spirit of the Christian from Christ Heb. 2.14 with Mat. 16.18 through this gate Jesus Christ the head is entered into the Kingdom of Heaven and from death is living in immortality Luke 24.26 Rev. 1.18 Christ therefore being in the state or immortall glory knocketh on the farther side of the gate calleth to his spouse that are in suffering estate of mortall shame to come away to him from mortality to immortality On this hither side of the gate the spouse or Church which are every suffering Christian in the truth do knock when they sigh in their â—â—ibulations being oppressed and grieved desiring that mortality may be swallowed up of life and wishing hartâ—ly that they might be out of mortall bodies be present with the Lord which is best of all 2 Cor. 42.4.6.8 Phil. 1.23 And thus we may understand how earnestly Christ the husband knocks at one side calling the Christian his wife and we may consider how lovingly the wife also knocks at the other side beseeching him to draw her and indue her with power to put off the mortall cloathing whereby she is yet holden in this world from him that so she may overcome all the power principalities and authorities which do keepe them from the full enjoying of love not that Christ can come to his spouse againe into a mortall and cursed estate but that she having the earnest of his spirit may follow him through the straightest gates to his glory in an immortall and blessed estate And as many as are thus gathered unto Christ from mortality are the Church of the first borne written in the Heavens and their spirits are perfected all which at the time of the judgement of Christ shall receive that Kingdom of God which cannot be moved Heb. 12.22 to 28. 4. It grieves me to heare such as think themselves to be spirituall and Christians to boast in a carnall mortall Bondage after the worldly elements of the heathen whereby they are inforced to eat swines flesh as a thing necessary to eternall salvation and to justifie themselves in defiance of God his holy spirit and word whereas in Christ the lawfull meates which were sanctified to an holy Use for sacrifice profited not to purge the Conscience from sin nor to justifie before the holy God of Israell Heb. 9.8 c. These therefore are much deceived and blinded in mortality and reprobate to every good work as Tit. 1.15.16 untill they are by the light of the word enlightened to immortality and by the grace of God the saviour which hath appeared unto all men are by chastisement taught what to deny how to live and for what to waite Tit. 2.7 to 14. 5. From the fulfilling of this word I will have mercy and not sacrifice Mat. 12.7 Hos. 6.7 is shewed what the Lord rejecteth and what he now requireth in Christ If any man bring to God an offering or be envious against a brother or neighbour for Gods sake as he thinketh first he rejecteth the offering for that it is the gain of oppression as if God should say I gave thee life and commanded thee not to defraud or oppresse therefore I will not â—obery for an offering if the goods be lawfully gotten yet God rejecteth him saying I commanded thee to be mercifull and to love thy neighbour and the stranger as thy selfe which thou hast not done this Offering and more then this is by my will due to the poore and so none of thine therefore I will not have neglect of the poore or transgression for an Offering If the Offering be lawfull and free from sin against the poore yet the Lord saith I will not now have thee to offer thy goods in sacrifice but that with them thou extend mercy to all that are in want of thy mercy If a man do thus serve God in his goods yet offend in his person in being hard hearted to his brethren that confesse and desire forgivnesse of the trespasse against him if he yet bind and will not loose the sin the Lord will say unto him except you forgive men their offences Mar 11.25.26 neither will the heavenly Father heare thee to forgive thy sins Mat. 6.14.15 All which sheweth that it is in vaine or a procuring of judgement for any man to go to the Lord by faith in Christ and his heart not perfect in mercy and love to his brother that he seeth with his eyes 1 Iohn 4.20 The first day of the Week 1. THe eare receiveth the word as the mouth eateth meate The bread which the mouth eateth is no bread nor the life which bread sustaineth is no life in respect of the bread of an immortall life therefore the holy spirit calleth mortall man to eat of the true food for to live which is done by hearing to obey the word for thus their soule shall live c. Isai. 55. 〈◊〉 c And thus we eat the bread of God which is come down from Heaven and thus we are communicants in the body and blood of Christ for life when we hear and do the word of God and be made obedient in the fellowship of his sufferings John 6.27.33.35 c. this hearing is the same with believing as John 6.47 c. and this is the immortall eating for not every one that heareth and understandeth the word eateth or believeth to life but he only that so tasteth the word with his eare as that he obey and delight in it from his heart to do the work thereof in spirit and truth and knowledge 2. From the presence of Gods being with us we have faith as Heb. 11.6 with Reu. 1.8 For as we believe his presence to be such in his visitation that in him we live move and have our beings so likewise in his inspiration whereby we are instructed to avoide all wayes of errour heresie and are guided into all truth so also by his being with us in spirituall presence we are kept by his power from all evill of this world and are likewise rewarded with the blessing of his presence because we wait on him to seeke him diligently and to serve him with all our heart in love This his presence requireth faith in his guidance protection and preservation as in the mind so in the body that no evill shall come to us from him whether of the Plague or otherwise as Psal. 91. Those which sin against his presence and have not the love of God in them do lye open to the hand of his destroying Angel but whosoever have good Consciences towards his presence with us love his name if we should now fear the fears of worldly men we dishonour the presence of the living God we bewray our infidelity in his presence which is all sufficient to keepe us that the evill one shall not hurt us or if we are faithfull in his presence that hath all power in his hands so as a sparrow cannot fall without him nor a hayre of our heads perish but hâ—â—â— his
Commandements of God 1 Cor. 7.18.19 So if Marriage be exhibited under the worldly authorities it may bring the parties into bondage likewise if lawfull meates be forbidden by the Doctrines of Devills we are to maintain our liberty in Christ in assurance that though we suffer death yet he will raise us again according to his priesthood 1 Tim. 4.1 c. 10. Alwayes with this respect in the Law of liberty that there be no justification of condemnation on one side or other in lawfull meates but to judge indifferently that he which cates is not the better by it neither is he the worse which cates not 1 Cor. 8.8 wherefore in all such indifferent things every man is to have respect to his own Conscience before God and to the present estate and Nation wherein he is either Jew or Gentile that he be without offence but to use his liberty not for any occasion to his own flesh but to the profit of others in such sort that whether any eat or drink or what other indifferent thing soever they do they may do all to the glory of God 1 Cor. 10.23 32.33 31. The second day of the Week I Have observed in Christ how the old man of the flesh doth naturally bring forth the new man begotten in the spirit of truth thus After that the heart hath conceived the immortall seed which is from above so as for joy hereof it estrange 〈◊〉 selfe from mortall vanities by and by the Lords of this mortall flesh will shew their authority and they will labour with all their force and wits to destroy this good conception that they may again rule the heart in this estate the mortall body of a man is as a woman in travell which cryes out not to be eased of the payne but to bring forth the fruit of her wombe and this in Christ is the travell of a Christian he hath conceived the mind of Christ and for this cause is persecuted and suffers all things untill from out of the greatest torments of the heart he is able to deliver or bring forth the spirit of that immortall seede unto Christ whose it is Esa. 26.13 17. 18. Mat. 27.46 with Luke 23.46 Heb 5 7.9.2 Cor. 4.6 amp c. with 5.2.4 5. 2. Further is noted in what respect the Church of Christ a woman and the wife of Christ because from the beginning she hath conceived in her heart the seed of God which is the Word Christ and thus she hath travelled with shadow of Christ till her time was fulfilled that shee should bring forth the spirit and truth of Christ which was when Jesus Christ being made one flesh with the Church she by his divine nature gave up the word law and truth of God perfected into her husbands hands so as the carnall Church is now delivered from that law and labour which was committed and required of her for she hath now in Jesus Christ brought forth the spirit of holynesse to God by the death of the flesh and in the resurrection of of the spirituall man to the immortall life of God her spirituall husband Jesus Christ then which the Church of God having suffered the pain of travell to death being risen from the dead and exalted to glory as Lord and Christ is made the head of his Church in a more neere and familiar manner even as a man that going to take a wife manifesteth the secrets of his hearty love unto her in way of espousals who after his departure returneth againe to her in way of marriage and giveth his owne spirit as Iob. 14.16 17.18 26. Acts 2.33 36. This immortall seed therefore being freely communicated in the love of Christ is gladly received of the Church and of none other which travelleth in subjection to Christ her husband to perfect that birth of the spiritual immortal man of whom she hath conceived immortall and spirituall seed and thus is she become bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh in love which union in Christ is confirmed to every soule of man that in their severall age or nation are so beloved of God in Christ that as an husband he should give of his immortall seed so as every one that conceiveth it in a good heart doth know both the union and her husband unto whom every such heart doth increase that seed of the new and immortall man dayly and in groweth by the obedience and death of the life-life-blood unto a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead For such is the love of every good heart that she in her proper body will tenderly respect to preserve that word of the living God which shee hath willingly conceived in her minde and heart so as no cares shall choake nor reproches dismay but that her body shall bring forth to her husband that Word which abideth for ever 1 Pet. 1.3.4 22 c. 3. This word of God in what body soever it come in the love and communion of sufferings in Christ Jesus is the salvation of the same body to that immortall life in glory with Christ for whereas the persecutors that would adulterate us from our husband their dead shall not live neither shall their ghosts be raised againe notwithstanding our bodies which have dyed to bring forth the spirit of truth shall be raised to immortall truth of our head Christ Esa. 26. 13 18.19 when being sanctified in the truth with him we shall be perfected in one with our Father and our Lord Christ Jesus Iohn 17.19 21. c. 4. It is a wonderfull wisdome to consider in Jesus Christ how the Lord by his mercy doth call the world to judgement for in that he hath sent his Sonne into the world with mercy toward all that shew mercy and in it hee executeth the justice of his Law on none by the Law It is most manifest that all that out of their owne heart do judge and condemne shewing no mercy to sinners doe by their owne justice in the Law procure the Lord to enter into judgement with them for their judgement without mercy And thus we may see how the Law was given by Moses and sinne was required by pesent justice but grace and truth is by Jesus Christ he requireth sinners to sinne no more and they shall not be judged for their sinnes past and every one to shew mercy and they shall find mercy Math. 18.21 to 35. if not but that men will despise the grace of God towards them by judging and condemning their fellow-servants they are inexcusable before God their owne measure shall be measured to them they have denyed to shew mercy therefore mercy shall be denyed to them Rom. 2.1 to 5. Luk. 6.37.38 5. The cause of falling from the love of God is the evill of the heart whereby men dissembled with men for when men retaine the nature of swine and yet will be washed without doubt they will returne to their filthynesse Or dogges by nature will turne to
given you my Christ to become flesh that he might be a perfect guide and redeemer of you from the bondage of mortality in this evill world so as the subject may know his duty to his Magistrate the sonne to the Father the servant to his Master it every one do thus walk according to my word in their severall estates and degrees and yet your superiours do take offence as you for not obeying them rather then me I will justifie you in what you do in Conscience of my law fear not their condemnation but learn obedience in the flesh as Christ Jesus my only Sonne hath shewed you and looke unto the throan of my judgement sent which I have appointed and know my righteousnesse in the love of Christ and come unto me from mortality and bondage for by constancy to death you and every one of you shall evercome and be more then Conquerours and you shall condemn then for sin that have condemned you for sinners in hatred of my word and of my Christ which I have given to be a light unto the world whom with you they have killed 2. In the estate of enmity between God and man that repentance which men teach is apostasie from God for when a man yeeldeth obedience to the word as the Servant of God If the authority of man do compell him to repent of this his obedience in any matter wherein the word of God requireth obedience and this man doth repent under the fear of man and blaspheame the service of God as wicked and magnifie the service of man as holy and righteous it is manifest from antiquity that this repentance is the worldly wickeknesse against God for whosoever in oath with them saith destroy the wicked saith in effect to destroy all Christians that live godly in Christ and all the servants of God both great and small because these only are the wicked in the evill worlds account and these that are righteous are their spirituall enemies so as whosoever seeth not this enmity to avoid it as not to have Communion of enmity with the world against Christ is yet guilty of the curse with the seede of the Serpent The fifth day of the week IT is noted that he which preacheth the Crosse of Christ must do it sincerely not scaring the shame and death of the Cross in the Communion of his sufferings but there are those which preach the Cross of Christ in enmity of the Cross in that they go back from Christ crucified to follow their profit or pleasure in this mortall life These also set up a Throan of Judgment in enmity against Christ by authority whereof they keepe men from looking to the Judgement if Christ so as it is of necessity for every man to discern these two Throans of Judgment for if a man fear the Judgment of mortality he is darkened from seeing the Judgment of immortality but if he truly see the Throan of Judgment setled in Heaven he will be enlightenned not to respect the humain Judgment of men on earth The fifth day of the week 1. THe shame and reproach of Christ and his Christians is that they are men without honour in the world and suffer all things as base men Therefore they which follow him in the honour of the world and in power to defend themselves from oppression are not under the shaddow of Christs Cross for these count it a great shame to suffer as a Christian constantly to death 2. It is noted from 1 Sam. 15.22.23 That it is a worshipping of false God to break the Commandement of God for any worldly or carnall respect whatsoever 3. The unclean meates forbidden in the Law note out how abominable the Idoll and false Doctrines of Devills should be unto us to obey them in our soules who so observeth the Law may escape what it discovereth as death 4. It is noted that Christ made an end of the Law when he took revenge and desire of judgement out of mens hearts that they should not now require eye for eye and go to judgement one with another but on the contrary to forgive each other and so to go to God beseeching him to forgive them and thus in all cases to judge themselves and not others for sin 5. It was the wisdom of God that his own Sonne Christ should come in poore state that none might be allured with worldly glory nor terrified with mortall terrours but that who so receive him may be known to follow him in true love more of him then of themselves 6. Evill Shepherds of mens soules keeping the word in their own authority do as if a Shepherd pretending to feede the flock should keepe the sheepe from the pasture and from safe feeding and agree with these for a part and with the wolfe for the skin and yet aske wages for their service The sixth day of the week 1. AS the eye is the light of the mortall so he mind is the light of the immortall man The eye is simple when is clearly seeth by the light of the world the mind is simple when it is clearly enlightenned by the Word and spirit of Christ which is the â—â—ue light to immortality the mind kept under mens authority is as a man blind-folded 2. If it be Church-robbery or sâ—criledge to take vessells and goods consecrated to holy uses what is it to take the holy word it selfe out of the Book which is sealed in the blood of Christ The first day of the week COncerning the workes of the Law Rom. 3.20 I have this understanding that seeing that is certain that none can be justifyed by the works of the law namely by the justifications holden in the ministery mediation and Priesthood leviticall constituted under the fear and authority of men Then we may conclude that all the service under any worldly authorities though it may seeme farre better then that of Rome yet it Will be found only to condemnation and cannot justifie as to purge the Conscience from dead workes to serve the living God for as these were the workes of the Law of God in the worldly holinesse and authority of justification by men so are these of other Common-wealths the workes of their Law constituted in their feigned holinesse and justifications by their own authority And if that of Israel could not cleanse the Conscience surely all Religions of mens devising do make vain man more vain and harden the heart to commit sin in enmity of the word of God The third day of the weeke 1. FRom Ephes. 3.15 is apparant that as a housholder is over his Family so the heavenly Father is over his Family which consisteth of all his Creation both in the Heavens and upon the earth Therefore his good servants are carefull that Christ of whom all this family is named may dwell in our hearts by faith looking to his invisible presence being rooted and grounded in love both towards the Father and his Sonne who is over the Family in
my mortality to shew it in my sufferings to death and I put on his immortality upon my mortall mind and in all things have the mind of Christ to guide me in my life and to give me to mind onely the things that are above with him in immortality 2. I am instructed to put difference between the teaching under the law and under the authority of Christ The Law commandeth obedience upon payn of death saying thou shalt not do thus or thus or thou shalt do thus or thus but Christ saith thou shalt love the Lord thy God c. thou shalt love thy neighbour c. so that a man is first taught so truly to know the true God as to love him and when he hath obtained this love then he doth willingly all whatsoever he hath commanded and also he rejoyceth in the Law of Christ which is the bond of perfection The third day of the Week I Consider the reason of doing miracles from the word that whosoever hath the word of God in him to do it and to suffer for it in the spirit of Christ he hath the word with him to effect whatsoever he desireth of the Father in the name of Christ Iohn 15.7.5 The fourth day of the week IN the Common wealth of Israel there is the enmity of the Creator There are the men of the worldly authority that justifie themselves and condemn and persecute the true prophet and the obedient Children of Syon the mother City and God justifieth them against their accusers There is the fear of men and the fear of God in seperation There is the Law of God holden in the worldly authorities and the Law within the faithfull in opposition The worldly men make to themselves a light and walk in it condemning the oppressed as if they being separated from them did walke in darkenesse without light Thus carnall Israel in all things walke by sight in a visible worship of God persecuting and despising all that submit not to their glory whereas the spirituall Israel though they seeme to this world as living in darkenesse and dishonour without the scare of men and without the Law given by Moses yet it is farre otherwise in spirit and truth for God their God is a light unto them they feare God and obey him and they are not without the Law of God but the Law is within them And these onely are the redeemed of God the Lord as Esa. 50.51.1 Cor. 9.20.21 2. In a generall enmity Babel oppresseth â—srael And God hath purged and chosen Jsrael in affliction and hath given his glory unto him and will be glorified in him Esa. 47. 48. 41.9 42.8 with 46.13 49.4 3. Abraham and Sarab are a type of God and Sion the barrennesse of the one is compared to the solitarinesse of the other and the delight and comfort of the one is signified to be fulfilled in the other Esa. 51.1 c. 54 4. If the way of Christ were that his people should so low him in the life of the flesh to immortality then men would perish in their hast but seeing he is gone before in reproach through death to life all that follow him in this way of suffering death in the flesh doe walke soberly and make no haste but goe out so as the Lord Jesus is gone before them Esa. 52.11.12 53. with Luk. 9 22.23 2 Tim. 1.10 The fifth day of the Week AS I understand carnall Adultery and Fornication in the flesh so I apply spirituall Adultery and Fornication in the spirit from Esa. 57.3.5 c. If the worldly authoritieâ— make to themselves gods and doe worship to them they are men that ingender with gods in such a place vers. 5. c. and all that goe with them commit whooredome against God their maker either as Adulterers that have the authority of a man or Adulteâ—â—ssâ—â—s that willingly submit to mortall shame And so further we may conceive that what man or woman soever hath in them the spirit or authority of Idols or other gods if they enforce others to agree to their spirit they are tyrannous over the conscience and are as they which ravish the weaker to their filthy lusts If any of these privately doe allure any to consent to their spirit and to submit to them in prayer and spirituall worship of God these deceivers or any one of them with many or but with one that is allured hath committed the act of spirituall whoredom with the minde of all that are subject Therefore it standeth us upon both to shun all Idol worship in publike and to trie all spirits that wee shall be subject unto in private prayer or submission in conference For by submission in conference with the uncleane spirit Eve and the whole world is deceived and so it is manifest that whosoever humbleth himselfe an anothers desire in prayer is become one spirit with him that prayed and thereby is defiled if he have aâ— common spirit by the word that from what he in his prayer conceived to bee God entred as seed of the uncleane spirit into the heart of all that in unity received the spirit of that prayer a Wherefore it is as necessary to know the God onely one true God and the one spirit of holinesse in Christ Jesus as it is for a maide on wise to know her owne husband from all Adulterers and that they be one spirit with him onely and not weake to any other that waite to deceive and abuse to vanity The sixth day of the week THere are communicants of the body of Christ in shewing his death by suffering death till he come And there are communicants of Devils or serpents in shewing their pride by killing the righteous blood as 1 Cor. 10.16 to 21. â—â— 26. with Math. 23.33 35. All that continue perfect and single hearted in the word of Christ have his word and presence to keepe them from the evill of the world untill they have finished their testimony and have shewed his death Ioh. 17.14 15 c. with Revel. 11.7 But if any communicate outwardly in profession of Christ crucified and discerne not his body killed in the enmity of the world so as to shew themselves a member thereof by manifesting Christs death in their death and their death to be for Christs cause 2 Cor. 4.9.10.11 These comming short of communicating in the spirit of Christ in not discerning the presence of his body both to suffer in the flesh and to sustaine in the spirit may fall into sicknesse weakenesses yea and into death among those which dye of the plague after the condemnation of the world but if in this plague of the world wee discerne our own weakenesses our ignorance of his invisible presence to save or to kill and our readinesse to goe backe from shewing his death by divers worldly or carnall temptations moving us to save our soules from following Christ that dyed by suffering for us for which causes we
with the precious blood of Christ in that by the death of his flesh he imparted the Word of the living God which remaineth for ever according to the Worke of God in the resurrection of Jesus 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 1.18 to 25. So as now he must give his body which is thus bought from the earth and from earthly men to follow the holy Spirit of Christ whithersoever it shall guide his body till death Ioh. 16.13 with Revel. 14.3.4 The sixth day of the week IN my sleepe by night I was instructed in the righteous judgements of our God by comparing them with the judgements of men thus There are diverse States of governement in the world and these all have their Religion severall under their owne authority If any of these Kingdomes doe send forth their spirituall authority to condemne and execute all within their Dominion which as they terme them are Heretickes Schismatickes and Rebells against the present religion or worship of God constituted by their Authority at the publishing of this judgement all that are guilty in their Consciences doe flee and hide themselves as from men whereas all that are faithfull in that Religion and devour in that will-worship doe not scare but are more bold and confident under the power of that God knowing that every man shall be examined by name whether he be Hereticke if he be so found it is examined whether hee will repent and conforme to their will and not one shall perish without good tryall Such is the estate of the Kingdome of God our Creator in the authority of his Christ those of the world whose hearts condemne them of rebellion against the World and will of Majestistie and doe feare and shift to put off his excention whereas all that repent and are reconciled to him in all things and know the reason of his judgement are safe from feare of the evill which is sent against those which are from their Maker For if men be so just as nor to condemne one that is no rebell or that will repent how shall we thinke that the executioners of the judgement of God in the plague warre or famine are carelesse to destroy any one without great cause The first day of the weeke I Have grieved to consider how men are deceived by the authority or God of this world in that they bring all both God and Christ Spirit and Word subject to their judgement a Thes. 2.4 So that whosoever pray in spirit subject to their spirituall authority they pray but to what they are servants unto which cannot helpe because it is the feare and authority of mortall man to whom such spirituall service is done the onely true God and his Christ is despised the power and wisdome of man is exalted in their hearts therefore if man doe not heare and helpe there is not God to heare except it bee to require vengeance for the abuse of his name and word 2 I have considered that they which use the word of the holy Scriptures translated or preached in worldly glory under morall authority their estate is farre more inexecusable then they which never use that word in way of prayer praise thankesgiving or spirituall worship because these doe not so blaspheme God in Christ as to give that honour unto man the creature which is due to the Creator as the professors doe 3. I have observed how the wise men of this world doe destroy their wisdome by thir authority For in any doctrine of Religion they will propose the holy Scriptures to be then wisdom and ground of truth but if their doctrine be opposed by any then they leave their wisdome and slee to their auâ—hority for helpe which sheweth that their wisdome is but a pretence and that their authority is the pillar and ground of their Church 4. I have noted also the deceit of mans mind that not what he professes or pretendeth in word to be his God and Christ is so to him but what he mindeth in his heart under such a pretence As if a man professâ— the onely true God or preach the Lord Jesus Christ and indeed doe minde another word or authority then of God or doe seeke meat for his belly under the name of Jesus Christ in these cases it is not what hee speaketh but what he imagineth mindeth and seeketh indeed which is his God and for the obtayning of the desire of his minde he denyeth God in deed and all power of godlinesse 5. Whatsoever spirituall service or worship men performe as to God their reading prayers cryings howlings teares and assembling in Idoll Churches are all turned into sinne while they know not God but give that service to the World or Authority of men which is onely due unto God the Creator of all men according to his Word and Will manifested from the beginning in Christ The fifth day of the week THe building and maintaining of the heathen Idol Temples hath been in enmity of the Temple of our God in Israel but now they are in contempt of the Temple of Christ which is his body endued with the holy Spirit Therefore all that partake of I doll-temples doe seeke their life and honour in the flesh under the Persecutor and thereby turns the backe in contempt of the reproach of Christ they all deceive themselves in the flesh they seeke to save themselves by the authority of the Devill to kill whereas to deny their service is to deny ones selfe for they will spoile one of all FJNJS