EPISTOLAE HN. The Principal Epistles of HN /which he hath setforth through the holy Spirit of Love· and written and sent them ⁏ most-cheefly; unto the Lovers of the Truth and his Acquaintance. And are by him newly perused, and more-playnly declared. Translated out of Base-almaine. All Scripture geeven by the Inspiration of God▪ is profitable to Teach, to Rebuke, to Amendment, and to Information in Righteousness, for that the Man of God may be perfect, prepared to all good works. 2. Timo. 3. No Prophecy in the Scripture /cometh-to-pas by private Interpritation. For there was yet never any Prophecy brought-forth out of manly Will: but the holy Men of God have sproken it /being moved by the holy Ghost. 2. Pet. 1. Now goeth the judgement over the World▪ Now is the Prince of this World cast-out. john. 12. Now is the Salvation, the Power, and the Kingdom /become our Gods: and the Might his Christ's. Apoc. 2. THE PREFACE. Like as an apothecary doth ⁏ by his apothecaries Arte; prepare many-kinde of Medecine● /to the Health of the natural Bodies of sick Men: and divers delightful Tastes, and also sundery sweet Savours of Spices /to the Delighting of the Children of Men: Even so doth likewise a Man of God /prepare ⁏ by the Wisdom of the godly Understanding; many-kinde of godly medicines, which he ⁏ in the Ministration of the godly Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love; bringeth unto the fallen Man ⁏ who is captived through the Sin /with sundry Sicknesses and Infirmities in the Soul; to the Health of his Soul▪ and many sweet Tastes of the spiritual and heavenly Food, to the Refreshing and Delighting of his Mind, and to the great joy of his Spirit in the secret heavenly Goods: Like as one may evidently perceive in the many and sundry-sorts of distinct and groundy Instructions /touching the true Godliness and everlasting joy in jesus Christ /which are witnessed and set-forth by HN ؛godss elected Minister; in these his Epistles and in all the Testimonies of his writings /to a perpetual Health and Life of the Soul, and to the Welfare of the Children of Men. 2. To the which true Godliness and everlasting joy /all Lovers of the Truth, and all hungry and thirsty Souls after the Righteousness, as likewise all People /be ⁏ by the godly Testimonies of these Epistles; called and bidden: to th'end to lead them all [namely, those which under the Obedience of the Love /do believe the Godliness] into the House of Love, and to nourish and bring-them-up in all Godliness. 3. For-that-cause /these Epistles are likewise to a Teaching and Edifying of all Believers of the godly Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love, and of the Comunialtee or Church of Christ: and are also very profitable and serviceable unto all Men /to give an upright Knowledge Whereunto the Man is created of God, and called or bidden through Christ: To th'end that all those ⁏ which have a Lust or Will to God and his Righteousness; might ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; give themselves uprightly to their Calling through Christ· and so become godly minded /according to the requiring of the holy Scriptures·s and well exercised or prepared to all good works. Take it to heart. A TABLE. Containing the Matter ⁏ and Ready finding of the beginning; of everi-one of these Epistles. The First Epistle. A Crying-voyce of the holy Spirit of Love, wherewith all People are called /to repentance for their Sins. Fol. 1. The Second Epistle. A Short and pithy Instruction, containing the Mystery of the love. Fol. 10. The third Epistle. A Groundlie Instruction, Declaring the difference betwixt God, the Father, and his Son /the Lord jesu Christ. Fol. 19 The Fourth Epistle. Of the Mediation of jesus Christ /in the Spirit, for a Reconciliation, betwixt God /and the Man. Fol. 39 The Fifth Epistle. A Stirring-up of the heart to the Imitation of Christ, in the time of suffering and affliction. Fol. 65. The Sixt Epistle. A Groundlie Instruction /and a Difference of the understandings, according to the Truith /of the holy Scriptures. Fol. 79. The Seventh Epistle. A True judgement or Sentence /out of the Service of Love, against the false judgement, out of the flesh. Fol. 137. The Eight Epistle. A Distinction of the Submission /and Vnsubmission, in the Spirit. Fol. 159. The ninth Epistle. Of the Services and Ceremonies /of the Christians /and of the unchristians', and of the right and false uce of them. Fol. 189. The Tenth Epistle. A pure Instruction /how one shalbe obedient to the word of Life and Truth, in the Service of love. Fol. 205. The Eleventh Epistle. A Rebuke and Exhortation, serving to a Reformation /and to a Repentance for their Sins, unto all those that think themselves to be wise, and Therefore blaspheme /and judge falsely, our Service /and Comunialtie in the Love: also a warning to the Simple Hearts. Fol. 223. The twelfth Epistle A reproving Instruction /and exhortation ⁏ out of hearty love; to the unity of heart /in the love. Fol. 251. The Thirteenth Epistle. loving Informations unto a Lover of the Truth, which before-tyme had been a Blasphemer of the Service of the Love /and of the Ministers thereof. Fol. 265. The Fourteenth Epistle. A Brief Exhortation /unto a Disciple in the Service of the Love: wherewith he is exhorted /to keep a sharp watch towards the Spirits /that make-up themselves in him. Fol 287. The Fifteentb Epistle. An hearty Exhortation /unto all Lovers of the Truth, To awarning Touching all false Spirits /that make-up themselves: and judge falsely against the Truth. Fol. 293. The Sixteenth Epistle. An Instructionable Exhortation to the good-willingous, whearin is Distinguished the upright Obedience, and the Godly /and ongodlie being. Fol. 314. The Seventeenth Epistle. Of the Man's Lordelines /in the beginning: of his affall, Death, and Condamnation: and of his restoring again unto his former Lordelines. Fol. 337. The Eighteenth Epistle. A loving Exhortation unto an household /that have joined themselves to the Family of Love, to be obedient to the Truth. Fol. 352. The Nyneteenth Epistle. An hearty Exhortation /to the mooste-zealous goodwilling hearts to the Righteousness: also to the Elders and Ministers of the word, for a warning unto them of all deceayt, that may chance unto them /by the an-commers. Fol. 365. The Twentieth Epistle. reproving of the Whoordom, with good Doctrine /and groundelye Instructions, how one shall turn himself /to jesus Christ, and the word of his holy Spirit of Love and Truth. Fol. 386. FINIS. The First Epistle. A Crying-voyce of the holy Spirit of Love /wherewith all People are ⁏ out of mere Grace; called and bidden by HN /to the true Repentance for their Sinnes·s to the Entrance into the upright christian Lyfe· and to the House of the Love of jesus Christ. There shalbe more joy in Heaven over one Sinner that repenteth /then over nyntie-and-nyne-iust-people /that need no Repentance. Luk. 15. b. O, how lovely are the Fear of the Messengers that publish the Peace, preach the Good, and witness or declare the Salvation. Esa. 52. b. Rom. 10. c. Behold, I will send mine Angel or Messenger /which shall prepare the waye· or path the Street /before Me. Mala. 3. a, 4. a. Math. 11.17. Mar. 1. Luk. 7. To-daye if ye hear his Voice /then harden not your Hearts, that ye bide not without the Rest of the People of God. Psal. 95. a. Heb. 3.4. a. The First Chapter. THis is the Crying or Voice /which cometh-to-pas, and is heard now in this present Day /through the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ: and wherewith all People▪ are ⁏ by HN; called and bidden to the Repentance for their Sins, and to the House of the Love of jesus Christ؛the a Esa. 32. ●. Heb. 3. b. 4. c. Rest of all the Saints or Children of God;/ (And not alone with this Calling: but also with all the Scriptures·s heavenly Testimonyes·s and spiritual Voices of the eternal Truth /which are gon-forth from the holy Spirit of Love, and brought-to-light by HN) like as the holy Ghost hath sproken thereof, and warned all People /that they in that present Day ⁏ when they hear his Voice; should in no-wise harden b Psal. 95 b. Heb. 3. a. their Hearts [namely, that they should not c 2. Cor 6. a. refuse nor resist the same proffered Grace· Heb 12. b. but humbly endeavour them thereunto to th'end they might enter into the godly Rest /which ⁏ till unto thissame Day of Love; is reserved for the People of God /for to rest them therein. 2. The Mosthighest hath also ⁏ after such a long time that He had promised the d Psal. 95. b. Heb. 3. b. Rest to the People of God; yet once-more appointed a Day /on the e Act. 17. ●. which /the universal Earth should be judged with Righteousness. 3. Therefore ⁏ as the holy Ghost sayeth; f Psal. 95. b. Heb. 3 b. To-daye if ye shall hear his Voice [that is: when the Time now is fulfilled /that the Day of Love ⁏ which the mosthighest hath appointed to be a Rest for the People of God; declareth itself /then shall ye hear /that ye ⁏ g Esa. 42.51. a O all ye People; are called and bidden to the same Grace and Mercy] then harden not your Hearts. 4. Let everyone h 2. Cor 6. a. Heb. 12. b. take-heede to thissame gracious Time /that he may live· and rest him in thissame day /from his Works, Travail, and i Apo. 14. b. Labour. 5. Seeing then that there is yet a Rest k Psa. 32 ●. Heb 4 ●· at-hande /for the People of God /which is made-many-fest and inherited in the Family of Love: and that without the same or without his Service /there is nothing but all l Deut. ●● a. Goodthinking, m Esa 59 a. Tedious-travayle, Labour, and Misery /Therefore doth not the holy Spirit of Love cease this Day ⁏ by his Minister HN; to call and bid all People to the same Family of Love/ n Psal 16. b. 84. a. Eccl●. 24. c. Apo. 2● a. full of all lovely Being, and to his safe-makeing Service /to the Preservation of them all in the Godliness. And to warn them everyone /of the o Esa. 13. a. 3● c 47. b. Dan. 12. b. Math. 24 b▪ Woe and Misery, and of the Plagues of Goodthinking that shall come upon them /that remain without the same, or that will not suffer themselves to be leadd into the same /through the Service of thesayde Family of Love /To th'end that they mough●all now ⁏ in the Service of Love, and in the Obeying of his requiring; do upright Repentance p Math 3. a Luk. 3 a. 13. a. Act. 2. f. 3. c. for their Sinnes·s and enter into the Rest of the Lord. The Second Chap. Bear Sorrow for your Sins, and a Eze. 1●. c Math 3. a. show upright Fruits of Repentance, the great b Esa. 13. a. b. joel. 2 a. c. Abel. 1. c. Day of the Lord is come hard-by, and will now ⁏ as a righteous c jer. 46. c. Soph 1.2. a judgement of God; appear over the whole Earth. 2. Let everyone now turn him away from the wicked World, and from the abomination d Dan 9 c. Math 24 b. of her Desolation /and make his Repair hither /to the e Esa 2 a. Mich 4. a. Hill of the Love, whereon the lords House is builded /that he may be preserved in thissame Day of the righteous judgement of God. 3. Yea, turn you hither betimes /to the House of the Love of jesus Christ, and to his safemaking Service: bear Sorrow rightly for your Sins, f Math. 3. a. Luk 3 a. 13 a. Act 2. f 3. c. and shewforth upright Repentance or Amendment for the same ⁏ O ye strayed People; ere-ever the g Soph. 2. a. Mal. 4. a. Day of the Lord fall upon you /to the Recompensing of your Wickedness. 4. Come now all hither /where the heavenly Daylight ؛ h Esa 60. d. Sap 5 a the Sun of Righteousness; shineth, and where the Waters i Eze. 36. c. Apo. ●2. d. of Life flowe-forth out of the Fonntayne of the living Godhead /to the Purging of your Sins. 5. Let everyone now forsake his own Word, Doctrine, and taken-on Knowledge /and also the Word, Doctrine, and Knowledge of all k jer. 23 d. 2● 29.32. c. Eze 13 a. b. Mich. 3. b. unsent Preachers and Good-thinking-wyseones /wherethrough ye be seduced· blinded from the true Fruits of Repentance· and estranged from the true Sainctification of your Spirit and Mind: and come now all to thissame l jer. 19 b. 31. f. Mich. 1. a. sanctuary of God, out of the which /the lords living m Esa. 2. a. Word is witnessed· the true Repentance for the Sin /made-knowen· and the upright n Ephe. 4. c. Col. 3. a. Righteousness and Holiness of jesus Christ● /taught /wherethrough ye be brought to the right Quyeting of your Consciences·s to the o Math. 11. c. Health of your Soules·s and to the Sainctifycation or p Rom. 12. a. Ephe. 4. c. Renewing of your Spirit and Mind. 6. For-that-cause come now all to thissame q Esa. 2 a. Hill or House of Love: and in his outflowing Water/ r Eze. 16.36. cleanse and amend or hollow your Being /under the Obedience of the Love of jesus Christ /that your Sins may be s Act. 3. c. wyped-out. and ye● become led evenso into the t Esa. 32. c. Heb. 3.4. b. Rest of all the Children of God and Saints of jesus Christ. 7. Come now all likewise /which ⁏ through your v Rom. 1. c. EPhe. 4. b. ignorant Knowledge or Misunderstanding; have turned-away yourselves from thissame x Esa. 16. ●. Heb 5. a. Seat of Grace and lovely House of the Love of jesus Christ, and from our y john. 17 b. 1. john. ● a. Communialtee· growen-offended at our meanness or a 2. Cor 1. c. Simpleness, and at the godly Testimonies of our Sayings·s and so made-up yourselves b ● Tim. ●. 3. b. resistant against us and our good Doctrine and Exercises·s separated yourselves from us·s and grown bitter or wrathful towards us /together withal ye that have mistrusted us·s and c joh. 8.10. c. 2 Tess. 2. b. not believed the holy Word of the eternal Truth ⁏ which we by God's Grace /do administer under the Obedience of the Love; /but doubted therof· and so for-that-cause ⁏ through some Peruers-conceaveing towards the same or towards us; refused the d Pro 1. c. d. proffered Grace, or kept yourselves ba●h: and repent e Eze. 18. d. you for your Sins /to your Sainctification, and to the Health of your Souls. 8. Come likewise all ye /which ⁏ through any Opinion of the Self-wyseones, or through any Goodthinking or Imagination of the Knowledge; have been f Pro. 18. a. unregarding towards thissame gracious and godly Service of Love and towards his requiring /and also ye /which have heard or read the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ· and showed no right Obedience: as likewise all ye /which have overreached pourselues in any disorderly g Sap. 14. c. Rom. 1. c. Dealing or false h 2. Pet 2. b. judae. 1. b. Freedom, or in hearing and beleeveing of any i jer. 23.27. c. unsent Preachers: and so are fallen to your k jer. 7. c. ●8. a. own Counsel ⁏ or to the Counsel of those that stand not submitted to the House of the Love of jesus Christ, nor to his Service and requiring, or are Straingers thereunto; /or ye that ⁏ through your l Pro. 6.24. d. Negligence or Little-regarding of the requiring of the Service of Love; are become vaynly-mynded /with the wicked World, and with the vain or false m Rom 1. c. 2. Pet. 2. a. Praters /through the Imagination of the Knowledge ؛that false Light;: Come and n Eccli. 7 b. 1 Pet. 5. a. humble you /and let all your Understandings be renewed· and ⁏ to thobtayneing of a good o Ephe. 4. b. Knowledge of jesus Christ and his Godliness; brought-to-right /under the Obedience of the Love: and under the same p 1. Pet. 1. c. d. Obedience/ q Eze. 36. ●. wash your Bodies with the pure Water of the Love: and so cleanse your▪ Hearts from all ungodly Being r Esa. 1. c. and wicked Thoughts. 9 Come now all hither, and s Gal. 6. b. Ephe 5. d. Apo. 2.3 b. neglect not your time: To-daye becometh the Grace of the Love of jesus Christ /proffered yet unto you all, and the Hand reached-forth seruiceablely with the same, to a peaceable t Ephe. 4. d. Col. 3. b. Reconcilement with each-other in jesus Christ, to an unity of Heart with us /in all love. 10. Yea, To-daye (ere-ever the Punishiment of the last judgement go-forth over all ungodly ones v Pro. 1. c. Math. 25 d. /to their Condemnation in the hellish Fire) ye be yet all called and bidden ⁏ even out of mere Grace x Eqhe. 1.2. a. and hearty Love; to the Communialtee of Saints /which have their y 1. john. 1. ●. fellowship with Christ /in the House of the Love of jesus Christ. and that altogether /to the Preservation of you all in the Godliness. The Third Chap. Come likewise all ye People: Governors /and Subjects, Noble /and Unnoble rich /and Poor, wise /and Simple, as also all a Math. 9 b. Men-sinners and Women-sinners: Turn you about betimes to b Heb. 5. a. the mercyseat /ere-ever that ye be quite and clean swallowed-up by the wicked World, or with seducing Babbling /through the false Light· and overwhelmed with the Curse /by the Wrath c Eccli 5. b. Mal. 4 a. Rom 2. a of God. 2. Come now all hither, and confess your Sins: laye-open d Pro. 18. b. Eccli. 2. a. the inwardness of your Hearts: and bring-forth right e Math. 3. a. Luk. 3. a. Fruits of Repentance: and so then suffer yourselves to be f Eze. 36. c. Heb. 10. c. washed with the pure and safemaking Water of the Love /in the font of g Sap 3. a. Eccli 2. a. Humiliation /To th'end that ye may be h Rom. 5.8. a. Heb. 9 c. justified or cleansed from all your Sinnes·s received into the holy Comunialtee of Love /to be i Rom. 12. b. Ephe 4. b Fellow-members of the Body of jesus Christ· and byde-standing in holy k Psal. 45. b. Sap. 5 a. Garnishing: and not perish with the wicked World /whenas she now in thissame day /is judged with the Lord's mighty Hand. 3. Which wicked World /is kept l Pet. 3. b. to the hellish Fire /till unto this Day of Love /for to condemn the same for evermore /in the same Day of Love: to her eternal Cursing and m Math 25. d. 2. Pet. 3. b. judgement of the fierce cruelty /together with all those that maintain the wicked World, as also are affected to the same, and will not turn them to Repentance. 4. Verily, in the same Day /whenas now all ungodly ones n Math. 15. d. Tess. 1.2. b. judae. 1. b. and all Self-wysones, with all Vnrepentantones, and false Hearts of the Scriptur-learned ⁏ which in their own Opinion /have o Math. 24 c. falsely boasted themselves very-stoutly, to be Christians; do inherit the tirrible p Psal. 13.47. Rom. 2. a. Condemnation /with many Smarts /in the cruelty of the hellish Fire /Then shall the People of God [namely /the whole Comunialtee of the Love of jesus Christ, and all those that have turned them penitently from their Sins /to the same Comunialtee or Family of Love] q Esa. 35.65. c rejoice them in all love. and obtain a perpetual Rest/ r Esa. 32. c. Sap. 3. a. in the everlasting Life /according to the Promises of God the Father and his Christ. 5. FOr-that-cause ⁏ O all ye People upon Earth; take-heede to this my Voice or Calling· to this proffered s Pro. 1. c. Esa. 49. ● Grace· and to my Warning /all ye ⁏ saith the holy Spirit of Love; which will remain preserved, and be saved /now in thissame last Day. 6. For after the Day of Love (inasmuch as it is the last or newest Day /on t Act. 17. d. the which the whole Earth shallbe judged with Righteousness) there shall no v Apo. 10. a. Day of Grace appear anymore upon the Earth. but a severe or hard x Heb. 10. c. Pet. 3. b. judgement over all ungodly ones, as is before said. Take it to heart. The End of the first Epistle. The Second Epistle. Ashort and pithy Instruction of the Mystery of the love. Labour for Love: Earnestly covet spiritual Gifts: but chiefly /that ye may prophecy. 1. Cor. 14. The End of the Commandment and the Cheef-summe of Faith /is Love with a pure Heart, and with a good Conscience, and with unfeigned Faith. 1. Timo. 1. There was demaunded· and an Instruction required thereupon in Writing /which is the Secretness or Mystery of the love. And thereupon is answered by HN /in Writing ⁏ according to the Declaration of the spiritual and heavenly Truth; this Instruction Heer-following. He that hath Ears to hear/ * Math. 13. a. Luk. 8. a. b. Apo. ● a. 3. a. let him hear: He that hath Wisdom /let him conceive Understanding. The First Chapter. WIth whom shall I a P●o. 8. ●. speak (saith the Wisdom) that shall understand my Words? 2. To whom shall I reveal the Mystery of the Love /that shall conceive or know it? 3. Who are those that give-ear unto my Doctrine, and have found my Ways? 4. Who hath marked where my Dwelling is, and followed-after Me /in my Out-going and In-going? 5. Who hath borne the Contempt, Blaspheamy, and Shame /with Me, when I lay in the b Pro. 1. a. Esa. 59 b. Street /where the People shaked their Heads at c Psal 22. a. 109. c. Me (as at a d Esa. 53. a. Sap. 2. b. filthy thing /that is worthy to be cast-awaye/) and as mad and frantic Men /ran over Me with Feet? 6. Who hath had his Pleasure in Me /when I was so e Esa. 53. a. Sap. 2. b. filthy and so loathsome to looke-uppon or to behold /before all Wisdom of the Flesh and of the Vnrepentantones? 7. Who hath denied f Math. 10. ●. 16. c. Mark. 1. d. Luk. 9.14. c▪ himself, and is ⁏ for the loves sake; gon-out-of Himself with Me /when I did ⁏ in the Love; require the Man's Salvation, and was condemned to the Death g Math. 26.27. Mar. 15. Luk. 22. john. 1●. ●● of the Crosse· and killed with the same Death /by the Wyseones of the Earth /as a Dispised-one or an Outcast upon the Earth? 8. Who hath borne such a Death h Rom. 6. a phil. 2. a of the Cross with Me /in all Shame, Dispiscing, Blaspheming, and wicked Defamation /and showed Patience therein /even unto the Death? 9 Who hath suffered himself to be buried in the heart of the Earth with Me /like One that is dead? 10. Who hath believed my Ryseing i job. 19 c. Dan 12. b. 1. Cor. 15. b. c 1. Tess. 4. b. from the Death, or trusted thereon /for to rise also with Me /with his Body? 11. Who hath seen mine k Math. 16. b. Luk 24. f. Act. 1. a. Ascension to God my Father /unto his Right-hande in the heavenly Being: and waited my Coming l Esa. 25.30. b Mich. 7. b. Phil. 3. d. from thence /to a Righteousness upon the Earth? 12. Who hath marked that I live and reign with m Eccli. 24 b. God /and that my Greatness is more than n 3. Reg. 8. c. ●. Pa●. 2.6. b. all Heavens can comprehend: where also no o 1. Cor. 2. b. earthly Vnderstanding· nor all whatsoever is borne out of the earthly Blood /can know Me? 13· ANd if now there be anyman that is passed-thorow all these things with Me, or that doth now presently /go-thorow this narrow p 4. Esd. 7. a. Math. 7. b. Luk. 13. Way with Me /to the Life /He shall understand and know the Mystery of the love. 14. He shall likewise taste and feel the Pèrfection of all Goodness: and approach to the Love /in her virtuous Nature, and become of one-beeing therewith. 15. Behold and consider /That is the Ground of the holy and godly Understanding /touching the Mystery or Secretness of the upright love. The II Chap. Die lustful Souls to the Mystery of Love, gather out the a 4. Esd. 8. ●. Mind: and search no farther. For doubtless the Love suffereth not herself to be approched-unto, understood, nor known /neither for this nor that /nor through any-maner of Cause (let it be by what Means soever it will) nor through any-maner of Mind or Will: but only /by her own virtuous Nature and louley Being /as through herself or through her Service. For she ؛the everlasting Good; excelleth it all farr-away. 2. Also /she receiveth nothing of anyman: but She herself ⁏ out of her almighty and virtuous Nature and Spirit; is a plentiful Distributrix of her own abundant riches /as an infinite flowing river of all godly Goods, always b Gen. 2. b. refreshing the Paradise of the Lord. 3. The Love is herself /a Nourice unto her Children, and a sure Band /unto all those that are incorporated to the everlasting Life: and a mighty Strength, which is able to suffer and to endure c 1. Cor. 13. a. allthings. 4. The Love is also an d Exo. 3. ●. 19 b. 20. b. holy Mountain, the which noman being unhallowed or unprepared /may touch or com-neere. For whosoever toucheth the same Mountain /and is not of her Part, to him is she a consumeing Fire▪ Whose burning Heat e ●sa. 33. b. noman can endure /but he which is of her like Nature or Seed. Whoso resisteth her, and submitteth not himself under Her and her Service /He shallbe broken and battered to-peeces /like f Psal. 2. ●. Esa. 30. b. jer. 1●. a. ●9. b. a Potter's Vessel. 5. THe Love in her Service /is an Original or Beginning of all good and upright Life. For through her Service /She draweth the Minds and Thoughts of the Heart away from all that is vain, corruptible, and evil. 6. She unbindeth or loseth the everlasting Perfection, for to come into the Life of the eternal Vncreatednes /in the Kingdom of the God of Heavens /full of all pure Beauty /wherein all earthly and corrupt selfmynded Thoughts /do cease /and where the corruptible mortality /is not beholden. 7. For in the Love /is nothing-els but all Good and Life, as also the heavenly and endless Kingdom of jesus Christ /in full undisturbable Power /wherein the Minds of the pure Hearts do devil free without care or fear /with all g Esa. 35.51. a. Apo. 21. a. Glory and joy, and with christian Triumph. 8. Which Freedom of the Children of God /which Fullness of the godly Delights and of the godly Life /noman can obtain /that hangeth his delight, Will, and Lyfe· and tieth or bindeth himself /on the earthly, visible or corruptible Being. But they remain vaynly-mynded /in the Darkness of the unbeleeveing Minds▪ whose h Rom. ●. ●● Ep●e. 4. ●● Hearts are blinded /with the vain Comfort of this World, and of the goodthinking Wyseones. For which Ignorances cause /they cannot understand the right Ground of the secret love. 9 But Salvation and i Luk. ●. Pea●e /be unto all those that are good of Will, and that take-heede to the Time of k 1. Cor 6. ●● Heb. 12. ●● Grace: that give their Understanding captive under the Obedience of the Love: and that do evenso with Humble and obedient Hearts /believe or trust the Love in her Service. 10. Happy are they /whose Devotion of Heart /God stirreth-up ther-to· For through the Love of God the Father /it shall all be l Act. ●●. ●. restored-agayne /whatsoever is estranged or turned-away from God /from the Beginning of the Worlde· and that is well-minded to the Conversion unto his God /To th'end that it may all ⁏ through the Love; stand firm in his upright Estate /for ever. 11. Euenthus it shall all be accomplished in the Love /whatsoever God hath spoken in m Act. 3. ●. times-past /by the Mouth of all his holy Prophets. For all what is gon-forth n Math. 22. ●▪ Ma●. 12. c. Luk. 10. ●● from God in times-past ⁏ even from Adam /till unto Christ; reacheth to the Love /Because that the Love may in the last time ⁏ as an everlasting Remnant; grow and blow, and bring-forth her Fruit abundantly. For the Love /is the Inheritance of the everlasting Kingdom, as an endless safe-makeing Service, according to the Promises, unto all and over all those that believe thereon. 12. THesame verily is the o Gen. 12. a. 13. b. 15. a. 17. c. 22. b. Blessing /whic● the God of Heaven hath promised t● Abraham and his Seed /to the Blessing· o● all Generations of the Earth. 13. Of the same Blessing and upright Being of the Love /we have witnessed and set-forth it writing ⁏ with more and fuller Instruction or larger De●laration; in the Glass of Righteousness /to th'end that everyone ⁏ which with our Comunialtee /giveth himself to the Love▪ and to the requiring of her Service; might be satisfied in his Understanding. And likewise to the Peace and joy of all Lovers of the Truth which are furthersom to the Service of Love /to the Salvation of many Men /Because that evenso ⁏ through p Esa. 32.6 a. b the Love; the Peace may be prepared upon the Earth /which hath long line q Esa. 24. a. waste. 13. For the End r Rom. 13. b G●l. 5. b. ●. Timo. 1. a or the Perfection of all Things [namely /the Cheef-somme of all Good, or all what one can name for Righteousness and Truth] that is the Love: Yea /all what is to be known or understood of the godly Things, s Cor. 13. a. b. ● john. 2. b. 3. b. 4. a. b. that is the Love: and her Mystery /is the everlasting Life. The III Chap. Behold and consider: To that end hath the Truth her Flowing-foorth (like-as the same is ymage-lyke or figuratively setforth or patterned-out ⁏ a Exo. 25. ●. c. Act. 7. c. Heb ● a. by Moses; in the foremer Example) for to draw it all under the Love /even as the same is now likewise ⁏ by the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ; openly and nakedly declared unto Us /in the true Being. But not by Figures, Images, nor out of the Letter: but by the clearness and Appearing of the b Mal. 3 a. 4 a Math. 16. c. 24. d. 25. d. Mar. 1●. c. 2 Tess. 1. b. Act. 1. b. Apo. 1. a. Coming of our Lord jesus Christ /in his Glory. In which Day or clearness of the Coming of Christ in his Glory /the Resurrection of his c Dan. 12. b. john 5. c. 1. Cor. 15. f. 1. Tess. 4. b. Apo. 20. b. dead cometh-to-pas: who do also live with Christ /in Glory /and do keep the judgement with Him /against all ungodly ones. 2. This verily is the true d Esa. 3. b. Sap. 3. a. Math. 19 c. 1. Cor. 6. a. judae. 1.6. Coming of jesus Christ, who appeareth and cometh now unto us /from the Right-hande of God the Father ⁏ who is almighty; to keep a righteous judgement upon Earth /even as is written thereof. 3. In which Righteousness /the true Love of God the Father standeth comprehended or grounded: and out of the same Righteousness /hath the Love her Service upon the Earth /to a perpetual Banishment of all wicked and evel-willing Nature, and to an everlasting Implanting of the holy-ones of God /into his Love /To th'end that the Earth may evenso ⁏ through the Love and her Service; be renewed· and cleansed from all her Unrighteousness. 4. But all those that are unbeleeveing touching the e Rom. 2. a. Trueth· and ungodly or evil of Will /shall also be judged in thissame day /through the Love and her Service. 5. There shall noman likewise remain standing in the same judgement /that resisteth the Love, and dispeth her Service. For the f Esa. 40. a. 60.62. a. Glory of God is revealed /through the Revealing of the Coming of jesus Christ /in the Obedience of the Love /for that the Earth may be full of the g Num. 14. c. Psal 72. b. Glory of God, according to the Promises /and that all People may walk in the Love: and that the Love in her Service /may evenso ⁏ as a Light of Life; flourish for evermore /among the Children of Men, and get the h Col. 3. b. Superioritee in their Hearts /to an everlasting Thanksgiveing unto God /for their Salvation of Life in the Peace: which ⁏ by God's Grace; is come unto them upon the Earth /through the love. 6. Thissame (even as we have here witnessed and declared it) is assuredly the right Mystery of the love. It is also the true laud of the Lord▪ and the Triumph of Christ with all his Saints /to an everlasting Establishing of the Promises of God the Father: and that altogether /through the i 1. Cor. 13. Love and her Service. Which Love and her Service/ shall ⁏ according to the Promises of God the Father and his Christ; continue from everlasting to everlasting. It is very true. The End of the second Epistle. The Third Epistle. A groundly Instruction, wherein the Difference betwixt God /the Father, and his Son /the Lord jesus Christ, is declared /according to the spiritual and heavenly Understanding. Holy Father, this is the everlasting Life: That they know Thee /that thou only art very true God, and Him whom thou hast sent /jesus Christ. john. 17. There was demanded by a Lover of the Truth, and an Instruction desyered /touching the Difference betwixt God /the Father, and his Son /the Lord jesus Christ. And ther-uppon is answered by HN /in writing ⁏ according to the Declaring of the spiritual and heavenly Truth; this Instruction heeraftter following. The First Chapter. I Have thus-long deferred forto answer thee thy Demand in writing ⁏ which thou Beloved Brother desyredst of me /when I was last with thee; because of certain Matters that were needful for me first-of-al to further. Wherethrough I ⁏ by that occasion; have not ⁏ hitherto; had convenient time to accomplish the same. 2. But I have not for-al-that /forgotten thy Demand, nor through Slothfulness /neglected to write unto thee: neither do I desire in any-wyse /to deny thee thy Request: but am always wel-willing to witness the same unto thee ⁏ according to that Understanding which the Lord giveth unto me; so much as it is profitable for thee to Edification. Notwithstanding, I am burdened in my Heart /because I have promised ⁏ upon thy Demand; to write thee an Answer. 3. But not that the Ground of the Matter ⁏ about the which thou hast questyoned with mee· and desired of me /to answer the same in writing; is so hard or profound-of-understanding /to answer. O Not: but because that the Understanding of the same Mind /is so utterly unknowe a Math. 11. c 13. b john 14. b. Ephe. 3. a. before all Sense of the Flesh. 4. Yea, how naked and bore soever the Scripture showeth it /according to the Mind of the Spirit /yet can it not for-al-that /be understood b 1. Cor. 2. b. nor conceived by Flesh and Blood /Unless the Man must first ⁏ according to the Counsel of the Scripture; be turned into another Mind. 5. Sing now that the Scripture of the Apostles of Christ /is spiritual, c john. 5. ●. 6. g. and witnesseth of Spirit and Life: and that the Man ⁏ which readeth the testimonies thereof /in the Letter; standeth captived with a Fleshly Mind /under d Rom. 7. ●. the Sin and his own Goodthinking: and so taketh upon Him ⁏ out of the same Mind of the Flesh and his own Goodthinking; to understand the Mind of God out of the Letter/ e 1. Cor. 2. b. So can He not doubtless bring it to-pas. For his Fleshly Senses and goodthinking Thoughts /do surely stretch no farther /but likewise to such an Intelligence or Knowledge of the Fleshly Understanding. 6. For-that-cause also /the Mind of Man doth not ⁏ out of the Letter of the Scripture; understand nor comprehend the Mind of God /rightly: By-meanes-wherof /there is likewise now at this present day (like as cam-to-pas also in times-past /among f jer. 26. b. 28. a. b. 29. c. d. Math. 12. c. 23. b. c. d. 26.27. the worldly wise and Scriptur-learnedones) much Contention, Variance, and Controversy /found among the Children of Men /who do contend about That which they themselves understand not: and will seem to know That /which according to the Mind of their Understanding ⁏ wherein they are comprehended; is not to be known nor Understood. 7. THe whilst now that the rich bountiful God ⁏ out of the Love of his Grace /undeserved; giveth unto Us ⁏ in g 1. Cor. 2. b. our inward Mind; another Spirit for to discern and to understand with-al/ h 1 Cor. 1.2. b which is nor of Flesh and Blood. nor-yet minded according to the earthly and fleshly Wisdom of this World, nor according to the Prudence of the Ingeniousnes of the worldly wise and of the contentions Scriptur-learned or those of famous Schools /Therefore do we perceive /that it is perilous to wryt-over unto any man /of the Secretness of God i Ephe. 3. a. and Christ: And that therefore /we do daily bear a Care or a Suspicion /whither Those that ask after the Understanding of the godly Truth /do not desire to know the same k Act. 17. c. out of Curyousnes or sensuality, or l john. 8. b. to judge it according to their Goodthinking. 8. Therefore it is dangerous in this perilous Time /to discover or to wryt-over the groundly Depths m Rom. 11. d. of the godly Wisdom /unto anyman /because that we do now find many Men that do ask /to th'end to know much /Yea they seek many Knowledges /whereby to understand, and to judge the godly Things /out of their Sharpwitednes or Industry. And that liketh all those well /which have no Lust to do the Lords William. For therein lieth the old Root n Gen. 3. b. Rom 5. b. of Adam, whereout the disobedient Knowledge springeth or cometh-foorth. 9 But to o john. 8 c. submit themselves obediently to the requiring of the gracious Word of the godly Wisdom· and to the right Service of the Love of jesus Christ /also to cleave unto the living God /in his godly Nature or Being/ p Exo. 20. ●. Deut. 5. a. and to serve, to praise, and to honour Him /as He is a God /in his Christ /that liketh few or noon. Yet is the same the new Fruit of the Planting of jesus Christ, whereunto the Scripture pointeth us /which neither the q Math. 11. c. john 14 c. 1. Cor 1.2. b World nor her wise or Scriptur-learnedones do understand, nor-yet conceive the Mind. For they know not the same. 10. ALthough I do thus rehearse these things /my Beloved: and that my Carefulness standeth to such a Suspicion towards Many /Yet do I notwithstanding hope and trust somewhat better of thee /as that thou art more inclined to understand the Will and Mind of God /to the intent to r 1. Pet. 5. a. submit thyself obediently thereunto /to thy Salvation, and to the s Ephe. 1. b. laud and Praise of the godly Glory: and so to believe the living God and his Christ· to incline unto Him· and to become t 2. Pet. 1. a. partaker of his Being /then for to know much thereof /according to the Pleasure of thine Owne-mind. 11. Therefore also I will not think it tedious unto me to answer thy Demand /with Diligence /out of fervent Love /If haply God would vouchsafe ⁏ through my small Service; to open u EPhe. 1. c. thine Understanding, and ⁏ through his Increase or Blessing; to endow thee in thy Spirit /with his Grace, and to stirr-up thy Heart to a pure Mind towards God, and towards his Love in jesus Christ. The II Chap. THus was then thy saying unto me ⁏ as I remember; that the Word which the Apostles of Christ do write /was dark or incomprehensible for thee to understand. namely, a Rom. 1. a. 1 Cor. 1. a. 2. Cor. 1. a. Gal. 1. Ephe. 1. God our Father, and the Lord jesu Christ. And that in certain Places/ Christ ⁏ in steed of the Son; is also uttered-forth for a Father and God. 2. Forasmuch as thy Understanding supposed that ther-was nomore but b Deut. 32. d. Esa. 44. a. 4● b. 46. b. 1. Cor. 8. a. One God (as it is also true) therefore was thy Demand thus unto me /whereof thou requyredst an Answer in Writing: Seeing now that ther-is nomore but One God /wherefore is He then pronouced-forth in two-maner of States? The which seemeth ⁏ according to the sound of the Scripture; as though the Apostles published Two Gods. 3. verily, the Difference of this Matter ⁏ whereof thou desyerest the Instruction; could not likewise c john. 6. d. c. 7. c. 8. b. c. certain jews in times-past conceive according to their Understanding out of the Flesh /Yea, the same is yet also rightly understood of Few. Yet do many persuade themselves notwithstanding ⁏ because that they in historical-maner /are minded after the New-testament; that they have thorowly-well conceived the Understanding of this Mattier: and do for-that-cause persuade themselves /that they do far exceed and excel the jews: supposeing that they have the Faith and the Salvation. and that the jews remain by the Works of the Law. Now this passed-over, we will proceed to further the Intent of our Matter. 4. verily, as we have spoken before /of God /the Father /and the Lord/ jesus Christ, these are hard things before the Man /for to search-out the Understanding of them /in his Knowledge, if he do not know God and Christ and the true Righteousness of the godly Being /in Himself /but imagineth of God and Christ /without Him /and so goeth-on according to his own Goodthinking /without the Administration of the true Light and his love. Yea, it is d Math. 11. c. 13 b. 19 c. john. 14. ●. unpossible ⁏ after that manner; to understand the right Mind clearly. And although likewise /He would search-out all the Knowledge of the World, yet is it all in vain /for to understand the same. 5. Although the Man should imagine of the same Mind /in the deepest-grounde of his Reason, yet can he not doubtless ⁏ with any-maner of Prudence of the Flesh; conceive that Understanding. For it is an Understanding/ e Esa. 57.66. b Sap 1 a. Math. 11. d. that riseth not up in the Knowledg· but to the Lowly and Poor of Spirit▪ namely, in the Belief of the holy and gracious Word /under the Obedience of the love. 6. For God /the Father, the Lord/ jesus Christ, nor-yet the true Light of the godly Wisdom /shall f Sap. 1. a. ●. Cor. 2. b. not be known /out of the Blood or Will of Man, nor out of any deep Searching with the Knowledge. For God is a g john. 4 c. Spirit, a very true Light, h john. 1. a. 8. b. 9 a. 11. c. 12. c. 14. a. and an everlasting Life: which God also /is not known▪ seen, nor understood /but in his own Spirit, and in his true Light and godly Being. 7. Sing then that the only God /is 1. john. 1. a. a very true Light /that no Darknesses do know nor behold: and is not to be known nor beheld /but in his k Psal. 36. Light /therefore is not He known likewise /but by Those that do Hear and believe his gracious Word, and that submit them obediently l Iohn ●. d. under the requiring of the same Word and Will: and so do carry the Image m 1. Cor. 15. c Ephe. 4. c. of his godly Being, or do behold the same n 2. Pet. 1. c. in their Spirit /as a Pattern of God, and hope thereon /through Faith. And the Spirit of those same obedient Humbleones /is the Spirit that giveth respect to the serviceable Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love /to th'end to be o joh. 15.17 ● Ephe. 3. c. incorporated to the like Being of God [namely, the Brightness of the clearness of the godly Being /the upright Righteousness p Ephe. 4. c. and Holiness that God esteemeth]. and then to know God the Father and his Son jesus Christ /rightly and according to the Truth /and to understand the q john. 17. a. Math. 13. b. Secretness of the Kingdom of God and Christ. 8. But sing now that the Man is gon-back or falne-away r Gen. 3. a. Deut. 32. c. from his God, and from this pure Beauty and clearness of the godly Beeing· and s Rom. 1. c. Ephe 4. b. estranged from the Understanding of the Wisdom of jesus Christ /therefore is he also become disinherited of this clearness or Brightness of the godly Light /and hath neither known the Father nor his Son ؛the Lord jesus Christ;. By means of which Estraingin● /He hath not borne or carried in his Spirit/ t 1. Cor. 15. g. Ephe. 4. c. the Image or Like-being of his God▪ namely/ jesus Christ /to which effect /the Gospel u Math. 28. d. Mar. 16. b or joyful Message /is published, whereby to bring the Man again to Christ, and to establish him in Him. But x Gen. 3. ●. the Man is ⁏ up the Self-wisdom of the Flesh, and by his own Opinion; quyt lead-away from the upright Mind or Understanding of the Gospel, and from the Incorporating or Establishing in jesus Christ /and brought to the Corruption: and hath ⁏ with Smart and calamity; borne the ungodly Being or the Contrary-nature unto his God/ y Sap. 1. b. to the which /he is neither created nor called. 9 This Contrary-nature unto God or Darkness /hath captived z Mar 6. f. 8. b Rom 1. c. ●. Cor 4. a. his Senses and Thoughts, and stolne-away his Heart and Understanding /so that he can conceive or understand very-little /of the true Light or Christ of God: and that only /because he is so utterly estranged * Ephe. 4. b. Col. 1.3. from the Being of God, and hath grounded him on the Knowledge. The III Chap. NOw for to discover the Mind a-little /How or in what Being or Form /the Word ⁏ God our Father, and the Lord jesus Christ; is witnessed by the Apostles of Christ /So must I rehearse a-little of Adam /to what end he was created /whereby men may understand the Intent /whereto Christ is preached. 2. WHen the almighty God ⁏ who is full of Wisdom and Righteousness; had finished a Gen. 1. a Heaven and Earth, and all their Garnishing /then did He also created Him a Man/ b Gen. 1. c. 2. a. Sap 3. a. Eccli. 17. a. according to the Likeness of his Godhead /who should carry or bear the very-like Being of God and the Image of his Glory /as a fellow-partaker-of or being-lyke-unto the godly Nature and Kind. Through which like Being of God /God would be known everlastingly in the Man /as a true God. 3. Heerthrough was God in the Beginning ⁏ as a Light of Life; of one-substance with the manly Creatures. And out of his like Being in the manly Creatures /God c Gen. 2. c. brought-forth the Memory, for a good and holy Understanding /Because that his like Being should not be alone in the manly Creatures. but that the Memory should ⁏ in all good and holy Understanding; be an Help d Glas. 1●. or Aid to the like Being of the Godhead in the manly Creatures /to all Peace and Concord, and to all Love and Welfare upon Earth. 4. Behold, according to all Lyke-resemblance /even-as God is a very-true c john 1. a. 1. john. 1. ●. Light and everlasting Life /so is also his like Being /a true Light and everlasting Life /in the manly Creatures ⁏ that are comprehended in the upright Estate of their manly Being, and in Christ;: in such like-maner also in them /the Memory /that God hath brought-forth out of his like Being. Which Memory /in thosame manly Creatures [namely, being in their right Estate] is likewise a Light /of the true Light, and a Life /of the true Life: and that altogether /to Peace and Righteousness upon Earth. 5. Dis /in the foremer Kingdom /was Gods Glory in his manly Creatures /whom He had chosen to himself /to th'end that they should f 1. Pet. 3. b. inhabit the Earth with Righteousness: and that evenso therethrough /the Highest God ⁏ as a living and true God; and his holy Being and virtuous Nature /should ⁏ aswell upon Earth /as in Heaven; be known for evermore /in the Spirit of the manly Creatures, and have his Shape in them, and so live in them. 6. Behold: Thatsame true and like Being of God, which is flowed or borne out of the eternal and living Godhead /is the first-born g 1. Cor. 15. c. Gol. 1. b. of all Creatures: and is the true and living Christ of God, which cannot be h Psal 16. b. Act 2. d. 13. d corrupted: but He continueth always i Psal 9 a. and everlastingly. For He is the k john. 3. b. Rom. 1. a. only-borne Son of God, and a very-true l john. 1.14. ● Light and eternal Life for evermore /like unto his Father. 7. Heer-from hath the Man turned him, and seen and tasted the Corruption. But so hath not the Christ of God. For God's very-like Being ؛the true Christ of God; m Ephe. 4. Col. 3. is the upright Righteousness and Holiness /which is everlasting and n Sap. ●. b. immortal /also undestroyable, unchangeable, and uncorruptible. But the Unrighteousness /is the Obtaining of Death, and of the Corruption. Which Corruption or deadly mortality/ o Gen 3. a. Rom. 5. b. 1 Cor. 15. c. the Man hath taken-on. and therethrough /hath horn the Contrary-beeing to God ؛ p Sap. 2. c. john 8. c. that Antichrist /the like Being of the Devil;: and so is dreeven from the Beholding of God/ q Gen. 3. c. without the riches of the godly Goods: and hath lost the mercy-seat of his Salvation. 8. Which Salvation of the mercy-seat /is r Gen. 12.22. ● Act. 3. c. Gal 3. a. covenanted and promised again ⁏ by the God of Life; unto Abraham and his Seed. And through thatsame /the Blessing of all Generations of the Earth. After which Salvation /many s Math. 13. b Luk. 10. c. 1. Pet. 1. b. Kings and Prophets have sought and inquyred /which they saw-into a farr-of /as coming: but they could not attain unto it▪ but have witnessed and prophesied thereof /that the same should be inherited in all Love▪ Peace, and upright Righteousness /in the last tyme. The FOUR Chap. THis Grace of Salvation, and this like Being of God /which become unknown through Adam, did in times-past appear in Israel /out a Math. 1. c. Luk. 1. g. 2. a. of the House of David, of the Tribe of juda, like as God had promised b Psal. 58. g. Esa. 9 a jer. 23.30. ● Dan. 9 c. through the Law and the Mouth of all his Prophets: and He is published c Act. 2. d. 3. b c. 13. d. to the whole Generation of Israel /to be their King, Saviour, and Messiah. and that God had showed the Mercy d Luk. 1. f. g. on them, for to help-upp Isarel his Servant. And so at the same time /God was merciful unto his chosen People. and hath not for gotten his Covenant /even-as He had promised to Abraham and his Seed. 2. Euenthus verily was this like Being of God /the true Christ and only-borne Son of God from eternity /borne of the e Luk. 2. a. Rom. 1. a. Seed of David according to the Flesh /to be a Saviour to the Generation of Israel /for to set-up Israel in his Righteousness. But certain of the wise and Scriptur-lernedones after the Law/ f Math. 12. c 15. a. 21. c. d. 27. etc. Act. 2. c. 3. d. have neither believed nor received the same jesus Christ according to the Flesh: but have withstood Him, and refused both Him and his requiring, g Math. 23. d. and not allowed of Him: but have delivered Him over unto the Heathen/ h Math. 27. to the Death of the Crosse. 3. Yea /so far is the unregenerated man differing from the Mind of God ⁏ although he be wise, prudent, or understanding in the Knowledge and Scriptur-learnednes; that he ⁏ for his own Wisdoms 'cause; doth understand i Math. 11 c. 1. Cor. 2. c. nothing-at-al of the Mind of God, nor of the Seting-upp of Israel▪ neither-yet can he attain thereunto /with his own Wisdom: like as it hath also com-to-pas with the wise and Scriptur-learnedones of the Law. And this Christ of God k Luk. 24. c. Act. 3. b. 17. a hath been forced to suffer (Yea /from the l Apo. 13. a. Beginning of the World forth) for the Wisdom of the Flesh and the sins cause. And it went with Him/ m Math. 26. c Luk. 22. as was written thereof: and He was killed on the Earth /with the contemnable n Sap. 2. c. Math. 27. Death of the Cross, and buried in the Heart of the Earth. 4. Sing now that it was unpossible /that the Death could hold Him, or that He should see the o Psal 16 a Act. 2 13 d Corruption /to a Consummation▪ therefore is He risen again p Mar. 16. b. Luk. 24 c Act 2. c 10 ● 1 Cor. 15 a from the Death /for a perpetual Conquering of the Sin and Death /through his Death of the Cross /and hath made himself manifest unto his Friends /that loved Him, and were his Disciples: and renewing them in the Word of his Doctrine /He q Luk. 24 c showed them ⁏ through his Suffering and Death of the Cross; the Victory r 1 Cor. 15 g. against the Sin, Death, Devil, and Hell. 5. Now whenas these his Disciples were renewed and established in the Word of his Doctrine· and armed s 1 Pet 4 a with the same Mind of the Suffering of jesus Christ/ t Mar 16. b Luk 24 f Act 1. a then was He taken-up from them to the Right-hande of God his Father /in the heavenly Being. From thence hath He comforted his Disciples, and comprised his Shape in them /out of the heavenly Being. powring-foorth v Act. 1 ● 2 ● his holy Spirit into them, as a new and true x Apo. 21 a jerusalem, which is not prepared by Men /but by God, like a garnished Bride for her Husband. And eventhus become God the Father /through his only-borne Son ؛ Christ; of one-substance again y Act ● with the manly Creatures: And to that end also, because that all manly Creatures /should ⁏ through Christ; be z john. 17 c one-substance with God the Father /is Christ preached. And in such a State doth God require to have his People, or the Congregation of jesus Christ. 6. Behold, These Disciples of jesus Christ ⁏ who through Christ /were sealed with the holy a Act. 2. a Rom 8 b 2 Cor 5 a Spirit of Christ /from the Right-hande of God· b Math. 13. f taught to the Kingdom of the God of Heavens· and established in God the Father and in the Lord jesus Christ; were the right Christians /not out of the Letter or Flesh/ c Math. 26. c. Luk. 22 c john 6. f. 1 Cor. 11. c wherewith they had been served till unto the Coming of the same Clearness of Christ: but out of the Power of God/ d Luk 24. c Act 1. a. 2. a 1 Cor. 2 a b in the Spirit: and did bear eventhus e 2. Cor. 4. a a costly Treasure /in earthen Vessels. namely, the very-like Being of God the Almighty. 7. Which Being of God/ f 2. Cor. 4. a. Phil. 2. a. Col. 1. b. Heb 1. a is the true Christ himself /according to the Spirit: with whom they had their Fellowship. And through Him ⁏ sing He was One with God; their g 1. john. 1. a. Fellowship was also with God the Father. Whereby they used that Word: God our Father, and the Lorde؛his Son; jesus Christ. The which also Many nodout /do speak or witness in-that-maner /out of the Letter, and out of the Imagination of the goodthinking Knowledge: but they are wide of it /according to the Truth. But These ⁏ who h Act 2.3. 1 Cor 2 a b 1 john. 1. a. witnessed that Word /out of the Spirit and Truth; have witnessed the Grace from God the Father, and from the Lord jesus Christ /in the Truth of God. And yet notwithstanding /have confessed no more but one God: but have witnessed the Wonderful-acts of God /showed on them through jesus Christ. And i joel 2. d. Act. 2▪ b. it shall com-to-pas ⁏ sayeth God; in the last Days. 8. THis Grace of Salvation /that was k Luk. 1. f. g 2. a b. c Act. 2.3.4. etc. apeered to the jews ⁏ which Many of them in that time refused; is published to the Heathen/ l Math. 3. a. Luk. 2. d Act. 13. c to a Repentance for their Sins /to th'end that they should m john. 1. c. believe on the like Being of God the Almighty /that was appeared unto them· and so become partakers likewise of the Gifts of the holy Ghost ⁏ through jesus Christ; out of the fatherly Grace: and that their Fellowship might be one n 1. john. 1. a. with God the Father, and his Son jesus Christ /in one-maner of Faith. 9 And to that end was the Service of Christ ministered o 2 Cor. 10. a under the Obedience of Faith ⁏ by the Apostles of Christ; to the unbeleeveing Heathen. namely, in the Word of the Preaching of the Disciples and Apostles of Christ /To the intent that the same Life of Righteousness ⁏ that was refused p Act. 3. c. by the jews; should be set-up among the Heathen /through Faith: and so they sought to confirm the Law among the Heathen /through Faith. and to bring forth the Righteousness thereby/ q Rom. 3. c. Gal. 2 b. 3 b Phil. 3. b. that is required by the Law. The V Chap. Behold, eventhus /for a a Luk. 2. ● Light and Salvation of the Heathen /is thissame ⁏ only out of Grace /undeserved; published unto the Heathen /for a Gospel /to a Mortifying of their vain Understanding, b Rom 1.6.8 1 Cor 5.6. Gal. 5 6. and of the corrupt ungodly Being. and to an Incorporating to the new Man, whom the Apostles of Christ did publish. namely, Christ؛the Like-beeing of God; c Luk. 1. g. Ephe. 4. c. in upright Righteousness and Holiness. In whom ⁏ and in noon Other; standeth d Act. 4.10. c the Forgiveness of Sins. 2. These Publishers of the holy Word or Gospel of the Kingdom of God (sing now that jesus Christ had a Shape in them /as a very true Light and Life of God, and that God's Shape /was in Christ: wherthorough they likewise were in Christ▪ and God in them) have published that Word ؛ Grace and Peace from ●od our Father, and the Lord jesus Christ; in the Truth. 3. But although the Apostles did publih this after-this-maner /yet have they notwithstanding /spoken no otherwise then of One God /who had showed his Procreation or Generation in them /as a e john. 1. c Glory of the only-borne Son of the Father /full of Grace and Truth: namely, that God the Father had begotten and declared in them /his like f john 1. a 1. john. 1. a Life of God /out of his Life, and his like Light /out of his Light. 4. Seeing then that they did bear this like Being of the Godhead /in them /therefore have they ⁏ through the same; known the living God /who was their Salvation: namely, through the Life of God/ jesus Christ, being appeared unto them g Ephe. 3. ● in the Spirit. Wherethrough they also published the Life that is everlasting: and so witnessed likewise, that Those which had h ●. john. 5. b. not the Son of God /could not also have the Father /and that they were without i Ephe. 2 b. God /in this World. For the like Life of God/ k john 1. a 1 john 1. a 5 b. is the only-borne Son of God himself. And whosoever refused Him /might not obtain the Grace before God. For it is so concluded by God for ever /that in the Son /is the Life of Salvation, l john. 10.14. a. and that it shall also be obtained in Him. 5. THis is verily the Grace of God the Father ⁏ which was published in times-past /unto the Children of Men /under the Obedience of Faith, and which is also published now in the last time /under the Obedience of the Love; that the Life of the living Godhead /is appeared upon Earth, and that ⁏ through the same; the unity in the Peace with God the Father /is to be obtained /whereby to m john 8. c 14. b. 17. b. know Him /in his Glory, and his Vniformnes with the Manhood /through the Lord jesus Christ. read. john. 17. 6. Behold, This is the Difference ⁏ with a brief Instruction; betwixt God the Father /and the Lord jesus Christ. Take it to heart. 7. MY Service /to content thee ⁏ my Beloved; vouchsafe to take in good part /with a Regard to the God of the Living. And this my Writing ⁏ to the Answering of thy Request; have I reharsed in this manner: sing other wise no Mean /for to open the Understanding of the Godhead of Christ, and to content thee, or to satisfy thy Demand. 8. Behold, I have here witnessed the Mind unto thee /in Full manner: so that in this Instruction ⁏ so farforth as the Lord n Ephe. 1. c. do illuminate thine Understanding; there shalbe sufficient /to answer thy Request. And thy Intent of Heart in the Spirit /shall likewise through the Belief of the Truth ⁏ if thou hast a right regard hereunto, o Pro 4. a and takest thissame to heart; be well-minded to our mostholy Service of love. The almighty God lead the into his Righteousness. Amen. The End of the Third Epistle. The Fowrth Epistle. A clear Instruction of the Mediation of jesus Christ, that cometh-to-pas in the Spirit /for a Reconciliation betwixt God and the Man. jesus speaketh to his Disciples: I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Noman cometh to the Father /but thorough Me. john. 14. a. If any man enter in thorough Me▪ he shallbe saved. john. 10 b. I am the Light of the World. Whoso followeth after Me /walketh not in Darkness: but he shall have the Light of Life. john. 8. b. If any man will follow-after Me, let him forsake himself: and takeup his Cross on him /and follow after Me. Math. 16. c. Luk. 9 c. He that taketh not up his Cross on him, and followeth after Me, he is not worthy of Me, or he may not be my Disciple. Math. 10. d. Luk. 14. c There was demanded by a Lover of the Truth, and an Instruction in writing /desired thereupon /how the Mediation of jesus Christ ⁏ according to the Spirit, or spiritually; cometh-to-pas in us/ a Rom. ● a. b. to our Reconciliation with God the Father: and how Christ is an b Heb. 1. a Heir of all Things: and how c 1. Cor. 15. c. God is all in all. Whereupon this present Letter is written by HN /out of an Inclination of the Love: very profitable and needful to the Understanding thereof /for all those that hope upon God· upon Christ· and upon their Salvation /To th'end that they may understand which is the right Ground of the Belief in jesus Christ /wherethrough one is justified from the Sin /for to be in-that-sort /reconciled with God in a new Life, according to the Scripture. The First Chap. FOrasmuch as I have always found myself willingly-bent to do thee Service /my beloved Brother. so do I also still find myself redy-prepared thereto. namely, in that wherein I may be serviceable unto thee /to a Guiding into the holy Understanding /To th'end that thou ⁏ if God vouchsafe the same; moughtst ⁏ through my small Service; be a little furthered to the good Knowledge in God and his Christ. 2. But sing I am always careful, and do stand in fear to write much of the deep Grounds of the a Rom. 11. ●▪ secret Knowledges of God and Christ /so am I always careful /jest that the same (if we should write boldly thereof) might thrust-back anyone from Us and our godly Doctrine, or offend him thereby: or that anyone should desire to glory or to boast therein /as in a Knowledge of the Flesh. and not before allthings or with his whole Heart /to be partaker in the Spirit/ b 2 Pet. 1. a. of the Being whereof we do write or witness. 3. For albeit that we do know well ⁏ according to the Comprehention of our Natural-reason; that there is a God, a Christ, and a holy Ghost /and so do talk of Them: and yet do not ⁏ through that Knowledge; believe, serve, nor love the same God /as He is a God, and his Christ /as He is a Christ, and the holy Ghost /as He is an holy Ghost /nor-yet desire to become partakers of his Being: but to live in a c Rom. 1. ● Ephe. 4. b. straying Being /which is noon of God's Being, and to cleave-unto the same /So is then the Knowledge of the holy Secretness of God /more hurtful than furdersom unto us. For if we know in what Form or Being /that there is a God: and yet do not honour nor serve Him /as He is a God: but have a Lust to the Contrary-beeing unto God /Then is thatsame to a d Mat. 25. c. Luk. 12. c more-greevous Condemnation unto us. 4. Sing now that I ⁏ through the Light; do behold these Perils /so am I likewise careful therein /to write of the Secrets of God /before Many. And if thou lookest with me into the Perils /then know I well /that thou wilt not disallow me in my Carefulness. For I have much-more delight in the Obeying of the requiring of the Service of Love /and where Gods Being, Light, or upright Righteousness /doth evenso then rise-up in Esa. 58. b. Power /in the inward Man /then where as men do with Speakable-woords ⁏ out of the Knowledge; talk much of the Secretness of God /according to the outward Manner. 5. Thou also knowest partly my Conversation /in what sort it was with thee, and how fearfully touching many Words /I have behaved myself with thee: showing thee /that the f Math. 13. Secretness of the Kingdom of God or Christ /consisteth not g 1 Cor. 2 a. in the Multitude of Words, nor in the riches of the Knowledge /Because that thou shouldest not suffer thyself to be bewitched by Anyman with outward or straying Words or Sayings of plentiful-store of Languages /as to let thine Heart commit Whoredom therewith. But that thou moughtst have a much-more regard unto the Power of God, and unto the upright Righteousness that God worketh through the Ministration of his gracious Word and Service of Love /in the Spirit of the inward Man /to th'end for to live uprightly therein /with a meekemynded Spirit. For a meekemynded h Psal. ●. b Esa. 57 b 61. a. 66. a Spirit ⁏ which hath his Proceeding obediently /according to the requiring of the Lord's Word; is very precious and acceptable before God. 6. And although that we do ⁏ in the same Spirit; go-on in Silence /as touching the outward Manner, and are poor of Spirit in Tongues or Languages /Yet is not for-al-that /the Ritchnes of the spiritual and heavenly Knowledge of God▪ ever-the-lesse among Vs. but rather the greater: And the same, and all That which is of God and Christ /do we esteem very i job. 28. b. Psal. 19 b. Pro. 3 b 8 b Sap. 7. b. precious /Yea much worthier than all the riches or costly Treasures of this World: for thatsame ⁏ of worthynes-part; excelleth it all. For which Occasion /we let our Words be few /because that the same which we speak /may not proceed out of the Knowledge. but out of the k 1. Cor 2. a. b Power of God, and out of the Truth of jesus Christ. 7. And in the same Speech of the godly Things /we do also take-heede with Foresightfulnes ⁏ so much as we may therein; of the Looseones of Heart /to th'end that there be not one godly Saying of the precious secret Wisdom /spoken-out in Vain. O /how l Eccli. 14.25 jeam. 5 a happy is he /that falleth not in his Tongue, and whose Words m Col. 4. a. are tempered with Salt. 8. NOw this being omitted. I rejoice me doubtless /of the, and of the Communialte that is with thee: and I hope to rejoice me yet more with thee /with greater joy, by means of the Answer unto me /that I have heard from thee /As that ye altogether /are well-minded to That which is the Being itself /whereof the Scripture witnesseth ⁏ as personally; of God, of Christ, and of the holy Gost. Which Being ⁏ for those that be partakers thereof; are the secret Treasures and n Math. 13 c heavenly riches of God /whereof the Worlde· the rich Scriptur-learnedones· nor the Good-thinking-wyse ⁏ with all their deep-groundly Knowledge; do neither know nor understand o Math. 11 c 1. Cor. 2. a. anything-at-al. 9 It is true, they have the Scripture of the godly Witnesses: wherethrough they suppose to be wise and understanding. But sing they give not their Understanding captive under the Obedience of the Love of jesus Christ, and come p john. 5. not evenso to the Being /whereof the Scripture speaketh, nor-yet believe thereon/ q john, 7. d as the Scripture saith /So is-ther likewise no Light, nor Truth, nor-yet Spirit nor Being of God /among them /and they also do neither know nor r Math. 22 c. 1. Tim 1. a understand That which they themselves speak thereof. 10. But the God of Life ⁏ s Ephe. 2 a who is rich of Mercy; hath ⁏ out of his hearty Love; t Ephe. 1. a 2. a 3. a. Col. 1. d. revealed the Being of his Glory unto us·s renewed our ignorant Understanding ⁏ under the Obedience of his Love; to a spiritual Mind of the upright Righteousnes·s and ⁏ when we were full of infirmities, v Rom. 5. a. b. Ephe. 2. a. Col. 1. c. 2. b and deadd /for the sins cause; begotten us again/ out of his Love/ x Tit. 1. a. 5. a▪ to a sure Hope of his Life. 11. Seeing then that y Heb. 12. ●. such a Cloud of holy Dew /is ⁏ by God's Grace; appeared in our Sight /according to the Spirit· and come from God's Right-hande /as an heavenly Blessing /and whereout also the right Being of God ⁏ whereof we speak; a 2. Cor. 4. ● ariseth unto us /as a Light and clearness: Therefore have we ⁏ although the Scripture witnesseth thereon, and that we do hear many speak thereof; more regard unto That which is the upright Being itself ⁏ wherein our joy standeth; then unto That which witnesseth thereon. 12. For the same Light that shineth now unto Us /out of the heavenly Truth/ b 1. Ioh● 1. a. is the everlasting Life, which was with the Father /in the Beginning: and it is c Psal. 45. a Heb. 1. a. the mercyseat of the godly majesty, which continueth from everlasting to everlasting: Euenas I likewise have talked with thee of the same /when I was last with thee. The II Chap FOrasmuch then as thy Request was unto me at that time /to write thee an Instruction of the Mediation of jesus Christ after the Spirit: and how the same cometh-to-pas in us/ a Rom. 3. ● 2. Cor. 5. b. Ephe. 2. b. 1. john. 2.4. ● for a Reconciliation betwixt God and us: and how Christ is b Heb. 1. a an Heir of all Things: and how c 1. Cor. 15. c God is all in all /Therefore will I open a little of the same unto thee: and I hope also to satisfy the well with this Instruction. 2. Inasmuch then as I have partly marked thine Inclination to the holy and spiritual Understanding of the upright Righteousness /therefore can I not of Natures-part omit /but must witness unto the of that which thou desirest at my hands /also reveal the d Ephe 3. a Mystery of Christ /and make-knowen unto thee /that which is hidden c Rom. 15. c Ephe. 1 a 3 a Col. 1. c. before the World and all her Wyseones /and describe it unto thee in writing /accordingly as the Lord illuminateth mine Understanding thereto, and as it may be profitable for thee to Edification. 3. there is testified in the Scripture ⁏ the which according to the Spirit /is also very true; that God is f john 4. c. 2 Cor. 3. b. a Spirit▪ and a g 1 john. 1. a very true Light /with whom no Darknesses or Sins are mingled. But seeing that the Man is fallen h Gen. 3. a Esa. 59 b. into a straying Contrary-beeing unto God, and goeth-on and liveth therein /So is he likewise i Ephe. 4 b. Col. 1. c estranged from God and from his Light: and walketh according to the Flesh or Outward, and according to the requiring and Desires of the Foreskin of his uncircumcised Heart /and not according to the Spirit, or according to the requiring of the godly Being: and so He k Psal. 82. a Ephe. 5. a walketh in the ungodly Being of the Darknesses: and thatsame ungodly Being of the Darknesses l Rom. 1. c. Ephe 4. b. hath blinded his Heart. And that verily is the Sin, m Esa. 59 a. which separateth the Man from his God: and it is the n Ephe 2 b Middle-wal /as an Enimitee betwixt God and the Man. By means of which Middle-wall /both God and the Man /are grown into two Parts, and are partially-mynded against ea●hother. Yet aught they both ⁏ God and the Man; to be o john. 17. ●● Ephe. 5. d One, like as it was p Gen. ●. ●. in the Beginning. 4. Sing now therefore that they are divided ⁏ either of them in his own Mind; q Gal. 5. b. against each-other /so is God ⁏ r john. 4. c. 2 Cor. 3. b. who is a Spirit; spiritual and minded to all upright Righteousness /against the Mind of the Man: and the Man ⁏ who is s Gen. 6. ●. Flesh and Blood· and not yet circumcised t Gen. 10. b. Ier, 4. a. 9 c. on the Foreskin of his Heart /to a Laying-away of the Sin; v Rom. 8. a. is fleshly and ungodly minded /against the Mind of God. 5. Now doth God's Love and Mercy extend towards the Man /as alluring x john. ●. c. and drawing him daily ⁏ by his gracious Word and Service of Love, and by his Ministers; unto Him and to his spiritual Mind of upright Righteousness. But sing that the Darkness /the sinful Flesh or ungodly Being /is grown betwixt God and the Man /as a Foreskin y Esa. 59 ● Ephe. 2. or Middle-wall, and as an Enimitee: and that God /is spiritually minded, and the uncircumcised Man /fleshly minded /according to the Mind of his Foreskin of the sinful Flesh /Therefore doth not the z Rom ● 1 Cor▪ ●● Man understand the spiritual Mind of God the Father, neither-yet know the good Will of God /that loveth him to Salvation: and he believeth not God in his Word nor Service: but he believeth the Darknesses which have enclosed him: and following those same Lusts a Ephe. 4. b of Error /he goeth-back: and so sinneth daily against the Father. And that is the Sin that is b Math 12. d. forgiven the Man /in his Repentance for the Sin, because of his Ignorance /through Unbelief. The III Chap. NOw moughtst thou demand: What Spirit or Being is this God /of whom the Scripture witnesseth, or unto whom /we aught to turn us in the Spirit? the Answer: Of the same have we rehearsed in the a Intro. 22.23 Introduction to the holy Understanding of the Glass of Righteousness. But now for to come to the Knowledge of ourselves, and to a good Knowledge of our God and his Righteousness /So will we (to a larger Declaring of our Understanding /touching that whereof we speak, and to a Distincting of the true Light /the living God /who b Heb. 13. a. was, and is, and continueth for ever) rehearse and testify here in this place also /of the Being of the only God. 2. This God ؛the Living and Verytruone; is the true c 〈◊〉 3.1 God of Abraham, through whom the d 〈◊〉. 12. a Rom. 4. a b Promises of the Man's Salvation or Blessing do com-to-pas /in his Faith. the true God e Math. 22. d. of Isaac, in whom the f Gen. 21. b. Heb. ●1. Promises be inherited, and in whom the Seed of Blessing /is named. and the true God of g Act. 7. g. jacob or Israel, in whom the Promises of the Glory h Num. 14. Esa. 40 a. of God and of the Man's Salvation or i Ier 23 33. ●. Blessing /become established· and k Luk. 1. g. God's true Righteousness erected. This self-same God/ l Sap 5. a. Eccli. 24. a. 1. Pet. 2. b. jeam 1. c. is a very true unchangeable Light. a clear m Ephe. 1.4. b. Apo. 21.22. Day. and a glistering delytfull Beauty. 3. This Light /is the n john. 14 a. everlasting· Life of the upright Righteousness /an overflowing o Psal 42. a. jer. 2. c. john 4. b. Fountain of living Waters /full of joy, full of all Sweetness, full of Love, and full of Peace /abounding with Plenty of Grace and Mercy. 4. This Life /is the p johd. 1. a. everlasting firmestanding essential Word/ q 1. Cor 2. a. Heb. 4. b. full of Power and Possibillitee. 5. This Word /is the r john. 6. g. Ephe. 1.6 4 d. Intro. 23. true Spirit, with full Power of Sealing, or to an everlasting Establishing of the living Godhead /with the Manhood. And that is unto the Man /the Certentee of the Truth /that He ؛thesame God; is only s Psal. 116. b. john 3. d. Rom. 3. a. a very true God. 6. This Spirit /is t Sap. 7. c. the holy Wisdom, and the upright Understanding /full of all spiritual heavenly Goods. 7. This holy Wisdom and upright Understanding /is u Eccli. 1. ●. the Providence, which foreseeth every-thing /that is good: and discerneth Life and Death /and giveth Knowledge of the Good/ x Pro. 2. ●. to a Warning from the Evil. 8. This Providence /is the Will, y Sap. 1. b. which willeth that all that which is good /should be, and com-to-light. 9 In thissame good Will /is z Heb. 11. a. the Belief grounded, as a sure and firm Confidence /that all that which is good, and foreseen to the Good /shallbe performed or com-to-light: the which the good Will desireth /that all that which is good /may be, become manifest, and live. 10. The Belief/ a 1. Cor. 2. a. Ephe. 1. c. 3. c Phil. 3. c. is the Power, as mighty to bring-to-light all Good /therethrough. 11. This Power /is the Deed or the Work of all Good, and b Phillip 2. b. the Accomplishment of all the Works of God. 12. Behold: Such a Spirit or Being/ is the true God /of whom the Scripture speaketh, and unto whom the Man aught to turn him. For He ؛thesame God; is the right Father, who ⁏ out of himself and through the like Being of his Godhead; hath made c ●en. 1. a. Psal. 3●. a. john 1. a. Ephe. 3. a. all that is anything. And all his d Psal. 19 a. ●9. a. 97. a. Rom. 1 c. Works do testify of Him /that He ؛thesame God; is an everlasting, living, and true God /To th'end that He only /should be e Deu. 6.10. b served, honoured, and worshipped in all his Works /as a great glorious God, f Psal. 10.29. b who only is the Lord and King. 13. This everlasting God, sing that He hath made g Pro. 8. b. john. 1. ●. all that is anything /through his like Being (for that the same like Being /should he h Heb. 1. ●. an Heir in all Things) hath also in the Beginning /formed i Gen. ●. c. Sap. 2. c. Thatsame ؛his very-like Beeing● in the Man: And so hath God made and ordained every-thing k Eccli. 39 ●. well /through his godly Being. And l john. 1. a. without thatsame Being /God hath made nothing that is any what, nor ordained anything /without the same: and thatsame like Being of his Godhead/ m john. 1.6. g is his only borne Son/ jesus Christ, and is the n 1. Cor. 15. c. Col. 1. c. Firstling or the first-born of all Creatures /whom God hath foreseen thereto/ o Pro. 8. c. ere-ever the Foundation of the World was laid, p Heb. 1. a. and to be an Heir of all his Works. 14. He is promised q john 3. b. Rom 8. d. and given unto us by God the Father ⁏ as a Christ of God; for a Life and for a Salvation: and is likewise so r Psal. 19 a. Act. 2.3. etc. preached and published to the World. But the World hath not believed in Him: and therefore also s Ihon. 8.9. ●. remaineth her Sin and Death. 15. For in noman else but in thatsame only Christ, t john. 1. is the Life. Which Life /is a Light of Men: and that Light shineth in the Darknesses: and the Darknesses have not comprehended it. 16. Thatsame is a very true Light, u john 8. b. which lighteth all Men /through his Coming into this World: and He was in the World, and the World was made through Him, but the World knew Him not. 17. He come into his Own, and his Own received Him not. But so many as received Him /to them gave He the Power to be Children of God. namely, Those that believed on his Name /which are not borne of Blood, nor of the Will of the Flesh, nor-yet of the Will of Man /but of God. The FOUR Chap. OF this self-same only-borne Son of God the Father /the Prophet Esay doth also witness: a Esa. 9 a A Child (saith he) is borne unto us, a Son is geeven unto us: whose Dominion /is upon his Shoulders: and He is called /Wonderful, Counsel, Power, Giant, everlasting Father, a peaceable Prince /Because that his Dominion may be great, and no End of the Peace /upon the Seat of David and his Kingdom. 2. Him hath likewise the Prophet David seen in the Spirit, and witnessed of Him /that God hath b Psal. 110. a. Heb. 5. b. 7 b sworn ⁏ and it shall not repent Him; that He is a Priest for ever /after the Order of Melchisedech: and He continueth also an High-preest c Heb. 3.10. c over the House of God /for ever /as d Heb. 8.9. b. a Minister of the spiritual and heavenly Goods. Which Ministration cometh-to-pas in the Spirit /and not in the Letter, even as is written of Him. 3. But sing now that the Man is. falne-away e Gen. 3. a. Ephe. 4. c. Col 1. ●. or estranged from this upright Being of his God /Therefore hath this Christ؛the true Lamb of God; suffered f Phil. 2 a. the Death of the Cross in the Man. Which Lamb of God /was killed g Apo. 5.13. b from the Beginning of the World /for the sins cause. But sing He is not of the Death: but of the living Father /the God for ever /therefore is He also risen h Mar. 16. b. Luk. 24. c. Act. 2. c. 10 c 1. Cor. 15. ● Col. 1. b. again, and as the i Math. 2●. a. Firstling /rysen-up from the Death. k Act. 1. a. 2. c. 10. c. 13. d. 1. Cor. 15. a. Psal. 110. a. and hath showed himself alive unto his Disciples and Believers, and set himself at the l 1. Cor. 15. c. Right-hande of God his Father /in the heavenly Being, bearing the Dominion /till that all his Enemies be laid under his Feet, to a Conquering of Sin and Death /through Faith. 4. THis is that jesus Christ /which ⁏ like as He was preached before, and m Act. 1. 1. Tess. 5. c. 2. Tess. 1. a. should be seen in his Coming; is n 2. Cor. 4. a. 2. Timo. 1. b. appeared and come unto us /in the Obedience of the Love /according to the Scripture. Who must possess the Heaven/ o Act. 3. c. till unto this time /wherein all becometh restored again /that God hath spoken by the Mouth of all his Prophets /from the Beginning of the World. 5. Thissame was in times-past published in the World/ p Mar. 16. b. Luk. 24. f. Act. 1.2. etc. for a Gospel or joyful Message /to th'end that all those which were burdened with Sin and captived with Darknesses /should be baptized or washed q Rom. 6 a. Col. 2. b. in his Death of the Cross /according to the inward Man· and planted into Him r 2 Cor. 4. b▪ Phi. 3. b. with his like Death /for that all those which believed in Him /should be borne-agayne out of the same Death· and so become partakers of the s Rom. 6. a. 2. Cor. 4. b. Phil. 3. b. Resurrection of Christ؛the very-like Being of God /the Righteousone;: and that they might evenso then ⁏ in the Spirit; have their fellowship with Christ/ t Ephe. 2. a. in the heavenly Being /in the Kingdom of God his Father· and so rejoice them in his Coming /in the everlasting Life. 6. Behold, that is the upright v Luk. 1. Ephe. 4. c. Righteousness and Holiness /which cometh to the Man in the Spirit /through Christ, to an everlasting Reconciling of the Man with God, or to an x john. 17. c. Ephe. 2. b. unity /betwixt God and the Man /to th'end that God may in that sort /be y 1. Cor. 15. c. all in all /according to the Promises. The V Chap. But sing now that thy Question is: how or in what manner /the same shall com-to-pas in us /so can I not omit /to give the a full Instruction thereof. 2. Therefore behold, and consider in thine Understanding /my Beloved, how that now in the last time /the same living God ⁏ out of Grace /undeserved; is a 2. Cor. 4. a. 2 Timon 1. b. appeared unto us /out of his holy Heaven /and dwelleth, b 2. Cor. 6. b. Apo. 21. a. liveth, and walketh among Us ؛the Family of his Loue●: And how that He and his upright Righteousness /is ⁏ by his gracious Word; administered in the Family of Love: and how that likewise in the same Administration/ c 2. Cor. 10. a. 1. Petr. b. c. the Belief and the Obedience to the requiring of the same God /is required of all Men, d Ephe. 4. ● to an unity of Heart with Us /in all love. 3. So consider then, wheresoever the same living God of Heaven and his Goodness ⁏ as an upright Being and very true Light, and as the right Father of his like Being and e jeam. 1. ● Light for ever; and his Will and requiring ⁏ as a fatherly Love /to the Man's Preservation in the Godliness; is administered /in the Ministration of his gracious Word under the Obedience of the Love (of whose Being and upright Form /we have witnessed before) and that then likewise in the same Administration /Belief and Obedience is showed by the Man /in the same Will and requiring of God /even-thear ⁏ in the Belief; is the same living God seen and know /like as He ⁏ according to the Spirit; is an upright Being f joh. 1. ●. ●. b. 1. john. 1. ●. and very true Light /for a Life of Men· and the right Father of his like Being and Light: there is also seen and known that the same God's Procreation or Seed /is likewise his upright Being and very true Light /and is evenso ⁏ in the Beleeueing and Obeying of the same Administration; proceeding from the same Father /and that the same is wholly and altogether of one-mind and g john. 17. c. Col. 8. ●. of one-substance with the Father /and is the true Christ himself /and getteth in-that-sort /his Form in the Man. 4. To whomsoever now the same Christ doth come thus in the Spirit /essentially/ h 1. john. 1 ●. to those is He also seen and known rightly in the Spirit: and He is likewise of i john. 17. c. one-substance with them /in all Love and upright Righteousness. 5. This self-same Christ /the true Son and like k Col. 1. b. Heb. 1. a. Being of God his Father (although He ⁏ from eternity; be the l 1. Cor. 15. c. Col. 1. b. first-born of all Creatures·s and the m Math. 16. b Luk. ● c. john 6. g. only-borne Son of God) is also ⁏ according to his Birth of the Seed of David after the Flesh; named the Son n Math. 8 12. c Luk. 6. a. ●. 21. of Man /because that He ⁏ as the true Seed of the Promises of God the Father; is sown or planted in our Manhood /through the Ministration of the gracious Word of the Lord, and through the Belief and Obedience to the same Word: also manned with our Manhood: and so ⁏ after our Passing-over his like Death of the Cross /unto the o john. 3. a. Rom. 12. a. ●. Ephe. 4. b. c. second Birth from the Death; borne again out of our Manhood. 6. And that is the very true Seed of God from Heaven /which is sown in our p Math. 13. b Mar. 4. b. Luk. 8. b. Manhood /through the Administration of the holy and gracious Word /under the Obedience of the Love· and ⁏ at the appointed time; borne again by us and out of us /as a q john 15. a. b Fruit of the overflowing good Life and of the upright Righteousness and Holiness: and wherethrough we are then likewise ⁏ according to the Word of our Lord jesus Christ; the r Math. 12. c Luk. 8. c. Mother, Brothers, and Sisters of Christ /which do the Will of his heavenly Father. 7. Thissame Man of God from Heaven according to the Spirit, and the Son of Man s Math. 1. c. Rom 1. a. of the Seed of David according to the Flesh /is in all points minded t Math. 26. d. john 4. d. 6 d. 8. c. according to the Will of God his Father: and his Will is /that all what is good /should be: and He beareth in us /the u Phil. 2. a. Heb. 2. b. 5. a Image of the earthly Man, and suffereth with us for our Sins. 8. But now when the Believer of his gracious Word /hath. x 2. Pet. 1. b. regard obediently unto his gracious Word /according to the requiring of his Service of Love: and that evenso ⁏ in his Belief and Obedience; the same Word beginneth to appear or breake-thorow /as a very true y john. ●. a. 2. Cor. 4. a. Light of the upright Life and like Being of the perfect clearness of God· and as a z 2. Cor. 5. b. Gal. 6. b. new Creature from Heaven /Then hath God the Father his Pleasure a Esa. 42. a. Math 12.17. b 2. Pet. 1. b. only in the same Light and Life of his like clearness and upright Righteousness. For that is his beloved Son ؛his spiritual heavenly Being; whom He hath geeven unto us for an everlasting b Heb. 1. a. Heir, to th'end that we should live through Him. 9 Sing now that the Lord ؛the God of Heaven; is spirituall· and minded to the upright Righteousness /and that the Man of the Earth is fleshly c Gen. 6. a. Rom. 7. b· ● and minded to the Sinne· and unbeleeveing and disobedient to the requiring of God in the Ministration of his gracious Word and Service of Love/ Therefore hath God ⁏ according to such a Mind of the Man; no d Rom. ●. a. pleasure in the earthly Man /nor-yet the earthly Man /in God, nor in his requiring. 10. But sing now that the only-borne e Math. 16. b. Luk. 9 c. john 6. g. Son of God the Father according to the Spirit [namely, Christ /the like f Sap 7. c. Col. ●. b. Heb. 1. a. Being of God] is also the only-borne Son /out of the g Math. 1. a. Rom. 1. a. Manhood /of the Seed of David according to the Flesh, and beareth in us the Image of the earthly Manhood /aswell as the Image of the heavenly Godhead /Therefore it is not his Will that the Man ⁏ whom He hath created h Sa●. 1. b. 2. c. Eccli. 17. a. to be an Image of his like Being; should perish in the Disobedience of the earthly Man· i Eze. 18. 3●. ● 2. Pet. 3. a. nor in the Sins of the earthly Being: but should live for ever and ever /with Him and with his Spirit /in the upright Righteousness of his heavenly Being /and that all Men likewise ⁏ which love God and his Righteousness; should be assembled into the same Being, and be saved both in Soul and Body. 11. Behold, the same forementioned Christ and Son of God ⁏ who for our sins cause /hath suffered in us the Death k Rom. 6. a. Phil. 2. a. of the Cross, and armeth us l 1. Pet. 4. a. with the same Mind of his Suffering and Death; maketh known unto us (as is before said) through his Service of Love /his upright Being of Righteousness. And in our good Will to the same /He bringeth his Belief unto us: and so in the Belief /He himself m Esa. 53. b. 2. Pet. 2. beareth our Sins, and justifieth n Rom. 3.8. ●. Gal. 2. b. us from the same /through the Belief. And so taking our Sins upon him /in Patience, He o 1 john. 1.4. reconcileth us before his Father, and maketh his p john. 14 c▪ Apo. ●1. a. Dwelling in us. 12. Euenthus verily with Patience doth Christ come before the Man ⁏ for his q Rom. ●. a. 2. Cor. 12. ●. Heb 5. ●. Ignorance and Weakness cause; in the Ministration of the gracious Word of God his Father: and in the same Patience /He ⁏ through his Service of Love; draweth the Man away from all that is ungodly and unreasonable, and whereunto he is bound, or wherewith he is bewitched /according to his earthly and manly Mind. 13. Behold, in this sort doth Christ ⁏ in the Obeying of the requiring of the Service of his Love; r Oze. 13. b. Rom. 8. a. 1. Cor. 15. f. Timo. 1. b. Heb. 2. b. 1 john. 3. b. break all the Bands of the Devil and of the Self-myndednes of the Flesh: and bringeth the beleeueing and obedient Man /to his spiritual and heavenly Mind of the upright Righteousness, according to the Mind of God his Father: and evenso ⁏ as the s 1. Tim. 2. a. Heb. 9 b. true Mediator /to our Reconcilment with God the Father; He putteth-away the t Esa. 59 a. Ephe. 2. b. Middle-wall betwixt God and Us: and procureth the Man /that he uniteth him with a good Will /with the Godhead, u john. 17. c. and God /to an Uniting with the Manhood. 14. Behold, and have a good regard hereunto /my Beloved. for eventhus (as is rehearsed) is x Rom. 5. a. the Peace and Reconciliation with God the Father /prepared for us through Christ: and so He maketh of Two/ y Ephe. 2. b. that they be One. Namely, the Godhead and the Manhood. 15. But in the mean time that we do suffer with a Rom. 8. b. 2 Cor. 4. b. Phil. 3. b. 2. Timo. 2 b Christ /for the sins cause, and do daily take our b Math. 16. c. Luk. 14. c. Cross upon us /with Him /So do-ther yet daily nodout /many Temptations meet with us /through the Unbelief of the earthly Man: and we do stumble or fall, and do sin also yet sometimes /by reason of our Ignorance and Weakness. Which Sin we do not then commit in the Father /but c Math. 12. d. in the Son. But if we be good of Will, and continued steadfast therein /then is the Sin d Act. 10. ●● forgiven us /through his Name. 16. For inasmuch as He himself beareth in us our Sins /therefore hath He e Heb. 5. a. Compassion with our Weakness: and suffereth likewise with us /in the Belief, till that all the Contrary-beeing that is against the upright Being of God the Father /be overcome through the Belief /in the Like-suffering with Christ/ f Rom. 6. a. Phillip 2. a. of the Death of the Cross, and that Christ with his Father /have gotten g 1 Cor. 15. c. the Dominion against the sin. Which Cross or Suffering of Christ /is the Altar of the Offering of Christ/ h Heb. 9 b. c. 10. a. b. in the Holy, whereon our Sins be offered-upp /through the Offering of Christ /as a sin-offering, Death-offering, and Debt-offering. Through which Offering of Christ ⁏ wherein we do obediently follow-after i 1. Pet. 2. Him /till unto the second Birth from the Death; we be k 2. Cor. 3. b. Ephe 1. a. 2. b Col. b. Heb. 9 b. ● sprinkled with his Blood of the true Testament, to the Forgiveness of Sins, and to an everlasting Reconcilment with God the Father /through Faith. and thatsame is the Fulfilling of the true Godseruice in the Holy. 17. Through which Fulfilling of the foregoing Service in the Holy /the godly Understanding l 1. Cor. 13. b. Ephe. 4. b. of the true Age of the manly Being of jesus Christ /is inherited by us·s m 2. Cor. 3. b the Veil before the Mostholy /put-away from us·s and the n Esa. 16. c. Heb. 1. b. 5. a. mercyseat /uncovered and declared unto us: and likewise all the costly o Col 2. a. riches of the upright spiritual and heavenly Goods /in the very true Mostholy. 18. whenas we now are thus renewed p Rom. 12. a. Ephe. 1. b. in jesus Christ /through Fayth· also come to the same q Ephe. 4. b. Age of the Man Christ· and become one Body with jesus Christ /so is God the Father then likewise/ r EPhe. 2. b one-substance or manned with us /through Christ: and s 1. Cor. 15. c. is all in all: and we have the t 2. Cor. 1. c. Pawn of his Inheritance. namely, the holy Ghost /wherewith we be grounded, sealed, and established u Ephe. 3. d. in God /through jesus Christ. And all that godly Being ⁏ evenas we have witnessed before of God the Father; doth then live substantially in us: and so we have our x 1. john. 1. ● Fellowship with God the Father, and with his Son ؛the Lord jesus Christ; in the everlasting Life, wherein our joy is perfect. 19 Behold, That is the true joyfulness with Christ /which we do inherit in the Kingdom of God his Father: and do know no more of the sin. For in that we are dead/ y Rom. 6. b. that are we deadd unto the sin. and in that we live /that live we unto God /in jesus Christ: and so have a good and quiet Conscience /through jesus Christ /in his Dominion over the Sin and Death. 20. Which Dominion of Christ and z Luk. 16 c. Kingdom of God /is as-then come inwardly into us: and it is with us in all points /one God /in one Being. namely /the Father, the Son, the holy Ghost /with the Manhood /in all love. And that is the Life and Peace, and the * Gen. 21. a Rom. 4. b. Gal. 3. b. c. Seed of Promise, to the Bleessing of all Generations of the Earth. The VI Chap. MY Beloved, Thissame (even-as I have here witnessed unto thee) is the right Mediation of jesus Christ /inwardly in us, to our safemaking and Reconciliation a Rom. 3. c. 2. Cor. 5. c. Col. 1. c. 1. john. 2. b. with God the Father: wherethrough also Christ is an b Heb. 1. a. Heir of all Things, and God /all c 1. Cor. 15. c in all. It is very true. 2. And with this Instruction out of the heavenly Truth /do I heartily salute thee in the Lord, d Ephe. 4. a. to an unity of Heart in the Love: and look thou with spiritual Eyes of a pure Heart /into the Ground of that whereof I write unto thee /To th'end that thou mayst comprehend the secret Understanding of the spiritual and holy Knowledge /whereof I write unto thee: and let thine Understanding awake /to the Love, and to her Service. 5. I desire likewise of thee /that the Comunialte which is with thee /may also read this Letter: and salute them all in my behalf/ e Rom. 16. b. 2. Cor. 13. b. with a Salutation of the love. And if there be any among you /that are acquainted with Any-people /whom they know to seek God with Heart, or that are no undiscreet Blaspheamers, but stand well-minded to the unity of Heart in the Love /let them also freely reade-over this Writing: and love always the unity of Heart in the Love, to an Increasing of the holy Knowledge: and rejoice you among each-other in the Love /through the spiritual f Ephe. 1. a. heavenly Goods, which do come unto us in the Spirit /out of the godly love. 4. The Love of God the Father/ g Col. 3. b. get the Victory in all your Hearts. Amen. 5. Pray for me /that the Lord will strengthen me in my Spirit /with his Love /To th'end that I may be strengthened in Him /without Fear, and so may stand-fast against all myn● Enemies: and that the Concord of Peace may be prepared upon Earth /through the Love and her Service, according to the Promises. The End of the Fowrth Epistle. Our Heart /is the Mind of God most-hie. Our Being amiable /as the sweet Lily. Our Faithfulness /Love /and Truth upright/ Is Gods Light /Life /and clearness bright. The Fift Epistle. A Stirring-up of the Heart to the Imitation or Following of Christ /in the Suffering of his Cross: Written and sent by HN in the time of his Suffering and Affliction /unto his Friend. Wherewith he informeth him /with Understanding and Words of humility /because that he should not growe-offended in any thing· but always hope on the Goodness of the Lord. My Friends hast thou ⁏ O Lord; put far from me, thou hast made me loathsome unto them: I lie captived, and cannot com-foorth. Mine Eye is sad with Misery: Lord /I call daily unto thee, and I stretch-out my Hand to thee. Psal. 88 Health and Salvation /be unto thee my Friend, whom I love to the Righteousness. The First Chapter. FOrasmuch ⁏ thou Beloved; as I have had certain Words with thee /touching mine Affliction and woefulness of Heart in the Spirit, and touching the a Psal. 18. a. 2. Tess. 2. a. Breaking-thorow the sinful Being /for to come to the Kingdom of God: and that thou (as far as I could perceive) hadst little Sight or Discerning thereof: and that me thought also /that thou ⁏ up reason of mine Affliction; didst more estrainge thyself from me /then get an Hearty-affection towards me /So is therefore my Spirit become inclined to write a little unto thee. Wherewith I do show /that I rest still in hope that God would lighten thine Heart a little /with the holy Light of his godly Being, b Ephe. 1. c. and grant thee to see or to discern /the right Meaning of my Words that I have spoken with thee. 2. For I am very certain and sure of this /if the Lord open the Door of Understanding unto thee ⁏ whereby to see-into the upright godly Being/ c Gal. 4. a. Ephe. 4. a. Apo. 21. a. that aught to have a living Form in us; that thou likewise /shalt know the same whereunto I am inclined with Desire and with all my Heart. and after the which /I ⁏ in the Hope; do carry a Zeal or apply my Diligence/ for to obtain the same of the God of the Living, if He ؛the Almighty; vouchsafe the Grace unto Me Vnworthyone. 3. But now am I in many Man's Eyes ⁏ as also haply in thine; very ugly and loathsome. and therefore d 1. C●●. 4. b. contemnable and reiectable with Many. But all this cometh upon me /because that I am so exceeding weak e Psal. 6. a. 2. Cor. 12. b Apo. 3. c. and feeble: and of myne-owne-part /have no Righteousness with me. nor any Esteemation /according to the outward Man of the Flesh. 4. ALthough ⁏ my Beloved; that I seem thus loathsome: as also of myne-owne-part /an so altogether weak and void of strength: and am contemned by all Goodthinking-wyseones, false Setters-forth-of-religion, and Hipocrites·s and defamed f 2. Cor. 6. ● by them /with many false Bruits /Yet wonder not thou neither be offended at the same, as that thou shouldest therefore turn thy Heart from the Service of Love and from Me. 5. For truly /in that all this cometh-uppon me, or in that I am a little while g Psal. 8. ●. forsaken by the Power of my God: and do find myself ⁏ of myne-owne-part; h 2. Cor. 3. ●2. so unmighty to the Righteousness of God: and am contemned, blasphemed, and falsely defamed or accused by Many /it happeneth because that I should not in-any-wyse be stout in my Heart· nor boast myself upon mine own Knowledge and Works, nor-yet upon any i Tess. 2. a. Gal. 1. b. Praise or Commendation of Men· but highly esteem of the Grace of God/ to th'end that the Lord ⁏ and not I; might even so have k Psal. 114 b. all laud, Honour, and Praise. For He only is the Lord, to whom only /all Honour doth likewise appertain. 6. FOr-that-cause /be not thou offended at the Works of God /with his Saints. nor-yet at the Contempt which I suffer and bear at the hands of many false Hearts, and goodthinking Wyseones and Scriptur-learned: But note that the Lord l Psal 4 a. leadeth his holy-ones wonderfully: and how that God m Psal. 129. b. Apo. 15. a. is wonderful in his Works. 7. For n 1 Reg. 2. a. Psal. 113. a. Luk. 2. f. He maketh rich, and poor again: and then He maketh rich again /because that men should evenso know his riches rightly, and love them according to their Value. 8. He bringeth the Man into a wide o Psal. 18. c. 31. a. 119. c. Room, and again into great Straightness and Contempt. and out of the Straightness and Contempt /into a wide Room again /because that he should rightly know his wide Roome· and live therein uprightly. The II Chap. THis write I unto thee out of hearty Love /my Beloved /for that thou shouldest not be discouraged in any thing, nor offended in me. neither-yet dismayed in thy Heart in any-wyse /because of my Misery and Contempt, which I do endure or suffer in the like a Rom. 6 a. Phil. 3. b. Death of the Cross of Christ, wherein I follow-after b Math. 16. c. 1. Pet. 2. c. 4. a Christ. But trust firmly upon him that is the only God. 2. Therefore let not thy Heart be moved for any-maner of thing that thou seest or hearest outwardly: but submit thyself ⁏ c 1. Pet. 5. b. with all humility; under the mighty Hand of God, and give-over thyself altogether unto his William. 3. Choose not also any particular thing in God's Works: But look that thou stand d 2. Cor. 12. b. contented in all the Works of God. For e Deut. 10. b Act. 10. c. Rom. 2. c. God respecteth not anyman: but He worketh all things f Psal. 114.135 according to his own Pleasure. 4. If-so-be now that thou hold thyself quiet in the Works of God: and thereto /endeavourest thyself to g 4. Esd. 7. a. Math. 7. b. passe-thorow the straight h 1. Cor. 4. b. 2. Cor. 4. b. 6. a. 11. c. d Way with all the Saints of Christ /in Shame, Blaspheamy, and Contempt /and therein ⁏ following after Christ; daily takest-up thy i Math 16. c. Luk. 14. c. Cross ⁏ in the Obedience to the requiring of the Service of Love; till unto the second Birth k Rom. 6. a. Ephe. 2. a. Col. 1. c. 2. b from the Death /So shalt thou then likewise well know and understand/ l 2. Cor. 3.4. a that the Power for to accomplish the Righteousness of God /is not the Mans· but ⁏ so much as it remaineth with us; only the Lords. 5. For /for his own sake, and for the Praise of his holy Name /He will not m 2. Pet. 3. a. foreslow himself to perform his Work /to our Salvation /to th'end that He may establish his Promises in us /if we stand pliable unto Him with submitted Hearts. 6. But not for our Works cause▪ for that no Flesh n 1. Cor. 1. c. Ephe. ●. a. should boast itself; but for his own cause, and for his holy Names sake /because that He ؛the great and almighty God; and his o Math. 6. b. holy Name /should be hallowed and praised in his Works. 7. Wherefore, Because now that no Flesh of Adam, or of the earthly Man/ p Psal 14.53. a. Rom. 3. b. hath any Understanding of the Works of God /I can therefore talk very little of those-same /with the Children of Men: but must stretch-out my Heart unto my God, and speak before Him: 8. O God of deep and unsearchable Wisdom! Who hath ever been q Esa. 40. b. Sap. 9 b. Rom. 11. b. thy counsellor. or geeven thee to know before/ r Esa. 45. Rom. 9 c. work this thus, or so? 9 Art not thou the same which thou art, the God of Abraham and his Seed /which was from eternity, and remaineth a living and true God for evermore: Who also worketh every Thing without Respect of People, or Counsel of anyman? For thy Will goeth-forth /according to thy Pleasure: and thy Work s Sap. 11. d. Rom. 9 c. can noman withstand. 10. Therefore must I laud thee /O my God. For thou hast brought my Soul t Psal. 30. a. 50. b 86. b 116. a. out of the Depth of Hell. and kept me /when I was in the extremity u Psal. 18.116 of Death. 11. O my God, sing thou hast hitherto /kept me from the Destruction /so let not thy Grace now likewise departed from me (although I be a loathsomeness and x Psal. 31. b. 44. b. 79. a. 88 a. 1. Cor. 4 b. Reproach before many Men:) but hold me always by y Psal. 10●. a. thy Right-hande: hand: and z Psal. 119. d. teach me through thy Law /for that mine Enemies ⁏ which make-up themselves against me /for to destroy me; may departed from me: and make known unto them /that thou hast chosen Me to be an Instrument for thy work. 12. whenas now ⁏ O my God; mine Enemies do perceive that thou dost teach and govern me. And that it is thy Work /which thou ⁏ to th'end to perform it; hast begun with me /Then shall they well understand /that thou ⁏ O Lord; art my God▪ and I /the a Ephe. 2. b Work and Instrument of thy Hand, which thou hast accepted unto thee /for to accomplish thy William. 13. Now ⁏ O Lord; lead me on-forward into b Psal. 5. a. thy Righteousness /that I ⁏ through thy Grace showed on me; may praise thy holy Name· and highly laud and thank thee /in thy Righteousness. 14. For truly /the Ungodly c Psal. 14. a. 53. a. Rom. 3. b. know thee not: the Despisers and Blaspheamers /find not thy Dwelling: the Sencles and Self-wyseones /ask not after Thee O God: in the d Psal. 6. a. ●8. b. 115. b. Esa. 32 b. Death /men do not remember thee: thy Song-of-prayse /is not soung in the Hell: the Hypocrites or feigned holy-ones, nor-yet the false Hearts and Scripture-learnedones ⁏ which blaspheme and contemn thy holy e Heb. 10. c. Spirit and Service of Love, or murmur ther-against; seek not thy Grace: neither do any of all those likewise /which justify or accounted themselves faithful /●om to be a Foote-bench under thy Feet. 15. Seeing then that all these are Straingers unto thy Righteousness and Holiness /therefore art thou also ⁏ O my God; only holy, only righteous, and only true. 16. Therefore ⁏ O my God; give thy Spirit into my inwardness: f Psal. 51. b. created in me /an upright Heart /that is lovely before thee, and that walketh unfalsly: and give likewise thy Word always into my Mouth /so may I then praise thee /before all those that love thy Truth, also declare thy Righteousness, and magnify thy Name. For otherwise ⁏ O God; it is all nothing before thee. The III Chap. Behold ⁏ thou Beloved; /Shewing-forth Patience /in this my Distress, woefulness, and Sorrow: and in Prayer and Supplication unto my God: in a Rom. 6 a ●. Cor 4. b. 2. Cor. 4. b. 6. a. 11. c. Dying-from and Forbearing all sinful Being: in Death, Suffering, Shame, Blaspheamy, and in all Contempt, with man● false Bruits: and in many Conflicts or Stryveing against all the Temptation of the Sin /I do daily follow-after the crucified Christ /my Lord and Saviour /who is gone before me, and all his Saints /in the same contemptible b Sap. 2. b. Rom. 6. a. Phil. 2. a. Death of the Cross /the which is rejected by the World and by all her wise and Scripture-learnedones, c Esa. 53. ●. Sap. 2. c. and despised as a Foolishness. 2. In which Death of Christ /we must all be baptized or washed, and evenso ⁏ drinking the d Math. 20. c. Cup with Christ; become e Rom. 6. ●. a Gal. 3. c. incorporated unto Christ /if we shall rise with Christ /in the Godliness, or be f john. 6. d. raysed-up and made-alyve by Him in the last Day /as g Rom 12. ●. Ephe. 5. d. a Fellow-member of his Body. For in Him that showeth Patience therein, there shall be seen /that Christ is h Ephe. 5. c. his Bodies Saviour: That is /There's which be planted into Him with the like Death, i Rom. 6. a. Col 2. b. and so are baptized or washed in his Death. and not There's /that remain without the same. 3. In which Day of the Gloryfication k Luk. 17. 2. Tess. 1. a. of Christ /in his Coming, we likewise [namely, which are incorporated unto Him /even as the Scripture saith] shall obtain the Gloryfication of Christ· and live and reign with Him l 1. Cor. 15. 1. Tess. 4. b Apo. 21. a. in joy /for evermore. It is very true. 4. IF-so-be now ⁏ thou Beloved; that the Lust of thy Heart be set to live everlastingly with Christ and his holy-ones /in the lovely Being of God the Father, ●nd to reign m Apo. 5. b. upon the Earth with Righteousness: and if thou wouldst gladly have thy Fellowship with Christ and his Communialtee of Saints /with perfect joy /So let not then the Cross of Christ (wherein all the Saints of Christ do follow-after Christ /under the Obedience of the Love) be any Stumbling-block or Offence unto thee, n 1. Cor. 1. c. as it is unto the World and her wise and Scripture-learnedones. But takeup o Math. 10. d. 16 c. Math. 8. d. Luk. 9.14. c. thy Cross: That is /Forsake thyself, and all Honour and riches of this World /for Christ-his sake: Bear thou in-that-sort /all Shame, Contempt, and Blaspheamy /as One that is rejected for an Unchristian /by those Men that know not Christ: and therein p 1. Cor. 4. b. 10. d. Phil. 3. b. 1. Tess. 1. a. follow-after Me, even as I therein do follow-after Christ. 5. If thou now followest-after Christ herein /with me: and seekest no other Way unto thyself ⁏ according to thine own Pleasure; nor desyerest to go into any other /Then shall we accord well with eachother, and rejoice us rightly in the christian joy, and in the upright lovely Being of the love. 6. But beware in-any-wyse ⁏ thou Beloved; that thou takest no Life on thee /ere-ever thou art first q Rom 6. a. 2 Cor. ●. b. 2. Timo. 2. b deadd with Christ: and that evenso thy Flesh r Gal. 5. c. be crucified and killed, as also his Lusts and Desires. 7. Take likewise no joy on thee /ere-ever thou hast first suffered s Luk. 6. c. john 16. c. jam. 4. a. Sorrow and woefulness or Distress in the Flesh of Sin /for thy sins cause, and so in the Obeying of the requiring of the Service of Love /haste s Rom 6. a. Col 2. c. layd-away and buried the Sin in the Flesh. 8. Take also no Freedom on thee /ere-ever thou hast first ⁏ under the Obedience of the Service of Love; continued t Math. 10. a. 24. b. steadfast in the Service of the holy Word of the Spirit of the Love of Christ ⁏ in all Obedience; like a faithful u jam. 1. c. Disciple of the Word, and Lover of the Truth /even x Math. 19 d. Rom. 6. till unto the second Birth from the Death. and so in-that-maner /knowest the Truth in Christ /So shalt thou then likewise /be rightly made-free y john. 8. d. by the Truth. For that Freedom/ a Rom. 6. b. 8. a. is the upright Freedom of all the Children of God and Saints of Christ. 9 And what Freedoms soever be taken-on, set-forth, and used /without this upright Freedom /are all false Freedoms: and do proceed out of the Devil/ b joh. 8. ●. the Father of Lies, and out of the deviled fleshly Lusts and Desires, c Rom. 1. ●. according to the Imagination of the Knowledge /that false Light. 10. Take also no Honour or Dignity, nor Inheritance of the Saints /on thee: as to inherit and to use anything with the Saints of God ⁏ much-les /for thyself; ere-ever thou hast first borne all Dishonour, Shame, and Contempt: Wherein thou art evenso go●-out-of, or dead-from /all Dignity, Self-honour, and all Takeing-on: and findest thyself wholly submitted /in the d Math. 19 c. forsakeing of allthings, and well content or satisfied therein. and so in all other things like unto these. 11. O Thou Beloved: If-so-be that thou dost wholly give-over thyself hereunto in Christ /under the Obedience of the Love /then shalt thou be well contented with mee· and likewise in all what cometh-uppon me and meeteth me by mine Enemyes·s or with what judgement soever Men e john. 8. b. 1. Cor. 4. a. do judge me: and our Hearts shall also in one Mind /with eachother, and with all those that love the Truth in Christ /become incorporated to the only and true Being of jesus Christ /even to be one f Ephe. 2. b. Man of God. O Yea: That com-to-pas evenso. The FOUR Chap. MY Beloved, I have written and sent-over thissame unto thee /out of Goodwill to thy Edifying, and out of the hearty Love of my God /wherewith I do love thee /To th'end that it may be a Memorial unto thee /of the Suffering, sorrowfulness, and Dispiseing /which all the Electedones of God and Saints of Christ do passe-thorow/ a Act. 14. c. to the Kingdom of God their Father. 2. If now therefore thou love the Ways of our Lord jesus Christ, wherein He ⁏ in suffering-maner; is gone b Luk 24 f. 1. Pet. 2. c. Heb. 6. c. 12 a. before us, and evenso ⁏ preparing c john. 14. a. us the Way; is come into the Kingdom of the God of Heavens /to his Father /So keep thou then thissame in thy Remembrance: and endeavour thyfelf also /to passe-thorow d Luk. .13. these narrow Ways /which lead to the Life. 3. I hope likewise to do evenso. and in my Tribulation, Sorrow, and Affliction /always to think upon the Goodness of the Lord /and to laud and thank Him /for that He is gracious unto me /in my Weakness and in my Sins. 4. hereunto let us be of e Rom. 12. b. 15. a. 1 Cor. 1. a. Phil. 2.3. b. one-mind with eachother /and not looke-upon, conceive, nor construe or report anything to the worst /that happeneth unto me /to th'end that we f Num. 11. d. Psal. 106. c. 1. Cor. 10. b. murmur not against the Lord nor his Ministers, nor-yet blaspheme his holy-ones /whom He leadeth wonderfully: but may live peaceably and uprightly /in his Grace· and stand g Gen 21. a. Act. 9 b. submitted unto Him ⁏ somuch as we may; to an Obeying of his Will or requiring. 5. But if we be weak, and as-yet /altogether feeble or unable for to accomplish the Righteousness of God: as that we do yet daily stumble much, and fall still often-tymes into Sin /Yet let us not h Ier ●. a. lye-still in the Sin, nor in-any-wyse doubt in the Grace of God, nor-yet judge or condemn ourselves i 1. john. 3. c. by the evil Conscience. but with penitent Hearts /rise-up again out of the Fall of the Sin (so often as it chanceth) /and confess our k Psal. 6. a. 32.38. a. Pro. 28. a. Sins and Weakness: and pray unto God /that He will be our Strength: and so confesseing our Unableness and Weakness /in our Assaulting or Temptation, let us still continued in l Rom. 12. b 1. Tess. 5. c. Prayer /till that the Lord lead us ther-out, and m Math. 6. b. deliver us from the evil and contrary being that is against Him. That grant us the Lord /who liveth for evermore. Amen. 6. Heerwithal ⁏ thou Beloved; I commit thee to the Lord: and pray thou for Me, like-as I also do still remember thee /in my Prayers. Fear-well, and behave thyself valyantly. The Lord give thee Health in Soul and Body. 7. My Salutation in the Love /is always unto thee, and unto all those that love the Truth in Christ. 8. The Lord which is the n john. 1. a. 8. b. 9 a. 12. c Light of the Truth, o 1. john. 4. a. the Love, and the p joh. 1.14. a. everlasting Life itself /nourish us all up in his Righteousness. Amen. The End of the Fift Epistle. The Sixt Epistle. A groundly Instruction and a Distinction of Understandings /according to the Truth of the holy Scriptures: Wherewith HN answereth a Letter written unto him. Behold, I will utter-foorth my Spirit unto you, and 'cause you to understand my Word. Pro. 1. I will not hide the Secrets of God from you▪ but search-out the Wisdom /from the beginning of Generations: and will give her forth apparently to be known, and not keep silence of the Truth. Sap. 6. God hath granted me to speak wisely, and to think right /of those Things that He hath graciously geeven Me. Sap. 7. The First Chapter. THe God of Heaven ⁏ which is Israel's God and liveth for ever; be a Light a Esa. 6●. c. Apo. ●2. a. and Life of the Truth unto thee, and a Wisdom and Foresightfulnes to thy Understanding /my Beloved /to th'end that the right Distinction of the Life b Eccli. ●5. a. and of the Death /may be known unto thee: and that thou mayest evenso ⁏ with a clear Sight; looke-into the Preservation of Men /in thissame horrible and daingerous Time. 2. In which horrible c 1 Tim. 4. a. 2. Tim. 3. a. 2. Pet 2. a. 3. a. and daingerous Time /all Errors, Misunderstandings, and all Spirits of the false Light /do now exceedingly beare-swaye. Wherethrough ther-is now also verytruly known unto me /the manifold Ignorance, and the ignorant Confidence of the Children of Men /upon the vain or unprofitable Wisdom: and how utterly the Understanding of Man /hath corrupted d Gen. 6. a. his Way /in the Knowledge. The End of which corrupt ignorant Knowledge ⁏ which is an Horror to think upon; is come before the Lord. 3. Seeing then that all manly Understanding is so utterly corrupted /with so many-maner of false Knowledges /therefore is-ther likewise nothing but all Woe and Misery at-hande. For therefore is the Wisdom hidden· the true Light /darkened· e Esa. 5. d. 8. b 13. b. 24. c Ezech. 32. a. joel. 2. b. 3. b Math. 24 c. and the Moon of Understanding /covered: but the straying Lights ⁏ which are divided against eachother; are become many. 4. Which straying Lights or Stars of the dark f Math. 24. c. Apo. 6. b Heaven /do now fall by many Multitudes upon the Earth [namely, even after that manner/ g Esa. 34. a. as the Figs do fall upon the Earth /when their Stock or Tree is shaken or moved by the Wind] and each straying Light /walketh in his own Light. 5. But now when h Esa. 60. Apo. 22. the Light of the Lamb /spreadeth-foorth itself ⁏ with his clear Heaven; over the Earth, and that the Sun shineth out of the Height /then do men no more see the Stars of the dark Heaven /upon the Earth: neither do they give anymore Schimmering of clearness upon the Earth. For the Light of the clear Heaven /is much to forcible for them all /with his Light and clearness, and doth far excel them everyone /in clearness. 6. Now ⁏ that being omitted; I will ⁏ in breefe-maner; answer thy Letter /like-as thou dost Request /even according to that Sight wherewith I look into it. Consider thou on the Mind of the Understanding. The II Chap. THou wrytest unto me /that thy desire and Longing hath been to talk with me by Woord-of-mouth: and that partly /because there was a Man at thy House /that should seem to have told thee wonderful-things of Me: That is to say /that I was quit of thaut which is Mine, and had geeven it all over: and that I ⁏ acknowledging all the same to be as Dirt; sought Grace, Help, and Comfort /in the Outward-things: and desired to be subject thereunto▪ The which ⁏ as thou wrytest; was an Admiration unto thee: and that thou couldst not believe it. 2. Thou Beloved, look rightly into the Truth of this Matter. For where no Distinction is witnessed /as that one distincteth not the Things whereof he speaketh /with sensibleness of Words, but speaketh them forth only with Boasting and Pride and out of Partia●●tee or Despite /So is there likewise /the right Difference hardly to be conceived /by those that hear the same. 3. It is true nodout /that it hath gone wonderfully with Me. For that which is happened unto me /is also wonderful to myself a Psal. 118. c. in mine own Eyes. But to be quit of all that which was Mine ⁏ which was mine own /and not the Lords, and had captived me; /after that have I doubtless had a great Longing: and have always ⁏ sing I have loved the Righteousness; bend myself goodwillingly /to give-over b Math. 16. b. 19 c. and to forsake it all /so farr-foorth as I could know it· and obtain the Grace before God thereto. but not the holy Understanding /which is come unto me out of the living Godhead /under the Obedience of the love. Of the which (as I suppose) he haply that hath told thee of this Matter /hath not distinctly understood the Ground thereof /in his Secretness, and therefore hath not told the same rightly unto thee. but as his goodthinking Mind did judge it /according to his own Conceaueing. 4. Because of this wrong judgement and of the false Report, I am partly constrained to witness thatsame apparently unto thee /which is happened unto me: and do confess before thee, and before all those that love the Truth /that I ⁏ from that Tyme-foorth that I sought God's Righteousness; have looked-into and esteemed that which was Mine ⁏ so much as I saw into it; and all that which I knew that was not God's /for c Phil. 3. a. Dirt. and likewise longed with Desire /for to be quit of it. as also have laboured thereafter in times-past/ with Ignorance, and without any Difference. 5. But the God of Heaven /who is rich of upright Understanding and godly Wisdom /hath looked upon me with merciful Eyes /in mine Ignorance: and caused me ⁏ through his Grace: to see-into mine Ignorance, and into my untimely or unfruitful Zeal. And so by the Discerning of mine own Ignorance /I also saw into the vain Race, d Rom. 10. a. Gal. 4. b. and the ignorant Zeal of many Men, wherein they sought the Salvation. 6. Now when I saw into all this, and hoped daily upon God's Mercy, and upon the Coming of his e Math. 6. b. Luk. 11.17. c Kingdom /then did the God of Heaven illuminate my Heart /with his clearness: and the f Luk. 17. Rom. 14. b. Apo. 12.21. ●. Kingdom of God in his perfect Beauty and Garnishing /come from on High into my Sight, and I beheld in the Spirit /Gods most-pure Being, the Mostholy of the true Tabernacle of God and Christ, and the most-upright lovely Life of Peace /in the which /I ⁏ with the Beholding thereof; rejoiced me to-exceedingly: and thought not once /that there might yet some Vnpeaceablenes lie hidden. 7. When I now rejoiced myself so wholly herein, I did set all that which I had hated /quite and clean out of the Thoughts of my Soul: and there stood likewise no Horror nor peril before mine Eyes: For I had all my respect g Fig. 1.2.4. ● upon the Kingdom of the perfect Beauty and of the upright lovely Life and Peace. 8. But now when I loved h Caut. 5.4.5 thissame as my Best-beloved, I made noon account of all mine Enemies: neither had I also any Fear that-ther should be anything that could hurt me. 9 But in this my Boldness /mine Enemies were subtle and crafty: and played or dallied with me as my Friends, and were very friendly unto me. Wherewith they deceived me, and traitorously took me captive, whereof I was not ware. The III Chap. But when I now was wel-at-quyet in all thissame, and mistrusted no Deceit nor any Falsehood in mine Enemies/ a Psal. 32. b. c. 33. a. which were daily conversant with me according to the Flesh, and which were also my Friends according to the Flesh /then did the Sleep in the mean time /take-holde of me: and I rested boldly with them /as with my Friends. 2. Thewhiles now I yet slept, and that the Night was common ere-ever I awaked /so bound they me very-fast/ b Psal. 40. b. with strong Bands, and brought me whither they would. 3. But now when I was awakened-up from my Sleep, and opened mine Eyes /then was it altogether dark in the Place where they had brought me: and I knew not where I was, neither-yet knew the Place where I found myself. 4. I likewise saw no Beauty nor Life of Peace /in the same Place: For that was then hidden from me, or I was brought out of it /in my Sleep: but I saw that those which seemed to be my Friends /had turned c Psal. ●8. b. themselves about against me /as Enemies. 5. Then was I sore grieved, and woeful of Heart: and I miss the sweet Waters which I before-tyme had tasted out of the living Fountain. And in my Suffering and woefulness /my Refreshing was with bitter Waters. 6. And the heavenly Being of the living Godhead ⁏ whereout the lovely Dew and the joyful-oyle come unto me in times-past; did I well remember: but that was to my greater Grief. For I could not find the same. But an hellish horrible Being /shone-about me /wherein I behealde nothing-els but Woe, Sorrow, and Misery. And roundabout me /it was full of horrible Enemies: and everyone sought after my Life /for to devour me. And those that before /seemed to be my d job. 19 b. Psal. 38 b Friends /did also rage all at me /like hellish Dogs: and crying-out their own Wickedness /they did everyone e Apo. 12. accuse me. and that I was full of Unrighteousness or Wickedness, and must be damned in the everlasting Pain of the hellish Fire. 7. Against all these Accusers ⁏ mine Enemies; I could nothing-at-al resist: For I was bound with their Bands. 8. But when I was ware that I was bound by them, than I lamented sore over my Bands /because that I ⁏ by reason thereof▪ might not smyte-doune mine Enemies. For I was kindled with Wrath towards them /because I had showed them nothing but Friendship, and that they recompensed it me with Evil. 9 But whenas I ⁏ in my Sorrow; thought upon the Light and Life of Peace /which I myssed, then was I out-of-measure sorrowful. And then cried I to the Lord, and my Lamentation and Complaint was heard farr-abroade among the People. 10. I wrote also my Moorning-songs, and there went-out from me /a doleful Dittee: but there come noon that did release me from my Bands /wherein I was traitorously bound. 11. Somm now lamented my Case: and I was also by Somm /mocked and laughed-at● and many grew offended at me, and spoke all Evil of me, and brought-upp many evil Bruits of me, wherewith they falsely belied me. And wheresoever I went or stood /there did mine Enemies incompas f Psal. 22. ●8. b. 109. a. me, and were still rounde-about me. 12. But when I found myself without Comfort /in this Forsaken-estate /then sought I again g Cant 4.5. and asked in every Way /after the same lovely Being of God's heavenly Beauty /which I ⁏ in clearness and Righteousness; had both seen and loved. The One told me this, the Other pointed me on That: but noman satisfied mine Understanding. For I had seen greater and more-gloryous things /then those whereof was told me and whereunto I was pointed. Therefore likewise I found nowhere any Refreshing nor Comfort: For I found not That which I had seen before, and loved with my Heart. 13. Behold, after thissame lovely and true Being of God /have I sought in mine extremity /to th'end to be released by the same /from my Bands and wicked Enemies, and to be subject to the same Being /if I might obtain that Grace. I have also asked after it /of Men, to see if haply I could find it among Any-people: and have diligently sought the Ways that lead thereunto /To th'end that I (for to inherit evenso the Life of Peace) might have come again into the right Path, and that mine Enemies might be rooted-out· and that recompensed them /which they had h Psal. 2●. a. 62. b. jer. 17. b. Lamen. ●. g. deserved on me. 14. THou Beloved: Understand now heer-out /which it is that I have accounted for Dirt, and what hath been my Seeking and Desire. For which such afflicted Servants of the Lord ⁏ which do love the upright Being /with all their Hearts; I do always make Supplication and Prayer unto the Lord: and do say out of all my Soul: 15. O Lord, breake-asunder the Bands of the Ungodly I beseech thee: and vouchsafe to give Strength unto thine inclined Servants /to reign with thee over all their Enemies. 16. O God, let thy Servants go over them, and tread upon them with i Esa. 41. c. Mich. 7. b. their Feet /like Lome /To th'end that they may evenso ⁏ with thy Wisdom and Foresightfulnes; enter boldly into thy Love ؛thy Paradise of Life; for to possess the worthy and restful Land of Peace, and the holy city jerusalem/ k jer. 30. b. c. Zach. 1. b builded anew upon her old Foundation, whereon thou ⁏ O God; hast in times-past foreseen to build the same /for that thy l Psal. 51. b Esa. 56. a. Mal. 3. a. Offering may be made there, and thy Laude-song of Zion, be soung there for evermore. and not in Babylon, nor in the North Landes /even-as thou ⁏ O God; hast m Ier 3.16. b 23. a. Mich. 4.5. b forespoken the same by thy Prophets. The FOUR Chap. furthermore thou writest unto me /that thy Longing was for to talk with Me thyself /because that the same which I had written unto thee /made thee so exceedingly to wonder, and was beyond thine Understanding: and for that I complained me of the Accusers /because they complained on Me and accused me so falsely before the judgement /for to be condemned and rooted-out. 2. Thissame seemeth that it hath been a Wonder unto thee /because (as thou wrytest) such a Light and Knowledge was risen-up unto Me before. And furthermore: When thou then rememberest the Songs that I have made, thou sayest unto Me /demanding: Had the Spirit quyt forsaken thee /in thy Forsaken-estate? O, what shall I say! I must keepe-s●ilence hereof, inasmuch as I have never found myself in such great Forsakennes. 3. O Thou Beloved /If thou hadst considered well on the a Psal. 22. a. Math. 27. c. Forsakennes of Christ, and on the Forsakennes of all his Saints /who do follow-after Him in the Forsakennes of his Cross /Then wouldst thou not have wondered. For evenso saith the holy Scripture unto us likewise/ b Act. 14. that we must enter into the Kingdom of God /thorough much Tribulation and Affliction. 4. For such-a-matter (if we suffer-out the same with Patience) is the Death c Rom. 6 c. Phil. 2. a. of the Cross of Christ, whereby we be planted into Christ (as the Scripture saith) with the like Death. Wherethrough we do also inherit with Christ [namely, in the second Birth from the Death] the godly riches of God the Father /in the everlasting Life, and be worthy to reign upon the Earth/ d Apo. 5. b. with Christ and all his Saints. 5. But touching the Complaining over mine Accusers /I have sufficiently distincted unto thee before. But let not my Tribulation and Calamytee 'cause thee to wonder: For inasmuch as it never happened unto thee /therefore is it all doubtless whatsoever thou hearest thereof /the stranger before thine Ears. 6. But like as thy Longing hath been towards Me /so have I in-like-maner /longed after thee /for to talk with thee of this Matter: but it is not so com-to-pas. Notwithstanding /I hope the Lord shall once bring us together /so will I then utter-foorth my Heart a little with thee /of all that is chanced unto me. For I find very-feawe of those /with whom I dare be bold or openhearted. 7. But thou knowest from the beginning /the Course of my Zeal to the Righteousness: even-as I do thine also: and I have never kept my Mind secret from thee. nor-yet thou thine /from Me. Seeing than that thou hast always been openhearted with me /therefore am I likewise /the-bolder to talk with thee of allthings. 8. Howbeit /if the Mind of certain Understandings or of some Sentences had remained hidden from many Ignorantones /it had been good for them /because that the Ignorantones do seek nothing-els but their selfness. But doubtless, whatsoever doth not in al-poynts /give-over itself obediently under the gracious Word and his Service of Love /thatsame doth always turn itself out either to the one side or to the other /for to follow-after the e Rom. ●. c. Lusts of his Error. 9 For-that-cause, sing it is now known unto us /that the Disobedientones to the holy Word, and the Ignorant and Lyghtmyndedones /are always minded to Error /Therefore let us use Foresightfulnes in all our Words: and so before all Things /covet after the f 1. Cor. 14. c. love. and draw the Devoutones /under the loves Obedience. 10. Whosoever then do submit them under the Obedience of the Love· cleave unto the Love in her Service /with all their Hearts·s and ⁏ with naked Hearts; wholly give-over themselves ⁏ in the Comunialtee of Saints; to the House of Love /to all Concord, and to the g 1. Pet. 1. b. c. Obeying of the gracious Word /To Those shall men ⁏ in all Love; disclose the h Math. 13. b. Secretness of the holy Understandings and of the Kingdom of the God of Heavens /To th'end that God's secret riches, and the Understandings of his holy Wisdom /may be known to the Obeyers of his Word /in the Nature or Being of his love. For verily, the Disobeyers of the Word, as also the self-seeking Ignorantones, and those that think themselves to be wise or skilful /They i john. ●. ●. judge the secret Mind of the Love and of the Kingdom of God /cleane-contrary in every-behalf. 11. And if-so-be then that they stand not submitted obediently ⁏ with all their Hearts; under the Word of Information /according to the k Pro. 1.2.3.4. Eccli. 4.8. b Counsel of the Wisdom /so do they then ⁏ with Misunderstanding; take every thing quyt contrary /according to their own goodthinking Mind of the earthly Wisdom: and do therein corrupt themselves, and likewise all their Understanding /through their Self-seeking and fleshly Lusts and Desires. 12. Therefore let the Wisdom be esteemed more-precious /than anything that may be imagined in the World: For there is nothing in the World /to be compared l Pro. 3 b. 8. b Sap. 8. a. to the Wisdom and to her secret Treasures. 13. Inasmuch now ⁏ thou Beloved; as that thou knowest thissame /therefore be thou in-any-wyse far from the Mockers /which walk according to their m Rom. 1. c own Desires: and be a Stranger to the Lyghtemyndedones: and avoid thou from all those which do seek only the earthly Things. Heer-uppon let us always think /in thissame evil and perilous Time. The V Chap. THou wrytest also unto me /that thy Sight is /that thou dost not so know God /as that He should still deal rigorously with his People, like-as He hath done in the old Testament, even as there standeth written. 2. I have not doubtless written unto thee /that God hath dealt rigorously with me. but that his Enemies (as is also before rehearsed) have dealt rigorously with me /with cruelty and Accusation, even as they have likewise showed in a Psal. 42.44. b. 69 b ● 102 b. 109. e. Math 26.27. Act 22 23. times-past /on Christ and his Saints. 3. These would gladly have satisfied their Lust on me /to my Destruction: Of whom I had written unto thee /that I hoped to see my Desire on mine Enemies and Accusers. namely, that they /all those that accused me, and would gladly have seen my Destruction; should be judged into the Condemnation themselves. 4. Look into the matter rightly: For evenso soundeth the Letter that I have written unto thee. and not that God dealeth rigorously with his People /neither hath He also at any time ⁏ as neither now presently nor-yet in the old Testament; dealt rygorously· but always graciously with them: but I have been constrained by mine Enemies ⁏ for my sins cause; to suffer my Punishment for a certen-tyme /like as the lords People also /in the old Testament /were constrained by their Enemies ⁏ of whom they were captived; to suffer-out their Punishment /for their sins cause. For, for their sins cause /the holy city jerusalem, b 4. Reg. 2●. 2. Par. 36. jer. 5●. and the Temple of the Lord were layd-waste /and they lead-away captive, and very-sore punished /under the Power of Babel. 5. But after that /when they obtained the Grace again before their God, c jer. 32. Zach. 8. and that their Hearts were cleansed /both from the Sin and the sinful Desires /they were brought again out of the straying Nations /to their own Land and Heritage, and to the holy city jerusalem /the which ⁏ and also the Temple of the Lord; was builded d 1 Esd. 3. Ezech. 40. Agg. 1.2. Zach. 2.4.6. again anew /in the same Time, for to offer holy Gifts and Offerings even-thear unto their God /that are delytfull unto Him: the which they could not do among the straying People, nor in foreign Lands: neither could they likewise sing e Psal. 137. a. their Songs of Zion /in their Captivitee in Babylon: but they must there bear their Contempt /for their sins cause. 6. Consider well of the Mind, and look into the Images of the old Testament /according to the Spirit, and according to the Truth: and how that it shall all now that is setforth f Ezo. 25. c. Act 7. c. Heb. 8. a. image-lyke in the Olde-testament /be g Math. 5. b. accomplished in the true Being. Besydes-this /so consider also /how that God hath never dealt rigorously with his People: and h Psal. 13.6. how that his Goodness endureth for ever. The VI Chap. BUt thou wrytest: Hath He not taken on him the manly Nature, and therein geeven us a Promise: in such-sort /as that his Son should perform or satisfy all for us? And for those that rightly understand it /He hath performed it all /according as thou Understandest the matter. 2. O! Heer-upon might I take occasion to write much /because there is so much and many-kyndes of Misunderstanding risen-up out of such Sentences or judgements. But I hope well of the best Understanding /in thee: Nevertheless /with doubt. 3. It is true: He which is all that is ؛the God of Glory; hath ⁏ in Christ; taken on him the a Phil. 2. a. Heb. 2. b. manly Nature, and geeven us a Promise therein: but thatsame is done with Difference. 4. Therefore look into the Scripture /according to the Mind of the Wisdom. and not according to the Understanding of the earthly and fleshly Minds. 5. For God taketh not on him /the Seed of the Heathen, nor the Nature of the Vncircumcisedones. but/ b Heb. 2. b. the Seed of Abraham, which beareth in him /the Covenant of God's Circumcision: and in that Seed c Gen. 12.21 b 22. b. 26. a Act. 3. c. Gal. 3. a. b is the Promise of Salvation, or the Blessing of all Generations of the Earth /geeuen. 6. And eventhus hath the Seed of Abraham the Promise /to possess the d Gen. 12.17. Psal. 105. b. Land of Canaan [namely, the Kurnell or the Heart of the Heathen] as an Heritage /for ever. For inasmuch as Abraham believed /therefore is he likewise chosen of God/ e Gen. 17. a. Rom. 4. b. to be a Father of Faith: and called out of the Heathen or Uncircumcision /into the Covenant of God's Circumcision: and eventhus in his Faith and in his Seed /is the Promise made, to the Blessing of all Generations of the Earth. 7. Which Promise standeth-firme for ever /in the Word of Life, and in the Fathers of the Covenant: whereout also all God's Prophets have had their clear Sight and Testimony of the Truth, and f Esa. 40.60.62. jer. 13. a. 30. a. 31.33. so have prophesied g Luk. 1.8. 1. Pet 1. b. on the Establishing of the Promises. 8. Behold, this Promise (even as God had spoken to the Fathers of the Covenant· h Act. 30. and by the Mouth of all his holy Prophets) is sealed, confirmed, or established on the Stock of juda i Math. 1. Luk. .1.2. b. the Son of jacob /whereout David is borne. From whom/ k Gen. 49. b. the rod is not taken, nor a Master from his Feet /till that the Just come: For to Him shall the People incline, and obtain their Salvation in Him, according to the Promises. 9 This justone (consider well of the Understanding) is the l Sap. 7. c. ●. Cor. 4. a. Col 1. b. very-lyke Being of God the almighty Father: And He ⁏ in his Birth out of the living Godhead according to the Spirit, m Rom 1. a. 1. Tim. 3. c▪ and out of the Seed of David according to the Flesh; is verytruly the Son of God and Man, and the true Saviour n Luk. 2. b. Phil. 3. c. 1. Tim. 4. c. of Men /to the Blessing of all Generations of the Earth, according to the Promises. 10. Therefore also hath the Power of God named o Luk. 1. ● 2. c Him jesus: and He is by his Disciples /published among all People/ p Act. 2.3 4.5. etc. to be a Christ which saveth. 11. Behold, this upright and true Being of God the Father (which according to the Flesh /is q Esa. 53. a b. Sap. 2. b. Math. 27. mocked, contemned, and killed by the Children of the wicked World, and by her wise and Scriptur-learnedones) would God ⁏ according to his Promises and the Affirmation of his Prophets; that the Man should carry r 1. Cor. 15. c or bear /to his own Blessing, and to the Honour of God, and to the Praise of his holy Name. And not the Sin/ s Sap. 2. c. john. 3. ●. that very-like Being of the Devil. 12. With which ungodly or like Being of the Devil, and also with offensiveness and wicked Imaginations /many Men do run-on: and so do suppose ⁏ through their corrupt Understanding and ungodly Being; to be saved for-al-that▪ they do likewise comfort t Ier 8 ● themselves with Lies, and say/ Christ hath performed it all: and so they continued going-on in v jer. 4. ● ●. a. their Sins and Abominations or wicked Imaginations. 13. AH beloved, Consider I pray thee /of such a great Misunderstanding /that is flat against all the Preaching of the holy Gospel of Christ. For the Scripture of the holy Gospel mentioneth and witnesseth clearly unto us /that Christ is obediently gon-before u Phil. 2. a. 1. Pet. 2.4. ●. us /in the Death of the Cross /to th'end that we likewise should follow-after Christ therein /to the Mortifying, x Col. 2. or to a Consumeing of our Sins and of all ungodly Being [the which is the true Burnt-offering]: as also should be incorporated unto Him /with his like y Rom 6. a. Phil. 3. b. Death, and evenso to the Establishing of the glorious Name of God ⁏ according to his Promises; should become saved. thereon likewise do all God's Prophets witness. 14. And if thou dost consider rightly from the Beginning of the Promises of God /till unto their End or Fulfilling in the Salvation /Then shalt thou perceive /that we be informed and taught with the Promises of God, and with the Figures z Rom. 3.4. Gal. 3.4. Heb 7.8.9.10. and Services of the Law /to the Faith of jesus Christ and the Service thereof, and to the requiring of the Preaching of the holy Gospel. And so forth from the Service of the Faith of Christ and of the holy Gospel /till unto the a johan. 13. d. 14. c. 15. b Love and her Service: And the same is the Perfection, b Rom. 13. b. 1. Cor. 13. a. Gal. 5. b. Col. 3. b. 1. Timo. 1. a and the Establishing or Fulfilling of the Promises of God and Christ. 15. Therefore is the Service of Love /the Very-last and Mostholy /wherein c Math. 22. d. it is all fulfilled /whatsoever is written of the Righteousness of the Law, and of Christ and his Believers. For in the Love and in her Children /God d Apo. 21. is all in all, and the Kingdom of the God of Heavens with his Glory. 16. Behold, This true Being of God the Father (like as is said thereof) is the Stone that is laid in Zion/ e Esa. 28. b Act. 4. b. 1. Pet. 2. a. for to trust upon it: whereof there is also written: f Esa. 59 c. Rom. 11. ●. He shall come out of Zion /which shall put-awaye the ungodly Being from jacob. 17. And that is the second Testament ⁏ the which is the gracious Word; g jer. 31. d. Rom. 11. e. Heb. 8.10. b that is promised to the House of Israel and to the House of juda /in the last time: For then shall the Punishment for their Sins /be ended: and their Sins shall God no more remember. For in that day ⁏ h john. 12. d. wherein the Son of Man is exalted; shall the Son of Man draw it all unto Him, sing that the Inheritance doubtless appertaineth unto Him. 18. In this-self-same ⁏ which is the very-likie and true Being of God the Father; standeth the Blotting-out i Act. 4. b 10 c Heb. 1. a and Cleansing of our Sins /through Faith, even as is written of Him. 19 To be incorporated unto Him with the Spirit /is verily the right Satisfaction of the Son of Promise /the right k Heb. 5. ●. Heir of all godly Goods. 20. Of Him hath likewise Esaias witnessed /where he saith: l Esa 9 c. A Child or an Heir is borne unto us: a Son is geeven unto us: whose Dominion is upon his Shoulders /and He is called /Wonderful, Counsel, Power, Giant, everlasting Father, a peaceable Prince, for that his Dominion may be great, and no ●nde of the Peace /upon the Seat of David and his Kingdom. 21. Him hath God set to be an Heir over all Things: Through Whom /He hath also made the World: and He maketh the Cleansing of our Sins /through Himself: and eventhus standeth his Satisfaction according to the Promises, like-as is written of Him. and not according to Man's Goodthinking or Imagination. The VII. Chap. THou wrytest likewise unto me /that it is well known unto me /that God hath created all Things /each-one according to his Kind: in ●uch-sort, that all Creatures have their Nature or Kind /wherein they live /and cannot transgress /and that thou dost also half cal-to-mind /that thou hast heard it so of me. 2. It is true /that all Creatures are created a Gen. ●. according to their Kind: and that eachone hath his Ordinance /according to his Kind, which ⁏ of Natures-part; it cannot transgress. 3. Whatsoever now is incorporated unto his own Nature, and is not turned ther-out nor estranged therfrom, but bideth therein /that liveth then in his upright ● Nature, Being, and Kind /wherein it is created and whereto it is ordained or foreseen of God. 4. COnsider ⁏ thou Beloved; God hath created all earthly Creatures, and joined eachone to his like /according to his Nature and Kind. 5. After the same manner also /the Creature of the Manhood: but the inward Man /hath God created to Himself, and ordained him to be a b Levi. 26. b jer. 31. ● john. 14. c. Apo. 21. ● Dwelling for his Glory. 6. And God would not that this inward Man /should be subject to the outward created or to the vain Things, nor cleave unto them to a Bondage /to th'end that the great Name of the almighty God /should always and everlastingly bide sealed and stand-fast in the inward Man. 7. God hath likewise formed the c Gen 1. c. Sap. 2 c very-like Being of his invisible and living Godhead /in the inward Man /because that the Man should live according to the requiring of his upright Being, to the laud and Praise of his godly majesty. 8. Behold and understand: Thissame Being of God and Christ /is the Man's Nature and Kind /according to the inward Man /whereunto he is created by God· and chosen through jesus Christ, as also ordained thereunto /to th'end that he should evenso have all his joy, delight, and Life /in the same Godhead· and remain incorporated to the d Sap. 1. b. immortality of the everlasting Life. 9 To live in thissame godly Nature and Kind /is the upright Nature and Kind of the Man, as is said: And that is the Commandment of God and the Law of the Lord /which is geeven or appointed Him: and it is likewise God's e Math. 3. ●. 17. a. 2. Pet. 1. b. Pleasure that the Man should live therein for ever. 10. This Commandment, Law, Will, Nature, and Kind /can noman ⁏ of his Natures-part; break. but he may I grant ⁏ according to the Lusts of his own Thoughts, and according to the Lusts of his Transgression of the Ordinance of the Lord; step out of f Gen. 3. a it, and fall from the same, or estrainge himself therfrom: even-as we now do evidently or apparently find that it is so com-to-pas with the Man /and that he perisheth therein /if he repent not. 11. For he hath forsaken the g jer. 2. b. Fountain of his Life, and is become subject to the deadly Things: and so hath mingled himself with the corruptible mortality: By which means /all Destruction reigneth over the unrepentant Man: and the unmeasurable lying Being hath corrupted his Understanding /with the Knowledge. and so hath stolen from him the upright Mind of his God: in such-sort, that he for-that-cause knoweth or understandeth too-to-little of his godly Nature and Kind. Thissame is the Man's Fall, and his Deepe-sinking under the Sin: and that is the ungodly Nature /against God's Love and Nature, and against the Love and Nature of the Man. 12. In which ungodly Nature and corrupt Being /the Man cannot h 1. Cor. 2. b taste the joy of the everlasting Life /which is godly, heavenly, and spiritual. For in the ungodly Nature /he is generally i john. 8. e nothing but devilish and fleshly k Rom. 8. a. minded: and evenso tasteth only the Earthly, and not the Heavenly /and so ⁏ out of his Goodthinking; taketh on Him that which is one with his l Rom. 1. c. Ephe. 4. b own sensuality, and not that which is one with the Outflowing of the Truth of God /under the Obedience of the love. The VIII. Chap. But according as thou wrytest/ thou knowest not what thou shalt say of the outward Man. But it seemeth /that thou demanding of me /sayest: Is not he likewise a serviceable Instrument to his God /in that Nature whereunto he is created. 2. It is true: He is likewise a serviceable Instrument to his God▪ namely, in that Nature ⁏ whither it be then the godly or the ungodly; to the which he is subject: like-as the same is sufficiently rehearsed and distincted unto thee before. 3. Therefore have regard unto the Word: and use a Difference betwixt the inward and the outward Man. and in what an upright Estate /the outward Man is likewise a serviceable Instrument to his God. namely, in his upright Form or Estate /as is said. 4. But without his upright Form or Estate /the Man ⁏ for his sins cause; is like unto a marred Instrument, a Sap. 2. c. john. ●. c which is subject and serviceable to the Devil or to the Enimite towards God. 5. Thissame hath the kingly Prophet David rightly looked-into /when he saw-into the Man's Fall, b Psal. 51. a and acknowledged his Sins or Transgression: wherethrough he lamented his Sins and Corruption /in many Afflictions and Sorrows. and that he was like unto a marred Instrument. 6. Euenso have likewise the Prophets and Men of God /lamented thissame everyone/ c Esa. 33.59. a Ier 10 a 14 c Dan. 9 a. b when they saw-into the Fall of Men. namely, the Fall from their God. The IX.. Chap. furthermore, thou wrytest unto me /that thy Understanding or Con●eaueing is /that Christ is the Headd of us all, and so must have many Members: and that every Member is serviceable to his Headd /in his Kind. 2. Err not herein in-any-wyse /thou Beloved. Many do say indeed /out of a lying and ungodly Being/ Christ is our Headd: whereas doubtless the devilish Nature ؛that Antichrist or Child of the Devil; is their Headd, and they /his Members. but not /out of the Creation of God, but out of the false Being a john. 8. Ephe ●. a. of the Devil: the which they have take-on willingly ⁏ according to their own Pleasure; as a Contrary-beeing unto God, and do carry or bear the same /as a Contrary-nature to their upright Nature or Kind. 3. verily, such are swallowed-up by the earthly Corruptiblenes, in whom all Blindness and unbelief b Ephe. 2. ● hath is work. 4. Therefore also /they are all minded according to the common Course of the wicked World. and not according to the Nature of the Love /the heavenly Truth of God. 5. NOw seemeth it likewise ⁏ according to thy writing; that thou wilt not excuse the Flesh of his Sin /Because that much innocent Blood is sheadd ⁏ through the same; with his Knowledge and misunderstanding Wisdom. 6. Ah, looke-into the matter of fellowship /according to the Truth: How should I pray thee /the innocent Blood be sheadd, and live so wholly in all Wrong and Contrarynes /through the Flesh and his Wisdom? Unless that it were estranged from his right Headd· subject to the Contrary-nature unto God /whereof the Devil is the Headd· and incorporated and serviceable to the same /as a Fellow-member of Antichrist /the devils Child: and that evenso the Devil governed over him, who useth the Flesh ⁏ as his serviceable Instrument; to the Iniquity /according to his William. 7. So long then as any Flesh /is ⁏ with his Will; inclined to the Iniquity, and doth not believe to be justified or released c Rom. 3 8. a Gal. 2. b. from the Sin /through Christ /So hath it not Christ to be his Headd: nor he is not in all his Nature, Being, and Kind /natured nor minded d Rom. ●. a according to God's Being and Nature: unless it were so that the Man had ⁏ with Good willingness; turned him to God and his Righteousness, and did upright e Math. 3. a. Luk. 3.13. a Fruits of Repentance /in the Obedience of the requiring of the Service of Love, and that Christ did in that manner /get f Cal. 4. c. his Form in Him /whereby to use the Creature ⁏ as his Instrument; to all good and profitable Works /according to his upright Nature. 8. But /that Flesh and Blood may not possess g 1. Cor. 25. f. the Kingdom of God (as thou wrytest) that is right nodout: Flesh and Blood hath no Inheritance nor Dominion or Lordship in the Kingdom of God. For Flesh and Blood ؛that earthly Being; is in his right Ordinance /the h Esa. 66. a Act 7. c. Bench for the lords Feet: over the which /the Kingdom of God beareth his Dominion, and Christ /his Glory. 9 Of which Glory /the Members of Christ have spoken in times-past (whenas the Life of God or Christ was come unto them /for to possess them, and to be incorporated with them) saying and testifying: i john. 1. b The Word is incarnated or become Flesh, and dwelled among us. Wherethrough they saw his Glory, even a Glory of the only borne Son of the Father /full of Grace and Truth. 10. Behold: This Glory of Christ /was the Kingdom k Luk. 17. c. of God inwardly in them: the which had inherited them for a Possession /as his Heritage: and their Spirit also /thatsame. and not /Flesh and Blood. 11. Consider well of the Mind that I write unto thee: and understand the Resolution of my Understanding: and l john. 7. ●. judge with a right judgement. The X. Chap. THou sayest likewise /out of the Writing of Ecclesiastes, a Eccle. 12. a how that every Thing must return again /from whence it is come. That which is out of God /shall return thither again: and that which is of the Earth /shall be Earth again. 2. O ⁏ alas; heer-out is much Misunderstanding taken-on: and many do run-on in that sort /with this one Sentence, and have no Discerning nor Consideration /to what end the Sentence soundeth, nor whereto the whole Scripture stretcheth. And will nodout ⁏ out of there own Goodthinking; include the Mind of God ⁏ which they understand not; in this one Sentence of the Scripture. And out of the same they judge eventhus: Let them live how they will live, when they die /their Spirit shall come again to God, and th●●r Body to the Earth. 3. Heerwithall do the lightmynded Hearts deceive themselves, who have no Lust to God's Righteousness: and yet for-al-that do rest persuaded /that their Spirit ⁏ which is ungodded or not of God; shall come to God. 4. Not ⁏ Beloved; No. God will noon of the wicked Spirits: but He putteth them away, and pointeth them from Him/ b Math. 25. ● into the Condemnation of the hellish Fire, which is prepared for the Devil and all wicked Spirits. 5. FOr-that-cause ⁏ thou Beloved; look rightly into the Alteration of the Man. and in what manner /the Spirit of God which God hath form in the Man; cometh to God. 6. For if it were so /that the Spirit of God ⁏ which God hath form in the Man; should always upon the Earth /remain estranged or separated from God, and from the Man's Being: and that the Man should not ⁏ upon the Earth; be incorporated to the same /for an everlasting Assurance c Rom. 8. b of the Inheritance of Christ and of the Kingdom of the God of Heavens /in the eternal Life: and so ⁏ without Uniting d Eqhe. 4. c. with the Man's Being /in Righteousness; should go to the Incorporating unto his God first /whenas the Creature were passed-thorow the natural Death /Who could than I pray thee /witness and publish upon the Earth /the Glory of God and the Powers of his Goodness /to the Blessing and Salvation of the Man· and be serviceable to the Man /to an Incorporating to the same Goodness of God? 7. Therefore have now in consideration /how, and wherein the Fullness of the Mind of the Scriptures concisteth: and whither that the Understanding of God be wholly declared in the Man /whenas he so taketh unto him one Sentence out of the Scripture /according to his Goodthinking, and so goeth-on therewith /without Discerning of the godly Wisdom: and doth not once consider /whereto that one Sentence serveth, from whence it proceedeth, nor to what end it stretcheth. 8. Euenthus ⁏ thou Beloved; let us consider rightly on the Mind of the Scriptures: Standeth-ther not written also/ e Sap. 1. ●. that the Wisdom dwelleth not in a Body that is subject unto Sin? Therefore cannot likewise an ungodded Man· nor-yet one that remaineth without the Comunialtee of the Family of Love /judge one Sentence of the holy Scripture /rightly according to the Truth, nor-yet out of the Wisdom. 9 But whereas Ecclesiastes speaketh f Eccle. 12. a. of the Earth and of God: as that each-one that is Earthly and of God /goeth to his own Incorporating /Thereof I will ask thee somewhat: 10. When now this Alteration cometh-to-pas with the Man, shall then the Nature of the Iniquity have his Possession with the Man, or be mingled with him as an Heir? Or shall he be thrust-out with the Vnfreeone? g Gen. 21. b Gal. 4. ● . I do verily suppose /Yea, according to the Promises. For behold: 11. Will not God inhabit his Tabernacle h 2. Cor. 6. b or Temple alone: and dryve-out of it /all i Esa. 35.52. a. Apoc. 21. c. that is unclean, or that defileth the House of the Lord? Is not the Heaven also /his Seat. and k Esa 66 ● Act. 7. c. the Earth /the Bench for his Feet? 12. Behold, to this Glory of God, and for that the same should reign over the Man /is the Man chosen: and likewise in his Fall /called and bidden thereunto again /by Christ /Because that he should serve and live-unto his God only /in all l Luk. 1.8. Righteousness and not cleave-unto the wicked Spirit▪ nor-yet judge the same for the Spirit of God: through the which /he keepeth God, as also his good Spirit /out of his Dwelling. 13. And whosoever then /through his Goodthinking, and through his wicked Spirit or ungodly Being /keepeth the God of Life out of his Dwelling, and with a false Opinions or with an Enuyousnes towards any Man /doth comfort or quiet himself therein /He doth willingly give-over himself to the Cursing and perpetual Condemnation. 14. For what other Dwelling for God /will anyman imagine I pray thee: or what other Tabernacle or Temple of God /will anyman make m 2. Pa●. 6. d Esa. 66. a Act. 7. e. ⁏ wherein God will devil; but the Man/ n job. 14. b. Psal. 138. a. that Work of his Hand? For that is the lords Lust, o Pro. 8. d. john 14. d. for to devil therein /with his upright Being or Christ. But most-tymes (when the Lord moveth the Man thereto/ by his Ministers) the Man remaineth captived unto his own Knowledge, and so denieth to yield himself p jer. 7. c 16 b 27.29. b & ● Act 7. c. 17 c to the same Grace of the Lord: so that most-tymes /ther-are Few that suffer themselves to be prepared for an Habitation of God, the which is greatly to be lamented. 15. Therefore I say unto thee verily (like as all God's Prophets and holy-ones have also witnessed:) God dwelleth not in Tabernacles or Temples q Act. 7.17. ●. that are made with Man's Hands. but in the Work of his own Hand. For look into the matter: 16. Wherein hath God ⁏ I pray thee; ever had a Pleasure to devil ⁏ for to be aswell upon Earth as in Heaven; r Levit 26 Pro. 8. d. 2. Cor. 6 b Apo. 21. a but in the Man, whom He himself hath made? And to what Temple or Tabernacle hath He had a Lust to have it cleansed from the Idoles·s and from all ungodly Being, but to the Man /whereby to be God and the Lord alone /in him. 17. Consider: Are not these the s Esa. 4●. a 6● 61. b 62. a 2. Pet 3. b. Apo. 21.. ●. Promises /that God will inhabit the Earth ⁏ or the Man of the Earth; in Righteousness? 18. Yea, even in the Man /will He ⁏ through his gracious Word and Service of Love; distinct and devid-a sunder /the Earthly /from the Heavenly /To th'end that evenso in the Man's inwardness /That which is of God /may come to t Eccle. 12. ● God /in the heavenly Being. and the Earthly /to his earthly Being: And He himself ؛the God of Heaven; v Esa. 60. ●. c Apo. 2●. ●. will in this sort have his Dwelling 〈◊〉 in the Man's inwardness /with his godly Being, and shine in him everlastingly with his clearness /as a Daylight from Heaven, and evenso lighten the Earth with Righteousness. And that is the New Heaven x Esa. 65.66 b 2 Pet. 3. b. Apo. 21. a and the New Earth /in which the Righteousness dwelleth: and they are now coming to all Believers of Christ /which do submit them obediently under the Love and her Service /to the Cleansing from their Sins, according to the Promises. The XI. Chap. THou wrytest moreover boldly unto me /that thou hast no God whom thou needest still to fear that He should use rigorousness with thee: neither dost thou also ⁏ as thou wrytest; desire to have any such Lord. 2. I know not well what I shall say hereupon: but my Conceaueing is /that thou understandest not rightly the Fear of God, nor-yet his rigorousness, nor his Kindness. 3. For /to fear God/ a Psal. 111. b. Pro. 1. a. 9 b Eccli. 1. b is a costly Treasure /because that thereout springeth the holy Wisdom. For the Fear of God b Pro. 16. a Eccli. 7. c dryveth-out the sin. 4. She is a Work full of all Virtue /a Foresightfulnes /to a good Protection from the Destruction: and begetteth in the Man /a good Understanding /to a Guyding-in of him to the upright Life. 5. But to know and to love God in his godly Nature and Being/ c Sap. 15. a that is perfect Righteousness: and this Perfection in the Love/ d 1 john. 4. b dryveth-out Fear: wherethrough the Man doth evenso then /fulfil the requiring of the Law of Moses and of the Faith of jesus Christ, and loveth God with all his Heart, and all Men as himself. 6. Therefore ther-is likewise no Fear of God anymore needful to such a Man /which hath inherited the Perfection in the love. For God dwelleth in him: and the same God's Spirit e john. 16. b. leadeth him into all Truth: and declareth all things unto him. 7. The Man now being a Dwelling for God /in all his inwardness f 1. Cor. 3.6 b 2 Cor. 6. b. ⁏ in whom /God with his Christ and Spirit /liveth and worketh; he hath no cause to be afraid of God nor of his rigorousness: For g Col. 3 b the Love is the Band of their unity. namely, the Godhead with the Manhood. Therefore also the Man needeth not to fear: For all his Nature, Being, and Disposition /is like unto God himself /who suffereth his h Math. 5. d. Sun of Righteousness to shine over Good and Bad. 8. And if now it be so with thee likewise, then hast thou won the Crown i 4. Esd 2. c. jam 1. a. Apo. 2. b. of Life: and all Ignorance is swallowed-up in thee. 9 But now it appeareth by thy Words ⁏ according to the sound of thy writing; that thou art not yet come hereunto. For thou desirest yet Releasement from thy former Ignorance: and wishest that it had his Going-under in thee: or that it were quyt out of thee, that thou moughtst then rejoice thee aright. 10. Thou Beloved, look once rightly into thyself: and let thy Bosting be accordingly. For consider: So long as the Man beholdeth his Ignorance and his Enemies /which do reign over him besides God and his Doctrine or requiring /so is it meet doubtless /that the Man should fear God· incline unto Him and his Requyring· and submit him obediently under the Ministration of his gracious Word and Service of Love /to th'end that God may be his Headd k Psa 27 47. a 96. a b 97. a 99 a. and King· and his Protecter and Helper /against his Enemies: and that his Enemies might evenso ⁏ thorough the Power of his God; go-under, or com-to-nothing: and that l Math. 25. d. God only might ⁏ with his Wisdom or Understanding; hear the Dominion in him, or obtain the same against them. The XII. Chap. furthermore /thou sayest ⁏ by thy writing; that thou must yet suffer thy Brother Esau, sing he is still to-mighty for thee. 2. I know not whither I do well understand thy Mind in this Matter /or no /because that thou hast heretofore written so frankly unto me /of thy Deliverance and Freedom. And yet now thou wrytest of the Power of Esau /over thee: and that thou must yet suffer him /sing he is to-mighty for thee. 3. Ah ⁏ Beloved; look rightly into the matter I pray thee /whither the Procreation of Esau and jacob /be also com-to-pas with thee /according to the Truth. For I say unto thee verily: With whomsoever Esau and jacob are brought-foorth out of Isaac /the S●ede of Promise /there cannot Esau do anything against jacob: For jacob is much-to-prudent for him. 4. Howbeit, where Esau and jacob are not brought-foorth /there are they not present likewise: and the Man also is utterly unacquainted with the Understanding thereof. For-that-cause there is likewise no Power used with him /neither by Esau nor-yet by jacob: but they are all vain Things /whatsoever he persuadeth himself to know or to feel thereof. 5. For both these [namely, Esau and jacob] are of one Father, a Gen. 25. ●. and of one Mother: and are also conceived both at-once in their mothers Womb. But the Birth ⁏ wherein they make-manifest themselves, and separate themselves asunder; cometh-to-pas /the One before the Other: of the which now Esau hath the Foregoing, and after-that/ jacob /who is made b Gen. 27. ●. a Lord over Esau, and an Heir in the Promises of his Fathers. Therefore consider now of the Understanding touching Esau and jacob: 6. Must not Esau ●eare the Yoke of jacob▪ and not jacob /the Yoke of Esau? 7. Hath not Esau also the Promise ⁏ to com-to-pas at his time; c Gen. 27. c. that he shall lay-off the Yoke of his Brother, and shake it from his Nerk? Esau hath not deceived or beguiled jacob. but jacob /Esau. d Gen. 25· d. 27. d. And so are the Promises of God established on jacob /who is likewise named e Gen. 32. ●. Israel: and he become a Lord over Esau, who was also named Edom. 8. Therefore is Esau likewise /figured-foorth or figuratively resembled unto us/ f 4. Esd. 6. b. for the first or foregoing World /in like-maner g Rom. 5. b. Adam also. and jacob /for that which is to-com /and so likewise/ Christ. 9 Because now this secret is great /therefore hear a clear Similitude, wherewith the Birth of Esau and jacob is uttered-foorth. 10. IN the Beginning /God created h Gen. 1. Heaven and Earth at-once: but when the Heaven and the Earth were separated asunder /then went the Heaven /above the Earth. And then did God set a great Light and clearness /in the Heaven: and it was also hanged with Clouds, Dew, and Rain /wherethrough He ⁏ to the Welfare of the Earth; garnished the Earth, and made it fruitful /to bring-foorth all good Fruits. 11. Thatsame now which hath the Foregoing with the Man /out of the Begetting of the Seed of Promise, and is first seen /that is a natural Body: but that which is to Com, or that which is last seen /is a spiritual Body: Yet out of one Conception or Begetting. 12. For if we have out of God/ i 1. Cor. 15. ●. a natural Body /then have we likewise out of Him /a spiritual Body: But the Natural /which hath the Foregoing to that which the Seed of Promise requireth /is the Image of the Spiritual, or of the second Generation according to the Spirit, which accomplisheth the requiring of the Seed of Promise. 13. If we now /have evenso likewise /borne the Image of the earthly or natural Man/ k 1. Cor. 15. ●. then shall we also verily /bear the right Image of the heavenly or spiritual Man. 14. Gather-out the Mind, and comprehend Understanding: The foregoing Kingdom /is the Image of the Beauty and loveliness of That which is to come. 15. That which goeth before /hath procured to itself /the Death or the mortality: it should also have remained deadly or mortal /if That which is following /had not ⁏ to a Safemaking; appeared over it. 16. In which true Being /the Death with her Destruction /passeth-away: wherein then likewise /her Death or mortality /is losened or rend, and her Destruction /swallowed-up/ even-as the Prophet Ozeas hath forespoken the same: l Oze. 13. b. O Death, I was thy Death: O Hell, I was thy Sting. Whereof also Paul hath said: When m 1. Rom. 15 f the Corruptible /shall put-on the Incorruptible, and the Mortal /the immortality /Then is the fore-mencioned Word fulfilled: as that the Death is swallowed-up in Victory. O Death /where is now thy Sting, or thy deadly Work? O Hell /where is now thy Victory? For the n Esa. 25 a. Death is swallowed-up by the Life: wherethrough /the Hell loseth her Victory. 17. Euenthus is likewise the Enimitee risen-up in Esau: but swallowed-up by jacob. by Adam is the Death come into the World: o Rom. 5. b 1. Cor. 15. b but by Christ /the Life, to the Conquering of the Death. 18. In the first Creation or Generation /the Earth was waste and empty, and it was dark upon the Deep. p Gen. 1. and after the God said: Let it be Light, and it was Light. And God behealde the Light for Good: And by the same Light /the Garnishing and the Beauty of the Kingdom was seen, to a glorious Name of the almighty God, who hath prepared him all the same. The XIII. Chap. EArdermore thou sayest: O (think I sometimes▪) how earnestly is the lost Sheep of the House of Israel sought-for! Notwithstanding, of the Meaning thereof (as thou wrytest) thou knowest not whither thou hast a right Discerning /or no. And therefore thou desirest of me that I would write somewhat unto thee of that Matter /according to my Discerning. 2. O Thou Beloved, the Secret of this Matter is very great /according to my Discerning. Nevertheless /I will ⁏ according to thy Request; disclose a little unto thee of my Sight touching the Meaning thereof: For I cannot hide it from thee. Have thou a regard on the Meaning: 3. The House of Israel /is the Stock of jacob: which jacob /is the Second Kingdom of the former Beauty, which surmounteth all Power and Glory. Behold and consider of that which is rehearsed before of a Supra. 1●. Adam and Christ, of the Earthly and Heavenly, and of Esau and jacob. So mark then: 4. When now Esau and jacob were borne, and a little grown-up together in Understanding /then did jacob▪ overcome Esau ⁏ his Brother; with Prudence and with Deceit: b Gen. 27. c. d and so with Prudence /he got the Kingdom of Promise, and become an Elder and a Father in the Covenant of the God of his Fathers/ Isaac and Abraham. 5. Herein he also deceived Isaac his Father /through the Counsel of Rebecca his Mother: c Gen. 27 a. b and so is become an Heir in the Promises of his Fathers. Therefore he is rightly called jacob: d Gen. 27. d. which Name signifieth unto us /A deceiver, or a Suppresser. 6. Now when jacob was become a Lord over his Brother Esau: and had received the Blessing of the Promises of his Fathers /Then did he not only love the Inheritance of the Promises: but much-more the God of his Fathers. And God e Mal. 1. a. Rom. 9 b had likewise a Pleasure in jacob. Which God of his Fathers /appeared also unto him, and hath sealed or established the Promises upon jacob: so f Gen. 28. b. c that jacob saw nothing-els upon the Place /but the House of God. 7. After-that/ jacob wrestled g Gen. 32. c. with God: and left Him not (although the Day came-on) before He had blessed him: and so he overcame God likewise /to his William. 8. Now when jacob was come to such Power and Lordship with God /God asked him his Name. He answered God, and said /that he was called jacob. But God gave him the Name /that he should be called Israel/ h Gen 32. c. Because that he had striven with God and Man, and kept the Victory. And Israel signifieth unto us /A God's Lorder, or One that lordeth with God, or prevaileth. 9 According to this-very Name, hath God also named his own Name. For like as God named himself after the Name of Abraham and Isaac /his Fathers, evenso did He likewise name himself a God of Israel: that is /a God of those that lord or prevail with God /under whom Esau standeth serviceably submitted, and yet is no Heir in the Testaments of God. 10. Behold, Thissame /which is the second Birth or Procreation after Esau, and which ⁏ in his overcoming; is by God /named Israel, is verily the true and right House of Israel. And all that be borne ther-out /are the Lambs and Sheep of the House of Israel. 11. verily, the same Sheep that is lost or strayed from this House (understand the Meaning rightly) is the Sheep i Math. 10. ●. 18. b. Luk. 15. a. that is sought with earnest Love /to th'end that the Promises that are made to the Fathers /should be established on the same. For God will also be a God and Shepherd of the lost strayed Sheep of the House of Israel: and bringing the same again to his k Esa. 56. a Eze. 37. c. john 10. b Fold /He will likewise be a God and a Shepherd unto his Seed /even for evermore. 12. And if thou now hast rightly understood thissame /then looke-upon the whole Generation of juda, and the Remnant of the People of jacob. and how that those same, together with the Generations of Men (inasmuch as they are estranged from their right Stock: namely, from the Fellow-lording with God) are the right lost or erring Sheep of the House o● Israel. Then again, looke-upon the Testament l Esa. 4●. 41. etc. Ier 30.31.32 33. Eze. 34.35.36.37. of Promise /that is promised to the House of Israel and to the House of juda: and how God hath sworn unto them /that He is their Heritage: also m Deut. 4. c 32. a Psal. 28.47 a how that they all /are God's Heritage. 13. Behold ⁏ thou Beloved; Thesesame/ Israel and juda that are here rehearsed unto thee /are the right Heirs and n Act. 3. c. Children of the Testament in the Promises of their Fathers, wherein God will establish them /in the last Time. 14. To which Heritage ⁏ according to the Promises; the Heathen are ⁏ by God's Grace; o ●sa. 42. a 49. ●. 〈◊〉. 1 d. john 8 b. Act 13. c called and bidden /To th'end that they ⁏ as Fellow-heyres of the House of Israel; should live and reign with Israel, and Israel's God /in the true Circumcision /which God hath fe●t or ordained betwixt Him and Abraham and his Seed/ p Gen. 17. a for an everlasting Covenant, and that-ther should be no more but one God. namely, among the jews and Heathen. 15. Behold, this Grace is chanced to the Heathen: howbeit /not as those that are borne of the House of Israel: but that are called thereto by God's Grace /because that the Heathen should evenso ⁏ by God's Grace /out of the Belief in jesus Christ; be likewise the Seed of Abraham /in Righteousness and Holiness q Luk. 1. ●●phe. 4. c. that pleaseth God, and should possess the Citizenshipp in jerusalem /according to the Promises. 16. Lo, hereunto is the Man ⁏ which is so wholly lost or estranged from this Dominion with God or House of Israel; sought and called with earnest Love /for that he should come to the Heritage of God and Christ, which is the Health and Salvation of his Soul, as also live with God, and that the God of Israel /should likewise be his God. 17. Consider now /thou Beloved: Heer-uppon (as I have rehearsed unto thee) standeth my Sight /touching the lost Sheep of the House of Isarel /that is sought with great Diligence /by the Lord and his Ministers /for to bring him r Math. 10. a. 1● b. Lu●. 15 a. john 10 b. again to his right sheepfold. The XIIII. Chap. Moreover, thou wrytest unto me/ how that thou hadst well hoped that the whole World should once be cleansed from all her Blindness and Ignorance: so that the Song Allelu-ia /might ⁏ with joy; be soung here generally. 2. Thatsame is still all my Hope and Longing: but the a Esa. 65. b. 2 Pet. 3 b. Cleansing of the World, and the Rejoicing b Apo. 19 a of the godly Men /cometh not to pass according to Man's Goodthinking: but according to the Lord's Word and his Promises /namely /through the Cross of Christ, wherethrough the Man ⁏ in the Cleansing of his Sins; becometh altogether humbled and abased· and begotten c john. ● a. Rom. a. Tit. 3. a again or anew /out of the same Death of the Crosse· and made alive d Rom. 5. ●. a. 1. Cor. 15. c. in Christ. 3. For like as the Gold is purified in the Furnace of the Golde-smith, or thorowly-tryed to fine Gold/ Sap. 3. a. Eccli 2. a. so is the Man likewise cleansed in the Furnace of the Humiliation of the Cross of Christ. 4. Out of which Humiliation /the Man cometh to the Obedience of God and Christ, of whom he learneth the humility f Math. 11. d. and Meekness of Heart. 5. In which humility and Meekness of Heart /the Man is blessed and anointed with the Oil of Love: That is, with the holy Ghost /in all Goodness and loveliness. 6. Behold, this goeth first over the household of God, who in their Cleansing from the Sin /do g Rom. 6. b. 1. Pet. 2. follow-after Christ /in his Death of the Cross /under the Obedience of the Love: and after-that ⁏ in their Makeing-alyve in jesus Christ; cometh the End h 1. Cor. 15. c. over the World. For so hath it pleased God /to cleanse the World i Ephe. 2. b. Col. ●. c through the Cross, and to save the Man, according to the Scripture. 7. Whosoever now therefore taketh k Math. 16. c. Luk. 14. c. his Cross upon him /in the Obedience to the gracious Word and his requiring: also ⁏ in the Belief; followeth-after Christ؛the Godliness; under the Obedience of the Love: and so learneth the humility, and the Virtue to the l Math. 11. c. Meekness /He likewise overcometh the World: and the Salvation cometh unto him with joy. 8. And a Man that is altogether cleansed from the World and from all unprofitable and corruptible Things [namely, by the Baptism m Rom. 6. ●. Col. 2. b. in the Death of Christ, which is the right Fount n 'Tis 3. b. of Regeneration] he singeth in his right time ⁏ according to the True●h; that o Tob. 13. ●. Song/ Allelu-ia: Which signifieth unto us /Laude the Lord. 9 Behold, thatsame (as I have here rehearsed unto thee) is my Sight /touching the Cleansing of the World, and the rejoicing of the Righteous /in the last tyme. But howsoever the Lord appointeth it /let it so content us in any-wyse. The XU Chap. ACcording to thy Request ⁏ thou Beloved; I have here ⁏ as in breef-maner; written a little unto thee /how my Mind standeth, or how I am minded. 2. I know not also any Light a john. 1. ●. of Life /but the b 2. Cor. 4. ●. Col. 1. b. Heb. 1. ●. invisible true Being /the glorious and lovely Life of the living Godhead: wheruppon likewise my Hope standeth, even-as we have also talked thereof in times-past. 3. I seek not likewise neither have sought (since that time forth /that we spoke last together) any Salvation of the Soul /in any Outward-thing: but ⁏ through the Belief in jesus Christ, and through the Love and her Service; I withdraw my Mind from all what is outward, and which is drawing me to Corruption. 4. hereunto doth my Soul bend itself /so much as I may in the Lord: and I do love the invisible Being of God /to th'end that my inward Mind should in nowyse stand bound to the vain Creatednes: but that my Spirit might evenso /live in the Spirit of the true and living Being. namely /according to the Nature of Christ, c john. 13. d. 15. b 1. john. 3. c. who directeth or pointeth us unto the Love ؛the unchangeable Godhead;. 5. But that Service which hath his Ministration to the same Love /for the Salvations sake of Men, and requireth all Orderlynes and Reasonableness /will I not despise, nor-yet in any-case forsake: but will ⁏ so much as the Lord enableth me thereto; further, maintain, and minister the same to the Salvation of Men /inasmuch as the Lord hath chosen Me thereunto. 6. O /that God would grant /that the Service of Love might flourish without Hindrance; and that evenso the right Understanding of the Wisdom might com-to-light /under the Obedience of the Love! For to the lovely Life in the Love/ d Gen 1.2. Sap. 1. b. 2. c is the Man created, like as is witnessed and administered out of the Service of Love: and therefore is also my Soul inclined to the same Service /to th'end that e Ephe. 4. ●. the Unite of Heart might be in the Love /among all Lovers of the Truth. 7. Behold, yet at this present /thus standeth my Mind: and I likewise know not yet any better, neither have I also met with any better. 8. But it seemeth now ⁏ by thy Writing; as though thou hast heard by Somme /that I should be outwardly minded (as are Some whom thou namest unto me) O No /thou Beloved: My Heart, Mind, and Being standeth not grounded upon any outward Thing /neither do I also desire to cleave-unto and to use anything that is Outward /which leadeth-away f Rom. 1. ●. Heb. 3. b. from the living God and his Righteousness. 9 But though I now ⁏ for the Unitees sake in the Love; should conversate myself with Some that were yet outwardly minded, or did yet set their Confidence upon any Flesh /yet doth not their weak Ground concern me. But I have for-that-cause /a lyke-love towards them /when they cannot attain unto the invisible Truth any farther, and desire to have Conversation peaceably with Me /and yet for-al-that I do not contemn the Outward. 10. I would also willingly leave them free in their weak Ground /if I might by-that-meanes /conversate myself in the unity of the Love /with those that are zealous to the good Being, or that are Lovers of Virtue, of Wisdom, and of Understanding: let them be then /whosoever or of what Ground of Faith and Opinion soever they be: if the Love g Col 3. b. were our Band and Concord· and that we conversated ourselves with each-other therein: as also would willingly hear one-another /through Love: and that-ther were in-that-sort a good Inclination to the Truth /among us all /Then should the right Understanding com-to-light nodout, and the vain Understanding, together with all evil Imaginations and Blaspheaming, vanish-away of themselves or consume to nothing. 11. For, to deal in the Love /with such as are adjoined to the Love /were more acceptable unto me, also much-more delytfull and joyful /then with those that have no Lust▪ Will, nor Desire to the good Being of the Love, and will in-that-maner conversate themselves with me. 12. For though anyone of the good-willing Hearts /should ⁏ by reason of his small Understanding; trust yet upon some Outward-thing yet if he have a Lust to God and his Righteousness, and is no Blasphemer nor Contemner towards another /than cometh that Vanity to an End doubtless /in the Understanding. Therefore men aught not to contemn anyone for the outward Services or Ordinances cause. 13. For it is much better, and much-more acceptable before God /to love the good Being /through some Outward-thing /then to cleave unto the World or to the vain and unprofitable Things /through the Affection to the Worldly outward Things: the h Eccli. 15. b. Rom. 1. c Ephe. 4. c. which nodout is altogether straying from God and his Truth. and therefore likewise ther-are Many now /which despise the outward Services or Ordinances·s speaking much Reproach of every-one· also blaspheming and with Falsehood defameing the Ministers thereof: but in that they bind their Hearts unto their own Creatures, or unto some other outward Things /that will they not once consider. 14. And the same Estrainging from God and his Truth ⁏ through the Affection to the worldly and outward Things; do we now ⁏ alas; find among many Men /who do also very frankly boast themselves /that they are not snared by any Man, nor with outward Services or Ceremonies: and so do persuade themselves /that therefore they are not outwardly minded i Gal. 4. a. Col 2. c. like those that seek Righteousness in outward Things. 15. yes assuredly: and yet much-more and worse: For they suffer themselves to be captived k Rom 1. c. Ephe. 2. a 4. c. with the earthly Things of this World: and ⁏ their Hearts growing vain therethrough, and turning-away themselves from the Lust to the Guiding into the Righteousness; they hung their Understanding and Mind on those-same, and on their own Goodthinking: so that they for-that-cause /do utterly loose all Lust or Zeal to the upright Being of God, and become cleaveing to the earthly corruptible Things; and evenso do quyt corrupt their Understanding. 16. Seeing then that they are corrupted in their Understanding /therefore seek they likewise ⁏ according to their own Pleasures; to live to the corruptible Things /for a Recreation of their Hearts: and in no-wise desire to be leadd into the true Life /through God's Ordinance. For the godly Things are as dead unto them. and the Services of the holy Word, and to show Obedience therein ⁏ wherewith the Man is assisted to the godly Knowledge; are as though they had no Signification: which thing I commend not. 17. For my Heart hath much-more Affection to those that with Ignorance /do seek God and his Righteousness, and that show Obedience therein /then to those that with Understanding /do estrainge them from God and his Service, and are straying and disobedient unto all Righteousness /according to the requiring of the holy Word of the holy Spirit and Service of Love, and so do live after there own Mind l Ier 7. c. 23. b. 18. b and Goodthinking. The XVI. Chap. FOr this cause /my Beloved ⁏ as is before said; and for that I do now find Many /which ⁏ according to their own Goodthinking; do live in all Disobedience /against the requiring of the holy Word, and which boast them falsely of the Understanding of the spiritual and heavenly Things: and so ⁏ ●leaueing-vnto or loving the World and the corruptible Things·s or the Following of the false Libertynes; desire to conversate or to have fellowship with me: and for more suchlike things 'cause, and for that I do neither seek nor desire any such matter /I have endeavoured myself to be conversant with certain zealous Hearts: To th'end that I in my Zeal /might not have my Course with the Vnwillingones ⁏ which take-on a false Freedom /to separate themselves from the requiring of the Service of Love, and cleave to the earthly corruptible Things; but with the good-willing-ones to the Righteousness: and that the Understanding of the godly Truth and of the peaceable Love /might ⁏ by that Means; beare-swaye among the Lovers of the upright Understanding /which do love the Treasures of Wisdom, and the Obedience to the requiring of the Service of Love /above Gold and Silver, a P●o. 8. ●. Sap. 7 a. and above all what is in the World. 2. For whosoever loveth the Wisdom or the holy Understanding, and the Obedience to the requiring of her Service of Love /above all earthly Things /and doth not contemn, envy, nor blaspheme anyone /that also laboureth thereafter with Ignorance /To him b Pro. 8 ●. Sap. 6 b. 7. ● Math. 7. ●. will likewise the Wisdom or holy Understanding /appear: But whos● loveth anything above the Wisdom /or whoso contemneth and blaspheameth anyman /in his Zeal to the Righteousness, and separateth himself from him /is not wise: neither shall he also find, understand, nor inherit the Wisdom. For the Wisdom is much-to-noble, to-honorable of Lineage, c Pro. 8. a. b. Sap 7 a. b. Eccl●. 24. b. and to-precious /for to join or show herself unto those /that do not love her with all their Hearts /above all Things. 3. O ⁏ alas; I find too-feawe of those which love the Wisdom above all things. But let it go how it will /with the Wisdom and the upright Righteousness, the Man doth in-any-case take good heed to the earthly Things /which doubtless are no more to be esteemed then as d Phil. 3. b. Dirt /in comparison to the preciousness or Worthiness of the Wisdom and Righteousness of God. 4. Understand now ⁏ thou Beloved; wherefore I have endeavoured myself to have my Conversation in Freedom /with those whom thou well knowest, and also with others more. namely, for the Wisdom and the Righteousness sake, as is before rehearsed, and as I will yet partly rehearse unto thee /because that thy Heart should in-nowyse doubt that I have sought or liked anything-els /but the Virtues of the upright and true invisible Being. 5. For in all Things and Dealings that I have has with them /this hath been all my Ground and Intent /for to heare-over their Understanding and Wisdom /under the Obedience of the Love· to question with them· and to answer again /To th'end that we might thereby become agreeable, or concordable e 1 ●or. 1. a Phil. 2. a. minded /in the Love and in the Understanding, and to the upright Righteousness /and that we should not take or construe anything of each-other /to the worst: but I have not yet used the same Course among them, nor-yet the Speech that tendeth thereunto. 6. I have not yet likewise been in any Communialtee among them /whereby to deal boldly with them: But the Lord do with us according to his Will, and that which serveth most unto Peace, and to the unity of Heart in the love. 7. O Thou Beloved /Although I have ⁏ out of Love; submitted myself hereunto among Somme, whereby to inform the Lovers of the Truth /to all unity in the Love, and so have not contemned nor blasphemed the Outward /Yet am I not therefore outwardly minded: but this do I verily acknowledge, that it is much-more Pleasure unto me /to deal with the Love of the Wisdom, and to talk thereof /among those that love the Love and the Wisdom /because that the Righteousness appeareth unto Such; then to inherit all the riches and Pleasures of this World: or to deal among those which love the earthly Things or their own Goodthinking /above the Wisdom, and above the unity of Heart in the Love /and so to dissemble with Men /as though all were inward and heavenly Things that they love /wherewith they deceive both themselves and other more /which hear them, and do seduce them from the true Services that lead to the Life. 8. And like-as thou wrytest /that it is unpossible for thee to 'cause thine Eyes and thy Heart to hope /as to weight for Deliverance through any outward Things: evenso is the same likewise unpossible for me. Yea, although it were so that I would do it /yet could I not. For the Light of the heavenly Truth ⁏ wherewith God hath illuminated f 1. Cor. 4 a. my Heart /out of his holy Heaven; is an Against-shyning unto me /against the same. But the Ministration of the Good /by the godded Men or Olde-fathers in the Family of Love /is aways very profitable, and a good Preparation to the Delivering of the Man from his g Rom. 7. c Bands of the sin. and that men have familiar brotherly Conversation together to that end /is also very lovely, and likewise greatly edifying to the unity of Heart in the love. 9 Behold ⁏ thou Beloved; like-as I have here written unto thee in naked and bore manner /Euenso standeth my Mind: and I hope not to forsake the same /till I have found or gotten all what I seek-for, and desire among the Lovers of the Truth. The Lord grant me Mercy: and doowith me /according to his William. Amen. Farewell: and behave thyself uprightly. Herewith I do thee heartily greet, In the Life of the Love most-sweete. The End of the Sixt Epistle. Our Heart /is the Mind of God most-hie. Our Being amiable /as the sweet Lily. Our Faithfulness /Love /and Truth upright▪ Is God's Light /Life /and clearness bright. The Seventh Epistle. A true judgement or Sentence /proceeding out of the Service of Love /against the false judgement or Sentence /proceeding out of the Flesh. Wherein also certain good Exhortations and Informations to the upright Being of the Love /be rehearsed and witnessed. Therefore canst thou not excuse thyself ⁏ O Man; whosoever thou bist that judgest. For where in thou judgest another, therein condemnest thou thyself. Rom. 2. Take-heede to the Time, and learn Wisdom and holy Understanding: for it is better than Gold and Silver, Yea /much worthier than all costly or precious Stones. For thereby /the secret judgements of the highest God /be understood. The First Chapter. OUt of the Inclination of the Love /I HN do wish a good Peace and Salvation /unto the Communialtee of Saints of the House of the Love of jesus Christ, and unto all goodwilling Hearts /that for the Glory of God's sake /do submit them obediently under the Love, and maintain her Service /to a Esa. 65. b 2. Pet. 3. b Apoc. 21. a. a Renewing of the Earth with Righteousness /to th'end that God may obtain the Superioritee /with his Love and upright Being: and that all what God hath spoken in times-past b Act 3. c. by the Mouth of all his holy Prophets, and published c Math. 28. d. Mar. 16. b. in the World /by the Christ of God /for a Gospel of the Kingdom, and as is written thereof /may now in the last time /be fulfilled d Luk. 18. d. or accomplished /through the Love, according to the Promises. 2. Happy are all those e Esa. 25.30. b that long after the same, and ⁏ for the Glory of God and his loves sake; do f Math. 10. d. 16. ● Mar. 8. d. Luk. 9 17. d john 12. c. forsake, hate, and leave themselves /that God ؛the true Lorder; may only have the Superioritee, g 1. Cor. 15. c. and so be all in all: and no Flesh to accounted anything h 1. Cor. 1. d. of itself anymore. 3. FOrasmuch then as i 1. Cor. 25. ●. 1. Tim 1 b. Mercy is chanced unto Me ⁏ out of Grace; through the Love of God the Father: and that the God of Life hath permitted the Light of his clearness to shine in my k 2. Cor. 4. b. Heart /by the Rising of the Light from on High /whereby to reveal his Glory, and to defend his Honour and Beauty /to all utter Puting-downe of all Glory and Honour of the lying Flesh: Therefore cannot I endure to hide God's Honour /which only belongeth unto Him. For to that end is the Service of the Word under the Obedience of the Love /com-foorth l Ephe. 1. b. ⁏ to the laud and Praise of the godly Glory; for to defend the supreme God in his Honour ⁏ because that all that which belongeth unto Him /may be geeven again unto Him, and be drawn under Him; and not to excuse any Flesh of Sin therein, nor-yet ⁏ for any Love of the Flesh's cause; to cover any Flesh /in his Shame: but to discover the same naked and bore. namely /all his Whoredom, m Ier 5. b 7. b 8 14. b 23 c. 1. Tim. 1. b. Adultery, Thievery, and Kill or Murdering, together with all his false Witness, and n Esa. 1. a 5. c. 52. a. Mar. 3. Blaspheamy against God and all God's holy-ones. 4. For thus saith the holy Spirit of Love, whose Day o Esa. 66. b. Mal. 4 a. burneth like a Cresset-of-flameing-fyer against all his Enemies: Look upon yourselves, and consider of your Vnchastitee, and of the Uncleanness and p Eze. 24. b. Math. 15.23. ●. Wickedness of your Hearts, and what ye all are by Nature /O all thou Flesh that art borne of Adam. wherewithal ⁏ I pray you; or by what Kind of Righteousness, or Understanding of Wisdom /will ye judge the upright Wisdom or the holy Spirit of Love, and accuse his Ministers? And wherewith ⁏ I pray you; will ye excuse or defend yourselves /that ye should not all ⁏ how prudent-wyse soever ye be; come to Shame before the judgment-seate of the Christ of my God? which Day of his judgement /doth now breake-thorow, and his Coming approacheth q Math. 24. c. like a Morning-starr out of the East or Rysing-of-the-sunne: and is seen like the Lightning /into the West or Going-downe thereof: Whose Lighting /maketh-manifest all Flesh of the Darkness ⁏ in his Uncleanness; through the Coming of his Beawtyful-cleernes. The II Chap. O All thou Flesh of the fallen Adam, wherein wilt thou now excuse a Rom. 2. thyself before the righteous judge, as to be unguilty in anything /wherein thou condemnest another? Therefore behold and consider: The judgement of God in his justice /is set before thee, and thy Sin or Offence /made naked and bore before thine Eyes /how that thou art faulty and wrong in every-thing: not only in that which is manifestly evil or wrong: b Esa. 64. c. Math. 23. a. b Rom. 10. a 1. Cor. 1. b. c Col. 2. b. ● but also in all thy Wisdom, Holiness, and Righteousness. 2. Therefore come ye all forth hither /before the clear judgement or Day c Math. 25 d. Rom. 14 b. 2. Cor. 5. b. of the Sentence of God: make-manifest yourselves everyone /before his majesty, and let your inward Nakedness appear: But what availeth it, there shall noon be d Psal. 14.53 a Rom 3. a found clea●e /Not not One righteous. but all /full of spots and Wrinkles. 3. Seeing then that all of you ⁏ which are borne of the sinful Flesh of Adam; are e Psal 51. a. unclean and unrighteous, and have nothing-at-all in your Members /that is like unto the Beauty of the Bride of Christ /So doth-ther not then likewise any judgement belong unto you, neither-yet to give Sentence of the godly Things. Or-els do ye think to sit upon the Seat of the justice of God /with your Injustice, and so to pronounce-foorth the judgement? Or do ye still think /that ye can judge right in any Matters? verily /I utterly deny it: for all sinful Flesh in his Vanity /is false f Psal 116. b. Rom. 3. a. and lying. Therefore it belongeth not to him /to judge anything: but to be judged himself /by the judgement of God /to th'end that the Unrighteous /may receive the judgement of their Unrighteousness. g Math. 13.25. d Rom. 2. a 2 Tess. 1 a. and the Righteous /the judgement of their Righteousness /Because that it may evenso be witnessed /that God only h Psal 116. b john 3 d. Rom. 3. a. Apo 19 a b. is righteous in his judgement. 4. Thus saith the holy Spirit of Love: I have to deal with thee /O all thou Flesh /that art borne of the fallen Adam▪ and likewise with you all that will excuse or defend thatsame. For this is the righteous judgement of my God /over you: that ye all are i Rom. 2. a. resistant against the Kindness of the highest God. Who will now I pray you /justify or excuse himself against the same. For according to your own inclined Mind /ye have all doubtless fleshed yourselves with the Devil: and so are incorporated to all Evil and Wickedness: wherethrough ye have everyone ⁏ how prudent-wyse soever ye be; k Apo. 17. b. fought against God and the Lamb /with your own Wisdom or Goodthinking. and ●o have troden-downe the Loveing-kyndnes of God in yourselves /with Feete· shed the Blood of the Righteous· and accounted the holy Blood of the true Testament of the Lord jesus Christ /for l Heb. 10. f. unclean: shut the Glory of God quyt out of your Hearts: and so are become replenished m Math. 23. c with all Unrighteousness, Wickedness, Maliciousness, Mocking, and Blaspheamy. 5. Ouer-and-above this /ye have covered your evil Deeds /with Hypocrisy, whereby to hide your Uncleanness and craftiness. And in this Falsehood /ye have also sought n joh. 5.12. d· Praise and Honour /on-of-another▪ s●●t yourselves in judgement /which belongeth o Esa. 3. c. Sap. 3. a. Math. 19 c. 1. Cor. 6. a. jude. ●. b only to God with his Saincts·s and dealt coveredly, traitorously, and deceitfully /in your Counsel of privy Conspiracies /for to accuse and defame the p Esa. 53 b. Sap. 2 b. Upright of Heart thereby /with wicked Deeds, and so will have right /in your own Wickedness and Lies. 6. But in all this your Unrighteousness /ye have loved and defended the Creatures /above God: attributed the Honour unto the q john. 5. c. Creatures /which only belongeth unto God: and so have among-each-other /ascribed the Virtues of God /unto the Flesh▪ and drawn the glorious r john. 8. Rom. 6. c, 8. b. c Freedom of the Children of God /unto yourselves: so that all your judgement is false /and proceedeth out of the Lie, and not out of the Truth. 7. Behold, This false judgement proceeding out of the Wisdom of the Flesh, and out of the crafty and wicked Sight /is come before the Ears of the supreme God: s Gen. 6. a. and the same hath grieved Him. For-that-cause hath He now in the last time ⁏ or in this Oldness of the time; taken the righteous judgement unto himself /against all lying Flesh, t Psal. 96.98. a. for to judge with Righteousness upon the Earth: namely, unto the Good /to a Reward of all Good: v Rom. 2. a. but unto the Evil /to a Reward of all Evil and Wickedness. And thatsame is the Light of Truth, and the true x john. ●. c. judgement that God hath now in the last time /sent into the World /through his Love /to the Declaring of the Righteousness /for to judge y Psal 96. b Act. 1●. d. jude. ● b the Circuit of the Earth with Righteousness /through thatsame Light /under the Obedience of the Love: and so to make-manifest the Self-wyseones /with their own Wisdom· the wicked crafty Sights /with their Wickedness and Craftynes·s and the Prudent and Subtilones /with their Prudence and subtilty. The III Chap. Come all hither therefore to the righteous judgement of my God /O all ye Flesh of the fallen Adam. Com and let yourselves be seen in the Light: But what availeth it /ye shall all now be made-manifest before the same judgement /what ye are. For all your Nakedness ⁏ although ye think to cover yourselves; becometh there layd-bare: and ye cannot also with all your own Power/ a Psal. 76.130. Mala. 3. a. Apo. 6. b byde-standing against the virtuous Nature of the love. 2. Behold, such a Glistering of clearness hath the Love in her Beauty and Righteousness /that no Vncleaneone can ⁏ with joy; endure with her nor with her Comunialtee. For his Wickedness or craftiness is manifest ther-against, evenlike as it doth also appear with Many now in this present Day. Therefore hath likewise no Flesh of the fallen Adam /any pleasure therein: Whereby it is known and manifest/ b Esa. 40. a 1. Pet. 1. c. how vain all Flesh of Adam is /in all his Knowledge, Sight, and Wisdom. 3. Who will now I pray you /defend the sinful Flesh any longer /to a Covering of his crafty Nature? Who will▪ I say; excuse it /in his Subtil-wylynes? For there dwelleth c Gen. 6 a 8. c jer. 17. b. Math 15.23 b Rom. 7. c no Good-thing in it: but nodout /all Hypocrisy and Deceit. 4. Truly /it shall not be excused /before the Spirit of Life, neither-yet can men also excuse the same before Me /whereby I should allow it in any Thing (let it then appear as good or holy as it will): but that it is d Rom. 3. d. false and lying /in every-poynt, and can witness no Truth /of any godly Things. 5. Seeing now that the Deceit of the sinful Flesh, with all his Inclination according to his own sensuality /is ⁏ even in Experience by the Deed and Truth; become know unto Me /through the Light /So cannot I likewise for-that-cause /trust any Flesh of Sin, neither-yet believe nor allow any judgement e Deut. 1. b. john 7. c 8. b that it judgeth according to the Sight of his own Eyes, or according to the Hearing of his own Ears: but am altogether against the same, as that it is wrong in all his judgements that are according to the Sight of the Eyes, or Hearing of the Ears /and judgeth God's Truth falsely and out of the Lie: and I do also testify against all judgement of the sinful Flesh /that it useth all his Industry and Prudence/ f Phil. 2. c. to the preferment of his selfness, and evenso judgeth to his Self-seeking· 6. Behold /so false, lying, and deceitfull· and so full of Dissimulation and Hypocrisy /it is in all his Doing and Leaveing. Not only in that ⁏ which hath an evil show: but chiefly in that wherewith it will show itself ⁏ with a Shine of holy Speeches; to be holy and upright, and wherein it willbe allowed. 7. To conclude, there is nothing but g Psal. 14. a. 58. a. 116. b. Rom. 3. a. b. Lies and Falsehood /in all Flesh of the fallen Adam, and in all what is borne out of the sinful Flesh, and that hath no Lust to perform the requiring of the gracious Word of the Lord: and whatsoever it witnesseth, affirmeth, or speaketh /is all to the Covering of his craftiness, and false selfness: let it justify or clear itself then /somuch as it will: let it transform his Countenance to be so woful-hearted /as it will: let it sob, let it sigh or lament then /somuch as it will: let it speak then so sweet or flatteringly /as it will: let it testify then his Sight and Hearing /so perfectly as it will: let it also be then so understanding or skilful /touching the new Birth· the Love· the Trueth· and the Secretness of God or of the heavenly Things /as it will ⁏ if it be not obediently minded to the requiring of the gracious Word and his Service; So is it doubtless all false, and nothing but Poison that it speweth-foorth against the upright Life of the Soul /whereby to h john. 10. a. kill and to spoil the Peace of the Soul, i Rom. 16. b. and to rend the Concord of the Goodwillingones towwards the love. The FOUR Chap. Therefore /O ye young Children /which are borne out of the Service of Love and out of her Spirit /to the God of Life /to the Land of his Glory /together with ye Disciples and on-coming Men /in the holy Understanding of the gracious Word of the Lord /Beware of all sinful and lying Flesh of Adam, and of all Minds that take-part with the same, a Rom. ●●. ●. Gal. ● ● Col ●. ●. or which do excuse, defend, or allow the same in his Vanity and Falsehood /To th'end that ye do not commit Whoredom therewith, nor-yet become spoiled of the Peace /which ye do inherit under the Obedience of the love. 2. For all sinful Flesh /dealeth in Coverednes and craftiness /with his Lies and Deceit: and those that cleave-unto the same, and defend or excuse it for anything that is Upright/ b Act. 7. f. are all Traitors and Imaginers-of-evell towards the upright uncorrupt Good /which cometh-forth or is witnessed out of the Love /to an unity of Heart /in the love. 3. Therefore be mistrustful towards all sinful Flesh /as also towards all unregenerated Men /which turn them away from the Obedience to the requiring of the Service of Love /believe not the Very-best of them /much less /those whom ye know to turn-away themselves from us and our Doctrine under the Obedience of the Love, c 1. john 2. ●. and to stand-up against the Love and her Service, and to use their Hypocrisy /towards the Comunialtee of Saints in the love. For no Flesh ●that is borne of the fallen Adam; d Psal. 143. a▪ Rom. 3 ● shalbe ●ounde righteous /when it is judged according to the Truth. 4. For-that-cause let noman com-before me with any Mind of the Flesh, for to excuse the sinful Flesh /how lamentable or woeful soever it maketh itself, or how holy and understanding soever it appeareth. 5. O, let noman tell me any good or virtue /of the lying Flesh, nor-yet of the unregenerated Man /which separateth himself from the Love and her Service: but let everyone take-heede in the Spirit /to the true spiritual e john. 3. b. Birth of the Children of God, which cometh out of Heaven /to the Believers of the holy Word of the Spirit of Love /under the Obedience of the Love: which spiritual heavenly Children of God /are full of all Goodness and Vertue· and of-one-mind with Us /to all Concord in the Service of love. 6. Therefore f Math. 24. c. Mark. 13. c. Luk. 17. c. believe no Men of the Earth /which come unto you out of that Flesh and Blood of Sin, and are without the Family of Love: but believe the Men of God /which come unto you out of the Service of Love, and which descend-doune to you g john 1.3. d. 2. Pet. 1. b. 1. john. 1. a. from Heaven /who /are Spirit and Life, and have had their Rest in the Bosom of the Almighty Father /till unto this last Time. And from thence do they ⁏ in the Obedience of the Love; come again now with their God /in Glory, h Esa. 3. b. jude. 1. b for to bring the judgement ⁏ with Righteousness; over the World. 7. Behold, thatsame i john. 12. d. judgement is now kept against all sinful Flesh. For He which judgeth righteously /hath set himself upon his glorious judgment-seate: k Math. 24. d, 25. d. 2. Tess. 1. a. jude. 1. b And all his Saints come with Him /in great multitudes of Hosts, for to possess the Earth with Righteousness. For it is geeven unto them l Math. 11. c. 28 b Lu●. 10. d. Iohn ●. d by that God /who hath made it all. 8. For the Prayer m Apo. 6. b of the Saints is now heard, and their God cometh to take Vengeance /to a Righteousness n Psa 96.98 a Apo. 19 a upon the Earth, even-as is written thereof /because that the Will of God the Father /may be done upon o Math. 6.26. c. the Earth likeas it is in Heaven, and that his upright Being with his Saints /may also beare-swaye thear· the Scripture p Math. 26. f. Luk. 24. e become fulfilled· and that God may be all q 1. Cor. 15. ●, in all, according to the Promises. 9 Behold, That is God's Glory, and the righteous judgement of my God. Who will open his Mouth /to speak against the same? lest he come to shame /in his Tongue. 10. Therefore shut-too your Mouth /with a Bit, r Psal. 39 a. Luk. 3. a. that ye fall not through your Tongue: but s Esa. 30. b. in Stillness /take-heede unto God, who appeareth and cometh t jude. 1. b. on the Earth with all his Saints /in great Glory, even-as is written thereof. The V Chap. WHat hath God to do with you, or what careth He for your Wailing and Lamenting /O ye flattering Tongues, or all ye that will excuse or defend the Flesh of Sin? For behold, the Lord shall in thissame Light of the Love /shame you all in a Psal. 5● a Math. 25. d. his Beholding: and his mighty Hand of justice /shall stand over you /to a Suppressing of you /till that ye be confounded, and remain confounded for evermore. 2. True it is, I have heard a mighty Cry with a great Lamentation and Waylling /upon the Earth /wherethrough /I was almost moved to Compassion. But I went a little nearer to that Howling and Lamenting. And lo /when I considered thereon, It was the Flesh of Sin /that wailed and lamented exceedingly/ b Apo. 18. b because that his Worthiness might be no more of Value, and for that it was no more esteemed, nor could get any Praise or Honour anymore, and that God with his Saints /did only get the Glory. 3. But when I understood the Lamenting and Wailing /then was I not moved to Compassion over the lamenting Flesh of Sin /as to favour or defend the same /in his sinful Lusts and unchaste Desires. For it was minded against God /in all his Lamenting and Wailing: but my Heart was compassionably-bent with the Godhead. For looking-upon the Falsehood and Deceit of the sinful Flesh /I hoped to rejoice me in God's Glory: and so mine Affection stood-bent with the God of Life /to th'end that his Glory might breake-thorow /over the Darknesses of Men. And I could not bemove the Generation of the evel-willing Men /in their Howling and Weeping, because they did not repent. For all their Howling and Weeping was /because they might no more use their Unrighteousness and their Pleasure of Whoredom and Thievery /according to their own William. And to leave the same /was their Pain and Grief which they suffered. 4. Behold, that is the Reward of the Ungodly /wherein they now at the last /be punished, according to the Word of our Lord and God. For all Vngodlyons shallbe punished c Sap. 11.12. ●. Apo. 18. ● in their own Wickedness /wherein they have lived /according to their own Lusts. 5. Do ye Understand this well /O ye Lamenters and Defenders of the Sinful-flesh? You do lament the Flesh greatly /in his Wailing, because it faileth him in his Will or Lusts: but ye do not above-al /lament the Goodness of God, which hath been forced to suffer from the beginning d Apo. 15. a of the World /for the Resistances cause of the sinful Flesh. 6. O You foolish Lamenters, ye which say to the Flesh, and to those which ⁏ according to the Flesh; seek nothing e Phillip 2. ●, but their selfness: O, how are ye burdened against your own Minds and Understandings /and what a matter have ye to bear, to endure or to suffer! O, ye cannot do it: and it goeth altogether evil with you doubtless /because ye may not use your sensuality and your Lusts/ in Freedom: Ah, cast from you all Burdening /that come upon you against the Flesh /as also the Service of Love /which is against you in all your Minds of the Flesh: and take not thosame Burdening on you: but take-heede to the f Sap. 2. ●. Lusts of your Flesh, and lead your Life according to the manner of the World /for your pieces cause, and so live in Freedom /concordablely. 7. Behold, such things do the Enemies g Phil. 3. b. of the true Cross of Christ speak: wherewith they show how well they are contented that the Man should live in a false Freedom and in a false Concord: and that Christ؛the Goodness of God the Father; should still suffer, h Rom 6. a. Phil. 3. b. 1 Pet. 2. c 4 a and be crucified and killed: but /to suffer with Him, and to be planted into i Rom. 6. a Him /with his like Death /for the upright Lives sake, whereby to inherit the everlasting Life with Christ /in the s●conde k john. 3. a Rom. 6. a Col. ● b Tit. ● a. Birth from the Death▪ they will noon of that: but desire to live in the Sin/ l Psal 81. b. Ier 7. c. according to their own Will or Desires of the Flesh, and to go-on according to their own Goodthinking. 8. Yet do these Lamenters of the Flesh notwithstanding /talk likewise sometimes /of the Suffering or Cross of Christ /evenas the Knowledge prefigureth the same unto them: but to follow-after Christ obediently therein, and to be partakers m Rom. 6. a Phil. 3. b. of his Resurrection in themselves /to a new Life of their Mind /that do they forsake /because they seek their delight of Life/ n Rom. 16. ●. Phil. 3. c. in the Flesh, and not in God, who is the o john. 4. b 2 Cor. 3. b Spirit of Life himself. 9 But unto those that set all their Consolation of Life upon God, and which p Math. 19 b. ⁏ for the Kingdom's sake of the God of Heavens; do circumcise themselves in the Obeying of the Love and her Service /cometh Salvation, Peace, and joy. For the Kingdom of the God of Heavens /cometh unto them q Apo. 2●. ● with Beauty and Glory: and it shall with his Heat /cause▪ all the Beauty of the r Esa. 40. ●. Flowers of the Flesh to whither, and so shall make-manifest the living Souls of Righteousness /with their Garnishing /to an everlasting Triumph of the Glory of God, to his Honour, to the joy and Peace of his Saints, and to the s Esa. 65 b. 2. Pet. 3. b Apo. 21. ● Renewing of the Earth with Righteousness: whose growing Beauty /withereth not /under the Love: but it remayneth-over in the everlasting Life. 10. Behold, my beloved Friends in the Love: This write I unto you all /for a Warning from the Destruction /to th'end that ye may know the t Gen. 3.8. subtilty of the sinful Flesh, and the Perils of the same /which are hidden in the Delights of the Flesh: and for that it inought always go-well with you /under the Obedience of the Love, and that ye might not be deceived by any Straingers v Pro. 6. c. 7. a or Declyners from the Service of love. The VI Chap. Wherefore /O ye little and young Children /ye which are borne out of the Love, and be yet Esa. 66. ●●Pet. 2. a suckled with the Milk of her Breasts, for a Food of Life /in all Sweetness /Take-heede ⁏ I advise you; of the Straingers, and of the Declyners from the Service of Love: Let not the Milk of their Breasts b Pro. 5. c. 7. b delight you, that ye suck not the straying Breasts of the adulterous Whores, who are grown with child in Whoredom /through their Unfaithfulness, Fall, and Adultery /whereunto they have suffered themselves to be provoked by their crafty Eyes and wicked Thoughts: and so do bring-foorth the straying or c 4. Esd. 6 c. ungodly Seed upon the Earth /out of the Lust to their own d Deut. 12. a. good-thinking. 2. Forasmuch then as they do bring-foorth the unfaithful and adulterous Seed /out of their adulterous Fruitfulness /Therefore do they also give-forth nothing out of their Breasts /but Poison /in stead of Milk. 3. Here of beware ⁏ ye dearly-beloved; that ye do not in-any-wyse suck such Whoores-brests, nor receive any of their Milk /that-ther be no Poison sucked into your Souls, for the which /ye should be constrained to wade-thorow or suffer many Pains of Death /ere-ever ye could be sound again. But with submitted Hearts /under the Obedience of the Love /hold yourselves e Math. 10. ● 24. b Heb. 12. a constantly to the single and virtuous Nature, which floweth out of the Love and her Service /as an uncorrupt Milk. For with the Love and her Service /ther-is nothing false, f 1. Cor. 13. b. evil, nor wicked /neither-yet anything deadly, nor condemnable: but the Fullness of Life and Peace. And whosoever is in the Love, and standeth submitted to her Service /to show Obedience /in him ther-is no Evil, Wickedness, nor craftiness. 4. But if anyman do imagine any Wickedness or Evil thereof: and that the Wickedness doth evenso get place in his Heart /against the Love and her Service /He verily is an Adulterer, g Math. 5. ●. and committeth Adultery with the Evil, against the pure Wedlock of the upright love. 5. Thosame Adulterers and Adultrisses /must bear h Gal. 6. ●. their own Burden or Fault /for their Adultery and Whoredom, and be afflicted with Griefs /in thosame Works of their Whoredom, till that they do acknowledge and confess their Fault /in the Comunialtee of Saints /among the Children of Love, and so do submit them under the Obedience of the Love /to a i Rom. 6.12. a Ephe. 4. e. Renewing of their Hearts or Spirits /To th'end that they may evenso be washed and puryfyed /through the Floodd or k john. 3 a Tit. 3. a. Water-fountayne of the Love /to the Forgiveness of their Sinnes·s and turned-about in their Spirit /to be innocent Children /that imagine neither Evil nor craftiness. And whosoever then turneth him about in that sort, l Math. 18.19. b Mark. 10. b. to him cometh the Kingdom of Heavens, and the everlasting Life. 6. Therefore let our Conversation m Eph 4. a. b be upright in the Love: and let noman know nor imagine any Evil, nor any Guile or Wickedness: but become in that manner altogether plain or innocent n 1. Cor. 14. c in Evil /so shal-ther no Evil nor Deceit be found among you. 7. grow-up in o 2 Pet 3. c the Virtue and in the godly Wisdom, and become prudent and understanding therein▪ as also Men and Elders with grey Hear. For among those that are grown old or aged therein/ p Eccli. 8.9. is the Wisdom, and the Concordablenes with the Elders in the holy Understanding. Therefore be ye always agreeably q Rom. 12. b. ●5 a 1. Cor. 1. a 2. Cor. 12. b. Phil. 2. a. minded to all unity of Heart in the Love, and take ye all therein your delight of Life. 8. Also cover not r Pro. 28. b. your Hearts before the Elders in the Family of Love, and let noman deal privily in anything, nor hide anything in secret: but let everyone make-manifest himself as he is: and of all what God hath foreseen s Gen. 1. c. 9 a 1. Tim. 4. a. for good and upright /from the Beginning, and is edifying towards the Righteousness /let noman be ashamed /in the Comuniattee of Saints /whose Hearts stand submitted under the Obedience of the love. 9 But let not any Contention, t Ephe. 4.5. a. 1. Pet. 2. a. ●. ● Evil, subtilty to Wickedness, nor any Deceit or craftiness /be harkened-unto by you: but let it all be layd-doune among you /under the love. And the Love of God the Father /get the Victory in that sort in all your Hearts. Amen. The VII. Chap. THese testimonies, even-as they are revealed unto me in Heaven /by the holy Spirit of Love /according to the Sentence of the righteous judgement, have I ⁏ out of inclined Love; written to the Service of you all /my beloved Hearts, and to a Declaring of the righteous judgement /whereby to reveal and make-knowen before you all /that no Flesh of the fallen Adam /is unguilty a job. 4. b 9 a 2●. a Psal. 143. a. before God, neither-yet hath it any right in his judgement /To th'end that it may all become submitted under the Love and her Service: and that it may all evenso ⁏ thorough the Love and her Service; be b Esa. 65 b. 2 Pet. ●. b renewed according to God's Truth /to an upright Knowledge and Understanding, and to the Amendment and Makeing-wholl of all that which is marred or made-evell: and that likewise through the Love and her Service /all offensiveness or Euel-conceaveing of the Flesh /might be c Ephe 4. c. Col. 3. b. layd-doune· and all that which is of God and Christ /restored or brought-to-right: and that all People might ⁏ through the Love and her Service; acknowledge the Goodness of God and his Merry, to an everlasting godly Triumph of our God, and to the Blessing of all Generations of the Earth, according to the Promises made to the Fathers. 2. Heerwith I do salute you everyone /with a Salutation of the Love, ye which have your fellowship with us /to the Obedience in the Love: and evenso with Exhortation to the Good /salute you all one-another likewise /with a Salutation of the love. 3. Receive one-another in-like-maner /with Lessons and Exhortations to the Love and her Concord: and let your Hearts be set-at-quyet /through the Love: and think upon no other Righteousness nor Holiness /but upon that which is required by the Service of Love, and which bringeth all Love with it. And all whatsoever ye do and leave, all d 1. Gor. 10 d. 16. b Col 3. b. thatsame /do and leave /in the Name of the Love, or for the loves sake. 4. hereunto /become you all agreeably minded, as loving Children in the Love /then can-ther no Discord nor any Evil nor offensiveness /get any place among you. But your Course-of-lyfe shalbe in the Love and in Peace: and God shall be with you: and ye shall understand e Math. 13. the judgements of God and their Secrets. And noman shalbe able to spoil you of the right Freedom /which we have in the Love of jesus Christ. With which Life of the upright Being of the Love /God hath showed Mercy on us /to the end that we should live loveingly, sweetheartedly, and peaceably therein /under the Obedience of the love. To the which God of Love only /belongeth f 1. Tim. ● b. 6. b. the Honour, and all laud and Praise for evermore. Amen. The End of the Seventh Epistle. The eight Epistle. A clear Distinction of the Submission and Vnsubmission in the Spirit: With certain groundly Informations and Instructions. Scent unto a Lover of the Truth /at his hearty Request. Very profitable and serviceable /to the Knowledge of the Godliness. Behold how that I have not laboured for myself only. but also for those that desire Information. Ecclesi. 33. Heerwith be unto the my Beloved LW /Health and Salvation. The First Chapter. FOrasmuch as Mercy is chanced unto me /through the Love of God the Father /therefore is also my Spirit inclined to the same Love of God the Father. and likewise to the service of my Neighbour: and that altogether to the same love. 2. But sing the times are now perilous ⁏ my Beloved; and that there are also many Harms to be feared to ensue /if one should minister the Word of Life unto anyman unforesightfully /Therefore doth it oftentimes seem perilous unto us /to handle, to speak, or to write of the Word of Life, and of his se●ret Clearness /before everyone that would desire it. For it is not everymans' Matter /to comprehend the same in his clearness or Secretness: but a Math. 12.13. c. 1 Cor. 1.2. a There's /whose Hearts be b john 6. ● stirred-up ⁏ by God; to a Devont-meditation of the Word and his Righteousness, and have intended Love and Peace. 3. For which Causes /we deal with godly Care /in the Service of our Neighbour. and are likewise to consider /what is most-profitable or necessary to be administered unto everyone /out of the Service of the gracious Word /to th'end that he might by that means ⁏ without doing him any Harm; be furthered to the good and upright Knowledge of the true godly Things /through some Service showed towards him by us, according to that Estrainging wherein he standeth comprehended: but chiefly towards those that with fervency of Heart /desire or seek any Information at our Hands. 4. And sing that we ⁏ through the Light; do behold the many-maner of Perils in this Matter, as that it is hurtful unto Many /to reveal the Secretness of God unto them /therefore do not we open the jewels of the Secretness of God, or the Secretness of all godly Things /unadvisedly or unforesightfully /before everyone. 5. And although likewise /that many are our Friends /who also nodout would gladly know the Fullness of the Instruction of all Things /yet do not we oftentimes follow their Will for-al-that /in our Service which we show on them out of Love: but do deal with them /in Longsufferance, and with great Carefulness/ c 1. Tess. 2. ●. like-unto a Mother /with her Children, for to be serviceable unto them in that which is most profitable or needful for them. For that which the one can abide /the other cannot: and that whereby one farethwell, and wherthrouh he is amended /thereby might another far evil, and be made worse therethrough. 6. NOw might some man say: One should not of right hide anything from the Friends: For ther-is said for a Proverb: One aught not to lock-upp any Bread from the Friends. 7. It is true, It should be so indeed /if the stomachs were everyone so sound that they could endure the Bread in them, or were accustomed to the Taste of Bread. 8. But sing now that we do perceive by Experience /that many stomachs are not accustomed unto Bread, and for-that-cause grow soon d john. 6. offended /through the e 1. Cor 3. a. Heb. 5. b strong Food of Bread: and that Many of them likewise /have received or taken no Bread into them for a certen-tyme /to a Food of Life, but have swallowed-in somewhat heere-and-thear /out of the Wilderness /in the Darkness /Therefore are also the stomachs generally defiled /by the Multitude of straying Meats, and Man's Complexion grown very weak and tender: and cannot therefore f john. 16. b. 1. Cor. 3. a Heb. 5. b. endure the Bread of the living Word: chiefly /because they are nourished-up with so many-maner of straying Meats ⁏ in the Dark; in the Wilderness. By means whereof /their stomachs have corrupted their right State serueing to the Taste of Bread: so that they have no Hunger nor Lust at-all /to g Num. 21. b the Bread of the living Woord· neither-yet any sweet Taste in the same. For their Lust standeth always bend towards that whereunto their Tastes are accustomed. 9 And thatsame is likewise the Cause /why the secret Bread of the holy Word /doth not oftentimes serve for everyones Stomach. 10. For one may find many Men /for whom it is much more profitable and better at-the-first /to receive good Medicine out of the holy Word /for their unsound stomachs 'cause, than any strong Meat /to th'end that their stomachs might be cleansed therby· and accustomed unto Bread again. 11. Whosoever then is come a little unto Health, and is yet but weak and tender /to him there serveth nothing-els at the first /but to receive Honey h 1. Cor. 3. a Heb. ●. b. 1. Pet. 1. a and Milk /out of the holy Word, to a Sustaining of him in his Weakness. For he cannot as-yet endure strong Meat. 12. But when Strength cometh unto him, and that he can bear the Weakness of his Neighbour /so doth. it then serve him very-well /to receive of the ●ec●et Bread of the holy Word /for a Food of the strong Life /that he may yet grow stronger· and have the i john. 10. a. Life in Fullness: and that nothing may hurt k M●r. 16. b Luk. 10. ● nor let him for to live. The II Chap. THis write I unto thee ⁏ my Beloved; because thou shouldest not stumble or growe-offended at our Littleness or Childishness, nor at the Seeming of our Foolishness /in the Ministration of the holy Word, nor-yet at our mostholy Service of Love /because it is a 1. Cor. 1. b. ● playne· and not according to the Course of the Wisdom of this Worlde· nor of the Scripture-learned. 2. Notwithstanding, although our Service of Love be plain /yet is it unto us /a godly Service in the Word of Life. Which Service /we ⁏ out of Courtesy b 2. Cor. 4. a. Tit. 3. a and a good Conscience; do minister in the Word of Life▪ under the Obedience of the Love; to everyones Welfare and Health of his Soul. namely, c 1. Cor▪ 1. b. c unto all and over all those that believe thereon. 3. For truly, in all this our mostholy Service of Love /we do not follow-after the Wy●e of the World /in their Wisdom, nor-yet the high-bosting Scripture-learned /in their Knowledge, nor any Chosen-spiritualtee /in their Holiness, nor any taken-on God-seruices /in their Controversy: but we witness the Wisdom that availeth before God, which seemeth to be a d 1. Cor. ●. b Foolishness before their Eyes /and do make-manifest the upright Righteousness and Holiness which God esteemeth: which seemeth before the Eyes of the World, and before all her hypocrites, feigned holy ones, and Scripture-learned /to be e Esa. 15. ● S●p. 2. b. 5. ● nothing but Sin, Unrighteousness, or Seduceing. 4. For in all thissame /all Hypocrites, feigned holy ones, and wise or Scripture-learned ones of the World /have ⁏ through the Bewitching of their Hearts; accounted the Darkness/ f Esa 5 c. 5●. ● 59 b for Light, and the Light /for Darkness /and grounded all their Understanding /upon their Knowledge /in the Darkness: and so have entangled themselves in many-maner of Prudencies /through their own Knowledge: and brought the whole World everywhere /into so many erring Blyndnesses: in-such-sort, that for-that-●au●e /all Understanding of Men /hath corrupted g Gen. 6. ● his Way, evenlike as all Flesh did /in the time of Noe. Therefore is also their Destruction come hard-by. 5. And sing now that we have founde-out in the Deed and Truth /that all manly Understanding hath corrupted his Way in the Knowledge /So do we likewise ⁏ through the Light of the eternal Truth; behold a great Woe and Grief among Many: h Ez● 7. b Luk 19 ●●. ● the which is coming everywhear over the Children of Men. And that is the great Destruction over the manly Generation /in the Last tyme. 6. For the Destruction hath taken-holde of them, and shall make-up itself to a Destruction among them, and fall upon them all speedily. namely, because that their noble Understanding /hath forsaken De●t. 32. ● the living Being of God· and entangled itself with so many-kyndes of ignorant Knowledge or Goodthinking: so that the Children of Men have therethrough /plucked k I●● 23. f. g a heavy Burden upon their own Necks /to their Destruction. Which Burden also /they shall not be able to bear nor accomplish; but must perish therein. 7. Heerwithal goeth the Man burdened, cumbered, and grieved /and cannot find the l Math. 11. d Refreshing of his Soul /in the Knowledge of his corrupt Understanding, although he notwithstanding seeketh it therein. He thinketh to find the Life /in the Knowledge of his corrupt Understanding: but the same Knowledge/ m Gen 3. a is nothing-els but to a Death and Condemnation unto him. But the Life in the Love /is the Salvation and Peace. 8. Seeing now that the World standeth comprehended n 1. john. 5. c. in the Destruction of the ignorant Knowledge: the which she doth neither see nor mark /so is therefore the Affection of our Heart /over all tho●e and unto all those /which do see or know the Destruction over themselves, and which desire our Service /to theobtayning of a godly Knowledge /whereby to be partakers o 2. Pet▪ 1. ● of the godly Being of the Love: and which seek their Preservation with us /in the love. 9 For unto those afflicted Hearts /do we show our Service p 2. Cor. ●. ●▪ Tit. 3. a courteously /witnessing unto them /the Passage to the Life: Wherewith we do meet or com-before them with a good Conscience, against their corrupt Understanding or evil Conscience: and so do reacheout the Hand unto them /to a Guiding of them into our Comunialtee of Love and of the good Understanding /To th'end that they might thereby /be drawn out of the damnabl● q Esa 47. ● Apo 1●. b Plagues of the unbeleeveing and insensible Worlde· and to an Health in their Souls /whereby to serve and to live-unto our r Luk. 1. g God ⁏ with Them; concordably /under the Obedience of the Love ⁏ with a clean or undefiled Conscience; in all Love /as being free or unbound from all Divisions or Schysmes, and unbewitched from all chosen and counterfeit God-seruices and false Holynesses. The III Chap. Behold ⁏ my Beloved; this have I written for the Answering of thy Letter /as meeting with thee, and giving thee to understand therewithal /how erring-blind the Children of Men are grown in these last times. Not only the World /that liveth in Wildness and in Bruitish-sort: but chiefly /those that have chosen them some God-seruices, Righteousnesses, and Holynesses /through the Knowledge of their twne corrupt Understanding, or have counterfeited them according to the Prefiguration of the Letter: wherethrough Many of them have made unto themselves /a wicked and naughty Conscience, by the which /they suffer themselves to be judged /out of the Darkness: and so do a Isa. 2. a I●r. ●. b fear and serve those Gods which they themselves have made. 2. And although they be sometimes rebuked by their evil and dark Conscience /yet be not the Darknesses made-manifest in them for-al-that, neither become they also any Light: For they cannot /because that their evil and dark Conscience (although it be esteemed for Light and Truth) is Darkness and Lies itself. Therefore it is a certain Testi●ony /that such a Conscience is untrue /and doth neither judge right, nor rebuke to Amendment. 3. But God b john. 1. a. 5. c. 14. a which is the Light and Life itself /is much greater c 1. john. 3. c in Power /then the dark Conscience. For He himself /doth ⁏ thorough his Light and Service of Love; separate in us /the Light/ d 2. Cor. 4. a from the Darknesses, and so e john. 17 c. sainctifyeth his Name /in us: and showeth that He himself /is the Lord and the right f 2. Tim. 4. b A●●▪ 10. f and true judge /in our Consciences. 4. Therefore should not the Man take any judgement upon him /out of his dark Understanding or evil Conscience, although the evil Conscience will seem to execute the judgement /out of the Darknesses: But always to long after some better thing, and to set the Comfort of his Hope g Rom. 15. a. upon that which God hath promised. namely, upon the Light of Life /administered in the Service of Love /for that he might even so by the God of Life ⁏ h Ephe. 1. a whose Handworke he is; be accepted and received in the Service of Love /to a Nourtering with Righteousness: and so might ⁏ to his Salvation; take-heede to the Rebuke and to the nourterable Information /ministered by the Light. namely, through the Service of the holy Word /under the Obedience of the love. For in that sort doth God rebuke and i Pro. 3. b Heb. 12. a nourter every Son /whom He accepteth or receiveth. 5. Whatsoever then is so rebuked by the k john. 3. c Ephe 5. b Light, that is manifest: and whatsoever is manifest, that is Light: and we understand or know /that the Rebuke by the Daylight of the Righteousness of God /is very profitable and good for us /to Amendment and to Salvation. 6. For God l Deut 32. d 1. Reg. 2. a Sap. 16 b Tob. 13 a killeth, and maketh alive again /because He would evenso by his Kill /deprive the m 1 Cor. 15. f 2. Timon 1. b Heb. 2 b Death of her Power. 7. He leadeth into Hell, n 1. Reg. 2. a Tob. 1●. ● and leadeth ther-out again /because He would evenso /rend the Kingdom of Hell· and deprive the Hell of her Victory: showing that He only is the Lord, and hath the Power over the Death and Hell. 8. Behold, that is the judgement of the Righteousness of God, and the Coming of the Lord jesus Christ /to our Preservation, and to the Salvation of us /which hope upon God and Christ /for that the Death and the Hell /should no more have any Dominion over us: but that the Lord only /might ⁏ as our God and King; reign over us·s and we ⁏ as his People; to serve Him o Luk. 1. g in Righteousness and Holiness /to his Praise and Glory, and to our joy. 9 wheresoever then /God doth ⁏ through his Light and Service of Love; execute the judgement [namely, as a Death to the Death/ p Oze. 13. b ●. Cor. 15. f and as a Sting to the Hell /to a Conquering both of the Death and of the Hell] even-there is put-on the Incorruption /the Life of the everlasting immortality /to th'end that the Scripture should be fulfilled in the Word of Life /which God hath spoken in times-past by Ozeas /his holy Prophet: O q Oze· 13. b 1. Cor 15. f Death, I was thy Death. O Hell, I was thy Sting. 10. Herein have we to praise our God, for that He ⁏ through his Light and Service of Love; prepareth us the Victory against the Death and Hell. For those are r 1. Cor. 15 a the last Enemies of the Life /from the which /God will cleanse us /according to his Promises. 11. For the Day or Light of the Lord /in his Service of Love and righteous judgement /is like unto the Goldsmith's Furnace, and like the Soap of a Laundress. Behold, the Furnace of the Goldsmith/ s Mal. 3. a purifieth the Gold in the Fire. The Soap of a Laundress/ cleanseth the Clotheses in the Water. Euenso is the Man cleansed also in the t Pro. 17.27. ●. Sap. 3. a Eccli. 2. ● Furnace of Humiliation /in the Day or Light of the Lord. 12. NOw this passed-over. I rejoice me for thy Thanks, for that thou ⁏ as thou wrytest; art not a-little taught and informed /by the little Book that we have sent unto thee. Of the which thou wrytest-over unto me /that thou understandest some of the Sentences which thou hast read therein. 13. But ⁏ my Beloved; learn to have a consideration /betwixt a godded and an ungodded Man: and judge thou accordingly. For in that Pleace where a godded Man standeth, in such a State of the same Being /●an no ungodded Man hold himself, nor-yet be so. And though that he would so, or if that anyone should move him thereto, he did unwisely. For an ungodded Man hath no Substance /wherewith he can stand submitted unto God. He hath v Rom. 7. b. the Will I grant: but ther-is neither the Power nor ●he Accomplishment /with him. The FOUR Chap. Therefore aught not the Man to take-on anything /neither Submission, nor Vnsubmission. If he be estranged in the Absent-beeing from God, and that he knoweth his Estrainging /yet doth not the Knowledge bring with-it any Submission unto him /in the Being of the Estrainging from his God. 2. Yea, how submitted soever he will seem to behave himself /yet is it doubtless no Submission: but an Vnsubmission. For the Longing resteth not/ a Psa 42· a. for to come to the Beholding of God: and the same Vnsubmission is upright and good. And now when the Man is come to the Being of his God /by the Obedience to the Service of Love, and knoweth that same in his Beholding /as a Light of Life /Then doth that Being /bring-forth the Submission itself. For God is with him, and b Psal. 16. b is always in his Beholding. 3. If he be in the Kingdom of Heaven /then is God there also with him: If he be in the Hell /then is he there well and safe: For God is c Psa. 139. a there likewise with him. If he go-about to-and-fro with the Creatures /than is God there in like-maner with him. And in such an Estate /the Man is everywhear and in all points /submitted unto his God. 4. For God is always with him d Psal. 16. b at his right-hand: and his ever-liveing Being /is also a Light still /in his Beholding: Therefore he feareth not. And evenso in the true Being /the Submission is upright and good. And whosoever taketh-on another Submission, or if that anyman should think to content himself with another Submission /without the true Being: and so hunteth-after the Submission /he shall not find the right Submission. 5. Wherefore, because that we should not comfort ourselves with the Vanity nor with any foolish Submission /the Scripture teacheth us thus: e Esa. 55· a. Seek the Lord /whilst He is to be found: Call to Him /whiles He is neer-by. I will be found (saith the Lord /by the Prophet jeremy) when ye f jer. 29. b seek me with all your Hearts. 6. To the same doth Peter also exhort the brethren of Faith: g 2. Pet. 1. b. We have (saith he) a sure prophetical Word, and ye do well that ye have regard thereunto /as unto a Light /which shineth in a dark Corner /till the Day break, and the Morning-light rise-up in your Hearts. 7. Behold, These Doctrines, and more such like /do all teach the Vnsubmission /thewhyles one is yet in the Absent-beeing from God /because that the Longing towards our God ⁏ in Longsufferance; should not cease. Therefore noman hath the right Submission, neither is also the Submission promised to anyman /in the Estrainging from his God: but only in God's Being /the Light of Life. 8. But thewhyles we do yet walk upon the Earth in the Absent-beeing from God /like Geasts h 1. Par 29 d Psal. 39 c. 1. Pet. 2. b. Heb. 11. c. and Pilgrims /so have we our Comfort ⁏ i Rom. 15. a in a firm Hope; upon the Promises of God /through his gracious Word, and do credit God /that He is true in his Word and Promises: and do k Rom. 8. c Tit. 2. weight evenso with Patience /upon the Coming of the Lord jesu Christ. Whose Coming /cometh with Light and clearness, and with the Fullness of Life. And so in an assured Hope on the Appearing of Christ ⁏ who is coming unto us in the Spirit; we have our Consolation l 1. Tess. 4. b. Heb. 10. ● with each-other /thewhyles the deadly Things have yet captived us: and so we m 1. Cor. 11. c. confess the Suffering and Death of Christ /for our sins cause. And eventhus through Faith /we become armed likewise with the same n 1. Pet. 4. a Mind of the Suffering and Death of Christ, for to be planted into o Rom. 6. a Him with the like Death /under the Obedience of the love. 9 And we which be in-that-sort planted into Christ /with the like Death /do wait for Him to come p Rom. 8. b Tit. 2. a with a Gloryousnes of Life /over the Death /whereby to make us ⁏ which suffer with Him; alive q Rom. 6.8. 2. Tim. 2. b. with Him likewise. namely, in the Appearing of his Coming /to the Renewing of our Life /For to inherit evenso in the Resurrection r john. 3. a. Rom. 6. a 1. Cor. 15. e. f Phillip 3. b Col. 2. b. out of the second Birth from the Death /a sure Confession of the Resurrection of Christ /to our justification, and to reign with Him for ever in the heavenly Being. namely /over Sin, Death, and Hell /and over all the Enemies of the Life. And that is the Gospel of the Kingdom, s Math. 28. c Mar. 16. b Rom. 10. b. Apo. 14. which is published in all the World /now in the last time, according to the Promises. The V Chap. furthermore ⁏ my Beloved; thou wrytest unto me /that the Hell in process of time /vanisheth-away in thee: but the Haven cometh not again in the Pleace of the Hell. In which state (as thou wrytest) thou canst not well sometimes stand submitted, and yet of-right-it aught to be so, like-as thou persuadest thyself or rememberest /that thou shouldest have learned and understood it so of me. 2. For which Cause sake /thou makest an hearty Request unto me ⁏ by Writing; to inform thee thereof: and demandest of me therewith, and de●yerest an Answer thereupon /how I have behaved myself in the Passing-over or Wading-thorow the same, for that thou moughtst likewise follow-after me. 3. verily, I cannot answer thee according to thy Request /how I have always behaved myself /in the Making-up of the evil Conscience and erring Ignorance in the Darknesses. But to shewforth a Heb. 10. c jam. 5. Patience /in our Affliction, that is profitable and good for us all: and to have a firm Hope upon God /in our Trial or Temptation. 4. For verily /the Time cometh, and is come /that the judgements of the evil Conscience /shall all be seen and known /for Darknesses, and not for Light· for Lies /and not for Truth. In like-maner /it shall also be seen and known /that the Hell b Sap. 1 b. and Condemnation ⁏ which riseth out of the unmeasurable lying Being, or maketh-up itself ther-out; are all Lies and corruptible. For noon of all these evil Things /wherewith the Man is c Sap. 11. b punished in Darkness ⁏ for his sins cause; hath God d Sap. 1 b. made. Therefore it is all /Death and Lies /whatsoever is not He himself, neither-yet that He hath made. For all what God hath made/ e Gen. 1 a. Sap. 1 b Eccli. 40. a is good: and is everywhitt /Life and Truth, to the Blessing and joy of the Man. 5. But if-●o-be now that thou dost not know or see all these evil Things ⁏ which do tempt or beset the Man; to be Lies and Darknesses /then art thou yet much-to-weake /for one to talk anything with thee of the Truth. and as-yet to-ignorant of the Truth /for to understand anything thereof, or to comprehend anything of the Light of Life. 6. But sing that these evil Things ⁏ which are all Lies and Darkness; do captive us, and bewitch our Hearts: and that we have accounted of them to be somewhat /therefore have they brought us to Suffering and Grief: and do likewise seem unto us to be somewhat /so long as we do believe the Lies and Darknesses. But in this Tribulation and heaviness ⁏ in the time of our Temptation; let us shewforth f Eccli. 2. ●. jam. 5. a Patience /in the Hope of Deliverance. And that is it whereof I have comoned with thee: But not so plainly as I do now write the same unto thee. 7. Now for to be altogether delivered g john. ●. Rom. 7.8. b or made-free from these evil Things /which are risen-up in thee, and have captived thee /for that thy Soul may escape the Perils /into the which she is brought /through thy defiled Conscience /So is-ther nothing more profitable or furdersom for thee to the Life /then that thou shouldest forsake the dark Object /under whom thine Understanding hath stood captive: the which thou hast believed /to the Wounding of thy Soul: and so ⁏ giving thine Understanding wholly and altogether h 2. Cor. 10. ● captive under the Obedience of the Love; shouldest only hear, believe, and be obedient to the true undeceivable Light, and i Pro. 4. a. 5▪ a● to the Counsel and Service of the holy Spirit of Love: and so shouldest in thy Spirit/ k 2. Pet. 1. c. take-heede to the Light of Grace, evenas the same is now in the last time /revealed unto us /in the Word of Life ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; out of the heavenly Truth /To th'end that thou mayest be renewed in thine Understanding /to a good Knowledge: and so mayest with a good Conscience /clea●e only to the Service of Love, hearing no more nor beleeueing anything /wherewith thou wart before-tyme bewitched in the Knowledge. 8. When thou hast forsaken l Math 10.16. c Luk. 9.14 c all thissame /according to this manner, whereby to give ear and credit ⁏ which an humble Heart; to the uncorrupt Love in her Service, and to be obedient thereunto /so have then a good regard unto the m Math. 24. c 1. Cor. 15. f. 1. Tess. 4. c Noise or Sound of the same Trump [namely, unto the Service of Love, and unto the first Entrance into his Doctrine and requiring] To th'end that thou mayest evenso understand in thissame Day of Love /the Distinction of this last Trump, and what is required thereby. 9 For this Day or Light of Love /is the Day which God hath appointed or ordained, on the n Act. 17. d. which He will judge the Circuit of the Earth /with Righteousness /because that in the same mostholy Day of Love /it may o Act. 3. c. all be restored again /what God hath spoken by the Mouth of all his Prophets /from the Beginning of the World. 10. In which mostholy Day of Love /all Souls ⁏ which in the Obedience of the Service of Love /do p Math. 5 a hunger and thirst after the upright and pure Being of the Love; shall obtain their Salvation and Health: and all Understandings ⁏ which give themselves captive▪ q 2. Cor. 10. ● thereunder, and which do not hearken nor ask after anything-els; shalbe healed and made-sounde /touching the r Gen. 3 Sap. 16 b But of the destroying Knowledge of Adam, and be brought to the Understanding of the holy and godly Knowledge /and so shall feel and s 1. Pet. 2. a taste liveingly in the Spirit /the mostholy Being of the supreme God. The VI Chap. moreover ⁏ my Beloved; Forasmuch as thou dost now desire to know some larger Instruction at our hands /then that which we have already spoken unto thee /to th'end thou mayest come to the simple Truth, and so to be partaker of the a 2. Pet▪ 1. a. godly Being /Therefore do not I desire also to withhold the same from thee: but to figure it forth unto thee in Writing /according to the Gift of the Grace of God /which is chanced unto Me out of his Light of Life, and which is profitable unto thee to Edification. For-that-cause behold and consider, and give ear b Pro. 4. to the holy Understanding. 2. First-of-al /submit thyself to the outflowed gracious Word of the Lord, whereby to enter obediently into the requiring of his Service of Love: and so in thy Obeying of the requiring of the same Word and Service /take-heede to the Wisdom of the Word/ c jam. 1. c in the Meekness of the Love /in thy Spirit and Mind: For the same Wisdom /in the Meekness of the Love /is much humbler /then all Knowledge of the Good and Evil /much better / d Psal. 19 b Pro. 3. b ● b Sap. 7. a then all Gold and Silver /and much-more of value /then all precious Stones. Whosoever findeth her /he hath a costly Treasure: For the Wisdom in the Meekness of the Love /is the principal and everlasting Good, and excelleth it all. 3. This Wisdom ⁏ sing it is of God; e Sap. 7· c jam. 3. b. is also 〈◊〉▪ courteous, and friendly: For it is the true Christ of God, the living Word of the Father, and the everlasting Life. 4. Behold, this is the Life that was with God the Father /from the Beginning: f Gen 1 a. Psal 33. a Pro 8. c Sap. 1. b john 1. a. through the which /God hath made all Things: and without the same /God hath made nothing /that is any-what. 5. This Life g john. 1. d. is for a Light of Men /to th'end that the Man should live the Life /that proceedeth h Rom. 6. a 1 Pet 4. a out of God. And this Life is in Us: i john 1. a and we are made through the same, and grounded or set ther-uppon /as upon a living Word k Esa. 40. b 1. Pet. 1. c that continueth for ever: And to the same Word in his Service /we be all called and bidden /because that we should evenso through his Service /believe thereon. 6. Thissame was in the World also, l john. 1. b Heb. 1. a and the World was made by the same: but the World knew it not. 7. Thissame Word or Life /doth likewise bear every-thing/ m Heb 1. a with the Being of his Power: and maketh the n Ephe. 1. a. Cleansing of our Sins /through Himself. 8. Behold, by thatsame hath o Gen. 1. ● God made all Things well /in the Beginning: and there was nothing made in the Beginning /of all that God had made /but it was all good. And God did also behold it all for good. 9 And so from the Beginning /there was no evil nor damnable Thing /with the Life that is of God: and this Life was uniform ⁏ as one like Being; p Gen 1. c Sap. 2. c Eccli. 17. a with the Godhead. And in Beholding it /there was no Difference: For it was in every-poynt /godded with God: and so in the Beginning /there was nothing-els but one God, one Light, and one Life. 10. Out of this Life /did God bring-foorth the Memory or Understanding, q Gen. 1. b ● to be an Help to the Life /to th'end that every-thing should be handled and governed well and orderly /by the Memory or Vnderstanding· and by the Life /whereout God had brought the Memory. Therefore did likewise the Life /incline to the Understanding, and cleave unto her: for she was a Light /of his Light, and a Life /of his Life. Therefore was she also the Most-beawtyfull and the Most-delytfulone to the lovely Life. 11. Thewhiles that this Understanding /turned-not-out or fel-not-away from the Life: but did always stand-firme in the Life /for r Gen. ●. b ● an Help to the Life /so was-ther joy and Peace with God and the Man: and there was no Division or Middle-wall /betwixt God and the Man: neither had the Understanding any other Knowledge /but that she lived to the Life, and stood obedient /to the Service and Welfare of the Life, and to the Rest and Peace of all Generations of the Earth. 12. Behold, this was the former Kingdom of God /full of all pure Beauty /wherein God ⁏ before the Man fel-away from Him; was known /as a s john. 1. b Lord in his Glory: and the t Math. 24. a Act. 1. a Setting-up of the same Kingdom again /those are the Promises of God the Father. namely, to establish the same /through his Love and her Service /in the last tyme. 13. But when the Memory or Understanding turned-away from the Life, taking-upon-her to know something /that was not the Life itself, nor that stood grounded in the Life, neither-yet was for an Help unto the Life /Then did the Understanding mingle herself with that which was nothing, or which God had not made: and that was the Evil /against the Good, the Lie /against the Truth, and the Death /against the Life. And thus did the Understanding commit Adultery, and she was inflamed with the knowing of something without the Life. And she become subject to the Vanity or That which was nothing: and then was the Transgression brought-to-pas, and the Sin was in-that-sort brought-forth/ v john 6. ● 17 2. Tess. 2. a as a lost Child of the Devil and of the Condemnation. 14. Behold, eventhus was the Man captived in his Memory or Understanding/ x Rom. 1. c. 2. Cor. 4 a. Ephe. 4. c. with a blind Knowledge, or with an Understanding of the Darknesses: which Darknesses are y john. 3. ● beloved of the Man· and taken-on for coverings z Esa 25. a. 2. Cor. ●. b. or Aperus, to a Covering of the a Gen. 3. a. naked clearness of the manly Form /which God had created to be b Gen. 1.2. his Image: and so ⁏ in the Taking-on of the coverings; God was no more for a Light of Life unto the Man, nor for a delight in his Paradise: but for a Dryveing-out c Gen 3. from his Face. 15. And now when the Man was estranged from the Beholding of his God /then was the Life also /nomore for a Light to the Understanding: for the Darknesses had d Exo. 10. c Psal 105. c Sap 17. a captived her: and the Life and Truth was unknown /by reason of the Darknesses: and so the Death e Sap. 2. c Rom. 5. c. got the Vpper-hande. 16. The Devil or the Contrary-nature to God /took the Understanding captive in his Bands: and thus did the Kigdom of Death, of the Devil, and of Hell /get his Form in the Man /and increased in prevailing. whereout all false Spirits f 3. Reg. 22. c or Spirits of Lies /have had their Coming-foorth /to work Deceit and Seduceing: and have ⁏ in sundry manners; had their Work g Ephe. 2. ● and Error /in the Children of Men. 17. And eventhus did the Lie ⁏ who is a Father of the Darknesses; get the Dominion /to the Destroying of the Children of Men: and the i Esa. 60. a. Earth was filled with Darkness. And the People that were borne upon the Earth /were all k Rom. 1. c 2 Cor 4. ● Ephe. 4. ● covered likewise under the same Darkness. For whenas now the Darkness /was grown to be a Middle-wall betwixt the Life and the Understanding▪ and that the Life of God /gave no clearness to the Understanding /then was it all Error /whatsoever the Understanding tooke-on out of the Knowledge. For when the Life stood not for a Light unto her /then was also the Truth of God /altogether hidden from her: and she could bring nothing-els to the Life /but all deadly Things of the ungodly Being. 18. Behold, all these Burdens and Calamytees, and all this deadly ungodly Being /hath the Life borne/ l Esa. 53. a. 1. Pet. 2 c. for the sins cause: and the Man hath been utterly m john 1. c. 1. Cor 2. a 1. john. 3. a. ignorant of the Life /by means of the ignorant Knowledge which the Man himself hath taken-on: and the same ignorant Knowledge /is the Darkness and n Esa. 59 a. Ephe 2 b. Col 2. b. Middle-wall betwixt God and the Man, and the destroying Error /wherein the Man walketh. 19 Out of which Error or Wa●es of Darkness /we are called o 1. Pet. 2. b to the Light of Life /through the Service of the holy Word of Christ /for that we should p Math. 18. a. Mar. 10. b. turns us about from the Errors or Ways of Darknes·s and so become turned q Esa. 55. b. joel. 2. c. to the Light of Life▪ and should no more love, hear, nor believe the Darkness: but the Light of Life /in the Obeying of the requiring of his Service, the which ⁏ in thesayde Obeying of the requiring of his Service; r jam. 1. c. saveth our Souls /To th'end that we might evenso be brought again out of the deadly Things /to the Life of God /in his Glory. The VII. Chap. Behold ⁏ my Beloved; for to satisfy thee in that which thou didst request at my hands /so could I not keep secret from thee /this spiritual and heavenly Understanding /whereby to assist thee to the a Ephe. 3. a Fullness of the secret riches of God: and I hope that thou shalt also be well satisfied with this my Resolution. 2. And thissame which I have testified unto thee in writing /out of an Inclination of Love /I have sent-over ⁏ by these brethren /that are come from thee to us; to do thee service therewith /To th'end if God vouchsafe b 1. Cor. 3. a his Increase thereto /that thou ⁏ through my small Service; moughtst be furthered a little to the Life and to the Knowledge of the godly Goods /to the Praise of God, to his Honour and Glory, and to our joy. 3. For out of a favourable Heart /which I have to thy Salvation, I have testified thissame thus naked and bore: the which I do not give-foorth in such naked-maner before everyone. But I have so looked into it for the best /that this is most-profitable and needful for thee /because thou shouldest understand whereupon the Comfort c ●. Pet. 3. b of our Hearts standeth grounded, and wherein thy Soul shalbe whole. 4. For the Conclusion or the Somme of all that whereof we speak /for to become godded with God, and to be turned into the principalest Good /is this: That the Man should altogether d Pro. 1.3.4.5 1. Pet 1. b. 1. Ihon. 3. b endeavour himself to the Obeying of the requiring of the Service of Love: and so ⁏ in the same Obedience; to turne-●waye his Memory or Understanding from all Knowledges that are without the Doctrine of the Service of Love and the true Life, or which God hath not grounded or formed e Gen. 2. a. Sap 1. b. in the Life /from the Beginning: and although they do still daily assault him /yet let him not in-any-wyse hear nor believe them, as to accounted anything of them: but let him become quite turned-about f Math. 18. ● Mar. 10. to a simple Being: and so labour diligently after the g 1. Cor. 13.14 Col. 3. b. virtuous Nature of the Love, till that the Love have a Shape in him. 5. Behold ⁏ my Beloved; herein shall the Man take his h Math. 16. c. Luk. 9.14. c. Cross on him, and evenso to suffer with Christ i Rom. 8. b. 2. Tim 2. b. 1. Pet. 2. c. 4. a obediently /in the Service of the holy and gracious Word. namely, to be planted into Christ /with his like Death of the Crosse· and baptized or washed in his k Rom. 6. a Phil. 3. b. Col. 2. b. Death▪ and so in that sort /to walk, passe-thorow, or wade-over the small l Math. 7. b. Luk. 13. c. Way that leadeth to the Life. 6. After this manner /evenas I have here witnessed unto thee, let us with willing Hearts /be m john 15.17 b. Rom. 6.8. a. Ephe. 3. b incorporated-unto and n 1. Pet 2. c. follow-after Christ: o Math. 10.16 c. Mat. 9.14. c. forsake all whatsoever meeteth us against the same /out of the Darkness▪ and so stand submitted simply and obediently /under the Service of Love, till that the Life rise-up p Esa. 58. b. 2. Pet. 1. c unto us /as a Light, and that the Understanding do flow ther-out unto us. 7. Wherefore, To th'end that we might come 〈◊〉 our right fatherly Inheritance /so have we to forsake and to hate it all /for Christ's sake. namely, all the q Ephe. 6. b. 1. Pet. 5. a. Assaulting and Temptation, as likewise all the Spirits of the Knowledge, who ⁏ as if they were r 2. Cor. 11. b Ephe. 6. b. Lights; have their Work in the s Ephe. 2. a Children of Unbelief /Because that they do believe the Knowledge as a Light: and not the Life, t john. 1. ●. which is for a very true Light /unto all those that believe thereon. 8. Therefore let us take-heede u 2. Cor. 6. a to the acceptable Time /wherein God doth illuminate us. For in extending Mercy /He x Exo. ●3. b Rom. 9 b. showeth Mercy on us: and leadeth us from the Death/ y Psa. 56. b. 116. a. to the Life, even to the Shepherd z 1. Pet. 2. c of our Souls. 9 Heerwith ⁏ my Beloved; I do heartily salute thee /with a Salutation of the Love: and see that thou ⁏ with an humble Heart; do give a regard unto that which I write unto thee, and ponder well the Sentences thereof. For they do point thee a Pro. 4. a. to the Life. 10 And if thou dost yet desire larger Instruction at my hands /then write over unto me. I do always ⁏ for the loves sake; proffer myself willingly to do thee Service /in all what I may in the Lord /to thy Edifying. 11. Farewell: and set thy Comfort wholly and altogether /on the love. And salute me with a Salutation b Rom. 16. b 1. Cor. 16. c▪ of the Love /to the brethren and Sisters that are with thee, which do submit them with humble Hearts /under the Obedience of the love. And the Comunialtee in the Love /that is here with Us /doth likewise salute you all heartily with the love. 12. The unity of Peace c 2. Cor. 13. b. Ephe 4 a. Col. 3. b. be always among you all: And the Love of God the Father /take the Victory in all your Hearts. Amen. The End of the eight Epistle. The ninth Epistle. Of the Services and Ceremonies of the Christians and of the Vnchristians, and of the right and false Vce of them: with certain groundly Informations and edifying Instructions. Written and sent unto a Lover of the Truth /at his Request. Exercise thyself in Godliness: For bodily Exercise [which stretcheth to the Outward /that concerneth the Nature] profiteth little. But the Godseruice [which stretcheth to the Inward and Spiritual, and to the true Godliness] is profitable to all things: and hath the Promise both of this Life, and of that to come. 1. Timo. 4. The First Chapter. THe Love of God the Father ⁏ through the Revealing of the Coming of our Lord jesus Christ; be with thee /my Beloved: and a Ephe. 1. b. 3 b. illuminate thy Spirit to a true Knowledge of the Life /in the Spirit /whereby thou mayest ⁏ with a right Discerning; see-into and know liveingly ⁏ according to the Spirit; the secret b Sap. 9 b Rom. 11. ●2. 2 Counsel and Will of God /To th'end that thou mayest judge c john. 7. c according to the Truth /with a right judgement. Tha●t grant us the almighty Lord /through his love. Amen. 2. My Beloved: Our Favour out of the Service of Love ⁏ to thy Salvation; standeth always willingly-bent towards thee, for to be serviceable unto thee /to thy Edifying, and to a good Knowledge of the true Light (For that thou mayest be illuminated with the Illumination of the clearness of God, which ⁏ out of the Grace of his Love; is revealed d Rom. 16. c Ephe. 1.3. a Col. 1. c 2. Tim. 1. b and appeared unto us in the Spirit, according to the Promises of God the Father) and with Writing /to reach thee the Hand to the same /according to thy Request, to a guiding of thee into our holy Comunialtee /under the Obedience of the love. 3. In which Comunialtee /we have our Fellowship e 1. john. 1. a with God the Father, and the Lord jesus Christ /in the everlasting immortality: wherethrough all f 1 Cor. 15. f Corruption, and all g Esa. 25. a. 2 Cor. 3. b. coverings, Middle-walles, h Esa 59 a Ephe. 2. b. and i Psal. 146. b Bands /be taken-awaye: wherein all Patterns, Images, Shadows, and Figures /do k Col 2. b Heb. 9.10. cease: and wherein there is nothing-els beheld /but the everlasting l Heb. 12. c undisturbable Kingdom /full of all Power of God /full of Life, Love, and Peace /full of Cleernesses m Math. 24. d 25. d. 2. Tess. 1. a. of all the holy ones and Children of God /and full of all heavenly Treasures n Col. 2. a. and godly riches /even-as God hath in times-past/ promised to come in Glory, for a righteous judgement upon the Earth. 4. O thou Beloved: Forasmuch as we have showed our Favour of Love on thee ⁏ with Service and Assistance; to these heavenly o Ephe. 1. b 2. a. 3. a Col. 1. ●. 2. a. riches in the eternal Being of immortality /So have we now the second-tyme /received writings from thee: and having perused-over and considered of them ⁏ so much as we can; we do understand thereby ⁏ according to the mentioning of thy writings; that thy Opinion or Conceaueing standeth towards us, or thou shouldest seem to have understood so by Others /that we should not use the Christian Ceremonies, or should accounted them to be unprofitable. 5. Not ⁏ my Beloved; we are not so presumptuous /that we should not acknowledge all God's Ordinances ⁏ in their right Form or V●e; to be good p Eccli. 39 c and profitable /being ministered in their due tyme. Yea, we esteem them very worthy and commendable in their Service, so farr-forth or to such an end as their Service reacheth: the which we have sufficiently witnessed ⁏ with sensible Distinction; before all Understandings /in the Glass of Righteousness. 6. But ⁏ my Beloved; if thy Heart should yet stand captived unto anything of that which hath had his Foregoing (the which also had the Ministration of his q 2. ●or. 3, a. clearness to the tocoming Day of the Revealing of the Coming of Christ: that is, till that the Refreshing should appear r Act. 3. c▪ from the uncovered Face of God /for a glorious Kingdom of God, and for a joy and Peace of all the Saints of God /in the everlasting Life) so consider then /by Whom, and out of what Spirit /the Christian-ceremonyes are ministered /by the Illuminated, or by the Vnilluminatedones: out of the Letter of the Scripture, or out of the Word of Life. The II Chap. Sing now then that many Instituters of Ceremonies /do minister the Office of Ceremonies /out of the Prudence of their own Understanding, or out of ●he Knowledge of the Letter /altogether to Controversy: and have not received the Office of their Ministration /through the Word of Life /verily, so is likewise their Office of Ceremonies /no a jer. 23. b. 27. a. 29 a. Commandment of God, nor-yet their Services /any christian Ceremonies. For those Scriptur-learnedones do setfoorth the Ceremonies ⁏ which they administer for christian Ceremonies; out of their own Opinion and b jer. 23. b. Goodthinking: and therefore is also their Office against God's Commandment. For they are unmeet to the Service of the Lord /which God esteemeth-of: for they know not his c Psal. 95. a Sap. 5 a ●eb. 3. b. Ways, neither do they know the Way of d Psal. 14. a Psa 59 b Rom. 3. b Peace: but they are blind, dumb, and deaf /touching the Life that proceedeth out of God: and so in their Services /are e Math. 15. b▪ 23 b Luk ●. d Blyndeguydes: and do likewise lead the People into Captivitee /with the Bands of their Blindness. 2. They break not the f john. 6. c. Bread of Life unto the People: they baptize not also in the g Math. 28. b Name of the Father ⁏ who is the living God; nor in the Name of the Son of God ⁏ who is the true Light and Life of his Father; nor-yet in the Name of the holy Ghost, who is the heritable h Ephe. 1 b Pawn of the Godliness. 3. Forasmuch now verily /as these holy spiritual riches are not among them /therefore do they not likewise keep i 1. Cor. 11. c the Supper of Christ /according to the Truth: For the Bread k john. 6. d from Heaven /is not with them. For-that-cause also /they know not the Word of Life, nor the Spirit of agedness l Ephe 4. c. or of the Man Christ: nor they m Esa 40. b Sap. 9 b Rom. ●●. ● 1. Cor 2. b understand not his Death, n Rom. 6. a Phil. 3. b. nor his Resurrection, nor the Counsel of God, nor-yet the Wisdom, nor the christianity. 4. Seeing then that they have not received the Bread of Life fro● Heaven: neither are o jer. 14.23. c sent by God nor by Christ: and are Straingers from the secret Counsel of God: and understand p Sap. 9 b 1. Cor ●. b. nothing-at-all of the godly Things /How should they then be able rightly to minister the beginnings q Heb. 6. a of the christian Doctrine, or the Christian-ceremonyes /wherewith the upright Righteousness is required? 5. verily, they have not the lovely Feet of the r Esa. 25. b. Nahu. 1. b. Rom 10. b Messengers /which come from the Hill of the Lord: they bring also no good Message: they publish not the Peace: neither do they likewise make-manifest the Salvation that availeth before God: but they are quite darkened in their Understanding /through s Rom. 1. c. Ephe. 4. c. the Blindness of their Hearts, and through the Unbelief that is in them. Therefore are they all likewise /janglers, strivers, and Contenders against one-another /for the Ceremonies and for the literal Scriptures 'cause: and do make among each other /Disturbance and captived Consciences, chooseing private t Rom. 10. a Col. 2. c. Righteousnesses unto themselves /according to the Goodthinking of their own Hearts. The III Chap. FOrasmuch then /as that the Kingdom of Peace /is ⁏ out of Grace; a Math. 11. c 13. c. 1. Cor. 2. b. Ephe. 1. b. Col. 1. c. revealed and geeven Us to see-into in the Word of Life /through the Love of God the Father /Therefore is not the Counsel of God unto us now /to take-in-hand nor to use anything of that which is past /according to Man's Imagination. 2. Yet do we well perceive this /that the former Services ⁏ at that time when they were ministered through the Word of Life, and used out of the Truth; were profitable nodout /unto Salvation, and served for an Hand-reaching b Gal 3. c. Heb. 6. a. 7. b or Gyding-in of the Little or Youngones of Understanding /to the Word of Life. Howbeit /now it is also well known unto us /that many Scriptur-learnedones do now strive and contend their-about /in their good-thingking Knowledge /and use much Disputing and Arguing about them. And that would not God have: c 1. Cor. 7. b. For we are called unto Peace. 3. If we than should likewise bring-in and use the former Services ⁏ which are passed-thorow; according to the Order and Opinion of the contentious Setters-foorth of Ceremonies or Scriptur-learnedones: and should not declare the requiring of the right Services and Ceremonies /So should we have then to strive, to contend, and to dispute with Them. 4. But no, that is not our Service. We have all our Regard /to note what a lovely Being in the Peace /the Word of Life holdeth before us /as a Light: and do follow his Commandment d john. 6. d. 1. Tess 4. a and Will: and do labour after the attaining to that which the Ceremonies do require, or that whereunto they were ministered in times-past /To th'end that our Service (whereunto God hath called us in these last Days /through the e 2. Timo. 1. b Tit. 1. a. Revealing of the Coming of the Lord jesus Christ) should not be darkened f 2. Cor. 6. ● with any Intanglement. 5. For God would not that anyman should strive or contend for Services, nor-yet for Ceremonies: but that everyone should bow g 1. Pet. 5. a. and submit himself under the Obedience of the Love /our mostholy Godseruice: and should receive the Administration of the Counsel of God /for a Life of Salvation: follow-after h Pro 4. b. 5 a 2 Timo. 3. b. the same Counsel: and so should ⁏ out of the beginnings of his simple Childhood; increase in the christian Doctrine or Ministration of the Love▪ or grow-up therein i Ephe. 4. c. to the Age of the M●n Christ: that is, till that the Love have a living Form in him: not looking-about after that which is past, but having regard k Phil. 3. b. unto that which is to come: that is, to the Inheritance of the Peace /to the Salvation of the Soul. 6. But if anyman be minded heer-against, or resteth self-wyse: and will allege much out of the Scripture /with his dark Understanding /he shall burden his own Conscience, entangle his Senses and Thoughts, and not find the Refreshing of his Mind, nor the l Act. 3. ● Comfort of his Soul. The FOUR Chap. furthermore thou testifyest /that thou understandest not certain Sentences which are rehearsed in the Testimony of the Mediation of Christ: and seemest to affirm ther-out /that that which the Prophet Esaias a Esa. 7●. 11. hath spoken of Christ /should be only of Christ /that was to come b Math. 1. ● Rom. 1. a. 1. Tim. 2. ●. in the Flesh. 2. That is surely very-right: But not as thy Mind conceiveth it. Therefore consider of the Meaning: and understand what I wryt unto thee. For this do I testify unto thee as a Secret of God, that the Word of Esai /is a living Word of God. 3. So consider then ⁏ thou Beloved; that God's living Word /is an everlasting Being /which was c Heb. 13. ●. in the Beginning, which is now, and which shall come. 4. wheresoever or unto Whomsoever God's living Word hath a Breaking-thorow /there doth then the same Word /witness of Christ /according to the Truth: And whatsoever it doth then speak of Christ؛ d john. 3. ●. the everlasting Daylight; /that doth it not speak /that the same Christ is then beginning, nor-yet then ending: but that Christ of whom it then speaketh /He was in e john. ● a. the Beginning: and is likewise then present, f john. 9 c. even-as the Word speaketh of Him. And unto all Those /which have not yet received the Word, neither that it is g john. ● e. declared unto them, Christ is likewise for to come. And not otherwise. It is very true. 5. All what Esaias speaketh of Christ, that speaketh he h Esa. 7.9.11. as present /who notwithstanding /was in the Beginning: who likewise hath i Esa. 53. ●. 1 Pet. 2. c suffered for the Sin of Adam. Who was evenso k john. 1.2. b Act 2 c. 10. e 1. Cor. 15. a revealed likewise after-that /in the Time that was to come. 6. Euenthus is Christ in all points/ l 1. Cor. 15. c. the First, and also the Last: who in his Coming /is manifested m 2. Tess. 1. b 1. Timon 3. b 1. Pet. 1. b. gloriously in Power, according to the Promises. The V Chap. ALso thou desirest a Resolution of me, Whither that ye likewise among yourselves /may ⁏ with Speakable-woords; inform one-another to the Knowledge ⁏ thewhyles ye are not yet come to the Being that is spoken-of; and may admonish each other thereunto with Reverence: and so may exhort-one-another for to come to the virtuous Disposition and Nature of God. 2. I can but marvel that thou demandest that Question of me. For all our Doctrine, Hearts-lust, Will, and Desire is (like-as I have also talked with thee thereof) that all brethren and Sisters which are comprehended with us under the Obedience of the Love /in one Fayth· and entered into the first Schoole-rule of the christian Doctrine of the Service of Love, or which submit them thereunder /should ⁏ with Diligence and Affection to the good Being; assist a Rom. 15. b. 1 Tess. 5. b. Heb. 10. c. and exhort one-another to the same. as-likewyse to the Knowledge that is the right Knowledge /which stretcheth to the Love and to the Obedience of her Service: and so with Reverence b Rom. 12. b. Phil. 2. a. 1. Pet. 5. a. to admonish each-other: giving the Honour to the Elders in the holy Understanding, as Foregoers of the Congregation /to the good Being: c Phhil. 2. c. 1. T●ss. 5. b. 1. Tim. 5. b. Heb. 13. b. unto whose Word or Exhortation /ye shall also ⁏ to a serviceableness of the Love, and to the Salvation and Peace of the Congregration; give-ear /with Devotion to the Good, and with Longsufferance /to th'end that noman speak rashly: but d 1. Cor. 14. ● orderly and peaceably, to the Edifying of each-other. 3. Behold, thatsame ⁏ as is said; is our Will and Counsel unto all those that hear us, and submit them under the Service of love. 4. If-so-be then that thy Heart and the Heart of those that are with thee /have a Lust to the good Being /then deal in this manner among eath-other: and tarry one for another: and let your Words be loving: e Rom. 12. b. Col. 4. a. 1. Pet 3. ●. and talk daily with each-other /of the Peace: and so increase in the virtuous Nature of the love. 5. Thus doing, the christian Ceremonies shall have their right Ministration among you according to the Truth /to an f john. 17. b. Ephe. 4. a. unity in the love. For that is it which God requireth. And so shall ye increase from the g Math. 18. a. simple Childhod of the spiritual Generation, and grow-up to the Age of Christ, h Ephe. 4. ●. or to the Perfection. But i Gal. 1. a. 5. b. entangle not your Consciences /among each-other. 6. Let the Elder in the holy Understanding /inform the Youngones, and serve them with Food k Math. 24. c. Ephe. 6. a. 1. Pet. 5. a. of Nourishment /thereafter as they can bear it. 7. Let the Strong go-before l Rom. 15. a. 1. Cor. 9 c. Gal. 6. a. 1. Tess. 5 6. the Weakones: and help to bear their Burden /in their Grief. 8. The good-willing-ones to the Love /ye shall not grieve with any Burdening. but shall holde-foorth all Love and Peace before them. 9 To the Unwilling and m 2. Tess. 3. Slothfulones to the Obedience of the Word and his Truth /ye shall holde-foorth the right Obedience of the Truth /showing them that they are not n Rom 8. b. Debtors to the Evil, nor to the slothful Idlenes·s but unto God: If they then become goodwilling to the Love and her Service /with all Diligence, then are their o jam. 5. c. Souls won. 10. But the Blaspheamers, p 1 Timon 6. a 2 Timo. 2 c. ●he Contenders with the Scripture, and all q Pro ● b. Esa. 5 c. Self-conceited-wyseones, together with those that turn them away r 1. john. 2. b. from Us and our Doctrine, and besides the same /bring-in or cause Offence: and so do make s Rom. 16. c. Breach or Division /ye shall let-pass, and not deal▪ anything-at-al with them, till that they do see or /know their Fault, and have gotten a converting Heart to our godly Doctrine· and to the virtuous Nature of the Love: and so are well-minded with Us/ t john. 17. c. Ephe. 4. a. to the unity of Heart in the Love, and do submit them under the Love and her Service /to show concordable Obedience. 11. According to all this manner /let us daily ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; observe and use such things, to the Praise of our God, and to our Peace and Salvation /and let us comfort the 1. Tess. 5. b. Feeble-mynded and Sorrowfulones /with godly Exhortations. For that is the Love which we aught to have one towards another /through the Love of God the Father, wherewith He hath showed Mercy on us. The VI Chap. HEerwithal my Beloved ⁏ as with this small Instruction; be thou therein content for this tyme. I hope that thou shalt also be well satisfied therewith. 2. And if thou dost ⁏ with Devotion towards God; look into this Instruction /according to the Truth /then know I well /that our Love and Favour showed unto thee /shall breed in thee no Dispiseing or Contrary-sight against the same that is ministered unto thee: and thou shalt likewise well understand /that we do not accounted the Services of the christian Ceremonies /unprofitable, nor-yet in vain. but do esteem them of great Value /in their right Ye. 3. But verily, the Services and Ceremonies of the Vnchristians and of the Straingers /which are a Rom. 1. c Ephe. 4. ●. darkened in their Understanding, and estranged from the Light of Life (let them then take-on thosame out of their own Imagination, or out of their Knowledge which they frame out of the Letter) all those do we accounted unprofitable and in vain /Yea, for an harmful Institution, and for an arrogant b jer. 5. b ● a. 14 b. 23 c Presumption against God's Commandment. The which is an abomination c ●sa 1. b. Luk. 16. b. Tit. 1. b before the Epes of our Lord and God. 4. But the Services and Ceremonies which God esteemeth, which be ministered out of his Light and Life /in the Service of Love /according to his own Commandment /those are acceptable unto God: and are d Rom. 1. b to the Salvation and Peace of the Believers of the Word. For the upright Godliness, and the true Light of Life of the godly clearness /is made-manifest in thosame Services. 5. And although that they ⁏ according to the outward Action; are not like unto the Ceremonies of the contentious and unilluminated Scriptur-learnedones ⁏ wherewith they strive and contend; or be not used after that manner /yet are they notwithstanding ⁏ before God; agreeable to the Services and Ceremonies which God hath willed and commanded, and which avail before Him. 6. Thewhiles then that the Childhod ⁏ or the youngness of Understanding; in the Inheritance of the Lord /doth e Gal 4. a. yet remain /so are the Services and Ceremonies (which be ministered by the Elders in the holy Understanding ⁏ through the Light of Life; under the Obedience of the Law, or under the Obedience of the Belief, or under the Obedience of the Love) as f Gal 4. a. Tutors and Keepers unto all Littleones of Understanding, wherethrough they receive Assistance, till that the Day common unto them, g 2. Pet. 1 c. and that the Light of Life rise-up in their Hearts /who as-then, have ⁏ thorough the Light of Life and his Service of Love; exercised Minds /for to h Heb. 5. b. discern ⁏ thorough the same Light; the Good and Evil, the Life and Death, the Preservation and Destruction: and so to be meet to all good Exercises. 7. When they now are come to this State /so are they as-then no more Children or Littleones-of-understanding /in the holy Understanding, to whom the Hand must be reached with Services and Ceremonies, and that must be informed or taught to the Entrance into the holy Understanding, or to the beginnings i Heb. 5. b. of the christian Life: but they are with the Agedones /grown likewise to be aged Men, Elders, k 1. Cor. 4. ● Heb 13. b. and Fathers of the household or Comunialtee in the Love /who do know how to be serviceable unto the Little and Weakones, l 2. Cor 6. a 1. Pet. 4 b▪ Heb. 13. b and to go before them with the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love /to all Concord under the Obedience of the Love: and to inform the Congregation to the Life and Peace /with that which is fordersom unto them to m 2. Pet. 1. a. the Life and Peace. 8. Behold, and consider: These are the Services and Ceremonies which God regardeth in his Congregation: the which shall continued forever in our mostholy Service of Love /to a n Heb 7. b Gyding-in of People to the upright Righteousness and Godliness. For o Luk. 1. b the Salvation▪ and the Peace of the People /in all Love, and God's p Rom. 1●. c. Will and Counsel /is made manifest and known thereby. It is very true. 9 Heerwith I do heartily salute thee /with a Salutation of Love: and with the same Salutation /salute me also to the Comunialtee that is with thee, as likewise to all those that submit their Souls under the Obedience of the love. 10. moreover ⁏ my Beloved; I should have rehearsed a larger Answer unto thee /touching certain Things whereof thou wrytest unto me: but I have had no time to accomplish it. Not, I have scarcely had so much spear time /as to write this little unto thee. The Cause /our Brother whom we have sent unto thee /shall also tell thee by Mouth. But if thou bist yet unsatisfyed in anything, then give him to understand of the Matter, and ask his resolution thereof. And if thou bist not satisfied so in thine Understanding, them wryte-over the Matter unto me. I proffer myself always ⁏ out of an Inclination of Love; to do thee Service. The Love of God the Father /get the Victory in all your Hearts. Amen. The End of the ninth Epistle. The Tenth Epistle. A precious jewel of pure Instructions and loving Exhortations /how one shalbe obedient to the Word of Life and Truth /in the Service of Love· and grow-up therein /to the Perfection or Age of the manly Being of Christ. Let us now leave the Doctrine of the Beginning of the christian Life, and go to Perfection. Heb. 6. hearken unto me /O ye holy and virtuous Children, and bring-foorth Fruit like a Rose planted by the Ryvers-syde: and give a sweet Savour from you /like unto Libanus. Grow and blow like a Rose-garden: and give a Savour /like a Lilly. Sing a Song-of-prayse, and laud God in all his Works. Eccli. 40. To my courteous Friends /which are comprehended with Us /in one Light of the Love /be Health and Salvation. The First Chapter. ALL my Hearts Wishing is /that it might in all respects /go well with you everyone: and that ye might ⁏ unhindered; increase in the Godliness, and in the Light of the heavenly Truth and of the holy Understanding /which is appeared and declared unto us out of Grace /through the Love of God the Father. 2 Out of which Light of the godly clearness /we have now in this last Time /received a Gal. 1 b. 1. Timo. 1. b such a godly Office /from the eternal and living God /through the holy Spirit of his love. namely, the Service of Love /whereby to minister in the same Service ⁏ with the true Light and heavenly Understanding; the Mostholy of the true Tabernacle of God /unto all Lovers of the Truth /under the Obedience of the Love: and so to make-manifest unto them ⁏ out of the same Mostholy; b Exo. 25. c. Rom. 3. c. Heb. 5. a. the mercy-seat, with the sundry costly Garnish of the spiritual and heavenly riches. 3. Into which Mostholy /the High-preest is gone, for to sprinkle evenso out of the Mostholy /the Holy of the same Tabernacle, and to cleanse and sainctify c Heb. 9 a. b. it all with his Blood: the which is the new or true Testament/ d Math. 26. c. Mar. 14 c. Luk. 22. b. to the Forgiveness of Sins. namely, unto all those which do follow-after Christ/ e Heb. 10. c in the Holy, and be planted in to him/ f Rom. 6. a Phil. 3. b. with his like Death. The which is the true Offering for the Sin ⁏ through Christ; which is acceptable unto God the Father /as a sweet g Rom 12. a Phil. 4. b. 1 Pet. 2 a. Savour: wherethrough all the Believers of jesus Christ /do inherit ⁏ in the second h john 3. a. 'Tis 3. a. Birth from the Death; the heavenly riches of God and Christ /in the Mostholy. 4. But these spiritual riches of the heavenly Goods, and of the Mostholy of the true Tabernacle of God /were not hitherto /made known unto the world, i Rom. 16. c. Ephe 3 a Col. 2. c. like-as God doth now in thissame Day of his Love /disclose, make-knowen, and bring th●same abundantly unto Us ؛his elected Holyones;. Yea, for Us (we which ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; be planted into Christ /with a like k Rom. 6. a. Phil. 3. b. Death of Christ and ⁏ through the l 2 Tim. 1 b. Appearing of his Coming; begotten out of the same Death/ m Rom. 8. b. Ephe. 2. a. Col. 2 b. to be Children of God) hath God kept and left thosame spiritual riches of the heavenly Goods /for an heritable Kingdom/ n Heb. 4. b. to th'end He would even so ⁏ through his Love; bring Us to his Rest, and establish Us therein. 5. Which unspeakable o Apo. 21. a. Kingdom ⁏ full of all loveliness and Life 'and full of all gorgeous Beauty; was prepared p Math 25. d. 1. Cor. 2. b. from the Beginning /for an everlasting Rest and Peace /for all those that love God /for to herit them ⁏ as God's beloved q Rom. 8 b. Children, and Heirs of his Kingdom; in the same /now in the last time, according to the Promises. 6. And with thosame holy-ones and Elect of God /God r Act. 17. d. jude. 1. b. will now in thissame day /execute his righteous judgement /against all ungodly ones of the wicked world /which have not s Math 22. a. 23. c Luk 14.19 b liked of Him. and against all those which will show no t Rom. 2. a. Repentance for their Sins /according to the requiring of his gracious Word /for that they may be rooted-out· and condemned in the hellish Fire/ v Math. 25. d. which is prepared for the Devil and all his Servants. For the Condemnation in the hellish Fire/ x Apo. 21. a. is the Heritage of all ungodly ones, and unhappy Men, which contemn God and his Service of Love, and refuse the y Pro. 1. c. proffered Grace of the Lord and the requiring of his gracious Word. The II Chap. FOrasmuch then ⁏ ye Beloved; as that we ⁏ through God's Mercy /out of his bountiful Grace; are delivered from the horrible and a Apo. 18.20. tirrible Condemnation of the Ungodly /in our Obeying of the requiring of the gracious Word of the Lord and his Service of Love: and have attained to thissame precious b 2. Cor. 6. a. Time of godly Grace towards all Devout-people /which love God's Righteousness: and that the c Heb 12. c. Apo▪ 12, 21, a Kingdom of God the heavenly Father, and the true Being of his love /hath shined about Us /as a Power of God /Therefore have not we also been negligent nor slothful in thissame Day of the Grace of our Illumination /for to further the Good: but have endeavoured ourselves with great Diligence /for to serve everyone with our godly Illumination, and to reach them the Hand toward the peaceable and godly Life, and toward the holy d Heb 4. a. Rest of all the Children of God. namely, all those whom God moveth into our Way, and which desire Assistance at our hands /to the same Rest of the godly Lyfe· and to the clearness of the Mostholy of the true Tabernacle of God. 2. Behold, From this Mostholy ؛the true Perfection of the Righteousness of God; the e Esa 25. b 2. Cor 3. b. Veil [the which is the f Heb. 10. c Flesh of Christ] is now in thissame day /put-away among us /through the Death and Suffering of Christ/ g Heb. 10. c. in the Holy, wherein we are followed-after Christ /with the like Death h Rom. 6. a. Phil. 3. d. and Suffering. and all his Holynesses and Garnish /nakedly disclosed unto us /out of the same /to th'end that we ⁏ which are dead with Christ, i Rom. 6.8. b. Phil. ●. b. Col. 2. b. 3. a and risen again with Him from the Death; in heavenly joy; should likewise walk with Christ /in the same k Iohn ●2. c. Light of the Mostholy ⁏ with naked Hearts; before God ⁏ or in the Presence of the uncovered Face of our God and heavenly Father; in l Ephe. ●. a. b. all love. 3. Have a good regard hereunto /O ye beloved and goodwilling Hearts: For to such a godly End, and to be m john. 15. a. Ephe. 3. b incorporated ⁏ with Spirit and Mind; to the God of Life and his Christ /thereto stretcheth our mostholy Service under the Obedience of the Love: or thereto hath it his Ministration among the Children of Men /To th'end that they might all now ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; be incorporated to n john. 15.17. Christ and so o Act. 3. d. restored again to that whereunto they are chosen of God and called by Christ. 4. To the same God which hath prepared all this for us /through his Love· and chosen us to such a glorious majesty/ p 1. Timo. ●. c be La●de, Honour, and Thanks /for evermore. Amen. 5. Heerwithal I give you to understand ⁏ ye Beloved; that I have read-over the Letter /written by you unto our Fellow-brother: whereout I do note many Words of godly Matters. Through the which /I do also greatly rejoice me, and do give God Thanks q Ephe 1. c. Phil 1. a Col 1 a. 1. Tess 1. a. ● Tess. 1. a. for his Grace extended towards you, and for your Diligence which ye bestow one-towards-another /in that wherein we are serviceable unto you, and whereunto we exhort you. Wherethrough we do likewise perceive /that our Service and Labour showed on you /is not bestowed in vain. 6. We do also exhort all the Commers-on to the Family of Love, and all those that deal or conversate themselves with you in the Word /that they likewise will love the Truth with Heart· take-heede ⁏ with Lust and Diligence; to the godly Service of Love and the requiring thereof /whereon we witnes·s and show goodwilling Obedience to the Love: and that they will not slenderley nor lightmyndedly esteem of the proffered Grace/ r 2. Cor. 6. a. in thissame precious Time /which is full of Perils. The III Chap. Moreover, You do all of you with one-accorde /seem ⁏ by your writing; to request at our Brother's hand /that he will procure me to write a small Exhortation unto you /according to the requiring of your Letter: the which is so performed by our Brother, and to do the same /hath also been my Goodwill even from my Heart. 2. But when I looke-into your Writing, or do consider thereof /ye Beloved /so is the Cheefest-thing that ye wryt of, and wherein you do likewise complain /that there are no ancient Elders nor Fathers among you /that might exercise the Word of Exhortation /to the Edifying a Ephe. 2.4. b Tinno. 3. b of the House of God. 3. Oh! to hear this Complaint made by you ⁏ ye Beloved; goeth somewhat near my Heart: And most-of-al /for that the Understanding and the Experience in the Word (which is b 1 Tess 1. a. 2 Pet. ●. b. administered unto you by the holy Spirit of Love· and heald-foorth before you /under the Obedience of the same Love) is yet so little fruitful among you, or for that ye are yet so c 1. Cor. 3. a▪ Heb. 5. c young and chyldish therein. 4. Ah-beloved: How remain ye ⁏ I pray you; thus young or of smal-understanding in this our Ministration of the holy Word /that ye take not the same to heart ⁏ with Diligence and Fervency; to a d Ephe. 4. b Col. 1. b. Growing-up in the holy Understanding /whereby to become ancient Elders and understanding Fathers yourselves /in the same holy Understanding and Word of Grace /which is ministered unto you out of the living Godhead, and out of the Service of his Love and heavenly Truth? 5. Beloved, look ⁏ of-fellowship; rightly into to the Word that is ministered unto you: and consider /Whither is-ther anything wanting or withhealde from you /of any of that which is needful for you /for to be nourished-up therein to become Elders and Fathers? 6. Is not the Word ministered unto you /with full Instruction? Is-it not all groundly and clearly discovered unto you in Writing /whatsoever is profitable for you to know to your Salvation? Or is-ther noman among the Congregation /grown so bold in the Word /to exhort the others for to be e Math. 7 c. Lu● 6. c. jam. ●. c. obedient to the same Word /in that which it requireth (where through he might edify f i Timo. 4 b and teach both the Congregation and also himself /to the Obeying of the Word) to th'end to obtain in that manner/ g Rom. 12. b. 15 a. 2 Cor, 13. b. an upright Mind, and a lovely Being, with eachother? The which is the Principallest-thing whereunto the holy and gracious Word of the Lord is administered /out of the Love and through the same Spirit. Or would ye much-rather have the Elders in the Word /always among you /outwardly according to the Flesh, for to have Instruction of all Things /according to the Desires of your Knowledge? 7. O not ⁏ ye Beloved; Set not the Desires of your Hearts /only to the Knowledge: but much-more to h janhn. 13. b 1. Pet 1. b c. the Obeying of the requiring of the Word. For the Instruction tending to the Knowledge (although the vayne-mynded People have almost everyone a Lust thereunto /at the hands of their Wyseones) is not the Cheefest-poynt of our Service. But the Cheefest-thing that the Word and our Service requireth /is i 1 Reg. 15. b. Oze 6. b. Obedience /to th'end to enter evenso ⁏ in Obedience; into the upright Life, through the Death k Rom. 6. and Suffering of Christ /like-as we have rehearsed before in many Places, and also in the Glass of Righteousness. 8. Hereunto exhort l Rom. 15. b. 1▪ Tess. 5 b. Heb. 10. c. you one-another, and let the Elder or he that is Most-obedient in the Word, or the Boldest /have the Pre-eminence, for to speak of the Word /with all humility ⁏ like-as the same is m 2. Pet. 1. c. ministered unto you through the holy Spirit of Love; and of that which the Word requireth: and so to exhort the Congregation /to the Obeying of the requiring of the same Word. 9 Whatsoever now the word requireth▪ therein show you then Obedience /goodwillingly and concordably together /like obedient 1 Pet. 1. b. Children, and like right Disciples of the Word: and so endeavour you toward the Age of the holy Understanding, and to grow-up c Ephe. 4. b. therein /simplely /To th'end that ye (when ye do attain to the Days of agedness) may with like joy /rejoice you with Us /and we with you /in the lovely Being of God, and virtuous Nature of the Love /which is heald-foorth before you /out of Favour /undeserved. The FOUR Chap. Euen-thus verily ⁏ ye Beloved; like-as I do here rehearse unto you /out of Love, and exhort you thereunto/ a Ephe. 4.6. Col. 1. b 1. Pet. 2. a. so growe-up in the Word of Truth of the holy Spirit of love. namely /out of the youngness or Weakness of your Being /into the Age b Ephe. 4. b of the manly Being of Christ [that is to be incorporated to God /according to the inward Man· and herited with Christ /in the Kingdom of the God of Heavens] To th'end that ye /as Fathers in the Family of Love ⁏ who are taught to the Kingdom of God; c Math. 13. ●.. may bring-foorth out of the Treasure of your Hearts /the New and the Old [namely, the True and the Figurative]. But that altogether to the Service of the Congregation of the House of God. 2. Behold; if ye growe-up thus Herein /then shall ye always have ancient Elders and Fathers among you /which shall minister the Word of Exhortation unto you /with holy Understanding: and you shall not also fail nor want anything d Math. 6. c. of all what is needful for you. 3. Therefore ⁏ ye Beloved; be you one-with-another well satisfied Herein: and proceed-on e Phillip 4. a. concordably in the Word of the Doctrine of the holy Spirit of love. 4. Exhort likewise one-another daily to Quietness and unity of Heart. For any of all that what is profitable for you to know /we desire not to withhold from you: but to bring unto you /all that is needful for you, and that your Understanding can reach. For the Time cometh and is now already come /that the Food or the Bread of Life shallbe f Math. 24. d ministered and heald-foorth open-ly in clearness /unto everyone that believeth the Word of the Service of Love, and that showeth faithful Obedience thereunto: To the Young Children/ g 1. Cor. 3. c. 1 Pet. 2 c. a according to their youngness /to the Weak/ h Rom. 14.15 a. Gal 5. a. according to their Weakness /to the Strong-youngmen/ i Heb. 5. b. according to their Abillitee or Strength /and to the Elders /according to their Auncientee or Oldness. 5. Euenthus shall now in thissame Day of Love /the right Food ؛ k john. 6. f. the Word of Life; be ministered l Math. 24. c. 2. Timo. 2. b. in the right tyme· also prepared for everyone /according to his Stomack· and distributed for a Nourishment of his Soul. And thissame Bread or Word of Life that is com-downe out of Heaven /unto us Littleones and Elected of God ⁏ for a Food of Life; m Exo. 16. a. Psal. 78. b. Sap. 16. c. john 6. f. shall likewise be for a Taste of Food unto everyone /according as he would willingly eat. 6. Happy are those which now in thissame day /have sound and strong stomachs▪ and can bear the Food (howsoever it be prepared, or in what manner it is ministered /out of the Word of Life) and can receive or eat the same to a Nourishment of their Souls, and so can endeavour them n 1. Cor. 14. a. Col. 5. b. to the love. 7. Yea, thosame ⁏ if they grow up o Ephe. 4, b. therein obediently /till unto the Age of the holy and godly Understanding; shalbe found the ancient Elders and Fathers in the Family of Love: who also shall understand p Math. 11. c. 13. b. Ephe. 3. a. Col. 1. c. the Secretness of the Woord· and minister q Math. 24▪ b or bring the word of Life ⁏ out of the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love; unto the Disciples of the Word /in the right or convenient time /according to everyones Nature or Estate. namely, to the Youngones or to the new-born Babes/ r 1. Cor. 3. a. the Milk of the word /to the Sick or Weakeones/ s Rom. 14. a. the Medecinable-broth of the Word /and to the young men or Strongones/ t Heb. 5 b. the Bread and strong Food of the Word: And that altogether /to a Growing-up v 1. Cor. 13. b. Ephe. 4. b. into the manly Age of Christ. 8 O You Beloved, according to this Pattern, even-as I do Hear prescribe the same unto you in Writing /see that you endeavour yourselves among each-other in the Love: and have a good regard unto that which is heald-foorth before you /to a Consolation of your Souls. 9 Turn your Hearing thereunto, and comprehend or conceive the same in your Thoughts: and so out of the good-willing Obedience to the requiring of the Word and his Service of Love /learn to know in the Spirit of your inwardness /the right Oldestone, the right Father, and the true Shepherd, x 1. Pet. 2. c. or bishop of your Souls /which is the y john. 17. b. spiritual Word of the heavenly Truth, the holy Spirit of Love, the Light or the Day of Love, z john. 14. a. and the everlasting Life itself /whereon we do witness and point. 10. For we are no more but a john. 1. a. witnesses of the true Being of the Love /which we minister unto you /and b 1. Cor. 4. ●. 2. Cor. 6. a. Ministers of the holy and gracious Word /for to declare ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; the godly clearness and heavenly riches of God the Father ⁏ which out of Grace /are appeared and brought unto us out of Heaven /by the Father of Light; among the Children c Ephe. 3. a. of Men. 11 Which Grace, Light or clearness▪ and thosame heavenly Goods /all they d Ephe. 3. a. 2. Pet. ●. a. likewise do enjoy and be Co-partakers thereof /which submit them with us under the Obedience of the Love, and have their Fellowship with our Fellowship /in all love. The V Chap. MY intyrely beloved Friends and brethren in the Love of jesus Christ, Vouchsafe for this time /to be content with this my hearty Exhortation and small Service: and ensue or perform first-of-al /that which is heald-foorth before you a Math ● a. Luk. 3 13. a A &▪ 2. ● c for a Beginning of the christian Life: and so then grow-up ther-out/ b Ephe. 4. b. to the Perfection of the christian Life, and to the Oldness of the hol● and godly Understanding: and minister you daily the Word of Truth unto eachother, even-as the same (like-as it is also before said) is ministered unto you through the holy Spirit of Love, and as it is yet daily heald-foorth unto you. 2 Add not any Prudence of Natural-reason thereto. Defend nor cover not likewise c Gen. 3. ●. Math. 25▪ c the craftiness of the Flesh /with the Natural-reason: as that ye should ⁏ with the Industry of your Goodthinking; drawe-awaye d Deut 4.12 d or take-out anything or any Sentence therefrom /tending to an● Pleasure unto the Desires of your Flesh: but receive or accept it all e Ephe 6 a Col 5. c. wi●h simple Hearts /to your Edifying, and to the f Ier 7. a. 25. a 35. b. Amendment of your Life and Being: and remember us always to the Good. We will not also forget the Ministering of the Word /unto you all. 3. But although ye could quite forget Us/ yet cannot we forget You. For we have borne you in our Hearts: and ye have drunk g Cant. ●. ●. Esa. 66. b. of the Milk of our Breasts, and eaten of one Bread with us. 4. Therefore are we likewise daily careful over you, like unto a natural Mother that always beareth a Care over her Children /for to provide that with Diligence /which is needful for them. 5. If now the natural mothers have such a Care over their natural Children /shall not then the spiritual mothers /now in these perilous times /bear much-more a godly Care daily over their spiritual Children of Zion/ h Esa. 66. a. which they bear to the God of Life /for to bring-them-up in all Health and Godliness /to their full Age /unhindered? Yes nodout. For verily /the spiritual Procreation, and the spiritual or inward Mootherly-love /doth far exceed the natural. It is very true. 6. For-that-cause ⁏ ye Beloved; incline not to the earthly and i Rom. 6.12. ● corruptible Being: but suffer yourselves to be nourished and taught by the Service of Love▪ and through the same /drawe-away k Rom. 13. b Gal. 5. b. 1. Pet. 2. b. your Minds and Thoughts /from the earthly, fleshly, and corruptible Being /and incorporate or ymplant them to the heavenly and spiritual uncorruptible Being /for to bring-foorth l john. 15. b. Fruits of Life /like m Psal. 144. c Esa. 17.60. lovely Plants of Righteousness. 7. hereunto exhort one-another in-anywyse: and let all your Minds and Thoughts stand always submitted to the heavenly Truth: and n Col. 3, a. taste evenso in the Spirit of your Mind /the spiritual, heavenly, and everlasting Good: and take therein your joy among each-other. The VI Chap. THe Lord which is the a john. 1, 8, b 1 john, 1 a. jam. 1, b. Light of the everlasting Vncorruptiblenes, give unto you all /Eyes of clearness /that ye may see and perceive, b Math. 13, b. Lu● 8, 10, c and Hearts of Understanding /that ye may understand and comprehend the great Acts and wonderful Works of God, which God worketh in these last Days. 2. For now ⁏ out of the Power of God; the c 4. E●●, 6. ●, Apo, 5, a, Prophecies ⁏ which have been shut d Esa, 29 b, Dan, 22 b, or sealed-too a long time; become opened /through the Service of his holy Spirit of Love, and their Secretness /plainly declared: e Rom. 16, c. Ephe 1 3. a Col. 1. c 2. Timo. 1. b. also nakedly seen into and known in the Truth: and evenso published likewise. 3, The Book of the Lamb ⁏ that is written within and without; is also seen and read: and his seven Seals ⁏ f Apo. 5.6 ●. b wherewith it was shut or sealed-too; opened. Through which Opening of his seven Seals/ g Apo. 14. a. the judgement of God is appeared, and come over the World /for to judge the same with h Act. 17. b. Righteousness. 4. And after the Opening of the seven Seals /the seven Angels of God [namely, from the First Angeel forth /till unto the seventh] have all likewise sounded with i Apo. 8. 9.1●. their Trumpets. And we have heard with our Ears /that the seventh Angel hath sounded the seventh Trumpet. 5. For after the Sound of the seven Trumpets /the great Voices in Heaven become saying: k Apo. 12. ●. The Kingdoms of this World /are become our Lords, and his Christ's: and they shall reign for ever and ever. 6. Have a good regard thereon: and Understand the righteous judgement of God/ l john. 12. c. which now in thissame last Day goeth over the World. 7. Heerwith ⁏ ye Beloved; I salute you everyone /with a Salutation of the love. Embrace and kiss you likewise one-another to all m 1. Pet. 5. b. Concord and Peace /in the same Love: n Col. 3. b. forbear also one-another in the Love: have Compassion likewise with o Rom. 13.14 1. Cor. 9 c. Gal 6. a. everyones Ignorance: and inform everyone also p Rom. 12. b. with Reverence. and that altogether /in the love. 8. And when any special Matters come before you /wherethrough ye are burdened or wherewith ye are cumbered /then be bold therein in-anywyse /to wryte-over thosame unto me. I proffer myself always to do you service. 9 Also, when ye have attained unto the Time that it is needful that the Service of Love be more-lardgly declared unto you /then ye have yet heard /then shal-ther nothing be with-heald from you, but be all brought unto you /out of love. 10. Farewell, and be you valiant. The Love of God the Father keep the q Phil. 4. b. Col. 3. b. Victory in all your Hearts. Amen. The end of the Tenth Epistle. The Eleventh Epistle. A Rebuke and Exhortation out of hearty Love /serueing to a Reformation under the Obedience of the Love, and to a Repentance for their Sins /unto all those that think themselves to be wise: and do therefore blaspheme our Service and our Comunialtee in the Love, and judge us falsely. Also for a Warning unto all simple Hearts /that submit them obediently with us /under the Love and her Service. An open Rebuke /is better than secret love. Prou. 27. Cursed be he that smiteth his Neighbour privily or traitorously: and all the People shall say /Amen. Deut. 27. e. A Backbiter /bewrayeth all what he knoweth in secret: but who so is of a faithful Heart /he hideth the same. Pro. 11. The Words of the Backbiter are like unto Stripes: and they enter into the innermost-part of the Heart. A venomous Mouth and a wicked Heart /is like unto an Earthen-pott /covered-over with Siluer-drosse. Psal. 101. Pro. 26. jam. 4. Health and Salvation /be unto all those that submit them with us /under the Obedience of the love. The First Chapter. Wherefore do the People rage or a Psal 2.59. a. Act 4. ●. murmur? why do they constreu our Words to the worst /wherewith they be exhorted to the b 2 Pet, 1. b. Entrance into the good Life? Why do they think c Math. ●. a. Evil of us in their Hearts? Why do they d Deut 27 ● Ier 18. c. smite us privily /with their backbiting? Why shoot they out their venomous e Psal. 11.57. a Arrows after us /behind our backs? And wherefore do many mock at Us, as though the God of Israel /were not our God· and the Lord jesus Christ /our Saviour? 2. O ye Backbiters with your false tongues, and ye Declyners from the true Doctrine of the Service of the Love of jesus Christ, as also ye ignorant People /which do now make-up yourselves against Us and against our Love showed on you/ f joel. 2. b. Act. 3. c. Turn you about and repent: and torment not yourselves somuch I advise you /with your Ignorrance, lest ye g Gal. 5. b. consume your own Hearts. Keep your venomous Arrows in your quivers hardly, and your false Seed /in your Basketts. 3. For doubtless there are more than too-many of the venomous Arrows shott-foorth: an● there is more than enough of the contentious evil h 4. Esd. 4. c. Seed sown. Let it once suffice I pray you /to spit-out your Venom and naughty Seed /against God and his holy majesty /the House of his love. 4. Wherefore ⁏ I pray you; will ye murmur against God and his Holyones·s despise God's majesty ؛the Habitation of his Love; and ⁏ through the Wickedness or Envy of your Hearts; i Rom. 8. d. blame his chosen Ministers? sing that there is no evil happened unto you by them. 5. Look into yourselves I beseech you: Is-it not your own Evil that separateth you from us and from our Love which we bear towards you, and which falleth upon you /through your own Opinions or Goodthinking: and which likewise bringeth all Trouble, Sorrow, pain, k Sap. 11.12. ● and Grief upon you· and all perverse Opinions or evil Imaginations towards us? But we for our parts /have neither done Harm nor l 2. Cor. 7. a. Wrong unto you nor-yet unto anyman-els. Also /God hath not injured you. But ye for your parts /will seem to reign above God and his Requyring· and above the Testimonies of his holy Spirit of Love /with your m Ma●h. 15. b 23. c. unclean Hearts, and earthly Spirit· and with your Imagination of the Knowledge: and so will judge God's Truth and his holy-ones /with your own corrupt Wisdoms and taken-on Knowledges. Yea /ye will also in your disobedient Knowledge ⁏ which is the evil n Gen. 3 b. 4 Esd. 4. c. d Math. 13. c, Seed and false Light of the old Serpent; seem to understand God's Works and his Perfection. But ye will not enter into the Beginning o Math. 3· ●. Heb 6. a. of the good Life /that reacheth to the Perfection, nor accomplish his requiring. 6. O Thou old corrupt Adam ⁏ which art almost consumed to Dust and Earth; wilt thou yet ⁏ in thissame Day of the Love p Dan. 8. c. Math. 25. a Jude 1. b. and of the righteous judgement of God and Christ; make-up thyself against God and his Saints? That shall not prospero with thee. Thou art of Dust and Earth /and thou shalt now in thissame Day of the Glory of God/ become Dust and q Gen 3. b. Eccli. 12. a Earth again, according to the Word of our Lord and God. 7. Therefore ⁏ O all ye People which have your Course-of-lyfe /in the old corrupt Being of Adam; turne-awaye your Hearts, Minds, and Thoughts betimes /from all what is vain and destroying, and repent: and r Eccli 7. b. 1 Pet. 5. a. jam. 4. a. submit you under the Obedience of the Love of jesus Christ, and under the authority or Service of his holy-ones: and so lay-downe yourselves as a s Psal. 110. a. Esa, 66. a. Math. 5. c. Bench for the lords Feet /ere-ever ye be utterly swallowed-up by the Euell· and by your own Self-seeking. For doubtless ye shall not benefit yourselves anything, nor-yet keep any Victory /against God and his holy-ones, nor against our mostholy Service of the Love of jesus Christ. For the highest God is our t Deut. 10. b. Psal. 7. g. 75. a. judge: He is our v Psal. 47.96. King, our Arm or x Psal. 28.31.46.62. a Strength. 8. Why will ye then murmur, backbyte, mock, deride, and envy so much I pray you /and ⁏ for to excuse yourselves and your own Opinions to be good and upright /before Men; to report and write so many Lies of us /O ye Dust and Earth, and ye y Math. 23. c. painted Walls? You can surely do nothing against our God. For He is the Lord, and the Mightyone over all Flesh: and without Him ther-is no God more. 9 There is also noon other God /neither in Heaven nor upon Earth /but the God of the Family of Love /the true God of Israel, which is our God /who hath a 2. Cor. 4. a. declared himself unto us /as an everlasting light. and hath likewise ⁏ in the true Light of his heavenly clearness; glorified us in b 2. Cor. 3. b. Him /to be his Saints: and hath moreover chosen us /for to c Psal. 9, 96. b Act. 17. d. judge with us and all his Saints /in this mostholy Day of Love (as a righteous judgement upon the Earth) the universal Earth /with Righteousness. 10. There is also noon other Christ, nor any Christ more /that is true /but the only-borne d john. 1. b. Son of God the Father /our Lord and Saviour: who ⁏ as a Saviour of People; is come unto us from the e Act. 1. b. Right-hande of God his Father /in the Obeying of the Service of his Love /and so hath declared f john 12.13 b 17. a. himself unto us /out-of and with g john 17 c. the same clearness of his Father /the God of Israel /for to make his Salvation h Ephe. 3. a. manifest through Us /unto all Generations of the Earth /in these last and perilous times, according to the Promises: and so ⁏ in this his Coming; to possess the Kingdoms of this World /as the right Heir, and to perform his Work against all his Enemies /which have not i Math. 25 b. Luk 19, b▪ liked of Him nor of the Service of his Love /that they might be saved. 11. In which prevailing against all his Enemies /in the Coming of his Glory /He shall give-over k 1 Cor. 15. c. the Kingdom, as likewise all authority and Lordship /unto his Father, that God may be all in all, according to the Promises. 21. There is also non other holy Ghost, nor any holy Ghost more /but the l john. 14.15.16. b. Only holy Ghost of the Love of God and Christ, who hath declared himself unto us /out of the clearness of the Father /the God of Israel, and out of the clearness of the Son of God /our Lord and Saviour. Which holy Ghost /is the everlasting Life, also the Love, and the true Being of God and Christ itself: and is likewise the assured m 2. Cor. 2. c. 5. a. Ephe 1.4. d Pawn of our godly Inheritance. With whom /we have our fellowship in the spiritual and heavenly Being: in-suchsort /that we do also with him /inherit the n Math 13. b. Apo. 21. a. Treasures or riches of all spirival and heavenvly Goods. and thertoo /the everlasting Life. The II Chap. FOrasmuch now as this glorious majesty of God /is revealed unto us /in the heavenly Being /as an everlasting Light a Esa 60. c. Apo. 21. a. or unchangeable Day of clearness /Therefore cannot I also endure to hide the Goodness and lovely Glory of our God: but must /out of the good Nature of God ⁏ which is manned with me; witness his Righteousness everywhear, allow of his Wisdom, and declare his b Dan 3. c. Ways ⁏ as the Ways of the Righteous or Godly; against all Self-wyseones according to the Flesh, and against all goodthinking and ignorant People/ which turn them away from us, and despise or contemn this glorious Day of the clearness of the living God /which is revealed unto us out of Grace, according to the Promises of God the Father: also take no heed to the true Light: c Psal. 35, 41. a mock at Us: shoote-out their Derydeing towards us, with a privy Hatrid: and so do smite us d Deut. 27. c. privyly /clean against the Law and the gracious Word of the Lord: not considering of God's Light /that giveth his clearness in us /over the Darknesses: nor of God's Wisdom /which floweth-foorth so abundantly in us /over the Foolishness: nor of God's Righteousness /which is so safemaking in us /over the Sin: nor-yet of the manly Power of God /which is so like-chyldish in us /over the Childishness. 2. But sing that there are Somme now/ which think themselves to be e Esa 5. c. Pro. 3. a. Rom. 12. b wise, and so do figure-foorth a clearness unto themselves /according to the Mind of the Flesh and Imagination of the Knowledge /Therefore have they stumbled or taken-offence at our childishness, and at the Appearance of our Foolishness: and turning themselves away from us, and falsely reporting some evil matter of us /behind our backs, they have shot-out their false Testimonies and Lies /against us: and so have made-manifest their false Hearts /against our chyldish and simple Kindness showed towards them /as that there is nothing-els in their Hearts /but backbiting and Traytory, and al-maner of Venom f Psal. 14.140 Rom. 3 b. under their Tongues: and that they ⁏ with their subtle Knowledge; are thorowly-mynded to g 1 Timo. 4. a 2 Timo. 3. a seduce those of small Understanding /from our safe-makeing Ministration, and to bring them into error /wherethrough the erring Sheep become then scattered or scared from each-other, also rend h Esa. 53. b Eze. 34. john. 10. 1. Pet. 2. c. and strangled, and not gathered-together ⁏ to a Concord; into their right Sheep-folde, nor-yet saved. 3. Therefore have not Such, nor-yet their evil Nature /any Power nor Understanding to inform the Ignorantones with the safe-makeing Testimonies of Christ, nor to assist the Sinners with the true Virtue and Righteousness /to a Repentance for their Sins, whereby to guide them into the perfect Righteousness which God esteemeth /nor to inform the Vnwyseones /with the true Wisdom /nor to point the Erringones/ i Eze. 34. a. into the right Way /nor through Love /to take allthings in Patience /concerning the godly Matters /not-yet to cover k 1. Pet. 4. b. jam. 5. c. the Multitude of Sins: that the miserable People might be holpen-up out of the pit of their Fall, and become l Psal. 34.51. b 147. a. Esa. 57.61. a saved. but according to their unreformed Nature ⁏ like-as it appeareth; they are much-more inclined to report everything to the worst /that meeteth them against their own Minds, and to rayle-at and blaspheme the same. 4. For-that-cause, sing that they in their Contrarynes /are grown wrathful towards us /therefore do they likewise much-rather cry-out in every Street and Corner /that Wrong is offered them /and that we and all simple Hearts /which ⁏ to there Cleansing from the Sin; do cleave unto the Doctrine and Concord of the Service of Love /are wicked /and that it is all Wrong, Misunderstanding, and Foolishness /wherafter we labour and are zealous: and so than m Psal. 10.64 jer. 11.18. b Sap. 2. b. they know how to judge, jest, mock, envy, and to speak much evil against us /and to fome-out and spredd-abrode allthings to the worst /that is against their own Minds /and with false Bruits /to make their Neighbour ⁏ towards whom they have conceived a Misliking; to be reproachful everywhere. 5. Sing then that I have respect unto my God /and how beneficial, loving, faithful, True, and n Eze. 1●. c. 1. Timo. 1.2. a 1. Pet. 3. a. safemaking /He standeth-mynded /and how He hath illuminated and endowed me with the same Loveing-kyndnes: in-such-sort /that I for-that-cause have no regard at-al to the vain and false Babbling of many People: but to the Ministration which is profitable and needful for the Man unto Salvation /Therefore doth He also keep o Psal. 17.63. ● my Soul under the Wings of his Love /because that I should cleave unto Him and his majesty, and be serviceable unto all Men /to their Preservation in the Godliness. and not regard the Backbiters /that speak Evil of me, and mock me /nor the Deriders /that walk in Lightmyndednes/ p 2 Pet 2.3. a. jude. 1. ●, according to their own Desires and Goodthinking: Who do likewise turn-away themselves from us and our godly Doctrine· despise the Dominion of God· as also the q john. 17. b. Comminialtee in the unity of Heart /under the Obedience of the love. Yet do Many of them boast that they for-al-that ⁏ in their false Deeds; do stand at concord· cleave to the Word of the Lord and his Love· and desire to hold Peace with all Men. 6. It is true: they cleave indeed to their goodthinking Word and their own Mind of Love, neither do they also fall very-soone from the same: and with the World /Many of them are likewise at concord: and they seek their Peace nodout /with the Children of the wicked World, and with those that are cleaveing to the same and that give ear and respect unto them: in them they see no Evil, neither do they contend against them, nor-yet blaspheme them: for they are most-like unto their own Hearts. 7. But those that have submitted their Souls under the Obedience of the Love /for God's Righteousness cause: and which do daily ⁏ with Christ; r 1 Math. 16. d. 2. Cor 4. b. Gal. 6. a. carry the Cross and Suffering in their Hearts /with them they stand not at concord, neither do they desire also /to be one Heart and Mind with them: but to contend boldly against them: and know always how to rehearse much Wrong and Ignorance of them. Yea /upon them they have daily all their sight bend, s Psal. 41. a. to see if they might spy-out anything by them or hear anything of them /that were not right in their Eyes or Ears /to th'end that they might then spreadd the same abroad, and bring them to Shame. 8. Behold, That is the Nature of all Self-wyseones, and Declyners from the Obeying of the requiring of the Service of Love, and of all false concordable People, and false Hearts /which take upon them arrogantly out of their unrenewed Hearts/ s Esa. 30. b. Mich. 2.3. to witness of the godly Matters /for Truth, and to institute or to use any Services. 9 Ah, consider I pray you /what a false Concord, and what a false christianity and false Love such do carry. and what a common Peace /they do all very gladly desire to hold with the wicked World and all Vngodlyones. 10. O ⁏ my beloved Hearts; consider well of Such I pray you /how utterly their Understanding is t Sap. 2. c. Rom. 1. c. Ephe. 4. b corrupted through their goodthinking Knowledge /Wherethrough they do also take their occasion to blaspheme our Comunialtee of Saints in the Love, and to defame us with al-maner of Evil: and so thereunder ⁏ as in a v Math. ●. 23. Show of some better thing; they cover their own wicked or evil Hearts. 11. Seeing then that my God ⁏ who only is the Lord; giveth nothing-els into my Heart /but Wisdom x Sap. 7. ●. ●. and holy Understanding: and showeth and teacheth me nothing-els but all Dooing-of-good /Therefore cannot I forbear /through the Nature y 1. Cor 3. a. of his Love /but I must show unto mine Enemies /Friendship /for Enimitee, and Love/ z Math 5. c. Rom. 12. b. for Hate: declare unto them the Salvation and Blessing /for Blaspheamy and Cursing /and figure-foorth before them /the Vniformnes of Heart in the Love /for the Separation: and so to proffer the Grace of my God /unto mine Adversaries /which do hate, blaspheme; and curse me: and to reach them the Hand /for to draw them to the Love of my Lord and God: and to show all Faithfulness and Love /towards those that have smitten me priu●ly or trayterously· spewed-out many Lies and false Testimonies /after me· and showed all Unfaithfulness towards me and the Service of Love /informing them a 2. Timo. 2. c 3. b. 4. a. with Rebuke, Doctrine, and Exhortation /for that they might b Act. 17. d. repent: be set-up from their Fall of the Sin: and might live with Me /in the unity of the Love /whereby to serve c Luk. 1. b. 1. Tess. 1. a. the leueing God, and to use all Concord and Peace among each-other. The III Chap. FOrasmuch then as the open Rebuke /is always better a Pro. 27. a. than secret Love: the chastenable Information /muchmore blessed /than for one to smite anyman privily: and the Service of the holy Word under the Obedience of the Love /much-more edifying and profitable /then the backbiting /Therefore is likewise all my Desire in our Service of Love /to further b 2. Cor. 13. b. Phil. ●. ●. that which is most-edifying and Most-godly. 2. Wherefore ⁏ O ye Resisters of our mostholy Service of Love, as also ye ignorant People; consider once rightly I pray you /of the Love and Kindness showed on you /out of our mostholy Service of Love: Receive you my Rebuke and Exhortation: and take-heede unto my chastenable c Pro. 4. ●. ● Information. Come hither and hearken after the right Knowledge, and learn d Pro. 1.2. a. 3.4.5. a. Understanding and holy Knowledge: and e Eccli. 6. c. ●ow your Backs under the rod of the Lord. For the Stripes or the sharp Words of Lovers /are much meeter f Psal. 141. ●. Pro. 27. ●. than the Kisses or the Flattering-woords of Enuyers. 3, For-that-cause come now all hither /into the House of Information, g E●cli. 6.8. ● Math. 11. c and learn to humble your Hearts under the Obedience of the Love, and to open them nakedly before the Elders /To th'end that ye may be cleansed from the Wickedness or Evil of your Hearts. 4. Suffer yourselves now to be h Deut 1●. c. jer. 4. ●. circumcised on the Foreskin of your Hearts /in this holy Day of Love: which is the Eight or New Day /to the Renewing i Esa. 65.66. c. Ephe 1. b 2. P●t. 3. b. Apo. 21.. of the World with Righteousness. and so▪ through the Light of Love and his Service ⁏ put-awaye the k jer. 4. a. Foreskin [namely, the Darknesses] from your Hearts /Or-els ye shall not come to the Glory of God, nor to his sanctuary. For no l Esa. 35.52. ●. Eze. 44. ●. Vncircumcisedone /shall enter into the sanctuary of God. 5. But Many of you do refuse this Grace /which is proffered unto you, and do bitter and harden your Hearts against the same. Therefore is also my Complaint against you /unto my God, for that ye are yet so utterly m Ier 6. b. 9 c Act. 7. f uncircumcised on your Ears, Lips, and Hearts: as likewise for that ye set yourselves so presumpteously in judgement, and will seem to judge God's n Esa. 30. b. Mich. 2.3. b Matters /out of your unclean Hearts /according to the Imagination of your own Knowledge. 6. I would ask you /on the behalf of my Lord and God /who hath provoked you thereunto, or what Spirit hath moved you to judge such Matters. The Cause I have chiefly to demand of those that conversate themselves daily with us /in Hypocrisy, and that show towards us or ours ⁏ in our Beholding; a laughing o Psa. 28. a. 37. b. jer. 9 a. Mouth or favourable Countenance, and in secret /speak all Evil of us. 7. Ah-beloved, speak it out boldly I pray you /ye which are so wise now p Pro. 3. a. Esa 5. c. Rom. 12. b. in your own conceits: With whose Spirit, and with what Tongues /do ye thus smite us privily, and slander and blaspheme us behind our backs /where we have Noon to reply against you? Out of what Nature have ye thatsame I pray you? Or out of whose Breasts do ye suck such Venom of corrupt Milk? And whereout do many of you frame such a false Freedom /that ye have showed us a fair Face /before our Eyes, also have flattered us with your Tongues /whilst ye were present /and do now with such a false Heart /mock us privily or behind our backs /among those that do gladly give ear unto you, and so boldly smite and blaspheme us /with your false Spirit and Blaspheamous-toungs? No● Us only: q Luk. 10. b. ●. Tess. 4. ●. 2 pe●. 2. b. but also the godly Wisdom and holy Understanding /wherewith God hath ⁏ through his hearty Love; r Ephe. 1 a. 2 pet, 1. a endowed us: and so in blaspheming s Heb. 10. d. the holy Spirit of the Love of God and Christ /ye despise the precious Treasures of the spiritual heavenly riches, as likewise the highest clearness of God. 8. Which glorious Light or godly clearness ⁏ wherein t 2 Cor. 4. ● a the Mosthighest hath comprehended us /under the Obedience of his Love; doth overshadow, or far exceed all the Lights of this World. Yea all Understandings of this World/ v Psa. 37.46. b Esa, ●0, b. Aba c. ●. b, S●ph. 1. a. Zach. 2. b. must be dumb before the same, and ●ow them everyone under the same glorious clearness of God /which is made-manifest unto us. And all those that love the upright Righteousness /must say: That Light is very true. The FOUR Chap. O You foolish People: Do ye despise the precious Pearl /because the same is a Math. ●3. c, found in an earthen Field /wherein it was hidden: or for that it is by God /laid in an earthen Vessel/ b Rom. 9 c. 2 Tess. 2. c. that seemeth before you to be too-dishonourable, and for that He also /declareth the same ther-out? 2. Do ye despise the costly Treasures/ c Rom. 9 c. 2. Cor. 4. a. for that they likewise /be carried in earthen Vessels, and declared unto you ther-out, and brought unto you out of entire Love? 3. Do ye despise God's Righteousness /because it ryseth-up so gloriously /over the sinful Flesh, and dealeth so d Rom. 8. a. 1 Timo. 1. b 2. pet. 3. a. longsufferingly and graciously with the Sinners? 4. Do ye despise the Wisdom of God /because that the same ⁏ even with the Fullness of the holy Understanding; is come so bright in glorious clearness /over the Foolishness of Men? 5. Do ye despise the Age of Christ /because He reigneth so e 1. Tess. 2. a b 1. Tim. 2. c. 1. pet. 5 a. graciously over the Childhod, for to nourish-up the same ⁏ in Meekness; to the Age of the Man Christ? 6. Do ye despise the Knowledge and holy Understanding /because they have their fellowship among the Ignorantones, for to bring them into the upright and godly Understanding. 7. Do ye despise the f Mal 4. a. Sap. 5. a. Sun ؛the heavenly Daylight of the highest God; because she shineth in the Waters/ g john. 7. d. that flow from our Body. and for that God also suffereth the same h Math. 5. c. to shine as well over the Evil or Sinners which submit them with Us /to the Concord of the Love /as over the Good or Righteous▪ 8. How is your Folly clymmed-up so high in you /that ye like not that God's Wisdom should govern i Math. 25. b. Luk. 19 b. over you /with his Love: but that ye yourselves /will govern yourselves /with your own chosen and fleshly Wisdom? Wherethrough ye do likewise ⁏ sing doubtless that ye understand k 1. Cor. 2. b. not our secret Mind of God; despise and envy Those /over whom the Wisdom of God doth govern and reign /with his love. 9 But ye do judge our Foolishness, or thaut which seemeth to be Foolishness /in your l Math. 6 c. 20 b. Luk ●●. ●. crafty Eyes: but ye are not m Math 7 a. Luk. 6. c. ware of your own greatest Foolishness. And therefore ye know it not. 10. But verily, if Those which submit them with us under the Doctrine of the Service of Love /would give ear unto your Foolishness /which ye through the n Rom. 1. c. Blindness of your Hearts /do esteem for great Wisdom, and would follow you therein /Then would ye not likewise see their Foolishness nor their Ignorance /Even like as Many of you do not see nor understand the worlds Foolishness and Ignorance. 11. But sing now that many goodwilling Hearts do see into the Ignorance of the wicked World, and the Error of many People: and so do o Eccli. 6. d. submit them with us /to the holy Understanding /for to become p Ephe. 4. c. taught and understanding ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; in the upright Being of the Love /therefore do ye mock them, and upbraid them with their Ignorance, because they do not follow the Self-mind of your Foolishness. 12. Wherefore /O ye Self-wyse and Scriptur-learnedones, and all ye which ⁏ through the Knowledge; do persuade yourselves to be q Rom 1. c. 2. Cor 3 b. understanding /Look once rightly into yourselves I pray you: Bear r Act. 17. d. sorrow over your Ignorance, and suffer yourselves to be renewed in your Understanding /through the Service of the holy and gracious Word /under the Obedience of the love. 13. Do not stumble or wax offended at our s Math. 18. d. Childishness, nor at the Seeming of our Foolishness: but remember that the Childishness of the holy-ones of God /is manlyer, and procureth more Fruits of Righteousness /among the Believers /then the manly Glory of the wicked World. 14. Remember also /that the Foolishness of the Elect of God /is t 1. Cor. 1. b. much wiser /then all the Wisdom of the wicked World. 15. For whosoever doth not separate himself from the World and from her Wisdom, and so becometh u 1. Cor. 3 b. foolish before the World /for the Wisdom of God's sake /He likewise shall not come to the Wisdom of God, nor-yet understand the secret Counsel of God. 16. Also, whosoever turneth not himself about, x M●t 18 a. 1. Cor. 1.4. c Ephe▪ 4. b. and becometh childish before the World /for the manly Ages 'cause of Christ /He likewise shall not come to the Age of the Man Christ. 17. Know ye not that there is written: y 1. Cor. ●. Not many wise /after the Flesh, not many Prudent nor Ingenious /but what is foolish before the World /that hath God chosen. 18. But ⁏ alas; ye will not consider heeron, because ye are too-to-arrogant and proud upon the Knowledge of your darkened Understanding. 19 You go-on with stiff a Esa. 3. b. Necks, and are much-to-wyse in your own conceits /for to submit you simply with Us Littleones and elected holy-ones of God /under the glorious b 1. pet. 5. b. jam. 4. a. majesty of God: and much-to-olde, self-righteous, and too-renowned in your own Sight, and also before the World and her Wyseones /to submit yourselves so simply in the c Math. ●8. ●. ●. p●r. 2. a. childish and singlemynded Being /with us under the Obedience of the love. The V Chap. O ⁏ my beloved Hearts; take-heede to that which I write unto you /to your Reformation: harden a psal. 95. a. Heb 3 a not your Hearts /through the b pro ● b. Heb 12. a. fatherly Rebuke, wherewith the Love informeth you serviceably /by her Minister HN. For he that ⁏ out of the gracious Word of the Lord and his Service of Love; setteth-forth before your Eyes /your Sins and That which ye do yet want in the Love, and despereth to lead you ther-out /with Rebuke and Information, also holdeth-foorth the Ways to the godly Life /before you, and so is your Servant /that you may come to God ؛the everlasting Life;, and to be incorporated unto his upright Righteousness and Holiness: Thatsame is He that rightly loveth you, and which is rightly serviceable unto you to the true Love both of God and Man /to your Preservation in the Godliness. 2. But your own Wisdoms or Good-thinking, and all those /which ⁏ out of the Imagination of their own Knowledge; do ●●ow you● in the Foolishness of your Hearts, and speak to c Mich. 2. ● a. you according to your own Minds /Those do steale-away your Hearts: and so do lead you (the which ye consider not) d pro. 7. c. into their Nets. They lay Clotheses upon your Eyes, soft Pillows/ e Eze. 13. b. under your Arms, and lead you captive in dark Ways. 3. Therefore turn you from all that /wherethrough ye have seduced and deceived yourselves: and come to thissame true Light of Love, which by God's Grace /is f Esa. 60. a. john 1. a. 1 john 1.2 a appeared and come unto Us /out of Heaven. 4. Sing then that God hath ⁏ now in these perilous times; showed Mercy on us ⁏ with his Light; through his hearty Love /Therefore do we acknowledge likewise through the Love of God the Father /that there is now presently /not other Light nor Life more ⁏ that is true; neither hath been heretofore, nor-yet shall come /neither in Heaven, nor upon Earth /but thatsame Light which is revealed and come unto us now in the last time /through the Love of God the Father: and thatsame is the true Light /whereon g Deut 18. b. Esa 60 a. john 5. c. Act. 3. c. Moses and all the holy Prophets of God have witnessed, and which the holy h Act. 2.3.4.7.10.13. ct. Apostles of Christ and Evangelists have published /to the Blessing and Salvation of all Generations of Men /that believe thereon. 5. All whatsoever is against the same, and that doth not submit itself thereunder▪ but turneth itself away therfrom /that is all Darkness, i Esa. 59 a. Conceited-light or False-light, and nothing but Deceit and Seduceing. For the Way of the same /leadeth to the k Math 7.25. d. Hell and everlasting Condemnation. 6. Therefore be not you seduced by your own Knowledge, nor by anymans' Goodthinking, nor chosen Holiness: but turn your Hearts to the Seat of Grace, and to the everlasting Daylight from Heaven /that is appeared and come unto us now in the last time ⁏ by God's Grace; according to the Promises. 7. Therefore come now all hither /to this true Light of the upright undeceivable Love: Suffer yourselves to be shyned-on and lighted thereby /through the Service of Love: and so become Lights/ l Psal. 36. b. in the Light: and let the Love be planted in you /with Meekness. 8. Take now heed to thissame Day of Love, to th'end ye may be cleansed from all what is against the love. 9 For I say unto you verily, that after thissame Day of Love /there shall m Apo. 10 a. no Day more appear out of Heaven /upon the Earth: neither have we to wait for any other Day more /for ever. It shall likewise all perish /whatsoever n P●o. 1. c. refuseth the Grace /in thissame Day, and so contemneth God's Mercy. 10. For this Day is the Day which God hath set or appointed/ o Act. 17. d. in the which He will judge the Circuit of the Earth with Righteousness /through one Man, in whom He hath concluded it: and holdeth-foorth the Belief before everyone, inasmuch as God hath raised Him from the Death. By whom /the p 1. Cor. 15. b. Resurrection of the dead /is now also revealed and made-knowen unto us. 11. Behold, this is held-foorth unto you out of hearty Love/ q john. 20. g. for that ye should believe, and become saved, r Apo. 20. a. and might have a part in the Resurrection of the Righteous· and rejoice you with us and all the Saints of God /in the everlasting Life. 12. Take s Pro. 2.3.4. a thissame to heart I pray you ⁏ to a Reformation in the virtuous Nature of the Love; O thou lovely Comunialtee, thou (mean I) which standest submitted ⁏ with Heart, Mind, and delight; under the Love /to show all Obedience. 13. Have now a sharp regard on the glorious majesty of God, and on the Mercifulness of his Love, which is now declared unto us/ t Math 24. d. Act. 1. b. out of the heavenly Being, and hath his Form upon the Earth. Submit you always thereunder: and let not his Love be turned-away from your Hearts: but let the same be always unto you /to a v Math. 11. d. Refreshing of your Souls /Then shall ye not be deceived by the earthly, fleshly, and goodthinking Men /nor by the false Hearts of the Scripture-learnedones. For all their Ways x Esa 59▪ a. are false, lying, and deceitful. 14. They will not submit them also /but to their own Goodthinking /or to the earthly, fleshly, and bloody Things /and to Those /which ⁏ like unto themselves; are minded to the earthly Flesh and Blood, and which bring-foorth their Goodthinking ther-out. The VI Chap. O, what a perilous a Amo●. ●. b. M●ch. 2. a. Time is it now presently /for the Preservation of Souls. namely, for Those that be borne b ● Pet. 1 c. jam. 1. b. out of the Love and her Service /and with what c Heb. 1●. b. Care and Foresightfulnes /must now the Elders in the godly Understanding of the holy Spirit of Love /bring-up d 1. Pet 5. a. their Children of Love /to th'end that the glorious Freedom of the Children of God might be manifested unto them, and they not to be lead-away therfrom /For the thieves or Stealers of Men /are now become many: and the Devourers sleep not. 2. O, look to it /look to it: keep you likewise everyone a sharp Watch ⁏ my beloved Children; saith the holy Spirit of Love: and in the Ryseing-up of the Vyolent-dooers and Destroyers /then keep yourselves quiet in-any-wyse: e Esa 26. c. bide within your Doors: go not without the Walls nor Gates of the city /till the Destroyers he passed-by, that ye be not devoured. 3. Show not yourselves naked in-any-case /before the Enemies: be not seen of them: be now among them ⁏ while the wicked World doth yet reign; even as though ye were dead and were not, f Psal. 38, b. and had no Speech in your Mouth: and so walk unseen and unknown /before all those that are with out the Family of Love, and show themselves as Enemies against the same: as also before those that turn them away therfrom. Be not g Esa. 52. . b. hasty in-an-wyse /to take-on anything: run not before the time: and h Luk. 9.17. d look not about after anything /for to imagine any better thing /then the Love, and that which is administered out of her Service. 4. O thou precious Manhood /look only upon thy God, and upon the Kindness of his Love showed on thee /Otherwise /thou must perish. give no ear in-any-wyse /to those that are borne i johan. 3. b. out of the earthly Blood, and are Straingers k Ephe. 2. b. from the Family of love. God hath not sent them, neither are they any Prophets that go-out from God. 5. O precious Man/ l Mat. 22. b. Apo. 3. b. become now clothed with the Love, and be prudent and understanding in the virtuous Nature. m 2. Cor. 12. b For it is altogether about thee /wherafter men do hunt, course, or run. For now is the time com /that thou shalt be n Mat 24. a. Mar. 15. a. Luk 19.11. b beset, assaulted, and persecuted▪ namely /by the World, by the Flesh, and by all perditionable Lusts and Desires: as likewise by all divided Sects and goodthinking Men, and by all false Holynesses. All these shall spread their Nets before thee /for to draw thee into the same. 6. All Lightmynded Spirits /also all Scorners and o 1 Timo. 4 a 2 Timo. 3. a. 2. Pet. 2.3. a. jude. ●. b. Mockers /all Fallers-away from the Service of Love /likewise all those that do make manifest their craftiness, Villainy, and false unfaithful Nature /against the Love and her Comunialtee /together with all Backbiters and Blaspheamers /that defame us with much Falsehood /shall also runne-after thee, for to draw thee under their false Nature. 7. Likewise all Flatterers, Whores and Knaves, Liars, Adulterers and Adulteriees, Betrayers, Usurers, and Covetousones /also the Idolaters, and all those that use false God-seruices /together with the Killers, thieves, and Murderers: Yea /all whatsoever is false, unfaithful, or deceitful /shall make-up himself /for to draw thee unto him. But make noon account of any of them all/ p Math▪ 1●, b. 2. Timo. 3. a in the time of thine Assaulting, Trial, and Tribulation: but pray unto God q Ma●. 6, b. Luk● 11. a. that He will keep thee from their perditionable Ways /whereinto they would lead thee. 8. Therefore ⁏ O thou precious Man; remember now in thy Temptation /the Suffering and Death of our Lord jesus Christ, how that He hath suffered the Temptation of the Wicked· and the r Phil. 2. a. Heb. 12. a. contemnable Death of the Cross /at the Sinners Hands /when the Glory was heald-foorth or proffered unto Him: and so ⁏ after his Ryseing from the Death; is come again s Luk. 24. c. Act. 1 d, 1. Cor 15 c. to his Glory and Dignity: and so hath ⁏ through t Rom. 6. a. Phil. 2. a. his Death of the Cross; conquered the v Oze. 13 b. 1. Cor. 15. f. Death. and broken their Bands/ x 1 Timo. 1 b Heb. 2. b. that had the Authority of Death. 9 Thus bide now constantly in the Love of jesus Christ: and let it not grieve thee ⁏ O thou precious Man; to suffer with Christ /whereby to be in like manner in his Suffering or y Rom. 6 a. Phil. 3. b. Death of the Cross /baptized or z Rom. 6. a. Col. 2. b. Tit. 3. b. washed with the pure a john, 3.7. d. Waters of the Service of Love· and evenso cleansed from the sin. For there is no other Way /for to bring thee again to thy Dignity. 10. Therefore /ponder well now thissame Way: and looke-into the Death of the Cross of our Lord jesus Christ, wher-thorow b john. 10.14 thou must go, and offer-up unto the Lord /thy Gift or Offering /in the Gift c Heb. 9 b. c. or Offering of jesus Christ, if thou wilt come to the Life. 11. Be not seduced with any other vain Babbling, nor deceived by the subtle and crafty Tongues, nor-yet by Flesh and Blood. Inasmuch doubtless as Those and all Such /do d Phil. 5. b. mock at the right and true Death of the Cross of Christ. and do also say very boldly unto thee: Cast the Cross ⁏ or the passover to the Entrance into the Life /that is taught thee out of the Service of Love; from thee, and favour thyself, and live free. 12. With these or suchlike seduceing Words /they steal thy Heart from the Life that proceedeth out of God: and so thou remaynest bound with the Bands of Death, and e Rom. 1. e. Ephe. 4, 6. estranged from the true Life of the new Birth in jesus Christ. From which Death ⁏ that doth always gnaw, accuse▪ and captive thee; thou canst not be released /without the Death or passover of the Suffering of Christ. 13. Therefore let noman seduce thee: but be thou obedient to the requiring of the Service of Love: and so take-up thy Cross▪ f Math. 16. d Luk. 9.14. c. 1. Pet. 2. c. 4 a. and follow-after Christ /in his Death: and come evenso thorough his Death g Rom. 6. a. to the Renewing of the Life. namely /to the new Birth, or Resurrection of Christ from the Death: the which is the true h Rom. 6.8. c Freedom of all the Children of God, and God's upright Glory in jesus Christ, and in all his holy-ones. 14 O You beloved Hearts /come now all in-that-maner /to the Glory of God the Father: and be not afraid to i Rom. ●. b. 2 Timo. 2. b suffer with Christ /in the Holy. For by his Suffering in the Holy /He will make you k 1 Pet. 2. a. Apo. 1. a. 5. b Kings and Priests unto his God: and governors upon Earth /for to bear the Dominion upon Earth /with the living God and his Righteousness /to the Treading-downe of the Sin, Death, Devil, and Hell /which have corrupted the Earth /with their Iniquity and Vngodlynes·s and reigned over the same with Unrighteousness /To th'end that they may l Rom. 6. b. no more reign over the same: but that God with his Saints /may reign upon the Earth for evermore, and that the m Mat. 6. b. Will of God the Father may be done upon Earth /as in Heaven. The End of the Eleventh Epistle. The twelfth Epistle. An Information and loving Exhortation of Reproof /written and sent unto One /out of hearty Love: Wherewith he is loved to the Concord of the Love, and to the unity of Heart in the Obedience of the love. O Lord, how kind and sweet is thy Spirit /in all things. Therefore dost thou chasten those measurably /that do err: and exhortest those with Correction /that sin /because they should hate their Wickedness, and believe ⁏ O Lord; in thee. Sap, 12. The First Chapter. WIth this my Writing ⁏ as a Salutation of the Love; I do heartily ●a●ute thee to the Love /my beloved Friend: and do wish thee to have obtained in one Spirit with us a Math. 11. d. Little and Electedones of God /the same clearness of the true Light /wherewith God the Father hath showed Mercy on us /through his hearty love. For this clearness of the true Light ⁏ b john. 17. c. 1. john. 1. ●. which God hath with Us /and we with Him; is the Day of Love /of his righteous judgmet. 2. Which Day is come and declared unto us /by the c 2 Timon 1. b. Tit. 2. b. Appearing of the glorious Coming of the Lord jesus Christ, who cometh now from the Right-hande of God his Father/ d Act, 1. b. 7. g Ephe. 1. c. Col. 3. a. Heb. 1. a. 10. ●. 11. ●. out of Heaven, according to the Scripture /On which Day /the Circuit of the Earth [namely, everyone in that which he is: the Living and Dead, the Good and Evil, the Lights and Darknesses, the Truth and Lie, the upright Understanding and the Ignorances of Men] shallbe judged e Act. 17. d· with Righteousness. For in the same shall everyone receive his Reward /according to his Nature f jer. 17 b. Math. 16 c. Rom. 2.14. b. 2 Cor. 5.6. Apo. 2. c. or fruit of his Works. 3. Happy is he that submitteth himself humbly and obediently under thissame Day of Love: also giveth g Pro 1. a. 2. a 3. a. 4. a. 5. a. Eccli. 6. c. ear to the Service of Love, and to the same holy Word that is ministered thereout: and setteth not himself to be a▪ judge over the Works of God, nor over the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love, neither-yet is wise h Pro. 3. a. Esa. 5. c. Rom. 12. b. in his own conceit: but giveth God the Honour /that He himself is the very-true Lord and judge /in his Day, and in the Service of his Love: and so taketh-heede to the Love of God the Father /to his Preservation. Amen. 4. MY Beloved, as I have understood by the Mouth of thy Friend /when I was with him in Friesland /thy Request was unto me /that I would write a little unto thee: But I could not well comprehend nor perceive by his Words /what might be thy Seeking or Desire therewith: As whither thou didst desire to be taught or edified by the holy Word /which we minister under the Obedience of the Love: or-els whither thou desyeredst to judge the same /according to thine own Goodthinking. 5. Seeing then that many Hearts do come before us now /with Deceit (notwithstanding /I hope otherwise of thee) and that we by-that-occasion /do not willingly write unadvisedly or unforesightfully unto anyman that desireth it of us /Therefore would we gladly at the first /hear to what end Those that seek any Service at our Hands /do desire our Service/ i 2. Cor. 5. ●. 1. Tess. ●. b. which proceedeth out of God's Counsel and Wisdom. 6. And besides that /because I could not understand thy Mind or Intent /by the Message that was done unto me by Mouth /therefore have I refrained from writing unto thee at that time: but did by him return Message unto thee /by woord-of-mouth /that I would come to thee about Saint Martines-tyde /for to talk with thee myself by Mouth. 7. But because there is now somwhat-els com unto me /which hath hindered me from coming to thee /therefore have I here now by this Bearer /written the Cause unto thee /why I did omit to write unto thee at that tyme. 8. But I hope that thou wilt not be offended hereby. nor-yet think /that my Will is therefore to forsake the Service of the holy Word /whereunto the God of Life hath k Gal. 1 b. Ephe 1. b 3. ● 1 Timo. 1. a. elected Me /through his Love /for to assist, and to be serviceable unto my Neighbour /toward the same Love of God the Father [namely, to the Needy, l Esa.▪ 58. a. or Poor of Spirit, and to the Broken or m Psalm 34 b 51. b. 147, a Esa. 57 b. Stricken of Heart] Or-yet tha● I would not vouchsafe to write unto thee. 9 O Not ⁏ thou Beloved; my Heart or Mind standeth not so bend /as to forsake the Good and his Service: or that I should not vouchsafe to serve everyone therewith: but I stand always goodwillingly bend thereto. For I do not serve nor labour for myself only: n Eccli. 24. d. 33. c. but likewise for all Those that love and desire Information. The II Chap. HOwbeit ⁏ my Beloved; I would doubtless very-gladly have spoken with thee by Mouth myself /if the time would have served thereto /Because that I have heard by Somme /that thou art not well content or satisfied with the sincere Wisdom or Understanding /which is come unto us Littleones and Lowely-hearts/ a Sap. 6. b. jam 3. b. out of Heaven /from the Right-hande of God, and which we do minister unto the Children of Men /to their Salvation: but makest many Words upon it /for that thou wouldst judge the godly Wisdom and holy Understanding /according to thine own Imagination, and so to withstand the same /according to thy goodthinking judgement: wherewith thou b Rom. 16. b. 2 Cor. 11. a. stealest-away the Simplicity in Christ, as also the true Obedience to the Love, and to the requiring of her Service /from the Hearts of the Simple: and ⁏ even in Contempt towards the Truth of God; gloryest and commendest thyself therein. 2. O thou Beloved, if thou perseverest herein /then will it fal-out grievous unto thee /to withstand the Mouth of God, and the Grace of his Love /wherewith God presenteth thee and all Men/ c Luk. 24. c. Rom. 2 a. Act. 17. d. to a Repentance for their Sins. 3. Therefore do I exhort thee ⁏ out of the bounteous Love of God; to thy Preservation and Salvation /set not thyself against the Truth of God, nor apply not thy Natural-reason and Prudence thereunto: but turn thee from the evil Acts of thy Lips and Tongue: and submit thyself humbly with us ⁏ even d 1. Pet. 5 a. jam. 4 a. with a simple Heart; under the Obedience of the Love /so shalt thou find Grace before God. 4. But if-so-be thou desirest larger Instruction of anything /then th●se Writings which proceede-out from us /do witness unto thee: or if Those that come unto thee from Us /do not satisfy thee /in thine Vnde●standing /Yet do not therefore reject anything: but ask after the right Distinction. And when thou hast inquyred after the right Ground of the Truth of our godly Testimonies /then understand likewise the Mattier first rightly ⁏ according to the Truth; ere-ever thou despise or speak-against anything of the holy Testimonies of the Truth. 5. If then there be any Sentence to-secret before thee: or if thou want anything /then wryte-over the same boldly unto me /as one that loveth e Eccli 6. d. 8. a. the Information, and desireth the clear Instruction of the f Math 13▪ b. Secretness of the Truth. I hope thou shalt always find me serviceable /for to assist thee to the unity in the Love, and to live concordably with thee /in the upright Understanding. 6. If now thou give thyself hereunto, and dost evenso /then will I ⁏ through the Grace that is showed on me; most-groundly instruct thee, and also show thee with Sensible-reason /that we have no want of anything /in our Service of Love: but do /out of the clearness of God ⁏ g 2. Cor. 4. a. which hath shined about us; show unto everyone sufficiently /in Plentiful-store of Instructions (were it rightly understood) the h 4 Esa. ●. a. Mat 7. b Luk. 13. c. Way or Course that leadeth to the L●fe, whereof thou wil● seem to say much with Misunderstanding /as being unexpert in the Matter. 7. But if now it be unknown or to-darke before anyman, as that our Gospel ⁏ which we publish under the Obedience of the Love /out of the highest clearness of God/ i 2. Cor. 3. b. from the uncovered Face of Christ; be to-covered or to-secret for him/ k 2 Cor. 4. a Then verily is it hidden to those /which with the unbeleeveing Mind of this World /do not believe nor understand the Truth of God: also before all those /which persuade l Pro. 3, b. Esa. ●. c. themselves that they 〈◊〉 wise, and for-that-cause /are not subject to the sincere Doctrine of the love. The III Chap. FOrasmuch now then /as that the Service of God's Love /is ⁏ by God's Grace; come unto Me, and committed a Gal. 1. d. 1. Timon 1. b unto me to minister /whereby to declare unto the Man /with good Instruction ⁏ through the same Service; the true Tabernacle or Temple of the Lord ⁏ b Levit 26 b Eze 37.43. a. Apo. 21 a wherein God will devil, live, and walk; and the true Godseruice in the same. namely, for to distinct the Forefront of the true Tabernacle of God ⁏ wherein the upright Circumcision cometh-to-pas /which is c jer. 4. a. Rom 2. c. Phil. 3. a. Col. 2. b. according to the requiring of the Obedience of the Law of the Lord; from the Hea●thenshipp or Uncircumcision: the Holy ⁏ wherein the upright Baptism cometh-to-pas /which is d Rom. 6. a. Col. 2. b. according to the requiring of the Obedience of the Faith of jesus Christ; from the Forefront: and the Mostholy ⁏ wherein the upright Fulfilling e Heb. 9.10 b. and Establishing of the Promises cometh-to-pas /which is according to the requiring of the Obedience of the Love of the holy Ghost; from the Holy: as also eachones Service, Office, and Order /So am I likewise obediently inclined thereto /to th'end to show evenso unto the Man /the true Godseruice in the Spirit /which he oweth unto God, and which is profitable to his Salvation. 2. But first-of-al /the Man aught to take-heede what the gracious Service of Love and of the holy and gracious Word requireth of him /in his Heathenshipp or Uncircumcision /to his Salvation: For by the same Service of the gracious Word in the Uncircumcision /God calleth or requireth the Man ⁏ with his true Promises of Salvation, and assured Grant of eternal Life; out of the f Gen. 22. a. Heathenshipp or Uncircumcision /to the goodwillingness to the Entrance into his sanctuary: and so than the Man (if he become goodwilling to the Obeying of the Calling of the Lord, and hath a regard unto the gracious g 2 Pet. 1. c. Word) is drawn or leadd out of the Heathenshipp /into the Forefront of the true sanctuary or Tabernacle of God, and to the Departure out of the Sin, and to the Entrance into the godly Life. And the same Departure out of the Heathenshipp, and Entrance into the sanctuary /is the Service or the requiring of the holy Word /in the Heathenshipp or Uncircumcision. 3. But the Service or the requiring of the holy Word /in the Forefront or Entrance into the godly Life, is the h Rom. 2. c. Phil. 3. a. Col. 2. b. Circumcision of the Heart /in the Fear of God [namely, i Col. 2. b. the Laying-away of the Sin in the Flesh.] Which Forefrunts Entrance ⁏ and to show Obedience therein /according to the Law of the Lord; is the right k Math. 7. b. Luk. 13. c. Way and the first step /that leadeth the Man ⁏ out of the Heathenshipp; to the Entrance into the sanctuary of God, and into the godly Life of Christ. And so out of the Forefront of the Tabernacle of God and the Service of the same /the Man is leadd into the true Holy of the Tabernacle of God, or upright Belief of jesus Christ. 4. The Service or the requiring of the holy Word in the Holy, or Belief of jesus Christ /is the Putting-on or l john. 6. f. Receiving of the Body of jesus Christ, and so to die unto the Sin/ m 1 Pet. 2. c. 4. a. in the Following of Christ in his Death of the Cross: and n Rom. 6. a. Col. 2. b. evenso to be baptized in the same Death of Christ, and to drink his Blood /out of the same o Luk. 22. Cup /to the forgiving and Burying of the Sin: and to show Obedience, and to continued p Math. 10. c. 24. b. steadfast therein ⁏ according to the Word of jesus Christ; till unto the q john. 3. a. Rom. 6. a. second Birth from the Death. And that is the right r Math. 19 d. 26 c passover with Christ /unto his Resurrection: and it is the right Fulfilling of the daily Offering and Godseruice in the Holy /to an everlasting s Heb. 10. b. Forgiveness and Burying of the Sin, and to an everlasting t Rom. 5. a. Heb. 9 b. Reconcilment with God the Father. 5. Which upright Offering and his Fulfilling in the Following of Christ in the holy: and so to lay-away and to bu●y the Sin /through the Death of the Cross of Christ (as to be planted into Christ /with the like Death in the Holy, or to be baptized v Rom. 6. a. Col. 2. b. in-that-maner /in his Death) the Man oweth unto God the Father. For that is the right x Rom. 3. c. Ephe 1. ●. Heb. 9.6. Forgiveness of Sins, the true Conquering of the Death, the godly justification, y Rom. 8. a Heb. 9.10 b. and the Satisfaction of Christ with the Manhood /through his Suffering and Death of the Cross: wherethrough the Veil z Math. 27. betwixt the Holy and the Mostholy /is put-away from the Man. And so he is leadd out of the Holy of the Tabernacle of God, and his Service of the true Offering /into the Mostholy of the Tabernacle of God, or into the upright a 1. Cor. 13. b Col. 3. b. Love of God the Father. namely, into the Perfection or Accomplishment of all the Works of God, and into the Fullness of all the spiritual and heavenly Goods. 6. But the Service or the requiring of the holy Word in the Mostholy [namely, in the Love of God the Father, or Perfection of all the Works of God] is /to declare the true Resurrection with Christ, and to publish the same for a Gospel or joyful Message of the Kingdom of God and Christ: and that the everlasting Life /is to be inherited b Eph. 1.2. ●. Col. 1.2.3. a therein, as also the spiritual and heavenly Goods of Christ and of his Father /in the heavenly Being. And that is the true Seting-up of the Perfection, and the Declaring of the Kingdom of the God of Heavens /in his Glory, for a righteous judgement of God upon the Earth. 7. In the same Mostholy, and to show Obedience therein /according to the true Being of the holy Spirit of Love, or to live c john. 17. d. uniform with God and Christ obediently /is the Declaring of the d Math 24. a. 25. d 2. Tess. 2. Tit. 2. b. glorious and true Coming of our Lord jesus Christ /from the Right-hande of God the Father /in the Resurrection of the Righteous, and the great e Esa. 2. c. 13. ● Ier 46. Mal. 4. 2. Pet. 3. b. and tirrible Day of the Lord /of the righteous judgement. 8. Seeing now that the same House of the Lord, or this true Tabernacle of God ⁏ wherein God, together with all his Saints /will devil for evermore; is declared unto me ⁏ in his Glory, and with the Fullness of the riches of his Garnishing; in the Service of Love· and the same Service committed f Eph. 3. a. unto me to minister /out of the heavenly Truth /So do not I also desire anything-els (God is my Witness) but to assist thee ⁏ if thou bist goodwilling to the Love; and likewise everyone /to the same Service /To th'end that the Service of Love might be furthered and spread-abroade among all People /to their Salvation, and to the Peace and unity of Heart· the g Ephe. 2. b. 2. Pet. 2. a. Apo. ●1. ● House of Love or the Tabernacle of the Lord, and his upright Service /declared everywheare· and so all Fail and Discord /layd-downe or taken-away /among the Lovers of the Truth: and that we might concordably together ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; take-heede-unto and declare the foremencioned h ● ●o●. 1. ●. Phillip 3. c. Ti●. ●. b. Day of the Coming of the Lord jesus Christ and the Resurrection of the righteous Deadones, to an everlasting Triumph of the Glory of God over us, according to the Promises. The FOUR Chap. Behold ⁏ my Beloved; to this unity of Heart in the Love, and to assemble thee with Us /to the same glorious majesty of God ؛the Mostholy of his true Tabernacle; art thou likewise loved /out of Grace undeserved. And this writ I also unto thee /out of hearty Love, for to assist thee to this loveliness of God, and to the Comunialtee of his Saints /for that our Fellowship might be one with each-other /in the Concord a john. 17. b. 1. john 1. a. of the love. 2. O thou Beloved, b 2. Cor. 6 a. disdain not this proffered Grace /which is presented unto thee /to an unity of Heart. For verily /if thou dost ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; c Pro. 1.2▪ 3. a. 4. a. 5. a. Eccli. 6. c. give-ear with us Littleones and Elected of God /to the Word of Truth, and submittest thyself therunder /Then shalt thou also with us Little and Simpleones /understand d Mat. 11. d. 13. b. and inherit the secret Treasures and heavenly riches. But in-nowyse without our Comunialtee of love. 3. For in our Comunialtee of Love /there is uncovered, e 1. Cor. 2. c. 2. Cor 4 a. opened, and abundantly brought unto us /out of God's Grace ⁏ for an everlasting Heritage of God; the Fullness of the Wisdom of God, f Ephe. 1. b. Col. 1 c. 2. a and the perfect Understanding of the holy Spirit of Christ. and not unto any that are without the same. 4. Which Secrets of God ⁏ with there full clearness; God hath geeven unto Us before any other /as his elected Saints g Rom. 16, c. Eph ● a. 3. ● Col. 1. c. 2. Timo. 1. b and beloved Children /To th'end that the same heavenly Truth, and the same Salvation in Christ /should ⁏ now in the last time; be declared by us/ h Esa. 49. a. 60. a 66. b. Act. 9 b. 13. a. Rom. 1. a. among all People, to the laud and Praise of the Glory of God, and of his holy Name. 5. To the same God of Glory /who hath prepared such a great Name unto himself /in the last tyme· and ⁏ through his Love; chosen us to the holy Understanding /for to lighten many Man's Understanding /be laud, Honour, and Thanks /for evermore. Amen. 6. Heerwithall /thou Beloved ⁏ wherewith thou art bidden and assisted to our holy Comunialtee of Love; I commit thee to the Lord and his Grace and salute me ⁏ with a Salutation of Love; unto all thine Acquaintance /that are well-minded to the Love, and to the Obeying of her Service. The Goodness of the supreme God /be with you all. Amen. The End of the twelfth Epistle. Our Heart /is the Mind of God most-hie. Our Being amiable /as the sweet Lily. Our Faithfulness /Love /and Truth upright/ Is Gods Light /Life /and clearness bright. The thirteenth Epistle. loving Informations unto a Lover of the Truth /which before-tyme was a Blasphemer of the Service of Love and the Ministers thereof: and afterward ⁏ with great Sorrow for his Sin; turned him to the same Service /for to show Obedience therein. There shalbe a joy in Heaven, and before the Angels of God /over one Sinner that repenteth. Luk. 15. To him whose Soul loveth my Soul /in all Love /be Health and Salvation. The First Chapter. FOrasmuch ⁏ thou Beloved; as I have received thy Salutation and Writing /written unto me (wherein thou dost express /that thou hast wholly turned thyself to the Good /with all thy Senses and Thoughts: and art well-minded with Me /to the a Ephe. 4. a. unity of Heart in the Love, to the Peace, and to the Righteousness) So have I endeavoured me with Diligence of my Heart /for to perceive to what end thy Mind and Intent might stretch in thissame: or which is the Cheefest-thing that thou seekest or intendest therewith. 2. If-so-be now that I do find in the Deed and Truth /that thy whole Heart, Intent, and Mind /doth (as thou wrytest) stande-mynded with Me /to the Love /that everlasting and invisible heavenly Good: Then will I not also be mistrustful towards thee, nor-yet conceive otherwise of thee /then thou wrytest. but will hope all good of thee. 3. But forasmuch now as that almost all Flesh of the earthly Manhood is captived with secret craftiness /which itself oftentimes seethe not: also /that it seeketh in allthings /themselves, or his own b Phil. 2. c. Benefit /in what Humiltee and Holiness soever it turneth or giveth-over c Esa. 58.59. ● Col, 2. b. c. itself unto: and that all his Conversion is nothing-els oftentimes /but an Inclination to his own sensuality /according to his own Pleasure /Therefore have I doubtless to consider well thereon, and to use a great Circumspection to the things that the Man giveth-foorth of himself: and likewise for to perceive out of what Ground of the Heart /the Man's Conversion, or his Mind to the Good /cometh-to-pas, or out of what Intent he calleth That the Good /whereunto he turneth him. namely, whither the the same which he turneth him unto /do d Rom. 6. b. ● a. 13. b. Gal. 5. b. delight him according to the Flesh of Sin, and according to his fleshly Will: or whither that he turn-away himself from all what is a delight unto the Flesh, and so hath a e psal. 40. Desire with all his Heart /to do the Lords William. 4. For-that-cause ⁏ thou Beloved; inasmuch now as all s●nfull Flesh is generally ⁏ in his Conversion; so f Gen 6 ●. self-chooseing, and is also oftentimes /found deceitful therein /Therefore cannot I so simply believe nor trust thee /at the first /because that I may yet perhaps have some Suspicion /whither that thy Conversion may proceed out of a g Rom. 8. a. 13. b. delight of the Flesh /or no, and therefore cannot continued steadfast with thee. Notwithstanding /by thy Writing /I hope the Best of thee. 5. But sing that it is all h Pro. 11. b. unsteadfast /whatsoever is taken-on out of the Pleasure of the sinful Flesh /therefore must I needs write unto thee of the same, and of my Mistrust that I have towards it. For doubtless I can trust no Flesh of Sin, nor anything that the Man inclyneth-unto /according to the Motions or Pleasures of the Flesh /as to think that his humility and Lowelynes or Littleness /is so wholly inclined to the Love of God the Father /with an upright Heart /as his Words and Writings do import. Also /noon of those things can persuade me to trust firmly thereon /that it shallbe found even so in the Deed. 6. Notwithstanding, although I do mistrust the Man /according to the Inclination of his Flesh, and do not so simply believe him at the first /yet do I well vouchsafe unto him with all my Heart /all the Good whereof he boasteth him. Yea, I would also that he had obtained such Mercy at the hands of the highest God /as his Words do speake-of, or as his Writings do import. 7. But verily, all whatsoever is testified, enterprised, or begun /out of the Will and Pleasure of the Flesh /without the Spirit of God, or without our Mostholy Service of love. or whatsoever is believed, accepted, and devised /out of anymans' Doctrine and Counsel /that standeth not wholly submitted to the holy Spirit of Love and his Service (let it be then in the accomplishing, erecting, or obeying of what Holiness or Righteousness soever it be) therein shall noman ⁏ whosoever he be; be able to continued steadfast: but they must all needs be variable and come to shame therein. 8. For sing it proceedeth out of the Flesh of Lies/ i Rom. 7. b. c▪ 8. a. ●. Cor. 3. a. therefore also is not the Power to the upright Righteousness and Holiness /with the same: but it is only with the highest God: Which God /bringeth or sendeth his Power/ k Ephe. 3. b. Phil. 2. b. 3. c Col 1. c. unto his Believers or holy-ones /that hear his Word, and give-over themselves with all their Hearts /unto Obedience under the Spirit of the Love of Christ, and to the mostholy Godseriuce of the same. 9 Under which upright Service and godly Righteousness /God doth not favour any Flesch, as to honour the same with any fleshly Righteousness or Holiness/ l 1 Cor 1. c. for that it should in nowyse boast itself of his own Goodness. The II Chap. Sing then that there belongeth no Honour to the Flesh of Sin /therefore doth God likewise now in his glorious Day of the Coming of Christ bring all sinful a 1. Cor. 1. c. Flesh to shame ⁏ in the Purpose of his own Holiness or Righteousness through the Service of his Love; and showeth that He ؛the Lord; is the upright Righteousness of the true Life, and the Love itself. Which God /permitteth not himself to be approached unto nor reconciled /in his Righteousness (let it be then by what means it will) b Psal ●5. 24 a Esa 33. b. Heb. 12. c. but only by his own virtuous Being, and godly Nature, or Spirit of love. 2. But this doth the Flesh dislyke-of: for-that-cause also /it hath no pleasure in the God of Heaven, nor in his Glory, nor-yet in the judgement of his Righteousness. For therethrough it findeth itself altogether vain and weak /before God and his Truth. also utterly c job. 9 ● b. c Psal. 126. b. Rom. 3. a. unrighteous, false, and lying /in his own judgement. 3. And the Flesh, or the Wisdom proceeding out of the Flesh /doth likewise growe-offended at the true Light of God ⁏ the which notwithstanding /is Christ/ d 1. john. 4. c the Saviour of all the World himself; because that all his Flesh's owne-proper Righteousness e Col. 2. b. c. and self-chosen Holiness and Wisdom /availeth not with the true Light, neither-yet is it esteemed as to make any account thereof. 4. But sing now that the Flesh of Sin /would so feign have Praise or Honour for his Holiness, Wisdom, or Righteousness /therefore doth it seek the same among the Children of Men /in divers manners. By which occasion /there is so many Divisions of chosen Holiness /grown everywhear f Rom. 10. a. Gal. 3 a. 4. b Col. 2. b c. in the World or among the Children of Men. 5. But God's Saints ⁏ which devil in Heaven; shall laugh the Flesh of Sin to-scorne /with his foolish Bewitching, and with all the Hypocrisy of his forged Holiness. For the Man hath therethrough forsaken the lovely Righteousness of the upright Life in the Peace. and ⁏ with his own Righteousness; plucked much Strife and Controversy upon his own Neck. 6. He hath also jest to give g jer. 2. ●. Rom. 1. ● to the God of Life his Honour/ h john. 5. ● that belongeth only unto Him. and hath sought and defended his own Honour. Therefore hath he likewise dealt with so many Wickednesses, and Killings or Murdering. By which occasion /he cannot also understand or conceive any-thing-at-all i Math. 23. Rom. 10. ● of the upright Righteousness which availeth before God, which notwithstanding /bringeth-the Love and the Peace unto him. 7. Seeing then that the Man ⁏ in his Ignorance; is thus utterly k Gen. 6. a. ● Rom. 1. ●. Eph. 4. b. corrupted /through the Bewitching of the sinful Flesh, and hath geeven a great Respect unto his own goodthinking Knowledge /so hath he likewise turned all his Diligence towards the same /to l Rom. 10. a. set-up his own Righteousness /according to the good-thinking of his Knowledge. and hath generally had a pleasure in his own Works. 8. But that God which liveth for ever, and is my God /shall now in thissame day m Math. 24. d 25. d. 26. g. 2. Timo. 1. b ⁏ through the Appearing of Christ in his Glory; bring all Flesh of Sin n 1. Cor 1. c. to shame /in his own Wisdom and made Holiness. In which Day of the glorious clearness of God /God will judge o Psal. 96. b. Act. 17. d. the Circuit of the Earth /with Righteousness. 9 Therefore shall now likewise in thissame day /all Generations of the Earth ⁏ which set their Confidence upon their own Wisdom, Righteousness, and Holiness of the sinful Flesh; p Esa. 13. a. joel. 1.2. Sap. 5. a. Lu● 21. c Apo. 18. b. c howl and weep. For God's Doctrine /serueing to the Entrance into the true christian Life /shall appear unto them /to an Offencivenes·s his Righteousness /to Sinne· his Life /to a Death· and his Salvation /to a Condemnation. 10. Although I write thus unto thee /thou Beloved: and do not regard any Flesh of Sin /in his own Righteousness /yet do I accounted this of great value /that all Flesh with all his earthly Being /do lay-downe itself on his right Place [namely, q Psal. 110. a. Heb. 1.10. b. to be a Bench for the lords Feet] and so submit itself to the requiring of the Spirit of the Love of Christ /to th'end that the God of Life may get the Dominion r Esa 24. c. Sap. 3. b. over him /with his upright Righteousness. 11. I do also well vouchsafe unto thee with all my Heart /to have obtained all that thou lovest /out of the virtuous Nature s 1. Cor. 13. of the Love: and do likewise hope that thy Heart standeth-mynded /even according as thou wrytest. Whereby also it shall not be grievous unto me /to conceive the Best of thee: and that thy Writing proceedeth not out of thyself, nor out of any prudent Counsel of the Flesh. but out of a t Sap 1. a. Ephe. 6. a. Col 3. c. single Heart /through the Mercy of God, wherewith God hath pitied thee /to the Land of his Glory, and to our joy in the unity of Heart /for that we may live together in the upright and lovely Being of jesus Christ. 12. But if now it be Flesh, or if it proceed out of the fleshly Being /then shall it surely v job 14. a. change and be unconstant, and vanish-away under the Hand: and my Spirit ⁏ which is the Lords; shall not bind itself unto the Flesh's Being. 13. And if it be Spirit, or if it proceed out of the Being of the true Spirit of Love /then shall it likewise continued, and remain constant with thee. and all mine Inclination /shall stand affected to thy godly William. For that be far from me /that my Heart, Mind, and Soul /should mind or affect anything-els /but only the spiritual and true heavenly Good, and those that with me /do love only the Heavenly, and are godly of william. 14. Therefore also persuade thyself thoroughly ⁏ thou Beloved; that my Mind and all the Inclination of my Will (although I do conversate myself with Many outwardly) is inclined only to Those that are well-minded to the Spiritual and Heavenly, and are godly of Will: and that my Heart and Spirit desireth to have Fellowship with noon other /but those that with all their Hearts and Souls /do give-over themselves to all Obedience of the Love, and so do stand well-minded to all Concord with the Spirit of Love and our Comunialtee. 15. For to that end /hath the Lord illuminated me with his Light, and endowed me with his x Sap 7. a. Wisdom, and chosen me to be a y Col 1. c. 1 Timo. 1. b. Minister of his holy Word /whereby to assist everyone that ⁏ for the Unitees sake in the Love; do forsake z Math. 16. ●. themselues·s follow the Love /in her Service and virtuous Nature· and are minded with all their Hearts /to learn the a Math. ●1. d. humility and Meekness /of the Love and her Service: and to proceed-on after the same ⁏ without Murmuring or imagining any evil; till that the Meekness of the Love /have a b jam 1. c. Shape in them. 16. Consider well heeron /thou Beloved. For we are all created to the unity c Ephe. 4. a. in the Love /for to live peaceably with each-other in all Love, and ⁏ through the Service of Love; called and chosen thereunto /by God /to th'end that we should laud God /in the Love· and ⁏ like loving Children of Peace; live and walk together/ d Eph. 4.5. a. in all love. The III Chap. But albeit now that many Multitudes of the People of this World, or almost all those that will use God-seruices ⁏ out of their own Enterprises; do not a Math. 13. b. 1. Cor. 2. b. 2 Cor. 4. ●. understand nor conceive thissame /by reason of their Unbelief and Blindness of Heart, and are altogether Straingers therefrom or b Rom. 1. c. Ephe. 4. b. ignorant thereof /Yet doth not that concern us, as to trouble ourselves therewith (For what doth the Blindness or the Ignorance of the Unbelievers touch us) but this concerneth us: That we have to laud and thank our God ⁏ who is the eternal and living God; for his great Grace and Mercy /which He hath showed so abundantly on us Little c Esa. 66. a. Math. 11. d. and Pooreones ⁏ in these last perilous times; from all the thousands in this World. namely, for that He hath ⁏ through the holy Spirit of his Love; illuminated Us in our d 1. Cor. 4. a. 2 Pet. 1. c. Hearts /as his Elect: and giveth Us daily more-and-more /to see-into and e Math. 11. d. 13 ● 1. Cor. 2. b. Eph. 1.2.3. a understand the Secretness of his upright and lovely Life: so that we /through God's Mercy towards us ⁏ above all the wise and Vnderstandingones in this World; are nearest to the heavenly Truth: and do evenso know in the Spirit /that we are made f john. 8. c. free /through the same Truth. 2. For all we /which ⁏ through the true Spirit; are g 1. Cor. 4. b. Cal. 4. b. 1. pet 1. c. begotten to be Children of God /out of the Love and her Service /are not Servants of Men, nor of the Letter like-unto the earthly Generation out of the Flesh ⁏ who are h Rom. 1. c. Ephe. 4. b▪ altogether Straingers and ignorant of God's heavenly Truth; but i 2. Cor. 3. Ministers of the holy Word, k 2 Cor. 4. 2 Pet. 1. b. and Witnesses of the spiritual and heavenly Goods. 3. And so through God's true Being, and his spiritual and heavenly Goods (in l Rom. 8. b. Ephe. 1. b. the which /God hath herited us /as his beloved Children) we ⁏ which are comprehended in the Comunialtee of Love and m Ephe. 4. b. Age of the holy Understanding; are everyone/ n 1 Pet. 2. a. Apoc. 1. a. 5. b. 20 a. Priests, Kings, or Gods/ o Exo. 22. a. Psal. 82. a. john 10 d. and Children of the Most highest /which are not come of the Earth /but of Heaven, and p john. 1. a. 3. a. borne out of God, for to reign upon the Earth /with Righteousness. 4. Therefore are we likewise/ q Rom. 8. b. Ephe. 1. b. Gods Heirs with Christ our Saviour /in all r Esa 33. a. Ephe. 1 b. 2. a. Col 1. c. 2. a. the Treasures and riches of his spiritual and heavenly Goods /as free borne Children, who do all s jer. 31. d. ●1 john. 1 ●. Head 8. b. know God /from the Lest to the Greatest: unto whom also /God hath ⁏ to a more Abundance of his· Grace; geeven to t Math. 1●. d. 13. b. 1 Cor, 2. b. Ephe 3. a. Col. 1. e. understand the Secretness of his Kingdom and of Christ, and his secret Counsel and Will /To th'end that the true and perfect Being of God the Father· the Secretness of the Kingdom of Christ· and the endless joy of the heavenly Delytfulnes and of the everlasting Life /should ⁏ by us; be declared upon the Earth /now in the last tyme. 5. Behold, that is the Brightness of the virtuous clearness /which all the Children of God have now /through the love. It is also the upright Rest /which God hath v Heb. 4. b. kept or reserved for his Children /for to herite them therein in thissame last Time: and it is likewise /the upright Righteousness of the heavenly Truth /against the which /the World can do nothing, neither can any Flesh /let the same in-any-wyse. 6. For all the Darknesses, Vnrestfulnes, and all the Foolishnesses and Vnrighteousnesses of this World /cannot x Act. 9 b. c. bring-to-nothing /God's Light, Rest, nor his Righteousness and Wisdom /which cometh richly and abundantly unto us /through his Love: neither can likewise all the false God-seruices, chosen Holynesses of the Flesh, nor the false Hearts of the Scripture-learned/ y Mat. 16. c. destroy the upright Godseruice ⁏ which cometh-to-pas with us in the Spirit /through the Love; nor-yet our upright Holiness which God esteemeth. 7. Therefore are we likewise wel-at-quyet in our God, and in the true Being of his undisturbable Power /wherein all Minds and Thoughts z Psal. 15.24. ●. Esa. 33. b. of pure Hearts /do live and devil. For those Things whereof we speak, and wherewith God illuminateth us /are not uncertain to our Consciences. The FOUR Chap. WE confess also out of a good Conscience /before God, and before all those that desire to hear us in humility, that now in thissame day /it is altogether the Will and the Precept or Commandment of God/ a Esa 1. b. 55. a jer. 7. a. c. 18. b. 25. a. 35. b. Eze. 18. c. Math. 3. a. Act 2.17. d that everyone should turn him from all his Unrighteousness, and with a penitent Heart /give his Understanding captive b 2. Cor. 10. ● under the Obedience of the Love: and evenso should ⁏ under the Wings of the Love; lead an upright Life with us Little and Electedones of God /both before God and Man, whereby to inherit and possess with Christ /for evermore ⁏ like Children c Rom 8. b. Ephe. 1, c. and Heirs of God; all the heavenly riches of God our Father /through the love. Have a good regard thereunto. 2. verily /This is now the Sound of the last Trumpet, d joel. 2. a. b. 1. Tess. 4. b. Apo 12. a. and the Trumpets-noyse of the righteous judgement of our God /which we do witness in the World before the Ears of all People, and do publish it generally e Mat. 24. d. Apo. 14. b. in the World /unto all Lovers of the Truth /as a joyful Message. 3. But if now we be not believed herein /by reason of the Blindness of the People, or because of their self chosen Holiness: but much-rather resisted f Act. 7. f. 2. Pet. 2 b. jude. 1 b. and blasphemed /through the Disobedience g psal. 95. a. Ier ●. e. Heb 3. a. and Hardness of their Hearts /What doth that concern us /God's h john 12. c. judgement goeth nevertheless over the World for-al-thatt: but to take-heede to the same judgement, and to have a good regard unto the Sentences of his righteous judgement /that verily doth concern us much. For now in thissame day /it yieldeth unto us everyone /either the everlasting Salvation, or the everlasting Condemnation. 4. But let us not therefore fear, nor be dismayed. For the judgement of God chauneth to all us ⁏ We /which under the Obedience of the Love /do believe God's Truth, as likewise all the Saints of God; to an everlasting joy and Salvation in the eternal Life. i Dan. 12. b. Mat. 25. c. john 5. c. Rom. 2 a. but to the Unbelievers, and all ungodly ones, together with all erring Spirits or Children of the Devil /to a perpetual Condemnation in the everlasting Death: among whom /the Flame of the hellish Fire and the k Esa. ●6. c. Mark. 9 ●. Gnawing of the Worm of the evil Conscience /shall endure /even for ever and ever. It is very true. 5. But though anyman now should believe our Testimonies of the true Spirit of Love /which we do witness with Courtesy /before all Consciences of Men: and in the Belief ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; should be l john 3. d. 6. c. 20. d. 1 john. 5 b. saved, and should therefore be protected from the last m Apo. 18. a. 20. c. Plagues of the Ungodly, or be rid therfrom /Yet is not thatsame than our Work, nor-yet his that believeth: n 2. Cor 3. b. but the Work of our God /in his righteous judgement. 6. Therefore is the Belief/ o Rom. 12. a. 1 Cor. 12. a. b Ephe. 2.4. a a Gi●t of God, wherewith God showeth Mercy on us, and so draweth us out of the Abundance of our Darknesses/ p 1. Pet. 2. b. unto himself into his Love▪ that everlasting unchangeable Light●. 7. Behold, eventhus in his Love /doth the Lord accepe us q 2 Cor. 6. b. for his Sons and Daughters, for his Servants and Hand-maydens: and leadeth us with his Right-hande /into the Day of the true Light of his heavenly clearness /for to power-out his holy Spirit r Esa. 44, a. Eze. 36. c. joel. 2. c. Act. 2. b. upon us /in the same Day, according to the Promises /To th'end that it may all be Luk. 24. c. accomplished /whatsoever is written of the Righteousness of our God /in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Gospel of Christ. The V Chap. O Thou Beloved, Consider well of this holy Understanding /which is witnessed and held-forth unto thee /out of the Service of Love: and then if Mercy be showed on thee by God: as that He openeth the Door of Understanding unto thee: and that thou ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; dost see-into the true Being /whereon we witness /then shal-ther also an upright Sorrow a 2. Cor. 7. b. 1. pe●. 2. b. for thy sins cause /be found in thee. namely, most-cheefly for the Resistance and Blaspheamy /wherewith thou hast ⁏ with many evil Imaginations; spoken against the Love and her upright Seruice· and b Rom 16. b. Cal. 1. a. 3. a 6 b. quailed other more single Hearts·s and made them wavering in the Belief towards the Love: so that they likewise ⁏ through thy Blaspheming; are become captived with evil Imaginations towards our godly Service of Love, and the Ministers of the same: and so have likewise ⁏ by reason of thy Resistance and Blaspheamy; despised the Service of the holy Word under the Obedience of the love. and evenso have much-more commended the false Testimonies of the goodthinking Wyseones, and the Institutions of the wicked World (because they might hide themselves and walk covered thereunder /with their evil Consciences) than the true Light and the upright Doctrine of the Service of Love, before the which /the Hearts of Men must appear c john. ●. c. Ephe. 5. b. and become manifest uncovered or naked /if they will be saved. 2. But sing now that ther-is an upright Doctrine and Order among us, which is not according to the Order of the wicked World: and that we ⁏ by God's Grace; have obtained a greater and more-godly Light /then is among the worldly wise and her Scripture-learnedones /Therefore also be all those which are minded against the same /manifest unto us /in their crafty Hearts, and that they are wicked or evil of Nature or Disposition /and not good: and how that they do in all respects /seek and love their selfness, or that which concerneth the Flesh. and d Phil. 2. c. not the Lord, nor his upright Being of love. 3. Because of which craftiness and Dissimulation of the People (wherewith they think to cover their Wickedness) we must oftentimes be blaspheamed· and judged for Euel-dooers and e 2. Cor. 6. ●. Seducers of Men. But verily /they cannot cover their Wickedness and craftiness therewith /before us: but they become so-much-the-more manifest /what they are, and by what Spirit they are directed. 4. But although now it be manifest /that all lying Flesh /under a Colour of Virtue and of Seemly-maner ⁏ wherewith it covereth his wicked Nature; hath always sought his own f john. 5. c. Honour: And although that it be brought-to-shame therein /with his Wickedness ⁏ which ryseth-up in itself /against our undeceivable Service of Love; and must acknowledge in his Heart /that the upright Being of the Love /is the g Math. 22. d Mark 12. d. Rom. 13. b. 1. cor 13 Gal. 5. b. 1. Timo. 1. a very-true /Yet is notwithstanding /the lying Flesh of Sin ⁏ or the goodthinking Man; with his wicked and perverse Nature /still so desperous of Honour in himself /that he would much-rather blaspheme the good Being of the Love, and reject or condemn it for evil /then to judge or to confess his own Wickedness /for evil. 5. And with such an evil Conscience doth the Man oftentimes /blaspheme or judge h Pro 17.24 c Esa. 5. c. the Light /for Darkness, the Right /for Wrong, and the Good /for Evil, and the upright Ministers of the holy Word of jesus Christ/ i 2. Cor. 6. a. for Seducers /whereby to defend his own Evil therewith /as Good, and to excuse himself k Math 6. a. 23. a. before Men /as to have Right on his side. 6. But all this do We endure with Long-sufferance, and do not desire to revenge ourselves on anyman: but do give-over the Revendgment l Deut 32. d. Rom. 12 b Heb. 1●. d. to the Lord, who m jer. 17. d. Math. 16. c Rom. 2.14. b. rewardeth everyone according to his Works. 7. For that God before whom we stand /doth recompense everyone his Euel-deedes/ n Sap. 11.12. c with his own Wickedness /that doth arrogantly set-up himself against us. And evenso is now in this Day of Love /everyone that imagineth and practiseth Evil or Mischief towards us /rewarded again with his own Evil and Mischief. And beareing his o Gal. 6. ●. own Burden therein /from the Hand of the Lord, he must be vexed and punished by his own Wickedness /till that he acknowledge himself guilty, and turneth him to the Obedience of the love. In whose Service /the Forgiveness of Sins, and a good and quiet Conscience is obtained /through the love. The VI Chap. ALthough I write unto thee of these things /thou Beloved /yet do I not write the same to any such end /as to retain anything of all ●hat which was done or said by thee or through thee in times-past /against us and our mostholy Service of Love /to upbraid thee therewith: but for that thou shouldest know wherein the Health a Math. 11. e of thy Soul shalbe found: and with what-maner of Assistance or helpfulness /I desire to help thee in thy Extr●mitee and Misery, whereof thou bewailest thyself unto me /to th'end I should show thee some helpfulness. Out of which extremity and Misery ⁏ whereinto thou hast brought thyself; thou art not to be rid /except thou hast first known and perceived all thy Sins, b Math. 3. a. Luk. 3. b. and borne Sorrow· and performed a right Confession and Repentance for the same. 2. But that which I do here rehearse unto thee /I rehearse it not to any evil intent. but to thy Amendment. For I desire not to retain any evil Opinion towards thee nor anyman-els /for all what is c Math. 16. b. done or spoken against us. But this is all my Desire /that-ther may a true d 2. Cor. 7. b. Sorrow and Amendment be showed: and that men may be of one-mind with each-other/ e Rom. 12. b. 15. a. 1. Cor. 1. a. 2 Cor. 13. b. Phil. 2 a. in the Love /whereby to live peaceably in all Love /to laud and thank the God of Life /for all his Goodness /and to give the Honour only unto Him. 3. Behold, hereunto do all we ⁏ which stand submitted under the Obedience of the Love /the mostholy Godseruice; stand concordably inclined, and in-that-sort ⁏ to the f john. 17 d. Ephe. 4 a. unity in the Love; loveingly to receive into our Arms of the Spirit of Love /our Enemies which turn them to the Love and her Service /to a Reconciliation with each-other /To th'end that they might escape g Math. 3. a. Luk. 3. b. the Vengeance of God· and be kept from the h Luk. 21. b. Apo. 18. a. Plagues which shall now in thissame day /fall upon all ungodly ones ؛our Enemies;. 4. Thissame is all our Lust and Desire /for to show Mercy likewise unto everyone /out of Love (inasmuch as Mercy is showed on Us) and not to remember anymans' former Sins: but chiefly towards those /that give themselves penetently to our Comunialtee under the Obedience of the Love /for to bring-foorth good i Mat 13. a. Luk. ●. a. john 15. b Fruits of Life. 5. O, That it might once com-to-light· and get the k 1. Cor 3. b. pre-eminence in the Heart of Man /that hath so long-tyme remained in secret. namely, the upright Being of the Love/ 6. To that God now/ l Ephe. 3. b. who hath the same in his Hand, and bringeth it bountifully unto everyone that turneth unto Him /be laud, Honour, and Thanks /for evermore. Amen. 7. This Letter ⁏ thou Beloved; with more other Writings which thou desyerest /do I send unto thee to thy Edifying: and my Desire is /that thou ⁏ through the Goodness of the Love of God; wilt m 1. Tim. ● b. exercise thyself therein /with an humble Heart: and have a regard unto the Truth, for to understand this our holy Mind rightly. That grant unto thee /the God of Life: and the same God establish thee in his love. Amen. The End of the thirteenth Epistle. The fourteenth Epistle. A brief Exhortation unto a Disciple in the Service of Love: Wherewith he is exhorted ⁏ in the Land where he dwelled; to keep a sharp watch towards the Spirits that make-up themselves in him, or that be borne in him. And also that he should learn to discern with good Understanding /the evil Herb ⁏ which is destroying and deadly; from the good Herb of Life: and the false Spirits ⁏ which arise out of the Flesh; from the good Spirits /that are of God /to th'end that he might thereby grow-up in the good Being of the Love /without any Harm. You Beloved: Believe not every Spirit: but prove the Spirits /Whither they be of God or no 1. john. 4. Health and Salvation be unto Him /who ⁏ in his Spirit; hath intended Love and Peace /with our Spirit. The First Chapter. THE God of Heaven [who out of his bountefull Mercy /hath herited me in the a Ephe 4. b Old-age of the holy Understanding of Christ, and in the spiritual b Ephe. 1. b. 2. a. 3. a Col. 1. c 2. a riches of his heavenly Goods /for a good Confession c Math. 10. d. Luk. 12. a. before all Men /that in the Love /is an upright Being] be unto thee ⁏ my Beloved; a Light unto thy Way, a Life unto thy Spirit and Mind, and a clearness unto thy Understanding /That thou mayest ⁏ in thissame Day of his Love; understand ⁏ according to his heavenly Truth, and not according to the Mind of the Flesh; the overflowing Virtues and godly Wisdoms /which He hath declared d 2. Cor. 4. a. Ephe 1. b. 3 a. Col. 1. c. and brought unto us·s also give-over thyself with all thy Heart /to thosame and their requiring /for to live therin· and laud and thank the same God /in an upright Being. Amen. 2. O my Beloved, I have a long time ⁏ out of a fatherly Heart that I bear towards thee; had a great longing to know how it may go with thee /in the Land where thou dwellest: and that for because thou hast never written unto me /how it standeth with thee: or wherein thou hast thy Maintenance, or whereby thou livest. 3. For if thou hadst written anything hereof unto me /then might I have understood or perceived thereby /Whither that thy young e 1. Cor. 3. a. Heb. 5. d. Manhood /did yet live or no: Whither it were succoured or nourished-up with the upright f Math 24. c. john 6. f. Food of Life: and whither that thou also didst in-like-maner grow-up to the manly Age g Ephe 4. b. in the godly Understanding: or-els /whither thou hadst been choked with any Poison or deadly Herbs /that do grow out of the same Earth where thou dwellest, or been weakened, or utterly dead /in the Life which proceedeth out of God. For it is certainly well known unto me /that the Earth and all Countries of the Kingdom-of-the-earth /are h Gen. 3. b. Heb. 6. a. of themselves ⁏ for the Unrighteousness cause; full of Poison, deadly Herbs, and naughty Fruits. 4. Sing then that all Disciples of the Love (that be nourished-up in the holy Understanding of the Spirit of Love) must passe-thorow many Perils upon the Earth /which is i Gen. 3. b. 5. c cursed for the Wickedness cause of her Inhabitors /So do I therefore bear so-much-the-more a great Care for thosame Disciples /thewhyles they are yet young, and cannot discern the deadly Herbs/ k 4 Reg. 4. Math 13 d from the right Food of Life. 5. Whereby nodout ⁏ if they should be suffered to go-on in their youngness /according to their own good-thinking; they would rashly or unforesightfully ⁏ out of their own Affection or Lust of their Hearts; receive the one or the other of the deadly Hearbes·s and swallow them in /in stead of the Food of Life: wherethrough then likewise /the precious Manhood might be strangled, and such Disciples of the Word /which ⁏ following their own Counsel; are unexpert herein /might most lamentably betray, spoil, or kill themselves /and disenherit themselves of the Life that proceedeth out of God. 6. Wherefore ⁏ my Beloved; inasmuch as it is now a perilous Time /to nourish-up the youngness of Understanding /to the upright Ephe 4. b. agedness of the holy Understanding /so is this my Exhortation and Counsel out of the living God /unto thee, to thy Preservation: that thou wilt daily use Foresightfulnes m Ephe. 5. b. or diligent Heed, and have a sharp regard unto the Spirit or inward Manhood of thy Mind: Consider or search out what is engendered or borne there within thee /as Spirit, and spiritual/ n Rom 8. a. Gal. 5. b. or as Knowledge: and o 1. john. 4. a prove or try whither the Spirits and Births of the Knowledges ⁏ which be borne in thee; be of God or not, and do bring the heavenly Powers of the holy Ghost and godly Understanding /with them: p Rom 8. a. Gal. 5. b. Ephe 5. b. or-els /whither they be false Spirits, and deceitful Knowledges, which proceed out of the Flesh /and so do kindle, provoke, or move thee /with earthly and fleshly Desires. The II Chap. O Thou Beloved, Consider effectually of this Mattier: and believe not every Spirit, or Imagination of the Knowledge /that presenteth itself unto thee. For many false Spirits and deceitful Knowledges/ a Math 24 a. 1. john. 4. a 2. john. 1. a. 2. Pet. 2. a. do now go-foorth /for to deceive all Hearts of Men /that stand minded on the earthly and fleshly Things. 2. For-that-cause have a Discerning herein. For if the Spirit, or the Imagination of the Knowledge which is borne or brought-foorth in thee /be spiritual, and that the same do proceed out of the godly Wisdom of the true Light/ b Rom. 8. a Gall 5. b. Then will it verily be altogether against the Flesh and the Works of the Flesh. and will chasten, crucify, and kill the Flesh c Rom. 13. b. Gal. 5. c. Col. 3. a. 2 Pet. 2. b. with his Lusts and Desires. 3. But if the Spirit and Fruit or the Imagination of the Knowledge /be fleshly, and that it proceed out of the Wisdom of the Flesh /then will the same likewise make-manifest itself with the Works of the Flesh /to the Lusts of Error/ d Gal. 6. b. that stretch to Destruction: also be utterly e 2. Timo. 3. a against the Spirit of Godliness, and the Counsel of the Wisdom: and will likewise desire to suppress and to kill or destroy /all what cometh before her in her Heart and Thoughts /touching the godly Wisdom of the Service of love. 4. For wheresoever the Flesh with his Wisdom or Imagination of the Knowledge ؛that false Light; hath the superiority /there is the false Freedom/ f Sap. 2.14. b. Cal. 5. b. according to the Lusts and Desires of the Fleshly Men, for to 'cause the Man to live evenso in his perdicionable Lusts and Desires. 5. But wheresoever the Spirit of the Wisdom of God ؛that true Light; getteth the Superyorytee /there is the upright Freedom of the spiritual Men: under g Rom 8. b. whose Power /the Flesh or the natural Man is subject, and is sustained therein /to all Seemlynes and Resonablnes. 6. Behold ⁏ my Beloved; because I know not now how it may go with thee /where thou dwellest /therefore have I ⁏ out of hearty Love; written this little portion unto thee /to th'end that thou shouldest always be mindful of the upright Being of the Love· and not ⁏ through any deceitful Means /which may come before thee out of the Flesh and his Wisdom; neglect the godly Grace /which is come unto us in thissame h 1 Timon 4. b 2. Timon 3. a. 2 per. 2. a. perilous Time, nor estrainge thyself therfrom. but to have the more-dilligent regard ⁏ with all Subjection to the Love; unto the Service of the holy Word /for to consider with Understanding what an upright Being the same Service requireth: and in what manner, or to what an upright▪ Effect of the godly Life /all former Services ⁏ which are gon-out from God even hitherto; do lead i Math. 22. d. Mark. 12. d Rom 13 b. Gal. 5. b 1 Timo. 1. a. to thissame Service of love. namely, for that we should now in this Day of Love ⁏ with Fullness of the holy Ghost and with pure Hearts; live uprightly in k Ephe. 1. a. all Love /according to the Truth of Christ. 7. If we now therefore do look into thissame rightly /them shall we likewise exercise ourselves therein /to all Sainctifycation l 2. Tess▪ 2. b. 1. Pet. 3. b. in the Spirit, according to the Promises of God the Father: and not m 2. Cor. 6. b touch or receive anything /that might make our Hearts uncleane· or draw us to any false n S●p. 14. b. Rom. 1. c. 2. Pet. 2. b. or disordered Freedom. 8. Therefore is also mine Exhortation unto thee /out of hearty Love /that thou wilt daily exercise thyself in our mostholy Service of Love ⁏ with all humility o 〈◊〉. 1. b. and Obedience; in the Fear of the Lord. 9 And if now thou endeavourest thyself hereunto /then shalt thou nodout p Ephe. 4. b. Col. 1. b. 1 Pet 2. a. grow-up likewise in all holy Understanding, and be well preserved from the false Desires of the Flesh, and from all inconstant Spirits and false Freedoms /which bring the Man to the Disobeying of the Love, and to all Confusion. 10. The Lord vouchsafe to strengthen q Col. 1. b. 2. Tess. 2 b. 1. Pet 5. b. thee in his Righteousness, and to lead thee ⁏ with his Wisdom; into all Truth and upright Righteousness. Amen. 11. Heerwith ⁏ my Beloved; I do heartily salute thee in the Love /wherethrough God hath showed Mercy on us: and salute me also in the same Love /unto our good Friends. namely, all the Acquaintance /that love the upright Being in jesus Christ. The Love of the supreme God /get the Victory in all your Hearts. Amen. The End of the fourteenth Epistle. The fifteenth Epistle. An hearty Exhortation unto all Lovers of the Truth, and unto all those that submit them under the Obedience of the Love: To a Warning of them touching all contrary Sights and false Spirits /which make-up themselves out of the wicked World /in these last perilous times: also judge falsely /against the Truth and against the Service of Love, and so do bring-in or cause Discord and Offence /contrary to the peaceable Family of love. I admonish you ⁏ beloved brethren; that ye will mark those that cause Discord and Offence /contrary to the Doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid from them. Rom. 16. The First Chapter. THrough the Love of God the Father /which ⁏ out of Grace; is a Rom. 16. ●. Eph. 1. a, 3. a Col. 1. c. declared unto us /by the Revealing b 2. Timon 1. b of the glorious Coming of our Lord jesus Christ /we wish a good Peace and Concord unto all Lovers of the Truth /which ⁏ out of an Inclination of Love and of a pure Heart; have their fellowship with our Comunialtee under the Obedience of the love. For They ⁏ yea thosame; shalbe found happy. For our Comunialtee is the One undivided c Rom. 12. a. Ephe. 4. b. Body of Christ, with whom we have our fellowship d 1. john. 1. a. with God the Father /the Headd of the same Christ. 2. To that God which ⁏ through the Spirit e 1. Pet. 5. b. of his Love; hath chosen us to such a majesty of his Glory /be laud, Honour, f Apo. 4.5. b Praise, and Thanks /for ever. Amen. 3. Behold, my beloved Friends in the Love: This Love of God the Father ⁏ wherein God hath glorified Us; is the bounttyfull Mercy of the highest God: with the which He hath taken-pitie on us now in these last perilous times, and elected us to Salvation, g E●he. 4. a. to the Land of his Glory. In which perilous times /al-maner of venomous h Ephe. 4. b. Winds, false Knowledges, deceitful Wits, contrary Sights, i Math. 24. b. 2. Timo. 4. a 2. Pet. 2. a. with many erring Spirits, and all wrong judgers or False-sentence-givers ⁏ to the Hurt of the Soul; do flourish. 4. Seeing then that all false Spirits do now ⁏ in many Controversies, rise-up out of the wicked World, and out of those Wyscones that cleave unto her, and do make-up themselves against the Truth /for to take k 2. Timon 3. a captive in their contentious Knowledges ⁏ with their craftiness and deceitful Wit; those that love the Truth /So is-ther likewise in this perillious Time/ l 1. Timo. 1. b. great Grace showed on us /against all false Spirits, and divided Knowledges. For to that end have we obtained the mostholy Office or Service of Love: but not from ourselves, nor from Men. but from m Gal. 1. b. Ephe. 3. a▪ the living God himself /by his Word of Life /because that we ⁏ like faithful Ministers of the same; should ⁏ through the Word of Life; warn all good-willing Hearts ⁏ that love the Truth of Christ; of all n Math. 24. b Act. 20. c. false and contentious Spirits of the Knowledg· reach them the Hand serviceably /with the Word of Lyfe· and guide them into our holy Comunialtee under the Obedience of the Love /whereby to draw them out of the Perils of Destruction (which proceed out of the wicked World /that is reserved o 2. Tess. 1. a. 2. Pet. 3. a. unto Fire) and to defend them therefrom. 5. Over which wicked World, and over all Guides /that ●yse-vp ther-out with their false Spirits and contentious Knowledges: and over all those that cleave unto the same /the judgement of God goeth righteously, to the Confusion of them all, and p Math. 25. to their Condemnation in the hellish Fire. For God will now in his Day of Love /condemn the wicked World, with all her Wyseones, Adherents, and Lovers. 6. Yea assuredly, now cometh the Lord ⁏ out of his holy Heaven; q Esa. 29 a. Ec●li. 13. b. Luk. 17. Apo. 4. a. 8 a. with Lightnings and Thunders, and with a forsible Noyze of Winds: whereat the Earth shall r Psal. 77 b. Esa. 13. b. Agg. 2. a. fear and tremble: and thatsame shall fall upon all false Spirits and wicked Hearts /to their Destruction. Yea, now in thissame Day of Love /the Lord will move the s Heb. 12. d. Earth, and it shall be forced to quake at his Thunders. And so the Lord will then make an t Esa 10. c. End of all the Falsehood of the Earth. 7. For now in thissame Day of Love /the v Eccli. 16. b. 2. Pet. 3. b. Elements shall melt with the Heat of his Lightning. and the lords Thunderbolts shall fall very grievously upon the Pate of all arrogant Hearts, Self-wyseones, and all false Witnesses. Yea, all those that be touched therewith /shall nodout make-manifest themselves, and let it appear /that they are touched, and are not of the loves Nature. 8. But Salvation and Peace /cometh to the Lowly and Humble of Heart/ x Rom. 12. b. 1. ●or. 3. b. which are not wise in themselves, but do submit them humbly under the Love and her Service: also do take-heede to the Doctrine and Information of the same, and endeavour them obediently thereunto: and do seek no Pleasure nor joy without God and his Service of Love, nor-yet in the World, nor in the Flesh: but only y Esa. 61. b. Luk. 2. c. in God their Salvation. For it shall go-well with them, and in the judgement of God /they shall obtain their Preservation or Salvation. 9 For in the judgement of God, when the Thunder-clapps do fall upon the Arrogant and Self-wyseones /to their Destruction /then shall the holy Spirit of Life /fall upon the Littleones, and the Electedones of God /that have humbly submitted them under the Obedience of the Love /to their Preservation: and shalbe z Numb 11. c. Esa. 44. o. Eze 36 c. joel 2 c. Act 2. b. poored-forth upon them ⁏ with all Lovelynes; out of the everlasting Life and heavenly Being/ a john. 4.7. b like floweing Waters of Life: and so shall then likewise/ b joel. 3. c. Milk and Honey, and living Water of the holy Spirit of Love /flow among them. 10. Have you all a regard hereunto /ye goodwilling Hearts and Lovers of the Truth. For God's judgement/ c Esa. 11. a. john 7.8. b is not according to the Sight of Man's Eyes, nor according to their Knowledge (although notwithstanding they do persuade themselves sometimes /that they know it well, and are assured of the Mattier of it) but only according to the Truth. The II Chap. FOrasmuch then as such a Daylight ⁏ the which is the true judgement of God; is ⁏ by God's Grace; appeared unto us out of Heaven· and the gracious Word of Life under the Obedience of the Love /geeven us to minister in the same Light /to the Salvation of the People /Therefore were it also very right and convenient /that they should give ear unto us therein: and that noman should so perversely looke-into or construe the Works of the Lord /which He bringeth to light by us Little and Electedones of God. For verily /that which we speak and write, and bring-foorth, or set-out ● under the Obedience of the Love; to the serueing of all Lovers of the Truth /is not our own Work, nor-yet our Indighting nor writing: but the a jer. 31 d. Ezech. 36. c 1 Cor. 2. a. 2. Tess. 1.2. b. Work of the Lord /which He himself writeth according to his own Mind, Spirit, and Will /and with his own Finger. 2. And whatsoeverthen the Lord himself bringeth-foorth /that do we acknowledge to be good and upright: And although it be looked-on and judged for Ignorance or to be foolish /before the Children of Men, or before all those that account themselves wise /Yet do we confess and show ther-against /that God's Ignorance and his Foolishness /is b 1. Cor. 1.3. b wiser, and procureth more Fruits of Righteousness upon the Earth /then all the Ingenious-witt of Man's prudency. 3. Therefore we regard not how Men ⁏ out of the Knowledge of their corrupt Understanding; do c 1. Cor. 4 a. judge Us and the Service of Love /which we minister. For it is well known unto us doubtless /that all the judgements that the Man ⁏ out of his Ingenious-witt; judgeth of the Wisdom and Works of God /are false and Lies: d Psal. 116. b. Rom. 3. a. and that God with his Saints /is only true /in his judgement. 4. And forasmuch as we now in thissame Day of Love /are appeared before the judgment-seate of Christ, and do carry the righteous judgement of God in our Hearts /therefore can no outlandish Men, nor any Estraingedones or Fallers from the Service of Love /judge us /although they would never-so-fayne. For how should they ⁏ I pray you; be able to judge us rightly /inasmuch as they cannot see us? 5. Forasmuch then as they do e Exo. 33. c. john 5.14. b. 1. john. 3.4. b not see the living God /in the majesty of his Glory /therefore can they not likewise see Vs. For We, together with all the holy-ones of God /do live and triumph uniformly with God /in his Glory, f Esa. 3. b. Sap. 3. b. Math. 19 c. 25. d. 1. Cor. 6. a. jude. ●. b. and do with Him /judge the World /with Righteousness and Truth /under the Obedience of his love. 6. Therefore also the Children of Men ⁏ that are without our Comunialtee or without the Family of Love; do understand nothing-at-al ⁏ according to their judgement; of our holy Understanding /which we suck out of the Breasts of the love. 7. verily /therein do we acknowledge the Goodness of God towards us /that noon of the foremencioned Men can either see or judge us. But He himself/ g 1. Cor. 4. a. the true God of the Living ⁏ who is a God with us; judgeth every thing by Us, and his heavenly and spiritual Wisdom: and we understand that his judgement is true. 8. If anyman then have a Lust to do the Will of the Lord: also to be a Disciple of the Love /in the School of Christ: and to understand the secret judgement of God /let him go-out, or separate his Heart/ h 1. Cor. 3. b. from all the Wisdom of the World: and so come to our Comunialtee, and to the Wisdom that we shall show him /under the Obedience of the love. 9 He being come to our Comunialtee under the Obedience of the Love /so let him ⁏ for the Love and her holy Understandings 'cause; forsake i Math. 10. d. 16. c. Mark. 8. d. Lud. 9.14. c himself, and all his Industry, Wisdom and Knowledge: and so have regard to the Service of Love /what it requireth. 10. Now whenas he forsaketh himself for the loves cause, and hath wholly given-over himself to the Wisdom and to the holy Understanding of the Love /for to be obedient to the same: and so taketh-heede to the Doctrine of the Love /in our School of the christian Doctrine (not as a judge of the same Doctrine, but as a Disciple /which is content to be informed and taught by the Doctrine of the holy Spirit of Love) Then shall he k Math. 13. b. well understand the right Mind of the Secretness of the Love, and the secret judgement of God. as also well perceive /that God hath distincted and declared every-thing wisely and understandably /with us. and shall in-nowyse be able to see nor find /that-ther-is any Fault in our writings and Ministration of the Word. as likewise very-easely perceive /that we do apparently show the Submission, the Truth, and the Patience /each-one in his right Place, and according to his right Order. in like-maner /the Belief, the Love, and every-thing ⁏ each-one in his; whatsoever serveth the Man to his Salvation. 11. For how should we possible show anything contrary or unrightly /out of the Testimonies of God, inasmuch as they stand so clear and upright before us /in our Sight, and that God is l Deu. 8 b. Phillip 2. b. Ephe. 3. c. Heb 13 c. the Worker, and the Bringer-foorth of thosame Testimonies himself? The III Chap. But, Albeit now that anyone of the unrenewed Men /do yet for-the-present-tyme ⁏ by reason of his Ingenious-witt or Blindness of Heart; look perversely into the Loveing-kyndnes of God, and the upright Understanding ⁏ witnessed out of God's mostholy Service of Love; or construe it to the worst /yet is not the Work of God, nor the upright Understanding ⁏ which we bring-foorth out of God; perverse for-al-that: neither-yet is God, nor We ⁏ his Ministers; to be blamed /for such a perverse Sight: but he which ⁏ out of his perverse a Math. 5.6. c 18. a. Sight; judgeth falsely. 2. For if the Earth ⁏ which doubtless is altogether blind and ignorant in the Art or Work of the Potter; do judge a b Esa. 2●. 45. b. Rom. 9 c. Potter's Work wrong /then is it nodout greatly to be blamed, because that it knoweth not the Honourablest /from the Dishonorablest, nor the Foremost /from the Hindmost, nor-yet any of the Workmasters Tools. For-that-cause also /it knoweth not how to distinct them rightly. 3. Euenso is likewise the earthly Man to be blamed /that judgeth the Work of the Lord perversely /because that he seethe so purblyndly: and therefore he c Esa. 59 a. 2. Pet. 1. b. gropeth or coniectereth after it /like a Blynd-body: or-els ⁏ out of the Purblyndnes of his Sight; he judgeth the Hindmost /for the Foremost, and the Foremost /for the Hindmost, the Wagon /for the Horses, and the Horses /for the Wagon, and Men /for Trees. And so through his Ignorance /he also nameth the Carpenter's Tools contraryly. For like as the Sight and Discerning of the Man is perverse, evenso is also his judgement. 4. Seeing then that his Eyes are not clear, and d jer. 4. a. ●. b Math. 6. ●. 7. a. Luk. 6. c. 11. d. Act. 7. f. 1. john. 2. b that his Ears are thick, and that his Body is yet dark: and that therefore he beholdeth not the Sun of Righteousness: neither-yet standeth in that Place where she giveeth her clearness: but is altogether a Stranger therefrom /Therefore doth he neither know nor understand anything-at-all of the clearness of the Sun. For-that-cause he cannot also judge in the Light, nor according to the Truth. 5. Now when an illuminated Man ⁏ with the clearness of his Eyes; seethe into the Truth of God: and that he likewise witnesseth of the Beawtyfulnes of the Daye-light of the Sun: also giveth such high Honour and Praise unto the same Light: and therefore testifieth /that no uncleere Eyes, e Math. 6. c. nor dark Bodies /have f john 5. d. ever seen or known such a glorious Light /in his clearness: and that then thosame Testimonies do come before the Eyes and Ears of the earthly Man, g Pro. 3. a. Esa. 5 c. Rom. 1.12. b. 1. Cor. 3. b. who thinketh himself to be wise, or to be illuminated /through his Knowledge /So doth then that earthly or self-wyse Man suppose ⁏ according to the Imagination of the Knowledge or false Light; that the illuminated Man /doth not testify rightly of the clearness of the true Light of God. 6. Therefore, because that the unilluminated Man /seethe so poreblyndly, and cannot see nor endure God's Light /in his Eyes, he judgeth ⁏ out of the false Light /that hath captived his Heart; the illuminated Understanding /to be wrong. 7. Then when an illuminated Man /testifieth of the Love of God, and of the Spirit of the same▪ and that everyone aught to submit them obediently thereunder: and then when thosame Testimonies do come before the Ears of those▪ that look upon the Flesh, and not upon the Spirit /Then do they judge the Love▪ and the loves Spirit and requiring /upon an outward Man, even as though the outward Man himself /required the Obedience and Love, and ⁏ according to the Flesh▪ named himself /the Spirit of Love, or took God's Dignity upon him. 8. Therefore verily, a fleshly or earthly Man ⁏ that liveth without the Service of Love /according to his own good-thinking; is altogether false, h Psal. 116. b. Rom. 3. a. lying, and ignorant [namely /in godly Things] in all his Sights, Knowledges, and judgements. The FOUR Chap. Behold, my beloved Hearts in the Love: This could I not hide from you /To th'end that ye may beware of the false judgements of the divided Men. and for that ye should not over-reache yourselves /in judging anything rashly. For-that-cause let everyone let the judgement alone, and get first a a Apo 3. c. clear Sight, and a pure Soul /in the Love /That he be not judged before the judgment-seate of Christ (before the which we stand) for a false judg. 2. Oh! How well is he minded /that judgeth not, and that construeth and accepteth all in good part /that is witnessed or spoken to him /unto good: and so walketh in stillness, and keepeth his Mouth/ b Psal. 3●. 〈…〉. as if there hung a Lock before it, that he lie not: and which falleth not c through his Tongue. 3. Therefore canst thou not excuse thyself /● Man, d Ro● 〈…〉 whosoever thou bist that judgest. For wherein thou judgest another /therein condemnest thou thyself, inasmuch as thou thyself act guilty in that /wherein thou judgest another. 4. By divers of these false judgers /am I greatly impugned: so that I have had great cause geeven me by Many /to write against them: but that have I not used hitherto ⁏ as against any Person or Company particularly; nor named them by Name. but have witnessed generally /the Ignorance of the Blaspheamers and Resisters of the Love▪ and made it known to the Vnderstandingones. 5. Forasmuch then as our Service hath his Ministration unpartially /through the Love /therefore is it not also our Vce /to write against anyman particularly ⁏ as by any name of Person and Company; nor-yet to dispraise, or to praise them /by their Names: but to show generally ⁏ according as the unpartial Service of Love requireth it; what is Good or Evil for everyone: and wherein the Man hath Right or Wrong: and that altogether out of God, e 2. Cor. 3. a. and not out of ourselves. 6. For the Lord himself ⁏ as a righteous and unpartial God; hath ⁏ according to his Promises; made his judgement/ f Esa 28. b. a Measure-lyne, and his Righteousness /a Balance /among us. Therefore we do neither receive nor-yet give-foorth anything /unless we do measure it all unpartially /with the Measure-lyne of the judgement of God: and weigh it all likewise according to his Value/ g Eccl. 21. c. 28. d. in the Balance of the Righteousness of God. 7. Oh! That ye all did so likewise, and according to the same manner /stood concordably and unpartially minded with us /under the Obedience of the Love: and that even so everyone did first learn ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; to keepe-scilence, and then to speak rightly: also learned first to suffer Wrong, and so to know thereby /that which is Right /ere-ever he gave any Sentence of the Right /to th'end that he might speak according to the Truth, and judge h john 7. c. rightly: As likewise learned first /to endure i 2. Cor. 6. a. Shame, Dishonour, and Despising /with Christ, and thereby to know God's Honour /ere-ever he tooke-upon-him to defend God's honour, and to allow himself to be right in his judgement. Consider effectually heeron. 8. Sing then that the many-maner of Perils ⁏ growing by the judgements of Men; are known unto us /therefore do we ⁏ with this small Instruction; exhort all Lovers of the Truth /that noman undertake or set-forward himself to judge/ k 1. Co●. 4. ●. before the time, nor-yet speak to-soone: but that everyone do first ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; become l Luk. 14. c. a Distiple of Christ: and so m Ephe. 4. b. Col. 1. b. 1. Pet. 2. a. grow-up in the holy Word of the Spirit of the Love of Christ /to the Age of the holy Understanding of Christ. 9 Then when he is become a Christian or an Elder of Christ /in the holy Understanding /so can he then likewise ⁏ through his new Birth; judge rightly/ n Sap. 3. a. Math. 19 ● 1. Cor. 6. a. with Christ, and with all the Saints of God /but otherwise /all his judgements are false. 10. If anyman be now (as is before said) become a Disciple in the holy Understanding of Christ /under the Obedience of the Love, and so ⁏ even unto the Regeneration; be grown an Elder therein /He shall then well understand the Elders in the holy Understanding, or the Ministers of the holy Word in the Family of Love /in their secret Wisdom: and in no-wise strive nor contend ⁏ with his Understanding; against the Elders in the Love of jesus Christ /which do minister the Word of Life under the Obedience of the Love: but shall likewise himself ⁏ as an understanding Elder with the ancient Elders; inform the Disciples of the holy and gracious Word or Christ ⁏ in the christian School of Love; o 1. Tim. 4. b. 2. Tim. 1.2.3. with holy Understanding, and with Lessons of Wisdom /to all Concord in the Family of Love /To th'end that thosame Disciples /might also attain to the Days of their Agednes·s and so be nourished-up▪ in the godly Wisdom of the Love; to the full Age of the Man Christ. 11. Therefore it is said to the Elders /that they shall execute the judgement /according to the Truth: p Exo. 21. c. Levit. 24. b. Deut. 19 c. Math. 5 b. Eye /for Eye, Tooth /for Tooth. But to the Disciples it is said: q Math. 7. a. Lu●. 6. d. judge not, and resist r Math. 5. d. Mom 12. b. 1. Tess. 5. b. not also the Wicked. 12. Therefore saith the Age of the Man Christ /to the Disciples: s Math. 11. c. Learn of Me: for I am humble and meek of Heart. The V Chap. TAke this effectually to heart, all ye that persuade yourselves /that ye are come to the Age of the Man Christ /by means of the Knowledge: and look well into yourselves /whither that ye likewise /have (in manner as is before said) been a Luk. 14. c. jam. 1. c. Disciples of Christ: and are in that sort /come to the humble and meek Hearts in jesus Christ, and to his holy Understanding. 2. But if it have not gone so with you /then take not upon you also /to judge any godly Matters, nor to defend God's Honour, nor-yet to teach anyman: but be content to be taught and informed first yourselves, and submit you evenso b Eccli. 6. c. Math 11. c. 1. Pet 5. a. to all humility /under the Obedience of the Love /for to be rightly taught: and so learn of the Love /the holy Understanding of jesus Christ. 3. And let not him likewise that is yet young in this Doctrine of the godly Wisdom /judge nor reprove: but let him ask, and suffer himself to be taught: and so c Ephe. 4. b. Col. 1. b. 1. pet. 2. a. grow-up in the godly Age of Christ, to all Strengthening and Increasing of the Peaceable-kingdom in the Love /So shall he then become understanding in all godly Things, and the Kingdom of Peace shall increase, and spread-foorth itself into far Countries. 4. If we now do in that manner /grow-up peaceably in all Love and Righteousness /then shall the contentious and divided d Esa. 21. a. Ier 51. a▪ Apo. 14.18. a. Kingdom of Babel /be shut without our Hearts, and without our Comunialtee of Love: and we shall behold the House or the Temple of the Lord /in Heaven /perfectly built in all points, e Amos. 9 d. Mich. 7 b. Agg. 1 a. 2 b Apo. 21. a. and furnished with all his Garnishing. and that the Glory or Dignity, and the Teaching-office in the Service of Love /is only the Lords, according to the Promises, and not the Mans. 5. Heerwith I do heartily salute you all /ye goodwilling Hearts and Lovers of the Truth /with a Salutation of the Love: and I beseech you take this to heart which I write unto you: and therein have respect to the love. For ther-is nothing wiser nor more prudent /then the love. 6. Therefore is the Love in her Follishnes /much godlyer to hear and to believe /then all the Wisdom of this World. 7. For-that-cause it hath likewise so pleased God /to bring-foorth his Wisdom/ 1. Cor. 1. b. like Foolishness, his holy Understanding like Ignorance, and the Foremost /as if it were the Hindmost /before the World and before all her wise and Scriptur-learnedones /whereby to confound the prudent Wyseones: and so the outflowing Word of the Lord, together with his Service of Love, and God's holy Understanding /to be a g Esa. ●. a. 1. Pet. 2. a. Stumbling-stone unto them: wherethrough all Self-wyseones (like as in the h Cen. 11. a. Building of Babel) do entangle and scatter themselves. For in-that-sort will God now in the last time /bring his Kingdom unto his Saints and Electedones: and they shall reign i Apo. 21. b. upon the Earth. 8. But all Self-wyseones, and all those that grow offended at the outflowing Word of the Lord, and at his Service of Love: and will therefore out of their evil Hearts /contend or dispute against thesame· and make k Rom. 16. c. Division, together with all those that set-up themselves against the Love and her upright Service /God will shut without his Kingdom, and utterly root them out /to th'end that the Vniversal-earth and all what is therein /may be i Esa. 66. c. 2 Pet. 3. b. inhabited uprightly for evermore. 9 Farewell: and be always of good-cheere in the love. The Love of God the Father /keep the Victory in all your Hearts. Amen. Take it to heart. The End of the fifteenth Epistle. Our Heart /is the Mind of God most-hie. Our Being amiable /as the sweet Lily. Our Faithfulness /Love /and Truth upright/ Is Gods Light /Life /and clearness bright. The sixteenth Epistle. An instructionable Exhortation unto the good-willing-ones /which do wholly give-over themselves to the Obedience of the Love: Wherein the upright Obedience to the Love, and the godly and ungodly Being /is distincted. Beloved Brothers, rejoice you: be perfect: be of good comfort: be of one Mind and Intent: and be peaceable, So shall the God of Love and Peace /be with you. 2. Cor. 13. Health and Salvation be unto the Comunialtee in the Love, to whom I wish much Happiness in the Lord. The First Chapter. TO your Service /ye dearly-beloved, I do always ⁏ even one of hearty Love; find myself very willingly bend /in all what I may out of the Power of my God: and to write often unto you /grieveth me not /to th'end if God vouchsafe the same /that ye might ⁏ through my Service; understand the Ground of the Love /to the upright Salvation, and that God might establish his holy Name in us. O Yea /that com-to-pas evenso, to the laud and Praise of the godly Glory. Amen. 2. O how happy is he /that hath the Lord a Psal. 33. b. 144. b. to be his God, or which seeketh and loveth Him with b jer. 29. b. all his Heart: and which desireth with all his Soul /to cleave unto the Virtue /he shall know /that the Ways of the Lord /are pure and clear. For the Lord is Psal. 34. a. friendly unto all those that love Him, also faithful and true unto all those that have a delight and Pleasure in the Ways of his love. 3. But to the Despisers of his Love /which do arrogantly contemn, blaspheme, and resist his Will /He is as Indignation d Eccli 5. a. and Wrath. For whosoever disdaineth the Lord and his e 2. Cor. 6. a▪ Grace: as also shutteth God and his Word/ f Tob. 6. b. without his Heart: casteth the Service of the holy Word, and the instructionable g Pro 5. c. 15. ● Chastisement /from him: and so refuseth the Love /he verily shall likewise be rejected by the Lorde· and h Apo. 22. b. shoot without the lovely Being of God. 4. For sing that God doth now present us with all Love /therefore will He likewise ⁏ in the Obedience of his Love; be loved of Us again. 5. Wherefore ⁏ my beloved Children; give-over yourselves to the Lord /with upright Love (even as I have often said unto you, and as our Writings do mention in many Places) namely, i Eccli. 6.7. ● 1. pet. 5. a. in humility and Lowliness of Heart /So shall ye taste that the Lord is friendly: The which our Lord jesus hath also taught us /where He saith: k Math. 21. c. Learn of Me: For I am humble and meek of Heart, and your Souls shall find Rest. 6. Come unto l Math. 11. c. Me (saith He) wit● your Loading or Burden /I will ease you, or take your Burden from you. And take you on my Yoke or Burden. For my Yoke is sweet: and my Burden is light for to bear /saith the Lord. 7. This is the living m 1. Pet 1. c. Word of Grace/ proceeded-out from our Father /the living God, to the Salvation of all People. namely /those that believe in his Name, and n 2. Pet. 3. b. wait for the Coming of his Christ /to their Salvation. 8. Out of thissame Word of Grace /there appeareth unto us now in the last time ⁏ thorough the Revealing o 2 Timon 1. b of the Coming of our Lord jesus Christ; p Rom. 8. b Ephe. 1. b. the Pawn of our godly Inheritance. namely /the holy Spirit of Love /full of all Graces and Amiable-delytfulnesses: which Spirit of Love /is q john 14 c. 25. c. 16. b. the right and true holy Spirit of Christ, which proceedeth or cometh from the Father and the Son, and hath his Flowing-foorth from them. 9 The Children of thissame Spirit /which He r 1 Pet 1. a. b bringeth-foorth out of the Love /are chosen for to possess the s Esa. 33 a Ephe 1. b 2 a. 3. a. Col 1. c ●. a. Treasures and the Inheritance of the riches of Christ of the heavenly Father /for evermore. The II Chap. FOrasmuch then ⁏ ye dearly-beloved; as that ye likewise are now called and bidden to thissame high-worthy majesty of God, and to be a Rom 8. b Ephe 1. a. Coheirs ⁏ with Christ and his Saints; in the Treasures of the heavenly Goods /therefore take-heede to thissame gracious b Eccli 27. b 2 Cor. 6. a Ephe. 5 b Time: and c 4. Esd. 2. d. Rom. 12. a. 1 john. 2. b 〈◊〉. 4. a fly the Shadows of the wicked and blind World. Love not her Darkness in-anywyse: but love the Light of Life /which is healde-foorth unto you through the Service of Love /to your Salvation. 2. Departed out from the Uncircumcised, and let your Hearts d Deut. 10 c. Ier 4. a. be circumcised in thissame New or eight Day /under the Obedience of the Love /that the Foreskin of the worldly and fleshly Desires /may be e Esa. 25. a. 2. Cor. 3. b. put-away from your Hearts. 3. Therefore let all those pas now /that would draw you to their Goodthinking or Knowledge, or to their chosen f Gal. 3. a. 6. b. Col 2 b. c. Holynes·s or allure you to any g Tob. 3. b. Ephe. 4. a▪ Light-behaviour. 4. Endeavour you to enter into the good and upright Being of jesus Christ, even-as the same is ministered unto you out of the Love and her Service: and make noon accounted of it /although ye be mocked, blasphemed, and contemned /for the same cause, or for your singlemynded Obedience to the same. 5. But against all your▪ Adversaries/ h Math 10. d. 16. c. Mar. 8. c. Luk. 9.14 c take unto you the Cross of Christ ⁏ the which is Patience or Forbearance /in the Obedience of the requiring of the Service of Love; and so j 1 Pet. 2.4. a. follow-after Christ. For in that sort is He gone before us: and hath ⁏ through his Cross; overcome k Phillip 2 a. Col. 1. c. ● his Enemies. 6. To which overcoming /ye shall also come ⁏ through Christ; if ye ⁏ in the Following of Christ; do possess your Souls l Luk 21. b with Patience: and had rather ●uffer Contempt, reproach, and Blaspheming /with the Children of God/ m Heb. 11. c. then to inherit all the Treasures of this World. 7. Therefore ⁏ my beloved Children; let it not grieve you /although the n john. 15. b. World do hate you, or though you be contemned and blasphemed by her wise and Scriptur-learnedones: but behold or consider o H●b. 11. c. of the Reward of the Children of God. 8. For I do acknowledge, and testify unto you truly ⁏ according to the Grace of the Knowledge that is chanced unto me; that it shall now in the last time /go-well everlastingly with all goodwilling Hearts which have a Lust to God and his Righteousness /under the Obedience of the Love: and that their Labour in the Lord /shall p 1. Cor. 15. f. not be found in vain. 9 But whosoever doth wilfully contemn the Lord and the Righteousness of his lovely Being, and inclineth to the World or to his own Goodthinking /he shall bear his judgement /whosoever he be. 10. Inasmuch then ⁏ ye dearly-beloved; as that we have now ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; set our Hope /towards God, and our Belief /towards his Salvation /Therefore let us now likewise ⁏ through the Service of the holy Spirit of Love; take a q Heb. 5. a. cheerful Passage ⁏ in jesus Christ; to God the Father, and to his glorious and lovely majesty. and not regard the Temptations of the wicked World and of our Resisters. 11. For happy is he r jam▪ 1. b. that endureth Temptation, and snareth or bindeth nor himself unto the Evil. For therein lieth the s 4. Esd. 2. c. 2. Timo. 4. a. jam. 1. b. Apo. 2. b. Victory, and the Crown of Life of the perfect Salvation. 12. But if anyman now be yet weak, as that he is yet sometimes drawen-back by the Evil, and dismayed or made wavering in his Belief: and seethe that he is fallen ther-thorough /let him stande-up again, and suffer himself to be renewed in the Service of Love, and pray unto the Lord for Strength and Constance /so shall He be gracious unto him, and give him Strength against his Temptation: For God is almighty. 13. For-that-cause let noman judge or condemn himself, t Luk. 6. d. much-les another: For although that God do otherwiles hide v Esa. 54. a. himself from us for a certen-tyme /yet is He notwithstanding (if we wait upon Him x Heb. 10. c. jam. 1. a. in Patience) our Strength at the last: and leadeth us out of all our Distress. For He is an Assister or Helper /to the Little and Lowelyones, y Luk. 18. a. if they call unto Him Night and Day, and hunger and thirst uprightly z Math. 5 a. after the true Righteousness. Yea those same verily /shall He mercifully pity. 14. But not for any Righteousness a 2. Timo. 1. a Tit. 3. a. that anyman might have done. O not: but for his holy Names sake /to th'end that the same should b Ma●. 1. b. Math. 6. ●. be hallowed and magnified in his Saints and Electedones /which call unto Him Night and Day. It is very true. The III Chap. THis write I unto you ⁏ ye dearly-beloved; for that ye might ⁏ with single Hearts; be stirred-up to a good Zeal a Gal. 4. b. towards the good Being of the Love /for to obtain ⁏ through the Love; a good Increase to the Righteousnes·s and ⁏ in the Love; the sweet Dew and Wind or Spirit of the holy Being of God: and so might ⁏ with upright Hearts; increase in the holy Understanding, or grow-up b Ephe. 4. b. therein /to a godly Age of Christ. 2. Therefore (because your Understanding should not be troubled with any deepe-mynded Knowledge) I have also written unto you in chyldish c 1. Cor. 3. a. Heq. 5. b and playne-maner: even-as my Words were /when I was with you. For the Childishness, and the d 2. Cor. 11. a. single Obedience to the Love and to the requiring of her Service /in a good Will to the holy Being of our Lord jesus Christ /is most needful for us. 3. And although it seemeth to be a small or simple Wisdom /yet is it a Wisdom that is c Math. 11. c 13. b. secret before all Self-wyse and Good-thinking-ones /for to come thereunto. 4. Therefore is the simple Wisdom of God ⁏ that is obtained in the Obeying of the Love; a Wisdom /wherewith the Wife, the Scripture-learned, and the Great-knowers in this World/ f Esa. 29. b 1. Cor. 1. b. be made ashamed, and caught in their Wisdom. 5. For those that seem to know much: and all those which persuade themselves that they are wise /Thosame doubtless /know nothing-at-al /if they do not know nor enter into g Math. 11. c. the Meekness, nor the childish h M●th. 1●. a▪ 1. Cor. 14. c Simplicity in the Lord jesu Christ. 6. But whosoever hath learned the Meekness of the lovely and simple Life /in the School of Christ /under the Obedience of the Love /his Wisdom (although it seem to be the least) doth far excel i Sap 7. all the worldly Wisdoms and Learnednesses. It it very true. 7. Take heed to it I beseech you: and retain that in your Understanding /which I write unto you. The FOUR Chap. O You goodwilling Hearts ⁏ my beloved Children in the Love; In that I write this Letter unto you /thereunto hath your Love, and goodwilling Obedience occasioned me. 2. For when I was last with you (hearing your Words) I perceived that ye stood a Rom. 12. b. 15. a. 1. ●or. 1. a. Phil. 2. a. 3. b. agreeably-mynded together /for to show Obedience in all what I might command you out of the Word of Grace and his Service of love. In which your Goodwillingnes and inclined Mind to the Obedience of the Love /my Soul hath greatly rejoiced /because I find so few of that Disposition. 3. If ye now ⁏ O ye dearly-beloved; be altogether inclined to the Obeying of the holy Word /then let the same likewise be found so in the Deed: and fear not any thing. For in all thissame/ b 1. Cor. 7. d. I will cast no Snare about your Necks (like as is happened to divers among you /by Sommein-tymes-past): nor lay any Burdens upon you/ c Math. 23. a. which ye should not be able to bear: neither-yet require anything of you /that I myself would not do: but gently and courteously (even as God requireth out of his Love) entreat you: and that altogether /unto Peace and unity with each-other /in God the Father, and in his love. 4. Therefore hearken and take-heede /what I command you. d 1. Cor 7. b. howbeit not I /but the Lord. 5· In all your Obedience to the Service of Love/ e Pro. 28. b. Eccli. 4. c. make-manyfest your whole Heart, Minds, and Thoughts·s and your Falling into the Sin /before your Elder and Minister of the godly Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love: and so discharge yourselves, f Rom. 12. a. 13. b. or departed ⁏ with all your Hearts; out of all worldly Behaviour, Dealing, and Abuce. and out of all what is created in the World /being vain and corruptible: as g Tob. 3. b. Ephe. 5. a. Light-behaviour, Wantonness, unprofitable Babbling, Mocking, Provokeing, Rygourousnes, Dissimulation, Lying, Covetousness, Pride, Self-myndednes, and h jer. 7. c. 11. a 13. b. 18. b. Goodthinking, and those things that are like unto these: And enter into the everlasting living Vncreatednes, the true Good of the godly Perfection: take unto you a constant Disposition, and use decent Words among eachother/ i Ephe. 4. c. Col 4. a. 1. Pet. 4. b. that are profitable, convenient, and serve to edifying: also Loveingnes, Famylyaritee, Openheartednes, the Truth, Contentedness, and Peaceableness, or Submission. 6. In all thissame /love you one-another to the Good: talk daily of the Truth, and of the Love /which God doth now in the last time ⁏ out of his Grace; show upon us. 7. Be you likewise k Rom. 12. b. constant and humble in your Prayers, and pray unto the Lord /that He will strengthen you to his Righteousness: and trust upon Him, He l Eccli 2. b. will not forsake you. 8. To these lovely Commandments of Love (which are the light m Mat. 1●. c. 1. john. ●. a. Burden or the sweet Yoke of Christ, and do bring us to a lovely peaceable Being: wherethrough we have the Peace in God /with eachother) prepare your Souls /for to be obedient thereunto. For in the Obeying of the Love /is hidden the Treasure of all Wisdom, and the Head-somme of all Righteousness. 9 What is now this Love /which in her Service /requireth such Obedience? might some man demand. The Answer: 10. The Love is a very true Being, out of the which /the Belief doth grow and blow, and becometh fruitful therethrough /to bring-foorth the upright Righteousness. 11. The Love n 1. Cor. 13. a. is able to do and to obey all what God requireth /in the Service of his gracious Word: and likewise to bring-foorth all what is serviceable to the Peace and unity of Heart in the Love: For by her almighty and virtuous Nature /she begetteth o Rom. 13. a. Gal. 5. b. 1. Timo. 1. a. or bringeth-foorth the perfect Righteousness of the Belief of Christ. 12. The p john. 4.7. d Water of Life that floweth from her Body /is the upright Doctrine in the Wisdom, wherewith she q Gen. 2. b. watereth the whole Paradise of the Lord, and refresheth his Planting. 13. Her Fruit which the Righteous do bring-foorth out of her Doctrine/ r Gen 2. a. Pro. 3. b. 4. Esd 8. f. Apo 2. a. is a Tree of Life: whose leaves do s Psal. 1. a. Ier 17. a. Ez●. 47. b. Apo. 22 a. not whither: neither is her Rooting-out found. Of which Love and the Service of her Doctrine /we have rehearsed more-at-large in the t 3. Glass 31. c d. Glass of Righteousness. 14. The Lord bring us all to the same upright Being of the Love /To th'end that we may enjoy the Frui●s of the heavenly Kindness /in all love. Amen. The V Chap. Moreover ⁏ my beloved Friends in the Love of jesus Christ; I must yet write a little-more unto you, and disclose or declare unto you /the two-maner of Kingdoms [namely, of God and of the Devil] which do make-manifest themselves in our inwardness as spiritual, or invisible /Because that ye may also learn to know them with Distinction /according to the Spirit /whereby you may with an upright Discerning (when they make-manifest themselves against eachother /in you) cleave unto that ⁏ with your Spirit; which is godly, heavenly, and true /and which saveth you: and may forsake and leave that /which is devilish, deceitful, and false /and which bringeth to the Condemnation. 2. For-that-cause, inasmuch as it is Spirit/ a john. 3. ●. that condemneth, and saveth us /therefore have now a regard with good Discerning /unto Spirit and Spirits: and learn to know those well/ b john. 4. a. that are of God and true, and those that are devilish and false or lying. 3. But if ye will discern them rightly according to the Truth /then become first-of-all circumcised to the Lord/ c Deut. 10. ●. jer. 4. a. Col. 2 b. on the Foreskin of your Hearts [the which is the Laying-away of the Flesh of Sin] and so then become d Rom. 8. a. spiritually minded /in all your Understanding of the godly Knowledges: and continued steadfast in the Obedience to the Word /till unto the second Birth: like-as ye be taught by the Service of Love /according to the Truth of Christ. 4. If-so-be now that ye continued in the Word of the Love of jesus Christ: and do not turn-away neither to the left nor to the right side/ e johan. ●. d. then shall ye know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free. 5. Therefore give-ear now, and understand /what the Spirit of Love and Truth saith: 6. Know in your Spirit ⁏ O ye good-willing Hearts to the Righteousness; how that God ؛the true Father; is f jam 1. c. an everlasting unchangeable Spirit, a steadfast Power, a g Gen. 1. a. Creator of Heaven and Earth, and of everything that shall continued for ever: h Heb. 1. a. also an Upholder of his Works /with the i Sap. 7 c. Word of his Being: a clear Light and living Fountain, whereout all Virtues and Righteousnesses do flow. 7. Euenthus according to the same like Being of God the Father /so know likewise ⁏ according to the Spirit; his Son /our Lord jesus Christ, k Gen. 1. a. Psal 33. a. Pro 8 c. through whom /God hath made all his Works: and He is out of God the Father published unto us ⁏ by the l Rom 10. a. 1 Pet. 1. c. Word of Preaching of the holy Gospel; m john. 1. a. to be a true Light /that lighteth all Men through the Coming of his Appearing, and is set-before us /for an everlasting Saviour, n Math. 1. c. Rom 3. c. 2. Cor. 5. b. Col. 1. c. ●. john. 2.4 b and a Reconciler for our Sins. namely, for all those Sins o Math. 12. d. Luk. 12. b. that are committed against the Father and the Son. 8. Know also the holy Ghost, p john. 14. c. 15. c. ●6. b. which cometh unto us /out of the Father and the Son ⁏ as a Spirit of Truth and Love; in the Obeying of the Word of God and Christ: which establisheth us therein, and declareth the Kingdom of the God of Heavens unto us: and in what Form and Being /that the Father, and the Son, and the holy Ghost /is one true God. 9 Behold, that is verily the true Kingdom of God/ q Luk.▪ 17. c. inwardly with in us: and his Righteousness is /that the Man should ⁏ with his Spirit; be incorporated to the same Godhead, and live therein for ever. The VI Chap. Understand now according to the Truth ⁏ ye dearly-beloved; which is the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness/ a Math. 6. d, that we aught first or before-al /to seek. 2. But sing that the Man doth now generally /seek the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness /contraryly, and not rightly: b jer. 19 d. john 7 d. and for-that-cause cannot find the same /through his own Understanding /Therefore hath the Goodness of God /looked upon our Ignorance, and declared his Kingdom, and the Righteousness thereof /unto Us /through his love. 3. To which Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness /and godly majesty of the everlasting, spiritual, and heavenly Being /and to all his Holiness, Beauty, riches, and to his ever-liveing joyfulness /We be all now called and bidden /by the holy Spirit of the Love of God the Father /to the Preservation of us all /in thissame last and perilous Time. For He /the same God ؛y e Father, the Son, the holy Ghost; presenteth us now with his Love, and will c Levi. 26. b. Eze. 37. c. 2. Gor. 6. b. Apo. 21. a. ● devil, live, and work in us. Let everyone take-heede to thissame gracious Time. 4. The Father draweth d john. 6. ●▪ g or allureth us to him /by his gracious Word and Service of Love: and whosoever yieldeth himself to be drawn by the Father /cometh to the Son /the outflowen gracious Word of the Father. 5. And whosoever cometh to the Son, and e john. 3.6. c. beleeveing Him /remaineth f john. 8. 1●. a in Him /He saveth. 6. And Whom the Son saveth/ g john. 3.6. f. he hath the everlasting Life: and is h Act. 1. a. 2. b. anointed with the holy Gost. 7. And whosoever is anointed with the holy Ghost /he is established i Rom. 8. b. Ephe. 1. b. c. ●ol. 1. b. ● or altogether godded in the everlasting living Godhead, and is uniform with all what concerneth the Godhead or is of God: and inheriteth the Kingdom of the God of Heavens, and all the riches of Christ of the heavenly Goods. 8. Behold, eventhus doth the holy Ghost ⁏ which is the Spirit of Love; confirm the Kingdom of the God of Heavens, and the Promises of God the Father and of Christ: and k john. 16. b leadeth the godly Man into all Truth, and declareth every-thing unto him that is in Heaven and upon the Earth. 9 But whosoever hath been negligent in the l john. 6. c. ●. Drawing of the Father· and ⁏ through his Ignorance; contemned, or been disobedient unto Him and his Law or serviceable Word: and whoso likewise hath not taken-heede to the Salvation in jesus Christ /through the Belee●e● but ⁏ through the Blindness m Rom. 1. c. Ephe. 4. b. of the Unbelief; resisted or blasphemed the same /He doth yet in thissame day /through the Ministration of the godly Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love ⁏ the which is the Office of the holy Ghost; find Grace and Forgiveness of Sins /if he submit n 1. Pet. 5. b. jam. 4. ●. himself o Math 3. a. Luk. 3. b. penitently under the Obedience of the love. 10. But whoso neglecteth him in the holy Spirit of Love, and resisteth and blaspheameth the same or his mostholy Service of the spiritual and heavenly Goods/ p Math. 12. d. Heb. 6.10. c He continueth in Indignation, and shall never q Iohn ●. a. see the Kingdom of God▪ For the Spirit of the Love of God and Christ, or holy Ghost ⁏ who is the Perfection of all the Works of God; hath and useeth his Service ⁏ the which is the last Service of Grace; now in thissame last gracious Time or Day of love. After which gracious Day of Love /ther-is r Apo. 10. a. no Day of Grace more for to come: but s Heb. 10. c. the righteous judgement of God, to the Condemnation t Math. 25. d. of all ungodly ones /that have refused the Godliness through the holy Spirit of Love and the Ministration of his godly Testimonyes·s and evenso contemned and blasphemed his most holy Service. 11. Therefore ⁏ all ye goodwilling Hearts; take-heede now ⁏ according to the Counsel of the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love; to the Kingdom of God v Luk. 17. c. inwardly within you /To th'end that ye may be incorporated to the same /with your Spirit: For that is the Righteousness which availeth before God. 12. But take you good heed of the Kingdom of the Devil, which also showeth itself inwardly ⁏ before the Eyes and Thoughts /that are earthly x Rom. ●. a. and fleshly minded; as a Kingdom of God: and deceiveth the Fleshly-myndedones /with his false y Esa. 59 a. Light and ● Goodthinking, and with his false z Ier 7. b. & Sap. 2. 2. Pet 2. b. I●de 1. b. Freedom /which it bringeth to the Flesh /according to his Fleshly Lusts and Disyres, and seduceth the Hearts of Men. The VII. Chap. Know likewise thatsame Kingdom of the Devil /inwardly /according to the Spirit: For his Generation is also inward /but not out of any Being or Life that is spiritual and heavenly: but out of that which is nothing and earthly or corruptible: and therefore is likewise the Generation of the same /earthly, and not heavenly /fleshly /and not spiritually minded /according to God's Spirit /therefore doth it also grow offended always /at those things that are against their Minds or Thoughts, and maketh-up itself a 2. Tess. 2. against that which is of God and of his Service of love. 2. Thesame Generation of the Devil /will not also stand submitted under the Obedience of the Love, nor of the holy Word: but refuseth the requiring thereof /and so will live according b jer. 7. ●● a. 13. b. 18 b to their own Will and Goodthinking, and wrist c 2. Pet. 3. b. and construe the Scripture /according to their false and Fleshly Mind /and so will live unto themselves, and love themselves /according as the Knowledge imagineth in them. 3. Therefore is the Devil /in his Kingdom (although he appear before all fleshly Minds /as if he were a d 2 Tess. 2 a. God of Light) not els-what but a nothingness of the Lie: and is likewise for-that-cause /a e john. 8. a. Father of all secret or inward Wickedness, and a Tender or Parter-asunder of all Concord /whearas he is harkened-unto and believed and accepted as good and true. 4. Behold, the same Father of Wickedness ؛the God of the f 2. Cor. 4.2. wicked World and of all Ungodly or impenitent Men; is /in all his Being /a g 2. Tess. 2. b. Contrary-beeing unto God▪ and his Son /a Contrary-beeing unto Christ, a Destroyer, h john. 17. b. 2. Tess. 2. a. a Child of Wickedness, which maketh the Hearts of Men /stout upon their Knowledge: and bringeth also a false Freedom unto Many /for to sin boldly, and to continued in the worldly abominations and Foolishness /with unaccused Consciences, and to make-up themselves i Dan. 22. a. resistant against the Truth, and the godly Love of God the holy Father. 5. And their Spirit [namely, of the Father of Wickedness, and of his Son or Child of Wickedness] is a wicked Spirit k 2. Tess. 2. a. of Lies, which confirmeth the Man ⁏ being in his Vnrepentance, and in his Disobedience to the requiring of the gracious Word of the Lord and his Service of Love; in the Being of Lies: and leadeth him into all Lie and Error▪ 6. Thesame false God and Father of Wickedness /doth also ⁏ with his wicked Self-willednes; allure l 2. Tess. 2. a. b or draw us unto him /through the private Love of ourselves: and whosoever doth yield himself to be so drawn by him /cometh to his Son ؛his Child or Being of Wickedness; the false Christ or m 1 john. 2. c 4. a. Antichrist, the Destroyer, which is the Christ of the wicked World and of all ungodly ones, and worketh in his People an inward or n ●. Tess. 2. b. secret Wickedness /which they themselves cannot well perceive. 7. And whomsoever then cometh so to the Son of the Devil, as also becometh incorporated to the same Being of Wickedness, and bideth therein /he is quite and clean corrupted /in all his Mind /by the Wickedness and by the private Love of himself, and by the Disobedience and Resistance to the Love and her right Service. Yea, so quite corrupted /that he is inclined to nothing-els /in all his Mind /but to his Self-wilednes, and to all Destructionablenes: and to destroy the Family of Love /wherein the living God of Heaven dwelleth, liveth, and governeth /and the good-willing-ones to the Obedience of the requiring of the same God: or to stand against them in every-behalfe, and to draw them away from the single Obedience which they show in the requiring of the Service of Love, and to corrupt their Understanding /with the goodthinking Knowledge. 8. And whosoever then is thus corrupted by the Son ؛the Child o john. 17. b. 2 Tess 2 a. of the Devil and of Wickedness; or by his Ministers /under the Power and Will of the Devil, and is grown of one-mind with the wicked and ungodly Nature /for to be pliable to the same, and so is become envious towards the Family of Love /he is borne a Child of the Sin and of the Devil, and an Heir of the hellish Being and of the perpetual p Math 〈…〉 Condemnation. and anointed with the wicked Spirit of q 3. Reg. 22. Esa 18 b. 2 Tess 2. Lies. Which Anointing /is a false Freedom, or a false free Mind and Being of the Devil. And thatsame is the false Freedom which the Disobeyers and Resisters of the Love /do willingly accept-of in their Unregeneration, and do much sooner and rather inclyne-unto /then to show Repentance for their Sins, and to submit them to the Doctrine of the Love of jesus Christ. 9 And whosoever then taketh upon him to live free /being unregenerate, and so in his Unregeneration /is anointed or quieted with the false Spirit of Lies or of Good-thinking· taught to the Kingdom of Hell· and made free in useing all Wickedness and Resistance against the Love /He is likewise a Fellow-member of the Devil and of the Wicked Nature or Antichrist: wherethrough he is then in that fort /wholly and altogether deviled with the r Sap. 2. d. john 8. c. Devill· natured with the wicked Nature of Antichrist· and leadd by the false Spirit of 2. Tess. 2. b. Lies /into all Falsehood and Lies, into all Disobedience to the gracious Word, and into all worldly and ungodly abominations: and so inheriteth the Desolation of all horrible abomination. And thatsame is the Kingdom of Hell, Sap. 1. c. Math. 2●. d. 2. Pet. ●. ●. and of the he●●ish Fire /wherein all wicked and seduceing Spirits have their Dwelling, and do com-foorth their-out for to seduce. 10. Behold, such a wicked End and horrible Being of the Hell and of the Darknesses ⁏ where through one inheriteth nothing-els but all Lies and Wickedness, and useth all Wickedness /in Freedom; is looked-into and known by all the Children of the holy Spirit of Love /that the same is the whole Kingdom of the Devil himself. But by all goodthinking Wyseones and Children of the Flesh and of the wicked World ⁏ who have a Lust and Desire to the Iniquity and Works of the sinful Flesh; it is v Sap. 2 a. Apo. 13. looked-into /as a Light and Kingdom of Pleasure, and as a good Freedom for all Disobedient and Vnregeneratedones. 11. Take you heed of this wicked Nature /ye dearly-beloved, and keep your Hearts pure from the same /through the Word of Truth /that is ministered unto you in the Obedience of the love. And although it do make-up itself in you sometimes /against the same Word of Truth /yet become not of one-mind with the same in-any-wyse: but hung your Hearts on the upright godly Being of the Love, and to be obedient to his requiring: and so ⁏ in the Obedience of the Love; overcome the Evil/ x Rom. 12. c. with the good Being of God. 12. If now ye do y Eccli 6. c. 1. Pet. 5. a. jam. 4. a. submit your Hearts under the Obedience of the Love /with all humility /then shall ye also in thissame perilous Time /not be seduced nor deceived by the wicked Being: but bide preserved with the Good. 13. To your Preservation /ye dearly-beloved ⁏ to th'end that ye might love the good Being, and be warned of the Evil; so could I not omit to write a little unto you of this Matter also, and to set it forth before your Eyes and Ears /Because that ye should ⁏ with a good Understanding; understand a right Difference betwixt the godly and ungodly Being. The Lord vouchsafe to preserve you all from the Evil, and to lead you into all Truth. Amen. 14. THis have I written with Diligence and fervent Love, and thought good to declare it before you all /my beloved Friends in the Love: Especially before all you which have given-over your Hearts and Minds /with Us /to all Obedience and Concord in the Love and her Service: Whose Souls likewise I do love /to the perfect Righteousness, for to live with you all in the Kingdom of God the Father /in all Love and unity of Heart, even-as God and his Word and Service of Love /requireth the same of us: To his renowned Praise, Honour, and Glory /and to all our joy and Salvation /in the everlasting Life. 15 Heerwith ⁏ ye goodwilling Hearts to the Love; ye be altogether heartily saluted. 16. Take-heede I pray you /to thissame friendly a 1. Cor 16 c. 2 Cor. 13. b Kiss, wherewith I do embrace you in the Spirit /to the unity of the Love: and b Ephe. 4. a. walk like loving Children /in all love. 17. Be mindful likewise of these my Words and writings: and c 1. Timon 4. ● exercise yourselves obediently therein /to all Godliness /To thendethat I may find you always according to the Sense and Mind of my Souls·s and rejoice me evenso with you all ⁏ in the godly joy; in the everlasting Life. That grant us the Lord /the almighty God. Amen. The End of the sixteenth Epistle. The seventeenth Epistle. A groundly Instruction of the Man's Glory /in the Beginning: of his Fall, Death, and Condemnation: and of his Restoring into his former Glory again. Written and sent unto the Lovers of the Truth /which submit them with us /under the Obedience of the love. Under which Obedience of the Love /all Men are ⁏ now in the last time; called and bidden to assemble them to one Man of God /in the only and true Body of jesus Christ: to a perfect Glory /both of God and the Man. Let us be upright in the Love, and grow in all parts /in him which is the Headd /even CHRIST: by whom the whole Body is joined together. Ephe. 4. b. To those /whose Spirit is one Spirit with Us in the Love /be Health and Salvation. The First Chapter. THE clearness of the true Light ⁏ which is appeared a Act. 2. a. 2. Cor. 4. a. Col. 1. b. 2 Timon 1. a and come unto us from the Right-hande of God the Father /out of the heavenly Truth▪ grow and increase more-and-more among you all /my beloved Hearts in the Love, even till unto the most-perfect clearness/ b Ephe. 3. d. 2. Pet. 1. b. in the inwardness of your Hearts /To th'end that ye may ⁏ through the same clearness; see, know, and understand /to what a Nobleness and Kingdom of God of concordable loveliness /God hath c Gen 1. c. Sap. 2. c. Eccli 17. a created the Man· and chosen and loved the same Generation: like-as our writings ⁏ setforth by us /under the Obedience of the Love; do sufficiently ⁏ with full Instruction; show the clearness of that Matter /were it rightly understood. 2. Although ⁏ ye Beloved; that ye have often heard of this Matter by us, or readd thereof in our writings: and do also partly see-into and know the same /yet am I forced notwithstanding /out of the Heart of Love ⁏ that standeth affected towards all your Hearts /to an unity in the Love; to write a little-more unto you /of the upright Being /wherein the Man was created, wher-from he is d Gen. 3. ●. Sap. 2. c. fallen, and whereunto he is called again /by Christ /to th'end to stirr-up the desire of your Spirit the-more, and to procure all your Will the-more, towards the upright Being of the true Light, and to the Incorporating e john 15. ● 17. b. to one concordable Man of God /in whom /God with his Christ, and with all his Saints, Spirits, Prophets, and Angels /dwelleth, liveeth, and triumpheth with Glory and all Delytfulnes /as a f Rom 14. b. peaceable and g Heb. 12 b. undisturbable Kingdom. To him the same God/ h Ephe 1. b. to the laud and Praise of his Glory, and to him the same godded Man /to his perfect joy. Amen. 3. Behold and consider /ye Beloved: In the Beginning/ i Gen 1. c when God had made allthings well /then was the Lord /a Lord of his Kingdom, and a God of his Works. There was not also in his Kingdom, nor-yet in all his Works /anymore then one God, and one Man: and they were One, and had in all respects /one Kind, Being, and Nature: And so ⁏ at that time; God was all what the Man was, and the Man all what God was. 4. And when God looked upon the Man/ k Gen 1. c. Sap 2 c. Eccli. 17. a. whom He had created according to the like Being of his Godhead, and with whom He was manned /then looked He upon himself, as the same clearness of his living Godhead /uniform with the Manhood. 5. Behold, thus uniform with the true Being of God /was the Man in the Beginning: and this was all one Being /the Man and God. And so God behealde l Gen. 1 d. his Work which He had made /that it was Good. 6. And when the Man likewise beheld his God /with whom he was godded /then saw he ⁏ in the same clearness of his God; the noble and pure clearness of his Manhood /uniform with the Godhead, and perfect in all Virtues and Beauty▪ namely, according to all the Frome and Being of the same Godhead. Lo, this was likewise all One/ m john 17 c. Ephe 2 b God and the Man. 7. Seeing now that These ⁏ God and the Man; were One /so was-ther likewise no more but one Kingdom /in Heaven, nor upon Earth: and that was the Kingdom of the God of Heavens, and the everlasting Life/ which had his perfect Beauty and clearness both upon the Earth and in Heaven /with the Man, and in the Man. And ther-was nowheare any n Sap. 1. c. Kingdom of Hell, nor Death, nor-yet any Unrighteousness /neither in Heaven nor upon Earth. For God had made all Things good and well /which He had made: and also created him no more but one Man, who was as God himself. And God blessed this Man: and hath said unto him /that he should grow or increase him, replenish o Gen. 1. c. the Earth, and bring it under him. 8. Also God gave no other Customs, Rites, Laws, nor Commandments unto the Man /in the Beginning /but to live with joy and an p Gen. 2. b uncovered Heart /in the naked or uncovered clearness of his God, and likewise to walk always naked or uncovered /before Him: and that he should evenso behold all the Works of God /for good /and not for evell· know nothing but Good /and not any Euell· and taste or feel nothing-els but Life /and not any Death· Salvation /and not any Condemnation. The II Chap. Behold: That would God, and that the same should continued in that manner and everlastingly with the Man /to th'end that his Kingdom [namely, the Man /with the Godhead] should ⁏ as one only peaceable Kingdom /in all loveliness; bear a ●en. ●. c. d the Dominion over the universal Earth /to the Welfare of all Creatures. 2. But assoon as the Man turned-away the Sight of his Eyes /from his God, and looked upon himself: and so turned-unto and loved himself /them perceived he that he was not altogether the highest Godhead himself· but with the Godhead /a Man also, b Gen 3 a. and become tempted to the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for to be therethrough in every-respect /as God himself. 3. When the Man had given-over himself therunto· and taken-on such a Fruit /of the Knowledge of Good and Evil /then come Blindness over him, c Gen. 3. a. and he estranged or separated himself from the lovely clearness of his God. By means whereof /he could not endure the Word or the Voice of his God· nor appear before Him /with his naked Manhood: but was d Gen. 3. b. ashamed before God /of his naked Manhood. 4. He could not also behold, nor conceive any other Light or clearness /but that which he framed to himself /out of the Knowledge of Good and Evil: or, even-as the same Knowledge imagined it in him. The which was all Ignorance and Darkness: and was always to a more Leading-awaye or Estrainging of the Man from his God, who is the c john 1. a 8. b. 9 ●. 12. ● everlasting Light and the true Wisdom. 5. He felt likewise no other Life of Righteousness, nor Peace or Rest in his Conscience /but that which he himself forged and tooke-on out of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The which was all wrong, and nothing but Sin, Death, and Vnrestfulnes. 6. He knew not also any other God, Kingdom of Heavens, nor Salvation /but such as he prefigured unto himself /through the same forenamed Knowledge /which the Man himself had taken-on. The which was nothing-els /but the Devil himself· the Kingdom of Hell· and the everlasting Condemnation. f Sap. 1. ●. whom /God would not that they should be upon the Earth. 7. And eventhus did the Darkness and the Devil ؛ g john. ●. c. the Father of Lies; as also the Kingdom of Hell ⁏ as a deadly and damnable Being; get a Form in the Man: and so become the Man, and all what was borne of him/ h Gen. ●. b. Rom. 5. b. 1 cor 15 c. subject to the Death and all Destruction: and he got in that manner /the i jer. 17. a. craftiest Heart /above all the Beasts upon Earth /by which means /the whole World is grown so k Eccli. 37. ●. full of Falsehood. 8. COnsider well now ⁏ ye good-willing Hearts; what a destructionable Heritage the Generations of Men have inherited /through the Knowledge of Adam: wherethrough the Man (who is created by God /for to be One with God, and aught to be One with each-other) is fallen or grown into so many kinds of Division and Destruction. Which Destruction of the harmful Knowledge /we may now easily perceive /through the clearness of thissame Day, and through the Declaring of the Service of Love /if we have regard thereon: and that chiefly everyone in himself. 9 Now for to bring thissame fallen Man ⁏ which is so utterly corrupted in his Vnderstanding· deadd l ●en. 3. d. Sap 1. c. from the Life of God· and estranged from the Kingdom of the God of Heavens; again to his God /in his upright Estate /So hath God out of m john. 3. b. his Love (even-as He had promised /to the Salvation of the manly Generation) brought-forth a new Man /according to the same Likeness or Form of his Godhead, n Mat. 1. ●. Luk. 2. who is called/ jesus Christ: which signifieth unto us /the safe-makeing Oil or Anointing of the godly Being. This Man is gon-out o john. 13. a. 16. ●. from God, and hath showed himself upon Earth. 10. He is entered into the Knowledge of Men, and hath found the much knowing Wisdom, together with her Scripture-learnednes /false and lying /in all what she knew. 11. This false Knowledge (inasmuch as she p 1 Cor 1 b understood not the Truth of God rightly /by all her Wisdom nor Scripture-learnednes) hath Christ q Math 23. rebuked. also brought-in a true Knowledge /besides the same, and taken r 2 Cor 1●. a captive the Knowledge of Men therewith: wherethrough God hath evenso ⁏ by his Christ; made all the Knowledge or Wisdom of Men/ 1. Cor 1.3. c Foolishness /to th'end He would in that sort ⁏ in thissame tocoming Day of his Glory; release or make the Man free from all his foolish Knowledge /under the Obedience of his love. 12 In this like-maner hath Christ done also with the s Math. 12. c. 15. b. 21. d. Sin, and with the false Righteousness of Men. 13. He is likewise entered into the Death t Math. 27. of Men: and hath also brought-in a Death besides the same [namely, his u Rom. 6. a. Phil. 2. a. Death of the Cross] to the Makeing-alyve of Men: and so hath ⁏ through his Death; taken-captive v 1 Cor. 15. f. the Death of Men /for that He would now in the last Day ⁏ in his Coming-agayne; x Rom. 6. ● b 1 Cor 15. c. 2 Cor 4. b. Ephe. 2. a. Col 2. b. rayse-up the Man from the Death /through his Death of the Crosse· make him alive through his Spirit of Love· and bring him to his God /in his upright Estate. 14. Euenso hath He done likewise with the Devil, Darkness, Hell, and Condemnation: in whose Bands the Man hath walked, and been so bound therein /that he could not escape the Condemnation. Whose y Oze. 1●. b. 1. Cor 15 f Apo. 20. b. Power is now ⁏ in thissame Day of Love; altogether broken· and the Man ⁏ which believeth and giveth-eare to the Love in her Service; made safe. The III Chap. AND now when jesus Christ had a Psal 68 b. Ephe. 4. a. taken-captive the Power and Dominion of all pernicious Things ⁏ which burdened the Man, and were destroying; and b Psal 8 a. 11. c. 28. b. ●. Cor. 15. c Ephe 1. c Heb. 2. a had brought them all under him /through his Death of the Cross /Then did He rise again from the Death /with his Power and Dominion over the Destruction, and was seen alive/ c Math. 28. b john 20. d. Act 2. c. 10. c 1. Cor. 15 ●. by his Friends: and so hath ⁏ through the Declareing of his Resurrection; caused his Friends and Disciples that believed in Him /to see, and made-knowen unto them /the obtaining of the Power and Victory /against all the destroying Things wherewith the Man was captived. 2. Now when He had commanded his Disciples /that they should publish that which they had seen, heard, and learned of Him /for a Gospel in all the World /to the Salvation of Men /in his Coming-agayne/ d Mar. 16. b Luk 24. f. Act. 1. a. Then did He ascend from them /to the Seat of his godly Glory: and hath possessed the Heaven, and set himself at the Right-hande of the majesty of his God /in the-Heigth. From thence hath God ⁏ by the same Christ; poored-out his e Act 2. a. holy Spirit /upon the Disciples of Christ /which believed in Him, and observed his Word /for to make them unto Him /a true Comunialtee of his Saints. 3. Behold, eventhus hath God /beholding f Act. 17. d. the Ignorance of Men) caused the g Math 3 a. Luk. 3.24. ● Act. 2. d. 3. b upright Repentance for Sin /to be published unto all Men /by these Saints of God and Christ, and to give them to understand /that He hath set or appointed a Day ⁏ which is the Day of Love; h Psal. 96. 9●▪ Act. 17. b. on the which He would judge the Circuit of the universal Earth /with Righteousness /by one Man /in whom He hath concluded it: who holdeth-foorth the Belief before everyone, inasmuch as God hath raised Him up from the Death. 4. Forasmuch then as God is true in his Promises, i Luk 1. e g. and doth continually show his Mercy on the Generations of Men /to the Establishing of his Promyces /so doth He likewise declare unto us in thissame last Day of his Love ⁏ which God hath set and appointed for a Day of his righteous judgement; how or in what manner his Promises do stand firm and he accomplished: and that God is k Psal. 139. b. Apo. 15. a. wonderful in all his Works. 5. Seeing now then that the last Time is come, and that this Day /which God himself hath set or appointed (of the which was spoken long before) is come and declared unto us Little and Electedones of God /by the l 2. Timo. 1. ● Appearing of the Coming of our Lord jesus Christ /So will God likewise now in thissame day /accomplish all m Act. 3. c. what He hath spoken and promised in the former times. namely, reward n Math. 25. c. john 5. c. Rom. 2. a. the Good /their Goodness /with the Reward of all Good /in the everlasting Life: and recompense the Evil /their Euelnes /with the Reward of all Evil /in the everlasting Death and Condemnation. For the Day ⁏ wherein everyone shall receive o jer. 17 b. Math. 16. c Rom. 2. a. 14. b. 2. Cor 5. b. Apo. 2. ●. his Reward /that he hath deserved; doth now spread-foorth itself over the whole World: and his clearness ceaseth not /before all this be accomplished. 6. Therefore ⁏ my beloved Hearts in the Love; take-heede to thissame Day p 1. ●or 15. c f Ephe. 5 b. 1. Tess. 4. b. of the Makeing-alyve from the Death. Yea, take-heede also (saith the holy Spirit of Love) to the Gospel of the Kingdom /that is now in thissame day /published q Math. 24. b in all the World /for a Witness of the Resurrection of the dead. 7. For in this Day of the Publishing of this Gospel /shall now all the Members of Christ ⁏ which r Eze. 37. a. as Deadones, and dismembered Bones /are broken and divided into many pieces from each-other; be joined-together ⁏ by that only Man jesus Christ; s Rom▪ 12. a. 1. Cor. 12 c Ephe. 4. b. 5. c. as one true Body of Christ and Man of God· covered-over t job. 19 c. Eze 37. a. with Sinews and Flesh· made-alyve with the living v Gen. 2. a. Eze 37. a. john 20. c. Wind or Breath of Christ· and assembled everyone into the holy Spirit of Love: wherethrough all we now likewise ⁏ x 1. Tess. 4. b. which are remayned-over, and do believe the Coming of Christ, and the y 1 Cor. 15. b. Resurrection of the dead /and hope thereon; do join us to the same one Man of God/ z Ephe. 4. b. in that one Body of Christ. 8. Behold, eventhus is the Man ⁏ which believeth in jesus Christ; set-up & Math. 24. ● Act. 1. a. again in his former Dignity /now in the same Day of Love: and the Work of God is declared /that it is even-lyke as it was in the Beginning: One God /and one Man: and that altogether /in the one Body of jesus Christ. The FOUR Chap. O You Beloved: Look now into this gracious Time, and consider well thereon: For the Time is now fulfilled, and the a john. 12. ●. Apo. 14. a. Day of the righteous judgement of God /declared among us: In the which /God doth now ⁏ through the Coming of the Kingdom of Christ; set-up the former Kingdom full of all pure Beauty: and the fallen Man ⁏ who is broken and divided into many pieces; doth He now also joine-together/ b Ephe. 2. ●. 4. b. to the Incorporating to the only Body of Christ. 2. Behold, eventhus doth God bring the Man again to his Dignity. namely, to the glorious majesty of his leueing God head /whereby to c Numb 14. ●. Psal. 72. b. Esa 6 a. Aba. ●. b. 4. a. fill the whole Earth with his Glory and Righteousness, according to the Promises. 3. ye goodwilling Hearts in the Love /take-heede I beseech you to that which I write unto you, and exhort you unto. Be not in-any-case d Pro. 3. a. Rom self-wyse in your own Conceits: but remember and consider /what the Service of Love requireth of us /in thissame new Day of the Coming of Christ. namely, that everyone shall have regard /in whom Christ hath manned himself▪ and out of whom He shineth /as a Daylight, to the Lighting of the whole Vniversal-earth with Righteousness. For there ⁏ in the same godded Man or e Levit. 26. b Eze 37. c 43. a. 1 Cor. 3.6. b 2 Cor. 6. b. Apo. 21. a. Habitation of God; is the majesty of God and Christ /unto whom God willeth that everyone ⁏ which seeketh or desireth God's Friendship; shall submit himself, and ⁏ in Concord; assemble him thereunto /to be one Man of God in jesus Christ /whereby to become one Heart or Mind with him /in all love. 4. Behold, and consider Heeron: and seek not the Friendship of this World, f jam. 4. a. wherethrough ye geet the Enimitee of God, and the Enimitee of his Saints. 5. Therefore yeeld-over yourselves to the majesty of God, and come all now to the Temple of the living God /the g Psal 122. a Esa. 2. a. jer. 31. a. Zach. 8. c. House of his Dwelling /To th'end that ye may be all assembled to the h Math 24. d Ephe. 2. c. 4. b one Body of Christ, and may hear the Word of the Lord ⁏ out of the holy Temple of his Dwelling; and do thereafter /for that your i john. 15. b. joy may be perfect. To which Salvation of Soul and Body /we be all now called and bidden /under the Obedience of the love. 6. According to the same manner /so consider likewise on the loving peaceable Heart /wherein God hath set his Heart ⁏ full of all Grace; and Christ /his holy Spirit ⁏ full of all Love;: and assemble you with all your Hearts/ k Act. 4. d. to thatsame one Heart: and so it shalbe one l Ephe. 2. b. God, one Man, one Heart, one Faith, m 1. Cor. 12. a Ephe. 4. a. one Spirit, and one true everlasting Life /to be one true and upright Righteousness upon the Earth, according to the Promises. O Yea /that com-to-pas evenso. 7. Heerwith /my beloved Friends ⁏ which love the Truth in Christ; I do heartily salute you /with a Salutation of the Love, and a Kiss of Peace. n Rom. 16. b. 1. Cor. 16. c Salute you also one-another with the same Salutation▪ namely, all ye that are Fellow-companyons of the lovely and peaceable House of love. 8. The Lord grant unto you all /Grace and Mercy /to be incorporated ⁏ with Heart, Spirit, and Body; to the only and true Body of Christ. The Love of God the Father /take the Victory in all your Hearts. Amen. Take it to heart. The End of the seventeenth Epistle. The eighteenth Epistle. A loving Exhortation /written and sent unto an household /that are joined to the Family of Love, and agreeable or concordably minded to the Service of the holy Word of the Spirit of Love /for to be obedient to the Truth. Behold /how sweet and lovely it is /that brethren devil together concordably. Psal. 133. How dear or precious is thy Kindness ⁏ O God; that the Children of Men seek Protection under the Shadow of thy Wings. They shalbe satisfied or filled with the fatness or Plenty of thy House: and thou givest them drink with the river or Fountain of thy delight, Psal. 36. To my goodwilling Friends and Loners of the Truth /which do with me /love the true Being in one Spirit of the Love /be Health and Salvation. The First Chapter. AS I have heard now ⁏ my good-willing Friends to the Love; by our Brother /which hath been with you /so is the Will and Request of you all unto me (like as our loving and faithful Brother in the Love /the Father of your household ⁏ who is come to me with our Brother /for the same purpose; hath also said and friendly requested) that I would once come unto you /Because that ye might recreate yourselves a little with Me /in the Word of Lyfe· and from the Bottom of your Hearts /handle and talk of that which is come or appeared unto us ⁏ out of the heavenly Truth; through the Grace and Power of the Mosthighest. 2. verily ⁏ ye Beloved; All thissame is likewise my whole Will and Desire: Yea, and all my Longing. I would also very gladly have come now unto you /because that I myself likewise /longed greatly to talk with you by mouth, forasmuch as I have heard so much of your Goodwill and Zeal that ye bear to the Love and her Service. The Lord grant unto you everyone /Grace and Mercy /to continued a Math 10. c. 24. b. Mar. 13. b. steadfast therein /till that the true Light of Love b 2. Pet. 1. c. come unto you, and rise-up in your Hearts /as a Day of the perfect Beauty of God. 3. But ⁏ ye Beloved; as touching my Coming /I shall desire that ye will yet have patience for a while. I hope to come unto you shortly /and to talk with you of all things /according to your Request. 4. But in that I have now deferred the time /it cometh-to-pas by reason of much Business, Service, and Labour /wherewith I am now laden, and which out of great Necessity, I have first to further and dispatch. Therefore hath not the time so served /as to come unto you now. 5. Howbeit, because I cannot now come unto you: and yet that all my Will hath been bend so to do /yet will I not for-a●-that forget you: but will always remember you to the Good, and to all that wherein your Welfare and Salvation consisteth. 6. For-that-cause ⁏ ye Beloved; to th'end that ye one-with-another /should be the better content for this time /I do write this loving Exhortation ⁏ with groundly Instructions; unto you, to the Edifying and good Information of you all. With which this my Writing /my hearty Request is unto you all /that ye ⁏ with Diligence of your Hearts; will always take-heede, and ⁏ with willing Obedience; c Pro. 1. a. 2 a 3. a. 4. a. 5. a Eccli. 6. d. give-ear /unto that which is heald-foorth before you ⁏ out of the Love, and out of her Service; in these last Days and perilous times /to your Preservation and Salvation. Yea, once-more I say unto you all /out of hearty Love: Takeheed unto it I pray you, and take it effectually to heart, and consider of it/ d Eccli. 6. d. search-throw or measure-over likewise substantially /thatsame Spirit of this true Service of love. 7. Ponder well the heavenly Sentences /that proceed-out from the same: and prove the Taste or the Mind of them rightly. For they do open some special Matter: and will also in this Time /tell or expound some singular thing unto us. Yea, they declare and bring unto us /the godly riches of Christ, and the spiritual Treasures of his heavenly Goods, e Math. 11. d. 13. b. Rom. 16. c. Ephe. 3. a. Col 1. c. which have been hidden till unto thissame Day /from the World and her Wyseones, and from all Eyes of the Flesh. 8. This mercy Seat /in the Mostholy, this true Light with his perfect Garnishing of pure Beauty, f Apo. 21. and all these costly riches of God, with the sumptuous Royaltee and godly Triumph of all the Saints of God and Christ /cometh now unto us in Glory, for to live uniform with thosame for evermore. 9 Behold, all these Beawtyes, and yet many-thowsand-tymes more than men can utter with Tongues, or write with pen and Ink /be declared and brought unto us now in thissame day /through the Appearing g 2. Timo. 1. b of the Coming of our Lord jesus Christ؛the everlasting and true Word of the living God;. 10. This everlasting and true Word and living Bread/ h john 6. ● which cometh unto us from Heaven /for a Food of Life unto all hungry Souls: 11. This faithful Shepherd /which cometh unto us out of the Bosom of his heavenly Father, for to seek his erred or lost Sheep /which are strayed from the i Math 10 a. 15. c. Luk. 19 b. House of Ilrael, and ⁏ under the Obedience of his Love; to bring them again k Esa, 6 a. joan. 10. b. to their right Sheepfolde: 12. This true Redeemer /which cometh unto us from the glorious and most sovereign majesty of God, for an everlasting Freedom, for l Psal. 130. a. Esa. 61 a. Tit. 2. b. to deliver His /that are healde-captive. namely, all those that mourn, and suffer Sorrow or Grief /for their Captivites cause to the Sin, and because of the Bands of the Devil: 13. This clear and true Light of the spiritual Heaven /that cometh unto us in all Love ⁏ as the m Mal 4 a. Sap. 5. a. Sun of Righteousness; for an eternal-continuing Daylight, for to n Esa. 9 a. 42 b 43. a. 49 ●. Mat. 4. b. Luk. 1. h. lighten all those /which ⁏ because of the Fruits of Death; devil or walk yet in Darkness, and do hope upon the same Light: 14. This peaceable King, o Esa. 9 a. Lord, and Prince /which cometh unto us ⁏ with full Power of the almighty God; for a good and lovely Government, namely /over all those that submit them p 1. Pet. 5. a. jam. 4. a under Him, and ⁏ in all Obedience of his Love; do love the Peace, for that everything should be restored q Act. 3. c. again /in his right Order: 15. This-very jesus Christ ⁏ who also is the Wisdom of God· the upright Righteousness and Holynes·s the heavenly Trueth· r Sap 7. c. 2. Cor. 4. a. Col. 1. b. Heb. 1. a. and the true Being of God; Is now come unto us in Glory /from the Right-hande of God the almighty Father /out of the heavenly Being, s Act 10 c. 1. Pet. 4. a. to be a righteous judge over Living and dead. namely, to the Condemnation of the living ungodly ones, and t 1. Cor. 15 c the Resurrection of the dead Righteousones: unto all of us ⁏ which believe in jesus Christ· and the Safe-makeing in his Love; to the v Rom. 12. ●. Ephe. 1.4. b Renewing of our Life and Mind, and to an everlasting x 2. Pet. 3. b. Righteousness upon Earth, even-as is written of Him. The II Chap. FOrasmuch now ⁏ O ye beloved Hearts; as this pure and spirituall· and this heavenly and true lovely Being /is a Eph. 3 a. 2. Timo. 1. b appeared unto us Poor and Littleones /among so many thousands in this World: and is ⁏ out of God's Mercy and his Love; administered and presented unto us /by Christ؛the true Minister b Heb. 8.9. b. of the spiritual and heavenly Goods; in his Coming /Therefore let us take-heede with all our Hearts /to the Service of the same Grace /to our Amendment, and to the c Rom. 12. a. Ephe. 4. b. Renewing of our Hearts and Minds: and evenso therethrough /lay-away d 2. Cor. 7. a. Ephe. 4. c. Col. 3. a. 1. Pet 2.4. a. Heb. 12. a. all earthly and fleshly Pollution, and all unclean Thoughts /which in times-past ⁏ when we walked yet in Ignorance; have drawn and leadd our Hearts to the Flesh and Blood of Sin, and to many-maner of Errors: and also to many-sorts of Bewitching with visible and corruptible Things. 2. From all these, and from all what is not agreeable to the Word of Truth and his requiring /let our Hearts be e E●e. 36. c. cleansed /through the Services, Doctrines or f john. 4.7. b Waters of Life /which do now flow from the Body of Christ and his holy Spirit of Love /To th'end that we may with pure Hearts /cleave to the Love and her lovely Beeing· become incorporated therunto· and so may be heavenly and spiritually minded /with all our Minds and Thoughts. 3. Therefore submit yourselves everyone/ g 1. Pet. 5 b. jam. 4. a. under the mighty Hand of God: and endeavour you moreover /for h Heb. 3. b. to hear ⁏ with meek Hearts; now in this present Day /the Voice of the holy Spirit of Love, which doth now give-foorth her Sound and speaketh unto you /out of Heaven /with a spiritual Tongue: and which likewise despereth to draw you all with your inward Man /to the spiritual, heavenly and true Being /for that ye might in like-maner /have your fellowship with our Comunialtee: For our Comunialtee is uniform i 1. john. 1. a. with the spiritual Comunialtee of the Saints of God. namely, with the lovely heavenly Company /which walk with us in all Love, and so we do all one-with another /eat the true k john. 6. e. heavenly Bread with Christ ؛our Headd and King; in the l Luk 22. d. Kingdom of God our Father: and so drinking with joy /of the new Fruit of the true Vine /we are joyful in the everlasting Life. To which lovely Being ⁏ for to live all therein /with one Heart, Mind, and delight; we are everyone created· and called thereunto ⁏ out of Grace; by m Rom. 10. b 1. Pet. 1. b. the Preaching of the holy Gospel of Christ. 4. If ye now ⁏ O ye Beloved; do see into thissame /according to the Truth: and that ye do consider /to what an excellent majesty ye be called and bidden now in thissame last Day /through the Service of Love, whereby to n 1. Esd. ●0. 3. Esd. 9 renew you everyone /through the Word of Life, and to confirm you in your Calling whereunto ye are chosen by jesus Christ /So consider then likewise /how o 2. Pet 3. b. pure or clean your Hearts aught to be from all earthly and corruptible Things /wherein p Levit. 26. b. Apo. 21. a. the living God of Heaven will devil, live, and walk /with such a Glory of God and heavenly Kingdom of Christ, even-as is witnessed unto you by the Service of Love, and as is now heald-foorth before you /with this loving Exhortation. 5. whenas we now do consider and perceive thissame /how pure and clear our Heart or inward Mind aught to be: and that we contrary thereunto /do find ourselves still defiled: and that we likewise for-that-cause /do not yet for the present time /find the same Cleernes·s nor the upright Being of the lovely Beauty of God /perfectly in us: but that the unclean Being, and the q 2. Tess. 2. a Contrary-nature unto God /doth yet generally devil in us, and doth yet daily r Rom. 7. c. Gal. 5. b. move our Minds and Thoughts /with evil Inclinations /So let us then ⁏ to the Purifying of our Hearts and minds; submit ourselves with all our Hearts /before s Eze. 43. a Heb. 5. a. the Seat of the majesty of God, and before the Tabernacle t Apo. 21. a of his holy Dwelling /out of the which /He doth now let his Word of Truth, and his holy Will /be heard upon the Earth: and so in humility ⁏ with the t Math. 1● ●. Lu●. 14. c Forsaking of all our selfness and Self-wisdom; let us take-heede ⁏ with Belief and firm Confidence; to the Service of the holy Spirit of Love and his requiring /proceeding out of the same: and give-eaxe, and with whole Heart v 1. Pet. 1. e. be obedient to the Word of Truth /that is administered ther-out: x Act. ●. c 1 Cor. 9 break, destribut, and feed-upon the same Word ⁏ the which is y john 6 c the heavenly Bread; among eachother /for a Food of our Souls: and as often as we do this/ let us publish the Death z 1 Cor. 11. c of Christ [namely, of thissame holy Being of God, or Word of the heavenly Father /that aught to live, and to reign or govern in our inwardness, and yet notwithstanding /is as dead, or killed with the Death of the Cross /For our sins cause] and a Math. 3 a. Luk 3. c. confess our Sins, till that our sinful Members, together with their evil Lusts and Desires /be b Rom. 6. a Gall 6. a Phil. 3. b Col. 3. a. crucified and killed with the same or the like Death of the Cross of Christ: and that we be in that sort /planted into Christ /with the like Death, c Rom. 6. a. Col. 2. b. and buried with Him: Passover and suffer-out the same passover of his Cross, Death, and Burial /in that manner with Him /till that the heavenly Being of God, or Christ according to the Spirit /do come unto us ⁏ liveingly and mightily; to the d Rom. 16. c. Treading-downe and Rooting-out of all ungodly Being: and that we do even so through the second Birth from the Death/ e Rom. 6. ●. 1. Cor. 15. c f. Col. 3. ● rise with Him in a new Life /out of our Burial▪ to be an holy f john. 14. ● Apo. 21. ● Dwelling of God and Christ: the which is the Salvation, the joy, and the Rest of our Souls with all God's Saints /in the everlasting Life. The III Chap. Behold and consider ⁏ ye Beloved; This is now God's righteous judgement /in thissame Day of his Love, which is the New Day of the 24. Esd. 6. b. World to-com: Yea, a Day /which God himself hath ordained or appointed /to the Salvation of his Saints, and to the Condemnation of all ungodly ones /in the which likewise /all Saints and Righteousones do rejoice them. For upon the same/ b Act 17. d. the Circuit of the Earth is judged with Righteousness, according to the Promises of our God and Father. It is very true. 2. O ye beloved Hearts ⁏ which do with us /love the upright Being of Christ; have a good regard hereunto: exercise c 1 Timon 4. b yourselves daily in the Word of Truth /under the Obedience of the Love: exhort d 1. Tess. 5 b Heq. 3.10. c. one-another also /to the upright Being of jesus Christ: and strengthen yourselves among eachother /to continued steadfast e Act. 11. c. 13. c. 14. c. in Faith, till unto the End of the Suffering and Stryveing against the sinful and corrupt Nature. For f Math. 10. ●. 14. b. Mark. 13. b. whosoever continueth steadfast till unto the End (as is written) he shallbe saved. 3. With thissame ⁏ for a Recreation unto your Hearts; comfort and cherish yourselves among eachother. I hope over a little while /to come unto you, and to talk with you by Mouth /of all what is ⁏ by God's Grace; g 1. Timo. 1. b committed unto Me, and is profitable unto you to Edification. For that is doubtless the delight and all the Desire of my Heart. 4. Heerwith ⁏ ye Beloved; with Laude and Thankes-giveing unto God /for your Zeal and Dilligent-care that ye have to the Righteousness of the Love /I do salute you all very heartily [namely, even the whole household of you, as my beloved brethren and Sisters in the Love] with a Salutation and Kiss of love. 5. I do also give Thanks unto the Lord /for the Benefits, Gifts, and Benevolence /that ye have sent unto me /to an helpfulness and Furtherance of the Service of love. 6. The Lord give Strength unto you all: h Ephe. 3. b. Co●. 1. b. 1. Pet. 5. b. and strengthen your Spirit /in his Truth. The Love and the Goodness of our God and Father /establish you in his lovely and true Being. Amen. 7. Salute me heartily likewise ⁏ with a Salutation of the Love; unto all our Friends, and Lovers of the Truth /which are adjoined to the Family of Love: and with whom ye have daily your Fellowship /in the Service of love. 8. That God /who is the Love and the everlasting Life /bring his godly Being plentifully unto you all. namely, his i Ephe. 1. b. holy Spirit, which is the Pawn of our Inheritance. And his Love take the Victory in all your Heaets. Amen. The End of the eighteenth Epistle. Our Heart /is the Mind of God most-hie. Our Being amiable /as the sweet Lily. Our Faithfulness /Love /and Truth upright/ Is Gods Light /Life /and clearness bright. The Nyntenth Epistle. An hearty Exhortation unto the most-zealous goodwilling Hearts to the Righteousness, and unto the Elders and Ministers of the Word /in the Comunialtee of the Love: For a Warning unto them all /of all Deceit that may chance unto them by the new Commers-on to the mostholy Service of love. Open not your Heart unto every Man, jest any Falsehood be done unto you by the Stranger. Eccli 8.12. If a Friend join unto thee /prove him first, and believe him not oversoon. For there are many false Friends, which continued not ⁏ as Friends; in the Days of Tribulation: but they turn them bout to Enimitee, for to strive against thee. And if th●n they know or remember any shameful thing by thee /that do they upbraid thee with-al. jer. 9 Mich. 7. Eccli. 6.8.12. Math. 10.24. 1 john. 4. To the Kingly Seed of the holy Comunialtee under the Obedience of the Love /be Health and Salvation. The First Chapter. MY Beloved brethren in the Love, which are groweing-up under the Obedience of the Love ⁏ in the holy Word of the everlasting Truth; to the a Ephe. 4 b. Age of the manly Understanding of jesus Christ: and with whom I have had my Conversation in speaking of the Word b Iohn ●. 6. g. 1 john. 1. a of Life /which is come and revealed unto us /by God's Grace, wherewith God hath showed Mercy on us /according to his Promises. 2. My Exhortation is heartily unto you all, that ye will also in my Absence from you /be always c john. 15. c. mindful of the Speech touching the Godliness /even as I have used the same with you: and break, d Act. 2 e. distribute, and feede-upon the same e john 6. e. Bread of Life ⁏ among eachother; that is geeven unto us from Heaven ⁏ by God the heavenly Father; and brought unto you /for a Food unto all your Souls. And so become you all feedd with the same Bread /to an upright and lovely Life in the love. 3. Drink all now f Math. 26. ●. Luk. 22. b. 2. Cor. 11. c. out of thissame cup of the Love /full of the pure Blood of jesus Christ (out of the which /the holy Blood or Life of Christ /is now ⁏ in the passover with Christ in his Suffering and Death /till unto the second g Math. 19 ●. Rom. 6. a. Birth from the Death; geeven unto us to drink /for a true Testament and everlasting Forgiveness of Sins:) and become now all washed and cleansed ⁏ in your inwardness; h 1. Pet. 1. a. Heb. 9.10. b c. 12. c. Apo. 7. b. with the same pure Blood of the Love of jesus Christ /the true Testament, which shall continued for ever. Which Testament /God himself /hath ⁏ as an eternal-continuing Being; sealed with himself /in the Service of his love. 4. O my beloved Hearts and brethren in the Love of our Lord jesus Christ, take-heede in any-wyse i Eccli. 4. c. 27. b. Gal. 6. b. to this gracious Time: and have a good regard unto my Sayings of the godly Testimonies of the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ: And in every-poynt /according as I in times-past have talked with you by mouth /of this passover with Christ/ k Rom 6. a. Phil. 3. b. Col. 2. b. in his Suffering and Death /till unto the Kingdom of the God of Heavens, and of all the Perfection l Apo. 21.2. and Garnishing of the same Kingdom's Beauty /even so is likewise his Form /where it is manifest in all love. And according to the same Form or Being /see that you all have m 2. Pet. 1. c. a regard thereunto /as being to come in the Spirit: even as we also have witnessed of the same Kingdom of the God of Heavens· of his upright Righteousnes·s and of the sumptuous Garnishing of his pure Beauty /in large and plentiful manner ⁏ with Fullness of Instruction; in the Glass of Righteousness, and in the spiritual Land of Promise. 5. Take it therefore to heart, and know in your Understanding /the High-worthynes of this lovely and glorious Day of the Love /whereof we speak, which by God's Grace /is revealed and come unto us/ n Esa 60. b. Zach. 14. a. Apo 21 22. a as the most clear Daylight from Heaven. In the which also there is geeven us to o Math. 11 d 13. b. Rom. 16. c. Ephe. 3. a. Col 1. c. understand /all the Treasures and Richeses of God's heavenly Goodes·s as likewise the Secretness of the Kingdom of God, and brought unto us /for an everlasting Inheritance. 6. To thatsame God which hath prepared it all for us /be p Apo. 5. b. laud, Praise, Honour, and Thanks /for evermore. Amen. The II Chap. furthermore ⁏ my beloved Friends in the Love; I must here write a little unto you /for the necessitees-cause of this present Time. Which Time is now full of Perils/ 2. Timo. 3. a 2. Pe●. 2. a. to the Hurt of the Soul, and to the Hindrance of our Service of Love, which is the upright and true Godseruice /that reacheth to the everlasting Life. 2. Therefore look sharply to it: O Yea ⁏ ye dearly-beloved; look sharply to it in any-wyse: and have always a watchful Eye /with a clear Sight. For this say I unto you /out of a living Sight of the Truth, that it behoveth us now to have a sharp Circumspection /in our mostholy Service of Love, and for the crafty subtilties 'cause of the Flesh (which we ⁏ alas; do find to abound) not to believe anyone to-simply at the first, nor-yet to trust the On-commers or Disciples ⁏ which give themselves to our Service of the Word; too-much at the first, as to think that they are so altogether plain and upright· simple and devout /as they make show for. 3. Although likewise that they do loveingly adjoin unto us, and make a fair Show /as if all their Lust were bend towards the Word of Life /Yet do not for-al-that accept them b 1. Timo. 5. ● over-hastyly /for upright Brothers or Sisters in our holy Comunialtee, as to give any such respect unto them at the same instant /for to talk or to deal with them ⁏ like-as with the Elders; touching all the Secretness of the heavenly Kingdom: but let them ⁏ for a time; c Col. 1. b. 1. Pet 2. a. grow-up among you /in the Word, and show faithful d 1. Pet. 1. b c Obedience in all what the Word ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; requireth: and then if the same do appear in them /ye shall well perceive thereby /whither they also desire with us /to live the upright Being of jesus Christ /in all Love and Concord. For in the Trial ⁏ whenas they be chastenably informed with the holy Woord· and taught to the Obedience of the requiring of the Word /and must bear reproach, e 1. Cor. 6. b. Blaspheming, and Affliction /at the hands of the wise and Scriptur-learnedones of the World; they shall thoroughly become manifest /what they are, and what they love, or have intended. 4. But in all this /love you them /to their Salvation and Preservation: and carry always a favourable Heart of Love towards them, and mark whither that they do also intend the upright Being of the Love /with all their Hearts /or no: and so do neither seek, love, nor desire anything-els at our hands /but to live the virtuous Nature of the Love, to walk therein, and to grow-up f Ephe. 4. b. to be Elders in the holy Under standing of the gracious Word. 5. Therefore /for to mark thessame now /ye shall let them ⁏ in the Growing-up to the Oldness of the holy Understanding; conuersa●e themselves among you in stillness for a certain time, and have a circumspect regard unto them /whither they likewise are g Math. 2●. c. faithful in the Word: and so mark what is the Cheefest-thing that they seek and desire at our hands /in the Service of the holy Word: h 1. Cor. 10. c. Phil. 2. c. whither it be their Owne-selfnes, or whither that they desire to serve the God of Life /in his love. If you have in-this-maner a regard hereunto, ye shall soon perceive /whither it be Flesh /or Spirit· Earthly /or Heavenly· and Corruptible /or Everlasting, that they i Gal. 3 ●. seek or desire at our hands. 6· Seeing then that the times are now daingerous, wherein we perceive and find so many and sundry-sorts of Wiliness and subtilties of the Flesh /therefore be you also careful or suspiceous at the first (yet hoping of some better) whither there might be likewise any subtilty or Deceit /in the on-coming Disciples, or whither they might not seek or desire anything-els besides the gracious Word and Service of Love, as namely /the Honour and k Gal. ●. b. 1. john 2. b delight of the Flesh, and to have a Love to themselves or to their owne-private Goodthinking, for to live to themselves therein /according to the Pleasures of their Flesh, or of their own sensuality. 7. Look and consider advisedly heeron: for the same shall ye for-the-most-parte /find even so among many On-commers: and that also many wicked Generations or corrupt Natures of Men ⁏ although they talk of the Love; do mean nor think or intend nothing-els among us. Therefore many likewise will see nothing-els /but according to the l 1. john. 2. b. Lust of their Eyes. nor-yet hear anything /but that wherafter their Ears do m 2. Tim. 4 a itch /for to hear: and will not also live anything-els /but according to the Worldly-maner [namely, in n 1. john 2 b Pride or Arrogancy of Life] desiring to serve the o 2. Ti● 〈…〉 1 Pet. 2. b. jude. 1. b. Devil ⁏ in the Flesh; according to their own Lusts and false Freedom, and not the God of Life /in the Spirit. The III Chap. Heerwithal become you warned /ye Ancients in the Service of love. For of these false and a 2. Timo. 3 a 2 Pet 2. b. jude. 1. b. self-seeking Spirits, and fleshly-mynded Men /have I ⁏ in the time of my Ministering of the Wo●rd; found so many and divers /among the Children of Men /that they ⁏ through their deceitful Nature; have made me mistrustful towards all Flesh or Children of Adam /which turn them not about to the b Ma●h. 18 a. childish Simplicity /with all their Hearts. 2. But where we have found it with Many, as that the on-coming Disciples /do ⁏ with all their Hearts; c 1. Pet. 5. a. jam. 4. a. submit them obediently under the Love and her Seruice· turn them wholly and altogether about /to the childish Simplicitee· willingly d Pro. 3.4.5. a. Eccl. 6. c hear and follow the Counsel of the Elders /in the Service of the Word /under the Obedience of the Love· and that their Hearts become evenso uncovered or manifest before us·s and so do neither seek nor desire anything-els /but to live with us in the virtuous Nature of the Love: Let us highly laud and thank God the Lord /for such On-commers, and for such upright Disciples of the Word and Lovers of Virtue. 3. For verryly, such a Man /who doth in that sort ⁏ in the gracious Word and Service of Love; seek and intend the Nature of God /with all his Heart (although he were yet laden with many Sins) is a e john. 1. c. right Israelite, a Son or Daughter of Abraham f john. ●. ●. Rom. 9 a. Col. 3. c. through Faith▪ according to the Promises. 4. But all what refuseth the Love, or whatsoever turneth unto us with a false and vnrepenting Heart, and all what is not inclined ⁏ with an humble Heart; to the Service of the holy Word /under the Obedience of the Love: all what conversateth with us /in Coverednes of Heart: together with all that which doth not with whole Heart /turn itself g Gal. 5. b. 6. ● Col. 3. a. quite and clean away from all h jer. 7. b. Goodthinking, Wickedness, and i Tob 3. b. Ephe. 5. a. Lightmyndednes /and from all fleshly Lusts and Desires: and all those /which ⁏ in the Desires of their Flesh, in the Lust k 1. john. 2. b of their Eyes, and in the Pride of Life; do not forsake themselues·s take not up l Math. 16 c. Luk 9.14. c their Cross against thosame· love not the virtuous Nature of the Love ⁏ which is pure and peaceable; with all their Heartes·s nor confess m Pro 28. b. Eccli 4. c. their Sins /which make-up themselves against the same /in their Flesh /and do not sigh, n Math. 5. a. 2. Cor. 7. b. lament, nor mourn therover: but go-on arrogantly and carelessly with ympenitent Hearts /like those that show no Sorrow nor Amendment touching the Sin, and so do make no Difference betwixt the Friendship with the World /and the Friendship with the Family of Love: All those-same /seek nothing-els but their selfness, and that which concerneth the Flesh/ o Phil. 2. c. and not the Lord, nor the Righteousness of his gracious Word. 5. And such p Deut. 9 o. jer. 4. b. Act 7. f. Uncircumcised of Heart, which also are uncircumcised of Lips and Tongue: Yea, such good-thinking Spirits, q 2. Timo. 3. 2. Pet 2. b. jude. 1. b. and fleshly Myndedones /which come to us with covered and disobedient Hearts /and do seek, love, nor desire nothing-els /but to serve their own sensuality according to the Flesh /together with all those which neither will nor desire anything-els /but to follow their Lusts and their Owne-myndes-delyte: Thosame do not you in anywyse accept in that state ⁏ as in Vnrepentance; for brethren in the Family of Love: but let the Elders and Ministers of the Service of Love /be against them therein, and r Leui●. 19 b. Eccli 17. exhort them to some better thing: or inform them with a better Love to the righteous Being, hoping if the Lord vouchsafe the same /that they might once be moved unto Repentance for their Sins. 6. Forthatcause reject them not: s 2. Tess. 3 b. nor hate not anyone /what Sinners soever they be: but t 1. Tess. 5. b. Heb. 3.10. c exhort you still one-another to Amendment: and carry always an Heart of Love /for to draw the strayed Sinners out of their Sins, and to lead them v Pro. 3.4. b. into the Path of the upright Life /to th'end that they might obtain a godly Life /under the Obedience of the love. The FOUR Chap. Behold and consider: This is the right Service of Love /which we are debtors ●o show unto the Sinners and unto all strayed a jam. 5. b. Men /to their Salvation: and not to hate, to revile, nor to blaspheme anyone /nor-also to keepe-in-mind and to upbraid anyman with his Sins or Errors /neither-yet to reject or to separate anyman from us /that giveth-eare to the chastinable Information. 2. Forasmuch then as the Love doth make-manifest herself so uprightly and loveingly /in her Service, and hath no pleasure in those b 1. Cor. 13 a. that deal falsely: but with her Service /informeth everyone with all Discreetnes and Courtesy /by the Ministers of her holy and gracious Word /So doth she likewise deal generally after the same manner ⁏ in her Service; by the Ministers of her Service: and passing in-that-sort /thorough c Eccli. 24. ●. all Nations of People /she draweth all those unto her /that are of her Nature or Being: and all those likewise that love her, and have turned all their Lust towards her and her Service. 3. Therefore ⁏ my beloved Hearts; use likewise ⁏ with the Love and her Service; a Difference betwixt those that are good of will /or evil of will: and accept noon for Disciples of the Word (much-les account them for Brothers or Sisters in the Love) which will live d Deut. 12. a. jer. 7 b. according to their own Goodthinking or e Sap 2.14 b. Rom. 1. c. brutishness, and are f 2 Timo. 3. a disobedient to the Word of Life in his Service /yet much less /those which make g Rom. 16. c Division, and do resist the Concord in the Love and her Service. 4. Keep a good watch in-any-wyse towards the Seperatedones, which do always bring-in much Questioning and Contention about the Knowledge /and do not first-of-all /give themselves to the Doctrine of the Service of Love, nor to h Pro. 28. Math. 3. b. Luk 3 b. confess their Sins /according to the requiring of the same Service, and to repent therefore /whereby to come to a clean Heart, and to a lovely Being or pure Spirit. Which lovely Being /is the Head-somme of all Wisdom and Knowledge. Have a sharp regard hereunto /for that the Kingdom of Love may increase in all Concord, and be spread-abroade. 5. Therefore let not your Heart's stande-affected unto Any /but those that seek i Ephe. 4. a. unity, Loveingnes, and Peaceableness among us /for to live therein /with upright single Hearts: and so are well-minded with us /to the k Eze ●8. Reformation of Sin: as likewise to those /that separate themselves with all their Hearts /from the wicked World, and from her abominations, and from all those that with their Will /do cleave l 1. john. 2. c. to the wicked World and her Pomp or Pride: Yea, although it were their Father /or Mother, Husband /or Wife, Brother, Sister, or Children. 6. Whosoever then do thus (as is saydde) desire with us /to forsake, m Math. 10. d 16. e. Luk. 9.14. e. to hate, and to leave all ungodly Being /and all the Desires /according to the Will of the Flesh, with all the Lusts of the Eyes, and Arrogancy or Pride of Life /to mortify, to forego, and to n Rom. 6. a. Col. 2. b. 3 a. kill and bury the same /in them /to th'end to be renewed o Rom. 12. a. Ephe. 4. b. in their Spirit /through the Love· and incorporated to the true Being of God▪ p Luk. 1. h. Ephe. 4 ●, ●ol. 3. a. the upright Righteousness and Holiness ⁏ the which is Christ himself in his Coming; /All those that are so minded, and do proceed-on obediently after the same /receive into the Love: and let our fellowship be with such /To th'end that we might evenso everyone /be planted concordably into the Love of God the Father /with clean or pure Hearts·s and so lead an upright and uncorrupt Life ⁏ like loving Children, and like Sheep and Lambs of the Family of Love, and like a lovely q john. 10. b. Flock of Christ; under the Obedience of the love. 7. For-that-cause /To th'end that the Temple of the Lord, or the House of his Dwelling /may now ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; be purified, cleansed, and renewed /according to the heavenly Truth r Eze. 37. c. 43. a. and no more s Esa. 52. defiled by the▪ Unclean or Vncircumcisedones /have therefore a good regard ⁏ with a sharp Sight of the Love; for to perceive what everyone loveth or seeketh at our hands: and whereunto their Hearts are most affected. 8. And beware likewise of the wicked Generations, which carry nothing but Falsehood in their Hearts: having Honey t Psal. 55. c. Psal. 5 a in their Mouth, and Poison v Psal. 140. a. Rom. 3. b. under their Tongue. as also the Love /in their Words or Speech, and the wicked Nature ⁏ against the Love; in their Heart or inwardness. The V Chap. But if any man be godly of will: or if Any stand-bent to the meekemynded Being of the Love /with all their Senses, Desires, and Thoughts: if they love the chastity, the patiented Long-suffering, and the humble Meekmyndednes: if they be obedient with all their Hearts /to the a 1. Cor. 11. a. 2. Tess. 2. b. requiring of the Service of Love /in all Constance: if they do willingly hear the chastinable Information: if they be well content to be b Pro. 3. b. Heb. 12. b. reproved for their Vice or Misdemenour, and to be taught and exhorted to all well-doing: if they will likewise goodwillingly with us /bear Shame c Math 5. b. Act. 5. c. Heb. 11. and Contempt in the Flesh /under the Obedience of the Love: if they do lay-away from them/ d 1. john 2. c. all Pomp and Pride of the World, together with all Vanity or Foolishness, e Ephe 4 c. Col. 3. a. 1. Pet. 2 a. and all Wrath and Envy: and if they be in this sort /de●yerous, hungry, and thirsty after the pure or clean and uncorrupt Being of the Love: In whomsoever ye find this by the deed, and whatsoever on-coning Disciples /do cleave in that-maner to the Service of the Word /under the Obedience of the Love /towards all Those /let your Inclination be kind and loving /to their Salvation. 2. Receive all such /into your Arms of the Spirit of Love: and account them for your brethren and Sisters in the Love, as those that stand in your Comunialtee /with a like Faith: and noon else /Jest ye be Fellow-companyons to the Euel-willingones, and Fellow-witnesses to the Craftyones /like unto all our Adversaries. 3. For that be far from us /that we (inasmuch as we have obtained or gotten such a glorious f 2. Cor. 4. a. 1. john. 1.3. a. Light of Life, and godly Service of the holy Word /through the Love of God the Father) should incline ⁏ with the Love and our godly Service; to the Ungodly and Impenitentones, or to those that are evil of will /for to serve them therewith /according to their Will of the. sinful Flesh, or to feed them in their corrupt Nature, and to nourish them up therein. O not /ye dearly-beloved: The Grace and Mercy /which is chanced unto us ⁏ in the Word of Life; through the Love of God the Father /is farr-to-great: Yea, we do also esteem the same much to-precious and to be more-of-value /then that we should cast the holy Bread of Life (which is come and geeven unto us /out of Heaven /as a g Math. 1●. ● Food for the Children of God, and for all h Esa. 58. b. Math. 5. a. hungry Souls after the Righteousness) before the Unbelievers, the Raveners of their own Dirt, and the Swine i Math. 7. a. 15 c. and Dogs: or should feed and nourish such therewith /as are ungodly, wicked, and evil of will /according to the manner of the wicked World: or those that seek nothing-els /but Ease k Rom. 16 b. Phil. 3 c. in the Flesh, for to feed the same /according to his Lusts. 4. verily, the Bread of Life is not geeven unto them /to the Nourishing of their corrupt Nature. For it belongeth only to l Math. 15. c. the Children of Love, and to all those that submit them obediently to the Service of Love, which are godly of will, and have a Lust with all their Hearts /to fulfil m Math. 3. a. all Righteousness. 5. Therefore it is not meet /that the Bread should be taken-away or withholden from the Children/ n Math. 7. a. 15. c. and distributed to the Straingers /which are nothing-els but ungodly of will /who tread it down so shamefully o Math 7. a. under their Feet /like unto Swine and Dogs: which Straingers or ungodly ones /are also Mockers, thieves, Traitors, and Murderers of the holy Word: and which do likewise turn them unto us /to our Destruction. 6. woe be unto them, for that they p jude. 1. b. go in the Way of Cain: and for the Reward or Treasure of Iniquity /they crucify q Heb. 6. ●. and kill in themselves /the holy Word, or the innocent Being of God /with their sensuality of the Flesh: also esteem it for unclean, r Heb. 10. ● and as a Mockery /and do ⁏ with their false Testimonies against us; persecute Us very vehemently /which do minister the holy Word or innocent Being of God /under the Obedience of the love. 7. woe be unto them /that runnfoorth with their foolish Desires and false Hearts/ s 2. Pet 2. b. I●de. 2. b after the Works of the Flesh, which are defiled with Darknesses /to th'end to live evenso in all Uncleanness, Voluptuous-pleasures, Wantonness and Wickedness: and unto all those that give Praise and Honour to the ungodly Being, and account the same to be a Friendship for them▪ not once caring for this /that they are the Enemies of God /therethrough. 8. woe be unto them /that for t jam. 〈…〉 the worlds Friendship or for the Pleasures cause of the Flesh /become God's Enemies. Wherewith they show sufficiently /that they are Witnesses of the Craftyones. as also Witnesses /that they neither will nor desire God nor his holy Being. 9 Behold, the Cursing v Math 25. d. Heb 9.10. c 2 pet. 3. a. and the tirrible judgement of the Fires cruelty /hangeth over them /as a Snare /for their sins cause: And thatsame will fall x Luk. 21. d. heavily upon the Pate of all Euel-willing and arrogant Highmyndedones. 10. Therefore look into it betimes ⁏ O ye Children of Men; what a lovely and godly Being ye have forsaken, and how ye have lived in all ungodliness and Vnmanlynes: and repent /ere-ever the severe justice or the judgement of God fall upon you. For when the same ketcheth-holde of you, and letteth you see your wicked Deeds/ y Sap 5. a b. then shall ye know /that the evil Things have encompassed and caught-holde of you. By the which ye shallbe z Sap. 12 c Apo. 18. a punished▪ and not be able to escape the Hand of Dengaunce. The VI Chap. O ye beloved Hearts /which are yet healed or captived with any ungodly thing /put-away now a josu. 1. the Wickedness from you, and b jam. 4. cleanse your Hearts thereof. Separate your Minds and Thoughts /from all what is vain and corruptible in the World. Forsake all that /whatsoever joineth not itself to a godly Life. Circumcise yourselves c Deut. 10. b jer. 4. a. on the Foreskin of your Hearts: and put-away from your Hearts /all what is unpure, and hath defiled your Hearts. Turn you and come ⁏ with naked Hearts; d Ier 18. b. 25 a 35. b. Eze 18. d. joel. 2. b. to the Lord your God /under the Obedience of his Love: and in the same Service /learn the Sweetness of Life, the humility and Meekness of Heart, and the upright Virtues. 2. For that is the clean or pure Life of jesus Christ /which cometh unto us out of the Love /through her Service /to th'end that we should live unto God in the same, and laud and praise Him therein. 3. Behold ⁏ ye dearly-beloved; thereunto stretcheth our Service of Love: which undeceivable Service /is the mostlovely and holiest Service of God /the which /God willeth that it should have his Ministration over all the World; and that all People should be obedient or subject to the Love /in her Service. For in the Love, is the e Gen. 13. ●● Blessing of all Generations of the Earth /according to the Promises. 4. Therefore is my Exhortation and hearty Request unto you all /which are the Ancientest and Most-zealousones in our holy Comunialtee /that ye will all likewise have regard in that-maner /unto the Service of Love, and even so accomplish his requiring. 5. And although it be known unto me /that ye do also partly with me /see into the Difference of that whereof I write unto you /yet am I notwithstanding constrained /to write, and to present thissame unto you /To th'end that ye should always be mindful /not to put too-much trust at the first /in the on-coming Disciples /which incline unto us in the Service of Love, as to declare all the mysteries of God /among them. f 1 Cor 2. ●. but well among those that are growing-up with us obediently /in the holy and godly Testimonies of the Spirit of Love /to the g Ephe 4 b agedness of the holy Understanding: and those which we find faithful therein/ Because that we may thereby ⁏ so much-the-more-certenly and foresightfully; minister the mostholy Service of Love ⁏ whereunto God hath stirred-up and chosen us, to h 1 Cor 14. d. all good Order and Decentnes /under the Obedience of the love. The VII. Chap. Sing then that there are few now /that will a 2. Timo. 4. a endure the godly Doctrine of the Love /therefore is likewise all my har●y Exhortation unto You /ye Elders and Wyseones ⁏ to whom the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love are committed /for to minister in the Service of Love; that ye ⁏ in the same Service; will always keep a circumspect Watch towards the upright and lovely Being: chiefly because of those that come-in besides the Love and her Service, b Rom. 16. 2 Timon 3. a and bring-in Contention and Breach of the Concord /with their Knowledge. 2. But contend not you with them /about any Knowledge: but require always the Love, and the Obedience unto her Service /to all c Ephe. 4. a. unity of Peace. For if anyman know the Love /he knoweth all what he should know: and whosoever knoweth not the Love, nor is minded to the requiring of her Service /he doubtless d 1 Cor. ●. a. knoweth nothing: Not, nothing-at-al of the godly Wisdom, nor can in-any-wyse e Math 11 d 1 Cor 2. b understand the Truth. It is very-true. 3. Heerwith ⁏ ye beloved Elders in the holy Understanding; my Request and Exhortation is unto you all /that ye will always be mindful of the requiring of the Service of Love: and not leave-off to f 2 Timon 4. a. rebuke and to exhort still /with Words of holy Understanding, and with Informations of discretion. namely, those which hold with us /in the Comunialtee of Love, and are yet loof or lightmynded of Heart: and chiefly g 2 T●●s 3 a those /which walk disorderly /as also that Vnchastones, which will serve the Flesh /with unclean Hearts. For they mar their Understanding, and corrupt their Senses and Memory /with their Fleshly and unchaste Thoughts. 4. Before these, holde-foorth the convenient Orderlynes: and exhort them to a h psal ●1 b Math ●. a clean or pure Heart /To th'end that they may become i 2 Cor. 7. a cleansed from all Pollution and Filthiness of the Flesh, and so ⁏ growing-up in the holy Understanding; may be found worthy /that the God of Life may ⁏ in Cleanness and clearness or Pureness; devil and walk in k john 14 c Apo 21. ● them: and so might ⁏ through the godly Being; be meet to utter-foorth and to publish the Glory of God /to the l ●phe 1 a laud of his majesty: and also to be serviceable unto their Neighbour /to thatsame Being /that it may all go uprightly m 1 Cor 14 d in his Course. 5. Behold, thus doing /we shall be found n Math. 24. c 1 Cor 4 a faithful Ministers of God. also faithful Ministers of the holy Word, which do further the Salvation or Welfare of Men. For after that manner ⁏ as is before said; shall the Love always continued fruitful among us in her Service /out of pure Nature. and God shall sainctify his great and glorious Name in us·s seal us therewith to be his People· and accept us o Ier 31. a. 2 Cor 6 b for his beloved Sons and Daughters: also p Esa 66. b play and dandle with us /as with his beloved Children, and keep us/ q Psal 17 a Zach 2 a as the Apple of his Eye. And He shall lead and nourish us up in his Pasture /like r Eze 34 b john 1●. a Sheep and Lambs. 6. All our Course-of-lyfe shalbe in Love and Peace. Faithfulness s Zach 8 a b and Truth shalbe serviceable unto us. Righteousness and Holiness t Esa 58 b shallbe always in our Beholding: and God shall always go-before us /as a Light. He shalbe an everlasting King and Shepherd unto us: and the Loveingnes in the Peace /shall always be among us, and have no End, according to the Promises. 7. Let all our Life, and all our Course-of-dealing /be herein /my beloved Hearts, ye lovely Comunialtee of Saints in the love. For you ⁏ ye lovely faithful Comunialtee of Love; hath God chosen to be a kingly Seed upon the Earth /according to his Promises /for to bring-foorth by you /the Light of Life /out of the heavenly Truth, to the Blessing of all Generations of the Earth, according to the Promises. 8. Take-heede v 2 Cor 6 ● Gal 6 a now all to thissame Time of Grace. Be watchful in the Spirit. x Esa 60 a Rom 13 b Ephe 5. ●. and stand-up in the Righteousness. The Love of God the Father, and the Glory of Christ in his Coming /take the Victory in all your Hearts. Amen. The End of the Nyntenth Epistle. The twentieth Epistle. A Chastising and Reproof of whoredom /with sundry good Lessons, Informations, and groundly Instructions /how the Man shall give-over himself to jesus Christ, and to the Word of his holy Spirit of Love and Trueth· forsake and leave himself and all what he hath /for the Love of jesus Christ-his sake· and follow-after and only cleave-unto jesus Christ and the Word of his holy Spirit of Love· and show all Obedience, Love, and Faithfulness /to the same Word. Thus saith the Lord JESUS CHRIST: If any man come to Me /and hateth not his Father, Mother, Wife, Children, brethren, Sisters, and also his own Life [That is: Whosoever doth not ⁏ for the Love of jesus Christ's sake; forsake and leave all whereunto he is bound, or whereunto he hath set his own Affection and Will of his Heart /without the requiring of the holy Word of jesus Christ and his holy Spirit of Love] and beareth or taketh not his Cross on him /and Followeth-after Me /cannot be my Disciple. Math. 10.16: Mark. 8. Luk. 9.14. The First Chapter. THIS IS THE Word of the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ /which HN hath witnessed ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; against the Whoring of the Generation of Men: 2. O Thou Generation of Men /How long shall I set a psal 108 a Cant 7. c. my Love on thee /without being loved again, and my b 2 Cor 11 a Faithfulness /without being showed Faithfulness again? 3. When wilt thou ⁏ I pray thee; turn thyself away from thy whoredom, and turn thee ●ightly ⁏ c Ier 3 a with a faithful Heart; to thy d O●e. 2 a 2 Cor ●1 a right Husband? 4. I have ⁏ saith the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ; set all my e pro 2 c Love towards thee /O thou Generation of Men. But sing that I am not loved by thee again: and do perceive /that thou whoorest with thine own Imagination f Deut 12 a of the Knowledge, and with al-maner of Spirits, and g Ier 2 d Eze 16 b. c. Rom 1 c elementish or natural Things: and dost not set thy Love and Faithfulness/ h Ier 2. d. firmly to my Love and Faithfulness ⁏ which I show towards thee; to an upright Obeying of the holy Word /Therefore doth my Heart ⁏ for Loves-cause; suffer somuch-the-greater Sorrow: and I must also be captived the-more with i 2 Cor 1●. a Mistrustfulness towards thee. 5. O /alas! Must not I always ⁏ like unto an Husband towards an k Ier 2 d 3 a 2 Cor 12. a whorish Wife; have a mistrustful Eye towards the Man (which boasteth him of the Love and of the Knowledge of the spiritual and heavenly Things, and yet committeth whoredom with l Ier 2 d. Eze 16. b ● jud. 1 b straying Spirits /without the Famyle of Love) m 2. Cor. 11 a and not suffer the same Mistrust to be taken-away or denied me /before I find that the Man do bind or betrothe himself ⁏ with a faithful Heart; unto the holy Word of Grace and his Spirit of Love: and doth with an n Deut. 16. b. obedient Heart /utterly forsake all his whoredom, whither it be with Flesh or Spirit· with any-maner of o Eze 16. b Imagination of the Knowledg· or with anything that is Outward or Inward· or with anything of p psal 49. c God's Sayings: and even so goeth-thorow the Way to the Life /according to the requiring of the holy Word? 6. Oh! How is my Heart thus grieved /by reason of great love. and so perplexed /through great Mistrustfulness? 7. For like as a valiant champion /hath set all his Love and Hearts-lust towards an whorish Wife, and bound it unto her /to the intent to withdraw her from her whoredom, and to draw her with her Love /into his Love /to be an upright Maryed-wyfe unto him: and can obtain no Looking-on nor Harkening-unto ⁏ or very-little; at her hands: and so for great Love /suffereth such sore Grief in his Heart, and is so exceedingly cumbered /that he cannot at any-tyme take any rest /for showing his Love still towards her: Euenso an I in-like-maner swallowed-up in Love /toward the Generation of Men, for to withdraw the same from his whoredom, which doth now committ-whoordom with so many-maner of Knowledges and straying and erring q 3 Reg 22. d. Esa 18 b Ier 23 c Spirits, and elementish Things /and to draw the same r Ier 3 a with his Love /into my Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ, and to the s Ephe 1.4 phil 1 b upright Righteousness and Holiness. But ⁏ alas; I obtain very little Looking-on and Harkening-unto. t Zach 7 c Ephe 4 ● Phillip 1 b. Therefore my Heart is so exceedingly cumbered through Love /that I (to see if I could obtain anymore Harkning-unto) can at no time rest myself /for showing my Love still towards the same. 8. I had well hoped (inasmuch as we have witnessed and declared the true Being of jesus Christ, and his upright Righteousness /so clear and evidently unto Many ⁏ with full Instruction; in all our Service of Writing /under the Obedience of the Love) that there had been enough witnessed and poynted-out in writing /tending to the good Being of jesus Christ, and to the upright Righteousness and Holiness of the holy Spirit of Love /for to draw all those that have read or heard thosame written Testimonies and Directions /to the Love of the upright Being of jesus Christ and of the upright Righteousness of the holy Spirit of Love, and to assemble them unto Me and my God, and to a unity of one Heart and Mind in the Love▪ as all jointly together /to v john 17 c Ephe. 2. b one Man in jesus Christ;: and that they would evenso have forsaked their x Ier 23 c ungodly Being, together with all straying and erring y 2 Reg 22 c Esa. 18. b 2 C●r 11 b Gal 6 b Spirits, unprofitable Knowledges, and all Bandage unto the natural Things /with z Ier 2. b g Rom 1 c jude. 1. the which they committ-whoordom, and ⁏ under a Colour as if they had right in the whoredom of their Vnchastitee; do use their Falsehood and Voluptuous-pleasure: also that they would have wholly submitted them ⁏ with Us Elders in the Family of Love; under the gracious Word of the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ a 1 pet 1 b c and so ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; have grown-up in all upright Righteousness /to the b Ephe. 4. c. Oldness of the holy and godly Understanding. 9 But ⁏ alas; it is all in vain /to hold-foorth a Light, and to figure-out any gorgeous Beauty /before the Eyes of the Blind/ c Eze 1● a that will not see. and all lost-laboure likewise /for to cry-out, and to publish any good Tidings or joyful Message /before the Ears of the Deaf/ d E●a 30 b Act 7 g that will not hear. 10. For all whatsoever I write, cry-out, and teach /touching the e john 1 a b true Light· and touching the f Esa ●4. b Apo ●● a b gorgeous Beauty of the Kingdom of the God of Heavens, and his upright Righteousnes·s and touching the g M●th 3 a. Act ●. 3 Entrance into the same /thereon is had lest regard /for to take the same h Math 13. to heart /according to the requiring of the holy and gracious Word, and to endeavour them obediently i Deut 4. b. ● a 11 b thereunto. But they do almost everyone think to commit their whoredom therewith: and so become likewise Fornicators k Numb 12 g 2● d. judi. 2 d psal 49. b. with God's Sayings. 11. For-that-cause also they do almost all continued in their old Course: and enter not into the l Deut. ●. d. Esa 1. Ier 4. a Way /which ⁏ to the Cleansing of their Hearts; leadeth to the m pro 3 10 c john 1 a Life of the true Being, and bringeth into the Kingdom of the God of Heavens. 12. For like as they commit whoredom with all erring Spirits n Ier 23. c and Knowledges of thee false Light, and with almaner of o Eze 16. c Rom 1. c natural Things: Euenso do they also commit their whoredom /with the high-worthy p Num 23. g. 24 b. psal. 49. b Sayings of God /which be heald-foorth before them ⁏ out of the Service of Love; q 2 Tess 2. b· ● P●t 1. a. to their Sainctification. And Many ⁏ growing offended at them; do r Pro 1. c dispi●e them, and harden then Hearts against them: and s Ephe 4. c. estrainging themselves altogether from the Truth of God /they remain without the holy t Heb 2 3 4. c Rest of the Children of God, which God hath revealed and declared now in thissame day /in his Family of Love, and whereunto He v Esa. 9 a b, Ma●h 11. d. calleth and biddeth all Men /to their Preservation in the Godliness. 13. I have doubtless hitherto /called and knocked before many Doors: but who hath let me in? Proffered the x Apo. 3. d. Food of Life /unto Many: but who hath rightly taken-heede to the proffered Grace /for to receive the Food of Life in Thankfulness, and to feede-upon it /to a Life of Godliness /whereby to submit himself wholly under the same /to a Nourishment of his Soul, and with an y Math. 11. d humble and obedient Heart /to come ⁏ all in all; into the Love and her Service: and so to be one Heart, z Act. 4. d Spirit, and Life with me /in jesus Christ and in his holy Spirit of Love? Truly /very few. Therefore are-ther Many also /that have no a Math 13. right regard unto the holy Word ⁏ which is heald-foorth before them /in the Service of Love; what it requireth. For they do almost everyone /suffer themselves to lust to commit their b Psal. 49. c. whoredom with the same /as with their own Imagination of the Knowledge, and not to submit them obediently thereunder /like c Deur. 30. Ier 35. c. jam. 1. d. Disciples of the Word. The II Chap. O You a Gen. 3. a b. Vnregarders of the holy Word of Godliness, ye Fornicators with God's Sayings, and all ye which run-on so b Rom. 2. a. impenitently /contrary to the godly Testimonies of the heavenly Truth: and have not once in mind/ c Math 16. d. Luk. 9 14. d. to forsake and to leave yourselves /in your whoredom, and in all your d Rom 6. c d. unchaste Lusts and Desires: and to be coupled obediently to your right Lord or Husband /with e 2. Gor. 11. a. pure Hearts. Look once rightly into it I pray you /how your Course and f Ezech. 36. Eccli 18. c Rom. 6. c. Dealing hath been hitherto /towards the Word of the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ, and what Lust ye have had to the Obedience of the Word. 2. Have ye not even hitherto /shut your Doors the-faster /thewhylst I knocked at them /and advanced yourselves to be g Esa. 30.35. judges of the Word? Are ye not ⁏ thewhyles the h Act. 13. Food of the godly Life hath been proffered unto you /to the Obeying of the holy Word; become the-more i Num. 11 a. 14·26. c. etc. unlustfull and disobedient to the godly Life, and the-more unthankful /for the Proffering of the living Gifts of God? 3. I have nodout cryed-out so loud unto you all /that I am almost (because ye do so utterly stop your Ears /from hearing what the Word requireth) become k Psal 38.68 a hoarse· and l jer. 20. b. weakened in the Sound of my Voice: And that altogether heerfore, even because ye should understand the requiring of my Crying· come with me /into the Doctrine of the upright Life of jesus Christ· and so m job. 34. a b. Pro. 4. c. hearken after the Distinction of my Crying· give-over yourselves n Pro. 3. b 8. to be Disciples of the gracious Woord· show o Math. 3. a Act. 3. c. Repentance for your Sinnes·s love with me /the Life of Rest and Peace /with a p Psal 33 c. Pro. 10. c. Lust to the Righteousnes·s have all your q 1 Pet 3. b. unity of Heart, Love, and Sweet-delytfulnes /in the Family of Love /with the Saints of God and Children of the Love of jesus Christ· become incorporated to the r Ephe. 4. ●. Col. 3. b. 2 Pet. 1. a. upright Righteousnes·s and even so enter into the s Heb. 3.4. c. Rest of the Lord /with the Children of God and Saints of Christ. But ⁏ alas; I have yet found very-feawe of those that have had their Affection bent hereunto: and yet many-feawer /which have harkened-unto and believed the godly Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love /to that effect, or taken-heede to obey thosame. 4. O You Children or Generations of s Gen. 3. O●c 6 c. 4 Esd. 3. c 4 c. Adam, all ye which live so boldly in the Vnchastitee t 4. Esd 3. c. Math 13. Luk. 16. of your whoredom, and in your Hypocrisy /against the requiring of the holy Word: and do not once ⁏ like Disciples of the Word; take-to-heart all our diligent Service showed on you /whereby to come into the School of the Service of Love, and to learn the upright Righteousness/ v Rom. 12. a. E●he 4. c. to the Renewing of your Hearts and Minds: Remember of fellowship /what ye do all x Math. 22. a. neglet in thissame y Esa. 49 c. 2. Cor. ●. a. precious Time of Grace: how ye keep yourselves back /against God's proffered Grace· shut-to and harden z Psal 9●. b. Luk 1 ● d. Heb. 2. a. ●. a. your Hearts·s keep the Love of God a 1. john 4 c the Father, of the Lord jesus Christ, and of the holy Ghost /quite out of thesame· and do give the lightmynded and ungodly Being/ b 2 Pet. 2. c. d Heb. 6. a. Ind. 1. his Room /to your own Destruction. 5. For behold, and have regard on c P●o 2. b. c. jer. 7. a. your Ways /all ye Desobeyers and Resisters of the Truth of God and of his godly Love /together with all ye that are d Ier 7. c so goodthinking-wyse in yourselves: Have ye not even hitherto /wholly e P●o. 8 a jer. 7 c. d. shut-too your Ears /before the Voice of the Wisdom of God· refused the proffered Grace of God· and f Eze. 13. a. followed your own Foolishness and Goodthinking, and heald-foorth or ministered the same unto others more? and not the holy Word of Truth. 6. Are ye not also still runne-back /when ye were g jer. 7 c 15. b. called forward? 7. Have ye not stil-apace covered yourselves more-and-more in your Hypocrisy ⁏ when ther-was heald-foorth before you /that ye should uncover yourselves in your h Psal. 36. ● Hypocrisy, and confess and die from your i Pro 28. b. Eccli. 4. b. Rom. 6. Sins; /and in your Sins /tak●n-on more sinfull-Lyfe: k 1 john. 2. c. maintained the wicked World: excused the Flesh /in his false and corrupt Nature, and committed-whoordom therewith: and been unregarding towards the holy Word l jer. 2. a. etc. of the Grace of God the Father /as if it were an unneedful or unnecessary Thing. and so made m 1. Tess. 4. b Heb 10 c. little-reckning-of or debased the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ. 8. O, how unfitly doth it accord /that there should be such Disorderlynes (as is rehearsed) found among Any-people /unto whom the upright manly Being ⁏ even according to the n Sap. 7 d Col. 1 c. Heb. 1 a very-lyke Being of God; is daily presented so naked and evidently, and that are o 2 Pet. ●. a called and bidden thereunto /out of entire love. 9 Yea /yet much-more unfitly doth it accord /that thosame do boast them of the christianity, of the Love, and of the Freedom /because all p 2 pet. 1 ● discretion, and Obedience to the holy Word /aught to be among such. also the right Knowledge, and the humble Thanksgiveing /for that God hath created and chosen the Man to be an q Gen. 1 c 3 a Sap. 2 c Eccli. 17. a 2 Cor. 11 a Image or Likeness of his godly Being: and for that he ⁏ in his r Gen. 3 a Rom. 1 Eph●. 2 b Fall or Estrainging from God; is ⁏ by God's Grace; called and bidden again to the s Eph. 2 b 4 c Col 1 b 3 a ● pet. 1. a Likeness of God /through jesus Christ and the holy Spirit of his Love: and that all the same /is far from them. The III Chap. FORasmuch now therefore /as that I do perceive all this Abuce, Ignorance, and Unthankfulness /among Many of you /Oye Children of Men /that boast yourselves of the christianity and of the Love, as also of the Freedom, and of the Knowledge of the heavenly Things /Shall I a 1 Cor. 11 a then praise you heerin· accounted you for right and free Christians, or approve you to be upright and obedient Disciples or Children of the Family of Love: and so lay soft b Eze. 13 c Pillows under your Arms: and say/ c Esa. 3 jer. 6 ye are free: whereas ye are yet bound to the d john. ● c Devil, also to the Minds of the Flesh, and to the Imagination of your own Knowledge: and that it is all well with you, e Esa 3 jer. 6 c d whereas it is doubtless ⁏ in such a State; altogether evil: and so ⁏ as though my Mind and Spirit /were agreeable with you f psal. 50. c therein; suffer you to be leadd with the Bands of the Devil, and g Sap. 17 a d Chains of Darkness /into Hell and Condemnation? verily, so would it then go evil with you all. 2. For /in that state, and so long as ye do live in your own Wisdom /and have not ⁏ with your Love, Minds, and Thoughts; altogether intended the upright h Matth. 32 ● Righteousness of jesus Christ؛that godly Being of the Love; for to be all in all i 2 pet. 1 a incorporated into the same obediently: and to live-unto and to k Deut. 6.10. d Math. 4. ●. 22. d▪ serve only the living God /So is all your Freedom, Love, Minds, and Thoughts /and all your Appeasment of Heart which ye yourselves have taken-on /proceeded out of the Flesh of Sin, and l john. 8. ●. out of the Devil ؛the Father of Lies; wherethrough the Man still hunteth-after and loveth nothing-els but his own Destruction. 3. BUt sing now that my Love /proceedeth out of God's Nature or Being, and stretcheth to all Preservation in the Godliness, and loveth you all thereunto /so cannot I ⁏ out of the Nature of the same Love; m pro. 27. a john 1. c omit /but I must needs figure-foorth or describe before your Eyes /your Contrarynes and Destruction. 4. For I say unto you verily, if ye come not into the Doctrine of the Service of Love, and so stand submitted to the Word of the holy Spirit of Love /to show Obedience /and be not n Rom. 12. a Ephe. 4. c chainged out of your earthly Love o Rom. 6.7. Gall. 5.6. a of the Flesh /into the godly Love of the holy Spirit of jesus Christ, nor become upright of Heart: as also become not incorporated to p Ephe. 3 c d 2 pet. 1. a. the true Being of God and Christ /with your inwared Man· nor walk neither-yet be found in all q Ephe. 4. a phil. 4. a equity and Loveingnes /under the Obedience of the Love: but do in that sort ⁏ without the good Being; apply yourselves unto much Knowledge of high heavenly Things, and to talk thereof /So is-it all doubtless false and Lies /whatsoever ye speak: and proceedeth altogether out of the r john. 8. e Devil, who hath 3. Reg 22. c 2 Cor. 11. c appeared unto you /like an Angel of the heavenly Light, and so hath bewitched and seduced your earthly and fleshly Hearts: wherethrough ye do ⁏ in a false s Esa. 59 b. Light, and false Freedom, or false t Esa. 3. Appeasment of Heart; proceed-on and walk in all v jer. 8 b Arrogant-stoutnes /against the u Math. 11. b humility, Obedience, and upright x john. 8. c Freedom /which God requireth by his holy Spirit of love. 5. Through which Proceeding in the false Light of the Devil, and in the false Freedom of the Flesh, and in the bewitched Subtil-prudence of the y Rom 8. a b. jam. 3 d. earthly and fleshly Minds or false Spirits /ye shall find yourselves at the last/ z Math. 7. d. 24. d. Luk. 13. f utterly separated or estranged from the lovely Being and Face of God· and ⁏ with all your high Understandings, heavenly Knowledges, and wel-appeased Freedoms; be-wrapped in all Confusedness, Bitterness, and Maliciousness of Heart /and in the hellish a Sap. 5 a. Math. 25. d. Condemnation. 6. Ah-beloved: tell me I pray you /how your Heart and Mind, and all your Nature and Being /is settled in your high or heavenly Knowledges, and wel-appeased Freedoms? 7 verily, if ye stand b Pro. 2. d. 2 Cor. 11. c Phil. 2. b. not simply and peaceably grounded therewith /in the upright and godly Being of the Love /according to the godly Testimonies of the holy Spirit of Love: and that ye are not yet come into the first Schoole-rule c Heb. 6. a of the christian Doctrine /under the Obedience of the Love, nor have obediently performed it: That is to say /if ye do not in the School or Doctrine of the Service of Love /dye-from all your contrary and corrupt Nature /in the Passing-thorow d Rom. 6. a Col. 2. b. the Death of Christ, nor-yet out of the second Birth e john. 3. a. Rom. 6. a b from the Death /be not renewed in your Spirit and Mind ⁏ in all upright f Ephe. 4 c Righteousness and Holiness; by the g 2. Cor. 4. b. phil. 3. b. c. Resurrection of jesus Christ: but /being unrenewed, or ⁏ without the holy Word of the Spirit of Love; have of yourselves ⁏ with your old h Ephe. 4. c corrupt Nature; taken-on some high Knowledges or wel-appeased Freedoms /Then must ye nodout acknowledge /that all your high Knowledges, profound Understandings, and Freedoms /are false /and are brought-foorth out of the i john. 8. c 2. Cor. 11 c 1 john. 3. b jam. 3. c. Devil, and out of his false Light: and that also ye are not worthy /in the same false and corrupt Nature ⁏ if ye desire to continued therein; to bear the Name of a Man, much-les /the Name of the Children of God or of the love. 8. Therefore ye should of right be ashamed/ all you unclean Hearts /for that ye stand not obediently submitted to the Word of the Truth of God and of the holy Spirit of Love /to the k Rom. 12. ●● Ephe 4. c Renewing and Cleansing of your Spirits and Minds /and for that ye should suffer yourselves ⁏ being in your wicked and corrupt or disobedient Nature; to be called Men or l Luk. 16. d ●. 1. john. 3. b Children of God, and Members of the Love or of the holy Spirit of jesus Christ /and so should ⁏ in all m Luk. 18. d Rom. 2 Disobedience; grow-up to be a Blaspheamy or Reproach to the God of Life and his Christ. 9 Yea, be ashamed of thatsame /ye unclean Hearts, which do so shamefully n Heb. 10. c contemn the pure and holy Testimonies of God /and defile or account them unclean /with your polluted Knowledges: and deal so disorderly with God's o Num. 23.24 psal. 49. Sayings /as with an Whoore. 10. AH, consider I pray you: and remember /that-ther can be no right Obedience towards God /taught nor required /by the Disobeyers of the holy Woord· nothing cleansed /by the p Eccli. 34. a Uncleane· no Truth spoken /by the Lyers·s nor-yet any upright Freedom lived /by the Unfree, nor by the Seperatedones from the holy Word of the Spirit of love. 11. Forasmuch then as the same is true: How will ye than I pray you /cleanse yourselves or q Eccli. 34. a. another /with your unclean Being. and publish the r Psal. 49. c. Lord's Good, and his Rites /with your unclean Lips. and take his covenant in your lying Mouth? if ye yourselves do s Psal. 49. c d Pro. 1. c. hate the Chastisement of the Lord, and cast his Word behind you, and so live your own Freedom. verily, it shall not vantage you to the Life: but all deadly Things and evil Inclinations /shall catch and captive you. The FOUR Chap. FOrthatcause my beloved Hearts, receive you my a pro. ●. ● Chastisement /to your Preservation in the Godliness: Let my Warning from the Destruction/ b Pro 4 a sink into your Hearts: and c jam. 4. b. submit yourselves betimes under the gracious Word of the godly Life /Jest ye lament it afterward /that ye have let the d Sap. 5. a. b. c▪ Time pas /that serveth to your Salvation or to the Cleansing of your Hearts, and e Eccli. 4 ● not taken-heede to the same /according to the requiring of the holy Word and Service of the holy Spirit of Love: and shall then find no Comfort in your Hearts. 2. Wherefore, separate now first or before-al /your f Pro. 3. ● Hearts, Minds, and Thoughts /from all your taken-on Knowledge /also from all g Sap. 14 d. Abuce and Disorderlynes: and become h jer. 4. b. circumcised to the Lord /in thissame holy Day and Service of love. 3. give-over yourselves altogether to the holy Word of the Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ ⁏ to show Obedience thereunto; to your Preservation in the Godliness: and i Psal. 32. a. Eccli 4. d. 1 john. 1. b. confess your Sins and Faults /before the Seat of the majesty of God: and k Esa. 1. d. Eze 36. c. john 13. b. wash and cleanse yourselves /with the holy Water of the Love /That ye may then in that sort ⁏ with pure Hearts; understand the spiritual Understanding of jesus Christ· inherit the heavenly Goodes·s and so come or enter holily into the upright Freedom and l Heb. 4. c. Rest of the Children of God. 4. If now ye stand-mynded to give yourselves to an upright and godly Being of the Love /under the Obedience of the Love: and if ye would gladly with all what is under your Hand and Power /be preserved m Eccli. 1. a in Righteousness, and become fruitful in the holy Word of the Spirit of Love /for to minister the same unto others more ⁏ to their Preservation in the Godliness; who do walk yet in Darkness /So consider then /what is taught and presented unto you ⁏ for to do evenso first-of-al; by the holy and gracious Word in the Service of Love /to your Preservation in Righteousness, and to your Fruitfulness in the Word, and to a Guiding into the true and upright heavenly Being: and endeavour you thereunto /for to accomplish or obediently to perform the same /To th'end that ye may evenso then /be found n 2. Cor. 2.3. a 2 Tim. 2. a profitable and fit to the Service of the holy Word /and may ⁏ with all what is under your Hand or Power; be preserved in the upright and godly Being of the love. 5. If-so-be now ye consider the same rightly, and endeavour you aright thereunto /then shall ye likewise well understand /that the holy Word of Grace, and the godly Service of Love /calleth and requireth you all to the Family of Love o 1. pet 1. a. b. 2 Pet. 1. a together with all what is under your Hand and Power /to this end: namely, to your ● Preservation in Righteousness, and to an Vniformnes with the holy and gracious Word. 6. And moreover /forasmuch doubtless as it shall all now perish /whatsoever bideth without the gracious Word and Family of Love /therefore doth now the gracious Word of the holy Spirit of Love require [namely, of all you to whom the same holy Word /is this-daye administered] that ye shall first or before-al/ p Esa. 52. c. 2. Cor. 6. ●. separate yourselves from the q Rom. 12 a. 1. Cor. 2.5. b wicked World (which nodout ⁏ with all what cleaveth unto her; shall remain without the Family of Love o 1. pet 1. a. b. 2 Pet. 1. a and utterly vanish to nothing and be condemned) /and depart-out-of and forsake all her abominations: 7. Set yourselves r Luk. 14. d john. 12. Act. 4. f. ●. and all whatsoever ye have· and is under your Hand or Power /submitted ⁏ with humble and simple Hearts; under the gracious Word of God the Father, of the Son jesu Christ, and of the holy Ghost /in the Family of the Love of jesus Christ /to your Preservation in Righteousness. and for the Love of jesus Christ-his sake/ s Math. 10 ● 16 c Luk. 14 d. forsake and leave it all ⁏ for claiming property therein; /and acknowledge t Psal. 24 a that it is all the Lords, and is Proper unto Him: Besides that also /forsake▪ v Math. 1● c Luk. ●4 ● leave, and hate /your own Life which ye live unto yourselves, and which ye have taken-on /according to your own Will, Lusts, and Desires: 8. Humble yourselves likewise goodwillingly and obediently ⁏ with entire goodwilling Hearts; before the x Heb. 5 a Seat of the majesty of God and judgement of Christ (inasmuch as the holy Word of God the Father and of Christ /is ministered ther-out· and all what assembleth itself thereunto and loveth Righteousness /preserved thereunder) /and submit you to all Obedience: 9 Make-manifest yourselves y Psal. 37. a. Pro. 16 a 1 john. 1 b nakedly ⁏ in the Confession z Eccli. 4. c 17. c of your Sins; before the same Seat of the majesty of God and judgement a 2. Cor. 5. b. of Christ /and so then assemble you naked or uncovered /to the Comunialtee of Saints or to the Family of Love, and enter into the Doctrine of the godly Life: 10. And from that Time forward /follow and obey ⁏ with all dutiful b Phil. 2. a. 1. Tess. 5. b. Heb. 13. c. Obedience and Concord /with the Elders of the holy Understanding and Ministers of the holy Word in the Family of Love; the requiring of the godly Doctrine of the holy Word, and the c Pro. 1 2 3 a. Heb. 13. c Counsel of the Elders in the same: until that ye are grown-up to the d Ephe. 4 c agedness of the holy and godly Understanding /in all Love and upright Righteousnes·s and evenso rightly made-free by e john. 8. d. the Truth /according to the Testimony and judgement of the Elders·s and f Act 2 d known for right Elders in the godly Vnderstanding· or ordained to be Ministers of the Word. 11. For thatsame /and for to give themselves good willingly thereunto with all their Hearts, and so to continued g Pro. 6. ● steadfast obediently in the gracious Word of the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ, and in his Service /till unto the h Ephe. 4 c. agedness of the holy Understanding, is the first or foregoing Schoole-rule of the christian Doctrine /in the Family of Love /wherein /all goodwilling Hearts to the Righteousness, and all upright Believers of the holy and gracious Word /do show by the Deed /that they do i Math 22. c john 24. love the Lord jesus Christ with all their Hearts /and have a good Will, Lust, or Desire /to k Math 16. c Lu●. 9.14. ● follow-after Him with faithful Hearts: and for-that-cause /have a Lust ⁏ with goodwilling Hearts; to fulfil or to accomplish the requiring of the Obedience of the first or foregoing Schoole-rule of the christian Doctrine in the Service and Family of Love /whereby to l Ephe. 4. c grow-up out of the nethermost Place ⁏ or out of the Turning-about to be like obedient m Math 18 a 19 b. Mar. 9.10. Children; to become right Elders in the godly Understanding. 12. Behold ⁏ ye dearly-beloved; if now ye will n Math 16 c follow-after the Lord jesus Christ duly and rightly /with perfect whole Hearts: and o Col. 1 a 1 Pet 2. a. grow-up in the godly Understanding /according to the Truth /then submit yourselves obediently under the holy Word of Grace, and so then p Math. 16. ●. Mat. 8. d. Luk. 9 14. c follow-after jesus Christ /according to the Counsel and Doctrine of his holy Spirit of love. 13. And if ye would gladly be delivered q Math. 6. b. Luk. 12. g. from the Euell· incorporated to the Lord jesus Christ, or one-substance r 2. Pet. 1. a. with Him· and so partakers with Christ ⁏ in the Kingdom of the God of Heavens; of the spiritual Understanding s E●a. 45. a. Matth. 11 d and heavenly Goods ⁏ for to minister them rightly; /and inherit the everlasting Life /Then take this my good Doctrine t Pro. 1.2 3. Math. 19 ● Ma●. 10 c. Luk. 8. c. and godly Counsel of the Wisdom /to heart, and apply yourselves at the first thereunto /in all Obedience and Faithfulness. The V Chap. NOw when ye have applied yourselves heerunto· geeven all a 1 P●r. 29. c Psal 24.88 a that over ⁏ in the Service of Love; unto the Lord and his holy Word ؛ jesus Christ; which belongeth unto Him ⁏ to a Preservation in Righteousness; or set it submitted thereunder, and vowed and promised your Faith and Love /unto jesus Christ/ b 2. Cor. 11. a your right Lord or Husband /So think then also upon nothing-els /but c Deut 6.10 a with all your Hearts /to love your Lord or Husband (to whom ye have geven-over your Faith and whole Heart /for to love Him only, and bound or married yourselves unto Him /in all Faithfulness) and to show all Faithfulness and d 1. Reg. 15. c. Obedience towards Him: in such-sort /that it may be a e Psal. 40 a. Rom. 12. a. 1. P●t. 2. delight unto you with all your Hearts /to do all his Will, and to follow-after Him in his Ways. 2. But first-of-al /in the f jer. ●●. Circumcision of your Hearts ⁏ through the g Eccli. 1. ●. ●. 19 ●. Fear of God; to the h ●e● ●2 ● Laying-away of the Sin in the Flesh▪ or of all i 1 Pet ●. 2 ungodly Being, and of the heathen●● Mis●urtour. 3. Secondly ⁏ through the Faith of jesus Christ▪ in his Death of the Cross or Suffering /to the Kill k Rom 〈…〉 b. Col 2. b. and Burying of the Sin or of all ungodly Being. 4. Thirdly ⁏ through the Love of the holy Spirit of jesus Christ; in the second l Iohn ●● Rom. ●● b 'Tis b Birth from the Death or the Resurrection of jesus Christ/ m Rom ●●● to the Righteousness of Life, and n Rom ●●. 1 Eph● ●. c. Renewing of your Spirits and Minds. 5. And so foorth-on unto o Act ● a. ●. the heavenly Being /at the Right-hande of God his heavenly Father: from whence He doth now ⁏ in this Day of his righteous judgement over p Math 1ST. 2 ● g ●● d. Act. 1● f Jude ●●. Quick and dead; appear q ● Tess 4 d. and come unto us /in Power and Glory /with the many thousands of his Saints, and with the abundant Treasures r Col 2 a. or riches of his spiritual and heavenly Goods /for to s Matth. 24 ● 25. d. assemble us▪ as Fellow-members of his Body; unto Him and his Saints /in the everlasting Life, to the Inheriting of his holy t Heb. 4. c Rest, and of all his spiritual and heavenly Goods. 6. FOr-that-cause ⁏ my beloved Hearts; follow-after v Math 16. c 1. Pet. 2. c our Lord jesus Christ in such-a-maner, even like as I do here figure-foorth the same before you: and apply you evenso at the first /to the first Schoole-rule or x Heb. 5. c. Beginning of the christian Doctrine, and of the godly Life /in the Family of love. 7. Exercise yourselves first-of-al /thoroughly and faithfully therein. And so in the Following of jesus Christ ⁏ in the Takeing-up y Math. 16. c Mar 8. d. Luk 9 d. or Beareing of your Cross /against all the Enemies of the upright Life of Christ, z 2 Pet. 2 c. Heb. 10. c. and Blaspheamers of the holy Spirit of Love; grow you up out of the same /to the perfect a Ephe. 4. c. Age of the manly Being of jesus Christ /and of his holy, spiritual, and heavenly Understanding: That is, till that jesus Christ؛the true High-preeste/ b psal. 110. Heb 5 b. after the order of Melchisedech; come unto you from the c Heb. 1. b. Right-hande of God his Father. and hath ⁏ with his holy Spirit of Love and heavenly Goods; gotten d 2. Cor. 4. b. Gal. 2. d. 4. c. a living Shape in you· and herited you in his spiritual and heavenly e Col 2. a. Goods: and that likewise thosame heavenly Goods /do flow again from your Bodies /like f john. ●. 7. d Floods of living Waters, to the Refreshing of all thirsty Souls after the Righteousness. And so become upright Elders in the holy and godly Understanding, and Ministers of the holy Word. The VI Chap. TAke it effectually to heart /which I write unto you, and that whereunto a Pro 1.2.4. ● I do exhort you: For it is the lords Word and his Will /to your Preservation in the Godliness. 2. Also refuse not to assemble you with us to the Family of Love, whereunto ye be called /by God's Grace /to your Preservation in the Godlynes·s and required on the Lordes-behalf /for to fulfil b Math. 5. c all Righteousness. 3. For I say unto you verily /that all those which refuse c Math. 22. ●. thesame· growe-offended against it· inclyn-unto or maintain the Euell· and so do separate themselves from us Little and Electedones of God, and from the Family of Love /shall never understand nor inherit the true d 1. john. 1. a. Light or Being of God, nor the spiritual Understanding of the heavenly Goods of jesus Christ, nor the e Math 13. d. 1. Cor. 2. b Col. 1. c. Secretness of the heavenly Kingdom of God, nor the Fullfilling f Ephe. 1. b. c Col. 1. c. 2. b. of the Righteousness in jesus Christ, nor-yet the upright g john. 8 d Heb. 4. e Freedom or Rest of the Children of God: but shall die in their Sins, and be h Esa. 66. d. Math. 25. f. Apo. 21. c. condemned in the hellish Fire. 4. In which hellish Fire of perpetual Condemnation /their i Apo. 16.20 ● 22. c. Heritage shalbe the false Light or Being of the Devil, and all Bitterness or Maliciousness of Heart, together with all Blindness of the false and erring Spirits: wherein they shall behold and inherit nothing-els but all k Esa. 47. ●. Woe, calamity, and Misery /as likewise the everlasting l jer. 30. a. 2. Tess. 2. b Death ⁏ which they themselves have procured; and the perpetual Banishment m Math. 7. d. 25. f. Apo. 6. b. from the lovely Being of God. 5. From which Abominations and evil Things /all beleeueing Hearts of the holy Word of the Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ ⁏ which do submit them n Esa 6●. b. obediently ther-under· dye in Christ their Saviour· and in Patience /hope upon the Godliness; be o Apo ●. 18.20.21. delivered, and kept from all Destruction. 6 Therefore take-heede to yourselves /to your Obedience and Godliness /in the Love of our God and Father /jest that ye ⁏ remaining without the Body of Christ or Family of Love; fall into the foresaid p Esa. 65. b. c. abominations. For doubtless I have warned you all sufficiently /of all abominations, Destruction, and Condemnation. and clearly and evidently enough figured-forth before you /the Preservation of you all, and where the same is to be obtained. 7. I therefore q Deut. 30. d. Act. 20. f excuse myself this day before you all ⁏ which hear this my Testimony, and refuse to assemble you to the Family of Love, or which turn yourselves therfrom; of the Condemnation of you all in thissame Day of the r Soph. 1. c. ●. Tess. 5. 2. Pet. 3. c. righteous judgement of God /which passeth-out now swiftly ⁏ in this Day of the Love; over the wicked World /to her Condemnation: and in like-maner s Soph. 1 c. d. over all those that s M●●h. 22. ●. refuse the Obedience to the gracious Woord· and to the requiring of the Testimonies of the holy Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ also are Enemies to thesame· and maintain the wicked World. 8. For now in thissame day /shall the perpetual Condemnation/ t Soph. 1 ● 2. Tess. 5. a Apo. 3. fall unwares upon all those that remain without the House of the Lord and without the Obedience to his Service of Love, even like as it came-to-pas with the Vnwillingones to the Truth of God /in the v Gen. 7. a 19 c. Math. 24. Luk. 17. f Days of No, and of Loth. 9 WHo soever now therefore /is ⁏ with a good-willing Heart; adjoined to the Family of Love, and which loveth God's Righteousness in thissame day /under the Obedience of the Love: and which desireth to be kept from the Destruction· and preserved in the Godliness /Let him x Eccli 18. c Luk 18.21. a 1 Tess. 5 c watch and pray now Night and Day: let him think upon the ●i●rible y Esa 47 65. c jer. 30 a abomination that shall fall upon the Resisters of the Obedience of the Love and of her godly Service: and so let him take-heede z Heb. 2. ● to the godly, spiritual, and heavenly Goods /which come unto the Believers of the holy Word of the Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ /under the Obedience of the Love: and let him a Eccli 6.32 a. Act. 14. c. 1 Cor 3 4 ● esteem no more of himself /than he is: neither-yet let him seek any Laude, Praise, nor Honour /to b Psal. 14 b. john 7. c. 8. f 1. Cor. 10. ● himself /in all his Weldooing /but only to the Lord. and to show all Obedience to the lords Word and William. 10 For all the Good that cometh to the Man/ c Math. 25. b. Luk. 19 b. from the Lord ⁏ for to show all Good· or always to do well therethrough; thereof there belongeth d 1. Cor 4. b 15. b. 2. Cor. 3. b. 1 Pet. 4. c no Glory, Thanks, nor Praise /unto the Man ⁏ although he doth or showeth the same Good; but only to the Lord /of whom he receiveth the Good. 11 For what Good or Weldooing can the Man do I pray you /whereby any Glory, Thanks, or Praise /belongeth unto him /sing that he must receive all the Good /of the e 1. Cor. 4. b. 15. b. 2. Cor. 3. b jam. 1. a. Lord and of his Grace? 12 Doth it belong to the Man /to seek or desire Thanks and Praise /because that he receiveth of God ⁏ f 1. Cor. 15. b. through his Favour and Grace; g Ephe. 1. b Wealth /for his Povertee, all Good /for his Evil, h Ephe. 1. the everlasting Life and Salvation /for his Desert of everlasting Death and Condemnation, and the i 2. Cor. 5. a Spiritual and Heavenly· and the everlasting Vncorruptiblenes /for the Earthly and Corruptible? I think verily /No. but k 1. Cor. 15. b highworthyly to laud and thank the God of Life /for his Graces-cause: and in no-wise /to boast or to glory of himself. The VII. Chap. Therefore look well to it /that ye draw not unto yourselves/ a Esa. 42 b 48. b jer. 13. c. d Eccli. 7.13. b that which belongeth to the Lord. But submit you obediently under his holy Word and Service of Love: And so in the Accounting-nothing or Debaseing of yourselves/ b Tob. 4. a Psal. 33. a 102.103. a 144. a always laud and praise the Lord with Thankesgiveing /for the Grace of his Mercy towards you, and for all his Goodness showed on you: and endure, overcome, or suffer-out ⁏ for the Love of jesus Christ's sake; c Eccli. 2. a. 1. Cor. 4. c. 1. Pet. 2. c all the Temptations /wherewith ye be tempted out of the Sin, and out of your own unclean or defiled Knowledge, and by all the Ministers of Sin /against d Eccli. 2. a Heb. 12. a your Passage towards the good Life of jesus Christ. 2, For at what time soever ye be tempted /for to draw you away ⁏ e Heb. 12. a. inticeingly; from the Obedience of the Love of God the Father, and from the upright and lovely Being of jesus Christ: and that they will in that sort /procure your consent to the Sin, or to her Ministers /then hold you fast or f Eccli. 2. a Heb. 12. a constant in-any-wyse /in the Belief of your Salvation, and in Patience /under the Obedience of the Love: and shrink not back /That ye ⁏ in the Growing-up to the upright Being of the Love; become not lead-awaye neither to the one g Pro. 4. c. side nor to the other: but may ⁏ in the Belief and h 1. Tess. 5. b. Hope of your Salvation or deliverance from the Evil, and in the Passing-thorow the Patience /to the good Being of jesus Christ; grow i Ephe. 3. b. c. strong, and become still more stronger. and eventhus ⁏ in the Course of your Patience/ k Heb. 10.12. under the Obedience of the Love; walk in all Faithfulness, Love, and l Phil. 4. a. equity /among all Men. 3. Beware likewise of m Exo. 23 a Eccli. 7. b Ephe. 4. d. Lying one to another, and of all harmful Speeche-of-reproche: and n Tit. 3. a. 1. Pet 3. c keep your Tongues from o Eccli. 23. a 27. b. Math. 5. c. Cursing. For that which ye speak p Eccli 10. b privily in eachothers' Ear ⁏ in reproach and cursing manner /with backbiting of another; shall not com-to-pas so simply /without Lies: and the q Sap. 1. b. Mouth that lieth /killeth the Soul. 4. Fellow always the r job. 12. b. Counsel of the Elders and wise in the Service of love. and s Eccli. 8. ●. d. Heb. 13. d submit you obedienly under the Word of their Doctrine, and confess unto them/ t Eccli. 4 d. what is hidden· and becometh spoken among you /in secret /Then shall ye become v job. 12.32 a Eccli. 6 8. b wise. and shall evenso ⁏ in your Obedience; out of the Doctrine of the Elders /first learn yourselves /ere-ever ye teach another: first help yourselves/ x Math. 7. a ere-ever ye help another: first rebuke y Rom. 2. a and judge yourselves /ere-ever ye rebuke and judge another. and shall find z 2. Cor. 11. g. Grace /in such time whenas others ⁏ which judge and deal falsely /and blaspheme, curse, backbyte, and belie their Neighbour; shalbe punished. 5. Therefore do nothing without a Eccli. 32. d Counsel /so shall it not repent you /after the Deed. 6. Blaspheme nor resist not also b Rom. 13 a the Governors, nor the c Eccli 8. b Preesies /in their Office: but show them d Rom. 13 b. 1. Tim. 5. c. Honour and Obedience: and for the pieces cause /observe all the Ordinances of the Land. 7 Endeavour not yourselves likewise /to deal with your Neighbour /in anything that is e Tob. 4. c. Math. 7. b Unjust: nor hinder not also the Straingers f Exo. 23. b. in any-case. 8. Offend not the Little g Math. 18. b. Rom. 14 d. 1. Cor. 8. d. or Smipleones of understanding: nor charge not the Weak /with any Burdens. 9 Set not the Sight of your Eyes upon any Flesh, nor upon any Outward-thing, whereby to procure your lust towards anything h Exo. 20. c Pro 6 c. Eccli 18 d 25. d thereof /to any Desire for yourselves /Jest that your Hearts be kindled and defiled ⁏ with Lust of whoredom; towards the same. But set all your Sight, Understanding, and Memory/ i Pro. 3. a. Math. 22. towards the Lord your God, and towards the godly Testimonies of his holy Spirit of love. 10. Let all your Lusts, Desires, and Delights be set towards their Beauty k Pro. 3. a. 4. ● b. 5. a. b and loveliness in the Spirit /Then shall ye not be subdued unto whoredom. 11. Have likewise ⁏ in all your Sight, ●ealing, and Walking; the holy l Tob. 4. a. Pro. 1. b Fear of God before your Eyes. But beware that your Fear of God /be m Sap. 1. a. no Hypocrisy: and serve not God/ n Eccil. 2.3. d with a false Heart. 12. Takeheed always of the whoredom: o Tob. 4. b. 1. Cor. 6. a. 1. Tess. 4. a and remember that ye are not dett●●s to serve the whoredom nor the Vnchastitee: but only the Lord your God /in all p 1. Tess. 4. b▪ Pureness of Heart. 13 Remember also /that under the Obedience of the Love /ye are called to the Godliness in jesus Christ /for to show all q Phil. 4. b. 1. Tess. 4· c. Tit. 3. a. Edifying and good Order, and all Righteousness, Love, and Peace /among all People. and so through all Weldooing and good Conversation /to stop r 1. Pet. 2. b. the Mouth of the Gaynspeakers and Blaspheamers of the Family of Love, and of all those that do belie and defame us with al-maner of Falsehood: and ⁏ through all Goodness; to win the Lovers of the Truth and Righteousness /to the Family of Love /To th'end that all those which love the Truth in jesus Christ, and which hunger and thirst after s Math. 5. a the Righteousness /might ⁏ through the holy and gracious Word; which God hath t jer. 23. raysed-up unto us Little and Electedones of God /according to his Promises; be delivered from their Sins, and become saved. 14. Behold ⁏ ye dearly-beloved; This is our upright Ground of Faith in jesus Christ. and also our undeceivable Service of Love /even like as we be taught and informed /in the godly Testimonies of the holy Spirit of love. 15 Therefore ⁏ my beloved Hearts in the Love; follow not in-any-wyse /your own v Deut. 12 a Eccli. 18. d. 25. d. Goodthinking, Lusts, and Desires /nor-yet your Imagination of the Knowledge: but have a right regard /what the holy and gracious x Deut. 4. a. b jam. 1. b. Word of the Spirit of the Love of jesus Christ ⁏ under the Obedience of the Love; requireth: and endeavour you thereunto /So shall ye then grow-up well and uprightly according to the Truth /in the Sainctification of jesus Christ, and in the spiritual and y Col. 1. a. b ● heavenly Vnderstandings·s walk in all godly Love, Peace, and joye· and inherit the z Math. 19 d. 25. d. Rom. 6. d. everlasting Life. It is very true. The End of the twentieth Epistle. Take it to heart. CHARITAS EXTORSIT PER HN. Our Heart /is the Mind of God most-hie. Our Being amiable /as the sweet Lily. Our Faithfulness /Love /and Truth upright▪ Is God's Light /Life /and clearness bright▪