of miseries and the infelicity of unbelieving men come hard by even at the door 10. Whosoever therefore rejoyceth him with the unbelieving wicked world and o Jer. 6.8 Ezek. 13. promiseth or pronounceth happinesse peace and prosperity unto her or to her Adherents the same man speaketh lies who so boasteth him of grace and yet abideth in his ungodly being he blasphemeth God in his righteous judgement p Esa 52. Ezek. 36. Rom. 2. and with blasphemy dishonoreth his holy Name For God is a God that loveth Righteousnesse and hateth all yea all q Psal 5. Prov. 3. ungodly being 11. He is holy r Lev. 19. 1 Pet. 1. and will have us to be holy also and that we to the laud and praise of his glory should Å¿ 1 Cor. 15. Eph. 4. Col. 3. carry or bear his image and like being and not the image of the devill nor the vaine being of the world wherein we do mock and reproach him 12. We are called through Jesus Christ and his service of love unto God and his upright Righteousnesse t Joh. 15. Phil. 1. because we should bring forth the fruits of God and not to the devill through the Antichrist the devills child by whom we joyne to the world u Sap. 1.2 Joh. 8. 1 Joh. 3. and bring forth the fruits of the devill whose end or recompence is the everlasting condemnation x Mat. 25. Heb. 10. 2 Pet. 3. and the judgement of the raging fire which cometh upon the wicked world and all wretched men that despise the Salvation of God and believe not that vve ought to live the righteousnesse of God with whole heart soul and body 13. Now this passed over I hope there are yet many good of will and contrite of heart which have a desire to do the will of the Lord and which do stedfastly believe Gods promises and hope thereon and y Rom. 8. 1 Cor. 1. Tit. 2. 1 Pet. 1. so vvith patience wait for the coming of Jesu Christ to their justifying and delivering from their sins z Luk. 11. whereby they might serve God without feare all their life long in such holinesse and righteousnesse as are pleasing unto him 14. Hereunto vve are to have regard to the intent Gods promises may be to our salvation a Mat. 5. Rom. 2. and not to a rigorous judgement on us as they are threatned to be to the ungodly 15. If any man therefore count the everlasting God true in his promises let him not look back on that which is past b Luk. 9. Phil. 3. but have regard to that which is to come and believe God that he will not neglect but openly shew his Salvation 16. He will remember his holy Covenant and c Esa 40.42.60.61.62 Jer. 23 31.33 Ezek. 36.37 be gracious unto his people and set them up again according as he hath spoken it heretofore d Luk. 1. by the mouth of his holy Prophets 17. Let no man reckon these things vain or as though nothing shall come or grow of them that he be not intangled by his blindnesse as it came to passe heretofore with many vvhen the Lord would punish the ungodly 18. At which time alwaies the most part of people were blinded e Gen. 6.7.18.19 Esa 6. Sap. 2. and had no regard hereunto before it fell upon them in such sort that they could no way escape the vengeance of the wrath of God 19. Which punishment God in sundry sorts caused to come upon the ungodly and are all set before us for example f 1 Cor. 10. that we being mindfull of the things to come should exercise our selves in the most holiest belief of godlinesse to the end we might g Heb. 5. find grace before God and so be preserved from the plagues of the ungodly h Lu. 21. and from the terrible malediction and horrible end of the last wicked world 20. Which plagues i Dan. 12. Mat. 24. shall be divers and more horrible then aforetime because the time is otherwise as being much wickeder and more manifoldly k 4. Esd 14. Mat. 24. increased in wickednesse 21. For behold it was another time and a different punishment upon the maliciousnesse of men when the Lord l Gen. 11. confounded and scattered the workmen at Babel after which time of punishment Abraham m Gen. 12. found grace before the Lord then that time was when the Lord n Gen. 6.7 2 Pet. 2. punished the world with the floud before which time of that punishment Noe with his family found grace to be a Remnant before the Lord. 22. In like manner it was also another time and punishment upon Sodoma and Gomorra o Gen. 19. 2 Pet. 2. when Lot the righteous was lead out thence and found grace before God to his preservation 23. Furthermore consider the different punishments also of Jerusalem and her Inheritants how that God punished them for their sins cause p Vide Libros Reg. Proph. in locis plurimis neverthelesse they alwaies which were upright of heart and turned them from the iniquity found grace before God 24. Now all this aforegoing being set behind and having regard unto that which is to come let every one turn him to the Lord the God of Israel who hath made heaven and earth q Jer. 18.25.35 Ezek. 14.18 4 Esd 14. and put away the abominations of idolatrous phantasies farre from his heart and so amend his course of life 25. Let every one love the good out of his whole heart mind and thoughts and take heed of the perversity of the wicked world wherein all impiety and the most horrible abominations doe bear sway r Mat. 11. Lu. 10.11 whose plagues and punishments shall now in the last time be out of measure much more horrible then any aforementioned according to the Scripture 26. Wherefore let every one labour for an upright heart before God and towards his neighbour Å¿ Esa 55. Jer. 29. Heb. 5. and seek of the Lord to find grace in his sight whereby to inherite now in this day the bountifull mercy of God in the preservation of the righteous that he perish not in the blind errours of the abominable and wicked world CHAP. IIII. 1. He willeth the wise to regard how the unbelievers do proceed in the evill 2. and the Lovers of Righteousnesse in the good 6. It is now no time to sleepe 8. But to labour for an upright heart 11. It is wisdome to buy the good things whiles they are best cheape 13. The World esteemeth not the true Vertues 15. The Beliefe 17. Hope 20. and Love 22. But the God fearing wise are to take the more heed that their Lamps be not without oyle 26. The world contendeth for the knowledge more then for the godlinesse it selfe 29. Many that know not the mans fall from God will yet speak much of Repentance c. 31. but it is all unprofitable 33.
then shall your portion be with the Kings and Priests or with the Elders of the holy Understanding and your fellowship with such Senetors as do further the Righteousnesse and your Service of the Word with the peace-makers that do earnesty seek the unity in the Love 10. And thus shall then the slandering lips k T it 2. 1 Pet. 2.3 which defame you with all evill by your good conversation with the wise in the wisdom and with the just or vertuous in all righteousnesse and integrity be put to silence 11. Therefore be now through the love and her service wholly l Rom. 12. Eph. 4. renewed and purified in the spirit of your mind passe now thorow the river of the love even to the rest of life the holy land of promise that the ungodly bear no dominion over you 12. Be altogether with one consent minded hereunto and let the love have the preheminence and dominion with you all that the little ones may be protected and the simple defended 13. Therefore O ye lovers of the truth seek unity and labour for it and make a departure out of all heathenish being which is after the course of the worlds foolishnesse 14. Do away the fore-skin m Deut. 10 Ier. 4 of your uncircumcised hearts lay away from you according to the former conversation the bewitching of the imagination which glimmereth unto you before the eyes of your spirit and glittereth before your understanding as if it were some excellent thing 15. Renew your understanding in the Service of the holy and gracious Word under the obedience of the Love and so in the spirit of your mind betake you n 1 Cor. 14 to the Love and and as deer children be subject thereunto whereby you may in the love obtain eyes of clearnesse 16. If notwithstanding ye be o Iam. 1. unwise p Apoc. 3. blind and q Mat. 5 poore of spirit yet grieve not your selves for all that for then ye draw neare to the Kingdome of God 17. If you desire godly wisdom then r Iam. 1 pray and believe she shall be given you so far forth as your prayer Å¿ Rom. 12. is stedfast and as ye pray to God in a lowly heart with such a prostrated soule as hath a desire or pleasure to do and to fulfill the Lords will 18. Men may find many which pray unto God for wisdom and for the right sight of his Kingdom but they will not acknowledge nor t Joh. 9. Apoc. 3. understand that they are unwise poor and blind therefore they obtain nothing 19. For although that the wisdom stood even at their door yet so well seen are they and so rich of spirit through their own wisdome of the knowledge that the upright wisdom of God and the being of his Kingdome must be faine to tarry without 20. Therefore right well speaketh the mouth of the Wisdom Blessed u Mat. 5. are the poor of spirit for the Kingdom of heaven belongeth unto them or the wisdome of God ariseth as light upon them and not upon the rich or upon the great knowers 21. For when we of our selves are become poor blind or unwise or do forsake that which is ours and do come to contrition and meeknesse of heart x Psal 51. Esa 57.66 then will God dwell with us and appeare in such hearts as also the Scripture maketh mention and then are we also poor but God is become rich in us by means of our vilenesse or because we are poor in the knowledge It is true 22. These and other like things have I in many places distinctly set forth in the Glass of Righteousness and do here also set forth the same in this Introduction to the holy Vnderstanding if any man regard it let him consider the inclination of mine understanding 23. But what shall I say I find the man much too self-wise y Rom. 1. 1 Cor. 1. in his owne conceit and too void of understanding in the mind of the love for commonly when the man heareth of the love and of the right understanding of wisdom he rejoyceth him in the hearing and it seemeth as if it liked him well likewise for a time he commendeth it 24. But in conclusion there is nothing among the greatest sort but self-feeking and very little doe they understand the first Schoole-rule of the Christian Doctrine of the service of love for an entrance into the upright life in Jesus Christ but do understand every thing which is held forth before them out of Gods wisdome and love according to their imagination and according to the mind of their liking They seek thereout their own commodity z 2 Phil. 2. and not the Lords they run clean back from the mind of the love and use all subtilty to manitain their own opinion 25. Whereout I observe that the man which is thus minded conceiveth of the wisdom and of the love utterly amisse For which cause I likewise fear least the Glasse of Righteousnesse how plainly and rightly evidently and clearly soever it is set forth shall not of many be discerned aright nor yet be conceived of according to the truth 26. If therefore they discern or conceive not aright of such apparent sentences as are so clearly and plainly uttered that even every one which loveth lowlinesse and righteousnesse must needs approve the same and acknowledge that the man and the world is created thereunto how should they then be able rightly to understand or judge of all the mysteries of the Kingdome of God 27. For which causes sake to the intent no man might have occasion to estrange himself from the truth unlesse it might be by his own revolting heart we have bidden or covertly set forth nothing in the Glasse of Righteousnesse 28. Notvvithstanding if any thing be covered or hidden unto any a 2 Cor. 4. it is hidden to the unbelievers who have no desire nor love to the truth nor to the life which is of God for such are darkned b Rom. 1. in their understanding through pleasure in their ovvn mind and through the ignorance which is in them c Eph. 4. and through the blindnesse of their hearts do gather unto themselves d Rom. 2. a treasure of vvickednesse to an horrible destruction and so through their own wisdome do turn away and separate themselves from the love and from her service 29. But unto all lovers of equity which have a desire and belief towards the love to the intent that by her service they might tast of e 1 Pet. 2. the uncorrupted milk the Word of God that f Esa 40. 2 Pet. 1. liveth for ever we have out of the inclination of love so openly and clearly according to the life painted out and set forth the Glasse of Righteousnesse that every one who with an humble heart hath regard thereunto and desireth the understand of Righteousnesse shall be vvell satisfied therein 30. If also any
7 the blood of Jesus Christ and maketh us cleane from our sins and giveth us the everlasting life 21. This is verily the word of Faith f Act. 2.3 4 5 7 8. c. Rom. 10. 1 Pet. 1. which was published by the Apostles through Christ for a Righteousnes unto us g 2 Cor. 11. Gal. 1. Phil. 1. Whosoever therefore preacheth any other Christ or preacheth Christ any other way publisheth any other Gospel or publisheth the Gospel upon any other fashion or ground or believeth any otherwise or buildeth upon any other foundation h 1 Cor. 3 than God hath from the beginning through his Prophets and Apostles required and willed the same man remaineth i Gal. 1. execrable or accursed according to the mencion of the Scriptures 22. For k 1 Cor. 3 no other Foundation may there be laid than the same that is laid which is Iesus Christ who from everlasting was and is and abideth for ever Through whom God made all whatsoever is any thing and l Heb. 1. he beareth up all things by the power of his might and maketh the clensing of our sins through himself Unto him as a Father of all be Laud Honour and Praise for evermore Amen 23. These and such like things was I partly of necessity moved to rehearse unto you ye dearly beloved to the intent you might consider them aright and understand the diversity of every thing that concerneth the Salvation of men 24. Furthermore see that ye humbly with meditation to God apply your selves out of the inclination of love to read or to heare the Glasse of Righteousnes and consider or mark the life which is witnessed and set forth in the same Behold there in the spirit of your understanding the everlasting unchangeable Statutes and Ordinances of Almighty God which also shall remain unchangeable for ever For that which is there witnessed is such an upright life m Gen. 1. Eph. 2. as the man is created unto for to live therein In which Statutes and Ordinances the Lords people have lived from the beginning 25. Yea such a Life Statutes and Ordinances are a delight and joy to all upright hearts and Prophets to live therein and they have heretofore born witnes thereunto that in time to come men should live in them For through the truth they saw into the life of peace in the love and that through the life of peace in the love every thing is made perfect and therein standeth firme or abideth stedfast 26. That verily is the life which is true n Joh. 1. and that life is the light of men o Eph. 1.5 Col. 1. and the head of the holy Commonalty Who so goeth out of it cometh to the death blindnes and darknes 27. But the soules of those that live therein are blessed in the Lord. For such people doth God require as do walk in his Ordinances that is to say in the life and peace of love p Deut. 6.2 and do love the only God from the heart 28. Lo it is the true God that requireth such upright Righteousnes and he himself cleaveth to his Righteousnes his Statutes and Ordinances everlastingly q Joh. 1.2 For he is the spirit of his life the life of his word the word of his Spirit r Exod. 3 Mat. 22. the God of Abraham the God of Isaac and the God of Iacob or Israel 29. That verily is the true life of peace and love and the Statutes and Ordinances are the same upright righteousnes which the holy Fathers have lived and walked in 30. The same Statutes and Ordinances of the holy Fathers were by Moses renewed Å¿ Exod. 20. Deut. 5. and witnessed unto a life before all people And that life was through Jesus Christ being risen from the Dead and ascended into Heaven t Mat. 28. Mar. 16. published unto all people for a Gospel because they should live therein And unto all that believed thereon was the Resurrection from the dead and the everlasting life witnessed and promised through Iesus Christ 31. In sure and firm hope whereof the upright Beleevers have rested in the Lord Iesus Christ till the appearing of his coming which is now in this day of the love revealed out of the heavenly beeing with which Jesus Christ the former Beleevers of Christ v John 5. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4. who were fallen a sleepe rested or dyed in him are now also manifested in Glory 32. For Christ in the appearing of his comming raiseth his deceased from the dead x 1 Cor. 15. to the intent that they should reign alive with him over all his enemies y Mat. 25. John 5. Rom. 2. 2 Thes 1. and condemneth all the ungodly which have not liked of him 33. This is the joyful Message published to the Gentiles whereby z Eph. 2.3 as fellow-Heires in the Testaments of promise they are bidden and called to the house of Jacob and to the Citizenship of Jerusalem To the intent they should depart from the brutishnes of their errors and from the sundry intanglements of their Idolatries and turn them to the God of Israel for to serve him only and to live in his Statutes and Ordinances through the belief 34. Which Righteousnes a Ro. 2.3 is required out of the Law and is now in this last time openly and evidently witnessed out of the inclination of love and through the insight of the same upright life to a view of the upright righteousnes which the man is created unto and to a demonstration whereunto or to what end or fulfilling God hath given his promises and made his Covenant with the Fathers 35. Behold hereunto namely to that which we bear witnes of is the Calling of the Gentiles made b Rom. 11. Eph. 2. who are out of grace called thereunto for to serve with the Stock of Abraham one God in one manner of Righteousnes 36. Lo these are the promises c Gen. 17. which were committed to the Jewes in the Circumcision And Jesus Christ the safe-making word of the Lord is amongst them Act. 13. Rom. 9. d Rom. 15. for the truth of Gods sake become a Minister of the Circumcision to confirme the promises made unto the Fathers that the name of the God of Abraham might be magnified likewise among the Gentiles And for the mercies sake towards the Gentiles is the Grace of life published also to the Gentiles to the intent e Act. 10.11.13 Rom. 11. they should praise God and know the God of Israel and his Ordinances 37. Which God and his righteousnes we do now know in the love through the spirit of truth which according to the spirit f Joh. 14. leadeth us into all truth that is into all love according to the promises g Col. 5. For the love is the band of perfection By which Band we are sealed and confirmed for ever in the same perfection to the intent that Gods
that all hearts of men might fear honor and only serve him 27. Now where the word of life to Gods glory and mens salvation was heretofore thus ministred d Act. 2.3 4.5 c. and God then gave his blessing and increase for a fruitfulnesse of his Word through the belief there was also the same Word ministred out of Love by the Ministers thereof namely to the believers for their strengthning and growing up in the Word and in like manner they held forth the same Word of life according to his worthinesse unto the little young and weak ones to cheer up their hearts thereunto and to confirme them in the holy being of the same Word that such an holy being of God might have e Gal. 4. a sure forme in them and all people might with their tongues laud and praise God 28. Behold this same holy being of God is the true life of the holy Ghost which heretofore God wrought among his people Israel and likewise f Joel 2. Acts 2. among the Gentiles that feared his name and the same is promised afterward to be given in the g Esa 2.3.9.25.32.35 c. last daies 29. This same being of God is indeed the right food of the soule and bread of life and is h Ioh. 6. descended unto us from heaven for a life to the man and was heretofore i 1 Cor. 10 11. broken and distributed to the people of Israel and Dicsples of Christ to feed on in their souls 30. And this same bread which they brake fed on or eat k 1 Cor. 10 is the Communion of the Body of Christ which Christ is l Eph. 1.4.5 the Head Lord and Master of his Congreation saving m Mat. 1. redeeming his people from their sins and the cup whereof they drank n 1 Cor. 10 is the Communion of the blood of Christ 31. This same bread which was given unto them is the true meat-offering of Christ namely his body o Mat. 26. Mat. 14. Luk. 22. 1 Cor. 11. and this cup which was powred forth unto them is the true shedding of his blood the which is the out-flowing of the holy Word or Spirit of Christ upon all believers of Christ to everlasting life 32. Even thus did the Disciples of Jesu Christ eat of his flesh and drinke of his blood to the forgivenesse of their sins unto him namely to Christ for an incorporating and unto them namely to the believers of Christ for a life and so then had they their fellowship p 1 Joh. 1. with the same Christ and with his Father and were flesh q 1 Cor. 12. of his flesh and bone of his bones 33. Behold that same bread or body of Christ is the word that became flesh r Joh. 1. and it dwelt amongst them and they saw Å¿ 2 Pet. 1. 1 Joh. 1. his glory as a glory of the onely born Son of the Father full of grace and truth 34. And that same is the new Testament t Jer. 31. Heb. 8.10 which God in those daies made and appointed with his people u Act. 2. Tit. 3. and he powred out his spirit plenteously on them x Apo. 12. and did let them see his Ark in the heaven sent down his holy Jerusalem unto them y Apo. 21. and shewed them the Temple of his holy dwelling z Act. 7.17 which is not made with mens hands but which he had prepared for himself according as he promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Juda and the same is published to the Gentiles for a joyfull message 35. The same bread which was sent down unto them from heaven was heretofore broken and distributed also to the Gentiles as it is now unto us there was also a 1 Cor. 11. powred forth unto them of the cup of Christ and God did likewise shed sorth the same spirit of Christ b Act. 10.11.13 upon the Gentiles and through the belief justified their hearts from the sin for a c Esa 2.42.56.60.61.66 Jer. 23.33 Joel 2. Zach. 2.8.13 serting up of the banner of righteousnesse unto them according as God had avouched and promised the same to the Gentiles aforetimes by the mouth of his Prophets 36. Loe such things doth God work through his ministration of the holy Ghost and it is the true service in the obedience of the love and in this very sort my sight is that it shall come to passe in the last daies when God setteth up again the house of Israel according to his promises and not according to any humane Ordinance or invention which the man bringeth forth out of his witty dexterity or knowledge or out of his letter-learned wisdome wherewith the ignorant ones who understand not Gods promises are taken captive or tyed and with the bondage of heart through mens doctrine and wisdome carried into a made holinesse and fed therewith but not unto the word of life or shedding forth of the Holy Ghost from the living father the most highest nor yet fed with it 37. O no ye deerly beloved God d Esa 42. giveth not that honour unto any creature It is also no mans work nor power through mans invention but the work and power of the Lord through his gracious word in the service of his love that so they might all according to the promises e Esa 54. Joh. 6. be taught of God and all know him from f Jer. 31. the least to the greatest CHAP. VI. 1. The service of the love being Gods work by the illuminate elders 2. Is of few believed yet is it certainly the truth 3. Neverthelesse he permitteth it to be judged of all upright hearts 6. But with caution that none judge of envy but faithfully out of love 16. The worthinesse of the true wisdome 25. For lack whereof the course of the world is marred 26. Of the false wisdome 28. and of the true 30. The end of the false wisdome is come 32. How to come to the true wisdome BUt this service out of the love and this administration of the true bread or living word where it is appeared out of the true God is administred among the unlightned by the Elders and illuminated men in the family of the love of Jesu Christ â—o a Esa 40.42.61 Jer. 1.20 Mat. 28. Mar. 16. prepare and make meet the unlightâ—ed for to receive the true light of Christ and the gifts of his holy Spirit yea the same ministration is even Gods Ordinance where b 1 Cor. 3. God is the worker but not els and then the illuminated man who is grown up under the obedience of the love c Eph. 4. to the old age of the holy understanding or of the man Christ d Joh. 15 Act. 1.2 is a witnesse and serviceable instrument thereof but the blessing or increase which is the spirit of the living Word e 1 Cor. 3. must God
there shall then no life of Gods Sanctuary be found in them how wise how skilfull and excellent or rich of Spirit how learned and expert in Scriptures Languages or tongues soever they may be 55. If moreover they lay not down their knowledge in the silence even as though they knew nothing at all and that through the service of the holy Word they reform not themselves under the obedience of the love nor suffer their understanding to be stirred up to obedience whereby to be wholly inclined to the love to passe forth towards the same g Mat. 10.16 Mar. 8. Luk. 9.14 to take up daily their Crosse with humble hearts and to persevere h Eph. 6. Phil. 4. Col. 4. in prayer and faith with a firm hope i Eph. 3. till the establishing in the love they can by no means inherit any riches of God or Christ nor k 1 Cor. 2. understand or know any wisdome of God at all how skilfully soever they search or study in Scriptures after it 56. For there is no wisdome nor knowledge of Christ nor understanding of the Scriptures to be had in any thing but only in the love or among them who are inclined and well-affected thereunto 57. They may many of them I grant seek much wisdome and understanding whereby to comprehend the saute and in conceit be satisfied and appeased with a taken on wisdome but if they come not to the love neither are taught in her service to the true wisdome they shall then find no wisdome nor understanding nor yet any righteousnesse nor life but must l Joh. 8. die in their sins and in their conceit of truth for there is no right Spirit of truth nor wisdome without the love 58. Wherefore every thing which is m Amos. 8. decayed or broken down must even now through the love and her service be set up again and all that straieth and is dispersed n Ezek. 34. Mic. 4. Soph. 3. must again be gathered together through the love and her service namely all those that hope for the Salvation of the only body of Christ for that is the promise to the children of the Testament in the o Jer. 23.30.31.33 Joel 2. last time in the which God will magnifie himself against all heathen or uncircumcised ones 59. This hath God in former times promised and he will perform it for his holy names sake p Ezek. 38. Mic. 5. to make it known and honorable far and wide that his honour and Sanctuary q Psal 74. Dan. 8. may no longer be trodden down but may appear pure and clear and he will shew in the last time how that he onely is the Lord and that his office work and doing is not bound nor tyed to mens working but that he performeth the same according to his will and pleasure 60. O how happy is he which is r Esa 5. Rom. 12. not wise in his own conceit neither is with any spirituall Å¿ Deut. 12. Jer. 7. imagination bewitched tied or bound but in the sin is daily against himself and loveth not the evill but is well-affected to the love and so t Luk. 21. possesseth his soul with patience till the promises of Almighty God that he might live unto God in all truth CHAP. IX 1. A Complaint over the greatest sort of People that neither regard nor expect the promises of Gods Righteousnesse out of the love but set up a righteousnesse of their own as being perswaded that the same is of God 15. The abuse of marriage 22. The middle wall 25. Shame to disclose the inward evilnesse 33. A Prediction of calamity to come upon the conceited wise 34. None can come to the new Man or Kingdom of God but by the love BUt who hath regard hereunto who thinketh on the righteousnesse which God esteemeth 2. Doth not the most part of people intend to set up their a Rom. 10 own righteousnesse 3. Who thinketh on the Communion of Saints b Ioh. 6. whom God the Father draweth to justification through Jesus Christ in the love 4. Doth not every one which is come or risen up before the love seek to gather a private Congregation to himself to advance his own word and with contention to stick to the same not thinking that the Lord shall c Esa 66. himself bring forth through his Word and service of love and that his Salvation shall come from his right hand and that so through himself he will bring forth unity in the love and his children d Esa 66. out of Sion according to the word of his promise 5. But who looketh after it who longeth for it who dependeth upon Gods promises that in time to come they shall be established who hungreth or thirsteth after it who thinketh on the comfort of Israel and upon the consolation of Juda 6. Every one supposeth without fail that he hath the blessing of God already and that there is for to come no more then is present with him or which he himself passeth forth in 7. Herein do the conceited Christians comfort them and cheer up themselves among each other but they have catcht an hand full of wind and do make themselves glad with chaffe 8. They thresh the straw e Esa 33. and crush it very hard but what availeth it in their binnes f 4 Esd 6. shall no bread be found nor any corn in their barns yea such things shall come upon them from the Lord and for their stoutnesse cause shall not bide away 9. Many of them cry also now we have it we have it we are the Congregation of Christ we are Israel Lo here it is Lo there it is this is the truth that is the truth g Mat. 24. Mar. 13. Luk. 17. here is Christ there is Christ 10. But when Christ shall shew himself h Mat. 24. Luk. 17. even as the lightning ariseth from the East and shineth unto the West then shall their own word which now is one with them be clean against them because they have not esteemed the love wherein the truth of God or Christ is sealed for ever 11. Moreover divers have gathered many people or companies every where together by sentences of Scripture and with glistering knowledges terming them by the name of Christ and by the name of Israel but the love they have shut out at doors and thereof had least respect and regard 12. For who standeth now in the love to the end i Deut. 6.10 Mat. 22. to cleave fast to the God of Life and to love him with his whole heart soul and thoughts and besides to love another as himself that God who only is the Lord might be their arm fortresse and strength 13. Is not every mans eye that accounteth not God for the only Lord fixed upon k Ier. 17. flesh and bloud or upon the vain corruptible created things in this world and doth not every one set his
the works of unbeliefe leadeth away from the living God wherby we may be deprived of the fellowship with God in the Spirit for the unity and p Eph. 2. peace with God the Father in the Spirit for to live one with another in all Loue is the glorious liberty of the children of God whereunto we are called by Jesus Christ 51. Lo this is the stone q Psa 118 1 Pet. 2. which was not allowed of the workmen yet is there r Acts 4. salvation in none other which stone is clean against all sense of the flesh and against all them that are minded only upon the outward therefore of those builders which will themselves act or set up the salvation he is rejected Å¿ Esa 8.28 Mat. 21. and is unto them a stone of stumbling and offence t Psal 118 Mat. 21. and this is a wonderfull worke in our eyes 52. Behold herein we have likewise all sinned and trespassed 53. Therefore it stands us now upon to regard well from the heart the mind of the truth and with humble hearts to pray unto the Lord that he will not punish us for our misdeeds of ignorance u Psa 25 79. Dan. 9. but will thinke upon us according to his mercy and guide our hearts after his will that we might walke in his Ordinances and be named after his Name as our God and Saviour who through the Service of his love maketh our errors knowne unto us and releaseth or maketh us free from all perverse or covered nature of sinne from all arrogancy and haughtinesse of the revolters and from all falshood dissention and deceit which at this time do every where bear sway and among many have even hitherto had the preheminence 54. O God x Dan. 9 let us in this dangerous time find grace in thine eyes and incline thou our hearts towards thee and towards thy righteousnesse bring our spirit out of this desolation and cleanse our hearts minds and thoughts from all dissention y Psa 51 and create in us an upright mind that no evill come upon us 55. Of which upright mind and upright course of life of all upright hearts I have set forth a clear instruction in the tree of life the fourth book of the Glasse of Righteousness which Glass of Righteousness with other more like testimonies I have heretofore set forth to the intent that every one might look into himself and know whether he were of the upright communalty of the righteous and lived and walked in the upright vvaies of the just and so served the living God only or not For I wist not how to call any by name for to shew outwardly vvhat sort I might judge for the rightfullest 56. For I found the man a Jer. 9 so altogether deceivable so bewitched of understanding so given to cover or dissemble his lies so lordly minded because of his understanding so double of heart so earnestly bent to destroying and oppressing against those that were not like minded with his hearts conceiving so b Ier. 18.25.29.35 declining from him that according to the truth pointed him to the way of life so self-seeking and partiall for himself so resolute in his opinion so reproachfull and malicious with accusation at him that desired to bring him into the right way of the holy Fathers so vvel-conceited and affected towards his own phansies and errours so hipocriticall in the vertue so divided from the righteousnesse so separated from conscience so little seeking that which is the Lords only so unstable in fidelity so slothfull and slow to turn him to God c Pro. 6.24 so without regard to the upright waies so little reckning of the straying from his God so affectioned to the earthly visible things and so self-captived of heart that I was altogether suspicious jealous and doubtfull of the man 57. And not only of another but also even of mine own humane nature insomuch that I held it straight unto all vertues and righteous dealings for to do the Lords will in all my proceedings for in that sort did I passe forth under the obedience of the love with my humane nature to the intent to obtain the vertuous d 1 Cor. 13. disposition of the love and to be incorporated to the same with soul and body and with all the senses and thoughts of my humane nature and indeavouring me in this same with all diligence the Lord received me into the grace of his love and into him and his love incorporated my mind together with my senses and thoughts and so gave me inheritance with Christ and his Saints in his heavenly riches e Rom. 16. Eph. 1.2.3 Col. 1. and revealed his last will unto me 58. But not according to any conceiving of the flesh or after the outwardnesse namely in any outward appearance that liketh the man and the sight of his fleshly eyes or vvhereunto the man doth sometimes set his heart and understanding as though he could satisfie God thereby or as if a man with his outward humanity with a show after the outward appearance might be incorporated into the God of heaven and into his heavenly goods or could live in the Godhead according to the flesh 59. O no ye dearly beloved Gods working in renewing of the man through Jesus Christ is not after the pleasing of men nor according to any affection of the flesh nor yet such as any man by his fleshly conceiving or learned understanding should be able after the outward to judge of the same working of God in the spirit or of him which is renewed in God 60. For Gods working and the renewing of the man f Rom. 12. Eph. 4. is brought to passe inwardly in the spirit and in the inward senses and thoughts through the power of his holy spirit of love wherethrough men are abundantly filled with love towards the living God and with love towards all men 61. My respect also in my zeal to the vertuous nature of the love was least upon the outward show after the flesh but it was most upon an upright heart and mind such as consisteth in a good willing obedience and tieth or bindeth it self to no elementish things whether they be earthly riches or worldly possessions because I would in spirit and mind serve and please the living God only and likewise thereby love every man as my self 62. And for this upright beings sake because in all love the same should have and keep an g 1 Cor. 4. Gal. 4. essentiall form in me I did as is aforesaid examine the senses and cogitations of my human nature whether by them any other thing were loved or desired besides or whether they tied themselves unto any thing els To the intent I might for the loves sake of God and Christ h Mat. 16. Luk. 9.14 renounce hate and forsake it every whit and crucifie i Rom. 6. Gal. 5. Col. 3. and kill my humane senses and
Righteousness and from the hope of Salvation according to the Promises and have sticked unto c Rom. 1. Epes 4. covetousnesse and lusts the snares of the confused world 4. Truly those that cleave to the Word and his Service of Love in such a sort and do so take and understand it they have conceived altogether amisse of the Word and his requiring and therefore they are d Rom. 1. Ephes 4. become vain in their understanding Insomuch that they forsake the Scriptures and Exhortations to the good all alike and do let the conversion to God and to his Righteousnesse utterly dye out of their hearts speaking thus with unrepentant hearts out of the vanity of their minde not discerning the upright understanding It must all come of God There is One that giveth all For it is God onely that can teach us Of him must we receive all and no men can give it us 5. This they say well and run yet neverthelesse forth as if there were no God nor Ministring of his Word that loved or required the Righteousnesse and do not once know nor consider the estranging or e Isa 1.59 falling from their God whereby to turn them again to him and his Righteousness and to shew repentance or f Matt. 3. Luk. 3. Acts 3. amendment for their sins and so in all humility to have regard to what purpose God hath given his Promises and annexed or ordained the Ministration of his Word under the obedience of the love therunto wherby they might receive of him the vertue of salvation For out of such a heart of humility g Isa 57.66 4 Esd 8. Eccl. 3. Jam. 4. 1 Pet. 5. the humble do always in God finde their salvation and not the stout hearts that do not esteem of Gods righteousnesse 6. O God! How dangerous a time is it now h 1 Tim. 4 2 Tim. 3 2 Pet. 3. Jude 1. in these last dayes through the misunderstanding of the children of men 7. What a number of false and venemous windes do there blow among the children of men to the hurt of their souls and to a drawing of them away from the Righteousnesse 8. Oh That there were in every one an hearty desire to the good then might they be protected and defended from the bewitching of the false windes which make the heart negligent to the upright Good and bring it either to the bewitched Humility or to the Lusts of the vain world 9. Therefore it is expedient to have a regard to Understanding i Prov. 1.2.3.4.8 to take heed to the Wisdom to esteem much of Godlinesse to account the upright Righteousnesse k Sap. 7.8 for the most precious above all Riches and to make choice of the Long-sufferance with the foresightfulnesse as Superintendents 10. This did the holy Fathers in times past give heed unto l Sap. 11. Eccl. 44.45 46. and so God taught them in his wisdome and preserved them that they were not partakers of the plagues of the ungodly 11. Wherefore let every one understand the meaning of the Word aright and take a right view that he may know who he is and how he ought to apply himself to be taught of God and to be endowed with his Spirit and what manner of people God will choose for his holy people 12. Truly not such m Sap. 1. as with their hearts cleave unto the world love the Evill n Pro. 1. and in all things let go the counsell of God Neither yet such o Mat. Luk. 17.21 as hang their Hearts in buying and selling upon coveteousnesse or p Rom. 13 1 Cor. 10 in eating and drinking upon gluttony or in marrying or being married upon unchastnesse or upon any vain transitory rejoycing whether it be in building or in planting and who in all their doings doe not attend nor have regard unto the works of the Lord as it came to passe in the times q Gen. 7. of Noe and in the r Gen. 19 times of Lot 13. For all those whose hearts in the time of Noe clave not to Gods righteousnesse but had a Lust and gave over their hearts to the vain corrupt things they marked not the work of the Lord neither had any respect to the preservation of the Righteous nor yet feared the punishment which then was ready to come upon all wicked men Of all this they knew nothing till the Flood came upon them and tooke them clean away 14. Therefore understand and know the preservation of godly men in these last dayes and consider well the meaning who or which they are that shall be taught of God and in what course they walke the which we have in some measure expressed Å¿ 1 Glass 7 in the first Book of the Glasse of Righteousnesse and doe here at this present expresse it namely they are those that t Mat. 5. have hunger and thirst after the Righteousnesse u Judith 8 Eccl. 2.3 that submit their souls to the obedience of the gracious Word and his Service x Luk. 18 and continue daily in prayer not in many words y John 4. Eph. 6. Phil. 4. but in the Spirit with desire to the Lord and his Righteousnes that they may obtain grace at the hands of God to live z Lake 1 in his righteousnesse with an upright heart and pure spirit 15. These are sorrowfull for their sins and sighing over them suffer not their souls to be quiet so long as they know or feele in themselves any vain or naughty Being which their hearts are tied or bound unto or so long as any thing in them doth reigne over them which is not GOD because they may not in all things serve their God onely 16. These that love the good Being from the heart doe seek in God to obtaine the same and doe labour and zealously endeavour thereafter a Deut. 4 Jer. 29. Mat. 7. Luk. 17. For they seeke and finde they knock and it is opened unto them they ask and receive not in presumptuousnesse as though God owed it them because of their seeking knocking and asking O no they looke not upon their own doings but labour onely for this even how to please the Lord giving themselves over thereunto with humble hearts according to the Spirit and acknowledge that they are not worthy of such Grace thus to be accepted and established in Gods truth and love 17. With such humble hearts doe they through the Love and her Service seek to find grace and peace at the hands of God the Father and not the subtile knowledge b 1 Cor. 6 which maketh the heart stout and lofty c Mat. 6. but they seeke above all and afore all things the Kingdome of God and his Righteousnesse The which are the gifts of God that God richly bringeth in the everlasting life unto such as worship and love him 18 For those that pray unto him for an upright heart and for a new and