patience c. Therefore those shall never live in the father and never sit down in rest in the spirit but the spirit will still be burning them as chaffe in the fire till they be consumed Another thing observe that whatsoever did appeare to dwell in the Lamb is nor shall never be tormented as love patience humility contentednesse these are never tormented though I have thought many times that love being crost grows angry But I see by experience it is improper for love cannot be angrie it beareth all things And as we see in our Lord Christ in whom love patience humilitie contentednesse did dwell and rule he was never tormented nor troubled with any fretting or disquiet fit For truly I speake what I have and do finde it is only the flesh and serpent that is troubled and tormented and the more a man is vexed and fretted the more strength of flesh dwells and rules in him But when the spirit of the Lamb is sent into the heart he swallows up that froward power of the flesh and saves the man from distemper as I said before The third scripture I shall mention is that old pusling scripture that hath tormented many a soule which is this Mat. 12. 31. He that sins against the holy Ghost shall not be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come By sin here is shewed to me to be the serpent or the curse in the flesh branching himselfe forth into pride covetousnesse envy uncleannesse self-will hypocrisie and all such like and this serpent dwells in the flesh of every sonne and daughter of Adam since the fall except the man Christ Jesus for though this serpent tempted him and strived to rule in him as he overcame and ruled in the first Adam yet Christ trod him under foot and cast him out of heaven that is out of humane flesh that part of the creation in whom the father dwelt bodily And by holy Ghost here it is shewed to me to be the Anointing or the Spirit ruling in flesh either in the flesh of Christ or in the flesh of his Saints Now the serpent or curse which is called the power of darknesse this is the sinne against the holy Ghost for the father made the humane flesh to be his house to dwell in And this serpent took possession and fights against the spirit and will not suffer him to appeare in flesh at all Therefore saith the father this sin or curse shall never be pardoned that is the father will never reconcile that wicked one to him the father and the serpent will never become one but will alwayes be fighting till the serpents head be bruised for this is that wicked one that the father is angrie with ever he is not simply angry with his creature but with this sinne or curse in the creature with which the creature hath made a covenant and become one with it and so fights against his maker I but the father will bruise this head of Rebellion and consume this sinne in the fire that so be may reconcile his creature to himselfe but I say the sinne or curse shall never be reconciled the father will ever be a consuming fire to that and will be ever taking peace from that earth that gives this wicked one entertainment For the spirit will be still bruising the head of this sinne till he hath destroyed it and redeemed his creature from the power and bondage of it and it is true every man is guilty of this sinne against the spirit and though the father will never make this sinne one with himself yet he will make his creature man one with him when this curse is swallowed up of life And why will he not pardon this sin because it was not written in the Lambs book or nature but is that power of darknesse that makes war against the Lamb and will not have the spirit to dwell in flesh but would cast him out Therefore the spirit will cast him out though he were a stronger power then he is And so for this time I will conclude FINIS Eze. 34. 3. Jer. 31. 34. Act. 4. 20. Ps. 66. 16. Jude 12. Zach. 13. 4. 5. 1 Iohn 2. 27. Ier. 31. 34. Isa. 54. 13. Rev. 21 23 1 Cor. 1. 8. Isa. 54. 13. Ioh. 6. 45. Ioh. 6. 63. Rom. 11. 29. 1 Thes. 4. 17. Ioh. 6. 45. Ier. 31. 34. 1 Iohn 2. 27. Ioh. 15. 5. Gal. 5. 22. 2 Tim. 2. 26. Ephes. 3. 20. Rom. 6. 14. Rev. 3. 16 17. Ioh. 8. 36. Psal. 133. 3. Rom. 6. 14. Heb. 3. 3. 8. 1 Cor. 1. 31. Luke 11. 22. 1 Ioh. 1. 14. Rev. 5. 13. 1 Ioh. 5. 6. 2 Chron. 20. 15 16 17. Num. 23. 7. John 5. 46. 1 Cor. 2. 8. 1 Cor. 8. 7. Ephes. 3. 5. Isaiah 32. 12. and 28. 9. Hab. 3. 16 17. Ioh. 8. 36. Heb. 4. 3. Gal. 1. 15 16. 1 Cor. 1. 31. Luke 21. 13. c. 1 Cor. 1. 24. Rev. 2. 10. Exo. 14 5. Psal. 83. 4. Ester 3. 6. Judg. â— 19 Ezek. 38. 14 c. Rev. 11. 11 c. 1 Joh. 3. 1. Joh. 1. 10. Mat. 2. 13. 2 Chron. 20. 15 c. Exo. 14. 13 1 Pet. 4. 13 14. 2 Thes. 2. 4 5. Rev. 13. 6 7. Ier. 23. 9. Iob 1. 12. Dan. 12. 7 Gen. 3. 15. Iob 1. 6. Iam. 1. 14. Luke 11. 22. Ephes. 2. 15 16. Isa. 8. 20. 2 Cor. 5. 4 1 Cor. 15. 54. Jer. 23. 5. Rom 7. 9. c. 1 Cor. 4. 11. Mat. 8. 20. Psal. 41 9. Psal. 38. 2. Psal. 69 2. Heb. 12 6. Isa. 12. 6. Col. 1. 13. Rev. 12. 9. Gen. 3. 24. Eph 2 15. Ioh. 8. 44. 2 Thes. 2. 4. Rev. 17. 5. Rev. 20. 7. 10. Eph. 2. 15. Iob 1. 12. Luk. 11. 22. Dan. 7. 25. Dan. 8. 23. Ier. 23. 36. Iob 1. 21. Gen. 2. 24. 2 Pet. 2. 2. Zach. 3. 4. Ephes. 2. 14 15. Eph 2. 15 2 Cor. 3. 6. c. Rev. 20. 15. Mat. 4. 3. Eph. 1. 14. Gen. 3. 24. Rev. 12. 10. 2 Cor. 5. 4. Luke 4. 18. Esa. 61. 1 2. Heb. 1 13. Luke 21. 17. c. Heb. 4. 3. Iohn 6. 45. Ier. 23. 5 6. Esa. 60. 14. Rev. 21 8. Rev. 22. 25. Act. 9. 1. Esa. 61. 1. Jud 6. 1 Cor 3. 17. 1 Cor. 1. 31. 1 Cor. 12. 31. Ephes. 4 6. Col. 2. 9. Ioh 5 43. Isa. 59. 14. Gen. 3. 24. Rev. 20. 15. Ro. 1. 18. Gen. 3. 15. Dan. 7. 26. c. 1 Iohn 2. 16. 2 Cor. 5. 19. c. Joh. 17. 25. Iohn 7. 7. 2 Chron. 32. 21. 1 King 19 6. Iob 1. 10 11. Rom 9. 17. Isa. 10. Ier. 23. 5 6. Mat. 24. 27 Col. 1. 27. 2 Cor 5. 16. Iohn 1. 9. 1 Cor. 12. 13. Luk. 17. 21 Heb. 9. 14. Ier. 23. 5. Rom. 8. 9 Phil. 3. 21. Mat. 26. 39 1 Cor 3. 16. Eph. 4. 13. Gal. 5. 22. Heb. 12. 29. Ioh. 8. 42. Ephes. 2. 2. Isa. 8. 20. Ier. 23 6. Mat. 8. 28. Isa. 8. 20. Ier. 31. 33. Rev. 16. 3 4 c. Rev. 12. 9 10. 1 Cor. 15. 56. Col. 1. 12. Heb. 2. 15. 2 Cor. 4. 4. Ephes. 2. 2. 1 Cor. 12. 13. Luk. 4. 18. Col. 1. 12. 2 Cor. 3. 6 7. Gen. 3. 24. â— Cor. 15. Jer. 23. 5. Ioh. 8. 36. 1 Cor. 15. 56. 1 Ioh. 2. 20. c. Ier. 23. 5 6. Isaiah 60. 10 11 c. Col. 1. 27. Mat. 25. 35. 1 Ioh. 2. 27. Rom. 6. 16. Rev. 9. 4. Rev. 20. 15. 1 Pet. 2. 22 c. 1 Cor. 13. 7. Heb. 2. 14. Rev. 12. 10. 1 Ioh. 4. 2 3. Luke 11. 22. Gen. 3 15.
soul shall ever be learning what God is and shal be more more fed with this his teaching and as the divine beeing is infinite in all his attributes so the teachings of God in a soul shall be infinite withâ—ut end for God will still be leading the soul to know by experience the mysterie of God more and more this I say is GODS teaching And without Gods teachings in this kinde all the teachings of men will do no good for hence it is that there are so many Hypocrites amongst Professors they know much in the letter as men teaches them but they know nothing in spiritual power which is the way that God teaches And truly let me tell you if this power of God be wanting you will feel an inclinableness in you to give way to every evil action when a temptation thereunto is before you for though a man know from the letter that iniustice covetousness rash anger hardness of heart toward others and uncleanness of the flesh are evil and that the wrath of God will break forth upon such as commit such and such evils And though he know likewise from the letter that Justice Faith Meeknesse and tendernesse of spirit holinesse and chastitie are good yet this very man will be ready nay strongly drawn by the powers of his flesh to do the evill and refuse the good unlesse the powers of God be established in him and be his keeper As thus The power of justice delivering him from the power of injustice the power of a meek and patient spirit delivering him from the power of pettish frowardnesse the power of chastitie delivering him from the power of uncleannesse for this is the Anointing or that Son of God ruling a King of righteousnesse and peace within you that sets you free And truly when God is pleased to set you free from the Serpent and to let you see and feel his divine power thus ruling in you your heart and tongue cannot be silent but you will with life delight and power be chearfully returning praises to your heavenly Father that hath made your nature conformable to his son Jesus Christ Another thing let me tell you and truly it is to let you see what danger you are in if you only know the letter and want the power of God if you hear Paul speak that Believers are not under the Law of works but under the Law of love and if you hear the Saints of God speak out of experience that Christ hath set them free Now observe I say you that only hear the letter or outward report and do apprehend and can speak again what you hear you begin to think your selves some body I speak to you that think you are free and yet are not Here is a self conceit presently arises in you for knowledge in the letter only puffs up and this is one danger but this is not all For now this wise flesh will be yet presuming and will argue thus within thy heart God hath set us free from the Law of works we shall neither be condemned nor saved by that for we are under grace that is the the law of Christ and therefore saith the flesh thou mast take thy pleasure that which was sin formerly while thou wast under the law of works is now no sin while thou art under the law of love This is the temptation and now thou art upon tryall But if the Son set thee free he doth not only set thee free from the Law but from the Serpent too not only from Gods Law of Do this and live but from the Serpents law of works too for thy proud flesh would be reconciled to God by his workings but this is thy bondage and it shall not And if thy thoughts run that thou art freed from Gods condemning Law of works and yet findest no power of God within casting out the strong man truly for the present the father of lies the subtil flesh hath deceived thee This tickling delight of thy flesh is the same Serpent that tempted Adam if thou eat hereof that is if thou joyn hands and take delight according to the whisperings thereof as to be unjust secretly to seek revenge to be unclean or adulterous or the like thou wilt finde that this is the father of lies that promises much pleasure but cannot perform for it will throw thee into the fire that is under the lashes of Gods law which thou thought thou wast freed from But if thou have such whisperings and finde a strength to reject them thou wilt then see by experience that the strength of God is stronger then the flesh I believe the dear servants of God are much tempted for my own particular I can hardly hear a sin named but I have been tempted to it but I have found the teachings of God very usefull and the only power of the Father at such times hath kept me from wicked actions Well if thou finde that the power of God in thee which is sincerity and truth treds the aspiring of injustice in thee under foot and the power of God which is chastitie treds adulterous unclean enticements under foot and the power of God which is love treds envy and heart-burning grudge under foot and the like This is the wisdom and power of God even that Son of righteousnesse that sets you free for this is the powerfull oyle that was poured upon the Head Jesus Christ and runs down to the lowest member This power of God within thee answers the whisperings of that lyar the flesh within thee and tels thee it is true thou art not under the law of works to be condemned or saved by it but thou art under the law of love and holinesse The wisdom and power of God is thy keeper is God unrighteous is God froward is God envious is God unclean or doth he take delight in strange flesh or in any creature without himself or doth he not delight in himself in whom there is all glory Indeed friends minde what I tell you The flesh alwayes delights in its self and in the enjoyment of creatures but the power of God in thee alwayes glories and delights in God and findes rest in none but in God I speak this because I know that this is the most subtil most ensnaring and most dangerous temptation of the professing flesh of any I know And if God appear to be your strength at this time of trial you will then say feelingly and with a rejoycing thankfull heart O the mighty God indeed is my strength I had been unjust theevish envious proud given to all uncleannesse of the flesh but the power of Gods truth love humility and chastitie hath cast this strong man armed out and now I see what truth is what chastitie is what love to enemies is what sincerity is this is the power of God this is the anointing this is the King of righteousnesse that rules
of love truth and onenesse is near at hand and that England Scotland and Ireland so set at liberty from the bondage of the serpent within and the dispensation of wrath without shall be the tenth part of the City Babylon that shall fall off first and bow down at the feet of the Anoynting which is the wisdom and power of God that rules in flesh as Esay prophesied but whether God will manifest so great a work in this kingdome or no at this time his will be done but this I know much may be said of the workings of Gods power in this kinde in particular mens experience and as the father enlarges his hand this manifestation of his love will spread There is more hopes of a bitter storming spirit to be brought into God as this kingdome is generally full of then of a smooth close fawning hypocriticall self seeking fearefull spirit that playes of all sides for self-ends sake God received persecuting and bitter spirited Paul to mercy when as he let hypocriticall self-seeking Simon Magus go by as it were not counting him worth the minding All that I shall say is this you Saints of God that taste how sweet the love of the father is bear patiently with hot spirits God doth beare with them for he suffers more then you he is called the great long sufferer and when Gods love begins to shine forth upon them he can and it may be wil make some of them to out-strip you in experience of his love good will and power and so fill them abundantly with the spirit of joy But some do object against what I have spoken and say are not those Angels which fell devils distinct from God as man is distinct from God as Jude speaks And the Angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation he hath reserved in chaines of darkness unto the Judgement of the great day To answer this First I shall note that as heaven is set before us in a two-fold glory so are Angels As first every particular Saint is a true heaven or place of glory not only because the Father dwels in him but because he dwels in the Father likewise as thus the Father delights in him and manifests himselfe to this his son and his son by the clear sight and feeling of this manifestation is filled with joy and glory in his Father so that here is a mutuall fellowship of joy and oneness of love between them And this is Gods Kingdome even for flesh to be filled with Gods glory and indwelling presence in love and this is heaven in a lesser sence Secondly the whole City Sion is true heaven or a place of the fathers glory which is but the perfection of the former joy for as the father dwels and rules as a King of righteousnesse and love in one Saint so he dwells in all and all of them dwell in him as he enjoyes them for his delight so they enjoy him for their delight And as all and every one of them sees enjoyes and glories in the Father so they see enjoy and glory one in another every one knowing seeing and sweetly rejoycing in the unity and oneness of each others spirit it being the spirit of the father nay the father himself who is the spirit that fills all in all and knits them together into one body treading down all oppressing powers of the flesh for ever under their feet and this is heaven in the largest sence which every particular son and daughter of the father shall enjoy hereafter though they are now scattered abroad among the Sodomites of this unrighteous world that vexes their pretious soules from day to day And as heaven I say is set before us in this two-fold glory so the Angels are set before us in a two-fold glory likewise For first the particular sparks of glory or heavenly principles in man which the father hath set as lights to make known himselfe in his Saints as love humility sincerity content and rest in God and such like these are Angels and Angels of glory too because they are sparks of glory issued out of the father into earthen vessels and makes them to become the salt of the earth and light of the world Then secondly Men that are wholly taken up into God are called Angels such as have all their sences spiritually exercised in the father that can see hear taste smell and handle the excellent and glorious father and so Jesus Christ being a man so taken up into the father for he was a man fully anointed the God-head dwelt bodily in him he was called an Angel the Arch-Angell and Angel of his presence for he was the glorious sparke and light of the father And when men shall be and are so taken up into God they are called Angels and Angels of heaven too because the father dwels and glories in them and they live dwell and glory in the father and these are the Angels which the father sends to do his will As first the severall measures of his spirit are sparks of his glory as love joy humility sincerity and peace in God and such like these are particular Angels which the father sends down into humane flesh to keep it in all his wayes that it may not desperately blasphem God and so dash against the rock and such Angels as these every son and daughter of the father doth enjoy more or lesse and if it were not for these temptations would presently overcome them but these are spirituall powers from God that keep them upright in all their wayes and which makes them differ from the world And then for men that are wholly taken up into God as Moses and as Christ was they are ministers or Angels which the father sends forth to speake and do his will before and in the world therefore let the world in these dayes learne meeknesse and wisdome and lay aside their envy lest in the day of account they be found beating and killing such as the father sends in his name But now to answer to the objection We are to note that Angels in this latter sence which are men taken up into God and made perfect can never fall from God and so become Devils and enemies against God for this is the work of redemption which is unchangable and the father dwels and rules in them and hath bruised the serpents head in them never to revive again in them and they likewise live and dwell in God whose power treads all enemies under their feet And they have the sparks of glory or Angels of light within them which are the severall measures of the fathers spirit poured into them which remaines for ever and they themselves are Angels of light sent from the father to do his will here in this low condition of weak flesh But now Angels in the former sence which are divine sparks of glory planted in humane nature in its
the Serpent that held you under slavery all your life time Well as darkness hath overspread the Earth Mankinde so now is the time come that knowledge shall abound and cover the earth Mankinde light begins to arise the spirit begins to appear in flesh he spreads himself in his sons and daughters so that as the Sun shines from East to West so shall the appearing of this Son of righteousness he he comes not now in corners but openly the poor receive the Gospel which is this everlasting spirit wise men in the flesh are made fools fools are made wise scholars are declared to be ignorant the ignorant ones in mens learning become abundantly learned in the experimentall knowledge of Christ I do not write to teach I only declare what I know you may teach me for you have the fountain of life in you as well as I and therefore he is called the Lord because he rules not in one but in everyone through the globe and so we being many are knit together into one body are to be made all of one heart and one minde by that one spirit that enlightens every man I have yeelded to let these few experiences come abroad and partly unwilling because I see more clearly into these secrets then before I writ them which teaches me to rejoyce in silence to see the Father so abundantly at work and it shall cease speedily for men to stand up as they do to teach one another for every one shall be taught of him and I shall be as ready to hear as to speak and to give as to receive and every one delighting to do as they would be done unto This is the King of righteousness that shall raign in the earth this is the spirit that is now pouring out upon sons and daughters though it yet seem small it shall speedily increase and the Father will not despise that day of small things proud flesh shall die and raign King and governour in man no longer they that have understanding know what I say others may reproach and be offended but after they have been tryed in the fire which is the spirit they will acknowledge a truth herein and he made to speak as a friend to truth Your friend whose peace liberty and life lies in the spirit that governs within the Globe Jerrard Winstanley THE FATHERS TEACHING is the only satisfaction to WAITING SOVLS CHAP. I. THe teachings of men and the teachings of God are much different The former being but the light of the moon which shines not of it self but by the means and through the help of the sun The latter is the light of the sun that gives light to all not by means and helps from others but immediately from himself Mens teachings are two fold first when men speak to others what they have heard or read of the Scriptures or books of other mens writings and have seen nothing from God themselves And thus by natural industry study length of time in such an exercise or education from childehood many men Preach or teach others and think and so do others think of them that they are sent of God but Gods time is drawing neer that he will make it appear that these men do run before they be sent And that it is not the zeal of God which sets them to work but the desire and sweetness of a temporal living But this kinde of teaching and teachers must vanish And though God hath suffered them and yet awhile will suffer them for he sits upon the throne therefore let them alone and wait upon God Secondly Others speak from their own experience of what they have heard and seen from God and of what great things God hath done for their souls and this is from God And it is that ministry of the Gospel which God hath put into the hands of men whereby God doth mightily manifest himself and if any man take up this trade of teaching to get a living by for preaching is now adayes become a trade and speaks not from God by experience what they speak they are clouds without rain and such as meddle with holy things that as yet they have nothing to do withal But this teaching in Gods time must vanish too for this moon-light that is conveying knowledge to others by helps and means is to be swallowed up into the light of the sun and God shall become all in all as it is said ye shall be all taught of God and you need not that any man teach you for the anointing which the Saints receive from the Father doth teach them all things And that prophesie of Ieremiah must be fulfilled That the time shall come that men shall not teach one another saying Know the Lord for all shall know him by Gods own teaching from the least of them to the greatest And when God and the Lamb are the light of the City there shall be no more need of the light of the sun nor of the moon By the mentioning of sun and moon in this place God speaks to the capacity of men and points out the whole creation of night and day and that all creature-helps and means should fail though they were or are as glorious helps as the created sun that gives light to the day or as the created moon that gives light to the night And that the time shall come nay it is begun that God himself will be the light of men without creature-helps or means And so Paul seeing that the indwelling of God in man is and would be a glorious sun shine light said That knowledge or rather this way of conveying verbal knowledge one to another shall cease but love which is God endures for ever But thirdly The teachings of God shall never cease Gods teaching differs from men very much for men speak words to the ear but God works out the serpent and works himself into a man and so gives words of a feeling experience to the heart and causes the man to see light in Gods light as thus I have been proud envious and discontent and I have heard words from men against these yet in those dayes I thought I was good and I knew not those evils but when God came and wrought humility love and contentedness in me he then taught me to see and know by experience what the strength of God in me is which is humility love and patience which hath thrown down the strength of the serpent which was pride envy and discontent And this teaching of God I cannot forget it sticks lively in me though the â—…ords of men are forgotten by me and thus God takes up the soul more and more into himself and the soul findes much sweetness in feeling seeing and sensibly understanding the nature of God working dwelling and ruling in him this is Gods teaching in making men to know and to enjoy God this shall continue for the
underhand working endeavour to vent their malice upon the kingdomes friends even the Saints And alas poor blinde creature you work your own ruine take Lot out of Sodome and the vengeance of Gods Law fals immediatly therefore you weak ones that are troubled take notice That God is most persecuted hated and fought against in these dayes for the plaine truth is the mysterie of iniquity would not have the God of love to have any appearance in earth So that God is the greatest sufferer And therefore that truth which my soul most drives at is this which follows that though God suffer most yet it is not against his will but with his will And that this spirit of darknesse or mysterie of iniquity that fights against God hath no power to act like it self till God limit him that power and limit him a time to act that power in And here I shall shew in my experience what I see and know the Devill is And what the power of the Devill is and by what power he workes The Devill or father of lies in the full body of him is unrighteous flesh and the imaginations thereof He is that Belzebub that sat among the sonnes of God that is among the five sences or spirituall lights which God hath set in the soul for the imagination of flesh will not submit it self to God but is found a chiefe enemy against him And the pride of the flesh envy slavish feare distrust hypocrisie carnall thoughts selfe love and the like are particular Devils that first intices the soule and afterwards brings him to trouble and every one of those have particular degrees like legions of Devils which holds the creature man in bondage While a man enjoyes his lusts he hath a seeming peace within himself But when the holy law appears to discover those lurking Devils then begins the creatures torment and slaverie And this lets me see what the enmity of nature is between God and me The enmity in flesh it is the spirit of envy and darknesse which is Gods opposite as darknesse is opposite to light and heat opposite to cold And this workes in the creature man to maintaine its unclean beeing in opposition to the beeing of God And while it hath its liberty sinfull man is in peace But when God pleases that the declaration of righteousnesse shall take hold upon that enmity it throws the sinner presently under sorrowes and breakes his peace to pieces And this is that which the scriptures in my experience calls the Devil or murtherer Even the enmity that is in my nature against God which threw me under the flashings of Gods righteous law which was enmity against me and this I shall endeavour to clear CHAP. III. BUt first of all what is the righteous Law here to be understood I Answer It is not the words of the letter called the ten Commandements and therein only bound up But it is the manifestations of God in all or any one of his Attributes shining forth upon and in his creature endeavouring by his spirituall power to swallow up all the motions and imaginations of the flesh into God And so burning up by the spirit of burning all the dross of the flesh that the creature may appeare pure gold As thus the manifestation of Gods wisdom to the heart is directly opposite to the wisdome of the flesh and declares it to be folly which inward discoverie troubles and shames the man though none see and know it but himselfe The manifestations of Gods love humilitie truth is directly opposite to the carnal love carnal humilitie unrighteousness of the flesh The chastitie and holinesse of God lets a man see his uncleannesse and filthy lust The sincerity of God shining forth upon the heart discovers its hypocrisie and so of all other manifestations of God being darted into the heart by the father He declares the creature his weaknesse and that every way he comes short of the glory of God by reason whereof the creature is filled with horror and torment which the eye of other men sees not but stands and admires So then here lies the mysterie though to me it is an unfolded truth for I speak what I know The Serpent or proud flesh in all the imaginations of it endeavours to maintain its corrupt self and to swallow up the Law of God which is the pure spirit But the Law of God which is the wisdome and power of God manifested in all the branches of it to and in the heart doth swallow up the other into himself and destroys and consumes all the powers of the flesh and becomes the King of righteousness ruling and dwelling in flesh Secondly what is the power of the Devill and by what power doth he work I answer This is not a power distinct from God as I have thought that the Devill is a middle power between God and me but it is the power of my proud flesh and the power of Gods holy Law closing together the one fighting against the other and so slew me and held me under bondage as thus God bids the heart trust in him by inward whisperings the heart not knowing God looks after the creature and thinks it cannot live without money lands help of men and creatures This is the Devill that tempts Well the pure spirit or holy law within tels the heart he must be stript of all these and trust providence for subsistence the heart while it hath use and plenty of all these saith yes I will trust God for every thing Yea but when riches fayle friends frowne men withdraw help and begin to speak evil and to hate and the heart sees it must trust in God or starve and yet it cannot he hath no power slavish feare and unbeliefe is so storng in him then it begins to sinck And it reasons thus I have no riches no certain dwelling place no way to get a subsistence I am crossed in all I have no cordiall friend no succour from men if any seem to succour me it is for their owne ends and when they have got what they can from me they leave me and turne enemies so that the heart sees he is left alone and in this low estate feare distrust two strong divels buffets the poor creature and squizes his spirit flat for he sees nothing fulfilled to him he feeles no power from God and his spirit droops So that here is depth of misery in the hearts apprehension it is hedged in with sorrows on every side Let him look to men and creatures and there is no help all hath forsaken him and stands aloofe off let him look within himselfe and he sees nothing but slavish feare and unbelief questioning the truth and power of God how can such things be and so beating him off from quiet closing with God but labouring to make a breach between God and himselfe Well thy spirit
stand without the spirit till God pull them into himself in his own time and season But that creature that is beginning to look in by desires and inquirings and precious delight towards God is in the way of entrance and when the spirit of burning is made manifest he shall then enter in and finde rest Well Adam is gone out of God and this flaming sword is set against him that he shall not enter in again but Adam sees not this mysterie because the love of self had blinded his eyes And Adam is hid from God among the trees and leaves of self-aspiring principles that rise up in him to which he gave consent to be a more knowing man then God had made him and he could not see God through these the love of selfe was so thick This teaches every one to waite upon the Father for pure teaching and to covet after no more knowledge then what is freely given them Now the Father is beginning to work a great mysterie and that is to pull Adam out of selfish flesh again and to plant him into the pure spirit and so to bring him into the most fruitfull garden of Eden But this God would not do presently but in length of time and Adam neither could nor should come back again to deny self and flesh and to acknowledge the Father his all in all till the Father was pleased to appoint a time when he would manifest himselfe in Adam And therefore for the present God hath set this flaming sword which turns every way to keep the way of the tree of life Adam must not come in to live in the pure spirit again till he be changed and his filthy garments taken from him by the fathers own hand and in the fathers own time Now I conceive and truly I finde in my own experience that this flaming sword is the enmity of natures spoken of wch is set in our hearts since the fall being a mixture of opposite natures so a frighting and killing the creature with terror So that let me go or come think or do or turne any way this enmity hath met with me terrifing and troubling of me for I could apprehend nothing from God but anger And so long as I looked upon God as an angry God I could not look upon him and live but was as a stranger to the peace and rest of God and I lay under bondage Now all afflictions crosses troubles straits that I met withall the of death or feare of dangers or feares that some Devill or spirit would take hold upon me if I were alone in any dark room or in the night I thought it was the Devill some third power between God and me that affrighted me But alas now I see it was but the dispensation of Gods wrath the shinings forth of the righteous law upon me which as fire scorched burned the enmity of my nature so became a torment to me though I saw it not and that flamed and flashed against me which way so ever I went So that this adverse power that troubles the creature is not a Devill distinct from God but it is the very power of Gods righteous law or dispensation of his wrath yea the spirit of burning which appeares very terrible by reason of the enmity of nature that is between God and the sinner for there is no agreement between God and the sinner for sinners are at a distance from God in place and comfort till there be a oneness wrought between God and them by the power of the anointing Christ And then this Devill vanishes the enmity dies the flaming sword is taken away and then the Father appeares in manifestations of love peace and oneness to the joy life liberty and peace of the creature which way soever he goes Then the creature looks not upon God as an angrie God but a God of love to him whatsoever befalls him Let him meet with afflictions crosses prison frownes of friends sickness death any thing still the poor redeemed soul can say this is the good will of my loving Father his will be done Now the bondage the enmity the flaming sword and Divell is taken away and the creatures taste and eat daily of the tree of life even live in God and God in them and here is liberty Now Adam is come into the garden again and finds rest in God and there is none to keep him out of this enioyment any longer The Apostle Paul cleares this when he speaks what Jesus Christ the Anoynting does for sinners saith he hath abolished in his flesh the enmity even the law of Commandments and so making peace and that he might reconcile both Jews and Gentiles to God in one body by the cross having slaine the enmity thereby So that now you see for what reason God set the flaming sword in Adam the living garden that this Enmity might appeare and work till the time and season of the Father came That the Anoynting Christ who is the wisdome and power of the Father did come and take it away and reconcile him and his offending creature so making peace by uniting them into one spirit of love throwing down all partition walls taking away the dispensation of wrath or Divell and murtherer and now shines in the bright beames of love in the soule Let God and man be made friends and you never here of a Divell to trouble or affright or kill any more therefore this Divell or adverse power is no other but the dispensation of wrath through the strictness of a righteous Law which the creature lies under by reason of disobedience and when the Anoynting hath made God and the creature meet in love each to other the enmity dies and the murthering Divell vanishes away and is cast into the lake of fire and so consumed and shall never affright or terrifie the creature any more Indeed while these enmities are in force there is great flashings one against the other and sometimes there is troubles within a man horror and trembling and secret burning and sometimes frightings and apparisions of wrath without a man but all these are but the effects of a righteous law occasioned through enmity of natures but I say when the Anoynting hath made a oneness so that God dwels and rules in man and man lives in God then all those frightings are taken away But is there no divel that tempted Christ or that opposes God yes it is the power of darkness or spirit of enmity that was the first fruit that sprang up from mankinde after he was made and which does yet dwel and rule in disobedient flesh untill Christ the power of God who is stronger come and cast him out For as those whisperings of flesh that rise up in Adam wich was the serpent that inticed him to disobey did move Adam with a tickling desire to be more wise and honourable then God at present had set him in to which Adam
gave consent and so eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evill even his own selfe and imagination The same whisperings of flesh appeared in the humane nature Jesus Christ for he was thereby inticed to dislike that condion his father had put him in for first he was moved to murmur against the father as though his father were carelesse of his son in letting him fast forty dayes and forty nights and so the flesh would have had Christ to have waited no longer on his father but to Command those stones to become bread But Christ rejected that inticement Then the flesh begins to move him to presume upon his fathers protection that is to cast himselfe down from the pinacle of the Temple upon this conceit that he was the son of God this is an unreasonable attempt even mere confusion as all the wisdome of the flesh is But Christ rejects this likewise Then the flesh intices him to Convetousness and vaine glory after the things of the world and told him that if he would cease waiting upon the fathers providence and follow the imaginations of the flesh all the glory of the world should be his for the imagination of the flesh thinks it can compasse any thing by its own wit and policy But Christ rejects this likewise and because he was the son he delighted to obey and to wait upon his father and was content with his condition his father had put him in so that here was whisperings of unbelief whisperings of pride and whisperings of covetousness and vaine glory all which are the fruits of the flesh But Jesus Christ gave no consent thereunto as Adam the first man did but stil kept close to his father sinned not so that here was the divell the motions and imaginations of the flesh the father of lies that tempted Adam and slew him And here was the same divell that tempted Christ for he did partake of flesh and was tempted in all things like unto us But Christ slew him and cast him out of heaven humane flesh and therefore this Anoynting is said to be the earnest of our Inheritance that as this power of God did dwell in Jesus and trod the divell the father of lies the fleshy imagination under his feet so that he killed him that killed Adam and us in him even so the same power in the fathers times and seasons will bruise the same Serpents head in every son and daughter of Adam and tread them under his feet in them But till such time as Christ hath finished this great mysterie there is will be troublers in this flesh our bodies for the risings up of a mans own concupiscence will trouble him and the flaming sword the dispensations of the righteous law laying hold thereupon will affright and terrifie the enslaved creature and raise mountains of miserie against him and so from hence comes all those horrors within a man and all those alterations and hurly burlies in the world upon mens estates families and persons as we see befell Iob which losses and miseries to Iob were the breakings forth of a righteous law upon Iob tempered by the wisdome of God not for Iobs hurt or the Devills good but for Iobs liberty and peace with God and for the devils utter shame and distruction Well in all your troubles I could wish you could look upon the hand of God that smites and not upon the Devill at a distance from God as I have done and I know you do for when God is pleased to open your eyes as to see that it is he that smites affrights torments shakes kingdoms families estates persons through the power of his righteous law which all flesh have gone astray from and which the power of darkness even the imagination of your proud flesh stil flashes against I say if the father please to let you see this then that which you call devill will appeare to be in you his power wil appear to your sight you will see that by the power of the Anointing the law of love and by no other power you will must be set free from the devil in short time For first the Father doth quicken and awake you and then he takes away the flaming sword causes the creature that was lost to come into him and to taste and eat of him who is the tree of life and so to wait upon him and live for ever The Apostle Paul saith it is the letter that kils but the Spirit gives life that is the strictnesse of a righteous Law being broken by the creature it kils the creature for this is the flaming sword that turns every way upon the thoughts words and actions of the sinner presenting nothing but wrath misery and death in the inward sight of the minde But now the Spirit the Law of love this quickens and unites the Father and his creature again and makes them one This Spirit doth burn up and cast away the flesh and that enmity and it casts the dispensation of wrath out of Gods hand and so removes that enmity likewise And now God appears not in anger as an enemy and his Declarations are not in terms of killing and bruising and making the creature grone under misery affrightings and death But he appears in manifestations of love peace and fatherly oneness Now all the clouds and storms are blown over and the love of the father shines bright and hot upon the soul making it fruitfull in love joy and peace in humility obedience and delight in God now the troubler or devill is cast out and goes and there is a onenesse of life peace liberty and joy between God and his creature Wel this may be a burthen to some to heare me thus speak but to you that the son hath given liberty to I am confident it will drop a pretious favour into your spirit CHAP. IV. A poor soule that lies under bondage before the father sets him free is troubled in a two-fold sence both which are the fruits or effects of the righteous law which hath first slaine the creature by taking advantage of disobedience and then holds him under the bondage of that death till the law of love swallow up the murtherer and set the creature free First the poor enslaved creature is tossed with many troubles within his own spirit which no man sees but himselfe such as these sometimes he cannot pray then he is troubled when he doth pray he either misplaces his words or he hath been too long or too short or some self-praysing thoughts arise and then he is troubled he cannot understand nor speak what is in his heart and when he findes himself able to speake then memory fayles him and then he is troubled when people do not regard him for his preaching and praying then he is troubled when others tell him that he must cease praying and preaching and self-acting and wait upon the Father for his pure teaching
actings breathings of your soules is within the center of the same spirit in which the man Jesus Christ lived acted and breathed If you live in the flesh that is if you be subject to the powers of the flesh within you then you believe in the flesh and bring forth the fruit of the flesh which is self-conceit covetousness envy pride hypocrisie and the like But if you live in Christ that is in that mighty and spirituall man of truth then you believe in him and bring forth the fruit of the spirit which is love joy peace humilitie obedience sincerity and the like If Jesus Christ that mighty King rule in you he will check and condemne every unrighteous thought as well as extravagant words and loose actions though no other man see and know your secret wickednesse but your selves and he will speake peace and Justifie you within when your flesh in any things is subject to him though you are hated slandered and mightily oppressed by the injustice of others But if King-flesh rule then you go on in secret and open wayes of unrighteousnesse with greediness and delight and have no checks within at all Now the strong man of sin keeps the house your bodies and every thing enjoyes a seeming peace within you But this is not the peace nor the liberty but a fore runner of great torment in the day of Judgment that is when the Judge the King of righteousness shall appeare to sit upon the throne within you judging and condemning this serpent or man of sin within you and so bruising his head that you who have been and are pisoners thereunto may live in the light peace of the father so set at liberty from bondage assure your selves you that glory in flesh you shall not go scot-free you shall be cast into the everlasting burnings as well as others and tryed in that fire as gold in the furnace And this fire is the father himself into whom when any creature fals he burns up the drosse in the creature which is the curse that came in through unrighteousnesse which is all the imaginary glory of the flesh and so makes man to appeare and stand bright before him you cannot burne away the drosse but the gold must suffer the heat of the fire the father cannot consume the serpent the man of sin out of my body but I that have been incorporated into that nature of the serpent must needs suffer paine this drosse and gold in man is so mixed together that nothing can separate them but the fiery orb which is the father himselfe that tries all things And here likewise lies a great delusion within mankinde you call the father your God and the word God is much in your mouths but here you deceive your selves for you know not the father to be your God nor Lord neither can you call him your God till you see and feele by experience that he rules and governs in you and that your proud and coveteous flesh stoopes and is made subject to him When the spirit within you doth command your flesh in rightousnesse and will not suffer frowardness covetousness pride hypocrisie and the like to arise and act but presently checks and condemns and shames you you can then speake in experience that the father who is the mighty governour is your God and your Lord for the powers of your poysoned flesh are made suctject to him But so long as King-flesh raignes doth act pride envy covetousness hypocrisie unrighteousnesse within you then he that you call God is the devill that cursed serpent or poysoned flesh even the power of darkness is your God and you cannot say the father is your God for if you do you deceive your self you are subject to the devill you are not subject to the father He that looks for a God without himself and worships God at a distance he worships he knows not what but is led away and deceived by the imaginations of his own heart which is Belzebub the great Devill but he that looks for a God within himself and submits himselfe to the spirit of righteousnesse that shines within this man knows whom he worships for he is made subject to and hath communitie with that spirit that made all flesh that dwells in all flesh and in every creature within the globe And this is the law and the testimony even the law of the spirit of righteousnesse within and testimony of the spirit within a man when a man can say I see feel and know that my flesh is in part subject and is daily subjecting to the great power that dwels in the whole creation what I heare another man speak or write it is nothing to me till I finde the same experience within my self this is the law and testimony of Jesus and if any man speak not according to this rule it is because there is no knowledge in him not in the booke of scriptures which is another mans testimony and the testimony of others is known to be a truth by the testimony of the same spirit within your self and no other way whatsoever There is one scripture hath been often laid before me by others and I knew not the meaning of it if I went about to studie or imagine the meaning I was lost presently and trouble took hold upon me Well after I found the spirit of contentednesse to come with power and made me quiet within so that I said within my self let my father give me the knowledge of this or any other truth or deny me the knowledge of it his will be done I can know nothing till he teach me therefore I will lie down before him and wait with a quiet spirit upon him I say I was no sooner brought into this waiting frame of spirit not only this but divers other truths was and I can almost say daily is given into me from the father to the abundant satisfaction of my soul The scripture is this Mat. 8. 28. where the two men that were possessed with devills cryed out to Jesus Art thou come to destroy us before the time I deny not the history but that there were two men really filled and tormented with devils or distempers which is the curse in mankinde and that at the Command of Christ those troublers in them went into the heard of swine and the swine ran into the sea and perished there But now the matter in this history settles peace within my spirit as it is shewed unto me and that is this By the two possessed is pointed out to me First the earth mankinde by reason of his unrighteousnesse is filled with thornes and bryers that is with troublesome distempers of all sorts which are called devills or serpent or the curse of the earth or the wicked man that sowes tares in Gods vineyard mankinde so that here is mankinde or flesh full of troublers or devills distempering the creation for do but crosse