Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
spirit_n	flesh_n	lust_n	sin_n	7,244	5	5.0237	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A89835	A discovery of the first wisdom from beneath, and the second wisdom from above. Or, The difference betwixt the two seeds, the one after the flesh, the other after the spirit. With the true worship of God after the spirit, and the false worship of the world, who lives in outward forms, useth customes and traditions, not knowing the onely true God that dwelleth in his saints, and rules by his spirit of power, which causeth them to differ from the world, and those that have the form of godlinesse, and want the power thereof. ... Written by a servant of the Lord, whom the world scornfully nicknameth, and calleth a Quaker, who is prisoner for the testimony of the truth at Applebie in Westmorland, whose name is James Nayler.	Naylor, James, 1617?-1660.	1656 (1656)	Wing N272; Thomason E693_4; ESTC R207000	26,155	39

voice and are taught by him alone and will own no other voice nor teacher and they know him to be the same Christ yesterday to day and for ever the same who when he was to ascend Joh. 10. 4. 5. said to his if I go away I will come again that where John 14. 3. I am there may ye be also the same who said I will Col. 1. 27. 2 Cor. 13. 3. come and make mine abode with you the same who John 14. 6. was in the Saints the hope of glory and those who have him not in them are reprobates The same Christ who spoke in Paul and the rest and they knew his voice where ever they heard it and did obey it though they suffered for it for he was their light their life and their way to the Father and by beleeving and following him they were led out of all the wayes of death and darkness up to God into puritie and holiness and thus were brought to witness their redemption by him Mat. 11. 27. Gal. 1. 16. and he is the same now to those who know him in all John 10. 30. things according to the measure received he reveals John 10. 4. 5. Pro. 8. 31. himself now to be the Eternal Son of God in them in John 1. 3. in whom he reveals the Father in them and that John 10. 20. John 17. 21. the Son and Father are one in him he speakes in them and by them and they know his voice from all other voices in themselves and others they know his hand is not shortned nor his love lesse then it hath been to his people and that his delight is with the sons of men as much as ever but it is onely in them who love and obey him and not their lusts and such can witness their fellowship with the Father and the Son and they know that this is a mistery to all the worlds wisdom and that the Serpents brood can no more own his voice now where he speakes then formerly he could do when he spoke in flesh and that he is but one in all from the beginning to this day and changes not and that the Serpenr is but one in all his though of divers colours and forms and therefore at Wars disputes and janglings among themselves and at envy one with another onely they are one in this that they all joyn to Luke 23. 12. Revel 9. 13. persecute the pure seed in any where it appears but where the pure seed appears they are all of one colour arayed in pure linnen white and clean which is the righteousness of Saints and are of one heart and one mind and these follow the Lamb whithersoever he Revel 19. 8. goeth never to persecute any but to suffer all the Revel 7. 14. the venome rage and malice of the Serpents brood and are led thorow great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb and thereby they are brought to bruise thy head and raign above thee and tread upon thee and thus the promise of God is fulfilled in his people and this is witnessed in them and they know that they are redeemed and set free from sin and death even by the Rom. 6. 20 21. power and vertue of this seed being raised up in them to rule in them and is their guide their Judge and lawgiver their light by which they see thy severall deceits whereby thou deceivest the nations and keepest them in sin and filthiness perswading some that Christ is come and hath redeemed them among the rest though they know it not but still lives in their sins yet if they have but a profession and go under the name of beleevers and come before the Lord as his people in outward performances though they have no witness within themselves yet all their sins are satisfied for past present and to come And lest they 1 John 5. 10. should doubt of it thou settest them to the letter to steal that which Christ in spirit witnessed in the Saints in whom he dwelt but never yet in them and thus by applying the promises of the righteous unto the wicked encourageth them to live in sin without fear and this Doctrine thou broachest amongst thy Ranting crew and so proclaims liberty to the lusts of the flesh a doctrine well pleasing to the first birth and therefore so easily received cried up by many in these dayes But if the judgement of God for sin seise upon the spirits of any and they find that there can be no peace with God while sin stands then thou hast another way to deceive them perswading them that though it be sin and onely sin that breaks their peace with God yet what power have they against it of themselves they must look for a day which wil always Heb. 3 7 be to come when they shall have power given in an easie way to overcome sin and never take up the cross nor deny their own lusts nor have their own wills crucified and thus by tempting them to look out at redemption past or to come keeps them from minding their present condition and tender of Christ within them who by his light would lead them out of sin and filthiness and to witness redemption within themselves Another sort thou perswadest that none ever was or ever shall be set free from sin while they are here and that it is a vain thing ever to look for it and that they John 3. 6 7 8 9 are but Pharisees who seek to be cleaner then their neighbours and that God is merciful and Christ came to save sinners and thus Christ serves for no other end to them but to talk on and he who came to set the Saints free from sin and to discover sin is by thine made a cloak for sin and an encouragement in sin and further to deceive them thou gatherest up all the failings of the Saints which are written as warnings for all that come after never to do the like and these thou turnest to encourage thine in their sin for this is thy cursed language Did not David sin Did not Peter sin Did not Noah sin And am I better then they And thus thou who by sin at first didst stamp thy Image on the creature and so work a separation betwixt God and man so by sin thou upholdest thy Image and John 8. 44 the separation for sin is begotten by thee and thou art the Father of it and it bears thy Image and the glory of thy kingdom stands in sin and filthiness and thou and thy children delight in it But wo unto Dan. 12. 1. thee and thy kingdom for the day of thy torment Dan 2. 34. is upon thee for now Michael our Prince who stands up for the children and people of God is arisen against thee who will break thee and thy Image in pieces

A DISCOVERY OF THE First WISDOM from beneath AND THE Second WISDOM from above OR The difference betwixt the two Seeds The one after the Flesh the other after the Spirit WITH The true worship of God after the Spirit and the false worship of the world who lives in outward Forms useth Customes and Traditions not knowing the onely true God that dwelleth in his Saints and rules by his Spirit of Power which causeth them to differ from the world and those that have the form of godliness and want the power thereof Also the subtilty of the Serpent ruling in the hearts of the Children of Disobedience discovered And a call to repentance to all that run on in blindness darkness and ignorance and the judgement that is due to all those that will not take counsell of the Lord but turn the Grace of God into wantonness Written by a Servant of the Lord whom the world scornfully nicknameth and calleth a Quaker who is prisoner for the testimony of the Truth at Applebie in Westmorland whose name is JAMES NAYLER London Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black Spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1653. A Discovery of the first Wisdom from beneath and the second Wisdom from above or The difference betwixt the two ●eeds the one after the flesh the other after the Spirit I. The Wisdom from beneath which leadeth into bondage and the Wisdom from above which leadeth up into perfect libertie where there is freedom and Communion with the Father and the Son DEar friends all minde your guide within you even the pure light of God which bears witness against all your ungodly wayes ungodly words thoughts works and worships which are after the world and leads you without from the Lord your guide for what stands in outward things devised in the will and brain which is the Serpents seal is accursed from God kept out of the Kingdom where the earthly will hath libertie leads out to visible things and feed upon dust which is the Serpents meat but you who desire to be fed with that which is Eternall lay aside all your wisdom which is naturall for the naturall man receives not the spirituall things of God for that wisdom shall never know God which stands in the will of man but darkens the pure light in you and opposeth it and if you abide in the pure light within you shall see that what ever the light of Christ makes appear to be evil and to be cast off then the other light which stands in mans wisdom makes a cover for it that it may abide still and thus the flesh lusteth against the spirit and that wisdom which ariseth out of the earth opposeth that which is from above and cals evil good and good evil and the wo being upon that nature you can have no peace while that stands and from hence comes all your troubles and darkness within you because that eye which is open to the visible offends and here you are shut out of the Kingdom which consists in righteousness peace and Joy in the holy Ghost but were that eye pluckt out and you turned within to see with that eye that is single then the whole body would be full of light and abiding in that light it will shew you a path that leads to puritie and Holiness without which none shall ever see the Lord And it will let you see a Law written in your hearts even the righteous Law of the new Covenant which is a Book sealed to all the wisdom of the World and none can read it but the pure light that gave it forth which light as it ariseth in you it will open all Parables and read all Scriptures within you in your measure and so you will come to the Unitie with all Saints in measure and so come to Christ the first born even to the innumerable company of Angels to the spirits of just men made perfect and to God the Judge of all where no Serpents wisdom shall ever come and that Law being laid open will be a limit to the carnall minde when it would run forth and the Judge will appear who will passe true judgement upon all things as they are within you and a separation will be made between the precious and the vile in you and you will be brought to discern what leads to obedience and what leads to disobedience and here is your true Teacher whereby all shall be taught of God as saith the Scripture and minding this light it will shew you a Crosse to be daily taken up whereby all the unruly nature must be crucified for all must be brought subject to the yoke even the most rebellious and stifnecked in you for he will tread upon the neck of Kings and that which hath captivated the pure in you must go into captivity for now the Lord is Risen to disquiet the earth and them that are at rest yea wo to them that are at ease in Sion for he is risen who is to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron and to deliver the oppressed and to set open the prison doors and to set the prisoners free that they may serve him and praise his name even the name of the Lord Holy and pure blessed for evermore And dear friends be faithfull in what you know take heed of making a profession of what you are not and so you be found dissemblers before the Lord but keep low in meekness and patience standing in the will of God in all things and all those enemies that will not that Christ should raigne over them bring them before the Judge that they may be slain even upon that Crosse that is daily to be taken up for the Cross is to the carnal wilde heady bruitish nature in you which lies above the seed of God in you and oppresseth the pure now giving this up to be crucified makes way for that which is pure to arise and guide your minds up to God there to wait for power and strength against whatsoever the light of God makes manifest to be evil and so to cast it off and so you shall see where your strength l●●th and who it is in you that worketh the w●●l and the deed and then you shall be brought into a possession of what you have but had a profession and ●inde the power of what you have had but in words which is hid from all professions in the World and is revealed no other way but by the pure light of God dwelling in you and you in it take heed of searching into the hidden things of God by your own wisdom which is carnal for that hath God shut out of the Kingdom and separated it from him and the things of God and his Kingdom are hid from it and it is appointed for utter darkness accursed from him and doth oppose him in all things and in all ages the wisdom of the great men of the earth have persecuted the pure wisdom of God and

counted it foolishness and God hath said this shall come to nought and abiding in the pure light of Christ within you shall see that same wisdom in your selves will be consulting and leading you any way rather then to wait on the pure light and this hath been a tempter from the beginning and hath eaten of the forbidden fruit and that which hath eaten of the tree of knowledge must not taste of the Tree of Life but shall surely die and the flaming sword is to this wisdom therefore turn your minds within and waite for a wisdom from above which begins with the fear of the Lord which is pure peaceable gentle and easie to be entreated and if you keep your eye to this you shall see as this growes which is pure there will be a death to that which is sensuall and carnal and of the Serpent and as you grow in this pure you will grow in the knowledge of Christ within you and this is not to be attained by seeking without here and lo there but onely by keeping your eye within to the invisible and giving diligent ear to that voice that speakes to the soul and spirit for the ministry of Christ is to the spirit in prison not to the outward but to the inward man which is led captive and imprisoned by that Scrpentine wisdom that rules in the outward and by which it is kept in death which once coming to hear the voice of Christ it is raised from death to life and then that Scripture is fulfilled the dead hear the voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live and this being once restored to life is that which hath fellowship with the Father and the Son yea it is one with them and this is that which as it ariseth overcomes the world in you gets the victory obtains the Crown for it is the promised seed and heir of all the promised in this life and that which is to come but there is no agreement between this and the seed of the Scrpent for where ever the Scrpents wisdom seekes after it is that he may slay it but God hath hid it from him and doth hide it out of the Scrpents sight but that seed sees the Scrpent where he is and doth judge him and condemn him and bruise his head how deep are thy Counsels Oh Lord past finding out James Nayler prisoner for the name of Christ at Appleby wisheth grace and Peace II. All labouring and striving by forms customes and traditions comes short of that worship in Spirit and in Truth The wayes the two men walk in viz. the Spirituall and the carnall the difference betwixt them and how you may know them by their fruits ALl men and women that make a profession and go under the name of Christians say you love Jesus Christ mind him whom you profess that you may be taught by him in all your ways and worships and do not suffer your selves to be deceived any longer by Eph. 4. 14. fair speeches and flattering high notions by which you have been blinded for many years and led on to worship God in outside forms and customs after the traditions and commandements of men which by imaginary imitations and consultations they have set up for their own ends and have made laws to bind the people to observe them contrary to that light shining into the conscience the throne of Christ and the practice of Christ and his Apostles and so have made the word of God of none effect by their traditions Psal 94. 20. but neither they nor you have known the true God Mark 7. 13. who is worshipped in spirit for whosoever sinneth hath 1 John 2. 4. 1 John 2. 3. not seen him nor known him He that saith I know 1 John 1. 3. 6. him and keepeth not his commandements is a lier nor have you fellowship with him nor did ever you receive an answer of acceptance from him though you have been worshippers in your formal customs all your time and have many times afflicted your selves from morning till evening yet no answer And herein how much you have resembled those four I Kings 18. 26. 29. hundred worshippers in Elias time if ever your eyes be open you will see But the living God is not as the dumb Idols to those who know him for whom he accepts he answers and hath done in all ages and they Psal 65. 4 5. Jonah 2. 2. are brought into union with him and know him and Psal 66. 18 19. how he will be worshipped not by hearsay but from Isa 54. 13. him alone and their worship is not an imitation by Rom. 10. 8. John 10. 14. the letter but they are all taught of him every one Gen. 4. 5. in his measure and they walk and worship him by his Prov. 15. 8. Prov. 21. 4. word and the word is nigh them in their hearts in Hag. 2. 13 14. their mouths by which they are guided and they know Pro. 3. 33. John 3. 3 5 6. his voice but these are sheep such as are born again I Cor 15. 48 49. of the Spirit not after the will of man but after the will of God But there is a generation whose sacrifice G●l 5. 17 God doth not accept whose praiers are abomination and whose plowing is sin who pollute all they meddle with who are hated of the Lord whom Christ praies not for for they their sacrifice and all they do are accursed from God these are in the first birth children of wrath and enemies to God Now all people try your selves whether you be in the first birth or you be born again there is a first Adam and there is a second Adam and they who are in the first bear his Image and they who are in the second beare his Image and as is the earthly such are they that are earthly and as is the heavenly such are they that are heavenly and these are contrary one to the other the one being from above the other being from below the one the seed of God the other the seed of the Serpent and an enmity is put between them by God and Gen. 3. 15. there can be no uniting them in one for what concord hath Christ with Belial or the believer and the unbeliever The first man is of the earth earthly minds earthly things lives in the earth delights in the earth lusts after the earth covets contends sues for it for his treasure is in the earth and his heart is with it for it is his portion and his thoughts words and wisdom are all imployed about it plotting and forecasting how to compass it and fetch it out of the hands of others to heap up but is never satisfied but is a servant to it it is his life his joy if it be taken from him his comfort is gone it is his God and he worships it

is nourished and feeds not the lust he Feasts the inward man and not the outward for all is spirituall and so growes in the spirit into neer Communion with God and getting Rom. 8. 20. 2 Cor. 3. 18. victory over sin the World and the Devil and as he comes into puritie he is changed into the Image of the Lord from glory to glory and all by the spirit The first man is naturall and carnal and knowes not 1 Cor. 2. 14. the things of God but what he knowes naturally as bruite beasts and therein he doth corrupt himself and doth use all his knowledge for corrupt ends he boasts of learning and tongues which are naturall and these Jude 10. he useth to defraud oppresse and over reach the simple to revenge sue covet and heap together things that are for corruption and with the same naturall knowledge and tongues he steps into the Throne of Christ and judges of the pure invisible things of God comparing spirituall things with carnal and thinkes none knowes more then he but knows nothing as he ought to know yet with this knowledge and that power he hath got in the earth he sits as judge and condemns the innocent and lets the guiltie go free for being spiritually blind he takes evil good and good evil and his seat is in the powers of the earth and there he sits as Lord from the beginning bearing rule by his meanes and Mat. 20. 25. 26. here he exerciseth his authortie and is Heathen and is Luke 22. 53. 1 Cor. 2. 6. 8. Prince in the Air and hath the powers of darkness Jam. 1. 18. committed to him but blessed be the Father who hath 1 Pet. 1. 23. Col. 1. 15. hid the glorious things of the Kingdom from him and Rom. 8. 29. hath appointed that this Princely wisdom of his shall 2 Pet. 3 18. 2 Cor. 3. 18. come to naught The second man is spiritually begotten by the spirit of Eph. 4. 13. 14. the immortall seed is the expresse Image of the Father he knowes the Father and is known of him not by relation of the Creature but by the in dwelling of God in him and he in him according to that measure of light revealed in him and he stands in the will of God improving that he hath freely received of God whereby he growes in the knowledge of the Father and the Son from grace to grace from faith to faith till he come to the unitie of the faith and knowledge of the Son-ship unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ and standing faithfull in the least measure and waiting therein the light of Christ under the Crosse and not looking out he is kept in peace from the craftie and sleighty doctrines of men whereby they go about to deceive and as the light growes there is a descerning of things that differ to chuse the good and refuse the evil and as the Son John 5. 22. 27. 30. ariseth the judgement is brought forth for all judgement 1 Cor. 6. 2. 3. is committed to the Son and so the Saints come to Judge the World yea Angels and are made able to try the spirits whether they be of God or no and that old Serpent is judged by whom formerly they have been deceived and so that which is born of God overcomes 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. the World sin and the devil and is kept out of all uncleanness in which the carnall minde corrupts himself and thus Judgement is brought forth into victory and the unjust and unclean is judged and condemned and kept under within and without The first man is proud and lofty exalted above his Gen. 21. 9. Gal. 5. 19. 20. 21. brethren a self lover lives to the flesh and followes the lusts of the flesh in all things and brings forth fruits to the flesh in all things as lying swearing whoring and all manner of evil and for a cover makes a profession of godliness but performs nothing but for self-ends and to be seen of men but as to uprightness holiness and puritie he is an enemie a hater a persecuter a scorner a railer unreasonably covetous would have all the Earth and Heaven too would live in pleasure all his life and yet die the death of the righteous Numb 23. 10. would be an oppressor here and hereafter and upon him lies all the righteous blood that hath been shed from the first till this day The second man is humble and lowly meek and full of love to all honors all men according to God without respect of persons would have all to come to life Ja● 2. 1. 9. stands in the wisdom of God which is pure and peaceable is willing to be a fool to the World and Serpents wisdom content to suffer wrongs buffettings persecutions slanders reviling mocking without seeking revenge but bears all the venome the Serpent can cast upon him with patience and thereby overcomes him and Gal. 5. 22. bruiseth his head and is made perfect through suffering 2 Cor. 4. 17. 18. and countsit joy and rejoyceth in the Cross and loss of Jam. 4. 4. all things that are visible but lookes at that which is Eternall for he knowes he cannot have both for to be a friend to the World is the enemy of God Now all dear people judge your selves if you will but deal faithfully with your selves there is that within you that wil tell you whence you are and from whether of these roots all your actions proceed for if the root be holy the branches fruit will be holy also and by the fruits you bring forth you may know the tree whether you be of the first birth or you be born again and unless you be born again you cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven you have long time taken things upon trust from men and have been led blind and brought forth fruits unto death and have been servants to sin the devil let the time past be sufficient to have wrought the will of the flesh and now approve your selves the children of God in your actions for by your fruits you shall be judged God is holy and his children bear his image Oh redeem your time prise your souls and minde that which is Eternall III. How the subtiltie of the Serpent workes in the Children of disobedience and how he rages where he sees the image of the Prince of Peace appear to smother and strangle the holy Child Jesus OThou subtil Serpent why dost thou so rage at the voice of the Lord when he speakes in his own whom he hath redeemed and why art thou so mad against his Image where it is renewed and doth Coll. 3. 10. 11. appear in whom he hath begotten to himself Thou hast long uttered thy voice in open streets by blasphemous swearing cursing lying slandering railing false accusing scorning and all manner

Dan. 5 25. and nothing will be weight but what is pure and holy truth from the heart no deceit nor hypocrisie will be weight no peace by a drunkard or whoremongers will be weight no idolators proud or covetness no swearer lyer drunkard or whoremonger will be Revel 23. 13. weight no Idolators proud or covetous ones no scorner railer or false accusers no murtherer nor envious persecuter no fornicator nor unclean ones nor any that lives to the flesh can be weight but wil be found wanting and then wo unto you for your kingdom must be taken from you and given to them who will bring forth fruits that God may have glory now all professors and people consider your conditions you have been long hearers and professors but what have your fruits been herein is Mat. 3. 10. my Father glorified that you bring forth much fruit but now you fruitless trees you must be cut down and cast into the fire for all mens works must be tried by 1 Cor. 3. 13. fire and then wo unto you who have taken pleasure in sin repent and return to the Lord betime that you may find mercy for your destruction is of your selves VI. The cursed condition of conceited ones who are wise in their own eyes VVO unto you that are wise in your own eyes Isai 5. 21. and prudent in your own sight you that think Iohn 14. 17. to understand the spirituall things of God by your carnal Iude 10. wisdom and because God wil not reveal his secrets to your serpentine wisdom therefore you speak evil of it where it is revealed though you know it not your wisdom is of the earth and feedeth upon dust and dust is the Serpents meat by your wisdom you can over-reach Isai 65. 25. your brethren oppress the poor to get riches to make your selves great in the earth and thereby Lord it over your brethren by it you can go to law and begger your poor brethren for trifles to fulfil your own wils by it you can deceive the simple and harmless man and make him your laughing-stock when you have done by it you can contrive mischief on your bed and when the morning is come you put in practice against those whom you envy And do you think that ever God wil Mica 2. 1 2 3. reveal himself to this wisdom any other wayes then in wrath from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of this wisdom nay the secrets of the Lord are with them that fear him but there is no fear of the Lord where this wisdom ruleth But you are puft up in your vain mind think you know much when as you know nothing yet as you ought to know For saith the Apostle Who is a wise man amongst you and en Rom. 1. 18. dued with knowledge let him shew out of a good conversation Iam. 3. 13. his works with meekness of wisdom Your works that proceed out shew plainly what kind of wisdom is within that wisdom that brings forth pride scorning lightness and wantonness swearing lying covetousness self-love Iob 14. 4. envy hatred deceit backbiting slandering and evill speaking lust excess strife and contention persecution or any other unclean or filthy practice doing to others that which you would not have them to do to you that wisdom is of the Divel and not of God Now this is the wisdom the world drives after and so highly extols and by which you think to attain to the pure and invisible things of God And thus the wisdome of the Serpent which riseth out of the earth and feedeth on earth would be climbing up to the hidden things of God and so would be heirs of two Kingdoms But saith the Apostle If ye have bitter envyings and strife in your hearts glory not and lye not against the truth Iam. 3. 14 15 16. This wisdom descends not from above but is earthly sensual and divelish For where envy and strife is there is confusion and every evil work but that wisdom which is from above is first pure then peaceable gentle and easie to be entreated ful of mercy and good fruits without partiality without hypocrisie Now you Iam. 3. 17. who think you are the men for wisdom try your wisdom by these marks set down by the Apostle whether it be given you from above or it be of the Serpent arising out of the earthly part within you Is it such a wisdom as shews forth of a good cōversation the works of meekness Is it pure Is it peaceable Is it gentle and easie to be intreated Is it full of mercy and good fruits without partiality without hypocrisie If it bring forth these fruits it is from above and God will own it reveal his secrets to it even the hidden things of God But on the contrary if it be that wisdom that Jam. 3. 15. brings forth bitter envyings and strife and every evil work vainglorying and lying against the truth the Apostle saith plainly It is not of God but is earthly sensual and divelish and this wisdom must never enter into the kingdom but is of the Serpent cursed above all creatures more subtile then all the beasts of the field eating the forbidden fruit the judging of good and evil by carnal knowledge creeping into the earth earthly things all for the belly feeding on dust and delighting in things that perish and fade away painted on the outside decking thee with pride curiously invented Scrpent-like by this wisdom and feeding thy lust with curious devised dishes Dives-like devising and plotting to get riches right or wrong so that you can but keep within the compass of the laws of the nation never regarding to be guided by that pure law of God within written in the heart which would lead Heb. 10. 16. Rom. 8. 7. you in all things to do as you would be done by But the wisdom of men is not subject to the law of God neither can be for it is death to it and you deceive your selves who did think to find out the mystery of the things of God by this wisdom for God hath hid it from your eyes and the world by wisdom knows 1 Cor 1. 20 21. not God for God hath turned their wisdom into foolishness And saith Christ I thank thee O Father Lord of Heaven and earth that thou hast hid these things from Matth. 11. 25. the wise and prudent and revealed them to Babes God Iohn 3. 5 6 hath hid them in Christ and none comes to Christ but Babes such are of the new birth not flesh and blood but of water and the spirit such onely enter into the mystery of the Kingdom by the Door in all the strait way through the Cross where your Serpents wisdom would not willingly come for if it do it must be slain and you must become fools for Christs sake Luke 18. 17. that you may be wise you must enter as a little child or else you cannot come there for it is revealed to Babes onely your wisdom that you so much boast on must be crucified and die and a new wisdom must Job 8. 28. be given you from above which begins with the fear of the Lord for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and to practice it is understanding and when you once come to own this true Wisdom which is of God then you shall see the world who did so highly applaud you for your wisdom before will now call you fools and madmen for that wisdom which they do applaud shall be cast behind thee and then thou shalt witness the Scripture fulfilled when God hath destroyed the wisdom of the wise and brought to 1 Cor. 1. 19. 20. 21. nought the understanding of the prudent where is the wise where is the disputer of this world for the world by this wisdom knowes not God nor ever shall do for God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and weak things to confound the 1 Cor. 1. 25. 27 mighty then thou shalt see that wisdom not to be of 1 Cor. 2. 6. 7. 8. this world neither of the Princes of this world which come to nought but the wisdom of God which is a hidden mysterie which none of the Princes of this world knew for if they knew it they would not persecute it where it is but the knowledge of this mystery is the free gift of God given onely to them who fear and love him given without all naturall helpes whatsoever 1 Cor. 2. 14. 15 for the naturall man receives not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolishness to him neither can he know them for they are spiritually discerned but the spirituall man Judgeth all things and he himself is Judged of no man for he that is in the spirit lives above all the earth and Colos 3. 3. earthly wisdom and sees all the world where they live but no carnal wisdom shall ever see where he lives for his life is hid with God in Christ from all vultures eyes and venomous beasts James Nayler a prisoner of the Lord to all that names the name of the Lord to whom these shall come desires Grace and Peace FINIS