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
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
way works worships and nature of such to serve the living God in the newness of the spirit through Faith and Patience and to walk in Innocency before the Lord for evermore Such shall come to rejoyce in the Truth and the Arm of the Lord shall bring them more nearer to himself that they may come to see the Lord in his Glory and to praise him in the Land of the living and to behold Sion in her perfect Beauty and to feel their Unity with Gods Elect and to enjoy the Covenant of Everlasting Peace that shall never be broken to be bound up together in the life of Immortality Wisdom and Righteousness to shine forth as the Morning like the Jewels of the Lamb and to be beautified with Meekness as the Members of the unspotted of God Oh! the Crown of Rejoycing and Everlasting Felicity that is set before you to whom I am not able to express the infinite bounty and goodness of the Almighty Oh! who can hold when the Lord hath spoken or conceal his loving-kindness when the Almighty giveth utterance The Lord hath enlarged my Heart let me not therefore enquire among you where there is room to receive it Oh! let there be an inward search whether that the door be open and the straitness taken away that he which was with you may find entrance in you and you truly come to feel the receiving of his life to the glad Tidings of your Hearts From such an outward Prison cannot keep me nor from them the vast distance of Miles cannot with-hold me Behold I say in the Name of God I am near unto you And when you are assembled together with one accord in the place where the Light is a Ministry to the work this read among you in the fear of the God of Heaven then shall many of you know it so to be that the Lord hath given me of his unlimited Spirit which I freely let forth unto you And the breathings of my life are that you might receive benefit thereby and be comforted together And be strengthened in the inward man that the Devil may not prevail nor the love of the World overcome the innocent desires which God hath begotten let no unbelief nor slavish fear hinder you in your spiritual progress toward the attainment of the Crown of Life in the Kingdom of blessedness which God hath certainly prepared for the upright and innocent And now behold I turn unto my Brethren the called and chosen of God whom my Soul hereby saluteth unto whom I cannot by words sufficiently express my Love neither have I room to publish the enlargedness thereof in writing neither will usual phrases of Speech satisfie my broken Heart Oh! blessed be the day that ever you were called and the hour of your Visitation and the time of the Conception of the Seed in the Womb and the season of the forth-coming thereof into the liberty of Peace Blessed be the Lord forever on your behalf who hath chosen you to the riches of life and brought you to the Well-springs of Mercy and caused you to drink of the Rivers of his strength which hath daily been renewed unto you Oh! blessed be the God whose love hath not been with-held from your Souls and who hath not with-held counsel from your Eyes Friends God hath opened my Heart unto you receive me therefore as in the Bowels of Mercy that now we may praise the Lord forever Oh! that your Souls may with me forever magnifie the unutterable Power of the God of Heaven and that you may this day with me drink freely of the Cup of Eternal Salvation that then we may rest together as in a Bed of Repose in the delightsom Arms of our Father's love that forever we may sing the Song of the Lamb and sound forth the Praises of the Almighty together that you may know the Lord is with me and that the holy One of Israel is indeed become my everlasting Support And unto you all Friends Erethren and fellow Members of the heavenly Body these are the pourings forth of Gods infinite Love free for all that can receive it And thus in few words as unto you my Brethren even desiring to be felt and received in that which comprehendeth all words and is more than words can express in which the words end which was before the words were where my dwelling is and you that truly know me know it so to be where-with you in the eternal Beeing and Substance of all living I rest in the Fountain of Mercy desiring daily in my pourings forth of my Soul unto God that you all may walk blamelesly and be preserved in the Truth of your Hearts to stand stedfast in the day of Tryal at hand And so in the power of Wisdom which is the Refuge of the Innocent the Lord God Almighty of Heaven and Earth preserve you all and keep you all for evermore Amen And hereby you may likewise know that I am in health and strength of Body and Soul and that my Heart is sometimes enlarged with the Power of Gods Love and my Spirit at Liberty which is out of their power to imprison by whom my Body is shut up in the close unsavoury Prison of my late and long sad Sufferings in the common Goal at Winchester where this is written by him that God hath called herein to be your Servant in obedience to his blessed Will known to the World but unto you in that which is nearer than this Name Humphry Smith Concerning TYTHES TYthes at first were not required but given only of the Spoils of the War only once by Abraham unto him that was made like unto the Son but the Substance being come even Christ who was before the Wars and before Abraham he redeems out of the Lust from whence the Wars arise and so bringeth to an end of that from whence Wars come and so to an End of that from whence Tythes were first given and so to give nor pay Tythes any longer being redeemed out of Lust and Wars and Fightings by the Blood of Jesus who said I am the Light that abideth a Priest forever and his day Abraham rejoyced to see who brings to the End of the Tythes and makes War with that and slayes that which caused men to Slay one another in the Wars who comes to save the Life who is Greater than Abraham who being now come denyeth fighting and saith He that taketh the Sword shall perish with the Sword And so that was to perish whereby Tythes were first given then must there needs be an end of Tythes which also perisheth with the using and the Law for the Tythes which had a shadow of good things to come decayes and waxes old and vanisheth away the good things themselves being come and good will towards man and the Covenant of Light to joyn the hearts together For Tythes were never given nor paid until after men had killed and slain and done violence and wrong one to another
down from Heaven and gives Life the which Bread being not in outward shew was not only hid from the Scribes and Pharisees who had the Oracles of God outwardly but also from them that profess Christ without them only for there is a time wherein Christ is known after the Flesh therefore saith Christ He that is with you shall be in you John 14. 17. Ch. 6. 35. 60. The first Priesthood though made by a Law of God which Law stands outwardly the Priests being Ministers of the Law and not come to Christ but now the Priests are out of his Doctrine Mat. 23. and so are found themselves Transgressors of the same Law which they teach to others therefore the Lord declares against such saying Wherefore ye Priests this Commandment is for you If you will not hearken I will send a Curse upon you and I will Curse your Blessing and spread the Dung of your solemn Assemblies upon your Faces Mal. 2. 1 2 3. Mich. 3. 10 11. Jer. 10. 21. Hosea 6. 9. Isa 56. 9 10 11 12. Râ—â— 2. 21 22 23 24. The Ministry of the second Priesthood witnesseth the Righteousness of the Law fulfilled within and so comes to the freedom from the Law of Sin and Death and so comes to receive a Blessing from God not a Curse Rom. 7. 6. Chap. 8. 2 3 4. Heb. 6. 7. The first Priesthood who offers daily for the Poeple and themselves thought it be much and consisteth in many Words and outward Ceremonies yet this is not able to make him that doth in Perfect as pertaining to the Conscience but the Guilt remaineth still upon the Conscience both of him and his followers Heb. 9. 9. 2 Pet. 2. 1 2 3. 14. The second Priesthood who hath forever Perfected them that are Sanctified he is of the heavenly Mansion of the which there are many in the Fathers House whose House are we who are of the Body which is the Church which is raised up by the Ministry of the second Priesthood to sit together with Christ in the Heavenly places where the Unclean cannot come but the living Service and Prayers are offered up through the Eternal Spirit Ephes 1. 20 21 22 23. Chap. 6. 2. Heb. 3. 6. John 14. 2 3. The first Priesthood and its Ministry consisted in reading of the Law that was written in Tables of Stone and Writings which are without and in preaching of Moses in the Synagogues every Sabbatâ—-day the Vail being over the Heart and the end of the Law not seen nor him known that 's made under the Law Acts 15. 21. 2 Cor. 3. 13 14 15 c. The second Priesthood and its Ministry consisteth in ministring Life to the Seed in Prison and opening the Prison-doors that the Seed of Abraham may spring out of the barren Womb and feel the Power of the Son of God breaking down that which the Law had power over and so to bring to him that is the end of the Law and to behold with open Face the Glory of him that takes away the Sin and brings in everlasting Righteousness Isa 61. 1 2 3. Dan. 9. 24. 2 Cor. 3. 18. The first Priesthood had the Letter but afterward resisted the Holy Ghost yet profess Moses and the Prophets Writings and make a Gain thereby but resist the Holy Ghost and the Spirit of Prophesie the Heart being Uncircumcised Acts 7. 51 52. Jude 11. The second Priesthood and its Ministry is of the Spirit with the power of the Holy Ghost and the same Spirit that guided Moses and the Prophets and all the holy men of God and so comes to that from whence that was given forth which was preached in the Synagogues every Sabbath-day Isa 44. 3. Isa 59. 21. 2 Pet. 11. 21. In the time of the first Priesthood the Cherubims cover the Mercy-seat and the Lord communeth with him that is the Minister of the Law above the Mercy-seat which Mercy-seat being both covered and under and the People being both stiff-necked and hard hearted So the Power stands above ministring the Law which is to judge and cut down that which causeth the hardness of the Heart which is covered with the Vail through the transgression of the Law under which the Mercy-seat is and the Testimony lieth under it Exod. 25. 31. Let him that readeth understand Matth. 24. 15. Heb. 9. 5. In the time of the second Priesthood the Testimony and Witness of God is raised up and the Mercy-seat opened and the hardness of Heart broken and so the Wall that 's separated between him and his Testimony comes to be broken down and the Fountain of living Mercies opened and the Soul refreshed with the hidden Manna so the Seed of Abraham comes to be raised up through the Vail by the power of him who is the living Minister within the Vail made under the Law to redeem the Soul from under the Law and so as this is read in the work of it and so felt and understood the Promise of the second Covenant under the Ministry of the second Priesthood is witnessed even as it is written I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my People 2 Cor. 6. 16. Jer. 31. 33. Heb. 8. 8. to the end Chap. 9. 12. Isa 57. 15. In the time of the first Priesthood there is much talking of the Ordinances and many are pleading from the Letter for the Ordinances which say They are to last forever as Circumcision was and also many are crying The Temple of the Lord The Temple of the Lord and yet the Temple is made by such a den of Thieves and a habitation of Dragons and wild subtil devouring Beasts of the Field who have stollen up another way in the Serpents wisdom than by Christ the Light and the Door and so resist the Holy Ghost being yet in their Sins and their Faith vain and their Minds and their Consciences being defiled and they not come to the Doctrine of Repentance the Mountains being not leveled and the burning Light not felt nor the Wilderness not yet found nor the way opened for the Seed neither yet seen him that takes away the Sin of the World and yet such are crying The Ordinances The Ordinances and the Commands which say they are to last to the end of the World and yet they themselves not come to the beginning of the World nor to feel the power of the Word separating the Light from the Darkness nor yet to feel the entrance into the true Circumcision and so the Vail remains over the Heart that they cannot see to the end of the Commands Figures and Ordinances which are a shadow of good things to come but the End and Substance is Christ the Light Life and Corner-stone at which they stumble Col. 2. 17. 1 Pet. 3. 21. In the time of the second Priesthood the Kingdom is witnessed which is not in Words but in Power where the proud Boasters are shut out and the Unclean
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
Power without Hands may break in pieces that made with Hands or the greatest tallest or most glorious Image that hath been conceived in the dark mind and set up on high above the humble suffering Seed to be worshipped within in the Power of the Light is resisted with all his Wiles though therein he bringeth Scripture to uphold his Kingdom and Dominion over the other to have it bow down to him and worship him who abode not in the Power which by the Power is resisted and denied forever And so that which denies the other and is Humble and Low it is that all are to wait to receive and joyn unto from it Power to know in it to stand against the other which did it oppress and by secret subtilty being exalted doth alwayes endeavour to sit in the Temple of God shewing it self as God being covered with a Profession of the Truth which in the Truth doth not abide yet to the Truth in words may confess and acknowledge that which saveth from Sin to be the begotten of God and may believe and tremble and yet remain an Enemy to the same tempting him by many Glorious Presentations to bow to that and worship that which abideth not in the Power that so thereby over the Power it may always rule in the Deceiveableness of Unrighteousness wherein many are ensnared others tempted and some Overcome whose latter end is worse than their beginning Oh! who can declare the Depth of the Ground of this Mystery of Iniquity or utter forth the Innumerable Transformings and Changings of that which still seeketh by all subtilty to keep from the Obedience to the Life of the Power by which man was made and from which he was led by that which said Ye shall be as Gods which against God doth stand in that ground which by him is cursed And how can the unsearchable Love of the Father be uttered with words who so loved the World that he gave his Son to them that asked not for him that by his Light might be seen the Deceiveableness of the many Workings of the Powers of Darkness in the Mind that is darkened which from the Darkness to the Light is to be turned with the Light in the holy Fear to watch against every appearance of the changeable Powers of Darkness which sometimes appeareth as an Angel of Light against whose Appearance all are to stand armed with the Power of him who is the Light and to feel the Power of the Word which is as a Fire and yet to resist that which the Devil darteth in which is also like unto Fire that the tender Simplicity after which my Soul breatheth may not be betrayed by that which still seeketh to devour and to keep from the Power of the Cross and turn aside from the narrow Way of Life and that in it all the innocent Friends of Christ may be kept to follow the Leadings of that which from the God of Truth and Love and Peace to them hath come by it to be led out of and from all that which in the Truth did not abide Therefore is this given forth even from the Breathings of my Life appealing to the pure Witness in you all which the Changeableness of Iniquity doth always stand against the which in Gods living Power let all that feel it keep against the other to stand and keep out of all Satan's Wiles to be preserved to the end of all that which hath an End that then when time shall be no more you may rest and abide with and in him that is the Truth whom the Devil hath nothing in to receive the Blessings of the Father and the tender Mercies of the most High to refresh you and overcome you with the Power of his Love that it to you all may be the Bond of Everlasting Peace in which with all the humble and faithful I am bound up and in it with them for evermore do rest Humphry Smith Winchester-Bridewell 1685. THE Love of God Declared AND SATAN'S VVILES DISCOVERED THE Lord God of Life and Father of Infinite Love Preserver of all the simple Deliverer of all the innocent whose Power reacheth unto the Heavens and his Goodness to the Sons of men who never forsook the Faithful but was near unto them in the hour of Temptation and knows how to make War for the Innocent to escape and deliver the Oppressed in the day of Distress whose Mercy endureth forever whose Love can never be fully declared whose Glory is beyond all Expression whose Wayes are past finding out whom my Soul honoureth forever to whose Infinite Fullness and Incomprehensible Power be Blessing and Glory and Honour from the Power of my Life to the Throne of his Love forever and ever Even he who is the Fountain from whence cometh the Breath of the Life of the Souls of all Mankind He I say from the Throne of his Power through the brightness of his Love with his Eye of Fatherly Pity hath look't down and taken notice of the Wants the Groans and the Cryes of his captivated Seed which hath been long oppressed with the strong and cruel Bonds of Iniquity which separated man from God and grieved the Spirit of the most High who bowed the Heavens and came down to visit the Captives and relieve the Oppressed which is acceptable to many and a time of everlasting Comfort for by him the weary come to be refreshed and the weak receive Everlasting strength for the Lord hath Compassion on the Needy and comes to clothe the Naked with the Righteousness of his Son for his Spirit reacheth unto that which is in Want and his Compassion is extended to the Lowly in Heart which long breathed after Life and Power to overcome the Evil but knew not the way to obtain it and therefore in the restless Wilderness under the burden of Sin did long Travail as in a wearisom Land of Darkness having little hope towards God being often in much Distress when no Eye pitied even then had the Lord Mercy for his own Name sake and he remembred his Covenant with Abraham his Friend and had Compassion on the Seed of the barren Womb which was as the Root of a Plant hid in a dry Land whom the Lord came to visit in the Power of his Infinite Love and said to the dead Live forever which Word of Power reached through the Earth making way through it unto the Seed that it through the Earth making way through it unto the Seed that it through the Earth might spring by the Virtue of his Life as a Lilly in the Spring that so the Prisoner might grow up out of Captivity and receive the early and the latter Rain and the Dews of Heaven that as a tender Plant it may grow and become as a Tree and be fruitful as a Vine bearing much Fruit over the Earth Oh! the Infinitness of the Fullness of the Fountain of the Father's unexpressible Love unto the Prisoners of Hope and the captivated Seed
Magog and all Nations that rise up and gather themselves together against you the beloved of the Lord they are all but as the rising up of Smoke and as Chaff before the Wind so must they e'er long be driven away Have you not seen the Overturning and the Confounding of them that were against God and goodness who raged much against you as these do now And will not the Lord once more overturn Yea it shall be so for the Blood-thirsty Priests and persecuting Officers must follow after for though Pharoah and all his Host were overturned yet the Moabites nor the Canaanites would not take warning But rejoyce not thou when thine Enemy falleth nor because the Devils are made subject but feel thy Name written amongst the Living And now to the Lord God of Life I commit you all and to the Guidance of the measure of his Spirit of Holiness and the Blessing of the most high be upon you every one that is faithful now and for evermore and the presence of Lord be in all your Meetings Humphry Smith DEar Brethren Friends and Babes in Christ who are begotten again by the Word of Power and born of the Immortal Seed whom God hath raised up in the Day of his Love and gathered into his Covenant of Life with whom my Heart is joyned in the Life of Righteousness where the sweet savour of divine Love is felt as healing Oyl blessed forever and ever be the Fountain from whence it comes whereby the heart is made glad unto God and the weary Soul refreshed Beauty and Excellency remaineth in the Life forever and durable Righteousness inhabiteth therein Let the humble rejoyce because of its Beauty and let the meek be glad for evermore let the Earth be quiet and still and let the Inhabitants therein feel the Visitation of Life where God's day of brightness dawneth in the Hearts of his chosen where Peace abideth forever and the Light most gloriously doth shine which expels the Darkness far away and scatters the Clouds of the Night Love then springs up from God and Life and Virtue doth nourish his tender Plant unexpressibly is it received therein and the Father's Mercy more sweet than the finest Honey with this may all Gods Plants be nourished and your breathing desires answered and longing Souls satisfied then may you all lie down together receiving God's blessing of Life and grow up in the Power thereof as the holy Building of God to shew forth the Praise of his Glorious Name by walking in the Virtuous Life that the Father and Begettor of your true Desires for evermore may be honoured and you a delightsom savour of Life unto him to be joyned in his Covenant Immortal where God who is Love dwelleth in the Light which no Eye of flesh can behold nor the fleshly Birth come near nor the polluted enter within his Dwellings nor the Transgressor of the Law come with his burden into this City of Rest where the Lamb is the Light and the blessed Sabboth is kept who feel the liberty of the Seed Immortal may see and read and understand even the unutterable things of God whose Power Love Mercy Compassion and Peace may many of you feel sometimes in your own hearts which is to draw you to himself that you might love him again forever above all things that are created by him that in his Power which was before it you may come over it all to him again and in the same Power with him over it to reign and the Creatures to rule in his Wisdom that your Souls may be kept clean to God and you sanctified to himself a sit Habitation for him forever The Lord God Almighty help keep and preserve all Friends that all may stand in the day of Tryal and finish your Testimony with Peace H. S. Broomeyard in Herefordshire the 4th of the 3d Moneth 1660. One Hundred and Forty four Lines of secret inward Melody and Praise to the Lord. MY heart shall sing of thee Who dost my Soul defend Whose Life hath saved me Who didst my Wayes amend Whose strength hath me upheld Whose Love is with me still Whose Grace doth virtue yield Who hast taught me thy will O! blessed be thy Name Who hast my Life redeem'd That I may sound the same With them thou hast esteem'd O! let me now rejoyce And praise the Lord my strength Who long hath been my choice And drawn my dayes in length O! that I could declare Vnto the sons of men His Gifts and Rules rare Which he hath yet for them O! that my heart could dite The goodness of his Love Or that my pen could write His Mercies yet above O! that I might express With Heart with Tongue or Pen His sweet delight somness Reserv'd for upright men O! that I could unfold Or in meekness declare His strength which maketh bold And keepeth from the Snare Behold his Throne is Love His Seat is Mercy pure Descending from above Is he both day and hour Behold his Glory shines Vnto his Jewels rare He visits them betimes When they in Darkness are Behold his Heart is bent Towards his little Ones His Love their hearts doth rent And in his Virtue comes Behold he draweth near To all the Poor and Weak And he to them is dear Who will them not forsake Behold he doth arise In Might Virtue and Power To bring in his lost prize Into his refuge Tower The weak he doth defend The poor he 'l still uphold Forth ' needy he 'l contend And give them more than Gold His Lambs he still doth lead His little Ones he 'l teach The Hungry have his Bread The Thirsty he 'l refresh He makes the Feeble strong He makes the Barren bare He leads the Blind along Into the Light most clear He cometh as a Dew In heat of Summer time Vpon his Plants below That forth their Fruit may shine He feedeth every Babe He seeketh every Lost His Love doth never fade For his he spares no Cost His Vâ—rtue and his Strength His Wisdom and his Power He gives to his at length And they of him are sure He never doth forsake His dear and little Flock Who of that Bread partake That 's hidden in the Rock The Heavens and the Earth He with himself Doth fill He dwelleth in our Hearts And doth reveal his Will He maketh known his Way That all his Flock shall go And them in light Aray For to withstand the Foe He helps in time of need He leaves not in distress He doth effect the Deed To Man he gives redress He casteth down to Hell His Power is so great He doth the Living kill And none can him defeat He raiseth from the Grave And makes the Dead alive From him there 's none can save Nor in his absence thrive He 's alwayes near at hand From trouble to deliver He 's joyn'd with his in Band To live with them forever No God is like to him No Honour like to his No man is said to win
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