CHAP. I.

I Looked and behold: There is in the world a very unpeaceable Land, and it is the wilderness­ed Land, wherein the most part of all uncir­cumcised, impenitent, and ignorant people [Page 22]do dwell, and which is first of all need­ful for the man, to the end he may come to the Land of Peace, and to the good City of Life and Rest: toGen. 12. Apo. 18. forsake, and to de­part out of the same. Which unpeaceable Land, is situate, or lieth against, or on the other, or contrary side of the East, or risingZech. 2. of the Sun; where neither Day not Sun ariseth, or shineth at any time. For when the Sun cometh neer unto the same, then goeth she always under, or isIsa. 5 60. 4. Esd. 14. cover­ed with the Darknesses of the Land; and for that cause sheSap. [...]. shineth not there, nor yet giveth any cleerness in the same, be­cause that theExo. 10. Psal. 105. Sap. 17. darknesses are too thick over the whole Land.

2. This same unpeaceable Land, hath also a City or Strength, wherein the people of the Land do put their confidence. The name of which City, they themselves which dwell therein, do not know, but onely those that are come out of it; and it is named Ignorance, according to her own proper nature of the darknesses.

3. For theIsa 8 9. 4 Esd. 14. darknesses have wholly covered the same Land, and also the peo­ple that dwell therein; which darknesses are soExod. 10 Job 12. thick, that they may be felt.

4. And whosoever do dwell, or are born [Page 23]therein, they are likewise so ignorant, that they will not out of it; neither yet desire any better, because they have never seen the Light of Heaven, in his upright righ­teousness, nor yet known, nor loved theIsa. 59. Rom. 3. Life of Peace in his upright Being.

5. They run from one place, and come to another, yet is it altogether in the same Land; but they will not depart out of it. Therefore is also the Proverb verified in them, which saith, It is evil, to be born in an evil Land.

CHAP. II.

THe people which dwell therein, know not their Original or first be­ginning; also, they keep not any Genea­logy or Pedigree; neither do they know, from whence, or how, they are come into the same: And moreover then that, they areIsai. 56.59. Matth. 15. altogether blinde, andJohn 9. blinde born.

2. And yet over and above their blind­ness, although their eyes be shut, they are all bound over their eyes with blinde clothes: that which also they have willing­ly [Page 24]over their eyes. For with the same they suffer themselves to be directed, and led into all error of Ignorance: perswading themselves, that the blinde cloathes, are the light of their eyes, which do give light un­to them; on whom likewise they have a confidence in their forthgoing, and desire not any better: And therefore the blinde ones are led there with blinde clothes.

3. The blinde clothes are calledIsa. 56. Matth. 15. & 22. Luke 6. blinde guides, because the blinde ones (in the dark­ness, and in the Land of Ignorance) are led by them into all ignorance; but that same do they themselves neither know, nor un­derstand.

4. And although one should take away the clothes from their eyes, in the same Land of Ignorance, and so should open their eyes in the knowledg, yet might it not help them any thing at all, to a behold­ing of the true Light; but it should be unto them more evil then good, because of the darknessesJob 10.12. Isa. 5. & 9 which are spred over the whole Land; therefore must they also in the same (still groaping after the way) be led in the darknesses; and must likewise, oftentimesMatt. 15. Luke 6. with their blinde guides, fall into the ditches.

5. For whosoever doth not forsake the [Page 25]same Land and his darknesses, as also the blinde guides in the same, and suffereth not himself to be led into the true light, by the seeing guides of the Family of Love;John 11. he must oftentimes stumble or be­come offended, and also many timesProv. 4. stagger and fall, and that altogether; because he is not taught, nor led to the cleerness of thePsal. 38. John 9. true Light, nor to the truth of the upright Life, whereby to be­hold the same true Light, in his upright Righteousness, and to inherit the upright Life, in his peaceable Being.

6. And although now one should speak much of the light, to any of the blinde people (in the Land, called Ignorance) and should in most evident maner, expound or open the same unto them, in their know­ledg; and that they then should have no lust nor will, to depart out of the dark­nesses of Ignorance; neither yet to be taught, nor led to the true light of the up­right life: So could it not doubtless profit them, to the entrance into the rest of life; but it should be unto them, much more to a disquietness, to an offence, and to a death, because they remain inhabiting in the Land and in the City of Ignorance. For the whole City of the same Land, is full of Ignorance. [Page 26]For that cause also she hath her name, ac­cording to that she is her self.

7. Wherefore it is much better for the people of the same Land (the whiles they dwell therein, and have no desire to depart out of it, through the fear of God (that men give them) in their blindness and ignorant error) to understand of theEzek. 18. Mic. 6. Matth. 18. o­bedience which they ow to God and his Word, and to require the same of them, then that men should open the eyes of theGen. 3. disobedient knowledg unto them in their disobedience; and so then (if they ende­vor them not to obedience) to let them go on still with their blinde guides, till such time as they understand, that they are blinde, and be led by the blinde ones; and that they then likewise grow desirous after some better thing, and would very gladly or good willingly be taught to the Land of Peace, and to his peaceable people, and be led into the same.

8. Verily, that the same councel, is the best councel to be used among the blinde people that know not their error, I have sufficiently proved by experience, among those that are ignorant of their error, and among the decliners from us, and our godly doctrine. Let every one therefore, take [Page 27]diligent heed, that he tye or binde not himself too fast unto his error, with his knowing wisdom, nor yet boast him of his knowledg; but let him study or endevor himself to enter into the upright Christian life, and to the true understanding of God, through the rightJohn 10. door of the Humility and Obedience of Jesus Christ, and to be­come assembled to the family of Love; as also taught and exercised obediently, in the requiring of his Doctrine: so shall it then assuredly not miss or fail, to bring him to the true Light, and to the Life of the upright Righteousness.

CHAP. III.

THis forementioned City (named Ignorance) hath two Gates; the one standeth in the North, or Midnight, through the which, men do go into the City of Darkness, or of Ignorance.

2. This Gate now that standeth in the North, is very large and great, and hath also a great door, because there is muchZech. 9 Matth. 7. passage of people thorow the same; and it hath likewise his name, according to the nature of the same City.

[Page 28]3. Forasmuch then as that men do come into Ignorance, through the same Gate, therefore is it named,Mic. 7. Luke 21. Men know not how to do. And the great door (where-through the multitudes of people do run) is named, Ʋnknown error; and there is else no coming in to the same City, named Ignorance.

4. The other Gate standeth on the one side of the City, towards the East, or Spring of the Day; and the same is theMatth 7. Luke 13. narrow Gate, through the which, men travel out of the City of Ignorance, and do enter into the straight way, which lead­eth to the Life of the Righteous.

5. Now when one travelleth out through the same Gate, then doth he im­mediately after espie some Light, and that same reacheth to the rising of the Sun.

6. The name of this Gate (where­through men travel out of the Land of Ignorance) we will rehearseInfra. 7. hereafter: For we will now write forward of the maner of the ignorant Land and People.

CHAP. IV.

THis Land of Ignorance is in it self so utterly wildernessed, and incompass­ed, and be-set with so manyEccles. 1. & 2. & 4. & 5. Isa. 41.59. vexations, troubles, and unprofitable labors; that by means thereof, there is no convenient place to be found there, to sowe any Corn in,Lam. 2.4 Amos 8. for the food of men; therefore there groweth neitherJere. 14. Corn nor Grass, in the same Land.

2. The people of this Land, do all like­wise live in confusion or disorder, and are very diligentEccles. 5. Isa. 44. in their unprofitable work and labor. And although all their work be vain or unprofitable, yet hath every one notwithstanding a delightful liking to the same. For according to the nature of the Land they are all ignorant, and inclined to unprofitable works.

3. Forasmuch then, as that they all have such a delight to such unprofitable work,Isa. 24. so forget they to prepare the Ground for Corn and Seed to live thereby, according to the good manly Ordinance; and so they live not by the manly food, but by their ownEzek. 4. Hos. 4. & 9. Mic. 6. dung; for they have there no other food to live by.

[Page 30]4. There is oftentimes hunger, but no man hath any lust, or yet desire to any other foodJere 36. & 44. then to his own dung; for their stomack and nature is accustomed, and naturally inclined thereunto.

5. Wherefore, seeing they are not fed with any bread,Job 33. Eccles. 14. but with their own filthi­ness, or dung; so is there likewise, no sa­tisfying among them.

6. Seeing then that they understand not what kinde of Food serveth them, to the good Life, but (through their Ignorance) do sustain themselves by their own dung; therefore they do not understand also how to prepare themselves the good things,Deut. 32. Luke 19. that serve them unto peace, and to a peaceable life; but do vex and trouble themselves out of measure, for to make those things diligently (and thatPsal 4. with a delight) which are unprofitable, and which do afflict themselves, or bring them to much incumbrance.

7. The vain or unprofitable works, and the preparations or endevors of the fool­ish people (where-through the whole Land, every where▪ is exceedingly burthen­ed with great molestation and labor) are these.

CHAP. V.

THey make there divers sorts of Pup­pet works or Babies, for to bring up the children in vanity; there are made like­wise many kinde of Balls, Tut-staves, or Kricket-staves, R [...]ckets, and Dice; for that the foolish people should waste or spend their time therewith in foolishness.

2. There be made also, playing Tables, Draft-boards. Chess-boards, Cards and Mummeries or Masks, for to delight the idle people with such foolish vanity. There are made likewise, many Rings, Chains, and Gold and Silver Tablets, and Brooches; also Garnishing of Plumes or Tufts of Feathers, and many maner of stitched or imbroidered works, with Gold, Silver, Pearl, and Silk. Likewise, many kindes of Tapistry, and Gards, or Border­work upon Garments: And divers sorts of unprofitable colours upon Clothes; as also sundry maner of Cut and Pinked Garments; and likewise, many kindes of Pictures, Tables of Imagery, Painted Walls, and divers kinde of Carved, and Graven, or wrought Images for to delight the foolish and proud minded people,1 Joh. 2. and to satisfie and fulfil the lust of their eyes.

[Page 32]3. Men do occupy there likewise, sundry sorts of unprofitable and unneedful mer­chandise, for to provoke the hearts of the foolish people, unto covetousness or greedy desire1 Tim. 6 Jam. 5. of vain riches, and to rejoyce them in the same.

4. There are made also divers sorts of sounding instruments for melody; and there are Printed many maner of foolish Books, for to delight the heating of the foolish people therewithal: For after such things their ears do2 Tim. 4 itch.

5. They build there likewise, divers houses of common assembly, which they call Gods houses; and they use there many maner of foolishnesses of taken on Ser­vices, which they call Religions, or God-services, whereby to wave or hold forth something in shew, before the ignorant people, touching the opinion of theirSap. 17. Tit. 1. de­filed consciences, because they should quiet their foolish consciences.

6. Seeing then that they areSap. 2. Rom. 1. covered with darkness, and dwell in Ignorance; so do they invent among themselves, many maner of good-thingking, or self-conceited knowledges, to their appeasment in their Ignorance; also sundry sorts of garnish­ing of services,Isai. 44. & 46. Jere. 10. Baruch 6. and of gods, which [Page 33]they may handle or feel in their igno­rance; for else they should think that they had neither Gods, nor Gods services, nei­ther could they set their consciences at quiet.

7. In this maner are the vain people be­witched with these things; where through they think or perswade themselves, that their gods services, and knowledges, which they themselves do make, or take on in their hypocrisie, must needs be someWisd. 14.15. holy or singular thing, and so then they honor the works of their own hands.

8. They bestow likewise much labour, for to exercise themselves well in the knowledg, and to teach forth the same, but2 Tim. 3. they remain in the same land, utterly unskilful and ignorant touching the know­ledg of the truth.

9. They make there also many swords, halberds, spears, bows and arrows, ord­nance or guns, pellets, gunpouder, armor or harness, and gorgets, &c. for that the tyrannical oppressors, and those that have a pleasure in destroying, should use war and battel (therewithall) one against an­other.

10. To be short, all the unprofitable works of the same wildernessed land, nei­ther [Page 34]it all the abominations where-through the people of the same land do live very cumbersomly and unpeaceable, are not very easily to be written; but let him that hath eyes to mark, look farther into the same.

11. It is surely an evil land, where it is neither good to dwell, nor yet to remain: for the people of the same land, are too exceeding wonderful, and too strange orDeut. 32. Iudic. 19. absurd of life: also too exceeding disor­derly, and tooIsa. 57. unquiet of minde, from whom likewise there proceedeth a foul orIsa. 34. Ioel 2. filthy vapour, that stinketh over the whole land; but because they are gross and soul of complexion, they themselves do not smell their own stink.

CHAP. VI.

THe people of this Land have also strange names, each one according to his nature; every one is known there like­wise by his nature; for according as their nature is, such are their names written up­on them: whosoever can reade the writing let him consider thereon; they are gross Letters; who so hath but a little sight and [Page 35]understanding, he may soon reade them; whose names are these.

2. Highmindedness, Rom. 1. Gal. 5. 2 Tim 3. lust of the eyes, stoutness, pride, covetousness, lust or desire to contrariness, foolishness, wantonness Ephe. 5. or light behaviour, vanity or unprofitableness, Rom 1. unnaturalness undecentness, masterfulness, gluttony, unchastity, unforesightfulness, macking, scorning, dallying, Wis 14. adultery, or fornication, contemning, lying, deceiving, variance, Gal. 5. strife, and contention, vexing, Phil. 2. self-seeking, oppressing, undiscreetness, &c.

3. Behold such strange or absurd names, disposition, and nature have the people andinhabiters of this land called Ignorance.

4. Their dealing or maner of life, is also variable, for now they take on some thing, then they leave somewhat else; now they be thus led, then be they so driven; now they praise this, then they dispraise that; now they think to have this Vision, then they think to have that Prophesie: to be short, they are alwayes unconstant.

5. Their Religion or Gods service, is calledIer. 44. The pleasure of men. Their doctrine and ministration is called,Ier 7. and 8. Ezec. 13. and 22. Good-thinking. Their king is called, The scum of ignorance [which signifieth unto us, the climing up of the hasty or rash mindes of ignorance;] [Page 36]whom they themselves do set up to be their Superior or King, for to bear sway, or to raign over them.

CHAP. VII.

WHosoever now findeth himself in this dark land ful of ignorance, and desireth to go out of, and to forsake the same, and so hath a good liking towards the good land of Rest and Peace, for to assemble him into the same, among the peaceable people, he must go thorow the other gate that lieth towards the East, for that is the out-faring gate, where­thorow he must travel forth out of the dark land of Ignorance, and it is namedProv. 1. and 8. and 15. and 16. The fear of God.

2. The same gate hath also a strong or mighty door for to go thorow, and it is namedProv. 1. and 9. The beginning of Wisdom. Now when the traveller beginneth to go tho­row these same; so can it not be other­wise with him then, but he must endevor himself to give car and credit to the testi­monies of the gracious Word of the Lord, and to the service of the Family of Love Where-through he then also (in his hea­ring [Page 37]and believing) is presented or met withall (by the Elders in the Family of Love) with the light of the first entrance of the way that reacheth into the holy Land of the living. With which light and his requiring, the upright life of the pure hearts in Jesus Christ, and the very trueIsa. 60. Ioh. 1. light of the same life (against the mindes of the false light of the good-thinking Knowledg) is held forth, and evidently declared unto him, whereby he becometh then likewise humbled in all his mindes and thoughts: and there is also made known unto him, what maner of sinner, and howMatt. 15. unclean of heart he is without the upright beeing of the true light and life that proceedeth out of God (and so in the Knowledg of his sins, and of the up­right Righteousness, as also of the first en­trance of the way, to the land of the li­ving) he beginneth to perceive and to get a littleProv. 4. wisdom of the holy Understand­ing, where-through likewise he is the more ready to consent to pass over and to tra­vell thorow the small way that leadeth to the life.

3. This light now, that is held forth be­fore the traveller, or wherewith he is met (in the passing thorow the fear of God, [Page 38]and the beginning of wisdom, is calledMatth. 3. Luke 3 Act. 2. and 3. The grace of the lord in the confession of sins; through which light the traveller is prepared to the true life of the upright Righteousness, and washed with the water of Repentance, to the knowledge of Sal­vation in the forgiveness, and in the clean­sing of his sins.

4. With which, and through which light and his foregoing service the traveller isGal. 3. led and proceedeth on, even unto the good land of the upright living ones.

5. And although now, that this light in the foregoing of his service, be lesser then the great day-light of the good land, yet reacheth it notwithstanding to the greatIsa. 60. Mal. 4. Apo. 22. day-light of the same land. And moreover, albeit that the least in the king­dom of the good land be greater of light then the same foregoing light,Mat. 11. Luk. 7. yet doth it for all that bring the traveller to the grea­test and chiefest light in the kingdom of the good and peaceable land.

6. But in travelling forward upon the way, for to come to the good land of Peace, so do thePsal 34. Eccles 2. Act. 14. 2 Tim. 3. perils then first make manifest themselves. Therefore must the traveller keep a diligent watch in the said grace of the Lord, and in the obedience to the Re­quiring [Page 39]of the same foregoing service; and so constantly follow after the requi­ring of the grace of the Lord,Eccl. 2. Heb. 13. and of the service of love, according to the counselProv. 1. and 2. and 3. and 4. and 5. of the wise or elders in the same, for o­therwise he becometh hindered and de­ceived upon the way, by the sundry maner of temptations and conceited lights that do oftentimes meet with him, to the lead­ing away, or seducing of him from the right way.

7. Wherefore, to the end now there should no man remainHeb. 3.4 without the Rest of the Saints of God (which dwell in this good City) except it were then, through his own unwillingness or good-thinking Knowledg, so will we mark out both the perils of seducing, and also the means unto preservation, for that no man should err upon the way,Deut. 13: Ier. 28. nor be seduced or de­ceived by any false ends.

8. The Lord vouchsafe to strengthen the courage of all hearts that desire to go into the life of peace, and to give them wisdom, that they in any wise (throughNum. 14. Heb. 4. unbelief, nor through any good-thinking wisdom) become not hindered from en­tring into the godly life, by the many maner of temptations that do chance unto [Page 40]them by the sundry false ends, and so might happen to stay by the way.

9. Therefore hear, and understand: when one now entereth into this gate, (namedProv. 15. The fear of God) and will travell forward toward the good land, thorow the door (namedPro. 1.2.9. Eccle. 1. The beginning of wis­dom) in the light (named, The grace of the Lord in the confession of sins) so shall he not then run on rashly without discretion, ac­cording to his own good thinking or im­magination, nor yet unadvisedly without the counsell of thePro. 4. and 5. Eccle. 8. elders in the wisdom of the love, and of the upright beeing of Jesus Christ; for whenas the wisdom doth first begin in the traveller, so is she at that time but small in him yet, as young or growing on: and he himself is yet also but young of understanding, and small of com­prehending in the godly wisdom.

10. For that cause the traveller (in the youngness of his understanding) must (in the beginning when the wisdom grow­eth first in him) have his proceeding for­ward according to the counsel of his elder in the Family of Love, who hath obedient­ly performed the requiring of the gracious Word and his service, and so is grown up therein unto theEphe. 4. old age of the godly un­derstanding [Page 41]of the gracious Word of the Lord, and well exercised in the passing o­ver the way to the good life and land of the Living, to the end that he may likewise (to the overcoming of all foolishness and seducing that meeteth him) attaine to theEccl. 6. and 8. 1 Cor. 13. old age of the manly wisdom without harm, and so go into the good land of the upright Wise, and Understanding ones.

11. Now when the traveller passeth thorow this said gate and door, and so be­ginneth to travel forward towards the good land, then doth he finde in the way of his forth-going two kinde of wise ones or counsellers that do meete with him.

12. The one of those wise ones present­eth himself before him out of the Family of Love to his preservation, and he stand­eth on the right side of the way, and his form is not very amiable nor pleasant (ac­cording to the mindes of the flesh) to be­hold, nor yet his sayings and counsel to be obeyed, because that he is contrary to all mindes and knowledges of the fleshRom. 7.8. or standeth minded against them, (notwith­standing, if the traveller have no regard unto him, neither doth daily receive any counsel of him unto obedience, nor yet follow his counsel, then shall he not come [Page 42]to the rest) and he is namedExod. 20. Deut. 5. The Law or Ordinance of the Lord: whereunto also is joyned the safemaking doctrine and ser­viceable ministration of the holy and gra­cious Word under the obedience of the Love.

13. And the same Law or Ordinance, with the adjoyning doctrine and serviceable mi­nistration dothGal. 3. and 4. sustain and keep (with the counsel and instruction of the elders in the holy understanding of the gracious Word of the Lord and his service of Love) the dis­ciples of the Wisdom, the whilest they are yet young and unexpert in the same, that they may remain preserved and (Col. 1. 2 Pet. 3. growing up in the godly Wisdom) may (in theEccl. 8. old age of the holy Understanding, and in the experience of the manly wisdom) inherite theProv. 7. Ephe. 1. heritage of the peaceable land.

14. The other Wise one cometh before him, out of the thoughts of mans good­thinking, and out of the opinion of the strangers from the Family of Love: which wise one cometh often unto him, to the intent to draw him awayProv. 5. from the way that directeth to the land of the living, and he standeth on the left side of the way, and his form is sweet and friendly (ac­cording to the mindes of the flesh) to be­hold, [Page 43]and his sayings and counsels delight­ful to be obeyed (but if the traveller do re­gard him and cleave unto him, and follow his counsel, then becometh he altogether deceived, and at the last [...]indeth himself in many calamities and miseries) and he is namedRom. 8. The wisdom of the flesh; whereunto is taken on the corruptible doctrine and ministration of mans good-thinking, with the which many people be seduced and led away from the way of the passing over to the good land of the living.

15. These two wise ones (on both sides) do give unto the traveller several coun­sel.

16. The Law or Ordinance of the Lord requireth the traveller the obedience to her Requiring, and so (with a simple heart) to accomplishMatt. 3. all righteousness obedient­ly: and testifieth unto him, that that same isPro. 3. and 4. the right wisdom of the upright peo­ple of the good land, and councelleth him likewise, that he (in the obeying of the Requiring of the ministration of the gra­cious Word of the Lord) should draw a­way his senses and thoughts from all unprofitable and corruptible things, and so to let it be delightful unto him, to love the God of life ^h with all his heart, and to [Page 44]serve him only that he might come to such an upright2 Pet. 1. nature and good beeing,Deut. 6. and 10. Matth 22. as the people of the good land have, and so then might live with the same peaceable peo­ple inEphe. 1.4. the upright Righteousness and Ho­liness

17. But The wisdom of the flesh with the doctrine of her good thinking, doth (in all things) set forth her self there-against much subtiller and more prudent, then to live so in theWisd. 1. singleness of heart, obedient­ly, and requireth of the traveller to do his diligence, or indeavour to know all se­crets; and so counselleth him not to hear, to believe, nor to obeyGen. 3. Rom. 1. the Law and Or­dinance of the Lord, nor the Elders in the same ministration; but to endeavour him of himself, to discern the best and the worst through his imagination of the knowledg, and to excel all things with the knowledg,Ier. 9.11. and 13. and 18. as also to live according to the best of the good-thinking or judgment of his own heart.

18. Besides this, The wisdom of the flesh holdeth forth likewise before the traveller divers sorts of knowledg, according to the desire and pleasure of the flesh, because he should chuse such things to follow after: also sundry kindes ofCol 2. 2 Tim. 3. false holiness, and [Page 45]false freedom, and many kindes of joy, in the vanity, and in the foolish and earthlyWisd. 2. Rom. 11. 2 Pet. 2. corruptible things, to the end he should cleave unto them with a loose heart, ac­cording to his own opinion and pleasure, and to frame his own Righteousness, joy, and friendship there-out, even as though the same also were a good holiness or Pa­radise of life, and a good freedom; butPro. 5. Wisd. 3. Rom. 6. the end is the death and destru­ction.

19. If so be now that the traveller do beleeve and follow the counsel of the wisdom of the flesh, then doth he subject his heart unto two false and deceitful props [the one is named,Phil. 2. and 3. 2 Pet. 2. Self-seeking; the otherGen. 3. Negligence toward the Law or Or­dinance of the Lord] and so he cometh into many kinde of errors through the wisdom of the flesh.

CHAP. VIII.

BUt if the traveller have an hearty de­sire to come into the rest of the good land, and that his heart be incli­nedEphe. 4. unto Unity with the peaceable [Page 46]people, then must he utterly forsake all the, counsel of The wisdom of the flesh, how pleasantly and prudently soever the same attempteth him in the Knowledg, and all those likewise that are enemies to the Family of Love, and that are captived with the fleshes wisdom or good-thinking, and with the disobedience to the Requiring of the Word and service of Love; for the end of the counsel of the wisdom of the flesh, and of her servants or captives, is nothing but deceit, and extendeth to allWisd. 5. Eccl. 21. grievous misery, bitterness,Rom. 6.8. and sins of death, and therefore must the traveller (with all his heart) follow thePsa. 119. counsel of the Law of the Lord, according to the counsel of the saidPro. 4. and 7. elders in the holy un­derstanding.

2. (And although it seemeth at the first to be somewhat painful and bitter, yet doth the end of the same for all that extend to all joy, sweetness, andRom. 6. and 8. righteousness of life, and bringeth the traveller to the good land of rest and peace.)

3. But the principall counsel of the Law or Ordinance of the Lord, is this, that the traveller, or lover of the good land, shall in the beginning of his journeyEccl. 7. submit himself altogether under the Re­quiring [Page 47]of the holy and gracious Word of the Lord, and his service of Love, and enter obediently into the Requiring of the same, and prepareEccl. 2. his soul to temp­tation, and so shall call and pray unto hisPsal 18. and 19. and 116. God in all his temptation, and persevere stedfastly in the Law or Ordinance of the Lord, even till into the good land of Peace.

4. And this good counsel of the Law of the Lord, giveth the traveller also two Instruments with him in the journey, or by the way; the one serveth him for to continue there through in the right way; and it is a compass, the which is the right Christian way sure that alwayes pointeth him rightly unto the good land: this compass is named,Mat. 16. Mar. 8. Luk. 9.14. The forsake­ing of himself for the good lifes sake. As long as one goeth on according to the same in the Obedience of the Re­quiring of the Law of the Lord, he can­not err.

5. With the other instrument all the enemies, and all the temptations that would hinder the traveller from coming into this holy place be overcome.

6. This instrument, of victory is the Cross of Christ, and it is named,Lam. 3. Heb. 10.12 Iam. 5. Patience, [Page 48]or sufferance, and it is the true Altar in thee Holy, upon the which the true Meat-offering is, that is given to the faithful believing travellers to eate, and also the true Drink-offering that is gi­ven them to drink. Which Meate-offe­ring is named,Ioh. 2. The Flesh or Body of Jesus Christ; and the Drink-offering is named, The Blood of Jesus Christ; and the same body and blood of Jesus Christ is unto the constant and faithful traveller (in the proceeding on in his Pilgrimage)Ephe. 2. Col. 1.2. a true Mediator, to lay away the sin in the flesh, and to esta­blish theRom. 15. Promises with him that are made to the Fathers; and so through the same, and with the same Meate-offering and Drink-offering the travel­ler is able to bideHeb. 12. constant to the Compass, and on the Cross, till unto the accomplishing of his Passover and debt offering; that is, unto the death and burying of all the lusts and de­sires of the sinful flesh, and of all the fleshes wisdom or good-thinking, and so can overcome all false ends and all the enemies of the good Life of the upright Love, and enter into the good Land of Peace, without [Page 49]harm, and be assembled to all the ho­ly ones of God, in the everlasting life.

7. Whosoever then hath even thus (as is said) these two forementioned Instru­ments with him, and giveth himself cap­tive thereunder2 Cor. 10. obediently, according to the doctrine and requiring of the Law of the Lord, heSap. 3. cometh through the same captivity, to the upright freedom of all the children of God.

8. Howbeit itSap. 3. & 5. Matth. 27. seemeth, as that he dieth on the Cross, through the com­pass, with the said meat offering and drink-offering; but he cometh throughRom. 6.8. the same death of the Cross, to the up­right life.

9. Now when the traveller giveth him­self to the journey, with this said Armor of the upright warlike souldiers of Jesus Christ, and so prepareth hisEccle. 2. soul against all temptations; then can he likewise, in the days of his temptations, keep the victory against all the enemies of the good life, and of the upright love: For so in that Armor, none of the enemies of the life, nor the ungodly ones, with their temptations, bideHeb. 12. standing before the forsaking of himself, for the good lifes [Page 50]sake, and before the parience; nor theMatt. 16. Gates of Hell the danger of death, the bands of the Dev [...]l, not yet the world, nor flesh, have not any power against those same; but they be all overcome there­through, and all that whatsoever is not any life, neither yet of God, must give back before them.

10. Therefore (all ye lovers of the good Land, andIoh. 1. Iam. 1. disciples of the holy Word) have a diligent regard unto the compass, and continue on the Cross,Matt. 10. and 24. even unto the end: For there-through do we obtain the victory against all the enemies, and we may likewise, through those same, enter (without harm) into this good Land, which lieth right in the East, and where the Sun always shineth,Isa. 60 Apo. 22. and never goeth down; and so may inherit the same for evermore.

CHAP. IX.

[...]F so be now that the traveller do give eare to the councel of the Law of the Lord, and giveth himself to the journey, with the said Instruments, then doth he in his travelling forward, come into a great [Page 51]unpathed Land, where many maner of temptations and deceits do meet with him; and coming into the same, there ap­peareth unto him immediatelyMatth. 2. a star out of the East, which guideth him till into the good Land; to the end, that he should always (in all the temptations of deceit) have a good confidence to pass by all the temptations, and deceiveable things, that do meet with him, and to come to the good Land.

2. This Star is named,Abac 2. Rom. 1. Heb. 11. Belief and hope, by the which he doth behold (afar off) to what good rest the Star will bring him.

3. This great unpathed Land (that he travelleth through) is named, Many maner of walkings, because the Travellers do travel and pass (from all quarters) through the same Land,Deut 1. to that one good Land of rest; but in all the same Land, named, Many maner of walkings, there is not one plain pathed way.

4. But although the Travellers do (in this Many maner of walkings) travel to the good and peaceable Land; yet do they all at the last assemble into one way; for they all have their guiding by that oneMatt. [...]. 2. Star, which Star (according to the point­ing [Page 52]of their compass) bringeth them all to that one Land of Peace.

5. Moreover, this Land, into the which one cometh, through the Fear of God, and the Beginning of Wisdom, is of it self, aEccles. 2. sorrowful minded Land; and the people of that Land, neither yet the Travellers in the same,Psa. 126. & 137. are never merry; wherefore there do happen there unto the Travellers, many temptations to chooseMatth. 4. Luke 4. something, whereby to be released from the sorrow or grief: But with the forsaking of him­self, they overcome it all through the patience.

6. The names of the people are these, Stricken in heart, Exod. 16.17. Cumbered in minde, Wofulness, Sorrowfulness, Anguish, Fear, Dismaidness, Perplexitie, Ʋncomfortable­ness, Ʋndelightfulness, Heavy-mindedness, Many maner of Thoughts, Dead courage.

7. Behold, such names and natures of people, there are, and do dwell in this Land, Many maner of walkings.

CHAP. X.

THis Land is an open, weak, or unwall­ed Land; and is like unto aExo. 26. Num. 21. barren [Page 53]wilderness, wherein there [...] joy to be found; but it is full or perils of deceit, because of the sundry sorts of temptations that do come to the Traveller through Perplexities.

2. For if they (according to the doctrine of the Law of the Lord) have not a sharp watch unto the compass, nor hold them fast on the Cross, and also do not still mark theMatth. 2. leading star, then may they soon be led away into a by-way; and that because of the Heavy mindedness of the Inhabitants of the Land. For the wisdom of the flesh doth also come forth there oftentimes very subtilly,Rom 1. 2 Pet. 2. with her self­seeking, for to point the Traveller aside: But all what is self-seeking, that is seducing, but whereunto the forsaking of himself pointeth or leadeth, that is the right path.

3. Verily, in this Land of mortifying and abstainingMat. 16. Matth. 8. from all things, there is not much joy to be gotten; but the Tra­veller, that (with the forsaking of himself) passeth through the same, in the patience, and seeketh not his own selfness; but (un­der the obedience of the love) hath a much more desire to doPsal. 40. Heb. 10. the Lords will, he obtain­eth a good salvation of the peaceable life.

[Page 54]4. And whosoever likewise, hath not an hearty desire to the good life, he also re­maineth not constant in this way. But who­so bideth constant til unto theMatt. 10. and 14. end, he shall be saved, and rejoyce him in the e­verlasting life.

5. Moreover, in this land, the travellers have not much sweetness of the herb of life, wherewith they beExo. 16. fed in their hun­ger, nor yet much satisfying of refreshing of the Fountain-waters,Exo. 17. Num. 20. wherewith they be refreshed in their thirst because that in the same land, there is no perfect satisfy­ingIsa. 41. of hunger and thirst to be found, nor come by; for the herb wherewith they be sustained to the Life, and the Fountain-waters wherewith they be refreshed, doEccl. 24. make them still the longer the more hungry and thirsty: and as long as they are travelling in this land towards the good land of Peace they have stil hunger and thirstMatth. 5. Luk. 6. after the righteousness; but in the good land they become all sa­tisfied.

6. The herb wherewith the travellers be2 Cor. 3. Gal 3.4. sustained to the life, is named, The ser­viceable Word of the Lord; and the Foun­tain-waters wherewith they be refresh­ed, are named,Ier. 23. and 31. and 33. Luk. 22. 1 Cor. 11. The promises of Salvation [Page 55]in the new Testament of the blood of Jesus Christ.

CHAP. XI.

IN this land named (Many maner of walkings) there lie also fair hills, that seem to be somewhatNum. 33. Deut. 2. delightful, of which the traveller must beware; for it is no­thing but Deceit, Vanity, and sedu­cing.

2. These hills are garnished with divers trees, which do likewise bring forth vain and deceitful [...] fruits.

3. Now because of this garnishing of the trees, and for the delectation of their vain fruits, many travellers do suffer them­selves to be seduced there-with,Num. 32. and do make their dwelling among them, and so they remain without the good land of Life and of Rest.

4. And seeing they are grown some­what wearyHeb. 12. and grieved, or somewhatNum. 11.14. unbelieving or doubtful in the ministra­tion of the Word, therefore do they suf­fer themselves the more easily to be drawn away with the same; for it hath a shew [Page 56]as if it were to their preservation and wel­fare, or were some holiness.

5 For that cause do the travellers also, the more easely cleave unto it; and so they leave the forsaking of themselves, taking onExod. 16.17. Num. 11. their self seeking (that is, They take on their ownRom 10. righteousness, and madeCol. 2. holiness, or theirPhil. 3. ease in the flesh.) They likewise leave the patience, and become negligent towards the Law or Ordinance of the Lord, following theirGen. 3. self choosing, wherewith they (accord­ing to their own pleasures) be drawn a­way, by the deceit of the wisdom of the flesh.

6. If they now bide not constant, till un­to the end of the travelling through,Num. 14. Psal. 95. then remain they also without the good plea­sant Land. and do estrange themselves from the holy City of Peace and Rest.

7. These hills are namedProv. 3. Isa. 5. Taken on wit, or prudence, Riches of the spirit, Rom. 1. 1 Tim. 1. Learned knowledg, 2 Tim. 3. Taken on freedom, Ezek. 13 22. Good­thinking prophecy, Zeal after chosen holi­ness, Mat. 23. Col. 2 Counterfeit righteousness, New invented humility, Luk. 18. Pride in ones own spiritualness, Ʋnmindful of any better, &c.

8. The Trees that grow upon these [Page 57]hills are namedJudae 1. Coloured love, Litteral wisdom, greedy towards owns, flattering-alluring, Cor 1. or 2. reproving of natural ones, Matth. 4. pro­mises of vanity,1 Tim. 4.exalting of his own private invention, pleasure in chosen holiness Mat. 23. Luk. 18. greatly esteeming his own working of private righteousness.

9. These trees do bring forth altoge­ther one maner of fruits, which be all likewise called by one maner of name; and the name of their fruitsPsa. 57. Wisd. 3. and 5. Eccle. 34. is Vain Comfort: with which fruits the people that have left the forsaking of them­selves, and the Cross with the Meate-offering, and Drink-offering, and have not brought their Debt-offering to the Lord, and that seek their Rest, or make their dwelling among these deceitful hills, do let themselvesIsa. 29. be fed.

10. If therefore the travellers have left the forsaking of themselves, and the pati­ence with the Meate-offering, and Drink-offering, as also the accomplishing of their Debt-offering, or are growing doubtful in the belief,Heb. 10. so finde they then some refresh­ing among these hils through the shadow of the trees. They get likewise some satis­fying through the vain comfort, and are al­so at the first somwhat glad therethrough; [Page 58]also singing and crying out; We have it, we have it, we are illuminated, born anew, and come to the rest, and to the best of all.

II. But (alas) when the Sun ariseth some­what high, then do the fruitsPsal. 34. Matth. 13. wither, namely the vain comfort, and when the Winter cometh, then stand the trees bar­ren; and it is allIob 20. Wisd. 5. deceit and seducing.

12. Therefore there is no true Rest but in the good land of Eternity which is ful of all pure hearts and souls of the living.

CHAP. XII.

THe whilest then that the traveller doth travell toward this good land by the leading Star (Belief and Hope) so cometh he clean th [...]row all the deceit, by means of theMatt. 16. Forsaking of himself. For that [...]t is a good compass unto him which pointeth to the good land

2. And with the Patience he likewiseHeb. 10. and 11. and 12. overcometh all assaults; for that is unto him a good blessing of the holy Cross, and a good armour to the conqueringEphe. 6. 2 Pet 4. of all his assaultings; where through all his ene­miesIam. 4. slye from him; and so he may pass by all what is destroying free without harm.

[Page 59]3. For there are many Molesters and destroyers to be found in this land, which do grievously vex the travellers, and would also destroy,Luk. 21. 1 Pet. 5. let, or hinder them, that they should not come into the good land of Peace. But they do all fear and tremble, before the holy Cross.

4. The molesters that do oftentimes meete the traveller for to hinder his pas­sing forward and to bring him to destu­ction, are named2 Pet. 3. trying of The Belief, Num. 14. Matth. 24. 2 Pet. 3. Doubt or distrustfulness to come to the good land, tempting with a chosen appeasement ac­cording to the flesh, proving of the belief in a shew of comforting with the Worldly beauties, Matth. 4. Luke 4. profering of the possession of all the riches of the earthly corruptibleness, to the end to forsake (in respect thereof) the true invi­sible beeing, GodsWisd. 7. Col. 1. eternal Power and Might, the everlasting uncorruptibleness, and the heavenly Riches of the perpetual Immortality, wherein noApo. 21. corruption can remain or endure.

5. But let no man suffer himself to be discouraged at the passage of theHeb. 10. Iam 1. 1 Pet. 21. way, nor seduced by the molesters, but have all your longing (O ye loversPsal 42, of the upright Ver­tue) after the most holy beeing of the good land of the living, and keep stil [Page 60]your eyes fixed upon the leading Star.

6. Have a diligent regard unto the Compass, that ye turn not outIoh 23. on a [...] side.

7. Forsake not the holy Cross, nor the serviceable gracious Word of the Lo [...] which isMatt. 24. administred and given unto you toEccl. 15. feed upon (by the Elders and Minister of the same) for food of life, to the e [...] that ye may there-through be preserve [...] from all destruction in the way of yo [...] Journey, til unto the entrance into the good land, and that all whatsoever is de­stroying may flyIer. 4. from you; for even s [...] in your constancy, the holy Cross shall [...] unto you an Altar of the true burnt-offe­ring and the serviceable gracious Word [...] the Lord, a safemaking gift or offering Christ upon the same AltarHeb. 9. in the holy [...] the true Tabernacle of God and Christ upon which Altar your Gift or Offent which ye offer up unto the Lord upon th [...] holy Altar in the holy, becometh sanctifie (through the same safemaking Gift or O [...] fering the serviceable gracious Word [...] the Lord) and kindled, or set on fire for burnt offering to the consuming of all th [...] enemies of the good life, wherethrough then likewise, your willing Debt offering [Page 61]Sin-offering and Death-offering shall be acceptableIsa. 56. Rom. 12. unto the Lord, and ascend up before him (from the same Altar)2 Cor. 2. as a sweet savour.

8. Therefore be not afraidDeut. 20. Isa. 41. 1 Mac. 4. of all your enemies, for God hath made them all dismaid through the holy Cross of Christ (the true Altar of his holy Offering in the Holy) and given them into our hands for to be vanquished.

CHAP. XIII.

IN this same thorowfaring land, men find also a crafty murderer, that both high and low, wide and farr runneth all over this same land, and he is namedNum. 13. and 14. Ʋn­belief.

2. Of this wicked Villain, it behoveth us to beHeb. 3.4. very wary; for by him there are many murdered, and so they remain with­out the Rest, because they lose the Com­pass, and forsake the Cross through un­belief; and also, because they cover their eyes from the Light of heaven, and will no longer behold the Leading Star.

3. Therefore herein there is great dan­ger to pass thorow, namely, for all those [Page 62]that will follow their own counsel, and areNum. 13. and 14. fainthearted, or wavering in faith, keeping no diligent watch unto the Com­pass, and (for fear of sustaining damage) do hastily cast the Cross from them.

4. But the travellers that give no re­gard unto their own counsel or opinion, shall not fear the danger of sustaining damage, but shall continue ofEphe. 6. good courage: for it is all nothing and vanity, whatsoever meeteth them upon the way. It is all to be overcome through the pati­ence; for there through it consumeth it self,Psal. 37.68. like unto smoke, and there is nothing at all found that is any-what, or that re­maineth over but the good land, with his holy Inhabitants and godly Riches.

5. Therefore let men travel thorow boldlyHeb. 5. and 10. and 11. with faith and a firm hope, and not doubtMatt 14. nor grow wavering: then is there nothing that can endamage nor destroy them.

CHAP. XIIII.

IN this Land there lieth also a dange­rous river, whereinPsal. 69. many travellers be drowned and choaked, that hold them [Page 63]not unto the counsel of the Law of the Lord, and therefore have no regard unto the Compass, nor have suffered themselves to be made fast on the Cross.

2. For that cause it is likewise very needful that the travellers do take diligent heed hereof, also regard wel the Compass, and hold them unto the Cross, that they run not in the same.

3. This river is named,Rom. 6, Ephes. 4. A desire in the pleasures of the flesh. And in the same there are also Fishes, who have their nature ac­cording to the name and nature of the ri­ver: but let not the traveller take upon himRom 6.13. Gal. 5. 2 Tim. 2. Iude. 1. to go into the same river, nor to catch her fishes, neither yet suffer himself to delight to eate of them.

4. These fishes are namedIer. 5. Phil. 3. 2 Pet. 2. Meate of the temporal delights, in stead of the everlasting good.

5. Some fishes are likewise named, Ease in the flesh, in stead of zeal to the righteous­ness, Iohn 2. Honor of the world, in stead of the Rest in the Spirit, and of the honor of God.

6. Take you every one diligent heed of this deceitful River, and of her Fishes. It seemeth indeed to be a very pleasant wa­ter for one to refresh and recreate himself in; and the taste of the fishes doth also [Page 64]provoke a desire for to eate stil of them: but it is all meer deceit,Wisd. 5. 1 Cor. 7. 1 Ioh. 2. vain and no­thing.

7. This river hath (in her bottomless deepness) a very evil rewarding. For if one sinke into the same unto the bottom­less depth thereof, then findeth he nothing there, butIob 18. Psal. 11. Psal. 34. Apo. 21. burning pitch, brimstone, heate, and flames of the hellish fire.

8. That is the reward of this river, to­wards all those that run to the same, and drown or choak themselves therein.

9. Therefore let no man intend nor en­devour him to take on any sweetness of life, so long as he is not yet come to the Rest of the good land; for as long as one is in the journey, he must account of him­self as a2 Cor. 5. 1 Pet. 2. Heb. 11. Pilgrim, or walker in strange lands, who suffereth nothing to delight him in the same (for to take it on him) in­asmuch as he hath no inheritance nor con­tinuing place therein.Heb. 13.

10. After this maner likewise, let every one stand minded, and not take on any thing,1 Cor. 9 according to his own pleasure, but proceede on right-forth towards the holyHeb 11. Apo. 21.22. City, which is named, The understanding of God; for in the same isCol. 2. all fulness of riches,Ioh. 10. and all fulness of life and of joy to be found.

CHAP. XV.

IN this unpathed thorow-faring land, there do also spring or grow certain Thistles and thornes which do many times somewhat vex the traveller; but with patience he may escape and pass tho­row them all.

2. The Thistles and Thornes, are named,Num. 14 Wisd. 17. Ʋncertain Consciences.

3. Therein are likewise to be found di­vers natures of beasts, that are minded to devouring; the which also do pursue the travellers very stoutly, in such sort, that they sometimes retire a little because of them; but before the Cross they do all re­tire back at the last.

4. These beasts are named,Rom. 3. Gal. 5. Envy, Wrath, Churlishness or Ʋnfriendliness, Cruelty, Offensiveness, Resistance or Diso­bedience, Craftiness, greedy desire of Ho­nor, Subtilty to deceit and Violence; and also one of the most detestable beasts (that will worst of all give way) is named Hypocrisie Luk. 12. or Dissimulation, where under all maner of naughtiness is cove­red with a coloured Vertue,Mat. 6.7.23. or made [Page 66]holiness; and he is indeed the subtillest beast who provoketh all the other beasts for to devour the travellers.

5. Of which wilde beasts the travellers must take heede with great foresightful­ness,Matt. 10. Ephe. 5. that they run not into the mouth of them, and so be swallowed up.

CHAP. XVI.

NOw when the traveller is passed thorow all this said land, and hath left all these abominations, then cometh he to three Castles, thorow the midst of the which he must pass, and must leave them in like maner; for he shall not neede4 Esd. 2. to fear any thing of all whatsoever meet­teth him in the journey.

2. It is true when any thing meeteth him in any place, that hath a shew (or that he himself regardeth) as if it were of some valu [...]; hen doth it vant out it self so highly sometimes, as if it were impossi­ble to be overcome;Exod. 1 [...]. Num 13 but when one is gone thorow or past the same, and then looketh about after it, so is it nothing at all, and is alt gether deceit, [...]ob 20 Psal. 37 vanity, and bewitching.

[Page 67]3. Upon these Castles there lie subtile watchers, which are very crafty and wily; but thorow theMar. 8. Luk. 9. forsaking of himself, and with the patience one may pass by them: but whosoever (through unbelief) hath lost the Compass, and left the Cross, him do they take captive to be their bondslave.

4. The one of these Castles is named,Iob 1. and 2. Matt. 4. The power of the Devils assaulting: the se­cond,Heb. 12. The forsaking of Hope: the third is named,Psal. 55. Fear of death.

5. The Watchers that lie upon these Castles (for to take the people captive un­der the same) as named according to their nature; and these are their names.

6.2 Cor. 11. Appearing like angels of light, bzec. 13. and 22. In­deavoring to the stealing of the heart, Pro. 14.16. 2 Tim. 3. Ap­pearance of Vertue, Subtil invention, Prov. 12. Col. 2. Con­fidence in Knowledg, Mat. 23. 1 Tim. 4. Made laws and imagined rights, Disguised or unknown holiness, Self framed Righteousness (there goeth also among them)4. Esd. 16. Wisd. 17. Rom. 2. Accusation of sins, Fear of evil, Fear of adversity, Careful of destruction, Fear of hell &c.

7. These and such like before named, are the Watchers of the Castles, who do go out with many [...] Isal. 35.57. su [...]till snares, for to let the travellers, and to catch them into their Captivity.

[Page 68]8. But theMat. 16. forsaking of himself point­eth quite beyond, as to forsake it all; and with the patience, one passeth thorow the same, as if it were nothing; for the Com­pass doth point only unto the Understand­ing of God, to the end to bring the tra­veller to the same, and to arm him there­unto; forasmuch doubtless as all other things areWisd. 5. seducing and foolishness.

CHAP. XVII.

NOw when one is passed beyond and hath left all this (as is rehearsed) then doth heNum. 27. Deut. 34. come hard by the good land, and he approacheth neer unto the understand­ing of God. But many do run past the entrance thereof, because they perswade themselves too soon, that they have left it all, and that they are grown so wise, that they think it is not needful for them to near the serviceable Word of the Lord any more, and think that therefore they can­not fail to know very rightly the entrance of the good land; and also the maner how they shall go into the good land, and so they lose the Compass, coming even so yet into very great errors.

[Page 69]2. For the neerer one cometh to the Land, the more subtilly doth the deceit as­sault him; for besides the entrance of this good land (as the one wayes entrance joy­ned to the other) there lieth also a wayMatth. 7. that leadeth to an abominable or horrible land; and the same way is a pleasant way to be­hold; andGen. 3. Pro. 14.16. pleasant likewise to enter into, wherewith many be deceived; supposing (forasmuch as his coming in is so delightful and pleasant in beholding) that the same is the very way that leadeth into the good land.

3. Here it is very needful to have a dili­gent and sharpe regard, to which of both these wayes theMatth. 2. Star leadeth and upon which the Compas pointeth; whither it be to the same pleasant way, or to the peace­able life of the good land, and also that the Cross be not forsaken; for throughHeb. 12. 1 Pet. 2. the Cross one may perceive which of them is promised to be the Rest, namely, the pleasant way, or the peaceable life of the good land.

4. This pleasant way is namedGen. 2.3. Know­ledg of Good and Evil, the which deceiveth many people, because they perswade them­selves, that to know the good and the evil doth far excel the serviceable Word [Page 70]of the Lord, and his Requiring; and that likewise the same is the very best, the most holy, and the most prudent Understand­ing, whereby to go into the good land, and to inherit his Riches; and so they judg that the Knowledg is the greatest or the chiefest Riches of God. Howbeit it is no­thing at allGen 3. Wis. 2.5. but deceit, pain, labour, trouble, and no rest; also nothing but Death, and no Life.

5. For if any man adjoyn him unto the knowledg of good and evil, and maketh more account of it then of the Nature of God,Gal. 3. Heb. 7. whereunto the Law of the Lord is serviceable unto him, then doth he forsake the door or gate serving to the entrance of the life; and so chuseth to enter into the deceitful way of the knowledg of good and evil, thinking that he can want no­thing there; and so he entreth boldly into it,Num. 26 perswading himself, that the same is the best, and that he shall there-through go into the good land.

CHAP. XVIII.

NOw when any people are come into the same land, whereunto the plea­sant [Page 71]way of the Knowleg of Good and Evil leadeth; and which in it self is full ofNum. 16 contention, full of great and grievous in­cumberances, and ful of all abominations of desolation; then doth there appear im­mediatly unto them an inward or spiritualPro. 11. Matth. 22. Cor. 8. Col. 2. pride, and an arrogant boldness against the discipline of the gracious Word, and the obedience to the Requiring of his Ser­vice of Love; the which deceiveth many; namely, for the most part, all those that ground them upon the knowledg, and so do think to obtain or to enter into the Life and the Truth by means of the know­ledg of good and evil.

2. For the inward pride getteth root in them and they suppose that they are some­what singularIob. 11.12. Isa. 5. Luke 18. above other people, be­cause they have so much knowledg to talk of the Truth; and are so rich of Spirit therein, perswading themselves, that the riches of the knowledg is the very light of salvation; and that same doth then make them presumptuous bold.

3. Even thus verily do they (in the knowledg) arrogantly take upon them, that3 Reg. 22. their Cause is sure and certain, but it is all nothing else but abomination of desolation, Contention, Disagree­ment, [Page 72]and intangling among the children of men.

4. Therefore is also the same land (in­to the which one cometh thus, through the said knowledg) namedDan. 9. Matth. 24. The abomination of desolation, because that it setteth it self in such a place or dignity, and hath such reputation among many men, as if it were the holy understanding of God it self: Yea, it doth also vaunt or give forth it self to be the same; and so setteth it self in2 Thes. 2. the hearts of men, and will likewise be reputed and held for the same at mens hands: whosoever now beholdeth the same,Mat. 24. Mark 13. let him consider thereon.

5 But (alas) whosoever is come into this horrible land, and hath taken a dwel­ling place therein, such a one cannot right­ly behold or consider the abominations of the same land; nor yet very well come out of the same again, because that the spiritual pride, and the arrogant stoutness against the Love and her service, is (by means of the knowledg) so deeply rooted in him, and therefore he perswadeth himself, that theCol. 2. knowledg, is a City ful of the wise riches of God, and a good understanding of the holy Ghost.

6. Howbeit, it is all false and meer [Page 73]deceit, because that the understanding of God (the which is Gods true Being and Nature) doth not bear sway, nor hath the superiority therein; but that theGen. 3. prudent knowledg, and the rash bitterness, together with all maner of falshood and self-seek­ing, hath there the superiority, and beareth the dominion. Wherefore, there is nothing there also, butJob 5. bottomlesness, and no up­right ground of unity of heartJohn 17. Ephes. 4. in the love, nor yet the good life, nor the truth: And among the Inhabiters of the same, there is likewise nothing butJam. 3. contention, division, or discord, against the obedience to the entrance of the good life.

7. In the same Land, there is also a false light; through the which, the people per­swade themselves that their cause is so much the more certain in the knowledg;Isa. 5. Sap. 2. and they do likewise account the same false light, for the best and most firm foun­dation, which they have found in the knowledg, for to build upon. But the same light serveth them not to the life, but no­doubtIsai. 58. 1 Cor. 3. to an Arrogant stoutness, and to the intangling of men, and to presumpti­on and reproachfulness over others; and to much sedition in the Lands, or among the people.

[Page 74]8. This false Light hath its original out of the Knowledg and is named,1 Cor. 8. Col. 2. a lofty stout minde upon the Knowledg; where-through the people of the land do suppose, that it is their firm ground of faith, where-from they must not start, but stand firmly to it. And even thus doth the false light ingender in them all a stout minde in their knowledg

9. Seeing then that the people do not know theIoh. 1.17. 1 Cor. 2. true Light (the which is a god­ly life) therefore be they all (by means of the knowledg, the which they account for a skilful wisdom and true Light) deceived and corrupted in this wildernessed land by the same false light, besides the which they know no otherRom. 1. perfect good, and so they be held by the same in the deceit, and do pluck over themselves there-thorow, no­thing else but all destruction, and distur­bance or dispersing of mindes and thoughts.

10. But as long as they dwell in the hor­rible confused land, they understand not that they are deceived and corrupted, nor yet that they have missed the true ent­rance to the good land of the upright and concordable life, and are gone into theWisd. 5. way of error, where-through they them­selves [Page 75]do take on (out of the knowledg) many opinions, falseCol. 2. 2 Tim. 3. holinesses, or world­ly foolishnesses to their own destruction.

CHAP. XIX.

THis same horrible land of desolation is like unto the intangledGen. 11. Babylon (which was overthrown by the Word of the Lord, and also the builders of the same were dispersed abroad every where) be­cause that the knowledges do there (in loftiness of minde) run one against ano­ther, and cannot understand each other.

2. In the same do likewise all maner of people dwel, who are come into it out of many quarters or lands, the which hath in­deed a coming in, but no passing tho­row.

3 Therefore they do never come tho­row the same, unless they doMat. 18. turn them about, and come again to the same place where they were when they went into the pleasant way of the knowledg that lead­eth them thereunto.

4. But that can they not very well do, because of the false2 Cor. 11. light which holdeth [Page 76]them so captive (with deceit) that they will in no wise depart out of it, and also because that the inward pride, and the stout lofty minde in the knowledg, is too deep rooted in them.

5. The people of this land are a strange, wilde, rebellious, and seditious people, andBar. 3. are a people divided in minde, and grounded upon many kinde of grounds proceeding our of the Knowledg.

6. Of the which some are without1 Tim. 1. 2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 3. be­lief and hope to the sure promises of God, having neither longing nor desire to God nor to his everlasting life.

7. They delight in nothing else but to have their joy in the earthlyIsa. 56. Wisd. 2. corruptible things; and when they want that, then are they without joy, and without comfort, ful of lamenting and murmuring, dying without hope.

8. Othersome are ful of2 Pet. 2. Iude 1. reproachings, self-seeking, contentions, andRom. 1. 2 Cor. 12. Iam. 3. resistant a­gainst one another.

9. Some covet diligently after the highest honor, wishing gladly that they, or their taking on wisdom and holiness, were (above all other) exalted, harkned unto, loved, and commendedMatt. 6. over the whole land; and that they might even so [Page 78]then have laud and praise among men.

10. Many do chuse a way unto them­selves, according to the knowledg of their own minde, to the intent to live to them­selves therein: and thus doth every one walk thereIsa. 53.56. Ier. 6. and 8. according as his knowledg imagineth in him.

11. To conclude, they are all (even every one with his consorts, or fellow­companions) resistant against each other, with the1 Cor. 1.3. knowledg, and the false light shineth upon them all, quite over the whole land. And the inward or spiritual pride, ceaseth not there likewise, but she groweth orIob 5. Wisd. 3. taketh root, and doth conti­nually bring forth her false seed among those people more and more.

12. Therefore every one there also is stout-minded upon the knowledg;Bar. 3. and supposeth that he must needes have the right (or cannot erre) in his knowledg, and that he is illuminated by the Lord, through his cunning knowledg, and through his stout constant standing upon the same, and is one of the number of the holy peo­ple; but it is all false and meer deceit, be­cause that they themselves have laid those same foundationsIer. 7. and 8. Eze. 13.22. 2 Tim. 3. upon the which they set their confidence, or quiet themselves, and [Page 78]have made them of the dust of the same land; which dust scartereth abroad all over the whole Land,Matth. 7. Luke 6. like unto a drift-sand, and is named, Self wils chusing.

CHAP. XX.

BEhold, in this land (named, The abo­mination of desolation) it goeth very strange and wonderful absurdly, the which is not possible to be all written.

2. For every one there seeth that ano­ther mans foundation is vain and mee [...] foolishness; but there is no man there (or very few) that canMatth. 7. marke their own vanity or foolishness.

3. Every one doth very gladly thrust off another from his foundation, to the end to advance his own for the best; yet are all their foundations notwithstandingIer. 44. Ezec. 13. Bar. 6. Self wills chusing; and are every one uncertain and unstable, and all their work that they build thereon, is veryMatth 7. feeble or weak: for it is all nothing but knowledg and self wills chusing, in the which they proceed, and with the which they strive and contend, and with high knowledg do [Page 79]they cast down one anothers work, and turn up the foundation of it.

4. For whosoever there hath the highest mounting knowledg, or is the richest of spirit, or hath the most eloquent utterance of speech,1 Tim. 1. he can there bear the sway, or get the chief praise, and can overthrow many other infirm foundations and works which are also vain, but can shew no2 Thes. 2. love to the unity of heart, in the good beeing of Jesus Christ.

5. And now when any mans foundation or work is overthrown through any maner of knowledg, then is the same a great delight and glory unto the other that getteth the victory, and to an advancement of himself.

6. For that is the careful diligence that they use among each other,Num. 14 16. as how the one may (with the knowledg) over­throw the others foundation, building, and work, and to bring him into con­tempt among others, whereby to enlarge their own knowledg, building, or work, and to make the same great or commend­able.

7. But whosoever hath his foundation and work overthrown, the comfort of his heart is taken away, and he falleth into [Page 77]grief of minde; but if he do it for all that continue self-chusing, and partially minded, and doth not (under the obedi­ence of the Love) turn him to the upright Life, nor to the true entrance to the same; then becometh he bound again untoEzec. 13. some other thing, which is also know­ledg, and so he becometh aGal. 1. 2 Pet. 2. servant of men, or of his own manly opinion, or sense, and buildeth again afresh upon Self-wils chusing.

8. Even thus verily do they make one-another bondslaves in the good thinking-knowledg of men: and seeing that they (in their servitude) do1 Cor. 1.3. 2 Cor. 12. contend or take part against one another; so do they like­wise divide themselves into many seve­ral Religions or God-services.

9. But although they be all partially af­fected, as also have severall Religions, and many maner of god-services, yet do they notwithstanding give their Religions and God-services altogether one maner of name.

10. Every ones Religion or God service is named, Assured knowledg that it is right and good: thereupon do they set their con­fidence, and every one liveth in his own God-service, thinking and perswading [Page 81]himself2 Tim. 4 assuredly, that his Religion or God-service, is the best or the holiest a­bove all other.

CHAP. XXI.

THis people that dwelleth in this Land (the Abomination of desolation) hath indeed aRom. 16. fair spoken tongue; but com­monly they are not loving, nor friendly of heart, but full of1 Cor. 3. Heb. 12. Jam. 3. envy and bitterness; soon stumbling and taking offence, by reason they stand captived under the knowledg,1 Cor. 8. and not submitted under the love, nor under the obedience of her ser­vice.

2. They are also (generally)Rom. 1. Ephes. 4. 2 Pet. 2. covetous of the earthly riches; and in the Spirit of their heart, they are proudRom 1. 2 Tim. 3. and stout minded.

3. Their inclination, lust, and desire, is to speak false witness against others; also to blaspheme, [...]sal. 10. & 35. & 140. oppress, persecute, betray,Matth. 23 & 26. Acts 6. & 7. and to kill, and yet do know how to ex­cuse all the same (with the knowledg) that they do right and well therein.

4. They use not likewise any common brother-hood, among whom theJohn 13. & 15. love is [Page 82]exercised, with a good, or kinde nature, but areJere. 5. Luk [...] 22. lorders over one another: And whosoever getteth the greatest multitude of people unto him or is the strongest company, he exercisethActs 5. & 7. power and vio­lence over the other, that do not accord with them in the knowledg.

5. Every one there seeketh nothing else but his ownJoh. 5. & 7. honor and dignity, com­mending his own wisdom or knowledg.

6. Every company accounteth onely his own Religion or God-service, to be excellent and holy; and every one (in his own Religion) hath also his own2 Tim. 4. teaching masters: therefore the teachers are many, and do stand divided in sundry sorts of partakings.

7. But although these teaching masters be many, and in divers sorts of dissentions, do profess and teach several doctrines, and are contentiously minded, one against an­other in their doctrine; yet are they alto­gether named by one maner of name, and every ones name is, Boasting of the know­ledg.

8. And every one of these masters teacheth his Sect very3 Reg. 22. Matth. 22. vehemently and stifly in his Religion, which is named, Assured knowledg that it is right and good, [Page 83]because they should continue stedfast, warning them of the seducing of all the other.

9. These verily are always teaching, but (alass) in the same Land; they themselves do2 Tim. 3 never come to the knowledg of the truth.

10. And whosoever presenteth or in­formeth them with the truth, and would teach them otherwise then they themselves are minded; to him they areJer 37.38. Acts 7. & 22 & 23 &c. unmerciful, also hateful and dispising, and given to speak all maner of evil of him. And this cometh to pasts, because that they all teach Sect particularly, have a mighty strong boasting, and a proud confidence, that their knowledg is right, and their doctrine, the most holy Doctrine, Religion, and God-service.

11. Seeing then that they (each several Sect in their imagined opinions) have set themselvesMatth. 23. Mark 11. in the highest place; so can they not therefore suffer any gain-speak­ing out of the true service of the love of Jesus Christ, nor yet endureJohn 9. Acts 7. & 22. any admoni­tion by the Elders in the same. For as long as they stand contentious, and not submit­ed under the love, to an unity; so desire they likewise, none other teaching masters, [Page 84]but those that continue so couragious bold in themselves, as boasting of the know­ledg; who do teach assured knowledg, that it is right and good, and do also very boldly call the same knowledg, the Being of God; and so in their arrogant bold­ness, theyDan. 11. Heb. 10. blaspheme the most highest,Psal. 76.135. who with his godly Beeing, dwelleth, and liveth in Israel.

CHAP. XXII.

THe people of this Land (named, The abomination of desolation) hath also a King, who reigneth very cruelly over them, and he is named, Wormwood, Apoc. 8. or bitterness.

2, His Scepter, and the Seat of his Ma­jesty, is named, Great esteeming of the vain or unprofitable things.

3. His anointing (wherewith he is anointed) is named, Puffed up foolish­ness.

4. His Crown is named,Prov. 2. Honor or glory in evil doing.

5. His Horses and Chariots, are namedPsal. 14. & 51. & 56. Ezek. 22. Micah 3. Treaders down or oppressors of the simple people.

[Page 85]6. His Councel is named, Subtil inven­tion.

7. His Kingdom is named, Ʋnfaithful­ness.

8. All his Nobility, Horsemen. Souldi­ers, and Guarders, are named,Sap. 14. Rom. 1. Disorderly life.

9. His Decrees, Precepts, or Command­ments, are named, Self-wil.

10. His Dominion or Lordship, is named,Ezek. 22. Micah 2. Violence.

11. HisIsai. 5. Matth. 3. Arms that he beareth, is named, Desire to reign over all.

12. His Sword of Justice is sharp on the one side, and blunt on the other side, and is named,Isai. 1. Jere. 5. Self-wills justice; accord­ing to the name of the Kings Command­ments.

13. The sharp side of his Sword, is calledJere. 6. Matth 2. Acts 7. & 22. Ʋnmercifulness, and cutteth very sharply over those whom he liketh not, or over them that will not (according to his pleasure) stand plyable unto him, under his violence.

14. The blunt side of the Sword, is named, Great grace. For over those that do make great account of his Babylonish Kingdom, and which have (according to his self-will) yielded them subject under [Page 86]the same (although they be evil of nature and corrupt of life,) it cannot cut.

15. This King (bitterness) hath great dominion in this Land, namedDan. 9. & 12. The abomi­nation of desolation; and the people that dwell in the same, are altogether his bond-servants; for no man is free, or left free there, but theyRom. 6. 2 Pet. 2. remain all bound under the Bitterness, their King or Gover­nor.

16. For, inasmuch as they be not taught in the doctrineMatth. 11 Ephes. 4. of the humility and meek­ness of Jesus Christ, under the obedience of his love; therefore come they not al­so to theJohn 8. knowledg of the truth, for to be made free by the truth: For that cause there is likewise in the same Land, no other freedom, but in the bitterness, their King; and the sameApoc. 8. bitterness▪ granteth or per­mitteth them to liveSap. 2. Matth. 27. Acts 6. & 7 & 22. & 23. free or loose of heart, in him (that is, in the bitterness of the King) without accusation, or shew­ing of any Reformation thereof; and in the same freedom to set forth boldly, their false testimonies or counterfeit God ser­vices.

17. And this same is a conceit of freedom, or2 Pet. 2. a false freedom, which also is not free in it-self, but bound [Page 87]or subject unto the bitterness.

18. The common people or the sub­jects of the King (which dwell in this hor­rible Land) have likewise horrible names, according to the nature of the same I and, and according to the nature of their King, and these are their names,

19. Craftiness, Rom. 1. Gal. 5. Arrogant stoutness, Harmfulness, Stubbornness, Violence, Spight, Sudden anger, Greedy of revenge, Gluttony, Cruelty, Blood-thirstiness, Re­sistance against the love, and her service, Rom 1. 2 Tim. 3. Dispising of naturalness, Disobedient to equity, Accusation over the righteousness, Prov. 2. Matth. 23. Betrayers of innocency, Oppressors of humility, Killers of meekness, Jude 1. Enviers of the loves unity, Matth. 23. Exalters of chosen holi­ness, Ʋsage of falshood, Gen 3. Taken on shame▪ (namely, Coveredness of heart, as those that are ashamed to confess the evil and bitterness of their hearts,) Own-selfness, 1 Tim. 2 Tim. 3. Self-wills desire, or Self-seeking, &c.

20. These people have all one maner of disposition and nature, even according to the disposition of their teaching masters.

21. For they also can suffer no gain-speaking nor blaming, neither will they endure to receive anyJohn 9. wisdom or in­struction [Page 88]of the Family of love, nor of the Elders in the same, because they stand captived under their teaching masters, (Boasting of the knowledge:) And when one presenteth or proffereth any better thing unto them, then riseth up their King Bitter­ness, Acts 7. by and by in them, for to defend them in their causes, or to approve them to be right, and to taunt, and judg him to be naught that loveth them to the best good, that is, to an upright heart before God.

CHAP. XXIII.

IN this Land there is likewise a false Pro­phet, who bringeth the people into divers considerations, and into divers bindings or snarings of heart, and bewitch­eth them with many2 Pet. 2. longings, whereof there cometh nothing; and so he leadeth their hearts, mindes, and thoughts, into the captivity of the knowledg, and not into the truth.

2. This false Prophet is named,2 Pet. 2. Jude 1. Pre­sumption, whereof there cometh nothing, and he beareth a great sway among the peo­ple, who also do give high regard unto [Page 89]him, because he presumeth or boasteth him so much; but it is altogether bewitch­ing, whereof there followeth no­thing.

3. But forasmuch as he hath allured the people unto him, with such a presumption or boasting; that they likewise in their unregenerate state, do boast them of the Light and Word of Life;Hosea 4. so perceive they not that they are bewitched by him.

4. For like as the Prophet is,Jere. 5. & 40. Ezek. 13. 1 Tim. 4. so are also the people, namely, very highly boast­ing and braging of many things; as like­wise presuming and enterprising of many things, whereof nothing ensueth: But it is all false, and meer bewitching, and is nothing else, but a vain perswasion or fantasie.

5. It seemeth sometimes indeed, as though it would be somewhat, but it is all vain, and presumption, and nothing else but knowledg, whereof there cometh no­thing, and where-through many people be seduced2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 2. and brought into many false dealings, the end whereof extendeth unto much grief.

CHAP. XXIIII.

THis false Prophet hath also an horrible beast with him, which assisteth orApo. 11. & 13. aideth him; which beast is likewise won­derfully extolled and served in the deso­late abominable Land.

2. Yea, all people that have not Gods nature, or his true Being of love, neither yet do love the godly goods, do honor and serve the sameApo. 13. beast, and do all re­ceive her mark. And they deal with the same in all their affairs; yea, the same mark do all those receive and use, that are not assembled to the Family of Love, nor written in the living Book of the Lamb.

3. The beast is named,Isai. 1. Hosea 4. Ʋnfaithfulness. And the same beast, is the Kingdom, or the Government of the false King, Bitterness. And such as is the beast, and her name, and Government, such aApo. 13. mark giveth she likewise to the people that serve her, and that cleave unto, and honor her King­dom or Government; therefore is also the mark of the beast, named, Ʋnfaith­fulness.

4. This beast and her make (being both [Page 91]named, Ʋnfaithfulness,) do make the people utterly divided.Apo. 13. And forasmuch as the people (that cleave unto, and serve the same beast, and that have received her mark) are all likewise false of heart, un­faithful, and self-seeking, and do willingly cover their own shame;Gen. 3. and so walking in hyppocrisie or dissimulation, the one trusteth not the other, and they dealJere. 9. de­ceitfully, or with falshood, among each o­ther; and that is the venome of the beast, the which she soweth or spueth forth a­boundantly among theApo. 16. & 17. people.

5. Therefore there is also no open-heartedness among those people that do carryApo. 13. the mark of the beast, but they are ashamed of their inward nakedness,Gen. 3. both before God, and before one another; and therefore likewise, they walk not with naked hearts before each other, neither will they also in any wise, make manifest themselves with naked hearts, before the Elders in the Family of Love.

6. For theApoc. 15. mark of the beast hath hunt­ed shamefastness upon them; therefore they do cover them also with their own Garments, orGen. 3. Aperns, which they them­selves have made. Their Garments or A­perns, are named,Joh. 12. Fear of being despised.

[Page 92]7. Forasmuch now as this horrible beast, and false Prophet, have sown such seed in the people; so doth there come to pass through the same, wonderful greatApo. 16. dis­sention or division, to the breeding of manifold self willed services, where­through all kinde of fal [...]hood, craftiness, and railing against one another ariseth; yea, so that the people also speakDan. 11. Heb. 10. Jude 1. Apoc. 13. blasphe­my, or railing against God and his Saints, and against the house of his love, wherein God will dwell, live, and walk, for ever.

8. And although there should be any unity erected in this said Land, yet cannot the unity continue there; but it becometh rent and broken immediately, through the presumption (whereof there cometh no­thing) and through the unfaithfulness, whereout springeth much malicious blame­ing.

9. Wherefore, because of this false Prophet and the horrible beast,Tim. 3. Apoc. 16. there can no unity of the people bide standing, in the unity of peace.

10. This horribleApo 13. & 16. & 17. beast (Ʋnfaithful­ness,) this false Prophet (Presumption,) and the cruel King (Bitterness) have a mar­vellous great dominion in this same deso­late abominable Land.

CHAP. XXV.

THereforeIsai. 52. Zech. 2. let not the Traveller that is come into the same desolate, abomi­nable Land (unawares, or through want of knowledg) continue any longer there­in; for it is a detestable Land and a wick­ed people of heart and minde.

2. Also, let him not endevor himself to travel through the same, whereby to come to the good Land of rest; for he shall not be able to bring it to pass.

3. But assoon as he seeth or perceiveth that these abominations of desolation, do stand in the place where Gods holy BeeingDan. 9. & 11. Matth 24. 2 Thes. 2. ought to stand, then let him immediately flie out of the same, and submit himself un­der the obedience of the love, to his pre­servation; and let him turn him about out of the same way, where-through he came in, and not have regard any more to theGen. 3. Knowledg of good and evil, nor to the teaching masters, Boasting of the knowledg, nor to the Religions or Doctrines, Assu­red knowledg that it is right and good, nor to the false Prophet,2 Pet. 2. Presumption, where­of there cometh nothing, nor yet to the wicked Beast,Apo. 13. Ʋnfaithfulness, that he [Page 94]become not subject, and remain in bon [...] ­age, unto (Bitterness) the King of th [...] same detestable Land; but let him ha [...] regard to the service of love, and to th [...] requiring thereof, and shew obedien [...] there-under,1 Pet. 1. 1 John 4. for that he may come to th [...] good Land; and so the love (with h [...] lovely meekness) to become planted [...] him,Ephes. 3. and that he himself may be mad [...] freeJohn 8. by the same.

4. For the same lovely Beeing of th [...] love, is the life,Rom. 14. peace, and joy, and the Land of promise,Exod. 3. & 13. Deut. 8. wherein Honey an [...] Milk floweth.

5. If therefore the traveller, or the love of the good Land, will enter into the good Land, then must he at the end of h [...] journey, finde himself to be altogethe [...] Mat. 18. & 19. Luke 19. turned about, and good-willing to the will of the highest God, like unto an obe­dient childe, standing in1 Cor. 14. 1 Pet. 2. all singleness and simplicity, under the love, to the obey­ing of her requiring, not knowing, or be­ing wise, as touching this or that; b [...] that he hath onely intended, or sought af­terPhil. 3. the love, for that he might live unto the same, in her requiring.

9. Behold, to the same State doth the compass, the Forsaking of himself, and [Page 95]the Cross, the Patience, bring him; and so he cometh beforePsa. 118. the City gate of the holy Land.

7. For whenas he now hath overcome, or is passed through all these things, with the forsaking of himself, and in the pati­ence; then findeth he himself to be alto­getherMatth. 5. poor of Spirit, and to stand in the submission, like unto aPsal. 40. Acts 9. good-willing one to the Lords will.

8. Which submission, is called,Rom. 6. Col. 2. The burying of the affections and desires; for in the submission, the traveller findeth himself to be quite emptied of the affecti­ons and desires, through the obedience of the Cross; therefore also he hath not loved hisMatth. 10. & 16. Luk. 9.14. own life, the which, are his af­fections and desires; but hath (in the obedience of the Cross) forsaken the same, even unto the death,Col. 2. & 3. and to the burying of the same own life, namely, of the af­fections and desires.

9. Seeing then that the affections and desires are mortified and dead, through the compass and the Cross, and are buried by the Traveller (in the submission) as dead things; so findeth he in the same sub­mission, the Key, for to enter therewithal (through the gate) into the City,Apoc. 21.22. where [Page 96]the everlasting life, peace, and rest, is

10. This Key is named, Equity, and with the same, the traveller goeth through the gate, named,2 Pet. 1. The nature of God, and so cometh into the holyIsai. 60. City of peace, named, Gods understanding; for to possess in heir-like maner, the everlasting good (the heavenly Jerusalem) where there is nothing, but everlasting lifeIsai. 25. & 35. & 60 & 65. Apo. 7.21. and joy, and where all sorrow and tears are done away.

CHAP. XXVI.

NOw when as one is come into this City of peace, then is he received very lovingly and friendly, byIsa. 9 & 32 & 33. the King of the same Land; for he is not lordlyIsai 42. nor cruel or biting, butJoel 2. Matth 11. sweet-hearted and gentle.

2. Even thus one becometh as then,Ephes. 5. in­corporatedRom. 12. Col. 1. to the body of the same true King, with the people of the same good Land, even as a fellow-member of the King, and of those same holy people, and so they live together in one judgment and mind, of the living God; and that is the unity in the love, and the onely judgment of the communalty of the holy people, or [Page 97]of the heavenly company, who are altoge­ther one body with the Family of Love, and are no more with each other, butIoh. 17. Rom. 12. Col. 1. as one man in whom all the members of one minde, Spirit or Life, have their moving, and do hold them together unto one head, and so those same members are altogether one body, withInfra. 38. their head.

3. The head of their body is their King or Prince, and is namedCol. 1. 2 Pet. 1. Gods true Bee­ing.

4. This same is an uprightIsa. 9. peaceable Prince; and the members of his body are likewise very lovely and peaceable. With whom the kingdom of Christ and of his Love is peaceablyIsa. 60. inhabited for ever­more.

5. The names of the members of the body, or the Saints of the true Beeing of God that are of one substance with the Fa­mily of Love, are these:

6. Meckness, Gal. 5. Ephe. 4. Col. 3. Courtesie, Friendliness, Longsufferance, Mercifulness, Natural­ness, Decentness, Quietness, Faithfulness, Modesty, Constancie, Eyes of Simpleness, Psa. 24. and 73. Marth. 5. Pureness of heart, Measureableness in works, Helpfulness, 2 Pet. 1. Discreetness, Ephe, 4. Con­cord, Obedience to the true beeing of God, Sweetheartedness, Serviceableness out of [Page 98]love, Cor. 10 3. Laud, Praise, and thanks unto God, &c.

7. Such are the names of the lovely people that dwel in the holy City of Peace, named Gods Ʋnderstanding.

8. And according as every ones name is, so is likewise his disposition and nature; for all their disposition, beeing, and nature, is according to the good Disposition or Nature of the Land, and of their King.

9. And no man can come into this good City, nor become one body with these peaceable people, except he do forsakeIsa. 52. 2 Cor. 6. all the other forementioned confused lands, and the detestable people, for God hath not chosen any one of all them to his Kingdom: neither can also the traveller enter into the holy Land or City of Peace, with any of all them.

10. But whosoever now hath forsaken all the confused Lands and people, and in an humble heart (with upright thoughts to the obeying of the Requiring of the Service of Love is come to the submission he goeth with the equity thorow the na­ture of God (as is before said) into Gods understanding.r Supra. 25 The which is the City of Rest, that God hath reserved and left be­hinde for the children of God, for an [Page 99]everlastingHeb. 4. Rest because they should inherit the same in the last time, ac­cording to the Promises:Isa. 9. and 60. and 66. Luke 1. which King­dom of Peace shall endure or continue still for evermore under the Obedi­ence of the Love.

CHAP. XXVII.

THis City (named Gods Ʋnderstanding) hath very strong and invincibleIsa. 26. and 52. Zach. 2. Walls, Fortresses, or Bulworks, wherewith she is walled and fortified against all her ene­mies: Therefore can no man climbe over into this city, nor get the same by violence, with any gain-fighting neither yet deceive her with subtilty.

2. The Walls or Bulworks of this City are named1 Tim. 3. 1 Pet. 3. A free minde of the true Bee­ing.

3. And upon these walls, there is a pru­dentPsa. 121. Isa. 21. and 62. Watchman or Espyall, which over­seeth all what is present, or shall come, namely, Life and Death, the Preservation and Destruction.

4. His Sight reacheth from the rising of the Sun,Mal. 1. even unto her going down.

5. He beholdeth the highest of the mid­day, [Page 100]day, and the deepest of the darkness of the midnight.

6. This Watchman or Espiall is named,Isa. 41. and 44 Apo. 1 and 22 The beginning and the end.

7. He hath also two eyes (a right, and a left eye) wherewith he overlooketh all things, namely Good and Evil, Light, and Darkness.

8. The eyes are named, Wise Foresight­fulness.

9. With the right Eye,Psal. 34. he looketh in­to all things, wherein the Life, the Rest, and the Peace standeth firm for ever: but with the left Eye whereout the Death, the Unquietness, the Confusion or Destruction proceedeth.

10. This Watchman serveth to a safe keeping of this City, and of those people likewise that dwell therein. Therefore he keepeth alwayes a diligent Watch;Psa. 121. he never sleepeth nor slumbereth, but is stil sounding and playing his Song upon his Trumpet: and all those that dwel in the same City do hear the sound of his Song.

11. His Trumpet where-thorow he playeth his Song, is namedApo. 10. After this time no time more.

12. Seeing then that the same time is the last time, the everlasting Rest of all [Page 101]the children of God, and the heavenly Kingdom it self, therefore soundeth the Watchman also out of the same last time, (as out of the last1 Cor. 15. 1 Thess. 4. Trumpet) the sound or noise of the everlasting Life; after the which there is no life more to be waited for; for1 Ioh. 1. the same life continueth for ever­more.

13. The Song which he playeth and soundeth out thorow his Trumpet (with the sound of the everlasting Life) is na­medIoh. 13. and 15. 17. 1 Pet. 1. Ʋnity in the Love.

14. With which noise of the Song, the people do hold themselves in unity in the Love, whose Fortresses or Hold is not to be overcome. Therefore also soundeth the Song in this maner.

CHAP. XXVIII.

6. Behold such a Song singeth or play­eth the Watchman upon the walls; and the people of the City, do rejoyce them them withPsa. 98. Isa. 35. and 52. and 61. and 65. and 66. unspeakable joy; and do like­wise (all of them together) sing a dance­ing song, dancing (with great joy) to a thankful lauding of God for their free­dom. And they sing in this maner:

CHAP. XXIX.

CHAP. XXX.

BEhold, in such a minde of the living beeing, do the peaceable people live (with joy) in this City of Rest and Peace; not fearing any enemies;Isa. 26. Apo. 11. for their City is very well walled to their preservation; as also fortified about with a strong de­fence.

2. For upon the walls of this City, there [Page 107]is a strong peece of Ordnance, whereof all the Enemies of the same, are sore afraid, as to be cast down by the strong peece of Ordnance.

And this peece of Ordnance is namedIsa. 11. Ephe. 6. The Power of God. Against which peece of Ordnance none of all the Enemies of this good City can bide standing.

4. But although now that the Enemies (with arrogant boldness and hardiness) were so subtil and crafty, that they them­selves knew how to invent cunning or subtill bulworks for a defence unto them; also through audacious boldness, did not fear the peece of Ordnance (The power of God,) and so (with all the multitudes of their power) would venture to besiege this City of Life, to the end to get her costly Riches, and the free and excellent Heritage of all the children of God for a prey unto themselves: yet is notwith­standing, all their labour, subtil indeavor, and purposePsa. 37. Isa. 29.54. in vain. And this plentiful Land remaineth for all that in his freedom; and the heritage of the children of God continueth likewise unharmed and un­vanquished.

5. For out of this City, there floweth an unsearchable or infinite deep River, [Page 108]with also a very tempestuous winde; is such sortIsa. 17.29. that this River, with the same winde, gusheth vehemently forth, as with an exceeding violent thorow-rushing stream; and breaketh out with such vio­lent force, like burning heatPsa. 50. Isa. 30.34. Ioel. 2. Mal. 4. and flames of fire, to the devouring of all the Enemies of the same good City.

6. And thus after this maner (in the rushing forth of this same River) the tempestuous windeIer. 4. groweth so exceeding windy and forcibleNahum. 1. even as it were a ter­rible tempest; and so rusheth forth very swiftly with the River among all the Ene­mies of the good City.

7. And this same boysterous storm gi­veth such a hugh terrible sound, like a wonderful great roaring noise of many multitudes of Trumpets and Shalms, and like a terrible thunderclap, wherewithPsa. 48.78. it overthroweth all the subtile bulworks, where-through this strong unmeasurable deep River with the tempestuous winde, doth then likewiseIsa. 17.29. put to flight and de­stroy all the enemies of the good Land; and they do all disperse abroad and consume away, as if they wereIob. 21. Psal. 1. and 18. and 35. Chaffe and Dust.

8. This infinite deep river (wherewith [Page 109]the stormy winde doth violently arise to a terrible tempest; is namedIsa. 13. Iudae 1. The righte­ous Judgment of God. The stormy winde is namedIsa. 11. Ioel. 2. 2 Thes. 2. The Spirit of the Almighty God.

CHAP. XXXI.

THis unmeasurable, deep, and mighty strong River, and this tempestuous winde, proceedeth forth out of aPsa. 46. water-fountain within this good City; and they have alwayes their course of stream and rushing of winde round about the City, to theIsa. 29. destroying of all her Enemies, be­cause that the holy people of this City,Ier. 23.33. Ezee. 34. may dwell the more peaceable without fear, and may remain for evermore.

2. Out of this water-fountain (where­out the strong River floweth, and where­out the tempestuous winde bloweth) the children of Peace in this City, do learn all their wisdom; and fetch thereout all theirEccl. 24. Understanding and Knowledg. Which wisdom (that they learn there-out) is al­so an holy wisdom, and that same Under­standing (which they fetch thereout) is a godly Knowledg.

[Page 110]3. This water fountain, is named,Heb. 1. The Mystery of God and of his infi­nite beeing.

4. Wheresoever now this River flow­eth, and this winde, with his rushing and tempestuousness, bloweth or stormeth, even there may none of all the Enemies of the good Land, nor yet any thing what­soever is not of God, continue: andIob 21. Psal. 1. and 35. Isa. 5. and 17. the ungodly must all perish there like like Chaffe and Dust that is dispersed a­broad with the water and the winde.

5. Forasmuch then as this delectable plentiful City, is thus mighty and excel­lent, and standeth comprehended in a LightIsa. 60. wherein no Darknesses can come therefore is she also invincible of all her Enemies; and none likewise can subdue her, nor bring her into bondage, but she remaineth a free City for evermore.

6. And all the people of this CityMat. 17. are free also; and do all live in freedom. There is likewise no free people in the whole world, but only this people of this good City, named Gods Ʋnderstanding.

7. There are also to be found many strongBa [...]. 3. Champions in the Knowledg, that would enter into this good City, through the power and Riches of their [Page 111]Knowledg; but it is unpossible for them; for who so turneth not himself about, and becomethMatt. 18.19. Mark. 10. as a childe, neither yet cometh to the submission (wherein oneRom 6. burieth the Lusts and Desires as dead, wherein the Equity is found) and entreth not into it, through theIoh. 10. Nature of God, he shall not come into the same.

8. And if so be also that any man do chuse, and enter into another way that liketh him better then this, and that he would in that sort go into the good City, and not thorow theIoh. 10. right door which we do shew; then should the piece of Ord­nance (Ephe. 6. The power of God) be too mighty for him; and the walls (1 Pet. 3. The free minde of the true beeing) should be much too high to clime over; and the River (Mal. 4. The Righteous Judgment of God) and the strong winde (The Spirit of the Almighty God) should overthrow,Isa. 29. break, and scat­ter him abroad, and utterly drive him a­way from the knowledg of the right way that leadeth to the good City of Peace and Life.

9. But all the lovers of this good City that love the Peace and the Simplicity of life (in the Love) with all their hearts, and that seek and desire nothing else but [Page 112]theMatt. 11. meekness, faithfulness, and truth in the Love, and desire to be no1 Pet. 5. Lorders over the Riches of this City, nor over any of all her garnishing of sumptuous beauty, but servants in the same, those do go into the City of Peace and Rest (with the Equity) thorow the rightIoh. 10. door, and do liveApo. 20. eternally in the everlasting life in the Communialty of the Love of the love­ly people.

CHAP. XXXII.

THis holy City, named Gods vnderstand­ing (which is very beautiful, goodly, and delectable) hath for her beauty and riches sake, many assaults. But whosoever hath not aIoh. 7. desire with all his heart to per­form the Lords Will and allMat. 3.8. Righteous­ness, he shall not come therein.

2. But although now that this good City be unknownIsa. 64. 1 Cor. 2. unto all strange or out­landish people, yet is the same notwith­standing sought afterIsa. 9. Luke. 13. with great labour by many that are without her, to the end to know and to receive her beauty and riches; also much consulted of, as like­wise [Page 113]great counsel held thereon in divers maners; and much learned2 Tim. 3. and studied after the same. But if they do not enter into, nor pass thorow this way that we do shew, and that directeth thereunto,4 Esd 7. Matt. 19. then shall they also never know the same nor her Riches of pure beauty, much-less possess them.

3. For the Consulting, Studying, and Learning (let it come to pass with what incessant Diligence and careful travel that it will)2 Cor. 1. and 2. 1 Tim. 3. is doubtless all in vain. For there shal no man know, nor receive, or in­herit, either her riches or beauty, but those that stand submitted under the Obedience of the Love; as also that do learn of the Love and her Service, theMatt. 11. humility and meekness of heart, and so do in that maner enter into the same thorow the right door, even as children that are bornIoh 3. 1 Pet. 1.2. anew out of the Love through her Service.

4. Seeing then that the beauty of the form of this good City is not known to the people that are without her, so is there likewise nothing at all of her wis­dom understood by any of all those that are without her: therefore her form of beauty, and her unsearchable wisdom is known and understood,Wisd. 9. only by those [Page 114]that do walk and pass thorow the way that leadeth unto her, and so do enter into the sameApo 21. City of Peace through the right door or gate: who do at that time first understand how unsearchable and un­possible her wisdom is (Isa 6. Matt 11. and 13. for the outland­ish people) to comprehend or to under­stand; for without this City there is no un­derstanding, wisdom, nor knowledg of God, or of the godly things, no, none at all.

5. And all whatsoever any man (with­out this City) supposeth to know, and to have of the godly things; and all what is taught and taken on without this City, or without the way that extendeth thereunto (to the intent for to know and to inhent the godly things there through; and after what Wisdom of God soever any one2 Tim. 3. studieth (whereby to understand the same) is altogether aIsa 58. and 59. vain foolishness; where-through also one may easily know the foolishness of the people.

6. For, if any people (beeing yet with­out this good City of Peace, or without her right way) do esteem their learned knowledg, for a wisdom, so is then the same, as likewise all their forraign learned wisdon, or that which they learn without the Obedience of the Love of Jesus [Page 115]Christ no better worth then to beIsa. 5. Rom. 1. Iam. 3. laughed at; and it is all a very great foolishness and hypocrisie.

7. For verily the greatest folly that I have found among the people upon earth, is, that some are foolish, and with­all, so arrogant, that theyRom. 1. account of themselves to know something, and so they consult, use subtilty and Art, to know what, or of what maner the1 Tim. 1. godly things may be; and in this sort, they will (being without this good City of Peace, and her Family of Love) learn and take on Gods Wisdom, through their own knowledg, and through their manly un­derstanding, also judg his spiritual goods, his heavenly riches, and his holy truth (which is hid from allIsa. 29. Col. 1. mans understand­ing) and will set up the holiness of Jesus Christ according to their judgment.

8. But seeing now that there are no Lands, nor Cities to be found that are like unto this City, nor yet any strength that can overcome her; and that it is altogether ignorance1 Cor. 1. and foolishness whatsoever is without her: also, that all forraign or outlandish holiness, arts and wisdom, is nothing else but a taken on chusing, a great mockery, and a vain hypocrisie or an un­profitable [Page 116]foolishness, therefore do these people that dwell in this City; and like­wise all those that become assembled a­mong them, and adjoyned unto them, live cheerfully, and well quieted in heart, having all their comfort, in thatMat. 25. Iohn 10. and 17. life that continueth for ever, and in the endlessIsa. 35. and 51. and 61. joy that shall endure perpetually.

9. Which peopleBar. 5. of the peaceable kingdom also, do not seek any good with­out this City, nor without her Communi­alty; neither can they think, that there should beIoh. 6. Apo. 22. any good to be found without the same, and therefore they do never turn out from it.

10. And although it were so that they might seek any good without it, or that it were permitted them (by licence) so to do, yet do they know for all that, that they should not finde it without the same; and also that Gods good beeing and nature of the Love, can be with none that have not their fellowship with them,1 Ioh. 1. inasmuch as that they all doubtless have their fellow­ship with God the Father and his Christ, and with the holy Ghost, and all the Saints of God in the everlasting life. And there­fore seeing that they do know that that same wherewith they have fellowship, is [Page 117]the fulness of all vertues and wisdom, so do they hold them concordably unto each o­ther1 Cor. 12 and 13. under the Love, and stand affected only to this good City; for there is no where any better thing to be found, no not any where the like.

11. For there wanteth nothing within this City: but she is ful of all maner ofApo. 1. and 22. riches and pure beauties, which also are unspeakable with tongue, and not possible to be written.

CHAP. XXXIII.

SEeing then that these precious riches are so utterly unknown to the people that are without them, and that be not as­sembled unto them, therefore also oneIsa. 64. 2 Cor. 2. cannot well expound or declare unto them the unspeakable garnishing and joy of the same City, nor the beauty and value of her riches, nor yet make it known unto them in their knowledg, namely, how glo­rious and great, how lovely, peaceable, and delightful they are.

2. But unto those that are in this good City of Peace, and to those that go into it (thorow the gate of the City) it is well known, and not else to any others; for [Page 118]to them it is given to understandMatt. 11. and 13. Ephe. 3. the Mystery of the same kingdom; but to those that are without it, it is not given; and therefore likewise all things happen unto them by Similitudes and Parables.

3. Therefore all other lands and people are unperfect, broken, or divided; but this good land is a perfect good; & this peace­able people is also an undivided people▪ and are altogetherIoh. 17. one in the love of their God and Christ: therefore they are like­wise no more but one body, or oneIsa. 2.4. man with each other in the same Love.

4. For through the new birth in the Love of God and Christ, they are all oneRom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. it one beeing, as many members of one body in one life.

5. Whosoever also cometh into this good City of Peace, he becometh1 Pet. 1. altogether born anew in the Spirit, under the obedi­ence of the Love, through the said Love and her Service; for he is changed in every part, asRom. 12. Ephe. 4. in sences, thoughts and minde.

6. And whosoever is not born again thorow the Love and her service, nor as­sembled unto it through the new birth,Ioh. 3. 1 Cor. 2.2. [...] likewise may not see or behold, nor yet obtain these riches of God, neither in th [...] time, nor ever hereafter.

[Page 119]7. But he that goeth into it, through the Love and her service, and as new born in the Spirit, to him also it is allIsa 43. 2 Cor. 5. Apo. 21. new what he seeth, heareth, and knoweth in the same; for he hath neither understood, known, comprehended, nor inherited any of those things before that time.

8. How were it then possible that one should be able to describe or express at full all the amiableness of this City, and all the good decentness, and orders of this land and people, with all herIsa. 64. 1 Cor. 2. Riches and Garnishing together with all her Rest and Joy, and with her unfained Love, pure Life, and peaceable Unity, all which is to be found therein.

9. But it is and becometh rightly known unto all those that come into this City of Rest, and that are become united and a­greeably minded with this lovely people; for as then there is no moreSoph. 3. 1 Ioh. 3. evil, nor evil suspition, nor yet sight of evil in them; for within the same one doth neither see nor think any thing else, but allIsa. 51. and 54. Good, Joy, Rest, and Peace in the everlasting life.

10. And the comer in, who through the counsel of the chief elder in the godly Understanding of God is passed thorow the Passeover of the way that leadeth into [Page 120]the same, and so is come into this good City thorow the Nature of God, and united with this lovely people, in unity of the Peace and of the Love; he rejoyceth him likewise with unspeakableIsa. 60. and 61. and 65. joy in the same land; as also recreatethPsa. 96. and 112. himself ex­ceedingly in her Garnishing, and thanketh and laudeth God for the great grace and mercy that is chanced unto him through the love of God the Father and her Service.

11. Even thus becometh his heart joy­ful in the lovely Beeing of the friendly people; where through he feeleth himself to be changed in all points in his Spirit, like one that is risenRom. 6.8 Col. 3. from the Death into the everlasting Life; wherein all rest, faithfulness,Zach. 7.8 and Truth, all Love, Peace and Righteousness is found.

12. Yea, all the whole peaceable people of the Love, do likewise rejoyce them every one, when as any one repentethLuke 15. for his sins and so cometh into this City, under the Obedience of the Love, and uniteth him with that same peaceable people, which liveth and dwelleth there­in.

CHAP. XXXIV.

IN this holy City there is also a Light, which is an everlasting and very true Light,Isa 60. 4 Esd 2. Apo. 21.22. that alwayes shineth and continu­eth for evermore in that land. Wherefore there is neither night nor darkness there, but alwayes day and clearness.

2. This same Light is not risen up through any riches of the knowledg of Good and Evil, nor come forth through any wisdom of man; but it is the very true light of LifeJoh. 1. 1 Joh. 1. that hath been from eternity, and that shall remain for ever.

3. And the same is namedJoh. 1. The everla­sting Life, that was with God the Father in the beginning; and all whatsoever is made, is made through the same; but without the same there is nothing made, of all whatsoever is made.

4. This everlasting life servethJoh. 1. for a light unto men to a peaceable walking of their course is this holy City of Peace.

5. And the same Light is an upright and undeceiveable Light,Joh. 1. to the illuminating of all people, namely, of thoseIoh 10. Apo. 22. that do go into the City of Peace thorow the gate, and that are adjoyned to the peaceable people.

[Page 122]6. Therefore also the true life, and the promised rest of the heart, is only in this good City of Peace; for without the same, and without the way or passing-over that leadeth into it; and among all those that separate themselves there-from, there is nothing but death,Gen. 3. misery, and calamity; for without the same are theApo. 22. Inchanters, the Dogs and Wolves, and all wilde beasts, together with all abominations, and des [...] ­lations, and all undiscreetness and un­righteousness.

7. But within in the City among this lovely people of Peace, there is nothing but all life and prosperity,Isa. 60. and 61. and 62. as likewise all loveliness, peace, and heavenly delight­fulness.

8. Also no man getteth shame nor re­proach there; no man there coveteth after Honor, or Praise, nor yet after Dignity or greatness of estimation; for there is no mastership nor violence, but all brotherly love and concord.

9. There likewise no man raigneth over another; but they are all alike with each other, loving and peaceable fellow-bre­thren, or members of Jesus Christ, even as one only man, or as oneEphe. 2. and 5. body of the godly Disposition and Nature.

[Page 123]10. Even thus also they do all there eat of one maner of bread, and1 Cor. 10 and 11. drink all there of one maner of drink; and inasmuch as they are every one spirituall children of God and Christ, and are not covered with any foreskin of the sinful flesh, nor yet with fleshly or earthly1 Cor. 3.4. mindes, therefore do they likewise (with their spiritual mem­bers) walk naked and uncovered, both be­fore God, and before one another.

11. Also there, the one doth see no un­clean thing in the other, for it is there all of God,Ephe. 1. Apo. 21. spiritual, holy, and good, and pure are all their works and thoughts.

12. Seeing then that these holy people are every one Spirit, and spiritual, and pure, and undefiled in all their works and thoughts: and that likewise it is all [name­ly, Land, City, Riches, with all whatsoe­ver is, and cometh into the same] spiritual, godly, and Gods own workmanship; therefore also they are not ashamed of the godly works; neither yet do they hide any spiritualGen. 2. members from each other; for they altogether are no more then one spiritual body,Rom. 12. Eph. 2.5. or one man of God. VVherefore the one member cannot be ashamed of the other.

13. Forasmuch then as there is no shame [Page 124]nor reproach there,Gen. 2. among each other, and that it is all good there, and is all looked into, and known for good, what­soever is there among them, and what be­cometh assembled unto them; so is there likewise, no coveredness before God, nor before one another; and (lauding and honoring their God perpetually) they live in the true freedom of their God, wherein God hath made them free, through his truth, and put off theIsa. 23. covering of re­proach, from their eyes and members.

14. And in this maner, doth God (in this holy City of Peace, and of Perfection) behold the man in his manly nakedness;Gen. 1. and again, the man, the glorious God, in his godly nakedness, even thus do they there also, behold one another in their manly and godly nakedness, and that altogether in the Spirit and life of the pure hearts; and that same pleaseth God, namely, that all partitions, coverings, and middle walls, are put away from hisGen. 2. 2 Cor. 3. Ephes. 2. hand work, that God may behold his hand work for good, even as he hath created it; and so likewise a­gain, the hand-work his Creator, that they may all praise and laud God in the works of his hands,Gen. 1. Eccles. 39. because he hath made it all so upright and well.

[Page 125]15. Behold, this same is the upright minde of life, in the holy City of the living, and is Gods Being and Nature, and the very true2 Cor. 3. cleerness of the uncovered face of Jesus Christ, and the inheritance of the holy Ghost, and of all spiritual and hea­venly Goods. It is very true.

CHAP. XXXV.

SEeing then that this City is a spiritual City of Life, and of perfect Righteous­ness, and also full of wisdom, and of the knowledg of God; therefore doth not the one brother there, teach the other, neither is it needful for any man there, to say to his neighbor,Jere. 31. Heb. 8. 1 Pet. 2. Apoc. 1. Know the Lord; for there they are all Kings, Priests, or Elders, and do all know the great glorious God, both small and great, and have all their deal­ing among each other, in the upright love.

2. Inasmuch now therefore, as that they do all stand well-minded, with one accord, to the love, and her upright being;1 Tim. 1. so do they not there likewise compel any one to any righteousness, as to learn, or to ob­serve the same, by compulsion; but they [Page 126]have all (of themselves) aIsal. 2. Jere. 50. Zech. 8. delight and pleasure in the life of righteousness.

3. And so (out of their inclination in the love) they deal in all what isPhil. 4. right and equal. For the life in the love (which is Gods true being it self) is their chiefest, and most perfect righteousness, who is theEph. 1.5. Col. 1. head of them all.

4. Moreover, there is no man that claimeth any thing to be his own, as to possess the same to his own private use; for no man (and that out of every ones good disposition) can desire any thing to be his own, or yet to make any thingActs 4. pro­per to himself, from another; but all whatsoever is there, is free, and is there left free in his upright form.

5. There is also no man denied to use any thing1 Tim. 4. in freedom, of all what is pro­fitable and needful for him; for they stand all in the equity,Ephes. 4. as one in the love.

6. Seeing now that they walkPhil. 4. accord­ing to all maner of equity: so is there no desire to any mans increasing, nor dimi­nishing, nor yet to any mans extolling, nor dispraising; and therefore likewise, there is no man extolled above his state and ordinance, nor yet contemned or de­based, to be reputed less or lower then the [Page 127]same: For the Almighty God isPsal. 7. & 9. Isai. 33. their Judg, who directeth, leadeth, and uphold­eth every one in his right Ordinance, through his holy Spirit of Love.

7. Every one there also, useth2 Pet. 1. temper­ance and equity. There is nothing done privily, neither do they deal in any thing secretly, but all naked and openly; there is likewise noActs 4. self seeking, nor unfaith­fulness.

CHAP. XXXVI.

THere also no man desireth to serveExod. 20 Isal. 2. any strange gods, nor to make to himself any Images or similitudes, for to worship them; for they are come to theJoh. 1.3. Beeing of God, in the light of life. And so they areJohn 17. Ephes. 2.5. one with God, and God is one with them.

2. Whose name likewise they useExod. 20 Eccles. 23. not in vain; for all what they speak of the Godhead, to the Laud of his holy Name, that same hath a living form in them.

3. In this maner do theyDeut. 5. sanctifie the Lords Sabbath day; for they live peace­ably in the light or day of his sanctifica­tion.

[Page 128]4. They do honor their FatherEph. 6. and their mother as in the Loves Obedience. Even so doth the Lord likewise give unto them a longEccl. 3. life (a life for ever) in this same holy Land.

5. Also theyExo. 20. Matt. 5. kill not, for they have no nature to destroying; but all their desire is that it might all live, whatsoever is of the life and can live, and whatsoever ser­veth and laudeth God.

6. They also commit not anyDeut. 5. adultery, for they are all honestTob. 3. and chaste of lift, andMatth. 5. clean or pure of heart. Thus they live in the blessing of their God, wherein God blesseth them and whereunto he hath appointed or ordained them.

7. They do not stealExo. 20. Matth. 19. nor rob likewise, but they till or dress the lands of God; and are labouring towards all things, and in all things, whatsoever isEphe. 4. profitable and expedient: and are much more incli­ned to impart or distribute their spiritual gifts, and heavenly goods (if any thing thereof were needful unto any one) then that they would be inclined to crave any earthly things of any one2 Cor. 9.12. or to diminish or scant him in his possession; for no man desireth to possess, nor to have any thing more under his hand or power, then is [Page 129]needfull for him, or expedient to a good Government.

8. They also bear noExo. 20. false witnesse; For no manEph. 20. Col. 3. lyeth against his neighbor, there.

9. They likewise desire not, another­bodiesMat. 5. house, nor their neighbors wife; but every one there, liveth in faithful­nesse with his own1 Cor. 7. Conjunction, even as God hath joyned them together,Gen. 1. Matth. 19. from the beginning.

10. Thus doe they live in all faithful­nesse among each other, and permit not their thoughts to thinkTob. 4. any thing to the satisfying of their owne Appetites, without the same.

11. Inasmuch now therefore as that they have such an upright disposition and nature, as that they do not desire, nor lust for any thing that is against the Law or Ordinance of the Lord, so are they likewise faithfull therein.

12. Seeing then also that their Love isEph. 1. pure and undefiled (as that they live uncoveredly, according to the truth) so are there likewise among them, no de­ceitfullMat. 18. Mar. 9. eyes, nor false thoughts, nor yet bitternesse,Eph. 4. Col. 3. contempt, nor offen­sivenesse.

[Page 130]13. Also they know not there, of a­ny1 Cor. 1.15. contention or discord, nor yet of sin nor death; for there is nothing else butGal. 5. love and unity of peace, with joy of the everlasting life.

14. There is likewise no deriding or mocking,Eph. 4.5. 1 Pet. 2. nor any unfit thing used. They talk not there also, of any foolish­nesse nor lightnesse.

15. They use not also any unlawfull or disorderly Liberty; but all what they use, speak, and do, that same is agreeable to thePet. 4. holy Word of Life, and is the true Libertie of all the Children of God: And therefore is there likewise among them, no superfluous vice that exceedeth measure or equity.

16. Seeing then that they stand every one concordably inclined to the good, so is no man there also, compelled to the good life: but every one liveth in the uprightEph. 4. righteousnesse and holinesse, that God esteemeth. And thus all their nature is no other, but to beGal. 5. serviceable one to another out of meer love.

CHAP. XXXVII.

BEhold, in such an upright being is this lovely people (which hath his dwelling in this good City, named Gods-understanding) grounded or established: and theEph. 4. Col. 3. love is their band wherewith they are united with each other, in the light of the true life.

2. By which means, all their nature and mind is nothing else but love,Gal. 5. Peace, and righteousnesse, as upright Children,1 Pet. 1.2. borne of the love, like those that are risen againe from the death, with the Re­surrectionDan. 12. Joh. 5. 1 Cor. 15. of the righteous ones in in the everlasting life, and do live eter­nally.

3. For ever them there is no death, norRom. 8. damnation, neither doth anyEsa. 25. 1 Cor. 15. death reigne in the same Land, of the righteous; and so the man dieth not there, neither yet whatsoever is manly.

4. The women likewise do not bring forth their children in paine or grief,Esa. 65. & 66. but with joy; for the whole Land isDeut. 28 blessed, for the righteous lifes sake, yeelding forth his fruits, as a blessing.

5. Thus the man eateth not his bread [Page 132]in the sweat of his face, or in the carefull travell of his life,Esa. 65. but with joy, and re­ceiveth his food in blessing.

6. Forasmuch now as God hath made and ordained all thingsGen. 1. well, from the beginning, therefore do they also live up­rightly in Gods Ordinance, & do neither take from, nor adde to any thing.

7. And therefore, inasmuch as they do neither take from, nor adde to, touching all that which is the Lords, so live they likewise only in the Works and Ordinan­ces of the Lord, and do not vow orbind themselves in the Matrimony of men, nor yet suffer themselves to be bound therein; but areMat. 22. Luke 20. like the Angells in heaven, or like Messengers, that are publishers of the spirituall heavenly goods▪, and are the chosen generation, the KinglyExo. 19. 1 Pet. 2. Apo. 1.5. Priest­hood, the holy people, the peculiar peo­ple of God, who are all Kings, and A­noynted ones.

8. For all there, whatsoever is man­ly, those same are every one Lords, Kings, and Priests, and doe bear their Dominion, over Sin, Death, Devill, and Hell.

9. Also no man reigneth over another, and that pleaseth God well; namely, that [Page 133]the one man of God raigneth not over the other, nor that the one, is the others1 Cor. 7 bond-servant, neither yet to theRom. 6. sin, nor to his owne sensuality or affection; but that they doe alwayes submit them concordably,Eph. 4. 1 Pet. 1. under the love and her service, and do still stand ready to doe the Lords Will, to serve their GodLuk. 1. in righteousnesse, and to beare the Dominion with him,Rom. 6. 1 Cor. 6.7 over the evill, and over all what hath a liking to the evill, whereby to live eternally in the4 Esd. 2. immortality with God and his Saints.

CHAP. XXXVIII.

EVen thus now, these spirituall Saints of God, that dwell in this spirituall holy City of Peace,1 Reg. 8.10. have no heads nor Kings, that are borne of the Flesh and and Blood of Sinne: For their King, or the Head of their Body, is the e­ternall and most mighty King,3 Reg. 8 2 Par. 2.6. who is so great and glorious, that no creature,Esa. 66. Act. 7. nor any house, made by the work of mans hand, no nor yet all the heavens of heaven [Page 134]can comprehend or containePsa. 104. Jer. 25. him.

2. This great glorious King, is aEsa. 9. peaceable Prince, in this good City, and this King is named,Col 1. Goas-true being (as his name is also mentionedSupra. 26. before) bea­ring all thingsHeb. 1. with the Word of his Power, and clenseth his people from the sin, through himself, and is fore-seen and chosen to be an heire of all things, for that it may all live unto him.

3. To this noble King of the heaven­ly glory, do they live, and are obedient unto him, not by compulsion, but out of inclined love, and out of a good1 Pet. 1. nature of their God, like-fellow-members1 Cor. 12. of one body of the godly truth, who doe show forth nothing else, but love and peace, accordingJoh. 13.15. 1 Joh. 4. to the disposition and nature of their King, named Gods-true-being, which PrinceEsa. 9. shall raigne for evermore, according to the promises.

4. This King of peace, and his peace­able Commonalty of Kingly people, and this Land of Peace is named, A Kingdom of Kings, because they are every one, Kings,1 Pet. 2. Briests, and Anoynted ones, that dwell in this Land.

5. And besides this one Kingdome of Kings, there are no Kingdomes in the [Page 135]whole world, that are rich of Kings, but they are altogether poore of Kings, and are all likewise bond-servants,Rom. 6. 2 Pet. 2. and captive slaves.

6. And therefore also is this City of Peace only, a Kingdome of Kings: and they are all likewise, freeApo. 22. Kings, and Lords, that dwell therein. The same Ci­ty also, with all what joyneth thereunto, is an abundant rich land, as likewise full of all Commodities, that doe serve the people, to the life and joy.

7. This people of this same Land,Deut. 4. is also an understanding wise people; For, they have their inhabiting in Gods un­derstanding, and stand comprehended in the light of life,Joh. 17. being united in Gods true being.

8. There is likewise no right under­standing nor wisdome to be found in the whole world, but only in this Land of Peace, among this lovely people; there­fore is also this Land the best of all Lands, and the people that dwell therein, the most understanding and righteous peo­ple.

CHAP. XXXIX.

THis Land bringeth forth a fit herb, for the food of the people, and it is named,Deut. 8. Sap. 16. Mat. 4. John 6. Gods living Word; by which food they doe live, and rejoyce them in the good tast thereof, and there is no other food taken by them: for see­ing they are heavenly and spirituall men, so eat they likewise no other but the hea­venly and spirituall food.

2. In this Land there is also very goodPro. 9. wine, whereof the people of the Land doe drink, and become exceeding merry therein, and it is named, The mind of God.

3. There is likewise aApo. 22. living foun­taine, wherein the people of this Ci­ty doe delight them, and take their re­creation and refreshing in the same; the fou [...]tain is named, A firme confidence in God.

4. This people goeth also very gor­giously apparelled, and the Garments are so very clear, that one may behold the in­ward Members of their body naked and bare, quite thorough them.

5. Which apparell of the people, and [Page 137]their garnishing, or the Jewells of their beauty are named,Apo. 19. The justification of the Saints.

6. To be short, all manner of riches, and all the Ornaments of God, be found in this Land, amongEsa. 64. 1 Cor. 2. this lovely people the Members of the truth of God: which peaceable people doth possesse the weal­thy land of the godly understanding.

7. In which plentifull Land, there are no sundry chosen-out God-services, nor severall Religions or Ceremonies used; but the God-service that they doe use, and with the which they are servicea­ble unto all men,Eph. 4. Col.— to an unity of heart with them, in all love, is one only and true God-service, which exten­deth to the holy Spirit of love, and to the everlasting life, as also unto the holy City of Peace, and of her peaceable peo­ple: which God-service is well pleasing before God, and to a salvation of men, and it is named,Joh. 13. 1 John 3.4. The Service of Love, with the administration of the spirituall and heavenly goods.

8. Which service of love, they do like­wiseRom. 12 15. Eph. 4. show forth on each other, in peace­ableness of heart, and the same is their re­ligion or God-service: they know not also [Page 138]of any other Religion, or God-service, then of the service of love,Joh. 13.15. Col. 3. 1 Pet. 1. c. 3. 1 Joh. 3.4. and to love one another, and so to keep themselves pure,Jam. 1. or unspotted of the world.

9. Which pure God-service and most holy Religion, and the ministration of the gracious word and service of love that tendeth thereunto, is availeable be­fore God, and acceptable l unto him, and not any other that be used without the same God-service of love.

CHAP. XL.

THe people of this Land do (in their God-service) serve the most high God,Deut. 5.32. Psal. 18. Esa. 45. who is God only; and they are subject to no other Gods, nor Lawes, nor Ceremonies, but only to the Lord their God, and to his most holy service of love.

2. Also they are not subject to the crea­tures, nor to any created thing, as pro­perly to belong thereunto, but onely to the Creator,Gen. 1. Rom. 1. that hath made all crea­tures, and created things.

3. This God (whom only they serve) is a secretEsa. 45. God, a God that dwelleth [Page 139] Psal. 2. & 22. & 115. in the heavens, & moveth above all hea­vens, who likewise hath comprehended all in his hand whatsoever is.

4. The same God is exceeding great, glorious, and miraculous, and besides him there is noDeut. 32. God more, neither in hea­ven, nor upon earth, whose Name is knowne only in himselfe, and in his.

5. He is the 1 Joh. 4. Love, the Joh. 14. Truth, and the Spirit, and the Spirit is the everlasting life, in the truth, and in the love.

6. He is the true substance, of all substances,Joh. 1. the true life, of all lives, the true light, of all lights, the true mind, of all minds.

7. He is the true power or strength,Job 9. of all powers or strengths: the true un­derstanding, of all understandings: the true righteousnesse, of all righteous­nesse.

8. He is the trueMal. 1. Eph. 3. Father of all Fa­thers: the Lord, of all Lords:1 Tim. 6 the King, of all Kings.

9. He is the true begetter of all Gene­rations: For he it is whichEsa. 45. & 66. John 1. begetteth all that, whatsoever is born of the truth, out of the truth, and through the truth; out of whom also, all what is any thing, is be gotten: for he himself begetteth his children, out of himself.

[Page 140]10. He is1 Cor. 8.15. Heb. 1. all in all, who likewise hath comprehended all in himself.

11. He is the true1 Joh. 4. love of all loveli­nesse: the uprightJoh. 14. truth of all truth.

12. He is the trueMat. 11. meeknesse of all meek ones: the trueJoel 2 Jona 4. mercy of all mer­cifull ones.

13. He is also the true nature of all na­turalnesse.

14. To conclude, He is all what his people is, unto whom he is a Paradise full of joy, and a4. Esd. 2. Apo. 2.22. tree of life, or a living Tree, full of all sweetnesse and fruits of e­verlasting life,

15. He it is, that wasMich. 5. Heb 13. everlasting, from the beginning: He it is, that is now presently; he it is, that shall remain for ever.

16. He is the everlasting, unbroken, the everlasting undevidable, the everlasting perfect good.

17. This living God, is their only God, for he only is God, and none els,Deut. 32 Esa. 45. and be­sides him, there is no God more, as is al­ready said: this God do they loveDeut. 6. & 10. Mat. 22. with all their hearts, minds, and thoughts.

18. Seeing then that they are borne and brought forth out of him, so is like­wise all their life, sence, and mind, [Page 141]only in him;Joh. 17. and God himself in like manner, is in them, with his mind, life, or Spirit, and so they are one being with each other, namely, God andJer. 31. Ezek. 37. his peo­ple of peace.

19. And the same (the living Godhead with the Manhood) is the only true be­ing, or substance, in this peaceable Land of rest and peace.

20. The same is also the1 Cor. 13 perfect of all perfection, which shall continue for ever, to the which state, God hath crea­ted the manly generation,Gen. 1. 4 Esd. 6.7. for to make them heirs therein, and called or bidden them thereunto, by Jesus Christ.

21. The same perfection, are likewise Gods promises,Gen. 12. & 17.22. to the blessing of all generations of the earth, and out of the same perfection, is the true service of love ministred, to a godly life, in the last time.

22. And wheresoever now the same cometh in the Spirit, and maketh it selfe known essentially, there doe all1 Cor. 13 peece­works, divisions and dissentious cease, and the love getteth there the victory, and remaineth there for ever, never breaking nor decaying any more.

CHAP. XLI.

WHosoever now forsaketh all the desolate lands and people, as is before said, also hath his respect diligently bent upon theMat. 2. leading star in the East, and walketh on rightly, according to the compasse; as likewise forsaketh not the Crosse, and so cometh to the submis­sion, by him shall be found the equity, with the which, he entteth into Gods2. Pet. 1. Apo. 22. nature; and so he cometh into this good Citie, full of all riches of life and joy.

2. By which means he hath a free en­trance into this holy City of Peace (na­med Gods-understanding) for to become one onlyRom. 12. Eph. 4.5. body with all the Saints of the heavenly company, the which are the peaceable children of love, in the Land of the living.

3. He now therefore, that is in this manner come thereunto essentially, may as then (in the love, and in the unity of peace) go outJohn 10. and in, without harme, and may walk thorough all Lands, Pla­ces, and Cities; bring unto all lovers of the good Land (that are seeking the same) [Page 143]goodEsa. 33.52. Rom. 10. tydings, give them good incou­ragement, as to respect all the enemies, likeJob 21. Esa. 5.7. chaffe, and as nothing, show them the next way for to go intoEsa. 30. the life, and so lead them with him, into the good Land, and assembleJer. 3. them to the holy and peaceable people of the Lord, to an unitie of heart with them, in all love; for that same is the concordable service of love to the life, ministred by theEccl. 6.8. Heb. 13. Elders in the Family of the Love of Jesus Christ, and whosoever turneth him­self there-from, and is not obedient to his requiring, he doth severely erre, and turneth him away from his Salva­tion.

4. The next way therefore, to go into the foresaid life, is this: That one doe forsakeMat. 16. Mar. 8. Luk. 9.14. all what he hath taken on, and not any more to take on, nor desire any thing, and so through the service of love, to enter into the simple life, wherein all faithfulnesse and truth is found, and no slandering, nor stumbling,1 Cor. 13 or offensive­nesse, nor any blameing of others that do labour after righteousnesse and concord, and are minded to the peace of Jesus Christ.

5. For the simple life, is the equity of [Page 144]the nature of God, and by the same, one goeth into the holy Citie of rest and peace.

6. Whosoever now is, even thus as is said, under the obedience of the love, become uniform with the childrenBar. 5. of the Kingdome, and that his Spirit, Word, or Speech, doth flow out of, and into the same secret Kingdome, even like unto a4 Esd. 3. living breath of God, that floweth out from God, and into him again. Hee verily is become a fellow-elder in Gods holy and godly understanding, with the Elders in the Family of Love, and can very well walke in freedome, among all people, and also remaine still very free, united with the peaceable ones in the City of peace, and can live in the up­rightEph. 1.4. righteousnesse.

7. For the k knowledge sepa­rateth nor hurteth not him.Gen. 2.

8. The DevillMat. 4. Joh. 12. overcometh not him.

9. The sinRom. 6. or the evill de­lighteth not him.

10. He feareth not the death.Oze. 13. not him.

11. The Serpents deceit nor her poisonMar. 16. cannot kill him; for he hath eaten of the Wood of Life, (Apo. 2. which standeth in [Page 145]the middest of the godly Paradise) and liveth eternally, not fearing any burden of condemnation; for that cause also the hell cannot condemne him.

12. Nor the accuserApo. 12. ac­cuseth not him.

13. The foolishnesseEph. 2. al­lureth not him.

14. The chosen righteous­nesseCol. 2. snareth not him.

15. The holinesse prideth not him.

16. TheDan. 12. adhominations of desolation, hinder not him.

17. The deceitfull hills, se­duce not him.

18. The vaine comfort, re­lisheth or liketh not him.

19. The unbelief,4. Esd. 6.7. destroy­eth not him.

20. The delight to live inGal. 5. pleasures, choketh not him.

21. TheEph. 4. ignorance, blind­eth not him.

22. Nor the leaders of the blind, doe not lead him. For God is hisEsa. 60. Apo. 21.22. light and life, and to the same godly being, he li­veth, and not to any strange things, which be (in his passing thorough them) hath forsaken: wherefore he is not captivated [Page 146]under the onenesse, nor under any ungod­ly being, but only1 Pet. 1. 1 Joh. 4. under the love, and the requiring of her service.

23. And even thus is God with him, and he is with God; For the true Spirit, or the true godly being of the love,Joh. 16. lea­deth him into all truth and love; and in this manner (under the obedience of the love) is all his conversation,Esa. 32.51. & 65. Apo. 21. in rest and peace: who likewise liveth without fear everlastingly, in all godly and spirituall heavenly goods, with all the children of the Peaceable Kingdome, and of the Love.

24. Behold, that same is the lovely rest,Esa. 60.61.62.65. & 66. Jer. 23.33. and the godly life, in the glo­rious freedome of the Children of God in the last time, according to the promises.

CHAP. XLII.

WE praise thee, O Father, thou Lord of heaven and earth, for that thou hast hiddenMat. 11. Luk. 10. these things from the proud-boasting wise, and the prudent understanding ones, and revealed them to the little and humble ones.

[Page 147]2. The rich of spirit, nor the great, wise or, industrious Scripture-learned ones, have not understood the same: but to theEsa. 57.66. poor of spirit, and to the simple of understanding, hast thou given it.

3. Yea, O Father,Mat. 11. even so hath it pleased thee, for that the rich of spirit should have no cause to boastEsa. 29. Abdi. 1. 1 Cor. 1. them of their wisdome, nor the understanding­ones of their prudence; but that they may every one bow them under the obe­dience of thy love, and so may acknow­ledge, that thou only (O my God and Fa­ther) art a true God.

4. Therefore, because that the Lord would (through his hearty love) make his holy Name great and commendable,Luke 1. he hath exercised power with his arme, and dispersed those that are proud in the device of their own hearts.

5. He hath thrust downe the mightyEccl. 10. from the seat, but exalted the humble.

6. TheLuk. 1. hungry hath he filled with goods, and left those empty, that were rich or satisfied.

7. Therefore the Lord forsaketh none, that seek him withJer. 29. Eccle. 2. all their hearts: for he is a strength unto the poore, to the simple, and to the little ones of under­standing; [Page 148]aPsa. 9.18 46.71.91.94. Esa. 25. strength in the time of sorrow, a refuge from the tempest, and a shadow from the heat, when the Ty­rants fret or rage, like a storme against a wall.

8. For that causeEsa. 41.45.51.54. dismay not your selves, O ye faint-hearted ones, nor be not wavering-minded, although the de­struction do make up it selfe very high, and that the decliners, together with the good thinking wise, and the Scripture­learned of the wicked world, do slander or speak evill against this same, and do persecute us; for it shall all perish, wa­ting out likePsal. 10. Esa. 50. Psal. 37.68. Sap. 5. an old garment, and like the smoke or vapour.

9. For the Lord bringeth down the fury of the ungodly, and maketh their heat strengthlesse, like unto the heat in the wildernesse and woods.

10. The Vine-branches of the Tyrants doth he wither with the shadow of his clouds,Esa. 58 Eccl. 24. and bringeth forth his righte­ousnesse, like a morning starre, and his truth like a glorious cleernesse,Esa. 60. or light of the Sun.

11. And in peaceEsa. 52.60. doth he set up a­gain his holy City Jerusalem, Psal. 79. [...] Mac. 2.4 which the Heathen have trodden down.

[Page 149]12. He doth now make manifest his holy Temple againe with joy,Esa. 33.44. Apo. 21. and so permitteth his Tabernacle, the Sanctuary of his dwelling, to be beholden.

13. And setteth up the same upon the top of the hill of Sion at Jerusalem, that the hil of Sion may stand aloft,Esa. 2. Mat. 4. and be exalted above all Hills, even as the Lord hath forespoken the same by his Prophets.

14. For the Lord of Hosts will now prepare upon his Hill of Sion, at Jerusa­lem, a sumptuousEsa. 25. Feast for all people, of fat, well marrowed Cattel, and of pure wine, wherein there is no dregs.

15. And upon this hill, he will take a­wayEsa. 25. the covering, or the veile where­with all people are stopped, and where­with all Hathen are covered; for the1 Cor. 15 death shall be swallowed up.

16. And the Lord God will wipe offEsa. 25 Apo. 7. the tears from the faces of all the peo­ple, and take away their reproach in the universall earth.

CHAP. XLIII.

BEhold, that is the time of the Lords blessing, in the which they shall sing this song in Judah.

2. We have aEsa. 26. Supra. 28. strong City, the walls and the defence are our preservation.

3. Open the gate,Psal. 118. that the righteous people (which keep the faith) may enter therein.

4. Thou alwaies keepest peace, accor­ding to sure promise, for men stay them upon thee.

5. Therefore put your confidence in the Lord everlastingly, for God the Lord is a stony rock for ever.

6. He bringeth low those that dwell in pride, and he casteth down the lofty City; yea, he throweth it downe to the earth, so that it lyeth in the dust.

7. That it is trodden upon with feet, yea, with the feet of the poor, and with the feet of the simple.

8. But the way of the righteous is plain, and the goings of the humble dost thou, O God direct aright.

9. Therefore Lord,Esa. 26. we wait upon thee, in the way of thy righteousnesse, for the lust of our heart standeth bent to­wards thy Name, and to a remembrance of thee.

[Page 151]10. We are desirous of thee in the night-season, even with all our hearts, and with our spirit, do we walk up early un­to thee.

11. For where thy Law beareth rule in the Land, there do the inhabiters of the earth learn righteousnesse.

12. But although grace be profered to the ungodly, yet do they learne no righ­teousnesse.

13. But do nothing else but iniquity in the upright Land, for they do not see the Majestie of the Lord.

14. Lord, they see not that thy hand is exalted: but when they shall see it, then shall they be ashamed.

CHAP. XLIV.

THereforePsa. 113.133.135. exalt our God, and laud his holy Name.

2. Because he hath gotten the King­dome, and the Scepter of his Kingdome is made manifest.

3. For the Lord is becomePsal. 97. King, wherefore his people do rejoyce.

4. His Word hath shewed power, his righteousnesseEsa. 45.51. is become manifest.

[Page 152]5. His Spirit hath appeared like a light, and confirmeth his salvation for ever.

6. The same God hath renewed us in him, and givenEsa. 29.32. Act. 2. us a new understanding.

7. A new creature2 Cor. 5. hath he brought forth, the Image of GodEph. 1. the upright righteousnesse.

8. Therefore doe the people speakeMar. 16. Act. 2. with new tongues, the new song is in our mouth.

9. Lord,Apo. 15. wonderfull are thy works, for thou hast done marvellous actsPsa. 71.77. a­mong us.

10. The evill that was in us,Psa. 10. Jer. 31.50 is now no where to be found amongst us, that which we know not in the death, is now apparent unto us in the everlasting life.

11. With us the sinRom. 8. is now condem­ned in the sin, the righteousnesse is decla­red unto us in righteousnesse.

12. Among us the death is now swal­lowed upOze. 13 in the death, the everlasting life is come unto us, in the renewing of our life.

13. The hell is judged or condemned into theApo. 20. pit of hell, the heaven is shew­ed unto us in the heavenly being.Apo. 12.21.22.

14. The lie is come to shame in the [Page 153]lie, thePsal. 85.117. truth is risen up unto us in the truth.

15. The darknesses are descended into [...] bottomelesse pit to the darknesses, the light hath illuminated usPsa. 36.118. in the light.

16. The Idoll is fallen in hisEsa. 2. Idola­try; the living God is become knowne unto us in the God-head.

17. Therefore doe we confesse the Majesty of our God, and the sanctification of his people perpetually.

CHAP. XLV.

O Lord, thou Almighty God, greatPsa. 139. and wonderfull are thy works.

2. Righteous and trueApo. 15. are thy wayes, thou Prince and King of Saints.

4. WhoJer. 10. should not feare and love thee, O Lord of life, and praise thy name?

3. Forasmuch doubtlesse as there is no holinesse, but thou; for thou only, O Lord1 Reg. 2. art holy.

5. All people shall worship thee,Psa. 72.87. in thy presence, where thou becomest ma­nifest in thy holy Temple.

[Page 154]6. For thy righteousnesses are known, and thy holinesse is inherited by thy people.

7. But not an holinesse made by mens hands, but an holinesse that is from eter­nity, and shall continue for ever.

8. Therefore dost thou, O God, remain a God in eternity, a KingEsa. 9. Dan. 1.7. which shall reigne perpetually.

9. Wherefore we are now joyfull in this portion, and sing Heia, Heia.

10. Play to thePsal. 96.98. Lord a new Song, and sing, Alleluia, Tob. 13. Apo. 15. Alleluia.

CHAP. XLVI.

REjoyce now with joy, yePsal. 48. Esa. 62. Soph. 3. daugh­ters of Sion, and recreate you ye Citizens and Inhabiters of the City Je­rusalem.

2. Shout now with triumph, all ye ge­nerations of Israel and Juda, and rejoyce you in all love ye children of peace.

3. Behold, your King appearethZach 9. un­to you in meekness, and he comethMat. 24.25. with Majesty.

4. For that he would establish you heire-like in hisJer. 31. Eze. 37. Sanctuary,Psal. 68. for to [Page 155]possesse his Kingdome for evermore.

5. But unto his enemies, the resisters of the Love, he appeareth inPsa. 5.7. Eccl: 5. wrath and in rigour.

6. For to thrust them from him,Mat. 7.23.25. and to shut them without this Kingdome for ever.

7. For he will make an end of the in­iquity, and cast all falshood and offensive­nesseMat. 13. out of his Kingdome.

8. Hee will diperse the deceitfullPsa. 33. Pro. 15. thoughts, his life, disposition, and na­tureEs. 65.66. will he bring to light.

9. He will establish his Kingdome in peace,Esa. 9. and the peace of his Kingdome shall have no end.

10. Loe, that is the spirituall Kingdom of Christ, the heavenly King in eternity. Alleluia, Alleluia.

CHAP. XLVII.

WHerefore, O ye souls, shout now in your God for joy, and re­joycePsa. 62. Luk. 1. your mind in his Salvation.

2. From whom you were turned away, and are turned to him again.

3. Behold, that is thePsa 118. Esa. 28. 1. Per. 2. stone which saveth you, the everlasting God of Israel, [Page 156]who hath made heaven and earth.

4. His Anoynting is at his right hand, out of his spirit of salvation, cometh the faithfulnesse and truth unto us.

5. That which he hath striken and wounded,Deut. 32 Tob. 13. he hath annointed and hea­led againe.

6. He can kill,1 Reg. 2. Sap. 16. and make alive again, he leadeth into hell, and bringeth out a­gaine.

7. He thrusteth away and condem­neth, as it were in cursing;Esa. 54.57.60. he calleth to him againe in blessing, as his best be­loved.

8. He bringeth down to dust, earth, and ashes, hePsa. 113. Esa. 52. exalteth againe above all Cedar-trees.

9. He suffereth to fall into sorrow, as if it were nothing, and that he esteem­ed it not.

10. He rejoyceth it again, and esteem­eth it much more precious then gold, sil­ver, and precious stones.

11. Where is there aDeut. 32 Psal. 18.113. God, like un­to the God of Israel, which sitteth above, or over-spreadeth all heavens.

12. He hath foundedGen. 1. Psa. 102. the earth up­on his Word, the Firmament is compre­hended in him.

[Page 157]13. Sun and Moon stand obedientPsa. 104. Esa. 38. to his Commandement, all the hearts of the living hath he in his hand.

14. He doth all what hePsal. 114 will, he re­spectethSap. 6. Act. 10. no man, neither wise nor simple.

15. When he maketh up himself,Psa. 76 Jer. 10. it must all bow to him, and feare his migh­ty hand.

16. He chasteneth or rebuketh for a certain time,Job 5▪ Psa. 36. Mich. 7. but his goodnesse indureth for ever.

17. Laud him all yePsa. 138.148. Kings, and ye Counsellers, in the Land, feare his Maje­sty, all ye people.

18. He that worketh wonders among the heathen, and hath a lust towards his Elect.

19. He hath a pleasureDeut. 10. in the house of Israel, for that he would plantEsa. 49.11. the generation of Jacob in righteousnesse.

20. He will not ever beEsa. 54 angry with his people, their chastisement shall not alwaies indure.

21. He punisheth them for their sins,Jer. 30▪ he saveth and justifieth them▪ for his ho­ly Names sake.

22. He will not forget his Covenant, that he hath made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

[Page 158]23. He will not leave hisPsal. 32. Jer. 31. Mich. 7. mercy, which he hath promised, by his Servants and Prophets.

24. Yet once againe will he moveAgg. 2. Heb. 12. the earth, and gather his people together out of all quarters of the earth,2 Mac. 2 and be gra­cious unto them.

25. Also he will erect a newJer. 31. Heb. 8. Cove­nant with them, and give them a new Name, the everlasting free-ones;Esa. 62. the re­leased by the Lord.

26. To whom the Law of the Lord, his Statutes, and Rites, shall no moreExo. 34. stand written in tables of stone.

27. But God will write them in their hearts, in theJer. 31. Heb. 8. innermost part of their minds, in the ground of Faith, ac­cording to the manner of the Father A­braham.

28. Rejoyce you then, that have beenEsa. 54.60. rejected among all Heathen.

29. Clap then with yourPsal 47. hands, and stamp then with your feet.

30. Make then your songs of joy at Sion, sing then Alleluia Tob 1. in all the streets and lanes of Jerusalem.

31. Then cast from you the mourning-garment; for that is the endEsa. 61. of your shame and contempt.

[Page 159]32. Then put onEsa. 49.54. the apparell or or­naments of joy, sing, play, and laud the Lord in triumphing.

33. PlayPsa. 33.8 1.98.146.148.150. upon Harps, upon Lutes, upon Cymballs, Flutes, Tabors, Gitterns, and upon all manner of Instruments with strings.

34. For then will GodEsa. 33. Eze. 34. be your King, your Head, and onely Pastor or Shep­herd.

35. No sinneJer. 50. shall ruinate or spoile you any more, no Prophets shall seduce you any more.

36. You shall every oneJer. 31. Heb 8.10. know the Lord your God, as also his Law, Statutes, and Rites.

37. Thereon hope now, O Israel, the same shall come untoEsa. 35.5.60.51. you all, ye Chil­dren of Jacob; Alleluia, Alleluia.

38. Give perpetuall thanks unto the great God of Israel; for, besides him,Esa. 34. there is no God more.

CHAP. XLVII. In these Chapters following, there are re­cited certain benefits shewed on the man, through the Service of the Love of Je­sus Christ; with also a lamentable com­plaint over the blindnesse of the people, and over certain good thinking wise, and Scripture-learned ones, and likewise how grossely they have over-reached them­selves, or failed in their giving of judg­ment over the spirituall and heavenly things, with more other notable Declara­tions, and good Instructions.

ALL this, O ye good willing hearts, and lovers of the truth, which we have here set forth in Letters, have we (through love) written for the service and furtherance of you all, because that every one of you likewise should under­stand the upright life of Peace, whereof we doe witnesse, also wherein our health and preservation consisteth, and likewise whereunto th [...] promises of God the Fa­ther,Gen. 22. made to the blessing of all gene­rations of the earth, doe extend, and nought become agreeably minded with [Page 161]us, and we with you, for to enter into the same good life under the obedience of the Love, through the love and her ser­vice, to aEph. 1. 2 Pet. 3. renewing of the world, and of all whatsoever is waxen old: as also, to become one onely Communaltie of Peace, whereby to prepare in that manner (through the service of Love) theEsa. 54. & 60. & 66. Agg. 2. Peace upon earth, according to the Promises.

2. To that end also tendeth our whole service of writing, whereunto like­wise we are moved, out of an inclination of love, for that theRom. 10 righteousnesse (which God esteemeth) might come to light, and be manifested thorough the love and her service, to an everlastingEsa. 9.26 & 1.54 Peace for Israel, according to the Pro­mises.

3. Moreover (because there should be nothing with-holden from any one, of all what serveth, or is profitable for the man, to the knowledge of the life) we have al­so (to a more abundance of the godly un­derstanding) witnessed of this same life in the Spirit, which we do here point un­to in these present testifications of the Land of Peace, with many distinct sayings in the foure Bookes of the Glasse of [Page 162]Righteousnesse, and likewise in all our Writings, that are published or set forth by us.

4. In which writings we have also (as much as we were able, and saw into it to serve to edication) evidently and appa­rently distincted theDeut. 30 Jer. 21. Eccles. 15. wayes of life, from the wayes of death.

5. Seeing then that the glorious2 Cor. 4 light (as a day or cleernesse of Christ) is by Gods grace, given us to behold; there­fore have we (out of the same sight, or heavenly Revelation) rehersed likewise in those same foresaid books and wri­tings, many of the secret heavenlyRom. 16 Eph. 3. Col. 1. trea­sures or riches of God, which in times past, even hitherto, have not been made known unto the world, like as God doth now presently (through his love) re­veale and make them knowne unto his Saints.

6. Which testimonies of the heavenly treasures or riches of God, we have (out of inclined love) witnessed as a Glasse of upright righteousnesse, and to a behol­ding in the Spirit of all Righteousnesse, Light, and Life, to the serving and furthe­rance of all Lovers of the true being, whereby to draw all those to the love of [Page 163]the true being, that are goodLuk. 2. of will to the same true being, and that they might even so adjoyn them to our Com­munalty, and Service of the love of God and Christ, and likewise submit them with us under the obedience of the Love.

7. Which God-service of ours under the obedience of the love of God and Christ, is the most holy God-service,Mat. 22. Mar. 12. Jam. 1. be­fore God the Father. For the same Service in his Declaration, is neerest un­to the godly heavenly truth, above all God-services and understandings of this world.

CHAP. XLIX.

FOr what God-services soever do not submit them with us, under the obe­dience of the Service of the1 Cor. 13 love of God and Christ, shall all be found false,Jer. 10. and as no God-services; and what un­derstanding soever doth not yeeld it selfe captive thereunder, shall all be knowne to be lying, and as ignorance; and like­wise what Preachers or Teachers soever do not submit them, nor stand subject [Page 164]there-under, shall all become manifest, that they preach or minister not the ho­ly Word of the Lord, and that they are notJer. 14. & 23. & 27. Rom. 10. sent by God, nor yet by Christ, for to preach; as also, that they desire not to minister their Office of Preaching, accor­ding to the requiring of the Service of the love of Jesus Christ.

2. Yea, all Majesties, Rulers, Gover­nors and Magistrates,Rom. 13. that are of God, shall every one submitEsa. 2. them with us thereunder, for the peaces Cause, which God hath even so fore-seen through his love; and likewise for to prepare the same peace upon the earth, under the o­bedience of the Love of JESUS CHRIST.

3. And what Majesty, Rulers, Gover­nors, and Magistrates soever, will not bow themselves in that manner under the love of Jesus Christ, nor stand submitted thereunder, those same shall declare thereby, that they have no desire nor will to Minister their OfficeSap. 6. of Government, according to Gods Or­dinance, and according to the love of Je­sus Christ.

4. Seeing then that the Government is Gods Ordinance, and that also those [Page 165] Sap. 6. Rom. 13. 1 Pet. 2. Governors, which undertake the pro­tection of the good and simple people, and of all those that sin unadvisedly or ignorantly, are Gods Ministers, therefore shall likewise every Governor, that mini­streth his Office out of Gods Ordinance, or is well inclined thereto with all his heart, submit himselfe good willingly to to the love of God and Christ, and to her Service, for a testimony that they are Gods Ministers, and have a desire to the peace upon earth, and to be serviceable unto the children of men to that effect.

5. And all common people that have minded the good life and the peace, shall in like manner, bowMich. 4. them under the Service of Love, for to live such a life of peace under the obedience of the Love, according to the godly testimonies of the Glasse of Righteousnesse.

6. But whosoever shall refuse thus to do, and so will not live peaceable under the love with us, as likewise all those that turn them away from us, and from our godly Doctrine of the same Service of Love, those same shall be accounted for no people, but for aJob 21. Jer. 9. destroyed and lost heap, who are neither profitable in the World, nor yet before God. For, [Page 166]there is nothing upright nor true, that excelleth1 Cor. 13 the love and her service.

7. Therefore it is also every ones duty (both before God and men) to bow him under the love of his God, andDeut. 6. Mat. 22. to the love of his neighbour, whereby to learne through the Love and her service, to ob­serve what is right andTob. 4. Phil. 4. equall; to the end, that the love might by that means, be seen and knowne, that she is the band ofCol. 3. perfection, and the uprightEph. 4. be­ing it self, whereon the LawMat. 22. and the Prophets do witnesse, and whereunto the Services and Ceremonies have their Mi­nistration.

8. Which love is likewise published by the Apostles of Christ, to be a1 Tim. 1 princi­pall sum of the Commandement and of Faith, and to be a stedfast God-service,1 Cor. 13 which continueth for ever, according to the Promises.

9. Out of which our most holy Service of Love, that is come unto us1 Cor. 3. by Gods grace, we have (according to the sight of the true life) shewed forth the uprightDeut. 30. Eccl. 15. difference of the life and death, in the glasse of righteousnesse, in most large and ample manner.

10. In the which one may sind and reap [Page 167]all fulnesse of Declarations or Instructi­ons, tending to the furtherance of the profitable knowledge both of all godly heavenly things, and also of all manly and naturall things.

CHAP. L.

FOrasmuch then as God hath (out of his bountifull grace) shined, or given2 Cor. 4. into our hearts, such a cleer light of the lovely being, under the obedience of his love, therefore do we likewise restifie of God and of the true light of his love, and not of any creatures; for that we might make manifest now in the last time unto all those that are good of will to the obedience of the love, the heaven­ly1 Cor. 2. Eph. 3. Col. 1. mystery of the Christ of God, to the end that the love in her service might be spread abroad, and have her going forward, to a serviceablenesse unto the life, and that they might all inherit the life and the rest in the love, namely, those which love the good life and the restEsa. 32. Heb. 4. that God hath promised unto his people, and that labour diligently there­after.

[Page 168]2. And inasmuch now as our Service under the obedience of the Love (where­by we do testifie of the spiritual heavenly goods in Jesus Christ, to an unityJoh. 17. Eph. 4. in the love) tendeth thereunto, therefore doth not the Love also permit us to cease in that matter, but the inclination of her lovely being,2 Cor. 5. driveth us continually forward to the same.

3. Yea, the heart and mind of our conscience cannot indure to keep1 Cor. 9. Col. 4. si­lence thereof, l [...]st that we our selves (inasmuch as such a grace is happened un­to us) might by our silence-keeping in this perillous time, be any let or hinde­rance therein.

4. Wherefore, because now that the Love to the life might be furthered, so do we shew forth our Service (with curtesie)2 Cor. 4. towards all consciences of men, to the end, to witnesse unto all people, and with reasons and sentences to declare unto them according to the truth, in what manner of life, that they all ought to deal and to walk with each other, and are likewise bound in duty to live faithfully in the same.

5. Let them then believe it, or let them not believe it, let them do it, or let them [Page 169]not do it, we quiet our consciences be­fore God, and areAct. 20. blamelesse of the destruction of all those that believe not, nor yet will enter into theHeb 3. & 4. rest of life, but do refusePro. 1. the profered grace of the Love.

CHAP. LI.

WHerefore, because that the same now which is to come, might ap­peare, so do we not speak coveredly, as in secret manner, in privy places or corners,Mat. 10. but naked and apparent in the day.

2. But if now our testimonies be co­vered unto any one, or be witnessed or spoken in hidden or secret manner, be­fore any one, then are they covered, se­cret, or2 Cor. 4. hidden before those that pe­rish; namely, the decliners from those same, and the unbelieving minds of the wicked world,Jam. 4. who are Gods enemies, as also enemies of the love and of Christ, which will not thatLuk. 19. God, nor Christ, not yet the Love should reign over them; but are2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 2.3. Jud. 1. stout, and puffed up in mind, as those that will reigne themselves, [Page 170]according to their own advice or opini­on, seeking their selfnesse and not the Lords; the which they do apparently shew by the deed, because they will not stand submitted under the love nor her service, neither yet do love the unity in the love; and therefore likewise they understand not the2 Tim. 5. truth.

3. Whose hearts are blinded with the2 Cor. 4 blindnesse of the wicked world, and with the blindnesse1 Cor. 1.3. of her dissentions, and chosenCol. 1. holinesse, for that they should not behold the light of the hea­venly cleernesse in the love.

4. For that cause also they cannot un­derstand nor comprehend the service of Love, which tendeth to the everlasting life. nor the uprightRom. 8. freedome, to the blessing of the manly generation, where­of we do witnesse.

5. For that same is our service, towards all those which love the good life and the peace; namely, for to declare and shew unto them, under the obedience of the love, and assured way to the life, to the end, that they might all now in this day of love, have a free2 Pet. 1. passage to the good life through Faith, for to live lovingly and peaceably in the same life, (Joh. 1. 1 Joh. 1. which [Page 171]was likewise from the beginning, and shall remain for ever, and unto the which the manly generation is created) and that [...]t might go well and prosper with them perpetually.

6. That same is the everlasting life, that wasMat. 28. Act. 2. published in times past unto the people, as an Evangelie or good message, for that they should be saved therein.

CHAP. LII.

BUt oh, alas! we have now in this pe­rillous time, very speciall cause to sigh and mourne grievously, over theEsa. 6. & 59. blindnesse of many people, and to be­waile the same with great dolour of our hearts and that chiefly, because there is now in this same day of love,2 Mac. 2. and of the mercy of God, so little knowledge of the good life of Peace and of love to be found among them; and also, for that the same knowledge is desired of so few, and yet much lesse loved. But they do al­most every one delight to walk in strange4. Esd. 5. Mat. 7. waies that stretch to contention and destruction, by which occasion, they live [Page 172]in many molestations and deadly afflicti­ons every where.

2. Therefore may we (with wofulnesse and [...]ighing hearts) very jostly say, that it is now a perillousAmos 5. Mat. 24. 2 Tim. 3. time to be saved, or to escape or remain over to preservation. (Oh, what venemous winds do there blow, to the desolation and destruction of men!) Yea, it seemeth to be almostMat. 19. & 24. unpossible for the man to come to his salvation or preservation in Christ, or to the lovely life of peace.

3. But yet is it easie, andMat. 19. possible with the Lord; namely, for all those that seek him with all theirDeut. 4. Jer. 29. hearts, and un­der the obedience of the Love, do believe his Word of Truth, whereof all false hearts have a lothsomnesse, and it is unto them a secretMat. 13. 2 Cor. 4. or unknowne Treasure of wis­dome.

4. Oh! when we behold all the pe­rills and snares which are now presently in the way, as lets or hinderances against the good life of peace, namely, by the worldly foolishnesse, pride and corrupti­blenesse, also by the many manner of se­ditions of the Scripture-learnedMat. 6. & 15. & 23. Act. 7. and chosen holinesse, and again by the sun­dry sorts of conceited opinions of [Page 173]men, so doth our soule oftentimes suffer great sorrow, and that even here­fore, because that all understanding of the flesh, which is borne of the bloud of the fleshGen. 6. 4 Esd. 3. and earthly being, runneth on so ignorantly after the knowledge of the godly truth, and over-reacheth it selfe so grossely, in giving judge­ment in the testimonies of the spirituall things.

5. For verily, many of the opiniona­ted, or good-thinking wise ones, and of the Scripture-learned sort, have with their good-thinking, understanding, or arrogant wit of the flesh, made up them­selves for to judge there-through the truth of God, which is brought to light by us, and so have by the fleshly concei­ving, or mind of theirAct. 7. uncircumcised hearts, and unilluminated understan­dings, considered of, or weighed our spi­rituall and heavenly testimonies of God, and of the holy Spirit of the Love of Je­sus Christ, Joh. 7. & 8. according to the outward appearance, and judged them after the same manner.

6. Not only these our spiritual and hea­venly testimonies of the spirituall land of Promise, and of the spirituall Saints [Page 174]of God; but they have also judged, ac­cordingJoh. 7.8. to their earthly and fleshly minds, other more spirituall and heaven­ly testimonies of God, which are gone out from the holy Spirit of the love of God and Christ, and that are set forth or published by us, and which have their ministration unto spirit, and unto in­ward spirituall things, or doe extend thereunto, and have not rightly under­stood our Ministration, which guideth to the spirituall and heavenly; even like as the same is happened unto us by some, and become manifest before our eyes, but chiefly by the principall ones in the Scrip­ture-learnednesse, and likewise by those which did advance and give forth them­selves to be1 Tim. 1. Treachers, and that seemed to be the most prudent and expert ones, in the services, and also how resistingly many false hearts have made up them­selves, with their earthly and fleshly minds, against the truth of the spirituall and heavenly testimonies of God, and his Promises, and against the holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, and of the mercifull love of God the Father,Heb. 10. 2 Pet. 2. Jud. 1. as blasphemers of their most holy goods, and likewise a­gainst us, who do witnesse and publish [Page 175]forth Gods Word, his everlasting truth, out of those same spirituall and heavenly goods, for to defame and persecute us, with muchMat. 5. lying and falshood.

CHAP. LIII.

BUt although many of them have grossely over-reached themselves therein, yet have some notwithstanding according to the imagination of their knowledge, run on, or laboured for the spirituall things, for that they would un­derstand them; also many have, accor­ding to their understanding of the flesh, testified of them.

2. But seeing they have not sought their knowledge of the spirituall things in the obedience of the Christian do­ctrine of the Service of Love, but in their knowledge of the flesh, and so have ta­ken on their understanding of the know­ledges of the spirituall things, out of the imagination of their owne knowledge; therefore have they likewise understood those same spirituall things, according to the mind of their flesh, and witnessed of them in the same manner also: For that [Page 176]cause likewise the right1 Cor. 2 knowledge of the spiritual and heavenly understanding, hath not in the cleernesse of the trueSap. 5. light, shined unto them.

3. Forasmuch then as they wereEph. 4. yet estranged from the true light of life, and of love, and stood not subjected under the love, nor to the requiring of her service; therefore have they also made up themselves so much the stouter against us and against our most holy Service of Love.

4. But all that which is happened unto us by them, and by all those that turne them away from us, or which doth yet daily happen unto us (as to slander or speak evill of us, and reproachfully with many lies to defame and to persecute us with falshood) have we, for the love of Christ his sake, indured at their hands,Mat. 5. Heb. 12. in all patience, giving laud and thanks unto God with joy, for that he hath ac­counted us worthy for to sufferAct. 5. re­proach, slander, and persecution, for his love and truths sake, to the end, that our most holy Service of Love, and the god­ly Doctrine of the same, might in the proceeding on or continuance of our pa­tience, so much the more break thorow [Page 177] 1 Cor. 4. 2 Cor. 6. or come to light unhindered, and be­come generally knowne to be the true God-service that God requireth, and that it might also be knowne, that we are un­guilty of the false bruits that be laid to our charge behind our backs, and that we doe Minister the2 Cor. 6 Word of the Truth of God and Christ, under the obedience of the Love, to the peace and salvation of men.

5. For verily, this assured confidence have we in the Lord, that although our Cause be oppressed or contemned by ma­ny for a certain time, yet shall notwith­standingEccles. 1. in his time, the just or the right understanding ones commend our wisdome, which God hath gracious­ly given to us, and laud God for the same.

6. But truly, those that do now charge, contemne, and with their venemousPsal. 14. Jer. 9. Rom. 3. Serpents tongues, sharply reprehend, or maliciously speak evill of us, and per­secute us, have not spoken evill of and contemned us only, but alsoMat. 10. Luk. 10. Acts 9. 2 Thes. 4. God him­selfe, who is our true Master-builder of his house of Love, and have judged his holy service of Love, through the which we do testifie, and publish abroad [Page 178]the upright righteousnesse before God and Men, for a most detestable error, and so with their false judgement have drawn awayMat. 18. many wavering hearts, from the same.

7. But alas! (the which out of the good nature of the Love, maketh us sorry for them) the judgment and the condem­nation wherewith they have judged and condemned us, is come upon themselves;Mat. 7. Rom. 2. for with all their judgement over us they have not condemned us, but them­selves, inasmuch as they are found guilty in that, which they have judged over us.

CHAP. LIV.

O My beloved hearts, in the Love of Jesus Christ, forasmuch now as we do consider all this to stand thus over our enemies, and that it is become manifest unto us, therefore let not their misunder­standing, and their resistance against us, be any offence unto us; neither yet let us make up our selves against them,Rom. 12 1 Pet. 3. to requite evill, but pray untoMat. 5. God for them, that the Lord will give unto them, [Page 179]and unto all erring or strayed hearts, and unto all those which (out of their igno­rance and unskilfulnesse in the truth) do slander and persecute us, as likewise unto all those that have turned them away from us and our godly Doctrine,Eph. 1. eyes of true sight, and hearts of upright un­derstanding, that they may see and know their error, and turn themEze. 18. & 33. penitently to the Love and her Service, and so under the obedience of the love, become amen­ded touching all their errors and evill deeds, and may through the Love and her Service, be raised upEsa. 35. Heb. 12. againe from their fall, or be set upright in the truth and godlinesse. O yea, that same with prayer unto our God, is all our desire to­wards all our enemies, to the end, that they might every one turn them to the love of Jesus Christ, receive the Doctrine, and requiring of the Service of Love o­bediently, and so under the obedience of the Love, might live in the upright god­linesse of Jesus Christ.

2. Wherefore ye deerly beloved, for to avoid all perills of destruction, so let not every man take upon him to be aMat. 22. Jam. 3. Tea­cher, or a Minister of the Word, much lesse a Judge of the Truth; for there­through [Page 180]bringeth he the more grievousRom. 2. judgement and condemnation over himself.

3. For it is not every mans office, to be a Teacher or Minister of the holy Word, but only his, that (Exod. 28 Num. 17. Heb. 5. like unto Aaron) is raised up, promoted, or chosen thereunto by God and his Word, whose rod or stock verily, doth also even like unto Aarons rod, wax green, and blossom, and beareth fruit; and his likewise, who in the first Schoole-rule of the Chri­stian Doctrine of the Service of Love, hath like a faithfullJoh. 15. Acts 1. Disciple of the Word, and lover of the true being of Jesus Christ, received the Doctrine and Administration of the holy Word, from the Elders in the Family of Love o­bediently with a simple heart, and so is growne up under the obedience of the Love, in the holy and godly understan­ding, till unto theEph. 4. Col. 2. old age of the Man Christ, and taught to theMat. 13. Kingdome of the God of heavens.

4. Who doth then also as a meet El­der and Houshold Father in the Family of Love,Mat. 13. bring forth out of his Trea­sure both the new and the old, in whom likewise Christ with his Spirit of [Page 181]Love, hath hisJoh. 14. & 17. dwelling and shape▪ and also his being, like unto a flow­ing, orJohn 7. springing fountaine of living waters.

5. Which living waters do then like­wise flowJohn. 7. from his body, with the which, the thirsty souls after the righte­ousnesse be refreshed, and the Lords fields or tilled lands moistened or made wet, to a fruitfulnesse, for to bring forth good fruits, which doe serve the life of man, toApo. 22. all healthful­nesse.

6. Behold such a one, which with his understanding and thoughts, is thus in all1 Pet. 1. obedience to the gracious Word, and the requiring of his service of Love,Joh. 17. Eph. 3. 2 Pet. 1. incorporated to the Sprit of God and Life of Christ, and knowethJoh. 8▪ the truth in that manner, he verily hath rightly continued stedfast in the Doctrine of Christ, and is meet likewise to ministerJoh. 15. Acts 1. the holy Word of Truth, and to be a Teacher of the people, and not those which doe yet carry the2 Cor. 3 fore-skin before their hearts, nor yet those which are still earthlyGal 1. and fleshly minded, and so turning themselves away from us, and running forth of them­selves, [Page 182]do sow nothing else but pernicious seed among the people.

CHAP. LV.

WHerefore it is in like manner found true, that the fleshly-min­ded ones (which sow upon the flesh, or which build upon the fore-skin of their uncircumcised hearts) doe mowGal. 6. the corruption, and inherite the destru­ction.

2. But those that areIer. 4. Col. 2. circumcised on their hearts, in the laying away of the fore-skin of the sinfull flesh, and in the obeying of the requiring of our most ho­ly Service of Love, are become spiritually minded, and so then (out of the upright being of the love of Jesus Christ) do sow upon the Spirit,Gal 6. or build upon the spirituall, which is the true being it selfe; those same do receive or reap the fruits of blessing2 Esd. 2. in the everlasting immmor­tality, which do not perish,Joh. 15. but con­tinue for ever in the eternall life.

3. For all flesh, although it doe also speak of spirituall and heavenly things, through his knowledge, yet is it doubt­lesse [Page 183]nothing else but likeEsa. 40. 1 Pet. 1. Jam. 1. the grasse of the field, and all his garnishing of beauty and holinesse, is also like unto the flowers of the field; behold, the grasse drieth a­way, and the beauty of the flowers of the field withereth or decayeth.

4. But the spirituall good, the power of God, and hisSap. 1. & 7. Heb. 1. living being (where­in all what is of God standeth firme, and floweth thereout) remaineth stedfast,1 Pet. 1. unchangeable for ever; and in the same, or through the manifestation of the same being, the Kingdome of the God of hea­vens, comethLuk. 17. inwardly in us, and that is theJoh. 1.17. true light of the everlasting life.

5. Whose naked cleernesse, although the same be nothing else but light and life, isEsa. 29. Mat. 11. & 13. 2 Cor. 4. hidden, shut, and covered from all understandings and wisdomes of the flesh, and from all those that are minded on the flesh, or that build thereon.

6. But it is manifest, and shineth bright to the circumcised of heart, and to the upright spirituall-minded ones,1 Cor. 2 in a spirituall heavenly understanding, and the same cleernesse is the1 Joh. 1. being of God from heaven, the uprightEph. 4. righteous­nesse and holinesse, and the lifeJoh. 17. of God in eternity.

[Page 184]7. Wherefore, ye deerly beloved, see­ing that theApo. 3. doore of life is now by Gods grace opened unto us, theMat. 3. King­dome of the God of heavens, and the heavenly Jerusalem, Esa. 60. Apo. 21. or City of Peace, descended downe to us, and come neer­by; therefore let us take good heed unto such a time of the godly2 Cor. 6. Heb. 12. grace, and not neglect, despise or contemne the same, but as goodwilling children of Faith take speciall heed unto it, and so in theMat. 3. Acts 2. & 3. doing of upright fruits of repen­tance, enterH [...]b. 4. & 10. into the same, according to the Spirit, and live therein.

8. But not according to the thinking-good or imagination of our own hearts, nor according to the mind of the earth­ly wisdome, wherethorow many have estrangedEph. 4. them from the truth of life; but according to the mind and requi­ring of the Service of Love, and of the Spirit of the heavenlySap. 1.7. Jam. 3. wisdome, which extendeth to the land of the living, and City of Peace.

9. For if we will contiue safely kept from all s [...]ducing and destruction, and enter rightlyHeb. 4. into the rest, according to the promises of God the Father, then must we submit our selves1 Reg. 15 1 P [...]t 1. obediently under [Page 185]the gracious Word of the Lord, and the godly Doctrine of his Service of Love, and so in the Spirit enter into the fore­said rich City of peace, Gods secret un­derstanding, thorow the nature of God, and tast therein the spirituall heavenly things, and all life and sweetnesse; for even there in the same, one is come to theRom. 8. Col. 1. rest of all the Saints and Children of God, and there one eateth of the wood of life, that standeth in theGen. 2. Apo. 2.22. middest of Paradise, and liveth for evermore.

10. Which Paradise and place of rest is shutGen. 3. and hidden before the old man of errour, and it shall likewise continue hidden for ever before all those which (according the nature of Adam) are fal­ling awayEsa. 59. from the holy Commande­ment of God and Christ, and so are er­ring from the truth of Jesus Christ and his Church; for those same are they that carry the right ApronsGen. 3. 2 Cor. 3. or coverings be­fore their hearts, which Adam hath made him, which aprons or coverings of Adam is the hiding of the transgressions or of the sins.

11. Therfore can no man seeJohn 3. the King­dom of God, except the aprons (the taking on of Adam) be put off from his heart, that [Page 186]is, that he do make manifest himselfePro. 28. Eccl. 4.17. uncoveredly in his sins of disobedience towards God, and do forsakeRom. 13. 1 Pet. 2. Heb. 12. or lay away the same in the obedience to the gracious Word of God, and to the Ser­vice of his Love, and that he even so be­cometh borne anewJoh. 3. in the Spirit, and is become plaineJob 1. Mat. 18. 1 Cor. 14. and just, and simple, like unto a new-born Babe, and doth grow up therein obediently, taking no­thing upon him any more, nor yet hiding himself any thing at al before the face of God, nor before the Ministers of his gra­cious Word.

12. For whosoever doth not thus sim­ply receive the Kingdome of God,Mat. 10. Luk 8. as a child, he also shall not enter into it, but must remainTess. 1. separated from such a clearnesse of the godly light for ever, and not tastMat. 22. or know any of the godly hea­venly goods, much l [...]sse inherite them.

CHAP. LVI.

BEhold, because now that the crafti­nesse of the old man is counted by the man, therefore doth likewise the no­bleGen. 3. rest, the Paradise of the Lord, and [Page 187]the Kingdom of the God of heavens, as also his spirituall and heavenlyMat. 13. riches remain shut, and covered or hidden from the man, and he cannot find the way to the tree of life.

2. But the same standeth4 Esd. 8. Apo. 2. & 22. open, and also uncovered before all those which in like manner, are open, orEccles. 4. & 17. uncovered of heart before the Elders in the Family of Love; for those same (even like unto Christ, and all his believers) are minded to nothing else, but to life, peace and righ­teousnesse, and so then likewise, Jesus Christ the gracious Word of the Lord, is unto them aPro. 3. tree of life in the Paradise of the Lord, and the true being of God the heavenly Father, which Christ after the Spirit hath his manifestation out of the love, thorow her service, & so through his Spirit & service of Love, he begetteth or teacheth among us, theMat. 11. humility and meekness of heart,Eph. 4. to unity of peace in all love.

3. Whosoever now is not of the mind of Adam, neither yet that the work of Adam hath through the Serpents coun­sell, captivated him inGen. 3. the knowledge, but that he unlearneth all in the same a­gaine through the Service of Love, and is [Page 188]taught,Eph. 4. 1 Tim. 4. or becometh taught in all love, according to the mind of Christ, he also belongethJoh. 13. unto Christ, and is in the holy City of rest and Peace, or he goeth into the same the right way.

4. Loe, such are the right believers, the children of life, and the warlike Champi­ons, which through theApo. 7. & 12. blood of the Lamb, have overcome, or are overcoming the evill, who do possesse, or shall possesse all things with joy, and are a lovely peo­ple,Eze. 19. 1 Pet. 2. a holy Kingly generation, and do eat the breat and drinke the wine with Christ and his holy ones, at the table of the Lord,Luke 22 Apo. 3. in the Kingdome of the God of heavens.

5. Forasmuch then as they have in the Service of Love, turnedMat. 18. themselves a­bout to be obedient children, and have laid off theDeut. 10 2 Cor. 3. fore-skin of the old man from their hearts, therefore is likewise the Kingdome of God4. Esd. 8 Act. 7. opened unto them, and the mystery of the same gi­ven them toMat. 11. & 13. understand; the which re­maineth shut, unknowne,L [...]k. 10. 1 Cor. 1.2. and secret, before all the wise of the world, before all unregenerated rich of spirit, and Scrip­ture learned ones, as also before all unbe­lievers of the Love, and before all those [Page 189]that blaspheme and resist the Service of Love, and that are uncircumcised on the fore-skin of the old man.

6. And as long as they are unbelieving and disobedient or resistant towards the Love and her Service, so doth not doubt­lesse any of all their wisdomEsa. 29. 1 Cor. 1. and lear­ning, nor yet any searching in the depth of their understanding, nor any subtilty in the knowledge, help or further them any thing for to come to the same; but are much more in the way against them, or they do all stand as lets unto them, to come to the2 Cor. 11 simplicity of Christ.

7. Therefore is there nothing more needfull for the man at the first, whereby he may enter into the life, then that he doMat. 11.18. Luke 14. submit himselfe under the obedi­ence of the Love, and so become taught in the Service of Love for to unlearne a­gainMat. 16. Phil. 3. all what he of himself hath taken on and learned.

8. Now when he hath in this sort, humbly yeelded himself under the Ser­vice of loveMat. 19. and in the same hath un­learned all his taking on, then doth he in like manner rightly receive the true Doctrine of the wisdome of God, and becometh taught in all love.

[Page 190]9. But not according to a mind of the flesh, in the earthly1 Cor. 1.2. corruptible thing, but according to the mind of the Spirit of Christ, in the heavenly everlasting goods.

10. Now when the new2 Cor. 5 Creature in Christ is there appeared in the obedience of the Love, then is also the old quite pe­rished there; for behold, it is there be­comeEsa. 43.66. Apo. 21. all new through Jesus Christ.

11. And that same is the gracious hand of God towards the man through his love, and it is his promise, to the blessing of all generations of the earth.

CHAP. LVII.

TO thisJoh. 3. Rom. 12. 1 Thess. 4. renewing in the Spirit of Christ, we are all called, ye dearly be­loved, because that we should be spiritually minded in the spirit of our minds, where­by to inherite in that sort, with Christ, Mat. 13. Col. 2. the spirituall heavenly riches, and to walk and deal before each other with na­ked hearts inEph. 4. all love.

2. To the end now for to have, or to enter into this open-heartednesse and love with each other (whereunto we doe love all lovers of the truth, that have di­ligentlyPhil. 3. Col. 3. minded the love and the peace of Christ) we have with these pre­sent [Page 191]testimonies, witnessed of the true Kingdom of God and Christ, as a Land orApo. 11. City of Peace, and described and figured forth the passage unto it, as a way that men travell thorow, and the entrance in­to the Kingdome (wherein theRom. 12 Eph. 4. renewing of the sense and mind is manifested) as a gate or door.

3. We have moreover signified or shewed in writing (before the lover of the Kingdom) all what he mustMat. 19. forsake, if he will come to the good land of Peace, or enter into theHeb. 4. rest of all the holy ones of God.

4. But not that the lover of the good land shall therefore think, that he must first come to every one of the forementioned horrible places; or that he must passe thorow them all, before he can come to the good City of Peace.

5. O no, ye dearly beloved: but the cause why we have marked out all the abhominations and de­solations is, for to make knowne every place of de­ceit,2 Cor. 2. & 11. Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5. and all seducing or leading away from the good land of life, to the end, that no man should be let by any of those same, for entring into the noble Land full of Life and Peace.

6. Also for this cause, for to warn every one that are lovers of the true being, of all vaine and false perswasions, because that if any thing therof should chance to meet them, they should not then be afraid, nor yet joyn to the same, for it is all deceit and be­witching, and allLuk. 9.14. such things must be forsaken, if we will go into the good life of rest.

CHAP. LVIII.

IN what place soever now a lover of the good Land findeth himself, being yet for the present time without the same, he may then goe out ofMat. 16. 2 Cor. 6. and forsake it, and so (according to the coun­sell [Page 192] Tob. 4. of the Elders in the holy understanding, in the Family of Love, indeavour himself to pro­ceed forward to thePsa. 37. Esa. 30. submission, [that is, to a submitted being, without any desiring of self-wills choosing,Mat. 10. & 16. and to stand unbound or free from his selfnesse] and let him take unto him the equi­ty; and so enter thorow Gods holy nature, into Gods understanding,Joh. 10. & 17. the everlasting being of the heavenly truth, through which entrance into the same, all minds and thoughts be released, andJohn 8. made free from all what is vaine and corrupti­ble in the world, and from all captivity to the earthly things and creatednesse, for to inherite e­ven so the eternall life, the Kingdome of the hea­venly beauty, and the upright being of Gods ever­lasting uncreatednesse, in all love perpetually.

2. That same is the everlastingGen. 2. perfection, wherein neither the thoughts of corruption, nor yet any mortality canApo. 21. indure, but that which is pure, clean and cleer, according to the spirituall form of the heavenly things.

3. Behold, such is the Kingdome of Peace,Apo. 12. & 21. the heavenly beauty, and the holy Land of Pro­mise, to theGen. 22. blessing of all generations of the earth.

4. And that is the holy rest,Esa. 32. Heb. 4. and the noble freedome, which God hath reserved for the chil­dren of God, and given them now4 Esd. 7. Col. 1. in the last time, for an everlasting inheritance, according to the Promises.

5. Now the only God of Life grant the same rest unto us all. Amen.

Take it to heart.

Charitas extorsit per H. N.