and we come to beleeve this 〈◊〉 the faith of Christ this faith is the eye to 〈◊〉 what Christ hath done for us so through thâ— faith we are justified by Christ and this is thâ— free gift of God and is not any thing of oâ—â— selves our faith is imperfect and therefore 〈◊〉 cannot justifie us I beleeve Lord help my unâ—â—liefe So that our faith cannot justifie us bâ—cause there is unbeliefe in it Lord help my 〈◊〉 beliefe but the faith of Christ is perfect aâ— that alone doth justifie every one that hathâ— and without this faith it is impossible to pleâ—â— God Heb. 11.6 and every thing which is 〈◊〉 of this faith is sinne and Christ is the authoâ—â— and finisher of this faith Heb. 12.2 And all long the 11. chapter of the Hebrewes the speakes what great things were done by tâ—â— faith and the Lord calls and invites all men come to him and eat freely of this spiritoâ— feast that he hath prepared for them he 〈◊〉 vites them by the outward preaching of 〈◊〉 word and inward movings of his Spirit Pâ—â— 1.20 21 22 23. Wisdome crieth without uttereth her voyce in the streets she crieth the chiefe place of concourse in the openiâ— of the gates in the citie she uttereth her words saying How long ye simple ones will ye love simplicity and the scorners delight in their scorning and fooles hate knowledge turne you at my reproofe behold I will poure our my Spirit unto you I will make known my words unto you Here is the outward call and in Genesis 6.3 there is the inward And the Lord said My Spirit shall not always strive with man So it doth appeare that his Spirit doth strive with man to bring him to himself Iohn 12.32 And I if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me Hosea 11.4 I drew them with cords of a man with bands of love and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jawes and I laid meat unto them Thus â—hrist drawes all both inward and outward with the bonds of love that he might take off that heavy yoke off their sinnes off them and see them laid upon Christ and see this spirituall meat which is laid before them and they to feed on it and doe appeale to every ones conscience whether they doe not find at one time or other an inward moving by the Spirit of God for to goe unto God and the Lord will receive them and they have some glimpse of the love of God to them to invite them to goe and there is nothing can move us to go to God but the Spirit of God therefore it is the Spirit of God that doth draw all CHAP. VII None can truly repent till they goe unto God anâ— when they do goe he will give them a true repentance THere is not any that can truly repent 〈◊〉 their sinnes till they doe see in some measure the love of God to them they may repent because their sinnes provoke Gods angeâ— against them and for feare of hell and the judgements of God and because they keep them out of heaven but this is not a true repentance a true repentance is such a repentance that they need not repent them of buâ— there requireth a repentance to repent of this repentance but it is the love of God made known to them that makes them to be humbled for their sinnes because they offend so loving a God and they were the cause that Christ was crucified and therefore they hate their sinnes because they are an enemy to God and keeps them from the communion of God O the love of God to thee constrains thee to love him againe and thou art ashamed of thy sinnes and hatest them because God hates them so it is the love of God to them that causeth true repentance When Christ looked upon Peter then he went out and wept bitterly Luk. 22.61 62. Ephraim shall say What have I to do any more w th Idols Hos 14.9 Ephraim was a great sinner he worshipped Idols yet when he saw the love of God to him it so overcame him that he cries out Whot have I to doe any more with Idols though I have had to doe with them yet now I hate them because God hates them Ierem. 31.18 19. I have heard Ephraim lamenting thus Thou hast corrected me and I was chastised as an untamed Colt convert thou me and I shall be converted for thou art the Lord my God Surely after that I converted I repented and after that I was instructed I smote upon my thigh I was ashamed yea confounded because I did bear the reproach of my youth Ezek. 16.62 63. And I will establish my covenant with thee and thou shalt know that I am the Lord that thou mayst remember and be ashamed and never open thy mouth any mouth any more because of thy shame when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done saith the Lord God Thus the love of God drawes all to repentance and it prevailes more with them to bring them to repentance than to heare of the wrath of God and judgements and this repentance is a true â—â—pentance to hate sinne and to be huâ—bled for it because it offends so loving a Goâ— and therefore to forsake them though neâ—â— so neer and deare to us and be affraid of coâ—mitting sinne for feare of offending God 〈◊〉 Joseph said How can I doe this and sinne agaiâ—â— God Gen. 39.9 Object If it be so that God doth draw 〈◊〉 men thus to himselfe what is the reason thâ— all doe not come unto him for wee see thâ— most keep from him and live in sin and wiâ—â—ednesse Answ The fault is in man O man thyâ—â—struction is of thy selfe For what coâ—â— I have done to my Vineyard that I have 〈◊〉 done it Isa 5.4 And though they goe aâ—â— from Christ yet hee will not leave themsâ—â—â— hee followes them 1 Cor. 10.4 They did 〈◊〉 drinke the same spirituall drinke for thâ— dranke of that spirituall rocke that followâ—â— them and that roche was Christ Hee followes them with his mercie and â—â—ving kindnesse to draw them to him but thâ— would not Ye would not come unto me thâ—â— might have life And if ye believe not that Iâ— he ye shall dye in your sinnes John 8.24 There is nothing that condemnes the woâ—â— but the rejecting and undervaluing of Jeâ—â— Christ and continue so doing and live and dye so He that believeth not is condemned already because hee hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Sonne of God And this is condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darknesse rather than light John 3.18 19. Christ is the light to lighten every one that comes into the world and hee invites all to come unto him and he will give them of his light that they might see to walke in his way and he would direct them what to doe and lead them in the
Crooked PATHES Made STRAIGHT OR The wayes of God made knowne to lost Sinners or bewildered SAINTS Wherein is represented the severall conditions of a Christian in the Spirit as hee growes up out of weaknesse into strength through death into life eternall By ANNE YEMANS Isa 40.3 The voyce of him that cryeth in the wildernesse prepare ye the way of the Lord make straight in the desart a high way for our God LONDON Printed for Giles Calvert at the black-spread Eagle at the West end of Pauls 1648. To the READER Gentle Reader I Have done mine endeavour to set forth unto you in some measure the bondage that we have been in by sin the Devill and false Teachers what wounds wee have received by them and all hath been because we have not been able to discerne the difference between the wayes of God and Anti-christ And the more wee strive struggle in our own strength the more we are wounded while Jesus Christ doth appeare to us to reveal some light of himselfe to us and hee is that Son of righteousnesse that will appeare to us with healing in his wings Mal. 4.2 He will reveal his love to us and heale up all our wounds and lead us in the way that we should walke taking us by the hand and leading us gently as we are able to goe and drawing us with the cords of love Most of the children of God have been in this spiritual bondage and those that have been in it and are brought out of it doth know in some measure how to comfort them that are in it and the Lord doth make us many times instrumentall under himselfe for th comfort and edifying one of another but it is Gol that doth make known all things to us whether it be by meanes or without and we ought to give him all the honour it is very dangerous to idolize the meanes neither ought we to slight it thougo it be by never so mean a person For out of the mouth of babes will hee be praised And let not us undervalue any thing that is of God whosoever it be spoken by for God is no respecter of persons I beseech you beloved let not this my labour seeme odious to you nor causâ— you to slight iâ— because it is written by a weak woman nor for you to harbour any strange thoughts of me for the writing of it for I have my self gonâ— through much spirituall bondage in severall wayes and finding many severall turnes and windings of Satan how cunning hee is in all his wayes anâ— transforming himselfe to an Angel of light labours our destruction in all things And the Lord having brought mee out of that bondage into thaâ— spirituall freedome which is in Christ for all thâ— Saints and I seeing many that are yet in spiritâ—â— all bondage and knows not what freedome there 〈◊〉 in Christ for them it doth cause my bowels of affection to yern to them Yet I should not presume 〈◊〉 set forth this in writing but that I have beene exceedingly moved by the Spirit of God to doe iâ— that I could not be quiet till I had begun it I haâ—â— done what I could before I did begin to doe it to pâ—â— those thoughts out of my mind bringing as many objections against it as I could but still the Spirit of God moved me more and more with motives to stirre mee up to doe it and many promises for the enabling of me to doe it knocking all the objections in pieces that came against it and this was one thing that was laid before me When thou art converted strengthen thy brethren And if thou lovest me feed my Lambs Ioh. 21.15 And another was I am no respecter of persons And also if we are the children of God we must be led by the Spirit of God to doe what hee would have us but after I saw it was of God I durst not refuse to doe it for obedience is better than sacrifice 1 Sam. 15.22 For I plainly see how dearly God loveth all man-kind but especially his children and those that are babes in Christ how great his love to them is yea even those that Christ is but newly conceived in If there be but a desiring really after God though there be yet no enjoyment of God hee will not quench smoaking flâ—xe and his love is as great to those that are the lowest and weakest Saints as to those that are the highest and strongest onely hee makes his love knowne more to them than to those that are yet weake and his making his love known to us causeth us to grow strong in him We all were weake at the first but be strengthens us by degrees as he revealeth himselfe to us more and more and so be will doe to you and when hee doth reveale any thing to any it is not only for them bit that they should declare iâ— unto others that tâ—ey may know what love Goâ— hath toward them that our weake brethren maâ— he strengthned and the lambs of God whicâ— are the young children of God may be fed 〈◊〉 and the doing of this aright is exceeding pleasinâ— to God Here is one signe of our love to God anâ— after wee have found our Beloved all our desire should be that we should be led wholly by the Spirit of God to glorifie him and setting forth hiâ— praise and not to fear the scandals reproaches oâ— the world which are like thornes springing uâ— by the Devill labouring to choake the purâ— truth of Christ but I passe not what scandals oâ— reproaches I meete with all by this booke settinâ— forth for truth doth always finde some great enemies and the more because it is written by a woman for there are some always that doe respect thâ— persons of people having mens persons in admiration Jude 16. My brethren have not thâ— faith of our Lord Jesus Christ the Lord of glâ—ry with respect of persons Ja. 2.1 And 〈◊〉 shall come to pass in the last days saith Godâ— I will pour of my spirit upon all fish you sons your daughters shal prophesie you young men shall see visiions and your old me shall dream dreams and on my servant an on my hand-maidens I will pour out in thoâ— days of my spirit they shall prophesie Joel 2.28 Act. 2.17 18. When the children of Israel murmured for flesh to eate and Moses was not able to bear it the Lord bid him gather seventy men of the Elders of the people and the Lord toook off â—he spirit that was upon Moses and put upon them and when the spirit rested upon them then they prophesied and did not cease and there was two â—f that seventy that went not out of the Host and they also prophesied Then there ran a young man and told Moses and said Eldad and Medad doe prophesie in the host And there was one answered and said My Lord Moses forbid them but Moses said unto him Enviest thou for my sake Yea would
nothing in us that moved Goâ—â— to bestow his Sonne upon us to be crucisied fâ—â— us but it was his free love Herein is love 〈◊〉 that we loved God but that he loved us and seâ—â— his Son to be the propitiatin for our sins 1 Johâ— 4.10 Hereby perceive we the love of God becaâ—â— he laid downe his life for us 1 John 3.16 Aâ—â—â— while we were yet sinners Christ died for us eâ— when we were dead in sins Ephes 2.5 For so loved the world that hee gave his only begotten Sonne that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved John 3.16 17. For I came not to judge the world but to save the world John 12.47 Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay downe his life for his friend John 15.13 That is the greatest love that friends can shew one to another but Christ hath loved us with a greater love for while wee were his enemies he dyed for us to reconcile us to God and to make us his friend hee takes occasion by our sins to shew us merie The Lord complains of the spirituall Idolatry of his people in Hosea 2. which of all sins that is partly the greatest to forsake God and cleave to Idols and to give that to them that belongs only to God for they made their Idols their God gave honour and glory to them but the Lord saith I will not give my honour to another nor my glory to graven Images Hos 2.13 14. Shee decked her selfe with her ear-rings and her jewels and she followed her Lovers and forgate me saith the Lord. Therefore behold I will allure her and bring her into the wildernesse aad speake comfortably to her Hos 11.7 My people are bent to rebellion against me though they called them to the most High yet none at all would exalt him Yet this did not turne the love of the Lord from them for in the 8. and 9. verses he saith How shall I give thee up Ephraim how shall I delive thee Israel how shall I make thee as Admah how shall I set thee as Zeboim Mine heart is turned within me my repentings are rouled together I will not execute the fiercenesse of my wrath I will not return to destroy Ephraim for I am God and not man the holy One in the midst of thee Ezek 20.44 And ye shall know that I am the Lord when I have respect unto you for my Names sake and not after your wicked wayes nor according to your corrupt workes O ye house of Israel saith thâ—â— Lord Isa 43.25 I even I am hee that putteth away thine iniquities for mine owne sake and wilâ— not remember thy sins Isa 44.22 I have put away thy transgressions like a cloud and thy sinner as a mist turn unto me for I have redeemed thee Jer. 33.8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me I will pardon all their iniquities wherby they have sinned against me and whereby they have transgressed against me Jer. 50.20 And in those dayes and at that time saith the Lord the iniquitieâ— of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and for the sinnes of Judah and they shall not be found for I will be mercifull unto them Here is the free mercie of God and riches of his love belonging to all man-kinde that ever was is or shall be there is not any one excluded from his love for there is nothing can keep us from God but our sins and that Christ hath dyed for and hath made full satisfaction to his Father and hath obtained of his Father a full pardon for all the sinne of all man-kinde although they be never so great 1 Tim. 1.15 This is a faithfull saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chiefe He was a persecuter and a blasphemer and an injurious person yee saith he I obtained mercy The Lord is no respecter of persons He shed his dearest heart-blood for all sinners as well for the chiefe of sinners as any other for without blood-shedding there can be no remission of any one sinne though never so small in our apprehension but by the blood of Christ being shed for us the greatest sins are pardoned as well as any For the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all unrighteousnesse And this gift of God in giving his Sonne is a free gift of God given to all to redeeme all from sinne hell and the Devill Hes 13.9 O Israel one hath destroyed thee but in me is thy helpe The Devill having overcome man by his tempting the woman and they yielding to him wee were all destroyed by the Devill but in Christ is our helpe against him Jer. 31.11 The Lorâ— hath redeemed Jacob and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he All man-kinde fell by and in the fall of Adam from that glorious condition that thâ—â— were in before they sinned So we all fell froâ— that glorious condition with him into a staâ—â— of condemnation sin and the wrath of Goâ— both spirituall and temporall and hell anâ— damnation and as we all fell in Adam so we are all raised by and in Christ not to thaâ— condition that Adam fell from but from thaâ— condition that he fell into and as we all dyeâ— in Adam so wee are all made alive in Chriâ—â— Adam was a publique person for man-kind so was Christ therefore he is called the seconâ— Adam Therefore as by the offences of one which was Adam judgement came upon all men to câ—â— demnation even so by the righteousnesse of ouâ— which is Christ the free gift came upon all mâ—â— unto justification of life For as by one mans disâ—â— bedience many were made sinners so by the obeâ—â—ence of one shall many be made righteous Rom. â—â— 18 19. All were made sinnners in Adam so all aâ—â— made righteous by Christ Quest How are all made righteous 〈◊〉 Christ Answ He being made a publique person so all man-kinde he undertook to make full satisfaction for our sins which he did comit so he redeemed us from that condemnation that came upon all the world by the fall of Adam so that for those sinnes wee shall never be condemned Hee hath redeemed the whole world from the Devill and sin to himselfe that we should serve him in all love so the Devill and sinne cannot keepe the world out of heaven they can doe us no harme yea those that are very great sinnes cannot nothing but unbeliefe can keepe us out There was nothing that kept the children of Israel out of the Land of Canaan but unbeliefe We see they could not enter in because of unbeliefe Heb. 3.19 They had committed many sins and those that were very great ones and God complained of their sins in
that thou hast anâ— be as well contented with that thou hast received of God as if thou hadst more still waiting patiently for a further manifestation 〈◊〉 himselfe to thee for he will doe it by degree by his Spirit in his time in us and ye shall sâ— in some measure that hee prepares the way 〈◊〉 the Lord for us for the way of the Lord is toâ—â— hard for man to finde out but he findeth oâ— the way for us Ier. 10.23 I know that the wâ— of man is not in himselfe it is not in man thâ— walketh to direct his steps It is only the Spiâ—â— of God that can doe it for there are maâ—â— stumbling blockes to be taken out of the way which is only the worke of the Spirit to doe â—hen there will be a pleasant way to walke in CHAP. XI â—f the two seedes Of the seede of the woman and the seede of the Serpent THe two seedes are a great stumbling-block in our way to hinder us while we come 〈◊〉 some measure to discerne the difference aâ—ight betwixt them which is the work of the â—pirit to doe it Our God revealing himself to 〈◊〉 is Children and shewing them the mystery â—f his wayes in the truth of it in some measure â—e makes them instrumentall many times by â—is Spirit to bring others to know the things â—f God and therefore he reveales himselfe to â—ome in a greater measure and in a more highâ—â— and glorious manner and enables them to â—peake to us those things that God hath made â—nowne to them that others might know the â—â—ings of God it is not because God loves â—â—em better than hee doth them that hee hath â—ot revealed himself too for he is no respecter 〈◊〉 persons for he loves all his children alike â—ith the same love that he loves Christ withal but he makes them instrumentall for the goâ—â— of others When Christ was to suffer he prayed to 〈◊〉 Father Iohn 12.28 29 30. Father glorifie thâ— Name Then came there a voyce from heaven saying I have both glorified it and will glorifie 〈◊〉 againe Then the people that stood by and heaâ—â— it said that was a thunder others said an Aâ—gel spake to him Iesus answared and said Tâ—â—â— voyce came not because of mee but for your sakâ—â— So the manifestations of the love of Gâ—â— and the things of God made knowne to anâ— it is not only for their sakeâ— but also foâ—â—therâ— so if the Spirit of God workâ— by thâ—â—â—strument in them that heares they have 〈◊〉 benefiâ— of it But if the Spirit doth not wiâ—â—â— is us those things that are spoken to us thâ— those things are truth and belongs to us thâ— instrument cannot worke upon us so let 〈◊〉 heare the instruments speake but it is the Spirit alone that can witnesse I shall in soâ—â— measure shew you the difference of the tâ—â— seedes and leave the successe to God Gen. â— 15 I will also put enmity betweene thee and tâ—â— woman and betweene thy seede and her seede 〈◊〉 shall breake thy head and thou shalt bruise 〈◊〉 heele The seed of the woman was Christ Gal â— 16. and the seede of the Serpent was thâ—â—â—vill And seede is to be sowne and the nature of seed is to bring forth that which is one and the same with it There is the seede of God which is one and the same with God which is Christ not as hee was man but as hee is God This is the good seed that is sown in all and this seede which is spirituall being sowne in us which is the Spirit of God in us is the seede of God and it is one with God Now as a seed is but a small matter to the whole bulke so the seede of God in us is but in a small measure to that fulnesse which is in God yet it is one with him Mat. 13.30 31. The Kingdome of heaven is like a graine of mustardsâ—â—de which a man taketh and soweth in his field Which indeed is the least of all feeds but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and it 〈◊〉 a tree so that the birds of heaven come and build in the branches thereof This parable Christ spake concerning thâ— seed of God sown in his children that though they have this seede in a small measure and that which they have may lye hidde a great while in them that they cannot perceiv it nor doe not know whether they have it or no â—et then God is making a way for a cleare manifestation to us that it doth begin to spring â—â—rth in us and he waters it daily with the â—â—reames of his owne selfe which is only that which doth make it grow and the Sonne of righteousnesse shining upon it makes it spring forth and grow by degrees and flourish in 〈◊〉 that it will appeare very glorious for it is the seed of God and it is like God and it is God And this seede being sowne in the children 〈◊〉 God hee makes it fruitfull there will bâ— fruits sutable in some measure to the seed in 〈◊〉 and more and more as this seed grows up in 〈◊〉 it will appeare more glorious and will bring forth fruits sutable to God and over-powâ—â— us and bring our wills into subjection 〈◊〉 himselfe that wee shall be willing for him 〈◊〉 reigne over us and so farre as he revealeâ— himselfe to us with his power to over-power 〈◊〉 wee are willing to be what hee would have 〈◊〉 and doe what hee would have us doe so God accepts of it and will reward us for it so also there is the seede of the Serpent that 〈◊〉 sown in all man-kind by his overcomming Adam and so getting an interest in him and for him in all man-kinde And the seed of the Serpent which is the Devill for it was hee iâ— the Serpent that overcame Adam is one anâ— the same with the Devill and he is also a Spirit and this seed of the Devill is sown by hâ—â— in all Mat. 13.24 25. The kingdome of God 〈◊〉 like a man which sowed good seed in his field Bâ— while men slept there came his enemie and soâ—â— tares among the Wheat and went his way God did sowe nothing in Adam but that good seede of himselfe there was no evill in him hee was made after the Image of God for spirituall things but the Devill being the enemie of God he envied mans happy condition hee came and sowed that evill seed of himselfe in Adam and in all man-kinde and his seede in us is the same as he is though it be small in it selfe yet it being sowne in us it quickly takes roote in us and appeares for this comes naturally and there is nothing to let and hinder it from growing in us except the Lord doth blast it by a new work wrought in us which comes not by nature and the Devill doth water this seede of himselfe in us with the streames of his temptations and causeth it to flourish and grow
hast given mee bee with mee where I am that they may behold my glory which thou hast given me for thou lovedst mee before the foundation of the world His love is so great to us that he must have us with him wheresoever he is so he carrieth us in his bosome upon his heart and he is gone into heaven and we are there with him though we see it not and we are glorified with him And the glory which thou hast given mee I have given them that they may be one even as we are one I in them and thou in me that they may be made perfect in one and that the world may know that thou hast sent me and hast loved them as thoâ— hast loved me John 17.22 23. There is not any thing that Christ thinke too deare or too good for us hee bestows alâ—â— his excellent things upon us hee loves us 〈◊〉 dearly he cannot keep them from us His lovâ— to us passeth the love of women to their chilâ—dren yea the greatest love that they can beâ—â— to them Isa 49.15 16. Can a woman forgâ—â—â—ber sucking childe that she should not have 〈◊〉 passion on the sonne of her womb yea they 〈◊〉 forget yet will I not forget thee Behold I haâ—â— graven thee upon the palms of my hands and thy wayes are continually before me He would have us to take notice of his love Behold I have graven thee upon the palmes of my hands he hath done it and wee must behold it and take good notice of it it is done already it is not to be done by us but God saith I have done it And there is not any thing in us that can hinder his love to us I have loved you with an everlasting love therefore with loving kindnesse have I drawne thee These are expressions of God to us that we are set upon his heart and arme and hand is to shew us how neare we are to him and hee would have us to know it therefore he comes himself and declares it to us by his Spirit Fear not for I am with thee be not affraid for I am thy God Isa 41.10 Man naturally is affraid of God and it is because of our sins and ever since Adam fell wee have beene affraid of him some affraid of his anger and some affraid of punishment Gen. 3.9 10. And the Lord God called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou And be said I heard thy voyce in the garden and I was affraid because I was naked and I hid my selfe The righteousnesse of God which Adam had before his fall did cloath him he saw no nakednesse he was not ashamed of the nakednesse of his bodie that was nothing he could see nothing but what was of God and he was cloathed with him and there was a sweete communion betweene God and him hee was not affraid of God and there was no cause of fearing any thing else for all things below God were under Adam they had no power to doe him any harm But after Adam fell his falling stripped him of the righteousnesse of God and so he became naked and then hee was affraid of God And thus by nature wee are naked and are affraid of God and it is our nakednesse that causeth our feare and makes us affraid of every thing below God as well as of God and there is not any covering that can cover our nakednesse and so take away the cause of our fear for Adam did what he could to hide his nakednesse Gen. 3 7. And the eyes of them both were opened and they knew that they were naked and they sewed fig-leaves together and made themselves aprons They saw but some part of their nakednesse and so far as they saw it they made a covering to hide it and it was of the leaves of a fig-tree faire great leaves and that tree grew in the Garden of Eden where Adam was put and that was the best covering they could get yet they were affraid and hid themselves from God for all that covering This Garden of Eden was a type of the â—hurch of God which is the Spouse of Christ â—â—â—t 4.12 15. and chap. 5.1 6.2 And this Garden in the midst of it is the tree â—life which is Christ Rev. 2.7 To him that â—â—reommeth will I give to eate of the tree of life â—â—ich is in the midst of the Paradise of God Joel 〈◊〉 27. And ye shall know that I am in the midst Israel and that I am the Lord your God and â—e else and my people shall never be ashamed â—â—d he is that water of life that runneth in the â—idst of the garden Revel 22.1 Whosoever â—â—nketh of the water that I shall give him shall â—â—er thirst But the water that I shall give him â—â—ll be in him a well of water springing up into eâ—lasting life John 4.14 Jesus stood and cryâ—â— saying If any man thirst let him come unto 〈◊〉 and drinke He that believeth on me as the â—â—ipture saith out of his belly shall flow rivers of â—â—ing water John 7.37 38. And this is that â—â—e of life that whosoever eates thereof they â—all live for ever And this the Saints feed upâ—â— but Adam did not eate of this And out of 〈◊〉 ground made the Lord God to grow every tree 〈◊〉 is pleasant to the sight and good for food â—â—en 2.9 So in the garden the Church of God out 〈◊〉 the ground of the love of God for he is the â—ound of all our happinesse hee causeth to grow every tree that is pleasant to the eâ—â— and good for food which is a comfortaâ—â— enjoyment of all temporall things and gooâ—nesse hath a promise of all things in this 〈◊〉 for temporall things so far as it is for Goâ— glory and for our good and for things come which is spirituall but the trees of 〈◊〉 ward mercies doe grow by the high way◠〈◊〉 all sorts of people to eate of as well as the châ—â—dren of God But this is but by the way 〈◊〉 shew you that wee have the enjoyment of oâ—â— ward things by the enjoyment of spiritual 〈◊〉 in the garden of God so farre as Christ 〈◊〉 peareth in it it brings forth good fruits sâ—â—ble to him for hee is a Spirit and the frâ—â— that grow in this garden are spirituall and have not this fruit by nature for except 〈◊〉 are in the Vine we cannot bring forth frâ—â— sutable to God and we by nature are nakeâ— and we seeing our selves naked and knowâ— there is no appearing before God so we taâ—â— of the broadest and fairest leaves of the shew godlinesse that we can get and sew them handsomely together as wee can and coâ—â— that part that we see naked but there is a gâ—â— deale of our nakednesse that we doe not 〈◊〉 and that wee cannot cover yet God sees our nakednesse both that as we cover 〈◊〉 as we doe not cover When God doth appâ—â—◠〈◊〉 we are affraid of his seeing us
how for sins of ignorance And ch 6. there is a sacrifice to be offered for sins willingly And c. 16. there is what is to be offered for the sins of the Priest and how and so along that booke it speaks much of sacrifices for the sins of the people Heb. 9.22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood and without shedding of blood is no remission So Christe blood was the Red Sea that they did passe through to come out of their spirituall bondage which they had brought themselves in by obeying the Devill And they saw him darkly through sacrifices and ordinances and ceremonies which were but shadowes of things to come but the substance is Christ and they were not to depend upon their sacrifices but upon Christ It pleased the Lord to lead them in this dark way shewing himselfe to them by degrees as was most to his glory yet there was more light shewed to them then was revealed before them in the Prophets There he shewes himselfe clearly to them what he would doe for them and what he was to them and his exceeding great love to them which in the fulnesse of time he did come and performe it Thus they waited a long time having but a little hope of him still looking for his comming in the flesh and desiring his comming and yet willing to wait his time And at the the last he did come and finish all things for the salvation of their soules and made full satisfaction to his Father for all sins and not for theirs only but for the sins of the whole world for all that was from Adam to the end of the world Man had sinned therefore man must suffer and it must be one that was without sin for one that had sinne could not make satisfaction neither could man as man but it must be God in man or else he could not make satisfaction to God and it must be man too or else he could not suffer so he must be a middle person betwixt God and man that must make satisfaction to God for man So God sent his only Sonne out of his bosome to take our nature upon him and he was able to make full satisfaction to his Father for all man-kind at once So the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all Isa 53.6 God hath laid our sins upon Christ and he was willing to take them so our sinnes being laid upon Christ he is become the debter and we are set at liberty our sins are all laid upon Christ so God requires the full debt to be paid alone by him He hath nothing to say or doe against us because Christ hath undertaken to make full satisfaction to God for us and he cannot nor will not require it of Christ and us too 2 Cor. 5.18 19 21. All things are of God who hath reconciled us to himselfe by Jesus Christ God was in Christ reconcising the world unto himselfe not imputing their trespasses unto them For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him Isa 53.4 5. Surely hee hath born our griefes and carried our sorrows yet we did esteeme him stricken smitten of God and afflicted But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with hiâ— stripes we are healed so all along that chapteâ— it speaks what Christ suffered for us Hos 13 14. I will ransome them from the power of thâ— grave I will redeeme them from death O death I will be thy plagues O grave I will be thy destruction repentance shall bee hid from mine eyeâ— 1 Cor. 15.54 55 56 57. Death is swalloweâ— up in victory O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory The sting of death is sin anâ— the strength of sinne is the Law But thanks 〈◊〉 to God which giveth us the victory through oâ—â— Lord Jesus Christ In Hosea he saith I wil 〈◊〉 it it is he alone that will doe it but now heâ— tel you 't is already done Death is swallowâ— up in victory and this is the death that is spoken of in Gen. 2.17 And Christ hath gotteâ— victory over it for us Hee is made perfect 〈◊〉 us through suffering he was perfect in himselfe before but not for us but now he 〈◊〉 perfect for us I shall shew you how Chriâ—â— was made perfect for us through suffering 〈◊〉 was made perfect for us 3. wayes First By the fulfilling of the whole Laâ— for us Secondly By making full satisfaction fâ—â— the sins of the world Thirdly He hath purchased of his Fathâ—â— all things both spirituall and temporall for us I shall shew you of the two first and let the other alone till afterwards For the first Christ hath fulfilled the whole Law for us Man was commanded to doe it and there was a great curse lay upon him if he did not doe it Cursed is every one that doth not all things that are written in the book of the Law Gal. 3.10 For whosoever shall keepe the whole Law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all Jam. 2.10 And man he could not doe it so Christ he comes and performes the whole law perfectly for us Mat. 5.17 Thinke not that I am come to destroy the Law or the Prophets I am not come to destroy but to fulfill For verily I say unto you till heaven and earth passe one jot or tittle shall in no wise passe from the Law till all be fulfilled And Christ is the end of the Law for righteousnesse to every one that believeth and he hath fulfilled every jot and tittle of the Law for us for he did undertake to fulfill the whole Law for us to purchase a perfect righteousnesse for us by his fulfilling the Law for us It behoves us saith Christ to fulfill all righteousnesse And which of you can taxe me of sin so his righteousnesse is a perfect righteousnesse there is not any imperfection in it the Lord hath not any thing to say against it and this is for us Christ our righteousnesse 1 Cor. 1.30 Ye are in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption Thus Christ hath fulfilled the whole Law for us Now I shall shew you how Christ hath made full satisfaction to his Father for our sins and that he did by suffering the whole wrath of God for the sins of the whole world I have a baptisme to be baptized withall and how am I streightned till it be accomplished which was his suffering He was to drinke off that bitter cup of the whole wrath of God wrung out by the hand of Gods vengeance to drink the dregs of it for our sinnes that was laid upon him And now you shall see how Christ complaines of this wrath of God that lay so heavy upon him John 12.27 Now is my soule
many places of Scripture yet none of them kept them out of the Land of Canaan which was a type of heaven but only unbelief And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world and men loved darkenesse rather then light John 3.19 Christ hath obtained of his Father a full pardon for all the sins of the world and a perfect righteousnesse and heaven and spirituall and temporall things and it is kept in store for us in Christ all the spirituall things are till wee doe really believe what Jesus Chriâ—â— hath done for us in particular and he woulâ— have his love made knowne to the world thaâ— they might believe and then hee will makâ— known to them that their sins are pardoned and how great his love is to them and whâ—â— hee hath purchased for them and what theâ— are in him And although there remaines sâ—â— in the conversation yet sin in the conscienâ—â— is done away The blood of Christ which througâ— the eternall spirit offered himselfe without spoâ—â— purge your consciences from dead workes to serâ—â— the living God Heb. 9.14 And he speaking iâ— the 9th verse of this chapter and verse 2. of thâ— 10th chapter of the sacrifices in the time of thâ— Law there was offered gifts and sacrifices thaâ— could not make holy concerning the conscience of him that did the service for if it could would they not then have ceased to have beeâ— offered because that that the offerers oncâ— purged should have had no more sine in theiâ— conscience but those sacrifices could not take away sin in the conscience Heb. 9.24 25 26. For Christ is not entered into the holy places maâ—â— with hands which are the figures of the true buâ— into heaven itselfe now to appeare in the preseâ—â— of God for us Nor yet that he should offer himselfâ— often as the high Priest entereth into the holy plâ—â—â— every yeare with blood of others For then must often have suffered since the foundation of the world but now once in the end of the world hath be appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himselfe And it is he alone that can and will sanctifie us in our conversation Let us draw neer with a true heart in assurance of faith sprinkled in our hearts from an evill conscience and washed in our bodies with pure water Heb. 10.22 Christ shed both water and blood John 19. â—4 His blood for to sprinkle our conscience from evill works that so they shall not damn us and water to purge and sanctifie us in our conversation that sin shall be mortified in us and we shall walke in obedience to God And this Christ hath done for all and would have all know it that they all might come to Christ and be saved For be tasted death for-every man Heb. 2.9 And be dyed for all that they that live should not henceforth live unto themselves but unto him that dyed for them and rose again 2 Gor. 5.15 Christ not only dyed and was buried but hee also rose from the dead which doth declare unto us that hee hath gotten the victory over the spirituall death for us he triumphed over it for us Death is swallowed up in victory O death where is thy sting O grave where is thy victory The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Chrisâ— 2 Cor. 15.54 55 56 57. So Christ hath done all things for thee anâ— hath made way for to goe to God by him Jâ—sus said I am the way the truth and the life â—man commeth to the Father but by me John 1â— 6. And now he makes a generall proclamatâ—on for all to come unto him and he will giâ—â— them life for their life is hid in him and they doe not come unto him they shall dyeâ— their sins and the Lord saith As I live I wiâ—â— not the death of a sinner Isa 55.1 2 3. Ho evâ—â—â— one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and 〈◊〉 that hath no money come ye buy and eat yea comâ— buy wine and milke without money and withâ—â—â— price Wherefore doe ye spend money for that whiâ—â— is not bread and your labour for that which satiâ—fieth not hearken diligently unto me and eaâ—â— ye that which is good and let your soule delight selfe in fatnesse Encline your eare and come unâ—me heare and your soule shall live and I wiâ—â— make aneverlasting Covenant with you even tâ—â— sure mercies of David The waters that we are invited to come 〈◊〉 to is Christ he is the water of life John 4 1â— And he calls all to come without any worth nesse of their owne though they are never 〈◊〉 great sinners let them come let them not keâ—â— back because they are great sinners but therâ—fore let them come for he dyed for their sins â—nd if they come unto him he will give them a â—ardon for their sins their sinnes cannot be too great for him to pardon and doe not stay for â—ualification to come to Christ for there is â—o qualification out of Christ but come unto him and he will qualifie thee there is no vessel so unclean but the blood of Christ wil cleanse â—t And saith Christ Those that come to me I will â—â—n no wise cast away and that wine and milk is Christ John 15.1 I am the Vine that brought forth those grapes that this wine came of and he was pressed in the wine-pres of the wrath of God for us to drinke of the fruit of it And as it is the nature of wine to comfort strengthen and refresh those that are ready to faint So it is with this spirituall wine Christ whosoever hath tasted of him it comforts him exceedingly and when they are ready to faint through the sence of their sins this wine refreshes them and strengthens them against the Devils temptations and their owne sins and this milke is to feede those that are babes in Christ I have fed you with milke and not with meate for bitherto ye were not able to beare it 1 Cor. 3.2 For every one that useth milke is unskilfull in the word of righteousnesse for he is a babe Heb. 5.13 So Christ is this milke that feeds those that are babes in him he is their nourishment and hee revealeth his love to them by degrees and 〈◊〉 are babes at the first and grow by degrees be men in Christ and hee leades them accoâ—ding Wherefore doe ye spend money for that whiâ—â— is not bread you spend a great deale of cost paines to get a righteousnesse of your own aâ—â— so feede upon that but that is not bread thâ—â— is but ashes that will not nourish thee bâ—â— wildo thee more harm than good Christ saitâ— He is the bread of life John 6.48 This is 〈◊〉 bread which came downe from heaven that a mâ—â— may eate of it and not dye I am the living breâ—â— which came downe from heaven if any man
of him that sate upon the Throne This booke is the minde of God as in a booke a man may write his mind at large being of a great volume so for our weake capacity the minde of God is as it were writ in a booke being written within but on the backside sealed with seven seales that wee cannot what is written in it The vision is become unto you as the words of a booke that is sealed up which they deliver to one that cannot read saying Reade this I pray thee and he saith I â—â—nnot for it is sealed And the booke is given to him that cannot read saying Reade this I pray thee and he shall say I cannot read Isa 29.11 12. And the same booke was sent to Ezekiel Ezek. 2.9 10. Behold a hand was sent to me loe a roule of a booke was therein And he spread iâ— before me and there was written therein lamentations mourning and woe Isa 8.16 Bind up the testimonie seale up the law among my Disciples A testimonie is when a man dyeth he writeth down to whom he would have his estate dispos'd when and how so in this booke oâ— God is written the whole mind of God what he hath given us and when it shall be revealed to us and how yet it is bound up and sealed and none is found worthy to open the booke and loose the seale He that sate upon the Throne is God the Father and the book that was in his hand was the whole love and minde of God to all man-kinde in Christ Jesus And the seven seales doth set forth to us that the whole mind and love of God is alone known to himselfe and quite shut up and as it were sealed fast from us that as wee are men and women we cannot know any thing that is written therein In this booke there is written all things what Christ hath done for all and what for his Church in particular what he hath obtained for us and what wee are in him what hee hath made us to the Father in him and what he is in us And it is Christ alone that hath obtained of his Father â—o open this booke and to loose the seals for â—e was the Lambe that was slaine for all and â—y his death hee hath obtained power of his â—ather to open the booke and make knowne â—o us his whole mind There are seven seales â—o be broke open and hee doth not breake oâ—en all the seales at once but by degrees and as he breakes open a seale he saith Come and â—â—e Rev. 6.1 That is wee must see our selves in Christ before we can see any thing of the mind of God made known to us and he it is that doth make knowne to us that wee are in him and the first seale that he breaks open to us are some manifestations of his love to us and by degrees he breaks open the seales to us hee doth make knowne his love and minde to us more and more in a more fuller clearer and glorious manner every seale breaking open are new manifestations every seale more glorious clearer fuller than the other that was broke open before And in this booke is written lamentation mourning and woe to Antichrist for her destruction and ruine is come more and more As Christ breakes open the seales and reveales himselfe to us hee gives us that hearing eare his Spirit that we may hear those things which he hath unsealed to us The Lord God hath opened mine eare and I was not rebellious neither turned away backe He wakeneth mine eare to heare as the learned Isa 50.4 5. Thou that dwellest in the gardens the companions hearken to thy voyce cause mee to heare it Cant. 8.13 And when wee come to heare the love of God to us then we shall see this messenger of the Spirit of God casting the stumbling blockes out of the way and making known to us in some measure the great love of the Lord to us and so making way for a further manifestation of himselfe to us in a fuller higher and more glorious manner for as the seales are broke open so is Anti christ more and more discovered and destroyed by the bright comming of Jesus Christ for there is a seven-fold purifying of this seede of God in us from the seede of the Devill before it can appeare to us in the purity of it and that is as the seales are broke open to us and hee appeares very glorious at the breaking open of any of the seales much more glorious will he appear to us when all the seales are broke open when we shall perfectly fully and clearly see and know Christ as hee is to us for when they are all broke open then there the perfection of Christ is made known to us for seven is perfection CHAP. XV. How the LORD leades his people by faith THe Lord doth shew his people that which yet they have not the enjoyment of and 〈◊〉 is in a high and glorious manner and they â—â—e not able to expresse what it is but by faith 〈◊〉 some measure they see what it is that they â—â—all enjoy and in the meane while they walke 〈◊〉 faith and not by fight Heb. 11.1 Now faith 〈◊〉 the substance of things hoped for the evidence of â—â—ings not seene And so by faith we must wait â—atiently for a further manifestation of himself â—n us in a more glorious and clearer manner â—or if we hope for that we see not then do we with â—â—tience waite for it Rom. 8.15 We must not â—e like Thomas believe no more than we see or â—njoy but Christ said Blessed are they that â—ive not seene and yet believe John 20.29 Aâ—raham desired to see my day and he saw it and â—as glad He saw by faith the glorious days of Christ the mysteries of the kingdome of God â—ath beene hidden from us but now hee will â—ake them manifest to his Saints to whom God would make knowne what is the riches of this mysterie among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory Col. 1.26 27. Christ manifested in the flesh is a great mysterie his first comming was in flesh visible to all that all might see him Then hee went away as concerning his flesh and came in Spirit to us I will not leave you comfortlesse but I will come unto you John 14.18 And he saith I send my Spirit unto you John 16.7 If any man love me he will keepe my word and my Father will love him and wee will come unto him and make our abode with him John 14.23 So Christ will not only come unto us but hee is in us already and he will make it manifest that he is come in our flesh by his Spirit for hee and his Spirit are all one and where Christ is there is the Father Know ye not that the Father is in the Sonne and the Sonne in the Father And at that time ye shall know that I am in my Father
wee shall see our selves live in his life and dead to that life that wee did live to our selves Thus the Lord will strip us of all our excellent things bringing us into the wildernesse and shewing us that all our works are burnt up so far as they are of us but that which is of God in us is not burnt up but is purged from our drosse and will appeare very glorious and will make us silent for we shall have nothing to boast of but confesse that it is Christ in us which is that glory then we shal â—e that he is no respecter of persons for whatsoever he be whether he be a strict Jew as the Jewes were very strict as ye may see by Paul before his conversion Or a Gentile one that makes no shew of godliness but lives very loosâ—y as those Gentiles did which are spoken of â—n Rom. 1. yet when Christ reveales himself to them they shall finde that his love is the same to them as to them that have been most strictest When the Lord of the Vine-yard sent labourers into his Vine-yard he sent some at the first hour and some at the third hour and some at the sixth hour some at the eleventh hour and when hee came to pay them hee began with him that went in last and he had as much given him as he that went in first Mat. 20. Those that are but young Saints that have been but lately brought into Christ the Lord doth many times reveal himselfe in a very glorious manner to them before he doth to them that have laboured in the Lords Vineyard a great while and have had the seede of God appearing in them a great while Mat. 29.30 But many that are first shall be last and the last shall be first That we may know that God is no respecter of persons for wee are all one body and his love is as great to one member as to another Ephes 4.4 5 6. There is one body and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling One Lord one faith one Baptisme One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all Col. 3.11 Christ is all and in all the Saints CHAP. XVIII How glorious the glory of Christ will appeare in his Church when he bringeth them out of the Wildernesse VVHen Christ hath stripped his Church off of all her goodly things then she hath nothing to trust too but on Christ Isa 2. Then the lofty lookes of man shall be humbled and the baughtinesse of men shall be bowed downe and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day For the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty and upon every one that is lifted up and hee shall bee brought low and the Idols hee shall utterly abolish And they shall goe into the holes of the rockes and into the â—aves of the Earth for feare of the Lord and for the glory of his Majestie when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth In that a man shall cast his Idols of silver and his Idols of god which they made every one for himselfe to worship to the Moles and to the Bats Hosea 14.8 Ephraim â—â—all say what have I to doe any more with Idols Isa 31.7 For in that day every man shall â—ast away his Idols of silver and his Idols of gold which your owne hands have made for a sinne When this day of the Lord is come to us then wee shall be willing to cast them away because the Lord shewes us the odiousnesse of them by the glory of himselfe revealed in us but before this day is come to us we had rather part from any thing than part from them But when he comes to give a full possession of himself then wee are willing to part from all thinge that are not of himselfe but hee doth not reveale all his glory to us at once but revealeth himselfe to us by degrees as wee are able to beare and containe him And as hee shewes himselfe to us so hee shewes us Antichrist and his destruction for the more incomes wee have of Christ the more of selfe and Satan doth appeare to us and is destroyed more and more by this fire of Christ For hee doth baptize us with the holy Ghost and fire Mat. 5. Acts 2. Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burnings Isa 33.14 This fire of the Spirit of God never goes out but is always burning up that in us that is contrary to it selfe that there may be all the drosse burnt up And this fire is in Sion and his fornace in Jerusalem Isa 31.9 which is the Church of God Who is this that commeth up from the wildernesse leaning upon her Beloved Cant. 8.5 The Spouse of Christ seeâ— all other things faile her and she leaneth now wholly upon her Beloved shee is of her selfe like a barren wildernesse but now hee will cause the fuiâ—ts of his Spirit to appeare to grow and flourish in her The Wildernesse and the solitary place shall bee glad for them and the desart shall rejoyce and blossome as a rose It shall blossome abundantly and rejoyce even with joy and singing the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it the excellency of Carmel and Sharon they shall see the glory of the Lord and the excellency of our God Isa 35.12 The Spirit shall be powred upon us from on high and the Wildernesse be a fruitfull field and the fruitfull field bee counted for a Forrest Then judgment shall dwell in the wildernesse and righteousnesse remaine in the fruitfull field And the worke of righteousnesse shall be peace and the effect of righteousnesse quietnesse and assurance for ever And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places and none shall make her affraid Isa 32.15 16 17 18. Now is the time come for us to see that the marriage day is come when he doth come and manifest himselfe in us in a glorious way to tell us what he is to us and in us and what wee are in him and to him when hee thus comes to us that day is the marriage day to us Rev. 19.7 8 9. Let us be glad rejoyce and give honour to him for the marriage of the Lamb is come and his Wife hath made her selfe ready And to her was granted that shee should be arraied in fine linnen cleane and white for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of Saints And he said unto me write blessed are they that are called to the marrioge supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me These are the true sayings of God Rev. 20.9 10 11. And there came unto mee one of the seven Angels and talked with me and said unto me Come hither and I will shew thee the Bride the Lambes Wife And hee carried mee away in the Spirit to a great and
and being overcome and wholly swallowed up in it we are what the Spirit would have us to be and thinke speak and doe what it would have us We are no longer our owne but Gods and his will is become ours and our will is to doâ— his will and is become his so wee are now no longer twaine but one and all our delighâ— is wholly in him and all his delight is wholly in us for it is the manifestation of his love to us that causeth us to love him and the more we see him the more we shall love him and we cannot see him but we shall be like him for we shall see our selves the same in him for as he is so shall we be in this world as wee are Saints the seeing of him by his Spirit doth cleanse us in our conversations So farre as we have seene him wee shall be like him in our conversations for we shall hate all sinne and so farre as we live in God wee shall have neither will nor power to doe any thing that is contrary to him so farre as he revealeth himselfe in us and that is by degrees enlarging our vessels and filling us with himselfe as wee are able to beare him and when he reignes in us we also reigne with him over all things in us that is contrary to himselfe and this is the time of Satans being bound Rev. 20. For Babylon in us being fallen whereby Satan hath overcome us and Christ himselfe having taken possession in us he binds Satan that he cannot â—o what he would against us yet many times God doth let out the linke of Satans chaine â—nd so far as he hath power given him to goe â—e doth wind every way into us will by his â—cting in us ecclips the glory of God but hee â—â—all not overcome us this shall be for the gloâ—y of God and for an humbling to us and â—â—aking us to see that all things that are good â—re of God and how weake we are and reaâ—y to fall if hee with-drawes himselfe but hee â—ill draw backe this chaine of Satan and his â—lory shall appeare more glorious in us and â—his perfection of Christ shall be revealed more â—nd more in us and wee shall see our selves â—ore and more like him 2 Cor. 3.18 But we all â—ith open face beholding aâ— in a glasse the glory of â—he Lord are changed into the same image from â—lory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord. And this Church of God is called a garden â—here all manner of choise fruit grow which 〈◊〉 the fruit of his Spirit in us and he doth water â—t and make it fruitfull and keeps it night and â—ay and is as a wall and bul-worke about it â—o keepe out all our enemies and the greatest â—annon-shot as can be shot by the Devill aâ—ainst us this bul-work will defend us against 〈◊〉 for it cannot pierce it nor do us any harm CHAP. XIX Christ being come into his garden doth feast his Spouse and his Spouse is feasted with him THe Spouse of Christ hath beene as a garden enclosed a spring shut up and fountaine sealed up that shee hath not appeared what shee is but shee hath beene hidden in Christ And now he saith I am come into my Garden my Sister my Spouse Cant. 5.1 Hee was ever in his Garden feasting himselfe though wee saw it not but now hee makes it knowne to us that hee is come in his glory to marry us to himselfe and to sit downe together at this heavenly Table and eate of those spirituall dainties that hee hath prepared for us and to rejoyce together and to remaine alwayes together and the first thing that hee doth when hee is come into us that are his Saints for that is his Garden he calls unto us Cant. 2. My beloved spake and said unto me Rise up my Love my faire one and come away For loe the winter is past the raine is over and gone the flowers appeare on the earth â—he time of the singing of birds is come and the â—oyce of the Turtle is heard in our Land The figâ—ee putteth forth her greene figges and the vines â—ith the tender grape give a good smell Arise my â—â—ve my faire one and come away O my dove â—hou art in the cleft of the rocke in the secret plaâ—es of the stairs let mee see thy countenance let â—â—e heare thy voyce for sweet is thy voyce and thy â—â—untenance is comely She lay in the clefts of that rocke Christ Jeâ—us and when she was in the clefts she could â—ot see the full glory of that rock wherein shee â—ay But there she was hid while the stormes of â—he winter were past that is Before Jesus Christ hath manifested his love and goodnesse â—o us and when this sunne appeareth but low 〈◊〉 us then there is much darknesse and glooâ—inesse in us and much coldnesse and then â—e storms of Satan ariseth against us but now â—ee is risen in his glory with a burning heate â—â—d laid the stormes of Satan and hath burnt â—â—p all that hath hindered us from seeing him â—â—d now he bids us come away for hee tels us â—â—e winter is past that which hindered us is â—one now the spring Christ Jesus is come â—â—d his voyce which is that pure Turtle is â—eard in our Land that is in us and he cauâ—th all that is of himselfe in us to appeare and grow fruitfull and flourish though they bee but young and tender at the spring at the first appearing of Christs manifesting himselfe in us yet they give a good smell and our beloved takes a great delight in them and he cals twice to her to come away that he might behold her for she is very comely and beautifull and glorious for shee is one with him she is attired in the glorious robes of Christ and all his rich ornaments are upon her and his crowne of glory And when he lookes upon her he is ravished with her that is hee is overcome with the sight of her all his love runneth forth to her There is not any two lovers upon earth that their love can be so great as the love of Christ and his Spouse is one to the other and she is called forth to behold him Cant. 3.11 Goe forth O ye daughters of Sion and behold King Solomon with the Crowne where-with his mother crowned him in the day of his spousall and in the day of the gladnesse of his heart Christ is compared to King Solomon because hee had the most glory of any King upon the earth and in the day of Christs Espousall doth his glory appeare to us and the gladnesse of his heart and all is for joy of his marriage to us and it is his joy for us to behold it and she beholding her beloved in his glory and seeing his love to her she is also ravished and wholly overcome and swallowed up in him in seeing him to be her beloved My beloved is
mine and I am his he feedeth among the lilies Cant. 3.16 Christ compareth his Spouse to lilies As the lilly among thorns so is my love among the daughters Cant. 2.2 The lilly is counted the most glorious thing that growes in the field Mat. 6.28 29. Consider the lillies of the field how they grow they toyle not neither doe they spin and yet I say unto you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these This field is all the world and the Saints are these lillies and the other are but thornes Both those that are of the world which is not of Jesus Christ and also that which is in us which is not of Christ are like thorns to keep these lilies from growing and doe what they can to choak this seede of God in us which are these lilies Mat. 13.7 And she compareth her Beloved to an apple-tree As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood so is my beloved among the sons I sate under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my tast Cant. 2.3 He is a tree of life which beareth twelve manner of fruits and yieldeth her fruit every moneth Revel 22.2 And here is all pleasant fruit upon it and is never barren and the fruit of this apple-tree wee feede upon and whosoever hath tasted of this fruit doth know that it is very pleasant and after we have tasted of it nothing else wil content us to feed upon but that and this tree is a shadow and refuge against all storms and tempests and here we fit quietly feeding upon him but hee brings us further and leads us into his banqueting-house that he might feed us with all his dainties for they are all prepared for us Cant. 2.4 5 6. He brought me to the banqueting-house and his banner over me was love Stay me with flagons and comfort me with apples for I am sick of love His left hand is under my head and his right hand doth embrace me When he doth feed us with his heavenly dainties and embraceth us with the arme of his love we are not able to containe our selves we are so ravished with him that we are even sicke with love but hee stais us even when wee are sicke for the enjoyment of him before he doth appeare so glorious in us then he stayes us with the flagons of the wine of his Spirit and of those apples some manifestations of himselfe in us to stay and up-hold us And when he is come in that glorious manner in us which wee have so longed for to give us a a possession of himself and to remain in us for ever He doth appear in us so sweets precious and glorious that we are not able to containe it the enjoyment of him fils us so with joy that it makes us sick being we cannot contain it but he doth up-hold us while he doth embrace us enlarging our vessell and so filling us I am my beloveds and his desire is to me Come my beloved let us goe forth into the field let us lodge in the villages Let us get up early to the vine-yard let us see if the vine flourish whether the tender grapes appeare and the pomegranates bud forth there will I give thee my loves The man drakes give a smell and at our gates are all manner of pleasant fruits new and old which I have laid up for thee O my beloved Cant. 7.10 11 12 13. All his desire is to us and to goe with him to see how the fruits of the Spirit of God doth flourish in us which are his vine-yard or garden He is not contented to feast himself in us but for us to go with him and he to feast us for his whole delight is â—n us Father I will that they also which thou hast given me be with me where I am that they may bebold my glory John 17.24 For all those excellent things that is in him is for us his beloved whether old or new manifestations of his glory in us and all that is in us is for him like the rivers that comes from the Sea and runs to the Sea againe so Christ doth fill us with himselfe and all these streams of himself in us doth wholly flow forth to him We are willing for him to have all the honour glory and praise we are so deeply in love with him that we thinke nothing too deare for him All that is ours is for him yea our lives if he call for them we are sorry that we cannot express our love to him as we would for our bodies are a prison to us but all our love is wholly runne forth to him and his love is the like to us Here is perfect love that casteth out feare 1 John 4.18 This is the love that is as strong as death and it is like fire which hath a most vehement flame Many waters cannot quench love neither can the floods drowne it If a man would give all the substance of his house for love it would be utterly condemned Cant. 8.6 7. And our love is made known in a great high measure one to the other Our beloved is altogether lovely more to be desired than all the things in the world His mouth is most sweet and let him kisse me with the kisses of his mouth for his love is better than wine Out of the mouth commeth the full expression of that love of Christ that is in his heart to us and by his kissing us which is a very high expression of his love to us My beloved it gone downe into his garden to the beds of spices â—o feed in the garden and to gather lillies I am my â—eloveds and my beloved is mine be feedeth among â—he lillies Cant. 6.2 3. I am come into my garden my sister my Spouse I have gathered my myrrhe with my spice I have eaten my honey-comb with my â—oney I have drunke my wine with my milke Eate O friends drinke ye drinke abundantly O beloâ—ed Here hee doth feast himselfe with the â—weet fruits of his Spirit in us that is compaâ—ed to all precious fruits which grow upon â—his tree of life Christ in us He saith I will â—oe up to the palm-tree I will take hold of the â—oughes thereof now also thy breasts shall be as cluâ—ters of the vine and the smel of thy nose like apples And the roofe of thy mouth like the best wine for â—y beloved that goeth downe sweetly causing the â—ips of those that are asleep to speake Cant. 7.8 â— Here doth Christ set forth what excellent â—ruits here is in this garden which he doth gaâ—her and feeds upon it Her breasts shall be as â—he clusters of the vine and that vine is Christ â—ohn 15. and that is the breast that she is nouâ—ished by And the roofe of thy mouth is like the â—est wine Out of our mouths is uttered â—orth the praise glory and excellency of our â—eloved and this wine is for our beloved
and â—e drinks of it and this wine is the fruit of this â—ine Christ and whosoever hee giveth this â—ine too to drinke of it it goeth downe very sweetly and causeth the lips of them that are asleep to speak before Christ appeareth in us we are asleep as the Spouse was Cant. 5.2 in a dead an drowsie condition but now we shall be roused up and speak forth the praise of our beloved Cant. 8.2 I would cause thee to drinke of spiced wine of the juice of the pomegranates This is the fruit that groweth in this garden and it is for our beloved to feast himselfe upon and he saith I have eaten drank and do take great delight in this feast because thou art with me and do you eate and drinke abundantly with me for it is my delight to have you feasted for they are prepared for you and this feast is our love feast for it is our marriage feast and it is my love that you are to feed upon and doe not spare but eate and drinke abundantly of it and be drunke with it for there is more love yet behind than you can see and it is all for you and this love will make you fruitfull for by the love of God to us we bring forth fruits to God This will make us that we shal be neither barren nor unfruitfull here is the Church of God in the glory of Christ and married to Christ and is one with God in Christ and fits in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Ephes 2.6 And is feasted with Christ Jesus and he is feasted with her and she appeareth glorious in his glory CHAP. XX. A new Song sung unto God WHen we come to see what God hath done for us in Christ Jesus how hee hath destroyed this Babylon in us and hath bound Satan and swallowed up the vaile that hindered us from seeing him and we come to see him and see what we are in him and how wee are marryed to him There will be much joy and rejoycing for the destruction of our spirituall enemie for joy of the marriage of the Lamb and the Saints The finger of God will play upon the wel-stringed instrument of musâ—que which is the Spirit of God in us playing heavenly tunes and new songs that we never sung before For first there is a rejoycing for the manifestation of the love of God to us in Christ He hath made us Kings Priests to God and his Father and we shall reigne with him for ever And I heard a great voyce out of heaven saying Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himselfe shall be with them and be their God And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more paine for the former things are passed away Rev. 21.3 4. The cause of our crying and mourning either for spirituall or for outward things is because we doe not clearely see God what he is to us and that all that he doth to us is in love and that hee will have his owne time to bring to passe his own will in his owne way both spirituall and temporall for the glory of his Name and for our good when we come to be really sensible of this then wee shall see that wee have no cause of mourning then shall our teares be wiped from our eyes Rejoyce ye with Jerusalem and be glad with her all ye that love her rejoyce for joy with her all yee that mourne for her Isa 66.10 For behold I create new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into mind But be you glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing her people a joy And I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voyce of crying Isa 65.17 18 19. And the Lord will cause righteousnesse and praise to spring forth before all the Nations and I will direct their work in truth I will make 〈◊〉 everlasting Covenant with them And their seed shall he known among the Gentiles and their off-spring among the people All that see them shall acknowledg them that they are the seede which the Lord hath blessed I will greatly rejoyce in the Lord my soul shall be joyfull in my God for be hath cloathed me with the garments of salvation hee hath covered me with the robe of righteousnesse as a Bride-groom decketh himselfe with ornaments as a Bride adorneth her self with jewels everlasting joy shall be unto them Isa 61. As there are new manifestations of God in us so there will be new songs of joy and rejoycing in the Lord. And I heard a voyce from heaven as the voyce of many waters and as the voyce of a great thunder and I heard the voyce of harpers harping with their harps And they sang as it were a new song before the Throne and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth Rev. 14.2 3. And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image and over his marke and over the number of his name stand on the sea of glasse having the harps of God And they sung the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying great and marvellous are thy workes Lord God Almighty Just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints Who shall not feare thee O Lord and glorifie thy Name for thou only art holy for all Nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgments are made manifest Revel 15.2 3 4. This sea of glasse is Christ and none can stand upon him but the Saints for it is too slippery for any other to stand upon it for they will fall and this fire that is mingled with this glasse will burn them up but here the Saints stand with joy singing a new song and rejoycing in the Lord exceedingly the joy is beyond expression none can know it but they that have the enjoyment of it to see and know that Christ hath overcome and destroyed all our spirituall enemies in us for he hath thrown down Babylon in us And after these things I heard a great voyce of much people in heaven saying Allelujah salvation and glory and honour and power be unto the Lord our God For true and righteous are his judgments for he hath judged the great Whore which did corrupt the Earth with her fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand And again they said Allelujah and her smoak rose up for ever and ever And the four and twenty Elders and the four beasts fell downe and