spoil the Bees Altho' you read the Scripture true Without the Spirit what doth ensue But only for your carnal Wills You keep poor Souls in that which kills To which purpose you make a trade Even to delude Man Wife and Maid Keeping their Souls in bondage still If you can but the same fulfill To make them run for what you read And give you Money for that 's no Bread For shame therefore let it suffice That you be drunk with Avarice And cease teaching and silent be And wait on Christ he 'l let you see What is your duty and your place Obedient be think 't no disgrace That you may not be of that sort Which of the holy Rest come short But that you may rewarded be VVith them that lives in puritie VVhich will be sweeter to your spirit Then all without you do inherit And blessed you will be also In every thing you do undergo And as you come t' obey the Light Surely your peace will be in sight Lord God it grant if that thou please That all that seek thee may find ease Through Faith in Christ as he 's reveal'd VVho hath the wounded always heal'd The Conclusion NOw to conclude leaving what hath been said To all that reads it with impartial Eye Which to believe they need not be afraid Being true Words in which there is no Lye Tho' Godly men were always scoft and scorn'd For the Name of Christ which was their chiefest good Yet they rejoyc'd to see his Truth adorn'd Tho' for so doing it cost some their Blood Which was but that they then had left to spend That they thereby might gain a better prize Which would be sweeter to their Souls i' th' end By therein dwelling where true vertue lies Wherein is sweetness much better than Life To Souls Immortal in the quiet place The Godly Ones who are made free from strife Who are engag'd to run the holy race And come away to witness for the Lord And his pure Truth reproach'd in these our days Tho' for so doing they have been abhorr'd Which is no other but what hath been always For Truth is Truth and all that do err from it Must once confess how they have done despite To th' Grace of God and his holy Spirit By making Sin their pastime and delight Yet they shall know to their eternal sorrow That they were warn'd of what was then to come Of a dark Night which could bring forth no morrow Which is the portion and the Wicked's doom Who have not priz'd the day of Visitation In which all men are left without excuse By shewing them wherein is Condemnation To all the World that doth the Light abuse In which true sence Lord keep thy tender Flock Alive in thee for their safety and Rock A Godly Request LOrd God of Life and Power thy Truth more spread That they which truly seeks within may read For Truth i' th' inward parts that thou requires To which O Lord strengthen all weak desires That Grace Peace may grow in these our dayes By quickning of the dead thy Name to praise That so thy glorious Name may be exalted And that kept down which hath from thee revolted Which Work O Lord thou hast with us begun Through shining of the Light of thy dear Son Therefore O Lord if that it so please thee Shine forth on more thy Glory for to see That so thy Praises may with men encrease And thou mayst know who art the God of Peace That they with us and we with them may sing Hallelujahs and Praises unto thee our King THE END
be more faithful to the Lord in what he required and so more strength was given me and through the Power of his Might I became bolder to bear Testimony for the Lord against Priests Tythes and Offerings which were only to continue during the first Covenant and through the Lord's power was carried over them through Prisons and spoiling of Goods for the Lord's sake and his Truth and had Joy thereby in the presence of mine Enemies So Friends I can truly say by experience that it is faithfulness to the Light of Christ Jesus that the Lord requires for to obey is better than Sacrifice and to hearken then the fat of Rams therefore it is nothing of that which is Natural of our selves neither Carnal Wisdom nor Humane Learning that can give true Knowledge of God and his Will to the Creature but it is the Lord's Work in the Creature through mercy to reveal himself by the Light of his Son which hath not only lightned me and some few more but every man that cometh into the World that through him who is Light and in him is no Darkness at all People might be saved from darkness and the deeds thereof which are Carnal Sensual and Devilish So all dear Hearts to the true Light which you are all enlightned with I commit you desiring you in God's fear it may lead you and guide you in all things at all times and be your Counsellor when you lie down and when you rise up and as you come to have unity with the Light of Christ Jesus you will come to witness Fellow ship and Unity with God and you will feel the strength of his Love to constrain you to love him honour and obey him with all your Hearts and Souls and so you will witness a growth and increase in the Knowledge of God in Christ Jesus and so become the Disciples and Followers of Christ and know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free and by the good Leadings thereof receive the end of your Faith even the Salvation of your Souls which is many thousand fold better than all earthly Pleasures and all earthly Enjoyments therefore why should we not sell all for that Kingdom which fades not away which stands not in Meats and Drinks but in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost which is prepared from all Eternity for them that believe in the Lord Jesus and for the Testimony of his Name are made willing to forsake all the World and the Glory thereof and love not their Lives unto Death so they may finish their Course with Joy in obeying or suffering what the Lord requires that for a Recompence of Reward they may receive Eternal Life with the little Lambâ— of my Father's fold who cries after the Lord in the Power of his Might to bring into his Rest the Prodigals in England that they may look upon him whom they have pierced as I have done who was one with them in the same excess of Riot but now through the largeness of the Love of God I am become alive who was dead and for the Seed's sake I cannot but declare those things which I have seen and heard R. M. To the Drunkards of England who were my Companions in the Kingdom of Darkness whom my Soul pities FRIENDS THE desire of my Heart is that all Men might come to the Knowledge of the Truth and be saved that thereby they might obtain Freedom and come forth of Egypt where Darkness remains to the Supper of the great King where Bread shall be given them and their Waters shall be sure therefore why should any perish with Hunger and the Way of Life and Fulness so near to every one even within them Truth in the inward parts which is sufficient to lead out of all Error and to guide their steps in the Paths of Peace therefore the Way is not so hard as the Souls Enemy would have People believe it is though it be said to be Narrow it is but to that part which cannot inherit God's Kingdom and those that come to Christ who is the Way to his Father who is the Light of Men to lead and guide them to his Father and to make his Yoke easie and his Burden light are his Witnesses who is that true Prophet Moses writ of Whom the Lord would raise like unto me saith he him shall you hear and every one that will not hear that Prophet shall be destroyed So all you who have not obeyed nor regarded that Prophet though you have been often check and reproved by him in your Hearts and Consciences though you obeyed him not loving your own Wills and Carnal Pleasures better then the God of your Life and if he should leave striving with you you are left without Excuse for he hath appeared to you who appeared outwardly in the days of his Flesh and hath now in these last days appeared inwardly by the Light of his Spirit according to the Scriptures which saith Christ within the hope of glory And blessed be the Lord thousands be living Witnesses of this Eternal Truth which is herein declared of not out of any Self-Exaltation but for the Praise of God whom I honour and the desire of my Soul and the end of my Writing is according to the good Will of God that all may come from under Death's bonds into the Light of the Lord Jesus which will let them see the Evil within them and the Deceivers without them who abide not in Christ's Doctrine but teache for Doctrine the Commandments of Men who are of the World whose Ways and Worships are vain who are Men-pleasers and respect mens Persons and receive Honour one of another contrary to Christ and his Royal Law who though he were a King he said he received not Honour from Men but those men are set up by man and are not true Followers of Christ nor keep his Sayings therefore I am bold to call them Seducers who follow the Lust of the Flesh Covetousness Drunkenness and Pride whose Lives are Prophane and Works are abomination to the Lord and I know they are seen by many who will confess they are such men as serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own Bellies and yet will not be diswaded from them but love to follow their pernicious ways rather then the Light of Christ Jesus which manifests them and though they be Convinced that they be not Godly Teachers nor sent of him yet they will not be Converted from them to the Light of Christ Jesus which would turn them from the Power of Satan to the Power of God wherein is Salvation to every one that believes to the Jew and also to the Gentile therefore is it not a sad thing to see how the Devil betwitcheth People and blinds their minds lest they should be turned to the Truth in this Day of the Lord's Power wherein he is more plentiously pouring forth of his Spirit upon the Seed of Jacob and his Blessings upon
his Off-spring which makes them cry to the Inhabitants of the Earth who have any sence and be not past feeling to come out from amongst them and touch not the unclean thing and the Lord will receive them Have you not read in the Scriptureâ— of Truth of a certain Rich Man that Christ spoke of who was clothed with Purple and fine Linnen and fared Sumptuously every day who dyed and was buried and being in great Torments desired to have one sent to his Father's house for he had five Brethren that he might warn then lest they should come to that place of Torment but it was denyed him Though it be this day testified to you through one who was dead and is by the Power and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ raised from Death to Life to warn People who are yet in Darkness and under the shadow of Death and under the power of a strange King to wit the Soul's Adversary to come forth of the Darkness and shew themselves in the Light of the Lord Jesus which lighteth every man that cometh into the World and will shew them their evil deeds and lead out of them and brings Salvation to all that are faithful and obey him which was the very end of his coming to save lost Men and lost Women from their Sins and to destroy the Works of the Devil which is Sin under which burden of Sin and Corruption the Spirit of the Lord hath suffered and the Lamb as one slain whose Bowels of Love and Merey now flows forth to his Creation Men and Women and would have them come to him that they might have Life but the God of the world hath blinded the Eye of their understanding whereby they are settled in a Life below the Son the end thereof will be more bitter than Death for their Rest is out of the Truth out of the holy Mountain in Egypt where the Innocent suffered and suffers and the Darkness remains upon such to this day and they will not give up to set forwards towards the Land of Peace and Rest for the way is tedious to that Nature they are in and the Enemies numerous therefore it is high time to feel after the good Old Way to the Land of Promise So in the fear of the Lord cast away the works of Darkness Sin and Evil and come to the Light of Christ Jesus that you may be armed with it whereby you may be drawn out of your Lusts out of your Pleasures out of your Pride out of your Covetousness out of vain Worships out of your idle talking and foolish Jesting out of your Drunkenness Wantonness and Vncleanness yea and from all manner of Sin into that which is Pure into that which is Holy which is of God's begetting and is of more value then all Created Objects is not that of God which testifies against Sin and Vngodliness yea I can truly say that was it which judged me and condemned me when I was young before I was made sensible what it was So all dear People fear the Lord and take heed of loving your Lusts better then the God of Life that manifests them with the brightness of his coming and with his breath would destroy them so then if you perish in your Evil ways your Destruction is of your selves in neglectiâ—â— so great Salvation and not prizing your Souâ—â— Redemption which is freely tendred in the Covenant of Light and Life which is Mercy 〈◊〉 speakable and that you shall one day confesâ— you are left without Excuse to your eternal Wâ—… and Misery for evermore if you go on in yoâ—â— Rebellion against the Lord and you shall remember you were warned by one who was 〈◊〉 Companion with you in your unfruitful Works 〈◊〉 Darkness called R. M. The true Teacher found which manifesteth mens Teachings unprofitable who deny the true Teacher within WHere is the Word the Life and Law Which keeps the Children in the Awe Where is the Truth the Grace Peace Which makes all Jars and Wars to cease Where is the Light that shines so bright Throughout the Nations in the Night Where is the true and safe possession The righteous Law above Profession Why do the Nations ' gainst it rise Is' t not because it testifies Against their deeds that they be evil Acted in service of the Devil Why doth the Woman Jezabel preach Who is forbidden for to teach And to seduce poor Souls with Lyes With painted shows and feigned cryes Tho' she be decked as a Queen All her Adulterous skirts are seen By those that cannot to her bend Nor ear unto her Witchcrafts lend Her Priests against delusion cries Although themselves be in that guise Being strangers to the Living way Amongst the dead they have their prey Tho' they the Scriptures often read Crying peace peace unto the dead Yet they cannot the mystery see Whose minds are dark i' th' Enmity Tho' humane Learning they have store That makes them but adore the Whore Being enriched by her gain Causeth them labour with their brain To keep in Darkness all they may Lest they should turn from them away Unto the Truth which was before False Prophet or the Scarlet Whore Which is the Way Christ the Churches Head Who gives his Children living Bread That they may never hunger more Being fed by his Eternal store Which flows forth to his Children dear Who are kept low in dread and fear Therefore all Souls that feed below The Bread of Life your Food we know To be no more than fed with death Feeding of that which is beneath The Son of Righteousness his Seed Who is Salvation sure indeed To all that in his Light believes But Sorrow to them his Spirit grieves Oh come to him who crys within And he 'l redeem you from all Sin For he hath often for you waited To have you turn from that he hated Who was not far from you unknown Checking for Sin to press it down He calls to all that would be free From Sin and all Iniquity To cease from man whose breath 's soon spent And hear but him who breath him lent Who is to his a perfect Teacher And is the only Spirit reacher Who came men's Lives not to destroy But Souls to save from all anoy Who walks in vertue of his Life Knows that which kills both Lust and Strife Of which a measure you have within That never gave consent to Sin But stood always a Witness pure Against him that would you allure So if Redeemed you would be Into the Christians Liberty Slight not your day of Visitation By looking at Predestination Not owning Christ that he should reign I' th' hearts of men Sin to restrain Therefore come search and try and hear Without Money in God's pure fear And willing be on him to waite Till he appear tho' it seem late Within your Breast you may him find If him to hear you be inclin'd So while it may be said to day Come come and see where the
Who promises your Souls to feast But you that 's by the Serpent led And likewise by the Hireling fed Poor food it is unto your Souls You feed on Earth amongst the Moles The dust you know is Serpent's meat And Plagues is to them that do eat Of any Bread but that is living Which is not of the Father's giving Which he keeps for his Children dear Even those that do him always fear Then those that have their birth-right sold For their Belly must pine with Cold And hunger must them pinch beside Because the Lord they have deny'd Who would have fed them to the full And cloth'd them better then with wool But seeing the Lord you have deny'd Before you came for to be try'd What you could suffer for his Name Rather then to deny the same The greater Plagues will be your due Then if you had not been i' th' view Of such things as are not fading Freely given without upbraiding Unto all those that faithful be Who lives and walks in purity But you that have prefer'd your Lives Children Houses or your Wives Before the Lord that bought you dear That you his Name might always fear Better you had not profest his Name Nor have made mention of the same Seeing you proved so deceitful And to the Truth turned hateful What may you now of him expect Who doth his Grace and Love reject For those that know their Master's will And accordingly do not fulfill More stripes are due unto their Back Then them that do such knowledge lack Repent repent I say with speed That from your Sin you may be freed For God is near to pardon all That in his Life do cry and call Or with the Wicked receive your hire Eternally in flames of Fire To the suffering Seed and Birth Immortal TO the Seed which yet in bondage lies And under great oppression cries To be delivered from such thrall That it is pressed down withall By the sad weight of earthly power Through the Enchantments of the Whore Which is gone forth over the Lands And 's not excluded with great Bands For all Nations under the Globe Polluted are with the Whore's Robe And none can stand against her Horns But in that Might that bore the Thorns And that 's the force that will subdue Her filthy and rebellious crue By which he will likewise make way For his own Seed without delay To pass as through a Sea of Water And all his Enemies soon will scatter Even Pharaoh like withall his Host And leave them not a man to boast Of what they 've gotten by their Might In all their Fightings in the Night Therefore all come and lay to heart The honest thing and set apart That which is evil in the ground And keep within the modest bound And you will see an Army great That in your hearts have got a seat Which will be work enough to quell For by your strength you 'l not repel Nor any force beneath the Sun Can that remove they have begun Unarm'd therefore you cannot stand Before the power of such a band Nor are you likely to prevail But must before them surely fail If not well armed with the Sword Of the Spirit which is the Word O' th God of Life of Power and Might Able to drive all out of sight That shall oppose his holy Will And likewise can their Blood soon spill So then it s not the strength of Arm Of Flesh that can preserve from harm Nor any force of humane Nature That can preserve men in that stature But that they must even soon decay If not refreshed day by day With the pleasant and living streams Which shines so bright with Chrystal beams Which springs and flows in these our dayes And fills our Hearts and Mouths with praise That we cannot now silent be But to declare what we do see And if the Enemy should prevail To cast our Bodies in some Goal As he hath done some heretofore Which faithful Testimony bore Against the Rulers in those times Who Spirit-worship counted crimes In this his day that God hath rais'd A Seed for which his Name be prais'd And if our Mouths be stopt from speaking In this good day of Light out-breaking We know the Lord can raise the dead To come with praises on their head Tho' they were dead as any Stones And had no moisture in their Bones Yet that would not be Consolation To those poor Souls in Reprobation But as we abide in the Spirit We see the wicked cannot inherit The promises made to the Seed According as hath been decreed Therefore they hate us every way Yet for them we can freely pray The Lord to open their blind Eyes That they may see whom they despise And this we can desire at large The Lord lay not unto their charge What they against us here have wrought When they our Lives Livings sought So Lord if it stand with thy Will Bring many Saints to Sion's Hill To hear thy Voice and pleasant Song Which thou hast sent the Babes among To be their comfort in this time Where Innocency is counted crime Which is a time of great tryal To prove if we will make denyal Of our true Faith and our Profession As those have done who want possession Of that sweet Life that shall endure And be to thine a comfort sure In which O Lord us always keep That we be safe when others sleep In their carnal securitie Blind i' th' darkness they cannot see From which O Lord keep us alwayes In thy pure Life thy Name to praise To the Hireling Shepherds ALL you that Preachers made by man See who requir'd that of you than To teach and preach for Lucres sake Under pretence Christians to make But your chief aim is for your gain Which makes you run with might and main To get your Merchandizes sold At a dear rate both new and old For to maintain your greedy paunch Which is your God him for to stanch A Law you have for to compel People to come to buy and sell Without approving of your Wares They must accept them as their shares Altho' they be not worth the buying Yet pay they must without denying Are not these sad and unjust things To pay for them no profit brings And this you sell without controul Which adds no comfort to the Soul Nor all the feigned words you steal Cannot a wounded Conscience heal But daubing with untempered durt Instead of Cure you do them hurt For still you seem to be in nature Ravenous Wolves in humane stature Which doth both raven and devour Rich mens Estates as also poor Tho' you be clothed with Sheep-skin The Wolf 's alive in you within Which makes you rob spoil the flocks And utterly destroy men's stocks You 'r Truth-resisters by your signs Being the men of corrupt minds And such as now cumber the Ground For no good Fruit in you are found So you are prov'd the fruitless Trees And like the drones which