of the Scriptures it is very clear that God would have none to Perish All Souls are mine saith the Lord Ezek. 18.4 I have no Pleasure in the Death of him that dyeth ver 32. and again As I live saith the Lord God I have no Pleasure in the Death of the Wicked Chap. 33.11 I have sent my Light to enlighten all men and turn all men and I would have all men receive it and be turned by it I have shewed every man what is Good and what I the Lord require of him and I would have every man answer the Manifestation of my Light and Spirit in him Do ye not read Gods charge against the whole Earth Isa 24.5 That they had transgressed the Law changed the Ordinance broken the everlasting Covenant Why then they all had the Law had the Ordinance had the everlasting Covenant and for this cause it is that the Curse and Judgement comes upon them ver 6. So that this was the Condemnation from the begining and this is the Condemnation still that Light is come into the World and men love darkness rather then Light because their Deeds are Evil. Men are not condemned for want of Light from Christ Jesus but because they do not believe in and obey that Light which they have from him because they believe in the Darkness believe in the dark spirit believe in the dark power which riseth up against the Ministration of Light in the heart and do not believe in that which is given of God to discover and work it out What should I multiply Scriptures for That common Scripture is absolutely undeniable as the Lord opens the heart unto the Simplicity of Truth and keeps it out of the subtle enchanting wisdom John 3.16 17. For God so Loved the World that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not Perish but have Everlasting Life For God sent not his Son into the World to condemn the World But that the World through him might be saved What can be more naked and plain then these Words of Christ who knew the very Heart of God in this particular and plainly declares what it is even not to condemn not to destroy but to save men from Condemnation and Destruction And would Christ have so affectionately Wept over Jerusalem had he known it to have been his Fathers will and Determinate Counsel that they should have perished and not have been gathered and saved by him I shall add but one Place more where the Apostle who knew God's Counsel and understood the Mystery of Election and Reprobation and had the Mind of Christ saith expresly that God will have all men to be saved and to come unto the Knowledge of the Truth 1 Tim. 2.4 What words can be spoken more plain and full And let People mind that these words are far plainer and easier to be understood then those Scriptures which treat of Election and Reprobation which is a deep Mystery and men must come to a growth in the Truth before they can receive that capacity which is necessary towards the understanding of them But to open the thing a little as it is now in my heart There hath been a threefold Dispensation of God to Mankind A Dispensation of the Law to the Jews A Dispensation of the Gospel or promise which was as well before the Law as after it to the called Jews and Gentiles And a secret hidden Dispensation of the Mystery of Grace of the Mystery of Life and Salvation which the Apostle calls the Mystery hid in the Gentiles Coloss 1.27 For somewhat of God somewhat of the Nature and Spirit of Christ the Souls of all Mankind have had neer them to enlighten them and to turn them from Satan's power to God though it hath not been a thing known to them but a Mystery hid in them Now that God did cast off any Jew under the Law or any whom he visits with the Grace and Power of the Gospel from a meer absolute will in himself because he would destroy them and have them perish to shew forth the Praise of his Justice and his absolute Soveraignity this the true sense of Life in me denies But all have a visit of that which saves heartily and in true Good-will from God and he that is turned to that which God hath sent to turn him shall be owned and saved thereby He that believeth in the Truth in the Light in the Word nigh even in the very lowest appearance of it for the lowest appearance is the same thing in nature with the highest and the Grace is saving in its very lowest appearance as well as in its highest shall be saved thereby Now mark God's Grace God's Mercy God's Love Gods Light God's Spirit God's Power c. is his own And he may do with his own what he pleaseth Now it being by this that he strives converts and saves And it being in his own will and good pleasure how long he will strive and contend to save it lieth therefore absolutely in him even in his own will what he will do in this kind He may take advantage against Rebellious Man and cut him off when he will And again he may strive and raise true sense in a mans heart and give Repentance and Pardon his Transgressions as long as he pleaseth Yea he may so change a man's heart and so Create him a new in Christ Jesus and so bring him into Unity with the pure Seed and to that estate in the Seed as that he may have assurance he shall never be utterly cast off But that though he should Sin and Transgress the Holy Law of God's Spirit his Iniquity shall be chastised with Stripes and his Soul recovered and brought back thereby but not utterly rejected by the Lord. Now it being thus hath not God Mercy on whom he will And doth not he Harden as he pleaseth Did not God give up the Jews to hardness after much striving with them Did not God give up the Gentiles to hardness and to vain imaginations concerning the true God after they had rejected a measure of the True Knowledge Rom. 1.21 Have not the Vessels of Wrath who are fitted to destruction a day of much long-suffering first Rom. 9.22 Had not the Old World who were fitted for that Destruction of the Floud a long day of Patience and Forbearance from God his Spirit reproving of them and striving with them To what end did God forbear them and cause his Spirit to strive with them Was it not to lead them to Repentance that thereby they might have Avoided that Destruction which by their Rebellion and Stiffness of Spirit against God's good and Tender Spirit they were fitted for and exposed to See Rom. 2.4 So for Cain How tenderly did God deal with him how uprightly did God seek his good Would not God have had him come to a true sense and repentance Would not God have had him believed and offered in the Faith and been
the Lord hath shewn them how this had been formerly with them even in the dayes of their former Profession and how God had wrought by this in them in former times though they then knew it not and that all their Ability then to understand any thing of God aright or to pray unto him or reap any true benefit from the Scriptures was through the stirring of this in them whereby God even then in some measure enlightened and quickened their minds For there being such a Principle in man it works variously and many times when he is not aware of it and he hath benefit thereby if he resist it not but receive its influence and operation though he hath not the distinct knowledge and discerning of it 3dly Again consider Whether the Light of Christs Spirit or the Grace and Truth which is by Jesus Christ hath not this property of discovering convincing and reproving for sin Doubtless the Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus in the lowest Ministration of it is of that nature that it discovereth and fighteth against the Law of sin and death wherever it finds it And whether the Comforter the holy Spirit of Truth who leads out of all Error and Falshood and into all Truth is not as well to be known by this even by his convincing the world of sin and inwardly reproving for sin as by his comforting of the Saints in their holy Travels out of sin and Battels against sin Consider 4thly Whether any thing can convince of sin but the Light of God's holy Spirit shining in the heart There may be an outward Declaration of sin by the Law outward but it never reacheth the heart and Conscience but by the shining of the Light inward Nay it cannot so much as reach to the understanding but as God opens the heart and brings home the conviction by his Light and Power This we have experience of in the Jews who though the Prophets came with certain evidence and demonstration from God's Spirit yet they were not convinced thereby but stood it out against the Prophets and justified themselves against the Voice and Word of the Lord their Eyes being closed their Ears shut and Hearts hardened against that of God in them as may be read in Jeremiah Chap. 2. and in divers other places even to Admiration And what wickedness is so great which the hardened man will not plead for and be defending and justifying himself in Yea if God do open mens understandings in some measure so that they cannot but confess such and such things to be evil in general as Pride covetousness drunkenness riotousness excess in apparel lying swearing c. yet they are not able to see the evil and danger of these things in and to themselves but have covers and excuses to hide them unless the inward Light and Spirit of the Lord search their hearts and make them manifest to them 5thly Consider the weight and proper tendency of these two Scriptures and do not form another meaning and so put off the drift and intent of God's holy Spirit in them The first is that of the Apostle Ephes 5.13.14 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the Light For whatsoever doth make manifest is Light Wherefore he saith Awake thou that sheepest c. Every man is bid to Awake because every man hath some proportion of that in him which if hearkened to will reprove rouse up and awaken him and lead him from among the dead to him who gives the Light and causeth it to shine in him even in the midst of his darkness and corruption that it might awaken him out of it The other Scripture is that of Gal. 5. â—7 where the Apostle speaks of the Flesh its lusting against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and that these two are contrary Did not God's Spirit strive with the old World not only with the Sons of God who had corrupted themselves but with the rest also And what is it that hath striven with wicked men since and that doth strive with wicked men still Is it not the same good Spirit What is it also that inwardly resists and lusts against the Will and strivings of God's Spirit Is it not Flesh So here are the two Seeds the two Principles which are contrary one to the other near man For there is the Creature man which of right is the Lords into whom the Destroyer hath gained enterance and in whom he rules by the Law of Sin and Death Now he who made man seeketh after him and findeth out his Enemy in man and giveth forth a Law against him inwardly in the heart which so far as any man gives ear to believes and receives there ariseth presently a fight and striving between these two contrary Principles in him so that this man cannot do the things that he would Now that which thus strives against sin in any man and troubles him because of sin reproving and condemning him for it that is of another nature then the Flesh which harbours sin and contrary to it Lastly consider the great love of God to mankind and the great care he hath of them First as touching their Bodies How doth he provide for the Bodies of all mankind He would have none hurt none destroyed but feedeth all nourisheth all making plentiful provision and giving fruitful seasons causing his Sun to shine and his Rain to descend on all Then as to their Souls He knoweth the preciousness thereof and what the loss of a Soul is yea he knoweth how eager the Devourer is to destroy and setteth himself against him He is the Father of Spirits and his Son the Shepherd and Bishop of Souls whose nature it is to gather and save and it is said expresly of God by the Testimony of the Spirit of Truth that he would â—ave all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth And whereas it was said to the Jews that God was as the Potter and they as the Clay and he could make them Vessels either of honour or dishonour at his pleasure Jer. 18.6 yet it was said to this end even to invite and incourage them to be subject to him that they might be made Vessels of honour by him as appears ver 11. Now consider If God be as tender of souls as of the bodies of men doth he not make provision for the soul as well as for the body Would he not have the soul live and would he not have the soul fed as well as the body If so then needs must the light of his holy Spirit shine inwardly throughout all Nations and the saving Grace and Power be manifest everywhere even in every heart in some measure and the Flesh and Blood of the Son of God which is the souls food be distributed to all And truly the Lord is not an hard Master to any as the unprofitable Servant in every Dispensation is ready to account of him for the times of
blessed Apostles was a Vision given of the glory of Christ and of Moses and Elias with him not in the mind or head as Daniels Visions were Dan. 7.1 but the excellent glory did appear and Christ Moses and Elias were really there together on the mount which is more then a prophetick Vision of a thing and Christ was cloathed with and swallowed up in the glory For God the Father did set himself to honour and glorifie him so as never man was glorified before and the Voice came the certain Voice What Voice could be more certain from the excellent Glory This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased 2 Pet. 1.17 And this pure Vision of Glory even of Gods thus appearing and Christs thus transfiguring they saw and heard the Voice which came from Heaven when they were with him in the holy Mount Now were â—he Prophesies of the Prophets that Christ should be born in Bethlehem and â—hat he should be thus and thus c. equal to this in evidence and demonstration Why was John greater then the rest of the Prophets Was it not in that he was chosen to be the immediate Fore-runner and Preparer of the Way and could point with his finger to the Messiah And yet is not this immediate testimony from the excellent Glory greater then the testimony of John 4thly Consider Whether Christs own Words in the Flesh to his Disciples were surer then this Voice from the excellent Glory If I should extol the Words of Christ in the Flesh above the words of the Prophets which testified of him should I therein do the words and testimonies of the Prophets any wrong He was the Son he had the fulness of Life the fulness of the Spirit the great authority and vertue of God his Father God saith the Apostle who at sundry times and in divers manners spoke in time past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son Hebr. 1.1 2. seeming to exalt and magnifie Gods speaking by his Son and the Way of this Ministration above the Ministraon of the Prophets which Ministration was first by him in flesh afterwards in Spirit which is properly called the Ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.8 Now consider whether this sure word of Prophesie from the excellent Glory so immediately from the Majesty on High was not intended by him as a seal to the Faith of the Disciples as a seal to Christ's appearance in Flesh and to what he had taught them which was sometimes in Parables and not so fully understood by them and whether this was not more bright more ravishing more certain more establishing then his common Presence and Appearance among them and then the words which he from the Father not the Father so immediately himself spake to them For that which is given to confirm a thing is in order of nature and for evidence sake more certain and clear then that which it is given to confirm 5thly Consider Whether the Voice of Gods Spirit and Light within in the heart be not more clear and certain to him that hears it then any Word or Testimony from without Is it not a surer Word of Prophesie then this Relation or Testimony of the Apostles of what they heard from the excellent Glory yea is it not surer then any Testimony of the Scriptures or then all outward Testimonies put together 6thly Consider Whether they who are turned from Darkness to the Light even to the inward Manifestation of Gods holy Spirit ought not to give diligent heed unto it until the day dawn and the Day-Star arise in their hearts Lastly Consider What is the difference between this Light shining as a Word of Prophesie in the dark place and the day dawning and the Day-Star arising in the heart Is it not the same Light only further revealed and shining in it's glory in the holy and pure place The Apostle Paul excellently openeth the thing Coloss 1.25.20 27. First he speaketh of the Word in general which he was to fulfil or fully to preach Then he sheweth how this Word is a Mystery hid in the Gentiles for so the Greek vers 27. is even in them that believe not the Word is nigh there the Instruction and Commandment of Life nigh there But in those that receive the Grace and believe in the Light and so become children of the Light and walk in the Light as God is in the Light in them Christ is risen and they are risen together with him and he is in them the hope of glory So that the day hath dawned there the Day-Star hath arisen and they know not only a Measure of Grace from Christ but Christ himself arisen dwelling living acting walking in them and they in him Let these things be duly considered of and equally weighed in the holy Ballance and then I dare appeal to every serious and sober heart and mind Whether the inward Light the inward Word the word nigh in the mouth and heart and the holy living testimony thereof the voice of the Witness within of the Prophesie within be not surer to that man that hath it and hears and knows the voice of it then any outward voice or testimony whatsoever Object But some may object thus or after this manner I am satisfied that there is a Word nigh in the mouth and heart to which Moses did direct the Jews and the Apostles the Christians and that this Word doth enlighten the mind and doth separate in the mouth between words and words and is a swift Witness against the bad words and a Justifier of the good words which come from the truth and uprightness of the heart and are seasoned with grace I also believe that this Word is quick and powerful in the heart separating and dividing between the thoughts and intents there and that the testimony thereof is surer and clearer as to the hearts in which it shines and to them whose spiritual ears are opened to hear its voice then any words and testimonies from without And I am satisfied also that they who are the Sheep of Christ do thus hear the Shepherds Voice and do know both the Voice behind them when it comes after them to reprove their wandrings and direct their minds into the true Way and also the voice before them when the Shepherd who is the Leader putteth forth his Sheep and goeth before them and they follow him for they knew his Voice John 10.4 Yea I have had the experience hereof in my own heart for I have felt that work within and that living sweet testimony of Gods Spirit in my own heart which hath been more to me then all that ever I heard or read from without so that I can truly say with the Samaritans John 4.42 Now I believe not because of the testimonies or words I have heard from without but from the evidence and demonstration of Life and of Gods holy Spirit in my own heart Nor can I see how the
accepted as his brother was And for Pharaoh God indeed was against that nature and Spirit in him which oppressed Israel but would not the Lord have had him denied and turned from that nature and Spirit and let Israel go God would have no man do evil and bring upon themselves Destruction though in his just Judgement he is many times provoked to give men up to that which leadeth into and hardeneth in Evil. So not onely Pharaoh but Israel also was given up to their own hearts Lusts when they would none of the Lord nor hearken to his counsel Psal 81.12 But saith the Lord O that it had been otherwise O that my People had hearkened unto me c. it should then have been otherwise with them ver 13. c. So that God of himself doth not desire the Destruction of his Creature nor doth he desire to harden them or to give them up to a deluding spirit that they might be damned but men first refuse the Truth and turn from it or let it go not receiving it in the love of it or not liking to retain the knowledge of it which is Death to the man's corrupt nature spirit will and wisdom and such a Cross and Yoke as he is in no wise willing to bear and then the Lord in his just Judgement gives them up to the Deceitfulness of Sin to be hardened by it Now this liveth in God's own Breast when and to whom to do it according to his own Will and according to his own Wisdom and Counsel so that it may be truly and properly said He hath mercy and Compassion on whom he will and whom he will he hardeneth But that God hath determined to harden any without giving them a Day of Mercy or that it is Gods Will and determinate Counsel that men should reject the Day of his Mercy and precious Invitation that they might be hardened by him and perish This is not God's Truth but mens Mis-Apprehensions upon true words gathering Meanings therefrom in their own wisdom and not waiting upon God till he cause the true Light to shine in them and thereby give them the True Knowledge and Understanding Therefore since there is such Mercy in God towards all and he hath given all men a Day of Visitation greater or lesser yea since of late he hath caused his Light to shine forth and given this Age such a Visitation as many Ages have not had O let men take heed how they close their Eyes stop their Ears and harden their Hearts against it lest they provoke God to give them up to their own imaginary conceited fleshly comprehensive knowledge of the Letter and so seal them up in that hardness of heart and deafness of Spirit which they first gave themselves up to For the Letter without the Spirit killeth And so doth all litteral knowledge and there needs no greater Curse from God it will sufficiently avenge the Cause of his Reproached Light and holy Covenant of Life in Christ Jesus now abundantly revealed and made manifest then to close mens Eyes and stop their Ears and harden their Hearts in their Litteral Knowledges and Practises from beholding and partaking of the precious Life and Vertue of this holy and Living Ministration in Christ Jesus the Lord wherewith God visiteth and redeemeth his people Indeed the Physitian is come inwardly and spiritually and he inwardly heals and restoreth his People faithfully seeking after the Sick the Distressed the Broken the Wounded pouring Oyl into their Wounds and healing them But there are some who are so sound and whole in their notional Apprehensions and Practises that they have no need of the Physitian and then the Physitian passeth by as unworthy of him and whom he intendeth shall have no share with him Ephraim is joyned to Idols he is well he hath enough he hath no need of me let him alone saith the Lord. I will pour out the choice Vertue of my Spiritual Life and redeeming Power among my gathered Sheep and Lambs who have need thereof and will rejoyce therein These will know my Voice these will justifie the appearance of my spirit and power these love the savour of my Anointing and precious Oyntment which runs down from the Head upon all the Living Body and these shall have it These understand how I have Mercy on whom I will and whom I will I Hearden and it is my will to have Mercy on these my once greatly Distressed Ones and to destroy inwardly to destroy O who knows what that means the fat and the strong and to feed them with judgement O that men did know to whom the Mercy and to whom the Judgement belongs To the wisdom of the Flesh to the wise Comprehenders of the things of God after the Flesh is the judgement to the Poor to the Distressed to the Broken in Spirit not to them that are at ease in their Litteral Knowledge but to the Mourners in Sion after the holy God and his living Power and Righteousness is the Everlasting Gospel the Mercy the Love the Peace the binding-up the Redemption which is by Christ Jesus the living Minister in the holy Sanctuary of our God THE END