or unlocked not only to the outward earthly and corruptible but chiefly to that which is inward spirituall and eternall 37. For behold I do verily witnesse this same distinctly enough unto you to the intent we might all have regard to the upright life inwardly in our hearts a Rom. 8. become spiritually minded and through the grace of the bountifull Godhead serve in the upright life the living God only 38. Let every one b Gal. 6. take heed to his time for if we be already separated with our heart from whoring with stocks and stones as from such Idolatries doubtlesse it is then so much the more expedient inasmuch as such grace is extended on us that we observe our hearts and cogitations and cleanse them from all outward unprofitable things to be made free and unbound therefrom to the intent our hearts abide not bound unto any manner elementish created or worldly matter nor yet unto any kind of appearance of c Col. 2. spirituall or holy things whereby in case our hearts stood bound therein we may be lead awhoring and our hearts be bewitched therewith 39. Therefore let us not regard nor give respect unto or esteem any outward things higher then for elementish or so much as they are in their degree or as they are profitable in their Service neither let us go a whoring with them to the intent our eyes of the Spirit may still have respect to the only God and his upright life for to cleave with true understanding unto the same 40. For whatsoever is outward whether it be man or beast and whatsoever is to be seen heard or felt how fair good holy or wise soever it seemeth to be must certainly every whit so far forth as it standeth in his right degree d 1 Cor. 15 Eph. 1. Heb. 2. be subdued under the only God and his love 41. This same verily should the man once consider and understand to the intent he might once be delivered and rid of his foolish witchery and of dissention and of whoring with this or that 42. Therefore let no man be tied or bound to the lusts of whoredome with any outward thing but give all his respect to that God e 1 Cor. 15 which is all in all and inwardly in his mind let him take heed to the upright life which is godly holy and good that he may bear the Image or like being of his God f 1 Cor. 15 for as we have borne the image of the earthly so shall we also in like manner bear the image of the heavenly to the land and praise of the glory of God 43. Loe thereunto is my testimony namely that the upright life is the life of the upright Fathers which served and worshipped the invisible great g Deut. 4.5.6 c. and almighty God only who still was God in Israel and in Israel also wrought wonderfully who is h Exod. 3. Mat. 22. che God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 44. Now in that these Tribes of Israel knew the God of heaven as a true God and lived and cleave unto him therefore did they stand free and untied from all the God-services of the Heathenish Sorceries and were unbound from all whorings with outward things 45. To obtain this grace in God that is the Gospell which is through Christ published to the Heathen to the intent they should be released from their foolish bewitched God-services and from all their lusts of whoredome whereby they may with Israel be incorporated into the stock of Abraham and may altogether as one manner of people serve the onely living God in one manner Lawes Statutes and Ordinances even as the second Booke of the Glasse of Righteousnesse maketh mention 46. Therefore O all ye people Nations and Tribes if ye will not consider whereto ye are called of the God of heaven through the seed of Abraham according to the promises neither do regard your heavenly calling aright in her degree nor give your selves over thereunto nor feare Abrahams God nor love his Lawes and Ordinances but do build upon another foundation i Eph. 2 then surely shall ye be banished from God and from the Citizenship of Israel and be constrained to serve vaine things k Deut. â—â— and to keep such Ordinances as you doe not know 47. That same shall intangle your hearts bewitch your understanding and make you bond-servants which indeed we are so long as we willingly remain l Rom. 6 subject to the sin and to the Sorcery of the heathen 48. Therefore take heed to your time and seek God m Esa 55. while he is neare and may be found and while ye have yet space to turn you unto him 49. Let the ungodly n Ezek. 18 forsake his ungodly being and so come to the life through the death of the Crosse of Jesus Christ then shall he live and die no more 50. Let us apply our minds to the same and turn our hearts away from all sensuality of the flesh not only from that which outwardly we look upon but chiefly from the self-minded thoughts which do arise o Sap. 2. Mat. 15. out of our selves and doe tempt or intice us thereunto for to hold our hearts in bondage to the vaine corruptiblenesse which through the works of unbeliefe leadeth away from the living God wherby we may be deprived of the fellowship with God in the Spirit for the unity and p Eph. 2. peace with God the Father in the Spirit for to live one with another in all Loue is the glorious liberty of the children of God whereunto we are called by Jesus Christ 51. Lo this is the stone q Psa 118 1 Pet. 2. which was not allowed of the workmen yet is there r Acts 4. salvation in none other which stone is clean against all sense of the flesh and against all them that are minded only upon the outward therefore of those builders which will themselves act or set up the salvation he is rejected Å¿ Esa 8.28 Mat. 21. and is unto them a stone of stumbling and offence t Psal 118 Mat. 21. and this is a wonderfull worke in our eyes 52. Behold herein we have likewise all sinned and trespassed 53. Therefore it stands us now upon to regard well from the heart the mind of the truth and with humble hearts to pray unto the Lord that he will not punish us for our misdeeds of ignorance u Psa 25 79. Dan. 9. but will thinke upon us according to his mercy and guide our hearts after his will that we might walke in his Ordinances and be named after his Name as our God and Saviour who through the Service of his love maketh our errors knowne unto us and releaseth or maketh us free from all perverse or covered nature of sinne from all arrogancy and haughtinesse of the revolters and from all falshood dissention and deceit which at
your hearts be full of the life and being of the true God-head and your joy onely in his righteousnes that therein ye may live in the Spirit and according to the Truth 18. Let it be a pleasure unto you that God becommeth Lord and King over all Have a desirous heart to the good to the same reach also c Eph. 4. one another the hand retaine no offence of mis-doing one towards another but exhort to amendment d Eccle. 28. Mat. 6. Col. 3. and forgive in the Love that so we may grow up with each other in one band of Love unto the godlines as a reconciled or e Tit. 2. acceptable people of the Lord through Iesus Christ such as have found grace and mercy at the hands of God the father for to inheâ—iâ— his promises to serve him with pure hearts in all love 19. Behold to be comprehended herein is the life which is everlasting and to reach one another the hand to the same godlines to exort to amendment of life and to retaine no man his sins is the f Hos 6. Matt. 9. Mercy which God requireth of us and not Sacrifices 20. He requireth Righteousnes and nates the ungodly being He sheweth his long-suffering towards them of good will g Esa 53. Heb. 2. and beareth their infirmity or weaknes as one that would not have any man to perish or to turn back 21. For a willing heart is a delight unto him and a broken or troubled Spirit h Psal 51. for his sins cause will he not despise 22. A good confidence towards his grace of a converting sinner is a joy unto him i Luk. 15. and it causeth also a joy in the heavenly Being 23. Therefore k Deut. 20. Esa 55. let no man be dismayed nor faint-hearted but let every one from the heart upon hope in the Beleef apply himselfe to the good and l Luk. 21. possesse his soule with patience unto the godly promises 24. Let no man take any yoak upon him out of his own choice least by some means of his unablenes he fall into a loathing towards the good but grow up by little and little and profit ye still from time to time 25. Keep alwaies what ye have go not m Apo. 2. back in any case that you loose not the Crown of Salvation Go still forward increasing in the good and in the knowledge of the holy understanding n Heb. 6. and so passe on towards the perfection 26. Neverthelesse desire not to have every thing at once but grow up in the good from the o Heb. 5. beginning of the Christian life That is from the repentance for sin p Matt. 3. to go on in amendment of life and to abide stedfast therein even to the q Matt. 24. end untill the true life of perfection That is r Eph. 4. untill the old age of the Man Christ The which is inwardly to obtaine the Love essentially 27. And that is the perfection of our godlines wherein we are to grow up from the begining of our turning to God and to the entrance of the first School-rule of the Christian Doctrine of the gracious Word and his Service of Love untill we be established in God and his true Love according to the Promises 28. If therefore any man love the good and his soul desire to inherit the same let him go thereunto with an humble heart and follow after it out of undetstanding that ignorance grieve not his soule 29. For there have been many in times past that would by force have all the righteousnes all at once and would feine according to their fancy consume and destroy the sin altogether by heaps but they have fallen into greater and grievouser sins 30. But in asmuch now as many beginnings are with lack of understanding taken in hand therefore divers men are become vnlustfull to the Å¿ Matt. 24. Righteousnes and have turned themselves back again and do cleave to the world and to her misunderstanding more than ever they did before 31. Divers others perceive no difference between the illuminated and vnilluminated Men and so whiles they are not yet illuminated themselves they give regard both to their own Imagination of the Knowledge also to the Precepts of unilluminated men because they trust upon such things suppose that in such sort all is well with them 32. They discerne not also the life from the death in their inwardnes nor yet the hearing t Pro. 4. of Councel Doctrine whereby to draw near to the living Commandement of God and to live therein 33. Many others hold v Apo. 3. at a stay and have no righteousnes neither do they aske hunger nor thirst after it and do neither go backwards nor forwards which is indeed a great shame 34. It were better for one to suffer now and then some Inconvenience for lack of experience t so that he abide in the Hope than to hold himself still or idle to the righteousnes before he be come to the salvation 35. For albeit one do sometimes by stumbling and falling suffer some inconvenience yet he riseth again for all that bewaileth his Ignorance and so then he taketh a new courage again with a more circumspect understanding in the Spirit x Eph. 6. against the craftines of the sin and thereby profiteth and increaseth in the righteousnesse 36. Now when a man perceiveth or is aware of the gaine to wit that he increaseth in the good then is he of good cheere and much stronger in the beleef and firmer in the hope Thus in processe of time he groweth up in the Spirit of the good life untill he come to the perfection that is to the Love 37. Wherefore the losse teacheth Prudence and Wit for to attend unto the word with understanding but the gaine bringeth weetnes it maketh firme in the hope and begetteth a gladnes in our hearts When as to abide in undesire to the righteousnesse and to be y Apo. 3. neither hot nor cold but luke-warme is by all meanes to be utterly discommended 38. I esteem in this behalf much better of that man z Lu. 15. who like the lost Sonne hath spent and consumed all his Treasure and Riches and out of great poverty turneth him again and seeketh at his Fathers hands the roome of a servant out of which humbling a man commeth again to his riches and through such losse getteth understanding how to govern to a multiplying the riches of God then of such a lazy slothfull and ane loitering man as for fear of losse a Matt. 25. Luk. 19. burieth his Talent and will neither make gaine nor losse therewith 39. Hereof beware ye dearly beloved that ye bury not that little which you have received of God nor yet with-hold or withdraw your selves for any manner of cause from this our undeceivable and most holiest service of the Love 40. For though that
same are also to the health of all them that drink thereof 22. O how lovely is my Fountain and how sweet are my waters which flow forth there-out namely unto all them that love me and understand [c] Isai 42 1 Pet. 2 that I am friendly therefore [d] Isai 55 Apoc. 22 come now all unto me saith the Lord. 23. Leave now the friendship of the wicked world [e] Iam. 4 which is an utter enmity unto God and full of all manner of iniquity and make your friendship with me for I am in no case churlish [f] Isai 42 cruel horrible nor destroying like as the wicked world is but I am lovely gracious peaceable and beneficial or safe-making to the end that my dominion may even so through my lovely and upright Righteousness increase it self or [g] Isai 9 Mal. 1 3 become great now [h] Ioel 2 Acts 2 in the last time and that there be no end of the Peace from this time forth for evermore to the end that I may do even so that [i] Isai 32 and 42 Ier. 23 and 33 which is right on the earth and execute Righteousness among the people For all Heathen which turn their hearts unto God [k] Isai 42 and 51 attend on these my Institutions which come forth out of the Service of my Love saith the Lord. CHAP. VIII BEhold and consider and have a good regard hereon O ye beloved and good-willing hearts what an heart lust and love [a] Iohn 3 God hath turned or born towards us all for to rid and lead us all now in these last b Amos 5 Micha 2 Math. 24 perillous times through his Service of Love out of the abominations of the perverse would and so to bring us with our will to the Majesty c Isai 13 and 60 Ier. 3 of his Glory to the end that we should now in the last time through his Love and through the d 1 Tim. 2 Heb 9 Mediator his Christ become surely saved live e Luke 1 Eph. 1 4 always and for ever uprightly lovely and peaceably in the same Godhead with each other and so f 2 Pet. 3 inhabit the world according to the Promises of God the Father in Righteousness for evermore 2. Therefore namely for this same Loves cause which g Iohn 3 God is extending so graciously on us turn now your Love likewise to the same God of Life and [h] Eccl. 7 submit you all under the Obedience of his Love 3. O ye dearly beloved ye all I mean which say and profess that ye love the Truth stand in fear before the great glorious God and apply you not to any other thing then that which is according to his Will esteem right reverently i Psal 19 his Word have a singular regard to the Law of his Doctrine and with your whole heart respect well this [k] 2 Cor. 6 Heb. 12 proffered Grace which through the gracious Word of the Lord becometh expressed or held forth before you under the obedience of his Love 4. Which Word of Grace and Life God hath given in my mouth [l] Isa 49 51 and 59 Jer. 1 31 Heb. 8 and 10 written the same together with the Law of his Commandments in my heart minde and thoughts and chosen me to be his Minister to administer now in the last time under the obedience of his Love m Ier. 33 the same gracious Word to declare his Truth and to set up his most holy Service of Love through the Belief [n] Num. 14 to the end that the whole world may become full of the glory of God according to the Promises 5. For that cause come now all hither and refuse not the Lord but give over your selves and all what ye have o Psal 24. and 50 that is the Lords good-willingly unto the Lord and his Word to your preservation Come now all and lay down your selves and all what belongeth unto the Lord before the Seat of his Majesty 6. Respect well now this same p 2 Cor. 6 Gal. 6 Heb. 12 time of Grace ere ever the q Eccl. 5 Rom. 2 wrath of God and his indignation fall upon all ungodly and have a diligent regard in time what the Service of Love requireth 7. Howbeit if ye do r Prov. 1 refuse this same Love of God the Father and withhold from the Lord that which belongeth unto him not fear the same glorious God cast his Word Law and Will s Isai 5 4 Esdr 7 behind you not regard the hearty mercifulness of his Love which he sheweth so liberally on us forsake the Comunality of holy ones under the obedience of the Love and refuse to assemble you unto the same and even so cleave much rather with the ungodly unto the wicked world become puffed up in pomp and light-minded of heart and even so according to your lusts and good-thinking follow after your own freedom t Ier. 7 and 9 Rom. 1 1 Pet. 4 2 Pet. 2 Iude 1 will and counsel So will God then also turn away his Love from you and not let you taste the lovely being of his Love which he now in the u Joel 2 Acts 2 last time bringeth unto his elected holy ones which submit them under his Love to an eternal x Isai 32 Wis 3 5 Heb. 3 4 Rest of the Godliness nor inherit the same for evermore but ye shall y Iohn 8 dye in your Sins and be forced to bear your condemnation z Mat. 11 and 25 Heb. 10 and punishment more then the children of the perverse or wicked world to whom this Grace hath not been proffered 8. Ye shall likewise dayly the longer the more wax blinded a Rom. 1 from the Way of Life become incorporated to the wicked and malicious Being of the ungodly and end your days and time in ungodliness and even so the number of your years shall then perish or waste away with the ungodly and your end shall be b Mal. 4 Wisd 3 Eccl. 21 horrible 9. For like as it shall go with all ungodly even so shall ye also become c Psal 37 and 52 Prov. 2 rooted out in indignation from the Land of the Living and condemned in the d Mat. 25 2 Pet. 3 fire of Hell and I which am the Lords cannot likewise of the holy Natures part of my God be moved with any remorse of pity or compassion towards you 10. For that be far from the minde of my Soul that I should set mine affection of the Love towards any such as love not God nor his Law but abide by their [e] 1 Cor. 1 and 8 own Knowledg and are ungodly of Will be he then what he is Friend or Stranger 11. But f Psa 112 and 128 Eccl. 1 and 34 blessed are they to the Lord and beloved in my heart which fear the Lord also cleave
to their Knowledge For as soon as they read or hear the same they suppose by and by that thet have rightly apprehended and well understood them not first minding to enter in to obtain and to live in that which they bear witnesse of whereas yet the service of our writing tendeth hereunto even that mens hearts as is there set forth should be prepared to the same 35. For men strike up no alarm in the host to the intent to make the people unlusty to the battell nor yet that they should but know the exercise of the warr or judge of the Alarm-stroak but that with good courage they should prepare themselves to the battell or fight Thereby every one that hath courage to fight doth then make himself ready to incounter with his enemies and to root out his adversary or to subdue him 36. But alas I find it with many otherwise in that alarm by which the man is called to the spirituall i Eph. 6. fight to the vanquishing of his enemies which inwardly in him are killers and murderers of his soul 37. Therefore it is very true that the children of this world are much k Luk. 16. wiser in their dealing as concerning the flesh then the children of the Kingdom are in that which concerneth the spirit 38. What availeth I pray you an alarm made if men prepare them not to the battell for many are perswaded that this is no time of fighting and that there shall be no need thereof supposing because of their unbelief that nothing shall come of it and lay their hands behind on the back or put them up in the bosome Their heads are giddy as if their hearts were utterly unlusty or dismaid to the fight 39. If one should seek for men of warre where I pray you should he find them Are they not for the most part gone back l Levit. 26. Jer. 48. and become faint hearted as women 40. If they do but once suffer harm and be wounded or forced by any evill defamation or assault of the wicked to sustain any molestation or reproach then are they persvvaded that the cause is altogether nought and so running again after their case they suffer themselves to be ruled by women m Esa 3. their enemy to raign over them and in like manner make truth n Esa 28. with death and a league with hell retain peace with the sin and accuser and become of one mind with the world supposing that then all shall be well moreover they make an appointment or conclusion with themselves that they will no more trouble themselves with the doctrine of the Family of Love nor yet vvith the battell thinking Let them run that will 41. For to resist the evill to break and subdue the wicked heart and evil thoughts and to suffer much distresse contempt and reproach for the same liketh them not they will none of that Howbeit we are alwaies to fight against the evill and to keep good watch continually we are alwaies to think night and day upon the vertue of the godly life alwaies to long and to hunger and thirst after it alvvaies to speak and to treat thereof with such as do so labour thereafter and yet then of many sorts of people and letter-learned to be despised and reproached 42. Because of this toil and for the shame and reproaches cause which meeteth them and because they love not the righteousnesse of the godly life with the heart they let the matter passe saying out of unbelief I cannot further it I hold me still or unoccupied about it let the Lord work it I will commit it unto him Supposing when they thus passe on according to their imagination or do live after the fashion of the world and with an o Rom. 2. unrepenting heart towards God do hold peace with the blasphemers and strivers against the truth of Christ and his love that then God will make it to be well with them 43. Deceive not your selves ye dearly beloved the saying is very right p Act. 16. Eph. 3. Gol. 1. that the Lord worketh it and that he will also cause it to go well with us q Phil. 1.2 and prepare us after his will and pleasure howbeit not without us nor yet without the obedience of the requiring of the service of his holy and gracious word and of his love and whilest that we turne us away in such a sort from him and from the Ministers of his word and do refuse him r Luk. 17. but it is done inwardly in us under the obedience of the requiring of his gracious word and service of love so as we stand subject unto him with good will therein and be of one mind with him against the ungodly being that God may so in us magnifie his holy name Å¿ 2 Reg. 7. and be called t Ier. 10. a God of Hosts a u Esa 47. God of Israel or a God of such a one as beareth dominion with God over his enemies 44. After this manner is God a Lord of his Army He is only the Lord but we the instrument of his hands 45. Out of such an understanding under the obedience of the Law of the Lord did the Kingly Prophet David eftsoons apprehend a zealous stoutnesse even as in divers manners we read in his Psalms how valiantly and couragiously he setteth himself on Gods part against his enemies as well in fighting with good courage as also sometimes in praying and making supplication that God might be his helper 46. After the same manner ought it also to go with us inwardly in our hearts under the obedience of the love x 2 Cor. 3. for no man can do any thing of himself how stout strong or wise soever he be unlesse God be with him who strengthneth him whom under the obedience of the Word and his love he findeth to be of good will and that prayeth unto him for his help 47. If then any man be weak finding himself infirm yet to the battell the same is not y Eccl. 2. rejected nor despised no nor any one that hath been in errour so that they do but trust in God and be good of will do abide in the faith and so in processe of time do increase in strength and be not unwilling in the word of the Lord. 48. Therefore Oye little and sorrowfull hearts z Esa 35.41 be not dismaid but be confident in hope the Lord will not suffer you to be a Esa 54. put to shame Therefore be of good courage 49. Though that the battell come unto you and that ye be despised by the unbelievers of the gracious word and by the blasphemers of the love of God and of the holy spirit of Jesus Christ and that moreover b Mat. 5. 1 Pet. 2.3 all evill be lyingly spoken of you yet be not therefore dismaid 50. For the God of Israel is c Esa 51. our comfort and he the same
according to the truth whom he loveth serveth and cleaveth unto whether to the world or to God to Belial or to Christ to his owne mind or to the mind of God or Christ with the mouth no doubt he will say to God and to the mind or will of Christ p Tit. 1. but with the deed it will be found quite otherwise 13. In like sort fareth it also with the understanding of the testimonies or sentences of Scripture with the mouth manie happily will confesse that they have well conceived all the sense and understanding of the holy Scripture but to follow that which the sense of the holy testimonies do betoken point to and require they clean omit whereby it doth sufficiently appear that with the life and heart they are minded against the same and have not understood the holy Scripture 14. O ye deerly beloved erre not so wholly with the erring blind world nor with the conceitednesse of the letter-learned that ye should forsake the Law of the Lord be not also q Prov. 3 Rom. 12 too wise in your owne sight and judge not of all sentences according to your imagination for much ignorance hath taken the hearts of men captive whereby oft times they judge ignorantly because by their wisdome r Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 1 they understand not the wisdome of God 15. It is all reasonably well knowne unto me with what a perverse eye the man doth oft times out of the testimonie of the writings or sentences which he heareth draw a perverse sense as it goeth now every where very brief amongst men of which sentences wherein there do many erre there is both partly in these writings and likewise in the Glasse of Righteousnesse plain Declaration made and how that many men do erre therein because they understand not the Scripture 16. But to the intent that no man through any wrong conceiving of the sentences which are now much treated of by the man might receive anie hinderance to salvation and that likewise every one may be guided into the Holy Vnderstanding of the Glasse of Righteousnesse and to an upright conceiving of the same we vvill recite certain sentences here following and uncover and clear the right understanding of the same not only in this Introduction but also in many places besides of the Glasse of Righteousnesse and shew the wrong conceiving or fight of them and warn every one to beware of the judgement of his sight which he giveth by the ignorance of his imagination 17. True it is I have heretofore in the beginning of my calling by God to the ministration of his holy and gracious word under the obedience of the love set forth certain writings but inasmuch as some sentences happily in them were not uttered in the plainest manner therefore have I with the s Supra foresaid principall Elders of the Family of Love more amply and plainly expressed them 18. Also in the beginning of my vvriting I could not find that among any of the children of men there was any such communalty of God or Christ as was comprehended in the upright life of Christ as is also before mentioned but the everlasting God who is Å¿ Ioh. 4. spirit and life t 1 Ioh. 4. and the essentiall love it self hath in my office or service under the obedience of the love manifested the same unto me and so the true Communalty of God or Christ which also is spirituall lovely and upright of life hath he made known unto me in the spirit I have also seen heard and touched or felt it and being of one substance therewith have my fellowship as one body u Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. in Christ with the same 19. Oh would to God that all men had the grace to humble them under the love and her servite that so then in the obeying of the service of love the same true Communalty of God or Christ might also every where appear and come unto the children of men and that in the spirit of Jesu Christ or of the love to the intent that all errour contention and wrangling among them all might once have an end and so we all one with another might be of u Rom. 12.15 1 Cor. 1. 2 Cor. 13. Phil. 1. one mind in Jesus Christ 20. But inasmuch as I could not heretofore in the beginning of my writing perceive or find among the children of men that true and lovely Communalty which is comprehended in the upright life of Christ and that all my desire and love was bent to the upright life of the same Communaltie therefore have I also from the beginning of my writing out of the Service of Love witnessed of such a life of upright righteousnesse and of such upright hearts as the communalty of God or Christ hath her life in according as the Glasse of Righteousnesse doth also mention and make relation of the same upright life of the true communalty of God or Christ neither can I yet perceive nor know any other thing then that the upright communalty of God or Christ where she in Christ appeareth or is revealed liveth therein and shall still be minded so to do 21. And whosoever also x Sap. 8. loveth the righteousnesse with whole heart and hath a desire to be joyned and incorporated to the only God and his true Christ or to have his fellowship with them such a one will likewise according to the sight of the true life which is appeared unto me out of the living God be inclined or bent unto such an upright being of the upright communalty of Christ whereof we bear witnesse for to live or to be comprehended therein under the obedience of the love through the belief 22. Wherefore let every one note and marke our testimonies of truth according to love and not with perversenesse of heart nor in reproach or partiality that they appear not unto him in a crosse or a contrary sense 23. For sure it is very lamentable that the testimonies of truth which are brought forth to the best should be taken overthwartly and not aright because the perverse sight maketh many to judge perversely and falsly and unrightly to understand the director causeth many greatly to stray It is true 24. It is recorded in the first book of the Glasse of Righteousnesse y 1 Glas. 2 that the upright procreation of the righteous spirit cometh not of men but z Luk. 1. out of God only this same word or sentence is very right yea unchangeable for ever For otherwise God hath never wrought among his holy ones and yet hath testified of such things afterward to come by the mouth of his holy a Eze. 36. Joel 2. Act. 2. Prophets to the intent that men should think upon his wonders of old time and trust firmly upon those of the time to come according to the promises namely how that God is the Salvation and will establish his holy Covenant b Luk. 1.
Christ and to give no further respect to the outward then as it is serviceable thereunto to the intent that no man may be bewitched in his spirit but may cleave to the vertue and nature of the love and that the h Col. 3. love may obtain a dwelling place or forme in him 11. Lo after this manner ought men to live impartially in the good i Esa 1. Psa 37. 2 Pet 3. to turn from all ungodly being and not to maintain the evill 12. There goeth also a saying about among divers that to shew the k 2 Pet. 1. common love is the most best means to keep ones self thus impartiall 13. It is true our writings do also testifie such things howbeit let every one for all that look to it and beware of his own judgement that by the l Gen. 3. Sap. 2. 2 Cor. 11. subtilty of the Serpent or of her nature or els by the mind of the flesh he be not beguiled the saying in it self is very right but many that marke not the saying according to the truth doe speak the same with a wrong sight or understanding 14. For some use such sentences for their own seekings cause and so in such a show of vertue their heart in regard of being incorporated with God in the spirit remaineth covered m Esa 29 Jer. 23 and estranged from God and many also give great respect unto such sayings insomuch that by occasion thereof they do oft-times according to mens private conceit cleave to some outward vertue which surely is the very smallest of all and do leave the principallest n Mat. 23 1 Cor. 13 1 Tim. 1 or greatest which God requireth The like did also many heretofore that were learned in the Law upon whom the Lord pronounced wo because they observed the least things of the Law whilest they tythed Mint Anise and Cummin and left the greatest matters of the Law o Mat. 23 Luk. 11 to wit judgment mercy and faithfulnesse 15. For albeit they observed all this after an outward show so as they seemed thereby to be righteous yet was it all surely of no value seeing they were not joyned with whole heart unto God p Ioh. 15 nor according to the spirit incorporated with him 16. Furthermore divers men there are found which after the outward fashion give every one his own and unto divers out of common love shew outward mercy indifferently who also carry themselves so justly that q Phil. 3 outwardly they are not to be reproved in any thing howbeit they are inwardly before God theeves and r Mat. 23 Ioh. 10 false men because they with-hold from God that which is his Å¿ Esa 29 Ezek. 33. Mat. 15 that is to say their heart which is far from him and standeth subject or tied unto visible things which heart or inward mind belongeth wholly yea only unto God 17. Therefore God is not appeased nor satisfied with the least when the heart is not turned from all visible and mutable things and doth not cleave perfectly unto him or at least endeavour to wards it to wit that the man desire of God out of his grace that God will strengthen him to the obeying of his will and t Eccl. 3 prepare his heart to his will and pleasure 18. Look whose hearts are not thus minded u Deut. 6 Mat. 22 for to love and cleave unto God with all their souls their common love is false and altogether unclean x Rom. â— for they have yet willingly a pleasure in their own concupiscence and are yet far distant from the upright love of God neverthelesse they do sometimes perswade themselves that they have the very best conceiving of the righteousnesse and so proceed on according to the common course of vvordly hearts 19. Therefore there is great diversity between the unpartiall men who addict their hearts unto God and to the good and those men whose hearts have minded worldly things and yet do boast them of the unpartiallnesse For look what unto worldly hearts namely unto such hearts as are turned from God and his service of Love is a pleasure lust and life that same is unto all the children of righteousnhsse y Luk. 16 an abomination and a horrible death 20. Wherefore mark well the meaning in what state or being the right unpartiality consisteth and out of what heart it is that men are to exercise the common-love rightly verily with such an heart as out of all his mind z Eccl. 1.2 feareth God and is inclined to the upright vertue in the love or is comprehended therein and not with an unadvised heart which is without understanding in his common-love and in his unpartialnesse that distinguisheth not the godlinesse or the worldly righteousnesse one from the other or that hath a pleasure to run on crookedly and erringly a Luk. 12 to set his rest or to fix his heart in the earthly love b Rom. 1 Eph. 4 1 Pet. 4. according to the course of the blind world or mind of the flesh 21. Be not utterly I pray you c Eph. 5 without understanding but learn vvell to discern the truth and let the Lord and his righteousnesse be a pleasure unto you and erre not by any wrong sight that standeth in opinion or imagination but observe judgement and regard the thing which is right and just 22. There is found moreover a certain kind of people which perswade themselves that they are unpartiall because they stand untied and unbound from all outward Religions or God-services and from all such as are called Sects supposing that in such a sort it is altogether well with them and that so standing they are in good case because they are so free and have such a conscience as passeth not for such things they set up their rest also that they will not trouble themselves about any thing nor respect or have any regard either of Jerusalem or of Sion or els of Gods Communion of Saints but do earnestly care how they may get their living and welfare maintain their Family and vvithall do that which is equall and right to every man having a Proverb Let Gods Water run over Gods Field and let us take our rest 23. Is not this to have utterly mistaken the life of the truth and the testimonies of the upright unpartiallnesse Shall there be no d Esa 2 40 59 Mat. 5 1 Pet 1 word of life then nor service of love ministred nor any thing thereout to be expected or e Rom. 8 longed for Are then the promises of God which concern f Esa 51 52 60 c. Jerusalem and Sion come all to an end And shall the oath of God which he hath sworn as that the world g Nu. 14 Mac. 2 shall be filled with his glory be thus utterly forgotten Will he not then gather together his holinesse again h Esa 43 Baruc. 5. Mat. 24 from all Coasts of
the earth and be gracious unto them Yes assuredly he will not be slack nor forslow his time 24. But alas this is least thought upon howbeit that which concerns themselves they think much of but i Lam. 1.4 Ezek. 8.9 23 Dan. 8 whether God hath that which is his or that he remaineth as a stranger without his Sanctuary that care they not for they will be sure to take to themselves the earthly things which as true it is God hath created for the man and for the mans welfare but their hearts which God according to the inward man hath created for k Lev. 26 Ezek. 36.37 2 Cor. 6 his own dwelling and for the praise of his glory they draw to the earthly l gap 2. Rom. 1 and corruptible things and so steal or with hold-from God that which is his and are theeves in Gods honour and in his earthly created goods 25. Note once I pray you and consider whether the same be a right unpartiallnesse or not Notwithstanding in such a state they seem to be righteous men for all that yea such a one shall vvith many welenough passe for a brother of the Gospell but truly according to such a course if we vvill come no nearer unto God we are before God m Esa â— John 10 all theeves and robbers Idolaters Adulterers and Adulteresses 26. This is doubtlesse a great abomination or abhorring that the man tieth himself to such things as God hath n Gen. â— created unto good for him I say nothing yet of such as use them so unseemly and inordinately and so shutteth his God out at doors and keepeth the godly being out of his heart 27. Therefore let us learn to stand upright in the unpartialnesse according to the truth and not after the manner of men and afore all things give unto God o Deut. â— Mat. 22 that which belongeth unto him namely the heart and mind and likewise p 1 Tim. 4 use that well which belongeth unto us to the laud and praise of his glory that he blessed may he be who is all in all may also be glorified and praised in all and that we in like manner might be made an q Tit. 2 acceptable people unto him as his own Creation r Gen. 1. Eph. 2 and work of his own hands wherein he liveth and raigneth and might moreover be made the Sheep of his Pasture a City of Peace and an house Å¿ 1 Cor. 3 or Temple for his dwelling To this end should we take heed to his holy calling that we may be made children or t Rom. 8 Eph 3 heirs of his spirituall and heavenly goods O yea even so be it 28. Again there are found certain others which perswade themselves to be unpartiall who boldly reproach or revile others and rail at those whom they hold for Factions or that are called Sects and u 2 Pet. 2 Iude. 1 so speak evill of that which themselves know not neither can they discerne the matter according to the truth but despise the thing that seemeth amisse in their eyes and yet cannot point the erring or wandring ones to any better 29. Oh when shall the perverse mouth once keep silence the x Psal 34 1 Pet. 3. reproaching lips be put far from us and that once sought from the heart and out of love which is equall 30. O raile not ye beloved and pluck no man from his zeal to any fleshly or worldly understanding as some have done whilst they have turned those from their zeale that were zealous after righteousnesse and because they could not point them to any better then that was which before they had their zeal in therefore fell they to the world and became more erring and blind then ever they were before but in this manner ought it not to go ye dearly beloved 31. But if there were any godly wisdome upright love men should use it in this sort that is to wit they should testifie that y Phil. 4 Heb. 10 which were right and reasonable according to the requiring of God and the truth they should cleave unto God with the whole heart in the spirit and so z Eph. 4 reach one another the hand to the love and not reproach nor despise any nor yet turn any aside to the earthly and mutable things or to any partiality to the intent that they vvhich had the right teaching and did minister the gracious Word of the Lord might then likewise be heard and understood aright and according to the truth and that all zealous hearts might be united a Col. 3 in one band of love and all they likewise which love the equity b Sap. 8 and righteousnesse become one heart c Act. 4. and mind d Eph. 4 as there is one God one Faith and one manner Salvation in all and with all 32. After such a manner ought men to stand unpartiall and to this effect e 2 Pet. 1 to use the common love and not to destroy that vvhich is good or to make division nor yet to strengthen the world in her wickednesse but to have a desire that the zeal to righteousnesse under the obedience of the love might be spread abroad among many with a loathing of the sin and all unrighteousnesse 33. Howbeit to exhort any man that he suffer not his heart to be bound nor intangled with any thing that is outward is very meet so far forth as his heart may thereby be turned to have regard to the upright vertue of a pure heart and to the love f Gal. 3 whereby to be subject to the outward things no more but to serve the living God with a willing spirit 34. Thus or to this effect men shall loose the binding of the heart and proceed tovvards the upright righteousnesse with a free mind and humble heart to God for such things doth God require above all and not the g Rom. 3 Gal. 3.6 tying to the outward wherein neither life nor death of souls consisteth nor any life of righteousnesse required 35. For indeed it is true yea certain and sure both by the testimony of the godly truth in the spirit and also by the testimony of the Prophets and Apostles of Christ that neither in any thing whatsoever is visible or feelable nor in any factious God services or ceremonies which are observed with mens hands in contention and do not require any life of righteousnesse consisteth either any salvation nor condemnation before God h Rom. 14 1 Cor. 8 neither can they bring any vantage or damage at all unto the souls of them whose hearts are not intangled therewith or have not any abhorring thereof 36. Notwithstanding if the God-services and ceremonies be Jewish or Christian i Rom. 3 then do they testifie of the life which God commandeth and k Rom. 8 Gal. 3.4 Heb. 7 requireth by them but if the ceremonies or God services be heathenish or mens
8. Eccl. 3. Jam. 4. 1 Pet. 5. the humble do always in God finde their salvation and not the stout hearts that do not esteem of Gods righteousnesse 6. O God! How dangerous a time is it now h 1 Tim. 4 2 Tim. 3 2 Pet. 3. Jude 1. in these last dayes through the misunderstanding of the children of men 7. What a number of false and venemous windes do there blow among the children of men to the hurt of their souls and to a drawing of them away from the Righteousnesse 8. Oh That there were in every one an hearty desire to the good then might they be protected and defended from the bewitching of the false windes which make the heart negligent to the upright Good and bring it either to the bewitched Humility or to the Lusts of the vain world 9. Therefore it is expedient to have a regard to Understanding i Prov. 1.2.3.4.8 to take heed to the Wisdom to esteem much of Godlinesse to account the upright Righteousnesse k Sap. 7.8 for the most precious above all Riches and to make choice of the Long-sufferance with the foresightfulnesse as Superintendents 10. This did the holy Fathers in times past give heed unto l Sap. 11. Eccl. 44.45 46. and so God taught them in his wisdome and preserved them that they were not partakers of the plagues of the ungodly 11. Wherefore let every one understand the meaning of the Word aright and take a right view that he may know who he is and how he ought to apply himself to be taught of God and to be endowed with his Spirit and what manner of people God will choose for his holy people 12. Truly not such m Sap. 1. as with their hearts cleave unto the world love the Evill n Pro. 1. and in all things let go the counsell of God Neither yet such o Mat. â— Luk. 17.21 as hang their Hearts in buying and selling upon coveteousnesse or p Rom. i 3 1 Cor. 10 in eating and drinking upon gluttony or in marrying or being married upon unchastnesse or upon any vain transitory rejoycing whether it be in building or in planting and who in all their doings doe not attend nor have regard unto the works of the Lord as it came to passe in the times q Gen. 7. of Noe and in the r Gen. 19 times of Lot 13. For all those whose hearts in the time of Noe clave not to Gods righteousnesse but had a Lust and gave over their hearts to the vain corrupt things they marked not the work of the Lord neither had any respect to the preservation of the Righteous nor yet feared the punishment which then was ready to come upon all wicked men Of all this they knew nothing till the Flood came upon them and tooke them clean away 14. Therefore understand and know the preservation of godly men in these last dayes and consider well the meaning who or which they are that shall be taught of God and in what course they walke the which we have in some measure expressed Å¿ 1 Glass in the first Book of the Glasse of Righteousnesse and doe here at this present expresse it namely they are those that t Mat. 5. have hunger and thirst after the Righteousnesse u Judith 8 Eccl. 2.3 that submit their souls to the obedience of the gracious Word and his Service x Luk. 18 and continue daily in prayer not in many words y John 4. Eph. 6. Phil. 4. but in the Spirit with desire to the Lord and his Righteousnes that they may obtain grace at the hands of God to live z Luke 1 in his righteousnesse with an upright heart and pure spirit 15. These are sorrowfull for their sins and sighing over them suffer not their souls to be quiet so long as they know or feele in themselves any vain or naughty Being which their hearts are tied or bound unto or so long as any thing in them doth reigne over them which is not GOD because they may not in all things serve their God onely 16. These that love the good Being from the heart doe seek in God to obtaine the same and doe labour and zealously endeavour thereafter a Deut. 4 Jer. 29. Mat. 7. Luk. 12. For they seeke and finde they knock and it is opened unto them they ask and receive not in presumptuousnesse as though God owed it them because of their seeking knocking and asking O no they looke not upon their own doings but labour onely for this even how to please the Lord giving themselves over thereunto with humble hearts according to the Spirit and acknowledge that they are not worthy of such Grace thus to be accepted and established in Gods truth and love 17. With such humble hearts doe they through the Love and her Service seek to find grace and peace at the hands of God the Father and not the subtile knowledge b 1 Cor. 6 which maketh the heart stout and lofty c Mat. 6. but they seeke above all and afore all things the Kingdome of God and his Righteousnesse The which are the gifts of God that God richly bringeth in the everlasting life unto such as worship and love him 18 For those that pray unto him for an upright heart and for a new and pure Spirit d Luk. 11 he doth not endow with an evill heart or a wicked spirit though sometimes the evill heart or unrighteous spirit make up it selfe there-against yet is the same taken away e Eph. 6. through the Beliefe in the Crosse or patience of Christ upon hope of the good that is for to come but they obtain faithfulnesse and truth f Luk. 11 and the righteous Spirit with an heart of meeknesse and love And that is Christ or the Anointed which is holy and teacheth right It is true 19. After this maner do they apply themselves that will bee taught of God and his Christ out of whom God will prepare him an g Tit. 1. acceptable people to be a remnant for himselfe in the destruction of the wicked world Yea it shall be a h Esa 41 Soph. 3. Luk. 12. poor plain people not after the outward sight of the eye but according to the hidden inward man such as hope on the Lord and in the Spirit relye and trust upon his Name And these same yea such doth God choose unto him for his people for to magnifie his holy Name in them for evermore 20. For consider ye beloved how should any man be taught of God or Christ that will not give eare to his teaching or counsell but doth as Gods enemy cleave unto and love the i Joh. 8.1 John 2. Devill and the World which do openly resist God 21. Therefore oughr the lovers of the Truth which hope for the salvation of the perfect Being utterly to put out of their hearts k Prov. 1 whatsoever concerneth the
there is no greater sin then a spititual pride r Act. 12. in which the man ascribeth holynesse to himself by his works and exalteth himself therewith Å¿ Mat. 12 Luk. 11. which last error is much worse than the first 57. O ye dearly beloved beware of such a nature of bold arrogancy that you become not back-sliders thereby from the single humility and meeknes of the upright being of Jesus Christ and that you fall not into the abominations and dreadful punishments of ungodly Men. CHAP. XXI 1. Of the upright hearts and their lowly estimation of themselves 8. The ground of upright repentance is shewed in the thirteenth chapter of the third Book of The Glasse of Righteousnesse MOreover men may also finde divers upright and wel-willing to the righteousnesse who in all obeying of the holy and gratious word under the obedience of the Love endure great straitnes for the righteousness sake who also regard no straitnes so as they might obtaine but such Grace a Rom. 6.14 that the Sunne might not have Dominion over them but that they might be b Ioh. 8. Rom. 6.18 freed from it for to serve in righteousnesse and love the living God onely and to be obedient to the requiring of his word not thinking what they are then worthy of or how they are then to reign or what doth then belong unto them 2. O no their thoughts reach not so far but they are still inclined for to walk brother-like in the Love and with earnest desire to do the will of the Lord. They have regard unto Gods Promises trusting even upon this that God is true of his word as one that sheweth his Grace on such as love him d Esa 57.66 and are lowlie of heart 3. When as they have now with singlenes of heart shewed all obedience in the service of the gracious Word of the Lord and of his holy Spirit of Love suffered much grief and affliction for their sins cause and have tasted of the refreshing or annointing to the health of their souls then become they but so much the more lowly and humble of heart e Rom. 12 1 Pet. 1. and so much the more brotherly and peaceable towards all men and count themselves unworthy of such grace neither know they how they shall be able to be serviceable enough in the Love 4. They esteeme moreover very little of their own word that ariseth out of themselves according to the flesh but the requiring of the serviceable Word of the Lord where-under their hearts stand humbly submitted to all upright righteousnes and holines they make great account of and hold it very worthy to be obeyed unto Moreover the life of righteousnes which is ministred set forth in the service of the love they cleave unto with all their hearts and above all praise it exceedingly and gladly would that all men were in the godly nature and brotherly love obediently come thereunto 5. These shew alwaies towards God and his service of Love true humility and obedience and towards men true love faithfulnesse and Truth and do not desire according to the foolish pride of the world any praise or service of men to themselves but rather that the righteousnes in the Love might have his proceeding and all people might under the obedience of the Love serve God and inherite the peace of Christ 6. Out of such an upright heart being f Eph. 4. grown up to the old age of the holy understanding and g Matt. 13. taught to the Kingdom of God they testifie h Psal 1 15. that all Laud Honour and Praise belongeth to God onely and not unto them And so in their proceeding in the same upright life they likewise serve or reach the hand either to other and thus in their service they point the man onely unto God and to the salvation of God in Jesus Christ 7. this mind or nature is far the most best because by it the man esteemeth the Grace of the Lord to be great and all his own doings or works and anguish respeceth or judgeth he as i Phil. 2. of no value The Lord of his Grace bring us all to such a mind Amen 8. The Ground of upright repentance and amendment for sin is at large plainly CApressed and with clear distinction uttered unto you in the third book of the Glasse of Righteousness in the thirteenth chapter according as the same is practized and used of all good willing ones which seek and love the good life of the upright and lovely being from the heart and do out of all their soul passe forth towards it vnder the obedience of the Love Take it to Heart CHAP. XXII 1. Sundry Opinions are taken from the Scriptures 2. Divers do contend about the Kingdom of God both what it is and whence to be had and when 5. But the Scripture is clear enough and the matter it self is explained 24. He exhorteth to the Reading and hearing of the Glasse of Righteousnes where men shall see the everlasting Ordinances of God and the upright life wherein Gods people have ever lived 30. The same Ordinances were renewed by Moses and the life published by Christ for a Gospel 31. In sure hope whereof the Beleevers rested and are now with Christ manifested in Glory 45. He calleth upon such as have too soone named themselves Christians that they lay away their vain boasting and turne to the Love and her Service THere are also divers men that draw sundry Opinions of Understandings out of the Scripture But every one particularly after his own conceiving Howbeit in asmuch as they know not the Councel of God nor comprehended his wisdom therefore do those Opinions and Understandings fall out to be of several sorts and do for the most part run all one against another and are among each other intangled 2. Some strive for the Kingdom of God or inward life of Christ which is called the new Man and suppose that it is this or that or that it is here-hence or there-hence after the outward appearance for to come or to be obtained 3. Others think that it shall be first found and obtained after the death of the Creature Yea the Principallest of the Learned in the Letter who will forsooth be the understandingest in the Scripture do maintain such a ground of Beleefe 4. O God! How long shall the Scripture through the false and unright light or sight be yet set forth and taught 5. It is doubtles plainly and clearly enough written a Luke 17. that the Kingdom of God is inwardly within us He is in the middest of you saith b Iohn 1. John whom ye know not The same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost 6. But many as it well appeareth know him not For he who is the very c Col. 1. Image of God or the Christ and the Kingdom of the glory of God hath his going down in us inwardly and suffereth the d
obediently in the Service of Love with humble hearts unto the holy Word of the Spirit of Love and are godly of Will yea my minde standeth good-willing-towards all such even to all Grace and Mercy be he then what he is Friend or Stranger CHAP. IX BUt now if happily certain of the good-willing hearts to the Love should take these our fore-spoken sayings somewhat heavily or grievously to minde and say thereupon Because we are not altogether perfect Ye nor the Lord have not peradventure any good pleasure in us and we shall also possibly for our Imperfections cause seeing that we yet dayly stumble fall and sin very much perish with the wicked world and all ungodly 2. O ye Beloved and all ye good-willing hearts which are good-willing to the obedience of the witnessings of the holy Spirit of Love but are yet too young [a] Rom. 15 Gal. 6 and too weak to enter into the perfection these fore-spoken sharp sayings reprovings and punishments are not spoken to such as humble themselves obediently to the gracious Word and his Service of Love to do the Lords Will nor yet to the good-willing ones unto the same obedience b Rom. 7 although they are yet young and weak in the accomplishing of the perfection but to the evil-willing and to all them that with perverse c Wisd 1 thoughts and false or deceitful intents enter in so falsly d 1 Iohn 2 besides us and mean or purpose in no wise the Love but in all themselves and even so with their [e] Isai 59 Ier. 9 Wisd 1 malicious hearts and perverse thoughts hall away again from us also slander or [f] 2 Pet. 2 Iude 1 blaspheme the holy Word and our upright and godly Service of the Love and so spue forth their falshood with many lyes over us 3. Behold over this g Isa 1 wicked and venomous nature passeth forth the Judgment of God h Prov. 1 Isa 13 Wisd 12 Heb. 10 and his Punishment to the Condemnation of the same wicked Nature 4. For that cause O ye good-willing hearts set apart such thoughts as that God and the Spirit of his Love or his holy Ones should not for your weakness cause have any good pleasure in you in any case far from you but remember as it is also very true and look into the same according to the Truth that the grace of God the Father and the mercifulness of his Love prevaileth or taketh in the preeminence i Isai 13 Rom. 5 abundantly by or in the Beleevers of the Word and that God and the Spirit of his Love is k Rom. 2 2 Pet. 3 long-suffering towards all good-willing ones which humble them under the obedience of his Love also l Heb. 2 and 5 beareth them in all their weakness and m Ier. 31 forgiveth dayly all their sins to the end that they should even so enjoy his comfort and grow up with cheerful hearts or good courage so much the good willinger in the obedience n Eph. 4 Col. 1 of the gracious Word and so go on or press forth unto o 1 Pet. 5 Phil. 3 Heb. 6 the perfection 5. For consider and look into it once aright If the Sin whilest it was yet night have p Rom. 5 prevailed in us how much more then shall the Grace and Mercy of God to the obtaining of the Righteousness seeing that now to the salvation of men [q] Rom. 13 the Day against the Night and the Love with her safe-making Service against the Sin and Condemnation is entered in prevail or take the preheminence over us namely over all them that are [r] Luke 2 good of will and that submit or wholly give over themselves with all their heart for to be s Deut. 30 1 Kings 15 obedient unto the holy Word under the Love and express even so in the giving over of their heart that they have not any will to the t Rom. 6 sin or that which is [u] Wisd 14 Romans 1 unright nor yet to the [x] Rom. 13 Eph. 2 5 darknesses of the wicked world but have turned all their lust to the Righteousness for to [y] Iohn 8 and 12 1 Iohn 1 and 2 walk uprightly with the Communality of the Love in the light of the lovely Being of God for God hath no pleasure [z] Ezek. 18 1 Tim 2 2 Peter 3 in the perishing of sinners but his Pleasure is that they should all convert unto Him [a] Acts 17 repent them for their sins and live in his Righteousness 6. For that cause O ye feeble minded of heart and all ye infirm or weak which love the upright Life permit not any evil surmisings to take effect in you nor yet give place to the unbelief whereby you might be plucked away from the God of Life from the House or Communality of the holy ones of his Love but in all things wherein your memory or understanding might chance to be moved apply always [b] Prov. 4 your minds and thoughts to the instruction of the Wisdom and to the Doctrine of the holy Understanding of the Spirit of Love and submit [c] Eccles 6 even so your whole memory or understanding with all your minds and thoughts to the vertues of the godliness for to follow after the same in all obedience of the holy Word and to become old [d] Ezek. 4 and understanding therein to the end that ye in the youngness of your understanding seduce or deceive not your selves with any strange and [e] Wisd 4 Eccles 3 unprofitable thoughts 7. But ye shall always in your youngness and weakness let the giving over of your heart or your good-willingness to the Love and to the Obedience of the Requiring of her Service [f] Eccles 4 and 17 appear or become expressed before the [g] Eccles 6 7 8 9 Elders of the holy Understanding in the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love and not at the first the Perfection for verily it is not in your power at the first in the time of your youngness and weakness to bring forth the Perfection CHAP. X. GIve diligent Ear hereto and understand well the Words of my Voyce O ye Novises in our holy Communality or Family of Love wherein God himself dweleth and walketh and ye all which are yet young a Cor. 3 Heb. 5 and 6 in the holy Understanding and weak in the accomplishing of the upright Righteousness Consider and note once aright which is your first School Rule or the beginning of the Christian Doctrine in our upright Service of the godly Love namely that ye first of all turn you about from the b Isaiah 1 and 55 Jer 7 18 25 35 Iniquity and from all ungodly Being utterly forsake all the c Ezek. 14 Mat. 24 Abominations of the wicked world and with all your heart d 2 Cor. 6 Apoc. 18 depart there-from
and even so humble and wholly give over your selves under e Iohn 13 and 15 1 John 3 4 the Obedience of the Love for to become as single-minded f 1 Cor. 14 2 Cor. 11 1 Pet. 1 2 and obedient children by whom no Deceit nor any Lust or Will unto subtlety and craftiness nor any fainedness or doubleness of heart nor yet any unfaithfulness is to be found but which dayly in the g 2 Cor. 6 and 7 Apoc. 18 departing from the Iniquity and in the increasing h Ephes 4 or growing up in the good Being of the Love make manifest themselves with naked or uncovered hearts before the Seat of the Majesty i Prov. 28 Ecles 4 and 17 Rom. 14 1 Cor. 5 of God and even so in the confessing of their sins sigh k Luke 6 James 4 and complain over all their pernicious or corrupt Nature and wicked Lusts and Thoughts and make up themselves in them and where-through also they yet sometimes stumble and fall 2. Behold ye dearly Beloved enter first into this same small l 4 Esdr 7 Matthew 7 Way for the same bringeth or reacheth to the Perfection 3. Verily to such good-willing hearts which enter even so according to the Truth into the same small m Luke 13 Way that leadeth unto Life and to all such as apply them thereunto God hath n Ezek. 18 Eccles 12 a good pleasure and the Spirit of my Mind standeth also inclined to all goodness and mercy over those same because they do in such an humble submission plainly express that they fear God o Psalm 37 Amos 5 hate the Iniquity with her evil effects or inclination and against those same are good p Luke 2 Romans 2 of will towards God and his q Matth. 7 and 22 Ephes 1 and 4 Righteousness 4. But whereas now such a good will and giving over of the heart is not found in those I have no confidence that they mean or purpose in any wise the true Love nor yet that they have any lust or will to live in the good Being of God neither yet also that the upright Love and Truth is sought loved or desired by them 5. For all such as have not any good will lust nor desire to the good Being of God but live according to their own self-mindedness r Rom. 1 Ephes 4 1 Pet. 4 2 Pet. 2 and according to the sensuality will and pleasure of their flesh nor yet desire to enter obediently into the single-minded good Will s Ezek. 18 according to the Pleasure of God and the Requiring of his Word and Service of Love in which Service all coverings and bewitchings of the heart and all darknesses and earthly lying minds become layd off t Isaiah 25 2 Cor. 3 4 or are put away nor yet to be brought out of the earthly lying and covered Being to the beholding of the uncovered Face of God and Christ in the Spirit nor to Gods u Isaiah 2 Micha 4 Hill of the heavenly Sanctuary nor to the x Isaiah 60 Apoc. 21 and 22 most holy illuminating from on high the most soveraign y 1 Cor. 4 Heb. 4 Majesty of God those same are not meet to enter into Gods Sanctuary nor to live in his good Being 6. All such then as is aforesaid that have not any mind hereunto but z Prov. 1 Heb. 12 refuse this same grace and love of God the Father which is appeared lovingly granted and also brought unto us little ones and Gods Elect out of many thousands in this world and despise the same or make up themselves there-against Those cannot I verily account or esteem for any Communality of Love nor for any holy ones of God or Christ nor yet for any such as have any good in their mind 7. All such unbelievers and resisters of the Love and her Service may be right-easily known by a Mat. 7 and 12 their wicked deeds and inclination for such false hearts let them cloak or hide themselves how they will do all make themselves b 2 Tim. 3 1 John 2. manifest that they all against the Truth and against the Spirit or Mind of the supream God are or stand with the perverse World which is worthy of the fire of c Mat. 13 and 25 2 Peter 3 Hell and of the everlasting Condemnation altogether earthly and d John 8 James 3 devilishly minded they will also with their earthly understanding and fleshly mind always surmount or bear sway above the Wisdom of the Love 8. Ah consider yet once ye Beloved whether that it accorded well or were consonant that the Heaven should lie under or on the lowest place and the Earth drive or lie swaying there-over Verily much less accordeth it or it is far more absurd that Gods Mind of the e 4 Esdr 6 and 7 heavenly Truth the holy Understanding and the Wisdom or the Being of the godly Love should lie beneath or as depressed all under and the minds of the earthly and devilish lyingness and the self-will of the earthly man with the wisdom of the flesh raign or bear sway thereover 9. Therefore be now ashamed O ye children of the flesh which presently are so f Isaiah 5 good-thinking-wise that your hearts will and thoughts stand so g Isaiah 59 perversly minded against the God of Life and his Truth and against the Requiring and Ordinance of his Service of Love and that ye will always with your knowledg and fleshly minds bear sway above the holy Spirit of Love and his godly Testimonies and according to the imagination of your knowledg raign over his Wisdom 10. Oh I cannot wonder sufficiently at this same blindness of men which not withstanding through the false h Isaiah 59 light look so highly or are so far seeing in their knowledg and especially that the man is in all so i Deut. 32 voyd of understanding that he always according to the insight of his knowledg cleaveth unto and loveth the basest for the best the unpurest for the beautifullest the consumable for the everlasting and the Earthly for or in stead of the Heavenly 11. O ignorant and blockish earthly Man how gross art thou become of Understanding that thou like Esau sellest or givest over thy k Gen. 25 Heb. 12 Birth-right for any thing wherafter thou sufferest thee to lust and even so losest the Blessings of Isaac and the Inheritance of the Heavenly Beauty 12. Yea there is yet one thing that maketh me exceedingly and much more to wonder namely that many good-thinking Spirits or earthly Men are now waxen so presumptuous bold and arrogant of Heart that they with a fleshly l Gen. 3 Isaiah 1 and wicked Nature and lying Being and with their unrenewed or ungodded hearts busie themselves or take upon them m Isa 30. to judge the godly Matters and the Sentences of the holy Scriptures 13. Fye on
weeds yea even now in the right c Mat. â—3 Time of Harvest the Lord cometh d Mat. 24 and 25 with his Angels for to root out all Weeds from off the Earth 3. O God e Apoc. 14 smite now in with thy Sickle and begin even so with thy Angels to reape the whole Earth For the weed is become ripe f 4 Esd 4 upon the earth and his Eares are thorough dry for that cause root the same now clean out for whereto or to what profit hath it his place among the good Wheat upon the Earth for as much as there is not any good to be looked for there out 4. Behold the g Mat. 13 Weed is the manifold sort of Lyes against the Truth of God the many manner of Iniquities against the Righteousness of Christ and the unmeasurable ungodlines of all Ungodly against the Godliness and against the true Being of the holy Spirit of Love which are all worthy h Apoc. 19 to be rooted out from the Earth and condemned in the i Mat. 13 and 25 2 Peter 3 hellish Fire 5. For for this same Weeds Cause k Gen. 3 Heb. 6 the Earth hath been thus long cursed and the good Wheat which the ignorant Reapers have also judged to be the Weed and worthy to be rooted out or could not often times discerne the one from the other l Mat. 13 Luke 8 oppressed or kept under 6. Therefore the Lord cometh now m Mat. 13 and 24 in the End of the World and maketh a plain difference and a right discerning betwixt the Weed and the good Wheat Yea the Lord hath made up himselfe and he cometh now in the right or due time n Isa 66 Mal. 4 2 Thes 1 with the heat of his burning Fire for to consume with his Fire all the Weeds and to empty or disburthen the Earth thereof to the end shee might come again to her Blessing and upright Fruitfulness o Psal 18 Ier. 10 Nahum 1 Mat. 24. Luke 21 2 Pet. 3 where through the Earth is now moved the Heavens troubled the Elements melt with heat and the Token of the coming of the Son of Man appeareth in the Heaven 7. With which Rumor or rushing Noise of the Power of God and his Holy ones p Mat. 24 1 Cor. 15 1 Thess 4 the last Trumpet doth also presently give forth her sound through whose blast of her vehement sound and through the appearing of the Coming of Christ q Dan. 12 Iohn 5 1 Cor. 15 1 Thess 4 the Dead stand up or arise unto the Judgment of God In such sort that Daniel the holy Prophet is also risen up r Dan. 12 in his part for to execute now in the last time or ending of the World the Judgment with God and his Righteous ones s Isa 3 Iude 1 upon the Earth against all ungodly to the end that they all together with the Works of their ungodliness might now become rooted out and condemned like as there is written thereof 8. Rejoyce now in this same Day t Apoc. 18 all ye holy Prophets Angels and Apostles for this is the u Deut. 5 Nahum 1 Day of the vengeance of our Lord and God for to revenge the Blood of his Holy ones x Mat. 25 Apoc. 16 that the Sinners have spilt or shed upon the Earth for to declare or reveal his Holy ones again gloriously upon the Earth to the end that they might y Peter 3 inhabit the same peaceably in all love and reign there over or z Apoc. 5 and 22 judge the same with Righteousness from henceforth World without end CHAP. XVII O All ye a Prov. 6 and 24 Mat. 25 Sluggish and Slothful which have walked thus long very unlustly as though ye had been drowzie of sleep in the Service of the Love and had very litle love unto Gods Righteousness yea which have been so over-careless or negligent that ye have not taken the Service of the Love and the upright Righteousness of the same any thing at all to heart in such wise that by that occasion your field whilst ye have been so slothsul is waxen barren of the good Corn and your Vineyard likewise of the good Wine b Prov. 24 and and are overgrown with Nettles Thistles become yet now once awaked c Rom. 13 Epnes 5 and make your way or steps speedy for to enter into the Life of the upright and lovely Beeing of the Love ere ever the Door of the lovely Kingdom and Paradise of the Lord whilst ye come forwards so sluggishly and drowsily d Mat. 25 be locked or shut-to 2. For behold e Ezek. 7 the end cometh yea the end cometh swiftly on and the last time is now at hand after which f Apoc. 10 time there shall not be any Salvation of the Life nor health of Souls more to be obtained 3. O ye foolish people which are now so sluggish call to mind the foolish Virgins how they neglected their time g Mat. 25 for to gather or prepare them oyl in their Vessels and how that they for that cause when the time appeared or was come that every one which had oyl and light in his Vessel or Lamp should enter in with the Bridegroom must abide without the lovely Kingdom of the Bridegroom 4. Verily in this same day of the Love of the true Bridegrooms coming it will also go in such like sort with you all ye foolish and sluggish people which follow so incessantly your own counsel will and freedom h Rom. 1 Ephes 4 1 Pet. 4 2 Pet. 2 according to the mind of the flesh and have no regard to the Sanctification in the Spirit wherein the godly Oyl becometh brought unto us 5. Therefore look now to it betimes and take good heed unto the i 1 Thes 4 2 Thes 2 Sanctification in the Spirit or unto an upright Being and Mind to the end that the like happen not unto you as chanced to the foolish Virgins 6. Behold k Heb. 3 and 10 presently in this same day ye are yet all warned respect well therefore this same l Prov. 6 2 Cor. 6 Gal. 6 Heb. 12 time of Grace whilst there is yet Grace and Comfort at hand and to be obtained and have a diligent regard unto the Service of Love and what the same requireth 7. Verily it requireth not this nor that according to the flesh of the worldly dealing nor according to the dealing of the false hearts and unregenerated hypocrites but m Ephes 4 an upright Being in the Love of Jesus Christ that is to become n Luke 1 released from all ownedness or selfness and hallowed o Rom. 12 1 Thes 4 and justified in the Spirit of our Mind through Jesus Christ and his Service of Love 8. Whosoever then in all Obedience of the Requiring of the gracious Word and of his service of Love
they must all submit them to the love and be reformed in herservice otherwise they can never although in their imagination they know perceive and com prehend all things come to the new man u Joh. 3. nor to the Kingdome of God for the love is only it wherein every thing which is the truth and wisdome of God is comprehended She x Col. 3. 2 Tim. 1. is also the band or establishing of the perfection 36. Whilest the sove then hath every thing which is of God Christ or Truth contained or included in it therefore might some man demand shal we then let the Scriptures passe O no God forbid but men are not to use them for the knowledge nor to the end to teach them forth historically but to the intent they may give regard to such an upright spirit or life as is set forth therein or required thereby even as is y 3 Clas 24. partly also set forth and declared both of this and of the knowledge in the third book of the Glasse of Righteousnesse that so through comfort of the Scriptures we should to our rejoycing z Rom. 15. have our hope on the promises and on the foreshewing of God by his Prophets and by the Apostles of Christ who have prophecied of the healthful life which abideth sure in the love for ever and so passing on towards it in the belief a Rom. 4. give credit unto God that he in his promises is true 37. But it is to be lamented that the Scripture is by so few at this day discerned out of the understanding of the truth and of the love whereby to understand the same rightly according to the mind of God 38. True it is there is much written and divers have set forth many writings and have had much provoking of spirit and great inclination to teach howbeit every one severally according to the sight or knowledge that he hath had being in the state of the fall from God and in the estranging from his Salvation 39. But inasmuch as they were not come to the love and that their hearts were not inclined to the love in all things as they were to the spirit of their glistering knowledge and comprehension therefore did many of them erre and mistake for the mind of God b Deut. 6.10 Mat. 22. Rom. 13. and the fulfilling of the Scriptures is the love 40. And the same is c Col. 3. the perfection wherein every thing to a life and truth of peace standeth firm to our joy and d Eph. 1. to the praise of the glory of God to all and on all that hope upon it and long thereafter CHAP. X. 1. Great calamity shall come upon the children of Men because of the contentious knowledge 2. Knowledge and truth differ 5. The way of life clearly shewed 6. Yet through ignorance mistaken 16. A lamentation over mans ignorance 24. The author by his writings sheweth what is commendable and what is discommendable counselling to learn upright understanding and the speciall Vertues of the Love and to shun all disputing with the partiall FOrasmuch as the man is now perswaded that he himself with his cies of the Spirit doth so clearly and nakedly discern and understand the right as he cannot be deceived and for that every one which standeth in partiality is by his sight or spirit contentious howsoever each severall party maintaineth his own matter and defendeth the same to be of God and will in all things have the right onely and alone passe with his own matter and will not effect the love above all to the unity of heart therefore even through the same glittering in case they have not all their understanding captive under the obedience of the love there shall come horrible calamity upon the children of men in such sort that upon this earth they shall become an a 4 Esd 5. abhorring one to another for that every one standing stiffe in the knowledge and in the clearnesse thereof vvill not for the loves sake give over his own matter thinking that the truth ought not to give place 2. It is true indeed that the truth ought not to give place but betwixt the knowledge and the truth there is great difference for much knowledge which yet men call truth can easily arise out of the subtilty of wit but the truth of God proceedeth out of the love and is even of one being with the love 3. Therefore is the knowledge b 1 Cor. 13. divided and broken but the love is the truth c Ioh. 17. and the true being it self and the perfection 4. But alas this do not many of them know to wit that they should come to the love and so bear the love for a mark of the righteous Spirit and rejoyce them with the truth d Ioh. 17. 1 Ioh. 1. that same is the word of life which was spoken of according to the promises 5. Inasmuch now as I have noted and do yet at this present find so much boldnesse in men by reason of their knowledge and imagination of the truth whereon they are very stout and bold and yet for the most part it still faileth them of the truth and love and for that the right way to the true life and the loves nature is thereby missed of many And seeing moreover that the right way and entrance into the true life and into the loves nature is by Gods grace granted me to be seen into therefore have I out of the inclination of Love clearly and nakedly with uncovered words set forth the right way or entrance into the true life and the upright nature or being of the love in the Glasse of Righteousnesse distinctly noting the divine and the humane the spirituall and the naturall and what is decent and meet to be used for a discerning which is the establishing of the promises of God according to the Scripture that both Gods righteousnesse and mans righteousnesse might be knowne and that we likewise in an inclination of love might with consenting minds passe forth towards the same 6. But alas what availeth it any man that one point him out a good way and an even and plaine path if he walk not in the same nor have no liking thereunto 7. What availeth it to knock and in divers manners to call if there be no ears to hear nor any understanding to comprehend or to understand the same nor any heart to imbrace such things 8. Or how shall one be able I pray you to declare conveniently unto such a man his error and the entrance into the good life that he might rightly regard and understand wherein his salvation consisteth whereby he might be delivered from the bewitching of his heart and so know what right is to the intent he might once comprehend understanding rightly 9. If a man say unto him the increase and the blessing e 1 Cor. 3 cometh only of God f Prov. 2. Sap. 8. Eccl. 1. he
is the giver of wisdom and no man nor Letter then runeth he clean away from the same illuminated man which pointeth him to the life of wisdome and utterly giveth over the Scriptures and the daily Services of the holy Word which direct him to the upright life and are service-â—â—â—â— thereunto and so departeth from the wisdom g Jer. 7.11.13 cleaving either to his vain imagination or els to the world in her foolishnesse and error 10. If one say unto him that he must suffer himself to be h Rom. 10 1 Cor. 3 2 Cor. 3.4 5. 1 Pet. 4. 2 Pet. 1. served to the peace of life by some illuminated man to the intent that by hearing he may grow up in the belief to the salvation then observeth he no difference often times between the unlightened men and the Elders of the holy Understanding in the Family of Love but giveth such respect to the unlightned men for their knowledge that he suffereth himself to be i Gal. 1.6 Col. 2 taken captive thereby to a bondage under their knowledges and so becometh a servant unto men and is by the unregenerated men bewitched with somthing that is not of God not leadeth to the life of salvation in such sort that through his liking unto that which he heareth of them and by which he is seduced and beguiled he betaketh him to the vain things of the flesh and forsaketh or forgeteth the true ministration of the Word of the Lord and likewise also the good exercises wherethrough he might have come or been brought unto God and to k Psal 36 Ier. 2.17 the fountain of upright and perfect wisdom 11. Unto which fountain of upright and perfect wisdom the man should of right be alwaies subject and long after it and moreover according to the requiring of the good exercise that leadeth thereto hope thereon turn all his affection and inclination of heart thereunto love the Wsdome and l Pro. 4. information and submit himself obediently to the Service of the gracious Word that so he might come to the m Prov. 2. life of the upright righteousnesse and then take part therewith and not with any of those things that lead not to the salvation 12. If one say unto him that he must be spiritually minded then climeth he up with his wit very high after the spirituall understanding and will likewise take upon him to understand the spirituall things by his own knowledge and will be so utterly spirituall and so quite and clean change himself out of flesh into Spirit that thereby he forgetteth and forgoeth the humane Ordinance and equity and to shew love to his Neighbour and unto all men likewise Out of which bewitched opinion of spiritualnesse many divisions and corruptions do arise 13. If a man say unto him that he should have regard unto the equity of nature seeing God hath n Gen. 1. created the naturall things also for the mans good then doth he on the other side so wholly adict himself to the naturall and visible things that he receiveth them to his own bondage and slavish delectation and tyeth his heart thereunto and so shuteth or keepeth off the most holiest being and the true holy Spirit of Jesus Christ out of his heart 14. If the man read the Scripture and do out of the testimonies of the same hear that the Law of Moses and the Prophets have their Office and Ministery o Mat. 11. Luk. 26. Gal. 3. till unto Christ and that in like manner all is in Christ fulfilled and that Christ p Rom. 10 is the end or fulfilling of the Law whereout the Gospell or second Testament of the Holy Ghost proceedeth according to the fore-shewing of the Prophets then he thinketh he will in any wise take the best and in his spirit receive Christ and the Gospell and that which is spirituall and heavenly of God supposing thus with his understanding and knowledge to run clean beyond the law of Moses and the Prophets of the Old Testament to wit beyond the obedience of the foregoing Service and so will rely upon Christ and be a child of the New Testament for he readeth that that is the most best and imagineth that if he should regard the Law and the Prophets and should obey the foregoing Service and requiring thereof he should then go back and finish his beginning of righteousnesse q Gal. 3. in the flesh or outward for the Scripture and the foregoing Service maketh mention that the fulfilling of the Law and the Prophets is r Luke 18.24 in Christ and that the spirituall and heavenly goods be inherited in the Spirit And thus will he be one of Christs of the Gospells and of the New Testaments and apprehend in his spirit the spirituall heavenly goods e're-ever he be passed thorow the Law or the Old Testament or hath understood the Prophets of the foregoing Service in their requiring Å¿ Gal. 3.4 Heb. 7 how they lead him to Christ and how or in what sort all is in Christ fulfilled 15. Herein lieth the man wrapped and snarled and maketh nothing thereof t Esa 59 but desolation and destruction altogether troubling his understanding and conscience and in like manner more others also by his ignorance 16. O God how is the understanding of the noble generation of man destroyed being become lesse of godly worthinesse then the beasts of the field howbeit thou hast chosen and created thee the man to this end u Gen. 1 Sap. 2. that he should carry and bear the Image of thy living God-head to the laud and praise of thy glory to the intent he should be unto thee O God x Lev. 26 2 Cor. 6. Apo. 21. a Temple and Tabernacle for thy holy dwelling 17. But alas the man is quite contrary and against this same and hath very little mind or desire y Ier. 5.8 to come to his God again 18. And therefore the fall and straying of men from their God is become so deep and far that there is z Psa 14 Rom. 3 scarcely any understanding will or desire of right conversion to be found among them 19. O God how are we blinded from the right knowledge of thy requiring and become resisters and despisers of thee 20. We have a Esa 59 Ier. 2 32 turned the back unto thee as those that know thee not and are become as children that are brought up of strangers and are so fond upon strangers that they utterly despise and detest the sight of their Parents and forget their Fathers house 21. We are even so far O God become strange towards thee that we have almost no pleasure in thee for thou art unto us as the very contemptiblest and most despised'st thing b Esa 53. Yea so little have we rightly thought of thee that in respect of thy right worthinesse we have counted thee utterly of no value and esteemed thee nothing worth neverthelesse thou bearest c
1 Cor. 14 to the Love and and as deer children be subject thereunto whereby you may in the love obtain eyes of clearnesse 16. If notwithstanding ye be o Iam. 1. unwise p Apoc. 3. blind and q Mat. 5 poore of spirit yet grieve not your selves for all that for then ye draw neare to the Kingdome of God 17. If you desire godly wisdom then r Iam. 1 pray and believe she shall be given you so far forth as your prayer Å¿ Rom. 12. is stedfast and as ye pray to God in a lowly heart with such a prostrated soule as hath a desire or pleasure to do and to fulfill the Lords will 18. Men may find many which pray unto God for wisdom and for the right sight of his Kingdom but they will not acknowledge nor t Joh. 9. Apoc. 3. understand that they are unwise poor and blind therefore they obtain nothing 19. For although that the wisdom stood even at their door yet so well seen are they and so rich of spirit through their own wisdome of the knowledge that the upright wisdom of God and the being of his Kingdome must be faine to tarry without 20. Therefore right well speaketh the mouth of the Wisdom Blessed u Mat. 5. are the poor of spirit for the Kingdom of heaven belongeth unto them or the wisdome of God ariseth as light upon them and not upon the rich or upon the great knowers 21. For when we of our selves are become poor blind or unwise or do forsake that which is ours and do come to contrition and meeknesse of heart x Psal â—1 Esa then will God dwell with us and appeare in such hearts as also the Scripture maketh mention and then are we also poor but God is become rich in us by means of our vilenesse or because we are poor in the knowledge It is true 22. These and other like things have I in many places distinctly set forth in the Glass of Righteousness and do here also set forth the same in this Introduction to the holy Vnderstanding if any man regard it let him consider the inclination of mine understanding 23. But what shall I say I find the man much too self-wise y Rom. 1. 1 Cor. 1. in his owne conceit and too void of understanding in the mind of the love for commonly when the man heareth of the love and of the right understanding of wisdom he rejoyceth him in the hearing and it seemeth as if it liked him well likewise for a time he commendeth it 24. But in conclusion there is nothing among the greatest sort but self-feeking and very little doe they understand the first Schoole-rule of the Christian Doctrine of the service of love for an entrance into the upright life in Jesus Christ but do understand every thing which is held forth before them out of Gods wisdome and love according to their imagination and according to the mind of their liking They seek thereout their own commodity z 2 Phil. 2. and not the Lords they run clean back from the mind of the love and use all subtilty to manitain their own opinion 25. Whereout I observe that the man which is thus minded conceiveth of the wisdom and of the love utterly amisse For which cause I likewise fear least the Glasse of Righteousnesse how plainly and rightly evidently and clearly soever it is set forth shall not of many be discerned aright nor yet be conceived of according to the truth 26. If therefore they discern or conceive not a right of such apparent sentences as are so clearly and plainly uttered that even every one which loveth lowlinesse and righteousnesse must needs approve the same and acknowledge that the man and the world is created thereunto how should they then be able rightly to understand or judge of all the mysteries of the Kingdome of God 27. For which causes sake to the intent no man might have occasion to estrange himself from the truth unlesse it might be by his own revolting heart we have hidden or covertly set forth nothing in the Glasse of Righteousnesse 28. Notvvithstanding if any thing be covered or hidden unto any a 2 Cor. 4. it is hidden to the unbelievers who have no desire nor love to the truth nor to the life which is of God for such are darkned b Rom. 1. in their understanding through pleasure in their ovvn mind and through the ignorance which is in them c Eph. 4. and through the blindnesse of their hearts do gather unto themselves d Rom. 2. a treasure of vvickednesse to an horrible destruction and so through their own wisdome do turn away and separate themselves from the love and from her service 29. But unto all lovers of equity which have a desire and belief towards the love to the intent that by her service they might tast of e 1 Pet. 2. the uncorrupted milk the Word of God that f Psa 40. 1 Pet. 1. liveth for ever we have out of the inclination of love so openly and clearly according to the life painted out and set forth the Glasse of Righteousnesse that every one who with an humble heart hath regard thereunto and desireth the understand of Righteousnesse shall be vvell satisfied therein 30. If also any man turn his heart unto God and desire to do his will the same shall likewise well understand that the testimonies of the upright life in the love as it is set forth in the Glasse of Righteousnesse is the upright ground of righteousnesse that God from the beginning hath required of the man which also in the restoring thereof shall continue for ever to the Salvation of the vvorld according to the promises even as God hath spoken the same aforetimes by the mouth of his holy Prophets who have all g Esa 2.60.61.62 Jer. 31. Joel 2.3 Zach. 2.8 Mich. 4. Soph. 3. Mal. 4. vvitnessed and prophecied of that same upright life for to come in the last time and in the same shall also all consciences be appeased 31. For the end or fulnesse of the same is the revealing or coming of the Kingdom of God and the beholding of the joyes and Salvation of the eternall h Esa 35.51.60.65 Apo. 21.22 perfect and uncorruptible being 32. Oh that the man had any understanding in the godlinesse and did perceive vvhereunto God calleth him and did in like manner prepare his heart after the meaning of the vvritten sentences and did let alone judging by the knowledge 33. But no the man is much too self-wise by his knowledge and therefore he is more inclined to judge of every thing after his knowledge then to prepare his heart to the good under the obedience of the love 34. Therefore it is very much to be lamented that many among the children of men do oftentimes judge the sentences and writings which have out of the service of love their ministration to the good life according
d Mat. 24.25 and of the coming of Christ together vvith all his Saints e Esa 65. 2 Pet. 3. is the nevv day of life and the f Dan. 12. 4 Esd 7. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4. Resurrection of the dead according to the Scriptures vvhich manifestation of the Kingdom of God and of the glorious coming of Christ vvith his Saints and of the nevv day vve novv under the obedience of the love publish abroad in all the vvorld for a Gospell g Mat. 24. of the Kingdome according to the promises 3. But if any man heareth not nor believeth the same neither is vvakened out of the h Esa 29. sleep of his ignorance or vvill not hear this voice of the love him do vve let alone therein still bearing a favourable good vvill tovvards him and do cleave fast to the love bear patience vvith his ignorance and blindnesse and do consider that all of us have heretofore been unvvise i 2 Pet. 2. and have been blinded from this glorious light of life yea vve do yet doubtlesse often find in our selves the lack of understanding untill the light of life do manifest it self perfectly in us 4. Hovvbeit the right understanding consisteth not in many words k 1 Cor. 2. or sayings nor in high or deep knowledge as is aforesaid but it is found in long-suffering and in such a heart as feareth the true God under the obedience of the love where men use temperance l 2 Pet. 1 discretion and kind-heartednesse and where men love righteousnesse and information of equity 5. But where is it now where may one seek and find it who doth earnestly desire lust or long for it who applieth his heart wholly thereunto 6. Truly not the children of this world which are the lovers of errour nor yet the self-wise of the vain-conceited hearts neither the lovers of their own companies of Religion For all these think not upon the service of the love neither will admit any thing but what they have chosen they blaspheme also every thing besides their own opinion and have no regard to the Statutes and m Exod. 20. Deu. 4.5.6 Ordinances of the most highest nor to the n Mat. 5.6.7.11.16.19.22 doctrine of Jesus Christ neither to the requiring of his Catholike Church 7. And therefore will the man to maintain his own cause be alwaies above the understanding of the love and so be the loves Master For there are few found that do with whole heart submit themselves under the Love to the intent they might obtain through concord and o Joh. 17. Eph. 4. Phil. 1. equalitie in the Love one like mind to the good to the one manner of subduing or mortifying of the evill hearts minds and thoughts 8. For that or him that directeth thereunto they can by no means abide nor yet be minded to the lovely life of upright Righteousnesse which I H. N. out of intire love do beare witnesse of because with many the same is not according to his upright being hearkned unto nor rightly understood for every one with his conceited imagination and unclean heart will fain be himself he whom men ought to esteem for wise in such sort that many of them do arrogantly aseribe understanding to themselves as if they knew already all that they should know and were wholly such as in Jesus Christ they ought to be 9. Moreover many of them are so rich p Apo. 3. wise as though they needed no more and many perswade themselves that they are such as do live free and that they are every whit the same that they should be that also the Service of the love concerns them not and that they are past it all 10. Lo such things think the fools and unwise those unfruitful q Iude 1. trees that love their self-wisdom and their own ease in the flesh and are quite dead therein yea though he be an Infidell or Heathen yet scarcely thinketh he that he hath any wrong understanding for all that what might then one that is wise think or he that perswadeth himself that he is holy 11. Now because many of them do esteem their owne matter for such a fairnesse r 1 Cor. 1. or wisdom therefore besides their own wisdom they will in no wise heare any Å¿ Acts 7. other understanding nor esteem it for wisdome for every thing is evill or uncleane in their eyes which is without their wisdom yet must they needs acknowledge that the inside of their vessell t Mat. 23. is not cleansed from the filthinesse neither doe they believe to be cleansed through Jesus Christ or to be justified from the sin under the Obedience of the Love 12. What helpeth it then or whereto is it profitable that one should shew any precious ornament or jewell of godly fairnesse unto such if in their hearts it were against them or that they loved not the same Even so is it also with the testimony of the Word in the Love when there is no love joyned thereunto for to love that which is heard or witnessed 13. Therefore let us in all things and before all grow like minded to concord u Rom. 12 1 Pet. 3. in the Love x 1 Pet. 5. humble our hearts to the living God and so love the vertue and the godlinesse cleave to no ungodly being or unorderlinesse of this world but let us with impartiall minds hearken to the truth for an instruction to the wisdom with long suffering and cleave to the vertue of the good life with him that beareth witnesse only thereunto and taketh part with no flesh 14. Wherefore let no man bind his heart unto any outward thing which he is served with to the righteousnesse of life much lesse to the worldly things or to any thing which the desires of the flesh are inclined unto that he be not disappointed of the entrance to the life which thing would be a great grief unto me 15. For this cause that no man should erre but perceive whereunto our calling tendeth hear and understand what the chiefe summe of the perfect Righteousnesse is 16. It is an humble heart y Psa 51. that departeth from all earthly and corruptible things and with a lowly and meek spirit is incorporated with God in pure Love according to the Spirit living in the forme of Jesus Christ z 1 Tim. 1 in an unspotted conscience and to have an inclined mind or desire to do the Lords will and to fulfill all righteousnesse 17. Towards this let us passe on with a good hope in a sure faith and confidence let every one turn him a Esa 55. Jer. 18.25 35 Ezek. 118. Jon. 3. from the wayes of his error and with-draw his heart from the bands of selfnesse to the intent in an upright being to serve b 1 Thes 1 Heb. 9. the living God only and turn away his senses and thoughts from that which hangeth on
to a bondage of the heart that is to say from all that is created outward or vaine how holy how good how fair or how amiable a grace soever according to the outward appearance it may shew forth unto the man to the end that no man be taken or remaine captive in any bewitching to a thraledome of his mind with that wherewith the Heathen and the unwise or uncircumcised of heart are still bewitched tied and bound not onely with the outward show of holinesse or wisdome but also with the delight of the outward created things c Rom. 2 in this world wherein with their hearts they become vain 18. Therefore let us reckon all these things for such as they are and repute some of them in that whereunto they are commodious for good in their degree and quality to the end our heart may stand free in the everlasting uncreated Godhead according to the Spirit that is in the God of Israel the Creator of all good things and moreover let us suffer our hearts to be prepared thereunto in the obeying of the requiring of the Service of Love 19. That is truly the everlasting life which in times past was preached unto the world and is now in the last time by Gods grace come unto us under the obedience of the Love that our fellowship d 1 Joh. 1 should be with God the Father and with his Son the Lord Jesus Christ and that our joy in the Love might be perfect 20. On this onely and true God settle your hearts to a union with him and with his Christ and love him e Deut. 6. from your whole souls minds and thoughts and so then love all created things in their degree or as they are profitable 21. Yet not for their owne sakes but for the Ordinances sake that God hath created them unto and whereunto he hath appointed them as good then shall God be loved honoured and served by you above your selves and above all visible things and f Exod. 20 Deut. 4. you shall also neither have nor serve any Idolls which are besides him 22. In such a degree love ye also all men g Lev. 19. Mat. 22. Mar. 12. Rom. 13. as your selves or as your fellow-brethren so shall there be no dissention nor division found among you and then in the same sort h Eph. 5. love your wives which are minded with you in one heart and spirit to God ward as fellow-members of your bodies or els should ye be no married folks 23. To the same good being of concord in the Love i Eccl. 7.30 love ye likewise your children that they may be brought up in righteousnesse after the Law of the Lord to serve the living God 24. If any man hath servants whether men-servants or miad-servants k Eccl. 7.33 Eph. 6. Col. 3. let him not overcharge them with slavery but use moderation give them also now and then time to rest and to recreate their hearts in the things that God requireth 25. But beware of the stout servants l Eccl. 33. such as in their leisure time seek nothing but unseemlinesse pride disorder and lightnesse for for such whether they be sonnes or daughters men-servants or maid servants if so be they exercise nor desire no righteousnesse labour serveth much better then leisure yet with discretion according to time and measure alwaies be holding the good before them upon hope of amendment 26. Hereunto let us be minded and give over our hearts and minds to live therein and alwaies exercise love m Rom. 12 1 Thes 3. 1 Pet. 1.3 one towards another and so n Heb. 10. James 5. with patience and long-suffering wait o Luke 2. for the consolation of Israel and for the health of the house of Jacob whom God in his time shall call together from all the ends p Mat. 24. or coasts of the earth where now they are dispersed 27. Wherefore increase ye in the good q Eph. 4. Col. 1. 1 Pet. 1. and grow up in the Lord and for the communion of the Loves sake and that we with consent of heart may be joyned to the same let us incline our hearts to each other to the end we may all become one such as love righteousnesse and forsake dissention which dispise nor reject none neither Jew Mahomet Heathen nor any Sect or Faction but rather draw all that will follow to our communion under the obedience of the Love that the Service of the Love may become prosperous and in all upright righteousnesse obtain the preheminence 28. Whosoever then joyneth himselfe to our communion of the Love yeeldeth himselfe to the love and to the requiring of her Service obediently loveth the righteousnesse r Psal 15.24 Esa 33. John 9. Acts 10. and hath no guile in his heart the same is acceptable to God and all such shall be unied in the Love and love one manner of righteousnesse according to the mentioning of the Glasse of Righteousnesse 29. Hereunto let every one be humbly minded and so incline his fatherly heart Å¿ Mal. 4. Luk. 1 to the children to unity in the Love 30. Let the children t Eph. 6. Col. 3. bow themselves in holinesse to the humility and so for the unities sake in the Love turne their hearts to the Fathers 31. The like also let every one do towards his brother and one man towards another and that all under the obedience of the Love 32. Do away from you u Esa 59. the middle walls and have love all that love righteousnesse proceed on after it with one accord have no regard to the foolishnesse of the Heathen nor to any such dealings or witnessings as cause Sects dissention or renting nor yet to their teachings and unprofitable devices nor to the witching of their God-services nor to the subtill knowledge of their wisdome For their waies x Jer. 5. are snares and their wisdome y Esa 19.42.58 nets who so hath no regard to the Law of the Lord nor to Abrahams God he shall be bewitched tied or taken and be led away from the requiring of the service of love by them 33. But all ye which turne you to the living God which made heaven and earth fear not the Gods of the Heathen neither regard the nets of the wisdome of the uncircumcised seeing they reject the Lords Word and his Ordinances 34. For the nets of the Heathen are like Spiders webs which do soon rent and fall asunder but the Law or Ordinance of the Lord is stedfast and abideth everlastingly 35. Therefore let the Law of the Lord and his Ordinances be alwayes for a teaching unto you and fear the God of Israel and let his love be still your rejoycing 36. Mark the ground of the Love ye deerly beloved and let your ears of the Spirit that you may hear your eyes of the heart that you may see and your understanding that you may understand be opened
this time do every where bear sway and among many have even hitherto had the preheminence 54. O God x Dan. 9 let us in this dangerous time find grace in thine eyes and incline thou our hearts towards thee and towards thy righteousnesse bring our spirit out of this desolation and cleanse our hearts minds and thoughts from all dissention y Psa 51 and create in us an upright mind that no evill come upon us 55. Of which upright mind and upright course of life of all upright hearts I have set forth a clear instruction in the tree of life the fourth book of the Glasse of Righteousness which Glass of Righteousness with other more like testimonies I have heretofore set forth to the intent that every one might look into himself and know whether he were of the upright communalty of the righteous and lived and walked in the upright vvaies of the just and so served the living God only or not For I wist not how to call any by name for to shew outwardly vvhat sort I might judge for the rightfullest 56. For I found the man a Jer. 9 so altogether deceivable so bewitched of understanding so given to cover or dissemble his lies so lordly 〈◊〉 because of his understanding so double of heart so earnestly bent to destroying and oppressing against those that were not like minded with his hearts conceiving so b Ier. 18.25.29.35 declining from him that according to the truth pointed him to the way of life so self-seeking and partiall for himself so resolute in his opinion so reproachfull and malicious with accusation at him that desired to bring him into the right way of the holy Fathers so vvel-conceited and affected towards his own phansies and errours so hipocriticall in the vertue so divided from the righteousnesse so separated from conscience so little seeking that which is the Lords only so unstable in fidelity so slothfull and slow to turn him to God c Pro. 6.24 so without regard to the upright waies so little reckning of the straying from his God so affectioned to the earthly visible things and so self-captived of heart that I was altogether suspicious jealous and doubtfull of the man 57. And not only of another but also even of mine own humane nature insomuch that I held it straight unto all vertues and righteous dealings for to do the Lords will in all my proceedings for in that sort did I passe forth under the obedience of the love with my humane nature to the intent to obtain the vertuous d 1 Cor. 13. disposition of the love and to be incorporated to the same with soul and body and with all the senses and thoughts of my humane nature and indeavouring me in this same with all diligence the Lord received me into the grace of his love and into him and his love incorporated my mind together with my senses and thoughts and so gave me inheritance with Christ and his Saints in his heavenly riches e Rom. 16. Eph. 1.2.3 Col. 1. and revealed his last will unto me 58. But not according to any conceiving of the flesh or after the outwardnesse namely in any outward appearance that liketh the man and the sight of his fleshly eyes or vvhereunto the man doth sometimes set his heart and understanding as though he could satisfie God thereby or as if a man with his outward humanity with a show after the outward appearance might be incorporated into the God of heaven and into his heavenly goods or could live in the Godhead according to the flesh 59. O no ye dearly beloved Gods working in renewing of the man through Jesus Christ is not after the pleasing of men nor according to any affection of the flesh nor yet such as any man by his fleshly conceiving or learned understanding should be able after the outward to judge of the same working of God in the spirit or of him which is renewed in God 60. For Gods working and the renewing of the man f Rom. 12. Eph. 4. is brought to passe inwardly in the spirit and in the inward senses and thoughts through the power of his holy spirit of love wherethrough men are abundantly filled with love towards the living God and with love towards all men 61. My respect also in my zeal to the vertuous nature of the love was least upon the outward show after the flesh but it was most upon an upright heart and mind such as consisteth in a good willing obedience and tieth or bindeth it self to no elementish things whether they be earthly riches or worldly possessions because I would in spirit and mind serve and please the living God only and likewise thereby love every man as my self 62. And for this upright beings sake because in all love the same should have and keep an g 1 Cor. 4. Gal. 4. essentiall form in me I did as is aforesaid examine the senses and cogitations of my human nature whether by them any other thing were loved or desired besides or whether they tied themselves unto any thing els To the intent I might for the loves sake of God and Christ h Mat. 16. Luk. 9.14 renounce hate and forsake it every whit and crucifie i Rom. 6. Gal. 5. Cole 3. and kill my humane senses and thoughts with their lusts and desires so far forth as they were not incorporated or subject to the good being of God or to his vertuous nature of the love whereby I might live through the power of God and by the gifts of his grace and through the co-incorporating of the upright being of Jesu Christ k Luk. 1. Eph. 4. in all upright righteousnesse and holinesse that is in the upright life and mind of the living Godhead 63. Now although I have here shewed that my respect was lesse upon the outward obedience then upon the inward godly obedience and that I thus laboured for such an upright heart and mind as was required by the outward obedience because I would l Deut. 6.10 serve the living God in his upright righteousnesse yet did I not therefore despise the outward obedience nor the good Ordinances in their right use neither is it my mind or will that men should not observe nor obey the right use of the Churches services or the Priests or Elders Ordinances which are exercised for a good outward discipline and decency and to a bringing in of the said upright righteousnesse O yes my meaning and desire is that men should observe m Rom. 14. and obey them as is said in their right use and likewise that the Elders and Ministers of the word in the family of love should by them require the true righteousnesse of the upright inward being and mind which God esteemeth 64. For so in that behalf men are greatly to esteem the outward Ordinances and the obedience to the same yet with difference in the understanding as according to their worth and in
1. feat of David his Father to the intent there may be no end of the peace upon the same from this time forth for evermore and that so he may rule and raigne as an everlasting peaceable King over the house of Jacob according to the promises 71. For in this sort and to the finishing thereof is he revealed unto men and published k Ioh. 1. 1 Tim. 3. 1 Joh. 2. to the world for a Saviour because all people should believe in him by him inherit the everlasting life and so confesse him and that sameis the true righteousnesse which is availeable before God and well pleasing unto those men which are of a good will 72. Now inasmuch as the rich bountifull God hath out of his grace granted me to perceive that we are all called and loved to the same glory of God and to the upright being of the love of his Christ because we should inherit with all what is of God and Christ the everlasting life and for that the same is the l Eph. 1.5 Col. 1. principall point of our godlinesse therefore have I pointed none unto flesh and bloud nor to any elementish or visible things neither doth my teaching tend to the outward but from the outward to passe on to the same inward and heavenly and to Gods Kingdome of heaven whereof is spoken before to the intent that no man should set the consolation of his soul nor the comfort of his Salvation upon the outvvard nor earthly nor put his confidence thereon but only on the upright life of the righteous spirit and upon the coming of the godly glory in Jesu Christ of which things I have according to my sight out of the heavenly revelation of God much and abundantly spoken in the Glasse of Righteousnesse and in this Introduction mine exhortation is out of love also to the same to the intent we should have an earnest love and be provoked with desire towards it 73. Which life of Righteousnesse whereof we witnesse is inwardly godly according to the divine nature and outwardly brotherly after the upright humane nature and that same is the upright righteousnesse before God and amongst men 74. Who so now from the heart seeketh God and his righteousnesse and rightly hath regard to the upright life the same person will acknowledge that my teaching and ministration is of God and that it tendeth to the upright life and vvho so likewise to this end searcheth the Scripture for the promises shall assuredly find that it maketh mention of such things and that the Law the Prophets and the Apostles of Christ dâ— all point and vvitnesse to the very same 75. When the man now according to the truth perceiveth this same then will he for the love of righteousnesse sake be also inclined there unto and yeeld his understanding m 2 Gor. 10. captive under the obedience of the love praise God highly for his grace and through the belief passe on towards the upright life in all love 76. Though he now and then fail stumble or fall yet if his eyes of the spirit have respect to the upright life and to the love and that he glasse himself daily in the Glasse of Rightousnesse doubtlesse the same shall cause him to see and shall rightly shew him his spots and shall be unto him n Ioh. 4.7 as an open fountain of life against the sin and way of death CHAP. XIII 1. None can know God nor Christ rightly but in the Spirit of the love 11. No better grounds then the Doctrine of the love 14. An exhortation to the obeyers of her service that they blaspheme not other mens writings nor condemn any for Sects but rather allure all to the love 19. and that they put away the evill as much as they can out of themselves 20. The despisers are vaine 23. The consenters hereunto are counselled not to think they have already obtained but to labour and to continue in the doctrine of the love till the laying away of the mortall body 32. Not to be dismaid at the enemies but like souldiers to prepare themselves to the battell 33. Though we be sometimes hurt yet to take new courage still 36. Considering whereunto we are called through Jesus Christ TAke it to heart O ye children of men and let your understanding be renewed a Rom. 12. Eph. 4. according to the spirit to such an upright knowledge as God esteemeth to wit vvith the vvord of truth in the spirit of the love to an assured living hope and good conscience in Jesu Christ 2. For vvho so after the spirit conceiveth not the same nor is renevved in his understanding to the same upright knowledge under the obedience of the love in such a one there is no knowledge of Christ neither can he be rightly turned to Christ or to the upright belief but only through the same 3. For the fall from Christ is come and it is according to the Prophecie understood known and well perceived how that the same b 2 Thes 1. through the child of perdition according to the mention of the Scriptures hath in every respect so utterly c Rom. 1. Eph. 4. blinded depraved and corrupted the understanding of men concerning God and Christ that the children of men how wise or learned soever they of themselves be do neither d Ioh. 8.16 of the Father nor yet of the Son knovv any thing at all 4. And surely whosoever doth not submit his understanding under the service of the love the same man sheweth thereby that he is without understanding because by his understanding he perceiveth not how that he vvhich hath not the love e 1 Ioh. 1 hath not also the Son nor the Father but is vvithout Christ and his Church and can please God by no other means also can neither now nor evermore without the inclination of love neither through any other services or literall wisdome come to the holy knowledge of God or attain unto the same 5. But if any now believe not this same by reason of the high regard to their knowledge or by means of any respect unto their holinesse f Col. 2. or spirituall humility such as they have chosen or taken to themselves and as is not according to the promises as God in times past hath spoken by Moses his servant and by the mouth of his holy Prophets doubtlesse they howsoever they suppose or maintain g Esa 59. that they have the light must needs abide in h 1 Ioh. 2. darknesse for their unbelievers cause whose unbelief cannot hurt the believers neither can the Work of God for all that abide back 6. O deep and unsearchable vvisdome of God! i Esa 40. Sap. 9. Rom. 11. 1 Cor. 2. which of the great and high glorious wise or of the self-chosen holy ones hath ever attained unto thee 7. Unto which of them is thine arm known that hath heard or understood thy holy word or thy mind
aright 8. Therefore needs must they all in lowlinesse of heart be humbled under thee and become subject to thy true love that they may rejoice them in the truth otherwise they must remain blind in their imagination k Ioh. 3. and may not see the Kingdom of God for ever 9. For so long as they through the love or her inclination l Mat. 18. be not in their corrupt understanding turned about by the word of truth and are not well minded to the vertue of the love certainly there can appear unto them no light of the truth to Salvation for God hath foreseen the perfection m Deut. 6.10 1 Cor. 13. 1 Tim. 1. in the love according to the promises and not in the knowledge 10. Therefore let every one be lowly of spirit u 1 Ioh. 4. and humble of heart in his knowledge even as though he knew nothing and so have regard to the service of the love what it requireth and let him hope and long for it to the intent he may be comprehended therein that is to say in the doctrine thereof for therein is the godlinesse understood and known and so let him indeavour towards the best 11. And I hope that I shall alwaies towards the lovers of the truth do even so and not omit to set before them the most best for thereunto tend all my intents and desires neither know I at all any better thing then the teaching and ministring of the holy word under the obedience of the love 12. True it is I have as far as I might examined many sorts of Foundations and understandings and have likewise considered and scanned whereon they stood grounded but there is yet no better thing come to my hand 13. The Lord grant me his mercy and strengthen my mind to do and accomplish his will to the Salvation of men in the love 14. O ye lovers of the truth that have humbled your souls under the love and her service o Deut. 6.11.22 Pro. 4. take I pray you the truth to heart and reproach no mans writings teaching nor exhortations that have their ministration to the righteousnesse and to the concord but draw it all under the love that every one may give up and bring all what he hath taken on or wherein he is learned according to his humane imagination to the communion of the love give ear only to the godly Word of Life under the obedience of the love according to the manifestation of the glorious and godly light set forth in the Glasse of Righteousnesse and so above all his humane knowledge love the Concord and the upright life 15. Moreover condemn none particularly by name and be not offended at any that your hearts p Gal. 5. Acb. 12. be not moved to anger stumble not at any thing and reproach nor reject none for Sects but love all them that indeavour towards righteousnesse q 2 Pet. 1. with a like love to that upright righteousnesse which God esteemeth and thus draw all wel-willing ones to the true righeousnesse under the obedience of the love 16. And if any man seek the truth of you and his heart be inclined to the love then joyn your selves with him in the love and so speak r 1 Pet. 3. of the hope which is in you 17. For who so loveth the good though yet for a while he be in errour may for all that come to amendment in the love unlesse he should give over his heart in a wilfull contentiousnesse and despise the love and her service for his self-minds sake 18. But unto every one that will follow and is well minded to the love and her service Å¿ Eph. 4. unto such reach forth the hand to the unity of the upright life and that all in the love 19. If the evill assail you then put it from you as much as is possible for you untill the same evill get a going down in you and go into silence give it no respite to follow after his desire but become according to the spirit t Col. 1. 1 Thes 3. 1 Pet. 5 strong and firm in the good life u Deut. 7. 1 Pet. 2. to a peculiar possession of God even as it is here in this Introduction and in the Glasse of Righteousnesse according to the life shewed and declared 20. If so be ye cast this same behind the back to wit that ye refuse it or have no belief nor lust thereunto nor do hope thereon and yet by your self-wisdom perswade your selves to be wise then are ye vain and utterly unmeet to the Kingdome of God and how wise soever ye be yet shall you be found vain and without understanding and void of the true light of life 21. Now if any man say that he is already in the life and needeth no more or that it is needfull no more for him to hearken after any other understanding and therefore contemneth this form of the upright life and his service to the same life whereunto we bear witnesse and neither hath it nor indeavoureth towards it in the service of the love certainly he is yet in the death x 1 Ioh. 2. and darknesse and knoweth nothing at all either of Christ or of the life which is of God even as the darknesses also have never perceived nor known him 22. If any man then despise this good mind or spirit of love and with the heart withstandeth and blasphemeth it and doth not entertain the upright vertue of the love the same man hath beguiled his own heart and after the requiring of the knowledge of the old serpent seeketh his own advantage and not to do the will of the Lord. 23. But if on the other side O ye dearly beloved any do accept this which we bear witnesse of for right and truth let him not hardly over-hastily perswade himself that he by his knowledge hath already gotten it for there must at the first belief be joyned thereto and then look whose belief through the increase of God blossometh y 4 Esd 6. and is fruitfull let the same man attempt the battell in hope against that which maketh up it self against the same Let him have regard to the Word of life and so passe on towards it a Luk. 21. with patience or in long sufferance 24. That truely is the right Crosse of Christ b Mat. 16. Luk. 14. which we are daily with good wil in the obedience of the requiring of the service of love to take up c Act. 14. in the belief untill we be well exercised in the love and in the holy understanding whereunto we bear witnesse and not only in the knowledge 25. Lo to this present I find nor know no way els to the life therefore whosoever loveth the same let him endeavour towards it d Joh. 8. and so abide stedfast in the requiring of the gracious Word and of the doctrine of the holy spirit of love untill
price or Crown of everlasting life is not like a Crown of the Kings of this world d 1 Cor. 9. which many of them stand for and is of many greatly desired and yet there is no more but one that obtaineth it and becometh King 3. But according to the calling of God we may all obtain e 4 Esd 2. Sap. 5. Kingly Crowns and be endowed with one manner fulnesse of divine treasures and be all Priests f 1 Pet. 2. Apo. 1.5 and Kings according to the promises 4. Hereunto we are all called to one g Ioh. 17. and in one no man exempted h Gal. 3. the Gentiles as well as the Jews the Commons of the people as well as the Magistrates the sinners as well as the righteous the poor as vvell as the rich the simple as well as the wise the wives as well as the husbands the children as well as the parents i Eph. 6. Col. 3. the bond as well as the free the servants as well as the masters and the handmaids as well as the Mistresses k Act. 10. Rom. 2.10 Gal. 2. God is no respecter of persons for all those that turn them to God and love his Righteousnesse are acceptable unto him 5. Doubtlesse it is now made known unto many of us that vve have all in our understanding been utterly estranged and l Rom. 1. Eph. 4. darkened from the knowledge of our calling and have cleaved to the m 1 Tim. 4. spirits of errour vvalking in the death and not in the light of life likevvise in sundry divisions and not in the unity of our calling 6. Neverthelesse that God vvhich is rich of mercy n Ezek. 18. 1 Tim. 2. 2 Pet. 3. and vvould not that we should perish letteth us now see through the ministration of his gracious word and through his bountifull and kind love the waies of our blindnesse o Esa 59. Sap. 5. and the deadly darknesses of our misunderstanding pulling us to the light of his clearness to the intent that all vve which are estranged from God and dead because of sin might through the love of God the Father and through the ministration of his gracious Word be renewed again for to quicken us again p Rom. 6.8 2 Cor. 4. Phil. 3. in Jesu Christ out of the death of sinne into the true unity of our vocation to wit in this day of the coming of Jesu Christ in his glory for had not the same Jesus Christ been with the Amighty for a remnant q Esa 1. we had all in our estrangeing been as Sodoma and Gomorra and must needs all in like manner have perished 7. Sith God therefore doth now shew on us such love that he profereth his grace unto us through the coming of his Christ when as we in our estranging from his good being were openly his r Rom. 1. Eph. 2. Col. 1.2 enemies and that he remembreth not our ignorance to revenge on us such things but out of the bountifull grace of his love is inclined to help us and by the ministration of his gracious word to reach us the hand for to pluck us to himself again in his love let us then also make much of such a Å¿ 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 1.2 grace that through the bountifull grace of his love we may in this horrible time be reconciled unto him and not be punished with the wicked world The rather for that there hath been enough before hand shewed us of the horrible t Esa 13. Ier. 20.25 Mat. 24. destruction of the wicked world and of all damned men in the last daies wherein few shall remain or be saved but not by the Lords fault for God desireth instantly to draw us all to his salvation 8. But because there are many now adaies that u 2 Thes 1. 2 Pet. 3. believe not God in his promises but count him a lier and x 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 12. do not regard the time of his grace neither will be saved but have much more desire and will to the iniquity y Eph. 4. 2 Pet. 2. Iuda 1. and to all uncleannesse therefore also in this day z Rom. 2. cometh the wrath of God upon those children of unbelief and they shall not be able to escape the horrible and fearfull destruction 9. Therefore let every one convert him from the errors of his blindnesse a Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5. and arm himself in the belief and stand fast in the hope b Ia. 4. against the wicked that maketh it self up against Gods righteousnesse the which must be indured with patience for c Rom. 5.8 Patience bringeth forth in us a firmnesse or a persevering in the hope and hope suffereth us not to be ashamed but prepareth for us the peace with God in the love 10. But though now and then it pinch somewhat hard to shew patience yet have confidence d Apo. 2.3 and keep still what ye have turn not back in any case 11. Though happily you think that it falleth heavy find your selves impotent or weak and the waies dark desolate unpathed very long e 4 Esd 7. Mat. 7. Luk. 13. small or narrow the hills seem high to get over and the gates very strait to go thorow yet doubt not therefore ye beloved give no regard to the unbelief that saith it is impossible but contrariwise with belief and hope enter ye in for the beliefe is strong and mighty f Mat. 17.21 Luk. 17. she removeth mountains out of their places vanquisheth the enemies g Heb. 11. and is a certain assurance of that which is hoped for 12. Look then what ye out of belief and according to the truth do desire in God to obtain that love ye with vvhole heart for the love vvhich in her service holdeth the heart fast with earnest love is yet stronger then the belief h 1 Cor. 13. and goeth far beyond it all and not regarding any difficulty she overcometh it all for the things sake which she loveth for the love maketh that light which appeareth heavy and bringeth life out of that which seemeth to be death 13. Therefore the love is not wearied with any thing for that which a man loveth is precious in his sight and he esteemeth it of great value i Rom. 8. moreover he regardeth neither losse nor trouble to get or to come by that vvhich he loveth best 14. And therefore men are to k 1 Cor. 14. Col. 3. seek for the most best that they may obtain the same and not to respect any of those things that would oppose themselves or be hindersome there-against for who so seeketh not obtaineth not vvho so tasteth not of the sowre shall not partake of the sweet 15. If any man fall let him rise again if ye be hurt or wounded believe so shall ye be made whole yea though ye were already dead or were as dead in your minds yet
are all Idol-services 22. Forasmuch then as the services and ceremonies of the vain minded people which are ministred in their estranging from Gods true righteousnesse cannot bewitch our hearts whilest that we are not nor may not be made partakers of their vain perverse and corrupt life with the heart neither do suffer our selves to take pleasure in such things q 1 Cor. 10 how should their outward services and ceremonies simply of themselves be in any wise unto us a forbidding of the Lord or any idolatrous service r Iohn 4 For God is a Spirit and in the Spirit maketh known unto us that he beyond all and above all desirefh Å¿ Deut. 6.10 Mat. 22 only our hearts and that therein as in his living Temple he will t Lev. 26 Ezek. 37 Iohn 14 2 Cor. 6 Apo. 21 live and dwell and onely in the same be served and honored in all upright righteousnesse and holinesse 23. Therefore mark this ground and consider in your understanding to what purpose God commandeth to be obedient unto his services and ceremonies which are administred out of his vvord of life and wherefore the heathenish services and ceremonies be against God and how that the right God-services and ceremonies do cleave and are knit to the good life and upright being of the living God and the right Idol-services and idolatrous ceremonies do cleave and are knit to the corrupt life and word of vain imagination 24. Now if ye mark this according to the truth then shall ye well understand how or in what sort u Mat. 15 23 Rom. that the outward services of the heathen or uncircuncised be esteemed least of before God and how also that the outward Ordinances of God are the smallest services in the service of his Saints and that God doth most of all regard that we through his Ordinances and ceremonies be joyned unto him and so then according to the requiring of his ceremonies x Deut. 6 Mat. 22 love him with all our hearts and our neighbour as our our selves and y Iohn 17 know him as a true God how that he only is the Lord and the everlasting life 25. Neverthelesse it is unto me wel known that sundry speeches go about among the children of men wherewith they despise and blaspheme our godly testimonies and according to their conceit out of the Scripture or Letter or out of the imagination of their knowledge do alledge much there-against saying this is Gods commandement hereby must we abide or this is Gods forbidding who can say against it 26. It is true concerning the outwad they can out of the Scripture speak very much do make therewith much z Rom. 16 division strife and discord among each other but they seldom think or consider that they ought to come in the spirit to a Joh. 5 that which the Scripture pointeth unto 27. Oh that they all knew the right meaning of the commandement or forbidding of God according to the truth then should the strife for outward things be soon ended and laid down 28. But look into the matter ye dearly beloved whether it goeth not now also as it did heretofore with the Galathians when many of them were bound with the outward circumcision b Gal. 3 5 6 whilest certain caused themselves to be circumcised supposing out of the testimonies of the Scripture according to the letter that the same although notwithstanding it was not administred unto them out of the Word of life under the obedience of the belief was yet a commandement of the Lord such as according to the letter men were necessarily to keep but inasmuch as they distinguished not the services and ceremonies which were administred unto them out of the Word of Life from the services which were administred unto them out of the letter without the word and light of Life neither had the sight of the living commandement of the Lord or of God nor yet discerned or knew the same from the commandement according to the letter therefore were they c Gal. 3.5 lead away with the outward from proceeding in the spirit and were very miserably bewitched with the outward because they thought that even the salvation of souls lay therein 29. On the other side there were also many among the Corinthians that d 1 Cor. 3 made conscience and counted it for an abomination to buy eat or use the offering of the Idols after the manner of the heathens ceremonies supposing that Gods forbidding and the hurt of souls lay in the outward ceremonies of the heathen and that of themselves alone they were Idol-services But what I pray you is there on the one side or on the other or in any such like that concerns us 30. Verily in case we be come to the knowledge of the truth and to the right discerning of this difference then we know that all the outward services of the heathen so that the heart stand free from them are not of force to e Mat. 15 desile the inward man f Cor. 4 Gal. 4 in vvhom Christ hath his form 31. Also there consisteth in them alone neither salvation nor condemnation such as God respecteth For look what the heathen or the vain minded uncircumcised people do observe as concerning their God-services that is their ignorance g Eph. 2.4 because they know not the true God neither do hunger nor thirst after his upright righteousnesse 32. In case then that we be come to the true knowledge h Iohn 17 of the living God the which is our calling and do from the heart love his life of righteousnesse in the spirit shall we then say and in such an ignorance rest perswaded that the God-service after the heathenish manner should be any thing or that it were the very Idol-service it self that be far from us 33. We confesse before God and his truth and before all that believe thereon that there is i Cor. 8 no outward Idoll nor any outward Idol-service in heaven nor on earth but that there is one onely God whose God-service requireth the upright righteousnesse and likewise reacheth to the k Heb. 8.9 ministration of the spiritual and heavenly goods in the living being of God according to the spirit wherethrough all things are out of the same his spiritual heavenly ministration in the spirit preceedeth l Iohn 17 Eph. 4 the upright righteousnesse the unity of the heart in the love the true God-service on the earth whose Altar is m Heb. 9 not made with mens hands but is prepared of God from the beinning of the world for evermore on the other side we confesse that all the God-services Gods of the heathen are but vain n Ier. 10 mockeries for nought els to be respected then for a foolish inchantment in the ignorance wherewith the vain hearts which know nothing of God nor of his Law are bewitched and tied 34. Whilest then the
directeth not to God and his righteousnesse they cannot therefore perceive nor understand what God requireth of them for their consciences are stained with something which they esteem for holy and yet is not of God and therefore they fear 47. But if they came to the u Joh. 1 2 Pet. 1 1 Ioh. 1 sight of the living being of God which only is boly and whereby all visible things are hallowed and be used or ministred uprightly then would they through the ministring of the x Sap. 13 Rom. 1 visible things have regard to the everlasting not to the corruptible either for to fear it or els for to esteem the outward above the profit thereof as whereby they might in any wise be accused and would in the spirit love that which all is comprehended in and which the ceremonies of the Law of the belief and of the service of love do point and direct unto 48. So then the summe of all that God requireth of us is y 1 Reg. 15 an obedience which is after God and not after the manner of men or according to elementish working namely An z Ezek. 36 1 Tim. 1 upright heart towards God and his righteousnesse a a Psal 5. willing spirit and a pure unspotted conscience in Jesu Christ 49. b Heb. 6.10 Let us hereunto in the obedience of the requiring of the service of Love proceed on with c 1 Tim. 1 unfained faith in d Rom. 12 1 Pet. 1.3 brotherly love and in e Rom. 12 2 Cor. 13 Heb. 12 a peaceable mind for thereunto are we called and this same is the upright Salvation which God maketh choice of in us Take it to heart CHAP. XVIII 1. Wee are exhorted to accept of the proffered Grace and to grow up in Righteousnesse unto the Glory which shall be revealed at the last 3. Not to binde our Consciences to any outward thing nor to assume any Libertie to our selves 11. To take heed of Halting on both sides and of Mixing with the World 15. We are at first called to Sanctification and not to much Confessing with the mouth 16. Christ indeed is to be confessed but how SEeing then Dearly-beloved that such a godly sight is now in these dangerous times by Gods Grace appeared unto us that we sensibly perceive in our selves the divine Calling to the same which appeareth unto us not out of Flesh nor Blood but is brought unto us out of the heavenly Truth or Loyns of Jesu Christ through a Acts 2. the holy Ghost b Acts 15. for to cleanse our hearts through Faith according to the Promises the which is c 1 Cor. 3. the blessing and increase of God that is not tyed unto any working of men but is the power of God the Father himself for d Eph. 1. a pledge of our Inheritance therefore let us take heed to such an appeared e 2 Cor. 6. Hebr. 12. Grace and f Heb. 3. Grace and f Heb. 3. not turn us away in the time of the godly calling of Salvation but give over our hearts in the beleef thereunto namely to the obedience of the Love in the Spirit and so with all inclination of love with lowly hearts unto God and with long-suffering g Eph. 1.4 1 Pet. 2. grow up and increase in the Righteousnesse and Holinesse that are pleasing unto God that we may be a seat of the holy Triumph of our Lord Jesu Christ in his Coming Which heavenly cleernesse of the godly Triumph and of the glory of his Christ in the Spirit h Rom. 16. Ephes 3. Col. 1. 2 Tim. 1. hath hitherto been hidden from the World and hath ceased because it should be i 1 Pet. 1. disclosed and made manifest in holy Glory in the last time to the joy of the Beleevers that hope for the salvation of upright hearts 2. That truly is it which God requireth and whereunto all Gods Prophets have born witness And k Joel 2. Acts 2. it shall come to passe saith God in the last dayes 3. Therefore let no man now make to himself any conscience l Col. 2. Gal. 4.5 nor suffer his heart to be bound or tyed by any earthly outward thing that he be not thereby hindred for coming to the purity or sanctification of the heart which out of God cometh to passe in the Spirit 4. Let no man also take any thing upon him to any intent of Liberty whereby to live m Gen. 3. Eph. 4. in the apple of conscience after the minde of this World For in such a course the Liberty should be wholly abused and be unto us an occasion n Gal. 5. 1 Pet. 2. to use liberty according to the Flesh and utterly to fail of the upright o John 8. Rom. 6. Liberty in Jesus Christ 5. But seeing that we have now obtained an upright liberty in Jesu Christ under the obedience of the Love in the using of the Services and Ceremonies and that both it and the manner how we are to use the Ceremonies uprightly in these dangerous times is risen up unto us in our hearts and vouchsafed us of God therefore are we to look into this Liberty after the Spirit for to use it to a growth of the upright life in the Spirit that there may p Isa 1.10 Rom. 9. remain a seed to preservation for then will the God of heaven now in the last time make his holy Name and his secret Wisdom famous and notable against all the wise of this World q Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 1. 2. 3. who by their own wisdom do not understand the secret Wisdom of God 6. Hereunto let your hearts be inclined ye Dearly-beloved and not to the infidelitie of the blinde World nor to the contention of the seditious Letter-learned And in any case take heed to your r Eccl. 4. 27. Gal. 6. time ye that are come to such a sight and to the holy calling of the godly love and thank God from the heart with a cheerful mind Å¿ Tit. 2. for such an appeared grace out of the bountifull kindnesse of his love in this last abominable time whose end reacheth to the destruction t Mat. 25. Rom. 2. 2 Pet. 3. or condemnation of all wicked men 7. Let your eyes of the spirit and u Prov. 4. your whole heart of Understanding stand ever fixed or bent upon the upright life Look not about after the corruptible being but love the happinesse of preservation which is through the Word of truth in all love proffered unto you else shall you be found empty and without understanding with all the x Jer. 7.8 conceited Wise of the blind World which with all her own wisdom must needs y Isa 29. 1 Cor. 1. go down and Gods wisdome though unto the World it be a foolishnesse shall in the love stand firm for ever 8. For Gods foolishness it z 1
Cor. 1. wiser then all the wisdom of the subtil wit or understanding of the flesh For if the man should have the right in his wisdom doubtlesse God must needs be in the wrong 9. Therefore abideth the Saying ever stedfast a Psal 116 Rom. 3. God only good and true in trying and all men of themselves deceivable and lying 10. Which deceivable and lying b Eccl. 21. being the man ought before all things to eschew even as a Canker and with the heart to cleave to none c Pro. 1.3 1 Joh. 2. whose minde will and desire hath any delight and pleasure in the ungodly being of the confused world d Mat. 10. Luk. 14. yea though it were even Husband Wife Children and Kinsfolks Father or Mother Sister or Brother Master or Servant Nay be he who he will so farr as he cleaveth willingly to the evill 11. Oh! Take heed to your selves that in any wise ye go not with the heart lame or limping e 3 Reg. 18 nor halt on both sides that ye seek not the living God with retaining the Divels nature f 2 Cor. 6 nor Christ with keeping the Belialish spirit of Antichrist nor the righteousnesse by retaining any unrighteousnesse to the intent that in such a mixture ye perish not with the wicked erring World which desireth to serve God and the Divell together 12. With those which are so minded g Supra 16 hold not your hearts common or at unitie you I mean that have a longing to God and his Righteousness but rather be ye against them namely against such as withstand all Righteousnesse and the Uuitie in the Love yet not with the Mouth lest ye be burthened with any thing to your hinderance in Godlinesse h Pro. 4. but with the Heart Minde and Life For in the same opposition is the right Preservation in Jesus Christ which God esteemeth 13. Neverthelesse unto the lovers of Righteousnesse who have minded Love Concord and Peace or do endeavour therafter we are to speak according as their Understanding can bear i 1 Pet. 3. of the lively hope which is in us to wit so much as serveth to edification and may be godly to hear and so become full of the Spirit and k Eph. 1. Phil. 1. Col. 1. knowledge of spirituall wisdom in all love 14. Many have indeed heretofore as it is reasonably well known unto many of us spoken of Letter and Scripture abundantly rehearsed every mans Failes both of the Spirituall and Temporall and according to the Histories of the Scriptures confessed their Understanding and yet have not marked nor known in what sort or being they should prepare their l Eccl. 2. hearts before God and so by their untimely zeal have cast themselves into the hands of the World and plucked a yoak m Act. 15. or burden upon their necks which they were not able to bear 15. Keep your selves yee Deerly-beloved from such things For at first God calleth us n 1 Thes 4 2 Thess 2 1 Pet. 1. unto Sanctification in the Spirit and not unto much Confessing with the Mouth 16. Now if any man say Christ hath taught to o Mat. 10. Mat. 8. Luk. 9. 12. confesse him That is right indeed if it were well understood 17. But O Beloved tell me I pray you How will ye confesse Christ p Joh. 1.5 whom ye know not or before ye have in q Rom. 6.8 2 Cor. 4. Phil. 3. Col. 2. death and life followed and put him on 18. True it is ye have read or heard of Him in the Scripture neverthelesse many have never seen r Joh. 5. his shape and his love dwelleth not in them and therefore they understand not what they confesse For how should you by any means confesse Christ before Å¿ Gal. 4. he have his shape in you and that ye t Joh. 17. Heb. 3. 2 Pet. 1. be made partakers of his being 19. Know yee not that it is written how that Christ saith to his Father u Joh. 17. I have given them the cleernesse which thou hast given mee that they should be one even as we are one I in them and Thou in Mee that they may be perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent mee and thou hast loved them as thou hast loved Me. Father I will that where I am there may they also be with me whom thou hast given me 20. Ruminate upon the sense mark well the ground understand the Scripture and take a view of your selves whether yee have received of Christ such a cleernesse or not and whether he be one with you and ye with him and with the Father 21. Now if it be thus with you to wit that ye be come to such a x 1 Thes 4 2 Thess 2 1 Pet. 1. sanctification in the Spirit through Christ then ye know who he is for to confesse him and yee know him how that he is y Heb. 1. the like image of his Father one Being Spirit or Life with the Godhead z Apoc. 1.22 who hath neither beginning nor ending 22. He saith also a Joh. 14. I am the Way the Truth and the Life no man cometh to the Father but only through Me. 23. Moreover b Joh. 10. I am the door of the Sheep if any man enter in by me he shall be saved 24. Therefore have regard to the ground of the Scriptures how in all things they point us unto Christ to the intent that he should have his c Gal. 4. shape in us and that we should be in all upright righteousnesse and holinesse d Joh. 17. Heb. 3. 2 Pet. 1. partakers of his Being if it were but rightly understood For it is unpossible e Exo. 33. Rom. 8. 1 Cor. 2. to know the Spirit of Christ with an heart that is cloathed or covered with a mind of the Flesh 25. If Christ therefore hath a Shape in you f Joh. 7. How men shall rightly confesse Christ and you beleeve in him as the Scripture saith then may you confesse him rightly Howbeit not out of your imagining nor according to your knowledge out of the letter as the learned in the letter and the common people do that are without the communiality of the love of Jesus Christ but confesse him out of the shape that he hath in you through such a cleernesse as g Joh. 1. Acts 2. 2 Cor. 12 Gal. 1. 2 Pet. 1. his Apostles confessed him by even as it is written 26. That which was h 1 Joh. 1. from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word of life And the life appeared and wee have seen it and do testifie and publish unto you the eternal life which was with the Father and is appeared unto us 27. Here may every one look into himself whether
many people have partly through the sundry partiall instigations of men risen up before our said service been intangled and darkned in that understanding and that therefore they could not rightly know the truth in her degree but did oftentimes stumble fall and and suffer harme yet all ye that love the Truth with us and have likewise fallen in the same learne Prudence now thereby and turn again b Esa 55 Jer. 3. Ezek. 18. into the way of righteousness Refresh your selves in the beleef with a new cheere and so through the service of the holy Word be ye renewed in your vnderstanding under the obedience of the Love 41. Under the same service give eare to the Elders of the holy understanding c Deut. 11. and follow not the Will or Councell of your own mind but d Eccl. 6. with the Elders under the service of the Love follow the minde and e Pro. 1. Eccl. 16. Councell of the Wisdom and alwaies keep your selves with the Elders in the family of Love f 1 Thes 5. Heb. 13. to the concord and to the multiplying in the good and of the peaceable Kingdom in all Love 42. Become not wavering in any wise But in case ye stumble or fall yet rise again and think that it is sometimes better that a child do in his good willingnes commit an error or that a thing be done of him yet unperfectly than that he should remaine brutish or untaught Be not afraid g Matt. 25. Luk. 19. like the unfaithfull Servant that buried his Masters Talent which was not very well taken at his hands 43. Men may finde divers that will take very great heed to themselves least they should be deceived or beguiled and so will stay onely upon themselves But because they so staying upon themselves give no heed to the grace under the obedience of the Love therefore remain they such as they are and come not at any time to the light of life or day of Love but abide still in the Captivity of the blindnesse because they know not her blindnesse or bands of her darknesses wherewith they are bound 44. Some others will in their unregenerate estate and deprivation account themselves free and will not be subject unto any thing neither to the Scripture nor to any Teaching nor yet to the Service of Love and therefore in that sort do never come to the h Ioh. 8. Rom. 6. Freedom of the children of God 45. For in asmuch as they have not perceived nor observed in the sight of their understanding the bondage of i Ioh. 8. Rom. 6. 2 Pet. 2. sin nor her dominion thereforr remain they unproved and unexperienced neither do they sigh nor k Jer. 8. complaine for the yoak of sin which hath taken them Captive and do know nothing at all either of the Bondage or of the Freedom nor yet that they are so utterly deprived or estranged from God and his Christ as they are 46. Now men may also finde divers that are altogether light-hearted and clearlyminded and so in the range of their misunderstanding have taken unto them l Esa 59. a false light or conceited knowledge These according to their naturall understanding are well at quiet their hearts are not once grieved for their mis-doings any more They have also no regard either of sin or of Grace they fear no Condemnation nor hope for Salvation or for any Redemption 47. When it goeth well with them but in their creature and in their Occupation or Trade then are they content and say God be praised we are in very goodcase we are rid of all intanglement of heart we now get our living godly and credibly and toyle not our selves with any thing 48. But alas howsoever the godly nature or the Image of God m Heb. 6. be troden down in them and constrained dayly to suffer the death of the Crosse for their sins that passe they not once for 49. Because they will not suffer with the godly nature n 1 Pet. 4. or Christ against the sinne they desire even nothing else but according to the o Phil. 3. flesh to sit still in ease and look what in this behalfe crosseth them that reckon they to be utterly evill and unright and and so wax wanton or lustfull in the flesh and licencious or light-minded in their Spirit following still p Sap. 2. Rom. 1. Eph. 4. that which liketh them after the property of ignorant fooles and despise the godly Councell of the Elders as also the wisdom and unity under the obedience of the Love 50. These are surely in very bad case although they think not so For q Esa 5. they have no consideration on the work of the Lord nor on the work of the Devill nor any regard unto that that shall perish nor desire to that which shall continue This verily is a lamentable misery the Lord keep us from such a Plague 51. Again some may be found which do endure much straightnes in dying from sin for to receive the Promises which are made thereunto according to the Scriptures and that they might so become honourable Saints and be also respected therefore Yea they regard no affliction so as they may receive or get that and thus they fall into a choosing applying to themselves the honour of the Promises 52. And therefore when according to their desire they have gotten all that honour then perswade they themselves yea it is already certaine that they have greatly merited because they have suffered so much strived and vanquished so valiantly and have so much knowledge do assume unto them that they are then holy and that God on the other side is indebted unto them of all the Promises and of the Blessing mentioned in the Scripture being well assured hereof that it doth of right and equity appertaine unto them 53 Now because they have chosen to themselves such an opinion they suppose that the Scripture witnesseth of them as the people of God and that likewise in regard of their holiness the honour of Gods Promises belongeth unto them They hold also so greatly of themselves that they know themselves to be worthy of all the high stile of the holy Titles that men do give them also all the services that men shew unto them they boldly arrogate unto themselves and a great deale more 54. For in their own eyes they are the most understandingest and the most best or holiest yea they are so exceeding proud upon their own knowledge and righteousnesse as if there were no God any where else save onely with them according to the knowledge of their cogitations and as though that the true God had utterly excluded all others his creatures 55. Oh! What an abominable thing is it to assume and feine to ones self such a spirituall conceit For thereout is able to spring great abomination and wickednesse such as is much worse then any fact of open sinners 56. For
notwithstanding o Ezek. 47. a bottomles Sea which all Rivers do run into And whatsoever can be uttered concerning the Righteousnes were it even by so great multitudes of Bookes as is the sand by the Sea-side it is every whit comprehended or grounded in the very same 42. Who so liveth therein or in the obedience of the same life the gracious word p Prov. 4 loveth the same life and with a lowly and humble heart applieth himself obediently thereunto q Ecl. 39 such a one shall become wise in the hidden wisdom of God For the obeying of the requiring of the service of the gracious word of the Lord and of the Law of his Statutes and Ordinances r Psal 119. doth make the man wiser than all his chosen Masters or Teachers and in that manner commeth he to the holy understanding of the godly wisdom 43. Hereunto let us be minded from the heart ye dearly beloved and regard ye the kind mercy of God shewed on us out of his love For such a perseverance or clearnes of the healthful or safe-making Beeing is shewed unto us worthy in open sight hath in these last dayes given us to know his requiring in our spirit and understanding to a right distinguishing of life Å¿ Deut. 30 Jer. 21. Eccl. 15 and death to the intent that we who are yet in peril of death do suffer grief heavines for the sins cause should conceive hope towards such an healthful life and rejoyce us in the Godlines 44. Therefore let no man be t 2 Cor. 6 Heb. 12. negligent in such an appeared Grace but every one give God the Honour and so sigh over his wretchednes that he may be reformed of his errors 45. O ye Children of men ye that have named your selves before the time or much too soone with the name of Christ or with the name of Israel Lay away from you your vain boasting v Mat. 3. Luke 3. Act. 2. repent and amend you and betake your selves to the love and her service that ye may be saved 46. Do not think in your hearts that ye yet remaining without the gracious word and his service of love do nevertheles stand sure in Gods Covenant or that ye may not have transgressed nor forsaken the Covenant of your God 47. Think not also that ye are before God howsoever after your conceit ye have hallowed your selves any worthier than all other Heathen are which are without you For truly ye are subject with them all unto vanity misunderstanding and destruction and alike covered under the darknesses not knowing what wayes ye all walk For your own righteousnes is strange and unknown before the God of Israel inasmuch as the same is not his life of righteousnes nor yet his Statutes and Ordinances 48. Therefore ye which live and walk without the Doctrine and Service of the gracious word are even altogether touching the inward man one manner of people with all Heathen although outwardly ye have sundry several sorts of good Services or Ceremonies but truly they are to no advantage or unity unto you but to all controversie and division they are not to the life but much rather to a death and destroying one of another CHAP. XXIII 1. Whether the Christians and their Ceremonies have any preferment or not 6. They have been blinded as well as the Jews were in times past 7. So as there was no difference between them and other people 8. Every one hath made a chosen Righteousnesse to himselfe 10. But now the godly knowledge is revealed out of the Love And men ought to regard it else to be found of no value 15. Not the outward Christianity but the inward man is the thing that God esteemeth 20. But almost all turne them to the earthly things 22. He leaveth every one free but touching himselfe he will hold him alwayes to the good life 25. The godlinesse shall surely come forth but who shall be partakers of it is known to the Lord. 27. Hee exhorteth to Vnity and Peace c. 31. And requesteth that none will be offended at his Writings 33. If any man have gifts let him not be proud thereof but ascribe all unto God NOw some might here demand whether the Christian Ceremonies be nothing at all furthersome or whether they omitting all other ceremonies have not in them some advantage towards the life For if the Christian ceremonies had no benefit in them then to what end are the Christian ceremonies And what preferment then have the Christians by them Or to what purpose beare they the Name of Christ 2. Truly as we have also shewed before the Christians and their ceremonies have in their right quality and use much advantage for unto the Christians is committed the ministration of the gracious Word of the Lord and the revealing of the everlasting life and to this end are the Christian Ceremonies given them that all those which beleeve in Christ the gracious Word of the Lord should have a firme or sure confidence on the revealing of that same life 2 Cor. 4. 2 Cor. 11. Gal. 3. the which is with the Christian Services and Ceremonies promised for to come unto them to an everlasting light and beholding of the naked clearnesse of God through the uncovered face of Christ 1 Cor. 13 2 Cor. 3. For thus with the same Services and Ceremonies are the promises of Salvation to come committed to the Christians Rom. 9.11.15 Eph. 2. or to the Christian communalty They are also the children of the Testament of the holy Fathers Acts 3. through the Belief and that in all respects after the same manner as the Iewes are the children of the Testament in the promises of their Fathers out of whom are born the Iewes as heires and not as thereunto called Gen. 17. Which promises were committed unto them in or with the Circumcision which the God of Heaven ordained for an everlasting covenant between Himselfe and Abraham and his Seed Namely that the God of their Fathers according to the promises and according to the same covenant is even their God and remaineth a God of their seed for ever 4. Which Iewes howsoever they are as Branches broken off from their right Stock are also grafted upon no strange Stock Rom. 11. nor yet set or built upon any strange foundation but upon the foundation of the Promises and Stock of their Fathers to which salvation the Gentiles are through the Beliefe called out of Grace as fellow-heires of the same promises in Israel for to serve the living God Eph. 2.3 5. Lo these promises made to the Fathers to the salvation of the Gentiles are committed to the Christians in Beliefe and the Christian ceremonies are witnesses of the truth of the same 6. Howbeit forasmuch as such a holy Beliefe and service of Ceremonies to such a salvation as was evangelized in the preaching of the Apostles of Christ hath ceased and by the
Christians been forsaken therefore have they been covered under the sin blinded from the knowledge of their calling and estranged from the understanding of Gods promises even as the Jewes also in the time when they knew not the godlinesse of life were blinded and estranged from the understanding of the promises Yet were they Jewes notwithstanding outwardly Rom. 2. but no Jewes according to the inward hidden man such as God esteemeth according to the life of thir Father Abraham John 8. And therefore there was no difference between them and the Grecians Rom. 3. but they stood alike under the sin 7. Inasmuch as it goeth now also thus with the Christians or which men so call therefore is there between them and other people no difference but they are all alike under the sin And in regard of the righteousnesse which availeth before God they are no otherwise to be distinguished save onely by the ceremonies 8. And every one because of his misunderstanding maketh a righteousnesse or an Ordinance unto himself which through the glistering of his knowledge he chuseth or respecteth for a very Righteousnesse and maketh to himself in like manner with the same a Congregation not attending upon the promises of God nor upon the upright righteousnesse which through Iesus Christ he is called of God unto 9. Now whiles all this cometh to passe out of misunderstanding and bare imagination Jer. 7. and out of the ignorance of the upright Righteousnesse therefore is there dissention likewise For every congregation in particular Mat. 24. perswade themselves that they are the Christians or the people of Isrrael and do diligently use all dexterity sharpnesse of wit in their cause for to maintaine the same in his proceeding and think by their wit to obtain the salvation and so walk their own way Rom. 3. whereby also they are all void of the grace of God to the knowing of their error and blindnesse 10. But inasmuch as this godly Knowledge is now out of grace revealed unto us as that we through the clearnesse which God hath powred into our hearts 2 Cor. 4.2 do understand to what salvation or to what maner of health of the earth God hath given his promises to which purposefor to establish the salvation the Beliefe is preached Therefore for the loves sake can we not omit it but must needs witnesse the same and reveale the Peace and the true Love whereunto we are called if happily there might or may be found any which had a desire or inclination thereunto and then likewise we with them and they with us whether they were far or neere might be gathered together in the Love according to the promises 11. Seeing then that God neglecteth not his mercy towards us but hath made known unto us his will to the intent his Word may stand firm according as he in times past hath spoken by his Prophets that unto his people Israel he will gather him a people out of the Heathen which shall serve him in righteousnesse 2 Mac. 2 Amos 9 2 Mac. 2 Act. 15. at which time God will gather his people together again and be gracious unto them and build again the Tabernacle of David and again sep up his people Israel according to the promises therefore ought we in like manner from the whole heart and with good will to give heed unto that which is now by Gods grace according to the truth made known and tendered under the obedience of the Love unto us in the same appeared grace to beleeve the salvation whereunto we are called and to prepare our hearts in lowly mindes thereunto that we might inherit our calling according to the promises 12. But if any people refuse it and for all that should perswade themselves in their hearts to be still Christians or that their Congregation is the very people of Israel not thinking of the restoring of Israel which in times past was fallen and thus suppose that they have attained to the best and in their blindnesse set their confidence upon their own wisdome righteousnesse and ceremonies and upon their faith then shal it likewise goe with them in these dayes as it did heretofore with the Jewes that beleeved not on the grace which was appeared unto them 13. For in his time shall their full store-houses be found empty 4 Esd 6. and the empty be filled with goods For their Christianity according to the inward man shall be judged and known for an unchristianity and their beliefe for an unbeliefe 14. Therfore let no man boast himelf of his Christiany because of his outward baptism nor because of his outward righteousnesse or narrow wayes of his walking according to his chusing or bare imagination but let him give heed to the promises and unto what the Gentiles are called and whom the Christianity consisteth the which is a Christendom according to the inward man in the Spirit as also Paul in the preaching of his Gospel testifieth 15. For the true inward man is the thing that availeth before God namely 2 Cor. 4. Phil. 2. Col. 1. Heb. 1. 1 Cor. 15. Eph. 4. Col. 3. Eph. 1. the very like Being of God which the love is formed in and the man created unto to the intent he should beare it to the land and praise of the glory of his God 16 And through the revealing of such a heavenly clearnesse as that we discern that many yea almost all which doe boast themselves to be Christians are yet meer strangers therefrom we doe well know the fall from the right ground of the Christianity and the bands of darknesse wherewith we were all held captive And therefore we are all void of the grace of God that he may have mercy upon us all Rom. 3. to the intent he alone may have the glory 17. Now whoso perceiveth this same let such a one turn him to the Spirit to the God of life and to his righteousnesse according to the requiring of the Love and her service that his understanding may Eph. 1. through the Love and her service be enlightned according to the Truth in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and that likewise he might love God the Father and live in his statutes with an upright heart Deut. 5. 18. For out of the God that hath made Heaven and Earth goeth the right judgement Heb. 4. his Word is living and powerfull and sharper than a two-edged sword and his burning is as a flame of fire to a consuming or devouring of all ungodly Being Deut. 4. Heb. 12. 19. Whosoever feareth not him as a true God nor loveth his Righteousnesse over such a one standeth his severity for ever Rom. 2. Exod. 20 But many thousands finde grace in his sight that doe but turne them unto him love him and keep his Commandements 20. But who hath any regard hereunto Whose attention is towards the Lord Who is there that is spiritually minded Who giveth eare Whose heart
and eyes turn them to the inwardnesse of the Being of God Truly very few But they turn them almost all unto themselves to the earthly things or unto Flesh and Blood and doe very gladly heare that which foundeth pleasant unto them 2 Tim. 4. according to the delight of their fleshly eares and so shut the eares of their heart against the God of Life and all the World alienate their spirit from his holy wisdome and will not heare him nor accept him for their King that they might live in his Law and Ordinances 21. Therefore will not he also count them for his people neither regard them Psal 1. Esa 29. But they shall be compelled in their estranging to become like the tossing of chaffe wherein the whirle-wind to a scattering mingleth it selfe 22. Behold ye dearly beloved of these and other like things I have opened much unto you in the Glasse of Righteousnesse to a distinction of the knowledge of righteousnesse look unto which ye are minded Deut. 30. Eccles 15 into that may ye go whether into the sin to the death or into the righteousnesse to the life I leave every one free unbound uncompelled 23. But as for Me my whole heart and mind standeth altogether inclined to the good life of upright righteousnesse and all my confidence is in the God of Life Rom. 12. 2 Cor. 3. that I shall not forsake the wayes of his Rightenesse which are by the grace of God brought and given unto me in the sight and being of my Spirit but shall still observe the same and under the obedience of the Love administer them unto the children of men according to all the manner as I have set forth and described them according to the life out of the inclination of Love in all my service of writing for a serviceablenes to many 24. Whosoevr therefore with me hath any desire to God and his righteousnesse let such a one then from his whole heart apply himself also with me unto the same He also that strayeth and hath no regard unto God nor his righteousnesse neither is minded to the Love and her concord but will rather mix his heart with the World and her abominations and go on after his own imagination I must needs look upon it howbeit it maketh me sorry and I suffer grief for it because he doth willingly thus hunt after his own destruction 25. For behold it shall come to passe that the k Esa 60 61.62 Abac. 2. godlinesse uncompelled through the beleef out of the Love of righteousness shall come to light according to the Promises 26. But who they are that shall be made partakers of it and finde such Grace in the sight of God or from whence they shall come to joyn with us for the concord of the Love and her service that is only known to the Almighty and his Spirit But the unity of us all shall be l Ioh. 17. Act. 4. Eph. 4. one heart and mind in the Love To the which one-minded Communalty mine heart standeth alwaies inclined The Lord give us all Grace to be joyned to his People in righteousnesse of heart Amen 27. Let every one also from his whole heart be minded thereunto and apply himself for the same unities cause to the Love and her service and to the righteousnesse of heart before God and so stand for the good with al diligence Let him likewise daily apply himself m Eph. 6. Col. 4. 2 Thes 3. in prayer unto the God of life that he will vouchsafe to enlighten him and all lovers of the Truth together with all People with the knowledge of his wisdome and understanding to the intent they might all incline their hearts to the Love and her service and so Gods matters be well understood and interpreted according to the Truth to the health of the earth and renewing of the World with righteousnesse 28. Wherefore n Rom. 14. Gal. 6. bear one with another out of Love receive also unto you all wel-willing hearts to the concord in the Love understand their testimony to the good â— and repaire one anothers understanding to the unity of heart in the Love and let no man raile nor make Sedition or Division but let every one oyn himself unto us in Jesus Christ under the obedience of the Love and let him likewise in Jesus Christ seek the good to his preservation that the service of the Love be not hindred 29. If now by any it should be found that some man should bring forth any chaff amongst us with the Corn yet shall not men despise him for it but repaire him in his understanding with good o Gal. 6. 2 Tim. 2. instruction to the meeknesse and to the obedience of the Love in the Spirit that so through the service of the Love men mav gather the good Corn the treasure of righteousnesse p Matt. 13. into the Barn the mans heart and that in like manner the vaine being together with that which is deadly and pernicious may utterly perish 30. Whosoever now can rightly judge let not him raile but let him try the matter q 1 The. 5. and take or conceive the best out of it and thus meet the little ones and draw all to the Love that no man may be offended nor made bitter-minded Let every one be minded hereunto from the heart r Matt. 13. that all offence may be rooted out and destroyed from the Lords Kingdom 31. After the same manner also my request is that those which read or hear our Writings will not take them to offence but bow their hearts under the Love and receive that onely which is right and reasonable 32. But if so be any man do suspect any misunderstanding in our writings let him bear with the same through Love that through the Love all may be amended and repaired For my service is to unpartiality and to unity of heart in the Love and that according to the gifts of the holy and godly understanding which are of God given and committed unto me 33 Moreover if any man perswade himself that he is more richly endowed with gifts Å¿ 1 Cor. 4 let him not be proud upon the riches of his gifts hut let him humble himself among us under the obedience of the Love and then shew likewise with his gifts according to the mind of the Love and according to the requiring of her service his good willing service without offence and unseperated from us and our Communalty to the intent the fellowship of the lovers of righteousnesse t 1 Ioh. 1. may in every respect be in the Love and be drawn and served out of Love to that purpose 34. For who art thou O man that thou dost proudly lift up thy self for the gifts cause of thy God and that thou shouldst not be content to submit thy self with thy gifts or understanding under the obedience of the Love of God and of Christ
to the Beleevers of his Word by the same Sonne testifying how that all is k Deut. 7. Eph. 1. 1 Pet. 2. His which Son he hath appointed for an heir of all things and l Heb. 1. the same beareth all things with the word of his power and he is unto us a cleansing of our sins through himselfe 4 This onely borne Sonne of GOD the Father is given to the Children of Men to the end they should be m Rom. 11. grafted into his Spirit which is the holy Spirit of Love and in their mindes be n Joh. 15 Eph. 3. 2 Pet. 1. of one Being therewith 5. Through which holy Spirit the same Sonne of God Jesus Christ hath also promised his Believers that the Truth of the Life should nakedly and clearly be o Joh. 14 Acts 1. manifested unto them whereby at the very last to a conclusion of all godly things they in like manner might declare the Love the most brightest Day-light and through the same true Light Gods most holiest Being draw all people that have any desire towards God to the unity of Peace under the obedience of the Love to the intent we all which love God and his Righteousnesse should in these last dayes know and understand in all things the mind of God in perfect clearnesse and through the holy Spirit of his Love walk in all truth as in a true light of the godly Clearnesse according to the Promises even as God also hath spoken the same through the Son whom he hath made heire even of all that is Gods p Mat. 11. Luk. 10. Joh. 3. For all what the Father hath is His. 6. But because of his Long-suffering that his goodnesse might be known in the Love and that none through his default might misse of the fulnesse of the Life he hath spoken thus in times past for to establish it in the last time 7. I have saith q Joh. 16. the Lord Jesus Christ yet many things to say unto you but ye cannot beare them now How beit when the Spirit of Truth shall come the same shall lead you into all Truth For he shall not speak of himselfe but whatsoever he shall heare that shall he speake and he shall shew you that which is to come He shall glorifie me For he shall receive of mine and shew it unto you All what the Father hath that is mine Therefore have I said He shall receive of mine and shew it unto you 8. Lo all this Love doth GOD now through this new Day or Light of his Fatherly Love shew on us for to draw our Spirit in him out of the earthly lying and deadly Being unto his Love in the Heavenly true Life which is everlasting 9 Which his Love r Joh. 17 1 Cor. 13 1 Joh. 4. is the perfect Being of God and of Christ and of the holy Ghost which heretofore was Å¿ Esa 2. promised for to come in the last time and it is the t Apoc. 21. Jerusalem which is now in the last time come downe unto us from Heaven and the perfect fruit of Righteousnesse where the Sun of clearnesse doth never go down according as GOD hath spoken in times past by the mouth of his holy Prophets who have all likewise prophesied of this salvation to the intent that all people to the unity of heart in the Love should have a sure hope towards God and towards their salvation 10 But alas it seemeth that this Beliefe and Hope to this same is by many u Jer. 5. 1 Tim. 1.4 forsaken or else the salvation and the truth is not well understood for to hope thereon 11. For there are found with many sundry divided testimonies and every one in His or the most part will defend that his testimony is brought forth by the Spirit of Truth But among these there is found great faile by many whereby many are made doubtfull in their beliefe x Matth. 24. and become cold in their zeal to the Good And by means of their dissentions y Luk. 17. which they have stirred up and do yet daily stirre up among themselves against each other Many know not what they shal hope for or believe 12. Wherefore for the Unities sake in the Love O ye children of men lay downe your contentions under the Love and have regard unto God promises and to your Calling and incline likewise your hearts to the obeying of the love and of the requiring of her service 13. For in the obeying of the love and of the requiring of her service ye shall become of one mind and shall know that there is no more but z Eph. 4.2 1 John 5. one God or Father who alone is only good and almighty no more but one Christ with him at his right hand who only is the everlasting Mediator and Saviour between God and us out of him no more but one spirit who only is true and no more but one love a Col. 3. which only is the band of perfection 14. Nevertheles the Gifts of God through the spirit under the obedience of the love are manifold Likewise also the Services are manifold Which b Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 4. Gifts and Services are all to the Commodity and Profit of the Communalty and are also all serviceable to the love and to the unity in the peace Howbeit it is all but c 1 Cor. 12 one spirit that worketh all through the service of the love Which service of the love is not ministred for to break that which God hath spoken and promised in times past but d Mat. 5 Rom. 3. to establish and accomplish it all according to the Scripture 15. Therefore let none of ours whose soules stand subject under the Love take upon him e 1 Cor. 5 to contend against any for any of the gifts of God which are of God graciously bestowed upon them nor for the Services or Ceremonies cause which any man observeth or publisheth albeit the same be manifold 16 For it is not for us to contend or strive against any for the gifts cause which any man receiveth of his God neither to contend against any mans Services or Ceremonies which he useth to the training up edifying of the people except as it is convenient edifiable to further the peace that they doe all stand subject under the Love and her Service 17. For one hath this gift and f Rom. 12 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 4. 1 Pet. 4. with the same he is serviceable to the Communaltie to a unity of heart in the Love Another hath another Gift and it is also serviceable to the Communalty and yet notwithstanding they are all used to the Love and to the Concord in their Services 18. Moreover some use one kind of service or such a manner of Ceremonies and some again other Services or Ceremonies wherewith they train up the people to the making known of that Righteousnes unto them
and reasonable y Phil. 4. lovely and peaceable and with them in like obedience under the love to stand obedient in the same life z Eph. 4. to all unity of heart in the Love 34. Behold the true Christians of Israel the people of the Lord and even in this sort minded with us and there are no other Christians nor Jewes nor House of Israel nor People of the Lord but those that stand subject with us to the Love with one accord and over whom the Love is likewise the head who with us also are not partiall or divided with this or that which is earthly or visible 35. Thereunto in like manner is the service of my writing namely to the right stock of life in the Love and not to contend or to strive against any And I do not know that I have written against any mans dealing so farre forth as the same is according to Trut and out of love Neither have I named any faction by name for to contemn them nor singled out any persons particularly whereby to reproach them neither reviled any mans Religion for heresie but have called and invited all men to the unity of heart in the Love The which is the blessing of all the Generations of the Earth according to the Promises made to the Fathers 36. Therefore let every one glasse himself and look how neer his cause is right and so give over his understanding to the obedience of the Love for therein consisteth the upright being to the intent that all may through the Love and her service a Eph. 1. be renewed and the Corruption reigne no more but that the upright Righteousnesse which God esteemeth b Esa 60. may come to light according to the Promises CHAP. XXV 1 The Author concludeth this Introduction with his Desire and Request to all that reade or hear his Writings that they apply themselves unto that which is set forth therein 3. It is much happier to be among the lowly and sorrowers for sin than to be with the proud and dissolute 6. A menacing of the obstinate 12. The reward of the righteous and the horrible End of the rebellious HErewith ye beloved we will cut off and end this Introduction to the holy understanding of the Glasse of Righteousnesse And we desire of all those that read or hear our writings of the godly Testimonies and likewise of all those that have any desire to the Truth and do humbly apply themselves to that which is witnessed by us and do joyn with us in all uprightnes under the obedience of the Love to the intent that the Love may bear the dominion and rule in us to a one minded Communion in one amiable and godly life that they will not take it grievously to suffer contempt heavines or anguish for a little while with those that love the Righteousnes but rather stand alwaies minded whether it be in prosperity or adversity to be joyned to the mind of God in all love even as the same under the obedience of the Love is plainly and cleerly described according to the life that abideth for ever in the Glasse of righteousnes 2. The Almighty God grant us his Grace and strengthen our minds to the same a Eph. 4. in the unity of Love and Peace and in like maner all lowly hearts that hope upon the righteousnes and suffer heavines for the sins cause 3. It is surely much happier to be among the lowly hearts where b 2 Cor. 7. is heavines and sighing for the sins cause c Matt. 18. Rom. 15. 1 Thes 5. Heb. 3. where exhortation to amendment and instruction to the knowledge of God and Christ is and where men out of love d Prov. 27. reprehend the blindnes of the heart for the righteousnes sake than to be among the haughty where the flattering lips of the ungodly and the dissolute stout or uncircumcised of heart are where men embrace all gladnes commendation praise and honour of men and not the honour of God 4. Wherefore have regard hereunto and awake to the good For behold It shall in his time be found that the endurers or sufferers who now for the sinnes cause beate heavinesse sorrow and the Crosse and who out of the love of Righteousnesse endure out such things shall be turned to a e Esa 60 62.66 4 Esd 2. Ioh. 16. godly joyfulnesse where contrariwise all despisers of the Righteousnesse which now rejoyce themselves in ungodlinesse how evilly soever they do it shall be turned to f Matt. 25. grievous sorrow and paine yea g 4 Esd 5. Apo. 21. horrible it is to remember the reward of the unrighteous or wretched men which is for to come upon them 5. O how happy is that man which joyneth himself to the Word of the Lord in his service of the Love and h Esa 1. Mat 18 turneth him away from the evill which betimes i 1 Cor. 11. heareth his Judgement and so setteth himself down in the dust k which receiveth Wisdom and Instruction to Vertue that loveth the Righteousnesse and l Prov. 3. Heb. 12. refuseth not the Chastening of the Lord that he may be upright of heart before God For it shall go well with him in this day of the righteous Judgement which God now bringeth over the whole Earth yet passing through great dangers of his salvation 6. How will it go with you then m Prov. 11. 1 Pet. 5. O ye sinners and sinneresses which receive n Sap. 2. 2 Pet. 2. Jude 1. this transitory life for your delight and keep God out of your hearts and have not once borne sorrow nor heavines for your sinnes 7. Where will ye then hide your selves ye haughty ye covetous and ye proud men and all ye arrogant self-wise that now will not submit nor give over your selves to obedience under the service of the Love of the gracioue Word o Sap. 5 What profit I pray you will your pride and your riches then yeeld or bring you 8. Who think ye will then have compassion on your misery ye which now withhold your selves from the obedience of the Doctrine and requiring of the gracious Word and make your selves common with the worldly minded and with those that oppresse the little ones grieve the Consciences of the simple and betray persecute and spill p Ezek. 22. the innocent Bloud 9. Oh! I am astonied whil'st I thinke upon the horrible being of the ungodly the wicked perverse nature that will not convert 10. Oh how horrible and fearfull shall it be unto him that shall behold it with his eyes Yea what misery and VVoe commeth over him that shall taste bear and be tormented with the same eternally 11. Therefore q Pro. 15 much better in this dangerous Time is a little in the fear of God with the Righteous than superfluities with the ungodly It is also much better to suffer and endure Poverty Shame Reproach Affliction Heavinesse Anguish and Contempt r Heb. 11 with the Children of Peace which have regard on Gods Righteousnesse according to his Promises than to have all the Delights or Pleasures with all the honour riches and Triumphs of this world 12. For the Reward of the Righteous redoundeth Å¿ Pro. 11. Sap. 5. to Gods Glory but the recompence of the ungodly of the wicked world with all unbeleevers or resisters of the good t Apo. 21 shall with confusion perish in horrible calamity and with misery It is true Take it to heart Love ye the Vertue fervently Give God his Honour due Delight therein continually That is his Doctrine true CHARITAS EXTORSIT PER H. N. FJNJS