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 outward relation but she was incouraged by an Angel who told her that that holy thing in her was of the holy Ghost and also Joseph was incouraged by the Lord in a dream concerning his virgin that was with child by the holy Ghost and the child was born in Bethlehem a City of Judea and his name was called Jesus according to the direction of the Angel unto Joseph and the Virgin and Immanuel that is to say a Saviour of the people from their sins and
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
THE SEED OF ISRAELS Redemption Fully prophesied of And the Scriptures opened Which now is about to be fulfilled by its Saviour and â—edeemer whom God hath now raised up for an Ensigne to the Nations and the salvation of his people who is here evidently demonstrated and fully born witness of as he is the Remover of bondages the worker of perfect freedom and the end of things abolished to both Jews and Gentiles who through faith receive him And here all they who are weary with being captives under the bondage of corruption and would know the way to the Kingdom of God may receive a word of Consolation From a Witnesse of Gods Saâ—vation who waits for the Consolation of his Seed and thirsts for Sions welfare George Whitehead Amos 3.8 The Lion hath reared who will not fear The Lord God hath â—poken who can but prophesie Dan 10 21 I will shew thee that which is noted in the Scripture of truth and there is none that holdeth with me in these things but Michael your Prince LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth near Aldersgate 1659. AS this following Testimony was given forth in the faith of the Righteous seed even as the things therein were revealed by the spirit of promise so they are not given forth to feed vain-minds nor to satisfie the seed of the wicked who continue in their sin unbelief and hardnesse of heart against God and his Eternal Truth for many of them do get the saints words and apply promises to themselves in that nature which is in enmity against the seed of God and so with an empty profession covers and paints themselves over so are covered but not with the spirit of God taking counsel but not of God and there are many in that nature gotten into a false ease who pretend a dependency upon the mercies and promises of God but when â—hey come to be tried they are found in â—he unbelief hating the Light of the Lord which bringeth them that believe in it to â—ee the promises of God fulfilled so then â—hey who believe not according to Gods â—romises in his gift but continue in the â—nbelief against the gift of God in them â—hey come short of the promise of God â—nd of his righteousnesse because of their unbelief and the deceit of their own hearts so that wo and misery is upon all such and wo is unto all selfe-conceited empty Professors who hate to be reformed and persist in their pride and rebellion against God yet this I testifie that God is not slack concerning his promises as dispisers unbelievers mockers and scorners count slacknes but is near to fulfil them to the seed where ever it is scattered which is willing to wait in the patience to see his coming and the establishing of his everlasting Covenant according to his promises to that Seed I prostitute these things which neither the swine nor the devourer hath any right unto And to the gift of God in people which witnesseth for him against all unrighteousnesse do I appeal to which I am manifest in the sight of God whatever such as resist the truth may think or speak of me my diligent labour in giving forth these things is known to the Lord God as one who there in have sincerely obeyed him And let such as read this following Testimony minde their own state and see if they believe according to these things as these who come to feel of the same things fulfilled and revealed by the gift of God in themselves For I have not written these things for people to feed their airy minds with reports of them and so to live upon reports of things they feel not but to be read singly believed seriously fulfilled effectually and witnessed eternally as they may be known and made manifest by the power of the Lord God which they receive who receive the Son of God and believe in his everlasting Name which is his Word which lighteth every man that cometh into the world The particular Contents or subjects treated upon in this following Treatise are as followeth c. FIrst the Seed of Israels Redemption and its Redeemer fully prophesied and declared of Afterward here are certain reasons according to the Scriptures of truth produced from a sure ground Whereby is proved that the Messias or Saviour of Israel did come in the flesh and things are come to passe touching him and his outward sufferings according as the true Prophets have foretold Whereby is proved First The Conception and birth of Jesus according to his outward Nativity who is called Christ or the Messias 2 Concerning the life of Jesus 3 Touching his Ministery 4 Touching his works 5 Touching his sufferings death 6 Touching his Resurrection and Ascention With several things of concernment both to the professors of the world and others touching Christ and his way And these things are born witness of according to the evidences of faithful witnesses that both Jewes and others who are in the state of unbelief and have been gazing abroad and are yet looking to see the Messias come in person or who do not believe that he is already come may take warning to turn their mindes within and wait for the life and power of Christ Jesus to be revealed in them that thereby their souls may live and be satisfied least they die in their sins and their souls remain in misery with the hard-hearted and unbelievers Also here is the difference between the first and second Covenants and between the first second Priesthoods and the end of the things abolished and how far they reached truly described Wherein is discovered 1 SOmthing touching the giving forth of the outward Law and the establiing of the first Covenant and of the state of the people at that time 2 Of Moses his making intercession for the people when they had transgressed 3 Of the outward Circumcision 4 Of the outward Passover 5 Of the outward Sabboths 6 Of the brazen serpent that Moses made 7 Of oathes and swearing 8 Of the outward anointing of the Priests 9 Of the Tithes the Priests received 10 Of the outward Tabernacle under the Law and the instruments thereof and the Lords forsaking thereof 11 Of the outward sacrifices and burnt offerings 12 Of the Ephod and consecrated garments which Aaron and the Priests had 13 Of the outward washing of thepriests 14 Of meats and drinks and days in the first priesthood 15 Of the tribe that the first priesthood were of and their appointment 16 Of the reading of the Law and of the pulpit of wood 17 Of Jewels of silver and gold and costly ornaments 18 Of Solomons Temple 19 Of the singing and praising upon outward Instruments which was used in the outward Temple 20 Of the overthrow and destruction of Solomons Temple and the building it again and its destruction the 2d time And the end of the things particularly in like manner described A â—rue account of these things are given that
be saved and see that salvation and those things which many prophets and wise men have desired to see and have not seen it So blessed is he that beliveth and waiteth in the light of the Lord Jesus which he is enlightned withall which appeares in the inward parts to wit the heart mind conscience and understanding that he may see the vail rent and taken from off his heart and the end of the thing abolished and feel and see the salvation of God and the Son of his righteousnesse revealed and risen in the inward parts by whose power and brightnesse the darkenesse comes to be expelled which hath covered the people the Earth comes to be shaken and removed and the cloudes comes to be scattered so the shadowy part may be taken from off the seed of promise and the seed raised he that feels this fulfilled in himselfe sees the day dawned and the Sun risen and the shadowes fled away and his mind turned out of all the shadowes and earthly things and is a witnesse of a Mediator of a better covenant then that which had the figures and shadows which the Israelites or Jewes transgressed and brake And blessed is he that hath an eare to hear and a heart that understandeth whose eyes are open that he seeth perceiveth and readeth with understanding who hardneth not his heart nor stoppeth his eare nor shutteth his eye against the truth for God is revealing his secrets and bringing forth his hidden Misteries to light for his Angel is come which sheweth unto his children these things which are noted in the Scriptures of truth that they see through the first Covenant which had the changeable Priesthood the changeable ordinances into the everlasting Covenant and unchangeable priesthood which hath the ordinances that are not shadowy but pertaining unto the life of Righteousnesse which is manifest in the upright conversation of the godly 1 Somthing touching the giving forth of the outward Law and the establiing of the first Covenant and of the state of the people at that time AT the giving forth establishing the first Covenant God was in the pillar of a cloud that the Israelites could not see him and in mount Sinai in the thick darkness that none of the Israelites then might come nigh him nor commune with him save Moses who received the Law at the mouth of God and gave it forth to the people but they stood a far off the mountain where the Law was received and they might not touch nor come nigh the mountain for it was set about with bounds and when the Lord descended upon the mountain there was Thundrings and Lightning and the sound of a Trumpet proceeding from the presence of the Lord and the mountain was all on a smoke and the whole mount quaked greatly Exod. 13 21.22 chap. 14.19.20 chap. 19. chap. 20.18 Deut. 4.11 5.24 Exod. 19.28 In the second Covenant the spirit of the Lord God is put into the inward parts of his people who are Israelites according to the spirit and his Law is written in their hearts his holy mountain is raised wherein he is exalted and the vail or covering of darkness is taken from off their hearts as he hath promised that God who is invisible is known and his presence injoyed among his people and by faith they see him who is invisible being brought into the knowledge of his glory and to see it with open face as in a glasse and this knowledge hath God given them by his light which he caused to shine in their hearts before they were brought out of darknesse And we are not come to mount Sinai that might be touched and that burned with fire nor unto blacknesse and darknesse and tempests but unto Mount Sion out of which the Lord hath uttered forth his voice and sounded his trumpet which we have heard and given his Law forth of Sion which we have received and the Lord hath chosen the Tribe of Judah the mount Sion which he loveth out of which the deliverer is come and he that believes in his light and trusteth in him shall be as mount Sion which cannot be removed Isa 54.13 Jer. 31.33 Joel 2.28 John 6.45 Isa 7.14 Isa 25 7. Heb. 11.27 â— Cor. 3.18 and 4.6 Heb. 12.18 22. Joel 2.1 Isai â— 3 Mica 4.2 Psa 78.68 Isa 59.20 Rom. 11.26 2 Of Moses his making intercession for the people when they had transgressed WHen the first Covenant was in force the people often brake it and transgressed the Law which cause the anger of the Lord to be hot against them and then Moses stood in the gap between Gods wrath and them and made intercession for the people to the Lord and then his wrath was sometime appeased and he repented of the evil that was in his heart against them but they often transgressed and made the ordinances and commands of none effect through their Rebellions whereby they caused the anger of the Lord to arise against them Exod. 32.9 10 11 12.13 chap. 33.3 Deut. 9.8 13 Numb 14.13 Psal 106.25 In the second Covenant the seed is revealed in the children of light which is Christ and he is their Intercessor who is a quickening spirit who maketh intercession according to the will of God in them who believe in his light by whom the anger of God is appeased through his righteous judgement which he doth execute upon the oflendets that the transgressors thereby comes to be redeemed from iniquity wch hath caused the wrath of God to arise So that in the righteous seed is God well pleased this Covenant is not according to the covenant of God made with the children of Israel when he led them out of Egypt which they break for in this is the sin taken away and he in whom the Father is well pleased abideth with the Saints for ever but Moses did not alwaies abide with the Israelites Rom 8.26 27. 1 Cor. 15.45 Jo. 3.36 Rom. 1.18 1 Thes 1.10 Jer. 33.8 Mat 17.5 Io. 14 17. 3 Of the outward Circumcision THe first covenant had a command for circumcision to Circumcise the males of every man child at eight daies old which was a token of Gods Covenant to them and every soul that had not the flesh of his fore-skin cut off was to be cut off for that soul was uncircumcised and no uncircumcised person might dwell in Abrahams house nor with the seed that God delivered out of Egypt and that command was in force untill Christ was crucified for he came under it Lev. 12.3 Gen. 17.10 11 12 13 14. cha 12.4 Luke 2.21 Ioh. 7.22 Acts. 7.8 They who are in the second Covenant do witness the circumcision with the spirit in the heart which is made without hands and such are circumcised to the Lord being circumcised with the spirit by the puting off the body of the sins of the flesh which circumcision the outward was a figure of So that is not now circumcision which is of the flesh but