like her head in vertue and firmness of perfect love And this take for a maxime that he who perceiveth no changes in feeling of his grace given him but still remains a like all whole strong stable unbroken or unhurt as he thinketh must needs be either full perfect or full blind but the latter is more like or most to be feared for he that is so perfect that he is above all touches of earthly things dwelleth in Jesus Christ by sweet and soft love is accepted into a high estate of heavenly glory and restfull pleasure knowing nothing but pure love which is God but he is full blind indeed that feigneth himself to be in grace and savour with Jesus Christ without spirituall feeling of the holy Ghost and setleth himself in a stay'd condition as if he were ever in feeling working in spirituall grace thinking that all is grace that he feeleth without and within and that what he doeth and speaketh is grace and that he is unchangable therein and alwayes at one stay and condition which he esteemeth good Such a soul is fully blind and altogether without feeling of grace in any its workings for they are wrought as aforesaid and by a lively inspiration thereof with the spirituall presence of Jesus Christ in the soul and sweetness of his love by his wonderfull in-dwelling there This is the life of feeling in grace after the measure of the gift with a reverend beholding him spiritually without which in some measure all is but deceitfull and nothing worth nor any way of good use but hurtfull for as the soul is the light and life of the body so is Jesus Christ the light and life of the soul by his gracious presence which cannot so well be exprest as felt for it is the light life love joy strength and rest of the soul that hath painfully felt it yet with sweetness insomuch that it cannot cease from desiring it And this is that no man may mistake in or concerning the work of grace in his own soul and he who will remain still filthy may bear his own burthen whatever he be and his shame also for God hath not left himself without a witness in every man neither is he wanting to any though as Christ said The holy Ghost inspireth where and when he will and that privily as the wind bloweth oft-times when men are least aware of him but is known by his stirring and turning the heart into a beholding of his goodness and melting it into softness of love yet wondereth at his highness shining brightness but the substance effect of this shining grace remaineth though not in its fervour while the soul is kept clean without fallings by wilfulness or negligence into a dissolute life of fleshliness and outward vanity and also know that the soul which is unacquainted with the touches of spirituall grace is an enemy to all spirituall works as being old dry rotten barren and without savour in it self for the salt hath there no savour and to be trodden under foot and nothing but the light of grace through touching maketh it lively sharp quick subtil ready and able to spirituall work by giving it great freedome and a holy readiness in will and affections to obey all the stirrings of grace in the soul and to watch thereto for opening of the spirituall eye whereby it becomes apt to meditation watching and prayer but not to pray in the common manner it did before with loud voyce many words and other mens speakings but in stilness of the voyce and tenderness of heart being gathered up into it self and in the spirituall presence of Jesus Christ wherein every word and syllable hath a savoury sweet sound and delectable melody in the heart by the holy Spirit as being wholly entered into the fire of love the powers of the soul being all heated and inflamed with love so that the sparks flie upward whence the fire came and therein is the soul so comfortably enlightned that it knowes not how to leave off watching praying and praising God with spirituall delight and heavenly joy when no matter is seen outwardly nor voyce heard And this is the food and nourishment of the soul and of much vertue against temptations and likings of the world for it beareth up both soul and body from painfull heaviness of heart and feeling of the wretchedness of this earthly life and the soul is thereby kept quick and lively This was Davids prayer as Incense ascending and perfuming the soul and so as any hath a Psalm of the spirit which is savoury and soft sweet and pleasant in the pure mind broken and burning heart it giveth up a sweet smell to the face of our Lord Jesus Christ these are the prayers and praises heard and accepted of God as before hath been said yielding and also receiving grace from him which he accepts as an addition to his Glory and all other praying wants savour and sweetness as a speaking of words with the tongue when the heart is gone after other lovers or likings of fleshly things and the soul is not master of the bodily wits and imaginations of the brain and is that wherein is no constant devotion no freeâ—om of spirit no ardent and burning love and affections nor whole mind but much speaking and running about here and there by words seeming to speak of spirituall matters without savour profit or any soul-satisfaction and therefore hear with me a few words more of this weighty business of Prayer and keep first to silence and firm watchfulness that thou maist first come to a joyfull feeling of this spirituall praying and that shall teach thee unchangable wisdome without fancy or faineâ—ness that those are possessed with that speak well or ill of things they know not and therefore abide therein untill grace come into thy soul otherwise and will remove it in part for a time and employ thee otherwise and then therein be obedient for that is the best of all sacrifices whereby the holy God will be served and so there is no need of mans teaching how to pray or praise him what words to speak how to divide duties into parts or to guide the affections for the holy Spirit teacheth all this and much more as he pleaseth and the soul feeleth it self led thereby to enjoy Jesus Christ in some measure but this praying and praising God with the Spirit and understanding the wise world accounts foolishness and being strangers to it would have others continue so likewise In this spirituall watchfulness is the Revelation of Jesus Christ whereby the writings of the holy men of God are rightly shewed and opened which mans wit learning reason or study cannot reach for the understanding thereof is freely shewed to the clear soul by Jesus Christ who is the well-spring of wisdome and knowledge it is he that maketh the soul lively and wise to understand the holy Scriptures and yet not all at once in speciall view thereof
rest with a sober and chaste mind as to be preserved from touching any thing that defiles or wherein the soul feels not the pure love meek motion and heavenly life of Jesus Christ above all outward appearances likenesses or forms of words and as it is contrary to and envyed of all natural selfishness VII In the next place truely to know this one Lord Jesus Christ come in the flesh as the new and living way to the Father the Immanuel God with us making the atonement by the blood of his Cross to have all things subject unto him his servants in him and he in them which is the great mysterie of godliness hid from Ages and Generations until the fulness of time and then manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit believed on in the world and received up into glory which none of the wise men of this world ever knew or can know by all their learned skill of earthly wisdom nor any man that lives after the flesh or satisfieth himself with hearing reading telling or talking of him or concerning what he or his Apostles did said or suffered as those that vainly take his Name into their mouths on most occasions of their invented ways but know him not neither by his divine Nature nor Name nor how God and man became one Christ Jesus how that which may be known of God is manifest in man how he is the wonderful counsellor The mighty God The Prince of peace The Author and Finisher of our faith how he saves his people from their sins is the Reconciler without imputation of sin how he is formed in his servants and cleanseth them by his blood from all sin and unrighteousness how they take up the cross and follow him or what the cross is how the body becomes dead because of sin and the spirit alive for righteousness sake how they are members of his body of his flesh and of his bones how he is their Leader and captain of salvation made perfect through sufferings how they are baptised into his death and saved by his life how the Union is perfected in all the parts and members of his body the Church what the Church is or how his Body or what it is to eat his flesh and drink his blood without which as himself said we have no life in us how every knee shall bow to him of things in heaven in earth and under the earth and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father how he is that blessed and onely Potentate King of kings and Lord of lords The head of all thrones and dominions and every name that is named c. And therefore not knowing him cannot worship him accordingly Neither are such willing to become obedient to him in his light that maketh all things manifest naked and bare whereby he brings every secret thing to light and passeth judgement upon the transgressing nature and bruiseth the branches of it with every lust of the flesh lust of the eyes and pride of life that are not of the Father but of the world nor to know him the Healer and Maker up of the breach the Repairer of the ancient path to walk in by cleansing mens souls that are full filthy while they remain ignorant of him or have any fleshly appetite lust or like desire alive in them whereby the fair pearl is blemished and much more filthy when their souls are taken up with a full love and liking of this world and wholly overcome by the sensual and fleshly part that they chuse it and delight therein as the full rest of their hearts so that they feel no liquor of life or sweetness of grace stirring them to loath what their flesh liketh nor to desire that heavenly food of their souls so they do not bear the image of sin but are born and carryed with it and of it and feel no strength but in it nor no will to leave it but yeild thereto with all ready forwardness But Jesus Christ is the food of all hungry souls and through him in him and by him are such souls reformed and restored into their first and fair likeness of God in righteousness and true holiness and so is the new man created in Christ Jesus to good works to walk in them by the Divine will and quickning Spirit whereby the flaming sword comes to be removed and the everlasting gate opened to all willing and watchful souls to enter thereat into the heavenly and endless life where Jesus Christ is the Door the Porter and Receiver always waiting ready to imbrace the souls that so watch pray wait and attend to be here in this life reformed by his Spirit into his likeness and love to live by the words of his mouth as swallowed up of the Divine will of inexpressible sweetness and so walk in the Spirit of love and meekness with sober and chaste minds as the Lords free-men without handling or touching any unclean thing that defiles or where in their souls feel not the pure love meek motion and holy life of Jesus Christ above all shadows types figures forms or fleshly things c. There be many that think they love Jesus Christ and know him to whom he may truly say I know you not depart from me ye are workers of iniquity Though they may have attained to a fleshly knowledge of him by imagining thinking and fashioning him in themselves with their minds thoughts affections desires cares and bodily wits and so suppose they love fear serve and worship him as a man like themselves yet without sin that God is wroth with them as a man that is offended that Christ died for their sins and therefore they fall down at his feet with sorrow of heart crying for mercy and pardon and like the five foolish Virgins suppose they are ready for him have good trust in his mercy and so reverence him and fear before him and thereupon do verily believe they so know and worship him because they feel their hearts moved and stirred with love to him and desire of him But this is not the worship in spirit and truth which he expects and accepts for all this while these worshippers know not their own souls nor God in Christ Jesus reconciling them to himself nor have they any Oyl in their lamps or sweet liquor of life suppling their souls for the Lord Jesus is not seen much less known and worshipped by mens imaginations for the earthly nature cannot receive retain or bear this heavenly new wine So there was a time when Christ Jesus told his Disciples he had many things to say unto them but they could not then bear them and yet being upright in hearts to the Lord he is pleased so to temper strengthen and comfort them with such an inward beholding that they forsake sins and the great love of this world whereby the invisible light of his Godhead is somewhat shadowed to the inner eye of their souls under the bedily
Devil and man made might perish and be no more for the everlasting love of God in Jesus Christ is the true light and blessed day love and light being of and in him in whose light the children of the day see light and greatly rejoyce But they that truely seek him must be content to abide a while in the darkness for the darkness was before the light and the evening and morning were the first day and man may not suddenly come from the dark day which is the love of himself and this world into the perfect love of God in and to his soul and to see and feel spiritual things gaining victory in his thoughts to bring all into obedience because it is first night or darkness with him wherein the love of this world is shut out and the day springs from on high and visiteth and as the soul becomes quiet and still the light breaks forth more and more unto the perfect day as he becomes wholly acquitted of his sin and the favour of it But as there is a passing to this light through the evil day or night of darkness wherein is no pleasure but sorrow and sighing doubts and deadness of soul there is a blind longing after and thinking on Jesus Christ how good and blessed he is with desires to feel his love and be lighted with his presence as David sought God in the night to be hid though in pain from beholding the world and its false likenesses which so well please those that are blind in spiritual things and dwell quietly in this darkness wherein Satan cometh with his likenesses and light under colour of true light until the light of love by little and little break forth to him so dwelling in the shadow of death and shine through the darkness and death c. for there are many that would seem to forsake the love of the world and also would come to the love of God and his light to understand him but through this darkness they will not come to know themselves what they have been and are in their sinfulness against God to enter into themselves and view all things there with all wicked stirrings and risings in their hearts of pride envy anger and other evils and to wait desiring in the still silence and spiritual watchfulness to Jesus Christ as his Saints ever did but so soon as in their own wills they seem to have forsaken the world outwardly they presently think themselves holy and full fit for spiritual understanding and heavenly mysteries and that they love God perfectly and have received grace through the special gift of the holy Ghost for they are stirred and seem to feel knowledge as it were then given to them without great study before-hand and a hear of desire therewith to preach forth truth and righteousness and will run into words thereof as with great forwardness and zeal c. And this they hold for the grace of God and visitation of his blessed light before their souls pass through this darkness though this light of knowledge and heat of desire they feel cometh not of the true love of Jesus Christ but from the Devil and his transformings as being onely a fained light and likeness of the true light and Son of God whereby cunningly he leadeth blind souls into a presuming of being themselves righteous and abusing others as the Pharisâ—es did and so have no light of grace to them given by the holy Ghost for though the knowledge they have were in it self outwardly true yet by the Devil and mans own wit it makes onely a fained light of true things but not the light of the true Son nor approved of by his pure light in their Consciences and such men are so blind by these fained lyes and puffed up with spiritual pride that they see it not nor are willing to consider it but highten their hearts against the true light surposing the feeling in their own wills is perfect freedom of spirit and so like clouds without rain tossed to and fro bring forth one device eâ—rour and heresie after another which are known by their wild minds exercised in covetousnesaid this wiss s much vanity talking disputing contending about words rayling and reviling others and perfecuting them and yet will not be ashamed to say They do all this in charity and zeal for righteousness But as James said this wisdom is not from above but is earthly sensual and devilish and therefore this cunning that brings forth such Saints is not of the God of peace and Father of lights with whom is no variableness or evil speaking but such as Jesus Christ used not nor allowed in his Disciples but to do all in his spiritual light and faith in him which is a mystery held in a pure Conscience in the love and meekness of Christ Jesus for it is the fire of love that goeth before him to consume the enmity and evil works c. whereof such are ignorant as have not been smitten down from their height and haughtiness into the lowest degree of meekness and there purged from all spiritual filthiness without which they cannot endure the bright shining of spiritual light the precious liquor of the love of Jesus Christ because not purified in the heavenly furnace to receive the gracious light of heavenly knowledge and perfect love which is the true Son of rightcousaess with healing under his wings and he that thereby reforms in feeling through the dear light that springeth forth and ariseth after this darkness which is not well known but to the soul that travelleth in darkness and cryeth after light to shew it the right way and comfort it in travel therethrough for after true darkness where one firmly sets himself to forsake the love of this world and through grace come to a feeling and knowing of himself and keeps meekness therein he may not be destroyed by errours or fancies for the feeling of grace in that meek darkness teacheth the soul to be faithful and watchful against the enemies motions and subtil slights And it may so be and oft is that some have these workings and firm desires in them and yet remain doubtful thereof what the issue may be but such as they know it begets love and meekness are to keep it tenderly and pursue it fervently that no creature hinder it for this grace will ever be free from sin and worldly business that hinders it which cannot be until he be throughly dead to the world poor inward and outward and have fully forsaken the love of it without any worldly cunning covering or device whereby to be esteemed above others but rather despised of the world and all worldly men sets not his heart upon his own deeds or vertues nor loves nor allows any heart-risings against others for any matter or cause whatsoever so that he doth not disease nor anger any man willingly in word or deed nor pats any trust in worldly goods or friends for otherwise he cannot be
the holy Ghost contemplating on Jesus Christ they were awake though they had other sleeps sometimes as when Christ said Could you not watch with me one houre having their souls inspired through grace and the speciall eye therein opened and beholding Jesus Christ in purity and poverty of spirit inward silence true rest peace in conscience highness of heavenly thoughts with singleness and purity of heart disliking the joyes of this world and onely delighted with spirituall savour of bright burning love thirsting for and gently seeking the Lords blessed presence spiritually These are true testimonies of the inspiration of the holy Ghost in this keeping the spirituall eye of the soul but seeing that reforming onely in faith and fleshly feeling is very low and perilous in its beginning because of the aptness then to yield to the tempter and backslide and reforming in spirituall feeling and savour so high and sure great diligence is requisite in watching waiting coveting and labouring as the Lord Jesus moveth in disposing the affections and bringing the heart to cleanness and feeling of grace which is a constant work of much travel of soul against all wicked stirrings and temptations for it so falls out with some that through negligence and yielding to tentations the enemy enters the soul again and then it feels not the grace as it did but it is withdrawn and the soul returns into the state as before but then the soul is in much blindness pain sorrow and unsavouriness for it relisheth worldly things but unsavourily and is encumbered with bodily wit and earthly matters for the time and then it desireth after the grace of Christ Jesus again and may not find it for a time but this withdrawing is alwayes for just cause and also in much merey to prove the soul and let it see that without Christ it can do nothing and come to him again with much pain and labour fear care and watchfulness while it supposeth that Jesus Christ heareth not which is his dealing with many for their spirituall strength and growth in him for then the Lord Jesus is sure that the soul will not turn again to worldly love for that it can have no savour therein and then after a time Jesus Christ returneth into that soul full of grace and truth visiteth it in its desires sighs and longings for very love to his presence and then as he toucheth it softly and anoynieth it with the oyle of gladness it is healed of all pains and pantings and then it cryeth to Jesus in the spirit with a glad heart and sweet still voyce as his love teacheth This opening of the spirituall eye of the soule is a light darknesle and rich poverty leading to purity of spirit quietness of conscience inward peace and spirituall rest with high and heavenly thoughts in singleness of soul a light and feeling of grace in the secrets of the heart tasting heavenly savour of inflamed love with bright-shining light of reforming into pure feeling whereof many holy men of God have written every one according to his respective feeling thereof in the grace of the holy Ghost and though they seem divers in shewing by words because then each one spake after his own then receiving and encreasing in grace yet nevertheless they agreed in all as in one sentence of unchangable verity for the soul that through the Lords mercifull visiting with his grace comes to see the face of Jesus by that touching and especiall grace of the holy Ghost is changed and turned from what it was into another manner of living for it is wonderfully drawn first into it self from love and likings of all earthly things insomuch that it hath lost the savour of the bodily life and all things else save onely Jesus Christ and is thereby made clean from all the filth of sin and all inordinate affections are wiped off and washed away in the blood of the Lamb and hath nothing standing to hinder him between God and his soul but onely the bodily eye which is thereby become blind and the soul in spirituall rest with Jesus Christ without fears cares or desires of worldly things but fully imployed in a free and spiritual working and love therein whereby its rest increaseth to perfection it being truly called rest because grace hath wholly loosed the heavy yoak and bonds of fleshly love to work with ease in sweet amity joy and delight as the holy Spirit directeth the soul and leadeth it And this doth silence the soul from janglings of all other speakers for it is the voyce of Jesus Christ in heavenly vertue softly sounding in the clean soul by his quick and piercing word sharply dividing between the joynts and marrow and discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart that slayeth all fleshly love and keepeth the soul quiet from all the stirrings thereof and so is silence made in heaven for half an hour as it is written even within in the clean soul that is lifted up by grace from earthly love to heavenly conversation and so it is in silence though but for a short time before it be again assaulted by its enemies yet hath it peace in conscience because this grace puts out all gratings prickings stirrings and fightings of sin making Jesus Christ and the soul both one in agreement of will and affections so that there are no upbraidings of sin nor reprovings for faults for the Son and that soul have kissed each other and are become friends and all faults past are forgiven whereby the soul feeleth assurance of its salvation by the witness of the holy Ghost in the heart and thereby receiveth day by day more and more spirituall joy and boldness to come to the throne of grace the holy Spirit bearing witness of its sonship and the witness in the conscience administring sure consolation with peace and pure accord love and lasting friendship between Jesus Christ and the soul so that the soul is then above the world in high and heavenly contemplation which is an earnest of true glory here in the body in the knowledge of Jesus Christ with so strong and lasting desires of love that many waters cannot quench And blessed is that soul which is ever fed in feeling of love in Jesus Christs presence is born up by desire to him in his absence for he is wise and hath well learned Christ that holdeth him sadly and reverently with pure affections while he is present and while he is as absent beareth it patiently and easily without bitter pains of impure desires and as there are diversities of feelings in the presence of grace so there are in the absence of grace according to the souls meekness or growth therein and therefore he that knoweth not the absence of grace is readily deceived by outward sounds of other mens sayings and he that is not diligent and watchfull to keep the presence of grace is very unkind to Jesus Christ that in and for love giveth it for the soul should be
in his own light and spiritual leading in every mans conscience there to arise and his enemies be scattered as he transformeth and reneweth the mind according to his blessed will of heavenly love and the contrary thereto is onely unreasonable unrighteous intolerable and abominable to God as that which enforceth men of corrupt and unstable minds to formalities and hypocrisie whereof ensueth condemnation in themselves to their souls besides the many other mischiefs and miseries to mankinde for what is out of faith is sin both in the commander and actor and if the heart condema God is greater and knoweth all and who shall justifie where he condemns and as it is written Blessed and happy is he that condemns not himself in the thing that he alloweth and contrarily which ought to be well heeded and warily observed by all men and is by those that are willing to know and perform the great trust reposed in them concerning their own souls as knowing that they must give an account of themselves to God and ought not to trust their souls with others that have other ends then for the Lords service and learned Arts whereby to call good evil and evil good put darkness for light and light for darkness as blind men or with their eyes shut and unwilling to know the light of life and leading of the holy Spirit of truth as if as the fool said in his heart there were no God or not desiring the knowledge of his way and yet concerning the things of this world cry Give give more more when they have not rightly learned how to use that they have V. You that are strict and zealous Professors in your ways should study to be quiet in your selves and with others you have a zeal as for God but not according to knowledge of him as a fire of love in you kindled by the holy Ghost and therefore you are such and so diversly opinionated without unity or order amongst your selves but one fort contending for the Monster Uniformity another for their new-made Faith a third for their dead dumb and empty ordinances and each impleading others and employing your selves like Nadab and Abibu or Core and his company in kindling and offering strange fires before the Lord and resisting the truth taught in the light of Christ by his blessed Spirit which leads into all truth as Jannes and Jambres sometime withstood Moses but your deeds are so manifest and you stopt and reproved in your inward and outward parts so as not like much farther to prevail are again in love as heretofore warned to turn in your minds to him that there smiteth for amendment that a remnant of you forsaking the sparks of their own kindling may be purged purished and brought forth as gold tryed and saved by that consuming fire which burns and wasts all sin our of obedient souls with the fleshly loves and lovers thereof so as there may be no more mis-judging by private and perverse spirits of ignorance weakness or thick darkness that cannot comprehend the deep things of God but do turn the minds out of the true light of Jesus Christ wherein his servants see light to walk that pure path of holiness in him to glory in words emptiness and vanity of your wills bodily wits and works as did the former persecuters of Christ Jesus not wisely heeding the Lords hand whereby he is restoring all things into the glorious liberty of his sons and daughters and how he therefore now shakes the earth and heavens also which should abate the edge of mens earthly appetites accompanied with such strange and hideous effects and would if they knew any thing of the Lords pure and powerful workings or of the times and seasons or were but near ripe for truth and apt to the kingdom of God and would take such off from expecting greater signes and wonders or acting another thing by another spirit of private interpretation different from the Lords purpose so many ways manifested and therefore it is evident that such men are sick weak or fallen asleep so that they cannot discern the Lords body his truth and true worshippers nor other things that differ And though you may not be competent Judges in spiritual matters yet consider is it righteous or reasonable that those who are either meerly carnal or have not yet received so much as the bare presence of the holy Spirit in grace should judge others that are sealed with the Spirit of promise baptised and made to drink into that one Spirit which judgeth all things and so are partakers of the divine nature of the immortal and invisible God Have you never read how the Lords praise is perfected in the mouths of his babes and sucklings and that whosoever doth not receive the kingdom of God as a little Childe shall in no wise enter therein or how the mysteries of that kingdom are hid from the wise and prudent and revealed to such babes or how the halt lame and blind whom you despise do enter while you your selves and others art shut out and the rich sent empty away Remember that Exhortation of Christ Jesus to men of your sort saying Wash the inside that the out may be clean also It is high time for you to be willing to put away the evil of your doings and yeild to his light and leading of his Spirit that your souls may be prepared and fitted to feel and know him as God equal with the Father spiritually to clense you from all unrighteousness and then you will not suppose that any good thing of him can make you happy but what is so revealed and wrought in you or be ignorant of the danger of resisting or neglecting such divine stirrings in your souls by any your exquisite Arts natural Reasons or bodily Wits as some do who are so much thereby deceived that they think they are not deceived You may read likewise of some that had travelled pretty far in outward Ordinances been baptised with water c. and yet not heard that there is an holy Ghost and such in those days are not a few that have their cars stopped with dumb and deadly sounds of words or thereby become so dull of hearing that they hearken not to the voice of the Charmer though he charm never so wisely nor are gotten one step farther then those that had not heard of an holy Ghost though they can talk much of him by what they have read or others told them and how then should they believe on him of whom they have not heard specially while they are so willingly led by such ignorant talking that so dulls them and hinders their heeding of the true light and hearing what the holy Spirit saith and how he revealeth the deep things of God to all watchful and willing souls so that such have their loves to and their faith and lives in mans wisdom and seldom or never come to the love of God indeed and in truth but remain vain and unruly
talkers and contenders about words questions and outward things and would make themselves love God by their own strength and wisdom which may not be though they should act therein never so violently as it were to pull God out of heaven to them by their strivings pantings and burstings out into heat in their devoted zeal for though such suppose in their thoughts and hearts they love God and also resolve so to do and for his sake to suffer death yet these mens love in that manner is neither truely so nor is any strength so asked by them to stand therein for such souls have but either received that gift of love through Christ as a man or they have it not but would have it and so strive in their own strength to feel the love of God but come not to a waiting in the light to see and know their own souls nor themselves unworthy and unable to do any good thing think a good thought or in the least measure to move towards God or prepare their own hearts for him or see their own miserable blind and naked condition as dead in sins and trespasses waiting at the Pool to receive help and healing by the Angels moving of the water as the Lords free gift of love to eternal life which is the way for them to come to the sight of Jesus Christ as being all to them and working all in them and therefore not to strive outwardly but quietly wait and ask nothing but the gifts of love that they might be touched and taught of him to see God by his blessed light and gracious presence and then love him by his own gift of love so received through patient suffering as wrought in their souls by the holy Ghost without bodily strength or earthly skill these being the means whereby souls are made so meek and obedient that they work not of themselves at all by bodily wit or exercise but freely suffer the holy Ghost to will and to do in them and with them as best pleaseth him for the working of their souls into faith and feeling of his love by degrees without outward noise or strivings about it for Christs Voice was not heard in the street it is a soft and still voice to be heard in silence and felt of all the senses and powers of the soul and is very sweet to all savoury minds that have waited for him and they that so wait long and covet after the fruits of the Spirit and sow thereto shall much encrease therein But as this is not by bodily exercise so it may not be by resting in spiritual employment already done but a pressing forward toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and ever following that they feel to grow therein towards perfection for otherwise there will be a sudden settling upon the old Lees and so a declining to loss and the end without profit or comfort as some Apostates who have said they have gone round back again c. and so lost not onely their hold of perfection but their first love and leading principle of God in them for there is first a beginning with rude souls and a change of the mind in the working of faith and then faith worketh by love and after that by the more strong clear and pure stirrings as felt in all active souls towards that life of perfect love for though the body of sin be at first seen in the light then debased and in some suddenly crucified yet it will be seen felt and laboured in and against until full victory be obtained as the beloved Paul said by his rejoycing in Christ Jesus he died dayly whereby the old feeling of the body of sin comes to be destroyed and the soul brought into a new gracious feeling by the operation of the holy Spirit to grow up in him who is the head of all principalities and powers VI. These things being so it highly concerns every man respectively to weigh and warily consider his own way station and standing and to prize the time and abilities that the Lords love in Christ Jesus hath allotted him to wait and watch for his conversion reconciliation and salvation and to account the time mispent and irrecoverably past sufficient to have done the will of the flesh in thinking his own thoughts speaking his own words and acting contrary to the eternal counsel and will and that the present time is onely mans to make his use of not knowing what shall be to morrow and the loss of what is past will be his greatest grief as his ignorant soul comes to see it self its sins and duty or otherwise as Christ said of Judas better to him he had never been born Whereof I onely query as the beloved Peter What shall the end be of those that obey not the Gospel of Jesus Christ but take pleasure in unrighteousness and mind not the Lords love in drawing them or their duties in a willing yeilding and suitable subjection thereto For great was the love of the Lord God in creating man after his own image and likeness with a soul fair clean and fit for his service and glory and yet greater when man had proudly departed from that holy and happy condition and made himself unfree and unfit to embrace that love and serve that end in commending promising and setting forth his love again in his own onely Son to restore man and bring him back into God from whom he so wilfully and wickedly departed by the enticement of the Devil and thereby to free him from the snares thereof and pains due therefore and yet his especial and greatest love is to be felt tasted and sweetly savoured in his free cleansing of mans soul by the gift of the holy Ghost whereby it becomes to be conformed to the likeness of his dear Son by which love he giveth of his Godhead to every obedient and clean soul that comes to will and to do of his good pleasure as a fit vessel and temple for the holy Ghost to dwell in and walk in which all his sons and daughters that are heirs of this salvation do right-well know and therein are made willing and obedient ready and diligent to help all others what they may to come to the same happy condition of blessed love and heavenly sweetness that all things may be restored to their first and primitive purity and the great mercy and love of the Lord seen to and felt by all his creatures for whom he taketh care in their respective kinds feeding the Ravens clothing the Lilies and much more the obedient soul that is of his own breath and waits upon him by his Spirit being plain and simple in the truth and willing to do all things in the eternal will ever waiting to live always in his light of love by every word that proceeds out of his mouth until he be swallowed up of the divine will and inexpressible goodness and wisdom and so settled in his
likeness of Christs fleshly holiness and may be in so great love that it slayeth all wicked love in their souls and strengthens them to suffer freely for him and yet this over-shadowing of their souls whereby they are kept from the great love of the world is onely as a shadow of the invisible light of the Godhead and manhood united and lightly touching the serious and devour soul whereof the Prophet spake as being under the shadow of his spiritual wings or manhood and yet this is but Christs love received intomens dark minds and imaginations though it be that condition whereunto thousands professing Christianity have not yet attained though they pretend much and seem to teach others also But it is faith and spiritual feeling of Jesus Christ which purifieth the heart and whereby the soul comes to understand his spiritual love in the Godhead as Christ said I in them and thou in me and to be made perfect in one c. to which all bodily beholdings are but as means directing mens minds to the light and thereby their souls to a serious consideration of the wonderful love goodness power and wisdom manifested in the manhood of Christ spiritually And so it is like Martha loved him and laboured in outward service for him and that with hearty affections but Mary chose the better part she received and embraced him with more pure affections and retained him in her bea rt Mary Magdalen loved Christ well before his passion of bodily death but her love was much bodily and little spiritually for she loved him not as God before though her thoughts and affections were set upon him in which affections or actions expressing her love Christ condemns her not in that time so far as we find but after when he was risen from death and appeared unto her she would have reverenced him with such a manner of love as she did before and then Christ forbad her saying Touch me not as look not on me with a fleshly eye to rest therein for so I am not ascended to my Father nor equal to the Father so but now love me as I am one with the Father in the form of the Godhead know love and worship me as God and man like God so to be with me love and worship me onely for that I am God that took the nature of man and therefore receive and embrace me as God in thine heart and in thy love of me and worship me in the enlightned understanding of thy soul as Jesus Christ God and man the saving truth goodness and light of blessed life and spiritual joy and so Christ Jesus promised to come unto his Disciples and be with them by his holy Spirit after given them with power from on high to teach them all things and lead them into all truth the which heavenly gift of holiness and glory few have yet attained to in these latter times since the Apostacy and therefore those souls that have not attained to this spiritual understanding of him through his grace are to wait in his light with pure affections of fervent love until more grace be freely given unto them and not to over-run the conditions wherein they are but stay therein until they shall respectively feel a better revealed in them still minding that all spiritual gifts are felt and tasted in the powers of the souls chiefly in love and spiritual understanding but not in imaginations through the strength of the body or bodily wits which are not spiritual feelings and at most but outward tokens of spiritual inward feelings in the powers of their souls where the holy Ghost hath lighted their reasons and kindled their affections with his blessed Presence so clearly in fervent love that they immediately thereby received the knowledge of spiritual truth and perfect love with an outward shewing of of the inward feeling of spiritual grace And as it was in the former Disciples so it is now in other like-perfect souls visited and lighted within by the holy Ghost whereby there is an outward feeling of the inward grace and the body made obedient thereby to the Spirits moving and leading without fainedness or fancie of imagination And he is no spiritual man that hath not thus learned Christ or is taught his lesson by him in like spiritual wise nor any way qualified to judge of spiritual matters but must consequently erre in his understanding and mar all he meddles with and not know how or wherein he so erreth much less how to amend his own crrours and how then shall he reform others but as a blind man may judge of colours because these spiritual things are above the sight of his carnal eye so that he perceiveth them not that hath not the spiritual eye of his understanding opened and how then should he open the Scriptures that as Christ said neither knows them nor the power of God or be skill'd in the use of his spiritual Weapons his warfare or work to be done in his Vineyard or know the kingdom power or glory of God whereto all true service tends For as it is written The natural man understands not the things of the Spirit of God but they are foolishness to him for it is the spiritual man that judgeth all things and is judged of no man because his life is hid with God in Christ as taken from the earth and unknown to the world but well known to God and is so reformed in soul that he feels the least fleshly stirring in him and condemns it and loaths it in his heart and ever fleeth to God for strength against all such motions and loves not his life to attain the life eternal but is passive in every thing a man of sorrows and sufferings as his Lord Jesus was and left him an ensample to follow him therein Seeing the business in hand is of soul-concernment it is absolutely necessary that the soul should know it self with the facultie vertues and powers thereof by its turning into and watchful keeping in its pure principle of the light of Christ Jesus in the Conscience to love that light and observe its motions as it shall be led by the holy Spirit into all truth and thereby restored into its primitive purity fit to enjoy the sweet presence of God as Adam did before his disobedience For a miserable and wretched man is he that knoweth not the workings worth and worthiness of his own soul the first lesson to be learned in Christs school as the trade of his youth it being the most excellent Creature that the Lord God formed for his service and glory whereto nothing can give true content satisfaction or rest but God onely and therefore neither to love nor desire any thing but him for otherwise he cannot come to know the Spirit of God and what it willeth worketh or would work in him how it striveth how it is grieved how quenched how he searcheth all things even the deep things of God how he dwelleth in man how
and therefore so many under pretence of prayers and praises to God stick not to scoft at the teachings of the holy Spirit gift of the holy Ghost silent waitings upon God watching praying new lights c. and so go on blaspheming the Father of lights and the holy Name by which his saints are called as things most contrary to their natures and fleshly affections and therefore it highly concerns you every one to consider well with what you come before the Lord and to examine your selves whether you are in the faith whether Christ Jesus be in you or you are reprobates Now if Jesus Christ be forming in you then the body is dayly dying and if he be there formed the body is dead because of sin and the Spirit alive for righteousness sake and then all sensible things of bodily wits of imaginations natural reason and understanding are brought under the true light and heavenly Spirit and yeilded up so as to know and do all in the Name of the Lord Jesus wherein I do not mean onely naming him as his names are written in a Book or on a Wall or spoken of by polluted Livs but in the light and by his Spirit with the thoughts and affections naked bare and free from beholding bodily or earthly things as altered from fleshly likings and affections into spiritual savour sweetness and delight in his divine presence wherein the Spirit of prayer is freely given and felt as a flaming desire in the heart to Jesus Christ the mighty power love and wisdom of God by the heavenly touch of spiritual love which is neither bodily nor can be bodily felt onely the soul that is wholly devoted to God may and doth feel it but not with any bodily wit wisdom or skill because it is not felt but in the spiritual desire of the soul that is cleansed or waiting to be cleansed from all unrighteousness and there it doth so warm heat and quicken to watchfulness in prayer and obedience that it enliveneth the soul and ravisheth it more and more with pure joy and consolation in him so that the thoughts are gathered in at all times to think speak and act soberly sadly and seriously and in prayer ever to express such words as God onely by his Spirit putteth into the heart like an eccho of mans voyce to his friend which prayer is much alone as Christs also was free from all lets and interruptions and is the gift of the holy Ghost and lasteth not very long at a time in the fervour of it for that it is laborious to the Spirit though very pleasant through the passion of love therein felt truely tasted and sweetly savoured not much unlike that of Moses when he opened not his lips or of Hannah when she did but move her lips which breaketh down all lusts and likings of earthly things with so great force as that the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence thereby while the soul is wounded with the sword of love and thereby overcomes and obtains the requests in some sense as Jacob did but the body then seems to fall down and may not bear it because the working is of so great force that the most vicious and fleshly man on earth so touched would be right sorrowful and sad therewith for the time and loath all his lusts and fleshly likings of earthly things by him most delighted in before as Jeremy said the love and feeling of God was made as burning fire in his heart and this is the holy Ghost and fire even the love of God in man burning and wasting all other loves and likings in mans soul as a fire sticking in the bones and filling all the powers of the soul with grace and glorious sweetness as marrow fills the bones and yet not without the wits but within them so full of might and power where it worketh within that if smiteth down into and through all and throws down the body into quaking and trembling for that it is so far unlike and contrary to the body that the body cannot skill of it nor bear it as was in like manner witnessed in Moses David Habakkuk and others and also in some of my dear friends that are living witnesses thereof yet in the flesh onely our Lord Jesus moderateth it and tempereth it into a soft and sober sweetness by abating the fervour and motion in time convenient and administreth life and peace as the soul becomes capable of it So that the holy Spirit teacheth for what and how to pray watch meditate and move to please God without any mans teaching and so our prayer is continual without ceasing and most and best alone in the heart that is made pure and clean by the operation of the holy Spirit that teacheth to do all things and live ever in the love and sweet presence of God without any great letting of lusts vanities or other tentations as the soul becomes clean and purely devoted to him We read in holy Scriptures of the womans lost Groat the pearl and treâ—sure hid in the field selling all buying c. which certainly are matters of some importance to man because so significantly exprest by Jesus Christ of himself and mans soul as of lighting a candle sweeping searching finding rejoycing digging deep selling all other merchandize buying c. and therefore it skills much to have this Candle lighted whereby mans soul may see this treasure in its self and know the value of it whereby it may be induced to sell all for it which may not be until it be known that it is lost and where as in the inner part of mans own house for as Jesus Christ was lost in mans soul so there he is to be found what was lost there by Adam is to be found there in Christ Jesus the pure pearl of high price and primitive perfection but he may not be there found in naming of him by any his outward names nor as by faining his name or any power in mans heart by the labour of his minde or studying that name never so strongly or earnestly for in this manner do those that are far out of the way think to finde him and by so seeking miss of him as neither knowing his Voyce Name nor Nature or taste any savour of him or see comeliness in him to desire him but live without as strangers to him even without GOD in the world but he that comes to have an inward sight of a little of that spiritual fairness and dignity which the reasonable soul had of and in God at first that was lost in Adam and is to be had again by grace in Christ Jesus as it shall be enlightned to see him spiritually and shall not hide that light as under a bushel by over-laying it with earthly business or affections but shall love it above all earthly things even as the soul is swept with the fear of God washt with tears within c. and so the groat the pearl the Kingdom of
free to wait on Jesus Christ as he ought for so long as love to any creature or lustful desire carries the mind out from Jesus Christ his true light within he cannot die to the world nor come into this darkness of knowing himself be crucified to the world as not desiring it nor accepting it And for this forsaking said Jesus Christ he shall have a hundred fold even the profit of this darkness be hid through grace from worldly goods that he seek them not earnestly is not letted by them loveth them not looketh not after them and therefore hath an hundred fold more then any King or rich man of the earth that takes care to keep that he hath and yet covets more for he that coveteth Jesus Christ and him onely he hath more rest of heart and conscience true love and delight in his soul in one hour then he that loveth the things of this world hath or can have in all his life-time and this darkness is but as mid-day when the Sun shineth out of the darkness and Jesus Christ giveth rest to his beloved that standeth firm in his counsâ—l and doubteth not nor is afraid for any evil tydings because his heart is sined and is well assured that the light of knowledge and feeling of spiritual love is in Christ Jesus of him and for him and that the darkiness in forsaking of worldly love is by his forming and reformming the soul onely to and for himself and that he reformeth us in us and not without us for grace is inwardly given at first and so wrought by degrees as man applyeth his heart thereto As first Jesus Christ by his light and Spirit calleth from worldly vanities and that then brings great sweerness and joy with it but if left and not seconded it stayeth there but for a little season though the remembrance thereof abideth and after that the time of reforming and setting the soul at rights is with much labour and watching for when the mind is set against all sin within and without and the desire wholly on the love of Jesus Christ wherein there will be felt many lets from within in his own will and without from his enemies by temptations and his great torment that he hath lived so long in the false love of the world and this will stick close to him until he pass through spiritual tribulation and be purified through fears doubts and perplexities that he will be near unto despair and wholly left unto the enemy save onely that the Lord Jesus privately loveth him and such a soul hath also private trust in his mercy and go he never so far he shall not fall because he is born up from despair though with great inward pain so that he sometimes knoweth not whence it cometh and yet then that soul would not for all the world be blinded with the false love as before it was for that were hell to such a soul and this the Lord Jesus doth in pure love and for great profit to that soul to drive out sensuality that it might receive spiritual light And when the soul is reformed in feeling and freely accepteth the gift of perfect cleansing to enter into the rest and cease from his own works as God did from his then is Jesus Christ more sweetly familiar with the soul that is so brought through the fire of afflictions into true peace and in this working some souls have great devotion in prayer and main touchings of spiritual light in understanding and others of comfortable heat and great sweetness and never come fully to this restful darkness with a present fervent desire of lasting love and longing after God but these inward feelings where they stand in compunction and sorrow for sin or of devotion or outward imagination are not the feelings that the soul shall have and feel in the gracious habitation with God spiritually while in this life or body of flesh though they may be gracious gifts of God and not to be abused or neglected although the soul that feels them is not yet reformed in feeling for it hath not yet received the gift of perfect and spiritual burning love to Jesus Christ as they may come to if they be faithful in it and yet they may feel more of the love of God then others that have that gift in the way towards perfect feeling in as much as the feeling sheweth more outwardly by their fervour in bodily tokens as in weeping praying speaking and other bodily stirrings and strivings that some others would think them ravished with love c. Yet still consider that these stirrings and strivings are of God to stay them from the worldly love and lusts of the flesh that have so long been rooted in their hearts from which worldly love they may not be drawn out by such feeble stirrings of great fervour and outward strength which is no true token of much love but of weakness and little love in their souls that cannot bear a little touching of God for it is yet fleshly and fastened thereto and not mortified there from by the work of the Spirit of God For the touch seems so quick and also delectable over all things felt before in fleshly love of earthly things that it is over-taken with it for that it is so new sudden and strange that the body cannot well bear it but breaketh out into weepings bodily stirrings and other actions as Christ said the old bottles would break and not hold the new wine but that God keepeth it whole in mercy letteth it break out into tears and words through weakness and feebleness of soul and not because of much love as some may suppose but afterwards when through love the uncleanness is melted out of the soul by such fervour then is the love clear and standeth still and then perfect love casteth out fear then is the soul in peace and much more in love then before though it shew less outward for it is now all whole at rest within and little appearing outwardly For in the first state such feelings come to the soul suddainly before it be well aware and as it comes before the soul knows it so it oft returneth or departeth without its knowledge neither can the soul tell how to come to that state again no know where to find it for the thought are not yet kept within in the light with a firm longing desire to Jesus Christ nor the eye of the soul kept open and neer to the spiritual beholding of heavenly things and so the heart is not sixed and then what weakness and unsuitableness is in all without stedfasness firm faith and full intent to God to know his secrets and obey his will And it is always to be diligently minded that there are two manner of feelings the one inward according to mans bodily wit and skill and the other more inward or within that being of spiritual light wisdom and skill which the holy Ghost teacheth and planteth in
the powers of the soul So there is a meekness that is gained by the working of reason in fleshly feeling and another that is deeply felt in the soul and is the free and spiritual gift of love and it is a full hard thing and a great mystery to him that stands in the working of his own reason to keep constant rest and softness in his heart and charity to love men when they despise him without resisting or repining thereat c. Both these are of love but the first worketh by the reason of the soul the second worketh by the holy Spirit in the soul and so the first is imperfect the second perfect The first meekness a man feeleth in beholding his sin and wretchedness and judging himself unworthy of any mercy or good thing at the hand of God and as the worst of creatures worthy of all sufferings and thus thrusteth himself down under all others and grieveth in his heart when he is overcome by any temptation confesseth accuseth himself and asketh forgiveness c. But this is not perfect meekness for it comes of beginning to profit in grace caused by beholding of sins and this is the meekness that love worketh by the reason of the soul But perfect meekness the soul feeleth of the sight and spiritual knowledge of Jesus Christ seeing him to be all and do all in the soul and for it and hath so great love and joy in that spiritual sight that it forgetteth it self after a sort and leaneth to Jesus Christ with all the love it hath to behold him and heeds not any unworthiness or sins before done but setteth it self with all sins past and good deeds also at nought as unworthy to be remembred and judgeth no particular soul neither better nor worse them himself but loves and helps the good in all and every man therein and slighteth and despiseth all the joy and worship of this world as seeing it so little and nought in regard of the joy and love the soul feeleth in the spiritual sight of Jesus Christ and knowledge of his purity and holiness that though he might have all worldly joy and worship without sin yet he would not meddle with it The world hath no savour in this meekness but is exceeding far from it It is the lover of Jesus Christ onely that hath this meekness abiding in him with liking and gladness and that without any heaviness or stirring for it But the world hath a proud meekness belonging to an hypocrite without this joy or gladness by the gift of the holy Ghost and do heed the praises of men as also fear their dispraises taking pleasure or displeasure thereat in themselves and it 's like this was the snare that David prayed to have his heart pluckt out of And many that yet love the praise of men more then God or his praise do bestir themselves travel and labour with their wills wits and affections and so think on God Christ and outward exercises as it were by their strength to draw out of themselves a feeling of the love of God in Christ even by bodily force and mastery if that were possible But these love not spiritually nor is this a kindly or gracious work of love but a kind of maddoing of the soul at Reasons bidding which without meekness and forsaking the love of earthly things is very dangerous to beget spiritual pride which otherwise done in meekness of love and a loathing of all earthly affections may finde favour with the Lord and be by him changed from mans own works into spiritual workings for as man cannot think a good thought of himself so he ought to forbear his own thinkings words and works as not good and therefore can find no acceptance with God and wait with patience for the Lords working in him to will and to do of his good pleasure all other workings being to the soul's greater sufferings and loss as the Prophet said The kindling of fires with mans own sparks causeth the foul to lie down in sorrow In such an imperfect Lover Love worketh freely by the affections of man but in perfect Lovers Love worketh within in the light by spiritual affections killing all other affections in the soul and that both kindly and quietly but man not knowing this work of the holy Spirit will not believe how the vertues of Meekness Soberness Chastity Love and Cleanness is wrought so quietly and surely without travel or painful labour of the body and bodily wits and therefore they labour and toil day after day with their Reasons and outward exercises in their own strength to get vertues and make love by words and other stirrings and what they seem so to get they have much more ado to keep with all their fightings against sin contendings for grace and wranglings about it and therefore are like Wrastlers sometimes above and soon again underneath up and down in and out off and on getting and losing and so weary their wits and tire themselves because all this striving is in their own reason might and strength of self-will as fightings with themselves but neither in true savour nor love and therefore have not the victory or upper hand of what they strive about and such must loose the full rest because no man may so put himself fully into Gods hands for that man seeth him not but his eye being shut he thereby closeth it faster lest he should see and will not know it and though some such may suffer bodily pains for what they do as in love to Jesus Christ and that gladly yet being not of the holy Spirit led by the fire of burning love and brightness it is fully mingled with high pride presumption judging and disdaining them by whom they suffer and yet these say and think they are in charity and that they suffer all for the love of God but are begailed by the Devil's transformings because their knowledge of God is principally in imaginations and their love to him in natural affections and bodily likenesses at the best but as milk before strong meat for in strong feeding on the Father's Bread at his own Table the imaginations may not be serviceable unless to the feeling in understanding when need is and then onely as a hand-maid waiting on the hand of her Dame Many do like well of the Vertues of Meekness Lowliness and Patience as in their own reasons and wills that are enemies thereto in their affections through grudgings in themselves at those in whom they are and so can have no love to Vertue or vertuous men or know how to delight in them as such spiritually and what these men do by the stirrings of reason in them is but out of a fleshly fear of God or rather applause of men for Jesus Christ is but as a stranger to the soul until his Image be therein reformed in meekness and love which is his Livery and wherein he discovers himself and his secrets as he said to his
like men and be strong in the Lord and the power of his might that the fear of man careful thought or immoderate desire be not found in any of you watch and pray that you enter not into tentations or give occasion to the enemy of your souls lest there should be floath guile or dissimulation hid in any heart or a root of bitterness springing up to trouble and defile or other unskilfull stirring by inordinate affections in any soul after the bodily sufferings changes being seldome free from temptations specially in the weak who are most apt to censure the strong he that hath the beam in his own eye to pull at the moat that is in his brothers eye while contrarily the strong strive not with the weakness in any but ever to strengthen the pure principle help it over the weakness that you may appeare as you are the plant which the Lords right hand hath planted so as that none can pluck you up his portion and peculiar treasure his Jewels sons of the free woman that abide in the house for ever a people whom the Lord loves leads about instructs in his way and keeps from evil and to whom is his blessing of peace and life for evermore that are as living stones built up a spirituall house as a city set on a hill that cannot be hid to shew forth his praise in the blessed love and brightness of his shining glory and be a sweet savour to him in them that believe and in them that perish in unbelief by holding forth the faithfull word of his patience and everlasting Gospel of mans salvation c. What manner of persons ought you therefore to be in all holy conversation that by the burning beams of his beautifull and holy presence you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men that blame your good conversation in Christ Jesus and the hearts of others that tremble at the word of the Lord be melted into tender love and heavenly sweetness suitable to receive that blessed Gospel of peace and reconciliation and so suck at the breasts of consolation as to be daily delighted with the fresh springs of his love thereby to flourish as an herb and be prepared to enjoy the inheritance of the Saints in light and though the world know you not and Satan the enemy of your souls would not have you known lest it should be to his loss yet is the righteous God greater in you then he that is in the world hasting to clear up your innocency that you may be well known to have no strange god amongst you that you touch not the unclean thing but are his sons and daughters having your habitation in the holy mountain with the shout of a King amongst you and that his word spoken shall surely come to pass your enemies be found liars and confess that they have dealt unworthily with you for the Lord hath kindled a fire that shall proceed out of your mouthes to devoure the adversary which cannot be quenched and they that hurt you must be so killed and there is no project to prevent it but as you are faithfull to our Lord spirituall victory you shall have over the beast over his image over his mark and over the number of his name and be found without spot before the throne of God and the Lamb and this is it that giveth you victory even your firm faith but you have need of patience and that it have its perfect work in you so that having done the will of God you may enjoy the promises in the new heaven and earth the true voyce of God in spirituall glory in the essentiall freedome of will and restitution of all things into the heavenly rest wherein all doubts are resolved un on cleared and expectations satisfied and in the way every one is to take care there be no giving or taking offence no falling our no touching of any unclean thing noâ—haâ—…y striving with the evil nature in any others for that as pitch will defile no giving place to evil but overcome it with good as our Lord commanded and being ever apt to teach and bless that you may be heirs of the blessing And to conclude here is nakedly and barely set before all sorts of men the wayes and wages as Moses sometimes said of good and evil life and death for every man to chuse which he will for so it pleaseth the Lord to deal with every man and therein he doth man no wrong by leaving him to his own will and giving him a reward according to his own works c. and experience teacheth that every man will say he loves God and Christ and would be sorry else while he acts as his enemie against him and that he would have everlasting life his soul saved by partaking of the joyes of heaven and avoyding the torments of hell and therefore would die the death of the righteous and have his latter end like his And so said Baalam when he was striving to curse the people of God and gave wicked counsel to the King of Moab against them and to such I say Why walk you then in Balaams way for mens favours rewards so act against the Lord his servants and the light of him in your own consciences for self-ends and make such provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof And why are you not now willing to live the life of the righteous but have him in so great derision and a proverb of reproach as at this day why do you account his life madness and his end without honour why erre you so from the truth that the light of righteousness should not arise and shine in you but rest your souls so in fleshly likings and love of this world whereby godliness seems nothing to you but as a scornfull thing of nought and wrath rests in your hearts even against the Lord and his servants though you say you love him but know that for all these things the Lord God will bring you to judgement you shall see as it is written the righteous stand with great boldness and his salvation seem strange to you above all you looked for and then over-late you may say within your selves What hath pride profited us or the pomp of riches with our vaunting brought us when the â—dolgods you now serve shall depart as a shadow or Post that passeth by with the friendship of this world whereby you are at enmity with God for as it is written whosoever will be a friend to this world is the enemy of God and afraid of him seeks to hide his heart from him and inward fear possesseth him as it did Adam so that he hates his light loves darkness keeps in it flies wanders stumbles staggers and peace departeth from him and though he force to himself a kind of counterfeit mirth for a time yet therewith also he is soon pinched and feels a heavy weight and pain in his own bosom from which he cannot flâ—e but it reproves him and condemns him at every turn and as for the light that shineth in the dark place of his soul he is afraid of that also and faith or love find no room in his earthen vessel for his own lusts fill up the place and devour all by conceit imaginations and vile affections wherein he spends his time to beast himself and yet got swelling words of vanity touching things he never saw and to have mens persons in admiration for advantage sake which is a knowledge and condition that puffâ—th up the heart but redeems not to God from the worldly glory and vain conversation wherein some are so fettered that they will not be reclaimed or endure to be soberly admonished to the contrary for the safety of their souls from whence there is this one onely way Jesus Christ the pure path to be known spiritually and the Father worshipped in him to which a very plain simple man as the fishermen without humane learning may easily attain if he hinder not himself by his own willing seeking desiring hearing striving or outward contention about it because there is a pure principle in every mans conscience which hath onely need to be awaked stirred up and quickned to behold and see all things in the inner powers and parts of the soul and so cease from all outward seekings for it because it is there the free gift of God by his spirit and such as no man can fully teach the knowledge of to another though he were never so well acquainted with the Divine Mysteries which if well considered by those that have attained to some small measure or degree of grace they world not so run into words as many do or be so conceited of their little grace received as to lose it by vain glory while others that have much more wait in still silence of their souls for the Lords work to be therein accomplished as these also would oft times when they speak did they know how little grace or spirituall favour they have in respect of what God giveth to others that singly wait on him with holy and humble hearts and may give also to them if they likewise wait diligently for it Ah that worldly and vain minded men would at last consider and commune with their own hearts to finde out their wayes and see the sadness of their conditions with the high concernments of their souls and how the difference stands between the children of this world that are wife in their generation and the children of light and how the latter exceed the former by many degrees of true wisdome from above and heavenly joy when no word is spoken or matter seen outwardly whereof may be some directions found suitable to each mans present condition in what is here written according to my understanding in the simple and unchangable truth that hath a willing heart to embrace the appearances of Jesus Christ spiritually in his own particular and if not here is over-much said to rise up in judgement against him when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to his Gospel who is the Lord of Life and Glory 22. of the second moneth 1661. THE END