Faith among all Nations for his Name Rom. 1.5 that in Ages to come they might shew forth the exceeding Riches of his Grace in his kindness towards them through Jesus Christ Ephes 2.7 and this is the Grace which is of God and is sufficient for the Salvation of them â—hat truly believe 2 Cor. 12.9 So that it is not an outward are Profession of what God hath wrought by Jesus Christ for the Salvation of others but that every man and woman live their Life in true Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace that by Faith in Christ they may witness the same Life through faith by which men are saved for the Grace of God bringeth Salvation only to them thaâ— believe in the the gift of his â—race without which no man can be saâ—ed foâ— it is by Grace that men are saved and noâ— oâ— an 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 of themselves but by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ Ephes 2 8. Then seeing it is by Gâ—ace that men are â—aved and not of themselves let every man and woman turn in the strength of the Mind to the teaching of Gods gift of Grace which teacheth to deny all Vngodliness and to live a righteous sober and godly Life in this present Woâ—â— that nothing may appear but what is good to the use of edifying that it may minister Grace to the Hearers Eph. 4.29 for where there is Obedience to the gâ—â— of Gods Grace â—â—e more of Christ dwelleth richly in all Wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Sâ—ngs singing with Grace in their Hearts Col. 3.16 17. which â—s contrary to the practice of mâ—â—y thousands who profess much in the outward of God and Christ in this day whereby they gain of one another the outward Name of Christians but inwardly in the Anti-christian Practice as their outward fruits manifest for where Faith is without Works it is 〈◊〉 dead Faith and in such Grace works no effect towards 〈◊〉 peace with God in Christ by whom the Righteous are 〈◊〉 conciled to God through Faith by Grace in him 〈◊〉 requires perfect Obedience to the gift of his Grace which teaches his â—eople to pray preach and sing with Grace 〈◊〉 their hearts to the praise and honour of his holy Name and edification of one another which they that yeild 〈◊〉 their Obedience to the Spirit of Grace cannot do for which cause of their unclean Fruits their Condemnation doth follow in which state they witness no true peace through Faith by Grace in Jesus Christ whose Sons and Daughters begotten through Grace in him they continue in the Way of the Lords own â—aying out having their words seasoned as with Sâ—â—â— and Grace abounding in their hearts through which by grace they become able Witnesses for the Lord of Life that by him through grace they are made able to perform his Will in what of them he requires by his good spirit of Grace Col. 3 17 in which state the Love of God by Jesus Christ is his Peoples everlasting Consolation and good Hope through Grace 2 Thes 2 1â— Not by Works of Righteousness which they have done but according to his Grace by the washing of Regeneration and the reâ—ewâ—nâ— of the holy Ghost Tit. 3 5 Which is sufficient encourage neâ— to come with holdness unto thâ— Throne of his Grace by which they obtain Mercy and find Grace to help in time of need Heb. 4.16 For the Grace of God hath appeared unto all men teaching them that they should dâ—ny Vngodliness and Wouldly Lâ—st and to live soberly righteously and godly in this present World Tâ—â— 2.11 12. By which we see and know that all men have received of his Grace sufficient for the present time and state for as the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation hath in measure appeared unto all men so all men that have neglected the day of Gods Visitation they shall be left without any excuse in that Day of the Lords calling all to an account for the Deeds done in the Body when it shall go well with the Righteous but sorrow and trouble will reach the Wicked on every side for the Lord will not hold them guiltless which take his Name in vain Then will the Wicked which have derided at the movings of Gods good Spirit of Grace in his People come to know a Day of Trouble when the Lord shall laugh at their Distress for unto them Damnation slumbereth nor sleepeth not but will overtake all the Ungodly as a Thieâ— in the Night of their Darkness but it shall go well with the Righteous which ask in Faith without doubting unto them is Salvation through Grace by Jesus Christ who came to save his People from their sins for which end he was made a littlâ— lower than the â—ngels for the suffering of Death and crowned with Glory and Honour that he might by the Grace of God taste Death for every man Hâ—â— 2 9. that whosoever believeth in him 〈…〉 but have Life eternal for the Promise 〈…〉 â—ent to then 〈◊〉 at believe in the gift of 〈…〉 of his Will and Mind by Faith thrâ—â— Grace in Jesus Christ by whom the Souls of them thaâ— believe in him are justified in the sight of God for he that sanctifies and they who are sanctified are all of one for which cause he is not ashamed to call them Brethren Heb. 2 11. for bâ— the Grace of God are they of him who unto them of God is made Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption 1 〈◊〉 1.30 by which People may see that the main cause why People perish is through Disobedience to the gift of Gods Grace which by Jesus Christ they have received and it bringeth the Tenders of Salvation to every man in some measure or degree which as improved leads unto perfect Salvation through Faith in Christ Jesus which they that refuse do unjustly charge God that is is for want of Grace by which they perish when that it is not for want of Grace tendered unto them but for want of their Obedience to the gift of Gods Grace which is sufficient for the Salvation of them that are faithful thereunto so as the Righteous through Faith and Obedience grow from grace to grace until they become perfect in Christ Jesus so the Unrighteous through unfaithfulness by Disobedience sin away the Grace of God more and more until the Day of Gods Grace with them be over and his Spirit with them hath left striving which all ought to consider while they have time to Repent for there is no repenting in the grave CHAP. XIV Concerning the Resurrection MAny are the People that are concerned to know how the dead are raised and with what Bodies they appear â—or 〈◊〉 what Bodies they do come forth Then seeing their minds are to concerned to know with what Bodies they shall appear doth manifest that they are not come to the knowledge of Gods saving Power through the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ which to know gives
dayes of this Life which Faith is begotten by the spirit of Anti-christ which rules in the Children of Disobedience whose minds are drawn into works of Darkness which are begotten by their Father the Devil the Prince Power of the Air whose â—iry Kingdom remains in the Heart and Mind of all Unrighteous men who are bewitched by the spirit of Anti-Christ that they should not obey the Truth of God made manifest by Jesus Christ Gal. 3.1 by whose Spirit the heart and mind in the righteous are governed from vain and evil Thoughts for every Thought Word and Action that tends not to the honour of God it proceeds from the lust of the corrupted Desire which yeilds its Obedience to the Spirit Power of Anti-christ who is that Devil and Enemy to God and all Mankind and his they are if they obey for his Servants ye are to whom ye obey whether of Sin unto Death or of Obedience unto Righteousness Rom. 6.16 So that Death Hell and Destruction remains in all Thoughts Words and Actions which proceed not from the Power of God in Obedience to the gift of his Spirit by Jesus Christ for all that is not of Gods Righteousness by the Spirit and Power of Christ is of Unrighteousness by the Spirit and Power of Anti-Christ So that all sin is of Unrighteousness and all unrighteousness is of the Devil who sinneth from the beginning and he that committeth sin it is of the Devil but whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin for his seed remnineth in him and he cannot Sin because he is born of God 1 Joh. 3.8.9 Then let no man be deceived by the Spirit of Anti-Christ or by any of his Disciples for he that doth Righteousness is righteous even as he is Righteous 1 Joh. 3.7 for whosoever committeth Sin is a Servant to sin Joh. 8.34 Then he that is a Servant to sin is free from Righteousness for the wages of sin is Death and God is not a God of the Dead but a God of them that are made alive by the Power of his Spirit in and thorough the Lord Jesus Christ whose gift of Righteousness is Life eternal that is to them that keep close in their minds with the Lord by which they may not be drawn into the Anti-Christian Faith of any one thing with which the Devil seeks to destroy the Soul for God is not mocked whatsoever men some that they shall also reap for he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap Corruption but he that soveth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life everlasting Gal 6.7.8 Now every-Spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God and every Spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God 1 Joh. 4 2.3 Then that which appears from a spirit in men which doth not lead from sinning against the gift of Gods holy Spirit their so living doth manifestuâ— a unrighteous Life is towards God and that unrighteous Life is in obedience to the Spirit of Anti-Christ which denyeth that Christ is come in the flesh of which Spirit there are many which have entered the false Prophets which are gone out into the World by which many are deceived for they are of the World and speak of the World and the World heareth them 1 â—oh 4.5 but the Children of God are begotten by the Power of his own Spirit in and thorough the Lord Jesus Christ and by Grace through Faith in him their works are of Righteousness before him who is the Author and the Finisher of his own Work in all them whose Works of Righteousness manifest Jesus Christ to be come in the flesh which the works of the Unrighteous do not do CHAP. XVIII Concerning the true Language and proper Nature of Speech and the true Names of the Days and Months And also the Vnrighteousness of Peoples vain living Through the Unrighteousness of Peoples careless living unto God they are got into a habitual custom of vain living before the Lord not regarding to live up in Obedience to the the Spirit of Truth which lead Gods faithful People into the true Nature of Speech and to call the Dayes of the Week and the Months of the Year by their proper Names according as by that Spirit of God they are recorded for People to learn in the holy Scriptures of Truth which givs a holy Testimony of the Righteous in dayes past who lived in all manner of good Life and holy Conversation before the Lord speaking their words in the true Language which is the proper Nature of Speech and calling the Days of the Week and and Months of the Year by their proper Names which holy Practise doth witness against this Generation of evil Doers who accostom themselves to a vain way of living both in Words and Actions by which it doth manifest that they are Lovers of their own vain Wayes and not the Lovers of Gods holy Truth which leads every upright hearted man and woman to keep in the true Language and proper Nature of Speech unto all men without respect of Person to any for that which the World terms Reâ—pect with Hand Hat and Knee and You to the Rich and Thee and Thou to the Poor is a respecting of Mâ—ns Peâ—sons which is a transgressing of Gods holy Law for they that respect mens persons commit sin and are convinced of the Law as Transgressors Jam 2.9 for thee and thou is proper to all men and you to more then one for God said thee and thou to Adam and Adam said thee and thou to God again Gen. 3.12 13. and the same was maintained between â—acob and his Sons Gen. 43.49 which proves that thee and thou was the true Nature of Speech between God and Man and Men and their Children as Jeptha a Judge in Israel did thee and thou his Daughter and his Daughter did thee and thou her Father again Judg. 11.3 5 6. And the three Children did thee and thou to the King and also Paul to Agrippa And the same form of thee and thou to a single person and you or ye to more then one was prectised by Christ to his Disciples and the same by the Disciples as thee and thou to Christ again which is the true Nature of speech as contained in holy Record thoroughout the Scriptures of Truth though some have wrested divers Scriptures thinking thereby to prove a lawfullness of saying thee and thou to more then one which doth not prove that you on ye is proper to a single person for those scriptures which they have wrested do manifest that when the spirit of God in his Servants and Messengers of his Truth did speak by the Spirit of Truth to a Nation Church or People it was proper to say either you or ye or thou which did include a Nation Church or People as one body in the cause which was from the Lord either for or against them which is not the
was done in Heaven therfore is it writen that as the body is dead without the spirit so is also Faith dead without Works that by whomsoever works are not manifested agreeable to Gods holy Truth and example of his holy People in days past they are only Christians in namê and not in nature of that life which God requireth of all men to live and abide in therefore it is that people profit not by what they hear or read because they are spiritually dead having blinded Eyes and deaf Ears with which they can neither see hear nor receive to understand the Spirit of Truth of which a manifestation is given to every man to profit withal and is the gift of his Spirit the Word of Faith to them that will hear to obey the Light of the Spirit of Truth which is the condemnation of the Disobedient who are here and there in this and the other Form of Religion serving God with mouth and lip in their own wisdom wills and with their own words being only called by the Name of Christ without the Nature of his Life which being destitute of no man can be a true Christian yet how contentedly do men live and abide in this and the other form but do not witness the strength of the power of God to redeem from sin and transgression and to make alive to God who is only a God them that through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the flesh and through the Spirit are brought in again by the flying Cherub and glittering Sword of Gods power in and by Christ the Tree of everlasting Life on which as any eats he cannot dye to God but hath an infallible assurance of life in the Son of God without which assurance no man can truly say that he pleaseth God in thought word and deed for it is the anointing which is by the Tree of Life that teacheth all things which leadeth into all Truth the evidence of which Spirit doth assure the Son in whom there is life and the nature of his life dwelleth and abideth in them that by true faith in him and obedience to the word of his Spirit they are made alive unto God and of this nature is Christ in his people and in whom he is not they are Reprobates and in whom he abideth not they are cursed Children abiding under the curse in their own wisdom knowledge will reason righteousness and the like which causeth them to lust more and more after the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil for which cause they rebel against the Spirit of God in themselves and deny his appearance in his People for which cause of Rebellion which is as the sin of Witch-craft the Truth of God abideth not in them therefore are they without God in the world living to their own God of which in the world there are many that delight and sweetly recreate their minds in by living a life of obedience to their own ways of righteousness which only proceeds from lust that gives way for men to live according as their own will and reason directeth them in all they do for God and to one another all which is vnder the Curse as it is written Cursed is he that putteth his Trust in man and maketh flesh his Arm. So all men that live in flesh and blood and are obedient to their own wisdom will and reason they are servants to their own lust being in bondage as slaves servants to that and those things which they do as it is written Men are Servants to him to whom they obey and Children of him whose work they do therefore he that will be free from the curse of condemnation must take up the cross and deny himself of all things which are not of God and his Spirit of Truth otherwise he cannot come to the Tree of Life but will fall short of that Crown of Righteousness which is in store for all them that abide faithful to God as by his divine Light he doth lead and teach by the spirit of Truth which leadeth into all Truth by which men are made fit to enter in at the strait gate of Christâ— Kingdom CHAP. VII Concerning Judgment begun at the House of God and in his House to judge down every appearance of evil THe House of God in general where Judgment first beginneth is his people but Judgment cometh to every Transgressor of his holy Truth and that to judge down every appearance of evil therefore said one in his day Who shall deliver me from this Body of sin death Now the Body of this man was the House of God and Temple of the holy Ghost in which God by his Judgment was at work to judge down cast out and destroy every lust that would evalt it self above the Witness of God that the House of God might be throughly cleansed and only become a house of â—oly Habitation for the Spirit of Truth to abide in for as 〈◊〉 is written The high holy one who inhabits EternÃty dwelleth not in Temples made with hands but taketh up his abode with men of clean hearts contrite spirits that fear him and work righteousness do justly love mercy and walk humbly such bear the image of God and nature of Christ with whom and in whom both Father and Son do take up their abode therefore where men give not up to come under the cross and follow the light and word of Gods Spirit in obedience to his call they resist the holy one crucifie him afresh to themselves such defile the house and temple of God and them will God destroy indeed how many such people with a fair Israel 〈…〉 of Religion are crept into a profession of Gods Truth 〈◊〉 â—hrough deceit have under the like profession entered 〈◊〉 selves as Christians among the People of God but he that caused the Net to be cast into the Sea which brought forth good and bad to the shore the same doth permit the net of profession to gather all sorts of People into the outward name Christian therefore doth Judgment also begin at the House of God which are his people to make a seperation between the precious and the vile not only to purge and cleanse from lusts but also to cut off the stubborn and stiff-necked ones which will not submit to the cross whose Judgment will also reach to the old Age of them that live in disobedience to the Spirit of Truth for Judgment from God hath spread it self to the ends of the Earth and hath begun its work at the house of God If the righteous scarcely are saved where shall the ungodly and sinners appear Judgment is not come to bring peace to any unrighteous person but is gone forth to do the work of God among the People and will both inwardly and outwardly lay waste and destroy all that is not of himself for that which only is of himself shall stand and that which is not of himself shall come to nought and therefore Judgment from God is gone forth to the ends of Earth that all that will be gathered may be preserved and that which will not hear the Spirit of Truth to be obedient thereto the same shall be scattered abroad till Judgment gather it as Fuel for the fire of Gods Wrath which forever burneth against the unrighteousness of wicked and ungodly men and for this very end is judgment at work for God that he may gather a People pure in heart and of uprightness in mind which in all things shall be of one spirit and mind towards him in thought word work therefore let none in this day which make a profession of Gods holy Truth deceive themselves for God will not be mocked such as every man soweth of the same he shall 〈◊〉 reap whether to the flesh or to the Spirit for all that is of the Spirit the spirit giveth evidence in every faithful man and woman that it is of God though the Spirit abideth not in every unrighteous man yet the appearance of it is often to their condemnation and so doth continue 〈◊〉 it hath left striving and the day of Gods Grace be over having sinned out the day of Gods Visitation Let all therefore consider in what state they abide as to God whose promise to the Righteous is That it shall go well with them but it shall go ill with the Wicked Therefore let not these Truths which have been received by the Spirit of Truth find itching Ears among any but as every man turn in his mind to the Spirit of Truth he will witness the truth of these Things â—th 1st Mon. 1694. THO. MAVLE THE END
to do as many say that if they live where Governours and Rulers are they must be subject to their Laws which they say are ordained of God for the benefit of Church and State otherwayes say they we cannot be subject to all Powers which are ordained of God Now this I do believe that all Powers which are to keep down sin and evil that they are ordained of God but for any to think that the holy Apostle did include the Powers of Darkness to be ordained of God is gross Ignorance in them that so believe for all the Powers of Darkness are of the Devil who is the Father of all Unrighteousness and God never ordained the Devil nor any of his Dark Towers which rule in the Children of Disobedience of whom some have asserted to me That God made the Devil as he now is a Devil but it s through Disobedience to God and Obedience to the Power of the Devil men come to grow into such gross Ignorance that they will venture to the hazard of their souls to say that which they neither know nor understand for the Powers of Darkness which God permits to rule in the Children of Disobedience are for a tryal of his Peoples Faith who are not to submit in active obedience to the dark Powers of the Earth among unrighteous men which cause the righteous to suffer for the Truth of God and Testimony of Jesus which if any refuse Obedience to suffer for the Truth of God and Name of his Son Jesus Christ they cannot be his Disciples for he that is not willing to part with his Life for the sake of Christ can never be made partaker of his heavenly Riches in the Life to come for he that denyeth Crhist before men he will be denyed of Gods Kingdom by Jesus Christ in the World to come so that the Righteous are not to be subject in active Obedience they are to submitt and that for Conscience sake well knowing that their reward will follow in heavenly Riches of Gods Kingdom where the Wicked shall never come So all Powers that be are of God who permits the Devils Power in unrighteous men for a tryal of his Peoples Faith and that he may gain honour to his ovvn Name through their damnation which fullfils the Apostles saying Let every soul be subject to the higher Power for there is no Power but what is of God either by commission or permission for the Power of the Devil God doth permit in unrighteous men whose Power the rightous are not actually to obey for if they should actually they any unrighteous Power in so doing they resist the Ordinance of God and to themselves receive Damnation Rom. 13 1â— which according to the Apostles words no man is actually to obey any Power save the Power of God which is saving to them that through Faith live in Obedience to his Truth according as the holy Apostle did or example who hinself was accounted one of the greaâ—est Transgressors of mens Laws in that he was not in â—ctual Obedience to any of their dark Powers which â—ere then in his time for which cause he himself suffered 〈◊〉 the Name of Jesus through whose Power his People â—ome to be redeemed from all actual Obedience to the â—eviles Power which rules in Unrighteous men which â—ould force People from their Obedience to God which â—ermits the Disobedient to wrêst the holy Scriptures to â—eir own Distruction in which state they would bind 〈◊〉 others to believe in their Anti-Christian Faith that 〈◊〉 is of God and that if any man resist their Power that 〈◊〉 resisteth the Ordinance of God and to himself receives â—amnation which is the very way of promoting the Kingdom of Anti-Christ through whose Power many weak People are seduced from the true Faith and have distrusted in the Power of God by their actual Obedience of conforming to the dark Powers of the Devils setting up in wicked men but the day will come which haltens towards the wicked whom the Lord by his mighty Power will overthrow for all power is committed unto him whose power is over the power of the Devil which the power of God suffers to rule that he may see who will serve him the God of all Truth which permits the Devil to set up and pull down even to the making waste oâ— one another but they that truly serve the Lord shall stand forever for he is God and Lord over all whose almighty Power suffers one dark Power to pull down one and to set up another until his time comes whose right it is to rule in Truth and Righteousness in the heart of every man and woman and in the mean time they that rule for God are not a Terror to good works but to the evil for they are the Ministers of God for the Peoples good that they that do evil might be afraâ—d for he bareth not the Sword in vain but is the Minister of God and a Revenger to execute wrath upon them that do evil Rom. 13.3.4 Wherefore ye must needs be subject not only for Wrath but also for Conscience sake Vers 5. and for this cause pay you Tribute also for they are Gods Ministers attending continually upon this very thing Vers 6. Render therfore their due Tribute to whom Tribute is due Custom to whom Custom is due Fear to whom Fear is due Honour tâ— whom Honour is due owe no man any thing but love on another Rom. 13.7 8. Now them that are faithfully in Obedience to the Power of Gods gift of Grace by Jesus Christ they fear the Lord and work his Righteousness through which they live in the love of God towards all men which is the fullfilling of the Law Vers 8. in which staâ—e oâ— true love they render to all men rich and poor vvhatever the Lord requireth of them to do for their obedience is to the power of his own spirit which leads every Just and upright man in Power to rule for Gods Honour through which they have Dominion over the evil Doers and praise unto them that do well such Rulers bare not the Sword in â—aine but he that respects the Person of any man in Justice and Judgment is a Transgressor of Gods holy Law is convinced of the Law as a Transgressor Jam. 2. â— for they that rule for God do no unrighteousness in Judgment neither do they respect the Persons of the Poor nor honour the Persons of the Mighty but in Righteousness judge they their Neighbour Lev 19.15 for they hear the small as well as the great without respecting the persons of either thereby they do not fear the face of any man for the Judgment is the Lords which if there be any thing too hard for them they are to wait on the Lord who in his own due time will manifest the truth of the Cause by which they may come to render true Judgment according to the mind of God Deut. 1.17 but if they respect mens Persons and wrest
likewise are his People and Paradise and that the Beast spoken of in the Revelations which the whole World both great and small do at this day worship in their hearts as likewise the Tree of knowledge of good and Evil is within men for the whole exterior World or whatsoever either is or is done outwardly are but only an accident and figure signifying the Truth of the thing and the internal nature and therefore there is nothing true of whatsoever is seen with the Eyes of man for the figure and fashion of this World must pass away and perish as being nothing else but a certain imaginary World and the figure that is true right eternal and subsisting of it self consequently all things which in the Bible weâ—e done externally and signifyingly must again be done and again be brought to tâ— pass after their manner and all the History of the Bible and all Moses and the Prophets for the whole Scriptures to this day stand in force and are continually accomplished and fulfilled internally and spiritually for all things are by Christ translated into the Truth therefore it must needs be that all the Prophesies which God sâ—ake from the beginning of the World by the mouth of his holy Ones must still be called back reiterated or done over again therefore that shadow or that Tree was and is nothing else in the Truth but the â—ature will knowledge and life of Adam of this he should not have eaten this he should not have ascribed or arrogaâ—ed to himself but should a been-free and freely subject to God and not to have known any thing but what God knew in him nor to have done any thing but what God did in him nor to have spoken any thing but what God spake in him c. And upon this account every man is as much forbidden this Tree as Adam was to the end that God without any impediment might have exercised his Almighty Kingdom Will Nature Power in him but himself should have been utterly void of all knowledge will or nature and not to have arrogated any of these as proper to himself this pleaseth God this was that which he commanded and what he would have had done to this interpretation agreeth true Divinity that this Tree in the substance thereof is nothing else but mans own Will Knowledge of which alone in all the earthly Paradise of this wide World of mens hearts they ought not to eaâ— but to account it forbidden except they will eat of Death and Distruction for as soon as Adam fell by eating of this Tree the Tree was immediately planted in his mind and afterwards derived into all the branches and fruit thereof so that as the same Word precept and forbidding was commanded to all so is the same Fall all men which are in Adam have novv eaten of Death and received from the Serpent this undigested Pâ—yson so that it is easily perceived hovv man is his ovvn greatest Enemy and vvhat he ought to think of himself of his ovvn Will Understanding Wisdom and Knovvledge seeing it is the Counsel Seed Wisdom Knowledge and Head of the Serpent vvhich must by Christ be bruised in the Children of men for it must needs be that as in the old Testament was signified by Circumcision that in the new one by Baptism which is that of the Spirit through Regeneration and being new born of the incorruptible Seed of the Kingdom of God therefore he that will be made fit for the Kingdom of Heaven must part with and put off all things by nature and Inheritance by Adam even as he would do the Devil and Death it self viz. his own Will Prudence Wisdom and Righteousness where-with as fig-leaves their Adam doth vainly seek to 〈◊〉 himself for that is Sin and the 〈◊〉 of Death namely to eat of this True to 〈…〉 as 〈◊〉 his own Wisdom Prudence 〈…〉 but alas who knowâ— this 〈…〉 who is it that is displeased with his own 〈◊〉 Understanding occâ—â—isdom when will men forsake them where are the men that do not delight themselves in their own will and recreate their minds svveetly and contentedly therein reposing upon their own knowledge understanding and the â—ike The Tree is fair to be looked upon and sweet to be tasted and therefore do the Sons of Men so greedily swallow and devour Death as Adam did land this is the misery that men know it not neither think they of it but judge it to be good and think assuredly that this is the Tree of Life even to follow their own Wills and their own Conceits and Opinion of good which indeed is false to know much to discern many sciences and so to grow great in their own Thoughts assume to become Gods and in the mean time they are not aware that this is Adams fall his biting of the Apple yea his bitter Death it self yet are continually speaking â—f the miserableâ— state of Man by Adams fall but not take notice the same is done in themselves and many are they that talk of his eating and pretend to detest it and him for it yet themselves eat of it even as he hath done which doth manifest the miserable state of men who prepare a Rod for themselves by giving sentence against their own life by condemning their first Father Adam and perceive not themselves fast in the same Trap. Here then consider diligently what mans Will Knowledge and Understanding is where with they think they may come into the presence of God whereas indeed it is nothing but the bitterness of Death and the fruit of the forbidden Tree how few is there among men that perceive this or will learn to put off deny fear mortifie or kill his own Will and Wisdom nay rather do they not hold it fast extol and value it as pure Gold whenas indeed it is eternal Death and truly in this Misery the whole World lieth sick and few is the number of them blessed Ones who are delivered from themselves and their own wills power and wisdom but are a small remnant and few in number as one of a City and two of a Tribe that find this strait gate and enter in at it CHAP. II. Concerning the Tree of Life what it is and why Adam was shut out forbiaden and with-holden from it and not suffered to eat thereof I Can also allow that there is the Tree of Life likewise in Paradise as we find recorded in the holy Scripture whose fruit might have been so seasoned and endued by God and how it had that nature that he who should eat of it should live forever and never dye and when Adam had eaten of the forbidden Tree and had fallen as God foretold into Death it might not now be that he should be permitted to eat of the Tree of Life otherwise he might have lived forever and the Word of God if thou eat thereof thou shalt dye the Death had been false Moreover God who is meer Love and cannot forever be angry
another mans necessity whereby the borrower rather becomes a slave than a servant to the lender who through covetousness can in no wise simpathize nor participate with his friend or neighbour in loss or cross whatever because the affectionate part is only to self so as covetousness can do no good work to it self neither can it do that which is properly good to another therefore is it not safe to be too far concerned with the god of any covetous Usurer for as it wholly tends to the destruction of the soul of him that binds so it also tends to impoverish him that is bound for the lust of a covetous man namely the Devil his idol and god will never suffer the rust and canker to feed upon his Money nor the mote to devour his goods more than to supply the necessity of any man without interest so that the mercy and pity of a covetous man is plain Cruelty not only to his own soul but also to the body of others who are concerned with the idol or god of a covetous man whose mind is always bent towards the enlarging of his idol therefore he taketh the opportunity of every advantage by bill bond mortgage and the like to enrich himself with those things which will perish with him except he repent and of this nature by opportunity through advantage of another mans necessity do men enrich and impoverish one another so that Oppression among men is like to a sweeping rain which drives all from one man into the bounds and possession of another through which many men are enlarged with Mountains Hills and Vallies when many have not whereon to set their foot and of this nature is it that Covetousness leads to Usury Oppression and the like which hath divided the things of this World and is the only portion of every covetous proud and vain man which does not forsake and repent of all his evil deeds and covet after the better part unto which is the promise of adding all things needful therefore is it written The Righteous are never forsaken nor their seed begging Bread Say unto the righteous it shall go well with them but with the wicked it shall go ill Therefore study after Righteousness and covet after the better part against which lust to covetousness cannot prevail for lust to covet after the Riches of this World is as natural to the Children of men as the ground is natural to bring forth Weeds therefore is it that men by nature of their own wills wisdoms knowledges reasons righteousnesses and the like will not come under the cross to hear and obey Moses and the Prophets to fulfil what the Law required of him to do so also are they accursed which refuse to hear and obey the Voice of the Son of God whose gift of divine light is the condemnation of every covetous mans thoughts words and works so that Covetousness is of no profit to any man that gains the riches of this world with the loss of his soul but godlâ—ness with content is great gain to them that fear God work righteousness do justly love mercy walk humbly and do no other thing to others than as themselves would be done unto Yet notwithstanding this and whatever else is written in the holy Scriptures against Covetousness how do men daily nourish and cherish it as if it were a godd of such a nature and life as to abide with them forever therefore are they so choice of this lust of unrighteousness that for its sin they provide the largest cloak for of all other sins Covetousness is most in credit among the Sons of men therefore they will not let this Devil go naked but cloath it with credible Names not as sin or vile but as thrift provident good care of a mans own and care of the main chance and not only so but will protect and defend it with Scripture words viz. He that provideth not for his own house is worse than an Idfidel and hath denyed the Faith Therefore as God directeth is my labour to uncloak and lay open this Lust Devil and Sin of Covetousness which abideth in the wise and prudent of this World who through coveting after Money the love of which is the root of all evil in them that will neither enter the Kingdom of Heaven nor suffer others which are entering to go therein which doth manifest their Covetousness to exclude all love and fear to God and all love and pity to their Neighbours good Nay what sin is it that Covetousness leads men not to commit it leadeth them that are covetous to oppress cozen deceive lye and sell their Conscience for every trifle also it leads men to turn from the Faith betray the Truth sell it for Money and to hold the Truth in Unrighteousness it leads men to forsake all good Religion to turn Persecutors which is the greatest Oppression that can be for it sweeps away the Life and Estate of many men it leads men to wait as Troops of Robbers to kill and destroy by the consent of unrighteous Laws which have been made by covetous Usurers And I may say Covetousness not only leads men to kill and steal by the high-way but to rob God of his honour by stealing his words which he spake by the mouth of his holy Ones whose words they sell for Money each looking for his gain from his Quarter which if any man refuse to pay open war is prepared against him and of this and the like nature doth Covetousness lead men to sin against God even to the destroying of their peace with him for to the Wicked there is no true peace in this life nor in the Life to come Covetousness is one of the chief gates and Inlets to the broad way of Death Hell and Destruction and is so delightful and well-pleasing that many are led thereby into all manner of Abominations even to rebel against God and King and to change the form of Worship at every change in Government In short it leadeth Parents to destroy their Children and Children to destroy their Parents also it leadeth men to lye and swear and to hold the the Truth in unrighteousness and to pervert the truth thereby to turn the cause of the Fatherless and Widdow Therefore let all men beware of coveting after that which God hath forbidden for while some have beên coveting after Riches they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows because it is such a sin that it draws the soul of him that is over much righteous into perdition for over much righteous before men is over much wicked in the sight of God because its only mans own works which is plain hypocrisie and deceit and indeed so are all things which are not done by man in truth and sincerity with uprightness of heart and mind to God whose all-seeing eye beholdeth the evil and the good in all men whatever among whom the heart of some that labour to