GOD the substance of all Goodness which this excellent spirited Man bears Record to who if we may believe the ancient Writers this Holy Man lived some hundreds of Years before Moses's time as is made out in the Epistle to the Reader the description of this great Treasure is said to be found engravened upon a Smaragdine Table in the Valley Ebron after the Flood If GOD ever appeared in any Man saith the Epistle to the Reader he appeared in him that a Man who had not benefit of his Ancâ—â—ors knowledge being the first Inventer of the Art of communicating knowledge to Posterity by Writing or Engraving should be so deep a Philosopher and high a Divine seems to be a thing more of GOD than of Men therefore it was the opinion of some that he came from Heaven not born upon Earth The Original saith the Epistle so far as is known to us is Arabec and several Translations thereof have been published as Greek Latin French and Dutch but never English before by the famous Doctor Everard so far the Epistle to the Reader Behold how the LORD visited the Children of Men before the Flood and by this blessed Man's Writing how the Spirit of God wrestled and strove sending his Messengers as it were from Heaven to reform and reclaim them from their evil ways but they grieved his holy Spirit and scorned his Messengers till they had provoked him to say Gen. 6.3.12 My Spirit shall not always strive with Man but the Breath shall cease from before me which I have made And then their destruction came as a Whirl-wind And hath it not been the same in all Ages But now the beginning hath near found an end of all 〈◊〉 for the Day of the LORD is come wherein he will do his Wonders of Old and the Mighty GOD is risen in the Power of his Might to plead with all Flesh and to destroy those from off the Earth that will not be gathered to him in this the day of his Patience and long Suffering and for this end hath he sent Messenger upon Messenger Embassador after Embassador to declare His Mind and Will and not only so but his Judgments are now begun in the Earth yet the Inhabitants thereof doth not learn Righteousness therefore the destroying Angel hath received his Commission and of this you have been often warned I am a witness for the LORD he is clear of your Blood Also a few Months ago by a Servant of the LORD's who came two hundred Miles to deliver this Message and the thing is come and coming to pass which he Prophesied of therefore Oh King and Queen for the LORD's sake and for His endless mercy sake Take the Censer Numb 16.46 and put Fire of the Altar and Incense therein and hasten with all your Might to make an Attonement for the People for there is Wrath gone out from the LORD the Plague is begun both in City and Country I am a Witness of what my Eyes have seen and Ears heard therefore Oh let not the King who is the Magistrate of the Highest bear the Sword of the LORD in vain but let him be Valiant for the Truth upon Earth and take the courage of Joshua the zeal of Phinehas and the humility of Jehoshaphat to go forth in the Strength of the LORD to make War with the Enemies of GOD that keeps his Divine Majesty from His Right to rule in the Souls of the Children of Men and this shall be your present and future Happiness to stop the prophane and boundless flood of Ungodliness that overflows these Kingdoms of the King and Queens Dominions together with that accursed Idolatrous thing Covetousness Hatred Malice Deceit Double-dealing Lying Slandring Cheating Treachery betraying Trusts and Innocence into the hands of Murderers besides all the Sins of Sodom and Jerusalem when it was destroyed these things brought the Wrath and Vengeance of GOD upon them and these Sins cries aloud yea louder and louder in the Ears of the LORD GOD for Plagues Woes and Vengeance upon this Land and good reason for it For you have I known saith the LORD above all the Families of the Earth therefore will I punish you you have I loaded with my Mercies and Benefits you have I opened the Windows of Heaven to and showred down Blessings upon that there hath not been room enough to receive them you have I brought to a Land that flows with Milk and Honey and yet this hath been a small thing with me saith the LORD But I have given you the Gifts and Graces of my Holy Spirit by which you have been made rich with the Knowledge of my Will but you have deck'd your selves with my Jewels Ezek. 16. and bestowed my Gifts upon your Lovers and gone a whoring from me saith the LORD after your own Inventions therefore thus saith the LORD Because you have rewarded me Evils for all my Goodness therfore will I visit you and take away my Corn my Oil my Wine my Milk and my Honey because you would not serve me in the injoyments of all these Mercies you shall serve your Enemies in the want of all these except you speedily repent O England England What lamentable Lamentation shall I take up for Thee if ever there was a Day to call for the Mourning Women Now it 's come therefore you that are well skill'd in Mourning Jeremiah 9.17 20. Come away and do not stay let nothing hinder you to join with me in this Work with rended Hearts and bowed down Souls teach your Daughters to mourn and every one your Neighbour to lament that our Eyes cast out Teers and Eye-lids gush out VVater let us cloath our selves in Sackcloth and roul our selves in the Dust in Fasting and Prayers night and day crying vehemently and incessantly to the Lord that we may be ready to enter into the Ark before the Flood comes to drown all Earthly Habitations with their Foundations For all Flesh hath corrupted its way therefore the End of all flesh is come up before the Lord and by Fire and Sword will God plead with all Flesh and the Carkesses of men shall be as Dung upon the face of the Earth They shall die of Sickness and Diseases I will spend mine Arrows on them and my Sword shall devour yea Flesh of Kings Captives and Potentates of the Earth Thus will the Maker of all Things ease Himself of His Enemies and avenge Him of His Adversaries for because His Mercy and long Suffering will not humble Sinners his Righteous Judgements will Therefore Oh England England Repent repent repent otherwise what lamentation shall be taken up for thee Oh that my Head were full of water and my Eyes a Fountain of Teers that I might weep day and night for the Destruction that comes as a VVhirlwind upon Thee O Land where the Sins of Sodom are found where the â—ins of Jerusalem are found where the Sins of Jamaica and Cicilia are found In Thee Oh Land is found the Blood of
THE VVidow VVhiterows HUMBLE THANKSGIVING FOR THE KINGS SAFE RETURN With an Account of John Hall's Vision upon the first day of the Eleventh Month 1692 3. And also a Letter to a Friend concerning John Hall's Message with a Letter from Jamaica concerning the Earthquake that happen'd there a Warning to the Inhabitants of the Earth to fear GOD and give Glory to Him for the hour of His Judgments are come Say unto the KING and to the QVEEN humble your Selves sit down Jeremiah 13.18 The People of Neniveh believed GOD and proclaimed a Fast and put on Sackcloth from the greatest of them to the least of them For word came unto the King of Nineveh and he rose from his Throne and he laid his Robe from him and covered him with Sackcloth and sate in Ashes Jonah 3.5 6. Licensed D. P. April 18. London Printed by D. Edwards in Nevel 's Alley in Fetter-lane for J. B. 1694 THE Widow Whiterows HUMBLE THANKSGIVING FOR THE KING'S Safe RETURN ONCE more I am highly honoured with Mercy and Truth to return Thanks to the Most High for the Kings safe Return Oh what shall I say to the LORD for all his Mercies and boundless Favours for I am as one astonish'd at his Goodness How wonderful are his Works and his Ways past finding out therefore who shall not admire Thee Thou King of Righteousness who hath all Power in Heaven and Earth in thy Hands to bind the Kings of the Earth in Chains and their Nobles with fetters of Iron who rulest in the Heavens and makes bare the Arm of thy Glorious Power in the Earth to dash the Nations asunder and break in pieces the Potsherds of the Earth as a Potter's Vessel Oh Great LORD glorious in Power fearful in Praises doing wonders Thou LORD Jehovah art come and thy Power goes before Thee that shall rend the Rocks and cleave the Mountains in sunder The Everlasting GOD is come to throw down Mountains and Hills and to exalt the low Valleys he 'll awaken the Earth by his thundring Power and the sleepy Inhabitant thereof by his loud sounding Judgments For this know Oh King There 's neither Strength nor Policy shall stand Against what GOD's a bringing on this Land The Youth shall howl the Aged shall weep sore Yet there 's glad tidings for the Meek and Poor The Poor in Spirit I mean Matth. 5.3 who are Heirs of the Kingdom of Glory whom GOD will hide in the hollow of his Hand whilst his fierce Indignation passes over the Rebellious wherefore Oh that my Counsel might be acceptable to the King and that his ways might so please the LORD as that his days may be prolonged in this Land which the LORD for a time hath given him to do the will of GOD in all things with all his Might and with all his Strength that these heavy Judgments which the LORD hath pronounced may not be executed in the King's days For thus said the LORD to me in my deep humiliation before him viz. My Controversie is not with Man or Woman farther than they are found in the Transgression take away the Transgression and where 's my Controversie Is it so O Righteous LORD that thy Controversie is not with Man or VVoman farther than they are found in the transgression of thy Righteous Law and pure Commandments Oh then for thy Mercy sake and the advancement of thy Glorious Power and the praise of thy ever Blessed Name in these Nations and throughout all the Earth turn the King and Queens Hearts with all their Powers and Strengths to Thee as the Riveâ—s of VVaters are turned that with a powerful force of Thy Love and ardent Affection to thy Glory they may joyn unanimously together in Heart and Soul to humble themselves in the dust before Thee the Almighty GOD repenting with Niniveh's Repentance Jonah 3.7 8. For no less Repentance will put a stop to the hot and fiery Indignation of the LORD which is kindled against this Land but to turn every one from his Evil Way and from the wickedness that is in their hands therefore Oh noble Prince anâ— Princess for the LORD's sake who is the King of Eternal Glory the GOD of the Spirits of all Flesh the Everlasting Counsellor the Prince 〈◊〉 Peace the GOD that made the Heavens and Earth the Sea and all thaâ— therein is who hath delivered the King from all his Enemies and gavâ— him his Life for a Prey and for the LORD JESUS CHRIST's sake his Sufâ— fering Life and Bloody Passion who was nail'd to the Cross and gave uâ— his Life there for all Mankind and rose again for the Salvation and Redemption of the Faithful I pray again and again for His sake whâ— hath been with the King in six troubles and in the seventh by his outâ— stretch'd Arm hath deliver'd him Oh for His sake come down from your Thrones and humble your selves in the dust by Fastings and Prayers and deep Humiliation crying mightily to GOD the Father of all your Mercies that He would be with you in Counsel and direct your way in truth before Him to do His most acceptable will in all things that in his infinite compassions for his great and terrible name sake shew you what to do and which way to take for the suppressing and total destruction of this boundless flood of Ungodliness that overflows these Nations And dearest Prince and Princess I humbly beg and beseech you for the LORD and his Glory sake and for your own Lives and Liberty sake be not negligent in this great VVork prostrating your selves night and day before the Throne of his Grace crying mightily to him for his assisting Power Heavenly VVisdom and Holy Zeal which his Valiants had of Old Phinehas Numbers 25 7 8 11. Jehoshaphat Hezakiah and Josias these were clad with Zeal as with a Garment these were the Valiants of Israel that knew how to handle weapons of VVar being girt with the Sword of the Spirit and Helmet of Salvation Phinehas was honourable who by his holy Zeal stop'd the Plague from the Children of Israel then said the LORD unto Moses Phinehas the Son of Eleazar hath turned mine Anger away from the Children of Israel while he was zealous for my sake among them therefore I have not consumed the Children of Israel in my Jclousie wherefore say unto him Behold I give unto him my Covenant of Peace and he shall have it and his Seed after him for Ever because he was zealous for his God and hath made him an attonement for the Children of Israel Oh what an influence had this upon the LORD and how this act of Holy Zeal pleas'd his Divine Majesty here we may see the difference between a holy Zeal for GOD and his Glory and a blind Zeal that hath any Interest in it to Self-honour either in Name or Fame or any other thing of this perishing VVorld The first hath power to prevail with GOD to stop the Judgment the latter suffers it to go
they know all things and lovingly they supplicate and propitiate the Father and blessing him they give him thanks and sing Hymns unto him being ordered and directed by filial affection and natural love and before they give up their Bodies to the Death of them they hate their Senses knowing their Works and Operations Or rather I that am the Mind it self will not suffer the Operations or Works being the Porter and Door-keeper I will shut up the entrances of Evil and cut off the Thoughtful Desires of filthy Works But to the foolish and evil wicked envious and covetous murderous prophane I am far off giving place to the revenging Demon which applying unto him the Sharpness of Fire tormenteth such a Man sensible and armeth him the more to all wickedness that he may obtain the greater Punishment and such a one never ceaseth having unfulfillable Desires and unsatiable Concupiscences and always fighting in Darkness For the Demon afflicts and tormenteth him continually and increaseth the Fire upon him more and more For the Soul entring into the Body of Men if it continue evil shall neither taste of Immortality nor is partaker of the Good But the Soul of Man which is pious and religious is Angellical and Divine and such a Soul after it is departed from the Body having striven the strife of Piety becomes either mind or divine and the strife of Piety is to know GOD and to injure no Man and this way it becomes Mind But into a pious Soul the Mind entring leads it into the Light of Knowledge and such a Soul is never satisfied with singing Praâ—se to GOD and doing good to all Men both in VVords and Deeds always doing good in imitation of her Father And this Mind in Men is GOD and therefore are some Men Divine and their Humanity is near Divinity For the good Demon called the Gods Immortal Men and Men Mortal Gods Man had more than all living Creatures and the World because of his Speech and Mind also Man became the Spectator of the Works of GOD and wondred and acknowledged the Maker for he divided Speech among all Men but not Mind and yet he envied not any for Envy comes not thither but is of abode here below in the Souls of Men that have not the Mind But wherefore Father did not GOD distribute the Mind to all Men Hermes Because it pleased him Oh Son to set that in the middle among all Souls as a Reward to strive for And where hath he set it Hermes Filling a large Cup or Bowl he sent it down giving also a Cryer or Proclaimer and he commanded him to proclaim these things to the Souls of Men. Dip and wash thy self thou that art able in this Cup or Bowl thou that believest that thou shalt return to him that sent his Cup thou that acknowledgest whereunto thou wert made As many therefore as understood the Proclamation and were Baptized or dowsed into the Mind these were made partakers of knowledge and became perfect Men receiving the Mind but as many as missed of the Proclamation they received Speech but not Mind being ignorant whereunto they were made or by whom But their Senses are just like to bruit Beasts and having their temper in Anger and Wrath they do not admire things worthy but wholly addicted to the Pleasures and Desires of the Bodies they believe that Man was made for them But as many as partaked of the gift of God these Oh Son in comparison of their Works are rather immortal than mortal Men comprehending all things which are upon Earth and which are in Heaven and lifting up themselves so high they see the good and seeing it they accounted it a miserable Calamity to make their abode here and despising all things bodily and unbodily they make haste to the one and only Thus Oh Son is the knowledge of the Mind the beholding of divine things and the understanding of GOD the Cup it self being divine And I Oh Father would be baptized and drench'd hearin Hermes Except thou first hate thy Body Oh Son thou canst not love thy self meaning the Soul but loving thy self thou shalt have the Mind and having the Mind thou shalt also partake of the Knowledge or Science How meanest thou that Oh Father Hermes Because it is impossible Oh Son to be conversant about things Mortal and Divine for the things that are being two Bodies and things Incorporeal where is the Mortal and the Divine the Election or choice of either is left to him that will chuse for no Man can chuse both and of which soever the choice is made the other being climinished or overcome magnifieth the act The choice of the better therefore is not only best for him that chuseth it by defying a Man but it also sheweth Piety and Religion towards GOD but the choice of the worst destroys a Man for God is innocent or guiltless but we are the causes of Evil preferring them before the good Therefore whether are you carried O Men drunken with drinking up the strong Wine of Ignorance which seeing you cannot bear why do you not vomit it up again Stand and be sober Look up again with the eyes of your Heart for the malice of Ignorance surroundeth the Earth and corrupteth the Soul shut up in the Body not suffering it to arise at the Haven of Salvation Suffer not your selves to be carried with the great stream but stem the Tide you that can lay hold of the Haven of Safety and make your full course towards it seek one that may lead you by the hand and conduct you to the door of Truth and Knowledge where the clear Light is that which is pure from Darkness where there is not one drunken but all are sober and in their Heart look up to him whose Pleasure is to be seen for he cannot be heard with Ears nor seen with Eyes nor expressed in words but only in Mind and Heart But first thou must tear in pieces and break through the Garment thou wearest the web of Ignorance the foundation of all mischief the bond of Corruption the dark Coverture the living Death the sensible Carkass the Sepulchre carried about with us the domestical Thief which in what he loves us hates us envies us Such is the hurtful Apparel wherewith thou art cloathed which draws and pulls thee downward lest looking up and seeing the Beauty of Truth and the good that is reposed therein thou shouldest hate the wickedness of this Garment and understand the traps and ambushes which it hath laid for thee filling what it presents unto thee with hateful Pleasures that thou canst neither hear what thou shouldest hear nor see what thou shouldest to understand so great a GOD. Here you may see what I have delivered to you is no Fancy or Imagination of my own Brain no new Doctrine but what came from the old Aged for so he is called in the old Translation but in the new the Aushout of days Dan. 7.9 From
Fleetstreet the precious presence of the LORD accompaning Me being filled with Joy and returning thanks to the LORD for his great goodness and manifold Mercies in given me power and strength to do his exceptable Will and finding my self clear as I thought of the Blood of all I communed thus with the LORD in deep humility That if I had found favour in his sight and that I had finished the Work he had given me to do then I might return to him in peace for my Eyes had seen his Salvation Upon these Words a mighty Power fell upon me that operated in all parts of my Body and a strong powerful Voice Said Arise and thrash Oh Daughter of Sion for I will make thy Horn Iorn and thy Hoof Brass Upon these Words I was greatly bowed down in deep humility weeping before the LORD and humbly beging his assisting Power and heavenly Wisdom to fulfil His holy devine Will in all things that His pleasure was to require of me Then after this I wrote another Printed-book to the King and Queen and four Papers in writing at several times which I delivered into their one hands and then after I had delivered those Writings I wrote another Book which I had almost finished but this coming so forceable upon me I laid that by and this hath been longer in hand than I expected when I begun it for indeed all things looking so â—ark and dismal I rather expected some dreadful Judgment would break â—orth before this Book would be finished and seeing so little notice taken â—n the general of all the Patience and Long-suffering Judgments and boundâ—ess Mercies of the LORD But all manner of Wickedness and open Proâ—hainess appearing openly with an impudent face saying Who is the LORD â—hat we should fear him and seeing Wickedness rage as a pestilential Fever and the Angels of darkness let loose out of the Bottomless-pit and Hell â—eign on Earth I thought in my self these are the Evil-days wherein the Prudent are to keep silence and the Days of Vengance are at hand I threw the writing out of my hand as Moses threw the Tables of Stone out of his hand and concluded all in vaine that was spent in labour of Love upon this Generation which is passing away like the Smoak of a Furnace for thought I the time is come That he that is wicked must be wicked still and he that is righteous shall be righteous But in this Exercise of Mind the power of his Love broke in upon me who was never weary in Well-doing and charged me with Neglect of my Duty that would a-mount to his Glory and the Good of Souls Upon this I hastned again to the Work I had laid a-side and since I have grudg'd the time that hath been spent from it and now I have given you an Account why it was not committed to the Press before now The next is the Salutation of the Love of God to all of what Perswasion soever whether in Forms or out of Forms through out the whole Universe that loves no Iniquity but the Truth as it is in Jesus my Soul hath fellowship with you herein and if you presevere to the end of all Iniquity to destroy the Root and Ground of all Evil that the Righteous Seed which is Heir of the Kingdom of Glory may be sown in the good Ground which will bring forth Fruit to God an Hundred Fold Friends of all Perswasions that are in this Work all the Promises are yours the Blessing of the everlasting Hills is upon your heads the Eternal God is your Refuge and under his Arms you shall be preserved for ever he shall cast out the Enemy before you and by the Power of his Word destroy them then Israel the Fountain of Jacob shall dwell alone in safety in a Land of Wheat and Wine his Heavens shall drop the Dew Blessed art thou Oh People saved by the LORD the Sheild of thy help which is the Sword of thy Glory therefore thine Enemies shall be in subjection unto thee and thou shall tread upon their high Places Deut. 33.27 28 29. But the Hipocrite the Proud the Covetous the Malicious the Back-biter Lier and Slanderer shall have their Portion in the Lake the Self-ended shall wither the Luke-warm GOD will spew out the Wicked of the World and Sinners in Sion God will thrust a-way as Thorns that cannot be touched with hands therefore must be burnt up in the place where they stand But unto those thaâ— fears my Name shall the Sun of Righteousness a-rise with Healings liâ— his Wings and they shall be mine in the Day that I make up my Jewels and I will spare you as a Man spareth his only Son that serves him saith the LORD As I lay on my Bed waiting upon the LORD having my self and alâ— worldly things in a low esteem and value humbling my self to the dust and making Self of no Reputation but having a wonderful great and high esteem of GOD beyond what my Tongue is able to express to love adore and follow him without the least interest of my own let it be ever so holy so it be according to his divine Will And as I was thus giving my self all up to GOD a powerful Voice said Write down thy Poverty which I immediately did and said My LORD and my GOD that I may use no vain Repetitions to Thee but that which comes from me to Thee may be the Begettings of thy own Life Father I beseech Thee be Thou the Begetter of every Thought that rises in me to thee for then shall my Prayer be exceptable to Thee when Thou art the Father of it â— Then may the LORD of Life and Glory say This is my Beloved in whom â— am well pleased For LORD what am I but as the Dust before Thee who am nothing nor can do nothing not so much as keep out a wandring Thought or keep my Mind fixt upon Thee one moment therefore I lie in my own vileness in my own Corruption who am nothing nor can do nothing No righteous LORD without Thee I can do nothing but in thee holy Father and by thy Eternal Power I can do all things Glory be to Thee All weakness is mine but all Power and evenlasting Strength is thine Thou Omnipotent GOD unto whom my Heart and Soul Strength and Might Poverty and Nothingness ye all that is within me doth ascribe unto Thee the Everlasting Majesty all Honour and Glory all Love and humble Obedience with everlasting Praises and Thanksgiving be returned unto Thee the HOLY ONE Amen saith my Soul World without End Amen J. W. And whereas it is thought by some that are strangers to me and my Writings that a Woman did not write these Books which I have puâ— forth but at least say that I have the help of some Man give GOD the glory Jone Whitrow writ every Word I poor nothing unworthy Creaturâ— wrote it I cannot say whether a Word might be mispelt and mended