A FIGURE of the True Spiritual TABERNACLE According to the inward Temple or House of God in the Spirit Whereunto is added the Eight Vertues or Godlynesses Set forth by H. N. and by him perused and more evidently declared The Temple of God was opened in heaven and the Ark of his Testament was seen in his Temple Apoca. 12. Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he shall dwell with them and they shall be his people And he God himself with them shall be their God Apo. 21. 1 Cor. 3. 2 Cor. 6. LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1655. The Preface SEeing now that God hath extended his mercy on us and through his grace (a) Exod 25. Eze. 40.41 42.43 44. Apoc 21.22 revealed and made known unto us in our Spirit his true Tabernacle or Temple wherein his Holy God-service is uprightly ministred according to the truth Therefore are we become occasioned or moved even out of Love to witness our Figure forth writingly (b) Ex. 25.31 Eze. 43. Act. 7. c. Heb. 8. a. in Letters this present Figure or Pre-figuration of the same Tabernacle or Temple of God together with his true services in the Spirit namely in the fore-front in the holy and in the most holy before all lovers of the truth and of the true God-service and to set it forth under the obedience of the Love 2. The bearing of which true being or form in the Spirit is (c) Ex. 29. c. Jer. 23. a. 30. b. 31. d. Eze. 36.37 that which God regardeth and requireth of the man For even therefore namely to the setting up of this same true God-service in the Spirit under the obedience of the Love hath God the Father through his benign or hearty Love revealed or declared in (d) Mat. 13. b Ephes 3. a. Col 1. c. heaven his true Sanctuarie or Tabernacle unto us as also the fore-front the holy and the most holy of the same And granted to discern and understand the mysterie or secretness thereof and also chosen us to the ministration of the same under the obedience of the Love to the end that now in this last time (e) Isa 2. a. 60 61 62. Jer. 31 33. Eze. 36 37. Ioel 2.3 b. Mich 4. a. Zach. 8 a. Act. 2. the truth or verity of the same Tabernacle of God should alwayes and for evermore be ministred among the children of men under the obedience of the Love to a consecrating or sanctifying of the fore-front and of the holy and to the setting up again or restoring of the (f) Dan 9. daily offering which hath ceased for a long time for which cause likewise the fore-front and the holy hath been so utterly ruined or laid wast with abominations among the children of men 3. Which consecrating or sanctifying of the fore-front and of the holy as also the setting up of the daily offering and of the true God-service among the children of men cometh to pass altogether to (g) Eph 1 a. the laud praise of the glory of God and to the salvation or blessing of the children of men namely to those men which are good of will also believe on the Love submit them humbly to the requiring of the service of Love and so have a lust to the establishing the Promises of God the Father Take it to heart To the Reader Vnto the single-minded ones whose love is agreeable with us in one spirit of the Love be health and peace ALthough yee dearly beloved that our intent and purpose was to make but a small preamble or prologue before the beginning of the Glass of righteousness yet is it now notwithstanding fallen out otherwise For the Prologue is grown to be more then we our selves meant it should But yet the labour bestowed therein hath not been tedious unto us (a) 1. Cor. 13. a. For the Love maketh all painful travel and labour easie and her service is not tedious neither doth she think any time too long wherein she may further the good 2. Therefore is our hope also that it is all come to pass for the best and shall likewise be looked into by every one for a very profitable labour unto edification in asmuch doubtless as it is all serviceable to the inducing or guiding in of men to the holy understanding of the Glass of Righteousness and to the Love 3. Also I did not purpose to let this Figure of the true and spiritual Tabernacle go forth with the Glass of righteousness but to set it forth with other writings after the publication or going forth of the same said Glass 4. But for as much as we have seen into or perceived that it was very needful profitable and serviceable to publish or set forth the same Figure to give thereby an intelligence or understanding of the inward spiritual Tabernacle and to be a furtherance of the mans salvation Therefore could we not through the inclination of the Love conceal or keep back the same any longer But have for the Loves sake unto the Righteousness placed the same to stand next after the introduction to the holy understanding of the Glass of Righteousness And next before the beginning of the book of the said Glass by which occasion the Prologue is become so much the larger 5. Yet is our hope notwithstanding that neither the good willing Reader nor any one else will stumble or take offence at the muchness or plenty of writing that is used before the beginning of the Book but rejoyce them so much the more therein and take a greater pleasure and liking therein then if we had left out the same For it is doubtless a more plain declaring or opening of that forenamed Book intituled the Glass of Righteousness 6. It is true that it doth not accord or sute very well to make large Preambles or large Prologues Howbeit we have least esteemed of the Clarkly form of congruity or artificial sutableness But have much rather had our respect bent unto that which is serviceable unto the good and to the holy understanding whereby to reveal the (b) Eph. 1. b. 1 a. 3. a. Col. 1. c. riches of the mysteries of God the Father extending to salvation and to testifie (c) 2 Pet. 1. b. 1 Ioh. 1 a. that which we have seen with our eyes and heard with our ears 7. But although now that we do not utter forth or write the same according to the artificial skill or Clarkly cunning of manly wit Nor yet with painted or flowred words or garnished speech of the renowned wise or famous Clarks But even with a plain and mother or common style or form Yet is notwithstanding our request that the Readers or Hearers of the same our writing would not take offence thereat and so in any such respect despise or make less account of our labour because it is plain and not practised or set forth according to the skill
of Art But that they would become all of one minde with us in the Love to the end that every one might likewise through the Love be partaker with us of the Grace and mercy which God is now extending on us little and poor ones through his Love 8. For unto us doth God reveal the health and life of our salvation out of his heavenly being and hath called and chosen us thereunto because that we should be his ministers in his Love to the eâ—d to reveal even so through us under the service of obedience in the Love his secret mysteries according to the Law according to the Prophesying of the Prophets and according to the Godly Word of the Gospel of Jesus Christ 9. (d) Act. 2. b. All which former services have to a unity under the Love Prophesied on this time and service of Love for that the glory of God might be great in the last time through the Love And so the Peace become prepared on earth according to the Promises 10. Therefore let no man have his regard bent either to the method or artificial skilfulness or yet to the unskilfulness of Art But unto that whereunto our service of the gratious Word extendeth namely to the Love and to let every one become assembled with us into one Spirit of the lovely being under the obedience of the Love that the service of Love may to an unity of peace be spread abroad over all the world 11. For that cause O yee single-minded good willing ones to the righteousness apply you all with a good will and an humble heart to the Love and her service And (f) Act. 2 d. permit your selves to be baptized or washed in the name of the Love to the forgiveness of your sins that ye may even so be renewed refreshed and reformed through the Love and her service Suffer not in any wise (g) Math. 18. a. Io. 3. a. the deceitful slights nor the wicked thoughts to have any dwelling place in you But through the service of Love and of the gracious Word become you turned about to the obedient and little children that the Love may be planted in you with meekness 12. Unto this same service of Love see that ye become all agreeably minded For it shall all perish and consume away to nothing namely all manner of knowledge and God-services which are come or risen up before this day or light of the Love (i) 1 Cor. 13 b. But the Love shall not perish nor yet cease but their service shall continue for ever 13. Whosoever likewise do not assemble them under the love they shall be scattered abroad For the Love is the Light of the world (k) Ioh. 8. b. whoso follows after her walketh not in darkness 14. The Love is the gracious word of the Lord or (l) Ioh. 6. f. bread of Life which is come unto us out of heaven For the Love is essentially the very true good (m) 1 Tim. 1. a. the head-sum of the commandment (n) Col. 3. b. and the bond of perfection 15. Through which Love the secret Treasures of God the Father (o) Eph. 1. b. 2. a. b. and the abundant Riches of his spiritual and heavenly goods be revealed 16. Whosoever then doth not apply himself to the Love but refuseth her or despiseth her service and is grown self-wise or self-minded against the same by means of his aspiring or loftie knowledge such a one remaineth a Bastard or a Stranger from the inheritance of God and cannot also inherit the Riches of Christ 17. But the children of Love are the upright heirs of God For they are of a good nature and disposition namely (p) Col. 3. a. meek-minded loving and peaceable 18. Even such be all those likewise which do with humble hearts submit them under the Love and are obedient to the requiring of her service 19. And though they be laden with many sins (q) 1 Ioh. 1. yet are their sins forgiven them and blotted out through the Love and in their repentance for their sins they walk with a good conscience both before God and men 20. Behold such is the service or office of the Love The Almighty God vouchsafe to enable and strengthen us thereunto through his Love Amen THE FIGURE Of the true and Spiritual Tabernacle of God Witnessed and Figured forth by H. N. according to the true being or form of the inward Temple or House of God and that in every respect according to thar form even as the very essence or being thereof was by the holy Spirit of the Lord revealed and declared unto him out of the heavenly Truth The first Chapter FOrasmuch as my inclination had a long time stood bent towards the service of Love And that I had longed even with a fervent desire that the true God-service might once flourish out of the Love namely to the peace and salvation of all people and to a true declaring of the spiritual Tabernacle of God in the holy of his holy ones Therfore became the true Tabernacle or (a) Lev. 26.26 b 2 Cor. 6 b. Apoc 21. a. habitation of God by grace out of the Love of God the Father revealed unto me in the Spirit through Gods heavenly revelation to the end that I should consider of or note therein the true God-service which serveth to the blessing of the earth and to the peace salvation of all people 2. In the which I at the first thought not upon the noting or marking of any thing else but only of the most holy and most pure being (b) Ex 26 d. 40. a b. c. Heb. 9. a the mercy seat and the Ark of the Covenant together with the manifold glorious riches and sumptuous garnishing All which I beheld in their pure and perfect beauty 3. Through which Revelation proceeding out of the heavenly being I rejoyced me far beyond measure But there came not into my remembrance so presently at the first to consider or note the holy and his daily offering or God service and the fore front nor yet the service of the Levites and Priests 4. But when I once remembred the holy of the same Tabernacle and his service of the holy offering extending to the forgiveness of sins then turned I my self to the same for to behold the daily offering for God-service ministred therein because I might see and also understand the daily offering in the holy and the Altar whereon the debt-offering sin-offering death-offering is offered burnt to a forgivness of sins 5. I also noted the fore-front the which is a difference (c) Eze. 44. a. b. betwixt the holy of the Tabernacle of God and the unholy of the uncircumcised heathen-ship 6. In which forefront the Levites and Priests in their service and in their requiring of the righteousness are to (d) Ex. 27 c Lev. â— b Num. 16. b Eze. 43 44 prepare the daily offering betwixt the holy and the unholy
7. Yea the same costly Treasures the Riches of God the most precious and most pure beauty hath God kept for Israel to their salvation and (l) Isa 60 61. Ier. 31 33. Eze. 36 37. joy in the last times to the end to reveal the salvation of life (m) Act. 12 a out of the heavenly being or essential estate 8. In which most holy there are likewise remained over all the precious riches of God the Father the unspeakable Treasure which far surmounteth all manner of garnishing of beauty namely (n) Exo 25. c Rom. 3. c Heb. 5 a the mercy seat prepared with the fine Gold which Seat continueth standing for ever unmoveable moreover the (o) Ex. 25 26. Apo. 12 a. Ark of witness wherein the Law of the Lord lieth even as he (p) Deut. 9. b. hath written the same with his own Finger which continueth for ever unbroken unchangeable And the (q) Ex. 16. a Psal 68. Sapi 16. c Ioh. 6. d. heavenly bread of life even as God himself hath given the same from heaven unto his people to a satisfying their hunger the which doth not consume or wast away but remaineth ever uncorruptible for evermore for a witness unto posterities that their fore-fathers were fed out of heaven with the same bread There are yet in the same most holy the manifold costly vessels of the most holy riches every one of the most fine Gold All these were still remained over in their perfect beauty and not one of them was polluted or defiled 9. But this sumptuous garnishing and all these riches of the Godly heavenly beauty have been hidden a long time for the wickedness cause of the uncircumcised and they must also inasmuch as the iniquity grew on even till (r) 4 Esd 5 a 14. b. 15. a. Math. 24. b she was come to her full height and had gotten the upper hand necessarily remain hidden because they should in the more beautious and glorious manner come to light and be revealed again in the last time namely when the iniquity of the uncircumcised is even to her utter ending approached or come neer at hand 10. Which iniquity shall now fall and perish through the revealing of these heavenly beauties for God will with his Arm or strength and with the Arm of his Saints and with all his sumptuous garnish get the upper hand 11. Wherewith he also sheweth the just judgement of his Justice or righteousness For (s) Ier. 30. the ungodly shall no more bear the dominion And all whatsoever submitteth not it self under the Love nor standeth serviceable thereunto shall be rooted out that they corrupt none or marr the earrh any more 12. But the Love shall flourish (t) 1 Cor. 15 everlastingly in her service because that the Lords people Israel which he himself hath chosen for his (u) Deut. 4. c 32. a Isa 19. c Ier. 51. c. own heritage as likewise all good willing ones which stand submitted under the obedience of the Love may be comforted and so may behold everlastingly the goodness or loving kindness of God his Father extended through his love which bountiful goodness the God of life hath foreseen to accomplish upon his people even as he in times past hath spoken the same by Moses his servant and by the mouth of his holy Prophets The fifth Chapter ALthough now that the Levites the Priests the Prophets or Preachers and also the people are all fallen or estranged from the true God-service and that the daily offering hath ceased for a long time and the holy of the Tabernacle of God layn utterly waste with abominations of desolation yet (a) Ier 17. b Lam. 5 b is the most holy notwithstanding remained over pure and unspotted and the high Priest (b) Heb. 5 b 7. b 8 a 9 c which continueth a Priest for ever is also found faithful and true for he hath still remained stedfast in his mercy seat in the most holy 2. They are all shrunk away (c) Psa 14. a 53. a. Rom. 3. b. and changed themselves there is not one remained standing or righteous but are all turned away either to the right or to the left side and many by reason of their ignorance have born the strange yoakes of the beautified God services 3. But this everlasting Priest remaineth stedfast like a stony Rock whose feat endureth from (d) Psa 45. a Heb. 1. a. everlasting to everlasting as a perpetual Saviour to an eternal curing or reconcilement for the sins of his people for his God hath annointed him to be an high Priest and a true Mediator betwixt God and man and to (e) He. 7.8 a 9. a. b. c. be an everlasting Minister of the spiritual and heavenly goodness to the end he might save the poor and miserable man who through sins or offences lieth be wrapped in the death and to make him alive through him and to set him up again (f) Rom 8. b out of the death 4. In which spiritual and heavenly service ministred under the obedience of the Love the holy becometh consecrated again by the same high Priest namely (g) 1 Pet. 1â—â— Heb. 9 b. the sprinkling of his own blood for an everlasting Testament and so it is all washed and sanctified or cleansed through his blood 5 That verily is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and Christ and the New Testament (h) Mar. 16. b Apo. 14. a. that same was also published in times past for an everlasting forgiveness of sins unto all those that believe thereon 6. Behold this high Priest is the life everlasting which was with the Father of life in the beginning and is revealed unto us in the heaven namely in the bosom of his Father and we (i) Ioh. 1. b. do behold his glory even a glory as the only born Son of the Father full of grace and truth 7. We do witness also that he is the true Messiah or Christ which was preached in the World in times past and likewise published of him in his coming (k) Isa 9 a. Luk. 1. d. that he should be a King or Prince over the house of Jacob for ever of whose Kingdom also there shall be no end 8. He is a Saviour to all people that believe on him And the (l) Act. 4.10 c. salvation is or cometh only by him and by none other neither in heaven nor yet upon the earth for he is (m) Rom. 8 10. Isa 13. a. b. 1 Pet. 2. c. the end or the accomplishment of the Law upon whom all the Prophets of God have witnessed from the beginning of the world and he cometh in glory like as is written of him 9. He it is (n) Is 13. a. b 1 Per. 2. c. which suffereth for our sins cause in the holy and beareth our sins and so hath like (o) Ioh. 10. b a faithful Shepherd given over himself in the same holy to be an offering for
for in that same service doth the resurrection of the righteous life from the death come to pass or is wrought and that is the joy of life proceeding out of the heavenly being in the Kingdom of God the Father with Christ in the everlasting life to an everlasting blessing and that is the perfection of all that which goeth before and the most holy of the true Tabernacle of God and Christ 5. This high Priest in the most holy namely in the Love the everlasting life and the perfection is a King (m) Psa 110. Heb. 5. a. b. c 7. c. 8. a and Priest for ever according to the order of Melchizedeck as an everlasting Saviour unto to his people to their eternal reconciliation with God the Father and he himself doth through himself herit them or make them heirs in the everlasting life and that is the establishing of the true Testament which continueth firm for ever before God the Father 6. For through the light of the same Testament is Gods Law Ordinance or Doctrine (n) Psa 40. a Isa 51. a Ier. 31. d Heb. 8.10 planted in the hearts of the Believers and given unto them in their minds And God remembreth no more of all their former sins and that is the establishing of the promises of God the Father and of the belief of Jesus Christ 7. Among those children of the New Testament or holy Gospel the vail is (o) Isa 25. a 2 Cor 3. b put away from the most holy and the precious garnishings of the spiritual and heavenly goods declared and brought unto them as an everlasting heritage of God and Christ and they namely the children of the New Testament be taught in that sort to the Kingdom of God and made heirs in the everlasting life (p) Ro. 12. b Eph 4. a Col. 3. b 1 Pet. 3 a and have nor use any thing but Love Peace and Unity one with other and a good conscience in Jesus Christ through the holy Ghost the Love of God the Father which God (q) Rom. 5. a Tit. 3. b hath poured abundantly into their hearts 8. Behold (r) Apo. 12 a that is the true Jerusalem which descended from heaven and also the most holy of the true Tabernacle of God which is prepared of God from everlasting and which by Gods grace is come unto us in this same last time In the which Sion is established (s) Isa 2. a Mich. 4. a out of the which the Law and the word of the Lord proceedeth (t) Isa 1 c Zach. 8. c And unto the which all people which have a lust toward God shall assemble them and rejoyce them therein according to the Promises For it is the Fountain of life full of all vertues and the undisturbable (u) Dan. 2. Kingdom full of all Love peace and godliness wherein that song (w) Apo. 19. a Allelu-jah is sung for an everlasting song of laud unto God 9 Behold this Kingdom full of all pure beauty full of light and life and full of all delightfulness and riches of God the Father and of Christ hath been long hidden and unknown for the sins cause of the people by reason of which sin the children of men have not beheld this glorious cleerness neither can they endure the beholding of the same delightful cleerness 10 Because now of this blindness of the darkness which hath covered the earth because of the unwillingness of the manly generation therefore hath the eter rich bountiful God been forced to reserve or keep secret all those things in the holy and heavenly beâ—ng (x) Eph. 1. b which riches of God the Father are now notwithstanding coming unto all good willing ones which love the peace for an everlasting heritage according to the Promises 11. With which beauty of the heavenly riches of God God is now in the last time a drawing of us all unto him to wit all we which are good-willing towards him and his righteousness and which for the peaces cause do submit our selves under the Love whereby to make known unto us through his Love and through the declaring of his heavenly riches his holy will to an health to the earth and to the honour and glory of God and verily now in the last times to a joy and peace in all love to the end to prepare in that manner under the obedience of the Love an everlasting peace upon earth according to the Promises 12. Therefore (y) Deu. 32. a rejoyce you ye heavens and earth which hope upon God For behold (z) Isa 62. the salvation of God is now come that it may be revealed to the (a) Psa 112. a Eph. 1. b Heb. 1. b renewing of all things that are waxen old for (b) Isa 61 66 2 Pet. 3 b Apo 21. a the new heaven and the new earth wherein righteousness dwelleth and which perpetually continue before God upon which men have waited according to the Promises do now come with triumph in glory 13. In which very same time (c) Isa 28. a the Lord will be a lovely crown and glorious garland unto his people that remain over and a spirit of equity unto those that set in Judgement and a strength unto those which come again from the battle to the gates 14. Even thus verily in those daies shall God perform all good towards Israel and establish among them all what he hath promised and covenanted to them in times past by the mouth of his Prophets 15. For the chastisement executed for the sins cause over the Lords people and over the miserable and comfortless ones over (d) Isa 54. a whom all tempests do happen or come shall cease and they shall revive all beauty peace and delightfulness and be (e) Psal 45 a 1 Ioh. 2 c annointed with the oyl or ointment of joy for the Scripture the Law and the Prophets shall be fulfilled and not broken and it shall come to pass over the world and also over the Lords people even as it is written thereof The Lord grant us mercy and lead us into his wayes Amen The eleventh Chapter HEre have we figured forth unto you ye dearly beloved a certain circle In the which we have described unto you in writing and figuratively set forth both the way of the heathenship or of the uncircumcised ones (a) Mat. 7. b Luk. 13. c which leadeth or reacheth to the everlasting death and condemnation whose death being or estate is the strange being before or in the sight of the Lords people Israel As also contrary wise the simple and plain way (b) 4 Esd 7 a Math. 7. of the good-willing hearts to the righteousness which leadeth to the entrance of the true Tabernacle of God in the spirit and reacheth to the everlasting life 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cursing Blessing The Inward Man Through the righteousness of the life is the man simple of heart humbled to the wisdom vndâ—â— sâ—â—â—â—â—ng to
openeth it self asunder when the foregoing service in the (e) Heb 9 c holy is accomplished 2. For the vail before the most holy cleerness of the Godly being of Jesus Christ and before his spiritual and heavenly goods departeth not away from before the cleerness of the most holy (d) Heb. 7 8 9.10 unless that the former God service in the holy have first his full course the which is the accomplishment of the daily God-service in the holy in the (e) Mat. 16. Luk. 9. c taking up of our Cross in the willing obedience to the belief for to continue therein obediently till (f) Mat. 10 2â— unto the end that is till unto the (g) Rom. 6. a Phil. 2. b. death of the Cross 3. Which death of the Cross of Christ and to be implanted or incorporated into Christ with the same like death and so (h) Rom. 6. a Col. 2. b. baptised or washed into his death is verily the (i) Math. 28. Mar. 16 b upright Baptism unto salvation wherein the man is rightly baptised or washed according to the truth of the holy Scriptures and so then (k) Rom. 6. a out of the same death regenerate (l) Ioh. 3. b or born again as a new Creature in Jesus Christ 4. For that the same (m) Tit. 3 b 1 Pet. 3. c baptism is the right font of regeneration serving to the washing away of the sin wherethrough the believing man who doth with Christ according to the flesh lay away mortifie and (n) Rom. 6. a Col. 2. c. 3. a bury the sin in the flesh is made alive again with Christ and also according to the spirit in upright (o) Luk 14. Eph. 1. a. 4. b righteousness and holyness and so through the second birth from the death or the resurrection of Christ he becometh holy and altogether renewed in the spirit of his inward mind and the (p) Act. 2. b. holy Ghost poured upon him in whom Christ also with the cleerness of his Godly being getteth (q) 2 Cor. 4. a Gal. 4. a a shape or form By the high priest Iesus Christ the new and liuing way is prepared for us through the â—imple that is to say his flesh Heb 10 5. And that same verily is (r) 1 Co. 13. b. 2 Cor. 3. b the cleerness of the true being and of the holy spirit of Jesus Christ where through one beholdeth and inheriteth in the spirit the Love in her vertuous nature that most holy as likewise the fulness of the riches of God the Father in the heavenly being or essential form 6. Behold and consider that is the true (s) Ioh. 11. c resurrection from the death according to the Scripture (t) Ioh. 17. a through the which the living God of heaven and his Christ is known according to the Spirit and Truth 7 It is true the (u) 1 Cor. 15. c. same is sown in the mortality and it riseth up in the immortality And God giveth it a body after his own pleasure and that of the seed of his own body 8. See that is the everlasting life against the death And the (x) Eze. 13. b 1 Cor. 15. f Heb. 2. b conquest or victory against the Hell and against all the enemies of the life whereby all those that follow after Christ have or possess that life and (y) Ioh. 10. b that in fulness 9. That is verily the (z) Heb. 3.4 a. Rest of life which God hath reserved or kept and is left in store for the children of God as a perpetual inheritance in the last time according to the Promises The fifteenth Chapter THE true most holy of the inward Tabernacle or Sanctuary of God is the Love for that (a) Rom. 13. Col. 3. b is the perfection (b) Rom. 6. a the incorporating into God in the spirit the (c) Ioh. 17. everlasting life (d) Col. 2. b and the fulness of all the riches of God 2. If one now be not (e) Ioh. 1. a born anew then can he not see the Kingdom of God Ioh. 3. 3. Therefore if there be a new (f) 1 Pet. 2. a Gal. 6. c creature in Christ then is the old (g) Isa 43. c Apo. 21. perished or worn out behold it is all become new but that altogether of God who (h) Col. 1. b hath reconciled us with himself through Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 5. 4. The Lord our Almighty God hath gotten (i) Apo 12. the Kingdom let us rejoyce and be glad and give (k) Ioh. 9. him the honour for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his bride hath made her ready and it is granted unto her to cloath her self with white glistering silk and the silk is the Justification of the Saints Apo. 19. 5. The Members or Commonalty of the body of Christ in the love which are (l) Act. 2. Rom 8. b Eph. 1.4 c sealed with Christ in the true being through the spirit of Love is (m) Apo. 21. a living Tabernacle of God wherein God liveth and worketh In the which the fore-front the holy and the most holy is revealed or made known according to the spirit 6. In which true Tabernacle of God also the (n) Deut. 32. song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb is sung and it soundeth even thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 EMÌ„ANVEL God and Man Loue The everlasting life the perfection in the service of the holy gratious word vnder the obedienâ— of the Love God with the man is vnited the man with the God head namely in the everlasting mind being all with God 〈◊〉 christ it is of one being with the man all what is manly be it the being will mind is then minded w th the God head so it is all one God the man one being one will one thought or spirit one hart one everlasting life Behold here the tabernacle of God is in men hee shall live in them they shal be his people hâ—e himselfe shal be with them for he is their God Apoca 21 the Kingdom of God shall not cvm with outward shew men shall not say Behold here or there it is for behold the Kingdom of God is inwardly in you Luke 17 this saith the Truth of God who loveth mee he shall keepe my words and my father shall love him and wee shall come to him and make an habitation in him John 14 7. Great and wonderful are thy Works Lord (o) Ier. 10. a thou Almighty God righteous and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Lord who should not fear thee and praise thy name for thou only (p) Levit. 19. art holy Apo. 15. 8. Consider now how that the mans knowledge is but (q) 1 Cor. 13 a peice-work or a thing unperfect the which among those that do yet remain divided or as broken off is
them will be their God and (x) Apo. 21. a wipe away all tears from their eyes and will put away (y) Isa 61. a their contempt from them they shall also serve the strange nations no more but only the Lord their God 14. They have doubtless been constrained a long time to suffer with the Lamb for the wickedness and ignorances cause of the people but now (z) Baruch 5. b doth the Lord bring them again with joy that they may rejoyce them in the holy Israel even as it beseemeth the children of light to do who do rejoyce them only in their God 15. This verily is the blessing which was published and affirmed unto all generations of the earth according to the Promises for that they might be all saved through the Love of God the Father which blessing and salvation they do all now obtain if they do believe the word of truth and stand good of will and humble them under the Love and her service The one and twentieth Chapter BEhold and consider ye dearly beloved both these forms natures or beings which are here figured or set forth unto you before your eyes even according to the life namely the (a) Isa 1 a Apo. 9.12.13 a. murderly seed of the high-minded beast or the names of the people that are her members which do raign in the perditionable world which is full of blood-guiltyness of the innocents and also the names of the people of Israel or house of Love the high commendable seed of the (b) Apo. 7. a. b 14 15 19. a benignity or loving kindness of the Lamb the which hath even hitherto (c) Apo. 6 b. kept and born the patience with the Lamb because of the wicked 2. Verily the house of Israel or the commonalty of the Love the elected Saints of God do follow after Christ their King even (d) Ro. 6. a. c unto their death and also to the life for they do in like manner bear the cross of the Lamb and therein keep the word of his patience They likewise even according to the obedience of the Lamb do shew a faithful obedience (e) Phil. 2 a till unto the death namely unto the death of the Cross whereby to obtain the dominion with the Lamb over the sin death hell condemnation and the world to the end they might in like manner through the Lamb and the death of his cross keep the victory against (f) 1 Cor. 15. f all their enemies 3. With which Saints of the lovely and upright being the (g) Isa 60 61 62. 2 Pet. 3. b now coming or new world shall also be inhabited in a perfect delight of God in all Love in (h) Eph. 4 a unity of peace and in upright righteousness and holyness which God esteemeth of But the ungodly shall perish or weare away out of the Land of the living for that the Land may be inhabited in rest and peace and with triumph and joy for evermore to the laud and praise of the glory of God according to the Promises 4. Therefore O all ye people look now into both these forms natures and beings and choose either the one or the other of them whom ye will incline unto whether it be (i) Deut. 30. Ier. 21. a Eccles 15. the death or the life the Devil or God the old wicked world or the new upright world and then cleave only to the same to the end that ye may sever your selves accordingly and so express thereby with whom ye do hold or stand agreeably minded or what ye do love (k) 3 Kin. 18. and halt no longer on both sides 5. If therefore you will incline or cleave to the Lamb or that ye look into or esteem his being to become a godly being then love the same with a single and humble heart standing submitted to rhe Love and so depart out of the death into the life put your trust in God in your proceeding on to the same life (l) Ioh. 5. c Rom. 6.8 b and stand firm in the hope of your salvation 6. But if ye be yet young or weak and unable for to live in the good or if ye be yet over-mastered by the evil against your will for God is both reasonable and courteous and if the man be of a good will then doth God require no more but that the man will still remain stedfast in the same good will for unto such a good willing man doth he (m) Phil. 1.2 b bring his power and strength for that the man should with the same obtain through Faith and that in a suffering manner the righteousness against the sin 7. Therefore possess your souls with (n) Luk. 21. c patience rest believing and continue in the hope and ye shall assuredly in the patience evidently perceive that the evil waxeth weak and that your soul shall be sound or whole 8. Shew or let it alwayes appear what ye love namely the good or the evil for look what one hunteth after that he catcheth and whatsoever one loveth of that he is willing to hear some speech or tydings and he is desirous also to be with the same for no man would willingly be separated from his best beloved therefore judge your own selves now and look rightly into your selves according to the truth to note what ye love and with what ye would willingly be and have your fellowship namely (o) Psal 8. b with the good being of God or with the pernitious and naughty Being of the wicked and deceitful world 9. If now therefore ye love and stand inclined unto the good being (p) Psa 34.13 d Amos 5 b then forsake the evil or ungodly being and separate your selves quite and clean with all your will (q) Isa 52. 2 Cor. 6. Apo. 18. from the evil or iniquity departing out of the same from day to day and be patient in the hope till that all the ungodly being do go under and perish or consume to nothing in you 10. This is our Cross which (s) Math. 10. d. 16. c Luk 9.14 we ought daily to take up in the belief And so in that manner to follow after the vertue of the godlyness Also to love the wisdom and the Information and not reject the chastisement (t) Prov. 3 b Heb. 12. a or correction of the Lord that meeteth with us the whilest our hearts are yet captivated with the sin and (u) Eph. 4. b blindness 11. Behold even such according as of meer Love we have testified herein is the right way to the God of life and to his righteousness from the which (x) Psal 14. Sap. 5. Rom. 2. b the man is departed and estranged In which way the man being in his estranging from his God is by (y) Eph. 2. a Gods grace called and bidden to come again unto his God through the belief or confidence in God touching the salvation to the end he should according
whereby to know thee as a true God which liveth everlastingly 21. For thou O God art a God that lovest the very best of the fruits of the field and (b) Exod. 13.34 Le. 1 2 3. Deut. 12.14 hast a delight unto the fat of the Sheep and Lambs as it is a burnt-offering unto thee of a sweet Savour upon thy (c) Psal 43. Isa 56. holy Altar in thy Tabernacle of thy dwelling which thou hast chosen unto thy self (d) 2 Par. 6. a. 7. b in thy holy City Jerusalem 22. But thou (e) Isa 57.65 despisest all oblations offered in Forrein Lands as likewise all God-services upon their mountains and upon all their hills and high-places 23. Thou also rejectest (f) Amos 5. all songs of praise used under their trees and under all their green eaves 24. Thou abhorrest all presumptuous arrogancy of the flesh they do all displease thee which seek thee through their own doings to the end to be at one with thee and yet have no regard unto thy Promises 25. Their God-service is (g) Isa 16.43 Amos 5. Hos 5.6 an abomination unto thee their self-Sanctification although the flesh appeaseth it self therewith doth altogether stink before thee 26. Unto their Sabboths Holy-dayes or self-made rest-dayes thou hast no desire or liking 27. Their prayer also cometh not before thine ears (h) Prov. 11 Isa 1.59 Mich 3 4 Esd 3. as that it pleaseth thee any whit at all For it is all filthy before thee if they seek thee without thy Promises For they seek not thee O God but themselves and how to please themselves 28. Their waies that they walk lead not unto thee But they run apace towards Hell and have a lust unto error 29. There is nothing among them but manly fear and snaring of the heart with captivated consciences according to the old custom of the vain heathen which O God knew not thy wayes but upon their own wisdom and self-made wayes they (i) Isa 3. b are proud and very bold 30. Therefore is not likewise (k) Isa 59. b the right knowledge of their sin among them as to account the same for sin that they might turn them unto thee because they know not O God of thy peace nor understand rightly any thing thereof 31. Thy rebuke and chastionable information have they not rightly felt neither also rightly taken heed to the same nor yet understood what thou intendest therein and requirest therewith therefore doubtless the right fear of God is not before their eyes like as the fear of men is for to please them O God plant thy (l) Psal 40. Isa 51. Jer. 31. d Law in their hearts as a Glass or a clear light unto their inwardness then shall they rightly know their sin (m) Rom. 7. d how or in what manner she is sin to the end that sin may make up her self and shew in what form she is the fruits of death or the deadly being the which she estrangteh the man from the living God-head for that the sin thereby may be consumed (n) 1 Co. 15. f for thy Law is an encountring or enveighing power against the sin and then shall they know and understand whom they ought to fear and cleave unto 33. For when as thy Law O God groweth up in us in our earthly and weak man-hood and requireth thy righteousness of us then are we burthened and grieved wherethrough we grow to discern our fall from thee and the (o) Psal 51. a great abundance of our sins and that likewise it is all sin wherein we are conceived wherein we have lived 34. Yea that which in times past we supposed to be good is now found to be meer wickedness and sin by reason whereof our souls become humbled before thee for to obtain mercy from thee out of thy abundant grace Even then also do we confess what we are according to our earthly manhood namely (p) Gen. 2. b Eccl. 10 17. b dust earth and ashes and that we of our selves being without the effect or estate of thy Love are altogether (q) Ps 14.53 a Rom 3. b ignorant and lying and utterly estranged from thy righteousness And so with lowly hearts by reason of the depth of our necessity or extremity for the sins cause we become then O God rightly turned unto thee whereby through the drawing or allurement of thy Love to come again unto thee 35. By means of which humiliation or abasing of our selves we through thy grace and mercy become endowed by thee with the most holy belief through the which we be then likewise baptized or washed in the (r) Rom 6 Gal. 3. Col 2. death of Christ and do stand firm in the hope to the obtaining of the health of our souls and so through the belief ministred under the obedience of thy Love we become made (s) Rom. 8. a. free from the Law of sin and death by the spirit of thy Law which maketh alive in Jesus Christ 36. Oh how far is the man departed and estranged from the upright knowledge of this wisdom of God 37. O God that my heart might rent open it self and might cry unto thee with a forcible courage And that thou wouldest hearken to my voice and wouldest vouchsafe to look down towards us with thy merciful eyes and take compassion of our misery deformity and fall and over the blindness of our errors and wouldest in chastionable manner draw us unto thee that we might rightly convert or come again and live in thee For we are doubtless fallen estranged and strayed very deep and far from thee and thy Christ we have mingled our selves with the strangers and walked in many errors 38. O God let us in every part see into our (t) Iob 13. Psa 14. Isa 59. transgressing and make known unto us the lyingness of our hearts against thee 39. For many do say It is very good whereas doubtless it is meer evil And they say moreover out of the blindness and ignorance of their hearts Behold (u) Ier. 8 a Math. 24. b here is the holy Scripture we have the right or the truth the being of God and the holy Ghost And also the mind and sense of the wisdom for to understand the same we have the true belief in Christ and are the Lords people O God they speak lyes before thine ears and understand not the counsel of thy wisdom but are children of the fall or transgression among whom there is neither being of God nature of thy love nor belief of thy Christ but only a vain and false boasting whereby they seduce both themselves and others more for they oppress the little ones and the poor and resist thy holy service of Love therefore one may easily find many masters and vaunters but very few servants and yet (x) 1 Cor. 4. b many fewer Fathers in the Office of the Love 40. Oh that many of them saw their vain wisdom
are well exercised in the same first Vertue or Godlyness so shall ye then proceed in the next Vertue or Godlyness 7. Which next Vertue or Godlyness is the holy Law or requisite Ordinance of the Lord because that ye might love the Lord your God in his Law or Ordinance with all your hearts and thoughts and your neighbour as your self 8. For which Laws cause or Ordinance of the Lord Ioh. 10.50 Math. 22.37 because the same might obtain a being-like shape in you ye shall altogether forsake Mark 12.30 Rom. 13.8 hate and leave your own selves and your own Law or Ordinance and all your Love to the same and to your own selves Iam. 2.8 Deut. 10. Deut. 4. and even so altogether give over your selves to the Law or Ordinance of the Lord as to his Love and to the Law of your neighbour and to the Elders or dayed-ones in the same Law or Ordinance of the Lord for to live and walk obediently only in the Law or Ordinance of the Lord in his Love as also the Love of your neighbour in the ordinance of the Elders or dayed-ones in the same 9. When ye now are well exercised in this same second Vertue or Godlyness so shall ye then proceed in the third Vertue or Godlyness 10. Which Vertue or Godlyness is then Righteousnes of God Col. 2. or the members of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ 11. For which righteousness sake of God or body of our Lord Jesus Christ Col. 2. because that ye might be incorporated as fellow members of the same righteousness of God or body of our Lord Jesus Christ Amos might obtain even to a being-like shape in you Ephes 1.4 5. ye shall altogether forsake your selves and all your own or chosen righteousness or holyness Ioh. 6. which ye have without the righteousness and co-defied holyness of God or without the body of Jesus Christ and hate and leave the same Rom. 14. and even so altogether give over your selves to the righteousness of God or body of our Lord Jesus Christ Col. 2. and to the Elders or dayed-ones in the same body of Jesus Christ or righteousness of God Isa 45. for to live and walk obediently only in the Equity and upright righteousness and holyness of the righteousness of God Eph. 4. or body of Jesus Christ and in the Ordinances of the Elders or dayed-ones in the same 12. When ye now are incorporated to this same 3. Vertue or Godlyness and well exercised in the same Isa 45. then shall ye proceed in the fourth Vertue r Godlyness 13. Which fourth Vertue or Godlyness is the Lordlyness or Dominion of God or essentially to Lord with God 14. For the which Lordlyness cause of God for that the same might obtain a being-like shape in you Gen. 32. and ye to Lord with God and his righteousness essentially or being-like ye shall altogether forsake hate and leave your own Lordlyness or to Lord alone without God Isa 45. Pro. 25. with your selves or with the ungodly and corrupt world and even so altogether give over your selves to Gods Lordlyness and to the Elders and dayed-ones in the same or to those which Lord with God for to live and walk obediently only in the Lordlyness with God Isa 25. according to the Ordinance of the Elders or dayed-ones in the same to all preservation or safe-walking and to all peace on the earth 15. When ye now are well exercised in this same fourth Vertue or Godlyness then shall ye proceed to the fifth Vertue or Godlyness 16. Which fifth Vertue or Godlyness is the stool of Gods Majesty Heb. 1.4 or the possessing of the high soveraign God head 17. For the Stools cause of Gods Majestie for that ye might be assembled to the same Apo. 21. Ioh. 14. Luk. 14. and that likewise the high worthy God-head might essentially obtain his possessing everlasting dwelling in you ye shall altogether forsake hate and leave all your own possessing Math. 19. Heb. 2.4 Psal 10.3 and all your own regarding of your Majestie or high worthyness and so altogether give over your selves to the Stool of Gods Majesty and to the Elders or dayed-ones in the same for to live and walk obediently and in all submission only in the possessing or inhabiting of the living and high worthy God-head the Stool of Gods Majesty and in the Ordinance of the Elders or dayed-ones in the same Eph. 4. to all concord of peaceable life of Gods peaceable Kingdom on the Earth because that the same peace with the peaceable Kingdom of God Col. 3. and the Stool of the same Majesty might be enlarged on the Earth Heb. 2. and be observed to all peace and Love and even so to remain everlastingly upon the earth and keep the preheminence or over-hand Isa 9.59 under the obedience of the Love 18. When ye now are well exercised in this fame fifth Vertue or Godlyness Dan. 2.7 then shall ye proceed in the sixth Vertue or Godlyness 19. Which sixth Vertue or Godlyness is Gods Vision of the peace of the Perfection 20. For which Visions cause of God of the Peace and of the Perfection for that ye might be comprehended in the same cleerness rightly and according to truth and become consubstantiated therewith Apo. 21. and that the same Vision of God might likewise obtain a being-like shape in you ye shall altogether forsake hate Luk. 14. and leave all your own Vision of peace or all your Visions wherewith ye out of the flesh and out of the earthly and natural Ioh. 9. or bloody being have perceived or looked into your own peace and perfection according to the flesh or after the creaturely manner and shall in the same Vision become altogether blind and even so give over your selves altogether to Gods Vision of the Peace and of the Perfection and to the Elders or dayed-ones in the same for to live and walk obediently only in Gods Vision of the Peace and Perfection and in the Ordinance of the Elders to dress maintain and govern all things that are on the Earth in his right being estate or Ordinance to an universal peace and upright Righteousness upon the earth Gen. 2. 21. When ye now are well exercised in this same sixth Vertue or Godlyness then shall ye proceed in the seventh Vertue or Godlyness Psal 44. 22. Which seventh Vertue or Godlyness is the Anointed of God which proceedeth from the Living God with the anointing of the joyful Oyl or comforting of the holy-Ghost Heb. 2. and with all peaceableness of the heart and mind 23. For which anointed ones cause of God for that ye to an upright peaceableness of your hearts minds might become consubstantiated Psal 44. Heb. 1. or of one being with the same and with his anointing of the joyful Oyl or of the holy-Ghost and that he himself with his holy and godly anointing might obtain a shape in you ye shall altogether forsake and leave your selves and all your own annointing or opinionated peaceableness and your Joy or Comforting of your heart and mind wherein ye do live to a peaceableness of your selves and to your own rest according to the flesh Isa 61 and become in all the same altogether dead Apo. 21. and even to give over your selves altogether to the annointed ones of God and to the Elders or dayed-ones in the same Luk. 14. for to live and walk obediently only in the annointed ones of God and in the Ordinance of the Elders or dayed ones in the same Rom. 6. to all fruitfulness in the upright righteousness and Godlyness upon the earth Psal 83. 24. When ye now are well exercised in this same seventh Vertue or Godlyness then shall ye proceed in the eighth Vertue or Godlyness the Perfection of all Vertues or Godlyness and so go forth in the same Acts 17. 25. Which eighth Vertue or Godlyness is the new Life of the true life of God the Father of the Son and of the holy-Ghost Ioh. 5. which is full of all Vertues or Godlyness full of all Love Grace and Wisdom full of all power of God all spiritual goods and full of all heavenly fairness 1 Cor. 15. and that same wherewith God keepeth his righteous Judgement over the whole world Apo. 14 21 22. for to Judge the same with righteousness and wherein all mortified righteousness or godly believers of Iesus Christ rise up with their bodies gloriously and with everlasting Joy and Christian-like triumph live and dwell everlastingly in the same with minds and understandings of pure hearts Math. 7.13 15 16. 26. For which lives cause of the true mind of the everlasting and perfect God-head because that the same might obtain a being-like shape in you Ioh. 12. and ye become of one being with the same and be preserved in the righteous Judgement of God ye shall altogether forsake Ioh. 3. hate and leave all your own life with all that same which is engendred or brought forth in you to a life according to the flesh Rom. 6. or is appeared or risen up unto you in your knowledge or that which you your selves have procured and adopted or taken on before the Regeneration or before the renewing of your spirits and minds in the new life of the true mind of God to a life Luk. 14. Ioh. 12. until that the same be altogether dead mortified and buried with you and even so altogether give over your selves to the new life of the true mind of the everlasting and perfect God-head and to the eldest or manlyest Elder in the same for to live and walk even so obediently in all Love Rom. 6. only in the new life of the true minde of the everlasting and perfect God-head and in the Ordinance of the Eldest or dayedstones in the same and even so to inherit in the perfection of all Vertues or Godlyness with everlasting joy and Christian-like Triumph in the heavenly being as also the everlasting life O that it might thus come to pass even so Every one Ponder it deeply in his heart FINIS
the sin whereby (p) 1 Pe. 4. a to draw and arm us to the same mind and so we to offer up our sins through the daily offering in the holy and to burn the same upon his holy Altar The which is his cross or patience in the holy 10. So even thus doth Christ through himself namely through (q) Rom. 9. a Eph. 2. a. Col. 1 c. 2. b. the incorporating us into his death of the Cross prepare the life and peace for us making us free and washing (r) Heb. 10. c. us from the evil conscience And so we obtain through him in that manner a free entrance into the holy for to accomplish the God-service in the holy to inherit the abundant riches of God the Father and the everlasting life The which cometh unto us plentifully and appeareth in cleerness if that we for our parts do (t) Mat. 16. c Luk. 9.14 c daily take up our Cross with Christ follow after him in the holy and so become (u) Rom. 6 a baptized in his death Rom. 4.5.8 a. to be an offering for the sin whereby to be (x) Col. 2. b. justified from the sin through Faith that meerly by Grace not by Works 11. Behold such a manner of offering and daily God-service in the holy is no doubt very convenient for us to use and perform For so then namely in the performance of the daily offering or God-service in the holy there appeareth or cometh to us in the spirit the spiritual high Priest or Christ according to the Spirit who is not of this earth neither of flesh and blood but of the heavenly God-head the same high (y) Heb. 7 8 9 10. Priest is also very needful for us because he is faithful and remaineth for ever 12. Whose service or high Priests office is not outward according to the manner of the foregoing service of the Elders administred among the unregenerate or unrenwed men as in the letter and with the letter or with speakable words but his service cometh to pass in the new birth of the inward spiritual and heavenly man (z) Heb. 7 8 9 10. with the ministration of the spiritual and heavenly goods according to the spiritual and heavenly Priest-office 13. And to that end namely to bring men to the new birth of the inward spiritual heavenly man have the outward ministrations of the Elders the foregoing with the man (a) Gal 3. c. 4 5 a under the which he to the training up of him in all good nurture and order is kept and taught even unto the new birth in Jesus Christ through the which he doth then likewise live and walk in (b) Luk. 1. g. all upright righteousness both inwardly before God and outwardly among men and to such an upright (c) Ioh. 3. a. Titus 3. b. birth or the outward services or administrations of the Godly testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love a foregoing office or (d) 2 Co. 3. a light unto the man which witnesseth declareth and holdeth forth the godliness unto him as in a Glass And so then the man if he believe the requiring of the fore-going service and desire to stand obedient thereunto becometh prepared thereby to the same godliness and taught to the Kingdom of heaven And that is the same ministration which (e) Gal 3 c 4. a. Heb. 7. b. reacheth to the spiritual and true being in Jesus Christ And it is the upright Priests office of the Elders of the holy understanding which in its office or service hath the foregoing to the (f) Ioh. 3. a. 1 Cor. 4. b. Gal. 4. b. new birth in Jesus Christ as is already said which services are all witnesses and directions unto the very true and spiritual office in the Spirit And although the same services being ministred in the letter and through the letter or serviceable word do bring (g) 2 Co. 3. b a great illumination and clearness unto the unilluminated ones yet are those same for all that no more but a serviceable shaddow proceeding from the spiritual and heavenly service of the great glory and cleerness of Christ in the inward being and form 14. For Christ according to the Spirit hath (h) Heb. 3.8.9 a. an higher function or office or a more excellent service and a greater lighâ— or clearness then hath all flesh and blood writing letters or speakable words For he is a Minister or an high Priest in the Spirit (i) Heb. 8 a. 9. a. b. c. as a Minister of the spiritual and heavenly goods as is before said For he himself is the (k) Heb 1. a. right heir in all the riches of God his eternal and Almighty Father 15. Behold this high Priest is spirit and life the true (l) Isa 9. a King and a faithful Lord a peaceable prince And not this or that without us But he (m) Act. 17. c is in us all which believe on him according to the truth And we all which abide stedfast in the faith have the life through him who is neither unfaithful nor falling away like unto a man For he doth not shrink nor fall away either from us or from his Father but through the Love (n) Mat. 28. c Ioh. 14 b. continueth with us and with his Father for ever 16. Also he is not changeable in his office or ministration like as are the children of men who do one while setup one thing for an obedience or for a God-service and that altogether without the service of Christ and his Love and then again some other thing which directeth not to the true life of Christ nor unto the upright being of his Love 17. But his service will and commandement is both now presently and at all times like as it was in the beginning and it shall so remain unchangeable for evermore For his Commandment Will and Precept is (o) Da. 6.10 Math 22. d Ioh 15 b. 1 Tim. 1. a nothing else but the love and the life of godliness And that is the old commandment from the beginning (p) Ioh. 2. a And it is the new commandment as being for to come or for to be made manifest in this same last time in the obedience of the requiring of the service of Love 18. Therefore seeing now that this high Priest which is invisible but yet is known in the spirit hath such an unchangeable commandment or service among us in the ministration of the service of his Love So standeth he likewise firm and immovable towards us in the same service to an everlasting reconcilement for our sins as a true (q) 1 Tim. 2 a Heb. 9. b mediator betwixt God and us 19. He himself also is partaker with us in suffering touching (r) Heb. 2. b 5. a. our griefs and purgeth us in his service of Love through himself and through none other or any other services 20. Therefore hath God likewise sworn unto
the heathenship and hath at that time his conversation or fellowship with the administration and discipline of the holy Word ministred betwixt the fore-front and the Altar of the holy offering till that his offering and gift be through Faith begun or taken in hand in the holy for a burnt offering through which burning of the offering upon the holy Altar of the Lord Jesus Christ in the holy (g) Isa 57. b Eph. 2. b the Peace betwixt the man and God the Father is prepared The ninth Chapter BUT for as much as this true God-service in the holy is not yet according to the inward man in the spirit known unto every one nor understood according to the truth and we do find many young and little ones of understanding many feeble and weak ones and many uncertain consciences all which notwithstanding do stand bent and well-minded with a good will towards the Love and towards the holy understanding So is therefore the life of righteousness evidently witnessed unto them out of the service of Love which testimonies of the truth are likewise administred unto them through Doctrines speakable words or with writing namely unto those that have turned from the heathenship and so endeavour them to the obeying of the word and his service and which do fear God with which service there is required of them the obedience to the Love of the Father (a) Gal 3. c 4. a. Heb. 7. b. to a sustaining of them whereout some better thing is yet to be hoped for 2. That same is verily the daily God-service which is well pleasing unto the Lord and the upright Ceremonies which be ministred before the Lord unto the God-fearing hearts by the Ministers of the holy word 3. Which Ministers with the same service of the gracious and holy word is the Levitical Priests office wherethrough the slain-offering is prepared before (b) Jer. 33. b the Lord among the little-ones and sinners who bear sorrow and grief for the sins cause also the burnt-offering is begun and daily used the meat offering likewise kindled and offered up 4. Which service likewise of the Levitical Priests office alwayes stands or continues before the Lord in the service of his Love as a mutual assistance and strengthening for the little or weak ones and that altogether in the Love to the serviceableness of the Congregations for the sins of the ignorant 5. Which service of the Levitical Priests office God would not have required if the man had not fallen into the sin but had still walked uprightly in the light of God 6. But forasmuch as it hath not gone so with the man therefore hath God even of necessity added the same service unto his promises for to inform therewith the unilluminated ones the infirm weak and young ones or little ones of understanding who do yet oftentimes sin and are of little growth in Faith and so to assist and serve them therewith for a certain time betwixt the fore-front and the Altar for an entrance unto them in the holy to bring unto the high or great God of heaven (d) Psa 11. d Isa 56 a Mal. 1. b Rom. 11. a such an offering as is delightful unto him 7 Even thus become they all converted or turned away from the sin and succoured or trayned up under the service of the Love to the (e) Luk. 1. g Eph. 1. a knowledge of the upright life of the Just to the end that they may all become one even as of one mind (f) Ioh. 17 c in the Love 8. Now when one doth know the same life according to such an upright service and nature of the Love and is grown believing towards the same then is there revealed and brought in the spirit unto the Believers the boldness to enter into the holy for to accomplish the service of God and his requiring in the holy like as God is requiring the same accomplishment by the Law and the Prophets and by the service of the Elders in the holy understanding which accomplishment in the holy is our offering in the offering of Christ through his (g) He. 9. b. c blood which prepareth for us a new and living way 9 Behold that is the true God-service through Christ in the holy which is now by Gods grace opened and brought unto us to the end to set up the righteousness in the same through Faith which is required by the Law and Ordinance of the Lord. For whatsoever is (h) Rom 8. a unpossible for the Law to do through works that same is accomplished in Christ through Faith whereby Christ is in that manner the accomplishment of the Law and erecteth the upright righteousness among his Believers and establisheth them in the same 10. Therefore Christ is no breaker but a fulfiller of the Law for (i) Mat. 3. b Christ came not to make void or break the Law and the Prophets but to perform them because the righteousness that is of value before God may be made manifest through his light to an everlasting establishment of the promises of God made unto the Fathers whereby to wash and cleanse the man from his spotted or (k) Heb. 9. b evil conscience that he might laud God with peace and joy 11. But this daily God-service betwixt the front and the Altar in the holy which is prepared and ministred by the service of the holy and gracious Word and by the Priests office out of Levy or by the Elders in the holy understanding is the service which God hath added to his (l) Rom. 4. b 5. c. 7. a. Promises made unto Abraham to a strengthening of the belief extending to the Promises Because the man should with a good courage in the good and godly life of righteousness among the Elders in the holy understanding (m) Eph. 1. b 1 Pet. 2. a grow up therein to an establishing of the Promises of God the Father 12. In such manner doubtless is the same service of the holy Word which is administred by the Elders in the holy understanding under the obedience of the Love very profitable and furthersome for the good-willingness the while they (n) Gal. 4. a. are yet little or young in the godly understanding And for those that like unto children stand simply submitted under the Love to the end that no man should err through any ignorance nor tye his heart to the imagination of his own spirit but only have regard unto the service of Love to the obeying his requiring until that the daily God-service in the holy be begun with him and have his full course with him Also till the true (o) 2 Pet. 2. b light come unto him and the day likewise appear from on high or as a cleerness of the morning star arise in his heart and that the everlasting (p) Ioh. 1. a life be come unto him in the spirit according to the truth and have (q) 2 Cor. 4. Gal.
4. b a shape in him as a Kingdom of God or of Christ which is the upright being or real form it self full of all Love 13. Till unto this same day namely till that the light of life as a true being an upright righteousness be come unto the man doth the daily God-service for the sins cause endure in the holy so long also (r) 1 Co. 3. b remaineth the vail before the most holy namely till the holy be performed or ministred in his full course of ministration with upright daily oblations which are acceptable unto God 14. But this daily offering or gift which the man is Debtor to offer in the holy or that wherein God hath a pleasure is not alone the outward for God hath (s) Ps 40.50 never willed nor required the same without the good will of the heart 15. Therefore it is a spiritual offering proceeding out of (t) Psal 11. c Isa 57.66 a lowly and humble heart and the beginning of the same upright offering soundeth even thus in every man that is good-willing towards God and towards his righteousness 16. O God I come and have a lust to (u) Psa 40. a Heb. 10. a do thy will 17. Now when the man findeth himself thus minded and desireth to enter into the service of Love and his requiring in this sort is his heart prepared and altogether become willing to (x) Mat. 16. c Luk 9.14 c take up his Cross and obediently to follow after the (y) 1 Pet. 2. c crucified and killed Jesus Christ in the belief under the obedience of his love till unto his death even the death of the Cross (z) Rom. 6. Col. 2. b. and to be baptized into the same death whereby to enter even so into the life out of the deadly sin (a) Ioh. 3. a Rom. 6.8 b 2 Cor. 4. through the second birth from death Wherethrough he is likewise made free The true holy of the holy and true Tabernacle of God is the belief tending to the mortifying of the sin in the after following of Christ till unto the second birth from the death the which is the willing obedience of the belief which holy and his service or obedience in the belief wherein the death of the sin cometh to pass is the very true holy and the right difference between the most holy and the fore-front or delivered from all choosing of this or that according to his own will or pleasure saying with his whole heart 18. O GOD (b) Act. 9 a WHAT wilt thou have me to do 19. Behold in such a mind intent or inclination to the obedience of the belief and to continue (c) Eccl. 2. a Math. 24. â— stedfast therein till unto the death and to the new birth from the death consisteth the mans conversion to his God and he becometh so clean turned about from his selfness that he is like unto (d) Mat. 18. a 1 Pet. 2. a a new born babe that hath no manner of self-wisdom or self-willedness but that liveth only that life that is given and brought unto him by God In such a manner is the man meet also to come into the Kingdom (e) Ioh. 3 a of God to enter thereinto 20. But behold with such a heart and mind cometh the man unto the (f) Deut. 6.10 b. 1 King 15. true obedience which God regardeth And so through Faith he goeth out of all deadly corruption or perdition and cometh into the life of his God in the everlasting immortality in all Love and is filled with all fulness of the holy Ghost (g) Rom. 8. b and inherriteth with Christ all the treasures riches of God and of (h) Isa 33. a Col. 2. a the spiritual and heavenly goods Those verily are the promises of God the Father through Jesus Christ to the blessing of all the generations of the earth 21. By this means as is said the man cometh again to his soundness and to his (i) Ioh. 8. d precious freedom whereunto (k) Gen. 1. c Sap. 2. c Eccles 17. a God hath created him from the beginning as being unbound or untyed from all vain and unprofitable things The tenth Chapter NOW when as the service of the offering in the holy hath once had his full course with such a good will as is aforesaid and the debt-offering sin-offering and death-offering is all through the like-suffering of Christ accomplished on the Altar through the belief then (a) Isa 25 a Math. 27. 2 Cor. 3. b doth the vail as opening asunder divide it self from before the most holy and so there is then discovered in the most holy the mercy-seat the Ark of witness and the heavenly bread with many costly treasures pertaining to the most holy Sanctuary and all that sanctified likewise that is in the holy with the (b) He. 9 10. sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ the high Priest for an everlasting forgiveness of sins 2. That verily is the New Testament of the grace of God touching the sins of the people even as God hath promised the same to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah for a stedfast and continuing Testament 3. This high Priest over the house of God is the old antient one in the holy and godly understanding and is the (d) Col. 1. first born of all creatures (e) Rom. 6 a Phil. 2. a who was slain with the death of the Cross and hath suffered in the holy for the sins cause and is (f) 1 Cor. 15. c Col. 1. b as the firstling risen from the death where-through he hath prepared the everlasting life for all his Believers which follow after him in the holy (g) Mat 16. c Rom 6. a 1 Pet. 2. till unto the death of his Cross 4. He himself verily is the Light and Life that is everlasting which was (h) Ioh. 1. a Psal 210 a with the Father from the beginning and is at the right hand of the (i) Heb. 1. a Almighty in the heavenly being or estate who also as high Priest entreth into the most holy maketh alive his believers from (k) Rom. 8. b 1 Cor. 15. b Eph. 2. a. b Col. 1.2 b the death and (l) Eze. 36. c Isa 44. a Ioel 2. c Act. 2. b poureth forth the holy spirit of his love abundantly over them The true most holy of the holy and true Tabernacle of God is the Love the everlasting life and the perfection from which most holy in his service that is in the making alive from the death in the pouring out of the holy Ghost and in ministring of the spiritual and heavenly good the vale is put away whereby to inherit the everlasting life of God in his cleerness in the same service ministred under the obedience of the Love of the holy Ghost which most holy in his service maketh right difference betwixt the living and the dead
to the truth know his God in the life and so might worship (z) Deut. 4. a 10. b Math. 4. c and serve him only which (a) Psa 14 b Acts 14. Apo. 14. hath made heaven and earth the Sea and the water Fountains through whose power the elements be moved and out of whom the upright wisdom of the wise the true light of the illuminated ones and the resurrection of the righteous life springeth which God is also the perfection the Love (b) Ioh. 17. c 1 Ioh. 4. b or the true being or essential power it self unto whom only appertaineth all praise laud honour for evermore Amen Take it to heart A PRAYER OF H. N. Even as he hath prayed the same unto Almighty God through the holy spirit of love according to the estate and representation of the fallen man corrupt and earthly weak man O God who livest for ever thou which in times past wast a comfort to the sorrowful in their affliction laid on them through the dominion of the violent power of Pharaoh and didst (a) Exo. 3. 12 13 14. Psa 78. b. f lead thy people out of the power of his afflictions delivering them from the hand of those that cruelly raigned over them and didst shew how that thou wert a Judge over thy flock which thou hadst chosen to thy self making known unto them (b) Ex. 20.34 Deut. 5.10.30 what thy will was and didst set up among them the banner of righteousness namely (c) Ex 35.40 the Tabernacle of thy Sanctuary and madest thy holy habitation amongst them and didst not suffer them to want any thing according as thou hadst said unto their Fathers and promised unto them by the mouth of thy holy Prophets 2. And unto the heathen which knew not thy holy name thou (d) Isa 11 13. Ro. 9 11.15 hast also in times past shewed thy mercy according to the Covenant of thy holy Promises which thou hadst made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob. 3. Now therefore O God comfort comfort us likewise in our miseries for thy (e) Isa 38. b holy names sake for when thou makest up thy self to raign over thine enemies then must they all be affraid and bow down themselves before the Authority and power of thy Almightyness 4. But we O God are well worthy of thy chastisement (f) Deu. 27.28 Dan. 9. for our sins cause for in all these thy former works proceeded out of the entire or hearty mercifulness of thy love borne towards us we have shewed our selves to be an unthankful people declining from thy word of life and like an ungodly people have estranged our selves from thy truth walking in error (g) Rom. 1. c according to the mind of our own delight and been ignorant in that thing thy will requireth 5. But now O Lord which art the God of all the world (h) Psal 106. Ier. 14. Lam 3. Dan. 9. we acknowledge and confess our own offences and also the falling away of our Fathers and seeking daily for thy wayes we do enquire what thy will is 6. Wherefore O God remember now thy mercy like as in times past and thy Covenant which thou hast made with thy people in times past and turn thee again unto us that thou mayest be known among all people as an eternal true God of life and of righteousness 7. O how often is my heart grieved because that there is neither (i) Hos 4. faithfulness nor love or at least wise very little anywhere to be found and for that the righteousness is so utterly turned back (k) Isa 59. b or refused in all places 8. Oh what a number of diseased (l) Isa 1. a and wounded ones are there and how many are there that do now mourn yea suffer grief and wofulness or anguish because (m 4 Esd 5.14 15. Math 24. b. the iniquity raigneth so exceedingly and for that the number of the upright and faithful ones are so few 9. Oh how long shall my soul rest in longing after that whereunto my heart hath a lust and whereunto it is drawn or inflamed with fervent affection 10. Oh where abideth now the (n) Is 60 61. Mal. 4. a rising up of thy glory O thou pure love of God the Father wherein all peace truth faithfulness and righteousness standeth comprehended 11. I have seen thee afar off and also neer by (o) Cant. 4.5 thou hast peirced me through with the bright beams of thy upright righteousness and amiable delightfulness but my soul suffereth so much the more grief for my spirit cannot be satisfied so long as thou only hast not the upper hand or dominion over us and that we do not with our mind approach or draw neer unto thee essentially nor become incorporated wholly or in every part unto thy being and substance 12. For we find by experience that without thee O pure Love there is no bread of satisfying (p) Isa 41.45 Ier. 14. a nor any water of refreshing because all delectable sweetness is contained in thee 13. In thee is milk and hony wine and (q) Hos 2. Ioel 2. oyl also riches joy and life 14. In thee are likewise (r) Isa 33. Ephes 3. Col. 2. all treasures of wisdom the holy knowledge of the secretness of God and the mysterie of the Christ of God for Christ is at thy right hand as a living salvation for all those that come unto thee 15. Whosoever also seeketh Christ without thee (s) Joh. 7. d he shall not find him and whosoever hath not thee he hath neither Law of righteousness nor yet Christ 16. Therefore art thou likewise O Love the (t) Ioh. 13 14 15. 1 Tim. 1. 1 Ioh. 4. band of perfection wherein all salvation consisteth and the last sign or token of the true righteousness wherein all Gods Prophets have witnessed 17. Also no man cometh (u) Ioh. 6.9 unto Christ except thou draw him for thou O Love art the fountain of all vertue 18. But who are those that love thee thou allurest all men doubtless but who yieldeth himself to be drawn by thee thou (x) Apo 3. c knockest daily but who letteth thee in (y) Prov 1. c Isa 65 66. a thou callest indeed but who heareth thee thou sayest 19. Come hither to this (z) Isa 55. water all ye that are thirsty ye which have no mony come buy both wine and milk Come buy that ye may have to eat of free-cost and not for money nor ware Wherefore bestow ye your money for that which feedeth not and your labour for that which any way satisfies not Hearken unto me so shall ye eat of the best and your soul shall have a delight in the fatness or plenty incline your ears hitherward and come unto me hearken so shall your soul be healed 20. O God who thinketh upon this that thy Promises are that we should be assembled unto thee in the Love (a) Ioh. 17.