Sprit of God and Life of Christ and knoweth t Joh. 8 the truth in that manner he verily hath rightly continued stedfast in the Doctrine of Christ and is meet likewise to minister u Joh. 15. Acts 1. the holy Word of Truth and to be a Teacher of the people and not those which doe yet carry the x 2 Cor. 3 fore-skin before their hearts nor yet those which are still earthly y Gal 1. and fleshly minded and so turning themselves away from us and running forth of themselves do sow nothing else but pernicious seed among the people CHAP. LV. WHerefore it is in like manner found true that the fleshly-minded ones which sow upon the flesh or which build upon the fore-skin of their uncircumcised hearts doe mow a Gal. 6. the corruption and inherite the destruction 2. But those that are b Ier. 4. Col. 2. circumcised on their hearts in the laying away of the fore-skin of the sinfull flesh and in the obeying of the requiring of our most holy Service of Love are become spiritually minded and so then out of the upright being of the love of Jesus Christ do sow upon the Spirit c Gal 6. or build upon the spirituall which is the true being it selfe those same do receive or reap the fruits of blessing d 2 Esd 2. in the everlasting immmortality which do not perish e Joh. 15. but continue for ever in the eternall life 3. For all flesh although it doe also speak of spirituall and heavenly things through his knowledge yet is it doubtlesse nothing else but like f Esa 40. 1 Pet. 1. Jam. 1. the grasse of the field and all his garnishing of beauty and holinesse is also like unto the flowers of the field behold the grasse drieth away and the beauty of the flowers of the field withereth or decayeth 4. But the spirituall good the power of God and his g Sap. 1. 7. Heb. 1. living being wherein all what is of God standeth firme and floweth thereout remaineth stedfast h 1 Pet. 1. unchangeable for ever and in the same or through the manifestation of the same being the Kingdome of the God of heavens cometh i Luk. 17. inwardly in us and that is the k Joh. 1.17 true light of the everlasting life 5. Whose naked cleernesse although the same be nothing else but light and life is l Esa 29. Mat. 11. 13. 2 Cor. 4. hidden shut and covered from all understandings and wisdomes of the flesh and from all those that are minded on the flesh or that build thereon 6. But it is manifest and shineth bright to the circumcised of heart and to the upright spirituall-minded ones m 1 Cor. 2 in a spirituall heavenly understanding and the same cleernesse is the n 1 Joh. 1. being of God from heaven the upright o Eph. 4. righteousnesse and holinesse and the life p Joh. 17. of God in eternity 7. Wherefore ye deerly beloved seeing that the q Apo. 3. doore of life is now by Gods grace opened unto us the r Mat. 3. Kingdome of the God of heavens and the heavenly Jerusalem Å¿ Esa 60. Apo. 21. or City of Peace descended downe to us and come neerby therefore let us take good heed unto such a time of the godly t 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 12. grace and not neglect despise or contemne the same but as goodwilling children of Faith take speciall heed unto it and so in the v Mat. 3. Acts 2. 3. doing of upright fruits of repentance enter u Hâ—b 4. 10. into the same according to the Spirit and live therein 8. But not according to the thinking-good or imagination of our own hearts nor according to the mind of the earthly wisdome wherethorow many have estranged x Eph. 4. them from the truth of life but according to the mind and requiring of the Service of Love and of the Spirit of the heavenly y Sap. 1.7 Jam. 3. wisdome which extendeth to the land of the living and City of Peace 9. For if we will contiue safely kept from all sâ—ducing and destruction and enter rightly z Heb. 4. into the rest according to the promises of God the Father then must we submit our selves a 1 Reg. 15 1 Pâ—t 1. obediently under the gracious Word of the Lord and the godly Doctrine of his Service of Love and so in the Spirit enter into the foresaid rich City of peace Gods secret understanding thorow the nature of God and tast therein the spirituall heavenly things and all life and sweetnesse for even there in the same one is come to the b Rom. 8. Col. 1. rest of all the Saints and Children of God and there one eateth of the wood of life that standeth in the c Gen. 2. Apo. 2.22 middest of Paradise and liveth for evermore 10. Which Paradise and place of rest is shut d Gen. 3. and hidden before the old man of errour and it shall likewise continue hidden for ever before all those which according the nature of Adam are falling away e Esa 59. from the holy Commandement of God and Christ and so are erring from the truth of Jesus Christ and his Church for those same are they that carry the right Aprons f Gen. 3. 2 Cor. 3. or coverings before their hearts which Adam hath made him which aprons or coverings of Adam is the hiding of the transgressions or of the sins 11. Therfore can no man see g John 3. the Kingdom of God except the aprons the taking on of Adam be put off from his heart that is that he do make manifest himselfe h Pro. 28. Eccl. 4.17 uncoveredly in his sins of disobedience towards God and do forsake i Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2. Heb. 12. or lay away the same in the obedience to the gracious Word of God and to the Service of his Love and that he even so becometh borne anew k Joh. 3. in the Spirit and is become plaine l Job 1. Mat. 18. 1 Cor. 14. and just and simple like unto a new-born Babe and doth grow up therein obediently taking nothing upon him any more nor yet hiding himself any thing at al before the face of God nor before the Ministers of his gracious Word 12. For whosoever doth not thus simply receive the Kingdome of God m Mat. 10. Luk 8. as a child he also shall not enter into it but must remain n Tess 1. separated from such a clearnesse of the godly light for ever and not tast o Mat. 22. or know any of the godly heavenly goods much lâ—sse inherite them CHAP. LVI BEhold because now that the craftinesse of the old man is counted by the man therefore doth likewise the noble a Gen. 3. rest the Paradise of the Lord and the Kingdom of the God of heavens as also his
spirituall and heavenly b Mat. 13. riches remain shut and covered or hidden from the man and he cannot find the way to the tree of life 2. But the same standeth c 4 Esd 8. Apo. 2. 22. open and also uncovered before all those which in like manner are open or d Eccles 4. 17. uncovered of heart before the Elders in the Family of Love for those same even like unto Christ and all his believers are minded to nothing else but to life peace and righteousnesse and so then likewise Jesus Christ the gracious Word of the Lord is unto them a e Pro. 3. tree of life in the Paradise of the Lord and the true being of God the heavenly Father which Christ after the Spirit hath his manifestation out of the love thorow her service so through his Spirit service of Love he begetteth or teacheth among us the f Mat. 11. humility and meekness of heart g Eph. 4. to unity of peace in all love 3. Whosoever now is not of the mind of Adam neither yet that the work of Adam hath through the Serpents counsell captivated him in h Gen. 3. the knowledge but that he unlearneth all in the same againe through the Service of Love and is taught i Eph. 4. 1 Tim. 4. or becometh taught in all love according to the mind of Christ he also belongeth k Joh. 13. unto Christ and is in the holy City of rest and Peace or he goeth into the same the right way 4. Loe such are the right believers the children of life and the warlike Champions which through the l Apo. 7. 12. blood of the Lamb have overcome or are overcoming the evill who do possesse or shall possesse all things with joy and are a lovely people m Eze. 19. 1 Pet. 2. a holy Kingly generation and do eat the breat and drinke the wine with Christ and his holy ones at the table of the Lord n Luke 22 Apo. 3. in the Kingdome of the God of heavens 5. Forasmuch then as they have in the Service of Love turned o Mat. 18. themselves about to be obedient children and have laid off the p Deut. 10 2 Cor. 3. fore-skin of the old man from their hearts therefore is likewise the Kingdome of God q 4. Esd 8 Act. 7. opened unto them and the mystery of the same given them to r Mat. 11. 13. understand the which remaineth shut unknowne Å¿ Lâ—k 10. 1 Cor. 1.2 and secret before all the wise of the world before all unregenerated rich of spirit and Scripture learned ones as also before all unbelievers of the Love and before all those that blaspheme and resist the Service of Love and that are uncircumcised on the fore-skin of the old man 6. And as long as they are unbelieving and disobedient or resistant towards the Love and her Service so doth not doubtlesse any of all their wisdom t Esa 29. 1 Cor. 1. and learning nor yet any searching in the depth of their understanding nor any subtilty in the knowledge help or further them any thing for to come to the same but are much more in the way against them or they do all stand as lets unto them to come to the u 2 Cor. 11 simplicity of Christ 7. Therefore is there nothing more needfull for the man at the first whereby he may enter into the life then that he do x Mat. 11.18 Luke 14. submit himselfe under the obedience of the Love and so become taught in the Service of Love for to unlearne again y Mat. 16. Phil. 3. all what he of himself hath taken on and learned 8. Now when he hath in this sort humbly yeelded himself under the Service of love z Mat. 19. and in the same hath unlearned all his taking on then doth he in like manner rightly receive the true Doctrine of the wisdome of God and becometh taught in all love 9. But not according to a mind of the flesh in the earthly a 1 Cor. 1.2 corruptible thing but according to the mind of the Spirit of Christ in the heavenly everlasting goods 10. Now when the new b 2 Cor. 5 Creature in Christ is there appeared in the obedience of the Love then is also the old quite perished there for behold it is there become c Esa 43.66 Apo. 21. all new through Jesus Christ 11. And that same is the gracious hand of God towards the man through his love and it is his promise to the blessing of all generations of the earth CHAP. LVII TO this a Joh. 3. Rom. 12. 1 Thess 4. renewing in the Spirit of Christ we are all called ye dearly beloved because that we should be spiritually minded in the spirit of our minds whereby to inherite in that sort with Christ b Mat. 13. Col. 2. the spirituall heavenly riches and to walk and deal before each other with naked hearts in c Eph. 4. all love 2. To the end now for to have or to enter into this open-heartednesse and love with each other whereunto we doe love all lovers of the truth that have diligently d Phil. 3. Col. 3. minded the love and the peace of Christ we have with these present testimonies witnessed of the true Kingdom of God and Christ as a Land or e Apo. 11. City of Peace and described and figured forth the passage unto it as a way that men travell thorow and the entrance into the Kingdome wherein the f Rom. 12 Eph. 4. renewing of the sense and mind is manifested as a gate or door 3. We have moreover signified or shewed in writing before the lover of the Kingdom all what he must g Mat. 19. forsake if he will come to the good land of Peace or enter into the h Heb. 4. rest of all the holy ones of God 4. But not that the lover of the good land shall therefore think that he must first come to every one of the forementioned horrible places or that he must passe thorow them all before he can come to the good City of Peace 5. O no ye dearly beloved but the cause why we have marked out all the abhominations and desolations is for to make knowne every place of deceit i 2 Cor. 2. 11. Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5. and all seducing or leading away from the good land of life to the end that no man should be let by any of those same for entring into the noble Land full of Life and Peace 6. Also for this cause for to warn every one that are lovers of the true being of all vaine and false perswasions because that if any thing therof should chance to meet them they should not then be afraid nor yet joyn to the same for it is all deceit and bewitching and all k Luk. 9.14 such things must be forsaken if we will go into the good life of rest CHAP. LVIII IN what place soever now a lover of the good Land findeth himself being yet for the present time without the same he may then goe out of a Mat. 16. 2 Cor. 6. and forsake it and so according to the counsell b Tob. 4. of the Elders in the holy understanding in the Family of Love indeavour himself to proceed forward to the c Psa 37. Esa 30. submission that is to a submitted being without any desiring of self-wills choosing d Mat. 10. 16. and to stand unbound or free from his selfnesse and let him take unto him the equity and so enter thorow Gods holy nature into Gods understanding e Joh. 10. 17. the everlasting being of the heavenly truth through which entrance into the same all minds and thoughts be released and f John 8. made free from all what is vaine and corruptible in the world and from all captivity to the earthly things and creatednesse for to inherite even so the eternall life the Kingdome of the heavenly beauty and the upright being of Gods everlasting uncreatednesse in all love perpetually 2. That same is the everlasting g Gen. 2. perfection wherein neither the thoughts of corruption nor yet any mortality can h Apo. 21. indure but that which is pure clean and cleer according to the spirituall form of the heavenly things 3. Behold such is the Kingdome of Peace i Apo. 12. 21. the heavenly beauty and the holy Land of Promise to the k Gen. 22. blessing of all generations of the earth 4. And that is the holy rest l Esa 32. Heb. 4. and the noble freedome which God hath reserved for the children of God and given them now m 4 Esd 7. Col. 1. in the last time for an everlasting inheritance according to the Promises 5. Now the only God of Life grant the same rest unto us all Amen Take it to heart Charitas extorsit per H. N.
TERRA PACIS A TRUE TESTIFICATION OF The Spiritual Land of Peace which is the Spiritual Land of Promise and the holy City of Peace or the heavenly Jerusalem and of the holy and spiritual People that dwell therein as also of the walking in the Spirit which leadeth thereunto Set forth by H.N. and by him newly per used and more plainly declared Translated out of Base-Almaine Depart out of thy land and from thy Kindred and out of thy Fathers house and travell into a land that I will shew thee Gen. 12 Act 7. I will lead thee on the â—â—ght path that the course when thou goest be not painful unto thee and that thou stumble not when thou runnest Take â—he information to heart leave it not keep it for it is thy life Go not in the path of the ungodly and walk not in the way of thâ— wicked leave the same and go not therein depart therefrom and pass by it Prov. 4. London Printed for Samuel Satterthwaite at the sign of the Sun on Garlick Hill 1649. THE PREFACE of H. N. To the Spiritual Land of PEACE H.N. Wisheth to the good-willing Reader and unto all Lovers of the Truth which read or hear these present Testimonies of the Land of Peace that they might be prepared to be an upright people for the Lord and taught to the kingdom of heavens and also to have obtained in their spirit and minde â—â—n the obedience of the Love the simple eyes of the true Sight the spiritual ears of the godly Hearing and he second birth in Jesus Christ whereby they might understand in spiritual maner the holy and spiritual understanding that is witnessed therein to the end that the same which becometh seen and heard migh be rightly judged according to the Spirit of the heavenly Truth also the waye that leadâ—â—â— to the Life entered into a â—â—ght and so the true Life of the Living and the pleasant Lands of Peace become inherited rightly and according to the Truth O yea that it come to pass even so IN these true Testimonies of the worthy Land of Peace O ye good willing Hearts which love the Truth there is out of an inclination of Love witnessed and described unto you by Writing the many maner of weldernessed Lands together with the sundry kindes of Travel and Vnrestfulness of the disorderly people of the wicked world and the a Isa 54. Apo. 18. departure out of the same as also then immediatly following the entrance into the spiritual Land of Promise b Isa 32. Heb. 4. Apo. 21. the Rest of all the children of God to the end that every one which loveth the Rest of the Lord in Jesus Christ might forsake the said wildernessed lands and so according to this our direction enter into the noble commodious Land and into the holy c Isa 60. City of Peace 2. Therein is likewise evidently declared unto you with clear manifestation the holy people of the same Land and how lovingly peaceably and uprightly they live in that same good Land 3. Into the Which good Land of Rest and Peace d Isa 13. and 54.55 Ier. 3 and 17. and 23. and 31. and 33.50 Ezech. 20. the Lord will now in the last time under the obedâ—ence of the Love according to his Promises assemble 〈◊〉 people or his Elect and be gracious unto them and so will through the service of his Love e Isa 65. and 66. Ezech. 34. and 37. 2 Mach. 2. bring them into the same out of all Wildernessed Lands and separate them from all disorderly and seditious people 4. O ye children of the Kingdom consider of the minde and the lovers of the Truth humble you now every one under the obedience of the Love and f Ioh. 13. and 15. 1 Iohn 3. and 4. have or exercise love among each other to the end that ye may remain unoffended also g Ioh. 8. 2 Ioh. 1. know the Truth in the Spirit through the Love and live in all Truth and upright righteousness 5. For I will open my mouth h Psal 49.78 Matth. 13. in similitudes reveal and witness the riches of the spiritual heavenly goods as parables and figure forth in writing the mystery of the Kingdom of God or Christ according to the true beeing 6. He that hath ears to hear let him hear and who so hath eyes to mark let him mark what the Spirit of Love saith and bringeth to light by his Minister 7. I looked and behold to the children of the Kingdom the Family of the Love of Jesus Christ it is given to understand i Matt. 11. and 13. Luke 8. and 10. the mystery of the heavenly Kingdom but to those that are therewithout it is not given to understand the same for that cause all spiritual Vnderstandings do chance unto them by Similitudes Figures and Parables 8. Verily the strange people together with all those that have their forth-going without the Family of Love are k Deut. 32. Sap. 2. and 5. Psal 14. ignorant and all the enemies to our godly Testimonies of the gracious Word of the Lord and of our most holy Service of Love are l Gal. 3. resisters of the Truth of God For that cause also they have heard very painfully with their ears and m Isa 6. Matth. 13. Act. 7. and 28. hardned their hearts against the Truth They have likewise wholly shut to the sight of n Ier. 5. and 7. and 16. their eyes before the Truth to the end they would not see the same nor her Requiring and altogether stopped the hearing of their ears before the calling-voyce of the Truth for that they would not hear the same nor the Requiring thereof because they would in no wise understand in their hearts the Truth and her Requiring as also for that they would not turn them to the Truth and her Requiring neither shew forth any upright Fruits of Repentance o Ioh. 5. nor yet come to the godly life and have even so in the hardness of their hearts turned them about to the condemnation 9. For that cause likewise their portion or inheritance is not with the children of the Kingdom in the Family of Love p Psal 1. Wis 2. and 5. but with the children of the wicked world whose q Iohn 8. father and head is the devil himself 10. Seeing then that they through their resisting against the Love and the requiring of her service are become children of r Rom. 9. Ephe. 2. wrath and through the seed of the old Serpent are grown disobeyers of the Requiring of the Word of Jesus Christ and of the Doctrine of his Service of Love as also a Å¿ Deut. 27. and 28. Eccl. 41. cursed people even to be coheirs of the everlasting fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels therefore verily they understand nothing at all of the wisdom of God the Father nor yet of the upright beeing of Jesus Christ the Son
and among what sort of unrighteous or ignorant people he is or hath united himself and also how far off or neer-by he is to the good Land of Peace and to the peaceable people of the Love 47. Behold ye dearly beloved like as hereafter followeth have we out of an inclination of love shewed and described in this maner because that every one of us namely â—â—e to whom the Lord hath given i 4 Esd 10 Ephes 3. Col. 1. to know or to understand the secretness of the good Land or of the heavenly Kingdom might with all lovers of the truth be turned to the same good Land of the Kingdom of Peace with one consent of minde and with a good courage as also enter into and pass through the way k 4 Esd 7. Luke 13. that leadeth to the same Life with a good faith and firm hope whereby to unite the same with us and with those l sal 32. 33. peaceable people in all m John 17 â— phes 4. love and concord who do always live in peace and in all upright righteousness 48. For this same good Land n Psal 78. 132. Matth. 25. is the upright place of rest which God hath prepared reserved and kept for his People from the beginning of the world for to possess them with the same in the last time 49. Moreover this same Land is a Land full of Joy Life and Songs of Praise and likewise full of all maner of Riches of God For therein is the secret Treasure o Matth. 13. Col. 2. of all spiritual and heavenly Goods It is also a Land wherein Wine and Oyl Hony and Milk and all Sweetness to a joy and life floweth abundantly like as we shall hereafter following rehearse more at large of the same 50. Rejoyce you now with this p Psal 96. Isa 44.49 O ye Heavens and recreate thy self now with us thou Earth and all ye that hope upon the Good Give ear now to the Truth understand and consider well of the strange States of the wildernessed Lands and People to the end that ye may forsake or q Deut. 2. pass by them and have also a good regard unto the lovely State of the good r Isai 35.60 Land and of the holy People whereby to love the same and to unite you or to become one being with them For all this same each one particularly is hereafter following described unto you in writing even according to the Life and Truth Take it to heart THE Spiritual Land OF PEACE Hear and understand taste and perceive that which is spiritual heavenly and everlasting and not that which is earthly natural and corruptible Col. 3. CHAP. I. I Looked and behold There is in the world a very unpeaceable Land and it is the wildernessed Land wherein the most part of all uncircumcised impenitent and ignorant people do dwell and which is first of all needful for the man to the end he may come to the Land of Peace and to the good City of Life and Rest to a Gen. 12. Apo. 18. forsake and to depart out of the same Which unpeaceable Land is situate or lieth against or on the other or contrary side of the East or rising b Zech. 2. of the Sun where neither Day not Sun ariseth or shineth at any time For when the Sun cometh neer unto the same then goeth she always under or is c Isa 5 60. 4. Esd 14. covered with the Darknesses of the Land and for that cause she d Sap. â— shineth not there nor yet giveth any cleerness in the same because that the e Exo. 10. Psal 105. Sap. 17. darknesses are too thick over the whole Land 2. This same unpeaceable Land hath also a City or Strength wherein the people of the Land do put their confidence The name of which City they themselves which dwell therein do not know but onely those that are come out of it and it is named Ignorance according to her own proper nature of the darknesses 3. For the f Isa 8 9. 4 Esd 14. darknesses have wholly covered the same Land and also the people that dwell therein which darknesses are so g Exod. 10 Job 12. thick that they may be felt 4. And whosoever do dwell or are born therein they are likewise so ignorant that they will not out of it neither yet desire any better because they have never seen the Light of Heaven in his upright righteousness nor yet known nor loved the h Isa 59. Rom. 3. Life of Peace in his upright Being 5. They run from one place and come to another yet is it altogether in the same Land but they will not depart out of it Therefore is also the Proverb verified in them which saith It is evil to be born in an evil Land CHAP. II. THe people which dwell therein know not their Original or first beginning also they keep not any Genealogy or Pedigree neither do they know from whence or how they are come into the same And moreover then that they are a Isai 56.59 Matth. 15. altogether blinde and b John 9. blinde born 2. And yet over and above their blindness although their eyes be shut they are all bound over their eyes with blinde clothes that which also they have willingly over their eyes For with the same they suffer themselves to be directed and led into all error of Ignorance perswading themselves that the blinde cloathes are the light of their eyes which do give light unto them on whom likewise they have a confidence in their forthgoing and desire not any better And therefore the blinde ones are led there with blinde clothes 3. The blinde clothes are called c Isa 56. Matth. 15. 22. Luke 6. blinde guides because the blinde ones in the darkness and in the Land of Ignorance are led by them into all ignorance but that same do they themselves neither know nor understand 4. And although one should take away the clothes from their eyes in the same Land of Ignorance and so should open their eyes in the knowledg yet might it not help them any thing at all to a beholding of the true Light but it should be unto them more evil then good because of the darknesses d Job 10.12 Isa 5. 9 which are spred over the whole Land therefore must they also in the same still groaping after the way be led in the darknesses and must likewise oftentimes e Matt. 15. Luke 6. with their blinde guides fall into the ditches 5. For whosoever doth not forsake the same Land and his darknesses as also the blinde guides in the same and suffereth not himself to be led into the true light by the seeing guides of the Family of Love f John 11. he must oftentimes stumble or become offended and also many times g Prov. 4. stagger and fall and that altogether because he is not taught nor
b Eccl. 8. old age of the holy Understanding and in the experience of the manly wisdom inherite the c Prov. 7. Ephe. 1. heritage of the peaceable land 14. The other Wise one cometh before him out of the thoughts of mans good-thinking and out of the opinion of the strangers from the Family of Love which wise one cometh often unto him to the intent to draw him away d Prov. 5. from the way that directeth to the land of the living and he standeth on the left side of the way and his form is sweet and friendly according to the mindes of the flesh to behold and his sayings and counsels delightful to be obeyed but if the traveller do regard him and cleave unto him and follow his counsel then becometh he altogether deceived and at the last â—indeth himself in many calamities and miseries and he is named e Rom. 8. The wisdom of the flesh whereunto is taken on the corruptible doctrine and ministration of mans good-thinking with the which many people be seduced and led away from the way of the passing over to the good land of the living 15. These two wise ones on both sides do give unto the traveller several counsel 16. The Law or Ordinance of the Lord requireth the traveller the obedience to her Requiring and so with a simple heart to accomplish f Matt. 3. all righteousness obediently and testifieth unto him that that same is g Pro. 3. and 4. the right wisdom of the upright people of the good land and councelleth him likewise that he in the obeying of the Requiring of the ministration of the gracious Word of the Lord should draw away his senses and thoughts from all unprofitable and corruptible things and so to let it be delightful unto him to love the God of life h with all his heart and to serve him only that he might come to such an upright i 2 Pet. 1. nature and good beeing h Deut. 6. and 10. Matth 22. as the people of the good land have and so then might live with the same peaceable people in k Ephe. 1.4 the upright Righteousness and Holiness 17. But The wisdom of the flesh with the doctrine of her good thinking doth in all things set forth her self there-against much subtiller and more prudent then to live so in the l Wisd 1. singleness of heart obediently and requireth of the traveller to do his diligence or indeavour to know all secrets and so counselleth him not to hear to believe nor to obey m Gen. 3. Rom. 1. the Law and Ordinance of the Lord nor the Elders in the same ministration but to endeavour him of himself to discern the best and the worst through his imagination of the knowledg and to excel all things with the knowledg n Ier. 9.11 and 13. and 18. as also to live according to the best of the good-thinking or judgment of his own heart 18. Besides this The wisdom of the flesh holdeth forth likewise before the traveller divers sorts of knowledg according to the desire and pleasure of the flesh because he should chuse such things to follow after also sundry kindes of o Col 2. 2 Tim. 3. false holiness and false freedom and many kindes of joy in the vanity and in the foolish and earthly p Wisd 2. Rom. 11. 2 Pet. 2. corruptible things to the end he should cleave unto them with a loose heart according to his own opinion and pleasure and to frame his own Righteousness joy and friendship there-out even as though the same also were a good holiness or Paradise of life and a good freedom but q Pro. 5. Wisd 3. Rom. 6. the end is the death and destruction 19. If so be now that the traveller do beleeve and follow the counsel of the wisdom of the flesh then doth he subject his heart unto two false and deceitful props the one is named r Phil. 2. and 3. 2 Pet. 2. Self-seeking the other Å¿ Gen. 3. Negligence toward the Law or Ordinance of the Lord and so he cometh into many kinde of errors through the wisdom of the flesh CHAP. VIII BUt if the traveller have an hearty desire to come into the rest of the good land and that his heart be inclined a Ephe. 4. unto Unity with the peaceable people then must he utterly forsake all the counsel of The wisdom of the flesh how pleasantly and prudently soever the same attempteth him in the Knowledg and all those likewise that are enemies to the Family of Love and that are captived with the fleshes wisdom or good-thinking and with the disobedience to the Requiring of the Word and service of Love for the end of the counsel of the wisdom of the flesh and of her servants or captives is nothing but deceit and extendeth to all b Wisd 5. Eccl. 21. grievous misery bitterness c Rom. 6.8 and sins of death and therefore must the traveller with all his heart follow the d Psa 119. counsel of the Law of the Lord according to the counsel of the said e Pro. 4. and 7. elders in the holy understanding 2. And although it seemeth at the first to be somewhat painful and bitter yet doth the end of the same for all that extend to all joy sweetness and f Rom. 6. and 8. righteousness of life and bringeth the traveller to the good land of rest and peace 3. But the principall counsel of the Law or Ordinance of the Lord is this that the traveller or lover of the good land shall in the beginning of his journey g Eccl. 7. submit himself altogether under the Requiring of the holy and gracious Word of the Lord and his service of Love and enter obediently into the Requiring of the same and prepare h Eccl. 2. his soul to temptation and so shall call and pray unto his i Psal 18. and 19. and 116. God in all his temptation and persevere stedfastly in the Law or Ordinance of the Lord even till into the good land of Peace 4. And this good counsel of the Law of the Lord giveth the traveller also two Instruments with him in the journey or by the way the one serveth him for to continue there through in the right way and it is a compass the which is the right Christian way sure that alwayes pointeth him rightly unto the good land this compass is named k Mat. 16. Mar. 8. Luk. 9.14 The forsakeing of himself for the good lifes sake As long as one goeth on according to the same in the Obedience of the Requiring of the Law of the Lord he cannot err 5. With the other instrument all the enemies and all the temptations that would hinder the traveller from coming into this holy place be overcome 6. This instrument of victory is the Cross of Christ and it is named l Lam. 3. Heb. 10.12 Iam. 5. Patience or
The understanding of God for in the same is m Col. 2. all fulness of riches n Ioh. 10. and all fulness of life and of joy to be found CHAP. XV. IN this unpathed thorow-faring land there do also spring or grow certain Thistles and thornes which do many times somewhat vex the traveller but with patience he may escape and pass thorow them all 2. The Thistles and Thornes are named a Num. 14 Wisd 17. Vncertain Consciences 3. Therein are likewise to be found divers natures of beasts that are minded to devouring the which also do pursue the travellers very stoutly in such sort that they sometimes retire a little because of them but before the Cross they do all retire back at the last 4. These beasts are named b Rom. 3. Gal. 5. Envy Wrath Churlishness or Vnfriendliness Cruelty Offensiveness Resistance or Disobedience Craftiness greedy desire of Honor Subtilty to deceit and Violence and also one of the most detestable beasts that will worst of all give way is named Hypocrisie c Luk. 12. or Dissimulation where under all maner of naughtiness is covered with a coloured Vertue d Mat. 6.7.23 or made holiness and he is indeed the subtillest beast who provoketh all the other beasts for to devour the travellers 5. Of which wilde beasts the travellers must take heede with great foresightfulness e Matt. 10. Ephe. 5. that they run not into the mouth of them and so be swallowed up CHAP. XVI NOw when the traveller is passed thorow all this said land and hath left all these abominations then cometh he to three Castles thorow the midst of the which he must pass and must leave them in like maner for he shall not neede a 4 Esd 2. to fear any thing of all whatsoever meetteth him in the journey 2. It is true when any thing meeteth him in any place that hath a shew or that he himself regardeth as if it were of some valuâ— hen doth it vant out it self so highly sometimes as if it were impossible to be overcome b Exod. 1â— Num 13 but when one is gone thorow or past the same and then looketh about after it so is it nothing at all and is alt gether deceit c â—ob 20 Psal 37 vanity and bewitching 3. Upon these Castles there lie subtile watchers which are very crafty and wily but thorow the d Mar. 8. Luk. 9. forsaking of himself and with the patience one may pass by them but whosoever through unbelief hath lost the Compass and left the Cross him do they take captive to be their bondslave 4. The one of these Castles is named e Iob 1. and 2. Matt. 4. The power of the Devils assaulting the second f Heb. 12. The forsaking of Hope the third is named g Psal 55. Fear of death 5. The Watchers that lie upon these Castles for to take the people captive under the same as named according to their nature and these are their names 6. h 2 Cor. 11. Appearing like angels of light i bzec 13. and 22. Indeavoring to the stealing of the heart k Pro. 14.16 2 Tim. 3. Appearance of Vertue Subtil invention l Prov. 12. Col. 2. Confidence in Knowledg m Mat. 23. 1 Tim. 4. Made laws and imagined rights Disguised or unknown holiness Self framed Righteousness there goeth also among them n 4. Esd 16. Wisd 17. Rom. 2. Accusation of sins Fear of evil Fear of adversity Careful of destruction Fear of hell c. 7. These and such like before named are the Watchers of the Castles who do go out with many o â— Isal 35.57 suâ—till snares for to let the travellers and to catch them into their Captivity 8. But the p Mat. 16. forsaking of himself pointeth quite beyond as to forsake it all and with the patience one passeth thorow the same as if it were nothing for the Compass doth point only unto the Understanding of God to the end to bring the traveller to the same and to arm him thereunto forasmuch doubtless as all other things are q Wisd 5. seducing and foolishness CHAP. XVII NOw when one is passed beyond and hath left all this as is rehearsed then doth he a Num. 27. Deut. 34. come hard by the good land and he approacheth neer unto the understanding of God But many do run past the entrance thereof because they perswade themselves too soon that they have left it all and that they are grown so wise that they think it is not needful for them to near the serviceable Word of the Lord any more and think that therefore they cannot fail to know very rightly the entrance of the good land and also the maner how they shall go into the good land and so they lose the Compass coming even so yet into very great errors 2. For the neerer one cometh to the Land the more subtilly doth the deceit assault him for besides the entrance of this good land as the one wayes entrance joyned to the other there lieth also a way b Matth. 7. that leadeth to an abominable or horrible land and the same way is a pleasant way to behold and c Gen. 3. Pro. 14.16 pleasant likewise to enter into wherewith many be deceived supposing forasmuch as his coming in is so delightful and pleasant in beholding that the same is the very way that leadeth into the good land 3. Here it is very needful to have a diligent and sharpe regard to which of both these wayes the d Matth. 2. Star leadeth and upon which the Compas pointeth whither it be to the same pleasant way or to the peaceable life of the good land and also that the Cross be not forsaken for through e Heb. 12. 1 Pet. 2. the Cross one may perceive which of them is promised to be the Rest namely the pleasant way or the peaceable life of the good land 4. This pleasant way is named f Gen. 2.3 Knowledg of Good and Evil the which deceiveth many people because they perswade themselves that to know the good and the evil doth far excel the serviceable Word of the Lord and his Requiring and that likewise the same is the very best the most holy and the most prudent Understanding whereby to go into the good land and to inherit his Riches and so they judg that the Knowledg is the greatest or the chiefest Riches of God Howbeit it is nothing at all g Gen 3. Wis 2.5 but deceit pain labour trouble and no rest also nothing but Death and no Life 5. For if any man adjoyn him unto the knowledg of good and evil and maketh more account of it then of the Nature of God h Gal. 3. Heb. 7. whereunto the Law of the Lord is serviceable unto him then doth he forsake the door or gate serving to the entrance of the life and so chuseth to enter into the
e 2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 2.3 Jud. 1. stout and puffed up in mind as those that will reigne themselves according to their own advice or opinion seeking their selfnesse and not the Lords the which they do apparently shew by the deed because they will not stand submitted under the love nor her service neither yet do love the unity in the love and therefore likewise they understand not the f 2 Tim. 5. truth 3. Whose hearts are blinded with the g 2 Cor. 4 blindnesse of the wicked world and with the blindnesse h 1 Cor. 1.3 of her dissentions and chosen i Col. 1. holinesse for that they should not behold the light of the heavenly cleernesse in the love 4. For that cause also they cannot understand nor comprehend the service of Love which tendeth to the everlasting life nor the upright k Rom. 8. freedome to the blessing of the manly generation whereof we do witnesse 5. For that same is our service towards all those which love the good life and the peace namely for to declare and shew unto them under the obedience of the love and assured way to the life to the end that they might all now in this day of love have a free l 2 Pet. 1. passage to the good life through Faith for to live lovingly and peaceably in the same life m Joh. 1. 1 Joh. 1. which was likewise from the beginning and shall remain for ever and unto the which the manly generation is created and that â—t might go well and prosper with them perpetually 6. That same is the everlasting life that was n Mat. 28. Act. 2. published in times past unto the people as an Evangelie or good message for that they should be saved therein CHAP. LII BUt oh alas we have now in this perillous time very speciall cause to sigh and mourne grievously over the a Esa 6. 59. blindnesse of many people and to bewaile the same with great dolour of our hearts and that chiefly because there is now in this same day of love b 2 Mac. 2. and of the mercy of God so little knowledge of the good life of Peace and of love to be found among them and also for that the same knowledge is desired of so few and yet much lesse loved But they do almost every one delight to walk in strange c 4. Esd 5. Mat. 7. waies that stretch to contention and destruction by which occasion they live in many molestations and deadly afflictions every where 2. Therefore may we with wofulnesse and â—ighing hearts very jostly say that it is now a perillous d Amos 5. Mat. 24. 2 Tim. 3. time to be saved or to escape or remain over to preservation Oh what venemous winds do there blow to the desolation and destruction of men Yea it seemeth to be almost e Mat. 19. 24. unpossible for the man to come to his salvation or preservation in Christ or to the lovely life of peace 3. But yet is it easie and f Mat. 19. possible with the Lord namely for all those that seek him with all their g Deut. 4. Jer. 29. hearts and under the obedience of the Love do believe his Word of Truth whereof all false hearts have a lothsomnesse and it is unto them a secret h Mat. 13. 2 Cor. 4. or unknowne Treasure of wisdome 4. Oh! when we behold all the perills and snares which are now presently in the way as lets or hinderances against the good life of peace namely by the worldly foolishnesse pride and corruptiblenesse also by the many manner of seditions of the Scripture-learned i Mat. 6. 15. 23. Act. 7. and chosen holinesse and again by the sundry sorts of conceited opinions of men so doth our soule oftentimes suffer great sorrow and that even herefore because that all understanding of the flesh which is borne of the bloud of the flesh k Gen. 6. 4 Esd 3. and earthly being runneth on so ignorantly after the knowledge of the godly truth and over-reacheth it selfe so grossely in giving judgement in the testimonies of the spirituall things 5. For verily many of the opinionated or good-thinking wise ones and of the Scripture-learned sort have with their good-thinking understanding or arrogant wit of the flesh made up themselves for to judge there-through the truth of God which is brought to light by us and so have by the fleshly conceiving or mind of their l Act. 7. uncircumcised hearts and unilluminated understandings considered of or weighed our spirituall and heavenly testimonies of God and of the holy Spirit of the Love of Jesus Christ m Joh. 7. 8. according to the outward appearance and judged them after the same manner 6. Not only these our spiritual and heavenly testimonies of the spirituall land of Promise and of the spirituall Saints of God but they have also judged according n Joh. 7.8 to their earthly and fleshly minds other more spirituall and heavenly testimonies of God which are gone out from the holy Spirit of the love of God and Christ and that are set forth or published by us and which have their ministration unto spirit and unto inward spirituall things or doe extend thereunto and have not rightly understood our Ministration which guideth to the spirituall and heavenly even like as the same is happened unto us by some and become manifest before our eyes but chiefly by the principall ones in the Scripture-learnednesse and likewise by those which did advance and give forth themselves to be o 1 Tim. 1. Treachers and that seemed to be the most prudent and expert ones in the services and also how resistingly many false hearts have made up themselves with their earthly and fleshly minds against the truth of the spirituall and heavenly testimonies of God and his Promises and against the holy Spirit of Jesus Christ and of the mercifull love of God the Father p Heb. 10. 2 Pet. 2. Jud. 1. as blasphemers of their most holy goods and likewise against us who do witnesse and publish forth Gods Word his everlasting truth out of those same spirituall and heavenly goods for to defame and persecute us with much q Mat. 5. lying and falshood CHAP. LIII BUt although many of them have grossely over-reached themselves therein yet have some notwithstanding according to the imagination of their knowledge run on or laboured for the spirituall things for that they would understand them also many have according to their understanding of the flesh testified of them 2. But seeing they have not sought their knowledge of the spirituall things in the obedience of the Christian doctrine of the Service of Love but in their knowledge of the flesh and so have taken on their understanding of the knowledges of the spirituall things out of the imagination of their owne knowledge therefore have they likewise understood those same