say He that is a Fisherman let him so abide neither did Christ say he that will be my Disciple must follow his outward Employment or Trade but he said He that will not hate Father and Mother Brethren and Sisters Wife and Children yea and his own Life too cannot be my Disciple Luke 1â— 20. and if not a Disciple much less a Minister of his But hereby neither Christ nor them Ministers of his neither I did or do intend to draw or perswade People to Idleness or open a Door for any such Evil neither is there many who are called out of the World's Worships and required to leave their Families and called to the Ministry but that hereby it may plainly appear that the Command and Call of Christ to his Work and Ministry is to be obeyed though it be to the forfaking of House Goods or Lands for a Minister of his said We have forsaken all And have not I done so and unto them who had forsaken all unto all such was promised a Hundred fold Matth. 19. 17 18 19. And Heaven and Earth shall pass away before one Jot or Tittle of his Word shall fail And truly I have found his Promise true for a Hundred times Hundred sold have I already received blessed be the Lord forever But how contrary it was to my own Will to fulfill the Will of the Lord. in leaving my Employment and outward Business in the World let all them judge with the Light who knew my Conversation therein and saw my Eagerness in the things of the World and Contrivances therein beyond many men my Heart being set in the Earthly things being very fierce in Labouring therein for the getting and encreasing of the Fruits of the Earth as though I would have laid up Treasure for many Years which might have been good in its place if my Mind had been redeemed out of it and my Heart from the Covetousness thereof but I say again it was much contrary to my strong Will to leave these things and the love of them and much more that might be named and be taken from it with a Hundred and Fifty Pound loss and be exposed to Want Hardships Revilings Imprisonments Whippings Stonings and all manner of cruel Torture that the Soris of men might have Power to inflict upon my Body and for me that ruled over many and was respected by many to become a Servant unto all and counted the Off-scouring of all and be abused by any Boy or the Vilest Person I meet and it was much contrary to my Will to refuse that Glory Honour and Preferment of the VVorld which was offered me by the Rulers thereof when I was beloved of them and Hundreds more and when I preached among them in the Pulpits daily and was then called of men Master like the Hirelings of England who being in the Curse cannot cease from Sin 2 Pet. 2. 14. yet I still refused their Unrighteous Gain and denyed all their Gifts and Rewards for the Lord in his Mercy kept me out of them Temptations though sometimes some that were then near Friends unto me would have perswaded me to have taken something of what was offered as to live upon but I durst not if I had wanted Food or Raiment but answered one Justice who was proposing me a free Gift toward Maintenance which might have been worth a Hundred Pound a Year or more seeing I left my Employment freely to preach daily but I say I answered I shall rather go in Sheep-Skins and Goat-Skins and eat Bread and drink Water and that little honest meek Principle in me which then kept me from that and such Temptations in due time led me to be Ruler over much which before I had not Power over therefore I say unto all it is good to be faithful to the little measure of God in the Conscience For when I was but young and void of the knowledge of God or his Way of Holiness my Mind ran much in the Earth with a covetous care how to gain the Riches thereof and even then did the Hand of the Lord follow me and his Witness in me did so judge and condemn me Night and Day for my Evil that at last I was scarce able to do any thing in the Earth or go upon it then waiting to see what the reason was after many Hours I saw clearly if I would leave the Wickedness of the world and follow the Lord and trust him I might have Peace and if not I was like to be cut off And then I left some Sins and resolved to live more Holy and began to Pray and Read and then I went to follow the Priests not knowing that in me which I was to hear and follow yet it secretly led me out of some Evil and so into some Peace and then my Heart was exalted in the Earth though I encreased in a Profession And when I was in the height of the World's Way and Worship and expecting Riches to increase even then in an unexpected time did the dread of the Lord fall upon me and his wonderful mighty Power wrought exceedingly in me to break me off from all my Wayes and seperate me from all the Worship of the VVorld and gave me to see the Abominations of all the Prayers of the Wicked and the Invalidity of all the Worships of all Mankind who are out of God's Covenant and the Operations then upon me by the terrible Hand of the Lord and the strivings that were in me can never be declared and then did the Lord command me to follow him in Obedience to his Will to declare against all Unrighteousness of men which I saw in the Light of Life to be in Priests Rulers and People and I then saw clearly in the eternal Light and foresight of God the Hardships Cruelties Whippings Imprisonments and Dungeon and many such things which since in part have been upon this Body fulfilled as may be read in several of my Books read the True Rule and at that time did the powerful Life of God so much break through me with such unspeakable Love that I was even willing to leave all walk with God But then contrary to Paul I reasoned with Flesh and Blood that I should be esteemed a Mad-man and that People would not believe me and that I was not fit and many such things Then the Word of the Lord was spoken in me saying Who is it that openeth the Mouth Is it not I the Lord Then was my Bowels even turned within me with the constraining Power of Gods Eternal Love and I began to be willing but when that was a little over the Tempter being near â— reasoned concerning my Wife and Children How they should be provided for and presently the Promise of the Lord was That they should be cared for and his Promise was to me That he who converteth Souls to God should shine as the Stars forever And when I had received them VVords into me I was overcome with
walk in the Light and continue in faithfulness in your Measures enduring the Cross unto your Wills that by it the Carnal may be crucified and that which is Earthly mortified and all the fleshly Lusts subdued and the ground of Unbelief removed that you as Obedient Children to the Light may walk not as do others in the Lusts of Ignorance and Wayes of Unrighteousness where all the Ungodly lie and are without his Fear not knowing that in which the Power of God doth stand and many of them are Murmurers and Complainers who dwell in all Unrighteousness from among whom Redemption you are to find that a true Separation you may come to know that the Unclean you may touch no more and that which defiles to be no more entangled with For the Lord our God is pure his living Truth is to be known in the inward parts and that which makes Free received in the Heart and pure is the Lord in his Ministration of Life and free in the Discoveries of his Love his unsearchable Riches are made known unto his Jewels and his Secrets revealed unto them that abide in his Fear whose Fear is a Fountain of Life whose Love is streaming forth as a River of Oyl unto the broken hearted and in him the Fatherless find Mercy and he giveth strength unto the Faint he cherished the Babes as a Nurse and feedeth the Young with Milk he gathereth the Lambs with his Arms and nourisheth the tender Plant he confoundeth the Proud in his Judgments and removeth the Ground of the Wicked Kings before him are as the Drop of a Bucket and Ungodly Rulers as the Smoke before a mighty Wind His Wonders are seen among the Living and his Judgments made known upon the Wicked they that come to him find Mercy but his Enemies he turns into the Land of Darkness the Ungodly are not able to come near his Presence when he is Angry the Wicked stand afar off but there 's no Darkness in which they may be hid nor shadow of Death in which they can be covered for his Hand will find out all the Rebellious and he will reward them all according to the Pride of their Heart then shall they be banished from the Lord as the Chaff before the Wind and none of their strength shall save them But all you that wait for Sion's Redemption and call that love his Appearance who are willing to take up the Yoke deny themselves and follow the Light thus I say unto all such The Lord God of Life is at hand he is hastning his Mercies to the simple and reaching forth his hand to the Helpless your Redeemer is near your Deliverer is at hand for the Lord God hath not cast off his People neither will he leave or forsake his Chosen Ones With the Brightness of his Power is he appearing to judge down that which kept his own in Bondage and lay low that which did the Just oppress that from under the Oppression it may now arise that the Hungry may be fed and the Naked come to be clothed with the Everlasting Righteousness of God who brings his Righteousness near unto the Humble and clothes them with the Armour of Light that so they may be able to stand where the Wicked cannot endure Wherefore all you my dear Lambs in whom there is honest Desires begotten after the living Truth of my Father who are in measure made willing to walk as Children of the Day and to undergo the Reproaches and Revilings of Wicked and Ungodly men and desire the Kingdom that is not of this World from the honest Simplicity of your Hearts that you may come to rest in the Kingdom of the Father forever Unto you I say my Heart's Desire and Prayer to God for you is That you may be enabled through the Power of him who is the Light to undergo all your Tryals within and without and that none of you may faint in your Way nor be weary of well doing but that you may come to shew forth the Works of Righteousness by a chaste Conversation in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation by whose Filthiness the Just is grieved And my dear Lambs grieve ye not the Spirit of the Lord neither be you Envious against the Evil-Doers let not Wrath arise in any one of you but be Examples of Love and Meekness one unto another and all come to know what a true waiting upon the Lord is in the Sincerity of the Heart to receive that which the World never knew even the Spirit of Truth which comes from the God of Peace in which the Blessing is received and leads in the way of Righteousness and will joyn your Hearts together in the Everlasting Covenant of the Father which he is establishing with all his faithful Ones among whom you may now come to be gathered and find an eternal Inheritance with them that are sanctified who come to be made one with him that sanctifieth who now cometh to purge away the filth and cleanse that which hath not been cleansed that Sinners may be converted unto him and the Filthy redeemed from their filthiness before the day come wherein it shall be said He that is Filthy let him be Filthy still Wherefore let the Day of your Visitation be dearly prized knowing that God who is Light will not alwayes strive with man and it s his Everlasting Love in that he hath visited you and passed by the Wise and the Mighty and made your Hearts sometimes soft and tender by the powerful Drawings of his Everlasting Love which by your Obedience and Belief in the Truth comes to be more and more shed abroad in your Hearts which Love will constrain Obedience to the Light in which Light Gods Power is received which Power maketh Sons who cry Father unto him that begeteth after his own Image whose Image comes to be renewed in the Children of the Light which Light is now come and we are Witnesses of it and testisie what we have seen and declare unto you the Message that was from the beginning and so preach not another Gospel unto you but the same which is the Power of God which I neither receive of men nor learn of men but by Revelation in which the Father is known which to the World is a Mystery and sealed from all them who believe not in the Light whose Deeds are Evil but manifest through the Operation of the mighty Power of God which worketh mightily in me that I might reach forth unto you also and that you might feel the Operation of the Fathers Love that is manifest in my Bonds to you who through many Tribulations with the rest of the Lambs of Christ are to wait for Deliverance from the Bondage of Corruption in the which you have long continued but now Christ Jesus the Light of the World is come to redeem them who through fear of Death were all their life time subject to Bondage and the Bonds of Iniquity are now to be
enters not nor the vain Janglers who come with their carnal Weapons from the Letter without to fight against the Lamb whose Commands are written in the Heart where the Holy Ghost is by such resisted who are not come to the second Ministry where all things are compleat in him who is the Head the Beginning and the End in whom the Circumcision made without Hands is witnessed so the Vail is taken off the Heart and the end is seen even he that takes away the Sin of the World and so all Trespasses come to be forgiven unto them that are buried in the Baptism and so dead unto Sin whereby also the Hand-writing of Ordinances was against us comes to be blotted out and nailed down to the Cross whereby the Principalities and Powers are spoiled by the Power of the Word that becomes Flesh whereby those things that were in shew are triumphed over and nailed down to the Cross through which the Life comes to be raised and so Christ Jesus the Son of God comes to be revealed and made manifest being quickned in the Spirit and so no more to know Christ after the Flesh but in that which is raised up through the Cross unto which the shews and shadows of things are nailed down So the Doctrines of Baptism and Repentance from dead works are left behind and those things that are left behind are forgotten and there is a pressing forwards to Perfection by the Ministry of the second Priesthood wherein every man is to be presented Perfect in Christ Jesus in whom there is a growing from Grace to Grace and a changing from Glory to Glory by the same Spirit having received of his fulness Col. 2. 10 11 12 13 14 15. Rom. 6. 3 4 5 6 7 8. Heb. 6. 1 2. 1 Pet. 3. 22. 2 Cor. 3. 18. In the time of the first Priesthood the outward Blood was to purifie the transgression being without and the law without And so here is the outward Washings with the outward Water and the set dayes of Purification and these things were to be done often because of the continual Transgression of that Law which stood without which came to be fulfilled and did not Christ Jesus suffer without the Gate Heb. 9. 23. Col. 2. 23. And the Law being without hath the shadow and yet not the Image therefore far short of Christ the Substance Heb. 10. 1. In the time of the second Priesthood the heavenly things themselves are purified with better sacrifices then these Heb. 9. 23. which served to the purifying of the Patterns and the heavenly things themselves being purified with the living sacrifice so the way into the Holyest of all is known which is not manifested under the first Priesthood Heb. 9. 8. And so there is an entrance made into the Believers Rest Heb. 4. 3 10. Rev. 14. 13. where the seed of Abraham sits down in the Father's Kingdom which consisteth of Righteousness Peace and Joy in the holy Ghost Rom. 14. 17. and so as there is a coming to feel the Power of the second Ministry preaching to the spirit in Prison 1 Pet. 3. 19. 1 Cor. 1. 24. and so to quicken them that were dead in sin Ephes 2. 1. by whose quickning Power the seed comes to be raised up together with Christ the Head who sits at the Fathers right Hand in the heavenly places Ephes 1. 20. which are purified and prepared for the faithful Ephes 2. 5 6. John 17. 21 22 23 24. And as the heavenly things of the heavenly places are purified and the entrance into the Rest ministred so Christ comes to be seen exalted at the Fathers right Hand in the heavenly places above all Principalities and Powers which are spoiled Christ being the Head over all things Ephes 1. 21 22. And so there is a ruling over all that which stands in outward show the which Christ made a show of openly triumphing over them in it Col. 2. 15. And if there be a triumphing over these things which are in show before the entrance into the Holiest of all be made how much more are the outward shows triumphed over and the Principalities spoiled when the way into the Holiest of all is made manifest by the Power of him who is gone into the Heavens and is on the right hand of God Angels Authorities and Powers being made subject unto him 1 Pet. 3. 22. In the time of the first Priesthood the Rule and Covenant were without and such as come on further resist the Spirit within yet profess the Scriptures without but resist the Inspiration which gave them forth and yet are zealous for their Rule without being yet blind like Saul even persecuting them in whom the Spirit of Truth bears rule which Spirit they being not come unto to open the Eye and lead them into all Truth are found out of thier Rule which they so much talk of Read and see James 1. 26. 2 Cor. 5. 17. Tit. 3. 9. Ephes 4. 29 30 31 32. and ch 5. 11. 1 John 3. 4. and ch 2. 4. John 12. 36. Mat. 5. 28 29 30 39 40 41 42 43 44. and Ch. 23. 26 27. 1 Tim. 2. 9. 1 Thes 5. 5 15 17 18 19 20 21 22. 2 Cor. 13. 11. In the time of the second Priesthood a measure of the Spirit of Truth is own'd received within which whoso follows walks not in Darkness John 8. 12. the which leads into all Truth and orders and rules the Creature in the fear of him who is the God of Order whereby the strong holds are broken down and every Thought comes to be subjected unto Christ 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. who rules over all and upholds all things by the Word of his Power Heb. 1. 3. who hath given to every man a manifestation of the Spirit 1 Cor. 12. 7. and a proportion of Faith Rom. 12. 6. Christ being all and in all Gal. 3. 28. Col. 3. 11. and as every man hath received Christ Job 9. 9. so to walk in him Col. 2. 6. according to the same Rule already attained Mat. 25. 21. and to mind the same things already received that is the cause Phil. 3. 16 17 and mark them that walk so and not go beyond the measure of what they have received but be faithful in it as good Stewards of the manifold graces of God Tit. 2. 10. and such as walk according to that Rule grace mercy and peace be to them and to all the Israel of God 2 Cor. 10. 12 13. Written by a Servant of Jesus Christ the only High Priest and Minister of life for whose sake he suffers in outward Bonds at Dorchester this 28th day of the 1st Moneth 1657. who is despised persecuted imprisoned by the World called Humphry Smith AN ALARUM Sounding forth unto all the Inhabitants of the Earth ASA Warning before the Vials of the Everlasting Wrath be poured forth upon them THe Lord of Hosts whose Name is Holy whose Way is Everlasting whose Truth endureth forever whose
opposite to him who came not to destroy mens Lives but to save them And what is here written need not hinder the moving of God in any of my Bretheren his servants in giving forth a more large Answer according to the particulars written in your called Appendix or to any other of your writings the which you may also expect only this was in my heart in which I have discharged my Conscience and so herein give forth my Mite a-amongst the rest of my Brethren by way of Declaration and that from God And by this it is my Souls desire your hearts may be humbled and truly rent and broken for your own Iniquities and that with speed or otherwise Gods dreadful hand you cannot escape And this is in faithfulness to God and love to your souls from a Friend thereof called Humphry Smith The 14th of the first Moneth in the Year 1660. The Lamb his Day PROCLAIMED THe Kingdom of God is at hand which comes not with Observation Salvation is near unto all that will receive it Redemption is coming in a time unexpected and Deliverance in a way not known as a Thief in the dark is the Heir come whose Light out of Darkness is shining and that which shineth out of Darkness is it alone that giveth the knowledge of God whom to know is Life eternal and the brightness of the Day of God is springing forth of Darkness as the Morning-Sun after the Darkness of the Night and glorious is this Day of the Revelation of God to all them that have waited for his coming who in the Life of his Power through the Obedience in his Love come to rejoyce in his Dominion over all the Powers of Darkness forever and sound forth the dreadful Day of his Power unto all the Inhabitants of the Earth from the which Christ the Saviour comes to take Peace and to bring the Sword of Gods Judgments into the Bowels of all the Earthly Minded and in him that judgeth the secrets of all mens Hearts do his Followers rejoyce and proclaim him unto you all that makes an end of Sin who of the Father of Love and Mercy is tendered unto all that will receive him that in him who condemns the Evil deeds and sin in the flesh Salvation might be attained unto who now comes unto his own of whom many receive him not for he is come to judge the World whom God so loved that he gave his Son the Light of the World that whosoever believe in him by whom the secrets of all hearts are and shall be judged may be saved from Wrath to come and find a sure hiding place when the wicked shall be cut off the Earth And now who will receive the Lamb in whose Mouth there is no Guile Who among the Sons of men will receive him that hath been slain from the Foundation of the World Who will receive him that is the Gift of God which is Perfect Who will receive him that is a man of Sorrows whose beauty is hid from the prudent of the Earth Who will receive him that the Priests cry out against and the Rulers say Away with him from the Earth Who will come unto the waters of Life and return unto the Fountain of living Mercies that in his Belly the springs of Life may be felt Who can endure to follow him to end of World whose Kingdom is not of this World and who receiveth not honour of men Who can hear receive and keep the hard sayings and drink his Blood that cleanseth from all sin Who is willing to receive him that is the Resurrection and the Life whose Presence troubled and terrified his own Disciples so that their Hearts burned within them VVho will lay down their Crowns at the foot of him that is the Light and mourn over him that is slain whom they have pierced and through Patience Long-suffering and Obedience follow the one Shepherd in the Regeneration even unto them is the VVord of Consolation sent Therefore be ye awakned O all ye Rulers and People let not your Hearts be hardned against Gods VVitness in you neither stop your Ears nor close your Eyes for of a Truth the Lord is at hand and is come to try you with his Loving-kindness and with his Judgments His flock despised of men hath he sent in the meekness of his love to preach the innocent Life of his Son among you in Meekness Patience Sufferings and Tribulations who being reviled revileth not again but in patience enduring long Imprisonment yea VVant and Sickness there and Abuses cruel Mockings Stonings in the street daily and Revilings by ungodly Persons whose Cruelty is encreased and their Sins multiplied encreasing to the day of Judgment and Righteous Revelation of Gods wrath upon all Unrighteousness of men who hold his Truth in that which is not his Righteousness which is now brought near unto all that fear before him in Uprightness of Heart that Truth in the inward parts they might come to know and in it VVorship the God of the Spirits of all flesh And all you People that are meek and tender who have been taught by the Priests and not by the Lord whose Mercy to the humble abideth forever the Lord God Almighty hath so loved you that he hath provided a better Teacher for you which shall not be removed and a Priest that abideth forever and a Bishop for your Souls and behold he is no less then a King yea he ruleth over Kings and help is laid upon him who is mighty and he is able to save and he is so willing to do it that he hath laid down his Life for that end and he standeth at the Door and knocks and he that knocks is called the Word and the Word is as a hammer and the Word is in the Heart where Christ is to be received and where this knocks for entrance and it knocks against sin and in him is no sin and he cometh to save you from sin and to lead you the way to the Father and without Money doth he ever teach nay he giveth abundantly unto all that are taught by him and that more then mortal Riches and you may have him to be with you alwayes forever and he can resolve all your Doubts and satisfie every one and replenish the weary and nourish the faint and in him are all Gods Treasures of the which by him you may come to partake forever and he himself is as a Treasure in thy field but hid from thee which I have found in the Earthen Vessel and declare it unto thee that thy Fallow-ground may be ript up to find the Pearl for this is near unto thee and the motion of it is against thy sin the beauty whereof thou canst never see until to it thou comest to hearken H. S. FOR THE honour of the king AND And the great Advancing thereof amongst men over all Nations in the World In the ensuing Proposals tending thereunto stated in Six PARTICULARS Concerning the KING'S
guile this is he that hath been long set at naught whose tenders of Love constrain Obedience to himself because of the beauty that is in him which from them is hid over whom the Vail is through which they cannot see the Comliness of his Love I rest in the Fathers will your Souls Friend H. S. FRiends the Lord is with us and the God of Heaven is on our side and the Lord is our Defence who hath spoken Life and Peace to my Soul behold he will be with us forever and the holy Arm of his precious dreadful strength shall no Nation under Heaven prevail against dwell all in the Power of God and the blessing of the God of Heaven will be upon you all forever THe Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul and he then Prophesied but after for his disobedience he lost the Kingdom and was afraid of the shame before the People and the Kingdom is rent from such who disobey the Lord though they were among the Prophets like Saul who afterwards went to the Witch And the Witchcraft is near to all such as stand not in the Counsel of God to cause the People to hear his Word and not their own whose Word feeds not the flesh above the seed but is as a Hammer to break the Rocks in pieces and it kills and makes alive and opens a way through the Earth for the Prisoner of Hope to come forth And the Spirit came upon Balaam who was reproved by the dumb Ass that he was exalted above and resisted and he durst not go beyond the Word of the Lord he durst not go beyond that which was quick and powerful in the heart nor over-reach it to do more or less for the gaining of half a Kingdom in the Earthly And such as exceed Balaam therein may expect to be cut down also by the true seed as he was and so to fall among the rest of the Enemies of the Israel of God who is dreadful in Power And the Spirit came upon Jephthah who after offered his own Daughter for a Sacrifice and the Spirit came upon Sampson and yet he not standing in wisdom was bettrayed of his strength by a Daughter of the Philistines who also afterwards put out his eyes And so the Spirit may come up in some and yet afterwards they lose that with which they should see and some there are that use their tongues as in the Name of the Lord upon whom the Spirit never came mark that And Caiphas the High Priest prophesied and he spake not of himself and yet he was an enemy to Christ the Power of God and such as are got up high like high Priests above the measure of the Man of sorrows speak from self or flesh and are in that by which he that is the Light doth suffer and the power is resisted and the seed in others oppressed and they not brought to the Living Minister within the vail that abides a Priest forever but are in that which will dye And many might be named upon whom the Spirit came And Judas also had obtained part of the Ministry â—ut now consider the Spirit resteth upon the branch of the Root even the seed it self for the Spirit came upon many but it rested and relieth upon the se ed only even the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanâ—ing and counsel and might and knowledge and of the sear of the Lord in the fear of the Lord which is a fountain of Life which Life all are to feel and not be kept from by words without it but to feel that which comes from it and favour that that Jacobs Tent all may know which who so dwell in are blessed against whom there is no enchantment and where the Witch-craft cannot enter which leads from the strait and narrow way to the Spirit and Life into a liberty to that which is fleshly where that is kept alive which the word in the heart as a hammer and a sword should have broken and cut down for Paul was grieved with such who at first could almost have pluckt out their own eyes for him and after sought occasion against him and themselves to be made perfect in the flesh and all flesh as grass is to be cut down with the Sword of the Lamb and where the flesh is above the Spirit suffers by it and the vail is thickned which keeps from the Unity and out of the Life and Power of God H. S. THe Lord God of Heaven preserve all every where in the Love Long-suffering Forbearance Meekness and Gentelness out of the Strife or Self-seeking for suerly Wo will come upon that Spirit where-ever the Lord finds it and even the Lord knoweth the desires of my heart in true Simplicity hath been That his Righteous Judgments might pass betimes upon every appear ance thereof in my self and all others and I believe that God will never prosper it in any therefore my Exhortation in the Everlasting Love of the God of Heaven is That you all every where live in true Brotherly Love remember Joseph's Advice to his Brethren That they fall not out by the way The heavenly God of Power and Life and Virtue keep ye out of all this in the Life of Wisdom and Meekness where Strife shall never inhabit nor Death enter within the walls of Zion in which their dwellings are who keep themselves undefiled and remain in the fear of God to whom I commit you all and to the Power of the Word of his saving Grace praying to the Lord for you that evermore you may continue in the Love of Christ Your Freind and Brother Humphry Smith To the meek and open hearted Lambs and Flock of Heaven in meekness of Love with Greetings of Peace from the Seat of Infinite Mercy â—endred unto and sent to be read among them all who live in the humble State THere was a time of Blackness and Darkness which covered all flesh and the Guilt of Sin was upon all Consciences and Hardness of Heart possessed every Vessel and the Minds of all was astray from God and their Souls in the bonds of Iniquity in the day when none was able to deliver his brother O! who can utter the distress and the Languishing state which the Sheep then scattered were in O! the secret Groans of the Out-casts of Israel which God hath now gathered Why should it be forgotten Who could pluck their Feet then out of the Snare or deliver their Souls from Death had not the Lord in mercy looked down from Heaven surely many had sunk in the Pit of Misery and never come to see the Light of the Morning for the which the Bowels of the humble yearned in secret and the Sights were deep in the Solitary Place And then did the Lord in the Bowels of his Mercy let open his Ear and for his own Names-sake had regard unto the Complaint of the poor and needy and he caused Light to break out of Darkness and Truth to spring from its secret
Power is Unlimited whose Mercy endures forever whose Judgments are just and true and all his Ways are equal whose Presence is Dreadful unto all the Double-minded whose bright Appearance is as a fierce Whirlwind of Fire and his Voice as the Terribleness of many Thunders all the Bowels of the Earth are ript open by the Dread of his Powerful Voice and all the created Earthly things pass away as if they had not been because of the Presence of the Almighty and the fierce Terror of the Lord of Glory who is now arising as a Gyant unto the Battel and as a mighty man of Valour unto the War who a long time hath held his peace and hid his face But now saith the Lord will I arise and roar like a Lyon and utter my Voice like a man of War yea I will arise as a Lyon out of a Thicket and a young Lyon out of the Forrest and I will Thunder from Heaven and Darkness shall be upon the Earth and with the Fire of my Jealousie shall the Wicked be consumed the Vngodly as the Smoke that vanisheth forever Wherefore come all ye Brambles of the Earth and gather your selves together all ye Briars Thorns and Thistles and all ye strong Oaks and tall Cedars yea all ye fruitless Trees that long have cumbred the Ground behold the Day is at hand that you shall be consumed forever and as the Stubble ready dry before an unquenchable Fire that is kindled with the Fierceness of the Wind of the Nostrils of the most High so shall all the Brambles of the Earth be Wherefore assemble your selves together O ye Heathen and stand up to Judgment O ye Princes and Rulers of the Earth and prepare to meet the Lord whose Trumpet is sounding an Alarum out of the holy Mountain to gather the whole Host of the Heathen to Battel and the People who know not God to the Slaughter of the great King Arise ye Idol-shepherds awake ye Blood-thirsty Rulers stand up together ye fatted Bulls Let all the wild Horses stand to the Battel saith the Lord of Hosts that I may pour out my Indignation like Fire upon them and Consume them as in a Moment forever that I may give you Blood to drink and fill you with Torment for evermore for thus saith the Lord Once more more will I arise and Confound mine Enemies and ease me of mine Adversaries and I even I will fill the Heathen with Horror and all mine Enemies with the Blackness of Darkness a Fire will I kindle in the Bowels of the Scornful and in the Proud shall the Flames burn forever and all the Earth shall know that I the Lord in the midst of them am Mighty in Power and that none is able to deliver out of my hand Therefore shall the Shepherds Howl forever and the Priesthood of England be Confounded and covered with a perpetual Shame the Nations afar off shall hiss at them and the Ages to come shall call them Accursed for the day is at hand that not a Tongue of all the Dogs of Aegypt shall be lifted up against the Seed that long hath groaned under the Bondage of cruel Oppressors who bite with their Teeth and imagine Evil upon their Beds and lay Snares for the Souls of the Innocent and watch for Iniquity to devour the Simple Therefore shall these things come upon you an unbelieving Generation whose Hearts are hardned Ears stopped and Eyes closed and many of you sealed up unto the great Day of everlasting Destruction which upon you the seed of Evil-doers is stealing unawares Neither shall you believe the things that are hastening upon you and declared unto you for the Prophets and Seers are covered a deep sleep is upon the bruitish Pastors and the Vail is upon the Hearts of all who are under the old Covenant and many of them are given up to the hardness of their Hearts and their Consciences are seared and such have yet a measure of Wickedness to fill up and then upon them the Vessels of Wrath fitted for Destruction shall the Flames of everlasting Burnings be poured forth forever from him that sitteth upon the Throne Wherefore Wo to the Inhabitants of the Earth forever Wo to the Proud and Lofty Ones Wo to all the Hard Hearted Abominable and Unbelieving the Devil is come down among you the old Drogon is Head in you the God of the World hath blinded your Minds the subtilty of the Serpent hath deceived you and now Wo is your Portion you are undone forever your King is the Angel of the bottomless Pit Gog and Magog are your chief Captains Cain is your Father Nimrod the mighty Hunter the builder of Babel is your elder Brother the great Whore is your Mother Ishmael and you are of one House Pharoah and Haman are your Companions Judas the betrayer of the Just is near unto every one of you and the Life of the Just crys for Vengeance upon your Head the glittering Sword of the Most High is drawn to cut you down forever the Ax to the very Root shall now come and Root and Branch shall be cut off forever Wherefore all ye Sorcerers Witches and Sons of the Whore with all Blasphemers who say you are Jews and are not come to the true Circumcision but Servants of Sin and so the Synagogue of Satan and all you false Prophets who feed at Jezabel's Table and not at the Table of the Lord nor never drunk of the Blood of the New Covenant to cleanse you from all Sin but are daily drinking the Cup of Fornication Now come all together the Standard of the Lord is lifted up against you and you shall have to drink forever the Cup of the Wine of the fierceness of the everlasting Wrath of the Lord Almighty and he will plague you with the Beast and the Whore together for evermore and your Seed shall be cut off the Earth and your Children from among the Living your Memorial shall Rot for evermore and your Name blotted out from under Heaven and all that hear of you shall Hiss at you and an astonishment and a hissing shall you be unto all People Where are Queen Maryes Judges and Bloody Persecutors who sought to drive down all by their Devilish power who were as high in Wickedness and cruel Oppression as any of you who are this day thirsting for Blood Where are your Cardinals Jesuits Friars Monks Abbots Abbies and Nunneries Where are your Altars and Crosses c Even as there hath been an Overturning of these so shall the Off-spring and Residue follow after and then shall the Priests howl and the Lamentation of the Shepherds be heard in all the Land and the Great men and the Rich men and all the Mighty of the Earth shall lament bitterly for their Torment shall come in one day and there shall be none to deliver Then shall your high places of Worship be left desolate and the Temple of the Beast destroyed forever and all the Idols burnt