The understanding of God for in the same is m Col. 2. all fulness of riches n Ioh. 10. and all fulness of life and of joy to be found CHAP. XV. IN this unpathed thorow-faring land there do also spring or grow certain Thistles and thornes which do many times somewhat vex the traveller but with patience he may escape and pass thorow them all 2. The Thistles and Thornes are named a Num. 14 Wisd 17. Vncertain Consciences 3. Therein are likewise to be found divers natures of beasts that are minded to devouring the which also do pursue the travellers very stoutly in such sort that they sometimes retire a little because of them but before the Cross they do all retire back at the last 4. These beasts are named b Rom. 3. Gal. 5. Envy Wrath Churlishness or Vnfriendliness Cruelty Offensiveness Resistance or Disobedience Craftiness greedy desire of Honor Subtilty to deceit and Violence and also one of the most detestable beasts that will worst of all give way is named Hypocrisie c Luk. 12. or Dissimulation where under all maner of naughtiness is covered with a coloured Vertue d Mat. 6.7.23 or made holiness and he is indeed the subtillest beast who provoketh all the other beasts for to devour the travellers 5. Of which wilde beasts the travellers must take heede with great foresightfulness e Matt. 10. Ephe. 5. that they run not into the mouth of them and so be swallowed up CHAP. XVI NOw when the traveller is passed thorow all this said land and hath left all these abominations then cometh he to three Castles thorow the midst of the which he must pass and must leave them in like maner for he shall not neede a 4 Esd 2. to fear any thing of all whatsoever meetteth him in the journey 2. It is true when any thing meeteth him in any place that hath a shew or that he himself regardeth as if it were of some valuâ— hen doth it vant out it self so highly sometimes as if it were impossible to be overcome b Exod. 1â— Num 13 but when one is gone thorow or past the same and then looketh about after it so is it nothing at all and is alt gether deceit c â—ob 20 Psal 37 vanity and bewitching 3. Upon these Castles there lie subtile watchers which are very crafty and wily but thorow the d Mar. 8. Luk. 9. forsaking of himself and with the patience one may pass by them but whosoever through unbelief hath lost the Compass and left the Cross him do they take captive to be their bondslave 4. The one of these Castles is named e Iob 1. and 2. Matt. 4. The power of the Devils assaulting the second f Heb. 12. The forsaking of Hope the third is named g Psal 55. Fear of death 5. The Watchers that lie upon these Castles for to take the people captive under the same as named according to their nature and these are their names 6. h 2 Cor. 11. Appearing like angels of light i bzec 13. and 22. Indeavoring to the stealing of the heart k Pro. 14.16 2 Tim. 3. Appearance of Vertue Subtil invention l Prov. 12. Col. 2. Confidence in Knowledg m Mat. 23. 1 Tim. 4. Made laws and imagined rights Disguised or unknown holiness Self framed Righteousness there goeth also among them n 4. Esd 16. Wisd 17. Rom. 2. Accusation of sins Fear of evil Fear of adversity Careful of destruction Fear of hell c. 7. These and such like before named are the Watchers of the Castles who do go out with many o â— Isal 35.57 suâ—till snares for to let the travellers and to catch them into their Captivity 8. But the p Mat. 16. forsaking of himself pointeth quite beyond as to forsake it all and with the patience one passeth thorow the same as if it were nothing for the Compass doth point only unto the Understanding of God to the end to bring the traveller to the same and to arm him thereunto forasmuch doubtless as all other things are q Wisd 5. seducing and foolishness CHAP. XVII NOw when one is passed beyond and hath left all this as is rehearsed then doth he a Num. 27. Deut. 34. come hard by the good land and he approacheth neer unto the understanding of God But many do run past the entrance thereof because they perswade themselves too soon that they have left it all and that they are grown so wise that they think it is not needful for them to near the serviceable Word of the Lord any more and think that therefore they cannot fail to know very rightly the entrance of the good land and also the maner how they shall go into the good land and so they lose the Compass coming even so yet into very great errors 2. For the neerer one cometh to the Land the more subtilly doth the deceit assault him for besides the entrance of this good land as the one wayes entrance joyned to the other there lieth also a way b Matth. 7. that leadeth to an abominable or horrible land and the same way is a pleasant way to behold and c Gen. 3. Pro. 14.16 pleasant likewise to enter into wherewith many be deceived supposing forasmuch as his coming in is so delightful and pleasant in beholding that the same is the very way that leadeth into the good land 3. Here it is very needful to have a diligent and sharpe regard to which of both these wayes the d Matth. 2. Star leadeth and upon which the Compas pointeth whither it be to the same pleasant way or to the peaceable life of the good land and also that the Cross be not forsaken for through e Heb. 12. 1 Pet. 2. the Cross one may perceive which of them is promised to be the Rest namely the pleasant way or the peaceable life of the good land 4. This pleasant way is named f Gen. 2.3 Knowledg of Good and Evil the which deceiveth many people because they perswade themselves that to know the good and the evil doth far excel the serviceable Word of the Lord and his Requiring and that likewise the same is the very best the most holy and the most prudent Understanding whereby to go into the good land and to inherit his Riches and so they judg that the Knowledg is the greatest or the chiefest Riches of God Howbeit it is nothing at all g Gen 3. Wis 2.5 but deceit pain labour trouble and no rest also nothing but Death and no Life 5. For if any man adjoyn him unto the knowledg of good and evil and maketh more account of it then of the Nature of God h Gal. 3. Heb. 7. whereunto the Law of the Lord is serviceable unto him then doth he forsake the door or gate serving to the entrance of the life and so chuseth to enter into the
deceitful way of the knowledg of good and evil thinking that he can want nothing there and so he entreth boldly into it i Num. 26 perswading himself that the same is the best and that he shall there-through go into the good land CHAP. XVIII NOw when any people are come into the same land whereunto the pleasant way of the Knowleg of Good and Evil leadeth and which in it self is full of a Num. 16 contention full of great and grievous incumberances and ful of all abominations of desolation then doth there appear immediatly unto them an inward or spiritual b Pro. 11. Matth. 22. Cor. 8. Col. 2. pride and an arrogant boldness against the discipline of the gracious Word and the obedience to the Requiring of his Service of Love the which deceiveth many namely for the most part all those that ground them upon the knowledg and so do think to obtain or to enter into the Life and the Truth by means of the knowledg of good and evil 2. For the inward pride getteth root in them and they suppose that they are somewhat singular c Iob. 11.12 Isa 5. Luke 18. above other people because they have so much knowledg to talk of the Truth and are so rich of Spirit therein perswading themselves that the riches of the knowledg is the very light of salvation and that same doth then make them presumptuous bold 3. Even thus verily do they in the knowledg arrogantly take upon them that d 3 Reg. 22. their Cause is sure and certain but it is all nothing else but abomination of desolation Contention Disagreement and intangling among the children of men 4. Therefore is also the same land into the which one cometh thus through the said knowledg named e Dan. 9. Matth. 24. The abomination of desolation because that it setteth it self in such a place or dignity and hath such reputation among many men as if it were the holy understanding of God it self Yea it doth also vaunt or give forth it self to be the same and so setteth it self in f 2 Thes 2. the hearts of men and will likewise be reputed and held for the same at mens hands whosoever now beholdeth the same g Mat. 24. Mark 13. let him consider thereon 5 But alas whosoever is come into this horrible land and hath taken a dwelling place therein such a one cannot rightly behold or consider the abominations of the same land nor yet very well come out of the same again because that the spiritual pride and the arrogant stoutness against the Love and her service is by means of the knowledg so deeply rooted in him and therefore he perswadeth himself that the h Col. 2. knowledg is a City ful of the wise riches of God and a good understanding of the holy Ghost 6. Howbeit it is all false and meer deceit because that the understanding of God the which is Gods true Being and Nature doth not bear sway nor hath the superiority therein but that the i Gen. 3. prudent knowledg and the rash bitterness together with all maner of falshood and self-seeking hath there the superiority and beareth the dominion Wherefore there is nothing there also but k Job 5. bottomlesness and no upright ground of unity of heart l John 17. Ephes 4. in the love nor yet the good life nor the truth And among the Inhabiters of the same there is likewise nothing but m Jam. 3. contention division or discord against the obedience to the entrance of the good life 7. In the same Land there is also a false light through the which the people perswade themselves that their cause is so much the more certain in the knowledg n Isa 5. Sap. 2. and they do likewise account the same false light for the best and most firm foundation which they have found in the knowledg for to build upon But the same light serveth them not to the life but nodoubt o Isai 58. 1 Cor. 3. to an Arrogant stoutness and to the intangling of men and to presumption and reproachfulness over others and to much sedition in the Lands or among the people 8. This false Light hath its original out of the Knowledg and is named p 1 Cor. 8. Col. 2. a lofty stout minde upon the Knowledg where-through the people of the land do suppose that it is their firm ground of faith where-from they must not start but stand firmly to it And even thus doth the false light ingender in them all a stout minde in their knowledg 9. Seeing then that the people do not know the q Ioh. 1.17 1 Cor. 2. true Light the which is a godly life therefore be they all by means of the knowledg the which they account for a skilful wisdom and true Light deceived and corrupted in this wildernessed land by the same false light besides the which they know no other r Rom. 1. perfect good and so they be held by the same in the deceit and do pluck over themselves there-thorow nothing else but all destruction and disturbance or dispersing of mindes and thoughts 10. But as long as they dwell in the horrible confused land they understand not that they are deceived and corrupted nor yet that they have missed the true entrance to the good land of the upright and concordable life and are gone into the Å¿ Wisd 5. way of error where-through they themselves do take on out of the knowledg many opinions false t Col. 2. 2 Tim. 3. holinesses or worldly foolishnesses to their own destruction CHAP. XIX THis same horrible land of desolation is like unto the intangled a Gen. 11. Babylon which was overthrown by the Word of the Lord and also the builders of the same were dispersed abroad every where because that the knowledges do there in loftiness of minde run one against another and cannot understand each other 2. In the same do likewise all maner of people dwel who are come into it out of many quarters or lands the which hath indeed a coming in but no passing thorow 3 Therefore they do never come thorow the same unless they do b Mat. 18. turn them about and come again to the same place where they were when they went into the pleasant way of the knowledg that leadeth them thereunto 4. But that can they not very well do because of the false c 2 Cor. 11. light which holdeth them so captive with deceit that they will in no wise depart out of it and also because that the inward pride and the stout lofty minde in the knowledg is too deep rooted in them 5. The people of this land are a strange wilde rebellious and seditious people and d Bar. 3. are a people divided in minde and grounded upon many kinde of grounds proceeding our of the Knowledg 6. Of the which some are without e 1 Tim. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet.
presenteth or proffereth any better thing unto them then riseth up their King Bitterness z Acts 7. by and by in them for to defend them in their causes or to approve them to be right and to taunt and judg him to be naught that loveth them to the best good that is to an upright heart before God CHAP. XXIII IN this Land there is likewise a false Prophet who bringeth the people into divers considerations and into divers bindings or snarings of heart and bewitcheth them with many a 2 Pet. 2. longings whereof there cometh nothing and so he leadeth their hearts mindes and thoughts into the captivity of the knowledg and not into the truth 2. This false Prophet is named b 2 Pet. 2. Jude 1. Presumption whereof there cometh nothing and he beareth a great sway among the people who also do give high regard unto him because he presumeth or boasteth him so much but it is altogether bewitching whereof there followeth nothing 3. But forasmuch as he hath allured the people unto him with such a presumption or boasting that they likewise in their unregenerate state do boast them of the Light and Word of Life c Hosea 4. so perceive they not that they are bewitched by him 4. For like as the Prophet is d Jere. 5. 40. Ezek. 13. 1 Tim. 4. so are also the people namely very highly boasting and braging of many things as likewise presuming and enterprising of many things whereof nothing ensueth But it is all false and meer bewitching and is nothing else but a vain perswasion or fantasie 5. It seemeth sometimes indeed as though it would be somewhat but it is all vain and presumption and nothing else but knowledg whereof there cometh nothing and where-through many people be seduced e 2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 2. and brought into many false dealings the end whereof extendeth unto much grief CHAP. XXIIII THis false Prophet hath also an horrible beast with him which assisteth or a Apo. 11. 13. aideth him which beast is likewise wonderfully extolled and served in the desolate abominable Land 2. Yea all people that have not Gods nature or his true Being of love neither yet do love the godly goods do honor and serve the same b Apo. 13. beast and do all receive her mark And they deal with the same in all their affairs yea the same mark do all those receive and use that are not assembled to the Family of Love nor written in the living Book of the Lamb. 3. The beast is named c Isai 1. Hosea 4. Vnfaithfulness And the same beast is the Kingdom or the Government of the false King Bitterness And such as is the beast and her name and Government such a d Apo. 13. mark giveth she likewise to the people that serve her and that cleave unto and honor her Kingdom or Government therefore is also the mark of the beast named Vnfaithfulness 4. This beast and her make being both named Vnfaithfulness do make the people utterly divided e Apo. 13. And forasmuch as the people that cleave unto and serve the same beast and that have received her mark are all likewise false of heart unfaithful and self-seeking and do willingly cover their own shame f Gen. 3. and so walking in hyppocrisie or dissimulation the one trusteth not the other and they deal g Jere. 9. deceitfully or with falshood among each other and that is the venome of the beast the which she soweth or spueth forth aboundantly among the h Apo. 16. 17. people 5. Therefore there is also no open-heartedness among those people that do carry i Apo. 13. the mark of the beast but they are ashamed of their inward nakedness k Gen. 3. both before God and before one another and therefore likewise they walk not with naked hearts before each other neither will they also in any wise make manifest themselves with naked hearts before the Elders in the Family of Love 6. For the l Apoc. 15. mark of the beast hath hunted shamefastness upon them therefore they do cover them also with their own Garments or m Gen. 3. Aperns which they themselves have made Their Garments or Aperns are named n Joh. 12. Fear of being despised 7. Forasmuch now as this horrible beast and false Prophet have sown such seed in the people so doth there come to pass through the same wonderful great o Apo. 16. dissention or division to the breeding of manifold self willed services wherethrough all kinde of falâ—hood craftiness and railing against one another ariseth yea so that the people also speak p Dan. 11. Heb. 10. Jude 1. Apoc. 13. blasphemy or railing against God and his Saints and against the house of his love wherein God will dwell live and walk for ever 8. And although there should be any unity erected in this said Land yet cannot the unity continue there but it becometh rent and broken immediately through the presumption whereof there cometh nothing and through the unfaithfulness whereout springeth much malicious blameing 9. Wherefore because of this false Prophet and the horrible beast q Tim. 3. Apoc. 16. there can no unity of the people bide standing in the unity of peace 10. This horrible r Apo 13. 16. 17. beast Vnfaithfulness this false Prophet Presumption and the cruel King Bitterness have a marvellous great dominion in this same desolate abominable Land CHAP. XXV THerefore a Isai 52. Zech. 2. let not the Traveller that is come into the same desolate abominable Land unawares or through want of knowledg continue any longer therein for it is a detestable Land and a wicked people of heart and minde 2. Also let him not endevor himself to travel through the same whereby to come to the good Land of rest for he shall not be able to bring it to pass 3. But assoon as he seeth or perceiveth that these abominations of desolation do stand in the place where Gods holy Beeing b Dan. 9. 11. Matth 24. 2 Thes 2. ought to stand then let him immediately flie out of the same and submit himself under the obedience of the love to his preservation and let him turn him about out of the same way where-through he came in and not have regard any more to the c Gen. 3. Knowledg of good and evil nor to the teaching masters Boasting of the knowledg nor to the Religions or Doctrines Assured knowledg that it is right and good nor to the false Prophet d 2 Pet. 2. Presumption whereof there cometh nothing nor yet to the wicked Beast e Apo. 13. Vnfaithfulness that he become not subject and remain in bonâ—age unto Bitterness the King of thâ— same detestable Land but let him haâ—â— regard to the service of love and to thâ— requiring thereof and shew obedienâ—â— there-under f 1 Pet. 1. 1 John 4. for that he may come
with them in the knowledg 5. Every one there seeketh nothing else but his own l Joh. 5. 7. honor and dignity commending his own wisdom or knowledg 6. Every company accounteth onely his own Religion or God-service to be excellent and holy and every one in his own Religion hath also his own m 2 Tim. 4. teaching masters therefore the teachers are many and do stand divided in sundry sorts of partakings 7. But although these teaching masters be many and in divers sorts of dissentions do profess and teach several doctrines and are contentiously minded one against another in their doctrine yet are they altogether named by one maner of name and every ones name is Boasting of the knowledg 8. And every one of these masters teacheth his Sect very n 3 Reg. 22. Matth. 22. vehemently and stifly in his Religion which is named Assured knowledg that it is right and good because they should continue stedfast warning them of the seducing of all the other 9. These verily are always teaching but alass in the same Land they themselves do o 2 Tim. 3 never come to the knowledg of the truth 10. And whosoever presenteth or informeth them with the truth and would teach them otherwise then they themselves are minded to him they are p Jer 37.38 Acts 7. 22 23 c. unmerciful also hateful and dispising and given to speak all maner of evil of him And this cometh to pasts because that they all teach Sect particularly have a mighty strong boasting and a proud confidence that their knowledg is right and their doctrine the most holy Doctrine Religion and God-service 11. Seeing then that they each several Sect in their imagined opinions have set themselves q Matth. 23. Mark 11. in the highest place so can they not therefore suffer any gain-speaking out of the true service of the love of Jesus Christ nor yet endure r John 9. Acts 7. 22. any admonition by the Elders in the same For as long as they stand contentious and not submited under the love to an unity so desire they likewise none other teaching masters but those that continue so couragious bold in themselves as boasting of the knowledg who do teach assured knowledg that it is right and good and do also very boldly call the same knowledg the Being of God and so in their arrogant boldness they Å¿ Dan. 11. Heb. 10. blaspheme the most highest t Psal 76.135 who with his godly Beeing dwelleth and liveth in Israel CHAP. XXII THe people of this Land named The abomination of desolation hath also a King who reigneth very cruelly over them and he is named Wormwood a Apoc. 8. or bitterness 2 His Scepter and the Seat of his Majesty is named Great esteeming of the vain or unprofitable things 3. His anointing wherewith he is anointed is named Puffed up foolishness 4. His Crown is named b Prov. 2. Honor or glory in evil doing 5. His Horses and Chariots are named c Psal 14. 51. 56. Ezek. 22. Micah 3. Treaders down or oppressors of the simple people 6. His Councel is named Subtil invention 7. His Kingdom is named Vnfaithfulness 8. All his Nobility Horsemen Souldiers and Guarders are named d Sap. 14. Rom. 1. Disorderly life 9. His Decrees Precepts or Commandments are named Self-wil 10. His Dominion or Lordship is named e Ezek. 22. Micah 2. Violence 11. His f Isai 5. Matth. 3. Arms that he beareth is named Desire to reign over all 12. His Sword of Justice is sharp on the one side and blunt on the other side and is named g Isai 1. Jere. 5. Self-wills justice according to the name of the Kings Commandments 13. The sharp side of his Sword is called h Jere. 6. Matth 2. Acts 7. 22. Vnmercifulness and cutteth very sharply over those whom he liketh not or over them that will not according to his pleasure stand plyable unto him under his violence 14. The blunt side of the Sword is named Great grace For over those that do make great account of his Babylonish Kingdom and which have according to his self-will yielded them subject under the same although they be evil of nature and corrupt of life it cannot cut 15. This King bitterness hath great dominion in this Land named i Dan. 9. 12. The abomination of desolation and the people that dwell in the same are altogether his bond-servants for no man is free or left free there but they k Rom. 6. 2 Pet. 2. remain all bound under the Bitterness their King or Governor 16. For inasmuch as they be not taught in the doctrine l Matth. 11 Ephes 4. of the humility and meekness of Jesus Christ under the obedience of his love therefore come they not also to the m John 8. knowledg of the truth for to be made free by the truth For that cause there is likewise in the same Land no other freedom but in the bitterness their King and the same n Apoc. 8. bitterness granteth or permitteth them to live o Sap. 2. Matth. 27. Acts 6. 7 22. 23. free or loose of heart in him that is in the bitterness of the King without accusation or shewing of any Reformation thereof and in the same freedom to set forth boldly their false testimonies or counterfeit God services 17. And this same is a conceit of freedom or p 2 Pet. 2. a false freedom which also is not free in it-self but bound or subject unto the bitterness 18. The common people or the subjects of the King which dwell in this horrible Land have likewise horrible names according to the nature of the same I and and according to the nature of their King and these are their names 19. Craftiness q Rom. 1. Gal. 5. Arrogant stoutness Harmfulness Stubbornness Violence Spight Sudden anger Greedy of revenge Gluttony Cruelty Blood-thirstiness Resistance against the love and her service r Rom 1. 2 Tim. 3. Dispising of naturalness Disobedient to equity Accusation over the righteousness s Prov. 2. Matth. 23. Betrayers of innocency Oppressors of humility Killers of meekness Å¿ Jude 1. Enviers of the loves unity t Matth. 23. Exalters of chosen holiness Vsage of falshood u Gen 3. Taken on shame namely Coveredness of heart as those that are ashamed to confess the evil and bitterness of their hearts Own-selfness x 1 Tim. 2 Tim. 3. Self-wills desire or Self-seeking c. 20. These people have all one maner of disposition and nature even according to the disposition of their teaching masters 21. For they also can suffer no gain-speaking nor blaming neither will they endure to receive any y John 9. wisdom or instruction of the Family of love nor of the Elders in the same because they stand captived under their teaching masters Boasting of the knowledge And when one