glorified it with Dominion and Peace And consider what Law or Learning David had when he came from feeding the Sheep being but a youth and what weapon had he when he slew the uncircumcised Philistine more than the smooth stone in the Shepherds Bag he that can read let him without Staffe or Spear in the Name of the Lord. And they marvailed to see the boldness of Peter and John who were ignorant and unlearned men in their Laws and Letters and the Pharisees said The Disciples of Jesus know not the Law and also of him Whence hath this man learning seeing he knoweth not Letters Thus did God confound the wisdome of the wise and prudent in Ages past as in this Age who hath alway chosen the foolish things of this world that no flesh or fleshly part should glory in his presence Therefore Dear Friends Let no Babe or simple one among you be discouraged who are ignorant in the outward Lawes and Letters but keep to the Royal Law in the heart written by the Finger of the living God in which you will feel the springings up of the Royal Seed and Birth which fulfils the righteous Law and Letters and was before the Letters and Lawes of men was whose heart trusteth only in the living God and makes not flesh his Arme. This is the true Seed the Heir But that which makes flesh his Arme is the Seed of evill doers which shall never be renowned And so my dear Friends in all things mind the leadings and counsel of God for he leads his people and guides their feet in the way of peace and he alone is the saving health of all Nations and without him they can do nothing that is good and acceptable in his sight and let your eyes be toward him who is invisible dwelling in the light and neither act or speak out of his fear and counsel then will you be preserved to his praise and to your eternal comfort and peace and whether you eat or drink or whatever you doe let all be done in the Faith to the glory of God for what is not of faith is sin so shall you be kept stedfast on the unmoveable Rock through and over all things which may come to pass as your tryals and be upheld in the meek and quiet spirit which in Gods sight is of great price And in this is the Kingdome and patience of Jesus and the victory of the Lamb known who must Rule and Reigne till all his enemies are put under his Feet Amen To the Blessed Seed and Children of the Everlasting Holy Covenant in the Life of the Lamb of God in whose mouth is found no guile throughout the whole Creation A most dear and tender Salutation O Thou Blessed Seed of the promise who hast long lain as in the Clefts of the Rocks and hast been as a stranger throughout the whole world and yet lyes as a Lamb slain in the streets of Sodom and Egypt spiritually my soul breaths cryes and groans unto the living God for thy sake and I am in sorrow and pain as a woman in travel because of thy great oppressions who knoweth thy sorrows thy griefs and thy secret complaints who knoweth thy sighs thy groans and thy tears amongst the children of men who art as a worm in the lowest parts of the earth bearing the weights and heavy pressures of the iniquity thereof To whom canst thou turn to the right hand or left to unbosome thy self in the depth of thy inward travels but onely to the living fountain from whence thou sprang O O thou Lamb of God which takes away the sin and removes the foundations of the Earth when wilt thou yet arise more in thy beauty and glory among the sons of men to bear the Government on thy shoulders whose right it is That thou mayest lead them forth in the green pastures by the fountain of still waters that thy innocency tenderness and love unfeigned might be known as the waters cover the Sea For thou art without guile the alone pure and undefiled one thou art harmless as a Dove thou art the chiefest of ten thousands thou art altogether lovely the world knoweth thee not thou art as a Lilly among Thorns and as an Apple Tree amongst the Trees of the Forrest thy smell is as Lebanon and thy taste exceeds the Pomgranates O thou fairest among the Sons and thou beautifullest among the Daughters What shall I say of thee O thou Beloved of my soul I am even sick of love my soul is even melted in the breathings of thy precious life and I am even ravished with love in thy presence for thy Countenance is exceeding the Angels of God thou art terrible as an Army with Banners to the ungodly but thou delightest in the upright humble and contrite ones thou art my Saviour in whom my soul rejoyceth and my spirit doth magnifie thee O thou everlasting Son of Righteousnesse Arise arise shine forth in thy strength and glory and drive back all the Clouds of darknesse which have covered the Earth and the grosse darknesse which hath covered the People that the glory of thy Light may enlighten the world and thy brightnesse may shame and confound the glory of all flesh that thy dominion might be known throughout the whole Earth which is an everlasting dominion and thy Kingdome of Righteousness which hath no end that the Nations may come to the glory of thy Light and Kings to the brightnesse thereof to Rule in thine Eternal Counsel Wisdome Dominion and Victory over all that songs of praises deliverance and triumph for ever and ever may be founded unto thee who wast dead and art alive and livest for evermore casting down all their Crowns at thy feet for thou alone art worthy to Rule and Reign and to have all Honour Glory Strength Wisdome Riches and Blessing For thou wert slain because of our sins and art now arising to redeem thy People out of Kindreds Tongues and Nations by thy blood and art becoming King of Kings and Lord of Lords in us thy Babes and Children thou art the Tree of life in the midst of the Garden of God by thy vertue must the Nations be healed thou art the Pearl of great price thy worth is not to be valued with fine Cold thou art far above Rubies thou hast been a Treasure hid in the field dwelling in the lower parts of the Earth and yet above the highest Heavens both which thou hast upheld to this day by thy power thou art the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the world though they have not known thee but trampled thee under foot as a despicable thing thy face hath been marred more than any mans and thy form more than the sons of men thou art that Just One and holy Childe which hath long been as a Servant though by right art Lord of all on thy back hath the Ploughers ploughed long furrows oh how have the Smiters smitten at the appearance of the lifting
God but of the world and the day of tryal is now come in which things that have been hid shall be manifest There is a spirit that can satisfie it self with the profession likeness or image of the Truth but its cross and burden is the very Truth it self which doth discover it judge it and cast it out Therefore take heed and beware of that spirit believe it not but judge it in every appearance it is the leaven of the Pharisees which can never enter but shuts up the Kingdome of God with all its Righteousness Comprehension and Profession This spirit is without the vail and cannot see the end of those things which God will abolish being shut out of the Holiest of All in which the secrets and wonderful works of God are manifest to them that fear him so this spirit judgeth according to the outward appearance and not with righteous judgement This is that Bastard or Son of the Bond woman which shall not inherit with the Heir the Son of the Free-woman This is a knower of men after the flesh the flesh is the vail and a respecter of persons and loveth the praise of men and esteemeth the rich in this world more than the poor whom God hath chosen rich in faith and heirs of his everlasting Kingdom Therefore beware of it let it have no place in thy Bosom or within thy Borders O Israel for it is abomination unto the Lord thy God and a great Oppressor and Griever of his seed and a contemner and secret despiser of his mean appearances in his babes and little ones in and by whom he will confound the wisdom and glory of all flesh Again There is a spirit that thinks or conceits better of it self than of others because of outward things which it seems to possesse or because of the knowledge experiences or tryals which it hath had in dayes past through the dealings of God in his love to the Seed and with these things decks it selfe and through which the heart is lifted up out of Gods fear feeding it self with the Manna which corrupteth this is a disobedient spirit an imprisoner of the Seed and Life of God in the particular and an oppressor and wounder of it in the general and it is a lover of this world secretly in its heart though it seems to have a beautiful out-side or covering the sower of discord lodgeth as a couched Beast in its bosome and the back-biter lyes within its breast which as Arrows it will send forth against the upright and simple hearted which doth discover see and fathome the ground and foundation thereof therefore beware of it judge it and cast it off for ever for it is of the old leaven of malice and wickedness It hath a life in giving heed to reports yea false reports against others entertaining them and reporting them thereby to cover it self as with a garment that so it might be esteemed and have the preheminence and that others whom it pleaseth may be dis-esteemed slighted or undervalued This spirit the Lord God will cast down and abase unto the nethermost Pit it is a Robber of God and a despiser of his neighbour it is very neer unto the chains of darkness in them to be reserved unto the day of great Judgement Therefore O Israel follow thou the Lord thy God alone who discovereth the very secrets of all hearts and is the searcher tryer and finder out of every false spirit before whose presence and in whose sight all things that have been hidden shall be sought out evidently seen and made manifest unto the ends of the Earth For the day is come in which no shadow of death or dark covering shall hide the worker of iniquity and wickednesse though never so secret Therefore remember with whom thou hast to do for all things are naked open and bare before his pure eyes And see thou walkest in the Light of the Lord which is the Light of his true Israel and remains their standing dwelling-place which shall be for a flame and an everlasting fire in the hearts of all them who wilfully and contemptuously transgress against him and comes not to be humbled because thereof before him This is thy God and Lord which brought thee up at first out of Egypt the dark Land and hath led thee by a way thou knewest not who gave thee water in the desart and Manna in the wildernesse who was as a Gloud by day and as a Pillar of fire by night and who by little and little did drive out the many strange Nations that thou mightest inherit the promised Land which remains for ever a Rest for the People and Seed of God Now he called thee not out of Egypt in the day of thine afflictions and grievous burthens sighs groans and tears when thou cryedst to go forth to sacrifice unto him that thou shouldest return or make thee a Captain to go back again to the house of bondage but that thou shouldst be a redeemed holy peculiar people unto himself zealous for truth righteousness and every good work And thou mayst remember that thou wert charged in that day of thy entrance into the good Land that thou shouldst not worship nor bow down to any of the Gods of the strange Nations whom he drove out before thee neither give your sons to their daughters nor your daughters to their sons in Marriage least it become a snare unto thee and steal away thine heart from wholly following the Lord thy God which brought thee up from the land of darkness or out of the North Country where thou wert driven and scattered upon the cold cloudy and barren Mountains as sheep without a shepherd Was not this thy state O Israel in which thy God sought thee and found thee and was not this the acceptable year and the appoynted time or day of salvation Didst not thou rejoyce as a poor captive bound in chains to be delivered what wouldst thou have promised or what couldst thou have done or left undone in those dayes for his sake who then appeared for thy deliverance Didst thou not say in thine heart that this God should be thy God if he would but give thee bread to eat and raiment to put on when he called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit when thou couldst have put thy mouth in the dust if there might have been but hope When thou fattest trembling upon the ground and lookedst every way without for a comforter and when thou wert as at thy wits end in thy wearisom toyls troubles and anguish of spirit then did not the Lord hear thy cryes and remember his Covenant which was made to Abraham and to his Seed for ever and see thine afflictions and come down to deliver And didst not thou rejoyce like them in Harvest at the appearance or breaking forth of this Morning wert not thou ready to call in thy neighbours to rejoyce with thee when the Lords money on which his Image is was found
THE LAMBS GOVERNMENT TO BE EXALTED over all in Israel who is the Captain of their Salvation whose Right alone it is in whose mouth is found no guile and not any other Birth Spirit Man or Image whatsoever OR THE GLORY of the LORD Risen like devouring Fire to search out every false Birth and false Spirit and to consume Anti-Christ with the Spirit of his mouth and destroy him by the brightness of his Coming And this is a certain Sound in season to awaken the mixt-Multitude throughout the whole Host and that all may come to the Tryal and search and see what Spirit and Birth they are of and in what Spirit and Dominion you Rule and Govern who are Masters Parents and Governours of Families throughout all the Tribes of Israel c. With an Exhortation from God that none within the Camp seek to Physitians or things of that kind outward for any distemper weakness sickness or disease whatsoever without his leadings and counsel who leadeth into all truth c. Also That no Babe among them should strive or study for the comprehending or attaining the knowledge of the Laws of men or Nations to make their defence c. With a Dear and Tender Salutation to the blessed Seed and Children of the everlasting holy Covenant of Promise throughout the whole Creation Given forth in the movings at the commandment of the Captain of Israel By one that followeth him WILLIAM BAILY Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and blessing Rev. 5.12 For by him were all things created that are in Heaven and in earth visible invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were created by him and for him and he is before all things and by him all things consist he is the Head of the Body the Church who is the beginning the first born from the dead that in all things he might have the preheminence Col. 1.16 LONDON Printed in the Year 1663. THE LAMBS GOVERNMENT TO BE Exalted over all in Israel JEsus Christ the only begotten Son of God the holy Seed the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world that lyes in wickednesse in whose mouth guile is not found whose name is called the Word of God whom all are to hear whose Kingdome is not of this world whom God the Father hath raised from the dead and appointed heir of all things and Head over all to his Church and given him a name above every name that at his name every knee should bow of things in Heaven and things in the Earth and every tongue confesse him to be Lord to the glory of God the Father whom he hath given for a Leader and Commander of the people in whom alone is Redemption and Salvation and not in any other This is the Captain of thy Hoast O Israel this is thy King and Law-giver thy Judge and Saviour and every spirit seed motion or thought which is contrary opposeth or riseth against the life of this pure righteous precious seed wheresoever or in whomsoever it is or appeareth is of Antichrist which the Lord God will consume by the spirit of his mouth and destroy by the brightnesse of his coming without respect of persons And this hath been the Testimony of the Servants of the Lord in Ages past and this hath been and is our Testimony who are his Servants unto the world in this Age which work he is now cutting short in righteousness for his Elect Seeds sake in whom alone he is well pleased which hath long been pierced wounded grieved and oppressed by the contrary seed of evil doers which have alwayes opposed and exalted it self above all that is called God and would not that he should reign who is the Truth the Resurrection and the Life whose right alone it is and for whose sake the Lord God Allmighty will overturn overturn overturn till he possesse it unto the ends of the earth And well said the Scripture that There are many Antichrists in the world and many false Prophets shall arise and shall deceive many and many shall come and say I am Christ whereby many may be deceived c. Now this I do not onely read without in the world but in the world which is set in mans heart which hath been deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who hath searcht it out to the full or who knoweth it perfectly or who hath sought out all its secret Chambers of Imagery Truly I find but one right seed right Spirit Image or birth which rightly seeth and rightly judgeth all things and searcheth out the most deep and hidden things wayes forms shapes turnings or spirits It is a noble plant a noble birth and there is not a deeper speech then it can understand nor a form that it cannot see to the foundation or through the vail to the root thereof It is the Elect which cannot be deceived neither will it deceive any who joyn to it believe and trust in it but it s not of this world neither is its kingdome and glory of this world but from above over it in the Majesty on high from whence it is born far above the Principalities and Powers of the Rulers of the darkness of this world the Dominions and glory of which are but its temptations to draw from the more noble into the visible fading glory Heaven is its Throne and the Earth its Foot-stool Therefore his Followers must be redeemed from the earth from the world the glory the spirit and nature of it within in which lyeth the ground of temptations and the deceiveablenesse of unrighteousness and the lying wonders and the many Antichrists which doth arise in the secret Chambers against the appearance of this noble Seed to stand in the room of it to satisfie the mind saying I am Christ to wit I 'le give thee satisfaction I 'le be thy food thy guide or leader c. feeding the mind with false-hood and vanity till at last it proves a false Prophet which hath deceived and cast down many strong men wounded Therefore Hearken O Israel to the voyce of the Captain of thy salvation and give not heed to nor believe any lying vanity within or without Neither be thou satisfied with a false Conception or false birth a false rest or peace short of the Election short of the noble plant of renown the wholly right seed whose Kingdome is not of this world this is the Heir against which many false Prophets and Spirits Antichrists have risen up to dispossesse him of the Inheritance But all that go or climb up before him are Thieves and Robbers therefore be watchfull and diligent for your Adversary goes about seeking whom to devoure and fear always before the Lord thy God O Israel and believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God for there are many false spirits and false births which are not of
which cannot straightway be justly reproved because there was want of the right Authority Wisdome and discretion in the Reprover though something was reproveable yet the want of a due and right management thereof will strengthen the bad with a witness against the error in the Reprover And so here the work is not rightly done for God in your places neither can it without Christs leadings and guidance therein who is the wisdome and power of God out of which there is nothing done right serviceable or acceptable unto the Lord but in it the heart is made wise to discern both time and judgement And take heed ye do not secretly seek to bear rule over others by your means or because you have more of this worlds goods which is all of the earth and returns to the earth from whence it came for that is the leaven of the false Prophets and false spirit against which the woes are pronounced because it is an oppressor and secret persecuter of the Seed And God will abase that spirit where ever it is even in the sight of men and bring it into shame and contempt For it secretly accepteth persons despising the poor and admiring or extolling the rich in this world And thou who dost so whosoever thou art shall come into poverty and want and be contemned and dis-esteemed and cast out from amongst the children of him who had not whereon to lay his head except thou repentest and be humbled before his Throne For what hast thou or what art thou more than another either inward or outward which thou hast not received or hast by permission to try thee from the Righteous God to whom thou must give account who will change times seasons and the state of things People or Nations as he pleaseth Therefore be low and fear before him For he will smite all the proud covetous and hypocrites with an irresistable stroak whose wayes are an abomination unto him Neither be thou self-conceited or lifted up in thy thoughts because thou hast known more or been convinced longer than others or hast done more or endured or suffered more than others have least the evil eye spoken of thou come to see with and thy light be turned into darkness For God can wil do what he please with his own And many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first as it is written Therefore blessed is the man or woman that dwels in the sense of Gods mercies and their own nothingness inability and weakness For this shuts out the Pharisee that would shut up the Kingdome which will not enter it self nor suffer that which would So my Friends Remember he enjoyed the Kingdome who was little in his own eyes but when disobedience prevailed the Dominion was lost and condemnation and trouble came over that which had disobeyed And this is just and right with God who doth and will render unto every one according to their words and works Therefore dwell low dwell little in your own eyes as the little Child for of such is the Kingdome of God and such onely have the Right Authority Dominion and Throne given them of God for so it pleaseth him And in this ye will answer and reach to the seed of the Kingdome in all your Familyes and in all People Here ye will not hurt the tender nor break the bruised Reed neither strengthen nor countenance the wild stubborn and froward in their wayes but your very life will reprove them though not a word be spoken Here you Rule in the true Dominion of the Lamb over the Beasts of the Field the Fowles of the Air and the Fishes of the Sea as it was in the beginning in the Image of God in the blessed state in which dwelling and being good examples ye will teach more in one hour than a thousand words every day in a whole year without it and the witness of God will arise in them to justifie you in the one and to judge and condemn you in the other Therefore take heed with what spirit you Rule in your Familyes for if Christ be not Head then is that which is contrary which he will consume and destroy by the spirit of his mouth and by the brightness of his coming And if he be not your Head Lord and King who rides meekly upon the wilde Asse Colt in the particular who are Governours or Masters of Familyes how then are your Familyes his Familyes and how are you of his houshold if Christ Jesus be not the Housholder or Governour in and among you And how are you then of his Church if he be not the Head and Ruler Instructor and Leader of you in all things who is the Leader of his People Israel Consider these things my Friends for of the Lord am I constrained to write them for his holy Seed and Name sake and for his Truth and the souls of People sake which are greatly oppressed grieved and vexed by a wrong Government among Children Servants People and Nations And let none be secure or careless without the feeling of the pure presence of God leading and guiding them in wisdom love and peace which keeps the Heart and Affections alive unto the Lord God of Truth whose Throne is Heaven and dead to the Earth dead to the world and the things of it for who comes to be carelesse and at ease in the flesh little regarding those things before mentioned even Gods name and Seed in themselves and others are bad examples to such who are young simple and tender and stumbling blocks to such as are to be gathered in this day of Gods mighty power in which he will plead with all flesh without respect of persons who will remove the Candlestick of them that have forsaken their first love except they speedily repent and do their first works and will spue the luke-warm out of his mouth as loathsome and burthensome unto him And this is the Word of the Lord unto such whose zeal will perform it and the day is at hand in which he will come quickly and fight against them with the sword of his mouth Therefore let all be awakened and see where ye are and what spirit ye are of and how the work of God goes on in the particular and amongst you and whether your affections be on things above and not on things of the earth and whether your life is in Christ the Seed the Truth of the Most High God and whether you follow the Lamb in whom is found no guile whithersoever he leadeth If you do then are ye the wise Virgins with the oyle in your Lamps seeing with the single eye as God sees who is no respecter of persons who hath chosen the poor of this world rich in faith mark rich in that which purifieth the heart and gives victory over the world which justifieth in Gods sight and heires of his everlasting Kingdome Then you love in the love of God which is unfeigned Then you
judge all things as God judgeth in his infallible righteous judgement and not before or without him who is Lord and Head over all to his Church Friends I preach the Crosse unto the world and to the nature spirit and wayes of it without respect of persons in the sense of what God is doing and will shortly bring to passe that no flesh may glory in his presence And this I say to you all within the Camp of Israel who are of the mixt multitude that came out of Egypt and yet love the Garlick and the flesh-pots thereof that love the earth and sticks in the earth and saves self alive hides from sufferings for feare of losing the earth or your reputation among men you follow not the Lamb of God in whom is no guile who humbled himself to the death of the Crosse for the Joy that was set before him who made himself of no reputation and had not whereon to lay his head who set his face like a flint because of truth and righteousness against all unrighteousness hypocrisie and wickedness whatsoever without respect to the persons of any possessions or places of any For which end he was born and for which end his followers are born who feel him born within them even to witness for the truth and to stand up upon the Earth and plead for it and suffer patiently for the Testimony which they hold till the Spirit of life from God arise in the Consciences of ungodly and wicked men to plead his own Cause with them You I say who are of that spirit of self-saving you have and shall have your reward as the Pharisees had as the mixt multitude had and as the murmuring Israelites had God gave them their hearts lusts seeing they desired it but sent leanness into their souls This is your state therefore take heed and be awakened and retire back to the foundation of God out of the earth for the Lord will crosse you and vex you by rolling the earth out of its place and will abase your reputation and bring you into shame and contempt til you know that the Most high ruleth amongst men and governeth in the Kingdomes and Authorities amongst men and people who is higher then they whose the Earth is and the fulness of it and not yours you must give an account to him how you have ordered it and used and improved it to the praise and exaltation of his Name and the help of the true woman For the earth and heavens are hers and the Childs which she brings forth to govern the Nations and you are but as wormes and Grashoppers in Gods sight who can crush you and tread down the high places of the earth in a moment and rebuke and break in pieces the strong Nations in a moment and this is the Lord God of heaven a doing that all people may fear and obey him And these things are coming to passe and will be accomplished by him that respecteth not the persons of men but will reward every one according to his wayes And my friends Judgement hath begun at the house of God but greater things then many have yet seen are approaching for a short work will the Lord make on the earth for his oppressed Seeds sake for his great Name sake amongst you and in the world therefore expect you not great and finall destruction to come upon the wicked without untill the Temple is neerer built For I tell you nay you must first be faithfull followers of the Lamb if you would see your Conquest over the Beast Dragon Whore and false Prophet the Antichrists without you must first see it and your victory over the world and the spirit of it through faith and patience within for this way it cometh to passe that no flesh should glory but be abased even to the dust from whence it came And this have I seen in Gods secret Counsell even how he will accomplish his great work among his people and how he will destroy his and their enemies with a finall destruction even like a whirlewinde when once it ariseth Therefore my friends Gird up the loines of your minds watch and be sober and waite alwayes upon God and feel your hope to the end and be not hasty but remember the dayes of Noah how the Lord was long-suffering till the Ark was finished then came the Floud upon the world of the ungodly And thus is the son of man come and his long-suffering to us-ward who obey his voyce is salvation Let him that readeth understand For as it was in the dayes of Noah even so is it now at the coming of the son of man blessed is the eye that seeth and the heart that understandeth and keeps out of that eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage building and planting there spoken of For much that is joyned together must be separated and scattered and much that is builded and planted must be thrown down and plucked up by the roots and the earth must be burnt up and the Elements melt with fervent heat For hot will be the day in which all the ungodly shall become as ashes under the soles of the feet of the Saints of the Most high and in which the sons of Levi shall be purged and purified as fine Gold which day is but as it were begun amongst many but it draweth neere and hasteneth greatly Therefore blessed is that wise servant that is alwayes ready waiting for his Lord and who is giving his fellow-servants meane in due season and do not eare and drink with the drunken nor smite his fellow-servants for on such the day will come unawares and in an houre they think not of And this hath the Lord God Almighty proclaimed which shall sound a certain sound throughout all the Tribes of Israel and to the ends of the Earth Amen So this I have written in obedience to the Lord that I might be clear of their blood whom it chiefly concernes and concerning whom it came into my heart from God to lay these things before you For I have desired of the Lord to direct me aright in all things according to his will and I labour to keep my Conscience voyd of offence toward him and all men and I travell and pray to God that I may finish my Course with Joy and give up my account dayly and at the last with joy and not with griefe And this God knoweth is the hearty desire of my breathing soul unto his Throne for you all that with one minde and heart we may all press forward in the same way which is the steps and path of the just one that leads more and more unto perfection out of the imperfection out of the earth out of the darkness and the old leavens into Paradise where man was made a living soul in the image and likeness of his Maker where the Dominion is known and the Blessings enjoyed which makes rich and the pleasures at his right Hand which
shew them his way and guide them in it which is a way of holiness mercy and truth and that they might alway fear and dread his great Name and terrible Majesty who is able to do whatsoever he will in the Heavens and in the Earth and that they might through his judgements come to be redeemed and reconciled unto him in Christ the everlasting Covenant of life and peace Therefore my dear Friends Wait you upon God and let him be your fear and your dread then will you not dread man or rather the furies of wilde Beasts or Serpents which is manifest in the sons of men neither let in the fear of death or any tryal whatsoever which tends to the vailing or weakning your tender life which you have felt and enjoyed in God but let the presence of the Mighty God of worm Jacob fill your hearts who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell and also to save to the uttermost all them that fear and obey him that you may feelingly and perfectly know and understand in the light of the Lord all things that comes to passe in your particulars then shall you be of a right and sound judgement concerning all men spirits and things in the general for none can truly know the Cause Ground or Root of a matter originally but who dwels in God the Root that bears him and all men the original of life and he that doth not know aright may easily or soon judge wrong Therefore it s the Saints onely amongst all the children of men that are able and can and must judge the world Mark who are sanctified by Christ Jesus yea such shall judge Angels who dwell in him to whom they all bow for he is judge of quick and dead and from him is no secret hid that shall not be manifest For he is come neer to judgement and is a swift witnesse against all unrighteousnesse and also his tender mercies and blessings are neer the upright-hearted which is to them as the former and latter rain but the rebellious dwell in a dry Land So be you all very still in your minds and not will or run but diligently heed the will and counsel of the motions of Gods good Spirit in you which is the onely Teacher of his people for he hath said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man and he is the true Physitian Shepherd and Overseer of the soul and will he not over-see and take care for the body the lesser by giving wisdom and discretion how to order all his creatures to his praise yea and this is witnessed among his babes blessed and praised for ever be his name which is their strong Tower and Safety Rock and Defence and they need not another who are come to dwell in the Holy City New Jerusalem that came down from God the quiet habitation whose walls are peace and gates praise and salvation here is no need of Candle Sun or Moon to give light but the Glory of God doth lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof And hither is the Lord God of endless wisdom and compassions bringing his little ones that beleeve and trust alone in him who is becoming all in all in his faithful children this is the sum my Friends this is that we have waited for to which end the Lord hath long waited to be more and more manifesting his grace and wisdome unto us that we might come up hither by descending lower in our selves into him who is the root and off-spring what shall I say of him if it can be born I could say much in the infallible counsel of God that he is becoming the Father and Mother Feeder and Cloather Healer Guider and Governour yea all as I have said unto his dear Lambs who have long breathed and panted after him and cannot be fully satisfied till this is accomplished No borrowed light no Moon or Candle will suffice the Noble birth but the very glory of God and the marriage of the Lamb to whom it ascribes all having received all out of the bosome of the eternal treasury of the wisdom and compassions of the Allmighty And so here is a cry heard with a loud voyce from the Throne of God and the Lamb Cease from man cease from man in all things and come up hither ye travelling children and you shall be refreshed and satisfied it s I have heard your cryes and if men at any time have had compassion on you it was through my bowels which I put upon him to that end therefore look unto me and come I am the fountain of all goodness mercy and truth saith the Lord God and not any man for they are but as Cisterns which may break and then where wilt thou be for thy dayly nourishment and refreshment These were the two great evils committed in the dayes past viz They have forsaken me the Fountain of living waters and hewed them out cisterns broken Cisterns that could hold no water for which the Heavens were astonished and very desolate and afraid Is Israel a home-born slave read Jer. 2.11 12 13 14. and consider it perfectly for the latter dayes of considerations are come as much as if God had said Is Israel who once wrestled like a Prince and prevailed and had power with God and with man c. become so ignoble as to forsake me the Fountain and be satisfied now with Cisterns that will hold no water Oh! this was a horrible thing these were great evils the very Heavens were astonished at this Therefore my dear Friends let this saying sink deep into your hearts See that you alwayes in all things mind the Motions and Leadings of the Spirit of Truth for it is the true and perfect Guide sent of the Father to guide us into all Truth and to shew us things to come and he that follows any man by word or example and goes from this in himself hath committed a great evil even Idolatry and is gone from the hearkning and obeying this is the Witchcraft spoken of 1 Sam. 15.22 23. Gal. 3.1 This is not to be suffered to live or not to be lived in in all Israel Exod. 22.18 the Lord hath spoken it for worm Jacob who is now arising in the strength and pure wisdom of his God is no more a home-born slave to feed at Cisterns or live upon Husks or to be deceived with any likeness whatsoever but is filling himself at the living Fountain of the Riches Nobility at the right hand of the Majesty on high and so in vain is the snares laid in the sight of him that hath wings that sees them and is able to escape them for there is a Remnant that stands upon Mount Sion with the Lamb in the innocent life who are and can freely come to God the Judge of all be ript open and stand naked in the particular and such is the Lord God cloathing with white robes of his everlasting Righteousness which shall never
wax old glory unto him in the highest who hath wrought all our works in us and for us Amen So remember the Spirit of truth is thy proper Leader O Israel in all things concerning soul and body at all times places and occasions and not any other Nay though an Angel see thou do it not for they are but ministring spirits sent forth for them that are heires of salvation and are fellow-servants with them who are led by the Spirit of truth and are not to be worshipped or followed any further then is agreeable to the leadings of Gods Spirit in thy own heart for unto him thou must give an account and not unto Angels or men Now I do not hereby limit the Lord nor his people from exercising their pure faith in any thing concerning their state either inward or outward And as for the things before mentioned concerning the health or weakness of the outward man I do know that there are natural and accidental causes of weakness sickness or distempers which are incident even to Gods dear Children while in these earthen Tabernacles for which naturall things may be applyed in the leadings of the life and wisdome of God by which they were created I say my intent is not neither am I joyned to such a spirit as to impose or limit the motion of Gods Spirit in any thing whatsoever but onely to limit the contrary even the hasty minde and spirit and that all may come to be guided by the Counsell of God out of ignorance and doubtfulness into clearness and a perfect knowledge of their own state as it is in Gods sight and of the vertuousness of the power of the resurrection of the holy Seed in themselves and not be led in blindness and unsensibleness in which state is the error and mistakes and wherein people are destroyed for lack of true and sound knowledge and here they have many things applyed and are apt so to do even naturall and visible things for spirituall and invisible causes I do not mean an invisible distemper meerly of the outward man which may proceed from a visible or naturall cause But when God by his Spirit strives with man in him and smites on his Conscience by reason of sin or some disobedience or other through which the Lord beholds guilt and cannot but punish which causeth even the countenance to change and brings judgement upon the very creature because thereof I say this shall never be removed in the ground by any outward or visible thing the Lord hath spoken it For it is striving against the Creator and the good end of his gentle chastisements with the creatures which he hath created for his praise and to be used in his counsell and wisdome by which they were all created and have their being so this ignorant wilfull impatient spirit which cannot trust God this is to be limited and bound down by the dread and power of the Lord that the innocent Seed which can trust in him which hath long suffered under oppression may arise in whose resurrection and life is the healing and blessing of the Nations that are saved which are for ever to walk in the light of the Lamb. So let all be subject to him that gives life and breath and all things and be not hasty when any trouble or distemper comes to be delivered or to get ease from under it till thou in patience hast seen the mind of God therein and be delivered by him that comes out of Sion to turn away ungodliness from Jacob blessed is the eye that sees and the heart that understands and contrives not any thing in the will but as led and guided by the Shepherd of Israel who will not suffer his Lambs to lack any good thing for their body nor soul which in his wisdome he sees meet for them And that which is not subject is the carnall mind in which the enmity lodgeth the death trouble and condemnation here the Lyons lack and suffer hunger but the meek shall increase their joy in the Lord and they that wait upon him shall run and not be weary and walk and not faint And know this for infallible truth that whosoever useth or applieth the creatures of God even naturall things which are good in themselves and places to a condition not suitable even when God smites upon the Conscience for any disobedience or wickedness by which as I have said the outward man comes also to suffer being partaker with the spirit that transgressed that this state is parallel to that mentioned Isaiah 22.12 13 14. When God called for fasting weeping and mourning behold slaying of oxen and killing of sheep c. which was iniquity that should not be purged till they dye Therefore dear friends think on these things which are but as a touch of what might be spoken but a word to the wise is sufficient and waite upon the Lord alone to be guided in all things and do nothing hastily out of his fear and counsell which onely is known understood and stood in in the still and quiet waiting in the retiredness of mind and spirit staid upon him out of all your own willings and contrivings or runnings in the sinking down and subjectedness to his holy will alone that he might be all in you all and you as nothing before him but vessels of his honour praise and glory to whom be it given over all Amen No Babe in Israel to study for the attaining the Lawes of men to make their defence c. AND my dear friends who have no knowledge in the Lawes of men or Nations which are in the fall and are in such things ignorant as children this is my advise unto you from my God and your God do not now study or strive to attain the knowledge thereof in any case to make your defence when you are brought before Rulers and Governours or their Judgement-seats for the Name sake of Christ Jesus for if you do it will prove like Sauls Armour which David the Seed cannot go out to war with unless you have the knowledge of such things already as a servant to use in the dominion and pure wisdome of God for this I have found who am also ignorant of such things as a babe That the Innocent Seed of Jacob need none to plead its cause but God alone who giveth strength and wisdome in the same hour Therefore my dear and tender Friends Look not out from your own measures received of the grace of God which is sufficient neither consult with flesh and blood by reasonings disputings or premeditations but stand single and innocent eying the Honour and Glory of God in his pure fear and true humility for in this alone is the Victory Wisdome and Blessings obtained and God will not give it to another for the Battel is the Lords and we are to stand still in the Seed to see his salvation and then keeping low this will glorifie its Father alone as the Father hath
up of thy tender countenance When this I have considered my soul hath mourned in secret and mine eyes have trickled down tears in the sence of thy deep sufferings and yet had it not been for thy sake the whole world had been as Sodom and been consumed like unto Gomorrah Oh who will not now come down and suffer with thee that they may also reign with thee as Kings and Priests on the Earth For now thou art arising in the greatnesse of thy strength to be avenged on all thine oppressors Thou hast trodden the Wine-presse alone and of the People there was none with thee Therefore wilt thou trample them in thy fury and stain all thy Raiment for the day of vengeance is in thine heart and the year of thy redemptions is come Thou art the King of Sion thou hast the key of David and the keys of Death and of Hell who ridest meekly upon the wilde Asse Colt as in the dayes of old Come forth now O ye Daughters of Jerusalem and behold your King even the Lamb of God which hath been slain in whose mouth guile is not found that taketh away your sins and follow him for ever ye Daughters of Abraham and Sons of Jacob for it is of the Lords mercy you are not consumed because his compassions fail not toward his Seed but remains sure in his Covenant for evermore Amen Therefore now all ye followers of the Lamb be ye very still low and watchful dwelling in the pure dread and humility of him that sits upon the Throne and of the Lamb for evermore and let none be carelesse or wilful least ye be found in the degeneration from the spirit of the subjection of the Lamb of God who is come to Rule but in his life stand you upon Mount Sion with him with the Harps of his high praises in your hands for they onely are the chosen and blessed who are faithful followers of him in the Regeneration So let your eye be single and your minds retired dwelling in the good Shepherds Tent of Israel hid in him whom the world knows not where you will feel quietnesse to your immortal souls and peace and patience to undergo all tryals for this is a day of great and manifold temptations and tryals in which the enmity works every way in its full strength among the children of men but its violent force is chiefly bent as a mighty floud or full current to sink and destroy the Ark of the Testimony of God feel me in your life within and without ye dear children ye simple-hearted breathing babes who know the winnowings on every hand and how the Tempter works to draw out the mind and affections one way or other that he might get advantage to spoyle your resting place which you have in the staidnesse on God and simplicity of Christ and to keep the soul and understanding clouded in darknesse and unsensiblenesse hardnesse and blindnesse to be luke-warm carelesse or secure without the feeling and present enjoyment of the pure refreshing presence of Gods Countenance then he hath his purpose who seeks to devoure for in the darknesse is the root of disobedience and every evill word and work then the root of bitternesse will spring up through which many may be defiled then the self-will which is crooked and perverse ariseth again then the pure savour and discerning is decreased and love waxen cold then the tender innocent Seed suffers the Lamb is pierced and wounded which should have the preheminence then strife in the high mind out of Gods awe and dread gets up then the Strong Man begins to keep the house again who was once bound and his goods spoyled then the meek that should ride upon the wilde Asse Colt is thrown down and trampled upon by the wilde then Ishmael and Esau the ruffe man reign over worm Jacob. God Allmighty keep all his Babes who have tasted of his Heavenly gift and of the precious vertue of the endlesse life out of this state My soul is even bowed down and the travel of a burthen is upon me because of the deep sufferings of the Holy Seed and the oppressions of the poor by him that is too strong for him O Lord arise arise and plead its innocent cause with all flesh O all ye breathing Babes of God abide for ever in the pure subjection to his good and perfect will in his fear and in tendernesse of heart then how can you but partake of the afflictions of your Brethren the seed of Abraham It came into Moses heart and that from God to visit his poor afflicted brethren which cryed and groaned under the cruell and heavy oppressions and God rewarded him according to his works And now can the Seed and children thereof mourne and languish or be sorrowfull and I not feel it can they be tempted and tryed in the Wilderness and I not sensible thereof how can this be if I be in Christ Jesus who is afflicted in all their afflictions My friends it is a day of mourning of weeping and fasting let the wise understand though in God I rejoyce that my Name is written in heaven and this is more to know and feel then if all the Devills without were subject Therefore ye followers of the Lamb dwell in the sense and feeling of the life of the precious tender suffering Seed that you may know the marriage of the Lamb come and rejoyce greatly because of the Bridegroomes Voyce for this makes glad the upright and the weak to be as David And here you will eat your own bread from your Fathers hand which he gives freely to the hungry soul and be kept out of all strife and debate disputings and murmurings in the gentle contented Spirit of the Lamb who is the saving health of all his people Here you will know the place of broad Rivers where goes no Gally with Oares no toyl or labour or striving but to stand still Here is the beginning known and the Glory that was before the VVorld was or the Hills or the Foundation of the earth were laid blessed is he that readeth in the life of these things Here is the place of defence as the Munition of Rocks where the bread is sure and the water never fails but issueth forth from the Fountain of the Paradise of God for evermore Here is the lying down under the Vine where none can make afraid Blessings and thanks to him that lives for ever Here is the returning naked as we came into the World even so we go out carrying nothing and yet possesseth all things Here 's the little child that enters the Kingdome even that Kingdome of Heaven where the least is the greatest the lowest is the Highest the poorest is the richest the weakest is the strongest the simplest is the wisest VVhere is the disputer now where is the gloryer in the strength wisdome Arts and parts in the spirit of this world now VVhere are the wise and the Scribes and the counter of Towers now where is the high Professor and great talker in the strong Towers of comprehension and Imaginations now where are the climbers up above the Door now Behold a little child is Governour The poor man which was disregarded delivered the City by his wisdome He that can read let him for God hath made foolish the wisdome of this world and the seers are blind The sounding brass is empty the strong are become weak and the weak saith I am strong they that were dead are alive and them that were lively are now as dead men on the Sea-shore God is turning the world upside down the Lamb shall Rule and all the Beasts of the Forrest shall fear and bow before him The Lilly shall grow higher then the Cedar the begger shall sit upon the Throne and the Counseller as in the beginning shall be known and Judges as at the first Blessed is he that readeth understandeth and enjoyeth these things Gods salvation and Covenant of eternall life and peace is then witnessed who is the good Shepherd and true Physitian of his people And this is thy Captain O Israel who is made perfect through sufferings therefore obey thou him in all things follow him in his footsteps who leads in the way of Righteousness that so thou may be partaker of the power of his Resurrection and possesse thy soul in his patience and lye down in his eternall will in the rest prepared that so the second death over thee may have no power So my dear friends the Lord God of Life preserve you all faithfull bearing your single and pure Testimony for his holy Name in this your day and generation that you may be the chaste Virgins and entire followers of the Lamb in whose mouth guile is not found that so you may give up your account with chearfulness unto him who alone is worthy of all obedience praises honour and glory over all heaven and earth world without end Amen I remain a Traveller in spirit for the restoration of the oppressed seed of Jacob and am your brother who in your measures are in the same tribulations and patience of the Lamb. And unto you this is the dear salutation of my breathing life in the Bowels of Gods love and mercies And if in this my Testimony is finished I am content and made willing for the joy and rest that is set before me to lay down the earthen vessel which is called WILLIAM BAYLY Prisoner at Hartford the 2d day of the 8th month 1663. THE END