part which is of God shall be saved and which is neither righteous nor wicked in it self but is pure holy meek and humble as Adam was before his fall and now again regenerated from the knowledge of good and evil to be like Christ risen into the state of the second Adam more perfect then the first as in the state of rest and salvation where man is saved and made perfect in God yet so as by fire and where there is neither truth nor error light nor darkness day nor night appearing distinct but in the evening it shall be light or that which before was darkness shall now be made light Isa 42.16 even the crooked straight and the rough plain as all but one day and one light Zach. 14.6 6 8 9. one way and one kingdom of the Lord known unto men and in which there is but one king and his Name one over all the earth and all other kings and kingdoms good and bad so known are destroyed and at an end to its goodness and its badness out of Christ and at the sounding of the seventh angel is al becom the kingdoms of the Lords and of his Christs whose name is but one and there is none besides him CHAP. VI. That the more purer innocent and faithful men are in the truth the more do men plot and devise evil of them to destroy them as against the Lord Prophets Christ and his Apostles how God by his presence with them delivers them as he did Israel the three Children Daniel Jonah ond Jeremiah and destroyed their enemies AND he that with this one even with this pure and perfect one shall know most of this King and Kingdom to declare it and most purely live in it he must suffer the greater by men and with Christ he shall drink of the cup of Christ Matt. 20.25 Luke 12.50 and be baptized with the baptism of Christs sufferings under which Christ himself groaned till it was accomplished and brought through the fire and seven times tryed in the presence of Gods burnings he is most certainly humbled and exalted with Christ in the spirit to sit in the Throne of his Father so long as he lives in the flesh manifesting and declaring to the world the glory of Christs Kingdom which he knows and is possessed of Iob. 16.33 he must so long expect to have tribulation in the world answerable to the peace and consolation he hath with Christ in God and in which tribulation and affliction of fiery tryals and persecutions by men his peace and consolation shall not cease to be with him for his God in whom he liveth and trusteth Isa 63. will continue it by the angel of his presence being in all his afllictions afflicted with him to protect save and deliver him that no evil shall come unto him for when thou passest through the fire I will be with thee saith the Lord and in the midst thereof I will redeem thee Isa 43.2 that no evil shall come unto thee And this abiding of God with his people to rule and reign in them is that which saves them and all men in their sufferings for the truth even as it did all the Lords Prophets and people in all their afflictions throughout all generations to this day witnessed in the three children of Israel that had been taken captives Shadrach Meschech and Abednego who at the wrath of the King Nebuchadnezzar for their faithfulnss in God and not falling down to worship the Image which Nebuchadnezzar the King had set up were cast bound into the midst of the hot fiery Furnance heat seven times hotter then it was wont to be heat Dan. 3.13 â—4 they had no hurt of the Fire for the son of God whom they worshipped in truth righteousness trusted that he would deliver them walked in the midst of the Fire with them and saved them and these men which cast them in were burnt with the flames of that Fire which they had kindled for to burn others according as it is written The wicked have drawn out the Sword and have bent their Bow to cast down the poor and needy Psa 37.14 15. and to slay such as be of an upright conversation their sword shall enter into their own heart and their Bows shall be broken and the Fire that they have made for others shall kindle upon themselves as it did upon those which cast them into the Fornace insomuch that the King and those that saw the deliverance of the three children and the great power of God were astonished and convinced at the Protection of them to see them thus delivered by the God in whom they trusted who is a God alwaies at hand ready to help the helpless from those that would devour them and this hath been the protection that Gods people hath found at this day though great persecutious hath been against them wherein many hath suffered much not so much as was the desire of their enemies they should as many can witness that have seen the malicious proceedings at them but the Lord resttrained them The like we have in Daniel another witness for the Lord who was Innocent Faithful one of the Children of the Captivity of Iudah in whom the spirit of VVisdome understanding was most excellent Dan. 5.12 13. in opening Divine mysteries because for his VVisdome he was preferred by the King the Rulers Governors over wnom Daniel was set sought an occasion against Daniel to destroy him but said they we shall find no fault against him except it be concerning the Law of his God so they consulted together how they might make a Law on purpose to betray him as all men at this day have don to betray those whom God hath most honoured indu'd w th the understanding of divine mystries to betray them they will make Lawes Statutes of things concerning God which shall be sin blasphemy for them that shall act it or speak it to bring them into bondage for it as all the Rulers Officers Govenors and Councellors took councell against Daniel for they prevailed with the King to seal a writing Dan. 6.4 5 6 7 that whosoever should aske any thing of God or man for thirty dayes time and not of the King should be cast into the Lyons den now Daniel notwithstanding prayed and praysed his God as he use to doe and these men assembling against Daniel watched him and as he was worshiping came upon him and brought him to the King for breaking their Law Ver. 14. then was the King sorrie that he had made such a law for he loved Danel and then sought to deliver him out of their hands but they pressed the King so much that he yeelded to them and they cast Daniel into the den of Lyons and shut him in amongst them and on the morrow the King came unto the den said O Daniel Servant of the living God is
it and judge not that you know not and despise not that you enjoy not lest you should speak evil of the truth unawares but vvait the Lords time vvith patience and confidence until he that shall come vvill come and make truth appear truth to you and then you vvil not judge at all Heb. 10.35 36 37. the vvhich I doubt not but vvith you that knovv the Lord truth as truth will be received by you as from the Lord who himself vvith all his own Messages cometh vvith the Messengers to open the understandings of them vvhich he hath appointed receivers and the rest must tarry till he come vvho vvas not only the Author of it in me for you but vvill also be the Finisher of it to you at his coming wherefore receive you it the Lord and me together in one Spirit else you vvill not receive it as truth nor to your souls comfort but as Paul saith It will be unto them that do not believe but are reprobated as the savour of death unto death 2 Cor. 2 15 16. and to them vvhich do believe and are saved as the savour of life unto life for some in love to the Message of Christ vvill rejoice in it and others in hatred to it will be terrified by it however the Will of God be done in it And as I have sometime said unto you vvhen I was at first forced to leave you to go to prison for the truth and your sakes that when I was absent from you my spirit should be present with you so in the absence of now my person you may in this my Writing read my spirit vvhich is alvvayes vvith you in the Lord and as you have said you vvere comforted with my presence be ye also comforted still in my absence of which I doubt not but through the Lord you are comforted yea and in the absence of any man that may have been as a Messenger of the Lord to you let your comfort be in the Lord who onely is able to make you stand And the God of all comfort and patience fill you with all joy and peace in believing and the God of peace be with you 2 Cor. 1.3 and the peace of God which passeth all understanding keep you and rule in you and thereby make you able and willing to follow peace with all men Phil. 4 7. in which rest ye all together with me where I also rest with you and seeing first our peace with God in Jesus Christ our Lord we are therefore at peace with men and do forgive them as God in Christ hath forgiven us and is at peace with us And as I have not been forgotten by you that know my spirit in the Lord so I forget not you in him but ever remain the Lords faithful steward and your faithful friend servant in the brotherly Message of the truth of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus for the glory of God and comfort of all those that shal love his appearing And lastly My friends and brethren who all know of the proceedings against me you have also known how my life and Doctrine hath been among you and how by false accusations I have suffered for the truth and a good conscience but I rejoyce in it and still say The Lords Will be done and his Kingdom come even to my Enemies and reconcile them and those present differences with men that having peace in themselves they may live in love and peace one with another and no longer seek the destruction one of another In the mean time with the Prophets and Apostles of the Lord Jesus I shall rest and say as David and Christ did Psal 35.11 That though false Witnesses have rose up and laid to my charge things which I knew not yet they could not prevail against me to hurt me nor prevent the truth revealed in me but the things that have happend to me have prov'd rather to the further encrease of it with me wherefore better is it if the Will of God be that we suffer for well doing rather then for evil Phil. 1.12 13. and wrongfully rather then justlie â— Pet. 2.19 for this is thank-worthy saith Peter if a man for conscience towards God endure grief wrongfully as my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Ghost I do and have done to this day endured cheerfully that which I have been wrongfully accused for owning the Name of Jesus yet they cannot pull me out of his hand nor blot my Name out of the Book of his Remembrance but though men interested in the World that are lifted up with worldly pride and honor Luke 6.22 â—â— may hate me and blot my name out of their Books and cast it out as evil for the Son of Mans sake yet the Lord who saith I am blessed therein owns me and doth still love me and never will nor can forsake me because in Christ the Book of Life I am alwayes in remembrance before him in whom my new Name is written and no man can take it from me â—sa 19.14 15. for can a Woman forget her sucking-child saith the Lord that she should not have compassion on the son of her Womb yea she may forget but I will never forget thee saith the Lord Such is my faith and confidence in the Lord who having loved his own will love them to the end and is tender of them as the Apple of his eye And that as he hath freed my soul from the snares of death sin and devils so he will in his time free my body from the snares of men that with hatred to the life of God in me lye in wait daylie to devour me and that when my liberty hath been several times like to come have suggested false things against me to prevent it and hinder the truth from appearing as the Princes Dan. 6. Jâ—r 38 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 37.7 8 9 10. 39. 11 12. Gen. 41.14 Dan 6.23 Priests and false Prophets of old did against the true Prophets to keep them in prison but the Lord hath his time for me as he had for them to free me and I shall with patience wait for it who works and none can let and who made Zedekiah free Jerâ—miah from the Dungeon of the Prison upon the request of Ebedmeleck one of the Kings House and who also made Pharoah King of Aegypt free Joseph from Prison upon the motion of Pharoahs chief Butler and did also make King Darius to command Daniel from the lyons Den without an hurt to him who no doubt in his due time will by what means he pleaseth free me and none shall hinder till when I shall rest in him with my prayers in the spirit for you all that God vvill keep you and me and also for my enemies that he vvill not lay to their charge the things they have acted against me vvhich he hath hitherto made me able to bear to rest
resist the comming of it before and will still dwell in your owne ceiled houses your fet formes and opinions of religious wayes and worships and the Lords house way worship and religion even Christ which you should have possest injoy lyeth waste among you and is not inhabited by you but when the Lord by manifesting himself in you shal appear to build up the waste places and raise up the Tabernacle of David which is fallen down and close up the breaches thereof as in the dayes of old Amos 9. ii and so cause the desolate heritages even men and all things which hath been known of them to be without Christ Zacha. 6.12 13. to be inhabited by Christ and shall manifest himselfe in them to be unto them their house habitation and glory then will men forsake their own houses lands and purchased fields which they have builded and planted with all their houshold-stuff therein being and their goodly cedars therein growing and shall not returne to take any thing with them but shall leave all behind them and follow Christ yea and though you may be upon the top of your houses in the highest of your profession and godlyness reaching even to Heaven yet you must come down and shall not take any thing with you Luke 17.30 31. neither shall these in the field return back to reap any profit of all their own labours which they have labored under the Sun in performing of duties and ordinances of religion wherein they thought themselves rich without Christ this all must be left lost and forsaken and no more remembred in the knowledg of Christ and him crucified And would you now dye that you might live then this is the way to see your selves and all things of your selves crucified with Christ and to know him living in you to be unto you a father and mother and husband and wife and children and brother and sister and house and lands and life and death Rom. 8.32 and food and rayment and all things whatsoever else is in the world you and all is Christs and Christ and all is yours and you and Christ with all things else is Gods and you are not your own but as you are in him i Cor. 3 2i 22 23 for you are bought with a price to be the Lords and all that you are you are in the Lord 1 Cor. 6.20 therefore glorifie God in your bodies and in your spirits which is Gods and know nothing in you but Christ and him crucified and whatsoever else you have known to be any thing or any profit or advantage to you besides the Lord count it all lost for Christ and with Paul count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledg of Jesus Christ our Lord for when you suffer the loss of all Phil. 3.7 8. and count them but dung that you may win Christ this is the fruits and effct of your hanging on the cross and this with men is hard to do the way is narrow and some there be that find it CHAP. II. How the cross â—f Christ is accompanied with the crosses of the world firey troyals and persecutions for the truth the clouds of Christs coming â—nd tâ—e way of his people in which he leads them and walks with them to save them how and from what AND wheresoever this way of Christ crucified shall be manifest and found with any that with Christ have been hanging upon the cross of divine wisdom and power to be thereby weaned from sin and the world with the loss of all their own wisedom righteousness and strength there do the crosses of the world flow and come together as fellow-helpers and companions in assistance with the cross of Christ 1 Pet. 2.21 for even hereunto were ye called because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example to follow his steps And therefore you my brethren and fellow sufferers for the truth you that have in any measure learned to embrace this cross of Christ for the saving of your souls let it incourage you not to lay it down but with patience to lye down under it Gal. 6 17. and to bear it about in your bodies as the marks of the Lord Jesus till you be perfected in him and still to trust in God and wait upon him in whatsoever affliction he by men or any other means as a rod in his hand shall afflict upon you to humble you to walk with him and be not sorrowful nor troubled at any thing Eph 2.12 as those that are without hope but rejoyce alwayes and in all things still praysing the Lord for his goodness in laying his cross upon you to humble you and protect you in it and who without respect of persons hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light manifest by the Lord Jesus in the way of his judgements by the spirit of judgement and by the spirit of burning for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus â— Cor. 5.5 or God manifest in flesh Therefore my brethren think it not strange concerning fierie tryalls â— Pet. 1.12 persecutions tribulations and sufferings as if some strange thing happened unto you for they are companions with Christ on the cross and they are the clouds in which he comes to manifest his glory on earth and the way which he walked in himself before he entred into glory wherein the Father made known himselfe unto him and in which way he leads his dearest Saints that know him and are nearest in union with him for the tryal of their faith 1 Pet. 1.6 7. which being tryed by fire might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of the Lord Jesus as the Lords spirit with the Scriptures in all my sufferings for the truth to this day bears me witness that bands and afflictions Acts 14 22. persecutions and tryals through which a soule enters into the kingdom of God are very good and in which much of God hath been manifest unto me for that the Lord by the Angel of his presence was with me to sanctifie it to me and save me as he did his Prophets and people of old and as he will do all throughout all generations of the world for in all their afflictions he was afflicted Isa 63 9. and the Angel of his presence saved them in his love and in his mercy he redeemed them and he bear them and carried them alwayes continually which hath been witnessed by his Prophets of old from Adam unto this day as I shall more particularly hereafter mention that the coming of God to save his people from their enemies the world flesh sin and the devil and to draw them out of many waters death hell and damnation hath been in the way of his judgements in dark and thick clouds of the sky as all can witness that ever saw him and have known any
the sons of God but the flames of a wounded conscience of the one who can indure the bitter burning of it so the joyes of a healed saved conscience in the other how sweet is it and both these manifest in flesh under the law and gospel-dispensation where the discontent and torment of one mans conscience wounded by the Law is manifest and the joy and comfort of anothers healed by the gospel and both living together on the earth in the body and having the glory of this world and the other the same but Dives dyed and was buried First his death was the coming of the Law to him to revive sin in him whereby sin was made exceeding sinful and thereby slew him as it did Paul and as is the death of all after which comes judgement before which Paul as Dives was rich and righteous in himself Rom. 7.9 10 11 12 13 14. till the Law was set home to him and revived sin in him and so slew him after which the gospel came and gave life unto him But Dives also was buried and in hell tormented hee was with David laid into the lowermost pit in darkness Psal 88.6 7. in the deep where the wrath of God lay hard upon him that he could not come forth where he was scorched with fire and burned his tongue for pain under the four and five vial and which David he cryed out Luk. 16.23 24. Father Abraham have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue for I am tormented in this flame as David said Wilt thou shew wonders in the grave where thy fierce wrath goeth over me Psa 88.12.16 Psa 43.2 3. and thy terrors have cut me off Why dost thou cut me off Why go I mourning because of the oppression and the enemy Psa 51.8.12 send Lazarus thy light and thy truth let them lead me let them bring me unto thy holy hill make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoyce restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and uphold me with thy free spirit so is the cryings of a wounded soul that looketh up unto God for mercy as is said Dives did who was also a son of God as Lazarus was for he called Abraham father and Abraham called Dives his son and so is every unbeliever the son of God though so long he bringeth forth fruit to himself and not unto God and thereby destroys himself Rom. 11.32 yet in God is his help and the help of every unbeliever for he hath concluded all under sin and unbelief that he might have mercy upon all and therefore Dives said Father Abraham have mercy on me Now Lazarus he dyed that is he dyed unto sin and lived unto righteousness and was not buried as Dives was Rom. 6.11 but was carryed by the angels into Abrahams bosom he was dead in Christ as every believer is while he lives by whom he was crucified and slain to sin and the worlds glory 2 Cor. 1.9 10. having received in himself the sentence of death that he should not trust in himself but in God which raiseth the dead and delivered him from so great a death from which he had not delivered Dives and all thus dead in Christ riseth first with Christ into the life of Christ which is the first resurrection but the rest of the dead to wit they of Dives the righteous and the wicked that are so in themselves and do worship the Beast and his Image and follow the whore they rise not till they are so become dead in Christ from sin and the world which yet they live in are dead from Christ buryed in the grave of destruction â—ev 14.9 i0 11. where is weeping and gnashing of teeth and where the worm dyeth not and the fire is not quenched to all that are in it but blessed are ehe dead which dye in the Lord Rev. 14.15 from the whore and her worship from henceforth yea saith the spirit that they may rest from their labours and their works do follow them for dying and rising in Christ they do enter into rest with Christ resting from all their own works as God did from his who also have received in themselves the sentence of death that they should not trust in themselves but in God that raiseth the dead and delivered them from so great a death which others lye groaning under and so by the angels or ministring spirits of Christ in them are carryed out of themselves into Abrahams bosom swallowed up into the life of God free from the wrath and curse as believers still living in the body having Christ their life manifest in their mortal flesh 2 Cor. 4 11. Matt. 5.8 9. by which their consciences are at peace and rest with Christ in God as the pure in heart which is blessed with God receiving possessing and injoying the reward of their works of humility meekness and love which is rest for evermore and unto whom the impure and unbeliever cannot come nor be blessed with the same spiritual blessing of Christ in them but do with Dives the righteous and the wicked still hate and persecute them that are blessed above them and like roaring Lyons they will go about seeking to devour them till the Lyon of the tribe of Judah meets them as he did Paul and destroys in them the righteous and the wicked Acts 9.3 4 5. the Pharisee and all his works the good and the evil knowledge with men turning their evil into good their darkness into light their death into life and their hatred into love and so translate them out of the kingdome of the evil and of darkness into the Kingdom of light and the Lord Jesus And these two parts Righteousness and sin good and evil so known by men which is to be destroyed every man for a time while he believes not known to be more or less in him the one opposing the other which is the righteousness of man against the sin of man do both joyne together against the third part of man which is refined and draw out from the other to be pure in Christ and by the pure even Christ is the righteous and the wicked purged forth and destroyed together for works of gold and works of dross the best and worst of man is all but vanitie 1 Cor. 5.12 13. and must be destroyed for as the wicked part which is sin is compared to bryars and thorns wood hey and stubble so the other part which is the righteous so called is compared to gold and precious stone and all but as one Dives even the two parts of three righteousness and wickedness which must be burnt up man therein shall suffer loss Gen. 18.23 Job 9.22 Eccle. 3.16 17. for God will destroy both the righteous and the wicked which is of man but man himself or that third
not he able to deliver thee from the Lyons then said Daniel O King live for ever my god hath sent his Angel and he have shut the Lyons mouthes that they have not hurt me for my innocency was found out before God and against thee have I done no hurt and then was the King glad that he had no wrong and commanded Daniel to be taken out of the den he had no hurt because he believed in his God then the King commanded all that were against Daniel both they and their families to be cast into the den among the Lyons where they had before cast Daniel and the Lyons tore them in pieces for they believed not in the God of Daniel and then did K. Darius write unto all people nations Languages in the world to worship honor the God of Daniel for said the King he is the living God and remaineth for ever and his Kingdom is everlasting who dilvered Daniel from the mouthes of the Lyons and so say I that this is my God and hath hitherto delivered me from those that would have devoured me Thus was Daniel also saved in his affliction and his enemies were destroyed and the Lord his God was the more honoured and his kingdome the more increased as is to this day in the affliction of his people Isa 63.6 who in all their afflictions is himselfe afflicted with them and the Angel of his presence saves them and will cast off none that trust in him and come to him by Jesus nor is he ever wanting with any that know him wait upon him but wil deliver them out of all their troubles which they shall suffer for his cause and which he for his honours sake in delivering of them will bring upon them Iohah chab 1.2 And it was not without the Lord that Jonah was in the ship and that for him being in it the ship was tossed and the people therein troubled with fear and Jonah by them cast into the sea he to be three days three nights in the VVhales belley preserved alive and at the Lords command was by the fish cast out to dry land in safety so was Jeremiah Ier. 38 34 39.11.12 c. who for declaring the word of the Lord was by the King Zedekiah left to the cruelty of the Princes who cast Jeremiah into the dungeon contrary to the Kings knowledge but Jeremiah for trusting in the Lord was in the destruction of Jerusalem delivered and the Princes that cast him in were destroyed by the Caldeans so all that in their troubles shall trust in God that he will deliver them they shall in the worst of troubles be preserved and safely restored into rest and peace with the Lord and not that any thing shall be done without the Lord Christ himself though by the hands of men yet by the Lord was he delivered up unto men to be slain and by him was he with Ionah raysed the third day to life againe and all the prophets and apostles of Christ who were most clearest in the knowledge of the truth of Christ were persecuted and put to death for their Judgements and were not without the Lords company with them in it neither was any thing don unto them without him and he was with them in all their sufferings that they should not feare nor deny him nor that which they knew of him but still hold fast their integrity and faithfulness in the truth before him to live and dye in his cause and will not worship the Beast nor his Image Rev. 15.15 so shal al whom the lord hath set a work not man to contend against the Beast his Image thogh they suffer much by men that have the Image of the beast upon them and the glory of the whore about them yet they shal deny to own them Psal 110.3 for in the day of his power they shall be a willing people for the Lord willing to receive his message and declare it willing to be persecuted and to suffer for it this honour have all his Saints CHAP. VII How by persecution truth is increased and the more advanced and they that suffer for it to the terror of them that persecute it that truth is rewarded and witnessed by sufferings how the reward of suffrings is a crown of glory manifest in men and when ANd suffering for the truth is the ready way to advance it when men are most humbled for the truth then are they in the way to be most exalted with the truth and these things saith Paul which have come unto me in my sufferings Bands Imprisomments have proved all to the furtherance of the Gosple Phil. 1.12 13 14. for the discovery of truths enemies by my bonds saith he other brethren have been the more incouraged to preach the truth and suffer for the truth and in the time of persecutions the saints that were scattered went every where preaching the word Act. 8 3 4. and the more men sought to stop and prevent them the more did they increase and were incouraged and the truth was the more confirmed amongst them as it is to this day where persecutions are manifest and whosoever it is that do persecute another for his Judgement he doth manifest himselfe to be ignorant of God and the truth and lives not in the truth but in the lye which is enmitie to it yet will the truth advance it selfe above it and the more for being persecuted And did men know before hand that what they persecute is thereby advanced and themselves thereby abased and they would not so much act against themselves and the truth which they know not but God will have it so for the wrath of man shall turne to his prayse and the remainder thereof will he restrain Psa 76.10 and will suffer nothing to be done but what he will gloryfie himselfe by and therefore when the kingdoms of the world are most divided one against another 1 Thess 5.1.2 then the kingdome of God cometh in as a thief in the night upon them and that which men in their dayes set themselves most against that wil God in his day most exalt And therefore you my brethren that would in all things love the appearing of the Lord Jesus then meet him in his comming though it be to kill and crucifie you and though Clouds of thick darknesse be round about him that you see him not for the present yet know that it is but for a moment he hides himselfe and that he will againe break through these cloulds and shine Gloriously upon you to the inlightning of your soules for though sorrow hath continued for a night yet joy cometh in the morning and therefore though persecutions and tribulations may be amoung you to try you and out of which the Lord will redeem you Isa 41.10 yet let not your hearts be troubled and be not afraid of men nor of their
with Christ in God where every man that hath Christ doth behold himselfe and all things and possesse himself and all things even in God who is all and all in all And he that hath not Christ but doth still live in his own will doth not so behold it but still looketh upon it as himself is wicked abominable ful of all contradiction destruction Isa 57 20 2â— so remains himself without peace in God for there is no peace to the wicked no nor to the righteous that are righteous and good in them selves and that have not the knowledge of God in Christ But to he that hath Christ and that with Christ his Prophets and Apostles hath thus suffered been thus humbled to be thus exalted may with them rejoyce that ever he saw the day wherein he drank the cup of affliction Col. 1.14 and eat the bread of adversitie to fill up the measure of Christs sufferings for which he now eats the bread of life and drinks the water of life and may with David say It was good for me that I was afflicted for thereby I was taught divine precepts and with Christ learned all obedience to submit to the wil of God in all things saying Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven that let my condition be what it wil I wil learn therein to be content and alwayes rejoyce in the Lords Judgements that divides between flesh and spirit Isa 27.9 that saves man and destroys sin and all enmity against God and his peoples peace for this is the fruit of the Lords Judgments to take away sin And now with God in Christ I wil delight my self with the worst of men as wel as with the best and with him I will be merciful loving and pitiful unto them as the despised and rejected of men by men yea though he were a Prelate or Cavaliere so called Publican or sinner scorn'd and despis'd by the proud Pharisee that is wise and righteous in himself yet the other waiting for mercy he is rather justified and more easier saved then the Pharisee that seperates himself though he were a Presbyterian Independant Anabaptist c. that glories in his profession righteousness and religion â—sa 65 9. and wil say unto others Stand off come not neer to me I am more holier then thou and so cast them-out of their favour as reprobate ignorant persons why this proud boasting saith the Lord is a stink in my nostrils and a fire that burneth all the day which I cannot approve of but they must come to Judgement with it and lose it before they can be saved and they that have erred in Spirit shal come to understanding â—sa 29.24 1 Cor. i. 30 and they that murmure shal learn doctrine even to be wise and learned in Christ who is head unto them their wisdom and righteousness Justification Sanctification and Redemption for Christ is all and in all CHAP. X. Of Gods appearing in Judgment in man against all things of man and this world that all outward duties worship and obedience by men prosessed is a lye without the inward work of truth within how according to the inward work is the outward practice that the more by Christ any man is refined purged and saved within in his conscience the more by men is he falsly accused judged and condemned without in his practice AND now against all knowledge wisdome and strength righteousness and glory of men that is not in Christ nor of Christ 1 Cor. 1.17 18. nor grounded upon Christ in spirit and truth wil God come forth unto to Judgment and wil destroy it by the foolish and base things of the world and he wil plead with men for his own wisdome and strength righteousness and glory which he wil not have given to any other god but to himself that none should have the glory of any thing but himselfe nor men to glory in any besides himselfe and he will make all men to know that by fire and by sword will he plead with all flesh good and bad Esa 66.16 and whatsoever is not found in him shal be slain by him even all the works and imaginations of men that men might know the Lord without knowing any thing else therefore will he come against all things of flesh form and formality your keeping of Sabboths and calling of Assemblies wherein you seek your selves and not the Lord which is all but the riches of Aegypt and shal with you come to Judgement as having no part in Christ nor being any thing of his Kingdome Iohn 18.36 for my kingdom saith he is not of this world nor of the things of this world which perish and come to nought it is not meat and drink killing of oxen and slaying of sheep nor the offering up of swines flesh for a sacrifice to the Lord that hee accepts of Isa 66 3 4. for the best of things which men offer up are no better when they are offered up by men and not by Christ and when Christ himselfe is not the offering but that which God accepts of is Christ the offerer and the offering Heb. 10.12 who is peace and reconciliation for all men whose Kingdom is righteousness 1 Cor 5 19. Rom. 14.17 Luk. 17.20 peace and joy in the Holy Ghost and which saith Christ is within you and stands not in outward observations of dayes times persons nor things in the Religions of men which shal all perish in the using Col. 2.22 and is nothing nor shal be nothing with God but Christ the first and the last is all and shal bee all For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing Gal. 6.15 but a new creature nothing outwardly but all inwardly in the spirit minde and heart even circumcision within baptisme within breaking bread and drinking wine within which is bread of life and water of life to every soul that knoweth it within even preaching praying reading hearing seeking the Lord and communion of Saints Esa 26.9 which are all works of grace are all within the keeping of Sabboths which is a Christians rest from the workes of the Law Esa 58.13 no more doing his own wayes nor seeking his own wil is Christ within who is himselfe all these and is the Teacher Keeper and Performer of them all within us Esa 54.13 that gives peace unto us for of our selves we can do nothing But thou O Lord wilt ordain peace Esa 26 12. for thou hast wrought all our works for us and with whomsoever all these things are not seen to be done and performed by Christ within in the heart there is not neither can bee any thing of good done by any Rom. 10.8 9 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth of the heart confession is made unto salvation for from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh and from the grace
bearing of him for put you on the Lord Jesus Câ—rist and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof 1 Cor. 1.23 24. and we preach saith Paul Christ crucified to the Jews even a stumbling block and unto the Grecians and them that perish in their own wisdom and strength foolishnesâ— but unto them which are called both of the Jews and Grecians we preach Christ the wisedom of God and Christ the power of God And upon this Cross of wisdom and power in God did Christ himself in his life-time hang to be crucified to all worldly wisdom and honour righteousness and glory which he found with men here below in the flesh as a pattern for all men in the flesh to follow in all self-denial leaving behind them all worldly honor righteousness and Religion 1 Cor. 2.6 which standeth onely in the wisdome and strength of men which cometh to nought and which is all but as the fashion of the world which passeth away and must all at last give up the ghost with Christ in the flesh on the cross and without all or any part of this you must come in Christ who is onely able to teach you all things and to make you and all things stand and be accepted with God And in this tryal in taking up of this cross How to forsake Father and mother c. and following Christ you forsake father and mother husband and wife children and brethren house and lands and all for Christ to live with him which is not meant carnally but spiritually and is not a forsaking your father and mother after the flesh as some may carnally believe but in this forsaking here meant your knowledge of them is renewed and your love towards them is encreased for your father whom you are to forsake is the devil that begets sin and wickedness in you Rom. 8.44 and made all your knowledge and love amongst men to be devillish so you and your mother is the whore of Babylon and lust of the flesh the mother of whoredoms Rev. 17.5 and abominations of the earth in which sin is conceived and brought forth and of whom you at first were begotten by the devil into the knowledge of good and evil And according to that knowledge you are to forsake all men and things whatsoever and to know no man after the flesh no 2 Cor. 5.16 though you have known Christ after the flesh yet henceforth after he is manifest in the spirit within you you are to know him no more so but to know him and all men in the spirit as in the Lord where your knowledge towards all men is renewed and you the more united to them do the more love them But while you or any of you have known or do still know your father the devil and your mother the whore of Babylon not to be desolate and forsaken by you so long you have bin still are by them matched and betrothed united and coupled marrying and giving in marriage with the daugâ—â—ers of men your own inventions and imaginations which are as harlots and which as whores you make your spouses Hosâ—â— 4.13 which appearing fair and beautiful â—o you you are in love with them and do go a whoreing aâ—ter tâ—em and of whom you have begotten and broughâ— foâ—â— strange children children of whoredomes and of fornications after the image of your father the devil and of d â— whore your mother yea many oppâ—eâ—sive children nourisheâ— up within you and without you 〈◊〉 5.7 which are 〈◊〉 miseries of all sorts as angels of darkâ—â—â—s by whâ—â—â— you are faâ—â—en from God to idolatry and other chilâ—râ—n you have which are seeming profâ—ssed Religions and 〈◊〉 holynâ—ss and opinions of all soâ—â—â— whiâ—h yoâ—â—ave brought fâ—rth as Angels of ligâ—◠〈…〉 whâ—â—â— you put the name of Gâ—d and godlynesâ— upoâ— with your sâ—lves to make them and your sâ—lves accepted with men and appear loveâ—y unto them â—â—ough thâ—y are but the â—hildren of the devil and also â—arlots of â—â—e whoâ—e bringing forth for men to goâ— whoring af er aâ—d wâ—iâ—h the whoâ—e and mother oâ— harâ—oâ—â— spirits up and kâ—â—â—â—p aâ—ive for and at the side of her â—â—â—band the devil 〈…〉 and which is the Scarlet-â—ouâ—erâ—d beast the wâ—ore fitâ— upon to deceive the nations and to contrive for the devil a kingdom of pride and covetousnesâ— the 〈◊〉 and glory of 〈◊〉 wâ—rld which is all enmity witâ— God and but vanity and vexation of spirit 〈…〉 and is all to perish in the â—â—â—ing â—nd in which you your selves therein living are 〈◊〉 of your fathâ—r the devil whose works you do 〈…〉 and whose kingdom and all thinâ—â—â—â—â—râ—in you are to forsakâ—â—â—r Christ and his kiâ—gdomâ— and â—ll such mariages are all tâ— iâ— bâ—â—â—â— lost 〈◊〉 fâ—â—â—â—kâ—n aâ—d all the said chilâ—ren bâ—tween tâ—em 〈…〉 whether angels oâ— Light or angels of darkness good and bad all which men are to be slain with death Rev. 2.23 and all men are to know that the Lord iâ—â—e which searcheth the reins and tryeth the hearts and giveth to every one of them according to â—â—eir works And you are to marry and be married unto none but the Lord not live with any but him Hosâ—a 3.3 who himselfe loved you when you were in your sins 〈◊〉 16 6 7 8 Hosâ—â— â—â— 10 and beâ—â—roâ—hed you and married you to himselfe in righteousness and in Judgement in mercy and in loving kindness that you might know the Lord and be for no other but him but to forsake all and follow him whethersoever he shall lead you as you have him for an example who himselfe forsook his Father and his Fathers house his heaven and his glory to come after you into sin death and hell to seek and to save you wâ—en you were losâ— Rom. 10.20.21 and to mâ—nifest his unchangeable love â—o you when you rebelled â—gainst him and went a whoâ—iâ—g from him after other lovers yâ—â— then did he lovâ— you and therefore you are to forsake all othâ—r lovâ—rs and follow him Cant. 14 who will lay his cross upon you and thereby draw you he will manifest himselfe uâ—to you and still remaine your husband as it is wriâ—ten â—â—y 〈◊〉 â—s thy husband the Lord of hosts is his 〈…〉 the whole earth shall he be called Iâ—â— 5â— and 〈…〉 besides the Lord or follow any but the Loâ—◠〈…〉 thing you do you are guilty oâ— wâ—oreâ—â—m 〈…〉 â—â—ow not the Lord. 〈…〉 Of 〈…〉 you know not his dwel 〈…〉 râ—â—hes of his glory but you are building 〈…〉 your own to dwelin◠〈…〉 â—rom them which 〈…〉 and the Lords house and 〈…〉 wa st and is unknown to you which 〈…〉 and gâ—apes of lâ—fe and you say the time is not come that the Lords house should be built Hag. 1 2 3 4. or that his kingdom should be revealed or established among you till after a natural death and because you know it not you