it was unexpected by me onely the Lord would have it so and therfore all your care must serve the Lords designes to bring it to my hand when my husband was not in town doe not therefore look upon me but look to the Lord use me as kindly as Job did his servant reject not my cause for surely it is not mine I leave you to the Lord whom I desire rightly to guide you in this thing and am Your sincere loving Sister and servant from the greatest to the meanest of you T. P. Abington 26. March 1649. 26. Letter Deare Friend ENgagements from a true principle are not easily dislolved and while we hold the head we cannot let goe the members I have considered you in the union of life and truth from whence flow my unfeigned respects to you and wherein consists the true enjoyment of your self Vanity of vanity interposeth between God and us while we are below and vexeth our unquiet spirits seeking contentment in earthly relations we wander too and fro and return empty but when we close with the divine will our distractions are composed the commotions of our distempred hearts are all sweetly silenced Friend when you have in the spirit ascended farre above all heavens when you are above all even that God hath made and for a time also ordained you to use then may you and then will you be able to descend into the lowest parts of the earth and from thence again rise to the highest glory Then will you have a true sweet and comfortable use of the meanest condition in the world out of which you shall mount to the clearest enjoyment of the greatest happinesse and by a continuall intercourse between heaven and earth you will at last come to inherit the utmost large and full extent of the Lords dominions If you were confined to that heaven onely as it hath been received in the generall notion you would be streightned in your borders and be deprived of part of your portion and possession for the earth as well as the heaven is filled with the glory of God from which if you were excluded you must necessarily want that peice of your right whereof you were made an heiresse When the ladder of our eternall union is set between Heaven and Earth between the divine and humane nature then may we both ascend and descend one as freely as the other our heavenly state will not disdain our earthly nor our earthly hinder our heavenly the true Angelicall life hath sweet communion with God in both Trouble afflictions and crosses in the world will administer consolation and be all your servants helpers of your joy God will be all Union unto him cannot be divided the wings of the morning are not swift enough to outflie him the utmost parts of the earth the farthest distance of sense the broad Sea the greatest confusion of minde the wide wildernesse the most solitary sadnesse of heart cannot hide from his presence Nay if you goe downe into the Hell of horrour your Ioule shall not be left there his right hand of power and spirit of holinesse will raise you up againe I have endeavoured to discharge my respects to you in these short and sudden lines being now hindred from enlarging by the courtesie and visites of my friends My respects of love presented I am Your servant in Truth Aug. 20. 1649. Copiâ— haec mut at â—â— mutandis typis mandetur 27. Letter To I. I. DEARE and loving Friend whom I desire to own and to be one with in the fellowship of the Father and the Son in one eternall invisible and ever-ruling Spirit in and with which Spirit we are to walk live abide in after we are made one with it which is and must bee an inward true and invisible walking and according to an inward true and invisible rule and not after an outward and worldly manner as the worldlings doe For my Kingdome is not of this world saith Christ my Kingdome is not of observation and worldly rudiments for it is within you that consists not in any outward rule or practise all the true rules and directions of the Spirit is within it is visible the truth of all things is within the outward is not the truth but an Image of the truth therefore to walke in outward forms or ordinances is but to walke in an Image and not in the truth it selfe but to walke in the truth is to walke in the spirit and if in the spirit then in God for God is a spirit and hee is the truth of the spirit and he that will be one with God must bee one with him in the spirit and in truth as it is essentiall in God or else there can be no perfection and then no true walking with God to be one with God is to be nothing ones selfe and to walk with God is to walke out of ones selfe Enoch walked with God and was not for God tooke him he was not that is hee was not himselfe No man can walke with God while he is himselfe a man as man cannot be said to walke with God he may walke with man but not with God nothing can be said to walke with God but what is one in and with God and therefore must bee as God for none can walke with God but God No man hath seen the Father but the Sonne hee that ascended is the same that descended no man hath nor never shall see the Father but the Sonne Then none can be said to walke with God but Jesus Christ who is God And this walking is invisible that is a communion of spirit in man one man may have communion with another as man but none can have communion with God but God light cannot have communion with darknesse nor darknesse with light but light hath communion with it selfe Therefore that we are in the light let us walk as Children of the light and not as the Children of darknesse But you will say Doe wee not walke with God in Ordinances I answer that ordinances are not light truth nor spirit and therefore wee cannot walke with God in them wee cannot walke with God in any thing but in the light in the truth and in the spirit nor none can walke with God in these things but the divine spirit or inward man which is of God and one with God to walke with and in God is to walke in the truth and ordinances you cannot say are the truth no more then you can say the scripture is the truth but if you will make it truth you must make it God for there is but one truth and that is God One God and Father of all one Lord one Faith and one Baptisme and all but one God and one truth God as he is in the word Christ Jesus is the truth and if we have heard of him and been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus then shall wee say that the scripture is not truth but
and others Some search deeper and throw into this composition some graines of spirit and quintessences of a higher extract purified and sublimd into a nobler essence But tell mee is this mixture like to restore life to a dying and languishing Nation to a darke and formall Church Could wee get the rarest drugs the world affords Could we search the earth to its center and discover the occult qualities of all its minerals and wonders Can this reach the some and spirit of one man much lesse a whole kingdome What though some grains of spirit are in one composition is it not loaded with thick clay overcome by the predominancy of contrary qualities The distemper of this Nation springs from our living in another world then our own in a corrupted aire a contagious climate in vassalage and slavery to these bodies of flesh to this lower element of the world to the Prince of darknesse Men created in the Image of God have uncloath'd themselves of that glory and now wander in the shapes of Wolves and Beasts of prey having their soules and spirits sprung from Heaven they transforme themselves into the similitude of the elementary-creatures What are warres confusions and disorders but the actings forth this brutish spirit in tearing and devouring our fellow creatures Fightings and divisions spring from the jarring discordant qualities in the mindes of men who have lost the spirit of sweetness union and peace which breaths forth nothing but love joy and keeps the whole body in an harmonious unity Is this unity to be recovered by divisions T is true by such a division as this it is by seperating truth from errour light from darkness the purer from the grosser parts This is by a spirit of burning and by a power above the strength of man Who must be the reformers of the world who must build the Lord a Temple a glorious Temple both in Church and State Not those who are staind with bloud and act by a spirit of wrath and violence The Lord tels David 1 Chron. 22. 8. Thou hast shed blood aboundantly and hast made great wars thou shalt not build an house to my name because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight Is there no spirit and life in these words Was not David permitted to build the materiall Temple a darke shadow and type of the spirituall Was not he suffered in that age under those darke fleshly administrations which held forth no greater light and put no greater glory upon their spirits to subdue the world but by Sword and Bow by force and violence and is it probable that the sweet mild and gentle spirit of the Gospel should need the force and strength of men These doe well that it is in their hearts to reforme the world but they mistake the way they act in the strength of the wrath of God in the spirit of this world their poor earth will not conquer Hell and Devils their Sword and Gunnes will never change the natures of men No Solomon must build this Temple the Lord Jesus it must bee another spirit another generation another way These with David may fell the Cedars and hew the Stones of this earthly building Those ordain'd for this glorious worke their Swords must bee of another mettall to wound and heale againe to destroy the flesh and transforme it into spirit their spirits shall breath forth nothing but love and sweetnesse their Language shall be glory to God on high on earth peace good-will towards men they call not for fire from Heaven they cast not into Prisons and Dungeons they Plunder not nor destroy they are of other spirits more sweet more amiable forcing the world by a divine power of love to confesse they are overcome and vanquish'd All the Kingdomes of the Earth all the Glory of the Creatures all the Splendour Magnificence and Pompe of the world shall vanish as Smoake and acknowledge it selfe a poore shadow an empty nothing All that act in this spirit of violence and fury are a rod in the hand of God the Executioners of vengeance These are the Hornes of the Beasts that shall hate the Whore and make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burne her with fire in the cup shee hath filled these shall fill to her double these powre out the Vials of wrath upon the seat of the Beasts they are the Fowles of Heaven to eat the flesh of Kings and the flesh of Captaines and Great-ones of the earth they are to rend and teare the outward garment of the worlds glory they are an administration wherein God cloaths himself with fury indignation By this spirit of vengeance and wrath al the worlds tormeÌ„tors have bin acted this hath bin a work of Assirâ—ans and Babylonians Romans Turks and Sarazens they have overcoÌ„e the whole face of the earth with their Armies they have trampled the Nations under their feet and trod their God in the mire of the streets How doe many in this age glory in these triumphs set up their poor trophees their triumphant Pillars as if the strength were their owne and the glory their owne Had they the spirits of Christians they needed not the swords of men they are weake in the Spirit of the Gospell therefore they cloath themselves with the power of flesh and will enter into Canaan in the wrath of the Lord destroying and devouring not converting They glory in fleshly Conquests and Victoâ—ies having not power in the Spirit to conquer in the way of love union and peace with these Weapons the Apostles bid defiance to the whole world to Hell and Devils they advanced their Standards upon the proud wals of Rome it selfe This fleshly strength will prove weaknesse in this worke it will dye and vanish into ayre when it hath done the work the Lord hath appointed God makes one spirit and property of darknesse afflict and torment another the Nations of the world will destroy themselves every one by the Sword of his Brother The flesh of the Saints engag'd in these contests and worldly quarrels shall rend it selfe and helpe to rend the world But how are they Saints Such who have some glimmerings of the bright and morning-Starre who by throwing of the externall vaile of Antichristian darknesse fleshly forms servile dependency on the darke spirits of blind men I say having throwne of these fetters they have some liberty and having removâ—d these mists they see a light the faint reflections of a rising Sunne being let out of their cage of darknesse they fly and flutter and catch at every thing but apprehend little as it is in God but in the light of their own spirits mov'd by the call and drawing of the spirit of God and the concurrence of those beams of light scattered themselves every where these receive but glances and flashes and cover it with much darknesse confusion and ignorance yet being rais'd above their former state they think God speaks in them and
their knowledge is the knowledge of the spirit The good seem to give God the glory and to make him their strength in Battle and considering how gloriously they have conquered are strongly perswaded that the mighty power of God accompanied them and where God assists and gives victory it must bee for good for the good of mankinde and the world and therefore they will improve their victories to attain that high end Thus they make their progresse if God assists in acts of blood by force and fightings he doth the same in acts of force and violence upon the corrupt Governours of the World who are running back into Aegypt leaning upon the Pillars of the World setting up their empty guilded Idols corrupt forms and dark administrations as the utmost end of all their endeavours as the price of all the blood shed in the Kingdomes Thus being perswaded of the presence of the Lord and have in their own spirits some height and strength to good some will and desire to doe good to the world they continue their begun motion measuring the whole by themselves the spirits of others by their own and so think their whole body of assistants fitly qualified for the government of a Kingdome Never considering what a spirit of darknesse pride vain-glory Ambition dwels and acts amongst them and how weak meer naturall spirits are being raised from the dust to sit upon a throne and to bear the temptations of Power Honour and worldly glory Consider actions purely and simply according to their nature and the dispensations of the Gospel This is a violent unnaturall fleshly way for the reforming of the world the small stone must bee hewen out without hands This is the winde rending and tearing the rocks before the soft and still voice was heard This is the fire and Earth-quake to burn and shake this earthly fabrick the corrupt world and its glory Thus the Parliament have been executioners of vengeance upon the Kings party who for judgement a fire of wrath kindled in the bowels of the Kingdom setting the properities of darknesse at enmity amongst themselves A darke and formall Clergie against a more dark and formall formality and hypocisie against loosenesse and profanesse restrained civilty against riot and luxury The Ministers preach war and the sword and fire from heaven discovering their own weaknesse unable to act in the strength of God therefore they cry up the Cause of Religion the Covenant the Ordinances these though under more light then the other yet they stir up the spirits of men to afflict and torment their persecutors King Prelats Malignants and to take away their revenues and honours Far be it from me to blast the least appearance of God amongst them or to spread a cloud upon those faint glimmerings which shin'd in their spirits It was their darknesse their flesh that made them thus excentrick they acted in the spirit of the world and of nature their light was lightnings from Mount Sinai not the glorious light of the Spirit In this way they will be like the billowes and waves of the Sea one tossing and driving forward the other till they dash themselves against the rocks The Parliament and their Armies have broken the Cavaliers the Presbytery Episcopacy the Independents have restrained the power of Presbytery for their pride and coveteousnes giving them of the Cup they gave others to drink If the Independents corrupt there are those sprung out of their own bowels prepared for their executioners these if they aspire too high will be Levell'd themselves by their great Idoll the People or their principles will raise a spirit dwelling in the confused rabble and multitude to break and tear all to pieces to bring all into a huddle and confusion without order law or government Thus the fury of the Lord breaks forth like a burning fire against all corruption in the powers of the world against tyranny and oppression in all its formes and shapes though its Woolvish spirit is cloathed with innocency and gentlenesse the outward form will not change the nature Monarchy Aristocracie Democracie will be much at one unlesse the breath of life from heaven quicken their dead liveless carkasses I fear in our contests we have too much mixed earth with heaven we have gone a dark nâ—trodden obscure path therefore the Lord may justly withdraw that spirit of justice and righteousnes which hath accompanied and acted even more worldly States and Republikes They acted in the flesh we pretend to a higher principle we speak of spirit and power and divine light their motions were naturall according to their natures being of the earth earthly ours irregular excentrick unnaturall being we think our selves heavenly live in the aire of the Gospel in the light of the Spirit which points us out a more glorious way therefore it is but just with God if when we sow the winde we reap the whirl-winde But what will be the end of all when wee have prov'd our own strength to be weaknesse when our overturning shall succeed another that glorious power shall manifest it whose right it is alone to reign when we have passed through a wildernesse the Lord will bring us into the Land of rest so long breathed after and desired the Lord will bring order out of confusion light out of darknesse peace out of war and troubles This will as surely be as the spring now succeeds the winter the day the night who the Lord may make most glorious in this work known alone to himselfe It magnifies his power and goodnesse if he breaths life in those dead bones which we trample upon if he quickens those which we have reprobated and rejected as wither'd branches and vile excrements He can make the first last and the last first he can bring down the proud spirit of a Nebuchadnezzar and force him to glorifie the God of Heaven In the mean time let every man keep his own station let the people of God shine like themselves that it may appear they are sent into the world to do good to the world to reflect the image and glory of God Those that are magistrates let them put forth the spirits of Christians let their actions bee convincing let not the world justly brand them for corrupt unjust self-advancers and raisers their families rather then restorers of the ruines of a kingdome if the floods of darknesse roars against them and a deluge of confusion overflows if the flames of division breake out again let them be confident they are above the danger in another Region where no cloud can reach them no confusion disturb them and if their earthlyes here their bodies of dust yet they shall dwell securely in these burnings and be at peace in the middest of these flames Thus Sir I have given you my thoughts of the times My earnest desire is that things may prove otherwise then I write in relation to those now in power the Lord if it be his will make their
therewith Mrs. M. kind token which before my opening I had thought had beene some Book Her remembrance of me doth much refresh me and she is made therein an instrument of making me partaker of much of the love and goodnesse of God I had beene in some sad but yet withall sweet thoughts but just before they came o me when they came I said these are to wipe away teares from mine eyes and that love that sent them assuredly will Sir I pray you remember me to her and thanke her and if I may come with good company to her I shall be glad to give her a visit when I come to London that is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ for there is our fellowship without whom 't is a dry feast and a fruitlesse visit neverthelesse I shall I trust be willing to be seen of her barren or as I am bee it however for wee neither stand nor fall to our present abillities or actings Sir For your desire of something to bee written touching the first and second appearance of Christ I wish I were but fresh to give you my thoughts I had thereof this morning but after twice preaching this day and now after supper I am more disposed to sleep then write Your inquiry is after two things the difference between them and the trasition or passing over of Christians from the one to the other For the first It shall only acquaint you with some places of scripture which to me doe seeme to hold forth the difference between these two and they are 1 Pet. 1. 5 11 13. Rom. 6. 5. Heb. 9. 28. by which scriptures it may appeare that the first appearance of Christ is unto Faith The second is unto Salvation In the first he is made our sinne his second is without sin our fellowship with him in the first is called Planting in the likenesse of his death our fellowship with him in the latter is called Planting in the likenesse of his resurrection The first is called sufferings the sufferings of Christ ver 11. of that place in Peter as if it conteined and were made up of nothing else The other is called the glory that should follow And in that chapter it may appeare at least it doth so to me at present that the Christians then were cheifly acquainted with the promise and expectation of it to come when Peter wrote this and indeed the glory of the first appearance of Christ was yet very bright for it was to have its time and season as it hath through all ages since and in this present age even with those on whom his second appearance is dawned But if you say All these are but externall carracters and distinctions of those two appearrnces but what is the formall and intrinsecall difference between them I shall give you my apprehension thereof in brief thus The first appearance of Christ is his appearance in flesh without us bearing our sinne and fulfilling all legall righteousnesse and thereby becomming the object and meanes of faith to us whereby to draw neere to God unto reconciliation And faith acting upon this discovery of God in Christ apprehending his love through that ministration was I conceive that that brought in the supplies of all our hope and comfort from time to time and nourished all grace and holinesse in our hearts till the arising of this day Starre in us becomming our spirituall righteousnesse and sufficiencie for all things the end of our faith and our salvation it selfe in the spirit That which makes this the lesse knowne and the more hard to be knowne is because there are degrees in it and that which is affirmed of one degree of it suppose a higher degree is not found in a lower degree and so we know it not when it is in us and among us because we find it not in such an eminent degree As for example we see not yet all enemies put under us and that glorious redemption of the body we yet understand not c. for all these things are but parts and appendices to the second appearance of Christ but all these waite onely for the acknowledgement of this day this second appearance Christ in us the day Starre risen in our hearts for as the power and priviledge of becomming sonnes followed upon the receiving and acknowledging of his first appearance so shall all the priviledges annexed to his second appearance bee made good to us upon the acknowledgement thereof when it shall bee proclaimed within us and when it shall discover it selfe upon us and as Christ sayes to the woman of Samaria If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith unto thee give me water to drink thou wouldest have asked of him and he would have given thee living water So when wee shall bee acquainted what a mighty one dwels in us we shall finde our selves to be at the end of our faith and in the possession of all salvation For He is the resurrection and the life Hee is redemption and the Kingdome of God lyes not in nor is brought on by any outward circumstances The kingdom of God is within you It comes not with observation so that from the premises I am bold to pronounce that Christ being revealed in spirit in many The second appearance of Christ is dawned upon the world and 't is amongst us though we know it not or scarcely know it The redemption of the body is amongst us and all things beginne to bee new and to have a new face and appearance to us so far forth as we are changed and spirituallized Nor need this be strange That the second appearance should lurke and bee a stranger in the world a while any more then his first appearance which was concealed for thirty yeares and scarce taken notice off save by Herod when he murdered the Infants Only you may say that this is more in glory but consider the glory is inward and so is the appearance and therefore the lesse subject to the notice of others and yet it is proclaimed through the world under the voyce of Heresie Blasphemy Antichrist the great Antichrist c. Doth not the spirit say The day of the Lord shall so come as a Theifi in the night and is it not so come on most Professors insomuch that they on whom it is come scarce know it or receive it And shall that which is prophesied of as a signe of it become a siumbling block in its way Behol a I come as a Theife sayes Christ Christ is come as a theife and we say 't is not He He would be known of his comming if it were Yee fooles and blind yee know not the Scriptures c. This comming of his the primitive times had it and especially some among them as Paul who was called extraordinarily by Christ revealed in him and John that was ravisht in spirit and saw the Lords day as Abraham Isaack and Jacob had the promised land they were
sojourners in but there was a long bondage in Aegypt to be undergone by their seed ere they came to it whereunto answers our long captivity under Antichrist but the time draws near wee shall shortly heare that voyce Arise shine for thy light is come the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee and this second appearance this day starre will make the stars of the night to disappeare or the glory of the first appearance to goe down which is all that I shall say now to the second part of your inquiry As this increases the other will decrease no other period of it doe I know for we are all brought forth first under the law and so come to know Christ after the flesh and reape the fruit and comfort of his first appearance ere we know him in us as salvation and glory but whether the Lord will alwayes observe this method I cannot say rather I think he will not for 't is said we shall not all dye but shall be changed wee shall not all passe under forms be trained up under the law but shall immediately be changed Christs appearance to us is the rule of all walking and conversation His appearance being known to us onely in the flesh as a Reconciler a Minister of circumcision is the reason of our walking in forms when hee appeares to us nakedly in spirit as being all to us and in us himselfe immediately and alone then he delivers us into a glorious liberty above all outward forms In that place in Peter that speakes of the fuflerings of Christ and that glory that should follow I may seeme strange to you to understand that following glory of the body as I doe but beare with me therein I doe so understand it of the glorious appearances of Christ in his in spirit nor can I give you my reasons for it now What you write of the difficulty of getting out of the flesh of Christ and the letter of Scripture I wonder not at seeing we never have gotten in without a divine power and life and therefore to get through unto the holiest without the same Almighty power is impossible It is no little advance after we are brought in to look out further and higher till which time the witnesses lie dead in us in the streets and then that voyce hath been heard Come up hither and we are ascending or ascended whilest we are making up in the Lord There is the Lord in us ascending who came down and none else can ascend but hee As for that I wrote concerning the appearance of Christ and his comming spoken off in Scripture that I know no other comming of Christ to judgement but his spirituall appearance or appearance in spirit for as for the flesh that hath done its work and therefore is he said to come in the glory of his Father and of his holy Angels also in flaming fire with his mighty Angels which is spirituall That his comming is nothing but his appearing and that all flesh is a vaile upon him from under which he is comming and casting it off making his arme bare That the bodyes of all raised shall be spirituall like unto his which is also held forth in that expression of the Apostle 2 Thessâ—â— The Spirit of his mouth and the brightnesse of his comming which amounts to a spirituall appearance and manifestation That this comming and judgement is graduall and hath beenon foot from the beginning of the world and still goes on and will be compleated in due time That the judgement Day which we expect is nothing else but the perfect and universall Declaration of his righteousnes his generall and full manifestation unto all by his rising up in all who is the head and root of all and making all spirituall for the Kingdom of God is within you there riseth up this judgement suddenly upon the world by which you might understand how I take that place in the Corinths Till he come namely in spirit when as said I know no other appearance of his to be but in spirit That hee is entred into spirit and therefore we cannot think he will be perfected in the flesh for his Kingdome commeth not by observation So I think and speak and write still Though I have known Christ after the flesh yet hence forth know I him no more God hath manifested his love and power in that man Christ and in that flesh which he took and shewed what he will doe in all the Elect by a spirit of power and love Redeem Save Kill Quicken Raise Glorifie and this spirit and power of God appearing in the Elect is the appearing of Jesus Christ in them both in his weaknes and in his power in his Cradle Crosse Grave and in heavenly places at the right hand of the Father in his full glory This is the Kingdom of God that comes not by observation This is Christ is us the hops of glory who shall come by degrees appear to be the glory He is our life hid and he is dead in us and we in him who shall appear and bring us forth with him in glory being our Head Root the quickning Spirit and which doth not deny a personall appearance of Jesus Christ the Son of man consisting of soule and body to and with the Saints when he is perfectly formed in them and what can this appearance be but spirituall in the glory of the Father and of the holy Angels according as the hodyes the vile bodies of all the Saints shall be in the resurrection where it riseth a spirituall body though sown a naturall body and then an end of flesh and blood and corruption so farre the Scripture leads us and wee must not be intruders into these things whilest God openeth not the doore unto us Wee are the Sonnes of God but it doth not yet appear what we shall be In that appearance shall be seen the sutablenesse of the Saints unto him Loe I and the children whom God hath given me and then shall be eternall union betwixt God and Christ and Christ and the Saints yet with distinction and subordination The head the body the root and the branches the husband and the wife Christ in God and the Saints in Christ and so in the Father one in another and perfect in one Thus I have given you the brief yet full coppy of what is written in mee so farre as I can read in way of answer to your queries and if you shall put me to read it over again and shew me any mistakes you shall doe mee no displeasure As God openeth himself in us so we discover these things and I shall be ready to discover what is discovered though I discover my mistakes with all for we are very unlearned in reading what the spirit hath written in us till it come in a large letter as it will doe that we may read it running This is all I have liberty to say at prefent Salute from me all our
that in the outward court or first creation not in the inmost or holiest and Paradice it selfe being but an image of the excellency of this first Creation Man being fallen or deprived of this perfection which was accomplished through the temptation of the Serpent or fleshly wisdome or the espousals of the woman or weaknesse of this creation there was the first law of righteousnesse presented in a new ministration of letter by Moses in tables of stone from God in which the first glory or perfection and excellency was ministred to man in his fallen and apostated condition and because the law or first righteousnesse was weake through the flesh after the departing of the power supporting or unanswerablenesse of the apostatised state to the first uprightnesse there was given or God appearing to the refreshing and comforting of the creature an administratiou of Angels by visions and dreams as also a Priest-hood with Vrim and Thummim Sacrifices Ceremonies Tabernacle Temple and Prophets speaking forth immediate revelations c. by which man might have accesse to God and speake with him but in the outward court or through the flesh or of this creation though he filled these with another glory a higher and more excellenter discovery of his love in the promised seed the substance and excellency of that with all the former were but shadowes There was another ministration added of war and peace and tryals crucifyings or baptismes in the flesh as flying before Pharaoh and following a cloud of fire and blacknesse through or betwixt the wales of bâ—llowing waves in terror and feare the long marching through a wildernesse by the waters of Meriba and rock of strife skirmishing with Amalekites by the terrour of Mount Sinai cutting their way through Ogg King of Bashan and passing through the dividings of Jordan into Canaan another ministration was given of Canaanites in the land warre with the Nations captivity destruction of the Temple Gods departing the apostacy overspreading or God gathering up that glory which appeared in the Tabernacle and Temple and that of Priest and Prophet ceasing there then followed a night of darknesse or an apostasie upon all that administration and when God no longer filled the Tabernacle with a cloud and the Temple with glory they became a place of solitarynesse or desolation as all other ministrations 〈◊〉 and places for the Satire and the Scrich-Owle to dwell and sing in that is for the Spirit of Apostasie or Antichrist or of Iniquity to possesse and act in Another ministration somewhat clearer and briter then that of the Law and that was of John as in Matthew A greater had not rissen he was a burning and shining light as Luke 1. the Law and Prophets were till John he was the Prophet of the highest in respect of what went before and was sent to make Christ manifest to Saints by word and water and this was a ministration in order to one more spirituall the one ministration was to decrease the other to increase and that of fire or of spirit was to burne up that of water or of flesh or that which consisted of things of this Creation Another and more glorious ministration was that appearance of Christ or the Gospel in flesh or glad tydings manifested to sinners or the apostatised creation Heb. 1. or God appearing in the 〈◊〉 and familiarest relation of this creation to man even in flesh in which hee taught and did miracles and was circumcised and baptized and acted to fulfill all righteousnesse in which there was a cleare draught of that ministration of gifts and ordinances which was as perfect as the first creation in its glory and 〈◊〉 higher and nearer to God comming forth in nearer relation of an Emmanuel or God with us Another Administration also of Christ in the flesh of Saints Col. 1. 27. Christ in you the hope of glory and that by graces and operations and fruits of spirit as of faith repentance love selfe-denyall humiliation meeknesse also infallible gifts of spirit viz. to speake with tongues workmiracles and act infallibly administration even the height of the glorious Gospel or God shining in the face of Jesus Christ Now the spirit of God foreseeing Gods purpose to leave this ministration of Gospel glory to the world or flesh or Antichrist and to bring a night of darknesse upon all the day and brightnesse of his Sunne prophesied of a departing first before the man of sinne fleshly wisdome or Antichrist could be revealed or Gods departing from that Administration as hee did from the Tabernacle and Temple and whilst Antichrist or the power of the flesh or the spirt of iniquity reigns in the christian world or amongst such as professe a Christ all this while the Lord of glory or Jesus Christ in spirit is crucified in spirituall Sodom Aegypt or Babylon or the Kingdomes of the flesh and the powers of darknesse so that there is no mention of any restoration of the first ministry of gifts and ordinances which was in the Apostles dayes but is the state and persecution of the Lord Jesus in spirit and all those appearances of the Lord Jesus in many glorious Saints in perticular ages was but the appearance of him who is that faithfull and true witnesse or the prophesings of spirit in sack-cloath against the power of the man of sinne and were but drops of the Vials sounding of the Trumpet opening of the Seales before the battell of the great day when God shall appeare in flames of spirit and glory against and to confound Antichrist or fleshly powers or things of this creation So that there is not as I know of at present any word in all the Scriptures that the first ministry by gifts and ordinances shall in any measure be continued or restored in whole or in part As if that were the great worke the Lord intended viz. to set up the former ministry or the restoring some legall ordinances c. as if all the glory of the last times should be the bringing these or recovering them out of the hands of Antichrist that is not my present apprehensions but that the next ministration wil be the fiery tryal or a state and power of God put forth upon the severall administrations that Christians are under in order to higher discoveries of God which will produce torment in the flesh with blacknesse and darknesse and tempest or upon fleshly wisdome and powers or things of this creation viz. in some in passing from legall ministrations to a more evangelicall of grace and love there will bee torment and tempest upon that administration or selfe righteousnesse in the consumption thereof In that more Gospel state of a Christian whereby he injoyes God in graces gifts and contemplations with sweet tastes and imbraces of divine glory there will bee a fiery tryall or the clouds of fire and darknesse or crucifyings in the flesh and upon that ministration of gifts and graces insomuch that there will bee a scorching up of the
streames or of Euphrates the pleasant vallies turned into a parched wildernesse and all in order to a more higher fuller and excellenter glory this is prophesied of in the Scripture The Sunne shall bee turned into darknesse and the Moone into blood before that great and notable day of the Lord come that is not onely the Lord Jesus will be darknesse unto the world which I deny not but all that which was the glory and light of a Christian and high-way of communion with God his Sunne Moone and Starres shall be darkned c. before that notable day or that more excellent revelation of God in glory and 1 Pet. 3. 10. The heavens shall passe away with a great noise and the Element shall melt with fervent heat and the earth with the works that are therein shall be burnt up which is not onely at the last judgement but upon perticular administration which is figured out in the heavens earth and elements or those more or lesse glorious administrations and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is 1 Cor. 3. 13. 15. And as Christ crucified all that glorious administration in the flesh in which he was and it all dyed to a more glorious life so every Christian is to take up his crosse or to bring his highest and cheifest administrations to this crosse and to leave them all crucified to more higher excellenter discoveries and this is the knowledge of Christ crucified now many Christians who are sadded darkned and in much tribulation as to the administration they are under and in looking into the wildernesse seeing nothing but mount Sinai with blacknesse and darknes and tempest they take it for desertions and withdrawings of God when as indeed it is the presence of God darkning withering and consuming such administrations and the bringing in a more fuller and transcendent glory The next ministration will be the appearing of Christ in brightnesse and glory of Spirit destroying Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth and brightnes of his comming this shall be a glory without Sun or Moon or Star or any such low appearance as gift or ordinance but the Lord shall be there everlasting light and God the glory and light shall cover the earth as waters cover the Sea that is it shall not sparkle or be in bright beams as in a Gift or Ordinance but it shall slow out from the Lord swallowing up and overflowing all earthly administrations that expectation of him in externall administrations as Gifts or Ordinances c. is but to expect Christ in a fleshly way or appearance and not as he is in his own height spirit and glory in himselfe in his Saints their fulnesse and hope of glory Col. 1. 27. And therefore this is that which is to be expected an estate of spirit love meeknes self-denyall overcoming evill with good conquering by receiving in the wrath and enmity of the world into which estate God will gather up his people by times and degrees from all worldy and fleshly interests and ingagements wherein they shall be carried up into a more full injoyment of God and conformity to Christ in all his sufferings death and resurrection where God will be to all his sâ— glorified as broad rivers and streams where shall goe no Ship with sailes nor Gally with Ores And then it shall be as much apostacy in the Saints to go back to the first ministery of the Gospel times or first patterne which was the first discovery of that mystery hid from ages as would have been in them in the Apostles dayes to have gone back to the Jewish Tabernacle Temple and Priest-hood c. out of which God had departed as he also hath out of these late administrations Furnell 8. Letter Loving Cozen DEarly and much beloved there is some content in nature that you abide in the flesh with me and are yet an appearance of God upon the Earth for I confesse I have none so neere my heart as you of a fleshly beeing in the world therefore I have been affected with the kindnesse of the Lord that hath spared you that I might not have sorrow upon sorrow my sister being removed yet have I more sweet joy and content in understanding that you are in the fellowship of the Spirit growing forward through al the dark shadows of seeming glory into the substance which is reall glory for in that you say you see God is all and doth all I question not but you understand that all things below him are but shaddows of him yea Christ himself in his fleshly appearance was but a form of God which appeared to answer our distance from God for wee being departed from him by experiencing the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evill of which food I hope we have our fill now God condescending to redeem us from this by the way of Christ who was appointed of God to bring us unto God not to himself as he was Christ beeing but an appearance of God not the Father himself Therefore if we should sit down with Christ being come to him and proceed no further we are not brought by him to the Father And the will of God is that we be co-heires and joint heires together with him till we know that the Father and the Son are in one and we one with the Father as the Son For I believe that God even the Son of God doth dwell in us even the same that dwelt in Christ Jesus and I am waiting when that heavenly Image shall as plainly appear as the Image of the earthly hath appeared for we shal see his face and his name shall be upon our foreheads Deere Cozen since I received your letter I have seen you in a Vision and so was it represented to me that I understand that you have or shall bring forth the man Childe even Christ to open veiw for which you must die and be buried I mean you shall appear to some as one dead to truth and God and alive to errour and so you shall be as one dead and put into a grave of darknes and silence yet fear not for I have proved that the day of death is better then the day of Birth And that by death Christ brought to light life and immortality Remember also Christ was put to death in the flesh and was alive to God his flesh was as pure and honourable as even ours was yet by the eternall Spirit within it was offered a Spirituall Sacrifice to God whilest the dark apprehensions of men conclude that he suffered as a blasphemer therefore arm your self with the same minde always expecting we shall surely rise with him as we suffer together with him for indeed we are but one in life and death And he is the resurrection and the life even Christ in us who is rising in me and either is or will rise in you And when he doth appear we shall appear with him I pray you deare Cozen as often
as conveniently you may let me hear from you I would not burden you 9. Letter Deare Sister WITH the rest of my fellow heires in the Son-ship in this unity of Truth and Love I salute you I thanke you for appointing a freind to relate to mee your estate in the things of God of whom I received information to much content having for a long time before had great desire to understand your condition and am now fully satisfied in it as for the dealings of the Lord with me I am free to give you some account I am indeed in the judgement of those to whom the day of judgement is not yet come accounted and termed an Heretique but in the light and truth of God a Co-heire with Christ being annointed with the same oyle of gladnesse which is indeed joy to the spirit and as marrow to the bones and a perpetual light of truth in certainty and power and in such fulnesse already that he beares witnesse to himselfe in others that it is hee and fulnesse of wisdome and might to answer all the occasions that he is pleased to present himselfe to me and magnify himselfe in mee as for the Scripture it is much unsealed and I have sweet sellowâ—sip in that one spirit that throdgbout all ages declared the Father the Son as for the ministry of Angels I know it having for a long time beene under it but of late have had knowing understanding of it and fellowship with understanding among them truly my deare companions our God that saveth us is perfect and so is his salvation which when we shall be by him circumcised in heart which is the taking away the fleshly vaile and the face of the covering that is spread over all Nations Isaiah 25. then shall wee see and with joy possesse together that it is the same strong one that prepareth us and júdgeth darknesse I speake not this as if darknesse were contrary to this mighty God for in his light it is that hee is at unity with all the workes of wonder which hee brings forth darknesse is not so to him for the darknesse lo him is as cleare as the noon-day that is hee seeth as fully and posseth as contentedly his will in the darknesse as in the light and when wee are taken into that eternall light we shall see our God is as rich and wonderfull in the deeps of darknesse as in the clearest light for in the unity of the spirit it is easily discerned that God is one in all though different in comming forth for as in a garden the severall colours of flowers make the most glorious appearance even so light and darknesse are the two generall treasures of the Almighty in both which hee is infinite and wonderfull and as hee pleaseth to take us into either of these so it is to make himselfe known in his unsearchable greatnesse as in Isay he sayth Hee will give unto us the hidden treasures of darknesse and Malachi sayth that the Sunne of Righteousnesse shall arise upon us Both which Scriptures import to me that God himselfe in his apperance to us is both the treasures of darknesse and the Sunne of Righteousnesse and it is all one to me whether hee take me with him into the heights above or into the depths beneath for wee are ever together and I possesse the fulfilling of that Scripture which sayth where I am there shall my Servant bee so that when God my excellency will appeare in the externall creation which is a thick vail and the invisible one much hid in it yet I have sweet discerning of him and fellowship with him there and when hee takes me into the deeps of darknes God my glory is with me and we either see us one or lie down in one and when hee will ascend into the highest Heavens he carrieth me up along with him What is all this but the manifestation that his dwelling place is large and deepe and that hee himselfe is the one infinitenesse The fulnesse that filleth all in all things 10. Letter Sir I Received yours which brings mee the state of affaires then in agitation between the Parliament and Army you send mee what they best approve of and what they dare not owne No wonder if some good men are upon this dilemma many I know are almost broken betweene those principles they call of Reason and those of God the first acknowledging man to be compounded of two natures earth and heaven light and darknesse breake the actions into severall streames as if of two and not one person It is our misery and the sadnesse of our spirits that we are held in these chaines of earth and darknesse that wee are fetterd in these prisons of mortality and are not free in all things to act like our selves as sprung from a divine Principle as born of a nobler seed and putting forth the strength and power of the divine nature in actions purely and simply spirituall But if this light shineâ— not upon our spirits in its Meridian-glory let us wait till the Sunne riseth let us not walke in the paths of darknesse according to the principle and spirit of this world There is glorious light in the east already the Mountaine tops beginne to discover it When I looke upon the world and survay the actions of men when I consider the interests and principles of the most the fleshly toylings and struglings of the spirits of the worlds reformers I cannot but see much weaknesse and darknesse generating poore and spiritlesse designes which rend and teare and never bind up the breaches of a Kingdome 'T is true the body politicke as you write was desperately sicke and a desperate disease must have a desperate cure but consider the nature of the disease and then judge of the meanes to cure it All the properties of hell and darknes all the superfluities of folly and vanity all the mists of errour and superstition had formd themselves into a body of corruption and so assaulted and possessed the vitall parts both of Church and State seizing the heart and spirits of government and religion the soule of both were fled there remained little but a poore carkass a painted image a spiritless form without any motion but artificiall and violent But tell me what is the Physick to cure this Lethargy Parliament and People Church and State Soul and Body were languishing with this sickness A spirit of reformation begins to worke The faint breathings of the spirit of life puts some upon indeavours to undertake the cure some according to the spirit that acted them mixt ingredients earthly and carnall ignorant Empiricks who knew not the nature of the disease or cure others ransacke the bowels of nature and reason study the practises and prescriptions of the old Heroe's of the world the Heathen Conquerers and reformers of Nations and yet never rise so high either in magnanimity or greatnesse of spirit to doe good in their generations and command themselves
you are if that work be of God which I hope is begunne in you they cannot frustrate it and if it be not I cannot further it besides I rather desire you should be set in such circumstances as the worke of God in you may have lesse dependance on man and more upon God and if in the midst of all oppositions truth shall make good its being in you you must then needes cry out that this was the finger of God Concerning that which scruples you about Christ and the Scriptures I shall only say this if God will take them away in flesh and restore them in Spirit we have not lost but improved them we have hitherto had a very low and fleshly use of both Your temptation herein seemes to be the same with the Disciples who in that low and literall administration could not endure to heare of Christs departure when as by that meanes his presence was improved they who had him with them before had him in them afterward as we have had likewise in our measure in a dispensation of gifts and graces out of which if Christ shall withdraw and returne in a more immediate and naked administration of himselfe upon us as I beleeve hee is now beginning in the spirits of many of his people we have more of Christ then ever I could draw out this at large in reference to your present scruple but the carrier hastens me and I can but satisfie the flesh or reason it s the inward annointing that must satisfie the Spirit and lead you into all truth Your loving Freind 19. Letter Deare Soule I Received thy Letter and am very sensible of thy condition being called of God every moment into his worke-house where I met with such imployment as hath drunke the well of peace and joy for ever and I have no hope ever to see those streames flow again but would be glad to be in the bottomlesse pit for ever If Gods presence did not alwayes kindle such a fire before which I cannot stand and I must say Who can stand when he appeares to famish all the Gods of the earth and to hide himselfe from himselfe which condition makes mee reell to and frow like a drunken man and oft cry out in the bitternesse of spirit I would I had never beene borne but whilest I am pouring of my complaints into thy bosome a noyse of peace beganne to appeare and sayd affliction is the Saints for a moment but the worlds for ever the Saints to refine them but the worlds consume them for ever O how could I mourne over the ungodlike men and women of the world for who is so God-like as they that can tell what a crucified Christ is in their owne spirits that can shew his wounds and say he is dead in me which the world cannot I am sure but I shall not long mourne for them and for oft I know the last groane is gone forth of my breast that ever I must groane for them but I must goe forth in judgement with my Father and praise him for the victory which hee will have over them Son farewell for a little season while our all will bring us together againe in himselfe and place us in the still fountaine of peace and joy for ever Farewell 20. Letter Sir I Must needs write though haply 't were better for you I did not I am sensible of your condition and cannot but in this fleshly way of counsell and comfort correspond with you when as if my mouth were shut God would open his and speake that peace in a moment which I know better how to darken then declare for I am clearer in nothing then this that our tampering with the meanes doth vaile God though I confesse while Saints were under an inferior administration our use of meanes might be of some service to us I see now God in his most glorious flowings upon our hearts either uses no meanes or such as proud flesh would thinke fitter to hinder then promote such an end you little thinke that the persecution for 't is no other that you have undergone of late hath done you much more service then either my presence or Letters and it were best for you that persecution had had its perfect work and that I had stood still and not seconded you at all I knew well that when you were at the lowest ebb and confessing the worke of God in you to be nothing but a delusion that you were then travelling with a more excellent discovery which would arise with so much glory and evidence upon your Spirit as it would swallow up all opposition and turn into such a disappointment of flesh blood as would cōfound all that sought to captivate the appearances of God in you and to glory in the flesh How unanswerable are the discoveries of God in you which when both your freinds and selfe had disowned you should yet vindicate their owne being in the soule For your desire of comming to me if it proceed from a wearinesse of your condition at Norwich or a carnall confidence in my presence you will certainly bee frustrated in the end you are best where God hath set you Read Esay 28. 16. and 2 Cor. 12. 9 10. and let me add withall if you desire to runne that course that I thinke providence will direct me in you must resolve upon reproach poverty persecution what not for I am perswaded that I shall undergoe all this therefore be well advised and consider before hand what a compliance with me will cost Truly whiles Saints were in a mixt condition though the world hated the Spirit in them yet they could close with what was flesh and both met in that medium But when flesh shall bee wholly swallowed up in Spirit the whole world almost will hate us there being nothing left that their approbation will take hold of when there shall bee nothing but God within there will bee nothing but enmity without 'T is enough that the love of God will make amends for the hatred of all the world and the lesse we have of God in the creature the more we have of God in himselfe Those times make haste upon the world wherein that terrible Prophesie in the 21. of Luke will bee fulfilled though I conceive it will bee in spirit and not in flesh and such a way as our reason hath imagined I am astonished at the glory that will bee revealed in the Saints when God hath so shattered us out of all inferior actings as the world will count us Atheists and not onely the world but even the Saints themselves so farre as they judge according to the outward appearance the Sonne himselfe must deliver up the Kingdome to his Father which is an administration of gifts and graces before God can bee all in all Bee of good comfort there is that mystery of godlinesse and glory to bee manifested in us with which all the sufferings of this life and whatever else
can betide us in our way to it are not worthy to bee compared in the very expectation whereof I am seised with more joy then my poore heart can hold Yours in all conditions Letter 21. Sir I Purposed the last week to have saluted my friends and see now the reason why providence disappointed me which I shall keep secret to my self For your Letter I should have been troubled at it had not I learned to see God in every thing and been acquainted with those traverses of carnall reason and unbelief in my own Spirit you have done no more then what I have done my self concluding both with my self and in the company of my friends the same things to be no better then delusions and under that temptation of blasphemy against the Spirit have rested till a brighter appearance of God hath broke through all and swallowed up that veile of death and darknes in so much victory as I must needs confesse my self to have been more then a conquerer though it hath cost me dear first For the present I shall advise nothing you are where providence hath disposed you and 't will be best for you to follow the tract of God in your own Spirit and stay here till an act of confidence and assurance shall release you for if you struggle or make hast you intend your bondage be you assured that the substance of what I said to you will bear down heaven and earth before it and truly till then this old administration which God hath worn so long he is now uncloathing himself of be removed the presence of Saints and that glorious manifestation of the Sons of God which hath entertained the expectation of the creature so long cannot bee as wee have plainly in Esay 13. 12. 13. I will make a man more precious then fine gold yea a man then the golden wedge of Ophir therefore I will shake the heavens and the earth c. And in the 14. It shall be as a chased Roe and as a Sheep that no man takes up c. one thing I will add more because I see your temptation grows with some confidence upon yon since you seem to have extinguished the smoaking flax by powering water upon it and repenting of what you have done let me thus farre advise poure on more water doe it the second time doe it the third time and observe if the smoaking flax prevaile not upon it and that spark lick it up and the God that answereth by fire let him bee God I could attempt such satisfaction in a carnall way but truth is a more immediate and naked thing and works best without the activity and contribution of the creature neither will I humble God so far as to prostitute truths of that nature it s the patience of God they may yet be proposed to the world I doubt there will a quick providence passe upon it and the word is like to be He that hath ears to hear let him hear and he that is unjust let him be unjust still and he that c. Revel 22. 11 12. For behold I come quickly and my reward is with me to give c. Every mans work shall be manifested by fire for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and as Paul hath it 1 Cor. 3. in a settled expectation of which I possesse my own Spirit and your present temptation in a great deale of patience and rest Yours Letter 22. Sir MY good friend I wish my occasions had been such as would have given me leave to have seen you suddenly and to have come over as I promised I desire you would dispence with me till Michaelmass and then I hope to have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come to you both to refresh and be refreshed by you I hope the Lord is a working that in England which will e're long give his people solid cause of refreshment we have already the experience of that which a few dayes ago we did but expect and scarce expected I hope as the Lord removes impediments from without and paves the way of out peace with the pride and projects of our enemies so he will take away all impediments within our enemies being not onely those of our own kingdome but of our own hearts there being the same principles of fleshly wisdome and carnall reasoning against the kingdome of Christ within us as there is in the world without us Doubtlesse the day of the Lord will be upon every thing that exalts it self against the government of Jesus Christ in Spirit shaddows of all sorts begin to flye and day already discloses and the openings of heaven upon the Soule are very glorious and that spirituall prediction of the Prophet begins to receive its accomplishment Esa 25. 7. The Lord will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over al people It concerns us quietly to expect the out-goings of the Spirit in us and the leadings forth from faith to faith from glory to glory from flesh and form and letter to spirit and so to more spirit at last into all spirit till we have our selves in Jesus Christ and our God be all in all I am sorry Sir I am cast into such a strieght of time as I must necessarily break off otherwise I could with some delight have entertained my selfe with this argument I mean Gods administring of us immediately in himself but of this more when I see you Yours in the Lord Jesus Letter 23. Dear friend THe Fathers love hath of late been much manifested toward me exceeding hath that glory been in which I have dwelt since last I saw you my joy unspeakable my rest unutterable my peace unconceiveable Having therefore received such large and plenteous fillings flowing from the heart of the most High I can do no lesse than acquaint you with some few tastes and relishes of my late enjoyments as in manner followeth On Munday the 24th of this instant I was in the Evening at a friends house in Cambridge-shire where being in a familiar conference with some of my acquaintance it pleased the Father so freely to unbosome himself in me by such clear demonstrations of his presence as I never before beheld insomuch that I appeared to my selfe as one out of my selfe translated into the substantiall and pure enjoyment of that love and peace which I have usually before either but onely heard or at least darkly seen and beheld through the vails of outward administrations That which was spoken by me under these workings was faced with such an eivdent appearance of spirit and power as that it struck astonishment in the hearts of those present some thereat gushing out into teares others possessed with shaking and trembling and one there was who was so filled with joy as that he could not refrain singing and leaping my heart was so overcharged with the presence of the most High that I desired a more retyred being and to
Saints I leave you and goe to my Father surely whether I goe you know and the way you know think it not strange cone rning this my fiery tryall by death and sepâ—â—ation from you for loe the time commeth in which we shall be no more seperated but as we are one so shall we ever be inseperable from our own beloved Holy holy holy is the Lord God of Sabbath a holy rest a Sabbath of eternall rest am I gone to celebrate Oh yee holy Saints the voyce of my Beloved behold he comes leaping upon the Hils and skipping upon the Mountaines Loe he comes and that quickly he comes and now quickly am I gone of all Beloveds none is like to mine the melodious voyce sings sweetly in mine eare even of Angels themselves but that new Song of love the sweet lovely Song of Saints gloriously glorified with their Beloved is harmonious indeed What shall I now say of these things I cannot now fully apprehend them as it is but am now comprehended of them therefore lye I downe and rest with this perswasion and full conclusion sealed by the witnesse of the Spirit unto my Soule that what my Beloved is so shall I be and where bee is thither am I gone Then deare Sisters and precious Saints make haste and tarry not that are here on earth in imperfection so that now in heaven in perfection we may live and for ever enjoy Joyes unspeakable and full of glory Farewell deare Saints farewell farewell though I now leave you and goe away from you yet I shall see you againe and when I see you so I rejoyce eternally together with you in this life I have beene yours and here together with you and surely death disjoynts not our Spirits though our Bodies therefore in another life shall we be as members so Saints glorified in our glorious Jesus and with him who is our delight in whom you are to whom you are to whom I goe and with whom wee shall remaine Priests and Kings to our God Deare Saints I rest and the God of rest be with your spirits for ever and when you see this think on him who was here your fellow Disciple but now Your glorified Brother WILLIAM LANGHAM 25. Letter The Coppy of a Letter as it was sent from Mrs. T. P. in behalfe of Mrs. E. P. To a Congregation of Saints in London under the forme of Baptisme DEAR brethren in the bowels of love and meeknesse I kindly salute you wishing you an encrease of all faithfulnesse and true knowledge in the mystery of Christ The cause of my present writing is to acquaint you that providence hath lately brought a letter to my hand directed to my husband concerning one Mrs. P. once a member with you which woman say you for scandalous evils was cast out Now it being some yeares since it was done I humbly desire a little to reason with you about the grounds why this still remains upon your spirits seeing Christ saith forgive yee one another as I forgive you and God is said to remember our sinnes no more this therefore is a note of forgivenesse not to remember and sure we should shew our selves children of our heavenly father But further I desire before the Lord that you examine your owne hearts in this thing what your end is in it if it be that you thinke she is not worthy to have a livelihood amongst men then why doe you not either by the Civill Law if that will take hold of the offence or by some other way if nothing will satisfie you but her blood take some present course that may put an end to this great difference but if you thinke this bee too grosse or more then the offence requires then I beseech you for the Lords sake to consider your owne actings in this thing whether you doe not as much as in you lies carry on the same designe though more closly from the eyes of the world which sure before the Lord can appear no other but the hunting after her life nay is it not more then to take off one single life at once for which is greater cruelty for a Tyrant to take a mans life at once or by degrees and then your selves be judges whether your proceedings towards her be not a killing all the day long for you cannot bee ignorant that she hath no livelihood amongst men but what she earnes by her hands and your defaming her in this manner cannot in an ordinary way but deprive her of that and so at last bring her blood upon you If you say you acquaint none but the Saints with it it is evident to the contrary for your open publishing it in the Counsell of Warre caused the world to take notice of it and yet your spirits rest not here truly deare friends as the evill spirit wrought in her one way when she was with you so consider whether the fame spirit doe not highly worke in you at this time another way the Lord give you understanding in all things But if her life be not that which you aim at then is it those divine discoveries of life and light which God makes out to the world by her if it be so then you are to know that hee is too strong you strive withall but about this I would a little quere first whether doe you think that because such evils were manifest in her when with you therefore it is impossible now that any good should bee brought forth by her doe you not hope to grow better and better But secondly is it not Gods usuall way to manifest himselfe there highest where in time past he was by the evill spirit kept lowest yea doth hee not suffer himselfe for this very end many times thus to die in appearance and to leave a soule to it selfe that it may see what it is in it selfe and learne to die to it selfe that so hee may have the more glorious resurrection in that soule I beseech you for the Lords sake to consider these things As for her outward person I conceive she cares as little for it as you can therefore you may take your fill of trampling on it but I beseech you bee carefull how you medle with the spirit that breaths in her for surely brethren I know not what spirit manifested it selfe in her while with you I am sure and I speake nothing but the truth that I have found a most divine spirit in her as farre as I could discerne and that which comes to the spirit and life of things and in this me thinks you should rejoyce for truly I have heard many professors and seene many professions but to my knowledge I never heard one come so neare the power as shee does I doe not speake this as being affected with any person party or opinion I blesse my God I am now in his strength delivered from that though some have falsly affirmed my being deluded by her but I am confident I can say with Paul