covetousnesse pride lust and envy feeds below and licks the dust of the earth under bondage and distemper But the love faith humility and righteousness of the spirit lives above in liberty freedom perfect peace And God is said to live above the heavens that is the spirit that is the life and peace of all things which is reason is incomprehensible flesh cannot comprehend the largenesse of it nay the Saints themselves which are the heavens that live above cannot contain him nor finde out the heigh depth length and breadth of that pure spirit therefore he is said not only to live above the earthy and imaginary minded men but above the heavens likewise spirituall men that live in the spirit and whose flesh is subject to the spirit these are not able to reach the incomprehensiblenesse of him And so he is said to be above all to live in the heavens the Saints yea and to live above the heavens in wisdom and power yea and to tread the earth under his feet for the wisdom of the earth or flesh is foolishnesse not worthy the name of wisdom when it stands before the spirit The swine ran into the waters and perished there By waters are pointed out to me the wisdom of poysoned flesh which is branched forth into established doctrines of the flesh into formes customs and governments of the flesh which deceived men conform unto for fear and shame of others And so the doctrine and practises of Rome being altogether after the flesh is called the sea of Rome sometimes multitudes of people that are deceived by the flesh and follow after the wisdom lust thereof are called seas or great waters for these indeed are the waters whereupon the Whore the disloyal flesh sits makes war against the spirit in them Now swinish men that Iohn cals the inhabitants of the earth that live in the flesh not in the spirit of the father they are drowned and they perish in this sea into which they are run that is they live in this sea which the flesh hath made glorying and delighting in that sea and in those waters as a fish doth in the materiall water his proper element they are separated from the life of God and are dead to him But it is said Suffer us to go into the swine c. The meaning given to me is this that all the distempers that trouble the creature man is hereby declared that they shall be cast out of mankinde the pure creation into the very body of the serpent which is King flesh a swinish nature a herd of swine for all the branches of it are like so many filthy swine snudling upon the earth as covetousnesse snuddles upon the earth pride licks the dust of the earth envy lives in the filth of the earth hypocrisie and self-conceit with the imaginary glory of the flesh do tumble and dwell and live in the mire of the earth that is delight in nothing but the filth of mankinde like so many swine as they are they do not delight in God they are enmity against him And this corrupt power of darknesse and swinish nature shall run into the sea and confusion of his own invention and imagination and perish together while as mankinde by the power of the anointing shall sit down in peace in the father the Lord our righteousnesse And where it is said Christ suffered them to go it points out this that though King flesh rule vvith povver in mankinde yet he is but suffered so to do for a time by the King of righteousnesse and this sufferance is for his destruction and mans deliverance from the bondage of the flesh for the two men were made quiet by Jesus Christ while the swine perished in the sea that is the creation man and the righteous Law the spirit sweetly embraces each other while the filthy powers and wisdom of the flesh do perish in the sea of his own invention forms customes governments and imaginary glory So that the Devill is not a third power between God and man but he is the curse in flesh and the power of utter darknesse is this when the father shines forth in man and lets him see his curse and so begins to condemn and burn up the curse now the poor creature not knowing the mysterie of the father dieth presently under sorrow beholding no way of comfort but misery on every side for the spirit of brightnesse hath so beset the power of darknesse within a man that the poor heart sees there is no possibility of peace and comfort till one side be subdued or a reconciliation be made By this means which is a means or work of the spirit within not any outward means of preaching c. the Father kils and destroyes the powers of disobedient flesh and at length made the created flesh to submit to him and live before him And for proof of this I will appeal to the experience of any of you that have been sensible of your bondage through the combate that hath been between flesh and spirit in you whether you have looked upon your troubles as inflicted upon you by the devill and adverse power between God and you or have not rather beheld the anger of God upon you through the bright shining Law of righteousnesse in you shaming condemning and tormenting of you for disobediences sake It may be the thought of the Law of God hath not been in your minde but the sense of anger and wrath hath lien upon your spirit and whence comes that wrath but from the shining of the Law of the spirit within you and wherefore through this Law but because the principles of the flesh in you seek to advance self above the spirit or at least to be equall with him And so long as the powers of such aspiring self-seeking lusts and sin rules within you so long will the power of the Law in dispensations of wrath and anger in your apprehension rule in you and over you so that this compound murtherer is of a mighty power and may be well called a power of darknesse for it holds you under darknesse and death and you live far below both the comforts and life of God As soon as disobedient flesh appears against the Law of the spirit in you the spirit appears presently against the powers of the flesh in you and so holds you in fear of death all your life time For indeed your disobedient flesh which rules powerfully in all the branches of it which you take pleasure in as in pride covetousnesse uncleannesse envy self-conceipt hypocrisie in their severall measures till they rise up to a number of a legion of devils You think this is your liberty to have your filthy wils satisfied herein and alas this is your bondage and it is that Devill that was a liar from the beginning that never gave true peace to his children though he promised much he carries you away from God by
the Serpent that held you under slavery all your life time Well as darkness hath overspread the Earth Mankinde so now is the time come that knowledge shall abound and cover the earth Mankinde light begins to arise the spirit begins to appear in flesh he spreads himself in his sons and daughters so that as the Sun shines from East to West so shall the appearing of this Son of righteousness he he comes not now in corners but openly the poor receive the Gospel which is this everlasting spirit wise men in the flesh are made fools fools are made wise scholars are declared to be ignorant the ignorant ones in mens learning become abundantly learned in the experimentall knowledge of Christ I do not write to teach I only declare what I know you may teach me for you have the fountain of life in you as well as I and therefore he is called the Lord because he rules not in one but in everyone through the globe and so we being many are knit together into one body are to be made all of one heart and one minde by that one spirit that enlightens every man I have yeelded to let these few experiences come abroad and partly unwilling because I see more clearly into these secrets then before I writ them which teaches me to rejoyce in silence to see the Father so abundantly at work and it shall cease speedily for men to stand up as they do to teach one another for every one shall be taught of him and I shall be as ready to hear as to speak and to give as to receive and every one delighting to do as they would be done unto This is the King of righteousness that shall raign in the earth this is the spirit that is now pouring out upon sons and daughters though it yet seem small it shall speedily increase and the Father will not despise that day of small things proud flesh shall die and raign King and governour in man no longer they that have understanding know what I say others may reproach and be offended but after they have been tryed in the fire which is the spirit they will acknowledge a truth herein and he made to speak as a friend to truth Your friend whose peace liberty and life lies in the spirit that governs within the Globe Jerrard Winstanley THE FATHERS TEACHING is the only satisfaction to WAITING SOVLS CHAP. I. THe teachings of men and the teachings of God are much different The former being but the light of the moon which shines not of it self but by the means and through the help of the sun The latter is the light of the sun that gives light to all not by means and helps from others but immediately from himself Mens teachings are two fold first when men speak to others what they have heard or read of the Scriptures or books of other mens writings and have seen nothing from God themselves And thus by natural industry study length of time in such an exercise or education from childehood many men Preach or teach others and think and so do others think of them that they are sent of God but Gods time is drawing neer that he will make it appear that these men do run before they be sent And that it is not the zeal of God which sets them to work but the desire and sweetness of a temporal living But this kinde of teaching and teachers must vanish And though God hath suffered them and yet awhile will suffer them for he sits upon the throne therefore let them alone and wait upon God Secondly Others speak from their own experience of what they have heard and seen from God and of what great things God hath done for their souls and this is from God And it is that ministry of the Gospel which God hath put into the hands of men whereby God doth mightily manifest himself and if any man take up this trade of teaching to get a living by for preaching is now adayes become a trade and speaks not from God by experience what they speak they are clouds without rain and such as meddle with holy things that as yet they have nothing to do withal But this teaching in Gods time must vanish too for this moon-light that is conveying knowledge to others by helps and means is to be swallowed up into the light of the sun and God shall become all in all as it is said ye shall be all taught of God and you need not that any man teach you for the anointing which the Saints receive from the Father doth teach them all things And that prophesie of Ieremiah must be fulfilled That the time shall come that men shall not teach one another saying Know the Lord for all shall know him by Gods own teaching from the least of them to the greatest And when God and the Lamb are the light of the City there shall be no more need of the light of the sun nor of the moon By the mentioning of sun and moon in this place God speaks to the capacity of men and points out the whole creation of night and day and that all creature-helps and means should fail though they were or are as glorious helps as the created sun that gives light to the day or as the created moon that gives light to the night And that the time shall come nay it is begun that God himself will be the light of men without creature-helps or means And so Paul seeing that the indwelling of God in man is and would be a glorious sun shine light said That knowledge or rather this way of conveying verbal knowledge one to another shall cease but love which is God endures for ever But thirdly The teachings of God shall never cease Gods teaching differs from men very much for men speak words to the ear but God works out the serpent and works himself into a man and so gives words of a feeling experience to the heart and causes the man to see light in Gods light as thus I have been proud envious and discontent and I have heard words from men against these yet in those dayes I thought I was good and I knew not those evils but when God came and wrought humility love and contentedness in me he then taught me to see and know by experience what the strength of God in me is which is humility love and patience which hath thrown down the strength of the serpent which was pride envy and discontent And this teaching of God I cannot forget it sticks lively in me though the â—…ords of men are forgotten by me and thus God takes up the soul more and more into himself and the soul findes much sweetness in feeling seeing and sensibly understanding the nature of God working dwelling and ruling in him this is Gods teaching in making men to know and to enjoy God this shall continue for the
no Cows in the Stalls nor blossomes on the Vine when no creature speaks peace but every creature is barren of giving refreshment then God will make his people to suck life from him who is the God of their salvation Well when I was under your bondage my God who is the best teacher of erring souls let me see that I rested first upon outward helps and means and such as you call Ordinances though I thought not so but was offended at any that told me I rested thereupon And when God gave me those enjoyments and yet denyed me a heart to suck sweetnesse from them or rather withheld their sweetnesse from my heart then I was troubled to see my barrennesse And if at any time God was pleased to let a beam of light and peace shine into me and gave me enlargements of heart then I thought my self to know God but when this sun was clouded again then I was in bondage again Well here God taught me that I knew him not but that I knew his gifts and the beams of his presence that he sent down to refresh my drooping spirit and that I rested in those beams not in him that was the sun from whence those beams come And this I know is your condition who know the Scriptures it may be at your fingers ends as we say and that you are unacquainted as yet with the God of the Scriptures Be not offended with this expression for it is a truth and your souls either do or will know it to be true But when Gods time is to set you at liberty from your bondage for he works when he will not when you will then you shall finde this frame of spirit in you That if God deny you all outward means and helps and Saints communion yet you are content and rest in him who is your portion your teacher and who you finde see and feel is present with you And if you finde an emptiness that you cannot understand nor speak yet you are content though you were not content formerly and you rest in your Fathers will till he give you understanding of such and such mysteries or till he give you power to speak or act and you have as much peace to eye God and to wait upon him and rest in him as if you were full of actings or enjoyed much of the Saints communion so that you are taken off from either glorying in the presence or mourning in the absence of any creature-help or fruit If you never see the faces of the Saints but live in prison in a wildernesse or in some private place yet you are at rest in God you are satisfied in him and you glory only in his presence and if he seem to withdraw from you by slacking his hand in giving discoveries you know he is your Father still he doth not withdraw in anger but in wisdom and love for your good that he may teach you more experiences for that soul that God purposes to give plentifull experiences unto it is his will to cast that soul often into straits but yet you are content and wait quietly in spirit till he speak and appear in powerfull presence both in you and to you Now in the midst of these Nationall hurly burlies if you want riches food or clothing if you want communion of good people and such like creature-contentments and yet for all that you can rest quiet in God and be at peace in him and you know he is your Father and that it is his will to cast you into such straits Why now you are able to say That to rest and lie down in God alone is the sweetest rest that every you tasted of CHAP. II. WEE see in these dayes the bottomlesse pit is opened and the mysterie of iniquity is begun to be made manifest to men That is corrupt flesh is laid open to the view of such as God manifests his wisdom and power in and the secret workings of this wise but corrupt flesh appears very plentifully by the spreading forth of unbelief hypocrisie envy cruelty slavish fear of men and in shame to own God and his wayes and by violent and subtil endeavouring to wear out the appearance of God in man and to destroy the mighty and the holy people first by slanders lies and bad names and then threatening and likewise endeavouring to destroy them all by the sword By reason whereof some through weaknesse are troubled and a slavish fear doth possesse them that the sincere hearted ones shall suffer much in these troublesome times Indeed I believe God may suffer some few of his Saints to endure wasting in their estates and may give up the liberty and lives of their bodies into the hands of wicked men Yea but the number of Saints are limited and the length of their sufferings are limited all the Saints shall not die neither shall the sufferings of some be alwayes for the devill must cast but some into prison not all and there shall be tribulation but ten dayes a little while not alwayes And therefore you see while Pharaoh did only oppresse Israel God suffered Pharaoh to live but when his malice rise so high or rather his spirit fell so low from God-ward as to destroy all Israel at the red Sea with open mouth then God appeared to preserve his son even to deliver Israel and drowned Pharaoh and all the Host of those risers in the red Sea and when this storm was over God set Israel in a condition of greater liberty and freedom from the oppression of enemies then ever he was in before And in King Davids time when the uncircumcised Nations endeavoured to destroy not only here and there one but began to strike at the root and sought to destroy all Israel that the name of Israel might be had no more in remembrance then God appeared for their protection Even so while the mysterie of iniquity which rules in the unbelievers of our daies have sought to wear out formerly some of his Saints by High Commission Courts Sessions Canon Laws Whips Prisons and death God let them alone he had appointed some of his Lambs and Sheep for such a slaughter as in the time of Martyrdom not all but some were slain here and there one and God suffered it But when malice and the hypocriticall subtil flesh strike at all and not only one Mordecay that torments proud Hamon must die but all Mordecayes friends and people Not only Christ must die but Lazarus or any that is Christs friend must be put to death and suffer too As in these dayes unbelief in men will destroy all Gods people it is the generall language of all the scoffing sons of bondage they will destroy all the free born Isaacs under those reprochfull names of Round-heads Anabaptists Independents nay there were some that were not ashamed to say that when the Countries rise against the Parliaments Army they would destroy men women
underhand working endeavour to vent their malice upon the kingdomes friends even the Saints And alas poor blinde creature you work your own ruine take Lot out of Sodome and the vengeance of Gods Law fals immediatly therefore you weak ones that are troubled take notice That God is most persecuted hated and fought against in these dayes for the plaine truth is the mysterie of iniquity would not have the God of love to have any appearance in earth So that God is the greatest sufferer And therefore that truth which my soul most drives at is this which follows that though God suffer most yet it is not against his will but with his will And that this spirit of darknesse or mysterie of iniquity that fights against God hath no power to act like it self till God limit him that power and limit him a time to act that power in And here I shall shew in my experience what I see and know the Devill is And what the power of the Devill is and by what power he workes The Devill or father of lies in the full body of him is unrighteous flesh and the imaginations thereof He is that Belzebub that sat among the sonnes of God that is among the five sences or spirituall lights which God hath set in the soul for the imagination of flesh will not submit it self to God but is found a chiefe enemy against him And the pride of the flesh envy slavish feare distrust hypocrisie carnall thoughts selfe love and the like are particular Devils that first intices the soule and afterwards brings him to trouble and every one of those have particular degrees like legions of Devils which holds the creature man in bondage While a man enjoyes his lusts he hath a seeming peace within himself But when the holy law appears to discover those lurking Devils then begins the creatures torment and slaverie And this lets me see what the enmity of nature is between God and me The enmity in flesh it is the spirit of envy and darknesse which is Gods opposite as darknesse is opposite to light and heat opposite to cold And this workes in the creature man to maintaine its unclean beeing in opposition to the beeing of God And while it hath its liberty sinfull man is in peace But when God pleases that the declaration of righteousnesse shall take hold upon that enmity it throws the sinner presently under sorrowes and breakes his peace to pieces And this is that which the scriptures in my experience calls the Devil or murtherer Even the enmity that is in my nature against God which threw me under the flashings of Gods righteous law which was enmity against me and this I shall endeavour to clear CHAP. III. BUt first of all what is the righteous Law here to be understood I Answer It is not the words of the letter called the ten Commandements and therein only bound up But it is the manifestations of God in all or any one of his Attributes shining forth upon and in his creature endeavouring by his spirituall power to swallow up all the motions and imaginations of the flesh into God And so burning up by the spirit of burning all the dross of the flesh that the creature may appeare pure gold As thus the manifestation of Gods wisdom to the heart is directly opposite to the wisdome of the flesh and declares it to be folly which inward discoverie troubles and shames the man though none see and know it but himselfe The manifestations of Gods love humilitie truth is directly opposite to the carnal love carnal humilitie unrighteousness of the flesh The chastitie and holinesse of God lets a man see his uncleannesse and filthy lust The sincerity of God shining forth upon the heart discovers its hypocrisie and so of all other manifestations of God being darted into the heart by the father He declares the creature his weaknesse and that every way he comes short of the glory of God by reason whereof the creature is filled with horror and torment which the eye of other men sees not but stands and admires So then here lies the mysterie though to me it is an unfolded truth for I speak what I know The Serpent or proud flesh in all the imaginations of it endeavours to maintain its corrupt self and to swallow up the Law of God which is the pure spirit But the Law of God which is the wisdome and power of God manifested in all the branches of it to and in the heart doth swallow up the other into himself and destroys and consumes all the powers of the flesh and becomes the King of righteousness ruling and dwelling in flesh Secondly what is the power of the Devill and by what power doth he work I answer This is not a power distinct from God as I have thought that the Devill is a middle power between God and me but it is the power of my proud flesh and the power of Gods holy Law closing together the one fighting against the other and so slew me and held me under bondage as thus God bids the heart trust in him by inward whisperings the heart not knowing God looks after the creature and thinks it cannot live without money lands help of men and creatures This is the Devill that tempts Well the pure spirit or holy law within tels the heart he must be stript of all these and trust providence for subsistence the heart while it hath use and plenty of all these saith yes I will trust God for every thing Yea but when riches fayle friends frowne men withdraw help and begin to speak evil and to hate and the heart sees it must trust in God or starve and yet it cannot he hath no power slavish feare and unbeliefe is so storng in him then it begins to sinck And it reasons thus I have no riches no certain dwelling place no way to get a subsistence I am crossed in all I have no cordiall friend no succour from men if any seem to succour me it is for their owne ends and when they have got what they can from me they leave me and turne enemies so that the heart sees he is left alone and in this low estate feare distrust two strong divels buffets the poor creature and squizes his spirit flat for he sees nothing fulfilled to him he feeles no power from God and his spirit droops So that here is depth of misery in the hearts apprehension it is hedged in with sorrows on every side Let him look to men and creatures and there is no help all hath forsaken him and stands aloofe off let him look within himselfe and he sees nothing but slavish feare and unbelief questioning the truth and power of God how can such things be and so beating him off from quiet closing with God but labouring to make a breach between God and himselfe Well thy spirit
soul shall ever be learning what God is and shal be more more fed with this his teaching and as the divine beeing is infinite in all his attributes so the teachings of God in a soul shall be infinite withâ—ut end for God will still be leading the soul to know by experience the mysterie of God more and more this I say is GODS teaching And without Gods teachings in this kinde all the teachings of men will do no good for hence it is that there are so many Hypocrites amongst Professors they know much in the letter as men teaches them but they know nothing in spiritual power which is the way that God teaches And truly let me tell you if this power of God be wanting you will feel an inclinableness in you to give way to every evil action when a temptation thereunto is before you for though a man know from the letter that iniustice covetousness rash anger hardness of heart toward others and uncleanness of the flesh are evil and that the wrath of God will break forth upon such as commit such and such evils And though he know likewise from the letter that Justice Faith Meeknesse and tendernesse of spirit holinesse and chastitie are good yet this very man will be ready nay strongly drawn by the powers of his flesh to do the evill and refuse the good unlesse the powers of God be established in him and be his keeper As thus The power of justice delivering him from the power of injustice the power of a meek and patient spirit delivering him from the power of pettish frowardnesse the power of chastitie delivering him from the power of uncleannesse for this is the Anointing or that Son of God ruling a King of righteousnesse and peace within you that sets you free And truly when God is pleased to set you free from the Serpent and to let you see and feel his divine power thus ruling in you your heart and tongue cannot be silent but you will with life delight and power be chearfully returning praises to your heavenly Father that hath made your nature conformable to his son Jesus Christ Another thing let me tell you and truly it is to let you see what danger you are in if you only know the letter and want the power of God if you hear Paul speak that Believers are not under the Law of works but under the Law of love and if you hear the Saints of God speak out of experience that Christ hath set them free Now observe I say you that only hear the letter or outward report and do apprehend and can speak again what you hear you begin to think your selves some body I speak to you that think you are free and yet are not Here is a self conceit presently arises in you for knowledge in the letter only puffs up and this is one danger but this is not all For now this wise flesh will be yet presuming and will argue thus within thy heart God hath set us free from the Law of works we shall neither be condemned nor saved by that for we are under grace that is the the law of Christ and therefore saith the flesh thou mast take thy pleasure that which was sin formerly while thou wast under the law of works is now no sin while thou art under the law of love This is the temptation and now thou art upon tryall But if the Son set thee free he doth not only set thee free from the Law but from the Serpent too not only from Gods Law of Do this and live but from the Serpents law of works too for thy proud flesh would be reconciled to God by his workings but this is thy bondage and it shall not And if thy thoughts run that thou art freed from Gods condemning Law of works and yet findest no power of God within casting out the strong man truly for the present the father of lies the subtil flesh hath deceived thee This tickling delight of thy flesh is the same Serpent that tempted Adam if thou eat hereof that is if thou joyn hands and take delight according to the whisperings thereof as to be unjust secretly to seek revenge to be unclean or adulterous or the like thou wilt finde that this is the father of lies that promises much pleasure but cannot perform for it will throw thee into the fire that is under the lashes of Gods law which thou thought thou wast freed from But if thou have such whisperings and finde a strength to reject them thou wilt then see by experience that the strength of God is stronger then the flesh I believe the dear servants of God are much tempted for my own particular I can hardly hear a sin named but I have been tempted to it but I have found the teachings of God very usefull and the only power of the Father at such times hath kept me from wicked actions Well if thou finde that the power of God in thee which is sincerity and truth treds the aspiring of injustice in thee under foot and the power of God which is chastitie treds adulterous unclean enticements under foot and the power of God which is love treds envy and heart-burning grudge under foot and the like This is the wisdom and power of God even that Son of righteousnesse that sets you free for this is the powerfull oyle that was poured upon the Head Jesus Christ and runs down to the lowest member This power of God within thee answers the whisperings of that lyar the flesh within thee and tels thee it is true thou art not under the law of works to be condemned or saved by it but thou art under the law of love and holinesse The wisdom and power of God is thy keeper is God unrighteous is God froward is God envious is God unclean or doth he take delight in strange flesh or in any creature without himself or doth he not delight in himself in whom there is all glory Indeed friends minde what I tell you The flesh alwayes delights in its self and in the enjoyment of creatures but the power of God in thee alwayes glories and delights in God and findes rest in none but in God I speak this because I know that this is the most subtil most ensnaring and most dangerous temptation of the professing flesh of any I know And if God appear to be your strength at this time of trial you will then say feelingly and with a rejoycing thankfull heart O the mighty God indeed is my strength I had been unjust theevish envious proud given to all uncleannesse of the flesh but the power of Gods truth love humility and chastitie hath cast this strong man armed out and now I see what truth is what chastitie is what love to enemies is what sincerity is this is the power of God this is the anointing this is the King of righteousnesse that rules
in earth this is the Son that hath set me free will keep me free every particular measure of this sweet power of God are so many particular Angels of light or manifestations of love sent from the father to be my keeper Well I only mention this experience that men may prize Gods teachings more then they have and to be afraid of mens teachings when Gods is wanting for truly the most glorious Preacher or professor of literal gospel either are or will prove the subtilest hypocrites if this power of God be not their strength and life for without God we can do nothing and by him we are able to do all things Some truths I shall here write which brought along with them much life and peace into my heart when God sent them down into me or rather when he took me up into them and caused me to behold and feed upon the glory of them But I do not write to teach any one my words to be their knowledge for what I know I speak and leave it upon the spirit of the Reader that if he finde the same workings of God in him his joy may be confirmed by a witnesse and so fulfilled that more hands may be lifted up together to set the Crown upon our God and that more mouths may be opened to sing Alleluia and prayses of honour to our Father and to the Lamb for evermore It is very possible that a man may attain to the literal knowledge of the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles and may speak largely of the History thereof and draw conclusions and raise many uses for the present support of a troubled soul or for the restraining of lewd practises or for the direction of a civill conversation and yet both they that speake and they that hear may be not only unacquainted with but enemies to that Spirit of truth by which the Prophets and Apostles writ For it is not the Apostles writings but the spirit that dwelt in them that did inspire their hearts which gives life and peace to us all And therefore when the Prophets Jeremiah Ezekiel and Isaiah spake what they saw from God they spake thus saith the Lord out of experience of what they saw and felt and they were called true Prophets But when others rise up that spake their words and writings and so applying them to another age and generation of men saying Thus saith the Lord as the other did yet they were called false Prophets because they had seen nothing themselves from God but walked by the legs and saw by the eyes of the true Prophets for God doth not threaten death to every City in every age of the world as to Sodome and Gomorrah neither captivity to every people as he did to Israel under Nebuchadnezar in Babylon neither doth he promise victory and deliverance to every Army or people from enemies as he did to Israel in Jehosaphats time Now if any man speak and assure others of victory when God purposes destruction or speaks of destruction when God purposes a victory these men speak at random and though they speak the very words of the scriptures yet they speak not the minde of him that gives life or destroys and so having seene nothing from him they are to be reckoned among false Prophets that run before they be sent though their words be many and eloquent A man may know the scriptures as they are written yet a stranger yea an opposing enemie to the God of the Scriptures as the Jews were they knew the writings of Moses who writ of Iesus Christ yet they persecuted and killed Iesus Christ when he who was the great Prophet was come because they knew him not for if they had known him to have bin the great power and wisdom of God they would not have killed him And so many now a dayes do and may know the Scriptures of the Gospel and yet may and do persecute the spirit of the Gospel through ignorance and unbelief truly friends it is not the knowledge of the Scriptures only but the knowledge of the God of the Scripture as God is pleased to make known himself by his Almighty working to you that gives life and peace to you if you know or can speak of Scriptures and have seen nothing of God you are like Parats that speak the words of another as you have been taught by humane education But if the same anointing or power and wisdom of God dwell and rule in you as did appear in the Prophets and Apostles that writ then you can see into that mysterie of the Scripture which is God manifest in flesh and so can speak the minde of the Scriptures though you should never see hear nor reade the Scriptures from men If your peace and comfort in God should only remain with you while you are either hearing or reading Scriptures or while you have the society of such as can speak or discourse thereof and then finde again that your comfort and peace is gone when you are deprived by any occasion of that society of Saints truly let me tell you that though you prize and know the Scriptures yet there is a great strangnesse between you and the God of the Scriptures It hath been such a time with me and I see it is thus with others at this very day let them enjoy outward hearing reading and liberty in prayer and Saints communion and they are in peace and they live in heaven as they conceive and it is a sweet life but it is not The life for if the wisdom of God hedge up all those enjoyments with Thornes and leave these poor souls alone as it was Christs case all forsook him and fled and left him alone to stand in the midst of enemies why truly here is your tryall for God hath denyed you the opportunities of hearing reading praying Saints fellowship doth not your heart now look after those helps mourn in their absence If so as I know it is with you then where is your knowledge experience and your peace in and with God it shews plainly that at such a time we sucked refreshment from the creatures breasts but not from God Or further when you have all opportunities to hear to read to pray and to communicate with Saints in their society and yet if God deny you peace and life under all this enjoyment then you begin to mourn to see your barrennesse and condition like a fruitlesse Fig-tree or ruinous Wildernesse which is well it is thus with you God will have you lie here for a while under this bondage before he give you liberty and if it be thus with you as I know it is then where is your rest and peace in God for truly God will take up his people into such a height of glory that he will make them lie down in rest and peace in him when no visible help or means appear when there is
and children of the Independent party and root them all out Alas poor creatures God may suffer you to do something in this kinde but you shall finde that God will hide his people under the shadow of his wings and when you have killed all yet those that you would kill shall be left alive For as God made the Nations formerly to kill one another while Israel looked on and were saved from their malice Even so God can make an outside-professing-Service-book man to kill an outside-professing Presbyter and God may suffer an outside-professing Presbyter to kill an hypocriticall Independent and so make the seed of the Serpent to sheath their swords in one anothers bowels while his sincere hearted ones scattered abroad in the Kingdom shall stand and look on and be preserved by Gods protecting care from the danger For you hot spirited men if you will beleeve Scripture which you Idolize so much for you prefer those writings before the God of the Prophets and Apostles you shall finde that God told Ezekiell That when Gog and Magog purposed to destroy Gods People when they were at rest and dwelt at ease why saith God when my people are at rest thou shalt not know it but I will sanctifie my self upon thee O Gog before their eyes And so let these hot spirited people in these dayes do the worst they can they shall never destroy all Gods people out of the Land God will have his witnesses to rise up that shall torment these inhabitants of the earth for though God suffer persecution scoffs reproachful names and oppression yet he will not suffer a small rooting out of his Saints For if the Nations of old could not root out Israel after the flesh which were one single nation visible among all the nations of the earth though they did endeavour it neither can you now you hot spirited people root out all the Saints much lesse you will finde it now the more difficult for now the Saints doe not live all in one Nation but are scattered through all Nations kindreds tongues and People The appearence of God among them is not altogether in out ward formall worship and Temple service as it was to the Jews visible to the eye of the world But the appearance of God now is in the Saints that they worship the Father in spirit and truth in such a secret manner as the eye of the world cannot nor does not alwayes see And therefore though the mysterie of iniquitie seek to kill all as these unbeleevers that are the actors thereof do say they will yet they cannot because they cannot know them And when they have killed all as they think if God should suffer them to act their bloody intents and words yet in conclusion it will appear that the enemies kill one another and spirituall Israel will be preserved Herod killed all the children about two yeres old I but the Child Jesus whom he sought chiefly to kill was gone sent by God far out of Herods reach and when it shall appeare in conclusion that they have killed their own hypocritical people and the sincere hearted whom they aymed at are escaped their vexation wil increase and they will dye with sorrow Therefore now Judge if God be not the chief sufferer because they will not leave God a seed on earth you Saints of God be not troubled to hear that your neighbours will plunder and kill you and root out all Israel out of the land they cannot do it God will fight for you against them the cause is Gods not yours And in seeking your ruine they will pull their own ruine speedily upon themselves Pharaoh thought to destroy Israel and his own destruction which he thought least upon was accomplished Be not troubled at these threatnings but stand still waite with a quiet peaceable heart on God and see what a deliverance he will work for you Assure your selves I see God working a great deliverance for you your number shall increase the number of bloody minded men shall decrease therefore do you meet God by faith and honour him by owning him in the middest of these stormes the enjoyment of your riches friends or bodily life doth not make you happie nor the losse of these cannot make you miserable if you have these it is the enjoyment of God within that gives you a sweet use of them without if all be taken from you it is your Fathers will to suffer it and he will be honoured by it your oppressions and sufferings will bring glory to him And if you lose your life then your work in done therefore stand still with comfort in the place and condition God hath put you in And say Father do with my estate my body my life what thou wilt honour thy selfe in me and by me and thy will be done Now if once God hath brought your spirit to this frame then God is glorified on your behalf for now the glory of Christ the King of righteousnesse hath subdued the Serpent and is revealed in you But God is evil spoken of and doth suffer on their behalf that persecute Now know you weake ones that it is not you but God who is the greatest long sufferer in these times it is not men but the appearance of God in men which the mysterie of iniquity strives against for do you not see how the spirit of lies would root out the spirit of truth the spirit of envy would root out the spirit of love the spirit of hypocrisie would root out the the spirit of sincerity the spirit of pride and self honouring would root out the spirit of humility that honours God the spirit of self-will would root out the spirit of meekness and patience that waits upon the will of God the spirit of unfaithful rashness discontent would root out the spirit of quietness that is at restin God the spirit of greedy covetousness injustice and oppression would root out the spirit of justice and tenderness that depends upon God And in one word the mysterie of iniquitie Beast whorish spirit or flesh having a time given him of God to act and shew its wisdome and power strvies might and maine to root out all appearance of God out of mankinde But alas poor Serpent thou must die thy self Gods time is neer expired that he gave thee and he is rooting thee out of mankinde and consuming in the fire of his wrath for he will become the Lord our righteousness and dwell in flesh himselfe this is Gods mysterie which he is in and about to make publikely manifest amongst men But as yet hypocrisie raignes and would raigne as King And sincerity which is God is laughed to scorne The national peace and liberty is pretended that is the outward shew of love to God but secretly most men both of high and low degree intend either to inrich themselves with the kingdomes monies ruins or else by their secret
for time is coming that every one must be taught of God and this troubles him very much Well all these troubles and such like proceed from the shinings forth of the righteous law upon the proud heart and he cannot bear it because he seeks himselfe more then God the unbelief of the heart lives by sence upon the creature the law of God tels the heart he must trust God and not man and though all sence fayl him from men and creatures yet to waite upon God but this troubles him he cannot wait and if he do wait he questions whether he shall have such things he is bid to wait for and the poor heart lies under great tossings Again in his course of trading in the world if he ask sometimes too little or sometimes too much for his wares then he is troubled and do what he can his heart is troubled because he thinks he might have done better when business goes cross to his minde he is troubled whether it be fair weather or fowl if it be not just to his minde he is troubled Then appears pride covetousnesse frowardness uncleaness springing up in his heart and these trouble him if he cannot speak for God when others speak against him as he thinks then he is troubled if he do speak of the things of God then his heart tels him he is an hypocrite or self-lover and then he is trobled so that there arises not a thought in his heart but there is some fretting or trouble tyed to it And vvhat are all these and such like but even a legion of devils or troublers that holds the creature under bondage and torments him thus in hell day and night I call it a hell for it is a condition of darkness below the life comfort and peace of God All these are wrought in the soul by the righteous Law for the creature strives to be wise and the Law proves him a fool he would fain be righteous and the light of the Law shews him he is a wicked hypocrite he would fain have faith and holiness in him and the Law shews him he is an unbelieving sinner he would fain enjoy the peace of God and yet enjoy himself too the Law tels him he must deny himself and take up his cross daily if he would enjoy God he would fain be counted some body for wisdom faith prayer preaching the Law tels him all is as good as nothing because he goes forth in his own strength and the power of the father is absent And thus the Law is that flaming sword which turns every way upon the sinner and scorches the poor imprisoned soul in every thought of his heart burning up his pride and self-conceit so that the righteous Law raigns like a Tyrant in and over the poor prisoner and while the soul is thus tormented by the dispensation of wrath the envious spirit of darkness that rules in other men delights to see this poor creature thus under bondage and so casts jeers slanders reproaches and hard usage upon him Envy rejoyces in others misery even as Love rejoyceth in the liberty and life of others But poor soul know this that God is burning up thy dross and ere long vvill set thee at liberty and the fire of love that burns in thee will break forth to thy comfort and then he will give thee power to rejoyce over the Devill and to set thy feet upon his neck as a conquered slave even as he makes thee his slave now Then secondly This same imprisoned creature that lies under the Law being as yet not set free by the Son meets with many troubles without and these are but dispensations of wrath as the other was likewise as sicknesse frowns of friends hatred of men losses of his estate by fire water being cheated by false spirited men death of his cattle or many such like casualties whereby he becomes poor in the world and meets with many straits as hard language hungry belly to be despised imprisoned and abundance of such provocations in the vvorld And it may be meets with fearfull Apparisions in the night or day that terrifies him as it was Jobs case he was filled with terrors in the night sometimes these troubles lie within a mans spirit in griefs and sadpressures inward burnings of trouble and torment which no man is sensible of but himself and sometimes it breaks forth in bitter words and speeches through oppression of the spirit to the disturbance of others and this is called madness or distraction which grows upon a man when the pure Law doth cross his carnall imagination wilfull will pride covetous or lustfull desires then doth the distemper of his troubled spirit break out But when Christ comes and sets him free then he comes to see that whatsoever did befall him must befall him it was the will of the father for the burning up of his dross and pride of flesh and shall be made to say Father thy will be done and for ever yea infinitely for ever be thy name praised that thou hast given me such a heart to be content and submit in love and meekness to thee and to take every thing in love from thee this is thine own handiwork it was not thus formerly but thou hast drawn me through a nipping and pinching wilderness into this land of Canaan even to lie down in rest in thine own bosome praysed be thy name Yea but the poor troubled soul is offended at my words and thinks and saies this cannot be it is impossible that any man should have such a frame of spirit Alas poor man I have been as thou art but if thou canst believe in Gods love and power from the testimony of another thou wilt believe this for a truth But if thou cannot believe but yet remain troubled he that feels the sweetness of such a work of God knows it to be a truth wait upon God as thy fellow servant doth for his pure teaching and thou wilt finde him the same to thee as he is to another Paul writes of one that was in Christ before him and so though thou wade through flames of fire to imbrace God in thine armes thy comforts will be the sweeter thy experience the more and thou wilt greatly rejoyce in that thou hast been in so hot a fire when the father causes thee to lie down in his bosom the liberty in this rest is now so sweet to thee And truly friends let me tell you that which hath been often of late whispered into my spirit and I believe there is something in it that this wrath bitternesse and discontent that appeares generally in mens spirits in England one against another upon the breakings forth of the truths of God doth whisper in my spirit that the Father hath cast England into the fire and is purging the drosse from the gold that liberty is not far off and that the plentifull pouring out of the Anoynting even the spirit
first creation which was the habitation where they were seated these are faln from their excellency and are become Devils or evill Angels or spirituall powers of darknesse I shall declare what I know by Angels that fell they were those glorious lights and sparks of glory shining Angels of light in their severall measures and degrees which God had placed in the humane nature Adam before his fall As his love of God delight in God Peace and rest in God humilitie before God obedience and selfe deniall before God and all such like these all lived in God for he was the Center from which they came and to which they reflected back again they being all alive within Adam and Adam being alive within them But when Adam hearkened to the whispering of that a spiring selfishnesse that was the serpent which twisted it self round about the tree Adam and every glorious light that was in that humane creation and when Adam or indeed any man or woman doth give way to self and eat of that fruit that is delight in self above the King of righteousnesse in man then those glorious Angels left God their habitation and took up their glory within the circle of humane deâ—â—ed flesh and so become enmity against God For now the mans love is turned from living in the King of righteousnesse to live in corrupted flesh it is become a selfe love and so envious against God his delight and his joy is become self delight he glories in himself which is his pride his obedience doth live in himselfe for he gives way to all the whisperings of the flesh and lusts within himself but disobeys the command of righteousnesse within him And further his sincerity is turned into hypocrisie and his imagination works strongly how to please the flesh in the motions of it not how to please the spirit of truth and holinesse And now those glorious sparkes which were Angels of light while they lived in God and reflected upon him are become Angels of darknesse or legions of devils murtherers or deceivers according to their many degrees and measures while they live in unrighteous flesh and reflect upon the disobedient creature to maintain and to honour the being of the flesh before the righteous God that governs in the flesh thus they are faln And these devils or deceivers for indeed pride covetousnesse and the imagination of proud flesh doth deceive every man they are reserved in chaines of darknesse c. These chains are the dispensations of Gods wrath through his righteous Law for upon every one and upon all of these faln Angels the righteous sparks or breathings forth of the righteous Law like a flame of fire turning every way meets with them bindes them keeps them in and restrains them within bonds so that God hath these powers of self-seeking flesh at his command they cannot appear nor act but by his leave Pride self-love envy hypocrisie subtilty cruelty cannot act but by his leave and when he doth suffer them to act then his righteous Law is presently made manifest following their heels like fire burning up the stubble For God never suffers these devils to appear either within a man or by some violent way to break forth of men for the hurt one of another but he makes use thereof to ruine and destroy that power of darkness even that poysonous power of covetous flesh And they are called chains of darkness in opposition to the Law of perfect love and liberty for while these Angels lived in God they had no restraint for love God and thou art at liberty thy whole soul is free and no bondage lieth upon thee But when thou lovest self and flesh then all thy powers run self-ward and then the flaming sword which is the righteous spirit of burning doth flame upon thee burns thee and restrains thee and holds thee under bondage But how long Till the Judgement of the great day that is till the power of Christ do make it appear to the mans clear knowledge that self and flesh is the devill and serpent and by his power of righteousness doth not only judge and condemn that serpent but casts him into the lake of fire and consumes him to nothing as if his power had never been and so sets the creature free according to the mysterie of God And here note that the restauration or salvation which is pointed at in the letter of the Scripture doth lie in the restoring of the creature Mankinde from the power of these Angels of darkness and Mankindes redemption lieth in the breaking of those chains of darkness asunder and so taking him into the life liberty and peace of the King of righteousness As thus Whereas in this present poysoned estate of Mankinde in which flesh glories it self as in self will delight and self-love subtile imagination and the like they do all work fleshward and selfward and the masculine powers that rule the soul appear to be envy hypocrisie pride anger self-seeking subtilty and such like And the spirit of truth who is the Father by whom the creation man doth live move and hath his beeing doth lie buried under that unrighteous fleshie power But now in the restored estate which the Father hath begun to work and which his people wait for compleatness of I say now All the powers of the soul as his love delight and peace c. run God-ward again and is centured in the Father again And those powers of the flesh as pride covetousness rash anger love of self and imagination working to advance all these which are as I said the Angels of darkness in man These are now in this day of judgement condemned and destroyed trod under foot and buried out of minde like a dead man without beeing And the Lord alone is exalted now in this day of restauration which is the day of his power This indeed is the mysterie of all King flesh and self is dis-throned and the King of righteousness in flesh hath begun to take the Kingdom and doth raign and will raign and his dominion shall spread and endure for ever and ever for though he take the Kingdom by strength out of King flesh his hand yet none shall ever be able to take it out of his hand again for of his Kingdom there shall be no end And seeing people are not yet taken off from looking upon other mens knowledge I shall mention this one Scripture which if people did feelingly understand the distemper of their spirits would presently be healed It is this Light is come into the world and men love darknesse rather then light because their deeds are evill The world is mankinde and every particular man and woman is a perfect creation of himself a perfect created world that if a particular branch of mankinde desire to know what the nature of other men and women are let him not look abroad but into his own heart and he shall see so that I
his strong delusions to believe his lies And this power of darkeesse in you casts you under a more powerfull bondage of the Law of the spirit within you yea in utter darknesse wherein you stick fast as in mire and clay or as in a deep pit and cannot get out it throws you under wrath and makes God appear angry which is the greatest darknesse the poor creature can lie under What greater darknesse can there be then for a man never to see nor feel the light heat nor warmth of the sun but alwaies to live in some dungeon where the sun never appears A meek and humble spirit fights against thy rashnesse and self-conceit and secret envy and grudging opposes the appearance of love covetousness and bondage fights against freedom and liberty of spirit and chastitie fights against uncleannesse the Law of righteousnesse fights against unrighteousnesse of the flesh So that if at any time thy heart begins to devise any unrighteousnesse within thy self the Law of the spirit of truth breakes forth in thee and lets thee see it and condemns and shames thee for it and thy whole soul is filled with distemper and horror And if at any time the power of unclean flesh begins to break forth in thee the Law of chastitie appears and shews thee thy filthinesse and condemns thee for it but gives thee no strength for the present against thy lust so that the power of thy uncleane flesh lusting after folly is strong in thee and the power of the law of chastitie shewing thee that Abomination is strong in thee likewise which fills thee with torment And if at any time unrighteous thoughts and purposes rise up in thee or unrighteous actions proceed out of thy hands and thou delight therein yet when the law of the spirit of truth appears in thee and shews thee thy abominable practise thy delight in the flesh dies peace is taken from thee and thy spirit is filled with trouble I could instance in every power of the flesh in this kinde And now presently thou concludest That the devil which thou thinkst is a third power distinct between God thee comes torments thee But no for it is the very power of the spirit which is pure reason which governs the whole globe in righteousnesse that shews thee thy wickednesse the light therof discovers thy darkness and fills thee with shame and torment For if the spirit shine upon thy filthinesse and trouble thee it is not barely to trouble but to burn up thy lusts and to make thee bright is the fathers end but while thou liest between these two powers thy peace is gone all feeling of life is taken away and thou liest under darknesse yea utter darknesse for thou seest no light of peace of any side If thou follow the powers of thy flesh as thy uncleanness unrighteousness envy frowardness pride hypocrisie and the like thou hereby accknowledgest that the flesh is God for thou maintainest the being of that wicked man as though he were the only one beeing that dwells in the globe but if the father of all things which is reason be the only one beeing that gave beeing to all and that keeps all in peace then certainly while thou followest the way of King flesh thou walkest unreasonably for thou settest up another King which makes division which the creation knowes not and thou deniest the King of righteousnesse which unites the whole body of the creation into a oneness of spirit That spirit that knits all creatures together in peace and sweet communion of love and meekness must needs be King And this doth reason who is the essentiall father but that power that makes one creature a tyrant over another nay divides the creature man within himself and so pulls the creation in pieces breaking the bonds of peaceable love and filling the creature with torment and distraction must needs be a divell or troubler and this doth that curse that is in the flesh and therefore no King but a murtherer a deceiver a devill the serpent that must be killed and the wicked man that must be taken out of the way Now such a condition of bondage doth this compound power cast you under you are absent from the liberty peace life of heaven you lie tumbling in hell darkness to be incorporated into the power of the wicked one to act from his unclean principles is the flesh and blood that shall never enter heaven never enjoy union and peace with the spirit of righteousness for light and darkness can never live together This is the bond woman her sonne that shall never be heire nor live in the house with the free woman And whatsoever is of this nature or under this bondage less or more doth not taste of heaven which is perfect peace for that which is bondage cannot be said to be liberty But for your comfort poor enslaved soules Christ the wisdom and power of the Father is come to open the prison doors to pull you up out of the earth of covetousness and self imagination under which you have been and are buried and will set you even as a corne of wheate that lies buried under clods of earth till the warme cherishing meeke and loving spirit in the earth cause it to sprout and spring and shoot out and so bring forth fruitlike himself in great abundance therefore waite patiently till you be able to sing Allaluia and to say The Lord God omnipotent raigneth and assure your selves the vision will not stay long for when your flesh is made subject to the spirit he will speak peace to you and in you Since unrighteousness was acted in humaine flesh against his maker every son and daughter of that disobedient flesh is like a man upon whom two fierce band-dogs hath laid hold tearing and pulling to pieces And these two are first the curse or sin in flesh which is called the serpent the father of lies the wicked man the devill The second is the appearance of the righteous law dwelling in that flesh likewise as a seed buried under the weight of that cursed earth and his appearance is so terrible to the disobedient flesh that it destroys at his appearing all the joy and peace thereof and is called the severity of the Law So that first the curse or sin this hath fastened upon the man and puls him from owning the spirit and so makes created flesh to rebell against his maker And then the father which the curse in the flesh hath despised maintains his own prerogative in man and destroys and kils that rebellion by reason whereof the creature man is filled with Torment And this act of the spirit is called the declaration of wrath or the Law or the letter that kils for indeed the disobedient man sees and feels nothing but wrath on every side For let the creature look within himself he sees and feels no peace for the appearance of the