EVANGELIUM REGNI A joyful MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM Published by the holy Spirit of the love of Jesus Christ and sent forth unto all Nations of people which love the Truth in Jesus Christ. Set forth by H. N. and by him perused anew and more distinctly declared Translated out of Base-Almayn O how lovely are the feet of the Messengers which publish the peace preach good tidings and evangelize the salvation Isa. 52. b. Nah. 2. a. Rom. 10. c. The Evangely of the Kingdom shall be preached unto the world for a witness unto all people and then shall the end come Matth. 24. b. I saw an angel flie thorow the midst of heaven having an everlasting Evangely to publish unto them which sit and dwell upon the earth namely unto all heathen generations languages and people Apoc. 14. a. Imprinted at London 1652. THE PREFACE COnsider on the Time O all yee People which love the truth of Iesus Christ. 2 Presently in this day of the love and of the appearing of the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ in the Resurrection of the dead wherein the Law the Prophets and all that is written of Christ becometh fulfilled is this Ioyfull Message of the Kingdom out of the hearty mercifulness and love of God the Father Evangelized unto us all and sent especialy by the holy spirit of the love of Iesus Christ unto all lovers of the Truth as also published in all the world for a testimony unto all peoplâ— aâ—â—ording to the scripture To the stirring up of all â—nderstandings unto the true knowledge of the godlines in Iesus Christ and to an everlasting concordable and stedfast peace upon the earth according to the promises 3 Let every one respect well this profered Grace for even now in the last time the Lord sendeth his Angel or Messenger before him for to prepare his way and to publish an everlasting evangelie unto all generations languages and people according to his promises to the intent that they all should now withdraw them from the iniquity turn them to the family of the love of Iesus Christ God his mercy seat and even so to their preservation in the godlines shew fortst upright â—epentance for their sins the end shall come 4 And albeit that we have set forth these present testimonies O yee lovers of the truth of Iesus Christ to an Evangelie of the Kingdome and publish to a joyful message that the God of heaven hatâ— shewed mercy on all people for that they should repent them and stand goâ—d-willing unto his requiring declared his great Day-light of the upright righteousnes through us his elected ones in the world out of heavâ—n from his right-hand and brought it ovâ—r the whole earth for to judge the â—ame with righteousnes yet are not therefore these present testimonies alone the Evangelie of the Kingdome which was promised to be published in the world and unto all people but also all the Testimonies which the God of heaven hath brought forth through his holy ones and through his elected Minister H. N. 5 For all those same are also evangelical testimonies of the Kingdom of his declaring All which testimonies are also new in the last time held forth to a true â—lass of righteousnes before the children of men to an everlasting peace upon earth unto men which are good of will according to the promises 6 For that cause O ye lovers of the truth if yee now this day hear his voice and that this grace and loue of God the Father Christ become to your preservation in the godlines proffered unto you so hardâ—n not then your hearts that ye bide not without the rest of the Lord which is prepared from the beginning for the people of God and for all repentant sinners and is appeared now in the last time according to the Scripture Take it to heart A Joyfull Message of the Kingdom of God and CHRIST The First CHAPTER HN Through the Grace and mercy of God and through the holy Spirit of the love of Iesus Christ raisâ—d up by the highest God from the death according â—o the providence of God and his promises anointed with the Holy Ghost in the old-age of the holy understanding of Iesus Christ Godâ—d with God in the spirit of his love made heire with Christ in the heavâ—nly goods of the riches of God â— illuminated in the spirit with the heavenly truth the true light of the perfect being â—lected â—o a Minister of the gracious word which is now in the last time raisâ—d up by God according to his promises in the most holy service of God under the obedience of his love for to publish in the last time out of the same grace and hearty mercifulnes of God and through the same holy Spirit of the love of Iesus Christ good tydings or a joyfull message of the Kingdom of God unto all people which â—it in darknes and have a desire or longing after the true light and to bring unto the beleevers a great light of the true being of Iesus Christ and the glorious day of his godly cleeâ—nes as also to expreâ—â—â— that God hath pitied the generations of mankind and that Iesus Christ hath not left us as orphanes but as our faithfull Father for to beget us anew out of the safe-making water or doctrine of his service and out of his holy spirit of love also to judge us with his righteousness and to bring us into his rest is come againe unto us according to his promises to the end thâ—t they all which love God and his righteousnes and Christ and his upright being might presently enter into the true rest which God hath prepared from the beginning for his elect and inherit the everlasting life 2 For that cause all lovers of the truth and all souls which hunger and thirst after the righteousnes become assembled obediently unto the service of the love of Iesus Christ shal presently according to the word of the Lord eat of the bread of life and drinke out of the fountain of living water and become satisfied 3 Unto the same God which hath prepared all this for us and bringeth it to us out of the bosom of his love be laud honor praise thanks-giving for ever and ever Amen 4. UNto the lovers of the Truth here and there wheresoever or in what quarter of the world they dwell or have their abode of what Nation and Religion soever they be Christians Jews Mahomites or Turks and heathen with all divided people of what condition or dignity soever they be Pastors of the Religious or Fourders of Religion Understanding ones or expert in the godly wisdom well learned exercised eloquent in the holy Scripture High Magistrates and renowned Potentates noble of linage rich or mighty of estate rulers of commonalties together
time be inherited of all and in all them that have minded the peace and the upright amiable life 3 FOr that cause awake now in the spirit yee Lovers of the truth and diligently search or throughly measure this same spirit which to the making alive of all the Dead that are deceased in the Lord is proceeded from God and marvel not at any of this same but search or scanne the Scripture whether that it make not mention of the same 4 But certes this new miraculous work of God whereof we witnes hath God now in this his holy day of love begunne or taken in hand with us his elected ones wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written 5 Behold saith the Lord I will doe a new thing and it shall now appear whereby yee shall well perceive that I make ways in the desert and rivers of water in the wildernesse 6 Again a spirit or wind shall blow forth from my face and I will make wind 7 Presently hath the Lord prepared his way in the desert and caused a living River to run there-thorow that all thirsty may drinke of the living waters 8 FOrasmuch now as that the River giveth forth her water abundantly and that the winde or Spirit of the Almighty bloweth So cannot I refraine nor keep silence but must needs through the powers of the same make manifest even out of burning love the secret mistery of God which is given me to understand out of the heavenly truth in the obedience of the love of Iesus Christ unto the lovers of the truth and unto the diligent searcherâ— of the Scripture as also expres or declare to them the counsel and will of the most highest with the accomplishing of the service in his Sanctuary like as the Scripture speaketh thereof and witnesse the same before their ears 9 Whosoever now therâ—fore seek the Lord with whole heart they shall now easily finde him if so be that they beleeve and obey the holy word of grace administred now in this present time 10 Unto all them that presently knock and would gladly be let in through the right door for to walke in the house of the Lord it shall now be opened and they shall be let in They shall also dwell with the Lord and eat with Christ and his holy ones the bread of life which is come unto us from Heaven in the Kingdom of God the Father the lovely heavenly being 11 THerefore give eare now unto the word of the heavenly verity O yee lovers of the truth and hearken to mee now in this day yee great Lords or mighty of estate and yee rulers of communalties and let this same enter into your ears all yee people For I will make relation of the things that are hidden before the world and declare the same from the beginning till unto this new or last day which is presently appeared and come unto us according to the Scripture The Third Chapter O Sion for thy sake I will not keep silence and for Ierusalâ—ms sake I will not leave off untill that her righteousnesse rise up as a shining light or clernesse and her salvation burn as a Cresset that the heathen may see thy righteousnesse and all Kings thy glory 2 For this is the day of thy glorifying and of thy joyfulnesse O thou holy hill of Sion and the day wherin Ierusalem becometh seen glistering and where-over the Lord with his light and glory will shine for evermore according to the promises 3 Now shall the Law be taught out of Sion and the word of the Lord witnessed out of Ierusalem 4 For this is the day of promise the day which the Lord maketh Let us now rejoyce and be glad therein 5 This is the day in the which the Lord hath prepared his seat unto judgement that he might judge the earth with justice and governe the people uprightly and accomplish therein all which he hath spoken in times paâ—t through the mouth of all his holy Prophets 6 Therefore take now good heed unto this day to your Sanctification and learn therein wisdom and holy understanding and walk even so in the light of the same that yee may be able to endure as children of the light of his cleernes and the light of his lovelines and not stumble in the mid-day 7 In this day saith the Lord I will not keep silence but will cause my word to be heard continually therein that the children of men run not forth any longer with their good-thinking according to the imagination of their knowledge 8 For out of this light of my holy day shall my word saith the Lord continually proceed according to the truth that it may be heard even unto the end of the world And I will let the children of men see how that they all namely they that hear nor beleeve not me and the service of my holy word under the obedience of my love neither yet love my true being nor stand submitted to the same for to become planted thereinto doe erre in their wisdom and Scripture learnednesse and goe about with lies 9 BEhold I saith the Lord will take in hand a wonderfull work like as I have heretofore spoken thereof through my servants the Prophets and promised to perform the same Through which work of mine saith the Lord the man which hungreth and thirsteth after the true Righteousness shall not be able to comfort himself any longer with lies nor to put his trust therein neither yet shall the Scripture learned or such as set forth their own Opinions out of their own Spirit drive or teach the People any longer according to their good thinking but every one shall not chuse but acknowledge that my word is the Truth and the Life 10. For lo I bring forth now my Day so clear as a light of my Glory to the Lighting of the whole World with Righteousness my living Word as a true Bread of Life to the satisfying of all hungry souls my true Being or Perfection as a Kingdom of Heaven full of all lovelyness pure beauty and undisturbable Powers and my Service of Love as a naked or uncovered Truth All which is my Spirit where through the Man is led into all Truth to the end that now in this my holy day my Righteousness might in the obedience of the requiring of my Love break forth and obtain the Victory upon the Earth and that all people may love the upright Righteousness and live peaceably in all Love 11. AWake now therefore ye Lovers of the Truth so shall Christ then illuminaâ—e you Anoint your eys with Ey-salve and ye shall see the pure and glorious cleerness of this last or newest day which God himself hath appointed or ordained for to judge
Kingdom of Israel should have been restored according to the promses of the prophets 6. Likewise there were many that were offended at his word and doctrine but chiefly the scripture learned which were thâ— expertest or learnendst in the scripture and seemed to be the holiestq. Many of these could not away with him 7 And although they were daylie converversant with him and heard his word which was the word of God his Father it self as also saw his wonderful signes which he did yet believed they not but were so much the more displeased with him 8. Hereout we may evidently understand ye dearly beloved that the wisdom the holy understanding nor the holiness which God regardeth cometh not unto the Disciples in the Scripture learnedness nor in the knowledge but unto the Disciples in the obedience of the requiâ—ing of the word as also of the light of life and of the godly truth whereunto our upright service of love together with the Scripture and the Ceremonies which are administred out of the true light of our most holy service of love do point and lead 9. WHilst now that Iesus Christ himself is the very true holiness and the upright substance of God his Father whereon we witness so gave he also in times past like as presently in his service such a cleerness from him wherewith he sufficiently witnessed and manifested who he was 10. But forasmuch as the children of men were utterly estranged from the substance of the Being of God like as in this present day there are many estranged therefrom so have they not known him according to his godly Being like as he is a Christ of God much leâ—s understood his word which is the spirit and life of his Father 11. Although he spake or witnessed before the ears of men of the new birth or renewing in the spirit of the turning about and to become as children of the kingdom of the God of heavens of the bread that cometh from heaven of the light of the world of the way the truth and of the resurrection and the life all which he himself is yet was it all covered before their eys with the flesh of Christ whereat many Scripture learned took offence and secret before the ears of their understanding yea and it remained also all covered or secret before his Disciples although they were not offended at his flesh and word until that Christ had fulfilled or accomplished with them through his death of the Cross his Pass-over and the true oblation Godservice in the holy of the true Tabernacle and they had imitated him therein that Christ after the Spirit replenisht them out of his heavenly being with his holy Ghost and so declared himself unto them according to the spiritual form of his heavenly being 12. BEhold until that time remained the vail which is the flesh of Christ before the most holy so that they could not behold with the eyes of their inwardness the most pure beauty of the heavenly Being namely the naked cleerness of the most holy of the true Tabernacle of God nor the perfect lovelyness of the everlasting life of Jesus Christ nor yet understand the same according to the heavenly truth 13. For although Christ after the flesh witnessed much unto them of Spirit and life yet was notwithstanding their heart so long as Christ after the spirit was not declared unto them captived with the love of Christ after the flesh and they understood all things for the most part according to an outward form or observation 14. If now the right Disciples of Christ understood not the spiritual and heavenly truth of Christ before their Passover with Christ into the second birth how much less then understood they the truth of Christ which were offended at his flesh and at his word and doctrine which also turned them away from him and would not be his Disciples For verily all they that were offended at his flesh and at his doctrine and works and humbled not themselves obediently under his Doctrine nor yet assembled them unto him understood nothing at all of the spiritual and heavenly Testimonies of Jesu Christ nor of the kingdom of the God of heavens and yet much less of the salvation of men even like as also yet in this present time all unregenerated men which shew forth no upright fruits of repentance nor become incorporated into Christ after the flesh with his like death nor yet baptised in his death for to become renewed in the second birth from the death of Christ through the holy Spirit of Jesu Christ in their Spirit and mind understand not any thing at all thereof neither yet of the spiritual and heavenly testimonies of the holy Spirit of the love of Jesu Christ nor yet likewise of all that which the Scripture speaketh of Christ of the coming of his glory and of his judgement over the living and dead And for that cause there are also now in the last time so many which take offence at the appearing of the coming of Jesu Christ or of the son of maa and at the ministration of the word and doctrine of Jesu Christ after the flesh as also contemn the requiring of the obedience of his service of love and turn them away therefrom The XXI Chapter FOrasmuch now as that in times past the cleerness of Christ through the holy Ghost was yet unknown unto the upright and faithful Disciples of Iesus Christ whilst that they knew him not otherwise but after the flesh namely how or in what godly and heavenly cleerness that Iesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the most highest the very like Being or substance of God his Father the way the truth and the life the light of the world the dore of the sheep the right Vine the living bread of heaven the resurrection from the death and the new heavenly man So was it therefore needful that Christ should keep the Pascha or Pass-over with them which is called in Hebrew Phase the which signifieth the true Pass-over which the right Disciples and Believers of Iesu Christ do pass or go through in the following of Christ after the flesh and it is the true oblation or Godservice in the holy to the remission and purging of sins Which Phase as in a figure of the very true had been observed by the Jews in his figurative service even until the same time 2. For that cause the Lord Iesus caused the same to be prepared him for to keep the Pass-over or Pascha with his Disciples in the true being and told them before of his suffering and Pass-over and that they must also do the like if they would come to his cleerness in the heavenly Being with his Father 3. Therefore he gave them to understand in what manner his pass-over should be to wit that he namely Christ
substance of God his Father nor yet by any manner means of their knowledge comprehend behold nor inherit any beauty of the heavenly goods and how â—hat it all remained covered before them until they had kept the Passover with Christ namely in his death burial and resurrection until that he ascended from them into heaven and that Christ had made manifest himself in glory unto them in a spiritual cleerness out of heaven from the right hand of God his father with the pouring forth of his holy Ghost abundantly The XXIII Chapter BEhold in the same day of the pouring forth of the holy Spirit of Christ which was shed forth into them as a flood of living waters out of the heavenly powers they rightly knew Christ in the Spirit even as he after the Spirit is a true Christ of God and understood his services and ceremonies according to the truth and they had even so through the same Spirit their fellowship with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in the heavenly being whereout they brought forth and published the Counsel mind and will of God and the Treasures of the spiritual and heavenly goods to the salvation and joy of all men and to the inheriting of those same unto them which believed in Christ and held the Passover or Supper rightly with him For otherwise it could not come to pass 2. Therefore no man knoweth Christ nor the Father nor yet the upright services or ceremonies of Christ for to minister those same according to the truth but such as are even so renewed or born again through Christ as we have declared in their spirit and mind neither yet doth it become any other to set forth any services or ceremonies of Christ nor to ordain any unto Priests or ministers of the word nor to preach or publish the Evangelie but such or they that are sent of Christ himself for otherwise it is all false 3. Ceremonies signifie unto us Services which have Mysteries or Secrets in them Evangelie signifieth unto us a joyful message which is published through the power of God and operation of the holy Ghost out of the heavenly Truth 4. HEreout have we a great mysterie to consider of and also to note how that many false Christians or such as falsly make their boast of Christ are risen up before this day of Christ or to have set them against the same and how that many through the knowledge which they have taken on unto them out of the letter of the Scripture busie them to set forth the knowledge of Christ and his ceremonies which are not sent of Christ but are yet utterly estranged from him much less then have kept the Pascha or Passover of his Supper like as the Disciples of Christ held the same with Christ. 5. For I say unto you truly whilst that the Disciples of Christ which had their conversation in times past with Christ after the flesh and spake mouth to mouth with him have not in their knowledge understood or inherited the cleerness of Christ although the mysterie of the kingdom of God was brought and given unto them to understand neither yet could understand or inherit the same before that the fiftieth day after the Passover of Christ was fulfilled that the heaven was opened before them and that the holy Ghost was shed forth upon them so shall not likewise presently which thing I testfiie unto you for certain the Scripture learned nor yet any conceited disciples of Christ which have not kept or passed thorow with Christ after the flesh the Passover from death into life and from flesh into spirit nor in the following of Christ attained through the powers of the holy Ghost unto the cleerness of Christ understand the cleerness of the word of Christ out of the knowledge of the letter of the Scripture nor out of the imagination of their knowledge touching the spiritual and heavenly things much less receive or inherit his godly being of love neither yet also set forth teach or minister his ceremonies and services according to the truth nor publish the true Evangelie of Christ out of the light of life 6. FOrasmuch then as that the Scripture-learned and wise of the world which in times past believed not the word of Christ neither yet they all which turned them away from the doctrine of Christ and from his ministers and made up themselves thereagainst have never known the very true of the heavenly Truth of Christ nor attained unto or gotten without the Passover with Christ the cleerness of his holy Spirit so give I you then ye good willing hearts to consider and judge what testimonies of the truth that the Scripture learned and the wise of the world can presently give forth which believe not the love of Christ but resist the same with their disobedient knowledge and what counsel they can hold and decree and after what Righteousness they can go forth which concordably agreeth with the counsel of God with the true righâ—eousness and single minded doctrine of Jesu Christ with his true services and ceremonies and with the godly wisdom and the requiring of the love of Jesu Christ seeing that the same is all unpossible for them to do 7. For if they turn them not about to the childish single mindedness nor come even so with humble hearts unto this stool of grace whereof we witness nor to the obedience of the requiring of the same to wit that they be not assembled obediently according to the requiring of the service of love unto the communalty of the love of Jesu Christ but turn them away from the same and harden their hearts thereagainst so shall they not understand the truth of Jesu Christ nor his right service of love nor the counsel or will of God nor yet obtain or inherit neither presently nor for ever the true spiritual and heavenly goods but perish in much contention and in their hardness of heart and unclean consciences be estranged from the face of Christ dy in their sins and be condemned with the ungodly which will not believe nor obey God's truth nor yet the love of Christ in the fire of hell and be constrained to bear the curse of the ungodly also bide separated from the cleerness of the upright and vertuous Being of God and Christ and not behold the amiable face of God in righteousness 8. LEt every one take it effectually to heart For it shall all in his time come to pass and be found even so whether it be now believed or no. 9. For I say unto you verily the sun of this same day shall not go down or leave off to shin before all this come to pass and that the world be judged through the judgment of Christ with righteousness according to the Scripture The XXIIII Chapter NOw when the holy of the true tabernacle with his services according to the true
being was heretofore as is abovesaid builded among the disciples of Christ and erected in his declaring and righteousness and that the services of the same holy namely the trespass offering sin offering and death offering were all likewise fulfilled with them so became then also with the disciples of Christ the vaâ—le that was before the most holy removed from the most holy and the middle wall which was betwixt them and God taken away and even so in the true righteousness became the clearness and friendliness of the uncovered face of God and Christ made manifest among them and the fulness of the spiritual and heavenly goods brought unto them 2. For even out of the heavenly cleerness there was in the upright being of Christ uncovered among them the mercy seat of the true tabernacle of God in the most holy namely in the heavenly being wherein God would through his Christ gather together his holy ones so many as followed after Christ in the holy and held the passover or pascha with him like as his disciples had in the eating of his flesh and drinking of his blood holden or gone thorow the same with him for to make manifest now likewise at the very last namely in this last time with us little ones and God's elect that same most holy of the true tabernacle of God with the glory of Christ his holy ones as the most perfect to an everlasting rest and peace for his holy ones upon the earth and to bring unto us in ful cleerness the communion of his love to the end that now even so at the very last namely how in this day of the love of God the Father wherein God declareth and bringeth unto us his holy goods and spiritual riches his true tabernacle should in all perfection be everlasting upon earth to a dwelling honour and glory for him the supream God and to an everlasting blessing joy and salvation for all men which assemble them thereunto according to the promises For so it hath pleased God to the end that his will and the Judgment of his righteousness might be done and executed on earth as in heaven 3. Behold in suchwise is God glorified in his holy ones and Christ wonderful in his believers Let every one have a good regard thereon 4. IN all these wonderful works of God and also in the Images and figures which are figured forth unto us in the scripture we can well make and understand ye dearly beloved how that the tabernacle of God and his service was prepared by Moses and Aaron in images figures and shadows and how that the unilluminated people have bin served therewithall till unto Christ the true light of life And also how that God's elect and illuminated holy ones which are obediently gone thorow the passover of Christ with Christ after the flesh and even so being departed out of the imagelike and out of the fulfilling of his requiring are entred into the true being of Christ are served with the spiritual and heavenly goods and with the living word of truth in the upright being of the love of Jesus Christ 5. For that cause consider now in this day on the wonderful works of God how that God after the departure out of the heathenship prepared the forefront of his true tabernacle which is the fear of God with the Fathers of Israel through the promses in his Covenant of Circumcision 6. But the holy which is the belief of Iesu Christ hath he prepared in the death or â—uffering of Christ and in the baptism or washing in the same death namely with the disciples of Christ which were of the belief of Abraham and the upright believers of Christ and passed over with Christ out of the flesh into the spirit through faith the which is the true Pascha that we ought to keep with Christ to a testimony that we believe uprightly in him 7. For the belief is the true holy wherein Christ to the vanquishing of sin is gon before us in the pass over of his suffering and death and hath prepared us the boldness for to follow after him therein to a new and living way through the vail that is through his flesh to the end that we should in the true holy wherein Christ if we enter into the same with him beareth our sins and taketh them clean a way from us become implanted into Christ with the like death of Christ. For even so through the oblation of Christ and his death of the Cross and to follow after him therein in the holy we obtain the everlasting remission and purging of the sins and the making alive or resurrection from the death in Iesus Christ as also the eternal life with all holiness and righteous and inherit even so the true spiritual and heavenly goods with Christ in the heavenly being The XXV Chapter BEhold this way to the everlasting life and heavenly being in the pass over of Christ wherein Christ with his disciples hath gone before us in the holy is now likewise in this day of the coming of Christ declared unto us like as unto the people in time past for that we should now also with Christ namely when we have received into us the body and blood of Iesus Christ enter into the same way keep his supper or pass over with him like as he hath kept the same with his disciples and even so accomplish the true oblation or God-service in the holy namely to lay ofâ— to mortifie and to bury the flesh and all what is fleshly and wicked of nature either perverse or hath an earthly and fleshly or wicked and perverse mind in the death of Christ or to pass thorow the same in such sort and to rise again from the death and be made alive with Christ in the renewing of our mind in the upright spiritual being of Christ to the intent that it might even so now all be accomplished in us through Christ whatsoever is written of Christ and of all them that love him 2. If we now follow after Christ in such wise according to the word of his doctrine in the holy so shall we then certainely in his Doctrine know the truth of Christ also evidently understand that the same Imitation of Christ in the holy will lead or bring us to the accomplishing of the holy offering of Christ and his Disciples to the perfect light or glorious day of the love and to the service of perfection which is administred with the spiritual and heavenly goods out of the most holy of the true tabernacle of God 3. In which day of perfect light we behold with naked cleerness the most holy which God hath brought now in the last time with all his glorious garnishing unto us little ones and God his elect erected the same with us and herited us wonderfully therein in his perfect
beauty and loveliness and live even so therein as true holy ones of God and Believers of Christ. 4. For behold this same most holy of the true tabernacle of God doth God now bring unto us with himself with his Christ and with all the thousands of his saints in godly triumph to a righteous Judgement upon earth like as there is written thereof according to the promises 5. COnsider now ye dearly beloved how or in what manner that God now in the last time bringeth and setteth up the perfection of his kingdom with us little ones and God's elect how that our testimony and publishing of the joyful message is of the same Kingdom and in what manner all the services and prophecies which are gone out from God and added unto his promises do lead hereunto and rest or cease therein namely in the renewing of the spirit and mind in Iesu Christ through the holy spirit of his love 9. The which we likewise through the arm of our saviour do even so set forth and express in cleerness before every one which heareth us or whom God stirreth into our way namely that the perfection is no earthly or fleshly thing nor any fleshly dealing or liberty but the perfect power of God and the glory of Christ in his coming 7. Which coming of Christ is now declared unto us that we might through the same be seperated in our spirit from the death of sin implanted into Christ with his like death and so raised up out of the death of Christ and made alive according to the very likeness of God in the power of his holy Ghost in upright righteousness and holiness to coheires with Christ in the treasures of the spiritual and heavenly goods to the intent that we should even so not according to the flesh or in the uncircumcision but according to the spirit or in the laying away of the foreskin of the sinful flesh live and tryumph in the heavenly Being with Christ and all his Saints which presently meet us in all perfection of the works of God in this day of love with Christian tryumph everlastingly in all love according to the promises 8. BEhold such is the perfect kingdom of God and his most holy service come unto us from God's grace and that same is the very true whereof we witness and which we publish to an Evangelie of the glorious kingdom of Christ in all the world under the obedience of the love of Jesu Christ. For that same very true with his perfect beauty love and righteousness hath the God of heaven out of the fulness of his grace declared and brought unto us and erected the same with us now at the last time in the time of the last divided kingdom of Babel to an everlasting peaceable kingdom for his holy ones according to his promises 10. And the upright righteousness of the same and the true holy Ghost which is poured out therein with perfect love and floweth abundantly therein is the true most holy of the everlasting Being of God whereout our upright service of the love is administred and whereunto all services and prophesies which are gone out from God and his truth do lead as to the right and very true perfection and that same perfect good and his most holy service of love shall bide for ever with full declaration of the very true perfection in his service to the end that the same most holy perfect good might from henceforth for evermore be declared upon the earth and all peaceable ones with all they that love the peace in Jesu Christ aâ—sembled thereunto according to the promises 11. OH alas how grosly have certain over-reached them which have out of the imagination of their knowledge or out of the riches of their spirit taken on set forth and taught the perfection according to the flesh and applied the freedom of the children of God on the elementish man looked into the same according to a fleshly mind and bound or knit fast themselves thereon with a certain use of fleshly dealing 12. But verily whilst that they were risen up before this day of the coming of Jesu Christ or ever the sun of righteousness arose unto them in their stedfast obedience unto the requiring of Jesu Christ and inclined out of their knowledge after the flesh unto the freedom according to the flesh so have they likewise taken the same freedom unto them according to the supposel or goodthinking of their elementish manhood and missed the true light of righteousness as also not known the truth of God which maketh free much less then understood the same Noâ— there shall not any one know or understand the same neither presently nor for ever which is turned unto himself or his elementish manhood and so taketh on any thing out of his knowledge or mind of the flesh be it then what it is wherewithal he turneth him away from the obedience of the requiring of the service of the love of Jesu Christ. 13. For I say unto you verily that no man cometh through his knowledge unto the truth of God nor unto the true light of life but only he which through the Belief in Jesu Christ forsaketh himself in the obedience of the requiring of the gracious word of the Lord and his service of love and so bideth stedfast therein till unto the appointed time of the Father That is until that Christ after the spirit which is the living truth of God and the true light of life it self be come unto him and have his shape as an upright Being full of all love in him 14. THerefore ought every one to look wel unto it that he run not foâ—th according to his mind or knowledge nor according to the goodthinking of his own spirit before the time wherein the very true is appointed to be inherited neither respect give ear unto nor believe any manner of knowledge which riseth up in his own heart much less which is held forth before him by others against us and our ministration of the most holy service of love or wherewith he is assaulted or tempted But that he alwaies in his assaulting or temptation humble him with singleness of heart unto the obedience of the requiring of the gracious word and his service of love and even so hear and believe the same sure prophetical word in his service and take heed thereunto seeing that now in the last time the true love and the upright Being of Christ is administred and taught thereout until that the true light of the same word and service and the perfect Being of God the Father and Christ come unto him and arise in hâ—s heart in the perfect glory and power of God and of the holy Ghost that he may live everlastingly with God and his Christ in all love O yea that come to pass even so 20. What we had here more
Ceremonies should always remember the passion or suffering of Christ the Offering for the sin the death of Christ his Burial the Pascha or his Passe-over and his Resurrection and Ascension 5. They held also a remembrance of the Saints which had faithfully followed after Christ likewise of the confessing of sins and of the forgiveness of the same as also of the Cleansing which is called Purgatory Also they named certain observations or usages of the same services Sacraments which they held forth before the believers to holy signes and kept them therewith in orderliness of life 6. The Cleansing which is called Purgatory signifieth unto us the making pure of the beleevers of Christ which they in distress affliction sorrow and anguish for the sins cause do pass thorow wherein they as in a fire of humiliation are purged or justified from all their sins through the belief for to enter even so with pure hearts into the Kingdome of the God of heavens In which fire of Cleansing or Purgatory the upright beleevers of Christ shew forth patience in Prayer unto God And even so in the beleef and in the manner of suffering they follow after Christ in his death of the cross to the purging of their sins Sacrament signifieth unto us an holy signe of a secret or hidden thing to whom one giveth the name of some holy or godly thing that the same Sacrament hath hidden in it or it signifieth the same holiness or godliness that hath been tofore or shall come after-ward 7. In conclusion they held of all the holy â—â—â—ngs whereof the Scripture maketh mention a memorial or remembrance And all this same was daily set forth and preached or published in figures unto the People to a good memorial or for to have the same continually in remembrance that it was come to pass or had the foregoing according to tâ—e truth in the true being 8 BUt verily where now these figurative services are far away preferred above the upright righteousness and above the very true which they signifie so are they in themselves or out of themselves without the true light void of force for men to come therethrough to the perfection in Jesus Christ neither yet can the People likewise through those same obtaine or inherit the purging from their sins nor the putting away of spottedness from their conscience nor yet the true being of the mystery of the Sacraments and figurative services like as the same is now through the holy Spirit of Jesus Christ and his service of love declared and brought unto us 9. Therefore have not these foresaid figurative services been any more furtherance unto them nor yet brought the People neerer unto the true being then unto nurturable sustentation and to a figurative remembrance of Christ and of the things which the holy ones of Christ were passed thorow and which all beleevers of Jesus Christ ought to pass thorow 10. BEhold In the mean time the while it was yet night with many and that the figurative services and Sacraments were with diligence set forth and earnestly observed to an humbling of the People so have the People which humbled them obediently thereunder been kept under those figurative services so that the great and horrible destruction hath not fallen upon them which shall now in this last time fall upon all ungodly and resisters of the truth and upon all them obediently under the service of the love of Jesus Christ. 11. For that cause the said figurative services and ceremonies shall not now in this day of the love of Jesus Christ be imputed unto the People which have intended sought the righteousness therein for sin but much rather for righteousness because they have shewed therein their good will unto the righteousness 12. For now in this day of the love of Jesus Christ must no doubt the figurative services be all renewed unto their right use through the true light and through his upright service of love aâ—d declaring of the requiring of his upright righteousness also set or oâ—dained in their right ordinance and used to the requiring of the upright righteousness in their right observation they shall even so in their right use at the appointed time of the Father have the fulfilling of their requiring with the obedient beleevers in Jesus Christ. 13. And all good willing ones to the upright righteousness in Jesus Christ with all such as assemble them unto us and our communiality and humble them to our most holy services of the love and his requiring shall then likewise to an entrance into the same upright righteousness become renewed in their understanding to the enâ— that they all might rightly according to the truth and according to the râ—quiring of our most holy service of love pass forth from their beginning or entrance of the Christian life after the very true perfection But whoso refuse this same and they that turne them away therefrom those shall not obtaine the upright righteousness of God nether presently nor for ever 14. WHat shall we now say hereof shall we then witness that we which are comprehended established in the â—rue love and upright being of Christ and are Elders and Ministers of the word of the Lord do let pass to minister the right use of the â—mage-like and figurative services and the â—â—gnes of the secret godly things among the unilluminated and unregenerated seeing that their Images figures and shadows have through the perfect righteousness the fulfilling of the requiring with the perfect ones and that also the unregenerated should forsake those same No in no wise but we require under the obedience of the love with the right use of the image-like and figurative services the obedience unto the requiring of those same at their hands and so daily instruct them with those same and through those same that they are debtours to accomplish and obediently to â—stablish the requiring of thâ—se same and even so obediently to observe them till unto the appointed time of the fullfilling oâ— their requiring 15. For this we say out of the living trutâ— of God which is declared unto us out 〈◊〉 Gods grace that he which without the loâ—â— and hâ—r service or without the very true beiâ—â— of the love of Jesus Christ and his service foâ—â—saketh the image-like or figurative servicâ—â— and the signes of the secret godly things through his good thinking or knowledge and even so separateth him from the ministâ—â—tion of those same and accomplisheth 〈◊〉 their requiring nor hath been obedient 〈◊〉 the service of love till unto the rising up tâ—e true light in his heart nor yet remainâ— stedfast in the doctrine of the same services unto the upright being of the love of Jesus Christ â—e forsaketh verily although he have never so much knowledge of spiritual and heavenly things the Images or figures and the signes of the secret godly things unrightly and with ignorance and taketh
sung from everlasting to everlasting and wherein all minds of pure hearts do dwell live and walk with freedome and Christian triumph in all love 5. THis great day-light of the most high God hath presently in his righteous Judgement shined about us Which great grace and mercy is chanced unto us for that we should publish the true Evangelie of the Kingdom of the same light in all the world for a witness unto all people and to peace and joy as also to an eternal mercifulness or pitying of the servants of the Lord or of all them that seek the Lord that the Scriptures mought become fulfilled and all such as remember the Lord be assembled in the body of Christ unto this his seat of the righteous judgement and to his Most holy of the true Tabernacle or house of his dwelling and not for our sake nor for any mans righteousness cause 6. For even so in all such sort as God hath now made manifest his wonderful work upon the earth must the Scripture be fulfilled his Most holy declared to an everlasting true and perfect light and evangelized or published in all the world to an everlasting rest and peace of his holy ones 7. For I say unto you verily that the Lord hath wrought this wonderful work of his love extended on us out of his grace for his own sake for to make his holy Name now in the last time according to his promises great and glorious in all Lands and so to declare his truth and righteousness upon the earth to shew his true God-service to consecrate or hallow again the Holy of his true Tabernacle which hath a long time utterly lain waste with many abominations through his gracious word and service of Love out of the light of the Most holy and to set up again the daily offering which hath also ceased a long time for the abomination of desolations cause To the end that the same mought be ministred in his upright Service like as in times past to the purging and forgiveness of sins 8. EVen thus would tâ—e Lord let his Word of life be heard now in the last time upon earth that his promises mought be â—stablished the hungry souls satisfied with righteousness the Scripture fulfilled in all what God hath spoken through the Spirit of his Prophets and of his Christ and the man which hath utterly corrupted his understanding with the knowledge made safe and blessed out of his grace according to the promises The XXXV Chapter BEhold ye dearly beloved how that now in this present day the Scripture becometh fulfilled in all what it mentioneth of Christ of his seed and of the coming of his glory 2. Which coming of Christ in his glory like as the same was in times past published unto the heathen and also believed of them God hath now in the last time declared among the Heathen and shewed mercy on the Heathen before all other that the whole earth mought be filled with his glory like as there is written thereof As truly as I live saith the Lord the whole world shall be filled with the glory of God 3. Further saith the Lord through Esdras They that have not heard me shall notwithstanding believe me or put their trust in me and they to whom I have shewed no tokens shall do the thing that I command them They have seen no Prophets yet shall they call their unrighteousness to remembrance Therefore witness I mercy saith the Lord unto the People which are to come whose babes or little children rejoyce them with gladness And although they see me not with bodily eys yet believe they in the Spirit the thing that I say I will give unto them the Dukedom of Abraham Isaac and Iacob and of the Prophets 4. Further through Isaiah The Lord will display or set up a Banner far-abroad among the Heathen and allure them from the ends of the earth 5. Againe through Ezekiel I will bring my glory among the Heathen that all Heathen may see my Judgement that I have kept and my hand which I have stretched out over them to the end that the hous of Israel may thereby know that I the Lord am their God even from this day forth for evermore 6. Again over Israel O thou Daughter of Israel I will build thee again that thou shalt be firm and sure 7. Againe The habitations of Israel are very goodly For they are like broad valleys as the well-watered Gardens by the Rivers and as the Tabernacles which the Lord stablisheth even like the Cedars planted by the water side There shall water flow forth out of his bucket and his seed shall be a great water 8. BEhold In this present day is this Scripture fulfilled and according to the testimony of the Scripture the raising up and resurrection of the Lords dead cometh also to pass presently in this same day through the apearing of the coming of Christ in his Majesty Which resurrection of the dead seeing that the same is come unto us from Gods grace we do likewise in this present day to an Evangely or joyful Message of the Kingdom of God and Christ publish in all the world under the obedience of the love 9. In which resurrection of the dead God sheweth unto us that the time is now fulfilled that his dead or the dead which are fallen asleep in the Lord rise up in this day of his judgement and appear unto us in godly glory which shall also from hencefoâ—th live in us everlastingly with Christ and reign upon the earth wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written thereof 10. The Lord shall judge his people and he will have mercy on his servants or ministers For he shall behold that their power faileth them 11. Again The Lord slayeth and maketh alive he leadeth into hell and bringeth thereout again 12. The Lord maketh poor and rich he humbleth and exalteth 13. He lifteth up the needy out of the dust and exalteth the poor out of the mire that he mought set him among the Princes and let him inherit the seat of honour 14. Further the Lord saith touching his dead I will not contend for ever nor be always angry but there shall a spirit or winde blowe from my face and I will make breath 15. Again Christ speaketh touching him which believeth in him I will raise him again in the last day 16. Again The Lord hath appointed a day in which he will judge the compass or circuit of the earth with righteousness through one man in whom he hath decreed it which holdeth forth the Belief before every one inasmuch as God hath raised him from the death 17. Again There shall be no more death sorrow wailing nor pain for the first is passed by And he which sate upon the seat
love but turneth his heart therefrom he shall become utterly confused in his heart and wax more and more estranged from Christ and have no part with him in this holy day of his coming nor enter into his rest for evermore but obtaine the condemnation which also belongeth rightly unto him with all ungodly whose part shall be with the devil and all wicked spirits with the chains or bands of darkness in the fire of hell 7. They now shall likewise all perish which remaine without Jesus Christ or without the communiality of his love as also such as turn them therefrom 8. For it shall now this say I unto you verily be found in the truth that Jesus Christ is onely the Saviour of his Body and not of them that remaine without him nor which turne them away from him much less to them which despise him and do all their diligence to tread his word of grace which is proffered unto us all out of the service of love to righteousness for to be made living in him under foot deriding the same and blaspheamor dishonouring the spirit of grace 9. COnsider on the testimonies of the Scripture ye dearly beloved how that Jesus Christ is in this day onely the Saviour of his Body For thus there standeth written of him He shall save his People from their sins But not the strangers which remaine without him 10. Again He shall gather the wheat into his barn and burn the chaffe with everlasting fre 11. Again the Lord Jesus Christ himself saith Every vine-branch of mine which bringeth forth no fruit shall be cut off 12. Again The world shall see me no more but ye saith the Lord Jesus Christ to his members shall see me For I live and ye shall live 13. Again The firstling which is risen from the death is Christ after that They that belong unto Christ or that are of his members namely of his Flesh and Spirit which make manifest themselves in the time of the coming of Christ in his majesty and after that cometh the end 14. Thereof speaketh Isaiah also saying to the Lord whenas he saw into the hardness or obstinancy of the People which should be upon earth in the last time Thy dead that is those which are deceased in the Lord shall live and arise with the Body Take it to heart The XLII Chapter HErewith ye dearly beloved will we conclude for this time I suppose that this groundly instruction and inconfutable declaration is sufficient for to satisfie throughly all understandings which love the truth and to make known unto every one in his understanding that this same which is declared unto us and becometh administred and published unto you all is the Lords work and that the Scripture must even so become fulfilled in all what is written of Christ. 2. Whosoever now therefore hath any good willingness towards God for to do his will he shall well consider and understand that these testimonies are no manly knowledges but are proceeded from God and that they have their service hereunto for to pluck all good-willing hearts in the unity of the love of Christ with us little ones and God his elect under the grace of life and hand of God which is appeared unto us now in the last time to an everlasting and stedfast peace upon the earth according to the promises 3. For that cause to the end that it may now all be fulfilled in Christ what is written and evangelized in times past of him all hearts which love the truth and also all men are now called on the behalf of the Lord our God with this or through the service of love unto the love the most soveraigne majesty of God our Father To the end that they all mought now assemble them to their preservation in this perilous time with us under the obedience of the Love unto the true Body of Jesu Christ and so we to become incorporated with each other in all love into Christ to one man of God 4. COnsider now rightly ye dearly beâ—oved whereto and wherefore the man is summoned or required to come unto the majesty of God and obediently admitted into the service of love and wherefore the man is also debtour ☞ wholly to give over himself unto the Lord in the service of his love namely even herefore that the Lord mought have his dwelling and work in the man and the man to live upright and peaceably in all Love with God and his neighbour and so inherit under the obedience of the love the spiritual and heavenly Goods and the everlasting life 5. But if now the man will not do so and that if he refuse the Lord and to give over himself under his gratious word and the testimonies of the holy Spirit of love So robbeth he God of his and keepeth back from him that which belongeth unto him and cannot therefore behold the lovely countenance of the Lord in his naked clearness for evermore 6. But happy is he which is humble of heart and hath bent his desire to the Lord and to the holy word of the heavenly truth and standeth even so obediently submitted to the holy and gratious word of the heavenly truth and to the requiring of his service of love and assembleth him to the people of the Lord. For he shall behold with a pure heart the glo-of God and live everlastinlgy 7. BEhold hereto whereunto also all people are now in repentance for their sins called and bidden was the man created the blessing of all generations of the earth promised the Law given through Moses the Evangely preached in times past through Christ and is now also in the last time in the glorious power of God to an introduction into the same published and spread abroad through the holy Spirit of the love of Christ in all the world 8. Whosoever now then forsaketh himself and giveth over himself obediently in Jesu Christ the gracious word of the Lord he becometh now admitted or received in Jesu Christ and in the obedience of his requiring 9. The Lord grant us all mercy and hearts of understanding for to understand the clearness of this holy Evangelie and a willing Spirit for to give over our selves humbly and obediently unto the gracious Word of the Lord and unto the service of his holy Spirit of love to all unity of heart in the Love Amen So be it 10. FInally yee dearly beloved ye all unto whom these our writings out of love come to hand and are brought in writing to an assistance and leading into our unity of heart in the love my desire is to every one in several that he after he hath perused and diligently read the testimonies of these writings this Publishing of the grace of life and these groundly instructions and advisedly considered the requiring of those sâ—me write
the belief of the upright being of Abraham which also was Abraham's sister and become his wife is named Sara which name signifieth unto us a Lady or a Princess which is free 4. THis Sara had a servetrice which waâ— her own or subject unto her which is the Service the Law or Ordinance and the serviceable writing or letter of the belief of Abraham Which Servetrice through the belief of the true being standeth serviceable for to bring forth a serviceable seed unto the belief whilst that she is yet closed or barren 5. And this Servetrice namely the service of the belief of Abraham or his law either Ordinance is also a Testament of Abraham which is called the elders Testament because the same is administred through the belief out of the light of the true being by the eldest in the holy understanding and hath the foregoing in the Procreation out of the letter and out of the obedience of the requiring of the serviceable doctrine which also ceaseth when as the belief bringeth forth out of the true light which is the godly being it self whereunto the service of the word and of the letter doth likewise reach Nevertheless albeit that the service of the word and of the letter reâ—cheth to the belief and true lighâ— yeâ— appeareth not the righteousness out of the service of the letter nor out of his Ordinance although notwithstanding the same be required therewithall but out of the belief 6. This servetrice of Sara was named Agar and she was a Servetrice out of Egypt which signifieth unto us a woman coming on out of Strictness or which is stricting 7 But whilst that Sara the belief of the true being of Abraham was yet closed and brought not forth but was inclined thereunto so desired she Abram namely the old Father in the holy understanding that he would joyn him unto Agar her Servetrice and she gave him Agar to wife for that she might even so out of her obtain Children of the belief 8. Abram therefore joyned him unto Agar and Agar conceived or became with child and brought forth a seed unto Abraham 9. BEhold this was a seed of the Service namely of the unfree woman Agar whereof Paul maketh mention to the Galathians how that Agar in Arabia is called the Mount Sina 10. Arabia signifieth unto us a pledge or surâ—ty which standeth fast for that which is promised until that the promise be fulfilled Sina signifieth unto us Armour or a Shield wherewith one furnisheth him unto Battel when as he passeth thorow the way unto the rest of the promises and wherethrough one is sustained against the enemies and defended therewith until that he come unto the place whereas he inheriteth the rest the peace and all sweetness of the land like as there is promised 11. This Mount Sina in Arabia although it stretcheth even unto Ierusalem is not free with his Children but the belief the free hill within Ierusalem is free with his Children for the believers which are born out of the belief of the true being of Abraham and grown up in Christ in the holy and godly understanding are the free Children of the free woman according to the Scripture 12 But when as â—ow the time was â—come about that the fruit of the belief could live so became Sara fruitful and brought forth unto Abraham the true seed of promise to the Blessing of all Generations of the earth 13. Now when this seed of â—he free woman was born then was the Servetrice with her seed thrust out or given leave to depart as one whose service and seed was there no more needful to a service or help of the beliâ—f because the upright seed was born out of the belief and for that cause the Servetrice with her seed could have no Portion or Coinheritance with the son of the free woman 14. This seed born of the free woman was named Isaac which name signifieth unto us a laughing For Sara laughed when as she heard thet she should bear a Son 15. COnsider here now the Mistery of the Scripture of these two women and of either others service and procreation For behold I declare unto you this day the truth with naked speeches and not in similitudes or dark words inasmuch as that God and Christ with his holy ones is also declared in the most holy even so unto us 16. Where now then this seed of the true Testament after the Accomplishment of the foregoing serviceable Testament is born or brought forth even there is Christ the belssing the salvation and the spirit of the Lord come and where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom He that hath ears to hear let him hear 17. WHat we had here more to say of the promises to Abraham of Sara the free woman and of Agar her servetrice and of the seed of both their procreations is declared in the glass of Righteousness The IX Chapter NOw when as Isaac the upright stock of his Father Abraham was grown up into a good old age of the holy understanding so took he a wife unto him named Rebecca which Name signifieth unto us one that setteth contention or debate And Rebecca conceived by Isaac and became with child with two Sons which she bare unto Isaac 2. He which she first brought forth was named Esau which name signifieth unto us one that is working he is also named Edom which signifieth unto us one that is earthly or bloudy And this is the first born after the flesh of the seed of the promise 3. Which first born may not inherit the heritage of the godly promises nor the covenant which God maketh with his elected people 4. Therefore God erecteth not his Covenant with him that is born after the flesh and is earthly or bloudy but wiâ—h him that is born after the spirit and is spiritual or heavenly For that cause God hath a good pleasure in the second birth â— But the second Son which was the second born next unâ—o Esau was named Iacob which name signifieth unto us one that treadeth under foot and so kâ—epeâ—h the Victory He was also named Israel and signifieth unto us one that lordeth or surmounteth with God 6. Behold this same which was born after the spirit increased and becamâ— prudent in the godly wisdom and heavenly truth and excelled Esau his brother in prudeâ—ce and holy understanding and hath brought the earthly or bloudy being under him obtained the blessing of his Father and is become an heir in the promises of God and in the testaments of his Fathers 7. VErily these two sorts of people or Procreations namely Esau and Iacob which Rebecca bare unto Isaac the seed of promise and how that the greatest must serve the lesser make known unto us a great mistery to wit that the Righteousness of the law with the great knowâ—edge and
diligent prudence of the flesh or of the earthly being which becometh born out of the letter shall serve the little single minded simplicity of Christ which becometh born out of the spirit or heavenly being and be wholy subject thereunto namely when as the spiritual birth hath through the coming of Christ gotten the dominion over the flesh 8. We can also in the service of the gracious word under the obedience of the love now openly feel and perceive these two births in our selves For the first or foregoing birth which in the ministration of the gracious word hath the foregoing by us is the knowledge of God and of his requiring and of God his truth spirit or being out of the letter or serviceable word which stretcheth to the obedience and fulfilling of the requiring of the gracious word and his service of love and the same knowledge which stretcheth to the said obedience is the right knowledge of the man out of the flesh or letter and that seed of Righteousness and his obedience is the former seed of the law or service which becometh born according to the flesh and hath no inheritance in the promises of the covenant of God the Father nor in the Testament of the holy Elders or Fathers for that same becometh fulfilled therein and hath even so in his service the foregoing unto the Inheritance of the same Testaments in the very true being 9. The second birth which appeareth thereafâ—er in the fulfilling or accomplishing of the serviceable word and of his requiring by us in the renewing of our spirit and mind is the Godhead the truth and spirit of God or God his true being it self yea the same spiritual heavenly being is the inheritance of all spiritual and heavenly goods and the true seed of the belief that becometh born in us aâ—cording to the spirit and inheriteth the promises of the Covenant of God the Father And these two births the one after the flesh and the other after the spirit are both out of the seed of the promise sown ingendred or brought forth in the letter and through the letter of the administration of the holy word and heavenly understanding or mind of the spiritual promises in our memory minds or thoughts 10. But the knowledge of the letter or the mind either understanding of the flesh out of the letter and the obedience unto the same appeareth first and taketh the foregoing in birth and diligently applieth it self therein for to inherit the blessing of the promises And whenas now this foregoiâ—g birth namely the knowledge of the letter which stretcheth to the obedience and accomplishment of the requiring of the gracious word and his service of love is become moving and forcible to such a diligency in our minds and understandings so inspect and understand we then at the first the testimonies of the spiritual and heavenly truth which extend unto spirit and life none otherwise but according to the flâ—sh and according to the minde of our flesh do we also seek after the same or apply us thereunto for to obtain the same according to the flesh And we suppose moreover we shal in such wise inherit the blessing of the promises of Christ. And this is in the man the knowledge of the letter or the mind of the flesh which is named Adam Esau or Edom and hath out of the administration of the holy word the fâ—regoing of birth in us and is the knowledge of Christ after the flesh 11. Now whilst or in the mean time that the â—irst born with his earthly and bloudy mind is hunting after or labouring for the blessing of the promise g of God and Christ and yet notwithstanding inheriteth not the same so doth then the second born hold him in stilness and following the counsel of the wisdom he obtaineth through the prudence of the holy Ghost the blessing of the promises of the seed of Abraham as also the prevailing over the first or former born and becometh even so the lord over the first born And this is in the man the mind or spirit of Christ which is named Iacob or Israel which obtaineth at last the victory and the dominion with God and also keepeth the same And to have obtained the same second birth is the upright knowledge of Christ after the spirit 12. SEe ye dearly beloved and consider with spiritual understanding the mystery of these two Nativities or births namely the first after the flesh earthly and bloudy the second aftâ—r the spirit spiritual and heavenly and how that the understanding of the first birth would according to his fleshly mind inherit the promises of Christ and how that the second birth which is not minded according to the flesh but according to the spirit of the heavenly truth obtaineth the victory beareth rule with God and bringeth forth the name of Israel or Christ it self 13 WHat we had here more to say of Isaac the seed of promise of the birth of Esau and Iacob of the fleshly and spiritual birth and of the knowledge of Christ after the flesh and of the knowledge of him after the spirit is with larger Instruction declared in the Glasâ— of Righâ—eousness The X. Chapter IAcob the upright stock of his Fathers Isaac and Abraham walked uprightly before God in the ways of his Fathers And God was with him and was his God light life and cleerness in all respects even as God had been with Abraham and Isaac 2 And God made manifest himself unto this same Iacob and shewed him in what manner the house or tabernacle of his dwelling is and gave unto him and his seed the same promises which he had given and promised unto Abraham and Isaac And God erected his covenant with Iacob therefore called Iacob the place wherein the Lord appeared unto them Beth-el which name signifieth unto us an house of God 3. Behold ye dearly beloved how cleerly the scripture expresseth unto us who are God's elected people and the house of his dwelling wherein he as a living and glorious God maketh manifest himself letteth his word be heard and establisheth his promises 4. Iacob also won with his service two wives which were sisters germans The eldest was named Lia which name signifieth unto us a Labourice This Lia had a Servetrice which she gave Iacob also to wife and she was named Zilpha which signifieth unto us contempt 5. The youngest was named Rachel which name signifieth unto us a sheep This Rachel had a Servetrice which was named Lilha which name signifieth unto us a woman which is humble or lowly which Servetrice she gave Iacob to wife for that she whilst she was closed might through her Servetrice bring forth Children unto Iacob her husband 6. THese four wives brought forth unto Iacob twelve Sons out of which the twelve tribes of Israel are sprung or come forth and every Tribe was named
Son in Beth-lehem an Angel appeared unto the Shepherds in the field which published unto them all that was chanced at Beth-lehem to a great joy that should come unto all people And he said This day is born unto you the Preserver which is Christ the Lord in the City of David 15. Christus is a Greek word and is called in Hebrew Messias and signifieth unto us Anointed or the Oyl of the holy Ghost wherein the perfect Godhead dwelleth and resteth And he was circumcised the eight day and named Iesus that is Saviour like as the Angel Gabriel had said it before 16. And this Child Jesus born of the seed of David after the flesh grew or increased became strong in the Spirit and full of all wisdom for the mercy of God was in him 17. OH alas how great contention and unprofitable disputations hath there been concerning the Conception of Iesus in the Womb of Mary and touching his birth But if they all which contended hereabout had known the power of God and that also the mysterie of the mind and works of God had bin given them to understand so should they then verily not have contended thereabout neither yet many of them so grosly over-reached them in their Judgment which they have witnessed and judged of the conception and birth of Iesus or of his incarnation 18. For which cause to the end that all understandings might be satisfied and much contention ended we have out of the light of the heavenly truth nakedly declared according to the truth the conception of Iesus with his birth as also many secret works of God He that hath ears to hear let him hear and to whom wisdom is given let him comprehend understanding 19. What we had here more to say of the conception of Iesus of the name Iesus Christ of his birth and of the eight day is declared in the Glass of Righteousness and in more other testimonies of our Writings The XIX Chapter NOw when the time was fulfilled that God would according to his promises accomplish his work to a good ending or fulfilling of all the services of the Images figures and Prophets which services have all their ministrations till unto Iohn the Baptist which is the true minister and foregoer before the true light or face of God that cometh after Iohn or his service with the holy Ghost so hath Iohn through the commandment of God had the foregoing in his service or office to the true God-service in the spirit and in all the coasts of Iordan preached and taught the baptism of repentance to the forgiveness of sins to the end that he might even so in his service according to the word of the Lord spoken before by the Prophets bring all things again into their right state or ordinance 2. At that time the people which feared God were informed and taught with other services that were of greater force then the services of the images and figures 3. Thus hath Iohn begun his office published the Kingdom of the God of heavens to be at hand and baptised the people in Iordan with the water of repentance 4 Iesus came also unto Iordan for to be baptised of Iohn that all righteousness might be fulfilled through Iohn and Iesus which also is called Christ. 5. COnsider and respect well now in understanding ye dearly beloved how Iohn ministred the office of his baptism not that men should run forth with an handful of water and perswade themselves when they have the elementish water that it is there with enough to be a Christian. 6. O no the Baptism of Iohn is not in such sort but he baptised them that confessed their sins and where the water of Repentance flowed inwardly in the heart 7. Behold even thus namely in the confessing of the sins hath Iohn baptised the people with the water of repentance in Iordan which signifieth unto us a River of Iudgement 8. For unto such where the water of repentance flowed inwardly in the heart came the mercy or grace of the Lord and they were baptised or washed with the same water of repentance in the River of Judgment to the knowledge of the salvation and to the forgiving and purging of their sins 9. And even so after that came Messias or Christus that is anoinâ—ed unto them to the saâ—e-making of their souls wherethrough they were baptised with the living waters of the holy Ghost to the reedifying of the Tabernacle of the living God namely the generation of mankind wherein God himself with his glory would to a light of men dwell live and walk as an holy and true God and everlasting life 10. Wherethrough the man becometh rightly released from the hand of all his enemies and the comsummation or perfection erected by him whereof God hath from the begining spoken through the mouth of all his holy Prophets till unto the day or light of Iohn 11. Behold were the man once baptised in suchwise might then verilyboast him to be a Christian but not otherwise for whosoever is not in his mind and spirit one spirit with Christ he belongeth not unto him 12. OH alas how great contention and disputation hath therebin among many touching the baptism The one would have the baptism thus the other so but whilst that it was yet night with them so hath no man been able before this day of love which is the true light and the Glory of God himself to understand nor distinct the baptism of Iohn nor the baptism of Christ. 13. What we had here more to say of Iohn of his baptism and of the baptism of Christ is declared in the Glass of righteousness The XX Chapter NOw when Iohn had in baptising made himself manifest so hath Christ after the baptism of Iohn made himself also manifest preached taught the Kingdom of the God of heavens But he taught as one that in his doctrine was mightier then the scripture learned after the law of Moses 2. For the people were taught through Christ with other tongues and through an other spirit for there was preached and taught peace and peace abundantly 3. Wherethrough the mysterie of the truth of God whereon Moses in the law the scripture and the prophets did wittness was uncovered or made manifest and it was with many great offence to a fall and with many great joy to restoring in Israel 4. But whilst now that the word of Iesus had more efficacy and clearness then the services of the Levites and Priests according to the ordinance of Aaron so have many people and devout men given ear unto the same Iesus and beleeved in him and even so obtained Iesus Christ many disciples which followed him in his word and doctrine Yet were there many of those same Disciples which fell away and turned them from him and his doctrine 5. In which time there were also many that hoped the
after the flesh should be slain and even so fulfil perform or accomplish according to the true Being the true Godservice with the gift or offering of his flesh in the holy namely on the true Altar of the holy offering which is his Cross whereon he died in the Belief whereof the services after the manner of the Levitical Priests office out of Aaron in the holy were figures and became even so fulfilled in the Pass-over of Iesu Christ. 4. Herewith Christ shewed unto his Disciples how or in what manner his flesh must be offered and given over to a life of men and that they all even so which in the Belief of the safe-making from their sins ate his flesh and followed after him even into the second birth should have the life in fulness in all godly cleerness according to the spirit 5. NOw when he had set forth all this before them namely that the Father would glorifie his Son Christ with the same cleerness which he had with the Father ere ever the foundation of the world was laid and that they should also drink the cup of his Passover with him so began he then his Passover with them gave them the bread the which came from heaven and was his true flesh out of the seed of Dâ—vid to eat and gave them likewise after that to drink out of the Cup which is his passion his true blood which is his holy life of the new Testament 6. Thus have they eaten his flesh drunk his blood which was given over for many to a memorial in what sort the death and suffering or the Passover of the Lord Jesu Christ is till unto his renewing of the life to the intent that they all which believed in him should follow him therein and have the life of his godly Being in fulness and that their joy might be perfect 7. BEhold this is the true Pascha or Supper of the Lord Jesu Christ which he wil that we all like as his Disciples have kept the same with Jesus Christ after the flesh shall also keep in such wise with him after the flesh eat his flesh drink of his blood and and go thorow his Passover with him 8. For even so kept the Disciples of Christ the Pascha with him or the supper of his passover namely that Christ after the flesh although he had given them his body to eat and his blood to drink suffered among them the death of the Cross and was buried and they knew not of his declaring after the Spirit until that he was made alive again by his Father and appeared unto them in godly cleerness 9. Even thus is Christ in his Passover gone before his Disciples and believers to the end that they all should also in such sort with his body and blood which they had eaten or taken into them follow after him in the same passover remember and confess his passion â—ufâ—ering or death and become even so implanted with like death into him or baptised in his death until that they with the body and blood of Christ which they had taken â—nto them were passed or gone thorow the same passover till unto the second birth of the making alive with Christ in godly cleerness according to the Spirit 10. Behold this is the right Passover with Christ or the rigth Supper which the upright Believers and Disciples of Christ keep with Christ to wit that they depart â—ven so with Christ out of the flesh into â—he Spirit and out of the death or mortality â— into the eternal life of everlasting immortaâ—ity wherethrough the sin and all destruction becometh vanquished 11. What we had here more to say of tâ—e doctrine of Christ of his Disciples and of what sort they are is declared in the Glass â—f Righteousness The XXII Chapter NOw when Iesus Christ was found faithful in the death of his Cross till â—nto his Burial to a true Passover out of â—he flesh into the making alive according â—o the Spirit and was also through the power of God his Father raised up from the death and made alive again and that he hath shewed himself in his making alive unto his Disciples for that they should stedfastly believe so was he then wholy taken up from the eys of their flesh and he set himself according to the Spirit at the right hand of God his Father in the heavenly Being and entred even so as the true high Priest when as the service had perfectly ended his course according to the true Being in the holy into the most holy 2. His Disciples therefore were mindful of all this and what he had said unto them and remained within Ierusalem waiting concordably with supplication and prayer for the promises of the Father until that Christ after the spirit appeared unto them out of the heavenly Being the most holy in the holy in spiritual and heavenly powers like as he after the Spirit and according to the truth of the heavenly Godhead is an everlasting and true Christ of God 3. BUt when as now the time was come about that Christ declared his glory and the office of his high Priesthood according to the Spirit unto his disciples so sprinkled he by them the holy of the true Tabernacle of God his father with his blood which is the true Testament to an everlasting remissiom of the sins of his people even like as the former described pattern doth also in the figurative services shew forth the same unto us And this is his holy Spirit that he poured forth upon his Disciples to an everlasting stedfast Jerusalem descending from heaven which is not prepared of men but of God himself 4. Behold these Disciples of Christ in as much as that they had followed Christ in the death of his Cross and were in the sâ—cond birth or in the renewing of their mind filled with the holy Ghost have thus understood the truth of Christ and rightly known Christ like as he is a true Christ of God in the Spirit and according to the Spirit 5. But when as now Christ with his holy Spirit and with full cleerness of God his Father had gotten a living shape in his Disciples then published they the same wonderful works of God which they had seen and heard and which were become known unto them through the power of the holy Ghost in Ierusalem and witnessed that the same should also so come to pass in the last days 7. COnsider ye dearly beloved how that the disciples of Christ which were daily conversant with Christ after the flesh which also heard his word and with whom Christ spake much of the mysterie of the kingdom of God and of his cleerness which he had with his Father could not understand the naked cleerness of God nor Christ in his true Being like as he is a true light and the very true
Congregation or flock of Christ. 11. For that cause they are also fore-goers unto them that are growing up to Elders in the mortifying burying of the sin and the ministers of the holy word in the holy of the true offering that is in the keeping of the Pascha or Passeover with Christ in his Supper wherein the death of the sin at the end of the same the making alive of the man cometh to pass 12. With which service they inform and are serviceable to the Priests or Elders which are a-coming on namely unto the weaned Lambes which are weaned or withdrawn from the milk of their youngness and growing up to the old-age of a sheep of Christ or which increase them in the godly wisdom of Christ till unto the old age of the holy understanding of Christ and of the godly wisdome of the oldest Father or chief Bishop 13. For because of this same service in the holy and because of their manly old age of the holy understanding such ministers of the holy Word were in time past in the true being named Bishops or Superiours of the Elders either Pastours of the sheep of Christ. 14. THe next unto the Bishops are named Parish-Priests or Curates which signifie unto us Levitical priests or adjoyned Pastors and Elders of the holy understanding as those that are joyned and ordained to the ministration of the holy Priests office and to the service of the Communalty for to minister even so in the service of the holy Word the fore-front of the holy Tabernacle or the entrance of the Church of Christ either beginning of the Christian life in his Service and Requiring Which Elders are chosen and joyned to the Service of the holy Word because they leave or let pass the childhood or youngness of the holy understanding and grow up according to the requiring of the service of Love unto the manly agedness of Christ that is unto the true being of the oldest and holiest Father or pass forth after the Perfection and even so go before the Communalty of the Believers in the Circumcision of the heart or in the laying away of the sin in the Flesh in all fear of God 15. For that cause they have also their Service in the Congregation or Church of Christ namely in the fore-front that is where the Sanctification or godliness or the new birth in Christ hath his beginning to a laying away of the sin in the â—lesh 16. Hereunto serve the Parish-priests as to â—â—ch procuratours or helpers forward of â—he communiâ—lities for to bear a good care over them and to witness â—nd teach them daily the holy understanding of Christ the oldest Father according to the ordinance of their Bishop to a leading of them into the holy of the true God-service in the Spirit where the purging and forgiveness of sins cometh to pass to the end that the communiality should even so with the service of the holy word be peaceably sustained and nourished and live godly in all love and concord 17. THe next unto the Parish-Priests are named Deacons Which signifie unto us Ministers or helpers of the Parish-priests in the holy God-services to the end that it all whatsoever concerneth the service of the holy Word and the godly doctrine might be orderly and godly ministred among the Communialities 18. THe next unto the Deacons are named Sextons Which signifie unto us conservers or keepers of the holy things or to whom the charge of holy things to be used in their Ordinance is committed that they might be occupied in due or convenient time 19. AMong all those there are also risen up many manner of Orders wherethrough many anointed ones and zealous People have sought the righteousness and holy ones which are named Monks Which signifie unto us such as dwell alone and are through the love of the righteousness sanctified and for that cause also separated from the World and from all what is worldly and fleshly for to live even so as sanctified ones of God in the solitariness of their life wholly in God and in his holy being 20. For such as were mortified touching the world and the flesh with all self-lusts and desires and busied them not with any thing save only with the things which concerned God and his righteousness were in time past so named 21. NExt unto all these forenamed anointed ones are the common People which believe and cleave unto the Services Religions Ceremonies of the anointed and which also humble them to the requiring of those same The which are named Christians and are yet unanointed and signifie unto us the Christian Church or the Congregation of Christians or anointed ones which are assembled through the service of the holy Word by the Elders of the holy understanding unto the sanctification in Jesu Christ and before whom the costly treasures of the holy things or of the spiritual and heavenly goods are set forth unto Salvation in Christ and which also submit them obediently under the doctrine of the anointed ones or spiritual persons which daily hold forth the law or ordinance of the Lord before them and teach them how they should live also come to the spiritual understanding or new Birth in Christ and what they ought to do and leave undone 22. And they that remaine live and walk without the same Christianity or her Congregation with al them that are not incorporated as fellow-members of the Church of Christ into the same are named Heathen which have their forth-going without Christ and his Church in the Heathenship or uncircumcision also are captived or blinded with darkness and cannot obtaine nor inherit any Salvation nor everlasting life with Christ. 23. BEhold All this hath been even so in times past in his true being whenas the light of life had his clearness and the belief of Iesu Christ her service in the holy ones of God the renewed or godded men upon the Earth But all this same as touching the knowledg thereof according to his upright being is become darkned or secret before many and the truth and right ordinance of the same also utterly unknown All which shall now in this day of love be restored or brought againe through the revealing of the coming of Christ and of his holy Spirit into his upright state and true being or Christian ordinance and flourish or become forcible according to the promises The XXXII Chapter NOw when these Services of the Images or figures to a memorial of the holy things which were tofore chanced concerning Christ and his holy ones had stood a long season in their Service so have many People been drawn therewithall which respected and believed those same for the very true and perfect God-services and works of righteousness which God required and they were likewise so set forth and taught by many namely after the manner as it also chanced in times past with the
wish much grace and Salvation in the Lord here have I endeavoured me to express and signifie unto you all out of our most holy service of love the counsel mind and will of God whereunto every one is debtour to humble and to submit himself obediently also Gods wonderfull work with his holy ones which the wicked world hath never known nor understood and which also bideth alwayes and for ever hidden or secret before the same and the declaration of the foregoing services of God and how that they all lead and have their ministration unto the service of love which is ministred out of the most holy of the true Tabernacle of God thus largely and in the most simple manner and each ones service briefly and with few words to an assistance and introduction unto those heavenly things which shall yet in their manifestation of clearness in the Spirit be seen and spoken of in the most perfect manner 2. For thereunto do we under the obedience of the love shew forth our service namely towards all them that God stirreth into our way and that assemble them unto us which also love the truth of the declaration of the true God-services and Christian Ceremonies and desire to accomplish the requiring of those same To the end that they all which seek after the truth of Jesu Christ and read or hear these godly testimonies of our writings mought be somewhat furthered with this assistance or hand-teaching to the knowledge of the truth of Jesu Christ and that the true God-services and Ceremonies which lead unto the godliness mought be in their upright use and whereto each ones God-service reacheth seen into and understood of them according to the truth and that likewise the unilluminated and unregenerated men mought then even so understand and know that they ought not through any taking out of the knowledge of the Scripture nor through any knowledge which ariseth in their hearts to set forth to preach nor to teach any services nor Ceremonies wherewith doubtless they seduce themselves and other moe but that they ought first humbly to turn them unto the Word of grace to submit them obediently under the service of love wherein the true light cometh with full clearness to give eare and credit to the same and to accomplish his requiring For in the same service every one shall receive good resolution and instruction how for to come to the new birth in Jesus Christ and to what manner of accomplishment the services and Ceremonies ought to be used and obeyed in their right use 3. And thereto and to the unity of heart in the love is likewise all my service chieffest unto all lovers of the truth That they all which love the truth mought now come-somewhat nearer unto us in the holy understading and be concordably minded with us under the obedience of the love to the unity of the heart in Jesu Christ and become assembled unto us and that they should then even so so much the better understand the holy mind of our God the true service of love wherein God the most highest hath comprehended us and the heavenly truth witnessed in The glass of righteousness and administred out of love in this declaration 4. FOr that cause my desire is unto you all which read and hear these our writings that ye will diligently revolve in minde and throughly measure our upright and undeceiveable service shewed on you and the ground of this same and have an inspection and consideration with pure devotion unto God upon the understanding of every particular sentence and whereunto the same serveth to the lightning of our understanding And take even so good heed unto the hearty mercifulness of God shewed on you through the service of love 5. For out of grace undeserved is this mystery of the works of God uncovered unto you all which love the truth and presently in this day of love is the Evangely of the Kingdome which is breathed on and brought unto us now in the last time out of of the word of grace and out of the Spirit of the living God to the procreating of the living souls of Sion published or evangelized in these perilous times to the Salvation and Preservation of you all To the end that you mought now in the last time be led out from the wicked world and from her perverse generations be released from all conceited opinions which the man taketh to him out of the knowledge of the Scripture and have your communion or society with us 6. For our communion in this true light of the love is the uniformity with God the Father with his son our Lord Jesus Christ with the holy Ghost the pledge of the promises of our Inheritance and with all the holy ones of God in the heavenly being It is very true The XLI Chapter UNto this same grace which is this day O ye lovers of the truth with all ye which love the upright and lovely life of the love proffered unto you and to the same Majesty of God and communiality of his holy ones which is this day declared unto you ye are all presently called and invited 2. For seeing that this great grace and hearty love is chanced unto us through the appearing of the glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ from God the Father and that the Lord hath stirred us up in the end of the world and sent us in the right time for to gather together his chosen holy ones unto the mercy-seat of the of the Majesty of God to unity of heart in the love of Jesu Christ So pass we with the presenting of the same grace and intire love of God thorow the Nations of People from the chiefest in the understanding and knowledge of the Scripture even unto the smallest and simplest For the sound of the last trumpet namely the voice or testimony of the grace of the holy Spirit of love shall be heard in all the world 3. Happy is he which to day heareth this voice and hardeneth not his heart but believing the Word becometh assembled unto the body of Jesu Christ the mercy-seat of the majesty of God and entreth into the rest of the Lord. 4. BEhold thereto is our service among all Nations of the people If happily we mought find any lovers of the truth which seek God and his righteousness with all their heart and assemble them with us to our communiality of love the onely Body of Christ and that they mought even so enter with us and all the children of God into the rest of the Lord to their preservation in this day of the righteous judgment of God 5. For that cause let every one take now good heed unto this Day and have regard what the holy Spirit of love requireth 6. For whosoever assembleth not himself in this day unto the body of Jesu Christ under the obedience of his
in the same the compass of the Earth with Righteousness that one Man Iesus Christ in whom he hath decreed it which holds forth the Belief before every one inasmuch as God hath raised him from Death 12. See and consider This is the Day of Renewing the very newest Day to the Honour and Glory of the supreme God and to a great Joy and Gladness for us all which love the Righteousness 13. Clap now your hands together with Joy yea all which love the Righteousness in the Peace of Christ Sing and shout now unto God with a joyful noise 14. For the Lord the most highest is terrible and a great King on all the earth 15. For now in this Day of his Love He hath prepared his Seat unto Judgement that the Earth and the People should be judged uprightly 16. From henceforth shall he whom God hath foreseen and elected thereto sit upon the Lord his seat which shall think upon Equity and require Righteousness 17. Whose Seed the Lord shall make to endure for ever and his Seat shall be like the Days of Heaven 18. Through the same and his service the Righteous shall now in this Day flourish like a Palm tree He shall increase or grow up like a Cedar tree on Libanus 19. And all they that are planted in the House of the Lord shall wax green in the Courts of our God and flourish or blossom in the old age of the holy understanding as those that are fat and lusty or well prepared for to publish that the Lord is just 20. Now shall the Righteous see their Desire and rejoyce them and all Unrighteousness shall be compelled to stop his mouth in this day of the Glory of God 21. For now in this Day the City of the Lord shall be builded in her old place or former estate and the Temple of the Lord or Tabernacle of his Dwelling shall stand like as it ought to stand namely inwardly in us in the Being of the holy Spirit of Iesus Christ. 22. Have now a good regard hereunto ye wise and understanding ones which receive the righteousness into your Hearts â—nd ye all which daily search the Scripture and consider how that all what the Scripture saith shall in such wise become fulfilled or accomplished The IV. Chapter BEhold I declare unto you this day the ground of the scriptures and will in cleeâ—ness reciâ—e unto you many Acts or things chanced of the secret Mysteries of Goâ— and partly also of the Dealing of Man beginning from the former Kingdom wherein the Man was set till unto this last Day of the perfect glory of God In the which the former Kingdom becometh declared and brought again in all loveliness of the upright Being unto the Man according to the Promises 2. From this former Kingdom full of all Righteousness Love Peace and Amiableness the man hath from the Beginning turned away his heart and fell away from or was disobedient unto the word of God the upright life of his true light 3. In which falling away of the man and in the turning unto himself and unto his taken on darkness it is become manifest and known that the man which walketh therein and becometh not turned again unto his God nor incorporated into the true Christ of God hath the most crafty and subtilest heart among all that liveth and dwelleth upon the earth 4. The which may now evidently be perceived by divers people which vaunt or give forth themselves for Christians and as iâ—luminated Men that are Masters of the Scripture namely how crafty subtil and perverse of heart and how darkned in their understanding that they yet are 5. And what a perverse Nature they find oftentimes in them that will I good willingly leave unto themselves to consider of to the end that if the Lord vouchsafed the same they might judge themselves therein and even so understand or well perceive that no man how wise or understanding soever he be in the knowledge of the Scripture can by any meanes comprehend or understand the Wisdom of God nor yet see know find nor receive the Gifts of God nor the powers of the holy Ghost but onely they that stand good willingly and obediently submitted under the Word of life which proceedeth and hath his outflowing from the quarter or place where the Sun the true day light of the most highest shineth 6 For that cause consider now well on the State of men and what a nature love and being there is found by them that being without the Communalty of the love are out of their own knowledge and Scripture learnedness Judges of the Scripture or that have taken the same upon them so shall ye then certainly perceive that all such are yet strangers unto the holy Spirit of the love of Iesus Christ and that they all likewise are mingled with wyliness subtilty and falshood and are without the body of Christ or without the upright Christianity 7. If then these which notwithstanding seem to be wise and understanding and can prate much of spiritual and heavenly things be yet strangers unto the holy spirit and unto the true love and utterly without the body of Christ or the true Christianity and held Captive with a wicked nature so consider then how wide and far estranged that the brutish world and all that are Enemies or Resisters of the Doctrine of love must yet needs be from the same Christian being and with how many manner of falshood and wicked nature they are yet held captive 8. If ye now ponder this same according to the truth and throughly measure it all by the being of upright Christianity so shall ye then verily begin well to perceive that it is now the dangerous and horrible time of desolation whereof the Scripture in many places witnesseth in which also few shall be saved or preserved for that all understanding hath now so utterly corrupted his way in the knowledge and cannot well therefore submit it self single mindedly with humbleness of heart in all obedience of the word and Subjection unto the love with us little ones and God his elect 9. Whilst we now daily perceive this same by the Children of men and that we are in these dangerous times become great with child with the word of life and milch with the brests of the love and of the holy understanding for to give suck therewithal unto the young Children which is born out of the seed of the gracious Word and his doctrine or testimonies and out of the service of the holy Spirit of the love and to nourish them up unto the old age of the holy understanding of Christ so cometh now verily that wo upon us whereof Christ hath heretofore spoken wo unto them that are with child and to them that give suck at that time c. 10. For we are
great with child and cry aloud like unto a woman with child when as she at the time of her travel is ready to bring forth But who heareth us or to whom is the arm of the Lord known verily unto few because many of them are wise in their own conceit and will judge the godly truth out of their knowledge or perswade themselves that they with their prudent understanding see rightly into all things and for that cause need not to harken unto the word of grace which God hath brought unto us out of his true light neither yet to humble them unto the service of the same 11. Oh these Ignorances of the unwilling unto the gracious word and his requiring which we dayly see and hear by them do work us very much wo anguish and sorrow in our hearts 12. Therefore may we now in this perillous time rightly say with the Prophet Isaiah that it goeth also with us in the presence of the Lord like as with a woman with child which through fear or smart cryeth out in her travel for we are with child and travel in birth and we are so full of anguish and wo that we can scantly draw our breath 13. Howbeâ—t although all this come upon us and that we daily pass thorow this â—ame and must be fain to indure or suffer much falshood at our adversaries hands yet cannot we therefore help the earth for that the Inhabitors of the world will not fal down or humble themselves nor yet forsake or leave the falshood of the unrepentant unregenerated men 14. For that cause our hope standeth now in this day very little on many Inhabitors of the world for of them there shall few come which shall mean or adjoyn them unto the love and the requiring of her service with all their heart and yet many fewer which shall persever therein unto the end 15. Therefore hope we with joy much more on the appearing of the dead which dy in the Lord or are dead in him to wit that they in their Resurrection from the death shall livingly come before either meet with us For all the dead of the Lord or members of Christ shall now live and rise with their bodies and we shall assemble us with them and they with us to one body in Iesus Christ into one lovely being of the love and be all together concordable in the love and peace of Iesus Christ. 16. Behold ye dearly beloved with those shall our life and joy be both now and for evermore For we which follow with them the footsteps of Christ shal in their appeaing or manifestation raign with the lamb which hath made us Kings and Priests upon earth 17. This see and know we now nakedly and truly Therefore have we which are now in this day of love adjoyned and incorporated into the body of Christ here in our Consolation amoag each other and set our Comfort much more on the righteous which are dead then on the living ungodly 18. For this is now the day of the Glorious pomp and tryumph of Christ in his coming wherein Christ to our consolation meeteth us livingly and in glory with his former Holy ones and maketh manifest and bringeth the word of the Lord namely the former Kingdom full of all beauty and lovelyness which God hath prepared from the beginning for his elect in his perfection and in his naked cleerness and maketh us heirs therein together with all his holy ones 19. In which Kingdom of everlasting perfection all minds of pure hearts do dwell and live without fear freely lovely and peaceably Yea therethrough becometh it presently seen how that the Lord glorifieth himself in his holy ones and becometh wonderful in his believers 20. Now this passed over we will declare from the falling away or disobedience of the man forth the earnest love which God hath always till unto this same day shewed towards the man through his elected ministers for to bring him again unto the heritable beauty of the former Kingdom from which he hath turned him away and how God in process of time is approched neerer unto us in cleerness with his true light and hath now at the last in the day of his love declared the most holy of his tabernacle in his absolute beauty and perfection and brought the same unto us to the establishing of his promises 21. What we had here more to say of the former Kinâ—dom and of his lovelyness beauty Garnishing and riches and of the mans falling away is nakedly expressed and declared in the glass of righteousness The V. Chapter BEhold and consider ye dearly beloved how that God after the man's falling away hath alwayes shewed his love on the man and promised him even so to the destroying of the sin to set Enmity betwixt the Serpent whose head is the sin and the woman which consented to the sin and betwixt the Serpents seed and the Womans seed to the treading down of the head of the Serpent and how that the same promised Enmity against the sin and the sinfull seed had her beginning by the single minded Abel which Abel offered up his willing gift or offering out of a good heart unto the God of heaven and was slain by the wicked Nature of the sin through the hands of his Brother Cain and how that Seth after the death of Abel was placed by God to be another seed in the plaâ—e of Abel to the establishing of the foresaid promise of God as also how that Seth which is the second seed in the place of Abel and his seed is the right stock or linage whereout the believers and Children of God namely all they that have been enemies unto the sin are born or brought forth to the establishing of the promises of God â—he Father 2. But all other people or Generations which were born upon the earth without the stock of Seth and also they that walked not in the state of Abel according to the manner or ordinances of Seth were not of the right stock of Seth but they were forain branches which turned them away there-from and were never prudent nor understanding in the godly wisdom but very well in their own self knowledge and good-thinking wherewith they turned unto themselves and forsook even so the upright Childishness and Simplicity and the willing oblation or God service of Abel 3. Abel signifieth unâ—o us a breath or a young manhood by whom there is yet no more prudence then a breath of God which proceedeth from God and breatheth to God again It signifieth also emptiness or any what whereto there is not yet any thing added of the ordinance of the Lord. Cain signifieth unto us a possession or one is possessed in bondship by the sin or is mastered or overwon by the same and applyeth him not according to the word nor law of the Lord. Seth signifieth unto us an
uprâ—ghtly before God 2. Whose Children also went forth evermore in all Simplicity and righteousness according to the example of the simplicity of Abel and after the manner of Seâ—h Noah and Sâ—â— till unto Abram which name signifieth unto us Old Father or a glorious Fâ—â—her to wiâ— one which hath attained or is grown up to the old age of the true and hâ—ly understanding and therefore is meet to take him a wife and to beget Children for to nourish them up also unto such an old age to the end that there might continually be found upright Fathers and Elders of the holy understanding which multiplyed them into such an upright and holy generations in all fruifulness to many thouâ—ands on the earth Abram was also by the Lord named Abraham which signifieth unto us a Father of many people 3. THis Abram which dwelled with his generations among the heathen and lived and walked uprightly according to the stock of his Fathers was indued with understanding above or more than all other people or heathen both in the godly wisdom and in the heathenish prudence 4. Whilst now his wisdom was born out of the right stock of Seth Noah and Sem and far excelled the wisdom of the world or the understanding of the heathen and that he even so had regard unto the upright being of God and the simplicity of Abel and walked in the upright righteousness of his Fathers so was it also given him to understand the secretness of the works of God Wherethrough he knew how to distinct or divide the form of the everlasting and unchangeable being of the supream Godhead from the form of the elementish things and the word which proceedeth or hath his out flowing out of the living and almighty God from the word of men which proceedeth out of the mans ingeniousnes or imagination of the knowledge 5. In the same time of Abraham the whilest that he dwelled among the heathen God had not upon earth any written services or Ceremonies nor Temple or Tabernacle wrought with mens hands And all generations of the earth or heathen which were not of the right stock of the holy Fathers walked in the seperation from God in the cursing And God had compassion on all the generations of the earth which for their ignorances cause and estranging from God must bear the cursing 6. For that cause God chose him Abram and called him out of the Nations of the Heathen as the principallest among all people which was in the godly understanding and in the simplicity of Abel according to the manner or ordinance of Seth Noah and Sem neerest unto God for to understand the Lord his word and will through whom God would take in hand and set forth some singulâ—r thing to the blessing of al the generations of the Heathen 7 And the Lord spake unto Abram go out of thy Native Country from thy kindred and from thy Fathers horse and â—ourney into a land that I will shew thee And I will make of thee a great people I will bless thee and make thee a great Name and thou shalt be a blessing I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee For in thee shall all generations of the â—arth be blessed 8. Consider here now ye beloved how that the Lord calleth and leadeth thâ— wisdom of the holy understanding out of the foolishness of the heathen and his elected stock or upright Olive tree out of all wild or unfruitfull Olive trees for to plant the same and his seed in a good land that it may continually bring forth convenient fruits unto the Lord to the intent that the strange sprouts grown out of the wilde Olive trees might even so be cut off and graffed into this upright Olive tree and bring forth good fruits out of the sap or growing of the upright Olive tree For in suchsort would God make Abram great that he might also be named Abraham and a father of many heathen according to the promises 9. Even thus doth the Scripture testifie unto us that God himself would make Abraham great and not that Abraham in the promises which were made unto him should make himself great or multiply him into many people but that it should all come to pass in such wise as the Lord had promised him the same like as there standeth written I saith the Lord will make of thee a great people I will increase thy seed This is the Lord his own work and not mans 10. Now when as Abraham had heard the word of the Lord and understood the mind or will of God so beleeved or trusted he the Lord in his word and that was â—ounted unto him for righteousness For in all this same Abraham stood wholy given over and was with all single mindedness obedient unto the Lord in his requiring without surmising any evil cogitations there over or making any suspition of the knowledge touching the same The VII Chapter BUt when as now Abraham dwelled in the land which the Lord had shewed him and promised unto his seed for an everlasting possession and that the promises to the Salvation of the heathen were freely given unto him so hath God furthermore with his godly wisdom dealt very prudently with Abraham and his seed that is God hath at all times revealed unto Abraham and to the right stock of his seed in naked cleerness how that he is an eternal and living God and which are according to the truth his upright laws Institutions and rites and of what maner or which is the upright house or the true Seat Temple or Tabernacle for his holy dwelling 2. Of which true Tabernacle the Lord hath prepared or builded the forefront in his true being to a dwelling for his glory and to the blessing of all men by the Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob on the earth namely in the Circumcision which God hath ordained or set for an everlasting covenant between him and Abraham and his seed 3. This true forefront of the Sanctuary of God which God hath prepared or builded in his Covenant of Circumcision is the true fear of God through which fear of God the foreskin of the sinful flesh was cut off or laid away from the hearts of Abraham's houshold and thus they became seperated from al iniquity and from al disorder of the heathen or uncircumcised for to serve even so the living God alone in his sincere righteousness and godliness 4. For that cause to the end that all they of Abraham's houshold should always serve the living God alone in the fear of God so was the Lord his true Covenant of Circumcision to an everlasting and stedfast covenant made thus with Abraham that the foreskin of all them that be born in the houshold of Abraham and are manly should be cut away from their flesh 5. Behold this Covenant of Circumcision would God that Abraham and his seed after him
his Host escaped thereout nor remained alive 31. The which signifieth unto us in cleerness the perishing or going under of the ignorant or unknown sins which in the strictness reigned over Israel and burdned them very sore 32. The red Sea signifieth unto us the Hope namely for the People of the Lord an hope to come unto some better thing wherein the children of Israel obtained room when they were persecuted and which was opened before them that they might pass therethrough but closed or stopped before their enemies which persecuted them and went also therein with an hope to destroy the children of Israel and so they were all drowned therein 33. Thus the children of Israel journeyed through the protection of the Lord until they came unto the wilderness Sinai unto Mount Sinai which signifieth unto us a Thorny thicket or a thorny Desart 34. WHat we had here more to say of the multiplying of the children of Israel in Egypt and of their Departing or leading forth out of the same land is declared in the Glass of Righteousness The XI Chapter THe while now that the children of Israel became weary in their journey they murmured against Moses and Aaron and also against the Lord and became likewise unwilling to enter into the good land complayning that they were departed out of Egypt wherethrough we may perceive and understand that they have turned away from the doctrine and requiring of Moses as also from the right stock of Abraham and from his belief and were turned into their own knowledge and self seeking and for that cause they knew believed or understood not the works of God his waies Institutions and laws nor yet his word in such sort as their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob had known believed and understood 2. Therefore the Lord came down to the Children of Israel upon Mount Sinai and called unto him Moses and Aaron and caused his word to be heard exceeding loud of all the people making manifest unto them how that he was the Lord. He taught them likewise which or in what sort his law Commandments institutions and rites were wherein their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob had lived uprightly 3. Now when the Lord had caused them to hear his word exceeding loud they were afraid at the Sound of the same word because they loved him not nor yet knew his voice And for that cause they would not the Lord but Moses should speak unto them 4. HErewithal O ye goodwilling hearts consider and look into the matter how that the Lord would nor declare nor make known his secrets nor his councel mind or will of that which he either in the present time or in the time to come would do accomplish or atchieve with them unto such as had none other will desire or love unto him nor yet shewed thankfulnâ—ss for all the goodness love faithfulness and mercy wherewith God informed or trained them neither would he set up or perform the service of his true being according to his heavenly truth by them nor yet bring such unto his rest For they could not in their unbelief and disobedience comprehend or understand that which God required at their hands 5. In like manner will the Lord now also in these last days not make manifest his secret counsel mind and will unto the unbelievers and disobedient but unto them that seek him with all their heart believe and obey his word in the requiring of his service and have a desire to do his will The which cannot come to pass by any man but by them that have an unlust and unwil to themselves and that even so for the Lord's cause forsake hate and leave themselves and all what they have learned and taken on unto them 6. BEhold by such that love the wisdom of the Lord his word and Instruction and his righteousness will the Lord erect the service of his true being make manifest himself establish his promises and bring them unto his rest as also dwell live and walk in them 7. Therefore hath the Lord in times past not made manifest or erected his true service according to the heavenly truth or his being of perfect righteousness by the people which loved themselves and were unbelieving towards him and his ministers wherethrough the wrath of the Lord came upon them and they might not entâ—r in his rest but hath let them see the same through Moses in images figures and shadows and hath even so set forth before them through Moses the patern which was figured forth according to the very true to an example of the very true and to a doctrine which reacheth or leadeth to the very true witnessing there withall before al eys of godly understanding that the very true and perfect of the same was with the Lord. 8. Which absolute or perfect being of the same example patern and doctrine God would in the time to come bring in plant and set up by the children of men which would believe God and be good willing unto the obedience of his requiring 9. Therefore chanced not the services of the images and figures only for their sakes which tempted God and where unbelieving but for our sakes we which are presentâ—y in the end of the world stirrâ—d up and goodwilling unto the true being of God to the end that they all which love the Lord with all their heart and humble them under the obedience of the love might now understand and know the Lord's love and godness which he hath unto man and the true being or perfection of his lovely righteousness out of the images and figures also forsake and got out of themselves and so live therein 10. This same can we in the former figured example comprehend and understand like as we may also behold in the images that none other inhabiteth inheriteth or cometh unto the Kingdom full of the glory and maiesty of God but he that hath an unwil or unlust to himself and so cleaveth with whole heart unto Christ as is abovesaid The XII Chapter MOreover the Lord hath written his law institutions and rites in two tables of stone and given them unto Moses he shewed Moses also all the sanctuary of his tabernacle and gave him likewise therewith divers convenient laws or ordinances which he should set forth before the children o Israel which were ignorant of God's Law Institutions and Rites or of the convenient Ordinances of the Lord to the end that the Ordinances and Services of the Lord might be even so all prepared according to the same pattern which the Lord gave unto Moses upon mount Sinai and so the same prefiguration be observed with diligent service for a stedfast memorial of the same true Being in the Priests office of Aaron until that the glory of God and his love towards Israel should be brought through Christ the promises of God the Father to the
blessing of all generations of the earth declared known and established and the true Being of the services of the Images and figures in the Spirit and in all truth erected in the obedience of the Belief 2. And this forementioned service of the Images Figures and Shadows wherein the perfection of the true Tabernacle of God with his true services of the spiritual and heavenly goods was well to be perceived had the foregoing in his service and became fruitful with the children of Israel and brought forth a serviceable seed of Righteousness after the manner as is said of Agar the which is the Elders Testament 3. For the Belief whereout the true and free seed of the upright Righteousness to the establishing of the promises of God becometh brought forth was yet closed after the manner as is said of Sara Which Belief is the true Testament that bringeth forth the free children of God according to the Spirit 4. Thus the Lord joyneth him unto the service for that the service might be fruitful to obtain yet at the last the seed of promise out of the Belief and the children of the service multiplyed into many and became a great people Howbeit the Lord's promises were not established nor his covenant erected therewith 5. For the same service was not the very true but it was unto the people which were yet captived with darkness a foregoing light in Images and figures before the face or perfect light of the Lord. 6. Which foregoing service had also cleerness in his service and for that cause it is also a Testament of the holy Fathers added unto the promises to a sustaining of the Lord's people in their youngness or ignorance until that the barren became fruitful and that the fruit could live 7. ACcording to this same manner had this Testament administred by the Elders of the holy Understanding the foregoing and his fruitfulness with the unillumiâ—ated until that the Belief out of the power of God became with childe through the holy Ghost and bare or brought forth a new man or a new creature according to the beiâ—g of the hâ—avâ—nly Gâ—dhead by the Beleevers and illuminated them even so in their spirit and mind with the upright righteousness and hâ—liness For this is the right prâ—creatioâ— to the renewing of the spirit aâ—d mind of the believers and is also the true new Testament which God hath promised to erect with his people 8. Which new Testament is the very true that God himself witnesseth in his people which are obedient unto him out of faith in the service of his word and bringeth even so unto them in the spirit of their mind the true God-service of the spiritual and heavenly goods and writeth according to his godâ—y and heavenly Truth his law institutions and rites in the being of their inward mind 9. In such sort worketh the Lord the holy one in Israel and bringeth forth even so his children sons and daughters servants and handmaids upon which he in these last days poureth forth his Spirit and remembreth no more thâ—ir sins For they are a reconciled people uâ—to him which do in all his Wiâ—l 10. BEhold and consider such is the new Testament with his children For that same new Testament is in his children the heaven the seat of the most highest also spirit and life And for that cause it is with his childreâ— heavenly spiritually and livingly minded Which children of the new Testament love not the world nor that which is in the world inasmuch as that the new Testament is wholy and altogether of God also the love the life and the upright being of the holy Ghost it self 11. But the Elders Testament is the serviceable word which is administred out of the spirit and life of God with unspeakable words writings or letters and which also figureth forth and expresseth unto us to wit serviceably in parables and in Images or Figures the new and very true Testament which is heavenly spiritual and living and endureth for ever and bringeth the believers unto the same 12. What we had here more to say of the Old and New Testament and what either others being in it self is and of the bringing in and use of the imagelike and figurative Services is declared in the Glass of Righteousness The XIII Chapter IN all that which the Lord shewed Moses so elected he Aaron which was of the tribe of Levi and his sons to Priests or Elders for to minister the figurative Tabernacle in his service with all that which was figuratively prepared thereunto 2. Which Priesthood with his Service in such wise as Aaron ministred the same pleased God well that it should have the foregoing unto the entrance of the godliness by the unilluminated people which knew nor understood not the verity of the true light and even so alwaies bide stable be ministred among them till unto the new birth in the true light to the end that the Priests or Elders of the holy understanding should daylie set forth in their service or Priests office unto which God had joyned or added his promises the Law of the Lord and the Testament of his covenant before the unilluminated people to a memorial of the promises of God to a sustentation of them whereout one yet hopeth for some better thing until that the true of that which was ministred came unto them in the Belief to the establishing of the promises and that the same should then likewise in true cleerness be seen and heard by them as also out of the power of the supreme Godhead spoken witnessed or confessed of them namely the true light come out of Heaven in blessing and with blessing according to the manner of Melchisedech And this same true light is the anointed with the holy Ghost 3. Which anointed is named in Hebrew Messias and in Greek Christus He was also in times past called of certain Rabbins among the Jews the Lord's Sabbath and they said that the same anointed is the seventh day in the paradise of God wherein God rested from all his works and is the perfection The which is also very true 4. For this same Messias or anointed is the Sabbath day which the Lord hath commanded to be always had in remembrance that we when the same cometh might rest therein and hallow or sanctifie the same wherein the law the service of the preisthood of Aaron out of Levi and the elders testament doth cease hath accomplished his service 5. For the same anointed which cometh at that time out of heaven with his anointing of the holy Ghost in the spirit and is the very like being of the Godhead it self he is a priest of the most highest higher and greater of dignity then Aaron because he bideth everlastingly and is a minister of the spiritual and heavenly goods in the very true being 6. VVHere now
then the Law and the Services do in such wise change by the believers of the Anointed to wit out of the figures into the true being and out of the letter or serviceable word into the revealing of the holy Spirit of Christ there is also then by those same the Priests office changed For Christ the honorable Priest cometh unto them from the right hand of God the Father out of the heavenly Being which hath or useth not his servce after the manner or ordinance of Aaron which is yet a teaching or requiring to observe the Will or the Righteousness of the law of the Lord but after the manner or ordinance of Melchisedech which bringeth with him the Blessing the accomplishing of the Law or of the Lord's will the salvation of life and the anointing of the holy Ghost to a pledge of the godly inheritance and to an everlasting treasure or riches of God and reigneth in the righteousness of the same 7. Melchisedech signifieth unto us One that ruleth in the Perfection which is called a King of Righteousness And in him is the fulfilling of the Law and of the service of the Prophets Therefore theâ—e shall not one Letter nor the very least 〈◊〉 fall from the Law until all come to pass 8. OH alas How grosly then have certain wise of the world and Scripture learned over-reached them herein which have without diversity forsaken the Law and the service of the Elders Testament and of the Priests office after the ordinance of Aaron and set back the same as a thing unneedful not once distinguishing unto whom the service after the Ordinance of Aaron is yet necessary nor yet with whom the same at the appointed time ceaseth or leaveth ofâ— 9. But have all for the most part cryed Christ Christ and we are Christians and attributed to themselves much freedom ere ever the time of the appearing of Christ or the anointing of the holy Ghost was come to pass or fulfilled with them in the accomplishing of the old Testament 10. Oh that they yet now awaked and took heed in the word of the service of love unto this gracious time and gave ear unto the same that they might understand their safe making and so then be rightly and according to the truth brought to the true Being that is unto Christ. 11. What we had here more to say of the foregoing service after the ordinance of Aaron or of the foregoing before the true light of the Elders of the holy Uunderstanding of the Levitical Priesthood of the Sabbath day of the Lord and of the Treasures of the Riches of God is declared in the Glass of Righteousness The XIV Chapter NOw when as all these forementioned holy things were prepared according to the commandment of the Lord so were there men sent forth into the land of Promise for to spy out the same 2. But when as now these were returned out of the same land certain reported unto the children of Israel that the battel wherewith the land was to be won was very tedious and that the land was invincible or that it was impossible to destroy the inhabitants wherethrough the people became unbelieving of the promses of the Lord and dismayed in heart unto battel and were afraid of their enemies which they through the mighty hand of their God should have destroyed and rooted out and they murmured against Moses and his ministration 3. Howbeit Iosue and Caleb which had also spyed out the same land brought good tydings namely that they could well win the same good land and destroy their enemies which dwelled therein 4. But they were not harkned to or believed because the people waxed unbelievâ—ng of the word of the Lord and his promises and unlustful to the battel and complained sore that they remained not in Egypt to the end they might have died there 5. And even so out of fear and through unbelief and despair to win the battel against their enemies they wished that they might dy in the wilderness and that came to pass even so 6. For all they that had murmured continually against the Lord and bin unbelieving and disobedient unto him and the ministration and requiring of his word came not into the good land but Iosue and Caleb which cleaved with all their heart unto the Lord and believed and were obedient unto his word inherited the same Iosue signifieth unto us a Saviour Caleb the inward heart or minde 7. HEreout we may perceive ye dearly beloved that the circumcision of the resisters or disobedient unto the word of the Elders Moses and Aaron was through their unbelief and murmuring against the Lord and the Ministers of his word become an Uncircumcision and that there was also no love of God but in all the love of themselves found among them 8. Whilst then they bowed not nor inclined the ears of their heart unto the doctrine of the word which was administred unto them by Moses and Aron but after their own good thinking were chusing this or that or somthing else even thus or even so so have they not known the truth nor yet understood the mysterie of the works of God For that cause also they were not made free of the truthâ— they entred not likewise into the holy of the true tabernacle of God nor have inherited the inheritance which God had promised unto the seed of Abraham 9. The which giveth us to understand that they are not Abraham's seed which bear only the circumcision on their flesh but they that are of his belief for the believers inherited the good land 10. Notwithstanding the glory of God was not at that time erected in his fulness nor the promises fulfilled which the Lord had promised to the salvation and blessing of the Heathen 11. For in his time the Lord would also visit the heathen declare his righteousness among them and even so according to his promises make Abraham a father of many heathen which should not be of the circumcision of the flesh but of his faith 12. But the murmurers and complainers which bare alwaies a care how it should go with themselves but thought very little on the glory of the Lord or on the magnifying of his holy name fell all into the indignation of the Lord and God shewed no compassion on them for their infidelity sake And therefore they must then remain without the Rest and dy in the Wilderness 13. But Iosue a leader or guide of Israel brought the remnant of the people of Israel unto Iordan which Iordan opened or divided it self asunder before them and so they went thorow the same even unto the borders of the good land Iordan signifieth unto us a River of Iudgement And it is the same River wherein Iohn the Baptist afterward baptised The XV. Chapter NOw when Israel was come into the borders of the good land
then did Iosue circumcise again all the males And the children of Israel took in with forcible hand all the whole land 2. And thus in process of time they brought the people in sujection and had many battels against their enemies until David the king of the Tribe of Iudah which vanquished and subdued in battel the enemies of Israel and of the Lord with all his own enemies wherethrough his son Salomon inherited the Kingdom of Israel in peace sate upon the seat of David his Father and ruled the whole land and the people of Israel through the Godly wisdom peaceably and judged them uprightly 3. This David was exceedingly beloved of the Lord in such wise that the Lord said that he had found a man according to his own heart And the Lord nameth him also in certain places of the Scripture my servant David the which signifieth unto us my service which is lovely 4. BEhold this righteous plant of David hath the God of heaven raised up by us now in the last time like as the Lord promised the same according to the Scriptures and hath ordained him in this day of his love to be a ruler which shall govern wisely He shall set up judgement and Righteousness again upon earth that Iuda may now in this time be hopen and Israel dwel undismayed or without fear For his seed shall stand from henceforth before the Lord and sit upon the seat of David for evermore like as there is written thereof 5. Behold this covenant hath the Lord made thus in times past with his servant David and sworn to keep the same with him for evermore 6. But now when as Salomon which is the right seed of his Father David hath inheriâ—ed in peace the Kingdom of Israel and the seat of David his Father so builded he at the same time an house or temple within Ierusalem unto the name of the Lord and also an house for himself which was the house of Salomon and all lands and people humbled them under Salomon and his godly wisdom 7. Salomon signifieth unto us peaceable or one which is rich of peace Ierusalem signifieth unto us a vision of peace or of perfâ—ction 8. O Ye dearly beloved consider here the Mysterie of the works of God and the providence of his unsearchable wisdom and behold in the Jmages and figures what they shew forth unto us 9. Verily they will now in this day of love express some singular thing unto us and declare in this last time a great mysterie For in this day they make known unto us that it all which they signifie or whereof they give their cleerness shall now in this last time be erected according to the true being and fulfilled or accomplished according to the heavenly truth 10. But in all this former beauty and in the garnishing of the images and figures wherewith the Lord trained or informed he children of Israel that they might thereout know or understand the very true so served they at that time not the very true which God required out of the imagelike or figurative services but they served the images and figures and were subject to the service of the Levitical Priesthood after the order of Aaron Which service increased alwaies in glory to the multiplying and greater respecting of the righteousness 11. NOw after that Salomon was fallen asleep and buried with his Fathers so rented then the Kingdom of the children of Israel into two parts and ten Tribes of Israel fell away from the house of David and chose unto themselves another king named Ieroboam which name signifieth unto us an assaulting or a tempting of the People 12. Through this king which reigned over the ten Tribes of Israel they departed away from Ierusalem from the Temple of Salomon and from the services of the Priests after the order of Aaron and set up for themselves services and images at Beth-el and Dan and so brought the holy places into desolation They instituted Priests also which were not of the Tribe of Levi out of Aaron wherewith they observed the services falsly and did that which displeased the Lord and were for that cause at the last vanquished by the king Salmanaser which came from Assyria and by him led away out of the land and are yet estranged from the same even unto this same day in which the Lord will presently bring them again to their heritage and to the house of David 13. Beth-el signifieth unto us the house of God and Dan the judgement 〈◊〉 coming from Assyria signifieth unto uâ— a peace bound or knit together proceeding from the snares or sins which one â—ayeth to such a purpose or wherewith 〈…〉 assaulted or tempted like as their first king Ieroboam had brought in the same 14. What we had here more to say of the children of Israel of their disobedience against the Lord wherethrough they in times past remained without the rest of their uncircumcision or which is the uncircumcision of heart of Israel's casting out and how long they shall abide cast out from the Lord as also when they shall be restored or set up again is declared in the Glasâ— of Righteousness The XVI Chapter BUt the Stock of David and all what was of the Tribe of Iuda and Benjamin kept themselves together and held them unto the services of the Priesthood out of Levi according to the ordinance of Aaron like as the Lord had commanded the same which they observed at Ierusalem in the house of the Lord prepared by Salomon 2. Howbeit the tribes of Iuda and Benjamin sinned against the Lord and estranged them even so through a confusion or commixture unto intanglement from his law and from the requiring of the same wherethrough the Lord gave them over also at the last into the hands of the King Nabuchodonosor coming from Babel the which signifieth unto us a sighing or heaviness through strictness proceeding from a confusion or from a commixture which hath intangled or snared it self in it self 3. This Nabuchodonosor of Babel utterly destroyed the temple of the Lord which Salomon had builded and burned the same and Salomon's house also he brake down the wals of Ierusalem and carryed away all the vessels of silver and gold which were in the house of the Lord and the most part of the Citizens of Ierusalem into Babylon Wherethrough the government of their King of Iuda with their Psalms Songs and Mirth was utterly laid down the house of the Lord brought in desolation and the City of Ierusalem as a ruinated City made to heaps of stones Whereover Ieremy in his Lamentations greatly sighed wayled and wept 4. NOw when the tribes of Iuda were led away into Babylon so must they then for their sins or confusions cause wherein they had mingled and bewrapped themselves together serve there the King Nabuchodonosor 5. But after that or after the end
to say of the Supper and Following of Christ of the Holy and of his true Service or Oblation and of the Altar in the Holy and of the Vayl before the most holy is declared in the Glass of Righteousness The XXVI Chapter NOw when this true being of the holy of the true Tabernacle of God whereof we witness was declared come and prepared in his true service with the disciples of Christ and ministred in the belief so were then the foregoing services which were the images figures and shadows of that same no longer fruitful with them they ceased also among them with their services and the true being of the promises whereon as on the seed of the blessing the foregoing services pointed and led threunto was at the same time to the blessing of all generations of the earth published by the same illuminated disciples of Christ as the true seed of Abraham in all the lands of Iuda according to the promises 2. There was also testified by them that the righteousness of life was to be obtained in the death of Iesus Christ through faith and not through the works of the law And that the law of Moses and the services of the Priest hood of Aaron ceased and had ended their service with them in the same service of Christ of the very true testament 3. HEreon we ought advisedly to consider ye dearly beloved for to understand according to the truth in what manner the Law of Moses and the foregoing services of the Priesthood after the Ordinance of Aaron ceased with the Disciples of Christ. 4. Not verily through the bringing in or setting up of any other services or ceremonies nor yet through the knowing of a greater and truer Righteousness and that one should even so pass forth therewith unregenerated or unrenewed in the Spirit and minde and so forsake the foregoing ministration and ordinance wherewith the Righteousness is required O no that is far wide and whosoever supposeth that he misseth the truth very faâ— 5. For the Law of Moses the Images Figures and Shadows with the Priests office after the manner of Aaron which are all fulfilled and cease in Christ minister unto us out of the true light an higher and perfecter cleerness namely the perfect Being and the renewing of the heart and spirit to wit to be purged for a Tabernacle or House of the living God wherein God with his Christ dwelleth liveth and resteth wherein it becometh then all fulfilled and the costly Treasure of the heavenly and spiritual goods brought unto men and from thence doth it flow forth again as waters of life 9. BEhold even thus or to this end had the old Testament ended his Service with the Disciples of Christ. And in such a state as being replenished with the fulness of the holy spirit of Christ have the former services ceased with them inasmuch as they had accomplished the requiring of those same in Jesu Christ. 7. And verily not through other services nor through the knowing of any thing better truer or perfecter like as many conceited Christians suppose and say out of the blindness of their hearts that the services of the old Testament after the Law of Moses and Ordinance of Aaron are all ended and that they therefore have now the services of the new Testament and know the new or the best and the true and run forth even so therewithal not once distincting that the fulfilling of the foregoing services which require the very true doth not come to pass in the knowledge of the very true nor yet that the services of the new Testament which follow or depend on the accomplishing of the foregoing are services of spiritual and heavenly goods and bring a power of God in the spirit to the declaring of the seat of God and Christ in the heavenly Being 8. Therefore let us have a regard how and wherein the changing and renewing of the services came to pass and how that the changing and renewing of the same services shall not now also in the last time come otherwise to pass then as is abovesaid and as we have witnessed according to the Scripture Therefore consider well 9. WHen now the Law of Moses which is literal and for the sins cause wrought the death had ministred her Office till unto the death of the sin in the death of Jesu Christ then had the Law which in her Service required the Righteousness with writings and ordinances and with correction and Doctrine and was likewise in her service deadly over the sin served out her office with the Disciples of Christ and even so at the end or fulfilling of the requiring of the same Law namely in the death or end of the sin the true spiritual Law or heavenly Ordinance which made them alive in Jesu Christ came unto them wherethrough the foregoing service of the Law was fulfilled and ceased with them 10. Behold when as now the Law of Moses was in such wise as is said fulfilled or accomplished and had no longer service with the death of the sin and with the Believers of Christ which through the Law were dead unto the Law but the Spirit of Christ which made the deceased Believers of Christ alive again in righteousness out of the death of Christ so had then also the Priesthood in his Images Figures and Shadows after the manner of Aaron no more ministration with the living in Iesu Christ neither yet gave it any cleerness more with them because the heavenly cleerness of Christ and his upright Being of love wherein the Disciples of Christ were comprehended excelled far away all cleerness of the figurative services 11. For that cause the Priesthood of Aaron changed also with the Disciples of Christ and ceased by them for with them there was a spiritual heavenly Priesthood appeared in upright righteousness and even so was the same with his service established on Christ after the Spirit the true light which is an high Priest that bideth for ever at the right hand of God in the heavenly Being whose service of the spiritual and heavenly ministration cometh not to pass in the letter nor in the figures but in the very true Being 12. BEhold even so was Christ after the spirit in his Office or Service a minister of the very true and heavenly goods among his Disciples and Believers and hath when he had taken in the heaven multiplied himself through his seed of the holy Ghost out of the heavenly Being to the increasing of his generation the upright seed of Abraham according to the Promises And even so became Christ fruitful upon earth in many thousands of his saints all which he through his death made free or justified from the sin and made them alive through his holy Ghost taking them up from the earth and assembling them unto him at the right hand of God his Father in the
that likewise the unilluminated inclined their hearts with the ears of their hearing and understanding unto the testimonies of the unregenerated and unrenewed or ungoded men or unsent Preachers which meaned not Christ or had him not in consideration aright nor had kept according to the truth the Pascha with Christ and were not entred through the death of Christ into the everlasting life but out of their own goodthinking or out of their literal knowledge came into the sheep or communalty of the Believers or besides the Church of Christ which were also called of Christ thieves wolves and murderers and of the true prophets false pastors so ceased then likewise with them the true daylie offering or God-service in the holy the incorporating into Christ with his like death and the renewing of the life and mind in Jesu Christ or the procreation of Christ through his light and Spirit and it became over them and over the whole face of the Earth utterly night and dark and through the same darkness the foregoing service which leadeth to the life of Jesus Christ became unknown and there entred in much renting and division among the children of men to wit that many of them became estranged from the truth from the Church of Christ and from the right sense of her services and even so got the abomination of desolation contrary to Christ and the requiring of his doctrine his breaking in over such as were declined or estranged from the true Doctrine of Jesus Christ which leadeth to the new birth of the uprâ—ght mind and Being of Christ. 5. For with all them that turned off and went astray from the Church of Christ and from the right use of her services the Belief of salvation was forsaken and the Scripture was become to them all as a closed book or dark word that was without light For that cause also the service which was administred out of the letter of the Scripture of the unilluminated was as a dead body without soul or as a dead wife which is deceased from her husband and can bring forth no children of life 6. NOw when this true light for the self wisdoms cause of the earthly man which is the darkness against the true light gave no more cleerness upon earth with the off-fallers and estranged from the true belief and that likewise the night or darkness had captived the unbelievers and the estranged from the Church of Christ so obtained then the nature of sin or the childe of the Divel and condemnation that contrary nature or adversary of Christ which is called Antichrist his shape in the inward Temple of the unbelieving and unregenerated men and multiplyed it self even so among many on the earth in the bringing forth of his wicked fruiâ—s 7. Antichrist signifieth unto us a contrary anointing And is an anointing or a freedom either an appeasing of the heart which cometh unto the man when he is separated or estranged from the true Belief of Jesu Christ and from his Church in his inwardness before the coming of the true Christ or anointing of the holy Ghost from the seed of the old serpent or of the Divel Which false anointing that the man taketh on to himself out of the flesh and out of the fleshly wisdom of his goodthinking knowledge as also cut of the seed of the divel and wisdom of the flesh worketh in him a secret resâ—sting and disobedience against the Lord Jesus Christ and his requiring And the same resisting and disobeence is the secret iniquity of Antichrist which the man in his estranging from Christ and his Church cannot well perceive because that he in the separation from Jesu Christ is well contented in his heart with the wisdom of the flesh and even so contrary to the right doctrine of Iesu Christ which hath her ministration to the holy Spirit of Christ and his love on the good life of God liveth boldly against all God's truth in his self wisdom knowledge or scripture learnedness the which is a false freedom and the abomination of desolation against all that which is God God service and Christ or the truth of God 8. BEhold this Antichrist hath exalted himself with his deadly service and fals light of disobedient knowledge against all that which is of God or of the upright Being of Jesus Christ above God and above the true God service and set himself as though he himself were God in the temple of the Lord namely in the inward part of the man wherein the living God with his Christ ought to dwell to live and to walk and hath â—ven so quite and clean abolished or destroyed the Law of the Lord and the true faith in Jesu Christ also driven out and taken away the same from the hearts mindes and thoughts of men and darkned it in them brought the Holy of the house of God into desolation caused the daylie offering in the Holy which is the mortifying of the sin through the death of Christ to cease and even so set the abomination of desolation in the holy place where it ought not to stand 9. Out of which abomination of Desolation which in the secret of the man's inwardness hath increased in all manner of iniquity and abominations till unto this day and obtained the preheminence with many there are risen up many manner spirits of Error and sundry sorts of false hearts of the Scripture learned which have out of the goodthinking of their own spirit and out of their Scripture learnedness as also through their ingeniousness or imagination of the knowledge brought forth manifold false Doctrines wherethrough they seduced the people and estranged them more and more from Christ and his Church and from the new Birth in Jesu Christ. The XXIX Chapter NOw when the Apostates or off-fallers from the safe making faith had set aside the true doctrine of Jesu Christ which taught the Believers of Christ unto all humility and meekness of heart and to the upright Being of the love of Christ and gave them to the ingeniousness of their knowledges and even so with their knowledge set up themselves to be Judges over the testimonies of Christ and his Apostles so clave they â—hen unto the spirits of error and brought in therethrough absurd arguments of Christ and of all that the Scripture speaketh of him or of the spiritual heavenly goods stirred up the hearts of men unto many manner of foolish desireâ— vain or fond knowledges and to manifold false righteousness and chosen holyness and administred even so their own leaven for the bread of life 2. Wherethrough likewise the daily offering in the holy of the true Tabernacle was no more observed according to the true Being with them and their adherents and for that cause also there chansed with them no purging of sins nor pouring forth of the holy Ghost 3. For the imagination of the
knowledge â—ncreased in much richness of the knowledge â—nd obtained the preheminence with them wherethrough many of the children of men grounded their hearts thereupon and not on Christ nor on the obedience of his requiring By which occasion also the true services of the holy spirit of Christ with the treasures of the spiritual and heavenly goods ceased with them and the abominations of desolation became the more manifold in the holy place of the Lord namely in the inwardness of men 4. For that cause the true Belief and the upright service of the holy ones is now also come into reproach or contempt the Sun that heavenly day light of Christ become utterly covered with the darkness of the wisdom of men and the Scripture before the understandings of men as a dark word or a closed book and as a Lanthorn without light whereout many singular matters are presupposed but not at all perceived or understood 5. BEhold from that time forth that the children of men estranged them from the true faith and from the true service of Christ in the holy and that the darkness and desolation and the many manner divisions of Religion came fast upon the world so was the world covered with such abominations and darkness and the hearts of the peoplâ— with such desolation of confusion 6. In which time of this same night and error many goodwilling hearts to the Righteousness have sighed with anguish of mind also diligently sought the light and truth groped thereafter as the blind here and there on the painted walls and so with great diligence zeal and earnestness inquired after the righteousness also searched for the same with fervency in the Scripture and had a regard or consideration on many whether same were any where to be found or to be gotten by any man or might break forth by any one 7. But whereto soever they turned them or went without Christ his Church and without his true belief so was it everywhere nothing else but knowledg wisdom of the flesh good thinking of man darkness lyes and sin or error which met with took hold of them 8. And whilst that the sun of righteousness shined not unto them so have they not been able how much diligence soever they bestowed thereabout to find the righteousness which God esteemed 9. Even thus have truly in process of time the foresaid darknesses lyes and iniquities with all erring Spirits obtained the preeminence with the estranged from Christ and from his safe-making Belief and with all the enemies of Christ and his love and even so born rule upon the Earth namely from the tiâ—e forth of the defection or estranging from Christ and his true belief till unto this day of love and of the appearing of the coming of Christ. 10. In which day God will now with the Spirit of his mouth slay the Antichrist or mischievous Nature and make an end thereof sanctifie again the Fore-front and the Holy of the true Tabernacle which are utterly fallen into desolation and ruine through the earthly wisdome of the slesh according to the service of her true being and set up again the daily Offering and judge the People with his light and righteousnes according to the Scripture 11. Yea assuredly the Lord will now accomplish this same and with his light truth and righteousness take the preheminence according to the Promises 12. WHat we had here more to say of the defection or estranging from the true light of the true faith of the Child of the Devil or Antichrist of the abomination of desolation of the false pastors and of the many manner conceited opinions or good thinkings of meâ— is declared in the glass of righteousness The XXX Chapter BUt whenas now these foresaid many manner of abominations divisions and errours were entred in besides the Church of Christ and that the Apostles of Christ with the principall Elders of the holy understanding or the codeified Men through the incorporating into Christ which were the upright Ministers of the holy Wrd of Christ with all the holy ones of God and Christ were fallen asleep that the light of life was become unknown the Law of Lord forsaken the true faith taken away from the earth as also the darkness with much fals doctrine through the unregenerated or ungodded men come in aboundantly and great discord and division risen up among the children of men upon the earth so were there then many of the remnant of the Christianity who in the same time greatly bewailed the discord and erring blindness of men and did mourn in their hearts veâ—y sore and have even so out of a good intent and goodwilling heart to the righteousness loved the peace and concord among the children of men and also with diligence sought after the same 2 These have in their good-willingness to the righteousness searched the Scripture also bestowed all their diligence and care to understand the same and even so thereout according to the utterest or best that they knew figured out and set forth the services and Ceremonies and the ordinances of the Christianity in most like manner or conformablâ—st unto the Scriptures and requiring of the Apostolical doctrine of Jesus Christ in the distinctest manner that they were able before the Children of men that they mought live therethrough in righteousness and peace They have likewise used the same Services and Ceremonies to the requiring of the righteousness and to a good discipline and orderliness for the people which humbled them under thosâ— same 3. Howbeit whilst that the light of the true being of Jesus Christ shined not in his perfect clearness with many of them so could they not use nor minister the right use of those Services or Ceremonies which bring the spiritual and heavenly goods with them reveale or declare the face of Jesus Christ uncoveredly and teach the beleevers to the Kingdome of Heaven but they have so far forth and so neer as they to the utterest of their power could by any means get or attain to the same according to the testimonies of the Scripture with their understanding and knowledg administred unto the people to a memorial of Christ and his Acts the signification and the image-like and figurative services of that which is required through Christ and even so taught them through the same Services and Ceremonies the civil or nurturable righteousness but not the very true Spiritual or heavenly for they could not attain unto the same 4. NOw when these Services and Ceremonies to a Testimony and Signification of the inward righteousness were thus figured forth and ministered so were they then set forth before the children of men to holy signes or such as signified holy things And the Priests and Ministers of those same have allured and drawn the hearts of the People therewithall also nurtured many thereby to humility and taught them thereout that they through the same Services and
the love unto the righteousness waxen cold with many and they are therethrough become slothfull towards the same but very diligent in their own inâ—orcements or enterprises 7. In like manner many seeing that they loved not the righteousness with whole heart became altogether vainely minded and like unto the world in her abominations and have even so let pass all fruitfull doctrine 8. FOr that cause O all ye which now in this day love the truth and righteousness have now a good regard hereon and follow not the seducing of the destroyers nor the multitude of the ignorant in their error nor inforce you not to be of one mind with the contentious world nor with the discordable or divided wise and Scripture-learned but apply you unto concord in all love and lock into it with undestandinging what the Scripture saith what it requireth of us and how it becometh fulfilled as also how that we are not called through the Scripture unto strife contention nor to variance or discord but unto peace and to the love 9. For I say unto you verily that there are before this day of love which is the true light of God and the coming of his Christ it self many Scripture-learned that were very richly learned with the speeches of literal Scripture in the subtilty and knowledg but not in the renewing of the Spirit and mind unto the kingdom of God risen up which have not inseen understood nor known the truth of God in the light of the heavenly and spiritual wisdome of Christ much less witnessed or taught the same and yet much less brought in or ministred the upright or true Christian Ceremonies which lead unto the Godliness in Jesus Christ or to his love and Peace 10. For they have not out of their literal knowledge understood the secret mind of God nor the clear ground of the services and Cerâ—monies of the Christians therefore also they have consulted or held Councels thereof and are even so become disputing and at variance betwixt themselves about the Scripture and about each others opinion and institution of his Ceremonies and Services and have not inherited the true love and peace of Christ. 11. Whereout each one may by himself well perceive and mark that it is meer Lyes or untrue what such Scripture-learned through the knowledge which they get out of the Scripture bring in institute preach and teach 12. THerefore consider now that no man out of his knowledge of the Scripture can rightly erect teach nor set forth the Christian Ceremonies But they shall in their right form and use be set forth administred and taught by them that are chosen or raised up thereunto by God which follow after Christ in his death become renewed with him in a new life and in whom the living God with his Christ hath even so then obtained his dwelling and shape From whose bodies likewise the words of God and Christ do then slow forth as living waters which also concordably agree with the testimonies of the holy Ghost and with our Writings and their requiring as also with the requiring of the Law of the Prophets and of the Apostles of Christ. 13. Behold out of the declaring of these upright followers of Jesu Christ in the requiring of his doctrine till unto his love it shall now all whatsoever concerneth God and his Services be uprightly and according to the truth used and ministred in his right Ordinance according to the Scripture Let every one now therefore have a good regard hereunto and take it effectually to heart 14. WHat we had here more to say of the dissention of the contending about the Ceremonies and of the pernicious Sectaries and Hereticks and who they are is declared in The Glass of righteousness The XXXIIII Chapter BUt the whilst now that the figurative Services and Ceremonies of the Christians yet flourished in vigour and that the discordable mindes out of the knowledge of the Scripture did daily increase to a more intangling with much contending and disputation of Christ and of his Services and Ceremonies and that many good-willing hearts which had great hunger and thirst after the righteousness searched the Scripture for to understand the truth and the will of God and to live therein with great diligence and zeal and sighed and prayed unto God so hath God at the last remembred the desolate heard the â—ighing and prayer of the poor and for his chosens sake to the end that his Truth and what his will is mought before all lovers of the Truth be made manifest or declared and the Scripture fulfilled shortened the days according to his promises and through the hearty mercifulness of his love wrought a great and wonderful work upon earth out of his holy heaven and raised up me HN the least among the holy ones of God which lay altogether dead and without breath and life among the dead from the death and made me alive through Christ as also anointed me with his godly being manned himself with me and godded me with him to a living tabernacle or house for his dwelling and to a seat of his Christ the seed of David to the end that this wonderful works mought now in the last time be known the light of his glory with full clearness and instruction reavealed and the coming of his Kingdome to an Evangely of the same Kingdome and to the blessing of all Generations of the earth published in all the world according to the Scripture 2. Behold and consider my beloved how wonderfully God worketh in his holy ones and how that now in this Day or light of the love the Judgement-seat of Christ is revealed and declared unto us out of Heaven to a righteous Judgement upon Earth from the right hand of God and how that on the same Judgement-seat of Christ that the Scripture mought be fulfilled there sitteth one now in truth in the habitation of David which judgeth uprightly thinketh upon equity and requireth righteousness 3. Through him God will now in this day which he himself hath appointed or ordained thereunto judge the compass of the earth with righteousness 4. In which this same day or last Time namely in the perfection of the works of God and in his righteous Judgement the God of heaven hath now declared himself and his Christ together with all his Saints unto us his elect also made a dwelling with us and brought even so unto us out of his holy being the most holy of his true Tabernacle with the fulness of his garnishing and spiritual heavenly riches to an everlasting fast standing Ierusalem and house for Gods dwelling according to the Scripture The which is the very true undisturbable kingdome full of all godly Power Joy and of all heavenly beautifulness wherein the laud of the Lord with fulness of the eternal life and lovely sweetness is
over his minde understanding will and meaning thereof freely and even from the heart unto the principallest of the family of love or unto any of ours which minister with us the out-flowing of the holy and gracious word and these testimonies of the holy Spirit of love or else that he come and present himself before â—im and so give testimony whether that he agreeth or consenteth herein with us little ones and elected holy ones of God which stand submitted under the obedience of the love and is willing to give over himself and his whole heart and minde to the unity of heart with us in the love of Jesu Christ whereunto he is summoned required to come on the behalf of the Lord the supream God and whether that he also desireth to be partaker of the out-flown grace and of the godly Doctrine of the service of the love of Jesu Christ which we have received from the uncovered face of God and Christ and to maintaine or further the same service like as there is also required or desired in the distinct declaration of the requiring of the Lord set forth by Fidelitas our beloved Co-elder in the family of love 11. Whosoever now wholly agreeth herein with us and standeth minded with us to the unity of heart in the love of Jesu Christ and to the godly Doctrine of the service of the same love let him then make the same apparent unto us and apply himself to be united to one concordable Communiality of the love of Jesu Christ with us like as we endeavour us towards him and let us even so to all concord under the obedience of the love of Jesu Christ and to his true Peace and upright godliness be gathered together So shall then the true love and peace of Jesu Christ well obtaine the victory in us 12. And we elders in the family of love do proffer us freewillingly with all Submission to the love of Jesu Christ to give every one which mindeth or addicteth him to the truth and love of Jesu Christ and desireth to be informed of us good instruction and resolution through the arm of our Saviour so much as we in see that it is necessary for every one to his salvation 13. FUrther so is also our desire and Exhortation out of the submission in the love of our Lord Jesu Christ unto you all that every one to whom this groundly instruction setting forth by the holy Spirit of love is administred out of love and which hath assembled him to our Communiality of love to the service of the same remember this superscription namely Vnto the Lovers of the truth c. To whom in the beginning of these Writings we do write and make another which he knoweth to love the truth with whole heart and to stand submitted unpaâ—â—ially to the love partake with him of the same grace and love whereunto he is loved and assisted and out of love to reach forth the hand or stand helpful unto such a one and that he then likewise write over his minde will or meaning or else present himself persoally as is abovesaid and so assemble him to the service of love and to our Communiality That the love in her service may be fruitful with many unto righteousness and bring forth such abundantly to the laud and praise of the supream God and to the peace and joy of all generations of the earth according to the promises The grace of Lord Jesu Christ be with you all Amen 14. HErewith yee are all O yee lovers of the truth which read and hear these godly testimonies of our writings or to whom they are administred out of love heartily saluted in all love by the whole communiality of holiness which are comprehended in the love of God and Christ. 15. We all hope in our prayer unto God of all your goodwillingness to the concordableness with us in the obedience of the requiring of the love 15. The grace of the supream God and the upright righteousness and godly being of the Communiality of the holy Spirit of the love of Jesus Christ whereunto ye are now out of Grace undeserved called and lovingly bidden obtaine the victory in all your Hearts Amen Sent from the Spirit of love through love to concord and through love to life into all lands over the universal world Charitas Extorsit per H. N. FINIS a Eccle. 3. a. Mat 16 a. b Psa 118 c c Mat. 24. c d Luk 17. c. Acts 2. a. d Esa. 26. c. 1 Cor. 15 f e Luk 24. e f Mat. 24. b g Esa. 32. b 54. b. 57. b. 66. b. 2 Pet 3. b. h 2 Cor. 6. 2 Heb. 12. b. i Mal. 3.2 Mat 11. b. k Mat 24 b Apoc. 14. â— l Esa. 1. c. 55 a. Ezek. 10. c. 33. b. m Mat. 3.2 Act. 2. d 3. c n Ezek. 7. a 1 Pet 4. a. o Mal. 4. a. p Act. 17. d. q Eâ—a 5â— c. Luk 2 â— Ephe. 2. c. r â—â—a 9â— b. â—eb 3 b. 4. b a 1 Cor. 3 15 b Ioâ— 6. f. Act 17. d. Ephe. 2. a. Râ— 8. c. d. d Eâ—h 4 b. e Iâ—h 14.17 Apo. 21. a. f Iohn 1. a. 1 Iohn 1. a. g Iâ—r 33. b. h 1 Cor. 13. b. i Apoc. 14 a k Esa. 42.61 a. l Ioh 14. b. m Ioh. 3.2 n Esa 11.32 a. Ier. 23. a. 33. b. o Heb. 3.4 a p Mat. 25. d q Mat 5 a. r Ioh. 6.7 d Apo 2 b. 7. b 21. a. 22. b. s Rom 11. Apo. 4. b. 5. b. 7. b. Superscription Eccl. 33. b Apo. 14. a. u Rom. a. Ephe. 4 c. x 2 Cor. 3. b. y Eph. 4.5 c. z Mat. 25. d a Mal. 4. a. b Sap. 3. a. 5 a. Heb. 3. b 4. b Apo. 21. a. c 2 Pet. 2 3 â— d Rom. 2. a. e Ioh. 3. b. f Esa. 3. b. Mat. 24. d. 25. d. Iude 1. b. g Esa. 16. b. h Act. 17. d. i Zach. 8. a. k Apoc. 14 b l Luke 22. c m 1 Pet. 5 a. n Mat. 11. a. o Act. 4. c. p 1 Cor. 1. a. 2 Cor. 13. b. Phil 3. b. q Apoc. 12. b r Pro. 1. â— Mat. 7.29 b Esa. 59. b. s Rom. 2.2 t 1 Cor. 2. a. u Mat. 24. b. Apo. 14. a. x 2 Pet. 2 3 a. y Ap. 7.21 a z Esa. 29. b. Mat. 11.13 a 2 Cor. 4. â— b Rom. 13. b Ephe. 5. b. c Iob. 3.6 â— d Psal. 95. â— Heb. 3. b. a Mat. 1. b. b Mat. 25. d Act. 16.17 d. Iude 1. b. c Eze. 37 b Ioâ— 5. c. Rom 8. b. Phil. 3. b. d Act. 9. b. Rom. 9. c. e Ioâ— 14. c. Apo. 21. a. f Esa. 2. a. Mat. 4. a. g Ioh. 15. c. Act. 1. a. h Amos 5. b. Mich. 2. a. Mat. 24 b. 2 Tim. 3. a. i Mat. 10 c. Luk 10. b. k 1 Pet. 1. b. l Deut. 12. a. Ier. 7.9.18 b. m Psa 95. b. Heb. 3. b. Eze. 36. c 2 Cor. 7. a. o Heb. 3 4 b p
heavenly being 13. Lo in such wise ceased the law of Moses and the services of the priesthood after the manner of Aaron with the disciples of Christ and have in such sort changed them and verily not otherwise 14. BUt this grace which appeared through Christ and this everlasting life to the joy and triumph of Christ was spread abroad in all the lands generations of the heathen And all those that believed on Jesu Christ kept the pascha with him ate his body and drank his blood they became one body and blood with Christ which were also all Children of the promises with Christ and coheirs in the secret treasures of the heavenly goods and in the resurrection of the righteous and were even so all the right children of the new testament The XXVII Chapter IN all this same even as we have before said the Scripture giveth us to understand who or which they be that inherit with Christ the heaven and the eternal life and have a portion with him in the resurrection namely they which belong unto him or are incorporated into him 2. For the firstling which riseth of them that sleep is Christ after that they which belong unto Christ which make them manifest in the time of the coming of Christ in his majesty For otherwise it cannot come to pass 3. But they which belong not unto Christ namely which are not incorporated into him nor baptised in his death neither yet buryed with him nor kept the supper in his pass over with him have no portion with Christ in the resurrection nor in the eternal life according to the Scripture For they which are in him and in whom he is glorified those are one body with him and are like as he is for that cause they belong also unto him and are always and for ever where he is in the secretness of the Kingdom of the God of heavens 4 For this is the will of Christ that all his members should inherit the kingdom of the God of heavens the most pure beauty with him and so live with him everlastingly according to the scripture 5. BEhold over those which in times past followed Christ with perfect hearts and have â—ven so a part or portion with Christ in the first resurrection hath the second death which is come and beareth dominion over the world all unbelievers no power for they are entred through the death of Christ into the everlasting life And therefore they shal both now and for evermore as upright Christians and Priests of God reigne with Christ according to the Scripture 6. Consider at the same time when Christ the everlasting life was fruitful upon the earth to a light of men through the belief then was it known that the belief is the free woman and the true testament whereout the free Children heirs of the riches of the secret heavenly wisdoms of God are born 7. FOr that cause O ye dearly beloved ye all which love the truth and hear this day my voice let my sayings enter into the ears of your hearts and become understanding in the mysterie of the heavenly and spiritual works of God according to the spirit as also in his outward works according to the flesh 8. For behold In the time when the living souls of Christ where through the holy Ghost brought forth upon earth so was then the belief with the service of the word of the holy ones of Christ the fruitful wife of whom the living souls of Christ were born but Christ the light of life was the husband the Lord or the head of the same wifâ— which out of the power of God poured his holy Spirit which is the seed of the increase of Christ to the procreating of his spiritual children into her And even so were all those which were born thereof the upright children of God according to the promises 9. What we had here more to say of the Law and of her service of the office of Christ through his holy ones or of the procreation of the light and life through the service of the Word of the procreation of the children of God and who they are as also who are not the same of the establishing of the true Testament through the blood of Iesus Christ of the true resurrection and of the second death is declared in the Glass of Righteousness The XXVIII Chapter WHilst now the children of men cleaved unto the upright faith of Abraham which was of one Being with the true light of life or grounded themselves therein and even so obediently respected the service of the Belief administred out of the true light which is Christ himself in his requiring exercised them therein only gave ear had regard unto the ministers of the holy word which had kept the Passover with Christ out of flesh into spirit and out of death into life and were even implanted into Christ and codeified with God and also being obedient unto the word in his requiring bid stedfast therein until that they had also kept the pass over with Christ obtained the renewing of their spirit mind in Iesu Christ the which is the upright supper or pascha wherein men rightly eat the body of Christ drink his blood are partakers of his sufferings and baptised in his death unto his burying and even so remember the suffering of Christ and witness or publish his death till unto his coming that is until the true light arise in the heart so were they made safe justified from their sins renewed in the spirit of their mind sanctified in Christ to fellow members of his body and to coheirs in the riches of God his father in the everlasting life 2. So long now as that all this did flourish or bear sway in his upright state with the children of men so was Christ in his Belief and through his Belief also daylie fruitful to many multitudes of his holy ones which assembled them all through the service of the holy word unto Christ and became one body with him like as we have also before said 3. Behold with this same Christ and all his holy ones which are the true members of his body will God now in this day which he himself hath appointed or ordained judge the earth with righteousness according to the Scripture 4. BUt when as now many of the children of men fell away from the Belief of the true light and life or turned them therefrom clave unto or followed their good thinking according to the imagination of their knowledge and the earthly ingenious wisdom of the flesh and that they boasted them to be Christians and many gave forth themselves for preachers of Christ ere ever they were baptised in the death of Christ and anointed by Christ with his holy Spirit and