A book of warnings, or, The visitation of the Lord's love to the King and his Parliament, the nobility and gentry, the arch-bishops and bishops &c., the presbytery, the Independents and Baptists, the people of these nations thorough [sic] his servant George Bishope.

A Book of Warnings OR, THE VISITATION OF THE LORD'S Love

To The KING and his PARLIAMENT. The NOBILITY and GENTRY. The ARCH-BISHOPS and BISHOPS. &c. The PRESBYTERY. The INDEPENDENTS and BAPTISTS. The PEOPLE of theſe Nations.

Thorough His Servant GEORGE BISHOPE.

But the end of all things is at hand, be ye therefore ſober, and watch unto Prayer, 1 Pet. 4. 7.

LONDON, Printed for Robert Wilſon, and are to be ſold at the Black-ſpread Eagle and Wind-Mill in Martins Le Grand, 1661.

To the KING, and both Houſes of PARLIAMENT. Friends,

YOU have time to Work, and it is not long: The Lord hath been very Gracious unto you, and Done for you above What ye were able to Ask or Think, as it is at this Day; He hath Repleniſhed Your Sorrows and Troubles with Joy and Peace, and made Your Dominion larger than Ye could Wiſh: What is there that Your hearts can reaſonably ask, that You have not? Was ever Such a Day ſeen by a People, as by You? Was ever ſuch a Wonder wrought to make You ſo? Did the Earth ever know the like? Or can the Records of Ages parallel it? Was it not as much beyond Your thoughts (and that not long ſince) as You are above Your Enemies? Could Ye have thought that Ye ſhould be Rulers over theſe Nations, and ſo as at this Day, ſome few years ſince? Was it not Done in a Moment, as it were, without Blood or Price of War, which brought, and long kept Ye under? How calm? How ſtill? How in ſubjection are theſe Nations at this Day? Have Ye an Enemy? Can Ye think of one that can hurt You? The Hearts, the Perſons, the Purſes of the Generalitie of the Nations are Under You. A large Dominion; a goodly Heritage; England, the faireſt and beſt of Nations; England the moſt ſecure and ſafe of Nations: England the fatteſt and moſt fertile of the Nations: Men prompt, and ready, and bold, and active: A Seed Plot of Underſtanding; An Academy of Learning; A Nation of Men; A Warlike Nation; A People whom the Lord hath owned above any people. A People whom the Lord hath appeared to ſave, more than any people; A people whom He hath ſought to gather, whom He hath gathered (many of them) into his Reſt, and who know the Lord.

This is your ſtate, this your Condition; and thus hath the Lord done for you, that ye may obſerve his Statutes, and keep his Judgments, that ye may live, and it may be well with you and your poſterity after you, and that ye may know his Reſt, which is Eternal, as he hath given you here a Reſt temporal.

And now, what doth the Lord require of you? but that you Do Juſtly, and love Mercy, and walk humbly with God; that you break every yoke, and unbind every burden, and let the Oppreſſed go free: That you love Juſtice and Judgement; that you rule for God, who hath brought you into Rule, and hitherto preſerved you: That you take not upon you to Rule over his Kingdom, or to preſcribe to his Dominion; Whoſe Kingdom is an everlaſting Kingdom, and his Dominion that which ſhall never have end, that of him in the Conſcience: That ye make not his innocent people to ſuffer, who ſuffered with you, and by, and under your Enemies; who have good will towards you and all men; though they war with the Spirit of iniquity which holds Mens ſouls in Captivity, with Weapons that are not Carnal, but Spiritual; who deſire your everlaſting welfare; and that it may be well with you and yours for ever; who are innocent as to you, neither hath there been any ill-will found in them againſt you, in thought or in deed; who are peaceable in the Land, and ſeated in it by Natural Right; who conſiſt of Many Thouſands of Families, Men, Women, Children and Servants, Natural Engliſh; who wrong no man; who reſiſt not Evil; who are good Examples of Holineſs, of Virtue, of Temperance, and Teſtimonies againſt Evil; which cauſeth the Wrath of God to come upon Nations, and to afflict and deſtroy them, Whoſe Deſire is that none may periſh, but that all might come to the knowledge of the truth: The Lord God hath called them; the Lord God is with them; the Lord God hath kept, and will keep them, as they abide with him: The Lord God hath made them to ſtand, and will make them: He hath made them a People, and they ſhall be ſo: He hath obſerved all that hath been done for, and againſt them; and he hath recompenced, and will recompence it; they fear before him; they dare not diſpleaſe him; they may not ſet up Man above him; they muſt obey him before man; they obey man in him: He cannot ſee them wronged, and not require it; they are his Jewels, (his People are) and as the Apple of his eye: He that toucheth you, toucheth the Apple of mine eye, ſaith the Lord; they tremble before him, and of him ſtand in awe, who is Lord of Heaven and Earth; they fear not man whoſe breath is in his Noſtrils, becauſe they may not: Their fear towards him is not taught by the precepts of men, becauſe it ought not; Chriſt Jeſus ſaith ſo, Matt: 15. 7, 8, 9. Ye Hypocrites, ſaith he to the Phariſees) well did Eſaias propheſie of you, ſaying, This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; But in vain do they worſhip me, teaching for Doctrine the [Traditions] of men. And the Lord by his Prophet, Iſa. 29 13, 14. Wherefore the Lord ſaid, Foraſmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear towards me is taught by the [Precepts] of men. Therefore behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous Work amongſt this people, and a wonder; for the Wiſdom of their wiſe men ſhall periſh, and the Underſtanding of their Prudent ſhall be hid. They worſhip God in ſpirit and in truth, neither in this Mountain, nor yet at Jeruſalem, becauſe the Father ſeeketh ſuch to worſhip him; whom the Son ſaith will be ſo worſhipped. God. is a Spirit (ſaith he) and they that worſhip him, muſt worſhip him in ſpirit and in truth. Woman believe me, the hour cometh when ye ſhall neither in this Mountain, nor yet at Jeruſalem, worſhip the Father: Ye worſhip ye know not what; we know what we Worſhip; for ſalvation is of the Jews: But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worſhippers ſhall worſhip the Father in ſpirit and in truth, for the Father ſeeketh ſuch to worſhip him, John 4. 21, 22, 23, 24. They cannot bow to any thing but what's of the Lord in his Worſhip, becauſe the Lord hath ſworn, As I live ſaith the Lord, every knee ſhall bow to me, and every tongue ſhall confeſs to God, Rom. 14. 11. They cannot owe their Conſciences to any but to God, becauſe He is Lord of Conſcience: They cannot but meet together to Worſhip God, and to wait upon him; becauſe they that feared the Lord, ſpake often one to another, and the Lord hearkned and heard it, and a Book of Remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and thought on his Name; and they ſhall be mine, ſaith the Lord of Hoſts, in that day when I make up my Jewels, and I will spare them as a man ſpareth his own ſon that ſerveth him, Mal. 3. 15, 16. And not forſaking the aſſembling of our ſelves together, as the manner of ſome is, but exhorting one another, and ſo much the more as you ſee the day approaching, Heb 10. 25. They cannot ſwear, becauſe Chriſt ſaith, Swear not at all, neither by Heaven, for its God's throne; neither by the Earth, for it is his footſtool; neither by Jeruſalem, for it is the City of the Great King; neither ſhalt thou ſwear by thy Head, for thou canſt not make one hair white or black: But let your communication be Yea, Yea, Nay, Nay, for whatſoever is more then theſe, cometh of evil, Matt. 5. 34, 35▪ 36, 37. And his Apoſtle James ſaith, But above all things my Brethren, ſwear not, neither by Heaven, neither by the Ea • th, neither by any other Oath: But let your yea be yea, and your nay nay, leſt ye fall into condemnation, Jam. 5. 12. And the ſwearing [by] any thing, was that which made it an Oath; and they uſed in their ſwearing to mention [by] ſomething, which made it an Oath; and they were gone (many of them) from that of the Law, (which Chriſt the end of the Law for Righteouſneſs, alſo repeals, in that he ſaith, Ye have heard it hath been ſaid by them of Old time, Thou ſhalt not forſwear thy ſelf, but ſhalt perform unto the Lord thine Oath's; but I ſay unto you, Swear not at all, &c. as aforeſaid) which Law required them to ſwear, and to ſwear by the Lord: Thou ſhalt fear the Lord thy God, and ſerve him, and ſwear By his Name, Deut. 6. 13. I ſay, they were gone from that of the law, which required them when they ſwore, to ſwear [by] the Lord; Thou ſhalt ſwear the Lord liveth in truth, in judgement, and in righteouſneſs, Jer. 4. 2. and ſwore [by] the Lord, and [by] Malcom, Zeph. 1. 5. And, they taught my people to ſwear [by] Baal, Jer. 12. 16. And they that ſwear [by] the ſin of Samaria, and ſay, thy God O Dan liveth; and the Manner of Beerſheba (the Calves there by which they worſhipt God) liveth, even they ſhall fall, and never riſe up again, Amos 8. 14. And [by the Heaven, and [by] the Earth, and [by] Jeruſalem, &c. He repeals it all: But I ſay unto you, ſwear not at all; neither [by] the Lord, nor any other thing: Swear not at all, I ſay unto you ſo, though ye have heard it hath been ſaid by them of old time, Thou ſhalt not forſwear thy ſelf, but ſhalt perform to the [Lord] thine Oaths. This was not Curſorie ſwearing, or in ordinary Communication (as people would have it, a •• ſome ſay ſo, but without proof) for it appears not that there was any ſuch kind of ſwearing among the Jews, for they were not to take his Name in vain; but ſuch Oath's as were made to God, ſolemn Oaths, (as I may ſo ſay) by which they bound their ſouls to God to perform, as it was then required; and when they ſwore ſo, they mentioned [by] ſomething (as I have ſaid) and this [By] made it an Oath; and that which they ſwore [by] was to be that which was Paramount to all, and could witneſs, and was able to avenge, which the Lord was onely, therefore they were to mention his Name when they ſwore; and it was a figure of ſomething which was to come, which was not then come, Chriſt Jeſus (whom that Nation, and the Body of all that worſhip and ſervice typified, and which had their end in him, and which he when he was come, put thus an end unto; who is the Oath of God—to perform the mercy promiſed to our fathers, and to remember his holy Covenant, the Oath which he ſware to our Father Abraham that he would grant unto us, Luke 1. 72, 73, 74—And who it is that binds the ſoul to God: In whom all the promiſes of God are Yea and Amen; Even in Chriſt Jeſus, 2 Cor. 1, 20. who ſaith, But I ſay unto you, Swear not at all: And he that ſaid ſo, is the ſame that ſaid, Whoſoever is angry with his Brother without a cauſe, ſhall be in danger of the Judgement, &c. And whoſoever looketh on a woman to luſt after her, hath committed Adultery with her already in his heart in the ſame Ch. Mat. 5. They cannot maintain a Prieſthood by tythes, becauſe that Prieſthood which had the tythes is done away, and ended in him to whom Abraham paid tythes, in Melchizedeck, who is a Prieſt for ever after the Order of Melchizedeck, Pſal. 110. 4. whom it figured. They cannot maintain temples of ſtone, or come to Worſhip in them, as places conſecrated by man; or becauſe they have in them, more than other places, or for that God is more to be found in them, or wil be found in them; or that he hath ſo ſignified more than in other places; or that he will be preſent: Becauſe God dwelleth not in temples made with hands, neither is worſhipped with mens hands. God that made the world, and all things therein, ſeeing that he is Lord of Heaven and Earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands, neither is worſhipped with mens hands, as though he needed any thing, ſeeing that he giveth unto all, life, and breath, and all things, Acts 17. 24, 25. And the temple at Jeruſalem was a figure of him who was to come, which is ended in him who is come. And now the temple of God is thoſe in whom the Holy Ghoſt dwelleth. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the ſpirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him ſhall God deſtroy, for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are, 1 Cor. 3. 16 17. And, what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God, as God hath ſaid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people; Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye ſeperate, ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, & I wil receive you, & wil be a Father unto you, and ye ſhall be my ſons and daughters, ſaith the Lord God Almighty, 2 Cor. 6. 16, 17, 18. They cannot be in the Obſervation of Daies and times ſet in the will of man; Becauſe ſuch things alſo had their Day, and End; even thoſe which were commanded of the Lord; Ye obſerve Daies, and Months, & Times, & Years; I am afraid of you, leſt I have beſtowed upon you labour in vain, Gal. 4. 10, 11. And, let no man therefore judge you in Meat, or in Drink, or in reſpect of a Holy-day; or of the New-Moon, or, of the Sabbath-Dayes, which are a ſhadow of things to come, but the Body is of Chriſt, Col. 2. 16, 17. And, He that regardeth a Day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and, he that doth not regard the Day unto the Lord, he doth not regard it. He that Eateth, Eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not unto the Lord, he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of Us liveth to himſelf, and no man dieth to himſelf. For, whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Chriſt both Died and roſe and revived, that he might be Lord both of the Dead and Living. But why doeſt thou judge thy Brother? Or, why doeſt thou ſet at nought thy Brother? We ſhall all ſtand before the Judgment ſeat of Chriſt; As it is written, As I live, ſaith the Lord, Every knee ſhall bow to me, and every tongue ſhall confeſs to God. So then every One of Us ſhall give account of himſelf to God. Let us not the • efore judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a ſtumbling block, or occaſion to fall, in his brother's way. I know, and am perſwaded by the Lord Jeſus, that there is nothing unclean of it ſelf, but to him that eſteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean. But if thy Brother be grieved with thy Meat, Now walkeſt thou not Charitably. Deſtroy not him with thy meat for whom Chriſt dyed. Let not then your good be evil ſpoken of. For the Kingdom of God is not meat, and drink, but Righteouſneſs, and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghoſt. For he that in theſe things ſerveth Chriſt, is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let Us, therefore, follow after the things that make for Peace, and things wherewith we may edifie one a • o • her; for meat deſtroy not t • e work of God; one man eſteemeth one day above another; Another eſteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully perſwaded in his own mind, Rom. 14. 5. to the end.

Now, theſe things I am moved of the Lord to lay before you; to the End that yee may take heed of Doing any thing by which the Lord may be Diſpleaſed with you; Or that may grieve his Spirit, or, make him to Repent of the good he hath done you; or to become your Enemy. For certainly if yee ſhall impoſe upon Conſcience in things appertaining to the Worſhip of God; or cauſe his Innocent People to ſuffer; or, not Anſwer the End of the Lord in giving you this Day and Tryal; His hand will be againſt you, and he will reckon theſe things with you; and it will be ſad for you in that Day; When he ſhall render unto you according to your Works. And therefore in love to you, and in the fear of God, and as moved of him, and as deſiring your welfare both here and hereafter, I have written.

GEO. BISHOPE.

To the Nobility and Gentry of Theſe Nations. Friends!

YOur Opportunities are great to do Good; the Lord hath not dealt by You as with Other men; You have Eſtates Great and Large; Lands and Revenues, and many your Servants; in the moſt ſweet and flouriſhing Places of the Nation. You are Seated, and your World abounds: You have in a manner what yee can wiſh; and your Travel is little (moſt of you); from your Anceſtors yee have received from Generation to Generation with little Toyl, or Trouble, as to you; unleſs your Deſire of Encreaſe, or falling below by other Miſcarriages hath occaſioned it: You are full of Eaſe and Pleaſure; and if any thing be of more De • ectableneſs then other, you have it; Ride in and out; Riſe, Walk, lie down at your pleaſure; when multitudes of others riſe early, and lye down late, and Eat the bread of carefulneſs, and are your ſervants.

And this is the ſtate of many, or moſt of you; and it is great and large as to the Outward, Who are like to you? Now, it concerns you to ſee how you Anſwer the Lord for all his kindneſs▪ and how yee Return to him according to the benefits received; For, the End of the Lord in all this is not that yee ſhould do as yee liſt, and becauſe yee have your Wills as to this World; therefore yee ſhould do your Wills in this world; but the Will of him that gave it you. Exceſs, Riot, Pride, Haughtineſs, Surfeting, Drunkenneſs, Gluttony, Wantonneſs, Curſing, Swearing, Diceing, Gaming, Chambering, Revelling, ſpending the Creatures on your Luſts, Living in pleaſure, loving of pleaſures more then God, with ſuch like; were not the things that he minded as his End who with a liberal hand hath miniſtred to you; but to be humble, ſober, meek, juſt, temperate; lovers of good things, lovers of God; liberal, charitable, given to good works, lovers of Hoſpitality, kind, virtuous, ſerving the Lord without diſtraction; Paſſing the time of your ſojourning here in fear. For, the Lord will require an account of you for all the deeds done in the body, and his judgment ye cannot eſcape; and the more kind and liberal he hath been to you, and put it into your hands to do good, the more he will require at your hands: For, to whomſoever much is given, of him much will be required.

Therefore, Friends, it concerns you (as I have ſaid) to mind your ſtate, and ſee how it is with you; That within you which witneſſeth to God will ſhew you if you heed it, and become obedient thereunto; which knows your Up-riſings, and your Downſittings; the thoughts and intents of your hearts, and tries them; which is with you wherever you go, and wherever you lie down, and whatever you do; which is Gods witneſs, and takes account of all your Actions; and ſpeaks to you from God, and bids yee not to do the Abominable thing that his ſoul abhorrs; which judgeth yee for Evil; which ſhews yee Evil; which tells yee what yee ſhould do; and which will make up the Reckoning for God; and will leave you without excuſe in the Day that he ſhall Judge the Quick and the Dead, at his appearing and coming.

Now, Friends, this is of Concernment to You, that this be your friend; and that this anſwer for you in that Day, that yee have done the Will of God, and Anſwered the Requirings of his Spirit in you; and what it moved you from God. Well done thou good and faithful ſervant, Enter into thy Maſters Joy, will the Lord ſay then to that which hath Done his Will; and that will be a good word for you in the Day of the Lord, when amazement and horror ſhall ſeiz upon all who know not God, neither yield Obedience to his God; and all faces ſhall gather Blackneſs, and Paleneſs; and the Mighty ſhall be afraid, and the Strong man ſhall weep bitterly, and the Heavens ſhall depart as a Scrowl, and the Elements melt with fervent heat; and the Earth, and the works thereof be burnt up; and Men at their Wits Ends, expecting what the End of thoſe things will be; and an Eternal End abides it to every one, either of joy. or ſorrow, for ever and ever. But if it be otherwiſe, and that condemn you which ſhould be your Peace, and that plead againſt yee, which you ſhould now mind to plead for you in that Day; and be a Witneſs to the Lord that yee have not hearkned, nor heard, nor obeied, nor received Inſtruction, nor drawn near to the Lord; but you would do as yee liſted, and ſerve your pleaſures more then God, and conſume his Creatures on your Luſts; and ſwear by, and blaſpheme his Name; and make no other uſe of your time, then to pleaſe your ſelves, and not the Lord; nor of your Eſtates, but in order thereunto; and your time be over, and the Day of your Viſitation be cloſed up, and at an End, then it will be ſad indeed; and better it had been for you that you had never been born; when with Rich Dives, you, who have had in your lifetime your Pleaſure, muſt be tormented for ever and ever.

Therefore, my Friends, whilſt yee have time mind it; Let not the gracious hour of the Lord's tender Viſitation paſs Over you; but be yee gathred unto it: Come into his Arms now they are Open; approach unto him, now that he calls upon you. It's your need, not his, that makes him call on you: Come to him when he calls; He knows your ſtate; He knows what it will be for you to be Undone for ever; He knows the power of his wrath, though man doth not; He knows how it will ſink; how it will lay Low; how it will bring to the duſt; how it will bow the Pride of Man; and lay his Haughtineſs in the Duſt; and how intollerable it is. He calls that yee may hear whilſt yee have time; He calls that your ſouls may live: Why will yee die, O houſe of Iſrael? Return, and your ſouls ſhall live: He deſires not your death; he hath ſworn it; This is a teſtimonie of it, that he calls upon you; and that he calls upon you, you know; becauſe yee find that in you which ſhews yee Evil, and judges yee for Evil, and tells yee what yee ſhould do, and Anſwers to what I have ſaid to you: And, this is the power of God to ſalvation to as many as believe in it, and obey it. It's ſtronger then the Powers of Darkneſs; It ſteps thorough it; It comes before it; it ſhews yee what the Enemy is doing; and where he is leading you; and what's the Path; and whither it tends; and ſhines before you for you to ſee the Path of Life, & to walk in it; & it will lead you into the Path of Life, as you believe in it, heed it, and obey it. And this is the loving kindneſs of God to you; and his free Grace, and his Mercy, his Redemption if you will receive, and accept it; For, to as many as received him, it was, that to them he gave power to be called the Sons of God, even to as many as believe in his Name; which were born not of Blood, nor of the will of man, nor of the Fleſh, but of God; Who was in the World, and the World was made by him; and the World knew him not; who came unto his Own, and his Own received him not.

Live not then in Pleaſures; for he that liveth in pleaſure is dead whilſt he liveth: But draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh unto you; Cleanſe your hands ye ſinners, and purifie your hearts yee double-minded: Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; Let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heavineſs: Humble your ſelves in the ſight of the Lord, and he ſhall lift you up. Come to that which judgeth you, and love that which ſhews you, and follow that which draws you; Leaſt the hour of your Viſitation paſs Over you, and you be ſwept away by the over-flowing ſcourge which is near to come on the head of the wicked; So will ye feel my Love, and the Arms of the Lord which ſeeks to draw you with the Cords of a Man, with the bands of love, of which I am Witneſs; vvho ſo moves in me to you-wards; whoſe love is to you; and who am willing in any thing in the Will of God to be ſerviceable unto your Eternal Welfare, and that which is here, which is deſired by him, who is,

Your Friend, GEO. BISHOPE.

To the Arch-Biſhops (ſo called) and Biſhops, Deans and Prebends, Chancellors and Chor • ſters, and the reſt of the Prieſthood and its Officers under Epiſcopacy in theſe Nations. Friends,

EVery Plant that my Heavenly Father hath not planted, ſhall be rooted up, ſaith Chriſt: And you being not Plants of his planting, ye will be rooted up. Therefore look to your ſelves, and ſee in this your hour, whether ye be Plants which he hath ſet, which ſhall not be rooted up.

Look thorough the New Teſtament (ſo called) the Scriptures of the Apoſtles and Diſciples of Jeſus, and ſee whether ye have any footing there, or in the Garden of God, where they planted who were ſent of him, who were able Miniſters of the New-Teſtament, not of the Letter, but of the Spirit; for, the Letter kills, but the Spirit giveth life, 2 Cor. 3 6.

See whether ever Jeſus Chriſt planted ſuch a thing in his Church as to be called Fathers, or Reverend Fathers, or Right Reverend Fathers? ſeeing that he ſaid unto his Diſciples, Call no man Father on the eart • ; for one is your Father which is in Heaven, Matt. 23. 9. And ſeeing of the Lord it is ſaid—Holy & Reverend is his Name, Pſal. 111. 9. And whether this be Right, or in God, ſeeing it is Out of the Scriptures, and from the Church of Chriſt which is in God, 1 Theſ 1. 1. And none of the Gifts which when he aſcended up on high, and led Captivity captive, he gave unto men, which were ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Evangeliſts, and ſome Teachers, for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Miniſtry, for the edifying of the body of Chriſt, till we all come in the Unity of the Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the meaſure of the ſtature of the fulneſs of Chriſt, Eph. 4. 8, to the 14. And ſeeing that Chriſt Jeſus himſelf calls not himſelf Father, but the Son, though he be the Head of the Church, Col. 1. 18? And whether Theſe be not Names of Blaſphemy? And whether the Woman Wch John ſaw (being carried away by the Angel which had the ſeven Vials in the Spirit into the Wilderneſs) was not ſitting on a ſcarlet coloured Beaſt full of Names of Blasphemy? Rev. 17. 1, 3. And whether ſhe was not drunken with the Blood of the Saints, and with the Blood of the Martyrs of Jeſus? Ver. 6. And, whether theſe be not ſome of the Names?

Again, look and ſee whether Lords, Arch-Biſhops, and Lord-Biſhops, or any ſuch thing be found written in the Lambs Book of Life, who exerciſe Dominion over the Lord's Herltage, and are called of men Lords? Seeing that Chriſt Jeſus ſaith—The Kings of the Gentiles exerciſe Lordſhip over them, and they that exerciſe Authority over them, are called Benefactors; but ye [ſhall not] be ſo; but he that is greateſt among ye, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth ſerve; For, whether is greater, he that ſitteth at Meat, or he that ſerveth? Is not he that ſitteth at Meat? but I am amongſt ye as he that ſerveth, Luke 22. 25, 26, 27. And ſeeing that his Apoſtle ſaith—For, though there be that are called Gods, whether in Heaven, or in Earth, (as there be Gods many, and Lords many) but to Us there is but one God, the Father of whom are all things, and We in him; & one Lord Jeſus, by whom are all things, and we by him, 1 Cor. 8. 4, 5. And ſeeing another of his Apoſtles ſaith,—The Elders which are among you I exhort, who am alſo an Elder, and a Witneſs of the ſufferings of Chriſt, and alſo a partaker of the Glory which ſhall be revealed. Feed the Flock of God which is among you, taking the overſight thereof, not by conſtraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being [Lords] over Gods Heritage, but being examples to the Flock, 1 Pet. 5. 23. And ſeeing the ſame Apoſtle alſo ſaith—And when the chief Shepherd (No Arch-Biſhop, no chief Shepherd of the ſheep but him) ſhall appear, we ſhall receive (who are not as [Lords] over Gods Heritage, or who Lord it not over them as aforeſaid) a Crown of glory that fadeth not away, ver. 4.

Thirdly, look and ſee whether ever the Apoſtles had the diſpoſal of Lands, otherwiſe then what every one that had a willing mind did ſell, and lay the money down at the Apoſtles feet for the relief of the Diſciples, that none amongſt them might want, and this in time of perſecution? Seeing that the Scripture ſaith—And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart, and of one ſoul, neither ſaid any of them, that ought of the things that he poſſeſſed were his own; but they had all things common: And that with great power gave the Apoſtles witneſs of the reſurrection of the Lord Jeſus, and great Grace was on them all; neither was there any among them that lacked; For as many as were poſſeſſors of Lands, ſold them, and brought the price of the things that were ſold, and laid them down at the Apoſtles feet: And diſtribution was made unto every man according to his need: And Joſes, who by the Apoſtles was called Barnabas, (which is by interpretation the Son of Conſolation) a Levite, and of the Countrey of Cyprus, having Land, ſold it, and brought the Money (not the Land) and laid it at the Apoſtles feet, Acts 4. 32. to the end. And whether Palaces and yearlie Revenues of thouſands of pounds in Land, and Houſes (which they neither ploughed for, or eared, planted or ſowed) as proper to their Place and Function; Or Earthly Dignities, or Superiorities, or Powers, or Preheminencies, or State, or Grandeur, was entailed by Chriſt to his Apoſtles and Diſciples whom he ſent forth to Miniſter, to whom he ſaid (after he was riſen from the Dead, and near aſcending)—And lo I am with you to the end of the World, Matt. 28. 20. ſeeing that himſelf alſo ſaith to Pilate—My Kingdom is not of this world; if my Kingdom were of this world, then would my ſervants fight that I ſhould not be delivered to the Jews; but now is my Kingdom not from hence, John 18. 36.—And to Peter—Put up thy ſword into the ſheath; the Cup that my Father hath given me, ſhall I not drink it? Ver. 31—Put up thy ſword (Peter) into his place; for all they that take the ſword, ſhall periſh with the ſword, Mat. 26. 52—And to his Diſciples▪ The Foxes have holes, and the Birds of the air have Nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head, Matt. 8. 20.—And, When I ſent you without purſe and ſcrip, and ſhooes, lacked ye any thing? And they ſaid, Nothing, Luke 22. 35—And his Apoſtle ſaith—For though I preach the Goſpel; I have nothing to glory of; for neceſſity is laid on me, yea wo is unto me if I preach not the Goſpel: For if I do this thing (willingly) I have my reward; but if againſt my will, a Diſpenſation of the Goſpel is committed to me, what is my reward then? Verily, that when I preach the Goſpel, that I may make the Goſpel of Chriſt [without] charge; that I [abuſe] not my power in the Goſpel; for though I be free from all men, yet have I made my ſelf ſervant unto all that I might gain the more, 1 Cor. 9. 16, 17, 18, 19.

Fourthly, look and ſee whether they had any Courts or Synagogues, or places of Judicature, or ſate as Judges over Mens Perſons or Eſtates, or had their Officers to ſummon or bring before them to cenſure, and to puniſh them? And whether they had, or ſought for, or uſed, or taught of ſuch a Power, or any thing like it to that, or ſucceeding ages, that might then, or hereafter, or at any time be uſed by the Apoſtles and the Diſciples of Jeſus? Seeing that he ſaith—Man, who made me a Judge, or a Divider over you? to him that ſaid, Maſter, speak to my Brother that he divide the Inheritance with me—Who was one of the company that followed him, Luke 12. 13, 14. And ſeeing that he ſaid to his Diſciples—Take heed to your ſelves, for they ſhall deliver ye up to Counſels, and in the Synagogues ye ſhall be beaten, and ye ſhall be brought before Rulers and Kings for my ſake, for a teſtimony againſt them, Mark 13. 9. And that they were ſo delivered and beaten, and brought before, the Acts of the Apoſtles teſtifie.

Fiftly, Look and ſee whether the Apoſtles and Miniſters of Jeſus had fixed places, or ſetled ſtations or Houſes and Land appropriated to them by the Laws of Nations, and ſuch a Circuit of ground, and all within it, whether one or the other, to be at their Order, and this to be called their Dioceſs, or Deanary, or Pariſh, or Cure of Souls? Seeing that of Chriſt Jeſus it is ſaid, That he went about all the Cities & Villages, teaching in their Synagogues, & preaching the Goſpel of the Kingdom, & healing every ſickneſs, & every diſeaſe among the people, Mat. 9. 35. And he ſaid to his Diſciples, Freely ye have received, freely give, Heal the ſick, cleanſe the Lepers, raiſe the dead, caſt out Devils: Freely ye have received, freely give—And this was to the lost ſheep of the Houſe of Iſrael, Matt. 10. 6, 7, 8. And ſeeing his Apoſtle ſaid of himſelf and Brethren—Even to this preſent time we both hunger and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have No certain dwelling place; and labour, working with our hands, being reviled, we bleſs; being perſecuted, we ſuffer it; being defamed, we entreat: We are made as the filth of the world, and are the off-ſcouring of all things unto this day, 1 Cor. 4. 11, 12, 13. And they wandered about in ſheep-skins and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted and tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in Deſerts and in Mountains, and in Dens, and in Caves of the Earth, Heb. 11. 37, 38 And how the Apostles went about from Nation to Nation, from City to City, preaching the Goſpel of the Kingdom, their Epiſtles and Acts manifeſt, unto which I refer.

And Paul ſaith—A Biſhop then must be blameleſs, the Husband of one Wife, vigilant, ſober, of good behaviour, given to Hoſpitality, apt to teach; not given to Wine; no ſtriker, nor given to filthy Lucre; but patient; not a Brawler; not Covetous; One that ruleth well his Own houſe, having his Children in ſubjection with all gravity: For, if a man know not how to rule his Own houſe, how ſhall he take Care of the Church of God?) Not a Novice, leaſt being lifted up with Pride, hee fall into the condemnation of the Devil. Moreover, he muſt have a good Report of them that are without; leaſt he fall into Reproach, and the ſnare of the Devil. Theſe things write I unto Thee (ſaith he to Timothy) hoping to come unto thee ſhortly; but if I tarry long, that thou mayſt know how thou oughteſt to behave thy ſelf in the Houſe of God, which is the Church of the living God, the Pillar & Ground of Truth, (which no Temples made with hands are, but the Church which is in God) 1 Theſ. 1. 1. Lively ſtones built upon that ſpiritual houſe; an holy Prieſthood to offer up ſpiritual Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2. 5.) 1 Tim. 3. 2. to the 8. 14, 15.

And the ſame Apoſtle ſaith to Titus—For this Cauſe left I thee in Creet, that thou ſhouldſt ſet in order the things that are wanting, and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee. If any be blameleſs, the husband of one wife, having faithful Children; not accuſed of Riot, or unruly. For a Biſhop muſt be blameleſs as the Steward of God; not ſelf-willed, not ſoon angrie; not given to wine; no ſtriker; not given to filthy lucre, but a lover of hoſpitality, a lover of good men; Sober, juſt, holy, temperate; holding faſt the faithful word as he hath been taught; that he may be able by ſound doctrine both to Exhort, and to Convince the gain-ſayers, Tit. 1. 5. to the 10.

And this Paul was an Apoſtle not of men, neither by man; but by Jeſus Chriſt, and God the Father who raiſed him from the Dead: So he ſaith himſelf, Gal. 1. 1. And Timothy had the Gift by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, 1 Tim. 4. 14. And the Apoſtles laid their hands on them that believed, and they received the Holy Ghoſt, Act. 8. 17. which Simon the Sorcerer would have bought with mony. For when Simon ſaw that through laying on of the Apoſtles hands, the Holy Ghoſt was given, he offered them mony, ſaying, Give me alſo this Power, that on whomſoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghoſt: But Peter ſaid unto him, Thy Money periſh with thee, becauſe thou haſt thought the Gift of God can be purchaſed with Money: Thou haſt neither part nor lot in this matter; For thy heart is not right in the ſight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedneſs, and pray God if perhaps the thoughs of thine heart may be forgiven thee; for I perceive thou art in the gall of bitterneſs, and the bond of iniquity, ver. 18. to the 24 And Paul ſaid to Timothy—Lay hands ſuddenly on no ma • ; neither be partakers of other mens ſins; Keep thy ſelf pure, 1 Tim. 5. 22.

And that Miniſtration had an End with them, and Antichriſt was then entring, and the Apoſtles propheſied of the Apoſtaſie; and Jude (ſpeaking of what was already entred, which the Prophets and the Apoſtles of the Lord Jeſus had foretold ſhould come, which was then already come) But, Beloved, (ſaith he, ver. 17.) Remember ye the words that were ſpoken by the Apoſtles of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, how that they told you there ſhould be mockers in the laſt time, which ſhould walk after their ungodly luſts. Theſe be they who ſeperate themſelves, ſenſual, having not the Spirit, ver. 18, 19. And John ſaith expreſly, That it was then the laſt time—Little Children (ſaith he) it is the [laſt] time; and as ye have heard that Antichriſt ſhall come, even Now there are many Antichriſts, whereby we know it is the [laſt] time, 1 John 2 18—And in the Revelations he ſaw the Court which was without the Temple, to be given to the Gentiles, and that they ſhould tread the holy City under foot fourty and two Months, Rev. 2. 21. And in the Overthrow of Babylon, and the Return from the Apoſtaſie, and after it, he ſpeaks not of the Return again of that Miniſtration, but of a More glorious, a City wherein the Lamb was the light thereof: And I ſaw (ſaith he) [No] Temple therein; for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it. And the City had no need of the Sun, neither of the Moon to ſhine in it, for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof: And the Nations of them that are ſaved ſhall walk in the light of it, and the Kings of the Earth do bring their glory and honor unto it, Rev. 21. 22, 23, 24. And the gates of it ſhall not be ſhut at all by day; for there ſhall be no night there. And they ſhall bring the glory and the honor of the Nations unto it: And there ſhall in no wiſe enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatſoever worketh an abomination, or maketh a lye; but they that are written ia the Lambs book of life, ver. 25, 26, 27. And all ſorrows (here) are wiped away; and God ſhall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there ſhall be no more death, neither ſorrow nor crying; neither ſhall there be any more pain; for the former things are paſſed away. And he that ſate on the Throne, ſaid, Behold, I make all things new: And he ſaid unto me, Write, for theſe things are true and faithful, Rev. 21. 4, 5.

And, to the Lambs Wife was granted, that ſhe ſhould be arrayed in fine Linnen, clean and white; for the fine Linnen is the righteouſneſs of Saints, Rev. 19. 8. And, behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they ſhall be his people, and God himſelf ſhall be with them, and be their God, Rev. 21. 3. And he ſaw the holy City, the New Jeruſalem coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband, ver. 2. And the Angel that flew through the midſt of Heaven, having the everlaſting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the Earth, and to every Nation, and Kindred, and Tongue, and People, ſaid with a loud Voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his Judgement is come; and worſhip him who made Heaven and Earth, and the Sea, and the Fountains of Waters. And the other Angel that followed him, ſaid, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great City, becauſe ſhe made all Nations drink of the wrath of her Fornication, Rev. 14. 6, 7, 8. And rejoice over her thou Heaven, and ye holy Apoſtles and Prophets; for God hath avenged ye on her, Rev. 18. 20. And the Victory was to the Lamb and his followers, who ſate on the white Horſe, whom the Armies of Heaven followed on white Horſes, cloathed in fine Linnen, white and clean, Rev. 19. 11. 16. And the Angel which ſtood in the Sun, cryed with a loud voice, and ſaid to all the Fowls that flie in the midſt of Heaven, Come and gather your ſelves unto the Supper of the great God, that ye may eat the Fleſh of Kings, and the Fleſh of Captains, and the Fleſh of mighty Men, and the Fleſh of Horſes, and of them that ſit on them, and the fleſh of all men, both free and bond, both ſmall and great, ver. 17, 18.

And, he that testifies theſe things, ſaith, Surely I come quickly: Amen; Even ſo come Lord Jeſus, Rev. 22. 20. And behold I come quickly, and my Reward is with me, to give every man according as his work ſhall be, ver. 12. And I Jeſus have ſent mine Angel to teſtifie unto you theſe things in the Churches: I am the Root and the Off-ſpring of David, and the bright and Morning-Star: And the Spirit and the Bride ſay Come; and let him that heareth, ſay Come; and let him that is athirſt Come, and take of the Water of Life freely, ver. 16. 17.

And he ſaith unto me, Seal not the ſayings of the Propheſie of this Book; for the time is at hand: He that is unjuſt, let him be unjuſt ſtill; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy ſtill; and he that is Righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy ſtill. And I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last, Bleſſed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life, aad may enter in through the gates unto the City; For without are Dogs, and Sorcerers, and Whoremongers, and Murderers, and whoſoever loveth and maketh a lye, Ver. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the Propheſie of this Book; If any man ſhall add unto theſe things, God ſhall add unto him the plagues that are written in this Book: And if any man ſhall take away from the words of the Book of this Propheſie; God ſhall take away his part out of the Book of Life, and from the holy City, and from the things that are written in this Book. Ver. 18, 19.

And ſo I have ſaid to you what at preſent lies upon me from the Lord; whether you will hear or forbear; it ſhall witneſs for God againſt ye all (if ye hear not) in the Day that he ſhall tender to every man according to his Deeds. So farwel: It's my love unto you that hath drawn this for you from the movings of the Lord. It concerns you to mind whether your ſtate ſtands not ſo as is here repreſented; and to turn unto the Lord, leſt being ſo, ye be plucked up; For, every Plant tha • my heavenly Father hath not planted, ſhall be rooted up, ſaith Christ: It's that which I ſaid to ye in the beginning, in the Word of the Lord, and which I now ſay unto you in the ſame, at the End: And the time is near.

Geo, Biſhope.

To the PREYSBTERY (ſo called) in theſe Nations. Friends,

YOu have been ſtaggering as Drunkards, and ſtarting aſide like a Deceitful Bow: You were of the Biſhops, and came out from the Biſhops, and covenanted againſt the Biſhops, and have let in the Biſhops, and have (many of you) turned, and many are returning to the Biſhops; and this hath been, and is the Work of you, and of many of you, to be upwards and downwards, and backwards and forwards; now here, and now there; reeling and rouling; pinching here ſometimes, and drawing as contrary at another: You had a tender Principle once, which kept ye from evil as ye kept to it, whileſt ye were under ſufferings; but no ſooner were you free, but ye took the places of them that made ye to ſuffer, and ſought to make all others to ſuffer that differed from you; ye have been true to Nothing, not to your own Principles: Ye have built again the things that ye have deſtroyed, and ſo have made your ſelves Tranſgreſſors: None ſhould live but you, had ye power to your Wills; and you would live with, and above every one: The Lord hath tryed you, and let the World ſee what you would do; and his ſervants have ſuffered ſorely by you; and now he hath tryed you before his ſervants, and ye are fallen before them whilſt they ſtand: And yet there is not confideration with you, ſo as to think, Is not there a lie in our right hand? The Lord hath born long with you, and loath he is that you ſhould periſh: He hath ſuffered ye to fall into the ſame condemnation in which others are whom you would not have free: Ye had a Day which ye long ſtrove for, and had the Door in your hands; You let it open againſt your ſelves (as it hath proved) as well as others; and it is well if ſo be it were not ſomething in that your warineſs, leſt you being ſo, others ſhould be free: And now ſee what you have done; the Lord hath befooled you, and ſuffered ye to befool your ſelves, and to be befooled, becauſe ye departed from the Counſel of the Lord; and ſo what wiſdom is in you? Whilſt Age and Generation laſts, this your Work will be your ſhame, and the Lord will be againſt you whilſt ye turn not to him: For here was your miſs at firſt, Ye kept not to your principle; you turned to perſecute, who were perſecuted your ſelves; and the farther ye went on in this, the more you were mad, as Paul ſometimes was, and ſo ſaith of himſelf when he was as to the Law blameleſs, and yet without Law as to Chriſt; and what your madneſs hath brought forth upon your ſelves, judge ye. This (Friends) is to you in love,

'Tis time for you to conſider, and to mind, that ye may ſee your ſtate, and know what the Lord is doing to you, and the end of his working: He would have you to bethink your ſelves, and ſee where ye are: He would have you to mind that in you which ſhews you your ſtate, and to hearken to the Reproof of Life, the Voice of Wiſdom that your ſouls may live; and that out of all heats and raſhneſs, and anger, ye may be brought into that calm ſtate which doth unto others what it would have others do unto its ſelf. A Zeale there is in many of you, and as to God; and ſomething in ſome of you▪ which is ſincere to him; but your Zeal is not according to Knowledge; for whileſt ye go about things in the will of man, ye cannot accompliſh the Righteouſneſs of God; nor doth the ſincerity alwayes guide you; for then you would not hurt your principle, which was once to ſuffer, in making, and in a mind that would make others to ſuffer; nor comply to things againſt your Principle becauſe of ſuffering; For Truth is great, and the Righteous is bold as a Lyon; and the feeling of a true Witneſs of God in a Man, carries thorough, as he abides in it, all that he ſhall meet with becauſe of it; and neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor Powers nor things preſent, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other Creature ſhall be able to ſeperate between a man and it (as he abides therewith) and that which turns from it is ſeperate, becauſe in the Teſtimony of Truth there is the Love of God, & where the Love of God is, it is in Chriſt Jeſus; and the Teſtimony of Jeſus is the Spirit of Propheſie; and that which witneſſes, propheſieth, teacheth, and it beareth witneſs to God in this World, and to his Truth, and that there is nothing greater than it, or more to be deſired; yea, it is more deſirable than life; and this is made manifeſt when life and all is laid down for it; and this glorifies God, and is a Confeſſion of him before men; as Chriſt himſelf made a good Confeſſion before Pontius Pilate; And, he that confeſſes me before men, him ſhall the Son of Man alſo confeſs before the Angels of God (ſaith he) and he that denieth me before men, ſhall be denied before the Angels of God: And, to him that overcometh, will I grant to ſit with me in my Throne; even as I alſo overcame, and am ſate down with my Father in his Throne: And he that ſtarts aſide, never Overcomes; and he that doth not overcome, cannot ſit in the Throne: But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and Murderers, and Whoremongers, and Sorcerers, and Idolaters, and all Lyars, ſhall have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimſtone, which is the ſecond death: And becauſe thou haſt kept the Word of my patience, I alſo will keep thee from the hour of Temptation, which ſhall come upon all the World, to try them that dwell upon the Earth.

Be ſtill therefore, and cool, and come into conſideration, and heed that in you which ſhews ye what ye have done; which ſhews ye all things that ever ye have done, as ye heed it; Is not this the Chriſt? And let the time paſt be ſufficient, wherein ye have walked according to your own minds, and the will of the Fleſh, which luſteth after envy, and return to the Lord, to the old ſtate, which kept ye tender to God, and keeps ye ſtill as ye keep unto it, and made ye not to dare to do any thing againſt him; and judged ye when ye ſo did; and judges ye ſtill as ye heed it, when ye tranſgreſs it: This, this is the Way to God; the Reproof of Wiſdom is the way of Life, and there is no other: It's from Chriſt Jeſus the chief Shepherd and Biſhop of your Souls, (ſaid the Apoſtle) unto whom ye Return when ye are turned from going aſtray; which turns to him thoſe who are turned from going aſtray; which is that which turns from going aſtray; For ye were as ſheep going aſtray; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Biſhop of your Souls; and when the chief Shepherd ſhall appear, ye ſhall receive a Crown of Glory that fadeth not away; ſaid Peter to the ſtrangers ſcattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Aſia, and Bithina, elect according to the fore knowledge of God the Father, through ſanctification of the Spirit unto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Jeſus, 1 Pet. 2. 25. And to the Elders that were amongſt them, who fed the Flock of God that was amongſt them, and took the overſight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being Lords over God's Heritage, but being Examples to the Flock, Chap 5. Ver. 4. This ſaid the holy Man of God.

Friends, the tender Bowels of my Love is to that in you which ſuffers through all this heat and Luſt, and the Will and Wrath of Man: This Doing that which ye would not be done unto; this turning to, and for, and against; this condemning your ſelves in the things that ye allow; this building again the things that ye have destroyed; this Violence to your Brother Jacob; this rest leſs ſpirit any where but where you would your ſelves; this contradictory ſpirit which is not of God, which is meek and gentle, and eaſie to be entreated; which doth no wrong; which ſuffers wrong; which avengeth not it ſelf; whoſe is Vengeance; and who will repay it: Which when it ſuffers threatens not; which when it is reviled, reviles not again, but commits it to him who judgeth righteouſly; and this is the Spirit of Christ: The Bowels of the Lord God is the ſame in me to you: I am witneſs through the ſhedding abroad of whoſe Love in my heart to his Seed in you which ſuffers, and in his moving I have written: Who am▪

Your Friend, who truly deſires your welfare in this world, and that which is to come: Geo. Biſhope

To the People called Independents and Baptiſts. Friends,

YOU muſt come down to that which witneſſeth in you, which is the Croſs of Chriſt, the Power of God to ſalvation to as many as believe; and not live above it, and yet think in your hearts that Abraham is your Father; for, if Abraham were your Father, you would do the deeds of Abraham (ſaid Chriſt to the Phariſees) but in that ye ſeek to kill me, a man which hath told ye the truth which I have heard of God, this did not Abraham. Now in that you obey not that which witneſſeth in you, nor believe in it, you do not the deeds of Abraham; for, Abraham (ſaid he) ſaw my day, and rejoiced; and before Abraham was, I am. Now in this Day he believed, or he could not have ſeen it; and his day he ſaw, or he could not have rejoiced; and his Deeds he did, whoſe Day he ſaw, or he could not have believed: For, I believed, therefore I ſpake: And I know Abraham that he will command his Children and his Houſhold after him, and they ſhall keep the way of the Lord to do Juſtice and Judgement, that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath ſpoken of him; and thou meeteſt him that rejoiceth and worketh righteouſneſs. So the Joy is in that which worketh righteouſneſs, and that which worketh righteouſneſs is of Abraham; and that which doth the deeds of Abraham, ſeeth his day, and rejoiceth; and that killeth not, nor ſeeks to kill a man that tells ye the truth he hath heard of God. This did not Abraham.

Now (Friends) to be plain and ſhort with you; You are the Children of Abraham no farther, and no longer than ye do the deeds of Abraham; but his Children ye are whoſe works ye do: And therefore ſaid John to the Phariſees who came to his Baptiſm, O Generation of Vipers, who hath forewarned ye to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore, fruits meet for repentance; and think not to ſay in your ſelves, that we have Abraham to our Father; for I ſay unto you, God is able of theſe ſtones to raiſe up Children unto Abraham. And now alſo the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree; therefore every Tree that bringeth not forth [good] fruit, is hewn down, and caſt into the fire. I indeed, baptize you with water unto Repentance; but he that cometh after me, is mightier then I, whoſe ſhooes I am not worthy to bear, he ſhall baptize you with the Holy Ghoſt and with fire; whoſe Fan is in his hand; and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his Wheat into his Garner; but he will [burn up the Chaff] with unquenchable fire.

So ſee (Friends) what fruit you bear, and whoſe Works ye do; Whoſe Tree ye are of; for, as is the Tree, ſo is the fruit; and as is the Fruit, ſo is the Tree: And if the Tree be evil, the Fruit is ſo; and if the Fruit be evil, the Tree is ſo: And every Tree that bringeth not forth [good] fruit, is hewn down, and caſt into the fire. And ſee (Friends) whether ye are Chaff or Wheat: For to this ye muſt come, if ever it be well with you: For he will thoroughly purge his Floor, whoſe Fan is in his hand, who baptizeth with the Holy Ghoſt and with Fire; whoſe ſhooes (John ſaith) he was not worthy to bear, and that he was mightier then he who came to baptize with water unto Repentance; and he will gather his Wheat into the Garner, and burn up the Chaff with unquenchable fire, as hath been declared.

In Bowels of tender love I write theſe things, as being moved of the Lord for his Seed's ſake in you, that ye be not deceived in a wrong apprehenſion of your ſtate, as in another, when you are not as he is in your ſelves: For, if whileſt we ſeek to be juſtified by Chriſt, we our ſelves are found ſinners (ſaith Paul) is therefore Chriſt the Miniſter of ſin? God forbid: For if I build again the things that I have deſtroyed, I make my ſelf a Tranſgreſſor. And if any man be in Chriſt Jeſus, he is a new Creature. Old things are paſſed away; behold all things are become new; for, as he is, ſo muſt be that which is in him: For, What fellowſhip hath Righteouſneſs with Unrighteouſneſs? And what Communion hath Light with Darkneſs? And what Concord hath Chriſt with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth, with an Infidel? And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? For ye are the Temple of the living God (ſaid Paul to the Corinthians, the Church there) as God hath ſaid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people. And he that doth righteouſneſs (ſaith John) is righteous, as he is righteous: And, every man that hath this hope in him, purifies himſelf as he is pure; For as he is, ſo are we in [this] World: And whoſoever ſinneth, hath neither ſeen him, nor known him: And the Temple of God is holy, whoſe Temple ye are: And, if any man defile the Temple of God, him ſhall God deſtroy. And, know ye not that ye are the Temples of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you, ſaith Paul again to the ſame Church? And he that is born of God, doth not commit ſin, for his Seed remaineth in him, and he cannot ſin becauſe he is born of God, He that committeth ſin is of the Devil, for the Devil ſ • nneth from the beginning. For this purpoſe the Son of God was manifeſted, that he might deſtroy the works of the Devil. Whoſoever abideth in him, ſinneth not. Little Children, let no man deceive you, he that doth righteouſneſs is righteous as he is righteous. In this the children of God are manifeſt, and the children of the Devil: Whoſoever [doth] not righteouſneſs, is [not] of God, neither he that loveth not his Brother, ſaith John again in his firſt Epiſtle.

Now (Friends) theſe things I have written unto you (as I have ſaid▪ that ye may not be deceived; for while ye think to be juſtified by Christ, and yet keep a liberty in ſome things to tranſgreſs, and in ſome things to heed the Witneſs of God, and believe not in him in that which witneſſeth that that is He; ye will dye in your ſins. Except ye believe that I am he (ſaid he to the Phariſees) ye ſhall die in your ſins: For, he became the Author of eternal ſalvation to as many as obey him, even to as many as believe in his Name: And this is his Name, The true and faithful Witneſs—Unto which anſwers that of him in the Conſcience, and by which he will judge all men, and they ſhall be left without excuſe; For, if ye were blind (ſaid he to the Phariſees) ye ſhould have no ſin; but now ye ſay. We ſee, therefore your ſin remaineth. And, he was manifest to take away ſin. And for this purpoſe was the Son of God made manifest, that he may deſtroy the works of the Devil. And ſin is the work of the Devil. And he gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purifie unto himſelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Now how can theſe things be, and Men abide in ſin, and that to their Death? And how are they purged and purified from ſin▪ who abide in ſin? And how are they juſtified that are condemned for ſin? And how are their ſins taken away, whoſe ſin remain? And how are they in Christ Jeſus who are not new Creatures? And how are they as he is in this world, who ſin while they are in this world? And how are they righteous even as he is righteous, who do unrighteouſneſs? and all unrighteouſneſs is ſin: And how do they purifie themſelves as he is pure, who abide in ſin! And how is he become the Author of Eternal Salvation to them who neither obey him, nor believe in his Name? And how are old things paſſed away, when they are there ſtill? And how are all things become new, when there is the old? And how can that be in him, which hath neither ſeen him, nor known him? And how can that have Eternal life, which will not come to him?

Friends, Theſe things are deep and weighty, and it behoves ye to conſider whilſt ye have time, for the Door is near ſhutting, and the Lord is at hand, to render unto every man according to his [work] and as your works are, ſo will be your reward. So 'tis high time to look about you, that ye may be ſure of your works, and that they be wrought in God; For, the Night is at hand wherein none can work; but every man muſt be tried according to his work, for what he hath, not what hath another. The Lord hath long waited on you, and his preſence hath been amongſt ye, and he hath been with you whilſt ye have been with him. He is now come whom ye knew not, though he was with you: The times of this ignorance God winked at; now he commands men every where to repent, becauſe he hath appointed a Day in the which he will judge the World in righteouſneſs by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given aſſurance unto all men, in that he hath raiſed him from the dead; and if Chriſt be not riſen, then are ye yet in your ſins: But Chriſt is riſen, and is become the firſt fruits of them that ſlept. And that he is riſen, appears by his Witneſs in all men, which teſtifies to all, and witneſſeth to his K • ngdom, which is an everlaſting Kingdom; and to his Dominion, which ſhall never have end. And it bears witneſs to the Lord, that he deſireth not the death of a ſinner, but rather that he may return and live (as he hath ſworn) becauſe there is that of him in every one that ſeeks them to live; over which Death hath no more dominion: For, in that he is riſen, Death hath no more dominion over him, but he liveth unto God: And, he is the propitiation for our ſins: By Faith in whoſe Blood we have acceſs unto God by this grace in which we ſtand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Foraſmuch then as Christ hath ſuffered in the fleſh, arm your ſelves with the ſame mind; for he that hath ſuffered in the fleſh, hath ceaſed from ſin, that he no longer ſhould live the rest of his time in the fleſh, in the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

And ſo (Friends) I leave you to the Witneſs of God to anſwer to me in this thing (which will anſwer to me if you heed it, you will hear it) for I am moved of the Lord unto this in bowels of Love, and it wil leave you without excuſe. So Farwell: My Love is to the Seed of God in you, who am known to many of you by the Name of

GEO. BISHOPE.

To the People of theſe Nations. Friends,

YOu have had Long and Great Warning; the Lord hath raiſed up from amongſt ye of your Sons, and of your Daughters; of your ſervants, and of your Neighbours, faithful Witneſſes unto his Name; who by Word and Writing; Converſation and Example; Doing and Suffering have teſtified of his Day that is come; wherein he will judge every one according to his Works; and that the Axe is laid to the Root of the Tree; and every Tree that brings not forth good fruit, is hewen down, and caſt into the fire; and therefore he warned you by them all to bring forth fruits meet for Repentance whilſt the Door was open, and whilſt he called; that when you ſhould call in the Day of your diſtreſs, he might ariſe and deliver you. And by them he ſhewed you the way unto himſelf, even by hearkning to, and obeying that of him within every one of you; which ſhewed ye evil, and reprov'd and judged you, and ſhewed to you what ye ſhould do; by which the Holy Men of God of Old drew near unto, and were drawn to the Lord; and by which thoſe of your Sons and Daughters, Servants and Neighbours, who have teſtified as aforeſaid, and remained faithful have drawn near, and were brought to the Lord, and have felt his power to give them Victory over ſin and evil, and the corrupt Converſation in which they lived whilſt they were ignorant of, and believed not in him who witneſſed in them; who is the Power of God to ſalvation to as many as obey him; even to as many as believe in his Name.

Now, Friends, after all this Warning, and gracious Viſitation the Lord hath long waited to ſee whether ye would turn to that which witneſſeth in you; which is of God, and obey it, that your ſouls may live, and be redeemed out of Death, and from the bondage of Corruption, In which you are who are ſervants unto ſin. For as many as are led by ſin, are ſervants unto ſin; and as many as are ſervants unto ſin, are in bondage to ſin; and as many as are in bondage to ſin, are in Death, and the Son hath not made them free; For if the Son make ye free, then are ye free indeed, ſaith Chriſt; and the Truth makes free, and this is Truth, To believe in the onely true God, and Jeſus Chriſt whom he hath ſent; and that of him in you which ſhews ye your ſtate, and your condition, and your Enemy, and his working, and where ye are, and how ye are fallen, and gone Out of the Way; Is that which is come to redeem you out of that ſtate; and to deliver you from your Enemy, and to recover you back again, and to guide your feet in the way of Peace, that your Souls may have reſt with God.

And this you know every one of you, You cannot stifle it; It's too late to do it; the Lord hath reached to his Witneſs in you; and hath given you to ſee all this, and how you ſhould hearken to that of him in you which ſhews ye all this, and the ſecrets of your hearts, and ſearcheth your hearts, and trieth your reins, and ſhews you the compaſs and end of your actions, and that ye ſhould do none iniquity, it tells you in ſecret. Now that which ſhews ye this, is greater then all; for, it ſhould never ſhine in your Conſciences, & ſhew you this, & the way to God, could that which hath you in Captivity keep it out, & it concerns you to heed, and to have heeded this, that ſo the Lord's loving-kindneſs might not be in vain as to you, nor the ſtriving of his Spirit, nor the stretching forth of his Arms to draw and gather you; for this of a truth I have to ſay unto you, That ye have all need of him, & of his mercy; not that he hath need of you: And he might have left ye all in the ſtate wherein ye were by Nature, even Children of Wrath, and never have ſhewn ye where you were, or that ye were ſinners; or, in ſuch a ſtate; nor your Enemy; nor what an Enemy he is, until ye come to feel his Wrath, and to be tumbled into the Pit, out of which none that goes, ever comes. But he hath viſited you, and ſhewn you what is good, To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with the Lord; and ſomething hath ſtriven in you ſince the time you could remember, and ſhew'd you evil, and judg'd you for evil; yet it ye have not obeyed, but have been conformed to the World, and to the Faſhions and Customes of the World, which are evil, as you have been led, and you have done the thing which ye have been convinc't is evil; although ye have been judged in your ſelves, that that was evil; and knew that that was the Judgement of God and that his Judgment is Just: And you know that the things which ye have been convinced of to be evil many years ago, and have been judged▪ for it, do yet remain with you, and that the Lord hath been rejected, and his drawings ſlighted, and his Enemy and yours heeded, & that ye have refuſed to come to him that ye might have life, to the light which makes manifest; for whatſoever is made manifest, is made manifeſt by the Light; and, I am the Light of the world (ſaith he) he that believeth in me, ſhall not abide in darkneſs, but ſhall have the light of life. And, this is the condemnation, that Light is come into the world, and men love darkneſs rather then light, becauſe their deeds are Evil. And, in him was life (ſaith John) and the Life was the Light of men; that is the true Light that lighte • h every man that cometh into the world.

And this you know (as I have ſaid) viz. That there is ſuch a thing in you, and the thing in you witneſſes that it is ſo; and ye cannot blot it out; and that ye have diſobeyed it, and do diſobey it; and that it ſuffers in you; and yet you are vain, and proud, and wanton, and lustful, and do conform to this world, and do lye, and deceive, and cheat, and cozen, and ſwear, and are drunk, and do ſpend the creatures upon your Luſts; and do hate, and do kill, and do ſteal, and do commit Adultery, and do covet your Neighbours Goods, and do grind the Faces of the Poor, and oppreſs and ſmite with the Fiſt of Wickedneſs, and take the Name of the Lord in vain; and do go beyond one another in dealing where you would not be done ſo to your ſelves: Theſe things I ſay ye know are ſo; and yet ye contlnue as ye were before; and theſe things continue in you; and ye think the Lord is ſuch a one as your ſelves, becauſe he holds his peace and hath a long time been ſilent, and hath not brought his Judgement upon you; nor cauſed ye to feel the Power of his Wrath; and ye think to morrow ſhall be as to day, and much more abundant, becauſe the Lord hath been long-ſuffering, ſlow to anger, abundant in goodneſs and truth; not willing that any of you ſhould die, but rather that ye ſhould return and live.

And this is the Uſe ye have made (many of you) of his loving kindneſs, and mercy, his long-ſuffering and forbearance; to add Drunkenneſs to Thirſt, Iniquity unto iniquity, and to draw iniquity with Cart-ropes of Vanity: And you cannot think (many of you) how to be Vain enough, nor Drunken enough; nor Proud enough; nor Voluptuous enough, nor Conſumptive of his Creatures enough; and ye declare your ſin as Sodom; the ſhew of your countenance witneſſes it againſt ye; and ye think that ye are delivered to commit all theſe Abominations; as if the Lord took Pleaſure in theſe things, or delighted in them; and as if this was a Retribution Equivalent to him for all your deliverances; and as if it were the ſumme, and the end of all his working; and as if the more vain and wicked ye are, the more ye give him thanks; and the more ye anſwer the end of his working▪ and ſo ye laviſh out your ſelves in all riot and exceſs, as he hath been liberal to you in his Mercies; as if this were the thing the Lord aimed at in all, and expected as the Return of his Goodneſs; and ye have been very bold (many of you) thus to do, notwithſtanding that that of him in you tells you (and ye know it) that ye ſhould do otherwiſe, and judgeth ye; and ſo ye overturn your own Mercies, and provoke the Lord to be jealous of his Name and Glory, which he hath ſaid he will not give unto another; and to make ye examples to the ages to come of his judgments, as he hath made ye patterns of his mercies; and to let the world know, by what he ſhal do unto you, that he is a God that delighteth not in iniquity, nor ſhall ſin come near his Dwelling; but that he is holy, and will be ſanctified in all that draw near him, & be had in Reverence by all that are about him.

And this I am moved of the Lord God of Heaven and Earth to warn ye of; and to let ye know that he will appear againſt you; and that he will vindicate his Name and his Glory in what he ſhall do unto you; and that he is drawing near to plead with you, and to render unto you according to your works.

Therefore in the Bowels of Love, I exhort and warn you to break off your ſins by righteouſneſs, and your iniquities by ſhewing mercy to the Poor; if ſo be there may be yet a lengthening of your tranquility. For this I have received from the Lord God; whoſe Word and Warning it is, that he will make a ſhort work with you; and after ye have filled up the meaſure of your Iniquity, (which he will ſuffer ye to fulfil, if ſo be yet ye ſhall not hearken, nor yield obedience to his voice, nor depart from iniquity, nor chooſe to do the thing that is good, which that of him ſhews ye in your hearts) He will cut ye Down, and his judgments ſhall come upon you; and ye ſhall know that this is the Word of the Lord, and his Warning unto you, through his ſervant

GEO. BISHOPE. Briſtoll, 25 8 Month, 1661. THE END.