as it is in themselves though many have learned in this day to adde to their Faith Vertue and Patience and all good Fruits of the Spirit of God because of the Experience of the Work of Faith which through Patience they are kept in the sence of in the midst of Fiery Tryals and they hold fast the begettings of God thereby in a confidence of good in him XI And then as they increase in Knowledge it is on a good ground and foundation that hath learned them to rejoyce in the FLAMES of DEVOURING FIRE whose devouring QUALITY cannot reach their SENCE with any BITTERNESS of its Sting but through Patience and Submission thereto it is made sufferable and the Cross is made easie therein and the BURDEN light because of a quenching property in that love against whatever maketh the Judgement of God to be unsufferable Torment to his Creature for part of their Knowledge is that it is not only given them to believe but to suffer for the namesake of God though in the beginning of the Work of Faith the belief that was wrought by the Spirit of God in them is a Convincer of sin under which there was and is a suffering in the nature that hath contracted the guilt thereof on the Soul by unity of Spirit therewith even the Spirit and God of the World XII Further knowing and being perswaded in patience to wait for the perfecting of the Work of God in the Heart in that Faith and belief of the love of God therein shed abroad that they are kept sensible of a good experience of the Work thereof having the Testimony of a good Conscience to manifest the same in the World these can shew their Faith by its Works and have a birth thereof that makes not ashamed of a good CONFESSION among Men and the fained Humility and appearances of Love from the untimely Fruit of the Womb that can never come to see the glory of the Sun of this day withereth in its way for that which can indure and hold out to the End worketh by the love of God that hath begotten into a lively hope concerning the Resurrection from the Dead having a Life tinctured in the Souls reach after true Charity in God and Love unfained which is the highest attainment in a Christians state and the greatest Gift that can be attained by men under the Bond of Perfection XIII Sealing the Work in which God doth glory and delight in that which is made able to pass through the stroke of Death to leave an Earnest of the expectations of the Creature after the day of Redemption in that which is much more pretious than that of Gold that perisheth But how have I seen many in this day loading themselves with the Fancy and Imaginations of their disquieted Mind and then being burdened with a Fear and Jealousie that ariseth from the Unbelieving Heart and distrustful ground they are ready to cry out of the Burden of the Lord whereas their own words and thoughts are become their Burden who have taken that on them which God never layd on them and yet they make the concern for the Lords sake that lays no more on any than they are made able to bear in the Life of Patience XIV And in this ground stand all the several Separations and hasty receivings into Fellowships with sudden hands laid on Proselytes for herein is the ground of prejudice swayed by the creaturely affection yet in this mind may be maintained a fierce and fiery Zeal for the opiniatedness that may often call for fire to come down from Heaven and to have Vengeance and Plagues speedily executed on such against whom their Spirit is bent for having wished evil in their Hearts and mischief against the Persons of such towards whom they cannot admit of any CHARITABLE thoughts they proceed in a hasty Prophecy of their utter confusion and then would they rather that both Soul and Body of the subject over whom they seek to be avenged in that rejoycing should for ever perish than that they should be found False Prophets so evil a thing it is to be engaged in a Spirit of Enmity and Envy XV. But such Extremities many have this day put themselves on through rash censure and then run back to former Ages and Generations of the World for a President and Example to help them out as they think whereby they oft are ready to plead the lawfulness of cursing their Adversary who standeth not justified in their sight and approbation because ELISHA was once acted in that Ministration through the heat and zeal of his Spirit it being so far from their nature to live in that which is wayting for the Worlds redemption from sin and reconciliation to God that they rather strengthen their FURY in the expectation of utter Consumption and Destruction on all that cannot for wraths sake stoop to their perswasions and it is the end of such willings to see a People perish in their sins XVI Because of that mis-informed Zeal under which their Spirits are acted against the Enemies and Foes of that Cause for which they have found the life imboldened towards God according to the quickning of his Spirit as tinctured with that Power before which the Heavens have opened and do shut and in the like desire THEY are moved as was HE before whom Fifties were destroyed whose Spirit resteth Judgement on a Ground wherein God hath prepared Messengers to go before his face But considering the difference in Administrations that Zeal which runneth out after an Object to maintain the heat of Spirit against which it is enkindled is not now held and retained in the like Cause and Ground as that in which it first appeared XVII For God is gone out of that Administration as acted towards the Persons of Men in their Generations and cannot own any glory therein but as that which had a Testimony of his day in the Prophecy thereof wherein the Messengers went before his Face in a sence of that terror that was come on the Wicked World because such that wear the soft Cloathing are got into Kings Houses and they shall no more wear a rough Garment or prophesie in their Sackcloth Robes therefore whom would men go out to see since Times are come that the Sacrifice of the Rebellious savoureth of the Work of Death and there is not fire enough to kindle the combustible matter in the House on the top of which they are exalted while the Displeasure of God continueth unawakened in the Pleasure and Will of Men that bring Wood but where is the Flame of that other Spirit which God requireth even of Reconciliation to Himself in the Life of Forgiveness in that which is able to Appease and Quench the Wrath and Rage of the devouring Enemy and make Friends in the Well-Beloved Life XVIII Yet where is Love and Forgiveness enough to heap Coals of Fire on the Heads of Enemies the Gift hath been first left at the Altar and such
are in the way of Reconciliation to God and their Brother and have their Sacrifice salted with Salt and do find Acceptance before God without any loud Cry to the World 's BAAL or Lord as did the Priests in Days of old and they awaken nothing before its time but are wayting on the Power of what is already kindled and awakened against Self which is Gods Displeasure wherein the ENEMY hath been strengthened for a time XIX Thus desiring if it be possible to live in peace with all Men no Spirits can be awakened in the wrathful Principle to their hurt because such things are not easily allayed again in their heat and sting for the Executioners of Gods Displeasure as destroying Angels in God rejoyce in the Power of Death taking occasion by Sin to tempt and then to accuse as sin hath taken occasion by the LAW once ordained in the hand of Angels to revive a strength of Condemnation under the Power of Death wherein the Devourer and Destroyer imployeth his Instruments in the Working of Concupisence like a roaring Lyon seeking to betray under his Baits and Snares as a ground of Enmity and Revenge in which he lurketh with accusations after he hath once conquered under the Power of his Dominion and to condemn before God that the Patient in Spirit may be delivered into his hand for torment the time he hath to sift and try them XX. For I have always desired of the Lord to keep out of the ground and Cause of Just Offence to any and to avoid occasions of Enmity which is so ready to spring up in the distempered and discomposed Mindes of Men of unruly Passions who have let in the SEED of Discontent against the Dealings and Proceedings of God either in Themselves or Others wherein many are both seeking and taking occasions unjustly against those they are out of Charity with because of a mind filled with prejudice and gainsayings though to me such things are no whit strange in that I know there is no temptation suffered to work against the life of God in any but what was common to the Saints in days of old who with the Temptation have found out a way to escape the evil and danger thereof XXI Yet am I clear herein that I have not sought to hide the Counsel of God from any by delivering forth the truth of what I have received from GOD in an UNKNOWN Tongue wherein I could keep my Conscience void of offence towards GOD and Man but there is a Spirit which is Worldly wise and subtil yet covered with Religious pretences which is at this day seeking Preheminence in the House and Temple of God and that is it which I desire to live and act out of the reach of in what form or by what name soever they may be called therefore from such I keep in the Clouds and from thence must I in the Truth hereof and the Truth in me descend to their Capacities as way is made therein through the fulfilling of the Prophecy XXII But though this is and hath been my Care and Conscience towards God and love to the Creation of him that formed his Workmanship in the Womb of Nature and curiously wrought the form wherein he rejoyceth in the Mothers Belly not to seek or give any just occasion of offence to Jew or Greek or cast a stumbling Block in the way of the Gentiles in which the House of Israel remaineth under sufferings yet as far forth as I am redeemed out of the ground of hurt which worketh in the excess of Love or Fear of the Creatures I question not but my LIFE will be preserved through all in my Way and out of the reach of evil Tongues in the bewitching faculty of prejudice that swelleth with Envy XXIII My Bow 's bent being wholly drawn against the persecuting Spirit of the World about Religion and Worship of God under what name or pretence soever such are covered who seek to keep the Innocent under the sufferings of Cruelty in the Holes and Dens of the Earth that are filled with a People more righteous before God than themselves though it was Israels Choice to have that Dominion established wherein they might be like unto other Nations of the Earth which is given them in the Ministration of Wrath and Fury and in all Forms of Government he hath come forth higher than the common People by the Head as King in Nature and though he hunt for his Prey as a Partridge on the Mountains yet doth God watch over and preserve his own through all conspiracies of ACHITOPHEL which shall come to nought XXIV Notwithstanding many are hereby given into the Hands of the Tormentor for the destruction of the Flesh whose Spirits are saved alive in this day of the Lord and they are now coming forth in that Power which hath conquered the strength of the old Deceiver which is ready to betray with a Kiss of Flattery and they are made able to trample on the Dominion of Death and Hell in the worldly Spirits Excommunications and Banishments and sensual Separations having not the Spirit of God in a patient suffering and bearing Principle that cannot rejoyce to see and behold any evil in others but mourneth over such that are left to themselves and the pernicious ways of that Will which is deserted by God in the ground and Principle of the Lifes operation though in his Sufferance they live and move and have their Being while they grow in that which is past feeling of his Love and are dead to the apprehension of his Power in the motion of which they were first quickned as given up to a reproved and reprobate sence XXV Therefore let the goodness of God to his Creature lead to Repentance as that which shall leave all Men without Excuse before him which is the only way to bring out of a perishing Estate under which the Worlds are fallen wherein his LOVE and MERCY maketh sensible of the Danger concerning which they are forewarned that as God cometh to leave any to themselves in the danger of their own Pernicious Ways so in like manner they be dealt withal by them that profess his Name and Truth and none to continue contending with the World in the wrathful Principle for it is not lawful striving with any People out of the Power of God in the Ministration of his Love because all wrathful furious drivings and strivings are under the Power of the Destroyer and it is the Devils strength to lead into the same though therein Divine Justice cometh to be exalted over the Creature in the execution of Vengeance that repayeth double to all the Rebellious XXVI Let the stiff-necked consider therefore why many have been given up unto Satan and delivered into the Tormentors hands for a season while Destruction and Contempt hath come on the Glory of the Flesh which is stained for the Hunter after mischief shall fall in his own Snare and Gin and the Trap he hath layd for
either in general or particular Concerns so narrow is the Heart of the Creature tyed up in his Generations and cannot see the good of any thing in Posse though that which is in Esse Self is continually labouring for Interest in yet consider the want of Faith in the World concerning any Help and Deliverance to the Oppressed after which they have fixed Expectations shall not always keep down and hinder the day we groan after but it shall come when Faith is scarce to be found on the Earth and Deliverance shall spring up to the Afflicted as well concerning outward Oppressures as inward when they are left as Men without hope XXXV But none of those that are in the fanning Love and out-side shews of Humility in appearances under any pretence whatever of a universality of Spirit while in a sensual Separation they continue rending themselves from the Body of Fellowship in God wherein is the holy Order of Saints will be able to stand and hold out the indurance of the Tryals that are come into the Worlds though for a Time they make Parties and have Headships in the Divisions of Men about Opinionatedness for it is that every thing may appear in its birth that the Mystery of Iniquity hath been suffered to work and the Selfish Love in appearances of Humility is one with the Spirit of the WORLD in which it is grounded and founded and the day hath made it manifest XXXVI For it is not lo here or lo there will now hide the Professor neither A. nor P. in Profession or that thou hast Love or Zeal in thy Heart but what art thou joyned to in the exercise thereof that leveneth NATURE into a Principle it is that which will discover whose Side thou art on which I long since have had a perfect sight of and that both the fearful and unbelieving of God and his Goodness that for want of Zeal to God in the Cause and Case in which they once have appeared seek to cover their dead mind in a habit of Love and Forgiveness and while filled with the Power of Death they move and reach after a sence in others under which they would be apprehended to live and also the Proud and Presumptious who are heightned in a fierceness of that fiery Zeal could be content to persecute for their OPINIONATEDNESS with Tongue or might of Arm and both will joyn hands to conclude the matter under which a Mystery doth work XXXVII This is already seen and that Doctrines of Truth may be received and believed that have Universal Principles and yet retained in a narrow empty Heart whereby the Cause for which the Just doth suffer is maintained in a Ground that is evil to the Life of Jesus who lighteth every man c. and therefore the Nature of what springeth from thence effecteth that which is contradictory to good sence but I leave the Issue thereof to God who is the Highest and Chiefest GOOD whereby the Creature who is the Subject on which it doth work may come to grow into Unity of Spirit with Him therein wherein Time and Place is measured and comprehended in the incomprehensible Beauty of Holiness which shineth in and over all his Works and standeth in the excelling Properties of that Vertue that transcends the worth of all visible created things which are all to perish in that state of Corruption under which they are brought forth BEAUTIFUL into MANIFESTATION that many may come to comprehend with all Saints what is the height and depth and length and breadth of these things as they are in JESUS XXXVIII But the order of what hath relation to a Publique Good herein depends on a Ground that hath the Truth of all Prophecy opened in the concern it hath to both outward and inward man of which a large Testimony is already given forth in the passage of all those that died in the Faith of the Day many are become Witnesses of and do see and possess great Glory therein through a sence of Redemption and Restauration come unto and come up in the Worlds in its Principles in the several and respective States where many have been found wandering from Satisfaction in the progress of the Work which leads up unto God and therefore concerning the Times and Seasons for which the Vision is set and made to speak thou shalt count a year for a day from the Creation of the Worlds in the Generations of ADAM according to the days of the Life of ENOCH which were 365 years wherein is the ground of all Prophecie comprehended in number and figure that is now made able to utter its voice XXXIX And it will appear to be the fifteenth day of the fifth Month of the sixteenth year since the Creation of the Worlds in the Generations of Adam to this present year 1665. wherein thou shalt count in each month 28 days and â…” parts between New Moon and New Moon counting the beginning of the Month from the Phasis or first appearing-time thereof and from the fifteenth year the Worlds stood divided in that which rested the Judgment of GOD which is brought thereinto on its fourth part or North Quarter over which the Eagle hath had Power in the time the Dragon remained bound down in the bottomless Pit with a chain of the Angel of GOD while those that had received the first Fruits of Joy and Comfort in the Spirit of God and that are made partakers of the first Resurrection have raigned in the Dominion and Power of God in that which hath quickned the Spirit of the Souls of the once dead in Sins and Trespasses as of those Spirits in Prison unto whom the Preacher of Redemption is become manifest XL. And by fifteen degrees of the Sun according to which it hath gone ten degrees backward on the Worlds and in which the Days of the Month and Months of the Year are equally divided thou shalt be made able to measure the Worlds in what is discernable and whence Glory descendeth into Nature from the Equinoctial Pole according to its Elevation counting in the Diurnal Motion of the Wheels wherein a Day standeth for a Year in its figure according to the times and seasons under which the Worlds have multiplied their number to the Generations that are come to possess the Substance of the Wilderness Travel where Moses saith I appoint ye a Year for a Day c. for fifteen Minutes of one degree of the Sun to make one minute of an hour of the day each hour being fifteen degrees of the Sun but in the Annual motion in the Wheels by ONE degree of the Sun there is signified a year and in a month is signified five minutes as doth one minute signifie six days and some odd hours of a degree of the Sun which hath four minutes of an hour to every degree of the Sun in its diurnal Course of Motion XLI But wherein the fifteenth year made its Revolution in the first month of the sixteenth
God I have a hand reached forth to the helpless towards whom my tender Bowels are moved that they may partake of this VISITATION which is given for the sake of many and great NATIONS This great Salvation of God being revealed to all them that are made partakers with him in the Faith of God's Elect in which the like pretious Promises do work V. To all the People of God whether gathered or ungathered my love reacheth forth though most especially to the scattered Nations over all the Earth that are the Houshold of Faith in which it is not only given them to believe but also to suffer for his Names sake whom they profess Love Mercy and Peace together with all fruits of the Spirit of God to the Brethren of him who is come to possess the Life of Patience under the sufferance of the Spirit of this World through the Revelation of JESUS the Son of God by whom the whole Glory of the TEMPLE of God was brought forth into which entered the Hoast of the Heavens the SEVENTH day wherein God came to rest in the finished settlement of that in which all labour ceased as to the working power of his Spirit in the frame of the Creature and Creation that is become the workmanship of the Father VI. I am filled I am filled with the motion of his Power in the workings up of his informing Spirit that sendeth forth its sound through an Earthen Vessel and in as much as its concern is Universal the peculiar relation and respect which it hath unto People of those Generations is the breathings of Life from a follower of the Lamb of God And the Life of the JUST in his Name that is faithful and true and full of long-suffering and that which is certified concerning these things is what will assuredly be fulfilled and shortly come to pass VII Therefore blessed are they that can read or hear and in whom there is a heart inclined to understand the MYSTERIES herein wherein the Testimony of TRUTH is confirmed amongst the CHURCHES in the Spirit of Jesus unto which Churches in the WORLDS in their divided quarters JESUS who is the Author and Finisher of the Faith of God's Elect whose Nature had glory in raising up that Body out of the Grave and from the power of Death and Destruction in three dayes is now dispersing bowels in which are the Fountains of all good that have been sealed and shut up but are now freely set open for sin and for uncleanness for Judah and Jerusalem VIII And thus saith the Antient of days the AMEN the FIRST and the LAST who hath glory in the Work of God through the Redemption of Souls up unto himself come wash and be clean for he that is faithful and true hath yet a little while a gathering Hand and Arm stretched out towards you all the Bride saith Come as hath been the Voice of the Spirit of God which by many hath been rejected But yet hear what the Spirit saith unto the CHURCHES IX Unto the Churches of ASIA and the ANGELS of these Churches saith the Beloved of God O yet gather if it be possible and behold the Wing of Mercy and everlasting Salvation hovering over you your works have been tryed in the fire and hitherto they have not made weight in the Ballance of Gods Sanctuary neither are they able to stand before him but are like the STUBBLE in his way and are driven before the Bow of his Fury X. Yea unto thy PRINCES saith the AMEN of all Glory in Heaven and Earth bend your Necks to the Yoak and learn to Plow else sorrow wil be your portion To thy PRIESTS I say Howl Lament and be threshed upon the FLOOR by him that can handle the FLAIL to thy PROPHETS I say Take the Cup and drink a mighty draught for as ye have had your fills of Pleasure on the Earth so shall you drink your full Portion of sorrow howling and lamentation XI I know all thy works and thy doings for the secrets of thy Heart are not hid from me thou exalted HORN of ASIA PERSIA and MEDIA are the strength of thine ARM ye Daughters of K'TURAH therefore be ye wakened in time and behold how the ASSYRIAN is broken on the right Hand and on the left XII And unto the ANGELS of the Churches Mystically in AMERICA in thee are a People whom God will yet gather to his Praise but thou wilt be broken as a Potters Vessel and turned on a fiery Hearth Thou hast of the Captivated TRIBES and scatterd-broken-off-branches bound in Chains under thy quarter let them forth for the mighty Day of God is Proclaimed and come XIII Unto the Angels of the Churches in AFRICA write what is ready to befal them in the Day and Hour of their Exaltation Since thou wast lifted up thy day is measured and when thou wast cast down thou hast been warned Yet once more hear pitty the Captives and give of thy Bread to him that cometh under the smiting of the South Wind lest when the awakened North Wind returns its blown Breath out of the Bellows of the Almighty it make thy burthen more then thou art able to bear XIV Thy Feet must tread on Mire and Clay and in like manner will Feet be set over thee But thou the darkest of Countreys I have many NAMES to be gathered out of thee therefore hasten and return when thy WORK is done and remember that thou art warned of what shall come to pass lest on the one hand thou shouldst be heightned in the day of thy Exaltation or left without information of that which will befall thee when thou art cast down for as thou dost unto others to wit the Captivity of the North so will it be done unto thee in the return of measure and weight XV. Say not any more I am strong for one of thy PRINCES is strong above thee and the Daughters of thy Land that have made up thy agreement with the King of the North will not retain the ARM nor prevail in thy strength and Dominion though thou carry away Captive the Inhabitants of that Land whose King hath reigned more years then the King of the South XVI Repent therefore quickly is the Voice of the Angel lest I come and smite thee unawares and remember when that is loosed and awakened which hath been compassed about by PISON and GIHON he that invadeth a strange Land shall place his glorious Habitation between the Seas that the scattered TRIBES may behold the Glorious City which they have been seeking and come forth into the NORTH to see a place prepared in the Kingdom by the Father for ASIA hath faln and is turned to Idols and hath given heed to lying Vanities XVII But both of you shall be purged together in a fiery Furnace until your supplication for Mercy be made able to prevail therefore let thy Princes consider for whom the controversie betwixt two great Kings doth work and thou that wert
greeting to the four Churches in EUROPE I. SInce the WORLD is faln under the power of Corruption and Affliction hath overtaken the Inhabitants of the Earth in its divided Quarters let this Epistle be sounded throughout thy Borders O ASIA wherein is Power communicated to an Instrument in the Hand of God to raise up and awaken the sence of what hath overtaken thee in the Glory of thy seven Churches now dispersed abroad over the Earth that it may be known throughout the whole Land of JUDEA that our God is King in Israel who is come to Rule and Reign in RIGHTEOUSNES and is arisen as a Giant refreshed with WINE for he hath taken unto him VENGEANCE for a Cloathing and is cloathed with ZEAL as with a Cloak before his face goeth a consuming Fire and it is very tempestuous round about him II. For he hath raised up unto himself a Horn of Salvation which is a Witness awakened out of the Dust and from the Holy Place wherein it hath slept in the Earth and hath commended his love unto us while we were yet sinners having laid down his Life for his Enemies that he again might come to take it up in as many as are willing to joyn to his SPIRIT in the Work of Redemption and Reconciliation of the WORLDS to himself III. Whereby the Worlds are convinced of their SINS and their RIGHTEOUSNES in that Life of Sufferance wherein the Spirit of Reconciliation is manifested as a witness against the Spirit God and Spirit of the World in several sorts of Judgment for which the World is reproved that remains in unbelief and continues joyned to that cursed Spirit of Enmity being subject to sore Tryals of Bondage and Captivity to the Spirit of Darkness in which the Curse first wrought and therein is caused the groaning and waiting of the whole Creation of God IV. And thou O Europe let this have its free passage throughout thy quarters lest I tear thy flesh with Thorns saith the Mighty One that is High and Holy in the midst of this the day of his Exaltation as his Beloved becometh raised out of the dust a beautiful Daughter of dejected Zion whose glory hath been covered with Ashes while she hath sat mourning on the Floar of Corruption and all that are Enemies to my WORK and stand in my WAY shall be made like unto ZEBA and ZELMANA saith the FORMER of great Nations mighty and strong for by the Breath of his NOSTRILS and through the BRIGHTNES of his Appearance he will consume and destroy the Man of Sin and where will the WICKED appear since the Day of God is come on all the pleasant PICTURES and upon all that is lifted up above its SPHEAR and ORB to the staining of the beauty and glory of all FLESH that all high Oaks and sturdy Cedars in LEBANON may be made to bend to the Power of God which is the subjecter of all forms in Nature to their first servitude V. And unto the ANGEL of the Churches in EUROPE write these things saith the first born of every Creature under the Heavens The day and hour of thy Tryals is come therefore let thy Rulers hear and let thy Priests give ear for their Sacrifice hath been defiled while their Hands are full of Blood in the right Hand of thy Prophets is a lie and they feed upon Ashes Remember therefore the Day of God that hath measured the Ground in which thou hast been exalted in a time of prosperity because of the night that hath overtaken thy Glory and say no more I am prosperous in that strength which is the help of Nations VI. For because of transgression in JUDAH the Land doth mourn and through the iniquity of BENJAMIN they are scattered in ISRAEL and the ten Tribes have lost their name wherein the Glory of SAMARIA is rooted out of the Earth Hear therefore you that can for if your breaking off was that which made way for the reconciling the World unto God in the Life of the Sons Glory what will be your reconciling again but life from the dead Oh alas that I am born to see your Rebellion ye stiff-necked people and gainsaying house VII Ye have cast others out of your Synagogues and places of Worship and now are you cast off by all and made a scorn to the Inhabitants of the Earth and are become a Song of the Prophane for wherein you have despised the Servants of the Lord and slighted his Messengers that were sent unto you rising up early because the Lord did send them God hath given you up to be tormented by that Spirit of despite Yet are his Bowels again turned towards you and though you could not come up unto him nor receive him that came down unto you to suffer your contempt in a Servants state yet in the last day of the Worlds visitation he hath taken notice of your calamity and hath prepared a way for your return through the everlasting Gates of Glory set open that the Nations of the EARTH might enter in thereby VIII And unto the Angel of the Churches in ROME saith the searcher of all Hearts what hast thou done for thy nakedness is discovered and thy shame is seen though thou hast imboldned thy self in the calamity of Nations and in the destruction of mighty People great in their Generations Alas for thee that hast been cast out of the fellowship and community of a People that were more antient in Name to God then thy self and in like manner hast thou been found casting out of thy Temples and excommunicating from thy Church-Fellowship such that for Conscience sake could not conform to thy invented and superstitious Ceremonies IX But now what is come upon thee that art rejected by thy lovers For although the time is come that God will laugh at thy calamity and mock when thy fear cometh yet is there pitty to a handful of People that are in thee and the yearning Bowels are towards that which is ready to die under such Oppressors that are found in the cause of what hath stained the Day of thy Excellency my Heart my Bowels I am pained for thee in whose currant are centring all the divided streams that have been boasting themselves in what hath caused the breaking off the Branches from the Root in which they were first planted but they run in that wide and open way that leads to everlasting destruction that are boasting against the Root which first bore them Oh that thou mightest be yet helped X. But you have hardned your selves in the way that leadeth thither and therein you are become blind and cannot see the danger before you Is Italy strong enough to support thee or what defence is the House of Austria to that which is broke forth against thee See you not the flames the flames thereof in the Heavens and the glory of its brightness amongst the Stars in their Constellations I am weary I am weary of your ways saith the Lord but what shall
I do unto such a People as this And therefore let the German Princes prepare for he is come forth that hath measured thy day the glory of Imperial Support cannot any longer defend the PAPAL Throne on which Foundation thou hast been raised up in great Excellency and exalted in mighty Pomp. Oh! how hath thy practice clouded the Glory of thy Profession and because of a Spirit of Cruelty that hath possessed the strength of thy Zeal in a mis-informed mind how hast thou laid a stumbling block in the WAY of the simple and caused the Ignorant to despise the truth of sound Doctrine XI Dost thou believe Purgation of the Body of Nature from the cause that hath held it down under the Power of Death wherein the Souls of the Righteous have remained crying and groaning under the Altar of God Why then continue ye in the enmity and Spirit of Cruelty to the life of the Just both in your selves and others for where that Life is not refreshed and nourished it dieth for want of strength because it is the Souls strengh to be fed with the Bread of Comfort in God wherein it receives all blessing from him and the Body also without that Spirit is dead XII It is the living therefore that can praise God aright in that power that entereth the Ear of the Dead for whom they stand in Jeopardy every hour making their Supplications unto God in his Spirit that breaketh open the Prison Doors and is come to Preach to the Spirits in Prison comforting the sick and weak that lyeth languishing under the Power of Death and visiting the needy in the day of its distress and calamity through which the dead becometh again raised up to life and immortality in GOD. XIII Many things I have to say unto thee because thou mixest thy inventions with the Doctrine of Truth and hast exalted thy self in the superstition of those gain-sayers that perished before thee great are the Tryals that have overtaken thee and that which is come upon thee cannot be parallel'd because of the end of all things that is come up before the LORD Have I not seen the going down of thy Glory among the Stars of the Night surely it is set in the WEST and it hath a SOUTH Cloud over its Beam but from the EAST is the Morning broke forth and towards the NORTH doth the Star shine that hath burning flames mentained in the dissolution of such forms of Nature that have caused an exhaling in the excremental parts of the fiery Heavens XIV And unto the Angel of the Churches in the separated Islands in the North the transplantation of Europe thy Names are many and divers art thou in the perswasion of thy Judgement in the Doctrinal part of Truth And these are become the Horns on the Heads of the BEAST in Nature which shall hate the WHORE that hath exalted SELF in the destruction of the glory of two Tribes for ten Tribes shall return to behold that which hath been healed up deceitfully in the appearance of the RAM from the EAST whose coming forth is to ex lt his Horns wherewith he shall be found pushing three wayes to wit WEST and NORTH and SOUTH XV. And there will be striving in the EARTH until a HOLY PEOPLE cometh to sit down in their own Land for God is come down into the forms of Nature and will work as in the dayes of old and every on that seeeth him shall be affected with his LOVE and shall mourn bitterly over him as his beauty cometh to be seen in the Earth and overspreadeth the Worlds but none shall be able to awaken his displeasure against others though he will cut off great and strong Nations in his way in his own time and not for the sake of the Wishers of mischief that may inkindle a fire in the Center of the ground from whence their life doth spring XVI But the Angel of my BELOVED hath given in charge unto the Daughters of SION that they awake not Gods displeasure neither stir up the Beloved desire of the welfare of all Nations before he please for you that profess zeal against Superstition see that you stand not above the ground of Humility from whence charity doth spring unto the distressed which worketh the WILL of God in the manifestation of Glory through the LIGHT of his countenance that is lifted up over the Nations by the arising of the Sun of Righteousness with healing in his WINGS XVII For I am well assured of the love of God to his despised Remnant and handful of little Ones trampled on by all and now set in the Front of the BATTEL in which Gods Cause hath engaged them though by the Mighty they are deserted as left to the rage and fury of the Devouring Enemy And I have beheld also such that have plenty in their own Houses yet are they found covetously lusting after one EWE-LAMB of the POOR And shall they prosper saith the LORD since his Sword which he hath not drawn in vain shall not depart from their House until Jerusalem become a quiet Habitation for evermore for an exercise hath sprung from their own Bowels through a Rebellious Seed that flattereth in the WAY XVIII But the ground of all this awakened Fury did break forth in the Spirit of the WORLD in the Nature of sensual Separations in the dispersed forms of the Apostatizing Spirit from its first Love by which the Faith of Gods Elect worketh But Gods intention is to purge his own House and Sanctuary first that his People may be white and clean from the Worldly Spirit of enmity and bitterness which springeth from the covetous Root that standeth in the lusting ground wherefore the BEAST hath power to exalt his HORN for a season XIX Therefore cease Oh cease ye MIGHTY of the EARTH to strive against the Lord for ye have been contending with one another in selfs concernment until your time of healing is well nigh spent in controversies and now hath God taken his own cause into his HANDS and hath it in consideration which he will plead for the Meek of the Earth in the Heart of their Enemies And notwithstanding many things are suffered for a Tryal of their FAITH to God who profess his Name and Truth yet is it not to destroy them but to purifie and refine them wherein Judgement is still strengthened against that part which hath given way to the power and work of the Enemy either in the Particular or General And I am assured deliverance will come in Gods time which is when his People are so sitted thereby that God can get himself a Name in their Salvation XX. And alas you Professors of Cristianity that are quarrelling with each other about the formal part of your Worship how have you lost your day until you are overtaken with a power of Darkness have ye not been afraid of those that should change your Laws and Customs and bring in contrary Orders wherein the ROMANS Power