you judge of us we have no other end in all our meetings together but to wait upon our God that we might know his Will and be guided and directed into all truth by his Spirit which he hath sent into our hearts and in it to worship and serve him all the days of our life and here we find the narrow way and strair Gate which leads into the Paradice of God even to the eternal life but broad is the way and wide is the Gate that leads to destruction according to the words of our dear elder Brother Christ Jesus for we having but turned our faces from the Earth toward the Garden of God our true resting-place but immediately our Brethren the first-born of Adam in transgression like Cain do rise up in wrath to smite us by whom we are greatly abused imprisoned and oppressed who will not go in this narrow passage themselves nor suffer them that would and in as much as in them lieth they strive to hide the key of true knowledge from their Brethren and would not have them seek that City which hath foundations whose Builder and Maker is God in which only is the eternal salvation peace and quietness of the souls of the children of men Heb. 11.10 Surely this must needs be of the old Serpent the beguiler oppressor and destroyer of Mankind and of the great Whore the Mother of Harlots even the same which beguiled and deceived tempted and led them out of the Paradice of God's counsel and presence in which is joy and peace for evermore even the Murtherer from the beginning which killed the just and let the mind into the Earth and its delights pleasures and vanities which comes to an end Therefore the Cross must be taken up which the second Adam taught us daily to the earthly affections things of this World in which the Prince of darkness ruleth for it is but a Cross not of Wood Stone Gold or Silver but the pure Power of God by which the World and the things thereof are become dead and crucified unto us and we unto them even such a Cross that the earthly minded are enemies to who can set up and wear the Cross of Wood Silver and Gold which is of the Earth like them that make them and wear them but this crucifies the World and all that is in the World is the lust of the flesh the lust of the eye and the pride of life and the whole World lies in wickedness so this crucifies the wickedness slays the enmity which your Crosses of Wood and Stone never did but you have been in enmity about them and such things and yet are in the lust and pride enmity and wickedness stumbling at the Cross in which the Saints glory is for by this are the Kings bound in Chains and the nobles in fetters of iron even Lord Esau and all the Princes of Ishmael and Dukes of Edom Esau's stock and the Devil is King over all the Children of Pride Read this and tremble all you whose state this is for it is not your talk of God and Christ and of his Cross that will at all avail you while you stick fast in the driven-out-state in which you are separated from the enjoyment of his life and presence and not returning to the Rock from whence we were hewen the tryed everlasting foundation which is laid in Sion by which every mans Works Words Professions and Religions must be tryed and made manifest of vvhat sort it is For by this Line of true Judgement he that says he vvorships God or loves God and yet hates his Brother is found a lyar and vve knovv that all lyars are shut out of his Heavenly Kingdom and must have their portion in the Luke that burneth vvith the heavy displeasure of God Rev. 21 8. Therefore I pray you brethren be you novv vvell advised in vvhat you do act or speak and consider the end of these things your ovvn state as to God-vvard for as for us vve are but strangers in the Earth as our Fathers vvere now vve are avvake the glory of it is but like a dream vvithout substance or satisfaction to the immortal soul vve novv perceive what the captivity of Babylon is and the Whore vvhich hath sate and reigned over all Nations and Kings of the Earth and vvhat that night and sleep vvas in vvhich the Enemy came and sovved tares among the good Seed in the field for vve being returned toward the Land of the living following the Light of Israel the promises of our heavenly Father are fulfilling unto us where he said They shall return and discern between the precious and the vile between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not between him that sweareth and him that feareth an Oath c. and I will return unto them a pure Language and they shall worship me with one consent This the Lord is fulfilling among us whom he hath gathered out of the many unclean Languages and false Worships and vain Religions the Whores Dommions to worship him in the Spirit and in the Truth for such only he seeketh and they are the true Worshippers John 4.23 24. Now I question not but you have heard how Cain offered sacrifie and yet smote and slew his brother Abel whose blood cryed from the ground against him for vengeance may you not read this somewhat near consider it and God had no respect to his offering who slew his brother but unto his offering who was the sufferer God had respect as he hath at this day who saith To this man will I look who is poor and of a contrite Spirit and trembleth at my word These things and the ground of them you might perceive if you were but truly awakened from the deep sleep of sin and death and the pleasures thereof which are but for a season however the Trump of God is sounding which shall ere long awaken you to judgement then shall you see how you have striven against the love and mercies of God and slighted the day of your visitation from on high and have fought against God's Witness and Witnesses to keep them in the perpetual Babylonish captivity and Egyptian bondage and darkness Be not deceived any longer neither flatter with your selves for we are not blind nor mad or in ignorance and error as you have supposed believed and reported through which you have reproached and greatly abused us and strengthened the hands of evil-doers and cruelty against us without cause but we are truly awakened by the voice of the Son of God who hath opened our ears and understandings and that eye which the Serpent the god of the World had blinded and now we see and know that if any man love the World or the things of the World the Love of the Father is not in him let him profess what he will The Scribes and Pharisees could say much could say We have one Father even God and we are Abraham's Seed
Kings of the Earth over multitudes tongues people's and languages they are the Waters Rev. 17.15 on which the Whore sits the unstable people in the unstable state tossing up and down in confusion restless full of stirs a tumulcuous City these are the Waters the swelling the roaring the foaming the tossing the Wicked are like the troubled Sea which cannot rest whose Waves cast up mire and dirt and there is no peace to the Wicked saith my God these are the Waters on which the Whore sits this was Cains state who had drunk the Whores Cup and killed the Just about sacrifice drove from God a Vagabond no peace but great punishment greater than he could bear and the Wicked foam out their own shame like the raging sea drunk with the Cup of the Mother of Harlots and all abominations of the Earth then mad upon their idols as the Prophet said persecuting and killing about VVorship and Sacrifice This hath been the state of the Drunkards of Ephraim in all ages this is Cains way and the Whores way which is become great and have reigned over Nations Tongues Multitudes and Peoples and Kings of the Earth Babylon Mysterie Babylon the original of All Abominations and Mother of Harlots riding upon a scarlet coloured Beast full of Names of Blasphemy deckt with Gold and Purple Pearls and precious stones having a golden Cup in her hand but its full of abominations and filthiness and she is drunken vvith the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus and the beast is scarlet coloured vvhich carrieth her having horns mark that the Povvers of the Earth Kings and Rulers have been made drunk vvith her Cup and have committed fornication vvith her and she hath sate and reigned over them and the beast hath carried the VVhore and they have made war with the Lamb and the Saints and killed them this is Cains way vagabond from God in wrath and envy whored from God killing about Worship and Sacrifice killing just Abel killing the Prophets Saints and Martyrs of Jesus This Whore hath sate and reigned upon Tongues Multitudes Peoples and Kings of the Earth This is the great Whore that hath glorified her self in her abominations sitting as a Queen saying in her heart she shall never see sorrow c. But this is the Vine of Sodom her grapes are grapes of abominations through the spreading of her boughs the whole earth hath been corrupted and by her dominion the Lamb hath been slain blood hath cryed against her from the foundation of the World even from Abel to this day the Land of uprightness hath mourned while the wicked have born rule and lamentation hath dwelt upon the Tabernacle of the righteous darkness hath covered the earth and gross darkness the people death and destruction hath reigned the Devil the Murtherer from the beginning hath been the God of the World for ages and generations and the true God hath been unknown and his appearances a Mysterie hid from them and a Covenant hath been made with death and an agreement with Hell and man hath been separated and driven from God as far as the East is from the West and the abomination which maketh desolate hath stood where it ought not iniquity hath abounded and love hath waxt cold the whole World hath been like a Wilderness wickedness hath sate in the Ephah and unrighteousness in the Judgement-seat the adulterated spirit from God the great VVhore hath sate and reigned over all Nations and Kings of the Earth which hath oppressed the Creation and grieved the good Spirit of God and made war against every appearance of the righteous Seed and the Lamb hath been slain from the foundation of the World the Dragon hath cast out his Floods of persecution after the true woman in all ages which brings forth the Man-Child the Heir whose right alone it is to rule the Nations but the Nations of the Earth have been angry and the great men and chief Captains at the birth of this Child and have always sought its life even when it was young as in the days of Herod and the Beast Whore and false Prophet hath made War with the Saints and persecuted imprisoned and killed them and the Scriptures are fulfilled The Devil shall cast some of you into Prison and you shall have tribulation ten days The Kings of the Earth have set themselves and the Rulers take counsel together against the Lord against his annointed saying Let us break their Bands or Meetings and cast away their Cords from us If you have ears hear O ye sons of Adam and his first-born in transgression killers about Worship and Sacrifice the Lord hath you in derision and he will vex you in his sore displeasure and break you as with an Iron Rod and dash you like a potters Vessel Be wise therefore now and fear and tremble before the Lord God These things have been and have overspread the Earth and darkned the Air the Whore hath sate as Queen and the true Woman hath fled and been hid in the Wilderness and been in great sorrow and hath brought forth in sorrow and great tribulations in all ages for the Dragon was alway ready to devour her child as soon as it was born yea every appearance of God and of his Truth and Way of Righteousness have been opposed as you may read from Cain to this day but still the Child was caught up to God and they mist their end when they said This is the Heir let us kill him and the Inheritance will be ours and in the days of Pharoahs persecution of Israel which was lest they should multiply and become great in number the Midwives feared God and Moses was born and hid from them who was appointed to lead Israel out of Egypt and in the days of Herod when so many young children were killed he was hid from them till He was dead that sought the young childs life How great was the Whores and the Devils rage in those Rulers to destroy so many innocent babes the thoughts of which will make our bowels to move that fear the Lord and in the days of the other Herod chief Priests and Rulers Scribes Pharisees and Elders Herod and his Men of War set him at nought and mockt him because he answered him not a word to his many Questions and are not we mockt so now when we are becom fools for his sake whom the Princes of this world never knew Consider these things for God will not belong mocked by Cain nor Herod neither but will give every one a reward according to his doings And when they had crucied him and put him to death he rose again and is yet hid from them but to his Disciples he is manifest and is come the second time to salvation and the grave cannot hold him nor never could nor never shall for he was before the grave death or persecution was and shall reign over it all for ever and ever and the Whore Beast and false
and never were in bondage c. and kept strict the Sabbath and fasted and made long prayers and paid tythe and gave Alms and read Moses and the Prophets words very exactly c. and yet the love of God was not in them as you may read John 8.33 37 39 44. but they were of their Father the Devil because his Works they did notwithstanding their fair covering and what was that they persecuted and kill'd about Religion and Worship as may be read at large in the Scriptures of truth of the proceedings in that age of the Rulers chief Priests Elders and great Professors c. Therefore take heed to your selves and to your own standing and do not so hastily judge amiss of us nor thus speak evil of us nor abuse and persecute us nor so grievously and cruelly afflict and oppress us any more about these things or because we are not altogether like or conformable unto you in your ways and traditions for God will plead with you about it but rather judge your selves that you are not hastening with us as Lot out of Sodom because of the wrath and vengeance which is swiftly coming upon the World of the ungodly which they shall not escape for I tell you and that from the mouth of the living God That a terrible storm dreadful hour is at hand except you run our race toward Zoar you will be taken and destroyed being found in spiritual Sodom and Egypt and in the Babylonish Market-place of confusion ungodliness ignorance and unrighteousness out of which the Lord of the Harvest hath called and gathered us into his Vinyard where after our faithful labour therein we receive enjoy and rest in the joy of our Lord And if you are found smiting your fellow-servants or brethren like Cain about these things and eat and drink with the drunken who are drunk with the Whores Cup and say in your hearts The Lord delayeth his coming he wil come unawares upon you and in an hour when you look not for him and will cut you assunder and give you your portion with unbelievers abominable ungodly and hypocrites who shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth for evermore Therefore remember to do as you would be done unto for that is the Law and the Prophets and as for Christ and his followers they are not come to destroy mens lives but to save them and let us alone in our journey or passage toward the City or Paradice of the living God who hath called and awakened us and raised up our affections and desires which cannot be satisfied with dreams husks painted things likenesses or vain shews for the Spirit of a man we are now come to know which goeth upward and are leaving the Beastial Spirit that descends downward into the Earth and now we also know that none can learn our song but they whose minds through the patient sufferings are redeemed from the Earth for it 's the song of the Lamband of Moses which chused rather to suffer affliction then to embrace the Treasures of Egypt or the pleasures of sin which are but for a season against whose brethren generation seed and off-spring the Beast the Whore and the Dragon the false Prophet Death and Hell the powers of darkness and ungodliness make War who shall be cast into the Lake that burns with fire and brimstone even under the sence and feeling of the Eternal Vengeance of the Almighty God there to be tormented day and night for ever and ever But blessed are they who follovv the Lamb in vvhose mouth is found no guile vvhithersoever he goeth or leadeth through the patient sufferings in the love unfeigned they shal rest in the Land of the Paradice of the Fountain of pleasures at the right hand of God for evermore Amen Halelujah And novv hear O ye Rulers and Teachers by vvhat flattering title soever you are called in this Land of England your nakedness is seen as in the day in vvhich you vvere born and your hypocrisie and deceit God hath found out and discovered therefore be ashamed and blush and stand guilty before him and repent if there be yet a minute or place left you and do not strive any longer against God and to cover your selves any more vvith the Name of Christianity vvhile you are in the nature of Heathens and in the vvay of Cain persecuting and imprisoning about Religion and Worship for it is Cain's mark in all ages and the Heathens that knovvs not God as it is written and you may read it Why do the Heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing and its in vain for you to strive against the Decree and Work of God which he is bringing to pass Mark the Ragers are the Heathen that know not God and these are the persecutors in all ages these are in Cains way as it is written Wo unto them for they have gore in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balaam mark wo is their portion and is not this your state ye Rulers and Teachers of England consider it in the cool of the day and let God's Witness in your Consciences answer For I tell you from God and proclaim it this day amongst you that wo misery wil be your end if ye proceed in these things which is already stealing upon you and will overtake you as an armed man and as a woman in travel and you shal not escape For do you think to prosper or set up your selves by striving against God and his marvellous Work and Will which is to be done in Earth as it is done in Heaven Do you imagine that your Laws or Decrees shall hinder or frustrate God's eternal and unchangeable Decree and Purpose which is to finish transgression destroy the Works of the Devil and make an end of sin and exalt truth and righteousness the Mountain of his own House and Holiness and to establish it a top of all Hills and over all Mountains which was before the Mountains and Hills were brought forth over which it must be established and to fulfil his promise made to Abraham and to his Seed which must be as the stars of Heaven and as the sands by the sea-shore for multitude And will you yet strive to hinder the encrease of God's decreed number or will you limit his Seed that it might not spread and replenish the Earth whose right it is to inherit the uttermost part thereof and a multitude of the sea shall be converted unto him Must not this be done which was spoken of by holy men of God as they were moved by the Holy Ghost Shall the wicked which are like the chaff and makes a mock at the movings of the Holy Ghost or Spirit disannul God's determinate Counsel Can you hinder the course of the Stars or cause them to withdraw their shining or number the sands by the sea-shore or stop the ebbings or flowing of the Ocean Or can you stop the rain or cause it