And first concerning my call out of the world, or my going out from my house, countrey and outward imployment.

The light of Christ which condemns the evil deeds, comes from him who calleth his out of the world, and from their imployments to follow him, who putteth forth his sheep and thrusteth fourth labourers into the harvest, and Abraham of whose seed I now am, went out of his countrey, and from his fathers house, Gen. 12. and him God blessed and increased mightily, and the Lord also called, and thrust forth me, who at last was obedient to the command of the God of Abraham, and ever since his pre­sence hath been with me, and his mighty hand of power hath preserved me, and his blessings have I found, and the increasings of God have I re­ceived, praises to the Lord God of life for evermore; who hath called me by his word of power through his grace, which did teach me to deny un­godliness [Page 5]and worldly lusts, and to obey his blessed will, which was and is my sanctification in Jesus Christ, who did also call Matthew from the re­ceit of custome to follow him, and Peter and John from their imployment of fishing, and made them fishers of men; and Paul also being called, left his imployment of rent-making (after a time) and was obedient to the heavenly vision, and those then became a wonder and a gazing stock to many, yet they continued on, travelling through many countries as I since have done preaching the word of God with boldness.

And one of these men who were called from their outward imploy­ments, said, every man wherein he is called there abide, and whereunto they were called they did abide, (and so do I) and when the Priests and Rulers would have stopt their mouthes by their commands, they said whe­ther it be lawful to hearken unto God or man, judge ye, but these called Ministers of Christ did not say, he that is a husbandman there abide, for Noah was a husbandman yet a preacher of righteousness, and Elisha a plowman, and Amos a herdman, neither did they say, he that is a fisher­man let him so abide; neither did Christ say, he that will be my disciple must follow his outward imployment or trade, but he said he that will not hate father and mother, brethren and sisters, wife and children, yea and his own life too, cannot be my Disciple, Luk. 14.20. and if not a Disciple much less a Minister of his.

But hereby neither Christ nor them Ministers of his, neither, I did or do intend to draw or perswade people to idleness, or open a door for any such evil, (neither is there many who are called out of the worlds wor­ships, and required to leave their families and called to the ministry) but that hereby it may plainly appear, that the command and call of Christ, to his work and ministery is to be obeyed, though it be to the forsaking of house, goods, or lands: for a minister of his said we have forsaken all, (and have not I done so) and unto them who had forsaken all, and unto all such was promised a hundred fold, Mat. 19.17, 18, 19. And Heaven and Earth shall pass away before one jot or tittle of his word shall fail; and truely I have found his promise true, for a hundred times hundred­fold have I already received, blessed be the Lord for ever.

But how contrary it was to my own will to fulfil the will of the Lord, in leaving my imployment and outward business in the world, let all them judge with the light who knew my conversation therein, and saw my eagerness in the things of the world and contrivances therein, be­yond many men; my heart being set in the earthly things, being very fierce in labouring therein, for the getting and increasing of the fruits of the earth, as though I would have laid up treasure for many years which might have been good in its place, if my mind had been redeemed out of it and my heart from the covetousness thereof; but I say again, it was much contrary to my strong will, to leave these things and the love of them, and much more that might be named and be taken from it with a hundred fifty pound loss, and exposed to want, hardships, revilings, imprisonments, whippings, stonings and all manner of cruel tortour, that the sons of men might have power to inflict upon my body, and for [Page 6]me (that ruled over many, and was respected by many) to become a ser­vant unto all, and counted the off-scouring of all, and be abused by any boy or the vilest person I meet, and it was much contrary to my will, to re­fuse that glory, honour, and preferment of the world which was offered me by the rulers thereof, when I was beloved of them and hundreds more; and when I preached among them in the Pulpits dayly, and was then called of men, Master, like the hirelings of England, who being in the curse can­not cease from sin, 2. Pet. 2.14. yet. I still refused their unrighteous gain, and denyed all their gifts and rewards, for the Lord in his mercy kept me out of them temptations, though sometimes some that were then neer friends unto me would have perswaded me to have taken something of what was offered as to live upon, but I durst not, if I had wanted food or rayment; but answered one Justice who was proposing me a free gift to­ward maintenance, which might have been worth 100. l. a year or more seeing I left my imployment freely to preach dayly, but I say I answered, I shall rather go in Sheep skins, and Goat skins, and eat bread & drink wa­ter, and that little honest meek principal in me, which then kept me from that (and such temptations) in due time led me to be ruler over much, which before I had not power over; therefore I say unto all, it is good to be faithful to the little measure of God in the conscience.

For when I was but young and voyd of the knowledge of God, or his way of holiness, my mind ran much in the earth, with a covetous care how to gain the riches thereof; and even then did the hand or the Lord follow me, and his witness in me did so judge and condemne me night and day for my evil, that at last I was scarce able to do any thing in the earth or go upon it; and then waiting to see what the reason was, after many houres, I saw clearely if I would leave the wickedness of the world, and follow the Lord and trust him, I might have peace, and if not, I was like to be cut off; and then I left some sinnes, and resolved to live more holy, and began to pray and read, and then I went to follow the Priests, not knowing that in me which I was to hear and follow, yet it se­cretly led me out of some evil, and so into some peace, and then my heart was exalted in the earth, though I increased in a profession.

And when I was in the height of the worlds way and worship, and ex­pecting riches to increase, even then in an unexpected time did the dread of the Lord fall upon me, and his wonderful mighty power wrought ex­ceedingly in me, to break me off from all my waies and seperate me from all the worship of the world, and gave me to see the abominations of all the prayers of the wicked, and the invalidity of all the worships of all mankind who are out of Gods Covenant, and the operations then upon me by the terrible hand of the Lord, and the strivings that were in me can never be declared, and then did the Lord command me to follow him in obedience to his will, to declare against all unrighteousness of men Which I saw in the light of life to be in Priests, Rulers, and people, and I then saw clearely in the eternal light and foresight of God, the hardships, cruelties, whippings, imprisonments, and dungeon, and many such things which since in part have been upon this body fulfilled as may be [Page 7]read in severall of my bookes, (read the true Rule) and at that time did the povverfull life of God, so much break through me, with such unspeakable love, that I was even willing to leave all and walk with God.

But then contrary to Paul, I reasoned with flesh and blood, that I should be esteemed a madman, and that people vvould not beleeve me, and that I was not fit (& many such things) then the word of the Lord was spoken in me, saying vvho is it, that openeth the mouth, is it not I the Lord; then vvas my bowels even turned within me, with the constraining power of Gods eternall love, and I began to be vvilling but when that vvas a little over, The tempter being neer, I reasoned concerning my wife and children, how they should be pro­vided for, and presently the promise of the Lord was, that they should be cared for, and his promise vvas to me that he who converteth souls to God, should shine as the Starres for ever, and when I had received them vvords into me, I vvas overcome vvith the refreshings of God, and at the present made vvilling to undergo all tribulations, if in my whole life, I did convert but one soul to God, seeing and feeling the redemption of one soul to be so pretious, the vvhich then grew so strong in me, that I was scarce able to retain, from present actuall obe­dience to God therein, but when I looked at my outvvard things and how first to settle that in order, then was I by temptations made afraid, that it vvas a delusion, or something of the Devil tans­formed as an Angel of light, and then between both, I was in much trouble and distresse, not knowing vvhat to do, having not then known any call [...]d Quakers, nor any such operations in any man in those dayes, yet that could hardly prevail to make me beleeve it was a temp­tation: but at last, reasoning about outvvard things, I then resolved not to leave them, but to minde the things of the vvorld, and not obey that vvhich called me out of the world.

And to write in short, at last I did strive and joyne withall the powers of darknesse that I could, and used all means possible to drive the pow­er of God from me, and the thoughts of him and his works out of my minde; but woo was me after for it, and it had been but just, if his Spirit had never strived more with me, but left me to be cut off for ever, and to remain in the horrible pit of darknesse, (and surely it was for the good of others, that the Lord did spare me, some whereof may now with me rejoyce for evermore,)

For when all was too little to overcome the mighty power of God in me, then did the love of the world prevail, and even thirstings, for the love of it to come in to my heart, to drive out the love of God; at last, I with it against God prevailed, though the living power of God was so great, that the Devil the Flesh, and the world, was scarce able to over­come it for a time, and so I have seen, Children Wife, Farmes, and Oxen, to hinder from the Kingdom of God, but that which hindred most, was the love of outward goods, & so it it was but just with God, to take that at the last out of the way; and if he had swept all [Page 8]away in his Anger, as from Job, he had done me no wrong.

But when I had thus, in a cursed manner overcome the striving of the sweet and lovely Spirit of Truth, yet was I not quiet, but much troubled, and in a sad condition, which I was not able to hide from the vvorld, who said, I was going mad, seeing me so changed into sadnesse, but of all this and much more, I durst not then speak a word to any creature.

And now mark, vvhat for my rebellion did justly follow; My out­ward goods which I then loved more then Christ, became as a prey, and a spoyle to unreasonable men, and most unjustly on their parts, was I by them deprived of it, and the Lord also dryed up all my springs within, that such a time after I knew that I was left without hope, being in the horrible pit of Darknesse from God, that I could neither pray nor beleeve, but resolved that I was accursed from God for ever, (and that vvhich disobeyed was so,) and being in a sad miserable con­dition, resolved to write a warning to all people, that they may take example by me, and never resist the Spirit, as I had done, but before I could write, (sinking down into the condemnation, without mur­muring against God, knovving him to be just, if he cast me into the nethermost hell for ever; the Lord had compassion on me, and lifted my soul out of the horrible pit, and stayed me vvith his hand for a time: yet aftervvards, his afflictions follovved me in judgements within, and much trouble in things vvithout, vvhich my heart vvas so upon, and yet for a long time I turned not unto the Lord that did smite, that his hand might make whole, though checks I had by his light, in my conscience, but strong vvas my vvill about it, until the fierce judgement of the Lord did often break forth upon me vvith much astonishment of heart, and horrible indignation not to be uttered, vvith teares as streames of vvater from mine eyes night and day vvhen it came up­on me, vvith tremblings & breakings, vvhich broke the hardnesse of my heart, and opened avvay to something in me, vvhith then I dearly loved; but going out agin from that, I reasoned about my outvvards, and not vvaiting to receive counsell from the Lord, I vvent unto a rich understanding man, in outvvard things, vvhom I loved, vvho may yet remember that I made my complaint unto, that I vvas not able any longer to abide in the vvay of the vvorld; vvhose counsell I then took and my ovvn vvill together, and so sought to keep tvvo King­doms sometime longer, and therefore much trouble follovved me vvithin and vvasting losse, shame and destruction upon things vvith­out.

But however I durst do no lesse then follow the Lord; and be obedi­ent unto him, whatever losse I suffered, or whatever shame or reproach I might undergoe, though often times I was afraid, that this power of God in me, would soon come to an end, or fail from me, and that then I might return to my outward Imployment with great shame and losse, and that then, instead of doing service for God, I might bring a re­proach upon his Blessed Name, and my self, thereby, be a hissing stock [Page 9]to all men, and they say I began to build and not able to finish, and this also kept me back very much; but such was the everlasting love of the Lord, who is known in the wayes of his judgments, that his hand was heavy upon me, and his judgments increased in me, that there was no way for me to escape, but I must be obedient and bow under it, or be cut off for every by it, so that my bowels were often pained in me, and it is like for many weeks had little sleep or bodily rest, and sometimes knew not my wife and children, that I seeled and heard breath in the bed by me, but thought they were people that I should not be with; and therefore one time after it was day, I was rising and putting on my clothes in a sober manner, and in meekness said, surely I should not be here, and my wife then laying hand on me, easily perswaded me, but I said, I know not who I am with, neither did I know her voyce at that time, and sometime af­ter having endured much, I told she and my family (with heaviness and tears) that I was not able to endure it any longer, and that I had abode with them in the way of the world, so long as possibly I could, and that I must give up my life to serve the Lord, desiring them with tears to be content, and in what I could I should be as careful for their good as ever I was, and this is true, and but little of what might be written.

For another time formerly the light of Christ in me, (which then I knew not) did so condemne me, and judge and trouble me in secret, that it brought sickness upon me, and thereby being weak expecting I should die, I was then much troubled & it lay much upon my conscience at that time, that I had not in the time of my health gone to the steeple-house, and in the fear of the Lord warned all people to repent, and I was then much grieved because I thought I should die, and not first in that thing discharge my conscience.

And so though I might write much, by what is written may appear to the meek and sober minded, that the Lord did not onely call, but also thrust me forth of the world into his harvest, and this was of God, and the operation of his powerful word which called me out of the world, and hundreds since by the word of his power through me have been gathered out of the way of the world, and received the earnest of the rest eternal, and many converted unto Cod, and wo be unto them vvho openly oppose me in this the Lords work I now am in, which he hath thus called me un­to, and let none think that I did wilfully neglect my outward imploy­ment; neither let any one think that I left my family as not regarding them, nor that I stay much out of that countrey for any by end, for the words are true, a Prophet is not without honour, save in his own countrey and in his own house, and those that did since seek to stop my mouth, did not well.

Concerning my publike preaching, and something of what followed.

That none may stumble thereat, and say we called Quakers are such, who change from one thing to another, and so what we hold, nor to be regarded, but I say those that have no changes, are not come into the [Page 10]fear of God. Psal. 55.19. and the fear of the Lord is to depart from evil. and they that departeth from evil are become a prey, but such were clen­sed and changed from glory to glory, 2 Cor. 3.18. and grew in grace and knowledge in the Lord Jesus Christ, and what I did or said then, was in a great zeal and real intent to do good, neither did I covet mens silver for it, neither was it my end to make a gain thereby though much was free­ly offered me more then I intend to make mention, though I received it not, so that therein I was not much found in covetousness; but when judgment came upon me as before mentioned, I gave up that preaching and said at the last meeting I had then, which was at Stoke-bliss, that my mouth was stopt at that present, but if ever the Lord should open my mouth again I should preach indeed, and it is so, prayses to the Lord for ever, who hath indeed opened my mouth, and since I was no longer re­bellious, and the living truth of J [...]sus Christ do I declare and bear testi­mony to his name where ever I come as his spirit moveth me.

And let none hereby think that I now glory in what was then my shame, for though I had a great zeal then for God, it being not accor­ding to knowledge on the Cross of Christ which crucifies to the world, and all its vain customes; the which cross being then left behind, which is the power of God, so the love of the world which is enmity to God re­mained in me and the root of iniquity not then removed out of my heart, therefore fruits of disobedience in secret were still brought forth, which the world took little notice of, but I had one neer me, which did let me see all that ever I did, and reproved me for vain glory, and having the praise of men and the love of the world, and so my preaching did not bring souls home to God, though I informed their minds of many things vvhich many ignorant people knevv not before, and so though much love vvas in many, yet this brought not forth fruits of obedience unto God, and so all came to little; for the people remained in their sins and received not power to come out of it, neither came they out of the fashi­ons and customes of the world, not to be seperated from the unclean, nei­th [...]r did they come to the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, which purifies the heart stands in the pure conscience and respects no mans per­son, for unto that I was not then come my self, and so their faith and mind was vain being then in our sins.

Therefore let none think that I now justifie any deceit, hypocrisie, or secret evil, that then was in me, or practised by me, for in the presence of the Lord God, I do openly declare against it all, and that spirit that acted me therein, (but I own that simple thing, which then encou­raged me to do good, out of an honest intent, and that kept me out of covetousness, and from receiving of gifts.) And I openly declare a­gainst all cruel, unj [...]st and ungodly actions and words, and all that filth which I wallowed in, before I was a zealous professor, as it is known to many ungodly persons, how I was once as wicked as m [...]ny of them, whom I warn all to repent, otherwise they cannot escape the damna­tion of Hell.

And I utterly deny and declare against that blindness and hypocrisie [Page 11]I was in, when I followed the Chief Priest from one Idols Temple to another, who were chief in the Serpents wisdom, deceiving me and ma­ny more, and taught me that knowledge which came from the Devil, who said, Ye shall be as gods, knowing, Gen. 3.5. And in that knowledge, (in which every man is bruitish, Jer. 10.14.) from them hirelings I increased, which puffeth up, and increased my sorrow, as before was men­tioned; for by that Serpents subtilty, which I learned from them with­out me, I fought against, and resisted that which was holy in me: Therefore I declare in the Name of the Lord God, that all the hireling Priests do more harm than good, and shall never bring people to receive the power of God, but lead them into subtilty, and further off from the knowledge of that of God in them, Romans 1.19. And as true as the Lord God liveth, upon their death-beds shall both Priests and peo­ple witnesse this to be true: And its also as true, that I write this without any prejudice to any of their persons, but in love to all peoples souls do I warn all them hireling Priests in Herefordshire and elsewhere, to leave deceiving the people, for absolutely the people are deceived by them, and forced to maintain them too, who may be warned of them by what I have learned by experience from them, having tryed them and their wayes to the utmost, and have much experience of them more then many countrey people whose souls I truely love, and therefore this I write.

And I declare against that which ruled in me in the time of ignorance and perverseness, and acted me in cruelty or oppression towards any per­son▪ or to wrong, defraud, or insult over any one in tyranny, either by word or action, or wherein I abused or smote with envy (which is of the Devil) Either man or Beast, and that whereby I was led into any manner of hypocrisie or double-mindedness, or any manner of evil whatsoever which was unjust in the sight of God, though not seen by man: or any secret evil that then lodged in the dark corners of the stony heart then in me, whereby any thing did arise in me or proceed from me which was contrary to the humble, meek, innocent, upright life of the Lamb of God, who is now come and hath taken away the sin of the world, and is pure, humble, meek, and lowly, whose life and power of love constraineth me to declare openly against all that which vvas done or said by me in envy, either openly or secretly against any creature, for there is nothing done in secret, that shall not be made manifest.

And let all who knew me before (vvho are saying I was an honest man be warned of the like evill, and leave it, considering, that if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner ap­pear, for many did look upon me, to be either a godly or an honest man, yet am I made willing to let open shame come upon all that, vvhich then vvas in me contrary to the Righteousnesse of God, for he alone is to be exalted, and the transgressor is to be ashamed, Psal. 25.3. And every mouth shall be stopt, and every one stand guilty before God, and the shame and nakednesse of all, both Priests, and Fa­thers [Page 12]and People, shall appear as much as mine, vvhen Gods vvitness in them arise, though they cover it for a time by deceitfull flateries, pro­mising liberty, but are as deeply the servants of corruption as I vvas.

And I do affirm in the presence of the Lord God, that there are a ge­neration of professors who follow Sermons, and have gathered them­selves into outward Forms, vvho are grown up into a profession, and knowledge in the Letter, vvho are further off the Life of God than the Publicans and Harlots, and are grown into pride, hypocrisie, secret de­ceit, arrogancy and covetousness; and some of them for a time denied the Priests, and then for their own ends, got into their places, and so are more abominable than they, and the tree of Knowledge they feed upon, but the good savour of pure obedience unto God, in all self-denial, they have cast beh [...]nde their backs, and are become an ill savour among all men; and the Lord God vvill visit them for these things, and in the Day of his fierce Wrath vvill all such vvant a hiding-place; and vvhen the day of howling and astonishment come upon them, as it hath passed upon me, then shall they know that the sinners in Sion shall be afraid, and horrible fearfulness shall surprize the hearts of the hypocrites, and then shall they finde that God vvill not be mocked, though th [...]y deceive themselves vvith vain hopes, vvhich shall perish vvith all such profes­sors if they repent not and strip themselves bare from all their false co­verings, vvhich in the day of the Lord (vvhich [...]hey put afar oft) vvill certainly be all too narrovv: For, because of the greatness of my pro­fession, vvithout the povver that overcomes all sin; therefore vvas the Wrath of God the more upon me, and I never came to receive pardon for sin, nor povver over it, nor to receive th [...] life of th [...] Son of God, until his judgements had confounded all that Wisdom, vvhich I h [...]d lea [...]n­ed from and among the P [...]iests and professors. And this is absolutely true, and may be a warning unto all th [...]m.

And all that is herein declared, of the Strivings in me, and judge­ments of God which came upon me, is very short of what it was, Neither indeed, can it be ever declared, being then confounded both within and without: not having any man to be a director unto me, nor then to guide me in Go is wisdome, neither did any man bring me into that condition, nor lead me through it, but even the Lord alone in whose judgements I now rejoyce for evermore; but this especially, would I have all people that then knew me to consider, that at that time, (when I was in distresse,) I knew not well what I should do or speak, among men, neither what I should be, being become a fool for Christs sake, and my wisdome being confounded, and my understanding brought to nothing, Read, 1 Cor. 1.1.9. vers. 27.

And so that was true, which I writ in that book in Answer to Edmond Skip, wherein I said that we were but in measure leaving of the world, and entering into a little of that which is Eternall, at which time be­fore mentioned, I was brought to be silent from my publike preaching, [Page 13]and waited on the Lord, vvith a few foolish contemptible ones in the eyes of the world, at which time having lost my earthly wisdome, and not received that measure of the pure wisdome of God, (which since he hath given me) whereby to order all my vvords and actions, in pruden­cy and moderation, before the eyes of all people, and others also might then vvith me therein fall short, whereby some to this day may stumble at the vvhole truth of God, looking at what hapned among us, in that time, when the judgements of God vvas often on us, (by which judgement, his Sion is now Redeemed, and so they looking at that, and vvatch ever since for evill may be kept thereby from receiving the preci­ous tryed Stone, which the wise Master builders also refuse, though we now knovv, he is laid in Sion (redeemed with judgement, for a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to both the houses of Israel; But let all take heed, of stumbling at the stumbling stone, (the light of Christ,) for other causes of stumblings, Especially by me, I have here­by endeavoured to remove out of the way, (and mindes) of all that are willing to receive the Truth, or beleeve in the Light. John 12.36.

And as for Edmond Skipp, if ever he come again to that, vvhich con­vinced him of evil, and made him in publike deny his preaching for hire and tithes, though after he started aside, and stumbled in the darke, before the Light of life▪ (which once he honestly desired after) was sprung up in him, to which light if he return, and love the witnesse of God in him; which hath ever since stood a witnesse for me, and have let him see his barrennesse, and without a true eternall rest, and if he to that be obedient vvhich is manifest of God in him, and by it, be led into meeknesse, and plainnesse, without prejudice, he may come to receive the living Truth of Jesus Christ, for which this day I suffer bonds, for I did never yet look upon him, to be so utterly re­probate, as not possible to receive the faith that purifies the heart and respects no mans person, for truly my love hath been to the seed oppressed in him, though that which hath exercised him in rashnesse, (against the truth of God) I do deny for ever, and there is neither him, nor any Priest, Preacher, professor, or profane, that can have any good ground or reason to envy me for declaring openly against all that in them which I declare against in my self, when it ruled in me, when I was as they yet are.

I being by severall long unjust Imprisonments detained from liberty, to declare in words those and other things, therefore for this very end, have I written this in short, that Gods truth might stand clear, and not suffer in any thing done or said by me, before Gods pure wisdome was born up in me, and that also the ground of all other things against the truth (if occasioned by me) may be removed out of the mindes of all that are willing to receive the truth if they knew it, for I would not if possible, that any thing whatsoever which concerned me, should so remain in the minde of any one, as that thereby he should be hindred [Page 14]from receiving the living truth, which I have found so precious, with­out which none can be saved; and if by the appearing of the shame of my former nakednesse an inlet for the truth may be made into the mindes and hearts of any, therein will be my joy and the eternall comfort of all them, who by receiving, and sanctification of the truth, and faithfulnesse in the light, do come to rest in the kingdom of joy, and eternall peace for ever and ever.

Thus at present, in tender love, to the soules of you Rulers and Professors in Herefordshire, to whom I say, beleeve in the Light, and minde Gods witnesse in you, and be not rigid, bitter, nor persecutors of the chil­dren of Light, who by them in the dark, are called Quakers, among whom I have chosen to suffer re­proaches, for Christs sake, and whippings, long impri­sonments, and dungeon, and now in the house of cor­rection, all which declares me to be as you may read, 2 Cor. 6.3. to the 11. Who am a friend to the soules of all mankinde, a servant of Jesus Christ, not by the will of men, to whom I am known, by the name,

Concerning the Sons of God, and the Daughters of Men.

VVEre it not the sons of God, that looked upon the beauty of the daughters of men, and so took them to Wife, because they were fair? And was it not even then, when that the Lord said, My Spi­rit shall not alway strive? And is it not just for the Spirit to cease stri­ving, when way is given to the eye, to go forth from beholding the glo­ry of God within, to look at the fairness of the daughters of men with­out, and also to take that into the heart, and be married to that? And was it not suddenly after this, that the Lord resolved to bring the flood upon them and their Wives? And were not these suddenly overwhelm­ed in the deep Waters, who were before called the sons of God? And did not they sink in the deep under Gods wrath, and perish with the pro­fane, [Page 15]who before had felt the strivings of his Spirit, which being loved, obeyed, and kept in, maketh sons, and are not the sons to keep faithful to the Maker, themselves to be the Spouse of Christ, who redeems out of the lust, and so to know the Maker to be the husband, and they as chaste wise Virgins feeling the oyl.

And were it not those that stood before the Throne in white (then not among the world in filth) who had not onely washed their Robes in the blood of the Lamb, but also kept themselves from being defiled with Women? and did not that which beheld the fair daughters of men, let in that which defiled the sons of God, and so grieved his Spirit▪ and was not her first-born a Murtherer, who looked out at, and so let in that, which was fair, pleasant and desireable to that eye? and did not she (who was deceived by that which was fair without) say of her first-born, I have gotten a man from the Lord? (it was from the Spirit) and was not he a Vagabond in the earth, from the presence of God, that she from the Lord had gotten? and are not they from the Lord, who are marrying and given in marriage, now the Son of Man (who is the Bridegroom) is coming to be revealed, with power and great glo [...]y, in his people that waited for him? and are not those also to be swept away as they were, who thus before the flood caused the Spirit of God to cease striving? And did not Christ say, it should be so at his coming, as in the dayes of Noah, eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage? and is it not so? Have not some even felt his coming near unto th [...]m; and yet not keep in the fear until he was come, and revealed in power, through the death of that, which had power over him; from whence that went forth, which in the minde conceived a desire to the other glory, and so let that in, which then took place in the heart, in stead of the glory of God, who will not give his glory to another?

But do I forbid marriage? nay: Marriage is honourable; but that which maketh honourable, keepeth out that which doth defile; and that which maketh honourable, is Humility, walking with God, and is to go before, and keepeth to God, and they that are joyned to him are one Spirit; but that which leadeth from that which maketh honoura­ble, is out of the marriage, in that which doth defile, and such God will judge, and co [...]mn them by his witness in them, for should not man first seek the Kingdom, and come into the dominion?

Did not Adam know his Wife, and beget that in his own likeness, which murthe [...]ed th [...] Righteous? and yet did not Enoch walk with God, and beget sons and daugh [...]ers? but this becomes hid from them, who follow that which leads from the thing, which was to joyn them to God, to follow that which looks at the fair daughters of men, and so take them to Wife, and be married to that, and know that as the first Adam did, who are his sons in his likeness, to whom I say, (who after the manner of men have a Wife) that of late years they who are married are as if they were not, the Resurrection, and the Life being come, and the things of this world passeth away: But woe to them, from whom that passeth [Page 16]away which is not of the world, which once from God they had recei­ved and strived with, and in them who were once inlightned, and tasted of the heavenly gift, who may consider, that those who had Wives were not to come at them, (that they might be sanctified) before they came near to hear the voice of the Lord, and the voice of the mighty thunderings was it that said, The marriage of the Lamb is come. And Paul spoke a great Mystery concerning Christ and his Church.