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
and I loved thee therefore will I give men for thee and people for thy sake This people have I formed for my self they shall shew forth my praise And all the seed of the Serpent shall be destroyed and the power of darkness is that cursed ground that is for burning vvhich the Lord of life and glory vvill trample upon for he came into the world to destroy the works of the devil and all things shall be subdued by his power and he vvill put all things under his feet and then when all things are brought under by this Prince of peace then the soul sits down in peace in him who is the King of righteousness vvho will make all that living earth subject to himself and fill all with holy breathings Glorious things are spoken of him for he is the City of God and this holy breathing is the kingdom of heaven within you when he rules within you and the kingdom of heaven without you likewise when you see the same glory rule in others in vvhich you rejoyce For in the day of Christs power he vvill subdue all his enemies under his feet and deliver up the kingdom to his Father Therefore let not any one marvel to see the people turning from one way of Worship to another for the Father is driving his people thorow all the Ways and Forms and Customs and Reformations and Governments of the Beast to weary them out in all that so they may not find rest for the soles of their feet in any outward form of Worship nor in any thing until they come to lie down in him forsaking all Forms to worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth that is to walk uprightly being holy in all manner of Conversation for it is written Be ye holy as I am holy and pass the time of your sojourning here in his fear knowing that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversations in time past but with the pretious blood of Christ Jesus as a Lamb slain from the foundation of the world And until Christ reigneth as Lord and King the soul is restless running from post to pillar as I may so call it from one Worship and Form to another meeting nothing but confusion and the curse in every thing he doth so poor creatures are in bondage within for they know not what to do the way to Sion is not yet clear and they are filled with sighings and secret mournings to see themselves in confusion and loss to stick in the mire but cannot get out this is inward slavery which they groan under being under the hand of the Tyrant flesh that rules the Kingdom and devises the several fleshly Forms and Ways of Government to which if any refuse to conform then he thinks fit to punish them with imprisonment or shameful reproach any way he can invent so that many weak spirits are brought under and are in awe either by fear or shame and thus Jacoh hath been kept very low but he must arise To see the Divine Power in Creature-Objects is sweet but to see him ruling in the heart is sweeter for the Spouse had seen Christ or else she could never have called him her Beloved and mourned in his absence Now all things yea all things must be but loss dung and Dogs meat that we may be found in him having the Law of Righteousness and Peace ruling and dwelling in our hearts being refreshed with those sweet smelling Spices the discovery of the Fathers Love within which is the Word of God This is sweeter then the Honey and the Honey-Comb for this is to see him neer at hand even within the heart ruling and resting there This is the Kingdom of Heaven within you this the City of Refuge that will not fail a man this is the Rock of Defence and Offence this is the Power that makes a man as bold as a Lyon that in the greatest streights findeth peace and rest like Paul can sing at midnight although in chains under the hardship of persecution by Tyrants for he felt peace and was at rest yea such peace as the world knows not of let come what will come this man knows it is the will of his Father it shall be so and he feels a quiet peace compass his heart so that he seeth and feeleth peace within and rejoyceth in the excellencie of it he seeth love and patience within and rejoyceth in that sweet Oyntment that doth cast a delightful savour all his soul over Now if this man should be forsaken of all his outward Friends imprisoned banished all men deny to deal with him because they count him a man of strange Opinions and Blasphemies calling him all reproachful names as they shall say all manner of evil falsly against the new-born Babes and they shall kill them and think they do God good service in it Yet the Saints are in God he lives in them and they in him and he will have his holy Ones whom he draws up to worship himself in spirit and in truth to be silent slow to speech for a season yet quick-sighted Eagle eyed though they be silent they are not sottish as the world judgeth and falsly surmiseth of them but they shall all see and behold with the single eye and judge others righteously and they shall not be judged of any man And let the ignorant Professors of the world be ashamed for condemnation will fall upon them and fear shall surprize the hypocrites for the righteous actings and patient silence of those that are drawn up to wait on the Lord shall be the great shame and confusion of face upon them the wise flesh that would be an Angel of light is full of words but dead to the Law of Righteousness the Saints must dye to waste words but be made alive to righteousness walking uprightly to all things in all well-pleasing in the sight of God their heavenly Father for the man of the flesh is altogether for preaching praying as he calls it observations of Forms and Customs and knows not how to worship if these be taken away he hath no peace if this be gone But the man that is in his natural condition that is not born again this mans prayer shall turn into sin and all that ever he doth is an Abomination in the sight of God and he that hath his eyes in his head as Solomon saith the wiseman hath he beholds all these his performances to be out of the life and power of Christ and death is in all that ever he doth let his specious fair pretences be what they will if the inward Power be wanting no Sacrifice can be accepted therefore the clean heart God accepteth therefore the just man is continually meditating the Law of his God is in his heart therefore his footsteps shall not slide The godly man turns his eye inward to see the Law of Righteousness guiding and ruling his body and this is the excellent sight
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
which it appeareth that there is none but Christ the promised seed can redeem man from death nor offer unto God a ransom for him and as the tree falleth so it lieth and there is no repentance in the grave whither thou goest and every word and work must be brought to judgement with every secret thing and God is no respecter of persons for he cannot behold transgression in Jacob nor sin in Israel and if David a man after his own heart sinneth he must go with broken bones to his grave for it and seeing all have sinned and come short of the glory of God it is the one thing necessary for every man and woman seriously to consider and wait in seeking the Lord that he may be manifested unto every ones particular and this is to be sought for to know him that taketh away sin even the sins of the world for as in Adam all died so in Christ shall all be made alive and Christ hath lightned every man that cometh into the world and Christ the hope of glory is in every one and know ye not that Christ is in you unless you be reprobates now the man Christ Jesus the great Prophet declared in general terms what should be in latter times leaving it to every son and daughter to declare their particular experiences when the Spirit doth rise up in them and manisest himself unto them for they that believe saith he out of their bellies shall flow rivers or plentiful discoveries of the water of life Therefore as Moses gave way to Christ for when Christ appeared in flesh Moses Administration began to be silent and drew back and set Jesus Christ in the Chair to be the great Prophet that should be the Teacher in Types after him and the Ministration of these discoveries were to reign in the world their appointed times Even so the Lamb Christ Jesus or that single body gives way to the Holy Ghost or spreading Spirit Joh. 16. 7. Joh. 17. 21. If I go not away the Comforter cannot come to you for he that dwells bodily in me is to spread himself in you that as the Father in me and I in him are one even so I in you and you in me may become one with the Father And the Testimony of the Apostles declares as much 2 Cor. 5. 16. Col. 1. 27. Though we have know Christ after the flesh in one single body yet now henceforth know we him no more so but we look after that mystery which hath been kept secret from ages and generations past which is Christ in you the hope of glory therefore I must tell you that yet live in dipping in water and observation of Gospel-Ordinances as ye call them forms and types you live yet under the ministration of Jesus Christ after the flesh declaring the Lamb Christ to remain as yet in one single person but know you that as the ministration of Moses gave way to this so this ministration is to give way to the inward teachings of Christ and the spreading of the Spirit in sons and daughters which will more excellently declare the glory of the mystery The man Christ Jesus told the woman of Samaria Woman the time is coming and now is that neither in Jerusalem nor in this mountain shall men worship the Father but they that worship him shall worship him in spirit in truth for the Father seeks such to worship him by these words as also Luk. 17. 21. Joh. 4. 45. the son of man declares that both outward forms customs and types of Moses worship under that ministration at Jerusalem likewise all forms and customs and types of this ministration of himself as the Lamb held forth at a distance to be our Mediator should all cease and give way to the spiritual worship of the Father in the latter days or to the spreading of the Divine power in men the one Law of righteousness being the Teacher of all so that upon the rising up of Christ in sons and daughters which is his second coming the ministration of Christ in one single person is to be silent and draw back and set the spreading power of righteousness and wisdom in the chair of whose kingdom there shall be no end so as all things were gone out from the Spirit and were gone astray and corrupted the Spirit in this great mystery of truth being manifested in the flesh burns up that dross out of the Creation and draws in all things again back into himself and declares himself to be the alone wisdom and power of righteousness that rules dwells that governs and preserves both in and over the whole Creation 2 Cor. 5. 19. 1 Cor. 5. 24. and now the Son delivers up the Kingdom to God the Father and he that is the spreading power not one single person become all in all in every person that is the one King of righteousness in every one Here is plainly seen what the dividing of time is which is the last period in which the Beast is to reign for now every ministration pleads his priviledge till the Law of righteousness drown up all in himself Moses yet pleads priviledge in the practice of the Jewes after the flesh the Son of man Christ in one single person pleads a priviledg and not onely the true ministration of the Son of man according to the Apostles declaration but likewise many false forms customs and observations of worshipping are raised up through a wrong understanding of those Scriptures all pleads their priviledge and lastly the ministration of the Spirit forsaking all forms and types worshipping the Father in the substance of truth this now pleads his priviledge as his due right by course So that you see here is the dividing of time But this last ministration is the sufferer for the present as being denied his right by the former that ought to give way and as the worshippers in Moses ministration envied and killed those as worshipped the Son of man the Lamb and his worshippers so now those that worship Christ at a distance in their several Congregations and Forms and are most zealous therein are in these dayes the most bitterest enemies to the ministration of Christ in the spirit and in truth But when this ministration of the Spirit spreads himself he will make the greatest separation that ever was for though Israels separation out of Egypt amazed the World and the separation of gathered Congregations out of Parish Churches so called did trouble the earth though it is no more but going out of one form into another and none into the unity of the one Spirit yet this ministration of the Spirit now rising up by right of inheritance will take peace from the World much more for he hath begun and he will go on to gather the scattered of Israel together out of all Egyptian bondages and self-seeking oppressing Governments and out of all forms and customs of the Beast to worship the Father in spirit in and truth being
to see the Divine Power in ones self ruling dwelling and living within which if it doth that Body wherein it dwells shall be wholly subject in all its actions to the Law of Righteousness They that know what the power of Love and the Law of Righteousness is they know the truth of what is here verified they that live in the light they see the Lord abroad and at home they see him in other creatures and they see him in themselves patiently submitting to his will in all things that it may be done on earth as it is in heaven so that there is a sweet composed agreement between the disposing hand of God without and his power within He that thus seeth the Lord the Antient of dayes the one Almighty power doth mightily honour him when nothing can be done abroad either in adversity or in prosperity but the divine power that rules in the heart consents rejoyces and doth not grudge And now the Lord is one and his Name one and his power one every where The sight of the King of Glory within lies not in the strength of Memory calling to minde what a man hath read and heard being able by a humane capacity to joyn things together into a method and through the power of free utterance to hold it forth to others as the fashion of Students in their Sermon-work is which a plough-man that never was bred in the Universities may do as much nay they do more in some kind as experience teaches But the sight of the King of glory within lies in the beholding of light arising up from an inward power of feeling experience filling the soul with the glory of the Law of Righteousness which doth not vanish like the taking in of words and comfort from the mouth of a hear-say-Priest who doth speak by the strength of his memory but it doth continue like the Sun in the Firmament shining forth from that established power of the Divine within and the inlivened heart shall sooner be separated from glorying in the Law of Righteousness that dwells in him then the light and heat of the Sun can be separated from the Sun and truly let me tell you that as a man finds abundance of sweet peace in his heart when he is made to live in the Kingdom of Heaven so the words that this man speaks from this power within are very profitable to others and is good seed wheresoever it is sown that will spring up and bring forth fruit for vvords spoken from the light of experience have a two-fold operation upon the hearts of the hearers for first if I lie under straits and bondage in my spirit by reason of some inward and outward troubles by reason of the enthraldom to my ovvn lusts that overpowers me so that I cannot do what I would then the words of experience from anothers mouth that hath been in the same condition and is passed thorow it sounds liberty and life to my weary soul I speak what I have felt in this particular Secondly If I delight in any way of the flesh as to seek peace in Creatures abroad vvithout me or to seek satisfaction to my self-vvill and lust in the midst of this I do occasionally hear the vvords of experience from others declaring such actions and motions to be the powers of the flesh and devil and not of the spirit of Righteousness presently these vvords take peace from the earth that is from proud flesh and fills the vvhole soul vvith anger distemper gradging and torment and this is another operation that pure Language produceth vvhich is a launcing of the dead flesh that the disease may be cured for this wounding is not to the ruine of the creature but it is a Medicine sent from the Lord to heal him to take away the evil peace from the flesh that so the created part may lie down in rest and be at peace in Christ which cannot be moved for every comfort that is of the flesh shall be shaken and removed but Christ the one povver of Righteousness and Peace shall not be shaken nor moved but stand firm for ever Now by this may you see the Kingdom of the flesh and devil vvhich must be shaken to pieces and fall and the Kingdom of Heaven or of God that endures for ever and is that Rock that cannot be removed For every one that hath lain under the bondage of selfish power and is delivered he can from that experience declare vvhat the power of darkness is in vvhole mankind Now some may say What is it for a man to live in the Kingdom of Hell Devil or Darkness I answer When a man takes delight in nothing but satisfying of the lusts of his own heart vvhen the vvay of the flesh is pleasing and the vvay of the spirit of Righteousness is a burden to him vvhen he glories in himself and feeds vvith delight upon his Covetousness Pride Envie Lust Self-vvill and in all other Evil that doth satisfie his devillish appetite and if he can but overcome that power that checketh his will or crosseth his carnal delights then this man is in his Kingdom he rejoyceth and is well pleased But yet know thou vain Man that this is yet but the Kingdom of the flesh that must be shaken and this earth must be removed for this is glorying in a mans shame What is the Kingdom of Heaven or of Christ The Law of Righteousness and Peace ruling and dwelling in mankinde is the Kingdom of Heaven for this is the universal power bearing rule and therefore treadeth the selfish power under his feet for all his delight is in the Law of the Lord and in that Law he doth exercise himself both day and night Now vvhere the heart is thus established vvith grace there is perfect peace and that which is perfect peace is the Kingdom of Heaven within you yea it is the White stone with the new name written in it that none know it but them that have it What is it for a man to live in the Kingdom of Heaven within you When a man is come to that condition by believing in the light that he is brought over the works of darkness and is made subject in every thing to the King of Righteousness Jesus Christ and all his delight is to walk according to his Law in every thing his Crown and Glory being in that Law of Righteousness which he findes seated in his heart and findes content no where else and when the Spirit is honoured this man is in his Kingdom he hath vvhat he would have for vvhen a man is made to see and know the Law of Love and Righteousness within him and delights to act from that power of life and liberty which he seeth feeleth seated in him now this man is carried on with much joy sweet calmness meekness and moderation and is full of glory this is the excellencie of the work of Christ not onely to make flesh subject to
the Lord doth not send hear-say men to be labourers in his Vineyard but such as he first fills with his Divine power and then sends them to work in his Vineyard so that still it is but Christ in them that is the One that is sent of the Father for the Father sends none but his only beloved Son in whom he is well pleased who is the Law of Righteousness and Peace the spreading power that fills all in all And you shall finde you Priests that are so puft up and filled with pride and are cloathed with covetousness that ere it be long these poor despised ones of the world that have this Law written in their hearts are the true Labourers that are sent forth into the Vineyard and you that call your selves Divines and Labourers you are but Traitors to Christ and Enemies to his Spirit you have had warnings from time to time Many Prophets hath the Lord sent unto you and righteous men but you have stopped your ears and hardned your hearts at the voice of the Charmer charm he never so wisely but the greater will be your woes and sorrow for you are left without excuse you are the men that must have your mouths stopped not by a humane tyrannical hand of power as you have stopped the mouths of Gods holy and just Ones for that they abhor for the Lord himself whom you dishonour by your hypocrisie will stop your mouths with shame and sorrow when he makes you to see your selves in the state of Devils Deceivers Scribes and Pharisees Simon Magus Demas and Judas that are Traitors to the spirit and power of Righteousness which is in the Saints But if you say you do not assume the names of Divines as you write your selves under which description you are as bad as Diviners Sorcerers or Deceivers as Balaam was and as the maid that got her Master gain by Divination in Act. 16. 16. you hold forth letter for spirit make people believe your words of hear-say that it is the Testimony and experience of the spirit within you and you pick their Purses extreamly by this Sorcery and Divination So it appears plain that the word you call Divinity darkens knowledge you talk much of the Body of Divinity and of Anatomizing Divinity O fine Language but when it comes to trial it is but a husk All is not Gold that glisters there is no Kernel the words ye say are without life the spirit that gave forth the Scripture ye are strangers unto the natural man understands not the things of God they are spiritually discern'd the Spirit hath filled the hearts of those you despise You go on selling words for mony to the blinde people whom you have deceived and the Spirit is not at all in your service and your service stinks before the Lord your preachings prayings and all your Will-worships with all the people joyning with you is but an abomination in the sight of the Lord for you are the people that draw nigh to God with your lips but your hearts are far from him and are removed afar off Love Justice righteous actings doing injury to no man is not to be found among you neither clean hands and a pure heart for the alone peace of the heart lieth in seeing and feeling Christ the Divine power to rise up and rule within and every soul is in confusion bon-dage and sorrrow until he have true light and feeling thereof in himself as I have shewed and found by experience And surely this may command all mouths to be silent that speak from hear-say and yet saith Thus saith the Lord he lies he dishonoureth the Lord whoever he is that speaketh before the Lord hath revealed himself in him spoke to him and put words into his mouth he doth exceedingly wrong the souls of his hearers by deceiving them and so their lives their whole actions and their conversations are unprofitable to all men because they make them believe a Divination are Words of Knowledge spoke from a pure Testimony Surely if the Lord had not become the Teacher of his despised Ones they had been over-spread with Egyptian bon-dage and darkness as the Priests are by whom the earth is corrupted and over spread with thick darkness Well you have Prophecies and Promises in the Writings of the Prophets and Apostles wait upon the Lord till you see the fulfilling of them within your selves and leave off your much talk about words and syllables for by this multitude of waste discourse people are blinded that they neither minde the Ptophecies of Scriptures nor wait for the fulfilling of them in themselves for whatsoever is written is written for our instruction upon whom the ends of the world shall fall And verily I can truly say That so long as I was a blinde Professor a strict goer to Church as they call it and a hearer of Sermons and never questioned what the Priest said but believed as the learned Clergy the Church so called believed and still forgot all I heard though I must say The words they said were like a pleasant song in my ears whilst I heard them And this I know is the best condition of all your zealous Professors this is all they can get from you for you are in bondage and confusion and Ignorance is the Mother of your Devotion for your lives are in the flesh you do not savour the things that are of the Spirit and so you are not of God Whilst I was such a Professor I was counted by some Priests and others a good Christian and a godly Man though all that was in me was but zealous Ignorance and led me on in the heighth of the deceitful Nature But since it hath pleased the Father to reveal his Son in me and hath caused me to speak what I know from an inward principle of light and power of life within Now the same Priests and Professors whom they have deceived my former Acquaintance begin to be affraid of me and call me an erronious Man a dangerous man and look upon me as upon a man of another world and in that they are not mistaken for our Conversation is in heaven and our delight on earth is in the Saints and in those excellent Ones that excels in vertue For my part I can truly say from the goodness of the Lord who is worthy of everlasting praises to be acknowledged from me that am as a brand snatch'd out of the fire and kept from burning by the goodness and loving kindness of the Lord That my portion is fallen to me in a goodly heritage the Lord is my portion I have the Lord I have enough I look upon them with the eye of pity and love seeing them as yet to live under the spirit of Delusion and power of Darkness the god of this world having blinded their eyes that they cannot see the way to the Kingdom and therefore I think it my Duty to wait upon the great Restorer of all things
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
heard and the heart is able to conceive more then all yea it is able to conceive and entertain into the imagination any thing yet all this is nothing to those everlasting joyes and comforts and consolations which the Saints shall enjoy in the presence of the Lord for evermore And therefore faint not at your fiery trials which cometh or is admitted or suffered in the Wisdom that is Infinite to try you as if some strange thing were come unto you as you may see in 1 Pet. 4. 12 13. But rejoyce in as much as you are partakers of Christs sufferings that when his glory shall be revealed you may be glad also with exceeding joy if you be reproached for the Name of Christ happy are you for the Spirit of God and of glory resteth upon you on their parts he is evil spoken of but on your parts he is glorified for the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God and if it first begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God and if the righteous scarcely be saved where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear Wherefore saith the same Apostle let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing as unto a faithful Creator And so dear hearts look not out at things past present or to come or at others but stand in the light and in the counsel of the Lord and freely give up to his will as Job did Although he kill me saith he yet will I trust in him And in the Lords due time there shall be deliverance out of all troubles and he will work your peace even peace that men and devils shall not take from you for he that keepeth Israel neither slumbereth nor sleepeth and although many are the troubles of the Righteous yet the Lord will deliver them out of them all And therefore cast your whole care upon the Lord and trust in him and he shall bring it to pass he shall bring forth your Righteousness as clear as the light and your just dealing as the noon day and so the power of the Lord will compass you about and his Angels shall have charge concerning you to keep you in all his ways for they that stay themselves upon the arm of the Lord have perfect peace and their strength shall be renewed day by day in him who is made perfect and is become the Author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him which is Jesus that saveth to the utmost all that come to God by him for he ever liveth to make intercession for them And so believe in him and you shall be saved For Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to every one that believeth For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the Law that the man which doth them shall live by them but the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise Say not in thy heart Who shall ascend into heaven that is to bring Christ down from above or who shall ascend into the deep that is to bring Christ back again from the dead But what saith it The Word is nigh thee even in thy mouth and in thy heart that is the Word of Faith which we preach which teacheth to deny all ungodliness and worldly lust and to live godly soberly and righteously in this present evil world and to do injury to no man but to do unto all men as you would have all men do unto you even this the Lord thy God doth require of thee O man To do justly to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God And this walking with God is that way that Enoch vvalked in all the holy men of God that brought their souls to the true centre of Rest even Rest everlasting where there is the innumerable company of Angels and the first-born whose names are written in heaven in the book of Life And so dear hearts indure as Moses did all things patiently as seeing him that is invisible for the patient abiding of the Meek shall not be forgotten and the Lord bottles up all the tears of his redeemed ones and so every one come with patience to do the will of God that when you have done it you may receive the Reward and so every one come to feel Christ Jesus in you that believe the hope of glory and feed upon the living Gospel which is the bread of life that whosoever eateth hungreth no more for every one must come to possess Christ in their own hearts for it is the Oyl in a mans own Lamp that must convey him into the Bridegrooms Chamber where the fulness of life and joy is to be found possessed and enjoyed for unto such who ordereth their conversations aright will Christ say at last Come you blessed of my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world for those that be guided by Christ are such as hear his voice and do desire to be taught by him as the truth is in Jesus and they shall be guided by him to do the will of God in every thing and so they shall come to be filled with his Righteousness and so his Righteousness filleth them with everlasting glory and the pure broken heart that is contrite the Lord doth accept And so let all Rulers and Magistrates cease the naming of God until they part from evil and let them cease their medling with setling the things of Gods Kingdom for I have seen they have all been broken to pieces as soon as they go about that work for the Lord will do his work himself by his Spirit and by his power it shall be accomplished and it shall not be in the power of man to hinder but he will break the great Potsherds of the earth to pieces if they meddle with those things that concern the setling of his Kingdom And therefore in render love to their souls I dearly exhort them to settle their own Governments and their own Kingdoms which are of this world and let Christ alone with the setling of his Kingdom which is not of this world for a Spirit of Righteousness shall rule and reign in the earth as the spirit of wickedness hath done and although the devil doth roar yet the time is at hamd when this shall be and it shall not be in the power of man to hinder it And therefore give over striving against the stream you mighty Potentates of the world for it is hard for you to kick against the pricks For the great day of the Lord is at hand and all mens works shall be tryed with fire and in that day the great and mighty men shall cry to the mountains and the hills to fall upon them and hide them from his presence And therefore all lend their ear to this call to Repentance while the day of their salvation lasteth and whilst the Lord standeth