and professing Christians That is their false god even the love which is not of the True GOD who is Love and who is Light for the Light in all your Consciences upon a due search of all your hearts will reprove it And again Gen. 6.5 Where the Imagination of the heart of man ruleth which is only evil continually I say where the Imagination worketh in Jew or Gentile to walk according to the Law or the Gospel being not in that by which the Law was given forth and the Gospel preached they worship a false god that which their own hearts do imagine to be God whilst the True GOD is hid from Imaginers the worshippers of strange gods which their Imaginations do make in their minds Now that is the ground of an Idol and the ground of Idolatry The Imagination which blinds the eye and blinds the heart Rom. 1.28 and blinds the understanding altogether concerning the true Knowledge of the True GOD. For they like not to retain GOD in their knowledge who like to retain Imaginations in their minds Many have heard it said that GOD is a Spirit Joh. 4.24 and he will be worshipped in Spirit and do think from that report they have enough of the knowledge of GOD and of the True Worship and yet the World that thus confess are divers in their Worships being not yet in the Spirit in which GOD is truly known and witnessed to be a Spirit they worship they know not what Joh. 4.22 who are in the flesh in the lust nature and deeds of the flesh which is at enmity with God who is a Spirit Here I find all the World Jew and Gentile Professor and Prophane of all Nations in sin in the flesh at enmity with GOD and the Spirit and with all that walk with GOD and Worship GOD in Spirit and do hate and persecute them Gal. 4.29 according to that which Paul said As then he that was born after the Flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now mark even so it is now because they know not GOD which hath begotten us into the Spirit and therefore they hate the Father and them whom the Father sendeth And this to all the Idol Worshippers within and the Idol-worshippers without in the World is the Word of the LORD GOD. Concerning the strait Way to Life IT is not the will of the LORD that alwayes the simple should be held in a by-way Therefore let me declare unto the simple Isa 35.8 the strait-way of the Lord which the way-faring-men though fools shall not erre therein All the World is yet ignorant of that way being in divers pathes in the going forth of their Feet but in the substance and body their footsteps lead them Matth. 7.13 to meet all in the one broad wide way of sin and transgression which leads to the Pit of Perdition This is glad-tidings to the Seed of the captivity which I sound among the sons of men The LORD is come and coming to fulfil the Promise of his Covenant which he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophet Jeremiah whom GOD sent as a Child among the Nations with his Word and to confound the counsels of the wise by the Revelation of his Wisdom in Childhood Behold the dayes come Jer. 3.31 33. saith the LORD that I will make a new Covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah I will put my Law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their GOD and they shall be my People 1 Cor. 10.1 2 3 4. That was the Law which God gave unto Moses who was a Follower of Christ which was not written in tables of stone but engraven upon the table of the heart For this commandment which I give thee this day is not hidden from thee neither is it a far off it is not in heaven Deut. 30.11 12 13 14. that thou shouldest say who shall go up for us to heaven and bring it to us that we may hear it and do it neither is it beyond the Sea that thou shouldest say who shall go over the Sea for us and bring it unto us that we may hear it and do it But the Word is very nigh unto thee in thy Mouth and in thy Heart that thou mayest do it Rom. 10.8 2 Pet. 1.19 And this was the Word of Faith which Paul preached and the same Word of Faith which Peter also bore witnesse to saying We have a more sure Word of Prophecie whereunto ye do well if ye take heed as unto a Light that shineth in a dark Place until the day dawn and the day-Star arise in your Hearts Now all that are not come to this Word of Faith which is a Light that shineth in a dark Place they are out of the true Faith of Christ whose Name is called the Word of GOD Who saith Rev. 19.13 John 8.12 Joh. 12.46 I am the Light of the World which lighteth every man that cometh into the World saith John 1.9 And Christ the Light of the World who said I am the Way the Truth and the Life no man cometh unto the Father but by by me John 14. v. 6. This is the Way which for Ages hath been hid from the simple the Light which leadeth to the Father who giveth Life everlasting to all that love the Light and follow and walk in the Light wherewith they are lightened which tells you in youâ— own mindes and consciences that you must not Swear nor Lye nor Steal nor Covet nor be Proud nor Scornful nor vain in your Words and Hearts nor wanton in your Mindes unto uncleanness and lust of the Flesh nor Envy any man which is murder nor be Drunk nor Gluttenous nor to do any Wickedness This is the strait-way Matth. 7.14 and the little narrow way which Christ the Light who is the Way spake of leads to Life it is strait and narrow to that Nature in all flesh living which walks in sin enemies to the strait way of Life John 16.8 The Light which convinceth the World of sin if you love it and follow it will lead out of all sin this is the way which the Prophets prophesied of should be to the wayfaring-men though fools wherein they should not erre This is tryal to all the Worlds ways of Jew and Gentile upon the face of the earth Are they entred in that way in which a Sinner cannot walk 1 Jo. 3.8 Joh. 3.19 No Sinner doth walk in the Light for all Sin is of the Devil And he that commits Sin is of the Devil And this is the condemnation of the world that Light is come into the world and men love Darknesse rather than Light because their deeds are evil The Lord God is come to put all Professions in the Ballance and wil weigh them in the Ballance of Equity and that which is found in the vanity of
many large words and Shews and likenesses yet not being in the substance in the Righteousnesse of God which is Christ the Light By the substance which is the Light the Lord God who is Light will overturne them all and by the breath of his mouth will blow over all confessions and professions and those which make them and like as untimely leaves they shall fall Jer. 48.11 and perish and rot on the Earth For behold the Lord God hath looked and hath seen and seeth all the World asleep and like unto Moab setled upon their lees which have not been emptyed from vessel to vessel and the old scent of their traditions in whom iniquity is increased by their traditions remaines in them and the tast is not changed at all And now is the Lord of Hosts which brought Israel out of Egypt stretching out his Arme for the sake of the Captivate to break the bonds and loose the captivity for he hath said in his righteousnesse they which have lead into captivity shall goe into captivity Rev. 13.10 and the captivate shall goe free Oh all ye Sons of men who are endued with sobriety and moderation ponder your waies and consider your doings for behold the Lord lifteth up his hand against all the ungodly and now the voice behind you saith Isa 30.31 this is the way walk in it who therefore sent his Son into the world a Light who hath lightned you with his true Light that you should walke in the Light which convinceth you in your consciences of all sin when you are in secret and none eye seeth your hearts and the Light tels you in your minds your wicked evil intents and when the thoughts of sin arises in your mindes the Light shewes it to you which if you love and join your mindes to the Light it wil save you from your sins then you wil know the end of Christ's coming in the flesh which was to save his people from their sins Math. 1.21 1 Jo. 3.8 and that he might destroy the works of the Devil the works of him which doth evil that is the wicked one in man which was a lyar from the beginning Wherefore all people prove your waies and prove your hearts for the Mighty God is coming to search the Earth and to make a narrow search through it And this is the Inquisition which the Lord of Hosts will make through the whole Earth for the Soules which have been slautered and starved and all the wrongs which the Innocent have suffered by the Inquisitions of the Sons of men who have as it were hunted after mischief and blood in all their waies Woe to the Shepherds to the Prophets and Pastors of the Flocks which feed their flocks upon the mountaines and nourish their increase with winde the wind of the Lord God will disperce them and make their heritage a howling Look to this thou populous Noe Nahu 3.8 that art scituate among the Rivers that hast the waters round about thee whose ramparte is the Sea and thy Wall is from Sea to Sea when the Lord God dries up Euphrates then shall his army have a passage unto thee And then his Priests shall sound about thy Walls with Rams-hornes Rev. 16 12. and in a day thou shalt fall as Jerico except thou repentest and this unto thee is the word of the Lord God whether thou wilt hear or forbear Therefore to the way which will lead thee from the woe which will redeem thee and lead thee from the cause which is the multitude of thy sins The Light will lead thee unto Fear and Dread and trembling and palenesse and feeblenesse before the Lord of Truth and Righteousness whose vials are filled and prepared and behold God's long patience is exercised to try thee and to prove thee and now a warning is come and cometh to thee and the whole World Enter therefore into the straitnesse of the way the Light which God setteth as a marke either for thy rise and salvation or miserable downfall into Judgement and Destruction which if thou repentest not as sure as the Lord lives he will make thee to know that thou shalt become as Babylon which he shall be called blessed that dasheâ—h the Brats of thy uncleannesse and Whordoms against the Stones and this upon thee shall stand as the Word of the Lord to be fulfilled in Judgement except thou repentest And now I tell thee there is no salvation under Heaven for thee but the way which is set for the simple the Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World in which the wayfaring men though fools cannot slide nor erre therein and this is the Declaration of the Lords Truth to be witnessed by the seed in all even by that of God in every man's conscience Now if any man or Woman upon the face of the Earth King or Queen Prince or Princess Priest or People from the highest to the lowest in all Nations of the Earth do say That the Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World is not the true way to God's Kingdome or if they say that there is another way under Heaven which leads to Life besides the Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World I say their way is darkenesse or if any manner of persons do hate the Light and mock the Light they are witnesses to themselves that they are yet in darknesse And they who have another Rule or Guid to lead them than the Word of God which is nigh you saith Paul in your mouth Rom. 10 8. and in your heart or if they say they have another guid than the Light which shineth in their consciences it is a false Guide and leads into Darknesse Again if any Priest or People from the highest to the lowest do Scoffe and Mock the Messengers of the Light let that stand before all grave sober-minded men as a signe of the last times and of the Spirit of Antichrist in those which are the Mockers and the Scoffers whether Priest or People from the highest to the lowest 2 Pet. 3 3. and so here Peters words are fulfilled In the last daies shall come scoffers walking after their own lusts But God will make them all to know concerning all Mockers and Scoffers of his Light and the Messengers of his Light that he sits in Heaven and sees them and laughes them to scorne for they are the despisers wonder and perish Act. 13 41. for whom this was written Behold I work a work in your daies saith the Lord a work which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you and so those who despise the Light they are in Darkness and so great is their Darknesse that they cannot see their darkness but I feel their Darkness to be thick and like a cloud which the Light hath covered them with because they despise the Light and Mock the Light wherewith they are lightned
TO THE PRINCE OF VENICE AND All his NOBLES Which was Delivered for Him in His PALLACE and Received by Him in His COUNCIL-CHAMBER Being A VISITATION and WARNING of that CITY Which also may serve unto ENGLAND and all Nations called Christian Nations Written by the Servant of the Lord JOHN London Printed for Robert Wilson at the sign of the Black-spread-Eagle and Windmill in Martins Le Grand 1661. TO THE PRINCE OF VENICE c. FRIEND I Have many things to say unto the Rulers Prophets Priests and People of the City VENICE but yet you are not able to bear them You being yet in the Nature and Ground in which Amaziah the Priest of Bethel was in the dayes of the Prophet Amos Read Amos 7.10 c. And are not come to the Charity which Paul wrote of which bears all things believeth all things 1 Cor. 13.7 hopeth all things and endureth all things But whether you will hear bear or forbear this is the Word of the LORD GOD to you all The LORD of Hosts hath a Controversie with the whole Earth with whom he is arisen to plead even with all sinful Flesh upon the face of the Earth which have corrupted their waies before the Lord. Behold the mighty Day of the Lord GOD is at hand wherein the LORD will Plead with all Flesh and enter into Iudgement with all Flesh and execute Judgement by Sword and Vengeance with Plague and fulfil his Wrath by Famine and Fire until he sweeps the Land as with a Beesom of Destruction and that it be cleansed of evil-doers Behold Overturn cometh and Overturn followeth until the Last Overture be fulfilled and He Come whose right it is to Reign and the LORD Christ set up his Everlasting Kingdom whose Dominion shall never have end With whom no hypocrite lip-worshipper nor sinner shall have an inheritance of Life but shall be cut off for ever from the presence of the Lord and separated unto perpetual Woe and Misery to be held in the lake of fire and sulphure with the blackness of the chaines of darkness under the fiery Indignation and wraâ—â— the Lord God and therein to be swallowed up alive and to remain beyond the measure of all times Think of this you Whoremongers Whores and Harlots you Drunkards Gluttons Proud Covetous cursed Swearers and Lyars Cheaters and Defrauders Revellers Sporters Gamsters you that spend your pretious time in Vanity wherein yet GOD hath spared you to Repent In your abominable unclean Lusts Vanity and Wantonness you Envious-hearts that cannot speak out of Crookedness and Frowardness GOD hath a treasure of Vengeance seven Vials full of Wrath the Wrath of the Lamb whose Life in your Sodom is day by day throughout the number of your days slaughtered in your streets Think of Sodom and call to mind the end of Gomorrah for now at this time the Lord warnes you even as he visited them Cities Prepare prepare therefore to meet the LORD by true and unfeigned Repentance if haply the Lord may spare you and turn away the fierceness of his Wrath which looketh towards you Leave off your flattering-speeches and Titles one to another and let every one speak the plainness of his heart and truth to his Neighbour Amend all your waies and flatter not your selves nor deceive your souls with saying that you are of the Church of Rome For many shall say Lord but not enter and the Jews called Abraham their Father yet wanted his Faith But forsake your cursed speeches and Oathes and Adulteries and Whordoms and Drunkenness and all Idolatries and Inchantments and Sorceries cast from you the cords of vanity and so turn to the Lord and then the Lord will turn to you Or else GOD hath spoken in his holiness that he will visit you with his Vengeance because of your unrighteousness and ungodliness and although you may now shut your ears against your burden and laugh and mock at God's Messengers and afflict and punish them which cry against your loathsom abominations which stink in the nostrils of God and his Saints and is an abhorring unto modesty yea though you may but gain-say our voice It is because we cry against your sins and for none other cause but because we cry against all sin and reprove Iniquity in the gap Yet be it known unto you that GOD sent unto Babylon her burden Isa 13.1 and unto Moab his burden Isa 15.1 And unto Damascus her burden Isa 17.1 And unto Egypt Isa 19.1 And unto the Desart Isa 21.1 And unto Tyre Isa 23.1 And unto the South Isa 30.6 And unto Niniveh her burden Nahum 1.1 And unto Dumah Isa 21.11 And unto Arabia Isa 21.13 And unto the Valley of Vision her burden Isa 22.1 And it came to passe that those things which were once the Prophet's burden for them God laid every one's burden upon their own back and made them all to bear their own burden even as also from the Lord God I say unto you GOD will make you bear your own burden even for your own sin which is grievous whose burden also will be grievous in the day whereof you shall say each one to his neighbour and to his acquaintance even as Cain said Gen. 4.13 Our burden and punishment is greater than we can bear Remember you are warned in the day of the Lord's pitty Repent and turn from your sins for the Lord God laughs at your Confessors and Confessions whilst you and they are still following on in sin heaping sin upon sin drawing Iniquity with cords of vanity and sin as it were with cart-ropes Else in God's day of Vengeance Isa 5.18 you shall remember that I did not run before I was sent that God might visit you with warning even as Niniveh was by Jonah which then repented Prize your time for this is the word of the Lord to you all therefore whilst you have time Repent And thou the PRINCE of Venice and the rest of the Nobles Arise from your Throne put on mourning in the inward parts and proclaim this in the City Jonah 3.5 6. for my MESSAGE is unto you and I clear my self unto you Let the KING of Niniveh be your Example and clear your selves to the People of all their blood I am come to make blind those which say they see and to turn from the darkness those which are blind to the LIGHT that they may see I am not come with the inticing-inticing-words of man's Wisdom neither in the excellency of Speech to man's Wisdom nor in the deceivableness of vain Philosophy but in the plainness of the demonstration of the Truth in the Power of GOD unto that of God in all but hid and sealed out of sight from the unclean and vulterous in all the World I am the Light of the World saith Christ which lighteth every man that cometh into the World Saith John John 8.12 John 1.9 who was a witness of him that was and I do tell you of the same