stumbling and a Rock of Offence who stumbles at the Word the Stone which the Builders disallowed viz. the outward professors the same is made the Head of the Corner of Gods House whose House Gods People are and this Sion the chief Corner Stone which is laid in Sion was not laid in the Hill called Sion in outward Jerusalem for Christ the chief Corner Stone was born in Bethlem as is said before And the Apostle writes to the Church in his Epistle to the Hebâ—ew and said They were not come to the Mount Sinai where they received the Law but ye are come to Mount-Sion the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and to an innumerable Compâ—ny of Angels and they were come to the general Assembly the Church of the first born which are written in heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the Spirits of Just men made perfect and to Jesus the Mediator of the New-Covenant and to the Blood of sprinkling c. See that ye refuse not him that speaks from Heaven if we turn away from him that speaks from Heaven whose Voice shakes not the Earth only but the Heavens also but if ye here the Voice of Christ and follow him ye will receive his Kingdom that cannot be moved nor shaken And Now all ye Christions that profess Christianity are ye come to Mount-Sion or are ye under the Law which came from Mount-Sinai not Mount-Sion which Law commanded Tythes Offerings Sacrifice Oaths and Swearing with outward Tabernacle Sanctuary and Temple and Priests Lips to preserve Peoples Knowledge commanded by the Law in the Old Testament and if ye be come to Mount-Sion and heavenly Jerusalem the City of the Living God then you see the innumerable Company of Angels and the Spirits of Just men made perfect and they that are come here their Names are written in Heaven and such are come to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant who speaks from Heaven whose Voice shakes the Heavens and the Earth that are to be shaken that those things that cannot be shaken may remain Heb. 12. And John said Rev. 14. He saw a Lamb stood on Mount-Zion and with him a hundred forty four thousand having their Fathers Name written in their foreheads which were redeemed out of the Earth and from amongst men and they followed the Lamb and in their mouthes were found no Guile for they are without fault before the Throne of God and they sung a new Song before the Throne and no man could learn that Song but the hundred forty four thousand which were redeemed c. Then surely this was spiritual and surely this was heavenly-Sion and not Earthy which the hundred and forty four thousand stood upon which were redeemed from the Earth and so from Earthly Sion and Earthly Jerusalem and all those Earthly things that followed Christ the Lamb and was with him after he was risen before the Throne of God Gouses in Essex 13th day of the 2d Moneth 1683. G. F. A Distinction betwixt the Wars and the Weapons and the Arms and the Armour in the Old Testament and the New for in the Old Testament they were Carnal and in the New Testament Spiritual THe Apostle bids the Church of Christ Put on the whole Armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the Wiles of the Devil for we wrestle not against Flesh and Blood but against Principalities and Powers against the Rulers of the Darkness of this World against Spiritual Wickedness in High-places So this Wrestling was with Spiritual Weapons Spiritual Men for Carnal Men Wrestle with Flesh and Blood and with Carnal Weapons and mens Armour and not the Armour of God And again the Apostle saith Take unto you the whole Armour of God that you may be able to stand in the Evil day having done and having overcome all to stand having your Loyns girt with Truth So this is a heavenly Girdle not natural and having on the Breast-plate of Righteousness this is a Spiritual Breast-plate not Natural having your Feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace which is the Power of God over the Devil and before he was to be shod thus is not with outward shoes but with that which will never wax old nor wear out and above all take the shield of Faith that Faith which Christ is the Author and Finisher of wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery Darts of the Wicked this Shield of Faith is Holy Divine and Precious and is the Victory which Spiritual Faith God and Christ is the Author of and not Men And take unto you the Holmet of Salvation and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God Phil. 6. This Helmet of Salvation is Spiritual and the Sword is Spiritual so not a natural Sword or a natural Helmet and the Word of God is called a Hammer a Fire and a Sword to hammer down and cut down and burn up that which hath made a Separation betwixt man and God and it is called the Word of Reconciliation that reconciles to God So the true Church and Ministers of Christ are to prove themselves by Pureness by Knowledge by Long-suffering by Kindness by the holy Ghost by Love unfeigned by the Word of Truth by the Power of God by the Armour of Righteousness on the Right hand and on the Left 2 Cor. 6. For though the Church of Christ do walk in the Flesh yet the Apostle saith We do not War after the Flesh for the Weapons of our Warfare are not Carnal but Mighty through God to the plucking down of strong-Holds to wit of Satan casting down Imaginations and every High thing that exalts it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into Captivity every Thought to the Obedience of Chirst having in readiness to revenge all Disobedience This is with Spiritual Weapons not Carnal 2 Cor. 10. And the Apostle saith to the Romans The night is far spent and the day is at hand let us cast off therefore the Works of Darkness and put on the Armour of Light This Armour of Light is not Natural but Divine and Spiritual to all the Children of the Light and of the day this Armour of Light is afore Darkness was and the Devil the Power of it and he the Power of Darkness cannot pearce thorow this Armour of Light and this Armour of Light is above all natural and carnal Armour and all the Children of the Light that walk in this Light and this Armour they walk honestly and decently as in the day for they that walk in Rioting Drunhenness Chambering and Wantonness make provision for the Flesh to fulfill the Lusts thereof such are naked concerning this Armour of Light and though they may make profession of Christ they do not put him on as in Rom. 13. And Christ saith When a strong man armed keeps his House his Goods are at peace but when a stronger then he shall come upon him and overcome him he takes
and then makes you Persecutors and Murderers like Cain and so not doing well ye do not rule over sin but sin gets into you and rules over you and the Lord God hath no respect to such nor their Offerings nor Sacrifices nor fair Speeches nor good Words that do not well But if ye do well then the Lord God will accept you as you may see in Gen. 4. And Christ saith Blessed is that faithful Servant whom the Lord when he comes shall find so doing to wit doing the will of God Christ said to his Disciples when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you say we are unprofitable Servants we have done that which was but our duty to do Luke 17 So here you may see that which would beast of his doings is to be kept down and keptout for it is every Servant of Gods duty to do his will And the Jews said unto Pilate Crucifie him Crucifie him to wit Christ and Pilate said three times over What Evil hath he done Luke 23. But the Jews that did evil could not accuse him of any evil that he had done for Châ—â—â—â— to bruise the Serpents head and destroy the Devil and hiâ— Works and to finish Transgression and to make an end of Sin and to bring ever lasting Righteousness into the Hearts of his People And Peter said Of a Truth I perceive that God is no Respecter of Persons but in every Nation he that fears God and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him So here you may see it is not he that talketh of Righteousness out of the fear of God and worketh not Righteousness is accepted with the Righteous God as in Acts 10.35 For Christ saith Every one that doth evil hates the Light neither comes to the Light lest his Deeds should be reproved Now here you may see who are them that hate the Light of Christ who is the Life in him who enlightens every man that comes into the World every one that doth evil hates the saving heavenly Light of Christ which they should believe in and become Children of the Light and they that do evil and hate the Light neither come to the Light lest their Deeds should be reproved all these Doers of Evil and Haters of the Light of Christ and will not come to it lest their evil deeds should be reproved all such God nor Christ doth not accept their Offerings nor Sacrifices and such that hate the Light of Christ hate Christ though they may preach him and profess him in words yet they persecute and hate the Believers in the Light of Christ which are the Children of the Light and walk in the Light and are the Children of the day of Christ And again Christ saith He that doth Truth comes to the Light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought in God So it is not he that only talks of Truth but Mark he that doth Truth comes to the heavenly and spiritual Light of Christ that with his spiritual Light he may see his deeds that they are wrought in God this is a blessed work and a blessed sight to see and a happy comfort and a satisfaction to every one and such God doth accept and respect their Offering and all the Children of the Lord are to be tender one to another for Christ saith If I then your Lord and Master have washt your feet ye also ought to wash one anothers feet for I have given you an Example that ye should do as I have done unto you as in John 13. And this is a Practice of Humility in condescending in the tender Light of Christ one to another And John in his general Epistle saith Little Children let no man deceive you he that doth Righteousness is Righteous even as he is Righteous whosoever doth not Righteousness is not of God c. So here you may see it is not the Puft-up Boasters and Talkers of Righteousness but them that do it are of God And was it not the Reason that Cain slew his Brother because his works were Evil and Abel's were Righteous And is it not the cause now of Prisoning and Persecuting both with Tongue and Hand because their Works are Evil and of them that did and doth persecute the Righteous now but let them not be weary in well-doing for in due season they shall reap if they faint not for they that do evil sow to the flesh and shall of the flesh reap corruption but he that is in the Spirit of God sows to the Spirit and shall of the Spirit reap Life Eternal And whatsoever good thing any man doth the same shall he receive of the Lord whether he be bond or free for there is no respect of Persons with God for he doth accept all that are the Servants of Christ and do the Will of God from their Hearts but he that doth wrong receives for the wrong which he hath done for God is no respecter of Persons for he doth render to every man according to his deeds but them who by patience continue in well-doing seek for Glory and Honour and Immortality eternal Life but unto them that are Contentious and do not obey the Truth but obey Unrighteousness Indignation Wrath Tribulation and Anguish upon every Soul of man that doth Evil of the Jew first and also of the Gentile but Glory Honour and Peace to every man that worketh good to the Jew first and also to the Gentile for there is no respect of Persons with God And as Christ saith Every good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit and a corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit. So by their fruits Trees are known for it is not every one that saith Lord Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven but he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Heaven So here you may see that it is not only the Talkers of God and Christ that enter into the Kingdom of God but every one that hears the Sayings of Christ and doth them is likened to a Wise man which built his House upon a Rock that neither the Rain Floods nor Wind shall beat it down because it is founded upon a Rock but every one that hears the sayings of Christ and doth them not is likned to a foolish man which built his House upon the Sand and the Rain and the Floods and the Winds beat upon his House and it falls and great is the fall of it These are them that do not the Will of God these are the Sayers and not Doers these are them that walk not in the Light nor Grace nor Truth nor Spirit nor Gospel of Christ these are the Hearers of the Word but not Doers of the Word which deceive their own selves and are likned to a man that beholds his natural face in a Glass and streight way forgets what manner of man he was but that man which is the doer of the Work and the Word of God is blessed in his deed to him
holy Order is and go out of simplicity and innocency into subtilty and craft for the Devil that abode not in the Truth and his followers that disobey God and his Truth which follow the Devil in whom there is no Truth there is no order but confusion Truth hath an order for all things that God did make by Jesus Christ upholds all things by his Word and Power So with his Word and Power he keeps all things in their places and in their order in their times and in their seasons the Summer and the Winter the Night and the Day the Sun Moon and the Stars all things are kept in order by the Word of God and his Power and the Earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof and the Sea and the fullness therein So both the Earth and the Sea and all things therein are kept in their order by the Word and Power of God by which they were made by which they are upheld So all the works of the Lord praise him and all men and women that are in the Truth which makes them free from him that abode not in the Truth in whom there is no Truth So all Gods free People or Children that are made free indeed by the Truth are in the order of the Truth and in the order of the Spirit of God and in the order of the Gospel and are in the order of the Light the Life in Christ and are over the foul Spirit of Disorder in the Land of Death and Darkness as the Scripture saith A Land of Darkness as Darkness it self and of the shadow of Death without any Order Mark without any Order where the Light is as Darkness This Spirit may cry out against Orders whose Habitation is Darkness without any order but as the Lord saith Who offers up Praise glorifies me and he that orders his Conversation aright shall see the Salvation of God Now here is a particular Order for every man and woman to observe for the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delight in his way Psal 37. The Lord hath sworn and will not repent speaking of Christ Thou art a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedeck Psal 110. Heb. 5. and Christ is not called after the order of Aaron Heb. 7. Here you may see Melchizedeck the Priest was not made without an Order and Aaron's Priesthood was made by an order of God according to his Rod's budding in the Tabernacle and Christ was not a Priest made without an Order which is after the order of Melchizedeck and his Royal Priesthood which offers up spiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God are in his spiritual Order and in the Order of the spirit of God And Isaiah saith chap. 9. Vnto us a Child is born unto us a Son is given and the Government shall be upon his Shoulders So here Christ bears up his Government and of the increase of his Government and Peace there shall be no end for Christ orders it and establishes it c. So Christ's Government is a peaceable Government and there is no strife in it and Christ's Government is peaceable in his Power Light and Spirit And the Apostle after he had exhorted the Corinthians of many things said The rest I will set in order when I come and this was by the Power and Spirit of Christ And the Apostle saith to Titâ—â— I left thee in Creet that thou shouldst set in order the things that be wanting and that thou ordain Elders in every City as I have appointed thee And in the 2d chapt ye may see how he speaks of the Qualifications of the aged men and the aged women that were to be teachers of good things and of the younger c. Now here you may see the Apostle was for good Order and established good Order in the Church of Christ and encouraged Titus to set in order and ordain Elders in every City in Creet which were wanting so that all the Church of Christ might be kept in the Order and Power and Spirit of Christ And the Apostle saith to the Colosians Though I be absent in the flesh yet I am with you in the spirit joying and beholding your Order and the stedfastness of your Faith in Christ and as you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in him Now here you may see the Church of Christ had a spiritual order though the Apostle was absent in the flesh from them yet he was present with them in his spirit with which spirit he rejoyced and beheld their spiritual order so in this spiritual order must all Gods People live though they be absent in Body one from another yet in the spirit they may rejoyce beholding the spiritual order that is in the Church of Christ and the stedfastness of one anothers Faith in Christ Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of it G. F. THE END Books lately published and sold by Andrew Sowle HUmphry Smith's Books collected into one Volumn Price 2 s. 6 d. A handful after the Harvest-man or a Collection of the Epistles and Testimonies of Richard Samble William Penn's No Cross No Crown His Letter from Pennsilvania giving a brief description thereof Concerning Meetings in Houses Streets By ways c. By G. F. A brief Treatise of Religious Womens Meetings Truth 's Vindication or a gentle stroke to wipe off the foul Aspersions and Misrepresentations cast upon the Quakers By E. Bathurst 8o. Some Fruits brought forth through a tender Branch named W. Sixmith The good Housewife made a Doctor Or a plain way of Natures own prescribing to prevent and cure most Diseases incident to Men Women and Children by Diet and Kitchin-Physick only 8o. bound 1 s.