A VISITATION TO THE IEWES FROM Them whom the Lord hath visited from on high among whom he hath performed his promise made with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and to his seed which Moses saw and the Prophets gave testimonie of to which seed the Apostles witnessed which seed we are which seed of Abraham Christ came according to the flesh which we now witness Glory to the Lord for evermore ALSO A VISITATION to all you that have long had the Scriptures but found out of the life of them that gave them forth that are stumbling about the words fighting and contending about them imprisoning and persecuting them that witness the life that gave them fotth The mighty day of the Lord is come and coming who dwells not in temples made with hands nor is he worshipped with mens hands but in the spirit the Scripture was given forth from Given forth by G. F. LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the sign of the Black Spread Eagle neer the West End of Pauls 1656. A VISITATION TO THE JEWES c. TO the Iews scattered who are the seed of God to whom the promise belongs who have long had the words but mist the promise which promise is to the seed from them who are of the seed who witness the promise to you this is sent From them that are of the seed of Abraham to all the scattered Iewes according the flesh who have the Law of God the form of it but being found out of the life of it have not possessed that which Moses saw who received the Law from God which Law you have the form of and your fathers in ages past had who put Christ to death and slew him that is the end of the Law Gods Righteousness Christ Iesus the end of Gods righteous Law which Law was to keep out of all unrighteousness And your Fathers that had the form of the Law slew the Prophets that shewed the coming of this just One Christ Iesus the end of his righteous Law Gods Righteousness they having the Prophets words and Moses words but out of the Prophets and Moses life who saw the just One that was to come and fuffer were those that slew the Prophets David saw the just one and called him Lord and Moses saw him which received the Law from God which Law was given to your fathers which you have had the form of who said Deut. 18. Like unto me will God raise you up a Prophet from among your brethren and him they should bear and every one that would not hear that Prophet should be cut off Now your Fathers that had Moses who this Prophet saw and received the Law from him he said God would raise up this Prophet and he came among your Fathers that had the Law and Moses words but not Moses life and the Prophets words but not the Prophets life but they knew him not neither heard him though he was a Prophet raised up from among the Brethren and was made of the seed of Abraham according to the flesh but declared to be the Son of God according to the Scriptures by signes wonders and miracles Devils being made subject to him loosing many from their chains which were kept under bonds and yet your Fathers believed not that Prophet which Moses saw and the Prophets saw which was to come to fulfil what was written of him neither heard they him though it was Moses command they should and Gods command So therein was in the transgression though the Law the words of it they had but found in the transgression out of the life of the Law and the life of the Prophets and came to be mingled among the Heathen which knew not God who be in the same transgression though you profess the words declared from the life wherefore being out of the life of the Prophets being raised up among your Fathers who speak of this just one of this Prophet your Fathers did persecute them and did put them to death and at last the Son come And to your Fathers spoke a parable Luk. 20.13.81 which was agreeable to the Prophets words As a man letting forth a vineyard to husbandmen and he sent his servants to look for fruits and they beat one and cast him out and wounded another and killed another and last of all he sent his Son and when they saw the Son the Heir of the Vineyard Come said they to the Keepers of the Vineyard this is the Heir let us kill him and cast him out then the Vineyard will be ours And these things your Fathers did fulfil they killed him they cast him out and delivered him up to the Gentiles to be mocked scourged and crucified Now consider what hath become of you since of you Husbandmen have you not been laid waste and was not the word fulfilled concerning his coming and rising up from among the Brethren And when he was come among you he would have gathered you as a Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings but your fathers would not And he shewed them how they stoned the Prophets and killed them and how Wise men should be sent among them and Scribes and Prophets some of them they should crucifie and scourge in their Synagogues because they neither knew the Father nor the Prophet that he had raised up which Moses spoke of Wherefore Mat. 23. â—â— saith he to JERUSALEM Behold your house is left unto you desolate Hath it not been so Was he not a true Prophet to you herein Are not your Houses unto you left desolate Are not the Prophets words here fulfilled on your fathers and you scattered which Prophet Moses spake of who went up to Jerusalem and was betrayed by him that David spoke of unto the chief priests and Scribes who condemned him to death and delivered him to the Gentiles to be mocked scourged and crucified but the third day he rose again and saith Christ It cannot be that a Prophet perish out of Jerusalem This the Prophet spake to your Fathers of whom you have the form of the law and the words of the Prophets which killed the Prophets and yet built their Sepulchres Here you may see your Fathers and as it was with them so it is with you being now found in the same Transgression untill you come to the life of the Prophets of Moses then with the life you see him who is the end of the Prophets and Moses even the EMANVEL spoken of born of a Virgin which is Christ Now coming to the life the Prophets were in and Moses was in with that this you will come to see and with that you will come to the Conversion and see the everlasting Offering And Christ the EMANVEL this Prophet whom Moses speaks of and the Prophets saw who said it could not be that a Prophet perish out of Jerusalem was delivered by the chief Priests and Scribes to be condemned to death and delivered to the Gentiles to be mocked scourged and crucified Now minde He was
life you know not the voice of the Prophets though they be read among you every Sabbath-day now Christ the end of them so coming not to the Prophets life you come not to Christ the life whom the Prophets testified of who said unto your Fathers Ye will not come to me that ye might have life who had that which testified of him so he now is witnessed that the Scripture testifies of who is the light and life which light is the life of man him by whom the world was made And your Fathers which had the Prophets words and Moses words being strangers from the life were them that said They saw but were them that were blinde saw not Christ the Just One that the Prophets shewed the coming of and Moses spoke of which you had your Law from who said Like to him God would raise up a Prophet him you should hear whom you did not hear but put him away from you who were out of the life of the Prophets and would not hear him that was the life of them and said As for this man you knew not whence he was and would not have him to rule over you Therefore consider you since your Fathers nor you never came to see this Prophet which Moses spoke of and the Prophets testified of whom your Fathers had the words but not come to the life which you never come to see until you come to the life of Moses and Abraham that saw his glory and that will let you see Christ the end of them and that which the Prophets spake of and wrote of and gave testimony of which all his Holy Apostles witnessed after his Resurrection him who was the Covenant that the Prophets and Moses gave Testimony of which you having the words but being found out of the life them persecuted But that now you may câ—me to see in this mighty day of the Lord his gatherings together with his Covenant of light and his mighty power which is everlasting and changeth not where the prophesie is opened and things not declared or is known which gathers together in one up to God which leadeth out of the changeable things up to God who is a Spirit and the hour is now come wherein they worship him in spirit And the salvation of the Jews which is to the end of the earth is believed in and witnessed and the time of the Gentiles not believing in the Light is seen and their Conversation wherein was the excess wantonness lust wine reviling banquetting and abominable idolatry with which Light from them who believe in it are turned and come to the honest conversation the obtaining of the Savior Iesus Christ who hath abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel And the Gospel is preached to the Gentiles which is the power of God to salvation to every one that believeth in the Light and him saith God I give for a Covenant a light to the Gentiles and when this Covenant of God was come Christ Iesus the everlasting covenant said he Believe in the Light I am come a Light into the world and he that abideth in the Light shall not abide in darkne And the Embassadors of this Covenant of light Life and Peace hazarded their lives among the Iews and Gentiles among all sorts of people which wâ—re â—ut of the life of the Law and they did preach to them to the Gentiles and do still for the Covenant of Light is everlasting to bring them to it but now many have the words declared from this Covenant of Light but yet are strangers to it and them that kill the â—oâ—d Iesus Christ and their own Prophets have persecuted the Apostles and pleased not God but were contrary to all men these were of your Fathers who had the words but were strangers to the life and these did forbid speaking to the Gentiles to whom the Covenant was promised they themselves being in the transgression out of the life of what they profest and out of the life of the Prophets who declared this Covenant but now the Riches of the glory of the mysterie of the Gentiles is known which God would make known which had been hid from ages and generations which is now made manifest to his Saints which is Christ in them the Hope of glory whom we preach warning every man that we present every man perfect in Christ Iesus the Light the everlasting covenant of God Now such Gentiles that walk after the vanity of their minde are strangers yet from the glory of Israel and the Common-wealth and the life of God and the covenant of Light but God is gathering with his covenant of Light up to himself both Iews and Gentiles in one I say his everlasting covenant not according to the old covenant which he gave to your Fathers when they were brought up out of the land of Egypt which did decay and wax old for this covenant never doth decay or wax old Glory glory to the Lord God of life for ever And so the Gentiles that are not yet come to own the light are without the true Hope without God in the world and so the promise being to the Seed he saith not unto Seeds as of many but of one which is thy Seed which is Christ And this I say Gal. 3. That the covenant that was confirmed before â—f God in Christ the Law which was 43â— yeers after cannot disannul that iâ— should make the promise of none effect that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ as it s writen I will give him to be a light to whom he was preached after his Resurrection and this Light brings from giving offence to Jew and Gentile that believe but offends both that be against it Eph. 2 3 chap. And when the Gentiles which had not the Law did the thing contained in the Law which shewed the works of the Law written in their hearts that judged you Jews that had the Law and were transgressors of it which caused the Gentiles to blaspheme God and so your circumcision became uncircumcision and their uncircumcision became circumcision and judged you so the Light which is the life joynes Jews and Gentiles together in one up to one God who is Light who is Lord of all and rich to all with which Spirit they come to be baptized into one Body And here that you may come to know the Salvation that is sent to the Gentiles the everlasting covenant which among them is witnessed which God of old promised and Christ the Prophet sayes Go not in the way of the Gentiles but to the lost Sheep of the House of Israel Now when your Fathers had delivered him up to be crucified he sent them to preach to all Nations to the Jews and to the Gentiles and when the Jews did not hear your Fathers that had the words of the Prophets and Moses which spake of this Covenant they turned to the Gentiles
to stand against the evill which hee hath given you a light to see and with this light you come to know the M ssias your Saviour to save you from your sin which he discovers and to see the everlasting offering But you that do hate this light and go into the evill and love the darkness more than that which shews you your evill deeds and evill wayes when God is not in all your thoughts when your heart revolts and when you call on him with your lips and your hearts afarre off This is the light of Christ that shewes you this and lets you see your covetousness and idolatry and if you go on in these things before-mentioned the light will be your condemnation even the light saith Christ who inlightneth every man that cometh into the world This light of Christ tells you you should not do unjustly one to another that you should not be drunk nor oppress one another nor wrong one another It 's the light that shews you this and measures things aright and this word is nigh you in the heart and in the mouth to obey and do it Now as you love the light and bring your deeds to it you will come to know the light Moses was in and come to know the Prophet which he said God would raise up whom you should hear and come to know the Covenant of light which brings in the Gentiles to serve the living God from dead Idols which the Prophet spoke of which is the glory of Israel And as you love this light before mentioned you will come to know the Law in your hearts written the new Covenant the everlasting Covenant which the Prophet prophesied of which now thousands do witness with which light they know God the glory of Israel Zions King and him are come to worship and this light will tell you you must not bow to any likeness but unto God alone nor commit adultery nor serve graven images the Gods of the Heathen nor follow their customes which are vaine for against that Gods hand is turned who is one with the Light which Light the darkness cannot comprchend though it in darkness shines and Christ the light came to his own and his owne received him not even among your fathers that had the Oracles of God and the darkness could not the light comprehend though the light in darkness shined neither could the darkness see him by whom the world was made the light who is glorâ—fied with the Father with the glory that he had with the Father before the world was Therefore to the light in you I speak that with it you may be turned from darkness and the power of Satan to God and receive the covenant of light and the power of God Christ Iesus that you may come to life regeneration and câ—nversion and the renewing of your mindes remission of sinns and receive the refreshing into your souls And as you love the light that shews you the evill that ever you have done 2 Cor. 4.6 ye love Christ and that light is it which gives the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ which shines in the dark heart and none comes to the knowledge of God but by the light which shines in the heart and this treasure have we in earthen vessells that the excellency of the power might be of God and not of Man But if you do this light hate you hate Christ and remain stumbling blinde and scattered refusing the Corner-stone whom all the builders stumbles at who are out of the light and none comes from stumbling to know the words of the Scripture declared from the life but such as own the light To the light in you I speak if you go on in your evil deeds and unbelief not believing in the light the light is your condemnation hateing the light you hate Christ for you do not come to the knowledge of God but by the light He that comes to the knowledg of God knowes his Son now none comes to the Son but who owns and comes to the light which from the Son doth come And this light brings to one heart one minde one People one God one Mediator betwixt God and Man and this light unites and brings Iew and Gentile together and he that believes not in the light doth not believe in God who is light nor know his Son who inlighteneth every man that cometh into the world And to you this is the word of the Lord. A VISITATION TO All you that have long had the Scriptures but found out of the life of them that gave them forth that are stumbling about the words fighting and contending about them imprisoning and persecuting them that witness the life that gave them forth TO all you who are from the life of the law and the Prophets which is the light and from the spirit of understanding which gave forth the Scripture and hearing hear not and seeing see not having hearts and understand not whose ears are heavy whose eyes are shut and whose hearts are fat who are in the transgression out of the Law of God and his Covenant first and second against all such the Lord sent his Prophet to declare and commanded him Go tell this people Isâ— 6 9.10 hear yee indeed but understand not and see yee indeed but perceive not make the heart of this people sat and make their ears heavy and shut their eyes lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and be converted and I should heal them who is the light such as was from the light who with that ear could not hear Now the Prophet was here in the life of the Law the people was here from the life of the Law therefore the life turned against them that were from that of God in them and the life of the Law the life turning against them being one with that of God in them which they were gone from so the life blinded them and their ears became heavy and their hearts fat and their eyes shut and they could not hear with their ears nor understand with their hearts nor be converted even such as were gone from the life with which the spirit of God was one in which the Prophet was And saith the Prophet Isaiah to this people that were gone from the life of the Law what the Lord would do with his vineyard he would take away the hedge thereof and it should be eaten up and break down the wall thereof and it should be trodden down and I will lay it waste and it shall not be pruned nor digged Isai 5.5 6. I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it For the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts is the House of Isreel and the men of Iudah his pleasant plant Hee looked for judgement but behold oppression for righteousness but behold a cry These were those that were blinde where the judgment was not
betrayed into the hands of the chief priests and scribes and was condemned to death and by them delivered to the Gentiles to be scourged and crucified Now saith Christ when you shall see Ierusalem compassed with Armies then know that the desolation thereof is nigh Hath not Ierusalem been compassed with armies and hath it not been laid waste your House desolate and scattered as the Prophet said Hath not Ierusalem been compassed with armies where the Prophets were slaine and saith the Prophet They should fall by the edge of the Sword Luk. 21.24 and be led away captive into all Nations and Ierusalem should be trodden down of the Gentiles to whom your Fathers delivered him to be crucified to death untill the time of the Gentiles was fulfilled Now minde Are not these words fulfilled which the Prophet spake whom God raised up Is not Ierusalem trodden down have not you been carried Captives into other Nations have not the Gentiles trodden Ierusalem under foot hath it not been compassed with Armies have not your houses been left desolate have not some fallen by the Edge of the Sword Have not they come upon you the Gentiles whom you delivered this Prophet unto to be mockt and crucified and have not they laid Jerusalem waste And hath not the Temple been thrown down and not one stone left upon another which Solomon was commanded to build as Christ foretold who was a greater then Solomon So consider Are not the words of this Prophet fulfilled on you that had the words of the Prophets but being out of the Life knew not the Substance and being strangers from the Life of Moses who had the Life of the Law and strangers from the Life of the Prophets you see not Gods purpose nor decree nor determinated counsel which had shewed unto his Prophets of the coming of the Just One before he came whom your Fathers being in the transgression out of the life of the Law and the Prophets chose a Murderer Barabbas and the Chief Priests perswaded the people to ask the Murderer and to crucifie the Just Doth not this shew that they was in the state of the Murderer And when the Just was risen which death nor bonds could not hold according to the determinable counsel of God as David who foresaw it Psalm 16.10 said He would not leave his soul in hell nor suffer his Holy One to see corruption The chief Priests and those that set a guard on Christ after they had crucified him when the news came he was risen gave large money to the Souldiers to say that his disciples came by night and stole him away and this Report hath gone among the Iews and so blinded you with a lye for a lye is of the devil and he it is that is out of the truth and abode not in it that blindes the eye and casts a mist before their eyes that they should not believe and so believe the lyes before the truth For had your Fathers known Moses and the Prophets in the life they would have known him the just One the Holy One whom God would not suffer to see corruption though he was numbred among the transgressors and among them he made his grave whom God highly exalted at his right hand to whom Thrones Powers and Dominions must be subject to who is the end of Gods Righteous Law Gods Righteousness which the Prophet Esay spoke of who could not hold his peace for Zions sake Isa 62.1 and for Ierusalems sake he could not rest until the Righteousness thereof go forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth And the Gentiles shall see thy Righteousness and Kings thy glory and thou shalt be called by a new Name This Righteousness is come forth and the Gentiles see it and doth burn as a lamp and the brightness and salvation thereof is witnessed among them and the vengeance of our God is proclaimed the acceptable yeer of the Lord is come and comfort to all that mourn Isa 61. the good tydings is preached to the meek the broken hearted is bound up Liberty is proclaimed to the Captives and the Prison doors are opened and them that are bound go forth who sing of his glory and the Gentiles seeâ—h is Righteousness and profess it and the Lord is an everlasting light to his people and God their glory For we can call salvation our walls and gates praise And the sons have come from far this is witnessed and behold saith the Lord Gentiles shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising lift up thine eyes round about thee and all that gather themselves together they shall come to thee from far and saith the Lord Arise shine for thy light is come for the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee behold darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the people but the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seen upon thee Isa 60. Isa 49.6 This light the Prophet saw the Gentiles should come to and Kings to the brightness of thy rising And saith the Lord by his Prophet It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the Tribes of Jacob take notice and restore the preserved of Israel take notice again I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth Now mind the light to the Gentiles and salvation to the end of the earth which now the Gentiles profess the Prophet who was in the life saw this and many as it s said before do witness this light to the Gentiles and salvation to the ends of the earth the Redeemer of Israel the raiser up of the Tribes of Iacob and this is the Redeemer of Israel the Holy One to him whom man deipiseth to him whom Nations abhorreth to a servant of Rulers Kings shall see and arise ver 7. Princes also shall worship because of the Lord who is faithful and the Holy One of Israel and he shall chuse thee And thus saith the Lord I will lift my hand to the Gentiles and set up my Standard to the people and the people witnesseth the Standard and the hand is witnessed which to the Gentiles is lifted up of the Lord God Behold my servant whom I uphold my elect in whom my soul delighteth Isa 42. I have put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth judgement to the Gentiles the Gentiles now witness this judgement brought forth to them and this judgement is set in the earth he shall not fail nor be discouraged till he have set judgement in the earth and the Isles shall wait for his law Now many of the Isles do witness this law who have waited for it which is Royall Thus saith the Lord he that created the heavens and searched them out he that spread forth the earth and that which cometh out of it vâ—r 5. 6. he that giveth breath
to the people upon it and spirit to them that walk therein I the Lord have called thee in Righteousness and will hold thy hand and will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles Now this Covenant to the people and this light to the Gentiles that the Prophet speak of the Gentiles witness now the light and the people witness this Covenant of God and Gods promise fulfilled And them that were Ministes of this Covenant were sent to turn the Gentiles from darkness to the light and chose Iews and those Gentiles that did believe in the Light did believe the everlasting Covenant and did receive the everlasting Covenant and the glory of Israel and this brought in the Gentiles to light which broke down the Partition-wall between the Iew and the Gentile and of twain made one new man which covenant of Light the Prophet saw before he was come and when he was come your fathers owned him not neither received though by signs and wonders and miracles confirmed he his Ministry that he came from God yet said they blasphemously which had the Prophets words and Moses words but out of the life of both That by Beelzebub the Prince of the devils he cast them out And here they having the words and not the life when the thing was come that the words spoke of they that had the words knew him not and the Gentiles their mindes being alienated from the life of God and strangers from the Covenant of promise and Common-wealth of Israel to them the light was promised and that to it the Gentiles should come which many did and do now injoy and know the unsearchable Riches that are hid in God Christ Iesus And the Iews and the Gentiles receiving the Light the Covenant of promise they come to be baptized with the spirit into the one body and that Covenant of Light which brings in the Gentiles le ts see the end of the first covenant that doth decay and le ts see the everlasting covenant Christ Iesus whâ— came to fulfil the Law and not to break it heaven and earth shall pass away but not one tittle of the Law shall pass away Psal 19.7 the Law is perfect converting the soul and brings it from under that which was against it and so at this covenant of God the Light of the Gentiles the Iews stumble which covenant the Prophets prophesied of and your fathers in those dayes stood against and so here is the saying fulfilled Ps 69.22 The builders rejected the corner stone and as David said Their Table became a snare a trap and a stumbling-block and a recompence unto them And hath it not been so I say then have they stumbled that they should fall Rom. 11.11 God forbid but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles for to provoke them to jealousie take notice of that Now if the fall of them be the Riches of the world Vers 12. and the diminishing of them mark the riches of the Gentiles how much more their fulness I speak to you Gentiles So here who are come into the life of Moses and the Prophets do witness that which Moses and the Prophets said should come to pass That Christ should suffer and rise from the dead and shew light to the people and to the Gentiles in which Light Iews and Gentiles are one I will make an everlasting covenant with you saith the Lord Isa 54.55 56. even the sure mercies of David behold I will give him for a witness to the people a leader and commander to the people Behold thou shalt call a Nation that knew thee not and nations that knew thee not shall run unto thee Now this everlasting covenant is witnessed to which Nations run and the people witness the leader which you that had the covenant which did decay stood against and do injoy the covenant of peace and authority which you do not that have not the life which I will not remove saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee and every one that keeps from polluting takes hold of this covenant As for me this is my covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is in thee c. So the everlasting Covenant is witnessed which doth not decay with which is seen that which doth decay I will make an everlasting covenant with them and their seed shall be known among the Gentiles and saith the Lord My glory shall be declared among the Gentiles and I will take of them for Priests and Levites saith the Lord And behold saith the Lord the days come that I will make a new Covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Iudah not according to the covenant which I made with their Fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the Land of Egypt which covenant they brake though I was an husband to them saith the Lord but this shall be the covenant which I will make with the House of Israel After those dayes I will put my law into their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be my people and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor and every man his brother saying Know the Lord for they shall all know me from the greatest to the least saith the Lord for I will forgive their iniquities and I will remember their sins no more Mind this you that have this first covenant which was given to your fathers when they came out of the Land of Egypt but saith the Lord I will make a new covenant not according to the covenant I made with your fathers which was to decay for there you had a Law in Tables of Stone writ but here in this covenant you shall have the Law written in your hearts with which you shall come to know the Lord and need not say Know the Lord And here is the Covenant which is everlasting Now the covenant which was made with your fathers while that was standing you were to be taught the Lord but this covenant being witnessed and received the Law-Writer in your hearts you shall no more every man teach his brother and his neighbor saying Know the Lord for all shall know him from the greatest to the least And now thousands do witness this second covenant this everlasting covenant not according to that covenant given to your Fathers in Tables of Stone but the everlasting covenant wâ—iâ—ten in the heart where they know the Lord And these witness the second coveâ—aâ—t where the iniquities are forgiven Ier. 31. and the sins and transgressions the Lord will remember no more If these Ordinances depart from before me saith the Lord then shall the seed of Israel cease from being a Nation before me for ever and I will give them one heart and one way that they may fear me for ever for the good of them and of
in prison Now you who have had the words declared forth from the Prophets and Moses but not being guided with that spirit that gave them forth you see not the captive but are captives sees not him that brings deliverance and heals the broken hearted and recovers to the blinde their sight and sets at liberty them that are bruised that leads captivity captive and gives deliverance to the captive and this is not known till you come to the covenant of Light And when Ezekiel was among the Captives at the River of Keba the Heavens were opened and he saw the Vision of God Mark when he was among the captives and he was to go to them of the captivity and speak to them and after he was commanded to speak to the captives the Spirit of the Lord took him up and brought him to them So consider now you that have had the Prophets words but not knowing him that is on High that leads captivity captive being found out of the life are scattered abroad but hearken to the Light that will discover your iniquity whereby your captivity may be turned away whereby you may come to the life of the Prophets and Moses with which you may see Christ Lam. 2.14 For Ieremiah did lament the falsness of the Prophets which had not discovered their iniquity which might have turned away their captivity that you might come to know the voice of the Bridegroom the voice of joy the voice of gladness and the voice of them that say Praise the Lord of Hosts for his mercie endures for ever And of them that bring the Sacrifice of Praise into the House of the Lord. I will cause to return the captivity of the Land as at first saith the Lord now know this captivity led captive and this captivity returned And was it not often that Ierusalâ—m and the children of Israel were carâ—iâ—d into captivity for transgressing of the righteous Law of God and did noâ— the Enemie come upon you which trod down the Wall of Ierusalem which was before Christ was manifest in the flesh which after came and was manifest in the flesh according to the saying of the Prophet which shewed the coming of the Just one who when he was come among you that had the words of Moses and the Prophets but being out of the life saw not that which Moses and the Prophets saw and the Prophet said Jerusalem should be laid waste and compassed with Armies the Wall thrown down and you scattered Is not the word of this Prophet fulfilled among you and upon you had you been in the life as Moses was in and the Prophets and Abraham you would have seen the glory of Israel him whom God raised up to sit on Davids Throne the Hope that all the Fathers hoped for Now your Fathers being out of the life though they had the words knew not the Substance when he was come but on the contrary delivered him up to the Gentiles to be crucified which Gentiles trod your city under foot and they cried crucifie him crucifie him and desired his blood might be upon their Heads Now Jacob comes to be saved from his captivity and Israel shall return to his rest and I will be found of you saith the Lord and will turn away your captivity and will gather you from all the Nations and from all the places where I have driven you and will bring you again to this place saith the Lord whence I caused you to be carried away Captive when you come to the life of the Law this you shall witness Now wait in the light that you may come to witness this Promise fulfilled for the Lords flock hath been carried away captive but now is the Lord redeeming and gathering with his power them out of captivity and leading captivity captive And saith the Lord I will gather the Remnant of my Sheep out of all the countreys where I have driven them and bring them again to their Fold and they shall grow and encrease and I will set one Shepherd over them which shall feed them they shall dread no more nor be afraid neither shall they lack any thing saith the Lord for the day is come saith the Lord that I will raise unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute justice and judgement in the earth Now this Branch this King this Shepherd this Fold do we witness that are his lambs his sheep and are come to witness the life that Moses was in and the Prophets were in and David was in from which life the Scriptures was given forth to be believed and fulfilled which we see with the same that gave them forth Isa 14. and the Son we see to reigne and the Lord is cutting off according to his promise Babel his Name and his Remnant Son and Nephew and there shall be a High-way for the Remant of his people which shall be left from Assyria like as it was unto Israel in the day when he came up out of the land of Aegypt Of this take notice In that day shall the Remnant of Israel and such as have escaped of the House of Iaccb stay no more on him that smote them mark on him that smote them but shall stay upon the Lord the Holy One of Israel in truth The Remnant shall return even the Remnant of Jacob to the Mighty God for though thy people O Israel be as the Sand of the Sea yet a Remnant of them shall return and there is a Remnant that keeps the commands of God And did not the Lord speak to Ezekiel That your Fathers should be carried away captive and the time is come that whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved for in Mount Zion and Jerusalem shal be deliverance as the Lord hath said and the Remnant whom the Lord shall call And the Remnant of the Philistines shall perish Seek good and not evil Amos 5. hate the evil and love the good and establish Judgement in the Gate It may be the Lord of Hosts will be merciful to the Remnant of Joseph though the number of Israel be as the sand of the Sea yet a Remnant shall be saved Even so at this present time there is a remnant through the election of Grace and now is the Remnant known that doth give glory to God And thus saith the Lord to your Fathers who changed his Judgements into wickedness and his Statutes more then the wicked I will execute Judgement in thee I will do unto thee that I never did before neither will I do any more the like I wil execute Judgement in thee the whole Remnant of thee will I scatter in all the winds And these things and many more this Prophet doth relate which was done to your Fathers and what they should act and do they who are out of the life of the law But now such as be in the life of the law Prophets and Christ can
but the oppression and were from the light such Christ came to make blinde against whom went the woe that drew iniquity with cords of vanity and sin as it were with a cart-rope that called good evill and evill good such as were from the life of the Law and such as these hearing hear not and seeing see not whose hearts are made fat Make them sat whose eyes are shut lest they should see whose ears are heavy lest they should hear Then said I Lord how long and he answered untill the Cities be wasted without inhabitant and the houses without man and the land be utterly desolate mark and take notice of this untill the cities be without inhabitant and the houses without men and the land be utterly desolate Now such as were here out of the life of the Law and the Prophets being in the transgression the life went against them that were from the life and blinded it and stopt that ear and that heart cannot understand that against the life is turned untill the city be wasted without inhabitant and God hide his counsel and secrets from this eye and from this ear so he comes to make them blinde that they cannot see which be in the transgression who doth not blinde the light the eye that the Prophet saw withall And again Isa 29.9 10 11 12. c. the Prophet said to them that were out of the life of the Law in the transgression Stay your selves and wonder for the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep and hath closed your eyes the Prophets and your Rulers and the Seers hath hee covered the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed which men deliver to one that is learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I cannot for it is sealed and the book is delivered to him that is not learned saying Read this I pray thee and he saith I cannot for I am not learned Wherefore thus saith the Lord Forasmuch as this people draw neer me with their mouth and with their lips do honor me but have removed their heart far from me and their fear towards me is taught by the precept of men therefore will I proceed c. These people were from the life of the Law whose hearts were farr removed from God to these the books was sealed and the Vision of all was become unto them as a sealed book and they could not read it neither the learned nor the unlearned for to both it was sealed to this people that could not see nor hear was the book sealed whose eye was blinded though they were learned or unlearned such as was from the life of the Law which was the light the life of the Law the light they had not and such the prophet saw who was in the light of the Holy Ghost and their fear towards the Lord was taught by the Precepts of men as it is now with them that are blind these their eyes were closed upon whom was poured a spirit of deep sleep who staggâ—red like a drunken man but not with wine who sought deep to hide their counsel from the Lord and worked in the dark among whom the Lord will do a marvellous work and a wonder the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of the prudent shal be hid These were-them that turned the things upside down who should be esteemed as the potters clay for shall the work say to him that made it He made me not Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it He had no understanding Yea he sees take notice that hath made and framed Mind this you who call upon God with your lips but your hearts afar off who be strangers from the life of his Law who turn things upside down who must be turned upside down before the life of the Law which is the light be known and their eyes opened Who are in the spirit of slumber and the spirit of deep sleep yet have wisdome and a prudent understanding These were them that the Prophet saw from the life of the Law and such God made blinde for the promise was when God gave forth the Law Blessing and them that were in the life saw the end of it a Curse was not to them that did abide in the life of the Law the woe was not to them that did abide in the life of the Law but the blessing the curse was to them that did not abide in the life of the Law and such came not to sâ—e the end of what they profest and these went from the life of the Law to mens precepts and they were such as called upon God with their lips but their hearts were afar off and such owning not the life of the Law they owned not Christ when he came who was the end of it but was blinde and so the fulfilling of Isaiah's words came to be which were spoken forth from the life which when Christ came who was the life they that had the words of the Law and being out of the life knew him not but were them that were blinded by hearing should not hear nor understand and seeing 〈◊〉 should see not perceive these which was gon from the life of the law the light which Christ was one with the life which they were gon forth from These could not perceive nor see though they saw and though they heard they could not understand which were in the transgression from the life of the Law and such Christ came to make blinde and these eyes must be blinded that they cannot see nor heary for that which must hear comes to the life of the Law and to the conversion and saith Christ to them that were gone from the life of the Law which hearing heard not neither understood These peoples hearts were waxed gross their ears were dull of hearing their eyes was closed lest at any time mark they were so shut up from the light the life of the Law lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and I should heal them Now you may all come to see what peoples hearts they were that was waxed gross and ears dull of hearing and could not see with their eyes nor hear with their ears lest they should be converted and Christ should heal them such as were out of the life of the Law and out from that of God in them in the uncoverted estate against whom Christ cried wo For how can they hear with their ears or see with their eyes that are from the life of the Law and how otherwise can it be but that their hearts will wax fat and gross and be hardned with the deceit who go from the Light the life of the Law which is the eye which God blindes not who is light and teach mens commandments for doctrines such as hear not the life of the law
willeth and him that runneth obtaineth not the Promise of God but the Election obtains it in Isaac shall thy Seed bâ— called and they which be the children of the flesh are not the children of God and so it is not in him that willeth or in him that runneth but in God that shews mercie the Election obtains it But O man Who art thou that repliest against God mark Man not the Election which obtains the Promise Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it VVhy hast thou made me thus Hath not the Potter power over the Clay to make one Vessel of Honor another to dishonor What if God will to shew his wrath and make his power known endured with long suffering the Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction take notice endured with much long suffering the Vessels of Wrath sitted to destruction What if God will make his Power known upon such and will shew his Wrath upon the Vessels thereof who are in the disobedience from the Light Hath not the Potter power over the Clay the Vessels of Wrath where the enduring with much long-sufferings hath been such be from the ife of the Law of God in the disobedience children of Wrath on whom the Wrath of God abides therefore the thing formed that saith VVhy hast thou made me thus here is the willing and not the Election which obtains it without the willing and running which overthrows the Vessels of Wrath fitted for destruction and the willing and the running who hath endured with long suffering And now it is seen The Lord will have mercie on whom he will have mercie and the Promise is to the seed and Jacob is loved and Esau is hated and Ishmael is driven out and the power which overthrew Pharoah which hath raâ—sed up the Seed and the Vessels of Wrath on whom he doth make his power known and shews his Wrath which he hath endured with much long suffering the Vessels of Wrath fitted for destruction and the will that is willing is seen and the minde which is running and attains it not and the man which replies against God who is saying VVhy hast thou made me thus as if the potter had not power over the Clay And here is the willing and the running but the promise of God is to the Seed and the Election obtains it and hath obtained that he might make known the Riches of his Glory on the Vessels of mercie whom he hath called so the promise is to the Seed not to Seeds as of many but as of one which Seed is Christ Rom. 11. And David that was in the life of the Law seeing the second Covenant saw them that had the words of the Law but were out of the life And Paul who was in the life of the Law the Light that David was in saw Davids words fulfilled in his generation among them that were out of the life of the law though they had the words and saith acording as it is written God hath given them thâ— spirit of slumber eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear unto this day they were such as were from the life of Mâ—ses and the Prophets having their mindes reprobated and saith David Let their Table be made a Snare and a Trap and a stumbling-block an for a Recompence let their eyes be darkned that they may not see and bow down their back alway Such as were from the life of the Law have they stumbled that they should sall God forbid but that through their sall salvation is come to the Gertiles Now they that had the outward covenant the words of the Law and stood for the outward and were not guided with the inward their Tables became a Snare unto them and a Trap and a stumbling-block and they fell and through their sall who was in the outward from the light the life of the Law salvation came to the Gentiles and the Râ—ches of the world the Light which is Christ the Salvation which overthrows the outward and brings in the inward the Jews in the spirit For such as were in the life of the Law the Table did not become a Snare a Trap but they-saw the end with the Light which is the eye but such as were from the life of the Law had the Spirit of Slumber so the Election hath obtained it and the rest was blinded mark the rest were blinded the election is not blinded read this who sees this who is come to the election which obtains where this is witnessed that which is blinded is seen and the God of the world is judged and the eye he sets up and that which doth blinde is judged with the light with the eye where the conversion and healing is and the casting away of them is seen that were out of the life of the Law and the Prophets which had the outward Oracles which brought in the Gentiles who said they saw but were out of the life of what they profest For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead mark the receiving of them is life from the dead and that which doth receive them makes them blind that life which came from the dead unites both Jew and Gentile together when the converting comes the healing comes and the elect and the life of the Law and the Prophets is fulfilled and the other eye is put out and the gross heart and the dull eare and the spirit of slumber and all this is with the Spirit of Truth judged and the light which is the eyes guide and the lip serving of God all this is judged which brings the life from the dead which brings to serve God with the heart and brings the heart nigh unto God which while they profest the Law the light being from the life that Heart perceives not that Eye sees not which goes from the light and cannot see the mysterie nor hear Christ the end of the Law And here is the rebellious people and the stiff-necked which hearing hear not and seeing see not hearts have and understand not whom God blindes that his mysteries they see not them that are from the light Rom. 1. which are from the life of the Law the light which is one with the light of God in every man which answers his Law so that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath shewed it unto them with that they know that the judgements of God are upon them when they act unrighteously And in the Acts the Apostles speaking to the Iewes which had the words of the Law and the Prophets but out of the Law the life of Moses and the Prophets who knew not Christ the end of them in which life the Apostles was in when he had spoken with the Iewes and perswaded them concerning Christ out of the Law Moses and the Prophets shewing unto them the fulfilling of Isaiabs
words saying Go unto this people and say hearing you shall hear and not understand and seeing you shall see and not perceive for the heart of this people is waxed gross and they are dull of hearing and their eyes are closed lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and should be converted and should heal them To them he said Be it known unto you the salvation of God is sent to the Gentiles and they will obey it So here the Apostle Christ and Isaiah saw them that had the words of Moses and the Prophets but out of the life the light such could not hear nor see being from the life of God such were blinde and such Gods Hand often turned against and carried them into captivity yea to the bringing down and bringing forth of his seed out of Captivity so in bringing them down that were in captivity they often came to remember God and so Gods promise stands with the seed sure and his election sure All along you may see in the days of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles such as had not the life the light of the Prophets and Apostles being found out of the life of the spirit of God had the spirit of slumber had hearts and could not perceive eyes they had and could not see eares they had and could not heare and such eyes God made blinde and eares God made deaf and knew not the mysterie of the Kingdom having their hearts gross and far from God and served him but with the lips and they that were from the life of the Law were here they that were in the life of the Law they saw such as were from the life of the Law here one saw and the other did not one saw and the others eye was to be made blinde And they that did carry Gods seed into captivity should be brought into bondage and God would judge them and they had the eye which was blinde so you may all see that which was from the life of the Law the life of the Prophets the life of Christ which is the light doth harden which is the deceit and such as hear the voice of the Son of God are not hardened but such as hear not the voice of the Son of God are hardened through the deceit among these there was warres one destroying another and carrying captives But who are come to the life of the Law and the end of the Law the end of the first covenant the everlasting Priesthood from the changeable to the unchangeable witnesseth that which doth not vail change nor harden and make to see captive and lead out of captivity while Moses is read the vail is yet over the heart which doth harden but take away that which doth harden and bring the minde out of the changeable which their minde was in in the outward to the life the light which was hardened and blinded having the spirit of slumber to the covenant of light the everlasting covenant the end of all shadowes types and figures to the substance that covenant is decayed and so with this that is kept out which doth harden mark the deceit which is out of the truth the life which is in the transgression having a pretence of the worship but out of the life of it all such are blinded and can neither hear with their ears nor see with their eyes nor be converted nor healed and from the life of the Law are whose hearts are afar off from God so all these that have the words of Moses and of the Prophets that are from the light the life with the life come to have all their wisdome and knowledge overthrown such had their eyes blinded and had a spirit of slumber and Hearts gross and these the life of the Law overthrew from top to bottome and all that profession without the life of the Law calling upon God with the lips but Hearts afarr off God overthrowes and judges judges and blindes he that hath an ear to hear let him hear That which overthrowes the Jewes outward brings in the Jewes inward in the spirit to the King the light which is one in the spirit and baptizeth them both Jew and Gentile into one body and here he comes to the life of the Law and the Prophets and Christ and the promise fulfilled where there is seeing and hearing and conversion the Heart being brought to the Lord God to perceive and to you this is the word of the Lord. And this eye the Lord doth not blinde God doth not blinde his own eye but that eye which is out of the life of the Law the Prophets and Christ and that eye is blinded which receiveth not the testimony of the Prophets nor the Son and this the Prophet saw with the Holy Ghost and Christ saw who by the Holy Ghost was conceived and the Apostle saw with the Holy Ghost such as was blinded and is to be blinded and the Holy Ghost was not blinded that which goes from the life cannot believe the life but is hardened they being from the life could not hear nor see the life when the life spake unto them to be converted their eyes was so closed lest I the Light should heal them to them woe was from the light to them which were from it they went from the life and the life was against them so the light cast them away that held up the outward Priests that had the outward Covenant their eyes they have closed mark they have closed their eyes lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their eares and undeâ—stand with their hearts and should be converted and I should heal them mark they have closed their eyes lest they should see Christ that owns not the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world they have closed their eyes lest they should see it and hear it and come to understand with the heart and should be converted and Christ should heal them They closed their eyes lest they should see the light who was from it and owned it not the healing which brings to be converted and turns the heart from being gross and the new heart comes to be received these that have closed their eyes lest they should see the light at any time say they see but are blinde so being from the light the sin remains these call on God with their lips but being from the light the heart is afar off these are the unconverted understands not with the heart and are unhealed and follows the world which sayes they can see which Christ came to make blind and for judgment is he come into the world that they that say they see may be made blinde they that see not might see and this light brings Iews and Gentiles to see one another and this raises up the tribes of Jacob gathers together in the unity in one and with it doth them reconcile up to God with the
will utterly destroy the tongue of the Aegyptian sea Isa 11. and there shall be a high way for the remnant of his people which shall be left from Assyria take notice like as it was to Israel in the day that hee came up out of Aegypt And where this Covenant that is everlasting of Light is received with it the first is seen that doth decay And thus saith the Lord I will hold thy hand I will keep thee and give thee for a Covenant to the people and a Light to the Gentiles to open the blinde eyes to bring out the prisoners out of the prison and them that sit in darkness out of the prison-house I am the Lord that is my name and my glory I will not give to another Behold the former things are come to pass and new things I tell you of before they spring forth I tell you of them Now when these things were sprung up among you and come to pass that had the first Covenant given to you when you came out of Aegypt These new things this new Covenant you received not though to you it was declared by the Prophet before they did spring forth and this Covenant of the people the light to the Gentiles opens the blind eyes brings out the prisoners out of the prison-house and this is he that preaches unto the spirits in prison Now you and your fathers that have rested in the former things not beholding nor seeing the new things that are come to pass and declared to your fathers before they came to pass shewes how you have refused the corner-stone which have been builders of the words without life the Covenant of Light the Prince of Peace the Lord of glory he that sits on Davids Throne that comes in the volume of the book to do the will of God So the new things which were declared by the Prophet before they sprang forth you that remain in the old have rejected it and have you not been rejected mark and provoked by a people that were not a people Have not the Gentiles which followed not after righteousness obtained the righteousness even the righteousness of Faith in Christ Jesus Rom. 10. the Covenant of Light the Light of the Gentiles among whom his name is great and their eyes are opened and the prisoners come out of the prison-house and in him do the Gentiles trust And thus saith the Lord in an acceptable time have I heard thee in a day of salvation have I helped thee I will preserve thee and give thee for a Covenant to the people to establish the earth I will give thee saith the Lord a light of the Gentiles that thou mayst be my salvaion to the end of the earth Now he that establisheth the earth the covenant is witnessed by whom all things were made What is he salvation to the end of the earth the covenant of light yea who in lighteneth every man that cometh into the world which I saiah spoke of which your fathers had their will on And thus saith the Lord I will preserve thee and give thee for a covenant to the people to establish the earth to obtain the inheritance of the desolate heritage mark this covenant of the people to establish the earth which obtains the inheritance of the desolate heritages and say to the prisoners Go forth and to them that are in darkness Shew your selves which is now fulfilled and fulfilling they shall feed in the way and their pasture shall be on the tops of the hills and these witness the fresh springs of water and this is witnessed among them that witness his covenant and are converted to God to serve the living God in righteousness who are come to the life of the Prophets and possesseth that which they spoke of therefore did David give thanks to the Lord among the Heathen and sing praises to his Name great deliverance gives he to his King to David and his seed Psa 18. whose seed we are for evermore and Moses that received the Covenant from the Lord when your fathers came out of Egypt said Like unto mee will the Lord thy God raise thee up a prophet from the midst of thy Brethren Deut. 18. him shall ye harken unto Now this Prophet did Stephen witness and hold forth when he was brought before the Council whom they cast out and stoned Acts 7. Your Fathers had the Tabernacle of VVitness in the VVilderness as he had appointed speaking unto Moses that he should make it according to the fashion which he had seen which also the Fathers that came after brought in with Iesus into the possession of the Gentiles whom God drave out before the face of our Fathers unto the dayes of David who found savor before God and desired to find a Tabernacle for the God of Jacob but Solomon built him a house howbeit the most high dwelleth not in temples made with hands as saith the Prophet Heaven is my Throne and the earth is my footstool what house will yee build me saith the Lord or what is the place of my rest Now your fathers that held up these oâ—tward things being not in the life that saw beyond them the end of them the things which Steven here witnessed whom your fathers that had the Law not the lise put to death which had persecuted the Prophets that shewed the coming of the Iust One of whom they had been the betrayers murderers of that stoned Steven these know not that new thing that must come to pass before declared which the Lord by his Prophets spoke of but were disobedient rebellious against the Lord cast his law behind their backs slew his prophets which testified against them to turn them to the Lord they wrought great provocations therfore the Lord delivered them to their enemies vexed them in the time of their troubles when they cried to him he heard them according to his manifold Mercies he gave them a Savior who saved them from the hand of their Enemies Now you may see the cause why his hand was against them being rebellious and disobedient casting the Law behind their backs being out of the life of it here is the cause of slaying the Prophets who witnessed the life of his Law and yet many yeers did the Lord forbear them and testifie against them that had the words by the Spirit in his Prophets Therefore now you having the Prophets words have built their Sepulchres were you in the Prophets life you would see that which the Prophets gave Testimony of and Moses him by whom the world was made the Glory of Israel the light of the Gentiles the leader of the people take notice the light is to lead yea the light is the leader of the people Now you being out of the life of the Prophets and Moses having their words thinking to have life in the Scriptures searching them which do testifie of Christ but not coming to the Prophets
and the Holy Ghost them witnessed Act. 9. to whom the Apostles were sent to whom the Promise belonged and so Israel which had the Law and the Prophets being out of the life saw not the Glory of Israel neither the light of the Gentiles which now is manifested him whom the Apostles and Prophets declared Luk. 2. Now among the Gentiles there is an exercising of Lordship and the great ones exercise authority on them but it shall not be so with you saith Christ the light the covenant whom God spoke of whom Moses said God would raise up For they that are here in the light are from the will of the Gentiles turned their Lordship to Christ the Lord mark and so the Gentiles are no more aliens but Citizens Co-Heirs joynt-Heirs who believe in the light in the Covenant So you that hold up that which doth decay stand against the Prince of life the Covenant that doth not decay which many of the Gentiles received and you that stood in the first that doth decay come to be thrust out now with that which doth not decay And now as you hearken to the light this you will come to see and it is the light that doth now manifest the counsels of your Hearts your thoughts your vain imaginations and Covetousness which is idolatry and the lusting after those things which you should not Now this light doth manifest that which gives to see Christ the covenant of light that it is which brings into the life of the Law and the Prophets to see Christ who is the light which light is the life of men who is the end of the Law I am the light of the world and doth enlighten every man that cometh into the world him by whom it was made If you love the light and bring your deeds to the Light it will let you see whether they be wrought in God but if you hate the light it will be your condemnation And saith Solomon the King which Christ that was a greater said A greater then Solomon was here and Christ the light said Before Abraham was I am which because he so said they took up stones to cast at him to do Justice and Judgement is more acceptable to the Lord then sacrifice Mark Prov. 21. this Justice and Judgement is more acceptable to the Lord then your sacrifice And saith the Lord I will take no Bullock out of thine house nor Goat out of thy Flock for all the Beasts of the Forrest are mine the Beasts of a thousand-Hills Psal 50. I know all the Fowls of the mountains and all the wilde beasts of the Field are mine If I be hungry I will not tell thee for the World is mine mark and all that therein is Will I eat the flesh of Bulls or drink the blood of Goats Offer unto God Thanksgiving and pay thy Vows to the Most High and saith the Lord by the Prophet I desire mercy and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more then Burnt Offering Now you may see many had the Burnt Offerings and not the knowledge of God whereas the knowledge of God he required more then burnt-offerings and Mercy and not sacrifice Minde Mercy and not sacrifice And when Christ was come the Covenant of Light he bid your Fathers who were in the burnt-offerings and sacrifices but out of the knowledge and mercie Go and learn what the Prophets words meant he would have mercie and not sacrifice such as had the burnt-offering and not the mercie nor knowledge of God which God desired mercie before sacrifice and the knowledge of God before Burnt Offerings So your Fathers that had the Sacrifice and the Burnt Offering were without the Mercie and the Knowledge of God who knew not the Son the Covenant of Light that Moses and the Prophets spoke of and the blind offered the blinde that which was not accepted of the Lord who respects not your persons but suffered you to be trodden under foot of the Gentiles who have been scattered But now is the Lord warning to turn to him and to do works meet for Repentance that you might come to know the Prince of life the end of the Law the end of the Prophets the end of all outward sacrifices and come to know the Spiritual Sacrifice which is acceptable to God by Jesus Christ which goes from the Spiritual Houshold which is built on the Prophets Christ the Corner Stone who is now come to reign on the Thâ—one of David whose Seed witness him Davids Son which God would shew mercy to David and to his Seed for evermore which mercie his Seed witness and witness the Son who reigns on the Throne of David the Son of God who are the Seed of Abraham to whom the Promise was when he was in the uncircumcision and the Promise which was made to him when he was in the uncircumcision do we witness fulfilled Glory glory to the Lord God for evermore And we are of the Promise which is to all the Seed which was not made to him through the Law therefore it s of Faith that it might be by Grace that the Promise might be sure to all the Seed not to that onely which is of the Law but to that also which is of the Faith of Abraham who is the Father of us also and him who was made of Abraham is now witnessed that took upon him the Seed according to the flesh who is before Abraham was a greater then Solomon him who according to the flesh is the Seed of Abraham but according to the Spirit was declared to be the Son of God the King of Glory And him David saw and called him Lord who said God would not suffer his Holy One to see corruption nor leave his soul in hell and saith David of him Psal 68. Thou hast ascended up on high thou hast led captivity captive thou hast received gifts for men yea for the rebellious that the Lord God might dwell amongst men Mark He that ascended up on high led captivity captive and gives gifts unto men that the Lord God might dwel amongst them And he that ascended mark he that led captivity captive what is it but he that descended first into the lower parts of the earth and he is the same that ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things by whom all things was made to reconcile all things to himself And he gave some Prophets some Evangelists some Apostles and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ till all come into the unity of the Faith and the knowledge of the Son of God the Covenant unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ And the Prophet Isaiah speaking of Christ said he He would proclaim liberty to the captives Gen. 61. mark to the captive and he did proclaim liberty to the captives and went ministring to the Spirits
are blinde and are such as run into the lust whose hearts grows fat and are such as have a wisdom and a prudent understanding but as to hearing or seeing the things of God their eyes are made blinde and ears they have but hear not and hearts they have but understand not and cannot understand with their hearts nor see with their eyes lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and I should convert them and they should be healed Now this ear and eye which is from the life of the Law heareth not sees not and the heart waxeth gross and that eye must be made blinde before Christ come to heal them and convert them He that hath an ear to hear let him hear And to such as were from the life of the Law and Prophets in the transgression Christ spoke parables them that were from the life of the Law seeing they saw not and hearing they heard not nor perceived nor understood to them in parables that were from the life of the law and Prophets which Christ saw these having the words but being out of the life were them that were blinded gross and could not hear nor perceive nor understand the mysterie of the kingdom Unto these Christ spoke in parables And the Disciples said to Christ VVhy speakest thou unto them in parables and he said unto them To you it is givâ—â—â—o know the mysterie but to them it is not who have eyes and see not ears and hear not but blessed are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear For whosoever hath to him shall be given mark and he shall have more abundance mark and whosoever hath not from him shall be taken away even that which he hath He that hath an ear to hear let him hear So they knew the mysterie of the kingdom which was in the Light and they law not the mysterie of the kingdom which were not in the light therefore spoke Christ to them in parables because in seeing they saw not and hearing they heard not neither did they understand So in them is fulfilled the Prophesie of Isaiah which saith By hearing you shall hear and shall not understand and seeing ye shall see and not perceive for this peoples heart is waxed gross and their ears are dull of hearing and their eyes they have closed lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heale them Therefore parables were spoken to these which were from the life of the Law which did not understand with their heart the Mysterie of the Kingdom to be converted and Healed For such as understood came with their heart to the life of the Law the Light to converting and healing others stood against it and that eye was blinded so saw not and was not converted and all dulness of hearing was from them that were from the life of the Law the Light which life of the Law gives to see before transgression was and so these that did not understand with their hearts not converted not healed were them that were gone from the light the life of the Law such could not see the second Covenant when he was come and to these Christ opened his mouth in parables and uttered forth things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world to the fulfilling of the Prophets words who was in the life and to those that were out of the Light the life of the law was the Parables spoke but blessed saith Christ to his disciples are your eyes for they see and your ears for they hear Matt. 13. now is the life manifested that was with the Father before the World was which all the Prophets of God did give testimony to which while Moses is read the vail is over the heart but where is the life of Moses that sees the end of the first covenant Christ Iesus so they that were out of the life of the first were in the hardness such as had the words of Moses but out of the life whose ears were dull of hearing and served God with their lips out of the life the light but their hearts afar off such were in the days of Isaiah the Prophet in the days of Christ in the flesh these Christ plainly told them he came to make blind who said they saw but were out of the life of what they profest the lâ—ght which is the eye such the God of the world blinded the eye of their minde and for judgement Christ came into the world to make them to see that saw not and to make them blinde that said they saw where the God of the world ruled And John speaks of the fulfilling of Isaiahs words Joh. 12. who saw the glory of the Lord and spake of him he saw them that were from the life of the Law the light and the Prophets that could not see with their eyes nor understand with their hearts whose serving God was with the lip but the heart afar off these could not hear Christ when he came nor understand with their hearts nor be converted nor healed such were for judgement and such Christ judged and made blinde for these could not understand with their hearts nor be converted nor healed which was from the light and had it not And the Apostle speaking of the hated and loved the Election and Reprobation that the purpose of God according to the Election might stand not of works but of him that calleth as it was said The Elder shall serve the Yonger Esau have I hated Jacob have I loved mark so it is not of him that runneth Rom. 9. but of God that sheweth mercie as the Scripture saith of Pharoah For this purpose have I raised thee up that I may shew my power in thee and that my Name may be declared throughout all the earth Of this take notice The Power which overthrew Pharoah brings the Seed out of bondage therefore hath he mercie on whom he will have mercie and whom he will he hardneth But thou wilt say unto me VVho hath resisted his will why doth he yet finde sault Nay but O man Who art thou that repliest against God who is Light thou who art from the Light shall the thing formed say to him that formed it Why hast thou made me thus Hath not the Potter power over the Clay of the same Lump to make one Vessel unto Honor another a Vessel to dishonor mark But what if God will shew his Wrath to make his Power known endured with much long suffering the Vessels of Wrath fitted to destruction the children of Disobedience mark Iacob is loved but Esau is hated Esau was the first a Prophane person Pharoah a Persecutor of the Seed of God who was hardned God had mercie on his Seed and made his Power known in overthrowing the one and delivering the other And him that