that is immortal of the enjoyment of the Creator who is the desire of the Immortal Soul and so through a form and likenesse and appearance of a thing is the Soul Immortal deceived and beguiled with that which hath appearances in it but no life nor substance And though the Mystery of Iniquity be but one in it self yet it manifests it self divers wayes sometimes in open prophanesse and wickedness and sometime in seeming righteousness and holiness and in a form of Religion without power But the Lord is arisen to confound the Mystery of the Devil and Iniquity and will discover it and destroy it for it is the Mystery of Iniquity that worketh in the Children of Disobedience that are strangers to God and through the operation of this Mystery are people kept at a distance from the Lord and out of Unity and Covenant with Him and this Mystery of Iniquity worketh hiddenly not known but in the Eternal Eye which sees through the spirit of Creatures and comprehendeth and fathometh over the nature of things and can judge beyond the appearance even in the ground before action appeareth for while people are professing and acting Holiness and Righteousness visibly and yet not changed by the Power of the Lord nor renewed in nature mind and spirit from the first Adam to the second the Righteousness and Holiness brought forth in that state is but the acting of the Mystery of Iniquity and the Wolf putting on the Sheeps cloathing And this God will judge and all appearances without life and all shews without substance All this will the Lord judge and confound and bring to nought for it is but the working of the Mystery of the Devil who is out of the Truth And this Mystery hath more abounded since the dayes of the Apostles than in Ages since the beginning in as much as this Mystery hath operated and displayed it self forth in a higher appearance and fairer shew than ever it did before for this Mystery hath sat in the Temple of God and shewed it self to be God and been worshipped above all that is called God This Mystery of Iniquity the Man of Sin which hath put on the Sheeps cloathing and shews it self as the Sheep of Christ and as Christians and Churches all which hath been for many Ages the manifestation of this Mystery while that the Mystery of the Devil hath not been destroyed but now is the Lord arisen who will discover and destroy this Mystery and save the Creature and in the destruction of this Mystery is the other Mystery revealed to wit The Mystery of God and of Christ and that is the Mystery of Christ that destroyes the Mysterie of Antichrist and of the Devil And now the Sons and Daughters of the Lord Almighty are coming into this Mystery of God Eternal who is blessed for ever and all that is coming to be overthrown which doth oppose it and gainsay it and there is nothing that can destroy or discover this Mystery but the appearance of Christ the Son of God for it is he that doth discover and destroy the Mystery of Iniquity by the Spirit of his Mouth and by the Brightness of his Coming and this are people coming to The Man of Sin is to be thrown down and the Man of Righteousness the Man of God is revealed and Sons and Daughters shall shew him forth in the World and the Mystery of God shall shew it self forth over the World and in Nations and blessed are all they that come to the opening of this Mystery of God which is the Mystery of Life and Eternal Salvation CHAP. III. A Testimony concerning true Liberty of Conscience what it is in it self and how it is obtained and what the true Guide and Rule is of the Exercise of Conscience THis is my Testimony as I have received from the Lord True Liberty of Conscience is Liberty and Freedom of the Conscience from the bondage of Sin and all Transgression past and present and from whatsoever hath been or is a Burden or Oppression upon the Conscience whether inward or outward the Conscience I say is at liberty when it is freed from the burden of the guilt of Sin past and from the present temptation unto Sin And till this is witnessed there is no true Liberty of Conscience For every thing whatsoever which is Sin and Transgression against God in works or words brought forth by the Creature is bondage and a burden and oppresseth the pure Conscience and therefore perfect freedom from all Sin and Transgression is where the body of Sin and Death is put off and where the Evil is crucified and the guilt of it taken away and where the Conscience is truly exercised by the Spirit of Christ which leadeth into all Truth and preserveth from all Evill Then is the Conscience at liberty and this is true Liberty of Conscience when this is brought forth in the Creature For where Sin is brought forth and Transgression lived in there the Conscience is bound and the Cord of Iniquity imbondageth the Conscience and it hath not its liberty in the Service of God nor from the service of the Devil because the Spirit of God doth not exercise it but the spirit of unrighteousness leadeth the mind into the lusts of this world into Lying Swearing Pride Drunkenness Hypocrisie and Idolatry and the guilt of these things burdeneth and presseth down and is a bondage upon the Conscience and where the Conscience is bound by unrighteousness within and by the spirit of the world which leadeth contrary to the Lord there is no power of man without can set that Conscience free or give liberty to it because the Cord of Iniquity hath bound it within and the burden of guilt is upon it and Conscience lies under bondage unexercised with the Spirit of God which is free and setteth free the Conscience in the practice of all Good and from the power and captivity of all Evil. Therefore before true Liberty of Conscience be witnessed or any have true Liberty in Conscience Iniquity must be purged out and Sin crucified and the body of Death put off and Guilt washed away and the Anointing received that leadeth into all Truth and the Blood of Christ the Seed felt that sprinkleth the Conscience from all sin and works of the flesh and washeth away all that which stains and defileth the Conscience and then the pure Conscience hath its true liberty from the bondage of all Evil and from the guilt thereof and in the exercise of all Good and this is true Liberty of Conscience and thus it is attained and by no other way nor means than by the sword of the Spirit of God which cutteth down the contrary and where Conscience is thus freed within by the Power of the Lord and delivered from the bondage of Evil and from the burden of all guilt and exercised in all good by the Spirit of God Then nothing without nor any Power of Man which may work against such
Death and overcomes it and swallows it up and this is the second Creation and the new Creation where Life reigns over all and doth possess the Creature as it did before Transgression The Life is the Light and the Life is the Law and Life lives moves and acts the Creature and CHRIST who is the Life becomes all in all and blessed are they who wait for this and do witness it to such am I known in these things where the Kingdom of Death is overcome and swallowed up of Life CHAP. II. A Testimony concerning the Mystery of GOD and Godliness and concerning the Mystery of the Devil and Iniquity THere are two great Mysteries in their invisible being and in manifestation to us in the world that is to say the Mystery of GOD and Godliness and the Mystery of the Devil and Iniquity These are two great Mysteries which do discover and act themselves forth in and among and through the children of men in this Creation and these two Mysteries are contrary one to the other in being in nature in works in fruits and effects and they are in strife one against the other the one continually opposing the other and striving for the Creature Mankind to be the Instrument to display themselves through in visible appearance for the Creature Man and Woman is a Vessel wherein these Mysteries are contained and whereby these Mysteries do shew themselves forth in the world and all the sons of Adam upon the face of the Earth are possessed with and of one of these that is to say The Mystery of GOD or the Mystery of the Devil do manifest themselves forth through every Man and Woman and through all the sons of Adam upon the face of the Earth the works fruits and effects of one of these are brought forth And as for the Mystery of GOD it is infinit and eternal in being and which was and is and is to come without beginning or end and this Mystery reacheth it self forth more or less in every creature upon the face of the whole Earth and is the Life and Being and Substance of all Things and all Creatures upon the face of the Earth whether movable or immovable is a partaker of this Mystery and this Mystery is vailed and hidden secretly in and under all things that have a being and whatsoever the Creature brought forth even in the greatest appearance thereof and its goodness and vertue in what form or appearance soever is but the production or the manifestation of the Mystery GOD for the life of every Creature and the vertue of every Creature is a Mystery and proceedeth out of the great Mystery of GOD who is Life it self Vertue it self 〈…〉 it self and Being it self and is the Goodness and the Vertue and the Life and Being of all Things and Creatures upon the 〈◊〉 of the Earth 〈…〉 every thing that hath a being even the Wicked and 〈◊〉 are not without this Mystery 〈…〉 manner 〈◊〉 other for by Him every Creature is an 〈◊〉 first being But now more perfectly doth the Mystery of GOD appear in his Servants and in his Children who are born of Him and begotten by Him and they have the sence and feeling and understanding of this Mystery more than any other Creatures and this is their Glory and Crown above all other Creatures upon the face of the whole Earth for they only I say who are redeemed to God and born of the Spirit they are them that have the sence and feeling and understanding of this Mystery even of the Mystery of GOD infinit endless and eternal And though this Mystery be hid in all other Creatures and manifesting it self through them yet this Mystery is not known to them nor understood of them nor of any other Creature I say besides the Children of the Lord in whom this Mystery is only revealed for they are them through whom more manifestly and plainly this Mystery is made manifest and to them revealed and known and felt in their Understandings and they have the enjoyment thereof who know God and are known of him and are entered into Covenant with him into Everlasting Covenant of Ioy and Peace and through them doth this Mystery display it self even in the sight of all Creatures in works of Righteousness and works of Purity and works of Goodness of Mercy of Truth of Peace and of Wisdom in their exercise of all things and in this manner and by these fruits and effects doth the Mystery of GOD shew it self forth through his Children in whom the Mystery is opened that is hid in all other Creatures And this is the Crown of the Children of the Lord that are born from Heaven and from above that the Mystery of GOD is felt and enioyed by them and more manifest to them than in any other Creatures And to know this Mystery of GOD is Life Eternal and to have the understanding of his Leadings of his Judgment of his Mercy and of his Counsel and of the operation of his Power to feel this in the Understanding this is Ioy and a Crown of Glory where the Mystery of GOD is revealed in Spirit And as for the Mystery of the Devil it is darkness and in darkness and it shews it self forth in the Ungodly and in the sons of Adam in transgression and in such onely doth this Mystery of Iniquity and of Sin and of the Devil display it self forth in all unrighteousnesse and sin and that which is contrary to the Creator in works words and thoughts All these things are the manifestation of the Mystery of the Devil and its fruits and effects who is out of the Truth who is vailed and covered and hidden in the hearts of the Ungodly and in the hearts of the sons of Adam in the Fall This Mystery was not from the beginning as the other but when the Devil went out of the Truth and had led Man's mind out of the Truth and taken possession of the heart of Man and become ruler and lord there having gained authority over Man through Man's obedience to him then began this Mystery to discover it self and act it self through the Creature and this was since the beginning And though no other creature be an Agent to manifest forth this Mystery but Man yet Man in his exercise of all Creatures or all Creatures through the exercise of Man in transgression there is shewed forth this Mystery of Iniquity that secretly lurks in the spirits of ungodly men which spirit of unrighteousness the Mystery of the Devil leads Man into all sinfulness of drunkenness and uncleanness and such like and hath polluted the Earth and defiled all Creatures through Man's exercise in them and this is truly an appearance of the Mystery of the Devil yet he hath other appearances and other makings-out of his Mystery to wit in a way of seeming Righteousness and seeming Holiness and seeming Purity and these shew the Mystery of Unrighteousness the Mystery of the Devil who deceives the soul
by Persecution and act in opposition to such whose Consciences are thus freed can imbondage the Conscience to God-wards or bring it under a burden to Godwards I say for it is not altogether bondage of Conscience or the burden or oppression upon his Conscience that is set free as aforesaid though he is outwardly persecuted by Men for that doth but hinder the exercise of his Conscience to manwards but not to Godwards for there his Conscience is free in Joy and Peace though by reason of Persecution he cannot have the exercise of it to men I say though such be put in Prison banished or whatsoever suffering be laid upon them by any men or Laws without yet their pure Conscience is free and at liberty in it self to Godwards through all this and over it all for he Lord hath set them free from all that bondage and guilt of Iniquity which hath been a bondage upon their Consciences within and whether they do suffer or have freedom or captivity in their persons from men yet is their pure Conscience at liberty to Godward and in perfect freedom in it self and to themselves though for the Name of Christ and his Truth they be persecuted and all evil done against them by evil men and the exercise of their pure Consciences prevented as to manwards For that which defiles the Conscience doth bring it under bondage but that which keeps it pure and free from pollution that keeps it in liberty and in perfect freedom to God over all Persecution and evil men and unjust Laws which would exercise dominion in and over the Conscience of the Saints and bring them into captivity as sometimes their persons are by evil Laws and Persecutors But who standeth in the Power of the Lord and in the exercise of the Spirit of God which freeth the Conscience in their own particulars as I have said doth not come into bondage in Conscience to Godwards by Laws or Men but enjoyeth freedom and liberty therein as much in Sufferings and in Persecutions under all the Cruelty of men as in doing and practices when they are not persecuted for in Sufferings the Conscience is exercised and hath its liberty in patience and forbearance And at liberty of persons in practice it is exercised and hath its Liberty in doing and performing whatsoever the Spirit of the Father moveth and leadeth unto And thus where God hath freed the Conscience and it is free and at liberty in Him and to Him nothing without can bring it into bondage or captivity but in all conditions and in all exercises whether doing or suffering the pure Conscience is in liberty in it self and in perfect freedom in God through all over all and beyond all But now there hath been a great Cry among many that have professed Righteousness and Religion for Freedom of Conscience and begging and craving from the Powers of the Earth to tolerate Liberty of Conscience and that they might have the Liberty of their Conscience in Religion and thus some have been looking too much without for Liberty of Conscience from Men and from Powers without them before their Consciences were set free by the Lord within and the bond of Iniquity broken and that burden of Iniquity and Guilt done away which hath been a burden and bondage upon the Conscience For as I said no Man nor Powers of the Earth can truly free or give liberty to the Conscience which is bound by the Cord of Iniquity within But 't is evident the cry for Liberty hath not been so much for the Exercise of Conscience truly so as for the Freedom each one of their Sect and for the Liberty in practice of their own Worship and Conformity and thereupon have divers men of divers Sects sought to the Powers of Men and of the Earth to grant them Liberty of their Consciences when as it hath been rather for the freedom to and defence of their Sect and of their practices in their Worship than for Liberty of Conscience truly so for while they have cryed for Liberty from without yet Sin and Iniquity and Transgression have lain upon their Conscience within and they have sought from Men for the Liberty of their Sect to practise their own Worship which they have called Liberty of Conscience And to this intent by some hath been the Cry for Liberty of Conscience that their Sect and their own Wayes of Worship might be defended from the violence of others who have opposed their Practices and Worships for people of divers ways of Worship and of divers Sects have all been at strife one with another and divided one against another and yet all professed good Conscience and cryed for Liberty thereof from the Powers of the Earth not but that the Powers of the Earth ought to grant free Liberty of Conscience in the exercise of every Sect of Religion and to suffer all to profess and practise their Religion while they walk justly and peaceably in a Land But here hath lodged the deceit and deceivableness of the spirit of Satan in the hearts of men from the least to the greatest of all those divers false Sects and Worshippers they have therein zealously gone on and pleaded for their Sects and Worship though never so grosse or dark and contrary to Truth under the denomination of Freedom and Liberty of good Conscience and the very Title and Name hath been the Colour and deceived many while a false Worship and false Practices of false Sects have gone under the name of Liberty of good Conscience and thousands have been deceived and blindly led into such a false Sect and into such a Profession to act and perform with great Zeal false Practices in a false Worship falsly supposing it to be out of a good Conscience and that they have acted in the liberty thereof yea and many may suffer great and grievous things and some the losse of their Lives for the very practice of false things and false Worships in a false Sect and yet under the name of good Conscience and for Liberty of Conscience as they may profess and believe But this may seem strange to be spoken to some who may enquire how it comes to passe and how this may be that many may suffer great and grievous Cruelties and some the losse of their Lives for the practice of false things and the exercise of false Worships which they may suppose to be out of a good Conscience and for good Conscience sake whereas it is not truly so nor rightly so But how happeneth this may some say I answer This cometh to passe after this manner Because Conscience is made of that and of the things and performances which God requires not and so there is a great zeal in the doing and performing of such a Practice and such a Worship when as the Lord hath not required these things at their hands and this is because the Mind and Heart and Conscience is dark and not truly informed nor guided with the