truth I declare that that Serpent which tempted Eve unto evil was one of those Angels of light 5 Moreover that Serpent Angel was more wise or God-like in his creation then all the elect angels of glory for the most wise God in this may be likened to a wise earthly prince that for the manifestation of his royal pleasure exâ—lteth that â—ubject to the highest dignity which he hath secretly decreed to the highest disgrace 6 Thus it was with the glorious Creator who foreknowing that his prerogative Royal would compell him to create this angelical reprobate in reference to his divine Justice therefore for the manifestation of his most glorious power unto his elect men and angels his wisdom saw it most fit to endue him with more piercing rational wisdom and brightness of person then all his angelical companions because he was decreed to the greatest shame and pain as aforesaid 7 And not onely so but also because the elect Angels should admire their Creators wisdom and power when they should see the outcast condition of the highest created glory and be filled with new declarations of honor praise and glory unto the divine Majesty for his free electing love towards them through which they were ensured eternally to reign in their created purity 8 Again from the true light of life I positively affirm that there was but onely one reprobate Angel created at the first which is fully cleared in this Book 9 Moreover you spiritual ones may understand that if the most merciful Creator could possible have known any other way for the manifestation of his divine excell 〈◊〉 unto men and angels I say you may be confident he would never have created any thing on purpose for eternal suffering 10 Furthermore can you possibly imagine or think that the most gracious and wise Creator would ever have suffered the nature of any creature to become rebellious against himself for the occasioning of such marvellous transactions in this world and suffering both of God Angel and man if he could have possessed his inâ—â—nite glory in the creating of every thing unto eternal pleasures 11 Again if dust and water were eternâ—l â—ubstances distinct from the Creaâ—or it being dark and dead matter it could not produce any kind of life at all of it self but was brought forth into life by another 12 Wherefore it may be queried by some what was that which entered into dust and brought forth angelical bodies to live in the Creators presence was it any thing else but that spiritual life or divine nature of God himself 13 Unto this curious Quere from the true light of life I answer that neither the spirit of angels nor any other creatures were formed of the divine nature but the souls of Adam and Eve onely 14 But they were created of variety of spirits to one another and to the Creator also yet they were all purely created and in a sweet harmony with each other and their Creator also even so long and no longer then they abode in their created purity 15 Again by inspiration from our Lord Jesus Christ I affirm that the unsearchable wisdom of the most high God was secretly hid in the infinite power of his word speaking onely 16 So that it was the fore-knowledge of his own mighty power which was one of the principal grounds that moved him to produce and living creature in his presence 17 Wherefore before any creature was formed by him if he had not perfectly known that of those aforesaid elements of dust or water by his word speaking onely he could create as many several spirits with bodies sutable to their natures as he saw good and yet wholly retain the divine nature of his spirit to himself he would never have formed any creature to have lived in his sight 18 Because then you know there would have been no distinction of natures or names between the creatures themselves and the Creator nor none of the variety of his infinite wisdom power and glory ever seen or known by the creatures 19 For you that are spiritual may understand that the Creators Royal will or pleasure was that glorious wheel that moved him to form any creature at all 20 Therefore you may also know that it was impossible for him to create the spirits of Angels and man to be both of the nature of his own spirit or neither of them to be of his divine nature because as aforesaid the variety of his wisdom power and glory would have been all lost for want of distinction 21 Moreover if angels and man had been both of Gods divine nature in their creation then in stead of their being capable to be transmuted into a higher or lower condition at the divine pleasure of the Creator would they not rather have been unchangeable Creators then changeable creatures 22 Therefore the most wise and holy Creator that he might prevent all that might impede his divine purpose he created the bodies of angels spiritual and their natures rational and he made the body of the man Adam natural and his soul spiritual 23 For if their spirits and bodies had been both of the divine nature then it would have been impossible for them to be capable of any change of sin or evil or consent to evil in them no more than the Creator himself 24 Where then had been all the wonderful transactions of his glorious Majesty or what would have been formed but Creators onely in stead of creatures as aforesaid 25 Again because of our weak comprehension in the deep things of God I shall speak something by way of imagination onely which is as followeth 26 Suppose the most high God should have created both angels and men all glorious like himself and eternally so to remain yet those created beings could not possibly be the divine essence of his God-head spirit but onely a created light of sensible life of divine joys proceeding from the eternal spirit by vertue of words speaking through his heavenly mouth into those elements beforesaid 27 Because you may know that the uncreated Essence or Godhead spirit of an infinite Majesty was utterly uncapable to be conveyed into a finite created being for infiniteness is onely capable of its own glorious centre 28 So that you that are truly spiritual may understand that after the Angels were formed into living bodies the divine Majesty and those created beings were become distinct in their essences for everlasting 29 That the angels by apparent sight of their Creators face might know themselves to be but creatures and subject to the divine pleasure of him that made them 30 Moreover from the true light of the Holy One of Israel I affirm that the elect Angels of eternal glory had no certain knowledge of continuing in their created purities until the Lord had discovered the reprobate angel unto them 31 It is written that he made all things for his own glory and the wicked for the day of wrath 32 My beloved spiritual
spiritual brethren you know that by nature we are all under a tyrannical yoke of spiritual darkness and all maner of fleshly uncleanness whatsoever 50 Also you know that innocent infants though defiled in their natures through generation yet they are neither capable to understand spiritual or natural good or evil therefore they have no need of Christs spiritual gifts in the womb for to ensure themselves of their own eternal happiness 51 Again if the Lord Jesus Christ alone is the light and life of men and if all men that are saved must of necessity receive a new light unto their dark souls from his Divine Spirit then without controversie those men as yet are utterly ignorant of the new and true birth of the ever-living Jesus which say every man hath so much light of Christ in them that is sufficient to salvation if they will 52 Again if every man have the spirit of Christ living in his conscience as many men vainly imagine what then is become of the spiritual body or that Jesus that ascended into the throne of his glory in the visible fight of men and angels 53 Or what man hath any need of his spiritual gifts or heavenly graces at all if his Christ and he was conceived and born together from the womb of his mother 54 When the Apostle said For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and from his fulness we all receive and grace for grace I would fain know from any man whatsoever whether that God or Christ were in them when they spake or writ those words 55 Again if that Godhead spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord had been within them when they uttered those speeches I suppose it had been more proper for them to have said For in us dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily If the Apostles had always possessed the spirit of God or Christ within them then they uttered but vain words when they speak of receiving of grace or truth from a personal Christ without them 56 Again if Christ or his Spirit had been within the Apostles when they spoke of his divine Glory or Godhead fulness of grace and truth would it not have been more proper for them to have said from that God or Christ within us we are filled with all manner of spiritual consolations or heavenly perfections whatsoever 57 If Christ or his Spirit were within men when they uttered those words all faith or hope in reference to eternal glory was vain and of no effect why because if men have their God or Christ within them onely they are no more under the teachings of another spirit but are as glorious already as ever they are like to be But what saith the Scripture If our hopes were in this life onely we were of all men most miserable Again concerning these words Christ in you the hope of glory Or know ye not that the Spirit of Christ is in you except ye be reprobates 58 My beloved brethren what need any man hope for glory if he hath the Spirit of Glory resting upon him already 59 Again I hope no man will say that he hath a Christ in him that hopes after glory or stands in need of any glorification whatsoever Well then the minde of the Spirit of Christ in those words was this That except your understanding be enlightned from the eternal Spirit of a glorified Christ in that heavenly throne above the stars ye are but reprobates 60 Or thus Except you are filled with the gifts of graces of that glorious God-man Christ Jesus who is ascended far above all Heavens Angels or men know ye not that you are but in the State of reprobation 61 Or as if the Apostle should have said Know ye not that you are but meet reprobates if ye glory of a God or Christ within you and deny the Godhead person of that Lord Jesus Christ that was crucified upon a tree without you 62 Again who ever thou art which glorieth of a spiritual union with a God or Christ within thee and despisest a personal glorified Christ of flesh and bone without thee yea and distinct from thee in another world I say from his eternal Spirit thou art but a reprobate 63 Who ever thou art which boasteth of a God and a Christ and his Ordinances and of a glory to come without thee in the highest heavens if thou shalt be left to the pride and envy of thy formal spirit to condemn the invisible teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ in his innocent people because they are contrary to thy opinion I say from the everliving Emanuel that thou art also but a reprobate CHAP. XVI 1 Of divers comparisons of the Spirit or Person of Christ unto the face of the natural Sun 2 No man or Angel can be capable of the in-dwelling of Gods essence but his own person onely THe Spirit or person of Christ may fitly be compared unto the face of the natural Sun in divers respects you may know that the natural spirit of the Sun by vertue of the decreed word of the Lord is so exceeding fiery glorious that no created thing that hath natural life in it is capable of its in-dwelling brightness but it s own body or face onely 2 So likewise that infinite Spirit abiding within the glorious body or face of our Lord Jesus Christ is so unspeakeable fiery glorious that no created spirit of man or Angel is able to bear the indwelling essence of it but it s own body or face onely 3 Again you know that all natural things of the day are preserved onely by vertue of that inward light life beauty or glory in them which shineth through the body or face of the Sun onely 4 So likwise all spiritual light life beauty joy or glory within the spirits of elect men and Angels shineth onely through the glorious heavenly mouth of Christ Jesus our Lord. 5 Again though both sensible and insensible creatures are preserved in their well beings by vertue of a measurable light and heat proceeding from the Sun you may know that if the essence of the Sun were on this earth it would not onely put out the fire but also immediately consume all things to ashes or dry sand 6 So likewise though the spiritual well beings of elect men and Angels are onely preserved by vertue of a measurable light and life proceeding from that bright shining spirit through the face of Christ Jesus our Lord yet if the essence of his spirit were within the spirits of any created beings it would consume them immediately to powder 7 Again though all created beings under the Sun are enlivened and continued by vertue of its light and heat through which according to their kind they are full of joy yet if the Sun should absent it self a little too long all his former light would vanish like smoke and the creature would both languish and perish for want of a new supply from its presence so likewise it
glorious truth that shall burn like fire and brimstone in them that despise it the words are these But the heavens and earth which are now are kept by the same word in store and reserved unto fire against the day of condemnation and of the destruction of ungodly men but the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away with a noise and the Elements shall melt with heat and the earth with the works that are therein shall be burnt up looking for and hasting unto the coming of that day of God by the which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the Elements shall melt with heat a threefold cord is not easily broken 8 If any Hypocrite shall go about by his Serpentine Sophistry to tell you that are spiritually weak those sayings of Peter had relation to the burning up of the carnal heavens and earth in men through the glorious appearing of the eternal spirit you may with ease confute those notional cheats if you look back upon the ground of Peters sayings the words are these knowing this first that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying where is the promise of his coming for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation for this they willingly are ignorant of that by the Word of God the heavens were of old and the earth standing out of the water and in the water whereby the world then was overflowed with water perished 9 Thus you that have never so little truth of the true Jesus in you may clearly see that the Apostle Peter in this threefold language had not the least thought in him concerning heavens and earth being burnt up within men but the burning up of the heavens and earth and the beauty vertue or glory thereof without man which were the fruits of mans handy-works why because you see the Apostle grounds his matter upon the drowning of an outward earthly world 10 Moreover you may also know that it was a burning up of a visible heaven and earth and the glory thereof meant by Peter why because the Apostle tells you that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying where is the promise of his coming 11 Furthermore if it had been an invisible burning up the fleshly heavens in men onely what lustful man in the world would have scoffed at such a doctrine which did encourage him in his lusts rather then discourage him in the least 12 If you ask me the reason my ground is this because by lustful Serpents like himself he was perswaded that Christ will burn up mens lusts and save all their souls at the last and who can finde fault with such a burning doctrine or whaâ— bloody-minded man or woman in the world would not embrace a messenger of such tidings as this is 13 Again you may know I have written the truth by this token why because men that are guilty of almost all maner of lusts can go into Lumber street to hear men speak much concerning the glorious incoming of a spiritual Christ to burn up all their fleshly or heavenly conceitedness that they may see nothing in them but God onely triumphing on his Throne I say these or such like expressions the most filthiest of men can hear with delight 14 Moreover if you that speak in Lumber-street or else where should once attain to the foundation of all spiritual speaking and should be able knowingly to tell men of the sudden appearing of the Son of Man in Glory with his Angels to burn this visible world to ashes and to cause the spirits and bodies of men that glory in filthiness to burn as fire and brimstone together to eternity in utter darkness I am confident very few filthy persons would be able to hear you speak twice together and then you would soon have a thin Congregation and be as much affected as men are with us for what we speak in the name of the Lord. 15 What is the ground think you of so many dreadful fires this year in this City and other parts above the memory of man I know with Astrologian Sophisters you may impute it to Planets plot or peoples want of care but of the contrary I believe you Serpent sign-mongers will finde these fires came not meerly by natural causes but by a divine power as a forerunner of the eternal burning this world and all the natural glory therein to dust powder or dry sand as aforesaid 16 Moreover you know it is written Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection for on such the second death hath no power 17 Also it is written But our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Savior even the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things to himself 18 Further it is written When Christ which is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory 19 My beloved friends who are possessed with a pure light language and life I am undoubtably perswaded in my soul that for a little season I have both tasted and seen within my spirit a greater measure of the eternal glory and shame to come then any creature now living in this world 20 Yet for all this and the continual supply which I receive from that fountain of glories I know that the most eminent appearances in these bodies of clay are but meer shadows in comparison of that glory and shame which many men shall possess when the Son of Man shall appear in his glory with his mighty Angels 21 If a man lie under the power of any lust how can that man be thought to have his part in the first resurrection because he that hath part in this first resurrection is both blessed and holy 22 Moreover doth not a first resurrection include a second resurrection how then can that man be thought to have part in this first resurrection which vainly boasts that he is possessed with the second resurrection of glory with a Christ already 23 Furthermore you see that the Apostle never boasted that he was glorified with Christ already neither did he expect any glory but rather continual shame until Christ did personally appear to change his vile body into the likeness of his glorious body Again you know it is written if we suffer with him then shall we also reign with him 24 Moreover did Christ reign on the Throne of his Glory with his Angels Moses and Elias till he had suffered under a thorny Crown of unutterable cruelties unto death it self and was risen from the dead 25 And art thou so bewicht as to think scorn to drink of thy Lord and Masters cup but Lucifer-like to
Christ by vertue of that light they are accounted to live and to die in the Lord and to rise again in the Lord both soul and body because of their God-like condition even to all eternity 7 Thus you that are filled with the light of the true Jesus may clearly see though a natural man by vertue of creation may be said to live in or by the power of the Lord yet upon a spiritual account in reference to Redemption he may be an absolute devil in himself and so wholly live in the dark power 8 Moreover though it is said that the Saints live and die in the Lord yet I would not have you think that the spirits of the Saints and the spirit of the Lord are so united that they are but one essential life or spirit no that was none of the Apostles intent in those words but as beforesaid his meaning was that those men which were possessed with the true light of life eternal by a continual intercourse with the God of Glory from whence that light proceeded they were vertually united unto the eternal Spirit 9 Though the chosen of God are vertually united to the eternal spirit of a glorified Christ yet how can it be said they die in the Lord or what is meant by their dying in the Lord Truly most of the elect of God themselves are dark in this thing it is a sealed book unto them the Lord alone must open it 10 My beloved brethren as there is two lives of the elect in the Lord a life of grace and a life of glory proceeding from one and the same spirit onely differing much in degree so likewise you may know there may be said to be two deaths or dyings of the Saints in the Lord also 11 Moreover you know by vertue of the light of Christ in the new born of God they become dead to all their former inward filthiness of flesh and spirit as namely they are dead to covetousness envy pride lust yea and all excess of vain-glorious delights among men that perish so likewise they are dead to all their formal righteousness or hypocritical holiness to be seen of men 12 Moreover they are dead to all carnal Christs in men whatsoever whether they be literal natural or notional Christs of empty words onely arising onely from that blinde-born devil of mans imaginary reasons 13 Furthermore there is such a self-denying spirit in all experimental true born Christians from the high heavens that they abhor to put confidence in any God Christ Light or Life to give glory unto any thing that is in sinful man or angels in the least 14 Because they certainly know that there is not one motion or thought of any spiritual light or truth in man or angel but what he received from an infinite glorious Majesty whose personal presence is in a world where never any actual rebellions was committed against his Holy Spirit 15 Thus in a small measure through divine assistance I have shewed you what is the first dying in the Lord in reference to the first resurrection from carnal darkness to the true light of life in Christ Jesus God-man blessed for ever and ever Amen Now give me leave to write a little of the second and last dying in the Lord because of the eternal personal glory that will immediately follow it CHAP. L. 1 Of the second and last dying in the Lord 2 what it is 3 Eternal life is hid in the person of God onely I Know the general cheat of the Priests concerning this secret for hey tell the ignorant people that the body onely dies and the soul ascends to a place of blessedness or descends to a place of cursedness until the day of Judgement and they say then the soul assumes the body again and so receives the sentence of eternal life and death and so enters into heaven to the Lord or hell with the devil and his angels which they say are bodiless spirits 2 If the blinde lead the blinde how can they scape falling into a ditch this opinion of theirs is like unto most of their matters but I 'le pass them by and come to the thing in hand 3 You that are spiritual may know that to die in the Lord is when a mans spirit dies in a full assurance of the resurrection of his spirit and body again out of the dust of the earth by the spiritual power of the Lord Jesus Christ at the last day 4 Furthermore he that dies in the Lord though all that 's in him turns to dust for a moment yet before he entred into the silent sleep of death he knew who would raise him to life and glory again at the end of the time 5 You know it is written When Christ which is our life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in glory now you may know that the Apostle meant a personal glory that was eternal with Christ in his personal presence and not a particular spiritual glory in the elect which was hid and in stead of love occasioned a general hatred and persecution of men as a delusion unto them and the like 6 Moreover you know though the Apostle Paul was ravisht with more glorious incomes of the love of Christ then the rest of his brethren yet he had many sorrowful afflictions mixed with those heavenly raptures 7 Therefore you may know if you are an heir of glory that this appearing of Christ in glory to his suffering innocent people was meant such a like glory as he now possesseth himself in a Throne of eternity where is neither hunger nor thirst nor affliction of sickness nor death nor need of any Sun Moon or Stars or any kinde of natural comforts for everlasting 8 Furthermore though a man be full of the glorious incomes of the eternal spirit yet you may know that his life is hid in that fountain of spiritual enjoyments in the new heavens and earth above this whole globe why because if a mans life or glory were hid in that light within them then he would not onely be full of unmoveable consolations but he would also increase in himself with such God-like wisdom power and glory that no envious man would be able to behold his face and live 9 Though the light of Christ in his new born ones occasion much joy and peace of conscience and power to suffer persecution for his names sake yet you may know that the glory of that light might well be said to be hid with God in Christ because the quickning power of his spiritual light in men or Angels remains onely in his own person which is the fountain or sea of all heavenly glories as aforesaid Without me said Christ ye can do nothing ye are not sufficient to think a good thought 10 You may know that it is the glory of Christs glory which compels him to keep the prerogative power of all his light or life in elect men and Angels to himself that
A DIVINE Looking-Glass OR The third and last Testament of our Lord JESUS CHRIST Whose personal Residence is seated on his Throne of Eternal Glory in another world Being the Commission of the Spirit agreeing with and explaining of the two former Commissions of the Law and the Gospel differing onely in point of Worship Set forth for the Tryal of all sorts of supposed Spiritual Lights in the world until the Ever-living true JESUS the onely High and Mighty God personally appear in the Air with his Saints and Angels By John Reeve and Lodowick Muggleton Pen-men hereof and the last chosen Witnesses unto that Ever-blessed Body of Christ Jesus glorified to be the onely wise very true God alone Ever-lasting Father and Creator of both worlds and all that were made in them Even so come Lord Jesus come quickly to testifie and fulfil thy own promise in thy Records of Truth that thy redeemed ones may really know that thou hast seat us and art that unchangeable God which cannot possibly lie though millions of unredeemed mankinde thereby should everlastingly perish Printed in the year of our Lord 1656. and since reviewed by and reprinted for Lodowick Muggleton one of the said Witnesses dwelling in great Trinity-lane in London near â—he Sign of the Lyon and the Lamb where this Book is to be had 1661. To the spiritual discerning Reader MY beloved spiritual brethren in whom is rooted and really grounded the saving light of Life eternal I know that the manifold breakings forth of seeming glorious appearances in this Age can by no means be hid from your eyes Also you know that the true light of Life hath almost discovered them all to be nothing else but the very depth of mens serpentine subtilties cloaked over with the divine titles of the most infinite and holy God so that mens glittering language now is of no value unto you unless the holy Spirit beareth witness unto your spirits that the Lord hath spoken unto them from heaven neither can men blinde your eyes with their natural miracles artificial juglings sophistical signs and wonders to cause you ever the sooner for that to receive them as immediately sent forth by the ever-living God I say it is not lofty words of imaginary voices visions dreams revelations variety of languages declarations of the knowledge of the heights and depths of perishing nature pretended Jerusalem Journeys supposed seeing of spiritual Angels with eyes of natural flesh and familiar conversing with them and knowing the names of all the holy Angels in glory and every mans protecting Angel in this world or any such like carnal fancies can blinde your eyes any more which have received from above a distinguishing gift between the things of eternal life and death not onely from its effects but from its first causes also My selected brethren unto a pure light language and life from the very true God I certainly know that nothing in this world will satisfie your hungry souls but a right understanding of spiritual things which are eternal in that world to come therefore unto you alone which look not after gilded words but glorious things present I this Epistle from that Spirit which can neither deceive nor be deceived by men nor angels Wherefore if any sober man of a quick comprehension shall suppose that this Writing might have been composed into fewer words then is here inserted I hope he shall wisely consider that things of such concernment requires more words then ordinary not onely for informing and confirming of the simple Saints but also for confounding of the subtile Serpents of this Age. Moreover you that peruse this Epistle which are of an unjudging tender spirit may also know that before the eternal Spirit in Christ Jesus became my Minister I was very weak in the knowledge of learned mens Opinions their Disputes or Writings concerning heavenly things which are hid from them and revealed unto unlearned babes Therefore the chief desire of my soul is that it may be manifested unto elect men and Angels whether the substance of this Epistle proceeds from mine own carnal spirit or from the most pure and holy Spirit of God himself I mean that one personal glorious Majesty of our Lord Iesus Christ whose divine nature both is and shall be Crowns of immortal ravishing Excellencies in all his elect at the great and dreadful Day of eternal burning vengeance upon the souls and bodies of all bloody-minded impenitent Persecutors that ever were born John Reeve Another Epistle annexed to this Book My beloved spiritual Brethren who are or shall come to be really grounded in the true Doctrine which is held forth in the three Commissions namely the Commission of Moses and the Prophets 2 Of Christ Jesus and the Apostles 3 Of the Commission of the Spirit which Commission is now extant in the world though not accompanied with visible signs and natural miracles as the other two Commissions had in their time when their Commission was in being yet this I am sure that this Commission of the Spirit being the last Commission that God will ever send into this world while time is no more therefore it is that this Commission of the Spirit hath the onely interpretation of the two former Commissions for there is no man in the world at this day let him be of what Sect or Opinion soever that doth truly know any part of the Scriptures but this Commission of the Spirit onely notwithstanding they labor so much after the knowledge of them yet for wanâ— of a Commission from God they have no true understanding of any one principal or true ground of faith for all that they do of that nature is nothing else but the very strength of reason and reason can never truly know the deep things of eternity because there is no man in the world at this day that hath the knowledge of the true God his Form and Nature the right devil his form and nature but this Commission of the Spirit onely Therefore when God spake these words unto John Reeve saying I have given thee understanding of my minde in the Scriptures above all the men in the world Also God did say at the same time I have given thee Lodowick Muggleton to be thy mouth So that according to the words of God he hath given us two to understand more of his mind in the Scriptures then all the men in the world do at this day that is more spiritual knowledge of the Scriptures than all the men in the world because God hath chosen us two to be his last Commissionated Prophets and Witnesses of the Spirit to declare and make known unto the Seed of Faith those great mysteries which have layen hid in the breast of God ever since the foundation of this world was laid and in the time of their Commission was in some measure made manifest unto the sons of men by some part of the mystery of God as those Commissions aforesaid namely Moses and Jesus But now
God or a Christ living in mens consciences only and cannot endure to hear of a distinct personal God upon the throne of his glory in the Heavens above the Stars 32 What ever God-like shape they appear in as yet they are but freewill redemptionists or refined naturalists at the best and all their speakings though mixed with many words of truth tend to nothing else but meritorious popery from themselves and tyrannical Prelacy over one another CHAP. XVIII 1 A discourse that the divine being is clothed with flesh and bone 2 How God knows all things in the world 3 Of the manner of Gods taking upon him humane nature 4 What the form of God was before he became flesh 5 No spirit can enjoy happiness or misery without a body IS not Heaven Earth Angels and Men as they are created beings subâ—ect to change or to be changed 2 Doth not all men that acknowledge a Creator conclude that his spirit is infinite unchangeable immortall and eternal as beforesaid 3 Wherefore if this infinite or boundless Spirit of the Eternal Majesty were dwelling within the spirits of men or Angels could it possibly be avoided but every thing then would become infinite unchangeable immortal and eternal in it self as he is 4 Doth not the Scriptures call the glorious Spirit of the everliving God by titles a consuming fire and everlasting burnings 5 O all ye lucepherian despisers of a glorious God in the person of a man wonder and perish at a miracle of all miracles that shall be declared unto the general view of men in this place 6 Wherefore behold ye elect and precious Jewels of divine glory though the eternal spirit of your Creator and Redeemer be of so fiery glorious a nature that neither Fire Air Earth Water Sun Moon Stars Heavens Earth Angels Men nor any thing else is capable of the indwelling of it one moment without being consumed to Ashes Dust Sand or Powder yet this infinite bright burning spirit is contained within a single person of flesh and bone glorified 7 Yea and is so united unto it that all its divine pleasures naturally floweth from its essential owness to all eteâ—nity 8 Insomuch that from that unerring spirit I positively declare against men or Angels that this fiery glorious spirit cannot possibly possess any sensible living being out of that blessed body of flesh and bone in glory no more then the mortal soul of a man can live without its natural body of flesh blood and bone in shame 9 Though the heavenly body of the eternal Majesty be very flesh and bone it self yet I would gladly have you that are spiritual to understand that through the indwelling of its Godhead spirit it is so fiery glorious that neither men nor Angels can behold his faâ—â— and live unless their spirits be strengthned by vertue of its inshining excellency 10 Though the glorious body of the everliving God be very flesh and bone yet you may understand that its clearer then Cristal brighter then the Sun swifter then thought yea and infinitely more softer then Doun and sweeter then Roses 11 You may also know that the visible sight of so glorious a face is that which will eternally ravish the spirits of men and Angels 12 You may also understand that though the body of Christ glorified be very flesh and bone of a burning bright swift soft sweet nature beyond all expression of men or Angels yet it is of an immortal fiery glorious softness or sweetness and not of a mortal fiery nature mixt together as the most softest or sweetest of pleasures in this world are 13 Though the infinite Spirit of the unchangeable God is clothed with his eternal Son beforesaid which was too pure to be subjected by sin wrath death hell or the grave yet you that are truly enlightned from on high may know that by vertue of his wisdom or transcendent glory he perfectly seeth through Heavens Earth Angels and Men at once and knoweth all motions thoughts desires words or actions in all things whatsoever without charging his spiritual memory in the least 14 Therefore it is written that the eyes of the Lord pass to and fro through the earth beholding the just and the unjust and the Lord knoweth that the heart of man is vain and his imaginations are evil and onely evil and continually evil and all evil things that are done now in secret with delight shall be revealed upon the house top or head of mens understandings soon enough and with sorrow pain and shame enough what ever is thought or said to the contrary 15 If the Spirit of the divine Majesty be so infinitely glorious that no created being is capable of the indwelling of its divine Godhead some men may say unto me had not that man Christ called the Son of God his being on the womans part from the loins of Mary his mother as well as other children If this be truth which the Scriptures clearly demonstrated how then could that childe Jesus be capable of the indwelling of an infinite spirit any more then any other childe whatsoever 16 Unto this curious query from the unerring spirit I answer though that childe Christ Jesus had beginning of the seed of his Virgin Mother as all children have yet he was that Holy One of Israel which from eternity was a spiritual body in form like a man therefore when he entred into the Virgins Womb he laid down his infinite spiritual glory by vertue of his Godhead power that he might be capable to transmute create or conceive himself of the Virgins seed into a condition of pure flesh blood and bone in a new and wonderful way for an everlasting astonishment unto elect men and Angels 17 Wherefore the Virgin Mary his Mother was forewarned by the Angel of his glorious and gracious purpose that her soul might be prepared for that marvelous incoming of her onely God and Savior to become the Redeemer of his elect people from the power of sin and fear of eternal death 18 It is written great is the mystery of godliness which is God was manifested in the flesh justified in the spirit seen of Angels preached unto the Gentiles believed on in the world received up to glory Again it is written who being in the form of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God but he made himself of no reputation and took on him the form of a servant 19 Is there any more then one God and was not Christ the form of this invisible God before he became the person of a man and did not that spiritual form of Christ Jesus enter into the Virgins Womb and became a pure natural form 20 Moreover was not Christ and his Father onely one uncreated heavenly person from all eternity 21 Though I undoubtably affirm that Christ Jesus eternally was the divine form of the invisible God yet I would not have any man imagine or think that I go about to prove the Creator to be a body
body then shalt thou know that thou didst hear of a personal God infinitely glorious for Heavens Earth Angels or men to be capable of the indwelling essence of his eternal spirit CHAP. XXV 1 Of the sinful soul of man 2 Of its mortality 3 All souls that are generated are mortal 4 If mens souls were immortal they could not be capable of diseases CAn the soul of man be any thing at all but dust without their bodies or can their bodies be any thing at all but dry dead cold dust also without their spirits 2 Doth not the rational soul or spirit of man lye secretly hid in his seed like unto a spark of fire and can this seed of man have any living being without its body 3 Can the soul and body of man be therefore any more then one distinct living or dying essence 4 When a woman conceives life in her womb through mixtures of seeds by vertue of the decreed word of the Lord spoken at the first Creation of nature is not that life the very soul or spirit of the childe 5 Doth not that soul or spirit in the womb by degrees congeal together into rational fire blood and water and so in due time become a compleat body of flesh blood and bone 6 If men and women together beget and conceive the soul and body of the childe by an instinct in nature which none can gainsay but senceless sots or conceited wise men which through an ambition of tongues or languages have studied beyond all sober sence reason or wit 7 Is it then possible think you that the soul of a man should be immortal and the body wherein it liveth be mortal 8 Doth it not stand to very good sence that being both conceived into life into the womb together and both born together into the world and both living together upon the earth their appointed time and being both poluted together with sin that they should also both die together and turn to their dust or non-being again until the general bodily resurrection of all mankind that are dead asleep in the dust of the earth when time is no more either unto eternal glory or everlasting shame 9 Again it is written in the 46. Chap. of Genesis All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt which came out of his loins beside Jacobs wives where in the whole threescore and six souls 10 In the tenth of Deuteronomy and the last verse it is written thy fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons Here you see the Scriptures are plain for prooving the souls proceeding out of the loins of man as well as the bodies 11 Also you see that a man in Scripture is caled soul and sometimes is called body or soul body and spirit and yet you know he is but one living essence or substance 12 If all souls and bodies since the fall of Adam by natural generation proceed from the loins of one another as it is prooved clearly by spiritual sence reason and Scripture how can poor vain perishing dust imagine that his sinful soul is immortal and cannot die 13 Is it not natural for an immortal spirit to be united onely unto an immortal body and is it not natural for a mortal soul to be united onely unto a mortal body 14 Is it not against all sober sence or reason that the body of man could be subject to any kinde of diseases or distempers in the least if his soul were immortal and could not die 15 Is it not the very nature of immortality immediately to swallow up all into life or to transmute that body wherein it siveth from all maner of corruption into his own uncorrupted glory 16 Is it not the nature of a sinful soul to become subject to die through the defilement of its first created purity 17 Is there any undefiled soul now living upon the face of the earth and is not immortality all spotless purity as aforesaid how then thinks thou it possible that the sinful souls of men are immortal already and cannot die 18 It is written the soul that sins shall die also it is written in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death I confess that the souls of Adam and Eve were not capable of any kinde of death until they were both defiled with the sinful nature of the Angelical Serpent 19 But as soon as ever they had eaten of that cursed Serpentine Tree of knowledge of good and evil their soul and bodies were free from all their former pure life 20 In the room thereof were subject to all kinde of imputed death whatsoever and did not know but that they were both cut off from the divine presence of the eternal spirit 21 Until the God of Glory himself graciously promised them to become flesh blood and bone of the Virgin seed to redeem their sinful souls and bodies again out of all kinde of death into an unchangeable immortal glory at his personal appearing with his mighty Angels 22 Again the Lord hath said in divers places of Scripture that the souls of men shall be cut off from the land of the living and that the soul that sins shall die and that the pure soul of Christ himself was poured forth unto death and that the soul of Christ should not be left in grave nor that his blessed body should see corruption and the Lord hath said that Adam and Eve were but dust and to dust they should re uâ—n again And yet thou contrary to all Prophetical or Apostolical Scripture and against all sober sence or reason in its right minde ignorantly or impudently affirmest that the sinful soul of man is already immortal and cannot die or be put to death 23 Again from this thy nonsensical imagination dost thou not call all the Scriptures all lie and the eternal Majesty from whence they proceeded a lyar to his face and dost thou not call all sober sence and reason a meer lie also 24 I know it is a common thing for men to say they have in them a good spirit and a bad spirit 't is confest that every man in his fallen spirit hath remaining a little light or motion of the spirit of God in him 25 Yet take notice of this though he hath a twofold motion in him to justifie all the righteous proceedâ—ngs of the Creator in his conscience at the last day yet he hath but one spirit or soul in him 26 Indeed the Apostle saith the spirit lusteth against the flesh and the flesh lusteth against the spirit and these two are contrary that which the Apostle calls the spirit in this place of Scripture was a divine light of life received into the dark understanding by vertue of a word speaking from the eternal spirit of a glorified Christ but not the essence of the Holy Spirit 27 And that which he calls the flesh was mans own spirit which consists of nothing but confused lying imagination or cursed carnal reasoning against that heavenly light
aforesaid 28 Again you that are spiritual do know that all men that do expect a glory to come in the invisible Heavens do confess that the spirit of the divine Majesty is infinite unchangeable immortal an eternal 28 If the Creators person is of an incomprehensible brightness which none can gainsay but angelical carnalities how then thinkest thou it possible for men or angels to be capable of the in-dwelling essence of the eternal Spirit 29 Though every man as aforesaid have little or much of the spiritual motions of God abiding in his soul yet take notice of this when he inspireth any light into sinful spirits that very light it self being distinct from the infinite Spirit and essentially one with mortality is made capable not onely to live but also to die together that it through death might be capable by the decree of that Spirit from whence it was produced to quicken and revive that mortality again into the glorious likeness of the eternal Majesty it self from whence it came CHAP. XXVI 1 Of the nature and place of the Reprobates torment 2 The last witnesses great confidence concerning the end of the world 3 Without a tongue no speech can be made by God Angels or men 4 God is visibly seen by spiritual bodies as Kings are by their subjects TAke notice of this also that in what soul soever this in-shining light hath appeared though he be preserved from despising a personal God if before he taste of death he doth not attain to understand this glorified Jesus to be the onely wise very true God upon the sight of so clear a discovery as this is then this will be his portion All the light at his death shall vanish and come to nothing and in the day of the Lords account by vertue of his decree that Luciferian Serpentine spirit which abhorred the simple plain truth because it discovereth its carnal deceits shall quicken and bring forth a body spiritually as dark as pitch and naturally as heavy as lead a body of thick darkness or blackness of darkness according to Holy Writ 2 Again it will be a body whose invisible spirit shall be a fire of such a dark envious nature that it shall burn more intollerably fierce than any fire in this world whatsoever through which it shall be tormented as if it were nothing else but a carcase or pillar of unsavory burning brimstone 3 In that very place where it doth appear upon this earth it shall either stand sit kneel or lie along neither seeing its own dreadful person nor no mans else 4 And the main ground of all his unspeakable sorrow will arise from hence because its spirit is bar'd close prisoner in its own body from all kinde of former thoughts or motioning forth upon any spiritual comforts whatsoever through the total absenting in-shining presence of the Lord Jesus Christ the everlasting Father 5 Again all thy former pride envy covetousness lying lust and hypocrisie which thou with delight didst act towards thy innocent brothers ruine shall then be acted against thine own self it will be the eternity of thy condition that will increase thy sorrowes and shame O it will be in vain then to wish thou hadst never bin born or any thing else 6 Who ever thou art that shalt out of thy atheistical soul laugh these words to scorn and say these are but meer fancies of my own brain know this from the Lord of Glory when this whole world and all the beauty and natural glory thereof as namely the Firmament Sun Moon and Stars are become nothing but burning dust or dry sand and an utter Chaos of everlasting confused darkness then thou shalt remember thy despising things thou knewest not 7 Is not this answerable to Christs own words where he saith If that light in thee be darkness how great will that darkness be Again The Son of man shall send forth his Angels and they gather out of his Kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of sire there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Mat. 13. Take notice of this record of Scripture and you shall find that he said these things should be done at the end of the world Again and when the Son of man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit on the throne of his Glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats and he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left then shall the King say to them on his right hand Come ye blessed of my Father take the inheritance of the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Then shall he say to them on the left hand Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels Mat. 25. 8 Here ye may see that the Lord Jesus doth not speak of cursing or burning up of sin in all men and eternal salvation unto all mens persons but maketh as clear a distinction as there is between sheep and goats of an eternal separation of two distinct generations 9 The one personal nation to enter into that most blessed estate or kingdom of the right hand of eternal ravishing glory with Christ and his holy angels and the other personal generation to be cast out into the left hand of the fiery burning kingdom of everlasting utter darkness with that devil Cain and his cursed generation being thereunto appointed from the foundation of the world 10 Again what ever men shall imagine or think to the contrary this was the very minde of Christ in those words of his concerning blessing elect Israelites to eternity and cursing Canaanitish reprobates for everlasting 11 Who shall dare open his mouth in that day to say why hast thou made me thus As sure as the Lord liveth and as certain as thou art a living soul and body this very thing will come to pass in a short season though men or angels should gainsay it 12 The Lord Jesus Christ neither can nor will be found a liar in this nor any thing else for all the cursed whimsies of men in this age or any other age though the persons of ten hundred thousand times ten Millions of men and women should suffer the vengeance of eternal fiery death in utter darkness O poor vain despiser of a personal God what acursed condition art thou in and knowest it not 13 In the next place I shall speak again concerning the Creators being an infinite personal Majesty unto which the visible forms of men and angels bear record as unto an incomprehensible glory from whence all their comprehensible things had their beings 14 Was there not an uncreated eternal Majesty alone when no creatures whether men or angels appeared in a sensible living being 15 Again seeing there was from
sin may be all like God himself in the heavens also in their several divine measures at the personal appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds of heaven with all his holy Angels 33 Was not this one end also why the Holy One of Israel spake in the plural number saying let us make man in our image that the learned men of this world should not onely blinde their own eyes but also become that scarlet whore that sits upon many waters making the nations continually drunk with their spiritual witchcraft of trinitary Merchandizing lies that they may be justly condemned in their own consciences in that day when our Lord Jesus Christ shall say unto them Depart from me ye workers of iniquity I know ye not or I sent you not ye preached in my name onely for silver and honor among men and ye persecuted my Prophets to the death because they discovered your lâ—arned deceits unto my people from your own subtile imaginations you made laws to stop all mens mouths as Blasphemers Hereticks Seducers Deceivers of the people or disturbers of the civil peace and such like that you onely might usurp lordship over all mens consciences persons and estates that could not bow down to your Idolatrous inventions you laid snares to entrap all those that you suspected mâ—ght impede your vain glorious decrees you lived in secret lusts and pleasures upon the ruines of my innocent people and flattered the ignorant what pains you took in studying after sparitual things for their souls health you made use of my holy Name onely as a cloak to hide all your subtilties from the deceived people you blinded their understandings with your Sabbattical Ceremonies of long prayers and lifting up your eyes and hands towards heaven as if you had been purity it self notwithstanding your hearts were full of covetousness and your fees swift to shed innocent blood you offered up your bloody fasts and feasts unto me for a sacrifice of acceptation of your doings as if I were like unto your selves to be perswaded by goodly words to justifie all your unrighteousness you pretended my glory in all your imaginary formalities but it was your own honor principally you sought from the people and death unto you to loose it earthly riches honor beauty unsatiable pleasures long life and such like were your onely joyes you have had this your desired Paradise already and my poor people have suffered their hell in your heaven and now must you suffer your eternal pain and shame and they must possess everlasting joy and glory 34 So much at present why the God of Glory spake in the plural number in the next place I shall in some measure shew what that image of God in the creating of man doth signifie CHAP. XXX 1 How God made man in his own image or likeness 2 The soul of Adam was of the same divine nature of God 3 Not of the nature of the Angels 4 Of the created vertues in Adams soul 5 Adam did not know of his power to stand or fall 6 The breath of life which Adam had received from God dyed THe Scripture declareth what condition man was formed in in these words thus God created the man in his image in the image of God created he him 2 After the man was compleatly made in the similitude of his Creator the Scripture tells you then what substance he was created of in those words the Lord God also made the man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man was aliving soul 3 You that are spiritual may know in the creating of man that the Lord God spake the word onely into the dust of the earth and immediately the vertue of that word brought forth a living man of pure flesh blood and bone like unto God himself as near as possibly could be 4 It was not the visibility of their persons that differ in the least but the glory of them onely 5 The one was an infinite spiritual body in all parts perfectly holy and the other was a finite natural body of perfect innocency resembling that divine form as aforesaid 6 You know I have abundantly shewed the impossibility of the least motion of reason to be inherent in the nature of God therefore I would have you to understand though Adams body being made of dust and appointed for generation was but natural yet his soul was not rational but super-natural or divine Why because it was formed according to the invisible glory of the eternal spirit 7 Therefore you may understand that if the soul of Adam had been rational in its creation then it could not have been divine but of an Angelical desiring nature onely of unsatisfaction in it self 8 Again you spiritual ones may understand that that divine soul in Adam which was created after the likeness of the eternal spirit did consist of several heavenly properties in its measure answerable unto those divine qualifications in the glorious Creator above all measure 9 What were those created vertues in Adams soul It was an invisible spiritual light and life called wisdom faith love righteousness meekness patience and such like 10 Though his soul could be nothing at all without its several properties and though those qualifications were all in a heavenly harmony yet this I would have you to take notice of that joy of soul that Adam did possess arose in him from one divine voice onely called the spirit of faith which was all satisfaction in himself with his present condition not having the least thought of any happiness beyond what he enjoyed already 11 As the divine nature of the eternal spirit was variety of infinite satisfaction in it self so likewise the soul of Adam being composed of the very same qualifications was variety of heavenly satisfaction in it self also according to its measure 12 If the nature of Adams soul had been rational in his creation then through want of divine satisfaction in it self it would always have been desiring after something that he wanted like unto the elect Angels and us which have two contrary voices in one soul 13 You may know that the created nature of the soul of Adam could not possibly have any reason in it why because the very nature of reason is seriously to consider whether things be good or right that are propounded unto its understanding or no. 14 But of the contrary that spirit which without the least consideration perfectly knoweth the excellencie of a thing as soon as ever it is presented unto it as Adams did must needs be divine as Gods is and so super-rational though cloathed with pure nature onely 15 Again though the soul of Adam through the divine purity of its nature was immortal and uncapable of the least motion of any kinde of rebellion against the glorious spirit of its Creator yet because his body was natural and had its beginning of dust and so was subject to change or to
be changed from its present condition his immortal soul having its being in a piece of clay was become subject through temptation to be transmuted from its present created glory also 16 For this I would gladly have you to understand though the soul of Adam was of a divine nature yet because it was a created nature distinct to it self it was become a son a subject a servant unto its divine God and capable of transmutation through deep temptation into a sinful condition through which both soul and body might not onely be subâ—ect to natural death but also full of fears of an eternal death or casting out of the spiritual presence of the divine Majesty 17 To bring forth his heavenly design of a more transcendent eternal glory that he had prepared through sufferings to be enjoyed by his divine image at the last day with himself face to face 18 You that are spiritually quick may know that the body of Adam was not created natural onely because he was appointed for generation but also because if his body had been immortal in its creation as well as his soul he would not onely then have been uncapable of natural generation but also he would have been uncapable of any kinde of transmutation whatsoever unless he gave consent unto it self 19 And where then had the prerogative power infinite wisdom and transcendent glory of the Creator ever been seen or known by man or Angels as beforesaid 20 Again though Adams soul was of the divine nature in its creation yet I would have you to understand that he knew not whether he should stand or fall from his present estate or no. 21 Neither did he know not what power he was endued withall in his created purity as many man vainly imagine 22 If he had known that he had power in his own will to preserve himself in his present condition he not knowing as aforesaid any glory above what he had enjoyed you may be sure if he could have kept himself in that blessed estate he would never have lost it for want of making use of all the power that was in him to have resisted a temptation unto rebellion in which he knew there was a threatning of the losse of that created glory he enjoyed as beforesaid 23 Again though the soul of Adam was of the divine nature in its creation yet because it was one essence with a body that was taken out of dust therefore it was both probable and capable to be brought into a condition of entring into dead dust for a moment to fulfil those Scripture sayings for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death in the sweat of thy face shalâ— thou eat bread till thou return to the earth for out of it wast thou taken because thou art dust and to dust thou shalt return 24 Was the body of Adam any thing but dead dust before its living soul was infused 25 Was the soul of Adam ever spoken of as a sensible living being before it became one essence with his body of flesh blood and bone formed our of the dust as an house or tabernacle for its comfortable substance and sensible understanding of its own living being 26 Seeing the body of Adam was nothing but a lump of dead cold senceless dust before his soul entered into it and composed it inâ—o a comâ—leat living man by vertue of a spiritual word spoken through the glorious mouth of the Creator dost thou think it possible that either of them could enjoy any sensible living being without the other 27 You know the Scripture saith the Lord God also made the man of he dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living soul though the body of Adam was formed of dust you see all the lise it enâ—oyed was from its soul onely and the man became a living soul 28 When the Lord said for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die the death was it not the very soul of Adam as well as his body that was threatned with death it self 29 Nay was there any thing could live in the body of Adam but the soul what then could be capable of dying but the soul onely 30 Again canst thou be so senceless as to think that ever the body of Adam could have turned to dust if his soul had not died within his body and like a spark of sire in an Oven that is closed from all kinde of air 31 So likewise thou mayest understand that the immortal soul of Adam became mortal as soon as ever it was polluted with sin and when it came to taste of death according to the word of the Lord through the sloppage of the breath of life proceeding from the invisible soul that fiery spark was quenched with silenâ—sleep of death as life or light that is smothered and did not flye in the air as men vainly imagine 32 Again it is said the man became a living soul now you know that every mans sinful soul is the life of its natural body yet it may be a dark dead soul in spiritual matters while it is alive in natural but as beforesaid the spirit of Adam was called a living soul in relation unto the living vertue beauty or invisible glory of its creation 33 I confess that it was impossible for the soul of Adam of ever being capable of death if it had been always preserved from being polluted with sin 34 Moreover as soon as ever it was but touche with sin in that very sin was death it self 35 Who ever thou art that shalt say that the pure soul of Adam was not defiled with sin it self what ever light thou pretendest to know thou art utterly ignorant as yet of the spirit of the Scriptures 36 If according to the divine truth of Scriptures thou art made to confess that the pure soul of Adam was overcome of sin and therewith all defiled through his whole man though men or Angels should gain-say it thou mayest be fully assured that both the soul and body of Adam are in the dust of the earth dead asleep void of all life light motion heat or any thing appearing unto life until that second man Adam the Lord from heaven by the mighty power of his word doth or shall raise him again and all mankinde that are asleep with him in the dust at the last day 37 Again though the body of the man Adam being formed of dust was absolutely natural through its appointment for generation yet I would have you that are spiritual to understand this secret that until Eve lufted after Adam through her being first defiled with the Angelical Serpent the soul of Adam being divine and free from all kinde of rationality could not possibly have any desire in it after carnal copulation with his wife 38 You may know that carnal pleasures were too low for a spiritual soul whose nature was variety of divine satisfaction in it self
unclean reason or lying imagination within him is it possible think you that any man should be so tormented as some men are with an inward burning through a secret fear of eternal sufferings rising in them from the guilt of former evils committed against the light of conscience 21 Furthermore seeing all men which live after the flesh must die or perish and that mans own lust is that imaginary Devil from whence proceeds all sin or evil without controversie though men or Angels should gain-say it there are now no other evil Spirits Angels or Devils but unmerciful men and women onely 22 Again if envy pride covetousness hypocrisie lust and such like be the Devil in man are not men and women those Devils that are under the power of those evils I would fain know from the learned men of this world whether there are any other evil Angels or Devils besides mankinde that lust after women or silver or honor or revenge or any kinde of evil whatsoever 23 Truly if those supposed wise men which talk so much 〈◊〉 subtilty of the Prince of the air that rules in the children of disobedience could possibly know that their own imaginary reason was that evil spirit or Prince of all their airy disputes concerning God Angels Devils Heaven Hell eternal glory or shame to come which they know not of according to truth 24 Then in stead of their rejoycing in the approbation of many men in relation unto their natural gifts their own spirits would immediately become the principle of all those howling groaning Serpent Devils spoken of in holy Writ even in the sight of elect men and Angels in this mortal life 25 Again is it not against all spiritual or rational sence that any Man Angel or Devil should suffer eternal damnation for the sins of another or for anothers tempting him to sin or evil 26 Moreover doth it not stand to very good sence that that creature that is left to himself to be tempted unto sin or evil and overcome thereby and remains under the power of it to his lives end should eternally suffer at the great day for his own sins and not for anothers iniquity 27 Wherefore is it not now one of the vainest things in the world for any man to think that there is any other evil Spirit Angel or Devil that tempts him to any motion imagination thought desire word or action of rebellion against God or man but that lying proud envious Devil living in his whole man as beforesaid 28 Therefore let no man that professeth spiritual light or life in him for very shame say that God can be tempted or tempt any man unto sin or evil neither let him say that any evil Spirit Angel or Devil in the air or earth or in the water or in the fire tempts him to commit any sin or evil but that air watery fiery fleshly Devil dwelling onely in his own body 29 I say let him know that that is the Prince of the air which through the abscenting vertue of the Holy Spirit begets those legions of Devils or lusts in the soul of man 30 And it is the true light of the Lord Jesus Christ in all his new born ones that crushes those Cockatrice Egs before they become Serpent Devils to sting the whole man with fears of eternal death 31 Those Devils which by the powerful word of the Lord Jesus were cast out of Mary Magdelen or any other creature spoken of in holy Writ were onely all maner of filthy diseases or fiery distempers in man that hurried him about any desperate wickedness whatsoever oftentimes increasing so powerfully that it did not onely occasion him to rend his own body and break iron chains 32 But also he is ready to tear any one in pieces until the Lord of glory shine into his distempered soul with that golden grace of true faith through which that imaginary Devil is chained up whereby all his fleshly goods were spoiled of ever having power in him as formerly and being now in his right minde at the glorious feet of the true Jesus through his own pure light leading him into heavenly raptures in reference unto his eternal glory at his visible appearing in the Clouds with all his mighty Angels CHAP. XXXVII 1 The prerogative power of God is above all Law 2 Why God cursed the fallen Angel in the womb of Eve 3 The Angels nature after his offence was not satisfied without being ruler SOme men may say unto me if it should be granted that that Serpent by whom Eve was beguiled was none of the trees of this Creation nor an evil spirit in the body of a natural Serpent as hath been long imagined by the learned Ministers of men but was an absolute Serpent Devil as is abundantly declared by you and that it entred into Eve and in her womb was pronounced cursed by the Creator and so naturally brought forth himself a cursed Cain of her seed what was this unto Eve or why should she suffer any kinde of punishment for being overcome by an enemy that was too mighty for her 2 From the light of life eternal to this I answer Concerning the enemy being too potent for her that was hid from her eyes by the unsearchable wisdom of the Creator 3 For you that are spiritual may know that the soul of Eve was not onely purely created in its kinde like unto Angels or other creatures but it was also of the very same nature of his most glorious spirit that formed it so that she could not be ignorant in the least that all obedience was most due unto her Creators command 4 Moreover you may know also that the Creator by the vertue of his Royal will for manifesting of his glorious power might give his creature a spiritual law of light and life in it self and yet reserve to himself the prerogative power of it 5 Furthermore you know the glorious Creator might present unto the view of his image a Serpent Devil for the trial of his workmanship and might upon pain of death forbid his creature of having to do with that tree or of hearkening unto it in the least 6 Also you know the Creator might leave his divine image unto its own present strength through which it might by a subtile enemy be tempted and overcome to commit evil with it against its Creators law and yet its sin be upon his own head 7 Why not onely because it rebelled against its own divine light but principally because there was no law to binde an infinite Majesty to protect it in its created purity 8 My beloved moderate brethren if men could forbear reasoning against the Creators prerogative power wonderful wisdom or ways which are past finding out then would they enjoy true and lasting peace in their own souls through deliverance from that conscience condemning evil of rash judging things they know not but this grace of patience is prepared onely for the blessed Israelites and not for scoffing
Ishmalites 9 Again if the Angelical Serpent was in the body of Eve when he received his curse some men may say unto me was he capable of understanding of a sentence denounced against him being in the womb of Eve and changed from his former condition as abundantly declared by you 10 Or why should the Serpent and his generation undergo an eternal curse and Eve and her generation suffer but a temporal curse seeing she rebelled against greater light then he 11 Or if that Angelical Serpent was not cursed before Eve had actually rebelled with him was not Eve as liable to an eternal curse as he seeing they both transgressed against an infinite glory 12 From the light of life eternal to this I answer That curse denounced by the Creator upon the Serpent in the womb of Eve was not for his satisfaction in the least but is to convince Eves deceived thoughts of possessing such god-like happiness promised to her if she obeyed his councel as aforesaid 13 Also it was to convince her in due time of that error of doting upon her first born as a blessing received from the Lord for when she should see the fruits of her heir in stead of her rejoycing in him as at his birth her soul would not onely loath his company but would also cast him out of her presence lest he should murder her as he did his righteous brother for her former love and tender compassion towards him 14 Moreover that curse against the Angelical Serpent and his seed was spoken unto her for her divine satisfaction afterwards when the light of redemption should shine in her deceived soul and shew her that her first-born son was that Angelical Serpent cursed in her womb by the Creator 15 And that his generation of men and women were cursed in his loins also that she might the more abundantly magnifie the free grace of Gods electing love towards her deceived soul 16 That having had so near a union and communion with that Angelical Reprobate she was not eternally cursed with him also 17 Furthermore notwithstanding the soul of Eve rebelled against a greater light then the Serpent did yet you that are spiritual may know that she was utterly uncapable of an eternal curse upon her person for these considerations 18 First because her soul proceeded from the heavenly nature of the eternal Majesty himself 19 Secondly because that consent unto evil in her proceeded not from her own nature but the unclean spirit of the Serpent speaking into her innocent soul as aforesaid 20 Again you may know that the Serpent was called the tree of knowledge of good and evil before Eve was tempted unto evil therefore though he had been a tree in his first estate which had known nothing but good before Eve or Adam had any sensible beings yet being fallen from his created purity he was now become a tree of sin or evil only 21 Therefore he was a rejected or cursed out-cast tree from the glorious presence of life eternal before his visible appearing unto Eve 22 So that though Eve through temptation was overcome to know both good and evil with that cursed Serpent yet she had some relenting light of life in her after her rebellion which occasioned a secret shame and confusion of soul in her for her rebellion against the Creator 23 Therefore she was capable of being made a good tree again yea and a tree bringing forth fruit of a more transcendent glory then she was capable of before her fall 24 But of the contrary that Serpent tree was so far from any kind of relentation of sin or rebellion against the Creator before or after he tempted Eve that in stead of being capable of reproof of sin or evil whereby he might be restored from his most wretched estate he did utterly abhor both God and man unless he might be their Counsellor and ruler over them for everlasting as beforesaid 25 This eminent truth of the two Scripture seeds or trees of eternal life and death is plainly proved in the seventh Chapter of St. Matthew where it was said by Christ the onely God himself a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit therefore by their fruits ye shall know them 26 So that you which are spiritual may know that according to the truth of Holy Writ though men or Angels should gain-say it the Serpent Angelical tree being Reprobate unto all maner of evil he and his seed of Cananitish men and women were not onely cursed in the womb of Eve but also before this world was 27 But of the contrary innocent Eve being a good tree in her Creation through her proceeding from the divine nature of the tree of eternal glory it self though she was overcome by that wicked one as beforesaid yet she and Adam or any of their seed could not possibly eternally perish because they were trees elected to bring forth good fruit unto everlasting life and glory long before this world was as abundantly beforesaid CHAP. XXXVIII 1 The bodies of Angels are capable of dissolving into seed 2 The seed of the Serpent onely damned 3 Pure reason lost the knowledge of the Creator and of its self 4 Cain not the son of Adam but of the Serpent 5 Cain was brother to Abel onely by the mothers side 6 All that dyed in the first Adam shall be saved by the second 7 Those that are not lost in themselves can never be saved IF the Angelical Serpent was of as large a compass as the person of a man some men may say unto me how could he enter into the womb of Eve through so narrow a passage as is declared by you Truly this Quere is much like that in the 3. Chap. by St. John where it saith Can a man be born which is old can he enter into his mothers womb again and be born 2 My spiritual friends as our Lord answered Nicodemus unto his fleshly question so likewise from his own light in like maner I shall make answer unto this Though the body of the Angelical Serpent in its length or breadth was as a man is yet you may know it was not of a grosse substance as mans is 3 But it was a spiritual body created in another world 4 For though the bodies of the mighty Angels are in forms like men yet you may know that they shine like unto the Sun or a flame of fire being formed in a region of a more higher nature then this 5 Therefore they are of motion as swift as thought and of a pure thin or bright fiery nature so that with great ease they pierce through a narrow passage at the divine pleasure of the Creator 6 So likewise it was with that Serpent tree of knowledge of good and evil for though his created purity was become all maner of imaginary impurities through his out-cast condition yet you may know that his form was of a more fiery brightness then
strengthning themselves in their Atheistical error to prevent discovery they may or will say there is no world but this onely and this world had never any beginning nor will never have any ending men may talk of a Creator and a day of judgement for silver and honor or to keep children or fools in awe but wise men knows as aforesaid that one generation passeth away and another cometh in its room and so it will be for everlasting 28 Thus you that are truly spiritual do or may know that the spirit of every man naturally is so cursedly proud that rather then men should finde him a lyar in the name of the Lord of Hosts even against his own rational light he is apt to say there is no other God or shame or world to come but the Elements of air water earth and fire of this perishing world though these and such like sandy foundations are the pillars of cursed Cananites yet I know that you blessed ones have not so learned Christ 29 The fourth and last sort of deceived men are so far from acknowledging Christs personal raign with his Saints in any kinde whatsoever that they blasphemously affirm they are all Gods or Christs themselves 30 These are those which say that God is a Spirit and that his Spirit and their spirits are but one spirit onely 31 Moreover to strongthen themselves in this their Serpentine Sophistry they can tell you from the Records that Christ is the head of his Church and his Saints are his body 32 Also this sort of men pretend such a union with the divine Majesty that they do not onely attribute to themselves his Holy Names or Titles but Lucifer-like they will tell the simple and fearful soul that they are set down in the Throne of Glory with Christ already 33 Furthermore though this sort of Saints in their own account are all Kings Priests and Prophets unto God yet if you should ask them a sober question concerning any spiritual thing after death they are so dead drunk with their notional witchcrafts that they count all men in darkness that see not themselves in the throne of immortal glory already as aforesaid 34 Again they also seem to be full of Hymns or Spiritual songs in reference to the present glory they enjoy with the eternal Spirit when the Lord knoweth they acknowledge no divine Majesty or God at all but those imaginary Siren songs and their own natural blinde-born spirits from whence they proceeded 35 This sort of seeming glorious Saints do imagine their spirits so divine that they think it impossible it should ever see death but they like unto children or fools conceit their bodies turn to dust for ever but their souls ascend into an unknown spiritual glory 36 Therefore if a man speaks of a personal God or a personal glory in a life to come they will tell him he troubles himself above a simple carnal God and Glory that is not 37 But if he knew what it was to be possessed with divine light life or glory in his own soul as they do he would no more trouble himself in the least concerning a God or glory to come at a distance 38 There are some among these of a more purer sort which speak many sweet truths and according to their light they live in them onely poor hearts as yet they are ignorant of the fountain of glory from whence their spiritual streams proceed 39 Moreover though they cannot close with a personal God and personal glory of the elect in another durable world and a personal shame of Reprobates in this world to all eternity yet the secret love of God preserves their merciful spirits from that error of the wicked I mean from despising things that are hid from them 40 Therefore I make no question but in due season they shall be revealed to them unto their everlasting joy and glory in the highest heavens as aforesaid 41 Furthermore though these elect vessels at present understand no other God but what is within them yet they are afraid to call themselves God or Christ or Creator or the like lest there should be a divine Majesty to own those titles himself 42 Again all those simple hearted souls which are appointed to eternal glory are not so rivetted in their present light but if a more clear manifestation appear their spirits are both ready and willing to embrace it 43 But of the contrary all cursed Cananites are fully resolved to remain where they are though never so glorious a light should appear 44 Moreover those that are the blessed of the Lord are very tender of condemning any men of what appearance or opinion soever if they see never so little of the pure light of life eternal appearing in them 45 But of the contrary the unmerciful reprobate condemns all men as in a bottomless pit that are contrary unto his fleshly opinion 46 Furthermore the blessed of the Lord are made willing to yield all spiritual obedience unto the unknown God till they know him and shew mercy unto all though he perish this is a Job-like spirit who said though thou kill me yet will I trust in thee 47 But of the contrary the hypocritical Cananites love to make a glittering shew before men but as for any inward purity of spirit towards God and mercy unto all men they are so far from any such principle that they count it a delusion in them that enjoy it 48 Many of the blessed of the Lord do know that all the desires of men or Angels cannot prevail with the divine Majesty to perswade him to set the seâ—l of his love upon any mans person until he is graciously moved unto it of his own pleasure according to those sayings of Holy Writ I am found of them that sought me not and before they call I will answer when they were in their blood I said unto them live and of that notable saying in the 15. Chapter of the Prophet Jeremiah Then said the Lord unto me though Moses and Samuel stood before me yet mine affection could not be toward this people cast them out of my sight and let them depart 49 But of the contrary the formal Hypocrite is so dark in this divine secret that he thinks himself the blessed of the Lord for his much babling and counts those men cursed that are not of the same minde with him 50 My beloved spiritual friends though I have branched these men into four several heads yet in the main they are all of one spirit my meaning is this they are all ignorant of the glorious God being in the person of a man CHAP. XLII 1 A further Discourse concerning the Error of Christs personal reign 2 The interpretation of the three last verses in the 12. of Rev. 3 Concerning the Dragon and the Woman 4 Of the binding of the old Serpent Dragon for a thousand years 5 When they expired 6 Of the worship of the beast 7 Of Satans being loosed out
the divine Majesty himself wherefore you spiritual ones may also know that that Gog and Magog that are gone forth to battel in the plains of the earth compassing the Tents of the Saints and the holy City are those Heathenish Magistrates and their bloody Priests that proceeded from cursed Cain through the loins of King Herod and his Priests and Scribes as beforesaid so that the dead men that lived not again until the thousand years were fulfilled are those Saints and holy City of God which at this time and to the end of all time do suffer cruel persecution for the testimony of a good conscience in all the Nations of the world 40 My beloved Brethren this is that spiritual raign of the first resurrection with Christ on this earth appointed in some measure for all men to drink which are delivered from that second death which is treasured up for all bloody minded Tyrants whatsoever 41 Thus you that are sober may clearly see that it was not a visible personal raign of Christ a thousand years with his Saints on this earth that John aimed at as many men have long imagined but it was a spiritual raign or suffering with him for his truths sake upon earth that when he appeareth in his glory with all his holy Angels then to raign with him in his Throne to all eternity in the third heavens 42 Now brethren I shall go on to prove his personal coming in glory according to the intent of his most holy Spirit from his own words CHAP. XLIII 1 Of the personal glory of Christs coming to judgement 2 No man hath so much faith as a grain of mustard-seed but Christ onely 3 Of spirits finite and infinite MY beloved brethren in the unerring spirit you may know there is a twofold appearing of Christs glory in his chosen ones as the glory of the Sun excels the glory of the Moon so these two glories transcend each other 2 Moreover you know the Moon appears in the brightness of her glory at one time and at another time she appears altogether like unto darkness or shame 3 So likewise it is with Christs appearing in glory to mens souls in this life sometimes by vertue of the in-comes of his eternal spirit the soul of man for a moment is transmuted into the glorious likeness of the divine Majesty himself 4 But at another time you know when none of these spiritual lightnings appear through some fleshly guilt the poor soul seems to be full of fearful darkness horror and shame as if it had never seen any light or life at all 5 So that you see all the glory of Christs appearing unto the spirits of men in this life is but a changeable Moon-like glory at the best 6 Therefore it can be but a spiritual type of this personal appearing of Christ in his judgement-seat glory with all his mighty Angels 7 Again you know the Sun is no way subject to change in the least but Gyant-like runs his course in four and twenty hours through the whole heavens and in one place or other appears in his glory unto the end of all time 8 So likewise you may know it is with this personal appearing of Christ in his glory with his holy Angels for in that day of his appearing the persons of his redeemed ones shall be nothing else but Sun-shine like divine glories in themselves and so run their heavenly course even to all eternity 9 Who ever thou art that is ignorant of this personal glory of Christs coming in the clouds or air with his elect Angels to make an eternal separation between the persons of the blessed Israelites and cursed Cananites though thou art full of seeming glorious expressions concerning a God or Christ living in mens consciences yet thou canst never be firmly established until thou knowest that personal God or Christ sitting in the throne of his infinite glory in the high heavens without thee from whence alone all inward light or life proceeds 10 I confess if a man become an innocent merciful spirit he may be able to speak such a language from a supposed God or Christ in mens consciences onely that may confound the seeming holiness of all Church fellowships in the world 11 But what advnatage is this to himself or his heirs except when he is confounded in the room thereof he doth not onely declare the effects of Christs truth in the minds of men but is able to demonstrate in some measure the personal appearing of Christ in his glory in the world to come 12 If the visible appearing of a glorified God or Christ in the person of a man be such a choak-pear unto thee or seem low or carnal because the national Priests confess such a like thing 13 I would fain know of thee by sober speaking or writing where thy God or Christ is become when thy soul and all thy light or life for a moment is become silent death or darkness with thy body of dust 14 Moreover if thou understandest not a personal God or Christ too transcendent glorious for Heavens Earth Angels or Men to be capable of the indwelling of his eternal spirit what is thy inward God or Christ thou discoursest so much about but pleasant words or perishing nature onely 15 Furthermore if thou knowest this wonderful secret concerning what a spirit is then wouldst thou certainly know how impossible a thing it is for any spirit whatsoever to possess a living being without a distinct body of his own 16 Again of what bigness dost thou think a spirit is whether it be finite or infinite give me leave to write a little of this strange thing from those sayings of Christ to his disciples in the 17. Chapter by St. Matthew the words are these For verily I say unto you for if ye have faith as much as is a grain of Mustard seed ye shall say unto this mountain remove hence to yonder place and it shall remove and nothing shall be unpossible unto you Behold is not a grain of Mustard seed a very little and yet you see Christ saith nothing should be unpossible unto that man that hath such a quantity of spiritual faith in him 17 Again it is written with God nothing shall be unpossible who then is capable to possess so much faith in him as will contain the quantity of a Mustard seed but Christ Jesus the God of Glory himself unto whom all things are possible that he is moved unto by that seed of faith which is the eternal spirit of his glorified person 18 Moreover if a spirit be in its quantity but as a grain of Mustard seed or a spark of fire how then is it possible for the Spirit of God Men or Angels to possess any sensible light life joy or glory but in their own bodies onely 19 Furthermore if this description of a spirit seem strange be it known unto thee the Lord hath made me to declare it for the confounding of that cursed error
exalt thy self above thy Creator by conceiting thy self in a throne of glory with Christ already 26 Moreover be thou never so seemingly holy or charitable or a great sufferer in reference to thy inward God or Christ yet if thou art left to the pride of thine own spirit to despise the spirit of the Son of man glorified in the highest heavens thou and all that is within thee will eternally perish 27 So much doth the man Jesus in glory heed thee and all of thy blasphemous lofty spirit He that denies me before men him will I deny before my Father which is in heaven and his holy Angels CHAP. XLVIII 1 Of the first Resurrection 2 and what it is by several Questions and Answers IN the next place give me leave to write a little of the new birth or first resurrection from a glorified Christ 2 What is this first resurrection that who ever hath part in it is blessed and holy and the second death hath no power Truly it is the enjoyment of a divine light in the understanding which a man hath received by inspiration from the spirit of a personal Christ on a throne of glory in the third Heavens 3 How shall a man truly know whether he hath this light in him or no or when he received it He that hath this light of Christ in him his very thoughts desires and affections are by the power of it wholly bent upon all spiritual and natural purity whatsoever 4 So that the Scriptures imputes Justice Righteousness Holiness or Perfection unto that man onely which hath this light in him because he is principally guided by a light which he hath received from the glorious God of all divine perfections without him 5 Moreover this light of Christ sometimes is known by a glorious voice to the hearing of the ear through which a man is so full of inward joy glory or majesty in himself that he knows not for that present whether he be in the condition of a God or a man this I certainly know yet I believe few of the Saints themselves have tasted of this condition 6 Furthermore this light of Christ conveys it self so secretly into the understandings of most of his redeemed ones by a low voice of his most Holy Spirit that oftentimes they know not the time thereof onely after this light of life hath once appeared the soul is so delighted with it that it thinks it can never have too much of it or hardly enough of it therefore like a woman in travail it is full of hungring or thirsting after the knowledge of that Fountain of Glories from whence its light and joy proceeded 7 Again he that hath this light of Christ in him is not onely full of longings after more of it but his soul is also full of that new song of praise honor power and glory unto the infinite unknown God until he doth in some measure truly know him 8 Moreover he that hath this new and true light is not rash in judging divine things he knows not but by vertue of that light of life he is preserved with a meek and patient spirit to wait the Lords leisure for manifesting the truth thereof 9 Furthermore he that hath received this white Stone or new Name of Christ to the purpose sees all the speakings or writings of non-commissionated men but meer literal or notional emptiness in comparison of that joy or glory that he possesseth from the invisible motions of the divine Majesty himself 10 Again by vertue of this light he is made able to discern whether mens speaking or writings proceed from a literal notional or spiritual Christ or no. 11 Moreover he that hath this light of Christ thus grounded in him doth not lie doting upon mens invisible God Christ Spirit Light Life Love Joy Beauty Vertue Power or Glory of meer words onely but nothing will satisfie his new-born hungry spirit but a divine embracing of a personal God of spiritual substance yea too transcendently glorious for men or Angels to be capable of the in-dwelling of his eternal Spirit but of the in-shining vertues or motions onely 12 So much at present concerning the first resurrection or new birth from a personal substantial God or Christ on the Throne of Eternity in the high heavens in opposition of a supposed new birth from a notional inward Christ or literal outward Christ onely CHAP. XLIX 1 Concerning Gods becoming a childe 2 None lives and moves and have their beings in God but the Seed of Faith 3 No creature capable to be essentially one with God AGain it is written In him we live and move and have our being Also it is written Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord. What did the Apostle mean by living in the Lord and dying in the Lord Or how can a man be said to live in the Lord and to die in the Lord also 2 My spiritual friends though all men have their life or being in the Creator or in this power by vertue of creation yet none but the elect do spiritually live move or have any being in him and that is by vertue of redemption onely and that was the occasion of the Prophets saying for unto us a childe is born unto us a son is given now you know that the Prophet spoke them words long after the birth of that glorious babe and yet you see that all his joy or glory in reference to a life to come was fixed onely in the person of that Childe 3 Thus the Prophet by vertue of the true Jesus in him did spiritually live and move and had his being in the Lord of Hosts in a full assurance that God the everlasting Father and Creator of both worlds and all in them would become a little childe for the Redemption of his elect from eternal death by pouring forth of his most precious life it is writted who hath believed our report or unto whom is the arm of the Lord revealed 4 Thus you may see that those men which wanted the light of life in them to receive that prophetical report concerning the God of Glory 's coming by the out-stretched arm of his eternal Spirit in a body of flesh to redeem the elect world to himself were utterly ignorant of the Prophets spiritually living moving or being in the Lord. 5 So likewise this was the Apostle Pauls meaning also when he said for in him we live and move and have our being according to that saying of his for the life which I now live is by the faith of the Son of God which gave himself for me Also you know it is written to this effect that some men did live without God in the world so that you may understand that reprobate men are accounted by the spirit of the Scriptures to live and to die in the devil and to rise again very devils in souls and bodies to all eternity 6 The chosen of God are guided by the true light or love of
they may have no confidence in the strength of that light which is within them but that they may cast down the crowns of their spiritual confidences at the divine feet of his heavenly Majesty as the onely Author Protector and finisher of their eternal blessedness 11 So likewise it is with the elect also when they die in the Lord for though the light of Christ was given them as a seal of his eternal love that they might glory onely in the Lamb and be enabled to wear his Crown of thorns to their lives end as a preparative unto glorious Crowns at his appearing yet I would have you for whom these thorns and Crowns are prepared to understand because the life of all light or glory you possess are hid in the divine breast or book of life with Christ in God 12 Therefore when your soul comes to die all your spiritual motions must enter into death also until time be no more because the power wisdom and glory of Christ will be seen in this thing above all his former works 13 Again he being the onely light and life of men will not this be a Crown of glory to his infinite power seeing the spirits of mankinde are mixt together in the sea and earth in a marvelous manner yet by a word speaking he shall call his elect by name as he did Lazarus and they shall hear his voice and come forth of their graves as one man with distinct persons all glorious yet very flesh and bone and with those elect then living whose bodies shall be transmuted into glory also ascend as swift as thought to meet their God in the air and sit in Thrones of Judgement with him over all the Angels of darkness remaining in this destroyed world for everlasting 14 Moreover if that error of mens bodies dying onely and not ther souls could possible be true then no man could die or be put to death at all because the life of mans body is his spirit and but one spirit onely though there is a double motion in it of contrary natures and effects by the secret decree of the Lord for the manifestation of his eternal wisedom power and glory over the elect and Reprobate 15 Thus you that are spiritual may see what is meant by the Saints living and dying in the Lord and concerning the place of refuge where their lives are hid both in life and in death is not this truth answerable to those sayings of Christ himself in John The words that I speak unto you are spirit and life I am the resurrection and the life he that believeth in me though he were dead yet shall he live and he that sate upon the throne said behold I make all things new Revelation the 20. and I will raise him up at the last day Again Jesus said unto her said I not unto thee that if thou didst believe thou shouldst see the glory of God you know this was spoken by Christ that God of all power wisdom and glory at his raising Lazarus from death to life 16 Therefore you may know also that the greatest glory of all will redound to his infinite Majesty he shall shortly come in his glory with his mighty Angels to call forth the living dead to glorious blessedness in the great white Throne with himself Moses Elias and his Angels and to call forth the dead living into shameful cursedness of souls and bodies in utter darkness burning together to eternity on this earth where they possessed all their former glory and acted their unrighteousness against Christ and his redeemed ones then will this Scripture be fulfilled and they shall hear a great voice from heaven saying unto them come up hither and they shall ascend up to heaven in a cloud and their enemies shall see them and these Scriptures CHAP. LI. 1 Eternal damnation is a living death and a dying life 2 Three Books will be opened at the last judgement 3 Signifying the three Commissions of the Law the Gospel and the Spirit 4 The Heathens are judged by the Law of their consciences having not had the Scriptures 5 The Prophets heavenly conclusion AGain But fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them Moreover and the Devil that deceived them was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone where that beast and false Prophet is and shall be tormented even day and night for evermore and I saw the dead both great and small stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the book of life and the dead were judged of those things which were written in the books according to their works and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire this is the second death these both were alive cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone and whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire My brethren in the spirit and in the flesh also which are sober you see when Christ cometh in his glory with his Angels the Books must be opened which are three in number the Book of the administration of the Law must be opened in the consciences of them that were under the Law and made a profession of obedience unto it but hated to perform it and they will have work enough with that fiery Law and all their former filthiness of flesh and spirit to sit in judgement on those burning brimstone souls and bodies of flesh and bone to all eternity 2 The second Book of the administration of the Gospel will be opened also in the consciences of those that made a profession thereof and hated obedience to it and that literal fiery Judge and their former unrighteousness will neither want work to sit in judgement on those fleshly bodies of burning brimstone even world without end 3 Moreover the third Book of the administration of the eternal Spirit which is the book of life shall be opened also in the consciences of all pretended lights in these last days and those whose names were not found written in that book of life as Commissionated Messengers of the eternal Spirit to bear witness unto a personal Jesus in the high heavens but published a lying Jesus in the lower heavens of their carnal spirits onely that pretended God or Christ with all their lies spoken in the name of the Lord and blasphemy against his Majesties persons shall burn more fiery hot then any other opinion among men even to all eternity as aforesaid all is not spiritual gold that glisters 4 Again give me leave to speak of one sort more whose natural conscience must be opened also 5 This sort of men are those called Heathens which never had the books of the Scriptures among them I say from the true God that these men and all the naturalists in the world according to their rebellions against their rational Judge unto which they acknowledged all obedience of righteousness between man and man was due this
to treat upon the original of all heavenly secrets Wherefore in answer to these difficult queries I shall write of several things of most highest consequence unto mankinde namely concerning the Glorious Creator himself and the original cause that moved the Divine Majesty to produce any creature sensibly to live in his sight and of the creation of the true God and of the imaginary lying creation in the spirit of sinful man and whence it came Also of the creation of Angels before man with the materials and manner of it 5 I confess I have been moved briefly to touch upon most of these things to the publike view of many already but now through assistance of the unerring Spirit I shall handle them more fully in removing many obstructions in the way and for more clearer satisfaction unto the true spiritual Christian and confutation of all fleshly lying Antichristians whatsoever 6 First by immediate inspiration from the Holy Spirit I posiâ—ively affâ—â—m against all Naturalists under heaven that there is a Creator 7 Secondly with the same confidence I affirm against men or angels that this our God from 〈◊〉 Eternity was an uncreated spiritual person in form like a man 8 Thirdly from the same spirit I declare that that blessed God-man Christ Jesus so exalted throughout the true Scriptures was and is that eternal Creator beforesaid 9 Fourthly I declare against all literal-mongers in this world that this our Creator and gracious Redeemer was only one immortal undivided personal God-man from all eternity and in time and to all eternity 10 Fifthly I declare from the holy Spirit that the addition of two persons more unto this our onely wise God blessed for ever proceeded onely from the old Serpentine Antichristian devil in carnal men 11 Moreover as for those words of Father Son and Spirit or Lord Jesus Christ or any other divine titles in Scriptures you may know that they are onely variety of names to set forth the infinite God-head glory of the Creators person 12 Again I declare from the Spirit of truth that from all Eternity the Creators person was of a sun-shining fiery glory of sensible heavenly motion light heat voyce and speech and his divine person was swifter then thought 13 Moreover all variety of divine excellencies as a christal Sea did infinitely reign in his heavenly person as namely Pure Spiritual Faith his Almighty Power or heavenly Love his ravishing Glory or any other divine vertue that can be named 14 Thus you that are truely spiritual may undoubtedly know that from all Eternity the Creator possessed his heavenly joyes or new glories by himself alone when no created being sensibly appeared to behold his excellent Majesty 15 By true inâ—piration from the holy spirit I positively affirm that the principal motion of all variety of heavenly wisdom joy or glory which the Creator foresaw he should eternally possess naturally sprang in him from an incomprehensible knowledge of his own endless infiniteness 16 Or from a perfect understanding of an eternal increase of all manner of glorious excellencies to solace himself withal and elect men and angels that should be câ—â—â—ted by him 17 If the Creator should be an infinite formless spirit as some men vainly imagine my spiritual brethren you know then that it were impossible for any spirit of man or angel to be made capable of fixing his understanding upon any such spiritual Creator 18 You know that no man can describe the form of an invisible spirit whether it be finit or infinite unless it be covered with a body or person 19 Moreover you know also that no man or angel can be made able in the least to comprehend the nature of any spirit whatsoever that wants a distinct body or person of its own to inhabit in 20 Therefore you cannot but understand that the Creator of mankinde must needs be a substantial glorious person and not a nonsubstantial formless spirit as beforesaid 21 Again notwithstanding every divine vertue in the Creators person be infinite yet by inspiration from his own spirit I positively affirm that there was never any kinde of reason in him 22 Whâ—â—ever the learned men of this world have â—ong imagined concerning pure reason being the divine nature of God they are utterly dark concerning a true understanding of the Creators divine nature or personal glory in the least 23 I declare from the true God that all those men that call pure Reason Gods divine nature if they undâ—rstand no other light before â—â—ath seize on them they shall finde their imaginary reason nothing else but a dark tormenting fiery devil of burning envy in their own bodies at the great day even against the Creator himself and his elect men and angels for everlasting 24 For this I say from the Lord unto you that are spiritual the very nature of reason though it be never so pure is nothing else but meer desire therefore you may know that if the Creator himself should have any desire in his spirit there would be a kinde of want in him 25 For if his naâ—ure be all variety of heavenly satisfaction in it self as it is what rational desire can finde place in such an infinite fulness of Divine Glory 26 Moreover my spiritual Brethren what is the principal ground of all Antichristian darkness in the spirits of Solomon-like men in reference to a right understanding of the Creator and his divine nature is it not because they think to apprehâ—nd the true God by a false light which they vainly call pure reason 27 What is this which worldly men call pure reason is it any thing else but that proud angelical serpent devil in them which by its own natural strength continually strives to finde out the tree of eternal life that they may cure themselves of their deadly wounds of soul arising from all their spiritual and fleshly rebellions against God and man 28 Again doth the true understanding of the Creator run in the line of pure reason or pure faith in the Scriptures 29 Is there any saying in Scripture that Gods divine Nature is pure reason or by pure reason we know the true God or any thing that is spiritual Indeed I have read Scriptures that say By faith the Apostles knew the worlds were made and by faith they knew their mortal bodies should be raised immortal bodies at the great day of the appearing of Christ in his glory but as beforesaid I never read or heard any spiritual wise man say that the invisible things of eternity were understood by mans pure reason no nor Angels that behold the glorious Creator face to face It is written With thee is the well of Life and in thy light shall we see light It is also written That men were partakers of the Divine nature and that Abraham beliâ—ved God and it was imputed to him for righteousness and by faith men were justified before the Creator and in their own spirits And that without faith it was impossible
to please God Furthermore it is written That faith is the gift of God 30 In these Records and many more such like you see the Scritures takes no notice of the word pure reason by which men could know any thing of the true God or of his heavenly secrets at all 31 Therefore I would fain know whether those men that call pure reason the Divine Nature are fit to interpret Scriptures or to bear the name of Gospel-Ministers but I will leave them at present to him that will discover them soon enough to their costs CHAP. II. 1 What the substances of Earth and Water were from eternity 2 A great secret revealed concerning Death and Hell 3 Concerning the Heavens above 4 Earth and Water not eternally glorious 5 The residence of the Creator 6 Earth and Water uncreated substances A Gain in the next place by inspiration from the unerring Spirit I positively affirm that the substances of Earth and Water were from all eternity in the Creators presence uncreated sensless dark dead matter like unto water and dust that have no kinde of life or light or vertue in them at all 2 Also I declare from the Holy Spirit that darkness death or devil and hell lay secretly hid in that earth above this perishing Globe and in the sight of the Creator were eternally naked and bare both in their root and in their fruit 3 Again I declare from the true Light of Life Eternal that that world or kingdom where the Creators glorious person is visible is a place or throne infinite in length bâ—eadth or height answerable unto an infinite Majesty 4 Moreover for your information that are spiritual from the true God I declare that in this heavenly City there is no Firmament Sun Moon nor Stars so that you may understand that is an infinite open place for Divine personal ascending or descending at pleasure onely under foot is fixed a spiritual earth and a chrystal sea 5 Furthermore you that are spiritual may know that it stands to very good sense that an infinite Majesty cannot be confined to a finite world or kingdom as this is I mean when he possesseth the throne of immortality as at this time or before he became a body of unspotted flesh 6 Again concerning that glorious earth and chrystal sea aforesaid I would not have you to think that I mean it was eternally so but after or in the finishing of the creation of Angels and variety of other creatures the infinite vertue of the Creators word produced that chrystal spirituality in them that both visible as well as invisible every thing or creature appointed to abide in the presence of the Divine Majesty might be all glory in their kinde and measure answerablâ— to the unmeasurable variety of unspeakable glory in the Creator himself 7 My spiritual brethren you know that it is an opinion of the Learned that those substances Earth and Water aforesaid were not eternal but they have long imagined that the Creator spake the word and so they came to be and after he had given them their being he formed all things that were made out of them 8 My beloved brethren you may know that this must needs be an error because you know that the word Create is to make formless dead matter into sensible living forms 9 Besides this you know as for creating of those elements of water or dust there is no Scripture maketh mention of any such thing therefore a meer imagination but more of this in the 6. Chapter 10 Again you know that from eternity the divine nature of the Creators spirit was nothing but immortal fiery glory of life and light It is written God is light and in him there is no darkness at all and it is written in Gen. 1. And darkness was upon the deep 11 My Brethren if the Creator be all life and light as you know he is then without controversie the dead earth and dark deep water never proceeded out of his glorious mouth but if that Scripture should be objected where it is said I create light and I create darkness to that I answer The mind of the holy Spirit in those words was this that he created those souls that were naturally dark and he created these mortal spirits that were full of immortal light but on the contrary there was not the least meaning in those words or any other throughout the Scriptures that God created or gave any being or beginning unto dead dark sensless earth and water as aforesaid 12 Whatever men vainly imagine the Creator to be if they shall conclude there was nothing eternal but God onely if they acknowledge the Creator to be some glorious thing which is incomprehensibly infinite then I would fain leâ—rn of those wise men where the glorious Creator was resident when he gave a being to earth and water If they shall say unto me that he was uncapable to be in any one place because he was every where As to that I cannot understand which way the Creator should be every where or any where at all if he had no place or habitation to abide in neither finite nor infinite 13 God being all light life joy and glory in himself from eternity is it not against all divine or humane light that is not unreasonable that ever those daâ—k dead elements of earth and water should have their original from his glorious spirits because their natures are so contrary that it was impossible that they should proceed from one another for alas what is death or darkness Is it not through the absence of life or light And is not life being overcome by death absolutely become death and darkness or utter silence for a moment 14 Again if light and darkness or life and death meet together is there any peace or agreement between them untill life be swallowed up by death or death be swallowed up into life 15 If th s be so the which no sober man can gainsay then without controversie earth and water were uncreated substances eternally distinct from the God of glory because the Scripture saith and darkness covered the face of the deep CHAP. III. 1 Of the Angels 2 Their Form and Nature 3 Out of what they were made 4 The Serpent which tempted Eve 5 The Cause why any creature was formed 6 Who are partakers of the Divine Nature 7 No created being capable of the essence of God to dwell in it A Gain from the true light of life I affirm that the Angels were the first sensible living beings formed by the Creator 2 I declare also that the angelical host were all produced by his word speaking into that dust without or above this visible heavens 3 Moreover I positively affirm from the same light that all the Angels in the heavenly throne aforesaid are persons in forms like men and not bodiless spirits as the Learned have long declared and the nature of their angelical spirits are pure reason onely 4 From the God of all
brethren you know that the heavenly nature of the divine Majesty is nothing else but all variety of glorious excellencies 33 Also you know that the Creators spirit being variety of spiritual perfections he could create nothing against his glory but for his glory onely because that glory of his is himself or his all in all or onely pillar upon which he built his everlasting kingdom 34 Wherefore if angels or man had been framed in unchangeable conditions then in stead of making known his manifold divine glories to his creatures he must have created things for his own eternal ruine 35 For if such a thing could possibly have been in stead of being creatures as aforesaid they would all have been Creators and being unchangeable it could not possibly be avoided but they must all have shared in or of the Creators unchangeable glory also 36 Moreover if the Holy One of Israel should be divided into three divine Persons as many men blindly imagine then you know that being all eternal they must of necessity be equal in God-head wisdom power and glory A kingdom thus divided cannot stand 37 For you that are truly spiritual know that all the true Prophets in the time of the Law did never acknowledge any more Gods then that Holy One of Israel onely and by inspiration they attributed many holy Names unto his divine Majesty for the exaltation of his glorious person above all angels and men 38 Moreover you know that in Scriptures it is written That the Holy One of Israel will not give his glory to another 39 Therefore what ever men vainly dream of a Creator or God or three Persons or of a bodiless infinite Spirit yet unto us that are heirs of eternal glory there is but one onely wise God Creator Redeemer and alone Everlasting Father which is our Lord Jesus Christ in one blessed body of flesh and bone glorified CHAP. IV. 2 Of the Angels further 2 Of the nature of pure Reason 3 Of the divine Nature 4 Wherein they differ 5 The Angels were under the Moral Law which was written in their natures 6 The Creator above all Law 7 A necessity of supplying the Angels with continual Revelations from the Creator 8 He that was above all Law made himself under the Law by becoming flesh 9 Who is Antichrist 10 No joy in God without a form 11 Death an Enemy to all kinde of life in God angels and men BEfore I treat of the first appearance of sin or evil in the reprobate angel I shall speak of the creation of angels by a compariâ—on 2 Suppose a man should speak words unto dry dust of sand distinct from his person and before he spake unto that senseless Chaos he did perfectly know or beleeve in himself that out of that dead dust his very woâ—ds would produce so many several sensible living bodies in his sight though those words proceeded from the soul of the man 3 Yet you may know that they were not the essence of the mans spirit but onely a powerful influence of speech or words spoken through his mouth for manifesting the variety of his natural wisdom power or glory over the words which he had spoken 4 Moreover you know that a man with great ease might spare a few words without any trouble of mind in reference to what use he saw fit to imploy them they being his own workmanship can any sober man deny this mans pâ—erogative pleasure with his own I trow not 5 This was the Creators very case in the matter of creation and who dares to speak against it No spiritual wise man I am sure onely some lustful persons may dispute against it though it be contrary to their own reason when it is sober 6 But deeds of darkness hate the light and can do no otherwise and those that live in the light are made to abhor all deeds of darkness or vain disputes against the Creators Royal will or righteous ways 7. Thus you which are truly spiritual may understand that neither the spirits of angels no nor of the man Adam himself was of the divine essence in their creation T is truth the soul of Adam was of the very nature of the spirit of God but it was a created nature or vertue which brought forth its pure natural body as its house or tabernacle of abode so that as the body had a beginning of dust through which it was capable of change 8 So likewise when that divine soul was covered with an earthly temple it was capable of mutability though it proceeded from an immutable glory 9 But on the contrary though the spiritual bodies of angels had beginning also yet they were not subject to change but their spirits not being of the divine nature of him that made them was wholly subject to mutability 10 For the angels spirits were pure reason as aforesaid and what is the nature of the most purest reason is it any thing else but all pure desires And what is the original of the most purest or perfect desire that is Is it not a want of soâ—ething that is desired or a kind of unsatisfaction untill its desire be satisfied from some thing that is not inherent in it self 11 Again my spiritual brethren is it possible think you that there should be the least motion of the most purest desire that is in the nature of that spirit which is all fulness of divine satisfaction in it self 12 Or is it possible that that spirit that hath any desire in its nature should enjoy fulness of content in it self 13 Wherefore though the holy God created that angelical reason of all pure desire let no spiritual wise man call it his divine nature 14 Why because you know there can be no kind of desire in the nature of that immortal God that is all variety of glorious satisfaction in it self as beforesaid 15 But let him know from the true light of life that the Creator by his infinite wisdom or power from a word speaking unto dust could create yea and did make divers living creatures and yet not one motion of the natures of those created beings was inherent in his heavenly spirit 16 Therefore you that are possessed with that new and true divine birth from the immortal throne may know that the spirits of elect angels are not in the least of any part of the glorious natures of his spirit but onely a created rational spirit of all pure desires which was not onely become distinct from his divine nature now it possessed its personal living being in it self 17 But was also in its non being in the fore-knowledge of the Creator eternally distinct from his undesiring nature of all spiritual glories secretly hid in its own dark sensless elements as beforesaid onely by a powerful word it was commanded to appear and manifest it self in its own creaturely condition 18 Again some may say unto me Were the angels under any Law in their creation From the unerring spirit of our
Lord Jesus Christ to this I answer All the angels were equally created under one Law the which moral Law was written in their angelical natures motioning in them that all obedience was properly due unto their Creator which had made them such marvellous creatures 19 Again you that are spiritual may know that no created being was capable to be formed in a lawless condition 20 Why because there is nothing uncapable of being made under a law from another but that divine being onely which was eternally in or from it self You may also know that those very words of creation or creatures includes a Creator and a command of all obedience due unto him 21 Also you know that no creature could acknowledge any kinde of obedience to be due unto a God unless he were guided thereunto by 〈◊〉 light or law from him that formed him 22 My spiritual brethren from the divine voyce of God himself I affirm that the uncreated Godhead it self is unto the created beings of angels or men either a law of perfect faith and pure burning love in them towards God and man unto life eternal 23 Or else a fiery Law of unbeleeving burning envy them against God elect men and angels unto death eternal 24 Not that any sin or evil could possibly proceed from the holy spirit of the Creator into the nature of the crâ—atures either in his creating of them or after they were formed by him 25 You know that was impossible because his divine nature in it self is nothing else but all variety of ravishing purities to himself or elect men or angels 26 Moreover you spiritual ones may know that though the spirits of angels were created perfectly pure in their kinde and measure yet if they were not continually â—â—pplied with inspirations from that divine glory which gave them their beings in stead of continuing in their angelical brightness their spirits would become nothing else but a bottomless pit of imaginary confused darkness of aspiring wisdom above the Creator 27 For the elect angels spirits being onely pure reason the very nature of them is to desire after the knowledge of that incomprehensible glory which gave them their beings and it is the variety of his divine excellencies flowing into their desiring natures which is that heavenly food that is prepared for their eternal preservation 28 My beloved brethren if you look into the first Epistle of St. Peter you may see that the elect angels are of a desiring or prying nature into the secret mysteries of our God when he manifested himself on this earth in a body of flesh the words are these Searching when or what time the spirit which testified before of Châ—ist which was in them should declare the sufferings that should come unto Christ and the glory that should follow the which things the angels desire to behold 29 Furthermore I am perswaded in my spirit the the forming of angels was not very long before the creating of Adam and Eve 30 Because you know that the elect angels were not onely made for the personal society of the Creator in his heavenly throne or kingdom of Glory but they were appointed also for ministring spirits unto the heires of salvation in this world according to that in the first of the Hebrews 31 Moreover you that are spiritual may undoubtedly know that it was utterly unpossible for man or angels to be void of all Law in their creation 32 Because the Creator himself became subject to his own law when his divine Godhead was transumted into pure man-hood 33 T is truth that the uncreated eternal God was above all Law and so uncapable of any kiâ—â— of Law before he descended from his infinite glory into the womb of a woman 34 But that he might be capable of the condition of a servant for the manifestation of this his infinite wisdom power and glory in a body of flesh unto elect men and angels therefore he transmuted his unchangeable Godhead into the likeness of sinful mortals for a season that he might become the heavenly pattern of perfect obedience to his own Law in the visible sight of elect men and angels 35 And that from thence by vertue of his sufferings at the hands of cursed Canaanites he might also become a purchaser from himself of a twofold infinite ravishing glory to himself and elect men and angels the which his spiritual body was uncapable of untill it became suffering flesh blood and bone 36 Therefore whosoever saith that any other body ascended into glory but that very same body of flesh and bone that suffered death upon the Cross he is an Antichrist in utter spiritual darkness let him be the perfectest literalist or naturalist in the whole world 37 Moreover you that are truly spiritual do know that it was utterly impossible that heaven and earth with all the wonderful works in them should be from eternity as godless Atheists would vainly imagine becausâ— they cannot attain to know what the holy One of Israel is by their own natural reason 38 For alas if no mortal man can give a being to one hair of his head though he be Lord of all other creatures under the Sun how should he possibly be from eternity 39 I hope these overwise men will not say that men were brought forth by Earth Air Water Fiâ—e Sun Moon Stars or any such like weak means as those are because the spirit of man far exceeds all such creatures 40 You may know that though those creatures have life in them according to their kind yet man being a sensible living soul to it self and being capable in some measure to comprehend the nature of those creatures aforesaid must of necessity be a more eminent living being then they all 41 For alas you know though the Sun Fire Water Wind or Air are powerful in their natures oft times destroying mankind yet when they have done it they are no way capable in themselves of any sensible joy or sorrow for what was done by them no more then the stones in the street 42 Therefore seeing all these creatuâ—â—s were formed for mans use and are in measure known by man and yet are all uncapable of any sensible knowledge of themselves or of man either and seeing no man by his natural reason can perceive how any spirit bring forth its own body unto matuâ—ity neither how it by degrees passeth away into its dust or non-being again nor no creatures worth naming were ever seen by men to have a beginning in any other way but that of generation onely 43 How can any ration I wise man possibly imagine or think that man or any other living formes â—hould ever appear to be without a glorious Creator to give them their beâ—ngs at the first 44 Furthermore my spiritual Brethren can any of you be so weak after a sober consideration to imagine or think that a formless God gave being to all these marvellous living forms 45 How is it possible for that which hath
no distinct form or person of its own to create any kinde of living form at all 46 What though the spirit of our blessed Creator and gracious Redeemer be infinite can it possibly enjoy and kind of sensible life light or glory unless it hath a distinct body or person of its own to possess it in 47 Again though many seeming wise mâ—n for want of true divine faith do imagin the Lord to be a vast spirit yet you know that when they are moved to speak of a Creator they usually say that the eternal being is an incomprehenâ—â—ble infiteness of variety of divine glories as namely wisdom saith love patience meekness righteousness with all spiritual excellencies 48 My spiritual brethren if the Creators nature be all variety of divine vertues and every qualification in him be infinite how can those divine glories be sensible of their own being or incomprehensible blessedness unless they possess a distinct body of their own to possess that glory in yea a transcendent heavenly body answerable unto an unutterable spiritual glory 49 For alas you know that no finite living being can possibly be capable to possess divine vertues which are infinite and live 50 You know that mortality and â—nâ—inite immortality cannot continue together 51 Therefore you may understand that that pure light which shineth in our dark spirits though it be called the divine nature or spirit of an infinite Majesty yet it is not infinite nor immortal in us 52 But it is a heavenly light or vertue in us changed into a condition of pure mortality that it might instruct a mortal sinful soul concerning immortal things which are eternal 53 For you experimental ones know that if that light of life enjoyed by us were immortal and eternal in us then it were impossible that we should be capable of any kind of misery or mutability in the least 54 Therefore you may know also that the greatest light in sinful man is but an inspired motion into the mans spirit to purifie the lying imagination or impure reason in the soul of that man that he may be capable to understand that the Creator hath a purpose to crown him with unchangeable personal glory at the great day 55 But as for those men which dream of a condition of possessing an unchangeable glory in this being through an essential oneness with an infinite Majesty they are in the depth of spiritual darkness concerning a right understanding of the Creator of his heavenly ways in man 56 Moreover you spiritual ones may know that though no man hath any light of life in him but what he hath received from an unchangeable glory yet because that vessel wherein this light doth shine is a mortal sinner and must die therefore that heavenly light is made subject to mortality so 57 Because the most high God by his unsearchable wisdom hath decreed that all light of life in man shall become dead dust or earth for a moment that in his appointed season it may quicken again a new and glorious life out of death it self for the manifestation of his infinite wisdom power and ravishing glory unto elect men and angels 58 Thus you that are truly spiritual may know that though death be and was that King of fears and enemy to all kind of life in God men and angels yet for a further increase of infiniteness of glory in the Creator and finite glory in elect men and angels it was his divine pleasure to make it as useful in its kind as life it self 59 Though this truth will be the Judge of me and all men at the last yet I expect but few to imbrace it through that endless opposition in man CHAP. V. 1 The cause of the Angels fall and the fruit thereof 2 The condition of the elect Angels 3 The spiritual nature of the fallen Angel remained and what names are g ven to h m. 4 An Objection and the Answer concerning two vessels 5 Of the â—allen Angel and Adam 6 No distinction between God and the creaiure but by names and natures 7 Election and Reprobation proved by divers Scriptures Iâ— the next place I shall write of the occasion of the downfal of the angelical repâ—obate from that height of his created glory which he possessed above all the elect angels My beloved brethren in â—he pure truth you know that light of the holy spirit in the Creator breathing it self into my ignorant soul hath abundantly remonstrated the distinction between the natures of God and Angels aforesaid 2 Moreover you may remember I told you that the spirits of angels were puâ—e reason in their creation and furtheâ—more you know it is cleerly proved that the nature of the highest reason that ever was or possible can be is nothing elâ—e but meer desire 3 Wherefore though the Creator gave it its rational being yet unto you spiritual ones I made it appear that in his glorious spirit not one motion of reason was inherent 4 Because where any desire is though it be never so pure it is a want of something desired 5 Therefore you know than an infinite fulness of divine perfections in its own spirit cannot possibly have any kind of want in it therefore uncapable of any kind of desire in the least 6 Because what it hath a mind to do concerning it self or any thing it hath made you know it can do it to the utmost and who can let it or shall dare to say in the day of his eternal account why hast thou made one vessel for eternal glory and another vessel for everlasting shame 7 Wherefore my Christian f iends you may know that the continuance of the glory of the angelical reprobate being expired the Creator onely withheld the inspiration of his divine glory from him and immediately for want of that spiritual meat to satisfie his desiring nature his Godlike creâ—â—ed purity became nothing else but imaginary impurities of secret aspiring desires above the Creator 8 So that his former pure reason was then become nothing but a loathsome sink of unclean reasoning concerning the true knowledge of the Creators being the Creator and the creatures being but creatures and in stead of honouring the Creator for his unsearchable wisdom of forming out of a little dead â—ust such an innumerable host of elect angels for his Majesties personal society 9 At the blind bar of his lying imagination secretly he araigned all the wisdom of the infinite God in creation and condemned iâ— as weakness it self in comparison of his imaginary wisdom if he had been the Creator 10 Again his angelical spirit being wholly out of all creaturely order and being lifted up with the wisdom of his spirit and glory of his person he beheld both the wisdom and persons of all he elect angels as simple uncomely creatures in comparison of him or his wisdom 11 Moreover conceiving himself most fit for divine Rule and beholding himself and the Creator together he imagined his personal wisdom more
if they acknowledge this rational truth without controversie when the light of the Sun is eclipsed from us it is through its near conjunction with the natural light or ruler of things of the night 58 And when the light of the Moon is eclipsed from us though it be in the night or early in the morning it is through her near 〈◊〉 Junction with the natural light or ruler of the day or a planetary fire answerable to his nature 59 My beloved spiritual brethren as for the time and effect of Eclipses I leave them unto the figurative Merchants of a Sun Moon and Stars which they rightly understand not because no man can truly know them but by inspiration from him that made them CHAP. VIII 1 Of the Heavens 2 How many were created 3 No more but three 1 A Throne of Eternal ravishing glories 2 A Throne of Natural perishing glories 3 An invisible spiritual Throne leading to Eternity AGain if there was but one heavenly firmament created in all some men may say unto me What is the meaning of that third Heavens in the Scriptures 2 From that light which cannot lie to this I answer The spirit of God speaketh of a third heaven in Scriptures that some men might be capable to declare unto his redeemed ones how many heavens there are and where those heavens are and what those heavens are 3 My spiritual brethren which have ears to hear hearken unto the pure light of life eternal There are three created heavens spoâ—en of in Scripture Records and no more no nor never was any more what ever vain men have imagined 4 The first is that third heaven of visible and invisible ravishing glories which are eternal this is that vast kingdom where the persons of the mighty Angels and glorified bodies of Moses and Elias do now inhabit beholding the face of that most excellent Majesty whose divine nature unto his elect is crowns of unutterable excellencies 5 This is that habitation third heaven throne or kingdom of ravishing glory above the starry heavens spoken of so frequently in Scripture Records which is needless to nominate unto you which are spiritual 6 But lest some vain glorious men should say Wheâ—e is the word of God for what I speak Seeing the letter is their God whom they adore in stead of the holy Spirit which spake them therefore to stop their carnal mouthes if it may be I shall write down two or three Scripture Records Heaven is my throne and Earth is my foot-stool Acts 7. O God thy throne is for ever and ever Heb. 1. That we have such an High Priest that sitteth at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens Heb. 8. 7 The second Heaven which the Lord created was not a spiritual but a natural therefore of necessity it must fade away 8 This Heaven is this visible firmament adorned with majestical lights above us and a fixed earth beneath us beautified in its seasons with variety of delights which is natures onely desired haven through the secret decree of the most wise God to manifest the variety of his most infinite wisdom unto elect men and angels in the creating of such natural glory to perish and the â—â—gelical merciless rulers thereof after they have enjoyed their momentary glory 9 Give me leave to cite two or three Scriptures as a visible testimony to this second Heaven also It is written In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth 10 My beloved spiritual brethren you know that there could not be any beginning unto the Creator therefore it may be understood that saying did include that immortal throne above and this mortal world beneath as having a beginning was spoken for the capacity unto men or angels which knew their being was from another and understood also their continuance in those several heavens for a time or for eternity 11 In the first of the Hebrews it is thus written And thou Lord in the beginning hast established the earth and the heavens are the works of thine hands they shall perish but thou dost remain and they shall wax old as doth a garment 12 Again the third and last created heaven is that within the bodies of men or the first man Adam the which spiritual creation being in natural bodies and within this perishing Globe it is made capable through its union with changeable nature to enter into mortality that by the most secreet decree of the most high God after a moments tasting of silent death as he himself did it may quicken again through death it self spiritual bodies full of divine glories that as one man naturally as a flame of fire all the elect may as swift as thought ascend to meet their Lord in the air and with his divine person of bright burning glory enter into that prepared Throne of eteâ—nal pleasures 13 This created or inspired light in man you know hath variety of Scripture-expressions for the setting forth its excellencies that it shall enjoy in the life to come as namely the kingdom of heaven is within you Christ in you the hope of glory Know you not that the spirit of Christ is in you except ye be reprobates It is a true saying for if we be created together with him we also shall live together with him 2 Tim. 2 Thus God created the man in his image in the image of God created he him he created them male and female Gen. 1. 14 Thus briefly I have touched upon the three created Heavens nominated in the literal Records unto an invisible yet visible infinite being of all finite beings blessed for ever viz. a throne of eternal ravishing glories secondly a throne of natural perishing glories lastly an invisible spiritual throne leading them to eternity 15 From that spiritual Majesty by whom was formed the Heavens aforesaid and all in them I positively affirm against all mortals that ever were or shall be that though men have written or shall speak of more worlds then what is fore-written those additional heavens proceeded from their own imaginary confused reason and not from that holy Spirit of all heavenly order CHAP. IX An exact Scripture rule to prove the Man Christ glorified to be Father Son and Holy Spirit in one distinct Person MY beloved brethren which desire a right understanding of spiritual things in Scripture Records take special notice of this one thing and you cannot be deceived by all the wisdom or subtilty of men 2 I say again from the Lord take good notice of those Scriptures which speak positively concerning God or the highest Heavens or Angels or eternal Life or eternal Death or of a natural Heaven and all mortal things within its orb why because you may know that all privative Scriptures though never so eminent or numerous wholly depend upon positive Scriptures 3 My dear brethren for whom my soul is in continual travel until the pure truth be rooted in you some of you being weak of comprehension I shall
fulness onely do we not all receive and grace for grace if we have any grace at all ruling in us 3 And is he not the Redeemer of his beloved people with his own blood and is he not the Judge of quick dead and was not all things made by him and for him and was there any thing made that was made without him and was he not before all things and do not all things consist in him and are not all things upheld by that Almighty word of his holy Spirit onely 4 Seeing these are undeniable words of Truth it self do not all those men that own any other God or Father or Creator above before or besides our Lord Jesus Christ deny the Holy One of Israel and imagine a cursed lie and bow down to that cursed Idol of their own invented words onely utterly denying that honor and glory due unto Jesus Christ the Creator himself 5 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is that Christ the same is that Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son Whosoever denieth the Son the same hath not the Father he that hath the Son hath that life and he that hath not that Son of God hath not that life he that believeth in the Son of God hath the witness in himself he that believes not God hath made him a liar because he believed not the record that God witnessed of that his Son and this is the record to wit that God hath given unto us eternal life and this life is in that his Son But ye have anointment from that Holy One and know all things These literal words of truth are in the Epistles by St. John All things are given unto me of my Father and no man knoweth the Son but the Father neither knoweth any man the Father but the Son and he to whom the Son will reveal him Mat. 11. 6 Some deceived persons ignorantly hold forth a false God or Trinity which say that the infinite Majesty is a vast bodiless spirit also they call their God by a twofold name or spirits a Spirit Father and a Spirit Son and these spirits they say are in their spirits and so these three spirits being one essence make up their imaginary Trinity in Unity 7 These are those which affirm that there is no other God or Father or Creator bâ—t what is invisibly living in the Creation or in the creatures onely and if you soberly ask them whether there be a Creator and concerning the true knowledge of any such Creator you shall receive such like answers as this is 8 The Creator is an infinite incomprehensible Spirit essentially filling all things and places or they will say that a creature is utterly uncapable of any knowledge of the Creator himself but within the creatures onely or else they will tell you that not to know the Creator is the greatest knowledge of a Creator 9 Again you shall have such confusion as this from some of these high flown Atheists the Creator is all things and yet he is nothing at all and is every where and yet he is no where at all 10 If a man shall reply and say Nothing is nothing but if you grant a Creator he must be something as well as his creatures or else there can be no Creator at all 11 Further if a man shall say the Creator must of necessity be some glorious thing which is infinite in it self and distinct from all creatures as well as the creatures are distinct from one another or else you utterly deny a Creator 12 Then these men will say What is your Creator you pretend to know and where is his residence did you ever see him or such like 13 If a man shall reply That the Creator is an incomprehensible glorious person in the form of a man and that by vertue of his brightness he fills heaven and earth angels and men spiritually or naturally onely his ever blessed person is resident on a throne of infinite glory in but one place at once as the person of a man is in this world 14 Then these men are ready to villifie such a Creator as a simple weak thing or else they will say this is to confine an unknown infiniteness into a creaturely substance and such a God of a bodily appearance any way like unto themselves in the least they utterly abhor but as beforesaid a wonderful God which is uncapable of ever being seen or known by the creatures such a non-sensible infinite nothing all vain-glorious men delight to own who love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil 15 Another sort there are of these men which appear more angelical then the rest these are those which are full of expressions of heavenly Raptures through a supposed union with a Father and Son within them onely and various Songs which they call Spiritual breakings forth in them unto which hymns or natural songs mixt with many spiritual expressions in meeter or otherways they bow down their souls and ignorantly say it is the Father breathing forth those fleshly ballads through their mouthes Moreover if these notional flashes shall see any of their own fancies lying under a wounded spirit and through some extraordinary guilt crying out they have that fire of hell burning in them and are those devils which are under eternal damnation already 16 Further though their condition be like unto Cain through the eternal absence of the spirit of God speaking peace unto their outcast condition yet when these notional flashes shall come to visit their friend in this his horrid unutterable pain and shame they will speak such like empty speeches are these Come come it is very good for you that you should be thus afflicted it is a token of the fathers love unto you he will bring all men and women into your condition more or less that the glory of his mercy might shine over all or else they will say 't is the Fathers love in darkness appearing unto you if you could but see it Further they will say unto their hopeless friend wherefore do you thus torment your own soul there is but one pure being and all our spirits came forth from this Father of Spirits and in the end we shall all be swallowed up into the eternal being again wherefore then do you talk so much of eternal damnation or call your self a devil making such lamentation for your sins as if you could possibly be divided from your Fathers love or cast out of his glorious presence I boldly affirm unto you it is no such matter for there are no such devils or damnation or sins at all but in the esteem of men deceived so to think by their fellow creatures which ignorantly lord one over another from some blinde opinion in them wherefore our counsel is that you would hearken no more unto vain thoughts or motions or imaginations within you or words from any creature without you as to become so weak or foolish
our Lord Jesus Christ to this I answer It is impossible for any Civil Magistrate to be obedient to this Rule because you know then that he could not execute justice upon any man upon what account soever 30 Again whether a Magistrate be a just or unjust person yet you may know that upon a civil account he represents the person or place of the righteous Judge of quick and dead wherefore according to his obedience or disobedience unto his commands he shall be rewarded in this world or that to come Therefore know that since the God of glory clothed himself with flesh and bone in the form of a man to kill or consent to murther the Head Magistrate it is as if thou hadst murthered the King of Glory himself 31 Though nothing comes to pass by chance or fortune but by the Providential Decree of the most High God yet no man can be cleared in his Conscience from the guilt of innocent blood all his days if secretly or openly he shall consent to kill the Ruler of the Nation without an immediate command by voice of words from the God of heaven and earth 32 Suppose the former Governors of these Nations were guilty of much innocent blood and ruine of Families by their Spiritual Courts so called and through their imaginary wisdom Lucifer-like sate in the throne of God commanding men to worship their inventions triumphing over all tender Consciences which could not bow down to their Egyptian Calves and yet what spiritual or sober rational man can blame those men for their willful bloody-mindedness seeing a blinde fiery zeal moved them to it in reference to the worship of their God 33 If any of them through covetousness of silver or honor amongst earthly Princes did onely pretend a Divine Worship and through secret envy to those which could not obey their commands did ruine men to the utmost of their power through those Jesuitical Councellors who were Atheistical can any sober man imagine or think that those men were not oftentimes convinced of hypocritical irrationality besides a secret fear of eternal vengeance notwithstanding all their fleshly glory through which they were strengthned in their spirits to flatter themselves up with vain hope that there was no God at all or if there was any God to cheat themselves with a conceit that it was irrational cruelty for a man to think that the Creator could be so unmerciful as to create men for eternal damnation in reference to momentary infirmities which their frail natures could by no means prevent 34 Again if thou which thus reasonest didst truly understand that thou hadst no power in thy self to withstand these natural evils beforesaid thou couldst not possibly then commit them but this is hid from thine eyes by the secret wisdom of the most High God that thou mightest clear his divine Justice in reference to thy former cruelties with everlasting thoughts that thou mightest have done otherwise when thou wast in thy earthly pomp if thou wouldst 35 If the God of Glory should neither recompence men in this life nor in that to come for all their wilful vain-glorious bloody cruelties which they think they could prevent if they would then indeed these seeming wise men may justly say if there be a God he is so far from any spiritual equity that he falleth short of all rational equity whatsoever 36 Another infallible demonstration of the truth of this writing is this that though many writings extant are more accute in form of words yet throughout this Book thou shalt finde no point absolutely contradicting it self nor one another 37 Again another testimony of the truth of this writing is this That it discovereth the vanity of all formal or irrational opinion in man concerning God Worship Angels Devil Sin Heaven or Hell 38 By this infallible Rule also thou mayest know that this Epistle proceeded from a spirit infinitely above all kinde of reasoning in man or Angels because it alloweth no man upon what pretence soever to murther one another or to sit in Gods throne to cut off the Head Magistrate or to rebel against him with a sword of steel or to speak evil of him or desire evil unto him 39 Moreover though this Book was penn'd by the hand of a sinful man yet by this undeniable Argument thou mayest know it proceeded from that Spirit that cannot be deceived because it denies all power in man or angel as to be capable to act spiritual or natural good to one another or to resist spiritual or natural evil without a continued light proceeding from a spiritual body too infinitely glorious to be essentially united to heaven earth angels or men yet this wonderful God is now for everlasting abiding in a body of flesh and bone therefore not a bone of him was suffered to be broken upon the tree or corrupted in the grave onely his Godhead natural Life was left in this world for an everlasting Consolation unto those that shall attain to believe that it was the unvaluable Life-blood of the onely Wise God himself that was freely poured out unto death for the redemption from the power of sin and fear of eternal death and for a dreadful witness at the Great Day against those men that shall be left to their own unbelieving spirit to vilifie the glorious God for abasing himself into the likeness of sinful mortals CHAP. XV. 1 Of the Error of Errors in men who say that there is no other God or Christ but in this Creation onely 2 Several Objections and Answers concerning the death of the soul 3 The light of Christ in man is the invisible image of God which purifieth the inward filthiness of the flesh and spirit and presents the certain truth of an eternal life of glory or shame 4 No need of a new birth if there be a sufficient light of Christ in generation to conduct to heaven 5 Children cannot understand spiritual or natural good or evil so need not Christs spiritual gifts in the womb for eternal happiness 6 A great error to believe that the essence of the eternal Spirit dwelleth in any man but in the Lord Jesus onely 7 Two marks of Reprobates YOu that are truly spiritual may know that there are many thousands of Atheistical minded men and women at this instant which are possessed with a spirit reprobated unto all inward and outward purity out of which there is no redemption what ever men shall vainly imagine to the contrary onely their decreed time of eternal damnation in the sight of elect men and Angels is fixed These are those which say all things comes naturally of themselves Also they will say there is no beginning of any thing at all but from all eternity all things were as you see and so shall continue to all eternity 2 There are many of these men which appear in Temples of Stone or else where as experimental speakers of the everlasting Gospel and are more accute in a seeming glorious language
then most men 3 Usually they will talk of one pure being within all men onely also if they branch forth this their pretended God unto their deceived hearers you shall hear them utter these or such like expressions Brethren be not so carnally minded as to think of a God in the form of a man sitting in a Heaven above the Stars but minde that spiritnal God in the invisible Heaven of your hearts Again they will say that spirit of the Father within you is that God of love beauty vertue with all variety of glorious perfections whatsoever if you were but once acquainted with it wherefore if fears of eternal damnation seize upon you they are apt to say it ariseth from your ignorant conceivings of a God and a Heaven at a distance Again for mannaging of this their sophistry that their deceit might not be perceived they will treat upon these and such like Scriptures Christ in you the hope of Glory know ye not that Christ is in you except ye be reprobates as he is so are we in this present world the Kingdom of Heaven is within you at that day shall ye know that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you that they all may be one as thou O Father art in me and I in thee Even that they may be also one in us he that is born of God sinneth not 4 Thus they wrest these literal Scriptures to hide their fleshly glory and subtile Hypocrifie that their eternal vengeance may exceed all mens in this age at the visible appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ with his mighty Angels 5 You that are endued with a gift of spiritual distinguishing between perishing glittering words and glorious things which are eternal if you observe these sorts of golden sophisters you shall finde that whatever scripture they treat upon they carry it in an allegorical notional mistery of nothing but meer empty words onely As for example if they speak of the persons of Cain and Abel or of the persons of the bond-woman and her son and the free-woman and her son they will bid you look within you and you may see them all there in seeming contrariety onely 6 Again if you observe these men you shall seldom or ever hear them speak of any thing after this life but they will tell you of a death and resurrection of man in this life but as concerning this mortal soul and body of ours entring into the grave or death and quickning again a new and glorious life by raysing this mortal body into a glorified condition in the visible sight of it self and presence of a personal God elect men and Angels in a kingdom of eternal glory these are riddles or uncertain things at a great distance 7 It is not a God or Christ or throne of eternal glory above the Stars which no mortal man can make visible unto mens eyes that will cloth men in plush-Jackets and feed their bodies with dainty delicacies no no the infallible truth concerning a bodily resurrection of a purified spirit unto eternal Glory and a personal appearing of an impurified soul unto everlasting shame will yeeld no such Peacocks feathers nor Dives dishes as those are the Apostles and those of the same faith with them will one day personally appear again to bear record unto this truth 8 My brethren what difference is there between those men which glory of a God Christ Heaven Word Ordinances and Salvation without them and are ignorant of the teachings of the Holy Spirit within them and those men which glory of all these heavenly things within them and yet are ignorant of that glorious personal Majesty and Throne of immortallity without them 9 Are not these men those hypocritical Pharisees and Atheistical Sadducees which indeavored to cover their nakedness with inward and outward leaves of rational words onely 10 Do not all men which confess a Creator conclude that his spirit is infinite immortal unchangeable and eternal 11 Doth not every man possess a distinct living spirit in his own body 12 Is not every man a sinner and subject to all manner of loathsome diseases of mortallity 13 Wherefore if this one pure spirit of God himself was dwelling in the body of any mortal man whatsoever is it possible think you that that man could be desirous after carnal copulation or subject unto any kind of putrifaction whatsoever 14 Who art thou then poor vain perishing clay which boasteth of possessing of a most holy immortal spirit within thee and yet canst not enjoy any life of peace in the least without a continual supply of fleshly carnalities without thee 15 Again art thou capable of possessing an infinite eternal spirit which art but a finite piece of fading dust 16 Art thou so vain in thy imagination as to think that such a changeable piece of confusion as thou art can possibly be capable to bear about thee that bright burning glorious spirit of the unchangeable God whose glory is above all heavens at whose power of a word speaking all kinde of lights within this Creation are immediately subject to enter into silent darkness as if they had never had any being 17 Again is not the glorious body of Jesus Christ in the Throne of the Father the eternal Son of God 18 And is not all the divine Godhead of the everlasting Father living and raigning in him bodily 19 And is this spirit any more then one spirit united unto that one body of glorious flesh and bone of our Lord Jesus Christ 20 And is not all the treasures of wisdom hid in this Jesus onely and is it not from his fulness that we all receive grace for grace 21 If we have any true light at all ruling in us if this be truth which none can deny but notional Atheists or bloody minded Formallists what art thou then but that outcast angellical Reprobate which doth not onely divide the Godhead spirit of Christ Jesus our Lord but impudently affirmest that thou and all of thy opinion do possess the very Godhead spirit within you 22 And not onely so but like a Devil incarnat as thou art thou cursest those that discovereth this thy horrible blasphemy 23 Again thou which carriest thy God about thee where ever thou art when thou hast breathed out thy sinful Soul and all thy light or life into silent dust or death where then is thy inward God and self become 24 But it may be thou wilt reply and say thy soul is immortal and cannot die to this lying conceit of thine I answer by way of Quere 25 Dost thou indeed believe any truth in Scripture Records 26 If thou reply thou doest then my Qâ—ere is this whether thou thinkest that the soul of Christ when he was in a body of flesh on this earth were not as immortal as any other mans is or rather immortal alone and all others mortal besides him 27 Well then if I prove that the soul of Christ died and
was buried canst thou then be convinced that thy sinful soul is mortal and must die also 28 In the 53. of Isaiah it is written he poured out his soul unto death Again it is written that his soul was heavy unto death Again it is written that his soul was made an offering for sin Again in the first of Revel it is written I am he that was dead and am alive and behold I live for evermore Again it is written in St. John I lay down my life of my self no man takes it from me I have power to lay it down and power to take it again Christ therefore died and rose again and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and the quick In the second of the Acts of the Apostles it is written thou wilt not leave my soul in grave nor suffer thy holy One to see corruption 29 Behold is it not as clear as the light in these Scripture Records that the pure soul of Christ himself died and was buried in the Grave for a moment and doest thou think thy sinful soul is immortal and shall scape death 30 Again thou canst not be so fortish as to think that the spirit of Christ was buried alive in the grave neither canst thou possibly prove by these Scriptures that his soul was not buried with his body in the grave how then canst thou or darest thou say that thy polluted soul is immortal and cannot die 31 Again did that spotless soul that was uncapable of the least motion of folly enter into death and dost thou think that thy soul shall scape death which naturally is become so full of folly that it is utterly uncapable in it self of all kinde of purity whatsoever 32 If no sinful man be capable of the in-dwelling of the Spirit of God some men may say unto me What is that spirit light or life of Christ spoken of in the Scriptures which all men are made partakers of except they be reprobates 33 From a divine gift of the Eternal Spirit to this I answer The elect of God being endued with the vertues fruits or effects of the most Holy Spirit these heavenly graces or motions in the minde proceeding from the glorious Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ are called by the divine Titles of God himself because they are of the very same nature operating the very same effects of immortal glory in the end of the world as it did upon Christ himself 34 Again you know it is written in Scripture The fruits of the Spirit is love peace gentleness goodness faith long suffering brotherly kindness and such like against which there is no Law Also it is written That men were made partakers of the divine nature and that Christ did live in mens hearts by faith And that Christ said He was the Vine and his Apostles or Believers were the Branches and his Father or Spirit was the Husbandman Again it is written Let the same minde be in you that was even in Christ Jesus Likewise it is written There were diversity of gifts or operations of the Spirit of God in men 35 My spiritual brethren which wait for a Crown that fadeth not away if you compare Scriptures with Scriptures you may see then that no sinful mortal did or possibly could possess the in-dwelling essence of the Spirit of God himself but onely the in-shining motions operations voices vertues fruits or effects of that most glorious Spirit 36 Again it is written That Christ is the Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world and why so Truly because there is no other Father Spirit Creator or God at all but Christ Jesus alone to give light unto men or angels that is all men which are enlightned with the true light that leadeth unto life eternal receive it only from the glorious Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ 37 Again though it is said that Christ is the Light of the world or that he giveth light unto every man that cometh into the world yet it doth not therefore follow that all men are partakers of the light of Christ in them unto life eternal 38 Furthermore I confess there is so much light of Christ in the most wickedst of men to convince them of sin but not to restrain them or convert them from evil 39 Again there is a two-fold light of Christ in men the one is literal and the other is spiritual 40 Now you that are truly enlightned from above may understand that there is naturally so much light of Christs Law written in every sensible mans spirit to convince him of good and evil and to cause him oftentimes to confess the truth and to wish that he could love it or do it or that he might die the death of the righteous like unto Baalam 41 But though this legal light of Christ in men be never so great in measure yet no man was ever capable by it to be made inwardly obedient unto the spirit of Christ our Lord Jesus 42 Therefore who ever thou art which sayest that all men have so much light in them as will make them happy if they will thou knowest not as yet what it is to possess that spiritual new birth of true light unto life eternal 43 That light of Christ which doth not onely convince a man of inward Rebellions and convert him from the ruling power of them may also be called by a two-fold name either a created light or a renewed light 44 This light of Christ in man is that invisible image of God which doth not onely purifie the inward filthiness of flesh and spirit but doth also in some measure present unto the understanding the certain truth of an eternal personal glory or everlasting shame of a life to come 45 Again you know it is written that except a man be born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven Also it is written From his fulness we all receive and grace for grace 46 My spiritual brethren if a mans understanding is not capable to comprehend any thing of the invisible and visible things of the Kingdom of Glory except the eternal Spirit of Christ Jesus convey a new and shining light into him what then think you will become of those men which say there is so much light of Christ planted in every mans spirit that is sufficient to make him eternally happy if he will but hearken unto it 47 If all men which are begotten and brought forth by the spirits of sinful parents were naturally endued in the womb with such a measure of the light of Christ in them that will safely conduct them into the Kingdom of Glory if they will what need then would there be of any new birth at all from the Lord Jesus Christ Or what man would want any further light from the Holy Spirit of the onely everliving God 48 Again it is written When Christ ascended on high that he led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men 49 My
word Father bear the same sense 17 Doth not the word Jesus signifie a Savior and doth not the word Son bear the same sense and doth not the word Christ signifie Chrystal clearness or anointing and doth not the word Holy Ghost bear the same sense 18 If this be truth which none can gainsay but men as yet under spiritual darkness what difference is there then between the word Father Son and Holy Spirit and Lord Jesus Christ Are they not onely names words or titles in relation to the onely wise immortal invisible distinct glorious God-man blessed for ever and ever in himself and honored onely of men and angels unto whom he is made manifest 19 Though the eternal Jehovah had variety of divine Titles for the exaltation of his infinite Majesty under the legal or ceremonial worship of Moses and the Prophets was he ever own'd by any more then one name of glorious God or Holy One of Israel 20 If he had contained of three divine Persons or Spirits in coequal Godhead glory can any man be so sensless to think that he would have hid it from Moses and Aaron Abraham David and all those Prophets with whom he was so familiar in divine appearances or wonderful miracles 21 If the Most High and Mighty Jehovah was but onely one spitual person in the times of Moses and the Prophets which none can gainsay but men in Egyptian darkness are not those men at present utterly ignorant of the onely wise God which endeavor by literal violence to perswade themselves and others that the Holy One of Israel is three persons because he is called by a three-fold name in the New Testament 22 You know in Scripture a man is called soul body and spirit though he be but one person 23 Also you may know that men in highest places are called by a three-fold Title as namely Kings excellent Majesty or the like 24 Though they attribute to themselves never so many honorable Titles to manifest their earthly greatness that they might be dreadful in the spirits of earthly minded people yet you know they are but one person onely 25 So likewise though the eternal Jehovah be called by a three-fold name of Father Son Spirit or Lord Jesus Christ or though he hath never so many divine Titles attributed to him for exaltation of his infinite Majesty within the spirits of his redeemed ones yet you may know that he can be no more then one glorious being onely 26 You that are truly spiritual may know why the God of glory called himself by a three-fold name because no man by humane learning should by the letter of the Scripture truly know what the Holy One of Israel is or was that God alone might have all the praise or glory in revealing himself unto mankinde 27 Christ Jesus the Holy One of Israel called himself by a threefold name in reference to a threefold maner of appearance to his elect Israelites 28 In his first appearance unto Moses and the Prophets he was pleased to manifest himself by the Divine Titles of Jehovah the mighty God of Jacob the Holy One of Israel and such like 29 When the God of Glory abased himself in flesh in the form of a servant answerable unto that second appearance unto his chosen ones you know he called himself Jesus the Son of God the son of man the Savior and such like 30 Jesus Christ the Holy One of Israel being ascended into the throne of his former glory now in his third and last appearance he is pleased to call himself by the names of holy Ghost or Spirit because of his immediate spiritual teaching of his redeemed ones 31 Or thus the onely God may be understood a spiritual Lion in the days of Moses and the Prophets a divine Lamb in the days of Christ and the Apostles a heavenly Dove in these our days of confused darkness 32 Or thus the Holy One of Israel may be described the eternal Jehovah in the Law the eternal Jesus in the Gospel the eternal Spirit in this age 33 And yet but one onely distinct personal Majesty even from eternity to eternity 34 Though the Lord of Life and Glory commanded his Apostles to Baptize those of the Faith in the name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost yet you know their miracles were done by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ 35 Whatever any literal monger shall object you that are spiritual may know that the Lord Jesus Christ and Father Son and Spirit beareth but one sence 36 Jesus Christ the Holy One of Israel called himself by a threefold name of Father Son and Spirit in relation unto his threefold witness on earth in the words following which are these and there are three which bear witness in the earth the Spirit and the Water and the Blood and these three agree in one CHAP. XX. 1 No title of honor ever attributed but to a Person 2 Who it was that Christ prayed unto in the days of his flesh 3 The Creator distinct from all his Creatures 4 Of Gods Oath concerning his Transmutation into pure flesh and bone MY spiritual brethren because all true and lasting peace wholly depends upon a right understanding of the onely wise God and because most of the heirs of glory are not clear in their understandings concerning his personal Majesty though much hath been declared to that purpose in this Epistle already I shall write distinctly concerning the Creator and his immediate commissionate Messengers or Embassadors from these two threefold Scripture Records 2 You know that in Scripture Records as beforesaid a man is called by a threefold name of Soul Body and Spirit as if he contained of three distinct essences yet you know that in the originality of nature he is but one distinct personal being 3 So likewise though the onely wise God in Scripture Records be called by a threefold name of Father Son and Spirit or Lord Jesus Christ as if he contained of three distinct essences yet you which are spiritual may know that he is but onely one distinct glorious person in form like a man 4 If an earthly Monarch did not possess a distinct body could there be ascribed any honorable titles of Emperor King or such like unto him at all 5 If the eternal Majesty were not a distinct person what holy names could be attributed unto him in the least 6 Is it names words or titles makes a King to be or gives being to an Emperor without a natural person 7 Is it divine words names or titles makes a God to be or gives being to a Divine Majesty without a spiritual person 8 Yow know that all the honorable titles in this world to be vain and of none effect if there were not the person of a man to ascribe them unto 9 You may know that all honorable titles concerning a divine Majesty would also be of none effect if there were not a spiritual person to attribute them unto or unless they were
earth unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood will pour clean water upon them and they shall be clean he died in the flesh and quickned in the spirit 8 Thus you that are truly enlightned from on high may see a little into that wonderful mystery of the onely wise God imanifesting it self in earth answerable unto his threefold Record in the Heavens beforesaid 9 Three glorious words names titles or distinctions in reference unto one divine person onely in a threefold manifestation of his spiritual glory unto elect men and Angels CHAP. XXII 1 Of the three Witnesses on earth 2 Of Spirit Water and Blood 3 The three Records on earth are the three Commissions 4 What the Commissions are SEeing all spiritual power and wisdom in Heaven above or in Earth beneath is no where to be found nor never was but onely within the divine Ark or spiritual person of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 In the next place by his own light in some measure I shall remonstrate unto you that are capable what is the meaning of those three witnesses of Water Blood and Spirit in Earth which agree in one unto which the foregoing words have relation of Father Son and Spirit which are but one 3 My spiritual brethren are not those three witnesses in earth the commissionated messengers which by voice or words through the glorious mouth of God himself were sent forth unto an unbelieving bloody worldly minded people for a witness unto them to this purpose at the unexpected dreadful day of the Lord Jesus Christ 4 Doth not that water witness in earth signifie Moses and the true Prophets under the Law in reference unto the holy name of God the everlasting Father 5 Doth not the witness of the blood in earth signifie Jesus and the chosen Apostles in relation of that heavenly name of God the eternal Son 6 Doth not that witness of Holy Ghost in earth signifie those two witnesses in the 11. of the Revelations 7 As Water Blood and Spirit mixt together are in a sweet harmony in the body of a man in perfect health and through a defect of either of them the body could not subsist 8 So likewise it is with those witnesses of God in earth called Spirit Water and Blood for these three sweetly unite bearing witness unto but one onely wise distinct personal God glorified 9 Therefore they agree in one heavenly harmony and cannot possibly be one without the other not onely because they proceeded from one glorious spirit but also because they three onely by the secret wisdom of the Eternal Majesty were chosen to bear witness in earth before men and Angels unto that threefold Record in Heaven of Father Son and Holy Ghost aforesaid 10 But some men may say unto me the Law and Gospel being witnessed unto by the Prophets and Apostles already what need is there of this third witness of the spirit in earth or what doth it bear Record unto 11 From a divine gift to this I answer In many respects there is as much use of the witness of the spirit in this Atheistical age as of the two former witnesses of Water and Blood 12 To fulfil the Scriptures which saith heaven and earth shall pass away but his word shall not pass away or not one title of his word shall be unfulfilled 13 How should Christ Jesus the Lord of Glory be known to be the onely God of truth if there were not at one time or another a third witness in earth to fulfil the Scripture for there are three that bear witness in earth 14 Another necessity of this third witness of the spirit is this because you may know that there hath not been above these thousand years a commissionated messenger sent forth by the eternal Spirit to bear witness unto that truth which the two former witnesses sealed too with their bloods 15 Another necessity of the witness of the spirit is this because of late and at present so many several Antichristian spirits are come forth into the world in their own names and from the power of their own strong imaginations and cunning cursed observations have acted many visible lying signs and wonders upon their own bodies and other ways to the ruining of many a poor deceived soul in body minde and personal estate all of them pretending when those fleshly fits comes upon them that it is the power of the eternal Spirit immediately moving them CHAP XXIII 1 Of several empty opinions concerning the Two Witnesses in the eleventh of the Revelation 2 What they are 3 No true witness without a voice from Heaven 4 Who are the two last Spiritual Witnesses IN the next place I shall write somewhat of mens empty opinions concerning the two witnesses in the Revelation for your better understanding of the insuing truth some men have imagined them to be the spirit of Christ and the flesh of Christ 2 Now you may know that cannot be because the spirit and body of Christ were both glorified together in the highest Heavens long before John prophesied of the two Witnesses standing before the God of the whole earth amongst the sons of men 3 Others there are that would have them to be the literal Law and Gospel now you that are spiritual may also know that cannot be the Witnesses here spoken of because without a true Interpreter the Scripture in it self is but a killing letter 4 You know that the invisible truth of the Scriptures proceed onely from a true light received from the spiritual person of Christ Jesus our Lord in the throne of immortal glory 5 You know that from the bare records it is impossible to attain to the knowledge of the onely very true God or the spiritual mysteries of his everlasting kingdom and that was the very cause of these and such like Scripture sayings I thank thee Father that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them to babes Make the heart of this people fat which have eyes and see not cars and hear not hearts and understand not and why so to fulfil the word of the Lord spoken through the mouthes of his Prophets in the time of the Law 6 If the two Witnesses here spoken of were the Letter of the Scripture what need then would there be of the invisible teachings of the Spirit 7 For the most part doth not the Ministers and people set up the letter of the Scriptures and offer divine worship unto them as the children of Israel worshipped their golden Calves 8 The two Witnesses cannot be meant the literal Scriptures because it is said If any man will hurt them fire proceeds out of their mouthes and devoureth their enemies and if any hurt them in this maner they must be killed 9 Now you may know that at this very present there are many thousands in these three Nations that do not onely count the Scriptures meer inventions of wise men to keep the
simple in aw under their Rulers but if it were not for fear of men if they could have their wills they would burn all the Scriptures in the world to ashes and in stead of fearing any fiery vengeance following them their unbelieving seared spirits would greatly rejoyce at it as a most noble or profitable act to the whole world for preventing all literal contestations concerning a God or glory or misery to come 10 Some men would imagine these Witnesses to be the Magistrates and the Ministers 11 Now you may know that cannot be because both Magistrates and Ministers are either chosen by one another or by the voice of the people in stead of being chosen by the voice of God himself or a true Prophet sent forth by his eternal spirit for that purpose 12 'T is written that the witnesses had a powerful gift of prophesie now you know that since God became flesh instead of the Magistrates or Ministers owning themselves to be commissionated witnesses or Prophets of the divine Majesty for the most part if men have appeared upon that account they have persecuted them by imprisonment stripes banishment or death it self 13 Again it is written the witnesses were cloathed in sackcloth therefore they cannot be the Magistrates or the Ministers because you know that for the most part they are rather clothed in Satin or other costly garments then Sack-cloth or mean apparrel Wherefore seeing all Magistrates with their Ministers are chosen by men onely through the secret decree of the most high God and it being apparent that instead of honoring the Lord of life and glory or shewing mercy unto his Prophets for the most part they seek the honor of one another and persecute his messengers and rejoyce in feasting one another through the fastings of others 14 It is as clear as the light unto any man whose heart is not stone blind that they are none of the witnesses prophesied of by St. John in the eleventh of the Revelation 14 Another sort of Atheistical people there are that would imagine themselves to imply the two witnesses there spoken of saying the two witnesses are within them or every mens soul and body are those two witnesses and such like 15 Now you may know that this is so far from any spiritual truth that there is no sence or reason in it why though a man be called soul body and spirit yet he being but one person onely you know he can be no more then one witness upon what account soever 16 Again the invisible witness of mens consciences concerns mens own particular onely between God and man or between man and man and God onely wise perfectly seeth that witness always and not men therefore that cannot be the Witnesses here spoken of because you know that the Witnesses or Prophets of the Lord were always visible whilest they had a being in this world 17 Thus it is as clear as the light that none of all these are those two witnesses spoken of by St. John but meet imaginary fancies of mens own brains for want of a divine Light in them to distinguish between the true witnesses sent forth by the Creator himself and the false ones that went before they were sent 18 Again it is written But I will give power unto my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie My spiritual brethren you may know that when John spake those words that the two Witnesses were to come into the world to bear testimony unto the truth of the two past witnesses of the Lord because the Text saith but I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesie 19 And you know according to the truth of unerring Scriptures the two former witnesses had power given them from the Lord and they did prophesie in their times 20 So that you may understand that the Lord did purpose to raise two men in this Atheistical Age out of the very ashes of the two former witnesses not onely for discovery of all lying appearances in his name as they did in their times but also for a more clearer manifestation of the deep things of God then ever was since this world began 21 You that are spiritual may know that since the Lords two former witnesses fell asleep in the dust of the earth not a man have powerfully appeared to bear witness unto one distinct personal Creator as they did until we came forth in the latter end of the year 1651. in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by voice of words spoken unto me by his eternal spirit three mornings together to the hearing of the ear as a man speaks to his friend 22 Again the Scriptures call them by the name of two witnesses onely wherefore if any man addeth to their number or despiseth them because they appear not like a God to bring fire down from heaven or turn waters into blood or such like natural plagues or miracles as hath been acted already if there be any truth in the Scriptures can that man scape the Plagues of God in the life to come threatned in such a call 23 Again you know it is said the Lord gave power unto the two witnesses to prophesie Is not this answerable unto the word of the Lord when he said unto me that he had given me understanding above all the men in the world and that he had chosen me as his last messenger for a great work unto this bloody unbelieving world and had gived me Lodowick Mugleton to be my mouth 24 You know that the witnesses are said to be two Olive Trees and two Candlesticks standing before the God of the whole earth my beloved spiritual brethren hath not the glorious God of Heaven and Earth both by speaking and writing manifested through our earthly Candlesticks or mortal mouths more divine Oyl or golden Truth then in any men in the world besides 25 Again you know it is said the witnesses were cloathed with sackcloth I humbly beseech you that have truly tasted of the glory of eternity did any men upon the face of the earth since the time of the Apostles upon an account as sent forth from the eternal spirit suffer persecution for bearing witness unto the man Christ Jesus glorified to be the onely wise God and alone everlasting Father but we two onely 26 Again you know it is written if any man will hurt them fire proceedâ—th out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies My spiritual friends is not this answerable unto the word of the Lord when he said unto me I have put the two edged sword of my spirit into thy mouth that whoever I pronounce blessed through thy mouth is blessed to eternity and whoever I pronounce cursed through thy mouth is cursed to eternity 27 Who ever thou art that shalt see these passages and be offended with me because of them be it known unto thee and all men else that I of all men neither do nor can expect any mercy from the glorious God to
the minde of Christ from John's words in the beginning of the 11. Chapter the first words are these then was given me a Reed like unto a Rod and the Angel stood by saying Rise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot forty and two moneths 21 My devine friends you may understand that that reed like unto a rod possessed by John was a free gift of inspiration which he received from a glorified Christ in the high heavens by his Angel whereby like unto a skillful Land-measurer his understanding was enabled to comprehend the spiritual signification of the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein 22 You may also understand that the Temple and them that did worship therein did signifie Gods spiritual house or tabernacle of elect Jews and Gentiles which make but one compleat body for Christ Jesus their head to raign in by his heavenly light 23 That Altar spoken of by John did signifie the glorious body or Tabernacle of the eternal spirit unto which divine Altar or Godhead person those spiritual worshippers were vertually united by a received light from that infinite Majesty through which invisible intercourse sometimes their souls were full of spiritual joy through that inward seal of Godlike glory which they were to enjoy in the life to come 24 You may understand that that unmeasured Court without the Temple did signifie the visible Scriptures 25 You know that when sacrifices or ordinances were in force at Hierusalem there was the inward Temple and outward Porch or Court joyning to the Temple 26 You also know the Court without the Temple was a common place for all people to meet in but none might enter into the inward Temple in the time of their worship but the chief Priests or those that were Confessors of the true God and approved of by those teachers of the Law 27 Likewise you may understand that the outward Court or Scripture which is common to all men that was left unmeasured or cast out did signifie all the out-cast unbelieving Jews and Gentiles and the inward Temple or spirit of the Scriptures did signifie all the Elect believing Jews and Gentiles in that glorious Altar beforesaid 28 Again you know that the Court of the Temple was an outward ornament or witness unto the beauty or glory within the Temple 29 So likewise the Court of the visible Scriptures is an ornament or testimony unto that eternal spirit of all truth within the Temple Body or Tabernacle of the everliving God and vertually in a great measure living in the Temples or bodies of his elect that are inabled to give a true distinction between the things of eternal life and eternal death 30 Again you know it is said that the unmeasured Court without the Temple was given to the Gentiles and that they should tread the holy City under foot two and forty moneths 31 You spiritual ones may know that the minde of the Holy Spirit in those words was this that to fulfil the Prophesie of Christ concerning the destruction of the Jews their Temple and City of Hierusalem by the Romans through conquest they should possess the literal Records written by the Prophetical and Apostolical Jews and not onely worship it in stead of the eternal spirit but also by cruel persecution for above thirteen hundred years were to tyrannize over the Holy City of spiritual Jews and Gentiles that could not bow down unto their inventions 32 You that are spiritual may know that the Roman Gentiles here spoken of by John are those people which men call Cavaliers whose Princely race sprang first from the loins of King Herod that bloody persecutor of the Lord of glory and so streamed into the line of the tyrannical Roman Empire or Popedom 33 From this papal power whatever Apostical or Christian stile they attribute to themselves through all the Christian world so called they have banded together as one man to tread underfoot as beforesaid that chosen City of heavenly minded Jews and Gentiles 34 Because their innocent souls could not forsake that everliving Altar manifested unto them and bow down to their Egyptians Calves set up as a snare unto the people chiefly for fleshly gain and perishing glory from men of their own spirits 35 Also you that are spiritual take special notice of this that these two witnesses or Prophets spoken of in the 11. of the Revelation did not appear unto men until the Gentile power of persecuting Bishops were extinguished in this land 36 But it may be objected by some that one Bull and Varnum and others long before them have pretended to be these two witnesses and yet it came to nothing 37 To this I answer by way of query can any man make it appear from any Record since the Apostles time that in any Land or Nation two men did ever bear witness in all opposition of all men or Angels unto the man Jesus Christ glorified to be the onely God everlasting Father and Creator of both worlds Angels and men 38 Again amongst all the pretended Prophets in the world doth any of them bear witness unto one personal Majesty distinct from Heavens Earth Angels and men 39 Nay of the contrary do they not all rather disown such a God as a weak or carnal thing and as one man like unto Baals four hundred Priests and the false Prophets and Priests in all ages imagine the Creator to be an infinite formless spirit 40 If any man should moderately enquire of the pretended Prophets or spiritual lights in this age concerning the knowledge of the Creator or a glory to come is there any answer to be had from them but this or such like the Creator is an infinite invisible unchangeable eternal spirit or else they will say the Creator is all wisdom love purity riches beauty joy righteousness justice or divine excellencies he fils heaven and earth he is the all in all and there is nothing besides him or else they will say the more ye desire the knowledge of the Creator the less you will know of him because he is infinite or they will bid you minde that God or Choist within you and trouble not your self about incomprehensible infiniteness thus these false Prophets of cursed Cain make a wonderment of an infinite Creator of nothing but meer words onely 41 Thou which art puffed up with such a Creator as this is shalt one day know to thy eternal sorrow and shame what it is to despise a personal God infinitely full of all glorious perfection 42 When this personal Majesty shall shew his infinite power upon thee through the retaining of his inshining light from thy Lucepheâ—ian spirlt and shall leave thee and thy inward God in an unspeakable condition of eternal shame and confusion of sould and
the God of Heaven and Earth without a voice of distinct words to the hearing of the ear from the everliving God 11 Or can he possess any true joy or peace of conscience in his prophetical declarations without such an immediate commission from the true God as beforesaid 12 Again though Spirit Blood and Water by the wisdom of God sweetly agree within the body of a healthful man yet you know that they are of contrary natures to one another 13 For the soul or spirit of man is an absolute mortal fire within the blood and the water which by vertue of its fiery nature qualifieth the blood and the water according to their capacities 14 Through which they are so sweetly composed that unanimously they give natural life and strength through the whole man in so much that the one cannot live without the other though they are of contrary natures 15 Thus through the secret decree of the divine Majesty there is a marvelous trinitary mystery within the natural body of man 16 But very few men understand it for want of the prophetical spirit of David in them who cryed out with exceeding admiration of the Creators wisdom saying I am fearfully and wonderfully made 17 So likewise you may know it is with these three commissionated witnesses of the divine Majesty in earth 18 For though all three proceeded from one and the same spirit of truth and all bear Record unto onely one distinct personal God-man glorified yet in the maner of their declarations concerning the worshipping of the Holy One of Israel they differ and are as contrary as fire blood and water which are without the body of men 19 But in the spirituality of their administrations concerning invisible worshipping of the Lord Jesus Christ they harmoniously agree as one soul like unto spirit blood and water within mans body as aforesaid 20 If any man should ask why the Holy One of Israel hath put such a vast difference between the administrations of his three witnesses in earth To this from the Holy Spirit I answer by way of Quere Is it not to blinde the eyes of the wise and prudent men of this world that from their strength of reason in Scripture records they may war against the pure light of life within the witnesses of the God of all saving truth 21 That they may remain in their rational darkness of unbelief wherein they were born and so everlastingly perish for want of that â—ew and true birth of the fiery glorious Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ 22 Is it not also that God alone may receive all the honor power praise and glory from his redeemed ones in the revealing his true witnesses or Prophets unto them by his eternal spirit through which they attain to the right understanding of the very true God and the glorious things of eternity declared by his own chosen messengers 23 And so are made to receive those divine truths in the purity of them by loving of them above the gain or glory of this conceited periâ—hing world 24 Moreover do they not thereby enjoy an invisible seal of an assurance of the eternal immortality of their persons at the visible appearing of the divine Majesty of the Son of man 25 That most infinite glorious God with all his mighty Angels Moses and Elias at that dreadful day when all time shall vanish immediately and eternity onely seize upon all mankinde in their several persons 26 Again if water blood and fire without the body of man be mixt together being of contrary conditions or natures you know they cease not contending until they have conquered one another 27 Also you know blood is too strong for water and fire too powerful for blood so likewise you may know it is with the three commissionated witnesses of God in earth Moses the Apostles and two last Witnesses 28 Though they unanimously agree in bearing record unto onely one distinct personal God of all saving truth as spirit water and blood sweetly accord within the healthful body of a mortal man as aforesaid 29 Yet you may know that in their visible worship they are at warfare with each other until they have obtained victory one over another 30 That the present immediate spiritual wisdom of the divine Majesty might bear rule in the consciences of the chosen Jewels of immortal crowns and not that which is past 31 Wherefore when that Gospel administration of blood appeared you know that the Apostolical Commissioners thereof did with all their power preach against all Mosaicall observations of Jewish circumcision new Moons or abstinence from meat drinks or any kinde of Sabbattical Ceremonies whatsoever to be vain and of none effect and contrary to the Spirit of Christ 32 Thus you that are enlightned from on high may see that that spiritual wine of the everlasting Gospel in the chosen of God transmuted all watery Ceremonies into its own spiritual substance even as water being mingled with blood is converted into its own nature 33 Moreover since the appearing of the two last Witnesses of the eternal spirit you may know that all Apostolical ordinances imitated by men called Ministers of the Gospel are counterfeit Apostles which take upon them to Preach Pray Baptize with water break bread lay on hands or any such like without a commission from on high 34 Whether for silver or honor or a name amongst men under pretence of conscience unto a God which they truly understand not nor desire to know 35 From the true God I say again you that are spiritual may know that these idol Shepherds and their imaginary formalities are now become vain and contrary to the heavenly breathings or incomes of the glorious Spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ God-man glorified 36 Thus in what soul soever this divine worship of the true God powerfully appeareth it immediately transmutes all Apostolical formalities into invisible spiritualities of glorious joys 37 By vertue of an heavenly intercourse between the divine spirit and the poor soul that is acquainted with his heavenly voice or still motions 38 Again if divers men appear as Witnesses or Prophets immediately sent forth by a powerful commission from the everliving God are there not certain divine seals to distinguish between those Embasladors which are infallible and them that are but fallible 39 My elect brethren is it not the property of a commissionated Witness of Christ Jesus at the first appearance of God unto him to desire the Most High that he would passe him by and make choice of any other to be his Embassador unto his people 40 Furthermore in the maner of his spiritual declarations unto the most wisest natural men doth he not appear not onely seemingly quite contrary unto the Lords former witnesses but also as the most blasphemous simple base fellows that ever appeared in the name of the Lord 41 But of the contrary for the most part in men that are deceived is there not a strong desire in their fleshly spirits
his where he calleth them Serpents and Generation of vipers and children of the devil and how should ye scape the damnation of hell and such like 39 Again concerning those words ye would not you that are spiritual may know that the divine will or pleasure of God in his Prophets did spiritually contend with the carnal spirits of the legal Jews answerable to their cursed imagination of having power in their own rational wills to do whatsoever he should command them 40 If the nature of the most purest reason be nothing but unsatisfactory weakness some men may say unto me why then doth the Scriptures call them Christs mighty Angels From the true light of life eternal to this I answer by a comparison If men are chosen by the greatest Monarch in the world for his society that they may be always ready to obey his will in whatsoever he shall command them when they have received a commission from his own mouth to execute vengeance upon Rebels their Towns Cities or Castles in his dominions you know they appear mighty or dreadful unto all his people as the King himself that sent them 41 So likewise you may know is is not in reference unto the purity of the Angels natures that they are called mighty Angels but because they were created not onely to stand in the personal presence of an infinite Majesty to behold his bright burning glory face to face but also to be ready to receive commissions from him to execute vengeance upon the Persons Goods Towns or Castles of Canaanitish Rebels that are left to despise his spiritual government or glorious truths declared through the mouths of his chosen Messengers 42 Again though those men that stand in the presence of the worlds Monarch are looked upon as the most mighty Nobles on this earth yet you know that the sight of them is not very dreadful to behold until men know they have received a commission of life and death from their mighty Lord and Master 43 So likewise though the holy Angels are called mighty because they stand in the personal presence of the most infinite Majesty of heaven and earth yet you may know that the sight of them are not very dreadful to behold until they have received a commission of life and death from their most mighty Lord of heaven and earth 44 Again you know that the servants of the most eminent Prince are not onely looked upon as honorable and mighty persons because they stand in the presence of so powerful a Prince but also because they inherit a temporal kingdom of such exceeding vastness with variety of honor beauty riches or pleasures 45 So likewise you may also know that the persons of Angels are not onely called Holy or Mighty because they stand in the visible presence of so infinite a Majesty but also because they inherit a kingdom of such infinite vastness and unspeakable fulness of all variety of ravishing honors beauties riches or pleasures which are eternal 46 Again you know that the servants of an earthly Monarch for the magnifying of their Lord and Master in the spirit of his subjects are cloathed not onely with or naments decked with silver gold precious stones or the like but their bodies also are anointed with precious odorus and fed with the finest delicacies 47 So likewise for exalting of the transcendent glory of the infinite God in the spirits of his obedient subjects you may know that the persons of the elect Angels doth not onely shine brighter then gold or any precious stones whatsoever but their bodies also are anointed with divine odours and their spirits are fed with glorious delicacies by vertue of a continual inshining brightness proceeding from the eternal spirit that made them 48 So much at present between the divine nature of the eternal spirit of undesiring satisfactory fulness in its own personal Majesty and the rational spirits of unsatisfactory desires dwelling in the spiritual bodies of the elect Angels and why they are called mighty Angels CHAP. XXIX 1 Of the creation of Adam 2 Why God spake in the plural number in the making of man IN the next place I shall treat of the Created purity of the first man and woman that ever were made that the heirs of immortal Crowns may the more clearer understand my ensuing discourse in the first and second Chapters of Genesis it is thus written furthermore God said let us make man in our image according to our likeness and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the foul of the heaven and over the beasts and over all the earth and over every thing that creepeth and moveth on the earth thus God created the man in his image in the image of God created he him he created them male and female The Lord God also made the man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living soul 2 My beloved spiritual brethren I do not question your satisfaction concerning the Holy One of Israel being but onely one eternal personal Majesty because not onely the ridiculousness of three persons in the Deity is so fully discovered already in this Epistle but because the true ground why the God of glory calleth himself by a threefold title of Father Son and Holy Spirit is clearly manifested also 3 Before I write concerning what that image of God in mans creation was give me leave to reason a little upon those words let us make man in our own likeness 4 If thou which art so literally accute or exact do but soberly minde the first and last words of the three Scripture Texts together thou canst not possibly but be convinced of thy Trinitary error 5 Concerning those first words furthermore God said hath not those sayings relation unto the singular number onely 6 Moreover though God spake in the plural number let us make man in our image according to our likeness it doth not therefore follow that the Holy One of Israel can possibly consist of three personal beings in coequal glory as men vainly imagine 7 Again thou which little thinkest that University tongues keeps thee under spiritual darkness whether was it most proper for the glorious Creator to say let us make man in our image according to our likeness or to say I will make man in my image according to my likeness 8 Is not the word us in creation more emphatical or spiritual order then the word I in creation 9 What is thy natural wisdom but rational exactness whether words bear a good sence sound or language and from thence to imagine the Holy One of Israel to be three personal beings because he was compell'd to speak words in the plural number in reference unto the glory of his wisdom or counsel concerning the creating of man in his image or likeness 10 Again as in the foregoing words the creation of man was spoken in the plural number of trinitary expressions
twofold operation which is this When his wisdom seeâ—h fit to reveal a divine secret to his elect then his Holy Spirit is all active and when he seeth fit to obscure it from them then his divine spirit is all passive 3 For the manifestation of his infinite power and wisdom you know that he can create light out of darkness and life out of death with a glorious advantage 4 You know that if the glorious Creator for trial of his creature should leave the most experimental man that is to his own inspired light and suffer him to be tempted unto that evil of Adultery or Murder and overcome thereby he must of necessity loose that former joy and peace of the divine light or love of God in him 5 And in the room thereof both see and feel nothing but spiritual darkness with a secret fear of eternal death 6 Until the light of life appears again with a new assurance of a glorious deliverance from that sinful darkness and fearful death as aforesaid 7 Truly what ever men shall imagine to the contrary as sure as there is a God this was the condition both of Eve and Adam also when they were defiled with unlawful lust one towards another by subtil temptation of that Serpents councel called the Tree of knowledge of good and evil 8 Again though it is said It was a Tree to be desired to make one wise yet you may know that the soul of Eve was not of a desiring nature after wisdom in her creation because she was all divine satisfaction in her self 9 Therefore that desire of tasting of the fruit of a Tree to make her wise as Gods to know both good and evil proceeded onely from the rational nature of the unsatisfied spirit of the Angelical Serpent 10 For this I would have you to understand at that time Eve was tempted to evil by the Serpent she was wholly left to her own strength 11 And it was the seeming glory of his Angelical language that overtopped her present light and begot that desire in her understanding through which her soul was moved with a powerful desire to make trial of his Serpentine councel and to taste of his spiritual meat so highly exalted by him 12 Because to her received new thoughts she had not heard so glorious a language before 13 Again the tree was pleasant for sight truly before that glittering Serpent appeared Eve wanted no satisfaction in beholding the man Adam 14 But she looking a little too long upon the comeliness of his form through his infused witchcraft her soul was ravisht with the sight of his Angelical person 15 Again It was a tree whose fruit was to be desired to make one wise as Gods to know both good and evil My beloved spiritual brethren the pretended meaning of the Serpent in those words was this if she did but taste of the fruit of that tree it was so full of divine vertue that she should not onely be like unto God but she should be as God to her self 16 Also to know all that was to be known whether good or evil within her own soul but the truth is his secret intent was this that when she had tasted of that forbidden fruit she should with him both know and feel in her own spirit the difference between light and darkness life and death love and envy peace and war good and evil or God and devil 17 Since Eve the natural mother of all mankinde was overcome by lust through the sultilty of the Serpent hath not many a poor innocent Virgin or Virgin-wife been deceived in like maner through the comeliness of mens persons and their Serpentine languages by perswading them that they loved them above their own lives and of giving them such content they know not of or if they deny them it will be their death 18 Moreover by telling them all men are but one man and all women are but one woman and therefore it was pure liberty to be free unto all and that they are in the greatest bondage which are united to one onely 19 I say hath not these and such like cursed councels occasioned many an innocent soul to betray their Virginity or Virgin bed unto their perpetual sorrow and shame afterwards 20 Truly my Christian friends this was the Virgin-wife Eves very case though it may seem strange at the first unto many that shall read this Epistle 21 You know the Scripture saith That she seeing the Tree to be good for meat and pleasant to the eyes and a Tree to be desired to make one wise took of the fruit thereof and did eat that is when the innocent soul of Eve was overpowred with the Serpents subtile language as before said her spirit did consent unto him to come in unto her and take full possession of her to be her God and guide instead of her Creator 22 Truly in this case the Virgin Eves condition may fitly be compared unto the Virgin Mary 23 You know after the Angel had told her that without knowing of man she should be with childe through the power of the most high overshadowing of her how easily was she intreated not onely to have it so but also how exceedingly did her soul rejoyce with the very tidings thereof 24 If men look with a spiritual eye between their Angelical salutations they may see more seeming glorious enjoyments in the unclean Angels greeting of Eve then in the holy Angels saluting of Mary 25 Though men or Angels should gain-say it from the spirit of truth it self I shall declare the very sense of this secret in plainess of speech which was this 26 As soon as ever Eves soul through the permissive power of God was overcome to consent to the Serpents cursed counsel his Angelical person entred into her womb through her secret parts 27 And being united to her soul and body his Serpentine nature dissolv'd it self into her pure seed and defiled her throughout and so became essentially one with her through which naturally she conceived a Serpent Dragon Devil into a man-childe of flesh blood and bone and brought forth her first begotten son of the devil yea the very Dragon Serpent devil himself and called his name according to his nature Cain or cursed though ignorantly she said she had received a man from the Lord. 28 So likewise of the contrary the Womb of the Virgin-Wife Mary was honored with the onely wise Angelical God himself 29 Through which her poluted nature was not onely cleansed whilest he was in her womb 30 But also by vertue of the divine power she was enabled to conceive his glorious Majesty of her seed into an holy babe of unspotted flesh blood and bone and in his season to bring forth her first begotten Son of God 31 Yea the true God and everlasting Father himself and call his name according to his nature Emanuel Jesus or blessed 32 So that you which are inwardly Baptized with the true knowledge of the Holy
consists not in meats and drinks also it is written whatsoever is sold in the shambles eat making no question for conscience sake Furthermore it is written there is nothing unclean in it self but as it is so esteemed for the earth is the Lords and the fulness thereof in these and many such like Scripture sayings is it not as clear as the light it self that whatsoever was made might freely be eaten so that it were moderately taken 31 So likewise whatsoever was created at the first for mans eating with his mouth was absolutely pure and very good for that end it was made but of the contrary that fruit or tree of knowledge of good and evil eaten of by Eve was not onely full of tormenting spiritual venom to her former peace of soul but it caused her very body also to be subject unto all maner of mortal diseases 32 Besides a secret fear of eternal death which was worst of all until the voice of God in the garden of her soul quieted her wounded spirit with a gracious promise of a glorious deliverance through his appearance in a body of flesh in that saying the seed of the woman shall break the Serpents head CHAP. XXXIV 1 The tree of knowledge of good and evil was no natural tree 2 What it was 3 Whence the originality of sin came IN the first Chapter of Genesis it is thus written And God said behold I have given unto you every herb bearing seed which is upon all the earth and every tree wherein is the fruit of a tree bearing seed that shall be to you for meat and God saw all that he had made and lo it was very good 2 If thou which readest this point dost but view this place of Scripture with sobriety of spirit thou canst not then but be convinced of the gross absurdity of the learned men of this world that have long imagined the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil to be a natural tree bearing apples or such like fruit 3 Again if every green herb upon all the earth and every tree wherein is the fruit of a tree bearing seed were given unto Adam and Eve for their food according to what is here written and that God that gave it them saw all that he had made to be very good how then can any sober man possibly imagine or think that the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil could be of this creation though it appeared unto Eve upon this earth seeing all the trees that God had made in this earth was very good in his sight as aforesaid 4 This I would fain know from the Learned whether this earth was capable of any curse or any natural thing that grew in it before Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit 5 If the earth was blest and all that was created in it until Eve had rebelled against the Creator then without controversie what ever venemous creatures trees or herbs there are or any thing else that is hurtful to the nature of man upon the account of eating with the mouth they had no being in this creation until Eve had transgressed 6 Therefore that Tree of Life in the midst of the Garden and the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil could not possibly be trees bearing natural Apples as hath been long imagined 7 But they were trees of higher concernment then of eating their fruit with the mouth and casting of it into the draught 8 Do not all men that have any true light in them look upon the tree of Life from the beginning of Genesis unto the end of the Revelation to be nothing else but the spiritual person of that Lord Jesus Christ who is the onely ever-living God from whence floweth all living waters into the Garden of Eden who are the spiritual trees of eternal glory 9 Do not those men that are of a sound judgement in the things of eternity look upon that tree of Knowledge of good and evil to be the out-cast unclean person of that Serpent Dragon Devil which through essential union with Eve become that murthering lying cursed Cain through which the spirits of the elect Israelites are all defiled as well as the Cananitish reprobate trees of eternal death until they are watered anew from the glorious Tree of life eternal as beforesaid 10 But alas in this confused age of seeming lofty light in stead of a true understanding of the spiritual trees of eternal life and the carnal trees of eternal death spoken of in Scripture-records do not many Atheistical minded men in these our days endeavor with all their might to convert the glorious truths of the everliving Jesus into nothing but brain fancies of notional lying vanities 11 Is it not become a second nature unto them for silver or honor to deceive their own souls by flattering their poor deceived brethren lying under the power of many filthy lusts that all their sins shall be burnt up but their souls shall be swallowed up into the eternal Being 12 Suppose the forbidden fruit had been an natural Apple the Creators nature being all purity it self and the soul of Eve being of his divine image if the forbidden tree was pure in its nature also before it was touched by Eve whence then came that sin upon the spirit of Eve seeing all things that was made in this creation was very good at the first as is clearly proved by the Scripture Records already 13 This I am sure of that no man that is sober neither will nor dares say that that evil proceeded from the Creators forbidding her to touch the tree or its fruit neither could that sin possibly proceed from the soul of Eve because it was of the divine nature in its creation 14 And if that tree and its fruit eaten of by Eve were of this creation how could there possibly be any evil in its nature either seeing every thing and tree that was formed in this world was made very good at the first in the pure eyes of the Creator as abundantly beforesaid 15 But some men may say unto me Though the eternal Spirit of the divine Majesty was uncapable of the least motion of evil through the infinite purity of its spiritual nature yet sin being but a defect of nature may it not originally rise out of the soul of Eve though it was purely created and for want of a Creators infinite power in it self for its own preservation 16 From the light of life eternal to this I answer As for the originality of sin it is both granted and clearly demonstrated already in that secret of the creation of Angels beforesaid that the root of all evil sprung from the nature of the unsatisfied Angelical reprobate through the absenting of the Creators inspiring glorious excellencies to him 17 But on the contrary it is against all spiritual or rational truth that is sober that the least motion of evil could possibly have its original from the divine spirits of Eve or Adam 18 Therefore
much less out of any kinde of Apple-tree or any other woodden trees herbs or plants which were made for mans natural comfort or delight onely 19 For this I would have you to understand though the souls of Adam and Eve were but finite created beings yet because they were of the same nature of him that made them their spirits were as free from all kinde of desire after wisdom or any thing else as the Creator himself for as beforesaid where any desire is there is a want and the least want that is must needs be a defect or weakness in nature which being not immediately satisfied it is subject to become nothing but evil 20 Wherefore from a divine gift received from on high I affirm against men or Angels that that first desire of sin in the soul of Eve proceeded not from the nature of her own spirit but from the unclean spirit of the unsatisfied Serpents language spoken into her 21 For you that are spiritually quick may know that there appeared no kinde of desire or lust in the soul of Eve towards Adam until she had tasted of the forbidden fruit and if that fruit had been an Apple is it not very strange that Adam should be ignorant of it until his wife had found it out seeing all the trees in the Garden which the Lord God had made were very good and given them for food 22 Moreover who ever thou art after the perusal of this truth shalt call this non-sense blasphemy heresie lies and such like because it discovereth thy darkness is it not a clear testimony in thy own conscience that thou art one of the cursed brood of the old Serpent Devil beforesaid which art not able to endure the light because by it thy deeds are manifested to be evil 23 Again though I know I have written sufficiently concerning this truth already unto all that are of a quick comprehension yet for the satisfying of the lambs of Christ and for a further convincing of all gainsaying wolves I shall go on to the utmost in the further clearing of this truth of so high concernment unto mankinde CHAP. XXXV 1 The Curse was not pronounced upon any natural beast but the fallen Angel WHerefore in the third chapter of Genesis you may finde it thus written Then the Lord God said to the Serpent because thou hast done this thou art cursed above all cattel and above every beast of the field upon thy belly shalt thou go and dust thou shalt eat all the days of thy life I will also put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed he shall break thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel My spiritual brethren can any of you upon mature consideration possibly imagine that that Serpent was a natural beast that was pronounced cursed by the Lord for some evil deed done unto innocent Eve 2 If it were an evil spirit that spake through the Serpents mouth can any sober man think that the most wise Creator would have pronounced a curse upon the bruit beast and his seed if the evil that was done to Eve proceeded onely from the Devil within the body of that Serpent 3 Can you finde in any place of Scripture that ever the Lord charged any evil spirit or devil with that deed done unto Eve but that Serpent that spake unto her 4 Therefore what ever men vainly dream of Apples pulled from woodden trees or of a natural Serpent or of an evil spirit in the body of an ignorant beast or any such like imaginary stuff concerning the deceiving of Eve yet you that are truly enlightned from on high may know that that Serpent by whom Eve was beguiled was that angelical reprobate cast down from the Kingdom of Glory beforesaid into this perishing world 5 Moreover you may understand also that the Serpent Angel deceived Eve upon a spiritual account and not upon a natural account because you know that she was ignorant of that poor and low thing of lusting after a man until she had obeyed that Serpents voice 6 Therefore when the Creator denounced that curse upon the Serpent and his seed that Angelical Serpent was within the womb of Eve and not without her 7 And the Lord called him a Serpent onely because of his exceeding subtilty to deceive 8 Concerning the Serpents going upon his belly and eating dust all the days of his life if that had been a natural Serpent so threatned by the Creator was he not as well as if he had enjoyed legs to go and the choicest of things to eat seeing the one was become as naâ—ural to him as the other 9 Of what concernment was that to the woman for a natural Serpent to be cursed by the Lord doth any man or woman heed Serpents upon that account or any other whatsoever 10 Moreover suppose that curse had been denounced against an evil spirit distinct from the soul and body of Eve what hurt would that have been unto Eve or Adam or their generation 11 Or who regards a curse upon any devil in the least so that he himself be not that evil spirit or devil so cursed 12 Concerning the enmity put between the woman and the Serpent and their seed I would fain know from any sober man whether there might not be as much enmity between Eve and a She-bear as a natural Serpent 13 Is it not believed by all men that are possessed with the true light that that Christ Jesus recorded in Holy Writ to be the Son of God according to the Spirit and the Son of man according to the flesh was that heavenly Seed of the woman here spoken of 14 Moreover was not this Jesus conceived of the Virgins seed into flesh blood and bone by the eternal Spirit and was he not pronounced blessed when he was in the Virgins womb 15 Furthermore are not all his spiritual seed of elect mankinde pronounced blessed with him also as the off-spring of the most high God and heirs of immortal Crowns of eternal glory 16 Doth not the Scripture Records throughout make a distinction between two seeds or generations of mankinde 17 And do they not attribute names unto them according to their several natures 18 Moreover doth not the Scriptures make mention of a day of Judgement both for the dead and the quick and doth it not frequently speak of an eternal personal glory and its habitation prepared for some called by the titles of elect and precious Jewels chosen ones Sons of God Saints the blessed of the Lord and such like 19 Doth not the Scriptures also speak of an everlasting shame of personal fiery death in utter darkness ordained for others and their place of residence 20 And doth it not ascribe titles unto them according to their natures as namely Devils Dragons Serpents Vipers sons of Belial cursed children and such like 21 Again if the Lord Jesus Christ was that Angelical God which became that blessed Son of the Virgin promised to
Adam and Eve after their transgression the which none can deny after so clear a demonstration of the Scripture seeds as this is except they be reprobates then without controversie that Serpent which was cursed for his evil deed was not without her but within her when he received that sentence by the mouth of the Lord and that seed or first-born of Eve called Cain was that cursed Serpent Angel himself clothed with flesh blood and bone in the form of a man 22 Who not being able to endure the sight of righteous Abel that blessed Seed or Son of God answerable unto that curse of enmity denounced against him in the womb of Eve his spirit was restless until he had manifested himself to be that old Serpent murthering lying devil and the father of all Cananitish murthering-minded men and women so frequently spoken of in Scriptures Not as Cain which was of that wicked one and slew his brother in the first Epistle of John chap. 3. He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man and the field is the world and the good seed are the children of the kingdom and the tares are the children of that wicked one and the enemy that soweth them is the devil Mat. 13. CHAP. XXXVI 1 Of the minde of the Spirit in the word Eating of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil 2 No true interpretation of the Scriptures but by immediate inspiration 3 Reason not capable of the mysteries of God 4 but Faith onely 5 No devils but men and women 6 No devil without man tempteth any 7 but the seed or lust of his own spirit WHat is the mind of the spirit by that word eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil from the light of life eternal to this I answer The most wise Creator called it eating for several respects 2 First you may be sure that the Lord God called it eating that neither men or Angels should know his secrets untill it was his divine pleasure that he might receive the praise and glory alone from all those that he should reveal them unto 3 The spirit of God called it eating because of the civility of that speech for the Scripture language is much like to a modest pure Virgin who is loth to have her secret parts mentioned in the least though they are as usefully in their kinde and as honorable being undefiled as any part of the body 4 And why are they honorable because the onely Lord of all life and glory hath honored them himself by his blessed birth 5 Moreover you know if a spiritual or natural thing be propounded to the understanding of a man or woman of which they have had no experience their spirits feeds upon it and considers the pleasure of it as much as possible may be before they consent to taste of it with the whole man 6 So likewise in the word eating you may know that the meaning of the Spirit of God was this that the soul of Eve should beware of harkning unto any other voice that was contrary unto that divine image or voice of the Spirit of God within her so that if she should hear the voice of a stranger she should not give way in the least unto that voice lest she should be overcome therewith 7 Again if the Spirit of God instead of saying unto Eve thou shalt not eat thereof should have said thou shalt not spiritually or naturally lust after any God or Angel but be content with what I have appointed for thee then indeed there would have been no need of any interpretation upon the words but as beforesaid the wisdom of God saw it most fit to act otherwise 8 Therefore what ever the learned men of this world dream of finding out the invisible things of eternity by searching into the Scripture Records and comparing them together the divine Majesty hath locked up all the principal secrets of the Scriptures in his own spiritual breast that he by any immediate inspiration may dispose of them into the spirits of elect men and Angels most advantagious for his own glory and their consolation 9 Therefore the sacred Scriptures runs not in the line of reason but in the line of faith inspiration or revelation according to those sayings in the Hebrews and other Records 10 By faith the divine work of creation and wonderful mistery of redemption was and is known with the immortal eternal glory and everlasting shame of mens persons in the end of the world 11 But of the contrary you shall never read in any place of Scripture that any man knew the things of eternal glory in the least by any kinde of rational comprehension whatsoever 12 I confess the natural reason of man is a very good handmaid if it be well qualified with the spiritual dame of divine faith for illustrating of the things of God unto weak comprehensions 13 But as for truly understanding the invisible things of God by the highest reason that ever was in man or Angel it is utterly impossible as abundantly beforesaid 14 Why because though the spirit of reason were never so pure yet you may know its nature is but desire onely after the knowledge of the divine nature of that spirit from whence it had its living being 15 But of the contrary spiritual truth or faith being of the very divine nature of God himself in what soul soever that heavenly seed is sown it springeth up in that spirit with variety of glorious consolations in reference unto life eternal by vertue of an intercourse with the eternal spirit from whence it came 16 Moreover I confess that a man that is endued with a Solomon-like gift of natural reason may be able to comprehend all words whether they are spoken in a good form sense or language or no and to be mighty in disputes about the glorious things of eternity 17 But as for his real understanding whether there were any such eternal things or no he hath no certain knowledge of that at all but his bare thoughts onely which equally weighed in that ballance it may be true or it may be false and all this is for want of an infalibility of truth it self 18 Therefore though the divine things of the eternal Majesty be nothing else but spiritual purity of infallible truth in themselves yet unto that rational wise man they are nothing but non-sensical blasphemy or lying tales till his reason is confounded in him by a true and heavenly faith 19 Again if there should be any evil Angels or Devils living in the air and a Devil amongst them called Belzebub the Prince of Devils what need any man trouble himself with the least fear of eternal death whatsoever wickedness is committed by him because if a man is tempted to evil by any Devil but what is in his own nature onely that evil spirit is to be eternally damned and the man to be set free 20 Nay moreover if sin or evil issued not from mans
rejection spoken of in Holy writ had relation onely to persons of understanding and not unto children that were uncapable of any distinction between light and darkness or good and evil 4 For you that are well acquainted with the Scriptures do know that throughout the whole Bible there is not one saying in the least that maketh mention of condemnation of children but the contrary altogether 5 You may know that that curse denounced against Cain and his seed ran in the line of persons of maturity and not of minority though it is said that God loved Jacob and hated Esau before they had done good or evil 6 You may know that that word was spoken in reference to their being in the persons of men in the sight of the Creator and concerning the difference of their spirits and the effects that would thereby ensue 7 You know it is said there were two nations in Rebeccahs womb at the birth of Esau and Jacob now you know that could not possibly be except they lived to the age of men to fulfil that truth 8 You know it is written that the Lord of Glory commanded his Apostles to suffer little children to come unto him and forbid them not and took them in his arms and blessed them saying of such is the kingdom of heaven 9 My beloved spiritual friends if God onely wise hath said that his heavenly kingdom consists of little children or innocent childe-like men and women are not those men more like unto cursed Serpents then blessed Saints which contrary unto all spiritual literal or rational truth impudently affirm that little children may be eternally damned by original sin 10 If all the seed of Cain that die in their childe-hood shall finde mercy in the resurrection of the just some men may say unto me shall the saved children of Cain and Adam being of two contrary natures appear in the same kinde or measure of glory in the day of the Lords vengeance upon ungodly men 11 From the light of life eternal to this I answer As they differed in their natures in this life so shall they differ in the maner and measure of their glory in that life to come 12 The saved children of the Angelical Serpent will enter into that rational glory out of which their reprobate fathers was cast 13 But of the contrary the spiritual seed of Adam shall enter into that glory from which he fell in a more transcendent godlike condition to all eternity 14 But not in a Paradissical separated place of glory in this creation as some men vainly imagine but in that glorious new heaven and earth without or above this vanishing Starry heavens according to the truth of Holy Writ 15 Thus the most Wise and Holy God of all spiritual and natural order restoreth his spiritual and rational images into their first created conditions upon a more firm foundation of possessing everlasting life and glory together purchased at a dear rate from his divine self by his own most precious blood or God-head life according to that saying by the Apostle Paul Christ therefore died and rose again and revived that he might be Lord both of the dead and the quick and of that saying in the 20. Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles whereof the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with that his own blood 16 Again if you look in the 4. Chapter of Genesis with a spiritual eye you may clearly see that Gods eternal election or rejection of men runs in a line of personal understanding and not in a line of innocent children or natural fools the words are these and in process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an oblation unto the Lord of the fruit of the ground and Abel also himself brought of the first fruit of his sheep and of the fat of them and the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering but unto Cain and his offering he had no regard 17 Ye that are redeemed from the power of all inward filthiness I beseech you what occasioned the respection or disrespection between Cain and Abel in the pure eyes of the Creator 18 Surely not their offerings for you know that God needs no mans person for his sacrifice sake in the least but for the glory of his own name sake onely 19 Yet you know that Cain had as much wisdom from his own reason to present an acceptable sacrifice unto the Lord as Abel 20 Yet it was the Creators eternal free love unto Abel which caused both his person and sacrifice to finde such sweet acceptation with the Lord that the divine love of God in Abel might be seen in the fatness of his sacrifice 21 In that you may know he was made to offer up himself a living sacrifice of invisible and visible obedience unto the Creator as a seal of his being chosen to life eternal 22 Yet you may know it is not any kinde of sacrifice worship righteousness or desire in man or Angel that can possibly move the divine Majesty to accept of it or his person in the least but it is his eternal free love in his own season which operates in him all heavenly mindedness or love to God or man 23 But of the contrary you may know that the original cause of all maner of fearful darkness and fiery shame in Cain proceeded onely from the non-election of his person 24 This was his condition when he was marked with the invisible seal of rejecting both his person and sacrifice from those words Wherefore Cain was exceeding wrath and his countenance fell down 25 My beloved Christian Friends what moved Cain to be so full of wrath or with whom was he so fiery hot 26 Truly as beforesaid his furious anger arose in him from a sensibleness of his out-cast condition and because he could not come at the Creator himself therefore his purpose was to avenge himself upon his favorite even innocent Abel 27 The Scripture gives you the reason thereof because his own works were evil and his brothers good 28 Thus you that are endued with that light that cannot be disproved may see as clear as the light it self that it is not in him that willeth not in him that runneth but in God alone that sheweth mercy 29 What then think you in the day of the Lords vengeance will become of those free-will-mongers or oracle-grace Marchants which cursedly teach their deceived fleshly brethren that a man may be in a condition of salvation to day and to morrow be cast away 30 Truly my spiritual friends if eternal election and rejection depend upon the acceptation of mans will until he be born again with a distinguishing light from the divine will of the Creator every man living would choose eternal death in stead of life such power or purity is in the choisest of mens wills wuntil the divine Majesty present an immortal Crown of glory unto their blinde born
spirits 31 Then indeed and not till then mans soul that was averse to all spiritual good by that divine light is made willing to choose the better part 32 Because then he certainly knows that there is an eternal life and glory for some and an everlasting death and shame for others 33 Therefore you that are truly spiritual cannot but know that though men speak a language like unto Angels or the divine Majesty himself as the Angelical Serpent seemed to do in the beguiling of Eve yet it is utterly impossibly they should possess any true understanding of the spiritual things of the everliving Jehovah or Jesus until their souls are firmly established with an undoubtable assurance of their own personal glory in a world to come 34 So much at present concerning the tree of knowledge of good and evil or seed of the woman and seed of the Serpent O blessed and happy are those men and women in themselves already that enjoy this distinguishing light of life eternal in the purity thereof CHAP. XL. 1 Concerning Christs coming to judgement 2 The vanity of that opinion that believes Christs personal raign upon this earth BEcause of many opinions of Christ and the ignorance of most men concerning his coming to judge both the quick and dead therefore in the next place I shall treat of this most needful point from certain sayings of himself in the 17. Chapter of Matth. the words are these for as the lightning that lightneth out of the one part under heaven shineth unto the other part under heaven so shall the Son of Man be in his day and as it was in the days of Noah so shall it be in the days of the Son of Man they eat they drink they married wives and gave in marriage unto the day that Noah went into the Ark and the flood came and destroyed them all likewise also it was in the days of Lot they eat they drank they bought they sold they planted they built but in the day that Lot went out of Sodom it raigned fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all after these ensamples shall it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed 2 My beloved spiritual brethren you know there is a twofold appearing of Christ unto the sons of men the one spiritual and seen onely by the invisible eye in the soul and the other is personal and seen onely by the visible eye of the body 3 Also you know Christ being the divine rock of all ages he hath spiritually manifested himself unto his blessed Abels from the beginning of the world till now but as for his visible appearing in a body of flesh whereby men might be able to behold the face of their God in the similitude of a man and live you know that he did but once so appear onely for a few years 4 Again in the 25. Chapter of Matthew it is written thus And when the Son of Man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats 5 It is also written in the Thessalonians thus when the Lord Jesus shall shew himself from heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire rendring vengeance unto them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ 6 If you that are spiritually sober do but compare these three places of Scriptures together then you may clearly see what Christ meant by that day of his personal appearing 7 After his suffering and glorification he shall appear like lightning from one part under heaven to the other he shall appear in his glory with all his holy Angels 8 Behold ye blessed of the most high God what kinde of appearing of Christ in his glory like lightning or a flame of fire is this is it not the visible appearing of his fiery glorious person with the glittering persons of his mighty Angels under the whole heavens or in the air 9 If it be not so how shall all nations be gathered together before him that he may make an eternal separation between them according as he hath spoken 10 It hath been long imagined by men of rare parts in the account of many people that before the general judgement day Christ would come again personally to raign a thousand years on this earth with his Saints 11 And their opinion is grounded partly upon the 20. Chapter of the Revelation which was long since fulfilled as I shall demonstrate in due season 12 But first I shall prove by Scripture Record the failing off this opinion in the 3. Chap. of the Acts it is thus written when the time of refreshing shall come from the Lord and he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you whom the heaven must contain until the time that all things be fulfilled which the Prophets have foretold since the beginning of the world what think you then of Christs personal raign on this earth a thousand years with his Saints is it not point blank against the truth of this plain testimony of Holy Writ 13 In the 14. Chapter by Saint John you may finde it thus written Let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me in my fathers house are many dwelling-places if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto my self that where I am there may ye be also 14 In this place of Scripture you see that Christ did not speak in the least to his Apostles of his coming again personally to raign upon this earth a thousand years 15 But of the contrary he told his heavy-hearted Disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them or he was going into the highest heavens or prepared place of eternal glory appointed for them with himself after they had suffered with him on earth and he would come again in his glory with his holy Angels and receive them into his fathers house or heavenly kingdom where he now is that they might with his mighty Angels Moses and Elias everlastingly behold his bright burning glory even face to face 16 What is this personal raign of Christ with his Saints a thousand years that supposed wise men have so much talked of 17 Is it any thing else but a temporal heaven at the best if spiritually examined 18 Moreover is it not a very unlikely matter that the infinite divinite Majesty should come again personally to remain upon this bloody earth a thousand years with his Saints having suffered here already and ascended upon the throne or right hand of transcendent glories yea far above all heavens as it is written that he might fill all things 19 Furthermore do not all personal
Formalities of the persecuting Powers and Priests of this perishing world 19 This was that shutting up of the Serpent Dragon Devil in the evil powers aforesaid from deceiving the Nations any more until the thousand years of their ten bloody persecutions of the Saints was fulfilled 20 Again it is written And I saw seats and they sate upon them and judgement was given unto them and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus and for the word of God and which did not worship the beast neither his image neither had taken his mark upon their foreheads and they lived and raigned with Christ a thousand years My spiritual friends what judgement-seats were those which John saw and who were them that sate thereon in judgement 21 Those seats of judgement were the accusing consciences of the bloody persecutors aforesaid and the preaching or publishing of the glorious truths of our Lord Jesus Christ through the Commissionated mouthes of the chosen Apostles Ministers or Saints was that judge of life and death reigning in the consciences of the aforesaid spiritual Tyrants Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the world Know ye not that we shall judge the Angels 22 My spiritual friends what ever men shall imagine of these literal Records as sure as the Lord liveth those Angels spoken of by the Apostle Paul were the Tyrannical Magistrates and their bloody minded covetous Priests which committed spiritual wickedness together in high places 23 Again you chosen ones may know though the bodies of the Saints suffer imprisonment or death for the truth of Christ yet their spirits are in pure peace and at perfect liberty in life and death 24 But of the contrary though the persons of the cruel persecutors be at perfect liberty in their temporal heaven yet their spirits are close prisoners in their own bodies and void of all heavenly peace whatsoever through that envy in them against all divine purity 25 And that blood spilt upon the earth by them for the testimony of Christ that was the shutting up of the door of all true hope from them and sealing up their bloody spirits unto an eternal vengeance at the great day of our Lord Jesus Christ with his mighty Angels 26 Again seeing John by a divine light saw the souls of them that were put to death for bearing witness to the word of God or spiritual truth of Jesus reigning with Christ over the raging spirits of their bloody persecutors that thousand years time of the Ten persecutions aforesaid My spiritual brethren what was that worship of the beast and receiving his mark in their fore-heads and hands which they were preserved from in the thousand years reign or time of their fiery tryals for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that is they were delivered from that idolatrous worship proceeding from the beastly imagination of their spiritual bloody Tyrants as aforesaid not daring in the least to handle any carnal weapons in defence of their cursed inventions what sufferings soever they endured 27 This I would gladly have you to understand that the commissionated Witnesses of the Lord of Glory are for the most part appointed unto the greatest tryals at the hands of Cananitish devils or perishing gods of this vain glorious world because of the reward of that transcendent glory which the Lord Jesus hath prepared for them with himself above ordinary Saints with his holy Angels face to face 28 Again it is written But the rest of the dead men shall not live again until the thousand years be finished this is the first resurrection blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection for on such the second death hath no power but they shall be the Priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years â—nd when the thousand years are expired Satan shall be loosed out of his prison My spiritual brethren who were those dead men that lived not again until the thousand years were finished You know in holy Writ it is said ye that were dead in sins and trespasses hath he quickened 29 So likewise you may also know that those dead men there spoken of were the remainder of the Saints and chosen Witnesses of the eternal Spirit that were to appear in these last days to bear record unto that glorious Truth which the Prophets Apostolical Ministers and Saints sealed too with their blood as abundantly beforesaid 30 Again you know it is written that Satan shall be loosed out of his prison for a little season when the thousand years are expired to deceive the people which are in the four quarters of the earth even Gog and Magog to gather them together to battel whose number is as the sand of the Sea and they went up in the plain of the earth and they compassed the tents of the Saints about and the beloved City but fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them 31 Again you may remember that from an unerring Spirit that sent me to declare divine secrets that I have already demonstrated unto you what that Satan is and that prison of his thousand years abode 32 It remains now that I should write somewhat concerning his being loosed out of his prison that you may the better understand the truth in relation to the dead men aforesaid 33 Moreover you that have been well acquainted with spiritual conditions cannot but know that no men in the world are in such a deep prison of raging darkness as those men that tyrannize over the consciences of innocent souls which cannot bow down to their imaginary divine ordinances 34 Furthermote you may also know that when the Magistrate and his pretended Prophets were prevented from persecuting mens persons in reference to their consciences towards God then and not till then was Satan loosed out of his prison 35 This was that loosing of Satan for a little season out of his unspeakable prison in the temporal powers when the innocent professors of Christ had freedom of conscience in reference to their faith in the Lord of Glory through which the Christians were multiplied again in the earth 36 Again you may know that it was but a very little season since Christ was glorified that the Saints possessed any such spiritual freedom in any kingdom under heaven 37 Therefore the persecuting spirits of Satanical Prelates in the Civil Powers have had but a very little season of resting from shedding the blood of Gods innocent people in the whole world 38 Moreover though the name of Christ was almost extinguished from the face of the earth in the thousand years spiritual reign of the Saints and raging of the serpents as aforesaid yet you may know in that season of liberty of Christian conscience that the Saints were mightily increased again in the world 39 Furthermore you may also know that those Saints are the dead men that lived not again until these last times of the invisible teachings of
didst thou ever see this infinite Maâ—esty and Throne of Glory thy self if thou didst where are thy miracles to confirm it or why dost thou not make us believe it by thy spirituality or why doth not this infinite Majesty bear witness that he sent thee as he did to his former Prophets and Apostles or when will he do it that we may see and believe and own thee for the truths sake 25 Whoever thou art that thus callest in question the glorious truths of eternity under pretence of my weakness in reference unto miracles that thou mightest believe 26 Little dost thou think in stead of contending with me thy sinful brother according to the flesh that it is that old Serpent Devil in thee that arraigns the glorious God that made thee at the blinde bar of thy carnal reason and by it condemns him and his heavenly truths because thy unbelieving desires are not satisfied 27 Again did not the Lord of Glory himself call those Jews that required a sign an adulterous and wicked generation 28 Moreover when the Lord of life by the mighty power of his word onely wrought wonderful miracles in their sights instead of believing on him ever the sooner for that the sign-mongring Jews cursedly say that he cast out Devils through Beelzebub the Prince of Devils 29 Furthermore if thou shouldst upbraid me for want of the gift of tongues or languages yet I render praise unto the God of Glory by his poor light in my poor soul thou canst not upbraid me for want of a spirit of Prophesie though thou at present shalt slight it 30 And what if I could speak all languages would it advantage any sign-monger in the world but to his further condemnation only 31 What saith the Scripture concerning this thing Wherefore strange tongues are for a sign not to them that believe but to them believe not but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not but for them which believe 22 verse of the 14. Chapter of the 1. Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians 32 Moreover did not the Lord of Glory himself say that John the Baptist was the greatest Prophet under the Law that was born of women and yet thou never reads of any miracles or tongues possessed by him 33 The Christian Dove waites for a spiritual sign within him that he may believe the glorious truths of the everliving God without him but the carnal Serpent requires a natural sign without him to make him believe the spiritual truths of an invisible God in the high heavens 34 Again if there should be no other appearing of a God or Christ but in mens consciences as thousands vainly imagine in this drunken age what did Christ mean by these and such like sayings in the 15. of St. Matthew And when the Son of man cometh in his glory and all the holy Angels with him then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory and before him shall be gathered all nations and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd separateth the sheep from the goats and he shall set the sheep on his right hand and the goats on the left then shall the King say to them on his right hand come ye blessed of my father take the inheritance of the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world for I was an hungry and ye gave me meat I thirsted and ye gave me drink and such like then shall he say to them on his left hand depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels for I was an hungry and ye gave me no meat I thirsted and ye gave me no drink and these shall go into everlasting pain and the righteous into life eternal 35 Again thou that vainly boasts of a spiritual God or Christ appearing in glory within thee onely darest thou say that these Scriptures are fulfilled 36 Moreover canst thou say that thou hast this King on his Throne of Glory with his holy Angels and all the Nations of the world within thee 37 Furthermore is the Devil and his Angels and eternal blessedness and cursedness within thee also 38 My beloved friends in the Lord of life if there were not a generation of cursed men that glory of a God or Christ within them that are not onely full of these and such like discourses but are also given up unto all filthiness I could not have mentioned this thing wherefore there are many of these Serpents that creep into houses telling poor deceived men and silly women laden with many lusts that the resurrection of the dead is past already since Christ in his glory is risen in them 39 Moreover if their captivated friends should seem to scruple at any kinde of fleshly community held forth by them then these wandring Stars will say unto them What poor low things are these that you are troubled withal what are you in Egypt still is there any more then one pure being and is not this pure being within you all and is it not he that speaks and acts all in you seeing there is but one power what do ye scruple at are ye as little children or fools yet do ye not see that there is no union or true communion in the world among those people that hold two powers 40 Furthermore lest their deceived friends by whom they possess Balaams wages should fail them then these cursed captives will tell them That their bodies are fleshly forms that turns to dust from whence they came and shall appear no more therefore not to be minded in the least in reference to sin so that ye fall not under the civil law or oppress nature but your souls are immortal and cannot die but ascends into its glory from whence it came Wherefore since ye have attained to such liberty that all men are in foolish bondage which know it not let us eat and drink and be merry whilest we enjoy these vanishing forms yet let us sollace our selves with all delights even as our divine rights 41 O thou King of all kings for the glory of thy great names sake discover these Serpents with their carnal wiles that all thy simple hearted people may be delivered out of their Satannical snares and brought into that pure light and liberty of thy own likeness by one heavenly glance from thy eternal spirit CHAP. XLV 1 The Creators withholding of his divine assistance was the cause of the Fall of our first Parents 2 The ground of all spiritual or natural Curses 3 Noahs Ark assimulated to Heaven 4 Of the Resurrection YOu that are full of the light of life may know that whilest Adam and Eve continued in the purity of their Creation this whole earth and all things made therein were as pure in their kinde and measure as that vast kingdom of glory and all that therein is 2 Moreover as soon as ever their pure natures were defiled with the Serpentine nature of fiery lust you
know the whole earth and all things therein had a curse upon them in one kinde or another 3 Furthermore you may know that this curse did in some measure extend unto the very souls and bodies of all creatures with the whole world throughout 4 Some men may say unto me Seeing the divine nature is all purity it self what was that curse upon the while Creation or whence came it seeing they were uncapable of sin or evil in the least From the unerring Spirit to this I answer It was not an infusion of any curse or evil into the natures of any thing by the Creator but it was a withholding the motions of its first created blessedness through which naturally it became barren or cursed in it self this was the fruit of unlawful lust 5 Moreover that you may clearly understand wherein the blessing or cursing of the Lord consists you may know that when he wholly denies the heavenly motion of his holy Spirit unto a man immediately that soul becomes nothing but cursed envy against all spiritual or natural purity whatsoever 6 So likewise when he denies the natural motions of his blessed Spirit unto any thing that he hath made it becomes subject to all kinde of putrifaction whatsoever this was that cursing of the Jews natural blessings and hardening of Pharaohs heart by the Lord spoken of in Holy Writ 7 Thus you that are sober may clearly see the ground of all spiritual or natural cursings in the whole Creation for though it was pronounced through the spiritual mouth of the Creator himself yet it could not possibly proceed from that word of the Lords speaking because of the glorious purity of his divine nature but that curse rose out of the natures of the creatures themselves for want of the motions of the spirit of God in them as beforesaid 8 Again you that are spiritual know that immediately after the Lord said an end of all flesh was come before him when Noah and his family and the Creation were entred into the Ark the whole world of lustful men and women and the glory thereof were destroyed by water now you know all that was in the Ark was secured from the raging waters through their ascending above the waters 9 Moreover you may know that the Ark and those creatures therein were not onely preserved for the increase of a new world but they were also a figure of a world to come 10 Furthermore the Ark it self had relation unto that Kingdom of Glory in the high Heavens which is too sublime to be overtopped by any natural water or sire whatsoever 11 The person of Noah who was made a Preacher of truth and righteousness to the unbelieving world did represent the person of that spiritual preacher of all truth and righteousness in the heavenly Ark beforesaid 12 Furthermore the other persons and creatures in the Ark had reference unto the salvation of the elect of God and the whole creation that are in being at the personal appearing of Christ in his Glory with his mighty Angels 13 The drowning of the whole world of ungodly men and the rest of the creation had relation unto the eternal condemnation of all Reprobate men in this world 14 The burning up of their natural delights wherewith they sport themselves in excess of riot and drunkenness little thinking of that eternal vengeance coming upon them 15 Again righteous Noah represented the divine judge of ungodly men in this because he entred into the Ark and by vertue of a great light in him he was made to sit as a judge in the consciences of wicked men when the waters rose upon them in the remembrance of their laughing him to scorn about his Ark and knowing his security in the Ark and their present destruction by water having no Ark of refuge to deliver them 16 Moreover as they sported themselves in fleshly filthiness and vain glorious mirth about him his Ark pure language and life 17 So likewise as a mighty Prince in his Chariot tramples rebellious subjects with delight under his horses heels he rode in his Ark as in a Chariot triumphing in the Lord for his own deliverance and their destruction under the feet of his Ark as a just recompence of their unrighteous deeds and despising the Lord and his truth which he had declared to them for a long season 18 As sure as the Lord liveth thus it will be very suddenly with this lustful bloody world that sports themselves about the resurrection of the dead and judgement day saying it is past already or there will never be any such thing for that righteous Noah the King of Glory will open the Firmament of Heaven and stand in the air with his mighty Angels surrounding his person and by the power of his word speaking as he raised Lazarus out of the grave 19 So likewise I affirm against men or Angels the very same person and no other which did that deed is that God that will by his word speaking command all his righteous Noahs both dead and alive bodily to a ascend into that holy Ark of eternal glory in the high Heavens and when they are safely arrived with the whole creation which according to their kinde groaned long for deliverance then as beforesaid that mighty God the man Jesus in glory with a flood of fire will burn all the beauty or glory of this world to ashes leaving all cursed Cananites bodies and spirits burning together like fire and brimstone upon this earth in utter darkness answerable unto their former burning lusts in their natural conditions 20 Moreover those men and women that glory of a God or Christ within them and what ever filthiness they act charge the most Holy Spirit with it I say from the Lord Jesus Christ though they scape the vengeance of men by their Satannical subtilties yet in the remembrance of their despisings of a glory or misery to come in that day the divine vengeance shall burn more fiery hot in their souls and bodies then all other men whatsoever 21 Then those that are ascended into the Ark of eternal glory with the Son of Man and his holy Angels shall sing that new song of all honor power praise and glory unto the Lamb that sits in the midst of the Throne for ever and ever not onely because they are delivered from the eternal vengeance 22 But also because the most Wise and Holy God hath rewarded those filthy despisers of his glorious truths according to what they did and would have done unto Christ and his redeemed ones 23 O blessed are those men and women that are not offended with these plain truths CHAP. XLVI 1 The last commissionated Prophet come into the World 2 No calling of the natural Jews to the profession of the true Jesus 3 Two sorts of Jews 4 Some remarkable signs of the approaching of the day of Judgement IF there be such a dreadful day of Christs personal appearing in his glory with his mighty