in good works and such as sin walk not in good works are not his Workmanship and those that are not his workmanship which is unto good works the fruit of Faith which is not dead but living by which those of old though dead yet speak the Vertue in them which brought forth the works the fruit unto Holiness unto Eternal life are not created in Christ Jesus So see your state all you that are here and be no longer deceived It is the Word of the Lord and so I have done with this Particular which for the sake of you I am moved to write to open their understandings because the time is neer wherein these things will be made manifest that they are so and the Door will be shut and then it will be too late to say Lord Lord open unto us For he will say depart from me I know ye not ye workers of iniquity for when once the Master of the house is risen up and hath shut to the Door and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the Door saying Lord Lord open unto us And he shall answer and say unto you I know ye not whence ye are Then shall ye begin to say we have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets but he shall say I tell you I know ye not whence ye are depart from me all ye workers of iniquity There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when ye shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God and you your selves thrust out And they shall come from the East and from the West and from the North and from the South and shall sit down in the Kingdom of God and behold there are last which shall be first and there are first which shall be last Luke 13. 25. to the 31. And so I am clear of your blood whether ye will hear or whether you will forbear The Word of the Lord hath been often to you and his tender bowels through me and he would not have you die but live and it is the third time that I have particularly wrote to you in the movings of the Lord and my travail and my sufferings I speak of that which is not of this world have been great for you that your eyes might be opened and that ye might see where you are ere it be too late For the Lord hath known you and you have known something in you that hath given you the sence of his presence which is Christ Jesus the measure of him in you which reproves which makes manifest that draws ye to God-ward though ye have not believed that it is he and therefore have risen against the Corner Stone which ye builders have refused which is made Head of the Corner but there is no other way to God but by him Christ the Light God that quickneth the dead and calleth things that are not as if they were for that is not natural that shews Nature in the transgression and that is not of the evil one that shews evil and that is not of man in whom it is not to direct his way that leads unto God but it is of God the love of God that sent his Son into the world to redeem man and to bring him back again unto God And his work it is to deliver to set free the Captive that which is bound under sin and he that sinneth is bound to sin and to purifie and to cleanse and to make white and to break down the Partition that which is gotten between by reason of Transgression and to bring to God that so man may feel his Maker again and be joyned to him with whom nothing that is defiled can have any fellowship and sin desiles For our God is a consuming fire Heb. 13. last Now to hold that a man being chosen can never be removed from that state unto which he is chosen and that a man is justified when he is found a sinner and that he is in Christ when he is not a new Creature and he is not a new Creature whilst he is in sin old things are not past away the old man is there remaining with his lusts and deeds whose lust and deeds are sin all things are not become new and that a man is in God when he is not purged when he is not made clean and he is not made clean he is not purged that sinneth whilst he sinneth whosoever sinneth hath neither seen him neither known him John 3. 6. whilst he knoweth not nor believeth in nor is joyned to the Word of Life which dwelleth in the Saints which witnessed to God the Word that endures for ever The Word which by the Spirit is Preached unto you the Word that purifies 1 Pet. 1. last the Word that endures for ever and ye have not his Word abiding in you For whom he hath sent him ye believe not John 5. 38. The Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart which is the Word of Faith which we preach Rom. 10. 8. For the Righteousness which is of Faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thy heart who shall ascend c. But what saith it the Word is nigh thee c. vers 6. 7. So that is the Word the Word of Faith the living Word that endures for ever that cleanseth that purifies which is that which witnesses to God which abides Now are ye clean through the Word And now are ye clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you abide in me ye have not his Word abiding in you said he to the Pharisees and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me in him that witnesses the Word of Life John 15. 3 4. And saith the Prophet he shall sit as a Refiner and Purifier of Silver and he shall purifie the Sons of Levi and purge them as Gold and Silver that they may offer unto him an offering in Righteousness then shall the offerings of Judah Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the dayes of old and as in the former years and I will come neer to you in Judgement and I will be a swift witness here 's the Messenger that prepares his Way before him the Messenger of the Covenant that he saith he will send whom he saith they delighted in behold he shall come saith the Lord of Hosts But who may abide the day of his coming And who shall stand when he appeareth For he shall be as Refiners fire and as Fullers soap I will be a swift Witness this is he who is the Judge of all that comes nere to Judgement that witnesseth that saith I will be a swift witness I will come neer to you to Judgement against the Sorcerers and against the Adulterers and against false Swearers and against those that oppresse the Hireling in his wages the Widdow and the
Apostle as aforesaid and were it not that the Lord first touched man that of him in him which lies in death and by reason of the fall is buried in the Grave so that it cannot move to God man never would look after God nor know the state in the which he is for the enemy having him and holding him and compassing him about would never suffer him so to see nor so to understand Now herein is the love of God manifest and his great loving kindness that when man whom he made upright and in his Image and breathed into him the Breath of Life and he became a living Soul turned away from the Lord and from that in which he was made which kept and would have preserved him had he kept to it and let in the enemy and so death came over him in the Transgression over that in which he was made that it moved not but lay as dead Free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave whom thou remembrest no more and they are cut off from thy hand Psal 88. 6. I say that the Lord should then visit man and reach to that of himself in man which lay in the grave free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave and so give man to see the state in the which he is and his enemy and to cause a moving after God a Will to God this is the Lords great loving kindness and his free mercy and this the Apostle reckoned when he cast up the sum and minded the great love of God to man in this state In this saith he as hath been said was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him Herein is the love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins 1 John 4. 9 10. And when we were yet without strength in due time Christ died for the ungodly Rom. 5. 6. So then man cannot move to God unless God reach him that of him in him that lies in death by reason of Transgression and quicken him then it moves to God again not that we loved God see in what state the will of man is in the fall where all men are found when God comes to them when God visits them when he speaks to them when his voice reacheth them that shaketh the Wilderness when that moves in them which shews them sin and evil and judges it not that we loved God saith he before whilst we were in this state the state in the fall we loved not God before God reached to that of himself in us that lay in death Free among the dead like the slain that lie in the grave whom thou remembrest no more saith he also as aforesaid but he loved us and sent his Son that of himself in us to be a propitiation an atonement for our sin and herein is love and in this was manifested the love of God towards us that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him We who were dead in trespasses and sins who were without sence or feeling of God over whom death was gotten who had no mind nor will to God nor moving to him who could never have moved to him nor minded nor willed him in the state in which we were in the fall in the Transgression when we were from that of him which gives the sence and feeling of him and willing to and moving after him because of death which was got between us and that of him in which we were made from which we fell which came under by reason of Death by reason of the fall and so were at that time without Christ Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel strangers from the covenants of Promise having no hope and without God in the World that we who were in this state might live through him through that which speaks in us which in us moves to God So that it is not in the will of man in the fall for so man as to this particular is to be considered for that which restores him brings him to God is another thing being brought to God is another state of which I speak not now but of the state in which man is before he is brought thither I say it is not in the Will of man considered in the fall to will to God or to move to him that which moves him to God and makes him will to God is another thing as I have shewed and there being no will in man as to God in this state wherein every man is found when God comes to him as hath been instanced where then is free will or the freedom of his will to God for where there is no such thing as a thing there cannot be said to be the freedom of such a thing because there is a non entity as I may so speak if so be it be proper so to speak and yet how shall I otherwise speak to give a demonstration of the thing of which I speak there is no such thing in being of which the freedom or the freedom of which is pretended there is no such thing in being therefore there cannot be said to be the freedom of such a thing For again of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his Creatures saith the Apostle Jam. 1. 18. Of his own will then it is not of man's will that man is begotten to God that he is delivered for two wills cannot consist in this Particular no more can it consist then two Fathers in the Generation of man or for a man to beget himself which is incongruous to Nature to say as it is to reason to think it and it being not of man's wil then man hath no freedom of will to be begotten to beget himself to God And this is manifest for it is by the Word or with the Word of Truth too that he is begotten to God So man hath nothing to do in the matter of his own will With the Word of Truth hath he begotten us the Word of Truth the Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart the Word of Faith which we preach said the Apostle The Word of the Lord which endures for ever and this is the Word which by the Gospel is Preached unto you saith Peter 1 Epist 1. 25. The Word which is quick and powerful and sharper then any two edged Sword piercing even to the dividing assunder of Soul and Spirit and of the Joynts and Marrow and is a discerner of the Thoughts and intents of the heart neither is there any Creature that is not manifest in his sight but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do Heb. 4. 12 13. So it is by this Word the Word of Truth the
the Younger that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth So then of him that calleth it is where the purpose of God as to Election stands of him that witnesses that moves to God-ward in man not of that which goeth another way not of that which worketh All the endeavours of man from that or that is not of that which calleth in man the Election will not avail the purpose of God is not there Esau the Hunter hath not the blessing the first state Prospers not it cannot inherit it must serve the younger to whom the blessing is Pharaoh the hard-hearted which will not let Israel go when God calleth him the Election is hated of God is for Destruction and all that are in it the purpose of God is as to the Other the Election the Power of God is shewn here and it is raised up for that purpose even that his Name may be declared throughout the earth Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction all that are in it all in whom it is whom he hath endured with much long-suffering What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known endured with much long-suffering the vessels of wrath fitted for destruction v. 22. So man hath a day and God calleth upon man to turn and live and man heareth not so as to turn and live and the Lord endures with much long suffering whilst he calls whilst he speaks And man's day is over and long suffering is at an end and God calls no more and waites no longer and the Election is withdrawn Christ the Seed of the Promise that which calls that which seeks that which waites that which bears that which endures with much long suffering Those whom wrath fills whom the first Exercises the State in the Fall in the Transgression the state of Vnbelief the state of Reprobation the Lord makes known his Power God shews his wrath after long-suffering hath an end On the Vessels of wrath fitted to destruction Those in whom destruction hath had its course and will now end Even for this cause have I raised thee up that I might shew my Power in thee and that my Name might be declared in all the Earth So God is not unrighteous What shall we say then is there unrighteousness with God God forbid For he saith to Moses I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion as the Apostle saith in the same case Rom. 9. 15. He found all men in the fall He found all men in the state of wrath in the state of Reprobation in the state of Vnbelief He concluded all in Vnbelief that he might have mercy upon all and herein is his mercy manifest in that he calleth man in this state who seeks not after God in that he waites on Man in that he seeks him who is lost In that there is something of himself in man that stands at the Corners of the Streets in the chief place of Concourse in the openings of the Gate and calleth upon him â—o Return the Voice of Wisdom Now if man will not come hither if he will not be drawn here if he will not return but go on in his own way and follow after the counsel of his own heart and not the Lords his destruction is of himself the Lord is clear if he give over calling after him If he let him alone If he seek after him no more and shut up his day upon him The day of his Visitation the Lord is clear and that which called upon man in man which man would not hear that of him in man which sought man and man would not return would not be gathered will witness for God in the day that he will render unto every man according to his deeds So Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated the Elder shall serve the Younger the Children being not yet born neither having done any good nor evil that the purpose of God according to Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth for this purpose have I raised thee up that I may shew my power in thee and that my Name may be declared throughout all the Earth The Vessels of Wrath fitted for destruction the Vessels of Mercy afore prepared unto Glory of which the Apostle speaks Rom. 9. 22 23. Are the two Seeds the two States and those that stand in them according as they stand in them according as they are found in them are they determined to Life or Death to Salvation or Destruction to the one that the purpose of God according to Election might stand to the other that he might shew his power in them and that his Name may be declared throughout all the Earth even for this same purpose have I raised thee up Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth Whom he will he inclines the Ear to hear that which calleth and they are gathered into it the Election that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth Whom he wills their day is shut up and he calleth no more who hath been long rejected and these are hardned as was Pharaohs who refused to let Israel go and the more the wonders of the Lord were shewn and he called upon by Moses to let the people go the more he hardned his heart till he bad Moses see his face no more for in the day that he did it he should surely die look to this all ye who resist the Motions of the Spirit the movings of the good Spirit of the Lord in you that which calleth on you in you to return and live And do not against it but be led by it least you come to hate it and though Wonders have been shewn to the Dead that which is in the state of Death in you and lies in the Grave by reason of Transgression be reached and it hear the Voice of the Son of God that which calleth in you and you know it You come yet to rebel against the Lord and that which calleth on you be an abomination unto you Wilt thou shew Wonders to the Dead shall the dead arise and praise thee Shall thy loving kindness be declared in the Grave and thy Faithfulness in destruction Shall thy Wonders be known in the dark And thy Righteousness in the Land of Forgetfulness but unto thee have I cryed O Lord Psal 88. 10 11 12 13. Then is your day like to be at an end and your evening is at hand when you come to hate him that reproves in the Gate and that which calls on you must no more come neer you least it die Moses that which works the Wonders which shews them to the Dead which calls upon you and you hear its Voice For then your first born is like to be slain and Israel shall come out of
and see Life Now this is mercy and the Lord might have chosen whether he would have done this to his creature whom he made upright but had turned from him for he was not bound to his Creature and have let him remain in that state for ever Nevertheless herein the love of God was made manifest to Man that he gave him something of himself that had never sinned nor consented to sin and placed it in him to call upon him to turn unto the Lord and that whilest we were yet sinners saith the Apostle Christ died for the Vngodly and herein the greatness of his love is shewn that he continues this in man which waits upon man and calls upon him and seeks him and entreats him to turn unto the Lord. Now man resisting this and disobeying this and not believing in this which suffers which bears which waits which seeks and the day of his visitation this suffering this waiting this seeking this bearing coming to an end Man comes to be unredeemed to God to be a vessel of wrath a vessel of dishonour fitted to destruction and so his destruction is of himself but man coming to heed this to retain this that calleth to believe in it to be guided by it he comes to be redeemed unto God out of the hands of him who had him in captivity to be a vessel of mercy a vessel of honour prepared unto Glory and so his help is in God So he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardneth Nay but O man who art thou that replyest against God Shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it why hast thou made me thus Hath not the Potter power over the Clay of the same lump to make one vessel unto Honour and another unto Dishonour Man cannot plead with God in this case for as I have said he is not bound unto his Creature he might make it as he pleased even of the same lump one vessel to Honour another to Dishonour he hath power over man as the Potter hath over the Clay so man may not plead man may not reason with God in this Particular stood the Case only here had he been made so at first the Lord would have been clear and who durst to have opened his mouth seeing the Lord had power over man to have made him as he pleased But the Case stands not here it lies further the Lord made not man so he did not so forme him nor with an intent that he should be so did the Lord make Man but he formed him a vessel of Honour He planted him a noble Vine wholy a right Seed He made of one blood all Nations of men for to dwell on the face of the earth and hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their Habitation that they should seek the Lord if happily they might feel after him though he be not far from any of us for in him we live and move and have our being as certain of your own Poets have said for we are his off-spring said the Apostle to the Athenians Acts 17. 26 27 28. Jer. 2. 21. He made him upright after the Image of God made he man but man as I have said found out many Inventions and having turned aside and proved the degenerate Plant of a strange Vine even a vessel oâ— Dishonour bearing the image of the Devil who was made after the Image of God It was the loving kindness of God to visit man again and to call upon him to turn unto him to place something of him-thing of himself in him to call upon him to shew him where he is and what he hath been doing and to turn unto the Lord. Now he that will not hear this Prophet which the Lord hath raised up like unto me said Moses who gave the Law without which was the Similitude of the Law within Christ Jesus the fear in the Inward parts that which calls that which makes manifest that which reproves that which judges that which makes the heart tender to God and to fear before him shall be destroyed from among the people Acts 3. 22 23. For if the word spoken by the Angels was stedfast and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation which at first began to be spoken by the Lord and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him Hebrews 2. 2 3. So he hath mercy on whom he will have mercy he visiteth whom he will and he waits on whom he will and he calls on whom he will and he suffers as he will and as long and whilest he will and whom he will he hardens he suffers iniquity to go over which the more it turns from God the more it hardens man against him on whom he calls long and they will not turn unto the Lord and so the more he calls the more they turn from him and the more they turn from him the more they are hardned against him and the movings of his Spirit and the more they are hardned against him and the movings of his Spirit the less his Spirit strives with them and therefore it is said O Lord why hast thou made us to erre from thy wayes and heardned our hearts from thy fear Return for thy Servants sake the Tribes of thy Inheritance Isa 63. 17. The Lord was withdrawn that of him ceased to call which they had transgressed against they grew cold to the Lord whilst that strove not with them that made their hearts tender to him they began to grow hard as that turned from them that turn'd them to him they began to go astray as that removed which led them to him O Lord why hast thou made us to erre from thy wayes and hardned our hearts from thy fear Return here was the matter the Lord was withdrawn the Lord was removed that of him turn'd from them as they had turned from it that was the cause and of this they grew sensible Return â—ay they for thy Servants sake the Tribes of thy Inheritance So whom he will he hardens as they withdraw from that of him which calls on them to turn to him he withdraws that in them of him which turns unto him as they let not in that of him in them that calls upon them to turn unto the Lord which makes them tender they grow hard So Pharaoh the more he withstood Moses that called upon him to let Israel go the more hard Pharaoh was and even for the same purpose have I raised thee up that I may shew my power in thee and that my Name may be declared throughout all the earth So when the Lord calls and man will not hear when he stretcheth out his arms long and man will not come when he strives and yet man will not be gathered who is turned from God It 's just with God to withdraw from man to turn that of him that turns
with man in his long-suffering to man in his seeking man who is lost in his gathering man who is scatered he is far otherwise he woes intreats prayes beseeches as I have said he waits to be gracious The Gospel the Power of God Christ Jesus the Wisdom of God and the Power of God that seeketh man that calleth man is as I have said the Gospel of Reconciliation His Ministers are the Ministers of Reconciliation God was in Christ Reconciling the world unto himself not rending from himself and hath committed to us the Ministry of Reconciliation Now then we are Ambassadours for Christ as though God did beseech you We pray you in Christ stead be reconciled unto God as aforesaid And here 's the Will and here 's the Power and here 's that which can be resisted and this is that which man resisteth which waiteth upon man which seeketh man and here the Lord and his Will and his Power is to be understood and no otherwise So all are to be silent and every mouth is to be stop't before the Lord for who can complain of him who hath placed something of himself in man Christ Jesus the Wisdom of God and the Power of God a measure of him in every man to gather him to the Lord and to bring him again to him who is gone from him which is that which witnesses which shews which judges which reproves which makes manifest and this waits on man after that man hath turned from him the Seed of the woman which he promised man after he was fallen should bruise the Serpents Head which bruises the Serpents head in all who are gathered to it believe in it and are guided by it Now they who are gathered unto this receive mercy become vessels of Honour fit for the Masters use vessels of mercy afore prepared unto Glory from him who hath mercy on whom he will have mercy and compassion on whom he will have compassion as he said to Moses who hath concluded all in unbelief that he might have mercy upon all and holds forth this unto all and hath placed this in all For as in Adam all die so in Christ all are made alive the Plaister is as broad as the Sore the Medicine as comprehensive as the Disease Those who are not gathered to it reject the Counsel of God against themselves as it was said of the Pharisees and Lawyers who came not to the Baptism of John being not baptized of him Luk. 7 30. and so become vessels of dishonor vessels in whom there is no pleasure unfit for the Masters use by reason of sin and that which defiles which he can have no fellowship with nor can it come near him vessels of wrath fitted to destruction And so all men are left without excuse and will be found so in the day of the Lord wherein he will render unto every man according to his Deeds for this of him which he hath placed in every man which calls upon every man which seeks every man that in every man which witnesses doth it which reproves which judges which shews man what he should do which makes manifest will then witness for God in every man and how the Lord hath sought every man and waited for him and all its sufferings and being rejected and its sighings and oppressions and afflictions and heavy loadings and groanings whilst the long-suffering of God waited will it bring up fresh in man which shall judge man and leave him without excuse You will not be able then to battail it against the Lord your reasonings will be stopt your great Arguments will be at an end No trifling it then as now wherein man is bold by reason of the Instigation of the Devil and the Ignorance that is in him and reasons with the Lord as if he were stronger then the Lord as if the Lord needed man as if he alwayes would wait on man No no before your Judge you will be silent and you shall confess to the Lord that his judgement is just So Friends ye all who are here heed whilst ye have time take heed of pleading with your Maker and reasoning it out with him Hath not the Potter power over the Clay of the same lump to make one vessel to honour and another to dishonour and yet he made not you so nor no man so he made all Nations on the earth of one blood and appointed the bounds of their habitations if happily they might seek after God So he hath concluded no Nation under reprobation from all eternity He Created man after his own Image In the Image of God created he them Male and Female and so he made none to Dishonour none to Reprobation He might have made man otherwise and who could have said to him what dost thou for he hath Power as the Potter over the Clay and yet when he hath made no man so why doth man complain for who hath resisted his Will why doth he find fault It is sufficient and riches of mercy that he hath had compassion on man and visited him again with the day spring from on high who sat in darkness and in the Region of the shadow of death which is the light which shews him whatsoever he doth Is not this the Christ if Man will not be gathered to this if he will neglect so great Salvation if he will trifle out his precious time and do despight unto the Spirit of Truth and trample under foot the blood of the Everlasting Covenant and reject mercy and loving kindness and that which waits upon him and hath compassion on him and his day have an end and so he be hardned and that which called withdraws and that which strove ceases and so he errs from his wayes and his heart is hardned from his fear and the Lord shew his Power in him that which he refused and did reject which is the Power of God unto Salvation and declare his Name throughout all the earth in his destruction Man hath nothing then to reason with the Lord and all men will find it so it is the Word of the Lord. And whereas the Apostle saith What if God willing to shew his wrath and to make his Power known endured with much long-suffering the Vessels of Wrath fitted to Destruction that he might make known the riches of his Glory on the Vessels of Mercy which he had afore prepared unto Glory He doth but put the Question If he were willing to do so and if he had done so what hath man to do to complain Nay but O man who art thou that repliest against God Shall the thing formed say unto him that formed it why hast thou made me thus If the matter were only there it stood well against man but the Lord hath done otherwise as I have shewed he made man otherwise and the Lord hath otherwise done by man since he marr'd himself as hath been declared so the Lord is true and every man here a liar Rom. 3. 4.
and his mouth must be stopt and he must make supplication to his Judge whom though I were righteous saith Job yet would I not answer but I would make supplication to my Judge Job 9. 15. And this becomes man and not to argue it with the Lord and to wrangle with him as if God were unrighteous as if his Ways were not equal Who measures the Lord by his shallow understanding who cannot be searched out O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and the Knowledge of God how unsearchable are his Judgements and his Wayes past finding out for who hath known the mind of the Lord Or who hath been his Counsellor Or who hath first given unto him and it shall be given unto him again For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be Glory for ever Amen Rom. 9. 33 34 35. 36. So every man's mouth here must be stopt and before his Judge he must be silent as I have said and not lay unrighteousness on God or charge him that his Wayes are not equal For man himself shall conclude it otherwise in the day wherein the Lord will render unto him according to his deeds and therefore it is in vain to stand it out with the Lord. It is but the artifice of the Enemy that works this in you he knows you will otherwise say when it is too late therefore be not deceived by him least when 't is too late you blame your folly Moved of the Lord I am to write this to you in bowels of love that you may see your state and how this matter stands and that ye may be delivered And if ye yet say The Children being not yet born neither having yet done any good or evil that the Purpose of God according to Election might stand not of Works but of him that calleth It was said unto her the Elder shall serve the Younger as it is written Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated I answer as I did before this is spoken of the two Seeds the Seed of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent of which these two were Figures in which as the Knowledge of the Lord foresaw they would be so he loved so he hated For he loveth and hateth no man but as they are in these and it was after the fall that this was spoken both the promise that the Seed of the Woman should bruise the Serpents head and the Elder shall serve the Younger Jacob have I loved and Esau have I hated For before there is nothing spoken of this for all stood well and as the same in the first Adam whilst he stood and there was no need of the Promise nor was there two as to man the one whereof was the Object of Love and the other of Hatred the Elder serving the Younger but man was one spirit from the Root Eternal and in the Root Eternal which God hath blessed And the two or that which made two the seed of the Serpent which entered into man came out afterwards For man receiving the Serpent and obeying his voice after he was made against the Command of God there came to be two things in man two Roots two which strugled the Seed of the Woman the seed of Promise and the seed of the Serpent the seed of the Curse as the Promise came to take place and that seed came to move in man to bring him back to God which the Lord hath promised as the Children strove in Rebecca's womb when she came to be delivered so do these as the time cometh wherein as I have said the promise of God cometh to be fulfilled The Flesh lusteth against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh and these are contrary the one unto the other So that ye cannot do the things that ye would As the Apostle speaks Gal. 5. 17. And which the Apostle found in himself when the Promise came to be fulfilled in him I see saith he another law in my members warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into Captivity â—o the law of sin which is in my members And he cries out there as Rebecca did concerning the Children If it be so why am I thus And she went to enquire of the Lord Gen. 25. 22. O wretched man that I am who shall deliver me from the body of this Death Rom. 7. 23 24. So the Children strugled in the Womb of Rebecca which was the Figure Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be separated from thy bowels and theone people shall be stronger then the other people and the Elder shall serve the Younger said the Lord unto her of whom she went to enquire when it was so with her as aforesaid And when her dayes to be delivered were to be fulfilled behold there were Twins in her womb and the first came out Red all over like an hary Garment and they called his Name Esau and after that came his brother out and his hand took hold on Esau's heel and his Name was called Jacob â— 24 25 26. So the Law of the Spirit of Life which was in Christ Jesus strugled with the law of Sin and of Death In Paul which though the law of sin and of death the law in his members strugled with and came out first When I would do good the law of his mind evil is present with me the law in his members the good that I would I do not the evil which I would not that do I Yet it took hold of its heel and supplanted it as the Name of Jacob the true Seed siignifies Is he not said Esau rightly named Jacob For he hath supplanted me these two times he took away my birth-right and behold now he hath taken away my blessing and Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his Father blessed him And Esau said in his heart the days of mourn-for my Father are at hand then will I slay my brother Jacob Gen. 27. 36 37. 41. It came after and supplanted overthrew the other I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord the Law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death For what the Law could not do for that it is weak through the flesh God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the Righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace vers 21. chap. 8. 2 3 4 5 6. So there is the first and the second the first man Adam and the second the Law of Sin and Death and the Law of the Spirit of Life the Law of the
Fatherless and that turn aside the Stranger I was a Stranger and ye took me not in saith he that witnesseth the Faithful and True Witness who is come whose right it is to Rule who witnesseth to God who is turned aside from his right when he is not suffered to rule from his right And fear not me saith the Lord of Hosts for I am the Lord I change not therefore ye Sons of Jacob are not consumed Mal. 3. 1. to the 7th For a man to say that he is chosen when he is not in holiness and that he is sanctified in Christ Jesus when he is unholy this is to overthrow the work of him who came to Redeem to Purifie to Cleanse man and so to bring him back again unto God And is the highest blasphemy that can be Imagined and the greatest deceit For it is to make God as such a one is and to render the blood of the Covenant by which those which are Sanctified are cleansed of none effect and where 's the effect if it purgeth not And where 's the purging where the sin remaines And doth it not remain where yet it is And is it not yet where it abides to death And are such redeemed Are such washed Are such sanctified Are such justified in the Name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God as were they of whom the Apostle speaks But such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified So washed sanctified being otherwise then they were when in sin and such were some of you but ye are washed in the Name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God There 's the matter And as an unholy thing For He that is joyned to an Harlot is one body for two saith he shall be one flesh but he that is joyned to the Lord is one spirit 1 Cor. 6. 15 16. So Friends all ye that are here take heed of being mistaken take heed of a mistaken state take heed of abiding in a state that is mistaken for this will not hold you will find it so in the end and I desire it may not be when it is too late so I am clear of you also for whose sake or the Seed's sake in you which is Immortal in the movings of the Lord I have written for the day is near wherein you will find this to be so It is the Word of the Lord and therefore hath he moved me to write that you may see it in time before it be too late before your day is over which is very short however ye may account it or value what I have said the thing is so and as I have said you will find it and then ye will remember that ye were told of it before that ye might not trust on a mistaken thing which will prove as a broaken Reed to you in the day of Tryal and the time of need for the Lord is drawing near to judgement and he will be a swift Witness as hath been said and then wo will be to all them in whom that which witnessed to life and was not heard will arise and witness to Eternal Condemnation and be a Worm that will never die and a Fire that shall never go out and this will be the state of all them that have not obeyed unto life that have not hearkened to nor believed that which witnessed in them against whom then it will witness a judgement that 's eternal for ever and ever For there 's no mocking in things of this nature no jesting no trifling To day if ye will hear his voice harden not your hearts as in the Provocation the day of temptation in the Wilderness Obey his witness believe in it heed it least time be no more and ye be concluded with the God whom ye serve For except ye believe that I am he said Christ to the Pharisees ye shall die in your sins and except ye believe that that which witnesseth for God in you which came from God which whatsoever it seeth the Father do it doth and speaketh what it heareth him say unto whom the Father beareth witness and of whom the Scriptures testifie John 5. 36 37 38 39. Christ the Light ye shall die in your sins It is the Word of the Lord I am the light of the world saith he he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of ltfe Joh. 8. 12. That was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world that which reproves that which makes manifest that shineth in darkness though the darkness comprehendeth it not Thou art my Lamp O Lord thou wilt lighten my darkness Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my Path the Word which endures for ever For ever O Lord thy Word is settled in Heaven Thy faithfulness unto all Generations said David Psal 119. 89. to 10. 5. 2 Sam. 22. 29. John 1. 5. 9. So Friends all that are here take heed hereunto least the day be cloased into night and ere ye be aware the shadow of death close up the hour of your Visitation and it be too late for to you hath the Lord often spoken as I have said and do now say it again in and by the same Spirit of the Lord and he hath often sought you and that by me I am Witness for the Lord for ever how his Bowels have yearned towards you and how he would have gathered you as a Hen doth her Chicken under her Wings and he indeed yet seeks you hearken to his Voice withstand not him that calleth in you that calleth to you that seeks to gather you least your day have an end and there be no more You will remember me in that day but I would you did it sooner before it be too late The bowels of the Lord move in me to you he would not have you perish he would have you hear that your souls may live he would have ye convinced and turned to the truth he would have you in the truth that the truth may make you free I am the Way the Truth and the Life said Christ the Son he that witnesseth If the Son make ye free saith he again then are you free indeed John 8. 36. 14. 6. And so farewell I have finished what I have to say to you from the Lord. Look ye to it I am clear Give glory to the Lord your God before he cause darkness and before your feet stumble on the dark Mountaines and and while ye look for light he turn into the shaddow of death and make it gross darkness Jer. 13. 16. And this hour is neer The Lord God Eternal open your eyes that in this your day which is now neer to an end you may know the things that belong to your Peace least they be hid from your eyes The Lord will not alwayes wait on you his Spirit will not alwayes strive with you It hath
hath appointed a day in the which he will judge the World in Righteousness by that man whom he hath Ordained whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead Acts 17. 31. And who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. And who shall give an account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead who only hath Immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen or can see to whom be Honour and Power everlasting Amen 2 Pet. 3. 5. 1 Tim. 6. 17. Who is The Judge of all Heb. 12. 23. The Mediator of the New Covenant v. 24. of a better Covenant Heb. 6. which was established on better promises for if that first Covenant had been faultless then should no place have been sought for the second but finding fault with the first he saith Behold the day is come saith the Lord when I will make a New Covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah not according to the Covenant that I made with their father in the day that I took them by the Hand to lead them out of the land of Aegypt c. But this is the Covenant c. that I will put my Laws into their minds and write them in their hearts c. He that speaketh from Heaven v. 29. The Lord from Heaven 1 Cor. 15. 26. The blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel whose voice then shook the earth but now he hath promised saying yet once more I shake not the earth only but also Heaven and this Word yet once more signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken as of things that are made that those things that cannot be shaken may remain wherefore we receiving a Kingdom that cannot be moved let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear For our God is a consuming fire vers 26 27 28 29. So then the Way that leads to Life being strait narrow and few there being that find it or walk therein and his Flock being a little flock to whom it is the Fathers pleasure to give the Kingdom And those of Israel that shall return being but a Remnant and seeing that without are the Doggs and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murderers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie and these shall go into everlasting punishment but the Righteous into Life eternal it follows that all are not redeemed for though his life be given a ransom for all that whosoever cometh unto him may have Life and ye will not come unto me that ye may have Life yet all are not redeemed all are not Ransomed all enter not into Life all are not saved and the Reason is plain because all come not to him who is the Ordinance of God to Salvatiâ—n which is Christ in them the Hope of glory the Mistery hid from ages and generations but now made manifest to his Saints the Wisdom of God and the Power of God that which witnesses that which reproves that which makes manifest in them and so they are not saved they are not redeemed they are not ransomed they are not delivered for how can it be that they should be delivered ransomed redeemed saved who come not to him though he be in them a measure of him in every one that which reproves that whick makes manifest that which shews a man all that ever he hath done that searcheth the heart that trieth the reins is not this the Christ nor believe in him and so lay not hold of him to deliver them from death to ransom them from the Power of the grave to redeem them from destruction to save them from wrath to come Nor obey him who shews them wrath and destruction and the grave and death For he became the Author of Eternal Salvation to all them that obeyed him Heb. 5. 9. And as many as received him to them gave he Power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name John 1. 12. And Fight the good fight of Faith lay hold on Eeernal Life 1 Tim. 6. 12. And ye will not come to me that ye might have Life said he to the Pharisees as aforesaid John 5. 40. Now if people believe not on him that of him in them that witness to God if they obey him not if they do not receive him who stands at the door and knocks that which witnesses that which moves to God the Voice of Wisdom which cryeth without which uttereth her voice in the streets which cryeth in the chief places of concourse in the opening of the gates which uttereth her words in the City saying How long ye simple Ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge Turn ye at my reproof behold I will pour out my Spirit upon you I will make known my words unto you because I have called and ye refused I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded but ye have set at nought all my counsel and would none of my reproof I also will laugh at your calamity I will mock when your fear cometh when your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction as cometh a whirl wind when distress and anguish cometh upon you then shall they call upon me but I will not answer they shall seek me early but they shall not find me for that they hated knowledge and did not chose the fear of the Lord they would none of my counsel they despised all my reproof therefore shall they eat of the Fruit of their way and be filled with their own devices for the turning away of the simple shall slay them and the properity of Fools shall destroy them but who so hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of evil Prov. 1. 20. to the end If they lay not hold on him if they come not to him how can they know his power how can he be to them the Author of eternal Salvation and this is manifest Now if any man say in the words of the Apostle as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15. 22. And who gave himself a ranson for all to be testified in due season 1 Tim. 2. 6. And God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life for God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved John 3. 16 17. I Answer that was not the end of the Lord in sending of his Son into the world to condemn the world as I have shewed at large before but that the world through him might be saved as are the words of Christ as aforesaid but it is through him so that
and to many people long and to you it hath been so but it is near an end and O t is but a very little time and you will find it so who shall not be gathered to the Lord after all his seeking you wherein you shall be concluded with the God whom you serve and this unto you all is the Word of the Lord who hath long sought to gather you who yet seeks you who will not seek you alwayes who are not gathered to him who will be glorified in what he shall do unto you who are not gathered unto him in the day wherein he shall render unto every man according to his deeds And this is no jesting matter you will find it so who yet shall be hardned who yet shall refuse to hear who yet are disobedient who yet are rebellously who yet will not hear who yet harden your hearts who yet set your faces as a flint who will not return who are proud and high minded and disobedient and unthank-ful and unholy and who smite your fellow Servants and do eat and drink with the drunken and say your Lord delayes his coming The Lord will come upon you in a day that you think not of it and in an hour of which you are not aware and cut you assunder and give you your portion with Hypocrâ—tes and Sinners It is the Word of the Lord there will be no dallying you will find it so when your day is over no jesting no sporting no living in pleasures no having to morrow as to day and much more abundant as your thoughts of pleasures leads you to imagine those things will have an end when your day is over and when he that hath sought you comes to be your Judge even that which witnesses in you which is privy to all your actions the thoughts and intents of your hearts who hath lain down with you and rose with you and hath suffered and knows all the bowels of the Lord to you and his seeking of you and is witness how you have neglected and slighted and chose his and your enemy and how you have had a name that you were alive and others have thought you to be so and you have said so of your selves but yet are dead The bowels of the Lord God Eternal yet move in me to you who would not have you die but rather that ye may return and live and be gathered with his chosen into his everlasting rest where is fulness of joy and pleasure for evermore And so I have done with you also in the Word of the Lord and so I shall proceed Neither is it so in the will of man that if he will he shall be saved and if he will he shall be damned That were to overturn the Foundation of God which standeth sure having this Seal the Lord knoweth who are his but in a great â—ouse there are not only Vessels of Gold and of Silver but also of Wood and of Earth and some to Honour and some to Dishonour 2 Tim. 2. 19. And my Sheep hear my Voice and I know them and they follow me and I give unto them Eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand my Father that gave them me is greater then all and no man is able to pluck them out of my hand I and my Father are one John 27. 29 30. And those that thou gavest me I have kept and none of them is lost but the Son of Perdition that the Scripture might be fulfiled John 17. 12. And Not that we are sufficient of our selves to think any thing as of our selves but our sufficiency is of God 2 Cor. 3. 5. And so then it is not of him that willeth nor of him that runneth but of God that sheweth mercy For the Scriptures saith unto Pharaoh even for this same purpose have I raised thee up that I might shew my Power in thee and that my Name might be declared throughout all the Earth therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy and whom he will he hardeneth Rom. 9. 16 17 18. And the Lord knoweth the thoughts of the Wise that they are Vanity Psal 9. 4. 11. And O Lord I know the way of man is not in himself it is not in him that walketh to direct his steps Jer. 10. 33. And God saw that the wickedness of man was very great in the Earth and that the Imagination of the thought of his heart was only evil and that continually Gen. 6. 5. And can the Ethiopean change his skin or the Leopard his spot Then may ye also do good that are accustomed do evil Jer. 13. 23. And work out your own salvation with Fear and Trembling For it is God that worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 12. So Friends ye who are called by the name of Free-willers you see how the matter lies and how Inconsistant to the Scriptures of Truth and of the Life which gave it forth Your Position is who think to fathom God with your own Line and reach to him who is Immortal with that which perishes and because you cannot make it out or understand in your dark and narrow thoughts how it can be otherwise you limit the Lord and make him such a one as your selves or as your narrow dark and Shalow thoughts can apprehend of him who is unfathomable whose way is in the Sea and his footsteps in the mighty Waters who declareth unto man his thought and therefore the thought of man or that which proceedeth from the will of man cannot comprehend God nor know what he is or how he worketh or the reason of his working who is unsearchable How unsearchful are his Judgements and his wayes past finding out O the depth of the riches both of the Wisdom and the Knowledge of God! For who hath known the mind of the Lord or who hath been his Councellor Or who hath first given to him and it shall be recompensed to him again For of him and through him and to him are all things to whom be glory for ever Amen said the Apostle Rom. 11. 33 34 35 36. Now because you cannot reach the depth of his Counsel nor find him out and the reason of his working who is unsearchable who are in the fall You think that your will in the fall is the ground of his working who being in the fall can think of nothing higher then your selves For though God is above and you think and speak of God as you think yet you understand God no more in the mind that is in the fall then the fall can understand him Whom even the natural man cannot know nor the things of him for they are foolishness to him nor can he know them for they are spiritually descerned as the Apostle testifies 1 Cor. 3. 14. And think not this strange that I say unto you For a man can see no further nor otherwise then is
Word of God the Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart that calls upon man that speaks to man to turn unto the Lord that we are begotten of his own will and with the Word of Truth this is first that which calls on man to turn unto the Lord is that which begets and that which begets you know is first and if it begets you know in Nature it is another thing a seed of its own each Body it s own Seed the Seed of God that 's his Seed that 's of him which begets his own will something of himself with the Word of Truth that which calls on man which is not man nor of the will of man but of God which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the Will of man but of God John 1. 13. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of Grace and Truth v. 14. And so man hath nothing to do in this thing the first moving and rise and step to this thing is the Will of God with the Word of Truth that which witnesseth something that is not of man nor the will of man nor of the flesh though it be in man that begets to God This reacheth to it 's own that lies in death by reason of Transgression that 's got between and quickens it to God then that moving in man turns him to God So the first and the last the beginning and the ending the whole of the work of Regeneration of begetting man to God is the Lord his Will his Word of Truth his Power his Arm that of him in man being reached by his Omnipotent Power which lies in death by reason of the fall that in which man was made being reached again thorough death moves to God and as this is abided in and kept to it works out the old man the old nature and brings forth the Image of God in man again that which man was made in at first and causeth it to reign over all for ever And here 's the Redemption and here 's the Restauration the bringing man back again to God from whence he is gone the beginning and the finishing Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ Phil. 1. 6. He that begins he performs it Here'â— no second here 's not another here 's not man in the beginning and God in the end man willing and then God working but God working both to will and to do of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith Heb. 12. 2. Looking to Jesus Jesus the Author Jesus the Finisher looking to him who is the Author who is the Finisher wher 's room then for the will of man Jesus begins the Word of Truth that which speaks that which witnesses that which calls this begets the beginning the ending this as it is heeded and abided in finishes he that begins his own will with the Word of Truth performs forms through finishes The Alpha and Omega the beginning and ending I am saith the Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty Rev. 1. 8. The Alpha the Omega he that first made remakes he that made man in his Image renews man into his Image or renews his Image in man he from whom man is gone brings man to God again he that made him at first in his Image â—eaching to his Image that of him in man in which man was made from which man is fallen which witnesses to God raiseth it up and this begets man unto God or a will in man to turn unto the Lord or is the will or the mind that turns unto the Lord Of his own will begat he us with the Word of Truth as aforesaid and this performs this finishes as it is abided in and no other So that were it not for his Seed for that in which man was made the Breath of Life which God breathed into man and man became a living Soul which suffers and lies under by reason of Transgression which is over man in the fall and hath the possession of him were it not that God visiteth or reacheth to this his Seed in man in which man was made which so lies under and suffers in man by reason of Transgression and so causeth it to spring through man again man would never think of God or move to him which Seed the Lord reaching and visiting in man with the day spring from on high shews man where he is and what hath him in possession and where he hath been and so begets it's own Mind and Will and Image in man and brings him to the Lord. Turn ye unto him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted Isa 31. 6. and man heeding it is turned unto the Lord and abiding in it is preserved unto God Here 's the beginning and the ending and the whole sum of this matter and the ground of the mistake that is in men concerning it which I have opened for the satisfaction of the simple in the movings of the Lord because the time is nere wherein these things will be seen as they are when it will be too late and men will be concluded with the God whom they serve So the bowels of the Lord have moved in me to you wards that your eyes may be open and that you may see this great mystery which hath been hid from ages and generations but is now made manifest to his Saints which is Christ in you the Hope of glory and that you may not place the will of man to be it and so mistake in this thing of weight unto all eternity And so I am clear of you also in the sight of the Lord who hath moved me to write and which I have written in his Counsel and as I have received of him whose word it is and which shall be fulfilled and your eyes shall see it and in that day I shall be witnessed in you to whom this shall come by that which witnesses to God for ever and ever and your judgement will be just you that do not hear who will not obey who will not see who will not hear who stop your ears as the the deafe Adder refusing to hear the voice of the Charmer charm he never so wisely The day I say is near wherein these things you will see and witness wherein it will be too late Therefore you also Give glory to the Lord your God before he cause darkness and before your feet stumble on the dark mountains and while ye look for light he turn it into the shaddow of death and make it gross darkness Jer. 13. 16. My Bowels are turned within me for you that so you may not be mistaken and undone for ever For this know that the Lord's Spirit will
witness These things saith the Amen the faithful and true Witness writes John to the Laodeceans who were grown neither hot nor cold and therefore he would spue them out of his mouth I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot neither quite dead nor quite alive neither being without sence nor having much I would thou wert cold or hot So then because thou art luke-warm and neither cold nor hot I will spue thee out of my mouth Rev. 3. 15 16. A sore word to be cast out as salt that hath lost its savour and is good for nothing but to be cast to the Dunghil If the salt hath lost its savour where with shall it be salted It is henceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be troden under foot of men saith Christ Mat. 5. 13. And shameful spueing shall be on thy Glory Hab. 2. 16. And Moab also shall wallow in his Vomit Jer. 48. 16. And it is happened unto them according to the true Proverb The Dog is turned to his own Vomit again and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the Mire 2 Pet. 2. 22. This is the condition of all that are in this state whom the Lord spues out I say He that beleiveth on the Son hath everlasting life and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him John 3. 36. And here 's the state of all men by nature the nature that is in the fall in the Transgression they are without God the sence of God the life of God the Son of God without God in the World without Christ the Son of God Aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel Strangers from the covenants of Promise having no hope as aforesaid and the reason is because they believe not on the Son on that which witnesses to God in them Which Judges and reproves them when they do evil and shews them what they should do Is not this the Christ John 4. 21. That which tells them all that ever they have done that searcheth their hearts and trieth their Reigns and knoweth the compass and end of all their Actions and sitteth down with them and risieth up with them and follows them wheresoever they go They drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them and that Rock was Christ 1 Cor. 10. 4. Which speaks to them in secret and convinceth them of evil which they know they should not go against which is the Grace of God that bringeth Salvation that hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live Soberly and Righteously and Godly in this present World of which the Apostle speaketh Tit. 2. 11 12. The Comforter which reproves rhe World of Sin of Righteousness and of Judgement of Sin because they believe not in me saith Christ John 1. 6. 8 9. of Righteousness because I go to my Father and ye see me no more Of Judgment because the Prince of this World is judged vers 10 11. So that which reproves and judges is the Spirit the Spirit of the Son the Comforter that which reproves gives comfort and hope to Godward that he will shew mercy It is his Arm that opens to gather It is his Crook by which he brings back O Jerusalem Jerusalem thou that killest the Prophets and stonest them that are sent unto thee How often would I have gathered thy children together as a Hen gathers her chicken under her wings and ye would not Mat. 23. 27. Now that which gathers is that which brings together that which is astray that is out of its place out of its way and that which so gathers corrects or it is a correction or a reproof to that which is astray and the voice of that which gathers is a reproof to that which is astray the very calling to come together reproves that which was not so Now this comforts this is the Comforter that calls to man who is out of the way to turn him to bring him out of the wrong to the right way and that which tells a man that he is in the wrong way judges the wrong way reproves it And that which reproves the wrong gives comfort to a man as he receives it and lets it judge the wrong in him that he is regarded and shall be brought into the right And so thy Rod and thy Staffe they comfort me Psal 23. 3. It gives a man to see that its like to be well with him As a man that is travelling hard and he hath a long way to go and night will come and he fears least having mist his way he shall come short of home and then great perils will attend him and he happily may miscarry and be undone for ever If any man meet him and tell him how he is out of his way and that the other is his way and if he will go with him he will bring him in safety to his journeys end and deliver him from all his enemies and the sad event of a miscarriage this will revive the heart of the man that is in sence of his condition and instead of repining at or resisting or slighting his friend or persisting in the wrong way in which he was or rising against his friend and his admonition and reproof he will gladly go with him and accept the offer and he will say pray let me go with thee and I am glad I have met with thee and what a thing is it that I have met with thee that I should meet with thee and what a providence was it and his heart will be light and rejoyce that he hath met with the right and be comforted that now he shall come home and miss his dangers and be out of fear of miscarriage So his trouble is gone and all the way along he will be talking to his friend and telling him what a thing it was that he met with him Even so it is as to that which is Eternal man that is out of his way and comes to be in sence by that which calls upon him and tells him he is out of the way lying is out of the way swearing is out of the way deceit is out of the way the form of godliness without the Power is out of the way Profession without the prossession of that which is profest a Name that one lives and yet is dead as to the life of God a circumcision without when there is no circumcision within a walking as to the Law blameless and yet without law to Christ a Jew without and no Jew within a cover of Righteousness without and yet within a rotten Sepulcher full of dead mens bones an open Sepulcher a man that comes to be in the sence of this through that which calls upon him and thereby to be awakned to see the danger in which he was and so to be apprehensive of his deliverance will rejoyce at this and be comforted in this that so reprov'd
him in the wrong way and shewed him the right and with gladness of heart walks on with his Friend who so shew'd him who so judged him and his heart is now easie and his fears are over and he cares not at what pains he is or what it costs him or what he looses or parts with to walk along with his friend and to keep to his foot step by step with him because he will-bring him to his journeys end Friends and People all who are not yet come hither who yet are not turned at the voice of your friend at that which calls on you which reproves which judges the way you are in Resist no longer but be gathered unto it that so into the sence of your state you may come and be led along and keep company with that which followed after you and called upon you for many years as you were travelling to destruction that you might turn and live which now will go before you as you turn to it and keep with it and lead you to rest O who would not be here who is in any sence of the Eternal state which he must pass through to and which he must abide for ever who would reject the tender love of so dear a friend Who would not be at ease at hearts ease as we use to say when any ones burthen is taken off in a matter of this weight as to that which is Eternal that it is well with one as to that which is Eternal here the heart is at rest and all that is within a man is at peace and his thoughts of his going to his long home is secure when he is in the certainty of this and who would not be in the certainty of this that his heart might be at ease and his soul at rest at hearts ease at true rest which never is at true ease nor rest till it come hither till it be at this and that it may come hither is the end of the Lord in that which gathers which opens which seeks which would not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn and live So people all the Bowels of the Lords love are to you in this in that which gathers in that which seeks in that which calls in that which witnesses in that which follows after you in that which judges you in that which reproves your goings astray in that which shews you are out of the way the Rod and the Staff this comforts this is a comfort Before I was afflicted I went astray but now have I kept thy Word Psal 119. 67. And blessed is the man whom thou chastnests O Lord and teachest him out of thy Law Psal 94. 12. And I know O Lord that thy Judgements are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me Psal 119. 75. And it is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes the law of thy mouth is better to me then thousands of Gold and Silver ver 71. 72. And if you are without chastisement of which all are partakers then are ye bastards and not sons Heb. 12. 12. If ye endure chasming God dealeth with you as with sons for what son is he whom the Father chastneth not ver 7. Furthermore we have had Fathers of our flesh which corrected us and we gave them reverence shall we not much rather be in subjection to the Father of Spirits and live For they verily for a few dayes chastened us after their own pleasure but he for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holinesse vers 8 9. So that which chastens that which corrects that which reproves that which judges that which seeks that which gathers that which calls that which woes that which intreats that which follows the voice behind which saith This is the right way walk in it when you turn to the right hand or to the left the Promise which the Lord made of old in the time of the Law which was without to lead to that which was within which was blotted out by reason of Transgression for which cause the Law was added some thing that was not before by reason of Transgression to lead to that within which Transgression was got over the Word nigh even in thy mouth and in thy heart this Word of Faith which we preach said the Apostle the righteousness of Faith which saith on this wise saith he Rom. 10. 6. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying this is the Way walk ye in it when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn unto the left Isa 20. 21. This comforts this is of a comforting nature this shews the Lords regard this seeks to gather this seeks to save be ye gathered unto it to that which reproves to that which judges to that which calls to that which follows to that which speaks behind to that which witnesses the Word behind ye when ye are turned to the right hand or to the left which calls on you which judges your being out of the way which you are before when you are turned to the right hand or to the left which goes not before you to evil which shews you evil the evil which leads you out of the way which follows after you when you are led away to evil which saith this is the way that which shews ye are gone to the right hand or to the left walk ye in it this is the Promise this the Lord hath fulfiled this your ears have heard this you know walk ye in it be gathered to it There 's no cloak now left you know now it is so the times of this ignorance God winked at now he commands men every where to repent because they know this and that they should be guided by this and not go against this but turn at the voice of this the Word behind that when they turn to the right hand or the left saing This is the way walk in it because he hath appointed a day wherein he will judge the World in Righteousness by this by that man whom he hath ordained whereof he hath given asurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead That that lives that shews men evil this shall judge the world in Righteousness by this he will judge the world in Righteousness This he hath raised from the dead to that it witnesses that he may judge the world in Righteousness and this is the asurance that he will so judge the World in Righteousness in that he hath raised this up from the dead in that this witnesses and as certainly as it witnesses shall it judge will he Judge the world in Righteousness So People all take heed what you do in running against this in opposing this in not being gathered unto this it is the way to God it is the way to Life and there is no other It is that which shall judge you it is that which must save you if ever ye
be saved it is the Word of the Lord. Now in the Son there is Life He hath life in himself and he quickeneth whom he will For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them even so the Son quickeneth whom he will The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgement to the Son that all men should honour the Son even as they honour the Father He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father that hath sent him Verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my Word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from death to Life Verily verily I say unto you The hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the Voice of the Son of God and they that hear shall live for as the Father hath life in himself so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself and hath given him authority to execute Judgement also because he is the Son of man John 5. 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28. And he is the wel-spring of Life Vnderstanding is a wel-spring of Life to him that hath it but the instruction of fools is folly saith the wise man Prov. 26. 22. And whence then cometh wisdom and where is the place of understanding seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living and kept from the fouls of the Air Behold the fear of the Lord that is wisdom and to depart from evil that is understanding Job 28. 20 21. And I wisdom dwell with prudence and find out knowledge of witty Inventions The fear of the Lord is to hate Evil Pride and Arrogancy and the evil way and the froward mouth do I hate Counsel is mine and sound wisdom I am understanding I have strength By me Kings reign and Princes decree justice Be me Princes Rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me Riches and Honour are with me yea dureable Riches and Righteousness My fruit is better then gold yea then fine gold and my revenue then choice silver I lead in the way of Righteousness in the midst of the Paths of Judgement that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance and I will fill their Treasures The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way before his works of old I was set up from everlasting from the beginning ere ever the earth was when there was no depths I was brought forth when there was no fountain abounding with water before the Mountains were stetled before the Hills was I brought forth whils't as yet he had not made the Earth nor the Fields nor the highest part of the dust of the World when he prepared the Heavens I was there when he set a compass on the face of the depth when he established the Clouds above when he strengthened the Fountains of the deep when he gave to the Sea his degree that the Waters should not pass his commdements When he appointed the foundation of the earth then I was by him as one brought up with him and I was daily his delight rejoycing allwayes before him Rejoycing in the habitable part of his Earth and my delights were with the Sons of Men. Now therefore hearken unto me O ye Children for blessed are they that keep my wayes Hear inâ—truction and be wise and refuse it not Blessed is the man that heareth me watching daily at my Gates waiting at the posts of my door For who so findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favour of the Lord but he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul all they that hate me love death Prov. 8. 13. to the end And the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom a good understanding have all they that do his Commandements his praise endureth for ever Psal 111. 10. And the fear of the Lord is Wisdom and the Knowledge of the Holy is understanding Proverbs 9. 10. And this is the Covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws in their mind and write them in their hearts and I will be to them a God and they shall be to me a People and they shall not teach every man his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for all shall know me from the least unto the greatest for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their Iniquities will I remember no more Heb. 8 10 11 12. And this shall be the Covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Law in their Inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my People and they shall teach no more every one his Neighbour and every man his Brother saying know the Lord for they shall all know me from the least of them to the greatest of them saith the Lord for I will forgive their Iniquities and I will remember their sins no more Jer. 31. 33 34. And I will make an everlasting Covenant with them and I will not turn away from them to do them good but I will put my fear in their hearts and they shall not depart from me yea I will rejoyce over them to do them good and I will plant them in this Land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul Jer. 32. 40 41. And I saw another Angel flie in the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the Earth and to every Nation and Kindred and Tongue and People crying with a loud voice Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgements is come and worship him that made Heaven and Earth and the Sea and the Fountains of Waters Rev. 14. 6 7. And except the God of my Fathers the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaack had been with me thou hadst sent me away now empty God hath seen my affliction and the labour of my hand and rebuked thee yester-night Gen. 31. 42. And Laban said to Jacob behold this heap and behold this Pillar which I cast up between me and the this Heap and this Pillar be witnesse that I not pass over this Heap to thee and thou shalt not pass over this Heap and this Pillar unto me for harm the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor and their Father Judge between us and Jacob sware by the fear of his Father Isaack v. 51 52 53. Thus saith the Scripture and the Scripture cannot be broken John 10. 35. And in him was life and the life was the light of men that was the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the World John 1. 3. 9. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the World and men loved darkness rather then light
from all eternity to destruction but man comes to be destroyed and to suffer as he is found in the state of Reprobation the state of Destruction the state of which he is chief who is the Devil who as I have shewed is Reprobated from God for ever and ever and so shall be all those who are found in him when their day is over who shall partake of his plagues as they are found in him and he in them working as their Head and King And so I have finished what I have to say in this Particular Now in this state the Lord finding man whom he had made after his Image even in Righteousness and True Holiness thus lost thus degenerated thus formed into the Image of the Devil whom he had planted a Noble Vine wholy a Right Seed and Created in his Image the Lord finding man in this state of Reprobation in this state of Destruction in this state of Alienation from God without Christ and God in the World and having no hope The Bowels of his compassion yearned towards him whom he had so made and in a capacity to know him who is true and to be in him who is True this is true God and Eternal Life and to have fellowship with him and to live in him for ever and ever whom now another thing had taken up and possessed whom the Lord at first had taken up and possessed as he said Thou art he that took me out of the Womb thou didst make me hope when I was upon my mothers breasts by thee have I been holden up from the Womb Thou art he that took me out of my Mothers bowels Thou hast possessed my Reins Thou hast covered me in my Mothers Womb I am fearfully and Wonderfully made Marvelous are thy works and that my Soul knoweth right well My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret and curiously wrought in the lower part of the earth Thine eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect and in thy book all my Members were written which in continuance were fashioned when as yet there were none of them Psal 139. 13 14 15. I say the Lord finding man in this state and the bowels of his compassion yearning towards him whom be had made as aforesaid and seeing it impossible that ever he should he recovered again to the state in the which he was made without being delivered from the state in the which now he was and that he could not be delivered from the state in the which now he was unless he were delivered from the hands of him who had him in this state and that he could not be delivered from the hands of him who had him in this state and possessed him unless the eyes of man came to be opened to see the state in the which now he was and him who thus had man in possession and that he could never come to have his eyes opened to see the state in the which now he was and who it was that had him in possession but by a power which was greater then that which had now possessed man and taken him up which it was not in the power of that which had taken up man and possessed him to hinder that power which was greater from shewing unto man the state in the which now he was and who had possessed him he placed something of this power of himself in man to open the eyes of mans understanding and to shew him all this to the end that every man having something a measure of this power in him Christ Jesus the Wisdom of God and the Power of God which is greater then that which is of this World which had now possessed man and taken him up every man might have in himself though not of himself or of flesh and blood or of the will of man or this world a direction or something in him which might shew him in the Particular where he was and who it was that had him in possession and taken him up and so might be delivered And this Power is Christ Christ Jesus the Wisdom of God and the Power of God The Gospel of the Power of God unto Salvation The stronger â—â—en the strong man armed that held the Possession The Prince of Peace the Redeemer The Captain of our Salvation The Head of Principalities and Powers and of the body of the Church and of every man The Name then the which there is no other Name given under Heaven among men whereby we must be saved The Seed The Seed of the Kingdom The Son of God The Prince of Life who onely hath immortality and Eternal Life to whom be Honour and Power everlasting Amen And here 's the Election Christ the Seed the Seed which the Lord hath blessed but the Seed of evil doers shall never be renewed in whom or in the which as man is found Christ the Election the Seed and as it grows up in him and he in it so is he accounted of by the Lord and is acceptable in his sight Let the words of my Mouth and the Meditation of my Heart be acceptable in thy sight O Lord my strength and my Redeemer Psalm 19. 14. I say here is the acceptance here 's the welbeloved the wel beloved Son in whom he is wel pleased and with every one as they are found in him as they are found answering to that of him in them the measure of him that which shews thae which makes manifest that which reproves that which judges and abiding in it Abide in me and I in you as the branch cannot bear fruit of it self except it abide in the Vine no more can ye except ye abide in me John 15. 4. I am the Vine ye are the branches he that abideth in me and I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing if a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned If ye abide in me and my word s abide in you ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you v. 5 6 7. As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love if ye keep my Commandements ye shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers Commandements and abide in his love v. 9 10. These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full This is my Commandement that ye love one another as I have loved you greater love hath no man then this that a man lay down his life for his friends Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you Henceforth I call you not Servants for the Servant knoweth not what his Lord doth but I have called you Friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you You have not
chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name he may give it you If ye were of the world the world would love its own but because ye are not of the world but I have chosen ye out of the World therefore the World hateth you v. 11 12. 13 14 15 16 19. So here 's the Election as I have said Christ the Seed which God hath blessed but the seed of evil doers shall never be renowned and as every man is found in him as he is accepted of the Lord in that which witnesses to God which shews which makes manifest which judges which reproves in man Every man as he is found in him in this is accepted of the Lord This is my well beloved Son in whom I am well pleased saith the Lord Who hath accepted us in the beloved saith the Apostle This is he by whom we have accesse unto the Throne of Grace Who is the Propitiation for our sins and not for ours only but for the sins of the whole world The Mediator if any man would know who he is and what that is that witnesses that searches the heart that tries the Reines the Candle of the Lord that searches all the inwards parts of the belly that reproves that makes manifest that shews a man what he should do between God and man that comes between to stop his wrath that it break not forth as a floud then who can quench it and wooes man to turn unto the Lord whilst his wrath is not broke forth and the fire of his wrath is not kindled which will burn to the lowest Hell It s ever and anone between the Enemy and man shewing man his enemy and what man should do near with his power to help man and deliver him It s always between the Fathers wrath and man for the movings of this is the Visitation of the Lord and his long-suffering for he waits whilst this is whilst this strives with man whilst this tries if I may so say and I speak after the manner of men what it can do So this stops all whilst its time of working is whilst its a Trying a seeing whether man will be reconciled to God This will not let God alone let me alone that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under Heaven as the Lord said to Moses Deut. 9. 14. Whilst its day of working is to spare his people but steps between and shews and makes manifest and tries and judges and speaks to the Lord and saith Lord let it alone this year also till I shall dig about it and dung it and if it bear fruit well and if not then after thou shalt cut it down when the Lord saith behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this Fig tree and find none cut it down why cumbreth it the ground As the Parable of the Man and his Vinyard and his Vinedresser hath it which was spoken by the Lord by him who is it That which digs about and dungs that waites that speaks that calls that 's ready to remove iniquity to open the heart to God-wards to visit the Plant of the Lord that lies in death that it may spring and bring forth fruit that man may not be cut down in whom it is and made to cease to cumber the ground That is ready with every good Motion with every good Thought with every good Opportunity to incline man to the Lord to bring him to rest to bring him to God that watches all approaches of evil that shews the appearance of it encounters with it is ready to assist man against it and to overcome it which hath turned man from God and the Lord from man if man would let God arise that his enemies might be scattered and thus follows after man from year to year and interceeds and mediates and comes between whilest as I have said the day of long-suffering is of mans visitation which is the day of mans visitation Therefore to day whilst it is called to day harden not your hearts as in the Provocation in the day of Temptation in the Wilderness as the Apostle expresseth it Heb. 3. 7 8. Me thinks every man should hear what I have I said in himself and turning his eye within should see this and inclining his ear should hear all this and all the wooing and entreatings and the seekings of him to turn man unto the Lord and waitings and bearings and sufferings for that purpose every man that doth but this must needs hear it and see it and be sensible of it and this as he lets it work will affect his heart and break him to pieces that ever he hath resisted it that he hath been an enemy to his own peace Me thinks I hear such bemoaning themselves I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus Thou hast chastised me and I was chastised as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoak turn thou me and I shall be turned for thou art the Lord my God Surely after that I was turned I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea even confunded because I did bear the reproach of my youth and see what follows hereupon and how the bowels of the Lord turn to that which thus turns to him and see how ready the Lord is to receive such and his tenderness unto such and bow as it were if I may so speak after the manner of men I have too the Scripture for it which will bear me out in what I say the Lord is in an Agony for such and in a distress of love Is Ephraim my dear Son what can be more breaking and near Is he a pleasant Child for since I spake against him I do earnestly remember him still therefore my bowels are troubled for him I will surely have mercy on him saith the Lord Jer. 31. 20. See the Heart of the Father to the Prodigal that returns whom he goes forth to meet and runs and even while he is yet a great way off sees and hath compassion on him and falls upon his neck kisseth him and puteth on him the best robe the covering of his Son and a Ring on his Hand the band of Love and Shoes on his Feet the preparation of the Gospel of Peace for this is the way to it coming to that which witnesseth in him that gives him to see his state and where he is that brings to himself and when he came to himself see what it is that brings a man to himself that which shews him his state that gives him a sence of his condition that is it and how a man is from himself in an extasie as it were out of his wits in a sown from the sence of his understanding as a man from that which should guide him as one in another world as they use
so as by fire vers 14 15. And upon this must all be built upon him who is the Corner Stone the tried Stone the sure Foundation the Foundation of many Generations the Restorer of Paths to dwell in the Builder of the old waste Places the Repairer of the breach And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste Places thou shalt raise up the Foundation of many Generations and thou shalt be called the Repairer of the breach the Restorer of Paths to dwell in Isa 58. 11. The Reconciler The Maker of Atonement The Offering The Sacrifice The Altar The Sanctuary The maker of Twain one New man so making peace The Blotter out of the hand writing of Ordinances which was against us which was contrary to us The Taker of it out of the Way The Nailer of it to his Cross The Spoiler of Principalities and Powers The maker of a shew of them openly The Triumpher over them in it The maker of both one who is our Peace The breaker down of the Middle wall of Partition between us The Abolisher of the enmity in his flesh even the Law of Commandments contained in Ordinances The Preacher of Peace to them that were afar off and to them that were nigh through whom we both Jew and Gentile have an access by one Spirit unto the Futher The Saviour of the body the Church The Saviour of all men especially of them that believe The Saviour of the World whom God hath sent into the World so to be The destroyer of the works of the Devil The Atonement The New Covenant The Law written in the heart The fear put into the inward parts The Word nigh in the mouth and in the heart The Word of Faith which the Apostles preached The Light of the World The true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the World who was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not Who came unto his own and his own received him not Who as many as received him to them gave he power to be called the Sons of God even to them who believe in his Name which were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God The Light in whom whosoever believeth shall not abide in darkness but shall have the light of Life The Condemnation of all that believe not in the light In whom whosoever believeth shall not be condemned The Judge of all The Judge of the quick and the dead Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and coming The King Immortal The second Adam The Lord from Heaven The quickning Spirit The Hope of Israel and the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble The man Christ Jesus is he that witnesses that shews that judges that reproves that makes manifest it is the Word of the Lord. Into him into this Seed which is Christ the Election that which reproves that which makes manifest that which shews that which judges must all come and grow up therein who are redeemed unto God And the Word of the Lord unto every man whether he will hear or whether he will forbear The measure of him in every man which he hath placed in every man the manifestation of the Spirit which is given to every man to profit withal that in every man it may grow and that every man growing up in it and abideing may be blessed of the Lord the Seed of the blessed of the Lord and their Off-spring with them That they may be of the Root that 's holy of the true Olive in which being ingrafted though a wild Olive contrary to Nature the fatness of the true Olive he may come to be a partaker of which brings forth fruit unto God unto Holiness unto Life Eternal And this unto all is the Word of the Lord of whom I am moved to write that all may know the Root that is in them what it is that brings forth fruit unto God unto Life which the Lord hath blessed unto which being â— joyned and in which continuing a growâ—â—g up will be witnessed in that which is Eternal which never fadeth away but endures for ever And so I have cleared this Matter as I have received it of the Lord whether men will hear or whether they will forbear they all shall witness it in the day of the Lord which is neer wherein he will render unto every man according to his deeds It is the Word of the Lord. And so I have finished this Matter even the Word of the Lord in me to this Generation To whom I am known by the Name of G. Bishop Bristol the 20th of the 6th Moneth 1663. Printed In the beginning of the Second Moneth 1664. THE END