expresse it namely they are those that t Mat. 5. have hunger and thirst after the Righteousnesse u Judith 8 Eccl. 2.3 that submit their souls to the obedience of the gracious Word and his Service x Luk. 18 and continue daily in prayer not in many words y John 4. Eph. 6. Phil. 4. but in the Spirit with desire to the Lord and his Righteousnes that they may obtain grace at the hands of God to live z Lake 1 in his righteousnesse with an upright heart and pure spirit 15. These are sorrowfull for their sins and sighing over them suffer not their souls to be quiet so long as they know or feele in themselves any vain or naughty Being which their hearts are tied or bound unto or so long as any thing in them doth reigne over them which is not GOD because they may not in all things serve their God onely 16. These that love the good Being from the heart doe seek in God to obtaine the same and doe labour and zealously endeavour thereafter a Deut. 4 Jer. 29. Mat. 7. Luk. 17. For they seeke and finde they knock and it is opened unto them they ask and receive not in presumptuousnesse as though God owed it them because of their seeking knocking and asking O no they looke not upon their own doings but labour onely for this even how to please the Lord giving themselves over thereunto with humble hearts according to the Spirit and acknowledge that they are not worthy of such Grace thus to be accepted and established in Gods truth and love 17. With such humble hearts doe they through the Love and her Service seek to find grace and peace at the hands of God the Father and not the subtile knowledge b 1 Cor. 6 which maketh the heart stout and lofty c Mat. 6. but they seeke above all and afore all things the Kingdome of God and his Righteousnesse The which are the gifts of God that God richly bringeth in the everlasting life unto such as worship and love him 18 For those that pray unto him for an upright heart and for a new and
But tie not your hearts unto any thing save onely to the good life of the Truth y Ioh. 8. For that shall make you free 14 Above all things ye beloved z 1 Cor. 14. Col. 3. follow still after the Love For there neither is nor shall be any thing that may excell her a Deut. 6. Mat. 22 1 Cor. 13 1 Tim. 1 The Love is the cheefest good the Truth a light to the life and the Righteousnes our joy Hereunto let our hearts be affected for herein standeth the praise of the Lord. 15. Thus let us forsake all bewitching of the Spirit and depart from the evill and increase or grow up in the good And that all in stillnes and in the hidden wisdom of God For the time peradventure will yet a little while remain troublous to speak freely before all people of the Truth and godlines For at this time she is b Esa 59. 3 Esd 14. yet with the World much too base but love and esteem ye her so much the more and gather ye her to your selves for a treasure in your hearts 16. All what the wicked world loveth all the enormities and abominations that the Ministers of the wicked world do gather in their hearts and all the envy contentiousnes strife of the obstinate Teachers against us and our most holiest service of the Love cast and hurle them all out of your hearts and inwardly have nothing to do with them For their inwardnes is full of vanity falshood and maliciousnes and their joy is onely in their foolish knowledge and in the earthly and transitory things 17. But let your hearts be full of the life and being of the true God-head and your joy onely in his righteousnes that therein ye may live in the Spirit and according to the Truth 18. Let it be a pleasure unto you that God becommeth Lord and King over all Have a desirous heart to the good to the same reach also c Eph. 4. one another the hand retaine no offence of mis-doing one towards another but exhort to amendment d Eccle. 28. Mat. 6. Col. 3. and forgive in the Love that so we may grow up with each other in one band of Love unto the godlines as a reconciled or e Tit. 2. acceptable people of the Lord through Iesus Christ such as have found grace and mercy at the hands of God the father for to inherit his promises to serve him with pure hearts in all love 19. Behold to be comprehended herein is the life which is everlasting and to reach one another the hand to the same godlines to exort to amendment of life and to retaine no man his sins is the f Hos 6. Matt. 9. Mercy which God requireth of us and not Sacrifices 20. He requireth Righteousnes and hates the ungodly being He sheweth his long-suffering towards them of good will g Esa 53. Heb. 2. and beareth their infirmity or weaknes as one that would not have any man to perish or to turn back 21. For a willing heart is a delight unto him and a broken or troubled Spirit h Psal 51. for his sins cause will he not despise 22. A good confidence towards his grace of a converting sinner is a joy unto him i Luk. 15. and it causeth also a joy in the heavenly Being 23. Therefore k Deut. 20. Esa 55. let no man be dismayed nor faint-hearted but let every one from the heart upon hope in the Beleef apply himselfe to the good and l Luk. 21. possesse his soule with patience unto the godly promises 24. Let no man take any yoak upon him out of his own choice least by some means of his unablenes he fall into a loathing towards the good but grow up by little and little and profit ye still from time to time 25. Keep alwaies what ye have go not m Apo. 2. back in any case that you loose not the Crown of Salvation Go still forward increasing in the good and in the knowledge of the holy understanding n Heb. 6. and so passe on towards the perfection 26. Neverthelesse desire not to have every thing at once but grow up in the good from the o Heb. 5. beginning of the Christian life That is from the repentance for sin p Matt. 3. to go on in amendment of life and to abide stedfast therein even to the q Matt. 24. end untill the true life of perfection That is r Eph. 4. untill the old age of the Man Christ The which is inwardly to obtaine the Love essentially 27. And that is the perfection of our godlines wherein we are to grow up from the begining of our turning to God and to the entrance of the first School-rule of the Christian Doctrine of the gracious Word and his Service of Love untill we be established in God and his true Love according to the Promises 28. If therefore any man love the good and his soul desire to inherit the same let him go thereunto with an humble heart and follow after it out of understanding that ignorance grieve not his soule 29. For there have been many in times past that would by force have all the righteousnes all at once and would feine according to their fancy consume and destroy the sin altogether by heaps but they have fallen into greater and grievouser sins 30. But in asmuch now as many beginnings are with lack of understanding taken in hand therefore divers men are become vnlustfull to the Å¿ Matt. 24. Righteousnes and have turned themselves back again and do cleave to the world and to her misunderstanding more than ever they did before 31. Divers others perceive no difference between the illuminated and vnilluminated Men and so whiles they are not yet illuminated themselves they give regard both to their own Imagination of the Knowledge also to the Precepts of unilluminated men because they trust upon such things suppose that in such sort all is well with them 32. They discerne not also the life from the death in their inwardnes nor yet the hearing t Pro. 4. of Councel Doctrine whereby to draw near to the living Commandement of God and to live therein 33. Many others hold v Apo. 3. at a stay and have no righteousnes neither do they aske hunger nor thirst after it and do neither go backwards nor forwards which is indeed a great shame 34. It were better for one to suffer now and then some Inconvenience for lack of experience t so that he abide in the Hope than to hold himself still or idle to the righteousnes before he be come to the salvation 35. For albeit one do sometimes by stumbling and falling suffer some inconvenience yet he riseth again for all that bewaileth his Ignorance and so then he taketh a new courage again with a more circumspect understanding in the Spirit x against the craftines of the
Promises 52. And therefore when according to their desire they have gotten all that honour then perswade they themselves yea it is already certaine that they have greatly merited because they have suffered so much strived and vanquished so valiantly and have so much knowledge do assume unto them that they are then holy and that God on the other side is indebted unto them of all the Promises and of the Blessing mentioned in the Scripture being well assured hereof that it doth of right and equity appertaine unto them 53. Now because they have chosen to themselves such an opinion they suppose that the Scripture witnesseth of them as the people of God and that likewise in regard of their holiness the honour of Gods Promises belongeth unto them They hold also so greatly of themselves that they know themselves to be worthy of all the high stile of the holy Titles that men do give them also all the services that men shew unto them they boldly arrogate unto themselves and a great deale more 54. For in their own eyes they are the most understandingest and the most best or holiest yea they are so exceeding proud upon their own knowledge and righteousnesse as if there were no God any where else save onely with them according to the knowledge of their cogitations and as though that the true God had utterly excluded all others his creatures 55. Oh! What an abominable thing is it to assume and feine to ones self such a spirituall conceit For thereout is able to spring great abomination and wickednesse such as is much worse then any fact of open sinners 56. For there is no greater sin then a spiritual pride r Act. 12. in which the man ascribeth holynesse to himself by his works and exalteth himself therewith Å¿ Mat. 12 Luk. 11. which last error is much worse than the first 57. O ye dearly beloved beware of such a nature of bold arrogancy that you become not back-sliders thereby from the single humility and meeknes of the upright being of Jesus Christ and that you fall not into the abominations and dreadful punishments of ungodly Men. CHAP. XXI 1. Of the upright hearts and their lowly estimation of themselves 8. The ground of upright repentance is shewed in the thirteenth chapter of the third Book of The Glasse of Righteousnesse MOreover men may also finde divers upright and wel-willing to the righteousnesse who in all obeying of the holy and gratious word under the obedience of the Love endure great straitnes for the righteousness sake who also regard no straitnes so as they might obtaine but such Grace a Rom. 6.14 that the Sunne might not have Dominion over them but that they might be b Ioh. 8. Rom. 6.18 freed from it for to serve in righteousnesse and love the living God onely and to be obedient to the requiring of his word not thinking what they are then worthy of or how they are then to reign or what doth then belong unto them 2. O no their thoughts reach not so far but they are still inclined for to walk brother-like in the Love and with earnest desire to do the will of the Lord. They have regard unto Gods Promises trusting even upon this that God is true of his word as one that sheweth his Grace on such as love him d Esa 57.66 and are lowlie of heart 3. When as they have now with singlenes of heart shewed all obedience in the service of the gracious Word of the Lord and of his holy Spirit of Love suffered much grief and affliction for their sins cause and have tasted of the refreshing or annointing to the health of their souls then become they but so much the more lowly and humble of heart e Rom. 12 1 Pet. 1. and so much the more brotherly and peaceable towards all men and count themselves unworthy of such grace neither know they how they shall be able to be serviceable enough in the Love 4. They esteeme moreover very little of their own word that ariseth out of themselves according to the flesh but the requiring of the serviceable Word of the Lord where-under their hearts stand humbly submitted to all upright righteousnes and holines they make great account of and hold it very worthy to be obeyed unto Moreover the life of righteousnes which is ministred set forth in the service of the love they cleave unto with all their hearts and above all praise it exceedingly and gladly would that all men were in the godly nature and brotherly love obediently come thereunto 5. These shew alwaies towards God and his service of Love true humility and obedience and towards men true love faithfulnesse and Truth and do not desire according to the foolish pride of the world any praise or service of men to themselves but rather that the righteousnes in the Love might have his proceeding and all people might under the obedience of the Love serve God and inherite the peace of Christ 6. Out of such an upright heart being f Eph. 4. grown up to the old age of the holy understanding and g Matt. 13. taught to the Kingdom of God they testifie h Psal 1 15. that all Laud Honour and Praise belongeth to God onely and not unto them And so in their proceeding in the same upright life they likewise serve or reach the hand either to other and thus in their service they point the man onely unto God and to the salvation of God in Jesus Christ 7. this mind or nature is far the most best because by it the man esteemeth the Grace of the Lord to be great and all his own doings or works and anguish respecteth or judgeth he as i Phil. 2. of no value The Lord of his Grace bring us all to such a mind Amen 8. The Ground of upright repentance and amendment for sin is at large plainly expressed and with clear distinction uttered unto you in the third book of the Glasse of Righteousness in the thirteenth chapter according as the same is practized and used of all good willing ones which seek and love the good life of the upright and lovely being from the heart and do out of all their soul passe forth towards it vnder the obedience of the Love Take it to Heart CHAP. XXII 1. Sundry Opinions are taken from the Scriptures 2. Divers do contend about the Kingdom of God both what it is and whence to be had and when 5. But the Scripture is clear enough and the matter it self is explained 24. He exhorteth to the Reading and hearing of the Glasse of Righteousnes where men shall see the everlasting Ordinances of God and the upright life wherein Gods people have ever lived 30. The same Ordinances were renewed by Moses and the life published by Christ for a Gospel 31. In sure hope whereof the Beleevers rested and are now with Christ manifested in Glory 45. He calleth upon such as have too soone
Glory his Covenant and promises may likewise abide firme from everlasting to everlasting Amen 38. Behold the same God of Israel who out of his Grace prepareth and bringeth all this unto us is the God h Gen. 1. that hath made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that is therein He it is that doth wonders who neither breaketh his promises i Deut. 4. Luke 1. nor forgetteth his Covenant who also suffereth not his Law and Righteousnes to be troden down for ever but he setteth up the Children of Israel his beloved Not for their Righteousnes k Deut. 9 but for their Fathers sakes towards whom he had a desire according as he promised and spake the same in times past by the mouth of his holy Prophets 39. Therefore have regard unto the everlasting unchangeable God being an invisible living God the God that hath made you created every thing that liveth and hath breath He l Heb. 13. it is which was which is and which is to come who liveth everlastingly and shall still continue And so is also his Life Law or righteousnes 40. Wherefore give heed unto the thing that is right and reasonable and shall continue for ever glasse your selves in the glasse of Righteousnes and therein behold according to the spirit the upright life and the m Exod. 20. Deut. 5. Lords Statutes and Ordinances which stand firm in God for evermore 41. Let not the matter in any wise seeme too slender or too small unto you For though the Righteousnes whereof we testifie be n 1 Cor. 2 no eloquent speech and that the same seemeth to be but as a small brooke yet is it notwithstanding o Ezek. 47. a bottomles Sea which all Rivers do run into And whatsoever can be uttered concerning the Righteousnes were it even by so great multitudes of Bookes as is the sand by the Sea-side it is every whit comprehended or grounded in the very same 42. Who so liveth therein or in the obedience of the same life the gracious word p Prov. 4 loveth the same life and with a lowly and humble heart applieth himself obediently thereunto q Ecl. 39 such a one shall become wise in the hidden wisdom of God For the obeying of the requiring of the service of the gracious word of the Lord and of the Law of his Statutes and Ordinances r Psal 119. doth make the man wiser than all his chosen Masters or Teachers and in that manner commeth he to the holy understanding of the godly wisdom 43. Hereunto let us be minded from the heart ye dearly beloved and regard ye the kind mercy of God shewed on us out of his love For such a perseverance or clearnes of the healthful or safe-making Beeing is shewed unto us worthy in open sight hath in these last dayes given us to know his requiring in our spirit and understanding to a right distinguishing of life Å¿ Deut. 30 Jer. 21. Eccl. 15 and death to the intent that we who are yet in peril of death do suffer grief heavines for the sins cause should conceive hope towards such an healthful life and rejoyce us in the Godlines 44. Therefore let no man be t 2 Cor. 6 Heb. 12. negligent in such an appeared Grace but every one give God the Honour and so sigh over his wretchednes that he may be reformed of his errors 45. O ye Children of men ye that have named your selves before the time or much too soone with the name of Christ or with the name of Israel Lay away from you your vain boasting v Mat. 3. Luke 3. Act. 2. repent and amend you and betake your selves to the love and her service that ye may be saved 46. Do not think in your hearts that ye yet remaining without the gracious word and his service of love do nevertheles stand sure in Gods Covenant or that ye may not have transgressed nor forsaken the Covenant of your God 47. Think not also that ye are before God howsoever after your conceit ye have hallowed your selves any worthier than all other Heathen are which are without you For truly ye are subject with them all unto vanity misunderstanding and destruction and alike covered under the darknesses not knowing what wayes ye all walk For your own righteousnes is strange and unknown before the God of Israel inasmuch as the same is not his life of righteousnes nor yet his Statutes and Ordinances 48. Therefore ye which live and walk without the Doctrine and Service of the gracious word are even altogether touching the inward man one manner of people with all Heathen although outwardly ye have sundry several sorts of good Services or Ceremonies but truly they are to no advantage or unity unto you but to all controversie and division they are not to the life but much rather to a death and destroying one of another CHAP. XXIII 1. Whether the Christians and their Ceremonies have any preferment or not 6. They have been blinded as well as the Jews were in times past 7. So as there was no difference between them and other people 8. Every one hath made a chosen Righteousnesse to himselfe 10. But now the godly knowledge is revealed out of the Love And men ought to regard it else to be found of no value 15. Not the outward Christianity but the inward man is the thing that God esteemeth 20. But almost all turne them to the earthly things 22. He leaveth every one free but touching himselfe he will hold him alwayes to the good life 25. The godlinesse shall surely come forth but who shall be partakers of it is known to the Lord. 27. Hee exhorteth to Vnity and Peace c. 31. And requesteth that none will be offended at his Writings 33. If any man have gifts let him not be proud thereof but ascribe all unto God NOw some might here demand whether the Christian Ceremonies be nothing at all furthersome or whether they omitting all other ceremonies have not in them some advantage towards the life For if the Christian ceremonies had no benefit in them then to what end are the Christian ceremonies And what preferment then have the Christians by them Or to what purpose beare they the Name of Christ 2. Truly as we have also shewed before the Christians and their ceremonies have in their right quality and use much advantage for unto the Christians is committed the ministration of the gracious Word of the Lord and the revealing of the everlasting life and to this end are the Christian Ceremonies given them that all those which beleeve in Christ the gracious Word of the Lord should have a firme or sure confidence on the revealing of that same life 2 Cor. 4. 2 Cor. 11. Gal. 3. the which is with the Christian Services and Ceremonies promised for to come unto them to an everlasting light and beholding of the naked clearnesse of God through the uncovered face of Christ
be do neither d Ioh. 8.16 of the Father nor yet of the Son knovv any thing at all 4. And surely whosoever doth not submit his understanding under the service of the love the same man sheweth thereby that he is without understanding because by his understanding he perceiveth not how that he vvhich hath not the love e 1 Ioh. 2.4 hath not also the Son nor the Father but is vvithout Christ and his Church and can please God by no other means also can neither now nor evermore without the inclination of love neither through any other services or literall wisdome come to the holy knowledge of God or attain unto the same 5. But if any now believe not this same by reason of the high regard to their knowledge or by means of any respect unto their holinesse f Col. 2. or spirituall humility such as they have chosen or taken to themselves and as is not according to the promises as God in times past hath spoken by Moses his servant and by the mouth of his holy Prophets doubtlesse they howsoever they suppose or maintain g Esa 59. that they have the light must needs abide in h 1 Ioh. 2. darknesse for their unbelievers cause whose unbelief cannot hurt the believers neither can the Work of God for all that abide back 6. O deep and unsearchable vvisdome of God! i Esa 40. Sap. 9. Rom. 11. 1 Cor. 2. which of the great and high glorious wise or of the self-chosen holy ones hath ever attained unto thee 7. Unto which of them is thine arm known that hath heard or understood thy holy word or thy mind aright 8. Therefore needs must they all in lowlinesse of heart be humbled under thee and become subject to thy true love that they may rejoice them in the truth otherwise they must remain blind in their imagination k Ioh. 3. and may not see the Kingdom of God for ever 9. For so long as they through the love or her inclination l Mat. 18. be not in their corrupt understanding turned about by the word of truth and are not well minded to the vertue of the love certainly there can appear unto them no light of the truth to Salvation for God hath foreseen the perfection m Deut. 6.10 1 Cor. 13. 1 Tim. 1. in the love according to the promises and not in the knowledge 10. Therefore let every one be lowly of spirit n 1 Ioh. 4. and humble of heart in his knowledge even as though he knew nothing and so have regard to the service of the love what it requireth and let him hope and long for it to the intent he may be comprehended therein that is to say in the doctrine thereof for therein is the godlinesse understood and known and so let him indeavour towards the best 11. And I hope that I shall alwaies towards the lovers of the truth do even so and not omit to set before them the most best for thereunto tend all my intents and desires neither know I at all any better thing then the teaching and ministring of the holy word under the obedience of the love 12. True it is I have as far as I might examined many sorts of Foundations and understandings and have likewise considered and scanned whereon they stood grounded but there is yet no better thing come to my hand 13. The Lord grant me his mercy and strengthen my mind to do and accomplish his will to the Salvation of men in the love 14. O ye lovers of the truth that have humbled your fouls under the love and her service o Deut. 6.11 â—2 Pro. 4. take I pray you the truth to heart and reproach no mans writings teaching nor exhortations that have their ministration to the righteousnesse and to the concord but draw it all under the love that every one may give up and bring all what he hath taken on or wherein he is learned according to his humane imagination to the communion of the love give ear only to the godly Word of Life under the obedience of the love according to the manifestation of the glorious and godly light set forth in the Glasse of Righteousnesse and so above all his humane knowledge love the Concord and the upright life 15. Moreover condemn none particularly by name and be not offended at any that your hearts p Gal. 5. Acb. 12. be not moved to anger stumble not at any thing and reproach nor reject none for Sects but love all them that indeavour towards righteousnesse q 2 Pet. 1. with a like love to that upright righteousnesse which God esteemeth and thus draw all wel-willing ones to the true righteousnesse under the obedience of the love 16. And if any man seek the truth of you and his heart be inclined to the love then joyn your selves with him in the love and so speak r 1 Pet. 3. of the hope which is in you 17. For who so loveth the good though yet for a while he be in errour may for all that come to amendment in the love unlesse he should give over his heart in a wilfull contentiousnesse and despise the love and her service for his self-minds sake 18. But unto every one that will follow and is well minded to the love and her service Å¿ Eph. 4. unto such reach forth the hand to the unity of the upright life and that all in the love 19. If the evill assail you then put it from you as much as is possible for you untill the same evill get a going down in you and go into silence give it no respite to follow after his desire but become according to the spirit t Col. 1. 1 Thes 3. 1 Pet. 5. strong and firm in the good life u Deut. 7. 1 Pet. 2. to a peculiar possession of God even as it is here in this Introduction and in the Glasse of Righteousnesse according to the life shewed and declared 20. If so be ye cast this same behind the back to wit that ye refuse it or have no belief nor lust thereunto nor do hope thereon and yet by your self-wisdom perswade your selves to be wise then are ye vain and utterly unmeet to the Kingdome of God and how wise soever ye be yet shall you be found vain and without understanding and void of the true light of life 21. Now if any man say that he is already in the life and needeth no more or that it is needfull no more for him to hearken after any other understanding and therefore contemneth this form of the upright life and his service to the same life whereunto we bear witnesse and neither hath it nor indeavoureth towards it in the service of the love certainly he is yet in the death x 1 Ioh. 2. and darknesse and knoweth nothing at all either of Christ or of the life which is of God even as the darknesses also have
never perceived nor known him 22. If any man then despise this good mind or spirit of love and with the heart withstandeth and blasphemeth it and doth not entertain the upright vertue of the love the same man hath beguiled his own heart and after the requiring of the knowledge of the old serpent seeketh his own advantage and not to do the will of the Lord. 23. But if on the other side O ye dearly beloved any do accept this which we bear witnesse of for right and truth let him not hardly over-hastily perswade himself that he by his knowledge hath already gotten it for there must at the first belief be joyned thereto and then look whose belief through the increase of God blossometh y 4 Esd 6. and is fruitfull let the same man attempt the battell in hope against that which maketh up it self against the same Let him have regard to the Word of life and so passe on towards it a Luk. 21. with patience or in long sufferance 24. That truely is the right Crosse of Christ b Mat. 16. Luk. 14. which we are daily with good wil in the obedience of the requiring of the service of love to take up c Act. 14. in the belief untill we be well exercised in the love and in the holy understanding whereunto we bear witnesse and not only in the knowledge 25. Lo to this present I find nor know no way els to the life therefore whosoever loveth the same let him endeavour towards it d Joh. 8. and so abide stedfast in the requiring of the gracious Word and of the doctrine of the holy spirit of love untill the e Rom. 6.8 Col. 2. laying away of his mortall body then shall he with Christ and all Gods Saints inherit the Kingdome of God and the everlasting life in the heavenly being 26. Let every one take heed to his time and f Gal. 6. let no man deceive himself with any vaine Opinion that he do not erre 27. For if any man g Mat. 10. Luk. 14. loveth or esteemeth any thing better then the godly life which is the very Saviour himself such a one is not worthy of the Salvation nor yet of the life eternall 28. And who so taketh not up his Crosse and followeth after the godlinesse with his heart h Luk. 14. the same may not be his Disciple that is he cannot be taught in the godlinesse nor born a child of God in the heavenly being 29. Therefore it is all nothing that any man speaketh much of it if so be with the heart he i Esa 29. Mat. 7.15 follow not after the same yea it is before God much more an abomination k Psal 50. Ezek. 33. that any man speaketh of Gods righteousnesse with talking or reasoning and doth not with the heart follow after it then any pleasure or delight unto him and yet may one find an hundred men which reason and talk of it where there is not one of them that liveth rightly therein or loveth it from the whole heart 30. Notwithstanding though men do now and then through some imagination think they have it and have neverthelesse failed therein yet are they not therefore to step back tarry behind or to lose the courage but rather out of the inclination of love to take good courage again and to l Phil. 3. Heb. 6.10 passe on towards the same godlinesse untill that it be in us and that we according to the truth be comprehended in the same for by stumbling falling and creeping and by being sometimes lead doth a child at length learn rightly to goe 31. By going wrong and by hurting ones self by means of passing in unpathed waies with breaking thorow thistles thorns and hedges also sometimes by doubting and then by inquiring and that all in hope men come at last or in processe of time to the right way which we ought to walk to the life of truth in the love therefore let no man be without courage 32. Though we find our selves sometimes without understanding how to enter into the life or the m Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5. enemies encounter with us and so hardly beset us that we know not how to get thither yet let us for all that though it seem not credible take a good courage or mind n Heb. 11. in the belief and not forsake the hope for the hope o Rom. 5. leaveth none ashamed and so give our attention p Pro 4. to understanding and information whereby we may attain thereunto and to the very same arm our selves even as an unexpert souldier that hath a desire to become a good man of war armeth himself to the warfare 33. Though at first he sustaineth some damage as to be sometimes wounded smitten shot hurt to death and by his enemies to be taken captive yet taketh he still a fresh courage and abideth firm in hope untill he be well exercised in the feat of war who then is known for a man of war that is one that understandeth and knoweth well where any thing is to be won or lost and wherein damage or advantage lieth 34. If therefore earthly warriours be so bold in hope for the corruptible things sake hovv much more then ought we so to be towards the everlasting uncorruptiblenesse in case we have any desire or hope to the everlasting uncorruptiblenesse at all q Osc 23. 1 Cor. 15. wherein death is swallowed up and the everlasting immortality abideth where all destruction passeth away and in it self as a smoak vanisheth in such sort that there is even nothing remaining in it but the pure and clear the fulnesse and fairnesse of all vertues according to the promises 35. But a slothfull and unbelieving man that alwaies feareth and is r Pro. 6.24 negligent and disobedient hereunto or a doubtfull and vvavering person that still doubteth of errour wounds dammage and losse such a one thinketh not upon obtaining Å¿ 4 Esd 2. Sap. 5. Apo. 2. the royall Crown of everlasting life and therefore giveth no credit thereunto for so through his unbelief and disobedience he distrusteth God in his promises and is self-wise against Gods truth and his omnipotency and lying still on his lees or dregs he prieth from far how it shall fare with the obedient believers in the service of the love truely such as remain so minded enter not into the Kingdome of God nor in the t Heb. 4. rest or inheritance of eternall life 36. Therefore let every one consider once rightly whereunto we are called through Jesus Christ Is it not u Mat. 25. Luk. 22. Joh. 5. 1 Cor. 15. to the everlasting uncorruptiblenesse and immortality or kingly x 1 Cor. 9. 2 Tim. 4. Jam. 1. 1 Pet. 5. Crown of eternall life to y Rom. 8. Gal. 5. Eph. 3. the inheriting in the spirit of the infinite treasures of the divine heavenly goods and moreover through the belief
to be justified from the sin for to bring forth the z Joh. 15. Eph. 4. Phil. 1. fruits of God which God hath pleasure in and to live in God eternally 37. But alas this calling the man hath utterly forgotten and through his glosing which he hath invented thereon he is quite strayed from the sense of his calling and from the holy understanding An INTRODUCTION To the Holy Understanding CHAP. XIIII 1. An admonition to awake and observe our calling 4. All without exception are called 5. We have all been ignorant of our calling 6. But God doth now graciously let us see our blindnesse 7. Therefore let us regard this grace and that the rather because of the horrible destruction that is for to come 9. The wicked must be endured with patience 12. the Love is stronger then the Beliefe 15. If we fall let us rise up again 20. The way to the life 21. Few do find 23. The evill must be overcomed of the good in patience 26. much written yet great misunderstanding 28. Those that have pleasure and do continue in iniquity are like the devill and be incorporated into his son 33. Their certain punishment OH awake yet once I pray you from the a Esa 29.56 Rom. 13. sleep of your ignorance O ye children of men and have a sure confidence b Joh. 5. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4. on the Resurrection of the dead so shall Christ c Eph. 5. inlighten you 2. Take heed to your calling that whereunto ye are bidden therein ye may be established according to the promises that is for to obtain the high price or Crown of everlasting life for this price or Crown of everlasting life is not like a Crown of the Kings of this world d 1 Cor. 9. which many of them stand for and is of many greatly desired and yet there is no more but one that obtaineth it and becometh King 3. But according to the calling of God we may all obtain e 4 Esd 2. Sap. 5. Kingly Crowns and be endowed with one manner fulnesse of divine treasures and be all Priests f 1 Pet. 2. Apo. 1.5 and Kings according to the promises 4. Hereunto we are all called to one g Ioh. 17. and in one no man exempted h Gal. 3. the Gentiles as well as the Jews the Commons of the people as well as the Magistrates the sinners as well as the righteous the poor as vvell as the rich the simple as well as the wise the wives as well as the husbands the children as well as the parents i Eph. 6. Col. 3. the bond as well as the free the servants as well as the masters and the handmaids as well as the Mistresses k Act. 10. Rom. 2.10 Gal. 2. God is no respecter of persons for all those that turn them to God and love his Righteousnesse are acceptable unto him 5. Doubtlesse it is now made known unto many of us that vve have all in our understanding been utterly estranged and l Rom. 1. Eph. 4. darkened from the knowledge of our calling and have cleaved to the m 1 Tim. 4. spirits of errour vvalking in the death and not in the light of life likevvise in sundry divisions and not in the unity of our calling 6. Neverthelesse that God vvhich is rich of mercy n Ezek. 18. 1 Tim. 2. 2 Pet. 3. and vvould not that we should perish letteth us now see through the ministration of his gracious word and through his bountifull and kind love the waies of our blindnesse o Esa 59. Sap. 5. and the deadly darknesses of our misunderstanding pulling us to the light of his clearness to the intent that all vve which are estranged from God and dead because of sin might through the love of God the Father and through the ministration of his gracious Word be renewed again for to quicken us again p Rom. 6.8 2 Cor. 4. Phil. 3. in Jesu Christ out of the death of sinne into the true unity of our vocation to wit in this day of the coming of Jesu Christ in his glory for had not the same Jesus Christ been with the Amighty for a remnant q Esa 1. we had all in our estrangeing been as Sodoma and Gomorra and must needs all in like manner have perished 7. Sith God therefore doth now shew on us such love that he profereth his grace unto us through the coming of his Christ when as we in our estranging from his good being were openly his r Rom. 1. Eph. 2. Col. 1.2 enemies and that he remembreth not our ignorance to revenge on us such things but out of the bountifull grace of his love is inclined to help us and by the ministration of his gracious word to reach us the hand for to pluck us to himself again in his love let us then also make much of such a Å¿ 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 1.2 grace that through the bountifull grace of his love we may in this horrible time be reconciled unto him and not be punished with the wicked world The rather for that there hath been enough before hand shewed us of the horrible t Esa 13. Ier. 20.25 Mat. 24. destruction of the wicked world and of all damned men in the last daies wherein few shall remain or be saved but not by the Lords fault for God desireth instantly to draw us all to his salvation 8. But because there are many now adaies that u 2 Thes 1. 2 Pet. 3. believe not God in his promises but count him a lier and x 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 12. do not regard the time of his grace neither will be saved but have much more desire and will to the iniquity y Eph. 4. 2 Pet. 2. Iuda 1. and to all uncleannesse therefore also in this day z Rom. 2. cometh the wrath of God upon those children of unbelief and they shall not be able to escape the horrible and fearfull destruction 9. Therefore let every one convert him from the errors of his blindnesse a Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5. and arm himself in the belief and stand fast in the hope b Ia. 4. against the wicked that maketh it self up against Gods righteousnesse the which must be indured with patience for c Rom. 5.8 Patience bringeth forth in us a firmnesse or a persevering in the hope and hope suffereth us not to be ashamed but prepareth for us the peace with God in the love 10. But though now and then it pinch somewhat hard to shew patience yet have confidence d Apo. 2.3 and keep still what ye have turn not back in any case 11. Though happily you think that it falleth heavy find yourselves impotent or weak and the waies dark desolate unpathed very long e 4 Esd 7. Mat. 7. Luk. 13. small or narrow the hills seem high to get over and the gates very strait to go thorow yet doubt not
sin Eph. 6. and thereby profiteth and increaseth in the righteousnesse 36. Now when a man perceiveth or is aware of the gaine to wit that he increaseth in the good then is he of good cheere and much stronger in the beleef and firmer in the hope Thus in processe of time he groweth up in the Spirit of the good life untill he come to the perfection that is to the Love 37. Wherefore the losse teacheth Prudence and Wit for to attend unto the word with understanding but the gaine bringeth weetnes it maketh firme in the hope and begetteth a gladnes in our hearts When as to abide in undesire to the righteousnesse and to be y Apo. 3. neither bot nor cold but luke-warme is by all meanes to be utterly discommended 38. I esteem in this behalf much better of that man z Lu. 15. who like the lost Sonne hath spent and consumed all his Treasure and Riches and out of great poverty turneth him again and seeketh at his Fathers hands the roome of a servant out of which humbling a man commeth again to his riches and through such losse getteth understanding how to govern to a multiplying the riches of God then of such a lazy slothfull and ane loitering man as for fear of losse a Matt. 25. Luk. 19. burieth his Talent and will neither make gaine nor losse therewith 39. Hereof beware ye dearly beloved that ye bury not that little which you have received of God nor yet with-hold or withdraw your selves for any manner of cause from this our undeceivable and most holiest service of the Love 40. For though that many people have partly through the sundry partiall instigations of men risen up before our said service been intangled and darkned in that understanding and that therefore they could not rightly know the truth in her degree but did oftentimes stumble fall and and suffer harme yet all ye that love the Truth with us and have likewise fallen in the same learne Prudence now thereby and turn again b Esa 55 Jer. 3. Ezek. 18. into the way of righteousness Refresh your selves in the beleef with a new cheere and so through the service of the holy Word be ye renewed in your vnderstanding under the obedience of the Love 41. Under the same service give eare to the Elders of the holy understanding c Deut. 11. and follow not the Will or Councell of your own mind but d Eccl. 6. with the Elders under the service of the Love follow the minde and e Pro. 1. Eccl. 16. Councell of the Wisdom and alwaies keep your selves with the Elders in the family of Love f 1 Thes 5. Heb. 13. to the concord and to the multiplying in the good and of the peaceable Kingdom in all Love 42. Become not wavering in any wise But in case ye stumble or fall yet rise again and think that it is sometimes better that a child do in his good willingnes commit an error or that a thing be done of him yet unperfectly than that he should remaine brutish or untaught Be not afraid g Matt. 25. Luk. 19. like the unfaithfull Servant that buried his Masters Talent which was not very well taken at his hands 43. Men may finde divers that will take very great heed to themselves least they should be deceived or beguiled and so will stay onely upon themselves But because they so staying upon themselves give no heed to the grace under the obedience of the Love therefore remain they such as they are and come not at any time to the light of life or day of Love but abide still in the Captivity of the blindnesse because they know not her blindnesse or bands of her darknesses wherewith they are bound 44. Some others will in their unregenerate estate and deprivation account themselves free and will not be subject unto any thing neither to the Scripture nor to any Teaching nor yet to the Service of Love and therefore in that sort do never come to the h Ioh. 8. Rom. 6. Freedom of the children of God 45. For in asmuch as they have not perceived nor observed in the sight of their understanding the bondage of i Ioh. 8. Rom. 6. 2 Pet. 2. sin nor her dominion thereforr remain they unproved and unexperienced neither do they sigh nor k Jer. 8. complaine for the yoak of sin which hath taken them Captive and do know nothing at all either of the Bondage or of the Freedom nor yet that they are so utterly deprived or estranged from God and his Christ as they are 46. Now men may also finde divers that are altogether light-hearted and clearlyminded and so in the range of their misunderstanding have taken unto them l Esa 59. a false light or conceited knowledge These according to their naturall understanding are well at quiet their hearts are not once grieved for their mis-doings any more They have also no regard either of sin or of Grace they fear no Condemnation nor hope for Salvation or for any Redemption 47. When it goeth well with them but in their creature and in their Occupation of Trade then are they content and say God be praised we are in very good case we are rid of all intanglement of heart we now get our living godly and credibly and toyle not our selves with any thing 48. But alas howsoever the godly nature or the Image of God m Heb. 6. be troden down in them and constrained dayly to suffer the death of the Crosse for their sins that passe they not once for 49. Because they will not suffer with the godly nature n 1 Pet. 4. or Christ against the sinne they desire even nothing else but according to the o Phil. 3. flesh to sit still in ease and look what in this behalfe crosseth them that reckon they to be utterly evill and unright and and so wax wanton or lustfull in the flesh and licencious or light-minded in their Spirit following still p Sap. 2. Rom. 1. Eph. 4. that which liketh them after the property of ignorant fooles and despise the godly Councell of the Elders as also the wisdom and unity under the obedience of the Love 50. These are surely in very bad case although they think not so For q Esa 5. they have no consideration on the work of the Lord nor on the work of the Devill nor any regard unto that that shall perish nor desire to that which shall continue This verily is a lamentable misery the Lord keep us from such a Plague 51. Again some may be found which do endure much straightnes in dying from sin for to receive the Promises which are made thereunto according to the Scriptures and that they might so become honourable Saints and be also respected therefore Yea they regard no affliction so as they may receive or get that and thus they fall into a choosing applying to themselves the honour of the
named themselves Christians that they lay away their vain boasting and turne to the Love and her Service THere are also divers men that draw sundry Opinions of Understandings out of the Scripture But every one particularly after his own conceiving Howbeit in asmuch as they know not the Councel of God nor comprehended his wisdom therefore do those Opinions and Understandings fall out to be of several sorts and do for the most part run all one against another and are among each other intangled 2. Some strive for the Kingdom of God or inward life of Christ which is called the new Man and suppose that it is this or that or that it is here-hence or there-hence after the outward appearance for to come or to be obtained 3. Others think that it shall be first found and obtained after the death of the Creature Yea the Principallest of the Learned in the Letter who will forsooth be the understandingest in the Scripture do maintain such a ground of Beleefe 4. O God! How long shall the Scripture through the false and unright light or sight be yet set forth and taught 5. It is doubtles plainly and clearly enough written a Luke 17. that the Kingdom of God is inwardly within us He is in the middest of you saith b Iohn 1. John whom ye know not The same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost 6. But many as it well appeareth know him not For he who is the very c Col. 1. Image of God or the Christ and the Kingdom of the glory of God hath his going down in us inwardly and suffereth the d Rom. 6. Death of the Crosse for the Sinnes cause 7. Nevertheles if any man be baptized inwardly in the death of Christ and e Rom. 6. Col. 2. with his like Death be until his burying planted into him the same ariseth also with Christ and liveth For then inwardly is Gods Kingdom of Heaven even in him and not specially here or there as among these or among those but the Kingdom of God is here and there among these and among those namely in every one in us Howbeit unknown to many as is already said 8. Now if the Kingdom of God be within us and that we as the Scripture saith f John 7. beleeve in Christ then ought we after the Councel of the Wisdom and of the holy understanding to seeke it inwardly there for even thither shall it come and so be found inwardly within us 9. But who so seeketh it only at the hands of another and doth not attend the coming thereof inwardly according to the direction of the holy word and service of love the same shall in no wise find it 10. For this cause men are not in the seeking of the Kingdom of God to despise the Councel and Service of the holy word which under the obedience of the Love teacheth and directeth rightly to the same but with lowly hearts to give good eare thereunto 11. Therefore believe the truth and follow the Councel of the Scriptures g Mat. 7 seeke and ye shall find c. h Mat. 18 Turn you about and become as little Children and not subtile cunning i Prov. 3. Rom. 12. or wise in your own selves For who so receiveth not the Kingdom of God k Mar. 10 Luke 18 as a Child he shall not enter therein 12. Wherefore it is all to no purpose to set ones mind upon any thing that is above in the Heaven or that is beneath under the earth either what people this or that is or where hence Christ shall come or not or with what outward appearance the Kingdom of God cometh 13. For behold if ye find not the Kingdom of God and his Righteousnes l Lu. 17. inwardly in your soules and the forme of Christ in his glory appeared not in your m 2 Cor. 4. Gal. 4. inwardnes then shall ye be constrained to misse or be without the Kingdom of God and Christ n John 6. and shall likewise not eat the bread from Heaven with Christ o Lu. 14. in the Kingdom of God his Almighty Father 14. Therefore seek it where it is to be found and take right regard whether it cometh hunger and thirst ye after it Nevertheles hast you not after it out of your own chusing through mis-understanding but go ye p Psal 84. from one vertue to another 15. Posses ye your q Lu. 21. soules with patience have regard on the coming of Christ contend not any more r 1 Tim. 6 2 Tim. 2. Tit. 3. and strive no longer with flesh and blood 16. Let it once suffice that ye have contended and wrangled for the Scriptures cause rather now endeavour you in obeying of the requiring of the service of love Å¿ Jam. 1. to receive or put on the gracious word of the Lord in your hearts and labor ye t Eph. 4. for the unity of the love For in such a sort shall the Kingdom of God come 17. Now when you have thus received or put on the serviceable gracious word of the Lord the true Christ after the flesh in your hearts or inwardnes then apply your selves therewithal in your inwardnes to the good being which the gracious word of the Lord requireth in â—is service for to overcome in like manner with Christ every thing that is against him to the intent his enemies v Psal 110. for a foot-stoole may be laid under his feet 18. And when you exercise your selves herein be ye likewise baptized in the death of Christ that is in his patience x Rom. 6. Col. 2. and with his like death or patience be ye planted into him and so y Eph. 6. overcome ye through the belief with the like crosse or patience of Christ the sin death flesh and the world Devill and Hell and all sensuality which ariseth out of your own wisdom of the flesh and be ye likewise in your inward man z Rom. 12 Eph. 4. renewed unto righteousnes a 2 Cor. 4 Phil. 3. in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Lo. thus doth the Scripture teach us if it were but rightly understood 19. When we are now passed through this b Col. 1. and have through the death of Christ even until his Resurrection overcomed all those deadly things then have we peace c Rom. 5. Eph. 2. with God the Father and stand firm in the love which is the end or fulfilling of all the spiritual Testimonies And therein is comprehended the perfection 20. Not that we come hereunto out of our own strength But when with lowly hearts we d Esa 55. Ezek. 18 Joel 2. Eccli 2.17 turn us obediently to God and the service of his gracious word then doth God also offer himself unto us and out of his Calling in the spirit allureth or draweth he us unto himself justifying us through the belief in e Col. 1. Heb. 9. Apo.
7 the blood of Jesus Christ and maketh us cleane from our sins and giveth us the everlasting life 21. This is verily the word of Faith f Act. 2.3 4 5 7 8. c. Rom. 10. 1 Pet. 1. which was published by the Apostles through Christ for a Righteousnes unto us g 2 Cor. 11. Gal. 1. Phil. 1. Whosoever therefore preacheth any other Christ or preacheth Christ any other way publisheth any other Gospel or publisheth the Gospel upon any other fashion or ground or believeth any otherwise or buildeth upon any other foundation h 1 Cor. 3 than God hath from the beginning through his Prophets and Apostles required and willed the same man remaineth i Gal. 1. execrable or accursed according to the mencion of the Scriptures 22. For k 1 Cor. 3 no other Foundation may there be laid than the same that is laid which is Iesus Christ who from everlasting was and is and abideth for ever Through whom God made all whatsoever is any thing and l Heb. 1. he beareth up all things by the power of his might and maketh the clensing of our sins through himself Unto him as a Father of all be Laud Honour and Praise for evermore Amen 23. These and such like things was I partly of necessity moved to rehearse unto you ye dearly beloved to the intent you might consider them aright and understand the diversity of every thing that concerneth the Salvation of men 24. Furthermore see that ye humbly with meditation to God apply your selves out of the inclination of love to read or to heare the Glasse of Righteousnes and consider or mark the life which is witnessed and set forth in the same Behold there in the spirit of your understanding the everlasting unchangeable Statutes and Ordinances of Almighty God which also shall remain unchangeable for ever For that which is there witnessed is such an upright life m Gen. 1. Eph. 2. as the man is created unto for to live therein In which Statutes and Ordinances the Lords people have lived from the beginning 25. Yea such a Life Statutes and Ordinances are a delight and joy to all upright hearts and Prophets to live therein and they have heretofore born witnes thereunto that in time to come men should live in them For through the truth they saw into the life of peace in the love and that through the life of peace in the love every thing is made perfect and therein standeth firme or abideth stedfast 26. That verily is the life which is true n Joh. 1. and that life is the light of men o Eph. 1.5 Col. 1. and the head of the holy Commonalty Who so goeth out of it cometh to the death blindnes and darknes 27. But the soules of those that live therein are blessed in the Lord. For such people doth God require as do walk in his Ordinances that is to say in the life and peace of love p Deut. 6.2 and do love the only God from the heart 28. Lo it is the true God that requireth such upright Righteousnes and he himself cleaveth to his Righteousnes his Statutes and Ordinances everlastingly q Joh. 1.2 For he is the spirit of his life the life of his word the word of his Spirit r Exod. 3 Mat. 22. the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob or Israel 29. That verily is the true life of peace and love and the Statutes and Ordinances are the same upright righteousnes which the holy Fathers have lived and walked in 30. The same Statutes and Ordinances of the holy Fathers were by Moses renewed Å¿ Exod. 20. Deut. 5. and witnessed unto a life before all people And that life was through Jesus Christ being risen from the Dead and ascended into Heaven t Mat. 28. Mar. 16. published unto all people for a Gospel because they should live therein And unto all that believed thereon was the Resurrection from the dead and the everlasting life witnessed and promised through Iesus Christ 31. In sure and firm hope whereof the upright Beleevers have rested in the Lord Iesus Christ till the appearing of his coming which is now in this day of the love revealed out of the heavenly beeing with which Jesus Christ the former Beleevers of Christ v John 5. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4. who were fallen a sleepe rested or dyed in him are now also manifested in Glory 32. For Christ in the appearing of his comming raiseth his deceased from the dead x 1 Cor. 15. to the intent that they should reign alive with him over all his enemies y Mat. 25. John 5. Rom. 2. 2 Thes 1. and condemneth all the ungodly which have not liked of him 33. This is the joyful Message published to the Gentiles whereby z Eph. 2.3 as fellow-Heires in the Testaments of promise they are bidden and called to the house of Jacob and to the Citizenship of Jerusalem To the intent they should depart from the brutishnes of their errors and from the sundry intanglements of their Idolatries and turn them to the God of Israel for to serve him only and to live in his Statutes and Ordinances through the belief 34. Which Righteousnes a Ro. 2.3 is required out of the Law and is now in this last time openly and evidently witnessed out of the inclination of love and through the insight of the same upright life to a view of the upright righteousnes which the man is created unto and to a demonstration whereunto or to what end or fulfilling God hath given his promises and made his Covenant with the Fathers 35. Behold hereunto namely to that which we bear witnes of is the Calling of the Gentiles made b Rom. 11. Eph. 2. who are out of grace called thereunto for to serve with the Stock of Abraham one God in one manner of Righteousnes 36. Lo these are the promises c Gen. 17. which were committed to the Jewes in the Circumcision And Jesus Christ the safe-making word of the Lord is amongst them Act. 13. Rom. 9. d Rom. 15. for the truth of Gods sake become a Minister of the Circumcision to confirme the promises made unto the Fathers that the name of the God of Abraham might be magnified likewise among the Gentiles And for the mercies sake towards the Gentiles is the Grace of life published also to the Gentiles to the intent e Act. 10.11.13 Rom. 11. they should praise God and know the God of Israel and his Ordinances 37. Which God and his righteousnes we do now know in the love through the spirit of truth which according to the spirit f Joh. 14. leadeth us into all truth that is into all love according to the promises g Col. 5. For the love is the band of perfection By which Band we are sealed and confirmed for ever in the same perfection to the intent that Gods