and his mouth must be stopt and he must make supplication to his Judge whom though I were righteous saith Job yet would I not answer but I would make supplication to my Judge Job 9. 15. And this becomes man and not to argue it with the Lord and to wrangle with him as if God were unrighteous as if his Ways were not equal Who measures the Lord by his shallow understanding who cannot be searched out O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and the Knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgements and his Wayes past finding out for who hath known the mind of the Lord Or who hath been his Counsellor Or who hath first given unto him and it shall be given unto him again For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be Glory for ever Amen Rom. 9. 33 34 35. 36. So every man's mouth here must be stopt and before his Judge he must be silent as I have said and not lay unrighteousness on God or charge him that his Wayes are not equal For man himself shall conclude it otherwise in the day wherein the Lord will render unto him according to his deeds and therefore it is in vain to stand it out with the Lord. It is but the artifice of the Enemy that works this in you he knows you will otherwise say when it is too late therefore be not deceived by him least when 't is too late you blame your folly Moved of the Lord I am to write this to you in bowels of love that you may see your state and how this matter stands and that ye may be delivered And if ye yet say The Children being not yet born neither having yet done any good or evil that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated I answer as I did before this is spoken of the two Seeds the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent of which these two were Figures in which as the Knowledge of the Lord foresaw they would be so he loved so he hated For he loveth and hateth no man but as they are in these and it was after the fall that this was spoken both the promise that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents head and the Elder shall serve the Younger Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated For before there is nothing spoken of this for all stood well and as the same in the first Adam whilst he stood and there was no need of the Promise nor was there two as to man the one whereof was the Object of Love and the other of Hatred the Elder serving the Younger but man was one spirit from the Root Eternal and in the Root Eternal which God hath blessed And the two or that which made two the seed of the Serpent which entered into man came out afterwards For man receiving the Serpent and obeying his voice after he was made against the Command of God there came to be two things in man two Roots two which strugled the Seed of the Woman the seed of Promise and the seed of the Serpent the seed of the Curse as the Promise came to take place and that seed came to move in man to bring him back to God which the Lord hath promised as the Children strove in Rebecca's womb when she came to be delivered so do these as the time cometh wherein as I have said the promise of God cometh to be fulfilled The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one unto the other So that ye cannot do the things that ye would As the Apostle speaks Gal. 5. 17. And which the Apostle found in himself when the Promise came to be fulfilled in him I see saith he another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into Captivity â—o the law of sin which is in my members And he cries out there as Rebecca did concerning the Children If it be so why am I thus And she went to enquire of the Lord Gen. 25. 22. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this Death Rom. 7. 23 24. So the Children strugled in the Womb of Rebecca which was the Figure Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be separated from thy bowels and theone people shall be stronger then the other people and the Elder shall serve the Younger said the Lord unto her of whom she went to enquire when it was so with her as aforesaid And when her dayes to be delivered were to be fulfilled behold there were Twins in her womb and the first came out Red all over like an hary Garment and they called his Name Esau and after that came his brother out and his hand took hold on Esau's heel and his Name was called Jacob â— 24 25 26. So the Law of the Spirit of Life which was in Christ Jesus strugled with the law of Sin and of Death In Paul which though the law of sin and of death the law in his members strugled with and came out first When I would do good the law of his mind evil is present with me the law in his members the good that I would I do not the evil which I would not that do I Yet it took hold of its heel and supplanted it as the Name of Jacob the true Seed siignifies Is he not said Esau rightly named Jacob For he hath supplanted me these two times he took away my birth-right and behold now he hath taken away my blessing and Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his Father blessed him And Esau said in his heart the days of mourn-for my Father are at hand then will I slay my brother Jacob Gen. 27. 36 37. 41. It came after and supplanted overthrew the other I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death For what the Law could not do for that it is weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace vers 21. chap. 8. 2 3 4 5 6. So there is the first and the second the first man Adam and the second the Law of Sin and Death and the Law of the Spirit of Life the Law of the
him in the wrong way and shewed him the right and with gladness of heart walks on with his Friend who so shew'd him who so judged him and his heart is now easie and his fears are over and he cares not at what pains he is or what it costs him or what he looses or parts with to walk along with his friend and to keep to his foot step by step with him because he will-bring him to his journeys end Friends and People all who are not yet come hither who yet are not turned at the voice of your friend at that which calls on you which reproves which judges the way you are in Resist no longer but be gathered unto it that so into the sence of your state you may come and be led along and keep company with that which followed after you and called upon you for many years as you were travelling to destruction that you might turn and live which now will go before you as you turn to it and keep with it and lead you to rest O who would not be here who is in any sence of the Eternal state which he must pass through to and which he must abide for ever who would reject the tender love of so dear a friend Who would not be at ease at hearts ease as we use to say when any ones burthen is taken off in a matter of this weight as to that which is Eternal that it is well with one as to that which is Eternal here the heart is at rest and all that is within a man is at peace and his thoughts of his going to his long home is secure when he is in the certainty of this and who would not be in the certainty of this that his heart might be at ease and his soul at rest at hearts ease at true rest which never is at true ease nor rest till it come hither till it be at this and that it may come hither is the end of the Lord in that which gathers which opens which seeks which would not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn and live So people all the Bowels of the Lords love are to you in this in that which gathers in that which seeks in that which calls in that which witnesses in that which follows after you in that which judges you in that which reproves your goings astray in that which shews you are out of the way the Rod and the Staff this comforts this is a comfort Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy Word Psal 119. 67. And blessed is the man whom thou chastnests O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law Psal 94. 12. And I know O Lord that thy Judgements are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me Psal 119. 75. And it is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes the law of thy mouth is better to me then thousands of Gold and Silver ver 71. 72. And if you are without chastisement of which all are partakers then are ye bastards and not sons Heb. 12. 12. If ye endure chasming God dealeth with you as with sons for what son is he whom the Father chastneth not ver 7. Furthermore we have had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live For they verily for a few dayes chastened us after their own pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holinesse vers 8 9. So that which chastens that which corrects that which reproves that which judges that which seeks that which gathers that which calls that which woes that which intreats that which follows the voice behind which saith This is the right way walk in it when you turn to the right hand or to the left the Promise which the Lord made of old in the time of the Law which was without to lead to that which was within which was blotted out by reason of Transgression for which cause the Law was added some thing that was not before by reason of Transgression to lead to that within which Transgression was got over the Word nigh even in thy mouth and in thy heart this Word of Faith which we preach said the Apostle the righteousness of Faith which saith on this wise saith he Rom. 10. 6. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying this is the Way walk ye in it when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn unto the left Isa 20. 21. This comforts this is of a comforting nature this shews the Lords regard this seeks to gather this seeks to save be ye gathered unto it to that which reproves to that which judges to that which calls to that which follows to that which speaks behind to that which witnesses the Word behind ye when ye are turned to the right hand or to the left which calls on you which judges your being out of the way which you are before when you are turned to the right hand or to the left which goes not before you to evil which shews you evil the evil which leads you out of the way which follows after you when you are led away to evil which saith this is the way that which shews ye are gone to the right hand or to the left walk ye in it this is the Promise this the Lord hath fulfiled this your ears have heard this you know walk ye in it be gathered to it There 's no cloak now left you know now it is so the times of this ignorance God winked at now he commands men every where to repent because they know this and that they should be guided by this and not go against this but turn at the voice of this the Word behind that when they turn to the right hand or the left saing This is the way walk in it because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the World in Righteousness by this by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given asurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead That that lives that shews men evil this shall judge the world in Righteousness by this he will judge the world in Righteousness This he hath raised from the dead to that it witnesses that he may judge the world in Righteousness and this is the asurance that he will so judge the World in Righteousness in that he hath raised this up from the dead in that this witnesses and as certainly as it witnesses shall it judge will he Judge the world in Righteousness So People all take heed what you do in running against this in opposing this in not being gathered unto this it is the way to God it is the way to Life and there is no other It is that which shall judge you it is that which must save you if ever ye
Mind and the Law in the Members the Flesh and the Spirit the Son of God in the likeness of sinful flesh condemning sin in the flesh and the body of sin and death Two Nations two manner of People the one stronger then the other the strong man armed the stronger then he The Elder as to man in the state of the fall that came out first the Younger which was before the Elder though it came out in the World after This is he said John of whom I said after me cometh a Man which is preferred before me for he was before me John 1. 30. The Younger who comes after the fall the seed of the Woman to redeem out of the fall to bruise the Serpents head which the Elder must serve which taketh hold of the heel of the Elder and supplants it and makes it to serve the Elder shall serve the Younger And so the Apostle speaketh They are not all Israel who are of Israel Neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all Children but in Isaac shall thy seed be called That is they that are the children of the flesh these are not the children of God but the children of the Promise are counted for the seed For this is the word of Promise at this time will I come and Sara shall have a son And not only this but when Rebecca also had conceived by one even by our Father Isaac for the children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated as aforesaid Rom. 9. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. And here is the whole matter as it lies together and as the Scriptures testifie and are the Explanation of one another in the Spirit of the Lord from whom I have written and who hath shewn me these things that I might write them unto you that your understandings might be opened and that ye might come to see the Truth as it is in Jesus and be brought to the Knowledge of the Truth And so I have finished this particular The Lord God Eternal open your eyes that in this your day you may know the things that belong unto your Peace And so I shall proceed As the Lord made not man to destroy him and as he hath not concluded any man from all Eternity to destruction So neither hath he so made man as that it is impossible for him to fall from the state in the which he was made or to miscarry so as to fall from life for ever and ever That were to put man in another state then that in the which he was made who was made in a Dependance on God for his being and Subsistance in the state in the which he was made and to render him as God knowing both good and evil that is to set him as do he good or do he evil he shall never be finally removed from the state in the which he was made that is from Life but shall remain as God The Judgement of the Ranters whom the Serpent hath taken with that which was his first bait with which he took Eve at first and with which they are taken at this day who hold That do they what they will they shall never be finally â—emoved from the state in the which they were made that is from Life Ye shall not surely die for God knoweth that in the day that ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil Gen. 3. 4 5. This the Serpent laid before Evè viz. a state beyond that in the which she was made Ye shall not surely die a state at the pleasure of him that made you and at his Commandmen who gave you your being Yea hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree in the garden v. 1. hath he put you are ye under such a dependency on him and at his command Nay ye shall not surely die it is not so ye shall be as Gods a state beyond that in which ye were made ye shall not need to stand in such awe and dread Ye are not necessitated to such a dependency upon God as that doing contrary to his Command ye shall die your state shall be changed nay your state shall not be so changed but eating of the Tree doing of that which he hath said ye shall not doe which signifies a Subjection and Subordination a Creature state of Variation and Change at the Will of Him that made you Nay the doing of this will enter you into another state that 's more high more fixed more certain a state wherein God is who changeth not nor is moved nor doth alter or varie from that wherein he is and this God knoweth for God doth known this is the Reason that God hath set you under such a command in such dread in such awe as of death a loosing of the state in the which ye are and a coming into a quite contrary or another this he knows and therefore hath laid this Command upon ye to keep ye from this to prevent your attaining unto this to be as he is setled and unchangeable do ye what ye will ye shall not surely die Nay it shall enter you into that state wherein there is no such thing as death but only a death unto that in which ye are as you are passing to it as through death to life ye shall not need thus to be put to it ye shall be as Gods without change without alteration without fear or dread or a necessary dependance upon another to keep you in the state in the which ye are Ye shall not need thus to be put to it at every turn to be under this Rod under this reproof under this check under such a manifestation as this and who would be so when he may be otherwise This God knoweth therefore hath he laid this Bar upon you this Precept this Bond to keep ye under that in the day that ye eat thereof ye do otherwise then he hath ordained you and so put your selves out of a state of dependance upon him or of being Creatures so to be disposed of and ordered by him so taking your selves into your own Power your own disposal as he doth himself and you whilst it is thus with you that you dare do nothing but what he requires you and that ye dare not do that which he forbids you which is a Creature state of alteration and change of Subjection and Subordination you will be as he is you will be as Gods unalterable unchangeable insubjectible insubordinate and this God knoweth that in the day that ye eat thereof that ye so put your selves that ye so take your selves into your own order and not stand under his Order and Rule who hath so
things is God And Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a Servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after but Christ as a Son over his own house whose house are we if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoycing of the hope firm unto the end Heb. 3. 1. to the 8. And make your calling and election sure for if ye do these things ye shall never fail for so an entrance shall be administred unto you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2 Pet. 1. 9 10. Thus saith the Scriptures I say where there is no calling and what that calling is I have signified it is unto Holiness there is no justification and where there is no justification there is no glorification and this is in Christ Jesus And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sin but the Spirit is Life because of Righteousness But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Therefore brethren we are debters not to the flesh to live after the flesh for if ye live after the flesh ye shall die but if ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live For as many as are led by the Spirit of God are the Sons of God For ye have not received the Spirit of bondage again to fear but ye have received the Spirit of Adoption whereby we cry Abba Father The Spirit it self beareth witness with our Spirit that we are the Children of God and if Children then Heirs Heirs of God and joynt Heirs with Christ if so be that we suffer with him that we may also be glorified together Rom. 8. 10. to the 18. And if ye call on the Father who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work pass the time of your sojourning here in fear forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot who verily was fore-ordained before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for you who by him do believe in God who raised him up from the dead and gave him glory that your faith and hope might be in God Seeing that you have purified your souls in the obeying of the Truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently being borne again not of corruptible Seed but of incorruptible by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever For all flesh is grass and all the glory of man as the flower of grass the grass withereth and the flower thereof fadeth away but the Word of the Lord endureth for ever And this is the Word which by the Gospel is Preached unto you 1 Pet. 1. 17. to the end So this is the calling and this is the word and this is the hope and this is the Predestination and this is the fore-knowledge and this is the Justification and this is the Glorification viz. Christ Jesus and as men are for him and are found in him not having their own Righteousness which is through the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ the Righteousness which is of God by faith Phil. 3. 9. And where men are not here they are mistaken to talk of these things or to think them theirs They appertain to another state then Transgression which delivers out of it and maketh men indeed the Sons of God and so are Heirs of the Blessing that came on Abraham who believed and it was counted to him for Righteousness of whom God saith I know him that he will command his Children and his houshold after him and they shall keep the Way of the Lord to do justice and judgement that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him Gen. 18. 19. And who raised up the Righteous man from the East called him to his foot gave the Nations before him and made him rule over Kings He gave them as dust to his sword and as driven stubble to his bow Isa 41. 2. And art not thou our God who didst drive out the Inhabitants of this Land before thy People Israel and gavest it to the Seed of Abraham thy friend for ever 2 Chron. 20. 7. And if ye were Abrahams Children ye would do the Works of Abraham but now ye seek to kill me a man that hath told ye the truth which I have heard of God this did not Abraham you do the deeds of your Father Then said they to him we be not born of Fornication we have one Father even God Jesus said unto them if God were your Father you would love me for I proceeded forth and came from God neither came I of my self but he sent me Why do ye not understand my speech Even because ye cannot hear my Word Ye are of your father the Devil and the lusts of your father ye will do He was a murderer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him when he speaketh a lie he speaketh of his own for he is a lyar and the father of it John 8. 39. to the 45. v. So here 's an end to all this matter Those that the Father hath chosen unto himself it is unto good works which he hath before ordained that they should walk in them We are his work manship created in Christ Jesus unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them saith the Apostle Ephes 2. 10. And shew me thy faith without thy works and I will shew thee my faith by my works Faith without works is dead Jam. 2. 18. 20. And the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath appeared unto all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World looking for that blessed Hope and the glorious Appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all Iniquity and purifie unto himself a peculiar People zealous of good Works Tit. 2. 11. to the end And those that are not redeemed from all Iniquity he hath not given himself to save And those that are not zealous of good Works he hath not purified unto himself a peculiar people And those that deny not Vngodliness and Worldly lusts and live not soberly and righteously and godly in this present World are not such as look for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ And those that have not works their faith is dead and they that walk not
witness These things saith the Amen the faithful and true Witness writes John to the Laodeceans who were grown neither hot nor cold and therefore he would spue them out of his mouth I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot neither quite dead nor quite alive neither being without sence nor having much I would thou wert cold or hot So then because thou art luke-warm and neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth Rev. 3. 15 16. A sore word to be cast out as salt that hath lost its savour and is good for nothing but to be cast to the Dunghil If the salt hath lost its savour where with shall it be salted It is henceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be troden under foot of men saith Christ Mat. 5. 13. And shameful spueing shall be on thy Glory Hab. 2. 16. And Moab also shall wallow in his Vomit Jer. 48. 16. And it is happened unto them according to the true Proverb The Dog is turned to his own Vomit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Pet. 2. 22. This is the condition of all that are in this state whom the Lord spues out I say He that beleiveth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3. 36. And here 's the state of all men by nature the nature that is in the fall in the Transgression they are without God the sence of God the life of God the Son of God without God in the World without Christ the Son of God Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel Strangers from the covenants of Promise having no hope as aforesaid and the reason is because they believe not on the Son on that which witnesses to God in them Which Judges and reproves them when they do evil and shews them what they should do Is not this the Christ John 4. 21. That which tells them all that ever they have done that searcheth their hearts and trieth their Reigns and knoweth the compass and end of all their Actions and sitteth down with them and risieth up with them and follows them wheresoever they go They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ 1 Cor. 10. 4. Which speaks to them in secret and convinceth them of evil which they know they should not go against which is the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation that hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live Soberly and Righteously and Godly in this present World of which the Apostle speaketh Tit. 2. 11 12. The Comforter which reproves rhe World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgement of Sin because they believe not in me saith Christ John 1. 6. 8 9. of Righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more Of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged vers 10 11. So that which reproves and judges is the Spirit the Spirit of the Son the Comforter that which reproves gives comfort and hope to Godward that he will shew mercy It is his Arm that opens to gather It is his Crook by which he brings back O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee How often would I have gathered thy children together as a Hen gathers her chicken under her wings and ye would not Mat. 23. 27. Now that which gathers is that which brings together that which is astray that is out of its place out of its way and that which so gathers corrects or it is a correction or a reproof to that which is astray and the voice of that which gathers is a reproof to that which is astray the very calling to come together reproves that which was not so Now this comforts this is the Comforter that calls to man who is out of the way to turn him to bring him out of the wrong to the right way and that which tells a man that he is in the wrong way judges the wrong way reproves it And that which reproves the wrong gives comfort to a man as he receives it and lets it judge the wrong in him that he is regarded and shall be brought into the right And so thy Rod and thy Staffe they comfort me Psal 23. 3. It gives a man to see that its like to be well with him As a man that is travelling hard and he hath a long way to go and night will come and he fears least having mist his way he shall come short of home and then great perils will attend him and he happily may miscarry and be undone for ever If any man meet him and tell him how he is out of his way and that the other is his way and if he will go with him he will bring him in safety to his journeys end and deliver him from all his enemies and the sad event of a miscarriage this will revive the heart of the man that is in sence of his condition and instead of repining at or resisting or slighting his friend or persisting in the wrong way in which he was or rising against his friend and his admonition and reproof he will gladly go with him and accept the offer and he will say pray let me go with thee and I am glad I have met with thee and what a thing is it that I have met with thee that I should meet with thee and what a providence was it and his heart will be light and rejoyce that he hath met with the right and be comforted that now he shall come home and miss his dangers and be out of fear of miscarriage So his trouble is gone and all the way along he will be talking to his friend and telling him what a thing it was that he met with him Even so it is as to that which is Eternal man that is out of his way and comes to be in sence by that which calls upon him and tells him he is out of the way lying is out of the way swearing is out of the way deceit is out of the way the form of godliness without the Power is out of the way Profession without the prossession of that which is profest a Name that one lives and yet is dead as to the life of God a circumcision without when there is no circumcision within a walking as to the Law blameless and yet without law to Christ a Jew without and no Jew within a cover of Righteousness without and yet within a rotten Sepulcher full of dead mens bones an open Sepulcher a man that comes to be in the sence of this through that which calls upon him and thereby to be awakned to see the danger in which he was and so to be apprehensive of his deliverance will rejoyce at this and be comforted in this that so reprov'd
because their deeds were evil for every one that doth evil hateth the light neither cometh he to the light least his deeds should be reproved but he that doth truth cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God John 3. 19 20 21. And he that believeth not is condemned alreadie because he hath not believed on the Name of the only begotten Son of God John 3. 18. And God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World but that the world through him might be saved for God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believed in him should not perish but have everlasting life And as Moses lifted up the Serpent in the Wilderness even so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have eternal life v. 14 15 16 17. And I am the Light of the World he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of Life John 8. 12. I say they that are in the state of nature which is in the fall in the Transgression are without the sence of God or of his life or of his Son who is Life I am the Way the Truth and the Life No man saith he cometh unto the Father but by me if ye had known me ye should have known my Father also and hence forth ye know him and have seen him Philip saith unto him Lord shew us the Father and it sufficeth Jesus saith unto him have I been so long time with you and yet hast thou not known me Philip be that hath seen me hath seen my Father and how sayst thou then shew us the Father belieâ—est thou not that I am in the Father and the Father in me The words that I speak unto you I speak not of my self but the Father that dwelleth in me he doth the Works Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me Or believe me for the very work sake Verily verily I say unto you he that believeth me the works that I do shall he do also and greater works then these shall he do because I go to my Father and whatsoever ye shall ask in my Name that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son If ye ask any thing in my Name I will do it If ye love me keep my Commandements and I will pray 〈◊〉 Father and he shall give you another Comforther that he may abide with you for ever even the Spirit of Truth whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but ye know him for he dwelleth in you and shall be with you John 14. 6. to the eighteenth And being without the sence of God and his Life and his Son who is life they are in a state of Reprobation in the state of the Devil who is without any thing of this any thing of any true sence of God or of his Life or of the Son of God who is Life For verily he took not upon him the nature of Angels but he took on him the Seed of Abraham Heb. 2. 16. And they that are in this state can never see God whilst they are in this state nor know him nor his Son in the knowledge of whom is life eternal John 17. 3. and there is no coming out of this state without the knowledge of him who is Life eternal and there can be no knowledge of him who is Life eternal but in his Light In thy Light shall we see Light Psal 36. 9. And God who commanded the Light to shine out darkness hath shined in our Hearts to give the light of knowledge of the Glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 6. And this is the 〈◊〉 that which reproves that which makes manifest as the Apostle saith But all things saith he that are reproved are made manifest by the Ligtt for whatsoever doth make manifeâ—t is light wherefore he saith Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall give the Light Ephes 5. 13 14. And I the Lord have called thee in Righteousness and will hold thy Hand and will keep thee and will give thee for a Covenant of the People for a light of the Gentiles Isa 42. 6. And to give light to them that sit in darkness and the shadow of death to guide our feet in the way of peace Luke 1. 78. And in his Name shall the Gentiles trust Mat. 12. 21. And the light shined in darkness but the darknesse comprehended it not That is the true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 5. 9. Now how can darkness shew it self And how can darkness reprove darkness And how can he that is in darkness see the light by the darkness And how can he that sees not the light come out of darkness And how can the light guide a man whilst darkness covers him And how can it be but that darknesse should cover a man whilst he is in the state of darkness And how can a man come out of darknesse but by the light Therefore is he called light because he sheweth darkness and brings out of darkness as many as are led by him whose darkness he lightneth Thou wilt light my Candle the Lord my God will enlighten my darknesse Psal 18. 28. that they may see the light of Life So that the light it is that sheweth darkness and darkness is comprehended by the light but darknesse cannot comprehend the light Therefore every one must heed the light that shineth in him in the darknesse that which reproves that which makes manifest the darknesse that he may come to the light of Life Yet a little while is the light with you walk while ye have the light least darknesse come upon you for he that walketh in darknesse knoweth not whither he goeth While ye have the light believe in the light that ye may be children of the light John 12. 35 36. For if darkness cannot comprehend the light it cannot shew the light but the light it is that makes manifest the darknesse that which reproves that which makes manifest and shews it and if the darknesse cannot comprehend the light though it shine in it nor make manifest nor shew it self in what state then are all they who abide in darknesse and know not the light nor are guided by it Which way can they come out of darknesse who abide in darknesse And how can they be delivered without the help of another thing without the light which shews them their state which shews them darknesse which makes it manifest which shines in darknesse though the darknesse comprehendeth it not And this light is Christ as hath been often instanced who is the light of Life who is the Saviour of all those who believe in him and to him must all come to the light in them that which reproves that which makes
made by hands that at that time ye were without Christ being Aliens from the Common wealth of Israel and strangers from the Covenants of Promise having no hope and without God in the World But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ for he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of Partition between us having abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law of Commandements conteined in Ordinances for to make in himself of twain one new man so making peace and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Cross having slain the enmity thereby and came and proached peace unto you which were a far off and to them which were nigh for through him we both have an access by one Spirit unto the Father Now therefore ye are no more strangers and Forreyners but fellow Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God and are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner Stone in whom all the building fitly framed togather groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord. In whom ye also are builded togather for an habitation of God through the Spirit Ephesians 2. So then here 's the Matter all must come to that in them which witnesseth to God to the Son to be Purged to be Purified to be Washed to be cleansed that they may be joyned to God again from whom they are are gone through transgression and through transgression are defiled and this is the Will of God and none are saved but who come here neither willeth God the Salvation of any but of such as come here who come to the Son to that which reproves to that which makes manifest in them the measure of him in every one that which cleanseth that which purifies that they may be fit vessels for the Masters use and be found to praise and honour and be Temples for the Holy Ghost to dwell in Know ye not that ye are the Temples of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is holy whose Temple ye are 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. And what agremeent hath the Temple of God with Idols For ye are the Temple of God as God hath saith I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my People Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters saith the Lord 2 Cor. 6. 16 17 18. So a coming out there must be a being separate or a separation a Not touching of the unclean thing that which defiles there must be a seperation from a coming out of it must not be touch't and all sin defiles it must be come out of seperated from not touch't the unclean thing sin must not be touck't ere the Lord saith I will receive you and be a Father unto you and ye shall be my Sons and Daughters A coming out from among them there must be a seperation from such a Not touching of that which defiles that which is unclean sin the unclean thing ere any becomes the Temple of God for the Temple of God is Holy saith he to the Saints who were washed who were cleansed who once were as others and such were some of you saith he but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of Our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of Our God 1 Cor. 6. 11. whose Temple are ye and if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy for ye are the Temple of God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols as aforesaid So no Temple of God that is to say No walking of God in any no dwelling of God in any no being the People of God No being of God unto a People no agreement Shall the Throne of Iniquity have fellowship with thee which imagines mischief by a Law For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness neither shall evil dwell with thee And thou art of purer eyes then to behold evil and canst not look on Iniquity with Idols It s the Word of the Lord. And this is the Will of God That every one come to the Son to that in them which shews them evil and obey it and believe in it that they may be purified that they may feel the Power that sanctifies which is the Power of God to Salvation Christ Jesus the Wisdom of God and the Power of God the Gospel I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the Power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek for therein the Righteousness of God is revealed from Faith to Faith as it is Written The Just shall live by Faith Rom. 1. 16. And of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption that according as it is written he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 30 31. So to the Power every one must come in them to that which purifies to that which cleanses to that which Sanctifies the blood of sprinkling which speaketh better things then that of Abel Christ Jesus the Wisdom of God and the Power of God who of God is made unto Vs Wisdom and Righteousness and Sanctification and Redemption saith the Apostle as aforesaid that he that glorieth may glory in the Lord. So he to whom Christ Jesus the Wisdom of God and the Power of God is made Wisdom and Righteousness and Redemption he is made Sanctification and they who of God are in him he is made so unto them and they that are not so that are not made so of him are not in him it is the Word of the Lord For they that are in him are new Creatures as I have often said and do now again speak by the Spirit of the Lord Old things are passed away behold all things are become New Now behold all things are made new And this is the state of Regeneration of a man in Christ Jesus And this is the Work of Christ in the World to make all things new Renewed in Knowledge after the Image of him that created him him that is the New man that maketh new Created in him unto good works as he hath before ordained that we should walk in them said the Apostle as aforesaid and so we are his Workmanship And this is his work to make all things new And so it was with the Collossians they
if people come not to him nor believe on him nor receive him nor are in him how can they through him be saved for that which comes through must come to and be in or it can never come through there is no Salvation but through Christ Jesus and as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive but it is in Christ and that which believes not on him is not in him and that which is not in him cannot be made alive by him and he gave himself a ransom for all but if all will not come to him who ransometh he doth not become a ransom for all And so I have finished what I have also to say unto you in the Name of the Lord whose word it is of whom I am moved to write unto you also that you may see who are here how the case stands with you for I bear you Record there is a zeal in many of you as to God but you are mistaken as to the main thing on which Salvation dependeth and by which you must come if ever it be so to be saved For If ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins said he to the Pharises John 8. 24. and if ye belive not in that which witnesseth unto God in you which reproves you which checks you for evil which judgeth it If ye believe not that this is he the measure of him in you he who is the Power of God and the Wisdom of God you will die in your sins all your Notions will not save you how strong so ever in your Imaginations they will come short of the Power which is the Power of God to Salvation and this you will find in the day of the Lord wherein this shall be witnessed and you shall witness unto me in that day as many as so abide that my testimony is true For the Lord hath spoken to me and his Word is in my mouth and he hath said unto me what I shall say and I have spoken what he hath said If you believe not that that is he which witnesses to God which reproves which judges which makes manifest evil in you you shall die in your sins It is the Word of the Lord. Therefore dream not of any other Jesus to save from wrath to come to deliver you then he in you who also is without you that shews you when you do amiss that reproves you that judges you for evil for this is the Judge of all the Man Christ Jesus And so I am clear of you also in the presence of the Lord who hath moved me to write thus to you and to take the stumbling blocks out of your way also that you may see and be saved for the day is near wherein you also will be concluded with the God whom you serve for the Lord is no respecter of Persons but in every Nation and among every people he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted of him and the proud he beholdeth a far off and 't is not saying Lord Lord Open to us have we not prayed have we not prophesied and in thy Name cast out Devils have we not eat and drank in thy presence and hast thou not taught in our streets will suffice when he shall say Depart from me I know ye not ye workers of Iniquity So deceive not your selves God is not mocked as men sow so shall they reap if you sow unto the flesh of the flesh ye shall reap corruption and if you sow unto the Spirit of the Spirit you will reap Life and take heed how you be mistaken in a thing of this nature which hath that weight least ye perish for ever The Lord is not willing you should die but rather that you turn unto that in you which is of him which is near you in your mouth and your heart and obey it and believe in it that ye may know his vertue who redeems and that so ye may be redeemed least whilst ye hold forth a Notion to all of the Redemption of all you come short of it in your own Particulars and so be cast out with the fearful and the unbelieving and the abominable and Murderers and Whore-mongers and Sorcerers and Idolaters and all Lyers into the Lake that burneth with Fire and Brimstone which is the second death The Bowels of the Lord are to you because the fear of him hath been before many of you and there is that in you that truly desires after him though you yet know him not therefore hath he moved me to write that you may know him after whom you desire that Salvation may be the Portion of your Cup and your Lot for ever If you hear it will be well for you if you will not the stone that is refused of the Builders is made the Head of the Corner and a Rock of Offence it will be and a Stone of stumbling till you be broken to pieces and your dayes be cut off from the earth and in darkness which is everlasting you languish for ever For the Lord will not alwayes wait on man nor his Spirit strive A day of conclusion there will be as there hath been a day of beginning and the hour of your visitation being over in what case are you when no offering can be accepted for you who have refused him who speaks from Heaven and rejected the Son of God made manifest in your mortal flesh to redeem you to God and so farewel I have done with you also in the movings of the Lord and to those who remain I must yet proceed to speak because time is short and this lay upon me to write to you all that all may be warned and that the stumbling blocks may be taken out of the way of all and that all may be left without excuse because the Day is nere wherein all must witness what I have said either to their everlasting wo or to Life eternal and however you may think of these things yet so it will be and the time is near Our God shall come and shall not keep silence A fire shall devour before him and it shall be very tempestuous round about him he shall call to the heavens from above and to the earth that he may judge his People and the Heavens shall declare his righteousness for God is Judge himself Selah Psal 50. 3 4 6. So let all be warned that all may be left without excuse for there is a day as I have said and it still presseth upon me to speak the same thing from the Spirit of the Lord and to repeat it often that so you may hear ere it be too late I say there is a day very near wherein you will witness this to be true to whom this shall come and because the day is very near therefore hath the Lord laid it upon me to speak â—t often that you may hear ere it be too late for hours of visitation have been