CHAP. I.

FOrasmuch as we now find sun­dry sorts of communalties, Religion-urgers, Tongues, and Peoples, and that (with dif­ferent Religions, God services, conceivings, and understandings) each laboureth to de­fend [Page 2]his own cause to be the very best; (by means whereof, the whole world is every where Infra. 4. in great division and discord, and all against one another:) And whilst that I H. N. (concerning the divisions and discords, and other causes which I find to be among them in great reviling, strife, and hatred) am impartiall towards them all, and do contend with none of them: and that 1 Tim. 1. mercy is (now in these dangerous times) extended on me from the highest God [namely, through the manifestation of his upright Righteousnesse;] therefore could I not hide the understanding of the upright Righteousnesse (by Gods grace) Eph. 3. Col. 1. 2 Tim. 1. revealed unto me.

2. For the most holiest being [which is the upright righteousnesse and holinesse it selfe; and wherein the true Saints of God and Christ do live, and are compre­hended] is (out of Gods heavenly Revela­tion, and his grace) Mat. 11. Rom. 16. Eph. 1.3. Col. 1. 2 Tim. 1. revealed unto me through the love of God the Father, for to witnesse the same again, and (out of the inclination of love) to declare it unto the people on earth, to the end all mouths might be stopped, all understandings sa­tisfied, all hearts well affected to the Righ­teousnesse contented, and all strife ended, [Page 3]so to draw all people to the peace, and to the unity of heart in Jesu Christ, under the obedience of the love, the most holiest God service: and that they might so be lead to the holy understanding of the Glasse of Righteousnesse.

3. Under which most holiest God ser­vice, we witnesse and set forth the wonder­full Acts of God, which are revealed and manifested unto us in these last daies, ac­cording to the Isa. 44.60.61.62.65.66. Jer. 23.30.33. Ezek. 36 7. Joel. 2. Act. 1. foretelling of the Pro­phets.

4. Wherefore seeing that the Providence of God, and all what he in former times hath spoken, by the mouth of his holy Pro­phets, cannot fail nor lie: and that more­over he cannot Joh. 14. leave his people like Or­phans God doth now, according to his promises, manifest and make known (by his righteous judgement in this last day of the love) which is his Elect and holy Con­gregation.

5. For (to the intent there may be an end of contending) he himself, as the true glorious God, who is Joh. 11. the Resurrection and the Life, revealeth his Saints out of his bosom, where (since the time they Esa. 26. 1 Thes. 4. fell a­sleep) they have rested untill this day of the love, because they should now in these [Page 4]last times, in the Resurrection of the Righ­teous) be manifested 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes. 4. with Christ in glo­ry, to 2. Thes. 1.6. a righteous judgement of God on the earth.

6. Inasmuch then as this righteous judgement of God hath his manifestation in us, now in the end of the world, through the 2 Tim. 1. Act 1. appearing of the glorious coming of Jesu Christ; and will break thorow and appear (to Righteousnesse on the earth) o­ver all the world, according to the Scrip­ture, therefore are we also (out of the same judgement of God) to speak, and to write of the upright communalty of the Saints of God and Christ, and to witnesse, and declare the same on the earth, to the end that she likewise may be manifested to the world, and the world may know that she is worthy to inhabite the earth, and that the will of God, the everlasting Father, may be done Mat. 6. Lu. 11.2. on the earth as it is in hea­ven.

7. Therefore behold that which we with our Joh. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 1 Joh. 1. eyes do see. The right communalty of the Saints of God and Christ, is of one mind with us, and we with her (as of one accord with each other) stand under the lov [...], obediently subject unto her requi­ring; and the love is to us all, a Col. 3. band of [Page 5]perfection, to an heritable peace for ever­more.

8. Wherefore the right of service of love, is among us the little ones and chosen of God (in as much as we bring into the world, the Esa. 43.65.66. Eph. 1. 1 Pet. 3. 1 Cor. 13. renewing of life in Jesu Christ through the same) and it shall never cease, but have his course among us for e­evermore, for God is with us, he bringeth unto us (in the obeying of the requiring of the same service of love) his blessing and encrease, for a fruitfulnesse to his service of love.

9. And the holy spirit of love sheweth likewise his power and effect among us, namely, that God himself is the Lord, and the Manifester and Worker of his Work (in the service of his love) among us, the com­munalty of his holy ones. For he (as a God of Life) doth now through us, and his ser­vice of love, reveal and bring to light Esa. 33. Amos 9. Mic. 7. Act. 15. his building (the holy City Jerusalem) prepa­red by Heb. 12. Apo. 21. him (for an holy adorning well-pleasing unto him) even as a bride is trim­med for delighting of her husband.

10. Without this building of the Lord, and without our holy communalty of God and Christ, and without this blessing or increase, out of the power of the Al­mighty, [Page 6]and without this our most holiest God service of the love, and of the graci­ous word appeared unto us according to the promises, Esa. 44.45.46.47. Jer. 10. truly all the mans work, and all his God services, Wisdome, and Do­ctrine, are nothing els but a very blinding of the heart, or a tying and bewitching of the senses and thoughts, how skilfull, 1 Cor. 1. how learned in the Scriptures or Languages, how eloquent, how wise, or how glorious and rich of spirit, soever the man can be.

11. Where God therefore doth not buy us his chosen holinesse, execute his office of the Love according to his promises; or where men have no regard unto his promi­ses, according to the foretelling of the Pro­phets, neither do endeavour to the obey­ing of the love: and whilst the man goeth on no otherwise, but according to his own mind, or after the instigation of his owne spirit, Esa. 8. there cometh the man into no­thing but sorrow, and into erring blind­nesse and miseries, whereby many do ei­ther become faint-hearted and Esa. 13. hopelesse, or els find themselves as vain, and Esa. 59. Sap. 5. with­out understanding, as aforetimes they were; whereof in the end ariseth (among them that are without understanding) a bondage unto men, under mens imaginati­ons. [Page 7]Likewise, divers sorts of chosen Holi­nesses, bewitching of the heart Col. 2. 2 Thes. 2. 2 Tim. 3.4. and strong errors; whereof (alas) there are now every where to be found many, and many sorts among the children of men.

12. Oh, how do many erre, and fail in their opinion and vain conceiving, and how do many turn them from us, whilst they walk Esa. 53. their own way, and have no right regard to the promises of God, nor to the service of his love! and therefore under­stand not the requiring thereof.

13. But this doeth the gloriousnesse of their knowledge cause, deceiving them in their disobedience. Neverthelesse, (because of the Shine Col. 2. of the spirituall humble­nesse, which they behold by it) they suppose that it cannot possibly beguile nor deceive them, and so they go on, some in a vaine conceited knowledge, and some in a cho­sen holinesse, which God hath never re­quired nor willed.

14. Many others forsake all Religions and Ceremoniall services, and even Gods promises also, [insomuch that they give no credit to God in his promises, nor yet ex­pect his Salvation, in such manner as he a­foretimes (through his Prophets) hath so spoken and promised the same] and so [Page 8]cleaving to the world, or to their own i­magination, they wax distrustfull of God, because (in many) they have found the word of unregenerate men, and their own word also to be lying, not considering nor understanding, that the Scripture and Pro­phecies (given forth of God aforetimes) must thus be fulfilled, upon all unregene­rate and opinionish or vaine-conceited men: Yea it shall now all be fulfilled, Evill, and Good, and Strife, and Peace, Lies, and Truth, Destruction, and Salvation, in such sort as it is written thereof. It is the Lords Testimony: He himself hath by the mouth o [...] his holy Prophets fore-spoken that it sha [...]l so come to passe: and his wil it is, that now in this last time it shall all be fulfil­led, Rom. 9. then who is he that can let it?

15 For in the rising up of unregenerate men, w [...]h their deceivings, imaginations, and lies (and [...]hat in shew of the name of the Lord) Lev. 10. Num. 16. Deut. 13.18. Esa. 33.34.35.42.43. &c. Jer. 4.5 6.7.8.23.26.27.28.29.30. &c. Mat 24. 2 Tim. 3. 2 Pet. 2.3. Jude 1. to contention, confusion, blindnesse, and [...]rrupting of the Gentiles or People, there is the Scripture, and the Prophets as w [...]ll fulfilled, as in the setting up of Israel [...]o a Salvation of the People of the Lord or so it was foretold to come to passe, and it is written there­of. Read Moses and t [...] Prophets, together [Page 9]with the testimonies of Jesu Christ, and of his Apostles, and there shal ye find the same manifoldly declared.

16. For albeit that many vaine-concei­ted men and unsent Prophets or Prea­chers, have been found lying, and might yet daily be found so, or that we (through any ignorance) do any way misdemeane our selves; yet shall God in his promi­ses, and in the mouth of his Prophets be found true.

17. He will Gen. 17.22. never forget his Co­venant which he hath made with Abraham and his seed; but in due time will remem­ber his Covenant, and shew, that he is the God of Abraham, and a God of his seed, for evermore.

18. In whom or through whom, he hath heretofore made his name notable, and glorious among all people; and will yet againe through the same, make his name great and glorious in the last time, shew­ing therein, that the God of Israel is on­ly the Lord, Israel his chosen people, that his purpose and wisdom is stedfast, and that the world by her wisdome, 1 Cor. 1.2. knoweth not the wisdom of God.

19. Therefore it hath pleased God al­so that his elect people should 1 Cor. 3. circum­vent [Page 10]the world in her wisdome, and to save the world (if they believe God) in Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 1. by a foolish preaching, to the end, they may know that Gods foolishnesse in his people, is wiser then all the wisdome of this world; and hereby it is manifest and apparent unto us, that Gods promises abide firme and unmoveable for ever, and that in his holy and gracious Word they are fulfilled and established, howsoever the requiring of the obedience thereof be foo­lishnesse to all the selfe-wise.

20. Hereon [that is to say, on the pro­mises of God, Luk. 2. and upon the consolati­on of Israel] ought we to trust, hope, and long, even as the seed of Jacob (which is scattered among all Heathen) doth also hope thereon, and long thereafter.

21. And though many unsent Preachers be (before the coming of Jesus) risen up, Mat. 24. Luk. 21. 2 Tim. 3.4. 2 Pet. 2.3. who have falsly boasted of Christ, yet let us notwithstanding remember, that it was so prophecied of before, and that the Scri­pture maketh mention of such things; therefore reproach none, seeing it falleth out to us all Rom. 8. for the best.

22. For, if we find any to be false, de­ceitfull, unwise, or lying, yea resistant a­gainst our most holiest Service of the Love, [Page 11]that same is for a stirring up of us, and for a serious examining of our selves, whereby to prove whether we also might find such evill or iniquity in our selves, or not; and whether likewise we our selves doe with humble hearts, Gal. 6. endeavour us after the good, as all upright Christians ought to do: therefore let us judge none, but so much the more circumspectly look to our selves, that no man Rom. 2. judge another, and forget to judge himselfe.

23. Now when the man perceiveth his own evill, falshood, and lying, and beareth his judgement therein, then let him seek (according to the doctrine and requiring of the gracious Word and his Service) to find grace at Gods hand, and abiding firme in the hope of salvation, let him be renew­ed in the holy and gracious Word, under the obedience of the Love, and so (out of love) indeavour to draw another to the same grace also, then shall he Mat. 7. Luk. 6. judge nor condemn none: Behold, this is the Heb. 5. true Schoole-rule of Christian Doctrine, accor­ding to the nature and requiring of the Service of Love.

24. If now any man be a Christian, or boasteth himselfe, that he is illuminated, and hath his fellowship with the Lord Je­sus, [Page 12]let him then 1. Joh. 1. have also a Christian nature; and stand subject with us under the obedience of the love of Jesus Christ.

25. But if he be not so, to wit, that he hath no Christian nature, nor Exod. 33. Deut. 4. Joh. 1.5. 1 Joh. 4. hath not yet seen the Lord Jesus, nor standeth subject under the love, then can he not assuredly be illuminated, neither be any Christian in the sight of God, nor yet have any fel­lowship with Christ.

26. Then if his fellowship be not with Christ, and his love, he ought not to vaunt himself as yet for a Christian: but if he submit himself with us, under the obedience of the love of Jesus Christ, and so ground himself on the promises of Gen. 17.22. God, & on the Esa. 2.44.60. Jer. 23.29.31. Ezek. 36.37. Joel. 2. foreshewings of the Prophets & Act. 2.17. 1 Cor. 15. Phil. 3. 1 Thes. 1. Tit. 2. Apo­stles of Christ, and believeth God, that he is true in his promises, he may then (as a Lear­ner and Disciple of Christ) speak 1 Pet. 3. of the hope that he hath in Jesus Christ: but he may not judge another, much lesse Gods Saints and Ministers.

27. For God will now in the last time, (when the man with all his deceivings, false judgings, and working of lies is Esa. 10. run to an end) himself appear through his love, and manifest both himself and his true judgment, by his Elect Saints, and bring [Page 13]unto his chosen, who are falsly censured of all the false hearts, and vain-conceited wise of the letter-learned, his Exo. 20. Esa. 58.66. everlasting Sabbath day, that they once have Esa. 56. Apo. 14. rest that hope in him, in whom shall be found no falshood, strife, nor guile; but continual thanksgiving, Apo. 7. for the wonderfull works of the great grace of God.

28. Hereon let us also hope and long, and endeavour that our fellowship might be with the love (that in no case we Rom. 13 Eph. 5. rest, nor sleep in the sin) and so Eph. 6. Phil. 4. in the Spi­rit, sigh and pray night and day unto God, Abac. 2. Heb. 10. untill that come, which shall come, and untill the godlinesse, which is groun­ded in the Love, doe appeare un­to us.

29. Which godlinesse I doe perfectly witnesse and declare (out of the inclination of love) in the Glasse of Righteousnesse, and do likewise shew with full instruction, the upright stock of life, whereunto tendeth the way of the upright communaltie, or believers of Christ, and whereunto man­kind was of God Gen. 1. Sap. 2. Eccl. 17. created, and by Christ called, to live therein: upon which upright stock of life, and lovely being in the peace, they doe all hope and have a longing wich love, equitie and righteousnesse, [Page 14]to the end that all those, who have a desire to God and his Righteousnesse, might be comprehended Col. 3. in the band of love (wherein the upright stock of life, and Gods Righteousnesse, is to be obtained and inherited) for to inhabit the Psal. 37. Prov. 2. Esa. 60. 2 Pet. 3. world agreeably, Rom. 15. Phil. 4. peaceably, and quietly (with one like mind to the love) in righteous­nesse and in all love, according to the pro­mises: and that the world in like manner might [with humble heart] give good ear to the upright understanding, to the obey­ing of the truth of the spirit, to the end that the service of love, might every where have his course, without any hindrance; and that the godlinesse might be understood, and Psal. 98. Lu. 1. knovvn, to the land and praise Eph. 1. of the glory of God, and to an everlasting Thanksgiving for his bountifull grace shevved on us, to vvit, that he hath caused us to see, and made known unto us, what Rom. 12. Eph. 5. 1 Thes. 4. his will is, and what manner righteous­nesse he requireth of us.

30. If God therefore hath such a favor and inclination towards us, that through the administration of his gracious Word under the obedience of the love of Jesu Christ, he reacheth us the hand, and pulleth us to himselfe out of the desolation Heb. 2. and [Page 15]captivity of the devill, into his glorious freedome, to the end we should be his in­heritance in his love; then let us (for our parts) look to it, that we 2 Cor. 6 Heb. 12. refuse not the same grace, nor separate our hearts there­from, Psal. 95. Heb. 3.4. nor harden them thereagainst; but be subject to his love, and love him, and beare good will towards him a­gaine.

31. For he hath shewed his tender love Joh. 3. Rom 5. and ardent affection upon us first, wakening us Ezek. 37 Eph. 2. in the Spirit out of the sleep and death of sinne, unto his Ser­vice of Love, which reacheth to the ever­lasting life, that we should walk in Luke 1. righ­teousnesse and holinesse before him in all love.

32. Lo, out of such a disposition of heart and mind, my writing is, and unto this is all my longing, that (if the Lord would vouchsafe it) I might in the truth a­ny where upon earth, find any communal­ty which might in that manner be compre­hended in the Service of the Love, or were inclined thereunto; and that such grace might befall us, as to have fellowship one with another.

33. For in the service of the love, and in the vertuous disposition and good [Page 16]nature, it is all comprehended what God from the beginning and alwaies, hath wil­led and required of the man; wherefore the Law and the Service of the Prophets and Apostles, Mat. 22. Luk. 10. Gal. 5. 2 Tim. 1. are fulfilled in the Love: for to the righteousnesse of the Love all of them have their Service, and even all their office and ministration, is to the love, that so in the last time, the Love ( Col. 3. the true per­fection) might abide 1 Cor. 13 in her Service for evermore.

CHAP. II.

FOr though the Prophecies cease, and the knowledge leaveth off, yet the [Page 17]love never 1 Cor. 12 faileth; for the prophecying is in part, and hath his Prophecy: and the knowing is in part, and hath his know­ledge, and they do all cease in the love. In like manner, the Law also hath her Do­ctrine, out of which (in the end) the 1 Tim. 1 love is required.

2. When the perfection therefore com­eth, that we be established in the love, then is the Law, the prophecying, and the knowledge fulfilled, and accomplished, or then is the obedience shewed in the same Commandement and doctrine of God, and not before.

3. To the intent therefore, that the o­dience, which availeth before God, should be set up, the Rom. 10 Gal. 2.3.4 belief was published to salvation, through the service of the holy word of the Apostles of Christ: howbeit, not to break, nor to set aside the Law of Moses, and the Prophets, neither the obe­dience thereunto, Mat. 5. Rom. 3. but to establish and to fulfill them.

4. Therefore many do utterly mistake and faile in their imagination, Mat. 22. because they understand not the Scripture, and because they thinke (before the Love of Gal. 4. Christ hath any form in them) that the law and the Prophets be fulfilled, and that they [Page 18]are not bound to be obedient to the Law.

5. O beloved, consider once rightly (I. pray you) how, and in what manner, or in what upright fruits of righteousnesse, the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled. For behold, must not the Law require of us Rom. 3.8 Gal. 2.3. the upright Righteousnesse, and be­sides, remain (from one Generation of men to another) in her service and degree for ever? And do not the Prophets pro­phecie thereunto, or have not the Pro­phecies and preachings their service to that purpose, even to make the upright fruits of the Law known? and must not we then in like manner, through the belief (in the knowledge of the Righteousnesse) passe on obediently towards the same, to our Sal­vation, that so (thorow the belief) we might bring forth the fruits of the upright Righteousnesse of God, which are requi­red by the Law, and be made the children of the new Testament, through Jesus Christ in his bloud, Rom. 3.8. Col. 1.2. Heb. 9. whereby we might be justified from the fin, and so live with each other in all love.

6. Now when we are Eph. 3. Col. 2. established in the love, the foregoing services [namely of the Law and Prophets] have then the [Page 19]first time fulfilled their office vvith us, and their requiring doth also with us then 1 Cor. 13. cease, and they have with us, their rest and form in the love, and so then have we peace Eph. 2. with God, and likewise love and peace among each other. It is true.

7. Verily, that same, when it appeareth and is present, is the true being which is perfect. And therefore the love is the highest good, Deut. 10. Mat. 22. Rom. 13. Gal. 5. the fulfilling of the Lavv, and the 1 Tim. 1. principall scope of the belief.

8. For though a man could speak even as with Angells tongues, or had such faith, 1 Cor. 13. that he could move mountaines out of their places; and though he wrought won­ders and signs, or were endevved vvith such knovvledge, that he could open and de­clare all mysteries, and discover all secret treasures: or that he gave all his goods to the poor, or did out of a religious humble service Col. 2. shevv a certaine obedience; or as a servant vvere every ones Minister, or (by means of persecution) Mat. 10.23. fled from Land, to Land, and from City, to Ci­ty: yea though he yeelded his body to be killed, or gave it over to be burnt, yet tru­ly, all these cannot profit the man to Salva­tion, nor to the vvell pleasing of God, 1 Cor. 13. if [Page 20]he have not the love; for without the love they are all of no value: wherefore let not men without the love give any respect unto them, as if they were any thing, much lesse hold of them; for they doe all cease in the love.

9. Therefore the time cometh, [yea, it is come already] that it shal come to passe, that all Religions, all that are good of will, and every understanding, conceiving, and knowledge, shall be brought in under the obedience of the love, to the uniforme building of Jerusalem, Esa. 33. Eph. 2. Apo. 21. or house of God, Rom. 12 Eph. 4. and body of the communalty of Christ, and every understanding shall wil­lingly yeeld it selfe captive under the o­bedience of the love, Act. 2.3.4.5. &c. according as it came to passe in the Service of the com­munalty of the Apostles of Christ, under the obedience of the beliefe, inasmuch as the service of the communalty in the love, is not lesse then it: for in the communal­ty of the love Christ is personally with the Father at his right hand, in whom is the forgivenesse of sins.

10. Whosoever therfore hopeth in Christ, and whosoever is infirm, feeble, or weak, & is Mat. 5.9 11. hungry or thirsty after the righteous­ness, he obtaineth his nouriture & strength­ning [Page 21]out of the love; yea, every one that is fallen or is broken, Esa. 61. Ezck. 34. or is strayed and sepa­rated from the true God & his Christ, shall through the love & her service (if he con­vert and humble himself, & be wel-affected to the love) be restored, & brought to right againe; and therfore grow ye up, & through the love, Eph. 4. 1 Thes. 3. 2 Thes. 1. become manly in Jesu Christ.

11. Behold, unto this Service of Love have all the Prophets of God, and Apo­stles of Christ borne witnesse in the Word of Truth and Life, and therein likewise is restored all Acts 3. what God hath spo­ken by the mouth of his Prophets, from the beginning of the world.

12. For all the doctrine of God, the Law, and the Prophets, the Images, Figures, and Ceremonies, doe witnesse of this time of grace, concerning the restoring of the man in the Love, [which is the gracious Word promised in the last time;] in which Love, the House of Israel and the house of Judah ( Jer. 29.33. Rom. 11 which now are dissolved, and scattered a­broad among the Gentiles) shall be e­stablished.

13. They shall thenceforth be no more divided into two Kingdoms, Ezek. 37 Dan. 2. but be ga­thered into one, and be set up in the love; [Page 22]the multitude also of the Gentiles shall joyne themselves unto them, Esa. 2. Mic. 4. Zach. 8. to serve the God of Jacob, that they may learne his will, walk in his streets, among the Citi­zens of Israel, and so all that love the righ­teousnesse be one Joh. 17. in the one living God, let them be who they are, and of what generations, peoples, or Religions, soever they may be, as Christians, Jewes, Maho­metists, and Heathen, or dispersed people; for all those which love the righteousnesse, and submit them obediently under the gra­cious Word of the Lord, and his service of Love, Act. 10. are acceptable to God, and shall (all through the Word of Truth) be re­newed in the love, to observe one manner Statutes, and Ordinances of the God of Israel, according to the promises.

14. Now seeing my service is in all peace­ablenesse (under the obedience of the Love) inclined to the same, therefore al­so my writing is neither against nor with any Nations, Peoples, or Congregations, that boast themselves to be of God or Christ, [so as either to reproach, or to praise any of them.] but doe set forth (through the grace of God the Father, which is given unto me) the plaine evi­dence of the upright communalty of God [Page 23]and Christ, according to my sight of the true being.

15. Moreover I do not set my self, ei­ther to contend against one, or against ano­ther, or to revile, reproach, or censure a­ny man in his error or failing, because he should endeavour him to repentance: O no, that is not our service of the love. For verily, we have all grievously sinned; Esa. 59. Rom. 3. yea we have all erred like the blind, there hath truly none continued in his estate, no not one.

16. Oh man! who art thou then, or why takest thou so upon thee, that thou Rom. 2. judg­est another, and justifiest thy self? for we are all void of the grace of God, which vve receive and obtaine, if vve be of good Lu. 2. Phil. 2. vvill, and doe turne us unto God, and be vvell-minded to the love, from the heart.

17. And for this cause, I doe not oppose my self against any sorts of people or Re­ligions, either for to judge them to de­stroying, suppressing, or rooting out, or els to strive or to contend against them, but do out of the mercy, (vvhich through the love of God the Father) is shevved on me, desire to dravv unto Unity, all those that love the Righteousnesse, under the o­bedience [Page 24]of the love, and to manifest un­to them the upright righteousnesse, to the end they might all Mat. 3. Acts 2.3 shew repentance for their sins, and be saved, and that they with us, and we with them, might inherit in the love, the true peace of Jesu Christ, and the unity of heart, and that the true Eph. 2.4 Col. 3. peace of Jesu Christ might be prepared on earth.

18. For in all this our most holiest God­service of the love, I have from my heart a pleasure in all them that love the love, and peace, and are minded to concord and righteousnesse of heart, or do indeavour thereafter, neither desire I to beare any thing in mind to the worst, which any man through unbeliefe, hath done or spoken a­gainst us.

19. Furthermore, seeing true beliefe Eph. 2. is the gift of God, and that we are not Rom. 3.5 Gal. 2. Eph. 2 saved out of our selves, but out of Gods grace, through the faith of Jesu Christ, therefore can I not in any wise oppose my selfe against any, either against the Pope­dome or Catholike Church, or against any temporal Rulers, against Jews or Gentiles, or against any institutions of Religion; for we are are all called in Christ to salva­tion and peace, that we should all in the [Page 25]last time be John 17. Eph. 4. of one mind under the obe­dience of the love.

20. Now because I doe not set my selfe resistingly or reproachingly against any, shall I then fawne and flatter, as to write any thing for any mans favour, to please men? that be far from me, but rather, I declare uprightly [even as it is through Gods heavenly Revelation manifested and granted me to see] the thing that right is, and that availeth in the sight of God, and ought to have his passage among all men.

21. Lo, this [O ye well-willers of the righteousnesse] is now out of the inclina­tion of love [as far as we may, and as God permitteth unto us] painted out and pour­trayed before you, according to the life thereof, as a president or pattern of the righteousnesse.

22. Let every one therefore once glasse himself in the Glasse of Righteousnesse, according to the truth, and look upon the thing which is right; let him put away from him all evill thoughts, together with his deceitfull tongue, Psa. 34. and let reproa­ching lips be far from him, and so seek peace, and zealously labour for it.

23. For if any man be innocent, or do in­deavour [Page 26]so to be, and if he have right on his side, or do carry his matters uprightly, then will such a one by his righteousnesse agree with us in one mind, according to the na­ture of the love, even as we affect the love, and endeavour to the peace.

24. If on the other side, he be not so, then may he there (if he be not partially minded) have knowledge of his errour, whereby he may turn him to the love, and live; for the inclination to be upright of heart in the love, or to inherit the love, is Cant. 8. Mar. 22. 1 Cor. 12.13. truly, that is the most best vertue, and passeth all Religions, and like-resembled God-services; it doth likewise farre excell all self-chosen spirituall humilitie and ho­linesse.

25. Such kind of hearts, as are inclined to love and peace, and have set their minds on the most best vertue to inherite it, I suppose there are some at least among all sorts of people; and albeit many of them do seek God the eternall Father, and his righteousnesse Esa. 58.9. ignorantly, being yet igno­rant of the truth, and bewitched in their hearts with spirituall appearances, Col. 2. and vaine wisdomes, whereunder their under­standings and consciences are still held captive, yet neverthelesse in their obedi­ence [Page 27]to the requiring of the service of love, Esa. 25. the covering wherewith many people or heathen are yet covered and bewitched, shall be taken away from their hearts, that those which love the good might cleave to it, with free and unbound consciences, and be comprehended in the band of love.

26. To that end [that is to say, for the peace and unities cause] is mine inclinati­on to the service of the Saints that are cal­led to the love, and the service of my ex­hortations is to those that hope and long after it, to wit, that they would all have regard unto the Service of the Love, to the intent that all we, who have any plea­sure, will, or desire to the good, might (through the same Service) prepare our hearts thereunto, for to be joyned in all love to the good, in humblenesse of heart, and so might avoid the plagues of the un­godly, Apo. 18. and not be made partakers of those plagues, which (as a Luk. 21. snare) shall catch the blood-guilty, the wicked, and all the malicious in the last time, and they shall not be able to escape the vengeance of God.

CHAP. III.

SEeing now [dearly beloved] that we see, heare, and marke evidently, that the blind wicked world is wholly min­ded to errour, hunteth for Sap. 1. corruption, and destruction, and hasteth to fall into the plagues of the ungodly, to her own perdition, which all malicious ones, toge­ther with such as are strayed and departed from the upright life, doe take pleasure with, and are blinded in, and doe dai­ly increase in blasphemie, Rom. 1. Eph. 4. wicked imagi­nations, false judgements, malice, and owne conceitednesse of self-chosen wis­dome: therefore let every one now with carnest love to the good take heed to his time, that is to say, that he hate, die from, and forsake all that which the erring world increaseth in, and followeth after.

2. And let us increase daily in the spirit of the upright being, and Col. 1. 1 Pet. 2. grovv up in the true life of godlinesse, [namely, as many as (out of a good purpose) have turned them to the vertue of truth, and (in obedi­ence) given over themselves to the vvord of the Lord and his service of love; for the righteousnesse sake] that none [through his carelessenesse, or delight in vvorldly desires] be Heb. 3.4. disappointed of the rest of godlinesse, vvhich rest of godlinesse and of the upright life hath ceased, but hath been reserved, for an everlasting inheri­tance for the children of God in the last daies, according to the promises.

3. Novv for to enter into this rest, let e­very one have the eyes of his spirit, and the eares of his heart, and understanding earnestly attent to regard the time of his calling thereunto.

4. Let no man look back to the vain and wicked being of the ungodlinesse, which Lu. 9.17. Phil. 3. he leaveth, forsaketh, and dieth from: nei­ther let any man think to turn again (with his heart to the world [that is to say, to her abominations of iniquity, or to her vain be­ing of wantonnesse] for behold the daies of her desolations be at hand, and are now already come at the door.

5. Oh fly Esa. 48. Jer. 51. Apo. 18. from the ungodlinesse of the vvorld vvith all your hearts, and from the wickednesse of her abommations. Look not back after her deadly poyson, and be not therewith made unbelieving to think, that the world shall not be punished for her abominations.

6. O! consider I pray you, how can a man that hath any understanding or know­ledge of righteousnesse, take pleasure in the world? are not the sins of this last wicked world become out of measure abomina­ble? are they not much more abomina­ble and horrible, then the sins of the for­mer wicked world, Gen. 6.7. in the time of Noe, and of the Cities of Sodoma and Gomerra, Gen. 18.19. 2 Pet. 2. in the time of Lot? If God then pu­nished them so terribly and severely, how much more will he punish these, who doe far passe the other in wickednesse?

7. Oh children, keep your hearts separa­ted from her, fear God and love his righ­teousnesse, that ye be not taken in the snares of the wicked, nor plagued with the reward of their errors.

8. Take an example by Gen. 19. Lu. 17. Lots wife: and remember the saying of our Lord Jesu Christ which he spake, when ye shall see the abomination of desolation (spoken of by [Page 31]the Prophet Daniel) standing in the holy place; who so readeth it, let him consider it. Read Dan. 9. Mat. 24. Lu. 21.

9. Therefore (O all ye that love equity and righteousnesse) watch and pray; the sight of the destruction is ascended on high, the Esa. 5.60. 4 Esd 14. darkness overwhelmeth the earth, her Esa. 28.29.56. inhabitants are drunken & sleepy, the Sun of righteousnesse giveth little shine among them, Esa. 13.14. Ezek. 32. Joel. 2.3. Sap. 5. the Moon of Understanding (which was wont to be a clearnesse to the darknesse) is utterly darkned with them, and for bright shining, giveth them but lit­tle light; for almost all of them begin to grope, Esa. 59. as if they were blind, by meanes of the thicknesse of the darknesses which have invironed the earth, therefore is the woe of miseries, and the infelicity of unbe­lieving men, come hard by, even at the door.

10. Whosoever therefore rejoyceth him with the unbelieving wicked world, and Jer. 6.8. Ezek. 13. promiseth or pronounceth happinesse, peace, and prosperity unto her or to her Adherents, the same man speaketh lies, who so boasteth him of grace, and yet abideth in his ungodly being, he blasphemeth God in his righteous judgement, Esa. 52. Ezek. 36. Rom. 2. and (with blasphemy) dishonoreth his holy Name. [Page 32]For God, is a God that loveth Righte­ousnesse, and hateth all (yea all) Psal. 5. Prov. 3. ungodly being.

11. He is holy, Lev. 19. 1 Pet. 1. and will have us to be holy also, and that we (to the laud and praise of his glory should 1 Cor. 15. Eph. 4. Col. 3. carry or bear his image and like being, and not the image of the devill, nor the vaine being of the world, wherein we do mock and reproach him.

12. We are called through Jesus Christ and his service of love, unto God, and his upright Righteousnesse, Joh. 15. Phil. 1. because we should bring forth the fruits of God, and not to the devill, through the Antichrist the devills child, by whom we joyne to the world, Sap. 1.2. Joh. 8. 1 Joh. 3. and bring forth the fruits of the devill, whose end or recompence is the e­verlasting condemnation, Mat. 25. Heb. 10. 2 Pet. 3. and the judge­ment of the raging fire, which cometh up­on the wicked world, and all wretched men that despise the Salvation of God, and believe not, that vve ought to live the righ­teousnesse of God, with whole heart, soul, and body.

13. Now this passed over, I hope there are yet many good of will, and contrite of heart, which have a desire to do the will of the Lord, and which do stedfastly believe [Page 33]Gods promises, and hope thereon; and Rom. 8. 1 Cor. 1. Tit. 2. 1 Pet. 1. so vvith patience, wait for the coming of Jesu Christ, to their justifying and delive­ring from their sins, Luk. 11. whereby they might serve God without feare all their life long, in such holinesse and righteousnesse, as are pleasing unto him.

14. Hereunto vve are to have regard, to the intent Gods promises may be to our salvation, Mat. 5. Rom. 2. and not to a rigorous judge­ment on us, as they are threatned to be to the ungodly.

15. If any man therefore count the e­verlasting God true in his promises, let him not look back on that which is past, Luk. 9. Phil. 3. but have regard to that which is to come, and believe God that he will not neglect, but openly shew his Salvation.

16. He will remember his holy Covenant, and Esa. 40.42.60.61.62. Jer. 23 31.33. Ezek. 36.37. be gracious unto his people, and set them up again, according as he hath spo­ken it heretofore Luk. 1. by the mouth of his holy Prophets.

17. Let no man reckon these things vain, or as though nothing shall come or grow of them, that he be not intangled by his blindnesse, as it came to passe heretofore with many, vvhen the Lord would punish the ungodly.

18. At which time, alwaies the most part of people were blinded, Gen. 6.7.18.19. Esa. 6. Sap. 2. and had no re­gard hereunto, before it fell upon them, in such sort, that they could no way escape the vengeance of the wrath of God.

19. Which punishment, God (in sundry sorts) caused to come upon the ungodly, and are all set before us, for example, 1 Cor. 10. that we being mindfull of the things to come, should exercise our selves in the most holi­est belief of godlinesse, to the end we might Heb. 5. find grace before God, and so be preserved from the plagues of the un­godly, Lu. 21. and from the terrible maledicti­on, and horrible end of the last wicked world.

20. Which plagues Dan. 12. Mat. 24. shall be divers and more horrible then aforetime, because the time is otherwise, as being much wickeder, and more manifoldly 4. Esd. 14. Mat. 24. increased in wick­ednesse.

21. For behold, it was another time, and a different punishment upon the mali­ciousnesse of men, when the Lord Gen. 11. con­founded, and scattered the workmen at Babel (after which time of punishment, A­braham Gen. 12. found grace before the Lord) then that time was, when the Lord Gen. 6.7. 2 Pet. 2. pu­nished the world with the floud, before [Page 35]which time of that punishment, Noe with his family, found grace (to be a Remnant) before the Lord.

22. In like manner it was also another time and punishment, upon Sodoma and Gomorra, Gen. 19. 2 Pet. 2. when Lot (the righteous) was lead out thence, and found grace before God, to his preservation.

23. Furthermore, consider the different punishments also of Jerusalem and her In­heritants, how that God punished them for their sins cause, Vide Li­bros Reg. Proph. in locis plu­rimis. neverthelesse, they alwaies which were upright of heart, and turned them from the iniquity, found grace before God.

24. Now, all this aforegoing being set behind, and having regard unto that which is to come, let every one turn him to the Lord, the God of Israel, who hath made heaven and earth, Jer. 18.25.35. Ezek. 14.18. 4 Esd. 14. and put away the ab­ominations of idolatrous phantasies farre from his heart, and so amend his course of life.

25. Let every one love the good out of his whole heart, mind, and thoughts, and take heed of the perversity of the wicked world, wherein all impiety and the most horrible abominations doe bear sway, Mat. 11. Lu. 10.11. whose plagues and punishments shall now [Page 36]in the last time, be (out of measure) much more horrible then any aforementioned, according to the Scripture.

26. Wherefore let every one labour for an upright heart before God and towards his neighbour, Esa. 55. Jer. 29. Heb. 5. and seek of the Lord, to find grace in his sight, whereby to inherite now in this day, the bountifull mercy of God in the preservation of the righteous, that he perish not in the blind errours of the abominable and wicked world.

CHAP. IIII.

OYe wise, who (according to the word of Dan. 7.9.12. Daniel, do regard this, and understand the same, lift now up Luk. 21. your heads, behold Mat. 24. Luk. 21. and consider, for whiles the children of unbelief (which are minded to errour) doe love the darknes­ses more then the light, believe the lies, through their ignorance, rather then the truth: cleave rather to the world and her errour, then to God and his Righteousnesse; and do more incline to the conceiving of their owne cogitati­ons (out of the minde of their flesh) then to the Salvation in the Spirit: Therefore doe they also follow after the same: and estrange their hearts (the longer the more) from the truth, and from the light of life and God­linesse: where through they are now 2 Pet. 2. shut in with bands of darkenesse: withholding and sheltering themselves with their desire, lust, and will, under the workes, of iniquity: where out they gather unto themselves, Rom. 2. a treasure Joh. 3. [Page 38]of wickednesse, for a terrible judgement of Esa. 66. Judith. 16. Eccl. 7. 2 Pet. 3. the violence of the fire of the last plagues, which now doe come over the wicked world, and over all malicious unhappy men.

2. But in the mean time, whiles now the ungodly increase in the worst, the lovers of righteousnesse do contrary-wise increase in the good, be they, who or wheresoever they be, Rom. 6. Col. 3. they die from the evill, and grow up in the good, so as they increase daily more and more in the life of godli­nesse.

3. They depart from the ungodly nature, and do passe into the nature of God and Christ, Rom. 8. and all in the spirit, according to the spirit or mind of the love, and of the requiring of her obedience, for to live the righteousnesse which God esteemeth, and hath promised.

4. These have their sustaining (under the obedience of the love) in the works of righteousnesse, and do wait with patience, Rom. 8. Heb. 10. for the promise which God to-fore hath made, by the mouth Esa. 44.60.62. Jer. 23.31.33. Ezek. 36.37. of his holy Prophets, and to believe God that he is true, and kee­peth his Covenant which he hath made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, (yea, the living God of Jsrael performeth his pro­mises [Page 39]on Rom. 9. Gal. 3. Heb. 2. the Seed of Abraham, even as he hath sworn unto their Fathers, and sheweth thereby that he is their God, and the God of their seed for evermore.)

5. Hereon doe they trust, and towards this do they passe forth in the spirit, through the illumination 2 Pet. 1. of the upright being, which standeth before them in the sight of their hearts, to a continuall joy and conso­lation of all godly men.

6. Behold the risings of both these up, [to wit, of the godlinesse, and of the un­godlinesse] shall in their time be made known, and in two kinds of people Rom. 2. 2 Thes. 1. be­come manifest, that is to say, the godli­nesse, in the well-willers of the righteous­nesse, and the ungodlinesse, in the malici­ous. Let every one that loveth the righte­ousnesse, take now heed to his time; and let him Rom. 13. Eph. 5. not sleep, whiles it is time to wake.

7. Let no man lie still upon his old Couch, in the darknesse, when the day cometh on, and the light shineth bright and cleare (wherethrough men may see and perceive plainly, how to obtain the riches of the good, that the darknesses cover him not, nor the abominations of ungodlinesse o­verwhelm him, and that he be not like the erring ignorant world, or the vain concei­ted [Page 40]wise of the letter-learned, who doe boast much of vvisdome, knovvledge, and righteousnesse; and yet are far from the 1. Cor. 1.3. wisdome of God, and from the righte­ousnesse Rom. 10. that God esteemeth.

8. Therefore labour for an upright heart in the love, that in those daies, vvhen the refreshing Act. 3. cometh from the face of God, to the preservation of the righteous, and when all ungodly being bestirreth and pre­pareth it self to destroying, you may be preserved from the horrible plagues of the ungodly.

9. For Gods righteous judgement shall not be such, as that any man shal be able to hide or to cover himself before it, but it shall disclose and 1 Cor. 4. lay open the counsell of every ones heart, whether they be well-willers unto him or not, and the righteous shall Pro. 17. Zach. 13. Sap. 3. Eccl. 2. through the fire or furnace of humi­lity be purged, cleansed, and purified, even as the fine gold, in the furnace of the Goldsmith.

10. Behold, this is shewed unto you, out of the inclination of love, therfore be war­ned before it come to passe, Mat. 24. Luke 21. 1 Pet. 5. vvatch and pray, cleave to the good, love vvisdome and instruction, and love the light, to the vertue of life, that the Joh. 8.12. sleep and darknes­ses take you not.

11. Use wisdome now ye wise, and you that have understanding Mat. 35. get ye now oyle in your vessells, Esa. 55. it is to be had for nought, which the world in generall, together with the unwise, and such as are without understanding Esa. 5. 4 Esd. Heb. 20. do utterly contemn, e­steem vile, and despise; yea tread under their feet.

12. If therefore any among you be wise and hath understanding, let him esteem of this oyle 1 Joh. 2. or anointing of Salvation, so much the better and the more worth, for it is spoken for a Proverb: When any ware or Merchandise is at lowest value, then will men passe most for it. For then there is greatest vantage and gain to be made and gotten by it.

13. Therefore consider now the time, ye that have understanding; what is there now (I pray you) of smaller value, or what is there lesse accounted of, then the upright vertue, and the godly vvisdome, out of the love? Esa. 59. 4 Esd. 14. for the truth is fallen in the street.

14. She is imprisoned, Mat. 25. vvho visiteth or goeth unto her? she is naked, vvho doth cloath her? she is hungry, who feedeth her? she is thirsty, and vvho giveth her to drink? truly not the erring vvorld: but ra­she [Page 42]crucifieth, Esa. 53. Ier. 20. Sap. 2. and treadeth her under foot, and giveth her bitternesse Psal. 69. and gall to drink, and letteth her lie altogether in prison, and cometh not once at her.

15. The belief blossometh, 4 Esd. 6. her buds are shot forth, but vvho looketh for her fruits, vvho beleeveth that ever they shall come forth, and give a svveet tast, vvhen they have gotten the heat of the Summer, and are become ripe or full grovvn?

16. Therefore pluck not the unripe fruit (to eat) before the time, untill it be through ripe, els shall your teeth Ezek. 18. be dul­led or set on edge, and your mouth be made unrelishable, and unlikeing of the fruit, but vvho hath regard hereunto, or vvho hath knovvledge of this time?

17. The hope Rom. 5. remaineth firme in the Patience, and profereth her treasure of Jam. 5. patience (bountifully) to every one, that no man might be ashamed, but in due time, rejoyce vvith her.

18. But the hasty people, that vvill not tarry the due season, but in the vvinter vvill reap and gather the fruit, and seek for it on the Sabbath, or Mat. 24. Mat. 13.1. Gal. 12. in the barren vvinter, they think not on the treasure of hope.

19. Therefore let us pray for patience, that (in the time of heavinesse) vve may [Page 43]stand fast in hope, and Lu. 21. 2 Cor. 6. Col. 1. Heb. 10. Jam. 1. unto patience commit our souls; but this (I know well) the world in generall is not minded unto: for by her, this treasure and riches of God is contemned, despised and rejected.

20. The love, which hath all these (the truth, beliefe, and hope, clasped in her arms) is inclined to nourish all things with the milk of her concord, which floweth a­bundantly out of her brests, for to unite her self with those (to a concord in the love) whom she imbraceth in the truth, and in the belief and hope: and with all those likewise which love equity and righ­teousnesse.

21. Lo, This is the Christian oyl, and ho­ly unction, and this Mat. 11. Lu. 20. 1 Cor. 1.2.3. neither the world, nor her wise, or letter-learned can a­way with, neither do they esteem the pre­cious treasure of God, as being for them much too base, for there is no pride nor ar­rogancy to be found in it, nor any disputa­tion about the knowledge, nor any wis­dom of the Philosophers.

22. But ye that fear God, and love the upright judgement sincerely, Esa. 1. Jer. 18.25.35. Ezek. 14. put away the bewitching of your hearts, and labour for the oyl of the true vertues.

23. Do not sleep, slumber, nor go to rest [Page 44]or be sluggish, before you have first filled your vessells or Lamps with the oyl of the spirituall and holy understanding.

24. For in time of the midnight, ( Sap. 18. when the darknesses have covered the world, and every one resteth in his sleep) she shall then through the voice of the Bruite, and noise of the sound of the last Trumpet, Esa. 9.60. 2 Pet. 2. shine in the darknesse, as a light, and be esteemed very precious and of great value, among all that are wise; for unto the wise, she shall be for an entrance to the everlasting joy, at that time, there shall none among the wise have too much, nor yet any of them lack any thing.

25. Who so now is wise and well-affe­cted, let him not (like the unwise Virgins) give himself to the sleep or rest, with Mat. 25. emp­ty vessells or lamps that have no oyle in them: for then verily he shall find himself deceived, as the foolish and unwise Vir­gins were.

26. Therefore, ye beloved (you I mean, that have any sight of the Peace, or affecti­on to the good) consider once I pray you, of this present time, how the world, toge­ther with her wise and learned standeth in many contendings and divisions, and all for the knowledges cause and esteem, not [Page 45]above all things the vertue of godlinesse in Jesu Christ, the which thing (I mean to love any thing above the vertue of godli­nesse) is nothing else but an unknowne er­ring darknesse, and a being of the fall, which the world will not know nor be­lieve, because she seeth it not, but walketh in Esa. 59. the darknesses, like the dead, and is also without the light and life which is of God.

27. Wherefore seeing they know not the fall or separation from their God, therefore can they not (though they would never so faine) turne them rightly unto him; the which Esay bewailed in the blind people, when he noted mens fall and separation from their God, saying,

28. We Esa. 59. are in darknesse like the dead, we roare all as bears, and mourne like doves, when we look for equity it is not any where; for health, so is it farre from us; for our transgressions are too many before thee, and our sins answer a­gainst us: for we must needs confesse our transgressions, and know our misdeeds, to wit, our trespassing and lying against the Lord, and our fall or separation from our God, &c.

29. In like manner seeing unto me now [Page 46]in this perillous time, it is indifferently well knowne, that many (albeit they boast them of God) do not yet know the mans trespassing, and lying against the Lord, nor the fall or separation from their God; and do neverthelesse speak much of repen­tance, and converting unto God: there­fore do I also truly note, that in such a state (whilest this is unknown to the man) neither the mans repentance for sin, nei­ther Esa. 55. his conversion to God, neither his praying, is Iam. 4. at all performed aright.

10. But this the man will not under­stand; but in the separation from his God, he will judge of divine things, erect righ­teousnesse, and preach and teach the e­quity, such as in his separation from God, he conceiveth for right, as if it were very righteousnesse: he will also fast and pray, as though his matter (which he intendeth to himself) were upright before God, say­ing, dear Father, dear Master, thou Physiti­an of our soules, vouchsafe to help us, and defend us, and so supposeth that God will not suffer him to come to shame.

31. But what availeth it? all such shall find themselves in darknesse, as the dead, and mourne like the doves, till that they perceive their transgressing, and their sins [Page 47]answer against themselves, and so their trespassing and lying against the Lord be made known unto them, and the off-fallen being from our God.

32. Then shall they say, and confesse, we have looked for equity, and to that pur­pose have preached & taught, if happily it might any where break through or come forth: Esa. 59. howbeit, when we look about every way after it, it is no where to be found, and our righteousnesse vanisheth in it selfe as a shadow, and consumeth it selfe like smoke in the aire, and the salva­tion is farre from us; for we see no­thing before us but sorrow and desola­tion.

33. Now whilest that such things floted unto me, before the eyes of my spirit, and that I saw the sundry blindnesses of men, whereunder they lay bound with igno­rance, through the falling away from their God, (which fall 2 Thes. 2 when I saw it was so deep, and so utterly unknowne, that the children of men were by meanes of it un­wittingly inclosed and covered therein, with many grievous darknesses) I could not find that there were any of all the children of men, that were the upright people of the Lord, or such as walked in [Page 48]the true light and upright love of Christ, or had continued in the truth of God.

34. Wherefore I found no confidence in my selfe, that any of all the children of men had been rightly turned unto God and his Christ, againe, or that Gods holy Ministerie and Service of Love, through his true Christ (according to the promises) had had passage among any.

35. But rather I have found at this present time, among the children of men, sundry kinds of boasting, much brawling, contending, wrangling, and discord, con­cerning God and Christ; which contenti­on and discord came principally hereof, that every particular faction would in their blindnesse, and off-fallen being or se­paration from Christ, and without the true light of the love of Jesu Christ, be the people of God, and communalty of Christ, and make others contemptible and odious.

36. For when of the one side it was said, we are the holy Church, the Congre­gation of Christ, Mat. 24. Mark. 13. Luk. 17. it was answered on the other side, nay, we are it, and ye are Antichristians, a Congregation of the De­vill, and of the unbelief.

37. Againe, it was further said by some [Page 49]others, behold, this is it which God requi­reth, we have the right use of the Ceremo­nies, we are Gods people, the holy Israel, and have the true faith of Christ; where­unto also it was said again to the contra­ry by others, nay, ye are heretikes, decei­vers, and murtherers of soules: and thus every one stood for his Religion, out of contention against others, and not out of love to the unity of heart with each other.

38. In these sundry sorts of debate and discord, every particular faction was by their consorts and adherents, estee­med holy, and all other to be erring, blind: the ones Teacher to be of the De­vill, or out of the bottomlesse pit, the others againe to be a spirit of Be­lial.

39. After such a manner have I found many of them, and they were yet all Chri­stians, as themselves said: whereby there arose up Mat. 24. great contention, hatred, and envy among many, and all about Christ, in such sort, that divers of them contended for that, which they themselves knew not, even as the blind do, that strive about the judging of a thing, whether it be white or blacke, whilest yet themselves [Page 50]cannot discerne the colours of the same; but because men say unto them, this is white, therefore they say so too, not ha­ving at all any sight of it.

40. In like sort there were many also, unto whom men said, there is a God, Eph. 4. and a Christ, or they read themselves so, and thereout assumed the saying unto them­selves, and took it upon them, that they conceived and understood the same very rightly, and that so they knew God and Christ well. But seeing in the truth, they knew not that which they spake of God and Christ, Eph. 4. and that they had not the forme of God or Christ in them, and for that cause could not discerne the same; therefore doubtlesse they contended there­of like the blind.

41. Among which sundry strifes and dissentions, some also laboured (by strong persecution) to reproach, revile, pursue, and root out or kill others that were not of one understanding with them, for the confession of their God, and for their beliefs cause; which persecution very many did suffer. Briefly, there hath been every where so sore betraying among many, Mat. 24. that they have delivered up to the persecution and slaughter even one ano­ther of themselves.

42. But of all these sundry factions, my conceiving was, that they which suffe­red persecution for righteousnesse sake, and for conscience, which they had to­wards God and his righteousnesse, were neerest unto the truth; neverthelesse, the one condemned and blasphemed the o­ther, so well they that were persecuted, as those which were the persecutors: and upon many came feare and anguish, with much perplexity and distresse of heart, and great sorrow (for lack of understan­ding) over-whelmed many of the children of men, in such sort, that they came to great misery.

43. There arose also many sorts of Se­ctaries with severall Lawes, Doctrines, Ordinances and Institutions, Jer. 8. n. 25. Ezek. 13. every of which would maintaine his owne to be Gods requiring and appointment, Supra. 1. and the consciences of men were (to obedi­ence) drawn to the same, and bound therein, and every one loved and earnestly affected his own.

44. I espied likewise many offences, and many abuses, with sundry erroneous misunderstandings, among the children of men, by means whereof I was often in heavinesse, because I was not joyned with [Page 52]men, in the upright forme of godly living, and because they erred so ignorantly eve­ry where.

45. And so in all this (because many of them gave so high respect to their owne wisdome) I tryed and examined their un­derstandings, and therein earnestly noting and observing whereon the wisdome of many men was grounded, I found and per­ceived, that they which were best spoken, and could over-bear or stop the mouth of others, with hidden reasons or subtil argu­ments, and words of Scripture, those were in their owne opinion, the stoutest and valiantest men.

46. Who so moreover, could in such sort (as it is said) out-brave, catch, or in­trap others, and knew how to propound and defend their owne ground in godliest and amplest manner, those were esteemed of their complices for the wisest, and on them stood all their wisdomes grounded.

47. Yet found I amongst them all many well-willing hearts, that had a zeale to the good, but because of the mis­understanding which was found among many, and wherewith they were driven into much ignorance, and they perceiving the same, therefore ( Mat. 24. with many of them) [Page 53]even the same zeale was waxen cold, and that is lamentable, specially because in their zeal, they had not turned them up­rightly to the waies and doctrines of the holy Fathers.

CHAP. V.

BUt in the mean time whilest I conside­red and scanned all this (inasmuch as [Page 54]I laboured for that which is right) I found my self oftentimes, through considerati­on of the mans weaknesse, and of his ig­norant zeal to the righteousness and truth, in great anguish of heart, and in l [...]ke man­ner there were others more in the same case with me.

2. And I was sorry for the people, be­cause many of them had so ignorant a zeale, and were bewitched with so many sorts of blindnesse, and vaine imaginati­ons, and I was oft times very unquiet in my mind, because I could not know any of the children of men, whom I might be­lieve, or account for the people of God, such as stood in the stock of the righteous­nesse of Abraham, or did Phil. 1. preach Christ, out of the nature of the love.

3. For I grew suspicious, jealous, and distrustfull of all flesh, yea, of my selfe al­so; for in my humane disposition after the flesh, I found oft times no power at all, to enter into the Rom. 7. vertue of righteousnesse, in any such sort, as by Gods heavenly Revelation (which came unto me from God in the Spirit) I had observed the same.

4. Howbeit many of the children of men looked not into the vertue of the righte­ousnesse, [Page 55] according to the truth; but were bewitched in their understanding and thoughts, bearing a zeal unto that which was not of God, and which did nothing further them to the righteousnesse: and therein was my humane understanding a­fore-times somewhat distressed, whilest I sought the righteousnesse among the chil­dren of men, where it was not to be found.

5. But the Lord (out of his grace) hath shewed much mercy on me, and through his heavenly revelation, and manifesting of his truth, hath inlightned my understan­ding, and pulled my spirit unto him; his goodnesse leads me, and his Spirit vouch­safes to strengthen me in the Service of Love, that I may declare unto the man that which is most profitable for him to live in, to the establishing of the Word, which God afore-times hath spoken out of his truth, and according as he hath promised Luk. 1. by the mouth of his holy Pro­phets, to the blessing and salvation of all people.

6. Then forasmuch as I have seen the misery of men, and do know the contra­ry nature to God, and that moreover, the good being of God, and the salvation of men is out of Gods grace, appeared unto [Page 56]me in my sight; therefore have I set forth certaine writings out of the same know­ledge of the good being, and of the sal­vation of men, (so farre as in my under­standing I could reach unto the same, and as the Lord revealed unto me) that the mans bewitched understanding and thoughts might be made known unto him, and so he might regard Phil. 4. what were right and reasonable, and what were meet and profitable.

7. And those writings (according to the appointment of God, and testimony of his holy Word) we have now renewed a­fresh in the land of the living, and so through the true light of the godly wis­dome, and of the holy Spirit of Love, ex­pressed them more plainly, and written them again with the assistance of the prin­cipall Elders and Ministers of the holy Word in the Family of Love.

8. Which writings (that every one both small and great of understanding, might be satisfied, and none have any oc­casion to blaspheme the truth, but that they might all be minded to 2 Cor. 1. Eph. 4. the unity of heart in the love) we have (out of the loves inclination) placed together with cleer distinction, and compiled them to a Glasse [Page 57]of righteousnesse, to the end men might the more easily (in their understanding) comprehend and mark the reason of our hope, for to cheer up thereby the mind of man to the good, and out of the inclinati­on of love) to refresh and strengthen him with good courage, to draw him to a right discerning of the upright wisdome; and for that he should then be zealous with good understanding, and labour for that, vvhich continueth for ever.

9. All that same (so far as we disc [...]n it, and as God hath permitted unto us) we shew and declare with full instruction (in this Introduction to the holy understanding of the Glasse of Righteousness, and principally in the book it self) setting down, wherein the man ought to stand comprehended, whence the happinesse of our life cometh unto us, what manner of one the upright 1 Cor. 12. Congregation of Christ is, and how that the ministration, and service of the holy word, 1 Cor. 13. ought to have passage out of love.

10. For this is the service of the graci­ous word, Jer. 29. promised in the last time, to wit, that all those vvho have any longing after the love and concord, or do hope thereon, should be stirred up to the same, to the intent, that all they which seeke [Page 58]Christ, might with one consent cleave to the love and her service, and walk in all love, for that is the peace Eph. 2. prepared for us by Christ, if so be we have any desire to the love, and to the true peace.

11. And thereunto, even for the unities sake in the love, is my service to all lovers of the truth, that the destruction of heart might once cease, that every one might have the love before his eyes, that the ser­vice of the love and word of truth, might have passage without hindrance, and that so all sentences which bear witnesse to the truth, might according to the truth be judged impartially.

12. True it is, that my spirit is well dis­posed hereunto [even that the bewitching of many mens hearts might be done away, and the calling of the Gentiles rightly be discerned and understood, according to the truth] to the end all matters apper­taining to the righteousnesse, might out of love, be discerned and understood impar­tially, (with an unbewitched spirit, and an unbound heart, according to the truth, but inasmuch as I find little upright judge­ment among the children of men, as ha­ving much more inclination Jer. 7.11.13.18. to their own sense, and to their own Rom. 10. righteousnesse, [Page 59]then to the truth and righteousnesse which God accepteth, also a more inclination to their ovvn self-chosen communalty, then to the unity of heart, in the service of love, therefore is my heart many times not sa­tisfied nor contented with the judgement of men.

13. For I find apparently by experience that the man is in his judgement altoge­ther partially minded in every respect, and setteth his affection to this, or to that, vvhich tendeth not to concord, but much rather to strife, and hath very little respect to the love, vvhereby he might out of the love, have regard to the truth of the soveraign good impartially, but [common­ly] he will have the same bound, or tyed to one thing or another, vvherewith she is not of one being, vvhereas the truth is free, and in her upright being, abideth undivi­ded for ever, Gen. 1. Pro. 6. Sap. 9. vvhereby also every thing vvas made, and vvhereby all elementish things have their right ministration, and she shrinketh avvay from none.

14. But if vve have regard unto her, then shall the true understanding [through the raising up of the image or like being of God in us] be discovered unto us, and the meaning of the knowledges be unlocked, to [Page 60]wit, after what sort God is the Esa. 9. Lord, King, Saviour, and Prince of us all, name­ly, of those that are upright of heart, and do joyn themselves to his love, and her ser­vice.

15. Therefore, O ye upright hearts, which have the true sight of the good be­ing of God or Christ, and do well discerne and understand the promises of God, and do moreover sincerely love the upright righteousnesse from his heart, judge the matter your selves, Joh. 7. with rightfull judge­ment, and understand the meaning aright.

16. Consider deeply, the godly testi­monies of our writings, which (out of the inclination of love, we have set forth, and pointed out for a Glasse of Righteousnesse, and endeavour you thereunto (even to ob­tain the same upright righteousnesse) obe­diently, and then to administer the same unto every one of them also, that love the truth and righteousnesse, to the intent the righteousnesse and life, may out of love, be be administaed according to the truth unto all people, to their Salvation.

17. Thus let every one passe on to the same upright life, which is set forth there­in, and reach one another the hand, to the Eph. 4. unity of heart in the love, and glasse your [Page 55]selves daily in the Glasse of Righteous­nesse, and be you cleansed of the spots of unrighteousnesse, whereby with pure hearts you may inherit the same life in the Love.

18. And whom you know to have any desire to the beautifulnesse of vertue, and to the unity of heart with us, under the obedience of the Love, unto them deny not the same Glasse also; and so in all things love ye the fairnesse of vertue, and of the pure Love.

19. But if any man thinketh that there is any thing set forth in the Glasse of Righte­ousnesse, which is not sutable with the truth, or whereon Moses, the Prophets, and the Apostles of Christ have not wit­nessed, or that should not tend to the Love, let him there stay himselfe, and not blaspheme, but rather aske the mean­ing, and so tarry his time 1 Cor. 4 till a further inlightning, that he may discerne it all by the true light of the eternall truth, as agreeably minded with the love, where­unto we bear witnesse.

20. Wherefore (O ye dearly beloved) looke to your selves, and destroy not your selves through your own know­ledge; for our service of love is for a [Page 56]furtherance unto you all, to a distinguish­ing between the truth and lies, to the end, that every vain conceit, and every bewitch­ed imagination might be taken out of the hearts of men, and the good seed of life Mat. 13. Luk 8. obtain his fruitfulnesse in us, to all laud, honour, and praise of the Almighty, and to all love and concord amongst each other, and that all together, to one man­ner, congregation, Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 2.4. house, temple, or ta­bernacle of the one unseparated Spirit of Christ, and to a life of blessednesse unto all people.

21. Now if any man be thus minded with us, and be comprehended with us in the judgement of the truth, and in the love impartially, or if he have any desire to judge uprightly, or would faine be knit in one consent with us in the love, whereby he might judge uprightly, according to the truth, let him then in like manner with us, have respect unto the Esa. 28. ballance of equity, and set or hold himselfe with us, according to the stock of the upright love and truth, impartiall under the obedience of the Love, and so also with us, set the the truth free, not as tied hereto, or thereto, wherewith she is not of one being, forasmuch as the true God Jesus Christ, [Page 57]and the holy Ghost is so untied also.

22. For the true being of the eternall truth, is a free majesty of the high God­head, an Sap. 7. Heb. 1. everlasting stedfast power, life and mightinesse; likewise the same true being comprehendeth all that is in heaven, in earth, and under the earth, and is not it selfe comprehended either of this or of that, wherewith it is not co-essential, neither is it tied thereunto; for it is, and remaineth an everlasting, living, and free unclosed up fountain of wisdome, where­with we all ought to be of one being, and to live therein.

23. Lo, this is our sight concerning the life, which we do freely declare even without partiality; as also that God is a living, everlasting, and undivided God, and that he is not onely a God of the Jewes, but also of the Gentiles, that is to say, a Act. 10. Rom. 10. Gal. 3. Eph. 4. God of all people that love his righ­teousnesse, that joyne themselves to his love, and her Service, and that have a desire to do his will.

24. But to be separated from the same highest God, and from his love and her Service, is the middle wall, the sin and the darknesse Esa. 50. Eph. 2. between God and the man, and it maketh manifest and knowne, [Page 58]that the same sinne is the fall and de­struction of the inward manhood from his God; whereout also all wickednesse and the sundry sorts of dissention and dis­cord are come into the world: But to know the same, and to be incorporated a­gaine with God, under the obedience of the love, is the salvation, and bringeth in­to us againe the unity of heart in the peace.

25. Behold the same God of whom we beare witnesse, and which bringeth unto us the true salvation and peace out of his love, and out of the obedience to the re­quiring of her service is the onely God of life, whose hand hath made all that is, he is the true being, wherein the spirit of men ought to be incorporated and groun­ded; and we bear record that he even the same God is only the Lord, who also was in times past praised of the righteous, in Israel, Psal. 118. Esa. 28. 1 Pet. 2. as the rock of their salvation.

26. Whilst then the people of Israel afore-times were grounded upon the same onely God, they served no Idolls, neither did they choose any thing for Gods besides their God, nor yet tied them­selves to any other thing, but did celebrate, and glorifie the same living God, as the [Page 59]King, Lord, and God of all the world, and declared his righteousnesse as the word of life, Deut. 30 Rom. 10. and shewed the same unto the man, and called him thereunto, that all knees might bow themselves before the same God, Esa. 45. Phil. 2. and that all hearts of men might fear, honor, and only serve him.

27. Now where the word of life (to Gods glory and mens salvation) was here­tofore thus ministred, Act. 2.3 4.5. &c. and God then gave his blessing and increase for a fruit­fulnesse of his Word through the belief, there was also the same Word ministred out of Love by the Ministers thereof, namely to the believers, for their strength­ning and growing up in the Word; and in like manner they held forth the same Word of life according to his worthinesse unto the little, young, and weak ones, to cheer up their hearts thereunto and to confirme them in the holy being of the same Word, that such an holy being of God might have Gal. 4. a sure forme in them, and all people might with their tongues, laud and praise God.

28. Behold, this same holy being of God, is the true life of the holy Ghost, which heretofore God wrought among [Page 60]his people Israel, and likewise Joel 2. Acts 2. among the Gentiles that feared his name; and the same is promised afterward to be given in the Esa. 2.3.9.25.32.35. &c. last daies.

29. This same being of God is indeed the right food of the soule, and bread of life, and is Ioh. 6. descended unto us from hea­ven for a life to the man, and was hereto­fore 1 Cor. 10 11. broken and distributed to the peo­ple of Israel and Dicsples of Christ, to feed on in their souls.

30. And this same bread which they brake, fed on, or eat, 1 Cor. 10 is the Commu­nion of the Body of Christ, which Christ is Eph. 1.4.5. the Head, Lord, and Master of his Congreation, saving Mat. 1. & redeeming his people from their sins, and the cup where­of they drank, 1 Cor. 10 is the Communion of the blood of Christ.

31. This same bread which was given unto them, is the true meat-offering of Christ, namely, his body; Mat. 26. Mat. 14. Luk. 22. 1 Cor. 11. and this cup which was powred forth unto them is the true shedding of his blood, the which is the out-flowing of the holy Word or Spi­rit of Christ, upon all believers of Christ, to everlasting life.

32. Even thus did the Disciples of Jesu Christ eat of his flesh, and drinke of his [Page 61]blood, to the forgivenesse of their sins unto him, [namely to Christ] for an incorpo­rating, and unto them [namely to the be­lievers of Christ] for a life: and so then had they their fellowship 1 Joh. 1. with the same Christ, and with his Father, and were flesh 1 Cor. 12. of his flesh, and bone of his bones.

33. Behold that same bread or body of Christ, is the word that became flesh, Joh. 1. and it dwelt amongst them, and they saw 2 Pet. 1. 1 Joh. 1. his glory, as a glory of the onely born Son of the Father full of grace and truth.

34. And that same is the new Testament, Jer. 31. Heb. 8.10. which God (in those daies) made and ap­pointed with his people, Act. 2. Tit. 3. and he powred out his spirit plenteously on them, Apo. 12. and did let them see his Ark in the heaven, sent down his holy Jerusalem unto them, Apo. 21. and shewed them the Temple of his holy dwel­ling ( Act. 7.17. which is not made with mens hands, but which he had prepared for him­self) according as he promised to the house of Israel and to the house of Juda, and the same is published to the Gentiles, for a joy­full message.

35. The same bread, which was sent down unto them from heaven, was hereto­fore broken, and distributed also to the Gentiles, as it is now unto us, there was [Page 62]also 1 Cor. 11. powred forth unto them, of the cup of Christ: and God did likewise shed sorth the same spirit of Christ, Act. 10.11.13. upon the Gen­tiles, and (through the belief) justified their hearts from the sin, for a Esa. 2.42.56.60.61.66. Jer. 23.33. Joel. 2. Zach. 2.8.13. serting up of the banner of righteousnesse unto them, accor­ding as God had avouched and promised the same to the Gentiles aforetimes, by the mouth of his Prophets.

36. Loe, such things doth God work, through his ministration of the holy Ghost, and it is the true service in the obedience of the love, and in this very sort my sight is, that it shall come to passe in the last daies, when God setteth up again the house of Israel according to his promises, and not according to any humane Ordinance or in­vention, which the man bringeth forth out of his witty dexterity, or knowledge, or out of his letter-learned wisdome, where­with the ignorant ones (who understand not Gods promises) are taken captive or tyed, and with the bondage of heart through mens doctrine and wisdome, car­ried into a made holinesse, and fed there­with, but not unto the word of life, or shedding forth of the Holy Ghost from the living father; the most highest, nor yet fed with it.

37. O no [ye deerly beloved] God Esa. 42. gi­veth not that honour unto any creature. It is also no mans work nor power, through mans invention, but the work and power of the Lord, through his gracious word, in the service of his love, that so they might all according to the promises, Esa. 54. Joh. 6. be taught of God, and all know him, from Jer. 31. the least to the greatest.

CHAP. VI.

BUt this service out of the love, and this administration of the true bread or living word, where it is appeared out of the true God, is administred among the unlightned, by the Elders and illuminated men in the family of the love of Jesu Christ, [...]o Esa. 40.42.61. Jer. 1.20. Mat. 28. Mar. 16. prepare and make meet the unlight­ [...]ed, for to receive the true light of Christ [Page 62] [...] [Page 63] [...] [Page 64]and the gifts of his holy Spirit, yea the same ministration, is even Gods Ordinance, where 1 Cor. 3. God is the worker, but not els, and then the illuminated man [who is grown up under the obedience of the love, Eph. 4. to the old age of the holy understanding, or of the man Christ] Joh. 15 Act. 1.2. is a witnesse and serviceable instrument thereof, but the bles­sing or increase [which is the spirit of the living Word] 1 Cor. 3. must God give, through which righteous spirit, or spirit of promise, Act. 15. 1 Cor. 6. God justifieth our hearts from the sinne, through the belief.

2. Lo, hereof have I written heretofore, and do now still bear witnesse to the same, but who believeth the truth? or who hath any regard unto Gods promises, to wait [with long sufferance, and with a firme confidence in God] for such things to come, and [in the obedience to the requi­ring of the service of love] to hope for them? and my conceiving in the truth, and mine understanding, is even yet no other­wise, neither can I otherwise discern, but that God will thus [in his time] bring forth his work, to an everlasting peaceable living in the love, according to his promi­ses.

3. Notwithstanding, if it be not so, as I [Page 65][through the holy spirit of the love of Jesu Christ] do according to the life de­scribe it, or that Gods working [according to his promises] be not in such wise promi­sed, also that such a life of peace as we bear record of, should not be to come, or that men should not [under the obedience of the love] hope for it, according to the promises; Let any man give judgement of it, according to the truth, for every one that loveth righteousnesse, he intendeth doubtlesse the Salvation, after his best meaning.

4. But if on the other side [O all ye which observe these things] the Lord hath open­ed the door of understanding unto you, or hath Eph. 1. enlightned your understanding, and that ye conceive that we have set forth and described the life of righteousnesse, and the service which leadeth thereunto, according to the truth, then verifie the same, to the unity of heart in the love, and to one un­derstanding of the true belief in Jesu Christ, one with another, and so Eccl. 6. then give your selves obediently to the same service of love, and to our communion of the living God, in one faith, and in one fa­miliarity 1 Pet. 1. of upright brotherly love, to the end the true belief, and the right obe­dience [Page 66]of the love, may among us all which love the righteousnesse, 4 Esd. 6. grow and blos­some [in all concord] in a sure hope to Gods promises, and that the righteous in the love, may become many.

5. Els if you think, that we have concei­ved of the truth amisse, or if in any point it be too slenderly set forth, then give testi­mony thereof with a meek spirit, and so help forward the unity of heart, in the o­bedience of the love, and think no evill of it, neither blaspheme it, for in such a sort we stand pliable to examine the truth, where­by [out of love] we may cleave thereun­to; and so receive the explanation of the truth, in that wherein we know it not a­right, for the wisdome of the truth in a gentle and meek spirit Pro. 3.8. Sap. 7. is the most preci­oust treasure, that a man can find.

6. But one that covereth himself in his evill conceiving, and thereby thinketh to be wise, and one which hath a tongue that slandereth, and an heart which is envious or wrath against any, he is not to be com­mended. Moreover an arrogant heart, which with contempt of another, hath a pleasure, in his own understanding, or which standeth partiall in the testimony of the truth, or an heart that turneth it [Page 67]self away from the concord of the service of love, and cleaveth to the vain conceited flesh and bloud, and taketh part therewith, that same can in no wise judge rightly.

7. Therefore judge with faithfulnesse and truth, and not with favour or disfa­vour, nor yet with reviling or despite, least any man judge out of such a disposition, as they aforetimes did, that were the confe­derates of the high-Priest, and smote the mouth of the wisdome on his face, Joh. 18. say­ing with arrogant minds and malicious hearts, wilt thou answer the High-Priest so?

8. Behold howsoever it be meet, and Gods Ordinance that men should learn the Law, Mal. 2. out of the mouth of the Priests, and the wisdome Eccl. 6.8. of the Elders, or principal­lest of understanding, yet is such dealing an unreasonablenesse, and against the Law, al­so against the wisdome, and against the love which God requireth.

9. Wheresoever therefore men deal after that manner, or with such partiality, (though it seemeth to be some righteous­nesse, holinesse, or wisdome) there deem we not, the true High-Priest, nor any El­ders of the holy understanding, nor yet the Law of the Lord, nor wisdome of God to be.

10. Therefore ought men to stand im­partiall with the heart in Gods upright be­ing, and so to set forth the Salvation, out of the love and her service, for many seek it ignorantly, and through lack of wisdome, they go into waies, where it is not to be found.

11. But if any man love the salvation and wisdome from his heart, let him sub­mit himself to the love and her service, and so then in obeying of the requiring of the service of love, let him be familiar, Col. 3. 1 Pet. 3. brotherly, kind-hearted, chast, meek, gen­tle, sober, patient, or long suffering, lowly of heart, and friendly, for that is a blessed­nesse Jam. 3. and wisdome, which is not earthly of the earth or of men, but onely of God, the fountain of grace, full of all wisdome, and he distributeth her unto every one, that feareth, seeketh, and loveth him, for there is none only wise, nor onely good, Mat. 19 Luk. 18. but God, who onely is the Lord, and the ever­lasting wisdome it self.

12. Therefore speaketh the mouth of the wisdome, and saith, Mat. 18. where two or three of you be gathered together in my Name, there am I amongst you, and in the midst of you, Deut. 17.19. Mat. 18. Joh. 8. for in the mouth of two or three witnesses, all matters shall be judged, [Page 69]and be rightly known out of the true wis­dome.

13. But not of such, as (with subtilty of the knowledge, do enquire daily thereafter of another, or with wittinesse and reason do search or sound deeply for it, whereby to discern the matters of understanding, touching things divine, out of the know­ledge. O no! but Esa. 57.66. Sap. 1.6. Mat. 11. 13. 1 Cor. 2. of those that are lowly of heart, and have not studied nor searched for any knovvledge, Bccl. 6. 1 Pet. 1.5. but (with a desire) do humble their hearts to the obeying of the requiring of the holy vvord, and his service of love, for to do the will of the Lord.

14. Lo, such are upright wise-ones, and lovers of wisdome, upon whom also the wisdome ariseth, as a light, whose judge­ments agree in one understanding, and do tend or reach to one upright being.

15. O God, that the hearts of men were yet once rightly humbled before thee, and thy service of love, and were partakers of thy holy wisdome, that so they might live in thee.

16. O holy Rom. 11. bottomlesse depth of the everlasting godly wisdome, who can suffici­ently praise thy vertue?

17. Thou surmountest Sap. 7. all humane un­derstanding; therefore can no man com­passe [Page 70]nor inclose thee, for thou abidest for ever with the Godhead essentially.

18. In thee is Sap. 7. the holy Ghost, and the perfection.

19. Through thee is the earth grounded, Psal. 33. Pro. 8. the heavens are made through thee, and without thee, Joh. 8. there is nothing made that is any thing.

20. Thou art Joh. 8.9. the light of the world, the way of the righteous, Joh. 14. the truth of God, Gen. 2. Prov. 3. 4 Esd. 8. Apo. 2. and a tree of life.

21. Thou refreshest all them that are burdened and laden, if they do but come unto thee, Mat. 11. for thy yoke is easie, and thy burden light to bear.

22. Thou distributest forth knowledge and understanding, Prov. 8. Sap. 6. whereby the Lands are preserved, and wherethrough the peo­ple are protected.

23. But he that forsaketh thee, and lo­veth thee not, cometh into misery and de­struction.

24. Oh that they all had tasted a little of the wisdome of God, then would there be no strife or dissention.

25. Wherefore do the Lands perish, and wherefore come the people into so much vvofulnesse and miserie? wherefore com­eth the desolation, the division, and [Page 71]the abomination over the world? where­fore doth the man believe the lying, rather then 2 Thes. 2. the truth? wherefore is the man be­witched with vain God-services, and wrap­ped with so many sorts of vaine imaginati­ons? vvherefore do men come into such false freedome, and loosenesse of heart, that they will in no vvise be obedient to the requiring of Gods truth, and of his ser­vice of Love, and so draw away others, from the first entrance of the Christian life? wherefore do certain come also into such intanglement of heart, as that they give over themselves therein to a bon­dage, and not to a deliverance from the sinne, under the obedience of the love? why do the people strive, and use craft and violence one against another? why are Esa. 1. Jer. 5. Ezek. 22. Mal. 3. not the simple ones rescued or defended; why is there no righteousnesse, Hos. 4. faithful­nesse, truth, nor love to be found? where­fore do dissensions, holinesse, dissimula­tion, hatred, vvrath, jangling, slander, bat­tell, warre, Mat 24. 2 Tim. 3. betraying, and all deceivea­blenesse, reign among the children of men? but because there is no wisdome Jam. 1. of God, nor any equity or righteousnesse loved, out of impartiall love, but every one walketh and liveth Jer 7. [...]1. in his self-mindednesse, every where.

26. We find indeed some men, that ima­gine and seek their wisdome, in the knowledge of all things, thinking that the garnished speech of knowledge, the utterance of flowred words, and to have a golden tongue is the wisdome, but many are beguiled, and have been seduced thereby.

27. For that same, and to labour for such things, or to have regard thereunto, is not the wisdome which God requireth of us; for he desireth not that the man should toil or trouble himself therewith, howsoever the reason through his pre­sumptuous imagination, searcheth most of all after it, contrary to Gods appoint­ment.

28. But this Gdoth od require, lowlinesse of heart to Mich. 6. bow unto him, and his Ordi­nance, and to have a desire and a delight to do his will, and to be obedient to the requiring of his love.

29. That truly is a wisdome of understan­ding, which bringeth forth the peace in righteousnesse, and which Sap. 9. Salomon pray­ed for.

30. But forasmuch now as the man doth not rightly labour for this upright wis­dome, nor yet from the heart desireth [Page 73]such things, and that now every understan­ding hath in the knovuledge, out of the first born Adam, corrupted his way to­wards the wisdome, as all flesh did, Gen. 6. in the time of Noe, in such sort, that one can now find few, that have any understanding or knowledge of the upright wisdome, there­fore is also the end of the knowledge, and of all the wisdome of the flesh, come before the Lord.

31. For out of the knowledge and wis­dome of the flesh, are grievous errours come into the world, to a great misery, af­fliction, sorrow, and heavinesse over the children of men, for the 4 Esd. 14. Mat. 24. wickednesse hath the upper hand, and her end, or the ripe­nesse of her harvest 4 Esd. 4. shall be out of mea­sure horrible, it shall assuredly come so to passe, vvhether it be believed or not.

32. Wherefore heare and understand, ye deerly beloved, if so be we love the upright wisdome, and desire to obtaine, or to inherit the same, then may vve not seek nor desire to inherit her, in the knowledge of our corrupt understanding, nor yet take upon us in the same, any judgement of [...]he light, for in our corrupt understan­ding, and whilest we are yet Eph. 4. estran­ged from God, or are not wholly incor­porated [Page 74]into his Christ, according to the inner man, so long doth God require of us, no wisdome nor judgement of the light, but 1 Pet. 1. the obedience of his word, and service of love, which leadeth us to the wisdome, and to the light of the divine clearnesse.

33. For that cause, it is before all things most needfull for us, that we first come to the knowledge of our selves, through the service of the holy word under the obedi­ence of the love, Esa. 59. and have sorrovv for our estranging from the upright being, Mat. 3. Luk. 3. Act. 2.3. and so shew repentance and amendment for the sin, which hath brought forth unto us in our members, the Rom. 5. death or the dying away from God, and so (in long sufferance) hope and comfort our selves, on the avouching of the promises, concerning the coming of the living word from on high, Rem. 12. Eph. 4. to a renewing of our spirit and mind, and to a restoring of all, Act. 3. that God hath spoken through the mouth of all his holy Prophets, to the end that (with single hearts) we might o­bediently be incorporated 2 Pet. 1. into the nature of God, or of his Christ, vvho is the true light, the upright wisdome, and the life of our salvation it self, and so know and [Page 75]livingly feel the form of Christ, Gal. 2.3.4. not with­out us, but in us, and 1 Cor. 15. carry or bear the I­mage of the Almighty God, whereunto the man was created from the beginning.

34. Behold to inherit that same true be­ing, of God and Christ in our inwardnesse, is the upright wisdome, Jam. 3. which is humble, meek, gentle, and friendly, in which the true light also is known and inherited, and whereout men judge uprightly.

35. To this wisdome is our calling, and thereunto are we bidden, through the service of the doctrines and writings of the Apostles of Christ 1 Pet. 1. 1 Joh. 1. vvho have published in the world, such a life as is ever­lasting.

36. If then we believe in Christ, so as the Scripture saith, then shall not the upright wisdome remain separated from us, but have her form in us, and Joh. 4.7. flow from our body, as a river of living wa­ters.

37. But now is this upright wisdome, Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 1.2. hidden or unknown before all flesh, also before the devill, before the world, and be­fore all her wise and letter-learned ones.

38. Also, she is not to be learned in any schools, through any study in the know­ledges, not found by any manner tongues [Page 76]or languages; but she riseth as a light, upon those, who in the Doctrine of Wis­dom, & of her service of Love, are low and humble of heart, Esa. 57.66. poor of Spirit, willing to the good, Sap. 1.7. and not subject to the lust­fulnesse of the sin.

39. Therefore speaketh the mouth of the Wisdome, saying, Mat. 11. I thank thee, O Father of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden this same from the wise and lear­ned in the Letter, and hast made it knowne to the little and lowly.

40. Yea, it hath alwaies so pleased the Father to make the lowly contrite hearts, partakers of the gifts of his holy wis­dome.

CHAP. VII.

INasmuch as I now have perceived the fall or estranging of men from this ho­ly wisdome, and what a wicked nature, and crafty heart they have, or in what spi­rituall bewitching they stand, that account themselves for wise, and yet are strangers to the godly wisdome, which is according to the Love, and the requiring of her Service; therefore could I not give credit unto any of them as true wise ones, or upright Christians, although they boasted them of Gods wisdome, or gave our themselves for a Christian Congrega­tion.

2. For through mistrustfulnesse the fear of my heart was, that the Christianity was not so good or upright among the Chil­dren of men, as they made boast of, or that it might yet not be for all that the right Christianity, or that her Ministration was not yet proceeded out of the right stock of the Love.

3. Whilest then that they were yet un­knowne unto me in such sort, that I could [Page 78]credit no man for his boasting, fair speak­ing, nor profoundnesse, or deep know­ledge: and that out of Gods grace, and his heavenly revelation, there was granted me to see the good being of the Christia­nity, and that the same stood before me in the sight of my spirit, whereafter my hope and longing was, as also we have said be­fore: therefore out of the inclination of love, am I occasioned to shew openly, and to set forth a Glasse of Righteousness, whereby to make knowne before all eyes of understanding (that glasse themselves therein) the good and upright being of the true Christianity, and what our calling is through Jesus Christ by the Word of the preaching of the Apostles of Christ, and whereby also to lay open the understan­ding, Eph. 3. whereon we are to set our hope, what manner life the Prophecies doe stretch unto, wherein Gods promises are to be established, and what manner ones they be, or ought to be, that are the upright Congregation of the Christia­nity.

4. This verily have I (through Gods grace, Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 3. which is given unto me) plainly expressed in Letters, according to the life of the upright Christianity; namely, ac­cording [Page 79]to the upright forme, even as I behold the same in the vision of the truth, through Gods heavenly Revelation which is Rom. 16. Eph. 1.3. Col. 1. 2 Tim. 1. appeared and revealed unto me, Eccl. 24.33. see­king therein the salvation of all men, and not mine owne only; for therefore to the end, that all controversie might now be ended, and that it might be knowne what the true Christianity is, I have impartially noted or described in Letters, the upright being of the Christianity, and also in like manner the true teaching-office of the Mi­nistration of the holy Word, in the obe­dience of the love of Jesu Christ.

5. If now any man have right in his matter, concerning the Christianity, or if any man minister the office of the holy Word rightly, in the obedience of the love of Jesu Christ, according to the pro­mises, he will also keep it, and will like­wise very willingly unite himselfe with us, in the obedience of the Love of Jesu Christ, for I desire not with my writing, to be­reave any man of the true being of the Christianity, nor of the upright Office of the Ministration of the holy Word, but much rather to point him to it, and to be serviceable unto him therewith.

6. But they that are wrong, and stand [Page 80]in a conceit, or imagination, shall also ve­ry easily perceive wherein they mistake, or are wrong, if so be they read these wri­tings, and doe glasse themselves in the Glasse of Righteousnesse, and have regard unto these testimonies.

7. Let every one know himselfe, and turn him to the Communalty of the love, that he may be inlightned in his Eph. 1. under­standing, and be delivered and unburthen­ed of the Rom. 1. vaine bewitched being, and so with thanksgiving laud God.

8. Oh, what shall I say of the vaine un­derstanding of the children of men, and of all their conceits and imaginations, whereunto they are subject! Oh, how much experience have I of this their igno­rance and conceitednesse! I have examined it very much, I have had regard unto the judgement of many men, and made my selfe common with every one; howbeit, I have found many things vaine or sense­lesse.

9. But although I do thus write, yet let no man therefore thinke that my humane waies have been still in the true understan­ding: O no! but concerning my humane disposition and weak nature, I have found my selfe in much sin and ignorance above many others.

10. I have also passed thorow many Sap. 5. tedious waies, struggled much, stum­bled often, and fallen many times, yea, I have been even the chiefe among sinners.

11. But 1 Tim. 1. mercy is shewed on me, in­asmuch as the most high God hath permit­ted me to see my humane ignorance, and throughly inlightned mine understanding, Mat. 13. Eph. 3. and revealed his secret unto me, to the end, that I should discover the mind of the life, and of his righteousnesse, according both to the divine, and also humane nature and form, for to shew evidently whereun­to the man was created.

12. Now might some man say, that is assuredly a great gift of the most highest: It is true, I must needs highly praise, land, thank the goodnesse of the grace of God therein, inasmuch as the Salvation of men is manifested thereby: But I my selfe have never had my respect upon the knowing of this, whereby in any wise to rejoyce my selfe therein, nor to glory thereon, as in regard of my knowledge; but (to the end that I would not set my confidence upon the knowing, nor upon the inlightning of mine understanding) I esteemed it rather, as if it were not given me, or were not ap­peared [Page 82]in mine understanding, then that in respect thereof, I would be without the love.

13. Wherefore in regard of the love, let us give no respect unto any of all the gifts of God, for to rejoice our selves; or to glo­ry in any of them without the love, to the end that we may get and obtain the love, Cant. 8. which is the sealing or making sure of the divine promises, whereunto also all prophecies do point, Mat. 22. Mar. 12. Rom. 13. and therein cease; for if we have not the love, or if we attain not thereunto, then 1 Cor. 13. have we doubtlesse nothing.

14. Therefore [namely, for the loves sake] I do esteem it to be hurtfull, to re­pose our selves on any gifts of God, which in our knowledge are committed unto us, for to obtain the love, and to have love one to another; must be all our exercise, to the end the same might have a forme in us.

15. For that cause let no man give respect unto his knowledge, nor to the excellency of his understanding, nor to the richnesse of his Spirit, out of the heavenly know­ledge, nor to the gifts of his divine Prophe­cies, nor to his learnednesse in the Scrip­ture, nor to his sundry tongues and lan­guages, [Page 83]nor to the constancie of his righ­teousnesse and holinesse (as thereby to think himself to be any thing) but let him set all such things behind the back in si­lence, having no regard thereunto, and 2 Cor. 10. so give his understanding captive under the obedience of the love in the spirit, and set his expectation and longing (fully and wholly) on the love, to the end he may win the love.

16. For the love, Rom. 13. is the fulfilling of all this, and the divine being it self; and it is the true life and holy wisdome promi­sed for to come, to a shining of Jerusalem round about.

17. After this wisdome let us hope and long, and esteem all to be nothing worth, whatsoever is without the same, For what­soever is without the love shall perish, melt, and consume, 1 Cor. 13. but the love abi­deth for ever, whose years are not short­ned, neither doth the number of her daies fail.

18. And so for the loves cause, let us not know or maintain that we know any thing, save 1 Cor. 8. only the love, to the end we might win many unto her, for the mini­stration of the true Christianity, shall (out of the love) only bear sway according to the promises.)

19. But (alas) the children of men have very little regard hereunto, for every one will needs know much, and besides that know also, what is right; howbeit they come not to the knowledge of that which they should know, yet every one giveth his judgment out of the knowledge, and will thereout judge of the wisdome of God and all understandings.

20. But this I lament, with sorrow of my heart (the which I see hear, and prove by manifold experience) that the man is so unstayed, and that the upright under­standing of wisdome, is so darkned in the children of men.

21. For I find that many of them doe much fail in their judgement,, and do not comprehend the truth out of the testimo­nies of Scripture, because they Mat. 22. under­stand not the Scripture.

22. Not onely they, which are appa­rently without understanding, but they also, 1 Tim. 1. that give out themselves for masters and teachers of understanding, Rom. 2. as forego­ers and leaders of the blind, and as lights unto them that are in darknesse, and that account so of themselves, as if much divine understanding were discovered and disclo­sed unto them, and therefore (through the [Page 85]shew of their deeds and works) they boast them highly, to have received Mat. 13. Luk. 11. the key of the entrance into the King­dome of God, for to open the same or to let in, or to shut it to and keep out, for to forgive fins or to retain.

23. The which I find in many to be nothing but a conceit, imagination, and self-wisdome, which themselves have ta­ken upon them, and so think to be wise through the riches of their knowledge; and because of the respect which they give to their understanding, they judge the sooner and boldlyer of those words and writings, which are set forth to the good, not right­ly respecting that which is sought therein, and required or desired thereby.

24. But they that do rightly regard the word, will not judge rashly, but still will have their respect unto the love, also they will not search the Scripture, nor study therein for to know, utter, recite, or to publish the same in historicall manner, as the clarks of the knowledge use it in ther schools, & as the letter-learned do in their Synagogues and Assemblies, vvho (indeed) hold very much of the Scripture, and (ac­cording to their ovvn sense) do gladly hear and speak thereof, Mat. 23. but vvhat the [Page 86]Scripture requireth, that do they not.

25. But in the service of love; it ought not so to be, ye deerly beloved, but every one is to cast dovvn himself, 1 Pet. 5. and to humble his soul, that he may obtain such a heart, mind and spirit, as the service of the vvord pointeth us unto, and so regard his calling, vvhereunto he is required by the Scripture, to the establishing of the godly promises, not after the Deut. 12. choosing of any mans conceiving, but as God hath hereto­fore spoken it, by the mouth of his holy Prophets.

26. If therefore vve have an inclined mind to the same, in the belief of the love, that the love may obtain a lively forme in us, then need vve not to study, strive, or dispute much, neither yet to ask much ad­vise, nor to hold Counsells thereabout, but vve ought vvith our hearts Ezek. 14. to turne avvay from sins and abominations, and so to come to an humble Mat. 11. and meek heart, according to the mentioning of the Scriptures.

27. Novv vvhen vve have heard or read the Scripture or service of the vvord, to that effect, and that vve have given over and yeelded our selves before the Elders Eccl. 6 8. in the family of love thereunto, then is [Page 87]it altogether needfull for us (for the ob­taining of such an upright heart) diligent­ly and earnestly Esa. 55. Jer. 29. to seek, Mat. 7. Luk. 11. knock, and pray, Eccl. 2. to abide patiently the battell or tryall, that meeteth us against our passage towards the good life, Mat. 10.16. Luk. 9.14. to take up our crosse daily by belief and hope in the pati­ence, and so with one accord, Act. 2. to con­tinue stedfast in prayer and faith, untill that (through the service of the word) we be 1 Pet. 1. born or brought forth alive in the true word, out of the death and blindnesse of the sin.

28. Which birth in the spirit, is not out of the word which is writable, nor which is set forth by the unregenerate man out of the letter! O no, but out of the holy and living word of God, 1 Pet. i. 2 Joh. 1. which is Spirit and life, and Christ himself accor­ding to the Spirit.

29. For the written word of the letter, is not the word it self, that cleanseth and sanctifieth the man from the sin, or which procreateth the life, but the same is a sha­dow or figure out of the holy and true word, and a serviceable instrument where­by we are made well affected, (inwardly in our souls) to the true word of Vivification, and do become believing of the same, to [Page 88]the end that (through the belief and love) we might so (in the spirit of our mind) be made Eph. 4. [...] Pet. 1. of like being with the nature and being of the good life, even as the word or Scripture witnesseth thereof.

30. Lo, this is our calling, through the service of the holy word of the Apostles of Christ, to the end we should so (through the same service, and her drawing of our hearts to the love) be brought to the mini­string of the spirituall and heavenly goods, in such serving of the living God, Luk. 1. and in that upright righteousnesse and holinesse, which is pleasing unto him.

31. But where now is understanding? where is there now any regard had unto the word, and the matter rightly judg­ed?

32. Where are the guides that erre not? Esa. 3.9.28.56. Jer. 8.18.23. Ezek. 13.22.34. The Prophets that lie not? the Seers that faile not? the teachers that mix not their own imaginations with the word.

33. Is not the world every where so blind and dark, that men cannot discern the shadow, Joh. 1. from that which it shineth from, the sounding voice Mat. 3. Rom. 10. 1 Pet. 1. from the word, the letter, 2 Cor. 3. from the Spirit, the Image of God, from the Godhead, mens teaching and word, Mat. 15. Col. 2. from Gods Teaching and [Page 89]Word, the obedience and fear of men, Esa. 51. Luk. 12. from the obedience and fear of God, the righteousnesse which man esteemeth, Mat. 23. Rom. 10. from the righteoufnesse which is of value before God, the naturall man, from the spiritu­all, the sacrifice of men, from the sacrifice of Christ, the Oblations, from the Recon­ciliation, the Law from the Gospell, &c. Is not every of these disorderly confoun­ded one with another, in the understan­dings of men, and so taken all for one manner thing.

34. This I saw, that many hearts were intangled therein, and it grieved me ex­ceedingly.

35. Oh darknesse, and blindnesse, or weed, which from the beginning was sown in Adams heart, how manifoldly hast thou spread thy self abroad amongst us, and thereby covered the whole world, that there is hardly any little plot to be found, where the good seed might have his grow­ing or springing up unto fruitfulnesse.

36. If now it be not turned up [ 4 Esd. 4. name­ly, the evill, and the peace wherein it is sowne] then shall not the good appear, nor the place wherein it is sowne.

37. O God, that the place of the evill seed were stirred and turned up, and the [Page 90]ungodlinesse taken away 4 Esd. 3. out of the heart, that the thistles and thorns might grow there no more, then might the no­ble Lilly branch [namely, thy Sanctuary] once have his springing up, 4 Esd. 6.7. the belief blossome, and the love bring forth her fruits, whereby the upright righteousnesse might ( Sap. 7. Mat. 13. above any treasure of this world) be embraced.

38. Oh this same is it, which I sigh for, bewaile, and lament, because I find it not, and because that appeareth not, which God esteemeth, and is the Sal­vation of men, and for that moreover with many it is to be sought and fetcht so far of.

39. But with thee (O God) are all Mat. 19. things possible, who so (in belief of the truth) trusteth in thee, the same man can do much, and look what seemeth un­possible with men, that canst thou soon bring to passe.

CHAP. VIII.

O God how long yet shall thy Psal. 74.79. San­ctuary remain wast? how long shall the sheep run scattered abroad, 3 Re. 22. Ezek. 34. and in all respects remain bound, intangled, tyed, and holden captive, as though thou O God wouldst not be their redeemer and Shep­heard? for they Psa. 119. Esai. 53. go astray in the wilder­nesses, and forget the Land promised them of God for inheritance, and the holy City Jerusalem.

2. For behold (and it is to be seen and noted) the Foxes Ezek. 13. do bear rule, and eve­ry one (in his own wisdome) useth craft, wilinesse, and subtilty, whereby many sheep and Lambs are caught and bewitch­ed, and so remain in the bands of the wil­dernesses, because they know not the true life, their upright Shepheard.

3. For the fear which the foxes make, [Page 92]with the show of their wisdome, is the snare, which hath taken captive, and kee­peth bound, the poor silly sheep in the wil­dernesse, that they neither hunger nor long for the good pasture, supposing they come to the best, and thus are they ap­peased.

4. O ye silly sheep, how long will you yet suffer your selves to be bewitched; when will you heare the word of your Lord, Ioh. 10. and the voice of your Shepheard, when will ye once desire to come unto him that hath made you, Ezek. 34. that he himselfe may feed you?

5. Men may also see (yea it is plainly seen and observed) that Jer. 10. Ezek. 22. Joh. 10. Apo. 16. the Wolves, Bears, Dragons, and Serpents, yea all ve­nomous carrion (the Generation of Vi­pers) do inviron and compasse the Forrest of the desart, watching night and day, that the sheep come not out thence, neither tast of the good pasture, nor yet be gathe­red to their good and upright Shepheard, to the intent that they themselves, [to wit, that false brood] might still Ezek. 34. keep the Soveraignty and preheminence, and that the bands of their Dommion might not be broken.

6. And many of the common sort of In­habitants [Page 93]of these vvildernesses, (though they see and note, that it ought not so to be) do yet Ier. 3. quietly look upon it, and care­lessely loiter forth the time, if it touch not them, they think then all is vvell, and use the Proverb, whilest a thing is tolerable, it is commendable.

7. O God, they are little moved, hovv it fareth vvith thine holy holy Land of in­heritance, vvhich lyeth still vvast, or that thy sheep remain (as strayed) in the vvil­dernesse, and thy Lambs be cruelly hand­led and torn, as long as themselves may have but peace.

8. They Ier. 5.8. mourne not once, neither bear they any sorrovv O God, for thy holy City Jerusalem, hovvsoever they see, that it is trodden dovvn, Iam. 1. Luk. 2. and lieth utter­ly vvast.

9. They ask not once for Sion: thy tem­ple, and thy Sanctuary, entreth not once into their hearts.

10. They make themselves delights, in the forraigne Lands, and forget the Joy in Sion.

11. Oh vvhat shall I say of these wretch­lesse ones, that neither seek nor desire any thing, but to have their ease and repose in the flesh, and moreover of those self-see­kers, [Page 94]among the dispersed Israel, vvho dai­ly rejoice them vvith the intangled Babi­lon, and shrovvd themselves, under the contentiousnesse and Gen. 10. violence of Nim­rod, and do not once think on the Lavv of their God, nor on the seat of his glory, but take unto them, the foreskin of the heathen, and vvallovv in the filthinesse of the uncircumcised.

12. Oh! are not all these like the svvine Mat. 7. 2 Pet. 2. that hath his delight in the dirt, and re­gardeth not the fairnesse of the Roses, are they not also like the hedghog, vvhich de­lighteth to be in the vvast places of un­cleanlinesse, contenting himself vvith mice & svvines flesh, seeing it is even a pleasure unto them, to wallow themselves in all uncleannesse, and to eat all unclean meat, wherein they have a desire to live, and do not once long for the pleasantnesse of the noble Garden, where men do eat the pure herb, and the clean beasts, and where they sing and play the laud song of the Lord, out of Apo. 13.14.15. the Mercy Seat.

13. But (alasse) the desolation (as is said) is yet (me thinks) best pleasing in this world; Jer. 5.6 7.8.9.10. &c. Ezek. 16.20. for I see that the same get­teth the prcheminence every where, and I cannot otherwise perceive, but that the [Page 95]desolation is (now adaies) most imbraced, and beareth greatest sway, els must mine eyes be blinded, that I look asquint, and see not aright.

14. Therefore, O ye Seers (which do bear sorrow, for the treading down of Jerusalem, Psa. 74.79. Jer. 9. Lam. 1.2.3.4. 4 Esd. 2.3.4.8.10. and are grieved from the heart, that the Lords Temple and his San­ctuary lieth wast, judge ye the matter, whe­ther I have noted it rightly, or unright­ly.

15. If I have noted the thing rightly, suffer ye then with me; I pray you, grief and heavinesse in your hearts, and sigh you with me to the Lord, that he will have mercy on us, and set up his Sanctuary, for his holy names sake.

16. Oh send forth a cry to the desolate peoples; give them (with lamentation) to understand the desolation whereinto they are fallen, that they may sorrow and be grieved. Let them behold how poor and naked they are of the godly riches.

17. Come hither (I pray you) to the love and her service, O ye desolate peo­ples, and consider (in this light) how that ye are all Sap. 5. strayed from the way of life and understanding, and weep or lament o­ver your froward waies.

18. And come all ye that are ignorant; Pro. 6. come and eat of my bread, and drink of the wine, which I powre forth unto you, forsake the ignorant being, so shall ye live, and shall walk in the way of understand­ing.

19. I wisdom do in the love, cry and call unto you, O ye children of men regard it, O ye ignorant ones, ye unwise, take it to heart, and hear.

20. For I will speak, Pro. 8. and my lips shall utter some singular matter.

21. For my mouth shall speak the truth, Pro. 8. and my lips hate that which is ungodly.

22. All the words of my mouth are righteous, Pro. 8. there is no frowardnesse nor falshood in them.

23. Therefore come and go with me, in­to the house of mourning, (where the poor, the little ones, and the contrite of heart are) even there will I shew you, Apo. 3. how poor and miserable ye are, and which are the most precious treasures, Pro. 3.8.6. Esa. 33. Col. 2. and riches that you lack.

24. Come and help me to make a lamen­tation before the most highest, and suffer sorrow for the most hurtfullest, Mat. 16. losse of the upright righteousnesse, because it is not (or very little) found in this world: [Page 97]for my heart is therefore oftentimes hea­vy. Oh where is it, or where may I right­ly find, where to ask after it?

25. Where (I pray you) is now Mal. 1. the fear of God, (such as is unmixt with the fear of men) whereout the beginning Pro. 1.9. Eccl. 1. of the holy wisdome appeareth?

26. Where is the most holiest faith Rom. 5. Eph. 6. Heb. 11. in the true hope of salvation (which men Ro. 3.5. Gal. 2. are justified by, from the sin) wherewith no vein or false faith is mixed?

27. Where is the pure love ( Mat. 22. Rom. 13. Gal. 5. which is the fulfilling of the Law, and 1 Tim. 1. the princi­pall scope of the belief) wherewith is min­gled no discord, nor selfe-seeking in the love?

28. Where is now Hos. 4. faith and truth, whereon any heart may rest?

29. Where is the true ministring of the holy word, Act. 2.3.4.7.8.9.10. &c. and working of the holy Ghost, wherewith the invention of mans wisdom hath not mixed it self?

30. Where is Gods Esa. 42.48. Apo. 4.5.7. Honour, Land, and Praise (that belongeth unto him onely) wherein mans honour and praise is not mingled?

31. Where is the pure God-service, which is Jam. 1. not mixed, nor spotted of this world?

32. Where is the Law of the Lord, which [Page 98] Gal. 3. leadeth unto Christ, (whereout the Gos­pell of the Kingdom of God ariseth, where no humane Law is taught besides, that leadeth from Christ, and darkneth the Gospell?

33. Where is the upright Circumcision, Dan. 10. Jer. 4. Rom. 2. Phil. 3. Col. 2. to the laying away of sin in the flesh, which was given by God, to Abraham and his seed, for an Gen. 17. everlasting sign of his Co­venant?

34. Where is the Law of the spirit, which Rom. 8. quickneth in Jesu Christ, and freeth us from the Law of sin and of death?

35. Where is now the Rom. 5. Eph. 2. peace with God the Father, in pure and unspotted Consci­ences.

36. Where is now the Mat. 3. Rom. 6. Gal. 3. Col. 2. 1 Pet. 3. Baptisme of John [or the grace of the Lord] over those, that are distressed for the sins cause, to their a­mendment from the sin?

37. Where is now the true Baptisme of Jesu Christ, Mat. 3.28. Mar. 16. Act. 10.19. which followeth thereupon, to the forgiving and justifying from the sin, whereon the name of the Father is wit­nessed, the name of the son confessed, and the name of the Holy Ghost; Eph. 1. for a pledge of the godly inheritance sealed.

38. Where do any now keep Mat. 26. Mar. 14. Lu. 22. 1 Cor. 11. the sup­per of Christ, where they break, distribute, [Page 99]and eat the bread (which is the true body of Christ) to a remembrance of Christ, that he hath suffered in us for our sinnes cause, Rom. 6. Phil. 2. 1 Pet. 2. the death of the Crosse, and so his death 1 Cor. 11. is published, untill he come in his glory?

39. Where do any now drink the cup 1 Cor. 10. of Christ, in the communion of his bloud, of the true Testament?

40. Where is now the Christian commu­nion, Rom. 12. 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 5. or where are the upright Christians which do all eat of the same bread, and do all drink of the same cup, 1 Cor. 10. to an holy un­divided body, whereof Jesus Christ is Eph. 1.4.6. the head, and which are the Eph. 1. 1 Pet. 2. peculiar ones of God, for an holy people to the God of Life, whom he hath made Kings 1 Pet. 2. Apo. 1.5. and Priests through Jesus Christ?

41. Where is now the seed of the belie­ving Abraham, Gen. 15.17.22. Rom. 4. Gal. 3. wherein such promise is made, for the blessing of all Generations?

42. Oh where art thou, thou seed of Isa­ac, Gen. 21.22. Rom. 9. that Son of the promise, who art bles­sed by the Son of the promise; thou noble stock Gen. 27. of Jacob, thou chosen blossom of Israel, who onely Deut. 4. livest in Gods Statutes, and not after the manner of the heathen?

43. Verily of all this, which I ask after, we find no whit at all in the wicked world, nor yet among you, O ye desolate peo­ples, [Page 100]but only in the stock of the love, that vertuous amiable being.

44. Therefore come ye all hither to the love, Jer. 7.18.25.35. reform your being in her service, and let the love with meeknesse be planted in you, Jam. 1. so shall ye even therein find, all the goodlinesses of the riches of God, and the whole communion of his Saints, namely, the whole house of Israel.

45. Unto which stock of Saints, and chosen Children of God, we 1 Pet 1. are all cal­led through Jesus Christ, that in the rai­sing up of Israel, according to the promi­ses of God the Father, we should inherit the blessing.

46. O Israel (ye right children in Act. 3. the true Testaments of your holy Fathers) when shall your dispersing have an end, and your erecting come? Esa. 2. Mic. 4. that the Law of the Lord, and his word may be decla­red, and his wondrous works manifested, and all the heathen seek the righteous­nesse; learn the Law of the Lord, Zach. 8. and walk in his streets, to the praise of the God of Israel, who only is the Lord, for Esa. 43.44. be­sides the God of Israel, there is no God more.

47. For truly the Idolls of the Heathen, and all their spirituall wisdome (which [Page 101]they set forth, besides the everlasting God of Israel and his Law, Esa. 44.45.46. Ier. 10. is nothing els but foolishnesse and ignorance.

48. Many of them have no understand­ing in the Law of the Lord, nor knowledge of his Ordinances, and of their calling through Jesus Christ Luk. 2. of the tribe of Juda, of the House of David, they have no right discerning at all.

49. And therefore it is, that they misse of the meaning or intention of God, and are thereby grounded on the glimmering of their knowledge, and not on the stock of the upright olive tree, Rom. 11. to the which they are called, to be grafted thereunto.

50. But now when we consider all this, and that we are not partakers of the Sap of the stock of our calling, Rom. 11. but to find our selves breken off from the same, and thereby misse of all that, which is of God, and which his Ordinances are one with, if then we have any love to the riches of God, and do consider and know the da­magefull Mat. 16. losse, with all the desolation Dan. 9.11.12. Mat. 24. and abominations, which are come in between, then cometh upon us, Esa. 13. Dan. 12. all woe and anguish, and we greatly bewaile the losse of these riches of God, above all the damages or losses of this world.

51. For vvhere is there a more damage­full losse, Mat. 16. then vvhere one findeth no righteousnesse of God, and vvhere the Lavv of God and his Statutes and Ordi­dances are in the losse so utterly dar­kened?

52. Oh vvhat shall I more vvrite, of this damagefull losse of the most precious ri­ches? my heart is heavie, and my soul is pained, in such sort, Ier. 9.13.14. Lam. 1.2.3. that oftentimes I am forced to sigh and mourne, because my mind vvill not be pacified.

53. O God, that they all savv, hovv they are Psal. 14. Rom. 3. turned herefrom, and that no man hath continued in thy truth, and hovv they are Rom. 7. taken captive under the sin, and stray­ed from thee; (yea these precious riches of God, they scarcely knovv,) and hovv poor Apo. 3 3. and naked in themselves they are, vvith­out thy Sanctuary, to the end (out of deep necessity) they might cry unto thee, Psa. 130. for grace, and obtain (in their spirit) an in­clined mind, to the obeying of thy love, that thou mighest have mercy on them all.

54. For if so be they come not to thy love, nor to the obedience of the requi­ring of her service, nor thereunto have no good vvill, belief or hope, surely there [Page 103]shall then no life of Gods Sanctuary be found in them, how wise, how skilfull, and excellent or rich of Spirit, how learned and expert in Scriptures, Languages or tongues soever they may be.

55. If moreover they lay not down their knowledge in the silence, even as though they knew nothing at all; and that (through the service of the holy Word) they reform not themselves under the obedience of the love, nor suffer their understanding to be stirred up to obedience, whereby to be wholly inclined to the love, to passe forth towards the same, Mat. 10.16. Mar. 8. Luk. 9.14. to take up daily their Crosse with humble hearts, and to persevere Eph. 6. Phil. 4. Col. 4. in prayer and faith, with a firm hope, Eph. 3. till the establishing in the love, they can by no means inherit any riches of God or Christ, nor 1 Cor. 2. understand or know any wis­dome of God at all, how skilfully soever they search, or study in Scriptures after it.

56. For there is no wisdome nor know­ledge of Christ, nor understanding of the Scriptures, to be had in any thing, but only in the love, or among them, who are incli­ned, and well-affected thereunto.

57. They may many of them (I grant) seek much wisdome and understanding, whereby to comprehend the saute, and (in [Page 104]conceit) be satisfied and appeased with a taken on wisdome; but if they come not to the love, neither are taught in her ser­vice to the true wisdome, they shall then find no wisdome nor understanding, nor yet any righteousnesse nor life, but must Joh. 8. die in their sins, and in their conceit of truth, for there is no right Spirit of truth, nor wisdome without the love.

58. Wherefore every thing, which is Amos. 8. decayed or broken down, must even now (through the love and her service) be set up again, and all that straieth and is dis­persed, Ezek. 34. Mic. 4. Soph. 3. must again be gathered together, through the love and her service: namely, all those that hope for the Salvation of the only body of Christ, for that is the promise, to the children of the Testament, in the Jer. 23.30.31.33. Joel. 2. last time, in the which God will magnifie himself against all heathen or uncircumci­sed ones.

59. This hath God in former times pro­mised, and he will perform it for his holy names sake, Ezek. 38. Mic. 5. to make it known and hono­rable far and wide, that his honour and Sanctuary Psal. 74. Dan. 8. may no longer be trodden down, but may appear pure and clear: and he will shew in the last time, how that he onely is the Lord, and that his office, work [Page 105]and doing, is not bound nor tyed to mens working, but that he performeth the same according to his will and pleasure.

60. O how happy is he, which is Esa. 5. Rom. 12. not wise in his own conceit, neither is with any spirituall Deut. 12. Jer. 7. imagination bewitched, tied, or bound; but (in the sin) is daily against him­self, and loveth not the evill, but is well-af­fected to the love, and so Luk. 21. possesseth his soul with patience, till the promises of Al­mighty God, that he might live unto God in all truth.

CHAP. IX.

BUt who hath regard hereunto? who thinketh on the righteousnesse which God esteemeth.

2. Doth not the most part of people in­tend to set up their Rom. 10 own righteousnesse?

3. Who thinketh on the Communion of [Page 106]Saints, Ioh. 6. whom God the Father draweth, to justification through Jesus Christ, in the love?

4. Doth not every one (which is come or risen up before the love) seek to gather a private Congregation to himself, to ad­vance his own word, and with contention to stick to the same? not thinking that the Lord shall Esa. 66. himself bring forth, through his Word and service of love, and that his Salvation shall come from his right hand; and that so through himself, he will bring forth unity in the love, and his children Esa. 66. out of Sion, according to the word of his promise.

5. But who looketh after it? who long­eth for it? who dependeth upon Gods promises, that (in time to come) they shall be established, who hungreth or thirsteth after it? who thinketh on the comfort of Israel, and upon the consolation of Juda?

6. Every one supposeth without fail, that he hath the blessing of God already, and that there is for to come, no more then is present with him, or which he himself pas­seth forth in.

7. Herein do the conceited Christians comfort them, and cheer up themselves (a­mong each other) but they have catcht an [Page 107]hand full of wind, and do make themselves glad with chaffe.

8. They thresh the straw, Esa. 33. and crush it very hard, but what availeth it, in their binnes 4 Esd 6. shall no bread be found, nor any corn in their barns, yea such things shall come upon them from the Lord, and (for their stoutnesse cause) shall not bide away.

9. Many of them cry also now: we have it, we have it, we are the Congregation of Christ, we are Israel, Lo here it is, Lo there it is, this is the truth, that is the truth, Mat. 24. Mar. 13. Luk. 17. here is Christ, there is Christ.

10. But when Christ shall shew himself, Mat. 24. Luk. 17. even as the lightning ariseth from the East, and shineth unto the West, then shall their own word (which now is one with them) be clean against them, because they have not esteemed the love, wherein the truth of God or Christ is sealed for ever.

11. Moreover divers have gathered ma­ny people or companies every where toge­ther, by sentences of Scripture, and with glistering knowledges, terming them by the name of Christ, and by the name of Is­rael, but the love they have shut out at doors, and thereof had least respect and re­gard.

12. For who standeth now in the love [Page 108]to the end Deut. 6.10. Mat. 22. to cleave fast to the God of Life, and to love him, with his whole heart, soul, and thoughts, and besides, to love an­other as himself, that God (who only is the Lord) might be their arm, fortresse, and strength.

13. Is not every mans eye that accoun­teth not God, for the only Lord, fixed up­on Ier. 17. flesh and bloud, or upon the vain cor­ruptible created things in this world? and doth not every one set his assurance on the same? doth he not count it for his arm or strength.

14. And thus living in such love to the corruptible things, and in that false confi­dence, every one loveth his own self, and ( Esa. 29. Ezek. 33. Mat. 15. with his heart) turneth from the Lord, and so passeth on his errour, and merrily singing, Tob. 13. Apo. 19. Alleluia: even, as though that God had his delight in such abomination, and that Jerusalem were likewise builded up, and lay no longer trodden down.

15. In such a show or simulation, and in such pleasure of their own conceit (not ha­ving Ioh. 5. the love of God, nor bearing the Law of the Lord Ier. 31. Heb. 8.10. in their hearts) they be­take themselves to marriage, with bold cou­rage, bringing forth their children Ose. 5. in the unrighteousnesse, and account that same [Page 109]for pure wedlock ordained of God, the which yet among them, is but meer adul­tery, Ezek. 16.23. and impudent whoredom.

16. For consider, who is now (I pray you) within the right matrimony or con­junction of man and wife?

17. Was it not expedient that Gods Law and will Psal. 40. Esa. 51. Ier. 31. should be in the mans heart, and that so the same man should in his will and disposition cleave unto that God, which hath made heaven and earth? In like man­ner ought not the woman also to follow the man, and (with the like disposition) Eph. 5. cleave only to the mans will, and so in her heart bear that which concerneth God, or at least, labour, hope, and long after it, and in that sort bring forth her children, to the end to bring them up Tob. 1. Eccl. 7.30. Eph. 6. according to the Law of the Lord, in the upright being, that the name of the living God might therein be magnified, from their birth, and from Generation to Generation for evermore.

18. But if we observe and note this thing aright, there are but few (alas) that proceed by this rule, and therefore they are generally Esa. 57. Mat. 12.16. adulterers and adulte­resses.

19. For such as come not together by the Lord, but Tob. 6. keep or shut God and his [Page 110]Law out at doors, are they not all Sap. 3.4. chil­dren of adultery? liveth not every one of them that are such, in his own matrimony and conjunction, contrary to Gods Ordi­nance or conjunction, Sap. 3. Heb. 13. of the undefiled bed?

20. Therefore passe they not at all, for the pure begetting, procreating, or bearing, to the bringing up of children in godlinesse, to the praise of the most highest.

21. Oh! this same is with many, yet far from home, for every one desireth gene­rally to bring up his children to himself, e­ven to his own pleasure, that he may there­by spread his own name, and not the Lords; and therefore there is no love of God, nor unity in the love among them.

22. For every where there is a middle wall and division between God, Esa. 59. 4 Esd. 9.13.15. Mat. 24. Luk. 21. and the man, between the spirituality and the tem­porality, between the Prince and the Sub­jects, between the husband and the wife, between the Parents and the children, be­tween one brother and another, and be­tween one friend and another.

23. Every one mindeth his own, and would fain have another agreeing to his mind: yea the man is now come to such presumption and stoutnesse, Esa. 45. that every [Page 111]one in particular would gladly have, that (in all things) he might use the everlasting God at his own will, and that God would give successe to all things, according to his pleasure.

24. And in such a manner is the vvife minded towards the husband, the children towards the parents, and moreover one people towards another, whether it be in Ordinances, Religions, and Righteousnes­ses, or in temporall Laws. In every thing there is own wills desire, middle wall, de­struction, suspition, mistrust, and covert­nesse.

25. Yet who taketh it to heart? who doth forgo himselfe? who considereth it? doth not every man cover himself, that his shame might not be laid open?

26. Who can now (I pray you) acknow­ledge, that he himself is so unclean, unjust, wicked, Esa. 1. and dissembling, and that he ought to turn him from his unrighteous­nesse?

27. Truly not many (alas) can brook it, nor yet well indure or bear the shame thereof, by reason that they will not do a­way nor forsake the covering or show of vertue, wherewithall they are covered.

28. For in this regard, the husbands will [Page 112]be much too upright, the wives too honest, and the children much too proud Esa. 3. and haughty, for to be content to acknowledge that they are open sinners, and no better then whores and naughty packs, Mat. 22. for thereby they might not in any wise come into the Kingdom of God.

29. So perversly are the children of men minded against God. For albeit they are guilty in all respects, (if not with the deed, yet at least with the heart in secret) yet notwithstanding they do all keep them­selves covered before the face of God, and his Saints; and would much rather be re­spected and accounted for just persons, (e­ven as the Pharisees Luk. 7. and letter-learned were) then with the Publicans to acknow­ledge their sins, Luk. 18. convert and pray to Al­mighty God for his grace.

30. Whilest then the children of men will not understand nor acknowledge this same, Joh. 9. therefore remain they in their sins. Notwithstanding (out of their unconver­ted hearts, and unacknowledgement of their errors) they search the Scripture, Joh. 5. thinking to have the understanding of life therein, whereas the same is it, Ioh. 5. that accu­seth them, and giveth testimony of the up­right life: but to the same life they desire [Page 113]not to come, for they know it not, neither the way that leadeth thereunto: howbeit they perswade themselves that they are wise, and do well know, how they ought or ought not to live.

31. But that which they ought before all things to know, they do not know, un­derstand nor see, for they ought necessarily to have seen, that they are, (like broken of branches) Rom. 11. separated and straied from the upright stock, and likewise to know the de­fection, Esa. 59. from their God and his Christ, and the lying against the Lord.

32. Seeing then they are blinded, in re­gard of the discerning of the fall from their God, and are not come to the incor­porating with Christ, and yet say they are Christians (and indeed are not, but are a Synagogue of the devill) and do boast themselves of God, and God findeth them liars in his sight, therefore will he even Apo. 3. spew such out of his mouth, and not suf­fer his holy name to be any longer blasphe­med by them, because they should see and know that they have Esa. 1. blasphemed the ho­ly one in Israel, 1 Mac. 3. trodden down his San­ctuary with their feet, contemned him and his gentlenesse, and in their presumptuous­nesse, esteemed themselves great and wise.

33. Inasmuch as this same is still unknown to the world, and unto all wel-conceited wise, and is of few looked into, and that the man learneth not to know himselfe, whereby he might judge righteously; nei­ther is with the inclination of his heart, disposed to the love, nor hungreth nor lusteth the convertion to his God, and will 2 Tim. 4. not abide the godly doctrine, but remain selfe-wise and stout of heart, therefore do I even truly perceive great infelicity, sor­row, Mat. 24. and misery, to be ready to come in this perillous time; yea such an estate shall fall upon the children of men, as shall be out of measure horrible, and all this same must needs light upon them, because eve­ry one is much too self-wise in his own conceit, also too self-expert in the Scrip­ture: and for that every one supposeth Jer. 8. when he hath the Scripture, and readeth or heareth the same, that he cannot then erre nor be deceived.

34. This say they, and yet do they all erre, because the upright judgement (out of a discerning of love) is not in them, and because out of the brests of the love, they have not sucked, and tasted the godly wis­dome.

35. For it is certainly meer lies, what [Page 115]the letter-learned, Jer. 8. and what the wel-con­ceited wise of spirit also do without the love, institute or set forth, how clear soe­ver in understanding, and how expert soe­ver of good and evill they are become thereby, for they must all submit them to the love, and be reformed in her service, o­therwise they can never, although (in their imagination) they know, perceive, and com prehend all things, come to the new man, Joh. 3. nor to the Kingdome of God, for the love is only it, wherein eve­ry thing (which is the truth and wisdome of God) is comprehended. She Col. 3. 2 Tim. 1. is also the band or establishing of the perfe­ction.

36. Whilest the love then hath every thing (which is of God, Christ, or Truth, contain­ed or included in it, therefore might some man demand, shal we then let the Scriptures passe? O no, God forbid: but men are not to use them for the knowledge, nor to the end to teach them forth historically, but to the intent they may give regard to such an up­right spirit or life, as is set forth therein, or required thereby (even as is 3 Clas. 24. partly also set forth and declared, both of this, and of the knowledge, in the third book of the Glasse of Righteousnesse) that so through comfort [Page 116]of the Scriptures, we should (to our rejoy­cing) Rom. 15. have our hope on the promises, and on the foreshewing of God, by his Prophets, and by the Apostles of Christ (who have prophecied of the healthful life, which abi­deth sure in the love for ever) and so passing on towards it in the belief, Rom. 4. give credit unto God, that he in his promises is true.

37. But it is to be lamented, that the Scripture is by so few at this day discer­ned, out of the understanding of the truth, and of the love, whereby to understand the same rightly, according to the mind of God.

38. True it is, there is much written, and divers have set forth many writings, and have had much provoking of spirit, and great inclination to teach, howbeit e­very one severally, according to the sight or knowledge that he hath had, be­ing in the state of the fall from God, and in the estranging from his Salvation.

39. But inasmuch as they were not come to the love, and that their hearts were not in­clined to the love in all things, as they were to the spirit of their glistering knowledge and comprehension; therefore did many of them erre and mistake, for the mind of God, Deut. 6.10. Mat. 22. Rom. 13. and the fulfilling of the Scriptures, is the love.

40. And the same is Col. 3. the perfection, wherein eyery thing [to a life and truth of peace] standeth firm to our joy, and Eph. 1. to the praise of the glory of God, to all and on all, that hope upon it and long thereafter.

CHAP. X.

FOrasmuch as the man is now perswa­ded, that he himself (with his eies of the Spirit) doth so clearly and nakedly dis­cern and understand the right, as he cannot be deceived, and for that every one which standeth in partiality, is by his sight or spi­rit contentions, howsoever each severall party maintaineth his own matter, and defendeth the same to be of God, and will in all things have the right onely and a­lone passe with his own matter, and will not effect the love above all, to the u­nity of heart, therefore even through the [Page 118]same glittering, in case they have not all their understanding captive under the obe­dience of the love, there shall come horri­ble calamity upon the children of men, in such sort, that upon this earth, they shall become an 4 Esd. 5. abhorring one to another, for that every one standing stiffe in the know­ledge and in the clearnesse thereof, vvill not [for the loves sake] give over his own matter, thinking that the truth ought not to give place.

2. It is true indeed that the truth ought not to give place, but betwixt the know­ledge and the truth, there is great diffe­rence: for much knowledge [which yet men call truth] can easily arise out of the subtilty of wit; but the truth of God pro­ceedeth out of the love, and is even of one being with the love.

3. Therefore is the knowledge 1 Cor. 13. divi­ded and broken, but the love is the truth, Ioh. 17. and the true being it self, and the perfe­ction.

4. But [alas] this do not many of them know, to wit, that they should come to the love, and so bear the love, for a mark of the righteous Spirit, and rejoyce them with the truth: Ioh. 17. 1 Ioh. 1. that same is the word of life which [Page 119]was spoken of according to the promises.

5. Inasmuch now as I have noted, and do yet at this present find so much bold­nesse in men, by reason of their knowledge, and imagination of the truth, whereon they are very stout and bold, and yet for the most part, it still faileth them of the truth and love, and for that the right way to the true life, and the loves nature, is thereby missed of many: And seeing moreover, that the right way and entrance into the true life, and into the loves nature, is (by Gods grace) granted me to be seen into, therefore have I out of the inclina­tion of Love, clearly and nakedly, with uncovered words set forth the right way or entrance into the true life, and the up­right nature or being of the love in the Glasse of Righteousnesse, distinctly noting the divine, and the humane, the spirituall, and the naturall, and what is decent and meet to be used, for a discerning, which is the establishing of the promises of God, according to the Scripture, that both Gods righteousnesse and mans righte­ousnesse might be knowne, and that we likewise in an inclination of love, might with consenting minds, passe forth towards the same.

6. But alas, what availeth it any man, that one point him out a good way, and an even and plaine path, if he walk not in the same, nor have no liking there­unto?

7. What availeth it to knock, and in di­vers manners to call, if there be no ears to hear, nor any understanding to compre­hend, or to understand the same, nor any heart to imbrace such things?

8. Or, how shall one be able, I pray you, to declare conveniently unto such a man his error, and the entrance into the good life, that he might rightly regard and understand wherein his salvation consist­eth, whereby he might be delivered from the bewitching of his heart, and so know what right is, to the intent he might once comprehend understanding rightly.

9. If a man say unto him, the increase, and the blessing 1 Cor. 3 cometh only of God, Prov. 2. Sap. 8. Eccl. 1. he is the giver of wisdom, and no man nor Letter, then runeth he clean away from the same illuminated man, which pointeth him to the life of wisdome, and utterly giveth over the Scriptures, and the daily Services of the holy Word, which di­rect him to the upright life, and are service­able thereunto; and so departeth from the [Page 121]wisdom, Jer. 7.11.13. cleaving either to his vain ima­gination, or els to the world in her foolish­nesse and error.

10. If one say unto him, that he must suffer himselfe to be Rom. 10 1 Cor. 3 2 Cor. 3.4.5. 1 Pet. 4. 2 Pet. 1. served to the peace of life, by some illuminated man, to the intent, that by hearing he may grow up in the belief to the salvation, then obser­veth he no difference often times between the unlightened men, and the Elders of the holy Understanding in the Family of Love; but giveth such respect to the un­lightned men for their knowledge, that he suffereth himself to be Gal. 1.6. Col. 2. taken captive thereby, to a bondage under their know­ledges, and so becometh a servant unto men, and is by the unregenerated men bewitch­ed with somthing that is not of God, nor leadeth to the life of salvation, in such sort, that through his liking unto that which he heareth of them, and by which he is seduced and beguiled, he betaketh him to the vain things of the flesh, and forsa­keth or forgeteth the true ministration of the Word of the Lord, and likewise also the good exercises, wherethrough he might have come, or been brought unto God, and to Psal. 36. Ier. 2.17. the fountain of upright and perfect wisdom.

11. Unto which fountain of upright and perfect wisdom, the man should of right be alwaies subject, and long after it: and moreover, according to the requiring of the good exercise that leadeth thereto, hope thereon; turn all his affection and inclination of heart thereunto, love the Wsdome and Pro. 4. information, and submit himself obediently to the Service of the gracious Word, that so he might come to the Prov. 2. life of the upright righteousnesse, and then take part therewith, and not with any of those things that lead not to the sal­vation.

12. If one say unto him that he must be spiritually minded, then climeth he up (with his wit) very high, after the spiritu­all understanding, and will likewise take upon him to understand the spirituall things, by his own knowledge, and will be so utterly spirituall, and so quite and clean change himself out of flesh into Spi­rit; that thereby he forgetteth and forgo­eth the humane Ordinance and equity, and to shew love to his Neighbour, and unto all men likewise: Out of which bewitched opinion of spiritual­nesse, many divisions and corruptions do arise.

13. If a man say unto him, that he should have regard unto the equity of nature, see­ing God hath Gen. 1. created the naturall things also for the mans good, then doth he on the other side, so wholly adict himself to the naturall and visible things, that he re­ceiveth them to his own bondage, and sla­vish delectation, and tyeth his heart thereunto, and so shuteth or keepeth off the most holiest being, and the true holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, out of his heart.

14. If the man read the Scripture, and do out of the testimonies of the same, hear that the Law of Moses and the Pro­phets have their Office and Ministery Mat. 11. Luk. 26. Gal. 3. till unto Christ, and that in like manner all is in Christ fulfilled, and that Christ Rom. 10 is the end or fulfilling of the La w, whereout the Gospell, or second Testament of the Ho­ly Ghost proceedeth, according to the fore-shewing of the Prophets, then he thinketh he will in any wise take the best, and in his spirit receive Christ, and the Gos­pell, and that which is spirituall and hea­venly of God, supposing thus (with his understanding and knowledge) to run clean beyond the law of Moses and the Prophets of the Old Testament [to wit beyond the [Page 124]obedience of the foregoing Service,] and so will rely upon Christ, and be a child of the New Testament; for he readeth, that that is the most best, and imagineth, that if he should regard the Law and the Pro­phets, and should obey the foregoing Ser­vice and requiring thereof, he should then go back and finish his beginning of righ­teousnesse Gal. 3. in the flesh or outward; for the Scripture and the foregoing Service maketh mention, that the fulfilling of the Law and the Prophets, is Luke 18.24. in Christ, and that the spirituall and heavenly goods, be inherited in the Spirit: And thus will he be one of Christs, of the Gospells, and of the New Testaments, and apprehend in his spirit the spirituall heavenly goods, e're-e­ver he be passed thorow the Law or the Old Testament, or hath understood the Prophets of the foregoing Service in their requiring, Gal. 3.4 Heb. 7 how they lead him to Christ, and how, or in what sort all is in Christ fulfilled.

15. Herein lieth the man wrapped and snarled, and maketh nothing thereof, Esa. 59 but desolation and destruction, altogether troubling his understanding and consci­ence, and in like manner more others also, by his ignorance.

16. O God how is the understanding of the noble generation of man destroyed, being become lesse of godly worthinesse, then the beasts of the field! howbeit, thou hast chosen and created thee the man to this end, Gen. 1 Sap. 2. that he should carry and bear the Image of thy living God-head, to the land and praise of thy glory, to the intent he should be unto thee (O God) Lev. 26 2 Cor. 6. Apo. 21. a Temple and Tabernacle for thy holy dwel­ling.

17. But alas, the man is quite contrary, and against this same, and hath very little mind or desire Ier. 5.8 to come to his God a­gain.

18. And therefore the fall and stray­ing of men from their God, is become so deep and far, that there is Psa. 14 Rom. 3 scarce­ly any understanding, will, or desire of right conversion to be found among them.

19. O God, how are we blinded from the right knowledge of thy requi­ring, and become resisters and despisers of thee!

20. We have Esa. 59 Ier. 2, 32 turned the back unto thee, as those that know thee not, and are become as children that are brought up of strangers, and are so fond upon stran­gers, [Page 126]that they utterly despise and detest the sight of their Parents, and forget their Fathers house.

21. We are even so far, O God, become strange towards thee, that we have al­most no pleasure in thee; for thou art un­to us as the very contemptiblest and most despised'st thing: Esa. 53. Yea, so little have we rightly thought of thee, that (in respect of thy right worthinesse) we have counted thee utterly of no value, and esteemed thee nothing worth; ne­verthelesse, thou bearest 1 Pet. 2. our sins, and hast compassion in our affliction, and art our Physitian, healing us of our offences, for thou makest us whole of the deadly wounds of our souls.

22. O God, Psa. 25.79. impute not our sins un­to us, because of our ignorance, Luk. 23. Act. 7. forgive them also their offences, that know not what they do.

23. For seeing the children of men know not thee aright, nor submit them­selves obediently to the requiring of thy Word and Service of Love, therefore sure­ly they fall here, or erre there; in such sort, that oft times they keep no measure nor rule at all.

24. But seeing that such things are now [Page 127]sufficiently known unto me, and that my spirit out of Gods grace, perceiveth a godlier life, then is found with many of the children of men, therefore the inclina­tion to the righteousnesse constraineth me distinctly to shew both that which is com­mendable, and that also which is utterly discommendable before God and among men.

25. Therefore O ye children of men, note (I pray you) your ignorance, and think once upon that which is right, and learn an upright understanding, and a right knowledge of the wisdome, that tendeth to the love.

26. Learne of the Love in her Service Mat. 11. lowlinesse, long-sufferance, meeknesse, sobernesse, chastnesse, and righreousnesse, in faithfulnesse and truth; that same shall be wholsome to your reigns, do good to your Pro. 3. navell, refresh your bones, and rejoyce your heart, and shall be unto you a living fountain Ioh. 7. that springeth to the e­verlasting life, and as a fruitfnll tree Psal. 1. Icr. 17 Ezek. 47 Apoc. 22 plan­ted by the waters side, that bring forth his timely fruits, whose greens or leaves do not wither or fade.

27. Take this same to heart, and be not as the wild beasts; be Psal. 32. not like horses [Page 128]and mules, that have no understanding of wisdom.

28. Inrage not your selves in any wise, as the mad furious world doth; set no horns on your heads; thrust not your selves out, Prov. 1 Sap. 2. like the unwise or fools, neither let your part be among the greedy or co­vetous.

29. Keep you from the society of them that are forward to do violence, and of such as count it a small thing to shed mens blood.

30. Have not much disputation nor reasoning with them that (by their will) are desirous to have the matter to go on their side, or that are partially minded; but rather in all things, observe what is right and equall, and what Rom. 14 serveth to peace and love.

CHAP. XI.

OYe children of the Family of the Love of Jesu Christ, if so be ye love the Love, then consider also the Loves nature; for the Love is clothed with righteousnesse, which also rejoyceth not 1 Cor. 13 in the iniquity, for her joy is in the truth.

2. After such a fashion consider ye the Love, and not after a vain course, accor­ding to the mind of the flesh, Esa. 40. for all flesh waxeth old and changeth; but the [Page 130]Spirit that cleaveth to the Love, doth nei­ther wax old nor change, but it abideth for ever.

3. Hereunto have regard, that your life may be in the preservation of the righte­ous, and fear not, like the fooles or ig­norant.

4. For why should ye perish with the fools and ignorant? wherefore should ye inherit the cursing Mat. 25. with the goats?

5. Separate 2 Cor. 6 Apoc. 18. from them, and behold Gods right hand; for from thence cometh unto us the life of salvation, and the light of the holy understanding.

6. Even there learne with the wise, the godly wisdom, that according to the Spi­rit, ye may be not earthly, Col. 3. but heavenly minded.

7. Suck also in like manner all gentle­nesse out of the brests of the Love, and seek the peace of concord.

8. And when ye have gotten all this same, then play, sing, Psal. 96.87. and praise the Lord as his little lambs, and Psa. 79.95.100. as the sheep of his pasture, and as little children, 1 Pet. 2. in whom there is no guilefull heart hidden, and so get you a naked lovely heart, such as uncoveredly groweth up in the Love, and 1 Thes. 3 2 Thes. 1. increaseth therein more and more; and in­crease [Page 131]ye likewise in wisdome, and in holy understanding.

9. If now ye be hereunto well min­ded, then shall your portion be with the Kings and Priests, or with the El­ders of the holy Understanding, and your fellowship with such Senetors, as do further the Righteousnesse and your Service of the Word, with the peace-ma­kers, that do earnesty seek the unity in the Love.

10. And thus shall then the slandering lips, Tit 2. 1 Pet. 2.3. which defame you with all evill, by your good conversation with the wise, in the wisdom, and with the just or vertuous, in all righteousnesse and integrity, be put to silence.

11. Therefore be now (through the love and her service) wholly Rom. 12. Eph. 4. renewed, and purified in the spirit of your mind, passe now thorow the river of the love, e­ven to the rest of life, the holy land of pro­mise, that the ungodly bear no dominion over you.

12. Be altogether with one consent min­ded hereunto, and let the love have the pre­heminence and dominion with you all, that the little ones may be protected, and the simple defended.

13. Therefore, O ye lovers of the truth, seek unity, and labour for it, and make a departure out of all heathenish being, which is after the course of the worlds foolishnesse.

14. Do away the fore-skin Deut. 10 Ier. 4 of your uncircumcised hearts: lay away from you (according to the former conversation) the bewitching of the imagination, which glimmereth unto you before the eyes of your spirit, and glittereth before your un­derstanding, as if it were some excellent thing.

15. Renew your understanding in the Service of the holy and gracious Word, under the obedience of the Love, and so in the spirit of your mind betake you 1 Cor. 14 to the Love, and and as deer children be sub­ject thereunto, whereby you may in the love obtain eyes of clearnesse.

16. If notwithstanding ye be Iam. 1. unwise, Apoc. 3. blind, and Mat. 5 poore of spirit, yet grieve not your selves for all that; for then ye draw neare to the Kingdome of God.

17. If you desire godly wisdom, then Iam. 1 pray and believe, she shall be given you, so far forth as your prayer Rom. 12. is stedfast, and as ye pray to God, in a lowly heart, [Page 133]with such a prostrated soule, as hath a de­sire or pleasure to do, and to fulfill the Lords will.

18. Men may find many which pray un­to God for wisdom, and for the right sight of his Kingdom; but they will not acknow­ledge, nor Joh. 9. Apoc. 3. understand, that they are un­wise, poor, and blind, therefore they ob­tain nothing.

19. For although that the wisdom stood even at their door, yet so well seen are they, and so rich of spirit, through their own wisdome of the knowledge, that the upright wisdom of God and the being of his Kingdome, must be faine to tarry without.

20. Therefore right well speaketh the mouth of the Wisdom, Blessed Mat. 5. are the poor of spirit; for the Kingdom of hea­ven belongeth unto them, or the wisdome of God ariseth (as light) upon them, and not upon the rich, or upon the great knowers.

21. For when we of our selves are be­come poor, blind, or unwise, or do forsake that which is ours, and do come to contri­tion and meeknesse of heart, Psal. 51. Esa. 57.66 then will God dwell with us, and appeare in such hearts, as also the Scripture maketh men­tion, [Page 134]and then are we also poor; but God is become rich in us, by means of our vile­nesse, or because we are poor in the know­ledge: It is true.

22. These and other like things have I in many places distinctly set forth in the Glass of Righteousness, and do here also set forth the same in this Introduction to the holy Ʋn­derstanding; if any man regard it, let him consider the inclination of mine understan­ding.

23. But what shall I say? I find the man much too self-wise Rom. 1. 1 Cor. 1. in his owne conceit, and too void of understanding, in the mind of the love; for commonly when the man heareth of the love, and of the right un­derstanding of wisdom, he rejoyceth him in the hearing, and it seemeth as if it liked him well, likewise for a time he commen­deth it.

24. But in conclusion there is nothing among the greatest sort but self-feeking, and very little doe they understand the first Schoole-rule of the Christian Do­ctrine of the service of love, for an entrance into the upright life in Jesus Christ; but do understand every thing, which is held forth before them out of Gods wisdome and love, according to their imagination, and [Page 135]according to the mind of their liking. They seek thereout their own commodity, 2 Phil. 2. and not the Lords; they run clean back from the mind of the love, and use all subtilty to manitain their own opi­nion.

25. Whereout I observe, that the man (which is thus minded) conceiveth of the wisdom and of the love utterly amisse. For which cause I likewise fear, least the Glasse of Righteousnesse (how plainly and rightly, evidently and clearly soever it is set forth) shall not of many be discerned aright, nor yet be conceived of, according to the truth.

26. If therefore they discern or conceive not aright of such apparent sentences (as are so clearly and plainly uttered) that even every one (which loveth lowlinesse and righteousnesse) must needs approve the same, and acknowledge that the man and the world is created thereunto) how should they then be able rightly to understand or judge of all the mysteries of the Kingdome of God?

27. For which causes sake (to the intent no man might have occasion to estrange him­self from the truth, unlesse it might be by his own revolting heart) we have bid­den [Page 136]or covertly set forth nothing, in the Glasse of Righteousnesse.

28. Notvvithstanding, if any thing be covered or hidden unto any, 2 Cor. 4. it is hidden to the unbelievers, who have no desire nor love to the truth, nor to the life which is of God, for such are darkned Rom. 1. in their under­standing, through pleasure in their ovvn mind, and through the ignorance which is in them, Eph. 4. and through the blindnesse of their hearts, do gather unto themselves, Rom. 2. a treasure of vvickednesse, to an horrible de­struction; and so through their own wis­dome, do turn away and separate them­selves, from the love, and from her ser­vice.

29. But unto all lovers of equity, which have a desire and belief towards the love, [to the intent that by her service, they might tast of 1 Pet. 2. the uncorrupted milk, the Word of God, that Esa. 40. 2 Pet. 1. liveth for ever] we have out of the inclination of love, so o­penly and clearly, according to the life painted out, and set forth the Glasse of Righ­teousnesse, that every one, who with an hum­ble heart hath regard thereunto, and desi­reth the understand of Righteousnesse, shall be vvell satisfied therein.

30. If also any man turn his heart unto [Page 137]God, and desire to do his will, the same shall likewise well understand; that the re­stimonies of the upright life in the love, (as it is set forth in the Glasse of Righteous­nesse) is the upright ground of righteous­nesse, that God from the beginning hath required of the man, which also in the re­storing thereof shall continue for ever, to the Salvation of the vvorld, according to the promises, even as God hath spoken the same aforetimes, by the mouth of his holy Prophets, who have all Esa. 2.60.61.62. Jer. 31. Joel. 2.3. Zach. 2.8. Mich. 4. Soph. 3. Mal. 4. vvitnessed and prophecied of that same upright life; for to come in the last time, and in the same shall also all consciences be appeased.

31. For the end or fulnesse of the same, is the revealing or coming of the Kingdom of God, Esa. 35.51.60.65. Apo. 21.22. and the beholding of the joyes and Salvation of the eternall, perfect and un­corruptible being.

32. Oh that the man had any understan­ding in the godlinesse, and did perceive vvhereunto God calleth him, and did in like manner prepare his heart after the meaning of the vvritten sentences, and did let alone judging by the knowledge!

33. But no, the man is much too self-wise by his knowledge, and therefore he is more inclined to judge of every thing after [Page 138]his knowledge, then to prepare his heart to the good, under the obedience of the love.

34. Therefore it is very much to be la­mented, that many among the children of men, do oftentimes judge the sentences and writings (which have out of the service of love, their ministration to the good life) according to their Knowledge. For as soon as they read or hear the same, they suppose by and by that they have rightly apprehended, and well understood them, not first minding to enter in, to obtain, and to live in that which they bear witnesse of, whereas yet the service of our writing ten­deth hereunto, even that mens hearts (as is there set forth) should be prepared to the same.

35. For men strike up no alarm, in the host, to the intent to make the people un­lusty to the battell, nor yet that they should but know the exercise of the warr, or judge of the Alarm-stroak, but that (with good courage) they should prepare themselves to the battell or fight. Thereby every one (that hath courage to fight) doth then make himself ready to incounter with his ene­mies, and to root out his adversary, or to subdue him.

36. But (alas) I find it with many, otherwise in that alarm by which the man is called to the spirituall Eph. 6. fight, to the van­quishing of his enemies, which (inwardly in him) are killers and murderers of his soul.

37. Therefore it is very true, that the children of this world are much Luk. 16. wiser in their dealing, as concerning the flesh, then the children of the Kingdom are, in that which concerneth the spirit.

38. What availeth I pray you, an alarm made, if men prepare them not to the bat­tell? for many are perswaded, that this is no time of fighting, and that there shall be no need thereof; supposing, because of their unbelief, that nothing shall come of it; and lay their hands behind on the back, or put them up in the bosome. Their heads are giddy, as if their hearts were utterly unlusty, or dismaid to the fight.

39. If one should seek for men of warre, where I pray you, should he find them? Are they not for the most part gone back, Levit. 26. Jer. 48. and become faint hearted as women?

40. If they do but once suffer harm, and be wounded; or forced by any evill defa­mation, [Page 140]or assault of the wicked) to sustain any molestation or reproach, then are they persvvaded, that the cause is altogether nought, and so running again after their case, they suffer themselves to be ruled by women, Esa. 3. their enemy to raign over them; and in like manner make truth Esa. 28. with death, and a league with hell, retain peace with the sin and accuser, and become of one mind with the world, supposing that then all shall be well: moreover they make an appointment or conclusion with themselves, that they will no more trouble themselves with the doctrine of the Family of Love, nor yet vvith the battell, thinking, Let them run that will.

41. For to resist the evill, to break and subdue the wicked heart and evil thoughts, and to suffer much distresse, contempt, and reproach, for the same liketh them not; they will none of that. Howbeit, we are al­waies to fight apainst the evill, and to keep good watch continually: we are alwaies to think night and day upon the vertue of the godly life, alwaies to long, and to hun­ger and thirst after it, alvvaies to speak and to treat thereof, with such as do so labour thereafter; and yet then of many sorts of people (and letter-learned) to be despised and reproached.

42. Because of this toil, and for the shame and reproaches cause, which meeteth them (and because they love not the righteous­nesse of the godly life, with the heart) they let the matter passe, saying, out of unbe­lief, I cannot further it, I hold me still or unoccupied about it: let the Lord work it, I will commit it unto him. Supposing when they thus passe on according to their ima­gination, or do live after the fashion of the world, and (with an Rom. 2. unrepenting heart towards God, do hold peace with the blas­phemers and strivers, against the truth of Christ and his love, that then God will make it to be well with them.

43. Deceive not your selves ye dearly beloved, the saying is very right, Act. 16. Eph. 3. Gol. 1. that the Lord worketh it, and that he will also cause it to go well with us, Phila. 2. and prepare us af­ter his will and pleasure: howbeit not without us, nor yet without the obedience of the requiring of the service of his holy and gracious word, and of his love; and whilest that we turne us away in such a sort from him, and from the Ministers of his word, and do refuse him; Luk. 17 but it is done inwardly in us, under the obedience of the requiring of his gracious word and service of love, so as we stand subject unto him [Page 142]with good will) therein, and be of one mind with him, against the ungodly be­ing, that God may so in us magnifie his holy name 2 Reg. 7. and be called Ier. 10. a God of Hosts, a Esa. 47. God of Israel, or a God of such a one as beareth dominion with God over his enemies.

44. After this manner is God a Lord of his Army. He is only the Lord; but we the instrument of his hands.

45. Out of such an understanding under the obedience of the Law of the Lord, did the Kingly Prophet David, eftsoons appre­hend a zealous stoutnesse, even as in di­vers manners we read in his Psalms, how valiantly and couragiously he setteth himself on Gods part, against his enemies, as well in fighting with good courage, as also sometimes in praying and ma­king supplication, that God might be his helper.

46. After the same manner ought it al­so to go with us inwardly in our hearts, under the obedience of the love, 2 Cor. 3. for no man can do any thing of himself, how stout, strong, or wise soever he be, unlesse God be with him, who strengthneth him, whom under the obedience of the Word and his love, he findeth to be of good will, and [Page 143]that prayeth unto him for his help.

47. If then any man be weak, finding himself infirm yet to the battell, the same is not Eccl. 2. rejected nor despised, no nor any one that hath been in errour, so that they do but trust in God, and be good of will, do abide in the faith, and so in processe of time do increase in strength, and be not un­willing in the word of the Lord.

48. Therefore, Oye little and sorrowfull hearts, Esa. 35.41. be not dismaid, but be confident in hope, the Lord will not suffer you to be Esa. 54. put to shame: Therefore be of good cou­rage.

49. Though that the battell come unto you, and that ye be despised by the unbe­lievers of the gracious word, and by the blasphemers of the love of God, and of the holy spirit of Jesus Christ, and that moreo­ver, Mat. 5. 1 Pet. 2.3. all evill be lyingly spoken of you, yet be not therefore dismaid.

50. For the God of Israel is Esa. 5. our comfort, and he the same God will be our redeemer and our King, wherefore have your refuge only on him, to the intent ye may not fear your adversary in the fight. For truly this fight is godly and amiable.

51. Men curse nor swear not there, they do not there kill nor destroy any, Eph. 6. save [Page 144]only that opposite being against God, for it is no outward battell or war.

52. They use there no outward Esa. 2. Mic. 4. swords or spears, they seek there to destroy no flesh of men, but it is a fight of the crosse and patience, Rom. 6. to the subduing of the sin.

53. This fight is also no disputation, bravvling, nor wrangling for the know­ledges sake of the Scriptures. It is likewise no contention with men, howsoever the most part of factious men (which do every faction in particular call themselves the right Christians) have even to this day so used it; and do also yet still bravvle, 1 Cor. 3. Jam. 3. contend, and strive one against another, (and that with a secret, hatred, and envy) who should be best, wisest and holiest, and how to have right and equity, every one in his conceiving, whereby they intangle themselves every way one with another.

54. But such brawling and discord, do not I hold for any Christian-like fight, see­ing men do thereby forsake the love, there­fore such a fight doth nothing further to­wards the life, nor towards the upright un­derstanding of the divine wisdome.

55. Moreover, all those which stand mind­ed to such a kind of outward fight, braw­ling, wrangling, & railing, have never right­ly [Page 145]perceived nor understood Eph. 7. the inward fight. For inasmuch as they know not the vertue of the love, nor that whereout she proceedeth, therefore do they account the battell of the righteous spirit (which through the crosse, in the spirit of wel-vvil­ling hearts, carrieth forth the fight against death, sin, devill, and hell) for an ignorance and foolishnesse, because they do no more esteem of such a chosen Salvation, as is brought forth after the manner of men, and which the man hath his glorying in, then of the righteous spirit of love and life, which God himself bringeth forth, for Esa. 60. a true light, and salvation of men, after his godly nature and manner: the Esa. 42.48. glorying whereof belongeth only unto God, and to himself he also keepeth it.

56. Wherefore seeing God hath consi­dered, that all mans wisdome is vain, and that men by their wisdome know not Gods work (in his wisdome) nor his Salvation through his Christ, 1 Cor. 1. it hath therefore plea­sed God through foolish preaching (under the obedience of the love of Christ) to save the world [that is to say, all those that be­lieve in him] that he might catch the wise, Esa. 29. 1 Cor. 1. 3. in their wisdome, the crafty in their sub­tilty and craftinesse, and the letter-learned [Page 146]in their knowledge of the Scripture, there­by making known unto them, Psal. 94. 1 Cor. 3. how vain and void of understanding they are in the purpose of God; and hovv that (by all wisdome and prudency, and by all their learnednesse in the letter) they have not known any thing of Mat. 11. 1 Cor. 2. Gods vvisdome at all, wherethrough the Almighty God is magnified, and by which it is known, that his foolishnesse is much wiser, then all the wisdome of the world, or prudence of mans vvit.

57. Novv vvhosoever believeth the same, but on the contrary party is yet so self­vvise, that he giveth no ear at all, nor is in­clined to the love, or to our communion through the loves service (vvherein Gods purpose is knovvn or understood) the same man surely shall not understand the mind of God, nor yet his secret, Kom. 8. 1 Cor. 2. for it is unpossible to understand the vvisdome of God, vvithout obeying of the love.

CHAP. XII.

FOrasmuch then as (through the 1 Cor. 8. revea­ling of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the resurrection of the dead) there is out of grace, such an holy office or service of the love, to a renevving of the vvorld, novv in the last time come unto us, and (according to the secret counsell and vvill of God) committed unto us, in upright righteousnesse and holinesse to be ministred, therefore it vvere very meet, that every one vvhich is avvakened thereby, should submit himself thereunto, and give ear unto us in the same service, to the obey­ing of the love in the spirit, that every mans eves might be made bright, and become clearer and clearer, to Act. 7. behold vvith a clear sight of their eyes, Gods Kingdom of heaven, the vvhich novv manifesteth it self unto us, and cometh unto us under the obedience of the love; and likevvise vvith the same do appear and come unto us, li­vingly and gloriously all Gods 1 Gor. 15. Saints, [Page 149]vvhich in times past died, and fell asleep in God.

2. Behold this manifestation or appea­ring of Gods Kingdome of heaven, Mat. 24.25. and of the coming of Christ, together vvith all his Saints, Esa. 65. 2 Pet. 3. is the nevv day of life, and the Dan. 12. 4 Esd. 7. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes. 4. Resurrection of the dead, according to the Scriptures; vvhich manifestation of the Kingdom of God, and of the glorious com­ing of Christ, vvith his Saints, and of the nevv day, vve novv under the obedience of the love, publish abroad in all the vvorld (for a Gospell Mat. 24. of the Kingdome) accor­ding to the promises.

3. But if any man heareth not, nor be­lieveth the same, neither is vvakened out of the Esa. 29. sleep of his ignorance, or vvill not hear this voice of the love, him do vve let alone therein, still bearing a favourable good vvill tovvards him, and do cleave fast to the love, bear patience, vvith his igno­rance and blindnesse, and do consider, that all of us have heretofore been unvvise, 2 Pet. 2. and have been blinded from this glorious light of life, yea vve do yet doubtlesse of­ten find in our selves the lack of understan­ding, untill the light of life do manifest it self perfectly in us.

4. Hovvbeit, the right understanding [Page 150]consisteth not in many words 1 Cor. 2. or sayings, nor in high or deep knowledge, as is afore­said: but it is found in long-suffering, and in such a heart as feareth the true God, un­der the obedience of the love, where men use temperance, 2 Pet. 1 discretion and kind-hear­tednesse, and where men love righteous­nesse and information of equity.

5. But where is it now, where may one seek and find it? who doth earnestly desire lust, or long for it? who applieth his heart wholly thereunto?

6. Truly not the children of this world, which are the lovers of errour, nor yet the self-wise of the vain-conceited hearts, nei­ther the lovers of their own companies of Religion: For all these think not upon the service of the love; neither will admit any thing, but what they have chosen: they blaspheme also every thing, besides their own opinion, and have no regard to the Statutes and Exod. 20. Deu. 4.5.6. Ordinances of the most highest, nor to the Mat. 5.6.7.11.16.19.22. doctrine of Jesus Christ, neither to the requiring of his Ca­tholike Church.

7. And therefore will the man to main­tain his own cause, be alwaies above the un­derstanding of the love, and so be the loves Master: For there are few found that do [Page 151]with whole heart submit themselves un­der the Love, to the intent they might ob­tain (through concord and Joh. 17 Eph. 4. Phil. 1. equalitie in the Love) one like mind to the good, to the one manner of subduing or mortify­ing of the evill hearts, minds, and thoughts.

8. For that, or him that directeth thereunto, they can by no means abide, nor yet be minded to the lovely life of upright Righteousnesse, which I H. N. out of intire love do beare witnesse of, because with many the same is not (accor­ding to his upright being) hearkned unto, nor rightly understood; for every one (with his conceited imagination, and un­clean heart) will fain be himself he, whom men ought to esteem for wise: in such sort, that many of them do arrogantly a­scribe understanding to themselves, as if they knew already all that they should know, and were wholly such as in Jesus Christ they ought to be.

9. Moreover many of them are so rich Apo. 3. & wise, as though they needed no more; and many perswade themselves that they are such as do live free, and that they are every whit the same that they should be, that also the Service of the love concerns them not, and that they are past it all.

10. Lo, such things think the fools and unwise (those unfruitful Iude 1. trees) that love their self-wisdom, and their own ease in the flesh, and are quite dead therein; yea, though he be an Infidell or Heathen, yet scarcely thinketh he that he hath any wrong understanding for all that; what might then one that is wise think, or he that per­swadeth himself that he is holy?

11. Now because many of them do e­steem their owne matter for such a fair­nesse 1 Cor. 1. or wisdom, therefore besides their own wisdom, they will in no wise heare a­ny Acts 7. other understanding, nor esteem it for wisdome; for every thing is evill or uncleane in their eyes, which is without their wisdom; yet must they needs ac­knowledge, that the inside of their vessell, Mat. 23. is not cleansed from the filthinesse, nei­ther doe they believe to be cleansed through Jesus Christ, or to be justified from the sin under the Obedience of the Love.

12. What helpeth it then, or whereto is it profitable, that one should shew a­ny precious ornament or jewell of godly fairnesse unto such, if in their hearts, it were against them, or that they loved not the same? Even so is it also with the testi­mony [Page 153]of the Word in the Love, when there is no love joyned thereunto, for to love that which is heard or witnessed.

13. Therefore let us in all things [and before all] grow like minded to concord Rom. 12. 1 Pet. 3. in the Love, 1 Pet. 5. humble our hearts to the living God, and so love the vertue and the godlinesse, & cleave to no ungodly be­ing, or unorderlinesse of this world; but let us (with impartiall minds) hearken to the truth (for an instruction to the wis­dom) with long suffering, and cleave to the vertue of the good life, with him that beareth witnesse only thereunto, and ta­keth part with no flesh.

14. Wherefore let no man bind his heart unto any outward thing which he is served with to the righteousnesse of life, much lesse to the worldly things, or to a­ny thing which the desires of the flesh are inclined unto, that he be not disappoin­ted of the entrance to the life, which thing would be a great grief unto me.

15. For this cause (that no man should erre, but perceive whereunto our calling tendeth) hear and understand what the chiefe summe of the perfect Righteous­nesse is.

16. It is an humble heart, Psa. 51.that departeth [Page 154]from all earthly and corruptible things, and with a lowly and meek spirit is incorporated with God in pure Love, according to the Spi­rit, living in the forme of Jesus Christ1 Tim. 1in an unspotted conscience, and to have an in­clined mind or desire to do the Lords will, and to fulfill all righteousnesse.

17. Towards this let us passe on (with a good hope) in a sure faith and confidence, let every one turn him Esa. 55. Jer. 18.25 35 Ezek. 18. Jon. 3. from the wayes of his error, and with-draw his heart from the bands of selfnesse, to the intent (in an upright being) to serve Thes. 1 Heb. 9. the living God only, and turn away his senses and thoughts from that which hangeth on, to a bondage of the heart, [that is to say, from all that is created outward or vaine, how holy, how good, how fair, or how amiable a grace soever (according to the outward appearance) it may shew forth unto the man:] to the end, that no man be taken, or remaine captive in any bewitching (to a thraledome of his mind) with that wherewith the Heathen, and the unwise, or uncircumcised of heart, are still bewitch­ed, tied and bound, not onely with the outward show of holinesse, or wis­dome, but also with the delight of the outward created things Rom. 2 in this world, [Page 155]wherein with their hearts they become vain.

18. Therefore let us reckon all these things for such as they are, and repute some of them (in that whereunto they are com­modious) for good in their degree and quality, to the end our heart may stand free in the everlasting uncreated God­head, according to the Spirit; that is, in the God of Israel, the Creator of all good things: and moreover, let us suffer our hearts to be prepared thereunto in the o­beying of the requiring of the Service of Love.

19. That is truly the everlasting life, which in times past was preached unto the world, and is now in the last time (by Gods grace) come unto us, under the obedience of the Love, that our fellowship 1 Joh. 1 should be with God the Father, and with his Son the Lord Jesus Christ, and that our joy in the Love might be perfect.

20. On this onely and true God set­tle your hearts, to a union with him, and with his Christ, and love him Deut. 6. from your whole souls, minds, and thoughts, and so then love all created things in their degree, or as they are pro­fitable.

21. Yet not for their owne sakes, but for the Ordinances sake that God hath created them unto, and whereunto he hath appointed them, as good; then shall God be loved, honoured, and served by you a­bove your selves, and above all visible things, and Exod. 20 Deut. 4. you shall also neither have nor serve any Idolls which are besides him.

22. In such a degree love ye also all men Lev. 19. Mat. 22. Mar. 12. Rom. 13. as your selves, or as your fellow-brethren, so shall there be no dissention nor division found among you: and then (in the same sort) Eph. 5. love your wives, which are minded with you in one heart and spirit to God ward, as fellow-mem­bers of your bodies, or els should ye be no married folks.

23. To the same good being of con­cord in the Love, Eccl. 7.30 love ye likewise your children that they may be brought up in righteousnesse after the Law of the Lord, to serve the living God.

24. If any man hath servants, whe­ther men-servants, or maid-servants, Eccl. 7.33. Eph. 6. Col. 3. let him not overcharge them with slavery, but use moderation; give them also now and then time to rest and to recreate their hearts in the things that God requireth.

25. But beware of the stout servants, Eccl. 33. such as in their leisure time seek nothing but unseemlinesse, pride, disorder and light­nesse; for, for such, whether they be sonnes or daughters, men-servants or maid-ser­vants (if so be they exercise nor desire no righteousnesse) labour serveth much better then leisure; yet with discretion, ac­cording to time and measure, alwaies be holding the good before them upon hope of amendment.

26. Hereunto let us be minded, and give over our hearts and minds, to live therein, and alwaies exercise love Rom. 12 1 Thes. 3. 1 Pet. 1.3. one towards another, and so Heb. 10. James 5. with patience, and long-suffering, wait Luke 2. for the conso­lation of Israel, and for the health of the house of Jacob, whom God (in his time) shall call together from all the ends Mat. 24. or coasts of the earth, where now they are dispersed.

27. Wherefore increase ye in the good, Eph. 4. Col. 1. 1 Pet. 1. and grow up in the Lord, and for the communion of the Loves sake, and that we with consent of heart, may be joyned to the same, let us incline our hearts to each other, to the end we may all become one, such as love righteousnesse, and forsake dissention, & which dispise nor reject none, [Page 158]neither Jew, Mahomet, Heathen, nor any Sect or Faction, but rather draw all that will follow to our communion under the obedience of the Love, that the Service of the Love may become prosperous, and (in all upright righteousnesse) obtain the pre­heminence.

28. Whosoever then joyneth himselfe to our communion of the Love, yeeldeth himselfe to the love, and to the requiring of her Service obediently, loveth the righ­teousnesse, Psal. 15.24. Esa. 33. John 9. Acts 10. and hath no guile in his heart, the same is acceptable to God, and all such shall be unied in the Love, and love one manner of righteousnesse, according to the mentioning of the Glasse of Righte­ousnesse.

29. Hereunto let every one be humbly minded, and so incline his fatherly heart Mal. 4. Luk. 1 to the children, to unity in the Love.

30. Let the children Eph. 6. Col. 3. bow themselves (in holinesse) to the humility, and so (for the unities sake in the Love) turne their hearts to the Fathers.

31. The like also let every one do to­wards his brother, and one man towards another, and that all under the obedience of the Love.

32. Do away from you Esa. 59. the middle walls, and have love all that love righte­ousnesse, proceed on after it, with one ac­cord, have no regard to the foolishnesse of the Heathen, nor to any such dealings or witnessings, as cause Sects, dissention or renting, nor yet to their teachings and unprofitable devices, nor to the witching of their God-services, nor to the subtill knowledge of their wisdome: For their waies Jer. 5. are snares, and their wisdome Esa. 19.42.58. nets; who so hath no regard to the Law of the Lord, nor to Abrahams God, he shall be bewitched, tied, or taken, and be led away from the requiring of the service of love by them.

33. But all ye which turne you to the living God, which made heaven and earth, fear not the Gods of the Heathen, neither regard the nets of the wisdome of the un­circumcised, seeing they reject the Lords Word and his Ordinances.

34. For the nets of the Heathen are like Spiders webs, which do soon rent and fall asunder; but the Law or Ordinance of the Lord is stedfast, and abideth everla­stingly.

35. Therefore let the Law of the Lord, and his Ordinances, be alwayes for a teach­ing [Page 160]unto you, and fear the God of Israel, and let his love be still your rejoycing.

36. Mark the ground of the Love, ye deerly beloved, and let your ears of the Spirit, that you may hear, your eyes of the heart, that you may see, and your under­standing, that you may understand, be o­pened or unlocked, not only to the out­ward, earthly and corruptible, but chiefly to that which is inward, spirituall and eter­nall.

37. For behold, I do verily witnesse this same distinctly enough unto you, to the intent we might all have regard to the upright life inwardly in our hearts, Rom. 8. become spiritually minded, and through the grace of the bountifull Godhead, serve in the upright life, the living God only.

38. Let every one Gal. 6. take heed to his time; for if we be already separated with our heart from whoring with stocks and stones, (as from such Idolatries) doubt­lesse it is then so much the more expedi­ent (inasmuch as such grace is extended on us) that we observe our hearts and co­gitations, and cleanse them from all out­ward unprofitable things, to be made free and unbound therefrom, to the intent our [Page 161]hearts abide not bound unto any manner elementish, created or worldly matter, nor yet unto any kind of appearance of Col. 2. spi­rituall or holy things, whereby (in case our hearts stood bound therein) we may be lead a whoring, and our hearts be bewitch­ed therewith.

39. Therefore let us not regard, nor give respect unto, or esteem any outward things higher then for elementish, or so much as they are in their degree, or as they are profitable in their Service: neither let us go a whoring with them, to the intent our eyes of the Spirit may still have respect to the only God and his upright life, for to cleave with true understanding, unto the same.

40. For whatsoever is outward, whe­ther it be man or beast, and whatsoever is to be seen, heard or felt, how fair, good, holy, or wise soever it seemeth to be, must certainly every whit (so far forth as it stan­deth in his right degree) 1 Cor. 15 Eph. 1. Heb. 2. be subdued un­der the only God and his love.

41. This same verily should the man once consider and understand, to the intent he might once be delivered and rid of his foo­lish witchery, and of dissention, and of whoring with this or that.

42. Therefore let no man be tied or bound to the lusts of whoredome with a­ny outward thing, but give all his respect to that God, 1 Cor. 15 which is all in all, and inward­ly in his mind let him take heed to the upright life, which is godly, holy, and good, that he may bear the Image or like being of his God; 1 Cor. 15 for as we have borne the image of the earthly, so shall we also in like manner, bear the image of the hea­venly, to the laud and praise of the glory of God.

43. Loe, thereunto is my testimony, namely, that the upright life is the life of the upright Fathers, which served and worshipped the invisible, great, Deut. 4.5.6. &c. and al­mighty God only, (who still was God in Israel, and in Israel also wrought wonder­fully) who is Exod. 3. Mat. 22. che God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

44. Now in that these Tribes of Israel knew the God of heaven as a true God, and lived and cleave unto him, therefore did they stand free and untied from all the God-services of the Heathenish Sorceries, and were unbound from all whorings with outward things.

45. To obtain this grace in God, that is the Gospell, which is through Christ [Page 163]published to the Heathen, to the intent they should be released from their foolish bewitched God-services, and from all their lusts of whoredome, whereby they may with Israel, be incorporated into the stock of Abraham, and may altogether as one manner of people, serve the onely living God in one manner, Lawes, Statutes, and Ordinances, even as the second Booke of the Glasse of Righteousnesse maketh men­tion.

46. Therefore, O all ye people, Nations, and Tribes, if ye will not consider where­to ye are called of the God of heaven, through the seed of Abraham, according to the promises, neither do regard your heavenly calling aright in her degree, nor give your selves over thereunto, nor feare Abrahams God, nor love his Lawes and Ordinances, but do build upon another foundation, Eph. 2 then surely shall ye be banished from God, and from the Citizenship of Israel, and be constrain­ed to serve vaine things, Deut. 4. and to keep such Ordinances as you doe not know.

47. That same shall intangle your hearts, bewitch your understanding, and make you bond-servants, which indeed we [Page 164]are, so long as we willingly remain Rom. 6 sub­ject to the sin, and to the Sorcery of the heathen.

48. Therefore lake heed to your time, and seek God, Esa. 55. while he is neare, and may be found, and while ye have yet space to turn you unto him.

49. Let the ungodly Ezek. 18 forsake his ungod­ly being, and so come to the life through the death of the Crosse of Jesus Christ, then shall he live and die no more.

50. Let us apply our minds to the same, and turn our hearts away from all sensua­lity of the flesh, not only from that which outwardly we look upon; but chiefly from the self-minded thoughts which do arise Sap. 2. Mat. 15. out of our selves, and doe tempt or in­tice us thereunto, for to hold our hearts in bondage to the vaine corruptiblenesse, which (through the works of unbeliefe) leadeth away from the living God, wher­by we may be deprived of the fellowship with God in the Spirit; for the unity and Eph. 2. peace with God the Father in the Spirit (for to live one with another in all Loue) is the glorious liberty of the chil­dren of God, whereunto we are called by Jesus Christ.

51. Lo, this is the stone Psa. 118 1 Pet. 2. which was [Page 165]not allowed of the workmen, yet is there Acts 4. salvation in none other; which stone is clean against all sense of the flesh, and a­gainst all them that are minded only upon the outward: therefore of those builders, [which will themselves act, or set up the salvation] he is rejected, Esa. 8.28 Mat. 21. and is unto them a stone of stumbling and offence: Psal. 118 Mat. 21. and this is a wonderfull worke in our eyes.

52. Behold herein we have likewise all sinned, and trespassed.

53. Therefore it stands us now upon, to regard well from the heart the mind of the truth, and with humble hearts to pray unto the Lord, that he will not punish us for our misdeeds of ignorance, Psa. 25 79. Dan. 9. but will thinke up­on us according to his mercy, and guide our hearts after his will, that we might walke in his Ordinances, and be named after his Name, as our God and Sa­viour, who through the Service of his love maketh our errors knowne unto us, and releaseth or maketh us free from all perverse or covered nature of sinne, from all arrogancy and haugh­tinesse of the revolters, and from all fals­hood, dissention and deceit, which at this [Page 166]time do every where bear sway, and among many, have even hitherto had the prehemi­nence.

54. O God, Dan. 9 let us in this dangerous time find grace in thine eyes, and incline thou our hearts towards thee, and towards thy righteousnesse: bring our spirit out of this desolation, and cleanse our hearts, minds, and thoughts from all dissention, Psa. 51 and create in us an upright mind, that no evill come upon us.

55. Of which upright mind, and upright course of life of all upright hearts, I have set forth a clear instruction in the tree of life, the fourth book of the Glasse of Righte­ousness, which Glass of Righteousness, with o­ther more like testimonies, I have heretofore set forth, to the intent that every one might look into himself and know, whether he were of the upright communalty of the righteous, and lived and walked in the up­right vvaies of the just, and so served the li­ving God only, or not: For I wist not how to call any by name, for to shew outward­ly, vvhat sort I might judge for the right­fullest.

56. For I found the man Jer. 9 so altogether deceivable, so bewitched of understanding, so given to cover or dissemble his lies, so [Page 167]lordly minded because of his understand­ing, so double of heart, so earnestly bent to destroying and oppressing, against those that were not like minded with his hearts conceiving, so Ier. 18.25.29.35. declining from him, that according to the truth, pointed him to the way of life, so self-seeking and partiall for himself, so resolute in his opinion, so re­proachfull and malicious with accusation at him, that desired to bring him into the right way of the holy Fathers, so vvel-con­ceited and affected towards his own phan­sies and errours, so hipocriticall in the ver­tue, so divided from the righteousnesse, so separated from conscience, so little seeking that which is the Lords only, so unstable in fidelity, so slothfull and slow to turn him to God, Pro. 6.24. so without regard to the up­right waies, so little reckning of the stray­ing from his God, so affectioned to the earthly visible things, and so self-captived of heart, that I was altogether suspicious, jealous, and doubtfull of the man.

57. And not only of another, but also even of mine own humane nature, insomuch that I held it straight unto all vertues and righteous dealings, for to do the Lords will; in all my proceedings, for in that sort did I passe forth under the obedience of the love [Page 168]with my humane nature, to the intent to obtain the vertuous 1 Cor. 13. disposition of the love, and to be incorporated to the same, with soul and body, and with all the sen­ses and thoughts of my humane nature, and indeavouring me in this same, with all dili­gence the Lord received me into the grace of his love, and into him and his love incor­porated my mind, together with my senses and thoughts, and so gave me inheritance with Christ and his Saints, in his heavenly riches, Rom. 16. Eph. 1.2.3. Col. 1. and revealed his last will unto me.

58. But not according to any conceiving of the flesh, or after the outwardnesse, namely, in any outward appearance, that liketh the man, and the sight of his fleshly eyes, or vvhereunto the man doth some­times set his heart and understanding, as though he could satisfie God thereby, or as if a man with his outward humanity, & with a show after the outward appearance, might be incorporated into the God of heaven, and into his heavenly goods, or could live in the Godhead according to the flesh.

59. O no, ye dearly beloved, Gods wor­king in renewing of the man through Je­sus Christ, is not after the pleasing of men, nor according to any affection of the flesh; [Page 169]nor yet such as any man by his fleshly con­ceiving or learned understanding, should be able after the outward, to judge of the same working of God in the spirit, or of him which is renewed in God.

60. For Gods working, and the renew­ing of the man, Rom. 12. Eph. 4. is brought to passe in­wardly in the spirit, and in the inward senses and thoughts, through the power of his holy spirit of love, wherethrough men are abundantly filled with love towards the living God, and with love towards all men.

61. My respect also (in my zeal to the vertuous nature of the love) was least up­on the outward show after the flesh, but it was most upon an upright heart and mind, such as consisteth in a good willing obedi­ence, and tieth or bindeth it self to no ele­mentish things, whether they be earthly ri­ches, or worldly possessions, because I would in spirit and mind, serve and please the living God only, and likewise thereby love every man as my self.

62. And for this upright beings sake (be­cause in all love, the same should have and keep an 1 Cor. 4. Gal. 4. essentiall form in me) I did (as is aforesaid) examine the senses and cogitati­ons of my human nature, whether by them, [Page 170]any other thing were loved or desired be­sides, or whether they tied themselves un­to any thing els. To the intent I might for the loves sake of God and Christ, Mat. 16. Luk. 9.14. re­nounce, hate, and forsake it every whit, and crucifie, Rom. 6. Gal. 5. Col. 3. and kill my humane senses and thoughts with their lusts and desires, so far forth as they were not incorporated or sub­ject to the good being of God, or to his vertuous nature of the love, whereby I might live through the power of God, and by the gifts of his grace, and through the co-incorporating of the upright being of Jesu Christ, Luk. 1. Eph. 4. in all upright righteousnesse and holinesse: that is, in the upright life and mind of the living Godhead.

63. Now although I have here shewed, that my respect was lesse upon the outward obedience, then upon the inward godly o­bedience, and that I thus laboured for such an upright heart and mind, as was required by the outward obedience, because I would Deut. 6.10. serve the living God in his upright righte­ousnesse, yet did I not therefore despise the outward obedience, nor the good Ordinan­ces in their right use, neither is it my mind or will, that men should not observe nor obey the right use of the Churches services, or the Priests or Elders Ordinances, which [Page 171]are exercised for a good outward discipline and decency, and to a bringing in of the said upright righteousnesse! O yes, my meaning and desire is, that men should ob­serve Rom. 14. and obey them (as is said) in their right use, and likewise that the Elders and Ministers of the word in the family of love, should by them require the true righteous­nesse of the upright inward being and mind which God esteemeth.

64. For so in that behalf, men are great­ly to esteem the outward Ordinances, and the obedience to the same, yet with diffe­rence in the understanding, as according to their worth, and in respect of them for whom they are necessary, namely, in such consideration, as the Ordinances and Cere­monies of the Law of the Lord Rom. 10. Gal. 3.4. Heb. 7. and of the belief of Jesu Christ, have their ministrati­on for, that is, by them to train the man up, and so to support him in the young­nesse of his understanding, untill he be re­leased from all self-mindednesse, ignorance, and own wisdome or vain imagination, and the sight of the upright life, 2 Pet. 1. come unto him in the spirit, and so of himself he love all that (with whole heart and mind) which is right and just, and have a desire both be­fore God Rom. 14. and amongst men, to live and [Page 172]to walk in all upright righteousnesse, and and to fulfill the requiring of the gracious word of the Lord, and his service of love: Lo, to shew such obedience, is the best o­bedience, inasmuch as the obeyers thereof, do inwardly before God, and outwardly amongst men, live by the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, Luk. 1. in the upright righteousnesse and holinesse, and so not of compulsion but of faith, are obedient unto all inward righ­teousnesse, and outward Ordinances of the holy word and service of love, Mat. 22.23. 1 Tim 1. and that is the principall obedience, whereto men are to give the greatest respect; for it is the principallest, which the outward services or ceremonies have their ministration unto: It is true.

65. Wherefore men ought even before all things, to give the worthiest praise and greatest honour to the greatest or best, and not to respect or esteem the smallest, for the principallest: Likewise to observe a difference, between the prudent, good-wil­ling, and stable ones, and those that are without understanding, evill willers, and revolters that they minister not the servi­ces and Ordinances confusedly or mixtly out of the knowledge, nor disorderly re­quire the obeying of the same, as if any man [Page 173]should urge them without difference, and should not distinguish between the state of the age of such Disciples as had obediently accomplished the requiring of the services, and attained unto the appointed Gal. 4. time of the father and of the age of Christ, or were obediently grown up unto the same, and the state of those Disciples that had not yet accomplished the requiring of the services, nor attained unto the appointed time of the age of Christ, but should give like ho­nour unto, and esteem of equall value, ei­thers age and obedience.

66. When a man then ministreth an of­fice of teaching, and yet is not entred into the Disciples beginning of the Christian life, among the Elders in the family of the Love, neither hath obediently accomplished the righteousnesse, which is wont to be re­quired of the Disciples from their first en­trance into the Christian life, untill the age of the elder Christ, and even for that cause cannot distinguish the same passage in his right Ordination; surely the same man, and likewise the Congregation that heareth him, doth stray very far from the truth, and also from the right use of the Doctrine and Ordinances of the antient Fathers, tending to the Christian life, and from the upright [Page 174]being of the love of Jesu Christ, and of his holy spirit, and do become both together one with another, [namely, the teacher and the Congregation which he teacheth] alike ignorant and unexpert in that which is of value before God, and likewise in that which is most needfullest to be used a­mongst men, to their preserving in the god­linesse.

67. For mark, the Exo. 28.29. Levit. 1.2.3.4.5.6. &c. Priesthood out of Levi, which is ministred after the manner of Aaron is upright and good in his right use, and is also in his service, (vvith the Law and Ordinances of the Lord, and with the letter, and through the Letter) in the Family of the Lord, very profitable and necessary, while the Gal. 4. heire is yet a child, and hath not attained or reached un­to the appointed time of his Father or El­der.

68. But the Priesthood out of Messias called Jesus, who is unto his Believers Psal. 110. Heb. 3.9.10. an High-Priest at the right hand of the Almighty in the heavenly being, and a Ioh. 1.14. true light, in the light of the ministration of his truth, is much more worthily to be esteemed, then the Priesthood out of Levi, for the same High-Priest doth in his office, bring unto the Rom. 3. Gal. 2.3.4. believers in his name, [Page 175][namely those that are obediently grown up under their tutors and Governours untill the appointed time of their age] the upright righteousnesse, and the upright be­ing of his love, and accomplisheth with them (in their spirit and mind) all that which (vvith the Letter, and vvith the Lavv or Ordinance, in the foregoing Priesthood) is taught and required in the ministrati­on of the Elders, whereby the Lord Jesus Christ (called Messias) is unto his believers and good willing obeyers in their spirit and mind, an everlasting Joh. 14. life, and a Heb. 8.9. mi­nister of the spirituall and heavenly goods, whose service also with them is done in the 2 Cor. 3. spirit, and by the spirit, and so is he unto them, an heavenly Heb. 5.6.7. Eph. 1.2. High-Priest for evermore, not of the earth, nor of flesh and bloud, but a son of the most high God, in the heavenly powers of the invisible being, and is now in the last time appeared and come unto us the chosen of God (in his glory and triumph) from the right hand of God his Father: and so hath with us (with the spirituall and heavenly goods) his mi­nistration Heb. 7.8.9.10. in the most holy of his Taber­nacle, under the obedience of the love, af­the manner of Melchisedech, to the ere­cting of the perfection.

69. Thus (as is said) Jesus Christ hath his ministration even from the beinning, un­till the perfection through his Saints and Elect, and so is in his teaching to his Heb. 9. peo­ple a Salvation from their sins, and a bles­sing and reviving 1 Cor. 15. Eph. 2. Col. 1.2. from the death, and hath then in that manner with them [name­ly, with the living, his Believers] his mini­stration with the spirituall and heavenly goods: And so in the same ministration he is manifested by his believers, that he is he right Messias and King of the Jews, and the true Psal. 110. Heb. 7. high Priest for ever, after the manner of Melchizedeck, who in his Priest­hood, is greater and more excellent then the man, because he abideth for e­ver.

70. Behold this same high Priest, in the ministration of the spirituall and heavenly goods, and this noble King of Israel and Juda, which ruleth in righteousnesse, and of God is chosen to such an excellent glo­ry, before the foundation of the world was laid, is by inheritance sealed, to possesse the 2 Reg. 7. Esa. 9.32. Ier. 23.33. Dan. 7. Mic. 4. Luk. 1. seat of David his Father, to the intent there may be no end of the peace upon the same, from this time forth for evermore, and that so he may rule and raigne (as an everlasting peaceable King) over the [Page 177]house of Jacob, according to the pro­mises.

71. For in this sort, and to the fi­nishing thereof, is he revealed unto men, and published Ioh. 1. 1 Tim. 3. 1 Joh. 2. to the world for a Saviour, because all people should be­lieve in him, by him inherit the everlast­ing life, and so confesse him, and that sameis the true righteousnesse which is availeable before God, and well pleasing unto those men which are of a good will.

72. Now inasmuch as the rich bountifull God hath (out of his grace) granted me to perceive, that we are all called and loved to the same glory of God, and to the up­right being of the love of his Christ, because we should inherit with all what is of God and Christ, the everlasting life, and for that the same is the Eph. 1.5. Col. 1. principall point of our godlinesse, therefore have I pointed none unto flesh and bloud, nor to any elementish or visible things; neither doth my teach­ing tend to the outward, but from the out­ward, to passe on to the same inward and heavenly, and to Gods Kingdome of hea­ven, whereof is spoken before, to the in­tent that no man should set the consolati­on of his soul, nor the comfort of his Sal­vation [Page 178]upon the outvvard nor earthly, nor put his confidence thereon, but only on the upright life of the righteous spirit, and up­on the coming of the godly glory in Jesu Christ, of which things I have (according to my sight out of the heavenly revelation of God) much and abundantly spoken in the Glasse of Righteousnesse, and in this In­troduction, mine exhortation is out of love, also to the same, to the intent we should have an earnest love, and be provoked with desire towards it.

73. Which life of Righteousnesse, whereof we witnesse, is inwardly, godly, according to the divine nature, and out­wardly brotherly, after the upright hu­mane nature; and that same is the upright righteousnesse, before God and amongst men.

74. Who so now from the heart seeketh God and his righteousnesse, and rightly hath regard to the upright life, the same person will acknowledge that my teaching and ministration is of God, and that it tendeth to the upright life: and vvho so likewise to this end searcheth the Scripture for the promises, shall assuredly find, that it maketh mention of such things, and that the Law, the Prophets, and the A­postles [Page 179]of Christ, do all point and vvitnesse to the very same.

75. When the man now according to the truth perceiveth this same, then will he (for the love of righteousnesse sake) be also inclined there unto, and yeeld his un­derstanding 2 Gor. 10. captive under the obedi­ence of the love, praise God highly for his grace; and through the belief passe on to­wards the upright life in all love.

76. Though he now and then fail, stum­ble, or fall, yet if his eyes of the spirit have respect to the upright life, and to the love, and that he glasse himself daily in the Glasse of Righteousnesse, doubtlesse the same shall cause him to see, and shall rightly shew him his spots, and shall be unto him, Ioh. 4.7. as an open fountain of life, against the sin and way of death.

CHAP. XIII.

TAke it to heart, O ye children of men, and let your understanding be renew­ed, Rom. 12. Eph. 4. according to the spirit, to such an up­right knowledge as God esteemeth, to wit, vvith the vvord of truth, in the spirit, of the love, to an assured living hope and good conscience in Jesu Christ.

2. For vvho so after the spirit, conceiveth not the same, nor is renevved in his under­standing (to the same upright know­ledge) under the obedience of the love, in such a one there is no knowledge of Christ, [Page 179]neither can he be rightly turned to Christ, or to the upright belief, but only through the same.

3. For the fall from Christ is come, and it is according to the Prophecie understood, known, and well perceived, how that the same, 2 Thes. 1. through the child of perdition (ac­cording to the mention of the Scriptures) hath in every respect so utterly Rom. 1. Eph. 4. blinded, depraved, and corrupted the understanding of men, concerning God and Christ, that the children of men (how wise or learned soever they of themselves be) do neither Ioh. 8.16. of the Father, nor yet of the Son, knovv any thing at all.

4. And surely, whosoever doth not sub­mit his understanding, under the service of the love, the same man sheweth thereby, that he is without understanding, because by his understanding he perceiveth not, how that he vvhich hath not the love, 1 Ioh. 2.4. hath not also the Son, nor the Father, but is vvith­out Christ and his Church, and can please God by no other means, also can neither now nor evermore without the inclinati­on of love, neither through any other ser­vices or literall wisdome, come to the ho­ly knowledge of God, or attain unto the same.

5. But if any now believe not this same by reason of the high regard to their knowledge, or by means of any respect un­to their holinesse Col. 2. or spirituall humility, such as they have chosen or taken to them­selves, and as is not according to the pro­mises, as God in times past hath spoken by Moses his servant, and by the mouth of his holy Prophets, doubtlesse they (howsoever they suppose or maintain Esa. 59. that they have the light) must needs abide in 1 Ioh. 2. darknesse, for their unbelievers cause, whose unbelief cannot hurt the believers, neither can the Work of God for all that abide back.

6. O deep and unsearchable vvisdome of God! Esa. 40. Sap. 9. Rom. 11. 1 Cor. 2. which of the great and high glori­ous wise, or of the self-chosen holy ones, hath ever attained unto thee?

7. Unto which of them, is thine arm known, that hath heard or understood thy holy word, or thy mind aright?

8. Therefore needs must they all in low­linesse of heart be humbled under thee, and become subject to thy true love (that they may rejoice them in the truth:) o­therwise they must remain blind in their i­magination Ioh. 3. and may not see the King­dom of God, for ever.

9. For so long as they through the love, [Page 183]or her inclination Mat. 18. be not in their corrupt understanding, turned about by the word of truth, and are not well minded to the vertue of the love, certainly there can appear unto them no light of the truth, to Salvation; for God hath foreseen the perfection Deut. 6.10. 1 Cor. 13. 1 Tim. 1. in the love, according to the promises, and not in the know­ledge.

10. Therefore let every one be lowly of spirit, 1 Ioh. 4. and humble of heart in his know­ledge, even as though he knew nothing, and so have regard to the service of the love, what it requireth; and let him hope and long for it, to the intent he may be comprehended therein [that is to say in the doctrine thereof] for therein is the godli­nesse understood and known; and so let him indeavour towards the best.

11. And I hope that I shall alwaies to­wards the lovers of the truth do even so, and not omit to set before them the most best; for thereunto tend all my intents and desires, neither know I at all any better thing then the teaching and ministring of the holy word, under the obedience of the love.

12. True it is, I have as far as I might examined many sorts of Foundations [Page 184]and understandings, and have likewise con­sidered and scanned whereon they stood grounded, but there is yet no better thing come to my hand.

13. The Lord grant me his mercy, and strengthen my mind to do and accomplish his will, to the Salvation of men in the love.

14. O ye lovers of the truth, that have humbled your fouls under the love and her service, Deut. 6.11. [...]2. Pro. 4. take (I pray you) the truth to heart, and reproach no mans writings, teaching, nor exhortations, that have their ministration to the righteousnesse, and to the concord, but draw it all under the love, that every one may give up and bring all what he hath taken on, or wherein he is learned, according to his humane imagina­tion, to the communion of the love: give ear only to the godly Word of Life, under the obedience of the love, according to the manifestation of the glorious and godly light, set forth in the Glasse of Righteous­nesse, and so above all his humane know­ledge, love the Concord, and the upright life.

15. Moreover condemn none particu­larly by name, and be not offended at any, that your hearts Gal. 5. Acb. 12. be not moved to anger, [Page 185]stumble not at any thing, and reproach nor reject none for Sects, but love all them that indeavour towards righteousnesse, 2 Pet. 1. with a like love, to that upright righteousnesse which God esteemeth, and thus draw all wel-willing ones to the true righteous­nesse, under the obedience of the love.

16. And if any man seek the truth of you, and his heart be inclined to the love, then joyn your selves with him in the love, and so speak 1 Pet. 3. of the hope which is in you.

17. For who so loveth the good, though yet for a while he be in errour, may for all that come to amendment in the love, un­lesse he should give over his heart in a wil­full contentiousnesse, and despise the love and her service, for his self-minds sake.

18. But unto every one that will follow, and is well minded to the love and her ser­vice, Eph. 4. unto such reach forth the hand to the unity of the upright life, and that all in the love.

19. If the evill assail you, then put it from you, as much as is possible for you, un­till the same evill get a going down in you, and go into silence: give it no respite to follow after his desire, but become (accor­ding to the spirit) Col. 1. 1 Thes. 3. 1 Pet. 5. strong and firm in [Page 186]the good life, Deut. 7. 1 Pet. 2. to a peculiar possession of God, even as it is here in this Introduction, and in the Glasse of Righteousnesse, according to the life shewed and declared.

20. If so be ye cast this same behind the back, to wit, that ye refuse it, or have no belief nor lust thereunto, nor do hope there­on; and yet by your self-wisdom perswade your selves to be wise, then are ye vain, and utterly unmeet to the Kingdome of God, and how wise soever ye be, yet shall you be found vain, and without under­standing, and void of the true light of life.

21. Now if any man say, that he is alrea­dy in the life, and needeth no more, or that it is needfull no more for him to hearken after any other understanding, and therefore contemneth this form of the upright life, and his service to the same life whereunto we bear witnesse, and nei­ther hath it, nor indeavoureth towards it, in the service of the love, certainly he is yet in the death 1 Ioh. 2. and darknesse, and knoweth nothing at all either of Christ, or of the life which is of God, even as the darknesses also have never perceived nor known him.

22. If any man then despise this good mind or spirit of love, and with the [Page 187]heart withstandeth, and blasphemeth it; and doth not entertain the upright vertue of the love, the same man hath beguiled his own heart, and after the requiring of the knowledge of the old serpent, seeketh his own advantage, and not to do the will of the Lord.

23. But if on the other side (O ye dearly beloved) any do accept this which we bear witnesse of, for right and truth, let him not hardly over-hastily perswade himself, that he by his knowledge hath already gotten it; for there must at the first belief be joyned thereto, and then look whose belief through the increase of God blos­someth 4 Esd. 6. and is fruitfull, let the same man attempt the battell in hope against that which maketh up it self against the same; Let him have regard to the Word of life, and so passe on towards it, Luk. 21. with patience or in long sufferance.

24. That truely is the right Crosse of Christ, Mat. 16. Luk. 14. which we are daily with good wil, in the obedience of the requiring of the service of love, to take up Act. 14. in the belief, untill we be well exercised in the love, and in the holy understanding (whereunto we bear witnesse) and not only in the know­ledge.

25. Lo to this present, I find nor know no way els to the life, therefore, whoso­ever loveth the same, let him endeavour to­wards it, Joh. 8. and so abide stedfast in the requiring of the gracious Word, and of the doctrine of the holy spirit of love, untill the Rom. 6.8. Col. 2. laying away of his mortall body; then shall he with Christ and all Gods Saints inherit the Kingdome of God and the everlasting life, in the heavenly being.

26. Let every one take heed to his time, and Gal. 6. let no man deceive himself, with any vaine Opinion, that he do not erre.

27. For if any man Mat. 10. Luk. 14. loveth or esteemeth any thing, better then the godly life (which is the very Saviour himself) such a one is not worthy of the Salvation, nor yet of the life eternall.

28. And who so taketh not up his Crosse, and followeth after the godlinesse with his heart, Luk. 14. the same may not be his Disciple, that is, he cannot be taught in the godli­nesse, nor born a child of God in the hea­venly being.

29. Therefore it is all nothing, that any man speaketh much of it, if so be (with the heart) he Esa. 29. Mat. 7.15. follow not after the same, yea [Page 189]it is before God much more an abominati­on, Psal. 50. Ezek. 33. that any man speaketh of Gods righ­teousnesse, with talking or reasoning, and doth not with the heart follow after it, then any pleasure or delight unto him, and yet may one find an hundred men, which reason and talk of it, where there is not one of them that liveth rightly therein, or lo­veth it from the whole heart.

30. Notwithstanding, though men do now and then (through some imagination) think they have it, and have neverthelesse failed therein, yet are they not therefore to step back, tarry behind, or to lose the courage, but rather out of the inclination of love, to take good courage again, and to Phil. 3. Heb. 6.10. passe on towards the same godlinesse, untill that it be in us, and that we (accor­ding to the truth, be comprehended in the same, for by stumbling, falling, and creep­ing, and by being sometimes lead, doth a child (at length) learn rightly to goe.

31. By going wrong, and by hurting ones self, by means of passing in unpathed waies, with breaking thorow thistles, thorns, and hedges, also sometimes by doubting, and then by inquiring (and that all in hope) men come at last, or in processe [Page 190]of time to the right way, which we ought to walk to the life of truth in the love, therefore let no man be without courage.

32. Though we find our selves sometimes without understanding, how to enter into the life, or the Eph. 6. 1 Pet. 5. enemies encounter with us, and so hardly beset us, that we know not how to get thither, yet let us for all that, though it seem not credible, take a good courage or mind Heb. 11. in the belief, and not forsake the hope, for the hope Rom. 5. leaveth none ashamed, and so give our attention, Pro 4. to understanding and information, whereby we may attain thereunto, and to the very same arm our selves, even as an un­expert souldier, that hath a desire to be­come a good man of war, armeth himself to the warfare.

33. Though at first he sustaineth some damage, as to be sometimes wounded, smit­ten, shot, hurt to death, and by his enemies to be taken captive, yet taketh he still a fresh courage, and abideth firm in hope, un­till he be well exercised in the feat of war, who then is known for a man of war, that is one that understandeth and knoweth well, where any thing is to be won or lost, and wherein damage or advantage lieth.

34. If therefore earthly warriours be so [Page 191]bold in hope, for the corruptible things sake; hovv much more then ought we so to be towards the everlasting uncorrupti­blenesse, in case we have any desire or hope to the everlasting uncorruptiblenesse at all, Osc. 23. 1 Cor. 15. wherein death is swallowed up, and the everlasting immortality abideth, where all destruction passeth away, and in it self as a smoak vanisheth in such sort, that there is even nothing remaining in it but the pure and clear, the fulnesse and fairnesse of all vertues, according to the promises.

35. But a slothfull and unbelieving man that alwaies feareth, and is Pro. 6.24. negligent and disobedient hereunto, or a doubtfull and vvavering person, that still doubteth of errour, wounds, dammage, and losse, such a one thinketh not upon obtaining 4 Esd. 2. Sap. 5. Apo. 2. the royall Crown of everlasting life, and therefore giveth no credit thereunto; for so through his unbelief and disobedience he distrusteth God in his promises, and is self-wise against Gods truth and his omni­potency, and lying still on his lees or dregs, he prieth from far, how it shall fare with the obedient believers in the service of the love; truely such as re­main so minded, enter not into the King­dome [Page 192]of God, nor in the Heb. 4. rest or inheri­tance of eternall life.

36. Therefore let every one consider once rightly, whereunto we are called, through Jesus Christ. Is it not Mat. 25. Luk. 22. Joh. 5. 1 Cor. 15. to the ever­lasting uncorruptiblenesse and immortality, or kingly 1 Cor. 9. 2 Tim. 4. Jam. 1. 1 Pet. 5. Crown of eternall life, to Rom. 8. Gal. 5. Eph. 3. the inheriting in the spirit, of the infinite trea­sures of the divine heavenly goods, and moreover (through the belief) to be justi­fied from the sin, for to bring forth the Joh. 15. Eph. 4. Phil. 1. fruits of God, which God hath pleasure in, and to live in God eternally?

37. But (alas) this calling, the man hath utterly forgotten, and through his glosing which he hath invented there­on, he is quite strayed from the sense of his calling, and from the holy understand­ing.