price or Crown of everlasting life is not like a Crown of the Kings of this world d 1 Cor. 9. which many of them stand for and is of many greatly desired and yet there is no more but one that obtaineth it and becometh King 3. But according to the calling of God we may all obtain e 4 Esd 2. Sap. 5. Kingly Crowns and be endowed with one manner fulnesse of divine treasures and be all Priests f 1 Pet. 2. Apo. 1.5 and Kings according to the promises 4. Hereunto we are all called to one g Ioh. 17. and in one no man exempted h Gal. 3. the Gentiles as well as the Jews the Commons of the people as well as the Magistrates the sinners as well as the righteous the poor as vvell as the rich the simple as well as the wise the wives as well as the husbands the children as well as the parents i Eph. 6. Col. 3. the bond as well as the free the servants as well as the masters and the handmaids as well as the Mistresses k Act. 10. Rom. 2.10 Gal. 2. God is no respecter of persons for all those that turn them to God and love his Righteousnesse are acceptable unto him 5. Doubtlesse it is now made known unto many of us that vve have all in our understanding been utterly estranged and l Rom. 1. Eph. 4. darkened from the knowledge of our calling and have cleaved to the m 1 Tim. 4. spirits of errour vvalking in the death and not in the light of life likevvise in sundry divisions and not in the unity of our calling 6. Neverthelesse that God vvhich is rich of mercy n Ezek. 18. 1 Tim. 2. 2 Pet. 3. and vvould not that we should perish letteth us now see through the ministration of his gracious word and through his bountifull and kind love the waies of our blindnesse o Esa 59. Sap. 5. and the deadly darknesses of our misunderstanding pulling us to the light of his clearness to the intent that all vve which are estranged from God and dead because of sin might through the love of God the Father and through the ministration of his gracious Word be renewed again for to quicken us again p Rom. 6.8 2 Cor. 4. Phil. 3. in Jesu Christ out of the death of sinne into the true unity of our vocation to wit in this day of the coming of Jesu Christ in his glory for had not the same Jesus Christ been with the Amighty for a remnant q Esa 1. we had all in our estrangeing been as Sodoma and Gomorra and must needs all in like manner have perished 7. Sith God therefore doth now shew on us such love that he profereth his grace unto us through the coming of his Christ when as we in our estranging from his good being were openly his r Rom. 1. Eph. 2. Col. 1.2 enemies and that he remembreth not our ignorance to revenge on us such things but out of the bountifull grace of his love is inclined to help us and by the ministration of his gracious word to reach us the hand for to pluck us to himself again in his love let us then also make much of such a Å¿ 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 1.2 grace that through the bountifull grace of his love we may in this horrible time be reconciled unto him and not be punished with the wicked world The rather for that there hath been enough before hand shewed us of the horrible t Esa 13. Ier. 20.25 Mat. 24. destruction of the wicked world and of all damned men in the last daies wherein few shall remain or be saved but not by the Lords fault for God desireth instantly to draw us all to his salvation 8. But because there are many now adaies that u 2 Thes 1. 2 Pet. 3. believe not God in his promises but count him a lier and x 2 Cor. 6. Heb. 12. do not regard the time of his grace neither will be saved but have much more desire and will to the iniquity y Eph. 4. 2 Pet. 2. Iuda 1. and to all uncleannesse therefore also in this day z Rom. 2. cometh the wrath of God upon those children of unbelief and they shall not be able to escape the horrible and fearfull destruction 9. Therefore let every one convert him from the errors of his blindnesse a Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5. and arm himself in the belief and stand fast in the hope b Ia. 4. against the wicked that maketh it self up against Gods righteousnesse the which must be indured with patience for c Rom. 5.8 Patience bringeth forth in us a firmnesse or a persevering in the hope and hope suffereth us not to be ashamed but prepareth for us the peace with God in the love 10. But though now and then it pinch somewhat hard to shew patience yet have confidence d Apo. 2.3 and keep still what ye have turn not back in any case 11. Though happily you think that it falleth heavy find your selves impotent or weak and the waies dark desolate unpathed very long e 4 Esd 7. Mat. 7. Luk. 13. small or narrow the hills seem high to get over and the gates very strait to go thorow yet doubt not therefore ye beloved give no regard to the unbelief that saith it is impossible but contrariwise with belief and hope enter ye in for the beliefe is strong and mighty f Mat. 17.21 Luk. 17. she removeth mountains out of their places vanquisheth the enemies g Heb. 11. and is a certain assurance of that which is hoped for 12. Look then what ye out of belief and according to the truth do desire in God to obtain that love ye with vvhole heart for the love vvhich in her service holdeth the heart fast with earnest love is yet stronger then the belief h 1 Cor. 13. and goeth far beyond it all and not regarding any difficulty she overcometh it all for the things sake which she loveth for the love maketh that light which appeareth heavy and bringeth life out of that which seemeth to be death 13. Therefore the love is not wearied with any thing for that which a man loveth is precious in his sight and he esteemeth it of great value i Rom. 8. moreover he regardeth neither losse nor trouble to get or to come by that vvhich he loveth best 14. And therefore men are to k 1 Cor. 14. Col. 3. seek for the most best that they may obtain the same and not to respect any of those things that would oppose themselves or be hindersome there-against for who so seeketh not obtaineth not vvho so tasteth not of the sowre shall not partake of the sweet 15. If any man fall let him rise again if ye be hurt or wounded believe so shall ye be made whole yea though ye were already dead or were as dead in your minds yet
Christ and to give no further respect to the outward then as it is serviceable thereunto to the intent that no man may be bewitched in his spirit but may cleave to the vertue and nature of the love and that the h Col. 3. love may obtain a dwelling place or forme in him 11. Lo after this manner ought men to live impartially in the good i Esa 1. Psa 37. 2 Pet 3. to turn from all ungodly being and not to maintain the evill 12. There goeth also a saying about among divers that to shew the k 2 Pet. 1. common love is the most best means to keep ones self thus impartiall 13. It is true our writings do also testifie such things howbeit let every one for all that look to it and beware of his own judgement that by the l Gen. 3. Sap. 2. 2 Cor. 11. subtilty of the Serpent or of her nature or els by the mind of the flesh he be not beguiled the saying in it self is very right but many that marke not the saying according to the truth doe speak the same with a wrong sight or understanding 14. For some use such sentences for their own seekings cause and so in such a show of vertue their heart in regard of being incorporated with God in the spirit remaineth covered m Esa 29 Jer. 23 and estranged from God and many also give great respect unto such sayings insomuch that by occasion thereof they do oft-times according to mens private conceit cleave to some outward vertue which surely is the very smallest of all and do leave the principallest n Mat. 23 1 Cor. 13 1 Tim. 1 or greatest which God requireth The like did also many heretofore that were learned in the Law upon whom the Lord pronounced wo because they observed the least things of the Law whilest they tythed Mint Anise and Cummin and left the greatest matters of the Law o Mat. 23 Luk. 11 to wit judgment mercy and faithfulnesse 15. For albeit they observed all this after an outward show so as they seemed thereby to be righteous yet was it all surely of no value seeing they were not joyned with whole heart unto God p Ioh. 15 nor according to the spirit incorporated with him 16. Furthermore divers men there are found which after the outward fashion give every one his own and unto divers out of common love shew outward mercy indifferently who also carry themselves so justly that q Phil. 3 outwardly they are not to be reproved in any thing howbeit they are inwardly before God theeves and r Mat. 23 Ioh. 10 false men because they with-hold from God that which is his Å¿ Esa 29 Ezek. 33. Mat. 15 that is to say their heart which is far from him and standeth subject or tied unto visible things which heart or inward mind belongeth wholly yea only unto God 17. Therefore God is not appeased nor satisfied with the least when the heart is not turned from all visible and mutable things and doth not cleave perfectly unto him or at least endeavour to wards it to wit that the man desire of God out of his grace that God will strengthen him to the obeying of his will and t Eccl. 3 prepare his heart to his will and pleasure 18. Look whose hearts are not thus minded u Deut. 6 Mat. 22 for to love and cleave unto God with all their souls their common love is false and altogether unclean x Rom. â— for they have yet willingly a pleasure in their own concupiscence and are yet far distant from the upright love of God neverthelesse they do sometimes perswade themselves that they have the very best conceiving of the righteousnesse and so proceed on according to the common course of vvordly hearts 19. Therefore there is great diversity between the unpartiall men who addict their hearts unto God and to the good and those men whose hearts have minded worldly things and yet do boast them of the unpartiallnesse For look what unto worldly hearts namely unto such hearts as are turned from God and his service of Love is a pleasure lust and life that same is unto all the children of righteousnhsse y Luk. 16 an abomination and a horrible death 20. Wherefore mark well the meaning in what state or being the right unpartiality consisteth and out of what heart it is that men are to exercise the common-common-love rightly verily with such an heart as out of all his mind z Eccl. 1.2 feareth God and is inclined to the upright vertue in the love or is comprehended therein and not with an unadvised heart which is without understanding in his common-love and in his unpartialnesse that distinguisheth not the godlinesse or the worldly righteousnesse one from the other or that hath a pleasure to run on crookedly and erringly a Luk. 12 to set his rest or to fix his heart in the earthly love b Rom. 1 Eph. 4 1 Pet. 4. according to the course of the blind world or mind of the flesh 21. Be not utterly I pray you c Eph. 5 without understanding but learn vvell to discern the truth and let the Lord and his righteousnesse be a pleasure unto you and erre not by any wrong sight that standeth in opinion or imagination but observe judgement and regard the thing which is right and just 22. There is found moreover a certain kind of people which perswade themselves that they are unpartiall because they stand untied and unbound from all outward Religions or God-services and from all such as are called Sects supposing that in such a sort it is altogether well with them and that so standing they are in good case because they are so free and have such a conscience as passeth not for such things they set up their rest also that they will not trouble themselves about any thing nor respect or have any regard either of Jerusalem or of Sion or els of Gods Communion of Saints but do earnestly care how they may get their living and welfare maintain their Family and vvithall do that which is equall and right to every man having a Proverb Let Gods Water run over Gods Field and let us take our rest 23. Is not this to have utterly mistaken the life of the truth and the testimonies of the upright unpartiallnesse Shall there be no d Esa 2 40 59 Mat. 5 1 Pet 1 word of life then nor service of love ministred nor any thing thereout to be expected or e Rom. 8 longed for Are then the promises of God which concern f Esa 51 52 60 c. Jerusalem and Sion come all to an end And shall the oath of God which he hath sworn as that the world g Nu. 14 Mac. 2 shall be filled with his glory be thus utterly forgotten Will he not then gather together his holinesse again h Esa 43 Baruc. 5. Mat. 24 from all Coasts of
God will be our redeemer and our King wherefore have your refuge only on him to the intent ye may not fear your adversary in the fight For truly this fight is godly and amiable 51. Men curse nor swear not there they do not there kill nor destroy any d Eph. 6. save only that opposite being against God for it is no outward battell or war 52. They use there no outward e Esa 2. Mic. 4. swords or spears they seek there to destroy no flesh of men but it is a fight of the crosse and patience f Rom. 6. to the subduing of the sin 53. This fight is also no disputation bravvling nor wrangling for the knowledges sake of the Scriptures It is likewise no contention with men howsoever the most part of factious men which do every faction in particular call themselves the right Christians have even to this day so used it and do also yet still bravvle g 1 Cor. 3. Jam. 3. contend and strive one against another and that with a secret hatred and envy who should be best wisest and holiest and how to have right and equity every one in his conceiving whereby they intangle themselves every way one with another 54. But such brawling and discord do not I hold for any Christian-like fight seeing men do thereby forsake the love therefore such a fight doth nothing further towards the life nor towards the upright understanding of the divine wisdome 55. Moreover all those which stand minded to such a kind of outward fight brawling wrangling railing have never rightly perceived nor understood h Eph. 7. the inward fight For inasmuch as they know not the vertue of the love nor that whereout she proceedeth therefore do they account the battell of the righteous spirit which through the crosse in the spirit of wel-vvilling hearts carrieth forth the fight against death sin devill and hell for an ignorance and foolishnesse because they do no more esteem of such a chosen Salvation as is brought forth after the manner of men and which the man hath his glorying in then of the righteous spirit of love and life which God himself bringeth forth for i Esa 60. a true light and salvation of men after his godly nature and manner the k Esa 42.48 glorying whereof belongeth only unto God and to himself he also keepeth it 56. Wherefore seeing God hath considered that all mans wisdome is vain and that men by their wisdome know not Gods work in his wisdome nor his Salvation through his Christ l 1 Cor. 1. it hath therefore pleased God through foolish preaching under the obedience of the love of Christ to save the world that is to say all those that believe in him that he might catch the wise m Esa 29. 1 Corâ— 3â— in their wisdome the crafty in their subtilty and craftinesse and the letter-learned in their knowledge of the Scripture thereby making known unto them n Psal 94. 1 Cor. 3. how vain and void of understanding they are in the purpose of God and hovv that by all wisdome and prudency and by all their learnednesse in the letter they have not known any thing of o Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 2. Gods vvisdome at all wherethrough the Almighty God is magnified and by which it is known that his foolishnesse is much wiser then all the wisdome of the world or prudence of mans vvit 57. Novv vvhosoever believeth the same but on the contrary party is yet so selfvvise that he giveth no ear at all nor is inclined to the love or to our communion through the loves service vvherein Gods purpose is knovvn or understood the same man surely shall not understand the mind of God nor yet his secret p Kom 8. 1 Cor. 2. for it is unpossible to understand the vvisdome of God vvithout obeying of the love CHAP. XII 1. It is meet that every one submit himself to the appeared grace 2. The new day 3. Patience towards the unbelievers 4. Wherein the upright understanding is to be found 5. The worldly wise find it not but will rest upon their owne wisdome 13. An exhortation to cleave to the truth without bondage to outward things 15. What the perfect righteousnesse is 19. And how we ought to cleave thereunto and to esteem of the outward things so far as they are profitable and no further 21. And that not for their owne sakes but for the Ordinances sake 22. How to behave our selves towards all men wives children servants 26. He exhorteth to give our minds to a lovely behaviour towards all 32. Not to regard any thing that may cause dissention but to set our chief respect upon the inward and not upon the outward 43. The upright life is the same that the Fathers lived in 45. Whereunto also the Gentiles were called by the Gospell 46. He requireth all people to take heed to their calling 50. And to turn away from the self-minded thoughts that do tempt and intice us 51. Our union with God in the spirit is the stone that is disallowed of men 55. The Glasse of Righteousnesse serveth to try our selves by 56. The man is diversly perverted How H. N. passed forth under the love in his humane nature and how God received him unto grace 61. His little regard to the outward 63. Yet not despising it because it is profitable to train up the man in his youngnesse 65. Men ought to esteem the greatest more then the least and to put difference in the Age of the Disciples 66. That teacher which is not entred nor hath not accomplished the Righteousnesse in the love is both himself and also his hearers far from the truth 67. The Priesthood out of Levi is good in his right use but the Priesthood of Messias is yet more excellent 71. Why he pointeth not to the outward FOrasmuch then as through the a 1 Cor. 8. revealing of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in the resurrection of the dead there is out of grace such an holy office or service of the love to a renevving of the vvorld novv in the last time come unto us and according to the secret counsell and vvill of God committed unto us in upright righteousnesse and holinesse to be ministred therefore it vvere very meet that every one vvhich is avvakened thereby should submit himself thereunto and give ear unto us in the same service to the obeying of the love in the spirit that every mans eyes might be made bright and become clearer and clearer to b Act. 7. behold vvith a clear sight of their eyes Gods Kingdom of heaven the vvhich novv manifesteth it self unto us and cometh unto us under the obedience of the love and likevvise vvith the same do appear and come unto us livingly and gloriously all Gods c 1 Cor. 15. Saints vvhich in times past died and fell asleep in God 2. Behold this manifestation or appearing of Gods Kingdome of heaven
to a bondage of the heart that is to say from all that is created outward or vaine how holy how good how fair or how amiable a grace soever according to the outward appearance it may shew forth unto the man to the end that no man be taken or remaine captive in any bewitching to a thraledome of his mind with that wherewith the Heathen and the unwise or uncircumcised of heart are still bewitched tied and bound not onely with the outward show of holinesse or wisdome but also with the delight of the outward created things c Rom. 2 in this world wherein with their hearts they become vain 18. Therefore let us reckon all these things for such as they are and repute some of them in that whereunto they are commodious for good in their degree and quality to the end our heart may stand free in the everlasting uncreated Godhead according to the Spirit that is in the God of Israel the Creator of all good things and moreover let us suffer our hearts to be prepared thereunto in the obeying of the requiring of the Service of Love 19. That is truly the everlasting life which in times past was preached unto the world and is now in the last time by Gods grace come unto us under the obedience of the Love that our fellowship d 1 Joh. 1 should be with God the Father and with his Son the Lord Jesus Christ and that our joy in the Love might be perfect 20. On this onely and true God settle your hearts to a union with him and with his Christ and love him e Deut. 6. from your whole souls minds and thoughts and so then love all created things in their degree or as they are profitable 21. Yet not for their owne sakes but for the Ordinances sake that God hath created them unto and whereunto he hath appointed them as good then shall God be loved honoured and served by you above your selves and above all visible things and f Exod. 20 Deut. 4. you shall also neither have nor serve any Idolls which are besides him 22. In such a degree love ye also all men g Lev. 19. Mat. 22. Mar. 12. Rom. 13. as your selves or as your fellow-brethren so shall there be no dissention nor division found among you and then in the same sort h Eph. 5. love your wives which are minded with you in one heart and spirit to God ward as fellow-members of your bodies or els should ye be no married folks 23. To the same good being of concord in the Love i Eccl. 7.30 love ye likewise your children that they may be brought up in righteousnesse after the Law of the Lord to serve the living God 24. If any man hath servants whether men-servants or miad-servants k Eccl. 7.33 Eph. 6. Col. 3. let him not overcharge them with slavery but use moderation give them also now and then time to rest and to recreate their hearts in the things that God requireth 25. But beware of the stout servants l Eccl. 33. such as in their leisure time seek nothing but unseemlinesse pride disorder and lightnesse for for such whether they be sonnes or daughters men-servants or maid servants if so be they exercise nor desire no righteousnesse labour serveth much better then leisure yet with discretion according to time and measure alwaies be holding the good before them upon hope of amendment 26. Hereunto let us be minded and give over our hearts and minds to live therein and alwaies exercise love m Rom. 12 1 Thes 3. 1 Pet. 1.3 one towards another and so n Heb. 10. James 5. with patience and long-suffering wait o Luke 2. for the consolation of Israel and for the health of the house of Jacob whom God in his time shall call together from all the ends p Mat. 24. or coasts of the earth where now they are dispersed 27. Wherefore increase ye in the good q Eph. 4. Col. 1. 1 Pet. 1. and grow up in the Lord and for the communion of the Loves sake and that we with consent of heart may be joyned to the same let us incline our hearts to each other to the end we may all become one such as love righteousnesse and forsake dissention which dispise nor reject none neither Jew Mahomet Heathen nor any Sect or Faction but rather draw all that will follow to our communion under the obedience of the Love that the Service of the Love may become prosperous and in all upright righteousnesse obtain the preheminence 28. Whosoever then joyneth himselfe to our communion of the Love yeeldeth himselfe to the love and to the requiring of her Service obediently loveth the righteousnesse r Psal 15.24 Esa 33. John 9. Acts 10. and hath no guile in his heart the same is acceptable to God and all such shall be unied in the Love and love one manner of righteousnesse according to the mentioning of the Glasse of Righteousnesse 29. Hereunto let every one be humbly minded and so incline his fatherly heart Å¿ Mal. 4. Luk. 1 to the children to unity in the Love 30. Let the children t Eph. 6. Col. 3. bow themselves in holinesse to the humility and so for the unities sake in the Love turne their hearts to the Fathers 31. The like also let every one do towards his brother and one man towards another and that all under the obedience of the Love 32. Do away from you u Esa 59. the middle walls and have love all that love righteousnesse proceed on after it with one accord have no regard to the foolishnesse of the Heathen nor to any such dealings or witnessings as cause Sects dissention or renting nor yet to their teachings and unprofitable devices nor to the witching of their God-services nor to the subtill knowledge of their wisdome For their waies x Jer. 5. are snares and their wisdome y Esa 19.42.58 nets who so hath no regard to the Law of the Lord nor to Abrahams God he shall be bewitched tied or taken and be led away from the requiring of the service of love by them 33. But all ye which turne you to the living God which made heaven and earth fear not the Gods of the Heathen neither regard the nets of the wisdome of the uncircumcised seeing they reject the Lords Word and his Ordinances 34. For the nets of the Heathen are like Spiders webs which do soon rent and fall asunder but the Law or Ordinance of the Lord is stedfast and abideth everlastingly 35. Therefore let the Law of the Lord and his Ordinances be alwayes for a teaching unto you and fear the God of Israel and let his love be still your rejoycing 36. Mark the ground of the Love ye deerly beloved and let your ears of the Spirit that you may hear your eyes of the heart that you may see and your understanding that you may understand be opened
1. feat of David his Father to the intent there may be no end of the peace upon the same from this time forth for evermore and that so he may rule and raigne as an everlasting peaceable King over the house of Jacob according to the promises 71. For in this sort and to the finishing thereof is he revealed unto men and published k Ioh. 1. 1 Tim. 3. 1 Joh. 2. to the world for a Saviour because all people should believe in him by him inherit the everlasting life and so confesse him and that sameis the true righteousnesse which is availeable before God and well pleasing unto those men which are of a good will 72. Now inasmuch as the rich bountifull God hath out of his grace granted me to perceive that we are all called and loved to the same glory of God and to the upright being of the love of his Christ because we should inherit with all what is of God and Christ the everlasting life and for that the same is the l Eph. 1.5 Col. 1. principall point of our godlinesse therefore have I pointed none unto flesh and bloud nor to any elementish or visible things neither doth my teaching tend to the outward but from the outward to passe on to the same inward and heavenly and to Gods Kingdome of heaven whereof is spoken before to the intent that no man should set the consolation of his soul nor the comfort of his Salvation upon the outvvard nor earthly nor put his confidence thereon but only on the upright life of the righteous spirit and upon the coming of the godly glory in Jesu Christ of which things I have according to my sight out of the heavenly revelation of God much and abundantly spoken in the Glasse of Righteousnesse and in this Introduction mine exhortation is out of love also to the same to the intent we should have an earnest love and be provoked with desire towards it 73. Which life of Righteousnesse whereof we witnesse is inwardly godly according to the divine nature and outwardly brotherly after the upright humane nature and that same is the upright righteousnesse before God and amongst men 74. Who so now from the heart seeketh God and his righteousnesse and rightly hath regard to the upright life the same person will acknowledge that my teaching and ministration is of God and that it tendeth to the upright life and vvho so likewise to this end searcheth the Scripture for the promises shall assuredly find that it maketh mention of such things and that the Law the Prophets and the Apostles of Christ dâ— all point and vvitnesse to the very same 75. When the man now according to the truth perceiveth this same then will he for the love of righteousnesse sake be also inclined there unto and yeeld his understanding m 2 Gor. 10. captive under the obedience of the love praise God highly for his grace and through the belief passe on towards the upright life in all love 76. Though he now and then fail stumble or fall yet if his eyes of the spirit have respect to the upright life and to the love and that he glasse himself daily in the Glasse of Rightousnesse doubtlesse the same shall cause him to see and shall rightly shew him his spots and shall be unto him n Ioh. 4.7 as an open fountain of life against the sin and way of death CHAP. XIII 1. None can know God nor Christ rightly but in the Spirit of the love 11. No better grounds then the Doctrine of the love 14. An exhortation to the obeyers of her service that they blaspheme not other mens writings nor condemn any for Sects but rather allure all to the love 19. and that they put away the evill as much as they can out of themselves 20. The despisers are vaine 23. The consenters hereunto are counselled not to think they have already obtained but to labour and to continue in the doctrine of the love till the laying away of the mortall body 32. Not to be dismaid at the enemies but like souldiers to prepare themselves to the battell 33. Though we be sometimes hurt yet to take new courage still 36. Considering whereunto we are called through Jesus Christ TAke it to heart O ye children of men and let your understanding be renewed a Rom. 12. Eph. 4. according to the spirit to such an upright knowledge as God esteemeth to wit vvith the vvord of truth in the spirit of the love to an assured living hope and good conscience in Jesu Christ 2. For vvho so after the spirit conceiveth not the same nor is renevved in his understanding to the same upright knowledge under the obedience of the love in such a one there is no knowledge of Christ neither can he be rightly turned to Christ or to the upright belief but only through the same 3. For the fall from Christ is come and it is according to the Prophecie understood known and well perceived how that the same b 2 Thes 1. through the child of perdition according to the mention of the Scriptures hath in every respect so utterly c Rom. 1. Eph. 4. blinded depraved and corrupted the understanding of men concerning God and Christ that the children of men how wise or learned soever they of themselves be do neither d Ioh. 8.16 of the Father nor yet of the Son knovv any thing at all 4. And surely whosoever doth not submit his understanding under the service of the love the same man sheweth thereby that he is without understanding because by his understanding he perceiveth not how that he vvhich hath not the love e 1 Ioh. 1 hath not also the Son nor the Father but is vvithout Christ and his Church and can please God by no other means also can neither now nor evermore without the inclination of love neither through any other services or literall wisdome come to the holy knowledge of God or attain unto the same 5. But if any now believe not this same by reason of the high regard to their knowledge or by means of any respect unto their holinesse f Col. 2. or spirituall humility such as they have chosen or taken to themselves and as is not according to the promises as God in times past hath spoken by Moses his servant and by the mouth of his holy Prophets doubtlesse they howsoever they suppose or maintain g Esa 59. that they have the light must needs abide in h 1 Ioh. 2. darknesse for their unbelievers cause whose unbelief cannot hurt the believers neither can the Work of God for all that abide back 6. O deep and unsearchable vvisdome of God! i Esa 40. Sap. 9. Rom. 11. 1 Cor. 2. which of the great and high glorious wise or of the self-chosen holy ones hath ever attained unto thee 7. Unto which of them is thine arm known that hath heard or understood thy holy word or thy mind
aright 8. Therefore needs must they all in lowlinesse of heart be humbled under thee and become subject to thy true love that they may rejoice them in the truth otherwise they must remain blind in their imagination k Ioh. 3. and may not see the Kingdom of God for ever 9. For so long as they through the love or her inclination l Mat. 18. be not in their corrupt understanding turned about by the word of truth and are not well minded to the vertue of the love certainly there can appear unto them no light of the truth to Salvation for God hath foreseen the perfection m Deut. 6.10 1 Cor. 13. 1 Tim. 1. in the love according to the promises and not in the knowledge 10. Therefore let every one be lowly of spirit u 1 Ioh. 4. and humble of heart in his knowledge even as though he knew nothing and so have regard to the service of the love what it requireth and let him hope and long for it to the intent he may be comprehended therein that is to say in the doctrine thereof for therein is the godlinesse understood and known and so let him indeavour towards the best 11. And I hope that I shall alwaies towards the lovers of the truth do even so and not omit to set before them the most best for thereunto tend all my intents and desires neither know I at all any better thing then the teaching and ministring of the holy word under the obedience of the love 12. True it is I have as far as I might examined many sorts of Foundations and understandings and have likewise considered and scanned whereon they stood grounded but there is yet no better thing come to my hand 13. The Lord grant me his mercy and strengthen my mind to do and accomplish his will to the Salvation of men in the love 14. O ye lovers of the truth that have humbled your souls under the love and her service o Deut. 6.11.22 Pro. 4. take I pray you the truth to heart and reproach no mans writings teaching nor exhortations that have their ministration to the righteousnesse and to the concord but draw it all under the love that every one may give up and bring all what he hath taken on or wherein he is learned according to his humane imagination to the communion of the love give ear only to the godly Word of Life under the obedience of the love according to the manifestation of the glorious and godly light set forth in the Glasse of Righteousnesse and so above all his humane knowledge love the Concord and the upright life 15. Moreover condemn none particularly by name and be not offended at any that your hearts p Gal. 5. Acb. 12. be not moved to anger stumble not at any thing and reproach nor reject none for Sects but love all them that indeavour towards righteousnesse q 2 Pet. 1. with a like love to that upright righteousnesse which God esteemeth and thus draw all wel-willing ones to the true righeousnesse under the obedience of the love 16. And if any man seek the truth of you and his heart be inclined to the love then joyn your selves with him in the love and so speak r 1 Pet. 3. of the hope which is in you 17. For who so loveth the good though yet for a while he be in errour may for all that come to amendment in the love unlesse he should give over his heart in a wilfull contentiousnesse and despise the love and her service for his self-minds sake 18. But unto every one that will follow and is well minded to the love and her service Å¿ Eph. 4. unto such reach forth the hand to the unity of the upright life and that all in the love 19. If the evill assail you then put it from you as much as is possible for you untill the same evill get a going down in you and go into silence give it no respite to follow after his desire but become according to the spirit t Col. 1. 1 Thes 3. 1 Pet. 5 strong and firm in the good life u Deut. 7. 1 Pet. 2. to a peculiar possession of God even as it is here in this Introduction and in the Glasse of Righteousnesse according to the life shewed and declared 20. If so be ye cast this same behind the back to wit that ye refuse it or have no belief nor lust thereunto nor do hope thereon and yet by your self-wisdom perswade your selves to be wise then are ye vain and utterly unmeet to the Kingdome of God and how wise soever ye be yet shall you be found vain and without understanding and void of the true light of life 21. Now if any man say that he is already in the life and needeth no more or that it is needfull no more for him to hearken after any other understanding and therefore contemneth this form of the upright life and his service to the same life whereunto we bear witnesse and neither hath it nor indeavoureth towards it in the service of the love certainly he is yet in the death x 1 Ioh. 2. and darknesse and knoweth nothing at all either of Christ or of the life which is of God even as the darknesses also have never perceived nor known him 22. If any man then despise this good mind or spirit of love and with the heart withstandeth and blasphemeth it and doth not entertain the upright vertue of the love the same man hath beguiled his own heart and after the requiring of the knowledge of the old serpent seeketh his own advantage and not to do the will of the Lord. 23. But if on the other side O ye dearly beloved any do accept this which we bear witnesse of for right and truth let him not hardly over-hastily perswade himself that he by his knowledge hath already gotten it for there must at the first belief be joyned thereto and then look whose belief through the increase of God blossometh y 4 Esd 6. and is fruitfull let the same man attempt the battell in hope against that which maketh up it self against the same Let him have regard to the Word of life and so passe on towards it a Luk. 21. with patience or in long sufferance 24. That truely is the right Crosse of Christ b Mat. 16. Luk. 14. which we are daily with good wil in the obedience of the requiring of the service of love to take up c Act. 14. in the belief untill we be well exercised in the love and in the holy understanding whereunto we bear witnesse and not only in the knowledge 25. Lo to this present I find nor know no way els to the life therefore whosoever loveth the same let him endeavour towards it d Joh. 8. and so abide stedfast in the requiring of the gracious Word and of the doctrine of the holy spirit of love untill
Christ upon hope and confidence of his coming for an holy annointing and for an upright freedom in Jesu Christ unto him 37. Who so therefore readeth these sentences in the first book let him observe thereby what they require and how they sound namely that those which desire to come to the blessednesse and freedome of Christ must h Rom. 6 Gal. 3.4 be at the first servants or Disciples of the righteousnesse deny and forsake themselves for Christ his sake and alwaies long to come to the true obedience of the righteousnesse in all love i 1 Glas 7. not according to mens imaginations but according to Gods calling that so they might live k Iohn 8 Rom. 6 free in the righteousnesse of God and not in the sinne nor as servants of men this same is there distinctly set forth were it but rightly understood 38. But who so hath regard to his own liberty and not to the calling of his salvation nor in the obeying of the foregoing Service l Rom. 6 13. Eph. 4. Col. 2.3 1 Pet. 2.4 to the mortifying and laying away of the sinne in the flesh doth not take heed to the same that so he may be incorporated to the good spirit of Christ the same man erreth not onely from the doctrine of the Word after the manner of men but also from the wisdome of the truth of God and so getteth a delight in his own understanding in such sort that he neither hearkeneth longeth nor careth for the good any more but hath a desire to error and perversity 39. Oh! it is sure very lamentable that the man out of such a mind cleaveth to the unrighteousnesse or else chooseth another calling and practiseth a selfe-made humility m Col. 2. or spiritualnesse and careth not for Gods promises nor establishing of his VVord n Luke 1 Acts 3 in such a sort as God hath heretofore spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets from the beginning of the world CHAP. XVI 1. Of the saying that men should be impartiall how it ought to be understood 12. How the Common Love is profitable to impartiality 16. Of those that are outwardly just unto men but unjust before God 22. Of such as think themselves to be impartiall because they regard no outward Religions and in the meane space with-hold from God that which is his 28. Divers raile at all that observe any Religion 35. How we are to judge of all outward God Services and Ceremonies THere goeth also a sentence abroad among many whereof likewise much mention is made in our writings that according to the requiring of Christian Doctrine men should stand a 1 Cor. 3 impartiall 2. O ye deerly beloved erre not through any conceit of the imagination but have regard to the Word concerning the upright impartialnesse and if ye mark the same well you shall understand that men are to be impartiall in the truth and with those that witnesse the truth under the obedience of the Love to the intent that no man take part with flesh and blood but with the truth and be in the unity of the love b Rom. 12 15 1 Cor. 1 2 Cor. 13. Phil. 2 well minded to a like life of righteousnesse namely with all them that do under the obedience of the love witnesse and minister the gracious word of truth and be comprehended in the upright brotherly love 3. But men may not thus be impartiall with the world or with those that with heart and will do cleave unto the world that lie still in the vanity and sin and that are not believing nor desirous to obtaine any better thing no nor with the conceited wise nor with the maintainers of factious ceremonies c 2 Cor. 12 Gal. 3 1 Tim. 6. 2 Pet. 2. who are envyers blasphemers and evill speakers against the holy Word of Truth and of the service of his Love 4. Truly with such men are not to stand impartiall but with spirit and life to be against them utterly and yet to shew forth the upright nature of the love unto them if happily by some means they might be drawne to their preservation in the godlinesse unto the communion of the Love 5. But with the d Infra 18 lovers of righteousnesse as is aforesaid and likewise with the sinners such as cleave not by their will to the unrighteousnesse but do daily depart therefrom and have a servent desire to the righteousnesse under the obedience of the love men are to stand impartiall and to sticke fast unto that which is godly and that tendeth to the concord and peace 6. Therefore judge of the impartialnesse with understanding and put a difference between the godly life and the life of the world and try your selves if so be you know your selves 7. Look into your hearts observing whom you cleave unto desire and love how or with what manner disposition ye stand impartiall whether ye would rather suffer e Heb. 11. or indure disgrace reproach and contmpt with the Lovers of the Righteousnesse then cleave unto the honour voluptuousnesse and riches or ease of this world Oh! I feare that many of them boast themselves to stand impartiall with the truth who notwithstanding are altogether partially minded against the truth 8. Neverthelesse let no man take anie thing unto him out of any choosing whether it be out of loathing or of liking but let every one search his own heart how he findeth the same disposed examine once himself whether he stand impartiall rightly or not 9. And when the man hath seriously tried and proved himself herein in such sort that he knoweth assuredly how his heart standeth in case he wholly love God and his righteousnesse intend the truth in the Love with his whole soule and desire to deny and to forsake himselfe f Mat. 16. Luke 9.14 with all that is in the world for the godlinesse sake then shall he very well know and understand a difference between the cleavers to the world and those that from the bottom of their soules love the righeousnesse 10. Wheresoevea then any upright impartiall hearts are found and that they do shew forth under the obedience of the Love the praise of God the salvation of men and the truth out of the love of righteousnesse and do point none unto flesh and blood nor to any visible elements but only to the good life of the true essentiall Godhead and are thereunto serviceable to all men to all concord in the love of Jesu Christ with those are the Lovers of righteousnesse and truth to stand impartiall to the unity of heart in the love and so to have regard to the ministration of the godly testimonies of the holy spirit of the Love unto obedience for to walk in such a life of godlinesse as is pointed out and witnessed thereby and in that manner to grow up in the good g Eph. 2. Apo. 21 to an house or tabernacle of the living God or
Cor. 1. wiser then all the wisdom of the subtil wit or understanding of the flesh For if the man should have the right in his wisdom doubtlesse God must needs be in the wrong 9. Therefore abideth the Saying ever stedfast a Psal 116 Rom. 3. God only good and true in trying and all men of themselves deceivable and lying 10. Which deceivable and lying b Eccl. 21. being the man ought before all things to eschew even as a Canker and with the heart to cleave to none c Pro. 1.3 1 Joh. 2. whose minde will and desire hath any delight and pleasure in the ungodly being of the confused world d Mat. 10. Luk. 14. yea though it were even Husband Wife Children and Kinsfolks Father or Mother Sister or Brother Master or Servant Nay be he who he will so farr as he cleaveth willingly to the evill 11. Oh! Take heed to your selves that in any wise ye go not with the heart lame or limping e 3 Reg. 18 nor halt on both sides that ye seek not the living God with retaining the Divels nature f 2 Cor. 6 nor Christ with keeping the Belialish spirit of Antichrist nor the righteousnesse by retaining any unrighteousnesse to the intent that in such a mixture ye perish not with the wicked erring World which desireth to serve God and the Divell together 12. With those which are so minded g Supra 16 hold not your hearts common or at unitie you I mean that have a longing to God and his Righteousness but rather be ye against them namely against such as withstand all Righteousnesse and the Uuitie in the Love yet not with the Mouth lest ye be burthened with any thing to your hinderance in Godlinesse h Pro. 4. but with the Heart Minde and Life For in the same opposition is the right Preservation in Jesus Christ which God esteemeth 13. Neverthelesse unto the lovers of Righteousnesse who have minded Love Concord and Peace or do endeavour therafter we are to speak according as their Understanding can bear i 1 Pet. 3. of the lively hope which is in us to wit so much as serveth to edification and may be godly to hear and so become full of the Spirit and k Eph. 1. Phil. 1. Col. 1. knowledge of spirituall wisdom in all love 14. Many have indeed heretofore as it is reasonably well known unto many of us spoken of Letter and Scripture abundantly rehearsed every mans Failes both of the Spirituall and Temporall and according to the Histories of the Scriptures confessed their Understanding and yet have not marked nor known in what sort or being they should prepare their l Eccl. 2. hearts before God and so by their untimely zeal have cast themselves into the hands of the World and plucked a yoak m Act. 15. or burden upon their necks which they were not able to bear 15. Keep your selves yee Deerly-beloved from such things For at first God calleth us n 1 Thes 4 2 Thess 2 1 Pet. 1. unto Sanctification in the Spirit and not unto much Confessing with the Mouth 16. Now if any man say Christ hath taught to o Mat. 10. Mat. 8. Luk. 9. 12. confesse him That is right indeed if it were well understood 17. But O Beloved tell me I pray you How will ye confesse Christ p Joh. 1.5 whom ye know not or before ye have in q Rom. 6.8 2 Cor. 4. Phil. 3. Col. 2. death and life followed and put him on 18. True it is ye have read or heard of Him in the Scripture neverthelesse many have never seen r Joh. 5. his shape and his love dwelleth not in them and therefore they understand not what they confesse For how should you by any means confesse Christ before Å¿ Gal. 4. he have his shape in you and that ye t Joh. 17. Heb. 3. 2 Pet. 1. be made partakers of his being 19. Know yee not that it is written how that Christ saith to his Father u Joh. 17. I have given them the cleernesse which thou hast given mee that they should be one even as we are one I in them and Thou in Mee that they may be perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent mee and thou hast loved them as thou hast loved Me. Father I will that where I am there may they also be with me whom thou hast given me 20. Ruminate upon the sense mark well the ground understand the Scripture and take a view of your selves whether yee have received of Christ such a cleernesse or not and whether he be one with you and ye with him and with the Father 21. Now if it be thus with you to wit that ye be come to such a x 1 Thes 4 2 Thess 2 1 Pet. 1. sanctification in the Spirit through Christ then ye know who he is for to confesse him and yee know him how that he is y Heb. 1. the like image of his Father one Being Spirit or Life with the Godhead z Apoc. 1.22 who hath neither beginning nor ending 22. He saith also a Joh. 14. I am the Way the Truth and the Life no man cometh to the Father but only through Me. 23. Moreover b Joh. 10. I am the door of the Sheep if any man enter in by me he shall be saved 24. Therefore have regard to the ground of the Scriptures how in all things they point us unto Christ to the intent that he should have his c Gal. 4. shape in us and that we should be in all upright righteousnesse and holinesse d Joh. 17. Heb. 3. 2 Pet. 1. partakers of his Being if it were but rightly understood For it is unpossible e Exo. 33. Rom. 8. 1 Cor. 2. to know the Spirit of Christ with an heart that is cloathed or covered with a mind of the Flesh 25. If Christ therefore hath a Shape in you f Joh. 7. How men shall rightly confesse Christ and you beleeve in him as the Scripture saith then may you confesse him rightly Howbeit not out of your imagining nor according to your knowledge out of the letter as the learned in the letter and the common people do that are without the communiality of the love of Jesus Christ but confesse him out of the shape that he hath in you through such a cleernesse as g Joh. 1. Acts 2. 2 Cor. 12 Gal. 1. 2 Pet. 1. his Apostles confessed him by even as it is written 26. That which was h 1 Joh. 1. from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked upon and our hands have handled of the Word of life And the life appeared and wee have seen it and do testifie and publish unto you the eternal life which was with the Father and is appeared unto us 27. Here may every one look into himself whether
witnessed and set forth in the same Behold there in the spirit of your understanding the everlasting unchangeable Statutes and Ordinances of Almighty God which also shall remain unchangeable for ever For that which is there witnessed is such an upright life m 〈◊〉 1. 〈◊〉 as the man is created unto for to live therein In which Statutes and Ordinances the Lords people have lived from the beginning 25. Yea such a Life Statutes and Ordinances are a delight and joy to all upright hearts and Prophets to live therein and they have heretofore born witnes thereunto that in time to come men should live in them For through the truth they saw into the life of peace in the love and that through the life of peace in the love every thing is made perfect and therein standeth firme or abideth stedfast 26. That verily is the life which is true n Joh. 1. and that life is the light of men o Eph. 1.5 Col. 1. and the head of the holy Commonalty Who so goeth out of it cometh to the death blindnes and darknes 27. But the soules of those that live therein are blessed in the Lord. For such people doth God require as do walk in his Ordinances that is to say in the life and peace of love p Deut. 6.2 and do love the only God from the heart 28. Lo it is the true God that requireth such upright Righteousnes and he himself cleaveth to his Righteousnes his Statutes and Ordinances everlastingly q Joh. 1.2 For he is the spirit of his life the life of his word the word of his Spirit r Exod. 3 Mat. 22. the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Iacoh or Israel 29. That verily is the true life of peace and love and the Statutes and Ordinances are the same upright righteousnes which the holy Fathers have lived and walked in 30. The same Statutes and Ordinances of the holy Fathers were by Moses renewed ſ Exed 20. Deut. 5. and witnessed unto a life before all people And that life was through Jesus Christ being risen from the Dead and ascended into Heaven t Mat. 28. Mar. 16. published unto all people for a Gospel because they should live therein And unto all that believed thereon was the Resurrection from the dead and the everlasting life witnessed and promised through Iesus Christ 31. In sure and firm hope whereof the upright Beleevers have rested in the Lord Iesus Christ till the appearing of his coming which is now in this day of the love revealed out of the heavenly beeing with which Jesus Christ the former Beleevers of Christ v John 5. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4. who were fallen a sleepe rested or dyed in him are now also manifested in Glory 32. For Christ in the appearing of his comming raiseth his deceased from the dead x 1 Cor. 15. to the intent that they should reign alive with him over all his enemies y Mat. 25. John 5. Rom. 2. 2 Thes 1. and condemneth all the ungodly which have not liked of him 33. This is the joyful Message published to the Gentiles whereby z Eph. 2.3 as fellow-Heires in the Testaments of promise they are bidden and called to the house of Jacob and to the Citizenship of Jerusalem To the intent they should depart from the brutishnes of their errors and from the sundry intanglements of their Idolatries and turn them to the God of Israel for to serve him only and to live in his Statutes and Ordinances through the belief 34. Which Righteousnes a Ro. 2.3 is required out of the Law and is now in this last time openly and evidently witnessed out of the inclination of love and through the insight of the same upright life to a view of the upright righteousnes which the man is created unto and to a demonstration whereunto or to what end or fulfilling God hath given his promises and made his Covenant with the Fathers 35. Behold hereunto namely to that which we bear witnes of is the Calling of the Gentiles made b Rom. 11. Eph. 2. who are out of grace called thereunto for to serve with the Stock of Abraham one God in one manner of Righteousnes 36. Lo these are the promises c Gen. 17. which were committed to the Jewes in the Circumcision And Jesus Christ Act. 13. Rom. 9. the safe-making word of the Lord is amongst them d Rom. 15. for the truth of Gods sake become a Minister of the Circumcision to confirme the promises made unto the Fathers that the name of the God of Abraham might be magnified likewise among the Gentiles And for the mercies sake towards the Gentiles is the Grace of life published also to the Gentiles to the intent e Act. 10.11.13 Rom. 11. they should praise God and know the God of Israel and his Ordinances 37. Which God and his righteousnes we do now know in the love through the spirit of truth which according to the spirit f Joh. 14. leadeth us into all truth that is into all love according to the promises g Col. 5. For the love is the band of perfection By which Band we are sealed and confirmed for ever in the same perfection to the intent that Gods Glory his Covenant and promises may likewise abide firme from everlasting to everlasting Amen 38. Behold the same God of Israel who out of his Grace prepareth and bringeth all this unto us is the God h Gen. 1. that hath made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that is therein He it is that doth wonders who neither breaketh his promises i Deut. 4. Luke 1. nor forgetteth his Covenant who also suffereth not his Law and Righteousnes to be troden down for ever but he setteth up the Children of Israel his beloved Not for their Righteousnes k Deut. 9 but for their Fathers sakes towards whom he had a desire according as he promised and spake the same in times past by the mouth of his holy Prophets 39. Therefore have regard unto the everlasting unchangeable God being an invisible living God the God that hath made you created every thing that liveth and hath breath He l Heb. 13. it is which was which is and which is to come who liveth everlastingly and shall still continue And so is also his Life Law or righteousnes 40. Wherefore give heed unto the thing that is right and reasonable and shall continue for ever glasse your selves in the glasse of Righteousnes and therein behold according to the spirit the upright life and the m Exod. 20. Deut. 5. Lords Statutes and Ordinances which stand firm in God for evermore 41. Let not the matter in any wise seeme too slender or too small unto you For though the Righteousnes whereof we testifie be n 1 Cor. 2 no eloquent speech and that the same seemeth to be but as a small brooke yet is it
requiring of my holy and gracious Word that passeth forth under the obedience of my Love nor have any regard thereto know and understand that they all are [o] Isai 1 Amos 5 Luke 16 Tit. 1 an abomination and a loathsomness before mine eyes and that I cannot away with them to the end that they all through thy service out of my Love may turn them uprightly [p] Isai 55 Ier. 3 to me and my Love [q] Ezek. 17 Ioel 2 Math. 3 Luke 3 repent them for their sins and be [r] 2 Pet. 3 preserved in the clearness of the day of my righteous Judgment 8. Now bowing my self in all obedience to my God I went forth and did abide also always in the Lord even as the Lord had commanded me and my spirit being moved through Gods power I gave forth the sound of the voyce of the gracious Word of the Lord like as I had also done in times past 9. And even so out of the love of my God and Christ became the gracious Word of the Lord in living power out of the living God in sharp reproving chastising and nurturing as with documents to the putting away and mortifying of the sin of death and also in gentle-dealing or helpfulness to Salvation as with sweet [s] Isai 55 Ioh 4 7 Apo. 22 waters to the raising up of the righteousness of life [t] Iohn 4 and 7 flowing from my body and the sound of the same voyce enlarged it self wide abroad upon the earth 10. Have a good regard therefore O ye children of men unto that which becometh this day out of the gracious Word of thâ— Lord and his holy Spirit of Love spoken and expressed unto you and harden [u] Psal 95 Heb. 3 not your hearts in any case but [x] Jer. 7 and 18 25 35 amend your Being to the end that ye may enter with the children of God into the [y] Isai 32 Heb. 3 4 Rest of the Lord. CHAP. II. O Ye Children of men ye children [a] Gen. 3 Isai 1 9 Rom. 5 of defection which will not beleeve nor understand Gods Truth give any [b] Prov. 1 Jer. 7 ear to the Lords Will nor follow after the doctrine and instruction of the gracious Word and his holy Spirit of Love how can I in any case suffer you any longer then I have suffered you seeing that the Lord himself will not forbear you any longer in your unwillingness to his Righteousness 2. Thus long have I with the [c] Rom. 2 2 Pet. 3 long-suffering of the Lord beheld and considered it also with long-suffering what manner of ways it might be that ye all loved to walk in and whether also any man loved or desired to enter obediently into the [d] Prov. 3 and 4. Math 3 Mark 1 Luke 3 Act. 2 3 entrance or first School-rule to the way of Life and Peace in such sort as the same becometh administred under the obedience of the Love according to the Truth of God 3. Thus long have I been conversant in stilness with many of you and been by you like as one that can well abide to look on the wickedness of men and yet not correct or reprove the same But in all this my spirit hath been greatly [e] Jer. 9 and 14 Lam. 1 and 2. burthened with grief and with much heavy cheer very woful and sorrowful for you all O ye children of men 4. For viewing the whole face of the earth I beheld and noted directly the exceeding distractedness and [f] 4 Esdr 14 Math. 24 iniquity of the perverse world and the manifold [g] Dan. 9 and 11 Mark 13 abominations of desolation wherewith she hath brought her self into a most confused estate also the many and manifold [h] Isaiah 5 Rom. 1 and 12 1 Cor. 1 self-wisdoms chosen holinesses [i] Col. 2 2 Tim. 3 and false god-services or religions of men which they have taken on unto them out of the Scripturely learnedness and imagination of the knowledg and made or divided themselves there-through into many Sects Dissentions [k] Mat. 24 1 Cor. 1 and 3. Gal. 5 Jam 3 and Schisms or Divisions 5. I have moreover marked with long-suffering the forth-going of all such as boast them of the Love and perswade themselves that they cleave unto the Love and the Wisdom whether that there were any better thing loved by them then by the world and also whether that they approached any neerer to the Truth of God and to the upright Being of the Love then the wise of the world Scripture-learned 6. I have also for that cause walked lovely among certain of them and behaved my self [l] 2 Cor 5 Tit 3 very gently with them hoping even so that the true fear [m] Prov. 1 Eccl. 1 and 2. of God the [n] Psal 40 lust to the good and upright Being the upright [o] Math. 24 zeal to the Righteousness and the concord [p] Ezek. 11 1 Cor. 1 Eph. 4 of heart in the Love should have been found among them more then among the worldly wise and Scripture learned 7. But alas like as the world together with her wise and Scripture-learned are darkened or [q] Rom. 1 Eph. 4 blinded in heart and deaf in the understanding which comprehend not [r] Wisd 1 Math. 11 1 Cor. 2 the good Being of the Love nor yet consider on any of all that which God through the Spirit of his Love requireth but have always a lust to themselves and cleave unto the covetousness the voluptuousness of the flesh and the self-wisdom which seduceth them even so I have found many of you yea almost all which make boast of the Love and talk much thereof to stand in such like case and also advisedly marked that ye under the pretence or colour of the house or service of Love have taken on to your selves the [s] 2 Pet. 2 Iude 1 voluptousness of the flesh according to the manner of the world to be your freedom and your own [t] Ier 7 11 18 thoughts of the good-thinking according to the imagination of the knowledg like unto many unillumated [u] 1 Cor. 1 Scripture-learned and good-thinking wise to be your wisdom and have no regard to the godly life of the gracious Word nor to the [x] Prov. 1 counsel of the Testimony of the holy Spirit of Love neither yet humble you obediently to the Love and her service and yet notwithstanding when one asketh you whether ye have adjoyned you to the Love or are minded to continue with a good will by the same ye answer and say expresly O yea we will cleave unto the Love and not forsake the same in any case 8. Howbeit ye cover therewithal your false desires and also the lusts of your flesh wherein ye [y] Rom. 1 Eph. 4 2 Per. 2 Iude 1 live and walk and remain even so without
the obedience of the holy Word and of the requiring of his service of Love and abide also bound or owned to your selves and to your own counsel and will and come not to the Truth of God which floweth forth serviceably out of the Love for to be obedient as right [z] John 8 Jam 1 Disciples of the Word unto the same 9. But verily after such a manner ye are towards the gracious Word of the Lord and his service of Love [a] Psal 50 Ier. 2 3 Hos 4 5 even like unto an whore which after her hearts good-thinking to a cloaking of her whoredom chuseth an husband and coupleth her self in marriage unto him for that she might boast her as a married wife and under such a covering and boasting that she hath an husband committeth her whoredom seeing that ye in like manner without Christ and against Christ although ye make great boast of him commit whoredom and deal nor walk not according to the doctrine or requiring of Christ 10. For which your covered or cloaked whoredoms cause and unrighteous walking the Lord hath moved my minde and commanded me to figure forth your whoredom and [b] Ier. 7 unrighteous ways before you also to [c] Isai 58 reprove you thereof and to exhort you to amendment and to warn you even so of the destruction that is to come upon the ungodly in the righteous judgement of God 11. O thou whorish Nature Be ashamed I say presently before the Lord and before the Seat [d] Isaiah 16 Mat. 25 of his Majesty where-out he declareth his upright Righteousness that thou boastest thee so of Christ the gracious Word of the Father [e] 2 Cor. 11 as of thy Husband and of the lovely Nature of his Love and yet whilest thou doest so holdest thine heart common or of one Being with the Antichrist with the wicked World and with the self-wisdomes of her Sectaries and Scripture-learned Peruse and ponder now well the [f] Isa 59 falshood of thine Heart and consider throughly all thy Covetousness [g] Ier. 7 9 theevery self-Seeking and whoredom which thou hast committed against Christ and his Love 12. O ye Children of Men when ye have once perceived and clearly seen in your inwardnes into all this same whorish Nature of your unrighteous walking then withdraw you first of all therefrom [h] Jer. 2 3 and turn you to the goodness of our Lord Jesus Christ and [i] Ezek. 18 38 repent you and let your selves even so under the Obedience of the holy and gracious Word and of his service of Love become [k] Eph. 4 changed to an upright being of Christ and taught [l] Pro. 1 4 instructed and counselled as single-minded [m] Mat. 18 1 Cor. 14 Children which wholly give over themselves obediently under the tuition or custodie of their Mother by the Elders in the holy understanding of the Spirit of the Love of Jesus Christ and even so in all obedience of the love of Jesus Christ become fostered and trayned up in the godly Wisdom of the holy understanding 13. Hereto apply you first of all with faithfull hearts and come then even so to the lovely (n) Eph. 4 and true being of the Love Jesus Christ and to the upright (o) Ioh. 1 Freedom of the Children of God CHAP. III. O Ye Children of the (a) Gen. 3 Isai 1. 59 Rom. 5 defecting or off falling Being which say that ye cleave unto Christ and his Love and under such a boasting commit your whoredom to you is my cry and calling For I lament and bewaile very much your (b) Ier. 2 Hosea 4 unfaithfulness and all your feignedness wherewith ye think to cover you before me 2. But no beloved no ye cannot abide covered before me nor before the face of my God but ye must all in this very day of the Love become manifest before the Majestie of God and [c] Rom. 14 2 Cor. 5 before the Seat of the Judgment of Christ 3. For although ye dissemble with me how craftily soever ye cover or feign you before me yet are nevertheles [d] 1 Cor. 4 all the Counsels and Falshoods of your Hearts manifest before me and so much the more naked and bare [e] Psal 44 Heb. 4 before the eyes of my heart and spirit 4. For so long as your hearts stand not submitted good-willingly to the Heart and Spirit of my God nor are wholy given over to be (f) 1 Peter 1 James 1 obedient Disciples of the Word unto the gracious Word his service of Love So can I also through the true (g) Iohn 1 3 Light wherein God hath glorified or throughly lighted me right well perceive fee and note that all your minds and thoughts are not minded with the heart and spirit of my God nor with the requiring of the gracious Word and of his service of Love but there-against mingled with wicked (h) Gen. 6 8 Eccl. 17 18 Inclinations or Affections 5. Seeing now then that I through the light of my God do clearly see into all your pernicious corrupted Nature and wicked Inclinations and gladly vouchsafe you all out of the upright Being of my God that which were better to the end that under the obedience of the Love there might be found by you all an upright Being i Eph. 4 2 Pet. 1 of the Love of Jesus Christ So cannot I of Natures part nor of the k 2 Cor 5 nature of the Loves part which driveth me thereto alwaies keep silence but must even out of love witnesse unto you the (l) Isa 13 47 Math. 24 1 Tim. 4 2 Tim. 3 2 Pet. 2 perils of destruction which have bewrapped and encompassed you 6. For that cause I admonish you this day of the Destruction and foretell you as truly as the Lord liveth if ye endeavour not your selves to the Obedience of the requiring of the gracious Word and (m) 1 Ioh. 3 4 of his service of Love for to become upright of heart to fear the God of Life to love the Vertues of the lovely Being of the Love to live uprightly (n) Rom. 12 2 Cor. 12 Eph. 4 1 Ioh. 1 in the communiallity of the Love with all the holiness of God and to deal or behave your selves (o) Zac. 7. 8 faithfully with them and so to become wholly godded with God [p] John 17 and his Christ or [q] John 15 Eph. 3 2 Pet. 1 incorporated to that same godly Being but seek your selves or any other thing in or by the gracious Word and his service of Love or else take unto your selves a good-thinking word and falsly usurp the Service of Love and boast you thereof and even so hold your hearts common or of one Being with the [r] 1 Iohn 2 worldly Being and fashion and with the false hearts of the seditious Scripture-learned So will
it then assuredly go evil with you in this day of the Love of the righteous Judgment [s] Isai 13 and 47 Math. 25 of God yea much [t] Math. 11 worse then with the worldly ignorant which have not heard any better then the manner or Rite of the world or of the seditious and sectarish Scripture-learnedness 7. For unto you all which presently in this very day of the Love hear the voyce or sound of the Spirit of Love the good Being of the Love becometh expresly set forth and the Life of the upright Righteousness figured out before your eyes and to the same also ye are all u Mat. 11. Eph. 1 and 4. 2 Pet. 1 called and entirely bidden And the hand reached forth unto you to your assisting therein to the end that ye should all with willing hearts wholy give over your selvs under obedience of the Love thereunto and so enter into the way or entrance to the same 8. But verily if ye now in all this [x] 2 Thes 2 love and mercifulness which this day chanceth or becometh brought unto you through the Spirit of Love will not give ear to the Voyce or Testimony [y] Ier. 25 and 29 of the gracious Word nor learn in the service of Love the [z] Math. 11 humility of heart nor the meek-mindedness of Spirit neither yet once laud nor thank the God of Life for such an appeared [a] Tit. 2 grace but [b] Prov. 1 refuse the proffered grace and turn away therefrom keep off the same from your hearts run on light-mindedly with your taken-on knowledg have no regard at all to the Wisdom of the Love nor endeavor to attain to the righteousness of the upright Being of the Love and even so [c] Psal 95 Heb. 3 hardening your hearts follow after your own [d] Jer. 7 and 18 44 good-thinking so think well then hereon and consider it advisedly O ye self-minded ones and good-thinking wise that ye with such pervertedness of your good-thinking hearts shall become [e] Isai 59 Eph. 4 estranged from God and his Truth wax cold towards the right Love and altogether unwilling to give over your hearts in the service of Love 9. Yea that God will also for that cause seeing that ye are so [f] Prov. 24 Math. 25 slothful to the service of his Love and to all that God in this his holy day requireth g Apoc. 3 spew you out of his mouth and not let you taste his lovely Being nor finde the [h] Heb. 4 Rest of his holy ones but will let your hearts rest blinded from his upright Light and your time days and years pass away or [i] Wisd 5 Isaiah 13 and 47 Mal. 4 perish with the ungodly in ignorance and darkness 10. O ye [k] Prov. 6 and 24 Math. 25 sluggish to the Will of the highest God ye [l] Phil. 2 seekers of your own selfness in the service of the Love and ye all which are so wise or [m] Isaiah 5 knowledgful in your own conceit and without the counsel of the holy Spirit of Love n Prov. 1 follow and ensue your own counsel jet on with stiff [o] Isaiah 3 necks and even presumptuous boldly [p] Wisd 1 and 2. hunt after your own destruction how long will ye yet through your disobedience bring sorrow and care upon me and pain me so with anguish in my heart 11. How long will ye yet follow your own counsel and cast behinde you the counsel of the Wisdom 12. Oh! I fear that ye will not cease from doing your own will until that the Destruction have utterly swallowed you up and that ye shall not finde any more time of converting to [q] Heb. 12 amendment 13. How are ye for shame thus cold and how slowly come ye forward to the Service of the Love How abide ye always so very childish or (r) 2 Tim. 3 Heb. 5 weak of understanding in the knowledg of the entrance to the first school-rule of the Christian Doctrine of the Service of Love and of the heavenly Truth I have doubtess held forth or expressed all good before you and evidently figured forth the upright Being of the Love and the entrance to the same among you through which Service so extended on you all my hope hath been that I should have rejoyced with you in s Eph. 4 Col. 1 1 Pet 5 the growing up in the godly understanding of the upright Being of the Love as with loving Children of the Kingdom in the godly Being of the Love 14. But alas it grieveth my heart sore now that ye begin to wax aged or old in the understanding and ought of right to be (t) Hel 5 Elders in the holy Understanding I finde that many of you grow not up in the (u) Eph 4 oldness of the holy Understanding of the gracious Word or Christ according to the upright Being of the requiring of his service of Love but in your own or self-framed understanding or destroying (x) Gen 3 1 Cor. 8 knowledg and yet dayly increase therein and not in the (y) Wisd 1 and 7 Jam 3 Wisdom of the Love that godly Understanding CHAP. IV. OH where shall I once finde such as take to heart the gracious Word and the instruction of his Service of Love or his counsel a Deut. 6 and 11 32 Prov. 4 of the Wisdom and even so with single-minded b Wisd 1 hearts follow after the same obediently For I finde by experience that the most part of people which make a c 2 Tim 3 shew as though they turned them to the Love or to the Service of the same turn them not d Ier. 3 aright to the Love and her Service 2. For that cause such shew plainly their unfaithfulness and in turning them away from the requiring of the Love it becometh manifest in the bringing forth or spreading abroad of their own counsel lust and will which they take unto them through the imagination of their knowledg that they are utterly estranged from the gracious Word of the Lord and from his requiring and turned towards their own word and will 3. For there are very few to be found that give over themselves hereto namely to [e] Mat. 16 forsake their Self-wisdom or Imagination of the Knowledg and to live obediently [f] 1 Kin. 15 1 Pet. 1 according to the Counsel and Doctrine of the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love But almost all and especially they that refuse the Love and the Requiring of her Service set themselves to Judgment for to [g] Jer. 13 judg with their own Word and Imagination of the Knowledg Gods gracious [h] 1 John 3 and 4 Word and the [i] Isaiah 30 Service of his holy Spirit of Love as also the Elders in the same Service 4. Yea many think also in their hearts That they will look well hereto that they
be not in any wise seduced or deceived by the Love which [k] 1 Iohn 4 nevertheless is God himself nor by the Spirit of Love which is the true godliness of Jesus Christ nor by the dayed-Elder in the same Spirit which witnesseth the upright Being of the Love and her Spirit 5. Behold such a Circumspection will they almost all occupy or use supposing even so according to their good thinking or own knowledg to enter into the Life and although they are not regenerated in the Obedience of the Love of Jesus Christ [l] Wisd 1 Matth. 11 and 13 1 Cor. 2 nor yet understand the Works of God nor the Mystery of his Kingdom to be more prudent and understanding with their knowledg then God himself and his Spirit of Love 6. Which Spirit hath now in this very day through the mercy of God and his elected Minister made manifest the secret Treasures of God and the godly and spiritual [m] Eph. 3 Col. 1 2 Tim. 1 Riches of the heavenly Goods so distinctly and nakedly and also brought the same so abundantly and liberally unto us in the obedience of the requiring of his Service of Love where-out also we declare forth the same again among the children of men That the simplest or very least among the understanding ones if he considered thereon might right easily understand that this our Ministration of the holy Word in the Service of Love is Gods working and not the mans and that the same Spirit and such an holy understanding n Mat. 16. as is witnessed declared out of the same Ministration proceeded not out of any flesh nor earthly understanding but out of the living God and that men also without conceiving any evil opinion thereof ought to be obedient to that same Spirit in the requiring of his holy Word and Service under the obedience of the Love 7. Howbeit many will not consider hereon but they turn them almost all to their own [o] James 3 understanding out of the wisdom of the flesh and Scripture-learnedness or imagination of the knowledg wherein they intangle disturb or disquiet themselves among each other and come not (p) Ephese 1 and 4 2 Tim. 3 to the Understanding whereunto they are called or required and wherein they might understand the Mind or Intent of the Works of God 8. Out of these ignorant Understandings according to the imagination of the Knowledg very many make up themselves presently which judg the Administration of the gracious Word of the holy Spirit of Love out of their ignorant and unilluminated Understandings and running forth even so with their Judgements here and there they know nor understand not themselves what they judg thereof 9. For the One murmureth here and will have it Thus after his Minde the Other murmureth there and will have it So after his Mind The One hath seen or marked This in it that is unright in his eyes The Other hath heard That thereof or else conceived and imagined to himself there-out some strange or absurd Matter that soundeth unto him in his ears and in his thoughts as unright or error 10. Herewith now and with such like as there is mentioned certain have so much to do and to talk of that they for that cause through the great toyl and business which they incumber themselves withall thereabout become so utterly blinded in their hearts that they by no means can consider on the single-minded [q] 1 Kin. 15 1 Pet. 1 Obedience which the gracious Word and his Service of Love requireth nor yet on the abundant Treasures and Riches [r] Mat. 13 Col. 2 of God which out of the heavenly Truth become [s] Ephes 3 Col. 1 revealed by Gods Grace so richly and liberally unto us in the Service of Love and through the holy Spirit of Love brought unto us to Salvation 11. They have likewise not once any regard what an upright and lovely godly [t] Eph. 4 2 Pet. 1 Being the gracious Word bringeth in the Obedience of his Service of Love unto his Beleevers 12. Also they understand not [u] Mat. 16 the time which is now present and at hand in which the ending of the perverse [x] 2 Pet. 3 world and the appearing of [y] Mat. 24 and 25 Luke 17 Acts 1 the Coming of out Lord Jesus Christ and the z Isai 26 Iohn 5 1 Cor. 15 1 Thes 4 Resurrection of his holy ones cometh to pass CHAP. V. OH Is it not a very lamentable case that I have [a] Eccl. 24 2 Cor. 11 labored thus long with such a fervency and diligence in the Mystery of the Works of God out of the godly powers among the children of men and given abroad the same Mystery of the Works of God unto them with so full resolution to their Salvation to declare thereby Gods Truth upon the Earth so openly and clearly dealt or been conversant in the travel of the godly Testimonies of the true Light among so many and also communed or spoken thus long yea so often and many times with them of the [b] Mat. 13 Luke 8 Mystery of the Kingdom of the God of Heaven and that I yet finde so few which with all their heart give over themselves good-willingly to be obedient c 1 Pet. 1 Jam. 1 disciples unto the gracious Word of Life and Truth and to his service of Love or that humble them according to the requiring of the Word and [d] Prov. 1 Counsel of the Wisdom aright there-under For almost they all [e] Phil. 2 seek themselves and not the Lord and even so hearing and beleeving themselves [f] Jer. 18 and 23 they follow after their own will and understanding and not the Lords nor his gracious Words 2. Seeing then that they hear beleeve and witness so gladly their own word and follow or ensue so gladly their own counsel wisdom and will so will they also very gladly and willingly submit themselves thereunder also gladly give them over and be obedient to the same [g] Ier. 7 11 13 but not to the gracious Word of Life or of the Spirit of Love Yea such an absurd and preposterous dealing against the gracious Word of Life or of the Spirit of Love is used often times much more by them which men have in estimation and count to have understanding then by the little and single-minded ones 3. Oh how much and many times is it mentioned in our Writings That the Lord detesteth and is wholly minded against [h] Isaiah 3 and 30 Rom 1 8 11 1 Cor. 1 all pride of the flesh against all the wisdoms of the earthly or fleshly men and against all their industry subtle pregnancy knowledg and counsel And how little becometh it taken to heart or how little thinketh and considereth the man that he touching Gods Causes ought to hold himself [i] Psal 37 Isaiah 30 still in his wisdom industry understanding
same are also to the health of all them that drink thereof 22. O how lovely is my Fountain and how sweet are my waters which flow forth there-out namely unto all them that love me and understand [c] Isai 42 1 Pet. 2 that I am friendly therefore [d] Isai 55 Apoc. 22 come now all unto me saith the Lord. 23. Leave now the friendship of the wicked world [e] Iam. 4 which is an utter enmity unto God and full of all manner of iniquity and make your friendship with me for I am in no case churlish [f] Isai 42 cruel horrible nor destroying like as the wicked world is but I am lovely gracious peaceable and beneficial or safe-making to the end that my dominion may even so through my lovely and upright Righteousness increase it self or [g] Isai 9 Mal. 1 3 become great now [h] Ioel 2 Acts 2 in the last time and that there be no end of the Peace from this time forth for evermore to the end that I may do even so that [i] Isai 32 and 42 Ier. 23 and 33 which is right on the earth and execute Righteousness among the people For all Heathen which turn their hearts unto God [k] Isai 42 and 51 attend on these my Institutions which come forth out of the Service of my Love saith the Lord. CHAP. VIII BEhold and consider and have a good regard hereon O ye beloved and good-willing hearts what an heart lust and love [a] Iohn 3 God hath turned or born towards us all for to rid and lead us all now in these last b Amos 5 Micha 2 Math. 24 perillous times through his Service of Love out of the abominations of the perverse would and so to bring us with our will to the Majesty c Isai 13 and 60 Ier. 3 of his Glory to the end that we should now in the last time through his Love and through the d 1 Tim. 2 Heb 9 Mediator his Christ become surely saved live e Luke 1 Eph. 1 4 always and for ever uprightly lovely and peaceably in the same Godhead with each other and so f 2 Pet. 3 inhabit the world according to the Promises of God the Father in Righteousness for evermore 2. Therefore namely for this same Loves cause which g Iohn 3 God is extending so graciously on us turn now your Love likewise to the same God of Life and [h] Eccl. 7 submit you all under the Obedience of his Love 3. O ye dearly beloved ye all I mean which say and profess that ye love the Truth stand in fear before the great glorious God and apply you not to any other thing then that which is according to his Will esteem right reverently i Psal 19 his Word have a singular regard to the Law of his Doctrine and with your whole heart respect well this [k] 2 Cor. 6 Heb. 12 proffered Grace which through the gracious Word of the Lord becometh expressed or held forth before you under the obedience of his Love 4. Which Word of Grace and Life God hath given in my mouth [l] Isa 49 51 and 59 Jer. 1 31 Heb. 8 and 10 written the same together with the Law of his Commandments in my heart minde and thoughts and chosen me to be his Minister to administer now in the last time under the obedience of his Love m Ier. 33 the same gracious Word to declare his Truth and to set up his most holy Service of Love through the Belief [n] Num. 14 to the end that the whole world may become full of the glory of God according to the Promises 5. For that cause come now all hither and refuse not the Lord but give over your selves and all what ye have o Psal 24. and 50 that is the Lords good-willingly unto the Lord and his Word to your preservation Come now all and lay down your selves and all what belongeth unto the Lord before the Seat of his Majesty 6. Respect well now this same p 2 Cor. 6 Gal. 6 Heb. 12 time of Grace ere ever the q Eccl. 5 Rom. 2 wrath of God and his indignation fall upon all ungodly and have a diligent regard in time what the Service of Love requireth 7. Howbeit if ye do r Prov. 1 refuse this same Love of God the Father and withhold from the Lord that which belongeth unto him not fear the same glorious God cast his Word Law and Will s Isai 5 4 Esdr 7 behind you not regard the hearty mercifulness of his Love which he sheweth so liberally on us forsake the Comunality of holy ones under the obedience of the Love and refuse to assemble you unto the same and even so cleave much rather with the ungodly unto the wicked world become puffed up in pomp and light-minded of heart and even so according to your lusts and good-thinking follow after your own freedom t Ier. 7 and 9 Rom. 1 1 Pet. 4 2 Pet. 2 Iude 1 will and counsel So will God then also turn away his Love from you and not let you taste the lovely being of his Love which he now in the u Joel 2 Acts 2 last time bringeth unto his elected holy ones which submit them under his Love to an eternal x Isai 32 Wis 3 5 Heb. 3 4 Rest of the Godliness nor inherit the same for evermore but ye shall y Iohn 8 dye in your Sins and be forced to bear your condemnation z Mat. 11 and 25 Heb. 10 and punishment more then the children of the perverse or wicked world to whom this Grace hath not been proffered 8. Ye shall likewise dayly the longer the more wax blinded a Rom. 1 from the Way of Life become incorporated to the wicked and malicious Being of the ungodly and end your days and time in ungodliness and even so the number of your years shall then perish or waste away with the ungodly and your end shall be b Mal. 4 Wisd 3 Eccl. 21 horrible 9. For like as it shall go with all ungodly even so shall ye also become c Psal 37 and 52 Prov. 2 rooted out in indignation from the Land of the Living and condemned in the d Mat. 25 2 Pet. 3 fire of Hell and I which am the Lords cannot likewise of the holy Natures part of my God be moved with any remorse of pity or compassion towards you 10. For that be far from the minde of my Soul that I should set mine affection of the Love towards any such as love not God nor his Law but abide by their [e] 1 Cor. 1 and 8 own Knowledg and are ungodly of Will be he then what he is Friend or Stranger 11. But f Psa 112 and 128 Eccl. 1 and 34 blessed are they to the Lord and beloved in my heart which fear the Lord also cleave
obediently in the Service of Love with humble hearts unto the holy Word of the Spirit of Love and are godly of Will yea my minde standeth good-willing-towards all such even to all Grace and Mercy be he then what he is Friend or Stranger CHAP. IX BUt now if happily certain of the good-willing hearts to the Love should take these our fore-spoken sayings somewhat heavily or grievously to minde and say thereupon Because we are not altogether perfect Ye nor the Lord have not peradventure any good pleasure in us and we shall also possibly for our Imperfections cause seeing that we yet dayly stumble fall and sin very much perish with the wicked world and all ungodly 2. O ye Beloved and all ye good-willing hearts which are good-willing to the obedience of the witnessings of the holy Spirit of Love but are yet too young [a] Rom. 15 Gal. 6 and too weak to enter into the perfection these fore-spoken sharp sayings reprovings and punishments are not spoken to such as humble themselves obediently to the gracious Word and his Service of Love to do the Lords Will nor yet to the good-willing ones unto the same obedience b Rom. 7 although they are yet young and weak in the accomplishing of the perfection but to the evil-willing and to all them that with perverse c Wisd 1 thoughts and false or deceitful intents enter in so falsly d 1 Iohn 2 besides us and mean or purpose in no wise the Love but in all themselves and even so with their [e] Isai 59 Ier. 9 Wisd 1 malicious hearts and perverse thoughts hall away again from us also slander or [f] 2 Pet. 2 Iude 1 blaspheme the holy Word and our upright and godly Service of the Love and so spue forth their falshood with many lyes over us 3. Behold over this g Isa 1 wicked and venomous nature passeth forth the Judgment of God h Prov. 1 Isa 13 Wisd 12 Heb. 10 and his Punishment to the Condemnation of the same wicked Nature 4. For that cause O ye good-willing hearts set apart such thoughts as that God and the Spirit of his Love or his holy Ones should not for your weakness cause have any good pleasure in you in any case far from you but remember as it is also very true and look into the same according to the Truth that the grace of God the Father and the mercifulness of his Love prevaileth or taketh in the preeminence i Isai 13 Rom. 5 abundantly by or in the Beleevers of the Word and that God and the Spirit of his Love is k Rom. 2 2 Pet. 3 long-suffering towards all good-willing ones which humble them under the obedience of his Love also l Heb. 2 and 5 beareth them in all their weakness and m Ier. 31 forgiveth dayly all their sins to the end that they should even so enjoy his comfort and grow up with cheerful hearts or good courage so much the good willinger in the obedience n Eph. 4 Col. 1 of the gracious Word and so go on or press forth unto o 1 Pet. 5 Phil. 3 Heb. 6 the perfection 5. For consider and look into it once aright If the Sin whilest it was yet night have p Rom. 5 prevailed in us how much more then shall the Grace and Mercy of God to the obtaining of the Righteousness seeing that now to the salvation of men [q] Rom. 13 the Day against the Night and the Love with her safe-making Service against the Sin and Condemnation is entered in prevail or take the preheminence over us namely over all them that are [r] Luke 2 good of will and that submit or wholly give over themselves with all their heart for to be s Deut. 30 1 Kings 15 obedient unto the holy Word under the Love and express even so in the giving over of their heart that they have not any will to the t Rom. 6 sin or that which is [u] Wisd 14 Romans 1 unright nor yet to the [x] Rom. 13 Eph. 2 5 darknesses of the wicked world but have turned all their lust to the Righteousness for to [y] Iohn 8 and 12 1 Iohn 1 and 2 walk uprightly with the Communality of the Love in the light of the lovely Being of God for God hath no pleasure [z] Ezek. 18 1 Tim 2 2 Peter 3 in the perishing of sinners but his Pleasure is that they should all convert unto Him [a] Acts 17 repent them for their sins and live in his Righteousness 6. For that cause O ye feeble minded of heart and all ye infirm or weak which love the upright Life permit not any evil surmisings to take effect in you nor yet give place to the unbelief whereby you might be plucked away from the God of Life from the House or Communality of the holy ones of his Love but in all things wherein your memory or understanding might chance to be moved apply always [b] Prov. 4 your minds and thoughts to the instruction of the Wisdom and to the Doctrine of the holy Understanding of the Spirit of Love and submit [c] Eccles 6 even so your whole memory or understanding with all your minds and thoughts to the vertues of the godliness for to follow after the same in all obedience of the holy Word and to become old [d] Ezek. 4 and understanding therein to the end that ye in the youngness of your understanding seduce or deceive not your selves with any strange and [e] Wisd 4 Eccles 3 unprofitable thoughts 7. But ye shall always in your youngness and weakness let the giving over of your heart or your good-willingness to the Love and to the Obedience of the Requiring of her Service [f] Eccles 4 and 17 appear or become expressed before the [g] Eccles 6 7 8 9 Elders of the holy Understanding in the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love and not at the first the Perfection for verily it is not in your power at the first in the time of your youngness and weakness to bring forth the Perfection CHAP. X. GIve diligent Ear hereto and understand well the Words of my Voyce O ye Novises in our holy Communality or Family of Love wherein God himself dweleth and walketh and ye all which are yet young a Cor. 3 Heb. 5 and 6 in the holy Understanding and weak in the accomplishing of the upright Righteousness Consider and note once aright which is your first School Rule or the beginning of the Christian Doctrine in our upright Service of the godly Love namely that ye first of all turn you about from the b Isaiah 1 and 55 Jer 7 18 25 35 Iniquity and from all ungodly Being utterly forsake all the c Ezek. 14 Mat. 24 Abominations of the wicked world and with all your heart d 2 Cor. 6 Apoc. 18 depart there-from
and even so humble and wholly give over your selves under e Iohn 13 and 15 1 John 3 4 the Obedience of the Love for to become as single-minded f 1 Cor. 14 2 Cor. 11 1 Pet. 1 2 and obedient children by whom no Deceit nor any Lust or Will unto subtlety and craftiness nor any fainedness or doubleness of heart nor yet any unfaithfulness is to be found but which dayly in the g 2 Cor. 6 and 7 Apoc. 18 departing from the Iniquity and in the increasing h Ephes 4 or growing up in the good Being of the Love make manifest themselves with naked or uncovered hearts before the Seat of the Majesty i Prov. 28 Ecles 4 and 17 Rom. 14 1 Cor. 5 of God and even so in the confessing of their sins sigh k Luke 6 James 4 and complain over all their pernicious or corrupt Nature and wicked Lusts and Thoughts and make up themselves in them and where-through also they yet sometimes stumble and fall 2. Behold ye dearly Beloved enter first into this same small l 4 Esdr 7 Matthew 7 Way for the same bringeth or reacheth to the Perfection 3. Verily to such good-willing hearts which enter even so according to the Truth into the same small m Luke 13 Way that leadeth unto Life and to all such as apply them thereunto God hath n Ezek. 18 Eccles 12 a good pleasure and the Spirit of my Mind standeth also inclined to all goodness and mercy over those same because they do in such an humble submission plainly express that they fear God o Psalm 37 Amos 5 hate the Iniquity with her evil effects or inclination and against those same are good p Luke 2 Romans 2 of will towards God and his q Matth. 7 and 22 Ephes 1 and 4 Righteousness 4. But whereas now such a good will and giving over of the heart is not found in those I have no confidence that they mean or purpose in any wise the true Love nor yet that they have any lust or will to live in the good Being of God neither yet also that the upright Love and Truth is sought loved or desired by them 5. For all such as have not any good will lust nor desire to the good Being of God but live according to their own self-mindedness r Rom. 1 Ephes 4 1 Pet. 4 2 Pet. 2 and according to the sensuality will and pleasure of their flesh nor yet desire to enter obediently into the single-minded good Will s Ezek. 18 according to the Pleasure of God and the Requiring of his Word and Service of Love in which Service all coverings and bewitchings of the heart and all darknesses and earthly lying minds become layd off t Isaiah 25 2 Cor. 3 4 or are put away nor yet to be brought out of the earthly lying and covered Being to the beholding of the uncovered Face of God and Christ in the Spirit nor to Gods u Isaiah 2 Micha 4 Hill of the heavenly Sanctuary nor to the x Isaiah 60 Apoc. 21 and 22 most holy illuminating from on high the most soveraign y 1 Cor. 4 Heb. 4 Majesty of God those same are not meet to enter into Gods Sanctuary nor to live in his good Being 6. All such then as is aforesaid that have not any mind hereunto but z Prov. 1 Heb. 12 refuse this same grace and love of God the Father which is appeared lovingly granted and also brought unto us little ones and Gods Elect out of many thousands in this world and despise the same or make up themselves there-against Those cannot I verily account or esteem for any Communality of Love nor for any holy ones of God or Christ nor yet for any such as have any good in their mind 7. All such unbelievers and resisters of the Love and her Service may be right-easily known by a Mat. 7 and 12 their wicked deeds and inclination for such false hearts let them cloak or hide themselves how they will do all make themselves b 2 Tim. 3 1 John 2. manifest that they all against the Truth and against the Spirit or Mind of the supream God are or stand with the perverse World which is worthy of the fire of c Mat. 13 and 25 2 Peter 3 Hell and of the everlasting Condemnation altogether earthly and d John 8 James 3 devilishly minded they will also with their earthly understanding and fleshly mind always surmount or bear sway above the Wisdom of the Love 8. Ah consider yet once ye Beloved whether that it accorded well or were consonant that the Heaven should lie under or on the lowest place and the Earth drive or lie swaying there-over Verily much less accordeth it or it is far more absurd that Gods Mind of the e 4 Esdr 6 and 7 heavenly Truth the holy Understanding and the Wisdom or the Being of the godly Love should lie beneath or as depressed all under and the minds of the earthly and devilish lyingness and the self-will of the earthly man with the wisdom of the flesh raign or bear sway thereover 9. Therefore be now ashamed O ye children of the flesh which presently are so f Isaiah 5 good-thinking-wise that your hearts will and thoughts stand so g Isaiah 59 perversly minded against the God of Life and his Truth and against the Requiring and Ordinance of his Service of Love and that ye will always with your knowledg and fleshly minds bear sway above the holy Spirit of Love and his godly Testimonies and according to the imagination of your knowledg raign over his Wisdom 10. Oh I cannot wonder sufficiently at this same blindness of men which not withstanding through the false h Isaiah 59 light look so highly or are so far seeing in their knowledg and especially that the man is in all so i Deut. 32 voyd of understanding that he always according to the insight of his knowledg cleaveth unto and loveth the basest for the best the unpurest for the beautifullest the consumable for the everlasting and the Earthly for or in stead of the Heavenly 11. O ignorant and blockish earthly Man how gross art thou become of Understanding that thou like Esau sellest or givest over thy k Gen. 25 Heb. 12 Birth-right for any thing wherafter thou sufferest thee to lust and even so losest the Blessings of Isaac and the Inheritance of the Heavenly Beauty 12. Yea there is yet one thing that maketh me exceedingly and much more to wonder namely that many good-thinking Spirits or earthly Men are now waxen so presumptuous bold and arrogant of Heart that they with a fleshly l Gen. 3 Isaiah 1 and wicked Nature and lying Being and with their unrenewed or ungodded hearts busie themselves or take upon them m Isa 30. to judge the godly Matters and the Sentences of the holy Scriptures 13. Fye on
your own Honors sake i 1 Ioh. 12 which ye seek at the hands of the unregenerated Men and more esteem and covet then the honour of God many of you will not acknowledge the same nor yet confess your Blindness 6. Ye k Ier. 6 8 Ezek. 13 comfort your selves apace with Lyes and provoke even so Gods righteous Judgment to come upon you In which l Iude 1 Judgement it becometh now discovered unto you and ye are let m 1 Cor. 4 to see or it becometh made known unto you in your hearts That ye all which are of the Earth and have resisted the Truth of the Life have spoken presumptuously against the Lord despised the Love in her lovely Nature and upright Service n â— Heb. 10 and blasphemed the Spirit of Love which is the true Holy Ghost 7. Behold it shall now in this same Day o Acts 17 1 Cor. 4 Jude 1 of the righteous Iudgment of God wher-through all false Iudgments Unrighteousnesses become made manifest be given unto you to see into orplainly to perceive all this your falshood or horrible Iniquity And the recompence for the same shall likewise O ye false earthly Men fall upon you p Isa 13 Wis 5 Luke 21 with much Affliction Distress Misery and Woe in all your hearts 8. If ye now then perceiving well all your Falshood and in the time of your Affliction and distresse lay not your selves prostrate to a q Psal 110 1 Cor. 15 Bench for the Lords feet before the Seat of the Majesty of God but will needs with your false Iudgments and Unrighteousness bear the Dominion against God and his Majesty So shall ye yet nevertheless whether it be then with your will or against your will be trodden down as the Enemies of God r Psal 91 Rom. 16 with the feet of the Saints and laid under the feet of the Lord. 9. For our God the Lord of Hoasts cometh presently s Esa 3 Mat. 25 Iude 1 to Judgment and will plainly shew and make known the House of his dwelling namely that the Heaven and the heavenly Man is his t Isa 66 Acts 6 Seat and the Earth and the earthly Man the Bench of his Feet even as the Lord hath spoken the same in times past through the mouth of his holy Prophets CHAP. XV. O Ye good-willing Hearts a Amos 5 Micah 2 Mat. 24 which have now in these last perillous Times adjoyned your selves with a good Will under the Obedience of the Love with Us Litle-ones and Elected ones of God! Consider well presently on the Strangers which have nothing else in their minde but b Psal 10 and 52 56 and 58 and 120 subtilty and guilet and also on all such as come in with all c Phil. 3 Self-seeking with their fleshly d Rom. 1 Lusts and Desires and with their good-thinking e Ier. 7 1 Cor. 1 and Self-wisdom besides our holy Communiallity of the Love and then at the last when as they are aware that the gracious Word is against or contrary to their Selfe-seeking and Good-thinking separate them again from Us and from the Word and Requiring of the Service of Love Yea consider well what a Nature Being or Disposition they shew forth and how that they to the lenting f Rom. 16 and dividing of our Communiallity of the Love make up themselves against us and our godly Doctrine so shall ye then finde out in the Deed and Truth that all such doe make manifest themselves with their Self-wisdom and g Ier. 7 9 11 and 13 good-thinking Knowledge to be contrary minded against the holy Word of the Spirit of Love and also turn them away from the true Obedience of the Requiring of his Service 2. For that cause take now good heed and beware of all them that with their Self-wisdome or Imagination of the Knowledge h Rom. 16 besides the Doctrine of the godliness which is taught you through the Spirit of Love institute or bring in according to the self-seeking of the Flesh their strange or forged Doctrines and false Dealings wherewith they breed Division and cause Offence and separate you from such persons But abide stedfastly grounded in our most holy i Eph. 3 2 Tim. 1.3 Beliefe of the Love of Christ k Mat. 10 and 24 Heb. 12 and persevere therein even to the End that is till unto the lovely Being of the Godliness 3. Turn not aside in any case to any forreign Being without the Love fall not away likewise from the Service of the Love for the ignorant ones cause which make often times by reason of their disorderliness discord and offence and for that cause also they must as the matter or case requireth be l Gal. 6 2 Tim. 2 and 4 punished chastised and instructed Also become not sluggish nor careless with the m Prov. 6 and 24 slothful persons but with diligence and lust of your heart unto the upright n Mat. 22 Eph. 1 4 Righteousness and Holiness submit you always obediently and humbly under the godly Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love until that the gracious Word and his Love be planted in you o Iam. 1 with meek-mindedness the which is the Salvation of your Souls and the establishing of the Promises of God the Father 4. For in the same upright Being God will bring unto you all his treasures p Mat. 13 Col. 2 and heavenly goods also all peace q Iohn 10 and the everlasting life abundantly It is very true 5. O ye holy ones of God thou lovely Communiality of the Love fear not but be now of good cheer upon the earth against all your enemies For behold r Isai 35 your God cometh to be avenged on all your enemies for to lay them that they may be troden down under the feet of your Lord and and Saviour Jesus Christ and even so in your s Mat. 19 John 3 second birth out of the holy Spirit of the Love of Jesus Christ to transport or yeeld over the Judgment and Dominion upon the earth unto you and your Saviour Jesus Christ to the end that ye with him and he with you and your Saviour Jesus Christ and with his holy Spirit should from henceforth world without end reign with t Apoc. 5 and 22 Righteousnes upon the earth and u Isaiah 3 Wisd 3 Jude 1 judg the same with equity according to the Promises CHAP. XVI MAke you to the flight a Isa 52 Make you to the flight yea get you now all out of the way ye enemies of the Lord and his Service of Love and give the Lord with his holy ones b Isa 40 and 57 and 62 his room Yet shall ye not escape the Vengeance of God 2. For the Lord cometh forth now in mighty power with his righteous Judgment upon the earth for to purge the same of all her
weeds yea even now in the right c Mat. â—3 Time of Harvest the Lord cometh d Mat. 24 and 25 with his Angels for to root out all Weeds from off the Earth 3. O God e Apoc. 14 smite now in with thy Sickle and begin even so with thy Angels to reape the whole Earth For the weed is become ripe f 4 Esd 4 upon the earth and his Eares are thorough dry for that cause root the same now clean out for whereto or to what profit hath it his place among the good Wheat upon the Earth for as much as there is not any good to be looked for there out 4. Behold the g Mat. 13 Weed is the manifold sort of Lyes against the Truth of God the many manner of Iniquities against the Righteousness of Christ and the unmeasurable ungodlines of all Ungodly against the Godliness and against the true Being of the holy Spirit of Love which are all worthy h Apoc. 19 to be rooted out from the Earth and condemned in the i Mat. 13 and 25 2 Peter 3 hellish Fire 5. For for this same Weeds Cause k Gen. 3 Heb. 6 the Earth hath been thus long cursed and the good Wheat which the ignorant Reapers have also judged to be the Weed and worthy to be rooted out or could not often times discerne the one from the other l Mat. 13 Luke 8 oppressed or kept under 6. Therefore the Lord cometh now m Mat. 13 and 24 in the End of the World and maketh a plain difference and a right discerning betwixt the Weed and the good Wheat Yea the Lord hath made up himselfe and he cometh now in the right or due time n Isa 66 Mal. 4 2 Thes 1 with the heat of his burning Fire for to consume with his Fire all the Weeds and to empty or disburthen the Earth thereof to the end shee might come again to her Blessing and upright Fruitfulness o Psal 18 Ier. 10 Nahum 1 Mat. 24. Luke 21 2 Pet. 3 where through the Earth is now moved the Heavens troubled the Elements melt with heat and the Token of the coming of the Son of Man appeareth in the Heaven 7. With which Rumor or rushing Noise of the Power of God and his Holy ones p Mat. 24 1 Cor. 15 1 Thess 4 the last Trumpet doth also presently give forth her sound through whose blast of her vehement sound and through the appearing of the Coming of Christ q Dan. 12 Iohn 5 1 Cor. 15 1 Thess 4 the Dead stand up or arise unto the Judgment of God In such sort that Daniel the holy Prophet is also risen up r Dan. 12 in his part for to execute now in the last time or ending of the World the Judgment with God and his Righteous ones s Isa 3 Iude 1 upon the Earth against all ungodly to the end that they all together with the Works of their ungodliness might now become rooted out and condemned like as there is written thereof 8. Rejoyce now in this same Day t Apoc. 18 all ye holy Prophets Angels and Apostles for this is the u Deut. 5 Nahum 1 Day of the vengeance of our Lord and God for to revenge the Blood of his Holy ones x Mat. 25 Apoc. 16 that the Sinners have spilt or shed upon the Earth for to declare or reveal his Holy ones again gloriously upon the Earth to the end that they might y Peter 3 inhabit the same peaceably in all love and reign there over or z Apoc. 5 and 22 judge the same with Righteousness from henceforth World without end CHAP. XVII O All ye a Prov. 6 and 24 Mat. 25 Sluggish and Slothful which have walked thus long very unlustly as though ye had been drowzie of sleep in the Service of the Love and had very litle love unto Gods Righteousness yea which have been so over-careless or negligent that ye have not taken the Service of the Love and the upright Righteousness of the same any thing at all to heart in such wise that by that occasion your field whilst ye have been so slothsul is waxen barren of the good Corn and your Vineyard likewise of the good Wine b Prov. 24 and and are overgrown with Nettles Thistles become yet now once awaked c Rom. 13 Epnes 5 and make your way or steps speedy for to enter into the Life of the upright and lovely Beeing of the Love ere ever the Door of the lovely Kingdom and Paradise of the Lord whilst ye come forwards so sluggishly and drowsily d Mat. 25 be locked or shut-to 2. For behold e Ezek. 7 the end cometh yea the end cometh swiftly on and the last time is now at hand after which f Apoc. 10 time there shall not be any Salvation of the Life nor health of Souls more to be obtained 3. O ye foolish people which are now so sluggish call to mind the foolish Virgins how they neglected their time g Mat. 25 for to gather or prepare them oyl in their Vessels and how that they for that cause when the time appeared or was come that every one which had oyl and light in his Vessel or Lamp should enter in with the Bridegroom must abide without the lovely Kingdom of the Bridegroom 4. Verily in this same day of the Love of the true Bridegrooms coming it will also go in such like sort with you all ye foolish and sluggish people which follow so incessantly your own counsel will and freedom h Rom. 1 Ephes 4 1 Pet. 4 2 Pet. 2 according to the mind of the flesh and have no regard to the Sanctification in the Spirit wherein the godly Oyl becometh brought unto us 5. Therefore look now to it betimes and take good heed unto the i 1 Thes 4 2 Thes 2 Sanctification in the Spirit or unto an upright Being and Mind to the end that the like happen not unto you as chanced to the foolish Virgins 6. Behold k Heb. 3 and 10 presently in this same day ye are yet all warned respect well therefore this same l Prov. 6 2 Cor. 6 Gal. 6 Heb. 12 time of Grace whilst there is yet Grace and Comfort at hand and to be obtained and have a diligent regard unto the Service of Love and what the same requireth 7. Verily it requireth not this nor that according to the flesh of the worldly dealing nor according to the dealing of the false hearts and unregenerated hypocrites but m Ephes 4 an upright Being in the Love of Jesus Christ that is to become n Luke 1 released from all ownedness or selfness and hallowed o Rom. 12 1 Thes 4 and justified in the Spirit of our Mind through Jesus Christ and his Service of Love 8. Whosoever then in all Obedience of the Requiring of the gracious Word and of his service of Love
doth in such sort respect well or take good heed unto the same he shall also be p John 14 loved of God the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the holy Ghost yea they shall come to him and make a godly dwelling with him 9. Hereunto give you now all wholly over and turn all your understanding to the godly Doctrine of the Service of Love and be even so q Deut. 30 obedient unto the holy Word of the Spirit of Love in his Requiring to the end that ye all may now in this same day of Love in which Christ cometh unto us with the holy Oyl or Anointing of the holy Spirit of Christ r 2 Thes 4 meet Christ the upright Bridegroom in his Coming and live and triumph s Apoc. 7 21 22 everlastingly with Him and all his holy ones in the Kingdom of God his Father 10. For I say unto you verily Whosoever now in this same day of Love abideth slothful and careless towards the upright lovely Being and even so estrangeth his heart from the Ministration of the Elders in the Service of Love either holdeth it common or of one Being with the consumable t Rom. 12 1 Cor. 7 Being of the perverse world he shall not be anointed with the holy Oyl of the holy Spirit of Christ nor with his lovely nature nor yet let in with the sanctified holy ones of God or Communality of Love to the u Heb. 3 and 4 Rest of the peaceable Kingdom but be x Apoc. 21 and 22 shut there-without with the wicked world and with all self-wise and ungodly 11. Therefore remember now betimes ye all which are now in this same day so slothful or sluggish towards the Service and entrance of the upright Being of God and so self-wise against the holy Spirit and the Requiring of Service of his Love what a misery and y Wisd 5 painful grief it will be for you to behold when as all the holy ones of God shall gather them together in the perfection of the Love z Mat. 24 Luke 21 from the four ends of the earth to a Kingdom of God and that ye shall find your selves shut there-without 12. Verily then will it fall out too late for many to gather or prepare them out of the Ministration of the proffered Grace the godly Oyl or holy anointing of the Spirit of Love in their Vessels 13. Whosoever now therefore respecteth not the right a Eccles 3 Prov. 6 Gal. 6 Time of Grace and of the fruitfulness of the good Seed that he in the harvest or fulness of the time may get his b Mat. 13 Barns full of good corn but is careless and slothful towards the entrance of the Requiring of the gracious Word and of his Service of Love c Prov. 6 and 18 he shall likewise have lack of d Prov. 20 Amos 8 Corn namely of the Fruits of the Word and then afterwards when he findeth himself poor and e Luke 15 Apoc. 3 empty and seeth well that the holy ones of God are filled with great store of Goods be constrained to bewail his case with f Wisd 5 Luke 13 grievous misery and shall not find any more meet or convenient time for to gather any thing but out of doubtfulness fall into g Wisd 5 Luke 21 great despair and even so in gnawing or torment of his heart and in wringing of his hands greatly lament the time which he hath neglected and mis-spent and which also is not to be recovered again and rufully bewail his condemnation and misery for ever and ever CHAP. XVIII LOok to it betimes and a Jer. 7 18 25 35 amend your Being O ye children of men and take mine Admonition to heart make not in any case light account of the grief of minde that is coming which shall fall and is also already fallen upon b Isai 13 Luke 21 the ungodly with much calamity and misery but endevor you with good-willing hearts to enter into the [c] Deut. 4 and 30 1 Pet 1 obedience of the requiring of the gracious Word and of his Service of Love ere ever that that same misery whereof there is told you fall likewise upon you 2. Be d Mat. 24 Luke 21 wakeful now therefore and keep always a sharp or diligent watch against all your Enemies namely against all the mindes and thoughts which make them up in you out of the flesh of sin and would even so contrary to the Counsel Will and Doctrine of the holy Spirit and of his Service of Love pluck or allure you e Rom. 6 Gal. 5 after the pleasure of the flesh 3. Behold I tell it you and heartily exhort you even out of all the love of my heart and spirit Hearken not to them beleeve nor follow not their will or counsel but against all your own mindes and thoughts of the flesh and against all your corrupted nature lust and desires give or apply you wholy to the f Deut. 30 1 Pet. 1 obedience of the requiring of the gracious Word and of his holy Spirit of Love So shall ye then assuredly out of the same obedience g Rom. 6 in manner of suffering finde another Nature and Being by you which shall shew it self much uprighter lovelier then that which ye have had out of the will or self-mindedness of the flesh For doing even so ye shall through the obedience of the requiring of the gracious Word and of his Service of Love become h Iohn 15 Rom. 11 Eph. 3 incorporated to the lovely i John 17 2 Pet. 1 Nature of God and to the everlasting peaceable Being of the holy Spirit of Love 4. If ye now hear and understand all this same well that the holy Spirit saith unto you all out of the Service of his Love So consider then with diligence what a k Deut. 30 Life of Righteousness is required of you and give or endeavor you unto the same I have for certain told it you plainly enough and tell it you yet again to the end that ye may well understand it aright namely that ye should incline and give over all your inwardness to the requiring of the gracious Word and of his Service of Love for to become l John 15 and 17 Eph 3 2 Pet 1 incorporated through the obedience of the requiring of the same Word and of his Service to the upright and lovely Being of the Love to the end that God in you and ye in God and so forth ye all among each other might live peaceably in all Love 5. But alas although ye hear and understand all the same yet doe many of you nevertheless refuse the m Rom. 2 Goodness of the Lord and follow almost all your n Ier. 7 and 91 good-thinking Knowledge 6. Ah Beloved wherefore refuse ye thus the good Being wherefore doe ye through your good-thinking Knowledge
alwaies hold your selves thus back And wherefore take ye not the matter which is to the preservation and salvation of you all with whole mind to heart for that ye might enter obediently into the true o Heb. 5 6 School-rule of the Christian Doctrine of the Service of Love and p Eph. 4 Col. 1 grow up according to the Requiring of the same in the Godly Understanding Judge it now your selves whether that the same whereunto I exhort you out of the right Service of Love be not the upright Life and lovely Being of the Love q Gen. 1 and 2 Wis 1 2 Eccles 17 whereunto the Man is created and r Eph. 1 chosen for to live therein 7. For consider I pray you Is not the upright and lovely s Eccl. 24 1 Cor. 13 Being of the Love whereunto I exhort and demonstrate you much decenter uprighter and peaceabler then your own Being of the Flesh t Rom. 1 and the wicked Being of the perverse World 8. Seeing now that ye in your own Conscience cannot choose but acknowledge that the lovely upright and peaceable Being of the Love is the best and that the same bringeth the upright u Isa 32 Wis 3 Apoc. 21 Rest unto the Man So is it truly a great wonder unto me why ye doe not then with more diligence and fervency love and seek after the same and that certain turn them away so lightly from the Doctrine stretching there unto 9. How are ye thus lingering or holding back of your selves that ye come forward so slowly for to enter obediently into the first Entrance x Mat. 3 Luke 3 Acts 2 3 of the Requiring of the gracious Word and wholly to give over your selves to the best and so to go forth therein y Eph. 4 Phil. 3 Heb. 6 till unto the good Being of the Perfection O take hold yet once of a good willing Mind and Purpose with a good Will not to z 3 Kin. 18 halt any longer on both sides but let all your Thoughts stretch hereto namely to cleave obediently unto the good Being of the Love with all your Heart and Minde and obediently to follow after the Service of the Word in his Requiring until that ye be grown up to the a Eph 4 perfect old age of the holy and godly Understanding and b Eph. 3 2 Peter 1 incorporated with Spirit Heart Minde and Soul to the good Being of the Love CHAP. XIX O All ye a Ecles 33 People which hear this Day the Voice or Testimonie of the Spirit of Love b Prov. 5 take this effectually to heart incline all your Minds and Understandings to the holy Word of Truth and have even so your joy in all c Col. 3 thanksgiving to the Lord among each other 2. But let not your Joy and Thanksgiving to the Lord be in the fleshly d 1 Pet. 2 Voluptuousness nor in the joy of the perverse World but rejoyce you with Thanksgiving to the Lord in the great e Psal 96 97 and 103 145 Grace and Mercy which is appeared and come unto us now in the last Time under the Obedience of the Love to wit that we through the f Rom. 12 Eph. 4 renewing of our Spirit and Minde obtain to become Children of God in the Obedience of the Love of God the Father g Rom. 3 also co-heires with Christ in the spirituall Riches of God or heavenly goods and to live h Apoc. 5 21 22 everlastingly with God as his chosen Holy ones in his i Isai 31 Wisd 3 Heb. 3 and 4 holy Rest and in his lovely Nature or Being 3. Behold hereto as to a Kingdom of God full of all lovely Being hath God chosen us and k Mat. 25 prepared from the Beginning for us and for all l Isaiah 60 Ezek. 1 and 3 1 Pet. 2 believing Heathen which assemble them through Jesus Christ unto his People this same Kingdom of his upright and lovely Being which we now inherit in this same Day of his Love to the end that now in the very last the Scripture and all what God hath spoken through his holy Prophets and what is written of Christ should also in us and with us become fulfilled m Luke 24 to the Honour or Glory of God and to our Joy like as there standeth written 4. Be glad and n Deut. 32 Rom. 15 rejoyce ye Heathen with his People for the Lord will revenge the Blood of his Servants o Apoc. 19 on his Enemies and be favourable to the Land of his People 5. The upright ones or p Wis 3 Believers shall be obedient in the Love unto the Lord and judge the People 6. They shall receive a q Wis 5 glorious Kingdom and a beautiful Crown at the Lords hand 7. They are a r Eccl. 3 Congregation of Righteous ones and their exercise is Obedience and Love 8. They shall s Wisd 3 Mat. 13 shine like as the Sun in their Fathers Kingdom 9. The Lamb of God t Apoc. 5 hath redeemed them with his Blood out of all Generations and People and hath made them Kings and Priests unto God and they shall reign upon the Eaerth 10. They are a u Apoc. 21 Tabernacle of God among Men God will dwel with them and they shal be his People and He God himself with them will be their God 11. See this is assuredly the hearty mercifulness of God over us now in the last Time to the end that now in the last Time x Isai 40 the glorious Lordliness of God should in us become manifested or declared and the Scripture fulfilled 12. Yea this is the Reward or Recompence of Jesus Christ unto us Litleones and Gods Elect in the last Time to wit that we are made through the gracious Word of the Lord in his Service of Love and through the y Apo. 1 5 Blood of the pure and undefiled Lamb Kings unto God Priests or elders in the holy Understanding for that weshould now in these last days z Mat. 24 1 Cor. 4 as faithful Saints of God upright Elders in the holy Understanding of the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love a Wisd â— Apoc. 5 and 22 raign upon the earth in Righteousness and under the obedience of the Love b Isaiah 3 Wisdom 3 judg the world with Equity according to the c Isai 3 32 42 Jer. 23 33 Acts 17 1 Cor. 6 Jude 1 prophecying of the holy Prophets and Apostles of Christ and of the holy Ghost 13. Herein ye dearly Beloved rejoyce you now all with laud and thanksgiving unto God d Psal 96 and 98 99 103 145 and praise high-worthily his holy Name not only for the bountiful Acts of God extended on you but also that presently in this same day his holy Spirit of Love is e Joel 2
Acts 2 poured forth so abundantly over us and in us and that the true Doctrine to the same holy Spirit is likewise as a f John 4 and 7 living and safe making water flowing forth out of us to the salvation or safe-making of all Beleevers of the gracious Word and that even so to Righteousness upon the Earth the Scripture becometh fulfilled namely by all the Beleevers which now humble themselves good-willingly and faithfully under the Love take to heart the Word of Truth and grow up bed ently therein g Ephes 4 till unto the old age of the Man Christ 14 Whosoever now therefore under the obedience of the Love hath a good regard unto the holy Word of Truth that is administred out of the holy Spirit of Love and exerciseth him therein for to be obedient unto his Requiring and even so to that effect furthereth or becometh helpful unto the Service of Love he shall likewise according to the Truth enjoy and be partaker of all the bountiful Acts which God extendeth on us his chosen holy ones and also evidently see how that Christ the righteous One appeareth presently h Mat. 24 Luke 17 and 21 in Glory and becometh i Psalm 68 wonderful in all his Beleevers and that also through the same Christ and his holy ones the universal k Acts 17 Earth shall in this day of the Love which God himself hath appointed or ordained be judged with Equity and purged from all his unrighteousness and that all the Saints of God namely the Communiality of the Love shall inhabit the same with l 2 Pet. 3 Righteousness and raign with Faithfulness and Truth from henceforth world without end Amen This shall all assuredly come even so to pass and in his time be found even thus 15. Herewithall O ye beloved and obedient children and all ye constant faithful ones in this our upright Service of Love my hearty Exhortation and desire is unto you all I hat ye will take this effectually to heart and not seek nor desire any thing else with your will and mind but that the Love of Iesus Christ with her vertuous Nature and upright Being may obtain a m Gal. 4 Ephes 3 shape in you and that the Service of the same Love may also thereto be furthered or assisted among all people to the intent that the same Service may in all Truth and Love to the welfare and salvation of all men obtain the preheminence and to Concord and Love in Iesus Christ prosperously flourish over the universal Earth that grant us the Lord the Almighty God through his Love Amen H. N. An Introduction to the Glasse of Righteousnesse they set forth besides the everlasting God of Israel and his Law r Esa 44.45.46 Ier. 10. is nothing els but foolishnesse and ignorance 48. Many of them have no understanding in the Law of the Lord nor knowledge of his Ordinances and of their calling through Jesus Christ Å¿ Luk. 2. of the tribe of Juda of the House of David they have no right discerning at all 49. And therefore it is that they misse of the meaning or intention of God and are thereby grounded on the glimmering of their knowledge and not on the stock of the upright olive tree t Rom. 11. to the which they are called to be grafted thereunto 50. But now when we consider all this and that we are not partakers of the Sap of the stock of our calling u Rom. 11. but to find our selves breken off from the same and thereby misse of all that which is of God and which his Ordinances are one with if then we have any love to the riches of God and do consider and know the damagefull x Mat. 16. losse with all the desolation y Dan. 9.11.12 Mat. 24. and abominations which are come in between then cometh upon us z Esa 13. Dan. 12. all woe and anguish and we greatly bewaile the losse of these riches of God above all the damages or losses of this world 51. For vvhere is there a more damagefull losse a Mat. 16. then vvhere one findeth no righteousnesse of God and vvhere the Lavv of God and his Statutes and Ordidances are in the losse so utterly darkened 52. Oh vvhat shall I more vvrite of this damagefull losse of the most precious riches my heart is heavie and my soul is pained in such sort b Ier. 9.13.14 Lam. 1.2.3 that oftentimes I am forced to sigh and mourne because my mind vvill not be pacified 53. O God that they all savv hovv they are c Psal 14. Rom. 3. turned herefrom and that no man hath continued in thy truth and hovv they are d Rom. 7. taken captive under the sin and strayed from thee yea these precious riches of God they scarcely knovv and hovv poor e Apo. 3 3. and naked in themselves they are vvithout thy Sanctuary to the end out of deep necessity they might cry unto thee f Psa 130. for grace and obtain in their spirit an inclined mind to the obeying of thy love that thou mightest have mercy on them all 54. For if so be they come not to thy love nor to the obedience of the requiring of her service nor thereunto have no good vvill belief or hope surely there â—hall then no life of Gods Sanctuary be found in them how wise how skilfull and execllent or rich of Spirit how learned and expert in Scriptures Languages or tongues soever they may be 55. If moreover they lay not down their knowledge in the silence even as though they knew nothing at all and that through the service of the holy Word they reform not themselves under the obedience of the love nor suffer their understanding to be stirred up to obedience whereby to be wholly inclined to the love to passe forth towards the same g Mat. 10.16 Mar. 8. Luk. 9.14 to take up daily their Crosse with humble hearts and to persevere h Eph. 6. Phil. 4. Col. 4. in prayer and faith with a firm hope i Eph. 3. till the establishing in the love they can by no means inherit any richcs of God or Christ nor k 1 Cor. 2. understand or know any wisdome of God at all how skilfully soever they search or study in Scriptures after it 56. For there is no wisdome nor knowledge of Christ nor understanding of the Scriptures to be had in any thing but only in the love or among them who are inclined and well-affected thereunto 57. They may many of them I grant seek much wisdome and understanding whereby to comprehend the same and in conceit be satisfied and appeased with a taken on wisdome but if they come not to the love neither are taught in her service to the true wisdome they shall then find no wisdome nor understanding nor yet any righteousnesse nor life but must l Joh. 8. die in their sins and in their conceit
1 Pet. 2. our sins and hast compassion in our affliction and art our Physitian healing us of our offences for thou makest us whole of the deadly wounds of our souls 22. O God d Psa 25.79 impute not our sins unto us because of our ignorance e Luk. 23. Act. 7. forgive them also their offences that know not what they do 23. For seeing the children of men know not thee aright nor submit themselves obediently to the requiring of thy Word and Service of Love therefore surely they fall here or erre there in such sort that oft times they keep no measure nor rule at all 24. But seeing that such things are now sufficiently known unto me and that my spirit out of Gods grace perceiveth a godlier life then is found with many of the children of men therefore the inclination to the righteousnesse constraineth me distinctly to shew both that which is commendable and that also which is utterly discommendable before God and among men 25. Therefore O ye children of men note I pray you your ignorance and think once upon that which is right and learn an upright understanding and a right knowledge of the wisdome that tendeth to the love 26. Learne of the Love in her Service f Mat. 11. lowlinesse long-sufferance meeknesse sobernesse chastnesse and righteousnesse in faithfulnesse and truth that same shall be wholsome to your reigns do good to your g Pro. 3. navell refresh your bones and rejoyce your heart and shall be unto you a living fountain h Ioh. 7. that springeth to the everlasting life and as a fruitfull tree i Psal 1. Ier. 17 Ezek. 47 Apoc. 22 planted by the waters side that bring forth his timely fruits whose greens or leaves do not wither or fade 27. Take this same to heart and be not as the wild beasts be k Psal 32. not like horses and mules that have no understanding of wisdom 28. Inrage not your selves in any wise as the mad furious world doth set no horns on your heads thrust not your selves out l Prov. 1 Sap. 2. like the unwise or fools neither let your part be among the greedy or covetous 29. Keep you from the society of them that are forward to do violence and of such as count it a small thing to shed mens blood 30. Have not much disputation nor reasoning with them that by their will are desirous to have the matter to go on their side or that are partially minded but rather in all things observe what is right and equall and what m Rom. 14 serveth to peace and love CHAP. XI 1 An Exhortation to the Family of Love to imbrace the loves nature and to pray with confidence for the godly wisdome 18. Many pray for wisdom that will not acknowledge themselves to be unwise 20. The poor of spirit are blessed 23. The self-wise will happily for a time like of the Love and her Wisdome yet according to his owne sense 25. H. N. feareth least the Glasse of Righteousnesse shall be misunderstood as other Sentences are 35. The Alarme is stricken up to preparemen to the battell 43. The Lord indeed worketh all but not without us nor without our obedience 47. The well-willing are not to be dismayed 51. The Christian fight is not with cursing nor killing but with patience to subdue the sin within us 56. God is pleased to save the world by a foolish Preaching under the obedience of the Love O Ye children of the Family of the Love of Jesu Christ if so be ye love the Love then consider also the Loves nature for the Love is clothed with righteousnesse which also rejoyceth not a 1 Cor. 13 in the iniquity for her joy is in the truth 2. After such a fashion consider ye the Love and not after a vain course according to the mind of the flesh b Esa 40. for all flesh waxeth old and changeth but the Spirit that cleaveth to the Love doth neither wax old nor change but it abideth for ever 3. Hereunto have regard that your life may be in the preservation of the righteous and fear not like the fooles or ignorant 4. For why should ye perish with the fools and ignorant wherefore should ye inherit the cursing c Mat. 25. with the goats 5. Separate d 2 Cor. 6 Apoc. 18. from them and behold Gods right hand for from thence cometh unto us the life of salvation and the light of the holy understanding 6. Even there learne with the wise the godly wisdom that according to the Spirit ye may be not earthly e Col. 3. but heavenly minded 7. Suck also in like manner all gentlenesse out of the brests of the Love and seek the peace of concord 8. And when ye have gotten all this same then play sing f Psal 96.87 and praise the Lord as his little lambs and g Psa 79.95.100 as the sheep of his pasture and as little children h 1 Pet. 2. in whom there is no guilefull heart hidden and so get you a naked lovely heart such as uncoveredly groweth up in the Love and i 1 Thes 3 2 Thes 1. increaseth therein more and more and increase ye likewise in wisdome and in holy understanding 9. If now ye be hereunto well minded then shall your portion be with the Kings and Priests or with the Elders of the holy Understanding and your fellowship with such Senetors as do further the Righteousnesse and your Service of the Word with the peace-makers that do earnesty seek the unity in the Love 10. And thus shall then the slandering lips k T it 2. 1 Pet. 2.3 which defame you with all evill by your good conversation with the wise in the wisdom and with the just or vertuous in all righteousnesse and integrity be put to silence 11. Therefore be now through the love and her service wholly l Rom. 12. Eph. 4. renewed and purified in the spirit of your mind passe now thorow the river of the love even to the rest of life the holy land of promise that the ungodly bear no dominion over you 12. Be altogether with one consent minded hereunto and let the love have the preheminence and dominion with you all that the little ones may be protected and the simple defended 13. Therefore O ye lovers of the truth seek unity and labour for it and make a departure out of all heathenish being which is after the course of the worlds foolishnesse 14. Do away the fore-skin m Deut. 10 Ier. 4 of your uncircumcised hearts lay away from you according to the former conversation the bewitching of the imagination which glimmereth unto you before the eyes of your spirit and glittereth before your understanding as if it were some excellent thing 15. Renew your understanding in the Service of the holy and gracious Word under the obedience of the Love and so in the spirit of your mind betake you n
1 Cor. 14 to the Love and and as deer children be subject thereunto whereby you may in the love obtain eyes of clearnesse 16. If notwithstanding ye be o Iam. 1. unwise p Apoc. 3. blind and q Mat. 5 poore of spirit yet grieve not your selves for all that for then ye draw neare to the Kingdome of God 17. If you desire godly wisdom then r Iam. 1 pray and believe she shall be given you so far forth as your prayer Å¿ Rom. 12. is stedfast and as ye pray to God in a lowly heart with such a prostrated soule as hath a desire or pleasure to do and to fulfill the Lords will 18. Men may find many which pray unto God for wisdom and for the right sight of his Kingdom but they will not acknowledge nor t Joh. 9. Apoc. 3. understand that they are unwise poor and blind therefore they obtain nothing 19. For although that the wisdom stood even at their door yet so well seen are they and so rich of spirit through their own wisdome of the knowledge that the upright wisdom of God and the being of his Kingdome must be faine to tarry without 20. Therefore right well speaketh the mouth of the Wisdom Blessed u Mat. 5. are the poor of spirit for the Kingdom of heaven belongeth unto them or the wisdome of God ariseth as light upon them and not upon the rich or upon the great knowers 21. For when we of our selves are become poor blind or unwise or do forsake that which is ours and do come to contrition and meeknesse of heart x Psal â—1 Esa then will God dwell with us and appeare in such hearts as also the Scripture maketh mention and then are we also poor but God is become rich in us by means of our vilenesse or because we are poor in the knowledge It is true 22. These and other like things have I in many places distinctly set forth in the Glass of Righteousness and do here also set forth the same in this Introduction to the holy Vnderstanding if any man regard it let him consider the inclination of mine understanding 23. But what shall I say I find the man much too self-wise y Rom. 1. 1 Cor. 1. in his owne conceit and too void of understanding in the mind of the love for commonly when the man heareth of the love and of the right understanding of wisdom he rejoyceth him in the hearing and it seemeth as if it liked him well likewise for a time he commendeth it 24. But in conclusion there is nothing among the greatest sort but self-feeking and very little doe they understand the first Schoole-rule of the Christian Doctrine of the service of love for an entrance into the upright life in Jesus Christ but do understand every thing which is held forth before them out of Gods wisdome and love according to their imagination and according to the mind of their liking They seek thereout their own commodity z 2 Phil. 2. and not the Lords they run clean back from the mind of the love and use all subtilty to manitain their own opinion 25. Whereout I observe that the man which is thus minded conceiveth of the wisdom and of the love utterly amisse For which cause I likewise fear least the Glasse of Righteousnesse how plainly and rightly evidently and clearly soever it is set forth shall not of many be discerned aright nor yet be conceived of according to the truth 26. If therefore they discern or conceive not a right of such apparent sentences as are so clearly and plainly uttered that even every one which loveth lowlinesse and righteousnesse must needs approve the same and acknowledge that the man and the world is created thereunto how should they then be able rightly to understand or judge of all the mysteries of the Kingdome of God 27. For which causes sake to the intent no man might have occasion to estrange himself from the truth unlesse it might be by his own revolting heart we have hidden or covertly set forth nothing in the Glasse of Righteousnesse 28. Notvvithstanding if any thing be covered or hidden unto any a 2 Cor. 4. it is hidden to the unbelievers who have no desire nor love to the truth nor to the life which is of God for such are darkned b Rom. 1. in their understanding through pleasure in their ovvn mind and through the ignorance which is in them c Eph. 4. and through the blindnesse of their hearts do gather unto themselves d Rom. 2. a treasure of vvickednesse to an horrible destruction and so through their own wisdome do turn away and separate themselves from the love and from her service 29. But unto all lovers of equity which have a desire and belief towards the love to the intent that by her service they might tast of e 1 Pet. 2. the uncorrupted milk the Word of God that f Psa 40. 1 Pet. 1. liveth for ever we have out of the inclination of love so openly and clearly according to the life painted out and set forth the Glasse of Righteousnesse that every one who with an humble heart hath regard thereunto and desireth the understand of Righteousnesse shall be vvell satisfied therein 30. If also any man turn his heart unto God and desire to do his will the same shall likewise well understand that the testimonies of the upright life in the love as it is set forth in the Glasse of Righteousnesse is the upright ground of righteousnesse that God from the beginning hath required of the man which also in the restoring thereof shall continue for ever to the Salvation of the vvorld according to the promises even as God hath spoken the same aforetimes by the mouth of his holy Prophets who have all g Esa 2.60.61.62 Jer. 31. Joel 2.3 Zach. 2.8 Mich. 4. Soph. 3. Mal. 4. vvitnessed and prophecied of that same upright life for to come in the last time and in the same shall also all consciences be appeased 31. For the end or fulnesse of the same is the revealing or coming of the Kingdom of God and the beholding of the joyes and Salvation of the eternall h Esa 35.51.60.65 Apo. 21.22 perfect and uncorruptible being 32. Oh that the man had any understanding in the godlinesse and did perceive vvhereunto God calleth him and did in like manner prepare his heart after the meaning of the vvritten sentences and did let alone judging by the knowledge 33. But no the man is much too self-wise by his knowledge and therefore he is more inclined to judge of every thing after his knowledge then to prepare his heart to the good under the obedience of the love 34. Therefore it is very much to be lamented that many among the children of men do oftentimes judge the sentences and writings which have out of the service of love their ministration to the good life according
to their Knowledge For as soon as they read or hear the same they suppose by and by that thet have rightly apprehended and well understood them not first minding to enter in to obtain and to live in that which they bear witnesse of whereas yet the service of our writing tendeth hereunto even that mens hearts as is there set forth should be prepared to the same 35. For men strike up no alarm in the host to the intent to make the people unlusty to the battell nor yet that they should but know the exercise of the warr or judge of the Alarm-stroak but that with good courage they should prepare themselves to the battell or fight Thereby every one that hath courage to fight doth then make himself ready to incounter with his enemies and to root out his adversary or to subdue him 36. But alas I find it with many otherwise in that alarm by which the man is called to the spirituall i Eph. 6. fight to the vanquishing of his enemies which inwardly in him are killers and murderers of his soul 37. Therefore it is very true that the children of this world are much k Luk. 16. wiser in their dealing as concerning the flesh then the children of the Kingdom are in that which concerneth the spirit 38. What availeth I pray you an alarm made if men prepare them not to the battell for many are perswaded that this is no time of fighting and that there shall be no need thereof supposing because of their unbelief that nothing shall come of it and lay their hands behind on the back or put them up in the bosome Their heads are giddy as if their hearts were utterly unlusty or dismaid to the fight 39. If one should seek for men of warre where I pray you should he find them Are they not for the most part gone back l Levit. 26. Jer. 48. and become faint hearted as women 40. If they do but once suffer harm and be wounded or forced by any evill defamation or assault of the wicked to sustain any molestation or reproach then are they persvvaded that the cause is altogether nought and so running again after their case they suffer themselves to be ruled by women m Esa 3. their enemy to raign over them and in like manner make truth n Esa 28. with death and a league with hell retain peace with the sin and accuser and become of one mind with the world supposing that then all shall be well moreover they make an appointment or conclusion with themselves that they will no more trouble themselves with the doctrine of the Family of Love nor yet vvith the battell thinking Let them run that will 41. For to resist the evill to break and subdue the wicked heart and evil thoughts and to suffer much distresse contempt and reproach for the same liketh them not they will none of that Howbeit we are alwaies to fight against the evill and to keep good watch continually we are alwaies to think night and day upon the vertue of the godly life alwaies to long and to hunger and thirst after it alvvaies to speak and to treat thereof with such as do so labour thereafter and yet then of many sorts of people and letter-learned to be despised and reproached 42. Because of this toil and for the shame and reproaches cause which meeteth them and because they love not the righteousnesse of the godly life with the heart they let the matter passe saying out of unbelief I cannot further it I hold me still or unoccupied about it let the Lord work it I will commit it unto him Supposing when they thus passe on according to their imagination or do live after the fashion of the world and with an o Rom. 2. unrepenting heart towards God do hold peace with the blasphemers and strivers against the truth of Christ and his love that then God will make it to be well with them 43. Deceive not your selves ye dearly beloved the saying is very right p Act. 16. Eph. 3. Gol. 1. that the Lord worketh it and that he will also cause it to go well with us q Phil. 1.2 and prepare us after his will and pleasure howbeit not without us nor yet without the obedience of the requiring of the service of his holy and gracious word and of his love and whilest that we turne us away in such a sort from him and from the Ministers of his word and do refuse him r Luk. 17. but it is done inwardly in us under the obedience of the requiring of his gracious word and service of love so as we stand subject unto him with good will therein and be of one mind with him against the ungodly being that God may so in us magnifie his holy name Å¿ 2 Reg. 7. and be called t Ier. 10. a God of Hosts a u Esa 47. God of Israel or a God of such a one as beareth dominion with God over his enemies 44. After this manner is God a Lord of his Army He is only the Lord but we the instrument of his hands 45. Out of such an understanding under the obedience of the Law of the Lord did the Kingly Prophet David eftsoons apprehend a zealous stoutnesse even as in divers manners we read in his Psalms how valiantly and couragiously he setteth himself on Gods part against his enemies as well in fighting with good courage as also sometimes in praying and making supplication that God might be his helper 46. After the same manner ought it also to go with us inwardly in our hearts under the obedience of the love x 2 Cor. 3. for no man can do any thing of himself how stout strong or wise soever he be unlesse God be with him who strengthneth him whom under the obedience of the Word and his love he findeth to be of good will and that prayeth unto him for his help 47. If then any man be weak finding himself infirm yet to the battell the same is not y Eccl. 2. rejected nor despised no nor any one that hath been in errour so that they do but trust in God and be good of will do abide in the faith and so in processe of time do increase in strength and be not unwilling in the word of the Lord. 48. Therefore Oye little and sorrowfull hearts z Esa 35.41 be not dismaid but be confident in hope the Lord will not suffer you to be a Esa 54. put to shame Therefore be of good courage 49. Though that the battell come unto you and that ye be despised by the unbelievers of the gracious word and by the blasphemers of the love of God and of the holy spirit of Jesus Christ and that moreover b Mat. 5. 1 Pet. 2.3 all evill be lyingly spoken of you yet be not therefore dismaid 50. For the God of Israel is c Esa 51. our comfort and he the same
d Mat. 24.25 and of the coming of Christ together vvith all his Saints e Esa 65. 2 Pet. 3. is the nevv day of life and the f Dan. 12. 4 Esd 7. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4. Resurrection of the dead according to the Scriptures vvhich manifestation of the Kingdom of God and of the glorious coming of Christ vvith his Saints and of the nevv day vve novv under the obedience of the love publish abroad in all the vvorld for a Gospell g Mat. 24. of the Kingdome according to the promises 3. But if any man heareth not nor believeth the same neither is vvakened out of the h Esa 29. sleep of his ignorance or vvill not hear this voice of the love him do vve let alone therein still bearing a favourable good vvill tovvards him and do cleave fast to the love bear patience vvith his ignorance and blindnesse and do consider that all of us have heretofore been unvvise i 2 Pet. 2. and have been blinded from this glorious light of life yea vve do yet doubtlesse often find in our selves the lack of understanding untill the light of life do manifest it self perfectly in us 4. Hovvbeit the right understanding consisteth not in many words k 1 Cor. 2. or sayings nor in high or deep knowledge as is aforesaid but it is found in long-suffering and in such a heart as feareth the true God under the obedience of the love where men use temperance l 2 Pet. 1 discretion and kind-heartednesse and where men love righteousnesse and information of equity 5. But where is it now where may one seek and find it who doth earnestly desire lust or long for it who applieth his heart wholly thereunto 6. Truly not the children of this world which are the lovers of errour nor yet the self-wise of the vain-conceited hearts neither the lovers of their own companies of Religion For all these think not upon the service of the love neither will admit any thing but what they have chosen they blaspheme also every thing besides their own opinion and have no regard to the Statutes and m Exod. 20. Deu. 4.5.6 Ordinances of the most highest nor to the n Mat. 5.6.7.11.16.19.22 doctrine of Jesus Christ neither to the requiring of his Catholike Church 7. And therefore will the man to maintain his own cause be alwaies above the understanding of the love and so be the loves Master For there are few found that do with whole heart submit themselves under the Love to the intent they might obtain through concord and o Joh. 17. Eph. 4. Phil. 1. equalitie in the Love one like mind to the good to the one manner of subduing or mortifying of the evill hearts minds and thoughts 8. For that or him that directeth thereunto they can by no means abide nor yet be minded to the lovely life of upright Righteousnesse which I H. N. out of intire love do beare witnesse of because with many the same is not according to his upright being hearkned unto nor rightly understood for every one with his conceited imagination and unclean heart will fain be himself he whom men ought to esteem for wise in such sort that many of them do arrogantly aseribe understanding to themselves as if they knew already all that they should know and were wholly such as in Jesus Christ they ought to be 9. Moreover many of them are so rich p Apo. 3. wise as though they needed no more and many perswade themselves that they are such as do live free and that they are every whit the same that they should be that also the Service of the love concerns them not and that they are past it all 10. Lo such things think the fools and unwise those unfruitful q Iude 1. trees that love their self-wisdom and their own ease in the flesh and are quite dead therein yea though he be an Infidell or Heathen yet scarcely thinketh he that he hath any wrong understanding for all that what might then one that is wise think or he that perswadeth himself that he is holy 11. Now because many of them do esteem their owne matter for such a fairnesse r 1 Cor. 1. or wisdom therefore besides their own wisdom they will in no wise heare any Å¿ Acts 7. other understanding nor esteem it for wisdome for every thing is evill or uncleane in their eyes which is without their wisdom yet must they needs acknowledge that the inside of their vessell t Mat. 23. is not cleansed from the filthinesse neither doe they believe to be cleansed through Jesus Christ or to be justified from the sin under the Obedience of the Love 12. What helpeth it then or whereto is it profitable that one should shew any precious ornament or jewell of godly fairnesse unto such if in their hearts it were against them or that they loved not the same Even so is it also with the testimony of the Word in the Love when there is no love joyned thereunto for to love that which is heard or witnessed 13. Therefore let us in all things and before all grow like minded to concord u Rom. 12 1 Pet. 3. in the Love x 1 Pet. 5. humble our hearts to the living God and so love the vertue and the godlinesse cleave to no ungodly being or unorderlinesse of this world but let us with impartiall minds hearken to the truth for an instruction to the wisdom with long suffering and cleave to the vertue of the good life with him that beareth witnesse only thereunto and taketh part with no flesh 14. Wherefore let no man bind his heart unto any outward thing which he is served with to the righteousnesse of life much lesse to the worldly things or to any thing which the desires of the flesh are inclined unto that he be not disappointed of the entrance to the life which thing would be a great grief unto me 15. For this cause that no man should erre but perceive whereunto our calling tendeth hear and understand what the chiefe summe of the perfect Righteousnesse is 16. It is an humble heart y Psa 51. that departeth from all earthly and corruptible things and with a lowly and meek spirit is incorporated with God in pure Love according to the Spirit living in the forme of Jesus Christ z 1 Tim. 1 in an unspotted conscience and to have an inclined mind or desire to do the Lords will and to fulfill all righteousnesse 17. Towards this let us passe on with a good hope in a sure faith and confidence let every one turn him a Esa 55. Jer. 18.25 35 Ezek. 118. Jon. 3. from the wayes of his error and with-draw his heart from the bands of selfnesse to the intent in an upright being to serve b 1 Thes 1 Heb. 9. the living God only and turn away his senses and thoughts from that which hangeth on
if ye believe the gracious word and Salvation in the obedience of his service of love and put your trust in the power of God l Joh. 5. ye shall surely live and not abide dead for the saving from death m Joh. 11. is the Resurrection and eternall life 16. Though ye find your selves even damned in the hell and taken captive of sin and devill yet fear not but believe n Psal 18.23.33.116 ye shall be delivered and saved from thence 17. For the belief and hope towards the Salvation and the love to righteousnesse in the grace of God neither can nor may abide in the sinne death devill or hell but they must prevail vanquish and bring to nought or destroy all that is not of God 18. Therefore have neither the o Mat. 16. gates of hell nor the bands of the devill nor the p Rom. 8. pangs of death nor the strength of sin nor the lusts of the world nor the mind of the flesh any power over such believers either to hold or to raign over them q 1 Cor. 15. but they bring them all under them to a victory 19. But if at any time through the slendernesse of our understanding we be plucked away from our good mind or be after the nature of the Serpent r Gen. 3. Sap. 2. 2 Cor. 11. beguiled by the wisdom of the flesh and thereby through weaknesse full and be made so senselesse that we cannot discern the life from the death yea become so feeble and faint-hearted that we have scarcely any desire at all to the good but do daily Å¿ Rom. 7. suffer and feel the sting of death yet let us not therefore be dismayed nor despair in mind but rather so much the more cheer up our selves in the belief and through the serviceable word of truth take unto us a new stomack and fresh courage again to a stouter going forwards keep so much the sharper watch and still have diligent regard on the thing that may annoy us to the entrance of the life whereby we may through the belief and obedience of the Word t Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5. keep of and vanquish it every whit and so with a good will have our passage towards God in the spirit untill the love abide firm in us and that we have such a free heart and mind as may be subject to nothing but to the high Majesty of the living Godhead only 20. Now to come hereunto we must renounce our selves and all created visible things not only outwardly after the flesh but quite and clean inwardly with the heart according to the spirit and so give over our selves obediently under the service of love unto the God of life and his gracious word u Rom. 6.8 to a dying in the spirit from every thing whereunto our will and mind according to the flesh or outward fashion is tyed and keep our selves diligently from all holy appearances and worldly fashions that so then x 1 Pet. 1. in the obeying of the gracious word and his service of love our inward mind for to come to a submitted being may be made tender soft and lowly and we in like manner with humble hearts find our selves y Psal 57. ready to do the Lords will a Rom. 6. the end whereof is eternall life It is true 21. Which way to the life few do b Mat. 7. find because it is unknown c Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 1.2 and hidden unto all understandings of the flesh and unto all wise ones of the world and her Scripture learned 22. Who is there now rightly inclined to the life and peace but those that indure all deadly things dissention and whatsoever cometh upon them thereby untill it d Rom. 6.8 2 Cor. 4. wholly vanish and come to nought in them and which have the life and peace alwaies before their eyes and do pray with great fervency unto God in the spirit that he will be their povver and strength 23. After this manner ought vve vvith humble hearts to be minded in every thing that cometh upon us against the good for the evill must by the good be e Rom 12. overcomed in patience 24. Yet not out of our vvorks or ovvn povver f Rom. 3 4. Eph. 2. O no but through the belief in affiance towards God and so abiding Gods leisure in his work we are daily to pray unto God in the spirit that he will destroy and take avvay or root out the evill out of our hearts and choose and set up the good again therein 25. Hereunto are we to g 1 Pet. 5. humble our hearts before God in his service of love that we may find such healthfull grace before his eyes in the coming of Jesu Christ who now to the Salvation of all those that hope in Christ h 2 Pet. 3. and long for his coming cometh to a righteous judgement over the world with equity 26. Oh hereof there is surely much written shewed and testified were it but observed and understood aright but there is great negligence and much misunderstanding among the children of men for we find many lamentable errours not only in the erring world but also in those that perswade themselves to be wise and to love the good 27. Awake once O thou precious man and consider that the eternall God i Ezek. 18. 1 Tim. 2. 2 Pet. 3. hath no pleasure in such unprofitable living as is mixed with contrariety unto God 28. But if so be O ye children of men ye have pleasure in the destruction according to the course of the blind world and do k Sap. 2. Rom. 1. Eph. 4. 2 Pet. 3. Iude. 1. delight in the strange life of the ungodly being go on thus boldly in the same and do shew no l Rom. 2. upright obedience to the word m Mat. 3. Lu. 3.13 nor amendment from sinne then hardly think also that ye are certainly minded n Joh. 8. against God even like the devill himself and incorporated with the child of perdition or of the devill that extolleth himself in the desire of his errours by means of the pleasure or reward of unrighteousnesse against God and against all that men vvorship God in saying in his heart or essentiall mind that he himself is the Lord o 2 Thes 2. and exalteth himself in like manner in the hearts of the unbelieving and disobedient men to a ruling above God and above the godly nature and so setting himself in the Temple of God that is in mans heart p Dan. 8.9.12 Mat. 24. he utterly laieth wast the House of the Lord and in like manner worketh in the man a secret wickednesse which is not soon to be perceived 29. Truly who so with the desires of their souls do cleave unto this pernicious nature they are very abominable in their doings for there is none of them that doth good no not one 30. Their best vertue
the earth and be gracious unto them Yes assuredly he will not be slack nor forslow his time 24. But alas this is least thought upon howbeit that which concerns themselves they think much of but i Lam. 1.4 Ezek. 8.9 23 Dan. 8 whether God hath that which is his or that he remaineth as a stranger without his Sanctuary that care they not for they will be sure to take to themselves the earthly things which as true it is God hath created for the man and for the mans welfare but their hearts which God according to the inward man hath created for k Lev. 26 Ezek. 36.37 2 Cor. 6 his own dwelling and for the praise of his glory they draw to the earthly l gap 2. Rom. 1 and corruptible things and so steal or with hold-from God that which is his and are theeves in Gods honour and in his earthly created goods 25. Note once I pray you and consider whether the same be a right unpartiallnesse or not Notwithstanding in such a state they seem to be righteous men for all that yea such a one shall vvith many welenough passe for a brother of the Gospell but truly according to such a course if we vvill come no nearer unto God we are before God m Esa â— John 10 all theeves and robbers Idolaters Adulterers and Adulteresses 26. This is doubtlesse a great abomination or abhorring that the man tieth himself to such things as God hath n Gen. â— created unto good for him I say nothing yet of such as use them so unseemly and inordinately and so shutteth his God out at doors and keepeth the godly being out of his heart 27. Therefore let us learn to stand upright in the unpartialnesse according to the truth and not after the manner of men and afore all things give unto God o Deut. â— Mat. 22 that which belongeth unto him namely the heart and mind and likewise p 1 Tim. 4 use that well which belongeth unto us to the laud and praise of his glory that he blessed may he be who is all in all may also be glorified and praised in all and that we in like manner might be made an q Tit. 2 acceptable people unto him as his own Creation r Gen. 1. Eph. 2 and work of his own hands wherein he liveth and raigneth and might moreover be made the Sheep of his Pasture a City of Peace and an house Å¿ 1 Cor. 3 or Temple for his dwelling To this end should we take heed to his holy calling that we may be made children or t Rom. 8 Eph 3 heirs of his spirituall and heavenly goods O yea even so be it 28. Again there are found certain others which perswade themselves to be unpartiall who boldly reproach or revile others and rail at those whom they hold for Factions or that are called Sects and u 2 Pet. 2 Iude. 1 so speak evill of that which themselves know not neither can they discerne the matter according to the truth but despise the thing that seemeth amisse in their eyes and yet cannot point the erring or wandring ones to any better 29. Oh when shall the perverse mouth once keep silence the x Psal 34 1 Pet. 3. reproaching lips be put far from us and that once sought from the heart and out of love which is equall 30. O raile not ye beloved and pluck no man from his zeal to any fleshly or worldly understanding as some have done whilst they have turned those from their zeale that were zealous after righteousnesse and because they could not point them to any better then that was which before they had their zeal in therefore fell they to the world and became more erring and blind then ever they were before but in this manner ought it not to go ye dearly beloved 31. But if there were any godly wisdome upright love men should use it in this sort that is to wit they should testifie that y Phil. 4 Heb. 10 which were right and reasonable according to the requiring of God and the truth they should cleave unto God with the whole heart in the spirit and so z Eph. 4 reach one another the hand to the love and not reproach nor despise any nor yet turn any aside to the earthly and mutable things or to any partiality to the intent that they vvhich had the right teaching and did minister the gracious Word of the Lord might then likewise be heard and understood aright and according to the truth and that all zealous hearts might be united a Col. 3 in one band of love and all they likewise which love the equity b Sap. 8 and righteousnesse become one heart c Act. 4. and mind d Eph. 4 as there is one God one Faith and one manner Salvation in all and with all 32. After such a manner ought men to stand unpartiall and to this effect e 2 Pet. 1 to use the common love and not to destroy that vvhich is good or to make division nor yet to strengthen the world in her wickednesse but to have a desire that the zeal to righteousnesse under the obedience of the love might be spread abroad among many with a loathing of the sin and all unrighteousnesse 33. Howbeit to exhort any man that he suffer not his heart to be bound nor intangled with any thing that is outward is very meet so far forth as his heart may thereby be turned to have regard to the upright vertue of a pure heart and to the love f Gal. 3 whereby to be subject to the outward things no more but to serve the living God with a willing spirit 34. Thus or to this effect men shall loose the binding of the heart and proceed tovvards the upright righteousnesse with a free mind and humble heart to God for such things doth God require above all and not the g Rom. 3 Gal. 3.6 tying to the outward wherein neither life nor death of souls consisteth nor any life of righteousnesse required 35. For indeed it is true yea certain and sure both by the testimony of the godly truth in the spirit and also by the testimony of the Prophets and Apostles of Christ that neither in any thing whatsoever is visible or feelable nor in any factious God services or ceremonies which are observed with mens hands in contention and do not require any life of righteousnesse consisteth either any salvation nor condemnation before God h Rom. 14 1 Cor. 8 neither can they bring any vantage or damage at all unto the souls of them whose hearts are not intangled therewith or have not any abhorring thereof 36. Notwithstanding if the God-services and ceremonies be Jewish or Christian i Rom. 3 then do they testifie of the life which God commandeth and k Rom. 8 Gal. 3.4 Heb. 7 requireth by them but if the ceremonies or God services be heathenish or mens
are all Idol-services 22. Forasmuch then as the services and ceremonies of the vain minded people which are ministred in their estranging from Gods true righteousnesse cannot bewitch our hearts whilest that we are not nor may not be made partakers of their vain perverse and corrupt life with the heart neither do suffer our selves to take pleasure in such things q 1 Cor. 10 how should their outward services and ceremonies simply of themselves be in any wise unto us a forbidding of the Lord or any idolatrous service r Iohn 4 For God is a Spirit and in the Spirit maketh known unto us that he beyond all and above all desirefh Å¿ Deut. 6.10 Mat. 22 only our hearts and that therein as in his living Temple he will t Lev. 26 Ezek. 37 Iohn 14 2 Cor. 6 Apo. 21 live and dwell and onely in the same be served and honored in all upright righteousnesse and holinesse 23. Therefore mark this ground and consider in your understanding to what purpose God commandeth to be obedient unto his services and ceremonies which are administred out of his vvord of life and wherefore the heathenish services and ceremonies be against God and how that the right God-services and ceremonies do cleave and are knit to the good life and upright being of the living God and the right Idol-services and idolatrous ceremonies do cleave and are knit to the corrupt life and word of vain imagination 24. Now if ye mark this according to the truth then shall ye well understand how or in what sort u Mat. 15 23 Rom. that the outward services of the heathen or uncircuncised be esteemed least of before God and how also that the outward Ordinances of God are the smallest services in the service of his Saints and that God doth most of all regard that we through his Ordinances and ceremonies be joyned unto him and so then according to the requiring of his ceremonies x Deut. 6 Mat. 22 love him with all our hearts and our neighbour as our our selves and y Iohn 17 know him as a true God how that he only is the Lord and the everlasting life 25. Neverthelesse it is unto me wel known that sundry speeches go about among the children of men wherewith they despise and blaspheme our godly testimonies and according to their conceit out of the Scripture or Letter or out of the imagination of their knowledge do alledge much there-against saying this is Gods commandement hereby must we abide or this is Gods forbidding who can say against it 26. It is true concerning the outwad they can out of the Scripture speak very much do make therewith much z Rom. 16 division strife and discord among each other but they seldom think or consider that they ought to come in the spirit to a Joh. 5 that which the Scripture pointeth unto 27. Oh that they all knew the right meaning of the commandement or forbidding of God according to the truth then should the strife for outward things be soon ended and laid down 28. But look into the matter ye dearly beloved whether it goeth not now also as it did heretofore with the Galathians when many of them were bound with the outward circumcision b Gal. 3 5 6 whilest certain caused themselves to be circumcised supposing out of the testimonies of the Scripture according to the letter that the same although notwithstanding it was not administred unto them out of the Word of life under the obedience of the belief was yet a commandement of the Lord such as according to the letter men were necessarily to keep but inasmuch as they distinguished not the services and ceremonies which were administred unto them out of the Word of Life from the services which were administred unto them out of the letter without the word and light of Life neither had the sight of the living commandement of the Lord or of God nor yet discerned or knew the same from the commandement according to the letter therefore were they c Gal. 3.5 lead away with the outward from proceeding in the spirit and were very miserably bewitched with the outward because they thought that even the salvation of souls lay therein 29. On the other side there were also many among the Corinthians that d 1 Cor. 3 made conscience and counted it for an abomination to buy eat or use the offering of the Idols after the manner of the heathens ceremonies supposing that Gods forbidding and the hurt of souls lay in the outward ceremonies of the heathen and that of themselves alone they were Idol-services But what I pray you is there on the one side or on the other or in any such like that concerns us 30. Verily in case we be come to the knowledge of the truth and to the right discerning of this difference then we know that all the outward services of the heathen so that the heart stand free from them are not of force to e Mat. 15 desile the inward man f Cor. 4 Gal. 4 in vvhom Christ hath his form 31. Also there consisteth in them alone neither salvation nor condemnation such as God respecteth For look what the heathen or the vain minded uncircumcised people do observe as concerning their God-services that is their ignorance g Eph. 2.4 because they know not the true God neither do hunger nor thirst after his upright righteousnesse 32. In case then that we be come to the true knowledge h Iohn 17 of the living God the which is our calling and do from the heart love his life of righteousnesse in the spirit shall we then say and in such an ignorance rest perswaded that the God-service after the heathenish manner should be any thing or that it were the very Idol-service it self that be far from us 33. We confesse before God and his truth and before all that believe thereon that there is i Cor. 8 no outward Idoll nor any outward Idol-service in heaven nor on earth but that there is one onely God whose God-service requireth the upright righteousnesse and likewise reacheth to the k Heb. 8.9 ministration of the spiritual and heavenly goods in the living being of God according to the spirit wherethrough all things are out of the same his spiritual heavenly ministration in the spirit preceedeth l Iohn 17 Eph. 4 the upright righteousnesse the unity of the heart in the love the true God-service on the earth whose Altar is m Heb. 9 not made with mens hands but is prepared of God from the beinning of the world for evermore on the other side we confesse that all the God-services Gods of the heathen are but vain n Ier. 10 mockeries for nought els to be respected then for a foolish inchantment in the ignorance wherewith the vain hearts which know nothing of God nor of his Law are bewitched and tied 34. Whilest then the
directeth not to God and his righteousnesse they cannot therefore perceive nor understand what God requireth of them for their consciences are stained with something which they esteem for holy and yet is not of God and therefore they fear 47. But if they came to the u Joh. 1 2 Pet. 1 1 Ioh. 1 sight of the living being of God which only is boly and whereby all visible things are hallowed and be used or ministred uprightly then would they through the ministring of the x Sap. 13 Rom. 1 visible things have regard to the everlasting not to the corruptible either for to fear it or els for to esteem the outward above the profit thereof as whereby they might in any wise be accused and would in the spirit love that which all is comprehended in and which the ceremonies of the Law of the belief and of the service of love do point and direct unto 48. So then the summe of all that God requireth of us is y 1 Reg. 15 an obedience which is after God and not after the manner of men or according to elementish working namely An z Ezek. 36 1 Tim. 1 upright heart towards God and his righteousnesse a a Psal 5. willing spirit and a pure unspotted conscience in Jesu Christ 49. b Heb. 6.10 Let us hereunto in the obedience of the requiring of the service of Love proceed on with c 1 Tim. 1 unfained faith in d Rom. 12 1 Pet. 1.3 brotherly love and in e Rom. 12 2 Cor. 13 Heb. 12 a peaceable mind for thereunto are we called and this same is the upright Salvation which God maketh choice of in us Take it to heart CHAP. XVIII 1. Wee are exhorted to accept of the proffered Grace and to grow up in Righteousnesse unto the Glory which shall be revealed at the last 3. Not to binde our Consciences to any outward thing nor to assume any Libertie to our selves 11. To take heed of Halting on both sides and of Mixing with the World 15. We are at first called to Sanctification and not to much Confessing with the mouth 16. Christ indeed is to be confessed but how SEeing then Dearly-beloved that such a godly sight is now in these dangerous times by Gods Grace appeared unto us that we sensibly perceive in our selves the divine Calling to the same which appeareth unto us not out of Flesh nor Blood but is brought unto us out of the heavenly Truth or Loyns of Jesu Christ through a Acts 2. the holy Ghost b Acts 15. for to cleanse our hearts through Faith according to the Promises the which is c 1 Cor. 3. the blessing and increase of God that is not tyed unto any working of men but is the power of God the Father himself for d Eph. 1. a pledge of our Inheritance therefore let us take heed to such an appeared e 2 Cor. 6. Hebr. 12. Grace and f Heb. 3. Grace and f Heb. 3. not turn us away in the time of the godly calling of Salvation but give over our hearts in the beleef thereunto namely to the obedience of the Love in the Spirit and so with all inclination of love with lowly hearts unto God and with long-suffering g Eph. 1.4 1 Pet. 2. grow up and increase in the Righteousnesse and Holinesse that are pleasing unto God that we may be a seat of the holy Triumph of our Lord Jesu Christ in his Coming Which heavenly cleernesse of the godly Triumph and of the glory of his Christ in the Spirit h Rom. 16. Ephes 3. Col. 1. 2 Tim. 1. hath hitherto been hidden from the World and hath ceased because it should be i 1 Pet. 1. disclosed and made manifest in holy Glory in the last time to the joy of the Beleevers that hope for the salvation of upright hearts 2. That truly is it which God requireth and whereunto all Gods Prophets have born witness And k Joel 2. Acts 2. it shall come to passe saith God in the last dayes 3. Therefore let no man now make to himself any conscience l Col. 2. Gal. 4.5 nor suffer his heart to be bound or tyed by any earthly outward thing that he be not thereby hindred for coming to the purity or sanctification of the heart which out of God cometh to passe in the Spirit 4. Let no man also take any thing upon him to any intent of Liberty whereby to live m Gen. 3. Eph. 4. in the apple of conscience after the minde of this World For in such a course the Liberty should be wholly abused and be unto us an occasion n Gal. 5. 1 Pet. 2. to use liberty according to the Flesh and utterly to fail of the upright o John 8. Rom. 6. Liberty in Jesus Christ 5. But seeing that we have now obtained an upright liberty in Jesu Christ under the obedience of the Love in the using of the Services and Ceremonies and that both it and the manner how we are to use the Ceremonies uprightly in these dangerous times is risen up unto us in our hearts and vouchsafed us of God therefore are we to look into this Liberty after the Spirit for to use it to a growth of the upright life in the Spirit that there may p Isa 1.10 Rom. 9. remain a seed to preservation for then will the God of heaven now in the last time make his holy Name and his secret Wisdom famous and notable against all the wise of this World q Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 1. 2. 3. who by their own wisdom do not understand the secret Wisdom of God 6. Hereunto let your hearts be inclined ye Dearly-beloved and not to the infidelitie of the blinde World nor to the contention of the seditious Letter-learned And in any case take heed to your r Eccl. 4. 27. Gal. 6. time ye that are come to such a sight and to the holy calling of the godly love and thank God from the heart with a cheerful mind Å¿ Tit. 2. for such an appeared grace out of the bountifull kindnesse of his love in this last abominable time whose end reacheth to the destruction t Mat. 25. Rom. 2. 2 Pet. 3. or condemnation of all wicked men 7. Let your eyes of the spirit and u Prov. 4. your whole heart of Understanding stand ever fixed or bent upon the upright life Look not about after the corruptible being but love the happinesse of preservation which is through the Word of truth in all love proffered unto you else shall you be found empty and without understanding with all the x Jer. 7.8 conceited Wise of the blind World which with all her own wisdom must needs y Isa 29. 1 Cor. 1. go down and Gods wisdome though unto the World it be a foolishnesse shall in the love stand firm for ever 8. For Gods foolishness it z 1
sought nor desired any other thing but the salvation of men in the love The Lord of his mercy vouchsafe us to find grace in his sight e Psal 86 lead us in his wayes for to clense our hearts by f Psal 51. Act. 15. his righteous spirit and by faith to the end we may know him in the truth and be defended from all the errors and abominations of the wicked world 5. Behold and awake g Eph. 5. in the spirit of your minds lay hold of understanding look to your selves h 1 Joh. 2. and let not the errors of this world delight you I cleare my self this day before you all and before all those that willingly desire or be minded to error or to the wicked world that my Councel and will is not so 6. If any man therefore take pleasure or be addicted to the world or to her vanity and abominations and do desire to fix his heart thereon The same erreth through the pleasing of his own mind But as for me I cleare my self of his destruction 7. For lo I have out of the inclination of love called and bidden you all out of the abominable World unto conversion to God and unto Repentance and unto Amendment and have herein warned you all sufficiently I have distingtly shewed you as much as I might do and saw necessary both death i Deut. 11 Jer. 21. Eccl. 15. and life destruction and preservation I have witnessed and pointed forth the God of life which hath made Heaven and Earth his Statutes k Deut. 4 and Ordinances which stand fast for ever wherein all the upright Fathers have lived and which all Gods Prophets have born witnes of I have also distinctly marked out Therefore shall no man that heareth or readeth our writings be able to l John 15 excuse himself as though that we have hidden the Councel or Will of God from him in any thing 8. Nevertheles if there be any greater God then the God of Israel which hath made Heaven and Earth If there be now any better Law or Ordination then his Law m Deut. 4 Or better Statutes and Ordinances then Gods Statutes and Ordinances according to his Ordination If there be any perfecter life then the n 1 Cor. 13 Col. 3. 1 John 4. love as is witnessed by his Christ for through the very same was o John 1. the life aforetimes published which is everlasting and on that same or to that same everlasting life is even our service and pointing also Or if thre be any thing in any body or if any man hath any better thing that excelleth the everlasting life and the Love which we bear witnes unto let him manifest the same unto us or let it out of Love be known unto us to the unity of heart in the Love even as we to the self same unity do witnesse manifest and publish the everlasting life and his righteousnesse of the Love and of the upright being 9. Or if any man perswade himself that he knoweth some better thing which pointeth nearer or clearer to the Almighty than the holy Spirit of the Love and of th everlasting Truth doth testifie and point unto us by which Testimonies he p Ioh. 14. bringeth and leadeth us into all Truth Let the same man make himself apparent unto us under the obedience of the Love with an unpartiall mind and not withhold from us the most best for to serve in the unity of heart in the Love as is said in upright godlinesse the living God onely For even thus standeth our whole heart affected 10. Hereunto be ye now all armed and well disposed O ye lovers of the Truth Beware that ye sleep not q Rom. 13. Eph. 5. seeing it is now a time to Watch but awake in the Spirit and abide in any wise in the Hope untill ye see the light to the life your salvation 11. Make not hardly any light account of it cast it not with the unregarding ones in the wind but have respect alwaies unto the good and this service of the Love shewed on you which is in Letters described and ministred unto you to a godly life stretching to the Love turn not aside from you but take r Deut. 6. Prov. 4. the same to heart and grow therein to an upright being of the Love And so then shew your unpartiall service towards one another according to the upright nature and being of the Love For the Love to the unity of the brotherly nature requireth such things to the intent that the everlasting true God might in such upright Å¿ Eph. 4. righteousnes and holines as pleaseth him and in the establishment of his promises onely be observed and the earth likewise t Esa 60.61 2 Pet. 3. with righteousnesse faithfulnesse and Truth be inhabited Towards this let us go forward in a meek spirit If ye hear any thing that soundeth unto you strange or v Hos 8. absurd in your eares yet be not bitterly minded but follow after long suffering and blaspheme nothing 13. Let every one which is not to be spoken to or to be councelled runne to an end with his understanding and grow ye up in stilnes and singlenes of heart x Sap. 9. Jam. 1. praying God for Wisdom and for an upright sight in the Truth But tie not your hearts unto any thing save onely to the good life of the Truth y Ioh. 8. For that shall make you free 14 Above all things ye beloved z 1 Cor. 14. Col. 3. follow still after the Love For there neither is nor shall be any thing that may excell her a Deut. 6. Mat. 22 1 Cor. 13 1 Tim. 1 The Love is the cheefest good the Truth a light to the life and the Righteousnes our joy Hereunto let our hearts be affected for herein standeth the praise of the Lord. 15. Thus let us forsake all bewitching of the Spirit and depart from the evill and increase or grow up in the good And that all in stillnes and in the hidden wisdom of God For the time peradventure will yet a little while remain troublous to speak freely before all people of the Truth and godlines For at this time she is b Esa 59. 3 Esd 14. yet with the World much too base but love and esteem ye her so much the more and gather ye her to your selves for a treasure in your hearts 16. All what the wicked world loveth all the enormities and abominations that the Ministers of the wicked world do gather in their hearts and all the envy contentiousnes strife of the obstinate Teachers against us and our most holiest service of the Love cast and hurle them all out of your hearts and inwardly have nothing to do with them For their inwardnes is full of vanity falshood and malieiousnes and their joy is onely in their foolish knowledge and in the earthly and transitory things 17. But let
there is no greater sin then a spititual pride r Act. 12. in which the man ascribeth holynesse to himself by his works and exalteth himself therewith Å¿ Mat. 12 Luk. 11. which last error is much worse than the first 57. O ye dearly beloved beware of such a nature of bold arrogancy that you become not back-sliders thereby from the single humility and meeknes of the upright being of Jesus Christ and that you fall not into the abominations and dreadful punishments of ungodly Men. CHAP. XXI 1. Of the upright hearts and their lowly estimation of themselves 8. The ground of upright repentance is shewed in the thirteenth chapter of the third Book of The Glasse of Righteousnesse MOreover men may also finde divers upright and wel-willing to the righteousnesse who in all obeying of the holy and gratious word under the obedience of the Love endure great straitnes for the righteousness sake who also regard no straitnes so as they might obtaine but such Grace a Rom. 6.14 that the Sunne might not have Dominion over them but that they might be b Ioh. 8. Rom. 6.18 freed from it for to serve in righteousnesse and love the living God onely and to be obedient to the requiring of his word not thinking what they are then worthy of or how they are then to reign or what doth then belong unto them 2. O no their thoughts reach not so far but they are still inclined for to walk brother-like in the Love and with earnest desire to do the will of the Lord. They have regard unto Gods Promises trusting even upon this that God is true of his word as one that sheweth his Grace on such as love him d Esa 57.66 and are lowlie of heart 3. When as they have now with singlenes of heart shewed all obedience in the service of the gracious Word of the Lord and of his holy Spirit of Love suffered much grief and affliction for their sins cause and have tasted of the refreshing or annointing to the health of their souls then become they but so much the more lowly and humble of heart e Rom. 12 1 Pet. 1. and so much the more brotherly and peaceable towards all men and count themselves unworthy of such grace neither know they how they shall be able to be serviceable enough in the Love 4. They esteeme moreover very little of their own word that ariseth out of themselves according to the flesh but the requiring of the serviceable Word of the Lord where-under their hearts stand humbly submitted to all upright righteousnes and holines they make great account of and hold it very worthy to be obeyed unto Moreover the life of righteousnes which is ministred set forth in the service of the love they cleave unto with all their hearts and above all praise it exceedingly and gladly would that all men were in the godly nature and brotherly love obediently come thereunto 5. These shew alwaies towards God and his service of Love true humility and obedience and towards men true love faithfulnesse and Truth and do not desire according to the foolish pride of the world any praise or service of men to themselves but rather that the righteousnes in the Love might have his proceeding and all people might under the obedience of the Love serve God and inherite the peace of Christ 6. Out of such an upright heart being f Eph. 4. grown up to the old age of the holy understanding and g Matt. 13. taught to the Kingdom of God they testifie h Psal 1 15. that all Laud Honour and Praise belongeth to God onely and not unto them And so in their proceeding in the same upright life they likewise serve or reach the hand either to other and thus in their service they point the man onely unto God and to the salvation of God in Jesus Christ 7. this mind or nature is far the most best because by it the man esteemeth the Grace of the Lord to be great and all his own doings or works and anguish respeceth or judgeth he as i Phil. 2. of no value The Lord of his Grace bring us all to such a mind Amen 8. The Ground of upright repentance and amendment for sin is at large plainly CApressed and with clear distinction uttered unto you in the third book of the Glasse of Righteousness in the thirteenth chapter according as the same is practized and used of all good willing ones which seek and love the good life of the upright and lovely being from the heart and do out of all their soul passe forth towards it vnder the obedience of the Love Take it to Heart CHAP. XXII 1. Sundry Opinions are taken from the Scriptures 2. Divers do contend about the Kingdom of God both what it is and whence to be had and when 5. But the Scripture is clear enough and the matter it self is explained 24. He exhorteth to the Reading and hearing of the Glasse of Righteousnes where men shall see the everlasting Ordinances of God and the upright life wherein Gods people have ever lived 30. The same Ordinances were renewed by Moses and the life published by Christ for a Gospel 31. In sure hope whereof the Beleevers rested and are now with Christ manifested in Glory 45. He calleth upon such as have too soone named themselves Christians that they lay away their vain boasting and turne to the Love and her Service THere are also divers men that draw sundry Opinions of Understandings out of the Scripture But every one particularly after his own conceiving Howbeit in asmuch as they know not the Councel of God nor comprehended his wisdom therefore do those Opinions and Understandings fall out to be of several sorts and do for the most part run all one against another and are among each other intangled 2. Some strive for the Kingdom of God or inward life of Christ which is called the new Man and suppose that it is this or that or that it is here-hence or there-hence after the outward appearance for to come or to be obtained 3. Others think that it shall be first found and obtained after the death of the Creature Yea the Principallest of the Learned in the Letter who will forsooth be the understandingest in the Scripture do maintain such a ground of Beleefe 4. O God! How long shall the Scripture through the false and unright light or sight be yet set forth and taught 5. It is doubtles plainly and clearly enough written a Luke 17. that the Kingdom of God is inwardly within us He is in the middest of you saith b Iohn 1. John whom ye know not The same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost 6. But many as it well appeareth know him not For he who is the very c Col. 1. Image of God or the Christ and the Kingdom of the glory of God hath his going down in us inwardly and suffereth the d
Rom. 6. Death of the Crosse for the Sinnes cause 7. Nevertheles if any man be baptized inwardly in the death of Christ and e Rom. 6. Col. 2. with his like Death be until his burying planted into him the same ariseth also with Christ and liveth For then inwardly is Gods Kingdom of Heaven even in him and not specially here or there as among these or among those but the Kingdom of God is here and there among these and among those namely in every one in us Howbeit unknown to many as is already said 8. Now if the Kingdom of God be within us and that we as the Scripture saith f John 7. beleeve in Christ then ought we after the Councel of the Wisdom and of the holy understanding to seeke it inwardly there for even thither shall it come and so be found inwardly within us 9. But who so seeketh it only at the hands of another and doth not attend the coming thereof inwardly according to the direction of the holy word and service of love the same shall in no wise find it 10. For this cause men are not in the seeking of the Kingdom of God to despise the Councel and Service of the holy word which under the obedience of the Love teacheth and directeth rightly to the same but with lowly hearts to give good eare thereunto 11. Therefore believe the truth and follow the Councel of the Scriptures g Mat. 7 seeke and ye shall find c. h Mat. 18 Turn you about and become as little Children and not subtile cunning i Prov. 3. Rom. 12. or wise in your own selves For who so receiveth not the Kingdom of God k Mar. 10 Luke 18 as a Child he shall not enter therein 12. Wherefore it is all to no purpose to set ones mind upon any thing that is above in the Heaven or that is beneath under the earth either what people this or that is or where hence Christ shall come or not or with what outward appearance the Kingdom of God cometh 13. For behold if ye find not the Kingdom of God and his Righteousnes l Lu. 17. inwardly in your soules and the forme of Christ in his glory appeared not in your m 2 Cor. 4. Gal. 4. inwardnes then shall ye be constrained to misse or be without the Kingdom of God and Christ n John 6. and shall likewise not eat the bread from Heaven with Christ o Lu. 14. in the Kingdom of God his Almighty Father 14. Therefore seek it where it is to be found and take right regard whether it cometh hunger and thirst ye after it Nevertheles hast you not after it out of your own chusing through mis-understanding but go ye p Psal 84. from one vertue to another 15. Posses ye your q Lu. 21. soules with patience have regard on the coming of Christ contend not any more r 1 Tim. 6 2 Tim. 2. Tit. 3. and strive no longer with flesh and blood 16. Let it once suffice that ye have contended and wrangled for the Scriptures cause rather now endeavour you in obeying of the requiring of the service of love Å¿ Jam. 1. to receive or put on the gracious word of the Lord in your hearts and labor ye t Eph. 4. for the unity of the love For in such a sort shall the Kingdom of God come 17. Now when you have thus received or put on the serviceable gracious word of the Lord the true Christ after the flesh in your hearts or inwardnes then apply your selves therewithal in your inwardnes to the good being which the gracious word of the Lord requireth in his service for to overcome in like manner with Christ every thing that is against him to the intent his enemies v Psal 110. for a foot-stoole may be laid under his feet 18. And when you exercise your selves herein be ye likewise baptized in the death of Christ that is in his patience x Rom. 6. Col. 2. and with his like death or patience be ye planted into him and so y Eph. 6. overcome ye through the belief with the like crosse or patience of Christ the sin death flesh and the world Devill and Hell and all sensuality which ariseth out of your own wisdom of the flesh and be ye likewise in your inward man z Rom. 12 Eph. 4. renewed unto righteousnes a 2 Cor. 4 Phil. 3. in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Lo thus doth the Scripture teach us if it were but rightly understood 19. When we are now passed through this b Col. 1. and have through the death of Christ even until his Resurrection overcomed all those deadly things then have we peace c Rom. 5. Eph. 2. with God the Father and stand firm in the love which is the end or fulsilling of all the spiritual Testimonies And therein is comprehended the perfection 20. Not that we come hereunto out of our own strength But when with lowly hearts we d Esa 55 turn us obediently to God and the service of his gracious word then doth God also offer himself unto us and out of his Calling in the spirit allureth or draweth he us unto himself justifying us through the belief in e Col. 1. Heb. 9. Apo. 7 the blood of Jesus Christ and maketh us cleane from our sins and giveth us the everlasting life 21. This is verily the word of Faith f Act. 2.3 4 5 7 8. c. Rom. 10. 1 Pet. 1. which was published by the Apostles through Christ for a Righteousnes unto us g 2 Cor. 11. Gal. 1. Phil. 1. Whosoever therefore preacheth any other Christ or preacheth Christ any other way publisheth any other Gospel or publisheth the Gospel upon any other fashion or ground or believeth any otherwise or buildeth upon any other foundation h 1 Cor. 3 than God hath from the beginning through his Prophets and Apostles required and willed the same man remaineth i Gal. 1. execrable or accursed according to the mencion of the Scriptures 22. For k 1 Cor. 3 no other Foundation may there be laid than the same that is laid which is Iesus Christ who from everlasting was and is and abideth for ever Through whom God made all whatsoever is any thing and l Heb. 1. he beareth up all things by the power of his might and maketh the clensing of our sins through himself Unto him as a Father of all be Land Honour and Praise for evermore Amen 23. These and such like things was I partly of necessity moved to rehearse unto you ye dearly beloved to the intent you might consider them aright and understand the diversity of every thing that concerneth the Salvation of men 24. Furthermore see that ye humbly with meditation to God apply your selves out of the inclination of love to read or to heare the Glasse of Righteousnes and consider or mark the life which is
and eyes turn them to the inwardnesse of the Being of God Truly very few But they turn them almost all unto themselves to the earthly things or unto Flesh and Blood and doe very gladly heare that which foundeth pleasant unto them 2 Tim. 4. according to the delight of their fleshly eares and so shut the eares of their heart against the God of Life and all the World alienate their spirit from his holy wisdome and will not heare him nor accept him for their King that they might live in his Law and Ordinances 21. Therefore will not he also count them for his people neither regard them Psal 1. Esa 29. But they shall be compelled in their estranging to become like the tossing of chaffe wherein the whirle-wind to a scattering mingleth it selfe 22. Behold ye dearly beloved of these and other like things I have opened much unto you in the Glasse of Righteousnesse to a distinction of the knowledge of righteousnesse look unto which ye are minded Deut. 30. Eccles 15 into that may ye go whether into the sin to the death or into the righteousnesse to the life I leave every one free unbound uncompelled 23. But as for Me my whole heart and mind standeth altogether inclined to the good life of upright righteousnesse and all my confidence is in the God of Life Rom. 12. 2 Cor. 3. that I shall not forsake the wayes of his Rightenesse which are by the grace of God brought and given unto me in the sight and being of my Spirit but shall still observe the same and under the obedience of the Love administer them unto the children of men according to all the manner as I have set forth and described them according to the life out of the inclination of Love in all my service of writing for a serviceablenes to many 24. Whosoevr therefore with me hath any desire to God and his righteousnesse let such a one then from his whole heart apply himself also with me unto the same He also that strayeth and hath no regard unto God nor his righteousnesse neither is minded to the Love and her concord but will rather mix his heart with the World and her abominations and go on after his own imagination I must needs look upon it howbeit it maketh me sorry and I suffer grief for it because he doth willingly thus hunt after his own destruction 25. For behold it shall come to passe that the k Esa 60 61.62 Abac. 2. godlinesse uncompelled through the beleef out of the Love of righteousness shall come to light according to the Promises 26. But who they are that shall be made partakers of it and finde such Grace in the sight of God or from whence they shall come to joyn with us for the concord of the Love and her service that is only known to the Almighty and his Spirit But the unity of us all shall be l Ioh. 17. Act. 4. Eph. 4. one heart and mind in the Love To the which one-minded Communalty mine heart standeth alwaies inclined The Lord give us all Grace to be joyned to his People in righteousnesse of heart Amen 27. Let every one also from his whole heart be minded thereunto and apply himself for the same unities cause to the Love and her service and to the righteousnesse of heart before God and so stand for the good with al diligence Let him likewise daily apply himself m Eph. 6. Col. 4. 2 Thes 3. in prayer unto the God of life that he will vouchsafe to enlighten him and all lovers of the Truth together with all People with the knowledge of his wisdome and understanding to the intent they might all incline their hearts to the Love and her service and so Gods matters be well understood and interpreted according to the Truth to the health of the earth and renewing of the World with righteousnesse 28. Wherefore n Rom. 14. Gal. 6. bear one with another out of Love receive also unto you all wel-willing hearts to the concord in the Love understand their testimony to the good â— and repaire one anothers understanding to the unity of heart in the Love and let no man raile nor make Sedition or Division but let every one oyn himself unto us in Jesus Christ under the obedience of the Love and let him likewise in Jesus Christ seek the good to his preservation that the service of the Love be not hindred 29. If now by any it should be found that some man should bring forth any chaff amongst us with the Corn yet shall not men despise him for it but repaire him in his understanding with good o Gal. 6. 2 Tim. 2. instruction to the meeknesse and to the obedience of the Love in the Spirit that so through the service of the Love men mav gather the good Corn the treasure of righteousnesse p Matt. 13. into the Barn the mans heart and that in like manner the vaine being together with that which is deadly and pernicious may utterly perish 30. Whosoever now can rightly judge let not him raile but let him try the matter q 1 The. 5. and take or conceive the best out of it and thus meet the little ones and draw all to the Love that no man may be offended nor made bitter-minded Let every one be minded hereunto from the heart r Matt. 13. that all offence may be rooted out and destroyed from the Lords Kingdom 31. After the same manner also my request is that those which read or hear our Writings will not take them to offence but bow their hearts under the Love and receive that onely which is right and reasonable 32. But if so be any man do suspect any misunderstanding in our writings let him bear with the same through Love that through the Love all may be amended and repaired For my service is to unpartiality and to unity of heart in the Love and that according to the gifts of the holy and godly understanding which are of God given and committed unto me 33 Moreover if any man perswade himself that he is more richly endowed with gifts Å¿ 1 Cor. 4 let him not be proud upon the riches of his gifts hut let him humble himself among us under the obedience of the Love and then shew likewise with his gifts according to the mind of the Love and according to the requiring of her service his good willing service without offence and unseperated from us and our Communalty to the intent the fellowship of the lovers of righteousnesse t 1 Ioh. 1. may in every respect be in the Love and be drawn and served out of Love to that purpose 34. For who art thou O man that thou dost proudly lift up thy self for the gifts cause of thy God and that thou shouldst not be content to submit thy self with thy gifts or understanding under the obedience of the Love of God and of Christ
which God esteemeth and they are also serviceable to the same And all likewise are done to the Love and her Concord 19. Therefore seeing the Gifts of God and the services are manifold we let them stand free to every one and do not contend against them so far forth as they stand all under one God and that they do not exalt their Services and Gifts above the love and her service but do submit themselves all thereunder and do likewise confes that God only is the Lord and only giveth in his service of love the godly Gifts 20. Wherefore let no man contend with his Gifts or Services nor let no man make any breach therewith in the Communalty of the love but g Psa 34 praise God in all his works And that all to a unity of peace in the love 21. Lo such a unity do the services Ceremonies and gifts of the one-onely holy spirit of love serve unto all to the good life and Peace and if we be all minded to the good life and to the peace then shall no mans services or Ceremonies be offensive unto us neither shall we contend or wrangle for them 22. For every h 1 Pet. 4 Father of a Family under the love hath doubtles the liberty in his Family to use Services and Ceremonies according as he perceiveth out of the Testimonies of the holy spirit of love that they are most profitablest or necessariest for his Houshold to the life of Peace for to keep his Houshold thereby in Discipline and Peace training them up therewith that they may learne to practise and use i 1 Cor. 14. Phil. 4.2 that which is right and equal for to manifest unto them thereby the true righteousnes which God esteemeth 23. If any man therefore hath obtained in the obeying of the Doctrine of the gracious Word and his Service of Love any gifts of God or if any man hath any heavenly Revelation or if any man use any service of the Priestly Ordinance let him with us be serviceable to the love therewith to the intent it may all be agreeable with the love and may all be done to Concord in the service of love and not to strife dissention or schisme to the intent that the good life in all love and peace might be lined under one head the living God and only King according as in times past it was prophecied thereof 24. The same life in the love is the life and very like Beeing of Almighty God namely Christ the gracious word of God the Father by whom k John 1. God made all that is any thing It is also the one only holy spirit of the Prophets unto the which all spirits of the Prophets and all services that come out from God l 1 Cor. 14. are subject and serviceable to the love and only minded to the peace and life for God is no God of discord but he is a God of Peace 25. Forasmuch then as the God of Heaven doth now shew his mercy on us and doth daily disclose unto us the thing that so many dayes hath been m Eph. 3. hidden therefore let us likewise with thankfulnes and with submitted obedience to the love n 2 Cor. 6 Heb. 12. take heed in the spirit to the godly grace and not be slack or slow to further the good but o Eph. 4. reach one another the hand and be serviceable to the love with helpfulnes to the vertue that the service of the love be not hindred p 1 Cor. 6 nor evill spoken of 26. And seeing such heavenly Revelations are by Gods Grace to me unworthy committed and according to the mention of the writing which through the grace of God are come forth or set out by me H.N. under the obedience of the love are opened and granted me to be known and q Eph. 3. understood because I likewise should reveal the same in the world therefore do I also witnes the same among the Children of men indifferently out of the inclination of love to the intent that vertue and unity may grow and multiply 27. And these my testimonies of truth shall also unto those which now are and hereafter shall come be to a right discerning of the upright and lovely life to as many as believe the same and be comprehended in the love For among them shall this service of love to the same life according to the true being everlastingly proceed on out of the love according to the promises 28. Behold ye beloved concerning all this which is revealed to me by the living God r 2 Tim. 1 and which I have testifyed and published out of his holy and gracious Word I have no other glorying but Å¿ Jer. 9. 2 Cor. 11. in God the most highest in the light of his true being and in his heavenly revelations even as it is sufficiently testified 29. Out of which Revelations of God I shew my service out of the inclination of love unto all those that affect the Love to the end we might with one consent be minded to the love for to s 2 Cor. 10. draw the understanding under the obedience of the Love and her service 30. In the same service standeth also all my hope and confidence in the living God and my salvation in his Christ Which Christ standeth firm for us t 1 Ioh. 2 to a Reconciler before God the Father and in the service of his Love everlastingly that through the same service our inward mind should stand free and firm in God and his Christ and not be tied to any thing besides without the Communion and service of the Love whether to the sinne or else to men neither to any created or elementish things nor yet to any earthly or worldly things whereby with one accord we might live boldly in God the most highest with the Communalty of the Love 31. With these despise I none in his understanding whether he be great or small that every one as right and meet it is may give his understanding v 2 Cor. 10. captive or suffer it to be plucked under the obedience of the Love and likewise do that x Phil. 4. which is just and equall For who can refuse the Love or withhold himself from her service if so be he love the good 32. Doubtlesse whosoever refuseth the love and withholdeth himself from her service or with his understanding is against it the same man sheweth thereby that he is without understanding and not minded to concord in the love And moreover that his heart thinketh not upon the good which God esteemeth but rather upon his own good which he hath chosen to himself But who so are fully affected to the love and her service and unto all that are just and equall and do unpartially submit themselves under the obedience of the love unto them am I inclined 33. For with them doth my heart desire to live in such a life as is just