idolize it but the excellence of man is but flesh even the best of it as all outward gifts without the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 13.1 2 3. Though I speake with the tongues of men and Angels and have not charity I am become as sounding brasse or a tinckling cymbal And though I had the gift of prophesie and knew all secrets and all knowledge yea and if I had all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not love I were nothing And though I feed the poore with all my goods and though I give my bodye that I be burned and hoâ—â— not love it profiteth me nothing All this without love which is the Spirit For God and thâ— Spirit is one 1 John 5.7 God is love 1 Joh â— 8 All these excellent things without the Spiriâ— profieth me nothing Why because our happinesse consists alone in God and not in excellent cutward gifts without him Paul haâ— a great many before his conversion yet hâ— looked upon them as the workes of the flesh for he had not then the Spirit of God Foâ— we are the Circumcision which worship Goâ— in the spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus anâ— have no confidence in the flesh Though I alâ— might have confidence in the flesh If any maâ— thinketh that hee hath whereof he might tâ—â— in the flesh much more I Circumcised thâ— eighth day of the kindred of Israel of the trâ—â— of Benjamin an Hebrew of the Hebrews by thâ— Law a Pharisee Concerning zeal I perseâ—ted the Church touching the righteousnâ—â—â— which is in the Law I was unrebukeable Bâ— things that were vantage to me the samâ— counted losse for Christs sake Yea doubtleâ— I think all but losse for the excellent knowledâ— sake of Christ Jesus my Lord. For whâ—â— I have counted all things losse and dee 〈◊〉 them to be dung that I might winne Christ and might be found in him that is not having mine owne righteousnesse which is of the Law but that which is through the faith of Christ even the righteousnesse which is of God through faith Phil. 3.3 to the 9. All flesh is as grasse and all the glory of man is as the flowr of grasse The grasse withereth and the flowre falleth away but the word of the Lord endureth for ever 1 Pet 1.24 25. This glory of the flesh which is compared to the flower of the grasse is the righteousnesse of man the most excellent of man without the Spirit of God as Paul had Yet this must all fall away it cannot stand before the righteousnesse of Jesus Christ but the word of God endureth for ever This word is Christ and he and his righteousnesse endureth for ever and when he and his righteousness appeareth in us and to us It will appeare so glorious and shine with such a burning heat that it will wither the flowre of our righteousnesse and cause it to fall away and be brought to nothing It will appeare so odious and filthy in our fight that we shall be ashamed of it as Paul was and count it as dung and drosse the filchiest things as is and so we shall be desirous to have this righteousnesse of ours destroyed by the glorious comming of Jesus Christ by g DESC = missing EXTENT = 1 span Spirit into us So none of the best of the excellencies of man can bring us to know any thiâ— of God in the mystery it is alone the work 〈◊〉 the Spirit of God without any thing of us Tâ—â— things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit 〈◊〉 God 1 Cor. 2.11 And this Spirit searcheth 〈◊〉 things yea the deepe things of God vers 10. 1. It is the Spirit alone that sees the thing of God 2. It is the Spirit that heares the things 〈◊〉 God 3. It is the Spirit alone that understandâ— the things of God 4. It is the Spirit alone that can doe thâ— works of God 5. It is the Spirit alone that makes us accepted with God For the first It is the Spirit of God aloâ—â— that seeth the things of God Mat. 6.22 Thâ— light of the body is the eye If therefore thine eye 〈◊〉 single thy whole body shal be ful of light Lu. 11 3â—â— This single eye is the Spirit of God and it seâ—â— the things of God for it cannot be the eye 〈◊〉 man Matth. 6.23 But if thy eye be evill thâ— whole body shall be full of darknesse If therefoâ—â— the light that is in thee be darkenesse how great 〈◊〉 that darknesse The eye is that whereby we see the eye 〈◊〉 man cannot see any thing but that which iâ—â— man and all the things of man even the best of them are but evill and the eye of man that seeth the things of man is one and the same with man And therefore it must needs follow that the eye of man is evill for it sees nothing done but that which is evill And if thy eye be evill thy whole bodie shall be full of darkenesse What is darkenesse but want of light and the light is Jesus Christ This is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkenesse rather than light John 3.19 And the light shined in darkenesse and the darkenesse comprehended it not John 1.5 And that was the true light which lighteth every man that commeth into the world Hee was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not John 1.9 10. So as wee are men wee cannot know God nor any thing of God For if that light that is in us be darkenesse how great is that darknesse If those most excellent performances of man as man without the Spirit of God as Paul did performe before his conversion which is most likest light be darknesse how great is that darkenesse that man is in Man as man cannot comprehend the light of Jesus Christ none can doe it but that which is one and the same with him which is the Spirit of God and he â—s that single eye that sees all the things of God and Christ for they are one and Christ 〈◊〉 promised to send his Spirit unto us But Comforter which is the holy Ghost whom the they will send in my Name he shall teach yâ—â— things and bring all things to your remember whatsoever I have said unto you John 14. â— When the Comforter is come whom I will send 〈◊〉 you from the father even the spirit of truth oâ— proceedeth from the Father he shall testifie oâ— Joh 15.26 The spirit of truth whom the world 〈◊〉 not receive because is seeth him not neither knoâ—â— him but ye know him for he dwelleth with and shall be in you and he shall abide with for ever John 14.16 17. These words Christ spake to his Disciâ—â— when he was present with them in the shaâ— man when he was to depart from theâ— that bodily shape they were unwilling 〈◊〉 he should goe away but he tels them that expedient that he should goe away For if 〈◊〉
not away the Comforter will not come but depart I will send him unto you John 16. â— So when hee departed from them in the â—â—dy hee did send his Spirit to them and only to them but to all his children to and of the world He shall abide with you â—â—ver I will not leave you comfortlesse I will to you John 14.18 So he departed from them in flesh and 〈◊〉 â—nto them in Spirit and remaineth with his Church for ever and is a greater Comforter â—o his Church in Spirit than hee was to his Disciples in his flesh when he was with them â—o Christ hath given us his spirit freely that we â—ay see the things that are freely given to us â—f God So in thy light saith David we see light Though wee as wee are men cannot see the â—hings of God but as we are Saints and have â—he Spirit of God so we come to see the things of God for the Spirit of God in us seeth the â—hings of God and so far as hee revealeth the â—hings of God to us so far wee see them with his s pirituall eye of himselfe The Lord is my â—ight Psalm 27.1 So in this light we see God who is light For ye were sometime darkenesse â—ut now are yee light in the Lord Ephes 5.8 For thou art my lamp O Lord and the Lord will â—ighten my darknesse 2 Sam. 22.29 So farre as God hath revealed himselfe to â—n so farre we have seen him with the light of himselfe And so farre as we have not seene him with the light of himselfe so farre we are â—n darknesse still and so farre as hee hath revealed himselfe to us hee teacheth us all things and brings all things to our remembrance For therefore hee was sent unto us to teach us to know what Christ hath done for us and to know the things that are freely given to us of God and to be our Comforter There is 〈◊〉 Comforter like this for he is alwayes in 〈◊〉 and knows our trouble there is not any thiâ— hid from him for we have not an high Prâ—â—â— which cannot be touched with the failing 〈◊〉 our infirmities but was in all points tempâ—â— like as we and yet without sin Heb. 4 1â— For in that he himselfe hath suffered being templâ— he is able to succour them that are tempted Hâ—â— 2.18 Christ hath suffered in all manner of afflicâ—â—â—ons both spirituall and temporall thereforâ— his Spirit is a sufficient Comforter to comfoâ—â— us in all our troubles with the love of himselâ— and in upholding us in it and to bring us 〈◊〉 of them when he sees it is for his glory and 〈◊〉 good Thus the Spirit seeth the things 〈◊〉 God For the 2d. It is the Spirit alone that hearâ— the things of God He that hath an eare to heaâ— let him beare Mat. 13.9 Mâ—r. 4.9 He that haâ—â— an ear let him beare what the Spirit saith unto tâ—â— Churches Rev. 2.7 It must be such an eare as can heare what thâ— Spirit faith It is only the Spirit that can heâ—â— the Spirit speak that knows the languageâ— the Spirit and none else man may or can hâ—â— what man speaketh and of the minde of Goâ— as it is writ in Scripture and to heare it in thâ— letter as it is in the letter but to hear it so as to understand know what it is in the truth of it as the truth is in Jesus none knowes it but the Spirit of God for it is spirituall The word that I spake unto you is Spirit and life and this word is Christ And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory 〈◊〉 of the only begotten of the Father ful of grace truth Joh. 1.14 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God John 1.1 So this word is spirituall for God is a Spirit John 4.24 And none can hear this word but that which is one and the same with it and therefore it is onely the Spirit of God which is one and the same with God which hath that hearing eare to hear what the Spirit saith and this Spirit of God heares all the mind of God yea all the secrets of God He doth heare what things they are that God hath prepared for them that love him and those things the eare of man as man cannot heare what they be for they are spirituall and heavenly glorious things and man is carnall and cannot heare them so as to understand it It is a strange language to him hee doth not know the meaning of it therefore he hath declared all things to his Spirit and hath given us his Spirit and so this Spirit of God in us doth heare the Spirit speake it speakes nothing but peace and love and mercy and goâ—â— will to us and what he hath done for us 〈◊〉 what he is in us and to us and what we are 〈◊〉 him and to him as we are Saints and 〈◊〉 Spirit will declare it to us by degrees that 〈◊〉 we are Saints wee shall know them for theâ—â—fore the Spirit was sent to us that throâ—â— him we may hear what God hath done for 〈◊〉 Thus have I shewed you in some measâ—â— that it is alone the Spirit of God that hearâ—â— the things of God for us For the 3d. It is the Spirit of God aloâ—â— that understands the things of God for mâ—â—â— as man cannot understand the things of Goâ— because they are spiritually discerned 1 Gâ—â— 2.24 And man is altogether earnall Mat. 1â— 13 They seeing see not and hearing bear nâ—â— neither doe they understand Isa 6.9 Mark 4 1â— John 12.40 Acts 28.26 How can they uâ—â—derstand that which they can neither see nâ—â— heare When Christ told his Apostles that he mâ—â— goe to Jerusalem and all things that are writâ— by the Prophets concerning the Sonne of Mâ—n fâ—â— be accomplished For he shall be delivered unto 〈◊〉 Gentiles and shall be mocked and spightfully 〈◊〉 treated and spit on And they shall scourge 〈◊〉 and put him to death and the third day hee shâ—â— rise againe And they understood none of thing and this saying was hid from them neither â—new they these things that were spoken Luke 18. â—1 32 33 34. They were the Apostles of Jesus Christ and â—â—e chose them among his Disciples to goe and â—â—reach the Gospel to all the world yet they 〈◊〉 they were men they understood not those â—â—ings in the mysterie what should be brought 〈◊〉 passe by those things They could not chuse 〈◊〉 know what those things meant outwardâ—y when he told them so plainly what things â—e must suffer for they could do no other but â—now those things outwardly but those sayâ—â—gs spirituall were kept from them that they â—â—derstood them not For man as man canâ—ot understand any thing but that which is of â—â—n For the things of God knowes no man Hee â—ay hear much with the eare and speak much 〈◊〉 that which hee
and you in me and I in you John 14.20 For Christ is the head and is one with the Father and the whole Church of God is the body which is the Spirit of God in all the Saints and he is always in us and with us Christ in us the hope of glory we by faith see Christ in us and know that he is the glory and wait patiently upon him while he is pleased to manifest his glory in us So by faith we believe and hope for that which wee have not yet the enjoyment â—f Though wee have Christ who is the fulâ—â—sse of all happinesse yet wee doe not see him 〈◊〉 us till hee is pleased to manifest himselfe to 〈◊〉 and shew us his glory And this faith of â—elieving what we shall enjoy is a very gloriâ—us condition and we have abundance of joy â—â—d comfort in it for the promise to us of the â—â—joyment of himselfe is sealed to us we are â—re of it there is not any thing that can hinâ—â—r him from manifesting himselfe to us Eph. â— 13 14. After that yee heard the word of truth â—â—e Gospel of your salvation in whom also after â—hat ye believed ye were sealed with that holy Spirit 〈◊〉 promise Which is the earnest of our inheritance â—â—till the redemption of the purchased possession â—â—to the praise of his glory So the Lord revealing to us by his Spirit â—â—at there is an inheritance purchased by â—hrist for us which is himselfe that is the â—â—eatest inheritance that can be and this Spiâ—â—â— doth seale it to us till the time is come that â—â—mselfe will give us possession of that inheriâ—â—nce that hee hath redeemed and purchased â—â—r us for the praise of his glory So while we â—ave but an earnest given us of this inheritance â—eing we know it is sure wee are exceedingly â—omforted and carried above all slavish fears â—nd troubles and above all things that wee see below Christ and many the Lord leades a great while by faith before he gives them a full possession of himselfe CHAP. XVI Not for any to despise nor undervalue nor persecute one another IT is a very dangerous thing to embrace and close with that we heare before wee know whether it be truth or no for it is not sufficient for us to believe a thing to be truth because another saith it is truth For us to build upon this is a sandy-foundation we cannot build sure upon it though the things that we heare be truth yet except we know them to be truth by the Spirits teaching us or witnessing to us by sufficient grounds set forth in the Scripture that those things are truth that we heare it is very dangerous to build upon it and it is impossible but this building will fall for this foundation will not nor cannot hold it up and if it come to the tryall it will fall to the great dishonour of God and the scandalling of Religion and it is as dangerous to despise hate or persecute any thing that wee heare though it doth not seem to us to be truth for saith Paul After that way that ye call heresie so â—orship I the God of my Fathers Though it apâ—eareth to you to be heresie yet it may be reâ—â—ll truth therefore doe not hate it nor perseâ—ute it for Paul thought before his conversion â—hat it was heresie and persecuted it Acts 9. â—2 And Saul yet breathing out threatnings and â—aughter against the Disciples of the Lord went â—â—to the high Priest and desired of him letters to â—amascus to the Synagogue that if he found any 〈◊〉 this way whether they were men or women he â—ight bring them bound unto Jerusalem And â—he journeyed he came neare to Damascus and â—â—ddenly there shined round about him a light from â—â—aven and he fell to the earth and heard a voyce â—â—ying unto him Saul Saul why persecutest thou 〈◊〉 And he said who art thou Lord And the â—ord said I am Jesus whom thou persecutest it is â—â—â—d for thee to kicke against the pricks vers 3 4 â— Paul was then one that was very strict in all 〈◊〉 ways and walked very blamelesse as conâ—â—rning the performing of the Law and hee â—ought that all that was not as he was were â—â—retickes and hee persecuted them to the â—ath but the Lord said unto him Why perseâ—â—test thou me I am Jesus whom thou persecutest 〈◊〉 He persecuted Christ in his members Inasâ—â—eth as you have done it unto one of the least of â—â—se my brethren ye have done it to me Mat. 25.40 Take heed how you persecute any though you thinke they are heretickes and therefore persecute them as Paul did and indeed there was never any persecution but it went under the name of punishing Hereticks and doe iâ— by a shew of godlinesse as Paul did but it iâ— hard for you to kicke against prickes for it iâ— God that ye kicke against and he is stronger than you and will overcome you at the last and he is like pricks it will pierce your selves for not any weapon that is forged against hiâ— Saints shall prosper but shall returne backeâ— and destroy their enemies like as those meâ— were that tooke up Shadrach Mesbech and Abednego and cast them into the fiery fornan at the Kings command because they woulâ— not worship their false gods They made thâ— fornace exceeding hot because it should destroy the three men that were cast into it bâ—â— the flame of the fire slew those men that caâ— them in and Shadrach Mesbech and Abedego walked in the midst of the fire and neithâ—â— they nor their cloaths were burned nor 〈◊〉 much as smell of fire Dan. 3. Therefore whosoever thou art that persâ—cutest any take heed what thou dost for the last God will destroy thee whosoever thâ— art except thou commest to be converted and they whom thou dost persecute shall be 〈◊〉 livered out of thy hands if it be to the glory 〈◊〉 God and their good but if God hath giâ—â—n you so much power as to put them to â—â—ath the greatest harm that you can do them 〈◊〉 but to bring them to their full happinesse â—â—d that harm that you thinke to doe against â—â—â—m you doe against your selves for while 〈◊〉 persecute them they are at peace and quiâ—â— and have abundance of the enjoyment of â—â—od and enabled to bear exceedingly whatâ—â—ever is laid upon them for whatsoever is â—â—nting outwardly the Lord supplieth inâ—â—rdly by his Spirit and he conveyeth himâ—â—â—fe to them in that way that all the enemies 〈◊〉 the world nor all the Devils in hell are 〈◊〉 able to hinder them from the enjoyment him but while you persecute them you â—â—â—not be quiet in your mind but are troubled â—â—â—d cannot have peace like Saul that perseâ—â—â—â—d David The Spirit of the Lord departed 〈◊〉 Saul and an evill Spirit from the Lord trouâ—â—â—d him 1 Sam. 16.14 And this Spirit cauâ—â— him to persecute David and wheresoever 〈◊〉 Spirit is it causeth persecutions for it
but in Christ which is the fountaine and these streames ebbe and flow according to the wisdome of God And so long as thou dost live upon these streames thy comforts ebbe and flow with the streames but the Lord did not send these streames of his love to thee that thou shouldst live upon them and build thy comforts upon them but he lets these streames of his love sometimes flow forth in thee to keepe thee from despairing and at other times with-draws the sense and feeling of it that thou shouldst not Idolize them but looke up higher and see Chrisâ— who is thy full happinesse and he unchangeâ—ble I am God I change not therefore ye Sonnâ— of Jacob are not consumed We have thought God to be changeable liâ—â— our selves when we performed duties he wâ—â— well pleased with us and when we fell into fâ—â— hee was angry with us and when wee haâ—â— thought God angry with us wee have kepâ— from him and durst not goe to him Isa 5â— 7 8 9. Let The wicked forsake his way and 〈◊〉 unrighteous man his thoughts and let him râ—turne unto the Lord and he will have mercy upâ—â— him and to our God for he will abundantly paâ—don For my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your wayes my wayes saith the Lord. Fâ—â— as the heavens are higher than the earth so are â—â—wayes higher than your wayes and my thoughâ— than your thoughts You must forsake your owne thoughts 〈◊〉 God you have thought him to be changeabâ—â— like your selfe and his wayes like yours bâ—â— you must doe so no more For his thoughâ— are thoughts of peace and love and good wiâ—â— Jer. 31.3 I have loved thee with an everlastiâ— love His love is unchangeable love for whâ— he loves he loves to the end Is God unchangeâ—ble this is exceeding comfortable to the châ—â—dren of God this will encourage them not 〈◊〉 be troubled though they cannot performe duties alwayes alike sometimes wee cannot pray we want words to speak to God But the Spirit helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought But the Spirit it selse maketh intercessian for us with groanes which cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth the minde of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Rom. 8.26 27. What little cause haft thou to be troubled though thou carest not pray when the Spirit of God prays for thee to the Father and Christ hee hath prayed for thee John 17. And he makes intercession for thee 1 John 2.1 And it is impossible but that the prayers of Christ and the Spirit will be granted for the Father will not denie Christ anything And in Christ thou art very neare and deare to him and he is very tender and carefull over thee and will do any thing for thee which is for thy good Hee will not keep backe anything from thee which he sees is for his glory thy good in his time but thou must waite his time and a waiting condition is a happy condition And it is hee that makes thee to waite Isa 40.29 30 31. Hee giveth power to the faint and to them that have no might he encreaseth strength Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall But they that waite upon thâ— Lord shall renew their strength they shall mounâ— up with wings as Eagles they shall runne and noâ— be weary and they shall walke and not faint Thus I have shewed you what it is to stanâ—â— still CHAP. IV. How Christ makes a way through the Red Sea oâ— his owne blood which he hath shed for thy sinnes for thee to passe out of the spirituall Land of Aegypt into the spirituall Land of Canaan GOd made man in his owne Image Gen. 1 27. He being without sin and in a glorious condition and he knew God and there was nothing to hinder his communion with God He saw God as he was and he had a clear enjoyment of him for he saw God with a spirituall eye and he was what God would have him to be and willing to be at the disposing of God then was no complaints made oâ— him and God planted a garden Gen. 2.8 9. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for foode the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of knowledge of good and evill The Lord placed Adam there in the glorious place that was upon the earth suitable to his condition there was all things that his heart could wish or desire Vers 16 17. And the Lord God commanded the man saying Of every tree of the Garden thou maist freely eate but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evill thou shalt not eate of it for in the day thou eatest of it thou shalt surely die The man and the woman were in a glorious condition so long as they continued thus both in spirituall and temporall things So their happinesse was upon condition for so long as they forbore eating of the tree of knowledg of good and evill they continued in this happinesse but if they eate of it thou should surely dye And the Devill envied mans happy condition and he enters into the Serpent and came to the woman and said Yea hath God said ye shall not eate of every tree of the Garden And the Woman said unto the Serpent we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God hath said ye shall not eate of it neither shall ye touch it lest ye die And the Serpent said unto the woman ye shall not surely die For God doth know that in the day ye eate thereof then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evill And when the woman saw that the tree was good for foode and that it was pleâ—sant to the eyes and a tree to be desired to maâ—â— one wise shee tooke of the fruit thereof and diâ— eate and gave also to her husband with her anâ— he did eate Gen. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6. Here the Devill came and accused God tâ— the Woman hath God said ye shall not eate of every tree of the Garden For God doth knowâ— that in the day that yee eate thereof then your eye shall be opened and you shall be as Gods knowinâ— good and evill As if he should say if God diâ— love you he would not have barr'd you froâ— eating of the fruis of that tree whereby yoâ—â— should become as Gods to know good and evill He had better have barr'd thee from all the otheâ— things in the garden then from this therefore his barring of thee from this thing whicâ— is so good for thee may make thee questioâ— his love to thee in all other things Anâ— though he said ye shall dye it ye
hath heard as the Eunuch â—â—d he read in the Prophet Isaiah and Philip â—â—ent to him and heard him read and he said â—â—to him Vnderstandest thou what thou readest 〈◊〉 he said how can I except some man guide me 〈◊〉 8.30 31. The heart of man is darkned that 〈◊〉 cannot understand the things of God Rom. 1. â—1 And that which is darknesse cannot comâ—â—hend light therefore the Eunuch said how 〈◊〉 I understand Can flesh understand the spiâ—â—t for they are contrary one to the other For we have need of one to teach us and it is oâ—â— the Spirit of God that doth know and theâ—â—â—fore it is hee alone that can teach us for 〈◊〉 doth know all things of God for hee is 〈◊〉 with him and is the very God therefore 〈◊〉 knows all things For he searcheth all things 〈◊〉 the deepe things of God 1 Cor. 2.10 As mâ— hath an eye to see and an eare to heare and heart to understand and other members suâ—â—ble for man to see and heare and understanâ— and perceive the things of man So for 〈◊〉 weake capacity God is set forth to us in 〈◊〉 Scripture by those things as an eye to see bâ—â—cause hee sees all things Neither is there 〈◊〉 creature that is not manifest in his sight 〈◊〉 all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of 〈◊〉 with whom we have to doe Heb. 4.13 And he is said to have an eye to see all our actioâ— and hee also seeth all the things of God in 〈◊〉 truth of them as the truth is in Jesus Aâ— therefore he is said to have an eye because 〈◊〉 the eye we see and so an eare to heare Wâ—â— you are in trouble call upon me and I will heâ—â— The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous â— eares are open to their crye Psal 30.15 He hâ—â—reth all things both the things of God whâ—â— are spiritual and all things else so he is saiâ— have an eare because by the eare we heare for our weake capacity God is said to havâ— eare because he heareth all things And so he is said to have a heart for with the heart wee come to understand thinke know and believe the things of man I know the thought that I have to you saith the Lord thoughts of peace and love and good will Isa 55.8 My thoughts are not as your thoughts Psal 139.17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto mee O God how great is the summe of them So the Lord hath thoughts towards us but we as wee are men know them not and he understands all the wayes of man and knows them for he is the maker of man therefore he must needs know all the wayes of man and he also knows all the things of himselfe and none can know the things of God but that which is one with God and that is alone the Spirit of God and he doth understand and â—hinke and know and believe the things of God For the first he doth understand the things of God Hee it is that doth understand the â—ruth of those things that he doth see heare There is a secret mysterie in all the things of God and it is all hidden from man as man â—e doth not nor cannot know any of them â—or understand any thing of them but the Spirit of God doth understand them all even â—he most secret things of all and all those excellent things that the Spirit of God doth seâ— and heare and understand what the truth of it is they are all purchased by Christ for thâ— children of God and is all kept in store is Christ for us to be revealed by this Spirit iâ— us and to us at the time appointed of the Father So the Spirit of God being given to 〈◊〉 makes us Saints so as we are men we understand not any thing of God yet as wee anâ— Saints and have the Spirit of God this spiriâ— in us understands all the things of God anâ— so by degrees reveales it in us and to us thâ—â— as we are Saints wee understand the minde 〈◊〉 God and those things that are laid up in stoâ—â— for us and this Spirit of God doth thinke the thoughts of God it thinkes all the excelleâ— thoughts that God thinkes for it knowes alone the thoughts of God what he hath to hiâ— children in the purity of them So though 〈◊〉 we are men wee cannot thinke the thought of God nor any thing aright of God yeâ— this spirit of God in us knows al the thought of God to us and it thinkes those thoughts oâ— God that God would have It thinks and sâ— by degrees reveales in us as we are Saints whaâ— the thoughts of God to us are this Spirit 〈◊〉 God knows all the things of God he doth nâ—only understand what the meaning of thâ—â—â— things are that hee sees and heares but hâ—â— knowes them to be very truth because hee is one and the same in it therefore man cannot know any thing of God For as he is man he is not one with God and to know is to be certaine that it is so and how can man be certaine that that is truth that hee can neither see nor hear nor understand it to be so But the Spirit of God is one with God therefore hee knowes it to be truth for hee searcheth all things and knows them all yea the deepe and most secret things of God all is for the Saints So the spirit in us knows all the things of God though man as man is quite ignorant and knowes not any thing of the ways of God so this Spirit brings us as we are Saints to know the things of God in his time Prov. 2.5 6 7. Then shalt thou understand the feare of the Lord and finde the knowledge of God For the Lord giveth wisedome out of his mouth commeth knowledge and understanding Hee layeth up sound wisdome for the righteous This Spirit doth bring us to know God for wee must first know God before wee can know the things of God so the Spirit leadeth us in that way that brings us to know God and that way is Christ Jesus for through him wee know God and hee brings us to the knowledge of Jesus Christ which to know him is to know the fulnesse of our happinesse for out of him God is an enemie to us but in him God is as well pleased with us as he is with Christ for through him wee have free passage to goe to God and Paul prizes the knowledge of Christ above all things in the world Phil. 3.8 Yea doubtlesse I count all things but losse for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the losse of all things and do count them but dung that I might winne Christ and be found in him For to know Iesus Christ is to know al things for we cannot know him as he is but we shal know what we are in him Ephes 1.17 18. That the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ the Father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdome and revelation in the knowledge of him The eye of your understanding being enlightned that wee may know what is the hope of his calling and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the Saints The spirit in us knowes all things and heâ— believes all the things of God and none can doe it but he because none knowes the things of God but he and those things that he doth see and heare and understand what they are and knowes them to be truth therefore the Spirit believes them and this faith is a perfect faith he believes fully all things of God in every tittle there is no imperfection in it hee believes all things that Christ hath done for us and what he hath obtained for us Thus the Spirit of God in us believes all the things of God for us and without this faith we cannot be saved for by this faith we are justified This faith is that eye that sees all the things of God for it sees all things that Christ hath done for us and we as we are men we cannot believe the things of God because they are spirituall and we are carnall and cannot know spirituall things therefore we cannot believe them for it is impossible to believe that which they doe not know but though we as we are men and women doe not nor cannot believe yet the Spirit of God in us doth believe perfectly all the things of God for us So as we are Saints we believe the things of God through the Spirit of God God would have man to be saved and that hee should come to the knowledg of his truth and believe what Christ hath done for him and lay hold on Christ by faith that hee might be saved but man cannot doe it therefore God sent his Spirit to us that he should doe it for us in us so by this faith wee are justified for this is perfect and wee may have this spirit in us that doth believe God in Christ and wee aâ—we are men know it not yet the spirit of God is always the same with God and in his time he will make knowne in us and to us aâ— we are Saints that we have this saving justifying faith in uâ—â—and make known in us by degrees what our pledges are in him 4thly It is the Spirit of God alone that can doe the works of God man cannot doe any thing that can please God for all the workeâ— of man as man are evill continually Even the best performances that he can performe aâ—â— those performances that Paul performed beforâ— his Conversion For all that is not faith iâ— sinne and man as man hath not faith therefore all his works are evill and that which 〈◊〉 evill cannot please God and the way of God is past mans finding out John 6.28 29. Whâ—â— shall wee doe that we might worke the workes 〈◊〉 God Jesus answered and said unto them This 〈◊〉 the worke of God that ye believe in him whom 〈◊〉 hath sent This is the worke of God and it is only the Spirit of God that can doe it in man so man We doe just as the Apostles did wheâ—â— they went a fishing when Christ was abseâ— from them they toyled and laboured all thâ— night to get fishes and could get none Bâ—â— when Christ came to them hee bid them 〈◊〉 downe the net on the right side of the shippâ—â— and eâ— shall finde and they were not now able 〈◊〉 draw the net for the multitude of fishes John 2â— 6. So wee labour and toyle our selves in the night that is before the light of Jesus Christ appeares to us that wee may see him present with us by his Spirit wee labour in our owne way and strength to doe those things that should please God but wee labour on the wrong side of the shippe all our labour is in vaine there is nothing to be gotten but Christ comming to us by his Spirit to tell us the net must be cast in on the right side that is in a spirituall way for we have laboured in a carnall way and could find nothing And what is this net but that which catcheth something so the Spirit of God hee cast in the net that way that God would have him for us hee doth the whole worke of God in beleeving Jesus Christ and performing all obedience to him for us in us and hee makes knowne to us by degrees what the minde of God is and so wee finde in us that hee doth those things in us that hee doth reveale to us that we should doe it and as wee are men we cannot doe it so hee doth it in us making use of the members of man as instruments to performe the workes of God and hee makes us willing to yield to him for he over-powers us and so God accepts of it so the spirit casting in the net of right performances to God in us hee brings forth to us from God through Jesus Christ such a multitude of severall manifestations of the love of God to us in Christ Jesus and shewing us what we are in him that wee are not able to draw them forth wee cannot comprehend them as we are men so for us to labour on the wrong side of the ship is in vain Isa 49.4 Then said I I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain yet surely my judgement is with the Lord and my worke with my God Deut. 32.4 He is the rocke his worke is perfect for all his wayes are judgement a God of truth and without iniquity just and righteous is he Thus the Spirit of God doth the works of God for us in us and we have the comfort of it and it is he alone that doth make us accepted with God Wheresoever there is a manifest appearance of the Spirit of God in any one there hee purges and sanctifies that man or woman in their conversation by his acting in them and this Spirit of God seasons those actions that he acts in us making use of our members and our members being carnall and fleshly the acting of the spirit through us cannot appeare so pure and excellent as it is in it selfe for it is clouded with the vaile of our infirmities but the Spirit seasons the acting that hee acts through our flesh and so hee makes them accepted with God This is the Altar that sanctifieth the offering Christ is â—oth a King a Priest and a Prophet and hee â—ath made us so with him as we are Saints He â—as a Priest to offer sacrifice for all and this â—acrifice that hee did offer was his body and â—he Altar that he did offer it on was his diviniâ—y and this Altar sanctifies the sacrifice Mat. â—3 19 So this Spirit of Christ which is one â—ith God in us sanctifieth all those perforâ—ances that he acts through us they are offeâ—ed all of them upon
of him that sate upon the Throne This booke is the minde of God as in a booke a man may write his mind at large being of a great volume so for our weake capacity the minde of God is as it were writ in a booke being written within but on the backside sealed with seven seales that wee cannot what is written in it The vision is become unto you as the words of a booke that is sealed up which they deliver to one that cannot read saying Reade this I pray thee and he saith I â—â—nnot for it is sealed And the booke is given to him that cannot read saying Reade this I pray thee and he shall say I cannot read Isa 29.11 12. And the same booke was sent to Ezekiel Ezek. 2.9 10. Behold a hand was sent to me loe a roule of a booke was therein And he spread iâ— before me and there was written therein lamentations mourning and woe Isa 8.16 Bind up the testimonie seale up the law among my Disciples A testimonie is when a man dyeth he writeth down to whom he would have his estate dispos'd when and how so in this booke oâ— God is written the whole mind of God what he hath given us and when it shall be revealed to us and how yet it is bound up and sealed and none is found worthy to open the booke and loose the seale He that sate upon the Throne is God the Father and the book that was in his hand was the whole love and minde of God to all man-kinde in Christ Jesus And the seven seales doth set forth to us that the whole mind and love of God is alone known to himselfe and quite shut up and as it were sealed fast from us that as wee are men and women we cannot know any thing that is written therein In this booke there is written all things what Christ hath done for all and what for his Church in particular what he hath obtained for us and what wee are in him what hee hath made us to the Father in him and what he is in us And it is Christ alone that hath obtained of his Father â—o open this booke and to loose the seals for â—e was the Lambe that was slaine for all and â—y his death hee hath obtained power of his â—ather to open the booke and make knowne â—o us his whole mind There are seven seales â—o be broke open and hee doth not breake oâ—en all the seales at once but by degrees and as he breakes open a seale he saith Come and â—â—e Rev. 6.1 That is wee must see our selves in Christ before we can see any thing of the mind of God made known to us and he it is that doth make knowne to us that wee are in him and the first seale that he breaks open to us are some manifestations of his love to us and by degrees he breaks open the seales to us hee doth make knowne his love and minde to us more and more in a more fuller clearer and glorious manner every seale breaking open are new manifestations every seale more glorious clearer fuller than the other that was broke open before And in this booke is written lamentation mourning and woe to Antichrist for her destruction and ruine is come more and more As Christ breakes open the seales and reveales himselfe to us hee gives us that hearing eare his Spirit that we may hear those things which he hath unsealed to us The Lord God hath opened mine eare and I was not rebellious neither turned away backe He wakeneth mine eare to heare as the learned Isa 50.4 5. Thou that dwellest in the gardens the companions hearken to thy voyce cause mee to heare it Cant. 8.13 And when wee come to heare the love of God to us then we shall see this messenger of the Spirit of God casting the stumbling blockes out of the way and making known to us in some measure the great love of the Lord to us and so making way for a further manifestation of himselfe to us in a fuller higher and more glorious manner for as the seales are broke open so is Anti christ more and more discovered and destroyed by the bright comming of Jesus Christ for there is a seven-fold purifying of this seede of God in us from the seede of the Devill before it can appeare to us in the purity of it and that is as the seales are broke open to us and hee appeares very glorious at the breaking open of any of the seales much more glorious will he appear to us when all the seales are broke open when we shall perfectly fully and clearly see and know Christ as hee is to us for when they are all broke open then there the perfection of Christ is made known to us for seven is perfection CHAP. XV. How the LORD leades his people by faith THe Lord doth shew his people that which yet they have not the enjoyment of and 〈◊〉 is in a high and glorious manner and they â—â—e not able to expresse what it is but by faith 〈◊〉 some measure they see what it is that they â—â—all enjoy and in the meane while they walke 〈◊〉 faith and not by fight Heb. 11.1 Now faith 〈◊〉 the substance of things hoped for the evidence of â—â—ings not seene And so by faith we must wait â—atiently for a further manifestation of himself â—n us in a more glorious and clearer manner â—or if we hope for that we see not then do we with â—â—tience waite for it Rom. 8.15 We must not â—e like Thomas believe no more than we see or â—njoy but Christ said Blessed are they that â—ive not seene and yet believe John 20.29 Aâ—raham desired to see my day and he saw it and â—as glad He saw by faith the glorious days of Christ the mysteries of the kingdome of God â—ath beene hidden from us but now hee will â—ake them manifest to his Saints to whom God would make knowne what is the riches of this mysterie among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory Col. 1.26 27. Christ manifested in the flesh is a great mysterie his first comming was in flesh visible to all that all might see him Then hee went away as concerning his flesh and came in Spirit to us I will not leave you comfortlesse but I will come unto you John 14.18 And he saith I send my Spirit unto you John 16.7 If any man love me he will keepe my word and my Father will love him and wee will come unto him and make our abode with him John 14.23 So Christ will not only come unto us but hee is in us already and he will make it manifest that he is come in our flesh by his Spirit for hee and his Spirit are all one and where Christ is there is the Father Know ye not that the Father is in the Sonne and the Sonne in the Father And at that time ye shall know that I am in my Father
high mountaine and shewed mee that great Citie the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God having the glory of God And her light was like unto a stone most precious even like a Jasper stone clear as chrystall The Bride of Christ is the Church of God and it is descended out of Heaven from God for it is one with him for it is the Spirit of God in all the children of God that is this body the Church The Bride and this descendeth from God into us yet it is not parted from him but is in him and this is cloathed with the glory of God This is that righteousnesse of the Saints and her light is the light of Christ and that light is the clearest and purest and most precious and glorious light that can be I will appeare glorious in thee Isa 49.3 Awake awake put on thy Strength O Sion put on thy beautifull garments O Jerusalem the holy Citie for hence-forth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the uncleane Shake thy selfe from the dust arise and sit downe O Jerusalem loose thy selfe from the bands of thy necke O captive daughter of Sion Isa 52.1 2. Shee was in a sleepy drousie condition so long as shee sate in the dust of that earth of Anti-christ and was a captive in his band But now our Beloved is come hee calls unto us to awake and to put on strength The Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be affraid Psalm 27.1 Psalm 28.7 Hee hath cloathed us with his strength And this is that beautifull garment Arise shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee For behold the darkenesss shall cover the earth and grosse darkenesse the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seene upon thee Isa 60.1 2. And the glory that thou hast given me I have given them John 17.22 The Spouse of Christ being cloathed with the glory of Christ shee is all glorious The Kings daughter is all glorious within Wee are the King of heavens daughters for wee are married to Christ and God the Father is our Father and wee are all glorious within It is the Spirit of God in us that is so glorious and this is a spirituall glory it cannot be seene outwardly by others they may hear us speake forth something of this glory in us but none sees it nor knowes it but those that have it Revel 2.17 To him that overcommeth will I give to eate of the hidden Manna and I will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written which no man knoweth saving him that hath it This Manna is Christ and he is hid from the world but as wee are Saints wee see it and feede upon it for it is that which wee live by and this stone is Christ 1 Pet. 2.6 And this is a very precious stone and here is a new name written in this stone that none doth know it but hee that hath it And that which is written in it is the manifestation of the exceeding riches of the love and mercy of God and all his glory and excellency which hee hath given us as we are Saints Christ doth set forth the beauty and comlinesse and glory of his Church having his beauty and comelinesse and glory on her Cant. 4. Cant. 7. Thou hast ravished my heart my Sister my Spouse thou hast ravished my heart with one of thy eyes with one chain of thy necke How faire is thy love my Sister my Spouse how much better is thy love than wine and the smell of thy oyntments than all spices Thy lips O my Love drop as the honey-combe honey and milke are under thy tongue and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon This oyntment that our Beloved is so taken with the smell of is the anoynting of the holy Ghost 1 John 2.27 The anointing which yee have received of him abideth in you and yee need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you all things and is truth and is no lye and even as he hath taught you ye shall abide in him The Priests and Kings used to be anoynted with oyle and it was a type of Christ hee was that King and Priest that was anoynted with the holy Ghost Psalm 45.6 7. Thy throne O God is for ever and ever the scepter of thy kingdome is ascepter of righteousnesse Thou lovest righteousnesse and hatest wickednesse because God thy God hath anointed thee with the oyle of gladnesse above thy fellowes And this is like that precious oyntment upon the head that runneth upon the beard even unto Aarons beard which wet downe on the border of his garments Psal 133.2 This oyntment of the Spirit of God is all of it poured upon this Priest Christ which is the head of the Church and it runs off from him down upon all the Saints and this ointment of the Spirit of God makes our garments smell so sweete which is that Wedding garment Mat. 22.12 which is the righteousnesse of the Saints Revel 19.8 And being filled with this Spirit causeth our lips to speake or drop forth sweet heavenly glorious things more sweeter to the soule than the honey and honey-comb is to the pallet The Spouse of Christ is exceeding glorious in every respect being in Christ she is perfect in him I in them and they in me that they may be made perfect in one John 17.23 That they all may be one as thou Father art in me and I in thee that they also may be one in us John 17.21 Put on charity which is the bond of perfectnesse Coloss 3.14 which is Christ And where hee is there is perfection Col. 1.27 28. To whom God would â—ake knowne what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in â—ou the hope of glory Whom we preach warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdome that wee may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus We are perfect in Christ as wee are Saints and are the Church of God for this Spirit of Christ in us is perfect but as wee are men and women we are not perfect for we are naturall and not spirituall and as we are naturall we cannot discern the things of God neither can we doe them 1 Cor. 2.14 But it is this Spirit of God in us that doth all and if hee withdraw his Spirit from us we shall runne into all sin if he doth not restraine us for our bodies are the same as they were before the Spirit of God appeared in us and by his reigning in us he suppresseth destroyeth and burneth up by degrees as he revealeth himself in us all things that are contrary to him and hee brings our wills into subjection to his for wee are led by his Spirit and being filled with his Spirit wee are made drunke as it were with it
Crooked PATHES Made STRAIGHT OR The wayes of God made knowne to lost Sinners or bewildered SAINTS Wherein is represented the severall conditions of a Christian in the Spirit as hee growes up out of weaknesse into strength through death into life eternall By ANNE YEMANS Isa 40.3 The voyce of him that cryeth in the wildernesse prepare ye the way of the Lord make straight in the desart a high way for our God LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the black-spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1648. To the READER Gentle Reader I Have done mine endeavour to set forth unto you in some measure the bondage that we have been in by sin the Devill and false Teachers what wounds wee have received by them and all hath been because we have not been able to discerne the difference between the wayes of God and Anti-christ And the more wee strive struggle in our own strength the more we are wounded while Jesus Christ doth appeare to us to reveal some light of himselfe to us and hee is that Son of righteousnesse that will appeare to us with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 He will reveal his love to us and heale up all our wounds and lead us in the way that we should walke taking us by the hand and leading us gently as we are able to goe and drawing us with the cords of love Most of the children of God have been in this spiritual bondage and those that have been in it and are brought out of it doth know in some measure how to comfort them that are in it and the Lord doth make us many times instrumentall under himselfe for th comfort and edifying one of another but it is Gol that doth make known all things to us whether it be by meanes or without and we ought to give him all the honour it is very dangerous to idolize the meanes neither ought we to slight it thougo it be by never so mean a person For out of the mouth of babes will hee be praised And let not us undervalue any thing that is of God whosoever it be spoken by for God is no respecter of persons I beseech you beloved let not this my labour seeme odious to you nor causâ— you to slight iâ— because it is written by a weak woman nor for you to harbour any strange thoughts of me for the writing of it for I have my self gonâ— through much spirituall bondage in severall wayes and finding many severall turnes and windings of Satan how cunning hee is in all his wayes anâ— transforming himselfe to an Angel of light labours our destruction in all things And the Lord having brought mee out of that bondage into thaâ— spirituall freedome which is in Christ for all thâ— Saints and I seeing many that are yet in spiritâ—â— all bondage and knows not what freedome there 〈◊〉 in Christ for them it doth cause my bowels of affection to yern to them Yet I should not presume 〈◊〉 set forth this in writing but that I have beene exceedingly moved by the Spirit of God to doe iâ— that I could not be quiet till I had begun it I haâ—â— done what I could before I did begin to doe it to pâ—â— those thoughts out of my mind bringing as many objections against it as I could but still the Spirit of God moved me more and more with motives to stirre mee up to doe it and many promises for the enabling of me to doe it knocking all the objections in pieces that came against it and this was one thing that was laid before me When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren And if thou lovest me feed my Lambs Ioh. 21.15 And another was I am no respecter of persons And also if we are the children of God we must be led by the Spirit of God to doe what hee would have us but after I saw it was of God I durst not refuse to doe it for obedience is better than sacrifice 1 Sam. 15.22 For I plainly see how dearly God loveth all man-kind but especially his children and those that are babes in Christ how great his love to them is yea even those that Christ is but newly conceived in If there be but a desiring really after God though there be yet no enjoyment of God hee will not quench smoaking flâ—xe and his love is as great to those that are the lowest and weakest Saints as to those that are the highest and strongest onely hee makes his love knowne more to them than to those that are yet weake and his making his love known to us causeth us to grow strong in him We all were weake at the first but be strengthens us by degrees as he revealeth himselfe to us more and more and so be will doe to you and when hee doth reveale any thing to any it is not only for them bit that they should declare iâ— unto others that tâ—ey may know what love Goâ— hath toward them that our weake brethren maâ— he strengthned and the lambs of God whicâ— are the young children of God may be fed 〈◊〉 and the doing of this aright is exceeding pleasinâ— to God Here is one signe of our love to God anâ— after wee have found our Beloved all our desire should be that we should be led wholly by the Spirit of God to glorifie him and setting forth hiâ— praise and not to fear the scandals reproaches oâ— the world which are like thornes springing uâ— by the Devill labouring to choake the purâ— truth of Christ but I passe not what scandals oâ— reproaches I meete with all by this booke settinâ— forth for truth doth always finde some great enemies and the more because it is written by a woman for there are some always that doe respect thâ— persons of people having mens persons in admiration Jude 16. My brethren have not thâ— faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glâ—ry with respect of persons Ja. 2.1 And 〈◊〉 shall come to pass in the last days saith Godâ— I will pour of my spirit upon all fish you sons your daughters shal prophesie you young men shall see visiions and your old me shall dream dreams and on my servant an on my hand-maidens I will pour out in thoâ— days of my spirit they shall prophesie Joel 2.28 Act. 2.17 18. When the children of Israel murmured for flesh to eate and Moses was not able to bear it the Lord bid him gather seventy men of the Elders of the people and the Lord toook off â—he spirit that was upon Moses and put upon them and when the spirit rested upon them then they prophesied and did not cease and there was two â—f that seventy that went not out of the Host and they also prophesied Then there ran a young man and told Moses and said Eldad and Medad doe prophesie in the host And there was one answered and said My Lord Moses forbid them but Moses said unto him Enviest thou for my sake Yea would
to God that all the Lords people were Prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them Num. 11. Here is the spirit taken off of Moses which was a type of Christ and then â—hey prophesied ceased not Truly friends when the Lord doth put that Spirit of Christ upon us then we shall speak forth the things of God for we cannot but speake the things that we have seen and â—eard and enjoyed and let none be found to desâ—ise the things of God I have here set forth to you the way of God as plain as I am able shewing you the subtilty of the Devil in all his ways and how like the ways of God many of his ways are but the Spirit of God in us doeh discern the difference and â—e will reveal himself in us by degrees that as wee are Saints we shall see know enjoy him whom our soul loveth and waite with patience while heâ— doth manifest himself to you And I beseech you read this over with patience and the Lord give you understanding I have shown you the bondage that we have been led in in the first place and then in the next place what Christ hath done for all how he is offered to all And in the third place what hee hath done for his Children and what they are in him to him and ye may see what difference there is between being led on in a legall way and being led by the Spirit of God I have beginn in the lowest way as I could shewing you by degrees the mysteries of God for your better understanding And if there be any thing in it that seemes to you not to be truth yet despise it not before you know whether it be or no Neither would I have you embrace for a truth while it is made cleare to you to be a truth but waite upon God for him to reveale his mind to you and if the Lord be pleased to crowne my labour by his Spirit working with it upon any of you it will be my joy for God to be glorified and for you to be benefited The which I shall heartilâ— pray for and remaine Yours in the Lord. Anne Yemans Crooked paths made STRAIGHT OR The wayes of God made knowne to the weakest SAINTS CHAP. I. The poore soule lying under the burthen of sin is wishing to be eased WHen the Lord comes and manifests himself to us that he hath sowed the seeds of himselfe in us which is the good seed spoken of in Mat. 13.3 Then immediately the Tares appeare which is sin and wickednesse then there is a crying out Men and Brethren what shall we doe Acts 3.38 and 19. 16. Master what good thing shall I doe thâ—â— I may have eternall life but while we are thinking of doing something for eternall life theâ— comes Sathans enditements against us anâ— layes our sins before us and tels us what Rebels we have been against the King of Heaven and hee brings the condemning power of thâ— Law before them Cursed is every one that dotâ— not all things that is written in the Booke Anâ— also in Deut. 28.12 And it shall come to passâ—â— if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voyce 〈◊〉 the Lord thy God to observe and doe all his Commandements which I command thee this day thaâ— the Lord thy God will set thee on high above a 〈◊〉 Nations on the Earth And all these blessing shall come on thee and overtake thee if thoâ— shalt hearken unto the voyce of the Lord thâ— God Blessed shalt thou be in the City and blessed in the field c. But thou finding that thoâ— hast not done it then the the 15. and 1â— verses of this Chapter and so along But 〈◊〉 shall come to passe if thou wilt not hearken untâ— the voyce of the Lord thy God to observe to doe aâ— his Commandements that all these curses comâ— upon thee and overtake thee Cursed shalt thâ— be in the City and cursed shalt thou be in tâ—â— field And so going along threatning cursâ— for thy disobedience and all places of Scripture that is sutable to this is laid before thee and then thou being sore perplext to thinke how thou hast walked contrary to the minde of God and that he is angry with thee for thy sinnes and all the curses of God belong unto thee and hell and damnation gapes for thee then thou bethinkst thy selfe of the gracious call of Christ Mat. 11.28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Then thou bethinkest thy selfe to goe to the Lord by repentance that so thou maist have rest then these places of Scripture sets thee on repentance Ezek. 18.21 But if the wicked will returne from all his sinnes that hee hath committed and keepe all my statutes and do that which is lawfull and right he shall surely live he shall not dye And vers 30. Repent and turne your selves from all your transgressions so iniquity shall not be your ruine and vers 31. to the end of the chapter Cast away from you all your transgressions whereby you have transgressed mee and make you a new heart and a new spirit For why will you dye O house of Israel for I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth saith the Lord God wherefore turne your selves and live ye And Jer. â— 12 Returne thou backe-sliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon â—ou for I am mercifull saith the Lord and I will not keepe anger for ever And Jer. 4.1 If â—hou wilt returne O Israel saith the Lord return unto me and if thou wilt put away thy abhominations out of my sight then shalt thou not remove And vers 14. O Jerusalem wash thy heart froâ— wickednesse that thou maist be saved how long shall thy vaine thoughts lodge within thee Hos 14.10 O Israel returne unto the Lord thy God for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity And theâ— he saith vers 4. I will heale their back-sliding I will love them truly for my anger is turned awâ—â— from them Prov. 1.23 Turne you at my reproof Behold I will poure out my Spirit unto you I wilâ— make knowne my words unto you Isa 1.16.13 Wash you make you cleane put away the evill 〈◊〉 your doings from before my eyes Cease to doe evill learne to doe well seeke judgement relieve thâ— oppressed judge the fatherlesse plead for the widdom So here you see there is a repentance calleâ— for not only a repenting for the sins that iâ— past but a returning from thy evill wayes and doing that is pleasing in his sight Anâ— vâ—rs 18. Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord when thou hast done this aâ—â—ghâ— then there is free passage for thee to goe to thâ— Lord and hee will reason with thee Thouhâ— youâ— sinnes bee as scarlet they shall be as white 〈◊〉 snow though they be red like crimson they shall 〈◊〉 as wool If
eate this bread be shall live for ever and the bread thâ— I will give is my flesh which I will give for tâ—â— life of the world vers 50 51. And this breaâ— hee giveth to all freely And this is that thaâ— will feede and nourish your soules thereforâ— feede upon this and doe not spend your labour in vaine thinking to get a righteousneâ—â— of your owne which is not the righteousnesâ— of Jesus Christ that thou mightst feede upon that and be satisfied with it but that cannot satisfie thee if thou goest to feede upon it 〈◊〉 will choak thee but hearken diligently to me and eate that which is good and let your soule delight it selfe in his fatnesse What he hath donâ— for thee and what he hath obtained for thee and come unto me heare and your soul shal live So heare that yee really believe what Christ hath done for you and your soule shall live And I will make an everlasting Covenant with you â—ven the sure mercies of David For this is the Covenant that I will make with them After those dayes saith the Lord I will put my lawes into their hearts and I will be to them a God and â—hey shall be to mee a people And they shall not â—each every man his brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least to the greatest For I will be mercifull to their unrighteousnesse and their sinnes and iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8.10 11 12. And it is a sure Covenant for it was established upon better promises than the old Covenant was and God is unchangeable I am God I change not therefore ye sonnes of Jacob are not consumed And the Spirit and the Bride sayes â—ome and let him that heareth say come and set him that is athirst come and whosoever will let him take the water of life freely Rev. 22.17 Wisedome hath builded her house she hath killed â—er beasts shee hath mingled her wine shee hath also furnished her table She hath sent forth her Maidens shee cryeth upon the highest places of the City Whose is simple let him turne in hither as for him that wanteth understanding she saith to him Come eate of my bread and drinke of the wine that I have mingled Prov. 9.1 2 3 4 5. This wisdome is Christ and it was he thâ— was killed for the sinnes of the world This the fatted Calfe that was killed Luke 15 2â— And the Lamb slain from the beginning of tâ—â— world Matth. 22. Behold I have prepared 〈◊〉 dinner my oxen and fatlings are killed and 〈◊〉 things are ready come unto the marriage It is Christ alone that hath prepared 〈◊〉 things for this spirituall marriage betwiâ—â— himselfe and his people There is nothing 〈◊〉 be done but all things are already preparâ— for this spirituall feast there is nothing fâ—â— us to doe but to come and eate and drink freely of those things that are prepared for us And hee sends forth his servants for to crye 〈◊〉 the highest places of the Citie and to crye 〈◊〉 loud Spare not lift up their voyce like a Truâ—â— pet Isa 58.1 That all may hear and come that those that are simple may learne true wiâ—dome of him CHAP. VI. How wee should come to Christ and have thâ— things that he hath prepared for all THere is no other way to come to Chriâ—â—â— but by believing what hee hath done foâ— them in particular and to apply it to themselves These things are written that ye might beâ—ieve that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and â—hat in believing ye might have life through his â—ame John 20.31 He that believeth in the Son â—f God hath the witnesse in himselfe he that belieâ—eth not God hath made him a lyar because hee â—elieved not the record that God witnessed of his â—on And this is the record that God hath given â—nto us eternall life and this life is in his Sonne He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath â—ot the Sonne hath not life These things have I written unto you that believe in the name of the Son of God that ye may know that ye have eternall life and that ye may believe in the name of the Son â—f God 1 John 5.10 11 12 13. For God so loâ—ed the world that he gave his only begotten Son â—hat whosoever believeth in him should not perish â—ut have everlasting life John 3.16 And this is â—ife eternall that they know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John â—7 3 Let not your hearts be troubled ye believe â—n God believe also in me John 14.1 For I am â—ome a light into the world whosoever believeth in â—â—e shall not abide in darkenesse Joh. 12.40 And â—his is the worke of God that yee believe in him whom he hath sent John 6.29 Hee that belieâ—eth in me as saith the Scripture out of his belly shall flow rivers of water of life John 7.38 He that believeth in me hath everlasting life Johâ— 6.47 And Jesus said unto them I am the breâ— of life he that commeth to me shall not hunger 〈◊〉 hee that believeth in me shall never thirst Aâ—â— this is the will of him that sent me that every 〈◊〉 which seeth the Son and believeth in him shoâ—â— have everlasting life and I will raise him up the last day John 6.35.40 He that doth believe Christ doth knoâ— Christ and doth know the Father also 〈◊〉 Christ and his Father are one and hee doâ—â— know that Christ hath pardoned his sins having made full satisfaction for them to his Father and that God is as well pleased with hiâ— in his Sonne as he is with his Son and doâ— not only believe this because it is in the Scripture but because the Spirit of God witnesseâ— it to them by the enjoyment of it though sometimes they have not the comfort of 〈◊〉 Believing and faith is all one and we are justâ—fied by faith and not by workes and therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the workes of the Law Rom. 3 2â— By the works of ehe law shall no flesh be justified 〈◊〉 his fight For by the Law cometh the knowledge of sin 〈◊〉 now is the righteousnesse of God made manifeâ—â— without the Law bearing witnesse of the Law anâ— the Prophets to wit the righteousnesse of God 〈◊〉 the faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all that beleeve for there is no difference for all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus whom God hath set forth to be a reconciliation through faith in his blood to declate his righteousnesse by the forgivenesse of the sins that are passed through the patience of God Rom. 3.20 21 22 23 24 25. If Abraham were justified by works he hath wherein to rejoyce but not with God but what saith the Scripture Abraham beleeved God and it was counted
â—â—bideth for ever 1 Pet. 1.23 Except a man borne of water and of the spirit hee cannot eâ—â— into the kingdome of God John 3.5 Before we be thus called we differ nothinâ— from those that are but servants but when 〈◊〉 are called by this new worke wrought inâ—â— which is the time appointed of the Father then he will make known to us what hee haâ—â— prepared for us before the world began 〈◊〉 were heirs to it when we were dead in sins aâ— trespasses but did not then make it known 〈◊〉 us and to all these hee will give eternall liâ—â— I give unto them eternall life and they shall neâ—â— perish neither shall any man plucke them out of my hand My Father which gave them me is greater then all and no man is able to pluck them out of my Fathers hand John 10.28 29. Feare not little flocke it is your Fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdome Thou hast given him power over them that he should give eternall life to as many as thou hast given him And this is life eternall that they might know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.23 And it is hee alone that doth bring us to the knowledge of himselfe Jesus said I am the way the truth and the life no man commeth to the Father but by me John 14.6 I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee the way that thou shouldst goe Isa 48.17 And thine eare shall heare a word behind thee saying This is the way walk in it Isa 30.21 And these that are his children he will overpower them with his Spirit and make them come unto him Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power Psal 110.3 Wee are unwilling by nature to come to God but when hee commeth with his power he will make us willing to doe what he would have us Mat. 22. Goe yee therefore out into the high wayes and as many as ye find compell them to come to the marriage This was a spirituall compulsion for noâ— hath the power to make them willing but tâ—â— Spirit The Magistrate doth compell to aâ—â— outward conformitie but that cannot maâ—â— them willing it is only the worke of the spirit and hee will compell all his children 〈◊〉 come to this marriage and make them williâ—â— to come CHAP. IX It is the Spirit alone in us that doth 〈◊〉 in all PAul saith I desire not to know any thing â—mong you save Jesus Christ and him craâ—â—â—ed 1 Cor. 1.2 For by him he being crucifiâ—â— for us he hath obtained al things for us aâ—â— we cannot know that Christ was crucified 〈◊〉 us nor any thing what he hath done for 〈◊〉 but by the Spirit of God we may believe maâ—â— things to be truth because it is writ in thâ— Scripture and because many say it is truâ—â— but this is but the hearing of the eare noâ— knows it to be truth by the hearing of the eaâ—â— as the truth is in Jesus but by the Spiritâ— God alone For what man knoweth the things a man save the spirit of man which is in him Even so the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 2.11 This spirit of man must be one with man or else it cannot understand the things of man as the thoughts and mind and will and desires of man which is one and the same with man so the Spirit of God is one and the same with God or else it could not know the things of God But this spirit knows all things of God For the Spirit searcheth all things yea the deepe things of God 1 Cor. 1.10 And this Spirit God hath given unto us Now we have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God And vers 12. of this Chap. God hath revealed â—hem to us by his Spirit And vers 10. So Christ hath done all things for us and hath obtained all things for us and wee cannot know â—his without his Spirit and therefore he hath and will give us his Spirit that we may know â—t and have the enjoyment of it Man as man â—s not able to understand the things of God because man is carnall and the things of God â—re spiritual and a carnall apprehension cannot apprehend spirituall things The naturall man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishnesse unto him neither can hee know them because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2.14 As wee are naturall we cannot know the things of the Spirit wee are not able to discerne them The eye of man hath not seen nor thâ— eare of man heard neither hath it entered into thâ— heart of man the things which God hath preparâ—â— for them that love him 1 Cor. 2.9 All the excellencies of man cannot bring us to know anâ— thing of the mysterie of God for every man iâ— beast by his owne knowledge Jer. 10.14 Jer. 51 17. I understood as a beast saith David How 〈◊〉 that according to a carnall apprehension anâ— a carnall imagination for the highest moâ—â— excellent thoughts that wee as we are men 〈◊〉 have of God is but according to our carnal imagination All the wisdome of man is bâ—â— foolishnesse with God 1 Cor. 2.20 Therefoâ—â— his wisedome cannot bring him to know thâ— things of God nor humane learning cannâ—â— doe it for then the Scribes and Pharisees anâ— the high Priests and Elders would have knowâ— Christ but they said Which of us hath beâ—â—ved him at any time And Paul had a great dâ—â— of humane learning yet that did not briâ—â— him to know God for hee was a persecuter 〈◊〉 the Church of God Gal. 1.13 Yet none 〈◊〉 the Apostles had so much humane learning 〈◊〉 he yet he did not come to know the minde 〈◊〉 God the things of God by the teachings of man Now I certifie you brethren that the Gospel which was preached of me was not after man For neither received I it of man neither was I taught it but by the revelation of Jesus Christ Gal. 1.11 12. So it was by the Spirit of God revealed in him that brought him to know the things of God For ye see your calling brethren how that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weake things of the world to confound the mighty things And vile things of the world and things which are despised hath God chosen yea and things which are not to bring to nought things that are That no flesh should glory in his presence 1 Cor. 1.26 27 28 29. God strips us of all the excellence of the flesh lest wee should thinke by any thing that is of us brings us to the knowledge of God and so wee
that thou hast anâ— be as well contented with that thou hast received of God as if thou hadst more still waiting patiently for a further manifestation 〈◊〉 himselfe to thee for he will doe it by degree by his Spirit in his time in us and ye shall sâ— in some measure that hee prepares the way 〈◊〉 the Lord for us for the way of the Lord is toâ—â— hard for man to finde out but he findeth oâ— the way for us Ier. 10.23 I know that the wâ— of man is not in himselfe it is not in man thâ— walketh to direct his steps It is only the Spiâ—â— of God that can doe it for there are maâ—â— stumbling blockes to be taken out of the way which is only the worke of the Spirit to doe â—hen there will be a pleasant way to walke in CHAP. XI â—f the two seedes Of the seede of the woman and the seede of the Serpent THe two seedes are a great stumbling-block in our way to hinder us while we come 〈◊〉 some measure to discerne the difference aâ—ight betwixt them which is the work of the â—pirit to doe it Our God revealing himself to 〈◊〉 is Children and shewing them the mystery â—f his wayes in the truth of it in some measure â—e makes them instrumentall many times by â—is Spirit to bring others to know the things â—f God and therefore he reveales himselfe to â—ome in a greater measure and in a more highâ—â— and glorious manner and enables them to â—peake to us those things that God hath made â—nowne to them that others might know the â—â—ings of God it is not because God loves â—â—em better than hee doth them that hee hath â—ot revealed himself too for he is no respecter 〈◊〉 persons for he loves all his children alike â—ith the same love that he loves Christ withal but he makes them instrumentall for the goâ—â— of others When Christ was to suffer he prayed to 〈◊〉 Father Iohn 12.28 29 30. Father glorifie thâ— Name Then came there a voyce from heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorifie 〈◊〉 againe Then the people that stood by and heaâ—â— it said that was a thunder others said an Aâ—gel spake to him Iesus answared and said Tâ—â—â— voyce came not because of mee but for your sakâ—â— So the manifestations of the love of Gâ—â— and the things of God made knowne to anâ— it is not only for their sakeâ— but also foâ—â—therâ— so if the Spirit of God workâ— by thâ—â—â—strument in them that heares they have 〈◊〉 benefiâ— of it But if the Spirit doth not wiâ—â—â— is us those things that are spoken to us thâ— those things are truth and belongs to us thâ— instrument cannot worke upon us so let 〈◊〉 heare the instruments speake but it is the Spirit alone that can witnesse I shall in soâ—â— measure shew you the difference of the tâ—â— seedes and leave the successe to God Gen. â— 15 I will also put enmity betweene thee and tâ—â— woman and betweene thy seede and her seede 〈◊〉 shall breake thy head and thou shalt bruise 〈◊〉 heele The seed of the woman was Christ Gal â— 16. and the seede of the Serpent was thâ—â—â—vill And seede is to be sowne and the nature of seed is to bring forth that which is one and the same with it There is the seede of God which is one and the same with God which is Christ not as hee was man but as hee is God This is the good seed that is sown in all and this seede which is spirituall being sowne in us which is the Spirit of God in us is the seede of God and it is one with God Now as a seed is but a small matter to the whole bulke so the seede of God in us is but in a small measure to that fulnesse which is in God yet it is one with him Mat. 13.30 31. The Kingdome of heaven is like a graine of mustardsâ—â—de which a man taketh and soweth in his field Which indeed is the least of all feeds but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and it 〈◊〉 a tree so that the birds of heaven come and build in the branches thereof This parable Christ spake concerning thâ— seed of God sown in his children that though they have this seede in a small measure and that which they have may lye hidde a great while in them that they cannot perceiv it nor doe not know whether they have it or no â—et then God is making a way for a cleare manifestation to us that it doth begin to spring â—â—rth in us and he waters it daily with the â—â—reames of his owne selfe which is only that which doth make it grow and the Sonne of righteousnesse shining upon it makes it spring forth and grow by degrees and flourish in 〈◊〉 that it will appeare very glorious for it is the seed of God and it is like God and it is God And this seede being sowne in the children 〈◊〉 God hee makes it fruitfull there will bâ— fruits sutable in some measure to the seed in 〈◊〉 and more and more as this seed grows up in 〈◊〉 it will appeare more glorious and will bring forth fruits sutable to God and over-powâ—â— us and bring our wills into subjection 〈◊〉 himselfe that wee shall be willing for him 〈◊〉 reigne over us and so farre as he revealeâ— himselfe to us with his power to over-power 〈◊〉 wee are willing to be what hee would have 〈◊〉 and doe what hee would have us doe so God accepts of it and will reward us for it so also there is the seede of the Serpent that 〈◊〉 sown in all man-kind by his overcomming Adam and so getting an interest in him and for him in all man-kinde And the seed of the Serpent which is the Devill for it was hee iâ— the Serpent that overcame Adam is one anâ— the same with the Devill and he is also a Spirit and this seed of the Devill is sown by hâ—â— in all Mat. 13.24 25. The kingdome of God 〈◊〉 like a man which sowed good seed in his field Bâ— while men slept there came his enemie and soâ—â— tares among the Wheat and went his way God did sowe nothing in Adam but that good seede of himselfe there was no evill in him hee was made after the Image of God for spirituall things but the Devill being the enemie of God he envied mans happy condition hee came and sowed that evill seed of himselfe in Adam and in all man-kinde and his seede in us is the same as he is though it be small in it selfe yet it being sowne in us it quickly takes roote in us and appeares for this comes naturally and there is nothing to let and hinder it from growing in us except the Lord doth blast it by a new work wrought in us which comes not by nature and the Devill doth water this seede of himselfe in us with the streames of his temptations and causeth it to flourish and grow
the holy Ghost is our Comforter and the Angels are our guard to attend us And what can we desire more but 〈◊〉 have the Seale broke open to see what we haâ—â— in him and Christ is comming to doe it 〈◊〉 yet a very little while and he that shall come wiâ—â— come and will not tarry Heb. 10.37 Behold I come quickly Revel 3 11. And doe thou waâ—â— patiently for his comming CHAP. XIII Christ is the Teacher and Governour of his Church CHrist is a King a Priest and a Prophet A King to reigne over his Church spiritually and a Priest to offer spirituall sacrifice to his Father for his Church and a Prophet to teach them He saith My kingdome is not of this world John 18.36 But he is an immortall and an everlasting King 1 Tim. 1.17 He 〈◊〉 a spirituall King and it is a spirituall Kingdome that hee reignes over and the children â—f God are the heirs of this Kingdome Feare â—t little flocke for it is your Fathers will to give 〈◊〉 the Kingdome Luke 12.32 And the kingdome of God is eternall life Joh. 10.28 And 〈◊〉 give unto them eternall life and they shall never â—â—ish neither shall any pluck them out of my band And this is a hidden glorious and mysticall â—â—ing But to you it is given to know the secrets of the kingdome of heaven Mat. 13.11 And the â—ingdom of God comes not with observations Neiâ—â—er shall 〈◊〉 say loe here on loe there for behold â—he kingdome of God is with in you Lu. 17.20 21. â—ry not in thine heart Who shall ascend into heaâ—â—n That is to bring Christ from above Or who â—â—all descend into the deepe That is to bring up Christ againe from the dead But what saith the Scripture The word is neere thee even in thy â—â—uth and in thy heart this is the word of faith â—hich wee preach Rom. 10.6 7 8. And this â—ord is Christ John 1.14 What is heaven but the fulnesse of all happinesse and that is God in Christ and Christ â—â—ing in us by his Spirit then is the Kingdom â—f God in us and so far as he reveales himself to us as he is we see him as he is and have the enjoyment of him and so farre we live in â—im and have out conversation in heaven that is in God For the kingdome of God is not 〈◊〉 word but in power 1 Cor. 4.20 It confâ—â—â— not in speaking of words but so far as he â—â—veales himselfe in us he comes with power enabling us to do that which is pleasing to hiâ— and he reveales heaven to us here in some measure by degrees in his time as shall be to hâ—â— glory and our comfort and in a great aâ—â— high measure in some but wee cannot have 〈◊〉 in such a measure as we shall have it hereafâ—â—â— when our bodies are dissolved then wee shâ—â—â— be wholy in it there shall be nothing to hiâ—der us now here our bodies are weake anâ— cannot containe him and there is a vaile bâ—fore us that wee cannot see him clearely anâ— Christ is the Governour of the Church Isa â— 6 7. For unto us a Childe is borne and unto 〈◊〉 a Sonne is given and the government is upon 〈◊〉 shoulder and he shall call his name Wonderfullâ— Counseller the mighty God the everlasting Father the Prince of peace The encrease of his government and peace shall have no end hee shall sâ—â— upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdoâ— to order it and to stablish it with judgement 〈◊〉 with justice from hence-forth even for ever thâ— zeale of the Lord of hosts will performe this Hâ—â— is our husband and he reignes over us in loâ— and so he governs us and all his lawes that 〈◊〉 doth set forth for us to observe is to love him â—â—d so farre as hee doth reveale himselfe to us â—e can doe no other and he defends us against 〈◊〉 our spirituall enemies that rise up against 〈◊〉 and would devoure us And he hath made 〈◊〉 Kings with him 1 Pet. 2.9 Revel 5.10 〈◊〉 reigne with him for ever And hee is our â—â—iest to offer up spirituall sacrifice to his Faâ—â—er for us upon that golden Altar of himselfe 〈◊〉 8.3 And he makes intercession continuâ—â—ly to his Father for us 1 John 1.12 My â—â—es these things write I unto you that ye sinne 〈◊〉 and if any man sinne wee have an Advocate â—â—th the Father Jesus Christ the just and hee is 〈◊〉 reconciliation for our sins and not for ours onâ—â— but also for the sins of the whole world And â—â—e hath made uâ— Priests with him as wee are â—ints for his Spirit in us offers up continuall â—â—rifice to God by Christ of praises and â—â—anks-giving And he is our Prophet to teach 〈◊〉 We shall be all taught of God he will teach 〈◊〉 so plainly by his Spirit his owne minde in â—â—â—h a plain way that a wayfaring man though â—oole cannot erre therein The Lord said Write the vision and make it â—â—â—ne upon Tables that he may run that readeth 〈◊〉 Hab. 2.2 After those dayes saith the Lord 〈◊〉 will put my law in their inward parts and write 〈◊〉 their hearts and I will be their God and â—â—ey shall be my people And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour and every man 〈◊〉 brother saying know the Lord for they shalâ— know me from the least of them to the greatestâ— them Jer. 31.33 34. The Lord will teach his children by his Spâ—rit in a more clearer manner than he haâ— done and so farre as he teacheth them thâ— shall all know him and hee shall teach us 〈◊〉 profit 1 Cor. 2.4 5. My speech and my preachâ—â— was not with enticing words of mans wisdome 〈◊〉 in demonstration of the Spirit and of power Tâ—â— your faith should not stand in the wisdome of 〈◊〉 but in the power of God When the Lord dâ—â—â— teach us by his Spirit that comes with poweâ— and over-powers us and makes us willing 〈◊〉 doe and be what hee would have us so 〈◊〉 power is made knowne in us That whiâ—â— Christ teacheth us to know is himselfe Ephâ— 4.21 If so be that ye have heard him and 〈◊〉 been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus thâ—â— we may know what he is in the Saints and 〈◊〉 the Saints Psal 65.8 I will heare what God 〈◊〉 Lord will speake for he will speak peace to his pâ—â—ple and to his Saints All that Christ doth teach us is to knoâ— himselfe and Paul desired to know nothing 〈◊〉 but Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 Anâ— he speakes nothing but what is in him for 〈◊〉 that all that is in him hee hath purchased 〈◊〉 us and hee hath purchased us unto himselfes and we are his Wife and he will always dwell with us and be in us and alwayes uphold us and never leave us nor forsake us CHAP. XIIII God is very tender and careful over those that are but babes in him and leades them as they
is 〈◊〉 Ishmael that persecuted Isaac Object But ought wee not to punish open â—â—etiques and blasphemers for if wee doe 〈◊〉 punish them they may seduce abundance â—eople and bring them into their blaspeâ—us wayes Answ All the way that ought to be used is the preaching of the Word which is the sword of God For the word of God is quick and powerfull and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of soule and spirit and of the joynts and marrow and is 〈◊〉 discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart Heb. 4.12 And in Revel 1.16 speaking there of Christ it saith Out of his mouth wenâ— a sharpe two-edged sword which is the Gospel And it is the power of God to salvation Rom. 1â— 16 And I saw another Angel flie in the middeâ— of heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preacâ— to them that dwell on the Earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people Sayinâ— with a loud voyce fear God and give glory to him for the houre of his judgement is come and worshiâ— him that made heaven and earth and the Sea anâ— the fountaines of waters And there followed another Angel saying Babylon is fallen is faller that great Citie because shee made all Nation drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication Rev. 14.6 7 8. Ye may see how powerfull the preaching 〈◊〉 the Gospel is to the destroying of errours Thâ—â— is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word God Ephes 6.17 which is powerfull to the beâ—ting downe of all strong holds of Satan And it sharper than any two-edged sword and will destroy this great City Anti-christ and 〈◊〉 it downe to the ground for this will â—nt â—â—nder all the joynts whereby it is joyned toâ—â—ther and the very soule and spirit and â—â—arrow of it whereby it doth live even the â—â—y life of it shall be destroyed by the preaâ—ing of the Gospel for this doth find out the â—â—undation of the building of Anti-christ and â—â—ll it downe and the building will fall of it â—â—fe and we are commanded to use this way â—â—d the Apostles did use this way and no oâ—â—er and they found it very beneficiall for by they were brought out of their errors and â—â—re was daily abundance added to the â—â—urch such as should be saved False doctrine â—â—th not so much power to build up errours 〈◊〉 the Gospel of Jesus Christ hath power to â—â—roy them if it be rightly preached and if 〈◊〉 goe any other way to worke in beating â—â—ne errours it will not doe it though you â—â—â—secute them to the death it will make it â—â—ead the more and make them that you perâ—â—â—te the more zealous for it I beseech you beloved take heed of these two â—â—â—gs of closing to all that we hear and builâ—â—â—g upon it before God makes it truth to us â—his Spirit and of hating and persecuting 〈◊〉 which is not truth to you for it may be â—â—â—th though God hath not made it knowne to you therefore hate it not nor persecutâ— it lest you are found to persecute God Judgâ— not before the time but leave all to God foâ— to him we stand or fall for that which is noâ— of God shall fall at the last But whatsoevâ—â— you heare desire the Lord to teach you by hâ—â— Spirit whether it be truth or no and waiâ—â— upon God using the meanes as hearing aâ—â— reading and the like but not depend upon 〈◊〉 but see God above it while hee doth please reveale himselfe to you and shew you what truth and whensoever he doth any time maâ—â— knowne any thing to you to be truth by suâ—â—â—cient grounds according to the word thouâ—â—â— it be never so sudaine that embrace and â—â—tertaine and rejoyce at any manifestation the love of God to you Despise not the day small things and though you see others soâ—â— higher in the enjoyments of God and in 〈◊〉 wayes of God than you yet be not troubâ—â— at it nor doe not envy their condition 〈◊〉 he is the same to you as he is to them thouâ—â— you see it not for the Lord saith he will faâ—â— Christ as a naile in a sure place and he shall be a glorious throne to his fathers house And shall hang upon him all the glory of his fathers hâ—â— the off-spring and the issue all vessells of â—â—quantity from the vessels of cups even to all vessels of flagons Isa 22.23 24. They all 〈◊〉 upon Christ even the small cups which are â—e lowest Saints as well as the flagons which â—e high On all the vessels in the house of the â—ord is a glorious one for it is Christ that â—akes them so and bee not troubled because â—ou seest many several opinions in the world â—or God is not limited to any one of them â—â—r God hath and will reveal his whole mind â—o his Church but every particular one knows â—ut in part and opinions are but the shels â—t us not strive for them for wee cannot live â—pon them if wee have the kirnell it is sufficiâ—â—t which is Christ for he is the substance â—nd all things else are but shels to him and let 〈◊〉 be willing for him to lead us by his Spirit â—nd he will lead us in the right way and they â—hat are grown high Saints and have abunâ—ance of enjoyment let them not despise nor â—â—dervalue those that are low There is all â—anner of growth of Saints among us and I â—peak to al sorts of you do not uÌ„dervalue those â—hat are not as you are for we are all brethren 〈◊〉 Christ and so wee are to esteeme one anoâ—her if there by any appearance of godlinesse â—â—â—r my dove my undefiled is but one Cant. 6.9 Give no just occasion to any to scandall reâ—igion become low to those that are low yet speaking the truth but in such a way as they may plainly understand you doe not speake of high mysticall things to those that are very low except ye speak them forth in a very clear manner for being they cannot understand it they conclude it is heresie so by it religion comes to be scandaliz'd but this meate is too strong for babes they must be fed with milke as Paul did 1 Cor. 3.2 I have fed you with milk and not with meate for hitherto ye were not able to beare it Heb. 5.13 14. For every one that useth milke is unskilfull in the word of righteousnesse for he is a babe But strong meate belongeth to them that are of full age even those who by reason of use have their sences exercised to discern both good and evill .. So by degrees feede them as they are able to beare it and do not dishearten any though they are never so low for consider that once ye were low your selves therefore bear with their weakenesse and infirmities And beloved let not us make a rent or schisme in this body the Church of Christ let not the Presbytery despise those that they call
the time of fasting and mourning yet God doth feed and preserve her from all those devouring beasts that are in the wildernesse and there are seven degrees of comming out of this wildernesse and the Lord doth first shew us that we are in the wildernesse before hee doth make it known to us that hee hath brought us out of it hee will shew us our barrennesse by stripping us quite naked of all our goodly things that we shall have nothing to trust too then will he reveale himselfe in us and appear to be all in all in us and then he will appeare very glorious Hosea 2.14 I will bring her into the wildernesse and speake comfortably unto her There is first a dying to the flesh before there is appearing to live in the Spirit for while our first husband the law or flesh is alive we live unto him but if he be dead by the life of Christ appearing in us then we are free to marry to another which is to Christ Rom. 7.4 Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 We are dead to the flesh by the power of the death of Christ for Christ dyed for the destruction I doe not meane our bodies but that which is of Anti-christ in us and our life is hid with Christ in God for our life is in the life of Christ I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live in the flesh which is in the body I live by the faith of the Sonne of God Gal. 2.20 But in the beginning of this verse he saith I am crucified with Christ Gal. 6.14 God forbid that I should glory in any thing save in the crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto mee and I unto the world So we are crucified to all things that is below Christ 2 Cor. 5.16 17. Wherefore hence-forth know we no man after the flesh yea though we have known Christ after the flesh yet â—ow hence-forth know we him so no more Therefore if any man bee in Christ hee is a new creature â—lde things are passed away behold all things are become new We must not know Christ any longer after our fleshly apprehension for all our old imaginations of Christ must passe away by the new manifestations of Christ in us Rom. 8.10 11. And if Christ be in you the body is dead because of sinne but the Spirit is life because of righteousnesse But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you hee that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortall bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you Here is a dying to the flesh and then living to thee Spirit It is aPpointed for man once to dye And after death comes the judgement as all things is and shall be fulfilled outwardly in the history so all things shall be fulfilled spiritually in us in the mistery Christ is risen in us and is come to spirituall judgment and doth raise up his Spirit in us that hath lyen as it were dead in us and the flesh which is Antichrist shall stand before God and be judged and condemned by him Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life shall appeare then shall yee also appeare with him in glory and we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 John 3.2 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power Revel 20.6 This is the first resurrection and the Lord is set in his judgement-seate to destroy Antichrist And then shall that wicked one be revealed whom the Lord shall consume with the Spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightnesse of his comming Even him whose comming is after the working of Satan with all power and signes and lying wonders 2 Thes 2.8 9. Satan is said to sit in heavenly places because he transformeth himselfe to the likenesse of God and so deceiveth us making us believe he is God and so we worship him thinking hee is God How art thou fallen from heaven O Lucifer Son of the Morning how art thou cut down to the ground which didst weaken the Nations For thou hast said in thy heart I will ascend into heaven I will exalt my Throne above the Stars of God I will sit also upon the mount of the Congregation in the sides of the North. I will ascend above the height of the clouds I will be like the most High Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell so the sides of the pit They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee and consider thee saying Is this the man that made the earth to tremble that did shake Kingdomes That made the world as a wildernesse and destroyed the Cities thereof that opened not the â—house of his prisoners Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy comming thy pomp is brought downe to the grave and the noise of thy viols The wormes are spread under thee and the worms cover thee Isa 14.9 to the 17. And there came one of the seven Angels which had the seven Vials and talked with me saying unto me Come hither I will shew thee the judgment of the great Whore that sitâ—eth upon many waters With whom the Kings of the Earth have committed fornication and the Inhabiters of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication So hee carried mee away in the Spirit into the Wildernesse and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast full of names of blasphemy having seven heads and tenne bornes And the woman was arraied in purple â—earlet and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls having a golden cup in her handfull of abhominations and filthinesse of her fornication And I saw the woman drunke with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus Revel 17. All nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication Rev. 18.3 Here is a discovering of Anti-christ before she is judged condemned and destroyed and when the time is come for the discovering of her to us then hee shewes us her by a high and glorious revelation of himself for there is not any thing that can discover Anti-christ to us but the Spirit of God When the Lord doth come to shew us any thing of himselfe in the mystery he saith come up hither and I will shew you the things that must be hereafter and immediately I was in the Spirit Rev. 4.1 Rev. 1.10 Rev. 17.1 Rev. 21.9 There is no seeing of any thing of God in the truth of it but by the revelation of the Spirit of God and hee carrieth us as wee are Saints up into himselfe and the higher hee carrieth us the more he shews us of the mysterie of himselfe for as hee openeth the seales in making known any thing of himselfe to us hee saith Come up