The Power and glory of the Lord shining out of the North.

ALL People everywhere who profess that you love God, and have a desire to walk in hisRev. 11. 8. ways, and are in this dark world wandering too and fro, enquiring the way how you may come out of this great City, which is Sodom and Egypt, where fil [...]hiness and darkness rules, and is heard, wherein the Lord is crucified, and all the righteous blood hath been shed▪ and your selves are kept in bondage to sin and un­righteousness, blindness and thick darkness, and know not where you are, nor the way out of this condition, though many of you have been inquiring after the way so many years, seeking after your blinde guides, who are not the way, nei­ther in the way themselves, and so have forsaken the fountain of light, and have run after, and have been led by them who are in the same darkness with you, now stand still a while and see where you are, and what you have been doing; you pre­tend as to the Kingdom of God, but you are not seeking where it is; you have been seeking without, but it is within you, and there you must find it, if ever you finde it, it is not to be found in Forms and Customs, and outside Observations;Luk. 17. 21. but the Kingdom of God is within you, and the way to the Kingdom is within you, and the light that guides into the way and keeps in the way is within. Christ is the way, and [Page 2] know ye not that Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?Joh 14. 6. and as he is the Way, so he is the Light; I am the light of the2 Cor. 13. 5. world, and lighten every one that cometh into the world;Joh. 1. 9. and 8. 12. he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. I am the true shepherd of the sheep, and my sheep know my voice, but the voice of a stranger they1 Pet. 3. 19. will not hear, and the voice of Christ is spiritual & not carnal,Rev. 2. 7, 17. and he speaks to the Spirits in prison, and he that hath an earJoh. 10. 11, 12. hears whats the Spirit saith; and he who comes once to hear the voice of Christ in Spirit, will no more desire to hear the voice of strangers. All your hirelings are strangers to Christ, and he knows them not; for though they may prophesie in his name, and in his name cast out devils, yet if they be workersMat. 7. 22, 23. of iniquitie, Christ knows them not, and such know not Christ; For he that saith I know him, and keeps not his Com­mandment, 1 Ioh. 2. 4. is a lyer. Now all people, cease from your strange guides, and outside-lights, and return to the light of Christ in you, that which shews you sin and evil, and the deeds of dark­ness; for what ever makes manifest is light, and this is that light which shines into the conscience, which tells you that ly­ing,Eph. 5. 13. swearing, pride, envy, coveteousness, backbiting and dissembling leads to condemnation, and this light checks you for sin, and would have you to do to all men, as you would be done to. And this light is not a Chapter without you, in a Book, but it is that light that revealed that to the Saints in their several measures, which they spoke forth, and which thou readest in the Chapter; and this light being minded will lead to the perfect day, which declares all things as they are. And this did the Apostles exhort the Saints everywhere to take heed unto till the day dawned, and the day-star did arise1 Pet. 1. 19. in their hearts, and this is a more sure word of prophesie then that the Apostle did see in the mount, as he declared un­to them; and if you take heed to this light to obey and love it, then it will shew that to you which no outward declara­tion of man can shew you; it will let you see all your sins done in secret, and whom you have wronged, and how you have spent your time, and will bring you to repentance and to tenderness of heart towards all people, and will bring you to [Page 3] exercise a pure conscience in the fear of God, towards GodAct. 24. 16. and man in uprightness, and so will lead up to Justification and Peace; and if you disobey it, it will condemn you in your own hearts, and will shew you that God is greater then your hearts, who will render to every one according to their works; and here you are left without excuse before God, Men and Angels; and in this, that you know sin and live in it, here you have learned your codemnation, and your deceit is dis­covered, whereby with a pretence you make prayers, and say, Lord shew us a sight of our sins, when as God hath given you a light within you, which being minded and obeyed, will shew you all your sins and wickednesses, and lead you out of them;Joh. 3. 20. but this light you hate, because you love your evil deeds; and you perish, not for want of light tendred, but because you turn your backs on it; for when you should bring your works to it to be proved, then you joyn with the deceit to make co­vers for your sins, and hide them lest they should come to the light, and be made manifest; and this is the cause why you stumble, because you walk not in the light, for your evil deeds will not abide the light; the Adulterer loves the night, andIob 24. 15. and 16. the thief loves the night, and the drunkard loves the night, and all the children of darkness love the night, that they may1 Thes. 5. 7. bring forth their evil deeds unreproved.

And here thou art who lovest thy sins, and here wilt thou be found, profess what thou wilt; for the day will throughly declare thee what thou art; for now is the day of the Lord which will judge thee as thou art, neer at hand, and wo to thee that hidest thy sins, and coverest chine iniquities; thou maist hide it from men, and make men believe thou art a Christian, but God will not be mocked; for above all, he abhors theEph. 5. 8. hypocrite and dissembler; wherefore take heed and turn from your deceit, and come forth you children of darkness, and come into the light, where there is no occasion of stumbling, and make it appear you are children of the light, by loving it; and make it appear you love the light, by bringing your deeds to it to be proved, that all your works may be works of the light, that your light may shine forth before all men in your works, and that true Judgment may be set up in you, and all unrigh­teousness [Page 4] condemned and cast out, and truth received in, that the truth may make you free: for while you joyn with the de­ceit,Ioh. 8. 32, 34. you consent to keep your sins, and while you commit sin you are the servants of sin, and the wages of sin is death, and death reigns in you, because you will not come to Christ, whoIoh. 3. 19. is the light, that you may have life, and your destruction is of your selves, and God is just, and your condemnation is this, that light is come into the world, and you love darkness rather then light, because your deeds are evil, and this is that grace of God, that hath appeared to all men, which is the Saints Teacher, and teacheth them to deny-ungodliness andTit. 2. 11, 12. worldly lusts, which you that live in your lusts turn into wan­tonness, and will not be taught by it, and here you read yourIude 4. condemnation in every sin you commit.

O you people of England! how long will it be ere you be obedient to the Kingdom of Iesus Christ! how long will you profess him in words and forms, and yet will not own him in power! you can be content to let him have the name of a1 Cor. 4. 20. King, so that you your selves may raign, and under the name of Christs Kingdom act your own wills; and though you can­notTit. 1. 16. bear it to be Judged by the Spirit of Christ where it is in his people, which judgeth all the world, and all things; yet1 Cor. 2. 15. you cannot escape; for you shall be found guilty before the mighty Judge of Heaven and Earth, when he shall appear in flames of fire to be avenged upon all deceipt and unrighteousness of men: And will you be found at that day1 Pet. 5. 3. Subjects in the Kingdom of Christ wherein all the Saints are one, and Christ their head and Law-giver? or are you not Lords over Gods heritage, yea over Christ himself? and you will appear such when the mysterie of iniquity shall be reveal­edMat. 28. 20. in you; you who ought to make it your whole care to ob­serve the Law of Christ in all things that he commands, as a Rule for you to walk by; but are you in your duty as servants to Christ, when you are prescribing him ways to walk by in his Church? And is it not so, when you would limit him to speak only by such as you in your wisdom approve of, or else he shall be silent? and to effect this are all the powers of the earth combined together; do not you here take upon you to [Page 5] be Lords of the vineyard, and not servants, and would notMat. 21. 23. to the end. suffer him to send forth Labourers into it, who is Lord of it? Is not this the way to make the heritage your own? hath not all the persecutions of the messengers of God arisen from this ground? And how many times have earthly powers been2 Chron. 36. 16. broken to pieces against this Rock? And do you walk accord­ing to the Scriptures, which you say is your rule, when you would limit the Spirit of the Lord, not to speak in his own time, and in what place soever they who have the message areAmos 7. 13. sent into? you who are offended because the Lord sends his Messengers into your Idol Temples, to cry against your IdolAct. 5. 19, 20 worships, and Heathenish customs, and to call out poor igno­rant people from amongst you, which have been long decei­vedAct. 17. 2, 3. by their blind guides: And to call them out of forms and likenesses, into the substance of all worships, which is only in Spirit, and not in Forms and Customs, and outside observati­ons,Ioh. 4. 21, 22, 23, 24▪ that they may come to know what they worship, even the living God, that their souls may live, which was the way by which the Apostles did gather the Saints out of all the I­dols Temples and Carnal worships into the Spirit, as you may read in the Scripture: And this (with you) is a trans­gression of your Law, and you say it breeds distraction in your Churches; but what Churches are they which will be so soon distracted? and what people are those Churches made up of, who no sooner hear one deliver the Lords Message in a peaceable way, but they are all on fire, beating, buffetting, cursing, swearing, and haling them to prison? and were you not blind, you might plainly see what generation these are, who are, and always have been offended at the will of God. Is it not the love of God to souls to send to call them who will hear his voice, out of such Churches as are thus acted by a Spirit of envy, rage and murther, which is the spirit of the Devil? and this is that Spirit which being offended, sets the Creatures one to destroy another, least his deceipt should be revealed; and are you not blinde who cannot distinguish of that spirit which acts in the persecutor, and that Spirit which acts in the sufferer, and hath so done in all Ages, and come out from amongst them? And what Law is that which you say is [Page 6] transgressed by the creature, being obedient to the Creator, obeying the voice of Christ witnessed in the Scripture by the practise of the holy men of God, sent out by the same Spirit into the world, as these are at this day? Is this a Christian Law, as you pretend it to be, that thus withstands Christ in his Kingdom? and were you spiritual, as you pretend, would not these carnal Laws that oppose the Spirit and practise of theActs 17. 2, 3. Saints, be laid aside by you? and now try whether that Spirit act in you, which led the Apostles and Saints into the Temple and Synagogues daily, there to dispute against all Idolatrous worships, and to hold out to the people the true substance, and thereby gathered the Church into God, in the Spirit, there to meet and worship; or that Spirit that was in them who per­secutedActs 16. 19, 20, 21. the Saints for so doing, and commanded them silence, and charged them with breaking their Law, and turning the world upside down, and counted them mad men: And if any be moved to speak a word of truth while your Parish Tea­chers are talking, or before their glass be run, you that execute a carnal Law upon the bodies of such, are you subject to the Kingdom of Christ, which is in the Spirits of his own, where­by he rules the conscience, and brings them to obey him in his commands? Or will not you be found in the day of tryal to be fighters against him, under the name of professing him?1 Cor. 14. 30. And do these whom you persecute, any thing but what was the Saints practise? And how are you not ashamed to profess that Scripture to be your Rule, which saith, If any thing be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace; and this the Apostle sets down as order, and the Saints liberty; but what Spirit acts you, who would restrain it, and call it dis­order▪ and hale them before Rulers, or to prison for so doing? And you that say If such have their own liberty, it is reason they should be silent, and not cry out against others, know that the Law of Christ is not grounded on the will and reason of men; And is your reason here any thing but carnal? for doth pure reason give any way that deceit should go under the name of truth unreproved? and is there any reason to li­mit the Spirit of Christ that it shall not discover the man of sin wherever he is, who must be destroyed and revealed by the [Page 7] brightness of his coming in his Saints, and by the sword of his mouth? and is there any reason that the powers of the earth should make Laws for the Spirit of Christ in the Saints to act by (though in all Ages they would be medling with it to their own hurt?) And if all should be subject to your Law, which you say is reason, how should truth be spred abroad, and de­ceit be brought to blush, seeing deceit hath always, and doth still wind into the earthly powers; for safety? but truth seeks no corners not shelters from earthly powers; for all that ever was sent out by Christ to preach the Gospel, was called by him alone, without the consent of earthly powers; neither stood they to the judgment or Tryal of any men or powers, as from them to receive order whether to preach or forbear, but by his authority alone by whom they were sent, to whom a­lone they were to give accompt of their Ministry, with joy or sorrow; and in this work they denyed all the Learning and Wisdom of the World; Christ was not learned, and the A­postles was not learned; and Paul when he tells of his bring­ingActs 4. 13. up in learning, counts it amongst other (carnal) things, loss▪ dross and dung (which before he had counted gain) thatPhil. 3. 7, 8. in the loss of them he might win Christ. And saith, that the knowledge of the Gospel, he had it not of man, nor by man, nor was he taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ; but what Rule walk you by, who must have them to such aGal. 1. 11, 12 pitch of Learning, and so many years at Oxford or Cambridge, and then to study so long in Books and old Authors? and all this is to know what unlearned men, Fisher-men, Plow-men & Herds-men did mean when they spoke forth the Scriptures, who were counted fools and madmen by the learned gene­ration when they spoke it forth; And they who speak it by the same Spirit, are so still by the same Serpents wisdom; And when you have brought them to this height of Learning; yet the Scripture is a book sealed to all their wisdom and learn­ing:Rev. 5. 3. and they from whom you expect the opening of this mysterie are at a jar amongst themselves, what should be the meaning of it; and have been in all Ages disputing, quarrel­ling, imprisoning, killing and burning one another, and would do so now, had they power; for this learned generation have been the stirrers up of all strife and bloodshed, setting King­doms, [Page 8] Nations and People one against another, and all about standing to uphold their Meanings, Forms and Imaginations and vain conceptions from the Letter, but are all ignorant of that Spirit which gave it forth; for they who have the sub­stance, contend not about words and meanings, and that Spirit is the substance which gave it forth and opens it again, as it ariseth in its measure; and they who have that Spirit are Ministers of the Spirit, and they minister to the raising up of the Spirit in others, and not to the Serpents wisdom; for they know that wisdom which stands in the will of man must not enter; for the mysterie is hid from it, and such cannot persecute the bodies of men because they know not so much as they, neither do they seek to destroy the Creature, but they strike at the accursed Spirit, which keeps the Creature in blind­ness and bondage, and so redeems the Creature and reconciles him to God in the Spirit, and this is the Ministry of reconci­liation, guided by the Spirit, and by this was the Scripture written forth; for holy men of God spoke forth the Scri­ptures2 Pet. 1 12, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, without car­nal learning; and holy men by the same Spirit read and under­stand them again, not by carnal learning and natural tongues; for the Spirit is the Original, which first reveals the mysterie to1 Cor. 2. 14. the Spirit within man, and then declares it forth in words orEph. 3. 3, 5. writing to the understanding of others, to the directing their minds to wait upon God for the same free-gift of the Spirit, & here is the true worship in Spirit found and performed, which stands in the teaching of the Spirit, and not in the Letter, un­known to the world, but owned of God; but all you who seek to find out the invisible things of God, or the way of his wor­ship,Mat, 11. 25. by your learning and wisdom in the letter, you seek that which is hid from your wisdoms, & you take the Saints conditi­ons to talk on: And they having outwardly declared their in­ward worship and fellowship they had with God in Spirit, and1 Ioh▪ 1. 3. this you find in the Letter, and every one according to your se­veral conceivings thereof, sets up an outward form, image, or likeness of the Saints worship, and here you worship, and for this you contend by reasons and arguments, and wrest the2. Pet. 3. 16. Scriprures to uphold your form; and if any will not worship this your Image, you are greatly offended; and here is all the [Page 9] contention in the world about things without, as forms, cu­stoms and traditions; and here carnal minds contend withRom. 6. 6, 7. carnal words and weapons about carnal things; and you who are here cannot own the Saints conditions in your selves, as to witness the infallible teachings of the Spirit, and the body of sin put off, and to be sanctified throughout in soul and bo­dy, but you will own the Scriptures (as they are) as far as they will make with your Form, and that you may live in the delights of the world; And for those which crosse your ways and wills, you will alter them by meanings and exposi­tions, and thus the Scripture must bend to you, and submit to your wills, that the will may raign, and you live in your lusts; but to believe that ever they shalbe fulfilled in you by Christ, asRom. 8. 3, 4. they are and were in the Saints, to this your Faith is reprobate: And yet you are not ashamed to profess Christ your King, and the Scripture your Rule, and you make a great sound in words, the Kingdom of Christ, and the Ordinances of Christ, and the Church of Christ, and the Saints practise, and the Scripture Rule; but is it so upon tryal, or but a thing like these you speak on? and where you appear to be wanting, there you have covered with words meanings and expositions; but the Saints whose conditions you talk on, was what they spoke without meanings or deceit: they were subjects in the King­dom of Christ, and he did rule in them, and they followedRev▪ 7▪ 14. him through persecution, mockings and death; but is it so with you, who are Lords over your brethren, beating, mock­ing, imprisoning and killing them, because they will not for­sake the commands of Christ to be subject to your wills, and heathenish customs, as to bow down to you and worship you, and to be silent at your will, and to speak at your wills though Christ command the contrary? Is this to own Christ for your King? And as for your Ordinances you cry up so much, are these they to set up a proud man called by youMat. 23. 6. 10. master, having the highest place in the Idols Temple, preach­ing always from a verse of another mans condition, but not fulfilled in himself, raising points, reasons objections and uses, a divination of his own brain, but not from the mouth of the Lord, adding and diminishing to the Scripture, sprinkling of [Page 10] infants, and calling it baptizing into Christ, singing Davids conditions in Rimes, telling People of a Sacrament, andGal. 4. 10, 11. observing of times, doing all for Tythes or money, living in pride, fulness and coveteousness, and many more like things, never used by any that ever Christ sent? And is this your Church, all within such a place or Parish, sprinkled when they were infants, but not yet washed from sin, but are still lyars, swearers, drunkards, whoremongers, covetous, scorners, proud, wanton, oppressors, and such like, but not one that can witness that faith which hath overcome the world, sin and the devil, or believes that ever they shall over­come1 Iohn 5. 4. while they are here? and is this the Church of Christ, which is his body, which are limbs of the devil, and serve him at his will? And is this the Saints practise you speak of, to exalt your selves one above another, to sue one another, to accuse falsly, to be proud and covetous, to live in the lustsMat. 20. 26, 27. of the flesh, sporting and gaming, and calling it recreation, li­ving in excess of apparel and diet, spending the creatures onGal. 5. 24. your lusts, when your brethren want food and raiment, cau­sing others to labour in wants, that they may bring it to you to spend on your lusts and vanity? And when you should hear­ken to the light of Christ in your conscience, then you joyn with the deceit to make covers for your iniquities, and say it is but as your place and estate requires, as though God had given out his Law with respect of persons, and had given youJam. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. a toleration to abuse the creature, and live in your lusts more then others, because you have more of the earth, or a greater power committed to your charge amongst men then others,Mat. 20. 25, 26, 27. not considering that the Heathen exercise these things; but the Saints, the greater power, the more humble, and the moreLuk. 22. 26. carefull to walk as examples to others, that so they may exalt him alone whose Ministers they are, and not themselves in pride; and this is to be truly honorable, and herein have all the faithfull been honoured; but you who seek for the worlds honour are not of the faithfull; for saith Christ, how can you believe that seek for honour one of another? now youJoh. 5. 41. 44. that talk of the Saints practise, own it in your selves, and it will take you off from these and many more vanities you live [Page 11] in; God will not be mocked; you hypocrites, be not sayers, but doers. And you talk of the Scripture being a golden Rule, but your ways prove, how little you are ruled by it; Do ye seek to be perfect? for God is perfect; holy as he is holy? do ye love God above all and your neighbours as your self, when you make them your footstool? do you to all as you would be done by; have you forsaken the world and the love of it? Is the lusts and affections of your flesh crucified? havingHeb. 13. 5. food and rayment, are ye therewith content? Do you live1 Tim. 6. 8, 9. by faith, not taking thought for tomorrow, not what to eatMat. 6. 25. to the end. and what to put on? Do you live as the Lords Lilies? Do you feed the hungry and cloath the naked, and let the oppres­sedIam. 2. 1, 9. go free? Are ye no respecters of persons in all your deal­ings? Are you brought to yea and nay in all your communi­cationMat. 5. 37., without any more which comes of evil? Do you sufferMat. 5. 11. and are hated, and have all manner of evil spoken on you falsly for the name of Christ? Are you brought out of all theLuk. 6. 22. customs of the heathen, and are conformable to Christ in his life and sufferings? prove your selves if you be what you profess in truth, that you be Saints, sanctified and redeemed out of all worldly and earthly things, to live to God in all things, in righteousness and holiness: Oh you take but their conditions to talk on, which was so; and so you boast in ano­ther mans line on things that are not your own. See if you be made the righteousness of God in Christ, as they were, and2 Cor. 5. 12. if you know him, whom you say you worship, to dwell in your2 Cor. 6. 16. bodies, as they did, and that you are taught of him in Spirit how he will be worshipped, as they were whom you talk on. See whether these things be so in substance, or you have but a form of their worship, gathered out of the letter, and so you worship a likeness or image of that whereof they had the substance: now if you have but the outside, take heed; for now is the hand of the Lord upon all the Idols of the world;Zach. 13. 2. and that which is not the substance is but an image; and now shall the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, breakDan. 2. 34. thee and thy image in pieces, and he that is without form shall by his power, break all your Forms and formal Wor­shipsRev. 14. 9. in pieces, and that worship alone shall be set up, which [Page 12] is in spirit, and not in form, and is accepted by that God who never was known in form, but in spirit, bles­sed for ever.

And you Rulers of the Nation, take heed how you step in­to the throne of Christ, or exalt your selves in his Kingdom, and mind what power you are betrusted with by the Lord, and be faithfull in that, as the Ministers of God to whom you are2 Sam. 23. 3. Isa. 56. 1. to accompt; you are to punish sin in whom it is, without re­spect1 Pet. 2. 14. of persons: And if you be faithfull herein, you will findPsal. 82. 3, 3, 4. work enough in the Nation: And you are to encourage them that do well, and deliver them from the power of cruel andProv. 29. 2. blood-thirsty men that oppress them; for he that departs from iniquity is made a prey to this generation: and you areIsa. 59. 15. to walk as examples to the people, in all holiness and righte­ousness, that God may bless you and honour you in the doing of his commands: but as for sending out Labourers into his Vineyard, where hath he commanded this at your hands, or when did he in any Age reprove any for not doing it? He hath overthrown Kingdoms and Nations for abusing, and go­ing2 Chron 36. 15, 16. about to stop the mouths of those that he sent, and hath reproved Kings for their sakes, saying, Touch them not; but these were such as he sent; for he never betrusted the powers of the earth to choose him messengers to go on his message:Luk. 10. 2. And hath he now put power into your hand, that you should not suffer him to choose his own messengers, by whom he will send to his own people? And have you the message to put in­to their mouths, and must they go on your errand or his? and will not you give Him leave to choose his own servants, and what he will imploy them about? will you deal so with him, as you would not have any to deal with you? And for your Tythes, Augmentations, and set benefits, when did ever God require any such thing from any Magistrates under the Gospel? and doth it serve for any other end, but to hold up an idle, loytering Ministry, one pulling another out of places, and setting themselves in their stead, that they may heap up riches and live in their lusts, all running greedily after the wages ofZach. 11. 4, 5. Balaam for gifts and rewards? And do you fear that the hand of God is shortened, that he will not raise up such as will goEzek. 22, 25. [Page 13] on his message, unless you provide them wages? Did everIsa. 50. 2, 4. any that he sent complain to the world for want? nay, all my Fathers servants have bread enough, without being cared for by the world; for those who are sent by Christ, take little care for such earthly things, having a better reward, indu­rable riches? And can you ever keep the Ministers of Anti­christ out of places (who will conform to any thing for gain) so long as they can have you to feed them with money? And will not you be found guilty of keeping up the hirelings that the wo is to, and them that hold them up, and whom Christ is come to discover and cast out, and so you be found fighters against him? And when you leave all that say they are Christs Ministers to Christs maintenance set down in the Go­spel, then it will appear who have run unsent, and have not profited the people; And is it not the love of God to cast out such as have called themselves Teachers, and have been thus long in places, and have their people yet lyars, swearers,Rom. 6. 7. 18. drunkards, proud and covetous, and in all filthiness, but not one that is set free from sin and brought out of the world, and they who have taught them dare not trust them for mainte­nance, without a Law to compel them? And are you doing any acceptable service to God in maintaining such as these as they live? And will it not be said to you one day, who requi­red these things at your hands, to oppress the poor who labourProv. 22. 16. hard to give their labours to maintain these belly-gods (con­trary to their conscience) in their fulness, pride and lust, and their wives and families in idleness; and they that labour for it, are many times in great want?

Oh be wise and take heed what you do; and as you pro­fess your selves to be a Christian Magistracy, so minde the commands of Christ, and not your own wills; it is not saying you are Christians, but walking after Christ and his commands, that differs you from heathen: And do not profess the Scri­pture in words, but own their practise that gave them forth; and let them who say they are Ministers, make proof of their Ministry in power, and not in getting a few words whereby to deceive you and the people, but let them first sow spiritual things before they reap carnal; first beget a people out of the [Page 14] world into the Spirit, and then they shall not need to con­tend1 Cor. 9. 11. with them about food and rayment, nor sue them at the Law; first plant, then eat; And this was the practise of such as Christ sent, and he always provided them a house to go toActs 4. 34. who were worthy, and meat to eat, and they never wanted what was good for them; and I witness that he is the same now, and hath the same care over those that he sends into the world, with divers others whom he hath sent out without bag or scrip, yea into the most brutish parts in the Nation; praises, praises be to our God, whose is the earth and the fulness there­of;Mat. 6. 25. and thus we do witness the Scripture fulfilled, and take no thought for food and raiment as the heathen do, but are come into the unity with all Saints in their joy and sufferings,Phil. 4. 11, 12. and are taught by Christ how to want and how to abound, and in all conditions to be therewithall content; and we can truly say all is for good to us, and to the Church of Christ: And our Kingdom and joy is not of this world, nor doth theIoh. 16. 22. world know us, nor our joy; glory to the highest for ever, who is shaking all the wisdoms and powers of men, to establish that which is of himself alone, to which all shall be made to bend and bow.

And you that are in power, minde the promise of the Fa­ther, at the coming of Christ to his Kingdom, I will over­turn, overturn, overturn, till it come into his hand whose right it Isa▪ 9 6, 7. is, and upon his shoulders shall the government be established (he that hath an ear to hear let him hear) And take notice how ma­ny have been overturned already, who would have been limi­ting him by their wisdoms: And now it is come into your hands, who above all have seen his wonders done for you andAmos 3. 2. the Nation, and you above all have declared that you desire is that Christ alone may reign in his Kingdom, and some of you I have known to be tender towards any who looked that way. Oh that there were such a heart in you, to lay aside all your own wills and carnal consultations, and to take CounsellIsa. 30. 1. at the Spirit of the Lord, and be guided by his pure light shi­ning into your conscience, which would bring you into the fear of the Lord, and to depart from self-ends, interests and exaltations, and to follow rhe Law of God in establishing [Page 15] Laws for your selves and others to walk by, and that you may follow the practise of the Saints left in Scripture, withoutPsal. 89 14, 15, 16. wresting it, that so you might come to have unity with them in the same Spirit that gave them forth, and so be guided by the same Spirit of Justice and Judgment, by which all were guided that ever have ruled well in all Ages, whom God did bless and hath honoured for ever; that so God may bless you, and esta­blish you, and preserve the Nation out of the hands of yours and the Nations enemies. And that you may be honouredIsa. 1. 23. with taking away oppression, and wicked and unjust Rulers,Zach. 7. 9. to the end. who are the cause of it, who judge not the cause of the poor and needy, and which the Lord hath been grieved at these many years; but if you forget your selves, and what you have promised before the Lord in the day when you sought unto him for deliverance, and so exalt your selves over the poor, and set up your own Laws, and not the Law of God in its pu­rity, I declare unto you this day, from the Word of theIsa. 42. 23. Lord, that he will overturn you, and raise up his KingdomIsa. 14. 26, 27. another way; whether you will hear, or whether you will for­bear, the word of the Lord shall stand; for the Almighty GodHag. 2. 6, 7. hath been shaking the Nations, that his glory may appear, and there shall be no rest, untill his Kingdom be established above all mountains. Hear all ye powers of the earth, The Lord alone will raign.

TAke heed how you speak evil of the things you know not, Jude 10. You who neither know the Lord, nor his works in your selves, take heed how you judge it in others; you are without God who are in the world, and the works of God have always been strange to that Nature which you live in; but search the Scriptures, and you shall finde that the holy men of God do witness quaking and trem­bling, and roaring and weeping, and fasting and tears; but the world knows not the Saints conditions. But beware there­fore lest that come upon you which is spoken of in the Pro­phets and Apostles, of such despisers and scorners as you are. Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which you shall not in any wise believe, though a man declare it unto you, Acts 13. 40, 41. The Lord reigneth, let the people tremble; he sitteth between the Cheru­bims, let the earth be moved, Psal. 99. 1. Tremble thou earth at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, Psal 114. My flesh trembleth because of thee, and I am afraid of thy judgments, Psal. 119. 120. He looketh upon the earth, and it trembled; he toucheth the hills, and they smoke, Psal. 104. 30. A fire goeth before his face, and burneth up all his enemies round about; his lightning enlightened the world; the earth saw and trembled; the hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, Psal. 97 3, 4, 5. Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horrour hath overwhelmed me, Psal 55 5. So terrible was the voice, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and tremble: whose voice then shook the earth; but now he hath said, that once more I shake not the earth only, but heaven also, Heb. 12. 21, 26. When Paul heard the voice of Christ, he trembling [Page 17] and astonished, said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Acts 9. 6. The Corinthians received Titus in obedience, with fear and trembling, 2 Cor. 7. 15. Paul was with the Corinthians in weakness, and fear, & much trembling, 1 Cor. 2. 3. When Paul reasoned of righteousness, temperance & judgement to come, Felix trembled, Act. 24. 25. The Apostle exhorts the Saints to work out their salvation with fear & trembling, Phil. 2. 12. The Jaylor when he believed, he came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, Act. 16. 29. When Isaac blessed his sons, he trembled very exceedingly, Gen. 27, 33. Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word: your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my names sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified; but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. Isa. 66. 5. Thus saith the Lord, to this man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a con­trite heart, and trembleth at my words, Isa. 66. 2. Oh that thou wouldst rent the Heavens, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence; as when the melting fire causeth the water to boyl, and to make his name known to his adversaries, that the Nations may tremble at his presence, Isa. 64. 1, 2. Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be hor­ribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them, and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall, Ezek. 32. 10. When Habakkuk heard the voice, his belly trembled, his lips quivered, and rot­tenness entred into his bones, and he trembled in himself, that he might rest in the day of trouble, Hab. 3. 16. When Daniel saw the vision, he stood trembling, & they that were with him thought that they saw it not, yet a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves, Dan. 10. 7 11. When God sets up his Son as King, all are exhorted to serve him with fear▪ and rejoyce with trembling, Psal. 2 6, 11. When Iob remembred God, he was afraid, and trembling took hold on his flesh, Iob 21. 6. The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at his presence, Iob 36. 11. Which shaketh the earth out of her place, the pillars thereof tremble, Job 9. 6. Thou hast made us to drink the wine of astonishment, thou hast made the earth to tremble, thou hast broken it, heal the breaches [Page 18] thereof, for it sheketh, Psal. 60. 2, 3. The earth shook, the hea­vens also dropped at the presence of the God of Israel, Psal. 68. 8. And the Land shall tremble and sorrow; for every purpose of the Lord shall be persormed against Babylon▪ Jer. 51. 29. When Ezra heard of the peoples sins, he pluckt his hair off his head, and off his beard; he rent his garment, and sate down asto­nied; and there assembled unto him all that trembled at the word of the God of Israel, Ezra 9. 3, 4. The people were to enter into Covenant with God, by the counsel of those that trembled at the Command of God, Ezra 10. 3. The Lord will take the cup of trembling out of the hands of his people, and put it into the hands of those that afflict them, Isa. 51. 22, 23. When the Lord shall roar, then the Children shall tremble as a bird, Hos. 11. 10, 11. Shall not the Land tremble for this, and every one mourn that awelleth therein? and all feasts shall be turned into mourning, and all songs into lamentation, as a lamentation for an only son, Amos 8. 8, 10. Thus saith the Lord of hosts. Yet a little while, and I will shake the Heavens, the Earth, the Sea, and the dry Land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come, and I will fill my house with glory, saith the Lord, Hag. 2. 6, 7. I beheld the Mountains, and lo they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly, Jer. 4. 24. At his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the Nations shall not be able to abide his indignation, Jer. 10. 10. Tremble ye women that are at ease, be troubled ye careless ones, strip ye and make ye bare, and gird sackcloth upon your loyns, Isa. 32. 11. Ieremy said, his heart was broken within him, all his bones shaked be­cause of the Lord, and because of the word of his Holiness, Ier. 23 9. The Elders of Bethlehem trembled at the coming of Samuel, 1 Sam. 16. 4. Ezekiel was commanded to eat his bread with quaking, and drink his water with trembling and with carefulness, Ezek. 12. 18. Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound an alarme in my holy mountain; let all the inhabitants of the Land tremble; for the day of the Lord cometh; for it is nigh at hand, Joel 2. 1 For in my jealousie, and in the fire of my wrath, have I spoken; surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the Land of Israel, so that the fishes of the Sea, and the fowls of the Heaven, and the Beasts of the field, and all [Page 19] creeping things that creep upon the earth▪ and all the men that are upon the face of the earth shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground, Ezek. 38. 19, 20. When God heard Davids prayer out of his holy Temple, the earth shook and trembled, the foundations of the hills moved, and were shaken because he was wroth, Psal. 18. 6, 7.

David roared all the day long, and was weary with hisPsal. 38. 8. Psal. 32. 3. groanings; he wept all the night, and made his bed to swimPsal. 6. 6. with tears; he fasted till his knees grew seeble, and his fleshPsal. 109. 24. failed of fatness, untill he could number his bones, while hePsal. 22. 6, 7, 17. suffered the terrors of God; he was distracted, he was a re­proachPsal. 88. 15. among men for so doing, and despised of the people;Psal. 35. 16. all that saw him laught him to scorn, he was a mocking to thePsal. 22. 16. wicked, they made mouths at him, and shaked the head at him;Psal. 41. 6. the drunkards made songs of him; he was a taunt and a by­wordPsal. 71. 7. among them; dogs compassed him about; the assemblies of wicked men inclosed him; vain persons came to see him, that they might tell it abroad, and he was a wonder to many, and a stranger to his brethren, and his kinsmen stood afar off.

A Word to the Seed of the Serpent, or Mi­nisters of Antichrist, or Man of Sin, wherever he is found.

KNow this thou subtil One, who hast long upholden a Kingdom of sin, unrighteousness, injustice and op­pression, with all manner of filthiness by thy wis­dom, that now the day of thy torment is at hand; for now is that seed arisen, which is appointed to discover thee and thy deceitfull workings, and to bruise thy head, and to lay all thy pride and glory in the dust: And he will set up a King­domIsa. 29. 14, 15 of righteousness, purity and holiness in the hearts of his people, who have been deceived through thy divination and witchcrafts these many years. And you Ministers of Anti­christ, who have made people believe that you were the Mi­nisters of Jesus Christ, the Son of Righteousness, by your crying out against sin in words, and making poor ignorant people think that you were enemies to all unrighteousness, and lovers of purity and perfection; but now that the Lord is bringing out a people out of the unrighteous world, destroy­ing the body of sin, and bringing them up to righteousness, holiness and perfection, even to the Image of his dear Son, in which they were created, and so to himself again, from whence they were fallen by sin, and could no other way be restored, but by being made the righteousness of God in Christ. 2 Cor. 5. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. which God having begun to effect, now you are forced to uncover and shew your selves, whose Mini­sters you are, and what Kingdom you stand for, with all your power opposing the Kingdom of Christ, which is in holiness2 Thes. 2. 4. and perfection: And now you are forced (least the man of sin should fall) to tell the same people to whom you have been all this while talking against sin, impurity and imperfe­ction, that they must never look while they are here to over­come [Page 21] sin, the world, and the devil, nor ever come to purity and perfection; and thus you labour to keep a hold for the man of sin as long as people live, and so perswade them to leave the work of redemption and freedom till after death, or you know not when, and thus encourage people to spend their days in folly, and leave the world with torment and horror at their death.

Now it being that you are ignorant of that pure light of the Spirit that convinceth those who will own it, I am moved from the letter, for the simple ones sake, who have been long deceived by you, to give some discoveries to your selves and all who will see whose Ministers you are, and for whose Kingdom you Minister.

And first, You that say none can be free from sin while they are here, you are Ministers against the truth, John 8. 32, 34.

Secondly, You are against that which the Father promised at the coming of Christ, Mat. 1. 21. Ioh. 1. 29. Ier. 50. 20.

Thirdly, You are against the end for which Christ came in­to the world, Joh 8. 34, 36.

Fourthly, You are against the end of Christs sufferings, Gal. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 3. 18. Rom. 4. 25. Rom. 6. 10, 11. 2 Cor. 5. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 21▪ 22.

Fifthly, You are against the end of Christ being manifest­ed in the Saints, Rom. 8. 3, 4. 1 Joh. 3. 8. 1 Ioh. 3. 5.

Sixthly, You are against that which manifests the children of God from the children of the Devil, 1 Ioh. 3. 10. 1 Ioh. 5. 18.

Seventhly, You are against the commands of God and Christ, Isa. 52. 11. Joh. 8. 11. 1 Tim 1. 5. Ioh. 5. 14.

Eightly, You are against that which the Saints did witness wrought in them by Christ, Rom. 6. 1, 6, 7, 18, 22. Rev. 1. 5. 1 Pet. 2. 24. 1 Joh. 3. 6. 1 Joh. 5. 18. Col. 2. 11.

And you that say none can come to holiness and perfection while they are here; and to prove this you take the Saints conditions which they declared as they were passing on in growth toward it: and hence you go about by your subtil­ty to make People believe that they never did attain to per­fection; and all this, lest any should press after it, as though God did command his People to labour for that which is not [Page 22] to be attained. And now judge if you were not blind whom you minister for, and whom you are against.

First, You are against the End for which Christ offered up himself. Heb. 10. 14. Tit. 2. 14.

S [...]condly, You are against the Commands of God, Mat. 5. 48. 1 Pet 1. 16. Levit. 11. 44. Deut. 18. 13. Levit. 20. 7. Gen. 17. 1.

Thirdly, You are against the End for which Christ comes in­to the Saints. Joh. 17. 23.

Fourthly, You are against the End for which Christ begifted and sent out all his Ministers into the World, Ephes. 4. 11, 12, 13.

Fifthly, You are against the work of the Apostles and Pro­phets, to whom they writ and taught. Jam. 1. 4. 2 Cor. 7. 1. & 13. 11. 1 Chron. 28. 9. Heb. 6. 1.

Sixthly, You are against that which the Apostles and Mini­sters of Christ laboured and prayed for to be wrought in the Saints, night and day. 1 Thess. 3. 10. Col. 1. 28. Heb. 13. 20, 21. 1 Pet. 5. 10. Col. 4. 12.

Seventhly, You are against the End for which the Scriptures are written. 2 Tim. 3. 16, 17.

Eighthly, You are against the testimony God himself bears of his own, Gen. 6. 9. Job 1. 8. Job 2. 3.

Ninthly, You are against what the Saints witness to be in themselves and others, 2 Kin. 20. 3. Phil. 3. 15. 1 Cor. 2. 6. 2 Cor. 12. 9. Pro. 2. 21. Pro. 11. 5. Psal. 37. 37. Psal. 64. 4. Psal. 101. 2, 6. Heb. 12. 23. 1 Ioh. 3. 3. 1 Ioh. 4 17.

Tenthly, You are against that, without which God and man can never be reconciled in one again, Heb. 7. 19. Hab. 1, 13. Dan. 9. 24. 2 Tim▪ 2. 21. 1 Cor. 3. 17. Mat. 5 8. Psal. 15. Prov. 15. 9. 29. Psal. 5. 4.

And now let them who are wise-hearted, judge whose Mi­nisters you are, that are thus against God, and the recovery of lost man into his first estate, and see if it be not the same Spi­rit that acts you thus in subtilty to keep man in the Fall, by which the fall of man was occasioned at the first; and let all judge whether you be the Ministers of righteousness, or of un­righteousness; of Christ the King of purity and peace, or of [Page 23] Antichrist, the Prince of this World and man of sin, and op­position; now by your fruits you are known and shall be judged; wherefore repent and cease limiting the Lord, and measuring the pure Spirit of God in his people, whom he hath called out of the world, and sanctified thereby un [...]o fruits of righteousness, obedience, holiness and perfection; And measure not this with that spirit of pride, coveteousness, self­love, and envy, and persecution which rules in you, who are yet in the world, and the love of it, which is enmity with God, Iam. 4. 4. But see within your selves what is the cause why you are such enemies to righteousness and perfection; you are too rich in your selves, in your own wisdom, by your earth­ly wisdom, to wait for the good and perfect gifts of God from above, Iam. 1. 17. You envious ones, you want the bond of perfectness, which is charity, Col. 3. 14. You hypocrites, who hear, and say, and do not that which leads to it; how can you come to perfection, Iam. 1. 22, 23, 24, 25. You are too much in words, but too little in practise to come to perfecti­on; for Faith is made perfect through works, and not through words, Iam. 2▪ 22. 1 Cor. 4. 20.

And you fat worldlings, who live in pride, pleasure and fulness, and have your hearts in the earth; see Luke 8. 14. and there Christ tells you the plain cause why you bring no fruit to perfection: now wo unto you who have set your selves in places to lead people up to God out of the Fall, sin and un­cleanness; but now when the Lord is come, none are found such opposers of purity as you are; O repent, how long will it be ere you cease to pervert the ways of God for your own ends? Oh that you had eyes to see, that you might make peace with him, least he tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.

ANd now to you poor scattered sheep, who have been scattered by these hirelings, in this cloudy, dark day, which hath been upon all flesh spred upon the face of the earth, and you have been running from mountain to hill, to find the Lord, but have not found him, who is to give rest to your souls: And many of you are still wandring you know [Page 24] not where: Others have seated themselves under green trees, and are worshipping you know not what, but as others tell you, who know as little of the true and living God as your selves; Others are weary with seeking where nothing can be found, and are fallen asleep in the world of ease and careles­ness: others have their ears open to all voices, which cry, lo here, lo there, but know not who to trust, being all in con­fusion; now all awake to meet the Lord, who is arisen to seek and save, and gather into one fold all his scattered ones, and to bring them up to Zion the holy City, where he will feed them himself alone, without fear, in good pasture, where they shall lie down in peace; now come off from all your blinde guides, that are not in the way themselves; nor can they di­rect others where the way is; come out of the world and worldly cares and pleasures, and return to the Lord in Spirit, he is within you, and there if you wait in Spirit you shall hear him speak to your spirits, to the directing your minds out of all the works of darkness and sin, up to God, where no sin is, nor unclean thing can come, and if you minde to obey his voice, he will teach you to lay aside all your dissembling hy­pocrisie, whereby you have deceived your selves and others, professing godliness in words, but denying it in power, and you will finde power given in from the Lord, to become what you profess in reality and truth, and to profess no more but what you are, that God may have glory by you, and take de­light to dwell in you; for this is the day of your visitation, if you will own it; the day of Salvation from all sin and unrigh­teousness, the day wherein all the children of the Lord shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be their peace, in righ­teousness shall they be established, and they shall be far from oppression, Isa. 54. 13, 14. Many of you have had great travel and gone through many sorrows to finde rest, but have found none; many prayers and tears, but no answer of peace; ma­ny days of seeking, but have not found him whom your souls thirst after; and all this because you have been seeking the li­ving among the dead; he is not to be found in the world, nor formal worships, nor in humane wisdom and learning; but he is only to be found as he reveals himself freely, to those [Page 25] who patiently wait for him in spirit. Dear People, to you that love the Lord above all earthly things, and yet have not your minds directed where to wait for him, to you I speak to your souls that lie in death till they hear the voice of the Son of God; he is near you, who is the way to the Father, look not out, he is within you; that which I know, declare I unto you, and the way I know, where I have found my beloved, my Saviour, my Redeemer, my Husband, my Maker, who hath set me above all the world, my sins, my fears, my sorrows, my tears, into his love, to live with him in Spirit for ever; but dy­ing daily to all visible things, praises, praises to my Father for ever. The night is far spent, the day is at hand, come out of darkness all that love the Lord, into his marvellous light, where you shall see what you have been, and what you are re­deemed from, that you may live and praise the Lord; for it is the living that praise the Lord, and not the dead: Arise, come out of death, come away, and let us rejoyce together in his love, in the life of our king, even so, Amen.

And you that are so much offended at perfection, and be­ing cleansed from sin, I leave these Queries with you to consider.

1. Whether any unperfect one, committing sin, be the Image of God, yea or no?

2. Whether any can witness the work of Redemption com­pleat in them by Christ, while they commit sin, and are over­come with the temptation of the Devil, yea or no?

3. Whether any unperfect and unclean one that lives in sin, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, yea or no? and if not, how shall one dying in sin; and where shall he be made perfect and clean, seeing the tree must lie as it falls; and whe­ther you own a Purgatory, yea or no?

4. Whether a Christian have ground to believe, that he may be recovered by the second Adam into that estate in which he was created, and which he lost in the first Adam, yea or no?

5. Whether God created man and woman perfect, with­out sin, and able in his power so to have stood, if they had not forsaken his power, and consented to the wisdom of the Serpent, yea or no?

[Page 26]6. Whether God and man be wholly reconciled, till man be brought into that estate again, yea, or no?

7. Whether all those that both by their life and doctrine labour to perswade people to abide in that condition of sin, imperfection and separation from God (which Christ came to destroy, and so to unite man to God again) be not Mini­sters of Antichrist, and for the upholding of the Kingdom of the Devil, yea or no?