THE CONSIDERATION OF A POSITION Concerning the Book of Common-Prayer AS ALSO Of some Particulars held forth for Truths by one EDMUND ELIS stiled a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ With a Warning of Tender Bowels to the Rulers Teachers and People of this Nation concerning their Church and Ministry Likewise a few Words concerning the Kingdom Laws and Government of Christ in the Heart and Conscience it 's Inoffensivenesse to all Just Laws and Governments of the Kingdoms of men By Isaac Penington the Younger Behold I come as a Thief Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his Garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame Rev. 16.15 LONDON Printed for Robert Wilson at the Sign of the Black-Spread-Eagle Wind-Mill in Martins Le Grand 1660. THE PREFACE CHRIST the Eternal Son of God the substance of all the Types and Shadows of the Law was made a Priest to God not after the Law of a carnal Commandment but after the Power of an endless Life He came in the Power of the Father he received the Power he ministred the Power and in the Power Thus he gathered together living stones built them into a living Temple for the Father of life to dwell in that they might be filled with the Power dwell in the Power and be to the glory of the Power The Church of Israel the Church of the Old Testament the Church of Moses was gathered by the Letter was to be ordered by the Letter was to keep and observe the Law of the Letter was to have Priests and Sacrifices according to the Letter but the New Testament Church was to be of true Jews of Jews gathered in the Power Circumcised by the Power renewed in the Power c. So that he is not a Jew any longer who is one outward nor that Circumcision which is outward in the flesh but he is a Jew which is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit and not in the Letter We are the Circumcision saith the Apostle which Worship God in the Spirit and have no confidence in the flesh The New-Testament state is a state of substance even of that spiritual substance which the Law held out in shadows The Jew is inward the Circumcision inward the Sacrifices inward the Church inward the Ministry inward the Worship inward all is in Spirit in Life in Power in Vertue the whole state is answerable to the High Priest of our Profession even after the Power of the endless life By the Eternal Spirit was he made a Minister by it he preached the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the Gospel c. Luke 4.18 through it he offered up himself a Sacrifice without spot to God Heb. 9.14 and in the same Power runs the vein of the whole dispensation of the Gospel for it is a ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 Take away the Life take away the Spirit ye take away the stones of this Building ye take away the Church ye take away the Ministry ye take away all Now about this inward Building there was an outward Court which had its Being State and Honour from the presence of the inward life The vertue of the inward Building did cast a reflection and bring forth an outward state as it cannot but do where ever it appears in its riches and glory This state stood firm in the dayes of the Apostles till Gods measuring and removing of his Temple Altar and Worshippers and his giving up of the outward Court it having lost the life and vertue which flowed into it from the Temple while the Temple remained within it to the Gentiles who under the Gospel are such as are Uncircumcised in Spirit can Worship in the outward Court without the Spirit The enemy indeed fought hard against the Life and Power but he could not there prevail the Gates of Hell could not prevail against the true Church which brought forth the Man-child nor against the Man-child whom she brought forth but the Man-child was caught up to God and the Woman fled into the Wildernesse Then that Church State and Worship which depended upon their presence was dissolved For how could it be otherwise when both the Man-child which was the Head of the Church from whence the Vertue Life and Influence did flow into the whole Body and the Woman or Church her self also vvere both gone out of sight So that the Ministry of Eternal life the Temple vvherein the life vvas ministred being both removed they are neither of them henceforvvard to be found in that place vvhere they vvere beheld before and vvhere most eyes vvould be ready to look for them again but there vvhere the Spirit had hid them Novv mark diligently vvhat kind of esteem the true Church hath had in the World ever since her disrobing her self of her outvvard garments and flight into the Wilderness and hovv her true Seed have been handled The Dragon immediatly casts a flood after her her beautiful raiment being put off and she clothed in the habit of a Widovv the eye of the World could no longer see and acknovvledge her to be the Church but disdain reproach revile her This is her lot all the dayes of Antichrist she is misrepresented by the Dragons flood of reproaches and looked upon as a strumpet as one that pretends to Christ for her Lord and Husband to his Spirit to his Kingdom to his Truth vvithout a just right and the remnant of her Seed are still made War vvith by the Dragon Who have been the hunted ones the hated the persecuted in all Nations but the tender-conscienced vvho receive the Lavv of Christ into their hearts bovving to him in their Worship and Conversation and dare not bovv or Worship according to the Doctrines and Cammandments of men Novv the true Church or Temple being thus removed the outvvard Court becomes the Habitation and Place of Worship among the Gentiles all the time of the Churches abode in the Wilderness The Spirit of the Lord having left it the heathenish spirit man's earthly Nature and Wisdom the spirit of Antichrist enters into it and upholds the Form of the former Building so far as it judgeth necessary and here it is found Worshipping and making a great shevv of Holiness and devotion but in the mean time makes War vvith the true Worshippers vvho cannot Worship in the outvvard Court since the Spirit of the Lord hath left it and given it to the Gentiles but follovv the Church into the Wilderness and Worship in that Temple vvhich God hath removed thither O vvhere is the eye vvhich can read these things as they are vvritten either in the Letter or in the Spirit Antichrist is a Mystery of Iniquity vvhich vvorks and gets up and reigns under an appearance of Godliness and he that vvill discern him and his false vvayes of Worship must have that eye vvhich sees beyond the appearance of things into their nature
found how curiously soever the cup be guilded yet it is but the cup of Fornication which bewitcheth the heart with its golden appearance and then leads it into adultery from the life And the Dragon doth not onely set up a false Church over the Nations in many parts whereof the truth had before appeared Rev. 17.15 but a false Ministry also There 's a false Prophet which deceiveth with Miracles and false appearances of truth advanced in this corrupt state which false Prophet continues and upholds his deceit over the Nations till the mighty appearance of Christ in Spirit and Power do judge him Rev. 19.20 2 Thess 2.8 There 's a Beast with Horns like a Lamb who doth great Wonders so that he maketh Fire come down from Heaven on the Earth in the sight of men and deceiveth them that dwell on the Earth c. Rev. 13.13 14. Insomuch as he drawes the Kings and Inhabiters of the Earth in a Mysterie of deceit into the Bed of Whoredom and false Worship instead of the pure way of Life and pure Worship of the living God in his Spirit and in his truth Rev. 17.2 Is it not further manifest that this false Church and false Ministry set up in the World by the power of the Dragon persecute Gods Witnesses to the truth in all the ages of Antichrists reign So soon as ere the Church was fled into the Wilderness the Dragon forthwith went to make War with the remnant of her seed which kept the Commandments of God and had the testimony of Jesus Christ Rev. 12.17 And it was given unto him to make War with the Saints and to overcome them and power was given him over all Kindreds Tongues and Nations And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World If any man have an ear let him hear Rev. 13.7 8 9. And he had power to give life unto the Image of the Beast that the Image of the Beast should both speak and cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the Beast should be killed And he causeth all both small and great rich and poor free and bond to receive a Mark in their right hand or in their fore-heads And that no man might buy or sell save he that had the Mark or the name of the Beast or the number of his Name Rev. 13.15 16 17. Yea the Woman the false Church which the Dragon had set up by his power in the Nations instead of the true was drunken with the Blood of the Saints and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jesus Rev. 17.6 O the misery and lamentable hard usage of the Witnesses of Jesus who have been true Lambs born of the Power faithful to the Power witnessing against every Form and appearance of Religion Doctrine and Worship which hath appeared without the Power even in the daies of greatest profession and highest devotion under the Apostacy from the Power how have these been hunted persecuted devoured by the Wolves in the Sheeps cloathing who had got the outside the garment the Name of Christ and Christianity the profession of Church Ministry and Ordinances but have wanted the life the virtue the thing it self and so have turned against it and kept it down that they might keep up their Form For let but the Power appear the Form without the Power is soon detected to be what it is And this is properly Antichrist and Antichristianisme to wit Not openly to appear in a direct denyal of Christ his Truths and Worship but to set up a way of knowledge and worship without his Spirit Another spirit creeping into the Form that 's Antichrist and the setting up observation and practice of the Form out of the Life and Power that 's Antichristianisme and this is the persecuter destroyer and devourer about Religion Now though the Lord hath suffered this false Church and false Prophet to reign long in the Dragons power and to revile and worry his poor Lambs in every age of Antichrists Reign yet the Lord hath appointed a season to judge this false Church Rev. 17.1 to cast the false Prophet into the Lake Rev. 19. v. 20. yea and to torment with fire and brimstone all the false Worshippers Rev. 14.9 10 11. O how deeply doth it concern England her Rulers her Teachers yea the whole People thereof to consider their Ways to consider their Worship to consider their Church-state to consider their Ministry that they be not overwhelmed at unawars in the bitter wrath of the Almighty before which there is no standing O that they could mourn and pray and wait for the eye of Gods Spirit for his pure Light which searcheth and discovereth all the deceits of Antichrist that they might not be bewitched with any of the wine of the fornication of the false Woman whose heart is snares and nets and her hands as bands to entangle her lovers in and keep them from the pure bed of Life where the Father of Life with the Son and Spirit are enjoyed and worshipped If men consult concerning these things in the wisdom of the flesh they will be entangled and erre for that eye cannot see the Mysteries of the Kingdom or the course either of Truth or Deceit The Gospel the Eternal Truth the true Church the true Ministry are all Spiritual not new shadowes as the things under the ministration of the Law were but Spirit and Substance and they can onely be seen by the spiritual eye of the children of Wisdom The wise Hunters and diligent Enquirers into the comprehending part cannot find the Womb or the way of Life or the way of the Worship of that which is begotten in the Life or Gods way of Ministry which he hath appointed for the feeding and preserving of the Life The Prophets of old could not be known discerned or owned by the fleshly eye of observation in Israel after the flesh but they still rejected them esteeming and magnifying the false Prophets above them how much less can the Prophets and Ministers of the New Testament be seen by mans eye Are they the Prophets and Ministers of Christ which a Nation cries up for such and which the eye of the wise men therein admires and pitches upon or are those they which the renewed eye in the Light of the Lord sees to be fitted sanctified and called forth by Christ unto that service Ah poor England must thou fall into the pit before thine eyes be opened The great Controversie of this Age is about Church and Ministry which must carry it the Form or the Power Whether the Church and Ministry shall take place which was before the Apostacy or that which hath sprung up in or since the Apostacy Whether mans wisdom shall determine which is the true Church and its true Ministry or whether the Spirit of God shall determine it Whether a Nation with the Ministers it sets up
shall be the Church and Ministry or whether Gods holy Nation which he calleth and sanctifieth by his Spirit and the Ministers which he chuseth and sendeth to gather and build up his in the holy Faith and pure power of Life shall be the Church and Ministry Our eyes wait on the Lord to see this Controversie determined and our hope of help is in his Arm nor are we at all affrighted at the rising of any strength against us our hearts being given up to Gods Truth and to suffer for its Testimony according to Gods will meekly and patiently in his strength but we pitty this poor land yea in the depth of bowels we pitty the Rulers the Teachers and People therein O that they might be humbled and in fear of the great God surrender to him his due before he appear in his strength to force it from them Of the Kingdom Laws and Government of Christ in the Heart and Conscience its Inoffensiveness to all just Laws and Governments of the Kingdoms of men CHrists Kingdom Gods Kingdom the Kingdom of Heaven for they are all one and the same is that seed of Eternal Life which God hath hid in the hearts of the sons of men whereby he gathereth them back unto himself bringeth them under the Yoak of his Government ruleth over them and reigneth in them This Kingdom is likened to a grain of mustard seed for its smalness to a Pearl for its Riches Value and Worth to Leaven for its spreading nature and many other Parables did Christ make use of to discover it by as to a piece of Silver which the woman that lost it lighting the candle sweeping the house and searching it diligently at length found it even there where she had lost it Man fallen from God is become lost as to the Lord and as to his own happiness in the Lord being driven from his blessed presence and divine Image Life and Spirit into the earthly Spirit Image and Life which he chose Yet in this Earth in this Field of the World God hath hid somewhat even the everlasting Pearl which when man is awakened to seek and findeth in the living Breath in the Eternal Light of Life it is able to redeem him it is able to overspread he becoming subject to the Laws Leadings Teachings and Power of it and leaven him into the Likeness and Image of the pure Life and Spirit Or not men knew the Gift of God O that men knew the purchase of the blood of Christ O that men knew that Spiritual good thing which Christ who died for them hath given to Redeem them by that in that they might be united to Christ and so by him be Renewed and Restored to God For as the Father receiveth none but through the Son so the Son receiveth none but in that Gift which he bestoweth from the Father He owneth no Faith no Love no Hope no Repentance no Obedience but what springeth from that and standeth in that Now as man is Born of this is Leavened by this as he becomes a fool in his own earthly wisdom and excellency of the fallen Spirit and becomes a Babe a Child Simple Innocent c. so he enters into the Kingdome being ingrafted into the Root through the virtue of this which is given him from the Root and so grows up in this and this in him And here 's the new Nature the new Life the new Heart the new Spirit in which the Unity and Fellowship with God is again known and the Disunion with the World the Wisdom the Interests the Fashions the Customs the Fears the Hopes the Delights the Joys of this World and whatever else is of it For Christ as he is not of the World so he calleth men out of the World and they which follow him and become his Disciples go out of the World after him that is travel in Spirit and Conversation from what is of the Earth from what ever is not of the Father but of the World They are not of the World even as I am not of the World saith Christ concerning his Disciples John 17. therefore the world hateth them The Laws of this Kingdom are given forth in the Kingdom from the Covenant of life which is made there in Christ They are written in the heart in the mind as far as it is renewed There the fear is put there the eternal Wisdom is opened there is Sion known and the Jerusalem which is from above and the Laws of eternal life issue fresh from it and are revealed by the life in the heart which is turned towards the life There sin is reproved and everlasting Righteousness manifested in the Light which cannot deceive and as the heart is made subject under the yoke so sin is wrought out and Righteousness brought in and under the Cross or yoke of life the blood of the everlasting Covenant runs through the vessel to keep it pure sweet clean and fresh in the life This then is the Government of Christ to be subject to his Spirit which appears and opens his will in the gift of grace which comes from him to feel his living breath by which the heart is begotten to God out of the Region of darkness to know the movings the stirrings the leadings the steps of the Lamb who is the Captain of our Salvation and to follow him where ever he goes doing all things that he commands forbearing all things that he forbids without murmuring without disputing Who ever will be of the inward Israel the spiritual Israel which Christ redeems out of the spiritual Egypt and leads through the spiritual Wilderness into the Land of Rest must know his Leader must receive his Spirit and follow it faithfully If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his he is none of the spiritual Israel and if any man follow not the Spirit of Christ through all the travels in the Wilderness but either sits down by the way or lyes overcome by any kind of enemies and comes not to the end of his journey finishing the warfar and fight of Faith he falls short of the rest O that men were awakened to consider of things as indeed they are for Religion is not such an outward Form of Doctrine or Worship of any sort as men generally whose poor Souls are deceived through the subtilty of the powers of darkness are too apt and willing to apprehend but it consists in Spirit in Power in Vertue in Life not in the oldness of any Form which passeth away but in the newness of the Spirit which abideth for ever in being born of the Spirit in abiding in the Spirit in living walking and worshipping in the Spirit yea in becoming and growing into Spirit and into eternal Life for that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit O that the sons of men would hearken that they might tast of the sweetness and riches of the goodness which the Father in his free love hath opened in the
them up against another time and offer them up to God in his own will this would be but Will-worship and abomination This I have known experimentally and have selt the Wrath of God for it That is Prayer which comes fresh from the Spirit and that is a true desire which the Spirit begets but the affections and sparks of mans kindling please not the Lord nor do they conduce to the Souls rest but will end in the Bed of sorrow Isa 50.11 Now as touching the Book of Common-Prayer or Prayers conceived without the immediate breathings of the Spirit I shall speak mine own experience faithfully which is this I have felt both these wayes draw out the wrong part and keep that alive in me which the true Prayer kills And he that utters a word beyond the sence which God begets in his spirit takes God's Name in vain and provokes him to jealousie against his own soul God is in Heaven thou art on Earth therefore let thy words be few The few words which the Spirit speaks or the few still soft gentle breathings which the Spirit begets are pleasing to God and profitable to the Soul but the many words which mans wisdom affects hurt the precious life and thicken the vail of death over the Soul keeping that part alive which separates from God which part must dye e're the Soul can live The true Prayer is by that which God begets in the vertue of his Spirit praying alwayes in the Spirit Ephes 6.18 Jude 20. in the time he chuses for the Spirit breatheth as well when he listeth as where he listeth and man cannot limit him when he shall breath or when he shall not breath but is to wait the seasons of his breathing and so to watch unto Prayer Now if the Prayer be in words for there is a praying without words then it must be in those words which he pleaseth to give from the sence which he kindleth and not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth or would chuse to use And indeed in the true Religion and in every exercise of it mans wisdom is kept out and nail'd to the Cross by which means the immortal life is raised and grows in the true Disciple He believes he hopes he waits he prayes he mourns he rejoyces he obeyes c. in the Cross to the mortal part not as mans wisdom teacheth or would teach or can teach any of these things for his Sacrifice is still an abomination even to the wise Egyptian part in himself O wise man abase thy self before the Lord in his Spirit that thou mayest read this and live but as the life teacheth as the Wisdom from above teacheth which breaketh down shutteth up confoundeth and destroyeth mans wisdom while he is teaching his Babe Thus have I answered in the simplicity of my heart to the nature of the thing so far as the Lord hath pleased to draw forth my spirit and in sinking down to that which thus opened my spirit my Answer may easily be read and assented to but to that which is in the disputing wisdom out of the feeling of the hidden life and vertue it may prove a Mystery Afterwards he also intreateth me to peruse seriously and to lay deeply to heart in the real fear and dread of the great God some particulars which he teacheth for Truths I perceive he is offended at the questioning of his Ministry and that the main intent of his proposing these is to justifie his Ministry which if they were true yet the preaching of them would not prove him or any man else to be a Minister of Jesus Christ for it is not preaching things that are true which makes a true Minister but the receiving of his Ministry from the Lord. The Gospel is the Lords which is to be preached and it is to be preached in his Power and the Ministers which preach it are to be endued with his Power and to be sent by him The Apostles themselves though they had received instructions concerning the Kingdom from Christs own lips both in his life-time and after his Resurrection Act. 1.3 and had received a Commission from him to teach all Nations Matth. 28.18 19. Yet this was not sufficient to make them able Ministers of the New Testament but before they went abroad to Preach they were to wait for the Power Act. 1.4 8. And when they had received it they were to minister in it that men might be converted to the Power and by the Power that the Faith of persons might not stand in the wisdom of their words which Paul might have abounded in as well as others but in the Power of God 1 Cor. 2.5 And this was it made Paul minister in fear and trembling lest the wrong part in him should minister lest the earthly understanding part should be holding forth the Truths of God out of the Life out of the Power and so he should Convert men to the Wisâ—â—m of the words he spake and not to the Power v. 2 3. This was it he was sent for to turn men from darkness to light from the Power of Satan to God Acts 26.18 from the spirit of enmity and death to the Spirit of Love and Life and this he was careful of in his Ministry that men might not run away with his words and miss of the thing And this also was the way whereby he discovered true and false Ministers I will come and know saith he not the speech of them which are puffed up but the Power for the Kingdom of God is not in word but in Power 1 Cor. 4.19 20. Many men might catch their words and run away with them and Preach them but they could not Minister in the Power Now the Kingdome which the Gospel-Ministers are the Preachers of consists not in words but in Power God hath made us able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter but of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 The Ministry of the New Testament is a Ministry of the Spirit and it cannot be without the Spirit It is a reaching to men's Consciences in the demonstration of the Spirit and of Power 1 Cor. 2.4 and 2 Cor. 4.1 2. which being felt in the heart and turned to this converts them to God The Ministry of the Gospel doth not consist in a bare opening of the Letter or raising of Doctrines and Uses from the Letter which the wisdom of man may easily perform as the Ministry of the Law did but in bringing men to the feeling of the Spirit even of the Eternal Power of God which redeems in turning men from the darkness to the Light in setting their faces towards the Power The Gospel is the substance of what was shadowed out in the Law and he that Ministers it must Minister substance He must have the heavenly Treasure that 's the substance in his earthen vessel 2 Cor. 4.7 and he must give out of this Treasure into the vessel which God prepares and that he may do this he must
Minister in the Spirit and in the Power His words must not be such as mans wisdom would teach or as mans comprehension would gather but such words as Gods Wisdom prepares for him and puts into his mouth He that will be a true Minister must receive both his gift his Ministry and the exercise of both from the Lord and must be sure in his ministring to keep in the Power or he will never win others to the Power but in keeping in the Power while he is ministring and standing in the cross to his own understanding and wisdom giving forth the truths which the Lord chuseth to have him speak in the words which God chuseth even in the words which are ministred to him by the Power in thus ministring he shall save both his own Soul and those that hear him even all who in fear and meekness receive the ingrafted Word which is able to save the Soul For alas alas many have received words of Truth and apprehensions of Knowledge whereby they hope to be saved but how few are acquainted with that Knowledge which stands in the Power which alone converts and keeps alive unto God! O how many Souls are to be answered for by them who take upon them to be Pastors from God who have fed the Flock with words with Discourses which they have made and have ruled over them with force and cruelty but have wanted the love the tenderness the Light and Power of the true Shepherd O what will these do when God requires his sheep at their hands O that there were an heart to consider Ye Shepherds of England little do ye know what is towards you Now for those things themselves which he saith he principally endeavours to make known to the sons of men there is a mixture in them which if he could singly apply himself to wait of the Lord in the meek sober Spirit out of the consultations wisdom and confidence of the flesh it might please the Lord to make manifest to him The first particular of those which he layes down for Truths is That the good things of this life honours riches c. unless we make use of them in the service of God are but vanity and vexation of spirit And in no wise any more capable to satisfie or content an immortal Soul than Lime and Ashes and Cobwebs and such like trash are to satisfie and keep in health the bodies of those persons who through the depravedness of their appetite desire to feed on them Answ Christ by his Ministry calleth his Disciples out of the world up to the Father out of the honours riches and what ever else is of the world How can ye believe which receive honour one of another and seek not the honour that cometh from God onely John 5.44 And the rich man he bids him sell all and follow him And the Apostle John saith Love not the world neither the things that are in the world If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him For all that is in the world the just of the flesh the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world 1 John 2.15 16. He that will be a Disciple of Christ must travel out of the earthly into the heavenly leaving all that is of this world behind him possessing nothing as his portion but him who hath call'd him out of his Countrey from among his kindred and from his Father's house to another Land kindred and habitation So that here they are Pilgrims and Strangers Sojourners and Passengers unknown to the world and of a strange garb behaviour and appearance in it not enjoying any thing as the world enjoyes not using any thing as the world useth not honouring men or receiving honour from men as the world gives or receives honour but honouring men in the Lord and receiving honour from the Lord and what ever they seem to retain of the earthly things they hold as Stewards under the Lord not using or disposing of them as they think good but waiting for the discovery of the Masters pleasure who is to order in his Counsel and Wisdom all that is his own to his own glory The Law required a tenth part to be given up to the Lord the Gospel requires all Soul Body Spirit Goods good Name c. even that the whole possession be sold and laid at the Masters feet and he that keepeth any thing back cannot be a Disciple cannot be a Souldier of Christ but must needs entangle himself with the affairs of this life This is sound and savoury even the Truth of Jesus as it is known and felt in the renewed Spirit but his Words if he measure them in the pure Light of God he will perceive not to have sprung thence but to have been formed in the earthly wise part even in that wisdom understanding and comprehension which is shut out of the Mysteries of Gods Kingdom For his second That nothing but the enjoyment of God the Fountain of all Goodness can truly and really content an immortal Soul And for his third That no man can enjoy God but he that loves him with all his heart and with all his Soul and for his sake his Neighbour as himself I own both the things themselves and these words and I felt a good savour in them at the reading of them onely let me say this if he put men upon striving after these things without pointing them to the gift where the strength is received to perform and where the waiting is to be for the strength he cannot preach them profitably to his hearers To his fourth That though every sincere Convert or regenerate person loves God continually with his whole heart as to the habit or root of holy love yet whilst he is in the body he may sometimes fail of the Act or fruit of it and may offend God through the love of the creature Which Truth so much opposed in these dayes is clear and manifest in the holy Scriptures particularly in the Records of the hainous sins of the Prophet David and Peter the Apostle Answ The Lord Circumciseth the heart of Believers under the New Covenant to love the Lord their God with all their heart that they may live he causeth the Plant to spring up out of the dry and barren ground which he watereth with his Blessing and he layeth his Axe to the Root of the old Tree hewing at it even till he hath cut it up he engrafteth the Eternal Word into the heart and by it is daily purifying thereof fulfilling the good pleasure of his goodness therein and carrying on the Work of Faith with power and the Ministry which he gave was for the perfecting of the Saints Ephes 4.12 13. which Ministry exhorted and encouraged Believers from God's Promises of his presence and powerful operation of his Spirit in the hearts of his Sons and Daughters to cleanse themselves from all
spirits of many and hath let the spirits of many into O that men would suffer the wearing out of this earthly spirit and wisdom that they might become like God be formed into and live in his Image How long shall the Destroyer in every age prejudice men against them in that age which seek their good with their hearts How long will the world stand in enmity against the generation of God's choice and provoke the Lord to wrath against them Surely the spirit of this world will try it out to the very last against the Spirit of God for indeed the spirit of this world is not subject to the Spirit of God nor indeed can be and so cannot endure the Government of his Kingdom which is not of this world to be set up in the sight of it Yet the Government of Christ and his Kingdom is not opposite to any just Government of a Nation or People Christ's Government is a Righteous Government of the heart or inner man chiefly which doth not oppose a Righteous Government of the outward man Nay those who are Christ's subjects and singly obedient to his Law of Righteousness in their spirits are more faithful to men and more subject to any just Law of Government than others can be for their fidelity and subjection is out of love and for Conscience sake But this is it which offends the world men many times make Laws in their own will and according to their own wisdom now the wisdom of the world is corrupt and hath erred from the guideance of God and are not free from self-ends and interests not being gathered into that which cleanseth and keepeth pure the naturals Now that which is of God cannot bow to any thing which is corrupt in man it can lye down and suffer and bear the plowing of long and deep surrows upon its back but it cannot act that which is against its life It cannot be disloyal to its King to gratifie the spirit of this world but what Practice or Testimony its King calls for against the evil and corruption of this world it must obey singly and faithfully God in every age so bringeth forth and ordereth his innocent Lambs and People as that they are still offensive to the present age The Lord fitteth them and calleth them forth to be Witnesses against the evils of the present age How can they but offend it Can darkness chuse but hate the light which speaks against it How can darkness in Power and Dominion bear to be reproved by a mean contemptible appearance of the Light in mean and contemptible vessels For God chuseth the weak and foolish things of this world and things that are not to bring to nought things that are Look into former ages How did God reprove the Kings and Princes of Israel Not by the eminent Priests and Prophets whom they expected to be taught by but by Herdsmen by Plowmen by Prophets which they despised How did he overcome the Heathenish world yea and the Jewish corrupted state Was it by wise learned men by the learned Scribes and Pharisees among the Jews or by the wise Grecians among the Heathen or by Fishermen and Publicans And how shall the recovery out of the Apostacy and the reproof of the Antichristian world be Shall it be by wise Synods and Councils of learned and Orthodox men among them as they speak Or shall it be by the learning of the spirit in such as these contemn When God hath the rich Treasure of the Knowledge of his Kingdom to manifest in the world he chuses earthen vessels weak vessels poor contemptible persons he appears there where the eye of man least look for him that the excellency of the Power might appear to be of him wholly and that the vessel might rob him of none of the glory of it Now the Lord hath not only chosen in this day of his great appearance in Spirit to the spirits of his People mean instruments but mean things also foolish things weak things the keeping on of an Hat the use of ordinary Language the appearing in mean habits and despised gestures yea and in a foolish way of Preaching indeed it is so to that which hath not the savour of the Vertue and Power of the life in it And how can the wisdom of man but stumble at it Who would think that God should require such things or appear in such thirds O living eternal Power how is thy migthy Presence and Appearance vailed from all that look for it in any way of mans observation or judge it with the eye of mans wisdom Verily thou art a God that hast hid thy self from the earthly spirit in its utmost wisdom yea in its utmost search after the knowledge of and in the midst of the highest porfession of Religion Which of the Wise which of the Scribes in this Age can discern any of thy Pathes or so much as one of thy Footsteps Oh that men would fear before the Lord and be sure to Govern in that which is of God and then they should harm none of His nor hazard the shaking of their Government but whatever is not of God both within and without must fall in the day of Gods Power O happy is he who is now made willing to part with that which God is determined to rent from man that his standing may be in that which cannot be shaken For there hath been a great Earthquake in this Nation both of things without and of things within and there yet remains somewhat to be shaken both without and within that the Glory of God may have room to appear O England Kiss the Son lest he be angry Let all such Laws and Customs as are not of Him fall before Him and whatever is of Him let it bow unto Him both within and without that his wrath break not forth like a fire which none can quench For the Lord hath mighty things to bring to pass and he hath a mighty Arm of Power to effect them by and what shall be able to stand before him that stands in his way Faults in Printing Page 11. line 23. for of read on p. 15. l. 1. r. Doctrines l. 37. r. Mediator p. 16. l. 12. r. times p. 17. l. 6. r. so to that l. 7. r. end of growth l. 8. r. ever and ever p. 18. l. 18. f. it r. all p. 19. l. 29. f. along r. alone p. 20. l 9. f. in r. as p. 21. l. 19. f. the r. this l. 37. f. sed r. sed p. 22. l. 14. 15. f. he witnesses r. bewitches l. 27. 1. doth THE END
hides it self from all the fleshly wise of every age The Kingdom of God cometh not by observation the wisest Scribes and Pharisees could not know it by all the observations which they could gather out of Moses and the Prophets Writings nor can any now know it by any observations they can gather out of the Apostles Writings but by being born of that spirit whereof they were born and by being formed in that womb wherein they were formed by this means alone is the thing come to be known which they knew He that receiveth the same eye seeth the same thing according to his measure and coming to the life wherein they received the Truth the words which they spake concerning the Truth are easie Thus as they were writ in the Spirit so are they there along truly read and being so read they become exceeding profitable to that which so reads them but man guessing and imagining and reasoning in his carnal wisdom concerning the things of God and so gathering sences and meanings about the words and expressions of Scripture doth but build up a Babel which the eternal Life and Power will throw down when ever he appears with that which built it O that men were wise to wait for the discovery of the true Rock and of the true Builder upon that Rock that that City and Building might be raised in them which God alone can rear that they might not be left desolate and miserable in that stormy day which will shake all Buildings and Foundations and Rocks but our Rock wherein all Professors and Preachers and high Notionists and what ever sort else can be named who have stumbled at Gods living Truth and at the pure appearance of his redeeming Power which in this age hath mightily broke forth after the long dark night of Apostacy to the sight of every eye which is opened in the Spirit shall confess with tears sorrow anguish and shame that their Rock is not in our Rock they themselves being Judges For though all sort of Professors generally own Christ as the Rock in words yet most miss of the thing and the subtile Enemy hath made use of a Notion or apprehension of the thing in the carnal mind to deceive them of the thing to keep them from feeling the eternal vertue the living Power of Life in the heart which is the Arm of Gods Salvation whereby Christ draws mans lost soul and spirit out of the Pit out of the Grave out of Sin and corruption up to the Father But O how are poor hearts deceived who think by a believing of what Christ did of a satisfaction he made for them while he was here on Earth though they lye in the Pit all their dayes though they carry the body of sin about with them to the very last of their time here in the body and have not felt the Arm of God's Power breaking down their spiritual enemies their lusts their corruptions and redeeming them from them yet hope to be saved in the end and to be presented without spot or wrinkle to God! Christ had the name Jesus given him because he was to save his People from their sin and no man can truly and livingly know the name Jesus further than he feels the saving vertue of it but he that effectually feels the vertue he indeed knows the name and can bow at the name feeling his lusts and enemies bowed under by the power thereof and that raised up in him which can Worship the Father in the Spirit and in the Truth O that the sons of men knew O that the Teachers and Professors of this age knew what they have so long reviled and trampled upon Surely they would mourn bitterly kiss the Son and escape the wrath Now if the Lord please to smite any ones earthly wisdom and comprehension which is the main thing which stands in the way of the pure openings and revelations of the life and give him the feeling of any thing here written let him in fear acknowledge the Lord sacrificing to his goodness and waiting upon him to be kept in that feeling not magnifying or villifying any of his Instruments but in meekness and humility embracing the instructions of the Almighty from the hand which he pleaseth to give them forth by As for me I am but a Shell and if this party knew me who sets me up so high preferring me above many whom the Lord hath preferred far above me he would soon acknowledge me to be a very poor weak contemptible one yet this I must by no means deny that the pure Liquor of the eternal Life at its pleasure springeth up and issueth out through me though I can also in true understanding say that it issueth out far oftener and much more abundantly through others Let it have its honour where ever it appears and the Lord bring down that in peoples hearts which hindreth the owning and receiving of its virtue A Warning of tender Bowels to the Rulers Teachers and People of the Nation concerning their Church and Ministry THat there was a Fight between the Dragon and his Angels and Michael and his Angels concerning the New-Testament-Church and Ministry is manifest even from the Letter of the Scriptures Rev. 12. That the Dragon and his Angels though they could not get the better as relating to the Power yet that they did get the better as relating to the Form insomuch as that they overcame the third part of the true Ministers and drew them from their standing in the Firmament of Gods Power off to their earthly Ministry and that the Church her self also was fain to fly into the Wilderness from the face of the Dragon for her safety and preservation where she was to be nourished and sed by God all the time of Antichrists Reign this likewise is not onely revealed in the Spirit but is also manifest from the Letter Rev. 12. That after this flight of the true Church and overcoming of the true Ministry the Dragon erected his false Church and Ministry which had but at best the Form without the Power over all Nations Peoples Multitudes and Tongues this is also as evident to them that read the Prophecies of the Revelation in the Light of that Spirit that wrote them Is nor the false woman after the true woman was fled manifestly described Rev. 17. which hath a bewitching Cup of Fornications v. 2 and 4. Mark She hath not the true Cup of Blessing her cup is not filled with the Wine of the Kingdom it is not the Cup of the true Spouse which keeps chast and loyal to the bed of the Husband but the cup of Fornications wherein is a Form of Doctrine and Discipline and Order and Church-Government which leads from the life which be witnesses from the Power which luls asleep in a Form of profession and worship of Christ without knowledge of guidnace by and subjection to his Spirit And this is the Government Ministry and way of Antichrist where ever it is