The inheritance of Jacob discovered. After his return out of Ægypt: and the leading of the Lord to the land of promise, declared, and some information of the way thither. Or a word of exhortation to all professors in England, Scotland and Ireland, and to all the world where this shall come, wherein the common salvation is declared, in which the saints believed; and deceit discovered and made manifest. Published in love to all the honest hearted in the nations, in love and bowels of compassion to your soules. Also a few words of exhortation to the rulers of England, and Ireland. / By a servant of Jesus Christ who delighteth in his masters worke. Francis Howgill.

The inheritance of Jacob discovered. After his return out of Ægypt: and the leading of the Lord to the land of promise, declared, and some information of the way thither. Or a word of exhortation to all professors in England, Scotland and Ireland, and to all the world where this shall come, wherein the common salvation is declared, in which the saints believed; and deceit discovered and made manifest. Published in love to all the honest hearted in the nations, in love and bowels of compassion to your soules. Also a few words of exhortation to the rulers of England, and Ireland. / By a servant of Jesus Christ who delighteth in his masters worke. Francis Howgill.

The inheritance of Jacob discovered. After his return out of Ægypt: and the leading of the Lord to the land of promise, declared, and some information of the way thither. Or a word of exhortation to all professors in England, Scotland and Ireland, and to all the world where this shall come, wherein the common salvation is declared, in which the saints believed; and deceit discovered and made manifest. Published in love to all the honest hearted in the nations, in love and bowels of compassion to your soules. Also a few words of exhortation to the rulers of England, and Ireland. / By a servant of Jesus Christ who delighteth in his masters worke. Francis Howgill.

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Title page

THE INHERITANCE OF JACOB Discovered: After his returne out of Egypt, and the leading of the Lord of the Land of promise, declared, and some information of the way thither.

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THE INHERITANCE OF JACOB Discovered: After his returne out of Egypt, and the leading of the Lord of the Land of promise, declared, and some information of the way thither.

AWAKE Oh Sion, who hath long sitten in the dust, in sorrow and bitternesse, and hath been covered with ashes, and none hath had compassion upon thee, but all the Kings, and mighty men of the earth who have worshipped the beast, and received his marke, and committed fornication with the [Page] whore, which sitts upon many waters, which is full of abomination, and the Cup in her hand have all the men of the earth drunken off and are made drunke, and staggers and now glories in their abominations, and (Oh Sion) dispises thy virginity, and thy scituation, and hath pulled downe thy Towers, and made thee as a desolate widow, and hath gone over thee, and trampled upon thy glory, and hath made merry over thee, and hath slaine thy Sons and Daughters in the streetes, even in Babylon, where the whore sits as a Queene, and in Sodome and Aegypt, with whom they are joyned, where the witnesses lieth slaine, But the time of thy deliverance is come, and the yeares of thy Captivity is up. Arise, Oh Virgin, who art not defiled, who could not joyne with the Daughter of Babylon in her whoredomes; Therefore they have mocked thee, and wagged their heads at thee, and hath said in their hearts, who shall deliver thee? Arise, shine forth, put on thy beautifull garments, behold thy King cometh in his glory, who will adorne thee and crowne thee with a royall Diadem, in the sight of thine enemies, who have reproached thee; and thy reproach shall be taken away, for thy Seed shall be as the starres in multitude, yea▪ they that have spoiled thee, shall be spoiled, and they that have destroyed thee shall be destroyed, for the King is coming out of his Tent, yea he hath lifted up his Standard against all that have spoiled thee, yea, the destroyer is come up against Babylon, and Aegypt shall tremble, and the Philistines hearts shall faile for feare, and all the Canaanites shall be cast out, and this shall be performed by the Lord of Hosts, the God of Jacob, who is now arisen in his Jealousie and it burnes as fire, against all the Inhabitants of the earth, and the Sea, who hath joyned their strength together against the inheritance of the Lord, rejoyce for evermore all that love his appearance, and who have waited for him, he is come, and coming to take vengeance upon his, and you adversaries, for he hath a sacrifice in Babylon to performe, even to cut off all her Children; who hath despised thee, Oh▪ Sion. Arm your selves, [Page] oh yee high Cedars, and mighty men, put on your strength, and gather together all your forces, which you have trusted in, call upon your gods, and all your Soothsayers, and Diviners together, for now he is come, and the Daughter of Sion now laughes you to scorne, and Jerusalem, the free Citizens doth wagg their heads at you; for he will now plead the cause of the poore, against you who have been too strong for them, and now all that heareth this shall tremble; For he will make Jerusalem a praise in the earth, and from it doth the Law and the Prophets come forth.

Awake, Oh Arme of the Lord, and put one strength as in the dayes of old, to redeeme thine own inheritance, which hath long been by the heathen laid wast, and hath been trampled upon by the uncircumcised, art not thou he, which was, and is, and is to come? who wilt not give the glory to another, arise and shine forth in thy brightnesse thou Starr of Jacob, and Sun of Righteousnesse, and let the earth be filled with thy Light and glory, that Generations to come may call thee blessed. Dry up the tongue of the Aegyptian Sea, confound the wisdome of this world which never knew thee, neither would owne, nor receive thee, make the Diviners and Sorcerers mad, who have scattered thy sheep from the everlasting fold, and have healed the hurts of thy people deceitfully, and have caused them to erre, in telling them, thy power, nor thy Arme was not to be looked for now, as in the dayes of old, nor thy immediate voyce, nor word was to be looked, or waited for now in the earth, and so have deceived the people, with their lying divinations, which they have spoken from the imaginations of their owne hearts, and have laid a stumbling block in the way, as the Sonne of Nebat did who made Israel to sin.

But Oh Lord, thou seest how thy owne Seed lyeth scattered, and the ravenous beasts make a prey upon it, and the devourers swallow it up, therefore hast thou appeared in thy love and power, for thine owne names sake, and [Page] will not suffer thy Seed to be trodden upon any longer, by the Prince of darknesse, nor his Children whom he hath begotten in his own Image.

Arise, shine forth, thou everlasting Covenant of light and peace, by which, and in which, all our Fathers believed▪ and so obtained a good Report, and were redeemed out of Captivity, to serve the▪ Lord for ever with one heart and minde, and worshipped in one Spirit, in which Faith they laid hold upon the perfect Righteousnesse of Christ, made manifest in them, and were justified, but hath been hid for many Generations, in the time of Antichrists Reigne, and all the world hath wondered after the be [...]st, and hath received his marke, but now is the night farre spent, and the day is at hand, wherein all that hath been hid shall be made manifest, and the Number of the beast is read and knowne by all that are redeemed from under his power, and now the beast and the false Prophet is seene, and the man of sin, is made manifest in this the day of his everlasting power; and the brightnesse of the Sun of Righteousnesse, who is the light of the word, hath made him manifest who is come and coming: Glory unto him for evermore, who alone is worthy to take the Kingdome.

Wherefore all honest hearted▪ in, and underall formes of professions who have travelled, and are weary, and all you that have kindled a fire, and have warmed your selves at the sparkes thereof; and yet still you lye in sorrow.

Oh all yee that have pantel, and thristed after Righteousnesse, who have wearied your selves in seeking, among the dead Graves and Tombes for a Saviour, but have found no rest, and who have followed, Loe here, and there, in this grave, and the other Sepulcher, builded on this and that Sand, and still swept away▪ Your state I know, you have no peace in the eternall rest, I say unto you, while you looke without you, your eyes may consume in your holes, and your expectations faile, and you [Page] will be still complaining; For your sakes, who are weary, and have found none to direct your way, A few lines I am moved in compassion to write, unto you, and if you will not receive it, you will not believe, if one should rise from the dead, for I have obtained mercy from Christ: through his free grace who is risen from the dead, and saw no corruption; by which grace I am saved from sin, and cleansed from unrighteousnesse, after long and sore labour and travell, under Pharaoh the oppressor, from under whose Dominion I am brought to worship the living God, in Spirit and truth, in his Temple, where he dwells in righteousnesse for ever.

And for the simples sake, (who have erred for lack of true knowledge, as I did in times past) I shall declare unto you a little in short of my travells in Aegypts-Land, where darknesse is so thick, that if yee wait but diligently to see your selves, you will feele it also.

From twelve yeares old I set my heart to know that God which the world professed, and which I did read of in the Scripture, which Abraham, Noah, Moses, and the Prophets, and the rest of the Fathers worshipped, and I did fall into the strictest worship that was in that part wherein I lived, and often I desired to be alone, and attended much to reading, and meditation, and then as I was sober, and serious alone. I began to see that all the sports and pastimes, and such as youth delights in naturally▪ were vanity, and they lasted but for a moment, and while I was in folly and wantonnesse, doing of them, the nature which was run into transgression, had pleasure in them, but assoone as I was come from among them, I was judged in my selfe, for what I had done, and often made me weepe, then I resolved in my will, that I never would doe so againe, and for some time did restraine from the common practise of those things that I had walked in; but assoone as I came amongst those againe, I acted those things againe▪ which before I did see to be vanity, but long before that I was checked for many things; and so I walked, often [Page] condemned in my selfe, when I was serious, and had no peace, and then not knowing what to doe in much sorrow when I was alone, I had a desire to be alone where I might not heare nor see any folly acted, and did not goe to the former exercises, although som thing in me hanckered after it, but when I yielded not unto it, I was glad, and had peace, and then I began to oppose my fellowes with whom I had walked in wantonnesse, and then they began to revile me, and hate mee, and scorne me. Yet notwithstanding I mattered not, then I read much and prayed in words often, three or foure times a day, but I knew not where God was, but in my imagination, imagined a God at a distance, and so went on; and then I began to grow in knowledge, without (which is sensuall) and then I was puffed up, for the world admired me; but still I was condemned for vaine words and actions, and the roote of iniquity grew in me, and then I followed a more strict course; and often went five or six miles, to heare some more excellent meanes (as they called it) and so did get more words, but still I was the same, nay worse, for knowledge puffed me up; Then along to about fifteene yeares of age, I posted up and downe after the most excellent Sermons, so called, and so became acquainted with all the eminent Christians so called in the region, where I lived, and I was despised of my parents, and of the world made, and great reproach came upon me, but still I saw they knew nought, and it was no matter, and so much sorrow fell upon me, foure or five yeares, and when I was turned within, I was judged for all myiniquity formerly, and still my heart was shewed to me, that it was corrupt, but as I kept whithin to the light in my conscience, I was restrained from many actions, which I had a will to doe, and in the instant when I have been doing any unrighteousnesse in actions or words, in many things I was often stopped, and when I saw that I did it not, a great joy arose in me, and when I had done any thing forwardly and rashly, I was judged, but this the teachers said was a naturall conscience that kept from sin, and did restraine it, and said, he that had but restraining grace, (as they called it) he was but a tame Devill.

[Page]And so I hearkned to their imagination and so slighted the light as too low a thing, that was but common grace that did preserve out of grosse evills, but the Saints had a peculiar faith and grace; and so I hearkned unto them, and still I was convinced of sin; and then they told how the Saints did believe in Christ, and so sin was not imputed, but his righteousnesse was accounted unto them, and so I must seek him in the means, as prayer, and receiving the Sacrament (as they called it) and judged me a worthy communicant: and in great fear I was that I should eate unworthily, and none could direct me what the body of Christ was, insomuch at one time I read all the Scripture that spoke of Christs suffering. And they said, I must believe he suffered for me; and I believed all that they called faith, but yet I could not see how he dyed for me, and had taken away my sin, for the witnesse in my conscience told me I was a servant of sin, whilst I committed it. And they told me I must not omit that Ordinance, for thereby strength was confirmed, and faith added; insomuch, on the one hand they pressing it as a duty, and on the other hand I saw that the Scripture said, He that eates unworthily, eates damnation to himselfe; I was in fear, notwithstanding none could accuse me without: yet then afterward a great fear fell upon me, and I thought I had sinned against the Holy Ghost, and great trouble fell upon me.

Then they said, I had not come prepared; and yet I had all the preparation that they had spoken of, But still they were all Phisitians of no value.

Then I fasted, and prayed, and walked mournfully in sorrow, and thought none was like me, tempted on every hand; so I ran to this man, and the other, and they applyed promises to me, but it was onely words, for the witnesse of Christ shewed me that the root of iniquity stood, and the body of sin whole; notwithstanding I was kept by a secret power from grosse evills: but still sorrow compassed me about, and I questioned all that ever I had; which they said was grace, and repentance, and faith.

[Page]And then I told them there was guilt in me: And they said, sin was taken away by Christ, but the guilt should still remaine while I lived, and so brought me the Saints condititions, who were in the warfare, to confirme it: and so I said in my selfe, this was a miserable salvation, that the guilt of sin and condemnation still in me should stand; and so I was tossed from mountaine to hill: And I heard them preach confusion, and so I matterd not for them, and said, sure this is not the Ministry of Christ, and so I ceased long by fits and did not mind them, but kept still at home, and in desart places, sollitary in weeping; and every thing that I had done was laid before me, insomuch that every thought was judged, and I was tender, and my heart broken, and when I could sorrow most I had most peace, for something spoke within me from the Lord, but I knew him not then.

And they said, that it was heresie to look for the word of the Lord to be spoken now in these dayes, but onely the letter; and so I regarded it not much: yet often I was made to doe many righteous things by the immediate power and word of God, and then peace and joy sprung up in me, and promises was spoken, that he would teach me himselfe, and be my God; and often I did obey contrary to my will, and denyed my will: but they told me, this was legall to obey out of fear, and that was slavery; but there was an Evangelicall obedience (as they called it) so I got above the fear, and yet acted the former things, which they called Ordinances, and they said that was son-like obedience, and Christ had done all.

Then there appeared more beauty in them called Independants, and I loved them, and so joyned my selfe to them, and all the money that I could get I purchased books with, and walked with (and owned) them as more separate from the world; and they prest separation, but at last I saw it was but in words, that they would doe things, and chuse officers, and members of themselves, and so made themselves an Image, and fell down to it; yet there was some tendernesse in them at the first, but the doctrine was the same with the [Page] worlds words without, of others conditions.

Then they whom they called Anabaptists appeared to have more glory, and walked more according to the Scripture, observing things written without; and I went among them, and there was something I loved among them; but after they denyed all but such that came into their way, as out of the fellowship of the Saints and Doctrine of Christ, I saw the ground was the same, and their Doctrine out of the life with the rest of the Teachers of the world, and had separated themselves, and made another likenesse; but still all said, the letter was the word and rule, and Christ at a distance without had done all; and some of them holding freewill others opposing, and all in the will.

But still I loved them that walked honestly amongst all these, but though I had seen and owned all that I had heard (except the figure which I saw was outward, and that was their greatest glory; and I saw they would have all fall down to it, else no communion; in the midst of all these, and much more, which is death to speak on: but onely that all honest hearted may see themselves where they have rested and also may not trust any more to a reed of Egypt) after all this no peace nor no guide I found. And then the Doctrine of freegrace (as they called it) some preach't, that all sin was done away, past, present, and to come, and so preached salvation to the first nature, and to the Serpent that bore rule, onely believing this, and all was finished; to this I hearkned a little, and so lost my condition within: But still whither ever I went; this was spoken in me, His servant thou art to whom thou obeyes; and so I being overcome by sin, I had no justification witnessed in me, but condemnation.

Then some preached Christ within, but they themselves were without, had but words, and yet they said all must be within (unto which my heart did cleave) and spoke of redemption, and justification, and all within, and of God appearing in man, and overcoming the power of the Devils, and then that in my conscience bore witnesse it must be so, and I was exceedingly pressed to wait to find it so, and something [Page] breathed after the living God; and a true love I had to all that walked honestly in what profession soever, and I hated reviling one another, and that they should smite one another, and persecute one another, and with the sufferer I alwayes took part: But still I saw though they spoke of all things within, and of a power to come, that they enjoyed not what they spoke, for the same fruits was brought forth; till at last, I saw none walked as the Ministers of Christ, nor none that pretended to the Ministry had any such gift, neither Pastour, nor Teacher, nor any such Members as was in the Apostles time.

So at last, having passed up and down, hurried here and there, I saw all the Teachers of the world, that they sought themselves, and fed poor people with dead names, and deceit and that they were not the Ministry of Christ: and so I saw them all in deceit who did not abide in Christs Doctrine, and so I got my selfe quit of most of them, for ever as I dissented from their judgement, they hated me, and persecuted me.

So at last, there was something revealed in me, that the Lord would teach his people himselfe; and so I waited, and many things opened in me of a time at hand: And sometime I would have heard a Priest, but when I heard him I was moved by the Lord, and his word in me spoke to oppose, and often as a fire, I burned, and a trembling fell upon me, yet I feared reproach, and so denyed the Lords motion: and it was revealed in me to waite, and I should know his counsell, and the word of the Lord was in me, the time was at hand when the dead should hear the voyce of the Son of God, and it burned in me as fire, that the day was near when it should not be, Loe here, nor there, but all his people should be taught of the Lord: But still my mind ran out, and out of the fear into carelesnesse, for the Crosse of Christ I knew not; And yet this I say, I was wiser then my Teachers I met with in that Generation, I doe not glory in it, for condemnation is past on it all for ever; yet still I had ever as my mind was turned to the light, pure openings and Prophesies [Page] to come, & a belief that I should see the day, and should bear witnesse to his name; and so when things opened so fast, the wisdome of the flesh catched them, and so I went up and down preaching against all the Ministry; and also run out with that which was revealed to my selfe, and preached up and down the country of the fulnesse that was in the old bottle, and so was wondred after, and admired by many who had waded up and down as my selfe had, and we fed one another with words, and healed up one another in deceit, and all laid down in sorrow, when the day of the Lord was made manifest; for I was overthrown, and the foundation swept away, and all my righteousnesse and unrighteousnesse was all judged, and weighed, and all was found too light.

And immediately assoon as I heard one declare (whose name is not known to the world, but written in the Lambs book of life for ever) in eternall record for ever; assoon as I heard him declare that the light of Christ in man was the way to Christ, I believed the eternall word of truth, and that of God in my conscience sealed to it; and so not onely I, but many hundreds more, who thirsted after the Lord, but was betrayed by the wisdome of the Serpent, we were all seen to be of the foundation, and all mouths was stopped in the dust, and so we stood all as condemned in our selves, and all saw our nakednesse and were all ashamed, though our glory was great in the worlds eye, but all was vanity.

And then after all this, I was ignorant what the first principle of true Religion was: but as I turned my mind within to the light of Jesus Christ wherewith I was enlightned, which formerly had reproved me for all vanity, and also as I did own it, it led me into righteousnesse, and when I turned to it I saw it was the true and faithfull witnesse of Christ Jesus, and then my eyes vvas opened, and all things vvas brought to remembrance that ever I had done, and the Ark of the Testament was opened, and there was thunder, and lightning and great haile, and then the trumpet of the Lord was sounded, and then nothing but war, and rumour of war, and the dreadful power of the Lord fell upon me, plague, and [Page] and pestilerce, and famine, and earthquake, and fear, and terror, for the sights that I saw with my eyes, and that which I heard with my eares, sorrow, and paine, and in the morning I wished it had been evening, and in the evening I wished it had been morning, and I had no rest, but trouble on every side; and all that ever I had done was judged and condemned; and all things was accursed, whether I did eate, or drink, or restraine, I was accursed; and then the Lyon suffered hunger, and the Seals were opened, and seven thunders uttered their voyces; mine eyes were dim with crying, my flesh did faile of fatnesse, my bones were dryed, and my sinnews shrunk: I became a proverb to all, yea to them who had been mine acquaintance, they stood afar off me; the pillars of Heaven was shaken, and the earth reeled as a cottage; one woe poured out after another. And I sought death in that day, and could not find it, it fled from me, and I sought to cover my selfe any way, or with any thing, but nothing could, for the indignation of the Lord was upon the Beast and the false Prophet; and Babylon came into remembrance in that day, the mother of harlots, and the Sea dryed up, and all the Merchants that had traded with her stood asar off, for the cup of fury was poured forth, and Cain was seen, and Judas that had betrayed the Lord of life: and I would have run any way to have hid my selfe, but nothing but weeping and gnashing of teeth, and sorrow, and terror, and I roared out for the disquietnesse of my heart, and the kingdome was full of darknesse, I knew not the right hand from the left, I became a perfect fool, and knew nothing, and as a man distracted; all was overturned, and I suffered losse of all: in all that ever I did, I saw it was in the accursed nature, and then somthing in me cryed, Just and true is his judgment, my mouth was stopped, I durst not make mention of his name, I knew not God, and as I bore the indignation of the Lord, somthing rejoyced, the Serpents head began to be bruised, and the Witnesses which were slain, were raised, and stopped Heave [...] that it rained not in the dayes of their Prophesie, and a great samine there was; and the Sun was darkned, and [Page] the Moon turned into blood, and the Stars did fall, and all the grasse of the earth withered, and every green tree, and all the springs were dryed up, and a great and a noysome smell, and a plague fell upon the earth, and the waters became as the blood of a dead man, and the Heavens passed away with a noyse, and the Elements melted, and the earth was scorched with the flame which proceeded from the Throne of God, and the Judgement Seat of Christ was seen, and an account was to be given, and then Esau was cursed, and Cain, and Judas, and Ishmael, and all the Cananites, and the Egyptians, went to the left hand, and as the Judgement was pronounced, something cryed, Just art thou oh Lord in all thy judgements; and as I did give up all to the Judgement, the captive came forth out of prison and rejoyced, and my heart was filled with joy, and I came to see whom I had pierced, and my heart was broken, and the blood of the Prophets I saw slaine, and a great lamentation; and then I saw the Crosse of Christ, and stood in it, and the enmity slaine upon it, and the new man was made, and so peace came to be made, and so eternall life was brought in through death and judgement, and then the perfect gift I received which was given from God, and the holy Law of God was revealed unto me, and was written in my heart, and his feare and his word which did kill now makes alive; and so it pleased the Father to reveal his son in me through death, and so I came to witnesse cleansing by his blood which is eternall, Glory unto him for ever, and am a Minister of that word of eternall life which endures for ever, Glory unto his name for ever, and have rest and peace in doing the will of God, and am entred into the true rest, and lie down in the fold with the lambs of God, where the Sons rejoyce together, and the Saints keep holy-day, Glory unto him for ever.

And these few things have I written for your sakes who walk in darknesse, that you may see where you are; and also ye high Cedars, who trust in the arme of flesh, that you may cease your boasting and com [...] down from off the pinacle [Page] where you are exalted, for the same must come upon you, if ever the Lord you know in truth and righteousnesse, even through the death of things, in the curse of all knowledge and wisdome which is from below; yea, through the death of death that rules in you, which must be slaine upon the Crosse of Christ Jesus if ever you come to true peace and witnesse eternall salvation.

And therefore, Cease you Diviners, and Imaginers, who have feigned a faith, and a Christ, and a salvation in your imaginations, and yet that you may live in the lust and filth of the world and the customes and fashions which perish. I say, your expectations shall faile, and you will lie down in sorrow, for where salvation is witnessed, the life of Christ is witnessed, but you would have salvation, and the life of the Devil brought forth and lived in.

But unto all such I say, This will be your sentence, Depart into the lake: Therefore take warning, for it is not your good words without the life of godlinesse nor your swelling speeches that is accepted with God, for he accepts nothing but what is of himselfe, and by him wrought in the creature by his own will and power; and this destroyes the carnall will and power and righteousnesse; and this work which he worketh of himselfe and by his power and in his Covenant is perfect and is accepted of God, and so its no more the creature but Christ who is all in his Saints, and so he brings all that follow him out of the works of condemnation (which is acted in the disobedient nature, and is accursed whether praying or plowing, or whatsoever while Cain lives, which is in the banishment out of the acceptance of God) and all who follow him who is the light, and leads all that believe and follow him into the living works of righteousnesse wrought by Christ through faith, and is accepted and well pleasing unto God, and here all boasting is excluded for all is of him, and from him that works both the will and the deed, and here the Lord is admired in all his works, and his works praise him.

Wherefore all honest hearted, who travells and are weary [Page] and have found no rest for your soules, I say unto you, Arise, and come away, lye not groveling in the earth like Moses, nor seek not to know God in your fallen wisedome, for the well is deep, and if you know nothing but the old wisedome, which is corrupt and naturall, you cannot come to one drop of the living water; therefore dwell no longer among the graves, and Tombs, where the unclean spirits dwell, which troubles and vexeth all that passeth in their way, neither dwell among the pits where there is no water, he is risen, he is not there, look upward, mind that which drawes you from the earth, the Covenant of life is made manifest, Glory unto him in the highest; his Proclamation is, Ho, every one that thirsteth, come freely and receive of him freely, without money or price, or any thing of yours, or self, nay, self must be denied, and that you must deny if you will receive of him, that he may be all, and you nothing, for he gives freely, and his gift is perfect, and pure, without spot, staine, or mixture, and all that receive his gift, comes by it to be presented perfect to the father.

And this is making manifest to you also, who wait upon him, who is given for a Covenant of light, and peace, and life, and all that receive this gift, shall come to hear glad tidings, peace on earth, and good will to you, as you turn to the light, and this shall be preached in you, by him who is the annointed of God, and the messenger of the Covenant, and is sent to preach to the spirits in prison, and to open the blind eyes, and to set open the prison door, that the Prisoner may come forth, out of the mire and clay, to follow and wait upon him who is the Rock of this age, and all ages, in which all the fathers believed, and were justified, and did eat and drink of this Rock, and this Rock was and is Christ Jesus, the light of the world, and hath enlightned every one that comes into the world, with his true light.

Therefore I say unto you who looks after righteousness, come hither, who are weary, and I will shew you where you may have true everlasting rest, which he hath shed [Page] abroad in my heart by his free grace, and everlasting love made manifest, after a long and a dark night, in which I passed without a guide, and so fell into the pit, and stumbled, and then sorrow and trouble compassed me about on every side, as an armed man, but now hath he shed abroad his grace in my heart, which saves me from sin, and leads out of the works of condemnation, into his habitation, where no unclean thing can enter; and this grace hath separated me from sin, and hath constrained me to deny my self, and follow him through the death of the Crosse, and through the deniall of all both Countrey and Nation, kindreds and tongues and people, and from wife and children, and houses and lands, to publish his name abroad contrary to my own will, and to make known unto you the riches of his grace, which all that wait in the light of Christ Jesus shall come to see, and so you may see him whom your souls loves and longs after, which hath long breathed after refreshment, but none could speak a word in season to your condition.

Return home again, yee that in your seeking have sought among the lead, and joyned your selves to strangers, and have get nothing but a husk, a shadow, and live in a dream, you are further off, in running out, and seeking in your earthly wisedome and comprehension, then you were before, and hath got nothing but a report of what Christ said, and did, and how they worshipped him, and so while your eyes have been without, you never found him whom the Saints, and all that knew him worshipped in spirit, and witnessed him their salvation in them, and was their hope, and the ground of their hope was manifest in them; and he that manifested his love in them then, and was their redeemer, he changeth not, but is the same to his seed for ever. And all who waits in the light of Christ, the measure of God in you, this shall come to see.

Now therefore every one that thirsts, come unto Christ Jesus, which is neer you, and wait to know his word in you, which it in the heart, which faith comes by the Preaching [Page] of it in you, as you diligently wait, and keep your minds unto it; and this which shewes you sin and evill, is in you, and makes manifest all that you have acted contrary unto it, yea, even all that ever you have done, and will search your hearts, and is the eye that sees the deceit in all its transforming in you; and it will let you see, it hath often checked and called, but you have not answered its call, and so hath chosen your own way, and so hath gone from the way, which is the light of Christ in you, and so you run into the broad way; and that which desired after God, hath not been nourished, and fed, but hath been famished, and another hath been fed, which now is for the slaughter. But now as ye return home to within, to the true light of Jesus, which is that one thing, which leads all men that own it, to be guided by it to true rest and peace.

Now friends, there is something in man which must receive Christ, something of his own (learn what it is) which he comes to, and nothing can he joyn with, or be joyned unto, but that which is pure and undefiled; for the pure in heart sees God, and not the mortall mind, that despiseth his glory; for to that mind that hunts abroad, he doth not reveale himself, that's Esau, the blessing is nothing to him, nor that which the Covenant of God is with▪ the Election he hates, and to him its of no price, nor value, that's the prophane person, and Judas that betrayes him, selleth him for a thing of naught, nor the Pearl is nothing to the Swine, now read within, every one, you that are painted with the attire of the Harlot, trimmed and made beautifull in the eyes of the Aegyptians, this is a small thing to you, and to that seed which the promise is to, and the Covenant established with, is trodden upon, and is famished in the streets of Sodome and Aegypt, where Christ was, and is slaine, and his witnesses suffers in the streets, and none hath compassion, is this thing nothing to you, all yee that passe by, to slight the love of the father in sending his Son a light to you, and him you despise; and as the Pharisees could not own him, they put the time far off, and so [Page] doe you, and cannot own that of him in you, to be lead by it, and so followes strangers, and still are complaining, and puts redemption to another world, and so Satan hath deceived you in looking abroad, and therefore that at home is of no price unto you, and so you run away from the drawing of the father, and from his dwelling, where the least in his house hath bread enough; but to the carnall mind, which is at enmity with God, who seeks him in the fallen wisedome, he is of no value, and that which was the Saints Rule is too low for you, and yet you say the Sons of God are lead by his Spirit. Now I say, where doth the Spirit speak? doth it not bear witnesse either with or against our Spirits? and so all mens spirits, and so that nature in you which is one with the Serpent, and nourisheth the Harlot, is exalted, and lives, and hath preheminence, and yet you will talk of being reconciled unto God. Now consider, while you stand not in the Councel of God within, and wait to hear his word, you know not the word of Reconciliation, for he takes none into union with himself, but they that follow him, and doth what he commands, and are his fruit and off-spring. And therefore, O foolish and unwise, how long will you feed on a dream that you are saved, when your rebellion is open to your own sight? To that of God in your consciences I speak.

All therefore, that see your darknesse that you lye in, return home, and that which is low, mind, the meek spirit, and be not forward nor rash, but stand still in quietnesse and meeknesse, that the still voyce you may hear which till you come downe low within, you cannot hear; for the loud voyces of the Aegyptians and Inchanters is so many, and Pharaohs voyce, and Herods is so loud, and you whose minds are abroad, you think as they thought its the voyce of God. But I say be still, he shall not cry, nor lift up his voyce in the streets who you must hearken unto, in you, that your soules may live, and so be low and still if you will hear his voyce, and wait to hear that speak that separates betwixt the precious and the vile. Now that which you [Page] must wait in, is neer you, yea in you, the eye that seeth, and the ear that heareth that, is of the Lord, for that which is visible, is naturall and carnall, and the naturall ear cannot hear the word of the spirituall God, for that which hearkens without, that ear must be deaf, and that eye blind. Now that which reveales the pure spirituall God must be in you pure and spirituall; for none knowes the things of God, but by the Spirit of God, and did not his Spirit bear witnesse alwayes unto their spirits? and doth it not so now to all that know him? So in the light wait which comes from God, who is light, and dwells in the immortall light, which the mortall eye cannot behold, and it will lead you to know Christ who is immortall, and not carnall, but spirituall and eternall. And as you love the light, and keep your minds inward, then you will hear the motion of Christ Jesus in you; and so loving it, the good you will come to see from God, which will lead out of sin, and sanctifie you, and the acceptable year you will see, and the day of vengeance, and this is he whom the father hath given for a Covenant, to bring man out of the alienation to himself again and to reconcile man unto himself even by the blood of the Crosse; and he who is the light is the Covenant; and he who is the Covenant is the light, for they are one in him; and this Covenant of peace is tendred unto you who are afar off: And herein is the eternall love of God made manifest to the Jew and the Greeke, and the life of his Son to be the light of the world, and of men; and so in the Covenant of light abide, and you will see he is neer you, the Peace-maker, the gift of God which presents you perfect in himself to the father, and this gift is free, and offered freely, to all that will receive it; and yet you cannot receive the gift in your own wills, but through the deniall of your own wills, for the light is contrary to the will; and so you will see the will of the earthly man and Gods will contrary, and as you receive the will of God, you deny your owne wills, and so doth the will of another, and another guides you, and leads you, and this is Gods alone work, not of [Page] your selves, but wrought by Christ, in his owne way and truth and so the Covenant of God comes to be established to the seed, and the foundation stands sure, and his promise is fulfilled in you, as you come to witnesse the seed which is one, in whom the promise is fulfilled.

And friends, Thus must you wait to have judgement set up within you and this is he who is the Judge and the light of the world; and so wait to see the Law set up within, which is added because of transgression to cut down, and the unjust destroyed in you, and the rebellious nature yoaked, which hath had its liberty in the earthly, where the Beasts of the field dwells, and so it will come to decay and the Law works wrath upon the deceit in you, which hath had preheminence, and so you will see the thunder as the Seale is opened, and the earthquakes, and lightning, insomuch as you cannot behold and live. But the transgressor, and the transgression, which is contrary to the Law is cut down, and when there is a time of great sorrow, and great trouble, and tryall, and temptation, wait in patience in the judgement, and let the Lords work have its perfect operation in you, and so as you turn unto him that hath smitten and wounded you, he will bind up and heale, and give up all to the great slaughter of the Lord unto the Crosse, all that which is discovered by the pure Law of God; and as the earth comes to be plowed up, the seed which is sown comes up, and the Rocks broken, the water gusheth out, and so you will see some promises will arise in you, to the seed which is coming up out of the grave, and so the love of God will appear in you, and you will be stayed, and see hope in the midst of calamity.

Then take heed that the Serpent get not that which is to the Babe, and so the carnall come to be exalted; but as you wait, you will see the subtilty of the Enemy; and sin and death rules till Moses, who was a faithfull servant in his house, and brings to the Law of God revealed in you, then sin comes to be crucucified, and to loose its dominion over you, and in you, and so you will see one brought [Page] forth under the Law, who fullfilled the Law, and now fullfills it in all those who walk after him in the spirit, and fullfills not the desires of the flesh and wait, and you will see some Prophecies opened in you, and the day-star in your hearts, which leads to where Christ is, and openings of the inheritance which is to be received, and the promise is to the seed. And all wait in the light, and keep in your minds to it and you will see Johns Ministry, the water which washeth, and he is the preparer of the way, and turns to God, lest he smite the earth with a curse, and his Ministry breaks down the mountaines, and removes them, and makes a plaine way, and your minds being turned to the Lord, and as you own the gift of Christ given you, repentance you will see, unto life, and then you will see something arising and shine in you, opening your hearts, and there will be a breathing after the Lord and his righteousnesse, and standing in obedience in the Crosse, the vayle you will see rent, and you will see him that hath turned you from sin by his free gift made manifest in you; and he which is the gift saves you from sin, and so the seales will be opened by the Angel of the Covenant, and the Lamb. So all in patience wait, and keep in the living principle of life, and things will open in you, even the dark sayings of old; and that which spake Parables to the Serpents seed, will open the Parables to his own seed, then you will see him whom you have pierced, even the Lamb who hath been slain since the foundation of the world, and your hearts will be boken, and water will gush out of the Rock▪ and so love will encrease in you, who abide faithfull in your measure, and the good and perfect gift of God will be made manifest in you, and the hope upon which the soule comes to be anchored, will come to be witnessed, which hope purifies the heart; and as you stand in the perfect Law of liberty revealed in you revealed by the Spirit which cuts down the oppressor, and gives liberty to his seed, unto which the Covenant is, and the promises for ever; and this seed Christ took, and takes upon him to redeem, even the seed of Abraham, unto whom the [Page] promise was made; and so wait, that the pure Law of righteousnesse, which is life to the righteous, and so the seed may be set up, and you will see all chained under, and this binds and fetters the unclean spirits, and shuts up them into utter darknesse for ever.

And as you come to be redeemed from under the bondage of sin, and come above the bonds of death, & the pure principle lives in you, there will be a delight in you to doe the will of the father, who hath redeemed you from sin and its Law, unto righteousnesse and its Law. And all who hunger and thirst after righteousnesse, wait in that which thirsteth, that the gift you may receive, which perfects for ever them that receive it, and believe in it, and cleanseth and purgeth you from unrighteousnesse; and this being revealed in you, as you obey it, it leads to true peace, and will reveal in you the immortall seed which came not by the will of man, but is contrary, and revealed out of mans will which all must witnesse to be born of, that inherits the Kingdome of God; and this is he who is begotten of the incorruptible seed, which the promise is unto, and are in him fullfilled Yea, and Amen, come out of time before all time, the Son of God, which leads out of time; and this is he whom the father revealed in Paul; and this is he of whom I am a witnesse, in whom I have redemption by the blood of the Crosse, and he is my Sanctification, Justification, and Wisedome, who is the Son of God, who came to doe his fathers will, and now doth, where he is witnessed, who by his eternall word of life hath begotten me, and made me a partaker of his eternall inheritance which never fades away; Glory unto him for evermore, who is life, and translateth all that believeth and follow him in the work of Regeneration unto his Kingdome.

So silence all you Diviners and Sorcerers for ever, who believe with a faith, and teach a faith, that none can be ever cleansed from sin while they are here, you and your faith is denyed, for it is not the same which was once delivered to the Saints, which gave them victory over the world, and by [Page] which they overcame. Paul a Minister of Christ by the will of God, said, the Colossions were translated into the kingdome of God, where nothing that is imperfect can come or enter, your preaching is vaine, your hope and faith is vaine, and all your hearing is vaine, while the perfect gift of God is not witnessed, nor the everlasting offring which perfects for ever them that are sanctified by him, even by his word of life and his will, which sanctifies and makes perfect the commers thereunto, and presents all that believe and receive him without spot.

And therefore all you that love the Lord, and wait for the coming of the kingdome of Christ, feed no longer upon imaginations nor vaine words; cease from looking, loe here and there, for the kingdome of God will the Father reveal in you, as you waite in the measure of the light in you, by which he reveals himselfe in his sons and daughters, and will bring them to his everlasting fold and true rest, all who followes him through the denyall of all, and to the loosing of all for him, shall come to witnesse an incorruptible inheritance, which never fades away.

And now a few words to you who would thrust your selves into the kingdome, and would be called Christs Disciples, and Church members, who are gathered into confederacies, and makes a likenesse unto your selves, and are now professing the Saints conditions in words. How come you hither, to climb up so high in words, when as you are what you were before, if not worse? Think it not a hard saying, for it is so among many of you, and in the light which is pure you are weighed, and when one comes to try you your language bewrays you that you are not what you professe, for when you are tryed by the Saints practises and life that was in them, and the injoyment they had with God, you are found so far from being any such that you even oppose the faith they believed in: as some of your Pastors openly to my face in the hearing of two hundred people, said, all the Saints dyed sinners, and so was so far from owning the perfect righteousnesse of Christ that he even denyed [Page] it and said it was heresie; and others of you say, you believe that all the graces the Saints enjoy are imperfect, yea even faith is imperfect; and others saying, that all the righteousnesse that was wrought in them by faith was imperfect; and others saying, while the light of Christ Jesus condemned them, yet Christ justified them, and yet that which was wrought in them there was failings in it, and so you have imagined a faith and righteousnesse of your own, and such a Christ to talk on, and a redemption as you may live in lusts, and be men pleasers, and in the customes and fashions of the world, and coveteousnesse, and pleads for sin, and puts perfect righteousnesse to another world, and thus the Devill hath deceived you, and so you set up, and makes covers, but all will not hide you in the day of his appearance, for God joynes not to that which is imperfect, neither is that true faith which is imperfect and which layes hold upon an imperfect righteousnesse, that is such a faith as never was professed by ony of the Saints, whose words you professe, for they had received faith the gift of God, the least measure of which was perfect, and as they stood in it, though it was but as a graine of Mustard-seed, they said to this mountaine be removed and it was so; and that which was in them reveald by the Son, led them that did believe in it to lay hold upon Christs righteousness, which was and is perfect, which had (yea hath) no spots, nor wrinckles, nor staine, and this righteousnesse was made manifest in them by the faith of the Son, by which they were justified in the sight of God, and came with boldnesse before the throne of Christ, for in them there was no condemnation, neither guilt, but became one with the Judge, and reconciled unto him and his throne, and to the Lamb by him who is the Midiator, and hath made peace betwixt them and the Father, and so were justified in the sight of God, and this witnesse they had in them, that they pleased God, and were accepted of God, and this righteousnesse was wrought in them, and is now the same which is wrought in the Saints, by him who is their light and life, and this was the righteousnesse [Page] of faith, and that which was wrought by Christ in the Saints, as they believed in him, and in the measure of grace received from him, which saved them from sin, which vvas not of themselves, he perfected his ovvn vvork in them, through and by faith, and justified them, and sanctified them and became their vvisdome, by vvhich they vvere led into all truth, out of failings and imperfection; and vveaknesses, and he became their strength and rock and they vvere builded upon him, and as they stood upon him the rock, they vvere preserved vvhen the vvaves did beat, and vvhen temptations came, and vvere sure and stedfast, and immoveable, and so overcame the Armies of Aliens, and quenched the violence of fire, and resisted the Devill, and quenched his fiery darts, and had victory over the Heathen, and reigned as Kings over the Beasts of the field, and over the deceit, and by the receiving and believing of the word of him, who was and is called Jesus, by which faith came by the hearing of, they overcame the enemies of their soules, and him who hath the power of death: and the strength of sin is the Law▪ but by the blood of him who is eternall, who is Jesus the Midiator of the new and living way, they overcame the Dragon, even by the word of his testimony, which was revealed in them; which word of faith Paul vvho vvas a Minister preached unto them, even to them vvho had the vvord in them and turned them to it, and as they believed in it, they were sanctified by it, and cleansed by it, and made perfect, and then they witnessed the bringing in of a better hope, which perfects and makes perfect as pertaining to the conscience, which while they stood without, looking at Elementary things, and divers washings, and those things which were figures of the true Tabernacle made without hands which stood untill the time of Reformation, and then done away, to wit the hand writings, and them that witnesses the new Covenant now, they see them done away, and the time of Reformation is come, the same which they witnessed, Glory for evermore.

And therefore all you professors, who have builded high [Page] Towers and Castles in your imaginations, and hath told of Reformation these many years; but you have nothing but a hand-writing to establish your building upon, and all your Reformation hath been but the washing of cups, and pulling down one thing, and set up another beggerly Elementary Images and doe not witnesse the better hope brought in, nor the time of Reformation, nor cannot abide that any should declare it unto you, nor believe it, nor hear it, nor while your eyes are without and not in the head you cannot see when good comes, but are as Heathens in the desart, and although you are among the brambles and bryars, yet you would be counted Kings and Heads over others, and one making an Image in this manner, and another in that, of all sorts high and low, but all stands in the earth, and all in one ground, and what doe they availe you? for they cannot save, for your highest enjoyment is imperfect (you say) what then serve these for? onely for you to talk on, and this is all they serve for, and to contend and strive about one with another, and all in your wills, while the will of God in you is not hearkned unto, but cast behind your backs, and so the way of true peace you never come to attaine unto.

Oh, when will you be weary of feeding upon the wind, and of husks among swine, and upon that which dies of it selfe? and when will you enquire after the living God who is power? how long have you talked of his power to come many years? and you are still as far off, if not further than you were before, and hath told of the glory of the Lord to be revealed, and of his Law being written in the heart, and of God teaching his people himselfe, and of his Spirit being poured out upon his sons and daughters, and you cannot see that you have obtained nothing; and you have prayed, and what have you obtained nothing? for you have asked amisse, and one comes hungry, and is still complaining, and then you that are full feeds them with the old dregs and lees which you are setled upon, and the old leaven of aiery notions, and conceptions, and wine of the sowre grape, which sets on edge the childrens teeth and fills them to full, that [Page] when the living bread is broken, they cannot eate nor relish it nor tast, and so cannot enter your selves, nor suffer others to enter, and when these things are witnessed in the life which you have talked on so long, you cannot own them that doth declare it, and when the power of God is declared unto you what it is, and where it is to be waited for, you cannot own it, this is too low for you and except the Lord will come in your way, that you prescribe unto him, you will not look upon him, but as the Jewes did whose eyes were without, and your fallen wisdome cannot receive him, nor compasse his eternall wisdome.

And yet you will say, the Jewes did require a signe, and were in the adultery; and the Greeks sought after wisdome, and they stumbled: and yet you cannot see your selves in the same state: Did ever God reveal himselfe to the fallen wisdome, which is learned from that principle which is erred and gone out from God? or to the will of man which is at enmity against God? Nay, nay, He never did, nor will reveal his counsell, but to that which is of himselfe, which is the least of all seeds in the world, and it is he that is borne of God, that heareth Gods word, and what is borne of the Spirit is Spirit, and is nourished by the Spirit, and led by it, and so the spirituall God reveals his Law and his Statutes to him, and his testimony which is sure. How long have you talked of the Spirit, and worshipping in Spirit? and yet indeed denies its leading and teaching, and lives in the oldnesse of the letter, and crying up, and setting up things that are carnal, and visible, and Elementary, and washing is not known from sin, nor cleansing; and so you may see what operation your Spirit you have talked on, hath, when you are still what you were.

Now the Spirit of God is operative, and works a change in the ground, and translateth all that follow and hearken unto it into its own nature, when all those things you so much strive about were but a shadow, for the vvord vvas in the beginning and gave life, and is spiritual, and vvhen its knovvn and vvitnessed vvithin in the heart, it separates from death [Page] and gives life to all that hear it and believe in it: What Christ is this you preach? and what Gospel is this you preach vvhich saves you not from guilt and condemnation? for the vvord of the true Christ vvhere it is ovvned, cleanseth and takes avvay sin, and condemns it, and blots it out, and destroys the root from vvhence it flovvs forth, and vvorks a nevv creation, in righteousnesse, and the Lamb of God takes avvay sin, in which the Churches of Christ believed, and is glad tidings to all that doe receive it: now none can witnes gladness of soul where there is guilt, which (you all affirm) is in every Christian, while in this world, and so you might see that its not the true Christ nor the everlasting Gospell you preach, but this you cannot bear: Yet you say, he hath taken away your sin; How much is sin taken away? if you say all, how comes the guilt and trouble that is in you? for if it be taken away, and his justice satisfied, this were to make God unjust to charge it upon you againe: But I tell you when his witnesse in your conscience convinceth you, and manifests unto you that you commit it, and reproves for it, I say, you cannot witnesse his justice satisfied, for the light is just, which is one with God, and when this condemns you, there is no God that will justifie you: But you use to say, Its all done in Christ; I ask, where? if it be not taken away, and unlesse you have the witnesse of it in you, your faith is vain; for he that believes hath the witness in himselfe, which none hath who walks contrary unto the light the pure vvitnes of Christ, for this convinceth you of sin, and bears witness against you: Now shew your witnesse within you, and your assurance; I say unto you, while the testimony of Jesus bears testimonie against you it bears not witnesse unto you, and so see your confusion. But after you have believed in Christ (as you say) and have received all his Ordinances, if any thing after did judge you and bring trouble upon you, this you used to call a temptation, and so put light for darknesse, and darknes for light; I say, there is no guilt where sin is taken away, and crucified, but peace and rest in the holy God, who is unchangeable, and so is his witnesse unchangeable, which [Page] judgeth and condemnes the changeable. But you use to say, His love is unchangeable, and whom he loves once, he loves to the end; Yea, but it is him who is begotten by the immortall word, which was in the beginning, and which word leads to the beginning again, before the Hatred was, the Promise is to this seed, not seeds as to many, but the seed of the Covenant, there he loves from the womb, yea, the womb that bears the seed of Jacob, and the paps that gives them suck, and where this is known, as to enjoyment, Esau is cast out, and Ishmael, and the seed of Abraham inherits the Promise, and Edom and Moab is laid wast, and Amaleck is slain by the edge of the sword, and the seed of evil doers cut off, blessed are they that can witnesse this in truth, and till this be known, the everlasting love of God is not known, which is stronger then death, and sin is death, and where it is acted & conceived, love is not witnessed, nor its strength, but wrath comes upon the Children of disobedience, and are you not Children of disobedience while you break the holy Law of God, in which is power, which is in the heart, and it bears witnesse against you, and in you, and yet say you cannot believe that ever you shall be able to fullfill it; if you fullfill it not, you break it, and then the wrath abides upon you. But then you say, if we must fulfill the Law, what use is Christ of? I say, he who abides for ever, fulfilled it▪ and fulfills it in them who know him and his work, and this the Scriptures bears witnesse of, and herein man comes to be jufied in Gods sight, by Christ, who works all our works in us, and for us, and self becomes dead, and because he lives, we live also, Glory unto him for ever. And therefore we cannot but lay open the deceit of Satan, and exhort all to come up to Christ out of the works of condemnation.

Oh foolish people and unwise! when will ye seek after wisedome, and hearken that your soules may live? How long will yee trust to the imaginations of your own hearts? Verily verily, I say unto you, The time is coming your building shall fall, and there shall not one stone be left upon another that shall not be thrown down, and the shame of [Page] Ethiopia and Aegypt shall come upon you, and your old Garments shall be torn off you, and you shall walk naked and bare, and shall see your shame, and the holy Nation of the Lamb shall rejoyce, and your sorrow the Lord hastens upon you, who will not own the Crosse of Christ, nor the word of life, which would turn you from unrighteousnesse, and out of the world, and its nature▪ but you harden your hearts, and bend your browes, and shoot your Arrowes against the Lord, and his Anointed ones, and takes part with all the uncircumcised in the Nations, in the confederacy in the Nation against the Lamb, yea even with them against whom you your selves have declared, and many of you who have been a reproach, now reproach. O, tell it not in Gath, never let it come to other Nations. Shame, shame, and blush at this, you who thus requite the Lord evill for good: Hath the Lord broken the band of the oppressor without? And have you not seen the hand of the Lord against them that were oppressors, cut off in his wrath, and overthrown? And are not many of you the highest professors both in England and Ireland, now acting in their footsteps? Even you who professe separation from the world, who hath been taken from the sheepfold, and as you were seeking the Asses, and raised from a low estate in the World now to places of dignity and honour, and to bear Rule, and to sit as Judges among the people; and now have you forgotten that you were servants under Pharaoh, but now hath taken up his power; and have forgot the afflictions of Joseph, and your fingers is becoming heavier then your fathers loines, and now you are joyning your strength with the Canaanites and Aegyptians, against the Lord. Where is the liberty of tender consciences you have told of? And what is become of your Reformation? Is it ended in this, like Absolom, when you are come to be Judges in the Gate, acts in open Rebellion against the Lord, and now would be Judges of him every where, and would limit him▪ and set a bound unto him, and would break his eternall Decree, which stands for ever. Oh, [Page] if them who had professed no love to God had done thus, it might have been born, but ye treacherous hearts, your ingratitude and hypocrisie cannot be born, but the Lord God will visit for these things; that you should now act by those Lawes which you cryed out of as oppressive, and should deliver your brethren up to the devourer and spoyler, who have born a part of the suffering in the Nations distresse and grief, in the greatest calamity, would you thus be done by? would you bear it well? I will not complain, but I will shew you the ground, and lay it before you, that if it be possible, you may be ashamed and repent, lest the Lord also avenge himself upon you, as he did upon the enemies before you.

Have not many of you in England been acting in the steps of the prophane? when the Lord hath given you what you sought after, liberty and freedome in those things; and now you labour by all your strength and power to oppresse them who walk blamelesse before the Lord and men also. Oh, what? is all your preaching, and praying, and fighting, and warring come to this, that none must declare the mind of the Lord, except it be in your way, or will, or time, under paine of bonds, and banishment fines and imprisonment, stocking, whipping, stoning? and▪ you that have been sufferers your selves, now comes to be chief oppressors and opposers of the Lord in his way, and all manner of lyes and reproaches you cast upon the truth, and you take part with the rest of the Priests and deceivers in the Nation, which take part against you when you was for the Lord, and numbers us among transgressors, of every hand to make the truth odious to all. These things and much more are found among you, from the least to the greatest, and yet you would be accounted Christians; and if you say, you have thus learned Christ, I say you know him not: Can you limit the Ocean from flowing? or can you command the wind that it blow not? or can you stop the windowes of Heaven that it raine not upon the Earth? if you cannot at all doe it all, lye down, he that reproves [Page] God let him answer it: Have you given counsell to the Lord? or have you been his Instructer? or can you limit him in his way? if you cannot, no more shall you be able to stop his way, who is riding on in his power, and overturns all the worlds wisedome, and power, and strength, and who is able to resist him, who dryes up the face of the deep and saith to the Sea, be still, and to the mountaines be removed, and they are so; and he vvill advance his ovvn glory and povver against all mens vvills and Lavves, vvhich stands in mans vvill, and vvill break all your cords as a Bullrush, and overthrovv all your counsell, and make it even vvith the earth, and shame shall cover all his opposers, and therefore learne wisdome, Oh ye Potsheards of the earth, and cease to strive against the Lord, and his power which will be too strong for you, and you shall not be able to limit him, nor stop him in his way, who runs his course as a Gyant, and bruises all his enemies heads, and cuts them in peece by the two edged sword of his mouth, which he hath put into the bands of his Saints who follow him in the Warr, and our conquest is through suffering, Glory unto him for ever, who hath counted us worthy to suffer for his names sake, and to be brought before Rulers and Councels for his names sake that the Scripture might be fullfilled in us in this day, as it was upon our Brethren who went before us.

And Oh ye Rulers and Officers of Ireland, who have been Professors and affecters of liberty, and for suppressing of Tyranny, behold now the Lord hath sent to try you, and you are found in the same footsteps when you are tryed, as them that the Lord cast out before you; and in the nature of the chief Priests, and Elders, and Councels, who breaths out threatnings, and sends out your Warrants, and Inquisitions to bind all, and to send up all bound too, before you, that so evill (you say) may be prevented in time, and takes reports from the Priests and false Prophets of the Nations, who are liars, evill Beasts, whose mouths the Lord will stop, and bring shame upon; who are flatterers, [Page] and have flattered the Powers and Rulers before you, till they were all cut off, and now they flatter you, and cannot hold up their Divination without you help them, what Gospel is this they Preach? when a few poor despised people, who are hated of the World, that the sound of them makes them afraid, Oh that ever you should be so ignorant to joyn to Baal, but let him plead for himself and they stand by their God, and their Gospel, and if they be not able to defend themselves, let them perish, let them perish. But them who comes in their own name, you receive but them who comes in the name of the Lord, and seeks none of your Tithes, nor Augmentations, nor your advance, them you cannot bear should be in the Nation, who are not troublesome to any, nor desires to eat any mans bread for naught, and these you call of an evill life. And men who have devoured their own estates and others also, and drunkards, and all manner of unclean persons, these may have liberty. Oh, doe you think that he sees not your doings, and will call you to an account for these things? and you must know our Countrey and calling, I say unto you who live in envy and wrath, if we declare unto you, ye cannot believe; but God gives no account of his matters unto man, where doe ye read, O yee foolish people, and slow to believe, but that the Ministers of Christ were called out from their outward employments, into the Lords Vineyard, contrary to their own wills, and were Ministers contrary to the will of man, and did mind the Calling of God to his ovvn work, both the Prophets, and Apostles, and Ministers of Christ; and also they Preached the Gospel vvho vvere never Church-Officers in all their life-time, as you may see, Acts 8. 4. But you say that vvas in a time of persecution. And vvhat is this time? Hovv many hath been persecuted from Tovvn to Tovvn, from City to City, put in Prison, haled out of the Synagogues? as most part of the Nation of England can vvitnesse.

And you in Ireland are follovving your Leaders vvho are in this Generation, and fills up your measure also; but persecution vvas ever blind.

[Page]But you say, They suffered for well doing, but we justly. Let that in your consciences be Judge; Would you not have judged Paul as you doe us, who went into the Synagogues on Sabbath day, and disputed, and in the Markets daily; and Christ who was their example, and ours also, in the Synagogues he taught, and in ships, and Towns, and Villages, and Desarts, and wandred up and down, and the Ministers of Christ had no certain dwelling-place, and the multitudes that followed them, would you not have said, These men are evill livers? Your Generation said so then, and that they were sowers of sedition & Heresie, and Ringleaders of sects, and setters forth of strange Gods, and were accused to be the disturbers of the peace, and were in tumults often, as we have been; and they said, that they were not worthy to live, and now the same you say.

Instance is, a Warrant given out at Dublin in December, 1655 to fetch up, and send up bound to Dublin, all that are called Quakers, and all these things and much more, you who [...]s as Rulers and Judges of the Nation of Ireland, [...] upon us, and hath required the Justices every [...] us on these things, and to lay to our [...], and what testimony we have, or letters of recommendation, (I say) what testimony had the Ministers of Christ, from the Rulers or high Priests then, they were false Apostles which were made by mans will, and the Apostle said, Need we Letters of recommendation as others have? And of what Church we are in England, we are of that which is in God, begotten by the Preaching of the Gospel of the Son of God, which all the Hirelings and them you uphold by a Popish Law, calls Heresie; and there is that in every mans conscience, which is the Letters of our recommendation. And you say, we are not of any setled Principle; I say, we are grounded and setled upon him who is the Rock of Ages, and stand in his counsel both sure and stedfast, and cannot be moved: Notwithstanding all the rage of the Heathen we are in peace, Glory unto him for ever, who is the worlds tormenter, and the breaker of deaths [Page] Covenant, and Hells Agreement and disquiets the Devils peace, and torments them who plead for his Kingdome. And you accuse us, we make open and publick disturbance, to the grief of the godly and sober people, and scandall of Religion, if we come and declare the minde of the Lord (as it is revealed in us) in publick, and declare the word of life in truth and sobernesse, and then you hale him out, and stocks, and whips, and prisons, and persecutes and what Religion is this that is among you? who stops your ears, and as the Jewes did with Paul, runs upon us, and, rents our cloaths, and yet you call us disturbers. Are not these practises found in most of your Idolls Temples, into which the Hirelings creeps, and calls a Church, and all those practises among you are found, and we are ashamed of you and your practises, that these things should be found among you, after so manifest an appea [...]ance of the Lords wrath against them, and are these godly? to that in all your consciences I speak: One haling, another beating, another punshing, and rending our cloaths, and Prisons, and revilings, and cruell mocking, and false accusing, and stoning, are these God like, or like God? Oh be ashamed. And you that are so soon grieved, you are not God like, who is long suffering, and his Saints who were God like did bear, and forbear one another.

And these Parish Teachers which you hold up in Ireland, I challenge them all in the name of the Lord who lives for ever, that in all their publick worship (as they call it) and them also, that they are not like God, nor any of his Ministers, nor any thing that ever they practice. And therefore I say, Come forth and vindicate your practice, and let your God come forth, and be tryed, and lay open your practice, and your Principles to the world, and stand by them if you can, and for shame never run to the Magistrate to help; you learned Rabbies, you great Orators, come forth, and stand and prove your selves before the people, and manifest your strength, and your weapons, and that God that answers by fire, let him be God, you have confessed our God answers by fire, for its kindled among you, and the word which is fire we have declared, and many hath heard it, and have believed, and answered it, and now it burns, and you shall not be able to quench it; post and run as fast as you can▪ dig as deep for Councel as Hell, call up all the powers of darknesse, you shall not be able to quench the fire that is kindled. If we should hold our peace, the stones of the wall would cry out against you.

And therefore I say unto you, all you Parish Teachers, and all you that uphold them, arm your selves with all your strength, call your Diviners together, for we proclaim in the Lords name (who hath rent the Heavens, and is come down, and his Tabernacle is with men) open War we declare, and sounds the Trumpet of our God, out of the holy mountaine, all the earth shall tremble before him, and the mountaines▪ shall melt before him, why should we be undiscovered [Page] to you? we are sent forth to take peace from the earth, and to warn all to the battel of the great day of God, for now he is arisen in his power and glory, and his Kingdome is come, Glory unto him for ever, and we are witnesses of it, and it's not of this world, and we have denyed the world, and followes him who hath a bow and a sword, and makes war in righteousnesse, and none is able to stand before him, therefore gather your selves on heaps, O ye potsheards, and make a consederacy among the people, arm your selves, cast up your mounts and batteries, strengthen your selves, and trust in the arm of flesh, and say, none can come near us, Verily I say unto you, you shall be made levell with the ground, and all your Sorcery shall be laid open, and Antichrist is discovered by the brightnesse of the coming of Christ, our eyes have seen the Lord of Hosts in his glory, and all your glory, yee tellers of Dreams and Diviners, shall be made as a dunghill, and your renown shall perish from the earth, the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

And now a few words unto you, O yee heads and Rulers of the people in Ireland, who sit in Judgement, remember from whence you are raysed, and how great deliverance you have had, and how manifest the Lord hath appeared for you, to deliver you out of the hands of blood thirsty men, and your enemies, who despised the Lord, and all righteousnesse, and they were numerous and great, when you have been in great straits, and they said in their hearts, we will swallow them up, and then the Lord in the day of your distresse delivered you, and hath given you their possessions, and dominion over them, and hath setled you in peace, and you that hath been but low, hath he exalted to bear rule, and expects from you righteousnesse, and justice, and equity, and to be as seet to the lame▪ and strength to the weak, and to break off every yoak of oppression from the neck of the poor, and oppressed, and to relieve your brethren, and to entertain strangers, remembring you were many of you strangers in this Land, which now is given you to possesse; I say, take heed unto your selves, how you act according to the customes of the Nation, and your own wills, nor the customary worship of the Nation, which the Lord laid by, and wast, and scattered all them that pretended themselves Teachers of the people; was there any of them that stood in the gap, or turned people from their iniquity? till the Lord broke out in his wrath as fire, and laid the Land wast, and the house of their God wast, which you burnt up; and will you now joyn with Moab? and will you build again those things which you have once destroyed? then you make your selves transgressors. Think not thus in your hearts, that the Lord hath given you dominion over the Nation to walk after your own wills, and joyn unto deceit, and that you may establish those things again, which the Lord was wroth with. And if you hold up those by your Lawes, and your power, and your prisons, and your sword, which is the people of the Lords curse, I speak of the Teachers [Page] who are in Balaams way; and greedy dumb dogs, who can never have enough; and bestow the Nations Tythes, and Lands, and riches, which is the Lords treasure, upon them, that they may cry up deceit, and flatter you, both you and they will fall together.

And friends I am plaine with you, The hand of the Lord is against them, and all the power of the Nations shall not save them from his indignation. And therefore be wise oh ye Rulers, and doe not you think to take counsell against the Lord and prosper, nor prescribe not the Lord a way; for h [...]s thoughts are not as your thoughts, not his wayes as your wayes, For he hath chosen the weak things of this world to overthrow the mighty, your eyes have seen this without, and he hath revealed his will to them and in them, whom you look upon but as weak t [...]ings, and base things, and in them is he making known his eternall power to overthrow the worlds wisdome and might, which is in the fall and curst, from whence all heresies, and blasphemies, and sects, and opinions flow and come forth, and he is bringing his own work, his mighty work to passe, even to overthrow and overturne all the power of the Beast, and the false Prophet, and shut them into the pit, and the Decree is gone forth and sealed, and shall not be altered though all the powers of darknesse joyne against him, and although you should make a Law as the Jews did to take away the life of Christ, yet it did but little avail them, for he hath carried on his work through all generations, notwithstanding all opposition, and this is he in whom we trust, and doe not you think that you are able to limit the Lord, by whom he must declare his name, or how, or where, or in what time, but in his own way and time, and if he command and will us, all mens will must be broken, though still the holy men of God suffered as such, and so accounted as disturbers of peace, I say the Devils peace must be broken, and though the false Prophets of this Nation cry peace unto you, when you walk in the imagination of your own hearts, and though you cry peace unto them, yet one is come, and coming to take peace from you, for all your peace and agreement that you make against the least appearance of God in his servants, it will be dashed to pieces.

And if they were to depart from the presence of God, who fed not the Saints, neither clothed them, nor vsited them in prison, but were to depart with the Devill and his Angels into everlasting fire; what will become of you who instead of clothing incourageth the people to rent them off us, and instead of feeding us, gives command to depart because we are strangers, and instead of v [...]siting them in prison, you put them in prison, and sends for them one hundred miles to be dragged to your prisons, and before your Judgement Seat, in whom he is made manifest.

And now oh ye Councell at Dublin your order hath so gratified the Devill, and all the prophane in the Nation, that they judge your order was not large enough, as that they had not liberty to banish [Page] them, who have been long inhabitants in the Nation, and therefore they tell you their readiness to fullfil your orders upon this account, and desires your directions what to doe further▪ yea, you have made all liars, drunkards, cursed speakers, and prophane rejoyce, and hath strengthned the hands of the wicked, and so judgement is turned backward, and righteousnesse cannot enter, but all these things are recorded, and you shall one day remember what you have done.

And friends, its nothing to us, we lay down our heads in peace; notwithstanding, if it had been done by them who had never professed any thing of liberty of conscience, and tendernesse, it might have been born, but here your double hypocrisie is made manifest.

And near forty of the Priests within the County of Corke, who all subscribed to the Government under Ormond and In [...]heq [...]e [...]e, and said, they did not acknowledge any other Government, and counted them murderers who had taken away the Kings life, as is manifest in their Book Printed at Corke, wherein most of these men now have their Tithes, and great sums of money of the Lords Treasury bestowed upon them; and these are they, which if we declare but against their deceit, and hyppocrisie, nothing but bonds can we expect, and their information is taken against us; Oh that ever you should be so led. But why doe the Heathen rage, and the people imagine a vaine thing, for he will exalt his Son upon the Hill of Sion, and then woe unto them that hath joyned their power to uphold the Beast, and the false Prophet, for all must goe into the Lake together, where the worme dies nor, nor the fire goes out, to be tormented with the Devil and his Angels for ever.

And therefore I say unto you, Repent, and turne to the Lord, and seek judgement and righteousnesse, that so you may judge for the Lord, and break off all oppression, and entertaine the strangers, who seek not yours, but the good of the Nation, and that all people might know the Lord, and worship him in righteousnesse, that so your days might be prolonged in the Land, and the Lord of heaven and earth might rule over you in righteousnesse, and that he alone might be exalted in the Nations, which hath not been known for many generations, but onely all have lived with the name, without his life and power, in deceit, and all manner of unrighteousness, and the Lord is wearied, and will ease himselfe of his adversaries, and his glory shall no longer be given to another.

Cork in Ireland, the 8 of the 11 month. 1655.

FINIS.

§

§

[Page]

The Inheritance OF JACOB Discovered. AFTER HIS RETURN OUT OF AEGYPT: And the Leading of the Lord to the Land of promise, declared, and some information of the way thither.

OR A word of exhortation to all Professors in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and to all the world where this shall come, wherein the common Salvation is declared, in which the Saints believed; and deceit discovered and made manifest.

Published in Love to all the honest hearted in the Nations, in Love and bowels of compassion to your soules.

Also a few words of Exhortation to the Rulers of England, and Ireland.

By a servant of Jesus Christ who delighteth in his Masters worke. FRANCIS HOWGILL.

LONDON: Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black spread Eagle, at the West end of Pauls 1656.

Information about this book

Title statement

The inheritance of Jacob discovered. After his return out of Ægypt: and the leading of the Lord to the land of promise, declared, and some information of the way thither. Or a word of exhortation to all professors in England, Scotland and Ireland, and to all the world where this shall come, wherein the common salvation is declared, in which the saints believed; and deceit discovered and made manifest. Published in love to all the honest hearted in the nations, in love and bowels of compassion to your soules. Also a few words of exhortation to the rulers of England, and Ireland. / By a servant of Jesus Christ who delighteth in his masters worke. Francis Howgill.

Howgill, Francis, 1618-1669.

Edition statement

1656

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A86650

ID [STC]

Wing H3168

ID [STC]

Thomason E869_3

ID [STC]

ESTC R208464

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99867417

ID [PROQUEST]

99867417

ID [VID]

119728

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Early English books online.

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A86650)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 119728)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Thomason Tracts ; 131:E869[3])

Source

— The inheritance of Jacob discovered. After his return out of Ægypt: and the leading of the Lord to the land of promise, declared, and some information of the way thither. Or a word of exhortation to all professors in England, Scotland and Ireland, and to all the world where this shall come, wherein the common salvation is declared, in which the saints believed; and deceit discovered and made manifest. Published in love to all the honest hearted in the nations, in love and bowels of compassion to your soules. Also a few words of exhortation to the rulers of England, and Ireland. / By a servant of Jesus Christ who delighteth in his masters worke. Francis Howgill., Howgill, Francis, 1618-1669..

Extent

[2], 38 p.

Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread Eagle, at the West end of Pauls,. London :: 1656.. (In this edition, line six of title reads "Ægypt:" and the last words of lines 16 and 19 read: "soules" and "worke" respectively.) (Annotation on Thomason copy: "March. 1st".) (Reproduction of the original in the British Library.)

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The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.