imaginations imagining a Christ like themselves and for salvation afar off and Justification afar off and yet they are in their sins and believe not that they shal be otherwise so long as they live upon earth they are strangers to the true Christ and to his righteousness and their minds are from that which Justifieth and comes not to see these things which Christ did in his own person fulfilled in his Kingdom as the Saints did who were translated into the Kingdom of Christ which stood in his power who knew Christ in them and his Kingdom in them and so they whose minds are out from the light who are gazing from it and will not own the coming of Christ within nor a justifying by his righteousness within the cloud of darkness is over them that they cannot see Christ in his power as they who were gazing when Jesus was taken from them they could see no further then the cloud which received him out of their sight but Stephen who was full of the holy Ghost he saw the heaven open and the glory of God and the Son of man on the right hand of God and John who witnessed the light within him and the spirit of God and Christ who is the light the quickening spirit revealed in him he saw the heaven open and they that walked in the light of Christ in them they witnessed his righteousness revealed in them and thereby are Justified from their sins and not in their sins for no further are any sanctified nor justified then they feel themselves made holy and just by Christ in his righteousness in them and no further are they justified by Christ then they are made partakers of the life of Christ in them for Justification is a real work of God in that creature that feels a sanctifying or cleansing from sin so ve that say ye are justified by Christs suffering without you above 1600. years since and yet you continue in sin and would lay all your iniquities upon Christs back you are of them that cause Christ to suffer by your sins and are condemned by his light in you for your sins and know that while you are condemned for your sins you are neither sanctified nor justified for as Christ the just suffered for the unjust and was grieved and burthened by their sins it cometh to passe that the unjust must come under his judgements and wrath for their iniquities they must bear their own burthens and he that denies the light or gift of Christ within to be his leader he hath no share in the death and refurrection of Christ for no further are any justified by Christ then they are brought to live with him in his life which is the light of men and no further are any justified and made free and restored by Christ then they are brought to have a share in the death and resurrection of Christ knowing his spirit in them which raised up Jesus from the dead to quicken their mortal bodies which have been dead in trespasses and sins for Christ rose again for our justification mark he doth not say that though men live in their sins all their life time that they are justified by what Christ suffered so long since without but he rose again for our justification as much as to say he rose again and gave gifts unto us of his spirit and grace which we have in us and so we are justified by his grace for since Christ is risen we have received the Comforter and Christ is in us and he shall abide with us for ever according to his promise Consider these things you blinde guides and professors that say there are two righteousnesses one that sanctifieth another that Justifieth when as the righteousness of Christ is but one who is the righteousness of God and who is made wisdom righteousness Sanctification and Redemption to the Saints who also are justified by Christ which is but one as they are brought to live unto him who gave his life a ransom for many which life is his light the light of men and he dyed for all that as many as live should not live unto them-themselves but unto him who dyed and rose again and they who are dead unto sin are healed by his stripes But they who live to sin are enemies to the Crosse of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation to the true believers and these that are enemies to the Crosse are they by whom Christ suffers and these who diswade people from heeding or following the light within which Christ hath enlightened them withall they are even such as keeps Christ in prison and such watchmen as are blind and ignorant such as they were that watched the Tomb where the body of Jesus laid that he might not rise yea these Priests now are worse then they were then whom the chief Priests hired to lie touching Jesus that people might not believe that he was risen for these were not such hypocrites as these Priests are now for people blindly hires them to Preach Christ now they professe to do it but directs them from the light within so that they are still in death having no part in his life or Resurrection whilst their minds are kept from his life which is the light of men and such Priests were alwaies enemies to Christ and Judas that turned to the Priests betrayed and sold the innocent into the hands of the Priests and murtherers for thirty pieces of silver and with it they bought but one field but these Priests now who teach for hire do make a trade of these Scriptures and sells the Letter of the Scriptures with much money they have thus unjustly gotten many of them have bought many fields or Lands so their wickedness doth in this exceed the wickedness of Judas and them who purchased but one field to bury strangers in and this ground they thus bought was not to live upon but to bury strangers in but these Priests now many of them do live of the earth or fields they purchase with the money they get for their preaching Christ as they pretend and they that crucified Christ they took his garments and parted them and so these coveteous Priests they get Christs words and make a Trade upon them but him they crucifie a fresh through these their horrible crimes and wickedness and so betrayes the just and watches to keep his life in the prison and in the grave for as much as they labour to keep people from following his light within them for they are afraid that it should discover their deceits for the light maketh manifest things that are reproved and the Apostle called the proud and the covetous teachers Traytors 2 Tim. 3.2 3.4 So let these Traytors and all that turn from the life of Christ within to the deceitful Priests without who makes a trade on Christs words and keeps the seed of God in bondage and his life which is the light they watch the graves
shuts their eyes in their unbeliefe against the light of his countenance and against his promises Surely the Lord will cut them down in his vengeance and fury and they shall be cast out of his sight and become an abhorring unto all flesh and their worme shall never dye their plague shall never cease and the fire that shall scorch and burne them shall never be quenched Consider this ye stif necked ones who make mention of the name of God in words but not in righteousnesse whether you be Jewes or Gentiles you are as degenerate plants of a strange vine that bringeth not forth fruite unto the Lord God Consider the vine tree that groweth up wild in the forrest what is it more then any other tree or then a branch which is among the trees of the forest shall wood be taken thereof to do any work or will men take a pin off it to hang any vessell thereon Behold it is cast into the fire for fuel Eze. 15. Even so wil all they be counted as fuel for the fire who bringeth not forth fruit unto God in righteousnesse how many leaves and blossoms so ever they bring forth or what ever they professe in words they l wither and their glory will fall And the fire of the Lords jealousie and anger will take hold upon them and devour them So feâ—r the Lord God of glory and power and let all flesh dread his name and power and worship him that made heaven and Earth and the Sea and all things that therein is whose worship is in the spirit and in the truth and humble thy selfe before him thou that hast been a stranger and a foreigner who yet art not come to know the Redeemer of Israel but hast been as a sheep without a shepheard seeking rest but couldest find none who hast been wandring upon the mountaines and in the desert places where thou couldest find no satisfaction nor resting place for thy soul Look towards the Sun of Righteousness who doth arise with healing in his wings upon him that feareth the Lord and who putteth forth his beames and giveth light unto such as sit in darknesse and in the land of the shadow of death that they may come forth and receive life walk in his light that his everlasting Salvation may be their reward and this is the everlasting foundation and Rock of refuge to all that truly look unto him for help and Salvation whom I do freely publish both to Jew and Gentiâ—e that whosoever be a thirst may come freely and receive of the water of life which cometh from the rock and is to be drunk of freely and bought without mony and without price and this is the living water which issueth forth from the rock unto the waters to heal them and the waters are the peoples kindreds and Nations which the living water floweth forth unto to heal them glory to our King and keeper who is the Rock of ages whose righteousnesse hath appeared in this our age and time and whose faithfulnesse endures throughout all ages and generations and who is making known his glory and eternal Salvation as in the daies of old his righteousnesse as in former daies to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever Let Sion awake and put on strength and let Jerusalem shine forth in her beautiful garments and lie no longer in the dust but be renowned and dignified in beauty and glory instead of sorrowing in dust and ashes Let her that was desolate be glad and let her that was barren bring forth and her seed multiply and the Gentiles shall bring children unto her the Lord shall nourish her little ones and lead gently her that is with young and carry his babes and lambs in his armes Let the barren wildernesse become a fruitful field and the desolate and waste places rejoyce for behold the Lord omnipotent reigneth whose voice soundeth thorow the Earth who is at work in his vine-yard and sendeth forth labourers into his vine-yard fit for his own purpose and reapers to cut downe the tares and fruitlesse plants and to gather his seed from the ends of the earth Let the heathen and all Nations fear dread and tremble at the presence of the God of Jacob for his standard is lifted up and his banner is spread forth and his trumpet he is causing to be heard in the land the day of his appearance is dawned wherein he is gone forth before his army to make war with his enemies to get himselfe a name among them that have not been called by his name and to conquer where his dominion hath not been known that his Kingdom may reach over all the Earth the heavens shall tremble and the earth shall quake and the hills shall melt at the presence of the Lord God of Israel who hath a way in the cloudes and rideth upon the wings of the winde and hath his footsteps in the deep and whose works and wonders are seen in the deep where his trumpet is heard tremble tremble and quake O ye inhabitance of the Earth for the Lord is come to reigne and his anointed shall have the preheminence and Rule the Nations with a Rod of iron the Lord God of power and glory who is the onely wise and infinite God whose presence filleth heaven and earth Heaven is his Throne and earth is his footstool for all these things hath he made and he inhabiteth eternity yet he dwelleth with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones and to this man will I look even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at my word saith the Lord read Psa 34. Isa 57. ch 66. Certain reasons according to the Scriptures of truth proving that Christ the Messias is come and made manifest and the word that made all things became flesh according as it was prophecied of him by the true Prophets of God formerly that the stumbling-block that lyes in the way of the Jewes or others they may see come out of the stumbling touching Christs coming who do not believe that he is come but looks for his coming as the Jews did when they persecuted him put him to death nigh Jerusalem but did not believe that was he because he came not according to their carnal expectations and now his coming and knowledge is to be felt and in the spirit and glory of his Father as he was known among the Saints who after they had known Christ after the flesh knew him so no more but after the spirit c. 1 Of the conception and birth of Jesus who is called Christ. THere was in the City of Galilee named Nazareth a certain virgin named Mary who was espoused to a just man named Joseph of the house of David this Virgin was found with child of the Holy Ghost or spirit before that Joseph knew her by the
many thousands and this I say before you and before the Gentiles that you eyes might wair upon the Lord God and you may have respâ—ct to the holy One of Israel who is descended and revealed unto and in many of the children of men and hath given gifts unto men yea he hath received gifts even for the Rebellious that the Lord God might dwell among them Psa 68. marke Here is the end of the outward Temple which God departed from here the Lords Temple or Tabernacle is among men and his sacrifices are a broken spirit a brokeâ— and contrite heart and this doth his gift bring many to witnesse who come to feel their hearts prepared and firted for the Lord by his own good spirit or gift which he freely bestowes upon them and this is he whom God hath given for a Covenant who hath ascended and received gifts even for the rehellious this is the Shilo that was promised and this is he unto whom the gathering of the people must be Gen. 49. And this is the Prophet whom God promised unto Moses to raise up whom the people was to hear and whosoever will not hearken unto him shall be cut off for God will even require it of him that will not hearken unto the words of God spoken by him And saith h the Lord God I will give him for a Covenant unto tâ—e people and for a light unto the Gentiles yea for a Leader to be my salvation to the ends of the earth mark this is the true Leader who is the light the everlasting covenant now since that your fathers have broken the first covenant that the Lord God made when he had brought Israel out of Egypt It is expedient for you that you turne your mindes from the outward Temples or Synagogues from the outward offerings and outward things that pertained to the first covenant and looke unto the holy one of Israel who is the salvation of God freely tendred unto you that by him your hearts may be cleansed and you saved from your manifold transgressions and offences and be established on an everlasting foundation least that through your obstinacy and wilfulnesse and rebellion you be found in your fathers iniquities and so perish with them that God destroyed for Israel was as the sand of the Sea in number yet it was but a remnant that were saved or preserved in comparison of the number that were destroyed and had it not been that the Lord of Hosts had left unto Israel a smal remnant they had all been unto the Lord as Sodome and as Gomorrah whom God destroyed read Isa Is and Chapter the 10th and even so it would be with many Nations but that God hath respect unto his heritage the seed whom God will sift from among the Nations and gather into his everlasting covenant that a right vine plant may grow up among them which plant he wil cause to take root and to spring up and bring forth fruit in abundance this is he that cometh out of the stem of Jesse and out of the root of David unto whom the Gentiles shall seek and his rest shall be glorious who shall be for an ensigne of the people and the second time will the Lord set his hand to recover the remnant of his people unto him both out of the Sea Jslands and many far countries and he shall assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the foure corners of the earth Isa 11. mark this is the seeker and saviour of that which was lost unto whom the people must be gathered both of Jews gentiles yea this is the righteous plant upon whom resteth the spirit of wisdome of understanding of might and of the fear of the Lord whom man despiseth and the Nations abhoreth who is a servant of Rulers Thus saith the Lord concerning him Kings shall see and arise Princes also shall worship because of the Lord that is faithful and the holy One of Israel and he shall chuse thee thus saith the Lord in an acceptable time have I heard thee and in a day of salvation have I helped thee and I will preserve thee and give thee for a covenant to the people to establish the earth to cause to inherit the desolate heritages that thou maist say to the prisoners goe forth and to them that are in darknesse shew your selves they shall feed in the waies and their pastures shall be in all high places they shall not hunger nor thirst neither shall the heat nor Sun smite them for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them even by the springs of water shall he guide them and I will make all my mountaines a way and my high waies shall be exalted behold these shall come from far and loe these from the North and from the West and these from the land of Sinim Read Isa 49. Even this in the North and in several of the Islands of the Sea is come to passe already and believed by many who have been as desolate heritages but now the Redeemer is come who is bringing many out of bondage and out of the prison house of corruption and iniquity wherein many are yet in bondage unto whom this shall be reported and who shall be visited by this Redeemer and Saviour whom God is raising up and hath raised him up in his power and Majesty amongst many in the North Countries whom God hath gathered unto him and who now are led by the River of water which cometh from the everlasting fountain of life and mercies as many in the Island of England do and shall witnesse who were once desolate and as Gentiles by nature that knew not the everlasting covenant of light but now are come into the light and power of God in which God is setting up his holy mountain that his peomay find rest and dwell in safty and shall praise the Lord in the glory of his light and beauty of his holinesse Therefore ye in whom there is some sincerity and some thirsting after holinesse in whom Jacob is not wholly eaten up or destroyed nor his habitation quite desolate and in whom there is some thing of the truth appearing and kindling look ye unto the servant of the Lord the Elect the chosen one in whom his soul delighteth he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles for the spirit of God is upon him A bruised reed shall he not break and the smoking flax shall he not quench he shall bring forth judgement unto truth this is he that is given for a Covenant of the people and for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes to bring out the prisoners from the prison and them that sit in darknesse out of the prison house his Law the Isles shall wait for Isa 42. and he shall sprinkle many Nations though he be dispised and rejected of men he being a man of sorrowes and acquainted with grief yet he groweth up as a tender plant and
Disciples into heaven which while some men of Galilee stood gazing they saw Jesus taken out of their sight and that this Christ who was and is the word which made all things which became flesh as is declared who descended from the Father of spirits and life is now ascended and is on the right hand of power and of God who is the All power we have the testimonies both of faithful men and Angels and the life of Jesus in us which is the light of men which beareth witness to these things And all these things concerning Jesus came to passe according to the determinate Councel of God that the Scriptures might be fulfilled though wicked Priests and professors who had the Prophets words and were shut up in the unbelief were fitted in their iniquity as instruments of cruelty to fulfill their iniquity in these hard proceedings against Christ And that these things were true that Christ is ascended and is on the right hand of power Read Ps 68.18 and Psal 110.1 Mar. 16.19 Luke 24.51 Acts 1.9 Eph 4. And whereas after the watchers that were set to watch the Sepulchre where the body of Jesus lay were smitten by the Angel of the Lord and Jesus raised from the dead some of the watch went afterward and told the chief Priests what was done concerning Jesus the chief Priests with the Elders took councel gave large money unto the souldiers that were of the watch saying unto them say ye his Disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept and if this come to the governours ears we will perswade him and secure you so they took the money and did as they were taught and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day Mat 28.11 12 13 14 15. And 't is very likely that through that report are the Jews now perverted who do not believe that Christ is come as the Scriptures have foretold concerning him and for their sakes and the truths I chiefly write these things whether they believe them or not Let that lie upon their own heads but to prove these truths that all aspersions that have been cast upon us touching the denying Christ by the Priests and others have been cast upon us falsely and without a cause I say that all power in heaven and in earth is given unto Christ in whom dwelleth the fulness of the God-head who is ascended up on high yea far above all heavens that he might fill all things and he is God over all God blessed for ever the Judge of quick and dead and moreover his Resurrection was confirmed unto his disciples in this manner when he was risen he gave Commission unto his Disciples to go into all the world and Preach the Gospel in every creature and he said unto them he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he that believeth not shall be damned and these signes shall follow them that believe in my name they shall cast out devils they shall speak with new tongues they shall take up serpents and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover Mar 16.15 and this his promise was fulfilled and confirmed to several that believed who had power given them by Christ to work these things Acts 16.18 Acts 2.4 Acts 28.5.8 these things do testifie that Jesus was risen and that his promise was made manifest who promised to come again and to manifest himself unto them that believed and to send the spirit which was the Comforter and to indue them that waited upon him with power who said he that is with you shall be in you and so the sheep of Christ were scattered to their own to wit his gift which was in them they came to receive and feel his power and spirit to lead them into all truth and this many thousands do and shall witness that the spirit of truth is their leader into all truth and thus though Christ be exalted far above the heavens yet he doth so far condescend unto them that believe in his name that he becomes their leader a light to them that have sat in darkness to lead them out of darkness and a seed to such as have been barren that they may bring forth fruit in him to the praise of his everlasting Name in whom is the life which life is the light of men that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world and Christ said unto his Disciples verily verily I say unto you he that believeth on me the works that I do shall he do also and greater works then these shall he do because I go unto my Father Joh. 14.12 and Christ said unto his Father concerning them that he sent forth as thou hast sent me into world so I send them into the world and thus he made manifest his power and gifts in his people as he doth in this day in these that believe in him for the same power that he gave unto his Disciples the same he giveth unto his servants now according to the several gifts and manifestations committed unto them that they may come to the measure of the stature of his fulness and to a perfect man in him and that they may feel handle taste of and injoy Christ who is glorified in that glory which he had with the Father before the world was and now by his power many do withess that the power of the Serpent the prince of the world is overcome and the sick are healed and the blinde are brought to see and the deaf to hear and the lame to walk and even such as have been dead in trespasses and sins are quickened and raised up and brought to live with Christ in newness of life and such have an interest in the death of Christ being made conformable thereto in that they are crucified with Christ and dead with him to the world and to the evil wayes fashions customs rudiments and conformities of the world so as the the vail of the Temple was rent and the dead was raised when Christ suffered they that feel his power made manifest and with it are brought to suffer with Christ they feel the vail that hath seperated them from his glory rent and in his light are come to see light and in his blood which is his life they are brought to feel life and his witnesss is raised and his seed is come to live as he hath promised the hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voyce of the Son of God and they that hear shall live John 5.25 and this is truely witnessed among many that have believed in the light of the Lord Jesus praises praises to his holy name for ever and ever But they that deny the light of Christ within people to be sufficient to lead them to Christ and will not own Christ within them according to his promise to his but are looking and gazing abroad in their
that their sound might be heard when Aaron went in came forth of the tabernacle and upon the Ephod was put a breast-plate of curious work wherein was the names and the Judgements of the people Israel and these things were made for Aaron that he might do the priests office in the holy place and upon the Mitre was put a plate of gold on Aarons forehead wherein was graved Holiness to the Lord And Aaron his sons had consecrated clothes and holy garments as Coates and Breetches other curious ornaments of fine linen and in these they did the service of the Tabernacle before the Lord in offering sacrifices as God had commanded Aaron who was a Levite and the Levites and no man was to take unto himself that honour but he that was called of God as Aaron was Exod. 39.2 31.10 35.10 28.29.12.33.36.42 verses Heb. 5.4 Now in the second Priesthood which Christ is the Minister and lise and beauty of the adorning is within where the covering is of the spirit and the Armour is of the light of the Lord and their Breast-plate is of righteousness and this the children of light are witnesses of who are come to know Christ their high Priest in whom is witnessed Holiness to the Lord in the life and righteousness of God alone which is more then the words of it without Ingraven in gold or silver and their names are written in the book of the life of the Lamb his seal of righteousness being on their fore heads and this shall never be taken from them whose delight is in Holiness and righteousness without which no man shall see the Lord. And the Saints adorning wherein they serve the Lord is not of divers colors as the adorning of the Priests without was for they are clothed in innocency with the robe and Ephod of righteousness and their garments are washed white by the blood of the Lambe of God who have passed through many tribulations who are clothed in white linen which is the righteousness of the Saints And our high Priest is not heard by a company of carnal Bells neither are the Saints brought to their worship by the sound of carnal Bells as the world and its proprosessors are but by the spirit of truth in the inward parts thereby they are brought to hear the voice of God and to worship him in the spirit and in the truth for it is such that he seeks to worship him but wo is unto them who are covered but not with the spirit of the Lord for they are covered with iniquity Eph. 6. Rev. 5.3 Heb. 12 14 Rev. 7.14 Rev 3 4.5 18 4 4 6 11 7 9 14 9 8 14. Psal 51 6 John 4 Isai 30 1. 13. Of the outward washing of of the Priests ANd moreover Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet with water at the door of the Tabernacle before they offered offerings to the Lord which was his command to them least that they had died Exod. 30.18 19. But now in the second Covenant and royal Priesthood of God the Saints are washed with living water by the living word of life their feet is shod with the preparation of the Gospel which is the power of God and so made beautiful and their hands are washed in innocency that by the power of God many are come and coming to offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord in righteousness that holiness may be known to the Lord in all their wayes within them and without but they whose feet are in the steps and wayes of the ungodly and whose hearts are polluted with unrighteousness and fingers defiled with iniquity cannot offer nor present any sacrifice acceptable to the Lord God but are abominable in all their own righteousness and sin in the best of their performances John 13 3 1 Corinth 6 11. Ephes 5 26. Titus 3.5 Heb. 10.22 Eph. 6 15 Rom. 1 16. Ps 50.23 Isai 1.15 59 3. 14. of meats and drinks and days in the first Priesthood ANd in the first Covenant there was Ordinances made touching meats and drinks as there was also for the keeping of certain dayes holy there were several creatures that were esteemed common and unclean which they might not eat of as the flesh of swine and ravenous birds with several others neither were they to eat the blood of any thing but to keep from blood Levit. 19 26 Deut. 12 22 23. and chap 14. Heb. 9 10. Now in the second Covenant is the holy place and habitation known where there is no curse and purity witnessed in the life and to the pure all things are pure for it was the swinish ravenous cursed nature which the law took hold upon and which the creatures are not clean unto and there were some after Christ was manifest that made their abstaining from some meats a matter of conscience and scrupled the eating of blood as some do at this day and the Apostles for a time suffered some to abstain from blood and things strangled but that is the weak conscience and the defiled minde that scruples meats for Christ bad his eat such things that was set before them And when Peter the Apostle saw the vision of all manner of four footed beasts of the earth and wilde beasts and creeping things and fouls of the Air. And there came a voyce from heaven unto him saying rise Peter kill and eat but Peter said not so Lord for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean and the voice spake unto him again the second time what God hath cleansed that call not thou common And the Apostle Paul said whatsoever is sold in the shambles that eat asking no question for conscience sake and he called them seducing spirits that would forbid to marry and command to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them that believe and know the truth so with the light we see an end put to the first Tabernacle and the gifts and sacrifices that were offered in it which could not make perfect as pertaining to the conscience which stood onely in meats and drinks divers washings and carnall Ordinances imposed on them until the time of Reformation but now Christ being come and revealed in whom is the fulness and sum of all he worketh the Reformation in all them that believe in his light and maketh manifest his Kingdom in his people which stands not in meats nor drinks but in joy and peace in the holy Ghost and so let no man Judge you in meats or in drinks or in respect of an holy day or of the new Moon or of the Sabbath dayes which are as shadowes of things to come but the body is of Christ Rev 22 3. Titus 1 15. Acts 15 19. Rom. 14 14. Luke 10 7 8. Acts 10 10. Acts 11. 1 Cor. 10 25. 1 Tim. 4 3.4 Heb 9 10 Rom. 14.17 Colos 2.16 17. 15. Of the tribe that the
with golden vessels and divers instruments according to the command of God which command was given to Solomons father David who as God had shewed him directed Solomon for the building of it in Jerusalem But now in the everlasting Covenant of God he dwelleth and walketh in his people and their bodies are his Temple and he dwelleth not in Temples made with hands seeing that he giveth to all life and being the heaven of heavens cannot contain him much lesse could the Temple which Solomon built him and so the time is come wherein God is worshipped in spirit and in truth and not at Jerusalem as Christ said for that Temple was but a figure for the time then present of a Temple not made with hands so all that receive the spirit of the Lord walk in it they become a fit habitation for God through the spirit who dwelleth with the contrite with the meek and lowly in heart who are led by his spirit And in the holy City where the Lord makes his people Citizens there is no Temple but the Lord God is the Temple thereof and he is all and in all his Saints so seeing that that form of worship is ceased which was in the Jewes Temple which God commanded and the Lord hath forsaken that Temple much more is that worship and these Temples without to be denyed which God never commanded as the Gentiles Temples and these Temples that are builded by the Papists and in the idolatry which many calls Gods houses or Temples but be not deceived with their vain words who cry the Temple of the Lord the Temple of the Lord who know not the Lord whose dwelling is on high and also in his own people 1 King 6.2 Chro. 28.2 Chro. 3 4. 5. chapters 1 Cor. 3 16.2 Cor. 6.16 1 Cor. 6 19. Acts 7.48 17.24 1 King 8.27 Joh. 4 21 22. Ephes 2 22. Isai 57.15 Psal 34.18 Rev 21 22. Jer. 7.4 19. Of the singing and praising upon outward Instruments which was used in the outward Temple MOreover there was several men of Israel appointed for officers and overseers in the temple that Solomon built and then there was singing songs of praises and praising God with Cymbals psalteries and harps and such instruments used David in his time with Organs other instruments of Musick which was in the time of the first Covenant which stood onely in the figures but they that were officers is in the house of the Lord had portions given them by his institution according to every mans servitude in the house but it was onely the priests of the tribe of Levi that had the Tythes ordered them to dispose of according to the law of God who offered sacrifices and burnt offerings in the house of the Lord 1 Chro. 24. and 15. chapters Psal 150.1 Chro. 9 29. Levit. 6 21 1 Chro. 23 28 29. 2 Chro. 31 19 Ezra 2.62 Nehe. 12.46 Num. 18.26 But that worship without had an end and ceased and the songs of the Temple without was turned into Howling as the Prophets of God foretold and wo was unto them that invented to themselves Instruments of Musick like David for deceit and wicked men are gotten into that Musick which is used on carnal instruments and carnal people to sing in idols temples without as they pretend praises to God when their hearts are filled with unrighteousness singing Davids prayers praises and prophesies complaints lamentations in Rhime and Meeter which the Lord never required of them whose singing will be turned into weeping as theirs was who invented Instruments of Musick like David who were nearer in the form to David then these are now in their singing who now sing Davids conditions but do neither praise God upon the harp nor other instruments as David did so that such worships neither with the spirit nor with understanding For by the spirit of the Lord are many brought to worship God according to his own will who being gathered into God who is the Temple in his holy place they are come to pray to sing and to praise him with the spirit And I saw harpers harping with their harps which are the prayers of the Saints so that he that is led by the Spirit of God with it knows when to pray and how to pray worship according to the mind of the spirit which is acceptable to the Lord but all praying worshipping that's out of the spirit of truth in mens own wills and their own appointed times by carnal observation is neither regarded nor accepted of the Lord and the prayers of the wicked are abomination unto the Lord who often pray but never truely waits for nor receives an answer from the Lord but still remaines in wickedness and sensuality while their minds are estranged from the light and spirit of Christ for want of following and minding his spirit they pine away in their wickedness which dryeth up their souls Amos 8.3 5.23 6.5 Rom. 7.6 Rom. 8.15.26 1 Cor. 14 15. Rev. 5.8 Ps 109.7 Prov. 28.9 Jer. 7.12.14 26.6 20. Of the overthrow and destruction of Solomons Temple and the building it again and its destruction the second time BUt after Solomon had built the Temple Israel forsook the Lord God and defiled his house and served other gods committing Idolatry against the commands of the Lord God in so much that God did with them as he did with them and the Tabernacle in Shilo for he forsook them they were taken captives by Nebuchad-nezzar King of Babylon who destroyed that house which God had commanded and it and all the houses of Jerusalem were burnt with fire and the Israelites were captives in Babylon as the Prophets had prophesied But after this the Temple was builded again according to the command of the God of Israel wch came by his Prophets Haggai and Zechariah unto the Jews and unto Zerubabel and King Cyrus and after unto King Darius who fulfilled the command of the Lord in causing the Temple to be built again and in setting the officers and things pertaining to it in order as the Lord God had commanded And after these things Christ prophesied of the overthrow of the Temple and said there should not be left one stone upon another that should not be thrown down 1 Sam. 4.12 Ps 78.60 2 King 24.2 25.8 Ezra 5.12 Hag. 1.1 Zech. 1.1 Ezra 6. Mat. 24.1 2. Mark 13.1 Luke 19.44 21.5 So now the sum and fulness of all things in the Covenant of life being made manifest which is the Covenant wherein God establisheth his own seed and remnant let all that hunger and thirst after God for their souls health come unto Christ the light the fountain of life and wisdom in whom the treasures of life are set open to them that fear the Lord and wait in his light whose fulness cannot be contained nor comprehend in any carnal or visible things for they are changeable and the earth the things thereof waxeth old and they