give through which righteous spirit or spirit of promise f Act. 15. 1 Cor. 6. God justifieth our hearts from the sinne through the belief 2. Lo hereof have I written heretofore and do now still bear witnesse to the same but who believeth the truth or who hath any regard unto Gods promises to wait with long sufferance and with a firme confidence in God for such things to come and in the obedience to the requiring of the service of love to hope for them and my conceiving in the truth and mine understanding is even yet no otherwise neither can I otherwise discern but that God will thus in his time bring forth his work to an everlasting peaceable living in the love according to his promises 3. Notwithstanding if it be not so as I through the holy spirit of the love of Jesu Christ do according to the life describe it or that Gods working according to his promises be not in such wise promised also that such a life of peace as we bear record of should not be to come or that men should not under the obedience of the love hope for it according to the promises Let any man give judgement of it according to the truth for every one that loveth righteousnesse he intendeth doubtlesse the Salvation after his best meaning 4. But if on the other side O all ye which observe these things the Lord hath opened the door of understanding unto you or hath g Eph. 1. enlightned your understanding and that ye conceive that we have set forth and described the life of righteousnesse and the service which leadeth thereunto according to the truth then verifie the same to the unity of heart in the love and to one understanding of the true belief in Jesu Christ one with another and so h Eccl. 6. then give your selves obediently to the same service of love and to our communion of the living God in one faith and in one familiarity i 1 Pet. 1. of upright brotherly love to the end the true belief and the right obedience of the love may among us all which love the righteousnesse k 4 Esd 6. grow and blossome in all concord in a sure hope to Gods promises and that the righteous in the love may become many 5. Els if you think that we have conceived of the truth amisse or if in any point it be too slenderly set forth then give testimony thereof with a meek spirit and so help forward the unity of heart in the obedience of the love and think no evill of it neither blaspheme it for in such a sort we stand pliable to examine the truth whereby out of love we may cleave thereunto and so receive the explanation of the truth in that wherein we know it not aright for the wisdome of the truth in a gentle and meek spirit l Pro. 3.8 Sap. 7. is the most precioust treasure that a man can find 6. But one that covereth himself in his evill conceiving and thereby thinketh to be wise and one which hath a tongue that slandereth and an heart which is envious or wrath against any he is not to be commended Moreover an arrogant heart which with contempt of another hath a pleasure in his own understanding or which standeth partiall in the testimony of the truth or an heart that turneth it self away from the concord of the service of love and cleaveth to the vain conceited flesh and bloud and taketh part therewith that same can in no wise judge rightly 7. Therefore judge with faithfulnesse and truth and not with favour or disfavour nor yet with reviling or despite least any man judge out of such a disposition as they aforetimes did that were the confederates of the high-Priest and smote the mouth of the wisdome on his face m Joh. 18. saying with arrogant minds and malicious hearts wilt thou answer the High-Priest so 8. Behold howsoever it be meet and Gods Ordinance that men should learn the Law n Mal. 2. out of the mouth of the Priests and the wisdome o Eccl. 6.8 of the Elders or principallest of understanding yet is such dealing an unreasonablenesse and against the Law also against the wisdome and against the love which God requireth 9. Wheresoever therefore men deal after that manner or with such partiality though it seemeth to be some righteousnesse holinesse or wisdome there deem we not the true High-Priest nor any Elders of the holy understanding nor yet the Law of the Lord nor wisdome of God to be 10. Therefore ought men to stand impartiall with the heart in Gods upright being and so to set forth the Salvation out of the love and her service for many seek it ignorantly and through lack of wisdome they go into waies where it is not to be found 11. But if any man love the salvation and wisdome from his heart let him submit himself to the love and her service and so then in obeying of the requiring of the service of love let him be familiar p Col. 3. 1 Pet. 3. brotherly kind-hearted chast meek gentle sober patient or long suffering lowly of heart and friendly for that is a blessednesse q Jam. 3. and wisdome which is not earthly of the earth or of men but onely of God the fountain of grace full of all wisdome and he distributeth her unto every one that feareth seeketh and loveth him for there is none only wise nor onely good r Mat. 19 Luk. 18. but God who onely is the Lord and the everlasting wisdome it self 12. Therefore speaketh the mouth of the wisdome and saith Å¿ Mat. 18. where two or three of you be gathered together in my Name there am I amongst you and in the midst of you t Deut. 17.19 Mat. 18. Joh. 8. for in the mouth of two or three witnesses all matters shall be judged and be rightly known out of the true wisdome 13. But not of such as with subtilty of the knowledge do enquire daily thereafter of another or with wittinesse and reason do search or sound deeply for it whereby to discern the matters of understanding touching things divine out of the knowledge O no! but u Esa 57.66 Sap. 1.6 Mat. 11. 13. 1 Cor. 2. of those that are lowly of heart and have not studied nor searched for any knovvledge x Bccl. 6. 1 Pet. 1.5 but with a desire do humble their hearts to the obeying of the requiring of the holy vvord and his service of love for to do the will of the Lord. 14. Lo such are upright wise-ones and lovers of wisdome upon whom also the wisdome ariseth as a light whose judgements agree in one understanding and do tend or reach to one upright being 15. O God that the hearts of men were yet once rightly humbled before thee and thy service of love and were partakers of thy holy wisdome that so they might live in thee 16. O holy y
Almighty God which was which is and which abideth for ever who giveth his honour to a Esa 42 none other spake in times past by Moses and his Prophers unto the Fathers b Heb. 1. and that oftentimes and in sundry manners whereby Hee c Deut. 4 Esa 42.45.51.55 required the true fruit of his Righteousnesse and did still testifie of the like Image of his Being and ceased not therein till the time d 2 Kin. 7. Psal 89. Acts 2. was fulfilled that his beloved one was appeared unto them namely e Mat. 1 Rom. 1. 2 Tim. 2. his Son the fruit of his loynes and the very like Being of his Godhead 2. And even as the same Gods Sonne namely the like Being of the said God who liveth for ever was from the beginning the First whom f Joh. 1. God finished all his workes by so is he also the last that is to say the perfection of all those things which God hath promised by Moses his Prophets according as it is written thereof g Rom. 10 1 Cor. 13. Gal. 3. In whom the Law and the Prophets cease or be fulfilled 3. Insomuch then as the Law and the Prophets were in the same Sonne of GOD in times past fulfilled in Israel and did cease in the same Sonne the Lord Jesus Christ who is the h Rom. 10. Gal. 5. 1 Tim. 1. end of the whole sum of the fulfilling of the Law and the Prophets to the confirming of the Promises of GOD the Father therefore did GOD then also at the last at the end or fulfilling of his Law and Prophets i Heb. 1. speake unto the people of Israel and to the Beleevers of his Word by the same Sonne restifying how that all is k Deut. 7. Eph. 1. 1 Pet. 2. His which Son he hath appointed for an heir of all things and l Heb. 1. the same beareth all things with the word of his power and he is unto us a cleansing of our sins through himselfe 4 This onely borne Sonne of GOD the Father is given to the Children of Men to the end they should be m Rom. 11. grafted into his Spirit which is the holy Spirit of Love and in their mindes be n Joh. 15 Eph. 3. 2 Pet. 1. of one Being therewith 5. Through which holy Spirit the same Sonne of God Jesus Christ hath also promised his Believers that the Truth of the Life should nakedly and clearly be o Joh. 14 Acts 1. manifested unto them whereby at the very last to a conclusion of all godly things they in like manner might declare the Love the most brightest Day-light and through the same true Light Gods most holiest Being draw all people that have any desire towards God to the unity of Peace under the obedience of the Love to the intent we all which love God and his Righteousnesse should in these last dayes know and understand in all things the mind of God in perfect clearnesse and through the holy Spirit of his Love walk in all truth as in a true light of the godly Clearnesse according to the Promises even as God also hath spoken the same through the Son whom he hath made heire even of all that is Gods p Mat. 11. Luk. 10. Joh. 3. For all what the Father hath is His. 6. But because of his Long-suffering that his goodnesse might be known in the Love and that none through his default might misse of the fulnesse of the Life he hath spoken thus in times past for to establish it in the last time 7. I have saith q Joh. 16. the Lord Jesus Christ yet many things to say unto you but ye cannot beare them now Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth shall come the same shall lead you into all Truth For he shall not speak of himselfe but whatsoever he shall heare that shall he speake and he shall show you that which is to come He shall glorifie me For he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you All what the Father hath that is mine Therefore have I said He shall receive of mine and shew it unto you 8. Lo all this Love doth GOD now through this new Day or Light of his Fatherly Love shew on us for to draw our Spirit in him out of the earthly lying and deadly Being unto his Love in the Heavenly true Life which is everlasting 9 Which his Love r Joh. 17 1 Cor. 13 1 Joh. 4. is the perfect Being of God and of Christ and of the holy Ghost which heretofore was Å¿ Esa 2. promised for to come in the last time and it is the t Apoc. 21. Jerusalem which is now in the last time come downe unto us from Heaven and the perfect fruit of Righteousnesse where the Sun of clearnesse doth never go down according as GOD hath spoken in times past by the mouth of his holy Prophets who have all likewise prophesied of this salvation to the intent that all people to the unity of heart in the Love should have a sure hope towards God and towards their salvation 10 But alas it seemeth that this Beliefe and Hope to this same is by many v Jer. 5. 1 Tim. 1.4 forsaken or else the salvation and the truth is not well understood for to hope thereon 11. For there are found with many sundry divided testimonies and every one in His or the most part will defend that his testimony is brought forth by the Spirit of Truth But among these there is found great faile by many whereby many are made doubtfull in their beliefe x Matth. 24. and become cold in their zeal to the Good And by means of their dissentions y Luk. 17. which they have stirred up and do yet daily stirre up among themselves against each other Many know not what they shal hope for or believe 12. Wherefore for the Unities sake in the Love O ye children of men lay downe your contentions under the Love and have regard unto Gods promises and to your Calling and incline likewise your hearts to the obeying of the love and of the requiring of her service 13. For in the obeying of the love and of the requiring of her service ye shall become of one mind and shall know that there is no more but z Eph. 4.2 1 John 5. one God or Father who alone is only good and almighty no more but one Christ with him at his right hand who only is the everlasting Mediator and Saviour between God and us out of him no more but one spirit who only is true and no more but one love a Col. 3. which only is the band of perfection 14. Nevertheles the Gifts of God through the spirit under the obedience of the love are manifold Likewise also the Services are manifold Which b Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 4. Gifts and Services are all to the Commodity and Profit of the Communalty and are
given in the last daies according to Gods Promises and not after the inventions of men BUt in the mean time whilest I considered and scanned all this inasmuch as I laboured for that which is right I found my self oftentimes through consideration of the mans weaknesse and of his ignorant zeal to the righteousness and truth in great anguish of heart and in lâ—ke manner there were others more in the same case with me 2. And I was sorry for the people because many of them had so ignorant a zeale and were bewitched with so many sorts of blindnesse and vaine imaginations and I was oft times very unquiet in my mind because I could not know any of the children of men whom I might believe or account for the people of God such as stood in the stock of the righteousnesse of Abraham or did a Phil. 1. preach Christ out of the nature of the love 3. For I grew suspicious jealous and distrustfull of all flesh yea of my selfe also for in my humane disposition after the flesh I found oft times no power at all to enter into the b Rom. 7. vertue of righteousnesse in any such sort as by Gods heavenly Revelation which came unto me from God in the Spirit I had observed the same 4. Howbeit many of the children of men looked not into the vertue of the righteousnesse according to the truth but were bewitched in their understanding and thoughts bearing a zeal unto that which was not of God and which did nothing further them to the righteousnesse and therein was my humane understanding afore-times somewhat distressed whilest I sought the righteousnesse among the children of men where it was not to be found 5. But the Lord out of his grace hath shewed much mercy on me and through his heavenly revelation and manifesting of his truth hath inlightned my understanding and pulled my spirit unto him his goodnesse leads me and his Spirit vouchsafes to strengthen me in the Service of Love that I may declare unto the man that which is most profitable for him to live in to the establishing of the Word which God afore-times hath spoken out of his truth and according as he hath promised c Luk. 1. by the mouth of his holy Prophets to the blessing and salvation of all people 6. Then forasmuch as I have seen the misery of men and do know the contrary nature to God and that moreover the good being of God and the salvation of men is out of Gods grace appeared unto me in my sight therefore have I set forth certaine writings out of the same knowledge of the good being and of the salvation of men so farre as in my understanding I could reach unto the same and as the Lord revealed unto me that the mans bewitched understanding and thoughts might be made known unto him and so he might regard d Phil. 4. what were right and reasonable and what were meet and profitable 7. And those writings according to the appointment of God and testimony of his holy Word we have now renewed afresh in the land of the living and so through the true light of the godly wisdome and of the holy Spirit of Love expressed them more plainly and written them again with the assistance of the principall Elders and Ministers of the holy Word in the Family of Love 8. Which writings that every one both small and great of understanding might be satisfied and none have any occasion to blaspheme the truth but that they might all be minded to e 2 Cor. 1. Eph. 4. the unity of heart in the love we have out of the loves inclination placed together with cleer distinction and compiled them to a Glasse of righteousnesse to the end men might the more easily in their understanding comprehend and mark the reason of our hope for to cheer up thereby the mind of man to the good and out of the inclination of love to refresh and strengthen him with good courage to draw him to a right discerning of the upright wisdome and for that he should then be zealous with good understanding and labour for that vvhich continueth for ever 9. All that same so far as we discâ—â—n it and as God hath permitted unto us we shew and declare with full instruction in this Introduction to the holy understanding of the Glasse of Righteousness and principally in the book it self setting down wherein the man ought to stand comprehended whence the happinesse of our life cometh unto us what manner of one the upright f 1 Cor. 12. Congregation of Christ is and how that the ministration and service of the holy word g 1 Cor. 13. ought to have passage out of love 10. For this is the service of the gracious word h Jer. 29. promised in the last time to wit that all those vvho have any longing after the love and concord or do hope thereon should be stirred up to the same to the intent that all they which seeke Christ might with one consent cleave to the love and her service and walk in all love for that is the peace i Eph. 2. prepared for us by Christ if so be we have any desire to the love and to the true peace 11. And thereunto even for the unities sake in the love is my service to all lovers of the truth that the destruction of heart might once cease that every one might have the love before his eyes that the service of the love and word of truth might have passage without hindrance and that so all sentences which bear witnesse to the truth might according to the truth be judged impartially 12. True it is that my spirit is well disposed hereunto even that the bewitching of many mens hearts might be done away and the calling of the Gentiles rightly be discerned and understood according to the truth to the end all matters appertaining to the righteousnesse might out of love be discerned and understood impartially with an unbewitched spirit and an unbound heart according to the truth but inasmuch as I find little upright judgement among the children of men as having much more inclination k Jer. 7.11.13.18 to their own sense and to their own l Rom. 10. righteousnesse then to the truth and righteousnesse which God accepteth also a more inclination to their ovvn self-chosen communalty then to the unity of heart in the service of love therefore is my heart many times not satisfied nor contented with the judgement of men 13. For I find apparently by experience that the man is in his judgement altogether partially minded in every respect and setteth his affection to this or to that vvhich tendeth not to concord but much rather to strife and hath very little respect to the love vvhereby he might out of the love have regard to the truth of the soveraign good impartially but commonly he will have the same bound or tyed to one thing or another vvherewith
him out of any choosing whether it be out of loathing or of liking but let every one search his own heart how he findeth the same disposed examine once himself whether he stand impartiall rightly or not 9. And when the man hath seriously tried and proved himself herein in such sort that he knoweth assuredly how his heart standeth in case he wholly love God and his righteousnesse intend the truth in the Love with his whole soule and desire to deny and to forsake himselfe f Mat. 16. Luke 9.14 with all that is in the world for the godlinesse sake then shall he very well know and understand a difference between the cleavers to the world and those that from the bottom of their soules love the righteousnesse 10. Wheresoevea then any upright impartiall hearts are found and that they do shew forth under the obedience of the Love the praise of God the salvation of men and the truth out of the love of righteousnesse and do point none unto flesh and blood nor to any visible elements but only to the good life of the true essentiall Godhead and are thereunto serviceable to all men to all concord in the love of Jesu Christ with those are the Lovers of righteousnesse and truth to stand impartiall to the unity of heart in the love and so to have regard to the ministration of the godly testimonies of the holy spirit of the Love unto obedience for to walk in such a life of godlinesse as is pointed out and witnessed thereby and in that manner to grow up in the good g Eph. 2. Apo. 21 to an house or tabernacle of the living God or Christ and to give no further respect to the outward then as it is serviceable thereunto to the intent that no man may be bewitched in his spirit but may cleave to the vertue and nature of the love and that the h Col. 3. love may obtain a dwelling place or forme in him 11. Lo after this manner ought men to live impartially in the good i Esa 1. Psa 37. 2 Pet 3. to turn from all ungodly being and not to maintain the evill 12. There goeth also a saying about among divers that to shew the k 2 Pet. 1. common love is the most best means to keep ones self thus impartiall 13. It is true our writings do also testifie such things howbeit let every one for all that look to it and beware of his own judgement that by the l Gen. 3. Sap. 2. 2 Cor. 11. subtilty of the Serpent or of her nature or els by the mind of the flesh he be not beguiled the saying in it self is very right but many that marke not the saying according to the truth doe speak the same with a wrong sight or understanding 14. For some use such sentences for their own seekings cause and so in such a show of vertue their heart in regard of being incorporated with God in the spirit remaineth covered m Esa 29 Jer. 23 and estranged from God and many also give great respect unto such sayings insomuch that by occasion thereof they do oft-times according to mens private conceit cleave to some outward vertue which surely is the very smallest of all and do leave the principallest n Mat. 23 1 Cor. 13 1 Tim. 1 or greatest which God requireth The like did also many heretofore that were learned in the Law upon whom the Lord pronounced wo because they observed the least things of the Law whilest they tythed Mint Anise and Cummin and left the greatest matters of the Law o Mat. 23 Luk. 11 to wit judgment mercy and faithfulnesse 15. For albeit they observed all this after an outward show so as they seemed thereby to be righteous yet was it all surely of no value seeing they were not joyned with whole heart unto God p Ioh. 15 nor according to the spirit incorporated with him 16. Furthermore divers men there are found which after the outward fashion give every one his own and unto divers out of common love shew outward mercy indifferently who also carry themselves so justly that q Phil. 3 outwardly they are not to be reproved in any thing howbeit they are inwardly before God theeves and r Mat. 23 Ioh. 10 false men because they with-hold from God that which is his Å¿ Esa 29 Ezek. 33. Mat. 15 that is to say their heart which is far from him and standeth subject or tied unto visible things which heart or inward mind belongeth wholly yea only unto God 17. Therefore God is not appeased nor satisfied with the least when the heart is not turned from all visible and mutable things and doth not cleave perfectly unto him or at least endeavour towards it to wit that the man desire of God out of his grace that God will strengthen him to the obeying of his will and t Eccl. 3 prepare his heart to his will and pleasure 18. Look whose hearts are not thus minded u Deut. 6 Mat. 22 for to love and cleave unto God with all their souls their common love is false and altogether unclean x Rom. 1 for they have yet willingly a pleasure in their own concupiscence and are yet far distant from the upright love of God neverthelesse they do sometimes perswade themselves that they have the very best conceiving of the righteousnesse and so proceed on according to the common course of vvordly hearts 19. Therefore there is great diversity between the unpartiall men who addict their hearts unto God and to the good and those men whose hearts have minded worldly things and yet do boast them of the unpartiallnesse For look what unto worldly hearts namely unto such hearts as are turned from God and his service of Love is a pleasure lust and life that same is unto all the children of righteousnesse y Luk. 16 an abomination and a horrible death 20. Wherefore mark well the meaning in what state or being the right unpartiality consisteth and out of what heart it is that men are to exercise the common-love rightly verily with such an heart as out of all his mind z Eccl. 1.2 feareth God and is inclined to the upright vertue in the love or is comprehended therein and not with an unadvised heart which is without understanding in his common-love and in his unpartialnesse that distinguisheth not the godlinesse or the worldly righteousnesse one from the other or that hath a pleasure to run on crookedly and erringly a Luk. 12 to set his rest or to fix his heart in the earthly love b Rom. 1 Eph. 4 1 Pet. 4. according to the course of the blind world or mind of the flesh 21. Be not utterly I pray you c Eph. 5 without understanding but learn vvell to discern the truth and let the Lord and his righteousnesse be a pleasure unto you and erre not by any wrong sight that standeth in opinion or
and the world may know that she is worthy to inhabite the earth and that the will of God the everlasting Father may be done m Mat. 6. Lu. 11.2 on the earth as it is in heaven 7. Therefore behold that which we with our n Joh. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 1 Joh. 1. eyes do see The right communalty of the Saints of God and Christ is of one mind with us and we with her as of one accord with each other stand under the lovâ— obediently subject unto her requiring and the love is to us all a o Col. 3. band of perfection to an heritable peace for evermore 8. Wherefore the right of service of love is among us the little ones and chosen of God in as much as we bring into the world the p Esa 43.65.66 Eph. 1. 1 Pet. 3. 1 Cor. 13. renewing of life in Jesu Christ through the same and it shall never cease but have his course among us for eevermore for God is with us he bringeth unto us in the obeying of the requiring of the same service of love his blessing and encrease for a fruitfulnesse to his service of love 9. And the holy spirit of love sheweth likewise his power and effect among us namely that God himself is the Lord and the Manifester and Worker of his Work in the service of his love among us the communalty of his holy ones For he as a God of Life doth now through us and his service of love reveal and bring to light r Esa 33. Amos 9. Mic. 7. Act. 15. his building the holy City Jerusalem prepared by Å¿ Heb. 12. Apo. 21. him for an holy adorning well-pleasing unto him even as a bride is trimmed for delighting of her husband 10. Without this building of the Lord and without our holy communalty of God and Christ and without this blessing or increase out of the power of the Almighty and without this our most holiest God service of the love and of the gracious word appeared unto us according to the promises t Esa 44.45.46.47 Jer. 10. truly all the mans work and all his God services Wisdome and Doctrine are nothing els but a very blinding of the heart or a tying and bewitching of the senses and thoughts how skilfull u 1 Cor. 1. how learned in the Scriptures or Languages how eloquent how wise or how glorious and rich of spirit soever the man can be 11. Where God therefore doth not buy us his chosen holinesse execute his office of the Love according to his promises or where men have no regard unto his promises according to the foretelling of the Prophets neither do endeavour to the obeying of the love and whilst the man goeth on no otherwise but according to his own mind or after the instigation of his owne spirit x Esa 8. there cometh the man into nothing but sorrow and into erring blindnesse and miseries whereby many do either become faint-hearted and y Esa 13. hopelesse or els find themselves as vain and z Esa 59. Sap. 5. without understanding as aforetimes they were whereof in the end ariseth among them that are without understanding a bondage unto men under mens imaginations Likewise divers sorts of chosen Holinesses bewitching of the heart a Col. 2. 2 Thes 2. 2 Tim. 3.4 and strong errors whereof alas there are now every where to be found many and many sorts among the children of men 12. Oh how do many erre and fail in their opinion and vain conceiving and how do many turn them from us whilst they walk b Esa 53. their own way and have no right regard to the promises of God nor to the service of his love and therefore understand not the requiring thereof 13. But this doeth the gloriousnesse of their knowledge cause deceiving them in their disobedience Neverthelesse because of the Shine c Col. 2. of the spirituall humblenesse which they behold by it they suppose that it cannot possibly beguile nor deceive them and so they go on some in a vaine conceited knowledge and some in a chosen holinesse which God hath never required nor willed 14. Many others forsake all Religions and Ceremoniall services and even Gods promises also insomuch that they give no credit to God in his promises nor yet expect his Salvation in such manner as he aforetimes through his Prophets hath so spoken and promised the same and so cleaving to the world or to their own imagination they wax distrustfull of God because in many they have found the word of unregenerate men and their own word also to be lying not considering nor understanding that the Scripture and Prophecies given forth of God aforetimes must thus be fulfilled upon all unregenerate and opinionish or vaine-conceited men Yea it shall now all be fulfilled Evill and Good and Strife and Peace Lies and Truth Destruction and Salvation in such sort as it is written thereof It is the Lords Testimony He himself hath by the mouth oâ— his holy Prophets fore-spoken that it shaâ—l so come to passe and his wil it is that now in this last time it shall all be fulfilled d Rom. 9. then who is he that can let it 15 For in the rising up of unregenerate men wâ—â—h their deceivings imaginations and lies and â—hat in shew of the name of the Lord e Lev. 10. Num. 16. Deut. 13.18 Esa 33.34.35.42.43 c. Jer. 4.5 6.7.8.23.26.27.28.29.30 c. Mat 24. 2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 2.3 Jude 1. to contention confusion blindnesse and â—rrupting of the Gentiles or People there is the Scripture and the Prophets as wâ—ll fulfilled as in the setting up of Israel â—o a Salvation of the People of the Lord or so it was foretold to come to passe and it is written thereof Read Moses and tâ—â— Prophets together with the testimonies of Jesu Christ and of his Apostles and there shal ye find the same manifoldly declared 16. For albeit that many vaine-conceited men and unsent Prophets or Preachers have been found lying and might yet daily be found so or that we through any ignorance do any way misdemeane our selves yet shall God in his promises and in the mouth of his Prophets be found true 17. He will f Gen. 17.22 never forget his Covenant which he hath made with Abraham and his seed but in due time will remember his Covenant and shew that he is the God of Abraham and a God of his seed for evermore 18. In whom or through whom he hath heretofore made his name notable and glorious among all people and will yet againe through the same make his name great and glorious in the last time shewing therein that the God of Israel is only the Lord Israel his chosen people that his purpose and wisdom is stedfast and that the world by her wisdome g 1 Cor. 1.2 knoweth not the wisdom of God 19. Therefore it hath pleased God also that his elect people should
him and so seek peace and zealously labour for it 23. For if any man be innocent or do indeavour so to be and if he have right on his side or do carry his matters uprightly then will such a one by his righteousnesse agree with us in one mind according to the nature of the love even as we affect the love and endeavour to the peace 24. If on the other side he be not so then may he there if he be not partially minded have knowledge of his errour whereby he may turn him to the love and live for the inclination to be upright of heart in the love or to inherit the love is r Cant. 8. Mar. 22. 1 Cor. 12.13 truly that is the most best vertue and passeth all Religions and like-resembled God-services it doth likewise farre excell all self-chosen spirituall humilitie and holinesse 25. Such kind of hearts as are inclined to love and peace and have set their minds on the most best vertue to inherite it I suppose there are some at least among all sorts of people and albeit many of them do seek God the eternall Father and his righteousnesse Å¿ Esa 58.9 ignorantly being yet ignorant of the truth and bewitched in their hearts with spirituall appearances t Col. 2. and vaine wisdomes whereunder their understandings and consciences are still held captive yet neverthelesse in their obedience to the requiring of the service of love u Esa 25. the covering wherewith many people or heathen are yet covered and bewitched shall be taken away from their hearts that those which love the good might cleave to it with free and unbound consciences and be comprehended in the band of love 26. To that end that is to say for the peace and unities cause is mine inclination to the service of the Saints that are called to the love and the service of my exhortations is to those that hope and long after it to wit that they would all have regard unto the Service of the Love to the intent that all we who have any pleasure will or desire to the good might through the same Service prepare our hearts thereunto for to be joyned in all love to the good in humblenesse of heart and so might avoid the plagues of the ungodly x Apo. 18. and not be made partakers of those plagues which as a y Luk. 21. snare shall catch the blood-guilty the wicked and all the malicious in the last time and they shall not be able to escape the vengeance of God CHAP. III. 1. An admonition to observe the time and to fly the abominations of the wicked world 14. He hopeth that many believe the promises of restoring and exhorteth all not to looke backe as the greatest part in former times did but to take their unbeliefe for instruction SEeing now dearly beloved that we see heare and marke evidently that the blind wicked world is wholly minded to errour hunteth for a Sap. 1. corruption and destruction and hasteth to fall into the plagues of the ungodly to her own perdition which all malicious ones together with such as are strayed and departed from the upright life doe take pleasure with and are blinded in and doe daily increase in blasphemie Rom. 1. Eph. 4. wicked imaginations false judgements malice and owne conceitednesse of self-chosen wisdome therefore let every one now with carnest love to the good take heed to his time that is to say that he hate die from and forsake all that which the erring world increaseth in and followeth after 2. And let us increase daily in the spirit of the upright being and c Col. 1. 1 Pet. 2. grovv up in the true life of godlinesse namely as many as out of a good purpose have turned them to the vertue of truth and in obedience given over themselves to the vvord of the Lord and his service of love for the righteousnesse sake that none through his carelessenesse or delight in vvorldly desires be d Heb. 3.4 disappointed of the rest of godlinesse vvhich rest of godlinesse and of the upright life hath ceased but hath been reserved for an everlasting inheritance for the children of God in the last daies according to the promises 3. Novv for to enter into this rest let every one have the eyes of his spirit and the eares of his heart and understanding earnestly attent to regard the time of his calling thereunto 4. Let no man look back to the vain and wicked being of the ungodlinesse which e Lu. 9.17 Phil. 3. he leaveth forsaketh and dieth from neither let any man think to turn again with his heart to the world that is to say to her abominations of iniquity or to her vain being of wantonnesse for behold the daies of her desolations be at hand and are now already come at the door 5. Oh fly f Esa 48. Jer. 51. Apo. 18. from the ungodlinesse of the vvorld vvith all your hearts and from the wickednesse of her abommations Look not back after her deadly poyson and be not therewith made unbelieving to think that the world shall not be punished for her abominations 6. O! consider I pray you how can a man that hath any understanding or knowledge of righteousnesse take pleasure in the world are not the sins of this last wicked world become out of measure abominable are they not much more abominable and horrible then the sins of the former wicked world g Gen. 6.7 in the time of Noe and of the Cities of Sodoma and Gomerra h Gen. 18.19 2 Pet. 2. in the time of Lot If God then punished them so terribly and severely how much more will he punish these who doe far passe the other in wickednesse 7. Oh children keep your hearts separated from her fear God and love his righteousnesse that ye be not taken in the snares of the wicked nor plagued with the reward of their errors 8. Take an example by i Gen. 19. Lu. 17. Lots wife and remember the saying of our Lord Jesu Christ which he spake when ye shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the Prophet Daniel standing in the holy place who so readeth it let him consider it Read Dan. 9. Mat. 24. Lu. 21. 9. Therefore O all ye that love equity and righteousnesse watch and pray the sight of the destruction is ascended on high the k Esa 5.60 4 Esd 14. darkness overwhelmeth the earth her l Esa 28.29.56 inhabitants are drunken sleepy the Sun of righteousnesse giveth little shine among them m Esa 13.14 Ezek. 32. Joel 2.3 Sap. 5. the Moon of Understanding which was wont to be a clearnesse to the darknesse is utterly darkned with them and for bright shining giveth them but little light for almost all of them begin to grope n Esa 59. as if they were blind by meanes of the thicknesse of the darknesses which have invironed the earth therefore is the woe
she is not of one being vvhereas the truth is free and in her upright being abideth undivided for ever m Gen. 1. Pro. 6. Sap. 9. vvhereby also every thing vvas made and vvhereby all elementish things have their right ministration and she shrinketh avvay from none 14. But if vve have regard unto her then shall the true understanding through the raising up of the image or like being of God in us be discovered unto us and the meaning of the knowledges be unlocked to wit after what sort God is the n Esa 9. Lord King Saviour and Prince of us all namely of those that are upright of heart and do joyn themselves to his love and her service 15. Therefore O ye upright hearts which have the true sight of the good being of God or Christ and do well discerne and understand the promises of God and do moreover sincerely love the upright righteousnesse from his heart judge the matter your selves o Joh. 7. with rightfull judgement and understand the meaning aright 16. Consider deeply the godly testimonies of our writings which out of the inclination of love we have set forth and pointed out for a Glasse of Righteousnesse and endeavour you thereunto even to obtain the same upright righteousnesse obediently and then to administer the same unto every one of them also that love the truth and righteousnesse to the intent the righteousnesse and life may out of love be be administaed according to the truth unto all people to their Salvation 17. Thus let every one passe on to the same upright life which is set forth therein and reach one another the hand to the p Eph. 4. unity of heart in the love and glasse your selves daily in the Glasse of Righteousnesse and be you cleansed of the spots of unrighteousnesse whereby with pure hearts you may inherit the same life in the Love 18. And whom you know to have any desire to the beautifulnesse of vertue and to the unity of heart with us under the obedience of the Love unto them deny not the same Glasse also and so in all things love ye the fairnesse of vertue and of the pure Love 19. But if any man thinketh that there is any thing set forth in the Glasse of Righteousnesse which is not sutable with the truth or whereon Moses the Prophets and the Apostles of Christ have not witnessed or that should not tend to the Love let him there stay himselfe and not blaspheme but rather aske the meaning and so tarry his time q 1 Cor. 4 till a further inlightning that he may discerne it all by the true light of the eternall truth as agreeably minded with the love whereunto we bear witnesse 20. Wherefore O ye dearly beloved looke to your selves and destroy not your selves through your own knowledge for our service of love is for a furtherance unto you all to a distinguishing between the truth and lies to the end that every vain conceit and every bewitched imagination might be taken out of the hearts of men and the good seed of life r Mat. 13. Luk 8. obtain his fruitfulnesse in us to all laud honour and praise of the Almighty and to all love and concord amongst each other and that all together to one manner congregation Å¿ Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 2.4 house temple or tabernacle of the one unseparated Spirit of Christ and to a life of blessednesse unto all people 21. Now if any man be thus minded with us and be comprehended with us in the judgement of the truth and in the love impartially or if he have any desire to judge uprightly or would faine be knit in one consent with us in the love whereby he might judge uprightly according to the truth let him then in like manner with us have respect unto the t Esa 28. ballance of equity and set or hold himselfe with us according to the stock of the upright love and truth impartiall under the obedience of the Love and so also with us set the the truth free not as tied hereto or thereto wherewith she is not of one being forasmuch as the true God Jesus Christ and the holy Ghost is so untied also 22. For the true being of the eternall truth is a free majesty of the high Godhead an u Sap. 7. Heb. 1. everlasting stedfast power life and mightinesse likewise the same true being comprehendeth all that is in heaven in earth and under the earth and is not it selfe comprehended either of this or of that wherewith it is not co-essential neither is it tied thereunto for it is and remaineth an everlasting living and free unclosed up fountain of wisdome wherewith we all ought to be of one being and to live therein 23. Lo this is our sight concerning the life which we do freely declare even without partiality as also that God is a living everlasting and undivided God and that he is not onely a God of the Jewes but also of the Gentiles that is to say a x Act. 10. Rom. 10. Gal. 3. Eph. 4. God of all people that love his righteousnesse that joyne themselves to his love and her Service and that have a desire to do his will 24. But to be separated from the same highest God and from his love and her Service is the middle wall the sin and the darknesse y Esa 50. Eph. 2. between God and the man and it maketh manifest and knowne that the same sinne is the fall and destruction of the inward manhood from his God whereout also all wickednesse and the sundry sorts of dissention and discord are come into the world But to know the same and to be incorporated againe with God under the obedience of the love is the salvation and bringeth into us againe the unity of heart in the peace 25. Behold the same God of whom we beare witnesse and which bringeth unto us the true salvation and peace out of his love and out of the obedience to the requiring of her service is the onely God of life whose hand hath made all that is he is the true being wherein the spirit of men ought to be incorporated and grounded and we bear record that he even the same God is only the Lord who also was in times past praised of the righteous in Israel a Psal 118. Esa 28. 1 Pet. 2. as the rock of their salvation 26. Whilst then the people of Israel afore-times were grounded upon the same onely God they served no Idolls neither did they choose any thing for Gods besides their God nor yet tied themselves to any other thing but did celebrate and glorifie the same living God as the King Lord and God of all the world and declared his righteousnesse as the word of life b Deut. 30 Rom. 10. and shewed the same unto the man and called him thereunto that all knees might bow themselves before the same God c Esa 45. Phil. 2. and
then shall your portion be with the Kings and Priests or with the Elders of the holy Understanding and your fellowship with such Senetors as do further the Righteousnesse and your Service of the Word with the peace-makers that do earnesty seek the unity in the Love 10. And thus shall then the slandering lips k T it 2. 1 Pet. 2.3 which defame you with all evill by your good conversation with the wise in the wisdom and with the just or vertuous in all righteousnesse and integrity be put to silence 11. Therefore be now through the love and her service wholly l Rom. 12. Eph. 4. renewed and purified in the spirit of your mind passe now thorow the river of the love even to the rest of life the holy land of promise that the ungodly bear no dominion over you 12. Be altogether with one consent minded hereunto and let the love have the preheminence and dominion with you all that the little ones may be protected and the simple defended 13. Therefore O ye lovers of the truth seek unity and labour for it and make a departure out of all heathenish being which is after the course of the worlds foolishnesse 14. Do away the fore-skin m Deut. 10 Ier. 4 of your uncircumcised hearts lay away from you according to the former conversation the bewitching of the imagination which glimmereth unto you before the eyes of your spirit and glittereth before your understanding as if it were some excellent thing 15. Renew your understanding in the Service of the holy and gracious Word under the obedience of the Love and so in the spirit of your mind betake you n 1 Cor. 14 to the Love and and as deer children be subject thereunto whereby you may in the love obtain eyes of clearnesse 16. If notwithstanding ye be o Iam. 1. unwise p Apoc. 3. blind and q Mat. 5 poore of spirit yet grieve not your selves for all that for then ye draw neare to the Kingdome of God 17. If you desire godly wisdom then r Iam. 1 pray and believe she shall be given you so far forth as your prayer Å¿ Rom. 12. is stedfast and as ye pray to God in a lowly heart with such a prostrated soule as hath a desire or pleasure to do and to fulfill the Lords will 18. Men may find many which pray unto God for wisdom and for the right sight of his Kingdom but they will not acknowledge nor t Joh. 9. Apoc. 3. understand that they are unwise poor and blind therefore they obtain nothing 19. For although that the wisdom stood even at their door yet so well seen are they and so rich of spirit through their own wisdome of the knowledge that the upright wisdom of God and the being of his Kingdome must be faine to tarry without 20. Therefore right well speaketh the mouth of the Wisdom Blessed u Mat. 5. are the poor of spirit for the Kingdom of heaven belongeth unto them or the wisdome of God ariseth as light upon them and not upon the rich or upon the great knowers 21. For when we of our selves are become poor blind or unwise or do forsake that which is ours and do come to contrition and meeknesse of heart x Psal 51. Esa 57.66 then will God dwell with us and appeare in such hearts as also the Scripture maketh mention and then are we also poor but God is become rich in us by means of our vilenesse or because we are poor in the knowledge It is true 22. These and other like things have I in many places distinctly set forth in the Glass of Righteousness and do here also set forth the same in this Introduction to the holy Vnderstanding if any man regard it let him consider the inclination of mine understanding 23. But what shall I say I find the man much too self-wise y Rom. 1. 1 Cor. 1. in his owne conceit and too void of understanding in the mind of the love for commonly when the man heareth of the love and of the right understanding of wisdom he rejoyceth him in the hearing and it seemeth as if it liked him well likewise for a time he commendeth it 24. But in conclusion there is nothing among the greatest sort but self-feeking and very little doe they understand the first Schoole-rule of the Christian Doctrine of the service of love for an entrance into the upright life in Jesus Christ but do understand every thing which is held forth before them out of Gods wisdome and love according to their imagination and according to the mind of their liking They seek thereout their own commodity z 2 Phil. 2. and not the Lords they run clean back from the mind of the love and use all subtilty to manitain their own opinion 25. Whereout I observe that the man which is thus minded conceiveth of the wisdom and of the love utterly amisse For which cause I likewise fear least the Glasse of Righteousnesse how plainly and rightly evidently and clearly soever it is set forth shall not of many be discerned aright nor yet be conceived of according to the truth 26. If therefore they discern or conceive not aright of such apparent sentences as are so clearly and plainly uttered that even every one which loveth lowlinesse and righteousnesse must needs approve the same and acknowledge that the man and the world is created thereunto how should they then be able rightly to understand or judge of all the mysteries of the Kingdome of God 27. For which causes sake to the intent no man might have occasion to estrange himself from the truth unlesse it might be by his own revolting heart we have bidden or covertly set forth nothing in the Glasse of Righteousnesse 28. Notvvithstanding if any thing be covered or hidden unto any a 2 Cor. 4. it is hidden to the unbelievers who have no desire nor love to the truth nor to the life which is of God for such are darkned b Rom. 1. in their understanding through pleasure in their ovvn mind and through the ignorance which is in them c Eph. 4. and through the blindnesse of their hearts do gather unto themselves d Rom. 2. a treasure of vvickednesse to an horrible destruction and so through their own wisdome do turn away and separate themselves from the love and from her service 29. But unto all lovers of equity which have a desire and belief towards the love to the intent that by her service they might tast of e 1 Pet. 2. the uncorrupted milk the Word of God that f Esa 40. 2 Pet. 1. liveth for ever we have out of the inclination of love so openly and clearly according to the life painted out and set forth the Glasse of Righteousnesse that every one who with an humble heart hath regard thereunto and desireth the understand of Righteousnesse shall be vvell satisfied therein 30. If also any
man turn his heart unto God and desire to do his will the same shall likewise well understand that the restimonies of the upright life in the love as it is set forth in the Glasse of Righteousnesse is the upright ground of righteousnesse that God from the beginning hath required of the man which also in the restoring thereof shall continue for ever to the Salvation of the vvorld according to the promises even as God hath spoken the same aforetimes by the mouth of his holy Prophets who have all g Esa 2.60.61.62 Jer. 31. Joel 2.3 Zach. 2.8 Mich. 4. Soph. 3. Mal. 4. vvitnessed and prophecied of that same upright life for to come in the last time and in the same shall also all consciences be appeased 31. For the end or fulnesse of the same is the revealing or coming of the Kingdom of God h Esa 35.51.60.65 Apo. 21.22 and the beholding of the joyes and Salvation of the eternall perfect and uncorruptible being 32. Oh that the man had any understanding in the godlinesse and did perceive vvhereunto God calleth him and did in like manner prepare his heart after the meaning of the vvritten sentences and did let alone judging by the knowledge 33. But no the man is much too self-wise by his knowledge and therefore he is more inclined to judge of every thing after his knowledge then to prepare his heart to the good under the obedience of the love 34. Therefore it is very much to be lamented that many among the children of men do oftentimes judge the sentences and writings which have out of the service of love their ministration to the good life according to their Knowledge For as soon as they read or hear the same they suppose by and by that they have rightly apprehended and well understood them not first minding to enter in to obtain and to live in that which they bear witnesse of whereas yet the service of our writing tendeth hereunto even that mens hearts as is there set forth should be prepared to the same 35. For men strike up no alarm in the host to the intent to make the people unlusty to the battell nor yet that they should but know the exercise of the warr or judge of the Alarm-stroak but that with good courage they should prepare themselves to the battell or fight Thereby every one that hath courage to fight doth then make himself ready to incounter with his enemies and to root out his adversary or to subdue him 36. But alas I find it with many otherwise in that alarm by which the man is called to the spirituall i Eph. 6. fight to the vanquishing of his enemies which inwardly in him are killers and murderers of his soul 37. Therefore it is very true that the children of this world are much k Luk. 16. wiser in their dealing as concerning the flesh then the children of the Kingdom are in that which concerneth the spirit 38. What availeth I pray you an alarm made if men prepare them not to the battell for many are perswaded that this is no time of fighting and that there shall be no need thereof supposing because of their unbelief that nothing shall come of it and lay their hands behind on the back or put them up in the bosome Their heads are giddy as if their hearts were utterly unlusty or dismaid to the fight 39. If one should seek for men of warre where I pray you should he find them Are they not for the most part gone back l Levit. 26. Jer. 48. and become faint hearted as women 40. If they do but once suffer harm and be wounded or forced by any evill defamation or assault of the wicked to sustain any molestation or reproach then are they persvvaded that the cause is altogether nought and so running again after their case they suffer themselves to be ruled by women m Esa 3. their enemy to raign over them and in like manner make truth n Esa 28. with death and a league with hell retain peace with the sin and accuser and become of one mind with the world supposing that then all shall be well moreover they make an appointment or conclusion with themselves that they will no more trouble themselves with the doctrine of the Family of Love nor yet vvith the battell thinking Let them run that will 41. For to resist the evill to break and subdue the wicked heart and evil thoughts and to suffer much distresse contempt and reproach for the same liketh them not they will none of that Howbeit we are alwaies to fight apainst the evill and to keep good watch continually we are alwaies to think night and day upon the vertue of the godly life alwaies to long and to hunger and thirst after it alvvaies to speak and to treat thereof with such as do so labour thereafter and yet then of many sorts of people and letter-learned to be despised and reproached 42. Because of this toil and for the shame and reproaches cause which meeteth them and because they love not the righteousnesse of the godly life with the heart they let the matter passe saying out of unbelief I cannot further it I hold me still or unoccupied about it let the Lord work it I will commit it unto him Supposing when they thus passe on according to their imagination or do live after the fashion of the world and with an o Rom. 2. unrepenting heart towards God do hold peace with the blasphemers and strivers against the truth of Christ and his love that then God will make it to be well with them 43. Deceive not your selves ye dearly beloved the saying is very right p Act. 16. Eph. 3. Gol. 1. that the Lord worketh it and that he will also cause it to go well with us q Phila. 2. and prepare us after his will and pleasure howbeit not without us nor yet without the obedience of the requiring of the service of his holy and gracious word and of his love and whilest that we turne us away in such a sort from him and from the Ministers of his word and do refuse him r Luk. 17 but it is done inwardly in us under the obedience of the requiring of his gracious word and service of love so as we stand subject unto him with good will therein and be of one mind with him against the ungodly being that God may so in us magnifie his holy name Å¿ 2 Reg. 7. and be called t Ier. 10. a God of Hosts a u Esa 47. God of Israel or a God of such a one as beareth dominion with God over his enemies 44. After this manner is God a Lord of his Army He is only the Lord but we the instrument of his hands 45. Out of such an understanding under the obedience of the Law of the Lord did the Kingly Prophet David eftsoons apprehend a zealous stoutnesse even as in divers manners we
token of the birth out of God through the righteous spirit It is true 34. It is also there in the same book recorded b 1 Glasse that those which are taught by the righteous spirit are no longer servants of the Prophets which forsooth some have read or heard thereof and have by that meanes forsaken the requiring of the Propheticall Word of the Apostles of Christ before they were according to the mention of the Word confirmed in their cailing and through the perswasion that they had the truth or Spirit of God they are stopped out of their calling turned to the liking of their owne opinion c Rom. 1. Eph. 4. and so become vaine in their understanding 35. Some would needs account themselves free through the Spirit d 1 Glasse 3.4 before they have tasted or known the Spirit of Promise and so have run forth before the time and have not by their wisdome understood the promises of God nor the calling of the Gentiles 36. When the man now regardeth not his calling according to the requiring thereof rightly but looketh about to some other understanding and will count himself free through the spirit before the first or foregoing service which e Gal. 3. Heb. 7. directeth or leadeth thereunto be accomplished or fufilled by him then forsaketh he the service of the fore-witnessed or foregoing Word and goeth forth in a liberty which yet is false according to his own spirit before he hath fulfilled his servantship in the service of the fore-going holy Word f Luk. 21. wherein he should possesse his soul with patience g 1 Cor. 11 and so shew forth the death of Christ upon hope and confidence of his coming for an holy annointing and for an upright freedom in Jesu Christ unto him 37. Who so therefore readeth these sentences in the first book let him observe thereby what they require and how they sound namely that those which desire to come to the blessednesse and freedome of Christ must h Rom. 6 Gal. 3.4 be at the first servants or Disciples of the righteousnesse deny and forsake themselves for Christ his sake and alwaies long to come to the true obedience of the righteousnesse in all love i 1 Glas 7. not according to mens imaginations but according to Gods calling that so they might live k Iohn 8 Rom. 6 free in the righteousnesse of God and not in the sinne nor as servants of men this same is there distinctly set forth were it but rightly understood 38. But who so hath regard to his own liberty and not to the calling of his salvation nor in the obeying of the foregoing Service l Rom. 6 13. Eph. 4. Col. 2.3 1 Pet. 2.4 to the mortifying and laying away of the sinne in the flesh doth not take heed to the same that so he may be incorporated to the good spirit of Christ the same man erreth not onely from the doctrine of the Word after the manner of men but also from the wisdome of the truth of God and so getteth a delight in his own understanding in such sort that he neither hearkeneth longeth nor careth for the good any more but hath a desire to error and perversity 39. Oh! it is sure very lamentable that the man out of such a mind cleaveth to the unrighteousnesse or else chooseth another calling and practiseth a selfe-made humility m Col. 2. or spiritualnesse and careth not for Gods promises nor establishing of his VVord n Luke 1 Acts 3 in such a sort as God hath heretofore spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets from the beginning of the world CHAP. XVI 1. Of the saying that men should be impartiall how it ought to be understood 12. How the Common Love is profitable to impartiality 16. Of those that are outwardly just unto men but unjust before God 22. Of such as think themselves to be impartiall because they regard no outward Religions and in the meane space with-hold from God that which is his 28. Divers raile at all that observe any Religion 35. How we are to judge of all outward God Services and Ceremonies THere goeth also a sentence abroad among many whereof likewise much mention is made in our writings that according to the requiring of Christian Doctrine men should stand a 1 Cor. 3 impartiall 2. O ye deerly beloved erre not through any conceit of the imagination but have regard to the Word concerning the upright impartialnesse and if ye mark the same well you shall understand that men are to be impartiall in the truth and with those that witnesse the truth under the obedience of the Love to the intent that no man take part with flesh and blood but with the truth and be in the unity of the love b Rom. 12 15 1 Cor. 1 2 Cor. 13. Phil. 2 well minded to a like life of righteousnesse namely with all them that do under the obedience of the love witnesse and minister the gracious word of truth and be comprehended in the upright brotherly love 3. But men may not thus be impartiall with the world or with those that with heart and will do cleave unto the world that lie still in the vanity and sin and that are not believing nor desirous to obtaine any better thing no nor with the conceited wise nor with the maintainers of factious ceremonies c 2 Cor. 12 Gal. 3 1 Tim. 6. 2 Pet. 2. who are envyers blasphemers and evill speakers against the holy Word of Truth and of the service of his Love 4. Truly with such men are not to stand impartiall but with spirit and life to be against them utterly and yet to shew forth the upright nature of the love unto them if happily by some means they might be drawne to their preservation in the godlinesse unto the communion of the Love 5. But with the d Infra 18 lovers of righteousnesse as is aforesaid and likewise with the sinners such as cleave not by their will to the unrighteousnesse but do daily depart therefrom and have a fervent desire to the righteousnesse under the obedience of the love men are to stand impartiall and to sticke fast unto that which is godly and that tendeth to the concord and peace 6. Therefore judge of the impartialnesse with understanding and put a difference between the godly life and the life of the world and try your selves if so be you know your selves 7. Look into your hearts observing whom you cleave unto desire and love how or with what manner disposition ye stand impartiall whether ye would rather suffer e Heb. 11. or indure disgrace reproach and contmpt with the Lovers of the Righteousnesse then cleave unto the honour voluptuousnesse and riches or ease of this world Oh! I feare that many of them boast themselves to stand impartiall with the truth who notwithstanding are altogether partially minded against the truth 8. Neverthelesse let no man take anie thing unto
Whereof he willeth to beware BEhold ye beloved according to all that in my labour I have been able to do howsoever the same be plain and not to be compared to the stile of the subtile and flowred eloquence I cannot tell that I have according to the sight which is a Rom. 16 Eph. 3. Col. 1. 2 Tim. 1. revealed unto me out of Gods grace kept back any thing from the man that serveth or is needful for him to know either to his Salvation or else for a warning unto him of the present destruction and of that that is to come 2. Have regard to the time and respect an unpartial heart in the Righteousnes b Eph. 3. Be established in the love and be still mindful of the same 3. I have shewed my service out of the inclination of love howbeit I have written against none in particular but before all understandings indifferently I have weighed the equity c Esa 28 Eccli 21. in the ballance measured the Righteousnes with the Square and Line and described the Righteousnes in Letters according to the life the inward life out of God to wit his good nature I have expressed and the outward righteousnes of man have I not left out To the intent that it might all go rightly forward in the true Beeing and that no man might be bewitched or bound with any opinion or bewitching of spirit but that every one might according to the truth and in the love stand free in God 4. Lo God d Deut. 30. Act. 20. is my witnes and Heaven and Earth also that in all my writing I have neither sought nor desired any other thing but the salvation of men in the love The Lord of his mercy vouchsafe us to find grace in his sight e Psal 86 lead us in his wayes for to clense our hearts by f Psal 51. Act. 15. his righteous spirit and by faith to the end we may know him in the truth and be defended from all the errors and abominations of the wicked world 5. Behold and awake g Eph. 5. in the spirit of your minds lay hold of understanding look to your selves h 1 Joh. 2. and let not the errors of this world delight you I cleare my self this day before you all and before all those that willingly desire or be minded to error or to the wicked world that my Councel and will is not so 6. If any man therefore take pleasure or be addicted to the world or to her vanity and abominations and do desire to fix his heart thereon The same erreth through the pleasing of his own mind But as for me I cleare my self of his destruction 7. For lo I have out of the inclination of love called and bidden you all out of the abominable World unto conversion to God and unto Repentance and unto Amendment and have herein warned you all sufficiently I have distinctly shewed you as much as I might do and saw necessary both death i Deut. 11 Jer. 21. Eccl. 15. and life destruction and preservation I have witnessed and pointed forth the God of life which hath made Heaven and Earth his Statutes k Deut. 4 and Ordinances which stand fast for ever wherein all the upright Fathers have lived and which all Gods Prophets have born witnes of I have also distinctly marked out Therefore shall no man that heareth or readeth our writings be able to l John 15 excuse himself as though that we have hidden the Councel or Will of God from him in any thing 8. Nevertheles if there be any greater God then the God of Israel which hath made Heaven and Earth If there be now any better Law or Ordination then his Law m Deut. 4 Or better Statutes and Ordinances then Gods Statutes and Ordinances according to his Ordination If there be any perfecter life then the n 1 Cor. 13 Col. 3. 1 John 4. love as is witnessed by his Christ for through the very same was o John 1. the life aforetimes published which is everlasting and on that same or to that same everlasting life is even our service and pointing also Or if thre be any thing in any body or if any man hath any better thing that excelleth the everlasting life and the Love which we bear witnes unto let him manifest the same unto us or let it out of Love be known unto us to the unity of heart in the Love even as we to the self same unity do witnesse manifest and publish the everlasting life and his righteousnesse of the Love and of the upright being 9. Or if any man perswade himself that he knoweth some better thing which pointeth nearer or clearer to the Almighty than the holy Spirit of the Love and of th everlasting Truth doth testifie and point unto us by which Testimonies he p Ioh. 14. bringeth and leadeth us into all Truth Let the same man make himself apparent unto us under the obedience of the Love with an unpartiall mind and not withhold from us the most best for to serve in the unity of heart in the Love as is said in upright godlinesse the living God onely For even thus standeth our whole heart affected 10. Hereunto be ye now all armed and well disposed O ye lovers of the Truth Beware that ye sleep not q Rom. 13. Eph. â— seeing it is now a time to Watch but awake in the Spirit and abide in any wise in the Hope untill ye see the light to the life your salvation 11. Make not hardly any light account of it cast it not with the unregarding ones in the wind but have respect alwaies unto the good and this service of the Love shewed on you which is in Letters described and ministred unto you to a godly life stretching to the Love turn not aside from you but take r Deut. 6. Prov. 4. the same to heart and grow therein to an upright being of the Love And so then shew your unpartiall service towards one another according to the upright nature and being of the Love For the Love to the unity of the brotherly nature requireth such things to the intent that the everlasting true God might in such upright Å¿ Eph. 4. righteousnes and holines as pleaseth him and in the establishment of his promises onely be observed and the earth likewise t Esa 60.61 2 Pet. 3. with righteousnesse faithfulnesse and Truth be inhabited Towards this let us go forward in a meek spirit If ye hear any thing that soundeth unto you strange or v Hos 8. absurd in your eares yet be not bitterly minded but follow after long suffering and blaspheme nothing 13. Let every one which is not to be spoken to or to be councelled runne to an end with his understanding and grow ye up in stilnes and singlenes of heart x Sap 9. Jam. 1. praying God for Wisdom and for an upright sight in the Truth
his Christ Which Christ standeth firm for us t 1 Ioh. 2 to a Reconciler before God the Father and in the service of his Love everlastingly that through the same service our inward mind should stand free and firm in God and his Christ and not be tied to any thing besides without the Communion and service of the Love whether to the sinne or else to men neither to any created or elementish things nor yet to any earthly or worldly things whereby with one accord we might live boldly in God the most highest with the Communalty of the Love 31. With these despise I none in his understanding whether he be great or small that every one as right and meet it is may give his understanding v 2 Cor. 10. captive or suffer it to be plucked under the obedience of the Love and likewise do that x Phil. 4. which is just and equall For who can refuse the Love or withhold himself from her service if so be he love the good 32. Doubtlesse whosoever refuseth the love and withholdeth himself from her service or with his understanding is against it the same man sheweth thereby that he is without understanding and not minded to concord in the love And moreover that his heart thinketh not upon the good which God esteemeth but rather upon his own good which he hath chosen to himself But who so are fully affected to the love and her service and unto all that are just and equall and do unpartially submit themselves under the obedience of the love unto them am I inclined 33. For with them doth my heart desire to live in such a life as is just and reasonable y Phil. 4. lovely and peaceable and with them in like obedience under the love to stand obedient in the same life z Eph. 4. to all unity of heart in the Love 34. Behold the true Christians of Israel the people of the Lord ard even in this sort minded with us and there are no other Christians nor Jewes nor House of Israel nor People of the Lord but those that stand subject with us to the Love with one accord and over whom the Love is likewise the head who with us also are not partiall or divided with this or that which is earthly or visible 35. Thereunto in like manner is the service of my writing namely to the right stock of life in the Love and not to contend or to strive against any And I do not know that I have written against any mans dealing so farre forth as the same is according to Truth and out of love Neither have I named any faction by name for to contemn them nor singled out any persons particularly whereby to reproach them neither reviled any mans Religion for heresie but have called and invited all men to the unity of heart in the Love The which is the blessing of all the Generations of the Earth according to the Promises made to the Fathers 36. Therefore let every one glasse himself and look how neer his cause is right and so give over his understanding to the obedience of the Love for therein consisteth the upright being to the intent that all may through the Love and her service a Eph. 1. be renewed and the Corruption reigne no more but that the upright Righteousnesse which God esteemeth b Esa 60. may come to light according to the Promises CHAP. XXV 1 The Author concludeth this Introduction with his Desire and Request to all that reade or hear his Writings that they apply themselves unto that which is set forth therein 3. It is much happier to be among the lowly and sorrowers for sine than to be with the proud and dissolute 6. A menacing of the obstinate 12. The reward of the righteous and the horrible End of the rebellious HErewith ye beloved we will cut off and end this Introduction to the holy understanding of the Glasse of Righteousnesse And we desire of all those that read or hear our writings of the godly Testimonies and likewise of all those that have any desire to the Truth and do humbly apply themselves to that which is witnessed by us and do joyn with us in all uprightnes under the obedience of the Love to the intent that the Love may bear the dominion and rule in us to a one minded Communion in one amiable and godly life that they will not take it grievously to suffer contempt heavines or anguish for a little while with those that love the Righteousnes but rather stand alwaies minded whether it be in prosperity or adversity to be joyned to the mind of God in all love even as the same under the obedience of the Love is plainly and cleerly described according to the life that abideth for ever in the Glasse of righteousnes 2. The Almighty God grant us his Grace and strengthen our minds to the same Eph. 4. in the unity of Love and Peace and in like maner all lowly hearts that hope upon the righteousnes and suffer heavines for the sins cause 3. It is surely much happier to be among the lowly hearts where b 2 Cor. 7. is heavines and sighing for the sins cause c Matt. 18. Rom. 15. 1 Thes 5. Heb. 3. where exhortation to amendment and instruction to the knowledge of God and Christ is and where men out of love d Prov. 27. reprehend the blindnes of the heart for the righteousnes sake than to be among the haughty where the flattering lips of the ungodly and the dissolute stout or uncircumcised of heart are where men embrace all gladnes commendation praise and honour of men and not the honour of God 4. Wherefore have regard hereunto and awake to the good For behold It shall in his time be found that the endurers or sufferers who now for the sinnes cause beare heavinesse sorrow and the Crosse and who out of the love of Righteousnesse endure out such things shall be turned to a e Esa 60 62.66 4 Esd 2. Ioh. 16. godly joyfulnesse where contrariwise all despisers of the Righteousnesse which now rejoyce themselves in ungodlinesse how evilly soever they do it shall be turned to f Matt. 25. grievous sorrow and paine yea g 4 Esd 5. Apo. 21. horrible it is to remember the reward of the unrighteous or wretched men which is for to come upon them 5. O how happy is that man which joyneth himself to the Word of the Lord in his service of the Love and h Esa 1. Mat 18 turneth him away from the evill which betimes i 1 Cor. 11. heareth his Judgement and so setteth himself down in the dust k which receiveth Wisdom and Instruction to Vertue that loveth the Righteousnesse and Prov. 3. Heb. 12. refuseth not the Chastening of the Lord that he may be upright of heart before God For it shall go well with him in this day of the righteous Judgement which God now bringeth over the whole Earth yet passing through great dangers of his salvation 6. How will it go with you then m Prov. 11. 1 Pet. 5. O ye sinners and sinneresses which receive n Sap. 2. 2 Pet. 2. Jude 1. this transitory life for your delight and keep God out of your hearts and have not once borne sorrow nor heavines for your sinnes 7. Where will ye then hide your selves ye haughty ye covetous and ye proud men and all ye arrogant self-wise that now will not submit nor give over your selves to obedience under the service of the Love of the gracioue Word o Sap. 5 What profit I pray you will your pride and your riches then yeeld or bring you 8. Who think ye will then have compassion on your misery ye which now withhold your selves from the obedience of the Doctrine and requiring of the gracious Word and make your selves common with the worldly minded and with those that oppresse the little ones grieve the Consciences of the simple and betray persecute and spill p Ezek. 22. the innocent Bloud 9. Oh! I am astonied whil'st I thinke upon the horrible being of the ungodly the wicked perverse nature that will not convert 10. Oh how horrible and fearfull shall it be unto him that shall behold it with his eyes Yea what misery and VVoe commeth over him that shall taste bear and be tormented with the same eternally 11. Therefore q Pro. 15 much better in this dangerous Time is a little in the fear of God with the Righteous than superfluities with the ungodly It is also much better to suffer and endure Poverty Shame Reproach Affliction Heavinesse Anguish and Contempt r Heb. 11 with the Children of Peace which have regard on Gods Righteousnesse according to his Promises than to have all the Delights or Pleasures with all the honour riches and Triumphs of this world 12. For the Reward of the Righteous redoundeth Å¿ Pro. 11. Sap. 5. to Gods Glory but the recompence of the ungodly of the wicked world with all unbeleevers or resisters of the good t Apo. 21 shall with confusion perish in horrible calamity and with misery It is true Take it to heart Love ye the Vertue fervently Give God his Honour due Delight therein continually That is his Doctrine true CHARITAS EXTORSIT PER H. N. FJNJS