it springs he may discern and receive it and when that which is of a contrary nature springs he may discern it under all its deceitful appearances and turn from it For out of the heart are the issues both of Life and Death There is all manner of deceivableness or unrighteousness in the unrighâ—eous nature in the unrighteous Spirit and â—f the watch be not diligently kept it is easy to be deceived at any time But the true Seed the holy Seed the Living Seed the elect Seed the immortal Seed is never deceived O blessed are they who have their eyes opened and kept open in it to discern the mystery of Godliness and the mystery of Iniquity that they may be preserved safe in the one out of the reach of the other XIII Some Queries concerning the Seed of the Kingdom in which the Kingdom it self is contained as the nature and substance of things is contained in the Seed thereof and out of which it springeth up and ariseth in the heart Quer. 1. What is that Seed which is spoken of 1 Joh. 3.9 which remaineth in those that are born of God and preserveth out of sin those that are led by it and comprehended in it is it not the Seed of the Kingdom Quer. 2. Do not the natural herbs and flowers the natural plants and trees grow from a natural Seed Do not the spiritual plants the spiritual trees the trees of righteousness grow from the Seed of righteousness Quer. 3. Was it not the great doctrine of Christ to preach the Kingdom And how did he preach it did he not preach it as a Seed as a grain of Mustard-Seed and did not be liken this Spiritual Seed to leaven to a precious pearl to treasure hid in a field to a piece of silver lost c. O how happy is he who knows and enjoyes the thing it self which Christ preached All the prophets prophesied concerning him and when he comes this was his doctrine that men should mind this look after this purchase this possess this feel this planted and grow up in them and themselves ingraffed into and growing up in it Quer. 4. Can any man be born of God and not born of this Seed can any man be born of this Seed and not born of God Quer. 5. How doth Grace and Truth come by Jesus Christ Doth it not grow up from this Seed Can it grow up any other way in any heart Quer. 6. Is not Salvation felt and witnessed in every heart of those that are in any measure redeemed as this Seed grows up and overshadows them Was not this the Salvation ready to be revealed in the last time 1 Pet. 1.10 whereof the Apostle Peâ—er himself was made a partaker Chap. 5.10 In the law were the shadows of good things to come but in the gospel the substance the Seed it self it revealed Quer. 7. Is it not the right beginning in Religion to begin in the Spirit and can any begin in the Spirit but he that begins in and with the Seed of the Kingdom Quer. 8. Is it not the main and chief thing in Religion to know this Seed to feel this Seed to be joyned to this Seed and abide in this Seed Quer. 9. Is not all that flows from this Seed true and certain is not the Knowledg certain here the Faith here the Love here the Peace here the Joy here the the Righteousness here From this true root can there grow or shoot forth any thing but that which is true O every breathing here is from pure Life and precious in the eye of the Father Is there any certainty elsewhere O when the Lord appears will he not disown all the religion and worship which is not of this growth Quer. 10. But some may say how may I know this Seed and how may I be joyned to it Answ In the quickning Life mayest thou know it and no-where else Didst thou ever feel that which quickned thy heart towards the Lord Therein and thereby at that time thou mayest feel an eye and heart opened which can truly see and know somewhat of God And keeping thy eie to the quickning power of God as that stirs moves and operates in thee and upon thee thou mayest know again and know more Therefore eye the power which quickens and eye the Seed which it reveals and raiseth in thee and wait to feel the power subjecting thee to the Seed that thou mayest come under it and it may come over thee and press down in thee all that is contrary to its pure nature And as thou comest hither thou wilt find that which death hath no power over and as thou abidest there thou shalt find it to have no power over thee F r of a truth in the holy Covenant of Life and Peace death never had nor can have power but he who abideth in him who is the Covenant who is the sheepherd who is the Love who is the Wisdom and Power of God witnesseth there a sure defence and strong tower where Salvation is for a Wall and Bulwark against the Enemy There are many sorts of talkers concerning the thing but there are few travellers into it but he alone who is a true traveller into it and takes up his rest there certainly knows and can truly witness what is to be found there And this is the reason that so many who seem great and experienced knowers cannot receive our testimony because they know neither the Seed nor its voice concerning which and whereby we testify But Wisdom is Justified of her Children and they that know the voice of the Sheepherd know his present appearance in this our day which is contrary to the Wisdom and Knowledg of all other Seeds and Births whatsoever He that hath an Ear to hear let him hear But he that hath not the true Ear cannot hear the true testimony though it should never so often be declared unto him But blessed is he that knows and stumbles not at the appearances of the Seed and Power of Life in his own heart but is turned from the Darkness to the Light there and from the Power of Satan to the manifestation of God's Spirit there for the end of words even of Christs own directions in the days of his flesh is to turn men to the holy Life and Power from whence the words came and thither man is to travel and therein to center waiting on the Lord in the way of his Judgments and tender Mercies to witness a translation from Darkness to Light and from the Kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of the dear Son which Kingdom is at first but as a grain of mustard-Seed and must be so known and so received And now let every serious heart examine concerning himself Dost thou know the Kingdom is the Seed grown in thee Doth it overspread thee Art thou in it as in a Kingdom Dost thou feel it overshadowing thee Art thou in unity with it Doth it speak Peace to thee from the Lord
or very God and Eternal Life What are all notions about God and about his Son Christ Jesus to this inward sense and experience of them God who commanded the Light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledg of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 2. Cor. 4.6 O how precious is it to be able to witness this in measure to experience God shining upon my tabernacle as Job speaks Job 29.2 3 and by his Light my walking through darkness It is true Christ was the Light he had the fulness of Light and the Apostles a very great proportion but blessed be the Lord I have received some and am changed by it and become light in the Lord and walk with God and dwell with God in the light even as he is Light and dwels and walks in the Light Is not this a blessed testimony and is not he blessed who can set his seal to it Which veil is done away in Christ 1 Cor. 3.14 It was promised of old that in the mountain where God would make the Feast of fat things he would destroy swallow up or do away the veil or that which veils the Life and Glory of the Lord from man and hinders it from being revealed in him Isa 25.6.7 Now in Christ there is no veil In his Light Life Spirit and Power there is no veil Where they are inwardly manifested and received the veil is done away and the glory of the mystery revealed and beheld If ye continue in my Word then are ye my disciples indeed and ye shall know the truth the truth shall make you free Joh. 8.31 32. What is this word which the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ are to continue in Is it any less than Spirit and life And wh t is it to be a disciple indeed but to learn the Law of Life at his mouth and to continue therein And what is the truth which makes free Is it not the living truth the word which lives and abides for ever the powerful truth the operative truth This cuts between a man and his lovers this divides between Soul and Spirit Joints and marrow and makes the Soul free from that evil Spirit which had embondaged it It Sanctifieth it cleanseth it reneweth it quickneth it giveth strength it maketh free from the Souls enemies from the bondage of sin and corruption and brings into the glorious liberty of the Sons of God And they that are made free from sin by that which is contrary to â—n and which subdues overcomes and destroys sin they doubtless are free indeed O precious is it to experience this even the truth that is free from sin and makes free from sin all that truly know it and are joyned to it and live and abide in it For sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under the Law but under grace Rom. 6.14 What 's the Law What 's the ministration of the Law Is it not the ministration of the letter of that which is holy and righteous by an outward or litteral Command What 's Grace Is it not the inward teacher which inwardly instructeth to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live Soberly Righteously and Godlily c. Is it not the ministration of the Spirit and Power Is it not the ministration of the new Covenant where the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus is written in the heart and the commandement of Life made easy by the power of the Lord Jesus who manifests himself within to makâ— willing unto and to strengthen to obedience Now they that are under this Grace under this Spirit under this Power doth it not break the power and dominion of sin in them and set them free therefrom Can sin break in upon those who dwell under the shadow of the Almighty Indeed a man may be under a literal dispensation of holy Commands against sin and yet be under the power of Sin but he that is gathered under the wing of Christ under the Grace and Spirit of the Gospel turned from Satans power to God's Power and within the Wall and Bulwark thereof he witnesseth this true Sin hath not Dominion Sin cannot have Dominion Sin shall not have Dominion over you no device of the enemy shall be able to hurt or destroy on Gods holy Mountain for his Light shines there to dispel the darkness and his power is revealed there to scatter and dash in pieces the strength of the enemy whenever it appears Vpon all the glory shall be a defence Isa 4.5 O the Lord God by the Spirit and Power of the Gospel in the day thereof is bringing many Sons to Glory into Great Inward Spiritual Glory yea into exceeding Glory For the ministration of the Spirit exceeds in glory And as God hath ordained this glorious ministration for his Sons and daughters under the New Covenant so by the Spirit and Power of the New Covenant when it breaks forth he is daily working translating and changing them out of the earthly nature and image into his own divine nature into his own heavenly Glory 2 Cor. 3.18 And blessed be the Lord the defence of his power is spread over the glory of his holy Mountain so that nothing can make a prey of or devour the birth of life or deprive of the inheritance of Life there The Lord doth not only give a blessed lot and lines in pleasant places but he maintains the lot of his Children so that they can dwell in their Fathers House and feed on the Heavenly Food and rich dainties of the Kingdom in the majesty of the name of the Lord their God which is such a dread unto the enemies and such a defence about them as none can make afraid but they are kept in perfect Peace in perfect rest in pure Love out of which Life springs and flows continually And in that day thou shalt say O Lord I will praise thee though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me Behold God is my Salvation I will trust and not be afraid for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and Song he also is become my Salvation Therefore with Joy shall ye draw water out of the Wells of Salvation Isa 12.1 2 3. O precious to witness the inward Spiritual day of redemption and deliverance wherein praises from a living sense naturally spring up to the Lord To witness the reproofs at an end the anger indignation trouble and sorrow at an end and the comforter come ministring Peace Joy and Comfort to the Soul Ah when the Lord is felt the Salvation his pesence his Power his Life his Vertue the Salvation when Faith springs towards him and the fear of the enemy or concerning the enemy is banished when he is experienced to be the Soul 's daily strength against him yea and doth so deliver that instead of the former fear because of the fury and oppression of the
Life filling with Love filling with Virtue feasting the Soul in the presence of the Father O what sweet joy O what fulness of Joy is there then in the heart In thy presence is fulness of Joy and at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore said the Psalmist Psal 16.11 Surely he had had a taste of the thing he had been in God's presence and that made him cry out Cast me not away from thy presence Psal 51.11 and he had drunk of the river of God's pleasure which is at his right hand which made him speak so sensibly of it Psal 36.8 and 46.4 Christ said to his disciples that because of his going away they should have sorrow but he would see them again and their heart should rejoice and their joy no man should come from them Joh. 16.22 How or when was this fulfilled What were they sorry for Was it not the loss of his outward presence which had been so sweet and comfortable to them How would he come to them again Was it not by the Comforter Was it not by his inward and spiritual presence So that he that was with them should be in them Before they knew Christ with them now they should know Christ in them the Father in them and they in him Immanuel the Gospel-state God with us dwelling with us tabernacling in us living in us walking in us and we living and walking in him When the Apostles came to this state then they came to witness the Joy in the Holy Ghost even the Joy unspeakable and full of glory And hence it is that the Gospel-state is a state of Joy and rejoycing in the Lord even in his glorious living presence and in the glory of his power For in the Gospel-state the true light shines inwardly in the heart the life is manifested and being manifested they that come into the manifestation of it come into the holy union and into the holy fellowship with the Father and Son where the Joy is and where the Joy is full where the power is revealed which does away that which is contrary to the holy fellowship and hinders the holy Joy and rejoicing in the Lord. See 1 John 1.3 4. XXXIV Concerning Poverty of Spirit and Humility Quest Which is the right Poverty of Spirit and the true Humility Answ That Poverty and Humility of Spirit which springeth from the same root from which the Faith the Love the Peace the Joy and the other heavenly things arise and is of the same nature There is a voluntary Humility and a voluntary Poverty even of Spirit which man casts himself into and forms in himself by his own workings and reasonings This is not the true but the false image or counterfeit of the true But then there is a Poverty which ariseth from God's emptying the Creature from God's stripping the Creature and an Humility which ariseth from a new heart and nature This is of the right kind and is lasting and abides in the midst of the riches and glory of the Kingdom For as Christ was poor in Spirit before his Father and lowly in heart in the midst of all the fulness which he received from him so it is with these who are of the same birth and nature with Christ They are filled with Humility and Cloathed with Humility in the midst of all the Graces and heavenly riches which God fills them and adorns them with Keep in the faith keep in the Truth keep in the Light keep in the Power it excludes boasting in or after the flesh and keeps the Mind in that Humility and Poverty of Spirit which God hath brought and daily further and further brings it into and so the Humility and Poverty remains poor in Spirit for ever humble in Spirit forever nothing before the Lord for ever even as that remains which brought into that frame and keeps in that frame for ever And so the Lord of Life is only exalted and the Creature kept abased before him and low for ever and is nothing but as the Lord pleaseth to fill and make it to be what it is So what I am I am by God's Love by his Grace by his Mercy by his Goodne s by his Power by his Wisdom by his Righteousness b his Holiness which he of his own good pleasure communicateth and causeth to spring in me and filleth and cloatheth me with as seemeth good in his sight The Conclusion There is mention made in the Book of the Revelations in the Ep stles from Christ to the Seven Churches of Asia of a tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God the fruit whereof is good for food and the leaves thereof for the healing of the Nations and of hidden Manna and a white stone and in the stone a new name written which none knoweth but he that receiveth it and of a morning-star to be given and power over the Nations to rule their spirit even as Christ hath received of his Father and of being cloathed in white and his Name confessed before the Father This is the Sheep of my told the child of my Father's begetting who is named by me among the living I know him by his name Joh. 10.3 as also of being a pillar in the Temple of God and of going no more out but bearing the name of God and the name of the City of God the new Jerusalem which cometh down from God out of Heaven and of Christ's new name Oh what is that and of sitting with Christ in his throne This is the generation of spiritual Kings who have a Spiritual Kingdom and a Spiritual Throne even Christ's Kingdom and Christ's Throne the royal Priesthood of God O precious things O rich glory Surely Eye hath not seen nor Ear heard nor hath it entred into the Heart of men to conceive what these things are Now he that would witness these things he that would know experience and enjoy these things must mind that seed in which they are wrapped up as in a seed and out of which they spring and shoot forth The Kingdom is in the seed the Throne in the seed the Power in the seed He that is united to the seed and abideth in the seed receiveth power from the seed and overcometh shall inherit all things And I will be his God and he shall be my Son Rev. 21.7 But he that will be so must not be fearful or unbelieving of overcoming sin or his souls 〈…〉 must depend upon the Almighty and alsufficient Power of God which will give him victâ—ry over sin and keep him that he touch no unclean things that he may be hâ—ly as the Lord his God is holy and righteous even as the Lord his God is righteous Indeed it becometh the heavenly Children to partake of the Divine Life of the heavenly nature of their Father and be like him And he that partaketh of his nature of his holiness Heb. 12.10 is holy as he is holy and he that from the holy root
of purity and righteousness doth righteousness is righteous even as he is righteous 1 Joh. 3.7 So it is written without and so it is testified within by him that is born of God in whom the Seed remaineth which overcometh the wicked one bruiseth him and keepeth him under and the just live by the Faith which giveth victory over him A PREFACE TO THE EXPERIENCES IT hath pleased the Lord to unseal and open the Fountain of Life in the midst of his Heritage so that in his Light do they see Light and in his Life do they reap and enjoy Life And the precious Promises are fulfilled in the midst of them of sending the Comforter and pouring out of the Holy Spirit so that he that believeth out of his belly do flow rivers of living water Yea the Lord hath a vineyard of his own planting which he keepeth night and day lest any hurt it and watereth every moment O the streams of Life the streams of Love the streams of Grace the streams of Mercy the streams of Peace the streams of Joy and Consolation which flow from him into the Bosoms of his Children Indeed Grace and Mercy and Peace is multiplyed from God our Father in and through the Lord Jesus Christ daily insomuch as that saying of Christ to his disciples Joh. 14.26 27. is now fulfilled I say not that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you c. the Father in his Love hath brought us to the Son and the Son in the same Love hath brought us back to the Father and now the Love flows from the Father in and through the Son most naturally and abundantly And where the heart is Circumcised and much forgiven there also Love returns back most truly and naturally So that the Lord our God in the Lord Jesus Christ is loved with all the heart and with all the Soul and nothing is thought too good to sacrifice to him nor any thing too much to suffer for him O the pure Love that Springs and Flows between the heavenly Father and the Spiritual Child The best love that is to be found in this world in the Men of this World is not worthy to be a shadow of it God is Love and his Children are of him and partake of and dwell in the same love though the enmity and highest Wisdom of this World know them not nor can know them even as it never could know the Children of the true Wisdom sormerly Now from this Fountain do not only issue Springs and Streams of Life to refresh our own hearts but testimonies concerning the Life which we feel and partake of and concerning our travels from the dark Land through the valley of tears where he who gave us Life was our well towards our resting place These many times Spring up in us for the sakes of others of which nature are the things which follow For not for my own sake did they Spring up in me at this time but to signify to others of the Mercy the Lord hath shewn me and the way wherein he hath led me and what he hath given me to taste of an experience in the way which will answer every true paalate every palate that is seasoned with life and with the true experience And having received them from the Lord for this very end to hold them forth to others in Love and tenderness of Spirit my heart is freely given up to him therein not aiming at any thing thereby but his glory singly and the good of such Souls to whom he shall please to extend favour and shew Mercy in opening the heavenly Mistery of Life and Salvation to them I have often said in my heart Who hath begotten me these Who would have said that Sarah should have given Children Suck My wound was deep and seemed incurable But blessed be the Lord who hath made known to me the Phisitian of value for whom no disease is too hard but he is able to cure sickness and to relieve and rescue all that are captived and oppressed by the Devil that come unto him and wait upon him in the way of his righteous judgments and most tender Mercies For after all my Religion and deep exercises and inward experiences and knowledg I came to such a less of what I once had that I sensibly felt I knew not the Lord and lay continually groaning and Mourning after him and deeply afflicted for want of him O the pure Light and precious Life and sweet presence of my God that my Soul wanted insomuch that my moisture was turned into the drought of summer and my bones grown dry and withered But at length the Lord in his goodness O blessed for ever be his name breathed upon the dry bones and I felt Life enter from him into me and the days of deep sorrow and distress were at length forgotten because a man-child was at length conceived and brought forth And now wher 's the Sack-Cloth Wher 's the Ashes Oh ther 's beauty in Life instead of the Ashes in the state without Life and the garment of praise instead of the Spirit of heaviness O Glory Glory to the binder up of the bruised and broken-hearted to the redemer of the captives to the repairer of the breaches to the builder up of the wasted and des laâ—e ones Glory to his tender Mercy Glory to his Grace Glory to his Love Glory to his Wisdom Glory to his Power for ever and ever Amen Some Experiences added I. Concerning the Seed of the Kingdom COncerning the Seed of the Kingdom this I have experienced that it consists not in words or notions of the Mind but is an inward thing an inward spiritual substance in the heart as real inwardly in its kind as other Seeds are outwardly in their kind and that being received by faith and taking root in man his heart his earth being ploughed up and prepared for it it groweth up inwardly and bringeth forth fruit inwardly as truly and really as any outward Seed doth outwardly This Seed is known by its contrariety and enmity against the Seed of the Serpent against all the Seeds of evil in the heart of Men it discovering them turning the mind from them and warning against them and bruising and overcoming them in all that receive it and let in its holy nature which as an holy leaven or salt worketh out that which is unholy and unrighteous dark and dead and seasoneth with Light with Life with Grace with the Holiness and Righteousness of truth II. Concerning the Souls Food The Souls Food is that which nourisheth it which is the same with that which giveth it Life Every word proceeding out of the mouth of God every motion every quickning every operation of his Spirit is living and nourisheth the Soul with Life which receiveth it and feedeth on it The spiritual Manna the spiritual water from the holy Well or Fountain the Milk of the word the flesh and bloud of the Son of the
living God his words which are spirit and Life nourish up the living birth unto life everlasting How comes man to live at first but by hearing the voice of him that giveth life And how comes man to live afterwards and to increase in life but by hearing the same voice still Encline your Ear and come unto me hear and your Soul shall live c. Isa 55.3 This I have always experienced to give me Life to nourish up and strengthen me in Life even fresh Life communicated from the living Fountain and so my life is not in my self not in any thing I can comprehend concerning Christ but in being joyned to him in being ingraffed into him the holy root into him the true Olive-tree into his Spirit and so by the sap that springs up into me from him my life is maintained and increased in me daily Glory to his name for ever III. Concerning God's Power Concerning God's Power this I have experienced that that is it which doth the Work in the Soul It begets to God it brings out of the land of darkness it leads through all the entanglements and preserves in the midst of them all It breaks down the old building of sin and iniquity both inwardly and outwardly both in heart and also in life and conversation and raiseth the new and holy building It makes willing it makes obedient it gives to believe it gives to suffer O blessed be the Lord for the day of his Power which is inwardly broken forth O what would the poor child do the poor Lambs in the midst of Wolves inwardly and outwardly were it not for the Father's hand the Father's arm the Father's Power which is still with them and compasseth them about O blessed are they that know the ministration of life inwardly the Power of Life inwardly For in Life in the Seed of Life is the Holy Power which is manifest appears and works as it gains ground on the Creature to put forth and exercise in it the virtue and strength which it daily receiveth from its Father IV. Concerning Temptation Concerning Temptations this I have experienced that the strength and hurt of them as to the Soul lies in the souls looking at them For the strength of God is revealed in his Children against the tempter which being patiently waited for and trusted in will never fail them The least babe the Lord would not have let in Temptation and Sin but watch to that and keep joyned to that which will preserve out of the Temptation and out of the Sin God is faithful who hath care of all his and whose Promise is to all his and as he would have none sin so none that diligently wait shall want his Power to stand by them to preserve out of sin Look unto me and be saved all the ends of the Earth It 's universally true Look unto me trust in me look not at your selves trust not in your selves look not at the enemy fear not the enemy I will save you from every snare every Temptation as your eye is steadfast upon me What if the enemy come in like a floud if the Spirit of the Lord lift up a standard against him can he prevail what though he cast fiery darts What though he be set round about Will not the shield of Faith quench them all Will not the whole Armour of God defend and keep safe from them all If the enemy be resisted lawfully that is in true Faith in that Power which is engaged for the Soul against him Doth not the Power of the Lord arise and scatter him and strengthen and establish the Soul in the Grace and in the Truth O the holy mistery of the heavenly Warfare and of the working of the pure Power against the enemy which overcomes all his impurities and keeps clean from them Look not at the enemy let not in the reasonings of the Mind keep in thy patience keep in the pure fear in the holy living sense be only what thou art in the seed in the new birth in the Life which God hath begotten in thee then art thou safe then art thou in the name of the Lord which is the strong Tower The enemy indeed may make a noise about thee with his lusts with his temptations with his flouds with his storms with his fiery darts but he cannot enter thy habitatation The Spirit of darkness the Prince of darkness is shut out of the Land and Light of the Living Abide thou there dwell in the Light and walk in the Light as God is in the Light and he shall never have power over thee V. Concerning Prayer I have experienced Prayer to be the breathing of that birth which God begets to the Father of Life which begat it who by his Spirit makes known to it its Condition and wants and gives a suitable sense of heart and cries to it For as it is not in man to beget himself to God no more can he pray to God in his own will or time but as God pours out the Spirit of Prayer and Supplication upon him and by his Spirit teacheth and helpeth him to pray as he ought Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father I have had a sense of the natural man and of the spiritual man and of the Cryes and Prayers of each and this I have been taught and learned of God that the Gospel-Prayer is the Prayer of that birth which is begotten by the Spirit and Power of the Gospel and which prays in the Spirit and in the springings of the holy Life and Power whereby it rightly wrestles and prevails with God obtaining the Mercies and Blessings which it wrestles with him for For to this Child there is access to God in the Faith through that holy Spirit of Life which makes way for it to obtain Grace and Mercy in the time of need And through this Spirit it prays to God and prevails with him on the behalf of others also For the Prayers of the righteous avail much as it is written VI. Concerning Justification and Sanctification some things which it hath pleased the Lord in his tender Mercy to give me to experience First That it is the same Christ the same Spirit the same Life the same Wisdom the same Power the same Goodness Love and Mercy the same Water the same Blood which both justifies and sanctifies Secondly That Justification and Sanctification go hand in hand together There is none Justified but he that is in measure Sanctified and there is none Sanctified but he that is in measure Justified For God Justifieth by a rule by the new Covenant and according to the Law thereof And men receive and partake of Justification according as they are brought into and keep within the compass of that rule For God acted of old toward and Justified the children of the old Covenant according to the Law thereof and the Children of the new Covenant are Justified
spiritual effects in the Mind and that this is it even that which slays the enmity in the mind and crucifies to the World and the affections thereof God forbid said the Apostle that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ whereby the World is crucified unto me and I unto the World Now mark That which is contrary to the World and crucifies to the World that is the Cross The Cross hath its power and nothing else and so there is nothing else to glory in The flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh and these are contrary one to the other Mind here is the Cross The Spirit which is contrary to the flesh which mortifies the flesh through the Obedience whereof the flesh is crucified If ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body ye shall live Whatsoever is of and in the Spirit it is contrary to the flesh The light of the Spirit is contrary to the darkness of the flesh The holiness of the Spirit is contrary to the unholiness of the corrupt heart The Life of the Spirit is contrary to the Life or rather death that is in sin The power of the Spirit is contrary to the power that is in Satan and his Kingdom The Wisdom of God is contrary and a foolish thing to the Wisdom of man Yea the new Creature which springs from God's Holy Spirit is contrary and death to the old Now he that comes hither out of his own Wisdom out of his own will out of his own thoughts out of his own reasonings and comes to a discerning of God's Spirit and to the feeling of his begetting of life in his heart and his stirrings and movings in the life which he hath begotten and waits here and receives counsel here he is taught to deny himself and to joyn to and take up that by which Christ daily crosseth and subdueth in him that which is contrary to God And here is the fight of Faith and the good travel under the Cross whereby the holy journey is gone and the enemies which rise up to oppose in the way vanquished and overcome For here is the power revealed the preserving power the leading power the conquering power of him who rideth on conquering and to conquer his spiritual enemies in the hearts of his Children who know his voice and are subiect to him who daily denying themselves and taking up his Cross follow him Wo is to them that are at ease in Sion under any thing that is contrary to God but blessings are upon them whose dwelling is under the Cross and who know no ease but what it allows It will make Truth Life Holiness Righteousness Faith Obedience Meekness Patience Love Separation from Sin Communion with the Lord and all the fruits of the Spirit as natural to them in the renewed state as ever sin was in the corrupt state And in that state they shall be able to say with Paul who once complained of his captivity and that he did what he hated yet after he had known the power of the Cross and was crucified with Christ he could then do nothing against the truth but for the truth Yea then being a conquerer having overcome the enemies which stood in his way he could do all things through Christ that strengthened him The cause of so many complaints and bowings down the head going mourning because of the prevailings of the enemy through temptations sin and corruption is because the Cross of Christ which is the power of God which is his Ordinance against the strength of the enemy is either not known or not taken up And this is the reason that many that make a fair shew for a while yet afterwards come to nothing but are like untimely figs or like corn upon the House-tops which hastily springeth up but soon withereth because they either rightly never learn or keep not to the Cross For that alone hath power from God to bring down and keep down that which is contrary to him So that from under the Cross of Christ there is no witnessing Salvation or preservation from the Lord but out of the limits of the Cross the enemy hath power to recover and bring back under his dominion again And whosoever in his travels leaves the Cross behind him does draw back unto perdition and not travel on in the living faith and newness of Obedience towards the Salvation of the Soul X Concerning the Mystery of Life and the Mystery of the fellowship which is therein God is hid from Man as he lies in his sinful and fallen estate and no Man can find or know him but as he pleaseth to reveal himself by his own blessed Spirit And Christ being God's image there is no knowing or confessing him or right calling him Lord but in and by the same Spirit 1. Cor. 12 3. When he appeared in the days of his flesh flesh and bloud could not reveal him but only the Father And he is the same to day as he was yesterday He is not to be known now but in the same Spirit in his own Grace and Truth in a measure of his own Life The dead cannot know him they only know him who are his Sheep who are quickned and made alive by him And this Life is a Mystery none can understand it but they that partake of it Can a man that is naturally dead know what the Life of nature means No more can a man that is spiritually dead know what the Life of the Spirit means The natural Man may get the words that came from Life and cry up them and speak great words of the same of Wisdom and of her Children but the thing it self is hid from them all O it is a strait gate at which the birth enters at which none else can enter The wise and prudent knowers and searchers after the flesh and of the Scriptures as they can put meanings upon them and comprehend them are shut out in every age but ther 's a babe born of naked Truth born of the pure simplicity admitted by God while men disdain and despise it And the fellowship of the Saints is in the Life and in the Light which is this Mystery The fellowship is not outward but inward All they that meet together in the outward place are not in the fellowship or worship but only they they meet together in the inward Life and Spirit They that worship the Father must worship him in Spirit and Truth Look ther 's the worship there are the worshippers They that are in the Spirit in the Truth They that meet in the Spirit in the Truth they meet together in the one spiritual place as I may call it And so we own no man after the flesh no man according to the appearance but in the righteous judgment of the Spirit those only who are of the Spirit Indeed we are tender where there is the least beginning of the work of God in any
enemy the Soul can now sing because of that strength and heavenly authority which the Lord putteth forth and exerciseth in the heare against him When the Well of Life the Well of Salvation the Saviours Well is kept open and the Philistins the uncircumcised Spirit Power and nature cast out that they can stop it no more but the soul can draw the water of Life out of the Well and Fountain of Life with Joy Ah then the Gospel-dispensation is indeed known and the blessed estate thereof witnessed and experienced I counsel thee to buy of me Gold tryed in the Fire that thou mayest be rich and white raiment that thou mayest be cloathed and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve that thou mayst see Rev. 3.18 What is the Gold tryed in the fire which man is to buy of Christ that he may be made rich therewith What is the white raiment which the soul is to be clothed with without which it is naked in God's sight and in the sight of the truly discerning and there is a time when the shame of its nakedness will appear more generally as it doth already to the eye of the spiritual man who Judgeth all things What is the eye-salve wherewith the eye is to be anointed or it cannot see Is it not precious to purchase this Gold and Raiment of Christ and to have this eye-salve to anoint the eye with and to keep it open that it may daily see its way and walk in the Light of the Lord Certainly this is all inward and Spiritual as a remnant witness it this day Glory to the Lord God But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you But as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and is truth and is no lie and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him 1 Joh. 2.27 The outward anointing was a shadow of the inward and had a glory in it under the dispensation of the Law and the inward anointing in the Gospel-dispensation is Spiritual and Divine and exceeding glorious Christ the anointed one anoints all his No being a Son without being begotten by the Spirit and Power of the Father and no abiding a Son but by the Virtue and Power of the same Spirit remaining in and with the Soul so that every Son receives of the anointing of the Father Christ received the Spirit the fulness that he might give to them a proportion Now to experience this anointing and to experience it abiding and teaching all things and to know this voice the voice of the Sheepherd the voice of the anointing which the Sheep still finds to be true and no lye and to abide in the Vine in the Life in the Spirit in the Power as this Spirit or Anointing teacheth Oh here 's the sweet state the clear state the blessed state Here the Promises and Blessings are Yea and Amen in Christ and the Soul can say He is Faithful and Just who hath Promised who hath opened the treasures of Life to his Family to his House to his Children to his Servants and blesseth them with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ Surely his Salvation is nigh them that fear him that Glory may dwell in our Land Mercy and Truth are met Righteousness and Peace have kissed Truth shall spring out of the earth and Righteousness shall look down from heaven Yea the Lord shall give that which is good and our Land shall yield her increase Righteousness shall go before him and shall set us in the way of his steps Psal 85.9 to the end Is it not precious to witness that fear of God in the heart to which Salvation is nigh and the Land wherein Glory dwells Where Mercy and Truth meet Righteousness and Peace kiss Where Truth springs out of the Earth and Righteousness looks down from Heaven Where God gives that which is good and the Land of the Living yields the increase of Life to him Where righteousness goes before him and he sets his in the way of his steps Where the Lamb goes before and the way is not known but as the Lamb goes before and leads into it Where God is the Sheepherd and the Soul doth not want because he maketh it to lie down in pastures of tender grass and leadeth by the waters of quietness where it drinks of the brook in the way and in the paths of righteousness for his names sake see Psal 23. Is there not a Kingdom of darkness a Land of iniquity inwardly and do not they they that dwell here and sit there dwell in darkness and sit in the region and shadow of death And is there not a travel out of this Land into the holy Land the Land of Light the Land of the Living and a translation out of this Kingdom into the Kingdom of the dear Son And is not God the Sheepherd there Christ the Bishop of the Soul there and doth not he oversee and take care of souls there leading them into fresh pastures and by the soft flowing waters Is not Salvation nigh there yea round about that Land doth not Mercy and Truth meet there Righteousness and Peace kiss there yea doth not the glory of the most high dwell in and overshadow that Land Is not the eye of the Lord upon it for good from one end of the year to the other doth not he watch over it night and day that none hurt it and water it in the proper seasons O who can utter the Goodness and Glory of the Lord which is revealed and shines here Rev. 3.20 Behold I stand at the door and knock if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him and he with me Here are several things which in their order and seasons the living come to a certain and sensible experience of As first Christs standing at the door and knocking What is the door at which he stands and how doth he knock How doth the contrary Spirit knock how doth his Spirit knock Secondly What is his Voice and how is his Voice heard To hear Wisdoms cry within in the inward streets his call at the door at which he would enter Must not the true ear in some measure be opened first Can any one hear without an ear Thirdly What it is to open the door there is a door-keepers state to be witnessed and the right door-keeper knows how to open and how to shut the door and is exercised in opening and shutting the door The King of glory is to be opened to and let in but no wolf no stranger no strange Spirit is to be hearkned or opened to Fourthly What Christ's coming in is at the door opened to him When he knocks would he not come in Would he stand alwayes at the door knocking Nay nay when the door is opened at which he knocks he who is the
Resurrection and the Life enters the King of Righteousness the King of Peace enters he who is the Wisdom and Power of God enters and what becomes of the Power and Goods of the enemy then Doth he not kill and destroy them doth he not consume and devour them Doth he not empty the House of them and garnish the house with that which is truly pure glorious and beautiful Lastly what is it to have him sup with the soul and what is it for the Soul to sup with him Is not here eating and drinking in his Fathers Kingdom Doth he not first destroy the Devils Kingdom and then set up his own Kingdom and doth he not feast with the soul and feast the Soul in the Kingdom which he sets up there O that all men knew how near he who is eternal Life is to them Doth not God search the heart Is not he near the heart doth not his Light shine there in the midst of mans darkness and corruption doth not his Power reach thither and assault and trouble the enemy doth not his pure Love wherewith he loveth man pierce thither Doth he not knock doth he not call Doth he not touch doth he not draw doth he not give at times some living tender sense to many hearts who too much neglect and despise him and regard not the day of his tender visiting them and calling after them O how is the Love of God the Spirit of God the Life of God the Wisdom of God the Power of God the drawings and instructions of his Grace day by day resisted by the Wisdom and Will of the flesh in those that are born thereof and hearken thereto and so live after the flesh and not after that which reproves the flesh Many more Scriptures might be mentioned and also sensibly and livingly witnessed to but these are enough to give a taste The Lord open mens understandings into the thing it self and give them the key which opens into the truth even into the mystery thereof wherein is the hidden Life and Vertue Amen A few words Concerning the true Christ how it may be certainly and infallibly know which is he This Question relates not to his outward appearance in the dayes of his flesh but to his inward and spiritual appearance how it may be known To which the Answer on my heart is Even after the same way and by the same means is he to be known in his inward appearance as he was known in his outward which was by the revealing of the Father For none knows the Son but the Father and he to whom the Father reveals him And when Simon Peter confessed him to be Christ the Son of the living God Blessed said he art thou Simon Bar-Jona for flesh and bloud hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in Heaven Mat. 16. vers 16 17. And if none could know Christ in his appearance in flesh notwithstanding so many manifest and express Prophesie concerning him but such only to whom the Father revealed him how shall any know his inward and spiritual appearance unless they be taught of the Father and hear and learn of him so to do But more particularly to shew how the Father revealed his Son and how they came to know in that day that he was the Son of the living God the holy one the anointed Saviour and that the same way and by the same means people than will truly know him must come to the knowledg of him now First They came to know him by the manifestation of the Life that was in him by the fulness of the Grace and Truth which dwelt in him and put it self forth so as to be discerned by the inward and spiritual eye in them For the Life was manifested 1 Joh. 1.2 The Life which was in him was manifested to the Spiritual eye which was in them and thus they came to know him Secondly By his voice and knocks Thus said he concerning his sheep in those days that they know his voice Joh. 10.4 Oh he hath such a voice as none hath but he He speaks in his Father's authority not as the Scribes not as earthly wise learned men he speaks in the evidence and demonstration of God's Spirit The words which he speaks are Spirit and Life They that hear his voice live And when he stands at the door and knocks he pierceth deep O the beatings of his hand upon the render and sensible hearts and consciences O his secret reproofs his secret instructions his secret quicknings and enlightenings how did they and how do they eternally make him manifest in the hearts and consciences of his Thirdly By his Baptism or by his baptizing into his own Spirit and Power While people were in expectation and mused in their hearts of John whether he were the Christ or not John answers the case and tells them how they might discern and know the true Christ It is not I who baptize with water but he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost and with fire whose fan is in his hand c. Luk. 3.15 16.17 Was not this then and is not this now the way to know the true Christ He that knoweth him who inwardly and spiritually baptizeth him who hath the fan who inwardly fanneth and purgeth the Floor gathering in the Wheat and burning up the chaff doth not he inwardly truly and Spiritually know Christ He that knoweth the Word which is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the dividing asunder of Soul Spirit of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart doth not he know the word which was in the beginning which was with God yea which was God for he is the only searcher of the heart and trier of the reins Fourthly By his mighty works The works which the Father hath given me to finish the same works that I do bear witness of me that the Father hath sent me Joh. 5.36 And when John sent two of his disciples to Jesus with this question Art thou he that should come or look we for another Christ bids them go and tel John what things they had seen and heard how that the Blind see the Lame walk the Lepers are Cleansed the Deaf hear the Dead are raised to the poor the Gospel is Preached and blessed is he whosoever shall not be offended in me Luke 7.22 23. Why herein is a marvelous thing said the blind man that ye know not from whence he is and yet he hath opened my eyes Joh. 9.30 He who hath the power and putteth forth the power inwardly who openeth the inward eye the inward ear looseth the inward tongue causeth the inward feet to walk in the way of Life and the inward hands to work the works of God he is the Messiah the Saviour the word of Life the Son of the Living God They that believe in him in his Spirit in his Power in his inward appearance
have the witness in themselves the living testimony which none can put out or take away from them He hath opened mine eyes he hath opened my heart he hath raised me out of the grave he hath given me eternal Life He hath changed me inwardly created me inwardly by the working of his mighty power and I daily live am preserved and grow by the same power I feel his Life his vertue his power his presence day by day He is with me he lives in me and I live not of my self but by feeling him to live in me finding life spring up from him into me and through me and therein lies all my ability and strength for evermore A few words in the Bowels of tender Love and Good Will to my Native Country It is written When thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the World shall learn Righteousness O that this might be verified concerning thee O England even that thou mightest learn Righteousness and that the dayes of thy unrighteousness might come to an end Have not God's judgments been upon thee Yea are not God's Judgments still upon thee And can any thing divert them from coming more upon thee but thy speedy returning unto the Lord in breaking off thy sins by unfeigned Repentance O that thou mightest be sensible of the hand of the Lord and mightest hear the Rod and him who hath appointed it The Lord hath power over all Nations and can break them in peices as a Potters Vessel They are but as the drop of a Bucket as the small dust of the Ballance they are before him as nothing and are counted to him less than nothing and vanity Read Isa 24. See how God will plead with Nations and consider whether he be not dealing thus with thee O hath not that been found in thee and is not that found in thee which provoketh the Lord exceedingly O that the weighty sense of thy sins were upon thee and that thou mightest truly repent and turn from them that thou mightest reap the benefit of God's Judgments and learn Righteousness and his Indignation might be removed from thee and his tender Bowels of compassion move towards thee But perhaps some may say What is the Righteousness we should learn Answ O learn to know God that is a righteous thing Learn to fear God Learn to worship him aright How is that Why in his own Spirit and Truth in which he seeks to be worshiped Learn Humility towards God learn Justice and Mercy towards Men. Learn to love thy Enemies If ye will be Christians that is the Law of Christ But that which is called the Christian world many of them have not yet learned so much as to love their Friends but hate and persecute such as fear the Lord and seek their good and stand in the gap to keep back the Wrath of the Lord from breaking in upon them and are wrestling mightily with him with strong cries that he would stay the sharpness thereof that it might not break forth to their destruction Learn to do to others as ye would be done to Do not do to any because of their Religion and tender Consciences towards the Lord what ye would not have done to your selves because of your Religion How long will it be ere ye learn this how many Judgments and Distresses shall come upon you before ye bow in Spirit under the mighty hand of God and yield your selves in submission to him to learn things of him Quest But how shall we learn Righteousness Answ Retire inwardly to that and harken inwardly to that which gives the sence of Judgments and learn of that and that will wean you inwardly from all your unrighteousness and teach you Righteousness There is that inwardly in the unregenerate which hardens and misleads there is also that inwardly which tenders melts teacheth and leadeth aright as it is believed in and obeyed O that men knew the difference between these two and how to turn from the one to the other For out of the heart proceeds all that is evil and vain and out of the heart are the issues of Life also The well or puddle of the muddy Waters of the Waters of Egypt of the Wine of Sodom and Waters of Babylon is there and the Well and Cistern of the pure Waters is there also O my native Country that thou mightest be the first Nation in this age of the World that might pass through the judgments of God and be cleansed thereby and be happy O that thy Rulers and Governors were weaned from the spirit and wisdom of this World and might receive of God's holy Spirit and Wisdom and Judge and Govern themselves and the people thereby When the Jew outward was chosen to be the people of God did not he pour out of his Spirit to govern them by Were the Judges Kings and Leaders thereof only anointed with outward Oyl were they not also anointed with God's Spirit And can any Christian Magistrate govern aright any Christian Nation without the assistance and guidance of the same Spirit And O that all the people were anointed also that they might be inwardly Kings and Priests to the Lord and the Kingdom of Christ might be inwardly set up in all their hearts and every man might reign in and through him over the enemies of his own soul O that the Power and Glory of the Lord might cover thy Governors and Inhabitants O England O the prayers that have been long put up in bowels of tenderness for thee O the besome of the Lord the besome of his Righteous Judgments that it might sweep the hearts of men inwardly that this Nation might be prepared for the Glory of the Lord for the Glory which he reveals in his Heavenly birth to break forth outwardly to the admiration and magnifying of the work of his Power in the eyes of all beholders Amen Amen THE END A Brief TABLE of the CONTENTS 1. COncerning understanding the Scriptures Page 11 2. Concerning the illuminating and Sanctifying Spirit Page 12 3. Concerning the Spirit of God and the Scriptures Page 13 4. Concerning the perfect and converting Law of God Page 14 5. Concerning David's Longings Page 15 6. Concerning the Spiritual Sun Page 16 7. Concerning the Words being a fire and hammer Page 17 8. Concerning God's writing his Law in the heart Page 18 9. Concerning the inward Light of God's Spirit Page 19 10. Concerning the Gospel-Ministers and Ministry Page 20 11. Concerning trying of Spirits c. Page 22 12. Concerning things necessary to Salvation Page 23 13. Concerning the True Gospel-Church Page 24 14. Concerning the way to Salvation Page 25 15. Concerning Christs saving the Soul Page 26 16. Concerning Regeneration Page 27 17. Concerning true Holiness ibid. 18. Concerning Christs works Page 28 19. Concerning the Yoke or Cross of Christ Page 29 20. Concerning making our Calling and Election sure ibid 21. Concerning Prayer Page 31 22. Concerning Repentance Page 32 23. Concerning Faith Page 33 24. Concerning Obedience Page 34 25. Concerning Justification Page 35 26. Concerning good Works Page 37 27. Concerning Love Page 38 28. Concerning Meekness and Patience Page 39 29. Concerning the knowledg of the new Covenant Page 40 30. Concerning the Fear of the new Covenant Page 42 31. Concerning Hope Page 43 32. Concerning Peace Page 44 33 Concerning Joy Page 45 34. Concerning Poverty of Spirit and Humility Page 46 The Conclusion Page 49 EXPERIENCES 1. Concerning the Seed of the Kingdom Page 57 2. Concerning the Souls food Page 58 3. Concerning Gods power Page 59 4. Concerning Temptations Page 60 5. Concerning Prayer Page 62 6. Concerning Justification and Sanctification Page 63 7. Concerning Faith Page 67 8. Concerning Obedience Page 71 9. Concerning the Cross of Christ Page 74 10. Concerning the Mystery Page 77 11. Right judging experienced Page 80 12. About knowing God's Spirit Page 84 13. Queries concerning the Seed of the Kingdom Page 85 14. Postcript to the experiences Page 91 Some Scriptures very sweet c. Page 93 A few words Concerning the true Christ Page 111 A few words to my native Country Page 115 ERRATA THe Stops have been much misplaced and many left out which the Reader is desired by his careful observation of the matter to supply the defect herein Some Errors which alter or may hinder the understanding of the sense are here taken notice of PAg. 6. lin 6. read those l. 14. r. grow P. 16. l. 3. f. they r. thy P. 22. l. 8. r. and the life P. 24. l. 20. r. meet together P. 27. l. 3. Blot out the first the. P. 54. l. 21. r. and experience P. 55. l. 16. r. to cure every Sickness P. 57. l. 17. r. Warring against them P. 61. l. 16. r. in the patience P. 64. l. 13. blot out the word for P. 68. l. 14. r. from P. 73. l. 8. Lord and Master P. 74. l 7. r. producing l. 17. r. hath this power P. 83. l. 12. r. bring Through the misunderstanding of the Printer the Titles over the pages belonging to that part of the Book called Experiences were omitted and the Title belonging to the following part put in heir stead which the Reader is desired thus to amend Experiences pag. 57 to p. 63. Concerning Justification and Sanctification p. 63 to 67. Experiences concerning Faith p. 67 to 71. Experiences concerning Obedience p. 71 to 74. The Cross of Christ experienced p. 74 to 77. The Mystery experienced p. 77 to 80. Right Judging experienced p. 80 to 84. How to know God's Spirit p. 84. Experimental Queries p. 85 to 90. How to know the Seed A serious Examination A Postscript to the Experiences p. 91 to 93.