liars proud ones scoffers and scorners sons of Ishmael sons of the bondwoman yea the sinners in Sion shall mourn fear shall surprise the hypocrite therefore think not the word of the Lord strange in these our dayes it is that I have prayed for it is that I did believe would come and now my eyes hath seen and my heart hath felt the power of the Lord ye the enemies that are now against it have prayed for it which of you but have prayed for it which of you but have prayed Thy Kingdom come but now it is coming you speak all manner of evil of it Mat. 24.29 30 31 32 33. Know the day of your visitation for it is such a work of power that doth break down the earth that nothing shall stand but that which cannot be shaken that his will may be done on earth as it is in heaven perfectly The Lord is now coming to shut the seeing eye and to open the blind eye Is not now the time that the spirit of a deep sleep hath closed the eyes of the prophets although the signs of Christs coming the second time without sin into the world be made manifest yet they see it not Is not the vision of all become as a sealed book is not the Lord turning Leabnon into a fruitful field Luk. 12.49 51 52.53.56 and the fruitful field into a Forrest and they know it not Consider where you are are you not like those that dream that you are satisfied and behold you are empty is not night upon you that you cannot see the wonders of the Lord which he doth now make manifest but what is manifest amongst you fruites of persecution fruites of pride fruits of covetuousness these fruits of the flesh are made manifest O repent return to your first husband for these are the fruites of the adulterer and the whoregoing from the light into darkness Return return to the light in your consciences that doth convince of sin that doth discover the thoughts intents of the heart this light is pure and leads into purity and holiness Isa 29.13 14. Hath not the Lord been a long time drawn nigh to with the lip when the heart is far from him Hath not the fear towards him been taught by the precepts of man therefore behold saith the Lord I will do a marvellous work and a wonder the wiseman shall perish and the understanding of the prudent shall be hid but the deaf shall hear and the eye of the blind shall see out of obscurity now is this promise fulfilled and fulfilling and now hath the Lord chose Pastors according to his own heart that shall feed his people with knowledge according to his promise Now is the day of the Lord that he hath sent forth his messengers as Lambes amongst the Wolves counting not their lives too dear to fulfill the work the Lord hath sent them forth to do but leaving all for Christs house that durst not be disobedient o the call of the Lord nor consult with flesh Gal. 1.16 which would save it self but many leaving father and mother lands and livings wife and children for love of the pretious seed of God that is kept in bondage groaning for deliverance and many a one through the Ministry of the Lord in them can witness a living soul redeemed out of death to praise the living Lord are not these the signs of the true Ministery of Christ when the Apostles were counted deceivers by the false Apostles and the rest some that were professors How did he clear himself when they did seek a proof of his Ministery He saith in you ward I was not weak but is mighty in you this mighty power many hundreds can witness bringing down their high thoughts and words to the obedience of Jesus Christ many drunkards and swearers many formal professors many high flown notionists are brought to the obedience of the cross which hath crucified them to the world and the world to them this is the proof of the despised Ministry which is despised of the world but owned by those more deare then their lives that doth imbrace it for those that are joyned to the Lord by their Ministery received from the Lord are Epistles write in one anothers heart this leads into unity this leads into honor in that which is pure every member in the body serving one another in love watching one over the other the strong bearing with the weak and here is no rent schisme but every one in their measures growing up to the father of lights who doth make his all of one heart and one minde they have fellowship one with the other in that which is not of the world but leads out of the world up to God leads into the light of God therefore silence you enemies stand still in the light of Christ which will crucifie you to the world and the world to you and you shall see the salvation of the Lord as many a one hath done praises praises be to the Lord for ever Friends consider the wonderful works of the Lord be not despisers and wonderers and perish but know the Lord will do his own work by his own Instruments though never so despised for the preaching of the cross to them that perish is foolishnes but unto us which are saved it is the power of God The Jews do require a sign the Greeks seek after wisdom but we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and unto the Greeks foolishness the Jews had thoughts that the Lord would have chosen the great and mighty and the honorable of the world the learned Scribes and Pharisees and that he would advance an earthly Kingdom but did the Lord chuse such no but poor Fishermen Herdsmen and Tradesmen and men unlearned as Peter and John were The same Christ is now as ever and did ascend on high to give gists unto men for the work of the Ministry and this is to last to the end of the world And who art thou proud flesh that would limit the Holy one of Israel doth not the winde blow where it listeth doth the spirit of truth that leads into all truth and knows things to come confine it selfe to one particular sort of men no know it doth not the Lord hath made himself manifest and hath discovered that false spirit there hath been much contending about the call of the Ministry and writing and preaching one against the other all like Diotrephes loving to have preheminence but now hath the Lord fully ended that controversie But the world will not see it but they shall at last own it and they shall know Joh. 3.9 10. The wind bloweth where it listeth but you Priests how little hath this winde blown upon your Garden for this many years that the spices thereof flow out Can you beloved as you say come into his Garden and eat his pleasant fruits Are not the Grapes of his Vineyard devoured by the Foxes
2.4 knowing it is better to obey God then man but this is their many Crowns that the man of sin who sitteth in the temple of God and is exalted above the commands of God hath put upon their heads to make them seem glorious in the eyes of the world and the world wonders after them and the world fights for them when the Lord doth send any to cry against their deceits by their hearers and they are persecuted torn and rent by the heathen be ashamed for ever that such things should be done by you or your hearers but now is the Lord God of power bringing forth his Ministry and hath brought many forth praised be his name for ever that do obey his commands which are taught onely by him and led into the truth which are not made by man nor by the will of man but by Jesus Christ which did ascend on high for to beget them for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body while they come to a perfect man in Christ Jesus whose sufficiency is of God that hath made them able Ministers not of the Letter but of the spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 standing out of the will of man leading people up to the Lord out of the world or fellowship with the world and therefore hated by them persecuted and scoffed by them and made the off-scouring of the world of whom the world is not worthy which doth not receive friendship of the world but scornings stockings and stonings and all manner of reviling both by prophane and by professors that say they are not of the world but those that say they are not of the world and yet walk in these fruits of darkness they lye and do not say the truth If any man seem to be Religious and cannot bridle his tongue from railing and evil speaking that mans Religion is vain let him profess what he will Now consider this professors and prophane who joyn together to persecute the righteous is this the spirit of the Lord or the spirit of the devil which would if he could murther all that do profess Jesus When the man childe is brought forth doth not the devil stand ready to devour it sending his floods after it I charge you in the name of the Lord joyn not with the prophane people but come from amongst them for the Lord will be a Sanctuary to his people for a rock of offence to both houses of Israel for a gin for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and many amongst them shall stumble and fall and be broken and be snared and be taken Consider this you that are professors it is not for you to prescribe the Lord a way for him to manifest his own glory by lest you stumble fall and be broken be snared and taken Who art thou proud flesh that wouldst limit the holy one of Israel to make himself manifest by the Lord will chuse his own laborers to work in his own vineyard therefore silence flesh and deceit Stop thy mouth for ever lest thou be found a fighter against the Lord it will be hard for thee to kick against the pricks behold saith the Lord I and my children are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hoasts that dwelleth in mount Sion hath it not been the portion of the true messengers of the Lord in all ages to suffer persecution from the world yea not onely from the world but by those that in profession were taken out of the world Were there not honorable and devour women that did stir up persecution against the Apostles Now consider it is not a profession of the truth that wil keep men and women from joyning with the world and being one with the world nay it will not there is a worldly Religion they can mock and scoff and scorn Act. 13.50 jeer and jest be wanton and proud and heady and high minded having got the form but persecute the power where it is made manifest but the pure Religion they do not know which is unspotted of the world which doth keep the heart pure out of the defilement up to the Lord Jam. 3.13 15 16. in loliness in love which as pure and brings forth fruits of purity as love meekness gentleness not easily provoked but beareth all things but where there is bitter enveying and strife in your hearts Rom. 9.4 5. glory not and lye not against the truth this wisdom descendeth not from above but is earthly sensual and devilish for where envy and strife is there is confusion and every evil work but the wisdom that is from above is first pure then peacable gentle and easie to be intreated full of mercy and good fruits without partiality without hypocrisie had not the Jews a very high profession did not they say they were Abrahams seed and that God was their father and that they were in bondage to no man and for priviledges and ordinances none like them who were Israelites to whom did pertain the adoption and glory and the covenants and the giving of the law and the service of God and the promises whose are the fathers and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came who is over all God blessed for ever These are very high priviledges as any of you Churches doth injoy but did this keep them from crucifying the Lord of glory no it did not therefore take heed how you stand lest you fall all works that are not wrought in God though it be in the highest profession cannot free men from the spirit of persecution the same spirit that doth act in the highest wickedness it is one with and of that spirit that doth act in the highest form of godliness where the light and power is wanting yea it is the same and far more dangerous for the poor hath been all along persecuted by it this is the transformings of the devil into an angel of light let Priests and people say what they can what a spirit of persecution is sound it is not of God it is the fruits of the devil let it be under what pretence soever as I know he hath many to hide his persecution with the root is bitter and so are the fruits therefore as you do tender the good of your own souls which are precious do not go on in these practices but say you had warning for the righteous God will judge and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth he shall inherit the earth with the word of his mouth and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked the Lord will punish the world for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity and will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible Consider this all sorts of people high and low rich and poor it doth concern you all the hand of the Lord is lifted up against all drunkards and whoremasters idolaters covetuous oppressors and persecuters
What fruits are brought forth to God is not fruits of pride and fruits of covetousness reviling scoffing and scorning Now the Lord comes to his Vineyard doth not these fruits appear both in teacher and hearers was it not high time to let his Vineyard to more faithful laborers that it may bring forth fruit to himself for now it is over grown with brambles and briars fit for the fire houle ye vine-dressers now the Lord is come to his Vineyard their fruits are made manifest it is just with the Lord to rain no more rain upon it what could the Lord have done more then he hath done but in stead of bringing forth good grapes it hath brought forth wilde Grapes fruits to your selves not to the Lord every one seeking your own things and not the things of Christ therefore thus saith the Lord An evil an onely evil Exek 7.5 to 11. be hold is come an end is come the end is come it watcheth for you behold it is come the morning is come upon thee O thou that dwellest in the land the time is come the day of trouble is neer now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee and accomplish my anger upon thee and will judge thee according to thy wayes and will recompence thee for all thy abominations and my eye shall not spare neither will I have pity I will recompence thee according to thy wayes and the abominations that are in the of midst thee and ye shall know that I am the Lord that smiteth Behold the day it is come the morning is gone forth the rod hath blossomed pride hath budded violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness none of them shall remain nor of their multitudes neither shall their be wailing for them is not the rod blossomed is not pride budded is not violence rise up into a rod of wickednes Yea pride is not onely buded but it blossomed and that amongst you that are teachers Do not you and your wife and children exceed in it that the eyes of all are upon you some wondering at it most following you for it learning it of you Thus prophaneness is gone forth from you these are the fruites they gather from you fruits of covetuousness and oppression that is become a proverb in England Who more proud then the priests who more covetuous then they Oh for shame 1 Tim. 3.5 and 8. for shame give over Are you fit to rule the Church of Christ that cannot rule your selves and your Family no no such as ruled the Church of Christ they were not greedy of filthy lucre they were no proud ones they were no covetous ones no but against it did testifie and said Let not covetousness be so much as once named amongst you But tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doth evil to the Jew first and also to the Gentile But are not these fruits amongst you are not you them that profess Christ in words but in works do deny him what have you to do to take the name of the Lord into your mouthes and will not be reformed should not every one that doth name the name of Christ depart from iniquity thou therefore that teacheth another teacheth thou not thy self thou that teacheth another he should not steal Rom. 2.22 why dost thou steal Art not thou a thief whosoever thou art that speaks forth the saints words and do not live their life When they spake forth those words they spake forth their life Now see all of you who are the Thieves and Robbers that do not come in by the door which is Christ but clime up another way those that speak from the Scriptures Jer. 2.8 and not from the life that gave forth the Scriptures they are the thieves that steal the word from their Neighbors these are they that say Jer. 23.30 Thus saith the Lord when he never spake to them these are they that handle the Law and know not the Lord therefore they shall not profit the people Now consider be not deceived though they speak the true words of the Prophets Christ and the Apostles that doth not make them Ministers of Christ no for the Devil spake truth when he said Christ was the Son of God Mark 3.11 yea though he spoke the truth the Lord did rebuke him and bid him hold his peace for he knew he spake by his own spirit So consider both Priest and People what Spirit you speak from and meddle not with the Saints words without their spirit lest the Lord rebuke you for it but come to the life that gave forth the Scriptures and then every one will witness your profession in them and the Spirit will lead you into the truth of them and then will you speak from the word of the Lord made manifest in you and then will you come to live their life that gave forth the Scriptures which most that profess the Scriptures are stangers to having got the form of them but the 〈◊〉 is denied by them therefore they to every good work are reprobate knowing not the Lord but living in all maner of filthiness and yet profess Scripture to be their rule and that doth condemn them For shame give over such a profession for those that profess Scripture and not live the life of it those do deny it let them pretend what they will those that live in pride in covetousness in railing in scorning in foolish jeasting in wantonness in the lusts of the flesh these deny the Scripture for against these things doth it witness Now consider you that make a trade with the Saints words and not live the life what is the cause of your unfaithfulness and the unfaithfulness of your hearers you do not stand in the Counsel of the Lord and therefore not profit the people nor turn the wicked from the evil of their ways and wickedness of their doings but the hand of the Lord is against you Repent return to your first Husband that you may be fruitful you do pretend that you are the Ministers of Christ but where is the proof of your Ministery are not proud ones proud still yea more then ever are not covetous ones so still are not railers railers still are not profain ones so still are not drunkards so still are not swearers so still are not formilists so still what amendment amongst you this year more then many years before yet never more speaking then now the word is the same as ever the power the same as ever Mich. 3.6 7 11. the Lord hath as many to bring home to himself as ever and the power doth as much appear as ever but not amongst you the Lord hath hid his face from you as is confessed by many of you the wise will lay these things to heart but scorners will go on in scorning Fear the Lord God of power and return from your wickedness and he will receive you and have mercy upon you but if you
sixteenth but they have salt in themselves to savor withal at all seasons they shall not need to run to old Authors to patch piece up Sermons and to write them down and tell the people this is the word of the Lord when he never spake that unto them this is their artificial preaching that their study and Art have furnished them with all this is their boldness before the Lord to speak their own inventions and not the word of the Lord. The word of the Lord is life and power the word of the Lord doth sanctifie the word of the Lord doth ingraft the word of the Lord 's a sword to cut down the word of the Lord is fire the word of the Lord doth purifie the word of the Lord is a hammer Joh. 17.17 but where are these things witnessed amongst you where is the power of the word Whom hath it sanctified whom hath it ingrafted Heb. 4.12 whom hath it cut down what hath it burned up is your Lead and Tin consumed are you purified by it what hath it broke down amongst you doth not your high thoughts stand still doth not your own wills stand still doth not pride and covetousness stand still doth not wrath stand still doth not envy stand still do not these fruites of the flesh and such like stand Flatter not your selves Jam. 1.21 for such things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience those that spake the word of the Lord witnessed these things to pass upon them and so they did first learnt their own Ministery thorow the death of the first wisdom Isa 23.29 and so came to witness the Ministery of death to be glorious and so came to witness Moses and never none come to witness the glorious Ministery of life but come to witness the glorious ministration of death death doth pass upon all men for all men have sinned and so come to witness deaths reign from Adam to Moses who is the figure of him that was to come and so come to witness that as sin hath raigned unto death even so grace reigns thorow righteousness unto eternal life thorow Jesus Christ our Lord and so came to witness both states of death and life and so came to witness the Prophets John and the Apostles and witness the covenant of peace and life this was their way they went in these were the sootsteps of the flock of Christ and then went forth to preach to the world and did gather a people out of the world by their Ministery and there were daily added to the Church such as should be saved and those that were thus gathered by the eternal word living in them were of one heart and one minde and they were the 〈◊〉 of the Lord and those did edifi◠one another in their most holy faith they were not of the world but chosen out of the world and the Church vvas in God and in Christ and it is the pillar and ground of truth the fulness of him that doth fill all things Heb. 2.11 to the 15. all members of his body for both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren saying I will declare thy name among my brethren they are begotten by the immortal seed of God partakers of the Divine nature the Sons of God living stones builded upon the rock Christ Jesus in vvhom the whole building fitly framed together groweth up to a holy Temple in the Lord and from his Holy Temple doth he make known his will to the intent that novv unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God Eph. 2.10 Therefore silence proud flesh that would be exalting it self above your fellow members Now professors see and try if it be thus with you and your teachers can they witness this way into the Ministery or can you witness that you are of this Church of the first born whose names are vvritten in heaven and come to the spirits of just men made perfect If not in your measures flatter not your selves with a Ministery and a Church and Ordinances for it vvill not avail you Remember the Jews I spake of before their Ordinances and their Priveleges were very great they had the true form but wanted the power they did offer sacrifices they did observe Sabbaths and nevv Moons Isa 1.13 14 15 16 17. and had solemne dayes they had obligations and incense yet these were counted by the Lord iniquity the soul of the Lord hated them they were a burden to him he was weary to bear them and though they made many prayers yet he would not hear them yet these were ordinances of the Lords appointing there vvas not a ceasing to do evil and a learning to do vvell they did not seek judgement nor relieve the oppressed nor judge the fatherless nor defend the vviddovv there vvas no fruites of righteousness brought forth in their high profession a fruitless profession reaching at the shaddovvs but did neglect the substance friends deal honestly vvith your selves do you think the profession of truth vvill serve your turns and stand you in any stead before the Lord. When the secrets of all hearts shall be laid open they that have the form of the truth and not the povver 2 Tim. 5. to the 7. vve are commanded from such to turn avvay and vvill not the Lord turn avvay from such vvhich he hath commanded us to turn avvay from yea he vvill of such sort are those that lead filly vvomen captive ever learning and never able to come to the knovvledge of the truth Is it not thus in your Assemblies vvhich are so great some learning ten yeers some tvventy yeers some fourty yeers some threescore yeers and yet ignorant of the very first principle of that which turns the minde to God and so no good do know but ever Learning when for the time yee ought to be teaching ye had need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God these are the house creepers for had Paul spoke against preaching in a private house Act. 28.29 20 31. he had spoke against his own practice for it was his manner so for to do he did preach in his own hired house and did dispute in markets and reason in the Jews Synagogues with the devout persons daily and how oft was Paul haled out beaten and stoned while some supposed he had been dead some said what will this babler say they counted it new doctrine and strange things and thus it is at this day calling it a disturbance so for to do and by the same spirits are persecuted Now as those were then haled Act. 5.25 rent and torn read the Scriptures and see if these things be not so and there you may finde your own actions done by the same spirits therefore boast not your selves but this
to live Were not the mouthes of the world open against them with all manner of revilings scoffings and scornings Were not professors gainsaying and blaspheming Were not some hewn asunder and some sawne asunder whom the world was not worthy Act. 13.45 in prisons oft in perils oft in travels oft had no certain dwelling place but sent about from place to place from City to City yet were no vagabonds in hunger and nackedness hid in caves and dens of the earth they were halled out of their Synagogues they were had before Rulers for the witnessing of Jesus Now know those that the Lord hath sent forth now to declare the same everlasting Gospel their lives are not dear to them Nay wo are they if they preach it not what affliction or persecution so ever from the world they do indure counting it their joy to suffer for Christ who hath called them forth to the work of the Ministery And now is this Scripture fulfilled and fulfilling that God hath revealed his counsel to babes and sucklings and hath hid these things from the wife and prudent 1 Cor. 1.27 28 for so it hath pleased him and God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty and base things of the world and things that are despised hath God chosen yea the things that are not to bring to nought things that are that no flesh should glory in his sight but as it is written Let him that glories glory in the Lord. Praised be the Lord for ever that after this long night of darkness he hath sent forth his messengers to direct us to the true light that doth lead into purity and holiness bringing down all things that would exalt it self Heb. 11.26 this is witnessed in those that do obey it to their everlasting joy and comfort unto whom the reproaches of the world is great riches this I do witness that they do approve themselves to the conscience in the sight of God and approve themselves as the Ministers of God in much patience in afflictions in necessities in distresses in stripes and imprisonments in tumults in labors in watchings and fastings by pureness 1 Cor. 4.2 by knowledge by long suffering by kindness by the Holy Ghost by love unfained by the word of truth by the peace of God by the Armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left by honor and dishonor by good report and evil report as deceivers and yet true as unknown and yet well known as dying and behold we live as chastised and not killed as sorrowful yet alwayes rejoycing as poor yet making many rich as having nothing and yet possessing all things All that are joyned by one spirit to them in their measure this doth witness against all ravenous beasts and the Vultur's eye Now consider all sorts of men professors and prophane that do joyn together for to scoff and scorn revile and persecute these innocent Lambes of Christ which he hath sent forth among the Wolves of the world who are rent and torn by you say you had warning for know whatsoever you do to one his little ones that believes in him ye do it to himself and so it will be taken and you judged accordingly and it were better that you had never been born for the Lord will execute judgement upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among you of all your ungodly deeds Jud. 14. which they have ungodly committed and of all your hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against them What you speak against the servants of Christ you speak against Christ all your hard speeches all your evil surmisings against them is all known to the Lord who is just and righteous and will not suffer the wicked to go unpunished Repent repent and turn to the Lord the great day of the Lord is neer it is neer it hasteth greatly even the great day of the Lord the mighty man shall cry out bitterly that day is a day of wrath a day of trouble and distress a day of wastness and desolation a day of darkness and gloominess a day of clouds and thick darkness and I will bring distress upon men and they shall walk like blinde men because they have sinned against the Lord this shall they have for their pride because they reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hostes the Lord will be terrible unto you then you will wish the mountains to fall upon you and hide you from the presence of the Lord so terrible will the Lord be to all the enemies of Sion for he will set his Son upon that holy hill and he will roar out of Sion and utter his voice out of Jerusalem and terribly shake the earth and he will famish the gods of the earth and men shall worship him every one from his place even all the Isses of the heathen for then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may call upon the name of the Lord and serve him with one consent Amos 3.16 and will shake all Nations and the desire of all Nations shall come No wart these promises fulfilled and fulfilling praises be to the Lord for ever he hath turned to his people a pure language and they do serve him with one consent Heb. 12 2â— and now is the shaking all Nations shaking earth and shaking heaven that those things that cannot be shaken may remain therefore take heed you powers of the earth how you set your power against this great power of the Lord least he shake you out with the workers of iniquity when he shall come to cleanse the Land of evil doers for at last he will make his Jerusalem a praise upon the earth and he will arise and have mercy upon his Sion Behold at that time I will undo all that afflict thee and will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame Consider this ye persecuters ye scoffers and scorners ye sons of Ishmael who scoffes the righteous and makes a scorn of the upright but the Lord that sits in heaven shall laugh have you in derision and will mock when your fear cometh Prov. 1.26 27. your destruction shall come like a whirle winde affliction and anguish shall come upon you then shall you call but he will not answer you but shall cast you forth with the workers of iniquity Repent behold the day cometh that shall burn as an even and all the proud yea all that do wickedly shall be stuble and the day that cometh shall burn them up it shall leave you neither root nor branch and ye shall be troden under the soles of their feet in the day that I shall do this saith the Lord of Hosts Repent all scoffers and scorners repent all proud ones which know not what to eat
made manifest to all men you are a stink to the Lord and a reproach to man wo be to you that draw iniquity with cords of vanity and sin with cart ropes Wo be to you that speak good of evil and evil of good which our darkness for light and light for darkness that put bitter for sweet and sweet for sowre therefore as the fire devoureth the stuble and as the chaffe is consumed of the flame so your root shall be rottenness and your bud shall rise up like dust because ye have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts and contemned the word of the holy one of Israel this is the will of God your sanctification that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in holiness and honor and not in the lusts of concupiscence even as the Gentiles which know not God for God hath not called any unto uncleaness but out of uncleanness unto holiness for those that are Christs have crucified the world with the affections lusts every one in their measures growing into conformity to the head Christ Jesus the wrath of the Lord will feaze upon you except you return from your evil to the Lord from whence you are faln the world shall see it and fear before the Lord the Lord will not hide it it shall be made manifest to man If your consciences be not seared as with a hot iron or if you are not given up to a reprobate minde past feeling if you have not solde your selves to work wickedness there is that in your conscience that doth convince you that living in filthiness in the fruites of the flesh is not to be in conformity to Christ Hear what is said O God thy Throne is for ever the Scepter of thy Kingdom is a Scepter of righteousness thou hast loved righteousness and hated iniquity wherefore God even thy God hath annointed thee with the oile of gladness above thy fellows and know though your good works and holy life will not save you yet God hath ordained good works that men should walk in them and without holiness no man shall see the Lord but you will finde the Lambe to be a Lion that will render vengeance upon all that obey him not in flames of fire truely I can say with the Apostle having known the terrors of the Lord against sin I do perswade you for our God is a consuming fire the wicked shall not stand in his presence I charge you in the name of the Lord to take warning and to minde that pure light which leads out of these works of impurity lest you be like those corrupt trees without fruit twice dead and plucked up by the roots so be cut assunder from all good for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men which withhold the truth in unrighteousness be not high minded but fear for assuredly the Lord will not quit the guilty that will run on in sin without repentance and count it part of his perfection but snares fire and brimstome will he rain upon the head of the ungodly know you not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God Be not deceived for these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience the Lord will not be mocked but if you do sow to the flesh of the flesh you shall reap corruption those that did commit these things had the light and following the light were led out of darkness and did see those fruites of darkness and were ashamed Now consider this both Priest and people that say it is a natural light nature doth not nor cannot discover the sin that is in nature for this light doth convince and condemn the sin in nature many yeers past now that which doth reprove of sin is not natural but spiritual for it doth convince of spiritual wickedness and leads into holiness it is the light of life to those that do obey it and condemnation to them that sin against it yea I witness it is so this is the true guide this is the door to come to Christ and the Father those that do own the light are made the children of the light and of the day but those that live in sin are dead while they live they are enemies to the Lord and so hate the light and will not bring their deeds to the light least they should be reproved Now for those that do get the Saints words steal the true words that were given forth from the light and not walk in the life those are the thieves and robbers that do not come in by the door but clime up some other way Joh. 10.1.10 12 13 these are they that do make merchandize of the letter and so deceive the hearts of the simple those that spoke forth those words they spake forth their life they did live them they spake what they had heard and seen and not from other men but did believe therefore they spake and when you come to the faith then you may speak what is made manifest to you going not before nor beyond your measure you have received but standing in silence in the counsel of the Lord 2 Pet. 1.20 21. and then you will his power 〈◊〉 that gave forth the Scriptures and then you will know they are of no private interpretation but holymen spake them forth as they were moved by the Holy Ghost This will bring you to the life that was before Scripture was to the beginning to know the truth which the Scriptures are a true declaration of and so you will grow up to the life of the Scripture which the world are departed from though they have the Scriptures and can talke from the Scriptures and can preach from the Scriptures and can mightily plead for the Scriptures and say what will you deny the Scriptures and must ye not be ruled by the Scriptures and mighty zealous to the sight of the world for the Scriptures but to the life are enemies not having the life of the Scriptures and so are condemned by the Scriptures therefore it is a book sealed to the wisdom The first wisdom cannot comprehend them they were never given forth by it that rends them that wrests them and stretches them to finde out their meanings but from that eye it is hid never to be revealed here comes in the private interpretation here comes meanings to the Scripture one saith this is the meaning of this place another he conceives it means thus and so conceivings meanings is put upon them from hence comes all Sects and opinions from dark minds not from the Scripture for that was gave forth from the spirit of unity and peace but from the dark minds arises debates and strise vain janglings and contentions this is from the first wisdon that would aspire to know the things of God but cannot for it is earthly sensual and devilish and none come to know the Scriptures
but those that have the life that gave forth the Scriptures and that brings to the life of the Scriptures and so there is no jurring nor wresting of Scriptures to their own destruction which those that are unlearned in that which gave forth the Scriptures do Here is the subtilty of the Priests to keep the people in ignorance they tell them the ignorant and unlearned they do wrest the Scripture to their own destruction but never tell the people It is such as are not learned by Christ by the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures but makes you believe those are the learned that know the Latin Greek and Hebrew which they call the Original Now consider all people whether the wresting of the Scriptures be by the learned or the unlearned what preaching what writtings and printings what wrestings and wringings are amongst the learned so called the one he writes for Free-will and Universal redemption another he writes and printes against it one writes for infants baptizing comes another and he writes against him one writes for a Sabbath the other writes preaches and printes against them nay further if learning as they say keep men from wresting the Scriptures Why do they finde fault with the Jesuites for so doing they are as learned as any of you and do as well know that you call the original but not many learned but not many wise but the Lord hath chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom and God doth reveal his secrets to Babes and sucklings therefore silence deceivers for Peter that gave forth that Epistle to the Saints did not say those that were not Scholars and so unlearned 1 Cor. 2.10 to the 3 5. for so he was not learned himself as the Scriptures doth witness Now who wrests this Scriptures you or the unlearned When Peter and John were brought before the chief Priests and they did perceive that they were unlearned men and ignorant they took knowledge that they had been with Jesus Act. 4.13 But this will not you do acknowledge that Jesus Christ doth now so teach the unlearned and ignorant but makes the people believe you are the onely learned when the wayes of the Lord are hid from you The way of the Lord is a way of holiness the unclean cannot pass over it but the waifaring man though a fool shall not erre therein but the Scriptures are hid from all the outward learning of the world never to be revealed they are a book that is sealed with seven seals and none can open them but the Lion of the Tribe of Juda never did humane learning open one of the seals nor never shall do but those that are taught by Christ are led by the spirit of Christ into the power of them into the truth of them into the life of them and so the seals come to be opened for the spirit searcheth all things yea the deep things of God and no man knows the things of God but the spirit of God he to whom the spirit doth reveal them for the natural man in his highest wisdom is emnity against the Lord for man by wisdom knows not God Come down proud flesh that would aspire to know the things of God by the serpent's wisdom from whom it is hide the first wisdom hath a portion in them but it is the plagues and wees that are to rest upon it it shall never enter the kingdom the lake is prepared for it it can speak of Scripture but persecute the power where ever it is manifest the wo of the Lord is upon it it hath been a murderer from the beginning it would murder the righteous seed wherever it is made manifest it is an enemy to man it is an enemie to the Lord it never was subject to him and from this wisdom do they speak that do not live the life of the Scriptures and such are to be shut out from the Scriptures and to own their portion which are the curses they were not made for men that love vain janglings and contentions they were given forth from a spirit of unity therefore silence vain janglers meddle not with them that are not your portion the Scriptures they are profitable for doctrine for reproof and correction and he that adds his own meanings to them or takes from them is cursed of the Lord as they are They are profitable for those Ends the Lord gave them forth 2 Tim. 3.15 16. without adding to them those that spoke them forth were guided by the spirit of truth and they spake forth their own meanings Now consider what a contradiction and confusion do both prophet and people run into they do confess they were immediately inspired by the Holy Ghost when they spake forth the Scriptures and yet they will put meanings and addings to their words as if there were something wanting in them that the Apostles and Prophets did not see when they did write them Here is the subtilty of the first wisdom that would give the Prophets and Apostles good words but would give forth his meanings upon their words this is the Antichrist and the deceiver for to make a trade of them giving meanings to them Is not this exalting your selves above the wisdom of God and running into the invention and so through fained words makes merchandise of the people selling the letter for money which was spoke forth freely and by this ungodly gain live you and your wifes and children in pride which is manifest but come to the first principal that gave forth the Scriptures and you will see the life of them and witness the truth of them every one in your measures and then there will be no wrestings to finde out their meanings by the light you may read them and your selves and know your portion in them but not knowing the life of them though you know all the parts of them and can speak and preach from them yet you are persecuters of the life of them For the Jews did know as much of the letter as any but when the Life came him they did persecute they did know the Latin Greek and Hebrew but persecuted the Original which is Christ Luk. 23.28 and were enemies against him and yet did know the Scriptures in the form of them and did search the Scriptures Be not deceived with vain shewes but come to the life and substance of truth as it is in Jesus and the truth will make you free to serve the Lord with fear which is the beginning of wisdom it keep◠〈…〉 it will shew the deceits that doth lodge in the heart the light will lead you out of them it will shew you deceit under what pretence soever it will shew you that those that are Ministers of Christ and Ambassadors of Christ have not their message to seek and so run to be holpen by another preach from that which is made ready to their hands 2 Cor. 10. Read the
is your Church orders for shame disown such filthy practices and see what spirits you do joyn with those that are of the world those are beloved of the world for the world doth love her own but those that are not of the world Act. 17.17 18. the world doth hate them there is emnity put between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent never can those be reconciled the evil spirit knows the evil spirit in another though one hath got the form and words of truth if the life be wanting the spirit of the prophane world and their spirits will joyn together to persecute the power but as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the spirit Heb. 13.2 even so it is now It is no new thing when the Church was scattered about and went up and down preaching the Gospel and had no certain dwelling places but their habitation was in God how were they hated by the world and made the very off-scowring of it of whom the world was not worthy they were strangers to them and therefore hated by them but to entertain strangers forget not 1 Tim. 5.10 oppress not a stranger because he is a stranger when the widdows were taken into the Church they were well reported of for good works if she hath brought up her children if she hath lodged strangers if she hath washed the Saints feet What Church is yours that will not do this to strangers but persecute them and imprison them speak all manner of evil of them when they offer violence to no man Consider this both Priest and people is it not thus with you are not these fruits made manifest and yet you are not ashamed to call your selves a Church you are indeed the Synagogues of Satan behold I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan which say they are Jews and are not but do lie Behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee he is not a Jew that is one owardly but he is a Jew that is one inwardly and Circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit and not in the letter Rom. 2.32 whose praise is of God not of men Now where the heart is purified fruites of persecution doth not appear nor neither can they but there love gentleness to all men doth appear doing by others as they would be done to But if these fruits do still remain among you lie not against the truth your Religion is in vain it will not endure the fire but this is the National Church that are baptized Gal. 2.27 but not into Christ and here is the world made the Church of whom Christ is not the head nor they his members Rom. 6.3 4 and here the world rests as if they were the people of the Lord and if any doth come to speak to the contrary then they are all of an uproare like bruit beasts Do not your teachers joyn with the world in feastings in idle speeches and in foolish jeastings that do administer no grace to the hearers telling tales and stories which are pleasing to the flesh which they do soon receive Act. 16.5 for it is one with them and so prophaneness is gone forth from the Priests the Ministers of Christ their life was an example and pattern of holiness but you strengthen the hands of the wicked and dishonor the Lord of purity and holiness Is this to keep your selves unspoted of the world are not these spots in your feasts to feed your selves without fear and joyn with the world if you did reprove them sharply when you did hear of unsavory words not seasoned with grace they would not endure your company it would be as fire amongst them But like Priest like people the Ministers of Christ they say have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them that they may be ashamed is this your practice no it is not you go from place to place a feasting into all companies Eph. 5.4 and 11. and so get the love of all but wo be to you you joyn with the world and the great ones of the world and have their persons in admiration because of advantage bowing and cringing and worshipping the seed of Haman which Mordcai would not do you are respecters of persons and so are transgressors of the Law of God this you to do get a living from them though they are not for Christ but for their lusts and pride most of them these are beloved by you and you do not speak against them because of your gain Jud. 16. and the honor you have from them you speak of sin in the general and live the life of it and so it is put off from the one to the other Jam. 4.9 but which of you do as the prophet did to David say thou art the man come home to them and speak in particular and then you will try them dealing faithfully not fearing the face of man which must perish but approve your hearts to the Lord is this practised among you is not the contrary do you not daube the great ones with untempered moâ—ter Hest 3.2 speaking peace to the wicked Did you forsake and shun their companies and not joyn with them in pride and filthiness and works of the flesh they would soon hate you or their filthy practices practises there would be no living thus but a separation you would see But are not fruits of pride and covetuousness which is idolatry fruites of envy and malice made manifest among your Church and hearers these fruits maketh it manifest that you are one with the world say what you will Are not they the false prophets that are entered into the world in fellowship with the world beloved of the world Who is it that doth side with you for to defend you when any doth come from the Lord to speak to you to leave your deceits Do not the rude multitude side with you swearers drunkards scoffers and railers and your professors al together tearing and rending like ravenous beasts see now where you are what spirit joyns for you be ashamed that ever such beasts should take your parts did ever such bruites heathens take part with the Apostles when they were halled out of their Synagogues no they did not as it was then so it is now See now where is your Religion the pure Religion reacheth to do by another as ye would be done by not to tear and rend like beasts of prey your fellow creatures Act. 19.32 36 37 39 40. beating and smiting of them are these the fruites of the spirit no they are not but fruites of the flesh Is this your Church order be ashamed for ever that such should joyn with you but by your fruites you are known and the fruites of your Ministery received from man is now made manifest the day hath
made you manifest that these are works of darkness proceeding from darkness and will end in darkness O the deceit of some of the chief professors in the Town of Starfford when there come one into their place of meeting to declare against the Priests deceit before they did know what was spoken she was haled out by these professors which were then officers and was led by them to the Cage and there she did sit seven hours where she was pissed on and spit on by those bruites of Starfford 2 Thess 1.4 5 6 7 8. these professors knowing of it which they did tell me did grieve their hearts for to see and about two or three of the clock did come to my house to me to know whether I would receive her and I did tell them I would but they went away and did not bring her tell six of the clock at night here was the deceit of you made manifest had it grieved your hearts as you said it did Why did not you sooner release her but the double hearted man God will judge Know that mercy to your fellow creature had been better then sacrifice but thus is the heart made manifest that it may be known by the fruits of it The next day she was carried to a Justice thinking to lase her in prison but when they came there they had none to accuse her thus was their folly made manifest She came a second time to their meeting where she was haled out like a dog and the officers did turn her out of the grave-yard to the mercies of the heathen who rent her and did tear her pulling her head tire oft pulling her by the hair of the head and throwing her down in the street as she passed along to come to a friends house which is nigh half the quarter of a mile from the steeple house howling and shouting at their fellow creature was it not your office to see the peace kept that these bruites might not make a prey of her had not a stranger which was at our meeting took her part and rescued her from the violence of those heathen what he could he did see no other but they would have killed her Be ashamed that ever such wickedness should be suffered in a town professing Christ you Magistrates had warning to deal justly to love mercy to walk humbly with the Lord not to respect the persons of men in judgement but to deal righteously according to that righteous Law of God in the conscience was this a righteous act of yours to leave your fellow creature to the mercy of the heathen Take counsel together and it shall come to nought speak the word and it shall not stand for God is with us Oh all people will walke in the name of his God and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever Micha 4.6 DARKNESSE Denyed by the CHILDREN OF LIGHT IN the fourth moneth upon the sixth day of the moneth I went to John Pains house of Starford to know of him if he did not receive a letter of mine that was sent me from Cambridge from James Blackly Justice of the peace and he said he had none of it but James Blackly asked the Coachman that did bring it and he said it was delivered to Mr. Pain Minister of Starford his name being the same with mine both of us being named John Pain but if he had or hath it and doth deny it it is his deceit this was the cause of my going to his house And then when I was there with him he did begin with me about some words that I did say to him about the publike Ministery as it doth now stand the National Ministery that I did say the spirit of the Lord in their Ministery was departed from them that they should not convert one soul more to the Lord by their Ministery which thing was true I did so say to him and so I shall do still and the fruites of it shall appear more and more as they stand contrary to the commands of Christ they shall not as is proved they do they that neither follow the example of Christ Prophet nor Apostles they shall not profit the people their preaching is like the blood of a dead man as is manifest they have the form of truth but the power is denyed by them and so the power is not made manifest among them for this many yeers but this power was by thee denied for thou did tell me thou hadst not the infallible spirit of Paul if not that spirit J then another the spirit in the Saints is but one in all and is the spirit of truth that leads into all truth and shews things to come even the spirit of truth Joh. 14.17 whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not neither knoweth him but we know him for had welleth with us and shall be in us and this spirit is the same as ever this spirit was in Paul in the Prophets in the Saints that ever were or ever shall be From this spirit was the Scripture gave forth and none but the spirit can reveal the Mysteries of God in them for no man doth know the things of God but the Spirit of God and he to whom the Spirit of God doth reveal them and he that hath not the Spirit of Christ is note of his and this spirit is the spirit of Revelation now in the Saints and no man knows any thing as he ought to know it but what is revealed by the spirit 1 Cor. 2.11 It is recorded in Scripture that the Spirit beareth witness with our spirits Rom. 8.9 that we are the sons of God How doth it witness but by revealing to our spirits 〈◊〉 it is so This is the earnest of our inheritance this is the intrance into the everlasting kingdom for there none of our names after the flesh are set down but this maketh known the white stone and the new name which no man doth know but those that do receive it and this spirit of revelation and the Apostle pray for for the Church of the Ephesians that the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ the father of 〈◊〉 may 〈◊〉 unto â—ou the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him Eph. 1.17 18. Eph. 4.4 5 6. and 〈◊〉 man 〈◊〉 the â—â—ther but 〈◊〉 Son and he to whom the Son doth reveal him so revelations are not ceased as might be proved by many places of the Scripture yea I witness against all gain-sayers that Scripture fulfilled in me Joh. 16.13 That he will shew you things to come This I witness is truth and many with me will witness the same these things are hid from wise men and revealed to babes the weak things of the world confound the strong and might glory be to thy name for ever and ever 1 Cor. 12.13 This spirit is in all his Saints and this spirit is infallible it
cannot lye it is the spirit of truth and leads into all truth and it abideth with his for ever and is the same as ever was and is infallible Now as ever this thou didst deny and didst say thou hadst not the infallible spirit of Paul the spirit I told thee was but one in all the Saints and if thou hadst not that infallible spirit thy spirit I did deny thou didst stand for to maintain it by Argument and I gave the Bible to prove it there but thou didst not but thou didst say thou couldst do it but it must then be by some new Scripture of thy own making by that fallible spirit of thine the old Scripture that was given forth by the infallible spirit will not do it but that witnesseth and I witness with it against thee that this denying thou hast not the spirit that gave forth the Scriptures and art no Minister of Christ And here I charge thee to have a false spirit 1 Joh. 4.1 for thou not having the same spirit that gave forth the Scripture then another and so a false spirit and a spirit of evil and here thy spirit is tryed as the Scripture saith Try the spirits and it is found to be a seducing eye leading from the anointing in the Saints which is infallible and knows no difference between the infallible spirit of God in man and mans own spirit which is fallible but the anointing which ye hath received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you all things and is truth and is no lye and even as it hath taught you ye shall abide in him that spirit that doth draw away any from this anointing is the spirit of eror and the fallible spirit that the false Prophets ever had to oppose the infallible spirit where it was manifest thou didest then tell me thou hadst admonished me twice and told me the danger that was like to follow Joh. 2.2 to 28. for thou didst say I was now grown obstinate and then didst tell me an Heretick after the first and second admonition thou wast to reject but thou not having the infallible spirit that gave forth the Scripture Thy casting me out I do not regard they are nothing to me they will not enter they were not words spake forth from the life as may be known by them One of the times thou didst call me Coxcomb and the other time thou didst say we were a company of fools such admonitions were not given by the Apostles but these words came from thy fallible spirit for the spirit of truth saith He that calleth his brother fool Mat. 5.2 is in danger of hell fire And the infallible spirit saith Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouthes Eph. 4.2 30. but such as may Minister grace to the hearers but thy spirit will say any thing thy tongue is thy own Judge now you that are his hearers are you like to profit by such a one that cannot refrain his tongue from speaking evil and such are in the heresie Thou didst say he that was an heretick thou wouldst reject and thou didest bid me go away from thee thou wouldest have nothing to do with me nor speak no more with me when after that thou didst speak many words more to me which I told thee of and did ask thee wherefore thou didst do so when thou saidst thou would speak no more to me here was the lye found in thy mouth And thou didst bid me have a care of the Churches power for what they bound in earth was bound in heaven thou art under that Church power but for the power of your Church your curse and your blessing all is one as was made manifest in Scotland when our Army went into the Land there was curse upon curse excommunication one after another See your Churches power or rather your blindness to curse those the Lord will bless and did bless your curses and theirs Num. is like to Balaams curses all off one power they are the instruments as they are in your hands of foolish shepherds though Church-power I do own and wo be to that that is under their censure that must be given to Sathan that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord but this is done by the infallible spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ When you are rathered together 1 Cor. 5.4 5 and my spirit with the power of the Lord Jesus Christ to deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. But Pauls infallible spirit is denyed by you and your Churches censures denyed by me The Babe in Christ growing up to a perfect man Heb. 5.13 Eph. 4.13 He that hath the Son hath this witness in him THe heresies that thou did cast me our for were these 1. That I did hold perfection in this life A state of perfection I would have proved there was and I did take the Bible so for to do but thou didst take it out of my hand and did knock it many times together as if thou hadst not been thy self and would not suffer me for to speak Joh. 3.6 but thou said thou would stand for the truth against all the Hereticks in the world and maintain it that there was no perfection in this life 1 Cor. 15.47 48 49. That which was given forth from the infallible spirit will prove it that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit the first man of the earth earthly the second man is the Lord from heaven as is the earthly Joh. 1.13 such are those that are earthly and as is the heavenly such are they also that are heavenly which were born not of blood John 3.3 nor of the will of man but of God the first birth is of the earth and is earthly and shall never enter into the kingdom except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God but being born again not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible seed by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever this is the new birth that maketh the new man and this new man is created in righteousness and holiness after the similitude of him that did create him 1 Pet. 1.23 and this new man is perfect yea know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself and the wicked one reacheth him not This is the new mans state of perfection which is the state of life and nothing that is not perfect shall never enter the kingdom no unclean thing shall enter that which is not perfect is not clean 1 Joh. 5.18 and here thou hast shewed thy self to be ignorant of the perfect state of the Saints and yet thou will say thy self there is a