and his mouth must be stopt and he must make supplication to his Judge whom though I were righteous saith Job yet would I not answer but I would make supplication to my Judge Job 9. 15. And this becomes man and not to argue it with the Lord and to wrangle with him as if God were unrighteous as if his Ways were not equal Who measures the Lord by his shallow understanding who cannot be searched out O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and the Knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgements and his Wayes past finding out for who hath known the mind of the Lord Or who hath been his Counsellor Or who hath first given unto him and it shall be given unto him again For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be Glory for ever Amen Rom. 9. 33 34 35. 36. So every man's mouth here must be stopt and before his Judge he must be silent as I have said and not lay unrighteousness on God or charge him that his Wayes are not equal For man himself shall conclude it otherwise in the day wherein the Lord will render unto him according to his deeds and therefore it is in vain to stand it out with the Lord. It is but the artifice of the Enemy that works this in you he knows you will otherwise say when it is too late therefore be not deceived by him least when 't is too late you blame your folly Moved of the Lord I am to write this to you in bowels of love that you may see your state and how this matter stands and that ye may be delivered And if ye yet say The Children being not yet born neither having yet done any good or evil that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated I answer as I did before this is spoken of the two Seeds the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent of which these two were Figures in which as the Knowledge of the Lord foresaw they would be so he loved so he hated For he loveth and hateth no man but as they are in these and it was after the fall that this was spoken both the promise that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents head and the Elder shall serve the Younger Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated For before there is nothing spoken of this for all stood well and as the same in the first Adam whilst he stood and there was no need of the Promise nor was there two as to man the one whereof was the Object of Love and the other of Hatred the Elder serving the Younger but man was one spirit from the Root Eternal and in the Root Eternal which God hath blessed And the two or that which made two the seed of the Serpent which entered into man came out afterwards For man receiving the Serpent and obeying his voice after he was made against the Command of God there came to be two things in man two Roots two which strugled the Seed of the Woman the seed of Promise and the seed of the Serpent the seed of the Curse as the Promise came to take place and that seed came to move in man to bring him back to God which the Lord hath promised as the Children strove in Rebecca's womb when she came to be delivered so do these as the time cometh wherein as I have said the promise of God cometh to be fulfilled The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one unto the other So that ye cannot do the things that ye would As the Apostle speaks Gal. 5. 17. And which the Apostle found in himself when the Promise came to be fulfilled in him I see saith he another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into Captivity â—o the law of sin which is in my members And he cries out there as Rebecca did concerning the Children If it be so why am I thus And she went to enquire of the Lord Gen. 25. 22. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this Death Rom. 7. 23 24. So the Children strugled in the Womb of Rebecca which was the Figure Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be separated from thy bowels and theone people shall be stronger then the other people and the Elder shall serve the Younger said the Lord unto her of whom she went to enquire when it was so with her as aforesaid And when her dayes to be delivered were to be fulfilled behold there were Twins in her womb and the first came out Red all over like an hary Garment and they called his Name Esau and after that came his brother out and his hand took hold on Esau's heel and his Name was called Jacob â— 24 25 26. So the Law of the Spirit of Life which was in Christ Jesus strugled with the law of Sin and of Death In Paul which though the law of sin and of death the law in his members strugled with and came out first When I would do good the law of his mind evil is present with me the law in his members the good that I would I do not the evil which I would not that do I Yet it took hold of its heel and supplanted it as the Name of Jacob the true Seed siignifies Is he not said Esau rightly named Jacob For he hath supplanted me these two times he took away my birth-right and behold now he hath taken away my blessing and Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his Father blessed him And Esau said in his heart the days of mourn-for my Father are at hand then will I slay my brother Jacob Gen. 27. 36 37. 41. It came after and supplanted overthrew the other I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death For what the Law could not do for that it is weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace vers 21. chap. 8. 2 3 4 5 6. So there is the first and the second the first man Adam and the second the Law of Sin and Death and the Law of the Spirit of Life the Law of the
Mind and the Law in the Members the Flesh and the Spirit the Son of God in the likeness of sinful flesh condemning sin in the flesh and the body of sin and death Two Nations two manner of People the one stronger then the other the strong man armed the stronger then he The Elder as to man in the state of the fall that came out first the Younger which was before the Elder though it came out in the World after This is he said John of whom I said after me cometh a Man which is preferred before me for he was before me John 1. 30. The Younger who comes after the fall the seed of the Woman to redeem out of the fall to bruise the Serpents head which the Elder must serve which taketh hold of the heel of the Elder and supplants it and makes it to serve the Elder shall serve the Younger And so the Apostle speaketh They are not all Israel who are of Israel Neither because they are the seed of Abraham are they all Children but in Isaac shall thy seed be called That is they that are the children of the flesh these are not the children of God but the children of the Promise are counted for the seed For this is the word of Promise at this time will I come and Sara shall have a son And not only this but when Rebecca also had conceived by one even by our Father Isaac for the children being not yet born neither having done any good or evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated as aforesaid Rom. 9. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13. And here is the whole matter as it lies together and as the Scriptures testifie and are the Explanation of one another in the Spirit of the Lord from whom I have written and who hath shewn me these things that I might write them unto you that your understandings might be opened and that ye might come to see the Truth as it is in Jesus and be brought to the Knowledge of the Truth And so I have finished this particular The Lord God Eternal open your eyes that in this your day you may know the things that belong unto your Peace And so I shall proceed As the Lord made not man to destroy him and as he hath not concluded any man from all Eternity to destruction So neither hath he so made man as that it is impossible for him to fall from the state in the which he was made or to miscarry so as to fall from life for ever and ever That were to put man in another state then that in the which he was made who was made in a Dependance on God for his being and Subsistance in the state in the which he was made and to render him as God knowing both good and evil that is to set him as do he good or do he evil he shall never be finally removed from the state in the which he was made that is from Life but shall remain as God The Judgement of the Ranters whom the Serpent hath taken with that which was his first bait with which he took Eve at first and with which they are taken at this day who hold That do they what they will they shall never be finally â—emoved from the state in the which they were made that is from Life Ye shall not surely die for God knoweth that in the day that ye eat thereof then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as Gods knowing good and evil Gen. 3. 4 5. This the Serpent laid before Evè viz. a state beyond that in the which she was made Ye shall not surely die a state at the pleasure of him that made you and at his Commandmen who gave you your being Yea hath God said ye shall not eat of every Tree in the garden v. 1. hath he put you are ye under such a dependency on him and at his command Nay ye shall not surely die it is not so ye shall be as Gods a state beyond that in which ye were made ye shall not need to stand in such awe and dread Ye are not necessitated to such a dependency upon God as that doing contrary to his Command ye shall die your state shall be changed nay your state shall not be so changed but eating of the Tree doing of that which he hath said ye shall not doe which signifies a Subjection and Subordination a Creature state of Variation and Change at the Will of Him that made you Nay the doing of this will enter you into another state that 's more high more fixed more certain a state wherein God is who changeth not nor is moved nor doth alter or varie from that wherein he is and this God knoweth for God doth known this is the Reason that God hath set you under such a command in such dread in such awe as of death a loosing of the state in the which ye are and a coming into a quite contrary or another this he knows and therefore hath laid this Command upon ye to keep ye from this to prevent your attaining unto this to be as he is setled and unchangeable do ye what ye will ye shall not surely die Nay it shall enter you into that state wherein there is no such thing as death but only a death unto that in which ye are as you are passing to it as through death to life ye shall not need thus to be put to it ye shall be as Gods without change without alteration without fear or dread or a necessary dependance upon another to keep you in the state in the which ye are Ye shall not need thus to be put to it at every turn to be under this Rod under this reproof under this check under such a manifestation as this and who would be so when he may be otherwise This God knoweth therefore hath he laid this Bar upon you this Precept this Bond to keep ye under that in the day that ye eat thereof ye do otherwise then he hath ordained you and so put your selves out of a state of dependance upon him or of being Creatures so to be disposed of and ordered by him so taking your selves into your own Power your own disposal as he doth himself and you whilst it is thus with you that you dare do nothing but what he requires you and that ye dare not do that which he forbids you which is a Creature state of alteration and change of Subjection and Subordination you will be as he is you will be as Gods unalterable unchangeable insubjectible insubordinate and this God knoweth that in the day that ye eat thereof that ye so put your selves that ye so take your selves into your own order and not stand under his Order and Rule who hath so
Fatherless and that turn aside the Stranger I was a Stranger and ye took me not in saith he that witnesseth the Faithful and True Witness who is come whose right it is to Rule who witnesseth to God who is turned aside from his right when he is not suffered to rule from his right And fear not me saith the Lord of Hosts for I am the Lord I change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed Mal. 3. 1. to the 7th For a man to say that he is chosen when he is not in holiness and that he is sanctified in Christ Jesus when he is unholy this is to overthrow the work of him who came to Redeem to Purifie to Cleanse man and so to bring him back again unto God And is the highest blasphemy that can be Imagined and the greatest deceit For it is to make God as such a one is and to render the blood of the Covenant by which those which are Sanctified are cleansed of none effect and where 's the effect if it purgeth not And where 's the purging where the sin remaines And doth it not remain where yet it is And is it not yet where it abides to death And are such redeemed Are such washed Are such sanctified Are such justified in the Name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God as were they of whom the Apostle speaks But such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified So washed sanctified being otherwise then they were when in sin and such were some of you but ye are washed in the Name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God There 's the matter And as an unholy thing For He that is joyned to an Harlot is one body for two saith he shall be one flesh but he that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit 1 Cor. 6. 15 16. So Friends all ye that are here take heed of being mistaken take heed of a mistaken state take heed of abiding in a state that is mistaken for this will not hold you will find it so in the end and I desire it may not be when it is too late so I am clear of you also for whose sake or the Seed's sake in you which is Immortal in the movings of the Lord I have written for the day is near wherein you will find this to be so It is the Word of the Lord and therefore hath he moved me to write that you may see it in time before it be too late before your day is over which is very short however ye may account it or value what I have said the thing is so and as I have said you will find it and then ye will remember that ye were told of it before that ye might not trust on a mistaken thing which will prove as a broaken Reed to you in the day of Tryal and the time of need for the Lord is drawing near to judgement and he will be a swift Witness as hath been said and then wo will be to all them in whom that which witnessed to life and was not heard will arise and witness to Eternal Condemnation and be a Worm that will never die and a Fire that shall never go out and this will be the state of all them that have not obeyed unto life that have not hearkened to nor believed that which witnessed in them against whom then it will witness a judgement that 's eternal for ever and ever For there 's no mocking in things of this nature no jesting no trifling To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the Provocation the day of temptation in the Wilderness Obey his witness believe in it heed it least time be no more and ye be concluded with the God whom ye serve For except ye believe that I am he said Christ to the Pharisees ye shall die in your sins and except ye believe that that which witnesseth for God in you which came from God which whatsoever it seeth the Father do it doth and speaketh what it heareth him say unto whom the Father beareth witness and of whom the Scriptures testifie John 5. 36 37 38 39. Christ the Light ye shall die in your sins It is the Word of the Lord I am the light of the world saith he he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of ltfe Joh. 8. 12. That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world that which reproves that which makes manifest that shineth in darkness though the darkness comprehendeth it not Thou art my Lamp O Lord thou wilt lighten my darkness Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my Path the Word which endures for ever For ever O Lord thy Word is settled in Heaven Thy faithfulness unto all Generations said David Psal 119. 89. to 10. 5. 2 Sam. 22. 29. John 1. 5. 9. So Friends all that are here take heed hereunto least the day be cloased into night and ere ye be aware the shadow of death close up the hour of your Visitation and it be too late for to you hath the Lord often spoken as I have said and do now say it again in and by the same Spirit of the Lord and he hath often sought you and that by me I am Witness for the Lord for ever how his Bowels have yearned towards you and how he would have gathered you as a Hen doth her Chicken under her Wings and he indeed yet seeks you hearken to his Voice withstand not him that calleth in you that calleth to you that seeks to gather you least your day have an end and there be no more You will remember me in that day but I would you did it sooner before it be too late The bowels of the Lord move in me to you he would not have you perish he would have you hear that your souls may live he would have ye convinced and turned to the truth he would have you in the truth that the truth may make you free I am the Way the Truth and the Life said Christ the Son he that witnesseth If the Son make ye free saith he again then are you free indeed John 8. 36. 14. 6. And so farewell I have finished what I have to say to you from the Lord. Look ye to it I am clear Give glory to the Lord your God before he cause darkness and before your feet stumble on the dark Mountaines and and while ye look for light he turn into the shaddow of death and make it gross darkness Jer. 13. 16. And this hour is neer The Lord God Eternal open your eyes that in this your day which is now neer to an end you may know the things that belong to your Peace least they be hid from your eyes The Lord will not alwayes wait on you his Spirit will not alwayes strive with you It hath
so as by fire vers 14 15. And upon this must all be built upon him who is the Corner Stone the tried Stone the sure Foundation the Foundation of many Generations the Restorer of Paths to dwell in the Builder of the old waste Places the Repairer of the breach And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste Places thou shalt raise up the Foundation of many Generations and thou shalt be called the Repairer of the breach the Restorer of Paths to dwell in Isa 58. 11. The Reconciler The Maker of Atonement The Offering The Sacrifice The Altar The Sanctuary The maker of Twain one New man so making peace The Blotter out of the hand writing of Ordinances which was against us which was contrary to us The Taker of it out of the Way The Nailer of it to his Cross The Spoiler of Principalities and Powers The maker of a shew of them openly The Triumpher over them in it The maker of both one who is our Peace The breaker down of the Middle wall of Partition between us The Abolisher of the enmity in his flesh even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances The Preacher of Peace to them that were afar off and to them that were nigh through whom we both Jew and Gentile have an access by one Spirit unto the Futher The Saviour of the body the Church The Saviour of all men especially of them that believe The Saviour of the World whom God hath sent into the World so to be The destroyer of the works of the Devil The Atonement The New Covenant The Law written in the heart The fear put into the inward parts The Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart The Word of Faith which the Apostles preached The Light of the World The true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World who was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not Who came unto his own and his own received him not Who as many as received him to them gave he power to be called the Sons of God even to them who believe in his Name which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God The Light in whom whosoever believeth shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of Life The Condemnation of all that believe not in the light In whom whosoever believeth shall not be condemned The Judge of all The Judge of the quick and the dead Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and coming The King Immortal The second Adam The Lord from Heaven The quickning Spirit The Hope of Israel and the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble The man Christ Jesus is he that witnesses that shews that judges that reproves that makes manifest it is the Word of the Lord. Into him into this Seed which is Christ the Election that which reproves that which makes manifest that which shews that which judges must all come and grow up therein who are redeemed unto God And the Word of the Lord unto every man whether he will hear or whether he will forbear The measure of him in every man which he hath placed in every man the manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every man to profit withal that in every man it may grow and that every man growing up in it and abideing may be blessed of the Lord the Seed of the blessed of the Lord and their Off-spring with them That they may be of the Root that 's holy of the true Olive in which being ingrafted though a wild Olive contrary to Nature the fatness of the true Olive he may come to be a partaker of which brings forth fruit unto God unto Holiness unto Life Eternal And this unto all is the Word of the Lord of whom I am moved to write that all may know the Root that is in them what it is that brings forth fruit unto God unto Life which the Lord hath blessed unto which being â— joyned and in which continuing a growâ—â—g up will be witnessed in that which is Eternal which never fadeth away but endures for ever And so I have cleared this Matter as I have received it of the Lord whether men will hear or whether they will forbear they all shall witness it in the day of the Lord which is neer wherein he will render unto every man according to his deeds It is the Word of the Lord. And so I have finished this Matter even the Word of the Lord in me to this Generation To whom I am known by the Name of G. Bishop Bristol the 20th of the 6th Moneth 1663. Printed In the beginning of the Second Moneth 1664. THE END