salvation onely depends upon him if these men for difference in judgement onely concerning this Jesus shall persecute each other before a Magistrate or the like there remains no more sacrifice for that sin 11 For that is the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit because they persecuted each other for his sake which they both confessed to be their God and Savior even to their own knowledge 12 And in so doing they condemned their own faith and to the utmost of their power they crucified the Lord of glory afresh and put him to an open shame even before his filthy scoffing enemies 13 Again if a man shall come in the holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and shall declare many heavenly secrets which he hath received from the throne of glory 14 If men which confess the same Jesus because the things declared are contrary to their ways and hard sayings to their comprehensions shall therefore condemn them as delusions and blasphemies and the spirit which spake them to be of the devil in so doing they have fallen under that sin of eternal condemnation because as aforesaid they have crucified the Lord of Glory afresh and put him to an open shame and have judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life and have denied their own faith and hopes in him thorow their despising that holy spirit which seals men up unto the day of redemption 15 My beloved brethren though any one beloved Dalilah reigning in men unto the death tendeth to eternal condemnation yet there are no actual sins whatsoever but are pardonable unless men commit them upon the account aforesaid 16 My spiritual brethren there is a vast difference between the heirs of glory and the vessels of shame concerning this sin 17 The holy spirit of Christ Jesus hath endued his elect with such a measure of light though most of them know it not that by vertue of that holy fire they are not onely preserved from that condemning evil but are rather fearful they have or shall commit it 18 But on the contrary the desperate reprobate is so far from any kinde of fear in him concerning the committing of that cast-away sin that when occasion is offered he glorieth in it as the acceptable sacrifice unto his God and yet knows it not 19 Thus briefly I have touched upon the unpardonable sin against the holy spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ whose very saying onely makes a sin pardonable or unpardonable because he is Truth it self and cannot possibly lie Verily I say unto you all sins shall be forgiven unto the children of men and blasphemies wherewith they blaspheme but he that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost shall never have forgiveness but is culpable of eternal damnation because they said he had an unclean spirit Mark 3.28 29 30. You blessed ones know who it was that spake those words CHAP. XI 1 Of the true nature of Infiniteness 2 Wherein it lyeth viz. in the not knowing its beginning or ending 3 Infiniteness and Finiteness are uncapable of equal glory 4 Against all true reason that there should be three persons in the Trinity 5 Christ and the Father one undivided God-head 6 Denying Christ to be the onely God is Antichrist 7 How Prayers are heard IN the next place from the Holy One of Israel I shall demonstrate the absurdity of that error of Trinity of Persons in the unity of God-head 2 My beloved spiritual brethren if the divine Majesty should contain of three distict persons in coequal God-head glory and each person be uncreated and eternal of it self then in stead of those Names of Father Son and Holy Ghost they would of necessity be three Fathers onely 3 Because you know that if the person of a Son or Holy Ghost were created or begotten or proceeded from a Father then it is contrary to all sober sense or reason that the persons of Son and Holy Ghost should either be co-equal with the Father or eternal of themselves 4 Moreover if the persons of Son and Holy Ghost proceeded from the Father then they are but finite created glories and in degree lower than the Father 5 You that are spiritual know that that which received its beginning from another could not possibly be made equal with that which was eternal of it self 6 Uncreated incomprehensible infiniteness was capable to transmute it self into a lower condition for its own transcendent advantage in the spirits of his elect but it was utterly impossible for him to create infinite incomprehensible beings to become coequal in Godhead wisdom power and glory with himself 7 Uncreated glory is so unutterably infinite that it is uncapable to comprehend the height length breadth or depth of its own eternal excellencies 8 If this saying seem strange unto any man as to cause him to think it ridiculous or dishonorable to the Creators glory unto that man I positively affirm from the spirit of Truth that it is so far from any kinde of dishonor unto the divine Majesty that on the contrary all the variety of spiritual joys or heavenly pleasures for himself or elect-men and angels consists onely in his perfect understanding that he cannot possibly know any beginning or ending of his glorious excellencies 9 To know the beginning or ending of it self you know causeth nothing but sorrows rather then joys 10 So likewise on the contrary not to know any beginning or ending of it self must needs occasion nothing else but ravishing everlasting joyes 11 Thus you which are spiritual may clearly see the falacy of the three persons and one God spoken of in Athanasius Creed you know that infiniteness and finiteness are uncapable of equal glory 12 Also you know that if there should have been three persons eternally of themselves there could not possibly have been any Son or Holy Ghost at all because a Son or Holy Ghost proceeds from a Father and not as beforesaid from themselves 13 Moreover you may understand that if it stood to any true faith or sober reason that there were three persons eternally of themselves yet they of necessity must be three Fathers onely and so agreeing together two of those Fathers must be transmuted into a Son and Holy Ghost by the other Father or from themselves to make up this confused Trinity proceeding from the Literal-mongers of this vain-glorious perishing world or conscientious non-commissionated men which would compel Words to become Persons having no positive record to prove any such three persons throughout the whole Scriptures but the contrary altogether My glory I will not give to another saith the Holy One of Israel Jehovah our ever-living Iesus God onely wise blessed for ever and ever honored onely from his elect men and angels 14 My spiritual brethren you know that the Lord Jesus Christ hath not onely the God-head Titles in Scripture records but also all the glory from men and angels was attributed unto him in the body of his flesh And let all the angels of God worship him Heb. 1. To
A DIVINE Looking-Glass OR The third and last Testament of our Lord JESUS CHRIST Whose personal Residence is seated on his Throne of Eternal Glory in another world Being the Commission of the Spirit agreeing with and explaining of the two former Commissions of the Law and the Gospel differing onely in point of Worship Set forth for the Tryal of all sorts of supposed Spiritual Lights in the world until the Ever-living true JESUS the onely High and Mighty God personally appear in the Air with his Saints and Angels By John Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton Pen-men hereof and the last chosen Witnesses unto that Ever-blessed Body of Christ Jesus glorified to be the onely wise very true God alone Ever-lasting Father and Creator of both worlds and all that were made in them Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly to testifie and fulfil thy own promise in thy Records of Truth that thy redeemed ones may really know that thou hast seat us and art that unchangeable God which cannot possibly lie though millions of unredeemed mankinde thereby should everlastingly perish Printed in the year of our Lord 1656. and since reviewed by and reprinted for Lodowick Muggleton one of the said Witnesses dwelling in great Trinity-lane in London near â—he Sign of the Lyon and the Lamb where this Book is to be had 1661. To the spiritual discerning Reader MY beloved spiritual brethren in whom is rooted and really grounded the saving light of Life eternal I know that the manifold breakings forth of seeming glorious appearances in this Age can by no means be hid from your eyes Also you know that the true light of Life hath almost discovered them all to be nothing else but the very depth of mens serpentine subtilties cloaked over with the divine titles of the most infinite and holy God so that mens glittering language now is of no value unto you unless the holy Spirit beareth witness unto your spirits that the Lord hath spoken unto them from heaven neither can men blinde your eyes with their natural miracles artificial juglings sophistical signs and wonders to cause you ever the sooner for that to receive them as immediately sent forth by the ever-living God I say it is not lofty words of imaginary voices visions dreams revelations variety of languages declarations of the knowledge of the heights and depths of perishing nature pretended Jerusalem Journeys supposed seeing of spiritual Angels with eyes of natural flesh and familiar conversing with them and knowing the names of all the holy Angels in glory and every mans protecting Angel in this world or any such like carnal fancies can blinde your eyes any more which have received from above a distinguishing gift between the things of eternal life and death not onely from its effects but from its first causes also My selected brethren unto a pure light language and life from the very true God I certainly know that nothing in this world will satisfie your hungry souls but a right understanding of spiritual things which are eternal in that world to come therefore unto you alone which look not after gilded words but glorious things present I this Epistle from that Spirit which can neither deceive nor be deceived by men nor angels Wherefore if any sober man of a quick comprehension shall suppose that this Writing might have been composed into fewer words then is here inserted I hope he shall wisely consider that things of such concernment requires more words then ordinary not onely for informing and confirming of the simple Saints but also for confounding of the subtile Serpents of this Age. Moreover you that peruse this Epistle which are of an unjudging tender spirit may also know that before the eternal Spirit in Christ Jesus became my Minister I was very weak in the knowledge of learned mens Opinions their Disputes or Writings concerning heavenly things which are hid from them and revealed unto unlearned babes Therefore the chief desire of my soul is that it may be manifested unto elect men and Angels whether the substance of this Epistle proceeds from mine own carnal spirit or from the most pure and holy Spirit of God himself I mean that one personal glorious Majesty of our Lord Iesus Christ whose divine nature both is and shall be Crowns of immortal ravishing Excellencies in all his elect at the great and dreadful Day of eternal burning vengeance upon the souls and bodies of all bloody-minded impenitent Persecutors that ever were born John Reeve Another Epistle annexed to this Book My beloved spiritual Brethren who are or shall come to be really grounded in the true Doctrine which is held forth in the three Commissions namely the Commission of Moses and the Prophets 2 Of Christ Jesus and the Apostles 3 Of the Commission of the Spirit which Commission is now extant in the world though not accompanied with visible signs and natural miracles as the other two Commissions had in their time when their Commission was in being yet this I am sure that this Commission of the Spirit being the last Commission that God will ever send into this world while time is no more therefore it is that this Commission of the Spirit hath the onely interpretation of the two former Commissions for there is no man in the world at this day let him be of what Sect or Opinion soever that doth truly know any part of the Scriptures but this Commission of the Spirit onely notwithstanding they labor so much after the knowledge of them yet for wanâ— of a Commission from God they have no true understanding of any one principal or true ground of faith for all that they do of that nature is nothing else but the very strength of reason and reason can never truly know the deep things of eternity because there is no man in the world at this day that hath the knowledge of the true God his Form and Nature the right devil his form and nature but this Commission of the Spirit onely Therefore when God spake these words unto John Reeve saying I have given thee understanding of my minde in the Scriptures above all the men in the world Also God did say at the same time I have given thee Lodowick Muggleton to be thy mouth So that according to the words of God he hath given us two to understand more of his mind in the Scriptures then all the men in the world do at this day that is more spiritual knowledge of the Scriptures than all the men in the world because God hath chosen us two to be his last Commissionated Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit to declare and make known unto the Seed of Faith those great mysteries which have layen hid in the breast of God ever since the foundation of this world was laid and in the time of their Commission was in some measure made manifest unto the sons of men by some part of the mystery of God as those Commissions aforesaid namely Moses and Jesus But now
to please God Furthermore it is written That faith is the gift of God 30 In these Records and many more such like you see the Scritures takes no notice of the word pure reason by which men could know any thing of the true God or of his heavenly secrets at all 31 Therefore I would fain know whether those men that call pure reason the Divine Nature are fit to interpret Scriptures or to bear the name of Gospel-Ministers but I will leave them at present to him that will discover them soon enough to their costs CHAP. II. 1 What the substances of Earth and Water were from eternity 2 A great secret revealed concerning Death and Hell 3 Concerning the Heavens above 4 Earth and Water not eternally glorious 5 The residence of the Creator 6 Earth and Water uncreated substances A Gain in the next place by inspiration from the unerring Spirit I positively affirm that the substances of Earth and Water were from all eternity in the Creators presence uncreated sensless dark dead matter like unto water and dust that have no kinde of life or light or vertue in them at all 2 Also I declare from the Holy Spirit that darkness death or devil and hell lay secretly hid in that earth above this perishing Globe and in the sight of the Creator were eternally naked and bare both in their root and in their fruit 3 Again I declare from the true Light of Life Eternal that that world or kingdom where the Creators glorious person is visible is a place or throne infinite in length bâ—eadth or height answerable unto an infinite Majesty 4 Moreover for your information that are spiritual from the true God I declare that in this heavenly City there is no Firmament Sun Moon nor Stars so that you may understand that is an infinite open place for Divine personal ascending or descending at pleasure onely under foot is fixed a spiritual earth and a chrystal sea 5 Furthermore you that are spiritual may know that it stands to very good sense that an infinite Majesty cannot be confined to a finite world or kingdom as this is I mean when he possesseth the throne of immortality as at this time or before he became a body of unspotted flesh 6 Again concerning that glorious earth and chrystal sea aforesaid I would not have you to think that I mean it was eternally so but after or in the finishing of the creation of Angels and variety of other creatures the infinite vertue of the Creators word produced that chrystal spirituality in them that both visible as well as invisible every thing or creature appointed to abide in the presence of the Divine Majesty might be all glory in their kinde and measure answerablâ— to the unmeasurable variety of unspeakable glory in the Creator himself 7 My spiritual brethren you know that it is an opinion of the Learned that those substances Earth and Water aforesaid were not eternal but they have long imagined that the Creator spake the word and so they came to be and after he had given them their being he formed all things that were made out of them 8 My beloved brethren you may know that this must needs be an error because you know that the word Create is to make formless dead matter into sensible living forms 9 Besides this you know as for creating of those elements of water or dust there is no Scripture maketh mention of any such thing therefore a meer imagination but more of this in the 6. Chapter 10 Again you know that from eternity the divine nature of the Creators spirit was nothing but immortal fiery glory of life and light It is written God is light and in him there is no darkness at all and it is written in Gen. 1. And darkness was upon the deep 11 My Brethren if the Creator be all life and light as you know he is then without controversie the dead earth and dark deep water never proceeded out of his glorious mouth but if that Scripture should be objected where it is said I create light and I create darkness to that I answer The mind of the holy Spirit in those words was this that he created those souls that were naturally dark and he created these mortal spirits that were full of immortal light but on the contrary there was not the least meaning in those words or any other throughout the Scriptures that God created or gave any being or beginning unto dead dark sensless earth and water as aforesaid 12 Whatever men vainly imagine the Creator to be if they shall conclude there was nothing eternal but God onely if they acknowledge the Creator to be some glorious thing which is incomprehensibly infinite then I would fain leâ—rn of those wise men where the glorious Creator was resident when he gave a being to earth and water If they shall say unto me that he was uncapable to be in any one place because he was every where As to that I cannot understand which way the Creator should be every where or any where at all if he had no place or habitation to abide in neither finite nor infinite 13 God being all light life joy and glory in himself from eternity is it not against all divine or humane light that is not unreasonable that ever those daâ—k dead elements of earth and water should have their original from his glorious spirits because their natures are so contrary that it was impossible that they should proceed from one another for alas what is death or darkness Is it not through the absence of life or light And is not life being overcome by death absolutely become death and darkness or utter silence for a moment 14 Again if light and darkness or life and death meet together is there any peace or agreement between them untill life be swallowed up by death or death be swallowed up into life 15 If th s be so the which no sober man can gainsay then without controversie earth and water were uncreated substances eternally distinct from the God of glory because the Scripture saith and darkness covered the face of the deep CHAP. III. 1 Of the Angels 2 Their Form and Nature 3 Out of what they were made 4 The Serpent which tempted Eve 5 The Cause why any creature was formed 6 Who are partakers of the Divine Nature 7 No created being capable of the essence of God to dwell in it A Gain from the true light of life I affirm that the Angels were the first sensible living beings formed by the Creator 2 I declare also that the angelical host were all produced by his word speaking into that dust without or above this visible heavens 3 Moreover I positively affirm from the same light that all the Angels in the heavenly throne aforesaid are persons in forms like men and not bodiless spirits as the Learned have long declared and the nature of their angelical spirits are pure reason onely 4 From the God of all
or glory at all and hell or misery must be essentially distinct from heaven or glory or else there can be no certain hell or misery at all 40 Moreover the glorious person of the divine Majesty himself must of necessity be essentially distinct from men angels heaven earth and all in them or elâ—e it were impossible that there should be any God or angels men or devils heaven or hell or any thing else besides but accidental things proceeding from those four elements of earth air water and fire as all filthy Atheists vainly and blindly imagine 41 But my beloved spiritual brethren you have not so learned Christ or received the truth of the ever-living Jesus into your innocent souls to abide in any such foolish darkness 42 Wherefore for your confirmation chiefly is this Epistle written that you may be enabled to discern the lying notions and fleshly voluntary wilâ—-worship in man contending against the secret decrees of the Holy One of Israel 43 Furthermoâ—e because many of the elect of God are as yet in bonds by the exceeding subtilty of many silver-roule merchants of this perishing world therefore I shall endeavor to confirm what is written from a cloâ—d of un-erring Witnesses my spiritual Brethren the foâ—mer true Prophets and Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ wherefore it was saiâ— by our God which is Christ Jesus the Lord that heaven and eaâ—th shall pass away but his words shall not pass away 44 Again it is written That he made all things for his own glory and the wicked for the day of wrath Also it is written That Jacob was loved and Esau was hated before they had done good or evil that the purpose of God might remain according to election For he saith to Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and will have compassion on whom I will have compassion So then it is not in him that willeth nor in him that runneth but in God that sheweth mercy Further it is written But O man who art thou which pleadest against God shall the thing formed say to him that formed it whâ— hast thou made me thus hath not the Potter power over the clay to make of the same lamp one vessel to honour and another to dishonour what if God would to shew his wrath and to make his power known suffer with long paâ—ience the vessels of wrath prepared to destruction and that he might declare the riches of his glory upon the vessels of mercy which he hath pâ—epared unto glory Rom 9. And in Rom. 8. it is thus written Also we know that all things work togeâ—her for the bâ—st unto them that love God even to them that are called of his purpose for those which he knew before he also predestinated to be made lâ—ke to the image of his Son moreovâ—r whom he predestinated thâ—m also he called and whom he called them also he justified and whom he justified them also he glorified Again in the first Epistle of Peter it is thus written Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture Behold I lay in Sion a chief corner stone elect and precious and he that believeth therein shall not be ashamed unto you therefore which believe it is precious but unto them that be disobedient the stone which the builders dâ—salowed the same is made the head of the corner and a stone to stumble at and a rock of offence even to them which stumble at the word being disobedient unto the which thing they were even ordained But ye are a chosen Generation a royal Friesthood an holy Nation a People set at liberty that ye should shew forth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous lâ—ght Moreover in the Epistle of Jude are these word For there are certain men crept in whâ—ch were before of old ordained to this condemnation ungodly men they are whiâ—h turn the grace of God into wantoness and deny God the onely Lord and our Lâ—rd Jesus Christ they are the raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame they are wandring stars â—o whâ—m is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever Again For if God spared not the angels that had sinned but cast them down to hell and delâ—vered them into chains of darkness to be kept unto dâ—mâ—ation what will become of all those angâ—lical fleshly hypocrâ—tes which bless themselves in their unrighteousness and cursedly contend for it even against the holy God elect men and angels and their own consciences which will become their eternal chief Accomptant in the great day 45 Again as a conclusion unto what is written aforesaid I shall write something concerning the Scriptures themselves 46 My spiritual brethren can you possibly think that those men as yet have received the spiritual truth of the true God which idolize the visible Records and worship them in stead of that holy Spirit in our Lord Jesus Christ which spake them 47 Again did ever any man attain to a true understanding of that Holy One of Israel by any endeavor whatsoever from the bare letter of the Scripture 48 It is written The letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life Again it is written That the Scriptures are sufficient to make the man of God wise unto salvation 49 My brethren can any man be a godly man or a man of God unless he hath the spiritual light of life eternal to enable him to understand the minde of God in the Records and so believe unto immortality CHAP. VI. 1 Of the Scripture Records 2 Of the ignorance of men that deifie or villifie them 3 The Prophets Prayer in the conâ—lusion IS there any testimony in Scâ—iptures that ever any man of God received the true faith of the spiritual Jesus in him from the letter of the Scripture or could possibly know whether those literal Records proceeded from the wisdom of God or from the wisdom of prudent men onely unless he were inspired from that spirit which spake them In the third of the Galatians it is thus written O foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth This onely would I learn of you Received ye the spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of faith preached Are ye so foolish that after ye have begun in the spirit ye would now be made perfect by the flesh 2 My spiritual brethren is it not a work of the flesh in man which studies day and night in the letter of the Scripture to finde out the spirit of God in the letter 3 Is it not a work of the flesh in man which labours to reconcile Scriptures of seeming contradiction without a divine gift of the spirit 4 Is not that man in the depth of spiritual darkness which perswadeth his hearers that the Scriptures are easie and plain in the very letter of them unto that mans reason that is laborious to know them 5 Are not the Scriptures all matters of faith and very misterious for
the most part how then can any man comprehend spiritual misteries which are eternal by his natural perishing reason 6 Is not the most piercingst reason in man onely natural And can that which is natural comprehend that which is spiritual 7 Are they not as contrary as fire and water or as light and darkness How then can any man by his natural reason understand any thing that is spiritual It is written But the natural man perceiveth not the things of God because they are spiritually discerned but he that is spiritual discerneth all things yet he himself is judged of no man Again is is written Now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit which is of God that we might know the things that are given to us of God which things also we speak not in the words which mans wisdom teacheth but which the Holy Ghost teacheth comparing spiritual things with spiritual 8 My beloved brethren you may see that the Apostles came not to understand spiritual things by their study in the writings of Moses and the Prophets but by a gift from the Holy Ghost they were enabled in a great measure to comprehend the invisible things of God which they should enjoy in the resurrection of the just 9 Moreover you know that the Apostle Paul before his conversion was a very able man in the letter of Moses and the Prophets yea and according to the letter blameless in his conversation yet for all that in zeal towards an unknown God he persecuted the spirit of that letter through ignorance of that second man which was the Lord from heaven 10 T is truth that when the Apostles preached the spiritual things of eternity they alluded unto Moses and the true Prophets because some of those mysteries were fore-prophesied of by them but yet you may see that they were not instructed in those heavenly things by vertue of their prophetical letter but as beforesaid by inspiration from the holy spirit onely 11 Thus you that are spiritual may clearly see that no man by his natural reason and study in the letter of the Scripture can ever be established in the truth of those glorious things unto which the letter beareth record unless he hath received a spiritual gift from that glorious God that moved holy men of old to speak and write those Records of Truth 12 Therefore you may be confident that those men which ignorantly call the Letter Spirit as yet they are not acquainted with those spiritual teachings of the things of God which many of his elect do enjoy that cannot read one letter in the Bible his divine Secrets are treasured up for the simple and the subtile learned Rationists are sent empty away 13 My beloved spiritual brethren in the glorious things of eternity though men seemingly appear never so innocent in their way is it probable think you that those men are immediately moved to speak unto the people by the spirit of God that slight all the Scripture Records as a thing of nought 14 I humbly beseech you that are sober can any man of what tongue or language soever speak or write a better or as good a language as the Scriptures are and not speak Scripture words or prove it was not the glorious God that moved the holy men of old to speak or write these Scripture records 15 Again if the most desperatest man living which saith in his heart there is no God shall commit murder or the like and should scape the vengeance of mans Laws for a season yet he cannot possibly prevent the voice of that spiritual Law within crying for vengeance from that Law without him answerable to that within him 16 Moreover though natural wise men as a nose of wax produce those Records to bear testimony unto all error whatsoever yet you that are spiritual may know that the Scriptures themselves are words of pure truth not having the least error in them but error proceeds onely from that serpentine devil in men which take upon them to interpret the Scriptures without a spiritual gift 17 Can any man that hath the spiritual power of the Scriptures in him be offended with those Records which are witnesses of his innocent life in the faces of those carnal hypocrites which for love of silver or honor prate of them onely but secretly hâ—te all obedience to them 18 Are not the literal Records a demonstration of the minde of the holy spirit unto the chosen of God which have the light of life in some measure to comprehend them 19 Moreover are not the teâ—chings of the blessed spirit more abundantly consolate to him if those heavenly breathings in him be harmonious with the commands of our Lord Jesus Christ without him 20 Can any man therefore which expects that eternal glory unto which these Scriptures above all the writings in the world bear record possibly despise the letter and yet love that Spirit from whence it came 21 Again give me leave to make one comparison in reference to this matter Suppose two friends that loved each other as their own souls had their personal residence in several kingdoms and one of them as a testimony of his real love before he passed away left behinde him a Book containing variety of sweet expressions of friendship unto the other until he come again if that man in the absence of his friend should burn that Book to ashes in stead of embracing it is that any sign of love in him to his friend afar off 22 Wherefore can any sober man imagine or think from any ground of truth that the eternal spirit of the true Jesus upon any account did ever command any man to burn those Records which are a Remonstrance of the wonderful spiritual transactions of the most high and holy God since the world began yea before this world was 23 O Lord God of heavenly order and not of earthly confusion even for the glory of thy dreadful names sake deliver thy redeemed ones not onely from exalting the literal Scriptures above the holy Spirit which spake them but also from disputing against the mysteriousness of them 24 Then no kinde of natural witchcrafts which bear the name of spiritual power shall have dominion over them for ever but they shall patiently wait for their change by a peaceable death or being swallowed up of life through the appearing of our onely God and Savior in the air with his mighty Angels to reward every man according to his works 25 Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly and make it manifest in the sight of men and angels whether thou hast sent us as we have declared or no. CHAP. VII 1 Of the creation of the Firmament Sun Moon and Stars 2 Of the Earth in the deep waters 3 The meaning of the word Create 4 Why the deep waters are eternal 5 By what the Firmament was formed 6 How the Sun Moon and Stars came 7 Of the distinct and fixed bodies of the Sun
was buried canst thou then be convinced that thy sinful soul is mortal and must die also 28 In the 53. of Isaiah it is written he poured out his soul unto death Again it is written that his soul was heavy unto death Again it is written that his soul was made an offering for sin Again in the first of Revel it is written I am he that was dead and am alive and behold I live for evermore Again it is written in St. John I lay down my life of my self no man takes it from me I have power to lay it down and power to take it again Christ therefore died and rose again and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and the quick In the second of the Acts of the Apostles it is written thou wilt not leave my soul in grave nor suffer thy holy One to see corruption 29 Behold is it not as clear as the light in these Scripture Records that the pure soul of Christ himself died and was buried in the Grave for a moment and doest thou think thy sinful soul is immortal and shall scape death 30 Again thou canst not be so fortish as to think that the spirit of Christ was buried alive in the grave neither canst thou possibly prove by these Scriptures that his soul was not buried with his body in the grave how then canst thou or darest thou say that thy polluted soul is immortal and cannot die 31 Again did that spotless soul that was uncapable of the least motion of folly enter into death and dost thou think that thy soul shall scape death which naturally is become so full of folly that it is utterly uncapable in it self of all kinde of purity whatsoever 32 If no sinful man be capable of the in-dwelling of the Spirit of God some men may say unto me What is that spirit light or life of Christ spoken of in the Scriptures which all men are made partakers of except they be reprobates 33 From a divine gift of the Eternal Spirit to this I answer The elect of God being endued with the vertues fruits or effects of the most Holy Spirit these heavenly graces or motions in the minde proceeding from the glorious Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ are called by the divine Titles of God himself because they are of the very same nature operating the very same effects of immortal glory in the end of the world as it did upon Christ himself 34 Again you know it is written in Scripture The fruits of the Spirit is love peace gentleness goodness faith long suffering brotherly kindness and such like against which there is no Law Also it is written That men were made partakers of the divine nature and that Christ did live in mens hearts by faith And that Christ said He was the Vine and his Apostles or Believers were the Branches and his Father or Spirit was the Husbandman Again it is written Let the same minde be in you that was even in Christ Jesus Likewise it is written There were diversity of gifts or operations of the Spirit of God in men 35 My spiritual brethren which wait for a Crown that fadeth not away if you compare Scriptures with Scriptures you may see then that no sinful mortal did or possibly could possess the in-dwelling essence of the Spirit of God himself but onely the in-shining motions operations voices vertues fruits or effects of that most glorious Spirit 36 Again it is written That Christ is the Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world and why so Truly because there is no other Father Spirit Creator or God at all but Christ Jesus alone to give light unto men or angels that is all men which are enlightned with the true light that leadeth unto life eternal receive it only from the glorious Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ 37 Again though it is said that Christ is the Light of the world or that he giveth light unto every man that cometh into the world yet it doth not therefore follow that all men are partakers of the light of Christ in them unto life eternal 38 Furthermore I confess there is so much light of Christ in the most wickedst of men to convince them of sin but not to restrain them or convert them from evil 39 Again there is a two-fold light of Christ in men the one is literal and the other is spiritual 40 Now you that are truly enlightned from above may understand that there is naturally so much light of Christs Law written in every sensible mans spirit to convince him of good and evil and to cause him oftentimes to confess the truth and to wish that he could love it or do it or that he might die the death of the righteous like unto Baalam 41 But though this legal light of Christ in men be never so great in measure yet no man was ever capable by it to be made inwardly obedient unto the spirit of Christ our Lord Jesus 42 Therefore who ever thou art which sayest that all men have so much light in them as will make them happy if they will thou knowest not as yet what it is to possess that spiritual new birth of true light unto life eternal 43 That light of Christ which doth not onely convince a man of inward Rebellions and convert him from the ruling power of them may also be called by a two-fold name either a created light or a renewed light 44 This light of Christ in man is that invisible image of God which doth not onely purifie the inward filthiness of flesh and spirit but doth also in some measure present unto the understanding the certain truth of an eternal personal glory or everlasting shame of a life to come 45 Again you know it is written that except a man be born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven Also it is written From his fulness we all receive and grace for grace 46 My spiritual brethren if a mans understanding is not capable to comprehend any thing of the invisible and visible things of the Kingdom of Glory except the eternal Spirit of Christ Jesus convey a new and shining light into him what then think you will become of those men which say there is so much light of Christ planted in every mans spirit that is sufficient to make him eternally happy if he will but hearken unto it 47 If all men which are begotten and brought forth by the spirits of sinful parents were naturally endued in the womb with such a measure of the light of Christ in them that will safely conduct them into the Kingdom of Glory if they will what need then would there be of any new birth at all from the Lord Jesus Christ Or what man would want any further light from the Holy Spirit of the onely everliving God 48 Again it is written When Christ ascended on high that he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men 49 My
a signification of the divine nature and form of a something that is infinite 10 It is as clear as the purest light it self unto you that are experimentally spiritual that it is not names words or titles proves God or Man to be any living beings at all except they be distinct persons to manifest their honorable names as proceeding from comprehensible somethings and not from incomprehensible nothings 11 If the God of Glory in Scripture Records should be called not onely by three divine titles but by threescore thousand holy names also yet all the men in this world or Angels in that world to come can never prove him to be an infinite spirit without a body or prove him to be any more then onely one distinct glorious person also 12 You heavenly ones may also know that the divine Majesty is called in Scripture Records by three divine titles that as beforesaid that the most learned prudent men in this world might never attain to a right understanding of the very true God and the spiritual mysteries of his everlasting kingdom by all their rational study in the Scripture Records or any other ways and that was the very cause that the Lord Jesus Christ said unto his own spiritual power represented by Angelical Moses and Elias I thank thee Father that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes and sucklings 13. Concerning that threefold title of Father Son and Holy Ghost in stead of three persons as of long time by blinde guides have been imagined doth it not rather stand to better sence that the word Father hath reference unto the Godhead Spirit eternally united unto Christ Jesus our Lord. 14 And that the word Son hath relation unto the glorious body of the everliving Emanuel which is visibly seen by elect Angels Moses and Elias 15 And that word Holy Ghost hath reference unto a divine word of light life or power proceeding from the invisible Father through the glorious mouth of the visible Son into the invisible spirits of elect mankind to the inlightning of their dark understandings and purifying of their fleshly mindes 16 Thus you which are truly enlightned from above may clearly see what that threefold heavenly Record signifieth of that onely distinct personal Majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ God alone blessed for ever and ever Amen 17 It is also as clear to you that are spiritual as the light it self that the holy one of Israel could not possibly be three distinct persons or spirits in one Godhead being or any such like confused deities 18 You know that wheresoever the Scriptures exactly make mention of the Holy One of Israel it attributes all honor praise and glory unto him always in the fingular number as unto one distinct personal Majesty or glorious being and not in the plural number of three distinct persons or spirits in one body as hath been long imagined by deceivers of the whole Christian world so called which are in bondage to their confused God and invented formalities 19 You know that in the conclusion of many several things the Scriptures run in such a line as this to the onely wise God or unto God onely wise or though there be that are called many Gods or many Lords yet unto us there is but one God or the holy one of Israel and such like 20 You know because there is none above a King or head Magistrate in his own kingdom or equal with him upon an extraordinary occasion he will swear by himself or by the faith or word of a King 21 Thus it was with that Holy One of Israel because there was none above him or beside him or equal with him in Heaven or Earth he swore by himself concerning the transmutation of his uncreated glory and everlasting spiritual Priesthood into a pure body of flesh blood and bone 22 Before the God of Glory was descended into the Virgins Womb you know he had many holy names attributed unto him wherefore you may also know from all eternity he was a distinct divine person and not an infinite formless spirit as most men blindly imagine 23 You spiritual ones may also know before he was clothed with flesh it is not the holy names of Creator infinite Spirit Jehovah Ancient of dayes mighty God Lord of Hosts Redeemer Holy One of Israel King of Glory or everlasting Father or any glorious expressions that can be uttered by the tongues of men or Angels that can prove any God at all except he was a divine person distinct from Heavens Earth Waters Angels Men and all things else 24 That the one personal infinite Majesty may remain in the heavenly center of his own uncreated glory and all beings that he hath formed to live in his sight may continue in their own creaturely stations for an everlasting distinction between the glorious Creator and poor changeable creatures 25 Thus by a free gift received from the Holy Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the Throne of Glory in simplicity of spirit and plainness of speech in a small measure I have declared the minde of the Holy One of Israel in those literal expressions for there are three which bear Record in Heaven the Father the Word and the Holy Ghost and these three are one CHAP. XXI Of a threefold Record of natural witnesses proceeding from the blessed person of Christ at his death I Shall write a little of a threefold Record in that most pure natural body of Christ when he was on this earth in relation unto the threefold record of his spiritual body in the invisible heavens before said in the 53. of Isaiah it is written He poured forth or out his soul unto death and in the 19 Chap. by S. John you may finde it thus written but one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side and forthwith came there blood and water here you that are spiritually discerning may clearly see a threefold Record of natural witnesses proceeding from that blessed person of our onely God and Savior at his voluntary death 2 As namely blood water and spirit wherefore his most precious soul pouring forth it self unto death that was the witness of the death of the everlasting Father in flesh 3 The issuing forth of the unvaluable blood that was the witness of the death of the eternal Son in flesh 4 The flowing forth of the water that was the witness of the death of the erernal spirit in flesh on earth 5 These sayings are not onely hard but intollerable to be born by cursed Oanaanites which understand nothing truly of the power of an infinite Majesty 6 Nevertheless unto you which are made to understand the deep and hidden mysteries of the most wise and powerful Creator doth not this answer these Scriptures sayings 7 I and the Father are one and from Jesus Christ which is that faithful witness and that first begotten of the dead and that Prince of the Kings of the
aforesaid 28 Again you that are spiritual do know that all men that do expect a glory to come in the invisible Heavens do confess that the spirit of the divine Majesty is infinite unchangeable immortal an eternal 28 If the Creators person is of an incomprehensible brightness which none can gainsay but angelical carnalities how then thinkest thou it possible for men or angels to be capable of the in-dwelling essence of the eternal Spirit 29 Though every man as aforesaid have little or much of the spiritual motions of God abiding in his soul yet take notice of this when he inspireth any light into sinful spirits that very light it self being distinct from the infinite Spirit and essentially one with mortality is made capable not onely to live but also to die together that it through death might be capable by the decree of that Spirit from whence it was produced to quicken and revive that mortality again into the glorious likeness of the eternal Majesty it self from whence it came CHAP. XXVI 1 Of the nature and place of the Reprobates torment 2 The last witnesses great confidence concerning the end of the world 3 Without a tongue no speech can be made by God Angels or men 4 God is visibly seen by spiritual bodies as Kings are by their subjects TAke notice of this also that in what soul soever this in-shining light hath appeared though he be preserved from despising a personal God if before he taste of death he doth not attain to understand this glorified Jesus to be the onely wise very true God upon the sight of so clear a discovery as this is then this will be his portion All the light at his death shall vanish and come to nothing and in the day of the Lords account by vertue of his decree that Luciferian Serpentine spirit which abhorred the simple plain truth because it discovereth its carnal deceits shall quicken and bring forth a body spiritually as dark as pitch and naturally as heavy as lead a body of thick darkness or blackness of darkness according to Holy Writ 2 Again it will be a body whose invisible spirit shall be a fire of such a dark envious nature that it shall burn more intollerably fierce than any fire in this world whatsoever through which it shall be tormented as if it were nothing else but a carcase or pillar of unsavory burning brimstone 3 In that very place where it doth appear upon this earth it shall either stand sit kneel or lie along neither seeing its own dreadful person nor no mans else 4 And the main ground of all his unspeakable sorrow will arise from hence because its spirit is bar'd close prisoner in its own body from all kinde of former thoughts or motioning forth upon any spiritual comforts whatsoever through the total absenting in-shining presence of the Lord Jesus Christ the everlasting Father 5 Again all thy former pride envy covetousness lying lust and hypocrisie which thou with delight didst act towards thy innocent brothers ruine shall then be acted against thine own self it will be the eternity of thy condition that will increase thy sorrowes and shame O it will be in vain then to wish thou hadst never bin born or any thing else 6 Who ever thou art that shalt out of thy atheistical soul laugh these words to scorn and say these are but meer fancies of my own brain know this from the Lord of Glory when this whole world and all the beauty and natural glory thereof as namely the Firmament Sun Moon and Stars are become nothing but burning dust or dry sand and an utter Chaos of everlasting confused darkness then thou shalt remember thy despising things thou knewest not 7 Is not this answerable to Christs own words where he saith If that light in thee be darkness how great will that darkness be Again The Son of man shall send forth his Angels and they gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of sire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 13. Take notice of this record of Scripture and you shall find that he said these things should be done at the end of the world Again and when the Son of man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit on the throne of his Glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats and he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left then shall the King say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father take the inheritance of the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Then shall he say to them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels Mat. 25. 8 Here ye may see that the Lord Jesus doth not speak of cursing or burning up of sin in all men and eternal salvation unto all mens persons but maketh as clear a distinction as there is between sheep and goats of an eternal separation of two distinct generations 9 The one personal nation to enter into that most blessed estate or kingdom of the right hand of eternal ravishing glory with Christ and his holy angels and the other personal generation to be cast out into the left hand of the fiery burning kingdom of everlasting utter darkness with that devil Cain and his cursed generation being thereunto appointed from the foundation of the world 10 Again what ever men shall imagine or think to the contrary this was the very minde of Christ in those words of his concerning blessing elect Israelites to eternity and cursing Canaanitish reprobates for everlasting 11 Who shall dare open his mouth in that day to say why hast thou made me thus As sure as the Lord liveth and as certain as thou art a living soul and body this very thing will come to pass in a short season though men or angels should gainsay it 12 The Lord Jesus Christ neither can nor will be found a liar in this nor any thing else for all the cursed whimsies of men in this age or any other age though the persons of ten hundred thousand times ten Millions of men and women should suffer the vengeance of eternal fiery death in utter darkness O poor vain despiser of a personal God what acursed condition art thou in and knowest it not 13 In the next place I shall speak again concerning the Creators being an infinite personal Majesty unto which the visible forms of men and angels bear record as unto an incomprehensible glory from whence all their comprehensible things had their beings 14 Was there not an uncreated eternal Majesty alone when no creatures whether men or angels appeared in a sensible living being 15 Again seeing there was from
the God of Heaven and Earth without a voice of distinct words to the hearing of the ear from the everliving God 11 Or can he possess any true joy or peace of conscience in his prophetical declarations without such an immediate commission from the true God as beforesaid 12 Again though Spirit Blood and Water by the wisdom of God sweetly agree within the body of a healthful man yet you know that they are of contrary natures to one another 13 For the soul or spirit of man is an absolute mortal fire within the blood and the water which by vertue of its fiery nature qualifieth the blood and the water according to their capacities 14 Through which they are so sweetly composed that unanimously they give natural life and strength through the whole man in so much that the one cannot live without the other though they are of contrary natures 15 Thus through the secret decree of the divine Majesty there is a marvelous trinitary mystery within the natural body of man 16 But very few men understand it for want of the prophetical spirit of David in them who cryed out with exceeding admiration of the Creators wisdom saying I am fearfully and wonderfully made 17 So likewise you may know it is with these three commissionated witnesses of the divine Majesty in earth 18 For though all three proceeded from one and the same spirit of truth and all bear Record unto onely one distinct personal God-man glorified yet in the maner of their declarations concerning the worshipping of the Holy One of Israel they differ and are as contrary as fire blood and water which are without the body of men 19 But in the spirituality of their administrations concerning invisible worshipping of the Lord Jesus Christ they harmoniously agree as one soul like unto spirit blood and water within mans body as aforesaid 20 If any man should ask why the Holy One of Israel hath put such a vast difference between the administrations of his three witnesses in earth To this from the Holy Spirit I answer by way of Quere Is it not to blinde the eyes of the wise and prudent men of this world that from their strength of reason in Scripture records they may war against the pure light of life within the witnesses of the God of all saving truth 21 That they may remain in their rational darkness of unbelief wherein they were born and so everlastingly perish for want of that â—ew and true birth of the fiery glorious Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ 22 Is it not also that God alone may receive all the honor power praise and glory from his redeemed ones in the revealing his true witnesses or Prophets unto them by his eternal spirit through which they attain to the right understanding of the very true God and the glorious things of eternity declared by his own chosen messengers 23 And so are made to receive those divine truths in the purity of them by loving of them above the gain or glory of this conceited periâ—hing world 24 Moreover do they not thereby enjoy an invisible seal of an assurance of the eternal immortality of their persons at the visible appearing of the divine Majesty of the Son of man 25 That most infinite glorious God with all his mighty Angels Moses and Elias at that dreadful day when all time shall vanish immediately and eternity onely seize upon all mankinde in their several persons 26 Again if water blood and fire without the body of man be mixt together being of contrary conditions or natures you know they cease not contending until they have conquered one another 27 Also you know blood is too strong for water and fire too powerful for blood so likewise you may know it is with the three commissionated witnesses of God in earth Moses the Apostles and two last Witnesses 28 Though they unanimously agree in bearing record unto onely one distinct personal God of all saving truth as spirit water and blood sweetly accord within the healthful body of a mortal man as aforesaid 29 Yet you may know that in their visible worship they are at warfare with each other until they have obtained victory one over another 30 That the present immediate spiritual wisdom of the divine Majesty might bear rule in the consciences of the chosen Jewels of immortal crowns and not that which is past 31 Wherefore when that Gospel administration of blood appeared you know that the Apostolical Commissioners thereof did with all their power preach against all Mosaicall observations of Jewish circumcision new Moons or abstinence from meat drinks or any kinde of Sabbattical Ceremonies whatsoever to be vain and of none effect and contrary to the Spirit of Christ 32 Thus you that are enlightned from on high may see that that spiritual wine of the everlasting Gospel in the chosen of God transmuted all watery Ceremonies into its own spiritual substance even as water being mingled with blood is converted into its own nature 33 Moreover since the appearing of the two last Witnesses of the eternal spirit you may know that all Apostolical ordinances imitated by men called Ministers of the Gospel are counterfeit Apostles which take upon them to Preach Pray Baptize with water break bread lay on hands or any such like without a commission from on high 34 Whether for silver or honor or a name amongst men under pretence of conscience unto a God which they truly understand not nor desire to know 35 From the true God I say again you that are spiritual may know that these idol Shepherds and their imaginary formalities are now become vain and contrary to the heavenly breathings or incomes of the glorious Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ God-man glorified 36 Thus in what soul soever this divine worship of the true God powerfully appeareth it immediately transmutes all Apostolical formalities into invisible spiritualities of glorious joys 37 By vertue of an heavenly intercourse between the divine spirit and the poor soul that is acquainted with his heavenly voice or still motions 38 Again if divers men appear as Witnesses or Prophets immediately sent forth by a powerful commission from the everliving God are there not certain divine seals to distinguish between those Embasladors which are infallible and them that are but fallible 39 My elect brethren is it not the property of a commissionated Witness of Christ Jesus at the first appearance of God unto him to desire the Most High that he would passe him by and make choice of any other to be his Embassador unto his people 40 Furthermore in the maner of his spiritual declarations unto the most wisest natural men doth he not appear not onely seemingly quite contrary unto the Lords former witnesses but also as the most blasphemous simple base fellows that ever appeared in the name of the Lord 41 But of the contrary for the most part in men that are deceived is there not a strong desire in their fleshly spirits
sin may be all like God himself in the heavens also in their several divine measures at the personal appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds of heaven with all his holy Angels 33 Was not this one end also why the Holy One of Israel spake in the plural number saying let us make man in our image that the learned men of this world should not onely blinde their own eyes but also become that scarlet whore that sits upon many waters making the nations continually drunk with their spiritual witchcraft of trinitary Merchandizing lies that they may be justly condemned in their own consciences in that day when our Lord Jesus Christ shall say unto them Depart from me ye workers of iniquity I know ye not or I sent you not ye preached in my name onely for silver and honor among men and ye persecuted my Prophets to the death because they discovered your lâ—arned deceits unto my people from your own subtile imaginations you made laws to stop all mens mouths as Blasphemers Hereticks Seducers Deceivers of the people or disturbers of the civil peace and such like that you onely might usurp lordship over all mens consciences persons and estates that could not bow down to your Idolatrous inventions you laid snares to entrap all those that you suspected mâ—ght impede your vain glorious decrees you lived in secret lusts and pleasures upon the ruines of my innocent people and flattered the ignorant what pains you took in studying after sparitual things for their souls health you made use of my holy Name onely as a cloak to hide all your subtilties from the deceived people you blinded their understandings with your Sabbattical Ceremonies of long prayers and lifting up your eyes and hands towards heaven as if you had been purity it self notwithstanding your hearts were full of covetousness and your fees swift to shed innocent blood you offered up your bloody fasts and feasts unto me for a sacrifice of acceptation of your doings as if I were like unto your selves to be perswaded by goodly words to justifie all your unrighteousness you pretended my glory in all your imaginary formalities but it was your own honor principally you sought from the people and death unto you to loose it earthly riches honor beauty unsatiable pleasures long life and such like were your onely joyes you have had this your desired Paradise already and my poor people have suffered their hell in your heaven and now must you suffer your eternal pain and shame and they must possess everlasting joy and glory 34 So much at present why the God of Glory spake in the plural number in the next place I shall in some measure shew what that image of God in the creating of man doth signifie CHAP. XXX 1 How God made man in his own image or likeness 2 The soul of Adam was of the same divine nature of God 3 Not of the nature of the Angels 4 Of the created vertues in Adams soul 5 Adam did not know of his power to stand or fall 6 The breath of life which Adam had received from God dyed THe Scripture declareth what condition man was formed in in these words thus God created the man in his image in the image of God created he him 2 After the man was compleatly made in the similitude of his Creator the Scripture tells you then what substance he was created of in those words the Lord God also made the man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man was aliving soul 3 You that are spiritual may know in the creating of man that the Lord God spake the word onely into the dust of the earth and immediately the vertue of that word brought forth a living man of pure flesh blood and bone like unto God himself as near as possibly could be 4 It was not the visibility of their persons that differ in the least but the glory of them onely 5 The one was an infinite spiritual body in all parts perfectly holy and the other was a finite natural body of perfect innocency resembling that divine form as aforesaid 6 You know I have abundantly shewed the impossibility of the least motion of reason to be inherent in the nature of God therefore I would have you to understand though Adams body being made of dust and appointed for generation was but natural yet his soul was not rational but super-natural or divine Why because it was formed according to the invisible glory of the eternal spirit 7 Therefore you may understand that if the soul of Adam had been rational in its creation then it could not have been divine but of an Angelical desiring nature onely of unsatisfaction in it self 8 Again you spiritual ones may understand that that divine soul in Adam which was created after the likeness of the eternal spirit did consist of several heavenly properties in its measure answerable unto those divine qualifications in the glorious Creator above all measure 9 What were those created vertues in Adams soul It was an invisible spiritual light and life called wisdom faith love righteousness meekness patience and such like 10 Though his soul could be nothing at all without its several properties and though those qualifications were all in a heavenly harmony yet this I would have you to take notice of that joy of soul that Adam did possess arose in him from one divine voice onely called the spirit of faith which was all satisfaction in himself with his present condition not having the least thought of any happiness beyond what he enjoyed already 11 As the divine nature of the eternal spirit was variety of infinite satisfaction in it self so likewise the soul of Adam being composed of the very same qualifications was variety of heavenly satisfaction in it self also according to its measure 12 If the nature of Adams soul had been rational in his creation then through want of divine satisfaction in it self it would always have been desiring after something that he wanted like unto the elect Angels and us which have two contrary voices in one soul 13 You may know that the created nature of the soul of Adam could not possibly have any reason in it why because the very nature of reason is seriously to consider whether things be good or right that are propounded unto its understanding or no. 14 But of the contrary that spirit which without the least consideration perfectly knoweth the excellencie of a thing as soon as ever it is presented unto it as Adams did must needs be divine as Gods is and so super-rational though cloathed with pure nature onely 15 Again though the soul of Adam through the divine purity of its nature was immortal and uncapable of the least motion of any kinde of rebellion against the glorious spirit of its Creator yet because his body was natural and had its beginning of dust and so was subject to change or to
Ishmalites 9 Again if the Angelical Serpent was in the body of Eve when he received his curse some men may say unto me was he capable of understanding of a sentence denounced against him being in the womb of Eve and changed from his former condition as abundantly declared by you 10 Or why should the Serpent and his generation undergo an eternal curse and Eve and her generation suffer but a temporal curse seeing she rebelled against greater light then he 11 Or if that Angelical Serpent was not cursed before Eve had actually rebelled with him was not Eve as liable to an eternal curse as he seeing they both transgressed against an infinite glory 12 From the light of life eternal to this I answer That curse denounced by the Creator upon the Serpent in the womb of Eve was not for his satisfaction in the least but is to convince Eves deceived thoughts of possessing such god-like happiness promised to her if she obeyed his councel as aforesaid 13 Also it was to convince her in due time of that error of doting upon her first born as a blessing received from the Lord for when she should see the fruits of her heir in stead of her rejoycing in him as at his birth her soul would not onely loath his company but would also cast him out of her presence lest he should murder her as he did his righteous brother for her former love and tender compassion towards him 14 Moreover that curse against the Angelical Serpent and his seed was spoken unto her for her divine satisfaction afterwards when the light of redemption should shine in her deceived soul and shew her that her first-born son was that Angelical Serpent cursed in her womb by the Creator 15 And that his generation of men and women were cursed in his loins also that she might the more abundantly magnifie the free grace of Gods electing love towards her deceived soul 16 That having had so near a union and communion with that Angelical Reprobate she was not eternally cursed with him also 17 Furthermore notwithstanding the soul of Eve rebelled against a greater light then the Serpent did yet you that are spiritual may know that she was utterly uncapable of an eternal curse upon her person for these considerations 18 First because her soul proceeded from the heavenly nature of the eternal Majesty himself 19 Secondly because that consent unto evil in her proceeded not from her own nature but the unclean spirit of the Serpent speaking into her innocent soul as aforesaid 20 Again you may know that the Serpent was called the tree of knowledge of good and evil before Eve was tempted unto evil therefore though he had been a tree in his first estate which had known nothing but good before Eve or Adam had any sensible beings yet being fallen from his created purity he was now become a tree of sin or evil only 21 Therefore he was a rejected or cursed out-cast tree from the glorious presence of life eternal before his visible appearing unto Eve 22 So that though Eve through temptation was overcome to know both good and evil with that cursed Serpent yet she had some relenting light of life in her after her rebellion which occasioned a secret shame and confusion of soul in her for her rebellion against the Creator 23 Therefore she was capable of being made a good tree again yea and a tree bringing forth fruit of a more transcendent glory then she was capable of before her fall 24 But of the contrary that Serpent tree was so far from any kind of relentation of sin or rebellion against the Creator before or after he tempted Eve that in stead of being capable of reproof of sin or evil whereby he might be restored from his most wretched estate he did utterly abhor both God and man unless he might be their Counsellor and ruler over them for everlasting as beforesaid 25 This eminent truth of the two Scripture seeds or trees of eternal life and death is plainly proved in the seventh Chapter of St. Matthew where it was said by Christ the onely God himself a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit therefore by their fruits ye shall know them 26 So that you which are spiritual may know that according to the truth of Holy Writ though men or Angels should gain-say it the Serpent Angelical tree being Reprobate unto all maner of evil he and his seed of Cananitish men and women were not onely cursed in the womb of Eve but also before this world was 27 But of the contrary innocent Eve being a good tree in her Creation through her proceeding from the divine nature of the tree of eternal glory it self though she was overcome by that wicked one as beforesaid yet she and Adam or any of their seed could not possibly eternally perish because they were trees elected to bring forth good fruit unto everlasting life and glory long before this world was as abundantly beforesaid CHAP. XXXVIII 1 The bodies of Angels are capable of dissolving into seed 2 The seed of the Serpent onely damned 3 Pure reason lost the knowledge of the Creator and of its self 4 Cain not the son of Adam but of the Serpent 5 Cain was brother to Abel onely by the mothers side 6 All that dyed in the first Adam shall be saved by the second 7 Those that are not lost in themselves can never be saved IF the Angelical Serpent was of as large a compass as the person of a man some men may say unto me how could he enter into the womb of Eve through so narrow a passage as is declared by you Truly this Quere is much like that in the 3. Chap. by St. John where it saith Can a man be born which is old can he enter into his mothers womb again and be born 2 My spiritual friends as our Lord answered Nicodemus unto his fleshly question so likewise from his own light in like maner I shall make answer unto this Though the body of the Angelical Serpent in its length or breadth was as a man is yet you may know it was not of a grosse substance as mans is 3 But it was a spiritual body created in another world 4 For though the bodies of the mighty Angels are in forms like men yet you may know that they shine like unto the Sun or a flame of fire being formed in a region of a more higher nature then this 5 Therefore they are of motion as swift as thought and of a pure thin or bright fiery nature so that with great ease they pierce through a narrow passage at the divine pleasure of the Creator 6 So likewise it was with that Serpent tree of knowledge of good and evil for though his created purity was become all maner of imaginary impurities through his out-cast condition yet you may know that his form was of a more fiery brightness then
that of Adams or else Eve could not possibly have been deceived by him as aforesaid 7 Also his body being spiritual though his nature was carnal there was no let to hinder his descending into her womb to bring forth the Creators secret purpose of two generations coming through the loins of one woman to make an everlasting distinction between the transcendent glory of respection and shame of rejection 8 Though the Angelical Serpent descended into the womb of Eve yet you may know that his ascending nature was utterly lost in that in stead of his ascending upward into that habitation of ravishing glory from whence he was cast he was ignorant of it and of that God and his mighty Angels as if he had never known them in the least 9 For he imagined his Serpentine subtilty to be the onely wisdom then in being and this world to be the onely heaven 10 My beloved brethren in the eternal truth whatever carnal minded men vainly dream of a general redemption by Christ as sure as the Lord liveth there is a Serpentine generation of cursed men and women which glory in all manner of fleshly sporting themselves about a Creator or in possessing of a perfection in this mortallity which with their father Cain are utterly ignorant of the true God his everlasting kingdom elect Angels immortal personal glory or misery or any spiritual thing in the least 11 Doth not the Scripture throughout make mention of two distinct seeds sons or generations of mankind 12 Can Cain and Abel both therefore proceed from Adams loines or be of his begetting upon the body of Eve 13 It is written in the third of Luke and the last verse concerning Christ that he was the Son of Enos the son of Seth the son of Adam the Son of God If Christ Jesus the eternal Son of God according to the spirit was the very son of Adam according to the flesh can any sober man possibly think that there should be any relation of spirit or flesh between Christ and Cain 14 Or that the everliving God upon any account whatsoever should be brother unto a cursed Serpent 15 Though righteous Abel was Cains brother yet their brotherhood came by the mothers side onely and not by the father though Eve was made out of Adams side 16 You know that righteous Abel did represent the glorious person of all righteousness and truth it self who was that holy and innocent Lamb spiritually slain from the beginning of the world in Abel by the heart and hand of murthering lying Cain 17 Moreover is not this answerable unto that of Christ and his brethren you know their brotherhood was by the mothers side onely and not by the father 18 Thus if your eyes be opened you may see in contrariety a harmony between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent 19 Again because of the great opposition that may rise up against this glorious truth through the exceeding pride and unbelief in the heart of most men give me leave to cite a few Scriptures in the 3. chapter of the first Epistle of John you may finde it thus written Not as Cain which was of that wicked one and slew his brother In the 13. Chap. of Matthew it is thus written He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man and the field is the world and the good seed are the children of the kingdom and the tares are the children of the wicked one and the enemy that soweth them is the devil 20 Moreover in the 8. chapter of St. John Christ Jesus the onely God of truth speaketh thus Ye are of your father the devil and the lusts of your father ye will do He hath been a murtherer from the beginning and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him when he speaketh a lie then speaketh he of his own for he is a liar and the father thereof 21 My spiritual and rational friends which are sober was not Cain the first murdering lying man that ever was born of a woman Seeing no true Christian can gainsay it was not cursed Cain from the beginning that murthering devil and father of lies spoken of by Christ aforesaid 22 In answer unto those carnal Jews which boasted themselves to be of Abrahams seed and were not those lustful murdering minded Jews or Gentiles which our Lord branded with titles of Serpents Vipers children of the devil and such like filthy Cananites which proceeded out of the spirit of cursed Cain that old Serpent Dragon Devil and father of all the damned in this world and not from the spirit of Abraham though they might proceed from his loins according to the flesh through mixtures of seeds in marriages the sons of God saw the daughters of men to be fair and they took of them to be their wives 23 Though the blessed Israelites and cursed Cananites are mixed together by carnal copulation since the Prince of devils became flesh yet you that spiritual may know that the Lord Jesus that made them both knew how to separate them for all their close union and to call them by names answerable to their own natures 24 I confess that all that died in the first Adam shall be made alive in that second Adam the Lord from heaven but what was that whole world that were lost in the first Adam and found again in the second Adam 25 If with a spiritual eye you shall look from the 1. of Genes unto the last of the Revelation then you may clearly see what that whole world is which are appointed unto immortal Crowns of eternal glory by our Lord Jesus Christ behold are they not called a chosen Generation a Royal Priesthood a redeemed People adopted sons of God heirs or co-heirs with Christ blessed children or the lost shâ—â—p of Israel and such like 26 Did not the glorious Creator and blessed Redeemer himself make a clear distinction between two worlds or generations when he said I pray not for the world but for them that thou hast given me out of the world 27 Can you that are sober imagine or think that there is any spiritual salvation for those men or women which the Savior of the world excludes in his petition 28 Moreover it is written that the Apostle said We know that we are of God and the whole world lieth in wickedness or the devil 29 Behold ye redeemed ones of the most high God is it not as clear as light it self that there is two distinct whole worlds according to that saying then all Israel shall be saved 30 A redeemed world of elect lost Israelites and an unredeemed world of unlost Cananitish reprobates that were never truly lost in themselves and therefore never capable of being found in Christ according to that in the Epistle of Jude where it is thus written For there are certain men crept in which were of old ordained to condemnation ungodly men they are which turn the grace of God into wantonness
raign-mongers confess that Christ was God and man in one person and that that most blessed body of his is now glorified in the highest heavens 20 Do you not also pretend to believe that the divine person of this God-man glorified is infinite immortal unchangeable and eternal 21 Moreover if there be any such divine light or heavenly faith in your persons I would fain know whether you think it possibly that this mortal world or men can bear the presence of a divine Majesty whose body is become a consuming fire of immortal everlasting burnings without its being immediately consumed to ashes or transmuted into his own glorious likeness 22 O that all the elect did but know how suddenly this personal God will appear in his glory to consume this whole world 23 Again if you look in the 11. Chapter of the Hebrews you may finde it thus written All these died in faith and received not the promises but saw them afar off and believed them and received them thankfully and confessed that they were strangers and pelgrims on the earth for they that saw such things declare plainly that they seek a country and if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out they had leisure to have returned but now they desire a better that is an heavenly wherefore God is not ashamed of them to be called their God for he hath prepared for them a city here you may see that Abraham himself was so far from expecting a personal raign of Christ on this earth though he believed that his seed should enjoy the promises of God both temporal and spiritual in their appointed seasons 24 Therefore he onely minded a personal ascending into the heavenly City of eternal glory prepared for him and his elect seed at the resurrection of the just 25 So that Abraham looked upon the promises of God that they were to enjoy in this world onely as types or shadows of that heavenly City or Kingdom with its ravishing excellencies as aforesaid 26 Moreover if that glorious God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob had intended a personal raign on this earth a thousand years with his Saints after his glorification in the highest heavens can any sober man be so weak as to think he would have hid it from Abraham whom he was pleased to call the father of the faithful and friend of God You know what is written shall I hide this thing from Abraham 27 Furthermore if the Lord in life or death had revealed any such thing unto Abraham the thing being of so great concernment can you possibly think that he would have hid it from his generation to come you may be sure if there had been any such thing to be accomplished he would have declared it to after ages 28 Seeing neither Abraham nor any of the Patriarks or Prophets knew of Christs personal raign on this earth with his Saints but spake as to the contrary altogether what sufficient ground hath any man in this world to expect such a thing 29 But how can it be otherwise when men takes upon them to interpret the mysteries of the Scriptures without an immediate Commission from the eternal spirit 30 Again the Scripture saith That the day of Christs appearing shall be like unto that of Noah and Lot now you know in the day that Noah entred into the Ark the flood came and by degrees destroyed them all 31 Also in that day Lot departed out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all 32 If the whole world was drowned with water immediately after Noah entred into the Ark and Sodom and Gomorrah was consumed by fire suddenly after Lot departed out of the City and the day of Christs coming shall be in like maner without controversie in stead of his personal raign on this earth with his Saints at his next appearing immediately after all his blessed Noahs and Lots are ascended into the Ark of his immortal glory this firmamental created heaven and the lights thereof shall be all on fire 33 And shall descend upon the face of the whole earth and burn all the fruits and glory thereof unto ashes but it shall not be so favorable as to consume the bloody minded men therein 34 If the Lord of Glory had purposed to come personally to raign a thousand years amongst his Saints before the general day of judgement is any man so weak as to think he would have hid it from his chosen Apostles whom he had promised to set upon twelve thrones to judge the twelve Tribes of Israel when he appeared again in his glory 35 Is there any one place in Holy Writ that expresly speaketh of Christs personal raign in this world 36 If there be no express record for any such thing as I am sure there is not doth not those men that hold forth such an opinion as this imitate little children or fools that reâ—oyce in Rattles or Counters in stead of gold or precious stones 37 Thou that art confident of Christs personal raign on this earth suppose such a thing should come to pass in thy days and thou shouldst be one of those Saints what condition dost thou think thy body shall be in 38 Dost thou think it shall live upon carnal things or shall it be immortalized and live upon spiritual things onely 39 Or if thou thinkest thy soul shall be in a divine condition and thy body shall feed upon natural things as now it doth and shall be in perfect health and free from diseases 40 I say if thou hast imagined such an estate as this is I would fain know of thee what condition thou thinkest that Christ will appear in 41 Dost thou think that he will descend from the throne of his Glory upon this earth amongst the sons of men again to eat and drink of carnal things with them as formerly 42 Or dost thou think that he will appear amongst them in a glorious condition to make them more happy in things that perish then now they are 43 If Christ should personally raign with his Saints what union or communion could they enjoy with him more then now they do unless he was in a capacity of eating and drinking with them or else they were delivered from feeding upon natural things themselves through their transmutation into his own glorious likeness 44 It is written in the 26. Chapter by St. Matth. I say unto you that I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I shall drink it new with you in my Fathers kingdom 45 Here you that are spiritual may see that Christ was so far from encouraging his Apostles to expect his coming to taste of the fruit of the natural vine in a personal raign with his Saints that he layeth it down as a positive rule that he would drink no more of the natural vine in this earth until he drank it in a new and spiritual way with them in his Fathers
of prison 8 Who they are that be in the deepest prisons of raging darkness IN the next place according to promise I shall write somewhat upon the 20. Chapter of the Revelation by St. John because that error of Christs personal reign a thousand years with his Saints on this earth is partly grounded from this Chapter 2 My beloved brethren in the eternal truth you know that this Book of the Apocalyps is too mysterious to be understood by the Achitophels of this perishing world 3 Also you know that Gods way is to choose the base things of this world to confound the most honorable things thereof that no flesh may glory in his presence 4 Moreover you know that if the most High endues a man with a divine gift to demonstrate his eternal secrets to his brethren he preserveth the soul of that man from giving the glory of that heavenly power to his own net my meaning is this that man doth not give any praise or glory to any God or Christ or light within him but he is made as is due to return all the honor praise or glory unto an infinite Majesty or spiritual Fountain of glories without him from whence alone all divine light as chrystal streams floweth into the spirits of elect men and angels 5 But to come to the matter in hand And I saw an Angel come down from heaven Brethren what Angel was that which John saw come down from heaven Truly it was no other but that Angelical personal God our Lord Jesus Christ himself with whom John was more conversant than all the Apostles in divine secrets 6 Again having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand that is this Angelical Jesus alone had all divine power of heaven and earth in his own spirit over the bottomless pit lying imaginations of devils incarnate or cursed men 7 Moreover the everlasting Gospel or Truth which proceeded through his heavenly mouth for the consolation of his Saints and confounding of the Serpents that was the great chain in his hand 8 Furthermore it is written And he took the Dragon that old Serpent which is the devil and Satan and he bound him a thousand years and cast him into a bottomless pit and he shut him up and sealed the door upon him that he should deceive the people no more till the thousand years were fulfilled My spiritual friends what was that old Serpent Dragon Devil which was bound a thousand years by the spiritual power of Christ It was an imaginary bottomless pit Devil within the body of man that persecuted the Truth of Christ in his own person Apostles and Saints 9 Again you that are spiritual may know that the Serpent Devil that was bound or shut up as in a prison or in a dungeon of darkness for a thousand years was the cursed spirit of murdering Cain raging against Christ and his seed in the person of King Herod and his seed or seven sons in the Ten persecutions 10 In the 12 Chapter of the Revelation it is thus written And there appeared another wonder in heaven for behold a great red Dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven Crowns upon his head Also in the 13 Chapter it is thus written And I saw a beast rise out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns were ten Crowns This red Dragon and beast that rose out of the sea was that Herod and his seven sons in the Ten persecutions as aforesaid 11 Again for your clearer understanding in the thing give me leave to speak of the three last verses of this twelfth Chapter the words are these And the Serpent cast out of his mouth water after the woman like a flood that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood My spiritual friends you may know that this Serpent was bloody Herod and the woman was that Virgin Mary that brought forth the Lord of life and the flood was the men of war that was sent forth to persecute the Virgin and murder her Son and our Savior but the earth holp the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the flood which the Dragon had cast out of his mouth 12 My spiritual friends you may know that the innocent children that were murdered by bloody Herods men of war was that earth that opened her mouth and swallowed up that flood of persecution that was intended to be poured forth upon the blessed Babe or God of eternal Glory 13 Again then the Dragon was wroth with the woman and went and made war with the remnant of her seed which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ My spiritual brethren you may also know because Herod could not come at the holy Babe and his Mother in its infancy therefore his cursed spirit in his seed or sons did persecute the Lord of Glory and his Apostles and Believers to the death afterwards if you look with a spiritual eye in the second of Matthew and the Acts upon king Herod his seed Councel of Priests Scribes and men of war then you may see this to be the very minde of the holy Spirit in these mysterious Records 14 Again when the earthly powers through the glorious appearance of the everlasting Gospel are sealed up unto bloody mindedness against the messengers of that divine Truth to fulfil the secret decree of the most high God then are their spirits shut close prisoners in their own bodies as in a dungeon of spiritual darkness through which in stead of enjoying any sweet peace that soul is full of raging madness and not knowing which way to turn it self it thinks to get out of its condition by acting all maner of cruelties to the utmost of its power 15 My spiritual friends you may know that this was that spiritual binding of that old Serpent Dragon Devil in king Herod and his Herodian spirits for a thousand years the which thousand years were expired when the Ten persecutions ceased which was the ten horns of that savage beast aforesaid 16 For you that are spiritual know that no man can possibly finde out the truth of Holy Writ of the most perfectest account in the world because the wisdom of God hath reserved the seasons of all divine secrets in his own heavenly breast that men or Angels may know them when his Glory seeth it most fit 17 Wherefore all time observation in reference to a right understanding of any thing that is spiritual is utterly confounded in that Scripture saying For a thousand years is as one day with the Lord and a day is as a thousand years 18 Moreover when the glorious Truths of the divine Majesty were poured forth upon the face of the Nations as it was in the primitive times through the spiritual Ministery of the everliving God you may know whilest that commissionated spiritual power remained in being the Nations could not be deceived with the hypocritical
the divine Majesty himself wherefore you spiritual ones may also know that that Gog and Magog that are gone forth to battel in the plains of the earth compassing the Tents of the Saints and the holy City are those Heathenish Magistrates and their bloody Priests that proceeded from cursed Cain through the loins of King Herod and his Priests and Scribes as beforesaid so that the dead men that lived not again until the thousand years were fulfilled are those Saints and holy City of God which at this time and to the end of all time do suffer cruel persecution for the testimony of a good conscience in all the Nations of the world 40 My beloved Brethren this is that spiritual raign of the first resurrection with Christ on this earth appointed in some measure for all men to drink which are delivered from that second death which is treasured up for all bloody minded Tyrants whatsoever 41 Thus you that are sober may clearly see that it was not a visible personal raign of Christ a thousand years with his Saints on this earth that John aimed at as many men have long imagined but it was a spiritual raign or suffering with him for his truths sake upon earth that when he appeareth in his glory with all his holy Angels then to raign with him in his Throne to all eternity in the third heavens 42 Now brethren I shall go on to prove his personal coming in glory according to the intent of his most holy Spirit from his own words CHAP. XLIII 1 Of the personal glory of Christs coming to judgement 2 No man hath so much faith as a grain of mustard-seed but Christ onely 3 Of spirits finite and infinite MY beloved brethren in the unerring spirit you may know there is a twofold appearing of Christs glory in his chosen ones as the glory of the Sun excels the glory of the Moon so these two glories transcend each other 2 Moreover you know the Moon appears in the brightness of her glory at one time and at another time she appears altogether like unto darkness or shame 3 So likewise it is with Christs appearing in glory to mens souls in this life sometimes by vertue of the in-comes of his eternal spirit the soul of man for a moment is transmuted into the glorious likeness of the divine Majesty himself 4 But at another time you know when none of these spiritual lightnings appear through some fleshly guilt the poor soul seems to be full of fearful darkness horror and shame as if it had never seen any light or life at all 5 So that you see all the glory of Christs appearing unto the spirits of men in this life is but a changeable Moon-like glory at the best 6 Therefore it can be but a spiritual type of this personal appearing of Christ in his judgement-seat glory with all his mighty Angels 7 Again you know the Sun is no way subject to change in the least but Gyant-like runs his course in four and twenty hours through the whole heavens and in one place or other appears in his glory unto the end of all time 8 So likewise you may know it is with this personal appearing of Christ in his glory with his holy Angels for in that day of his appearing the persons of his redeemed ones shall be nothing else but Sun-shine like divine glories in themselves and so run their heavenly course even to all eternity 9 Who ever thou art that is ignorant of this personal glory of Christs coming in the clouds or air with his elect Angels to make an eternal separation between the persons of the blessed Israelites and cursed Cananites though thou art full of seeming glorious expressions concerning a God or Christ living in mens consciences yet thou canst never be firmly established until thou knowest that personal God or Christ sitting in the throne of his infinite glory in the high heavens without thee from whence alone all inward light or life proceeds 10 I confess if a man become an innocent merciful spirit he may be able to speak such a language from a supposed God or Christ in mens consciences onely that may confound the seeming holiness of all Church fellowships in the world 11 But what advnatage is this to himself or his heirs except when he is confounded in the room thereof he doth not onely declare the effects of Christs truth in the minds of men but is able to demonstrate in some measure the personal appearing of Christ in his glory in the world to come 12 If the visible appearing of a glorified God or Christ in the person of a man be such a choak-pear unto thee or seem low or carnal because the national Priests confess such a like thing 13 I would fain know of thee by sober speaking or writing where thy God or Christ is become when thy soul and all thy light or life for a moment is become silent death or darkness with thy body of dust 14 Moreover if thou understandest not a personal God or Christ too transcendent glorious for Heavens Earth Angels or Men to be capable of the indwelling of his eternal spirit what is thy inward God or Christ thou discoursest so much about but pleasant words or perishing nature onely 15 Furthermore if thou knowest this wonderful secret concerning what a spirit is then wouldst thou certainly know how impossible a thing it is for any spirit whatsoever to possess a living being without a distinct body of his own 16 Again of what bigness dost thou think a spirit is whether it be finite or infinite give me leave to write a little of this strange thing from those sayings of Christ to his disciples in the 17. Chapter by St. Matthew the words are these For verily I say unto you for if ye have faith as much as is a grain of Mustard seed ye shall say unto this mountain remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove and nothing shall be unpossible unto you Behold is not a grain of Mustard seed a very little and yet you see Christ saith nothing should be unpossible unto that man that hath such a quantity of spiritual faith in him 17 Again it is written with God nothing shall be unpossible who then is capable to possess so much faith in him as will contain the quantity of a Mustard seed but Christ Jesus the God of Glory himself unto whom all things are possible that he is moved unto by that seed of faith which is the eternal spirit of his glorified person 18 Moreover if a spirit be in its quantity but as a grain of Mustard seed or a spark of fire how then is it possible for the Spirit of God Men or Angels to possess any sensible light life joy or glory but in their own bodies onely 19 Furthermore if this description of a spirit seem strange be it known unto thee the Lord hath made me to declare it for the confounding of that cursed error
of Gods essentially being in all things 20 Again if the eternal spirit should consist of so great a bulk how then can there be any God at all but nature onely 21 Or how can it possibly be an infinite spirit when it is not distinct to it self but is compelled to have its being in finite things onely this unknown bodiless God is much like unto the Star-gazers monstrous Sun and Moon aforesaid 22 Is not this infiniteness indeed for all the spirits of elect men and Angels to be filled with variety of divine glories with one word speaking from so small a fiery glory as this is 23 Who ever thou art that shall be left to despise this little spark of immortal Crowns which essentially raigneth in the man Christ Jesus alone it is because there is no true light of life in thee CHAP. XLIV 1 Of the great white Throne which John saw Revelation 20. 2 A mark of a Reprobate to desire miracles to make him believe the truth of a commission IN the 20. of the Revelation it is thus written And I saw a great while throne and one that sate on it from whose face fled away both earth and heaven and their place was no more found My spiritual Brethren though mens earthly mindedness and heavenly conceitedness will flye away and be no more foundâ— when the true light of life eternal is throned in their spirits yet from the unerring spirit I positively affirm that this place of Holy Writ had reference onely unto Christs personal appearing in his glory with his mighty Angels to make an eternal separation between the just and unjust 2 My Christian friends why did John call it a great white Throne which he spiritually saw It was because of the glorious brightness of the Judges face or person and his Angelical attendance and also because it was the dreadful general appearance of mankinde to receive their eternal dooms 3 You know when Christ was transfigured upon the Mount through which his face shone and his garments glittered the Texts saith that Moses and Elias appeared to him in glory 4 So likewise you may know that John called it a great white Throne as beforesaid because of the transcendent brightness of Christs person 5 What heaven and earth was that which fled away from his glorious face what ever men imagine to the contrary you that are spiritual may know that it was the dissolution of that heaven and earth that had a beginning as if it had never had any being I mean this visible firmamental heaven and earth and all light or life in them 6 Therefore where John saith their place was no more found that was spoken in reference unto their former natural brightness vertue beauty power or glory being translated into a Chaos of everlasting confusion 7 Again besides the glorious brightness of Christs person and his Angelical Host give me leave to write a little more of that great white Throne which John saw 8 You that are truly spiritual cannot be so grosly ignorant as to think that Christ hath no other Throne to inhabit in but his peoples spirits and this natural world onely why because that error ariseth out of the Atheistical hearts of fleshly men that hath no faith in the truth of Holy Writ 9 Moreover if mens spirits be but rationally sober though at present they be never so atheistical they may be convinc'd that there is another world besides this which is of a higher nature compassing this Globe round about and yet it is not global as this is onely there is no elementary Firmament Sun Moon nor Stars in it but it is an open place City Throne or Kingdom of infinite vastness in length breadth or height answerable to the person of an infinite Majesty 10 Also it is a Throne of exceeding whiteness or Sun-like brightness suitable unto the transcendent brightness of the Kings person that sits thereon and his glorious companions 11 Though the joy and glory of an earthly Prince consists chiefly in the greatness of his person power vast territories and honorable subjects for his safety yet for all this you know that his palaces are deckt with embroidered Ornaments of gold silver precious stones and such like for the further setting forth the mortal glory of his Princely Majesty 12 So likewise it is with the divine Majesty for though the variety of his infinite Godhead joy and glory principally is within his own person and Princely power over so innumerable a company of kingly companions 13 Yet you may also know that he hath a great Throne or Palace for the further setting forth of his visible glory decked with Ornaments of spititual brightness or immortal glittering whiteness as beforesaid 14 Do not all men that acknowledge a Creator whether they understand him to be a spirit or a person confess him to be boundless immortal unchangeable and eternal 15 You know this global world is not boundless in length height breadth or compass but is is surrounded with a firmamental heaven as with a brazen wall to keep it within its own station 16 Moreover if the eternal Majesty be infinite or boundless as he is I would fain know of any man how it is possible for a glorified infinite spirit or person to be contained in a finite bounded world 17 Though the Doves of divine glory are compelled for a season to live among the Tyrannical Serpents of this perishing world yet I would have you to understand that if an infinite or boundless God with his mighty Angels should have no other Throne to solace themselves in but this then in stead of spiritual liberty they would all be in natural bondage 18 If you ask me the reason of it you may know that the glorified person of God or Christ is of a motion swifter then thought and the persons of Moses Elias and the mighty Angels are of motion as swift as thought 19 Therefore no inclosed place can contain them but they must of necessity inhabit a Throne or Kingdom of infinite vastness for ascending or descending at the divine pleasure according to their motional swiftness 20 Again you spiritual ones may undoubtedly know that there is such a throne as I speak of why because this world cannot possibly contain our thoughts but they nimbly pierce through the heavens and in a weak measure they comprehend an infinite or boundless God and a Throne or Kingdom of an infinite circumference 21 If our bodies were answerable to our thoughts this world could not possibly contain them but they would ascend through the natural heavens to see whether there were such a vast kingdom of eternal glory as they had apprehended 22 I know all fleshly Atheistical minded men are apt to say unto me If they could see this infinite personal God and glorious white Throne I talk so much of then they could believe it 23 O how fain would finite carnal eyes behold infinite spiritual glories 24 Moreover they may say unto me
didst thou ever see this infinite Maâ—esty and Throne of Glory thy self if thou didst where are thy miracles to confirm it or why dost thou not make us believe it by thy spirituality or why doth not this infinite Majesty bear witness that he sent thee as he did to his former Prophets and Apostles or when will he do it that we may see and believe and own thee for the truths sake 25 Whoever thou art that thus callest in question the glorious truths of eternity under pretence of my weakness in reference unto miracles that thou mightest believe 26 Little dost thou think in stead of contending with me thy sinful brother according to the flesh that it is that old Serpent Devil in thee that arraigns the glorious God that made thee at the blinde bar of thy carnal reason and by it condemns him and his heavenly truths because thy unbelieving desires are not satisfied 27 Again did not the Lord of Glory himself call those Jews that required a sign an adulterous and wicked generation 28 Moreover when the Lord of life by the mighty power of his word onely wrought wonderful miracles in their sights instead of believing on him ever the sooner for that the sign-mongring Jews cursedly say that he cast out Devils through Beelzebub the Prince of Devils 29 Furthermore if thou shouldst upbraid me for want of the gift of tongues or languages yet I render praise unto the God of Glory by his poor light in my poor soul thou canst not upbraid me for want of a spirit of Prophesie though thou at present shalt slight it 30 And what if I could speak all languages would it advantage any sign-monger in the world but to his further condemnation only 31 What saith the Scripture concerning this thing Wherefore strange tongues are for a sign not to them that believe but to them believe not but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not but for them which believe 22 verse of the 14. Chapter of the 1. Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 32 Moreover did not the Lord of Glory himself say that John the Baptist was the greatest Prophet under the Law that was born of women and yet thou never reads of any miracles or tongues possessed by him 33 The Christian Dove waites for a spiritual sign within him that he may believe the glorious truths of the everliving God without him but the carnal Serpent requires a natural sign without him to make him believe the spiritual truths of an invisible God in the high heavens 34 Again if there should be no other appearing of a God or Christ but in mens consciences as thousands vainly imagine in this drunken age what did Christ mean by these and such like sayings in the 15. of St. Matthew And when the Son of man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats and he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on the left then shall the King say to them on his right hand come ye blessed of my father take the inheritance of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world for I was an hungry and ye gave me meat I thirsted and ye gave me drink and such like then shall he say to them on his left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels for I was an hungry and ye gave me no meat I thirsted and ye gave me no drink and these shall go into everlasting pain and the righteous into life eternal 35 Again thou that vainly boasts of a spiritual God or Christ appearing in glory within thee onely darest thou say that these Scriptures are fulfilled 36 Moreover canst thou say that thou hast this King on his Throne of Glory with his holy Angels and all the Nations of the world within thee 37 Furthermore is the Devil and his Angels and eternal blessedness and cursedness within thee also 38 My beloved friends in the Lord of life if there were not a generation of cursed men that glory of a God or Christ within them that are not onely full of these and such like discourses but are also given up unto all filthiness I could not have mentioned this thing wherefore there are many of these Serpents that creep into houses telling poor deceived men and silly women laden with many lusts that the resurrection of the dead is past already since Christ in his glory is risen in them 39 Moreover if their captivated friends should seem to scruple at any kinde of fleshly community held forth by them then these wandring Stars will say unto them What poor low things are these that you are troubled withal what are you in Egypt still is there any more then one pure being and is not this pure being within you all and is it not he that speaks and acts all in you seeing there is but one power what do ye scruple at are ye as little children or fools yet do ye not see that there is no union or true communion in the world among those people that hold two powers 40 Furthermore lest their deceived friends by whom they possess Balaams wages should fail them then these cursed captives will tell them That their bodies are fleshly forms that turns to dust from whence they came and shall appear no more therefore not to be minded in the least in reference to sin so that ye fall not under the civil law or oppress nature but your souls are immortal and cannot die but ascends into its glory from whence it came Wherefore since ye have attained to such liberty that all men are in foolish bondage which know it not let us eat and drink and be merry whilest we enjoy these vanishing forms yet let us sollace our selves with all delights even as our divine rights 41 O thou King of all kings for the glory of thy great names sake discover these Serpents with their carnal wiles that all thy simple hearted people may be delivered out of their Satannical snares and brought into that pure light and liberty of thy own likeness by one heavenly glance from thy eternal spirit CHAP. XLV 1 The Creators withholding of his divine assistance was the cause of the Fall of our first Parents 2 The ground of all spiritual or natural Curses 3 Noahs Ark assimulated to Heaven 4 Of the Resurrection YOu that are full of the light of life may know that whilest Adam and Eve continued in the purity of their Creation this whole earth and all things made therein were as pure in their kinde and measure as that vast kingdom of glory and all that therein is 2 Moreover as soon as ever their pure natures were defiled with the Serpentine nature of fiery lust you