not your heads but feel the life of what in this followings paper is declared For though the Thief the Boaster the proud and exalted ones have or may cover themselves with like words yet this birth never was is or shall be brought forth but by the espoused Virgin pure chaste and spotlesse true and abiding innocency far distant from all feigned purity which many being puffed up in their vain minds have or may intrude into things they know not and so deceive the simple by a voluntary humility and worshipping of Angels these hold not fast the head which gives the life to every member he that is without beginning of days or end of life by whom and for whom all things were made to him shall every knee bow who filleth all in all of whose fulness he hath received grace for grace who in these following lines salutes the whole elect of God every where plentifully giving forth of the great Mystery of godliness hidden from ages and generations now made manifest to the meek and upright in heart who in the unfeigned love abide which endures for ever R. T. DEar friends Brethren and Sisters of the Seed of Abraham partakers with him in the holy call and who in his faith wait for that glory and inheritance immortal which every one of you shall receive at the appearance of the great God and his Son Jesus Christ to you all be peace truth and love increased wherein you may be established to the end of your calling That which is set before me in the Spirit of truth and for which my soul travels and breaths after in the whole Creation but especially in you who are already called thereunto I am moved to impart unto you thereby to stir you up earnestly to press on towards the appearance of that to which you are called in one which is no other then what hath been holden forth from the beginning even the only begotten of the Father filled with grace and truth for the obtaining whereof you that are faithful have denied the delights of this present world and do daily undergo the enmity thereof Of whose appearance many of you have received a certain hope which cannot be shaken and a measure of him some are come to in the same Spirit who have seen felt and handled of his appearance and have received of his fulness wherein alone you excell and are able to hold forth that life iâ— the power of obedience meeknesse and fear which no form nor knowledge without is able to bear or bring forth which is that alone wherein I rejoyce in you and not onely so but find cause in heart to magnifie that goodnesse and glorious power of God already manifested in you and through you to the world whose praises will daily increase as his vertues appear in you which that you and all the number of called ones may increase and grow to the age stature and full appearance of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is the full desire of my soul and that which will give us an assured joy and perfect peace in one when knowledg will vanish and that which is in part shall be done away Wherefore you that have received the Spirit of Prophecy and that light out of darknesse which lets you see what manner of one the Son of God must be at his appearing in Spirit and power holiness and great glory I beseech you that none of you sit down at rest in this sight nor be you puffed up therewith as though you had already attained lest thereby the Enemy prevail to assault you above what is meet and so others lesse in wisdome who are more lowly in spirit step in before you and obtain that Crown and glory to which you were called and so while you feed on the knowledge you loose the life but that every one waite in the light to feel the power and life of the Son of God manifest in your bodies giving you victory over your own spirits and raising you up out of death into the life of the Prophecies that you may all know the true worship in Spirit and what you bow unto that henceforth you may be servants of righteousnesse begotten and not made which only hath food able to satisfie your thiâ—sting souls that you may all feel the onely begotten of God in vertue and power working mightily the work of the Father and destroying the work of the devil in every particular for hereunto were you first called that you should inherit eternal life and power the true riches of grace in righteousness and to receive a Kingdome that cannot be moved but that is able to keep you against all assaults of the enemy which â—iches is Gods onely begotten in whom is received of the perfect fulnesse of God which is only able to satisfie all fears and supply all wants in all who attain to his appearance And further I beseech you that you satiâ—fie not your selves onely with a feeling of this working in you but that you diligently attend an entrance thereinto that you may put him on whom the Father begetteth and formeth in you that you souls may be bathed and anointed therein And not only so but that you bring him forth before all men even him the only begotten Son of God in meekness long-suffering in patience in righteousness in godly holinesse and all his vertues the living image of him by whom he is begotten that it may appear to all men whose you are and who possesseth the vessâ—l and what he is that appears therein that it may be seen and confessed that God is in you of a truth revealed in his only begotten For this is he to whom at his appearance every tongue shall confesse and every heart be struck with fear though the form of his beauty and visage of his glory hath amongst false Births and fained professions been more marred then any mans who instead of bringing forth into the world the only begotten of God to convince and condemn the world of all ungodliness and save them from it have brought forth the conceivings of their own brains and the child born to them is no Saviour but their birth hath left them in the world and one with it who are now turning the words of Christ against his works and their power to withstand his appearance in others who is the same which was and is and is to come to all generations So that instead of holding forth that spiritual power of perfect Redemption from above to save his people from their sins and set them at liberty from the bondage of corruption to serve God in the new man the Son of Righteousnesse of peace and holinesse Gods image there appears the Son of wickednesse in every form at liberty and pleaded for the Image and power of all unrighteousnesse and ungodlinesse preached and set up so that the very faith and hope of Gods appearance in this generation is destroyed So these not waiting in faith single
is the estate of many at this day though some there be whose Consciences are feared and feel not this witness living in them though their damnation slumbereth not though they have lost their Calling and Election also And this have I learned in Christ that there is a great difference both in effect and nature betwixt that Faith which is the gift of God and that faith which men make to themselves for that which is the gift of God is of his own nature clean pure and perfect are all his gifts and so it works naturally the work and will of God in all who receive it freely and mix nothing with it to darken it or stop his working and by this Faith I am saved from sin and condemnation and begotten to the Father thereof in Christ Jesus which faith is not of my self but is the gift of God to perfect holiness in the sight of God and whatever is done in this faith is not sin and whatsoever is against this Faith or not of this Faith is sin and brings Condemnation and this Faith approves not of it and if I act nothing doubtingly nor against this holy Faith in this Faith I am justified in my own heart and my own Conscience kept clean and I approved in Gods sight and I have boldness through the obedience of Faith in the day of Judgement that it is not my own work but the righteousness of Faith which is in Christ Jesus and this effect hath saving working Faith and this is its Nature and Grace But another Faith I have found which is not so in nature or effect being not freely received from above but is feigned and hath its ground here below and its ends also The earthly man in his wisdom from the letter or reason or comprehensions sets up an Opinion or Image in his minde touching God or Christ or Religion Worship Doctrine or Manners or any other thing and then looking upon the likeness of it in the reasoning part gathers strength to believe it must needs be so and so forms a faith in himself And though this faith be not perfect when he hath formed it and made it with all his strength but many things in Scriptures and the practise of the Saints but especially that of God in his own Conscience will not sure with it yet the strong man being above in the strength of his Comprehension forceth a Faith against all these and causes all to bow under it so this Faith brings not forth the Birth of Christ nor his pure Image and Life neither in Matter or Worship nor Manners but what he may imitate Christ and the Saints in worship and keep the world and escape the Cross and save his life and credit and glory there that he will conform to and glory in and for the rest he believes it concerns not him now in all things at this day so to walk as they did And as this Faith is not perfect in Worship so in Practise also for that evil he is not addicted to he condemns in all but that which is in his own heart and eye and brings him profit and pleasure that he will cover and believes it may stand with true belief at this day though formerly it could not And this is the Faith made after man and not after God and so serves in respect of Persons Times and Things but bows not all these for ever to worship in Spirit nor brings them under the foot of Jesus that Spirit but being earthly by nature hath earthly effects and God doth not own that with his Power nor goes forth with that which man makes but with his own Gift which is good and perfect in every measure thereof And this also I have learned in Christ Jesus and declare to all that seek Faith in him That I never received any measure of this Faith of Christ in vain but whatever I acted or suffered therein from the least measure till this day in it I prevailed against what ever the light of the Spirit led me out therein and a shield I have found it and a growth in it towards Christ Jesus in every work of it wherein I have stood single to the end however tempted or tryed before the end appeared yet in the end of that Faith I was ever a Conqueror through the Spirit and whoever proves it to the end in singlenesse of heart shall be witness with me herein with a Cloud of witnesses that have gone before who by this holy Faith have prevailed over the powers of sin and entred into the holy Rest who have not sought their own Kingdom but the Kingdom of Christ And only this pure Faith which works towards the appearance of Christ in all actions and sufferings is that which orders all things in their place and time and fits all Relations for his appearance therein to glorifie God for God is not glorified in any thing upon Earth but in which the Son appears who is the expresse Image and Glory of God and in whom alone he Reveals himself and the glory of his Judgements and Mercy the Grace and Truth of God is in his face in whom ever he appears And so every measure of the heavenly Faith works towards the heavenly appearance and the earthly faith to the earthly appearance And so Faith in God is that which works effectually by love to the Image and Life of God in this world which is seen onely in his spiritual begettings which being believed in and set above shines forth in every measure shewing the vertue and glory of the Spirit of God but the famed earthly faith admits of some earthly thing in the heart for its end in love to which it works disobedience to the Spirit and so comes short of the glory of God for it cannot hold forth the fruits of the Spirit to glorifie God with an earthly lover in the heart nor can one faith serve God and Mammon so he that loves the things of this world is Gods enemy whose faith withstands the appearance of Christ in his actions or sufferings and so withstands the glory of God which therein should be manifest to all men and this is that faith which ever of old hath put him afar off yet gets the form and words to withstand the life and vertue And of this sort they are of whom the Apostle speaks having a form of godliness but deny the power of godliness who ever was the greatest enemies to the coming of Christ being not of the Faith of Christ nor of the Spirit of Christ but being from below withstands his coming from above to be brought forth in his vertue or worshipped in his Spirit this is Antichrist And this spirit and this faith it is that wrests the Scriptures to seduce from Christ and destroy the way of his coming and to that end what Christ really Commands to be brought forth of his life and vertue in real appearance this spirit serves himself with a meaning instead of
the Spirit and judge before you receive judgement in your own hearts and see all be clean there first then is your Scepter established in righteousness and your judgement in truth which is the Scepter of the Throne of David in Spirit which condemned David in flesh and will condemn you in the flesh if you sin against it and that is his kingdom and he is King for ever who in Spirit condemns sin in the flesh and for this end is he manifest that the righteousuess of the Law may be fulfilled in all who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit which comes in his Name who went away after the flesh that the kingdom might come And if you receive your authority and judgement in this right principle of God it will judge for God in all yoor selves and others and it will fit you to be mediators betwixt the Offender and Sufferer in all and you will see what it is which transgresseth and what is transgressed and the nature of every offence to pass an equal judgement accordingly and this is of God and he loves it and where that of God is pressed not to clear the oppressor but to judge the oppressor and set that of God which is innocent free and here with that of God in your selves you judge for that of God in all and set that of God above the oppressor in all which oppressor is not of God in you nor in oâ—hers but is to be judged and for the Law and for the Sword but against that of God the Law is not and here is Gods kingdom already near and not afar off where God is all in all and the righteous reigns and the power that is ordained of God the soul is subject to for conscience sake towards God in heaven and eaeth and that of God in every conscience shall answer to your Judgement and Authority and God shall set you up therewith as a terrour in every heart above the evil doer the murtherer and traytor and the Arrows of the Almighty shall stick in the heaâ—â—s of all that seek to undermine this Government for the kingdom of God it is in which he Rules who cannot forget himself nor hath this kingdome been taken from any who once received it thus till they go out of it themselves by suffering or setting up another to rule above that measure of this just and innocent principle of God And if you receive this kingdom from heaven in love of it then shall you receive your judgement from heaven also and your Law-to judge by and God shall make you rich towards him in righteous judgement and towards his People and a discerning spirit will he give you in this anointing to know hard matters that are hid from flesh and blood which you shall receive in secret and bring forth openly and all shall hear and fear and praise the Lord for you and you shall no more go to the Heathen to learn judgment whom the Lord hath removed far from him nor shall you uphold those Laws by which the servants of God hath suffered formerly in the times of Popery nor shall the Statutes of Omri be kept and observed nor follow the wayes of the house of Jeroboam for you have seen what God hath done concerning them that you may fear to follow them But you shall have your Laws from the Law-giver Christ Jesus and your judgement from the Father of lights whose Ministers then you are to whose sword that of God in every Conscience shall answer which is written in every heart and which every heart shall fear to offend when they hear that the Lord hath raised him up Judges as at the first and Counsellours as at the beginning and the Heathen shall hear and fear and come to you to learn Judgement and righteousness shall arise from amongst you to the ends of the earth the break of Gods day shall be with you first as to you it is first tendred if you be not found unworthy to receive him and he shall make you as a head in Counsel and the first â—orn of all Nations unto God shall you be if you receive him wherein the blessing of God is bound up by an oath and his strength upon earth to all generations And this is the love of God to you all once more The Rulers of these Nations from the highest to the lowest that love might open your hearts that the earth hath shut and sealed that you might come to a feeling of your everlasting establishment and that your fears may cease in an endlesse â—nion betwixt Christ your King and your own souls to the dâ—ead of all your enemies and eternal praises lift up to him indeed who hath scattered your enemies many a time for you and all their dark plots brought to light that you may love the light wherein is your salvation and not plot in darknesse against his innocent ones as your enemies do but with hearts open and naked receive the truth which condemns all the deeds of darknesse in you and in them least he bring your Plots and secret Counsels against the innocent upon your heads as he hath often done to your enemies for he will avenge the poor though long he suffer with them and in them and this is now seen concerning you as was formerly seen concerning them of which they were warned in words and witnessed against in sufferings long before it came who are now broken as a Potters vessel and cannot be made whole but what ever they do breaks them more And now are you warned and invited in love who sees before you this day what God hath done concerning them and suffered concerning you And I am bold in the love of God to send this to you all wherein there is a Seed of God and I know there is that of God in you which will answer to the truth of this and the Scriptures witnesse with me also so I am not alone but by two infalible witnesses every word is established either to life or condemnation and my prayers to God is and shall be as long as this of God in me hath breathings That you may receive the Kingdom of God which is near you through that spiritual Light and Key that opens the door of your entrance thereinto that you may come to be established in the Covenant of God and not of man and that you may not resist the Holy Ghost as hitherto you have many of you done nor kick against that which pricks you at your hearts when you are told hereof least you be broken in the end so as you can never be healed which is near at hand to be broken or established as you receive God or refuse him who hath long waited upon you that now are and with much patience is he finishing as large a Testimony of his suffering and forbearance among you as ever was since the world began though it be little seen where the light is rejected which the
not this the height of Blasphemy and Deceit thus to prophane his holy Name and turn it into a lie as though all these abominable things were therein or that he owned such as live in them Now lay your words and your works in the true Ballance and weigh them with the Words of Life and Power of his Name and measure of Truth and Honesty and lye not against the Truth But you that are under the power of these wickednesses and in bondage thereto who see and are not ashamed to say you cannot but commit these abominations while you live do not lie against the work of Christ in saying he hath Redeemed you when you are yet in this bondage neither count his blood an unholy thing in saying you are washed nor his Work imperfect nor mix it with the work of the Devil but give to each his own that thereby they may be known and in what Name every thing is wrought for now is Truth come to try you and he is appearing who will have his own and nothing but his own under what pretence soever Now is the Heir of Righteousnesse come to seek the fruit of his own stand still you that use those high words against o hers and see how the Lord is dealt with amongst you at this day Did not he plant a Holy Vine to bring forth to himself of his own Nature and Image and have you let this be overâ—run with weeds while you have been asleep in your sloth and idlenesse cares and pleasures of the world till all be filled with bryars and thorns and corrupt plants that now are spread and bring forth And now the Lord is come who is the light of the world to seek fruits of his own and will you hold him forth these cursed fruits an◠〈…〉 ver them with his Name as though they were his and seek to force them upon him whether he will or no and fall violently upon him if he deny them Now if this be not so what means this That when any one in his Name is sent to reprove sin in the Streets or Markets where it abounds and in the Name of Christ to declare against false worships never set up by him which hath been his manner in all his appearances and to call for what is his own and to deny the works of the Devil that presently all is in an uproar and a tumult raised pulling and beating and haling to Prison beaten in Markets beaten in your Synagogues shamefully intreated in your Streets and all for no other offence but because he calls for his own and denies what is not of him Doth not this Blaspheme that Holy Name by which they are called and which your selves professe Teacher cryes away with him and tumult cryes away with him it s not fit he should live And what usage he receives from you in his members is openly seen and God is daily bringing your works to light Now let the wise â—n heart who can discern the signs of the times read if the Parable be not fulfilled upon you Husbandmen And will you guild this Cup over with fine words forms and professions and call them Deceivers and Blasphemers who in love to your souls and obedience to Christ tells you of it and testifies against it in all long suffering and patience Who will be found the deceivers and the deceived when your guildâ—d covers comes to be pulled off and you must drink of the Cup your selves as you have filled and this is certainly near at hand to come upon you and you are hasting towards it a pace your Cup is almost full and with the light are you seen Hath not the Lamb set up his Testimony against you almost in every place of the Nation How many Towns have you in which the Innocent have not suffered violence for crying agâ—inst sin in the Name of Christ calling for the fruits of Righteousness How many Prisons have you that do not speak your cruelty How many Counties have you in which Innocent blood hath not been shed which daily speaks How many of your Synagogues have the Children of light born witness in against your evil wayes wherein they have been beaten haled pulled and punished And all this you drink up as a thing of nought and are yet thirstier then at first Are these the works of Christ or of the old Murtherer Wherefore cease to Blaspheme for you are measured by that which will not lie and with your own Rule are you found in the works of the old deceiver and the old persecuors and in their Opposition and Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit where it testifies against your evil deeds So seeing you are found in the works of the old Persecutors and in their nature take to you their name for that is truth and will be your Inheritance amongst them and cease to Blaspheme the Name of Christ by taking it upon you to cover these abominations and hide your sin from your own eyes and so deceive your own Souls and others that are blind but who comes in the Name of Christ comes in the light to prove you openly and sees you and gives light in the life of Christ for all to discern betwixt the Lamb and the Wols by their nature and not by their cloathing Christ is the Holy annointing wherewith all that are in him sees out of these things to be led and every appearance of his from Cain the first murtherer till this day declares these to be the works of the Devil and by works of a contrary nature doth witness against them In which life he is the light of the world who though he be in the midst of Gods Throne seen so to his own yet as a Lamb slain among these unclean beasts shining forth in the life of Meeknesse Holinesse Patience and Long-suffering enduring all things from his enemies which Light and Life though to she wisdom of the wise world it appears poor base and contemptible and therefore by the builders rejected yet it is full of Grace and Truth and hath power with God over the Devil and all these his works and by Faith in his Name and by the vertue of his Nature all that are in him bear his Testimony against the worlds works and nature for in that Name is Gods Covenant of Life and Peace and the Ark of his strength and safety in the great destruction that is to come upon the world for these things and he is ever at the Arm of Gods strength and sits at his right hand in heavenly places and with him to gather and save his Elect from the ends of the earth and by his sufferings to redeem them from under those ungodly powers and to break the bonds of iniquity and therefore they who are gathered into this Name holds it as a Holy Power and dare not blaspheme it but say Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity Which Name to such is salvation and strength and
in the begettings of God from above to see in patience that formed born and brought forth but mixing with their reasonings and wisdom from below have not attained his appearance but have turned the truth of God into a lye his glory into shame wherefore God hath given them up to believe their own conceivings And you hath he called into that glorious hope and powerful faith wherein you now stand and them he hath left to be heirs of the corruptions of this world which they have minded more than himself where now many of them are the great opposers of his appearance who were once called to bear a measure of his testimony in spiritual life and power And now dear friends the called of God you are unto the day of his coming whose light hath shined out of darkness giving you a knowledge in this great mystery and hope and a power you have received from above whereby you are come nearer the day than those before you and many have denied the world and their Inheritance that you might stand single in hope thereof Now the day is yours if you be watchful and faithful thereto that you mix not with the earthly seed nor bring forth a false birth but that your hearts be single and open to receive him from above the heavenly seed in the will of God and not of your selves the Son of righteousness the Fathers glory who hath the living Image and power of God to make all Sons and Daughters of the most High conformable to himself and heirs with him of the same Kingdome glory and power even as many of you as so receive him as to put him on as he is and so walk in him as the begotten of God Children of the most Holy whom he hath counted worthy of so high a calling as to receive his name power and glory and to bear testimony what he is before all men and to hold forth the power that you have in his name and Image above all names and forms in heaven or in earth and this with all diligence meekness and fear lest Satan deceive you of that simplicity that is in him and so you come short of his glory and others be called Now quit your selves as the beloved of God cast off every weight which would hinder your attaining him that in the light is set before you crucifie every affection after the earthly and put away all the cares and pleasures that would choak this seed and whatever would mix in your minds or plead for a place in your hearts let it be to you as an accursed thing that the blessing of Abraham may come upon you and through you to manifest to all the world and that the holy name of Christ may be glorified in you which hath long been polluted through such as have professed it in a contrary nature For this is he to whose appearance in the World every tongue shall be made to confesse and the Angels of God shall worship him for he is the glory of God and power of righteousnesse in Heaven and in Earth Gods love and good will amongst men and in him is the Father revealed whom no eye hath seen You that have received him and hold him forth are the light of the world let him shine to the glory of your Father It 's you that hold forth the foundation of faith he being lifted up will draw all men to him hold him forth clearly as you receive him from above and there is that in every Conscience that will answer to his appearance for God hath not left him without witness So that he that believes not is condemned already in himself because he believes not in that only begotten of God whom the Father hath sent into the world If he do not that work in you which none other can do then how should any believe or confess that it is he But at his appearance his works shall declare him and leave all without excuse His Righteousness his meekness his patient sufferings his lowly mindedness his faith and obedience to the Father his love and tender compassions towards all men being richly furnished with all manner of godliness shall declare him whose Image he bears and whose Sonne he is and from whence he comes for the earth hath not those fruits power and glory Thus shall he be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that believe and receive his testimony And in this birth you shall not only save your selves but hold forth Salvation to all that hear thereof Wherefore as you profess that holy calling above others so in the fear of God take heed what you bring forth be sober and watch diligently in that which is from above least the enemy prevaile to mix somewhat of your own to hold forth in his name that hath not the nature power nor purity of the Son of God and that being above spoil you of his appearance and mar the true Image which you will find the envious one seeks to devour upon all occasions that alone having power over the head of the Serpent wherefore see that you be covered with him alone as he is from heaven But above all things I beseech you put him on as he is the Son of Gods love and so hold him forth towards all men but especially towards the brethren so much the more as this being that which the enemy hath cast long apon the children of light to wit want of love taking his advantage while the way hath been preparing thereto and the Spirit of Judgment and burning hath passed on the old building a time of sorrow and pulling down dressing the house where love should dwell so that though the root of the matter was in it yet could not in that time spring forth towards others nor indeed be fully shed abroad in the heart while that is there which God hates which love many have now received and it is full time to bring forth him so begotten in you lest any selfishness appear in his stead and so prevent you of that which is most excellent But that you all may put him on as he is manifest from the Fathers bosome and that you be cloathed therewith from heaven so plentifully that you may have to cast over a Brothers nakedness a garment of the same love who came from above to lay down his life for his enemies and of the same power who can forgive sins and offences above seven times a day beholding each others with that good eye which waits for the soul and not for the sin which covers and overcomes the evil with the good â—hat with him you may be perfect in love judging and receiving one another in the increase of God and not in that which is for destruction giving more abundant honour to him that lacketh that in the body be no schisme nor defile one another nor keep alive a Brothers iniquity nor blot out the name and appearing of the holy seed in the least