u Eph. 2. allureth not him 14. The chosen righteousnesse x Col. 2. snareth not him 15. The holinesse prideth not him 16. The y Dan. 12. adhominations of desolation hinder not him 17. The deceitfull hills seduce not him 18. The vaine comfort relisheth or liketh not him 19. The unbelief z 4. Esd 6.7 destroyeth not him 20. The delight to live in a Gal. 5. pleasures choketh not him 21. The b Eph. 4. ignorance blindeth not him 22. Nor the leaders of the blind doe not lead him For God is his c Esa 60. Apo. 21.22 light and life and to the same godly being he liveth and not to any strange things which be in his passing thorough them hath forsaken wherefore he is not captivated under the onenesse nor under any ungodly being but only d 1 Pet. 1. 1 Joh. 4. under the love and the requiring of her service 23. And even thus is God with him and he is with God For the true Spirit or the true godly being of the love e Joh. 16. leadeth him into all truth and love and in this manner under the obedience of the love is all his conversation f Esa 32.51 65. Apo. 21. in rest and peace who likewise liveth without fear everlastingly in all godly and spirituall heavenly goods with all the children of the Peaceable Kingdome and of the Love 24. Behold that same is the lovely rest h Esa 60.61.62.65 66. Jer. 23.33 and the godly life in the glorious freedome of the Children of God in the last time according to the promises CHAP. XLII WE praise thee O Father thou Lord of heaven and earth for that thou hast hidden a Mat. 11. Luk. 10. these things from the proud-boasting wise and the prudent understanding ones and revealed them to the little and humble ones 2. The rich of spirit nor the great wise or industrious Scripture-learned ones have not understood the same but to the b Esa 57.66 poor of spirit and to the simple of understanding hast thou given it 3. Yea O Father c Mat. 11. even so hath it pleased thee for that the rich of spirit should have no cause to boast d Esa 29. Abdi 1. 1 Cor. 1. them of their wisdome nor the understandingones of their prudence but that they may every one bow them under the obedience of thy love and so may acknowledge that thou only O my God and Father art a true God 4. Therefore because that the Lord would through his hearty love make his holy Name great and commendable e Luke 1. he hath exercised power with his arme and dispersed those that are proud in the device of their own hearts 5. He hath thrust downe the mighty f Eccl. 10. from the seat but exalted the humble 6. The g Luk. 1. hungry hath he filled with goods and left those empty that were rich or satisfied 7. Therefore the Lord forsaketh none that seek him with h Jer. 29. Eccle. 2. all their hearts for he is a strength unto the poore to the simple and to the little ones of understanding a i Psa 9.18 46.71.91.94 Esa 25. strength in the time of sorrow a refuge from the tempest and a shadow from the heat when the Tyrants fret or rage like a storme against a wall 8. For that cause k Esa 41.45.51.54 dismay not your selves O ye faint-hearted ones nor be not wavering-minded although the destruction do make up it selfe very high and that the decliners together with the good thinking wise and the Scripture-learned of the wicked world do slander or speak evill against this same and do persecute us for it shall all perish wating out like l Psal 10. Esa 50. Psal 37.68 Sap. 5. an old garment and like the smoke or vapour 9. For the Lord bringeth down the fury of the ungodly and maketh their heat strengthlesse like unto the heat in the wildernesse and woods 10. The Vine-branches of the Tyrants doth he wither with the shadow of his clouds n Esa 58 Eccl. 24. and bringeth forth his righteousnesse like a morning starre and his truth like a glorious cleernesse o Esa 60. or light of the Sun 11. And in peace p Esa 52.60 doth he set up again his holy City Jerusalem q Psal 79. â— Mac. 2.4 which the Heathen have trodden down 12. He doth now make manifest his holy Temple againe with joy r Esa 33.44 Apo. 21. and so permitteth his Tabernacle the Sanctuary of his dwelling to be beholden 13. And setteth up the same upon the top of the hill of Sion at Jerusalem that the hil of Sion may stand aloft Å¿ Esa 2. Mat. 4. and be exalted above all Hills even as the Lord hath forespoken the same by his Prophets 14. For the Lord of Hosts will now prepare upon his Hill of Sion at Jerusalem a sumptuous t Esa 25. Feast for all people of fat well marrowed Cattel and of pure wine wherein there is no dregs 15. And upon this hill he will take away u Esa 25. the covering or the veile wherewith all people are stopped and wherewith all Hathen are covered for the x 1 Cor. 15 death shall be swallowed up 16. And the Lord God will wipe off y Esa 25 Apo. 7. the tears from the faces of all the people and take away their reproach in the universall earth CHAP. XLIII BEhold that is the time of the Lords blessing in the which they shall sing this song in Judah 2. We have a a Esa 26. Supra 28. strong City the walls and the defence are our preservation 3. Open the gate b Psal 118. that the righteous people which keep the faith may enter therein 4. Thou alwaies keepest peace according to sure promise for men stay them upon thee 5. Therefore put your confidence in the Lord everlastingly for God the Lord is a stony rock for ever 6. He bringeth low those that dwell in pride and he casteth down the lofty City yea he throweth it downe to the earth so that it lyeth in the dust 7. That it is trodden upon with feet yea with the feet of the poor and with the feet of the simple 8. But the way of the righteous is plain and the goings of the humble dost thou O God direct aright 9. Therefore Lord c Esa 26. we wait upon thee in the way of thy righteousnesse for the lust of our heart standeth bent towards thy Name and to a remembrance of thee 10. We are desirous of thee in the night-season even with all our hearts and with our spirit do we walk up early unto thee 11. For where thy Law beareth rule in the Land there do the inhabiters of the earth learn righteousnesse 12. But although grace be profered to the ungodly yet do they learne no righteousnesse 13. But do nothing else but iniquity in the upright
Land for they do not see the Majestie of the Lord. 14. Lord they see not that thy hand is exalted but when they shall see it then shall they be ashamed CHAP. XLIV THerefore a Psa 113.133.135 exalt our God and laud his holy Name 2. Because he hath gotten the Kingdome and the Scepter of his Kingdome is made manifest 3. For the Lord is become b Psal 97. King wherefore his people do rejoyce 4. His Word hath shewed power his righteousnesse c Esa 45.51 is become manifest 5. His Spirit hath appeared like a light and confirmeth his salvation for ever 6. The same God hath renewed us in him and given d Esa 29.32 Act. 2. us a new understanding 7. A new creature e 2 Cor. 5. hath he brought forth the Image of God f Eph. 1. the upright righteousnesse 8. Therefore doe the people speake g Mar. 16. Act. 2. with new tongues the new song is in our mouth 9. Lord h Apo. 15. wonderfull are thy works for thou hast done marvellous acts i Psa 71.77 among us 10. The evill that was in us k Psa 10. Jer. 31.50 is now no where to be found amongst us that which we know not in the death is now apparent unto us in the everlasting life 11. With us the sin l Rom. 8. is now condemned in the sin the righteousnesse is declared unto us in righteousnesse 12. Among us the death is now swallowed up m Oze 13 in the death the everlasting life is come unto us in the renewing of our life 13. The hell is judged or condemned into the n Apo. 20. pit of hell the heaven is shewed unto us in the heavenly being Apo. 12.21.22 14. The lie is come to shame in the lie the p Psal 85.117 truth is risen up unto us in the truth 15. The darknesses are descended into 〈◊〉 bottomelesse pit to the darknesses the light hath illuminated us q Psa 36.118 in the light 16. The Idoll is fallen in his r Esa 2. Idolatry the living God is become knowne unto us in the God-head 17. Therefore doe we confesse the Majesty of our God and the sanctification of his people perpetually CHAP. XLV O Lord thou Almighty God great a Psa 139. and wonderfull are thy works 2. Righteous and true b Apo. 15. are thy wayes thou Prince and King of Saints 4. Who c Jer. 10. should not feare and love thee O Lord of life and praise thy name 3. Forasmuch doubtlesse as there is no holinesse but thou for thou only O Lord d 1 Reg. 2. art holy 5. All people shall worship thee e Psa 72.87 in thy presence where thou becomest manifest in thy holy Temple 6. For thy righteousnesses are known and thy holinesse is inherited by thy people 7. But not an holinesse made by mens hands but an holinesse that is from eternity and shall continue for ever 8. Therefore dost thou O God remain a God in eternity a King f Esa 9. Dan. 1.7 which shall reigne perpetually 9. Wherefore we are now joyfull in this portion and sing Heia Heia 10. Play to the g Psal 96.98 Lord a new Song and sing Alleluia h Tob. 13. Apo. 15. Alleluia CHAP. XLVI REjoyce now with joy ye a Psal 48. Esa 62. Soph. 3. daughters of Sion and recreate you ye Citizens and Inhabiters of the City Jerusalem 2. Shout now with triumph all ye generations of Israel and Juda and rejoyce you in all love ye children of peace 3. Behold your King appeareth b Zach 9. unto you in meekness and he cometh c Mat. 24.25 with Majesty 4. For that he would establish you heire-like in his d Jer. 31. Eze. 37. Sanctuary e Psal 68. for to possesse his Kingdome for evermore 5. But unto his enemies the resisters of the Love he appeareth in f Psa 5.7 Eccl 5. wrath and in rigour 6. For to thrust them from him g Mat. 7.23.25 and to shut them without this Kingdome for ever 7. For he will make an end of the iniquity and cast all falshood and offensivenesse h Mat. 13. out of his Kingdome 8. Hee will diperse the deceitfull i Psa 33. Pro. 15. thoughts his life disposition and nature k Es 65.66 will he bring to light 9. He will establish his Kingdome in peace l Esa 9. and the peace of his Kingdome shall have no end 10. Loe that is the spirituall Kingdom of Christ the heavenly King in eternity Alleluia Alleluia CHAP. XLVII WHerefore O ye souls shout now in your God for joy and rejoyce a Psa 62. Luk. 1. your mind in his Salvation 2. From whom you were turned away and are turned to him again 3. Behold that is the b Psa 118. Esa 28. 1. Per. 2. stone which saveth you the everlasting God of Israel who hath made heaven and earth 4. His Anoynting is at his right hand out of his spirit of salvation cometh the faithfulnesse and truth unto us 5. That which he hath striken and wounded c Deut. 32 Tob. 13. he hath annointed and healed againe 6. He can kill d 1 Reg. 2. Sap. 16. and make alive again he leadeth into hell and bringeth out againe 7. He thrusteth away and condemneth as it were in cursing e Esa 54.57.60 he calleth to him againe in blessing as his best beloved 8. He bringeth down to dust earth and ashes he f Psa 113. Esa 52. exalteth againe above all Cedar-trees 9. He suffereth to fall into sorrow as if it were nothing and that he esteemed it not 10. He rejoyceth it again and esteemeth it much more precious then gold silver and precious stones 11. Where is there a g Deut. 32 Psal 18.113 God like unto the God of Israel which sitteth above or over-spreadeth all heavens 12. He hath founded h Gen. 1. Psa 102. the earth upon his Word the Firmament is comprehended in him 13. Sun and Moon stand obedient i Psa 104. Esa 38. to his Commandement all the hearts of the living hath he in his hand 14. He doth all what he k Psal 114 will he respecteth l Sap. 6. Act. 10. no man neither wise nor simple 15. When he maketh up himself m Psa 76 Jer. 10. it must all bow to him and feare his mighty hand 16. He chasteneth or rebuketh for a certain time n Job 5 Psa 36. Mich. 7. but his goodnesse indureth for ever 17. Laud him all ye o Psa 138.148 Kings and ye Counsellers in the Land feare his Majesty all ye people 18. He that worketh wonders among the heathen and hath a lust towards his Elect. 19. He hath a pleasure p Deut. 10. in the house of Israel for that he would plant q Esa 49.11 the generation of Jacob in righteousnesse 20. He
of God and man 11. Therefore cometh now likewise the u Ezec. 7. end and Gods mighty hand upon the ungodly which have had no will to Gods Love x Rom. 2. 2 Thess 2. nor liked that the Love should râ—ign over them But Gods mercy cometh over his Elect which sigh and pray night and day unto him y Luke 18. and have an hunger and thirst z Matth. 5. after the Righteousness 12. For truly the gracious time cometh and is now already come wherein the blessed people of the Lord shall a Isa 60.61 and 65. and 66. Eccl. 2. delight recreated and rejoyce them 13. In which this gracious time there shall nothing be figurely or Image like nor yet also the Testimonies of the Truth of God b Matt. 13. Luke 8. any Parables or Similitudes to the children of the Kingdom for through Gods heavenly Truth the Light of Life-from Heaven all whatsoever is of God and Truth becometh now published unto them c Ioh. 16. openly nakedly or clearly from the right hand of God the Father and they are made heirs therein under the obedience of the Love 14. Yea the holy Spirit of Love which is a comforter of the heart whom the Father sendeth in the name of the Truth the Beeing of Christ he d Ioh 14. and 15. and 16. teacheth and declareth all things unto them namely all what was spoken unto them in times past concerning the Truth as Parables or Similitudes for in times past the whilest the covering which is the foreskin of the flesh of sin was yet before their hearts and the Vail which is the flesh of Christ still before the clearness of the fare of God and Christ they could not g Ioh. 16. endure that which is the clearness of the holy Ghost it self 15. But when as now in their new birth the Vailâ— departeth from their hearts so is it all thâ—n Light and life unto them through the holy Spirit of Love h 2 Cor. 3. and 4. Col. 2. which cometh unto them out of the Father i Ephe 5. from the uncovered face of Christ as also k Iohn 14. and 16. remaineth with them everlastingly and leadeth them into all Truth It is very true 16. Come now all hither O ye peaceable children together with all ye which love the Truth and Peace and have your Forth-going in the Spirit l Rom 6.8 Phil. 3. to the life of the new birth in Jesus Christ according to the Requiring of the Word of the Lord and his service of Love 17. Fly now m Zach. 2. out of the North and out of all wildernessed Lands Rest not your selves among the strange people nor among any of the enemies to the house and service of Love but assemble you with us into n Isa 60. Zach 8. Apo. 21. the holy City of Peace the new Jerusalem which is descended from heaven and prepared by God like a garnished Bride for her Husband 18. O Jerusalem thou holy City of the great King o Isa 60. the Light of thy God of Israel doth now rise up over thee according to the Promises 19. Therefore p Isa 51. and 52. and 60. Baruc 5. stand now up and set thy self in the high place and look round about thee towards the East or Sun rising and behold the Comfort which cometh unto thee from God 20. Behold q Isa 43. thy children assembled them together from the Sun rising and going down rejoycing them in the holy Word and are mindfull of God 21. They were r Bar. 5. led away captive from thee on foot by the enemies But now thee Lord bringeth them unto thee and exalteth them with Honor as it beseemeth the children of the Kingdom 22. For God will bring down Å¿ Isa 2.40 Bar. 5. all high Hills and make the high stony rocks and the Vallyes plain that Israel may t Gen. 23.33 walk and dwell free without fear to the honor of his his God 23. The Groves and u Bar. 5. all pleasant sweet-smelling trees shall shadow Israel round about by the commandment of the Lord. 24. For God will now in this day of his Love x Bar. 5. be gracious unto his people and through his mercy bring Israel again y 2 Mac. 2. with joy as also lead them continually with his Righteousness in the clearness of his Majesty c. 25. Now this passed over will in the Testimonies of the spiritual Land of Promise rehearse more at large touching the holy ones of the God of Israel and of their garnishing as also distinct the wildernessed lands and the unpeaceable people from the good land and the peaceable people to the end that the death and destruction may be understood and known from the life and preservation of salvation z Deut. 30. Ier. 21. Eccl. 25.35 and that no man may err ignorantly 26. But hereforth on following in this our Preface before the beginning of the spiritual Land of Promise we wil rehearse the mercy of God where through this lovely rest of the spiritual land of Promise is out of Gods heavenly truth appeared unto us and the knowledg thereof given us to understand therefore hear and understand ye dearly beloved 27. Forasmuch now as we had a great desire to the place a Psa 95. Heb. 4. of Rest and Peace which God hath promised and that we sought after the same with a fervent longing for that we might finde it or come to the knowledg of the same holy Land of Promise so hath the God of heaven been gracious unto us and not shut from us the knowledg of his holy Land which he hath promised unto his People as a land of Rest and Peace b Exod. 3. Heb. 4. neither yet covered nor hid from us his Truth of the same 28. But verily we are gone thorow or passed beyond many and sundry maner of wildernessed lands and ignorant people and so have considered of the nature of every land and people 29. In all which we have found the strange ignorant people very unpeaceable and divided in many kinde of maners dispositions and natures as also vexed with many unprofitable things to a great disquietness and much misery c Isa 42. and 59. unto them all 30. The whilest we considered diligently hereon so found we by experience that every people had their disposition and nature according to the disposition and nature of the land wherein they dwelt or were born 31. But when we passed thorow and perused used all this same so have we through the mercy of God at the end of all this found a lovely land d Isa 26.60 Zach. 8. or a peaceably city whose people and none other is a peaceable concordable and lovely people agreably minded living peaceably and are faithful to each other Into the which peaceable City and unto the peaceable people of the same the Lord the God of heavens hath
miraculously e Psal 4. brought us 32. It is true the whole earth is unmeasurable great and large and the lands and people are many and divers but the most part of the lands are beset with grievous labour and with much trouble f Eccl. 1.2 and 3. and 6. and the pe ple captived with many and sundry unprofitable vâ—xâ—tions 33. But the g Bar. 5. children of the Kingdom have a land that is void of all molestation and a City that i. very h Isa 60.65 peaceable which also is i Isa 35. and 54. Ier. 33. inhabited with no maner of vexation or unprofitable labor but with joy in all peace 34. Wherefore the people that dwelleth therein is likewise a wise and understanding people according to the nature of the same good land and it is a people of one maner of k Iohn 17. Act. 4. nature and disposition concordable peaceable and lovely 35. Verily without this one City of Peace or land of the living there is no convenient place of Rest on the whole earth neither yet without the Commonalty of this one maner of people of the same city any meete people l Deut. 4. among whom such an understanding is to be found or that can live so peaceably as this same 36. But this land of peace which with his lovely people is ful of joy and liveth in concord is a secret land and is severed from all other lands m Deut 10 4 Esdr 7. and people 37. It is also known of no man but of his Inhabitants and of those which come into the same that be assembled with them But the entrance into the same is n 4 Esd 7. Matth. 7. very straight and narrow for that cause it is found of few but there are many that run past it or that have not any right regard thereon 38. Seeing then that the entrance into this same good land is very straight and narrow and becometh found o Luke 13. of few neither is it rightly regarded therfore remaineth this good land of the Living unloved and unknown of the most part of strange people and of all unbelievers of our godly Testimonies 39 Wherefore to the end now to incourage all people to the love of the same so will we out of inclined love partly describe the state of the good land and the upright dealing of the lovely people and testifie of every ones disposition and nature that if haply there might be any one found that did know his estranging from the same and had a desire with all his heart to assemble him with us thereunto 40. For verily in respect of the excellency thereof it is the best-worthy p Psa 48. Prov. 3. and 8. to be loved and for love thereof to q Matt. 16.19 forsake all whatsoever is without it for it is much better more precious and beautiful yea and more excellent rich and joyful or living r Isa 64. 1 Cor. 2. then all what may be found devised or invented upon the universal earth 41. But whosoever loveth not the same above all things neither yet doth for the love thereof forsake deny give over or Å¿ Matt. 10. and 16. Luk 9.14 Ioh. 12. leave himself with all that he hath he shal not enter into it 42. But if there be any one that is of the disposition or nature of the same or whose lusts and desires stand inclined or are affected towards it such a one verily shal for the worthiness cause thereof love the same as also not think it tedious to assemble him unto us t Num. 12 1 Cor. 9. and 10. and to pass thorow that way that leadeth thereto 43. Wherefore to the end now that all those which desire under the obedience of the Love to dwell in this good Land with this People of Peace might be gathered together into the same without harm and unhindered and that no man should remain without it for want of any knowledg of the Way So will we shew the neerest Ways and the needfullest Means and Guides that lead thereunto because that every Traveller may still keep the right High way and not turn from it neither u Deut. 5. 17. Josh 1.23 Prov. 4. to the right side nor to the left but may keep so much the more diligent Watch until that he be come thorow the Gate into the holy x Apo. 22. City of the good Land We will also for that men should in no wise erre nor be deceived on the way distinct and mark out those Land Places and People which are most needful to be y Deut. 2. 3. over passed and z 2 Cor. 6. left as likewise all whatsoever is deceitful and harmful and will in like maner evidently shew according to the Truth how wherewith and where-through all harmful and destroying things together with all the enemies or adversaries and all tempters and assaulters are to be resisted and overcome which would let and hinder the traveller from coming into the good Land 44. And if now also there be any man in the journey that is become deceived or erring upon the way through any of the deceitful things which we do shew hereafter following or which hath set down a Num. 32. himself to rest any where upon the way to the intent to live quietly and is not yet come into the holy b Apoc. 21 City thorow c Psa 118. John 10. the Gate Let not him pitch his Tents there neither yet make him there any Tabernacle for to dwell there but let him give ear d Num. 32. Prov. 4. and credit to our undeceiveable councel of the Wisdom and set his feet in the right way that leadeth thereunto and so travel forward to the good Land of the Living and of the true e Isai 32. 60. Rest and Peace 45. For whosoever is not yet come into the holy City through the Gate or Door f John 10. he is not yet also come to the upright g Heb. 4. Rest of the Children of God 46. Wherefore ye dearly beloved seeing now that this way to the holy Land is perilous h 4 Esd 7. to pass through for him that is unexpert therein so have we thought good out of hearty love to testifie and shew forth distinelly and that altogether to the preservation of the traveller the most part of the wildernessed places of the strange people and the perils of deceit each one according to his pernitiouâ— disposition and nature to the end that every one may be of good cheer and may without fear pass through the way rightly and without harm and for that no man should remain lost except he would himself As likewise for this cause That if happily any man should be faln into error upon the way or should chance to be deceived and seduced by any of the same he might yet understand and perceive in which place of error
and among what sort of unrighteous or ignorant people he is or hath united himself and also how far off or neer-by he is to the good Land of Peace and to the peaceable people of the Love 47. Behold ye dearly beloved like as hereafter followeth have we out of an inclination of love shewed and described in this maner because that every one of us namely â—â—e to whom the Lord hath given i 4 Esd 10 Ephes 3. Col. 1. to know or to understand the secretness of the good Land or of the heavenly Kingdom might with all lovers of the truth be turned to the same good Land of the Kingdom of Peace with one consent of minde and with a good courage as also enter into and pass through the way k 4 Esd 7. Luke 13. that leadeth to the same Life with a good faith and firm hope whereby to unite the same with us and with those l sal 32. 33. peaceable people in all m John 17 â— phes 4. love and concord who do always live in peace and in all upright righteousness 48. For this same good Land n Psal 78. 132. Matth. 25. is the upright place of rest which God hath prepared reserved and kept for his People from the beginning of the world for to possess them with the same in the last time 49. Moreover this same Land is a Land full of Joy Life and Songs of Praise and likewise full of all maner of Riches of God For therein is the secret Treasure o Matth. 13. Col. 2. of all spiritual and heavenly Goods It is also a Land wherein Wine and Oyl Hony and Milk and all Sweetness to a joy and life floweth abundantly like as we shall hereafter following rehearse more at large of the same 50. Rejoyce you now with this p Psal 96. Isa 44.49 O ye Heavens and recreate thy self now with us thou Earth and all ye that hope upon the Good Give ear now to the Truth understand and consider well of the strange States of the wildernessed Lands and People to the end that ye may forsake or q Deut. 2. pass by them and have also a good regard unto the lovely State of the good r Isai 35.60 Land and of the holy People whereby to love the same and to unite you or to become one being with them For all this same each one particularly is hereafter following described unto you in writing even according to the Life and Truth Take it to heart THE Spiritual Land OF PEACE Hear and understand taste and perceive that which is spiritual heavenly and everlasting and not that which is earthly natural and corruptible Col. 3. CHAP. I. I Looked and behold There is in the world a very unpeaceable Land and it is the wildernessed Land wherein the most part of all uncircumcised impenitent and ignorant people do dwell and which is first of all needful for the man to the end he may come to the Land of Peace and to the good City of Life and Rest to a Gen. 12. Apo. 18. forsake and to depart out of the same Which unpeaceable Land is situate or lieth against or on the other or contrary side of the East or rising b Zech. 2. of the Sun where neither Day not Sun ariseth or shineth at any time For when the Sun cometh neer unto the same then goeth she always under or is c Isa 5 60. 4. Esd 14. covered with the Darknesses of the Land and for that cause she d Sap. â— shineth not there nor yet giveth any cleerness in the same because that the e Exo. 10. Psal 105. Sap. 17. darknesses are too thick over the whole Land 2. This same unpeaceable Land hath also a City or Strength wherein the people of the Land do put their confidence The name of which City they themselves which dwell therein do not know but onely those that are come out of it and it is named Ignorance according to her own proper nature of the darknesses 3. For the f Isa 8 9. 4 Esd 14. darknesses have wholly covered the same Land and also the people that dwell therein which darknesses are so g Exod. 10 Job 12. thick that they may be felt 4. And whosoever do dwell or are born therein they are likewise so ignorant that they will not out of it neither yet desire any better because they have never seen the Light of Heaven in his upright righteousness nor yet known nor loved the h Isa 59. Rom. 3. Life of Peace in his upright Being 5. They run from one place and come to another yet is it altogether in the same Land but they will not depart out of it Therefore is also the Proverb verified in them which saith It is evil to be born in an evil Land CHAP. II. THe people which dwell therein know not their Original or first beginning also they keep not any Genealogy or Pedigree neither do they know from whence or how they are come into the same And moreover then that they are a Isai 56.59 Matth. 15. altogether blinde and b John 9. blinde born 2. And yet over and above their blindness although their eyes be shut they are all bound over their eyes with blinde clothes that which also they have willingly over their eyes For with the same they suffer themselves to be directed and led into all error of Ignorance perswading themselves that the blinde cloathes are the light of their eyes which do give light unto them on whom likewise they have a confidence in their forthgoing and desire not any better And therefore the blinde ones are led there with blinde clothes 3. The blinde clothes are called c Isa 56. Matth. 15. 22. Luke 6. blinde guides because the blinde ones in the darkness and in the Land of Ignorance are led by them into all ignorance but that same do they themselves neither know nor understand 4. And although one should take away the clothes from their eyes in the same Land of Ignorance and so should open their eyes in the knowledg yet might it not help them any thing at all to a beholding of the true Light but it should be unto them more evil then good because of the darknesses d Job 10.12 Isa 5. 9 which are spred over the whole Land therefore must they also in the same still groaping after the way be led in the darknesses and must likewise oftentimes e Matt. 15. Luke 6. with their blinde guides fall into the ditches 5. For whosoever doth not forsake the same Land and his darknesses as also the blinde guides in the same and suffereth not himself to be led into the true light by the seeing guides of the Family of Love f John 11. he must oftentimes stumble or become offended and also many times g Prov. 4. stagger and fall and that altogether because he is not taught nor
spirituall holy City of Peace a 1 Reg. 8.10 have no heads nor Kings that are borne of the Flesh and and Blood of Sinne For their King or the Head of their Body is the eternall and most mighty King b 3 Reg. 8 2 Par. 2.6 who is so great and glorious that no creature c Esa 66. Act. 7. nor any house made by the work of mans hand no nor yet all the heavens of heaven can comprehend or containe d Psa 104. Jer. 25. him 2. This great glorious King is a e Esa 9. peaceable Prince in this good City and this King is named f Col 1. Goas-true being as his name is also mentioned g Supra 26. before bearing all things h Heb. 1. with the Word of his Power and clenseth his people from the sin through himself and is fore-seen and chosen to be an heire of all things for that it may all live unto him 3. To this noble King of the heavenly glory do they live and are obedient unto him not by compulsion but out of inclined love and out of a good i 1 Pet. 1. nature of their God like-fellow-members k 1 Cor. 12. of one body of the godly truth who doe show forth nothing else but love and peace according l Joh. 13.15 1 Joh. 4. to the disposition and nature of their King named Gods-true-being which Prince m Esa 9. shall raigne for evermore according to the promises 4. This King of peace and his peaceable Commonalty of Kingly people and this Land of Peace is named A Kingdom of Kings because they are every one Kings n 1 Pet. 2. Briests and Anoynted ones that dwell in this Land 5. And besides this one Kingdome of Kings there are no Kingdomes in the whole world that are rich of Kings but they are altogether poore of Kings and are all likewise bond-servants o Rom. 6. 2 Pet. 2. and captive slaves 6. And therefore also is this City of Peace only a Kingdome of Kings and they are all likewise free p Apo. 22. Kings and Lords that dwell therein The same City also with all what joyneth thereunto is an abundant rich land as likewise full of all Commodities that doe serve the people to the life and joy 7. This people of this same Land q Deut. 4. is also an understanding wise people For they have their inhabiting in Gods understanding and stand comprehended in the light of life r Joh. 17. being united in Gods true being 8. There is likewise no right understanding nor wisdome to be found in the whole world but only in this Land of Peace among this lovely people therefore is also this Land the best of all Lands and the people that dwell therein the most understanding and righteous people CHAP. XXXIX THis Land bringeth forth a fit herb for the food of the people and it is named a Deut. 8. Sap. 16. Mat. 4. John 6. Gods living Word by which food they doe live and rejoyce them in the good tast thereof and there is no other food taken by them for seeing they are heavenly and spirituall men so eat they likewise no other but the heavenly and spirituall food 2. In this Land there is also very good b Pro. 9. wine whereof the people of the Land doe drink and become exceeding merry therein and it is named The mind of God 3. There is likewise a c Apo. 22. living fountaine wherein the people of this City doe delight them and take their recreation and refreshing in the same the fouâ—tain is named A firme confidence in God 4. This people goeth also very gorgiously apparelled and the Garments are so very clear that one may behold the inward Members of their body naked and bare quite thorough them 5. Which apparell of the people and their garnishing or the Jewells of their beauty are named d Apo. 19. The justification of the Saints 6. To be short all manner of riches and all the Ornaments of God be found in this Land among e Esa 64. 1 Cor. 2. this lovely people the Members of the truth of God which peaceable people doth possesse the wealthy land of the godly understanding 7. In which plentifull Land there are no sundry chosen-out God-services nor severall Religions or Ceremonies used but the God-service that they doe use and with the which they are serviceable unto all men f Eph. 4. Col. to an unity of heart with them in all love is one only and true God-service which extendeth to the holy Spirit of love and to the everlasting life as also unto the holy City of Peace and of her peaceable people which God-service is well pleasing before God and to a salvation of men and it is named g Joh. 13. 1 John 3.4 The Service of Love with the administration of the spirituall and heavenly goods 8. Which service of love they do likewise h Rom. 12 15. Eph. 4. show forth on each other in peaceableness of heart and the same is their religion or God-service they know not also of any other Religion or God-service then of the service of love i Joh. 13.15 Col. 3. 1 Pet. 1. c. 3. 1 Joh. 3.4 and to love one another and so to keep themselves pure k Jam. 1. or unspotted of the world 9. Which pure God-service and most holy Religion and the ministration of the gracious word and service of love that tendeth thereunto is availeable before God and acceptable l unto him and not any other that be used without the same God-service of love CHAP. XL. THe people of this Land do in their God-service serve the most high God a Deut. 5.32 Psal 18. Esa 45. who is God only and they are subject to no other Gods nor Lawes nor Ceremonies but only to the Lord their God and to his most holy service of love 2. Also they are not subject to the creatures nor to any created thing as properly to belong thereunto but onely to the Creator b Gen. 1. Rom. 1. that hath made all creatures and created things 3. This God whom only they serve is a secret c Esa 45. God a God that dwelleth d Psal 2. 22. 115. in the heavens moveth above all heavens who likewise hath comprehended all in his hand whatsoever is 4. The same God is exceeding great glorious and miraculous and besides him there is no e Deut. 32. God more neither in heaven nor upon earth whose Name is knowne only in himselfe and in his 5. He is the f 1 Joh. 4. Love the g Joh. 14. Truth and the Spirit and the Spirit is the everlasting life in the truth and in the love 6. He is the true substance of all substances h Joh. 1. the true life of all lives the true light of all lights the true mind of all minds 7. He is the true power or