all that 's he that 's born of God here the kingdom of God is near and as this increases so God draws near and his Kingdome increases and that of God in you all will answer thereto and rejoyce thereat which waits for him and that which is upright in every heart shall say that is the judgement of God and in that Vessel is God on his Throne according to the measure of that Spirit set up in Judgement so is Jesus Lord by the Holy Ghost known and bowed to But on the contrary in what place of authority soever it be in which the Innocent comes for Judgement against the Oppressor who is too strong for him and so seeks to Justice to plead his Cause and to deliver the seed of God that is burthened and when he comes his Cause is not heard but is thrust away if not further ensnared because he cannot oppress that of God in him more either by bowing to something of vain Customs or Worships never set up by God nor owned by his witness for Conscience sake or else because he cannot hire his judgement by feeding a covetous Spirit which is for Rewards and not for God that he Judges and so the innocent soul is not relieved at this throne but sent away as an offender from that place where he should be eased and justified with the judgement of a free spirit for justice sake doth not that of God in you all testifie against this that judgement is here turned backward in that vessel and that Jesus is not Lord therein so the innocent heart is sadned but not saved and the Kingdom of God put afar off and the Scepter of Righteousness not seen Wherefore Rulers and People who set up flesh instead of the holy Spirit to rule over you the wills of men the pride and glory of this world or any visible thing here below born after the flesh see what you chuse and what you put afar off and with that spirit you now chuse you will never see the Kingdom of God nor be able to say in truth that Jesus is Lord it s by the spirit of holiness meekness and true judgement and works of righteousness that Jesus is known to reign and therein stands the sight of his Kingdom and Lordship in every heart in every Court and in every place of judgement to all generations which you deny in chusing the man of this world after the flesh to rule in you or over you therein and yet you say you look for him and thy Kingdom come daily but deny him in the simplicity of his lowly spirit to rule for his own in all as all your Rulers ever did as you have read in words and now may read in deeds the world by wisdom knows not God so that spirit chuses its own to rule but cannot receive him whom you say you look for And how should any one who sees the kingdom of God and where the simplicity of Christ is above own that kingdom or worship that Spirit and not betray the simplicity of Christ and give his honour to another And if in the meeknesse of mind you did but weigh this you could not think it so strange why so many at this day who have received the kingdom of God in his lowly just and righteous spirit chuse rather to suffer death under that spirit of this world then to bow to worship it or confess that due thereto which belongs onely to Jesus the Lord neither would you say it was obstinacy or contempt of Authority rather to suffer by the will of man then to rob the Lord of his glory and deny Christ in his kingly office set up another in his place And herein true wisdom may see that in so doing we resist not that power which is ordained of God nor the person but that spirit we testifie against by sufferings under which God never anointed for a Saviour holding forth the anointing as we have received for a witness against him in the spirit of meekness confessing our King in whom we receive power to suffer so to us he is come and by the gift of the Holy Ghost we can say he is Lord therefore to us there is but one Lord though there be many so called whether in heaven or in earth yet have we but one in all both in heaven and earth and him we know where ever he is by the gift of the Holy Ghost and to him in spirit we confesse and bow and the fruits of his spirit are manifest with the light of the world testifying against all the works of darkness in all the children of his kingdom And to us he is born who is from above the Holy Child wonderful in Councel and Strength whose heavenly power and vertue takes â—uâ— affections from all earthlyobjects and worship whose name is Immanuel and it is written in our hearts and shed abroad into the world in our lives and Christ Jesus is the end of our conversation him alone to put on above all to preach by walking in him as we have received of that lively image of holiness and truth the anointed of God and so we confess him before men who is the right heir in what vessel soever he appears and the praise we give to God where this treasure is found in the earthen vessel and the hope of all our glory is Christ within and the increase of his government is Christ within of which there is no end and with that spirit is all righteousness established the kingdom of God upon earth and eternal life And where this is not seen chosen and followed there men rule in their own wills and where mens persons and riches is respected in chusing such there the same is respected in judgement by such and the Law of God is perverted and the sword of Justice which should defend the cause of the innocent is laid by and the fist of wickednesse is lâ—ft up against that which is tender of God in every conscience and when this rules the righteous seed mourns in secret but wickedness reigns openly and this is and ever was the state of the Kingdom of God and the Kingdoms of the Gentiles the one rules in the Spirit of Holiness and the other exercise Lordship in their own wills chosen and set up not by the Holy Ghost as you may read in the Scriptures concerning Israels common wealth who when they wanted the ruling of this spirit they sold themselves under their enemies but when this was their Judge they had a Saviour chosen after the spirit not after the flesh what ever was the vessel the Spirit was their Saviour Moses was a poor wandring Shepheard yet in this Spirit a God to Pharaoh and Saviour of Israel Samuel a poor man who received no reward for judgment and when they went about to chuse another after the manner of other Nations they rejected God who then gave them a King in his wrath David a poor man not chosen by
that suffers divers seeds shall have sorrow therein and he that sowes amongst thornes and bryars must reap trouble and where this kind is suffered to grow there is torment to themselves and trouble to others for how should the thistle change its nature So all that desire peace prepare a place that the seed thereof may grow alone and the Sun thereof may arise and shine clearly that nothing may grieve his holy spirit for Jacob must dwell alone and not be numbred among the rest of the Nations neither hath the Lamb fellowship with the beasts of the field Now as you have seen the Image of the earthly and felt his power and inclination to earthly things captivating your minds downward to things below even so must you bear the Image of the Heavenly if he reign that comes from above Till then think not you are perfect nor have attained to the resurrection of the dead For this I know of him in whom your life is hid that as he ariseth he shall as strongly lead your mindes into the Heavenly as ever you were captivated with the earthly So he that can read the figure rejoyce in hope concerning him that is to come yet let none glory in the fight of this knowledge but press into the life thereof that God may be seen and glorified in you For as he that hath gone much out with his mind and hath drunk in abundance of the earthly is become the most subtle selfish and hard and filled with all unrighteousness till he become incurable even so he that returns in and drinks abundantly of the heavenly doth become simple innocent and harmless separate from all ungodliness till he become incorruptible and receive power to attain the Son of God whose image declares the Father from whence he is for he that hath seen the Son hath seen the Father and he that hath the Son hath the Father also So dear friends behold the end of your calling and glory of your profession your life in this world and eternal inheritance for the which to attain we endure all things for which sufferings and patience we have a cloud of witnesses So we follow not fables and fancies as some suppose but every one as he is proved herein is able to set to his seal even to the day of the Lord with them that are gone before whose spirits herein are perfected Wherefore dearly beloved of God for his name sake I beseech you be zealous for his appearance and with meekness and fear instruct the ignorant who oppose themselves comfort the weak in all things leading with a life that cannot be blamed knowing how manifold your labour of love is doubled in everlasting glory as he comes to be made manifest to the world And the Lord God of power strengthen all your hands by the appearance of his love that by the shedding of it abroad in your hearts you may be made able to overcome the world and willing to give your necks to the yoak of Christ and to bear the burthens of the weak till the brotherhood arise and the body of Christ be perfected in one that none of you suffer an evil eye or ear which delights to behold the weakness of others but that your whole delight be to wait for the appearance of God in all and to behold his face in them rather than their failings And as this arises in every particular it shall be a sure token to you for good and that you are passed from the love of evil unto the love of God the Father and the Son And what you delight in shall be your inheritance And as you grow herein so shall he whom you love to see delight to make his appearance amongst you and to walk in you and you shall not seek his face in vain but with his likeness shall be satisfied and shall praise the beauty of his appearance Thus in honour preferring one another you shall know that the power of love is a ministration of life to that which is to be â—eloved Who will be on the Lords part now in this day of darkness when iniquity is growing to the full and the manchild is to be born above it And who will give up the vessel to bear his name against the enmity that is now arising And who will be glorified with the Lamb Blessed and happy is he that is found worthy to follow him out of the world bearing his reproach To as many as receive him he gives power to become the sons of God But he that will bear his name must receive his nature and himself also so walk even as he walked his name is power over sin and the world So the servants of sin and the world cannot bear it he that bears his name must bear it in his life and power lest he blaspheme Of flesh and blood it is not born nor by the will of man is it manifest it is he that is born again who hath his witness in himself that must bear his name before the world for a witnesse against them who hath that life in him which testifies against the deeds thereof but who bows thereto betrays him and proves false in his testimony Moses in his house made all things in likenesse of the pattern so it became a Tabernacle of witnesse to all the Nations of the true God therein and against all their false Gods and false worships and herein was he faithful to him that called him and to all that beheld the pattern he preached Gods presence dwelling in the Tabernacle made with hands How much more must he that bears the name of Christ follow the pattern and suit his example holding forth a Tabernacle of witnesse and preaching the presence of the true God therein and against all the world their false births false ways and worships herein proving faithful to him that hath called thereto and to all that beholds holding forth that holinesse is his habitation here on earth as it is in heaven bearing a lively testimony thereof by the Tabernacle of witnesse conformable to the heavenly example in all things And to this end Christ descended walked and suffered on earth leaving an example to all that follow his steps wherein as in a lively Oracle God is found in all that 's builded after his image and â—eek in his name and nature for the immortality that dwelleth therein Now God was not to be found in the Tabernacle of Molech though sought never so earnestly but in the Tabernacle of witnesse built according to the pattern neither is he now to be found in the image of the world nor is hiâ— name born in that nature though professed never so zealously Therefore let every one that nameth the nâ—me of the Lord depart from iniquity The seed of evil doers bears not the testimony of Christ but against him Did they blaspheme who said they were Jews and were not How much more do they who professe the name of Christ and are out of
and lusts who are enemies to the faith of Christ which presents perfect to God by working out such evils All which I came to see not by man but in the revelation of Christ as in his Faith I learned him growing into his Faith into him and his life therein made manifest in my body So I see what is his in truth as the truth is in Jesus and what is the worlds and but called his to oppose him And I see that which loves the things of this world to be none of his love nor that his joy that takes pleasure in visible things nor that his liberty which is in the works of the flesh nor that his peace that is in sin nor that his patience that seeks its own revenge nor that his glory that 's in pride nor that his worship which stands in carnal things nor that his honour that 's sought of men nor that his knowledge that 's after the flesh nor that his fear that is taught by his precepts of men these are in the world and not in him but have onely got the name to be his but are enemies to his life and were never begat of his Father nor learned in the Son all which and much like stuff I came to see the deceit of by that truth and simplicity I found in Christ contrary to the will of man And so in the life of Christ I have learned to know the growth of the Faith of Christ and the riches of it and the end of it which is Christ Jesus in all its working and I also know the worlds faith its uncleanness whose end is not to attain the holiness of Christ in life but would live in the worlds delights and have Christ for a cover and be saved by the righteousness of another which they have no minde to walk in themselves and so that faith works not by love which loves not the life of Christ but are enemies to his Crosse minding earthly things and this is the earthly faith but the living Faith works by love to holiness of life and therefore purifies the heart and the mystery of it stands in a pure conscience within themselves that have it and not in telling and comprehending what was in another for the Devils believes the holinesse that was in Christ and can preach it but cannot inherit it because they love not to live the life of it and by this I know them both for ever and all that prove them in the life of Christ shall witnesse with me the end of the one is the life of Christ in which himself walked and the same obedience of the same Spirit to the same Father by the same power according to the proportion of Faith received from God which Faith is from above and so layes hold on heavenly things for its strength and so brings forth heavenly fruits The other professeth and promiseth great things but ends in the world and mindes earthly things and doth not purifie the heart nor believes ever to attain the life of Christ his stature or fulness but counts it an error in such as presse after such attainments and so the end of the conversation of one is Christ Jesus to hold forth in Life and Power the same yesterday and to day and for ever The end of the other is a liberty to sin here while they can take any pleasure in it and sanctification and salvation when they are dead and according to the end of each faith so it works for its impossible for him that cannot believe holiness to work holiness but according to each mans faith so must he inherit in this world and that which is to come And in the workings and attainments of this living powerful faith I have found several measures according to my growth therein from the Word of the beginning of Christ or the first Principle of Christ and the fulness age and stature of Christ as betwixt a Babe a man grown in strength much working in spirit I found betwixt faith received of Christ Jesus and Christ learned in me for though I received the faith of his fulness in what he was at Jerusalem in his flesh there at once yet had not I so learned him in Spirit life in my mortal flesh nor put him on at once but in the light of Faith I saw I was so to run as to win him before I could put him on wherein I came to see and know my self begotten again in him by faith towards God who is the way to God in which way I came to see the begotten of the Father manifeâ—â— in measure in me in the pure image of a Holy Child separate from the fleshly sinful seed or Christ formed in me as the Scriptures witness and when I did behold his pure image and his pure mind and nature so far contrary to my own yet then was not he in his Kingdom nor all things put under his feet nor could I say that Jesus was then Lord in me but by the Spirits working by this Faith I had received and in hope thereof was I made to endure the loss of all things and to deny all things that ever this holy Spirit did War against in me which might any way oppresse this holy plant or hinder its growth owning his judgment in the light upon what ever was in my heart or affections but him alone though never so much gain in my account in the world which judgment being owned consented to against my self and all my self lovers therein was I parted from them in judgment and so then was they subdued by the powerful workings of that Spirit and put under his feet and I set free from them to arise with him above them being brought from under them and this was not done all at once but in order as he appeared in the light to manifest every particular evil And as that Faith I had received wrought by love to him a consent in my spirit to his just judgement upon them and I made willing to give them up to the fire and to come out of them and joyn to him in the execution least he should consume me with them as it must have been had I stayed in them and here I found the benefit of the light which goes before his face to prepare his way and the salvation of Faith which saved me through hope of him that I was not destroyed in my sins which Faith and hope gave me an entrance within the vail or a hiding place in him while the indignation was over which was to pass upon the man of sin And so a voice was heard in the wilderness calling out of sin into a way I knew not but as the light of his Covenant led me in the spirit of Elias turning my heart towards him that he might not smite the earth with a curse at his coming in which wâ—y ere I came into the Kingdom of Christ my pure rest I met with many hardships
the outward appearance as man looks but by the heart by the direction of the Spirit he was the Shepherd of Israel and his seed of the same Election hath the everlasting Kingdom of promise to all generations Elisha a Plowman yet by that Spirit was he the Chariots of Israel and horsmen thereof Deborah a woman yet a Judge deliverer to Israel And too long would it be to instance in all ages how he hath set up his throne and saved his people in this Election not of wisdom riches or worldly glory but the poor of this world rich in faith heirs of the Kingdom of promise which you say you look for but cannot see nor receive while you chuse after the flesh as the world hath ever done who still have bent all their wisdom and Religion to keep the Heir out of his Kingdom whom they have been looking for after the flesh but not believing in the light to give them a sight through the vail to him that is born of the â—pirit have resisted the Holy One and chosen the murtherer as did your Fathers so do you alwayes resist the Holy Ghost and as it was so it is that which is born of the flesh is flesh chuses after the flesh and worships after the flesh for it can see no further it cannot see the Kingdom of God and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit and chuses after the spirit and worships in spirit and these are contrary Kingdoms and he that 's born after the flesh persecutes him that 's born after the spirit ever did and ever will do for the Scripture cannot be broken which hath so said and is now fulfilled And now you that are called Christians you read and Preach of this King Christ Jesus and his Kingdom what a One he ever hath been in his appearance upon Earth by whom he hath been received and by whom rejected and after what manner he hath ever suffered and by what power he hath reigned in all ages and this you will confesse in words but will you now receive him to reign in you Or can you own his appearance where it is set up in others and not be offended therewith is that eye open that knows him or can you delight in him who was never like the world in his walkings was not he ever poor as to this world and therefore rejected of the rich and learned lowly and rejected of Princes and them that was high was not his work ever to change shadows and forms and Religious traditions set up in mens minds above the life of Truth and leadings of the spirit and to set up spiritual worship and obedience in its place And therefore by the builders ever rejected and condemned and his new work was ever foolishness to the wise wherefore he bare the reproach thereof with patience was he not ever meek and innocent and harmless in his conversation towards all men as a Lamb indeed separate from sinners in life yet seeking them to save out of sin with the daily giving up his life c So he was and so he hath ever appeared on earth now can you receive him King as he was you that wait for him Or do you think he is changed Is he now become proud and lofty in flesh after the world cruel coverous and hard-hearted subtle and crafty to deceive the simple strong and violent to trample on the helpless doth the glory of his Scepter now stand in meats and drinks and fine apparel or great earthly possessions doth he now come to take up his abode and delight in these things who ever hath come to take the minds of his people out of these things up into the heavenly treasure doth he now delight in earthly glory strife and exaltation Is the weapons of his warfare now become carnal wherewith he over comes his enemies doth he now come with haling and beating whips and prisons and cruel tortures to take the Kingdom of peace who hath suffered such things formerly from the world himself will he now turn oppressor of that which is tender in Conscience and grind the face of the poor or pervert the Judgment of the needy Should he now be seen in works of this nature were this to appear the second time without sin unto salvation as he is promised Sure the vail is thick over that heart who sees not that this is not his Kingdom Power nor Glory nor his image who is the same yesterday to day and for ever Yet is this nature above in many and chosen to Rule over many who say they wait for his Kingdom that eye being darkned with the love of the world which should give the true sight of his coming the carnal mind thinks God to be like himself But did you but honestly look into your own hearts with that eye which puts a difference between things that differ in your selves to know each motion of each Spirit and each power and the end and nature of its working the earthly and the heavenly you would soon be able to Judge of these two which so far differ in their fruits and are so contrary in all things and to own the right heir in his Kingdom But while you suffer the god of this world to keep his Throne in your hearts by letting him captivate your minds and affections into earthly delighrs it is not like he will suffer you to chuse aright nor receive another to reign in you or over you the eye of the mind being blinded therewith the light of the Gospel cannot shine into the heart by which you should chuse and which gives the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus nor that treasure be seen or received in the earthen vessel as King either in your selves or others but the wise in heart knows what they wait for and when they see him they rejoyce with the joy of his Kingdom which consists not in carnal things nor comes with outward observations but whose coming is within and whose Kingdom consists in Righteousness Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost blessed be our King for ever and blessed are they who put not his Kingdom afar off .. And therefore you Rulers and People of all sorts high and low this word is to you and this day is to you the day of the Lord arise and receive your King into his Kingdom that he may receive you and establish you therein the Lord it at hand he is near to all that call up on him in truth and righteonsness To you Princes Judges Justices Mayors and Constables all sorts of Rulers who are in the place to Govern the Lord is at hand he is near you all the Kingdom of God is within you the Principle of God is within you with which if you mind it he will break the yoak of the oppressor within you and without you by the sword of Justice that 's his Kingdom upon earth put it not afar off let it arise
longing of my Soul is may be for the leading to Repentance that you may be established after all this shakings in that which cannot be shaken otherwise the most miserable Wo that ever waâ— will come upon you your Profession of Christ being the greatest that ever was since the beginning And his Oppression answerable under which he suffers in all places of the Nations for a testimony that the Kingdom is near you whether you will receive him or refuse him whose life in measure is now manifest in mortal flesh and the light thereof ariseth in every Conscience to lead or condemne A Candle lighted to give the sight of the good Old Way of God at his Coming from the wayes that now ensnares the simple A Voice in the Wildernesse cryes aloud to all you who are talking of the Lords coming prepare his way make his paths strait make way for the Just to come to Judgment make him way in your streets he comes not in a corner nor is he kept in the secret chambers but openly in the streets of the great Cities where iniquity is committed openly whose Cry hath gone up before the Lord and he comes to see whether it be so indeed as the Cry hath been And behold here is no room for the feet of his Servants to passe in whom he comes The antient paths of Peace are broken up the Sea hath broken its Banks it rages and swells exceedingly and the good old Wayes are grown like a Wildernesse they are filled with heaps of Rubbish so that the Stranger cannot passe who hath no habitation in the Earth our streets are become as Sodom which God overthrew who can see and not lament How are the paths of the Just devoured How is Bryars and Thornes grown over the way of the Righteous which takes hold of the upright what way soever he turn if he come against sin So the Innocent passe if he come in the Name of the Lord All hath freedom but the Heir and such as he sends before his face to prepare his Way Swearers Liars Drunkards and all deceitful workers are become Freemen have free passage and every one brings forth without fear but he that departs from Iniquity and testifies against it is beset about with them all as a Sheep in the bryars what way soever he turns his bonds are increased How is true Judgment driven into a corner and Wickednesse come into the streets which rises up without fear against him that Reproves it for Violence hath got into the Seat of Equity and hath framed mischief by a Law and hath turned Judgment backwards Should not Truth have its way amongst you Professors and righteous Judgment passe upon its Enemies where they are found and plead its own cause against Iniquity But he that letteth stands in the way with his Weapons to devour him that is more Righteous then himself and no man is able to restore to the upright his path Or can he redeem his own way but through blood Shall he condemn Iniquity and not be a prey Or shall he reprove sin in the Gate and not be taken in their Dragg And when the Innocent is caught in this Net to whom shall he cry for relief and not increase his bonds Or who will plead his Innocent Cause and not betray him If he would appeal to Iustice he cannot come at it nor doth Iudgment sit in the Gate Is there help in the House of the King or will the House of the Priest plead his Right Or to whom may he commit himself with safety whose Life and Faith is held in a pure Conscience Or in what Court can he appear without offence Are not Snares laid in lower places and on the Mountains a Net spread And do not these daily catch men Search if there be a man left that is valiant for Truth upon Earth who for fear or favour will not wink at Oppression or that dare faithfully stand by him that comes in the Name of the Lord to reprove sin openly who is he that hath not laid Riches or Honour or some piece of Earth in his own way to stop his feet from the path of uprightnesse and so is every mans Arm become too short to relieve the Oppressed or to open the way wherein the Innocent may serve his Maker without fear Or the Just to proclaim the Hoâ—ineâ—â—e of God without danger in the way that God shall chuse and not man Or for Judgment to come forth into the open places where wickenesse is most acted Or for the lively witnesse of the Lamb to arise against his enemy in the good old way that he hath chosen to all Generations Ah! how is the Antient paths forsaken of men How have you left the good old Way of God and chosen wayes of your own agâ—inst your own souls How long will it be ere you try your wayes with the truth that you may returne to him who is come to require the Paths of judgment and righteousnesse and truth that the meek may possesse his Inheritance of old and that God may walk in his own seed as he hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them who comes as the lightning Behold you who are crying against new wayes you say it was never well since there was so many new wayes you are the men and your wayes are the thing you complain of and why there is so many of your wayes is because Babel is confounded and many Heads and Horns are lifted up to fulfil that number as is written of them to withstand the way of the Lamb and to fight against Gods appearance in his heritage who all are set against the way of God as at this day which is but one to all generations was not this his way of Old which is now rejected and which is become so odious in your eyes Was not this of old the pure path which you now say breaks your peace Search the Scriptures which testifie of God and his way in his servants of old and how he then passed in his redeemed ones chosen vessels for himself to make his power known against oppoâ—ers as you may read in Scriptures trace the steps of his servants in whom he walked and see how far you have erred at this day Was not this his way in Jeremiah Who led him into the gates of Jerusalem and through the streets thereof through him declaring against sin there abounding and to pronounce judgments to follow did not he lead him into their Temple and therein told them who went thither to worship that they trusted in a Lye who cryed the Temple of the Lord but had made it a Den of Thieves by their wicked wayes Dâ—d not he lead him down to the house of the King and there told him That if he would not amend his wayes his house should become a desolation And which of the false Prophets did he not reprove openly by him Was not this his way then And what became of
not thus with Israel when they builded Temples and increased their Altars and multiplied their Sacrifices what was the end was it not all to sin for thereby they strengthened themselves against the way of the Loâ—d in his Prophets and blessed themselves in their worships said no evil should come upon them for they made many prayers but their hands were full of blood for the best of them was become as a Bryar in the way of the Innocent and â—he most upright as a Thorn-hedg in the way of his servants in whon he appeared against their back-sliding evils and false worships but they were not so to their own Teachers for them they fed fat and gave gifts rewards and hire to them so having got Prophets of their own in their way then they joyned together and one cryed peace to another and when God came to break that peace in his way and to tell them it was not his peace then they all joyned to hedge him out and made a wall against him of their own righteousnesse which they daubed up with their increase of Sacrifices and false worships so they said they were innocent people said so and Priest and Prophets and Rulers said so for they had trimed their own ways so they said they should have peace and he that told them truth then became their troubler So having covered themselves with this garment they could shed innocent blood boldly which was found in the Skirts thereof not by secret search and what became of all this did their own wayes save them in the end did not innocent blood out-cry the multitude of their Altars till there was no remedy So he became their enemy whom they called their Redeemer So now read your wayes at this day and measure them in Truth and see what it is you are hedging our who it is and what is his message against and what is his manner of coming and our manner of opposing that so if it were possible you might come to see a glimps of the old way and of your own works is it not he that comes to cry out against that which is wicked in your streets and false in your worships that 's become your enemy and breaks your peace whom your hedge cannot stop nor your wall keep out how many bryars and Thorns are set against him at this day to take hold of him if he do but open his mouth in your streets what Laws new and old theâ—e is to make him an offender for a word in your Temples how is he beat in your Synagogues haled before Rulers and cast into Prisons how is the Scriptures fulfilled upon you and his witness doubled against you manifold over above all your forefathers of whom you read and yet you say you are innocent you are no persecutors but for liberty of Conscience they were persecutors that so used him in the Prophets and in the Apostles and in Queen Maries dayes that so used Martyrs c. but cannot see your work of the same nature which Queen Maries Laws are far too short for you to accomplish but with many additions thereto are you in much fury driving on to destruction yet having trimed your own way say you we are Christians and have a Gospel Ministry of godly men c. But what Christians did ever Christians count it a breach of their Peace to reprove sin in the Gate or where ever it is committed did Christians ever cast into prison or count it disorder to dispute in their Synagogues in the time of their worship did they ever make a Law to whip strangers who asks them nought or to force people to swear against the conscience and many such things are now done which in the time of the Apostles the heathen came far short of which now is filling up all against him whose coming is ever as a stranger in the earth and what hedgings here is at this day to keep him out from his own is plainly to be seen and that he should not have liberty to seek up his lost ones in high-wayes and hedges Markets and Steeple-houses how have you heightned your walls higher then your fore-fathers and what daubing is at this day against the way of God from which your own wayes cannot save you for the way of God is perfect and will endure to aâ—l Generations wherein the upright walks and sinners falls in opposition thereto But how should you know his way who denies his light within seeing they that rebell against the light never knew the pathes thereof you aâ—e they who have erred in your hearts and therefore have not known his wayes and how should you have peace or enter into his rest for you that denies his light and resists his Spirit in your hearts must needs be offended at his coming in your streets so you have set your selves against him and he hath set himself against you as at this day and therefore it is not with you now as it was when you were in the work of making him way to walk in tender consciences and you will find him arise more to cross your wayes as you seek to stop his way you have begun to walk contrary to him and he is beginning to walk contrary to you and unto you is he become an enemy so take heed what you do for till you return will he watch over you for evil and not for good and the more you trim your own wayes to withstand his way the more will he discover the blood of the innocent in your skirts before the Sun till all may see you are no Christians nor what you Profess but open enemies to God and his people and your hands full of blood Wherefore be not rash you heady people you that are but looking for his coming iâ— outward observations are witnesses against your selves that his way you have not yet learned though you have read of it yet you know it not and will you appoint him a way and call it his way and will he own it who comes a way you have not known nor can believe if you be told it it would be your wisdom to stand still every one and cease from your own wayes and wait in the light which only gives the knowledge of him and his way which light shines in the heart as saith the Scriptures and the Kingdom of God is within you and he whom you oppose is a Spirit and comes a spiritual way to cut down spiritual wickedness so to the Spirit of light turn that you may see to prepare to meet him in his own way and not to set your way to oppose him that he should not break you to pieces The living God glorified in his Temple the true Worshippeâ—s that worship him in Spirit and in Truth NOw glory to God in Heaven and the thousands of his Saints doth confess him upon earth who bear his Name and testimony against the world who have still put his coming afar off who have
not this the height of Blasphemy and Deceit thus to prophane his holy Name and turn it into a lie as though all these abominable things were therein or that he owned such as live in them Now lay your words and your works in the true Ballance and weigh them with the Words of Life and Power of his Name and measure of Truth and Honesty and lye not against the Truth But you that are under the power of these wickednesses and in bondage thereto who see and are not ashamed to say you cannot but commit these abominations while you live do not lie against the work of Christ in saying he hath Redeemed you when you are yet in this bondage neither count his blood an unholy thing in saying you are washed nor his Work imperfect nor mix it with the work of the Devil but give to each his own that thereby they may be known and in what Name every thing is wrought for now is Truth come to try you and he is appearing who will have his own and nothing but his own under what pretence soever Now is the Heir of Righteousnesse come to seek the fruit of his own stand still you that use those high words against o hers and see how the Lord is dealt with amongst you at this day Did not he plant a Holy Vine to bring forth to himself of his own Nature and Image and have you let this be overâ—run with weeds while you have been asleep in your sloth and idlenesse cares and pleasures of the world till all be filled with bryars and thorns and corrupt plants that now are spread and bring forth And now the Lord is come who is the light of the world to seek fruits of his own and will you hold him forth these cursed fruits an◠〈…〉 ver them with his Name as though they were his and seek to force them upon him whether he will or no and fall violently upon him if he deny them Now if this be not so what means this That when any one in his Name is sent to reprove sin in the Streets or Markets where it abounds and in the Name of Christ to declare against false worships never set up by him which hath been his manner in all his appearances and to call for what is his own and to deny the works of the Devil that presently all is in an uproar and a tumult raised pulling and beating and haling to Prison beaten in Markets beaten in your Synagogues shamefully intreated in your Streets and all for no other offence but because he calls for his own and denies what is not of him Doth not this Blaspheme that Holy Name by which they are called and which your selves professe Teacher cryes away with him and tumult cryes away with him it s not fit he should live And what usage he receives from you in his members is openly seen and God is daily bringing your works to light Now let the wise â—n heart who can discern the signs of the times read if the Parable be not fulfilled upon you Husbandmen And will you guild this Cup over with fine words forms and professions and call them Deceivers and Blasphemers who in love to your souls and obedience to Christ tells you of it and testifies against it in all long suffering and patience Who will be found the deceivers and the deceived when your guildâ—d covers comes to be pulled off and you must drink of the Cup your selves as you have filled and this is certainly near at hand to come upon you and you are hasting towards it a pace your Cup is almost full and with the light are you seen Hath not the Lamb set up his Testimony against you almost in every place of the Nation How many Towns have you in which the Innocent have not suffered violence for crying agâ—inst sin in the Name of Christ calling for the fruits of Righteousness How many Prisons have you that do not speak your cruelty How many Counties have you in which Innocent blood hath not been shed which daily speaks How many of your Synagogues have the Children of light born witness in against your evil wayes wherein they have been beaten haled pulled and punished And all this you drink up as a thing of nought and are yet thirstier then at first Are these the works of Christ or of the old Murtherer Wherefore cease to Blaspheme for you are measured by that which will not lie and with your own Rule are you found in the works of the old deceiver and the old persecuors and in their Opposition and Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit where it testifies against your evil deeds So seeing you are found in the works of the old Persecutors and in their nature take to you their name for that is truth and will be your Inheritance amongst them and cease to Blaspheme the Name of Christ by taking it upon you to cover these abominations and hide your sin from your own eyes and so deceive your own Souls and others that are blind but who comes in the Name of Christ comes in the light to prove you openly and sees you and gives light in the life of Christ for all to discern betwixt the Lamb and the Wols by their nature and not by their cloathing Christ is the Holy annointing wherewith all that are in him sees out of these things to be led and every appearance of his from Cain the first murtherer till this day declares these to be the works of the Devil and by works of a contrary nature doth witness against them In which life he is the light of the world who though he be in the midst of Gods Throne seen so to his own yet as a Lamb slain among these unclean beasts shining forth in the life of Meeknesse Holinesse Patience and Long-suffering enduring all things from his enemies which Light and Life though to she wisdom of the wise world it appears poor base and contemptible and therefore by the builders rejected yet it is full of Grace and Truth and hath power with God over the Devil and all these his works and by Faith in his Name and by the vertue of his Nature all that are in him bear his Testimony against the worlds works and nature for in that Name is Gods Covenant of Life and Peace and the Ark of his strength and safety in the great destruction that is to come upon the world for these things and he is ever at the Arm of Gods strength and sits at his right hand in heavenly places and with him to gather and save his Elect from the ends of the earth and by his sufferings to redeem them from under those ungodly powers and to break the bonds of iniquity and therefore they who are gathered into this Name holds it as a Holy Power and dare not blaspheme it but say Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity Which Name to such is salvation and strength and
but keep the Lord in your eye and the evils shall dye and vanish away from amongst you and the appearance shall be the Lords and to him shall the gathering of the Nations be hungry souls shall see and be satisfied with his likenesse and all that behold his beauty shall confesse unto him and in him shall the upright heart delight for at his coming shall he establish the Throne of Righteousnesse and measure every appearance and correct every false judgement and that which ensnares the simple will he cast out for by the power of his appearance shall every thing be tryed and peace proclaimed in the name of righteousnesse alone for that which is not like him will not be able to stand before his appearance But we know that when he appeares we shall be like him he that hath this hope purifies himself even as he is pure that he may be seen in him at his coming Now dear friends is your sound gone to the ends of the earth and God hath made you famous amongst your enemies in that you have begun to confess his name and nature and that he is in you whom many are looking for here and there and now the eyes of people and Nations are upon you to see your end and now your glory is in putting him on and covering you with him a Lamb without blemish before God and man that in him you may obtain good report unreproveable and holy so shall you stop the way of the destroyer and put an end to all false conceptions and revive the hope of Israel Let his innocency be your armour and put your trust in his truth for your Salvation The time is full come for you to declare what he is to you ' with boldness with a confession beyond words for this appearance of him in love is that which shall judge all likenesses and try all spirits actions judgments and appearances and by this shall you all be measured what spirits you are of and all spirits in the world for he shall bring every hidden formed fained thing to light at his coming and what ever hath not this love in it is not his nor begotten of God but he that hath this love is begotten of God and hath him the Father and the Son the end of the Law and the Prophets the substance and life of all knowledge faith and works the root and ground of every good gift for herein are we made perfect in love that we may have boldness in the day of judgment because we have put him on dwell in him who is love and as he is so are we in this world But he that loveth not is not made perfect in faith in knowledge in judgment having not learned Christ herein therefore by this he must be judged himself So blessed is he that judges nothing before the time who condemns not himself wherein he judges another all judgment being committed to him that can lay down his life for his enemies Therefore happy are you if you have him on first for when he appears his judgment is true and shall stand when all that hath come before him shall pass away for him alone hath the Father sealed So dearly beloved ones my soul breaths towards you herein that in all your several gifts and administrations this Son of God be your eye and end the beauty and Glory of the Father that the hope thereof to attain may stay you in all tryals and temptations knowing that in him alone is your lasting peace and that which doth now befall you in all your afflictions is to shake all other appearances that way may be made for him alone whose Image and life none can judge nor condemn And the day is come that happy is that man who hath nothing else to glory in and this know that the appearance of God in his own begotten is your glory and if any man boast himself and not herein when he is weighed therewith he will be found wanting the sound thereof will not save him As the same spirit from whence this comes moves in any one so let them send it abroad amongst the called of God to be read and known COme forth you children of light come forth depart out of the world touch not the unclean thing that the holy one may make his appearance amongst you make hast to the day of your God If he shine forth Salvation is with you but he cannot appear in that heart where the world is retained If you be like the world it will own you but that image which it receives not is your everlasting glory and beauty So mind what works in the vessel for now must every Child appear like his Father and must bring to light of what spirit he is begotten and only blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord with power and great glory that which the world is ashamed of is that with which the Son of God is glorified and again must be glorified he that bears the iniquities of men and is fill'd with reproach and yet appears without sin is our Saviour And a Lamb without spot must take away the sin of the world his manifestation destroyes the work of the Devil in a body prepared he delights to perform the councill of God and to bring hidden things to light that he may speak mysteries to the wise therein and hold forth a way to the simple leading out of the snares of subtilty Wherefore all that love his appearance and seek the face of redemption love that which prepares his way to his appearance in his Temple that which breaks down the will of man and as a fire goes before him which is that baptisme with which all that will receive him must be baptised into death So when sorrow anguish and tribulation comes upon you rejoyce and fly not This comes to destroy nothing but destruction and to kill that which keeps you from eternal life and to prepare a way for your peace and a place for everlasting righteousness to dwell in you For truly friends in the threshing floor must the Altar be set up and where God answers by fire there must his house be built and as many as look to the end of this may not despise correction nor faint under the hand of reproof That is good which brings down into the depth where the wonders of God are learned for he that will labour in Gods Vineyard must know every seed and its root what feeds it and what famisheth it and the ground of every weed and cause of every curse This many may see when it 's come to a Tree brancheth and brings forth fruit but then its strong and powerful and not easily pluckt up seldom got down without fire and much sorrow therefore blessed is that eye that 's lowly and diligent which sees every several appearance that he may slay the seed of wickedness ere it bud and not suffer the enmity to take root for he