Selected quad for the lemma: truth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
truth_n	spirit_n	worship_v	worshipper_n	8,943	5	13.1108	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A54027	Concerning the church: or, of the church-state under the Gospel Whereby it may appear what a miserable apostacy from the truth hath overspread and covered the earth for many ages and generations, and how gross and thick the darkness yet lies upon it, though the light of God in his tender mercy hath broke forth and shined upon the people of his gathering, and through them hath also visited the world. The guidance of this in my heart, was particularly and chiefly towards the Papists, but I afterwards had a true sence, that it also extended to the state of such Protestants, as had not waited on the Lord, ... Written in Alisbury prison about the middle of the 6th month, 1666. By Issac Penington. Whereunto is annexed, Some observations upon the eternal judgment, as it is expressed by Christ, Mat.25.31 to the end of the chapter.	Penington, Isaac, 1616-1679.	1666 (1666)	Wing P1157; ESTC R224045	15,114	20

the Stranger say Christ is the Son of God though he believes and owns the thing yet they receive it not from his mouth Well whence are these false Prophets and false Christs They are of the World That 's their root Thence they come They are of the worldly spirit the worldly wisdom the worldly nature only cloathed outwardly with a profession and shew of the Doctrine and Practices of Christ and his Apostles And what do they do They preach worldly things They suit their doctrine to the worldly nature principle and spirit And what is their success The World heareth them 1 Joh. 4.5 The earthly wisdom in man falls in with them judges them to be right owns them sets up their way of Christianity and Worship in the World and thus the World become Christians Those which came in the Name of Christ the World could not receive He that knoweth God heareth us not the World 1 John 4.6 There were but a few in comparison gathered here and there then a few in one place a few in another The Doctrine that comes forth in the Power scatters the worldly part Man's wisdom man's nature cannot receive it in the Love and Life of it But when these false Christs and false Prophets come the World can turn Christians then a whole City or a whole Nation can presently become a Church Why so These come in that which the World can receive which their wisdom can answer fall in with and subject to These can bring forth a Cross which the World can like fall down and worship but the Cross of Christ they cannot for that crucifies and slayes the worldly nature wherever it is felt taken up and subjected to The way of Life is strait and narrow and few there be that can walk therein but a broader way more may walk in The true Church is not easily found or entred into but the false is wider and far larger yea desirable to the flesh The true Church is circumspect will admit none but in the way of God's Wisdom and Power but the false Church prostitutes and thrusts her self upon all She meets men in the streets and forceth them into her bed whereas the voice of the true Church is Wait for the preparation for the being changed by that which giveth entrance into the Truth for the Builder of the Church is God Heb. 3.4 he builds this House by Christ ver 6. as by Moses he built the House under the Law and he is the adder to the Building Act. 2.47 So Paul also writing to Timothy tells him of perilous times in the last dayes 2 Tim. 3.1 For when the last dayes come and the Antichrists and false Prophets appear then men are in great danger of being deceived and of making shipwrack of Faith and a good Conscience Then he that is not in the Truth but only in the form and outward appearance will be swallowed up by the deceit and take up his dwelling in the Form with out the Power for so saith the Apostle concerning them v. 5. they have a Form of Godliness but deny the Power of it And all manner of Wickedness will shelter it self under this Form Self-love Covetousness Boastings Pride Blasphemy Disobedience to Parents Unthankfulness Unholiness c. ver 2 3 4. and indeed what not For what is so evil which cannot shelter it self under that Form of Religion and Profession where there is not the true Power and Life of Religion to resist and subdue it Now mark When these Antichrists and false Prophets had got up into a body and strength gaining Authority and Credit in the World what did they then do but endeavour wholly to crush and suppress the Truth with those that abode still in it Then the Dragon with his Angels fighteth with Michael and his Angels They had still been fighting with the Apostles and Ministers of Christ endeavouring to disparage them and eat out their esteem in the Churches as 2 Cor. 11. but they could not prevail Satan in all his enterprizes fell down like Lightning before the Glory and Power of Christ in his Apostles and Ministers But when the Apostacy encreased and the Churches provoked their Preserver growing cold in Love and faint in Faith being lifted up with their Gifts thinking highly of themselves and their standing to be firm and many received not the love of the Truth but only a profession of it for by-ends c. Then the Lord began to threaten some with the removal of their Candlestick and did afterwards proceed in Judgment even to let the false Prophets and Antichrists prevail and strong Delusions enter that they who had dallied with the Truth might be frustrated of the Salvation they expected by it meeting with a Lie which destroyeth in the stead of it 2 Thess 2.10 11 12. And so God who before built up in his jealousie and indignation afterwards threw down men abiding not in the Faith nor in the Power but in the Form and outward Profession which separated from the Power the Lord abhorreth What he loved he secured for himself his holy Temple his holy Altar his spiritual Worshippers and what he regarded not which was the Form and outward Ordinances now polluted he gave to the heathenishly-professing spirit and there they worship and magnifie their own state prizing it by its outward glory and appearance and not by a right sence and knowledge of it in the Truth Read these things outwardly in the letter or rather wait upon God that ye may read them who caused them to be writ to that end for to be read and understood Rev. 12. chap. 11. 1 2. where the battel of the Dragon is related and God's taking down his Building and disposing of it according to his pleasure Again mark Antichrist gets into the Temple upon the falling away sits there as God ruling giving Laws and exacting Obedience in the Name of God But when was this to be In the last times 1 Tim. 4.1 which would be very perilous through the power of wickedness and deceit then getting up When did those times begin They began in the Apostles dayes The Mystery of Iniquity was then at work 2 Thess 2.7 Yea saith John it is the last time by the coming of the Antichrists and Deceivers we know it to be so 1 Joh. 2.18 Christ said They should come John said they are come Paul saw them then at work in the mysterious Power of Darkness But they could not carry their work through the Spirit and Power of Christ in his Apostles stood so much in their way but after they were removed out of the way Antichrist got up his Mystery of Deceit apace Well how long doth he reign Even till the very coming of Christ in his Spirit and Power yea there is some remainder of him till the very brightness of his coming 2 Thess 2.8 This Mystery of Iniquity hath power and authority over all the wisdom of man but the appearance of Christ in the

Spirits of his People hath power over it and tormenteth it by opening its nakedness and causing its darkness to appear and the brightness of his coming shall quite dissolve and scatter it For it is but a mist of darkness it hath no being in the Truth nor can it stand before the Truth So Babylon is found standing at the very last just before the breaking forth and coming down of the new Jerusalem and the Marriage of the Lamb with his Bride Rev. 19.6 7. What is Babylon A Mystery of Iniquity in a Form of Godliness A Profession a People a Religion that seem to set up Christ but set up another nature spirit and power in his stead A Church that is not of God not formed in his Divine Wisdom not brought forth in his Light and Power and in the season of his Will but of man and by man that can go no further in Religion than the number of a man Sion under the Gospel is not literal but mystical and so is Babylon also who is the mother of Fornications who teacheth her daughters to adulterate from the Life and from the Power who never knew the Marriage of the Lamb in his Spirit nor his pure Bed of Life but enter into the chambers and bed of a strange spirit Qu. But what is the state of the Church all this while from this hour of corruption till the coming of Christ in his Spirit and Power Answ A state of desolation a state of widowhood a wilderness-state where her living body is not discerned by the vultrous eye but her children whenever they appear witnessing for her are persecuted hunted afflicted and sometimes slain This bloody Church which comes from the red Dragon and rules in his spirit and nature drinks the blood of the Lambs and Martyrs of JESUS who in their several Ages are his faithful Witnesses and love not their lives unto the death And here the Truth and that which hath appeared of the true Church in the world for Ages and Generations ever since this might of the Dragon 's and Antichrists darkness and his sitting in the Temple under an appearance of light hath only been to be found even among the Persecuted Ones who have been dear to God of whom the Professing World hath not been worthy no not at all of that heavenly life spirit and power which dwelt in them and through which they have been able to testifie for the Truth and bear up their heads against the malice and persecutions of their enemies Rev. 12.11 17 c. and chap. 11.3 7. chap. 13.15 16 17. chap. 14.12 chap. 17.6 Now for a close There are a few Questions in my heart briefly to propound and answer which it may please God to reach forth to his Witness in such who in distrust of themselves and their own wisdom shall wait upon him for understanding The Questions are these First what a true Church is 2dly How a True Church may be known 3. How a True Church may continue so 4. How a Church may lose its state and being 5. When a Church hath lost its state and being Quest 1. What a true Church is Answ A true Church is a truly Spiritual Body gathered out of the World or worldly nature and spirit into God's Spirit and Nature there to live and walk with him and worship him in Spirit and Truth and for him to tabernacle in and walk among and fill with his glorious Presence and powerful Life Eph. 2.21 22. 1 Pet. 2.5 Joh. 4.23 2 Cor. 6.16 It is not the Profession of the Truth makes a true Believer nor is it a company of Professors makes a true Church but their proceeding from and union with the Truth it self and their abiding in the Life and Power of that which they profess Ephes 4.16 Quest 2. How a true Church may be known Answ There must be somewhat in man to know them and somewhat in them to be known by That in man which knows them must be somewhat of God in him for that which is of man cannot measure or judg of the things of God As the worldly wisdom spirit could not know Christ formerly so neither now can it know his Church Many may appear to be Churches of Christ and yet not be so and that which is so may not appear so In this case who shall distinguish Not he that judgeth according to the appearance but he that judgeth the Righteous Judgment Therefore it is not for every man to take upon him to judge which is the true Church but first to wait upon God to be led into that and in some measure born of that which giveth ability to judge Wisdom is justified of her Children but of others she is condemned for foolishness and the foolishness justified in her stead And there is also somewhat for the Church to be known by which is that which distinguisheth her from all other Assemblies and Gatherings which is the nature life and presence of the Head with her and in her This none hath but the true Church the gathered Body the separate Body of the Lamb which is of his flesh and of his bones Eph. 5.29 30. Her Husband is with her his life is in her for she is a living body or gathering of living stones So that find the true life of the Lamb any where there is somewhat of his Church find a gathering in his Life Name and Power there is his Church and he also for where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them Mat. 18.20 Quest 3. How a true Church may continue so Answ By abiding in the Spirit Life and Power that gathered and built them up into a Church This first gave them their being and this still preserves them in their being if they abide till they be perfected and established but falling or being cut off from this they wither die and come to nothing Even as a Disciple departing out of the Vine making shipwrack of the Faith loseth that which made him a Disciple or Christian John 15.6 So a Church departing from the Spirit and Life of what they profess languish by degrees even till their life be wholly extinct and they wholly lose that state and being which they had by their gathering Thus the Churches in Asia beginning to corrupt grew formal lukewarm dead c. were warned to repent and strenthen that which remained lest they were spued out the Candlestick removed c. Rev. 2d 3d chapters Quest 4. How may a Church lose its state and being Answ Several wayes as first By departing from the Truth and Simplicity of the Gospel letting in Doctrines Principles Observations Customs and Practices which are not of the pure Spirit nor in the unity of it but from the corrupt spirit and which corrupt the minds of them that are entangled in them Corrupt doctrines corrupt principles corrupt practices c. they all have of the nature and poison of death in

CONCERNING THE CHURCH OR Of the Church-State Under the GOSPEL Whereby it may appear what a miserable Apostacy from the Truth hath overspread and covered the Earth for many Ages and Generations and how gross and thick the darkness yet lies upon it though the Light of God in his tender Mercy hath broke forth and shined upon the People of his gathering and through them hath also visited the World The guidance of this in my heart was particularly and chiefly towards the Papists but I afterwards had a true sence that it also extended to the state of such Protestants as had not waited on the Lord for him in his Wisdom and Power to rear up his own Building but had ventured to build of themselves and so had reared up Churches in the same spirit of Error Darkness and Apostacy which they seemed to depart from against all which the Lord will fight and all which he will break down in the day of the revelation of the glorious Light and Power of his Truth which will overcome subdue and reign over the Earth not after the manner of men but in the heavenly dominion of his Life Written in Alisbury Prison about the middle of the 6th Month 1666. By ISAAC PENINGTON Whereunto is annexed Some Observations upon the Eternal Judgment as it is expressed by Christ Mat. 25.31 to the end of the chapter LONDON Printed in the Year 1666. The Preface BEcause the corruption of the Christian Doctrine and Worship hath been great yea indeed very great since the dayes of the Apostles and the Judgements also are to be very great because of this Corruption even dreadful Woes Plagues Cups of Wrath and Thunders unutterable as is expressed in the Book of the Revelations Therefore that men may avoid the terrible Wrath of God which is breaking and to break forth by discerning and forsaking that which his Wrath is against therefore I say in tender bowels was it in my heart to discover somewhat of that which the Lord hath made manifest to me among many others concerning the creeping in of this corrupt state and its getting up after the dayes of the Apostles with its continuance to this day that Men and Churches may consider their state see their nakedness and look after the pure Garment that they may be cloathed with the Spirit of the Lord and found in the righteousness thereof that so they may stand boldly before him when the transgressors and hypocrites of all sorts shall have their fig-leaf coverings ripped off and lie open to the strokes of his Indignation And this I say to all Take heed of two things in this Day of the LORD'S Love and Vengeance Take heed of retaining or setting up any thing which the Lord is coming forth against and take heed of slighting or appearing against that which the Lord is preparing to set up The appearance of his Spirit the shining of his Day is precious even in the meanest glimmerings of it O who shall be guiltless before him who defendeth or setteth up any thing of man's will or wisdom his Sun Moon and Stars in all their glory being to fall and lose their shining or who debaseth the lowest appearance of his Seed And if the Jews suffered so deeply for refusing and despising Christ's appearance in flesh what will light on those who refuse and despise his appearance in Spirit I know this that Christians now over-look and slight this as the Jews did that and by the same snare even by a prejudice they have drunk in that this is contrary to the Scriptures as the Jews then did conclude that that coming of Christ then was not agreeable to but different from what the Scriptures had said concerning his coming But what said Christ then Wisdom is justified of her Children They who then were of the Spirit and in the Spirit knew the voice of the Bridegroom then And such also know it now and rejoyce in it though the wise in another wisdom according to the Scriptures as they think refuse and disdain it and not knowing the Righteousness of Christ in Spirit set up a Righteousness of their own in flesh for their believing and applying to themselves the Righteousness of Christ out of the true limits of Life according to their own apprehension of things is no other And this must fall Man's knowledge of Scriptures the faith of man through his own apprehensions must fall and man appear naked underneath that the glorious Righteousness of Christ in Spirit and the precious covering thereof may be magnified over all And in this Light of Life and newness of Nature in Christ runs the Bloud which clenseth and not elswhere It runs not according to mens notions but in its own life virtue power in the heart where where it is livingly felt the iniquity is washed away the sin is gone the everlasting Righteousness appears yea the Water-springs which washeth and keepeth clean continually Away with your Notions and empty husks O several sorts of Professors come to the thing it self or rather wait on the Lord to be led to it that ye may Seed the Seed the pure Seed the living Seed the Holy One of God and may know its planting and growth in you and your uncloathing and emptying of all else that ye may be cloathed upon and filled with it And in the sence of it and unity with it ye will own and love what comes from it and rejoyce in all the springings of its Light either within or without Of the Church-state under the Gospel THe Jews Church-state under the Law was precious who walking with God according to the Covenant of the Law were an holy People nigh and dear unto God above all other People But they provoked him so continually and grievously that instead of blessings they drew plagues upon themselves and were at last by his righteous Judgments made desolate and cut off from being any longer his select Nation and People The Church-state of the Christians under the Gospel is much more precious and glorious they being gathered into the substance of that whereof the Jews State had but the shadow The Presence of God the manifestation of his Life and Power is more inward and bright among them their union with him more close their communion and joy more fell he tabernacling among them dwelling and walking with them and advancing them into the state of sons and daughters whereas the Law-state was but a state of servitude And their standing also is more firm the Covenant wherein they stand being more able to hold them together with God than the other was The standing of the other was by the works of the Law which they were to observe and live The standing of these is in the Faith which is from the Power which worketh their works in them and for them Yet as they are gathered in the Faith so their standing is in the Faith and out of it they cannot be preserved So that before they are established

them and as they prevail they bring death upon and engage God against that Person or Church where they get dominion See what danger one corrupt doctrine of the Nicholaitans brought the Church of Pergamus unto even of God's coming forth with his sword and fighting against her Rev. 2.16 And if God who is the Defender of his Church Himself fight against her how shall she stand 2. By negligence and sluggishness in the Truth by this means also life may languish and extinguish by degrees even till death come wholly over and swallow it up Rev. 3.1 2 3. If the first Love do but abate and wax cold Iniquity will be abounding Mat. 24.12 and the Church will be in danger of losing its Candlestick Revel 2.4 5. 3. By God's withdrawing his Presence and Power for these or such causes abovesaid which nourisheth and preserveth For the life of a Church as well as of a Disciple is fed and nourished from the Fountain or Vine and if it miss of the nourishment its life cannot long continue The Jews may keep up their Sacrifices and reading of the Law but yet they are a dead people to God after their cutting off from the Olive-tree And the Gentiles may worship in the outward Court and keep up the outward Ordinances after God's rejecting and cutting them off also and be as dead to God therein as the Jews in theirs Rev. 11.1 2. Rom. 11.21 22. 4. By their listning and yeelding to the power of the Enemy who quickly deceiveth with his Lies instead of the Truth destroyeth and layeth waste such buildings where God in his just Judgement letteth him forth upon them For the Gates of Hell will prevail against that building which the Arm of Christ is not stretched forth or ceaseth to defend And as the defence of every particular Building upon the Rock is in its abiding there and subjecting to the Head so the defence of larger Gatherings or Churches is no otherwise As their union and gathering is so is their standing to wit in believing and giving up to their Leader hearkning to his voice and obeying him only But if they hearken to a Stranger if they hear another voice than his if they follow another spirit letting in his lies and deceit they cannot keep their standing in the Truth but in so doing depart from it and lose the promise and protection of it For as before by God's gathering them from the spirit of darkness they became His and met with his Power Presence and Blessing so afterwards being again by any subtilty of deceit gathered from the Truth it self into some likeness and appearance of it which the Enemy hath formed they become the Enemies Synagogue not God's Church into which he entereth again and dwelleth there in that likeness and appearance And this House which was once cleansed swept and garnished by God being again recovered and repossessed by the Enemy becomes worse and more filthy in the nature of wickedness than it was before What is more pure glorious and excellent than a true Church of God which is sanctified by his Spirit and holds forth the vertues and pure nature of his Life in the world what is more filthy and abominable and where doth Satan more strongly dwell and act than in that which pretends to be a Church and is not The Promises of God are only to the Seed absolutely but not so to any man or society of men but as in the tender mercy of the Lord they are gathered into and preserved in the Seed in the way that the Lord hath chosen and appointed For the way of Life is glorious and perfect and the Lord will honour it so that those that expect to reap Salvation from Him must walk and abide with Him therein for besides Him there is no Saviour and besides his Way there is no way of Salvation either for any man or Church Quest 5. When hath a Church lost its state and being Answ When its nature is changed when it is overcome by and gathered into another power and spirit than it was first gathered into by the Lord when its standing is not in the Spirit nor after the Spirit but in the flesh and after the flesh when its wayes are carnal its weapons carnal when its hedge or wall is broken down and the spirit of the world not kept out but entred into it and become one with it Then it is no longer of God and separate from the world but one in nature state and being with the world Rev. 2.9 These things are written in the love and good-will of God that men may see that spirit which hath bewitched and entangled them from him with the wayes and false appearances wherein it hath entangled them and may wait on the Lord in truth of heart for his Light Guidance and Power to deliver them that so they may come into his Holy Land and within the limits of his Holy City out of all polluted Lands and Buildings where his Holy Nature dwelleth not and the Pure Dominion of his Holy Life and Power is not felt that they may sing Praise to Him among his Redeemed Ones for his precious Redemption who is breaking the bonds of Captivity and redeeming His out of all Lands and Countries wherein they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day Glory in the Highest to his Name for evermore Some Queries to the Professours of Christianity to provoke them to jealousie for their good Qu. 1. Have ye eat of the Bread and drank of the Wine in the Father's Kingdom which they that have received the Kingdom and are in the Kingdom eat and drink of Qu. 2. Have ye known the heavenly Jerusalem and are ye come to it as the Christians were in the Apostles dayes Hebr. 12.22 Qu. 3. Are ye in Him that is true and your Churches and Gatherings in God and in the Name of his Son Is your being and dwelling in the Eternal Life Qu. 4. Have ye received the Promise of the Father even the excellent Spirit of the Son Qu. 5. Have ye the true Faith Do the living Waters spring out of your bowels according as the Scriptures have said He that believeth on me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water Joh. 7.38 ch 4.14 Qu. 6. Doth God tabernacle in you is his dwelling among you doth he walk up and down in your spirits and sup with you and you with him Qu. 7. Are ye in the New Covenant taught of God so as ye need no man to teach you and your sins so blotted out according to the Covenant as to hinder no good things from you These things were spoken of in the Law and Prophets to be fulfilled witnessed and enjoyed under the Power and Life of the Gospel which is not a state of the names and foretellings of things as under the Law but of the presence and enjoyment of the things themselves and so far as ye fall short of them ye fall short of

the state of Christianity THE END SOME OBSERVATIONS UPON THE Eternal Judgement As it is expressed by CHRIST Matth. 25.31 to the end of the Chapter Observe 1. THe condition of Christ here in this world in many of his Members in their several Ages and Generations He is hungry thirsty a stranger naked sick and in prison yea indeed what is there of misery shame and reproach which he is not exposed to or which they are not exposed to who entertain Him as their Lord and King and are faithful in their obedience and subjection to him ver 35 36 43. Observ 2. The notice Christ takes of what is done in this kind or not done in this kind to any of his suffering Members which extends to all even the very least Insomuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these ye have done it unto me ver 40. Insomuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these ye did it not to me ver 45. Obser 3. The honourable esteem Christ hath of his poor suffering Members with what eye of contempt soever the World looks upon them yet he looks upon them as his Brethren ver 40. Observ 4. The different carriages of persons towards Christ in this his low condition in his Members Some gave him meat some gave him drink some took him in some cloathed him some visited and came unto him ver 35 36. Others did none of these things unto him ver 43. Observ 5. The different Judgment Christ passeth upon these according to their different carriages The one he pronounceth blessed of his Father judging them to the inheritance of a Kingdom of Eternal Life ver 34 46. The other he pronounceth Cursed and adjudgeth to Everlasting Punishment in the fire of his Wrath ver 41 46. Observ 6. The ground or reason why those who did not minister to him neglected him which was their ignorance of him They saw indeed and knew several persons to be in such kind of conditions but they did not know that it was Christ which suffered in them This is implied in their Answer to him ver 44. When saw we thee an hungry or athirst or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not minister unto thee v. 45. Obser 7. That it will not excuse men from the Judgment their not knowing of Christ in his Members but if they neglect and have not done this thing though they may plead never so strongly that they did not know any such they will in our and must suffer the Judgment The Jews cryed up Moses and the Prophets which had been before and yet persecuted Christ and his Apostles And many now cry up the Prophets and Christ's appearance in a body of flesh with his Death Resurrection Ascension c. and also the Apostles both their words practices and yet persecute him and the same practices in his present Servants and Members How will these 〈…〉 Object But th e that did minister unto him they knew not that it was he neither as ver 37 38 39. Therefore they doing of it ignorantly as we may say it seemeth to want its due weight and not to render them so worthy of the reward as if they had done it in a clear and distinct understanding Answer They did not know it so as to put so great a value upon it as Christ here doth but they knew that they had done things of this kind and that they had done them on Christ's account But that Christ was so in those to whom they did them as he now speaks and that he would set so high an esteem of it that they were not aware of Was it thou thy self that wast naked sick in prison c. and didst thou take all this as done to thee This is wonderful to us that thou shouldst so set by what we poor worms did to thy suffering Saints in thy Name and Fear Quest But why doth Christ make this the ground of the General and Universal Judgment Men have committed many other sins some of which are in appearance far greater why doth Christ mention none of them but fix the Judgment only upon this Answ Surely because this is more in his eye and more hateful to him than them all This argues an evil nature and spirit and the joyning of the mind to the wicked one more than them all For it plainly shews that there is none of the Love and Nature of Christ in such persons for if there be of the Love and Nature of Christ in any person it will encline his heart towards those which are Christ's and especially in their suffering conditions He therefore that hath no sence of those that belong to Christ in their suffering conditions sheweth plainly that he hath none of Christ's Nature in him and so is not at all found in that which Christ comes to save but in that which he comes to judge and destroy for ever Now I have three Questions more to propose which I desire that all men that read may judge of it in that which giveth the true sense and judgment of their weight 1. If this be the cause and ground of the Eternal Judgement whether it may not also be the ground of Temporal Judgments on Person and Nations to wit if there be such a thing to be found in them as neglecting to minister to Christ in his suffering Members 2. If there be not only this to be found but also a causing of him in his Members thus to suffer a causing of their hunger thurst nakedness sickness imprisonment c. whether this is not of very great force to draw down Plagues Judgements and Miseries upon a Nation 3. If there have been such sins committed God's Anger provoked and his Judgments drawn down whether it be possible to stop them or there can be any reasonable hope of the diverting of them without a deep humbling before God confessing the thing in the sight of the World as it hath been done in the sight of the World and laying such a foundation for the future as the Lord and men may be satisfied and assured that no such thing shall be done any more Was it not a shameful thing that Jerusalem the outwardly holy City and chief if not only professing ●oop●e of the world should stone cast out persecute put to death c. the Prophets and Christ of God and set up Priests and Prophets of their own And where and by whom are the Witnesses and Martyrs hunted and slain Is is not still in that which is called the Christian World do not they strive each sort for their Forms persecuting the Life and Power and those which follow the Lamb therein out of their Forms from which his Life and Spirit calleth and gathereth O that the World were awaked O that this Nation were awakened Have there not been Judgements enow to awaken it O do not dally ye have God to deal with who hath brought his Truth and People upon the Stage who is arisen against the Darkness which hath long possessed the he●●●s of 〈◊〉 and held his People in captivity under their corrupt wills and wisdom and to bind down sin and iniquity in men O do not say Let us break their bonds in sunder and cast away their cords from us but rather let every one be willing to be bound by the pure Light of God by that which is holy of God in him from the King that sits upon the Throne even to the very Beggar on the dunghil that iniquity may be purged out of the hearts of men and they become not a vainly-professing Nation but indeed an Holy Nation to the Lord that Peace and Righteousness Love and Mercy yea sweet and tender Bowels may dwell within it and flow up and down in all its borders to the glory of God's Truth which is able to work this were it but let in received and subjected to in the minds of men and to the delight and joy of the hearts of all in the Nation Writt●● 〈…〉 29th 〈…〉 By Isaac Penington