love but turneth his heart therefrom he shall become utterly confused in his heart and wax more and more estranged from Christ and have no part with him in this holy day of his coming nor enter into his rest for evermore but obtaine the condemnation which also belongeth rightly unto him with all ungodly whose part shall be with the devil and all wicked spirits with the chains or bands of darkness in the fire of hell 7. They now shall likewise all perish which remaine without Jesus Christ or without the communiality of his love as also such as turn them therefrom 8. For it shall now this say I unto you verily be found in the truth that Jesus Christ is onely the Saviour of his Body and not of them that remaine without him nor which turne them away from him much less to them which despise him and do all their diligence to tread his word of grace which is proffered unto us all out of the service of love to righteousness for to be made living in him under foot deriding the same and blaspheamor dishonouring the spirit of grace 9. COnsider on the testimonies of the Scripture ye dearly beloved how that Jesus Christ is in this day onely the Saviour of his Body For thus there standeth written of him He shall save his People from their sins But not the strangers which remaine without him 10. Again He shall gather the wheat into his barn and burn the chaffe with everlasting fre 11. Again the Lord Jesus Christ himself saith Every vine-branch of mine which bringeth forth no fruit shall be cut off 12. Again The world shall see me no more but ye saith the Lord Jesus Christ to his members shall see me For I live and ye shall live 13. Again The firstling which is risen from the death is Christ after that They that belong unto Christ or that are of his members namely of his Flesh and Spirit which make manifest themselves in the time of the coming of Christ in his majesty and after that cometh the end 14. Thereof speaketh Isaiah also saying to the Lord whenas he saw into the hardness or obstinancy of the People which should be upon earth in the last time Thy dead that is those which are deceased in the Lord shall live and arise with the Body Take it to heart The XLII Chapter HErewith ye dearly beloved will we conclude for this time I suppose that this groundly instruction and inconfutable declaration is sufficient for to satisfie throughly all understandings which love the truth and to make known unto every one in his understanding that this same which is declared unto us and becometh administred and published unto you all is the Lords work and that the Scripture must even so become fulfilled in all what is written of Christ. 2. Whosoever now therefore hath any good willingness towards God for to do his will he shall well consider and understand that these testimonies are no manly knowledges but are proceeded from God and that they have their service hereunto for to pluck all good-willing hearts in the unity of the love of Christ with us little ones and God his elect under the grace of life and hand of God which is appeared unto us now in the last time to an everlasting and stedfast peace upon the earth according to the promises 3. For that cause to the end that it may now all be fulfilled in Christ what is written and evangelized in times past of him all hearts which love the truth and also all men are now called on the behalf of the Lord our God with this or through the service of love unto the love the most soveraigne majesty of God our Father To the end that they all mought now assemble them to their preservation in this perilous time with us under the obedience of the Love unto the true Body of Jesu Christ and so we to become incorporated with each other in all love into Christ to one man of God 4. COnsider now rightly ye dearly beâ—oved whereto and wherefore the man is summoned or required to come unto the majesty of God and obediently admitted into the service of love and wherefore the man is also debtour ☞ wholly to give over himself unto the Lord in the service of his love namely even herefore that the Lord mought have his dwelling and work in the man and the man to live upright and peaceably in all Love with God and his neighbour and so inherit under the obedience of the love the spiritual and heavenly Goods and the everlasting life 5. But if now the man will not do so and that if he refuse the Lord and to give over himself under his gratious word and the testimonies of the holy Spirit of love So robbeth he God of his and keepeth back from him that which belongeth unto him and cannot therefore behold the lovely countenance of the Lord in his naked clearness for evermore 6. But happy is he which is humble of heart and hath bent his desire to the Lord and to the holy word of the heavenly truth and standeth even so obediently submitted to the holy and gratious word of the heavenly truth and to the requiring of his service of love and assembleth him to the people of the Lord. For he shall behold with a pure heart the glo-of God and live everlastinlgy 7. BEhold hereto whereunto also all people are now in repentance for their sins called and bidden was the man created the blessing of all generations of the earth promised the Law given through Moses the Evangely preached in times past through Christ and is now also in the last time in the glorious power of God to an introduction into the same published and spread abroad through the holy Spirit of the love of Christ in all the world 8. Whosoever now then forsaketh himself and giveth over himself obediently in Jesu Christ the gracious word of the Lord he becometh now admitted or received in Jesu Christ and in the obedience of his requiring 9. The Lord grant us all mercy and hearts of understanding for to understand the clearness of this holy Evangelie and a willing Spirit for to give over our selves humbly and obediently unto the gracious Word of the Lord and unto the service of his holy Spirit of love to all unity of heart in the Love Amen So be it 10. FInally yee dearly beloved ye all unto whom these our writings out of love come to hand and are brought in writing to an assistance and leading into our unity of heart in the love my desire is to every one in several that he after he hath perused and diligently read the testimonies of these writings this Publishing of the grace of life and these groundly instructions and advisedly considered the requiring of those sâ—me write
EVANGELIUM REGNI A joyful MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM Published by the holy Spirit of the love of Jesus Christ and sent forth unto all Nations of people which love the Truth in Jesus Christ. Set forth by H. N. and by him perused anew and more distinctly declared Translated out of Base-Almayn O how lovely are the feet of the Messengers which publish the peace preach good tidings and evangelize the salvation Isa. 52. b. Nah. 2. a. Rom. 10. c. The Evangely of the Kingdom shall be preached unto the world for a witness unto all people and then shall the end come Matth. 24. b. I saw an angel flie thorow the midst of heaven having an everlasting Evangely to publish unto them which sit and dwell upon the earth namely unto all heathen generations languages and people Apoc. 14. a. Imprinted at London 1652. THE PREFACE COnsider on the Time O all yee People which love the truth of Iesus Christ. 2 Presently in this day of the love and of the appearing of the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ in the Resurrection of the dead wherein the Law the Prophets and all that is written of Christ becometh fulfilled is this Ioyfull Message of the Kingdom out of the hearty mercifulness and love of God the Father Evangelized unto us all and sent especialy by the holy spirit of the love of Iesus Christ unto all lovers of the Truth as also published in all the world for a testimony unto all peoplâ— aâ—â—ording to the scripture To the stirring up of all â—nderstandings unto the true knowledge of the godlines in Iesus Christ and to an everlasting concordable and stedfast peace upon the earth according to the promises 3 Let every one respect well this profered Grace for even now in the last time the Lord sendeth his Angel or Messenger before him for to prepare his way and to publish an everlasting evangelie unto all generations languages and people according to his promises to the intent that they all should now withdraw them from the iniquity turn them to the family of the love of Iesus Christ God his mercy seat and even so to their preservation in the godlines shew fortst upright â—epentance for their sins the end shall come 4 And albeit that we have set forth these present testimonies O yee lovers of the truth of Iesus Christ to an Evangelie of the Kingdome and publish to a joyful message that the God of heaven hatâ— shewed mercy on all people for that they should repent them and stand goâ—d-willing unto his requiring declared his great Day-light of the upright righteousnes through us his elected ones in the world out of heavâ—n from his right-hand and brought it ovâ—r the whole earth for to judge the â—ame with righteousnes yet are not therefore these present testimonies alone the Evangelie of the Kingdome which was promised to be published in the world and unto all people but also all the Testimonies which the God of heaven hath brought forth through his holy ones and through his elected Minister H. N. 5 For all those same are also evangelical testimonies of the Kingdom of his declaring All which testimonies are also new in the last time held forth to a true â—lass of righteousnes before the children of men to an everlasting peace upon earth unto men which are good of will according to the promises 6 For that cause O ye lovers of the truth if yee now this day hear his voice and that this grace and loue of God the Father Christ become to your preservation in the godlines proffered unto you so hardâ—n not then your hearts that ye bide not without the rest of the Lord which is prepared from the beginning for the people of God and for all repentant sinners and is appeared now in the last time according to the Scripture Take it to heart A Joyfull Message of the Kingdom of God and CHRIST The First CHAPTER HN Through the Grace and mercy of God and through the holy Spirit of the love of Iesus Christ raisâ—d up by the highest God from the death according â—o the providence of God and his promises anointed with the Holy Ghost in the old-age of the holy understanding of Iesus Christ Godâ—d with God in the spirit of his love made heire with Christ in the heavâ—nly goods of the riches of God â— illuminated in the spirit with the heavenly truth the true light of the perfect being â—lected â—o a Minister of the gracious word which is now in the last time raisâ—d up by God according to his promises in the most holy service of God under the obedience of his love for to publish in the last time out of the same grace and hearty mercifulnes of God and through the same holy Spirit of the love of Iesus Christ good tydings or a joyfull message of the Kingdom of God unto all people which â—it in darknes and have a desire or longing after the true light and to bring unto the beleevers a great light of the true being of Iesus Christ and the glorious day of his godly cleeâ—nes as also to expreâ—â—â— that God hath pitied the generations of mankind and that Iesus Christ hath not left us as orphanes but as our faithfull Father for to beget us anew out of the safe-making water or doctrine of his service and out of his holy spirit of love also to judge us with his righteousness and to bring us into his rest is come againe unto us according to his promises to the end thâ—t they all which love God and his righteousnes and Christ and his upright being might presently enter into the true rest which God hath prepared from the beginning for his elect and inherit the everlasting life 2 For that cause all lovers of the truth and all souls which hunger and thirst after the righteousnes become assembled obediently unto the service of the love of Iesus Christ shal presently according to the word of the Lord eat of the bread of life and drinke out of the fountain of living water and become satisfied 3 Unto the same God which hath prepared all this for us and bringeth it to us out of the bosom of his love be laud honor praise thanks-giving for ever and ever Amen 4. UNto the lovers of the Truth here and there wheresoever or in what quarter of the world they dwell or have their abode of what Nation and Religion soever they be Christians Jews Mahomites or Turks and heathen with all divided people of what condition or dignity soever they be Pastors of the Religious or Fourders of Religion Understanding ones or expert in the godly wisdom well learned exercised eloquent in the holy Scripture High Magistrates and renowned Potentates noble of linage rich or mighty of estate rulers of commonalties together
with all people Let every Nation then have among them so many manner of grounds beliefs religions ceremonies and services as they will wherein they love God his truth and the righteousnes 5 The grace and peace from God our Father the refreshing or renewing of the minde from the naked or uncovered face of our Lord Iesus Christ the communalty of holy ones their uniformity of being with the holy spirit of the love of Iesus Christ becommeth presently published proffered and brought unto you And to all the same yee are also this day called and bidden namely yee all which love the truth unto godlines and have a desire to do the will of the Lord and to humble your selves obediently to the service of the love of Iesus Christ and his requiring 6. HAppy are they which have now in this day intended or minded the love and the peace For in this selfe same day shall now the good with all the repentant ones which stand good willing towards the good become known and made manifest from the wicked and from all unrepentant ones which have a desire to the iniquity and to the wicked and corrupted world and they shall separate them the one from the other 7 For it shall now in this day be seen and evidently perceived that all good willing ones to to the good shall assemble them unto the good namely to the communalty of the love wherein the Lord hath manifested and set his light and where his Sun of righteousnes the true heavenly day-light shineth enter into the rest of the Lord and obtaine the everlasting godliness and that they all which are evill of will and hardned in the iniquity shall make them up with their good thinking wisdom ther-against and bâ—ing the eternall damnation over themselves like as there is written thereof Therfore cometh there presently great grace unto all good willing ones but unto them that refuse the grace also are evill of will and love the darkness more then the light great severity or indignation 9 For behold in this present Day the glorious coming of our Lord Iesus Christ w th the many thousands of his saints becometh manifested which hath set himselfe now upon the seat of his Majesty for to judge in this same day which the Lord hath ordained or appointed the whole world with equity and with faithfulnesse and truth according to his righteousnes 10 For that cause O all yee which dwell upon the earth fear now the Lord the most highest and givâ— him alone all honour laud and praise for the day of his judgement is now come that it might now in the same day of the true judgement of God and Christ become all fulfilled in Christ whatsoever is written of him 11 OH that they now all had such an heart that they respected well this same day submitted them with humble and single minded hearts under the gracious hand of the Lord and stood obediently and concordably minded to the holy and gracious word so should then assuredly every one right well perceive by experience that God had opened now in the last time a great door of grace unto all faithfull and good willing hearts declared and brought the salvation of the everlasting life unto them and that the same grace bideth altogether closed to before all unbelievers of the word and his service of love before all wavering minded ones and decliners from the same service and before all such as have neither lust nor will unto God nor unto his love the salvation of the everlasting life unknowne and this Joyfull message of the Kingdome which is now in the last time through the holy and gracious word published in all the world before the destruction or perishing of the wicked world to an everlasting rest for all the children of God and to the preservation of mâ—n which hope on God covered or secret 12 For verily if this Joyfull Message of the Kingdom of Christ which in his mistery is the perfect cleernesse of God and the true light of Christ himself be covered or secret before any man So is it then secret before them that perish and are turned unto themselves and their knowledge as also are captived with the minds of the unbelieving world 13 FOr that cause O yee good willing hearts Awake now all out of the sleep of your sins and hear and beleeve the out-flowing living voice of the love of Iesus Christ which Christ in this present day letteth be heard through his holy spirit and elected Minister H.N. upon the earth 14 Happy is he that can now in this perilous time indure the voice of the true light also hearing the gracious word of the Lord which becometh witnessed forth and administred with the same voice beleeveth it and harâ—neth nor dâ—praveth not his heart in this same day but becometh assembled unto Christ and unto the family of his love Amen The Second Chapter SEeing now then that out of God's grace in this day of the godly love the mistery of the heavenly Kingdome of God his righteous Judgement and the coming of his Christ now in the last time in the Resurrection of the dead is declared unto me as an elected vessel house or dwelling of God and given me to know or understand the same and that I through the service of the love of Iesus Christ declare forth again the same mystery of the riches of God upon the earth and minister the gracious and living word of the â—ord which I have received out of the true light and heavenly Ierusalem to a witnes of the truth from the mouth of God himself in his name and according to his will to the preservation and blessing of all generations of the earth which beleeve theron according to the promises So were it likewise very meet and right that they all which will now bide preserved in these perilous times gave ear unto me in the gracious word of my heavenly father turned their hearts with all good willingnesse to the love and her service unto the obedience of the gracious word and ran not forth in ignorance according to their good-thinking or imagination of the knowledge and that also they all which hear to day this voice or witnessing of the holy spirit of love hardned not their hearts nor yet took offence at the Ministraâ—ion of the gracious word but stood well-minded to the lovely and upright being of our Lord Iesus Christ and to his love respected well this same day to the purging of their heart and minde and even so enâ—red with the children of God into the resâ— of the Lord. 2 Which rest even till unto this same day is left unto the children of God or reserved for them to the end that the same should now in the last
Kingdom of Israel should have been restored according to the promses of the prophets 6. Likewise there were many that were offended at his word and doctrine but chiefly the scripture learned which were thâ— expertest or learnendst in the scripture and seemed to be the holiestq. Many of these could not away with him 7 And although they were daylie converversant with him and heard his word which was the word of God his Father it self as also saw his wonderful signes which he did yet believed they not but were so much the more displeased with him 8. Hereout we may evidently understand ye dearly beloved that the wisdom the holy understanding nor the holiness which God regardeth cometh not unto the Disciples in the Scripture learnedness nor in the knowledge but unto the Disciples in the obedience of the requiâ—ing of the word as also of the light of life and of the godly truth whereunto our upright service of love together with the Scripture and the Ceremonies which are administred out of the true light of our most holy service of love do point and lead 9. WHilst now that Iesus Christ himself is the very true holiness and the upright substance of God his Father whereon we witness so gave he also in times past like as presently in his service such a cleerness from him wherewith he sufficiently witnessed and manifested who he was 10. But forasmuch as the children of men were utterly estranged from the substance of the Being of God like as in this present day there are many estranged therefrom so have they not known him according to his godly Being like as he is a Christ of God much leâ—s understood his word which is the spirit and life of his Father 11. Although he spake or witnessed before the ears of men of the new birth or renewing in the spirit of the turning about and to become as children of the kingdom of the God of heavens of the bread that cometh from heaven of the light of the world of the way the truth and of the resurrection and the life all which he himself is yet was it all covered before their eys with the flesh of Christ whereat many Scripture learned took offence and secret before the ears of their understanding yea and it remained also all covered or secret before his Disciples although they were not offended at his flesh and word until that Christ had fulfilled or accomplished with them through his death of the Cross his Pass-over and the true oblation Godservice in the holy of the true Tabernacle and they had imitated him therein that Christ after the Spirit replenisht them out of his heavenly being with his holy Ghost and so declared himself unto them according to the spiritual form of his heavenly being 12. BEhold until that time remained the vail which is the flesh of Christ before the most holy so that they could not behold with the eyes of their inwardness the most pure beauty of the heavenly Being namely the naked cleerness of the most holy of the true Tabernacle of God nor the perfect lovelyness of the everlasting life of Jesus Christ nor yet understand the same according to the heavenly truth 13. For although Christ after the flesh witnessed much unto them of Spirit and life yet was notwithstanding their heart so long as Christ after the spirit was not declared unto them captived with the love of Christ after the flesh and they understood all things for the most part according to an outward form or observation 14. If now the right Disciples of Christ understood not the spiritual and heavenly truth of Christ before their Passover with Christ into the second birth how much less then understood they the truth of Christ which were offended at his flesh and at his word and doctrine which also turned them away from him and would not be his Disciples For verily all they that were offended at his flesh and at his doctrine and works and humbled not themselves obediently under his Doctrine nor yet assembled them unto him understood nothing at all of the spiritual and heavenly Testimonies of Jesu Christ nor of the kingdom of the God of heavens and yet much less of the salvation of men even like as also yet in this present time all unregenerated men which shew forth no upright fruits of repentance nor become incorporated into Christ after the flesh with his like death nor yet baptised in his death for to become renewed in the second birth from the death of Christ through the holy Spirit of Jesu Christ in their Spirit and mind understand not any thing at all thereof neither yet of the spiritual and heavenly testimonies of the holy Spirit of the love of Jesu Christ nor yet likewise of all that which the Scripture speaketh of Christ of the coming of his glory and of his judgement over the living and dead And for that cause there are also now in the last time so many which take offence at the appearing of the coming of Jesu Christ or of the son of maa and at the ministration of the word and doctrine of Jesu Christ after the flesh as also contemn the requiring of the obedience of his service of love and turn them away therefrom The XXI Chapter FOrasmuch now as that in times past the cleerness of Christ through the holy Ghost was yet unknown unto the upright and faithful Disciples of Iesus Christ whilst that they knew him not otherwise but after the flesh namely how or in what godly and heavenly cleerness that Iesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the most highest the very like Being or substance of God his Father the way the truth and the life the light of the world the dore of the sheep the right Vine the living bread of heaven the resurrection from the death and the new heavenly man So was it therefore needful that Christ should keep the Pascha or Pass-over with them which is called in Hebrew Phase the which signifieth the true Pass-over which the right Disciples and Believers of Iesu Christ do pass or go through in the following of Christ after the flesh and it is the true oblation or Godservice in the holy to the remission and purging of sins Which Phase as in a figure of the very true had been observed by the Jews in his figurative service even until the same time 2. For that cause the Lord Iesus caused the same to be prepared him for to keep the Pass-over or Pascha with his Disciples in the true being and told them before of his suffering and Pass-over and that they must also do the like if they would come to his cleerness in the heavenly Being with his Father 3. Therefore he gave them to understand in what manner his pass-over should be to wit that he namely Christ
substance of God his Father nor yet by any manner means of their knowledge comprehend behold nor inherit any beauty of the heavenly goods and how â—hat it all remained covered before them until they had kept the Passover with Christ namely in his death burial and resurrection until that he ascended from them into heaven and that Christ had made manifest himself in glory unto them in a spiritual cleerness out of heaven from the right hand of God his father with the pouring forth of his holy Ghost abundantly The XXIII Chapter BEhold in the same day of the pouring forth of the holy Spirit of Christ which was shed forth into them as a flood of living waters out of the heavenly powers they rightly knew Christ in the Spirit even as he after the Spirit is a true Christ of God and understood his services and ceremonies according to the truth and they had even so through the same Spirit their fellowship with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in the heavenly being whereout they brought forth and published the Counsel mind and will of God and the Treasures of the spiritual and heavenly goods to the salvation and joy of all men and to the inheriting of those same unto them which believed in Christ and held the Passover or Supper rightly with him For otherwise it could not come to pass 2. Therefore no man knoweth Christ nor the Father nor yet the upright services or ceremonies of Christ for to minister those same according to the truth but such as are even so renewed or born again through Christ as we have declared in their spirit and mind neither yet doth it become any other to set forth any services or ceremonies of Christ nor to ordain any unto Priests or ministers of the word nor to preach or publish the Evangelie but such or they that are sent of Christ himself for otherwise it is all false 3. Ceremonies signifie unto us Services which have Mysteries or Secrets in them Evangelie signifieth unto us a joyful message which is published through the power of God and operation of the holy Ghost out of the heavenly Truth 4. HEreout have we a great mysterie to consider of and also to note how that many false Christians or such as falsly make their boast of Christ are risen up before this day of Christ or to have set them against the same and how that many through the knowledge which they have taken on unto them out of the letter of the Scripture busie them to set forth the knowledge of Christ and his ceremonies which are not sent of Christ but are yet utterly estranged from him much less then have kept the Pascha or Passover of his Supper like as the Disciples of Christ held the same with Christ. 5. For I say unto you truly whilst that the Disciples of Christ which had their conversation in times past with Christ after the flesh and spake mouth to mouth with him have not in their knowledge understood or inherited the cleerness of Christ although the mysterie of the kingdom of God was brought and given unto them to understand neither yet could understand or inherit the same before that the fiftieth day after the Passover of Christ was fulfilled that the heaven was opened before them and that the holy Ghost was shed forth upon them so shall not likewise presently which thing I testfiie unto you for certain the Scripture learned nor yet any conceited disciples of Christ which have not kept or passed thorow with Christ after the flesh the Passover from death into life and from flesh into spirit nor in the following of Christ attained through the powers of the holy Ghost unto the cleerness of Christ understand the cleerness of the word of Christ out of the knowledge of the letter of the Scripture nor out of the imagination of their knowledge touching the spiritual and heavenly things much less receive or inherit his godly being of love neither yet also set forth teach or minister his ceremonies and services according to the truth nor publish the true Evangelie of Christ out of the light of life 6. FOrasmuch then as that the Scripture-learned and wise of the world which in times past believed not the word of Christ neither yet they all which turned them away from the doctrine of Christ and from his ministers and made up themselves thereagainst have never known the very true of the heavenly Truth of Christ nor attained unto or gotten without the Passover with Christ the cleerness of his holy Spirit so give I you then ye good willing hearts to consider and judge what testimonies of the truth that the Scripture learned and the wise of the world can presently give forth which believe not the love of Christ but resist the same with their disobedient knowledge and what counsel they can hold and decree and after what Righteousness they can go forth which concordably agreeth with the counsel of God with the true righâ—eousness and single minded doctrine of Jesu Christ with his true services and ceremonies and with the godly wisdom and the requiring of the love of Jesu Christ seeing that the same is all unpossible for them to do 7. For if they turn them not about to the childish single mindedness nor come even so with humble hearts unto this stool of grace whereof we witness nor to the obedience of the requiring of the same to wit that they be not assembled obediently according to the requiring of the service of love unto the communalty of the love of Jesu Christ but turn them away from the same and harden their hearts thereagainst so shall they not understand the truth of Jesu Christ nor his right service of love nor the counsel or will of God nor yet obtain or inherit neither presently nor for ever the true spiritual and heavenly goods but perish in much contention and in their hardness of heart and unclean consciences be estranged from the face of Christ dy in their sins and be condemned with the ungodly which will not believe nor obey God's truth nor yet the love of Christ in the fire of hell and be constrained to bear the curse of the ungodly also bide separated from the cleerness of the upright and vertuous Being of God and Christ and not behold the amiable face of God in righteousness 8. LEt every one take it effectually to heart For it shall all in his time come to pass and be found even so whether it be now believed or no. 9. For I say unto you verily the sun of this same day shall not go down or leave off to shin before all this come to pass and that the world be judged through the judgment of Christ with righteousness according to the Scripture The XXIIII Chapter NOw when the holy of the true tabernacle with his services according to the true
Ceremonies should always remember the passion or suffering of Christ the Offering for the sin the death of Christ his Burial the Pascha or his Passe-over and his Resurrection and Ascension 5. They held also a remembrance of the Saints which had faithfully followed after Christ likewise of the confessing of sins and of the forgiveness of the same as also of the Cleansing which is called Purgatory Also they named certain observations or usages of the same services Sacraments which they held forth before the believers to holy signes and kept them therewith in orderliness of life 6. The Cleansing which is called Purgatory signifieth unto us the making pure of the beleevers of Christ which they in distress affliction sorrow and anguish for the sins cause do pass thorow wherein they as in a fire of humiliation are purged or justified from all their sins through the belief for to enter even so with pure hearts into the Kingdome of the God of heavens In which fire of Cleansing or Purgatory the upright beleevers of Christ shew forth patience in Prayer unto God And even so in the beleef and in the manner of suffering they follow after Christ in his death of the cross to the purging of their sins Sacrament signifieth unto us an holy signe of a secret or hidden thing to whom one giveth the name of some holy or godly thing that the same Sacrament hath hidden in it or it signifieth the same holiness or godliness that hath been tofore or shall come after-ward 7. In conclusion they held of all the holy â—â—â—ngs whereof the Scripture maketh mention a memorial or remembrance And all this same was daily set forth and preached or published in figures unto the People to a good memorial or for to have the same continually in remembrance that it was come to pass or had the foregoing according to tâ—e truth in the true being 8 BUt verily where now these figurative services are far away preferred above the upright righteousness and above the very true which they signifie so are they in themselves or out of themselves without the true light void of force for men to come therethrough to the perfection in Jesus Christ neither yet can the People likewise through those same obtaine or inherit the purging from their sins nor the putting away of spottedness from their conscience nor yet the true being of the mystery of the Sacraments and figurative services like as the same is now through the holy Spirit of Jesus Christ and his service of love declared and brought unto us 9. Therefore have not these foresaid figurative services been any more furtherance unto them nor yet brought the People neerer unto the true being then unto nurturable sustentation and to a figurative remembrance of Christ and of the things which the holy ones of Christ were passed thorow and which all beleevers of Jesus Christ ought to pass thorow 10. BEhold In the mean time the while it was yet night with many and that the figurative services and Sacraments were with diligence set forth and earnestly observed to an humbling of the People so have the People which humbled them obediently thereunder been kept under those figurative services so that the great and horrible destruction hath not fallen upon them which shall now in this last time fall upon all ungodly and resisters of the truth and upon all them obediently under the service of the love of Jesus Christ. 11. For that cause the said figurative services and ceremonies shall not now in this day of the love of Jesus Christ be imputed unto the People which have intended sought the righteousness therein for sin but much rather for righteousness because they have shewed therein their good will unto the righteousness 12. For now in this day of the love of Jesus Christ must no doubt the figurative services be all renewed unto their right use through the true light and through his upright service of love aâ—d declaring of the requiring of his upright righteousness also set or oâ—dained in their right ordinance and used to the requiring of the upright righteousness in their right observation they shall even so in their right use at the appointed time of the Father have the fulfilling of their requiring with the obedient beleevers in Jesus Christ. 13. And all good willing ones to the upright righteousness in Jesus Christ with all such as assemble them unto us and our communiality and humble them to our most holy services of the love and his requiring shall then likewise to an entrance into the same upright righteousness become renewed in their understanding to the enâ— that they all might rightly according to the truth and according to the râ—quiring of our most holy service of love pass forth from their beginning or entrance of the Christian life after the very true perfection But whoso refuse this same and they that turne them away therefrom those shall not obtaine the upright righteousness of God nether presently nor for ever 14. WHat shall we now say hereof shall we then witness that we which are comprehended established in the â—rue love and upright being of Christ and are Elders and Ministers of the word of the Lord do let pass to minister the right use of the â—mage-like and figurative services and the â—â—gnes of the secret godly things among the unilluminated and unregenerated seeing that their Images figures and shadows have through the perfect righteousness the fulfilling of the requiring with the perfect ones and that also the unregenerated should forsake those same No in no wise but we require under the obedience of the love with the right use of the image-like and figurative services the obedience unto the requiring of those same at their hands and so daily instruct them with those same and through those same that they are debtours to accomplish and obediently to â—stablish the requiring of thâ—se same and even so obediently to observe them till unto the appointed time of the fullfilling oâ— their requiring 15. For this we say out of the living trutâ— of God which is declared unto us out 〈◊〉 Gods grace that he which without the loâ—â— and hâ—r service or without the very true beiâ—â— of the love of Jesus Christ and his service foâ—â—saketh the image-like or figurative servicâ—â— and the signes of the secret godly things through his good thinking or knowledge and even so separateth him from the ministâ—â—tion of those same and accomplisheth 〈◊〉 their requiring nor hath been obedient 〈◊〉 the service of love till unto the rising up tâ—e true light in his heart nor yet remainâ— stedfast in the doctrine of the same services unto the upright being of the love of Jesus Christ â—e forsaketh verily although he have never so much knowledge of spiritual and heavenly things the Images or figures and the signes of the secret godly things unrightly and with ignorance and taketh
ones shall stand fast everlastingly in his ministration and remaine for ever according to the Scripture 15. HAppy is he which giveth eare unto the same Service of the most holy which is ministred out of the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of love and believeth it as also obeyeth the requiring of those same and waxeth not bitter-hearted either offended thereat neither hardeneth his heart thereagainst but respecteth the same gratious time to the end that he may enter into the rest of the Lord and that the severe Judgement which cometh in this last day upon all ungodly and resisters of the service of love and upon all rich knowledge full wise which have corrupted the way of their understanding in the knowledge fall not upon him to his condemnation 16. Yea happy is he which now respecteth well the true light and assembleth him in this day unto the mercy-seat of the Majesty of God and Christ to his salvation 17. For after this day there shall no day of grace more come upon the earth because all the works of God and his prophecies become fulfilled according to the Scripture in the same and for that the righteous Judgement of God to an everlasting death and damnation of all ungodly and to an eternal life and salvation of all the holy ones and elect of God becometh also executed therein The XXXVIII Chapter COnsider and mark ye dearly beloved in what sort that the foregoing services of God are in many manner of wise how that they all out of one God as linked together do reach unto this day and service of the love of the most holy being of Christ and how that the God of heaven out of his mercifull love hath through the ministers of his gratious word informed trained up and served the generation of mankind that the same mought be set up again in the godly nature and forme wherefrom it is fallen away or estranged and so become saved with the foregoing services till unto this service and day of love of the perfection In which day the God of heaven hath also brought againe and erected with us the right ministration of his foregoing services and will likewise in this day with all that same which he hath spoken and wâ—ought from the beginning of the world and restored againe with us execute his righteous judgment to death and to life like as there is written thereof 2. Wherefore awake now all lift up your heads hear and see the wonderful acts of God and have regard unto the sound of the last Trumpet and consider 3. The fore-front of the true tabernacle of God wherein the beginning of the true god service and of the upright Christian life becometh erected The holy of the true tabernacle of God wherein the true god-service and his requiring and the obedience of the belief even unto the upright Christian life is accomplished and the veil removed from the most holy The most holy of the true tabernacle of God wherein the perfection of the true Christian life and all that which God hath spoken from the beginning and promised through his prophets is set up The kingdom of the God of heavens full of all pure beauty and heavenly powers wherein all minds of pure hearts do live with Christian triumph free without fear The day of the righteous judgment of God in which the compass of the earth becometh judged with righteousness The judgement-seat of Christ before which all things must needs be manifest The perfect being of God and Christ in his abundant clearness of the godly light The true rest of all the children of God in their perfect loveliness and upright being The mystery of the heavenly truth wherein the right service of love hath his ministration And the declaring of the spiritual Treasures or riches of the heavenly goods which are administred and brought through the service of love to an everlasting perfection unto the upright of heart and wherein al unperfect or childish things images figures and shadows do cease becometh now in this present day O ye lovers of the truth evangelized and declared unto you all and thereto also ye all so well as we were created for to live therein and are called and bidden unto the same out of the grace and mercy of God by me HN in whom God hath sealed the dwelling of his glory and his holy name 4. Not onely they with whom I particularly do speak and write unto but also all those that love the truth in Jesu Christ and to whose hands the godly Testimonies of our writings out of our most holy service of love do come to an assistance and leading into our communiality of love and which read or hear the same This day is the door of the heavenly truth the gate of the kingdom of the God of heavens the entrance into the Paradise of God or pleasant garden of the Lord and the way to the Tree of Life opened and great joy published unto you all and that the God of heaven restoreth againe with us in this day of his love all what he hath spoken from the beginning of the world through the mouth of his holy Prophets 5. WHoso now therefore are the People of the Lord and all such as have a desire to do his will They shall now be well able to understand that this our testimony and doctrine is of God and come with humbled hearts unto the house and work of the Lord submit them before the Lords feet and be assembled with us under the obedience of the love unto the communiality of the holy ones of God and incorporated to all unity of heart of the one man of God into the true body of Jesu Christ. 6. But whosoever appertaineth not to the Lord hath not minded the love truth nor unity of heart nor believed me HN in the service of love but supposeth to be wise out of his own spirit and understanding excuseth or justifieth himself and so hath no desire unto the will of God my Father He shall not desire to come unto us nor to make manifest himself in this day before the judgment-seat of Christ. 7. BUt I say unto you verily Whoso assembleth him not unto us nor manifesteth himself either confesseth not his sins good-willingly out of an inclination unto the love before the Lord and his seat of judgement he shall notwithstanding in this day not chuse but be manifested before the judgement of God and before this seat which God hath prepared to Judgement let him then cover himself so subtilly as he will in his sins and in his perverse and corrupt nature as also in his averted or off-turned meanings from us and from the requiring of the service of the love of Jesu Christ hear the judgement or sentence of his condemnation out of the righteous judgement of God and bear the burden of his damnation
in the same the compass of the Earth with Righteousness that one Man Iesus Christ in whom he hath decreed it which holds forth the Belief before every one inasmuch as God hath raised him from Death 12. See and consider This is the Day of Renewing the very newest Day to the Honour and Glory of the supreme God and to a great Joy and Gladness for us all which love the Righteousness 13. Clap now your hands together with Joy yea all which love the Righteousness in the Peace of Christ Sing and shout now unto God with a joyful noise 14. For the Lord the most highest is terrible and a great King on all the earth 15. For now in this Day of his Love He hath prepared his Seat unto Judgement that the Earth and the People should be judged uprightly 16. From henceforth shall he whom God hath foreseen and elected thereto sit upon the Lord his seat which shall think upon Equity and require Righteousness 17. Whose Seed the Lord shall make to endure for ever and his Seat shall be like the Days of Heaven 18. Through the same and his service the Righteous shall now in this Day flourish like a Palm tree He shall increase or grow up like a Cedar tree on Libanus 19. And all they that are planted in the House of the Lord shall wax green in the Courts of our God and flourish or blossom in the old age of the holy understanding as those that are fat and lusty or well prepared for to publish that the Lord is just 20. Now shall the Righteous see their Desire and rejoyce them and all Unrighteousness shall be compelled to stop his mouth in this day of the Glory of God 21. For now in this Day the City of the Lord shall be builded in her old place or former estate and the Temple of the Lord or Tabernacle of his Dwelling shall stand like as it ought to stand namely inwardly in us in the Being of the holy Spirit of Iesus Christ. 22. Have now a good regard hereunto ye wise and understanding ones which receive the righteousness into your Hearts â—nd ye all which daily search the Scripture and consider how that all what the Scripture saith shall in such wise become fulfilled or accomplished The IV. Chapter BEhold I declare unto you this day the ground of the scriptures and will in cleeâ—ness reciâ—e unto you many Acts or things chanced of the secret Mysteries of Goâ— and partly also of the Dealing of Man beginning from the former Kingdom wherein the Man was set till unto this last Day of the perfect glory of God In the which the former Kingdom becometh declared and brought again in all loveliness of the upright Being unto the Man according to the Promises 2. From this former Kingdom full of all Righteousness Love Peace and Amiableness the man hath from the Beginning turned away his heart and fell away from or was disobedient unto the word of God the upright life of his true light 3. In which falling away of the man and in the turning unto himself and unto his taken on darkness it is become manifest and known that the man which walketh therein and becometh not turned again unto his God nor incorporated into the true Christ of God hath the most crafty and subtilest heart among all that liveth and dwelleth upon the earth 4. The which may now evidently be perceived by divers people which vaunt or give forth themselves for Christians and as iâ—luminated Men that are Masters of the Scripture namely how crafty subtil and perverse of heart and how darkned in their understanding that they yet are 5. And what a perverse Nature they find oftentimes in them that will I good willingly leave unto themselves to consider of to the end that if the Lord vouchsafed the same they might judge themselves therein and even so understand or well perceive that no man how wise or understanding soever he be in the knowledge of the Scripture can by any meanes comprehend or understand the Wisdom of God nor yet see know find nor receive the Gifts of God nor the powers of the holy Ghost but onely they that stand good willingly and obediently submitted under the Word of life which proceedeth and hath his outflowing from the quarter or place where the Sun the true day light of the most highest shineth 6 For that cause consider now well on the State of men and what a nature love and being there is found by them that being without the Communalty of the love are out of their own knowledge and Scripture learnedness Judges of the Scripture or that have taken the same upon them so shall ye then certainly perceive that all such are yet strangers unto the holy Spirit of the love of Iesus Christ and that they all likewise are mingled with wyliness subtilty and falshood and are without the body of Christ or without the upright Christianity 7. If then these which notwithstanding seem to be wise and understanding and can prate much of spiritual and heavenly things be yet strangers unto the holy spirit and unto the true love and utterly without the body of Christ or the true Christianity and held Captive with a wicked nature so consider then how wide and far estranged that the brutish world and all that are Enemies or Resisters of the Doctrine of love must yet needs be from the same Christian being and with how many manner of falshood and wicked nature they are yet held captive 8. If ye now ponder this same according to the truth and throughly measure it all by the being of upright Christianity so shall ye then verily begin well to perceive that it is now the dangerous and horrible time of desolation whereof the Scripture in many places witnesseth in which also few shall be saved or preserved for that all understanding hath now so utterly corrupted his way in the knowledge and cannot well therefore submit it self single mindedly with humbleness of heart in all obedience of the word and Subjection unto the love with us little ones and God his elect 9. Whilst we now daily perceive this same by the Children of men and that we are in these dangerous times become great with child with the word of life and milch with the brests of the love and of the holy understanding for to give suck therewithal unto the young Children which is born out of the seed of the gracious Word and his doctrine or testimonies and out of the service of the holy Spirit of the love and to nourish them up unto the old age of the holy understanding of Christ so cometh now verily that wo upon us whereof Christ hath heretofore spoken wo unto them that are with child and to them that give suck at that time c. 10. For we are
great with child and cry aloud like unto a woman with child when as she at the time of her travel is ready to bring forth But who heareth us or to whom is the arm of the Lord known verily unto few because many of them are wise in their own conceit and will judge the godly truth out of their knowledge or perswade themselves that they with their prudent understanding see rightly into all things and for that cause need not to harken unto the word of grace which God hath brought unto us out of his true light neither yet to humble them unto the service of the same 11. Oh these Ignorances of the unwilling unto the gracious word and his requiring which we dayly see and hear by them do work us very much wo anguish and sorrow in our hearts 12. Therefore may we now in this perillous time rightly say with the Prophet Isaiah that it goeth also with us in the presence of the Lord like as with a woman with child which through fear or smart cryeth out in her travel for we are with child and travel in birth and we are so full of anguish and wo that we can scantly draw our breath 13. Howbeâ—t although all this come upon us and that we daily pass thorow this â—ame and must be fain to indure or suffer much falshood at our adversaries hands yet cannot we therefore help the earth for that the Inhabitors of the world will not fal down or humble themselves nor yet forsake or leave the falshood of the unrepentant unregenerated men 14. For that cause our hope standeth now in this day very little on many Inhabitors of the world for of them there shall few come which shall mean or adjoyn them unto the love and the requiring of her service with all their heart and yet many fewer which shall persever therein unto the end 15. Therefore hope we with joy much more on the appearing of the dead which dy in the Lord or are dead in him to wit that they in their Resurrection from the death shall livingly come before either meet with us For all the dead of the Lord or members of Christ shall now live and rise with their bodies and we shall assemble us with them and they with us to one body in Iesus Christ into one lovely being of the love and be all together concordable in the love and peace of Iesus Christ. 16. Behold ye dearly beloved with those shall our life and joy be both now and for evermore For we which follow with them the footsteps of Christ shal in their appeaing or manifestation raign with the lamb which hath made us Kings and Priests upon earth 17. This see and know we now nakedly and truly Therefore have we which are now in this day of love adjoyned and incorporated into the body of Christ here in our Consolation amoag each other and set our Comfort much more on the righteous which are dead then on the living ungodly 18. For this is now the day of the Glorious pomp and tryumph of Christ in his coming wherein Christ to our consolation meeteth us livingly and in glory with his former Holy ones and maketh manifest and bringeth the word of the Lord namely the former Kingdom full of all beauty and lovelyness which God hath prepared from the beginning for his elect in his perfection and in his naked cleerness and maketh us heirs therein together with all his holy ones 19. In which Kingdom of everlasting perfection all minds of pure hearts do dwell and live without fear freely lovely and peaceably Yea therethrough becometh it presently seen how that the Lord glorifieth himself in his holy ones and becometh wonderful in his believers 20. Now this passed over we will declare from the falling away or disobedience of the man forth the earnest love which God hath always till unto this same day shewed towards the man through his elected ministers for to bring him again unto the heritable beauty of the former Kingdom from which he hath turned him away and how God in process of time is approched neerer unto us in cleerness with his true light and hath now at the last in the day of his love declared the most holy of his tabernacle in his absolute beauty and perfection and brought the same unto us to the establishing of his promises 21. What we had here more to say of the former Kinâ—dom and of his lovelyness beauty Garnishing and riches and of the mans falling away is nakedly expressed and declared in the glass of righteousness The V. Chapter BEhold and consider ye dearly beloved how that God after the man's falling away hath alwayes shewed his love on the man and promised him even so to the destroying of the sin to set Enmity betwixt the Serpent whose head is the sin and the woman which consented to the sin and betwixt the Serpents seed and the Womans seed to the treading down of the head of the Serpent and how that the same promised Enmity against the sin and the sinfull seed had her beginning by the single minded Abel which Abel offered up his willing gift or offering out of a good heart unto the God of heaven and was slain by the wicked Nature of the sin through the hands of his Brother Cain and how that Seth after the death of Abel was placed by God to be another seed in the plaâ—e of Abel to the establishing of the foresaid promise of God as also how that Seth which is the second seed in the place of Abel and his seed is the right stock or linage whereout the believers and Children of God namely all they that have been enemies unto the sin are born or brought forth to the establishing of the promises of God â—he Father 2. But all other people or Generations which were born upon the earth without the stock of Seth and also they that walked not in the state of Abel according to the manner or ordinances of Seth were not of the right stock of Seth but they were forain branches which turned them away there-from and were never prudent nor understanding in the godly wisdom but very well in their own self knowledge and good-thinking wherewith they turned unto themselves and forsook even so the upright Childishness and Simplicity and the willing oblation or God service of Abel 3. Abel signifieth unâ—o us a breath or a young manhood by whom there is yet no more prudence then a breath of God which proceedeth from God and breatheth to God again It signifieth also emptiness or any what whereto there is not yet any thing added of the ordinance of the Lord. Cain signifieth unto us a possession or one is possessed in bondship by the sin or is mastered or overwon by the same and applyeth him not according to the word nor law of the Lord. Seth signifieth unto us an
his Host escaped thereout nor remained alive 31. The which signifieth unto us in cleerness the perishing or going under of the ignorant or unknown sins which in the strictness reigned over Israel and burdned them very sore 32. The red Sea signifieth unto us the Hope namely for the People of the Lord an hope to come unto some better thing wherein the children of Israel obtained room when they were persecuted and which was opened before them that they might pass therethrough but closed or stopped before their enemies which persecuted them and went also therein with an hope to destroy the children of Israel and so they were all drowned therein 33. Thus the children of Israel journeyed through the protection of the Lord until they came unto the wilderness Sinai unto Mount Sinai which signifieth unto us a Thorny thicket or a thorny Desart 34. WHat we had here more to say of the multiplying of the children of Israel in Egypt and of their Departing or leading forth out of the same land is declared in the Glass of Righteousness The XI Chapter THe while now that the children of Israel became weary in their journey they murmured against Moses and Aaron and also against the Lord and became likewise unwilling to enter into the good land complayning that they were departed out of Egypt wherethrough we may perceive and understand that they have turned away from the doctrine and requiring of Moses as also from the right stock of Abraham and from his belief and were turned into their own knowledge and self seeking and for that cause they knew believed or understood not the works of God his waies Institutions and laws nor yet his word in such sort as their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob had known believed and understood 2. Therefore the Lord came down to the Children of Israel upon Mount Sinai and called unto him Moses and Aaron and caused his word to be heard exceeding loud of all the people making manifest unto them how that he was the Lord. He taught them likewise which or in what sort his law Commandments institutions and rites were wherein their Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob had lived uprightly 3. Now when the Lord had caused them to hear his word exceeding loud they were afraid at the Sound of the same word because they loved him not nor yet knew his voice And for that cause they would not the Lord but Moses should speak unto them 4. HErewithal O ye goodwilling hearts consider and look into the matter how that the Lord would nor declare nor make known his secrets nor his councel mind or will of that which he either in the present time or in the time to come would do accomplish or atchieve with them unto such as had none other will desire or love unto him nor yet shewed thankfulnâ—ss for all the goodness love faithfulness and mercy wherewith God informed or trained them neither would he set up or perform the service of his true being according to his heavenly truth by them nor yet bring such unto his rest For they could not in their unbelief and disobedience comprehend or understand that which God required at their hands 5. In like manner will the Lord now also in these last days not make manifest his secret counsel mind and will unto the unbelievers and disobedient but unto them that seek him with all their heart believe and obey his word in the requiring of his service and have a desire to do his will The which cannot come to pass by any man but by them that have an unlust and unwil to themselves and that even so for the Lord's cause forsake hate and leave themselves and all what they have learned and taken on unto them 6. BEhold by such that love the wisdom of the Lord his word and Instruction and his righteousness will the Lord erect the service of his true being make manifest himself establish his promises and bring them unto his rest as also dwell live and walk in them 7. Therefore hath the Lord in times past not made manifest or erected his true service according to the heavenly truth or his being of perfect righteousness by the people which loved themselves and were unbelieving towards him and his ministers wherethrough the wrath of the Lord came upon them and they might not entâ—r in his rest but hath let them see the same through Moses in images figures and shadows and hath even so set forth before them through Moses the patern which was figured forth according to the very true to an example of the very true and to a doctrine which reacheth or leadeth to the very true witnessing there withall before al eys of godly understanding that the very true and perfect of the same was with the Lord. 8. Which absolute or perfect being of the same example patern and doctrine God would in the time to come bring in plant and set up by the children of men which would believe God and be good willing unto the obedience of his requiring 9. Therefore chanced not the services of the images and figures only for their sakes which tempted God and where unbelieving but for our sakes we which are presentâ—y in the end of the world stirrâ—d up and goodwilling unto the true being of God to the end that they all which love the Lord with all their heart and humble them under the obedience of the love might now understand and know the Lord's love and godness which he hath unto man and the true being or perfection of his lovely righteousness out of the images and figures also forsake and got out of themselves and so live therein 10. This same can we in the former figured example comprehend and understand like as we may also behold in the images that none other inhabiteth inheriteth or cometh unto the Kingdom full of the glory and maiesty of God but he that hath an unwil or unlust to himself and so cleaveth with whole heart unto Christ as is abovesaid The XII Chapter MOreover the Lord hath written his law institutions and rites in two tables of stone and given them unto Moses he shewed Moses also all the sanctuary of his tabernacle and gave him likewise therewith divers convenient laws or ordinances which he should set forth before the children o Israel which were ignorant of God's Law Institutions and Rites or of the convenient Ordinances of the Lord to the end that the Ordinances and Services of the Lord might be even so all prepared according to the same pattern which the Lord gave unto Moses upon mount Sinai and so the same prefiguration be observed with diligent service for a stedfast memorial of the same true Being in the Priests office of Aaron until that the glory of God and his love towards Israel should be brought through Christ the promises of God the Father to the
beauty and loveliness and live even so therein as true holy ones of God and Believers of Christ. 4. For behold this same most holy of the true tabernacle of God doth God now bring unto us with himself with his Christ and with all the thousands of his saints in godly triumph to a righteous Judgement upon earth like as there is written thereof according to the promises 5. COnsider now ye dearly beloved how or in what manner that God now in the last time bringeth and setteth up the perfection of his kingdom with us little ones and God's elect how that our testimony and publishing of the joyful message is of the same Kingdom and in what manner all the services and prophecies which are gone out from God and added unto his promises do lead hereunto and rest or cease therein namely in the renewing of the spirit and mind in Iesu Christ through the holy spirit of his love 9. The which we likewise through the arm of our saviour do even so set forth and express in cleerness before every one which heareth us or whom God stirreth into our way namely that the perfection is no earthly or fleshly thing nor any fleshly dealing or liberty but the perfect power of God and the glory of Christ in his coming 7. Which coming of Christ is now declared unto us that we might through the same be seperated in our spirit from the death of sin implanted into Christ with his like death and so raised up out of the death of Christ and made alive according to the very likeness of God in the power of his holy Ghost in upright righteousness and holiness to coheires with Christ in the treasures of the spiritual and heavenly goods to the intent that we should even so not according to the flesh or in the uncircumcision but according to the spirit or in the laying away of the foreskin of the sinful flesh live and tryumph in the heavenly Being with Christ and all his Saints which presently meet us in all perfection of the works of God in this day of love with Christian tryumph everlastingly in all love according to the promises 8. BEhold such is the perfect kingdom of God and his most holy service come unto us from God's grace and that same is the very true whereof we witness and which we publish to an Evangelie of the glorious kingdom of Christ in all the world under the obedience of the love of Jesu Christ. For that same very true with his perfect beauty love and righteousness hath the God of heaven out of the fulness of his grace declared and brought unto us and erected the same with us now at the last time in the time of the last divided kingdom of Babel to an everlasting peaceable kingdom for his holy ones according to his promises 10. And the upright righteousness of the same and the true holy Ghost which is poured out therein with perfect love and floweth abundantly therein is the true most holy of the everlasting Being of God whereout our upright service of the love is administred and whereunto all services and prophesies which are gone out from God and his truth do lead as to the right and very true perfection and that same perfect good and his most holy service of love shall bide for ever with full declaration of the very true perfection in his service to the end that the same most holy perfect good might from henceforth for evermore be declared upon the earth and all peaceable ones with all they that love the peace in Jesu Christ aâ—sembled thereunto according to the promises 11. OH alas how grosly have certain over-reached them which have out of the imagination of their knowledge or out of the riches of their spirit taken on set forth and taught the perfection according to the flesh and applied the freedom of the children of God on the elementish man looked into the same according to a fleshly mind and bound or knit fast themselves thereon with a certain use of fleshly dealing 12. But verily whilst that they were risen up before this day of the coming of Jesu Christ or ever the sun of righteousness arose unto them in their stedfast obedience unto the requiring of Jesu Christ and inclined out of their knowledge after the flesh unto the freedom according to the flesh so have they likewise taken the same freedom unto them according to the supposel or goodthinking of their elementish manhood and missed the true light of righteousness as also not known the truth of God which maketh free much less then understood the same Noâ— there shall not any one know or understand the same neither presently nor for ever which is turned unto himself or his elementish manhood and so taketh on any thing out of his knowledge or mind of the flesh be it then what it is wherewithal he turneth him away from the obedience of the requiring of the service of the love of Jesu Christ. 13. For I say unto you verily that no man cometh through his knowledge unto the truth of God nor unto the true light of life but only he which through the Belief in Jesu Christ forsaketh himself in the obedience of the requiring of the gracious word of the Lord and his service of love and so bideth stedfast therein till unto the appointed time of the Father That is until that Christ after the spirit which is the living truth of God and the true light of life it self be come unto him and have his shape as an upright Being full of all love in him 14. THerefore ought every one to look wel unto it that he run not foâ—th according to his mind or knowledge nor according to the goodthinking of his own spirit before the time wherein the very true is appointed to be inherited neither respect give ear unto nor believe any manner of knowledge which riseth up in his own heart much less which is held forth before him by others against us and our ministration of the most holy service of love or wherewith he is assaulted or tempted But that he alwaies in his assaulting or temptation humble him with singleness of heart unto the obedience of the requiring of the gracious word and his service of love and even so hear and believe the same sure prophetical word in his service and take heed thereunto seeing that now in the last time the true love and the upright Being of Christ is administred and taught thereout until that the true light of the same word and service and the perfect Being of God the Father and Christ come unto him and arise in hâ—s heart in the perfect glory and power of God and of the holy Ghost that he may live everlastingly with God and his Christ in all love O yea that come to pass even so 20. What we had here more
that likewise the unilluminated inclined their hearts with the ears of their hearing and understanding unto the testimonies of the unregenerated and unrenewed or ungoded men or unsent Preachers which meaned not Christ or had him not in consideration aright nor had kept according to the truth the Pascha with Christ and were not entred through the death of Christ into the everlasting life but out of their own goodthinking or out of their literal knowledge came into the sheep or communalty of the Believers or besides the Church of Christ which were also called of Christ thieves wolves and murderers and of the true prophets false pastors so ceased then likewise with them the true daylie offering or God-service in the holy the incorporating into Christ with his like death and the renewing of the life and mind in Jesu Christ or the procreation of Christ through his light and Spirit and it became over them and over the whole face of the Earth utterly night and dark and through the same darkness the foregoing service which leadeth to the life of Jesus Christ became unknown and there entred in much renting and division among the children of men to wit that many of them became estranged from the truth from the Church of Christ and from the right sense of her services and even so got the abomination of desolation contrary to Christ and the requiring of his doctrine his breaking in over such as were declined or estranged from the true Doctrine of Jesus Christ which leadeth to the new birth of the uprâ—ght mind and Being of Christ. 5. For with all them that turned off and went astray from the Church of Christ and from the right use of her services the Belief of salvation was forsaken and the Scripture was become to them all as a closed book or dark word that was without light For that cause also the service which was administred out of the letter of the Scripture of the unilluminated was as a dead body without soul or as a dead wife which is deceased from her husband and can bring forth no children of life 6. NOw when this true light for the self wisdoms cause of the earthly man which is the darkness against the true light gave no more cleerness upon earth with the off-fallers and estranged from the true belief and that likewise the night or darkness had captived the unbelievers and the estranged from the Church of Christ so obtained then the nature of sin or the childe of the Divel and condemnation that contrary nature or adversary of Christ which is called Antichrist his shape in the inward Temple of the unbelieving and unregenerated men and multiplyed it self even so among many on the earth in the bringing forth of his wicked fruiâ—s 7. Antichrist signifieth unto us a contrary anointing And is an anointing or a freedom either an appeasing of the heart which cometh unto the man when he is separated or estranged from the true Belief of Jesu Christ and from his Church in his inwardness before the coming of the true Christ or anointing of the holy Ghost from the seed of the old serpent or of the Divel Which false anointing that the man taketh on to himself out of the flesh and out of the fleshly wisdom of his goodthinking knowledge as also cut of the seed of the divel and wisdom of the flesh worketh in him a secret resâ—sting and disobedience against the Lord Jesus Christ and his requiring And the same resisting and disobeence is the secret iniquity of Antichrist which the man in his estranging from Christ and his Church cannot well perceive because that he in the separation from Jesu Christ is well contented in his heart with the wisdom of the flesh and even so contrary to the right doctrine of Iesu Christ which hath her ministration to the holy Spirit of Christ and his love on the good life of God liveth boldly against all God's truth in his self wisdom knowledge or scripture learnedness the which is a false freedom and the abomination of desolation against all that which is God God service and Christ or the truth of God 8. BEhold this Antichrist hath exalted himself with his deadly service and fals light of disobedient knowledge against all that which is of God or of the upright Being of Jesus Christ above God and above the true God service and set himself as though he himself were God in the temple of the Lord namely in the inward part of the man wherein the living God with his Christ ought to dwell to live and to walk and hath â—ven so quite and clean abolished or destroyed the Law of the Lord and the true faith in Jesu Christ also driven out and taken away the same from the hearts mindes and thoughts of men and darkned it in them brought the Holy of the house of God into desolation caused the daylie offering in the Holy which is the mortifying of the sin through the death of Christ to cease and even so set the abomination of desolation in the holy place where it ought not to stand 9. Out of which abomination of Desolation which in the secret of the man's inwardness hath increased in all manner of iniquity and abominations till unto this day and obtained the preheminence with many there are risen up many manner spirits of Error and sundry sorts of false hearts of the Scripture learned which have out of the goodthinking of their own spirit and out of their Scripture learnedness as also through their ingeniousness or imagination of the knowledge brought forth manifold false Doctrines wherethrough they seduced the people and estranged them more and more from Christ and his Church and from the new Birth in Jesu Christ. The XXIX Chapter NOw when the Apostates or off-fallers from the safe making faith had set aside the true doctrine of Jesu Christ which taught the Believers of Christ unto all humility and meekness of heart and to the upright Being of the love of Christ and gave them to the ingeniousness of their knowledges and even so with their knowledge set up themselves to be Judges over the testimonies of Christ and his Apostles so clave they â—hen unto the spirits of error and brought in therethrough absurd arguments of Christ and of all that the Scripture speaketh of him or of the spiritual heavenly goods stirred up the hearts of men unto many manner of foolish desireâ— vain or fond knowledges and to manifold false righteousness and chosen holyness and administred even so their own leaven for the bread of life 2. Wherethrough likewise the daily offering in the holy of the true Tabernacle was no more observed according to the true Being with them and their adherents and for that cause also there chansed with them no purging of sins nor pouring forth of the holy Ghost 3. For the imagination of the
unto him the freedome for to be unbound from the services not â—o the edifying of the Congregation but to â—nedifying and contention and is seduced and deceived by his owne spirit or imagination of â—he knowledge wherewith he also sâ—duceth â—nd deceiveth other moe which hear and folâ—ow him therein in such wise that they not â—â—ely utterly forsake the services and the â—mages figures and signes but also the obeâ—ience of the requiring of the gratious word raised up presently with us out of the grace â—f God according to his promises and the teâ—â—imonies of his holy Spirit and service of love â—nd make up themselves there against and â—ill needs even so according to the Imaginaâ—â—on of their knowledge live free or in freeâ—ome and cause nothing else but breach and â—ivision among the Congregations and resistâ—â—g against the Priests or Elders 16. Now when they have thus in every â—art forsaken and resisted or derided the â—â—age-like or figurative services counting them as unneedful so forsake and resisted they then those same contrary to Gods truth and his requiring and contrary to all godly and Christian ordinances and understand nothing at all of the mystery of those same nor of the right Salvation of men in Jesu Christ and run even so forth with the far inspection of their knowledge thinking all too little on the obedience which they are debtours to shew in the foregoing services And so they remain in the taking on of their owne freedom without the right and true freedom of the children of God Let every one take it to heart 17. BUt of these our fore-mentioned Sayings of the figurative services and Ceremonies consider ye dearly beloved how that the Christians for a certain season have had and ministred figurative services and been sustained therewithall till unto the day of the love of Jesus Christ. Which figurative services and Ceremonies have been the Images figures and shadowes of the true and spiritual things which were tofore through Jesus Christ come to pass seen heard aliâ—â— spoken and published in the true being foâ— that we should therethrough remember thâ— same true and spiritual things and that altogether in such wise as the Jews also had and ministered their figurative Services and Ceremonies wherewithal they were sustained unto the day wherein Christ was borne unto them of the seed of David Which figurative services and Ceremonies were the Images figures and shadowes to a memorial of the true spiritual things which should in the time to come come to pass and be seen heard also spoken and published in the true being of the uncovered face of Christ. The XXXI Chapter FUrthermore ye dearly beloved behold and consider how that he Catholick Church of Rome hath obediently grounded it self on the aforesaid Services and Ceremonies which are the figures or the prefiguration of the true Christianity and her Services and with diligence and ferventy observed those same to a good discipline or ordinance of the congregations and even so in figures borne the name of Christians 2. Christians signifie unto us those that are anointed For the holy ones of Christ were in times past so named which were anointed with the holy Spirit of Christ to Priests or Elders of the holy understanding 3. Through which anointing with the holy Spirit of Christ they were the upright Fathers of the houshold of Christ and foregoers in the Christian Congregation which dayly set forth the word of life which is Christ himself and had his shape in them before the Disciples of the Word or Christ wherewith the Novices or Disciples of Christ were nourished and brought up in all wisdome and righteousness of God with holy understanding unto the old age of the Man Christ or anointing of the holy Ghost The which shall now also in this day under the obedience of the love â—lourish even so in the true being according to the promises 4. THis same foregoing of the Elders of the holy understanding and their anointing of the Holy Ghost to Priests Elders and Fathers hath the Catholick Church of Rome till unto this day ministred and observed in figures as is abovesaid For to a token of râ—membrance of the holy anointing of Christ with the holy Spirit they have used the anointing with Oile And it is a Sacrament of the holy Church of Christ which signifieth unto us the anointing of the Priests or Elders with the holy Ghost 5. Of which anointed Elders or foregoers of the Communality of the Catholick Church of Rome the chiefest anointed is named Papa and signifieth unto us an old Father in the holy understanding also the chief Bishop or High-priest which hath his being or conversation in the most holy of the true and perfect Sanctuary and ministereth his office of the holy word thereout and for that cause is also named the most holy Father 6. For in times past the eldest in the holy understanding among them which were anointed with the holy Spirit was so named because that he before all other was the eldest in the holy wisdom of God also a Father of his spiritual Children and of all spiritual Persons 7. For through his service of the holy word the true clearness of Christ was spread abroad in all Lands and the living souls through the seed of the holy Spirit of Christ were brought forth to a communality of Christ and Tabernacle of the living God wherein God lived and dwelt Which true being is the upright service of Christ that flourished in force by the anointed with the holy Spirit of Christ. And hath to a memorial of the same service been figuratively observed in the Catholick Church of Rome 8. THose now that are next unto the fore-mentioned Papa are named Cardinals which signifie unto us the Principallest which are nearest in the most holy understanding of the godliness unto the eldest or holiest father have their coÌ„munion with him in the most holy of the true and perfect being 9. For the Principallest which were neerest to the Eldest or holiest Father in the old age of the holy understanding and in the righteousness and godliness were in times past so named in the true being 10. THe next unto the Cardinals are named Bishops Which signifie unto us the pastours of the sheep and Lambs of Christ and the chief Priests or Elders which in the service and testimony of the spiritual and heavenly truth administred by the chief Bishop or oldest Father are understanding and grown up so old and manly to the manly stock of the oldest Father that they have received the key of the spiritual and Heavenly understanding for to unlock the same holy intelligence unto them that are a-growing up to Elders and to ordaine them to Priests or Elders Wherethrough they distinctly divide the ordinance and laws of the spiritual and heavenly goods and the understanding of the same from the earthly natural and wordly ordinances namely to a good keeping and Pastouring of the
the love unto the righteousness waxen cold with many and they are therethrough become slothfull towards the same but very diligent in their own inâ—orcements or enterprises 7. In like manner many seeing that they loved not the righteousness with whole heart became altogether vainely minded and like unto the world in her abominations and have even so let pass all fruitfull doctrine 8. FOr that cause O all ye which now in this day love the truth and righteousness have now a good regard hereon and follow not the seducing of the destroyers nor the multitude of the ignorant in their error nor inforce you not to be of one mind with the contentious world nor with the discordable or divided wise and Scripture-learned but apply you unto concord in all love and lock into it with undestandinging what the Scripture saith what it requireth of us and how it becometh fulfilled as also how that we are not called through the Scripture unto strife contention nor to variance or discord but unto peace and to the love 9. For I say unto you verily that there are before this day of love which is the true light of God and the coming of his Christ it self many Scripture-learned that were very richly learned with the speeches of literal Scripture in the subtilty and knowledg but not in the renewing of the Spirit and mind unto the kingdom of God risen up which have not inseen understood nor known the truth of God in the light of the heavenly and spiritual wisdome of Christ much less witnessed or taught the same and yet much less brought in or ministred the upright or true Christian Ceremonies which lead unto the Godliness in Jesus Christ or to his love and Peace 10. For they have not out of their literal knowledge understood the secret mind of God nor the clear ground of the services and Cerâ—monies of the Christians therefore also they have consulted or held Councels thereof and are even so become disputing and at variance betwixt themselves about the Scripture and about each others opinion and institution of his Ceremonies and Services and have not inherited the true love and peace of Christ. 11. Whereout each one may by himself well perceive and mark that it is meer Lyes or untrue what such Scripture-learned through the knowledge which they get out of the Scripture bring in institute preach and teach 12. THerefore consider now that no man out of his knowledge of the Scripture can rightly erect teach nor set forth the Christian Ceremonies But they shall in their right form and use be set forth administred and taught by them that are chosen or raised up thereunto by God which follow after Christ in his death become renewed with him in a new life and in whom the living God with his Christ hath even so then obtained his dwelling and shape From whose bodies likewise the words of God and Christ do then slow forth as living waters which also concordably agree with the testimonies of the holy Ghost and with our Writings and their requiring as also with the requiring of the Law of the Prophets and of the Apostles of Christ. 13. Behold out of the declaring of these upright followers of Jesu Christ in the requiring of his doctrine till unto his love it shall now all whatsoever concerneth God and his Services be uprightly and according to the truth used and ministred in his right Ordinance according to the Scripture Let every one now therefore have a good regard hereunto and take it effectually to heart 14. WHat we had here more to say of the dissention of the contending about the Ceremonies and of the pernicious Sectaries and Hereticks and who they are is declared in The Glass of righteousness The XXXIIII Chapter BUt the whilst now that the figurative Services and Ceremonies of the Christians yet flourished in vigour and that the discordable mindes out of the knowledge of the Scripture did daily increase to a more intangling with much contending and disputation of Christ and of his Services and Ceremonies and that many good-willing hearts which had great hunger and thirst after the righteousness searched the Scripture for to understand the truth and the will of God and to live therein with great diligence and zeal and sighed and prayed unto God so hath God at the last remembred the desolate heard the â—ighing and prayer of the poor and for his chosens sake to the end that his Truth and what his will is mought before all lovers of the Truth be made manifest or declared and the Scripture fulfilled shortened the days according to his promises and through the hearty mercifulness of his love wrought a great and wonderful work upon earth out of his holy heaven and raised up me HN the least among the holy ones of God which lay altogether dead and without breath and life among the dead from the death and made me alive through Christ as also anointed me with his godly being manned himself with me and godded me with him to a living tabernacle or house for his dwelling and to a seat of his Christ the seed of David to the end that this wonderful works mought now in the last time be known the light of his glory with full clearness and instruction reavealed and the coming of his Kingdome to an Evangely of the same Kingdome and to the blessing of all Generations of the earth published in all the world according to the Scripture 2. Behold and consider my beloved how wonderfully God worketh in his holy ones and how that now in this Day or light of the love the Judgement-seat of Christ is revealed and declared unto us out of Heaven to a righteous Judgement upon Earth from the right hand of God and how that on the same Judgement-seat of Christ that the Scripture mought be fulfilled there sitteth one now in truth in the habitation of David which judgeth uprightly thinketh upon equity and requireth righteousness 3. Through him God will now in this day which he himself hath appointed or ordained thereunto judge the compass of the earth with righteousness 4. In which this same day or last Time namely in the perfection of the works of God and in his righteous Judgement the God of heaven hath now declared himself and his Christ together with all his Saints unto us his elect also made a dwelling with us and brought even so unto us out of his holy being the most holy of his true Tabernacle with the fulness of his garnishing and spiritual heavenly riches to an everlasting fast standing Ierusalem and house for Gods dwelling according to the Scripture The which is the very true undisturbable kingdome full of all godly Power Joy and of all heavenly beautifulness wherein the laud of the Lord with fulness of the eternal life and lovely sweetness is
sung from everlasting to everlasting and wherein all minds of pure hearts do dwell live and walk with freedome and Christian triumph in all love 5. THis great day-light of the most high God hath presently in his righteous Judgement shined about us Which great grace and mercy is chanced unto us for that we should publish the true Evangelie of the Kingdom of the same light in all the world for a witness unto all people and to peace and joy as also to an eternal mercifulness or pitying of the servants of the Lord or of all them that seek the Lord that the Scriptures mought become fulfilled and all such as remember the Lord be assembled in the body of Christ unto this his seat of the righteous judgement and to his Most holy of the true Tabernacle or house of his dwelling and not for our sake nor for any mans righteousness cause 6. For even so in all such sort as God hath now made manifest his wonderful work upon the earth must the Scripture be fulfilled his Most holy declared to an everlasting true and perfect light and evangelized or published in all the world to an everlasting rest and peace of his holy ones 7. For I say unto you verily that the Lord hath wrought this wonderful work of his love extended on us out of his grace for his own sake for to make his holy Name now in the last time according to his promises great and glorious in all Lands and so to declare his truth and righteousness upon the earth to shew his true God-service to consecrate or hallow again the Holy of his true Tabernacle which hath a long time utterly lain waste with many abominations through his gracious word and service of Love out of the light of the Most holy and to set up again the daily offering which hath also ceased a long time for the abomination of desolations cause To the end that the same mought be ministred in his upright Service like as in times past to the purging and forgiveness of sins 8. EVen thus would tâ—e Lord let his Word of life be heard now in the last time upon earth that his promises mought be â—stablished the hungry souls satisfied with righteousness the Scripture fulfilled in all what God hath spoken through the Spirit of his Prophets and of his Christ and the man which hath utterly corrupted his understanding with the knowledge made safe and blessed out of his grace according to the promises The XXXV Chapter BEhold ye dearly beloved how that now in this present day the Scripture becometh fulfilled in all what it mentioneth of Christ of his seed and of the coming of his glory 2. Which coming of Christ in his glory like as the same was in times past published unto the heathen and also believed of them God hath now in the last time declared among the Heathen and shewed mercy on the Heathen before all other that the whole earth mought be filled with his glory like as there is written thereof As truly as I live saith the Lord the whole world shall be filled with the glory of God 3. Further saith the Lord through Esdras They that have not heard me shall notwithstanding believe me or put their trust in me and they to whom I have shewed no tokens shall do the thing that I command them They have seen no Prophets yet shall they call their unrighteousness to remembrance Therefore witness I mercy saith the Lord unto the People which are to come whose babes or little children rejoyce them with gladness And although they see me not with bodily eys yet believe they in the Spirit the thing that I say I will give unto them the Dukedom of Abraham Isaac and Iacob and of the Prophets 4. Further through Isaiah The Lord will display or set up a Banner far-abroad among the Heathen and allure them from the ends of the earth 5. Againe through Ezekiel I will bring my glory among the Heathen that all Heathen may see my Judgement that I have kept and my hand which I have stretched out over them to the end that the hous of Israel may thereby know that I the Lord am their God even from this day forth for evermore 6. Again over Israel O thou Daughter of Israel I will build thee again that thou shalt be firm and sure 7. Againe The habitations of Israel are very goodly For they are like broad valleys as the well-watered Gardens by the Rivers and as the Tabernacles which the Lord stablisheth even like the Cedars planted by the water side There shall water flow forth out of his bucket and his seed shall be a great water 8. BEhold In this present day is this Scripture fulfilled and according to the testimony of the Scripture the raising up and resurrection of the Lords dead cometh also to pass presently in this same day through the apearing of the coming of Christ in his Majesty Which resurrection of the dead seeing that the same is come unto us from Gods grace we do likewise in this present day to an Evangely or joyful Message of the Kingdom of God and Christ publish in all the world under the obedience of the love 9. In which resurrection of the dead God sheweth unto us that the time is now fulfilled that his dead or the dead which are fallen asleep in the Lord rise up in this day of his judgement and appear unto us in godly glory which shall also from hencefoâ—th live in us everlastingly with Christ and reign upon the earth wherein the Scripture becometh fulfilled in this present day like as there standeth written thereof 10. The Lord shall judge his people and he will have mercy on his servants or ministers For he shall behold that their power faileth them 11. Again The Lord slayeth and maketh alive he leadeth into hell and bringeth thereout again 12. The Lord maketh poor and rich he humbleth and exalteth 13. He lifteth up the needy out of the dust and exalteth the poor out of the mire that he mought set him among the Princes and let him inherit the seat of honour 14. Further the Lord saith touching his dead I will not contend for ever nor be always angry but there shall a spirit or winde blowe from my face and I will make breath 15. Again Christ speaketh touching him which believeth in him I will raise him again in the last day 16. Again The Lord hath appointed a day in which he will judge the compass or circuit of the earth with righteousness through one man in whom he hath decreed it which holdeth forth the Belief before every one inasmuch as God hath raised him from the death 17. Again There shall be no more death sorrow wailing nor pain for the first is passed by And he which sate upon the seat
the love For all fore-going services which are proceeded from God and administred out of his light direct and lead unto the most holy and his Service 2. For that cause they all cease and are fulfilled or have accomplished their services in the same perfect being namely after this manner to wit to shew faithfull obedience from the beginning of the Christian life till unto the perfect old age of the most holy being of Christ namely from the departure out of the heathenship through the obedience of the Word unto God his Covenant of the circumcision of the holy Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob That is unto the fear of God the fore-front of Gods true Tabernacle whereout the beginning of the godly wisdome proceedeth or springeth 3. For with the said holy Fathers God hath to an erecting or building of his true Tabernacle begun his service of the Word in his Covenant of Circumcision and even so in the same service builded or set up the fore-front of his true Tabernacle with the Fathers of his Covenant 4. From the service of the Fathers â—n Gods Covenant of the Circumcision and of the accomplishings of the same service in the fear of God the true Fore-front unto Moses which hath in his service figured forth the true being of the true Sanctuary or Tabernacle of God in the Spirit and the accomplishing of the true God-service as a to-coming righteousness and perfection of all the works of God in images figures and shadows according to the very like manner or ordinance as it was ministred by the Priesthood of Aaron under the obedience of the Law 5. From the service of Moses and his prefiguration of the upright righteousness and holiness unto King David and the Prophets of God to whom the true being was shewed in the spirit of their sight which likewise bear witness and prophâ—sie in their service out of the light and through the Word of the Lord on the true being like as the same in this presâ—nt day is come unto us 6. From the service of King David and the Prophets till unto Iohn the Baptizer with the water of repentance the true foregoer or the foregoing light that goeth before Christ the true true being for to prepare the hearts of men in his service to the true being in the confessing of their sins and in repentance for those same for to make them even so meet to enter into the holy of the true Tabernacle of God to the knowledge of the true salvation in the forgiveness of their sins 7. From the service of Iohn the Baptizer with the water of repentance and the accomplishing of the same service unto Christ and his service in the belief to justification in the Spirit And this is the true service and offering of Christ in the Holy of the true Tabernacle of God In whose accomplishing the images figures and shadows do cease for that with the man in the accomplishment of the requiring of the Word of Christ through Christ and through his service in the belief the true being and the perfect rigâ—teousness with the ministration of the heavenly goods becometh made known in the spirit of the inward man and all what God requireth of the man fulfilled or accomplished 8. For through Christ and through his service in the belief God hath builded his Holy of the true Tabernacle according to the true being whereof the figurative services gave their shadows and whereon all the Prophets of God have prophesied with the disciples of Châ—ist as also manifested and accomplished the true offering to the forgiveness of sins and to an everlasting atonement of the generation of mankinde in the Holy 9. Even thus hath Christ wrought or erected all this that concerneth the holy and his service in his true being with his Disciples ordained them to Elders of the holy understanding and to Ministers of the same service in the belief or faith and is even so ascended into heaven to the right hand of God his Father and entred into the most holy 10. And from thence he hath out of the same most holy poured forth his holy Ghost upon his Disciples sanctified his holy and ministred the same in his full service according to the true being as also established the true Testament with them to the forgiveness and purginig of sins and hath even so declared in the heaven the most holy unto them and given them to understand how that he would bring the same again in his coming upon the earth with power and glory in the last time and set up again his true fore-front and holy each one in his ministration together with the daily offering to an everlasting glory and majesty of God upon the earth like as there is written and witnessed thereof 11. BEhold in such wise as is said have the fore-going services which the God of heaven hath brought againe and erected with us through his Christ their ministration to the most holy being of Jesu Christ which is the true light of life and the most holy of the true Tabernacle it self Wherein it becometh all fulfilled that is promised by the God of light and written of Christ. 12. And this most holy whereon we witness and which is from God his grace appeared and come unto us is the same most holy wherein and wherewith Christ the true high priest and king of righteousness cometh unto us in the triumph and majesty and ministreth even so unto us in the same and out of the same most holy his high Priests office with the spiritual and heavenly goods to the erecting of the perfection 13. Therefore also is this day or light of the love with his service in the most holy the last day and the perfection or conclusion of all the works of God In the which God himself with his Christ and with all the thousands of his Saints as in the most holy of his true Tabernacle appeareth and cometh unto the believers and obedient ones to the requiring of his word to an eternal rest of his holy ones and to a Godly consolation for all afflicted hearts which hope on God and on his righteousness and bear the love of God and Christ in their hearts To the end that they all which love God and his Christ mought now live lovely and peaceably in the same rest with all the holy ones of God and Christ in all love 14. Which most holy the most pure perfect beauty and his upright and gracious service of love we have received or attained unto now in this last time wherein we inherit the fulness of the life to an everlasting joy with God and his Christ. And that same most holy and his service of love reacheth also no further but it is the perfection it self For that cause the services of love which the Lord hath erected with us little ones and elect
wish much grace and Salvation in the Lord here have I endeavoured me to express and signifie unto you all out of our most holy service of love the counsel mind and will of God whereunto every one is debtour to humble and to submit himself obediently also Gods wonderfull work with his holy ones which the wicked world hath never known nor understood and which also bideth alwayes and for ever hidden or secret before the same and the declaration of the foregoing services of God and how that they all lead and have their ministration unto the service of love which is ministred out of the most holy of the true Tabernacle of God thus largely and in the most simple manner and each ones service briefly and with few words to an assistance and introduction unto those heavenly things which shall yet in their manifestation of clearness in the Spirit be seen and spoken of in the most perfect manner 2. For thereunto do we under the obedience of the love shew forth our service namely towards all them that God stirreth into our way and that assemble them unto us which also love the truth of the declaration of the true God-services and Christian Ceremonies and desire to accomplish the requiring of those same To the end that they all which seek after the truth of Jesu Christ and read or hear these godly testimonies of our writings mought be somewhat furthered with this assistance or hand-teaching to the knowledge of the truth of Jesu Christ and that the true God-services and Ceremonies which lead unto the godliness mought be in their upright use and whereto each ones God-service reacheth seen into and understood of them according to the truth and that likewise the unilluminated and unregenerated men mought then even so understand and know that they ought not through any taking out of the knowledge of the Scripture nor through any knowledge which ariseth in their hearts to set forth to preach nor to teach any services nor Ceremonies wherewith doubtless they seduce themselves and other moe but that they ought first humbly to turn them unto the Word of grace to submit them obediently under the service of love wherein the true light cometh with full clearness to give eare and credit to the same and to accomplish his requiring For in the same service every one shall receive good resolution and instruction how for to come to the new birth in Jesus Christ and to what manner of accomplishment the services and Ceremonies ought to be used and obeyed in their right use 3. And thereto and to the unity of heart in the love is likewise all my service chieffest unto all lovers of the truth That they all which love the truth mought now come-somewhat nearer unto us in the holy understading and be concordably minded with us under the obedience of the love to the unity of the heart in Jesu Christ and become assembled unto us and that they should then even so so much the better understand the holy mind of our God the true service of love wherein God the most highest hath comprehended us and the heavenly truth witnessed in The glass of righteousness and administred out of love in this declaration 4. FOr that cause my desire is unto you all which read and hear these our writings that ye will diligently revolve in minde and throughly measure our upright and undeceiveable service shewed on you and the ground of this same and have an inspection and consideration with pure devotion unto God upon the understanding of every particular sentence and whereunto the same serveth to the lightning of our understanding And take even so good heed unto the hearty mercifulness of God shewed on you through the service of love 5. For out of grace undeserved is this mystery of the works of God uncovered unto you all which love the truth and presently in this day of love is the Evangely of the Kingdome which is breathed on and brought unto us now in the last time out of of the word of grace and out of the Spirit of the living God to the procreating of the living souls of Sion published or evangelized in these perilous times to the Salvation and Preservation of you all To the end that you mought now in the last time be led out from the wicked world and from her perverse generations be released from all conceited opinions which the man taketh to him out of the knowledge of the Scripture and have your communion or society with us 6. For our communion in this true light of the love is the uniformity with God the Father with his son our Lord Jesus Christ with the holy Ghost the pledge of the promises of our Inheritance and with all the holy ones of God in the heavenly being It is very true The XLI Chapter UNto this same grace which is this day O ye lovers of the truth with all ye which love the upright and lovely life of the love proffered unto you and to the same Majesty of God and communiality of his holy ones which is this day declared unto you ye are all presently called and invited 2. For seeing that this great grace and hearty love is chanced unto us through the appearing of the glorious coming of our Lord Jesus Christ from God the Father and that the Lord hath stirred us up in the end of the world and sent us in the right time for to gather together his chosen holy ones unto the mercy-seat of the of the Majesty of God to unity of heart in the love of Jesu Christ So pass we with the presenting of the same grace and intire love of God thorow the Nations of People from the chiefest in the understanding and knowledge of the Scripture even unto the smallest and simplest For the sound of the last trumpet namely the voice or testimony of the grace of the holy Spirit of love shall be heard in all the world 3. Happy is he which to day heareth this voice and hardeneth not his heart but believing the Word becometh assembled unto the body of Jesu Christ the mercy-seat of the majesty of God and entreth into the rest of the Lord. 4. BEhold thereto is our service among all Nations of the people If happily we mought find any lovers of the truth which seek God and his righteousness with all their heart and assemble them with us to our communiality of love the onely Body of Christ and that they mought even so enter with us and all the children of God into the rest of the Lord to their preservation in this day of the righteous judgment of God 5. For that cause let every one take now good heed unto this Day and have regard what the holy Spirit of love requireth 6. For whosoever assembleth not himself in this day unto the body of Jesu Christ under the obedience of his
over his minde understanding will and meaning thereof freely and even from the heart unto the principallest of the family of love or unto any of ours which minister with us the out-flowing of the holy and gracious word and these testimonies of the holy Spirit of love or else that he come and present himself before â—im and so give testimony whether that he agreeth or consenteth herein with us little ones and elected holy ones of God which stand submitted under the obedience of the love and is willing to give over himself and his whole heart and minde to the unity of heart with us in the love of Jesu Christ whereunto he is summoned required to come on the behalf of the Lord the supream God and whether that he also desireth to be partaker of the out-flown grace and of the godly Doctrine of the service of the love of Jesu Christ which we have received from the uncovered face of God and Christ and to maintaine or further the same service like as there is also required or desired in the distinct declaration of the requiring of the Lord set forth by Fidelitas our beloved Co-elder in the family of love 11. Whosoever now wholly agreeth herein with us and standeth minded with us to the unity of heart in the love of Jesu Christ and to the godly Doctrine of the service of the same love let him then make the same apparent unto us and apply himself to be united to one concordable Communiality of the love of Jesu Christ with us like as we endeavour us towards him and let us even so to all concord under the obedience of the love of Jesu Christ and to his true Peace and upright godliness be gathered together So shall then the true love and peace of Jesu Christ well obtaine the victory in us 12. And we elders in the family of love do proffer us freewillingly with all Submission to the love of Jesu Christ to give every one which mindeth or addicteth him to the truth and love of Jesu Christ and desireth to be informed of us good instruction and resolution through the arm of our Saviour so much as we in see that it is necessary for every one to his salvation 13. FUrther so is also our desire and Exhortation out of the submission in the love of our Lord Jesu Christ unto you all that every one to whom this groundly instruction setting forth by the holy Spirit of love is administred out of love and which hath assembled him to our Communiality of love to the service of the same remember this superscription namely Vnto the Lovers of the truth c. To whom in the beginning of these Writings we do write and make another which he knoweth to love the truth with whole heart and to stand submitted unpaâ—â—ially to the love partake with him of the same grace and love whereunto he is loved and assisted and out of love to reach forth the hand or stand helpful unto such a one and that he then likewise write over his minde will or meaning or else present himself persoally as is abovesaid and so assemble him to the service of love and to our Communiality That the love in her service may be fruitful with many unto righteousness and bring forth such abundantly to the laud and praise of the supream God and to the peace and joy of all generations of the earth according to the promises The grace of Lord Jesu Christ be with you all Amen 14. HErewith yee are all O yee lovers of the truth which read and hear these godly testimonies of our writings or to whom they are administred out of love heartily saluted in all love by the whole communiality of holiness which are comprehended in the love of God and Christ. 15. We all hope in our prayer unto God of all your goodwillingness to the concordableness with us in the obedience of the requiring of the love 15. The grace of the supream God and the upright righteousness and godly being of the Communiality of the holy Spirit of the love of Jesus Christ whereunto ye are now out of Grace undeserved called and lovingly bidden obtaine the victory in all your Hearts Amen Sent from the Spirit of love through love to concord and through love to life into all lands over the universal world Charitas Extorsit per H. N. FINIS a Eccle. 3. a. Mat 16 a. b Psa 118 c c Mat. 24. c d Luk 17. c. Acts 2. a. d Esa. 26. c. 1 Cor. 15 f e Luk 24. e f Mat. 24. b g Esa. 32. b 54. b. 57. b. 66. b. 2 Pet 3. b. h 2 Cor. 6. 2 Heb. 12. b. i Mal. 3.2 Mat 11. b. k Mat 24 b Apoc. 14. â— l Esa. 1. c. 55 a. Ezek. 10. c. 33. b. m Mat. 3.2 Act. 2. d 3. c n Ezek. 7. a 1 Pet 4. a. o Mal. 4. a. p Act. 17. d. q Eâ—a 5â— c. Luk 2 â— Ephe. 2. c. r â—â—a 9â— b. â—eb 3 b. 4. b a 1 Cor. 3 15 b Ioâ— 6. f. Act 17. d. Ephe. 2. a. Râ— 8. c. d. d Eâ—h 4 b. e Iâ—h 14.17 Apo. 21. a. f Iohn 1. a. 1 Iohn 1. a. g Iâ—r 33. b. h 1 Cor. 13. b. i Apoc. 14 a k Esa. 42.61 a. l Ioh 14. b. m Ioh. 3.2 n Esa 11.32 a. Ier. 23. a. 33. b. o Heb. 3.4 a p Mat. 25. d q Mat 5 a. r Ioh. 6.7 d Apo 2 b. 7. b 21. a. 22. b. s Rom 11. Apo. 4. b. 5. b. 7. b. Superscription Eccl. 33. b Apo. 14. a. u Rom. a. Ephe. 4 c. x 2 Cor. 3. b. y Eph. 4.5 c. z Mat. 25. d a Mal. 4. a. b Sap. 3. a. 5 a. Heb. 3. b 4. b Apo. 21. a. c 2 Pet. 2 3 â— d Rom. 2. a. e Ioh. 3. b. f Esa. 3. b. Mat. 24. d. 25. d. Iude 1. b. g Esa. 16. b. h Act. 17. d. i Zach. 8. a. k Apoc. 14 b l Luke 22. c m 1 Pet. 5 a. n Mat. 11. a. o Act. 4. c. p 1 Cor. 1. a. 2 Cor. 13. b. Phil 3. b. q Apoc. 12. b r Pro. 1. â— Mat. 7.29 b Esa. 59. b. s Rom. 2.2 t 1 Cor. 2. a. u Mat. 24. b. Apo. 14. a. x 2 Pet. 2 3 a. y Ap. 7.21 a z Esa. 29. b. Mat. 11.13 a 2 Cor. 4. â— b Rom. 13. b Ephe. 5. b. c Iob. 3.6 â— d Psal. 95. â— Heb. 3. b. a Mat. 1. b. b Mat. 25. d Act. 16.17 d. Iude 1. b. c Eze. 37 b Ioâ— 5. c. Rom 8. b. Phil. 3. b. d Act. 9. b. Rom. 9. c. e Ioâ— 14. c. Apo. 21. a. f Esa. 2. a. Mat. 4. a. g Ioh. 15. c. Act. 1. a. h Amos 5. b. Mich. 2. a. Mat. 24 b. 2 Tim. 3. a. i Mat. 10 c. Luk 10. b. k 1 Pet. 1. b. l Deut. 12. a. Ier. 7.9.18 b. m Psa 95. b. Heb. 3. b. Eze. 36. c 2 Cor. 7. a. o Heb. 3 4 b p
Jews which stood in such-like wise captived in their image-like and figurative Services and Ceremonies 2. For unto all them that walk without the true being of the Godliness heavenly Truth or without the Family of the Love of Jesu Christ and so according to their good thinking set up minister teach forth and observe Services and Ceremonies all things chance or they have them in Similitudes Parables or closed books and in Images Figures and Shadows because they should not without the Very true and his upright prefiguration see with the eyes of their earthly mindes hear with the ears of their fleshly thoughts nor comprehend in their dark hearts the secret works of the holy Spirit of Christ which also the world nor her Wise understand know nor receive 3. BUt whenas now many manner abuses and ignorance of the right difference of the said figurative Services which witnessed according to the Scripture figuratively of the Very true which was come to pass were entered in and that the Services and Ceremonies were taught believed and observed with ignorance by many so is there at the last great contention debate and division of minds and understandings risen up among them that were comprehended thereunder for the Services and Ceremonies cause 4. Wherethrough many unorderly rejected and blasphemed the Services and Ceremonies of the Catholike Church of Rome rented the concord and nurturable sustentation of the same and turned them away therefrom and even so out of their knowledge which they took out of the Scripture brought in certain Services and Ceremonies in another wise or order and set forth and taught those same for the upright Christian Ceremonies unto the people Howbeit they have procured or obtained little love and righteousness but rather much contention controversie therewithal For many of them understood not what they taught nor what the Services and Ceremonies which they rejected and blasphemed signified in themselves 5. They spake likewise much of Gods Word which yet they themselves like as it is a living and mighty Word that cutteth and pierceth as a sharp sword into the inmost part of the soul had never heard nor seen his clearness like as it is shining and flowing forth out of the living God much less understood the mind or will of the same 6. For that cause they have also not distincted nor declared unto the People the figurative services nor the mind of their right form and use whereunto they were used by the old Fathers from the perverse opinion wherein they were set forth or taught by many and the People captived therewith 7. BEhold in this contention and controversie which sprang up among the unilluminated People after that the defection or estranging from Christ and from the holy belief was once chanced with many through the works of darkness so became then manifest and known like as there is written thereof the nature of sin or the child of the devil and of the condemnation which in the Scripture is named Antichrist whose iniquity wherethrough the Law or Ordinance of the Lord was abolished and the true holy and the requiring of his services laid wast in the hearts of the men remained secret and unknown unto many till unto the same time 8. In which time of the manifesting and knowledge of this same mischievous one one might certainly if he had had a right regard unto the Scripture have easily perceived thereout that the great day of the Lord and the coming of Christ was coming on or at hand and hâ—rd by according to the Scripture 9. BUt seeing now that there was much contention and many divided minds and understandings which very much reprehended slandered and judged each other for evil risen up or come in place and that certain services and Ceremonies weâ—e brought in in varible sort so have there been also among them all many zealous and God-fearing hearts which have loved the righteousness with all their hearts and for that cause searched the Scripture that they might understand the same with great diligence and earnestness and so sought after the most perfect understanding of the Scriptures 10. But for the most part they were all divided one against another For every one rested perswaded to have right in his cause and like wise in his service the upright Christian Ceremonies or the name thereof 11. Among all these there have also been certain which were counted of many for Sectaries Hereticks and Seducers of the people and for that cause persecuted and banished and many for the conscience and faiths cause were slain and put to death 12. OH what a lamentable thing is the slaying or shedding of blood for the consciences cause to wit of those that are zealous towards the righteousness and according to the outward dealing do no man harm 13. For this I say verily that many single-minded hearts for the consciences cause which they had to God and his righteousness have been guiltlesly put to death 14. Oh what is there more lamentable before God and his holy ones then the shedding of innocent blood The XXXIII Chapter AMong these divided people there have many likewise mingled themselves whose hearts sought not the righteousness which also at the last became manifest to be false hearts namely through their covetousness and ease in the flesh and through manifold self-seeking whereafter they sought as also through much more other falshood which they practised and used 2. Certain of those false hearts have turned them to slandering and traitory in such wise that they have with slander and wicked back-biting betrayed the other with whom they in hypocrisie had falsly their conversation yea and also delivered over certain into the hands of the Magistrates for to be slain or rooted out 3. Certain have killed murdered and in many manner of wise destroyed one another of them Certain have applied them with subtilty unto uproar and warlike dealings and to stealing or the every and certain also to false and inordinate liberties and are even so fallen into manifold unjust dealings and blaspheming of God 4. For that cause through these many manner of abuses and ignorances taken on and maintained out of the knowledge of the Scripture and by reason of the false hearts which set forth and enforced Religions Ceremonies or God-services wherethrough they with many manner of false testimonies accused each other for Sectaries and Seducers and also brayed forth much wickedness to slander and cursing one over another the Magistrates of the world were occasioned against many to persecution and putting to death 5. AT that time there came great strictness and calamity upon many people also much doubting and bethinking which might be the truth the righteousness and the upright services or Ceremonies which God regardeth 6. But whilst that they knew not the truth the righteousness nor the upright services and Câ—remonies nor loved the upright righteousness with all their heart so is also