them already they are compleat in Christ and renewed into his image they are in Covenant with him they are his Children they are born of him and he that is born of him sinneth not neither can he sin because he is born of God The Reason because he is born of him that is the pure seed of God in him being always obeyed and waited in the watch being continually kept by this he overcometh the world and this is our victory even our Faith that hath given us victory over the world and this Faith standeth in Christ who removeth those Mountains of Sin and Uncleanness that hath possest them in the time of their ignorance even like so many Devils for every sin is a Devil as you may read that Mary Magdalen had seven Devils cast out of her that is seven reigning unclean spirits being devils and the devils besought Christ when they saw they must go forth of the man possest that they might enter into the herd of Swine So by this Faith in Christ the corrupt fruitless tree that cumbreth the ground is removed and a Plant of Righteousness of the Lords own planting is placed in the room of it that is planted by the Rivers of waters that flourisheth and bringeth Fruit in season and whatsoever it doth doth prosper and his leaf shall never wither but it shall bring forth his Fruit in due season to the glory of the Father and so by abiding in Christ the Vine the creature doth bring forth much Fruit to the glory of the Father the pure is known from that which is impure the holy from that which is unholy that of God from that which is not of God for that which is holy is to abide in the house of God who dwelleth not in unclean Temples made with hands but his Temples are his Saints and their Bodies are the Temples of the holy Ghost and this is the living sacrifice that God accepteth for it is the living that praise the Lord the dead cannot they that are dead in trespasses and sins they praise not God their sacrifice is as the cutting off a dogs neck it is the redeemed of the Lord that sings the songs of Sion the songs of Holiness they are they that follow the Lamb in the Regeneration and they are regenerated and these follow the Lamb Jesus through great Tribulations and they have washed their garments in his blood and they shall sit on his right hand for evermore for he hath found them worthy for he hath redeemed them from all iniquity that they may serve him in Righteousness and true Holiness all the dayes of their lives and so they are come to the perfect liberty of the sons of God they are led by his Spirit which leads them into all truth out of all sin and all unrighteousness and so they are kept without spot or wrinkle in the midst of a perverse and crooked Generation and the Comforter which is the Spirit of Truth leads them into all Truth and sets up true Judgement and Justice and Equity that that rules the whole man and governs the souls of his that all unjust Rulers and Governours that hath had possession formerly is destroyed and the LORD GOD alone doth reign in this the day of his power and he alone doth plead the cause of his redeemed Ones by that of his pure Self which he hath placed in every one of them and hath made it to get the victory And therefore wo wo unto them that lay heavy burdens upon his despised Ones for a Day of terrible Wrath and Vengeance is coming upon you all and the sword of the Lord is drawn and will be avenged on all his Enemies in this the great day of his terrible appearance and the Enemies of his power shall know that he alone will reign and be exalted in this great day of his appearance for the Lord alone will reign and be King over all the Kingdoms of the world and all the Kingdoms of the world shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ and unto him shall all bend and bow and all the powers of the earth be made subject for he is the Light and in him is the Light of the world and he is the beloved of God Therefore every one lend their ear unto him and hear him for in him is to be found the white stone with the new name written in it that no man knoweth but he that hath it for all that are led by the Spirit of God are led into Holiness for Holiness becometh the House of God for ever it is none but the pure in heart shall see God for God is Righteousness and he leadeth his people into righteousness they that are led by his Grace are led out of Ungodliness and out of the pathes of the wicked for the wicked walk in darkness they stumble at noon-day the fool saith in his heart There is no God and his actions plainly declare it for he liveth as though there were no God to punish him nor Devil to torment him nor Hell-fire to burn him which is the portion of the wicked storm and tempest fire and brimstone is their portion for ever from the presence of the Lord Rev. 19. 3. And her smoak rose up for evermore And therefore you stout-hearted of the world that bend your brows against the Just fear and tremble for the righteous God is coming in Judgement to avenge the blood of his servants at your hands and which of you will be able to dwell in everlasting burnings for Judgement is already begun at the house of God And if the Righteous scarcely be saved where shall the sinner and the ungodly appear And therefore repent repent go away and sin no more before repentance be hid from your eyes and you be cut off from the Land of the Living and meet the Lord speedily in the wayes of his Judgements O it is good to live in judgement at all times that is to judge sin down in the first motion as hath been already shewn And therefore all you that would be counted Christians and be Co-heirs with Christ Jesus the Son of the living God who is the onely Saviour of Man-kind depart from iniquity sin and all ungodliness and return to him who is come to judge all flesh raising up his true and faithful VVitness in all Concernments which sheweth to all men upon the face of the earth what sin iniquity and all ungodliness is to the end they may unto their Father return and repent of their former evil ways that their sins may be taken away and their iniquities may be blotted out and his perfect life brought forth which doth his will on earth as it is in heaven and such who do obey this holy Voyce of Christ in them do witness his Kingdome come in great power and glory which is not of this vvorld therefore the vvorld knovveth it not for they vvill not come unto Christ that they
may have life and therefore they cannot tast of the Tree of Life and eat and live for ever John 6. 50. This is the bread saith Christ that cometh down from heaven that a man may eat thereof and not dye I am saith Christ the living bread which came down from heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever and the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world And this is he that giveth povver to understand the Scriptures that are dark to the understanding until he that gave them forth open their understandings as you may see in Luke 24. 45. Then opened he their understandings that they might understand the Scriptures the onely vvay to obtain this favour from the Lord is to love the pure seed of God in the vvhich is Gods vvitness in thy Conscience and is his written VVord in thy heart vvhich vvas that VVord to David that he had such a love unto that by loving of it God made him vviser then his Teachers and it vvas sweeter then the honey and the honey comb and it vvas better then thousands of Gold and Silver and Solomon saith of this vvisdome The merchandise is better then the merchandise of silver and the gain thereof is better then gold And this is the Pearl of great price that the man sold all to buy it therefore my desire nay the desires of my soul thirsteth after the Salvation of all men And therefore dear Friends and People all be kept lovv in the fear of God at all times and learn of Christ to be meek and lovvly that you may find rest unto your souls and consider that the onely thing is to fear God and keep his Commandments for they that hath the Commandments and keepeth them dvvelleth in Christ and Christ in them and much reading is a vveariness to the flesh here the end of all is To fear God and keep his Commandments this is the vvhole duty of man for he that manifests his faith by being obedient he shall live for ever for the Kingdome of God consisteth not in vvords but in life and povver vvhich is righteousness and that procureth true peace such peace as men and Devils can never take from you and so vvalking in this peace the God of love and peace vvill be vvith you to the end Now unto God our Father be glory and everlasting praises ascribed both novv and for ever and for ever Amen The eighth Epistle To Richard Allen a Priest in the Parish of Crundal in Kent and also to be communicated to the rest of his Brethren the Priests to shew them the unlawfulness wicked Practice of receiving of Tythes contrary to the Practice of Christ and his Apostles and yet call themselves A Gospel-Ministry But they must know The terrible day of the Lords Wrath is at hand and this their Act of Oppression must come to Judgement WHat hast thou to do to take the Name of the Lord in thy mouth seeing thou hatest to be reformed for Let him that calleth on the Name of the Lord depart from iniquity and He that saith he is in Christ ought so to walk as Christ hath walked and He that hath Faith it purifieth the heart and he purifieth himself as Christ is pure Now he that liveth in any known sin is a transgressor of the Law and He that keepeth the vvhole Law and yet offendeth in one point is guilty of all and He that breaketh one of these least Commandments and teacheth men so shall be called the least in the Kingdome of Heaven Now I do charge thee with the desiring of thy Neighbours Goods which thou hast no just right to neither by the Law of God nor just Law of Man but the Reason is there is Laws in being for thy wicked lust because all things are out of Gods order for our Judges are not as they were at first nor our Counsellours as at the beginning if they were they might tell the people of the Law what it is for the power of the Nation of England hath had their Laws invested and enacted by Parliaments and they chosen by the people Now it vvas never conceived that a people should be so void of reason as to give a company of persons a power to destroy their Birth-Right the property of their Estates for they are called to provide for the safety and weal of a people not for their hurt or damage and all Laws are grounded upon Reason or ought to be and where Reason ceaseth there the Law ceaseth Now thou art so ingenuous to confess that Tythes came first into England by the appointment and command of the Pope and Popish Laws and is it reasonable that those Laws should binde us that vvere first made by them vvhen vve are so distinct from them that vve now in our times have had Laws made amongst us for the selling and sequestring of their Estates quatenus as Papists and that an Act of Parliament made against common Right as Tythes is common Equity and common Reason is therefore null and void in it self in Law and ought not to be executed as appears by these following Laws See the first part of Doctor Bonham's Case fol. 118. and the eighth of Edward the Third fol. 3 30 33. E. Cassanet 32. and the 27 H. Annuity 41. and the 1 of Eliz. Dyer 113. and first part of Cook 's Institutes Lib. 2. Chap. 11. Sect. 209. fol. 140. and the fourth of Edward the fourth 12. 12. Edward the Fourth 18. 1 Henry the Seventh 12 13. Plowd Com. fol. 369. Yea saith that Learned Oracle of the Law of England Edward Cook in the fourth part of his Institutes fol. 330. where Reason ceaseth there the Law ceaseth for seeing Reason is the very Life and Spirit of the Lavv it self the Law is not to be esteemed to respect that vvhich hath no Reason although the generality of the words at the first Institution or after the Letter seem otherwise And saith the Learned Author in his first part of Institutes fol. 140. all Customs and Prescriptions Acts of Parliament Lavvs and Judgements that be against Reason are void and null in themselves And saith the Armies Atturny John Cooke in the late Kings Case stated page the 23. That by the Law of England any Act or Agreement against the Laws of God and Nature as I shall prove Tythes are against both is a meer nullity saith he for as a man hath no hand in making the Laws of God and Nature no more hath he power to mar or alter them and he cites the Earl of Leicesters adjudged Case for a proof and all the Judges in England cannot make one Case to be Law that is not Reason no more then they can make one Hair white that is naturally black for Law must be Reason adjudged and every Law of man must be consonant to the Law of God otherwise they are not Righteous nor Obligatory Now
AN ALARM To all Priests Judges Magistrates Souldiers and all People Inviting Them to Repentance and Amendment of Life For the great Day of the LORD is neer at Hand Blow ye the Trumpet in Sion and sound an Alarm in my holy Mountain let all the inhabitants of the land tremble for the day of the Lord cometh for it is nigh at hand Lift up thy voice like a Trumpet and shew Judah her transgressions and Israel her sins The substance of most of this Discourse was by several Revelations from the Spirit of the Lord given unto the Author to be proclaimed who is known unto many by the Name of Daniel Gotherson Wherein Tho. Danson a Priest in Sandwich is proved a Deceiver of SOULS LONDON Printed by James Cottrel dwelling on Addle-hill To the honest-hearted understanding READER who readeth without Prejudice READER LEt thy Heart be fixed upon the Lord and the Arm of his almighty strength in the supporting thee and teaching thee for it is Christ that openeth the Vnderstanding to understand the Scriptures and the great Mystery of Salvation lieth treasured up in Christ And if thou without prejudice in the cool of the day dost search and commune with thy own Heart and be still thou mayst find the true Bread that came down from Heaven that whosoever eateth thereof shall never dye and thou shalt plainly see all Deceivers unmasked and their Deceipt plainly and nakedly laid open with all Antichristian Practises used to this day and their Mystery of Iniquity unfolded unto all those that are not wilfully blind and desire to stupifie their sences But if thou wilt search in thy heart in meekness for the Light Christ thou shalt finde Eye-salve the Balm of Gilead the Blood of Christ that will cleanse thee from all sin for it will by thy Obedience bring thee to Mount Sion the City of the living God the Mount that cannot be touched for it is a spiritual Life that must be witnessed And Christ plainly sheweth that the Father seeketh such to worship him as worship him in the Spirit and in Truth And therefore lend thy Heart nay give it up into God that thou in thy own Vessel mayest have the Bread of Life for it must be the Oyl in a Man 's own Lamp that must convey him into the Bridegrooms Chamber to receive that Blessing Come you blessed of my Father saith Christ inherit the Kingdom prepared for you Enter thou good Servant into the joy of thy Lord He is that great Prophet that Moses spake of that whosoever would not hear should be cut off from amongst the people who is JESUS that saveth his people from their sins Whose great day of power hath appeared unto many and is appearing unto all and doth pull down their pride for The loftiness of men must be brought low and their haughtiness must be humbled for Christ teacheth all His to be meek and lowly that they may finde Rest unto their Souls for Blessed are the meek they shall inherit the earth And by hiding the Word Christ in thy heart thou shalt be kept as David was from sinning against God for those that hear the Voyce of Christ desire to be taught by Him as the truth is in Jesus they shall be guided by him to do the will of God in every thing and be led by the Spirit of God to do as they would be done unto and to walk in all things as Christ hath walked for they shall be filled with the Spirit of Righteousness that filleth all in all and they shall not need that any man shall teach them but as the Anointing which dwelleth in them teacheth them all things for they shall know their true Teacher Know you not that Christ is in you except you be Reprobates And so being taught by Christ they shall taste of his fulness and the Arm of his strength they shall all witness that will make them walk from strength to strength and Grace shall make them see God in Sion for Holiness becometh the House of the Lord for ever And by leading holy Lives they find their works to be wrought in God and themselves Branches springing from that Vine Christ and they come in by that true Door and they follow Christs Voice for he is their Shepherd and he leadeth them into pleasant Pastures where their Souls are refreshed with that which is sweeter then the Honey and the Honey-Comb and is better then thousands of Gold and Silver for it is the enjoyment of the Lord which is better then Life And therefore as thou tenderest thy salvation be like the wise man that fore-saw the evil and made his hiding place in his God for assure your selvs High and Low Rich and Poor Learned and Vnlearned Priests and People the great day of the Lords Wrath is near at Hand wherein the stout Ones of the earth shall tremble for all their words and works must come to judgment and none but those that have truth in the inward parts shall stand before him it is the unspotted Life the undefiled in their way the pure in heart will see him with comfort the clean heart is a fit Temple for the holy Ghost to dwell in and those that have part in the first Resurrection from the Death of Sin to the Life of Grace over such the second Death hath no power This Treatise is for your instruction to bring you to a sight of all that is past and present and to come And therefore seriously read without prejudice For it is the Advice of Him that thirsteth after the salvation of all men that they may come to the knowledge of the Truth that they may be saved For every one that shall finde a Benefit by Christ are such as have part in Him such as are baptized into Him and such are baptized into His Death and they are new creatures and old things are passed away all things are become new For in Christ Jesus neither Circumcision availeth any thing nor Uncircumcision but a new Creature And where the new Creature is there is the Vnity of the Spirit witnessed to be kept in the Bond of Peace The 22 of the 10. Month commonly called by the heathens December 1659. I am a true Lover of all whose Desires are after the living GOD who am called Daniel Gotherson A PREPARATIVE To the Ensuing Epistles 1. DEspise not Prophesie 1 Th 5 Trie all things firmly hold That that is sound and pure The rest thou may'st be bold As vanity and lewd Illusion for to hate But if thou judge too soon Thou wilt repent too late Be well assur'd 't is good Before thou do approve Be well assur'd 't is naught Before thou dare reprove Mean while I wish thee do As Abrams servant did As Paul in Macedon To preach when Christ him bid As the Beraeans whose Nobility is prais'd By Gods own holy pen These men their courage rais'd And utmost industrie To finde the certaintie When doubtful novelty They heard
wight For telling them the truth Of treason he 's indight But though his own are blind A Pagan doth believe Moors more then Jews are kind Oh shame and dare relieve 13. WHom they dare persecute And do the King exhort He credit not too soon Malicious fond report When Amos in the court Gods judgements did denounce The Prince of Prelates then Him traytor doth pronounce And the fond King incense But what was his reward Priests you the storie read And awfully regard Thy wife said Amos then Proud Priest shall play the whore Thy Sons and Daughters all The sword shall soon devour Thy place thy eyes shall see Thy enemies possess And in a forraign land Thy self die in distress Frown mowe grin grind thy teeth Swell break for all thy mood The word I speak is truth And cannot be withstood 14. OUr Lord himself his own Would not receive nor love Chiefly the chief amongst you His words and works reprove Because the ways of God They measure by their wits They 're scandaliz'd and fall And still lies in the Pit Oh learn by their extreams And lasting miseries What 't is for to refuse The profer'd verities What 't is rashly to judge Resist and presecute Things that distaste before Thou know how to confute As after his ascent When he his promise paid Many both mock't and rail'd And of the Apostles said For they did prophesie And with new tongues could They babbled idlely Because their brains were weak speak 15. BUt wise Gamaliel When others burst for spight And plotted to destroy Gods Prophets if they might Sage counsel freely gave Princes beseech you hear Be well advis'd take heed Too sudden wrath forbear As Theudas lying knave Judas the counterfeit Although a while they seem'd Great credit for to get Yet quickly came to nought So if these men you see Not true Apostles but Impostors crafty be Believe it they will soon Such as they are appear But if they be of God God will his servants clear And we that dare resist Not men but Heavens King Shall wish that we had wist And late repent this thing 16. IF therefore thou be'st wise Reader thy spirit suspect When thou perceiv'st it tempt Thee rashly to reject That which thou now hast read Or shalt within a while Do not with high conceit Thy weaker wits beguile Though Doctors dote as yet And this false doctrine teach That Prophets now no more Of future things shall preach Nor miracles be seen Do not their dreams receive Blinde guides their silly selves And others they deceive And if thou say as they Then hear this prophesie Thy eye before thou die Shall give thy tongue the lie Who shall the Jews convert Who shall restore our peace Who shall the Pope subvert And Mahomet make cease 16. DId not Elias need When 'twixt Jehove and The doubtful Jews did half Did not Elias call Men from their crooked ways And for the Lord prepare Before himself appear'd His Gospel to declare And dost thou hope that now These schisms at all shall cease And the round world with light As the full Moon increase Without Elias aid Or art thou so purblind As nor in Malachie Nor in Esay to find That as the Baptist did VValk in Elias might VVhen this Messias came A miserable wight So much more now before VVe see his glorious day His usher shall prepare Afore his face the way 18. NOr do thou curious scan From whence he doth appear Nor what his person is For then I can but fear Thou some offence wilt take As men were wont of old When in Gods secrets they To pry were over-bold God doth send whom he list The reason none can tell But only God himself For this you must all know Christs merits are the thing Which all must flie unto Even for salvation God did appoint him for Salvation unto all That in the light believe Which light is Christ alone Who hath enlightned every one Which in the world hath been Or shall be to the end The Lord he did also David and Salomon call And his Apostles twelve His Prophets every one No man deserves this place No man is competent Let God do what he will Let this thy mind content 19. PRaise God that he hath found One whom employ he will More for thy good then goods To save thy soul from ill Danger fear care and grief All for thy comfort and Thy heavie hearts relief Who if thou knew the soul Of those whom God hath call'd As Israel in Aegypt I know thou art much appall'd Dost mourn complain and cry That God as he of old VVill now again provide The sorrows that unfold Thee and his woful spouse How quickly to relieve The means then glad imbrace The choyce thee let not grieve Thy wisdom in this case Is thankful modestie Say unto God thy grace VVithout an envious eye 20. THe poor the mean the rude The vile God oft doth call And place in highest room That he the Lord of all Of all may be confest His counsels be ador'd Rather then vainly scan'd His name with hymns decor'd And all flesh put to shame David and Saul were poor Moses a man unfit Amos a country-boor The chief of Prophets all And of all Kings the head A Carpenters Son some so call'd The Apostles carn'd their bread The most were ideots call'd Paul was a wicked man Mathew himself records A hated Publican Even Nathaniel said From Nazareth to hope For good I am afraid Yet Christ from thence did come Which brings salvation 21. THe word he brings the works That he shall do respect All proud and wicked ways Far from thy thoughts reject Dost thou believe Then lend thy helping hand Dar'st thou deny I dare thee then withstand Or art thou in doubt Then pray that thou mayst see Study within And then confer with me Egerton Anno 1660. D. Gotherson FINIS The first Epistle To all people whose souls panteth after God as the Hart panteth after the water-brooks ANd now also is the ax laid to the root of the tree therefore every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewen down and cast into the fire I is to the circumcised in heart that cometh or springeth from all the twelve Tribes that Jesus Christ is lovely the choicest of ten thousand for whom they part with all to purchase that pearl that is of so great worth that the heart cannot conceive nor the tongue express nor the eye see that is mortal being that Stone with the new name written in it that no man knoweth but he that hath it and is not discernable with any but they that are born again that can witness they are become little children for only to such belongeth the kingdom and to none other Now the soul being of so great worth that Christ said What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and to loose his soul or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul by
Therefore let me advise such to wait and repent if possible that this the sin of the thoughts of their hearts may be forgiven them for they are in the gall of bitterness and the bond of iniquity For I bear my testimony from the everlasting Spirit of the Lord Jesus that this which hath been declared is the truth of God and will become his povver unto Salvation unto every one that can lay hold upon him for they shall put on the nevv man vvhich after God is created in righteousness and true holiness vvhose conversation is in heaven from vvhence they look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ vvho shall change their vile bodies that they may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the vvorking vvhereby he is able to subdue all things unto himself for Christ by his appearance vvith the Spirit of his mouth vvill burn up all the cursed seed of bondage under vvhich his redeemed ones groane and vvhen that vvhich is the Serpents seed is cast forth then the heart is a fit Temple for the Father himself to dvvel in a garden vvherein he vvill take delight for the Lord vvill be alone exalted in this the great day of his povver vvherein Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dvvell safely and this is his Name whereby he shall be called The Lord our Righteousness Now the Priests of this Generation delude the People just like those spoken of Jer. 23. 14. I have seen in the Prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing they commit adultery and walk in lies they strengthen the hands of evil doers that none doth return out of his wickedness for the Lord feedeth them with Wormwood and giveth them Gall to drink for the Lord expresly saith They shall not profit his people for they speak a Divination of their own heart and not out of the mouth of the Lord and they tell the people if they walk after the imaginations of their own hearts no evil shall come upon them I have not sent these Prophets saith the Lord yet they run I have not spoken to them yet they prophesied but if they had stood in my counsel and had caused my people to hear my words then they should have turned them from their evil way and from the evil of their doings Am I a God at hand saith the Lord and not a God afar off can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him saith the Lord do not I fill heaven and earth saith the Lord how long shall this be in the hearts of the Prophets that prophesie lies yea they are Prophets of the deceipt of their own hearts which think to cause my people to forget my Name by the dreams which they tell every man to his Neighbour as their fathers have forgotten my Name for Baal Therefore am I against the Prophets saith the Lord that steal my word every one from his Neighbour therefore they shall not profit this people at all saith the Lord. Now let the Priests be tried do they know the voice of the Lord do they not deny and say Revelation is ceased and teach men cannot be freed from sin while they live and teach people to die in their sin and what will become of them then for as the Tree falleth so it lyeth and there is no repentance in the grave Well look to it woes will be your portion Jer. 23. 40. The Lord will bring an everlasting reproach upon you and a perpetual shame which shall not be forgotten And therefore let me seriously desire every one to wait patiently upon the Lord and to turn in to the light of their mindes that checketh for sin and evil for this is the true Teacher for that which giveth power over one sin will give power over all sin if the watch be carefully kept and strength from on high will be manifested to give power against all sin if the minde be turned to the Lord who will seek that which was lost and bring again that which was driven away and will bind up that which was broken and they shall be safe And thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them and that they are my people saith the Lord God for they know the Word of the Lord for ever settled in heaven and they make my Law their delight and will never forget my Precepts but will meditate on my Law day and night for Christ saveth his from their sins He it is that cometh out of Sion to turn ungodliness from Jacob and the time shall come that the Kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdoms of the Lord Christ and he will lead the captivity captive and let the Prisoners of hope go free now they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness shall be filled and the poor receive the Gospel dayly Christ is drawing all men after him he is calling in the Isles and Nations of the world to come to this great Battle and blessed for ever are all those that fighteth under him and are his souldiers I give thee thanks O Father Lord of heaven and earth because thou hast hidden these things from the wise and learned and hast revealed them unto Babes for such have the anointing from the Anointed as you may see in 1 Joh. 2. 27. But that anointing which you received of him dwelleth in you and you need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things and it is true and is not lying and as it taught you ye shall abide in him and now little children abide in him if ye know that he is righteous know ye that he that doth righteousness is born of him For he that findeth rest and peace in this precious wisdom and power of the Spirit findeth it not by looking upon it at a distance but by seeing and feeling that power ruling in the Body of his flesh for that which makes true love flow forth to every creature is Christ in you the hope of glory who indeed is the Blessing of all nations and the Joy of the whole earth Therefore fear not O Servant Jacob neither be affraid O Israel for I will save thee and thou shalt dwell safely and shalt not follow me in Types and Figures in a formal customary way of worship which is zeal without knowledge for he that hath the anointing within seeth the Father in every thing Now he that speaketh from imagination or tradition and not from experience of what he seeth cannot tell another of his evil but such a one is a false Prophet and runneth before he is sent put forward by some secret lust and he never can bring to that which procureth peace for he knoweth it not because that which a man seeks for whereby he might have peace is within the heart not without The Word of life Christ the restoring Spirit is to be found within you even in-your mouths and in your hearts the Kingdom of heaven
is within you And therefore I must tell you the Priests of this generation Read all the Books in your Universities that tells you what hath been formerly and though by your natural parts with the help of such Studies you can make speeches of a day long yet you have no peace but your hearts still are as a barren wilderness and increase in sorrow till your eyes return into your selves and the Spirit come from on high to make you read in your own Book your heart wherein you shall find the Mystery of Iniquity the Man of Sin seated which is the fruits of the first Adam and till the Mystery of Godliness the second Adam Christ Jesus be revealed in you to destroy the works of the devil and make you righteous and restore you to life there is not neither can there be peace for there is no peace to the wicked saith my God and if I regard iniquity in my heart God will not hear me and he that liveth in sin the wrath of God abideth upon him So it is clear that the single-hearted ones who see the Mystery of Righteousness and are acquainted every one according to his measure with that Spirit of truth that is to be the Blessing of the whole earth and that enlightens all that come into the world although they are slightly regarded and trodden under foot of men of the world whom God filleth with his hid treasure that have every worldly thing their hearts can wish for that their eyes many times are ready to start out for fatness yet let them know for their sorrow and wo that out of this Sion which no man regards shall the Deliverer come for the light and life of Christ vvithin the heart discovers all Darkness and delivers Mankinde from Bondage and beside him there is no Saviour and what vvill become of those that are found fighters against God for they that persecute them persecute me saith Christ And therefore fear and tremble vvhoever rhou art for the wrath of the Lord smoaketh against thee and his jealousie burneth like fire if thou art found in a persecuting nature thy sin will bring destruction upon thee and there shall be no remedy Although judgement is not executed speedily against evil doers which causeth their hearts to be set in them to do evil yet the Lord will punish the hairy scalp of them that go on in their wickedness and when their sins are fully ripe then judgement shall come upon them to the utmost and there shall be no Remedy and therefore O Man who ever thou art great or small that fighteth or striveth against his little ones fear and tremble and cease from sinning any longer in that nature for fear the Lord may be a heaping up thy iniquities that he may bring wrath upon thee to the utmost and then there shall be no remedy for he repayeth them that hate him to their face to destroy them he will not be slack Deut. 7. 10 21. For the Lord thy God is amongst you a mighty God and terrible who is now rising in his might and power to destroy the man of sin and is rising like a mighty man refreshed after Wine and the seed of wickedness shall be destroyed by the brightness and glory of his coming for he alone that is the King of Righteousness will be exalted amongst you And therefore let all flesh stand still waiting in silence before him that they may see the Salvation of GOD. The second Epistle To all people whose souls panteth after God as the Hart panteth after the water-brooks NOW to him that ordereth his Conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God Hearken to the Word of the Lord and your souls shall live mind what power rules in you whether it be a particular confining selfish power which is of the devil or whether it be an universal spreading power that doth delight in the liberty of the Son for if the Son shall make you free then are you free indeed The selfish power vvhen it is crossed or shamed it grows distempered bitter spirited sometimes endeavouring to kill that bodie it dwels in and sometime some other that angers it but the power of Christ who is the giver forth of the Law of Righteousness ruling within is not moved to anger charity true love thinketh not evil but hopeth and endureth all things being meek and patient loving and acting righteously both to his own Body and to others though they be his Enemies following the Rule of Jesus Christ their King Do good to them that hate you and pray for them that despightfully use you that you may be children of your Father which is in heaven Let every man and woman know that there is but two Spirits a good and a bad there is but two wayes the straight and the narrow that leadeth to life eternal and few find it and the broad way that leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in that vvay there is but God and the devil Heaven and hell the way to happiness and the way to misery the way to life and the way to death even death eternal And the way to life is believing in the light that doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world And verily it doth concern every man to know in what state he is whether the spirit or the flesh beareth sway for the two powers before spoken of are the two Adams in mankinde they are Jacob and Esau son of the free-vvoman or son of bondage the first kills and crucifieth the Son of God but the second the Lord from heaven he maketh alive for Christ the Spirit of Truth doth arise above the power of evil and he takes the body and rules in it Isa 65. 17. he makes it a new heaven and a new earth vvhere in dwells righteousness Now that vvhich seeks after the enjoyment of Creatures to have peace in them doth but seek the living among the dead for all sin makes but one perfect body of the power of darkness the devil vvhich doth raign in every man till the man of righteousness Christ the stronger then he vvho is the Anointing comes and throws down his strong holds and divides the spoil and vvhen Christ this Word of life hath the possession that soul hath true peace in the salvation that cometh out of Sion for peace is not to be found in any other for he is the Prince of peace and the Captain of our salvation vvho hath perfected for ever all those that are sanctified by him and he ever liveth to make intercession for them for by his obedience many are made righteous Every one shall be called by my name for I created him for my glory formed him and made him I will bring forth the blinde people and they shall have eyes and the deaf and they shall have ears I even I am the Lord and besides me there is no Saviour Isai 43. 7 8 11. Because thou wast precious in my sight
if they do not speedily repent they must expect that the great God will pay their hypocrisie and deceitful dealings with indignation and wrath upon the heads of every one of them that doth or hath done evil and when the measure of their iniquities are full they must expect wrath from heaven to be poured down upon them and there shall be no Remedy For they may read that David although a man after Gods own heart yet because his hands were dipt in bloud the Lord would not let him build an house unto his Name Zach. 4. 6. Not by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hosts is this work to be done We read that Souldiers have been great enemies to Christ and his Kingdom Joh. 19. 23 24 32 34. the Souldiers armed with swords staves and spears were imployed to take Christ and apprehend him to bring him to Pilate they stripped him of his Garments and Robes and crowned him with Thorns they spit in his Face they buffeted him they gave him vinegar to drink they crucified him and cast lots for his garments they thrust a spear through his side they watched the Sepulcher for fear he should be taken away and after he was risen the chief Priests gave large money to the Souldiers to broach their lies that his Disciples came by night and stole him away while they slept The Souldiers stretched forth their hands to vex certain of the Church they killed James the Apostle with the sword they apprehended Peter and put him in prison where he was guarded day and night with four Quaternions of Souldiers to prevent an escape The Lord hath resolved that men of blood as is before shewed shall not build his house Christ is the King and Prince of Peace and his Subjects are the Subjects of Peace Christs Gospel is the Gospel of Peace his Apostles and Ministers the Embassadors of Peace and his Kingdom consists in Righteousness and Peace Now nothing is more directly opposite inconsistent and destructive to this Peace to the King Prince Gospel Embassadors and Kingdom of Peace then Armies Wars Souldiers and Arms are and therefore you may read that when Christ sent forth his Disciples to preach his Gospel and set up his Kingdom he did not chuse Captains of thousands and hundreds nor yet Souldiers and armed men but Fisher-men and others altogether averse from war and commanded them in express terms not to take gold silver nor brass in their purses nor scrip nor two coats nor yet staves much less Pistols Musquets Pikes Carbines Swords for Christ expresly meaneth that his Ministers must be no fighters no strikers strivers much less professed Warriers and their weapons must be the Spirit and their mouth the Word of God and they must fight onely against mens lusts and sins not against their persons It is prophesied by the holy men of old That men shall learn war no more but his people shall break their spears into pruning books and their swords into plough-shares for Nation shall not rise against Nation nor lift up the sword any more neither shall they learn war any more but live in peace And these things shall be fulfilled when Christs Kingdom cometh to be set up and they shall keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace And therefore let me admonish you all to leave off your dissembling tell people in plain terms you fight to get great Estates and kill men for mony and sad and miserable will be the end of you unless you repent and perform all those Ingagements Vows and Promises made at Triplo-Heath New-Market and other places where by your large Declarations Remonstrances professed by you that you aimed at nothing but the publick good you caused many honest hearts to joyn with you to the shedding of Blood And therefore speedily repent and turn to the Lord with fasting weeping and mourning and set your selves to do Justice in the earth for fear it speedily open her mouth and swallow you up as it did Corah Dathan and Abiram for assure your selves the Lord is coming against you in Judgement and he will be avenged on every one of you great and small And therefore if you expect to reign with Christ I say unto you once more Speedily repent and put away the evil of your doings and go way and sin no more by your deceitful wicked practices lest a worse thing come unto you And consider how often you have declared to put your helping hand and utmost endeavours to regulate the Laws that are so exceeding chargeable and burdensome to the people of this Nation that I have heard it credibly reported That according to calculation cast up by good Arithmeticians that say There is neer seven millions of mony spent yearly by the people of the Nation in Law and Equity and above one hundred thousand a year it cannot be less amongst Serjeants Bayliffs and such kind of needless Officers besides many persons murdered every year in and about Arrests and escaping from Serjeants that no Nation but England can parallel the like practices which is a shame to all that profess the knowledge of the Lord and makes the very Turks say in their common speech as I have been credibly informed when any doth them some great injury I think you will use me like a Christian O abominable shame that Turks must rise in Judgement and condemn the great Talkers of Religion in England and this heightens the spirits of Judges and makes them proud and not like their Predecessors that rode to Westminster upon Asses to shew their humility from Serjeants Inne and back again to Westminster and did not vaunt and lord it over the people as some have done of late years and gained great riches for themselves and their Favourites and Creatures it is to be feared not justly but evilly just like the Papist Priests in former times when most of those Laws now in being were made who gained in their times most part of the great situations and best Lands in this Nation by Combination Craft and Subtilty by lulling the people asleep in ignorance and blindness in their vain superstition pronouncing hell and damnation with bell book and candle to all that did not observe the same and thereby brought the people into a fond belief of them for since that fall those that is to say the Judges and their favorites have far out-run those Priests in gaining riches in an excessive manner by griping very many men And it is to be observed that many of them have come of poor and indigent Parentage yet have they climed up and leaped into most of the Lordly Titles and gainful places and Offices in the Nation and therein and thereby have domineered and tyrannized over and oppressed the honest people and gained the favour of fawning flattering and lascivious Courtiers by Rewards which they have usually given at their enterance which they have made up again out of others to their sorrows contrary to the
last trump for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed 2 Cor. 5. 10. For we must all appear before the Judgement-seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his Body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad 2 Pet. 3. 7. But the heavens and the earth which are now by the same word are kept in store reserved unto fire against the day of Judgement and perdition of ungodly men Vers 10. But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat and the earth with the works that therein are shall be burnt up Ver. 12. Looking for and hasting to the coming of the day of God wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the Elements shall melt with fervent heat Mal. 4. 1. For behold the day cometh that shall burn as an Oven and all the proud yea and all that do wickedly shall be stubble and the day that cometh shall burn them up saith the Lord of hosts and shall leave them neither root nor branch I could instance many more places to clear it and to shew the Lords purpose in it to make his mighty power to appear and to shew to all that ever was his Justice in fulfilling his promise to his redeemed Ones and to lay all their sins upon the Prince of Darkness the Devil for tempting the new-born Babes of Christ and he not prevailing over them because greater is he that is in them then he that is in the world and sin must not go unpunished therefore Satan tempting and they not yeilding it is all treasured upon his accompt against that terrible day and if it were not for that day he should still remain and be a Deceiver of the Brethren and still range up and down the earth and do wickedness But his day of wrath is approaching and that day is it as you may see plainly in that Epistle of Jude vers 6. And the Angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day When this day is none knoweth but the Father who keepeth it to himself but thy particular and the men of this Generations day of Judgement is at hand and therefore it is good to live in judgement at all times for blessed is the man that feareth alwayes And verily it is a blessed state for a man to wait on the Lord at all times for blessed is he that waiteth on him and salvation is of the Lord and his blessing is upon his people And when the minde is stayed upon God then the heart judgeth down sin in the first rise of it and so it is blasted and laid upon the devils accompt that is the Tempter and the mind that is always staid upon the Lord waiting upon that pure seed of God in him judgeth down sin at all times and sin hath no entrance in that heart but it is by the power of Christ in him kept pure and clean and uncorrupt and holy as God is holy in all manner of conversation as it is written Be ye holy as I am holy and be ye perfect as your Father which is in heaven is perfect Now all those that allow themselves in any sin or lust of the flesh they cannot be of God neither can any sacrifice that man or woman doth be accepted If I regard iniquity in my heart God will not hear my prayer and the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination in the sight of the Lord God and the prayers of the wicked shall turn into sin And therefore cleanse your hands you sinners and purifie your hearts ye double-minded that when that day cometh you may be found in the number of those that shall have the Sun of Righteousness arise upon them with healing under his wings and they shall grow up as fat Calves for their Redemption draweth near And as for the wicked wo to them it shall go ill with them for the wicked shall be turned into Hell and all people that forget God For the Lord is known by the Judgements which he executeth when he snareth the wicked in the works of his own hands The seventh Epistle To all Magistrates and Persons in Power to consider what they do when they oppress the tender Lambs of Christs Fold For the great Day of the Lord is at hand and He will bring every word and work unto Judgement GOD said to Pharaoh by Moses Let my people go that they may serve me and if thou wilt not let them go I will shew my power and wonders upon thee I will pour out my plagues upon thee and thy people The Lord is coming to punish the stout-hearted Magistrates that oppress his babes and children and it is not he that cries Lord Lord that will be able to stand before him for he is coming with fire like a Refiners fire to purge the Dross from the good Metal and it is only he that doth the will of his Father which is in heaven that shall be able to lift up his head in that day for the Lord will be avenged of all his Enemies be they never so lofty for they are all alike to him God is no Respecter of persons but in every nation he that feareth him and worketh Righteousness is accepted with him and the Lord is a bringing forth his People with joy and his chosen Ones with gladness for he is become their Sun and Shield their Righteousness and Strength and their exceeding great Reward for his delight is in the upright on the earth and such he doth make to excel in Vertue and the Lord will overturn all false deceitful Powers that are not of his planting and he will root them up and leave them neither Root nor Branch and they shall feel the stroke of his Almighty Arm in this the day of his fierce wrath for it is coming upon the Hypocrites in Sion for the Marriage of the Lamb is come now is he coming in power and great glory and none but the pure in heart shall see him and they shall behold him as he is for the Lord is the God of Truth and an everlasting King at his anger the earth shall tremble and the nations cannot abide his wrath for he hath made the earth by his power and established the world by his wisdom and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion he causeth the clouds to ascend unto the ends from the earth And therefore every one come to know this great GOD that you may in him lie down in peace and finde rest unto your souls and know this That there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus that walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit for condemnation hath passed over