then the Prelates fell the second was of Parliamentary Priviledges when the Army came up to purge it then Presbyters fell there will be a third overturn whether for better or worse I know not yet I hope well of the Common-wealth and Rulers thereof but down goe the ruling Elders with all their Churches the very next moneth when a change of things will be But thirdly May not this moneth be another thing yet something more Psal 119.96 for the Commands of God are exceeding broad and there is a mighty bredth height and length in the least word of his what is the moneth Is it not the new Moon spoken of so much by the Prophets as a type of that new Moon and Sabbath which shall be in the new Jerusalem Isai 66.22 23. What is the new Moon then Truly to me it is new Light as our life in God alone is the Sabbath there spoken oh how terrible is this to the Pastors and Teachers to look for new light much more to look on it it will dazle and destroy their sight and make them stark blind and also dumb as we shall see anon Every moneth we know the Moon receives new light as we call it then the new Moon though it be the old still so the new light is nothing but the old even the everlasting Gospel that glory hid in God before the world will come forth in men at last yea that old light of Law and Gospel-Churches which hath been hid and darkened by the Apostacy shall be more fully known and come forth from all that traditionall knowledge of God which is yet received by men Rev. 10.23 Oh this moneth will be a day of doom to the Churches the new Moon this new light will darken them at noon day pray read Amos 8.9 where there is a greater than this yeares Eclipse the earth is not onely darkened at noon but the Sun goes down and sets at high noon What is that When men think they are in highest light as Churches look no higher God doth suddenly darken them and makes them also dumb verse 11. for there is none left to preach the Word being no more to be heard from North to East verse 12. from Scotland to England and Wales Why is all this wrath think yee The end is come upon my people Israel that is the Church verse 2. then there is the howling of the Shepheards and their silencing verse 3. This is wrath indeed but what is the cause of all Sure first because the Churches take no care for the poor of the Land verse 4. they may look to their own poor but the poor of the Land are swallowed up by their silence and made to fail for the Ministers will not open their mouths nor speak a good word for them to the present Governours who doubtlesse would and will help the poor at last though never moved by the Churches But secondly They cannot abide new light therefore darknesse comes as we said when will the new Moon be gone say they or as the margin reads the new Moneth this kills the Pastors and Teachers this one Moneth cuts them off by God But why would they have this new Moon gone and the Sabbath past Oh that they may sell Corn and set forth Wheat verse 5. for there is no buying nor selling nor a stitch of work to be done on the Sabbath Wheat what is that What is the Chaffe to the Wheat Ier. 23.28 saith the Prophet Wheat sure is the pure Word called the fat of the Kidneyes of Wheat and so the pure word is Deut. 32.14 it is the finest fattening thing that man can take that immontall seed of the Word when it is sincere spirituall and pure how pretious and how powerfull it is But what is the Chaffe to the Wheat Chaffe hath the form and fashion of Wheat but it goes away with the wind yea the Fan of the Lord or any sufferings from men as I said before blowes away the Chaffe both the Word and the Preachers of it But suppose it be Wheat that they sell it is but the refuse of Wheat as themselves confesse Amos. 8.6 what lean low and legall teachings doe our Preachers of the Gospel set forth and sell it is but the refuse of all that which good Mr. Perkins Doctor Preston and the rest of those pious men left behind it is not their spirit these men speak with it is but their words or the language of old Writers in a new dresse Nay most of these Pastors or Preachers of the Gospel can goe no farther than the flesh of Christ A cheif one of the Army would once usually say that the flesh of Christ and letter of Scripture were the two great Idols of Antichrist Iohn 6.63 Heb. 4.12 and the letter of Scripture as for that eternall Spirit which dwelt in the one and which spake in the other they know not the flesh profiteth nothing saith Christ it is the Spirit that quickeneth the words that I speak are Spirit and life where is that spirituall quick and lively words Spirit and life it self ministred to men and in them Is it not the refuse of Wheat that they sell when all that is sold by them is not worth the knowledge of a Christian Henceforth saith the Apostle know we no man after the flesh yea though we have known Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth know we him no more 2 Cor. 5.16 We know not Christ now saith he but God in Christ verse 19. for so Christ would be known onely as the Fathers Image Ioh 14.9 10. he that sees me sees the Father if thou hadst known me thou wouldst have known the Father it was God even the Father who was all in all in his flesh who did all and spake all in him and by him he was indeed the way to the Father not that men should stand still in Christ as I said before but by him goe to the Father and with him dwell in God so he was the truth because the everlasting Father 1 Pet. 3.18 the onely true God sent the Son or came forth in flesh and crucified it also to himself to bring men to God and thus Christ was the life and our life also For indeed all the life knowledge and faith of a Christian by Christ as the way doth tend and end in God 1 Pet. 1.21 Yet this is not all and yet this the Pastors and Teachers know not 2 Cor. 5.17 for if any man be in Christ he is a new Creature or as the Greek reads a new Creation why the greatest of them all goe no higher than the first Creation as I said before But again God in Christ and Christ in men is a Mystery yet that none of the Ministers of Churches can manifest to the world those hidden Mysteries and Secrets of heaven that high Mystery of God even the Father and of Christ and the Mystery of the Gospel these Ministers of
the Gospel know not as I shall shew with God another time But now see what Merchants we have in the world mark it they sell Wheat nay shame upon them they sell the refuse of Wheat and sell it for what at the highest rate that ever was the refuse of Wheat an old Sermon that is even mouldy with lying by they will not part with without a price yea they sell it them at a dear rate none will preach now under a hundered pound a year teaching is turned to a meer Trade he that will give most shall most Gospel under the Law all the Priests had but the like allowance Gospel-Ministers preached freely yet wanted nothing now men will not trust God but must have beforehand some twenty shillings for every Sermon they make some fortie shillings a Sermon yea there are Pastors and Teachers in England who have four pound for every Sunday Sermon besides four pound every week for government and gaudies or eating good cheer Doe not these make merchandise of the Word of God are not these the Merchants which John speaks that shall shortly cry alas alas Rev. 18.15 Rev. 18.15 Was there ever the like heard in the world that the refuse of wheat should be sold so dear by Divines and Spiritual men Spiritual men said I What they who are imployed in Secular and Martiall affaires I doe not blame the Governours of our State for setting such honour and preferment on the heads of Pastors and Teachers Constantine did more yet more mischief followed and the Church as they say fell asleep in Constantines lap so I wish the wise and godly Governours of the Common-wealth to consider I pray consider is it according to the order of the Gospel Acts 20.28 that Pastors should leave their own Church-fellowships and turn fellows of Colledges Is it according to the Gospel that Pastors should become Princes and Presidents Deans and Doctors Is not this a secular imployment and this in the hands of spirituall men is but the Instruments of a foolish Shepherd as the Lord General Cromwel excellently words it This is the great hand of God and worthy of the consideration of all those Ministers who taking into their hands the Instruments of a foolish Shepherd to wit medling with worldly policies and mixtures of earthly power to set up that which they call the Kingdome of Christ which is neither it nor if it were would such meanes be found effectunll for that end and neglect or not trust to the word of God the sword of the Spirit c. A Letter from Dumbar p. 11. That this is not a spiritual but a secular power or earthly mixture appears because an Universitie is properly the School of Nature elevated and improved by Art not by Religious forms though the power of it be precious but by excellencie of learning which Pastors and Teachers are not much acquainted with so were fitter men Again It is a very sad Omen when Ministers of the Gospel and Pastors of Churches creep so fast into Colledges not onely because the prosperitie or ease of fools destroys them Prov. 1.32 but it is the Geneva Note on Acts 6.12 That the first bloudie Persecution of the Church of Christ sprang up and began from a company of Priests by the suggestion of Vniversitie Doctors But we are gone too far from Market we heard before their selling the refuse of Wheat for Silver Amos 8.6 I tell you there is more in that Verse They buy the poor for Silver and the needie for a pair of shooes Or as the same Prophet speaks Amos 2.6 They sell the righteous for silver and the poor for a pair of shooes That is if there be a righteous poor man that seeks the publike good of the Common-wealth or the good of mankind they will either keep him poor or make him rich they will stop his mouth with a piece of silver or send him away in a pair of shooes What 's that set him in a good office or gainfull imployment that 's a pair of shooes that many an honest heart is bought and sold for I wonder that the Prophet should say of God Thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob Isai 2.7 c. Why Their land is full of filver and gold and there is no end of their treasures Truly it were well the tidings had bin true That we Christians would have no more silver and gold from the Indies then gold should not be our God But now I fear me that Mammon is not onely the god of the world but the god of Churches also yea many good Christians make Mammon and money their God In the Apostles dayes The love of money was the root of all evill it lay close in the Earth but now it is risen to a Tree all men may see that money is most loved by good and bad alike Ezek. 7.10.11 Paul speaks of a cloaked covetousnesse 1 Thes 2.5 it was much covered and kept close then because indeed the Churches were so pure and poor but now covetousnesse walks abroad by day without any cloak stark naked that all doe see and cry shame on the Saints this day Oh the hour of Temptation is come upon all them that dwell on the earth True that dwell on the earth yea Rev. 3.10 those who dwell in heaven are tempted with it also the glory of the world was the last and greatest of all Christs Temptations Matth. 4.8 I doe not envie your greatnesse God knows but pitty your goodness that is so besieged with greatness and Worldly glory with Silver and Gold and Money and more then heart could wish Psal 73.7 the Lords and Nobles of old could doe better with it because Gentlemen born but when so much money comes into the hands of poor Saints oh how they hold it and hug it and hunger after more as dogs after dry hones Woe woe to the Churches and Christians this day Truly Friend I was forced as first to speak then to write so now to publish these things to the world I would much rather have been at home and sate in silence yea better had it been for my flesh and family if I had as I said even enter into my chambers Isai 26.20 and shut the door upon me untill the Indignation bee overpast that is till all the seven Vials full of wrath be poured forth there is wrath enough on the Churches already their own divisions would destroy them quick enough and why then must I come forth like a fool and put my head between their blows But yet God hath appointed a worm to pour out wrath on the Churches to pour out wrath and yet in love to lye under the same wrath with them and for their sake to suffer this for he that kills with the sword shall be killed by the sword Rev. 13.10 'T is not my happiness then but Woe is me my mother that thou hast made me a
over when the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord or as another Prophet adds full of the knowledge of the glory of the Lord Ezek. 47.5 Isai 11.9 Hab. 1.14 Zach. 14.8 Rev. 22.1 compared as the waters cover the Sea Isai 11.9 Hab. 2.14 There the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb God even the Father and Christ the Fathers glory shall be fully known by men Rev. 21.22 Rev. 22.4 For as Christ is the appearance of God so when God shall appear in men they shall know how Christ was under the Law and as he is in the Gospel and will be the same for ever All that I know at present of Christ is this he was under the Law in Forms In the Gospel hee appeared in Flesh Tit. 2.13 Heb. 9.28 he will appear wholly in Spirit in Spirit onely the appecarance of the great GOD and Saviour shall be and yet manifest in the flesh of men that is all the transactions of God or all that God did in the flesh of Christ Rev. 12.5 Rev. 11.8 11 12. 1 Cor. 6.2 3. Obad. 21. compared shall visibly appear in the flesh of men the birth of Christ his life death resurrection and ascention shall be seen in us men shall see us ascend in a cloud to sit in heaven to judge the world and Angels and to bee Saviours of men in mount Zion at last For the Lamb shall bee in mount Zion and with him we shall be Rev. 14.1 having his Fathers name on our foreheads that 's the full discovery of God in us and men shall see God even the Father in us with Christ so cleerly manifest as written on our foreheads Mount Sion is not an outward Church-state as the Churches now imagine and call themselves though they be indeed the daughter of Babylon Zach. 2.7 but Zion is the state of all the Saints in the Spirit as they are in God and God in them For as Zion was the place where God dwelt so all the Saints from the beginning of the world have been still waiting for this for the full discoverie of God in them Glorious things were spoken of Zion Psal 87.3 and the people of God both under the law and in Gospel-dispensation were still going on from strength to strength Psal 84.7 till every one of them appears in Zion before God Every one appears at last in Zion Rev 14.1 not onely the hundred and fourscore and four thousand who go before and are the first fruits unto God v. 4. but a numberless company of men whose voyce was as many waters and as a mighty thunder vers 2. For as the hundred fourscore and four thousand is the just number of the sealed ones Rev. 7 4. selected out of the twelve Tribes who were first called the Church and people of God typifying those in the last dayes who shall be redeemed from men and the first fruits unto God as we said before so afterward there will be a company of people called to God whom no man can number Rev. 7.9 But these come to Zion through great tribulation through the bloud of the Lamb in them v. 14. that is through much suffering through the fellowship of Christs suffering and conformity to his death they come to rise and raign with him having palms in their hauds that life of Gospel-Saints which was hid with Christ in God Col. 3.3 shall appear in God and the life of God shall appear in the Saints at last thus Christ their life shall appear in them with glory This glorious appearing of the great God rising up in higher discoveries of himself in men is that which hath been ever most opposed and persecuted I speak not now of the times under the Law nor Gospel nor yet of former appearances since the Apostasie But to goe no further then our own age what we have heard and seen How was the appearance of God in the First Reformers yea in our Prelates and Bishops persecuted as heresie by the Popish Hierarchie Next the honest Presbyters or Puritans how were they opposed by the same Prelates who suffered before Thirdly these Presbyterians formerly themselves in a suffering condition persecuted the appearance of God in those of higher forms and fellowships as the Independent Churches and these likewise are ready to oppose and persecute the spirits of the Saints who in worship and doctrine are of higher discoveries then themselves The doctrine of God and of Christ for substance is the same in all the Saints though their apprehensions differ or are divers rather And who is ignorant of this that the appearances of God in one man hath not been the same as it was formerly in himself and yet all have been going on from strength to strength at least in their desires and aimes toward Zion Though I am but a child in underdanding and in yeares also to some of our Elders yet here I observed four great steps of Gods glorious appearance in mens preaching First how low and legall were their teachings as they learnt the way of preaching from Mr. Perkins Bolton Byfield Dod and Dike most blessed in their generation by whom and such conforming Ministers more men were converted to God then ever since in any period of time Next the Doctrine of free Grace came forth but with lesse successe or fruit of conversion by Dr. Preston Sibs Crispe yet many before converted were confirmed and comforted by their words Thirdly the letter of Scripture and the flesh of Christ hath been highly set up by both the famous Goodwins the one Master John Goodwin like Apollos being mighty in Scriptures and strength of reason the other excels in spirituall discourses of Christs death resurrection ascension and intercession yet much according to the flesh for he meddles not with the Mystery of Christ in us of his dying in us as Mr. Dell in part discovers but all of Christ without us which though a truth yet not the whole truth nor that spirit and truth which Christ spake of John 6.63 2 Cor. 3.6.18 for as the flesh profiteth nothing but the quickning spirit that dwelt therein so the the Apostles had a ministery of the spirit to carry men through the flesh of Christ into the Father that eternall Spirit dwelling in him and them and so to draw them up into the same fellowship with himself Again this good man speakes much of Christ in the flesh not as he is in the Father and we in him and be in us which is the sum of our spiritual knowledge and all we should know of Christ after his Ascension Joh. 14.20 Thirdly he brings us no further then to the vail of his flesh not through it into the holy of holiest into the Godhead it self that is into the Father for Christ was but our fore-runner Hebr. 6.19 20. Fourthly though the vail of his flesh be a new and living way into the holiest yet not that flesh as living but as dead
man of contention to all the earth Ier. 15.10 c. First to Prelates then to Presbyters now to Independent Pastors and Teachers It is my mother the Church hath made me thus for my Fathers Spirit the promise of the Father in me doth teach me better things There are better things indeed that the Saints should wait for things above Law and Gospel-order if it were as it was Ier. 50.45 but is not things which neither Prophets nor Apostles attained to yet both did write of and wait for Rom. 8.21 the glory to be revealed in us the glorious libertie of the sons of God and of the sons of men also even of the whole Creation 2 Pet. 3.13 the new Heaven and new Earth the new Jerusalem 1 Ioh. 3.2 the appearance of the great God in us when we shall be like him and see him as he is see his face and his name on our foreheads Rev. 22.1 2 3 4 c. when there shall be no curse nor crying nor death but the tree of life in the midst of us the River of life cleer as Crystall proceeding out of the Throne of God and the Lamb that is in us Zach. 14.8 Job 20.17 Ioel 3.18 These are the living waters the Rivers and Brooks of butter and honey the Prophets speak of yea the mountains dropping down new wine and the hills flowing with milk is more then was in Gospel-times Acts 2. the new wine the Spirit which the Apostles were drunk with at first was but the first fruits but a taste of that which shall be more fully drawn forth in the last dayes Zach. 9.15 Rev. 19.6 when men shall drink and make a noise as through wine and be filled with bowls c. yea make a noise as of thunder being the voice of much people in heaven and of many Allelujahs Those who shall sing and speak really and indeed these gladtidings to men shall not want money nor meanes for City and Country and Kings too shall contribute their glory to them the City Merchant shall give them food and raiment Isai 23.18 and Country Farmers shall serve their wives and children to plow sow and reap for them Isai 61.4 5 6 and 9. verses yea the Lord God himself will be ready as a servant Isai 45.11 Isai 58.9 to wait on them at their command and at their call Here am I saith he to those who undoe the heavie burthens and let the oppressed goe free and break every yoke from mens states and spirits this the everlasting Gospel will doe Isai 58.6 7 8 9 12. verses compared This is also the Sabbath before spoken of which the Ministers there wish it were over not onely to cease from our own works but from speaking our own words Heb. 4.10 Isai 58.13 or from speaking words as the Hebrew reads v. 13. Heb. 22.19 The Law indeed was a voice of words and the preaching of the Gospel at first was in this far below its own light at least below that glory of the everlasting Gospel at last which shall not be in words or speakings Rev. 19.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in the righteous actings of men the righteousnesses of Saints Rev. 19.8 The Angel who is to preach the everlasting Gospel is no particular man or men as in the Gospel-Ministry at first but the Spirit it self even the glorious appearance of the great God in Men and in Magistrates first shall Minister that light and love and glory to bee revealed in us Thus the Angel flyes in the midst of heaven c. Rev. 14.6 the other Angel v. 7. is another appearance of God in men Revel 21.24 For as the Kings of the Earth bring their glory and honour to the New Jerusalem that of the New Jerusalem being the sum of the everlasting Gospel so these Kings of the earth who shall be are the ten Kings who burn the whores flesh with fire Rev. 17.16 The ten Kings are not a Kingly power for Monarchy will never burn Ministery the whores flesh but such a government of men who have received no Kingdome as yet but receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast Rev. 17.12 as the two Beasts are false Ministery under severall forms so the Beast here is the second Beast * The Beast and the false Prophet were taken c. The Beast is the first Beast the false Prophet is the second Beast who did Miracles called the false Prophet Rev. 19.20 who hath two hornes like a lambe this being the purest Ministerie and most like Christ though indeed of Antichrist doing and speaking as the Dragon and first Beast did Rev. 23.11 12. To this second Beast the ten Kings with one mind give their power and strength Rev. 13.14 Rev. 19.20 compared and make war with the Lamb oppose and persecute the high appearance of God in his suffering Saints who are said to be with him who also by suffering shall overcome at last both the Beast and ten Kings with him Rev 17.13 14. compared with Revel 12.11 The ten Kings being thus overcome by the Spirit of the Lord in his people and by the same Spirit appearing in themselves shall hate the whore with the Beast and shall burn her flesh with fire Rev. 17.16 But before this as I said they had given their power to the Beast the reason why they gave it is strange and should still all the murmurings of men For God put it in their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and to give their Kingdom to the Beast untill the words of God shall be fulfilled Rev. 17.17 When the words of God are fulfilled then the woman that whorish spirit or dependance on Men and Ministers which reigns over the Kings of the earth the ten Kings shall burn with fire that is by the power and Spirit of the Lord God appearing in them as Fire These ten Kings then seem to me to be a State Government like ours who have no Kingdom as yet not yet setled though the Beast may make them believe they are Kings for an hour for that little time of the Beasts reign over them but the Kings can doe nothing they can doe no more nor longer then the Lord puts in their hearts as was said before therefore when the Word of God is fulfilled and his time accomplished The ten Kings though formerly ruled by the Beast and loving the whore yet now hate her make her desolate and naked eat her flesh and burn her with fire Rev. 17.16 17. How beloved were the Bishops or Prelates to most of the present powers in whom yet such a Spirit since appeared that hath burnt up all those and will them that follow Those Kings then who bring their glory and honour to the new Jerusalem are the ten Kings and these ten Kings are the Christian Magistrates it may be ours for as the Nations of them that are saved are joyned with them Rev. 21.24