SOME OF THE MISTERIES OF GODS KINGDOME Declared as they have been revealed by the Spirit through FAITH For the Information of all such who have erred for lack of knowledge in their Judgements and have perished for lack of understanding to the intent that they may for the time to come wait in that which gives the true knowledge of God and of his Kingdome and of the Mysteries thereof which comes to be revealed through Faith to the upright in HEART Also for the confirmation of such who are made partakers of the like precious Faith By one who is made partaker of the riches of his grace and of the salvation which is in Christ Jesus revealed through the Spirit called Francis Howgill The secrets of the Lord are with them that feare him LONDON Printed for Thomas Simmons at the Bull and Mouth neer Aldersgate 1658. The particulars treated on in the following DISCOURSE 1 WHat the day of the Lord is and to whom it hath appeared and how it is seen and discovered 2 What it is and what it will be to the wicked declared 3 What it is to the righteous and how he appears to them and whether we are to look for it while in the body resolved 4 Where it doth appear and how it cometh and how it is to be looked for declared 5 What the Spirit of the Lord is and how it comes to be received which discovers the things of God 6 How the spirit of truth worketh and opperateth in them who are convinced and yet have not obeyed it shewed 7 How the spirit of the Father worketh in them who hearken to it and are in some measure made partakers of its power shewn 8 Vnto whom the Spirit of the Father bears witness and seals assurance of the Fathers love and of justification with God declared 9 What the grace of God is which is free and to whom it hath appeared and where all is to wait to receive it 10 Whether all have received the grace of God or no and whether it be a sufficient teacher in it selfe demonstrated 11 Some objections answered 12 A word to the wise men of this world who are glorying in the sound of words 13 Also another to them who are glorying in outward appearances and worshipping visible things in stead of the life 14 The Kingdome of God and his Christ declared in some measure as it is revealed by the Spirit what it is and where it is to be waited for and how it comes to be revealed in them that believe 15 Divers Objections answered To the READER Reader IN times past in the night of ignorance when men groped in the darke as blinde men since the Apostles days and out of thicke darknesse have spoke darkly of the things of God and of his Kingdome and written many things about the things of God and of his Kingdome which hath fed the darke mynds of many who are unconverted unto God And seeing how many people are confused in their mindes and erre in judgement and have lost the key of knowledge which should give an entrance into the mystery of Gods kingdome and open their hearts Therefore in compassion unto them who are thirsting after the Lord to finde him these few things I was moved to write for the sakes of those who have no place to rest in or upon to the intent that all may wait in that through which God reveals his minde and manifests his true knowledge in man and these things that I have written as they were revealed to me and in me by his pure Spirit If thou wait in the manifestation of the Spirit these things thou wilt see to be truth though hid and vailed from the world that lies in wickednesse as thâ—u comes out of its nature I have not written for to please men of corrupt minds who glory in words and outward appearances and glory in naturall parts and in sounds and are erred from the life but to the simple-hearted and for the strengthning of the weake and for the understanding of the simple and that which thou seest in the following discourse which thou canst not close with let it alone and judge nothing before the time in thy wisdome which is earthly or in thy reason but in that and to that of God in thee I desire to be approved and to nothing â—lse and shall be made manifest in the day of the Lord which is dawning in the world and many have seen it to appear in power and glory wait thou in thy own particular that thou maist fâ—ele thy own condition and see thy own state and that which lets thee see thy own condition will let thee see the Lord and what I have declared of him to be true I am thy friend in truth and wisheth good to all men F. H. THe Lord God of the whole earth who lives for ever even the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and Jacob whose Throne is established in righteousness for ever who rideth upon the heavens and shines forth in his eternal excellency from the firmament of his power he is manifesting himself in his power as in the dayes of old revealing his righteousness as in the years past and pouring forth his spirit upon his sons and daughters according to his promise and they that believe comes to be made partakers of the blessing of the everlasting Hills even the Lord who appeared at Sinai unto Moses his servant in the bush who rose up from mount Seir and shined forth in his brightness from mount Paran and came with ten thousands of his Saints even he from whose right hand went a fiery Law so that the people could not behold his glory the same is he who hath now appeared in this the day of his power and is appearing whose glory shall dazel the eyes of the world whose brightness shall make dim all the worlds glory and stain its wisdom and shut it up in utter darkness that it shall not aâ—pear to have any existance or being and the shadow of death shall flie away and all the haughty and lofty Princes of this world shall be horribly afraid the beasts shall go into their dens when the day appears and the Lambs of the everlasting fold shall come forth and be fed in the fat valleys where the springs of life compasseth about all the banks and rejoyce in their shepherd and shall say The Lord is my shepherd which many at this time doth admire and say What hath the Lord wrought who have seen his wonders in the dayes of old and have seen his noble acts which the fathers have told of who are fallen asleep and are at rest in the Lord and now many is God bringing to see their witness to be true and to have the same fulfilled in themselves honour and praise unto him for ever who is the stay and strength of all his people for ever And the day of the Lord is broken and the light hath appeared that manifesteth
sorrow to multiply and this is alwayes present none can run from it but it follows him and shall pursue every one to the pit who obey it not and kindle his torment and whatsoever the mind may run into to take pleasure for a moment and the heart be exercised in yet this measure of Gods spirit is alwayes present to condemn it and judge a man for it so the strokes of the Almighty is still heavy upon his back being still in the disobedience of the spirit it never bears witness unto any man in that state but God through it still sounds the alarum of war and terror in his heart so that fear compasseth him about on every side and though for a moment the cry may not be heard and through disobedience it may seem as dead as unto him yet if ever the mind be but still and a man sober and calm and ever mind what he is doing it appears again and though a man may take up something and perform something which is called religious and pray in words and read and talk of the Scriptures and may take up some carnal outward Ordinance and there content himself for a time yet still the witness of Gods holy Spirit for that shews him his hypocrisie and that he seeks a cover to shelter himself under that he may live in disobedience and be at ease in the flesh but all in vain for there is no peace within but the measure of Gods spirit still shews him he serves sin and follows his own will and in this will brings forth a worship and this is will worship nay if a man should practice all those things which others who were in the life performed and were accepted yet this will not satisfie God hath no pleasure in this no more then if one slew a man or blessed an Idol or kissed Baal all is abomination to the Lord and though a man may sin so far against the light of Christ in his own conscience that the light be to him as though there were no such thing yet all this will not do for the Lord will thunder from his holy place though thou have stopped thy ear as to him and closed thy eyes yet he will make thee hear and see and will cause his terror to strike into thy heart so that dread shall compass thee about as a wall and thou shall be afraid for that which thou shalt see and hear and though the spirit strives long yet being still disobeyed the long-suffering of God comes to an end concerning him that hath been unfaithful and then his wrath is kindled as fire which shall burn to the lowest Hell into which all the rebellious and stiff-necked shall be cast and have their portion for ever among all the children of darkness therefore all who have been convinced long and still are by Gods holy spirit of the way of truth and yet have not submited to the leading of the Spirit think on this for its the Lords truth which I declare unto you or else eternal misery will be your end And if thou still persist on after the imaginations of thine own heart and in thy rebellious will thou quencheth the spirit and the motions thereof and though it be life in it self yet is as dead unto thee who art in the gainsaying resisting that through which Gods eternal power is manifest in them that believe and thou wilt grow insensible and past feeling and become as seared flesh and be sensless as to the things of God and hardness of heart will come upon thee and thou wilt be as a stone which cannot be melted and wo wil be unto such where the spirit of the Lord in them ceaseth to strive with them having so long rebelled against and gainsayed the pure drawing of it that so the Lord is grieved and wearied with their impenitency that he gives them up to their vile affection and to follow the imaginations of their own heart who receiveth not the truth in the love of it but in the enmity still remains obstinate doing despight unto the Spirit of grace his long-suffering comes to an end and his fierâ—â— wrath comes to be kindled against such and that which would have led them out of the world into true pure everlasting peace now becomes their tormentor and they banished from his presence and shut up in eternal misery where the fire is kindled by the breath of the Lord that burns for ever the sentence of condemnation being past upon them because they had pleasure in unrighteousnesse and have sold themselves to do wickedly and crucifying the appearance of God in themselves which appearance though it live in the fountain of life yet crucified by thee who art out of the life yet lives still for ever in it selfe to be thy condemnation eternally How the Spirit of the Father worketh in them who are turned to it and have taken heed unto its manifestation and are in some measure partakers of its power THere are differences of administration But the same Lord and there are diversity of gifts but the same spirit and there are diversities of operations but the same God which worketh all in all Now the spirit of Truth which is life in it selfe putteth forth its own pure act not onely to convince and detect him that transgresseth its appearance manifesteth evill which hath been committed by man but also being turned unto and waited in it shews man when motions and temptations unto sin ariseth and as the Creature is still and waiteth in that which manifesteth and singly keeps in his minde to it It sheds abroad its power and vanquisheth and subdueth those lusts which do arise and condemns the ground from whence they arise and it purely draweth the mind after it and secretly worketh and breatheth forth its pure life in him that waiteth in patience and in stilness not heeding the vain thoughts and imaginations that riseth in his heart but rather heeds the manifestation of the Spirit at whose bright appearance all the vain desireâ— comes to be extinguished and there comes to be a hunger begot within to be made partakers of its purity and of its nature for God through the operation of the eternall Spirit lets forth his power which turneth and changeth the heart and cuts asunder and divides betwixt a man and those lovers that he hath joyned unto and makes a separation within and carries a man further from those things which the measure of the Spirit reproves and this leads nearer unto God And so they that do believe in the measure of Gods Spirit comes to feel what repentance from dead works is and the works and the worker is seen and who it is that hath wrought is manifest in the light and as there is a diligent waiting upon it there is nothing that passeth through the minde but it discerns and gives a discerning unto every particular heart who singly and quietly waits upon it But yet after the Spirit of truth
in some measure be felt and its living testimony in some thing yet it may be a long time before there be a clear distinguishment in the understanding so that one cannot clearly discern its moving from all other false motions and high imaginations which are above And hence it is that the hasty and forward minds follows their vain motions which leads them into deceit and then the Questioner gets up and then they question all that ever the Spirit hath made manifest unto them before a vaile then is drawn over and the enemy lodges in the vayl and in the darknesse which is entred and then as soon as any hearkens within to that which is the uppermost and doth abound the enemy that lodges in that presents motions as to obey this and that and all is deceit So therefore all is to keep back that they may sensibly feele between the pure motions and drawing of the Spirit and the vain thoughts that arise out of the earthly heart and when any thing doth arise which the light doth not bear witnesse to it 's not to be followed nor heeded but a quiet still writing that things may be cleared to the understanding and for want of this many have run out and have brought forth Satans work and acted things forwardly in their wil and so have clean lost the true sense of that which should guide their minds and have followed the spirit of errour and have caused the pure spirit of the Lord to be evil spoken of But as there is a keeping back and a quiet waiting out of willing or running and hast it arises purely and stilly in the heart and shines forth in brightnesse in the heart so that it giveth perfect evidence and full testimony of it selfe that there will be no doubting nor questioning of it's motion for it will apparently shew forth its selfe in its own transparent brightness with full assurance of its own will and then after it be cleerly seen and its motion then keep under all reasoning and keep out all questioning and give not way to temptation and that which moves of the Lord of life will carry thee through in its own operation and power to accomplish the will of God and so thou wilt have peace being obedient and thy strength will be renewed for as any is brought to submit unto the will of God when it is known and comes to obey by vertue of its own power that which is contrary unto Gods spirit in thee comes to loose its strength and to decay and be weâ—kned but as any disobeys the pure motion of Gods holy Spirt after it be known the enemy is strengthened and that which is of the flesh nourished and the spirit comes to be quenched that which would give thee power if thou submittest to it But yet know this the spirit in it selfe never loses its purity neither can be quenched in it selfe but will bear its pure witnesse against thee and none shall be able to stop its reprooâ— Thus the diversity of its operation comes to be known as it s hearkned unto obeyed loved and believed in it puts forth its pure power and gives strength and seales peace to the obedient but disobeyed and resisted it condemns judges reproves and seals condemnation to the disobedient and yet there is no variation in it self for it is always one and the same But as it operateth upon different natures or objects unto which it joyns to or stands at a distance from that is to say the good ground it causeth to bring forth fruit unto God and the cursed ground out of which bryars and thorns do arise it kindles a fire in that shall not quenched but as there is a submission unto its pure operation it burns up and destroys that which hinders the growth of the seed and it purgeth the heart of them that have confidence in it from all filthinesse both of flesh and spirit and worketh up the creature into its own frame and nature and fashions and makes and moulds all that are in the faith into the image of the Father and so the Fathers love comes to be shed abroad in the heart and as wrath was revealed through the spirit and condemnation so now the peace of God comes to be enjoyed and his consolation shed abroâ—d largely in which there is pure rejoycing for ever Vnto whom the Spirit of the Father bears witness and seals assurance of the Fathers love aâ—d of justification with God declared NOne hath the witness of Gods spiâ—it bearing witnesse to them nor in them who have not believed in the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world by whom alone life is begotten by the powerful operation of Christ in them that believe in him who is eternal light it selfe whose word is spirit and life by which the new Creature is framed formed in them that bâ—lieve unto whom he maketh manifâ—st his power for unto him who is the life of men is all power committed both in heaven and earâ—h for nothing was made or created but by him neither is any turned from sin but by him and by his mighty power without him â—s death in him is life and the life is the light of men So that none but they that are born of the light and are begotten by him who is light can have the spirit of Christ who is light to bear witnesse unto them neither the assurance of the Fathers love for onely they that are born of the spirit and walk after the spirit are justified by the spirit of the Lord for the assurance of his love is not made manifest to his enemies but unto them that are born and brought forth in his own image in his own likenesse and nature which is pure and incorruptible without stain or dâ—filement the holy seed which is heire of the promise who knows the living hope which purifies the heart and bringeth the answer of a good conscience unto them that feel and witnessâ—the washing of regeneration and have knowâ— in themselves the clean water poured sorâ—h upon them which hath taken away the stains and spots and blâ—mishes and the defilements for where these are not washed out and the heart cleansed from them and that believed in wherein Gods all-suffiâ—iency is felt and his powâ—r made manifest there cannot be assurance of the Fathers love in the heart nor in the soule neither doth the spirit of the Faâ—her bear witnesse unto such nor assure their justification but on the contrary where sin remains unsubdued and taken away the spirit of the Father condemneth the sin and the creature now is joyned to it and is become one with it for no sin is broughâ— forth but there is a consent and an ascenting to the instigation of the Devill although when a temptation ariseth either within or without there may be a resisting and a striving against it for a little but the heart not being kept close to the spirit the enemie
all things which are reproveable and the day-star is arisen in the hearts of many and they are come to see that fulfilled in their hearts which Peter exhorted them to wait for and to take heed unto the sure word of prophesie until the day appeared and did dawn in their hearts which day when it appears and to whom it appears discovereth all things and maketh all things manifest as it is declared by the Spirit of truth in the Scripture of truth and every mans work shall be tried of what sort it is and of what nature it is and this day hath appeared to many praises to the Lord who have waited for it and now they see every thing in its ground and rise and every tree and fruit is seen according to its kind whether good or bad and every mans works is obvious to every one who are in the day and upon whom the morning of righteousness hath appeared and the Sun of righteousness hath shined upon whereby that is seen in every one by the light which is truly called day by the Lord who causeth it to spring from on high which is reproveable and condemnable and also whatever is justifiable and unreproveable is seen by the day of the Lord appearing in the heart The day of the Lord what it is and to whom it hath appeared discovered and how it is seen GOd is a spirit his day is spiritual and is seen with a spiritual eye its pure light pure brightness the pure shining forth of the Lord in his glorious excellency the pure shining forth of eternity life puting forth it self in its brightness holiness sheding it self abroad in its glory purity spreading it self in its immeasurable excellency and can onely be seen as it is in it self by the children of the light that are born of it there is a natural day there is a spiritual day the natural day receives its brightness from the Son the spiritual day receives it brightness from the Son of righteousness by whom it s brought forth without whom nothing was made or is made or brought forth but by him who is the fountain of life and as the natural day receives its clearness from the natural Sun and is discerned by the natural eye of a natural man and all things natural are seen and discovered by and in the natural day and are perspicuous and obvious to him that hath his natural sight even so from the Sun of righteousness the Lord of glory light and purity the day of God receives its brightness and is issued out from him by the rays of his brightness and is discerned and seen only by the spiritual eye of the spiritual man who is the Image of the father brought forth in life and in his own nature and quality that is to say from God the Father of life by Christ Jesus the life of men the light of the world and this is the birth which is born from above which is of the nature of the Father and the Sun and of the day and he onely comes to behold this day and discerns all things of the fathers kingdom by it and likewise discerns all the hidden things of dishonesty and the works of darkness which is brought forth by the Prince of darkness who is shut up in eternal and utter darkness which is his dwelling place for ever which is his residence and shall be the residence of all the workers of iniquity that bear his Image for ever Obj. But some may be ready to say It is not yet appeared and all things are not yet made manifest and that day is not yet come neither hath appeard in this age to any Answ. What if a man that is naturally blind say that there is no light in the day nor in the Sun because he sees none is therefore there no light in the day nor in the Sun And what if all things be alike unto him day and night so that he can distinguish nothing doth this therefore make void their seeing who do see with the natural eye both the Sun and the day and hinder them from distinguishment or discerning And what if they who are spiritually blind and are children of the night say they see nothing nor beholds nothing of the day of the Lord or of the discovery of the things of God or of his gloâ—ious appearance which many witness doth this therefore make their sight void or discovery of the things void to them who have seen into the things that be of Godâ— kingdom the unbelief of some doth not make the faith of them that do believe void God forbid What the day of the Lord is and what it will be to the wicked declared AS I have said though the day of the Lord be pure light and brightness in it self and mixeth not with the night which is of a contrary nature because the Lord in the beginning separated them and set a decree which will last unto all perpetuity and that which limited the bounds and circumferenâ—e theâ—eof now is the same I say though the day of the Lord be pure and keeps its purity and property and nature and is still one and the same in it selâ— for nothing can alter its purity yet it is a day of blackness and gloominess and a notable terrible day unto the wicked who hates its appearance and hates the light children of falshood and of deceit whose deeds be evil it makes them and their deeds manifest there it is unto them as it is written in a certain place The eye lids of the morning are unto them as the shadow of death the appearance of the Lord affrights them and they would run from it as a thief that diggeth through a wall and breaketh open a house in the night when deep slâ—ep is upon men but when the day appears that discovers his actions he is afraid because he wil then if he stay there be seen and all that live wantonly upon earth whose hearts are set to seek after wickedness as for hid treasure the day of the Lord will steal upon such as a thief and will come as upon a thief and they being children of the night and bringing forth the fruits of darkness contrary to the light they will have their portion in utter darkness and eternal vengeance will compass them as a wall and fury as a fiâ—e that devoureth all the fewel so shâ—ll the ungodly perish and have their portion with hypocrites Think on this all you raylers and revilers of the light and of the appearance of God and repent for as â—â—e wilde asse that snuffs up the winde and they that seeks will not weary themselves with her yet a time cometh when she may be found and taken Even so all the ungodly though they may runne as a wild Asse traverse their way as a Dromedary yet the moneth cometh and the day cometh they wil be overtaken in the middest of security and they shall not escape And though the children of
that are sanctified Where the day of the Lord doth appear and how it cometh and how it is to be looked for declared THey that gaze abroad whose eyes are abroad cannot see his appearance nor his day which appears He that knoweth not wherein it consists knows not how to look for it no more then the Jewes who were Scripture-professors and learned men knew wherein the kingdome of God did consist Even no more do the litteral professors whose faith is founded on the Letter and upon that which is visible knows what I say First all must know wherein it doth consist It is eternall brightnesse shedde abroad through all things which pierceth through and searcheth the secretest place even that which is invisible and maketh manifest all things and the nature of every thing by the day of the Lord comes to be seen and it appears in the heart they were to wait for the day to dawn and to break forth in their hearts and to wait for its appearance there and that 's it which is to be waited for and upon that which maketh evill manifest and brings it to light and declares against that which is contrary to its nature and so the day cometh to dawn Christ the covenant of light Gods gift who is sent and annointed of God to preach and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and also the day of vengeance He proclaims in the heart for he comes not to bring peace but a sword and his sword is the sword of the Spirit it 's that which divides and discerns the intent of the heart and his day discovers the desperate wickednesse of the heart And where he finds no faith in the heart he kindles a fire in the earthly heart and executeth his vengeance And his day unto such is a day of great perplexity their spirits comes to be wounded the heart comes to be made faint and sorrow comes to fill their hearts and trouble to be felt and in this state are all in who are unconverted he findes no faith no hope in the heart therefore he comes and takes away peace Many hath talked of the day of the Lord but when it comes to draw neer them they will not abide it Whatsoever makes manifest is light Now the day makes all things in every one manifest and when deceit is seen and wickednesse brought to light then thâ—y that have done evill cannot abide but would run to any thing rather then abide the day or to see the Lord of life appear in his day to execute vengeance upon his enemies and to destroy his adversaries and to kindle an unquenchable fire to consume all his enemies And who hath not seen this yet in themselves never hath seen the day of salvation nor of gladnesse and this made the Prophet cry out Who may abide the day of his coming And many have been eye-witnesses of the dreadfull day of the Lord which hath appeared wherein all peace hath been hid from their eyes and all that ever came to see the day of joy and gladnesse first did know the terrour and terrible day of the Lord in themselves Therefore said the Apostle We knowing the terrour of the Lord doe perswade men Now it cometh not with observation loe here or there So the Pharisees looked the Kingdom should come when Christ told them it was within them So say I if ever any do behold the bright shining forth of eternal life thou must wait in that which is pure of God through which he will manifest his day and his power in his day in thee as thou keepest in thy minde to that which manifests unto thee evill and shews thee good thou wilt see how it appears Even as the light shineth from the East unto the West so is the coming of the day of the Lord And the eye which is spiritual sees it and the power and the glory of the Lord comes to to be seen in the day which is pure and spiritual in the heart and the eye which is pure doth behold when it comes where it comes and how it comes and it 's hid from Vulterous eyes and from their eyes which are full of adultery and cannot cease from sinne Now the day of the Lord cometh not where the carnall mind may imagine nor when Man will neither according to the carnall desire of the carnall heart neither according to the evil eye that looks out can it be seen but it is seen in Gods own light and by the measure of Gods holy spirit And as the day of the Lord is a mysterie the spirit of the Lord is the onely discoverer of it None knows the things of God but by the Spirit of God and the day of the Lord and his bright shining forth in the heart of man is one of the glorious things of God which onely the spirit of God doth give the knowledge of to man and in man and not the letter nor the Scripture for the Jews had the letter and they had neither heard Gods voice at anytime neither ever did see his shape neither did they see the day of the Lord nor the power neither in a word did see or perceive God or any of the mysteries of Gods Kingdom at all but dreamed imagined thought and conceived of things in their minds their foolish hearts being darkened for the further a man draws from the light his heart comes to be more dark and their understanding closed up and shut up that they cannot behold the Lord neither his glory which is revealed onely by Gods holy spirit which spirit is near man though he see it not What the spirit of the Lord is and how it comes to be received which discovers the things of God THe Spirit of the Lord is pure holy equal purity it self holiness it self equity it self and is one with the Father and the Son The Father the Word and the Spirit is one its life its pure power pure strength purity it self which mixeth not neither joineth to any thing but that which is of its own nature it s an immeasurable pure substance its life issued forth an active living power and is everlasting alters not changes not keeps its holiness its purity for ever it is unsearchable unfathomable undeclarable words are all too short too narrow to declare its excellency and glory but onely as it makes it self out to them that believe and opens it self and sheds it self abroad in them that wait upon it it is revealed in its own purity manifest in its own power and received in its own light felt in its own vertue the living father of life himself is manifest by it and appears in his power majesty and excellency through it to man and to the sons of men to the righteous and unrighteous to godly and ungodly to the upright and to the deceitful to the children of darkness and to the children of light that which searcheth the heart of man and sees through all things and maketh
often enters and so captivates the understanding then there is an agreement and ajoining to the adversary and so the spirit pronounceth the sentence of condemnation upon him who is joyned to the harlot and becomes one flesh and joyned unto strange flesh wâ—ich is not the flesh of Christ the seed and that which hath joyned and consented to drink of the cup of fornication must drink of the cup of indignation and terrour and bear the stroke of Divine Justice and lye in patience under it till that be cut down which hath joyned to deceit before there can be the remission of the trangression or the creature justified in the sight of God For sin is not blotted out of the book of Gods remembrance till it be turned from and repented of neither doth the creature stand clear in the sight of God when God judges in righteous judgement which the light in every ones conscience shall answer Now he that is born of God sins not for the seed of God remains in him which is life And as the creature joyns to that seed which is heir of the Kingdom and of the Crown immortall he comes to be made partaker of its vertue and operation which seed is Christ and by his power by which he limiteth the seed of the Serpent and weakens his strength in the creature as man cometh to believe in his strength unto whom all power is committed the covenant with Death is broken and that agreement that the creature hath made with Dâ—ath comes to be disannulled by the arm and power of the Lord and so the creature comes to be delivered from the bondage of corruption and the new man comes to live or the new creature which is born of God which sins not comes to be framed and fashioned in the image of the Father and the Fathers love is manifest unto him and in him and he hath the assurance in himself The Babe that is born from above of the Spirit which is from above of which he is born and brought forth of the just by the just he is justified by the just God and the just wiâ—ness of the Spirit sealeth this in him And he hath the record of his justification For there is three that bear record in the earth the water the blood and the spirit and he that is born of that which is pure in it self hath the witness of all these three in himself for they agree in oâ—e That which one beareth witness too and for the other doth the same and the record and testimony and witness of all these three hath he that is born from above Moreover there is three that bear record in heaven the Father the Word and the spirit and these three are one So he that is born of the Father and begotten of the Father in Christ the seed through the Spirit he and he alone comes to feel the Fathers love made manifest in him and is justified in the sight of the Father and hath the record of all these witnesses before mentioâ—ed in himself so that he hath his assurance and evidence near him and in him the seal of the Father the seal of the Sâ—irit And so when the adversary comes to tempt and to assault and would raise up doubts in the mind the evidence is near which puts him out of all doubt that he is in the love of God and blessed for ever and happy are all they who have waited for these things and have felt these things and are witness of these things for flesh and blood hath not revealed these things Now let every man who reads this prove himself and try himself whether he be in the faith or no and whether he have the evidence of the Spirit or no that he is born of it and knows a birth that sins not because the seed remaineth in him who is kept by the power that the evil one touches him not kept in salvation and in saving health alive unto him who hath brought him forth to life to drink of the cup of blessing and of the cup of salvation which nourisheth and refresheth up unto eternal life them that continue in the Faith What the free grace of God is and unto whom it hath appeared and where all is to wait to receive it declared as it hath been revealed by the Spirit THe grace of God is pure and is the free gift of God and it iâ— perfect it is the appearance of Christ it is a beam of righteousness shining forth it is a measure of Gods strength and power issued out from himself and a proportion of his treasure vertue and sufficiency which comes to be shed abroad in all them that believe in it it s that through which God maketh known his will and teacheth his by it and reveals his saving health through it to them that are taught by it and through it them that believe in it are builded up in the truth and becomes a habitation for God no man doth any thing to purchase it none need say where may I get it or how may I know its teaching its near thee it is in thee it hath appeared to all men it shews ungodliness in the heart of man by its pure brightness yea to all men it shews the motions unto sin and that which is not like God in motions words or actions it draweth the heart of man from them as with a cord it shews the lusts of the heart and mind the lust of the eye and the pride of life it never joyned to sin nothing can alter its purity or property as in it self it is always one and the same it is pâ—rfect and will be alwayes so it stands off and at a distance from that which is corruptable and imperfect and yet beholdeth it and although some that have turned to it be again turned from it and may turn it as in themselves into wantonness yet it keeps its purity and still reproves thy wantonness and will lay iâ— before thee and will shew thee how thou hast abused the appearance of Christ and hath marred his countenance and his face and reprove thee for it many have been the talkers of it in this professing age but knew not of what they spoke neither ever informed the mind of man where it was to be waited for neither how it might be known or how or what the operation of it was but hath cryed up their own imaginations we are justified by his free grace from all sin past present and to come and in this conceit thousands have been led into the pit of darkness while out of thick darkness they have cryed up we are justified by free grace in Christ while the free grace of Christ Gods gift which should have taught them they never heeded at all but got up into conceitedness and carelesâ—ness and presumption out of the fear of God and pretending justification while they themselves were the servants of sin and bond-slaves to corruption and this is the
slayes the enmity therefore all must be still and quiet and wait in that which is pure of the Lord that they may feel that raised up which receiveth grace above the corruptible thoughts and desires of the carnall mind but many who talk of free grace have put no difference betwixt the precious and the vile but hath put them upon doing and working who are in the enmity and curse and in death and so hath brought forth dead works notwithstanding all performances they being dead to the life God another acteth in them even he which hath the power of Death which is the Devill and so have not known that which was precious in themselves could not minister unto that which was precious in others but have been Ministers of Death and have ministred to Death and so Death nourisheth it selfe in all them who are not yet come to the separation to see betwixt the precious and the vile Now though all have not received grace so as to save them from the committing of sin the fault is not in God Israel would have none of my counsell they stopped their â—ares Neither is the fault in the grace which hath appeared unto all men Neither is it because of it's imbecillity and weaknesse but because it is not hearkned unto and waited in and obeyed believed in and received For this eternall truth which shall for ever stand the least measure of the grace oâ— God hath power in it self to save man from committing of that evill or sin which it shews man And as it is received the power comes more and more to be made manifest where all that believe comes to be preserved out of evill Object But some have said and now say there is common grace and preventing grace and restraining grace and saving grace and the former that hath appeared to all but the latter hath appeared to the Saints and to the elect onely Answ. Grace is Gods pure and perfect gift and is but one thing I speak not of qâ—antity but of quality not oâ— so much as that the fulnesse of grace hath appeared to all but of a measure of that fulnesse which is in Christ the head although I do not divide the least measure from the fulnesse in quality or nature for it 's one and the same for that which shews a man he should not lye nor swear that is as pure according to it's latitude proportion as that which shews a man all that ever he hath done and that same grace which leads a man from drunkennesse and excesse is as pure and of the same kind and nature as that greater proportion which leadeth a man from all sin I speak what I have seen from the Father though the dark world cannot receive it But people hâ—ve been blinded and darkned with sounds and distinctions which men coyn and frame in their natural reason and by their natural parts which is out of the life although I do not condemn naturall parts which are purely naturall if they keep â—heiâ— bounds and compasse that is to say to the management of naturall things of the visible creation but the things of Gods kingdom are of another quality and nâ—ture and cannot be reached unto by the natural but as I said men through distinctions and names hath wrackâ—d peoples minds and confounded their understanding and have led them into a thick wood or a wildernesse so they know not where to get forth neither what the thing is of which one speaks because not being spoken through the enticing words of mans wisdome which darkens the counsell of God Now that which shews a man evill after it be committed is the pure appearance of God And that which shews a man the temptations when they arise that is the same now this they call common and that which preventeth a man and keeps him back that he lend not his heart nor puts forth his hand to commit evill but restrains a man from it is not that saving out of evill and that which stops the adversary in his way that he enter not but preserveth the Creature out of defilement and saves him from it is not this saving is not this the same thing that the Apostle who was well acquainted with the grace of God and of it's operation wrote of to Titus That grace of God which brought salvation which had appeared and doth now appear to all men which taught self-denyal them to deny worldly lusts and also to live godlily or like unto God in this present world and now doth the same is not this sufficient to believe in and sufficient to save Now I do not say but there is a greater measure let out unto them that are converted unto God then is to tâ—em that are convinced of their evill by the same grace yet still â—t is one and the self-same thing one gift yet a greater measure of one and the same pure vertue and power which is given to them that obeys the life which is already made manifest by its appearance unto all Object But some will be ready to say that this is errour and that which is contrary to the Scripture and to orthodox Teachers that the grace which is saving is near all men and hath appeared to all men To that I answer Though grace be saving in it self even the grace that hath appeared to all men and may be truly called saving grace yet to them that believe not in it neither are taught by it it convinceth and shews evill and checks and judges for it yet there is no variation nor change in the gift of God but as it worketh upon different objects for faith and unbelief are two different things as light and darknesse are different and so the word of his grace is the savour of life unto life that is to say unto them that believe and is the savour of death unto death unto them who are in the unbelief who indeed are dead while they live yet here is the same grace and the same word of grace yet here is different operations so the Lord killeth and maketh alive yet the same Lord the Spirit convinceth of sin and reproveth for sin and also consolates and comforts here is diversity of operations yet the same Spirit which never alters Obj. But further some may say If that it be saving grace or at the least a degree and a measure of saving grace that hath appeared to all men then how is it that all are not saved by it Answ. Because I would all stumbling blocks were removed away that the path might be made plain that all might come to believe in that which is Gods gift in which there is power and sufficiency therefore I am constrained by the grace of God to declare of it and to bear witness to it thus largly which I know will be to the edification of all that hunger after righteousness All are not saved by it because they believe not in it neither are taught by it
raised from the dead and fashioned like unto his glorious body partakers of the glory of God of his kingdom of his power the power is his in which the kingdom stands the kingdom his wherâ—in glory stands the kingdom power and glory stands all in him who is the glorious God and the God of eternal glory who is revealing his power his kingdom and his grace and his glory unto all that patiently wait upon him in that which yet is as a grain of mustard-seed they will come to feel his presence his power and glory revealed in their hearts through the spirit and injoy God in his kingdom in his power and in his glory and through faith shall see the weight of glory which God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will reveal unto all that patiently wait for his appearance and in his appearance Obj. But some will cry out grievous blasphemy and error what I think you look for no other glory but in this life nor for no other kingdom but what you enjoy in this life thus I know dark spirits reasons Answ. The Saints looked not after any other glory but that which stood in eternal life and in the immortal life and in the uncorruptible life and the Country they sought after was that which God was the maker and the builder of and they looked and waited to receive of his power in which the kingdom standeth and did in this life I do not say the full weight of glory and to know and injoy and to be made partakers of his eternal dominion and authority is that which all his Saints in measure witness and in due time came to injoy through faith for by faith they saw him who was invisible and the things of his kingdom which is invisible spiritual and eternal but to speak of the carnal corruptible life in the flesh who are dead while they live there that life neither the kingdom nor the powâ—r nor the glory of God is revealed to them not till after the death of that life and till after the death of him who hath the power of death which is the devil which ruleth in the hearts of the children of disobedience where all the mysterie of Gods kingdom is hid from from their eyes and ever shall while in that state and so let the serpent be blind and they that have an ear to hear blessed is that ear for the kingdom of God is come nigh unto many and the salvation of God and the power of his Christ is seen by many honour and praise unto him everlastingly who is the onely potentate that puts down all authority under his feet that God may be all in all but first every one must come to feel in himself the kingdom which is as a little grain in himself and in it believe before any can come to know the kingdom or wherein it consists and after it be known in its measure yet this is far short of glory in the fulness so many may come to be partakers of the power in some measure yet this is far short of the eternal weight of glory He that believes is entred into the râ—st and made partakers of the heavenly gift and of the heavenly power and of the heavenly grace which is glorious and doth witness a heavenly place in Christ Jesus and yet many enemies to be subdued and much of the heavenly habitation which they see not which comes to be revealed as there is an abiding in the faith which stands in Gods power in which the kingdom stands the mysteries of God and of his kingdom comes in due time to be revealed through death they come to be known that is to say through the death of death for Israel the true type after they passed over Jordan and had taken Jerico and Aiâ— and had made an entrance into the land yet there was many enemies to be subdued and much land and possessions which they were not made partakers of long after even so after there be of the true rest injoyed and possessed and an entrance made into yet there is many enemies to be subdued and much of the heavenly inheritance to be injoyed by them that stand in the power which giveth domion over sin the devil hell and the grave and they come to be made partakers of God and so the enmity being slain man comes to injoy God who is eternal life and comes to receive the Crown immortal which God the eternal power strength giveth in due time to them that wait in patience and in faith through which the immortal inheritance comes to be revealed to all the children of light And so to conclude in few words this I say unto all who are longing after God and waiting to feel his power keep in your minds to the pure measure of Gods holy spirit and therein wait to see his kingdom and his dominion and to be made partakers of it which brings the world to an end and will let you see to the end of it too before it was and him who is now glorified with the father in the kingdom of God with the same glory he had with the Father before the world began and who so comes to the end of the world and to the beginning again comes to see him and his glory and the kingdom of glory which fades not away which who so comes to enjoy are eternally happy Lond. the 16. of the 4. moneth 1657. THE END