Reason in the Letter beget and bring Men into a Sect and into an Opinion so strong that he may come to die for it as we see in the Quakers and Papists c. yet for the sake of Christ and his Leadings will not forsake their Lusts nor their own Self-Wills This is as Dr. Taylor saith false Martyrdom Also I know you Three are all One in many other Opinions You agree with Calvin viz. That the Scriptures are the Word of God and a sufficient Rule of Life to measure and try Doctrines and Spirits by under the Gospel and the only Judg of Controversies And as is printed before the Bible with Marginal Notes Here is the Spring where Waters flow to quench the heat of Sin c. Here is the Bread that feeds the Life that Death cannot assail c. The Fortress of our Faith is here and Shield of our Defence c. Whereas in truth the Scriptures without the Spirit are but a dead Letter put in the place of Christ who is the only true Bread and Water of Life But instead of Christ in us the New Creature the Word in the Heart and only Rule of Life that ends all Controversies and leads into Love and Union even all that walk therein you place the Dead Letter which increaseth but never endeth Strife and Controversies amongst Christians And indeed how can it be that the Scriptures should ever end Controversies seeing there are so many false Copies and every one differing from each other that no Man knows the True nor do I think there is any without Error nor any so false but that there is much Truth in it St. Hierom saith That the Hebrew and Greek Copies were much perverted by Jews and Hereticks so that he rather chose the Vulgar Latin though many Faults were committed by Writers in that also which having amended he laid aside all other Latin Versions which he saith in his Time were almost innumerable So that I see in those Primitive Times there were no True Copies to be found and that if you make the Written Scriptures your full Rule it will be but a crooked one such as every Man by his private Interpretation makes as a Nose of Wax to turn every way and putting that Authority upon the Scriptures by making them the Rule of Christian Life and End of Controversies is so far from working this End that it hath broched more Heresies and false Opinions than ever were known in the World before these last and perilous Times And there can be no recovery out of this Gulph of Misery but as Men come to forsake this great Idol the Letter and putting no more stress and confidence in it than in a Declaration of Truth when first written and uncorrupted and that Men return to the Word of God the Volumn of God's Book the Word in the Heart which never can be corrupted nor changed the sure Word of Prophecy which if a Man obey will surely lead into Life Eternal Allelujah And this setting up the Letter above the Spirit and Man by Carnal Force making himself Judg thereof hath bin the cause of all the Innocent Blood shed upon the account of Religion from Abel to this day Dr. Gell a pious Man and well read in the Oriental Tongues hath writ a Book in Folio printed Anno 1659 entituled An Essay towards an amendment of the last English Translation of the Bible wherein many Faults are found and amended by him And the Makers of the last Translation say in their Preface They had amended many thousand Words that were amiss in the former Translation Wherefore my Advice is That all accounted Christians do avoid vain Jangling and Disputing about Religion and the Letter which eats as a Canker and is as a Pest in the Church and destroys all true Religion which consists in brotherly Love and Kindness which Love edifies and is the Sum and Substance both of Law and Gospel Rather learn to judg and condemn your selves than your Brethren this is the way to have Peace with God and Unity and Amity one with another though of different Opinions and Perswasions Allelujah Likewise with Calvin ye agree That Predestination to Life and Death depends not on Man's Obedience or Disobedience but on God's Choice and that God from all Eternity elected a certain number to Salvation and reprobated the residue to Eternal Damnation Which Opinion I take to be greatly inconsistent with the Nature of God and most unprofitable to maintain as Doctrinal amongst Men for God would have all Men saved by coming to the Knowledg of the Truth and by obeying the same To which end our most gracious Lord God hath so loved the World as to send his only begotten Son into the World the Word in the Heart that was in the beginning with God and is God his Covenant of Light to the World and his Salvation to the ends of the Earth to enlighten every one that cometh into the World that all Men of all Opinions and Religions might believe in him that was before Abraham was and by following and obeying him who is the Truth in every one all might come to see their Souls redeemed out of Death and so come to enjoy Life Eternal which Life is in his Son Immanuel Allelujah Ye also believe with Calvin That by Christ's outward Life and Sufferings in his fleshly Testimony God's Justice was satisfied for Sins and Justification compleatly wrought for the Elect not only by forgiving sins past but reputing really just whilst actually sinful I apprehend them more sound in the Faith who believe that Christ cannot so properly be said to be the Cause as the Effect of the Father's Love for God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son c. And although such are forgiven who truly repent and that Remission is sealed by Christ's Blood the Sacrifice and Blood of Sprinkling on our Consciences yet Men are not made Righteous within by any Imputation from another's Righteousness without whilst they are really unrighteous within themselves Ye also deny the Light the Word in the Heart to be Christ that shines in his Spiritual Appearance in his People which is certainly a great Error and contrary to Scripture and the Saints Experience read John 1.4 9. 12.46 2 Cor. 4.4 6. Isa 42.6 49.6 51.4 John 3.19 Ye also deny that Christ's Light can lead Men that obey it unto Salvation which also is contrary to Scripture and the Saints Experience read Job 29.3 Psal 36.9 43.3 119.105 Joh. 8.12 12.36 Rev. 21.23 Ye also deny the Spirit to be poured out in these Days as in former Ages or that Men ought to wait for the Motions of it to Preach Pray or praise God which is also contrary to the Scriptures and the Saints Experience read Joel 2.28 29. Isa 25.9 30.18 40.31 Acts 1.4 Luke 2.25 2 Thess 3.5 Thus far all Three agree in one as concerning the main Points of your Faith
Spirit of Grace they in him and he in them made perfect in one to them Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Allelujah In the Year 1656 feeling the Birth of God in me by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost wherein I was made a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven Which Spirit of Light begot Christ Jesus the New Man in me by whom I obtained Reconciliation and Peace with God and good will towards all his Creation Which Spirit of Love moved in me in the Year 1666 to send Thirty pounds to be distributed amongst the Poor of the Episcopal Protestant Church as a sign of my dear love and good will to them Not as Judas that betrayed his Master into the hands of Sinners for thirty pieces of Silver but as from one that witnessed the Resurrection of Christ who had bin dead in Trespasses and Sins whose Soul was raised out of the Grave of Sin and Death wherein it had long lain Thus by the Incarnation or Indwelling of the Life of Christ Jesus in my mortal Flesh I came to inherit Life Eternal by and through him that is the Regeneration the Resurrection and the Life Allelujah By which Spirit of Grace I came to see what St. Peter saw that of all Religions Those that feared God and acted Righteously towards Man are accepted with him as it is written Acts 10.34 35. Mat. 16.17 Through which Grace I came to understand the great Love of God to the World that in all Ages and Times he hath given and sent his only begotten Son his Spirit of Light and Grace into the World his Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life wherewith he doth enlighten every one Jew and Gentile that comes into the World that so all Men might be saved by believing in him and by following of him that is the Way the Truth and the Life of God who is God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth as you may read Isa 42.6 49.6 Deut. 38.11 to 15. Jer. 31.31 to 35. with Rom. 10.6 7 8 9. Heb. 8.8 c. 2 Cor. 4.4 6. By which Spirit of Light Life and Truth in the Inward Parts the Word in the Heart moving on the face of my Deep and shining on my Tabernacle which God pitched in me I say I in the same Light found freedom to look into all manner of Opinions and Religions even in that Light which shewed me Good from Evil Right from Wrong and Truth from Error In which Spirit of Light I read many Books writ by Episcopal Protestants viz. something of Bishop Andrews Bishop Hall but most of Dr. Jeremy Taylors Dr. Hammonds Dr. Stillingfleets Dr. Tillotsons with divers others of like kind Which Books I read with delight having unity with them feeling the Spirit of Love to Truth and Righteousness to be their Dictator which Spirit of Grace taught them to deny Ungodliness and worldly Lusts to live Soberly Righteously and Godly in this present World which made them honourable in this World and glorious in the World to come Allelujah In reading of which Books I took notice of many worthy and true Sayings viz. Dr. Jeremy Taylor in his Great Exampler saith That Christ Jesus is our Example in his Birth Life and Death Also what I have read in Ancient Fathers that Disputes amongst Christians is the scab of the Church and destroys Charity which only edifies That God's Will and Commandments are made known in all Mens Spirits that they may do them The Word Incarnate is God's Preacher to all the World That Christian Religion is nothing else but a Restorer of the perfect Law of Nature for God gave Man at first a reasonable intelligible Nature both to love and serve him That Man 's Original Sin was to leave God the Good and go to the Creature the Evil. Man may keep or break the Law of Nature so sin against God his Neighbour and Himself Well-being is when right Reason and the Law of Nature is satisfied and evil Doing is to transgress the Law of Nature or right Reason this brings guilt of Conscience and torments And in this Obedience to the Law of Nature consists Heaven and in Disobedience Hell Christian Religion is to worship God in Spirit and in Truth and so to serve our Neighbour Revelation is both Natural and Reasonable so is Self-denial Death and Martyrdom to those that have an Ear to hear the Spirit 's Reason Self-denial is but confining the Appetite within the Limits of Nature The Philosophers were commended of old for preserving Reason and Religion in Practice before the School-men that fight about Opions Jesus his Life was sweet and affable and for our Example to Life Eternal Christ who dwells within the limits of Love gives us boldness with God and not fear In Christ are two Natures the Body but the upper Garment of the Soul his Soul was of the same Nature and Substance with ours in this inferior to the Angels One Grace succeeds another well prest and sometimes running over till we come to the fulness and stature of Christ Jesus even filled with the Spirit which hath no measure but is Infinite and Eternal God crowns and accepts his Grace in all Sects even the most Heathenish and accepts that when in Conscience they worship Idols Original Sin or one Sin committed makes us more apt for another so we have no cause to charge Adam but our selves only every one of us is the Adam the Man of Sin Obedience unites to God and conforms to his Will the which sanctifies Isaac offered is our Heart and Will offered up to God which he accepts Nothing so able to do Miracles as Love nor so certainly acceptable All exteriour Acts of Religion to be guided by our Superior that is by God only for no Man in Religion is Superior No act of Corporal Austerity or External Religion acceptable to God unless commanded by him The first Baptism Appearance or Resurrection of Christ is to kill Sin or to put off Sin The second Resurrection is to put on Christ the New Man and to walk in him God requires no more of Man than to receive and entertain his Grace that appears to every Man Though the Son of Man hath no where to hide his Head yet many Houses to convey his Grace Grace works Miracles in Saints as in Christ When Faith and Charity meet then Christians indeed and in Truth all else false and Antichristians God's House is the sanctified Heart where he dwells and is a House of Prayer for all Nations Every graceless wicked Man is a Devil No Sin hath Guilt but when a Man hath Understanding and Abilities to do better By the help of the Spirit it is possible to please God in all things One may die for Christ's Name that will not love his Nature nor quit one evil Lust for him this is false Martyrdom The law of Love in our Spirits
THE EPISTLES OF Mr. ROBERT RICH TO THE Seven Churches so called by Him Viz. 1. To the Roman Catholick 2. The Episcopal-Protestant 3. The Presbyterian in one Ternary 4. The Independent in one Ternary 5. The Anabaptist in one Ternary 6. The Quaker 7. The Church of the First-Born Containing his Testimony to God's Approbation of the Good and Aversation to the Evil in all Persuasions Published by particular direction given by the Author in his life-time Together with an Abstract of a Letter of the Authors declaring his Gift or Benevolence sent to each of the said Churches London Printed And are to be sold by Francis Smith at the Elephant and Castle in Cornhil below the Royal Exchange 1680. THE PREFACE TO THE READER THe Author of these ensuing Epistles after he arrived at a true understanding of Things did not value himself upon the account of that splendor and magnificence wherein he formerly appeared upon the Stage of this World For though he were born of a worthy Family had many great and noble Relations enjoyed the accession of a comely Personage and Presence lived in high Estimation Opulency and Credit in the state and condition of a Merchant in the City of London for many Years yet all these things he passeth by in the Character which he hereafter gives of himself For after he was once truly enlightned none of them did elate or lift up his Mind nay he was willing to sacrifice them all to a better prospect even a Pisgah-view of the Heavenly Canaan Hence it was that he chose rather to suffer Affliction with a despised People than to enjoy the Pleasures of Sin for a season Hence also it came to pass that as the Work of Conversion is called a New Birth as if the true Date of our Lives did Commence therefrom so our Author over-looked the former part of his Life as I hinted but now in the account he gives of himself neither did it any otherwise affect him than with regret and sorrow for having lived so unfruitfully so long a time To eat drink and be cloathed and so to walk up and down on the face of the Earth as the manner of most Men is is but a low mean and unprofitable Life For then we begin to live profitably when we come to understand the use of Life and when we devote it to the prosecution of those ends for which it was given us which are The Glory of God the Good of our Neighbour and the Salvation of our own and others Souls It pleased God to carry the Author above the Temptations of this World by breaking in upon his Soul in a Divine and Heavenly Work wherewith he was exercised for some Years Having thus changed his Station and given up his Name to Christ he was first engaged in a particular FOrm amongst the People called Quakers The manner how he came to be engaged in that Administration his carriage therein and recession therefrom cannot be better expressed than in his own words in a Letter of his sent from Barbadoes where he for above twenty Years resided dated Novemb. 30. 1678. In the Year 1654 says he I became a Quaker in which Dispensation of John I was truly baptized into Repentance and amendment of Life which blotted out all my former Sins and for two Years time was in the strength of this Baptism carried with delight both to do and to suffer even above and beyond my Equals All which time I lived after the Mode of that Sect a severe strict Life a Pharisee of Pharisees till in the Year 1656 when my dear Brother J. N. suffered for confessing to Christ in the Saints my love to that Testimony made me willing to stand by him in his Sufferings and to bear his Cross for which Testimony the World the Powers of Darkness then ruling my Kindred and my Brethren the Quakers hated me and sold me into Egypt by their many false Reports Yet there the Lord my God appeared to me and finding me in my Innocency wherewith he had cloathed me hath ever since become my exceeding great Reward He being thus in great part disingaged from that particular Form of Profession having a deep insight into things and judging that the whole Body of Truth was not circumscribed within the Bounds of one particular Persuasion but lay scattered and dispersed amongst the Outcasts of Israel i.e. The several Parties and Opinions which did all though some more mistakingly and with less refinedness than others lay claim to Religion and to hopes of Eternal Happiness therein and hereby attaining a more universal Spirit he found freedom in his mind to dive into the several Forms of Professors now appearing in this or other Lands with a design to cull out the Gold i.e. that which was good in all and to reject the Dross A Work as requiring a discerning Judgment into things that differ so apt to expose the Undertaker to the dislike of most Parties few especially in things of the Mind being willing to have Errors Misapprehensions or Mistakes imputed to them He that endeavours to interpose himself an Arbiter or Reconciler between Disagreeing Parties especially in the heat of their Contentions may receive blows from both but thanks from neither at least till the Fit be over and the Mind retiring to a sedate Recollection becomes more sensible of and thankful for such friendly Interposures Our Friend then being engaged in His Thoughts in this Work and knowing it to be a Character of pure and undefiled Religion to visit the Fatherless and Willows in their distress finding also that a particular Spirit was very predominant among Professors the Apostle complaining of it in his time That all sought their own and that few did naturally care for the Estate one of another insomuch that James makes Beneficence and doing good to others the Symptom of True Faith Hence it was that in his first Address he was willing to visit the Poor of every Congregation rather than the Rich and That he did by his early Liberality transmitting Thirty pounds apiece to the Necessitous and Indigent of every Party which it seems was received by them all as a Testimony of his general Love as by their Acquittances hereafter mentioned may appear The manner of transmitting the said Sums and the distributing of them as aforesaid hath bin formerly published in print in a Letter of R. R. to J. R. his Friend an Abstract whereof is here also presented and in each of the subsequent Epistles it is also further hinted therefore I need say no more of it in this place Having made that fair Introduction his next Work was according to his Promise to give each Party his words of Advice and Counsel which are contained in the ensuing Epistles The Differences between each Party are described in the Epistles themselves and therefore my labour here in endeavouring to make out their disagreement may be superseded One thing more the Publishers hereof think fit to declare That
raising of my dear Friend Lazarus viz. The Love of God which hath bin long pining away through a tedious famine of Contention and Strife even unto Death and invite to this Entertainment of Joseph's Love and as his Passover from the Death of Enmity to the Life of Love unfained such as they shall apprehend to be born again into the new Life of Love so as to have peace with God therein and good Will towards each other which is a Life and a World as yet to come to many who with one Heart and one Soul can meet and break Bread in the singleness of their hearts and behold my Spirit is with you from the beginning to the end even with all or as many as shall meet together in the Name or Power of Love the Father and of Love the Son and in the pure Innocent powerful loving Spirit thereof even with all that feel the Joy of the Lord their Strength or that have Christ Jesus the Love of God shed abroad in their Hearts all such are but one Bread which the Father giveth for the Light and Life of the World O eat and drink abundantly thereof my beloved Friends Allelujah After the Receipt of the forenamed Letter and the Mony disposed as was therein directed this attempt was made by R. B. towards the Feast of Divine Love an Invitation was sent by him to several Persons to afford their presence at his House in order to the end aforesaid Accordingly several of the said Persons on the first of September in the Year 1668 did there meet where after he had spoke something suitable to the occasion some Entertainment was made according to the directions of the foresaid Letter One of the Persons invited being necessarily absent made his Apology to the said R. B. in the ensuing Letter SIR THough Providence had otherwise ordained it that I could not be present at the Feast to which you so friendly and solemnly invited me yet this is to let you know I no way slighted it though it was but a Type for I am in my very Soul a real Friend to all that have a good will to that Catholick Love which was in the beginning and will be when all middle walls that are come in through Man's fall are removed The Lord prepare us all for that Feast of fat things that in the Mount of Sion is made ready that is the Mount in which the Lord will destroy the Covering cast over all flesh into which we enter after the Consummation of all Types in celebrating the Passover with our Lord Jesus in the like death to which we must be conformed that so the Vail being rent we may enjoy the most holy Things and inherit the essential Love for ever But this is a great Work and the attaining it the greatest Wonder To which the Lord bring us all Your true Friend in the Love of God T. B. The several and respective Acquittances given for the Receipt of each Thirty Pounds 1. By the Roman-Catholicks REceived the 23d day of December of John Raynes by the Appointment and Order of Mr. Robert Rich Senior of Barbadoes the Sum of 30 l. Sterling which we promise to dispose of to such as are in Need Sickness or any other Adversity We say received by us Tho. Godden Treasurer of her Majesty's Chappel G. Stapylton D.D. Chaplain in Ordinary to her Majesty Hen. Latham Chapl. in Ord. to her Majesty at St. James's 2. By the Episcopal-Protestants REceived the 14th day of January 1667 of John Rayns by the Appointment and Order of Mr. Robert Rich Senior of Barbadoes the Sum of 30 l. Sterling which we promise to dispose of to such as are in Need Sickness or any other Adversity Benjamin Whichcot John Wells Thomas Grigg 3. By the Presbyterians REceived the 8th day of January 1667 of John Raynes by the Appointment and Order of Mr. Robert Rich Senior of Barbadoes the Sum of 30 l. Sterling which we promise to dispose of to such as are in Need Sickness or any other Adversity Lazarus Seaman Tho. Manton Robert Francklin 4. By the Independents REceived the 13th day of January 1667 of John Raynes by the Appointment and Order of Mr. Robert Rich Senior of Barbadoes the Sum of 30 l. Sterling which we promise to dispose of according to his Order to the Poor and such as are in Adversity amongst us We say received by us Thomas Brooks Matthew Barker Corn. Helme 5. By the Anabaptists REceived the 15th of January 1667 of Mr. John Raynes by Order of Mr. Robert Rich Senior of Barbadoes the full Sum of 30 l. which he ordered unto us for to dispose amongst the Poor and Distressed of the Baptized People We say received as before per Thomas Lamb Hanserd Knollys Tho. Cooper 6. By the Quakers REceived the 9th of the 11th month call'd January 1667 of John Raynes of London Merchant the Sum of 30 l. by the Order and Appointment of Robert Rich of Barbadoes Senior which he ordered to be disposed of to the Poor amongst us We say received by us John Bolton Amos Stoddart Gerard Roberts 7. By the Church of the First-Born REceived the 9th day of December 1667 of John Raynes by the Appointment and Order of Mr. Robert Rich Senior of Barbadoes the Sum of 30 l. which we promise to endeavour to dispose of according to his Order We say received by us Robert Bacon Will. Rollinson William Blackbororow Memorandum The several Sums above-mentioned were not all received by the particular Persons mentioned by the Author in his Order of Directions aforegoing partly because the said Persons could not conveniently be spoken with and partly also because liberty was left by him to dispose of it to any other three of each Class respectively A Salutation to the Seven Churches assembled by Order of Mr. Robert Rich at his Feast of Love As also a Descant on his Gift to the said Churches By J. S. Doctor of Physick WHen in Professing Europe Lust and Pride Conceiv'd and brought forth then Religion di'd Whence sprang a viperous Brood amongst the rest Strife War Division Falshood Interest All which our peevish Church-men did imbibe Picking for Self and not for God a Tribe Thus strung like Beads Men on their Centers move But the true Center of Religion's LOVE 'T is pure and undefiled to Do well All beside That is only Husk and Shell Wherein America now supplies our Lacks The fairest Preacher dwells amongst the Blacks Thus Jonah found both Priests and Confessors In a dead time ' mongst Heathen Mariners Thus Abr'ham Sarah Heads o' th Faithful Sect Were taught reproved by Abimelech His Love is greatest now when we have none Like Gideon's Fleece bedew'd from Heaven alone And as Heaven's Blessings Light and Rain do fall So is his bounteous Kindness general From Head to Feet the Oil of Aaron came The Skirts of 's Garment did partake the same Thus Holy Jacob on the Tribes let fall His Goodness round he blest
them one and all Accept I pray this tender Father's Will Who sees your Good and oversees your ill 1. His general Love you Cath'licks first doth bless Who shew but little and deserve much less His Bounty makes some ' mends for burning Troy His Minerals save where yours do all destroy He treats you well where others wish a Rope He sees with you God's Image in the Pope 2. The next a-kin he deals with as with th' others And what doth hinder but they may be Brothers His Love intends that compleat Union be Instead of compell'd Uniformitie And kindly doth all Cath'lick Christians bring Not to Christ's Vicar but to Christ their King 3. Smec smites with Horns and Hoofs and proves unkind To Priests before and Sectaries behind He blames all others and all likewise blame him Except this Friend who takes this course to shame him Maugre his Wrath he will him mercy show Though he have courted his own overthrow 4. The Savoy Sages may behold a Brother Who loves them more than they love one another He shews to them his Love in earnest which They would accept were they as Poor as Rich. Pride that puffs up and doth reject Love's Power Which courts them highly in a golden Shower 5. You who make sure of Water for a sign Who make your Teachers Merchant or Divine Three 's a full number go on and approve The Seal of Faith and Baptism of true Love You young strong Men do much yet lack you more This Friend 's kind Heart to sell and give to th' Poor 6. The Northern rugged Nature he subdues His gentle temper would win on the Jews An Heart of Stone such sing'lar Love must own A Flint will break upon a Bed of Down Come take your Mony and hereafter say James Naylor's Friend directs you the right way The Alabaster Box disdain'd by all Was shed in order to Christ's Burial This precious Gift incurs like indignation Which doth forerun his Rule and Coronation This Soveraign Oil proclaims those general Passions Which will instal him King of Saints and Nations His Standard's now set up and is inscrib'd Peace on the Earth good Will to every Tribe He gains Mens Hearts and Conquers Sans controul A little Leaven leaveneth the whole That Rich endeavour'd Lazarus to raise Shall then be spoken to 's eternal praise When Men enlightned shall on Christ's Name call From the Sun rising even to his Fall When God shall bless anew His whole Creation And Heaven and Earth shall make but one Plantation 7. You God-like Men whom he First-Born doth call Whose mature Spirits can bear Love to all Y' are willing God should rule when he forbears You won't pluck up nor sever Wheat from Tares If he says Grow together You 'l brook this That Light and Darkness Day and Night are His. In Wine-bibbers and those possest with Devils You 'l cherish Good and disincourage Evils On Lazarus his Ghost appearing FRight not my Friends if Lazarus appear Dismal and ghastly at this Meeting here His Grave-Clothes yet are on He scarce hath Breath His Face is wrapt with Monuments of Death When he reviv'd shall have put on his Dress When Wine and Oil shall Heart and Face refresh Then shall God's Pow'r and Love through th' Earth be spread All will believe a Preacher from the Dead This dark obscure Appearance doth fore-run A far more glorious Dispensation The Chaos this on which God's Spirit will brood Producing Light and Beauty all that 's good 'T is yet rude Ore but when t' has past the Mint You 'l see its Glory the King's Image in 't ' Mongst all the Precious Stones this is the Gem Which cut and set makes New Jerusalem The Type whereof at this Solemnitie May all th' invited Guests together see When Angels would converse with Mortals then They take a Body talk and walk like Men. Deposit sence and lay aside your Clay If you 'd converse with Spirits be as they In mixing Souls which are immortal bred There 's no distinction 'twixt alive and dead They soon can meet what e're the distance be Who move much quicker than a twinkling eye Thus Spirits meet and greet that all may know Angelick Visions may be here below To you in whom 's conceiv'd this Seed of Love Let this be th' quickening Day and let it move Let Robert Rich your noble Pattern be In Hallelujahs be as thick as he Jan. 25. 1667 8. In Obitam perpetuam memoriam Domini Roberti Rich Evangelistae Acrostichon per R. B. Ph. R Report who can the Truth of this one Man O Of 's Birth his Life his Acts the Course he ran B Born from on High he must be and his Quill E Enobled too by God's most Holy Will R Rome he dealt justly with 't is not destroy'd T The way that some do think by Fire and Sword R Rais'd up he was to the Immortal Life I It in all Parties puts an end to Strife C Christ is the Universal Light and Love H He that from Heaven came comes as a Dove On the Memory of Mr. Robert Rich who arrived at London from the Barbadoes Sept. 9. last past and departed this life Novemb. 16. following 1679. R Reconciling what he might O Oblique things bending unto streight B Bounteous to the Indigent E Each Sect did taste his good intent R Rare Pattern of Humility T 'T were well if such were you and I. R Researches of the highest kind I Inquiries lofty rais'd his Mind C Charioted hence to Heaven Above H His Legacies Light Peace and Love Mar. 25. 1680. J. W. Upon the Departure of Mr. Robert Rich Nov. 16. 1679. CAn real Christian Love be dead ' Cause Rich filled therewith is buried No no it lives in Christ our Head From whence 't will all the World o'respread He slipt away in such an Age When all the Babels are in rage And left us yet behind to see Most things in great perplexity But yet we hope the day draws near When healing Love will more appear J. L. Errata Last Paragraph of the Preface read Proficientis Perfecti each State may herein find what is sutable to them to their Joy Page 105. line 13. for Stars read Stairs To the Chief Bishop of the Roman-Catholick Church his Cardinals Arch-Bishops Bishops Doctors Priests Deacons and all other Ecclesiastical Orders and Degrees To all Generals Provincials Abbats Priors Guardians Rectors and Prefects of whatsoever Religious Orders of the said Church ROBERT RICH sendeth Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting TO those of you that are Regenerate and born again of the Spirit who are Members of Christ Jesus through the sanctification of the Spirit Elect and Precious to you Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Allelujah In the Year 1656 feeling the Birth of God in me by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost wherein I was made a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Inheritor of
meerly Worldly and Carnal hath caused betwixt Prince and Prince And doth not this plainly shew that such a State or Church as hath brought so great a Curse over God's Creation where-ever it hath bin received is not Christ's Church whose Church and Kingdom is not of this World who loved his Enemies and came to save Mens Lives and not to destroy them So by their Fruits all Men may know the True Church from the False the Church of Christ from Antichrist's Church As I am a Priest of God after the Order of Melchisedeck who was of the Order of the Holy Ghost and born of the Spirit without Carnal Father or Carnal Mother I say as I am a Priest of God ordained by having Christ Jesus in me my Priest my Prophet my King I have something from God my Father to the high and mighty Men of the Earth in whose hands the Almighty God hath placed the Rule and Government of things Terrestrial as his Vicegerents in all the Earth to them I humbly make this Request First That they would look up unto him who bestowed on them this great Honour and Glory and acknowledg him God of Gods King of Kings and Lord over all Lords Allelujah Next that they would seek the Kingdom of God and the Righteousness thereof which having found I most humbly intreat them to adore worship and serve the Lord our God therein and therewith which Worship only stands in the Spirit of Truth the Spirit of Grace given to every one to profit withal which Worship the Omnipotent Lord God will accept and no other Service nor Worship but what proceeds from a pure sincere Heart to the Commands of Christ in Spirit the Word in the Heart And that none may be ignorant what this Kingdom of God is and wherein it doth consist and where it is to be found I most humbly offer and say The Kingdom of God stands not in any outward Observation of Man's prescription but is placed within every Man a Light to lighten the Gentiles and to be God's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth which Light is called the Word in the Heart Christ the Vnction the Messiah the Anointed of the Lord which God in his great Love to the World hath given to and in every Man a Talent to profit withal that so every Man in it might work out his own Salvation the which as it is received and obeyed giveth power to repent and forsake Sin and leadeth into Truth and Righteousness and thereby we become the Sons of God being led by his Spirit This Talent in Scripture is also called by divers Names viz. The Grace of God which appeareth to and in every one teaching those that love his appearance to deny Vngodliness and worldly Lusts c. It is also called A Measure of the Spirit given to every Man to profit with also Truth in the inward Parts the Word in the Heart Christ the New Birth and New Creature God's Covenant of Light and Life to all the World who is the Light of the World and doth enlighten every one that cometh into the World and so is God's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth the way to God and Godliness that whosoever believeth in him and followeth him faithfully shall have Life Everlasting Allelujah Read Deut. 30.11 c. with Rom. 10.6 c. Isa 42.6 49.6 57.10 54.13 60.3 Jer. 31.3 c. with Heb. 8.8 c. John 1.9 1 Cor. 12.7 Tit. 2.11 And this Light of Life the Kingdom of God within every Man is compared to many things in Scripture He is the Lamb of God not the Pope's Agnus Dei that taketh away the Sins of the World the Lord our Righteousness the Spirit of Truth that leads into all Truth and the one thing only needful is that we hear and obey the Spirit of Truth and our Souls shall live Allelujah This Kingdom of God is likewise compared to a grain of Mustard-Seed sown in the Heart of every Man by God the Seed of Abraham which Seed is Christ the Light of the World also the Kingdom of God is compared to Leaven placed in a Man's Heart sufficient to leaven the whole Lump from the leaven of Malice and Uncharitableness into a lump of Truth and Love to Righteousness which Leaven is the Bread from Heaven which nourisheth the Souls of true Believers into Eternal Life Allelujah Thus you see what the Kingdom of God is where it is to be found and the blessed Effects it produceth in all that receive God's Heavenly Gift and are found walking therein and when ye know and feel this Kingdom of God in the movings thereof to be within you in the next place my most humble request and advice is That you would thenceforth seek the Righteousness thereof and walk in the same all the days of your Life in which you will find Peace with God Joy in your own Spirits and good Will from and to all Men but as you do undervalue this Small Seed the true Light and Spirit of Grace the Gift of God and prefer this present evil World Man's Prescriptions Traditions and Impositions above it then a Woe and a Curse from God to your Souls and Bodies in your Basket and in your Store but walking in the Righteousness of God's Kingdom you will know how to give God his due and to please him in things Spiritual and Temporal If you leave the Conscience of your Subjects to God alone for him to rule and guide which is God's due then will God give to Caesar his due viz. the Hearts of his Subjects to obey their Soveraigns in all things Temporal Natural and Civil then will Unity and Concord spring up Righteousness Peace and Love will kiss each other And then God will give his Blessing bless us in our Bodies and in our Souls in our Basket and in our Store in our Wives and in our Children in what we eat and what we drink and in whatsoever we set our hands unto both Prince and People Rulers and Ruled all blessed and happy and so will all the ends of the Earth fear the Lord our God bless and magnify him for ever Allelujah The Contents hereof I most humbly and heartily recommend to your most holy Father the Pope of Rome and his Clergy as they will answer it at the Day of God's Tribunal that they communicate these Matters to the Emperor and to all other Kings Rulers and Princes over whose Souls God I hope by his blessed Spirit of Grace hath made them Overseers who being born of the Spirit and having Christ Jesus the new Man in you the only begotten Son of God the Father in you go and preach Him to and in all the World a Saviour to all that believe in him and that follow him who is the Light of the World and doth enlighten every one that comes into the World Yet know that no Man can preach truly to the converting of Souls neither can turn any from
never divide the Word of Truth aright nor know Truth from Error neither have they a Will or Affection to follow the one or eschew the other for Man of himself not having Christ in him can neither think nor do any thing to please God 2 Cor. 2.17 The old Translation saith We do not sell the Word for Mony The last Translation saith We are not as many which corrupt the Word of God But such as sell for Mony making Merchandize of the Word and Prayer corrupt the Word and Prayer and are Simon Magus his Ministers and none of Christ's Ministers For as they receive freely so they give freely Allelujah In one place of the Common Prayer you say There is no health in us In another you pray quite contrary That God will not take his Holy Spirit from us also that God would cleanse the Thoughts of our Hearts by the Inspiration of his Holy Spirit And you acknowledg That all the ends of the Earth have seen the Salvation of God Also that God hath openly shewed his Righteousness in the sight of all the Heathen And is not this what the Scriptures say John 1.9 That Christ the true Light enlightneth every one that cometh into the World And 1 Cor. 12.7 that a manifestation of the Spirit is given as a Talent to every one to profit with that thereby every one may work out his own Salvation if he will And Tit. 2.11 that the grace of God that bringeth Salvation hath appeared to and in all Men that none may truly say there is no health in us for there is that Spirit of Grace in every one which is the saving Health of all that obey it and the Condemnation of all that disobey despise reject and hate it read John 3.19 c. So let all Men honour this Spirit of Light the Son as they do honour the Father of Lights Allelujah Our Father I observe you oft repeat Our Father which art in Heaven c. Which Prayer is good for a Disciple of Christ to pray one that is born of the Spirit such have right to call God their Father and such God owns for his Children but those that are unregenerate who serve the World the Flesh and the Devil whose Works they will do for such to call the Holy God Father is not this Blasphemy and a breach of the first Commandment to take the Name of God in vain And for any to teach this Prayer to unsanctified and unholy Men Is not this an Abomination that maketh desolate As I am a Priest to God I do declare That all Services Sacrifices Prayers and Acts of Religion offered up to God in any kind of Devotion whatsoever in an unclean unsanctified unregenerate Heart are an abomination to him but if any Man be a worshipper of God according to his Will writ in our Hearts him he heareth read Isa 66.3 Prov. 15.8 28.9 Psal 66.18 with John 9.31 Luke 16.15 Rev. 21.17 Seeing God doth not hear Sinners but only heareth his Son his Spirit the Word in the Heart go to him and in his Son's Name ask of the Father what ye want who heareth him and giveth liberally and upbraideth no Man ask of him to create in you a clean Heart and a right Spirit to be put within you who giveth his Holy Spirit to them that in sincerity ask it then shall ye have a Heart according to God's own Heart which will do all his Will here on Earth as it is done in Heaven This right Spirit God's Son within us worketh Miracles in the Saints as in the Son it raiseth our Souls out of the Grave of Trespasses and Sins to live in his Presence in Peace Joy and Tranquillity all the days of our Lives Amen Allelujah Athanasius his Creed Athanasius his Creed is also of great Authority in our Church which imposeth a necessity of believing the same on no less tearms than our Eternal Salvation yet I judg that there are amongst many useful Truths some things asserted in that Creed which are neither needful to Salvation nor can be made good by the Scriptures of Truth nor yet by Reason Humane or Divine First he saith There is one Person of the Father another of the Son and another of the Holy Ghost and that the belief hereof as he expresseth it is absolutely necessary to Salvation 'T is true the Eternal God who filleth Heaven and Earth with his Presence as he is pleased to hold forth himself in the various manifestations of his absolute Greatness Wisdom and Love to the World so he is thereby known to us under several Names and Appellations as most proper to those manifestations of himself for what is the Father but God the Eternal Creator of all things who forms the Light and creates the Darkness and of nothing hath made all things to appear in their order out of the first Chaos and Darkness of Confusion And what is the Son but the same Eternal God manifest in Flesh the Word in the beginning with God and was and is God the Way the Truth the Life the Covenant of God's Salvation to the World This Son as I conceive is no distinguished Person from the Father but is in Deed and in Truth the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace the Word by which the Worlds were made humbling himself into humane Nature to seek out lost Man and to gather him into a nearer acquaintance with his God And what is the Holy Ghost but the same Eternal Spirit Witnessing Quickning Renewing Sanctifying Purifying Cleansing and Comforting the Hearts of the Faithful where God is pleased to pitch his Tent and Tabernacle These are the Three that bear witness in Heaven and these Three are one not divided by personal distinction but one Individual and Eternal God in variety of manifestation Then he saith In this Trinity none is afore nor after another and none is greater nor less than another Yet in contradiction he saith the Son is of the Father alone not made nor created but begotten Certainly he that begets must be before and greater than he that is begotten For my part I am more charitable than to believe all Men damned that never heard of Athanasius his Creed and am well satisfied that whosoever believes in Christ that was that is and is to come God's Everlasting Covenant of Light and Grace to Jew and Gentile and his Salvation to the ends of the Earth shall be saved even all of every Nation that feareth God and worketh Righteousness Allelujah Infant Baptism Concerning Infant Baptism with Water I may not say it is an Ordinance of Christ nor dare I call it Christ's Baptism neither do I think there is that virtue in it as is said That it ingrafts into Christ's Church makes a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven And whether those God-Fathers and God-Mothers that undertake promise and vow on behalf of the Child That when of Age he shall forsake the Devil
go it is a flaming light c. Psal 130.5 6. In God I put my whole trust my soul waits on his will For his promise is most just and I hope therein still c. Psal 146.1 My soul praise thou the Lord always my God I will confess While breath and life prolong my days my tongue no time shall cease Allelujah These and the rest of David's Psalms are good and excellent to those that can sing them with David's Spirit that have within them a clean Heart and right Spirit as David had Allelujah But to those that sing them with an impure unclean and unrepenting Heart all things performed by them in the Worship and Service of God are impure even their very Prayers and Praises are Sin Thus to the Pure all things are pure to all such as sing in the movings and joy of God's Spirit with understanding making melody in their hearts to the Lord. So let Christ the Word dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs singing with Grace in your Hearts to the Lord Blessed are the People that are in such a case who have Christ the Lord for their God working all their Works in them and for them both to will and to do of his good Pleasure Allelujah I do believe the Church of England the best constituted National Church in the World and adorned with many of her Worthies the best Learned and most sound in Doctrine and for integrity of Life and Conversation most Sweet most Humble Meek and Charitable whose Plat-forms of Religion of all the National Professions I judg the most large and likely to gather together and build up into Love and good Works which is the Sum of all true Christian Religion and the End both of the Law and Gospel Yet as I know there may be many things amended some left out and some added in the Nine and thirty Articles and Common-Prayer Book so I well know there is that Wisdom and Understanding in the Church of England if called together to weigh and consider of these Matters as will not only correct and amend what is amiss but also add those things that may much illustrate Truth to the Edification and Salvation of Souls and to the building up and uniting several different perswasions in the Truth and in Love towards each other who now at present are much divided I do also know that there are and ever were Operations and Administrations of God in the World all wrought by one and the same Spirit The first Dispensation is from Adam to Moses under which Administration Men were taught to serve and worship God by the seven Precepts of Noah taught from Father to Son and such as were sincere and upright hearted in that Worship pleased God and were accepted of him who requires no more of any than what they have and not what they have not The second Administration was from Moses through the Prophets unto John the Baptist and such are taught by wise Rules taken out of the Law and Prophets and need a learned National Ministry such as are well read in Natural Philosophy and in Divinity to expound and preach to the People those things that tend to Peace and Godliness to love God the Light and Life of our Souls above all things Terrestrial and our Neighbour which is all mankind as our selves In these two consist the Sum and Substance of all true Religion but by no means to preach those things that are Doubtful or Controversal all that tends to the dividing of Christ's seamless Coat and not to unite in the Truth but to destroy it Truth in the inward Parts is that which all Men of all Religions agree to without Dispute Which Dispute ever was and is as saith Dr. Taylor the Scab of the Church and Bane of all true Religion The third and last Administration is from John the greatest of all Prophets born of a Woman or that stick in Form or outward ward Observations unto Christ the Word in the Heart who is without form or comliness the eternal and only begotten Son of God before Abraham he was and is and is to come without Carnal Father or Carnal Mother without beginning of Days or end of Life God's High Priest for ever after the Order Melchisedeck which is the Order of the Holy Ghost and all such born of God's Spirit of Grace having Christ Jesus in them are the only Sons and Daughters of God and need no other Teacher save God alone Allelujah I likewise know there are dividings of Names and Opinions in the Church of England some receive the Doctrines and Interpretations of Luther and Calvin others rather chuse Socinus and Arminius for their Guides Thus is Christ divided when in Truth Christ is but one Eternal Universal Spirit of Love Light and Life in all Men of all Religions in the World and God's Salvation through Him is to the ends of the Earth For the sake of those that thus disagree I have looked into and considered the Grounds and Causes of their Divisions Luther's Doctrine I find chiefly to consist first Against Indulgences and that they were unlawful against Free-will against the Pope's Supremacy and his Excommunication against Temporal Possessions of the Clergy against Merit of Works and Monastick Life against Canonical Obedience and distinction of Meats against Transubstantiation and Communion under one kind against the Mass and Aurigular Confession against Absolution and Purgatory against extream Unction and five of the Sacraments He also held That General Councils might err that Antichrist was not a particular Person but a Spirit contrary and against Christ's Spirit that Faith only justifieth yet Man is not saved without good Works that a faithful Man might have assurance of his Salvation that the Sacrament did not convey Grace but was a sign of it that to the Faithful Sin is not imputed And some of his Followers say That we are not justified by Faith or Works but by the essential Righteousness of Christ dwelling in us And by Luther's protesting against the Church of Rome in these Things first began the Name Protestant Calvin's Doctrine I find to consist herein First he saith The Scriptures are a sufficient Rule to Life the only Judg of Controversies that the Elect only have saving Faith that Predestination to Life and Death depends not in Man's Obedience or Disobedience but on God's Choice that the true Church of God consisteth only of the Elect that the Church and Magistrate may not make Laws to bind the Conscience in Matters Religious and Divine that Sins are inherent in us though not imputed to us that Faith is a more excellent Vertue than Charity that there is no merit in us that there is but two Sacraments and these can neither justify nor confer Grace Socinus's Doctrines I find chiefly to consist in this First That there is no Origninal Sin in us derived from Adam that there is a
can hold forth the blessing of Peace and Establishment to the World and I am perswaded God hath fitted you for such a Work as this therefore I beseech you suffer a word of Exhortation Be faithful to the Testimony of the Lord with which he hath inspired you stand forth in the Name and Power of that Spirit which dwells in you lay by all carnal Ends and self Interests and come forth in the nakedness and simplicity of the Love of God in which you will breath out the blessing of Peace amongst us O let not Sion be built up any longer with Blood nor her Mourners wander about in the Defarts to seek for shelter and safety let the searchings of your Hearts and the yearnings of your Bowels be for the Breaches and Divisions that are among the People of God 'T is You that the great expectation of many of the Lord's People in this Nation is now towards Our Wounds Breaches in the Circumstantials of Religion are too wide and extensive for a formal outward and literal Ministry to heal and cement We have languished in Divisions too long already under these Physicians 't is only a Spirit-Ministry with evidence demonstration and power that proceeds from an innate Principle of the Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts that can compose all our Differences satisfy all Parties and Interests and settle us upon a sure Foundation of Peace Rest and Happiness If there be therefore any Consolation in Christ if any Comfort of Love if any Fellowship of the Spirit if any Bowels and Mercies fulfil ye the Joy of the People of God in these Nations that ye come forth with the like Mind and Spirit in your Ministry amongst us and in the Power of the same Love preserve the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace I know there is wisdom and largeness enough in the Love of God to accomplish these noble Ends and the witness of this upon your Hearts must necessarily strengthen your Faith in this Ministry for certainly that Love so ample that can redeem the World when and where 't is witnessed by the Spirit will appear large enough to cover all our Infirmities abate all our Contentions and quiet all the Clamours that abound among us If thus you can appear and stand forth this day as indeed Priests unto God and true Ministers of Christ Jesus you shall worthily be called The Healers of our Breaches and the Restorers of our Paths to dwell and walk in with love and pleasantness one towards another In which Spirit of Universal Love and good Will I Rest a Friend to you and the Souls of all whilst I am and when I am no more R. R. To all Teachers Preachers and Dispensers of the Word and Sacraments under the Dispensations of those called Presbyterians Independents and Anabaptists ROBERT RICH a Servant of Jesus Christ called to be an Apostle separated unto the Gospel of God which Gospel was promised and preached by the Holy Men of God ever since the Foundation of the World was Laid as in the Scriptures of Truth you may read Gen. 3.8 15. 12.1 3. with Gal. 3.8 Deut. 30.11 12 13 14 15. Rom. 10.6 8. Jer. 31.31 to 35. with Heb. 8.8 to the end Isa 52.7 with Rom. 10.15 Isa 61.1 with Luke 4.18 9.6 Mark 16.15 2 Cor. 4.4 6. 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Pet. 1.12 25. In the power and strength of which Gospel the Word in the Heart or Love of God shed abroad in our Hearts doth R. R. send Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting Allelujah TO you that are Regenerate and born again of the Spirit who have Christ Jesus the New Man in you and are Members of his Body Spiritual through Sanctification of the Holy Spirit of Grace you in him and he in you made perfect in one to you Grace Mercy and Peace be multiplied from God our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Allelujah In the Year 1656 feeling the Birth of God in me by the overshadowing of the Holy Ghost wherein I was made a Member of Christ a Child of God and an Inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven which Spirit of Light begat Christ Jesus the New Man in me by whom I obtained Reconciliation and Peace with God and good-will towards his Creation Which Spirit of Love moved me in the Year 1666 to send to the People called Presbyterians Thirty pounds to be distributed amongst their Poor that were in Need Sickness or any other kind of Adversity The like Sum I also sent to them called Independents As likewise to those called Anabaptists to be distributed to the Poor that were amongst them Not as Judas that betrayed his Master into the hands of Sinners for Thirty pieces of Silver but from one that witnessed the Resurrection from the Dead one who had long crucified the Lord of Life in my Self and by many and often Transgressions had slain the Witness of God his Holy Spirit of Grace and Light which oft cried in me Why wilt thou die Return to me the Light and Life of the Soul and thou shalt live At length I hearkened to the Voice of the Son of God in me in obedience to which Voice my Soul came to live in whose Life I have Rest Peace and Joy in the Lord my Saviour Allelujah Thus by the Incarnation or indwelling of the Life of Christ Jesus in my mortal Flesh I came to inherit Life Eternal by and through him that is the Regeneration the Resurrection and the Life Allelujah By which Spirit of Grace and Revelation of Christ in me I came to see what Peter saw Acts 10.34 35. Matth. 16.17 That of all Nations and Religions those that feared God and acted righteously towards Man are accepted with him Also by the same Revelation of God's Spirit I understood the great Love of God to the World that in all Ages and Times he hath sent and given his only begotten Son his Spirit of Light to be the Life of the World his Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life wherewith every one is enlightned both Jew and Gentile that cometh into the World that so all Men might be saved by believing in him and by following of him who is the Way the Truth the Life and God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth Allelujah As you may read Isa 42.6 49.6 Deut. 30.11 to 15. Jer. 31.31 c. with Rom. 10.6 8. Heb. 8.8 to the end John 1.4 9. 8.12 12.46 2 Cor. 4.4 6. Which Spirit of Light Life and Truth in the Inward Parts the Word incarnate in the Heart moved on the Face of my Deep and shining on my Tabernacle which Tabernacle God pitched in me in whose Light I saw Light which gave me freedom to look into all manner of Opinions and Religions which Light opened my Understanding so as to know Good from Evil Right from Wrong and Truth from Error In which Spirit of Light I read many Books writ by Presbyterians Independents
and Baptists which Three I find so neerly united together as to the many Doctrines they place Salvation in that I join you in one Epistle together I confess I find you differing one from another and amongst your selves in Matters of Discipline and some other few Opinions wherein the Kingdom of God doth not consist and which a little Charity and Brotherly Love would easily unite and reconcile I know such and the like Things you much contend for and divide from each other as did and doth the Protestant from the Papist the Presbyterian from the Episcopal Protestant the Independent from the Presbyterian the Baptist from the Independent the Quaker as Ismael hath his hand against every one and all for nothing else than about Words and some outward Observations so that Christ's seamless Coat made of Good-will to all is much divided torn and rent who is one Spirit of Love to you all sent down from the Father of Spirits a Light to Jew and Gentile and to be God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth Him who is the Eternal Son and Heir of God's Kingdom Him who is come into the World to save Sinners and to bless us by turning every one of us from the evil of our ways Against him do the Husbandmen Gog and Magog all Sects though never so different unite and join as Herod and Pilat did against the Lord 's Anointed in the Sanctified who is now coming to take his Kingdom though the Heathen never so much rage thereat and shall must and will rule and reign in them for ever and ever Amen Allelujah I know by what I have read in your Books that you Three all agree as do many other of the Sects in Christendom in the Birth of Christ as he was the Son of Man born of a Virgin that he lived a Holy Life was crucified dead and buried that he arose the third day and ascended into Heaven with his Natural Body of Flesh Blood and Bones And that your believing of what Christ did and suffered here on Earth in his own Person is your Salvation which Faith of yours I humbly crave leave to examine by the Scriptures of Truth And as I am a Priest of God to the World by having Christ Jesus in me I say and declare That unless ye be born of the Spirit and have the same Spirit in you that was in Christ Jesus to lead into Truth and Righteousness as it did him ye are no true Christians nor ever can see the Kingdom of God read John 3.3 Rom. 8.9 c. 2 Cor. 13.5 And except the Spirit of God's Grace kill Sin in us as in him Christ's Death at Jerusalem will do us but little good read Rom. 6.4 5 8. 8.6 10 11. 1 Cor. 15.31 Gal. 2.20 Ephes 2.5 Phil. 3.10 Col. 2.13 And as for Christ's Resurrection and Ascension without us this will do us no good unless in the Power of the same Spirit we be raised with him to sit down in Heavenly Places together with Christ Jesus read Rom. 6.4 8 11. 1 Cor. 6.14 Ephes 2.6 Col. 2.12 3.1 I also know and declare That in the true Christ are two Natures united in one Person First As he was the Son of God from all Eternity and is the Birth of God in all the Sanctified He is God blessed for ever Secondly As he was the Son of Man born of Humane Nature and of a Reasonable Soul subsisting as such he could do nothing of himself and denied himself and his own Will and was compassed about with many Infirmities like unto other Men Sin only excepted read John 5.30 Matth. 26.39 Heb. 5.2 As he was the Son of Man he was but a Creature having beginning of Days and end of Life But as he was the Son of God he was Alpha and Omega without beginning of Days and end of Life God's Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life to the World As he was the Son of Man filled with the Holy Ghost he had a Body prepared to do the Will of God here on Earth as it is in Heaven as all that are born of God have not only as our Example but for our Consolation and Salvation and thus it is with all that are born of the Spirit read 2 Cor. 1.5 6 7. John 13.15 Phil. 3.15 16 17. 1 Tim. 4.12 James 5.10 1 Pet. 1.21 So you see it is the Birth of the Spirit in all the Sanctified and not the Humane Nature that is the Saviour Not what Jesus did as he was the Son of Man at Jerusalem in his own Person only but what he did and for ever doth in the Saints as he was is and for ever shall be one and the same God's only begotten Son the Word in the Heart his Everlasting Covenant of Light and Life to Jew and Gentile and so he is God's Salvation to the ends of the Earth Allelujah Moreover I would you might understand That all born of the Spirit are born of God and have the mind and Spirit in them that was in Christ Jesus and do the same Works and greater Works When as Dr. Taylor saith Christ is risen in them for are they not the Light of the World and Salt of the Earth walk as Christ walked and are in this World as he is in Heaven read Gen. 5.24 2 Cor. 6.16 Gal. 5.16 Col. 2.6 1 John 2.6 1 Cor. 2.16 Phil. 2.5 Matth. 5.14 Gal. 2.20 1 John 4.17 Mark 16.17 18. John 14.12 Rev. 1.5 6. As Christ by the Spirit of the Father was filled with the Holy Ghost in which Spirit the fulness of the Godhead doth dwell bodily of whose fulness is given to all the Sanctified Grace for Grace And as they receive the Spirit of Grace freely so they dispense the Word and Spirit of Grace freely for did not Paul give the Spirit read Acts 19.3 to 7. And was not that the Spirit Timothy received by the laying on of his hands called The Gift of God 2 Tim. 1.6 And did not he that ministred the Spirit to the Galatians give the Spirit to them read Gal. 3.5 And did not Paul by virtue and power of the Spirit 's Administration convert Thousands turning them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God And was it not by the virtue of the same Power of the Spirit that Peter converted at one Sermon about Five thousand And was it not the Power of the same Spirit in Christ Jesus in the Apostles and their Followers and in Moses and Aaron and in all the Prophets and Men of God that wrought and did all the Wonders and Miracles ever since the World began And this I do further declare to all the World as my Opinion That whosoever is not born of this Spirit and led by this Spirit of God is no true Christian nor Minister of Christ nor ever can profit the People or convert Souls to God I know that a Man void of the Spirit may through the Light of
and Religion but in some things Doctrinal and concerning Discipline and other outward Observations I know you disagree The Presbyterians Rule of Publick Worship is their Directory put together by their Synod which sat 1644 and 45 gathered out of the Scriptures and imposed on the People of England by an Act then made Which Worship as it was prescribed and imposed by Man I query Whether it be the Worship which God requires the which consists in the Spirit of Truth or is it think you more acceptable to God than the former Service you threw out to set up your own devised Service in the place thereof And in so doing whether you did not more aim at the Fleece than the saving of Souls I leave to the Witness of God to determine in your selves And I pray give me liberty further to enquire Whether the Nation in General had any benefit by your change of Church Government And whether Tithes were not as acceptably retained by you as by those you thrust out Besides great Augmentations given to Preachers by a Law for their Encouragement and a Law for treble Dammages from all who though for Conscience sake could not pay the Tithes and were you less troublesom to such than those you ejected or were you less persecutive or had you more humble meek charitable Spirits than they to which your own actings may speak and answer What Spirit was that which acted Calvin against Servetus Hugo Grotius a most learned Man in all kind of Learning both Humane and Divine saith That Michael Servetus by the procurement of Calvin was burnt alive at Geneva and for nothing more than that he differed in some Opinions concerning Galvin's rigid Predestination and something concerning the Trinity And did not this Spirit of Calvin so act against Luther's Disciples that they were twice expelled the Palatinate And how did this bitter Spirit act in the Synod at Dort Were not many learned pious and good Men condemned and afterwards banished and expelled the Land and all this for some few Opinions perhaps more true than their own And was it not this Spirit in others which so bitterly persecuted those Innocent People called Quakers whom they Imprisoned Banished Scourged Stigmatized putting them to greater torture than if they had killed them outright And was not this the same Spirit in them who leaving Old England for Conscience-sake went to New England where they persecuted their Innocent Brethren that differed from them in some small Points banishing them into the remotest Desarts where they were murthered by the Savage Indians And did they not deal after the same manner with Mr. Samuel Gorton Mr. Roger Williams and others that went under the Name of Antinomians Seekers Anabaptists c. Lastly To manifest your Spirit one and the same from first to last and to shew that you are no true Members of Christ's Church in this particular not being covered with his Spirit of Love to Brethren and to Enemies the only mark of his Disciples did not you lately hang and take away the lives of five Innocent Quakers and Banishing Whipping and cutting off Ears c. of many others who had not broken any just Law either of God or Man only as the Medes and Persians made a Law against Innocent Daniel and his Brethren and as did the Jews against Holy Jesus who said They had made a Law and by that Law he ought to die even so did you make a Law against the Quakers on purpose to ensnare them and to take away their Lives Which Spirit of Persecution for Matters of Religion is most certainly the Spirit of Antichrist the Whore and false Prophet which Spirit hath no agreement in the least measure with Christ and his Church And did not you as you came into Power all three agree in this Spirit to persecute those that differed from you and more especially those that had Christ the Word in the Heart and preached Christ in the Spirit to be the Gâ—ide the Way the Truth and the Life the Sanctification Redemption and Salvation of God in all the Sanctified even to the ends of the Earth Allelujah Although in many things you agree yet in some small Matters you are divided and zealously persecute each other for those things wherein you differ The difference between the Presbyterian and the Independent consists chiefly in their National Church and particular Gatherings which assemble together by a Covenant made amongst themselves whereby they are admitted as Members and their Children only admitted to Baptism under the Notion of the Promise being made to Believers and their Seed In the Fundamentals of their Faith no material difference The Anabaptist is distinguished from the Independent Gatherings by the difference of the Administration of Water-Baptism the former only admitting such Subjects to that Ordinance as are able to render a laudable Confession of their Faith in God and also of their holy and just Conversation amongst Men and by this Baptism they hold That such Subjects are initiated into the Church of Christ and are from thence-forth esteemed Brethren and not before These also are different from each other among themselves about General Redemption Free-Will Original Sin falling away totally from Grace Predestination Election and Reprobation Herein they Dispute Quarrel and Fight each with other for and about such things as the Kingdom of God and Salvation of Men are no ways concern'd in but Brotherly Love the Image of God and mark of a true Christian is utterly lost and defaced I have lately read a Book writ by Mr. Richard Baxter intituled The Cure of Church-Divisions the third Edition printed 1670 Whose Spirit and Design therein I well approve of and have unity and amity therewith He is much against that bitter rending tearing devouring Spirit that reigneth amongst Professors and will not give the same liberty of Conscience to others in Religious Matters as they desire for themselves Also he saith There be some seem wise and good themselves by making others seem foolish and bad and they are all for Concord but it is only on their narrow factious Tearms they are for Peace but it is not of the whole Street but of their House alone or not of the whole City but of their Street alone He likes not those new-made multiplied Articles of Religion these Additions to Christianity prescribed and imposed on others This proud Church Tyranny saith he I doubt not is the great Cause of Schism in the World Love is not an appearance of my Religion but my Religion it self God is Love and he that dwelleth in Love dwelleth in God and God in him Love is the fulfilling of the Law the end of the Gospel the nature and mark of Christ's Disciples the Divine Nature the Sum of Holiness to the Lord the proper Note to know what is the Man and what his State and how far any of his other Acts are acceptable unto God without which if we had all Knowledg and Belief all Gifts of Utterance
acknowledg Can you yet be so vainly confident as to perswade your selves that nothing of this Evil shall come near your Borders whilst the Arrows of God's Judgments fly so thick in the World and stick so deep in the Hearts and sides of all both Civil and Religious Interests Are you and your Imposing Tribe the only Men that must escape when the whole World is to be set on Fire yea the very Heavens of Professors are to be burnt up and nothing to be left alive in us but what can lie down in those Flames Is there nothing think ye in or amongst your People that is for Judgment Or is this a time for you to build and raise a Name to your selves when God is destroying to contend for outward Rule and Dominion over others when God is pleading his own Royal Prerogative to sit in judgment over the Consciences of your Brethren when the Judg stands at the Door Or are ye so regardless of the prints and footsteps of the Almighty in his present Providences that ye say in your Hearts with that Evil Servant The Lord delays his coming and fall to smiting your fellow Servants with the Tongue and Fist of Wickedness wounding and reproaching them with your bitter and severe Censures thinking with the evil Husbandman therewith to kill and slay the Heir the Seed of God in Man that must rule and reign Surely my Friends the tempestuous Storms of Wrath and Indignation that you see falling upon the World do earnestly call for a more mild and sober Spirit amongst you than this Let therefore your Moderation be known to all Men the Lord is at hand If you would be a blessing to the World in your Generation learn first to judg and condemn your selves Cast off your Judging Censuring and Imposing Spirit and give the Witness of God in every one its just Right its due Scope and Latitude and usurp not Authority over it Take not upon you to be Lords over God's Heritage let the Bowels of your Love and Tenderness be drawn out and extended towards the measure of God in all Men of every Religion in forbearance and forgiveness to the whole World follow Peace in the Spirit of Love with all Men and Holiness without which no Man shall see God Give Christ his Prerogative in Spirituals He must and will have it Give Caesar his due in Temporals who may of undoubted right challeng it Thus if you can commend your selves to God and the World ye shall be the Joy of this Generation all good Men will be drawn out in an earnest imitation of your Purity while the violent and wicked shall stand mute and be struck dumb at your modest Patience and Meekness you shall never want either inward Peace or outward Freedom but ye shall enter into Peace and Rest in your Beds each one walking in his Uprightness This my dear Friends is the Testimony in which I long to meet you and which will justly provoke the hearty embraces of Your true Friend in Love to serve you R. R. To the Birth of God in all the Sanctified the Church of the First-Born whose Names are written in Heaven who are born again not of the Will of the Flesh but of God's Holy Spirit You to whom is given the White Stone and the New Name that none knows but he that hath it who as living Stones are laid in the Walls not of the Jerusalem that now is and is in bondage with her Children but of the New Jerusalem that is Above in the Heart and Throne of God which is Free and is the Mother of us all To you however you are divided or where-ever ye are lodg'd and held in the Clifts of the Rocks in Dens and Caves of the Earth or secret places of the Stars under all your divided Tribes ROBERT RICH sendeth Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting Allelujah Dear Brethren BEing moved in my Spirit in the Year 1666 to salute the Seed of God the Seed of the Promise in all Men and in particular the Seven Churches of Christendom namely the Roman the Episcopal Protestant the Presbyterian the Independent the Baptist the Quaker and the Church of the First-Born to each of them I gave Thirty pounds to be distributed amongst the Poor of their People as a sign of my dear Love to the Seed of God in all which I saw lay crucified dead and buried in some and in others risen and reigning into Life that is Eternal That which principally moved me to this general Salutation was the sad and serious apprehension of the Straits and Limits by which I saw the Seed of God held in Bondage and these several sorts of Professors to value themselves and also condemn one another in reference to those Modes and Methods of Worship and Obedience in which they are divided and distinguished My Salutation intended a cheek to this unkind severity amongst them and according to the inward Testimony from God upon my Spirit if possible to let them understand that our gracious God is no respecter of Persons Sects or Opinions but of every Nation those that fear God and work Righteousness are accepted of him and that all those that walk in the Light of the Lord wherewith he hath enlightned them are saved Allelujah In the Heavenly Revelation of this Blessed Vision wherein I felt and found my self in a through Reconcilement to all Sorts and Sects of Men I have begun and now finished my Epistles to these Seven States of Christians which I recommend to the Children of Light to read and to consider what the Spirit saith to the Churches And because in the Travels of this Testimony upon the Soul I have met with several Celestial Pilgrims journying towards Sion with their Faces thitherward by whose sprinklings in many of their Books and Papers I have bin often refreshed and comforted I cannot but commend both their Names and Labours to the sober Enquirers after Truth as well knowing that though these Witnesses are dead and gone yet their Spirits and Testimony remain and still speak to us At this time I read many Books writ by the Divine Spirit in which I took great delight some few whereof I find freedom to expatiate on First Cebes the Theban Philosopher his Table writ in Greek since translated into English who lived Anno Mundi 3553 which Table was hung up in the Temple of Saturn This Table consisted of three Parks or Inclosures at the Gate of the first stood the shape of an Old Man called Life's Genius afterwards True Instruction which I understand by interpretation to represent the Light and Grace of God which appeareth to and in every one This Light or Life's Genius taught and instructed all how they should lead their Lives according to those Rules he directed both to avoid temptations to Vice and to imbrace all those Divine Vertues that lead to Beatitude I have read the Imitation of Christ writ by Thomas of Kempis Also Cardinal Cusanus his first
that he is now exposing to the light That surely God hath a glorious Design to carry on in the World even the building of David's Throne to all Generations I know a Day of Deliverance for Sion will come not with confused noise of the Warrier and Garments rouling in Blood but with burning and fuel of Fire in the Consciences of Men. Men they may fight against but this they can never fight against The Day approaches wherein God will decide his Controversy with the World not by outward Might and Power but by the Spirit of the Living God 'T was an usual saying with him Come what would every thing was upon the right Wheel in the wise contrivement of God for the accomplishing of his Righteous Designs in the World And speaking to his Children saith Regard not the Reproaches that are fallen on your Father say or do Men what they will Abraham's Faith will find the Blessing Abraham found These and many more of His as of Others I take to be true and faithful Sayings meet to be considered by all that wait for and expect Redemption Consolation and Salvation from the God of Israel Allelujah You will not blame me that I have enlarged upon the Testimonies of these Holy Men that have finished their Course kept the Faith and are gone before us into the Eternal Mansions of Glory who having quitted their Mortal Fabricks are flown into the World of hidden Wonders The Spirits of these Just Men made perfect are now upon you ye are come up to them and in the harmonious Fellowship of that Spirit which is now one and the same amongst all the Sanctified I have a few words of my inward Breathings to communicate to your holy Experiences In a deep sense thereof of my endeared Love towards that Royal Seed that richly dwells in you I here salute you and give you to understand That my Soul is firmly knit and united to that Principle of Life in which you stand bearing your Testimony for the Truth before God and Man amongst a crooked and perverse Generation who only dwell upon the out-side talks and pretences to God Religion and Christianity but hate even to Blood and Violence all those that are the free-born Seed of the Promise whose Faith and Obedience stands not in the Will Work or Wisdom of Man but in the Power and Spirit of God mightily working in their Hearts and Consciences whereby they are indeed purified washed and cleansed from dead Works to serve the Living God And so much the more is my Heart inflamed towards you when I consider you in refeference First To the Nature of your present Station And secondly To those great Designs that God hath prepared you for First For the Nature of your present Station I behold you not as Moah Jer. 48.11 12 c. but as a People standing in a more inward nearness with God than the rest of the formal Tribes of Religious Proselytes in the World a People that have bin scattered from all your fleshly Comforts and Confidences in all those Joys Hopes Helps and Establishments wherein you have trusted below God You have bin led into the Deeps of God's Wonders while others have bin only wading in the shallow Streams of a literal and formal Profession Unto you it is given to know those Mysteries of the Kingdom of God which lie hid from others in dark and obscure Parables you know that the Son of God is come and hath given you an understanding to know him that is True and that ye are in Him that is True which is the very God and Eternal Life You cannot be deceived with the tinkling Noises or glittering Baits of Loe here or Loe there for the Kingdom of God is within you In a word there is nothing below Spirit Power and Substance that can either crown your longing Expectations or reward your holy Breathings after Truth with a plenary and full satisfaction Thus as the Lord's Lillies among Thorns so do you stand among the formal Daughters being preserved in your Station upheld in your Principles and as Beacons flaming with the holy Blazes of a free and universal Love serve to enlighten the World into the way of Truth and direct their Feet into the Paths of that Peace Amity Union Rest and Security to which as yet they are so much estranged And this leads me to the other Consideration of the Great Work and High Designs which God hath prepared you for And surely glorious Things are spoken of thee O thou City of God! You are not only as Mount Sion beautiful for Scituation but also the Joy of the whole Earth for those humble gentle lovely and pleasant Aspects by which you shine upon the whole World with the inviting and astonishing Charms of a divinely inspired Love and Affection You are a People fitted above all others to be a Blessing to the World the whole Creation seems to groan and travel in pain with a longing and languishing expectation to be delivered into the glorious Liberty wherein Ye stand O how hath the form and out-side of Religion mixed with Carnal Interest exposed the World to Extremities of Horror and Confusion as at this day What indignity and reproach doth indelebly stick upon the Skirts of Profession and Christianity through that fiery and mis-guided Zeal those Feuds and bitter Animosities that Strife and Debate that Blood and Violence which abounds amongst those that walk under the glorious Names of Gospel-Professors and True Christians How insipid lifeless and unsavory is the whole state of formal Profession grown who while they cry up a Christ that died for them and contend for an Historical Faith of his Death and Sufferings hoping to be saved by a bare Imputation of a Righteousness wrought without them and yet know nothing all this while of any inward change or renewedness of Mind and Heart but totally ignorant of the inward active and real Righteousness which should commend them to the World in an healing saving comforting and refreshing Spirit And certainly the higher People are advanced in a literal and carnal Knowledg of God and Christ the more rough bitter and severe will their temper be towards all others that differ from them in the least Circumstances of Religion it being natural to that Knowledg and Wisdom to swell and puff up the Mind in the lofty and high conceits of a self-Righteousness rather than sweeten and soften the Spirit in that Charity which edifies Behold this is the distracted Station wherein the Children of Form are truly presented as Pharaoh's lean Kine tearing and devouring each other in this day of Wrath for now is the Judgment of this World and what may quench these Flames what may quel these Disorders what may repair these Breaches or allay these Distempers is the main thing that would be most desirable to know We see that neither the Prudence of Princes nor the Policies of Government the Prescriptions of the wisest Reformers nor the best esteemed
Regularities of the most magnified Authors and reverend Fathers are capable to accomplish this Reconciling Work Nay the Sacred Oracle of the Scripture it self is so far short of obtaining this blessed End that all different Parties do endeavour with the greatest industry imaginable by warping and winding the Text not only to suit it to the occasion of their present Differences but also thereby to justify their mad blind and uncharitable Zeal towards each other What Remedy then is left us in this Distress Is there no Balm in Gilead Yes certainly for although the extent of our Wounds and Breaches are too wide and great for the most ample Wisdom and Righteousness of Man to heal and cement there is yet largeness enough in the eternal and universal Love of God to accomplish this great Work and to make his Jerusalem a Praise upon the Earth And 't is my dear Brethren by the ample and large manifestations of this Universal Love shed abroad in your Hearts that this great Design of God must be accomplished and oh how the Consideration of this Glorious Work in and by you to be brought forth doth draw out my Spirit towards you Awake awake then put on thy strength O Sion put on thy beautiful Garments O Jerusalem thou Holy City stand forth thou Virgin Daughter clothed with the strength of the Divine Majesty and proclaim the Glory of your Principles by the beauty of your Practices to the World There is Majesty enough in that Love which fills and feeds your Souls to confound the Cruelty of all your Opposers to shame and astonish the World into silence and stilness and of this let us be confident that how-ever the over-flowing Tides of common Calamities blown up by the raging breath of formal and carnal Interests may swell as a Flood upon the World yet no Weapon that is form'd against Love to Truth and Righteousness shall prosper the Heathen may rage and the People may imagine a vain Thing The Kings of the Earth may Plot Conspire and take Counsel together against the Lord and against his Anointed yet the Lord hath set his King upon his Holy Hill of Zion and he shall and doth Rule and Reign in the midst of his Enemies Let it therefore appear to the World whose Subjects ye are whose Banner ye are under and what Motto it bears which is Glory to God in the Highest on Earth Peace and good Will towards Men. O how beautiful will those feet be upon the Mountains which are shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace How beautiful are thy Feet with Shooes O Princes Daughter Cant. 7.1 How amiable and pleasant will your Lives and Testimonies be among Men when you come forth in the largeness of that Love Meekness and Humility in Forbearance and Forgiveness which are the proper Ornaments and most natural Instances of a true Gospel-Profession In the Name of God arise then and shew your selves in his strength to be that in Power and Life which the World are only in Pretence and Notion let it be known by the lively and active demonstrations of the Spirit of God in you That greater is He that is in you than he that is in the World Your Principles I am sure are more noble extensive and generous do but draw them forth and shew them to open view and you will be a Blessing in your Generation The several Tribes and Languages shall fasten on your Skirts and say We will go along with you for the Lord is amongst you Nay even the Kings of the Nations shall shut their Mouths at this appearance of God in you Isa 52.14 15. For that which had not bin told them they shall see and that which they had not heard they shall consider As Pharach said of Joseph Where is there a Man in whom the Spirit of God is Gen. 41.38 c. Finally my Brethren Be strong in the Lord and in the Power of his Might put on the whole Armour of God for your Work and your Warfare requires it and ye know that nothing below that can enable you to finish this your Testimony Ye wrestle not against Flesh and Blood neither are the Weapons of your Warfare Carnal but mighty through God to subdue every high Thought and vain Imagination All those Principalities and Powers and those spiritual Wickednesses in high Places which have captivated the Royal Seed of the Promise and exalted themselves against the free Breathings of the Spirit These my dear Friends are the powerful Enemies over which ye must be more than Conquerors through him that loves you and when in the strength of this Love you have subdued the World calm'd and quieted that wild and furious Spirit of Wrath that is let loose among Men and prepared the way for the Kingdom of God and of his Christ to be establish'd in us and amongst us what remains but that in a holy denial of your Selves and Services your Gifts and Graces your Love and Enlargements your Faith and Patience your Sufferings and Perseverances you offer up the Son of the Promise and cast down these your Crowns at the feet of Him that sits upon the Throne joining in Consort with the Celestial Quire of Saints and Angels in the Sacred Hymns of Divine Praises and Allelujahs Salvation and Glory and Honour and Power to the Lord our God Rev. 19.1 to 10. Not unto us Lord not unto us but unto thy Name be the glory of all thy wondrous Works Sing Zion shout O ye Inhabitants of the New Jerusalem Judges 5.1 to 14. Awake Deborah awake awake sing to the Lord Arise Barak take the Harps of God in your hands ye Heavenly Victors and in your most strenuous Notes sing aloud with Moses and the Lamb upon your Chrystal fiery Floods Rev. 15.2 3 4. Great and marvellous are thy Works Lord God Almighty Just and true are thy Ways thou King of Saints who will not fear thee O God and glorify thy Name for thou only art Holy all Nations shall come and worship before thee for thy Judgments are made manifest And again Allelujah for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth and is manifest to be All in All all Vnity in all Variety Thus to ascribe to God All in all and to the Creature-Nothing is the top-Stone of God's Building to which we cry Grace Grace Allelujah For His is the Kingdom the Power and the Glory for ever and ever Amen Allelujah THE END