of God and man 11. Therefore cometh now likewise the u Ezec. 7. end and Gods mighty hand upon the ungodly which have had no will to Gods Love x Rom. 2. 2 Thess 2. nor liked that the Love should râ—ign over them But Gods mercy cometh over his Elect which sigh and pray night and day unto him y Luke 18. and have an hunger and thirst z Matth. 5. after the Righteousness 12. For truly the gracious time cometh and is now already come wherein the blessed people of the Lord shall a Isa 60.61 and 65. and 66. Eccl. 2. delight recreated and rejoyce them 13. In which this gracious time there shall nothing be figurely or Image like nor yet also the Testimonies of the Truth of God b Matt. 13. Luke 8. any Parables or Similitudes to the children of the Kingdom for through Gods heavenly Truth the Light of Life-from Heaven all whatsoever is of God and Truth becometh now published unto them c Ioh. 16. openly nakedly or clearly from the right hand of God the Father and they are made heirs therein under the obedience of the Love 14. Yea the holy Spirit of Love which is a comforter of the heart whom the Father sendeth in the name of the Truth the Beeing of Christ he d Ioh 14. and 15. and 16. teacheth and declareth all things unto them namely all what was spoken unto them in times past concerning the Truth as Parables or Similitudes for in times past the whilest the covering which is the foreskin of the flesh of sin was yet before their hearts and the Vail which is the flesh of Christ still before the clearness of the fare of God and Christ they could not g Ioh. 16. endure that which is the clearness of the holy Ghost it self 15. But when as now in their new birth the Vailâ— departeth from their hearts so is it all thâ—n Light and life unto them through the holy Spirit of Love h 2 Cor. 3. and 4. Col. 2. which cometh unto them out of the Father i Ephe 5. from the uncovered face of Christ as also k Iohn 14. and 16. remaineth with them everlastingly and leadeth them into all Truth It is very true 16. Come now all hither O ye peaceable children together with all ye which love the Truth and Peace and have your Forth-going in the Spirit l Rom 6.8 Phil. 3. to the life of the new birth in Jesus Christ according to the Requiring of the Word of the Lord and his service of Love 17. Fly now m Zach. 2. out of the North and out of all wildernessed Lands Rest not your selves among the strange people nor among any of the enemies to the house and service of Love but assemble you with us into n Isa 60. Zach 8. Apo. 21. the holy City of Peace the new Jerusalem which is descended from heaven and prepared by God like a garnished Bride for her Husband 18. O Jerusalem thou holy City of the great King o Isa 60. the Light of thy God of Israel doth now rise up over thee according to the Promises 19. Therefore p Isa 51. and 52. and 60. Baruc 5. stand now up and set thy self in the high place and look round about thee towards the East or Sun rising and behold the Comfort which cometh unto thee from God 20. Behold q Isa 43. thy children assembled them together from the Sun rising and going down rejoycing them in the holy Word and are mindfull of God 21. They were r Bar. 5. led away captive from thee on foot by the enemies But now thee Lord bringeth them unto thee and exalteth them with Honor as it beseemeth the children of the Kingdom 22. For God will bring down Å¿ Isa 2.40 Bar. 5. all high Hills and make the high stony rocks and the Vallyes plain that Israel may t Gen. 23.33 walk and dwell free without fear to the honor of his his God 23. The Groves and u Bar. 5. all pleasant sweet-smelling trees shall shadow Israel round about by the commandment of the Lord. 24. For God will now in this day of his Love x Bar. 5. be gracious unto his people and through his mercy bring Israel again y 2 Mac. 2. with joy as also lead them continually with his Righteousness in the clearness of his Majesty c. 25. Now this passed over will in the Testimonies of the spiritual Land of Promise rehearse more at large touching the holy ones of the God of Israel and of their garnishing as also distinct the wildernessed lands and the unpeaceable people from the good land and the peaceable people to the end that the death and destruction may be understood and known from the life and preservation of salvation z Deut. 30. Ier. 21. Eccl. 25.35 and that no man may err ignorantly 26. But hereforth on following in this our Preface before the beginning of the spiritual Land of Promise we wil rehearse the mercy of God where through this lovely rest of the spiritual land of Promise is out of Gods heavenly truth appeared unto us and the knowledg thereof given us to understand therefore hear and understand ye dearly beloved 27. Forasmuch now as we had a great desire to the place a Psa 95. Heb. 4. of Rest and Peace which God hath promised and that we sought after the same with a fervent longing for that we might finde it or come to the knowledg of the same holy Land of Promise so hath the God of heaven been gracious unto us and not shut from us the knowledg of his holy Land which he hath promised unto his People as a land of Rest and Peace b Exod. 3. Heb. 4. neither yet covered nor hid from us his Truth of the same 28. But verily we are gone thorow or passed beyond many and sundry maner of wildernessed lands and ignorant people and so have considered of the nature of every land and people 29. In all which we have found the strange ignorant people very unpeaceable and divided in many kinde of maners dispositions and natures as also vexed with many unprofitable things to a great disquietness and much misery c Isa 42. and 59. unto them all 30. The whilest we considered diligently hereon so found we by experience that every people had their disposition and nature according to the disposition and nature of the land wherein they dwelt or were born 31. But when we passed thorow and perused used all this same so have we through the mercy of God at the end of all this found a lovely land d Isa 26.60 Zach. 8. or a peaceably city whose people and none other is a peaceable concordable and lovely people agreably minded living peaceably and are faithful to each other Into the which peaceable City and unto the peaceable people of the same the Lord the God of heavens hath
fellowship with God the Father and his Christ and with the holy Ghost and all the Saints of God in the everlasting life And therefore seeing that they do know that that same wherewith they have fellowship is the fulness of all vertues and wisdom so do they hold them concordably unto each other b 1 Cor. 12 and 13. under the Love and stand affected only to this good City for there is no where any better thing to be found no not any where the like 11. For there wanteth nothing within this City but she is ful of all maner of c Apo. 1. and 22. riches and pure beauties which also are unspeakable with tongue and not possible to be written CHAP. XXXIII SEeing then that these precious riches are so utterly unknown to the people that are without them and that be not assembled unto them therefore also one a Isa 64. 2 Cor. 2. cannot well expound or declare unto them the unspeakable garnishing and joy of the same City nor the beauty and value of her riches nor yet make it known unto them in their knowledg namely how glorious and great how lovely peaceable and delightful they are 2. But unto those that are in this good City of Peace and to those that go into it thorow the gate of the City it is well known and not else to any others for to them it is given to understand b Matt. 11. and 13. Ephe. 3. the Mystery of the same kingdom but to those that are without it it is not given and therefore likewise all things happen unto them by Similitudes and Parables 3. Therefore all other lands and people are unperfect broken or divided but this good land is a perfect good this peaceable people is also an undivided people and are altogether c Ioh. 17. one in the love of their God and Christ therefore they are likewise no more but one body or one d Isa 2.4 man with each other in the same Love 4. For through the new birth in the Love of God and Christ they are all one e Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. it one beeing as many members of one body in one life 5. Whosoever also cometh into this good City of Peace he becometh f 1 Pet. 1. altogether born anew in the Spirit under the obedience of the Love through the said Love and her Service for he is changed in every part as g Rom. 12. Ephe. 4. in sences thoughts and minde 6. And whosoever is not born again thorow the Love and her service nor assembled unto it through the new birth h Ioh. 3. 1 Cor. 2.2 〈◊〉 likewise may not see or behold nor yet obtain these riches of God neither in thâ—â— time nor ever hereafter 7. But he that goeth into it through the Love and her service and as new born in the Spirit to him also it is all i Isa 43. 2 Cor. 5. Apo. 21. new what he seeth heareth and knoweth in the same for he hath neither understood known comprehended nor inherited any of those things before that time 8. How were it then possible that one should be able to describe or express at full all the amiableness of this City and all the good decentness and orders of this land and people with all her k Isa 64. 1 Cor. 2. Riches and Garnishing together with all her Rest and Joy and with her unfained Love pure Life and peaceable Unity all which is to be found therein 9. But it is and becometh rightly known unto all those that come into this City of Rest and that are become united and agreeably minded with this lovely people for as then there is no more l Soph. 3. 1 Ioh. 3. evil nor evil suspition nor yet sight of evil in them for within the same one doth neither see nor think any thing else but all m Isa 51. and 54. Good Joy Rest and Peace in the everlasting life 10. And the comer in who through the counsel of the chief elder in the godly Understanding of God is passed thorow the Passeover of the way that leadeth into the same and so is come into this good City thorow the Nature of God and united with this lovely people in unity of the Peace and of the Love he rejoyceth him likewise with unspeakable n Isa 60. and 61. and 65. joy in the same land as also recreateth o Psa 96. and 112. himself exceedingly in her Garnishing and thanketh and laudeth God for the great grace and mercy that is chanced unto him through the love of God the Father and her Service 11. Even thus becometh his heart joyful in the lovely Beeing of the friendly people where through he feeleth himself to be changed in all points in his Spirit like one that is risen p Rom. 6.8 Col. 3. from the Death into the everlasting Life wherein all rest faithfulness q Zach. 7.8 and Truth all Love Peace and Righteousness is found 12. Yea all the whole peaceable people of the Love do likewise rejoyce them every one when as any one repenteth r Luke 15. for his sins and so cometh into this City under the Obedience of the Love and uniteth him with that same peaceable people which liveth and dwelleth therein CHAP. XXXIV IN this holy City there is also a Light which is an everlasting and very true Light a Isa 60. 4 Esd 2. Apo. 21.22 that alwayes shineth and continueth for evermore in that land Wherefore there is neither night nor darkness there but alwayes day and clearness 2. This same Light is not risen up through any riches of the knowledg of Good and Evil nor come forth through any wisdom of man but it is the very true light of Life b Joh. 1. 1 Joh. 1. that hath been from eternity and that shall remain for ever 3. And the same is named c Joh. 1. The everlasting Life that was with God the Father in the beginning and all whatsoever is made is made through the same but without the same there is nothing made of all whatsoever is made 4. This everlasting life serveth d Joh. 1. for a light unto men to a peaceable walking of their course is this holy City of Peace 5. And the same Light is an upright and undeceiveable Light e Joh. 1. to the illuminating of all people namely of those f Ioh 10. Apo. 22. that do go into the City of Peace thorow the gate and that are adjoyned to the peaceable people 6. Therefore also the true life and the promised rest of the heart is only in this good City of Peace for without the same and without the way or passing-over that leadeth into it and among all those that separate themselves there-from there is nothing but death g Gen. 3. misery and calamity for without the same are the h Apo. 22. Inchanters the Dogs and Wolves and all wilde beasts
spirituall holy City of Peace a 1 Reg. 8.10 have no heads nor Kings that are borne of the Flesh and and Blood of Sinne For their King or the Head of their Body is the eternall and most mighty King b 3 Reg. 8 2 Par. 2.6 who is so great and glorious that no creature c Esa 66. Act. 7. nor any house made by the work of mans hand no nor yet all the heavens of heaven can comprehend or containe d Psa 104. Jer. 25. him 2. This great glorious King is a e Esa 9. peaceable Prince in this good City and this King is named f Col 1. Goas-true being as his name is also mentioned g Supra 26. before bearing all things h Heb. 1. with the Word of his Power and clenseth his people from the sin through himself and is fore-seen and chosen to be an heire of all things for that it may all live unto him 3. To this noble King of the heavenly glory do they live and are obedient unto him not by compulsion but out of inclined love and out of a good i 1 Pet. 1. nature of their God like-fellow-members k 1 Cor. 12. of one body of the godly truth who doe show forth nothing else but love and peace according l Joh. 13.15 1 Joh. 4. to the disposition and nature of their King named Gods-true-being which Prince m Esa 9. shall raigne for evermore according to the promises 4. This King of peace and his peaceable Commonalty of Kingly people and this Land of Peace is named A Kingdom of Kings because they are every one Kings n 1 Pet. 2. Briests and Anoynted ones that dwell in this Land 5. And besides this one Kingdome of Kings there are no Kingdomes in the whole world that are rich of Kings but they are altogether poore of Kings and are all likewise bond-servants o Rom. 6. 2 Pet. 2. and captive slaves 6. And therefore also is this City of Peace only a Kingdome of Kings and they are all likewise free p Apo. 22. Kings and Lords that dwell therein The same City also with all what joyneth thereunto is an abundant rich land as likewise full of all Commodities that doe serve the people to the life and joy 7. This people of this same Land q Deut. 4. is also an understanding wise people For they have their inhabiting in Gods understanding and stand comprehended in the light of life r Joh. 17. being united in Gods true being 8. There is likewise no right understanding nor wisdome to be found in the whole world but only in this Land of Peace among this lovely people therefore is also this Land the best of all Lands and the people that dwell therein the most understanding and righteous people CHAP. XXXIX THis Land bringeth forth a fit herb for the food of the people and it is named a Deut. 8. Sap. 16. Mat. 4. John 6. Gods living Word by which food they doe live and rejoyce them in the good tast thereof and there is no other food taken by them for seeing they are heavenly and spirituall men so eat they likewise no other but the heavenly and spirituall food 2. In this Land there is also very good b Pro. 9. wine whereof the people of the Land doe drink and become exceeding merry therein and it is named The mind of God 3. There is likewise a c Apo. 22. living fountaine wherein the people of this City doe delight them and take their recreation and refreshing in the same the fouâ—tain is named A firme confidence in God 4. This people goeth also very gorgiously apparelled and the Garments are so very clear that one may behold the inward Members of their body naked and bare quite thorough them 5. Which apparell of the people and their garnishing or the Jewells of their beauty are named d Apo. 19. The justification of the Saints 6. To be short all manner of riches and all the Ornaments of God be found in this Land among e Esa 64. 1 Cor. 2. this lovely people the Members of the truth of God which peaceable people doth possesse the wealthy land of the godly understanding 7. In which plentifull Land there are no sundry chosen-out God-services nor severall Religions or Ceremonies used but the God-service that they doe use and with the which they are serviceable unto all men f Eph. 4. Col. to an unity of heart with them in all love is one only and true God-service which extendeth to the holy Spirit of love and to the everlasting life as also unto the holy City of Peace and of her peaceable people which God-service is well pleasing before God and to a salvation of men and it is named g Joh. 13. 1 John 3.4 The Service of Love with the administration of the spirituall and heavenly goods 8. Which service of love they do likewise h Rom. 12 15. Eph. 4. show forth on each other in peaceableness of heart and the same is their religion or God-service they know not also of any other Religion or God-service then of the service of love i Joh. 13.15 Col. 3. 1 Pet. 1. c. 3. 1 Joh. 3.4 and to love one another and so to keep themselves pure k Jam. 1. or unspotted of the world 9. Which pure God-service and most holy Religion and the ministration of the gracious word and service of love that tendeth thereunto is availeable before God and acceptable l unto him and not any other that be used without the same God-service of love CHAP. XL. THe people of this Land do in their God-service serve the most high God a Deut. 5.32 Psal 18. Esa 45. who is God only and they are subject to no other Gods nor Lawes nor Ceremonies but only to the Lord their God and to his most holy service of love 2. Also they are not subject to the creatures nor to any created thing as properly to belong thereunto but onely to the Creator b Gen. 1. Rom. 1. that hath made all creatures and created things 3. This God whom only they serve is a secret c Esa 45. God a God that dwelleth d Psal 2. 22. 115. in the heavens moveth above all heavens who likewise hath comprehended all in his hand whatsoever is 4. The same God is exceeding great glorious and miraculous and besides him there is no e Deut. 32. God more neither in heaven nor upon earth whose Name is knowne only in himselfe and in his 5. He is the f 1 Joh. 4. Love the g Joh. 14. Truth and the Spirit and the Spirit is the everlasting life in the truth and in the love 6. He is the true substance of all substances h Joh. 1. the true life of all lives the true light of all lights the true mind of all minds 7. He is the true power or
spirituall things according to the mind of their flesh and witnessed of them in the same manner also For that cause likewise the right a 1 Cor. 2 knowledge of the spiritual and heavenly understanding hath not in the cleernesse of the true b Sap. 5. light shined unto them 3. Forasmuch then as they were c Eph. 4. yet estranged from the true light of life and of love and stood not subjected under the love nor to the requiring of her service therefore have they also made up themselves so much the stouter against us and against our most holy Service of Love 4. But all that which is happened unto us by them and by all those that turne them away from us or which doth yet daily happen unto us as to slander or speak evill of us and reproachfully with many lies to defame and to persecute us with falshood have we for the love of Christ his sake indured at their hands d Mat. 5. Heb. 12. in all patience giving laud and thanks unto God with joy for that he hath accounted us worthy for to suffer e Act. 5. reproach slander and persecution for his love and truths sake to the end that our most holy Service of Love and the godly Doctrine of the same might in the proceeding on or continuance of our patience so much the more break thorow f 1 Cor. 4. 2 Cor. 6. or come to light unhindered and become generally knowne to be the true God-service that God requireth and that it might also be knowne that we are unguilty of the false bruits that be laid to our charge behind our backs and that we doe Minister the g 2 Cor. 6 Word of the Truth of God and Christ under the obedience of the Love to the peace and salvation of men 5. For verily this assured confidence have we in the Lord that although our Cause be oppressed or contemned by many for a certain time yet shall notwithstanding h Eccles 1. in his time the just or the right understanding ones commend our wisdome which God hath graciously given to us and laud God for the same 6. But truly those that do now charge contemne and with their venemous i Psal 14. Jer. 9. Rom. 3. Serpents tongues sharply reprehend or maliciously speak evill of us and persecute us have not spoken evill of and contemned us only but also k Mat. 10. Luk. 10. Acts 9. 2 Thes 4. God himselfe who is our true Master-builder of his house of Love and have judged his holy service of Love through the which we do testifie and publish abroad the upright righteousnesse before God and Men for a most detestable error and so with their false judgement have drawn away l Mat. 18. many wavering hearts from the same 7. But alas the which out of the good nature of the Love maketh us sorry for them the judgment and the condemnation wherewith they have judged and condemned us is come upon themselves m Mat. 7. Rom. 2. for with all their judgement over us they have not condemned us but themselves inasmuch as they are found guilty in that which they have judged over us CHAP. LIV. O My beloved hearts in the Love of Jesus Christ forasmuch now as we do consider all this to stand thus over our enemies and that it is become manifest unto us therefore let not their misunderstanding and their resistance against us be any offence unto us neither yet let us make up our selves against them a Rom. 12 1 Pet. 3. to requite evill but pray unto b Mat. 5. God for them that the Lord will give unto them and unto all erring or strayed hearts and unto all those which out of their ignorance and unskilfulnesse in the truth do slander and persecute us as likewise unto all those that have turned them away from us and our godly Doctrine c Eph. 1. eyes of true sight and hearts of upright understanding that they may see and know their error and turn them d Eze. 18. 33. penitently to the Love and her Service and so under the obedience of the love become amended touching all their errors and evill deeds and may through the Love and her Service be raised up e Esa 35. Heb. 12. againe from their fall or be set upright in the truth and godlinesse O yea that same with prayer unto our God is all our desire towards all our enemies to the end that they might every one turn them to the love of Jesus Christ receive the Doctrine and requiring of the Service of Love obediently and so under the obedience of the Love might live in the upright godlinesse of Jesus Christ 2. Wherefore ye deerly beloved for to avoid all perills of destruction so let not every man take upon him to be a f Mat. 22. Jam. 3. Teacher or a Minister of the Word much lesse a Judge of the Truth for therethrough bringeth he the more grievous g Rom. 2. judgement and condemnation over himself 3. For it is not every mans office to be a Teacher or Minister of the holy Word but only his that h Exod. 28 Num. 17. Heb. 5. like unto Aaron is raised up promoted or chosen thereunto by God and his Word whose rod or stock verily doth also even like unto Aarons rod wax green and blossom and beareth fruit and his likewise who in the first Schoole-rule of the Christian Doctrine of the Service of Love hath like a faithfull i Joh. 15. Acts 1. Disciple of the Word and lover of the true being of Jesus Christ received the Doctrine and Administration of the holy Word from the Elders in the Family of Love obediently with a simple heart and so is growne up under the obedience of the Love in the holy and godly understanding till unto the k Eph. 4. Col. 2. old age of the Man Christ and taught to the l Mat. 13. Kingdome of the God of heavens 4. Who doth then also as a meet Elder and Houshold Father in the Family of Love m Mat. 13. bring forth out of his Treasure both the new and the old in whom likewise Christ with his Spirit of Love hath his n Joh. 14. 17. dwelling and shape and also his being like unto a flowing or o John 7. springing fountaine of living waters 5. Which living waters do then likewise flow p John 7. from his body with the which the thirsty souls after the righteousnesse be refreshed and the Lords fields or tilled lands moistened or made wet to a fruitfulnesse for to bring forth good fruits which doe serve the life of man to q Apo. 22. all healthfulnesse 6. Behold such a one which with his understanding and thoughts is thus in all r 1 Pet. 1. obedience to the gracious Word and the requiring of his service of Love Å¿ Joh. 17. Eph. 3. 2 Pet. 1. incorporated to the
Sprit of God and Life of Christ and knoweth t Joh. 8 the truth in that manner he verily hath rightly continued stedfast in the Doctrine of Christ and is meet likewise to minister u Joh. 15. Acts 1. the holy Word of Truth and to be a Teacher of the people and not those which doe yet carry the x 2 Cor. 3 fore-skin before their hearts nor yet those which are still earthly y Gal 1. and fleshly minded and so turning themselves away from us and running forth of themselves do sow nothing else but pernicious seed among the people CHAP. LV. WHerefore it is in like manner found true that the fleshly-minded ones which sow upon the flesh or which build upon the fore-skin of their uncircumcised hearts doe mow a Gal. 6. the corruption and inherite the destruction 2. But those that are b Ier. 4. Col. 2. circumcised on their hearts in the laying away of the fore-skin of the sinfull flesh and in the obeying of the requiring of our most holy Service of Love are become spiritually minded and so then out of the upright being of the love of Jesus Christ do sow upon the Spirit c Gal 6. or build upon the spirituall which is the true being it selfe those same do receive or reap the fruits of blessing d 2 Esd 2. in the everlasting immmortality which do not perish e Joh. 15. but continue for ever in the eternall life 3. For all flesh although it doe also speak of spirituall and heavenly things through his knowledge yet is it doubtlesse nothing else but like f Esa 40. 1 Pet. 1. Jam. 1. the grasse of the field and all his garnishing of beauty and holinesse is also like unto the flowers of the field behold the grasse drieth away and the beauty of the flowers of the field withereth or decayeth 4. But the spirituall good the power of God and his g Sap. 1. 7. Heb. 1. living being wherein all what is of God standeth firme and floweth thereout remaineth stedfast h 1 Pet. 1. unchangeable for ever and in the same or through the manifestation of the same being the Kingdome of the God of heavens cometh i Luk. 17. inwardly in us and that is the k Joh. 1.17 true light of the everlasting life 5. Whose naked cleernesse although the same be nothing else but light and life is l Esa 29. Mat. 11. 13. 2 Cor. 4. hidden shut and covered from all understandings and wisdomes of the flesh and from all those that are minded on the flesh or that build thereon 6. But it is manifest and shineth bright to the circumcised of heart and to the upright spirituall-minded ones m 1 Cor. 2 in a spirituall heavenly understanding and the same cleernesse is the n 1 Joh. 1. being of God from heaven the upright o Eph. 4. righteousnesse and holinesse and the life p Joh. 17. of God in eternity 7. Wherefore ye deerly beloved seeing that the q Apo. 3. doore of life is now by Gods grace opened unto us the r Mat. 3. Kingdome of the God of heavens and the heavenly Jerusalem Å¿ Esa 60. Apo. 21. or City of Peace descended downe to us and come neerby therefore let us take good heed unto such a time of the godly t 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 12. grace and not neglect despise or contemne the same but as goodwilling children of Faith take speciall heed unto it and so in the v Mat. 3. Acts 2. 3. doing of upright fruits of repentance enter u Hâ—b 4. 10. into the same according to the Spirit and live therein 8. But not according to the thinking-good or imagination of our own hearts nor according to the mind of the earthly wisdome wherethorow many have estranged x Eph. 4. them from the truth of life but according to the mind and requiring of the Service of Love and of the Spirit of the heavenly y Sap. 1.7 Jam. 3. wisdome which extendeth to the land of the living and City of Peace 9. For if we will contiue safely kept from all sâ—ducing and destruction and enter rightly z Heb. 4. into the rest according to the promises of God the Father then must we submit our selves a 1 Reg. 15 1 Pâ—t 1. obediently under the gracious Word of the Lord and the godly Doctrine of his Service of Love and so in the Spirit enter into the foresaid rich City of peace Gods secret understanding thorow the nature of God and tast therein the spirituall heavenly things and all life and sweetnesse for even there in the same one is come to the b Rom. 8. Col. 1. rest of all the Saints and Children of God and there one eateth of the wood of life that standeth in the c Gen. 2. Apo. 2.22 middest of Paradise and liveth for evermore 10. Which Paradise and place of rest is shut d Gen. 3. and hidden before the old man of errour and it shall likewise continue hidden for ever before all those which according the nature of Adam are falling away e Esa 59. from the holy Commandement of God and Christ and so are erring from the truth of Jesus Christ and his Church for those same are they that carry the right Aprons f Gen. 3. 2 Cor. 3. or coverings before their hearts which Adam hath made him which aprons or coverings of Adam is the hiding of the transgressions or of the sins 11. Therfore can no man see g John 3. the Kingdom of God except the aprons the taking on of Adam be put off from his heart that is that he do make manifest himselfe h Pro. 28. Eccl. 4.17 uncoveredly in his sins of disobedience towards God and do forsake i Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2. Heb. 12. or lay away the same in the obedience to the gracious Word of God and to the Service of his Love and that he even so becometh borne anew k Joh. 3. in the Spirit and is become plaine l Job 1. Mat. 18. 1 Cor. 14. and just and simple like unto a new-born Babe and doth grow up therein obediently taking nothing upon him any more nor yet hiding himself any thing at al before the face of God nor before the Ministers of his gracious Word 12. For whosoever doth not thus simply receive the Kingdome of God m Mat. 10. Luk 8. as a child he also shall not enter into it but must remain n Tess 1. separated from such a clearnesse of the godly light for ever and not tast o Mat. 22. or know any of the godly heavenly goods much lâ—sse inherite them CHAP. LVI BEhold because now that the craftinesse of the old man is counted by the man therefore doth likewise the noble a Gen. 3. rest the Paradise of the Lord and the Kingdom of the God of heavens as also his
spirituall and heavenly b Mat. 13. riches remain shut and covered or hidden from the man and he cannot find the way to the tree of life 2. But the same standeth c 4 Esd 8. Apo. 2. 22. open and also uncovered before all those which in like manner are open or d Eccles 4. 17. uncovered of heart before the Elders in the Family of Love for those same even like unto Christ and all his believers are minded to nothing else but to life peace and righteousnesse and so then likewise Jesus Christ the gracious Word of the Lord is unto them a e Pro. 3. tree of life in the Paradise of the Lord and the true being of God the heavenly Father which Christ after the Spirit hath his manifestation out of the love thorow her service so through his Spirit service of Love he begetteth or teacheth among us the f Mat. 11. humility and meekness of heart g Eph. 4. to unity of peace in all love 3. Whosoever now is not of the mind of Adam neither yet that the work of Adam hath through the Serpents counsell captivated him in h Gen. 3. the knowledge but that he unlearneth all in the same againe through the Service of Love and is taught i Eph. 4. 1 Tim. 4. or becometh taught in all love according to the mind of Christ he also belongeth k Joh. 13. unto Christ and is in the holy City of rest and Peace or he goeth into the same the right way 4. Loe such are the right believers the children of life and the warlike Champions which through the l Apo. 7. 12. blood of the Lamb have overcome or are overcoming the evill who do possesse or shall possesse all things with joy and are a lovely people m Eze. 19. 1 Pet. 2. a holy Kingly generation and do eat the breat and drinke the wine with Christ and his holy ones at the table of the Lord n Luke 22 Apo. 3. in the Kingdome of the God of heavens 5. Forasmuch then as they have in the Service of Love turned o Mat. 18. themselves about to be obedient children and have laid off the p Deut. 10 2 Cor. 3. fore-skin of the old man from their hearts therefore is likewise the Kingdome of God q 4. Esd 8 Act. 7. opened unto them and the mystery of the same given them to r Mat. 11. 13. understand the which remaineth shut unknowne Å¿ Lâ—k 10. 1 Cor. 1.2 and secret before all the wise of the world before all unregenerated rich of spirit and Scripture learned ones as also before all unbelievers of the Love and before all those that blaspheme and resist the Service of Love and that are uncircumcised on the fore-skin of the old man 6. And as long as they are unbelieving and disobedient or resistant towards the Love and her Service so doth not doubtlesse any of all their wisdom t Esa 29. 1 Cor. 1. and learning nor yet any searching in the depth of their understanding nor any subtilty in the knowledge help or further them any thing for to come to the same but are much more in the way against them or they do all stand as lets unto them to come to the u 2 Cor. 11 simplicity of Christ 7. Therefore is there nothing more needfull for the man at the first whereby he may enter into the life then that he do x Mat. 11.18 Luke 14. submit himselfe under the obedience of the Love and so become taught in the Service of Love for to unlearne again y Mat. 16. Phil. 3. all what he of himself hath taken on and learned 8. Now when he hath in this sort humbly yeelded himself under the Service of love z Mat. 19. and in the same hath unlearned all his taking on then doth he in like manner rightly receive the true Doctrine of the wisdome of God and becometh taught in all love 9. But not according to a mind of the flesh in the earthly a 1 Cor. 1.2 corruptible thing but according to the mind of the Spirit of Christ in the heavenly everlasting goods 10. Now when the new b 2 Cor. 5 Creature in Christ is there appeared in the obedience of the Love then is also the old quite perished there for behold it is there become c Esa 43.66 Apo. 21. all new through Jesus Christ 11. And that same is the gracious hand of God towards the man through his love and it is his promise to the blessing of all generations of the earth CHAP. LVII TO this a Joh. 3. Rom. 12. 1 Thess 4. renewing in the Spirit of Christ we are all called ye dearly beloved because that we should be spiritually minded in the spirit of our minds whereby to inherite in that sort with Christ b Mat. 13. Col. 2. the spirituall heavenly riches and to walk and deal before each other with naked hearts in c Eph. 4. all love 2. To the end now for to have or to enter into this open-heartednesse and love with each other whereunto we doe love all lovers of the truth that have diligently d Phil. 3. Col. 3. minded the love and the peace of Christ we have with these present testimonies witnessed of the true Kingdom of God and Christ as a Land or e Apo. 11. City of Peace and described and figured forth the passage unto it as a way that men travell thorow and the entrance into the Kingdome wherein the f Rom. 12 Eph. 4. renewing of the sense and mind is manifested as a gate or door 3. We have moreover signified or shewed in writing before the lover of the Kingdom all what he must g Mat. 19. forsake if he will come to the good land of Peace or enter into the h Heb. 4. rest of all the holy ones of God 4. But not that the lover of the good land shall therefore think that he must first come to every one of the forementioned horrible places or that he must passe thorow them all before he can come to the good City of Peace 5. O no ye dearly beloved but the cause why we have marked out all the abhominations and desolations is for to make knowne every place of deceit i 2 Cor. 2. 11. Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5. and all seducing or leading away from the good land of life to the end that no man should be let by any of those same for entring into the noble Land full of Life and Peace 6. Also for this cause for to warn every one that are lovers of the true being of all vaine and false perswasions because that if any thing therof should chance to meet them they should not then be afraid nor yet joyn to the same for it is all deceit and bewitching and all k Luk. 9.14 such things must be forsaken if we will go into the good life of rest CHAP. LVIII IN what place soever now a lover of the good Land findeth himself being yet for the present time without the same he may then goe out of a Mat. 16. 2 Cor. 6. and forsake it and so according to the counsell b Tob. 4. of the Elders in the holy understanding in the Family of Love indeavour himself to proceed forward to the c Psa 37. Esa 30. submission that is to a submitted being without any desiring of self-wills choosing d Mat. 10. 16. and to stand unbound or free from his selfnesse and let him take unto him the equity and so enter thorow Gods holy nature into Gods understanding e Joh. 10. 17. the everlasting being of the heavenly truth through which entrance into the same all minds and thoughts be released and f John 8. made free from all what is vaine and corruptible in the world and from all captivity to the earthly things and creatednesse for to inherite even so the eternall life the Kingdome of the heavenly beauty and the upright being of Gods everlasting uncreatednesse in all love perpetually 2. That same is the everlasting g Gen. 2. perfection wherein neither the thoughts of corruption nor yet any mortality can h Apo. 21. indure but that which is pure clean and cleer according to the spirituall form of the heavenly things 3. Behold such is the Kingdome of Peace i Apo. 12. 21. the heavenly beauty and the holy Land of Promise to the k Gen. 22. blessing of all generations of the earth 4. And that is the holy rest l Esa 32. Heb. 4. and the noble freedome which God hath reserved for the children of God and given them now m 4 Esd 7. Col. 1. in the last time for an everlasting inheritance according to the Promises 5. Now the only God of Life grant the same rest unto us all Amen Take it to heart Charitas extorsit per H. N.
right door which we do shew then should the piece of Ordnance o Ephe. 6. The power of God be too mighty for him and the walls p 1 Pet. 3. The free minde of the true beeing should be much too high to clime over and the River q Mal. 4. The Righteous Judgment of God and the strong winde The Spirit of the Almighty God should overthrow r Isa 29. break and scatter him abroad and utterly drive him away from the knowledg of the right way that leadeth to the good City of Peace and Life 9. But all the lovers of this good City that love the Peace and the Simplicity of life in the Love with all their hearts and that seek and desire nothing else but the Å¿ Matt. 11. meekness faithfulness and truth in the Love and desire to be no t 1 Pet. 5. Lorders over the Riches of this City nor over any of all her garnishing of sumptuous beauty but servants in the same those do go into the City of Peace and Rest with the Equity thorow the right u Ioh. 10. door and do live x Apo. 20. eternally in the everlasting life in the Communialty of the Love of the lovely people CHAP. XXXII THis holy City named Gods vnderstanding which is very beautiful goodly and delectable hath for her beauty and riches sake many assaults But whosoever hath not a a Ioh. 7. desire with all his heart to perform the Lords Will and all b Mat. 3.8 Righteousness he shall not come therein 2. But although now that this good City be unknown c Isa 64. 1 Cor. 2. unto all strange or outlandish people yet is the same notwithstanding sought after d Isa 9. Luke 13. with great labour by many that are without her to the end to know and to receive her beauty and riches also much consulted of as likewise great counsel held thereon in divers maners and much learned e 2 Tim. 3. and studied after the same But if they do not enter into nor pass thorow this way that we do shew and that directeth thereunto f 4 Esd 7. Matt. 19. then shall they also never know the same nor her Riches of pure beauty much-less possess them 3. For the Consulting Studying and Learning let it come to pass with what incessant Diligence and careful travel that it will g 2 Cor. 1. and 2. 1 Tim. 3. is doubtless all in vain For there shal no man know nor receive or inherit either her riches or beauty but those that stand submitted under the Obedience of the Love as also that do learn of the Love and her Service the h Matt. 11. humility and meekness of heart and so do in that maner enter into the same thorow the right door even as children that are born i Ioh 3. 1 Pet. 1.2 anew out of the Love through her Service 4. Seeing then that the beauty of the form of this good City is not known to the people that are without her so is there likewise nothing at all of her wisdom understood by any of all those that are without her therefore her form of beauty and her unsearchable wisdom is known and understood k Wisd 9. only by those that do walk and pass thorow the way that leadeth unto her and so do enter into the same l Apo 21. City of Peace through the right door or gate who do at that time first understand how unsearchable and unpossible her wisdom is m Isa 6. Matt 11. and 13. for the outlandish people to comprehend or to understand for without this City there is no understanding wisdom nor knowledg of God or of the godly things no none at all 5. And all whatsoever any man without this City supposeth to know and to have of the godly things and all what is taught and taken on without this City or without the way that extendeth thereunto to the intent for to know and to inhent the godly things there through and after what Wisdom of God soever any one n 2 Tim. 3. studieth whereby to understand the same is altogether a o Isa 58. and 59. vain foolishness where-through also one may easily know the foolishness of the people 6. For if any people beeing yet without this good City of Peace or without her right way do esteem their learned knowledg for a wisdom so is then the same as likewise all their forraign learned wisdon or that which they learn without the Obedience of the Love of Jesus Christ no better worth then to be p Isa 5. Rom. 1. Iam. 3. laughed at and it is all a very great foolishness and hypocrisie 7. For verily the greatest folly that I have found among the people upon earth is that some are foolish and withall so arrogant that they q Rom. 1. account of themselves to know something and so they consult use subtilty and Art to know what or of what maner the r 1 Tim. 1. godly things may be and in this sort they will being without this good City of Peace and her Family of Love learn and take on Gods Wisdom through their own knowledg and through their manly understanding also judg his spiritual goods his heavenly riches and his holy truth which is hid from all Å¿ Isa 29. Col. 1. mans understanding and will set up the holiness of Jesus Christ according to their judgment 8. But seeing now that there are no Lands nor Cities to be found that are like unto this City nor yet any strength that can overcome her and that it is altogether ignorance t 1 Cor. 1. and foolishness whatsoever is without her also that all forraign or outlandish holiness arts and wisdom is nothing else but a taken on chusing a great mockery and a vain hypocrisie or an unprofitable foolishness therefore do these people that dwell in this City and likewise all those that become assembled among them and adjoyned unto them live cheerfully and well quieted in heart having all their comfort in that u Mat. 25. Iohn 10. and 17. life that continueth for ever and in the endless x Isa 35. and 51. and 61. joy that shall endure perpetually 9. Which people y Bar. 5. of the peaceable kingdom also do not seek any good without this City nor without her Communialty neither can they think that there should be z Ioh. 6. Apo. 22. any good to be found without the same and therefore they do never turn out from it 10. And although it were so that they might seek any good without it or that it were permitted them by licence so to do yet do they know for all that that they should not finde it without the same and also that Gods good beeing and nature of the Love can be with none that have not their fellowship with them a 1 Ioh. 1. inasmuch as that they all doubtless have their
strength i Job 9. of all powers or strengths the true understanding of all understandings the true righteousnesse of all righteousnesse 8. He is the true k Mal. 1. Eph. 3. Father of all Fathers the Lord of all Lords l 1 Tim. 6 the King of all Kings 9. He is the true begetter of all Generations For he it is which m Esa 45. 66. John 1. begetteth all that whatsoever is born of the truth out of the truth and through the truth out of whom also all what is any thing is be gotten for he himself begetteth his children out of himself 10. He is n 1 Cor. 8.15 Heb. 1. all in all who likewise hath comprehended all in himself 11. He is the true o 1 Joh. 4. love of all lovelinesse the upright p Joh. 14. truth of all truth 12. He is the true q Mat. 11. meeknesse of all meek ones the true r Joel 2 Jona 4. mercy of all mercifull ones 13. He is also the true nature of all naturalnesse 14. To conclude He is all what his people is unto whom he is a Paradise full of joy and a Å¿ 4. Esd 2. Apo. 2.22 tree of life or a living Tree full of all sweetnesse and fruits of everlasting life 15. He it is that was t Mich. 5. Heb 13. everlasting from the beginning He it is that is now presently he it is that shall remain for ever 16. He is the everlasting unbroken the everlasting undevidable the everlasting perfect good 17. This living God is their only God for he only is God and none els u Deut. 32 Esa 45. and besides him there is no God more as is already said this God do they love x Deut. 6. 10. Mat. 22. with all their hearts minds and thoughts 18. Seeing then that they are borne and brought forth out of him so is likewise all their life sence and mind only in him y Joh. 17. and God himself in like manner is in them with his mind life or Spirit and so they are one being with each other namely God and z Jer. 31. Ezek. 37. his people of peace 19. And the same the living Godhead with the Manhood is the only true being or substance in this peaceable Land of rest and peace 20. The same is also the a 1 Cor. 13 perfect of all perfection which shall continue for ever to the which state God hath created the manly generation b Gen. 1. 4 Esd 6.7 for to make them heirs therein and called or bidden them thereunto by Jesus Christ 21. The same perfection are likewise Gods promises c Gen. 12. 17.22 to the blessing of all generations of the earth and out of the same perfection is the true service of love ministred to a godly life in the last time 22. And wheresoever now the same cometh in the Spirit and maketh it selfe known essentially there doe all d 1 Cor. 13 peece-works divisions and dissentious cease and the love getteth there the victory and remaineth there for ever never breaking nor decaying any more CHAP. XLI WHosoever now forsaketh all the desolate lands and people as is before said also hath his respect diligently bent upon the a Mat. 2. leading star in the East and walketh on rightly according to the compasse as likewise forsaketh not the Crosse and so cometh to the submission by him shall be found the equity with the which he entteth into Gods b 2. Pet. 1. Apo. 22. nature and so he cometh into this good Citie full of all riches of life and joy 2. By which means he hath a free entrance into this holy City of Peace named Gods-understanding for to become one only c Rom. 12. Eph. 4.5 body with all the Saints of the heavenly company the which are the peaceable children of love in the Land of the living 3. He now therefore that is in this manner come thereunto essentially may as then in the love and in the unity of peace go out d John 10. and in without harme and may walk thorough all Lands Places and Cities bring unto all lovers of the good Land that are seeking the same good e Esa 33.52 Rom. 10. tydings give them good incouragement as to respect all the enemies like f Job 21. Esa 5.7 chaffe and as nothing show them the next way for to go into g Esa 30. the life and so lead them with him into the good Land and assemble h Jer. 3. them to the holy and peaceable people of the Lord to an unitie of heart with them in all love for that same is the concordable service of love to the life ministred by the i Eccl. 6.8 Heb. 13. Elders in the Family of the Love of Jesus Christ and whosoever turneth himself there-from and is not obedient to his requiring he doth severely erre and turneth him away from his Salvation 4. The next way therefore to go into the foresaid life is this That one doe forsake k Mat. 16. Mar. 8. Luk. 9.14 all what he hath taken on and not any more to take on nor desire any thing and so through the service of love to enter into the simple life wherein all faithfulnesse and truth is found and no slandering nor stumbling l 1 Cor. 13 or offensivenesse nor any blameing of others that do labour after righteousnesse and concord and are minded to the peace of Jesus Christ 5. For the simple life is the equity of the nature of God and by the same one goeth into the holy Citie of rest and peace 6. Whosoever now is even thus as is said under the obedience of the love become uniform with the children m Bar. 5. of the Kingdome and that his Spirit Word or Speech doth flow out of and into the same secret Kingdome even like unto a n 4 Esd 3. living breath of God that floweth out from God and into him again Hee verily is become a fellow-elder in Gods holy and godly understanding with the Elders in the Family of Love and can very well walke in freedome among all people and also remaine still very free united with the peaceable ones in the City of peace and can live in the upright o Eph. 1.4 righteousnesse 7. For the k knowledge separateth nor hurteth not him p Gen. 2. 8. The Devill q Mat. 4. Joh. 12. overcometh not him 9. The sin r Rom. 6. or the evill delighteth not him 10. He feareth not the death Å¿ Oze 13. not him 11. The Serpents deceit nor her poison s Mar. 16. cannot kill him for he hath eaten of the Wood of Life t Apo. 2. which standeth in the middest of the godly Paradise and liveth eternally not fearing any burden of condemnation for that cause also the hell cannot condemne him 12. Nor the accuser v Apo. 12. accuseth not him 13. The foolishnesse
u Eph. 2. allureth not him 14. The chosen righteousnesse x Col. 2. snareth not him 15. The holinesse prideth not him 16. The y Dan. 12. adhominations of desolation hinder not him 17. The deceitfull hills seduce not him 18. The vaine comfort relisheth or liketh not him 19. The unbelief z 4. Esd 6.7 destroyeth not him 20. The delight to live in a Gal. 5. pleasures choketh not him 21. The b Eph. 4. ignorance blindeth not him 22. Nor the leaders of the blind doe not lead him For God is his c Esa 60. Apo. 21.22 light and life and to the same godly being he liveth and not to any strange things which be in his passing thorough them hath forsaken wherefore he is not captivated under the onenesse nor under any ungodly being but only d 1 Pet. 1. 1 Joh. 4. under the love and the requiring of her service 23. And even thus is God with him and he is with God For the true Spirit or the true godly being of the love e Joh. 16. leadeth him into all truth and love and in this manner under the obedience of the love is all his conversation f Esa 32.51 65. Apo. 21. in rest and peace who likewise liveth without fear everlastingly in all godly and spirituall heavenly goods with all the children of the Peaceable Kingdome and of the Love 24. Behold that same is the lovely rest h Esa 60.61.62.65 66. Jer. 23.33 and the godly life in the glorious freedome of the Children of God in the last time according to the promises CHAP. XLII WE praise thee O Father thou Lord of heaven and earth for that thou hast hidden a Mat. 11. Luk. 10. these things from the proud-boasting wise and the prudent understanding ones and revealed them to the little and humble ones 2. The rich of spirit nor the great wise or industrious Scripture-learned ones have not understood the same but to the b Esa 57.66 poor of spirit and to the simple of understanding hast thou given it 3. Yea O Father c Mat. 11. even so hath it pleased thee for that the rich of spirit should have no cause to boast d Esa 29. Abdi 1. 1 Cor. 1. them of their wisdome nor the understandingones of their prudence but that they may every one bow them under the obedience of thy love and so may acknowledge that thou only O my God and Father art a true God 4. Therefore because that the Lord would through his hearty love make his holy Name great and commendable e Luke 1. he hath exercised power with his arme and dispersed those that are proud in the device of their own hearts 5. He hath thrust downe the mighty f Eccl. 10. from the seat but exalted the humble 6. The g Luk. 1. hungry hath he filled with goods and left those empty that were rich or satisfied 7. Therefore the Lord forsaketh none that seek him with h Jer. 29. Eccle. 2. all their hearts for he is a strength unto the poore to the simple and to the little ones of understanding a i Psa 9.18 46.71.91.94 Esa 25. strength in the time of sorrow a refuge from the tempest and a shadow from the heat when the Tyrants fret or rage like a storme against a wall 8. For that cause k Esa 41.45.51.54 dismay not your selves O ye faint-hearted ones nor be not wavering-minded although the destruction do make up it selfe very high and that the decliners together with the good thinking wise and the Scripture-learned of the wicked world do slander or speak evill against this same and do persecute us for it shall all perish wating out like l Psal 10. Esa 50. Psal 37.68 Sap. 5. an old garment and like the smoke or vapour 9. For the Lord bringeth down the fury of the ungodly and maketh their heat strengthlesse like unto the heat in the wildernesse and woods 10. The Vine-branches of the Tyrants doth he wither with the shadow of his clouds n Esa 58 Eccl. 24. and bringeth forth his righteousnesse like a morning starre and his truth like a glorious cleernesse o Esa 60. or light of the Sun 11. And in peace p Esa 52.60 doth he set up again his holy City Jerusalem q Psal 79. â— Mac. 2.4 which the Heathen have trodden down 12. He doth now make manifest his holy Temple againe with joy r Esa 33.44 Apo. 21. and so permitteth his Tabernacle the Sanctuary of his dwelling to be beholden 13. And setteth up the same upon the top of the hill of Sion at Jerusalem that the hil of Sion may stand aloft Å¿ Esa 2. Mat. 4. and be exalted above all Hills even as the Lord hath forespoken the same by his Prophets 14. For the Lord of Hosts will now prepare upon his Hill of Sion at Jerusalem a sumptuous t Esa 25. Feast for all people of fat well marrowed Cattel and of pure wine wherein there is no dregs 15. And upon this hill he will take away u Esa 25. the covering or the veile wherewith all people are stopped and wherewith all Hathen are covered for the x 1 Cor. 15 death shall be swallowed up 16. And the Lord God will wipe off y Esa 25 Apo. 7. the tears from the faces of all the people and take away their reproach in the universall earth CHAP. XLIII BEhold that is the time of the Lords blessing in the which they shall sing this song in Judah 2. We have a a Esa 26. Supra 28. strong City the walls and the defence are our preservation 3. Open the gate b Psal 118. that the righteous people which keep the faith may enter therein 4. Thou alwaies keepest peace according to sure promise for men stay them upon thee 5. Therefore put your confidence in the Lord everlastingly for God the Lord is a stony rock for ever 6. He bringeth low those that dwell in pride and he casteth down the lofty City yea he throweth it downe to the earth so that it lyeth in the dust 7. That it is trodden upon with feet yea with the feet of the poor and with the feet of the simple 8. But the way of the righteous is plain and the goings of the humble dost thou O God direct aright 9. Therefore Lord c Esa 26. we wait upon thee in the way of thy righteousnesse for the lust of our heart standeth bent towards thy Name and to a remembrance of thee 10. We are desirous of thee in the night-season even with all our hearts and with our spirit do we walk up early unto thee 11. For where thy Law beareth rule in the Land there do the inhabiters of the earth learn righteousnesse 12. But although grace be profered to the ungodly yet do they learne no righteousnesse 13. But do nothing else but iniquity in the upright
e 2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 2.3 Jud. 1. stout and puffed up in mind as those that will reigne themselves according to their own advice or opinion seeking their selfnesse and not the Lords the which they do apparently shew by the deed because they will not stand submitted under the love nor her service neither yet do love the unity in the love and therefore likewise they understand not the f 2 Tim. 5. truth 3. Whose hearts are blinded with the g 2 Cor. 4 blindnesse of the wicked world and with the blindnesse h 1 Cor. 1.3 of her dissentions and chosen i Col. 1. holinesse for that they should not behold the light of the heavenly cleernesse in the love 4. For that cause also they cannot understand nor comprehend the service of Love which tendeth to the everlasting life nor the upright k Rom. 8. freedome to the blessing of the manly generation whereof we do witnesse 5. For that same is our service towards all those which love the good life and the peace namely for to declare and shew unto them under the obedience of the love and assured way to the life to the end that they might all now in this day of love have a free l 2 Pet. 1. passage to the good life through Faith for to live lovingly and peaceably in the same life m Joh. 1. 1 Joh. 1. which was likewise from the beginning and shall remain for ever and unto the which the manly generation is created and that â—t might go well and prosper with them perpetually 6. That same is the everlasting life that was n Mat. 28. Act. 2. published in times past unto the people as an Evangelie or good message for that they should be saved therein CHAP. LII BUt oh alas we have now in this perillous time very speciall cause to sigh and mourne grievously over the a Esa 6. 59. blindnesse of many people and to bewaile the same with great dolour of our hearts and that chiefly because there is now in this same day of love b 2 Mac. 2. and of the mercy of God so little knowledge of the good life of Peace and of love to be found among them and also for that the same knowledge is desired of so few and yet much lesse loved But they do almost every one delight to walk in strange c 4. Esd 5. Mat. 7. waies that stretch to contention and destruction by which occasion they live in many molestations and deadly afflictions every where 2. Therefore may we with wofulnesse and â—ighing hearts very jostly say that it is now a perillous d Amos 5. Mat. 24. 2 Tim. 3. time to be saved or to escape or remain over to preservation Oh what venemous winds do there blow to the desolation and destruction of men Yea it seemeth to be almost e Mat. 19. 24. unpossible for the man to come to his salvation or preservation in Christ or to the lovely life of peace 3. But yet is it easie and f Mat. 19. possible with the Lord namely for all those that seek him with all their g Deut. 4. Jer. 29. hearts and under the obedience of the Love do believe his Word of Truth whereof all false hearts have a lothsomnesse and it is unto them a secret h Mat. 13. 2 Cor. 4. or unknowne Treasure of wisdome 4. Oh! when we behold all the perills and snares which are now presently in the way as lets or hinderances against the good life of peace namely by the worldly foolishnesse pride and corruptiblenesse also by the many manner of seditions of the Scripture-learned i Mat. 6. 15. 23. Act. 7. and chosen holinesse and again by the sundry sorts of conceited opinions of men so doth our soule oftentimes suffer great sorrow and that even herefore because that all understanding of the flesh which is borne of the bloud of the flesh k Gen. 6. 4 Esd 3. and earthly being runneth on so ignorantly after the knowledge of the godly truth and over-reacheth it selfe so grossely in giving judgement in the testimonies of the spirituall things 5. For verily many of the opinionated or good-thinking wise ones and of the Scripture-learned sort have with their good-thinking understanding or arrogant wit of the flesh made up themselves for to judge there-through the truth of God which is brought to light by us and so have by the fleshly conceiving or mind of their l Act. 7. uncircumcised hearts and unilluminated understandings considered of or weighed our spirituall and heavenly testimonies of God and of the holy Spirit of the Love of Jesus Christ m Joh. 7. 8. according to the outward appearance and judged them after the same manner 6. Not only these our spiritual and heavenly testimonies of the spirituall land of Promise and of the spirituall Saints of God but they have also judged according n Joh. 7.8 to their earthly and fleshly minds other more spirituall and heavenly testimonies of God which are gone out from the holy Spirit of the love of God and Christ and that are set forth or published by us and which have their ministration unto spirit and unto inward spirituall things or doe extend thereunto and have not rightly understood our Ministration which guideth to the spirituall and heavenly even like as the same is happened unto us by some and become manifest before our eyes but chiefly by the principall ones in the Scripture-learnednesse and likewise by those which did advance and give forth themselves to be o 1 Tim. 1. Treachers and that seemed to be the most prudent and expert ones in the services and also how resistingly many false hearts have made up themselves with their earthly and fleshly minds against the truth of the spirituall and heavenly testimonies of God and his Promises and against the holy Spirit of Jesus Christ and of the mercifull love of God the Father p Heb. 10. 2 Pet. 2. Jud. 1. as blasphemers of their most holy goods and likewise against us who do witnesse and publish forth Gods Word his everlasting truth out of those same spirituall and heavenly goods for to defame and persecute us with much q Mat. 5. lying and falshood CHAP. LIII BUt although many of them have grossely over-reached themselves therein yet have some notwithstanding according to the imagination of their knowledge run on or laboured for the spirituall things for that they would understand them also many have according to their understanding of the flesh testified of them 2. But seeing they have not sought their knowledge of the spirituall things in the obedience of the Christian doctrine of the Service of Love but in their knowledge of the flesh and so have taken on their understanding of the knowledges of the spirituall things out of the imagination of their owne knowledge therefore have they likewise understood those same